Farewell 2013, it's been amazing!

If someone had said to me a year ago that 2013 would be a fantastic year, I wouldn't have believed them for a second. In truth, I dreaded 2013, and all the uncertainty that came with it. However, as the saying goes "13, unlucky for some," I have realised that it's not the number that matters, but rather what you do with that number.

Now, I find myself feeling somewhat nostalgic towards these past 12 months, and it's with a heavy heart that I will close this chapter on Wednesday.

In honor of this incredible year, I have decided to share some of my favourite memories from 2013.

Seeing The Killers live for the first time There's no greater buzz than seeing your favourite band play live, and it's even better when you've had to wait for it. After four long years, I finally got to see The Killers live in February, in only what can be described as a surreal, yet unforgettable experience. It didn't end there. Between February and November, I watched The Killers play live four times. The feeling of euphoria that these gigs brought is something that cannot be labelled with a pricetag, and while the band's future is now uncertain, I am grateful to have witnessed their musical genius.

Visiting New York For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to visit the bright lights of New York City. That dream was fulfilled in April. My family and I made the trip together to one of America's most exciting cities. We saw Times Square, we passed places where some of my favourite movies have been filmed, we took a horse ride around Central Park, we witnessed the beauty of the city from the top of the Rockerfeller Centre, we shopped until our feet were sore, and we sang along with the cast of Jersey Boys on Broadway. Never in my life have I experienced such a magical trip, and while I don't know if anything will ever match it, I can't wait to set foot in New York again.

Completing my third year of university to reach my final year. To most, this may seem like no great feat, but for someone that has struggled to come to terms with their college course since the very beginning, this was a huge deal for me. However, I suspect that 2014 will be even harder, but if all goes well, I shall have completed an undergraduate dissertation and earned myself a university degree by this time next year.

Turning 21 So, maybe this wasn't the grand spectacle that I thought it would be. I didn't have an expensive party, or suddenly figure out the meaning of life. Do I feel any different? No. Do I like any different? No(that's probably because I don't look nearly 21 to begin with). I did however, get a gorgeous homemade birthday cake from my parents. Not only did it have my name on it, but The Killers were on it too, and that's far more special than any party.

Meeting my new baby cousin There's something about children, and babies in particular that can lighten the mood in a room full of people. To me, children are one of life's most beautiful creations. Their laughter and innocence is infectious, and they never fail to cheer me up when I'm feeling down. My little cousin Luke, born in August, is no exception. I can't wait to watch him grow over the next few months.

Getting shortlisted in Hot Press Magazine This was pretty great. I entered a writing competition to win an internship with Irish magazine Hot Press, and my entry made the shortlist of the final ten in my category. Although I didn't win, the fact that a piece of my writing was recognised as being good, means more to me than any prize. For anyone interested, my entry was a gig review of english muscian Passenger, which can be read here.

Meeting Paul Rudd Alongside books, film is one of my greatest passions. There a few things that I enjoy more than settling on the couch with a good ol' movie, and there a few things more entertaining than a good ol' comedy. Paul Rudd is one of favourite comedy actors. Not conventionally hilarious, but there's something about his cute facial expressions and general silliness that I have always found endearing. After queueing for four hours in the bitter cold, I was lucky enough to meet this man at the Dublin premiere of Anchorman 2. Not only did he take a selfie with me(it's rubbish quality, but it still counts), and sign my hand, but he also tried to warm my hand up because it was freezing. Paul Rudd is a true gent, who deserves every success. I'm excited to see more of him on the big screen in the future!

What a year it's been. I can only hope that 2014 will bring even greater adventures. If not, I'll always have my memories.

Image courtesy of ChristmasStockImages

Video courtesy of Faptuary on Youtube

HOT PRESS FINALIST

So, something rather amazing happened to me yesterday.
About a month ago, I entered a writing competition in Ireland's biggest music magazine, Hot Press. After hearing nothing back from them, I assumed that I hadn't won. Then, yesterday I got an email to say that my entry had been shortlisted as a Top Ten finalist in my category. The overall prize is a two-week internship with Hot Press. This means the absolute world to me. Writing is what I love to do, and it's the one thing that I feel that I am good at.
Being shortlisted for this competition has given me so much confidence and self-belief in my writing ability, and I am so grateful to have been given an opportunity like this.

If anyone would like to help me win the internship, you can vote for me HERE.

Bastille grace Olympia Stage

There’s something endearing about a band that repeatedly thanks the audience for coming out to see them. It’s a refreshing display of humility and gratitude in an industry that is becoming increasingly dominated by money. But as Bastille took to the Olympia stage on Friday night, it was clear that the London quartet are still getting to grips with their newfound fame.

Opening with catchy hit Badblood, what is immediately evident is an affectionate casualness between the four lads that almost makes you feel as if you're watching your friend’s band rehearse in his basement, rather than the global chart toppers who are actually on stage.

What’s not casual however, is their performance. Flashing strobe lights, snare drums and questionable, yet infectious dance moves are all a loud accompaniment for the band’s blend of indie-rock and electronic pop.

 Not one to chitchat, lead singer Dan prefers to let his voice do the talking as he effortlessly rattles his way through popular hits Overjoyed and Things We Lost In The Fire.

At one point during the night, Dan decides that he wants a piece of the action and jumps into the crowd while launching into a rendition of Flaws much to the delight of his many admirers.

The setlist is an eclectic mix of new records such as Campus and Brave combined with old familiars like Laura Palmer, These Streets and Weight of Living Pt. II.

They even throw in a cover of City High’s What Would You Do? which instantly goes down a treat among their predominantly young spectators.

It’s a generous delivery of 17 songs that is sure to satisfy the masses.

During the encore, Dan playfully asks the audience to join in on his dancing during club anthem Of The Night, and of course the crowd are only happy to oblige.

As they bid farewell with their most well-known hit Pompeii, every single crowd goer jumps to their feet, a sure sign of an enjoyable night.

 Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Scary series special fails to pack punch

Last night marked the highly anticipated screening of the Pretty Little Liars mid-season finale Halloween special. 

Having ended the previous episode with the 'Ezra is A' bombshell, it appeared as if the Halloween episode was off to a promising start. And it was.

In the opening scene, we see Aria, Hanna, Emily and Spencer (in full victorian costume) heading to the Halloween Party that's being held in Ravenswood Cemetery. 

Victorian costumes? A party in a cemetery? This is shaping up to be the episode of the season. And then just like that, it begins to fall by the waist side. 

While in the cemetery, the girl's spot Red Coat(Alison) entering a crypt, and so they follow her. In what is nothing more than a head-spinning maze, the girls then travel from the crypt into a tunnel, and then through the tunnel into a mansion, rounding corners, and opening doors as they search for Alison. Along the way, Hanna and Spencer go missing, Hanna gets locked in a phonebooth before being freed by Caleb's new friend Miranda, Spencer attacks Ezra, the girls reunite, Hanna and Caleb part ways, and the girls get a flat tyre leaving Ezra to drive them home.

And then comes the episodes's BIG reveal. Alison Di Laurentis, who has been missing and presumed dead for the past four seasons is actually alive? Well, we definitely didn't see that one coming.

Yet again, after being promised answers by show creator I. Marlene King, the only bits of information that were were given are that Ezra is bad, and Alison is alive. And well, we sort of knew that already.

What about all of the other mysterious occurrences that were never explained?

- Who was the creepy man on the bus to Ravenswood, and what, if any, was the significance of his character?

- How did Aria not realise that she was holding hands with a statue, and not Hanna?

- Why did Spencer and Hanna disappear? Did someone grab them?

- What were those bright lights that Hanna saw shining through the telephone booth?

- Other than inflicting harm on one another, what was the purpose of Ezra going after Spencer?

- How did Ezra happen to drive his car around at the exact moment that the girls realised they had a flat tyre?

- While Hanna is in the phone booth, she see's Ezra or A grabbing Alison through the glass. At the end of the episode, Alison is alone. How did she escape his grip?

- After Ezra drops the girls off at Rosewood he drives away, but coincidentally reappears with Aria's phone at the exact moment that the girls are talking to Alison. Was his reappearance for the sole purpose of giving Aria back her phone, or did he know that Alison was there?

- How has Alison remained undiscovered for this length of time? Where has she been, and with whom?

- Is Ezra really the one that she fears the most?

- How did she get back to Rosewood so fast?

- More importantly, why is Ezra acting so creepy? What exactly does he want, and what is his motive?

With so many questions left unanswered, the real question is, are we ever going to find out the truth? We'll have to wait until at least January 7th to find out.

Film Review: Thanks For Sharing

When it comes to the issue of sexual addiction, there is an air of disillusionment amongst society. The idea that such a thing exists is not only humorous, but to a certain extent, seems almost unbelievable. In his new film Thanks for Sharing, director Stuart Blumberg attempts to remove this stigma.

Starring Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow, Thanks for Sharing follows the lives of Adam,  Mike, and Neil as they battle to overcome an addiction that has taken over their lives.

Adam (Ruffalo) is a successful environmental consultant living in New York, who after being sober for five years seems to be well on the road to recovery. This is until he falls for attractive cancer survivor Phoebe (Paltrow), who begins to question her feelings upon hearing Adam’s revelation.

Mike (Tim Robbins) is Adam’s sponsor, and also head co-ordinator for the AA meetings. For the past 15 years, Adam has dedicated his life to providing support for recovering addicts. But, in the midst of helping others, Mike has neglected his relationship with his own son Danny (Patrick Fujit), who has returned to the family home after struggling with an addiction of his own.

Neil (Josh Gad) is an emergency room doctor and Adam’s sponsee, who in the beginning is unwilling to take his addiction seriously.  However, when inappropriate behavior results in him losing his job, Neil is determined to turn his life around. It is during this time that he encounters fellow addict Dede, played by popstar Pink. Together, they keep each other in check, acting as a motivator each time one of them shows signs of faltering.

With instances of subtle humour throughout, Thanks for Sharing is an insightful, yet surprisingly enjoyable drama that explores the dark and lonely side of addiction, while illustrating the importance of family and friends in striving for a positive outcome.

Image top via Thanks For Sharing on Facebook

Dublin delights for Passenger

Not so long ago, he was playing warm-up for Ed Sheeran. Fast forward a few months, and Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger, is more than capable of holding his own on stage.

Greeting a packed Vicar St. crowd last night, he exclaimed, "It's great to be back" before launching into a rendition of Life's for the Living.

But, these are new times for Passenger. He's worked hard to get where he is today, and he's not afraid to let us know. Just five years ago, he tells the audience, he was playing to crowds of less that 20, most of whom never acknowledged his existence.

There are lighter moments during I hate in which he encourages the crowd to join in on his hatred of  "racist blokes," "ignorant folks," and The X Factor, to which he refers to as a "bunch of money grabbing pricks."

Most of the time though, it's a sombre affair. If he's not singing about broken hearts in Holes, it's his struggle to give up smoking in Riding to New York.

Occasionally, he demands silence as he attempts to sing unplugged versions of his songs sans a microphone. While it's great in theory, his quiet, yet beautifully raw voice seems to get lost among the louder members of the crowd, who are seemingly unwilling to shut up.

There are no lazers, fireworks, or even backing tracks. It's just Passenger and his guitar. For some, it's a confusing concept. For true music lovers, it's a sight to behold.

Let her go is an obvious high point, every member of the audience singing along note for note to the most popular tune in Ireland this year. One guy even shouts out the question that's on all of our lips, "why'd you let her go?," to which Passenger good-naturedly replies "good question!"

Admirably, each song is a story, all of which feature real emotions and real experiences. By the end of the night, you feel as if the person standing on stage is not so much a musician as a new companion.

He doesn't leave without saying that he'll be back soon, a promise that most of us will only be happy to hold him to.

It should probably be noted that if you enjoy shouting obscenities at the stage, or filming every song on your mobile phone, then this is not the gig for you.

Gorgeous Grunge

When it comes to fashion, every girl has a weakness. For some, it's handbags, for others, it's coats. Me? I'm a sucker for shoes, black ankle boots to be precise. Currently, I own about seven pairs, which isn't a lot considering that my shoe count is somewhere close to fifty. Every year, I have to buy at least one pair to take me through the Autumn/Winter season, and this year is no exception.

As soon as I set eyes on the Brazen Buckle boots from Office, I knew I had to have them.  My favourite feature is the buckle detail, which will instantly add a touch of grungy-glamour to any outfit. The heel height is not too imposing at around three inches, and the chunky, rubber, platform sole ensures that they are super comfortable to walk in. Because they are real leather, they are priced slightly higher than the average high-street boot. However, it's worth investing that extra bit of cash, as not only are these boots incredibly versatile, but they are also timeless, and will stand to you for many seasons to come!

Romwe Review

I first came across Romwe a few months ago through a fashion blogger, and instantly fell in love with their eccentric prints. With 20% off for first time buyers, and free international shipping, how could I say no?

Let me start off by saying that while I don't expect the items featured below to appeal to everyone's fashion tastes, I hope that this post will encourage those wishing to give Romwe a try, to go ahead and do so!

I don't tend to follow trends as per se, I'm more of a "if I like it, I'll buy it" type of person. As soon as I saw this Anserine dog print sweater, I knew I had to have it.  It's cute, quirky, and unique all rolled into one which is how I like to describe my style.

One thing that you will find with me is that I like to express my love of music through the clothes that I wear. I'm a huge fan of Vampire Weekend, and so, was immediately drawn to this sweater. All too often, band merch is only available in sleeveless shirts and/or t-shirts which are just not versatile if you live somewhere cold like I do. The long sleeves on this sweater will ensure that I'm able to continue my band-merch obsession through the chiller Autumn and Winter seasons.

Both this sweater, and the Anserine dog print are made of Nylon. The quality of the prints are good, and the sizing is quite generous considering that they are both a size small.

When I first went to order this shirt, I was devastated to realise that it had sold out. Upon seeing that it had been re-stocked a few weeks later, I did not hesitate to add this item to my cart.  I adore the Bart Simpson print, and feel that it really transforms this shirt from plain-jane denim into a real statement piece. The shirt itself is made from a good quality, heavy-denim material which is sure to keep you warm during the winter months.

In total, my items cost €74, which isn't bad considering that I have three new pieces of clothing that will take me right through the Autumn/Winter season.

It's also worth noting that each purchase came in a resealable plastic pouch, which is extremely handy if you are un-satisfied with a particular item and wish to return it.

On the downside, because I didn't have to pay for shipping, the delivery of the items took a little longer than I expected. I didn't receive my parcel until three weeks after my order date, and secondly, my order-tracking number didn't seem to work at all which did leave me feeling apprehensive. However, Romwe have since emailed me to check that my parcel arrived so I can't really complain.

All in all, my first Romwe experience has been a positive one, and I can't wait to show off my new purchases.

Happy shopping!

Substance Abuse: A Celebrity Epidemic

It's a sad world that we live in when a celebrity is willing to risk their life in order to occupy themselves, and their bucket-loads of cash. And no, I'm not talking about sky diving, I'm referring to the recent drug epidemic that is engulfing the stars of today.

At the start of the week, it was revealed by the media that model and singer, Sky Ferreira had been arrested for the possession of heroin, along with her boyfriend Zachary Cole Smith. Ferreira, who is just 21 years of age, had been due to perform with Vampire Weekend this Friday prior to her arrest. While her performance is still going ahead, the fact that she was willing to risk such an opportunity in order to "get high," raises questions on whether or not she deserved it in the first place.

That's not even the worst of it.
On Wednesday, I was informed that former Disney actor, Zac Efron had been admitted to rehab for substance abuse. Having never once heard his name and drugs being mentioned in the same sentence, I assumed that he was admitted for alcohol. As it turns out, the young heartthrob has been struggling with cocaine addiction for the past two years, unbeknownst to even his closet friends.
Thankfully, Efron is getting the help that he needs, and hopefully, he'll be on the road to recovery, sooner rather than later.

I still haven't come to terms with the recent death of GLEE star, Cory Monteith. A beautiful, talented guy who had his whole life ahead of him, killed in an instant by a bad decision that he made when he was young.

We only get one chance at life. Cocaine, Heroin, E, and all the others will still be around long after we've gone. Don't make the wrong choice.

To all the people that say drugs are "harmless," "cool," and "just a bit of fun," who are you trying to convince? Me, or yourself?

Give me a shot at the night!

They played the biggest gig of their career at Wembley Stadium earlier this year; now exactly 10 years after their first ever London show, The Killers are back with the release of their latest single.

Co-produced alongside M83's Anthony Gonzalez, "Shot at the Night" is the debut single taken from the band's forthcoming compilation album entitled Direct Hits, due for release in November.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on BBC's Radio 1, frontman Brandon Flowers said he wrote the song while touring in Australia with their current album, Battleborn.

Sticking to their Las Vegas roots, "Shot at the Night" is heavily 80s influenced as it attempts to capture the glitz and glamour of the band's beloved Sin City.

While there are no plans for a fifth studio album in the immediate future, Flowers said he hopes to begin work on his second solo album in 2014.

You know you're obsessed with a band when...

We've all been there(heck, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't still experiencing it now), spent our every waking moment pining over a group of musicians who've occupied our every thought ever since they sucked us in with that one song. You know, that one band whose music has changed your life, and whom you'd sell your soul to see live?

Your friends and family think you're being ridiculous, you say they don't understand. But, when does being a fanatic transcend into an obsession?

1.) Your Twitter name is a combination of your name plus the band's name.

2.) You have a Tumblr account dedicated to them.

3.) Your Instagram account is full of pictures of them.

4.) You think nothing of waiting in line for ten hours if it means being at the front for their concert.

5.) You put off booking your holiday, on the off chance that they might announce a tour.

6.) Every penny you earn is spent on their band merch.

7.) You can't go a day without listening to at least one of their songs.

8.) Your Youtube account history is nothing but live performances of the band.

9.) You're more than willing to get into an argument with another person if it means defending the honour of the band.

10.) You take an instant disliking to anyone who trash talks the band's music or any of the members.

11.) You're currently contemplating/have already gotten a lyrical/band-logo related tattoo because that's just how much you love them.

12.) You keep a stash of all newspaper articles/magazine interviews that they've featured in.

13.) One tour date is NEVER ENOUGH.

14.) When a new album comes out, you don't just buy one copy, you buy five.(they need the support and all that)

15.) You'd sacrifice your right limb if it means getting to meet the band.


Image courtesy of weheartit

Now you see me, now you don't

So, Tuesday night was the much anticipated mid-season finale of the hugely popular US drama, Pretty Little Liars. After three and a half seasons, the identity of serial blackmailer "A" would finally be revealed. For real this time. And guess what, it was Ezra! Yeah, remember the adorable, dreamy english teacher that all the girls fell in love with? Well, as it turns out, the ever-innocent Mr Fitz is actually an evil, obsessive psychopath that spends all of his time blackmailing, and monitoring his students' every move. Did I mention that he also has a fetish for dating young girls?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to admit that the writers caught me out.
Unlike previous plot twists, I definitely did not see this one coming. And, although subtle hints were dropped throughout the series, "Ezra the villain" just doesn't sit right. For one, it was never suggested that Ezra had another side to him, other than the sweet-loving, irresistible, caring teacher.
Secondly, with his big blue eyes, and baby-faced features, Ezra looks about as threatening as an excited puppy.

But in an episode that promised many answers, it seems that the audience were once again, left feeling more confused than ever.

• Was the whole "Mona is in danger" scenario nothing but a ploy to lure the girls to Ravenswood?
• What's Ezra's motive for being "A"?
• How did he find the time to monitor the liars on top of teaching, correcting homework, having a relationship with Aria, and looking after his son?
• Since when was Ezra an expert at hacking?
• Why would he want to frame Hannah's mother for murder?
• Who really killed Ian, Garrett, and Detective Wilden?
• What happened to Jason, Lucas, and Noel Kahn?
• What's the connection between Wren, Shana, Cece, and Melissa?
• What was the significance of the "Maggie" storyline?
• What has the death of Toby's mom got to do with anything?
• Why is Caleb moving to Ravenswood?

Viewers hoping to find out an explanation to Tuesday night's shocking revelation will have to wait until the Halloween Special, due to air on October 22nd. Let's hope that episode will shed some light on the somewhat murky town of Rosewood.

Image courtesy of Pretty Little Liar's via Facebook

Lost in translation

I've often wondered what life would be like if the Normans had never invaded, and Irish had remained the primary language of Ireland.

On a recent holiday to Portugal, I was somewhat unnerved by the language barrier between the two countries.

You know how it is, you meet some nice portuguese guy in a club, you're chatting away, everything's going great, and then you say something, and he turns to his friend and laughs while blabbering away in portuguese, no doubt at your expense!

Not only do I find this "habit"(it happens a lot) extremely irritating, but I also find it incredibly rude.

Sure, I would've loved nothing more than to give them a taste of their own medicine, and launch into a  a good old-fashioned Irish rant. But, the truth is I could hardly string a sentence together let alone pull-off an intelligent conversation.

And yeah, they might not have known the difference, but I would've.

Most of all though, I envied them, for those two guys shared something that is unique to Portugal alone, their language.(even the Brazilians are said to have their own variation)

That's why, even though I can't see myself becoming a novice in the Irish language anytime soon, I'm going to make it my mission to hang onto those cúpla focal, if not for the sole reason of protecting a piece of my heritage!

Serving up a treat!

In honour of the US Open starting this weekend, I've taken my pick of the Top 5 guys of this year's tournament, who are guaranteed to make you go googly-eyed! Because, what girl doesn't enjoy watching a fit man getting all hot and bothered?

5.) Richard Gasquet

So, he may not be a grandslam champion, but his consistency in the rankings has meant that the world number 9 is present in tournaments long enough for us women to enjoy the view.

Let's face it, no girl can resist a french accent!

4.) Andy Murray

While he's not conventionally handsome in the boy-next-door sense, Britain's Andy Murray has secured his rep as a genuine, down to earth guy after he dedicated this year's Wimbledon win to his ill friend, and fellow player Ross Hutchins.

3.) Novak Djokovic

As the current world number 1, Serbia's Novak Djokovic knows how to hit all the right shots when it comes to his fellow competitors. Off-court, however, this cheeky chap is better known as the comedian of the locker rooms thanks to his hilarious impressions of other players.

If his post-win, celebratory dances are anything to go by, he's a good mover too!

2.) Grigor Dimitrov

Narrowly missing out on the top spot is hunky, young gun Grigor Dimitrov. At just 22 years of age, the fresh-faced Bulgarian is beginning to turn heads as he continues his rise up the ATP rankings. But be warned, any lady hoping to win over Grigor's affections will have fierce competition from his girlfriend, and fellow tennis star, Maria Sharapova.


1.) Rafael Nadal

Top of my list, and taking the crown as the sexiest player on tour is spanish born, and world number 2, Rafael Nadal. With his toned arms, and irresistible tanned skin, Rafa could make any female go weak at the knees.
Did I mention that he also models for Tommy Hilfiger?
Want more of Rafa? Here he is looking hot alongside Shakira in one of her music videos.

All images via athlete's official Facebook page

Game, Set, Murray!

Scotland's Andy Murray has become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry 77 years ago, after defeating world no.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

In a match that was laden with long, drawn out rallys, it was the second seed who took the initiative, going up two sets to love after two hours of play.

With a break early in the third set, it looked as if the Wimbledon title was firmly under Murray's grasp as he held serve for 4-1.

However, persistence and power from Djokovic saw the Serb break back to 4-4.

Spurred on by the crowd, Murray broke back immediately, giving him the opportunity to serve for the match.

Serving for the title at 5-4,  Murray saved two break-back points before claiming the title 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, to rapturous cheers from the crowd.

Murray adds the Wimbledon title to his Olympic Gold Medal and US Open title, both of which he won last year.

Image courtesy of Carine06 via Flickr

10 Days in Dublin

In what only can be described as a moment of madness, fueled by extreme boredom, I answered an ad a few months ago looking for volunteers for an arts festival called 10 Days in Dublin(10DID).

Running from the 4th-13th of July, 10DID is an open-format, multidisciplinary festival that aims to showcase some of Ireland's up and coming talent through various art mediums, including film, music comedy, theatre, visual art, and spoken word.

Although apprehensive at first, I am delighted to report that my first day as a festival volunteer went off without a hitch. As film assistant, my job was to supervise the other volunteers whilst greeting customers, taking their tickets, and showing them to their seats before the screenings began.

While the hours may be long, and the work unpaid, I have gained some valuable experience, independence, and responsibility which will certainly stand to me in the future.

On top of that, not only have I been given the opportunity to view some excellent films and documentaries by Ireland's fresh-faced filmmakers, but I have also met many fantastic people that make working for free a whole lot easier!

For more information on 10DID, visit http://www.10daysindublin.com/ 

Mad About Books

I've lost count of the amount of times I've walked into Easons/WHSmith full of enthusiasm at the thought of purchasing a new book, only to leave disappointed and empty-handed when I find that they do not stock my novel of choice.

Unwilling to admit defeat, and in desperate need of a good read, I head online to Amazon where my desired novel can be ordered and delivered right to my door, albeit with a few extra delivery charges.
Faced with no other option in the past, I have resigned to forking out those extra euros to have my book shipped over to me.

Now though, it seems as if my days of paying postal charges for books are set to come to an end. A few days ago, I stumbled across BookDepository.com, a website that stocks over 9 million different titles, so you're almost guaranteed to secure your book of choice. Registration is not required before making an order, and the best part? FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY.

So, on behalf of book lovers everywhere, get buying!!!

Image courtesy of Ginny via Flickr

New beginnings

After months of "will I, won't I?", I have decided to bite the bullet and start a blog. Having deprived the world of my intellectual wisdom for so long, I thought it only fair to share my knowledge with the rest of the human race.

So, here's to blogging!

-Claire