Trapped in the Library
University is taking over...
Six Months On…
I’m beginning to think time doesn’t just heal wounds, but opens them too…
Grief is such a complicated thing.
You can’t control it. You can’t anticipate it and you certainly can’t plan it. You can’t sit down, have tissues at the ready and say, “today’s the day I’ll grieve her”. It doesn’t work like that. You don’t get to decide. You don’t even get a warning.
Saturday, May 27th, the night before I walked a 5km in her memory, was the first time I felt the true trauma that…
I’ve been to France a couple of times. Well twice, but twice is a couple though. And both times were memorable, for different reasons.
The first time was with my family when I was around six or seven and we did what any family would do. We went to Disneyland. It was amazing; incredible sights, I got Mini and Mickey’s autograph, and all the sweets necessary. I even had the chance to be apart of a show, to sit on this giant Cake and come on stage with the Disney cast. Chance, being the operative word. When the person came to ask my mum for permission if I’d like to, she said yes and well, I started crying thinking she was getting rid of me.
It wasn’t the only time I bet my mum regretted bringing me somewhere in Disneyland. There was also the incident at the Haunted House. I’m pretty sure I made some ears bleed there. The moment the doors closed and the room began to lower (It was really a large elevator) I began screaming. Not just small scared kid whimpers, full-blown “someones-murdering-me” wails. And I didn’t stop. Not as the room went dark and we were escorted onto a ride around the House, not as people began jumping out at us. It got to the point where my Mum had to wave them away before they even came near me. I screamed and cried so much. I’m sure they loved me there.
The second time I went to France was years later while I was studying abroad in Ghent, Belgium and two friends and I decided to go for a day trip to France. Now, we didn’t get to Disneyland though, that is another adventure I plan on having in the future, hopefully without the screaming and crying. Instead, we walked around Paris and saw the different sights it had to offer, such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe. It was a long day of walking and my feet blistered after it because the fool that I am decided to wear converse instead of something more comfortable.
This trip was my first time seeing the Eiffel Tower up close and when standing before it, I could only think that it wasn’t as big as I always expected it to be. Still, I was in awe of its structure and the huge crowds that it gathered. We didn’t get to go up the Tower because the queues were too long and we had only a few hours in the city. However, it was only when I went to the top of the Arc De Triomphe that I could fully appreciate the city and the Eiffel Tower as it loomed over the rest of the buildings. And in the distance the collision of modern structures with the old classical ones could be seen as high towering buildings, covered in class to reflect the sky rose in the distance, sprouting from the traditional blocks of buildings in Paris. We also happened across the Love Lock Bridge, known for where couples go to secure a lock on the bridge and toss a key away to show their love. It was breathtaking to see how many couples had been there from the numbers of locks, to experience how much love must have passed through that area. Who knows, perhaps one day I may return and do the same thing with someone I’m lucky enough to be in love with. Heres hoping.
As usual, my trip couldn’t end without a venture for some food and we found our way looking for some macaroons in a cute, yet very busy, shop/restaurant. And just down a few shops from this was a Disney store. So, since I couldn’t make it to Disneyland itself, I had to have a nosey around the store. It’s just as magical as the Park itself is.
Disneyland Slideshow
(Pictures aren’t the best quality due to being retaken on a phone to be able to insert here. But they bring fond memories for me so I wanted to share them)
Paris Slideshow
Tales of France I’ve been to France a couple of times. Well twice, but twice is a couple though. And both times were memorable, for different reasons.As part of my four-year course in the University of Limerick, it was necessary for me to partake in a semester of study abroad, known as Erasmus. I chose to attend the University of Ghent in Belgium as my destination last semester and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. Belgium is breath-taking, to say the least. I could rant for ages on its beautiful landscapes, kind people and amazing food but instead would rather let the pictures speak for themselves.
Ghent is, to the say the least, a must place to see for everyone.
The city is a spectacular blend of old medieval style buildings and new modern works. They combine to create this diverse city that is riddled with culture. There is a history behind each of the buildings and there are many guided tours that help shed light on the life surrounding Ghent. One high point I found in the city would have to be the Gravensteen Castle which is Dutch for “Castle of Counts”. Placed in the centre of the city, it is an excellent viewpoint for the whole city from the top as well as being a great touring opportunity. Not to forget the towering cathedrals that were dotted around the city. Each just as beautiful as the other and great places for high photo shots of the surrounding area.
The Leie River bank alone is a centre point for many people, especially students, who conjugate here to relax and enjoy the sun. The weather itself was a surprise for me, I expected Ghent to be rather similar to Ireland from the months of September through to January; cold, wet and rather dreary. Yet it wasn’t, for most of the time the sun was present and days were warm and enabled me to tour the city many times over.
Not only is the cultural aspect of Ghent a must-see, but the city itself is filled with shops and activities. Take a boat along the Leie River to see the true beauty of the place or else venture through the streets and get lost in the multiple shops, both high fashion and cute little gift stores. It just so happened, that two weeks prior to my arriving in Ghent, they opened their first Primark store. Needless to say, most of my weekends were spent wandering through this three floored shop and wasting away money on cute little items.
Then there was the food. I am a food loving girl and usually plan my days and trips around my meals. Ghent did not disappoint. While the meals in restaurants were a tad more expensive than what I was used to in Ireland, some main courses being between €16-€22. It was all worth it. Every restaurant I visited was at such a high standard, be it a three-star, more or even just the deli shop across from my University building. All the staff were kind and very attentive, especially when not laughing at my utterly horrible attempts at Dutch. My favourite part of dinner would be dessert. They do this dessert, it’s so simple but delicious that I would go out of my way to have it. I mean, I would go to a restaurant and just order the dessert, I loved it so much. Now, I’m not talking about the famous Belgium waffles, though they were delicious. I can’t remember the name of it but it was just ice-cream with hot chocolate sauce over it and wafers. Not the fake chocolate sauce you may get at some places, but real chocolate melted and then drooled over the ice-cream. I don’t know why it was so delicious but, perhaps the mere simplicity of it is what made it so good.
On top of all this, Ghent gave me an opportunity to grow as a person. Being my first time living aboard and away from the comfort of family, it meant I had to fend for myself and learn everything by practice. I also met some amazing people there who helped me along the way, went on wonderful trips with me and became close friends. It was a great trip and hopefully, the beginning of many more wonderful ones to come.
Ghent
Brugge
Part of my travels during my time in Ghent saw me going to Brugge. My gosh, it is an incredible place. I couldn’t even begin to write about it. From the stunning scenery to the buildings, the markets, the high-end fashion streets, and especially the people. Brugge was an unforgettable day and I am definitely planning on heading back there for a proper holiday. I need to explore this city more. I’m not going to go into detail about my brief day there because I think the photos I captured speak more about the beauty of the place and the amazing people I met and became friends with during this time than I ever could.
*Images subject to © Copyright 2015*
A Semester in Belgium As part of my four-year course in the University of Limerick, it was necessary for me to partake in a semester of study abroad, known as Erasmus.
Her FairyTale Ending
Something your own FairyTale is with the ones who’ve always been beside you.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
-Antoine De Saint-ExuperyThere are times when I find I cannot create an idea to write. I cannot imagine anything worth writing. It is something many people face but I have found that just listening to some music and writing what it inspires me to be worth doing.
So that’s what I did. I found this…
How It Feels Without Her
How it feels Without Her
For years, I thought grief was uncontrollable sobbing, a constant stabbing pain in the chest. The way it is seen in the movies. Dramatic and vocal expressions of sadness. Perhaps that’s the way it is for some. But it isn’t for me. And for a while, I thought something was wrong with me because I didn’t react like this. Because I was silent and numb. Perhaps, I’m just…
Dear Mama
Dear Mama, what can I say? I miss you.
Dear Mama,
It’s almost been a month, yet still feels like a day. In a year, will it also feel the same? Everywhere I look I see your face, in the quiet I hear your voice. Your laugh assaults me at random times, your smile wavers in my mind. You’re with me. But you’re not.
I know you’re gone, you’ve passed on and are free from pain. You’re looking down on me, my own guardian angel, following me…
Don’t Leave Me
Don’t Leave Me - A creative piece I wrote a year ago about coming to terms with my mothers illness
*Written in early 2016
Sometimes people don’t react the way you want them to in a situation. Some people are there with you from the beginning; seeming unfazed by the events occurring, immediately ready to help you. Some people appear, those whom you haven’t spoken to in years, but are once again back in your life to be there for you. Some people run. They back away from you, from everything that…
Is It Ok To Not Feel Ok?
Is It Ok to Not Feel Ok?-If you were asked this, what would you do?
“It’s OK to not feel OK, right?”
She asks you this question, one day while you walk down the road. Unexpected, unprepared you hesitate and glance down. Wide innocent eyes that always reflected love and happiness now peer up at you with concern; deep in the emerald glow of her eyes was a pain you’d never known.
How do you respond to a question like this? Would you say, “Yes it’s ok to feel this…
Her FairyTale Ending
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
-Antoine De Saint-ExuperyThere are times when I find I cannot create an idea to write. I cannot imagine anything worth writing. It is something many people face but I have found that just listening to some music and writing what it inspires me to be worth doing.
So that’s what I did. I found this…