An Amalgamation of the Last Few Weeks

So over the last few weeks I have started no less than 4 blog posts. My reasoning for telling you this?
1. It shows you that I actually haven't completely neglected this, and
2. It makes me feel like I actually attempted to do something over the past few weeks.

So the titles of my failed blog posts ranged from simply 'Stress' to 'F*ck life and everything in it' (it was a working title) so you can imagine what the weeks consisted of.
Final year is, to put it nicely, a pain in the neck. Over the last 2 weeks alone, 2 boring topics have been presented on, over 12,000 words of nonsense have been written and 150 pages of words have been read (of course about 100 hours worth of YouTube has also been watched so you know, swings and roundabouts). To say Christmas break is welcome, if not to slightly alleviate the workload,  is an understatement.

I'm also going travelling again. Cue gasps of shock and awe. Well that is if air travel doesn't go ABSOLUTELY F*CKING INSANE AGAIN. Sorry, allow me to explain.
Yesterday (you're probably reading this 4 years after I post it after being linked from a site on the 'bad side' of the internet, so accurate dating isn't really an issue) a friend of mine was supposed to arrive. Note the 'supposed to'. She clearly didn't as flight decided to, you know, not work. Of course Ryanair, being the helpful compassionate company that they are offered all the help they possibly could to their stranded passengers in Gatwick. In the form of leaving the building and not giving them their luggage back for an extended period of time. Hurray, circumstance!
My friend will now be arriving in the land of Shamrock and ever mounting unemployment tomorrow morning when we pack what would have been 4 days of sightseeing and alcohol into 2. Challenge accepted.

On Thursday it's my turn to get into an enclosed flying death-tube. More commonly referred to as 'an aeroplane'. Rescue Remedy at the ready. I shall be gracing both Bath and Cardiff with my presence. I am excited. Doctor Who related things live in Cardiff. Oh....and my dear friend who I'm definitely not using as a means to see these Doctor Who related things.

All I can say is expect pictures of the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey variety.

- Claire

Happy Birthday To.......Me?

Good evening human.
So this post is,  shock horror, a tad overdue. Oh well. #YOLO right? (I completely understand if you never want to read another word I write ever again)
So October 28th was a very very special day. It was the anniversary of the birth of, lets face it, an unforgettable figure. A person who has touched the lives of many and whose importance can never be overstated. So if you're reading Mr. Gates. Happy Birthday!!
Oh, and I may have turned 21.

So this is it I officially have 1 year left before I'm 'past it'. Before it's time to be a real life grown up. This prospect terrifies me, however if the first few days of twenty-somethinghood is anything to go by it's going to be a year filled with funtimes.
The weekend consisted of family, eating fry ups (thankfully I have yet to develop an intolerance), family, tea, presents, family, tea, large dinner and family in that order. I ate so much I thought I would never stand up again. This premonition is thus far proving exceedingly accurate.
The following day consisted of yet more eating and the spending of an obscene amount of legal tender. Like...truly obscene. However out of it I gained an awesome new phone (It's nice to be able to plug out my phone and not have to sprint the length of the house so it can be plugged back in before it dies), clothes, make-up and a spectacular case of spenders guilt. This escapade was followed by a meal with some lovely people. The less said about this he better, though all I will mention is 1. We were in the particular establishment for 3 hours and 2. We were almost overcharged by €100. I bet you can guess what the next step in our evening was. Isn't it true that every 21 year old frequents the local public house for a few beverages before sauntering home? Well yes, unless they get sidetracked by the midnight screening of Thor 2 and end up seeing that instead. I fail at being an adult. (In other news, excellent film)

I also managed to come away with a decent haul which included:

• A sword of Gryffindor letter opener
• An array of awesome mugs (special nods to Anchorman and GOT)
• Books
• Stationery
• Socks (of the fuzzy variety!)
• Breaking Bad poster (Aaron Paul. Babe)
• An alpaca related t-shirt
• Doctor Who stamps (I squealed)
• A way of minimising spenders guilt in the form of vouchers

All in all I had one awesome time and thoroughly appreciate everything everyone did for me. Here's to 365 days of remaining youth. In the meantime there are many essays I should be writing. Expect the next post to not exactly be full of the joys of life. I know you're looking forward to it!

- Claire

Growing Up is Overrated

Ever get bitch slapped by reality? Like I mean really properly walloped? This week I was left black and blue and most definitely ended up with a (thankfully brief) loathing of life.
Now please don't get me wrong, I always knew that being an adult was nothing short of well....not fun, but suddenly the prospect of actually becoming an adult isn't all that far off.
So what brought about this realisation of impending doom....sorry, impending adulthood? 2 spine chilling words, 'Recruitment Fair'. Up until this point the words recruitment fair were synonymous with free stationary and nothing more. This year however I actually went with a purpose, to find a career that would allow me to be able to eat at least semi-regularly for the next 40 odd years. An hour later I staggered back into the warm (however fleeting it may be) embrace of student life with a bag full of various complementary items and some serious food for thought.
So what did I learn this week? It's bullet point time!

• Growing up, as I may have previously stated, is not a nice thing.
• Having to face the harsh reality of actually getting a job is positively terrifying.
• If you play your cards right when talking to recruiters you can walk away with a lot of stuff you don't actually need but are happy to have anyway.
• Apparently Leaving Cert points are still important.
• Similarly UCAS points are also important and converting the former into the latter is a pain in the neck.
• A lot of businesses want to send you to Taiwan. 
• Signing up to websites like Grad Ireland  or Prospects UK  is well worth your time.
• Even though all this is scary as hell it's pretty damn exciting at the same time.

Let the applications begin!

- Claire

'...The Only Thing Certain Is That Everything Changes'

The past few weeks of my existence have provided me with ample opportunity to reflect on life. That said the past few weeks of my existence have also provided me with ample opportunity to be a productive human being but I decided that a little bit of life reflection doesn't require getting off the couch.
As you may (or may not, shame on you) have noticed from the title I have been listening to Frank Turner again. Tape Deck Heart to be specific. I recently gave it another listen through and became hooked on Polaroid  Picture. (It became my new 'I-must-listen-to-it-on-repeat-until-I-hate-it' song). Combine this with 2 pretty radical changes in living environment within the space of 6 weeks and it's only natural that one would begin thinking about the transient nature of the day to day.
Personally, over the last 12 months I have gone through quite radical changes. I moved country. I made friends with people who I would never have stood a chance of meeting. I said goodbye to things that were holding me back and hello to things I never ever thought I would do and it led me to think that the fact life is so unpredictable and so prone to change isn't necessarily (as I had previously firmly believed) a bad thing.
Yeah, sometimes change sucks. Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do be it to a relationship or to someone you care about or something you love but as I learned recently it doesn't suck forever.
I've also recently become a firm believer of what will be will be (I guess it can be attributed to *shudder* 'growing up'). It you were meant for that job you would have gotten an offer, maybe that module wouldn't have suited you anyway, if people are meant to stay in contact they will or If you're not supposed to be with someone you won't be. No amount of pretending will change that. I guess the idea that the only reason something went to shit was because it wasn't supposed to happen from the get go makes it easier to deal with the inevitable lows life throws at you. Likewise when something fantastic happens to you it adds to the euphoria to believe that this moment of happiness was meant for you all along.
Apologies for the slight ramble of a post. I started writing this with no idea of what I actually wanted to say. I promise the next one will be happier. Maybe jump on the ever growing bandwagon and discuss GTA. We shall see.
Bis später
- Claire

Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and a Dash of North Wales

So I went travelling again...
Not content with spending a year not at home I decided to spend my at home time also not at home, though this time the destination required considerably less travelling than previous excursions. We decided to take it easy with a simple hop (or 2 hour boat ride. The Lonely Island went through my head more than once) across the pond.
Instead of the initial idea of a city-hop type holiday we decided to bas ourselves in the outer Manchester area. Our reasoning? We realised that Britain actually has a working public transport system that makes travelling between major cities not only possible but relatively timely too (I may have just been there on a good week).
As previously stated. Day one was a bit of a non event what with the not experiencing anything remotely out or our comfort zone and whatnot. Though I did drink a pint of Stowford. Does that count for anything?
Day one of travelling was devoted to Manchester city. 1 word. Shopping. I lie. 2 words. Football and shopping. One does not simply go to Manchester and not visit Old Trafford, so visit it we did. If I'm honest I found it very underwhelming. I think what I really love about visiting stadiums id the awe factor. The moment you climb the steps and get your first glimpse of the pitch and surrounding stands. Old Trafford just lacked the immensity required for a collective intake of breath upon first entering the stand. That said the tour is well worth it taking you around all the usual spots, dressing rooms, press conference centre, VIP bar etc. Though if you don't feel like paying the £19 entry fee the display dedicated to the 'Busby Babes' and the Munich air disaster is open to the public and was, in my humble opinion the most interesting feature of the entire stadium.
As for the shopping? The less said about my hurting wallet the better.
Next up? Home of the scouce brow, Anfield and, the thing I was most excited about, The Beatles. Now knowing that if I was denied the opportunity to visit the museum I would could turn homicidal our firstt port of call was The Beatles Story. We ranged from someone bordering on fanatic, two people with a mild interest and someone who didn't know Paul from Ringo. I can safely say that the journey beginning with The Quarrymen in 1957 going right through the start of their rise to fame in Hamburg, an exact replica of th Cavern Club and of course Beatlemania and ending with Apple corps, the split in 1970 and broken hearts worldwide. I can safely say it was enjoyed by all, I mean there was pictures of the young Beatles, a tribute to Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (basically a room on all of the acid) and overpriced merchandise (which I bought) I mean what's not to love. Following this we took a wander around the city taking in the fantastic architecture, which I honestly wasn't prepared for and of course in keeping with the theme of the week it wouldn't be complete without a trip out to Anfield. Unfortunately there just wasn't enough time to see everything so Goodison Park will have to wait until next time.
Third port of call, and the place that I can safely say was my favourite, Leeds. Now (please forgive me) there's nothing particularly out of the ordinary about Leeds. I mean there's great shopping, there's busy streets, Elland Road (yes it was visited, obviously) the usual, but nothing particularly amazing. I just got a really great vibe. YAY CLICHÉ. I just really enjoyed the general layout of the city. Where Manchester has winding narrow streets Leeds had wide open spaces. Where Liverpool had traffic congested streets Leeds had huge pedestrianised walkways. I realise I haven't seen even half of these cities but going from what I have seen this is all I can say.
Finally we hit north Wales. What can I say about it? There was sheep, awesome castles, funny accents and silly looking words with way too many 'd's' and 'y's' on road signs that contributed to us getting lost quite a bit more than once. would I go back? Most certainly.
Unfortunately that will be the last of my travels for the foreseeable future. As final year looms you can expect this blog to be less witty (*cough*) anecdotes more My-life-sucks-woe-is-me type posts. Bet you can't wait for that!! In the meantime here are some pictures. Laters.

-Claire

The Best Hurler Is On The Ditch

So when us Irish go on tour there are 3 questions we ask ourselves:
1. Is there GAA on while I'm away?
2.Where is the nearest Irish Pub?
3. Is the jersey packed?
There is also 1 thing we're very good at: locating said Irish Pub anywhere within a 3 mile radius.

So having arrived in the busy urban setting of Manchester the obvious way to spend the first day was in an Irish pub. Hurray for logic.
Though it was most definitely the correct call. The best 70 odd minutes of hurling I've seen in a long time unfolded in front of the 60'000 live spectators and however many else like ourselves tuning in from the 4 corners of the globe.
With the sides drawing level a massive 15 times, what must have been a record breaking point after just 12 seconds by the Dubs, a questionable red card and massively heightened blood pressure the Rebels successfully managed to secure their place in the final on September 8th and also began 'The Hunt'. Something tells me that 'Any sign of tickets?' will be the most uttered phrase in Munster over the coming weeks, and with any luck the answer might eventually be yes.
Wish me luck.

-Claire

The Awkward Introduction

'Sup.
Since I spent a year writing my Erasmus Blog (I may refer to it quite a bit) I may have gotten the writing bug. So I figured why not indulge myself.
This is going to be, as the title suggests, a place for me to ramble aimlessly about what takes my fancy be it anything from grumpiness regarding final year, planning trips and buying s*it to opinions on our current economic status and how I feel about what may or may not be in the news.
As you can tell I have really thought this through.
I also plan to stick to the upload schedule I had for my previous blog, i.e. Whenever I remember it/can be bothered.
Please stick with me. Google might give me money, oh and....you know....great content or something.

-Claire