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I was in New Ross today as I had to go to the gym and I needed to have a look for an outfit for a wedding we’re going to in June.  I was starving after coming out of the gym so I had a lovely bowl of soup in Café Nutshell to set me up.  I had a look in Whispers and whilst there was a huge selection of dresses, a lot had sold out in my size.  I tried Bonnita aswell and tried on 8 or 10 dresses there.  I didn’t make a decision but did bring away a dress to try on with shoes etc at home – that’s the beauty of New Ross, you can bring stuff home on appro.

My blisters have improved (with the help of a needle) since Sunday and I’m still getting sponsor money in.  Every year I’m blown away by people’s generosity.  We are definitely over the €2,000 mark at this stage – fair dues.

Whilst I was in New Ross I spotted a new shop – and I thought I knew all the shops in New Ross – it’s over Noreen O’Donnell’s where Denise’s Beauty Salon used to be.  It’s a sale shop and nothing there is over €50.  I tried on a dress but heck, I’d better keep going to the gym…  They also have shoes at massively reduced prices.

Nothing else to report except to say that I had a lovely evening here with Eileen and Caroline.  They came for dinner and we ate, drank and talked and talked and talked.  It’s nice to catch up with friends.

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

OK I’m tired, I have a blister on each heel but hell we had a great day!  And as usual I’m overwhelmed by the support and good feeling on the day.  I was awake at 4.30am – that bloody cat – got back to sleep around 5.30 and slept until 7am.  Up and walked my puppies and got stuck into preparing oranges, melons and sandwiches.  I had most of them done by mass time (which was my mother’s anniversary mass and hence the reason I’m so confident about the good weather! – thanks Ma), set up St Mary’s Hall with the help of some good friends and out to the Hook for 2pm.  There were lots of new faces and I’m sure I missed out on some and whilst I was organising the water they sped off!  The Coastguard led the way and my brother Richard held the rear(!).

Luckily the day got a bit hazier or we would have burned to a bright red and there was a gentle breeze, just enough to keep it fresh – although I was far from fresh by the finish!  Malachy served the oranges and melon at the half-way point and we ambled on to St Mary’s Hall in Fethard for tea and sandwiches and buns (I love the buns!) – thanks to the help of Eileen, Rosaleen and Catherine.  I was delighted that Winnie and Sean Foley won first prize from the free raffle for a €50 voucher for Wallace’s SuperValu as Sean was the first to chase me for a sponsor card.  Eileen Shannon deservedly won second prize of a Kenwood thingy, Maureen Costelloe won 3rd prize – a cup-cake maker!  And this was also well deserved as she was the first person home – in under an hour!!   Fourth prize went to Claire Auld – a game of golf at Abbey Par 3 – who wasn’t there on the day but who has been a walker since 2008.

I haven’t done a tally yet but I’ll let you know  when I have a final figure.  It really was a great day and I can’t thank everybody enough for their help and support for this charity which is close to my heart.

So sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

I suppose you heard the good news about Dawn Meats building a processing plant at Carroll’s Cross to make McDonald’s burgers.  It will provide burgers for all McDonald’s in Ireland and 20% of Europe.  So now you can justify having a Big Mac!  I was known to hit the McDonald’s drive thru on occasion when I was working in Waterford, generally on a Monday…  Big Mac – The best hangover food ever!  And still on the subject of chips, Intel got good news today aswell, more expansion there.  (Did you like what I did there?  My reference to chips?  Skinny chips – McDonald’s, micro chips – Intel.  Oh maybe I need sleep….)

Closer to home it’s great to see that Templars Inn is getting a new lease of life under Damian Sutton.  It’s reopening on 2nd June.  We had great times in Templars years ago, actually that’s probably why I needed so many Big Mac’s back then!  The Village Kitchen is opening for the season on the June weekend aswell, another nice spot for food in Fethard.

Nothing else to report tonight.  I hope we get this good weather we’re promised over the next few days.  Sunday will be good anyhow for the 10k Hook Walk – it always is, ask anyone who has walked it over the years!  The Wexford Food Fest is on this weekend and looks interesting, doubt if I’ll get there though – lots to do for Sunday’s walk.

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

I’m always revved up after a PPNR (Progressive People New Ross) meeting.  It’s made up of a great group of people who have one aim in common – getting business back into New Ross.  Watch out because we have lots planned.  Sunshine Saturdays will be launched shortly and we’ll have free, yes, I said FREE parking for four consecutive Saturdays as a gesture from the Town Council to help encourage Saturday shopping in the town.  There’ll be competitions, promotions, markets, street entertainment and all sorts.  Great excitement! There’ll be more detail in next week’s papers.

And what a day we had today!  I wasn’t too happy as I was stuck in-doors for most of the morning on the computer and then I had to go to the gym in the afternoon.  I signed up for another two months in the Brandon House – €95 for gym only, not so bad.  It was good to get back as I’m feeling the effect of all the good living in Spain the week before last…  Mas cerveza!  And by the way, I didn’t buy anything (other than food and drink) while I was away.  Usually Zara or Massimo Dutti get checked out but I didn’t set foot in any shop other than a supermarket.  I have a wedding coming up now in June so I need to see what New Ross has to offer in the gúna line.

I’ve been meaning to mention that Ros Tapestry is open again.  If you haven’t been, it’s worth a trip, both from a craft point of view and an historical point of view as it depicts the history of New Ross and surrounds.  Seeing is believing.

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

Ask me am I happy to be over the Come Dine With Me experience!  OK we had a great night last night but it had been hanging over me for a while and I’m relieved now that it’s over and I hope everyone went home happy.  Of course when you’re entertaining friends it’s a pleasure more than a chore but still…  We had our Phelim Byrne seafood crumble which went down well followed by tandoori chicken with new potatoes and veg and then duck egg sponge (with a candle for Bridget’s birthday) with strawberries and cream.  We had a bit of a job getting the new potatoes but thanks to my mother-in-law, we got them from Martin’s Farm Shop in Wellingtonbridge.  The chicken came from Wallace’s SuperValu, Wellingtonbridge, the fish was from Suzie’s Fresh Fish and although the strawberries were Irish they weren’t local, I discovered too late that our local ones are now on sale in Dillon’s Londis.

I’m looking forward to signing up a new membership at Brandon House Gym tomorrow as this eating thing has got out of hand!  We had a fabulous dinner in Aldridge on Friday evening and a lovely meal in the Hollow Bar this evening.  This week will have to be lean or there’ll be trouble – b-i-g trouble.  I’ve been eating and drinking steadily for the past two weeks – fitness menu is called for.

Bed now, I’m knackered.  Like I said I’m relieved but I’ll be even more relieved when the Hook Walk is over next Sunday and that’s me finished fundraising for this year – I promise.

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

I had an early start today but it was all worthwhile, you see the rain came as myself Bridget and Mary Rose were one the 18th fairway in Faithlegg!  How good is that?  I’d hate to have been out in that miserable rain for any longer.  We had a sandwich afterwards in the clubhouse before I went on to do a bit of the ‘day job’ which helped minimise the small bit of guilt I was feeling…

I’m off to Auldridge Lodge shortly with the in-laws so that should be nice.  I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow evening – if I have time, as I’m hosting Come Dine With Moi tomorrow evening.  The tandoori chicken is marinating as we speak.  The marigolds and hoover are out and ready for the morning.

I meant to tell you about Claire Auld Skincare’s May special which I was thought was clever/apt for the time of year.  It’s 3 Indian Head Massages for €99 aimed at exam students who are under stress but I was amused to note that Claire is offering it to stressed parents aswell, good thinking Claire.  Sometimes the people around the student are going through more than the student! I might be looking for some stress relief myself tomorrow evening…

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss

P.S.  My aunty Ann will be pleased that this is going out earlier than normal which will suit the time difference in sunny South Africia!

I was busy today and I still have a lot to do before Come Dine With Me on Saturday night.  I’m also flat out promoting the 10k Hook Walk.  The menu for Saturday night is constantly changing but I tried a new Phelim Byrne recipe this evening that we can have as a starter.  It was delish, fish crumble.  Really tasty – it hardly had anything to do with all the butter and cream in there!  Speaking of butter and cream, I just watched Paul Flynn’s cookery programe on RTE.  I enjoyed it, no nonsense, no posh accents, no pretence but lots of butter and cream!  He did a rack of pork which looked lovely and I’m always surprised at how keenly priced pork is compared to just about any other meat – the humble pig.

I bought some bedding plants in Wallace’s today.  South West Wexford CDP have a plant sale tomorrow in Ramsgrange and I think New Ross Country Markets are also selling plants now on a Friday morning but I’ll be enjoying a (free) game of golf in  Faithlegg tomorrow so I won’t get to either.  I’ll also miss the official opening of Colclough Walled Gardens – typical.   What do you think of my planting, Joey was checking it out this evening…

I was actually busy with the day job today and I’ll be doing a bit tomorrow aswell after the golf, just in case you wonder if I ever work.  The property market seems to be trying its best to get moving again, fingers crossed, more BERs for me.

Must go now and get everything ready for tomorrow, early start.

Sin é

Marie Therese

blog local new ross

Twitter @BlogLocalNRoss