Saying goodbye…and picking up the pieces
With heavy hearts we got back from Ireland last night. It was one of the most difficult journeys we have ever made. Thursday last, we buried Ben, our baby boy. And despite this trip, being filled with sorrow, grief, tears and laughter, we are happy that we made it. The comfort and security of our home surroundings helped us say “goodbye”.
Before we left though our 7 and 5 year olds wanted to visit Ben one more time. The previous day they had given me a bunch of daffodils that I was to bring to Bens’ grave. They needed to check that I had done as they asked. On seeing the flowers, I got hugs and kisses…and they ran off to play hide and seek among the grave stones. My joy at seeing them so carefree is filled with sorrow for the brother they will not grow up with.
Filed under That's life | Comments (9)St. Patricks Day in Seoul
Far from shamrocks…and the emerald isle… 9106.37 kilometers from Seoul,South Korea to Tipperary, Ireland.
The 17th of March is just around the corner. T & I have been busy preparing treats to share with his class. What else but Green Cookies for St. Patrick’s Day. The luck of the Irish must have been with me last weekend when I went to Dongdaemun market. I had the vague hope I might find a shamrock shaped cookie cutter…here in Seoul…I have never seen one in Ireland..green Guinness…rivers … but after rummaging through lots of rabbits, stars and moon shapes I found a shamrock. Was there a leprechaun about…or just me?
Green Cookie Recipe
175g butter (at room temperature)
75g icing sugar
225g self-raising flour (sieved)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon green food coloring
Oven temperature 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas 4
Makes 25-30 cookies
1. Put all the ingredients except the food coloring in a food processor and mix until blended together (alternatively, beat together by hand)
2. Mix in the food coloring. Knead the dough until pliable, form into a ball, wrap in clingfilm and set aside in the fridge for about 1 hour.
3. Roll out the dough to a thickness of ½ cm and cut into shapes using a variety of cookie cutters. Arrange on a lightly greased baking tray and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 10 minutes. (Put flour onto the rolling pin and table surface to avoid the dough sticking, you may even need to add a little extra after each rolling out)
4. Eat and enjoy with friends and family.
Happy St. Patricks day!
Saint Patrick’s Day (Irish: Lá ‘le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially St. Paddy’s Day or Paddy’s Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385-461 AD), the patron saints of Ireland, and is celebrated on March 17. It is celebrated all over the world, anywhere the Irish have emigrated to.
Here in Seoul the celebrations will take place on the 14th of March with the 9th Annual St. Patrick’s Day. Details of activities here in Seoul through Expat Advisory Servies and Zenkimchi.
In the Hague the place to be is the Crown Plaza Hotel – Den Haag Promenade,Van Stolkweg 1, Den Haag.
15:00 until past midnight, music, bands, rubgy 6 nations games, irish dancing displays, Guinness on tap, storyteller, kids party, 15.00 to 18.00 with Storyteller Niamh Ní Bhroin, fun, face painting and games
Tickets: €20 each available from the Irish club: info@irishclub.nl or 06-48062776 or 06-25218261. Children 12 and under are free.
Filed under General, Out an about | Comment (0)International women’s day, March 8th
What are you doing to celebrate March 8th? nothing, no idea, what’s the big deal?, what’s all the fuss about? it’s just another marketing gimic! I’m guilty of having thought all of the above at some stage in my life.
“IWD is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future”. This does not mean events are women only occassions, with all the problems of the world being blamed on men. The 2009 global theme from the United Nations is “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”. This is a world wide issue, effecting rich and poor women, in developed and underdeveloped countries. When doing some research on IWD, I was surprised to see the apathy associated with March 8th in many “developed countries”.
I’m happy to say for the last number of years I’ve taken the time to celebrate March 8th.
This year I’m attending the event organised in The Hague by the Women’s Business Initiative International. We we will celebrate “Women and Opportunity”. Check for events in your own country.
Filed under General, Out an about | Comments (2)Does the Easter bunny bring Easter eggs to Korea?
I shopped for Easter Eggs for my newphew & niece (T&G) in Korea with my 7 year old at Jamin.”Why were we buying Easter eggs, Easter is ages away, and why would be sending Easter Eggs to Korea”. With all the “whys” , I answered without thinking about the consequences. I told her the Easter eggs in Korea were not very nice and we had been asked to send some to T&G. She quietly helped me fill the bags, but her humor changed and went rapidly downhill. I could not comprehend the sudden “freeze” and eventually enquired further. She refused to answer and got sulky. Not sure what was coming next I had one more go at what the “ problem” might be. The issue bothering her was very different to what I expected. “Why does the Easter bunny not bring Easter eggs to Korea?” “And if he does not bring them to Korea will he bring them to us in the Netherlands?” (the real issue).
Quickly back tracking we had a conversation about different foods deserts and sweets being popular in different countries. And the Easter bunny does not always bring the kind of chocolate to T&G in Korea that they like, so just in case we were sending some.
Childrens expertise: They are brilliant at asking direct questions! (often at the wrong moment)
I forgot that kids think in a different way and that she is after all only 7!
Filed under General | Comment (0)
