Siena, Italy

Subtle. Beautiful. Very charismatic. 

Monthly Ban On Buying Make-Up

I buy too much make up. Way too much. It all started when I lost a job about half a year ago and went on a big buying spree. Perhaps I was trying to pick up my mood; job search is really stressful so a little joy from buying new cream or an eye shadow was very welcome. Maybe I just had too much time on my hands and discovered a few wonderful youtube gurus. All in all bad idea. I got especially bad with lipsticks and hand creams lately. Now I'm putting a lid on any make up related purchase for a month. No make up, no creams, even no magazines with creams/mascaras in them. I need to use up all the make up and creams I already have and stop buying endless items I end up not using.

Till the 12 August, if I really want something I'll make a note and a photo of an item and will add it to my wish list. I doubt in a month time I'll still want it all that badly, but if I do, fair play, I'll buy it then. I'll save up some money, use up the products I already have, will figure out how badly do I want some items and will have time to watch more make-up gurus videos and choose what I want to buy based on recommendations and descriptions, not just a nice packaging. 

Belfast, Nothern Ireland and a Titanic museum

Last week I went to Belfast on a beautiful, sunny Saturday. It has been 7 years since the last time I visited Northern Ireland. Seven years ago we went on a big tour of the Northern Ireland coastline. There were so many beautiful places, so many memories. At the end of the day, around 7pm we finally drove into the city of Belfast. It was deserved. I was already a bit on edge constantly thinking about the dangers of this city, but seeing the center of the city with no one around terrified me. On my second trip seven years later the experience was very different. Maybe because it was a beautiful sunny day, or maybe because it's been years since the last bombings there, but I was much more relaxed and enjoyed the whole experience.

First of all we went to the newly opened Titanic museum. The ticket was 13.50 pounds and for that money I learned the history of the city of Belfast at the beginning of the 20th century, learned in detail how the ship was constructed, including a simulation ride in the docks at the time of the construction of Titanic, learned how it was launched and the details of it's last day afloat. There were the details of the ship's furniture, with the examples of the rooms in 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. The most poignant were the stories of particular people and urgent telegrams sent out at the ship was sinking. It's a beautiful museum and I will definitely bring my friends there when they visit Ireland.

 

 

 

 

The building of the newly opened Titanic museum

The peculiar statue at the entrance of the museum

The oh so familiar ship

The docks where Titanic was first launched

Belfast City Hall with the statue of Queen Victoria in front of the main entrance

I've read in the guide book that a short walk away from the center of the city you can find a 6 meters high wall made of steel, concrete and chain link, that separates Catholic and Protestant parts of the city for almost 40 years. It means that it outlasted the Berlin Wall. This so-called Peace Line is 4km long and has around 20 gates, some of which are still closed between 5pm and 8am. I went looking for this wall, but was running out of time so I didn't see it. What I did see was this wall of political graffiti, which is exactly what I expected to see, to be honest. 

Two different cabs

Businessman in a kilt

Outside the pub on a sunny Saturday afternoon

Lagan Weir - a giant ceramic salmon at the riverbank of the river Lagan.

 

I call this statue The Lady. I bet it's not its real name.

 My general impression of the city was that it's very quite, pretty and tidy. Not everywhere, but at least much cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than the center of Dublin. I'm still surprised by how few people are on the street though.

Book: I Capture the Castle

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
Published in 1948.


First line:
"I write this sitting in the kitchen sink."










I picked this book up on a recommendation from one of my favourite vloggers. This is a modern classic, written in 1940s by an English author Dodie Smith, famous for writing 101 Dalmatians. I'm genuinely surprised I haven't heard of this book before.

I ordered it from the library and a few days later started reading it on a rainy afternoon (big surprise there, I am in Dublin after all) at a tiny table in the corner of Starbucks just off Grafton street, while waiting for my friend to join me for coffee after she finished her shift. I was so happy. It was one of those days when I really enjoyed walking around the city, did some shopping, picked up a few very promising books from the library and finally, finally! got that much needed hazelnut latte. There was an incredibly stylish Italian couple sitting on my left, talking animatedly. They looked like they just stepped from the pages of Vogue and talked like business executive. I was fascinated. And of course in front of me, next to the much appreciated latter was the copy of I Capture the Castle, the book I was already in love with because of its cover (it's too bad this edition is not in the shops anymore, as I don't like the covers currently available and I really want to buy this book for my personal library).

It's set in 1930s in an English countryside. There is a family of a once famous writer living in poverty in an old castle. The story is narrated through the diary entries of  a 17 year old Cassandra Mortmain and it follows the life of the occupants of the castle and its newly arrived American owners. Cassandra, or perhaps I should say the author, wonderfully captures the life in the castle, to the point where I felt I was a part of it.  The author painted a very vivid picture and superbly demonstrated the growth of the main character through the changes of the writing style of Cassandra's journal entries.

I loved this story. It's simple, poetic and unpretentious. It's marketed for a young adult and I wish I've read it when I was younger, but I still enjoyed it tremendously and can easily see myself re-reading it time and time again in the future. I want to buy a few copies and give them to my friends, especially younger ones.

According to the back cover, J.K. Rowling praised this book stating, "This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met."

Book club tales

I’ve been thinking of joining a book club for ages. I love reading, I love that feeling when I need to share and discuss the book I’ve read because I’m bursting at the seams with emotions. Ok, not every book I read is this good, but when I do find something that touches me just so, there are very few people in my life I can talk to about it. I’m surrounded by non-readers.It’s frightening.

I joined a book club in Uni but never went to any meetings. I like to think I was too busy, but that was pure laziness. Fast-forward a few years. Book clubs in the libraries and bookshops around me have long waiting lists. Looooooong lists. Irish people do love to read, I’ve discovered. On that note, it warms my heart to see the impressive amount of men and women reading on public transport, in cafes and in parks. 

Back to the story. I finally did find a book club that lifted the membership restrictions. It was in a fancy bar in the hotel in the heart of the city. I walked into a small room, with a few tiny round tables and comfortable sofas, a thick dark carpet and a fire burning in the fireplace. I was a bit apprehensive because I found this book club online and didn’t know any of the members.  So what do I do? Fake it, of course. Pretend to be comfortable with introducing myself to a large group of strangers, who know each other for months, if not years. There were quite a few people there, but I think I must be at least 10 years younger than the other members. I wonder how that will affect the experience in the long run.

We discussed the Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan, a non-fiction story about Israeli - Palestinian conflict.  It really surprised me that I enjoyed reading this book. I guess the educational aspect alone was worth the time. Discovery of the day – it’s a pleasure to be around intelligent people. Big shocker, I know. I came to the meeting with one main impression from reading the book- I finally comprehend the causes and complexity of the conflict. The other members of the book club had much more to add to the discussion though. They were not only older, but also more educated in the world history and politics, therefore they were able to back up their opinions and enrich the discussion with the extensive knowledge on the subject from other sources. I have to admit I rather enjoyed it. It’s like a free lecture on history and politics, only louder, highly opinionated and with drinks involved. 

First book club meeting – WIN.

April in photos

This month I said a temporary goodbye to a close friend, joined a book club, indulged myself with way too many lazy afternoons in Starbucks with a latte and a book of the moment and really really missed some people.

Books read this year: 20

Movies watched this year: 7

Trips and cultural explorations: 2

Book: The Best of Everything

The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe.
Published in 1958.

First lime:
"You see them every morning at a quarter to nine, rushing out of the maw of the subway tunnel, filing out of Grand Central Station, crossing Lexington and Park and Madison and Fifth avenues, the hundreds and hundreds of girls."









The Best of Everything was an impulse purchase. It has such a beautiful, intriguing cover with a newly popular matte finish. I wanted to read it as soon as I got my hands on it. I wanted to be seen in public reading this book. It turned out to be my favourite February read. 

It is a classy, sophisticated story set in 1950s corporate America. If you are a fan of Mad Men, you'll love this book. Judging by the sticker on the cover, it was even mentioned somewhere in the series.

This is the story of four young women working as typists or secretaries in a publishing house in 1950s. It is the time before the introduction of anti-harassment laws, so it's obvious what some of the issues of the story are, however there are so many themes covered here. The dreams of these five women, their desire to build a career and even greater desire to find love and  fulfillment. I think some super feminist readers may have issues with some of the attitudes demonstrated in the story, but one should remember that it was written in 1950s and it reflects working women's reality at the time.

According to the back cover, 'The Best of Everything, Rona Jaffe's frank, scandalous 1958 novel, follows them as they negotiate office romances, workplace politics, broken engagements, tiny apartments, lecherous bossed, heartbreak and lasting friendship.'

I loved this book. It surprised me how much I liked it, hugging the book and sighing once the last page was turned. Beautifully written, realistic, gripping story. A perfect book for a present. 

'A classic of its kind. The dialogue is real, the people are real. Most career girls, part or present, will respond with the shock of authenticity' Saturday Review

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Seven years ago I went to see the Cliffs of Moher for the first time. After a four hour drive We ended up sitting in the car with such a dense fog all around, that we couldn't see a few steps ahead. Seven years later, I'm back and the nature is much more cooperating.
It's such a stunning landscape. It is unfortunate that this beautiful place tells the tales of hundreds of pregnant women who jumped from these cliffs in desperation. Even now there is a plaque with the suicide prevention hotline number.

April Resolution: Wake Up Every Day Before 10am

Even on the weekend.
My sleeping habits are ridiculous. Even when I was working and studying full time I managed to sleep will noon at any chance I got. I've got into habit, where on any day off or a late-shift-day, I would sleep till I'm cranky an sluggish. Now that I have more time on my hands, it's gotten out of hands. Sleeping till noon, feeling completely unproductive and bitchy. Lovely. This silly resolution is actually not so easy for me. But I'll do it. I hope.

The Secret Book & Record store

Today I found a new to me independent book store, called The Secret Book and Record store, on Wicklow street. I can't believe I have just found this place, having walked passed it for years! It's tiny and messy. I loved it! There is no way I'll find a particular book but it's perfect for browsing on a lazy afternoon and finding little treasures.

 I got myself a 1959 edition of Wuthering Heights for only 2euro. Happy times! (Check out my brand new shamrock. I hope to keep the poor thing alive at least till Paddy's day. Don't have a good record in plan-watering business, though, so we'll see).

On the topic of new books, why on earth can't I find any John Green books? I've checked every big store, a few second hand bookstores, and nothing! What's up with that?
I've got hooked on vlogbrothers' videos recently and now I'm dying to read one of his books, but it's like they've disappeared. I remember seeing Looking for Alaska everywhere when I didn't know who John Green was, but now it's like a treasure hunt! Even in the library every single John Green book is on loan. I guess I'll just have to get them on Kindle. Oh, they better be worth it!