But if I remember rightly I have an important function to fulfil for this blog. And that is to discuss the rugby! (I know, I know, try to contain the excitement).

Since I last wrote a lot of water has passed under this particular bridge, most notably Ireland’s first Grand Slam in 61 years and Leinster’s first Heineken Cup title. If I talked about them now having been nowhere to be seen at the time you might reasonably accuse me of only commenting with the benefit of hindsight but I did gamble on both at the time… and won
Anyway, we can play catch up later. Right now the next big event is the announcement of the Lions XV for Saturday’s first Test against reigning world champions, South Africa.

So here’s my head on the chopping block and my prediction for who will be named.

15 Byrne
14 Bowe
13 O’Driscoll
12 Roberts
11 Monye
10 Jones
9 Phillips
1 Jenkins
2 Mears
3 Vickery
4 Wyn-Jones
5 O’Connell
6 Wallace
7 Williams
8 Heaslip

Bench:
Sheridan
Ford
Shaw
Croft
Ellis
O’Gara
Kearney

Now this is not to say it’s necessarily the team I’d select but rather what I think we’ll hear tomorrow.

The close calls are 3, 6, 7, 10 & 11. I think Monye will get it for the finishing he’s demonstrated so far, form-wise Fitzgerald is next and rep-wise Williams although no spark on tour so far.
At outhalf Hook’s injury makes it a straight shoot-out between Jones and ROGJ. I reckon the Welsh heavy management will be prone to remember the Lions v Lions mauling all those Wednesdays ago. In fairness SJ is a sturdier defender.
Blindside would have been Ferris’ but for the injury. He was a beast, quick and opportunistic in his displays on tour. Croft looks pacey but flimsy and I never see him emerge to pats on the back from a ruck, ball in hand or having effected a turnover. The breakdown has been the disaster area of the tour so far. For the Boks Broussow, the turnover merchant, is in. Scrums gone well, lineout’s been fine, but the ruck is X-rated viewing from a Lion’s POV. So we need two openside’s. Wallace plays his best from 7 and we’ve yet to see his top level on this tour but these guys are smart enough to move around the back row depending on the situation. A bit of a risk, a bit unorthodox but combined with Wyn-Jones selection it makes sense.
Alun Wyn-Jones has played well given the chance and, although not rated the bruiser Bakkies Botha is, he has a physical dimension to his game. That said I have him in mainly for the lineout. O’C, W-J and Heaslip = 3 lineout options, which is plenty.
Murray’s injury makes Vickery’s selection very probable. He’s a Wasp, like Geech, Gatland and Howley as well as a one-time tour captain and has two RWC final’s worth of experience on the tank. He’s rucked well on tour and scrummaged none too badly.
Sheridan and Shaw are the pack impact grunts. Hopefully Croft can run into some 60th minute holes. ROG and Kearney allow a change-up to a tactical kicking control game. ROG for his nous whereas Kearney’s distance off the left-peg makes him a FB and wing replacement, backline versatility required on the bench with Hook’s absence.

My one concern is that the bench doesn’t make me automatically think IMPACT but in fairness you pick your XV to do that job really.

Eoghan and Ethan, checking out the Sunday papers.

Is there anything cuter than a laughing baby? If there is, I haven’t found it.

Have a great weekend!

As young whippersnappers, Eoghan and I don’t have many rituals or routines. You could blame this on our fabulous, spontaneous, jet-set lifestyle, or you could point out that it’s more likely due to the fact that we’re easily distracted and slightly disorganised.

But since moving into the new apartment, we’ve definitely been picking up a lovely new habit: proper lazy Sunday brunches.

French toast, bacon, maple syrup, OJ and a big pot o’ tea. Pure bliss.

Yesterday, we took our lazy Sunday on the road and met up with Corina and Anthony and headed to The Crafty Market in Dublin 8. Apart from the cutesy cupcake baby socks, pretty necklaces, great art and very pretty handmade handbags, there’s also a yummy waffle stand and some great coffee. I didn’t have my camera with me yesterday, but here are some quick shots I snapped last month.

I bought a couple of cards from this stand:

It’s on the first Sunday of each month and I’d heartily recommend checking it out.

After a leisurely wander around there, we went up the road to scope out the NCAD graduate show and then onto Ocean, where we flicked through the Sunday papers and got stuck into a few lots of spicy wings. Before you knew it, it was 8pm.

Sure, there was washing to be done, stuff to be sorted, photos to edit, emails to send. But when a lovely day spontaneously creeps up on you like that, can you really say no?

Posted in Dublin, Out & About Tagged: lazy Sundays, the crafty market ]]> http://casacaseycourtney.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/lazy-like-a-sunday-morning-2/feed/ 0 Nathalie Easy like.... The Crafty Market The Crafty Market The Crafty Market The Crafty Market http://casacaseycourtney.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/skewers/ http://casacaseycourtney.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/skewers/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:02 +0000 Nathalie http://casacaseycourtney.wordpress.com/?p=871 ]]>

Don’t they just scream ’summertime’?

I couldn’t let Communion season pass by without a shot from a very cute one  I photographed a few weeks ago.

More pics soon!

Is there anybody out there? Please hold while I wipe the cobwebs off this blog. I had no idea when we first decided to move apartment, ooh, well over a month ago now, that it would take this long to get internet.

I had heard the Eircom horror stories, but nothing could have prepared me for the pain, anguish and unhelpfulness. And since I have a strict no blogging at work policy, it meant this wee pet was left abandoned, and I am very sorry.

Would some flowers help make it up to you?

No? How about some cupcakes, made after a very fun and tipsy Cocktails & Cupcakes night to christen the new place?

Still not up to forgiving me? Well, try saying no to this face:

I have tried, and failed miserably.

Normal blogging will resume now, thank you please muchly to anyone who has stuck around (or who saw this in their GoogleReader, thought ‘where the hell has this lazy wagon been?’ and clicked out of curiosity).

Portobello Market, Notting Hill, London.

Taken at Portobello Market, Notting Hill, London.