Ahhhhhhhhhh here we go!

Right ladies and gent.
It's only 6 hours till we drive off into the Irish morning sun towards Rosslare Ferry Port. From there, we shall sail for 4 hours to Pembroke. What we hope will be a 4 hour drive to the Pilton Pop Festival, could be muuucchhh longer and we'll be weary but we hope to be all camped up by 6pm.


And then the fun begins.
I've a hundred and one things to do right now so this isn't too long.
I'm currently in my PJ's, in my kitchen, with all my clothes to pack, shoes, jewelry, basic hygienic products etc... etc..., watching my dogs run around the garden and still unable to comprehend the week ahead.


I'll leave ye to it but look forward to one hell of an update when I return.


WOOOOOOOOOOO!!! GLASTONBURY!!!!!!!!!!1


Till' next time,


Sar_bear
xx

Festival Necessities

Two recent purchases guaranteed to make my Glastonbury even better than originally planned.

and

=

Bliss

Till next time,

Sar_bear

xx

Hierarchy of Crisps

# 1: Taytos

Nothing will ever ever beat a good packet of Taytos. If you have never tasted a pack of taytos, shame on you. There is a rich and tasty history behind Ireland's favourite crisps but I'll leave you find that out for yourself. Taytos go particularly well with squashed ham and cheese sandwiches or with kitkats.

We love Taytos so much, it's taking pride place on our Glastonbury flag.

#2: Ripples

Cheese and Onion Ripples are phenomenal. Not the same level of loyalty as Taytos would have but damn nice when you fancy a change. They go particularly well with minstrels.

#3: Kings

A poor man's Tayto's but do have a certain sconce n' sconce.

# 4 - Whatever

There's a wide range of varying other crips that deserve a mention and have their own god points like Hunky Dory's and Hula Hoops. However they also have their disadvantages and don't make my top 3.

# Last:

Walkers. How people eat that tack is beyond me. It's like you left a slice of bread under the couch, which grew mould and fur. Why would anyone want to eat anything as rank!

So to sum up today's blog. Tayto's are the best crisps in the world.

Till next time'

Sar_bear

x

Dear Diary, Mood? Apathetic.

*WARNING* Tiredness leads to lack of literary creativity.


Not much of an interesting or perceptive update, truth be told.
I have worked from 11am - 10pm the past few days and my head is fit to burst of headache. No windows in this place may be a concern for those who suffer from claustrophobia but it never warns you on the havoc it plays with your sense of time and with your eyes. Pain.
Not helped by tired frustration towards the end of the evening when I just give up and fall in a heap on a chair. However, having great craic with the crowd here and there's much banter. But it's tiring being as witty as me, all the time! :P Mind you, some of the students here are well able to throw a sharp word in here and there.


One thing I've realised about myself is that if I can't make a person laugh, I either get really frustrated with or fascinated with that person. Not saying, I'm Tommy Cooper or anything but it's what I do. Rose puts it down to "Ugly Child Syndrome", meaning a person's personality is the core of their being. Being funny is one aspect of my personality I am proud of or at least strive to bring out. And there is one person at work who I can't make laugh or even smile, despite me knowing they have this ability. Argh! I want to get inside their head. It's like a big barricade. I want to shake them and ask "What are you thinking!!!!??" Am I alone in this?

Tuesday was a good day. I went to a beach about 40 minutes from my town with 3 friends; Rose, Kian and Izzy. What a day! What a beach! What a laugh! Bought so so sooooooo much food. As in, we could of fed an army [sugar-loving armies that is], particularly with our iced cakes.. But then after making our way to our alcove... BOOM! Cake! GONE.

                                                     Our faces. Not happy.

The beach was a lazy, balmy day. Sandcastle building is NOT the carefree, simple task I remember it as being. I was absolutely puffed out after half an hour and you forget how the coarse sand wrecks your knees. Feeling seventy? I think so. Also bought far too much food and warm Kopperberg goes straight to your head. The most eventful scenario we placed ourselves in that evening was when we were trying to get back to the car from our alcove. We hadn't counted on the tide coming in that far. Dumb dumb. What followed was a carefully thought-out, precise plan that was to accommodate our escape from the beach. 

Well basically we took off our shoes ambled over some rocks and waded through water when the waves were waiting for a swell. After fastidious execution, we made it back to the shore and homeward bound.

Unfortunately, I had a biiiiggg trip planned to go camping with Mel, Nav and her bf in the Gaeltacht on Wednesday. I love the Gaeltacht. Thrice, I have gone to Irish College in this particular Gaeltacht and it is the most beautiful part of Ireland. Alas, I was called back to work after the beach as my boss was ill. But hey! Moolah! Yet that ruled the following day out so in order to salvage plans Rose, Izzy and I hit town. Had a ball of a night from gattin' in bathrooms to going mad to Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" and Primal Scream's " Get Your Rocks Off". Yet come 1am, I hit a disastrous slump. Rose and Izzy followed not long after which meant we had exhausted ourselves and couldn't contend with the moves being demonstrated on the dancefloor. Time for chips. Then home.

The following day was all work, work, work. Anything to help my understanding boss. I am a dab hand at embarrassing myself and after getting one class of students under control [using icy glare as my method of choice], I turned on my heel and promptly tripped over the extension lead for the air conditioning, falling forward, out of my shoes with a rather loud "OOOHH!" exhausting from my lips. Mortification. Also had a run-in with the owner of the business downstairs but my no-bullshit attitude sorted that one quickly. The Man - 0, Sar_bear - 1.

Today was a blur. Shopping is strenuous. I'm not hacked up to it. Left for the train with only 45mins to spare [walk usually takes near an hour at a relaxed pace]. Arrived red-faced, sweaty and with swollen ankles. Up to the city, I went with my sister and what followed is a rather boring account of retail therapy. WOOOSSHHHH. That is the sound of money leaving your pockets so fast, you're left wondering how you haven't died of starvation already. Nearly 200 yo-yos. Gone. Poof. Cillit Bang couldn't work as fast as my hand did, in and out of my purse. 

I am so tired now I can't even be bothered jazzing this whole yoke up with long anecdotes or methaphorical paragraphs or even the small things that made me smile since my last update. Well, ok, if you insist!

 Well, one was seeing a seal in the river running through the river today. I have never seen a seal so far in and it made me smile, seeing him bob up and down, not a care in the world. My mother coming in during work to see if I was alright. The third was sitting in a café yesterday, with my back facing the back of a mother and young girl. The young girl had her head resting on the arm chest, looking upside down, to which she began to sing in a deep, alto voice, "Everything is upside-down, Everything is upside-down, Everything is upside-down, Everything is upppsidddee-down". To be that non-nonchalant and free and unaware = Bliss. The fourth was having banter at work. Always brings a smile to my face. I finally, after 9 months, went and got a haircut. It's like a literal and figurative weight has been lifted from my shoulders.  And lastly, time with my friends. College really does test the strength of friendships.

Right I'm off. Can't continue to bore myself, let alone you, reader. 

Till' next time,

Sar_bear

Place Your Bets...

On the Mystery Jets!


After realising that I will be seeing them at Glastonbury, I gave "Twenty One" an ole twirl on the CD player today and so my love for them has been rekindled. 
Unfortunately their new album, "Serotonin" isn't out till July 5th but I did enjoy the new video for the moment [see below].


I absolutely adore the Mystery Jets. Their sound, style and swagger all scream original, fun, talented, easy-going, timeless and quintessentially English. They are the soundtrack to summer.
I've missed out on them playing in Dublin twice so remembering this, I am going to skip Mumford and Sons and go see a band that have proved that they can last the pace. Fingers crossed for a Laura Marling appearance on "Young Love".


Hope you see all this too.


Till' then
Sar_bear
x

The Glastonbury Preparation begins

Less than 2 weeks to go...
So the "Snapshot" clan finally got their act together and we've had run through of tent, flag and equipment!
The current view of the garden looks like this.

Big 6 person tent with enough space, you could swing a cat in it? Check. Little camp ornamental/novelty windmill? Check. 5m flagpole with appropriate cow windsock in ode to Michael Eavis' herd? Check. Trampoline? Check though that won't be coming with us. Sun? Check but let's hope that that will come across the Irish sea with us.


We've a biiigg long checklist which is about half done but I am finding it hard to figure out the logistics of fitting all the gear PLUS 5 adults [the shortest of whom is 5ft 5] into a regular sized Toyota vehicle. Hmmmm... Looks like some of us will be getting on the ferry as foot passengers or the car will never make it up the ramp!

Not much more to say really. I finally fully unpacked from college today and hung up all my clothes, put back up my posters, hoovered my floor, placed my shoes in orderly rows [that is until I have to go out and in the space of an hour, the whole place is in an almighty upheaval again!]. Pretty pointless considering I have all but about 2 weeks before I leave for the summer. I think I'm in denial. 

Hope you're well wherever you are, reader...


Till then'
Sar_bear
x


Personal favourite. Do like. 

Summer 2010

WELCOME!
So. I've finally started a proper blog, a blog that I will do my utmost to update and write in a full and satisfactory manner. Tis' a better alternative to a diary because I get terrible hand cramp and suffer from bouts of laziness.


The purpose of this blog is to entertain, inform and jot down my memories before I lose them in amongst the going-ons of everyday life. Bit more for me, than for you. Call me self-absorbed, why don't you! I prefer sentimental. I don't imagine this'll be read by many but I don't care either.


I titled this blog "Snapshots of Summer" because I have an interesting summer ahead, jam-packed of firsts.
My first foreign festival, my first summer job and my first time au-pairing. My first time to England, my first time to Spain, my first college results, some of my first grown up life experiences. Maybe some people might find some of this interesting! I can't promise any major literary genius at work here but I do love pictures so there'll be a sh*tload of them!


Without further ado, I'll introduce myself and provide a background to the stories you'll be reading.
I'm a 19 year old Languages student who has just finished her first year of University in Ireland. Now back at home after moving out from college, I am living with my family, waiting for the summer to kick itself into shape. 


Having finished college about 3 weeks ago, I've pretty much none nothing worth recalling. I have a small part-time job supervising study for students about to do their Leaving Certificate examinations which earns me a bit of moolah for the coming 3 months. That will only last until the end of June however, when it all kicks off.


I am going to Glastonbury 2010, the 40th anniversary of the Contemporary Arts and Music Festival, with most of my family. My family is extremely close-knit and my relationship with my parents, particularly my mother, is something I am very grateful for. With the close age-gap between me and my siblings, we felt it's the right time to undertake this life experience and despite my months of research into the festival, I know nothing will adequately prepare us for what those 5 days will throw at us. 


I am a crazy mixture of excitement, anticipation, nervousness and anxiety. Murphy's Law has already tried to interfere. Yesterday, while our tickets arrived, our main mode of transport died! Yet, this blog will detail my experiences of the festival despite these little bumps in the road. Why? Because to paraphrase Boston, it's more than a festival. More on this later.




Copyright: George Saguna  http://workingwithlight.wordpress.com/

                                        

                                           

From Glastonbury, I return home on the Monday after. On the Friday, I fly out to a small town south of London to begin my career as a TEFL teacher. I will begin my first job, teaching 10 - 15 year old non-native speakers English, in July and finish in early August. 


When comparing my preparation for Glastonbury, I feel I have neglected my preparation for this month long job somewhat. I don't even know where to begin. I was lucky to get this position in the first place as my qualification isn't exactly recognised by this overall institution but a very kind manager and a great ability to talk on my part did the trick! I am beyond excited and if I were to scale my anxiety on a graph of some sort, it would be off the charts. I have tried to prepare lessons already and have spent over 50euro on stationary and class activities, yet it's hard to know what to expect. 


I want to teach English around the world during my interludes from college because I love travel and languages. By the age of 16, I had already been to 15 different European countries and aside from native English, I am at an advanced level in Irish and German and have begun to learn Spanish. I plan to shove another language or two in there along the way.


One of the things I am most excited about are the excursions! I have never been to England before, despite all my willful attempts. Glastonbury will be the first time but my heart is focused on London and with some of the excursions around the city included in my job profile, I think it will be the children trying to restrain me from running off down Oxford St! And there are excursion to Brighton! To anyone who lives near these parts or thinks I am an absolute mad woman, you cannot begin to understand my fascination with the complex country that is England. Perhaps, a compassion towards Jane Austen can be to blame for some part, as next on my list is the Lake District and all its country manors. All that and more to come.


The final part of my summer sees me finish in my English Summer School and fly out to Madrid where I will be an au-pair to what appears to be a lovely Spanish couple with one 6 year old son. They live in a northern suburb of Madrid and I will work and live with them for a period of 5 weeks. 


If I thought I was little informed about my TEFL position, I forgot about this part of my summer. I have only conversed with the family via email and a quick Google name check backs up their story that they are doctors. They have sent my pictures of the family and their son and all seems ok. Yet, I am wary of the horror stories of previous au-pairs and having never been to Spain, let alone Madrid, before, I cannot help but feel ill prepared for the month of August. Mind you, it will be an experience. First time in Europe alone? My mother cycled around Europe on and off for 7 years, beginning by living in London at 19. My mother is my role model so I must go on! 


I hope the family are as nice as they sound and that I do my job right. The boy sounds like a nice kid also and I am sure the experience in London will have given me a taste of dealing with young children. The main draw of au-pairing is not the money [80e a week, above average apparently] but the experience for my Spanish. Unfortunately, I wrote my emails in English and then translated them into Spanish via Google Translate so they may think I have superior Spanish to what I actually do have!!! Ooops!


If I push aside my worried thoughts for a moment, I cannot contain my joy at the idea of spending over a month in and around Madrid! I know very little of Madrid but I suppose that's half the fun of it. Madrid is super quiet in August as all the locals head to the sea, so I think there is a weekend by the sea for me too! This job could be the highlight of my summer or a complete unmitigated disaster.


After all that, I fly back to London on September 4th, from there home and begin college on Sept 6th.
Don't give myself much time do I!?!


I tell you all this because this is what you can expect from my blog. If I actually keep on top of the updates, I may continue to update it once I'm back in college and follow my journey to Argentina. As part of my course, I am required to spend 6 months [mid-February to July 2011] on Co-Op [working] abroad. I've chosen Argentina but there's no guarantees. Have to apply successfully and be interviewed! All in a year's work.


That's all I have to say at the moment. Hope all is well wherever you are, reader...


Oh and by the way with each blog, I'll link a great song I'm listening to at the moment. Just for funsies. Enjoy!


Till' then
Sar_bear 
x