My hen weekend - November 2011

It all started on Thursday 24th November 2011.

My cousin and my best friend, a bottle or two of wine and some girly giggles. After an attempt at sleep somewhat akin to that of a child on Christmas eve, I woke in time to see the two girls shoot off for a final bridesmaid dress fitting, allowing me time to ponder as to what they may have organized for my surprise hen weekend!

It wasn't long before they were back (and a few more joined them) and the celebrations started with the popping of champagne bottles.

At noon it was time to leave and to my astonishment, parked outside was a limo! We travelled in style from Galway to Meath that day, champagne flowing, my favourite cheesy music from my teenage years playing and a hen party survival kit complete with a mini blow up fiancé. The giggles continued.

Arriving in Meath at The Headfort Arms, we were greeted with wine and paninis, the latter of which was most certainly needed at this point as it was only 3pm and we had drank 4 bottles of champagne between 6 of us! Shamefaced!



My very own limo

Champagne for a princess, heehee!

Blow up Fiance! Ain't he handsome!


A stroll up town following food was next on the agenda while we waited for a few more to arrive. This was followed by cocktails and pizza in the hotel bar in our own reserved area. Switz woo! A live band, good food and not to mention all the hen party games and prizes. I scored 16/20 on the 'how well do you know your fiancé' quiz. Not bad given the trick questions! The giggles continued. The night turned a little sour when one of the party organizers (a bridesmaid) got miffed and went upstairs sulking because I would not go upstairs to play the games, but I was enjoying the live band and had suggested the games downstairs. It's my party and I'll cry if I want to =D but I didn't...she did. Go figure!

A late night had by most and up early again the next morning to head off to Causey Farm for a day of fun, no sore heads happily. We were joined by my 11 year old god-daughter. She is as crazy and animal and farm lover as me, strange for two girls raised in the city. But I guess when my dad (her granddad) is from that neck of the woods it is genetically bred in to you. A few calm activities such as bread baking, cow milking, and playing the bodhrán were quickly replaced by the chaos of an Irish jig, catching a chicken and herding sheep round an obstacle course (minus the sheepdog). Giggles continued. The day was wound down with some freshly baked scones and a nice cup of tea. Top marks to causey farm for such an unforgettable experience!

My God-daughter and I ready for the farm!

On the farm, milking a cow!

Then it was back to the hotel for a well deserved rest before meeting with some more of the girls who could not make the farm. The party continued with dinner and some dancing. The theme of the night was the hen and her chicks. I dressed in white while all the girls dressed in yellow! My aunt sent my dress from the states! And I was in love with it, a one shoulder empire line dress with a feather skirt! =D A real princess dress! I even managed to get another wear out of it when I went as a fairy my department Christmas party. Cost per wear my friends cost per wear!




My princess dress!



The girls dressed in yellow but missing the one behind the lens :(


Dinner was yum in our own private dining room. I had the steak of course. Ate so much I really thought I would have to change out of above mentioned dream dress as my waist had grown about 3 inches! More champagne flowed and then it was off to The Palace nightclub in Navan for a night of dancing! And oh my there was a lot of dancing. Giggles continued. Finally with aching feet we made our way back to the hotel to pass out from sheer exhaustion! The following day was greeted with a large fry up and a very sombre limo ride back to Galway despite the free flowing champagne.





The longest gap between posts

So...it's been a while! But a lot has happened, so much in fact that if I began to write I would never stop. Since my last post, I have done very very very very very very (you get the idea) little knitting. Instead I have been wrapped up in the world of wedding planning, hen celebrations, Christmas partys, wedding day jitters and jubilations, honeymoon romance and house hunting. I would like to say that things are quietening down but I am afraid that I would be lying. For those of you who are well acquainted with house hunting...it usually results in then packing up and moving house, which is the next task at hand for myself and my new husband! I guess the easiest way to do this is to write a series of update blogs of the past few months with pictures attached (as pictures are always fun to look at right?). I would really like to write a wedding day report for all of you who followed my wedding day knitting but as I am still waiting to receive our wedding photographs I might just leave it another bit longer so that I can give everyone the full effect of what an amazing day it was (despite some hiccups) =D

But just in case you were wondering...Although I have done very very very very (etc) little knitting, I have managed some. On my needles at the moment is a wonderful rusty red soon to be jumper from a pattern in the Vogue Knitting Fall 2011 magazine! I am really excited about it as it is the first thing I have attempted from Vogue Knitting. It was hard to choose a pattern however, for two reasons. Number 1 was that there were so many I liked and Number 2, the recommended wool appears to be unobtainable in Ireland, not to mention an exorbitant price so I had to pick a pattern which I could as closely match the recommended wool at a reasonable price!

Rib Yoke Topper image from Vogue Knitting Fall 2011
and the Tivoli Tweed Aran I am using to knit it.

Next update: What I got up to on my hen! NOTE TO HUSBAND, DO NOT READ MY NEXT UPDATE!! Just joking hunny! It was all very sophisticated and well behaved! But lots of girly fun, farm antics and nightclub dares!

Happy Knitting and Crafting,

Helena =D

Knitting magazines and knitting cafes!

I am in awe of the knitting hysteria that is taking over in recent times and which is gaining in popularity at the speed of a lightening! It is no longer the pastime of only our grandmothers while our nimble fingers lay idle. The younger generations are finally encompassing the pleasure that can be derived from such a simple task as well understanding the joy felt at creating such wonderful knitted goods! It is a spectacular feat to observe! For many years I was apprehensive in telling a soul about my much-loved hobby for fear I would be ridiculed and laughed at. It is not many a woman in her teens and early 20s which wishes to be mortified and degraded by her peers! But with the spirit and determination of a young Jane Eyre in her battle to prove herself to be good and just and never a liar...I persevered with my 'uncool' activity in silence until the day arose that Julia Roberts and her knitting celebrity pals made it once again...a trendy hobby!

And what a world awaits those that seek to partake in a little needle clicking! A world of fabulous wools in every colour and fibre; simple or intricate patterns - whatever your choice - which enable the knitter to churn out beautiful clothing, toys and much more; Social groups to indulge our obsessions; a network of crafters worldwide coming together in shared love of a single hobby.

Gone are the days when knitting meant frumpy old fashioned designs, with the internet and a wealth of knitting magazines available, even a beginner knitter can create a fashionable item for others to admire. I myself am a great fan of the style presented by Vogue Knitting. Although I have never had the pleasure of creating an item from this fashionable magazine. It is unfortunate for me that I have not yet been able to source a supplier in the west of Ireland. But it is a task I have not yet given up on.

While reading something of late (the name I can't recall) I was informed of a shop-cafe in Beaumont Dublin, aptly named Stitch, which is "Dublin’s new knitting and stitching shop...a place to sit, knit and relax with a good old-fashioned cup of tea and a chat." What an amazing concept! How I have dreamed in the past of establishing a place like this! A refuge for the knitter of the world! I also discovered on their website that they stock Vogue knitting! How happy was I! I have since contacted the creative duo via there website about ordering a copy of the autumn issue. I am very much looking forward to a response!

Knitting and other needle craft groups are popping up everywhere. I myself am a member of CafeCreate in Galway, which was recently featured in the Sunday World. I would love to set up my own group as I am not living in the city and have to travel to attend the group on a Saturday in Galway. Although I say this, I have not really endeavored to go very far with this. I feel I would probably miss the gang in CafeCreate far too much.

As some of you may have noticed, My writing seems very formal today. I am currently reading Jane Eyre at a furious speed so that I can view it in the cinema. I guess the way in which it is written is rubbing off on me! So with all the old fashioned reading and writing..I also decided to knit myself a vintage style jumper from last winters issue of simply knitting. I think I am growing quite fond of pretending to live in a world void of technology, in ignorance of the fact that I am currently typing my blog on a personal computer! woops! Time to switch you off and have some classic me time enjoying the simplicity of life in times gone by!

Happy Knitting and Crafting

Helena =D