We’re finally in our apartment (more about that later, but you will notice it doesn’t appear on the following list), but without WiFi. We will get WiFi. We should have it by now. But this is Ireland, so the WiFi will get here when it gets here.
Anyway. The upshot is that I don’t get to watch Project Runway and everything has to be done on my iPhone for the moment. Writing a full blog entry on my iPhone would take as long as the WiFi is taking. So this week is a Top 10 list. Anyone who knows me or my blog knows I love Top 10 lists. They are the lazy writer’s tv dinner.
This Monday’s tinfoil feast:
Top 10 Best Things So Far
1. Water water everywhere. We’re right on Dublin Bay. Like I was almost
dive-bombed by a nearsighted cormorant this morning. There are signs around, asking people not to feed the seals. I want to feed the seals.
2. Brown Thomas. It’s like Bergdorf Goodman, but with lovely, funny, helpful salesfolk.
3. The Dead Zoo (properly known as the Natural History Museum). Overstuffed and dusty specimens from all four corners. A hippo, polar bear, polar-bear-sized flounder, even an Irish Wolfhound. Apparently there’s a dodo skeleton there somewhere. Creepy? Absolutely. But also completely fabulous.
4. Club Orange. Fanta’s slightly posher cousin, who doesn’t acknowledge any connection.
5. The staff at Madam’s fab little primary school. Picture Mary Poppins
in funky dresses and Converse hi-tops.
6. Uniformity. No, not the concept (perish the thought!). The shop where
everyone gets their school uniforms. Kilted, crested, stripy, woolly… I seriously expected an owl to swoop out of the back carrying a Gryffindor scarf.
7. Bog bodies at the National Museum. Creepy? Absolutely. Well, yeah, pretty much just creepy. But fascinating and figuring prominently in the book I’m thinking about doing next.
8. My in-laws. Nothing whatsoever to do with bog bodies and should probably be much higher on the list. Himself’s parents are warm and humorous and incredibly (like INCREDIBLY) hospitable. His brother and sister-in-law are, quite simply, awesome. Much more to come about the Himself Family.
9. Oscar Wilde. Yes, I know. He’s dead. But he’s still everywhere, still fabulously witty, still a little heartbreaking.
10. Hurling. I call it Lacrosse-meets-the-Pogues. Best spectator sport ever, IMO. Played with hurleys and sliotars (sounds like “slithers” when the announcers get especially excited). And this year they have to replay the final. Happy happy joy joy.