Weekend fun and family bonding

The sister K was home from Holland for the weekend so there was lots of family bonding and quality time. I had a half day on the Friday and met her in town. Poor thing was in a bad way as it had been the boyf's 30th the night before and so a few beverages were had. I was in great form, it was Friday and I finished on a half day. There were lots of plans for the weekend which was going to involve going to visit the Dracula musem in Clontraf, the sister has a fascination with all things vampireish. You'd think I'd notice this from her dvd collection of Buffy and Angel and her book collection featuring such titles as Interview with a Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Oh what big Fangs you have etc. Okay I may have made the last one up :) She was pretty wrecked so we took it easy on Friday night. When I say we took it easy, I mean she went to bed and myself and Mammy2 watched the rugby. I was in 2 minds about going training but I went on the Sat morning. Seeing as the weekend was going to be a mad one, I decided it was best to get some excercise in. For my sins, I was partnerless. That's when the fun began The instructor partnered me. Whatever about pushing yourself with you are with a classmate, its hard not to push yourself when you've got mr black belt god knows how many times shouting at you. It was a great workout, but I was sure I was about
to die when I got home. The sister had a good laugh at me, she was up and ready to go shopping. I had no feeling in my legs or arms but I was ready and willing.

We had booked a family dinner for that night and then it was onto Panti's show, we even managed to persuade the kid and her man to join us. She was a bit wary at first as she said he might feel out of place. I explained that he was very welcome and that we wouldn't embaress her. When you consider we were paying for dinner and the tickets, I didn't think it was too much of a stretch. The mates J and S came along, they are close friends and so we consider them family. Or to use the american phrase I hate so much, framily. Yuck. The brother was in fine form, entertaining the girls with his baby saving story. Actually he didn't entertain them, we had to tell the story and then he told them about it. I reckon he'd be more chuffed if he caught a burgalar or something. I think saving a baby's life is pretty
impressive, thanks for his first aid skills.

Yesterday, more shopping and a visit to Chapters the new store on Parnell Street. I hadn't been and I have to say its impressive. The sister wanted to pick up a copy of The Year of Magical thinking by Joan Didion which I had been raving about since reading it. I wanted to talk about it with someone and as poor Mammy2 is still working her way through a book she has to review, I managed to persuade the sister to get it and read it. Not that she needed much persuasion, she's a big reader. Herself and Mammy2 are always chattering away about this book and that. The new store is very impressive though I have to say. I shall be making a return visit once I get through the current book, The Observations by Jane Harris. The main character Bessy is very funny.

Town was so busy yesterday and we managed to catch some of the procession for the switching on of the lights on O'Connell Street. It was very cool, lots of costumes and drums etc. Its offically christmas :) I must pop some christmas songs onto Squirt so I can listen to them on the way to work. Christmas lights means christmas pictures have to be taken so I think when myself and Mammy2 go shopping we are going to take some nice shots. The lights are so lovely. Operation No-Flow, sorry Freeflow started this morning. A female guard on every corner, it must be christmas. They are so tiny though, seriously some of them are not much bigger then the bollards they are standing next to.

I went for the eye tests last week and I have very healthy eyes apparently. Nothing wrong with them at all, so its to the doctor next I guess. Its nothing major, just stupid things like dizzy spells and having to think before I walk up or down stairs. It feels like a brain jump or something, its hard to explain. Its like my foot doesn't know it has to go forward, so I have to pause and then tell it to do that. It only seems to involves stairs from what I can tell. Perhaps its old age :)