Reflecting

Hey blog, it's been a while! Happy New Year to you all. After a blissful Christmas break full of vegging out and eating rubbish, I decided it was time to get my blogging mojo back. I was so busy with exams and love and life I forgot to take some time for myself to focus on the blog. 

My mum mentioned to me that she'd read my previous New Year's blog and that it was interesting to see the changes in my life from just a year. 

Education: This time last year I was a couple of months into a JobBridge internship, now I'm gaining even more experience by completing an Accounting Technicians course. I hope to continue my studies further and get a level 6 in Business Administration, which is what I want to pursue as a career. 

Love life: This time last year I was single and probably wailing into a bag of crisps about how I'd never get a boyfriend - now I'm going out with the man I love who is basically like the missing part of me. In a previous blog I pondered over whether or not I'd ever find someone to dance in the kitchen with me, and now I've found him.

Family: My family life is still as strong as ever. It must be a bit of a change for my parents to have to adjust to me having a serious boyfriend and going to his every weekend but my family are fantastic about it, they've been so supportive and I love them so very much!

Lifestyle: I've been 100% dairy-free for a while now due to becoming intolerant to dairy, and I have to say I find the added health benefits amazing. My skin is clearer, I get less migraines and I haven't had a cold in absolutely ages. I plan on doing a blog about going dairy-free so stay tuned for that if it's something you'd like to try in 2016! I'm also eating meat a lot less now, partly because my boyfriend is a vegetarian but also because my body feels great when I eat this way.

Other notable experiences: Got Invisalign braces. Went to Holland. Went glamping. Learned it's ok to be unsure. Learned that no matter how hard you try, some people just won't be happy for you and that's okay. Volunteered for the Fleadh. Got a new dog. Tried snorkelling and stand-up paddling. Stopped caring so much about what other people think. Inched a little further towards getting my driving licence. Got a tattoo. Turned 20. 

Not bad for a year's work.

Have you been reflecting on the past year? Let me know what you've achieved or want to achieve this year!

No More Ordinary: The Draft House Strandhill Review

I'm really late doing this blog *slaps wrist* because I recently started college and turned 20 (I'm officially an adult now, I'm scared). A couple of weeks ago my mum and I were invited along to The Draft House pub in Strandhill for a bite to eat. It was the day before my birthday so I treated it as a pre-birthday lunch.

We arrived on a blustery Strandhill afternoon and scoped out the exterior of the place. The building is painted a fitting blue and adorned with quotes (their trademark 'Draft. Craft. Munch' and 'We don't do ordinary' above the door, most notably) and a bicycle that spelled out the word 'food'. When we went round the back of the pub we realised there were dog kennels - yes, you read that right - if you want to drop your pooch off for some downtime while you eat. Walking your dog on the beach is hungry work, after all! If this wasn't enough, The Draft House are also installing showers - in case you've come out of the sea and feel a bit grimy - both really nice touches, I have to say.

When we walked into The Draft House we were quickly seen to by Maya who seated us in a booth and took our drinks order. I requested a Desperados, which they didn't have, but Maya was quick to suggest an alternative and gave me a small taster. She told me all the craft beers were available to be sampled - great for someone indecisive like me.

It was then time for the fun part - to decide what we would get to eat. I was torn between the chicken special - polenta crusted chicken - or the vegetarian special - veggie curry with a toasted tortilla - but in the end went for the veggie option. Curry can be quite difficult to master so I was keen to see how this would turn out! Mum chose the fish and chips, a seaside classic.

Our food came very promptly - thumbs up for that because we were both starving - and after going upstairs to take some photographs (I could only get phone photos so apologies) we started to tuck in to our food. Everything was plentiful, hot and fresh. My veg curry was so big I could only eat half of it - it came with a massive bowl of rice and toasted tortillas dusted with spices. It was absolutely delicious - I'm not usually a curry fan but this was one of the best curries I've ever had. The rice was also cooked beautifully - no boring plain rice at The Draft House! The curry wasn't just your standard fare of vegetarian curry. Rather than the usual unimaginative carrots and mushrooms, this included courgette, cauliflower, sweet potato and an array of other vegetables. I would definitely get this if I went back to visit The Draft House. I'm a bit sad it's only a special and not on the usual lunch menu which has recently been updated for Autumn 2015. It's good to have seasonal fresh food rather than eating the same thing all year round!

Mum said her fish was beautifully crispy and flaky and the chips were just as good. We were well and truly stuffed by the end of our meal but decided we'd have to sample the desserts too to give an honest account. I chose the chocolate and orange mousse which was actually dairy free (woop!) and mum chose the meringue. I scoffed my mousse down in about 0.5 seconds, it was heaven in a bowl - well, jar.

I'm a huge fan of The Draft House's unique touch. In this day and age it can be hard to find a place that isn't the same been there, done that foodie fare - let alone a pub. We're lucky in Sligo that we have some stellar dining options! 

We waddled out with full tummies and smiling faces after a delicious meal. If you find yourself in Strandhill be sure to pop into The Draft House for lunch, dinner or a drink at sunset - you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Maya for being so helpful and friendly and to The Draft House for accommodating us. Check them out here. Read my mum's account of our meal here - her photos are fantastic and so much better than my quick snaps!

P.S I've majorly lost my blogging mojo so most of my latest posts are food reviews - if there's anything you'd like to see on the blog please let me know!

Relax & Rewind @ The Radisson Blu

Recently mum and I got invited to spend a night away in the 4* Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Rosses Point. As we live in Sligo Rosses Point isn't much of a drive from us - so it was like a holiday at home! 

After getting our hair dyed and blowdried (making the most of it), we checked in and met with Berni from the Radisson, who arranged our stay. We had a coffee and a chat and Berni welcomed us to the hotel and told us what our stay would consist of. As well as the overnight stay, we were also being treated to aqua aerobics, dinner at the award winning Classiebawn Restaurant, breakfast, and 2 mini treatments at the spa. A generous package indeed!

As we checked in at 3 and our aqua aerobics class wasn't until 7, we decided to take a spin down to Rosses Point beach and take a few photos. It was such a beautiful sunny day it would've been a shame to waste it! I tried to do some dramatic look-at-me-I'm-moodily-looking-at-the-sea poses but I probably looked demented. 

Our room was Business Class and was lovely and spacious. We were pleasantly surprised by the petit fours left for us - and the Nespresso machine! We had a drink looking over the balcony at the stunning view of the sea and Knocknarea mountain before donning our swimming costumes and heading to the pool for a quick soak in the jacuzzi. Of course the bubbles only started where I was sitting so it looked very dodgy for a minute or so - mum found this hilarious, natch. The pool was quite cold after the warm jacuzzi so we plunged in. I've never tried aqua aerobics before so I was quite apprehensive. The YouTube video I'd watched of it seemed gentle so I thought it'd  be easy - oh how wrong I was! Our instructor, Gillian, was so energetic and fit, I was nearly dying after just the warmup. I never knew you could sweat under water! It was great fun, mum and I were having such a laugh. I swear I have co-ordination issues because there was one move I just could not get the hang of. It was like the water version of pat your head rub your stomach!

My legs were quite jelly-like, and after the 45 minute long workout I'd definitely worked up an appetite for our dinner. We headed down at 8.30 and were promptly served by the friendly wait staff. I don't eat dairy anymore and was happy to see the menu had options, as well as gluten free options if you're a coeliac. 

We were served some bread with a bulb of roasted garlic (and I had an orthodontist appointment the next day - sorry David McConville) to whet our appetites. We were served an amuse bouche of Coopershill venison, beetroot jelly, pistachio dust and chopped walnuts with pea sprouts to prepare us for our meal. I'm used to having soup as an amuse bouche so this was an interesting change. I will assume the venison was cooked blue as it had the texture of raw meat. I wasn't a huge fan of the meat but the rest was delicious - not for the faint hearted though!

I ordered the trio of melon to start and mum had a tian of chicken with mango, coriander and guacamole. Both were absolutely delicious - who knew melon could be a fulfilling starter?! Next was the mains. I chose duck breast with quinoa, broccoli and a mixed berry & orange jus. I've never enjoyed quinoa very much but this was gorgeous, I could've eaten a whole bowl of just the quinoa. The duck was cooked to perfection and so juicy - a quacking dish. Sorry, I had to. 

Dessert is always tricky when you're dairy free so I enquired with the waiter who advised me the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was made with coconut milk. I was absolutely delighted with this as it's what I would have ordered anyway! Again, it was just perfect. The presentation was beautifully simplistic on all the dishes and the staff were very attentive and friendly.

We were well and truly stuffed after our meal and practically waddled back to our room to nurse our food babies. I had a quick bath, properly making the most of the hotel, and we were off to sleep in no time at all. I had probably the best sleep I've ever had in a hotel - usually I wake up boiling hot and thirsty, but not this time! The beds were so comfortable and the room was very quiet.

In the morning we rushed down to breakfast, as if we hadn't eaten enough the night before. The hotel offers both a fried and continental breakfast. The continental breakfast selection was fab: fruit, cereal, pastries, cold meats, cheese, yoghurt, nuts and seeds...they even had gluten free granola and soya milk, which was a huge plus for me! The fried breakfast had your standard breakfast fare: black & white pudding, eggs, mushrooms, beans, bacon, sausage, etc. I was a bit disappointed there were no hash browns because hash browns make a breakfast in my opinion.

After breakfast it was time to head to the spa. We threw on our robes and slippers and spent around an hour in the thermal suite, enjoying a foot soak and scrub in the foot baths, before chilling in the relaxation room. I actually fell asleep for a few minutes! I've decided I want a relaxation pod in my future house (ha). We were then called in for our treatments. Funny enough, my therapist was also called Lucy! I got a mini manicure and facial. I haven't had a facial in ages and my skin has been acting up a bit lately. My facial was absolutely lovely and my skin has felt great all day - I'd love to have a facial every week! I went for a cool shimmery purple shade for my manicure. The polish used was a Vinylux by CND which I was told would last about a week. Sadly, not even an hour after having them done the polish started to 'shrink' and smudge off, which is a shame. 

Unfortunately it was then time for us to snap back to reality and go home. We were so relaxed it was sad to have to leave. Getting the opportunity to do this more often would be heavenly. A girl can dream!

Thanks again to Berni and all at the Radisson Blu Rosses Point for making us feel so welcome and treating us to a relaxing stay. Check them out here.

Dodgy Dating

What is it with 'dating' (or as the kids are at nowadays, shifting/meeting)? It seems in this day and age, in Sligo, or just among my age group, it just doesn't exist. 

I seem to be stuck at that awkward age where anyone my age or just below/above is too young (mentally) and anyone 23+ is 'too old' and seems to think I'm a child. I also think where I live is a big problem - I've been informed by my mother there's 1 male to every 4 females in Sligo town. Oh, to have been born a lesbian or have an interest in joining the Convent! ;-)

A combination of being one of the only singletons among my friends, boredom and curiosity led me to download Tinder. For about a month or so it lay unopened on my app list, the red flame a glaring reminder of my single status. 

One fateful day I decided to have a peek at Tinder and see what all the fuss was about. I mostly swiped left because I was too shy/afraid to talk to an actual human but after a while I dipped my toes in and actually swiped right to a few people. Now, don't get me wrong, there are some nice lads on Tinder (who mostly haven't replied to me so maybe I just need a face/personality transplant) but there are also some odd characters. As follows, here are some of my main gripes about Tinder:

1. Group profile pictures.

But which one are you? I wouldn't consider myself a very shallow person but I do like to put a face to a name. For all I know you could be the 80 year old man in the picture. Or the baby. 

2. Boring descriptions.

'Snapchat imjohnnysligo add me'. I can barely contain my excitement. 

3. Accidentally swiping past someone attractive and/or interesting.
Then imagining everything that could've been. Ain't nobody gonna pay €7.38 per month to go back.

4. Attractive and/or interesting guys who live 105040 miles away.
CRY.

Saying all this, I will still continue to swipe away. Curiousity won't kill the cat in this instance, but the cat may end up screaming at its phone and wishing it swiped right.

Have you ever had any dodgy Tinder experiences?

Life's Sweet @ Sweet Beat

If you live in Sligo you may know that an exciting new café has entered the scene. Sweet Beat is a vegan café serving healthy, fresh food. It's refreshing to see something like this in Sligo - although there isn't a massive vegan crowd in Sligo the café thrives and already has quite the following. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian myself so from this review you'll see you don't need to be to enjoy what Sweet Beat has to offer.

I was greeted by Carolanne, the owner of Sweet Beat, and her sister Denise who was more than happy to show me around and explain the menu. If you frequent Strandhill People's Market you may know Carolanne under her pseudonym Green Warrior.

After a quick tour of the café and a study of the menu it wasn't hard to decide what I wanted to get. I did plan to get one of the super salads as the weather has been nice lately but when I went in yesterday it was a dull day so I went for the vegan lasagne, their Daily Warmer. They also do brunch - avocado toast (which has caused quite the stir, I hear), hummus toast and their own homemade beans on toast. I treated mum to lunch and she chose the hummus toast which she enjoyed but said it was a little too spicy for her taste, which I did agree with. 

As well as all those yummy offerings they also serve raw vegan brownies, chocolate and homemade smoothies and juices. I went for a Rocket Cow smoothie (I assume this is a play on 'raw cacao' - I like it!) made with almond milk, nut butter, banana and cacao powder. 

The service was very quick considering it was the lunchtime rush and they were rushed off their feet. Mine looked and smelled great so after taking a few snaps I dug in. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't sure how a vegan lasagne was gonna work but it was delicious - so full of flavour. It did taste like a normal lasagne but 'cleaner' and obviously without the mince. It was served with 2 super salads - chickpea and green bean salad and carrot salad, both yummy.

The Rocket Cow smoothie also didn't disappoint - I make this kind of smoothie quite a lot at home anyway so I knew what to expect. It's like a healthy chocolate-peanut-butter smoothie and it was surprisingly filling. So smooth and creamy considering it's totally dairy free. Among the other smoothie offerings was a turmeric smoothie (not sure how I'd feel about that), iced coffee, wheatgrass shot, ginger shot and a beetroot, sweet potato and ginger juice - as well as the usual tea and coffee. 

I was extremely tempted by the tempting brownies on the counter but I decided to be good and I was extremely full up - my lunch kept me going for the whole day.

You can find Sweet Beat on Bridge Street (where Chapters used to be, sob) or check them out on Facebook here. I give it my (non-vegan) approval!

Thanks a million to Carolanne for inviting me along and for the yummy lunch.

Donkeys & Getting Dolled Up

Random title with 2 main subjects that are miles away from each other, I know, but you never know what you'll get with me! You'll be pleased to know no donkeys were dolled up in the making of this blog post.

In February, for her birthday, my mum got invited by the lovely people at Cromleach Lodge to try out their spa for a pamper afternoon. They also told me I could come along so I was delighted I could feature it in my blog. I've never been to Cromleach Lodge before but I've only heard good things about it so I was eagerly anticipating the afternoon. As I didn't have the best end to the week it came at an opportune time - there's nothing like a spa day to take your mind off things!

We had a little bit of time to kill before our appointments so we headed to the Sathya Sai donkey sanctuary, bags of carrots and gingernuts in tow. Sue, the lady who runs the sanctuary, told us all about the donkeys. It's a bit like a retirement home for donkeys who have been abused, injured or who are just getting on a bit. She has 53 donkeys in total - I don't know how she remembers all their names, I can barely even remember mine some days! We gave the donkeys plenty of carrots and gingernuts and then headed on our way to Cromleach Lodge, a short drive from the sanctuary. 

This Shetland pony has better hair than I do.

As we drove up I was in awe. We could see the hotel from the road (as well as some stunning scenery) and it looked absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun came out in full force that day. After a quick snoop around the hotel we headed to the Ciunas (which means 'quiet' in Irish) spa to robe up. We were led to a gorgeous relaxation room to have a quick bite to eat before our treatments as we were starving and the half a KitKat each we'd had on the drive over didn't suffice. We admired the mountain views as we sipped our teas (I've become quite partial to green tea, even though it does taste a bit like the ground) and nibbled at homemade biscuits. I chose a tomato and mozzarella ciabatta and mum went for a ham, cheese and onion toastie. The sandwiches were very tasty and came with a small side salad that had the most delicious dressing - I must find out what it was! 

When we were fed and watered we were shown the steam room, sauna, and - the most exciting bit - the outdoor hot tub. Of course we headed straight for the hot tub! It was so relaxing sitting outside savouring the amazing scenery and soaking up the sunshine. The only thing was because of the breeze I did get quite chilly but I am a naturally cold person! There was also no step inside the hot tub so I nearly went flying in, graceful as ever. Apologies to the other people in the hot tub, they probably got an eyeful and were probably blinded by my milk bottle legs glinting in the sunshine.

After sampling the steam room (with added colour changing fairy lights) and sauna it was time for our treatments. I chose the mini makeover (not the facial for once!) and mum decided on the hydrotherapy bath as she loves that sort of thing. We parted ways and my lovely makeup artist started to work her magic. I believe her name was Natasha (I could be wrong, you know how bad I am with names) and she was lovely and friendly. Kudos to her for putting up with me squirming when she did my eyeliner - you don't know fear until someone else is poking at your eye! I was also delighted with how natural the makeup looked, I was a bit worried they wouldn't be able to match a foundation to me but she was very thorough and talented and I actually looked half human at the end ;-)

The finished look! P.S my best friend Bethany did the ombré in my hair. She's a trainee hairdresser and she's brilliant! If you live in Sligo check out the MSLETB training centre in Ballytivnan, where she trains, and you can get your hair done there without the hefty salon prices.

I was so relaxed by the time we'd finished I nearly fell asleep on the way home! Unfortunately then it was back to reality and dinner needed to be cooked but I was so relaxed I didn't mind so much. Next time I go I'll have to try a seaweed bath. They overlook all the views you can see from the hot tub.

If you're after a pampering day, a weekend away or just a bite to eat - I hear their restaurant is incredible - definitely pay a visit to Cromleach Lodge. Just don't drive afterwards or you may fall asleep!

Thanks a million to all at Cromleach Lodge for a fabulous day. Have a look at their website here for more information.

Eye of The Tiger

If you live in Sligo you may know that Danish store Tiger recently joined the (small) posse of shops around the town. If you aren't familiar with the store, they stock unusual decorative goods, toys, craft supplies...everything really. I love Tiger because unlike your typical 'Euro store' the products are quality and very stylish. The most expensive thing in store at the moment is €30 so everything is really cheap.

Mum got invited to the opening (because she is a Sligo A-lister) and managed to sneak me a goodie bag too which I was delighted with. I now have giant paperclips and bunting for those decorative emergencies. Joking aside, it was a lovely goodie bag!

Going into Tiger makes you realise you really do need decorative fluffy sheep, gorilla shaped erasers and rabbit shaped watering cans. Because...just because! I've already seen about 20 things I need (want) for no particular reason. I was also very excited to see Tiger stock a range of jewellery (really nice jewellery!) and makeup, which I'm eager to try out. They had an eyeshadow palette for something like €3 which is just amazeballs.

Tiger also sell food items such as really nice pretzels, spices and sweets for a fraction of the usual prices. I can't wait to give their spice range a go for my cooking! P.S in case you missed it I'm now writing some recipes for BiaMaith, a new and exciting food website by a very talented chef for people on a budget. Give it a wee gawk!

I'm looking forward to trying out some of their office supplies as I'm an office intern, I definitely need one of their really unique notebooks. Definitely.

So in conclusion, Tiger has graced Sligo with its presence. And it's grrrrreat. I'm sorry, I had to. Thanks to mum for letting me steal her photos!

Still Smiling

If you've read my blog before or even know me in person, you'll know I have an extreme phobia of going to the dentist. Everything about it - from the smell to the sounds to the waiting area - gives me the chills thinking about it and I'm not sure I'll ever fully get out of that mentality.

So, when I made an appointment to visit David and the crew at David McConville Orthodontics in Quayside, Sligo, I spent most of the day unable to concentrate at work. Of course, David McConville is an extremely popular orthodontist and I'd heard rave reviews about them, but I still couldn't quite relax. Until I went there.

The first thing I noticed (after realising how unfit I am from walking up the stairs) was the fact it didn't look like a dentist. By the front door, a wall was covered in pictures of photogenic people with perfectly straight smiles - all patients of David McConville. The waiting area had the appearance of a beauty salon or a posh hotel reception. It was bright and airy with glossy black tiles and velvety grey sofas. Now, I may be shallow, but I do base businesses on their appearances first off, and this definitely didn't disappoint. I actually feel more relaxed if I walk into a place and it has nice décor. I sank into the plush sofa while I waited and read a leaflet about Invisalign to weigh my options up.

No real teeth were harmed in the making of these models.

Ever since I can remember, I've had a fixation on how my teeth look. I sucked my thumb excessively as a child and this led to bad overcrowding and misalignment of my teeth. I never smile with my teeth, if I laugh or yawn I cover my mouth, and I feel self conscious about them in general. I envy all my friends who have nice straight teeth and can smile without giving it a second thought and it was getting me down - so I decided now was the time to do something about it.

Although my stomach lurched when my name was called, I took a deep breath and walked into the treatment room. I was immediately greeted by David and he invited me to sit on the black leather dentist chair. I was pleasantly surprised when I did - not only was it the comfiest dentist chair I've ever sat in, it also massaged my back. Dentistry had never felt this comfortable before! Bonus points for the fact Ellie Goulding was playing in the background - basically my dream dentist experience (all that was missing was Jamie Dornan feeding me strawberries but I'll let them off for that one). I know those may be little things to most of you, but if you have dental fear you'll know it's so important to feel comfortable and I think the right setting is vital for this.

By this point I'd relaxed considerably and David started to examine my teeth. He got me to bite and open my mouth a few times to determine how my teeth were aligned. He gave me a mirror so I could see what he was doing which I appreciated a lot as I felt more in control with the whole experience - usually when you're in the dentist chair you feel a loss of control, this was not the case here. After a quick look he told me my teeth were misaligned - the bottom ones jut out under the top when I bite down, which isn't right. Apparently this is a problem with how my jaw is shaped and would have to be corrected with surgery if I needed it done (thankfully he said it wouldn't be too big of a problem). I knew something was wrong with my face all this time, thanks mum.

He explained that because of the overcrowding on top I'd need to have 2 teeth taken out, which I was surprisingly ok with. He showed me the three choices I had - steel brackets, ceramic brackets or Invisalign. As is the same with everything, there are pros and cons to each. The brackets are quicker but cosmetically they don't look as good as the Invisalign which is barely noticeable. Invisalign takes slightly longer to work but you can take them on and off to eat and brush your teeth, which is a big plus as I was worried about having difficulty brushing with braces. To be perfectly honest, cosmetically it wouldn't make a huge difference to me if I got train tracks or Invisalign as either way my teeth would be hugely improved.

Having a poke around!

We talked a bit more about the differences between the choices and how I'd need to have any dental work done before I get the braces - otherwise, as he said, it'd be like putting the cart before the donkey, and as I said, it'd be like putting the roof on before building the house! So that's the next step before I can continue on my journey to being able to smile and think nothing of it.

I entered the orthodontist wondering if I could just make a homemade brace myself out of a rubber band and some superglue and left feeling relaxed and optimistic. And for me to be comfortable with something like this is a big achievement.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on the whole braces progress and fingers (and teeth) crossed it goes well - but with David McConville on the case I have no doubt it will.

David McConville are on Facebook here.

Hagelslag & Sandwich Willy: My Holland Holiday

You may be scratching your head at the title. Fear not, dear reader, this is not 50 Shades of Dutch. Hagelslag are Dutch sprinkles of some sort that you put on toast and apparently they taste like magic and rainbows and Sandwich Willy is a very popular lunchroom in Eindhoven. I'm actually 12 years old and had a good old titter at the name. Thankfully they just served regular sandwiches, nothing of the rudey sort.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I was off to Holland with my mum and brother. I spent 3 days in Eindhoven, a fairly small city located about 2 hours from Amsterdam. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to check out 'the Dam' as they say but we had a great time staying around central Eindhoven.

Things easy to find in Eindhoven:
Attractive blonde haired blue eyed fellows with good bone structure.
Bicycles.
Inappropriate shop names.
Sausages.

Things hard to find in Eindhoven:
Supermarkets.
Clogs.
Someone who doesn't own a bicycle.

When we arrived we flew into Eindhoven airport (after I nearly killed a Dutch guy with my suitcase obv) so our hotel was supposedly only a 15 minute bus trip away. Unfortunately we (*cough* mum) neglected to research directions properly and ended up wandering around lost for eons. At least 2 friendly Dutchians told us 'I think that address is in Amsterdam', causing us to act mildly hysterical wondering if we'd booked a hotel 2 hours away by accident. In the end we gave up and got a taxi to the hotel which, as it turns out, was literally around the corner. Oh dear.

When we arrived to the hotel (after a lot of oohing and aahhing at the decor) we headed straight for the free drinks machine - after another titter at a beverage called Wiener Melange. As I said, I'm 12. 

Fourteen hot chocolates later - if you'd have cut me I'd have bled hot chocolate - we decided to head out and have a sneaky look at the four storey (!!!) Primark. I made a mental list of what I wanted - not much, just half the store - and decided the next day would be the designated shopping day of the trip.

After a fitful sleep listening to mum snoring in my ear it was time to hit the shops. As we walked down the cobblestoned streets a few strange/wonderful things happened. Number one, I nearly got ran over by a bike. Multiple times. Number two, I nearly got ran over by some sort of vehicle that housed an array of dancing/singing puppet things. It played the Macarena. I don't really know either. I assume this is a totally normal thing that happens on a daily basis because no one batted an eyelid. Me and mum stood and watched, entranced like when Donkey and Shrek watch that puppet show in Doolock.

After the street show it was time for breakfast. We popped into a bakery and tried to make sense of some of the pastries for sale but in the end gave up. Thankfully everyone we met in Eindhoven spoke English so we ended up with something edible and didn't have to face a lucky dip while ordering! Although I did scratch my head at the hot food vending machines that served burgers, sausages and something which was essentially a Findus Crispy Pancake...

We perused some of the shops - I found the shopping great in Eindhoven - and I tried to be good as I knew I'd see a lot in Primark I wanted to buy. After reading some of the interesting shop names (Lingerie Dump, Scamm, Dubledikk to name a few) we decided to face Primark. As it was a Saturday afternoon of course it was jammed. But I am a strong independent woman so I rolled my sleeves up and devised a plan of action with my mum as my handy sidekick. I nearly rolled across the floor like a Bond girl at one point in the shoe section but managed to control myself.

After each section was covered I yelled 'MOVE ON TEAM' and charged on to the next area. An hour and a half and a lighter purse later, we headed back to the hotel to refuel before heading back out to explore again. I managed to refrain from buying too much in other shops as I was conscious of my tiny pitiful cabin luggage (curse you, Ryanair) but I got a few nice bits which I will do a haul post on.

That night we went for a nice meal in an Italian place (yeah, go to Holland, eat Italian. Standard) called Happy Italy. We didn't realise quite how popular the place was, however, and proceeded to wait 30 minutes in a very long queue. In the end, it was so worth it. Mum got a pizza twice the size of her head for €6.25 and I got a huge bowl of pasta for €6.75. Us being fatties we also had to try the Nutella pizza - so wrong yet so right ;-)

The next day, after nearly having a heart attack at the price of the train, we headed on our merry way to a safari park about an hour away. When we arrived we queued to get on the safari bus and just about managed to get the last two seats. The bus drove through some of the enclosures so the animals were coming up to the bus. Unfortunately I could only take phone pictures so I didn't get any good shots. The girl driving the bus made an attempt to translate everything to English but sort of gave up halfway through so I guess I'll never know the interesting facts she was reciting about camels. But alas, I shan't get the hump over it. *ba dum tiss*

For the rest of the park we walked through. I think we may have missed some of the animals as I didn't see any giraffes or elephants (apart from myself in the mirror after that Nutella pizza). As we had to catch a bus - and the bus only came every hour - we ran to the exit and actually ended up on the side of the motorway by accident. Luckily we made it to the bus stop in time. Actually, we made it to the bus stop so early I thought we'd be stranded at the side of a barren road in Holland and have to attempt to thumb a lift in Dutch!

We were going to head out for a few drinks but we were so shattered at the end of the day we decided to buy some goodies and a bottle of wine and have a picnic in our hotel room. We made the fatal error of buying potato salad but forgot to get cutlery. Luckily hotel reception gave us some and I didn't have to use my nose as a spoon! 

Sadly the next day it was time to travel home. After frantically mounting my suitcase in an attempt to fit everything in (and putting on about 14 outfits to save space - I did wonder if I could wear a pair of shoes on my hands) we caught the bus back to the airport and hung around. I successfully ordered a Starbucks (no mean feat even in Ireland) and to my delight found out they do peanut butter stack - not the healthiest breakfast but I was on me holidays ;-)

After very attractively falling asleep with my mouth open on the plane we touched back down in Dublin and began our 3 hour train trip back home. I absolutely loved my Holland trip but would've liked to be there for longer so we could do more. The people were so friendly, I'd actually say it's the friendliest country I've been to beside Spain. I also thought the prices and shopping were great and loved the infrastructure and design of Eindhoven.

Holland, hopefully I will see you again!

Are you going on holiday anywhere this year? Let me know!