Hometown Holiday

This isn't related to the post I just thought it was gas.

Remember when I went to the Late Late show and we got two weekends away? Well I had booked my time off work and myself and Michael were all ready to go on our little trip to Wexford or Carlow which were the choices of the hotels. I was was a little bit busy the week before so didn't get to ring and book until the Tuesday before. Disaster...Wexford was full. But it was ok because we could just go to Carlow. Bam! Booked out too. Seriously how many people can be going to Carlow? It was full anyway though. What were we to do? Cancel my day off and try to find another weekend to go. No no...we would persevere and go on holidays in the final option on the list of hotels on the voucher. So we packed our over night bags and loaded up the car aka the 'Grandma Mobile' and headed to Stillorgan!

For those of you who don't know where that is, it is less then twenty minutes away from both of our houses. I don't think you even have to pay the full fare on the bus from town because it is so close. Yep. The receptionist laughed when I gave her my address. But we were determined to have a delightful time. And we did. It was so nice. We had dinner in town and then headed off on our long journey. Then on the Saturday we went to Blackrock Market which wasn't great. It must have been good at one point but it was just full of fake Chanel bags and dream catchers really. Then we headed to Dun Laoghaire and to Michael's delight went to all of the charity shops which is where I got a Zara top with the €39 95 tag still attached for the discounted price of €2. Hurray.

We also found the best cafe ever. I am serious. I loved it. I was a creep. I kept talking to the people that worked there because I presumed they owned it, They told me they didn't. That didn't stop me from bombarding them with questions. It's called 'White Tea' and it's upstairs in the furniture/fabric shop on the main street in Dun Laoghaire. Everything is served in vintage cups (hello) and all of the food is homemade and baked on the premises. I swear it was the best lemon cake I ever had. And the pot of tea for one could definitely do three but then you wouldn't get your own vintage tea cup and that would be a terrible shame. Because Michael is the best and he knows how much I love stupid cups and sneakiliy bought me the one I loved the most when I wasn't looking.

Definitely in the running to be a new favorite.

We also went to the cinema and had dinner. And then on the Sunday morning we got up and went to the 'Artisan Food Market' in Dun Laoghaire. I had been before but never as part of a ridiculous holiday so it was more fun this time. And I was very excited to see a falafel stand again. Lunch time!

Sheer concentration on Michael's face to shut me up by taking the picture and to not drop his precious falafel.

Some nice food market photos:

I also picked up some random bits and bobs in Meadows and Byrne which is a really cool shop. Probably more useful if yo have a house but we all know I can cram stuff into my room until that day comes. I do feel it needs to be soon for my own safety. There is not much space for air left due to all of my trash.

 How cute is this little teabag holder? I got a pink one too because this one needed a friend.

I also bought myself flowers again. Lame! They were not doing so hot at being alive apparently. Being half price should have been the clue. Pretty though.

I actually think everybody should take a trip near where they live sometime. We got to appreciate some lovely things and places that you normally miss because you are running to get home or to pay the parking or something silly. I really enjoyed taking the time to enjoy some happy places close to home with my best pal.

Joey x