Last post of 2016...

Happy holidays too all.   And Happy 4th birthday Laners!  :D

A lot has happened over these past few months. 

I moved to a new town, which is close to the coast.  And even better, it is within walking distance to the stores and doctors office.  That has been nice.

I started a different PhD project, which has been 100x better.  I have been able to dissect again, which always makes my day, and am receiving positive feedback from my supervisor and co-workers.  I got told I am an excellent dissector.  :D  That was good...didn't hurt either that in the same sentence I was told I was one of the best new PhD students there.   (Sorry to brag, but after last year...these comments are amazing!)  :)  Work wise, I do struggle with the math, which is no surprise, but I think I make up for it in my dissecting skills.  I have started writing my thesis...up to 100 pages so far.  I have a presentation in January which I have submitted the proposal and power point for already. 

I struggled with the animals.  I have dissected plenty of animals throughout my undergraduate degree and didn't think living ones would be an issue.  But the fact that they move made it weird...scary?!  I do better with dead things.  I know, I know, I am weird...  but someone has to do it!  :) But I overcame and actually prefer that area of my PhD compared to the math.  But then again, anything is better than math. 

I have met some amazing people in the lab.  They invite me to lunch, movies, and are always willing to help.  When I had to go to A&E for 2 days, they stepped in.  They checked on my cells, they checked on me, and are just all around good people.  We had our Christmas dinner the other night, which even though the food was not that good, the company was.  I got to know some of the other students better, which was nice.  I got a deck of cards in my Christmas cracker, so while we waited on the main course, 4 of us struggled to remember the rules to Go Fish, even though I do not think we played it quite right, but we got there in the end and it was fun.

University accommodation, like always has been a living nightmare.  This school thought it would be a good idea to put 2 undergraduates, a PhD student, and a Post doc student, in a flat above undergraduate guys who like to drink and party till 5 am.  Because you know, that makes sense!  One girl couldn't handle the noise and drives 2 hours to go home every night, poor thing.  Another only stays 2-3 days, another is lucky she can block it out, and I...I am moving out.  I have found a room to rent in some ladies house.  Hopefully temporarily.  But the room alone is double the size of what I have here, and it looks like it will be in a quiet neighborhood.  

I wish I had a more exciting update of things I have done or seen... but I don't.  The PhD has officially consumed my life to the point where I am lucky to leave the lab before 7pm most nights and I consider myself lucky if I don't have to go in during the weekend.  But, I enjoy it.  It is stressful at times, especially the math part, but with the help of the other students I think I can say I am doing really well.  I have only officially been at this new project since the end of September and already have 7 experiments done (4 which are having to be repeated), submitted my January presentation papers, and written 20,000+ words for my thesis draft.  I never would have pictured myself in this subject area, but it is truly fascinating.  (I wish I had paid more attention to my undergraduate lectures on this topic).  :)  

Other than that there isn't much to say. 

With all that has happened this year, the good and the bad, I am so glad 2016 is almost over., and I know I am not the only one.  :)

I hope 2017 is better for everyone. 

Happy holidays to all.  Happy new year!  And safe travels to all those traveling to see family and friends.

Love and miss you all.  

35 days and counting...

Well, the school drama has finally ended.  It resulted in me starting a new project in September at a different campus, but I know this is for the best.  I am ending my life science project and have now been switched to Biomedical Science.  This is more me.  This project will not only provide me with science and allow me to use my previous degrees, but will teach me more and help me secure a job in the field I want. 

Of course, it is a little sad that it worked out this way.  I am leaving a wonderful doctor, friends, and 9 months of hard work.  But I would rather spend the next 3 years of my life being happy and doing a project that will increase my knowledge and prepare me for the job I want. 

So in a month, I am moving about 2 hours north, and will start looking at diabetes in mice.  For about the past 2 months I have began reading on this topic, and being able to read anatomy and physiology books as well was pathology books makes me 100x happier than reading about the topic I was.  Plus, it has helped having an undergraduate professor have a fascination and research desire in diabetes.  I did well in his classes, and reading his papers, seemed easier, because I knew his teaching style.  (Hope that makes sense). 

I have been thinking a lot about this new project.  I met one of my new supervisors back in June, and I knew right then and there, I needed to be in this field of study.  I was able to sit in on a second year student's presentation (who was in a similar situation as I have been in) and the difference in the presentations between what I did and what he did was unbelievable.  I spoke to this student for about 15 minutes after his talk and as much as I like my friends here, it was nice talking about the hard sciences.  Of course, it was wonderful being called Sheldon (from Big Bang Theory).  The whole experience was just one of those "I am suppose to be here" moments, which have only happened about twice in my life.

I was walking home from the pharmacy on Monday, thinking about what I should write here.  I haven't done much.  I haven't been to anywhere worth talking about, but I did see Ghostbusters and Finding Dory.  :)   And I did have a lovely visit with 2 friends from back home who stopped here while on their cruise!  I took them to my favorite coffee place and it was wonderful catching up with them and seeing people from back home.

But I came to the conclusion that several years ago I wold have never pictured this life for me.  In 6th grade, I was told I would never amount to anything and was called stupid, but a science teacher.  In 7th grade, I freaked out dissecting my frog and owl pellet and made my guy partner do it for me. That amazing science teacher told me I had to dissect something...So I stuck the pin in the frog and pushed the skin aside.  That was it.  It grossed me out.  But something changed after that, I won't go into what all I have dissected for classes, but I have loved every minute of it.  I can still see myself in middle school, in the science classroom sitting next to my partner in the second to last row next to the wall.

I will say though, I have had some amazing science teachers.  One in particular, who told me I would do great things with my life...And now, in a month, I get to set up my own lab, get trained in handling mice, and pursue the PhD I was meant to do. 

Anyways, I have been to this new campus a few times, and so far the 2 times I have been the experience between there and here is baffling.  Plus, I don't have to take a train every time I want to walk into town, which is a huge plus.  And, the best part of that town is there is a Savers there!  Saver's is kind of like a nicer version of Big Lots, but with basically just bath and kitchen items.  I love Savers. 

So all in all, not much to really report on this side of the pond.  The weather has been warm (not as hot as America... but there is no AC here) and the pollen count has been through the roof.  I am hoping with moving north next summer will be a little less allergy ridden and confiding me to my flat.  Hope everyone is staying cool in the summer over there!

Well, that's it for now.  The next entry will take place from my new home.  :) 

And even though he doesn't read this...Happy birthday brother! 

Until next time... Love and miss you all

Mom's trip across the pond

Sorry I have not written in a while, but I had a wonderful visit with my mom.

On the school front, still some drama... but I have 4 chapters started (about 16,000 words completed of my total paper written).

Housing...the people above me have finally moved out and it is now finally quiet after 11pm!  Its great.  :)

A week before mom came, I had a lovely visit from some family friends!  They were on a cruise and one of their stops was Belfast.  I joined them for lunch and it was great seeing them, as I rarely get to see them but once a year for Christmas. 

Mom arrived on the 19th of May and we were nonstop tourists since the moment she landed. That day we went straight away to Cafe Nero, and mom finally got to try some good coffee!  Cafe Nero is everywhere over here...basically on every corner.  Costa, not so much.  In Dundee, it was the complete opposite.   Then we went on to the Titanic Museum  and the SS Nomadic and Pizza Express for dinner.  In my opinion the little ride within the museum was the best, along with being able to see what the rooms looked like.  And as for Pizza Express...Who doesn't like Pizza?!

Friday, I took mom up to the campus to meet some office mates and the nice ladies in the office and then headed to Carrickfergus.  We went to the castle, which was neat, and had lunch at Papa Browns.  This place was amazing at Christmas time, and it was even better when mom and I went. 

Saturday morning we got on a flight full of drunk guys and headed our way to Amsterdam.  For a 7am flight it was very entertaining.  I, like I am sure most people, build up a place in their mind of what it was going to be like.  And Amsterdam was nothing like I expected, it was better.  Granted it was a little frustrating that everything was in Dutch.  But I kind of expected the words to at least be translated in English along with Dutch.  Other than that, as long as you watch the bikes, its an amazing place!  We started off with a canal ride, and that was pretty good.  Seeing 7 bridges at once over the canals was amazing.  And seeing basically a parking garage full of bikes, was shocking.  We did see the Red Light District (during the day).  We were able to skype Lauren and Meme that afternoon so that was nice. We also went to the flea market that was started by Jewish immigrants in WW2, and I think it was one of the largest markets in the Netherlands (I think).  We had one of the best dinners ever!  Since we were lost, we wandered into a hotel, asked for directions, and next thing we know they have a gluten free menu for us.  The Dutch love their bread.  Oh my gosh.  We got, probably close to 2 loaves of gluten free bread before our meal.  We shared some shrimp (which kind of freaked me out as it still had eyes...give me a dead body any day...but food with eyes, no thank you!)  steak, and dutch asparagus.  Now, I just started eating asparagus, and its pretty good, but Dutch asparagus was a million times better.  While we were eating a guy in a wonder woman outfit walked past the door... We were laughing so hard, we didn't get a picture.  His friend saw that we were laughing and kind of stared at us as they walked by.  Welcome to Amsterdam!  We then went to the top of the hotel and got to look down at the city, which was really cool.  We went into the largest library (in the Netherlands?  Europe?) and got to see that, which was actually really cool.  We bought some Dutch cheese and a Tolberone (I had never had one, and well we were close enough for Swiss chocolate, LOL).  Sunday, we ventured out for our museum day!  We started at Van Gogh's Museum, and had coffee near by at a cafe that looked like one of his paintings, the Rembrandt House Museum, Botanical Gardens, the Jewish square (Holocaust Museum and the Resistance Museum), and the Microbiology Museum.  Van Gogh Museum was really cool, plus, it was featured in Doctor Who, so who doesn't love that?  But it was cool to see his paintings, paintings about him, and his life story.  I also got many pencils for my collection!  :)  The Rembrandt House was ok, and my favorite part was the skull in the corner.  :)  The botanical gardens...well I am not an out doors person, or a garden person, but this was interesting.  I liked some of the flowers, and the cat walk to the different areas.  But the thing that sticks out the most was the giant plant that if you rub the leaves, it smells like a skunk.  The Jewish Quarter, well, to be honest I was very disappointed in the National Holocaust Museum.  The other museum, the Resistance one, was pretty good, but I was very disappointed.  They did have a list of all the names and addresses of the survivors, but other than that, there was nothing in there, except a floor dedicated to Amy Winehouse.  I am still a little bitter over it, as I just expected more I guess.  And as we were searching for a windmill, and our feet were  so sore, we came across the Micropia museum!  It was great.  It showed and talked about all the bacteria in the world and where its from and the common bacteria on every day items.  I loved it.  What can I say, I am a science geek!  They had one exhibit in there where they scan your body and tell you how much bacteria is in your body and once you click on the body area, it tells what has been found.  Now, I know this may not be completely accurate, but it was fascinating and kind of like a dream come true.  :)  I am the weird one who wants to swallow a camera pill so I can see what is wrong inside me... Anyways, it was really cool.    Our lunch was pretty good that day.  We went to a restaurant that mom and I both think Aunt Diane would love.  They had many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.  So I got a tomato burger (Yes, a burger shape, made out of tomatoes), on a gluten free bagel...Moms was a mushroom burger and I liked hers better.  For dinner, we ate at our hotel, and both had an amazing salad and some gluten free bread.  (Fair to say, I think I am good on bread for the next year!)   And we headed to our room and played some cards.  Now, if you have ever seen Home Alone where the family is in Paris and the TV shows are all in French... yes, this was the hotel TV for us.  We got 3 channels in English, I think, and everything was in Dutch.  It was interesting to hear Legally Blonde in Dutch.  Monday morning, after we got amazing coffee, my life long dream came true!  We had tickets for the Anne Frank House and well, we got there an hour early and stood in the rain.  We were first in line.  I didn't look at too many pictures of the house before I went as I didn't want to ruin it... and needless to say, it was everything I imagined (minus the furniture).   I first read the Diary of Anne Frank is 6th grade when Meme bought me the book, and since then, I have fallen in love with learning about her, WW2, and the Holocaust.  I loved every minute of the Anne Frank Tour.  It was fantastic.  I knew what souvenir I wanted, because I am a dork, and I got the diary that you can write in that looks like hers.  And I got several other books too.  It was the best part of the trip!  We then searched for the windmill that we had given up on the day before, but finally found it.  It was pretty.  My overall impression of Amsterdam is...when can I move there?  I loved it.  The people, 95% of them were nice, they were fun to watch, and happy people.  The only downfall was the birds fly at eye level.  Stupid birds. 

Monday we headed back and had another eventful flight...the guy was drunk or high and very loud and an all around jerk.  But it was entertaining. 

Tuesday we did the Hop on and Off bus tour, lunch at the Crown Bar (thanks to the family friends who took me there), and toured city hall.  I did the tour of city hall when I arrived, and I am still impressed by the building.  The wood workers from the Titanic also did the wood work for the city hall building. 

Wednesday, we took a tour bus to Carrickfergus castle, Giants Causeway, the Carrick-a-rede bridge, the Bushmills distillery, and the Dark Hedges from Game of Thrones.  The Giants Causeway was not what I expected.  I was expecting towers and columns of large rocks.  But it was not.  It was a bunch of rocks that formed these towers that you can climb.  It was pretty cool.  Mom and I had lunch on the rocks of the Giants Causeway.  We then stopped at a farm house for lunch, which we didnt know about, but had amazing hot chocolate.  The bridge, was really fun, minus the girl in front of me running at the end.  It basically rope and wood planks above the water...and it sways....  Mom did really good walking on it and I filmed it so she can always relive it.  :)  Don't remember much about the distillery, as I didn't care to much...can't drink it anyways.  LOL  The Dark Hedges were really cool.  Although, I do not watch Game of Thrones, it was very cool to see a tunnel of trees.  :) 

Thursday, mom went to meet some more people on campus, and then we headed into town, where we discovered an amazing coffee cafe.  This place has arts and crafts from local business/free lance people, and they food is all local.  The guys that own it were super nice and friendly and of course the gluten free sandwiches and coffee were amazing.  I love that place.  We then went to the Belfast castle, where we were only allowed to tour the basement due to a wedding.  As we were leaving I had a panic attack.  The bride and groom were taking photos, and all of a sudden this white, beaked, winged thing lands on the brides arm...She was taking photos with an owl.   So we ventured out a different way and when we pass them, this huge owl lands on the groom... What the heck?!  My heart is racing, I start speed walking, and in distressed and shocked.  Who in their right mind would have owls in their weeding?  I still can't shake the freakout/panic/fear from myself.  When we arrived back into town, there was a fire that started underground and a bunch of trucks and people were near by.  Not sure what caused it, but they had it under control.  Then for dinner, a friend/office mate came over to meet my mom and have dinner with us.  After dinner, we all walked down to the shore and made fools of ourselves on the outdoor exercise equipment.  Nevertheless, it was fun. 

Friday, we went to Londonderry/Derry.  The University has a campus there, which I wish my course was there as it is an actual city.  We had some gluten free sandwiches (Grilled cheese) and GF cake for lunch, which was pretty good.  We walked along the peace wall and the peace bridge and got to see some churches and the city.  I really liked Derry/Londonderry.  It was really pretty. 

Saturday, we headed into Dublin.  I didn't know what to expect, except I heard it was similar to London (which I had never been too).  Dublin, was not my cup of tea.  Although it was a city, there were quite a bit of rude people.  I did, finally get to taste a proper fish and chips.  Usually they are not GF, but this place made it GF and well, I had it once, and I'm good.  Not something I would eat again.   We did the hop on and off tour, which for waiting for 40 minutes, it was a really good 2 hour tour.  We then did the tour of Trinity College, the Long Room, and the Book of Kells.  Those were pretty cool, esp. the Book of Kells and the Long Room.  When we arrived back in Belfast we went to the International food market at city hall, and tried some cheese, and found some GF coffee cake and GF Baileys Cake.  Happy birthday to mom and me!

Sunday, we went back to Dublin, and did the Guinness Beer Tour.  That, even though I could not drink it, was actually very cool.  I enjoyed that, and I got to learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness.  :P  We then searched for this coffee place I saw on the tour from Saturday, called Insomnia.  I had a dark chocolate mocha.  It was an amazing cup of coffee, and I don't know what they put in it, but I can see why they call it Insomnia.  So good!

Monday, mom thought she had to return home, so into the city we went to say our goodbyes.  :(  Still think she should have stayed... but it's ok.  I think she should come back... I keep burning my food again.  It was nice not eating burnt food while she was here.  :D

We had an amazing time and I wish it could have lasted longer. 

Friday I went back to the amazing cafe in Belfast, and the guys remembered me!  They asked about mom and how she liked it here and the rest of our trip.  Then I said I would have to rub it in that I was there trying some new coffee and she was back in the states...they said "Rub it in her face for us too!"  I really do like this coffee place.  :)  LOL

The weather here has been awful.  I think my family friends brought it over from FL.  Gosh it's hot.  I feel like I am back in the states with the allergies and the heat and no rain.  :(  Granted if you look up the temp for here its about 73 degrees, but the sun is blazing, no wind, no rain, everyone is mowing their grass, and no AC.  Its super hot...and the radiator in the hall keeps turning on, which makes it hotter.  Oh well.  I like my fan!   

Well thats about all for now.  So until next time...Have a wonderful week and try not to get too hot in Texas/Florida...and hope the floods and storms don't cause too much damage.  

Stay safe and have a good week!  Miss and love you all!

Happy mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day to all...and Happy Teacher Appreciation week!


I apologize for not writing.  A lot of drama has been happening surrounding school and my study.  I will leave it at that.

However, I do have 1 chapter done, my Ethics application done, and 2 chapters in progress.  

I am, and probably always will have housing issues.  Whoever built these flats, never heard of installation.  You can literally hear everything the person in the next flat is doing.  It is awful.  And you cannot call security, because they won't believe you. 

Anyways, I was able to go into Belfast for St. Patrick's Day!  I was in the front row for the parade and got some good coffee in town.  It was a nice parade and was able to cross 2 items off my bucket list: 1) Spend St. Patrick's Day in a major city in Ireland/N.I. and 2) See River Dancers in Ireland/N.I. 



I still do not have the ability to post photos on here, so I apologize.  But my camera on my phone messed up during the parade and switched to ''live'' photo so it took videos vs. still photos.  Not sure what happened and I am not really sure how to save it to my computer.  Either way, it was an interesting parade.  There were characters (maybe politicians) with really big heads and small bodies in the parade, river dancers, bag pipers, Star Wars characters, and a snake that spit water at the audience.  It was a nice half a day away.  

For Easter, I attended the local Sun Rise service that over looked the water near campus.  The sun rise was amazing.  It was with 3 denominations too, and the people were nice.  It was super cold and a lady let me borrow her coat.  They had communion, which I did not partake in due to food allergies...which I was ok with since it was the communal cup and that just grosses me out.  But there was something about watching the sunrise that was peaceful. 

Later in April, I was able to travel to Bristol.  It was my first time in England outside of any airport, and I loved it.  England is amazing.  I was there for a doctors appointment and a nice 2 day vacation.  It was totally worth it.  It was bigger and warmer than I expected.  I do want to go back.  I had an amazing gluten free grilled cheese sandwich for my first meal there...which took me almost an hour to find, but very worth it.  Bristol had a 4 story Primark and a Savers...If that is not Heaven and beyond Amazing, I do not know what is!  I walked up Cabot Tower and got to see the whole city, visited John Wesleys House, and  Cabot Circus.  However, most of my time was spent in Savers.  :)  The hospital was nice too.  And my hotel... best night of sleep I had in almost 2 years!  I did not want to come back!  : D

And I will say... England and Scotland are by far better than Northern Ireland.  (And no, it's not just because those places have a Savers!)  LOL.  That's my verdict and my observation of being here for about 9 months.... 

And now, 11 days before my mom comes and I get a vacation away from here, the drama, the sleepless nights, and the stress.    I am afraid I will not be writing until after our holiday together, but at least I will have more to write about.  

Well, those are my adventures as of now.  I am ready for to do the touristy things with my mom and most of all see Amsterdam! 

I hope everyone is doing well.  I miss you all. 

Hope every one had a happy mothers day! 

 

Short and sweet

Well, not much has happened in the month of January. 

I had my first presentation to see whether this project is 'worthy' of a PhD research project and if I can move on to Ethics and all the wonders that follow that.  I was a wreck leading up to the presentation.  If any of you really know me, or have had me in your class, you know how much I hate public speaking.  It stresses me out.  However, I do better at public speaking when it is not timed and when it is a symposium.  One of the reasons why I have never seen myself as a teacher.  So, I stressed myself sick in the days leading up to the presentation.  It was awful. 

But in the end, I passed.  Thank goodness that is over and now only 2 more to go. 

So yes, nothing too exciting, but I did pass.  My flat mate and I went and celebrated with lunch, coffee and a movie.  We tried this pizza place that serves Gluten Free pizza, and it was amazing!  (Not as good as Pie 5, but hey, this was great!)  We had coffee at Neros and Clements, and saw Daddy's Home.  I think I was one of the only people in the theatre that understood the American references, as I felt like I was the only one laughing. 

She has been an amazing friend.  She backed me up with the horrible housing issue I had, stood by me, and supported me, during that huge mess.  And when I moved flats she helped me move.  Luckily, it was only one building behind hers, so not too far.  But it was more fun having someone move all my stuff with and laugh with in the process.  

I also ordered a hard bound copy of my Masters dissertation, as I never took the opportunity to order one for myself.  It's really nice looking and made me miss the wonderful year I had.  I miss the cadavers and my anatomy classes.  Sure they were hard then, but gosh, I would do anything to work more intensively in dissection. 

Sorry this is so short, but not much has happened.  Mom did book her flight, so...let the count down begin! 

An Irish Christmas and a very Irish New Year.

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone is off to a great start in 2016.

So, a lot has happened in December and I will try to remember it all. 

There is another first year PhD student whom I have become friends with and she had invited me over to her house to meet her family in Dungannon.  I went in early December, and tried my first curry!  It was very good.  It was a seafood curry, and I would most definitely get that again.  After dinner, we walked home and watched the popular TV Show: "I am a celebrity, Get me Out of Here!"  Must say, I am not a fan.  But to be fair, I had no clue who any of these celebrities were and I am not too big on reality TV.  Then we talked and just relaxed.  The next morning, my friend and her husband bought me coffee from her favorite shop and we all headed to Belfast for Christmas shopping...well I bought warm clothes.  :)   I also bought some Batman bedroom slippers...Happy Christmas to me!  

And then it was basically all work and no play.  I did see my first NI movie...Hotel Transylvania 2 with a friend from my office.  That was a good movie, minus the annoying unsupervised children in the theater.  I also saw, The Night Before... It was funny, but totally a Zach movie.  If you know our family, you know my brother and I have very different. taste in films.  He likes the Hangover and Ted and those kind of movies, I like Inside Out, Elf, and the Book Thief.   Very different taste. 

I submitted my final 100 day proposal Dec. 15 and celebrated with going into town for some good coffee on the 16th.  My proposal was accepted on the 17 and all was done in terms of that.  I resubmitted my power point, my outlines, and my first chapter draft on the 28th of Dec.  I know I will need to make some edits, but it feels good that they are out there.  I completed reading 20 articles over the break, and later today about to read the International Suicide Handbook.  Depressing, I know... But being the nerd I am, the book contains articles on Neurobiology of suicide so that will break it up some, along with some episodes of Will and Grace.  :)   I have tried to separate work and home for as much as I can in 2015, and I think I did a really good job.  I plan to continue that for 2016.  I am trying my hardest not to do too much on weekends/after 5pm as it is a depressing topic...says the girl who wants to work on dead people.  :)  But I think my work schedule has worked for me this far as some of the other first years had to push back their 100 day presentation, and some other students seemed shocked that I have already written my first chapter.  As soon as I get the ok on my outlines, I can start really writing my lit review and theory chapters.  Monday/Tuesday I am filling in my ethics application to have my supervisors read through it before I submit it.  I hear ethics is the hardest part, so we shall see.   I have my first presentation on Jan. 14.  I am really nervous, as I hate public speaking, so fingers crossed it goes well.

So in terms of work, that is what I have been doing.  

Before Christmas, I had coffee with the first 2 friends (James and Julie) I made here, who have the same supervisors.  One just returned from America where he celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time.  :)  And the other was just about to leave for America... I find it funny, that the American is staying put and the NI are leaving.  It was nice catching up with them and hearing about his first Thanksgiving.  Then the following week, Julie and I went and celebrated Christmas...she took me sight seeing.  We stopped at a local ice cream shop called Maud's which was created in the village she is from, so I had Northern Irish Ice Cream...Very good.  Then we drove to Belfast Castle, and went inside to see some of it.  We couldn't see it all as there was a wedding reception, and then drove by the titanic museum.  Julie was the tour guide and gave me some history on each of the sights.  It was a fun and enjoyable night.  The next day, I went to lunch with some of the friends I made in the office (Anne, Medbh (Pronounced Mave), and Helena).  These girls, plus the  one from Dungannon, are who I eat lunch with and somehow we always end up talking about body farms.  :)  I don't know how that happens...as am not the one who brings it up, 50 % of the time!  :)   We went to Nandos, where I looked through a Bible size book of Allergy free foods.  Now I know what I can eat and will just stick to it...never branching out at that place.  LOL.  I tried peas with mint, gross.  Anne said they were the best there...they were disgusting.  Mint should not be in vegetables, esp. with chili flakes.  Then Helena and I went to Clements for coffee, I enjoyed it.  I also learned there is a Savers! and a Paperchase in town!  Oh, be still my heart!  This just made my day!  Happy Christmas to me again!  Then we went to see Grandma, with Lilly Tomlin.  It was amazing.  I loved it.  And we followed it with coffee from Costa and my first trip to Victoria Square Mall.  This mall was amazing.  It is half inside and half outside.  And you can go up to the top and see all of Belfast.  That was cool. 

For Christmas, I went to a staff members house.  I attend church with her a her family and spent the day with them.  Now, I have yet to go to church, as I was told by a friend that you have to pay to attend services.   Come to find out, this is not true.  It was a nice service.  They asked trivia questions, did an Ugly Jumper contest, and let the kids show off their gifts.  A little boy brought in a live Turtle...  It was amazing.  I think the Pastor was a little shocked.  As much as I loved the turtle, my favorite was the little boy who was so proud of his gift of the 'men at work' sign.  The sign was bigger than him and he was so proud of it.  So funny. We then went back to her house where, I met her family, 2 kids and a husband.  Her son is a professional rugby player, her eldest daughter is a graphic designer, and the youngest is still in secondary school.  Her husband is a Chaplin to the prison in the area and to the hospice center.  It was a fun time, a little hard to stay focused with all of the Christmas flashing flights.  The kids were very shocked about the way we spend Christmas, and how I am allergic to so much.  I did try Brussels sprouts for the first time.  I love the brunches at my aunts house and family get together, they just thought it was very odd not to have turkey and ham and the immediate family.  But then again, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving.  :)  We also played Heads Up, which is a fun game, and since we only played one round, I tied for first.  We watched Strictly Come Dancing (Their version of Dancing with the Stars)...again it was not that fascinating as I did not know any of the celebrities, and they allowed me to watch Doctor Who! I was extremely grateful for everything, even the DW watching time, esp. since my favorite character made her appearance.  :)  Then the girls painted my nails, and I swear, I have never seen so much nail polish in my life.  It was a huge box...about the size of a laptop box, probably a little bigger, and the colors were separated in individual bags...  Tyler would have loved it.  Actually she would have lost her little mind.  This girl had every color you could think of, plus stuff to do fake nails, file, cut, etc.  I got hot pink with black and pink sparkles, as I figured it would match my Jan. 14th outfit.  It was fun.

Then comes New Years Eve.  I made my way back down to Dungannon (where I first started this post).  I started my NYE with a trip to Belfast for some Costa Coffee (Their Holiday flavors wont be around too much longer) and picked up some minor shopping. Then headed on to a bus (I hate buses, but did it) to Dungannon.  There I met my friend and the rest of her family (Finally met her oldest 2 kids).  We had a lovely dinner, and I had a Christmas Pudding for the first time.  It was good, but I don't think I would buy it often.  Around 11 we headed to her brother is laws house, which is next door, for their party.  I have never met a family so big in my life.  My friend and her husband are each of 6 kids.  This party was crazy.  It was hard to really focus again, due to the flashing lights on the ceiling.  (Stupid seizures).  Then comes midnight.  Balloons dropped from the ceiling, people were popping them like mad.  And then the hugging and kissing started.  I figured I was safe, as I am not with anyone, so no one to kiss at Midnight.  Wrong!  The Irish don't care.  LOL.  The hug anyone and everyone and kiss you on the cheek, even if they just met you an hour again.  This American girl, who is not big on hugs or kissing was a little shocked.  And I had never been kissed so much in my life.  In terms of kisses, I think I am good for the rest of my life.  :)  The kids, and the grown men acting like kids, set off fire works in the back yard, lit a tree on fire (As I over heard), and played with sparklers.  Then as my friend and I were leaving, they started Irish dancing.  Dang stupid flashing lights.  I would have loved to have seen that...except in a way I am glad, as I think I might have been pulled into dancing with them.  LOL.  So we headed back, had a nice talk for a while and went to bed.  When we woke up we went for a walk, and I got to see the lovely little town.  We tried to go to O'Neils Hill, as you can see the majority of the counties from this hill, but it was closed.  Next time.  It is a lovely town, but a funeral was happening.  That poor family.   We then went back and had a nice lunch, hamburgers from the local butcher and she called them Bap's....I think it means sand which.  Then I tried beet root juice.  I liked it.  We talked a little longer, bouncing ideas for each of our projects off of each other.  And then headed back on the bus to Belfast.  I then started my New Year with a lovely coffee from Cafe Nero (The sign looks like Cafe Nerd) and headed home. 

I am so thankful for these lovely friends that I have made.  Without them, the holidays would not have been fun or interesting!  These girls, and James, allow me to vent when the stress of the work or meetings become too much, as they all have been there, and they vent back. 

Here is to a wonderful 2016. 

I know some are struggling with sickness, loss, pain, and heartache, so may you find peace and comfort in the new year.