Just run.

Since taking up running last year I have learned a number of lessons - some of those lessons include:
1. If you run, you are a runner.
2. You are physically and mentally capable, of much more then you think.
3. Stop thinking about how exercise makes you look and start concentrating on how it makes you feel.
4. Wherever you travel, always bring your running gear!

So here is the back story - I'll keep it brief. Just over a year ago I was working in an office in an industrial estate. I decided in order to de-stress (I was hating the job) at lunchtime I would start running because there was nothing else to do. Some quotes that I said quite frequently at the time:
1. I am not a runner and could never run.
2. Doesn't walking do the same thing.
3. 5km? Are you mad?
There was a 3km loop with lamp posts lining the whole way. What I did was simple - ran between two posts, walked between two posts - the whole way around the loop. The first day I only ran about 3 minutes of the 15 altogether. I could only run about 25 metres at a time. Slowly but surely I built up the running but couldn't get around the 3km loop without stopping. I hated it! Every single step. The only thing I liked was the feeling once the run was done - that endorphin boost was the only thing that made me keep it up - well that and the utter boredom of sitting in the office during lunch!

Fast forward to now and I can run 5k without thinking to much about it. So what happened?

My first 3 5km race numbers - hung on the wall!

Actually it was very straightforward.
One evening I decided I wanted to run a 5k route. Liam (my fiance dearest) came with me. Knowing my negative way of thinking, he was right in knowing that I was already telling myself I wouldn't run the whole 5km. He asked me to make a promise -  one thing and I said yes and that was the turning point. He asked me to promise him that no matter what happened I wouldn't stop running. I promised.
That was it - during that 5km my mindset totally changed. I didn't have any music on so I had to be totally present during the whole thing - no distractions. Just Liam saying every now and again "don't stop running". I got pissed off, really angry and frustrated, sore and there were a few parts when I shuffled at a fairly slow pace but not once did I stop.

When we got to the 5k mark I may as well have ran a marathon. My legs were aching - but I was elated - that was it.

From then on I stopped making excuses - those bullshit excuses we are all guilty of telling each other and ourselves. "I can't do it" "I'm not fit enough" "I need music to distract me" "I don't have time today". I thought it was all about physical fitness - It simply is not. Your mind needs to be trained as much as your body - for me, even more so.

My local running track - Curracloe beach

Recently we have 'Mindfullness' has become the in vogue thing - all the cool kids are doing it. For once, instead of being way behind I was well ahead of the game and started practising mindfull meditation over two years ago. It is only recently, however, that I started to apply the mindfullness practice to the running. Seriously hard work - when all you want to do is distract yourself from what you are doing I now try and feel every bit of it. Every bit of an ache and pain that you overcome makes you a little bit stronger - as someone who is prone to stress and axiety I always say to myself that a run will never feel as bad as a bad day does and if I can get through a bad day I can get through the run. Of course if you pay any attention to the likes of Bressie and his '
Lust for Life' campaign and Karl Henry from Operation Transformation then you will know that one of the best forms of medication for anxiety and stress is running! If I have a big day or night out I will always get a run in that day and know that I will enjoy the day/night more because I have burned off that negative energy.

Running in Sligo

So what has running got to do with this blog and it's usual content? The last of my four lessons was to bring the running gear wherever I go. This year we ran in the beautiful hills of Donegal, a world class golf course in Sligo and in the spectacular surroundings of the island of Lanzarote. I live in Wexford so Curracloe is one of my regular spots! I know what you are thinking - are you mad brining running gear on holidays. The fact is that I enjoyed each trip away even more because of getting out for a run and also saw views and places that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Running on Hols in Lanzarote

The sky is the limit!

So, my advise for those who are taking up running. As the marketeers at Nike so perfectly say "Just do it". Stop making excuses and just put on the runners and go.
Also, for the social media lovers among you, follow the likes of Debbies Health and Fitness Motivation or one of my favourites, Joanne Larby - The Make Up Fairy - both cut the crap kinda girls who are getting the fitness job done! My owning fitness musings can be found on my insta @aideenke

Insta is great for the motivational quotes!

There are couch to 5k groups all around the country, there are free park runs every weekend all around the country, you can get a free high viz jacket off the road safety authority, you will meet people, there will be loads of people at your level, no expensive equipment needed, if you don't love it at first, don't worry - you will still feel amazing after each and every run.

My Park Run card!

This year I will continue to pack an extra bag on all out travels and see where the road takes us!

Donegal beach run - freezing but fabulous!

Step House Hotel - An elegant stay!

A sleepy little village in the heart of County Carlow. A main street and on one side is the Step House Hotel. A boutique hotel and thee perfect place to relax and unwind.

The hotel is just the right size for what it is about. The reception area is stylishly decorated and a lovely young receptionist checked us in. We were staying in an deluxe room. 

Up a little flight of stairs and you are at the room. This hotel is my kind of place. A beautifully decorated room in soft, country greens and creams with a touch of a victorian feel in the furnishings. The double doors opened out to a spacious balcony with a view of Mount Leinster.  Such peaceful and elegant surroundings.

So why did we really chose the Step House – well its reputation for food really!

We dressed for dinner – which there was absolutely no need to do. A few years ago in Ireland there was such a trend of dresscodes. It makes me very happy that is no longer the case but I do like to get a little dressed up – to pay respect to the beautiful food!

The Room

When we booked we didn’t know that the restaurant didn’t open on a Monday or Tuesday. We had opted for lunch earlier on in the day in a little old fashioned pub down the road so we hadn’t already dined in the bar. I have to say I was a little disappointed as I had heard that the ambiance of the restaurant was as nice as the food itself. In saying that the bar had a cozy open fire, bubbly local staff and a genuinely warm atmosphere.

Duck Main Course

The menu is the type of menu I love. Nothing stuffy or anything that could be perceived as pretentious. Just a good selection of good food cooked beautifully.
 

Sticky Toffee Pudding

For starters I had my most favourite dish. Goats cheese. It was done on a toasted bread, toasted nuts, mixed greens and a lovely  delicate dressing. I would have to say it is up there with the best goats cheese starters I have ever had. Honestly it was just divine!

For mains the two of us went for the duck (Duck again I hear you ask?? Yes, we are duck fans and so think we know good duck when we taste it!) This was more then good.  We opted for a red wine with the mains.

For desert Liam opted for a selection of ice cream and sorbets. They were so tasty.  I am a huge fan of anything that has caramel, toffee, butterscotch of a variation of any of these so desert for me was a no brainer. Sticky toffee pudding with popcorn, apricot, elder flower and a nutty ice cream. It was heavenly! A desert chef who can serve a sticky toffee pudding that is rich but not very heavy is top class in  my books!

Relaxing.

After dinner we brought drinks up to the room, threw open the balcony doors and sat enjoying the sunset until, in a matter of minutes, the sky clouded over and then down pour…The perfect time to jump into the huge, cozy and ridiculously comfortable bed!

Breakfast was served in the restaurant. 
It's decorated very simply. It seems to be that if a restaurant is decorated simply the food is where the artistry is. Breakfast offered a choice or healthy or indulgent and we enjoyed a bit of both. The pastries were divine!

The bill came to €170 for the night b&b, dinner and after dinner drinks. The Step House has romance, elegance,  is a culinary treat and a great retreat. Honestly, what’s not to love!


So what's coming up. This Friday we are going to the wedding of friends of ours in the beautiful Seafield Hotel near Gorey, Co Wexford. I have been to the spa but never stayed. As a bride to be myself  it will be a real treat.

Also, I am expecting a fab hamper from Irish Food Co-op full of Irish artisan goodies so I will be doing a review of the products and introducing you to some great Irish food producers.

I hope you enjoyed the read.
Aideen.

The view from the balcony

More views of the Carlow countryside

Dressed for dinner

The 'real' capital, A trip to Cork city.

Cork, the peoples republic, the ‘real’ capital, whatever you like to call it Cork is a very unique city. It is like Dublin without the rushing around and Galway with the extra shopping!

My own love affair with Cork is actually more coastal then the city. My grandparents lived in Kinsale for years and it was very much a home from home for basically as many holidays as I could get there! However, in all the years I was visiting Kinsale I never once stayed in the Cork city.

The Room

So last week myself and himself headed to the Imperial Hotel to enjoy two nights. The hotel is part of the Flynn Group. Location wise  it is the perfect base to enjoy the city on foot.

My first tip for this hotel is make sure you have a rain jacket in the car! There is no parking at the hotel itself. They have a set rate (€9 per night which is an additional charge) with a car park that is about a five – eight minute walk away. So, park at the door, the concierge will give you a hand to unload the bags, and then you can go park the car and stroll back.

Check-in was swift and efficient.  We stayed in a room on the first floor with a view out the front of the hotel. The room was lovely. High ceilings, big bed, TV, nespresso machine (much to the delight of himself!) and a lovely bathroom with heated mirror (I Love them!!). 

  The room was very warm and I did end up saying this to reception. They didn’t move us but in the end this issue was dealt with in a manner that we were happy with. They are in the process of updating all the rooms with air-conditioning  so perhaps request one that is already has it.

Black Pudding Starter

Food in the restaurant was tasty. I enjoyed a black pudding starter. It really was a treat. Mains, I ordered steak cooked medium. It was perfectly cooked but there was a lack of seasoning. I ordered the red wine jus on the side but when it arrived it was very much like regular gravy so I asked for béarnaise instead and it was lovely.  Dessert was a hearty apple crumble and I really enjoyed that.

The highlight for me was the bar. It has a vintage feel about it and you could be sitting in the 1960s. Nice jazzy music and great staff served us after dinner drinks. A really lovely end to the day.

Would I stay again? Yes, I have to say I would. Every once in a while you will have a stay in a hotel and things, sometimes big or in this case small, go wrong or don’t live up to your expectations. The mark of a good hotel is how they deal with these things. The staff in the Imperial are top notch and dealt with the few issues we had in a polite and effective manner.

Blarney Castle

The great thing about Cork city is there are some great attractions within a stones throw of it. Blarney castle is only a ten minute drive from the city centre.  Admission is €13 each per adult. The usual concessions apply. I have to say I didn’t realise how big the gardens are. As we walked in there was a man with gorgeous red hair and a big beard, dressed in a Magees of Donegal style tweedy suit and playing a harp. The Americans absolutely loved it. He was literally the most leprechaun looking man I have ever seen.

The highlight of the visit of course is the Blarney Stone. Climbing up the steps of the castle there are beautiful views and a spectacular 360 from the top. I am not a huge fan of heights so I was happy enough to watch others kissing the stone. Himself already has a true ‘gift of the gab’ (he had kissed the stone years ago!!).

There is a coffee shop on site but there is loads of space to enjoy a picnic.

The village of Blarney is postcard perfect. Stroll from the castle and have a gander in the Blarney Woollen Mills. “The largest Irish shop in the world” is the tagline. It really is a who’s who of gorgeous Irish products.

Blarney Woollen Mills

The English Market, Cork

I am a firm believer that the rain shouldn’t impact a getaway in Ireland. We live here, we know what it’s like so we have no excuse not to be prepared. The second day of our stay it pretty much rained all day. No problem! We threw on rain jackets and off we went. The great thing about Cork city is it’s an easy city to navigate and as we popped in and out of shops the rain wasn’t an issue.

Shopping in Cork city offers something for everyone.  If you haven’t been to the English market put it on the top of your list. Fish mongers, delis, butchers, gift shops and my favourite, vintage shops.  Well worth a visit.

We strolled the city and shopped for the day. There are all the high street shops and lots of great little independent shops – great to see they are thriving among'st the big boys!

On our second evening we enjoyed dinner in a new Cork hotspot – Elbow Lane. (Review coming soon) It’s a funky smokehouse and bonus points – they brew their own beer.

Myself and himself are big fans of craft beers and so we couldn’t come all the way to Cork without visiting The Franciscan Well. As we were just post dinner we didn’t eat and just enjoyed some of their, brewed on site, beers. There is a little pizza hut out the back and they do stone baked pizza to enjoy with your pint.

For a city break with plenty of great places to eat, shop and visit, Cork is well worth a visit.

Hope you enjoyed the read. Apologies for lack of photos. My poor camera died! Shes recovered now though so lots of pretty pics to come!

A lunchtime treat - Dry Dock Bar, Ferrycarrig Hotel.

Ferrycarrig Hotel is one of the most well-known family hotels in County Wexford. It  is set on the banks of the River Slaney and boasts beautiful views of the river just before it reaches Wexford town and on out to sea.

A fresh salad

I recently popped in to the Dry Dock Bar to have a late, relaxing lunch and do a bit of writing. I dined in the Dry Dock bar and as the Sunny South East was living up to its name I sat outside. The sun was shining and the views really are fab!

I enjoyed a chicken caesar salad and a glass of pinot grigio. The salad was huge and there was lots of beautifully grilled chicken. A lunch favourite done well.

Lunch with a view.

The bill came to €19. The service was prompt and friendly and the salad was enough for two!

The other dining option in Ferrycarrig is Reeds Restaurant. I dined there with family a few weeks ago and I would highly recommend it for a fine dining experience without the huge price tag.

A short little read this evening! Do comment if you have enjoyed a lunch there recently.

Aideen. 

A hidden gem in the South East - Aldridge Lodge, Duncannon

Aldridge Lodge

Billy Whitty and Joanne Harding are the proprietors of a little jewel in the South East crown – Aldridge Lodge. Situated just outside of the seaside village of Duncannon, Co Wexford it is a gorgeous little escape. It is a restaurant with a small number of lovely guest rooms.

Myself and himself booked a one night b&b and dinner stay. When you arrive to the house you feel as though you really are arriving to stay in someone’s home. The first sign of it being a guesthouse is the doorway framed with various accolade’s from the Irish Times to Food and Wine magazine.

Awards, Awards, Awards!

Billy met us at the door and brought our bags up to a beautiful double room with a view that I would dream of waking up to every day! The room was spacious, bright and fresh. A little tea area with a slice of coffee cake each ‘ to keep us going until dinner time’ as Billy said, was a lovely welcoming treat.

The Room

and the view...

There was no need to book a time for dinner – the table was there for the evening - love it!

We had a pre-dinner glass of prosecco for me and beer for himself. (Himself’s name is Liam and he is my fiancé – he will feature in these pieces frequently!!)

Sunset

Enjoying dinner

A candle lit table by the window to dine while enjoying the most gorgeous Wexford sunset. The menu was great. Not too much that you don’t know what to order but still with a tempting selection. One of the details that jumps out at you is the amount of local produce on the menu. A testament to the thriving food industry in the South East and how local business work with each other.

While Billy and his team work the kitchen, Joanne and her team work the floor and did they work it! Johanne herself is the star of the show and the repeat guests (who there seemed to be a few) were thrilled to have a chat with the bubbly hostess.

Starters were fab. I went for the scallops and himself went for the pork belly. Both were divine. (We both have to try what each others orders – thems the rules!! ) The star of the show for me was the main. We both went with the seared duck breast and confit leg. Succulent, rich and just enough! We enjoyed a bottle of red with this.

Duck for mains

When I was making the booking I had mentioned that Liam was celebrating his birthday. When desert arrived Liam’s was a fun birthday plate complete with candle. I was thrilled and he was mortified (but secretly delighted I think!!)

The Birthday Boy!

After a long, relaxed dinner we retired to a lovely, cosy bed.

Some guests enjoyed a glass of wine and a chat in the bar or the little sitting area by the bedrooms.

Breakfast was a treat with everything you could ask for and again a lot of local produce.

The bill for the night - so b&b a wonderful dinner and drinks came to €193.

We left relaxed, full and with every intention of returning and I can’t pay a higher compliment then that!

Click here to visit their website.

Whats do in the area – Duncannon beach is just down the road and is just lovely. Dunncannon fort is also in the village.

I hope you enjoyed the read. There is lots more to come from Wexford restaurants, a trip to the Midlands and a staycation in Cork. Some more photos to finish it off!!

Aideen.

The room

Pre-dinner drinks

Desert

Duncannon Beach

Nautical!

Stable Diet, Wexford.

It's a year ago now since I left Newbridge and am now a very happy resident of the Wexford countryside. It is a beautiful part of the country that has so much to do, see and enjoy! One of the highlights for me is the amount of fabulous places to eat.

I hope you enjoy as I continue to share a little bit of the sunny south east and some adventures further afield on Ireland, My Island.

Myself and my lovely fiancè usually spend Saturday mornings having a lazy stroll around Wexford town. There are lots of lovely cafes to enjoy and today we tried Stable Diet, located on south main street.

The café os beautifully decorated and oozes warmth and a relaxed atmosphere.

It also serves as a shop front for the farmhouse kitchen brand of the same name. They offer a range of gluten free treats, home-made cookies and granola among other products.

The menu is great from morning coffee to a tasty lunch.

It was early so we opted for tea, hot chocolate, scones and a chat!

The scones we just delicious -hands down the besr scones I have had in Wexford town. (Any challengers want to test that theory, I'd be glad to taste test!)

The hot chocolate was decadent and the tea, well it was as tea should be, tasty, comforting and lots of it!

The staff were friendly amd the service prompt even though it was busy.

With a bill of €10 we will definitely be going back.

You can see their website at Www.stablediet.com

A great place to eat and enjoy!

Living in the sunny south east

So I am now living, working and enjoying life in the sunny south east. Having made the move from the bright lights of home in Newbridge to the countryside of Wexford I am well and truly settled in.

After sticking to what I said in my last post I am delighted to be working in a fantastic place with people who share a passion for wonderful customer service and showcasing Irish hospitality in a modern, world class environment.

I have to say I am still adapting to country living. I grew up in an estate in the middle of Newbridge. I am used to light and noise. I get looked at funny when I say how dark I find it at night. It's so quiet and there are no street lights. The up side of the darkness are the stars. You can see a serious amount of stars at night.

There are lots of other little things. Like being organised with shopping. There is no popping to the shop to get a litre of milk. 'Popping' to the shop is a half hour job. It's doing my weight and pocket a lot of good though. No popping to the shop for a bar of choccy!! Late night shopping...ye that concept does'nt really exist here!

The thing we have a giggle about most, and its very inappropriate, is the death notices. Listening to the death notices is part of the daily routine. You do not ask questions or try and engage in conversation when this is on or you will be told to Shushhh!!!

The other week I visited a dairy farm. A friend of ours is a farmer. I have never been on a dairy farm in my life. (I was on a sheep farm once, other than that I was only ever on the Glenroe farm on a school trip!) The little calves were so sweet. I have to say I didn't realise how time consuming and tough life as a farmer must be. I would think that you have to be born in to it!

There are good and bad points to living in the country.
There is a wonderful sense of community spirit. Everybody helps everybody. When there is a community event so many people get in and help out. I know this happens in the town to but it feels different as this is a countryside parish and such a large amount of people turn out at things. Mass and the church are at the centre of the community. Something that I feel is not as prevalent in a big town.
I do get a sense that there is still very traditional Irish outlook on certain issues though. With a country community everybody does seem to know everybody business. I think perhaps issues like mental health are not addressed as openly as they would be in a big town.

Wexford is a very beautiful place to live. The beach is fifteen minutes from where I live. We walk on the pier in the evenings after work. As someone who is a firm believer in knowing and visiting the things that are at your door step I will certainly have lots of places to keep me busy!

I know this is a very fragmented piece with a lot of hopping about but I wanted to get a post up. I never thought I would enjoy living in the country. As it happens it suits me. My other halfs parents are involved in the church and I am going to be spending this morning baking for a coffee morning fundraiser for the local church!
Oh that's the other thing....the smell of fresh, traditional, country baking on a Saturday morning! Yum!!

Any recommendations for places to eat out or go see pop them up!!

Next time I'll get some pics up to.
From the Sunny South East!