Halloween

Hey! It's so long since we updated this but I couldn't pass up the chance to tell you about our Halloween night! We went out into town to Messrs Maguires (pub) and met Emer and Marsha. Then about 11.30 we left and went to a house party thrown by a friend of Marshas. We had a great night and our costumes were good. I was a Las Vegas showgirl and Brad was from Battlestar Galactica. He made it himself by stitching on the official patches he got online.

Hey so we have a bit of news cause we haven't updated our blog in a bit. We had Aaron over to stay with us last weekend. It was great we did the Viking splash tour which was cool, and we went to the phoenix park for a walk and a picnic. We went out with my friends to celebrate my birthday and it was fun all round! Then Aaron left us to return to London. We didn't do much this week as I was working nearly every day but today (Sunday) we bought a L.C.D. T.V. Its great we're watching Top Gear on the big screen like we used to!
Did the Viking Splash Tour of Dublin. Its a tour on an old amphibious bus that gives you a bit of a viking history of Dublin while you drive around wearing viking hats and giving viking cheers out to passers by. The bus then goes into the canal and does a quick lap before returning to dry land.

Aimee's birthday

Hello everyone Aimee here. I had my birthday on Saturday and I just want to say thank you for the texts and cards. Thanks Helen for the lovely presents too! Brad and I didn't get up to much we went up to the shopping centre and I bought a watch with my birthday money. Then on Saturday night we went out for dinner in Terrenure village to Vermillion (a fantastic Indian restaurant). It was great we had lots of lovely food and we were so full by the time we left! We are going out with our friends this Saturday and Aaron is staying with us this weekend so it should be great!

Festival time

Hello everyone. We have had a fun week. Last tuesday we went to Kilmainham gaol. This was where many political prisoners were held during the british rule in Ireland, the prison was an old victorian gaol first and the cells are tiny and dark. The guide was very good and knew a lot about the gaol. We saw where Irish patriots were executed by firing squad after the 1916 easter rising. It was very interesting.
Yesterday we went to Oxegan(a 3 day music festival held outside Dublin). We had gotten free VIP tickets off my friend Steven who works for the band "The Killers", it was so cool! We got to see lots of acts a few up and coming ones and a few more well known like Katy Perry, The Killers and The ting tings. We had a good day even though the rain was falling and the ground was really mucky!
I'll just add that Lady Gaga was rubbish and not only couldn't sing, but didn't really sing at all. She also went through 3 outfits which is kinda stupid in a festival. Mucky really means the place was a field of mud and thankfully I had wellies on. Other bands were great though and even though it poured rain a couple of times, most of the day was great.
I've also been offered a job with a graduation photography company commencing around September which should be good.

Dublin zoo

Hello! So this week has been quiet. I've been working away and Brad went on another fishing trip. We went to the zoo on tuesday and that was good. It was a bit hot so some of the animals were just flaked in the sun but some were also very funny like the sealions (there is a 2 week old baby sealion) and we really liked the hippo's swiming to keep cool. The red panda's were great too!
Most of the animals were in hiding which was a shame. Especially the big cats. Did like the Red Pandas though and we were able to get a better look than you get at melbourne zoo. Had another fishing trip this week, this time just fishing off the beach.

Powerscourt

Hello everyone. Last week we went on a little day trip to visit Powerscourt waterfall and gardens in county Wicklow. It was beautiful we had a lovely picnic beside the waterfall and then went for a walk around the gardens exploring the Japanese gardens and the pet cemetary. It was a lovely day. The weather has been so good lately, we are even thinking of going to the seaside if its nice tomorrow.
I went fishing out on the bay on thursday and caught a little fish. We (Timo, Andy, Colman, Robert and Gav) hired a small boat for the afternoon and had a good time.

Newgrange

Last Tuesday we took a day trip to Knowth and Newgrange. They're about an hour to the north of Dublin and are Passage tombs built on hilltops that pre-date the pyramids by about 500 years and stonehenge by 1000 years.
The passage that runs through Newgrange was designed so that during the winter solstace (the shortest day of the year) the passage would be in perfect alignment with the rising of the sun and the inner chamber, which is normally pitch black, is fully illuminated by sunlight.
The outside of the tombs are surrounded by huge rocks that have come from as far as 80km away and are carved with neolithic art (new stone age).
Newgrange is actually the oldest surviving man made structure on earth.

More wedding photos

Just a few photos to see. I hope you enjoy!

Wedding!! Ireland style

Hello all! So sorry we haven't been in touch in ages and ages! At least we have time to breathe now! The Irish wedding is over it was last Wednesday(10th June). So we have had a visit from Helen and John who stayed in Dublin for a few days before heading off around the country. I think they had a good time. It was great for us to have them over. My uncle Mairtin was over for the wedding too and some of Brad's Australian friends (Aaron, Scott and Calum). They have all left now so its quiet here at the moment. I'm just working away although its only 3 days a week unless they need me for cover for holidays. Brad is still searching and we hope he finds something soon.
So the wedding was lovely I'm attaching a few photos and I'll post some more later in the week. The weather was lovely and we were very lucky it stayed fine that day and the day after when we had a huge bbq in the house which went on till midnight.
Our ceremony was beautiful and the food was very nice. Niamh made an amazing cake which tasted great. I made my own bouquet and it turned out fine. Rachel took the photos and we are so excited to see them! The music was great and lots of people got up to sing including my dad and Aaron both of whom gave great speaches (Aaron was our best man). It was a wonderful day and Brad and I couldn't have been happier.

Gold Class

Hey, it's just me again. Brad is over at Franks house with Scott for game day! I haven't got much news. We are trying to sell our furniture and we are getting organised to leave the house. We are going out tomorrow night with a few friends for dinner (Marlene, Lindsey, Aaron, Julie and John). The Avalon air show is on this weekend and we are all going but we are all praying it doesn't rain on us!
Brad finished work on Wednesday, he's all happy now. I don't finish till next week. We went to the cinema last Saturday to see the watchmen with vouchers for gold class that Marlene had given us as our wedding present. Gold class is amazing! You sit in a lazy boy recliner and have plenty of space and your own table and a waiter who brings you popcorn and drinks! It was good to see a long movie and take full advantage of the comfort!
So thats it for news, except we saw some Kangaroos out the front of our house this morning. They were pretty close and Brad took the photo below.

Februrary News

Hey so there isn't any real news at the moment. Brad and I are busy trying to find a home for Tink, and post boxes of things home to Ireland. We haven't been out much. We went out for dinner with Marlene and Colin the Friday before last and we have been to the cinema to see "The International" and "He's just not that into you". Scott came over for the usual boys day on Thursday but he brought Mel with him so we went to see "Bride Wars" which was good and we did a bit of shopping and had some cake!
I went into the city today to the Sunday Market and the Vic Market. It will probably be for the last time (at least for this trip) so it was nice to wander. Other than that we have no news we are trying to organise farewells with most our friends and clearing out and cleaning the house before we hand back the keys. It still seems to me like we've got a lot of time before we leave but when I look at the calendar its not. So Thats it for now. I hope we'll have more news next time.

Smokin'

Hello everyone and thank you for all the messages during the week. As you know by now Victoria was hit by some disastrous bushfires. They were for the most part, north of us but one or two were only a 10 minute drive away. We are fine though and the one that was in Bendigo didn't harm any of Brad's family so we are very thankful. Last week we didn't get up to much. There has been a lot of focus on the fires and the victims killed and the houses lost. We went out for Valentines night on Thursday to Koko at Crown (domo arigato Leanne for the voucher which we only used now!). It was lovely Japanese and we had lots of food. Yesterday we went to visit with Brad's parents in Bendigo. We had lunch with Helen, John, Heather and Les before working on our invitaions for our blessing in June. We also stopped by Brad's grandparents for a visit too!

Yes so there's plenty of smoke around Melbourne the past few days. Luckily everyone I know is alright although a friend from work lost his home and belongings. Weather has cooled a little this week after Saturdays record 47 degree day.
Koko was great (thanks again Leanne). I ate seaweed, sushimi, prawns (Aimee's as well), squid, rice, salad, fish, chicken, steak and icecream. I felt like I was going to explode! Put in the official notice at work too this week so i'll be all done on the 11th of March. Hopefully that should leave enough time for me to sort things out here before the big move!

Heatwave!

Hi sorry we haven't been in touch its been busy and hot over here! We went to the Australian open tennis thursday the 22nd of January. It was good we saw Nadal play so I was happy and we also saw a couple of the Aussie players. The mens final is on as I type, Nadal is playing Federer. We've also been having a bit of a heatwave this week. Monday wasn't too bad only in the 30's but Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were all in the 40's, Friday being the hottest day on record reaching 45! We don't have any air conditioning so I can tell you we really felt it! We are so glad it dropped yesterday to 25 and today was only 32. Now the big news we've booked our return tickets to Ireland! So we'll be leaving Australia on the 1st of April arriving in Dublin on the 2nd! I can't wait to see everyone!

Aprils Fools day. It's no joke though. Monday just gone was Australia day and even though Aimee and I both worked all day, we still had a small BBQ with my brother Jason. Hope you all had a lamb chop wherever you were. Tennis has been on the TV all week which makes it easier to sit up late in the sweltering heat. Its been in the high 30's all through the nights even. Yesterday we paid a visit to Seamus, Jocelyn and Niamh and had a BBQ lunch (no shortages of BBQs in summer here).

Our Week-aversary

Well it's been a busy week! We had a good time last Sunday, both Brad and I were in work so my mam and dad went to the winery area with Seamus, Jocelyn and Niamh. Afterwards they met us for dinner and then Brad took my dad to the cricket while mam and I went up the Rialto tower. It was a lovely evening. On monday we spent some time with Scott and Mel and Frank before having our last dinner together. They left on Tuesday and I was very sad at the airport but as Brad keeps reminding me it won't be long till we see them again. Thank you everyone for all the kind messages about the wedding. I'm glad you like the photos. Im collecting lots off the people who were at it so I'll have an entire album full soon! I can't believe we are now married a week. Yesterday I talked Brad into opening a bottle of champagne (thanks Niamh!!) to celebrate our week-aversary (Brad wont let me call it a one week anniversary cause the word anniversary means yearly so I made up my own word)! We even took a photo!

The wedding

Well its official! We've tied the knot! We had a fantastic day yesterday. I stayed with mam in the city in a lovely hotel on the Thursday night. We got our hair done and relaxed while Brad stayed at home with my dad. On the big day we were up early getting texts from you all in Ireland! We got ready and were at the registry office in plenty of time. The Ceremony was lovely, my dad gave me away and we walked up the aisle to my favourite pachelbel cannon.

Everyone enjoyed the ceremony and the wedding cupcakes which my Auntie Anne baked at the crack of dawn that morning for us. After a stroll and some photos in the nearby gardens we headed down for lunch at the Langham hotel on Southbank. We had a fantastic view of the city and the yarra river. We had a brilliant all you could eat buffet, with everything you could think of from Indian Naan breads baked to order to the fountain of chocolate with strawberries for dipping.
Tim made a great speach after lunch and then we all moved on to a bar in Crown for more drinks than anyone can recall today.

Well when we finally left there we headed back to the hotel where Mel, Scott, Frank and Steph had booked us a beautiful room and decorated it with rose petals. It was lovely to see. Today we are a little tired and we took mam and dad to Healsville animal sanctuary. I hope you enjoy the few photos
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Hen night photos

Hey just a couple of pics from my Aussie hen night on 27th of December.

New Year

Hey Happy New Year! We've been very busy the last few days so we are very sorry we haven't found time to leave a message. We picked up my mam and dad last Sunday (28th) and they have been staying with us since, and it's been great! I missed them a lot so it's nice to see them everyday. We've taken them to the city to Victoria market and the ANZAC memorial. We also went to Ballarat to Sovereign Hill where we panned for gold and got our photo taken "old style"! We had a party New Years eve and Brad cooked a delicious BBQ. We had some people over and a lot of drink and some champagne to ring in the new year. On new years day we went to visit Brads dad and Heather and they had a lovely BBQ with some people over including more of Brads family so my parents have met my future in-laws! I hope you all had a great new year and Ill put another post up this week.
Hope everybody had a happy new year. Had a great night here with a BBQ party at the house. I managed to even have a few drinks myself. Been playing tour guide this last week for Tim and Helen. Think they've been enjoying the unseasonably cool weather (nice mid 20's) and we've all gotten a little more tanned walking about town. Getting married this Friday. Everyone has to keep reminding me as I keep thinking its still weeks away. Hard to believe the last few months have gone so quickly. We'll be back in Ireland in no time at all.
Unfortunately stuck in work for the next 4 days, so have to leave the rest of the guiding to Aimee. Please enjoy Ye olde photo.