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The best brown bread you will ever eat:Carlow Farmers’ Market

I love Mike’s bread and the Truffle Fairy’s Chocolate Brownie at the  Carlow Farmers’ Market

See the photo above. That bread is the best bread you will EVER eat. I can place that bet with you. If I’m wrong, you have no taste buds or just want to win a bet by telling lies. The photo does the bread no justice. A lump of cucumber, some Tesco Hummus and on the bread board is the best chocolate brownie you will EVER taste.

EVER.

These 2 items can be purchased at our Farmers’ Market every Saturday 9-2. If you arrive after 11, these items will surely be gone. The people of Carlow will have scoffed them all. Who could blame them?

Mike’s Brown Bread

Hennessey’s Deli and Cafe only sells yummy food. Fact.

One of those yummy foods is Mike’s Brown Bread. Mike and Trish own Hennesey’s and make all the afore mentioned yummy foods. This bread tastes like cake and bread at the same time. It has seeds, wheatgerm and other nice, secret ingredients. You will not stop until you have finished the whole loaf. That’s a promise. Mike doesn’t know the recipe. He tells me he just throws stuff in a bowl. I don’t believe a word of it. A bread like this had to be planned. He makes 21 loaves for the Farmers’ Market. nce, they’re gone, they’re gone.

Truffle Fairy’s Chocolate Brownies

One of these brownies cost €3.50. At first, I was shocked. I gave out. I complained to simon. How could this be? Ireland is a rip-off. I then tasted the brownie.

That was it.

Complaints finished.

You can find this chocolate fairy at www.trufflefairy.com and in Kilkenny, Dun Laoghaire and loads of other places.

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Nicholas Cage, a girl who grows wings and the problem with young, Irish women

Since, opera floated right out of my life, I’ve became very attached to an item called TV. For the first time in years, I went to Xtravision and rented some DVDs out. They’re doing a really appealing deal where you can rent 2 new releases for 2 nights, 2 drinks and a popcorn for €10. Pretty, pretty good.
So, I went for Black Swan and Bad Lieutenant, pulled the curtains in the sitting room tight and sat back ready to be entertained.
Hmmmm.
Problem was that Terry had been raving about Bad Lieutenant since forever and seeing as Nicholas Cage rocks and Terry is normally correct in these matters, the standards were set high! Don’t get me wrong, the film was good but it was not amazing, excellent or even hilarious.
I laughed slightly at 2 bits, I enjoyed it but I felt like I had seen it all before. Get this-a cop goes bad. He takes illegal drugs. He blackmails bad guys. He does naughty things to even naughtier people. The other characters are rubbish, bad acting and impossible to be sympathetic towards. In short, Nicholas Cage saves the film. I didn’t like the iguana and lizard that rambled throughout the film that symbolised Nicholas’ character’s mental state. In fact, I think the ending was quite mainstream and predictable.
I’ve seen a film like this before. Similar to the Town or the Departed but not as slick.
Or maybe, I’m just a grump.
The second film was Black Swan. Very disturbing. Unnerving. Odd. But vaguely fascinating. Natalie Portman was truly excellent but the film couldn’t make up its mind. Was it a thriller or a wacky, off the wall, all in the head similar to American Psycho? Certainly not as clever as American psycho, where you never quite believed what was going on yet you did somehow. When Natalie’s character, Nina takes a jump at the end, I was left feeling thankful that it was all over for her and for us.
The last film was called His and hers. We recorded it on Sky, so it was free, free, free! Ish.
It started off on a bad note, the basic premise is that this documentary filmed loads of different women from the age of 4 up till 80+. The women spoke about the men in their lives-their fathers, their sons and their boyfriends and husbands. The interesting thing about this film was that all the women were incredibly traditional and Irish. They worshipped the Daddy. They met their “man” at a young age, yearned for a wedding ring and children. The young women came across as being insecure, immature and unappealing to me. However, the women started to get interesting when they got to about 40+. Their relationships, their take on life, their sense of humour came out. The film ends with the wives being left without their husband, their life partner that have grown to love. A perfect circle of life comes about. The film is beautifully shot with moving music and complete honesty. I really liked it and I don’t know why. It made me reflect and created conversation between the two of us. It entertained in a simple way.
Go get it.

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Opera for Carlow:It’s all gone. It’s all over…

After over 7 months of rehearsals, the Opera for Carlow project finished last Saturday night with a sold-out audience and standing ovation.

As I walked away from the GBS theatre in Carlow, I felt sad and lonely. Totally down. The wrap party was on in the Seven Oaks and I had to go home to get ready for my niece’s communion in Mayo, which meant leaving at 5 in the morning. so, no partying for me!

Today, I feel better. It feels great to have free time to watch tv and chill! I’ve thrown myself back into work and am planning my writing for the Carlow Writing Club next Tuesday.

The performances went superbly. The matinee was the best, in my opinion. A great buzz from the audience with Friday night being my worst. My friends were in the audience so I was ultra nervous in case I would make a mistake.

Overall, I’m delighted with myself. Really proud that I saw it through to the end. Achieved one of my dreams-to perform professionally. Would I do it again?

I’d think carefully, i feel that I’ve done it now. There’s so much more I want to try in life. Opera is done, I loved it, loved the people I have met and feel much more back to the old Rozzie was, before I started the Opera project.

Shelter me from the rain-I thank you for giving me the confidence and belief i knew I once had.

Life is good.

http://flic.kr/ps/Q7FxK check out the latest photos from the show.

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Opera for Carlow:Tonight is the night!

I am going to try to attempt to fit in 3 weeks of fun-filled and bloody hard work of rehearsals into a blog post!

Impossible, really. the last few weeks of my easter holidays consisted of rehearsals day and night culminating in the arrival of the RTE Symphony Orchestra a few days ago!

The first night we got to perform with them was quite amazing! For me, anyway! I found it amusing that some cast members were pretending to be all “cool with it”, as if they were used to singing with the RTE symhpony orchestra every day. Well, maybe, they are but even if I did this as a day job, I’d still be overwhelmed and privileged. My Father-in-Law sang with them many years ago in the National Symphony Hall and he still speaks about it.

Lisa from Athena Media dropped in last night to speak with some of the cast about their final thoughts on the Opera for Carlow. She brought my attention to the Performance Preview, which can be found here. “Shelter me from the rain” is the song that you can hear at the beginning of the podcast. It sounds great! Click here http://audioboo.fm/boos/347843-an-opera-for-carlow-performance-preview I love Damien’s reference to being in a secret society! Lisa has done an amazing job of archiving all these interviews and gelling them together in a super podcast! She’s also a lovely person and have been delighted to meet her! Everytime, I listen to her podcasts, they get me extremely motivated again!

Last night was the Dress Rehearsal, which went well. The audience seemed to enjoy it though there is still room for improvement, which we hope to perfect tonight.

Tonight is the first performance with a civic reception after with all the important people of Carlow invited! Naturally, the cast are all going!

Anyway, if you still haven’t got tickets, it’s too late! they sold out but check back at gbstheatre.ie in case they have cancellations!

I’ll update after the show and when I have slept for about a month!

The main photo here is of the full cast on the stairs in the Dolmen Hotel, I’m second from bottom left! The full photo album can be viewed here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rozzlewis/sets/72157626540073598/ and I’m constantly adding to them so please, return! I’m hoping to get loads of professional photos loaned to us so I will put them all up too!

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Opera for Carlow:We get into the GBS Theatre at last!

So, last night was beyond exciting! We got to begin rehearsals or the production phase, as “they” like to call it, in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre.

Entering just like every other cast member through the Back door.

We had Changing rooms!

We had Holding rooms! (?)

We had Stage Left and Stage Right!

We had a Green Room!

Already, I have made 2 diva demands. When I entered the Green Room, I could smell curry. I’ve asked for any smells to be removed before I enter. Also, when I looked out the window, I saw an AES bin, it wrecked the view and my creativity has been harmed. i demand a white blind to pull all the down over the window.

We are back in tonight so my list of diva demands will continue.

Here’s some new pics on flickr!

http://flic.kr/ps/Q7FxK

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Opera for Carlow:Press launch, radio interview and…it gets serious again

Wow!It has been the most jam packed time in my journey with Opera for Carlow!Rehearsing every day with real life choreographers and strict stage managers, things had changed in Opera for Carlow. It is faintly beginning to dawn on us that in 2 weeks time, we will be performing in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre!

But, there was still time to meet the local media and dignitaries. Walter Lacey was there along with the Mayor/Leader of the Carlow council and other “important” looking journalists. We were asked to sing our small ensemble piece-A Good Melon, it went okay. It wasn’t perfect but we kept going and there were no stops!

Deirdre and I were interviewed for KCLR FM, my brother recorded it for me, thanks, Joseph! Anyway, have a listen. I only come in right at the end and I know everyone is only going to want to hear me! You can also hear my voice lilting through right at the end.

I’ve finally uploaded a flickr album, so enjoy!

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuvar8L

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Who puts those stickers on the bottom of shoes?

AGGGHH! Sticky labels that shops insist on sticking on everything

This is a big irk and one that could be easily solved. Shoe shops, in particular love sticking white and translucent labels onto the bottom of the shoes they sell. I think they look awful if you see a woman walking with brand new shoes, tarnished by this sticking obsession. I’ve followed all the tips, using a hairdryer actually does help the easy to remove ones but some are more stubborn.

But, why should I have to go through the bother of doing this? Please, people who insist on this, use a little, plastic string that can fasten the price on. I’d actually even pay more for that pair of shoes. At least, a euro.

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Trying to work in my relationship with vegetables

I am a lucky girl/wife. Simon cooks all the meals in our house. He makes really healthy dishes that taste divine!
He likes to keep creative and has started a little challenge for himself and for me, I guess too! Every night, he makes a mystery vegetable of some sort, the deal is I taste it and see what I think. I’ve had avocado dips, carrot mash, sesame oil crispy green beans and am waiting eagerly tonight for some other mad thing.

That picture you see above is a perfect match for me when I was  a child. now, experts say that fussy eaters are only children who are looking for attention or control.

I diagree, I know this is not true, I wasn’t looking for attention or control. I simply hated the vegetables I was being given. I hated the taste and texture and felt sick if I did eat them, it has taken me years and years to get to even stand them being in my mouth.

I only started eating them when I met Si, aged 23. Even then, I couldn’t stand the bitty texture and he would puree everything for me.

Everything.

He used to make separate dinners every night. I’ve progressed since then, I’ll eat most veg but only they’re cooked “Simy style”, which means tasty. His salad dressing is divine, the oils he stir it’s his veg makes me want to try them and his roast sweet potato wedges hit the spot too.
I’m very lucky.
Although come back to me on that, I might get aubergine with red wine as my mystery veg tonight?

(ifood.tv-image taken from)

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Up a big hill and all the way back down again:proper hillwalking

So, a few summers ago, in a fit of madness, I said I’d do the Wicklow Way with Terry and Simon.

Terry was an experienced hill-walker. I was not.

Terry likes walking ultra fast up hills through the rain with little to no breaks. I did not.

Terry liked moros. So, did I.

You can see how that trip went. I finished Day 3, though the exact number could be debated, I was nearly put off the whole hill-walking thing until last week. The Tullow Mountaineering Club was doing an “Easy” walk of about 14km. It sounded nice and Simon agreed it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday. Terry was asked and he accepted.

It was beautiful and thankfully the Wicklow Way didn’t totally put me off. The Club were really friendly, helpful and took it at a nice pace. Apparently, the rule is to keep the pace with the slowest walker(listening, Terry?) All of the group carry emergency stocks for anyone who comes, like bottoms, tops, hats and even food.

Parts of it were slightly challenging, I hated it when it rained but when we were all sitting by this fresh lake eating a roll and sipping coffee, I sat back and thought how nice it was.

It was a great way to clear my head, my limbs were slightly sore the next few days.  Robert, the Group leader told me that the Wicklow Way, though very interesting, was a path made walk. Hmmm, I think he was implying it wasn’t as real as hill-walking. I’d agree-lots of mud, water, bog and rocks.

A proper hill walk? I hope to go again. The Tullow Mountaineering Club go every Sunday from Car Park by Abrakebra, Carlow Town at 9:30 sharp. An easy walk is schedule every month. Check out their web page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tullow-Mountaineering-Club/370336333713?sk=wall#!/pages/Tullow-Mountaineering-Club/370336333713?sk=wall

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Opera for Carlow:Full steam ahead!

Today, the sun was shining..a lot.

We were inside singing with Fergus. We went through some of the tricky ones with Fergus having utter patience with us. We are starting to sound like group singers. The next step is to sound like opera singers!

I have only one thing left to say as I am exhausted.

The Altos rock!