Category: Uncategorized

 

I tried a new technique on my hair last night called ‘heatless overnight curls’.    I had seen it on YouTube and was delighted to be able to try something that did not require appliances other than a few clips.

https://youtu.be/zqOLhDXLQAc

Being a bit overzealous with the curling mousse meant that some of the curls had set so fast that I was unable to unpin them. I tend to always go for the more is better rule. Which never really works yet I still persist.

The attached, is a picture of me this morning, without my lipstick. I realize that tight curls are very much a first world problem. However, on one hand I was simultaneously alarmed and thrilled at the tightness of the curls and on the other I knew that I had gone seriously overboard.

 

I eventually managed to unknot the curls and began to attack my unruly mane with a hairbrush and too much hair oil.  Buzz and Finn were giving me funny looks as if to say ‘Who has taken our human away and replaced her with a fuzzy oily head’. I am showing my age here when I can compare myself to one of the characters in the cartoon ‘The Hair Bear bunch’.                                                                                                                                                   

In the end I put my fuzzy head beneath my hat to brave the cold weather today. But on removing it after my walk I still looked like I had been electrocuted.

 

Have a great day.

Stay fab.

Adele

 

Upon venturing to the local shop earlier today I noticed that the bread shelves were empty. I could only surmise that everyone was tucking into their turkey and ham sandwiches. And that they may have sold their granny for a batch loaf if they were too late to buy one.

Everyone was out and about blowing the cobwebs off. Gale force winds were beckoning and I nearly did a Mary Poppins by getting blown off the beach.  Storm Francis is in full force making staying in and being cozy all the more pleasurable.

We are all gearing ourselves up for the next lock down. But at least we can travel within our own county and not be limited to 2 or 5kms as we have been in the past.

I will hazard a guess that the new year’s resolutions for 2021 will be less exhaustive and elaborate as in previous years. Most of us will aim to not get Covid and stay safe, or in my case to not get it again. I was one of the lucky ones as I got a mild dose.  Plenty of ‘Wim Hoff guided breathing’ ensured that the wheeze I was left with soon subsided.

Minding those that are vulnerable is probably a major priority as we have lost so many. Practicing being more mindful is one of my goals. Perhaps I shall practice being more like a cow, and stay in the Moooment  (That’s pretty bad, even for me.) Or maybe I ‘ll give up the pun therapy as it really doesn’t seem to be working very well. I could have done an udder pun but I didn’t. I managed to resist. That’s progress for you.

 

Happy St. Stephen’s Day.

Stay fab.

Adele

What is your Irish Christmas Elf name?

Mine is Aloysius MacBrussel sprouts. Thank you. Don’t mind if I do have another Sprout.

I have had a massive glorious meal after a Christmas morning swim, beach walk and Howth walk. Maybe it’s just as well that we are going back into lockdown as my love of sprouts turns my apartment into Grand Central flatulence station. For once, Buzz and Finn are not to blame.

Buzz and Finn wore their Christmas outfits well although Buzz was a little peeved with his at first. He stood still staring at me for a few moments as if to say ‘Seriously? really? You expect me to wear this?’

Finn tried to reef it off him yesterday on the beach. I think Buzz may have asked him to in exchange for some of his Christmas treats. He got the elf hat off which they both decided to have a tug of war with. Until what was left was a doggy spit/sea drenched felt rag.

Lots of folk had Christmas themed outfits on their pet pooches and just as many had not. I began to think that those that had not probably wouldn’t be caught dead dressing their pooch up. But whatevs, it’s just as well that we are all different.

Buzz has left the room as my sprouts parped hello. He is somewhat indignant and smug in his swagger; in that it wasn’t him. Just as well that sprouts are just for Christmas……

Happy Christmas.

Stay fab.

Adele

As the song ‘And so this is Christmas’ by John Lennon goes

 

And so, this is Christmas

And what have you done?

Another year over

A New one just begun

 

So, what have I done? Like a lot of people, not an awful lot. Just trying to stay safe and keep others safe too. I have done a lot of reflection, and self-analysis. Mindful of the phrase ‘analysis leads to paralysis ‘.

Back in Christmas 2018, if anyone had said that the world would come to a screeching halt by the end of 2019, I am pretty sure no one would have believed them. I wonder if Nostradamus or the psychics predicted this? If anything, ‘The Simpsons’ seem to be the greatest predictors of the future. So far, they have predicted

 

1. Donald Trump’s presidency.
2. Lady Gaga flying into the super bowl.
3. Holmstrom and Oliver Hart winning a Nobel prize in 2016 in economics.
4. Siegfried and Roy being attacked by their tiger.
5. The UK horse meat scandal.
6. The virtual reality game ‘Farmville’.
7. Two Beatles fans receiving replies to their letters 50 years after sending them.
8. Smart watches featured in 1995.
9. Disney buying Fox was predicted in 1998.
10. US winning an Olympic medal in curling.
11. In 1993 the ‘Osaka Flu’

 

Perhaps we need to look to The Simpsons for 2021?

 

Happy Christmas Eve and have a great day tomorrow.

Stay fab.

Adele

 

I love this cartoon.  Although some part of me says ‘Well’, and what if she was female? what of it? .

I was rather pensive this morning and wrote the following in anticipation of the upcoming lockdown.

 

 

2020

We are the masked crusaders

Struggling to be cheerleaders

Masking our tears

Masking our fears

Grieving those departed

Lost, heavy hearted

Longing to touch

Missing them so much

Trying to keep active

In remembering how to live

We honor their memory

By living to be free

Exercising resilience

Defying defiance

Being helpful and kind

Minding our minds

We will overcome this plight

With our will and our might

And be stronger still

Emanating good will

By Adele Leahy

 

http://www.raesidecartoon.com/

What a year?  Apparently after this year if you have a bucket list it can now be officially called a fuckit list. In adopting this philosophy my list has been amended to include the following.

 

1.    ‘Travelling the world’ has now become ‘travelling to the local shop’. And if I manage to not step in dog poop there is a cause for a celebratory cup of tea upon my return. It’s all about the small wins.
2.    ‘Go white water rafting’ has now become ‘having a bath after a very hot curry’.
3. ‘Read Dostoyevsky’ has become ‘reading my Viz magazines’ again.
4. ‘Go Shark cage diving ‘has become ‘wearing a mask outside and washing my hands continuously’.
5.    ‘Go to an Airport and book a random flight anywhere’ has become ‘Close my eyes and press a button on my remote control whilst in Netflix, and watch whatever I press’.  Also known as ‘Netflix roulette’.  I know. I am soooo living on the edge.
6.    ‘Learn to fly’ has become ‘Chase a butterfly’.
7.    ‘Say yes to everything for a day’ has become ‘Yes, I will wash my hands repeatedly and wear my mask, and try to complete a random act of kindness without the person knowing’.

Well. Now. I am off to have a curry and a bath.  It’s never too late to take action.  Afterwards I may play ‘Netflix Roulette’.

Have a great day.

Stay fab.

Adele

 

I was so excited last night going to bed and imagining this morning’s swim.   I got there at 7.10 this morning having first walked Buzz and Finn. There were a few of the organizers there setting up as one of the girls in the group was celebrating their birthday. Sunrise came around pretty quick and we all started stripping off to head into the sea.

The sky was grey and drizzling us with rain but everyone’s spirits were high. It was freezing walking into the sea and freezing in the sea. The waves were great fun and I swallowed a gallon of sea water as I tried (unsuccessfully) to swim through them.

I had a lovely chat with a girl who loves walking but was not too keen on sea swimming.  Trying to convince her of the benefits of sea swimming was futile. It is certainly not for everyone,

Regardless of the cold my icy upper lip prevailed.  I remind myself that my favorite pastime is not all starfish and gentle playful waves and that I must not be a fair-weather swimmer.  Coming to think of it, it is never starfish and playful gentle waves. More like hydro masochism but I still love it.

That’s all for now.

Have a great day.

Stay fab.

Adele

 

It was a glorious day to day. regardless of the cold wind. The sky was blue and the rain was nowhere in sight even though the weather report had mentioned a 50%   chance of it.  Tomorrow is the solstice and I am looking forward to it.  I marked it last year with a lovely group of people in the Dublin mountains at a Celtic ceremony where Liam ‘O Maonlai was in attendance and treated us to some music and dancing.

https://www.thetrailblazery.com/blog/ritesofwinter

Tomorrow I am heading to Portmarnock beach for a sunrise swim. Apparently, it will be raining but as we will be in the sea it will not really matter.  I will make my intentions for the coming year and attempt to emerge from the sea with a modicum of grace.  However, it is more likely that I will resemble a shivering Grinch crossed with a hypothermic Shrek.

To be honest the best thing about swimming in the freezing cold sea is that how you look no longer becomes an issue as it is overcome by the sheer exhilaration of completing the act. I have wanted to sea swim for so many years and am so pleased that I am finally doing it.  I cannot wait for the Christmas morning swim as again this is something that has been on my to do list each year.

 

Have a great day.

Stay fab.

Adele

 

Finn

Hey, how’s it going?   I am Finn and my human ‘Adele’ advised me to share who I am to get a little doggy girlfriend.  There is something called an App and the doggy dating one is called ‘Wagger’?

Here is the link to Adele’s other three blogs where she explains it all.

http://adeleleahy.ie/elf-on-the-shelf/

http://adeleleahy.ie/the-elf-contd/

http://adeleleahy.ie/new-wagger-app-and-buzz/

 

I am not sure why I need a girlfriend as I have a fab brother called ‘Buzz’ and Adele is pretty amazing too.  But here goes.  I love cuddles.  I mean seriously love them.  As soon as Adele takes her hand away, I use my paw to remind her that her hand is meant for only one thing. And that one thing is stroking me and giving me cuddles.  So, I suppose that means that I am a bit needy.   I can’t help it really.   I just love them so much.

Ooohh and belly rubs.  They are just the best.  My day needs to begin and end with cuddles and belly rubs or else the day will not be a blissful one for me.  I adore playing with Buzz.  He is the best. I particularly love grabbing his collar with my teeth and pulling him across the bed. He loves when I do this.

Sniffing is another fav pastime.   With poo being my preferred substance.  I like to eat it as well.  But Adele doesn’t really like it when I do this.   Or when I roll in it.  When she leaves me off the leash. I get right down and dirty with the smelliest poo I can find.

I believe that my personal best drop and roll in poo was 20 times.  It’s just heaven.  But the bath when I get home is not so good as Adele has to wash me for a long time.  But once my fur is dry, I get lots of cuddles again.  I run a lot, when I am off the leash and am very fast. It drives Buzz mad as he can’t keep up with me and yelps in frustration.

I hope you like my photo.  I am not really a poser, although this photo does seem to look quite posey.  Say Hi if you would like a very outgoing doggy friend.

 

Pawsibly your next best friend

Finn

Over the last few days, I revealed that ‘The Elf’ got married, and is no longer on the shelf. We are unsure as to whom the life partner is but we do know that it used the new App ‘Wagger’ to find love.

This App was initially designed for dogs but went on to develop an exclusive membership option to include festive characters and mythical animals. As I have been appointed the agent for ‘The Elf’ I am awaiting the announcement to reveal The Elf’s new partner. Please refer to my previous two blogs re betting odds

http://adeleleahy.ie/elf-on-the-shelf/

http://adeleleahy.ie/the-elf-contd/

 

In the meantime, Buzz has created his Bio for the Wagger app.  He has a brother called Finn who will be uploading his tomorrow.

---

Buzz

Hi, I am Buzz, a four-year-old Morkie.  My human is Adele.  My hobbies are barking, wagging my tail, playing with my chicken chew toy that squeaks and drives me wild, and playing with my brother ‘Finn’ who is crrrrazy, a bit like Adele. Oh, and sniffing, how could I forget that? Without a doubt my all-time favorite hobby.

I like to think that I am almost forensic at sniffing. And I also like to think that I have healing qualities. When Finn hurt his eye, I licked it regularly for 2 days and it got better. I adore Adele and Finn so much. I also work full time, well, more than full time. 24/7 to be honest as a security guard for Adele, at home, in the car and whilst out walking. I can get very anxious as I don’t like being away from her or my brother.

I am looking for someone who likes to play and sniff.  Someone who is maybe the same age as me, as Finn is too fast at times when we play. Sometimes he whizzes by so fast I can barely see him. Sniffing is important and I don’t mind poo sniffing.  I am partial to it myself. But I draw the line at eating it. Finn does that and it grosses me out.

Adele still gives him lots of cuddles even though he eats poo but he is definitely more affectionate than me. Always has been. I have had to seriously up my game with the hugs and cuddles to make sure that I remain top dog.    Even though Adele and Finn are my best friends I still feel that I need a girlfriend to spice things up a bit. I hope that you are out there.

 

Pawsibly your new boyfriend

Buzz