Friday, 21 March 2014

That will be all, for now

So as I am sitting behind my computer listening to my music and thinking about the last week I realise that this will be my last blog from Ireland.

Have not been in work for the last week which lets face it, is brilliant!!

Had my goodbye party last friday and there were a good 20 people there, shame only 5 people I knew... Now this was of course a brilliant night, first I went to see a friends apartment and that place, omg, was amazing. Am very jealous, as we walked down to the pub I walked past my old and first apartment and picked up a chicken fillet role, how ill miss those! Basically it was a little trip down memory lane.

In the pub after a few beers I started to realise that "damnit I wont see these people for a while" but tried my best not to cry... I got yelled at by a guy who was in the female bathroom.... I told him to "atleast wash his hands" after using the LADIES ROOM, and he told me to go:  "wash your face BITCH"... I didnt really know what to say and neither did any of the other girls in there but sure I thought it was funny anyways. Specially as there is never realy anything on my face I can wash. I am pretty sure freckles are there for life right?
Then people started going home and it was time for me to go and catch my bus, I failed miserable and ended up getting a taxi home from Heuston station to Kildare town. NOW for anyone wondering how much that would be and would it be worth it? NAH NAH NAH its not.... cost me 85 euros good thing I didnt get sick in the car because that would have added another 90 euros to my bill. Just for the record I didnt get sick at all.

Got to spend my last Paddys days which was spent with uncle Aidan so thats always a good one. Nothing weird though, sorry to disappoint my faithful readers, no falling down, no making "snow angels" on the ground, it was a pretty well behaved night. (dont be sad though, pretty sure the first week in Holland will give yous plenty of embarrassing (for me) storys).

As I am writing a long my cousin comes in and has to say goodbye because she wont be here tomorrow for our goodbye breakfast. Sad moments.

Yesterday as I was trying to wake up I got a call from and old colleague (week old) to say he was in town and if I wanted to go for coffee, now I said yes because we hadnt said goodbye yet. We ended up driving around the county and stopped wherever we thought we could get some good pics, he introduced me to a "fish-eye lens"brilliant little thing. I now want one. Nice and sunny day and probably the healthy-est thing Ive done in the last week!!

That was basically my last week here in Ireland. Of course there was/is (still) a lot of packing going on. Nothing fits in the cases so I might wear a lot of clothes. Marvin you might be looking for a round/fat lady coming out of the baggage hall.

Now things to look forward to back home? I have a job interview on Thursday, nothing fancy but sure it will do.

We have a summer trip to Italy to book and plan. Lots of plans to go to the gym and get the sexy beachbodys on, in all fairness we might just all end up looking like whales. I am lazy and I drag people down like that!!

Go out with the gang and just continue where we left off. Have to find one of the girls a boyfriend. I am good in embarrassing my friends too so shouldnt be that much of a problem to walk up to a guy and tell him about my pretty friend in the corner.

There are concerts to go to and festivals to try and get tickets for (that is wishful thinking btw).

But most of all what I want to be doing is travel around, go see other countries with the wonderful boyfriend, get sunburned (probably A LOT), get lost, end up sleeping in the car. All of these things are possible when youre me!!

Basically this post is a mess, sorry about that, so much stuff in my mind and things to be sad about but things to look forward to. Anyway next post will be from the flatlands but Ill still write them in English, no worries there.

Slán

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Home and home

Home sweet home.


Is something a lot of people say whenever they get back from their holidays or after a stressful day at work.

What happens though if multiple places can be home?
For me, Holland is home because I was born there, went to school there and made my friends there. I feel at home at my aunts place and my grandmothers. Ill grab a drink from the fridge and wont even feel weird about it.
Home because I can cycle with my eyes closed and know exactly where to turn left or right. Home because corners or streets have a story or a memory attached to them. Home because I had my first job there and could spend my first hard earned money. Home.

Ireland for me is also home. Going on holiday every summer as a kid I always stayed with family and now their homes feel like mine, drawings and pictures on the wall remind me of summers, playing with the cousins. The sewing pieces my grandmother has on the wall that I used to look at every time I walked up the stairs. The football pitch where I won a price for “the most improved player of the week” (a little sad, I know). Climbing the round tower each year and waving at the family down below. My first own apartment ever, was in Dublin and that is an experience that I will never forget. First time away from the nest in a country you didn’t grow up, you learn so much about yourself and others. Ive learned who my friends are and that not all people are nice.

Both these countries have given me so much to remember and to think about that it is very hard to think about where do I want to spend the rest of my life? I love Ireland, the countryside, the fresh air, the pubs and the music. But I hate the public transport and the healthcare system. I love Holland mainly for my friends and family but I have also learned to appreciate the healthcare system and public transport, the fact that you can cycle nearly everywhere.

The first year that you are away from your home that you’ve always known is exciting, you are still discovering and there isn’t a lot of time for missing, the year after that you are more used to the country and start to get annoyed with things which will make you miss your first home.

I have decided to move back to Holland within the next month, I handed in my notice in work and am moving out of my apartment at the end of this week.

Am I making the right choice? I will never be sure but I think for the moment I am. I will miss Ireland and my family and friends that I made but for now Holland is where I want to be.

Maybe in 4 years Ill be back for more now that I know what I can expect but no one can know anything for sure.

Point is, that home is where the heart lies and at this point in life the heart lies in Holland. 

Thursday, 30 January 2014

Disgusting, so very digusting

So I am very sure that we all know people or have seen people, that just disgust us? Now I don't mean this in a mean/nasty way but some people just make me go "ieeew"

Let me explain.

In the office there is a policy on what to wear, pretty basic and we are still aloud to wear a lot of things as long as you don't dress like a stripper and your clothes are clean and not messy you are ok. Pretty easy.

Now I remember when I was younger and wore my baggy skater jeans that sometimes I could feel the cold are on my bare ass.... I would pull up my pants and underwear and whatever else I was wearing so that it would not happen again. The point is, you can feel skin not being covered and if it is an arm, I don't care BUT when your ass is showing and its hairy and tattooed (done 20 years ago) I do not want to see that, especially more than once...

So the point of the story is this: There is this guy in the office and before a month ago I had never seen him but now I see his ass everyday.... And yes I mean ass...

First time I went to get some breakfast with my team leader, as we walk down the stairs towards the doors where we have to use our badge to get in, this guy "ass guy" as I call him now, was in front of us and as he bent down to scan his badge, down came the pants and underwear and out came his ass.... I poked my team leader and pointed at the guy walking down the hall in front of us with his pants halfway down his legs... I told my team leader that I wasn't hungry any more and that we could just go back to the desk. We didn't though but I did tell my team leader lets at least pass this guy as I cannot look at his bum for a second longer. So we moved our short legs a little faster and walked passed him.

Now I have been stuck behind this guy a few more times and it just really annoys me that his ass is always out and that he doesn't notice this? Seems reaaaaaallly unlikely...

Today (the whole reason of writing this post) I went down for a smoke (again) and as I turn the corner to walk down the stairs there is ass guy leaning on railing, talking on the phone, his pants were literally (I wouldn't make this up) just about still hanging of his bum (he does wear a belt, just not tight enough) I walk down the stairs, thinking to myself " I cant do this any longer" there are other people I want to see naked when I close my eyes and he is definitely not one of them...

I walk outside and meet my friend there, so I unload all of this naked bum nastyness on her and the other people standing around. One man burst out laughing and told me he was happy the image was stuck in my head and not his. I told him " its just a matter of time before you see the ass, don't worry". When most of the people went back inside and ass guy was walking around smoking, me and my friend spent the rest of our smoke turning our backs to the guy.... I was a little dizzy going back inside.

Once inside I have informed my other team leader that this has now become frustrating for me as this guy should just wear his jeans properly and not be showing his ass to everyone around..

Notes have been made and people will be spoken to.



Wednesday, 29 January 2014

My favourite uncle? I dont have one. But I do... But no really...

In my last post I completely left out my uncle Aidan, who was also in Holland during the holidays and with who I spent new years....

He was (of course) disappointed as was I, because how can I forget about Aidan.

Now Aidan, you should feel special as you are the only one who has an entire story dedicated to yourself.

So here are just a few reasons why I love Aidan.

- When I went down to Tralee for one weekend, we all went out and ended up in nightclub/bar thing, all enjoying our pints and all of a sudden this guy walks up from the bathroom with blood EVERYWHERE, holding his nose... I go "Wooo a fight, lets have a look" Aidan says Ehhh noo Emma lets go. As we walk outside he is doing his best to get us away from there and not get us in any trouble. Very protective.

- Aidan introduced me to Creans which is now my favourite beer!!

- When my uncle turned 50 (his eldest brother) we all went out for dinner and beers, now we can all imagine what happens next. I had a bottle of wine by the time we finished dinner and when we all got to the pub and got our pints, half of the family was wearing nappys on their heads.... As if that wasnt a good sign to go home, one of the uncles (supposed to be responsible) got all of us shots.... It didnt stop there, because then everybody had to get shots and more pints. Fine, we all drank our drinks and when the pub closed we had to go home. Now Aidan and I were staying at my grandmothers and she lives beside the uncle that turned 50. I had to go to the bathroom before we went home (even though we were just across the road...) when I got outside, everybody was gone but Aidan and Mick. "Ready Emma?" NOOO guysss we have to get PIZZZAAAA. The alcohol hit me like a ROCK as soon as I stepped outside. "No Emma, were ok for food lets just go home" So I run off into a pizza place and order pizza. Come outside to wait until its ready and sit down on the pavement, we all know that sitting down in that state ends up in lying down.. So as I lay down in broken glass and cigarettes, Aidan and Mick are telling me to get the fuck up from off the ground (makes sense). Me being me I refused and left them to pick me up from the ground obviously not helping them and letting my body be drunk and motionless, which is all good except they were saying, that it looked reaaallly weird to all the women walking out of the pub I was in front off that 2 men were picking up this motionless girl of the street. ANYHOWS, we got the pizza (or they got the pizza) and went home, sat in the grandmothers kitchen and they basically ate the pizza as I kept falling of my chair... Aidan told me to drink some water and I did agree that might be a good idea. I grabbed a measuring jug and filled it with water. Aidan asks me "Emma why didnt you just grab a glass?" Welll this was just closer... duh.. As I am drinking the water like I hadnt had water in yeaaars, Aidan tells me " good job Emma you just drank 2 ounces of water" I started laughing and the water came through my nose and it was just a horrible sight... They finished the pizza and we all decided that bed was a good idea... I got sick that night ( a lot) and fell asleep in the bathroom for about an hour and was terribly hungover the next day. Aidan was fine....


- Trouble by Horselips, if you dont know it, go youtube it now. Was basically the car song during the summer.

- We spent new years together drinking pints of Creans aaaaand missing the 12 o clock mark...... Either way was a very good night. We wished each other happy new year at 11 when it was 12 in Holland. Counts for something I suppose!!


- When he was in Holland in November he cycled home like this.


- Christmas eve... We were in a pop quiz and the last part of the quiz was to sing a song (Dutch song..) without getting the lyrics... I complained and said that half my team doesn't speak Dutch and there was no way I was going to sing a song with just my friend, so the band was kind enough to play an English song...
AND THROUGH IT AAAAAAALL SHE OFFERS ME PROTECTION, A LOT OF LOVE AND AFFECTION WHETHER IM RIGHT OR WROOOONG.... Yes that was our song.. I was very glad Aidan was there because he did most of the singing as I immediately gave him the microphone (couldnt deal with that) We got the crowd singing though!!



- Basically, Aidan and I always have a good time. I can have a good serious conversation with him or we can just be the retards dancing to music all by ourself. Always good times!! Im sorry I forgot about you Aidan, wont happen again!!

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

I am still aliveee!!!

“Emma it has been a while since you have written a story!!!”

“Are you still writing Emma?”

AHH yes, when people ask you about when your next story will be up, I suppose it has been a while.

Fact is, I have just been very busy, lazy and didn’t have enough inspiration but with also a lot of new things happening I suppose I can write something about something.

So since I twisted my ankle I have gotten fined for travelling with a wrong train ticket, went home for Christmas, fell in love with one of my longest friends and blacked out during a night of drinking.


Start from the beginning shall I?

I used to get a monthly travel ticket from my HR department in work, one night as I got off the train I was asked for my ticket. I present my ticket and am assuming to be let through the gates. WEELLL I guessed wrong... Apparently I was using the ticket outside of the "short hop zone" and was fined €110.80. Greaaaaaaat 10 days before Christmas...  I had 21 days to appeal and I did. I explained to the man (which was an angry man, who I think was in desperate need of some companionship) that Ive been using this ticket for the last 4 months and I pay  €130 for it each month. My HR department confirmed this was the correct ticket aaaand that I had been checked multiple times before that and nothing was wrong. "No, this is an incorrect ticket". Fine, next day in work I contacted HR and together we wrote appeal letters and sent them off.

Of course you hear nothing from them for ages so when I hear from them I was pleased thinking they would understand that it was a mistake.... WEEELLLL no..... in the letter they wrote me, they told me that I owe them €2000 for intentional misuse of a ticket and seeking to make profit for myself.... Now for the people who know me, they would know that I am just to afraid to risk a fine of a €100 every day for a period of 4 months so that just doesnt make any sense. They based the €2000 on the price of a single ticket for 5 days a week for 4 months....

HR and I went back to writing letters, saying that I am not that kind of person and that this is a shocking amount of money to be paid within a month.... I dont even make €2000 euro a month, where the fuck would I get that money? 2 days later my phone rings, "Hi Emma, we have decided to only charge you €233,80 which is based on the original fine and the difference between the ticket you had and the ticket you should have had for 4 months. BAM from €2000 to €200 believe me I am pleased and so is HR seeing as they are paying for it.

Dont get me wrong, now I think this is funny but a few days ago I was worried I had to sell my body. (very much joking dad)

Going back a little in time, Christmas. I went home for the holidays to spend it with the family and lovely friends. Two things happened, one of which had never happened before and the other one I never expected to ever happen.

In chronological order, my black out.

My brother invited me to join him and his rugby club on their pub tour. As I did the 12 pubs of Christmas in Ireland, I figured suuuure why the fuck not. I can do that.
Were out drinking beers, travelling to different pubs and after a while I meet up with my 2 girls. All is going well aaaand then there is the moment where you walk out of the pub....

This is what I remember: I walk out one pub to go to the pub where I used to work, the 2 girls follow me and we have a drink there and I buy 2 random (apparently ugly) guys shots of Tequila.... (mistake number 1) we walk out and I grab my bike, fall over once or maybe twice? yell at my friends for them wanting to call me a taxi... Cycling home I fall of the bike ( I just gave up...) my brother picks me up, yells at me (like duh) and I arrive home, a little sore.

NOW the next morning as my brother and I are discussing last night (in front of the parents) he says "Yeah you remember in that pub" To which I reply "Ehh I wasnt in that pub" to which he replies " Ehhh yeah u were". You can imagine the converstation went on like that for quite a while... So I decided to text one of the girls that was out with us, "Yes Emma, you were in that pub but only for like 2 minutes. Dont you remember?" FUCK, no I dont!!! (still dont) As I am thinking maybe theyre the piss? No they werent....

Apparently, after leaving the pub we didnt go get the bikes we went to pick up my brother, so we walked over there (again, this is all "apparently") we walk into the pub find my brother and one of the players wives? she says to me "you look like you need fresh air" I probably did. She walks me outside (brother and 2 friends with me) and as soon as I step outside she says "Good night" and closes the door and walks back inside. Now its a good thing I dont remember that because that is kinda rude. This is where we walked back to the bikes but not before I lied down on a few benches and asked my friends to "Come lie with me" because it was comfy? I also fell another time and they had to pick me back up and then the cycling happened which I remember. BUT all together whatever happened that I dont remember must have taken at least 30 mins. So I lost 30 minutes of night. 

I had never had that before so I think this was a scary experience and therefore January is my sober month.

Nooww, they always say save the best for last and I most definitely did.

My group of friends is a close one and we have all known each other for about 7 years. So youd expect that if you have feelings for one of them, you would know. Well no.

Stephens' day, the lovely guy in question and I were invited to a party of one my old dear colleagues (he still works there) so of course we went!! We arrive and have a good time, drink a few drinks, eat all the peanuts, listen to music and of course I had to catch up with a few people. Good night, only got there at 11-ish because as you do on Stephens' day you are with family first. So by the time you realise you had a few drinks in you it is passed 3 in the morning. Now at around 5? I think it was only the die hard party people were left and things were a little more quiet. We were both sitting down and his head was on my shoulder and when he lifted his head up and we looked at each other (this is the part were we both say: no you kissed me, I gave him the satisfaction of saying ok I kissed you.) I kissed him. Forgetting that there are more people in the room who all start going : "WOOOOO" Snap out of it!!! We left the party and hung out a few more times before I had to go back home (Ireland) and had a long texting conversation about what it all meant. Ill tell you what it meant/ for me, with him was the best I had felt in a very long time. 

We agreed not to see other people and misuse Skype, which we do (misuse Skype) and see what the whole "not living in the same country" effect is. 3 weeks later (I know, it has only been 3 weeks) I am smiling constantly ( to the point where my cheeks are sore) and missing him.  I knoooww, smootchy stuff but that is just how I feel. 

So this has been my interesting life for the last 2.5 months,I hope that the people who were asking about my writing to their part in reading =D







Friday, 8 November 2013

Might as well set my money on FIREEE

So as I walked home on Saturday night as drunk as drunk could be I........

No I wasn't that drunk, sure I had a few drinks but I was well able of walking. Ill start at the beginning.

My cousin and I were at home having a few beers and then decided to meet some people he had met in work, 3 girls and 1 guy. It became obvious that they were a little further ahead on the drunk scale so the conversation was hilarious.

One of the girls kept repeating the phrase: "do you know what I mean like" while searching for her nail glue and talking about the outfit she bought, one of the other girls kept on saying "Whaa". Pretty sure she meant: "What". (girls no offence)

After one or two beers we decided to head off to the nightclub, we got separated from the other guy and girl so just the 4 of us walking down the street. The girl that was looking for her nail glue had some trouble walking (massive heels) so she held on to my arm of course cant leave one girl hanging so she held on to her friends arm.

All is going well and I am doing my best keeping my balance while thinking: How in the world did I end up in this position tonight? The girls needed money so we had to cross the road to get to the ATM and all went downhill from there. I obviously didn't see this but this is what my cousin saw.

All 3 of the girls went straight down to the ground and purses flew and hair products covered the road...

What happened was, I stepped down onto the road first but I stepped in a GIANT pothole and twisted my ankle and just fell onto my hands and knees. Because the girls were depending on my flats and somewhat soberness they kinda just fell along....

I'm on the road for about 5 minutes just thinking: FUCK THIS REAAALLY HURTS (it was really sore), I can hear my cousin going: Ahh for fucks sake... One of the girls went insane because it was her purse that was emptied all across the road (who carries a brush and hairspray out?) she called me a bitch multiple times. " You fucking bitch, you are supposed to be the sober one, fucking bitch". "My purse is broken". This went on for a while and I was trying to explain to her that I didn't really do that on purpose. The pothole was located just at the edge of the kerb so very hard to see (in my defence).


                                                   
ANYHOWS, we all got up and walked on, had the word "bitch" thrown at me another few times and I had to tell her to stop calling me that because we don't know each other well enough. (I was a little pissed that she was worried about her purse and that my ankle looked like it had eaten a tennis ball). Pretty sure I told my cousin I would attack her if she called me a bitch one more time.

                                                   Basically every road in Ireland

Arrived to the nightclub, because yes I had to go, don't ask me why. Pretty sure the alcohol had numbed some of the pain. After standing still for some while looking at the 6 people on the dance floor, my cousin waved me over as for me to join them to dance, I stepped and the pain shot straight through my leg and I shook my head: Noo way in hell I am "dancing". So I "walked" passed the dance floor and down the stairs towards the exit. Now the security guy saw me limping and asked me if I was ok. I told him I was fine and just twisted my ankle.

This guy insisted that I sit down and have an icepack put on it. So, sure, fine Ill sit down and take the icepack. I didn't know Id be sitting behind the counter where people drop off their coats... So, I was the retard that everyone saw as soon as they walked in!! Brilliant, just what I need.

Lovely security sat with me for a while and helped me down the pair of stairs. He held my hand. Its almost a romantic story! Got home limping and put my broken body to bed.

My cousin and I had a talk the next day and he says that the night was a lot like this for him:
"Whaa, whaa?" "Do you know what I mean like?" "Aaauuuwwwwww" And that in replay. Poor lad...

Second half:

Sunday I spent my day on the couch, asking my cousin to grab me this and that and made him take care of me.

Monday the ankle was still pretty swollen and sore, so I went to the doctors. She asked me a few questions and told me to go to the hospital in Naas for an x-ray. "If I had to put money on it, Id say its not broken, just in case"... FINEE, my uncle drove me down to Naas, got the scan done and the doctor told me: "You're fine, its not broken". Well you'd think, brilliant! But that still left me with not being able to walk.

I went down to reception and asked them if it was possible to get crutches for a few days to help me get in to work, the guy told me that I would have to go into A&E.. I "walk" down to A&E and ask them the same question. The woman told me that she couldn't give me crutched because I was helped in the main part of the hospital and not A&E itself... Why did I do that? Well because the doctor told me to, as I had the referral letter for radiology.

Fine, got back into the car and drove home. I got home and my mother said: "Emma that's not right, it needs to be taped at least". So I call back the doctor and they told me that they don't do that and I should just let it rest.... SO, I paid 55 euros just to find out that my ankle wasn't broken!! Obviously!!

Gotta love Ireland

                                                          Wednesday finally!






Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Well, that has been a while...

So as I was trying to fall asleep last night, I remembered something. Now I thought it might be funny to share, so here it goes.

I can image that every parent is very happy when the time comes that the children sleep in their own beds. No more :" I peed in the bed, can I sleep here with you guys" no more : "There is a monster in my room, REALLY".

I cannot remember when that ended for me but I am assuming my parents were very happy that they had the bed for themselves.

Now about 2 months ago, we had two family reunions, one in Sligo and the other in Tullow. In between those reunions we decided to stay with family in Kerry for a few days. We rented an apartment and it was my grandmother, brother, parents an myself who stayed there. My grandmother being my grandmother she got the double bedroom, my parents the other and yes... my brother and I had to share a room.

Not bad, I mean there is always someone there to talk to.

First night, we go to bed and were talking and kind of doze off, and what happened next I havent experienced ever in my life.

I am laying in bed and I feel weight behind me, as if someone is crawling into my bed, so I try to move and my body is not allowing me to move and then I feel pressure around my body, as if someone put their arms around me. Spooning me? I am trying like mad to get loose but I cannot move I am frozen completely. I panic and I start screaming for my brother SEAN, SEAAAAAN but I cannot make a sound, my lips were moving but no sound came out.
Suddenly I awake.... I was asleep? I really thought I was awake... I sit up and call my brother, he was fast asleep, when I check the time about 2 hours have passed... Confusing as fuck.

Now I figured FUCK THAT SHIT and took a deep breathe and went back to sleep.

Again I feel something/someones weight beside me in bed and again the spooning sensation. I panicked immediately, clamping my hands together and I try to roll and scream again... nothing happens. Until I force myself to move so hard that I fall out of bed, lying on the floor I cannot move again and still cant make noise, about to piss myself, I focus really hard on my hands. Move your hand, Emma. Thats what I was thinking. MOVE YOUR GODDAMN HAND EMMA..

As I move my hand I wake up, in bed... So scared... I have never been that scared. My brother still asleep and I didnt know what to do. So what do you do when you dont know what to do? Yes go to your parents. I knocked on their door and they were awake. My dad asked me whats wrong? I explained him the whole story as I am walking back and forth through the room, trying to understand what the fuck just happened.

My parents look at me, a little confused I think. So my dad asks me: "What do you want to do Emma"? Well... I said, Can I sleep in here and you sleep in my bed?

I think a moment of silence passed and I cannot remember exactly what my dad said but he got out of bed and walked over to the room I was staying in.

I crawled into bed safely with my mother beside me. It took me a while to fall asleep as my heart was still pounding but it didnt happen again.

I asked everyone else who was staying in that house if they had anything like that happening to them. They all said no. My brother slept like a baby, and so did my dad....

What is was? I am not sure. Might have been some weird dream/ lack of sleep experience. I have experienced it once after, not so long ago, only this time I recognized what was about to happen and focused on my hand again and I snapped out of it.

So apparently focusing on something helps.

Moral of the story? You are never too old to share a bed with your parents!!