Broken Umbrellas of Belfast: Part 3 - May Day Edition

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Why does it always rain on me?

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It's May Day! woohooo!

Alright, so I don't really *know* what May Day is or why it exists, etc. All I know is that it seems to be another excuse for a holiday in the UK/Ireland. Coming from a country (ie. Canada) that does not have as many public holidays as the UK, it's hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that there is yet again another long weekend for schools, etc. If you work in the food service industry, (like myself at the moment) you definitely start to notice how often kids have "breaks" from their studies, and it certainly feels as though it is ALL THE TIME. 

Anywho, I digress. 

It's coming to the end of May Day today, and what a day for broken umbrellas!!! Today was also the Belfast Marathon which surely helped increase the ample amount of umbrellas scattered around the city. I should add that it was pouring this morning. Windy, and pouring. Cold as well...

As I walked to work today (upstream of the marathon walkers mind you), I witnessed many an umbrella on it's way to the umbrella graveyard. It was quite the site! Women struggled to use the wind to put their umbrellas back in shape, small children tried to protect their faces from splashes and others completely gave up and just held the poor things. I must admit, I sturggled with the wind and rain this morning. My umbrella was not in good form. I had to quit using it in fear that it would soon end up in a trash can. What is with these Belfast winds?!? Uncontrollable! 

So, today I saw many umbrellas, so much so that the following is not a collection of what I've found since the last blog post, it's actually just umbrellas from today! So that's quite a bit! I sent Patrick on a mission to hunt for broken umbrellas as well... but he forgot our camera at home, and apparently he saw many! Is it wrong that I'm actually kinda sad I don't have more images to share with you? 

So friends, here they are AFTER THE JUMP!

A Tale of Two Taytos: The Origins of Flavoured Crisps

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[Disclaimer: I apologize for using the word crisp and chip interchangeably...but I am referring to the wonderful potato product that has been sliced thinly, deep fried, and packaged in bags...get it?] 

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Chips or crisps, either way you slice it, it's still made of potatoes and enjoyed all over the world. It comes deep fried or baked, all sorts of shapes and sizes, in bags and tubes.

Now, the potato chip originated in New York or something...but that's not what I'm concerned about today. I'm more concerned with what actually makes crisps taste good: the seasonings! And where was the first flavoured crisp produce? Well, Ireland of course!

For years after the invention of the potato chip in the 1850s, chip lovers had to put up with plain chips. I know... such a sad life eh? No sweet chili, or dill pickle, no all-dressed? Taste-buds were so neglected!

But then, there was one man, an Irish man (obviously, cause they're experts in the field of potato eating), who thought "How can I make this crunchy, deep fried potatoe bigger and better than before?" [okay, maybe he didn't say that.. but lets just imagine.] Actually, I read that it was his dislike of the only flavour available - salt, which came in a packet inside the bag of crisps which you had to "sprinkle" on yourself. Think, shake 'n' bake, but more sprinkle and eat. Doesn't have the same ring to it does it? A change was needed! Someone needed to come along and save crisps addicts from around the world!

So who was this Irish lad? Joe 'Spud' Murphy! 

The story begins in Dublin. 

The year 1954. 

Flavour that started it all - Cheese and Onion. 

Mr. 'Spud' Murphy, an entrepreneur looking for gaps in the market, started a snackfood company, Tayto, in just two rented rooms off Moore Street, with initial set up costs of £500. His employees included himself, and 8 others, and the use of a single van. One of his employees, Seamus Burke, was in charge with creating a new flavour for Murphy's empire, and the flavour of choice: Cheese and Onion.

mmm cheese and onion.... probably the most popular and traditional flavoured crisp in Ireland and the UK.

Now, there's lots of back story involved in the start of Tayto Inc. But, it's interesting to know that Tayto crisps used to be sold for 4 pence per bag. Incredible! They even made tin boxes that contained 18 bags of crisps which sold for 4 shillings. Bags were hand-glued with a tiny paintbrush to guarantee Tayto's trademark freshness. Tayto quickly became Ireland's favourite crisp manufacturer, and is still considered a standard today.

BUT... there's a twist to this story folks...

Wait... did Tayto change their packaging or something? NOPE! What you're looking at is in fact, another Tayto crisps manufacturer, but owned by a separate entity!

You know how I said Tayto was created by Mr. Murphy? Well, in 1956, another man by the name of Thomas Hutchinson came along and decided to create a wee crisp empire of his own, but in Northern Ireland!

To make a long story short - in 1955, Mr. Hutchinson's bought a castle in Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland a.k.a still Ireland (but for the purposes of this explanation I'd like to make the separation from the Republic without calling it the UK... oh the trouble I could get into! shh). Anyway, he bought this castle and also bought the licence for use of the name and recipes from our friend Spud Murphy from the South! Until I actually started researching Tayto crisps, I had no idea that the Northern Irish version of Tayto was actually something 'bought' from the south. No where on the NI Tayto site does it mention buying the licence from Mr. Murphy, it's not until I did a bit of googling that I figured it out! Shocking.

Anyway, the Hutchinson's family made quite the empire for themselves with Tayto Castle, and you can even tour it! 




So, it's really hard for me to give a definitive title to who really made crisps into what they are today because there's also many British companies (like Walkers) to take into consideration. If I'm not mistaken, Walkers helped produce that whole "Salt 'n' Shake" business...

Anyway, there are tons and tons of crisp flavours out there, and I'd say that the Irish and the British sure take the cake when it comes to having quite the variety. Though I do love my Dill Pickle from back home in Canada... yum...

So that's that. There's more to the story of crisps and their flavours, etc... but I must say, both Taytos are relatively the same. I'm not even sure there's quite a difference... perhaps I'll just have to eat both crisps at the same time in the future...

One thing is for sure though, flavoured crisps first started in Ireland, and that's all that matters...

Now, all this talk of crisps has made me a bit peckish... excuse me...

Keep Crunchin'!


M.

The Day after St. Patrick's Day

So, how is everyone feeling today? Did everyone survive their St. Patrick's Day antics?

Well, I hope you all enjoyed your St. Paddy's Day, whether you're actually Irish or not. 

This year was the first time I celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, and it was the first time I was able to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday with him. Did I mention that my boyfriend was born on St. Patrick's Day AND his name is Patrick, AND he's actually Irish. Anyway, March 17 is a huge deal, in many ways. But to be completely honest, St. Patrick's Day seemed more like a "greener" version of a regular Irish Saturday night. Meaning, loads of people wearing more green than usual. 

Now, I was told that what I experienced was a bit scaled down from previous years, but it seems to me that the Irish don't take their holiday to as much of the extremes as the rest of the world. People were dressed in green, even wore little bunches of shamrocks on their jackets (like how we'd wear a poppy back home) but I didn't get the crazy wild feeling of what other countries make it out to be.... now I wasn't celebrating in Belfast or Dublin. I'm sure the major city's had crazy celebrations. But they have too...tourists are expecting leprechauns and green beer! 

Instead, I went out to the Down Royal for some horse racing! I have never gone to a horse race track, and from what I saw yesterday, horse racing is a very very popular sport here in the UK and Ireland. People love gambling on horses, and ladies love dressing up to watch. Now, I didn't go to a very fancy horse race, but there are some places that really dress to the nines. 

I placed wee bets here and there, but ended up breaking even the first time, and later only lost 6 pounds, so I didn't lose to much! Later we went out for some drinks, watched England play Ireland in a rugby match (which we quickly decided to forget ever happened), watched some traditional Irish music, and drank some more. It was lovely night, and I'm glad I finally experienced this famous day in Ireland, amongst the Irish. 

I hope you all had a lovely St. Patrick's Day as well, and that no one got into too much trouble! 

Keep Smilin Folks, 

M. 

Ireland vs. Canada: Understanding How the Other Half Speaks

It's February! Where does the time go?

I figured it was time that I start reflecting on and sharing some of the wonderful "differences" that I have had to adapt to while living on the Emerald Isle. I feel that I have been able to adapt pretty well to the "Irish" lifestyle, but I must admit, I am still resisting some changes. In my home, if I say 'where are my pants?', I do not and never will mean "where is my underwear". For me, pants will remain pants, and the word trousers will rarely creep into my vocabulary.

So here's a guide to Irish/UK vocabulary and phrases that I've picked up so far, and will help you 'fit' in when visiting!

Canadian word = Irish translation [FYI: The British also use some if not all these terms as well]

FOOD/Drink

Chips = Crisps 
Oh, the times that I've been reminded that "No Monica, you want CRISPS, not chips" when buying snack food.

Fries = Chips
Now, this one is a bit strange. Chips are what people call chunky deep fried cut potatoes... Basically, they are chunkier and thicker than what Norther Americans know as fries.

Garbage = Rubbish 
I still get laughed at when I call garbage -- 'garbage'.

Eggplant = Aubergine


Arugula = Rocket (lettuce) 


Zucchini = Courgette

- People will still understand you if you say the North American term, but across the pond, they say the latter. So just in case you're like me and didn't know there was another name for it.. there you go!

Pop/Soda = Fizzy Drink 
I find it funny when I hear customers ask for frizzy drinks... sounds like they are 6 years old.

Ground Meat = Mince Meat

Cookie = Biscuit 


Muffin/Cupcake/Danish/ = Bun 
Now, this one confuses me still. Some will say muffin, cupcake, danish, etc, but they are commonly referred to as "buns". Rice Crispy squares are popular here, and they'll be referred to as a bun as well, but then a caramel square or rocky road is a tray bake. People use these words interchangeably. But just be aware, if you hear someone talk about "buns" it doesn't mean like a bread bun that you'd use for sandwiches.

Bun = Roll or Bap 


Automobiles

Trunk = Boot 
"The spare tyre [tire], is in the boot!"

Hood = Bonnet 
"Take a look under the bonnet will ya?"

Truck = Lorry

Clothing

Pants = Trousers 

It's hard for me to use the phrase 'fancy pants' without people thinking I'm calling them 'fancy undies'

Sweater = Jumper 


Running Shoes/Sneakers = Trainers 

Around the House/Objects/Beauty

Stroller = Pram 


Bangs (hair) = Fringe 


Cellphone = Mobile 


Garbage/Trash Can  = Bin 


Garbage Bag = Bin Liner 


Plastic Wrap = Cling Film
It took me a while to get used to this one!!

Dish Soap = Washing Up Liquid
This was one of the first differences that I couldn't help but find absolutely absurd!

Misc 

Expensive = Dear 
Used in a sentence - "That restaurant is dear"

To Rent (an apartment)= To Let 
Using the term "to let" seems to be most commonly used when speaking of renting property. So you'll see lots of signs for renting places that say "To Let".

To Rent (a room, car, etc) = To Hire 
When using "to hire", it normally refers to renting a space for something, or a car, bike, etc.

Elevator = Lift (noun)


Apartment = Flat 


Ride = Lift (verb) 
Try not to make the mistake I made once when I said "I'm waiting for my 'ride'....people might take it as something 'sexual'. You might want to say "I'm waiting for my lift" instead!


Washroom/Restroom = Toilet 

Drunk = Pissed 


Store = Shop 


TV Show = Programme 


Flashlight = Torch
I'm curious as to what they call as actual torch with a flame...


Phrases/Words you may hear... 


'Call In' 


- Basically, when you hear someone tell you to "call in", "please call again", "when did you call in?", they actually mean "come visit me", "please come again", "when did you come around?".

'Power Shower'

An Electric Shower. Perhaps this is also used back home, but I didn't come across this term back home in Canada, and have never used an electric shower until I arrived here! Now, what I find amusing about "power shower" is the way the Northern Irish pronounce the word. If only I could type it out... 

'Take Away or sit in?" 

- When you 'call in' to a restaurant, you'll be asked whether or not you are taking your food "to go" or you're having your food/drink "for here". You'll hear this everywhere.

Line Up = Queue


"I'm Gettin'"
- This one confused me a lot at first. You're gettin? You're getting what exactly? When I'm first spoke to customers, I'd say "Can I help you?" and they'd respond with a Northern Irish (Belfast) "I'm Gettin' thanks". Simply put, this means "I'm being served". So, now I ask "Are you getting okay?", and people understand me. Strange eh?



PHEW!

Did you make it through the list? Lots there eh?

Hope you enjoyed that! There are many many more where that came from....

Till next time...

Keep Smilin'

M. 

Hillsborough Castle - Fit for a Queen!

Hillsborough Castle 

Located in the village of Hillsborough, Co.Down, Hillsborough Castle is more of a mansion than an actual castle. It was built in the 18th Century for Wills Hill, the First Marquis of Downshire. The "castle" was designed by R F Brettingham, who incorporated an existing home from the 1760s. The building was not completed until 1797, four years after the death of Wills Hill, but it remained in the Hill family up until the 1920s. 

In 1922, Hillsborough Castle was bought from the Hill Family by the British government and was used as a Government House. The history of the castle is a bit complicated once the British government purchased it. There's lots of "British rule over Northern Ireland" history involved. So I won't get into it to much... 

It's important to note that the castle did eventually become the official office and residence for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as well as junior ministers in the 1970s when the Government House was eventually abolished. The castle also acts as a guest house for various officials, including members of the Royal Family, and US Presidents when visiting Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement was also signed here. 

The castle grounds include a lake, a temple, a yew tree and lime tree walk, an icehouse, and a Quaker burial ground. 

The wrought iron gates at the entrance of the castle were placed there in 1936. The gates were brought from Richhill Castle in Armagh.  

And that's that! 

I'd make a good guard wouldn't I? 

Keep Smilin' 

M. 

Oh Statue, Why art Thou? - Alec the Goose

"Alec the Goose" 

Cromac Road, Belfast, behind St.Georges Market 

Alec the Goose was a popular sight at St. Georges Market. During his short life in the 1920s, he was a regular of the Market, belonging to a local poultry vendor. Apparently he even walked the schoolchildren to school! Could you imagine?! 

Unfortunately, in 1926 Alec was hit by a truck in the area. 

Now there's a lovely statue to remember him by... cute eh? 

Broken Umbrellas of Belfast : Part 1

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Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain. 

Billie Holiday

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Fact: It rains in Ireland. 

A lot.
I mean, A LOT.

Now, though this fact is well known in Ireland, it seems that no matter what, the Irish get surprised each time it rains. Even though it rains on a regular basis, the Irish still get irritated, but still have faith that it won't rain when it's sunny. [Tip: Always assume that it will rain in Ireland, even when it's sunny.] Some are prepared, some are not. It rains so much that shops even supply wee plastic umbrella bags before you browse and potentially drip all over their products.

Now, you're probably wondering... why is this post called "Broken Umbrellas of Belfast". Well folks, it's because when I first arrived to Belfast, I noticed an abundance of broken umbrellas shoved into litter bins all over the city. This was especially noticeable after a sprinkle of rain. After seeing countless broken, and abandoned umbrellas, I decided to start documenting them.

I snapped the first photo a few weeks ago, but today, I came across 5 umbrellas all in the span of a 10 minute walk.

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Warning: 

The following contains explicit images of what happens on a typical Irish rainy day. 

This material may not be suitable for umbrella lovers. 

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  [Above Photo: It wasn't until I uploaded this photo did I notice that there were TWO umbrellas!]

So that's all for now folks. Next time it rains (which will be soon), I'll be sure to share more photos with you :) 

Protect your umbrellas everyone!!!

M. 

What's that Mean? - Are You Gettin'?

Are You Gettin'? 

I'm gettin' 

[Northern Irish]

Definition: 

Are you being served? 

I'm being served

Origins: 

Wish I knew, but it seems to be a Northern Irish phrase. 

When I started my job in a cafe, I noticed a strange phrase that customers kept saying every time I asked "Can I help you?". They would respond with a "I'm gettin'". For weeks I wondered, "What the heck are they saying?".  Sure it all sounds self explanatory, but for a girl who doesn't quite "get" the Northern Irish accent all the time, "I'm gettin'" can be a bit confusing. 

Anywho, now I've come to understand these Northern Irish folk. I ask people "Are you gettin?" and they happily respond with a "I'm gettin'". It's a strage phrase to say, but if it helps people understand me, I suppose I will assimilate. 

Keep Smilin'!

M. 

Irish Must-Sees: Castlewellan - Peace Maze

So, I'm sure the thought "Where the heck is the largest permanent hedge maze in the world? I would love to go there!"

Well folks, look no further than in Castlewellan Forest Park in Castlewellan, Co.Down Northern Ireland. 

This maze was created to represent Northern Ireland's path to a peaceful future. Work on the maze started in 1998, and cost around £570, 000. The maze contains 6,000 Yew Trees, covering 3 acres, and has about 2 miles of pathways and hedges. Like every maze, the goal is to find your way to the centre of as quickly as possible! And if you get there, you get to ring a bell! 

I've visited this maze twice, and both times it's taken me a bit to get to the middle, but I'm sure one day I'll become an expert! Then again... what's the fun in that?! 

The Peace Maze is great for day trips, and I'd recommend a visit! Quite the view for a maze well! 

If you want to see what it's like in the maze, take a look at this video of my Irish Adventure last year. See the maze at around the 4:00 mark! 

Keep Smilin'!

M.

Back to Porridge

Well folks, Christmas is over, New Years has come and gone and it's time to find normality in the world again. Time to get back into the groove again, time to get "back to porridge".

I came across this phrase on twitter last week from some Northern Irish establishments and wondered "what the heck does that mean, and where does that even come from?". Well, I haven't been able to find the exact source, but I think I've been able to piece something together with the power of google! 

First off, "back to porridge" basically means, "back to work" or "back to reality". I'm assuming porridge is supposed to symbolize going back to your regular boring meals unlike the fancy ones you may have enjoyed during the holidays. 

After doing some googling, I discovered that the phrase appears in many Northern Irish sources, but then I found the phrase "back to purridge and auld clathe", which seems to come from the Old Scots dialect meaning "back to porridge and old clothes".  Similar no?! I'm going to go ahead and take an educated guess, and say that some how, somewhere, the Scottish influenced the Northern Irish because of their proximity to one another. 

So, ANYWAY, it's back to porridge guys. Have you noticed the abundance of diet pills and gym ads that have appeared after New Years? Maybe back to porridge is really just a way of saying "Guys, go on a diet will ya!".

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season. I know I did. There was loads of food to be eaten, and people to see. I even got a chance to see some sheep up close! But what else is new right? 

Keep Smilin' 

M. 

A Searcher's Cookbook - Not-so-Homemade, Homemade Mince Pies

A Searcher's Cookbook


Mince Pies! 

It's Christmas baking time! Actually, it's LATE MINUTE Christmas baking time!

Sure, there are still a few days left to bake, but who has time to properly bake some Christmas treats without too much fuss? 

Well, today I will walk you through how to make your very own homemade mince pies... 

but just between me and you, they aren't "entirely" homemade. 

[At the end of the post you can find a mincemeat filling recipe for those wanting to make their own!]

Now, the mince pie. It's a UK/Irish tradition! During the holiday season, you see wee mince pies everywhere you go! You can't get away from them! So, I decided to do a little research into this classic Christmas treat, and even tried to make my own! All you need to know, after the jump!

if music be the food of love play on - Christy Moore - Ride On

Here's a Christy Moore tune for you on this raining Wednesday.


Christy Moore is a (extremely) popular Irish musician, so don't be surprised if I post more of him in the future. But for now, here's him playing a classic song "Ride On"by Jimmy MacCarthy. MacCarthy once worked as an apprentice jockey, and once explained how out on the gallops, older horses would lead the younger horses in training. However, when the younger horses developed, the jockeys needed the horses to race faster and would shout "ride on". If you listen to the lyrics, you'll see how MacCarthy's background working with jockeys may have influenced this classic.

Another fun fact: Moore has been quoted as saying that he plays this song in order to "quiet down" his audience when they get to rowdy.


Enjoy :)

Keep Smilin'

M.

What's that mean? - Craic [Irish]

CRAIC

[Pronounced: crack] 

Definition: 

Fun

Origins: 

Irish Gaelic

but.. the Irish Gaelic took it from the Scots language who would use the spelling "crack". 

Like anything that's to do with anything in Ireland, it's a bit complicated... 

Apparently there are some English folks who don't like that the Irish adopted their own spelling of the word.
 Another interesting fact, the Gaelic language doesn't use the letter "k". This may be another reason for the change. I'm not a linguist so I don't want to get into it too much... but lets just say, it's a relatively "new" word used in Ireland, though you wouldn't think it. The Irish use the word craic like they drink their Guinness, which is all the time. 

'Craic' used in a Sentence: 

Irish Fella #1: "What's the craic?

Irish Fella #2: "The craic is good" 

Irish guy is at a party, he wants his mates there, but they are a bit reluctant. 

In order to persuade them he says: 

"Come on mates, you gotta get down here, the craic is ninety"
[craic is ninety = pretty awesome] 

Aren't words fun? 

Keep Smilin', 

M. 

O Statue, Why Art Thou? - 'Barrel Man'

'Barrel Man' 

Cafe Terrace of Waterfront Hall, Belfast 

This statue was commissioned by Bass Ireland in 1997. 

The statue celebrates 100 years of brewing beer in Ireland

Searching for Home

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I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstair indoor silences, 

attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, 

and the noise of wind under the tiles. 

Also, of endless books. 

- C.S Lewis 

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Oh Mr. C.S Lewis. 

He has this funny way of always making me feel connected with the world around me. He makes me feel grounded, and capable of anything my wee heart desires. 

The above quote is from his memoir Surprised by Joy. It's one of my favourite excerpts from the book. I feel that it really incapsulates why C.S Lewis wrote the stories he did and why he became a writer. 

Lewis was born in Belfast, though most of his teenage years and beyond seemed to have been spent in England. But, when you read his book you can really feel the nostalgia he held for Belfast and Co.Down, Ireland. He loved his home country. He loved home, but spent most of his life away from the country that inspired so much of his writing.  

The Mourne Mountains, thought to have inspired The Chronicles of Naria

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As for the Earth, the country I grew up in had everything to encourage a romantic bend, 

had indeed done so ever since I first looked at the unattainable Green Hills through the nursery window...my main haunt was the Holywood Hills

- Excerpt from Surprised by Joy

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Now, today's post isn't about C.S Lewis. I'll save that for another day, but instead it's about home. Where home is, and how one finds home.

It's Christmas time in the City...

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City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, 
dressed in holiday style, 
in the air there's a feeling of Christmas 
***

Well folks, it's Christmas time! You know what that means?

It's time for the Belfast Continental Christmas Market! 

Open between November 19 and December 19th, this market really brings the Christmas spirit to Belfast! Held on the grounds of Belfast City Hall, this market bring together goodies and treats from all corners of the world! Many countries are represented from Germany to Italy, Morocco to China! 

I visited the market on one particular evening, and decided to take you guys on a small tour. 

So please enjoy this wee video, 

Christmas is almost here! 

Keep Smilin! 

It's almost Christmas!

M.

The Irish Songbook - Rattlin' Bog

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Dance first, think later. It's the natural order. 

- Samuel Beckett 

***

It's time for a sing-along folks!
An Irish sing-along!

When I first visited Ireland with my dear friend Catherine in February of 2010, we were introduced to a fun Irish sing-along called "Rattlin' Bog". We were on a tour bus headed for the Wicklow Mountains, and Steve, our tour guide, taught us this tune - with actions!

Here's a wee home video that I made during our sing-along with Steve. The camera might be shaky, and it's not the best quality, but it'll give you a glimpse into how fun the Irish can be with their sing-alongs!

Today's Find: Washing Up Liquid

Make sure to wash up before dinner kids! 

or wait... after dinner?

One of the first differences I noticed between North Americans and the Irish when I first moved was the term used for dish soap. 

What else could they possibly call it you ask?: 

Washing-Up Liquid

I know right?! What the heck is washing-up liquid? What are we washing up exactly? Are we taking a bath? Washing up the dog?!?

Today's Find: The Sausage Roll

Behold... 

The Sausage Roll 

If there's one thing I've noticed about Irish cuisine, putting aside their love for fish & chips, they adore sausage rolls. It's a comfort food for grown ups and children alike! 

The sausage roll seems to have its origin in the United Kingdom, but is popular in many countries, including Ireland and apparently Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and Canada, just to name a few! Who knew!?

 However, the type of sausage roll you'd find back home in Canada is more of a  'pigs in a blanket' and smaller in size, like a cocktail sausage. Correct me if I'm wrong, the dough used in something like a 'pig in a blanket' is different as well. 

A sausage roll in the UK and Ireland is made with puff pastry wrapped around sausage meat. They can be 12inches long! wow... this post suddenly became highly inappropriate... but I'm talking about sausage rolls! I can't get around it! 

You can find sausage rolls everywhere here. Bakeries, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, shops... just everywhere. 

So that's today's find! 

Eat up! 

Keep Smilin', 

M. 

Here is a recipe I've found online so you can make your own! 

Jamie Oliver's Sausage Rolls 

3 Months on the Emerald Isle!

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To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance

- Oscar Wilde 

***

I love quotes. Just love them. My journal is filled to the brim with quotes, and lately I have been filling it with tons of Irish quotes by Oscar Wilde, C.S Lewis, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. So don't be surprised if in the next little while I shall be sharing tons of wise words from those fellas :) 

I stumbled upon the above mentioned quote by Wilde around the time I arrived in Ireland three months ago. It really stuck with me. 

I'm sure I'm not alone in the fact that we have all had a moment in our lives when we've cared a great deal about what others think about us. We care about how others perceive us, or if they like the way we look. Humans are interesting creatures don't you think? I suppose animals are the same. Have you ever watched Planet Earth? I'm always reminded of the male birds who groom themselves and prepare their mating area in hopes that a female bird will come along and "join"him. 

I suppose we aren't the only ones. However, I still feel that, as a society, we put a lot of pressure on one another to 'impress' those around us. But unlike the birds, we have the ability to know we don't have to conform. 

So much pressure don't you think? It's terrible.