Happy New Morning

[evaelisabeth]

I drove into the dawn on my bus this morning, traffic was light and we got through quickly. Now it's overcast and kind of grey but new beginnings are in the air. I'm pretty much the only person in the office today everyone else just stayed home, tomorow the College closed down until January 3rd. This is time off in addition to any vacation we get, yeah for European time off policies. Once I'm permanently employed here I will get 21 days of vacation plus about a week of time off around certain holidays that is extra as well as the holidays themselves. On Tuesday we had our Christams luncheon at "1592" which is the swanky restaurant on campus run by the catering school. It was amazing at my table we had 8 people and started off with 6 bottles of wine on the table, 3 red, 3 white. It wasn't plonk either, the red was amazing and I would be surprised if it cost any less than €30 a pop. I had deep fried brie with a cranberry relish for a starter and filet mignon with a pepper sauce as a main course. I decided on Blackforrest Gateaux for dessert, this was accompanied by an excellent ice wine and coffee. After all that a bottle of port made the rounds. I was more than three sheets to the wind and I drank significantly less than most. We started at 1pm (I was expecting to be back in the office by 2:30pm or so) around 4pm I asked whether we were going back to work, this comment was greeted with much laughter and finger pointing. So I went and caught an early bus and was home by 5:30pm. I am told the party went on after I left and eventually ended up in some pub or other. My office mate can't remember how she got home. What can I say, it's Ireland.

Today I am wrapping up bits and pieces and will be taken out to lunch by my boss, I suspect I'm going home after that. I will stop by a store called Sherridan's which has the reputation for being the best cheese shop in Ireland where I plan to pick up some swanky cheeses for our Christmas dinner. I also need to find some good chocolate as I want to make chocolate mousse for dessert.

All the most wonderful Yule wishes to everyone, may the new sun tickle your nose and make you happy.