Two a week

I've been worrying about how to afford all the presents I want to get. I think if I do it gradually, I'll manage. I need to get things in the mail by next week if I want them to reach Newfoundland on time, and that means shopping this week for my sister and her family and for the few friends I want to send some things to.

I've made a start today! When my sister was over a few months ago, she really loved the Celtic jewellery that you can get on stalls and in shops all over the city, so I bought her a silver Claddagh ring. Really pretty. It only cost a few Euros--not much more than sandwich, really, but it's the sort of thing you'd wear always.

Then I had a brainwave: I'll get matching GAA shirts for her husband and all her boys. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy as my youngest nephew likes to say. I'm sure there are loads of places to buy them. I just have to fid the cheapest one.

I'm back at the apartment. I decided to work from home today. I like my room although it's very small, because there's a view of the Liffey and if you look out the window you can see the Ha'penny Bridge and all the people walking about.

The Liffey is a funny river because it's tidal, so it rises and falls with the tides, and there's proper seaweed growing in it, which you can see when the water is low. If you're wondering why I am waxing lyrical about the river, the reason is this: There's a great, big seagull standing on my windowledge giving me the beady eye. Those things are a lot bigger than you think when you see 'em close up and it's beginning to give me the creeps. Why doesn't he want to go hang out on the river with the rest of his buddies...?

Defintely having an Alfred Hitchcock moment here, folks...