White O'Morn Cottage

Keeping Busy in Amsterdam

Well after the awful loss of my little dog, Pretty, I had to find a way to keep myself busy and not be moping about. It was a bit fortunate that we were booked to go to visit our son, Jamie, in Amsterdam two days later. It did keep us occupied. Here are some of the photos I took on our trip.

This is Jamie with his lovely English girlfriend, Toni...a happy couple.

Below: Paul found a doggy friend to cuddle. This is Molly who belongs to the lovely Shalina (Jamie's boss) Shalina would not be photo'd but Molly did! Thanks so much Shalina for all your hospitality and help during our trip (and keeping an eye on my baby for me)

 

Smokey's Coffeeshop

Next is a photo of Jamie and Paul taken in one of those coffeeshops that sell dope and such and it's legal. I was gobsmacked! We had to see it for ourselves of course.

Then - much to Jay's embarrassment we insisted on doing a tour of the Red Light District. It was the fasted tour ever. I think we saw one lane of it. Jamie almost ran us through it. Also gobsmacking! I think Paul went crossyeyd!

 It was a bit sad seeing all those beautiful young women on display like shop mannaquins. I was too uncomfortable to take photos of them and anyway it is not allowed - not the done thing - and their minders are known to grab a camera and delete pictures.  The red lights you can see in the lane on left of picture each has a window with a woman for sale in it. Very strange thing to see.

Despite these things I have to say that Amsterdam felt like a very safe city to be out and about in on a weekend night. Full of buzz and good humour  and no sense of menace and danger that I feel in most big cities. Jamie says he has not seen one fistfight in the nine months he has been there.   The police are very polite but have a zero tolerance approach to troublemakers and will come down hard on any unruly behaviour (also they don't have to spend any time  dealing with dope dealers or prostitutes as most forces do)

 

Strange Buildings in Amsterdam...

Below is the hotel where Jamie works. It is the Liberty Hotel and is the building on the left with the green canopy. Next to it is the narrowest house in the world. Yes, the black door is the building - it is a door wide! The redbrick building is the building next door to it. A young couple live in it. Obviously NOT  claustraphobics!

 

 

...and Feeling Seasick on Land!

Now for more amazing buildings. I thought it was my eyes at first but no, a lot of the buildings are tilting at odd angles. Look at this hotel (on the right with the blue hotel sign)..would you like to stay in this?

 

Of course some of them tilt FORWARD which is also very alarming.

 

It seems they are built on sand and that's why they shift. I have not heard of any of them falling so I guess that's ok but it sure feels strange to see it. Jay says the builders never heard of  spirit levels!
 

I did go to a flea market but it was late in the day and most of the good stuff was gone but I did manage to find two lovely old tins and an old candle snuffer. Will post pics next time.

Since I came home I have set up my ETSY Shop (again keeping my mind busy) Click on the  link or the on the top of my sidebar on the right if you fancy a browse. Bye for now!

 

 

Happy St Patrick's Day! ....Lá Féile Paidraig! ....& A Give Away! I Mean Two Give Aways!

It's the big day so to celebrate I am having a BIG double give away! See details further down the post...  You just have to leave a comment to be included in the draw!

      

Wishing you all a fabulous St Paddy's Day! I am so looking forward to it this year. Everyone in great form, lots of ultra happy tourists who seem to enjoy it more than we do!

 

Leprechauns leppin' about the place, (which is what they do best) green white and orange flags, faces, clothes and normally sane people shouting

 " Whup -ya-boy-ya! A truly magic day to be Irish! :) ...Reality and Recession both suspended for the day.

The celebrations have been going on since last Friday here as we now celebrate it as St Patrick's Festival and they take a week - right? Suffice it to say we are in overdrive!!!!!

So many of my readers have Irish ancestors and the Irish diaspora is said to be HUGE. We always have oodles of extra visitors at this time and we give them a big "CEAD MILE FAILTE" which translates literaly as "A hundred thousand welcomes" The parades are fantastic and everyone is in very high spirits - a day when everyone loves everyone (a bit like Christmas but greener)  Pity we can't bottle the feeling for later use!

 

Pressies from Japan!

My good blogpal in Japan -japanesekeane, who is Irish mad has sent me a great gift for the day that's in it...It popped into my mailbox this morning and I was so delighted to see the goodies he had sent me...Here they are

A gorgeous leather Hello Kitty (Dia Ghuit A Caitlin!) all dressed in green ready for the party! I love her!

 

Also included was this old Irish stamp with a picture of St Patrick on.

 

OHHH....and some yummshous chocolate beans (millsean) which I stuffed myself with all day.

 Go raibh mile maith agat Keano! (this means Thank you very much Keano) he will understand though - as he speaks Gaelge! Yes, an 18 year old Japanese chap and he knows as much Irish as me! ...and Kimme (Irish Cottage Dreams) is studying it too...I'll have to catch up to keep up with them! (Kimme has some great links to the parade on her blog so I wont repeat them.  (Use them to see the parades live)

Eat your National Flag!

....and speaking of yummy things how's this? I was out with Ma at a market in nearby Howth and we found these to have with a nice cup of tea when we got home.... They are done in the Irish flag colours of green, white and orange. What a great idea! The lady had made them herself and arranged them in the box. They were selling like hotcakes and what's more...NO CALORIES..... as St Patrick has given us all a dispensation just for this day. (I wish)

 

 

 

Someone told me the colours mean green for Ireland, white for peace, and orange for Northern Ireland. In this case I ate Northern Ireland so I did!

Check it out...just listed on my website: www.suchprettyoldthings.com a baby leprechaun hat. Unique, one of a kind (....'cos I lost the pattern) cute little hat for the little leprechuan in your life. Hand crafted in Ireland and very reasonably priced. Price includes postage! Listed under the Handmade With Love section

Next for your enjoyment I have a link to a cute piece of animation for your enjoyment... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W97M5i05xUo

 

Got Irish in Ya? ....Test yourself for Irishness.....

Did you like that? Yes? Well here is a real treat for you. Do yourself a favour and spend the next three minutes watching this with your volume UP! It will resonate with any Irishness in you and get your pulse racing! ENJOY.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B718RsboGEI

Phew! I'm tired after watching that!

White O'Morn Cottage Give Away

Now to the give aways...you can enter for the goodies giveaway alone or the holiday giveaway alone - or both if it suits you :-)

Goodies give away...goes like this...you will receive a selection of my hand made lavendar sachet, a hand made doorhanger heart, a small patchwork Christmas pillow (Christmas is coming fast!)  Two crochet cookies, and a framed real shamrock, grown in my own White O'Morn cottage garden. More pics to follow (well I have just thought of these and don't have all the pics ready) Don't be rushin' me! 

 

 

Stay in White O'Morn Cottage for Free!

Giveaway no. 2 is a week's free stay in my country cottage White O'Morn Cottage in Co. Leitrim.

In these hard times one has to do one's bit for the tourism trade. So this is my "bit"

If you are thinking of visiting Ireland soon (or even next year) you can spend up to a week FREE in a 250 year old Irish cottage that is a close copy of the cottage in the cult film The Quiet Man. It started life as a Weaver's cottage and is still known as The Weaver Duignan's. The Duignans are the family who built it and it stayed in that family until we bought it. We are good friends with the present day Duignans and they might even visit you for a chinwag during your stay! (for more details just browse my blog) The facilities are basic but comfortable, with one double bedroom and a pull down bed in the living room.

I am always offering it to people as I love to share it with others who appreciate it as much as I do and I can't spend all my time there and want to spread it around. Kimme has spent a weekend there and is coming back for more! Maith on cailín Kimme! Anyway that's why I am offering it as a giveaway to any blogger who wants it. Just leave a comment letting me know which give away you are interested in...and you're in. 

(Kimme, you are disqualified from the cottage giveaway as you are my favourite American and more than welcome anytime! :) Wheee!

Everyone else is welcome - you don't have to be a regular reader or commenter or anything -  just be someone who would like to stay in an old Irish cottage for free!

Have a great St Pat's Day!....love Pam

Ps.. Fur babies welcome!

Both draws close on 21st March