It’s over, it’s over, it’s over…. Back to reality with Christmas already a fading memory. A good one, but fading as we can begin planning for the next one. Got to stop signing things with 2018 for it to be fully over!

I had a great Christmas with a great variety of family time, food, drink, music, catch up with friends, more food, exercise (not enough) and board games.

One of the days I took time out with Ms Quaid and we went to visit the Glen of Aherlow to complete a hike. It turned out to be a most memorable day with a lot of those little moments….!!!

Weather hadn’t been and wasn’t the best so we did venture on some slippery slopes and had more than a number of near misses each! If there had been a fall we were both doomed as we were in the wrong company for help or sympathy! It would have been more photos and laughter….. than plasters and hugs.

During the hike we talked about everything….. everything that you can only talk about when you are alone in the hills of Tipperary! One particular mention and traumatising moment was when the very sophisticated travel companion of mine decided to (behind me) make a complaint about the increase in her level of boob sweat…. As I turned my head (the moment) I realised that in a less than “ladylike” manner she was trying to air and hand dry this sweat all in the one go!! Even I was blushing…..

On our hike we met two fellows jogging…. If you read this, will you please tell me what the story was with the Dunnes Stores shopping bag. Still haven’t figured that one out…..

Once back down the hills we decided on a Guinness & loo stop in Hospital. The only pub open at the time was this amazing old style pub with only a small bar and the bathrooms in through the family home. When coming in there was roughly 8 men around the bar counter and a female bartender.

And they were all Irish. Not only Irish but from Tipperary and it would so remind you of a Pat Short sketch. They didn’t fully know to handle strangers, especially not of the female kind, so the bartender started the inquisition as to why we were there, what we had done, where we were travelling from and so forth! Even her 89 year old mother (original owner of the pub) came out to have a chat!!!

With every answer or comment the group of the finest gentlemen had a comment that rounded in laughter. They settled after a little while to have their own conversations! One that was going on is what priest was used where. This is where Cannon Bacon was mentioned to which one of the chaps called out “You what, your priest is a can of pork”.

These were the group of men in Hospital!!

We finished our day with great food and proper pints (car no longer required to be driven by the chauffeur (me)) back at the Pipers Inn in Killaloe!!

One remark was made by one of the other customers!! “Fantastic, you obviously went for the after Christmas walk and never made it home”!!!

To finish this story Maria made a statement that will stay with me forever!!!!

“The two of us are like two dirty old men on the inside (no offense to old men nor dirty ones) but if anyone would dare to treat you any less than a lady I would kill them”

Friendship and beer talk at its best.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE………… MOMENTS OF 2018

Over the last week I took a look at the highlights of last year!! Needed to do so before going towards setting out my 2019 resolutions and challenges!! Here is one highlight from each month;

January – I went on my first ever cruise with my fabulous mum and friends! Trip of lifetime. By the way she is celebrating her birthday today!! I also started my blog this month!!

February – Few things into one here! Spent some self-rescue time in Killaloe which brought me to a place I now adore, got me to start hiking which as you know I have continued since, and got me to spend some time with me. In February I also collected my beautiful reflective portrait from the amazingly talented Clare Hartigan! This painting has become a part of my every day in all its magic.

March – SNOW and in particular good memories of the challenges that came with it!! (and I don’t mean the shortage of bread!!)

April – Getting to bring my small kids and new camera on a hike in Ballina!! The Graves of the Leinstermen. We still talk about it.

May – I ran 21.4kms….. Still hard to believe that I did!! Remember the tears of disbelief when I stopped and the beauty of walking my legs into the cold sea!!

June – The Kayaking Trip with the greatest bunch of ladies on Lough Derg!! Amazing from start to finish!!

July – Music!!! Three weekends in a row with music and friends!!

August – I went to Sweden with my daughter and my mum came here!! Treasured family and “home” time.

September – Got some amazing hiking done in September together with a trip to Birmingham which took me out of my comfort zone!

October – I got a new nephew and my baby brother became a dad for the first time!!!! Such a proud auntie and the time for me to meet him is finally nearing!!

November – New York, of course!!! Hard to beat New York and in particular getting to hang with my mum and two brothers. We are now in the planning stages of a holiday for this summer!!

December – December was rocking and full of excitement in a very short amount of time!! My first Christmas Jumper Day, The Riptide Movement, The Blizzards and HamsandwicH, Christmas, Hiking, Family, Food, Drink!! Truly turned out to be one of my favourite months!

These monthly highlights can be summarised into a few headliners which created my #smiles18

• Spending some really great time with my kids Jand getting to know their characters even better.
• Spending some really great time with myself – that is one I am very proud of and one habit I intent to continue.
• Finding, through my time with me as well as time with others, some inner parts of myself which had hibernated for so long they were nearly forgotten. Liberation!!
• Putting some exercise into my life and actually loving it.
• Having fun, trying new things and being a little (quite a lot) bolder which led to time with friends, family, colleagues whilst also creating new friendships.

I am currently accepting challenges for 2019 so let me know if you know how to push me to do something great this year!!

So finishing this blog with this great quote as well as wishing everybody a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2019!! Let’s start those #smiles19 from the outset!!