I think this is a record...4 posts in just a few days. I am trying to earn some brownie points with those of you (Jenn and Jolleen) who notice when I haven't posted in a while. Actually, in just a week, Chris will arrive and I this blog will have a co-author (Jenn- I'll give you his e-mail address so you can cc him on your 'reminder' messages).
This week we managed to get all of the mature students in our class together for dinner and drinks in a town called Athenry. They are the gang that I spend most of my free time with....

On the left (front to back): Ian (Canadian), Angela (Pharmacist), Aine (Dietician), Me, Maeve (Pharmacist)
On the right: Barry (Physiotherpist), Joe (Pharmacist), Ciaran (Veterinarian), Joe (American), Kieran (Teacher)

Angela, Barry, Kieran, Joe, Ian, Joe, Ciaran, Me, Aine

Teddy Bear Hospital

Two weeks ago, the medical faculties society (Called Slainte, pronounced 'slauncha') organised and hosted a 'Teddy Bear Hospital'. The aim of the project is to introduce children to 'Doctors' and 'hospitals' in a fun, non-threatening way so they are less afraid when they go to visit the real hospital or Doctor. Children aged 4-8 brought their stuffed toys to the 'hospital' so their ailments could be assessed and treated by us medical students. We would examine the bears, send them to the x-ray department, bandage them up, and finally, send them with a prescription to take to the pharmacy. The pharmacy department was stocked with candy, stickers and fruit. We saw hundreds of kids and the whole day was super fun. One little boy was extra special for me. His name was Peter and he was very scared to be there. Peter was clutching a little stuffed duck who he introduced to me as 'Duck'. Duck had apparently fallen from a very tall tree and injured his eye, his beak, and his wing. We took 'Duck' to the clinic and had a great time bandaging all of his injuries. He was more bandage than duck when we were finished with him but the most important thing was that Peter was smiling and laughing through the whole thing. He was so sweet!!! Anyway, the three of us made it into the local paper this week. Here we are......

I'm just over 2 weeks back into school now. So far, the semester is off to a pretty good start. Our timetable and exam schedule seems much more manageable this term than last so hopefully I'll have more fun things to write about in the months to come. This past weekend some classmates and I too a trip to a town called Westport. It is about 2hrs north of here in the mountains. The drive was beautiful and we had a good night out in town. Our intention was to hike up a very famous mountain called Croagh Patrick on Sunday but unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. The weather hasn't actually been cooperating with much lately. As you may have seen on the Canadian news, we have been having really bad storms here. The wind and the rain have been fierce and incessant!! Luckily, not too cold. It has been about 5-10 degrees when raining with the odd crisp, frosty, blue sky day (like today).

My good friends Aine and Angela

The Famine Memorial

(Approximately 1 million people died and 1 million emmigrated between 1845 and 1849)

Croagh Patrick

(There is an annual barefoot pilgrimage to the top of this mountain)

Less than 2 weeks and Chris will be here with me.....yippee!!!!!!!

I finished my first term exams on December 11th and left Ireland the next day for a well earned vacation at home. I spent the first two weeks in Alberta visiting with my family and friends. It was so wonderful to see Chris, my family and my friends again. On the 31st, Chris and I flew to Montreal to celebrate new years and spend time with our good friends Gord and Rebecca. We spent 5 days drinking great wine, eating great food and playing games. Finally, we spent a day recovering from it all at a Scandinavian spa near Mont Tremblant. Here are some photos of New Years at la Sucrerie de la Montagne (a maple syrup farm between Montreal and Ottawa).

Rebecca, Gord, Kelly, Chris, Jill, Aaron, Hollie (and baby Nikko), and Ross

Chris getting ready for an evening of French Canadian festivities....

...and CELEBRATING French Canadian Style

Based on these pictures, you might find this hard to believe but actually, Chris had very little to drink that night. Apparently, this is the most comfortable position for relief from overingestion of tortiere (meat pie) and maple syrup.

Sorry ladies....He's mine...... all mine!!!

This is the owner of la Sucrerie de la Montagne and host of all the festivities.

January 5th, 2007...Gord and Rebecca got married!! It was a great day of celebrations at Mont Tremblant.

The morning after the wedding, Chris and I once again parted ways. I arrived back in Ireland on the 7th and started classes on the 8th. Chris returned for his last few weeks of teaching and skiing.