Settling In

It’s been almost two months since I arrived in Dublin. When I first came, it snowed almost every day (though with little accumulation). Then there were harsh winds and overcast skies. Now, the weather seems to be taking a turn for the warmer, with some days of nicely sunny skies breaking through.

I’ve been lucky to have some contract work while I’ve been here (since I can’t legally work here yet), and hopefully more contract work will be in the future. In the meantime, I’ve taken steps to submit my visa application (a whole blog post in and of itself), and just settle in. With the warmer weather, I’ve been more motivated to do things (rather than just working or sitting on the couch!). A few fun things I’ve discovered:

1. Slow-roasted tomatoes: we’ve been accumulating tomatoes recently, and a brief Google search yielded options for a variation on the sun-dried tomato theme: turning on the oven to a low temp (about 100 C) and letting the tomatoes dry/bake for several hours. The result is indescribably delicious (and which I will blog about later).
2. Gardening: We’ve taken the plunge to getting a garden plot, or allotment. It’s quite large, with endless opportunities (and challenges!). Hopefully in the next week or so, we’ll have a chance to prep the space and set up the raised beds. In the meantime, seeds have been ordered. Stay tuned for a lot of posts on this front.
3. Biking: I will confess, I’ve been on a bike once since I was 16. But, given that I’m in the ‘burbs and I don’t want to get a car, the bike is a great way to go. Plus, I could use the exercise! So I bought a bike – named her Aoife – and have been exploring some of the local cycle tracks. I’d like to train for a charity ride, so I suspect there will be some posts coming up on how I’ve managed that.
4. Shedding kilos: I’ve managed to drop a few kilos since I arrived (3 to be exact), so hopefully the next 3 will go just as quickly. I attribute this to cutting out a large amount of junk food (though not all!) and lots of home cooking. Judging by our organic scraps box, we go through a LOT of veg and fruit. Will update on this front in mid-June!
5. Cooking: I love to cook, and working from home (and sharing said home with someone) means more opportunity to try out new recipes. The cooking shows on BBC and elsewhere are fantastic – dishes you actually want to try to make (and don’t seem ridiculously difficult). One particular favorite for me is BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Next stop: trying out some of Paul Hollywood’s (swoon) bread recipes.
6. Reading: I’ve actually managed to get some reading in, mostly my meditation books (as part of my meditation teacher training). Now that it is getting warmer, I’m hoping to maybe sit outside int the grass and read more.
7. Farm shop: My SO took me to a farm shop and cafe when I was here last year, and we’ve since visited several times in the past few weeks. The cafe has delicious food, and the shop sells not only their own produce but also other items. They aren’t all local (farmers’ markets here are not the same as in the US), but by law provenance has to be labeled on produce and meat so I can see where things come from. I am always amused by the French and Dutch potatoes, and I confess to having bought some pineapples from Costa Rica.

So far, things have been really wonderful here. I’ve also been taking classes at a local yoga studio, and getting my home office set up. There has also been a good amount of walking in a local park, as well as some day hiking. In a few months, I’ll start the job hunt in earnest, and will hopefully see some fruitful results!

down to the last drop

It’s no big secret that Irish weather is not for the faint of heart. But it’s been particularly hard to deal with the past few weeks, with constant clouds, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and the coldest, most biting wind ever. However, the past few days has brought a dry spell (and mostly sunny skies), which would normally be great news. Except, for reasons I am still trying sort out, the dry spell has coincided with water rationing.

As an American who lived in the Midwest and East Coast, water rationing is something of a mystery to me. I’ve experienced it in other countries, but the eastern part of the US is a relatively wet climate, and even when there is drought, there is still water. Specifically, the water that is treated for drinking and other household usage tends to sit in reservoirs that are designed to a capacity far greater than the population they serve.  In the western part of the US, of course, water rationing is not uncommon, but it is much drier, and the lack of groundwater/rainwater causes shortages.

Ireland, however, is a wet rainy island, with abundant groundwater. In fact, as far as I can tell, the reservoirs that hold water are full. However, the reservoir that holds potable water for Dublin city is low (and another one has some sort of contamination). So, the city has decided to reduce the water pressure to preserve water for 12 hours every night. For most people, this results in almost no cold water (there is still hot water, as that comes into the boiler, so presumably, until that runs out, one is ok) from about 7 pm to 7 am. I can only assume the bottled water companies are experiencing a windfall right now.

Now, as I snicker over the idea of a rainy island experiencing a water shortage, I have to admit this is the second time I’ve been here for one. The reasons given include unusually cold weather lasting longer than expected, which causes leakages in the reservoirs and pipes. I think the contamination in the second reservoir might also be an important factor this time around. And apparently, water usage goes up when the weather is colder. The city has issued some water-saving measures including reducing shower time, turning off the tap when brushing teeth, and only running dishwasher/washing machine when full. This is clearly a system built for its climate – I could only imagine the havoc wreaked if people were washing cars or watering lawns. It’s not that cold here though, and certainly there are reservoirs and systems around the world that will hold up under much colder temperature. I can only assume there is no political will here to upgrade the system, which seems about par for the course.

happy easter

 Yahoo! told me recently that carrot cake is a traditional Easter dessert. Easter is kind of a big holiday here, with bank closures on Friday and Monday (and some businesses too). I assume everyone will go to church tomorrow, but I like the idea of celebrating in a culinary fashion (tonight I’m apparently having fish pie). I’m not a big fan of carrot cake, but I do love the cream cheese frosting. So I thought I could see if I could figure out a version that I’d find tasty. I’m not sure what I don’t really like – I think it’s the weird stringy carrots and the greasiness. Plus it’s so super sweet. I’ve also discovered recently that I’m not really a cake fan – I much prefer denser chewier pastries (flaky pastries excepted).

So I dug around the internet for a bit trying to find a recipe that either fit the bill, or seemed easily modifiable. What I ended up with was a mix of two of my go-to sites: Simply Recipes and 101 Cookbooks. The first is more of a typical recipe, but it did give me some sense of proportions, temperature and timing for cupcakes. The second is more my kind of baked good, though I do like a bit more spice. So between the two, I fashioned more of an iced carrot muffin, a bit denser, not crumby, and much less sweet, but with some body and a good mouthfeel. And a heck of a lot of carrots.

I don’t have a good recipe for this, since I eyeballed most of my ingredients and added more when I felt the batter didn’t quite suit. I am also working with an oven with a faulty thermostat, so there was some element of guesswork on temperature and timing. But, if anything, that makes the whole thing more forgiving, so if anyone wants to duplicate, here’s a general idea of what I worked with:

makes 12 cupcakes

zest of one orange, finely minced
4 dates, finely minced and a bit mashed
1 small banana, mashed
2 eggs, room temperature
300g shredded carrots
0,5 tsp vanilla (vanilla bean would be nice too)
0.75 cup coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp honey
3-4 tbsp maple syrup
0.5 cup buttermilk or thinned yogurt

1.5 cups flour + 2-3 tbsps
0.5 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
0.5 tsp nutmeg
0.5 tsp ginger
(can add cardamom, cloves, allspice, etc, too!)

200g cream cheese, room temperature
3 tbsp maple syrup
(can add additional sweetener of any kind here, I ended up adding 3 tbsp of powdered sugar too)

1. Combine orange zest, dates, and banana in a small bowl. Mix and mash til well combined.
2. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add carrots, vanilla, coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, and yogurt, and combine well.
3. In separate bowl, combine, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
4. Fold dry ingredients into wet, and avoid overmixing. If too wet, add more flour; if too dry, add more coconut oil or buttermilk. My batter was very thick and not at all runny, which yields a more bread-like consistency vs cake.
5. Bake 15-20 minutes at 175 C (take them out when slightly underdone), and let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting, combine the cream cheese with the maple syrup and other sweeteners as desired. As a note, this makes a somewhat runny frosting, so some coconut oil or  butter might give it better structure. After frosting, store muffins in refrigerator.

And enjoy!  I might try adding some orange juice to the batter next time, or possibly some zest to the cream cheese frosting. I suppose you can add some spice to the frosting too. I would love those little frosting carrots too, but I couldn’t be bothered to make them. A sprinkling of desiccated coconut on top could be tasty too (tossed in a little sugar or toasted maybe?).

blogging from the emerald isle

I’m blogging again. I’m fairly terrible at this. But when I was in Mongolia, I was mostly consistent about it, so think maybe I can be the same here. Mostly though, I’ve found tremendous value in reading other people’s blogs, and so perhaps one day my accounting of my experiences can be helpful to someone else. First up: a status  update.

On March 11th, I flew to Ireland. A few weeks before that, I left my job (of approximately 10 years) and became an independent consultant (note: if anyone needs a global health writer, hit me up). I’m in Ireland to undertake the process to be with my partner of 3 years, and am having not only the very personal experience of transition, but also the possibly more stressful challenge of navigating the bureaucracy to establish myself as a legal resident.

There is a decent amount of information on the internet, and some very nice people have posted the steps they’ve taken to make this work. I’m hoping to emulate their processes (tailored to fit my circumstances of course) and have the same success.

The goal is a de facto relationship visa. It will give me permission to stay (and work) for a year at a time. It is not an easy process however, and the first step is just figuring out what we need to apply. Stay tuned….

Turning 35

I’ve come to terms with not being a blogger. But I’ve also realized that I have a lot to say. While the posting might not be too frequent, but it’s still important to get the words out when I can. So, reboot. Again.

I turn 35 in 5 weeks. 5 is a nice number – one that resonates well with me. 35 is something of a turning point too. So, in anticipation of the auspicious occasion, I’m hoping to bring 35 with a full embodiment of my dreams, values, and goals, and spending the next 5 weeks in doing so.

Step One: Resurrect the daily sadhana. In the past, this was waking up at a decent hour, taking a few moments to tidy up my space, brew coffee, and then meditate or yoga (or both). In the evenings, usually I sit and sometimes incorporate some mindful movement (or all out dance). Lately, this has been less than daily. And lack of routine has found its way into other parts of my life. Bringing this back, even in the smallest form, will help re-center and re-focus.

Step Two: Get serious about health. I’m working to make boxing 2-3 times a week, and personal training 2 times a week. I’ve also gotten a pedometer, and trying to reach 10,000 steps a day. Next up will be to clean up the diet. In mid-late October, I’ll undertake a 2 week detox to jumpstart that process.

Step Three: Declutter. I’ve been accumulating a lot of papers, and other stuff lately. Time to start cleaning house.

More steps to follow, but I’ll allow them to arrive organically.

a lot can happen in a year

I have to get the hang of this posting frequently business.  I thought that I would be lazy on blogging because I had nothing to say.  It turns out, the busier you are and the more you do things, the less often you blog.  I’m not sure if it is because of the time commitment, the attention span, or something else.

A lot has happened since the last post, and since before then too.  In fact, a lot has happened in the past year, which lends credence to the whole “a lot can happen in a year” cliche.  Because, you know, it’s so true.   Let me serve as an example.

This time last year, I was sitting on a beach in Kerala thinking about which book I wanted to read next and whether I’d wake up early enough for morning yoga.  I had a “routine” of sorts: wake up, maybe take yoga, grab a late breakfast (kerala coffee, whole wheat toast with pb, maybe fruit and yogurt, or even an omelette), sit on a terrace, watch the ocean, check some email, window shop, dip my toes in the water, take another yoga class, rinse, repeat.  On March 2nd, I left India for Malaysia, where I spent 3 weeks in Borneo pretty much doing the same thing (minus the yoga, plus more alcohol).

That was my life, basically until late May.  I did return to the US in early April, but, with no job as yet, I headed back to Asia for a couple more weeks – a last hurrah maybe – before finally returning and settling into the 9-5.  And so, right around Memorial Day weekend, I started a job, which, for the second half of 2010, basically consumed my life.

But it wasn’t the only thing – the end of the year was also marked with the entry into a yoga teacher training program, which proceeded to eat up any leftover free time I had (after work sucked most of it).  What a change from counting coconuts in palm trees from the second floor terrace of a beachside hotel.

The beginning of 2011 saw the end of teacher training, which I suppose means I am now a yoga teacher.  It also saw more long work hours, and in a few days, will see the move back into a permanent home of sorts.

And I’m leaving out a couple of trips to Ireland, two other moves, and a gym membership that I definitely do not make the most of…

So, in a year I went from wandering aimlessly for several months around Asia, to taking on an important and intensive work committment, to moving and moving again, to starting and completing yoga teacher training, to the beginning of a nest.

A lot certainly can happen in a year.

emergence

It’s been almost 6 months since I last posted, and I have no excuse except that life got busy with the new job, after a year or so of a low-key lifestyle.  The difference between life “over there” and “over here” is stark.  In Mongolia, I had a small community of friends, limited social activities in a smallish town, and lots of free time to experiment in the kitchen, wander the city, or take a few weeks to head into the countryside.   Some things fell by the wayside – my yoga practice wasn’t regular, for example – but I did get a chance to do lots of things I’ve always wanted to do.

The biggest difference, I think, has been in the kitchen.  In Mongolia, I got to spend time making things I’d never think about making – so long as I could find the ingredients.  And when I couldn’t, I learned to substitute.  And when you are forced to make something “imperfect”, and have it turn out ok, I think that slowly starts to penetrate other parts of your life too.  Frankly, that’s a lesson this control freak could stand to learn many many times.

But here, we have everything again, and I don’t have to think too hard about making something.  In fact, sometimes I don’t have to think about making anything at all, as evidenced by the other day when I ordered baked pasta for delivery.  A simple 4-ingredient dish and it was much easier to order in than to go to the store and buy the ingredients and make it myself.

So I’m trying to get back into the habit of cooking, because I like to do so, and because it’s healthier.   I’m experimenting in different ways now – instead of trying to figure out substitutes, I’m making creative dishes with disparate leftovers of ingredients before they go bad.  The results have been not too bad – putting feta in polenta, brussels sprouts in risotto, persimmon in cookies, candied ginger in bran muffins, parsley and soy sausage with whole wheat pasta, etc.  Freezing overripe fruit for smoothies.

The latest attempt tonight was cranberry ginger bran quickbread.  The recipe started as muffins, before I realized I only had a small muffin tin.  So I used a shallow loaf pan instead, and it baked up beautifully.  After it cooled, I sliced it up and have frozen half of it for morning breakfasts (maybe with a little peanut butter?).  The cranberries were dried and sweetened, but I might try fresh ones next time.  The ginger I candied myself, and keep stored in the fridge in its own syrup (which I added to the recipe).

So here’s hoping this is the start of a new old habit again…