November 2014 – Dublin and back to Southampton

1st November – Saturday

Travelled to Dublin to visit Laura and Damien.

For the first time we went to Manchester Airport on the train.  £37 for 2 people return.  Bargain.

This does depend on you having time on your hands.  We set off from home at 11.30am and arrived at Laura’s flat at about 7.00pm.

We went to their lovely new flat and then got a taxi to town and a lovely meal at a Nepalese restaurant and then to an unusual quirky pub.  Then we stayed up watching Strictly and X-Factor when we got back.

2nd November – Sunday

We walked into town to a brilliant burger bar for brunch.  Then sat in Bar 37 in the window watching the world go by for a few hours.  We finished off at the ‘Little Museum of Dublin’ which is a museum all about Dublin itself.  You get a guided tour in with the price, then get time to roam around.  There is a U2 exhibition on the top floor.

Our evening meal was at the excellent Thai restaurant ‘Koh’.

3rd November – Monday

Laura and Damien were working so we walked into town and visited the National Portrait Gallery.  Note – many Dublin Museums are closed on Mondays.

Laura popped home in the evening and we got Pizza from the Italian downstairs.

It was really lovely to see them both at the end of our trip as they were the last people we saw that we knew at the beginning.

4th November – Tuesday

Travelled home 12.30pm to 20.30pm via Bus, Plane and 2 trains.

5th November onwards

I think I caught a cold on the plane and was quite sick for about a week.  It was the first illness we had all summer.  I had to cancel my trip to Lancaster with Liz and we also cancelled going out with Allen and Dorit on Saturday.  Booo.  But there is nothing worse than a restaurant meal with a snuffler.

However I inflicted the snuffles on Annette, Julian, Alex, Katie and Tommy on Sunday afternoon as they had invited us for tea.

Mini passed its MOT.

Trip to Greens fabrics, while Mick at Training 2000.

2 days to finish covering the three seating cushions we brought back from the boat.

Picture of the Cushions.

Finished the workshirt quilt see www.handmadebyannmarie.blogspot.co.uk  for details.

Picture of Workshirt Quilt

Met Hannah from work at Ossy Mills.  It was the first time I would meet her beautiful baby Daniel.  It was a little surreal as she was sitting in a small cafe whilst a pensioners Christmas party was in full swing 20 feet away, (Mid November) which included a singer and sing-a-long audience participation.  We had a really good catch-up and a good look around.

W.I. Party meal out at the Three Millstones.

Made 5 draft excluders for friends.

Finally managed to meet up with Allen and Dorit and had a lovely meal out in Lytham and a good catch-up.

Went to Manchester Markets on the train, what a luxury not having to go at weekend.  The stalls were easy to get to and the pubs had seats available.

Made Victoria Sandwich cake and Sticky Ginger and Walnut.

Went to the Knit and Stitch show in Harrogate with Liz who kindly drove, Annette and Grace.  It’s always a good day out.

Craft n Chat on the 20th had 12 people in attendance, very lively evening.

Went out with the Annette, Karon, Pam and Carol.

Traumatic day while the man next door had his roof mended, Mick went up for a look, I had to go out, really hope they are good at their job as they moved our slates too.

Went to Dave’s 60th, Rock n Roll party in Leeds.  Excellent catch-up with Dave M and his team.  He also had a full sized motorbike made from balloons.

Watched Lewis Hamilton win Formula 1 championship on TV.

Started my craft blog.  www.handmadebyannmarie.blogspot.co.uk

Went to see ‘Imitation Game’ at Cinema, about Ian Turing who invented the machine which de-coded the Enigma machine.  5/5 excellent.

Went to Indian with Steve and Elaine.

Craft n Chat 27th, Liz taught us to make Christmas Baubles, using a very clever design.

Helped with the teas at Grindleton Pavilion Christmas Fayre with Liz, Sally, Denise, Jan, and Margaret.

30th December – Sunday

Travelled back to Southampton to the boat.  The mini was full of boat cushions, with not much room for anything else.