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Didn't post yesterday cos I was away from my computer all day at a conference/presentation/open day thingy in Castlebar. All went well. I don't mind public speaking...as long as I know what I am on about! I know it's most people's biggest fear, but to a room full of strangers I don't see what the fuss is about. Now, a speech at my wedding would be a different story....

T and I got married in August 2005 and I decided that given I had arranged pretty much everything, I wasn't going to stress myself out on the day by having to give a speech. I wouldn't be able to start off 'unaccustomed as I am to public speaking' as it is something I do fairly regularly as part of my work, but it's difficult to 250 of your closest friends and family (and yes, with the exception of a few compulsory neighbours, they were my closest friends and family....T has a Big Family and we're all very close I suppose). Anyway, I was nervous enough for T and Dad who had to make speechs....nearly couldn't eat my dinner! How did I get on to public speaking? I was happy as long as everyone was thanked and everyone enjoyed themselves...the end.

So the goulash went well, except I hadn't read Delia till I got home on Tuesday evening and it appeared that you had to put your casserole in the oven for 2.5 hours!! We would have starved, so I compromised and made a chicken stir fry at the same time and we had the goulash (is that how you spell it?!) yesterday evening instead and invited Tony's sister Deirdre over to help us....massive pot it was. I'll post a picture later but haven't got round to uploading yet. Top marks to Delia, although I added lots of my own bits (had some ratatouille left over...celery, courgettes, etc and also added carrots). FAbby stew it was. Not enough paprika probably, but I think you have to try it carefully (not like my turkey curry on St. Stephen's day, which was just too hot, no matter how much cream, etc I added to cool it down....a spoon too much of the curry paste I'm afraid). We live and learn.

My buddy Kate has a new blog, and she tagged me to do a little fun thing with a book, however there isn't one book on my desk and if I go down to the library here at work I won't be chosing at random, so I'll leave it for later....or maybe I'll use Delia, my new friend......or the most recent book I bought...something about 'getting the builders in'! We are building a new house....need to move on that, and intend to blog or blag my way through that too!!

Love Hearts and Laura Ashley

Some random thoughts....

I am currently devouring a pack of Love Hearts. You don't see them in the shop that often, so when I have the chance I pick up a pack. Which reminds me that Cadbury Creme Eggs are also on our shelves....too soon perhaps? I haven't succumbed....

...yet.....

Popped into Laura Ashley - yes, imagine, there's a store in Galway - the sale is on. I'm divided about the style to be honest. My sis, on the other hand, is v. into it. She's only 22, I'm concerned that she is getting old....clothes, hairstyle, etc. She'll be 23 on Saturday so I thought I'd pop in and try and pick something for her. Appart from a clock (like a miniature alarm clock) for 55 yoyos and a quilted bedspread for 250 there wasn't too much else that I thought she would love. Beyond my budget I'm afraid......Christmas and all that! Poor Sharo....I toyed with the idea of buying her material as she had asked me where she would get 'Laura-Ashley-like-material' cos she wanted to try her hand at patchwork! I'm not saying patchwork! cos it's old fashioned...(I think it's dead cool)....but she's not a v. crafty person. Not saying that I'm a v. crafty person, but I would be a lot moreso than her, and patchwork scares the bej**s out of me!

Anyway, with prices at 35 yoyos a metre I was afraid to ask the sales girl would she give me a third of a few......so I settled for a couple of material covered coat hangers, a glass perfume bottle and some liners for her drawers! Might make something nice too....we'll see how the rest of the week goes.

My in-laws called over for a visit last night so didn't get much scrapping done and Eilis topped up on 7-up which meant she wet the bed.....except....she didn't wake, and so we had to put her in the bath this morning and all ended up in quite a panic out the door. Dread going home, cos I didn't get time to put the washing on.....

Anyway, better head off now, and see how we get on...have some stewing beef to cook tonight.....lets see how that goes...Delia and Jamie are there to help though!

My first Tag!

Caroline O tagged me so....

A - Available/Single? Married
B- Best Friend? Brenda (see pics below!)
C- Cake or Pie? Cake I LUV cake (well I don't really, but I love that Little Britain lady in Fat Fighters!)
D - Drink Of Choice? Coke when I've a hangover! Heineken in the pub and very diluted orange (definitely NOT orange and pineapple) Miwadi with my dinner!
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? Mascara
F - Favorite Colour? RED
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy Bears
H - Home or Homesick? Home
I - Indulgence? Salsa and Tortilla chips or Eddie Rockets Chocolate Malt (when things are really bad!)
J - January Or February? February.....
K - Kids & Their Names? 1 - dd called Eilis
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Good friends and family
M - Marriage date?11 August 2005
N - Number Of Siblings? 3 silly sisters!
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples
P- Phobias/Fears? Fear of enclosed spaces (which can include under the bed covers!)
Q - Favorite Quote: Belief in Limits creates limited people.
R - Real Hair Color? Blonde
S - Season? Autumn
T - Tag 3 or 4 people? Phoney, Crafty Kate (when she gets her new blog!) and Tigger
U - Unknown Fact About Me? I was born with grey hair!
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Marrow flipping FAT peas....tell my MIL!
W - Worst Habit? Starting something and then getting sick of it and moving on!
X - X-rays You’ve Had? both wrists, many dental x-rays, back xray in November....
Y - Your Favorite Food? Curry, Pizza, Salsa, Chocolate
Z - Zodiac Sign? Virgo

The Depressing Clock!

You may be thinking....what the ?

A few months back, my sister Claire was bringing Eilis to the bathroom in my parents house and while E was on the toilet (sorry to anyone who doesn't like vivid imagery...it won't get any worse), Claire decided to sit down on the weighing scales. She then told Eilis that it was 'Deeee-pressing' and now Eilis refers to the scales as the Deeee-pressing clock!

So I bit the bullet and bought one for our house in Galway yesterday evening. The nice folks in Atlantic Homecare had left them out beside the checkout....next to the sweets! obviously realising the many weight related New Year Resolutions and cashing in on the poor consumer. It's not an all singing and dancing body fat calculator, just a simple spring based scales....all comes to all, I'll use it to ensure a 4 stone back of potatoes is actually 4 stone!

Staying with the previous theme of personal improvement at work...one of the points most of the business books make is that you need to 'confront the brutal truths' so for that reason a weighing scales is needed.

I haven't stood on it yet....that will be tonight's task. I also saw on Phoney's blog that she's rewarding herself with a troll bead for every half stone she loses.....love this idea....and love those troll bracelets! She also made a super cool and crafty chart....fabby idea....

So, rather than start on the first of January (because that is well gone) I'm going to start today. I have a wedding to go to on St. Patrick's Day and that will be one of my targets. Will also use Valentines as an intermediary step.....Maybe even crafteire will be a target date in April...

Right enough of the serious stuff....what else is new, or what have I been up to since last week....went home at the weekend. The gang all headed off for my grandparents house on Saturday for a 'major clean up' because it's their 50th wedding anniversary in February and we're having a little celebration in the house. Saturday night went out at home with Tony's sister Deirdre who is just home from Oz, having been there for the month of December and over New Years. She brought home the most fabulous little fairy costume for Eilis....absolutely gorgeous. Haven't taken a pic yet, but will post.

My back was really sore on Sunday and I was in a bad mood (hungover and painful back = cranky Corina) and Monday it hadn't improved much. Thankfully today it is much better (maybe cos I lay on the floor for 2 hours last night watching telly....oooh I love Project Catwalk! and tried some healing yoga breath.....hmnnn)

I must include some pics...but I think they will have to be random ones cos I don't have any applicable or recent.....let me see.....

I think I'll dedicate todays photos to my friend Brenda. Here's a wiggy one of us in Las Vegas!

And more of the same malarky - tring on shades on hols somewhere...

In Edinburgh.....are you noticing a pattern to these pics (Brenda has long arms so she always takes the photo!)

But we are quite sophistocated at the end of the day....