101 in 1001 : 63 Coming in to land

I'm back from Dublin, none the worse for the weather (although it was blinkin' freezing there was no snow until I got back over here. The NW looked especially white as we flew back over it.)

Had a fab time being a tourist. The hotel was exceedingly posh - but about a mile outside the city centre which did my pedometer step count no end of good. (That is, until I discovered the local bus services...).

The economic recession has really hit home in Dublin. It's always been an expensive place but it's obvious now that people are struggling. Everywhere you look in the tourist areas there are people begging and hustling just to stay alive. Lots of homeless people, too. Instead of feeling guilty about it, it's prodded me into making a donation to the Salvation Army who do such a good job helping people whose only place is out on the streets. I've paid for a soup run - I hope it helps just a bit.

So - for an update on the listy thing:

4. Had a brief swim at the hotel (6 lengths, I said it was brief!) but I was really only there for the sauna :)

7. Step count is now 91,644/202,000

14. Done! I happened to get to Christchurch Cathedral just at the start of a service so I crept in and sat at the back.

24. £150 now in the terramundi!

25-28 and 44-45. Steady progress on all these. The budget is looking really good considering it's Christmas and considering I've just been to one of the most overpriced places in Europe! Mind you, I haven't had to buy any food as I'm only back here until lunchtime today when I go off to my parents for the rest of Christmas.

35. I can highly recommend Fan's Cantonese resturant, Dame Street Dublin. I had their "Early Bird" set special and it was delicious :)

63. Done!

77. Done!

96. So that's another three things complete.

Packing's done - off to Ireland!

It's always the way, huh? First day of the holidays and I was wide awake at 5am...I never do that when I'm at work!

All the packing's done and I'm off for a long weekend in Dublin. Looking forward to being a tourist and having my meals cooked for me. I'll get a couple of list items ticked off with this trip and probably start a few more.

Back on Wednesday, then off to my parents for Christmas.

Season's Greetings to you all - thank you for reading!

Red nosed reindeer!

It's only a week 'til I break up from work. A whole fortnight off!

This week has been steady - nothing major achieved but lots of things ticking nicely along.

Almost £150 rattling around in the terramundi pot - apparently it holds about £400 so a way to go yet. £2 coins seem to be rarer than hen's teeth at the moment...

I've sorted next year's budget spreadsheet out - made lots of alterations to the one I used this year to make it much more relevant to me. Is it sad to be looking forward to using it? ::nods...probably::

Looking forward to this time next week when I'll be drinking something stout-y in a pub in Dublin.

Happy Christmas folks!

Is it nearly Christmas yet?!

I get stupidly excited about Christmas :)

Unfortunately, this year I don't see much point in festooning the place in decorations as I won't be at home from the 19th onwards - I shall instead leave my curtains open in the evenings so I can appreciate the neighbours'! The people in the flat opposite mine have a small child and they seem to have bought an entire store's worth of lights. They look good from over here :)

All the presents are bought - except, you know how it is - you've bought one thing then you see something else that would actually be much better for the recipient and it's a battle between returning the first gift, giving that to someone else, or getting them both....! Anyway - MOST of the presents are bought.

List!

3. A few hours donated to my best mate who needed some help with furniture moving. She also had me taking her rubbish to the local tip AND cooking lunch for us. Good job I love her ;)

6. - Another item ticked off - I've got my pedometer and have started counting steps. I'm woefully short of the recommended 10,000 a day but hoping to work up to that.

57 - Catch 101 fish - despite nearly coming down with hypothermia on Friday, I managed eleven fish on board AlyKat out of Minehead. Go me!