Winter is coming

“The cold winds are rising. Summer is at end, and a winter is coming such as this world has never seen”

Yesterday I woke up to quite a surprise. Snow was covering the front garden. It wasn’t much and it melted away in the sun during the day, but it was definitely snow. I wasn’t expecting any snow and I am not even sure if I am expecting any during the winter. I’ve been told and I’ve read that it rarely snows in Ireland so I’ve been expecting a milder winter than in Denmark. Despite the fact that it rarely snows in Ireland a few people have told me that they have promised a tough winter this year. And there’s also a tale containing red berries. Apparently if there are a lot of the poisonous berries on the holly trees it means a cold winter is coming. J told me that the berries had been “good” this year, so maybe if the old wives tale is true a bitterly cold will soon set in over Ireland. I don’t hope so though. I have been freezing since I came here. I think I just freeze a lot. The first day I was here I walked into town by the canal. I was wearing my coat, gloves, hat and scarf and on the way I passed a man wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  To say I felt a bit stupid at that point is an understatement.

The temperature has dropped here, just like J’s cat has grown since I arrived. I have been in Ireland for 4 weeks now and I am still enjoying it. I think I even fall in love with Walshestown more and more each day. I love the freedom of living in the countryside and I love the fact that you can get the feeling of countryside just 2.5 km outside of Mullingar.

Today J took me for a drive around the countryside. She took me to Lough Ennell (another lake), to the Bloomfield Hotel, Belvedere (where I’ve read they have Narnia trails. I so need to check that out) and then she took me to Tesco where I picked up this week’s grocery shopping. The Tesco in Mullingar has this big charity thing where you can buy a ticket for €5 and you can win three cash prices of €100. I’d like to get my hands on one of those. And then I think you can win a signed pair of Niall Horan’s boots too. Although I wouldn’t know what to do with his shoes, unless he’s a 39.

Niall Horan is from Mullingar and it is hard not to see because I have never seen so many One Direction things in the windows as I have seen here. I like One Direction, I really do, but I have to admit that there are a bit too many One Direction things here. The first thing I saw when I came to Mullingar was chocolate with One Direction. It has come to the point where I think it’s a bit creepy and it wouldn’t surprise me if they would raise a statue of Niall at some point. I have wanted to take pictures of all the windows with One Direction things for a while, but I just can’t get myself to do it. But I want to prove my point about it being a bit too much so maybe one day when I know the Irish people are busy with something, I will sneak out and take pictures. **edited on November 21 I was quick enough to say that it wouldn't surprise me if they build a statue of Niall. Today I came across these news http://www.contactmusic.com/story/irish-officials-consider-niall-horan-museum-tribute_3964084**

I also want to take pictures of the town. But being socially awkward I find it hard to just take pictures when there are a lot of people around me. So that will have to wait till I overcome my fear of being spotted taking random pictures of random buildings.

Today I discovered the best hot chocolate ever. Those of you who thought Twinings would only be good at making tea thought wrong. Today I bought Twinings Swiss chocolate and it is amazing! It’s so much better than Cadbury’s Wispa (and believe me when I say I love Wispa). If you ever come across it BUY IT!

One last thing. Today is my grandmother’s 70 birthday and I wish I could be there this weekend, but sadly I can’t. I love you mormor! 

But with the snow and the coldness of the air winter is definitely coming now and I am prepared with another jumper!

This one is from Funky Christmas Jumpers and so is the hat. Go check their stuff out on their online store! They have a lot of cool Christmas jumpers. 

One thing I absolutely love about Ireland is that you can buy Christmas jumpers everywhere and they hardly cost anything. Also there is a Christmas market on November 30 and I am so looking forward to it!