ah christmas, it brings out the best in us!!

EAST 17

Not only have East 17 written my FAVORITE Christmas song (stay another day of course), they manage to simultaneously defy all rules of gravity and style.
Sweet!

The Annamoe Pt. 2

Last weekend we went back to the Annamoe kayaking. There was WAY more water this time and we did a much longer run. We started at Lough Dan near Roundwood. It was an extra 4km or so of grade III paddling. This week I didn't fare as well. Despite repetitive warnings to avoid the overhanging trees, I managed to get stuck in EVERY SINGLE ONE! It was so annoying (and dangerous). Plus I made a balls of one rapid (twice) and ended up swimming (twice) in a gross foamy pile of foamy foam. I managed a few cuts and scrapes, I mangled my knuckles, twisted my ankle, and bruised my EYEBALL! But it was still brilliant fun, and Paddy says that when I was actually paddling, I did it well.
I can't wait till next Sunday!

I'm going to share my favorite (and only) recipe

THE BAKE

It started as an accident. It was actually supposed to be cookies. I think I was indulging in the romantic notion that a glass of wine accompanies all enjoyable kitchen endeavors. It would be irresponsible of me to solely blame the wine, I am a desperate cook. I distrust recipes, substitute ingredients recklessly, and have the attention span of a crow. Without exception, every time I add any spice to ANYTHING, the smoke alarm goes off.
I have perfected two things despite my culinary shortcomings.
1. Frozen grapes (haha)
2. The BAKE!
The bake has 3 essential ingredients.
WET
DRY
TASTY
The rest is up to your imagination.
For WET I use soya milk, or juice, or green tea, or water or a mix of everything. You can really use anything you want. Seriously.
For DRY I use oats, and musli. I've added bran flakes before. I can't eat wheat but if you can I suppose any sort of cerealy thing will work.
TASTY is the fun part. Use almonds, dried fruit (not fresh fruit it goes all rotty and gross), nuts, cinnamon, ginger, peanut butter, maple syrup ANYTHING YOU WANT. Don't use sugar though, the white devil isn't welcome here.
Mix it up, stick it in a loaf tin with a bit of olive oil to avoid the dreaded stick.



Then oven it up. At 220 for about 20 min to half an hour depending on how crap your oven is. mine takes about 40 min.
Beware, it's good for you.
I love the bake.

ha ha ha

elfies!!

AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Paddy sent me this today. Please watch it till the end, it's actually cuter than kittens and little socks and everything else that's remotely cute everywhere ever.

Dublin Symphony Orchestra

I'm playing with the DSO this saturday hourrah!! I'm playing in the Bizet and the Franck. The L'Arlésienne Suite is gorgeous, I can't wait to play it!



December Celebrations
King's Inns, Constitution Hill, Dublin 7
8 December 2007 8:00 PM

John Kinsella: Celebration
Bizet: L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1
J. S. Bach: Double Concerto for Violins
soloist: Ciarán Crilly & Aveen O'Reilly
César Franck: Symphony in D minor

Conductor: Fergus O'Carroll
Leader: Helen Dixon

Art Auction!

Burco and the Killer are hosting a fabulous art auction on the 18th of December in the Italian Quarter in Dublin.
It's perfect for last minute shopping and fabulous unique gifts (including prints by yours truly!!)
PLUS 20 % goes to charity!
Ha- Zah!!

Jackson's Falls

Check out the rapid I ran on sunday!! Paddy took me to the Annamoe river in Wicklow with a few of his kayak cronies. Paddy, Peaches, Maddog and Jenny are all great paddlers so I was in good hands. It's a grade 3 river with a grade 4+ rapid near the end called Jackson's Falls. I'd heard of it. It's sort of a rite of passage among paddlers. I went with every intention of walking around the rapid, but on the day decided to go for it. What's the worst that could happen? (don't answer that!!)
I made an absolute balls of it, spent half the time upside down, but it was SOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!! Even getting hauled out of the bottom pool by Peaches on a rope was brilliant. I can't stop smiling today. I'm covered in bruises but I'm so chuffed.