"Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty”

Months after buying the tickets and years of singing along to the soundtrack, It was Easter time and therefore the day arrived for Liam and me with my friend Clodagh to head to Bord Gais Energy Theatre to witness and experience a performance of Tim Minchin's Musical version of Roald Dahl's story Matilda. From the onset of this performance, the cast were amazing in particular with Nicola Turner as the title main character Matilda, Carly Thomas as Miss Honey and Craig Eels as Miss Truchbull were outstanding. The whole of the audience were a buzz and singing along with the songs especially the eclectic and catchy songs When I grow up and Revolting Children which left the three of us, still humming the tunes of the songs on our way home. Even though both Liam and me have been singing the songs from this musical, since we saw the Olivier Performance in 2012, and the Tim Minchin documentary - Matilda and Me, the long wait to finally getting to see this musical was so worth it. Later that week, on Friday Liam's day off, he went to the zoo to enjoy the change in the weather with the sun in the sky, and strolled about watching the animals enjoying the sun as much as he was.

Start of the next week, it was time for the farewell tour of CMT's Nashville, we both decided, Liam and me since we enjoyed their show and gig so much last year, and that It was gonna their farewell concert in Ireland, we got standing tickets for it and made sure we were both off work for it. The cast from the show for concert were Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Chris Carmack and Sam Palladio who like their concert the previous year didn't disappoint, had the crowd singing and dancing in no time, the only big difference in their show this time around, there was a air of farewell at the end of the show.

I saw as part of my weekly Bord Gais Reward scheme, opening night discount stall tickets for the epic ship of dreams, Titanic the musical. Although Liam and me, knew the story like everyone does about the history and eventually sinking of the unsinkable ship titanic, when we saw these tickets and the unbelievable seats on offer, our curiosity and interest got peaked therefore couldn't resisting getting these tickets. We both were genuinely surprised how detailed this touring production's set was especially the adaptive nature of the ship and the songs were more memorable and catchy then were figured they might be and was a fun enjoyable way to spend a Tuesday evening. Keeping on with our Tuesday Discount Theatre outing, the following week, we again went to the Bord Gais to spend a night listening to the songs of Dusty Springfield in a brand new musical choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood based on theses songs called after her most favour one, Son of a Preacher Man. No better way to finish off the month of May then of course enjoying the sun visiting the zoo and the animals along with Liam .

Being the June Bank Holiday weekend, Our mother came up Sunday morning for the weekend and for Bloom the following day. After I collected my mother from the station, we met Liam after he finished his morning shift in work down by the Grand Canal Docks for the Tall Ships event which was in the Docks and the nearby Quays. The event was helped thanks to the gorgeous sunny weather and crowds of people were enjoying the weather and the Tall Ships. The following morning, we all were up early for Bloom in the Park, as Liam and me live enough near to Phoenix Park, the three of us walked the short distance to the entrance of the park and hopped on the shuttle to bloom itself as the event is located roughly half way in the park.

With the sun blaring down on us we enjoyed the show gardens and checking out the exhibitors on offer before my mum and Liam said let’s go towards the food court area to sample the food and drinks which I know was the real reason to head that direction like those two need any excuse to sample and try new types of cocktails especially in this lovely weather. While Liam was getting another Teeling summer cocktail as it was his particular favourite of the ones he tried, we randomly bumped into none other than my godmother Anne Marie and her fella, it really is such a small world. We all ended up having such bants catching up in the afternoon sun before it was time to catch the shuttle back to the entrance of the park and walked home from there.

The next day being Tuesday which means another discount night at the theatre to see a show or musical, this week being the turn of Bord Gais Energy theatre and the production of Sting's semi autographical musical, The Last Ship which is based and inspired on Sting's album The Soul Cages and his own childhood experiences. It tells the story about community and demise of the ship building industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, with the closure of the town's Swan Hunter shipyard. For the encore, Sting who had being in Dublin doing press that morning for the shows run at the theatre, actually unexpected to the audience present, Sting joined the cast on stage singing along with Richard Fleeshman, Joe McGann, Charlie Hardwick and Frances Mcnamee the actors who were playing the leads in the show. As we with went quite low expectations due to basis for the show itself and not knowing too much about the production however we left pleasantly surprised with the cast, the story, lyrics, production sets and with the added bonus of Sting itself joining the cast on stage which added to our experience of the show.

Sting coming on Stage for the encore

As this year was a big birthday for me, my parents offered to bring me away for my 30th to Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote. Later on that week after Bloom and The Last Ship, our parents arrived up the night before the flight, to keep the stress to a minimum the morning of the holiday. Afterwards that night we all went out locally and had a blast however, it was an early rise the following morning for my parents and me as we got the last bits ready for the airport. The travel to the airport, through security and the flight itself thankfully all went off smoothly and we landed safely without any trouble. Before we knew it we were checking into our hotel, unpacking, settling in and getting ready for our first night out of the holiday. After enjoying the morning sun on the first proper day of our trip, in the afternoon we to Murphy's Irish Bar to watch the GAA Hurling Clare vs Tipperary where thankfully I got to see the banner come from behind to beat Tipp in Semple Stadium. We all somehow managed to later that night, still end up back in Murphy's, I'm not saying its connected but the atmosphere and dancing didn't really get going until midnight and the celebrations began for my 30th birthday. With the weather so pleasant, my mum and me were enjoying sunbathing poolside reading whilst my dad as always was off wandering and chatting with everyone being his usual sociable self. Mid way through the holiday, we all went to the Music Hall Tavern that Wednesday evening for the comedy drag dinner show, although the dinner wasn't anything to write home about, the drag show itself was very funny and I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at the drag show.

Early the next morning, my dad and me got the coach outside hotel at 9.30am for the Grand Tour of the island, although the tour was gonna be a long day lasting roughly 10 hours, on this tour we got to discover some of the beautiful spots of the island. After the coach left Playa Blanca picking up the last of the passengers, we went on a coastal road in the south of the island passing the salt flats of Salinas de Janubio and Los Hervideros with its rocky coastline. In El Golfo we go to admire the Green Lagoon before we continued the tour into the Timanfaya National Park where at the centre of the Fire Mountains I got to witness the geothermal experiments before getting back on the coach for a crater tour. After which we stopped for lunch in Mancha Blanca, where we got to visit the famous church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores/Our Lady of Sorrows. After which we continued the tour northwards through the vineyards landscape of La Geria, as we climbed further north the Valley of the Thousands Palms came into view. The final stop of the tour was the caves of Jameos del Agua an impressive work by Cesar Manrique which is also home to the blind albino crabs. It might have been a long day doing the tour however it was interesting and fun seeing all these amazing sights of the island. After we arrived back into Puerto del Carmen, my dad and me once we got back to the hotel, we got showered and ready for the night ahead and catching up with my mother on her day and her on our before we all headed out for dinner and a night on the tiles. I couldn't believe the following morning, that it was our Friday already and the last full day and night of the holiday which we had to spend poolside enjoying the sun, pool and relaxation before on last late night at Murphy's Bar of course where else would we end up sure. After we checked out on our final day, we enjoyed a few last sun rays, before getting a taxi towards the airport for our flight back home to Dublin. Although we got back late, Liam waited up for us to arrive home, get all the holidays details and his duty free whiskey of course. The week away for my 30th was relaxing, fun and exactly what I needed.

Just two weeks after getting back from my relaxing 30th birthday holiday, it was finally time for the most colourful glitter filled fabulous event that is Dublin Pride Parade. This year Liam decided to join me in watching the parade from the sidelines, we got a decent spot to watch the parade from outside Ned O'Shea's Bar on Lower Bridge Street which was handy as we had access to the facilities and Liam was able to get iced cold pints of beer which helped cold him down in the afternoon heat. With each year the parade is getting bigger and even more colourful with a more safe fun family orientated event which is great to see and be part of. After the parade itself concluded, we made our way some how into the main post parade event area in Smithfield Square where we bumped into some people we knew and got to enjoy the afternoon atmosphere and sun, before I decided it was time for me to head home as I was too exhausted after my long week in work and after pride itself. After I went home to chill, Liam went with his mates to a house party to enjoy the evening sun and continue the pride celebrations. 🌈🏳️‍🌈 'Love is Love'

With both of us off and being Liam's last day of his week off, we couldn't resist just hopping onto the Dart to see where we go along the coast, but who can't beat getting off at Dun Laoighre walking along the pier enjoying the sea breeze and the summer sun. The following weekend after as the weather was something like 23 degrees sun out, we decided that we had to go enjoy ourselves with a morning visit to the zoo which was nice watching the animals enjoying the sun as much as us before leaving the zoo to head towards Smithfield Square for an out door brunch at Third Square. After our yummy brunch we followed it with an afternoon filled of sport beginning with the Ladies Wimbledon Final, GAA Clare Vs Wexford hurling qualifier and to finish off with the Women FIFA World Cup game between Belgium 🇧🇪 and England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

Liam some how managed to get us tickets for the launch of the Liberties Festival event for the following Wednesday, with the event gonna be in front of the St Patrick's Tower in the courtyard of the Digital Hub with nibbles supplied by Leo Burdocks, alcoholic and soft drinks by Diageo and music performed by a local band Delorentos. The event was enhanced by the atmosphere and pleasant conversations with the random strangers we meet there which was nice. That Sunday as part of the festival, we both got to do the Discover the Liberties - Rebel Liberties walking tour with Liz Gillis, whose from the Liberties Cultural Association and gave the big crowd gathered a brief history of the neighbourhood, of the Rebel Characters, places and events and some hidden stories of the streets within the Liberties.

To finish off July in a peaceful way, I decided as I was in mood for some random walks through the nearby parks and gardens located near me. As the Irish War Memorial Gardens are only about a 20 minute walk away and some where I keep saying Id visit this summer, seems today was that day. Although the heatwave weather was nice it was having some drought type conditions on the gardens however some how the roses still managed to blossom and look beautiful. One of the side entrances to the Phoenix Park was only a short stroll away from the gardens and over the bridge to the park, I said sure why not continue this walk towards to the zoo. Soon enough after entering this entrance I came across a herd of deer nearby enjoying life which stopped me in my tracks to watch and observe them, they seems to be obvious to anyone watching them nearby. Once I had my fill our deer watching I walked around the historical building of the Magazine Fort continuing towards the Wellington Monument before finally getting to the entrance of the zoo. Always strolling through the zoo calm and relaxes me bringing me to my peaceful spot in particular on warm days like today seeing the animals all being lazy, restful and even in some cases being very playful with each other.