Time for Tea... Or Espresso?

I'm a little late to the lovely Abi's monthly tea party, but I've been reading all of your tea stories and I said I'd join in anyway! Pop on over to Abi's home on the web to share a virtual cuppa with bloggers from all over the world.

Anyway, hello, come on in through the door, the kettle is on the boil - as it pretty much always is in our house! I'm so delighted you've decided to pop by for a chat and a catch up, it has been too long. Please do excuse the mess though, I just returned from a fabulous week of holidays in Italy with my family, and I'm still in the process of unpacking. So, would you like tea or coffee? To tell you the truth, I never used to be a coffee fan - I loved the strong, heady smell of freshly ground coffee beans, but found the taste acrid and bitter. However, my experience on a school staff of obsessive coffee drinkers this year has definitely converted me! I may be becoming a bit of a connoisseur (read: addict) at this stage...so much so, I even hit the hard stuff when we were in Italia, the home of good coffee, yes, I drank espresso. And lots of it, along with several creamy cappuccinos and lattes. I'm seriously tempted to get a coffee machine now that I'm home and the instant stuff isn't cutting it anymore! One thing Italy doesn't have going for it is the tea though. I was literally gasping for proper Irish tea when I got home, with just a small splash of milk and never any sugar (because I'm sweet enough already). It's the prefect accompaniment to everything and the answer to every problem! What are your coffee/tea preferences? Whatever you fancy, pour yourself a cup or three and make yourself comfortable. And go on, you know you want a scone, Mum just made them this morning!

So what's going on in your world since we chatted last? I've been busy, but it's been fantastic to be on holidays and get a bit of a break at last. I turned 21 earlier this month, and had a party in my local pub with some family and friends. It was fantastic to get together with some people that I hadn't seen in almost a year, and to get together with friends from secondary school and university, along with cousins and family. We danced and sang and did the Limbo and 'rocked the boat' and just had such a lovely time. I'll have to tell you all about it again sometime, and I promise I'll show you the photos too! And then of course, I was in stunning Sorrento on the coast of Italy with my parents and sister for the last week. It was just bliss...scorching sunshine, azure blue cloudless skies, breathtaking scenery, quaint dimly lit streets, tangy golden lemons, fascinating history and culture, sparkling turquoise waters, crisp cheesy pizza... I could go on! Have you ever been? Or are you going on holidays anywhere this year? I think it's really lovely to get a break if you can, see somewhere different, even take a day trip to get a change of scenery and a break away from reality.

Speaking of reality, now that I'm back in the Emerald Isle, I have to face just that, and the painful task that is applying for jobs once again. Sadly, the job that I was in for most of last year was only a temporary contract, so it's back to job hunting for September. I hate the uncertainty of not knowing where I'm going to be or what I'll be doing for the next academic year. It's scary and stressful, but I'm trying to trust that what's right for me will come along and not get too worried as I send in applications with crossed fingers! How is work for you at the moment? Have you ever experienced the disheartening task of sending applications and CVs to no avail? Anyway, sorry, I promise that's my rant over for today!

Another scone? More tea? Some Milka chocolate from the airport perhaps? Go on, you know you want to! I'll make another pot of tea, why not? It is the summer holidays after all. Though you wouldn't know it to look out the window here at the moment! It's been showery since I got back from sunny Italy yesterday, but I guess I can't complain. We enjoyed a glorious three weeks of sunshine here in Ireland before I went on holidays, and when I say sunshine, I mean PROPER sunshine. The kind of sunshine in which you simply cannot wear jeans (though you still see some people in their skinnies when the temperature is above 30 degrees, what's that all about?!) and need to slap on bottles of sticky suncream and can sit out in a little sundress at night and still feel warm. The kind of sunshine that demands you drink endless litres of water and slurp ice-cream constantly to cool you down. The kind of sunshine we hadn't had in a LONG time in Ireland! But of course, there are some people who aren't happy unless they're complaining, so no sooner than the sun had peeked through the clouds, people could be heard, "wouldn't you just kill for a drop of rain?!" Not me! Sun is all good, I'll take some more thank you very much! So what's the weather been like where you are at the moment?

It's been just so lovely to meet up for tea again after so long. I do love catching up with friends, and what better way than over a hot beverage and some baked goods. I can't wait to do it again soon. And now that I'm back from holidays, I truly hope that more regular blogging service can be resumed! I have lots to talk about (don't I always!) and loads to share.

Thanks again for joining me (and Abi) today...even if I am a little late!

Sinéad xxx

Back West

Oh my goodness...it has been a while. Ok, it's been more than a while! But things have been busy, and I'll admit that the longer I went without blogging, the harder it got to sit down and write a post. However, the summer holidays are now here and school's out for a few weeks, so the time for procrastination is over at last!

I spent the last eight months teaching in a rural two teacher school on the west coast of Ireland. Now sometimes when people refer to the 'west of Ireland', they are alluding to the general area beyond the midlands remotely near the coast. So when I say I was teaching 'back west', I really mean west...so west, in fact, that the adorable local pub was advertised with the tagline: 'Closest Bar to New York'! (As the crow flies, of course!) The little village I lived and worked in is located close to Loop Head, on the very tip of Co. Clare, the part of Ireland that juts erratically into the Atlantic Ocean. What a setting!

So while the setting of my first job was slightly isolated for a young 20-year-old teacher, I can't deny I loved living by the sea, seeing the wild crashing waves and the stunning sunsets, marvelling at the breathtaking scenery, and taking lots of photos along the way of course! Have I convinced you to visit yet?! The Loop Head peninsula was actually recently named as the best place to holiday in Ireland - I'd totally be your tour guide if you came to visit!

It's been some year - expect lots of school stories in the next few weeks!

Sinéad
xxx

Catching Up Over Tea

Hello there!

Today I’m joining in with Abi’s lovely meme (a little late, but better late than never!), where she invites you to share a virtual cup of tea, perhaps some cake, and most importantly, a long overdue chat!

If I was meeting you today for a cuppa, I would invite you to come to one of my favourite coffee shops in my local town. As you walk through the door, I would greet you with a hug, and you’d comment on the quaint stove and cosy atmosphere. I’d giggle and tell you that this is the kind of place that you could comfortably spend more than a couple of hours and drink several pots of tea! Not that I’ve done that before…ahem! I’d also tell you that the name of the café ‘Cairde’, is the Irish word for ‘friends’ and is therefore highly appropriate for our rendezvous today.

As we poured our first cups of tea and tested the first forkfuls of our moist, juicy carrot cake (trust me, it’s amazing!), I’d tell you about how school has reached a new level of busy. I’d convey my exhaustion at the seemingly interminable wait for my dreaded inspector’s arrival, which could literally happen any day now. I’d probably sigh and grumble about the stress! Though I’m tired, I’d tell you how wonderfully rewarding the work is, and how I feel so lucky to be in this small school, with these children that make me laugh every day. I’d explain about the monthly themed projects we do, and share my delight at my class’s reaction and response to them. I even had a papier maché gas mask and real evacuee’s suitcase in last week for our World War II theme! I’d ask you how work is at the moment, whether you’re busy, and what motivates you?

As I poured the second cup of tea, I’d share with you my frustration at being such an erratic blogger. I’d let you in on the fact that I’m finding it impossible to get time to blog. I’d ask if you have seen Julie Kirk’s new Push-Up Bra Blogging course? I’d tell you that I’m hoping that I can put some of these tips into practice to improve this little blog! I might then ask you about your blog, and what got you into blogging in the beginning?

Talk might turn around to talk of Project Life, which has been appearing on blogs everywhere. I’d explain that though I’ve always loved the idea of PL and documenting the everyday, the paper version always seemed like just too much of a commitment. I’d talk about how the notion of digital PL has been a revolution for me, a person who was never that much of a fan of digital scrapping. I’d tell you that though I still love paper and embellishments, I’m coming around to the practicalities of going digital. I’d smile that seeing a certain someone’s beautiful layouts is probably a big part of this as well! I’d ask you about your opinions of PL, and whether you’re a fan of the digital or paper version?

With a reluctant sigh and a draining of the dregs of tea, I’d uncurl myself from the chair and tell you how good it’s been catching up! We’d part on a hug and wave, promising to do this again very soon.

Sinéad xxx

Storytelling Sunday

I'm so glad to be joining in with Sian's Storytelling Sunday - I've been reading all the wonderful tales told by fabulous ladies all over blogland for a while, and I've finally plucked up the courage and put aside the time to have a go and take part myself! Sian's theme this year is 'Pick Your Precious', and she's encouraging everyone to tell the stories behind the little things that they love, the important bits and pieces that are special to us.

This is the story of a forgotten pastime, lots of bright colours, an antidote to stress and a precious blanket.

When I was in primary school, we were lucky enough to have two lovely local ladies visit once a week to teach crafts for an hour after school on a Wednesday. We'd gather in a classroom, and with wool and knitting needles and crochet hooks, we learned to create headbands and quilts for our dolls and of course, the essential scarf. First, we learned to knit with 4mm needles and scratchy wool, and bumbled our way through dropped stitches and dodgy tension. Later, the 'experienced' crafters were allowed to experiment with crochet, which seemed so much more glamorous and exciting! I remember learning how to make the famous granny square, and crocheting a doll with curly arms and legs. But then secondary school came along, and suddenly crochet didn't seem so cool anymore. The hooks and the wool were abandoned to the top of my wardrobe, forgotten.

Last year, in the midst of studying for exams and preparing for teaching practice in uni, I rediscovered crochet. I'm not quite sure how or why, perhaps it had something to do with the advent of Pinterest and my discovery of lots of lovely crafty blogs, including crochet blogs. So I reverted to what I knew and loved...a 4mm crochet hook, cheap and cheerful wool and the reliable granny square. Without knowing what I was doing, I soon found myself making several granny squares, all the same size. A trip to the local wool shop later, armed with a rainbow of colours, I realised what I was doing. Somehow, I had started making a blanket!

In between studying and lesson planning, the stack of little squares grew. I loved the methodical simplicity of twirling the hook in and out of the wool, it was a complete departure from the stress and panic that accompanied summer exams and teaching practice. I loved seeing the progress and the blend of colours together. I loved lining out the squares and seeing how my blanket might look in the end.

As spring rolled into summer, and holidays arrived, the balls of wool had dwindled to scraggly ends. It was time to join the squares! And then after adding an edging, and not forgetting the tedious job of darning in the ends, it was finished! My first crochet blanket. And since then, it has taken up permanent residence on the end of my bed, though it has been known to mysteriously appear on the living room couch, particularly if someone is feeling poorly or needs a little blankety TLC. It was only when my aunt suggested I could sell it that I realised just how precious it was...I think you can guess my answer!

Sinéad
xxx

A Cup of Tea

Hello!

Come on in, sit down and I'll pour us both a cup of tea...or perhaps you'd prefer coffee? Either way, you're more than welcome to a cupcake or two while we chat and catch up after so very long.

As I poured the first cup, I'd tell you that I can't believe over a month has passed without a blog post. I'd confess that the last couple of weeks have been insane, what with school work and everything piling up on me. I'd reveal my renewed admiration for those bloggers that update their home on the internet so regularly, and I'd ask if you know what their secret is. I have a sneaking suspicion it may have something to do with better time management skills than I currently possess!

As we sipped our tea, I'd tell you about my school and teaching life at the moment, and though I love it, how glad I am for a little break during the Easter holidays! I'd explain that I'm currently in the throes of planning for the next three months, and though I'm hating the tedious typing part, I'm getting really excited by the themes I have in store for my class until the summer holidays. I'd probably tell you lots about my little class, and how I'm mad about them, though they have me tearing my hair out some days! If you were interested, I might tell you a little about some of the projects we did in the last couple of months, including making giant salt-dough maps of Ireland, the UK and France (messy but great fun!) As we drained the dregs of the first cup of tea, I'd tell you how lucky I feel to be in a job I love with great kids and staff - having had some not so pleasant experiences doing substitute work in schools before Christmas, I really appreciate what I have now, even if the workload is intense! Then of course I'd ask you what your working life is like at the moment, and how you manage to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Sneaking another cupcake from the stand, we'd move onto chat about all things crafty. I'd ask you what you're working on at the moment, and how you fit in creative time with a busy schedule. I'd tell you that my scrapbooking has really taken a backseat at the moment, as have all crafty endeavours, but I'm hoping to improve on this during the Easter holidays. I'd giggle about my renewed love for Jamie Oliver and his fifteen minute meals (which ALWAYS take me more than fifteen minutes, incidentally!), which I've been making and planning since I finished school. Yum! Talk would inevitably turn back around to blogging, and I'd admit that although I have been a very bad blogger, I've been keeping up to date with the very inspiring blogs of lots of lovely ladies from around the world. I'd explain that though I may not comment as often as I should, I'd love these people to know how much they inspire and delight on a daily basis. I'd ask you what your favourite blogs are, the places you go for inspiration and stories and enlightenment? On the subject of blogging, I'd excitedly tell you that I got a new laptop yesterday...a MacBook Pro! You'd probably laugh at how ridiculously ecstatic I am, and I'd ask you if you have a Mac, or if you've any advice or experience with MacBooks?

As we made our way towards the bottom of the second cup of tea, talk might turn around to friendship. I'd tell you that I've learned the hard way how tough it can be when a friend you thought you could rely on turns out not to be so reliable after all! Then, I'd smile and explain that I'm very lucky to have a small group of close friends that I'd be lost without. I might tell you about a very special friend that has had a bit of a tough time recently. We spent today together, having loads of tea and chats, and I can honestly say that she's a star, so brave and so sweet! We'd chat about forging friendships over the internet, and I'd tell you about some happy emails that I'm exchanging with one especially lovely lady at the moment, and how it's really cool to find someone you have so much in common with!

While dusting away the crumbs of the cupcakes and slurping the very last of the pot of tea, I'd tell you how lovely it has been to share a cuppa with you. I'd laugh and tell you that my sister has already informed me that my plans for the Easter holidays already read like a 'tea crawl', i.e. an attempt to visit as many of the tea and coffee shops as possible in our local town!! I'd admit that this is definitely a challenge I am willing to undertake! As we waved our goodbyes, I'd invite you around soon again, and promise that I won't leave it so long the next time!

Sinéad
xxx

P.S. Today, I am joining in with 'Let's Sit and Have a Cup of Tea', a lovely idea started over at Abi's blog. Do pop over and say hello!

P.P.S. Thank you Abi for getting me back blogging again!

Mid-Term Break



Can anyone tell me where my four-day weekend disappeared to? It actually seems like about five minutes ago that I finished school on Wednesday afternoon, with lots of plans for work and relaxation during the mid-term break (which is the Irish equivalent of half-term, only shorter!).  And now it’s Monday again...how did that happen?! Last week was super busy (even though it was only three days), what with Pancake Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, along with the usual day-to-day lessons. On Tuesday, I actually made pancakes with my class, which was SO messy but a great laugh – lots of chocolaty faces and some hilarious photos!

So I was definitely ready for a rest during the mid-term break. I did get some nice sleep-ins (sweet!), did a spot of shopping, had coffee shop dates with my Mum, sister and friend, did some lesson planning and resource making...and I scrapped!! It was the first time I had scrapped a 12x12 in ages, but Miss Smith’s inspiration was just too much to resist :D

So this is the resulting layout, which I’ve titled ‘Mona Lisa Smile’. It features a photo I took when I visited the Louvre in Paris last summer. Of course, the main attraction and most well-known piece in the magnificent and extensive gallery is Da Vinci’s famous lady with her mesmerising eyes. I wanted to document the absolute mayhem and throngs of people muscling in around the painting, and how difficult it was to get a decent photo. Though it might be hard to make out from my photograph of the layout, the picture is of another tourist’s camera angled towards the Mona Lisa. I liked the idea of framing the painting in the camera’s viewfinder, and it was by far the most interesting picture I captured in that part of the gallery! The page design is a little different from my usual, and was inspired by the first Telling Tales prompt, which focused on blocking out the design in boxes, and then moving them around until aesthetically pleasing :D It’s definitely an idea I would use again, possibly over a double page spread with more photos.  

 

Hope you have a lovely week...with no more disappearing days!

 

Sinéad

xxx

 

P.S. My photos are either too big or too small! Any ideas about how I can get a size between 'large' and 'x-large'?!

Here and Now

So I think you could safely say I'm struggling a bit to fit blogging in around a VERY hectic day-to-day life...well, I did warn you that the posts were going to be sporadic! Since I last posted, I've been up to my eyes with schoolwork, lesson planning and preparation and the like. Fun times! I adore the classroom side of teaching, it's just the paperwork can be a bit of a pain at times. I've also been following along Miss Smith's online scrapbooking class 'Telling Tales'. While I haven't really been doing much of the crafty stuff (yet!), I'm really enjoying the mix of scrapbook, photo and journalling prompts arriving daily in my inbox. One of the journalling prompts was about documenting the here and now, the little daily things, with a series of simple questions. I think that this aspect of scrapbooking, emphasising the mundane and the trivial, is so important. We'll all remember the birthdays and festivities and big events, but it is the everyday detail that can get lost and forgotten. So I said I'd give it a go...

What are you working on?
Day to day lesson planning, ideas for my ‘Journeys Far and Near’ theme, classroom decorations, trying to think of ways to build this spanking new blog

What music are you singing along to in your head?
Country Roads, having done it in school this week: 'Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains.....aarrggh, going to be singing it all night now - and more than likely aloud rather than in my head!)

If you had a day off to yourself tomorrow, what would you do?
Have a lie in (a.k.a., anything past 7.30am!), bake something from scratch for breakfast, scrapbook, go shopping with my sister and visit numerous coffee shops with friends, cook a Jamie Oliver 15 minute meal in the evening (seriously, the flavours he can fit in are amazing!) and curl up by the fire

What have you learned this week?
When somebody dies, it is impossible to know what to say to the bereaved person – there simply are no words to express grief and pain

What was the last thing that made you laugh?
The children in my class repeatedly asking me if their good behaviour is ‘brownie-worthy’! They get 'brownie points' for whole class positive behaviour, and they are literally OBSESSED with my brownie tray display :D

What are you enjoying on TV?
Grey’s Anatomy, old episodes of Friends, whatever I happen to tune into at the weekend as I am TV-less from Monday to Friday (sadface)

What are you reading?
J.K. Rowling’s ‘The Casual Vacancy’ (and I’m really enjoying it, despite all the criticism and bad press it has received)

What was the last really yummy thing you cooked?
Well, it doesn’t really count as cooking per se since it only involves melting, mixing and chilling, but I made chocolate biscuit cake for my class yesterday as a treat – they were delighted :D

What is inspiring you?
Reading blogs, new friendships, Pinterest, Miss Smith’s ‘Telling Tales’ scrapbooking class

What are you worrying about?
Getting everything I need to do done on time, my very first set of parent teacher meetings next week (help!)

I really enjoyed doing this, and might make it into a regular thing. I think it could be really interesting to compare how my answers might vary also...something to think about!

Thank you so much if you're still reading :D

Sinéad xxx