Sunrise

With love for Yvonne & Fergal.

Life is a great sunrise.
I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.
-Vladimir Nobokov

Sunrise (c) Olivia O'Brien 2011

Buzzy Bee

Caught this guy going about his business last week in Kinsale.

Mr Bee

I’m linking up with bloggingfrombolivia.com again for Macro Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Kinsale

After non-stop rain on Saturday, I was dying of cabin fever and needed to get out. A nice lunch and walk in Kinsale with friends was just what I needed.

Kinsale

I managed to find more abandoned boats when the tide went out!

Wonder the last time someone used these?

Turns out there was a chowder “cook-off” going on and we got to see some TV chefs and presenters. I had my first trip to Fishy-Fishy and had the nicest fish and chips!

Sail and marina

After lunch it was time to take advantage of the non-rainy day and it was off to James’ Fort. Charles’ Fort is the more popular one to visit, but James’ Fort has the views.

Charles' Fort view from James' Fort

Summercove

Charles' Fort

The rain didn’t come, but it did threaten. So, we got out of there quickly.

Out into the great blue yonder

A Little piece of History

Another  week down. And, a week that’s been very important in Ireland’s history. Queen Elizabeth came to visit for the first time and it was also the first royal visit by a British monarch in almost 100 years.  She’ll be visiting Cork tomorrow, so I felt I had to at least comment on her being here. My feelings on her visiting in the first place, I’ll keep to myself, but I have softened towards her in the last few days. This is the speech she gave last night. The start of it gives me shivers and if any of you watch it to the end, I love her clinky glass comment!!! Even if you don’t listen, click just to check out her bling.;-)  Talk about sparkle! It marks the first of two historic visits to Ireland this month as President Obama visits next week! (Speech courtesy of RTE).

To go with the Queen’s visit, I thought a little red flower would be appropriate! These guys are growing across from the house. So, once again, I was out and about with the camera and the kids think I’m crazy!

Red Blossom

Head over to bloggingfrombolivia.com to see the other Macro Friday entries.

Have a great weekend!

Running Etc….

I HATE RUNNING! It’s not a secret…I’ve hated it since I was a child. And now I’m finally coming to the root of the reason – shin splints. In my life I’m surrounded by people who run. They run for fun, run to keep fit, run for charity, run to represent the country, run to set personal goals… The list is endless. All this leaves me with a slightly panicky feeling and memories of primary school.

The Community Games are, as the name suggests, community competitions that cover everything from singing to dancing, painting to pottery and drama to sport. They are held in schools and clubs all over the country. There are area winners, then county winners and then national winners. My primary school was very small and short of facilities, so our community games events focused on running. Sprinting to be exact because we didn’t have a lot of space. I always came last. It just hurt so much.

Over the years I have blocked these trials out of my memory and got on with sports that I like, but marathon day on 6th June is coming quickly.

Mike and Mick celebrating their 1st marathon

And it’s soon going to be time to be  here…

Inchydoney

And do a bit of this…

Fingers crossed for a bit of sun this year!

The Safe Food Authority announced this week that you’re overweight if your waist is over 32″ for a woman and over 37″ for a man. All the running going on around me and this prompted me to take out the measuring tape, just to check. I wasn’t happy with what I saw  

So, having discovered that my shin pain is a weakness, I’m armed with strengthening exercises and a plan.

Schedule

I’m a firm believer in schedules and lists and that if you tell enough people you’re going to do something, you’ll eventually do it! As you can see, by 3rd July I should be able to jog 3 miles. I’d be delighted if I could do that. I have absolutely no intention of running anything more than that!  

I need to read the inspiration on my sports clothes…

My shorts

….and grab my new bffs…

Leftie and Rightie!

…..and justify owning a t-shirt that says…..

Oh Yah!

There’s  lot of subliminal messaging going on in my sports clothes! Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on how the programme is going and fingers crossed on 3rd July I’ll be able to write that I’ve jogged 3 miles!