So what's the craic?

Eh, all quiet here.  "So, what's the craic? All quiet." That's the typical question and response here in Derry to what American's would say as "What's going on? Not much."

So, anyway.  Nope, not much craic here.  It has been a quiet few days here in Derry.  My Zumba classes are going wonderfully.  Did some spring cleaning in the flat and in the shop so we're all fresh here now, too.  And, I'm slowly getting Barry's old bachelor pad transformed into a newlywed love nest.  Although I think I may have gone a little overboard on the girly stuff, but I don't think Barry minds too much.  At least he hasn't said so.  I've made our living room/kitchen area an earthy neutral tone area with red accents so it is man-friendly...however, the bedroom and bathroom are well...um, less than man- friendly.  They're purple!  Yes, purple...purple bedding, purple curtains, purple rugs, purple flowers, purple storage chests, purple picture frames and purple a shower curtain.  You'da thunk a gay pride parade exploded in these rooms...but, I love them...just like I love a parade!

Oh, and we've also watched the first season of Dexter.  So good!  Can't wait to tackle the rest of the seasons so we'll be all caught up.

So anyway, since it is all quiet here...enjoy some photos:

A photo from Monday night's Zumba class:

And, a photo of Derry I took when it was sunny and warm last week:

And here's a photo of a purple cat I found online.  I do not know who the cat is nor do I know who the woman is holding the purple cat but I like cats and I like purple...so there ya go.

What I shoulda said...

Photo: Google Image Search

I sometimes forget I'm an American living abroad.  Well, that is until I'm laughed outta town when I say something super American.  I do try not to sound so American.  I do my best to avoid using typical American phrases and terms like "awesome" and "yeah, man." But, it sneaks out like verbal diarrhea and finds itself in the air and in the ears of my new Irish friends.  Even some words I don't realize are uber-American actually are and I'm certainly made aware of it because once they pass my lips, the incessant laughter that fills the room makes me very aware.  Don't get me wrong, no one laughs at me in a mean way...it is just for a bit of fun and it is definitely a learning experience for me.

Just to spread the laughter, I'll give you a few examples.

What I said: Cash register  What I should have said: Till

What I said: I have to run errands. *sidenote: I was actually asked if I was speaking a different language when I said this.* What I should have said: I need to go a wee message.

What I said: Do you want some candy?  What I should have said: Do you want a wee sweet?

What I said:  You want a dollars worth of those penny sweets? *sidenote:  I totally knew better here but, ya know...old habits die hard.*  What I should have said: You want a pound worth of those penny sweets?

Having said all of that, there have been times when hubbers has told me that I'm picking up a Derry accent.  For example, yesterday, we were examining our new curtain rods and discovered we would need to drill new holes in the wall to hang our newly acquired rods.  I asked him if he knew anyone that had a drill we could borrow.  Except, I didn't say "borrow"...I said "barra." And I was told it was a "barra" in a typical Derry accent.  So there ya go. 

Okay, now I have a date with Sky TV which we just had installed and can I say...hallelujah!  We get all my favorite American shows with a special hallelujah for the HBO shows. So...see ya later!

What is a sheowwww?

I've noticed the similarities in commericials here in Ireland to ones back in the States.  Sometimes it is just the same commercial with an English accent thrown in there and sometimes it is the same commercial jingle and dialogue except a different product, but more or less, these commericials are the same.  Every time I came to visit before I moved to Ireland, I took note of a few commericials and it is no different now, so I thought I'd share these lovely wee finds with you.  I don't know why these entertain me so much but they do. Perhaps they will entertain you as well.Enjoy!

Windshield, Windscreen, same dif!

 The American Safelite commercial:




The Irish/U.K. equivalent:

Changing a letter and an accent but still the same. Hair loss is no joke!

The American Rogaine Commercial:




The Irish/U.K. Regaine equivalent:

Apparently, cleaning bottles can talk in BOTH countries!

The American Mr. Clean Magic Eraser commercial:




The Irish/U.K. equivalent:

Okay, well I couldn't find the video for the equivalent anywhere online, but it does exist, I swear.  I saw it once and it was almost exactly the same as the American version with the uneducated talking bottles, except instead of Magic Eraser it was advertising a spray cleaner, the name of which escapes me at the present moment.  I just really wanted to post the American version because I love when he asks "what is a sheoww?"

Poop and cats

Yep, that's what's on my mind right now.  Poop and cats. 

Why poop?  Well, because the pipes in our nearly 150 year old building (estimate) that Barry and I live in clogged something awful today and whoa, what a nightmare it was trying to unclog months or years of crap (literally) and other things that have clogged up the plumbing.  Well, I wasn't the one having to unclog the pipes.  Luckily, we had a plumber who did it and who in all honesty deserves a metal for what he endured and fixed today. 

What I did have to clean and fix however was the poop water that spilled onto our pristine bathroom floor which had managed to shoot up from our toilet outta nowhere. Insert gagging noise here. Don't worry, we were able to remove some of our newly purchased items which you can see here so they weren't ruined. 

So after an afternoon of plumbing unclogging or whatever and poop water cleaning, the flat is back to its pristine status once again...thankfully. 

So where does the cats part of the title come in?  Right here.  Because now, I'm going to cry about how much I miss my two furry punkin heads Charlie and Fox.  Apart from seeing them on Skype, courtesy of my brother, the cat whisperer, I haven't seen or petted or heard their sweet purrs in two weeks and four days!  And, it will be another several weeks until I return to the States to pick them up to bring them back to Ireland with me.  I wuv u Charlie and Fox!

Luckily the cat whisperer is staying with them and making sure all their feline needs are met down to snuggles, treats and of course...poop scooping duties.

That's Charlie on the left and Fox on the right. 

First night of Zumba in Derry

So, I began my first night of teaching Zumba in Derry last night at Pilot's Row Community Centre and like, WOW, it was wonderful!!!  Had a wonderful turnout with close to 30 there which is the bomb diggity for the first night!  Thought I'd share some photos with you from class:

St. Paddy's Festivities

It was my first St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and I went to the parade.  I thought that would be pretty sweet given we don't celebrate the holiday with a parade in America.  I didn't partake of the green beer and drink-until-you-puke festiviites since I was on babysitting duty, but the day was pretty cool.  And, by pretty cool I mean, like, the day was friggin' freezin'.  And, it was fun.

Gettin' all ready for the parade!

Me with my shamrocks pinned to my coat.

Warmin' up at the M&S Cafe after the parade.

Tale of a babysitter

This week Barry's sister and brother-in-law have been out of town without their two children which means this week Barry and I have been babysitting these lovely children. Well, let me clarify, actually it has been me that has done most of the babysitting since Barry has to work 12 hour shifts at the shop.  Yes, 12 blissful hours of what I'm sure is not nearly as difficult as babysitting a ten and a seven year old.  Don't get me wrong...I'm crazy about the younguns...but, I'm exhausted. 

Even though I feel like I've been hit by a train, it has been fun and also very educational.  Since this is just my second week residing here in Ireland, I'm not quite settled and used to the accents, the appliances (since I've had to *gasp* do some light cooking and washing for the gals), or even the fruit juice that has to be diluted with water before drinking. 

For example, the other day, the oldest one was telling me what she wanted from the chippy (that is a take out restaurant for my American readers).  What I thought she said was "pattered sausages."  So, I asked if this particular place had "pattered sausages."  After laughing at me, I was told she actually said BATTERED sausages.  Oh, okay well that makes more sense.  Still having some trouble with the accent as you can see.

During an after school snack the other day, the girls were eating some fruit and I asked if they wanted some juice since there was a bottle of orange pineapple juice in the fridge.  "Aye" they both said.  So, I went off and poured them two glasses of the juice and gave it to them.  They happily drank the juice.  It wasn't until about FIVE hours later when seeing Barry that they told him and ME that I was supposed to dilute the juice with water.  Hmm...I had no idea.  This is something that is completely different here versus in America.  Most juices have to be diluted before drinking here even though they come in large containers that look like they have already been diluted...very misleading.  Bless their little Irish hearts for drinking the juice even though I'm sure it tasted like pure syrup.  They were afraid of hurting my feelings they said.  Ah well, lesson learned.

Preparing to do my first load of laundry here was also an adventure.  Seeing as how the washing machines are completely different here, I wasn't quite sure where to put the detergent.  After standing in front of the washer and examining it from every angle and after numerous phone calls to Barry with questions, I finally did figure it out.  But, the whole process of loading the clothes in the washer and actually turning it on took a good thirty minutes. 

But, I am slowly coming around.  I still somewhat feel as if I have suffered a head injury and I'm having to relearn everything that was second nature to me, but I feel a little more confidant.  I even offerered to fry the little girls some sausages this morning for breakfast...which I have never done before.  Feeling a little like Mary Poppins or Holly Homemaker, I was quite pleased with the outcome until the oldest one told me I had burned them and she couldn't eat them.  Oh well, another lesson learned. I'm still a Mary Poppins trainee I suppose.

Even though I've struggled to aquaint myself with living here in a few minor ways, the babysitting has also been fun.  Saturday night, we sent the girls on a chocolate Easter egg hunt during commerical breaks of a dating show called Take Me Out.

Monday night, they made Barry look very pretty with a tube of my lipstick.  It was very nice of him to do this...especially since the youngest one has given him the nickname of Mr. Grumpy.  I, on the other hand, have earned the nickname of Mrs. Shiny Diamond.  Mine is sooooo much better than his!

Gawgeous, Dawling!

Then, yesterday, we made T-shirts out of glitter glue and markers to wear to the St. Patrick's Day parade.

I think I have a couple of up and coming artists on my hands, don't ya think?

Tomorrow, we're headed to the town to watch the St. Patrick's Day parade and partake in the activities going on.  Stay tuned...more to come!