Harms family (and a Niccum) invasion

The Harms family came to Dublin. They came, all of them. Mom, Dad, Amber, Annie and Tim arrived on Friday and Jaime landed bright and early Saturday morning. Dublin greeted everyone appropriately with grey skies, lashing rain and a good amount of wind. It did NOT rain on our parade though.
After some naps and showers we headed to the city centre to one of our favorite places for some food, pints, Irish music, and of course the craic!


Slainte!

The Guys

Bangers and Mash were a crowd favorite

The next morning my mom and I headed back to the airport to meet Jaime. When we arrived at the terminal everyone was coming out. The whole place was being evacuated. We were all standing around outside being ushered from one end of things to another.  This arrived....

And after about 25 minutes we were allowed back in and everything appeared normal.

We came home for a quick bit and then we were out again to do a bus tour of Dublin. We didn't let Jaime sleep until about 2 am the following morning! As the day went on she kept referring to things that happened "yesterday" and and "yesterday on the plane..."

Outside Bewley's

 Everyone is happy for a pic with the Jolly Leprechaun....and then a bird pooped on us.

We ALL had to pause for clean up.

Cutie Patootie on the tour bus

Most of our crew, top of the bus back row because we're COOL!

Dublin Castle

An angelic angle for Dad in the Castle Chapel

The organ and some stained glass in the chapel

Next stop: Kilmainham Gaol

 Dad in the main part of the prison

 creepy hallway

Amber was naughty. Time out in the cell.

This tour was excellent. A bit sad, but so interesting and historical. We all learned a few things.

Stay tuned...this is only the beginning

Olympic Torch

A couple weeks ago the Olympic torch made its way to Dublin and I was lucky enough to see it. I got a text from a friend letting me know that the torch had arrived that morning and was being processed through the city by various athletes, political figures, and celebs and finishing up with a 15 minute torch ceremony in St. Stephen's Green. Obviously, this was something I could not miss. I looked at the route online and decided that my best chance for a sighting would be in Stephen's Green.
I hopped on the bike and made it there just in time...following the helicopters and other people with cameras.
When I arrived I could hear people talking and cheering and there was a stage set up but I couldn't see much. The area was fenced off and they had handed out wristbands to get in the fenced area before I got there. As I was standing along the fence I watched a guy exit...spotted the red wristband, followed him, and was certain he did not plan on going back in. I asked him if I could have his wristband and he was more than happy to rip it off. Entry granted!
I ended up moving my way fairly close to the front with a good view of the torch and Jedward. Common question I have gotten: what's a Jedward? Well...short answer they were an Irish act that got 6th place in the 2009 X-Factor. In reality, they are John and Edward, brothers. They have blown up to be some bizzarre, crazy Irish pop act. Slightly annoying to some, but a huge hit selling out concerts all over. If you are interested: http://www.planetjedward.net/
Anyway, they were part of the crew processing with the torch and seeing them just adds to my Irish experience.
My pictures from the day aren't that great...mainly because I thought I was capturing video when apparently I wasn't. Ugh. Happens more than it should.

The torch was lit for the 15 minutes on the stage while they pumped up Dublin for the games and talked about the Irish athletes that were present, then they packed it up and carried it off to its next destination. Pretty cool.

The 10k

Hiya...what's the craic. We have been so busy here having so much fun. My parents, all 3 sisters, and one boyfriend, Tim, were staying at our house. We were all over the country having loads of fun so I haven't had the time to update.
So, the 10k went really well. There were over 40,000 women walking, jogging and running it.  Waiting for the race to start we were literally shoulder to shoulder, heal to heal. The first 3K of the race was just crazy, crowded, mayhem. They had the runners at the beginning, followed by the joggers, followed by the walkers. However, several people were walking in the runner and jogger groups making it extremely difficult to break free from the pack and get a pace going. But....ultimately I did :)
Every couple of kilometers they had tents and stages with various bands, radio stations or DJs playing music and cheering everyone on. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day for the race.
Kevin and Max were waiting for me at the finish line. I ended up running it faster than my goal time and I placed 322nd! I was interviewed by a TV crew right after I crossed the finish line, but I didn't catch which station it was and I haven't been able to find it, nor do I know if it was even aired, but it was still pretty fun!

Max waiting at the finish line

After the run with my medal.

Success!

Stay tuned for updates on the fam visit! Life is back to its regular pace around here now.

Cheers!



Pics from a run

Hiya! I found a new place to run the other day. Right along the beach, with a little bit of off roading on a dirt trail, and ending at a nice red lighthouse on a pier in the sea. The sun was shining and it was just glorious.
Some of you are probably confused...why am I running? I don't run...and that WAS true. Until one day I just decided I was going to run, so now I do. And it's a good thing because I never would have found this spot otherwise.

 The lighthouse in the distance

Frank is REALLY serious about that poo.

AND, I am running in my first ever 10K on Monday. It is the Flora Women's Mini Marathon here in Dublin and there are over 40,000 women participating. You can enter as a runner, jogger or a walker. I am realllly excited, but also nervous with that many people...going to have to throw some elbows at the start :) I know I will have the two best guys cheering for me and waiting at the finish line

If you would like, you can make a donation to the charity. I decided to fundraise for the Children's Hospital...the same one we went to with Max when he was sick. The hospital has posters in several buses around the city and Max always asks questions about the picture of the child with the tubes in her nose. One day I was explaining how she was very sick but nurses and doctors were taking care of her to help her get better, and he was just so concerned for the little baby. A lady sitting behind us stopped on her way off the bus and told Max that she knows the little girl. She assured him that she is all better and at home with her mommy and daddy now. Max was relieved and said that if he is sick it is okay because it will just be for a little while and then he will take his medicine and get better like that baby. Sure enough, that's what he did!

Here is the link, you just need to search Erin Mottram and I am the one and only!

https://www.cmrf.org/donate/giveOptions

Have a great weekend everyone. This weekend is our "Memorial day" weekend...Bank Holiday on Monday. Woooo

Cheers!