Howth

After spending two days in Dublin (and not seeing everything!), we decided to check out a little fishing village a short train ride away. We weren't sure what to expect, but this village was so delightful! Even in the rain.

View from the Pier to Ireland's Eye

After walking about the piers and the lighthouse, we decided to brave the rain and do part of the coastal walk. It was incredible. So, so, beautiful, with absolutely breathtaking vistas. The rain got pretty hard and we were pretty hungry, so we didn't finish the loop before heading back into town via the main road through town. The village is small but charming and we enjoyed an Irish lunch as a sweet waterfront cafe.

Fishermen checking their traps

My new dream house

It was windy

Lighthouse on the back of the Penninsula

Before heading back to catch our flight, we made one last stop at the harbor and were greeted by a family of seals looking for some lunch of their own. A few fellow tourists were happy to comply and supplied them with some freshly purchased fish. The seals seemed grateful and we were thrilled to have a chance to see them up close.

Dublin, Day 2

We spent our second day in Dublin visiting Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and some of the churches. It was a bit more rainy this day, so we made a few stops in some great cafes and enjoyed some tasty (and warm) treats! We got to Trinity College early on a misty Sunday morning, so we got to enjoy a quiet and serene stroll about this historic and beautiful college.

After we left Trinity, we meandered around town and happened upon two lovely little parks, St. Stephen's Green and Iveagh Gardens. No ones to miss a park, we had to take a stroll.

St. Stephen's Green

Joe and James Joyce

Iveagh Gardens

Later in the afternoon, we made a stop at the castle. It, like the President's home, was a little underwhelming, but we enjoyed the tour a lot. Much of the furnishings are Irish made (such as the Waterford crystal chandeliers and the hand woven rugs).

Ladies' Waiting Room

hand woven rugs and Waterford chandeliers

The Massive Throne

Dublin has a few really gorgeous churches and we heard that Christ Church and St. Patrick's Church also have amazing choirs and to take advantage of any opportunity to hear them...so, we heeded this advice and visited the churches during morning worship and an evensong. We were not disappointed, especially with Christ Church's remarkable choir! It was also a great way to experience the churches in a unique way.

Christ Church

St. Patrick's Church
(Reputed) Site of St. Patrick's Well

Floor inside St. Patrick's

St. Patrick's Stained Glass

We capped off the day with a delicious meal at the Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub (dating back to 1198) before heading back to the hostel for a much needed sleep!

Dublin

Last weekend, we took advantage of a sale at Ryanair (an already crazy cheap airline) and took a short weekend trip to Dublin. We were fortunate to enjoy some great fall weather while we were there and had a great time walking around the streets of Dublin, visiting churches and parks, castles and the President's home. It was a relaxing (and much needed) break from a couple months of hard work and busy schedules.

We spent Saturday in Phoenix Park, a 1750 acre walled park, just on the edge of Dublin. This park, opened to the public in 1745 was incredible. Lots of open spaces, beautiful ponds and gardens, playing fields.

In addition to these more natural beauties, the park is also home to several monuments and important residences (includingthe palatial American Embassy and the Irish President's Home). We were not able to even catch a view of the Ambassador's home, but were able to get a tour of the President's residence. You are not permitted to take photographs inside the Aras an Uachtarain, but it was a lovely (though underwhelming) residence. We were a little surprised, however, by the lack of security at the President's home: she was apparently at home and yet we went through no security. Our extremely animated tour guide reassured us, however, that a guard was following the group--we caught a glimpse of this guard on several occasions, and let's just say we are not confident that this individual could do much to deter a determined criminal!

Back of the President's Residence

View from the front

Our favorite part of the park, though, were the deer than run freely throughout. There are apparently 400-450 fallow deer, descended from a herd introduced to the park in the 1660s, that make their home within the park. We were shocked to see how close they came to people and how large they were (check out their antlers in the pictures). They were really spectacular and we spent more than a few minutes sitting and watching them.

Guy Fawkes Day

Friday was the celebration of an (albeit unofficial) British holiday, known as Guys Fawkes Day, in which Brits and Scots alike remember the failed assassination attempt on King James I of England and VI of Scotland. Guy Fawkes, along with 12 other conspirators, planned to blow up the House of Lords during the opening of Parliament in 1605. The idea was that King James' daughter, Elizabeth, would then be installed as Queen and that she would be more sympathetic to the Catholics. Their plan, however, was thwarted when Guy Fawkes was discovered, with 36 barrels of gunpowder, before the plot could be executed.

The annual celebration, often referred to as "Bonfire Night," generally involves setting off fireworks, hosting large bonfires, and burning effigies of "The Guy." Friday was the 405th anniversary, and though we decided to keep out of the rain and stay home, were treated to the noise of fireworks periodically throughout the night!

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

We're Back!

If anyone is still actually reading this blog, you may have noticed a wee slow down in posting here! Things have been busy in Edinburgh these past few months...traveling, working, studying, hanging out with friends (new and old) and getting involved in some stuff at our church.

Joe has been busy preparing conference papers, working on some things for (hopeful) publication (including translating an article from French to English--I'm impressed!), tutoring two courses at the University, teaching a course online for a school back in the US, and (somehow) finding time to work on his dissertation. In the midst of all this, he's treasurer of the post grad committee and did a fabulous job organizing and helping with some events for the new students and is organizing a post graduate conference here in Edinburgh for November. I don't know how he is managing all of this, but he's still finding time for friends and his crazy wife.

I've been busy too (though, not as busy as all that). Work has gotten busier with each passing month and I am excited about some new things I am doing. I am still working with adolescents and their families, but am also getting to develop (and implement) a new service for caregivers in the child protection process, am working on some program evaluation of a service that is being considered for use in the young adult prison, and organizing an agency wide (across Scotland) forum for practitioners. I'm also getting ready to deliver a presentation at a meeting of the Scottish chapter of a major organization and will soon be taking on a student to supervise for the next few months. I'm excited about all of these opportunities because I am getting to use some of my skills in some new ways and am definitely learning and developing a ton professionally. Outside of work, I've been volunteering at church one night a week to prepare a meal for folks and am really enjoying that. I got to do some things to help welcome new families and had a great time getting to help others (in a small way) settle into life here in Edinburgh.

Somehow even though our work is keeping us really busy, we have enjoyed some fun times with friends--playing poker, dancing, book clubs, dinners, nights out at the symphony, etc. We even managed to take two trips! We've had a lot of really great times over these past few months, and I am sad that I have been doing such a poor job of documenting it.

All that to say: I haven't abandoned the blog, really (though, I have thought about it) and hopefully you'll be happy to know that I have spent several hours this morning writing and uploading pictures for...20 blog posts (twenty!!)!! So, watch this space (as they say here in Scotland) and see some more about what we've been up to!

Happy Birthday, Ella!

Happy 4th Birthday, Ella!

We are so lucky to have some incredible nieces. Ella is a sweetie and we miss her a ton. She's got an unmistakable laugh, loves to play, and has a bit of a mischievous personality. We hear she is growing up to be all girl and that she's a great big sister. We love you Ella!

To My Bicycle

Yesterday morning, when I left my flat for work, I made a terrible discovery: my bike had been stolen (as had Joe's). What follows is my farewell letter to my dear bicycle.

Dear Bicycle:

O Bicycle, my bicycle, I do miss you! I am so sorry I left you outside and did not bring you in where you would be warm, and dry, and safe. Thinking about you chained up in someone's shed, or sold off to the cash converter breaks my heart and fills me with regret. I never thought I would see the day when you, my beloved, would be wretched from my life by some evil, thieving, villain.

It is true, Bicycle, that our relationship started as one of mere convenience; I was using you for your wheels and the ease and speed you could take me places. But, Bicycle, you quickly wheeled your way into my heart and I loved you, truly. I used to think about the day we would move back to the US and imagine how I could convince Joe to let me take you with us (don't worry, he loved you too. I'm sure he would have agreed) so we'd never have to part. I imagined you and I riding through the streets of some American city, inspiring those around us. Bicycle, I imagined you in my life forever. That is how deep and how true my love was for you.

Through you, Bicycle, I regained my childhood joy of bike riding. You brought back memories of riding bikes around the neighborhood with friends and of bike rides with my dad along the river. You reminded me of the joy of the wind in my face and the exhilaration of making it to the top of a steep hill or finishing a long journey. And, we had so many fun adventures, didn't we, Bicycle? You took me to places I would never have gone without you--we explored Crammond, the waterfront, Dalmeny Estate and the Almond River. We've been over many, many miles of West Lothian. Do you remember all the train rides we took together? And the holiday to the Western Islands we were planning?

Bicycle, you didn't just take me places but you helped me connect to a whole new world of cyclists. I took you to see Dr. Bike, we entered cycle challenges, and were learning all sorts of new opportunities that were open to us now that we had each other. We've even had some great times with strangers--all those times we've ended up stopped at a traffic light with other cyclists and enjoyed the instant connection and even conversation with them as we had a momentary pause in our journey. Bicycle, you really changed my life.

Oh, Bicycle, wherever you are, I hope you know the depths of my love for you. Every time I leave our flat or walk up the street, I hopefully look for you in your old place and my heart sinks every time I realize you are not there. I hope you are safe and happy and that whomever has you is treating you right.

In the words of Celine Dion, "Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on."

Bicycle, I will never stop looking for you. And, I will always love you.

Amanda