#pb's road trip to ireland

[private-bryan]

Almost thought it was removed from display, then right at the end it popped up!

[passionate-baker]

A Weekend in Kilkenny, Ireland

Hi friends, welcome to a new travel post! 

Today we’re sharing everything we know & love about the beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny! This post has been three years in the making, so I’m excited to finally share it! We visited most recently back in July for the Bob Dylan/Neil Young concert & finally managed to gather enough material to write a cohesive and informed blog post - and amen to that, I’ve been dying to share some of these photos on here for bloody ages!

Side note: the concert was the bomb diggity. 

Kilkenny is genuinely a lovely city to visit. It’s literally an hour & a half from Dublin and just perfect for a day trip or weekend away. It’s the cobblestones, cute pubs, and great restaurants that keep us going back for more, but there’s also a lot of sightseeing options if that’s more your thing. We’ve included heaps of recommendations below, including thoughts on accommodation, food, drinks, and attractions. 

Happy reading!

W H E R E   T O   S T A Y 

Pembroke Kilkenny  //  our number one choice when visiting the city. It is unfailingly perfect every single time - the staff, the rooms, the atmosphere, the location, even the breakfast! The only thing left to say is three short words: we’ll be back. 

Butler House  //  a close second to the Pembroke. Location wise they are practically next door to each other, and Butler House definitely wins on the aesthetically pleasing side of things: a charming historic house covered in ivy, with beautiful gardens & a feel of rustic luxury to it. Definitely the classier place to stay. 

W H E R E   T O   H A V E   C O F F E E

Cakeface  //  this is my ideal kind of coffee shop: perfect coffee & delicious baked goods. We went back twice, once opting for a raspberry white chocolate + pistachio cake, and once for a chocolate biscuit dome, both of which were 100% divine. There’s a choice of two different coffee brands to choose from - with tasting notes to help you pick which you’d prefer - that change every few days, so you can try something new each time. I had barista envy when I was casually given a swan in my flat white. And no, this isn’t the only coffee place in Kilkenny, but it is the only good coffee place. 

W H E R E   T O   E A T 

Campagne  //  our first Michelin starred restaurant! We went for the exceptionally good value lunch menu, and every single item we tried - from crispy sweetbreads to juicy pork belly to tomato parfait to melt-in-the-mouth mashed potatoes - was impeccable & incredibly delicious. We shared a cheese plate & a lemon posset for dessert and not one crumb was left behind afterwards. Such a lovely experience!

Butcher  //  go here for 3 very good reasons: meat, cheese, dessert. We shared an epic cowboy steak, cheesy potato gratin and extra cheesy mac and cheese. I regret not one calorie; the sides were laced with mozzarella. We almost decided against dessert because of the above, but we relented & ordered the signature dish: salted chocolate peanut butter tart, with PB pretzel ice cream & salty pretzels on top. It was the dessert of our dreams. 

Zuni  //  consistently good. A lovely space - right across the road from both hotels mentioned above - with nice staff, and delicious food. Every time I go I order the black pudding scotch egg & will 100% order it again next time. Dessert highlights include an old-fashioned yet extra flavoursome lemon meringue baked alaska; trust us.  

Foodworks  //  recommended to us by Kilkenny natives. In fairness, it has been two years since we last visited, but from what I remember we did rather enjoy ourselves here. It’s slightly more expensive than what we normally pay for lunch out, but the food was lovely, as was the setting. 

Cafe Roma  //  yes, it’s a chipper. It is, however, a really good chipper, and Boyfriend’s granddad used to bring him and his siblings here when they were kids, so .. 

W H E R E   T O   D R I N K

Bridie’s Bar & General Store  //  my favourite place for a drink in the city. There’s a lovely olden time feel to the place - with a cute little store area in the front and an adorably quaint bar through to the back. It’s dimly lit with candles all over & there’s a touch of romance in the air. Our favourite place to linger for a beverage or two. The bar takes its name from Bridie Langton, whose family still own this location and the one next door. 

Left Bank  //  a cool, hipster kind of place with great cocktails. I’ve stopped in a few times over the years and I feel like I discover quirky new things about the place each time: the paintings move, there’s odd bits & bobs hanging all over the bar etc etc. Definitely worth a visit.

Langtons Bar  //  kind of a Kilkenny institution. At night there’s live music and the likes, but we prefer it during the early evening when there’s a more casual kind of atmosphere. 

W H E R E   T O   V I S I T

Kilkenny Castle  //  actually very cool! I was skeptical, but this is definitely worth the entrance fee - Boyfriend & I loved it! The castle is beautifully restored to its former glory, with pictures up around the place of the restoration process, which in itself was fascinating to see. Added bonus: there’s a magnificent picture gallery inside the castle with some wonderful pieces of Irish heritage on display. 

Kilkenny Design Center  //  a beautiful space right across from the castle, selling the wares of Irish makers and designers. We have a mooch around each time we visit, just to experience the loveliness of the shop. 

Wander  //  aside from whatever attractions may grab your attention, Kilkenny is a very lovely city to just wander around. There are quaint little weaving paths around the place, beautiful medieval lanes to amble through (Butter Slip being my fave), viewpoints to look out over the river at, etc. 

If you’d like to follow along with our travels in real-time, be sure to check out my Instagram!

T R A V E L   I N   I R E L A N D :

Cork, Ireland  //   Westport, Ireland  //  Galway, Ireland

A L L   T R A V E L   P O S T S :

Bremen, Germany  //  Paris, France  //  Amsterdam, Holland   //  Copenhagen, Denmark  //    Edinburgh, Scotland  //   Barcelona, Spain  //  Munich, Germany  //  Vienna, Austria  //  London, UK i - ii - iii //  Florence, Italy  //  Bologna, Italy

[heckofabecca]

30 Random Questions

Rules: answer 30 questions and tag 30 people. Tagged indirectly by @eomer! Tagging 30 people is insane so I will just tag anyone who’s interested.

Nickname: Becca Name: Rebecca! Shocking. Gender: she/hers, cis Star Sign: Virgo Height: 5′4 Time: 7:17 am Birthday: Aug 28 Favorite Band: At the moment, Superfruit! Favorite Solo Artist: Errr... Man. Sondre Lerche, historically. Right now, I’m not sure! Song Stuck In My Head: "Worth It (Perfect” by Superfruit Last Show I Watched: Daredevil When Did I Create My Blog: 2008 What Do I Post: Whatever strikes my fancy! Color-coded art and photographs, scenery, fandom stuff (Star Wars, Tolkien, Vorkosigan Saga, and more...), my writing, my art.... Last Thing I Googled: “bank of america near [redacted]” Do You Have Other Blogs: Yep! @middleearthmodels is my Tolkien fashion blog, @heckofaref is my reference blog for writing, art, and RPG. Do You Get Asks: Pretty rarely! But I’d love more :P wink wink nudge nudge Why Did You Choose This Blog Name: It’s a superhero name a friend came up with, along with “Hellion Kellian” (they rhyme), Satan Clayton, Lyin’ Brian... Cute stuff. Blogs You Are Following: Ummm I’m not sure how many, but I like them all! I thoroughly enjoy all the artists I follow, all the INCREDIBLY SMART meta writers, all the fiction writers.... I’ve got an amazing feed, what can I say! Followers: My reference blog has two followers! Amazing!  Favorite Colors: Black, red, aqua/turquoise, blue Average Hours of Sleep: 8 Lucky Number: I don’t have one. Instruments: I played flute when I was younger, but I haven’t done so regularly for almost ten years. I know a tiny bit of penny whistle, too.

What Am I Wearing: Jeans, shirt, and a sweatshirt decorated with the cover of Pride & Prejudice!

How Many Blankets I Sleep With: One when it’s super hot, but in the winter I can get up to 3-4. Dream Job: Not sure! Editor? Project manager? I’ll let you know when I figure it out -.- Dream Trip: Paris, yet again (I was JUST there in July...), I’d love to go to Italy and eat the amazing food, see Ireland, Iceland, Norway, etc... All the beautiful places in Europe. Further away from eastern US than that and I’m kinda meh since plane rides are bad enough when they’re 12 hours (hi Israel). Our dream vacation for next summer is a road trip halfway across the US though... Favorite Food: Oooof. Right now I’m feeling the butternut squash love. Also the dark meat chicken love. And chocolate ice cream with PB sauce!!!  Nationality: American (USA) Favorite Song Now: Backbone - Carsie Blanton

[laresearchette]

Monday, January 02, 2017 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: MASTERCHEF CELEBRITY SHOWDOWN (CTV) 8:00pm THE BACHELOR (OMNI) 8:00pm THE NEW CELEBRITY APPRENTICE (W NETWORK) 8:00pm TO TELL THE TRUTH (OMNI) 9:00pm WORST COOKS IN AMERICA (FOOD NETWORK CANADA) 9:00pm TEEN MOM 2 (MTV CANADA) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA? 128th ANNUAL TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE (NBC/ABC/KTLA Feed) ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (PBS Feed) THE WALL (NBC Feed) BEYOND (Nothing yet)

MAX & RUBY (TREEHOUSE) 9:15am: Finally....after all these years...Max and Ruby’s parents appear onscreen. Not since the opening of Al Capone’s vault has a nation been this excited for such a reveal. 2017 is already looking up.

IIHF JUNIOR HOCKEY (TSN/TSN3/TSN4/TSN5) 1:00pm: Quarterfinal #1 (TSN/TSN3/TSN4/TSN5) 3:30pm: Quarterfinal #2 (TSN3/TSN5) 5:30pm: Quarterfinal #3 (TSN/TSN3/TSN4/TSN5) 8:00pm: Quarterfinal #4

NHL HOCKEY (SN) 7:00pm: Blackhawks at Blues (SN) 7:00pm: Bruins at Devils (SNPACIFIC) 10:00pm: Avalanche at Canucks

OPERATION OUCH! (YTV) 8:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): In order to educate children about medicine and biology, Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken perform experiments on the human body to see how they work and investigate medical treatments and technology. The doctors also offer "try this at home" experiments for viewers to participate in.

CELTIC SOUL (SUPER CHANNEL 04) 8:00pm: Canadian actor and funny man Jay Baruchel with his new friend, well-known Irish soccer journalist Eoin O'Callaghan, go on an epic road trip through Canada, Ireland and Scotland. It's a journey that will take the duo eastward from Montreal to Westport, Ireland, where Jay's ancestors set sail for Canada, like so many others, and finally Glasgow, where Jay will fulfill a lifelong dream: to watch a match at Celtic Park, one of the wildest and most hallowed grounds in world football.

JUST FOR LAUGHS (CBC) 9:00pm: Professional hockey player P.K. Subban says goodbye to Montreal with comics Jeremy Hotz, Nate Bargatze, Dom Irrera and more.

BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (TMN) 9:00pm: Will this shitty year ever end!?

TRAVELERS (SHOWCASE) 9:00pm (SEASON FINALE): The team discovers the Director has a hidden agenda.

SUGAR SHOWDOWN (FOOD NETWORK CANADA) 9:00pm/9:30pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Bakers compete using basil as their mystery ingredient; Viva Italia-themed donut showdown. In Episode Two, couples compete using grapefruit as the mystery ingredient; breakfast in bed-themed cake showdown.

NBA BASKETBALL (SN/SN1) 10:00pm: Raptors at Trailblazers

[squat-rack-shinji-blog]

20/04

My family are away in Ireland for the week, and this marks the first time they’ve been happy to leave me alone at home in a good few years, which I guess says something about how much better things have been recently! Kinda bummed that I haven't heard anything from them since they left on Monday though, It’d be cool to know what they’ve been up to!

Having a free house isn’t quite as cool as it used to be when I was a teenager, since my mate Scott now owns his own apartment about 5 minutes down the road from mine and we can just use his place if we want to be reprobates and stay up into the wee hours playing Halo 3 co-op on his rickety old Xbox 360 (it’s kind of amazing the thing still hasn’t red-ringed, and I’m still salty about my brother killing mine a couple of months ago the first time he turned it on when it’d worked fine for years before). It was fun watching Your Name there with him and his girlfriend Rosanna last Sunday, still not getting completely blindsided by that damn movie, the feels!

Since my parents aren't around I had to catch the train into Worcester for therapy today, can’t believe how much a ticket costs now. Two guys got busted for not having paid though on the trip, so I’m kind of glad I got one. Group went ok, but I left feeling kinda bad about things- one of the girls asked a question about recovery directed at me, and while I tried to give what I though was an uplifting and hopeful answer, she seemed really distressed by it and ended up running out in tears. Honestly I’m trying to believe it was the anxiety of the interaction that upset her so much, rather than my answer or anything, but I felt awful as the rest of the group tried to scrabble for comforting words as she left. Man, guess I should never become a therapist, right?

After that I met up with Scott and we hit the gym for heavy leg day. Truth be told, I was feeling pretty nervous about the whole thing because my performance seems so variable when it comes to legs - some days I’ll smash the squats and hit 120 with reps to spare, others I’ll struggle with the warm-up sets and go down at 110. It was pretty reassuring when Scott voiced the same concerns, and we agreed we ‘wouldn’t go to hard’. Really I feel like that was just a disclaimer, and we both knew we’d be pissed if we couldn’t hit the big numbers today. As it was, we both aced it and hit 122.5 for 4 in the rack - a new PB for both of us which is pretty amazing since Scott has a back injury and I still felt shattered from work the day before. I gave it a proper roar on the last rep too which was pretty satisfying, and grabbed Scott for a bro shoulder-bump in celebration.

We finished up with some extensions, which are pretty difficult at the moment since the machine is broken. We’ve taken to laying a 40kg duffel bag on our thighs to hold us down in the seat, an action which Scott aptly prefaced with a cockney accented “crush ya balls, sir?” He had to get on to work after that, but I stayed to do some calf-raises on the super squatter. The problem is that the sheer amount of weight I have to put on that thing to get any benefit (180 kilos to begin) causes the machine to press so hard into my shoulders that it leaves bruises. It was a pretty good feel though, and as Oli always says:“squatting doesn’t count unless your shoulders are bruised afterwards”. I took an awkward gym Snapchat of my traps to show I was practicing what he preached!

After that I walked to Waitrose to grab some food (I treat myself to Pizza after leg-day because of the sheer number of calories needed to bulk, it’s gonna be about 4200 today), and then just spent a couple of hours putting together this blog. Which leads me to the present moment, so everything I’m currently typing is happening in real time. I’ll probably leave it there for today, gonna go chill and play some more Persona 5!

Peace out x

[private-bryan]

Derry Girls vs Derry IRL

I realised that I was meant to post these after I got back from my holiday in October... oops...

Let's start with the iconic shot down Limewood Street:

Spoiler alert for 3x06:

Fun fact about the next one - the pub Gerry is in front of is the pub with the girls' faces on the back. Must be weird filming that close to your own 20ft tall visages

My favourite thing about the next one is that they parked the yellow van at the end of the road to hide the modern shopping centre... and a Nandos:

And to finish it off, you can't prove I worked out exactly where the four of them were standing on the walls before I went over to make sure I could take this shot (I would love to one day reproduce the shot with my mates):

[private-bryan]

Something I didn't post yesterday - the contents of the Quinn's living room bookshelf.

I'm fairly certain I had the same version of Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers back when I was a wain

Bonus - pink shirts in the wash:

[private-bryan]

Still no clue where I ended up 😉

[private-bryan]

My favourite souvenir I've bought so far:

Yes, I bought two. One's a gift (honest)

[private-bryan]

There are VR recreations of Erin's bedroom and Sr. Michael's office in the Derry Girls Experience exhibit, and they added Siobhan McSweeny's BAFTA to Sr. Michael's!

[private-bryan]

Thought I better bring some appropriate reading material with me, for an rest on the city walls

[private-bryan]

From the City Walls in Derry

[private-bryan]

Tourists fucking love Giant's Causeway

[private-bryan]

TIL that the Erin's Diary prop has completely different contents to the published one

If only the team at the exhibition had digitised it and put it in a interactive touchscreen terminal near the entrance, alongside a filming location map and a quiz (10/10, naturally, which makes me Clare - the eldest got 7/10 and was Orla))...

[private-bryan]

It took me until Dublin to find a pub with this name - unfortunately there were no blonde members of bar staff with poor communication skills and delusions of literary grandeur outside having a Smoke Break, but you can't win them all...

[private-bryan]

Holiday time!!!!!

You have no idea how excited I am to actually be getting away

Of course, I have two trains, four coaches, and a ferry to go over the next 24 hours, so if there are any asks you want to send my way to keep me entertained, please send them!