More time on water than on land???

This weekend I quite possibly spent more time out on the water than on land.  Well, almost!

On Saturday morning we went 10 miles out to the new spot that Patrick had learnt from the night before.  We were up and out at about 8.30am and in both our heads we would be home around noon or so.  Well, I could not believe it when we walked in the door and saw the clock showing 2pm lol. Time flies when you are having fun, eh.

Then Sunday morning we went out and checked our crab traps.  Which were a total strike out!  We gambled leaving them out for the final two weeks of the season - it tends to be very slow then - and it is becoming apparent that the gamble is not going our way unfortunately.  We will check them once more and bring the traps in at that point.

Early that afternoon I met up with a fun gang for brunch.  Celebrating Jennifer and Janine's birthday, plus Conch Republic Days - Megan, as Queen of the Conch Republic, is wearing her crown.

Why yes, that is a Spicy Margarita in my hand.

 

The plan for that evening was that we would go downtown for a little happy hour.  But the weather was so delightful and water so calm that we decided we would go out and do some more fishing - and take a picnic of sushi with us.  Mmmm.We got in literally as the sun went down, quickly cleaned the boat and flushed the engine and home.  Pretty beat up and exhausted as you can imagine! But a good beat up - what a great weekend.

Barbecue Tales part 14 - salmon

First time cooking salmon fillets on the barbecue (grill!) 

And the result was awesome!!  

Very happy with it!

So we had a lovely brunch of grilled salmon and scrambled eggs made with Irish cheese!

It was the start of a great day. Life is good.

Barbecue tales Part 4 - Sausages

Today started well and ended well.  That is all.  I could literally lock up shop and sign this blog off now, but I do have some photos so I guess I will share these with you and some more information too.

Today was a celebration of some good news and I was treated to a fabulous brunch in the old Westin hotel, now a Margaritaville resort. Amazing seafood as pictured.  Not pictured are the bottomless mimosas, prime rib, french toast and bacon, lobster pasta, skirt steak, sushi, freshly baked pastries, smoked salmon, poached salmon, tuna steak, tuna tartar, meat charcuterie, cheese and more.  And the desserts! The desserts!

The good news was that I have a job! I am working in a cute (and  very beautiful) boutique hotel here in Key West.  I am working with a lovely group of people, and every day am meeting nice happy people who are on their holidays travelling down South from all over the USA.  So that's very exciting!


After the lovely brunch - which by the way we relaxed over for hours - we went for a nice stroll around the harbor/historic seaport of Key West. And then cycled back via Duval Street.  Duval was buzzing!  A really nice atmosphere, everyone just having the craic and enjoying the sunshine while having a few drinks.  On the subject of having a few drinks, that is pretty much what I did for the remainder of the afternoon, relaxed in the tiki hut with a little vodka cocktail.  Oh.  I did one other thing. There may or may not have been a bit of snoozing on the daybed going on *embarrassed face*

So after a fancy brunch of a LOT of food I really didn't need much for the rest of the day.

We made sausages on the barbecue.  Nice big flavourful Wisconsin pork sausages!  Here it is pictured on a Hawaiian bread roll with mustard, tomato and barbecued red peppers. I ate mine plain, no bread, with (French/grain) mustard and bbq sauce.

Last photo of a super day! Here is me at the barbecue (Look Ma, I'm cooking!!!).

I posted this on facebook and Instagram with the caption "And later tonight I shall be teaching my aerobics class down at the Y"
Bahahahahahhaaaa.  Yes I'm silly. I just think my outfit looks so 1980's lol!  Feck it, if you can't have a little laugh at yourself sure what is the point of it at all?
#LifeisShort

Sunny days in Dublin

It's so unusual to have sunshine in Ireland and this weekend we were lucky enough to have not just one day but two - both Saturday and Sunday were divine.  So while the sun shone I took the opportunity to make hay and I spent both days outdoors!

On Saturday I divided my time between laying out in the sun in St Stephen's Green, and sitting outside Starbucks (on their patio) enjoying the sun and people watching.

And then! On Sunday I was hosting Enid and Alice for brunch.  On Saturday I had the brainwave that if was sunny on the Sunday we should have a picnic rather than cooped up in my little flat.  I texted my idea to the gals and the pair of them were delighted with the idea - and excited about it - back to the fact that we just don't get days like this in Ireland!

Sunday was a big success.  I've posted a few photos below which I think capture the vibe :-) For food I did shrimp, salmon and avocado, hummus and crackers, pate and sourdough bread.  For dessert Alice brought little mini brownies and I brought Key Lime Pie which we were delighted about - and prompted lots of conversation about how much we love Key West.

Can you believe it?  We ended up meeting at 11.30am and just hanging out in Merrion Square until 5pm that afternoon!  Such a good day.

 



Frenetic Friday

 General Election day yesterday and I was up early to vote -  I headed over at about 9am where as they say "voting was brisk"

 

I then met Enid at the towncentre at 9.30am and we walked over to our friends house for a lovely breakfast.

 

How beautiful was Svetlana's table setting?!

 

Our hostess made the most beautiful pancakes.   I was watching for tips and noticed that she was using a much thinner batter than I would have thought possible and swirled it around the pan, plus cooked it at a lower temperature.  I guess more like a crepe.  I am going to try make them like this next time I cook pancakes.

 

We had a lovely morning chatting.  And then for reasons I know not we took some photos of ourselves and a large chimp teddy bear.  Lol :-)

 

I reckon a large chimp is the perfect accessory for making oneself look thin.  I need to carry this guy around all the time.

 

Afterwards Enid and I went into town where I called to the Irish Rail taxsaver office to get a replacement rail card because I have foolishly lost mine.  I am still so mad with myself.

 

We then headed out of the city on the train - we went to both Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire (and had something to eat in Dun Laoghaire).

 

This is the view from the footbridge over the tracks in Blackrock train station.  Down the left bottom hand of the photo is the old (19th century) Blackrock baths (outdoor public swimming pool) 

Sunday Brunch!

Today I called to my cousin's apartment for a lovely Sunday brunch.  I got on the train at my house at 10.55 and arrived at her apartment at 11.05, how convenient is that!

This was my outfit for brunch - it's getting chillier already :-(

How cute is this little Bewley's jug*??!!!  

(*read my next blog post if you'd like to know more about this little jug and it's origins!)

Kasey made very nice rashers (bacon!) and french toast.

Sunday Brunch and Jazz at the Gibson Hotel

Enid (of renovating lpa) and I arranged to meet our friend Alice for brunch in The Gibson Hotel this morning.

We had a good old catch up :-)

And the food wasn't half bad either!

First up a little amuse bouche

Strawberry yoghurt smoothie and little fruit and custard pastry.

These were a really cute teeny tiny size.  I put my ring on the plate to show the scale - the first photo I took made them look huge.

Starter

We ordered some salmon and tuna sashimi to share.  Alice noted that some ginger would have finished the plate off.  Plus we all agreed that the tuna was not rare enough.

Mains

I got the Gibson full fry - great flavours...a little cold though!

Enid and Alice both got the Eggs Royale - Eggs Benedict but with salmon instead of ham.  Enid got her hollandaise sauce on the side.

They both really enjoyed it - in particular the English muffin which Enid figured were freshly baked.

Two vodka and diet cokes (sure Enid and I weren't driving!)

Orange Juice

A tea and two coffees

€64 before tip.

Oh!  And let's not forget the nice little jazz quartet playing in the corner.  All in all quite nice.

3.5/5...mainly because my fry was on the cold side.