Araglin

A few weeks ago we went on a hike in Araglin, where the corners of Tipperary, Waterford and Cork Counties meet up.  There are some good hikes in the area all signposted. I decided to go with Avery and some friends, I totally forgot about the hiking backpack we have and decided that I could push her across the trails in our jogger stroller. For the most part it worked, but there were definitely some difficult bits where we had to take her out and carry her, but thanks to Christi's help we made it the 5 k and through a couple of squalls to the lake at the end where we had a small BBQ. While I was glad during the rain that we had the stroller and rain cover, I think next time I would definitely take the hiking backpack. Andrew had decided to go play soccer with some friends instead and look what he missed out on:

Cows

So we only lived in Bantry for 2 months and there was some wicked traffic at times....from cows! We must have encountered cows on the road at least 5 times...

Barley Cove

Had a beach day one day while we were in Bantry at a really nice beach called Barley Cove.

Wesht Cork

2 months at Bantry General Hospital. I had never been to Bantry before so we were going in blind, but we found a place to live for 2 months and moved out of the old house and before we knew it, 2 months was up and we were moving into a new house in Cork.  But Bantry was good fun, the hospital was nice and I got a good deal of experience there.  My consultant was great, he was German and living the life, he only works 6 months a year and the rest of the time he sails. Who wouldn't like that life? But he taught me things and we got on great so it was a good two months.  I also had a bit of celebrity exposure when Maureen O'Hara (The Quiet Man, The Parent Trap) came to the hospital, she lives nearby in Glengarriff, I think she was only visiting someone but my Consultant knew who she was and said hello.

It's a really pretty area of Ireland and we did a bit of exploring but I still want to see more. But here are some photos:

Paul Street

Backtracking a bit here. So I was assigned to work in Bantry General Hospital for 2 months, this meant we decided to move out of our amazing city centre apartment that I've lived in forever, well, seems like it! This was my third apartment in Ireland and the first place I felt home.  It was a perfect fit immediately, I loved it. It was extremely central to everything, Tesco's practically on the doorstep, all other shopping within walking distance, McDonald's around the corner, TK Maxx also around the corner, and good old Peg Twomey's just a hop, skip and a jump away. I also had no neighbors, none below or next door or anything. My landlord worked on the first floor and I had the upstairs, so after he went home at 5 pm, there was nothing, I could play music as loud as I wanted, watch TV, jump up and down on the floor, do whatever it didn't matter because I had the place to myself. So I loved it from day 1. Never had a shortage of visitors, anyone in the city centre for a bit of shopping could pop by. We had a few good parties, mischief and mayhem, which may or may not have involved water balloons... Produced a couple great thrillers (ha), see an example here:

When I moved in it was just myself. Then I got married and Andrew moved in and a couple years later, the kid moved in as well...and she loved it too.  But she was getting to the stage where she was exploring all over and climbing stairs and getting into everything.  So while I was still determined to make it work we decided moving to Bantry for 2 months was as good a time as ever to move out.  It was the end of the Paul Street era and I was so emotionally attached to the place.  I know that when I think of Ireland, Paul Street will always be the home I think of.

Avery's favorite pastime, looking over ledge of the loft

Titanic

April 14, 1912 the Titanic set sail from its last harbor in Cobh, Ireland, and three days later hit an iceberg.  For the 100 year Anniversary of the Titanic Cobh held festivities to honor those who died. The President of Ireland came to give a speech, the Navy held a march and a fleet review, choirs sang, the church bells of the cathedral rang out and the streets were packed. We decided to go check it out.

Andrew loved how the laundry was hanging out here, would've had to climb on the roof to hang it...

Easter

Great-Grandma Morris sent Avery a beautiful Easter dress, Thanks Grandma!

1 year old

Well, look who's 1!

Paddy's Day!

Avery missed Paddy's Day by 3 days last year, so this was her first one.

Heirloom

Nana knit a sweater for Avery for Christmas and when she showed it to everyone they all said it will be an heirloom. Avery likes it anyway!

Christmas

Christmas Day 2011 - Ben, Jake, Avery, Josh, Mikka, Lena

Nana of the North

Mikka and Lena

4 generations

Great Grandma Nagata loved having Avery around

Joel and Avery