All 5 entries tagged Cousins

Brief reflections on Bali

First day back in the office after a fab holiday in Indonesia. We sent most time in Bali, but we did go to another couple of islands out there too – Gili Trawangan and Lombok.

We flew from LHR to Doha, got a connecting flight to Jakarta (via Singapore) and then flew Jakarta to Bali (Denpasar airport). The journey took about 30 something hours but was well worth it.

We stayed a couple of nights in Kuta before flying to Lombok where we got a boat to Gili T. We stayed in Gili T for a few nights and then got a boat back to Lombok where we took a trip to some waterfalls. Stayed in Lombok for one night before flying back to Bali and heading to Ubud which is in-coast and is the central cultural area with lots of art, wood carving, temples etc. We stayed two nights there and then went back to Kuta for about 4/5 nights. We then flew to Jakarta where we stayed overnight and then flew back to LHR the following day (the journey home seemed much longer than the journey there!)

Was a fab holiday and we did so much stuff that it feels like it was longer than a fortnight! We did surfing, snorkelling, kayaking, visited waterfalls, rode an elephant, went to the monkey forest and lots of other stuff! Will try and write a few more details soon…

Eleanor Lovell : 23 Jul 2007 17:28 |  Tags: Bali Cousins Family Holidays |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Celebrate good times…

...COME ON!

I predict exciting days ahead…

Next weekend is my cousin Laura’s wedding. I can’t wait! It’s a momentous occassion. People who know me know how many cousins I have and how important they all are to me. I have one male cousin out of a total of about 15 and he is the only one who is married. Laura will be the first of the girls to tie the knot and it is going to be a good party!

The preparations for the wedding have already taken about two years (it seems like more!) but the big day is creeping closer and suddenly becoming a lot more real! Last night was the wedding rehearsal at the church… I hope the actual day isn’t so chaotic – none of us could stop giggling… especially since the grooms middle name is Algy.

Tomorrow my cousin Maria comes home from Indonesia – the last time she was home was last summer so she hasn’t seen my flat yet! I am very excited about showing her so have got lots of housework to do tonight to make it nice and tidy! We are going out tomorrow night for a few drinks to celebrate her coming home and my cousin Katrina who lives in Leeds is also home for the weekend.

On Wednesday my aunty Mag from Dublin is coming over with my second cousin Sarah who is about seven years old. On Thursday I am going to take her and cousin Rosie to Twycross Zoo for the day with a picnic and everything!

Then it’s Easter weekend and final preparations for the big day. My cousin Catherine and her daughter Caitriona are coming from Dublin on Saturday and then all the family will be home except for Joey who can’t make it as he is in America : (

On Easter Sunday we have to go to the church so the florist can dress the altar and pews and we have to do a quick run through for my cousin who missed the rehearsal!

Then the wedding is on Easter Monday – I can’t imagine the chaos on the day and the tears and the excitement. Laura, the bride cried walking down the aisle for the rehearsal let alone the real thing! The reception is being held at Nailcote Hall and the food and everything sounds lovely. DJs from BRMB radio station are the entertainment for the evening so it should be a great party! Tuesday I will be recovering from the hangover and enjoying the wedding breakfast at Nailcote Hall and then Wednesday it is back to work!

A busy week and an exciting one! Bring it on….

Eleanor Lovell : 30 Mar 2007 14:52 |  Tags: Cousins Easter Family Flat Wedding |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Dublin

Follow-up to Look out Dublin… from For blog's sake

Had an amazing weekend in Dublin a couple of weeks ago. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get around to writing about it – have been a busy girl!

The Camden Court Hotel was lovely and was reasonably priced considering it included use of the spa facilities – pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi etc and a yummy fried breakfast each morning.

On the Friday night we went to Luigi Malones restaurant which was delicious. Had Chinese Parcels for starter and for main had Steak Fajitas – really nice although I think they overdid it on the garlic! Would definitely recommend it though!

On Saturday we did all the Dublin sights – Grafton St, Trinity College, bridge over the Liffey, O’Connell St, Ha’Penny Bridge, Temple Bar, St Stephens Green – was a lovey sunny weekend too so could sit out in St Stephens Green with a coffee from Butlers Chocolate Café – (really nice Caramel Macchaitto) and watch the world go by – quite relaxing considering it was a hen weekend! On the afternoon we went and chilled out in the hotel spa in preparation for the main event – the Saturday night out.

On the Saturday night we went to the actual Temple Bar – obviously the main stop for all tourists so it was rammed and full of trashy hens and stags! We left there and went to… erm, some other bars – I don’t recall the names! Was good fun though! There are more photos in the Hen Weekend gallery

Sunday we just did the spa and then went into Dublin again. Everyone was a bit worse for wear from the following night so we all just headed to another lovely coffee shop (again can’t remember the name…)

Anyways, as you can tell the weekend is now a bit hazy in my mind (partly because it was a little while ago and partly because it was a hen weekend!) I will have to take another trip back there soon to refresh my memory!

Eleanor Lovell : 28 Feb 2007 12:30 |  Tags: Cousins Dublin Family Hen Weekend Holidays Wedding |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Look out Dublin…

This weekend, I am heading to Dublin with about 24 other ‘cluckers’ for my cousins hen weekend! I am scared – it’s gonna be messy.

I hate the idea of hen weekends – a big gaggle of drunken women leering at men and wearing L plates… but I am sure it won’t be as trashy as that!! Anyway, given that today is valentines schmalentines day, I think the hen weekend might be well timed for us single hens!!

We are getting to the airport at about 2pm on Friday afternoon and then the flight is at about 4pm, so we will have chance to get a couple of drinks at the airport (and time for a few little surprises). My cousin doesn’t know how she is getting to the airport yet either, and that will be another funny surprise (photos to follow!)

We are staying in Camden Court Hotel in the centre of Dublin. The last time I was in Dublin was when I was about 8 years old! It’s a bit naughty that I haven’t been there for so long, especially since my aunt, cousin and goddaughter live over there!

On Friday night we are going to Luigi Malones Italian restaurant and then on Saturday we will be heading to Temple Bar, and I am guessing (the rather cheesy looking!) Boomerang Nightclub. I imagine that a few drinks will be consumed and there will be a few stories to tell come Monday! Good job I have booked the day off work to recover!!

Eleanor Lovell : 14 Feb 2007 13:27 |  Tags: Cousins Dublin Family Hen Weekend Holidays Wedding |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Is it too soon to be excited?

At the weekend I booked my flights for my summer holiday to Indonesia – am going to Bali, the Gilli Isles and Lembongan and I am pretty excited! The tickets arrived in the post on Tuesday – I was quite impressed!

My cousin Maria lives in Jakarta and works in the British International School over there so she regularly visits Bali for long weekends and half term breaks etc. She has just returned from a week over there and I think she is already making plans for our holiday – she isn’t called ‘military Moylan’ for nothing!

I will be travelling there with my cousin Katrina (Maria’s sister) and Kat’s boyfriend Dave. I had a fab time in Barcelona with Maria and Katrina this summer so am expecting even more fun next year!

Just need to save all of my money until then – pretty tricky with a mortgage etc but will be worth it i’m sure!!

On this cold wintery day, it’s nice to have something sunny to look forward to!

Eleanor Lovell : 02 Nov 2006 13:03 |  Tags: Bali Cousins Family Holidays Indonesia |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem