Maria De Courcy Happy Christmas and New Year from all the De Courcy household snowbound at 17A !!!About ten inches of snowoutside when last measured !!! Early hols with lots more snow predicted. Getting a bot much now have had it for way too long. Oh for a chance to wear that itzy bitzy bikini!!! Have a great Christmas with a difference and in the words of Hector 'keep her lit' xxxx ps. Eimear looooves 30 Rock and thinks tina fey is a total legend.xo

Maria De Courcy Hi there Dee so sorry it has been so long since I was in touch. Time is just flying by not a great excuse I know but better late than never. Have just finished reading your latest e-mail and it has the usual wow factor soooo interesting. Sorry you have been ill but good to know you are back on track I know from past experience you certainly did no complaining a fantastic patient!!! Well winter is in, school is hectic and Christmas looms. Parent teacher meetings, Open Day assessment tests, TY night to name but a few events in the planning!TY on work experience this week. Sadly Sr. Agnes Nolan died last week rip . Her funeral took place last Monday and Tuesday and as usual the students did us all proud helping out and all 500+ formed a guard of honour all along St. Mary's tce to the nun's graveyard a truly fitting tribute. Eimear sends regards and yes I am sure there are great plans for the christmas concert afoot. We all wait in anticipation as so far they have set very high standards at Sports day and Teacher/student soccer match all of which I am sure you have heard about!! Finishing up now to watch Desperate Housewives by big coal fire as wind howls outside. You take care now sounds like you have many many friends and fabulous children to keep you going and busy.Promise not to leave it so long before linking again hugs and kisses Maria De C. XXX Hope you find delicious chicken dish to savour soon.!!!

Susan Hi Dee Mary and I here catching up on your news. You will be a food critic when you get back!!!Delighted you got a holiday and a break away. Keep up the good work!! Susan and Mary

Maria De Courcy HI THERE BEEN A WHILE dEE BUT NOT FORGOT YOU HOPEFULLY THE ROUTINE OF SCHOOL WILL REMIND ME TO DO MORE OF THIS !!Hope you have had a good trip for Visas with lots of cocktails and cheese and crackers. Wow but your blog is fantastic.I can almost taste some of those meals and dishes !!! Hope that bacon soon materialises for the Ballmaloe relish. All well here in spite of return to school.Had fantastic day at Mary's wedding and glad to say she is still beaming !! Also called to Lorna another very happy lady had great catch up.Eimear says Hi. take care for now Maria De c xx

Kate Ronayne hey pet off to the big smoke for the weekend. let me know a time that suits for me to ring you. xoxo

Siobhan Hi Dee, Great blog - you seem to be coping really well and dealing with the water/electricity/mice issues better than I would. Don't know if you've done that trip to get your visas yet but hope you found the Hilton and the Burgers.....and the Mojitos!! Sounds like you deserve them : ) We're back to school tomorrow - best of luck with those Canterbury Tales! Take care, Siobhan.

Ben Hickey Hey Dee sounds like your living the dream over there miles away from NAMA and the recession, however it takes a trip to Afrika to appreciate all you have in life!!! Keep the pictures comming too its like opening up National geographic. Ben

Tim Hi Dee, Judging by your posts you certainly seem to be having such an experiential time. It's something we all get when we're living and breathing a culture quite detached from our own. Well done you and it's truly wonderful to read how things are going. Peter is trying to say hi too! x

Claire T Hi Deedles... Your blog is very entertaining as usual... Sounds very adventurous altogether... My daily excursions do not quite meet the excitement of your tales... Nothing too amazing happening my way... Was up in Kildara on Thursday to meet up with the Fundalkians and we hit up Kildare village... Not too shabby for Claire at all.. Clock is ticking, in relation to school, so it looks like I'll be back in Fundalk for another year of fun!!! Mind yourself and enjoy every minute of it... All the best,,, Claire... xxx

Deirdre & Susan Hi, Just in from cinema. went to see the A team. Lots of action and blowing things up and lots of lovely Bradley Cooper topless and loking gorgeous. Just think, when you get back to ireland you wil have so many films to catch up on. Sorry to hear about your USB key. Did you save it on computer at home or school? If on computer in school we can put it onto USB key and post to you.. Assume email would take too long for you to download. Blog is excellent and you will always have this record to read out to the other nursing home residents!!! Susan is going on her Dev Ed training day on Aug 24th. She will be thinking of you. Reading about your daily diet I feel guilty bout all the food I am eating. But reading about your friend's pancake breakfast sounded delicious and has put me in mind to make some. Mind yourself and I am sorry but do something about the mouse. They will have babies, lots of them!!!!!! You are not in prison and so should not be befriending mice. Bye from Deirdre and Susan!!

Kate Ronayne Hello, crazy got your text message yesterday, hope evertything ok and u got your phone back. I can report I didn't recieve any crazy message anyway. From reading your blogs, don't think you'll be able to skype internet over there doesn't sound the greatest

markcanavan hi dee great to see you are doing so well. i hope you are looking after your self and keeping well, will talk again soon (when kildare get to all ireland final)

Erika Hi there - you definitely have to publish your blogs when you get back - it is terrific reading! Enjoy Mama Africa...

Kate Ronayne Hi Pet, I'm just recovereing from liz wedding, she had a fanstastic time, she loved it. we'd great craic, she really appreciated your message on the saturday morning. Sound like your having a great time. no other news with me, off to Dublin this weekend xoxxo

Mary O'D Hi Dee, Up in Deirdre's dictating my message. Love the blog! You must be great at the typing!!! Cameroon sounds mad between the mice and the antelope breakfast. Sounds like you are really settling in though. Best of luck with the projects. No big news from Ireland. Mary's wedding was brilliant. Style was amazing. Making the most of the last few weeks of hols. Take Care, Let me know if you see any bears!! Bon nuit!!