Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'm back to blogging on a regular basis. It's tough to get to at home because dial-up sucks for doing things like that and I don't have the patience to deal with it. Anyhow- today is my first day back to work after the holidays and I'm missing vacation already.
I was spoiled this year. I haven't worked since the 22nd of December! It flew by though. The Irish celebrate Christmas with a LOT of drinking so I feel like I was hardly at my house at all.
I met up with the ladies from my team on Friday, the 22nd for drinks and a bit of fun. They were falling over drunk, but a lot of fun at the same time. We worked on trying to harass our trainer/coach to come back next year and I think we had a pretty successful go of it. I retired at a reasonable hour since I wanted to get some stuff done over the weekend before Christmas.
I had people over on Saturday with loads of snacks and drinks and Christmas spirit. It was a nice way for everyone to wind down after a long week of shopping and getting ready for Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent getting those last minute gifts for people I didn't realize I would have to buy for and then it was back up to Arklow for drinks with friends. There were a good amount of people out at the pubs (which close at about 11pm on Christmas Eve) and then to sleep so Santa could come.
Santa came and went and I went to Christmas DAY mass for the first time ever. I always go on Christmas Eve and now I know why. I hated having to get up and shower and get ready and not be able to open presents or anything until after I got back. The service was pretty much the same as at home. Then it was off to do some visiting and Christmas dinner. Christmas dinner here consists of turkey, ham, brussel sprouts, about 10 types of potatoes and whatever other salads people feel like adding. I was STUFFED by the time I was done eating. Very yummy.
Christmas night was more visiting with musical performances and sing-alongs. It was good fun and I was happy to relax, drink some wine, and watch some tv. I missed being at home with my family though. It still doesn't quite feel like Christmas happened since it wasn't the same as every other year.
St. Steven's Day (the 26th) is a BIG drinking day in Ireland. There are big parties and the pubs are packed. We went to a party at the Bay Hotel. They served chicken curry - which was the only thing they serve and which I found kind of strange but I guess it's tradition. There was much drinking and dancing and I ended up at the Resident's Lounge with my friends Doreena, Darragh, Simon, and the newly-met Ross.
A resident's lounge in Ireland is a little pub or back room with a bar that can stay open later than the rest of the pubs, so long as they are serving to residents. We know the owner of the hotel so we were able to sneak in for a 'few more drinks'. That turned into a sing-along and an impromptu strip tease by Darragh. Simon has a great video of it on his phone. Ross is good fun and the first openly gay Irishman I've met. He's SUCH good fun. Not to mention adorable and we got some good play on the whole 'Ross and Rachael' thing.
The rest of the week was spent cleaning and shopping for when my sister arrived with her friend Kelly on Friday morning. I've actually got to check in with them before lunch ends, so I'll have to pick up and finish this post later/tomorrow. Hope you all had a really happy start to 2007! ;-)
I was spoiled this year. I haven't worked since the 22nd of December! It flew by though. The Irish celebrate Christmas with a LOT of drinking so I feel like I was hardly at my house at all.
I met up with the ladies from my team on Friday, the 22nd for drinks and a bit of fun. They were falling over drunk, but a lot of fun at the same time. We worked on trying to harass our trainer/coach to come back next year and I think we had a pretty successful go of it. I retired at a reasonable hour since I wanted to get some stuff done over the weekend before Christmas.
I had people over on Saturday with loads of snacks and drinks and Christmas spirit. It was a nice way for everyone to wind down after a long week of shopping and getting ready for Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent getting those last minute gifts for people I didn't realize I would have to buy for and then it was back up to Arklow for drinks with friends. There were a good amount of people out at the pubs (which close at about 11pm on Christmas Eve) and then to sleep so Santa could come.
Santa came and went and I went to Christmas DAY mass for the first time ever. I always go on Christmas Eve and now I know why. I hated having to get up and shower and get ready and not be able to open presents or anything until after I got back. The service was pretty much the same as at home. Then it was off to do some visiting and Christmas dinner. Christmas dinner here consists of turkey, ham, brussel sprouts, about 10 types of potatoes and whatever other salads people feel like adding. I was STUFFED by the time I was done eating. Very yummy.
Christmas night was more visiting with musical performances and sing-alongs. It was good fun and I was happy to relax, drink some wine, and watch some tv. I missed being at home with my family though. It still doesn't quite feel like Christmas happened since it wasn't the same as every other year.
St. Steven's Day (the 26th) is a BIG drinking day in Ireland. There are big parties and the pubs are packed. We went to a party at the Bay Hotel. They served chicken curry - which was the only thing they serve and which I found kind of strange but I guess it's tradition. There was much drinking and dancing and I ended up at the Resident's Lounge with my friends Doreena, Darragh, Simon, and the newly-met Ross.
A resident's lounge in Ireland is a little pub or back room with a bar that can stay open later than the rest of the pubs, so long as they are serving to residents. We know the owner of the hotel so we were able to sneak in for a 'few more drinks'. That turned into a sing-along and an impromptu strip tease by Darragh. Simon has a great video of it on his phone. Ross is good fun and the first openly gay Irishman I've met. He's SUCH good fun. Not to mention adorable and we got some good play on the whole 'Ross and Rachael' thing.
The rest of the week was spent cleaning and shopping for when my sister arrived with her friend Kelly on Friday morning. I've actually got to check in with them before lunch ends, so I'll have to pick up and finish this post later/tomorrow. Hope you all had a really happy start to 2007! ;-)
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