The Christmas Season is well underway…

So I’ve finished all my Christmas shopping, actually I’ve been finished mine since around the first weekend in November… but I covered that in my last blog, so on to new things…

Derek and I were out in Dublin on Thursday finishing up a few bits and bobs and that sort and over dinner afterwards Derek asked if I preferred a surprise or something to look forward too.

Immediately my mind went into jumping around to every possible scenario, something that can make surprises a lot less fun. I figured maybe he was fishing for Christmas gift ideas and the possibility of a trip somewhere (although we have all of our Vacation days for next year pretty much all planned away now!!) and figured that I liked a surprise much more than something to look forward to. So that was my response and it was left at that.

When he came home from work on Friday he sat down and announced his surprise… Derek booked tickets to Montreal for Christmas! Now, you don’t know all about the wheeling and dealings of our daily lives together however one of the things we’ve been unable to work out is how to spend the big days of the holiday season together.

It was one of the stipulations that I put on the deal of me moving over here to Ireland that I would get to spend Christmas back home in Montreal where there was snow and family and the traditions that I follow. Also you should know that I love Christmas, and love everything about it in Montreal. However with Derek’s job in retail he is forbidden to take vacation days over the months of December and January and therefore cannot ever make the trip… until now.

The little sneak!!! You see Derek; back in July worked out that Christmas fell on the perfect days this year to allow him to make the trip from Dublin, via Paris (So far so good with Air France at Christmas and no lost bags!!!) to Montreal on Christmas eve and then return with me on the 28th to be back at work in time for the 30th with just the holiday days and his 2 days off per week… the little genius!

So for me this is great news, although I now have this fear that perhaps I have talked up Christmas a little too much and that Derek will have all of these high expectations of the season… I suppose that as long as there’s a good dumping of snow he’ll be happy he came!

My family on the other hand is thrilled, in particular my mother. This year has not been the best and with the death of my Grammie in May I think part of us all were dreading Christmas Day, she was a big part of the holiday, and for the last few years it has just been the four of us plus her to celebrate, as there was going to be an obvious missing member this year I think my mother in particular was having a hard time getting into the holiday season, with Derek’s news on the weekend my mother kicked the season into high gear, she had something to look forward to, something different on the day and went Christmas shopping on Sunday and bought her first three gifts… all for Derek!

Christmas - the shopping part

OK, so I'm one of those crazy people that works hard to have my Christmas shopping finished. I don't do it because of some sort of challenge or to show off... both of which I have been accused... I do it because I love Christmas and once my gifts are bought and wrapped they go under the tree (once it arrives!) I can sit back relax and really start to enjoy the holiday.



Last night we were down on Grafton street and happened to be there for the lighting of the chistmas decorations on the street, it was lovely... the first big christmas warming of my heart for the year.



Derek and I finished our gift buying, just one or two more little things to get but the season is weel underway in our house, now I just can't wait until December 1st so I can get all those deocrations out!!!

Umbrella Etiquette & Weather Changes

So you're going to Ireland... and you’re wondering what do you need to bring, what are you necessities. There are three things you need to bring to Ireland, spring summer fall or winter you may need them or not but you'll fit right in as long as you have:

1) A pair of sunglasses
2) An umbrella
3) A wool coat.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘I’m going to be there in the middle of the summer, what do I need a wool coat for?!’

My answer is simple: I have no idea, but lemme tell you, it’ll be the hottest day of the year and the middle of summer and you can bet that you’ll see someone out there in a wool coat.

Here it rains, it’s sunny, cloudy, and partly cloudy and that’s all in one day. And then? once and a while if you’re lucky (lucky means you’re somewhere safe) it hails.