Lit Nit Wit: A Mix

You'd think in the six weeks I was off i would have read a load of books!! Not at all at all for some reason (Because of parks and recreation and the walking dead, not that I'm complaining).

Since I got back to work I've gone through a few books, and instead of doing individual Lit Nit Wits I thought I'd write one for all of them.

Photo taken from Amazon.com

The first book I completed was The Luminaries; I actually got this book in Dublin when my brother and I were traveling from dublin to cork after our holiday. This story is based in New Zealand where gold fields have been found and subsequently villages full of men out to get their fortune pop up. The story starts with the arrival of Walter Moody to Hokitika one of these new villages. On arrival to his guest house he stumbles onto a meeting of 12 men trying to figure out how each of them have become entangled in mysterious circumstances involving a dead man with a hidden fortune, the disappearance of a young man and the apparent suicide of a young prostitute. In a new small village it was easy to believe that all these men could be somehow linked and would remain so as the story unfolds. I am usually terrible with names and sometimes mix the characters up but these characters back stories were so intricate and detailed I could recall who was who with ease. I always take it as a good sign when about half the book is the back story of the events that led to the meeting of the men in the guesthouse we see in the first chapter.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were so well hashed out and the events so interesting and varied. At the start of each chapter was a synopsis/ tease of the entire chapter which I thought was an interesting idea, I don't think I've seen it before actually. throughout the story there were about three small but significant events that seemed to me to go unexplained and the final chapters were literally a page each, which kinda grated on my nerves a small bit, but I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who really wants to get into a long detailed book they can get enthralled in.

Anytime I see a book by Carlos Ruiz Zafron I immediately buy it, in fact I was in waterstones about to buy the book and the man in front of my saw said book and we had a fangirling moment, to the point where I gave him the book and went back to the stand and got a copy for myself. I think I loved Shadow of the Wind so much, it was the reason I went to Barcelona for my holidays this year (more on that later) that all subsequent books of his are kinda disappointing. Marina follows Oscar a student in Barcelona who liked to explore the long abandoned and almost forgotten houses of the Barcelona elite. He stumbles upon Marina house and quickly becomes fast friends with her and her sickly father. Marina shows Oscar a mysterious figure who visits a graveyard and leaves an emblem of a black butterfly regularly, who is this woman and why does she do it? Oscar and Marina pursue this mystery and become entangled in a story of deceit and betrayal and love and the strive to heal sickness at all and any cost. If you haven't read Carlos' before maybe I'd recommend this, because then you could read his other books and become more and more impressed but personally I think his original was the best and all of his subsequent stuff has been sub par in comparison.

The day I bought Marina I also bought the cult classic Lolita. I saw a big rant about the book covers for this boon which intrigued me further. This story follows Humbert Humbert a French writer who is also a pedophile I had an idea about what this book was about but felt like I really needed to read it to understand the cult classic status that follows this book. The book is in two parts and I have to say I preferred the first half. In the first half he is working towards getting a nymphet such as Lolita and in the second half he has her in his grasp, but it all falls apart as he runs off with her driving around the country with his precious Lolita. In his deluded mind some young girls are not children but nymphets, demons who were sent down to tempt poor men, the dehumanisation of these children for his own satisfaction was something I had not seen before in a book and I found it borderline profound, to get into the mind of someone like that, it was not something I had ever particularly wanted to do but here I was and I found it kind of fascinating. For me though, there was too much French in the book. I realise the character is French but having less than basic French (I did German in school) i enjoyed seeing so much of it in the book. Thankfully my French friend was my own personal google translate, but the French wasn't even significant to the story it was almost like filler! The author also seemed to jump from writing in the first to the third person and my poor brain had a bit of a tough time dealing with it on occasion. Throughout the book I asked myself repeatedly could a book honestly disturb and entertain me at the same time and the honest answer is yes in a strange way, books enable you to go to different places and view the world through different peoples eyes. Eyes you maybe didn't really want to look through but at the end you appreciate the fact you did

Diary of an Invalid 6

Saturday: The countdown to going back to work is on! I actually did a shift in a pub I used to work in on short notice. It was interesting it was like I never left in one sense but the manager said I had changed in the weeks I had been away which I thought was so interesting actually. I think maybe I may be more quiet in myself, just because I had so much time on my own. I have such a fear of annoying people that I'd rather not message them too much. I live with a close friend (well we've become friends since moving in together) so I had him in the evenings but for most of the day I'd be alone walking around. I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing.

Sunday: For some reason I have done very very few Irish touristy things in Ireland. I've never been to galway, the cliffs of Moher or even seen the Blarney stone. Ardmore is a village close to me and there is a famous cliff walk that I have never done,until this Sunday.The day was dry and windy, a
grand aul day to be walking around the side of a country. It is so lovely, not too long and the views are gorgeous.There is a part of a crane (possibly from an oil rig) just washed against the cliff and old look outs and you end up walking past the famous St Declans round tower. If you ever have a free afternoon around there I highly recommend it. Maybe round park beside the beach when the tide is very high as you could get drenched in a wave as my brother (who was holding a soon to melt 99) and I found out.





Monday: Finally it had arrived, the day my mothers last assignment got finished. It was a day I remember fondly.........ok not really, but she's finished them all now, and only has a practical left to do around the start of May so happy days for both of us.

Tuesday: Mother had to go to hospital today (boo) but I got a spin to Cork (yay). My final sick note was handed into the hospital and I gave the days I'd be working the following week, so it all felt more real. To celebrate I wandered into the Wilton Farmers market, which technically wasn't open yet....and had a breakfast crepe (the egg had two yolks BTW!!!!!) and a macchiato which I accidentally ordered but it was so nice and made me feel more grown up (ain't nobody got time for milk). A few weeks ago I tried to give blood but because my arm was injured I wasn't able, so today since its basically all better I tried again. I explained what happened to the nurse and I was allowed (whoo). If you can give blood do people!! Tuesday is of course beer pong day but I won't be able to go for the next three weeks with work and holidays (Barcelona I'm a coming). I decided to do an alcohol consumption (do not try at home kids). So 6 pints cider + 3 shots -1 Pint of blood = a really honest almost too honest Niamh.......... At least now I know..............

Wednesday: Today was an utterly duvet day, I did nothing and it was amazing.

Thursday: Last week I went on my first run (6 miles) and I attempted 8 miles this Thursday and wasn't able, I got an awful pain up my left hip so after I reached mile 6 I decided to just walk the final 2 miles, so I travelled 8 miles, I just staggered through the final 2 miles.



Friday;  I had physio today! whoo!! my homework is to hop on my leg, it was hilarious tbh, he was asking what I was gonna do for the weekend, and I had to ask was I able to wear heels ( I didn't particularly want to but it was good to know whether or not I could).






And so ends my diary of an invalid. I knew it would seem long as I was going through it but now looking back it did go quite quickly. I didn't read as much or listen to as much music but still, my arm is better and my sanity survived. I may be slightly different to people, but I think thats interesting. Thanks for reading

Diary of an Invalid 5

Saturday: I have had so many quiet days in such a long time. I spent today reading and scrap booking, and probably watching 7 episodes of broad city or listening to 3 episodes of Dan Savage. I feel so much more open minded, and relaxed really. When you're more of "an adult", and with friends away and parents are doing college stuff you kinda learn to chill on your own and stuff. I leave the house for a while every day just to not lose my mind, and to see cork and kinda see what happens when i go up a road I haven't gone before, my perception of cork is off cause there would be some areas you'd only ever drive to,so you cant figure how to walk there

Sunday; My housemate returned from his week away from London with a big bag of M&Ms from
M&M world in London, as well as big load of Spanish meats from his parents. He showed us more Irish housemates how them Catalonians eat meat with tomatoes and oil and nom, no wonder they live so long!! 

Monday; See Saturday

Tuesday: I went for day drinks with 2 italians 3 spaniards and a Korean in a bar, I had to be shown by said Italians. Beer Pong Day. I.E I go to An Brog to shout at French men as you do.It's getting more and more popular, a 4th table is going to be added to the courtyard. There was the grand total of three irish girls at the bar. I'm not complaining but I was explaining to the new girl this was the norm, before helping her for her date. How do people get dates?? I asked her and she was super brave and asked him for a lighter when they got off a bus, so clearly I need to start smoking! ha ha 

Wednesday: Today I was back in the hospital for Physio. I was really put through my paces and he discouraged me from returning to work the following week or competing in a run my mother was doing the next day. It was painful but I knew it would be worth it cause if not I could end up needing surgery to strengthen my arm. I was given new exercises to do and another appointment for the following Friday. I was then somehow talked into going to The Old Oak to watch the Barcelona soccer game. In the last few months I've watched two entire Soccer games, which is a record! Really!! soccer just isn't my sport but my friend is from around there so talking to him is what interests me. I decided to head home that evening to help with a college thing

Thursday; Today was spent on college work for an assignment my mother is doing. She did a reflection on nursing a transgender woman.  This was not something she had looked into or thought about I think and it was interesting to see her reactions to the unfortunate experiences some transgendered people in hospital settings. She was really affected by the stories and I think she is conscious of some of the experiences of that group and will be a better person to them in general.

Friday; My brothers and I are going through The Batman movies at the moment, we  are on Batman and Robin this week, I liked it, even if it is supposed to be the worst of the Batman movies. This was either the first or second movie I ever saw in the cinema. I think it was the second after Space Jam!! We were talking to my dad today and he may have tickets for the Ireland, England World Cup warm up game in September, I am very excited,  I now need to get an Ireland jersey ASAP

Diary of an Invalid 4

Saturday:I wasn't even sure if I'd find somewhere to cut my hair, particularly as it was the Easter weekend, and we had spent all morning cleaning the house. But I wandered into a hairdressers I
wouldn't normally go to, and they were able to fit me in. I dont think my hair has ever been as long , the hairdresser had to get me to stand so she could cut the ends of my hair. I also got a fringe, exciting. My friend is in college in Dublin at the moment and she was returning for the weekend with her boyfriend, so we all headed out, I went out hard altogether....My brother and I had a great chat at 4.30am while I was trying to hide easter eggs.




Sunday: Easter Sunday! Today was a good day to be hungover. After mass (as the priest was walking out of the church he was giving out creme eggs), it's roast lamb day as well as chocolate egg day, my brother  stole my main egg, the brat! One of our grandmothers and uncles had dinner with us, which of course is always nice. We then headed to our other grandmothers house, and there was cousins who aren't around much, and more food! We finally headed home, and watched Batman and Robin.

Monday: It's the start of April and the weather is amazing!! I was even invited to a Barbeque in Cork city, I was at home so I couldn't go, I was helping my mother with her college work. I finished watching the second season of Brooklyn 99, which is just hilarious.

Tuesday: Today my dad went back to England, so we went to airport to drop him off. My brother and I went to buy gym clothes for him, cause he's starting to go to the gym now. We went to Waterstones which we normally do. Mam collected him after a while, and I stayed in the city, its beer pong day don't you know, even though I didn't play, I go to talk to everyone (creep really) I met a few people who are living in a hostel, cause in Cork its getting more and more difficult to find somewhere to live

Wednesday: I headed home in the morning to help my mother with college stuff again. I watched a lot of  Broad City and I decided to finally book somewhere to stay in Barcelona. A few months ago I asked on facebook was there any recommendations and one of my friends suggested I try AirBnB, and I researched it a lot and looked  at the locations of the places and the reviews the people gave so I booked it. It's a good price for a single bed in a good location, I'll let you know how it goes

Thursday: I was actually invited to another Barbeque, this time I was even able to go, so I got my lamb burgers and headed on over where as usual I was the only irish person at the house. I had sushi for the first time ever, and i had a lovely time altogether, as the evening went on we actually crossed the road from one house to another house, where another person at the party was living to get as
much sun as possible. With my fringe and sunglasses on, from my cheeks got sunkissed (burnt). We said we'd meet up that evening again, so i headed home, watched the final episode of Breaking Bad (yes only this week. the final four episodes will go down in history). I didn't know many people from the party, and the one girl I did know became ill, so I just headed to the bar I liked in town and it turned out some of my beerpong friends were already there so I hung out with them for the night, some of the guys from the barbeque ended up there too. There was a bit of a touchy feely episode with another guy, that put me in a bit of bad mood for a while, but I tried to just dance on and forget about it.

Friday: In a still not great mood/slightly foggy, hungover mood I basically stayed indoors in my room and watch moone boy, not giving anything away but Paul Rudd is in the last episode in the third season, which I think is amazing, the show itself is amazing in all honesty. I eventually got outside and went for a walk around the city and everytime I go walking I see something new, I still feel like such a novice to this place

Diary of an Invalid 3

Saturday: Ever since I saw the ad for Cinderella (while waiting for Into the Woods to start of course) I knew I was going to see it as soon as it was out. I arrabged to go to the cinema with the same person I went to see Into the Woods with. First we headed to Cork Coffee Roasters which was really good. Cinderella was adorable and the costumes were amazing and I highly recommend it. It was one of my friends work colleagues birthday so we headed out for a couple of drinks too. It was unfortunate I had two boxes of brownie mix in my bag that I had to lug around...oh well.














Sunday: The reason for said brownie mix was it was my housemates birthday and I made brownies the week before and I promised I'd make them again. We also got him a blanket cause he's always cold. And we headed to Wild West Wings with one of his friends. We got the started Nachos, Ribs and wings (there's different types of wings, but I can't remember which ones). The Ribs were absolutely amazing btw, literally melt in the mouth. We finished our night in The Old Oak where we saw Ireland draw in the soccer.







Monday-Thursday: I stayed home these four days, after a relation died Monday morning, far too young. I did go back to cork Thursday for a leaving party for one of my friends (they're starting to leave already #sob).

Friday: I'm after having a huge clearout of both of my wardrobes and so of course I had to buy other clothes to replace the one's I got rid of. The coachella collection at H&M is so nice I bought a palm tree two piece (skirt and croppish top). I also got some swimwear for Barcelona ( so excited btw) and a denim dress from pennies. I was all ready to head home when I got a text from a friend (a french friend of course) and he was on the bus to cork so I hung around for a few more hours to go for coffee with him, at Italee of course. I headed home and went to a taize service as it was Good Friday. Some of the family came over for tea and hot cross buns and I was informed by my aunt, who was a hairdresser that I needed to get a haircut, I appreciated the straight forwardness

Diary of an Invalid 2

Saturday: Today was the start of the Sport weekend extravaganza!! Super Saturday Rugby style Three games!! Six and a half Hours!! And one stupid french player induced heart attack!! But Ireland Won !! Two Six Nations in a row, and my favourite player of all time Paul O'connell, be still my beating heart, won player of the six nations!! Bring on the World Cup in September!!

Sunday: Second day of the Sport weekend extravaganza! I live with a Valencian guy who's mad about sports so of course I had to bring him to a Hurling match. He told his friends so there was a group of 11 spanish/italian people and I watching the Cork/Tipp game in Pairc i Rian, they were all slightly confused about the sliotar and the hurley but they had a great time. Xavi, Jaume and I then had Dominoes, ya can't beat Dominoes. In the evening we went to The Old Oak to watch the Barcelona, Real Madrid game, to me those 90 minutes went slower than the 6 and a half hours the day before, but the men sitting behind me had a huge bag of sunflower seeds so I was happily munched away. Someone tried to use my broken elbow to get my number, can't blame a guy for trying.

Monday: Plans were made and cancelled and postponed and remade Monday, so annoying. To calm down I headed to the Crawford Gallery in the city,cause sure why not. There is a lot of art that was painted pre-famine work, it's interesting to see how Cork was and how successful it was back in the day. In the evening I headed home to meet my friend before she went back to London and to be a soundboard for my mother, when she was doing her assignments.

Tuesday: Headed back to the city today. I attempted to listen to the new Drake album, I was really not feeling it to be honest,I didn't even have a favourite song!! Of course Tuesday is Beer Pong day so of course I headed there for a creep as normal, few Fran Wells all is good.

Wednesday/Thursday; Headed home again cause I'm such an amazing daughter, and the amazing sound board that I am, and a lot of work got done whooo. I had a second unfinished album, today it was haim, eventually I think all there stuff kinda sounds the same, not entirely a bad thing but I couldn't listen to their entire album in one go.

Friday: Woke up at the crack of dawn (ok 8.05) cause I had to head to the hospital for a check up for my arm, and they referred me to the physiotherapist. Turns out its gonna take 6-8 weeks to heal not 4 weeks like the doctor told me in A&E, which is annoying, but I'm not supposed to use my sling anymore so I can wear jackets and stuff so that's good. Today I decided to take a walk on the north side of the city, I have no knowledge of the area, and I've never been in some of the churches. It was funny at one stage I was like oh my god there's so much I've never seen and then I turned a corner and I realised where I was and how small the city is, which I like its petit :)

I keep Dancing on my own 2.

It's not often my housemate and I are walking home, me wearing Cat ears with my lovely cat eye running down my face. We had just left a party with these lovely people from Spain and Germany, as per usual I was the only irish person there for a good chunk of the party, which I always find highly entertaining.

Bit of a backstory, in January I moved into a house closer to the city with four students, three irish girls and one Catalonian guy who's over here practising his english. He asked would I go to Beer pong with him once, where I was the only irish person there, which made me enjoy the beer pong more, even though I am just terrible at playing it, but I've gotten friendly with lots of people who are over here learning english, they are french, italian,spanish and brazilian and one greek. I spend the majority of my time goading the people, while simultaneously being terrible at beerpong and drinking. 

Anyway so, last Friday, we met these really nice people who don't live in the city, and my housemate mentioned that we probably will never see them again. This started a big long alcohol induced walk home (well for me it was a hobble home but you get the idea). All my new friends will leave and go home back with much better english, and they'll know all the important irish words such as craic (fun) and shift (make out/snog).

During one stage in my semi drunken ramblings I said well why do I even bother being friends with people who are just going to leave. Of course that was just the pre already missing all the cute italians who I wont be able to creep on in The Brog anymore, but then I remembered there'll just be other Italians to creep on. A new spanish chap (he's a mere child of 19) was talking to me yesterday, we had been to a hurling game with my housemate sunday, as you do, and he said he learned more english through talking to me than he has in the english college, but he has only been there three weeks so I wouldn't worry too much about that. 

Now recently I have friends on the complete other side of the scale and the world! I have two close friends whom I have never met, don't worry I'm fairly sure they are real. I'm friends with one of them on snapchat and we played the super fun Try and Pronounce my name game, his name is simon, so clearly I won!!I started talking to my other Tumblr friends over out love of Broadcity and we have talked to each other almost everyday for months and months about everything. Doesn't matter if you're in Ireland or Brazil, being 24 is basically the same. The other guy lives in the states I do know them fairly well I think, but it is possible I will never meet either and that is also kinda hard to deal with, but I will cause they are really nice individuals who just happen to live thousands of miles away. It would literally be a dream come true to meet them in real life, is a possibility they'd be let down but sure I'd have a good time.

The world has gotten much smaller through the internet and cheaper travel, and I have all these people I know who I'd never have met if there wasn't those things. I now have a friend making me a to-do list for Barcelona. 

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