IKEA - Its an experience, really it is!
Really it is, if you live in Dublin. We decided to make an imprompt-unplanned-completly spontaneous organised visit on our way back from Mammy2’s bday weekend in the wilds of Dunboyne. Bear in mind it was a Monday morning at 10.59. The place opened at 11.00. There was about 50+ people queued up outside. Mammy2 compared it to a concert or football match. She never ceases to get amazed at the sheer volume of people who go to it. Thankfully once inside you can navigate without fear of getting your toes cut off by a high powered pushchair. Just when Mammy2 thought she couldn’t get any more suprised, we were both taken aback to see a tibetean monk in full regala with hat putting curry on his chips. I was more suprised that he was having chips at 11.15
in the morning 
Of course we went to Ikea for a couple of things and came out with a shopping trolley. Mammy2 invested in a knife sharpener. Which she is using a lot. Anytime I enter the kitchen all that I can hear is the noise of the knive being put through its paces. Thankfully it isn’t followed by manical laughter else I would be getting a bodyguard.
We are just back from an idyllic long weekend in Dunboyne Castle Hotel. For Mammy2’s bday weekend we stayed over and as there is a spa there, she had a couple of treatments. I tend to avoid any of that stuff that involves complete strangers getting within a 10 yard radius of me and espeically not when it involves less clothes. Not my idea of relaxation at all. Lots of reading, relaxing and chats. The only way to end the month of January. It was very considerate of Mammy2’s parents to ensure she was born around this time 
From one long weekend to another, we head to Holland to see the sister and wee niece. This time the kid is coming with us. All the titches reunited! I can’t wait. Well apart from the flying bit. Which I could do without but sure its all for a good cause. Half day on the Friday which will also involve us dropping off the kid’s portfolio to NCAD. Even though she is insistent she is not going to go there, she wants to keep her options open which is fair enough. Her course is ridiculously biased towards NCAD though. They don’t even consider any other colleges. Whilst I agree it might look good for them to state that they have sent a lot of students onto NCAD, they should really even out their preparation. For the students who aren’t interested in NCAD. Which is all about name anyways. She is worried about leaving the portfolio with them over the weekend, you’d swear they were going to steal her artwork!
