FRIENDS DAY OUT

Friendship is like building a relationship with a stranger then later on strengthen with common likes and experiences together both good and bad. It is great to  have somebody to share laughters with, to have advisers and to confide with. Knowing that somebody is there to pull you up at your lowest is such a reassuring thing. 

Friends Ces and sister -in- law Angel decided to go to Limerick for a change! (husbands agreed, and gave us a needed break ;p ) first Saturday of March.. We usually just have coffee in our fave Mocha and Co. Cafe in Ennis, but we wanted some adventure  and shopping! Trippers as we are, we decided to take the bus. Well none of us know how to drive yet so we opted to take the public transportation. As we know, Sylvia (another sister -in-law) have a tight schedule that we couldn't just ask her right there and then. Limerick is just 45 minutes away from Ennis, so the travel is grand. You get to sight seeing as well as the Bus goes from town to town till Limerick City. This was the time when I just recovered from 2 weeks of flu and It was still chilly when we went. We've been in Limerick many times before but never together and in a Bus at  that!

We met up at the Bus Station at 9:45am, got return tickets which is EU 14 per person from the ticket machine and hop in the Bus. We Arrived in Limerick and took a cab down to our first stop TK Maxx which is about 15-20 minutes from the City Centre. TK Maxx is a great shop with designer brands  and affordable stuff which is funky and unique in itself. The girls and I separated ways to give each other space and time to browse and check on what to buy. I wanted a holdall bag and a small backpack for an upcoming travel and also a comfy shoes. I think we spent 2 hrs in the shop!  They both got stuff for their kids , homeware and sunglasses. Angel got stuff for Sinead's first birthday too. 

Nearly lunchtime, we walked ( yes we walked about 15-20 minutes on a chilly day) to Childers Road another shopping area  to grab a bite at KFC. Full and refreshed,we then continued checking the shops. . . and buy! ;) Afternoon, decided to have a coffee break at Costa Coffee before calling the cab.

Me calling Pat, the cab driver who took us to TK Maxx : "Hello is this Pat?"

Pat: "Yes"

Me: "Are you in the City"

Pat:"Yes, I am"

Me: "Remember the girls you drop off TK Maxx? Can you please Collect us?"

Pat: "What?? You're still shopping? (laughs)

His reaction was just hilarious! It was like 4pm.Well, we told him where we were and he collected us, was such a funny, nice  man ( like a grandpa ) and he teased us on the bags of stuff that we have. Pat drop us off the City Centre... And the shop browsing didn't end there haha. We continued around the city till we got tired already and headed to the Bus Station.

In the bus I was feeling sick already, so I decided to take a nap. Finally in Ennis almost 7pm, felt a bit better, we said our goodbyes and parted ways. Got home and had a terrible headache. But happy coz of the bonding time and I bought what i wanted. All in all an awesome day! 

Next trip? hmmm ;p

Photos:

was down with the sickness...

photo by ehow.com

I  thought that I wouldn't catch it  but I did... the dreaded flu! I was the last one in the house who had it. I seldom get sick but when I do it is the worst!. I got dry, tickly cough too. I know it's not always good but I just self medicate. I would just buy  over the counter meds , drink tea with lemon and honey and smother myself with vicks vaporub before I go to sleep. 

 I think I had it coz I was surrounded with sick family members and the weather. It is still freaking cold!, I seldom go out, and when I do it is just to run errands. I just prefer staying at home with my pj's and all. Weak immune system that is what it is too. I don't take vitamins... I don't know I just don't want to be dependent  on meds as much as possible. I just eat healthy food. But now after flu, I would definitely  take vitamins.

Flu in a cold climate is far worst ... there's migraine, sinusitis, runny nose, nausea, you name it. At least in a tropical weather you get to sweat and be relieved for awhile, here you get cold feet and hands most of the time. Despite the heaters on, you still have  to wear fleece sweaters  and pj's and thick socks.  What I hate about being sick is the loss of appetite. Sick with flu, I still do the cooking and I just take spoonfuls of food and that's it. The food itself is not appetising to me. Like I am cooking beef stew but wishing it was "fish with malunggay" (a native veggie back home) or "kinason soup"  (seashell soup ). I am into seafood and I don't get to eat them here that much. 

Then losing weight aarrghhhh!!! I  find it so hard to gain weight that is why I dread being sick. It will take awhile for me to get back on my appetite. My friends advised that I  have to double my dairy intake, well I am now. I have a  fattening program. Hope it will work, I have 2 weeks and so to gain coz my skinny jeans are lose and I have to travel somewhere and I don't want to buy jeans that is a  size smaller than I normally wear.

So there, sickness sucks coz I can't afford to be in bed the whole time  if I wanted to. I still need to do the chores etc. in sickness and in health hahaha  (till death do part indeed) There is no comfort food which is just sad.... and there is no manghihilot  (a person who  home service massage with herbal oil ) to relieve muscle pains. You must have heard it a thousand times.. "You just can't afford to get sick when you are away from home" .Recovery is easier  and faster when you are home because of Mother.

Here is ehow's Flu Prevention:

1.Avoid sharing drinking and eating utensils with people who are sick.

2.Wash your hands before eating'it really does help keep germs away.

3.Increase your vitamin C intake'which may boost your immune system by eating ample amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. Oranges, tomatoes and broccoli are good choices.

4.Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Herbal teas and diluted fruit juices are good options for increasing your water intake.

5.Get enough sleep. Most people need at least 7 to 8 hours a night for optimal rest.

6.Manage your stress. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system.

7.Take a multivitamin every day to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals.

8.Exercise regularly 'it's been shown to reduce the occurrence of colds and flu.

Let us  try to avoid the tissue box and follow the  simple steps.  After all Life is not merely  to be alive, but to be well. Wishing for  a speedy recovery to those who are sick and Good Health to Everyone.


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