New Ross Greenway/The South East Greenway. This new section of Greenway only opened a few weeks ago, going from New Ross to Glenmore. We started in New Ross, on the Kilkenny side of town and cycled just over 6km, as far as was opened There is a new Greenway car park in Rosbercon where you can directly access the Greenway and there’s no charge. Once you join the Greenway from the carpark you go through safety gates to cross roads, the busier ones have traffic lighted pedestrian crossings. Initially the landscape is industrial, going past the docks and factories, then you see the river and the ..read more

I was a panellist on the Claire Byrne programme on RTÉ Radio One today. The piece was based on interviews that journalist Evelyn O’Rourke did with seven and eight year old children about Christmas and questions that they had about Christmas. I was joined on the panel by Shane Bergin, physicist, who explained some of the science behind the magic of Christmas. What expertise did I bring? Well I’ve been alive for 48 Christmases now and this is my 16th as a parent, so that experience and a voice to wholeheartedly agree with the children in the piece, or sympathise with their parents. I also recoun ..read more

It’s back… a bit later than usual (busy schedule, family wedding)  but here’s the real guide to what real women want for Christmas.   Andrea One of the founding contributors to this long series, Andrea’s star continues to rise. Her latest book “No one saw a thing” was a big hit and she’s signed a new book deal. I knew her when she worked an office job like me. I love Andrea’s lists and I usually end up adding her items to mine too. Follow Andrea here. MoMuse earrings  My friend Amanda Cassidy bought me a beautiful pair of MoMuse earrings earlier this year, which is how I first ..read more

A great lunchbox treat or nibble with a cup of tea, this always disappears fast in our house. Chocolate Weetabix Slice • 185g butter (from the fridge is fine!) • 1 cup sugar • 2 Tbsp cocoa • 3 weetabix • 1 cup plain flour • 1 cup dessicated coconut • 1 tsp baking powder • 100g chocolate/chocolate chips for topping ◦ Preheat oven to 180C ◦ Line a baking tray tin with baking paper. I use a 28 x 20 cm ◦ Melt the butter, sugar and cocoa in a big saucepan over a low heat. When melted remove from the heat. Crush the weetabix and stir in, then add the flour, coconut and baking powder. ◦ When fully c ..read more

Choc Chip Coconut Oat Bars My children love Nature Valley Bars and Flahavans chocolate chips but they’re expensive. This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to making similar at home. SAVE this now, you’ll definitely want to make it again. Based on a Mary Berry recipe for Coconut Crackerjacks, this recipe makes shallow bars that are a harder consistency than flapjacks, think like Flahavans ones you buy, or similar to Nature Valley bars. We made 2 batches in a week and they disappeared! Choc Chip Coconut Oat Bars Recipe Ingredients 150 g of baking spread (or you can use butter straight from the f ..read more

Hello! Welcome to 2023’s posts, I didn’t do a roundup post for last year but as I think about it, I realise that I wasn’t great at updating my blog as I went along during the year with various trips and adventures. I’m going to make a better effort this year or so I claim. Watch this space! Highlights of 2023 for us were our summer holiday to Playa Montroig, both grannies’ 70th birthday celebrations, a weekend Our top daytrips were to Durrow Scarecrow Festival and Tramore, and we spent 2 fabulous days at Kaleidoscope music festival. Our plans for 2023 include FOUR family weddings, two hen week ..read more

Yes, it’s ten years today since my first post was published. It was written on my couch in my “old house”, amid piles of post-holiday laundry. Back then I had two small boys who went to bed early and a husband who worked late and my blog was my evening project. I started out sharing recipes and then daytrips and I dipped into other things along the way. My “week in dinners” series was really popular and I picked it up every couple of years. I’ve written humour posts and sad posts, I’ve written about grief and tantrums. I have always tried to stay true to myself and just be me. I’d been on Twit ..read more

This January I am mostly not making resolutions. Here’s a little January update. Listening to…music practice. My daughter has recently taken up concertina and loves it so is practising loads. I’ve had very little music playing otherwise, enjoying the quietness. Watching After Life on Netflix. I avoided Ricky Gervais’ series about a man’s struggles after his wife died when it was launched as my Dad was terminally ill at the time. I’ve watched the 3 series in the last few weeks and I love it. It’s funny and sad and emotional and just beautiful really. Reading I read Marian Keyes’ Rachel’s Holida ..read more

Day trip to the Aran Islands  I’d wanted to go to the Aran Islands for years, but never quite managed it. When we stayed in Clifden a few years ago we had intended to visit but between one thing and another we didn’t get around to it. It’s too far from Wexford for a datrip but this year, with a three night break in Galway after our Donegal holidays I was determined to make it happen. My children were less enthused “What is it with you and islands this year?” they asked. To be fair, they had been brought(dragged) to both Spike Island and the Saltees in the month of June alone so I guess th ..read more

We visited Gardaland when we stayed at Camping Bella Italia in 2019. (Read all about that trip here) There are a number of theme parks nearby, we chose to visit  Gardaland. There’s tons to do for all ages in the park, just pick the right bits for your adrenalin appetite! Our favourites were the water rides (Jungle Rapids and Colorado Boat) and the Kung Fu Panda ones. They’re strict on heights, our youngest was 115cm and wasn’t allowed on the rapids one and 140cm is required for some of the very fast rollercoasters. There are a number of theme parks nearby so check them out to see which yo ..read more