Birthday & Marathon Shenanigans

The excitement for the Flora Women Mini Marathon, all started when Clodagh came up on the Saturday afternoon, we spent the rest of the day and night, shopping and catching up on all the gossip. It was really when +Liam met us in town after work, when things got fun, as we all had to trek out on the bus, to the RDS to collect race numbers and goodies and sample the food on offer. After all that, decided to check out the Dublin Port Riverfest, in the docklands. All 3 of us, were a tad disappointed, how badly it was organised and lack of excitement about the place. Despite this lacklustre event, we strolled happily back into town for some grub, before the big arrival of my mother. We collected her off the coach, before making our way to the George, for the show and bingo. Somehow we aren't still sure how, but my mother managed to get a chair off the barman. Despite the place being packed due to the Bank Holiday. It was Clodagh's first time to the George and playing bingo. The show was hilarious especially as Aengus Mac Grianna, the RTÉ News presenter, was having his stag do there. The drag queens poked fun at him including showing the infamous blooper clip.
Myself and Clodagh left and got the last bus home, as we were tired and needed our sleep for the 10 km the next day. Liam and my mother stayed on until after the show and got home after 2 am, Liam told me. It seems I missed, one of the drag queen's Victoria Secret, fell on stage and sprained her ankle.

     

The following morning, myself and Clodagh met up with Liam and my mother in town for some breakfast. We ended up in brewleys at about 11.30, where they were offering all participants free hot beverage with their food. Once we were all refueled, we trekked out towards the Conrad hotel, cutting through St. Stephen Green, for  the Heart Children Ireland reception and bag drop, where we left our belongings except our phones, which Liam minded for us. It was time then to go to the starting area around Merrion Square. There was in excess of 40,000 women and men in drag. Liam told us after, that it took over 48 minutes to get everyone through the start line, by the time he got to the finish line, the elite runners had already began crossing the line, with the first one doing so in under 35 mins.  I crossed the line in 1hr39 mins which was thrilled with. We were all waiting for Liam back at the Conrad, who had all the phones. We were wondering where he was, when I phoned him from the hotel, telling we being there for 30/40 mins, he ran to meet us there. Where he told us, that he had been waiting for us at the finish line but couldn't see us and after waiting for so long decided to walk back the route towards Baggot street and back when I phoned. Once we were all together again, we crawled back to Grafton street, with medals in toe, where we bumped into my Godmother Anne-Marie outside BT. My mother managed to get a lift back on the bus with all girls to Ennis. Before saying goodbye to Clodagh the next day, Clodagh, Liam and myself, went for lunch at Luigi Malone'.

As shift on Saturday got cancelled, I decided to keep my fitness up and do the 5km parkrun in Griffeen Valley Park and my time was 43.57 mins. The following Sunday, I met up with Liam as usual after work for Brunch, which started off my Birthday celebration in Gotham Cafe followed by dessert in KC Peaches. This gotta us thinking maybe it was time for some cold beverages, so a small stroll over the river to Panti Bar, was in order. After relaxing for a small while with our drinks, we departed for our reserved front row in the George. Everyone got served a lot quicker at the bar, which was a great start. I got presents and cards from everyone which was really nice and sweet. Even the DJ, Karen took a photo of the group of us, which was great of her. From the onset of the show, Shirley Temple Bar commented about my birthday, saying that we'd be back to me later, which had me a tad worried.

 It was Martha and Sara first times, both to the G and playing Bingo. Although the jackpot itself wasn't won, everyone had a blast playing it, I came so close waiting on just one number, oh well. After bingo and few more drag numbers including Liam getting soaked with a water gun by Veda. It was time for the moment, Shirley referred to earlier, I was dragged on to stage and put on  a box, while everyone sang Happy Birthday and I gotta to blow out candles on a birthday cake too. I was given the cake to have and a bottle of Prosecco. Liam joked that he could have got them cheaper with his staff discount, recognizing the cake. Being M&S the cake was scrumptious of course, wouldn't except anything less. Towards the end of the night, Liam and me headed back to his. Everyone I was glad to hear and see had a fun and enjoyable night. It was  one of the best birthday's in a long time. The morning after, we both up and left for Dundrum, and had a bite to eat in Jamie's Kitchen before Liam started work. The highlight of the whole meal, was the homemade ice-cream and warm chocolate brownie, which I can still picture and taste, divine.

 

 For my birthday itself on Wednesday the 11th, Liam brought me on a food trail beginning with Worscht World and finishing at a little quaint bakery, before we decided to go to Dublinia, somewhere we been putting off for years. Luckily for Liam, managed to get 2 students prices for the tickets. As a group had just arrived before us, we had the remainder of the birthday cake, then climbed the steps up towards St. Michael's Tower, which had great views of the city. After our descend, seemed we timed it well, as we were in just in time for the 2.30 tour of the Viking area on the ground level. We were both pleasantly surprised how much, we enjoyed our visit and can't believe why we put it off for so long. After our visit to the medieval period, we continued on with this theme, and strolled the 2 mins to St. Audeons church, a place Liam had been to before, and told me I should visit. The church itself is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin still in use. It was peaceful visit, especially after the noises from the nearby street and was free. After our visit, we deserved a cold beverage, so ended up in Panti Bar, which it seems is turning into my local. Once we had cooled down, we got some food in a falafel Kebab place in Temple bar, before heading for our respective buses. I got my bus, still don't know why checked my bag, couldn't find my ipad, I rang Liam in a panic, who lucky hadn't got his bus, as it was running late, he hurried back to the previous places, we been to. While I waited to hear from him, I made a plea to the Saint of lost causes, St Anthony himself, whose Novena was on. Which I only knew from passing the Church of Adam and Eve. By pure luck, when Liam went back to Panti bar and asked the barman, someone had handed it in and it was there waiting for him. He jokingly tweeted me back with a pic of the rescued iPad, saying that I owed St. Anthony that money. It was a big relief.  

For my day off, I went into the Woolshed, to watch the Munster semi final Clare vs Cork game, despite a lacklustre game and bad result, I had fun time. After the game, went into Dame Street area to enjoy some of the YouBloom festival events, which is a free music festival. A particular highlight were the +The Hot Sprockets who were playing in the Mercantile. After a deserved sleep in, I met up with Liam after he finished work, and we walked in the gorgerous sun to the Grand Canal, for some pre-theater food. We had our meal in Herb Street restaurant, whilst sitting outside enjoying the sun. As we had some time to kill after collecting the tickets for show, we got ice cream due to the ideal weather for them. Once we entered the Bord Gais, Liam got a pint and ordered one for the interval. While waiting for the door to open,  we noticed a few celebrities about including Gay Byrne, Chris de Burgh and Rosanna Davison, as it was the press night for Let It Be. First impression of the seats were, thanks mam for winning them. Both Liam and myself couldnt be happier, and the whole stage had a pure 1960's feeling. Right from the onset of the show, the band got the whole audience involved and on several occasions had everyone on the feet dancing and singing along. Throughout the show, everything from the set, costumes, vocal and mannerisms of the Beatles were just perfect. During the 40 songs set list, the use of live camera and visual clips, added to the overall concert type feel. Everyone left the show, humming or singing the songs, myself included. Let It Be is possible one of the best tribute act type show I've ever seen.