Jordan And Syria

Hello everyone, i have cool news. I just bought my ticket to the middle east im flying to Jordan and Syria and probably Jerusalem for 2 weeks and im really really excited as a matter a fact i have never been to the middle east before. I have read great things about Syria and its a great country to visit and well Jordan has petra which its amazing, also i joined the allianse francoise for some french classes i took 3 years of french at college so i dont want to loose it all. My teacher is french of course and all my classmates hava a incredible level very very good for anglophones, since you know spanish is very closed to french but still different. Anyway loving Ireland and the job is quite good its crazy to see how much Irish people travel abroad, like i never seen anything quite like it its pretty much a country of travelers and i love that because it brings a huge diversity into the Irish culture by itself, also had Mariead's party last week end it was really good cos i got to talk with pretty much everyone and also met a big group of frenchies and got to speak some french and spanish because one of the frenchies spoke prefect spanish so that was great anyway i'll keep you posted


Jordan




Syria




Adrian

Hi Guys,

This post is on behalf of Jessica, who would like to thank all of you who donated to the Shining Star Primary School in Kenya.



She managed to raise a whopping 2000 euro!! which is going directly to the school, and I will let you guys know what they do with the money as soon as we know any more.

Thanks again! Your generosity is very much appreciated,

Ellen & Jessica xx

Electric Picnic

Hi everyone!

I was thinking of taking a blog break, but then adrian gave out to me, so here I am...

Electric picnic was an experience! I didnt take many photos, or make many movies, I just tried to absorb the event fully! It was great, on Friday we arrived, and set up our tents, we got there early so no sitting in traffic, or worrying about finding a place to camp, and no queues! Although as a result of arriving early, jessica was practically strip-searched by the over eager first-hour-on-the-job bag-searching attendant!



We heard some great music, danced at the silent disco, did some yoga and meditation, made wishes, proclaimed our virtue at "lost vagueness" (see photos below), laughed our socks off at Des Bishop, watched impressive flame throwers and pathetic kiddy show acrobatics, and ate a variety of organic and fair trade goodies. Adrian even managed to fit in a circus, and some debating over a set menu - no small talk allowed. Didnt manage to meet up with anyone properly! Feel really bad, but my phone went dead on Friday night would you believe, after attempting to ring Jessica about 67 times... trying to get thru to anyone was madness!




All in all, it was a super weekend, and it was lovely to have a dudley reunion.

Now, I'm preparing for Paris on Monday, and my new job on Monday week... trying to get some website work done before the madness of work begins, and I wont know myself!

Hope you are all well,

Love el xx

Creamfields 2007

Hi everyone, just back from Creamfields yesterday. It was ... it is hard to sum it up in one word - great/nice/super/fab/wicked/cool/fun... but all of those! We did a bit of sightseeing in Liverpool, and went to the Tate art museum.

On Saturday morning Adrian brought me to the World Museum, where there were exhibits of fish, and bugs and then whole floors of artifacts from all over the world. It was interesting, but after 2 hours I was in the cafe resting while Adrian was still going strong! Reading the fine print below each artifact...

Then at 3 we headed on the shuttle bus to Creamfields, and joined the throngs of people walking towards the same entrance. I was not searched at all - except with metal detectors, and Adrians bag was checked briefly, and as regards police check points, or drug confiscation, I think I saw 6 policemen all day, and they were probably the same 2 devices at 3 separate occasions! So there were drugs everywhere, but no trouble whatsoever! People were so polite, I mean, they apologised for walking past, they apologised for stepping on your toes, for touching you with their waving arms, they apologised all the time. It was more pleasant than most nightclubs I've been at. There didnt seem to be that many knackers really, most seemed to be just passionate about the music, which was just amazing. We got to see all these djs I've never heard of, but luckily I had Adrian as my guide, and we danced for 14 hours, until I had to finally sit down, and Adrian kept on until 15 minutes from the end.




We got the shuttle bus then just outside the entrance, and got off at the airport which was on the way back into town, and then discovered our plane was delayed. I knew it was too good to be true - everything had panned out perfectly over the weekend - and that is not normal! So we waited 10 hours in the airport, listening to dance music would you believe, piped over our heads like it was trying to drive us insane! We finally got home yesterday evening at 7ish.

Needless to say, I've slept all day, poor Adrian went to work! That will be me in a months time! :)

I made some videos, which are a bit bumpy, and hard to see, but using my camera with a broken screen, I couldnt see what I was doing, so I'm happy they even worked at all! I must invest in a new camera now I'm using it to broadcast to my millions of devoted readers. I could probably buy one now with the money I am making from the ads on this blog :) Ah, wishful thinking I'm afraid!

We saw Hernan Cattaneo




Harry "Choo Choo" Romero




Erick Morillo




David Guetta








Tom Novy







Swedish House Mafia





Sven Vath








Also saw Jorge Jaramillo who was good, and Carl Cox but we left after 10 minutes, didnt like him.

So thats all, hope you enjoy the post,

Love el xxx

From Greece!

Hey guys,

Im writing this from an internet cafe in Perissa, on Santorini, and its all in greek, so luckily I know the positions of the necessary words to click!

Im heading home tomorrow evening, for my interview on Wednesday. To be honest I havent thought much about it, havent thought about much of anything over here - its a great place to come and chill out.

The girls are snoozing at the moment - we had a triathlon of a day yesterday - we climbed the volcano in the blistering heat, compounded by the black rock we were walking on; swam a long distance from the sailing boat to sulphurised hot springs, and rode enthsiastic donkeys up the side of a steep cliff to see the sunset from the north of the island. It was a great day, but I could have done without the donkey ride!

Our accomodation has been eventful to say the least - we've been shipped back and forth from Stelios' Place to various other hostels, and back again, long story as to why! But at least Stelios will drop me to the airport tomorrow, and the girls to their ferry stop - they are heading on to Ios.

Ill be sad to leave, the pace of life is so nice here, im getting used to just hanging! And the weather... well it goes without saying!

But obviously i'm looking forward to seeing Adrian, and heading to Creamfields.

Hope ye had a good time at steves birthday - Happy Birthday steve if you ever read this! And with Laura visiting. Didnt get a chance to meet up with either of you, another time.

Have a good week!
Love el xx

Ellen is gone to Santorini

Hello everybody, now it is my turn to write since ellen is gone to Greece or should I say Santorini. I heard from a friend that it is an absolutely beautiful island so I must definitely go some day, I've never been to Greece before.



Last Friday I met a guy that I know from Mexico, actually he is from Mexico City, and he came to Ireland for 3 weeks to take an English course and so far he likes Ireland. He lived in Switzerland for 5 years and then in Argentina for another 5 and now he is living in Madrid. The funny thing is that he hasn't adapted extremely well to Spain, like I thought that he would love it and the like but he's been in Madrid for a year so far. Anyway it is interesting to talk to people that have lived abroad for such a long time.

Next week we are going to Liverpool to Creamfields - it is an electronic music festival and is meant to be amazing! There are going to be incredible DJ's, I'm so exccited plus I've never been to Liverpool before so that is going to be interesting, and the week after we are going to electric picnic so this month is going to be the month of festivals so far.


Anyway we'll keep our post updated since it is going to be a busy month and we'll also have new photos.........




Chat soon and be happy

Adrian

Driving Test

I am officially permitted to drive my little fiat punto WITHOUT a licenced driver seated next to me! Wahoo!!



I had the test yesterday morning. On Monday night while I was practicing, I managed to get a puncture would you believe, so on the morning of the test they told me I had to get a new tire, otherwise I'd have to do the test another time. I was so pumped up for it, I had 3 lessons and everything, the LAST thing I wanted to do was reschedule! I nearly started crying! Luckily there was a tire shop right next door, and I got a new one put on and still had time to do the test. I think after that they felt sorry for me so I passed with flying colours.



The GREAT news is my insurance premium is lower!!! Not by much mind you but its an improvement!

I have started running again, not that you would have known I had stopped! but I used to be able to run (this time last year) for about 20 minutes before my hip started hurting and I couldn't breathe... So over the last few weeks I have finally felt ready to start running again, my lungs are resisting, and its pretty tough trying to get back my fitness, but its happening, slowly. I felt my body so strong and powerful while I was running last Saturday, when I think back on the last year - there was no way I thought that 11 months from that SHITTY diagnosis, I could be running again, about to go on a girly holiday to Greece, with a job interview to come home to, and a web site in development... It's crazy shit this life business.

Anyhow, the sun is shining, so I'm off to make the most of it,

Enjoy your day!
Love el xx