Last week I turned 26. I had thought that being away from everyone that I know and love would put a serious dampner on the day, so I decided that my experience of the day was all going to be down to my attitude - embrace the expressions of love from afar, appreciate that they were thinking of me, and be grateful for the incredible new friends that I have here at Ballymaloe!
It worked like a charm, my Mum had knitted me an epic cardigan which I opened on skype (video) with her and my little brother and it fits brilliantly (it is keeping me warm as I type!) - such a brilliant present as it was a total labour of love. Crazily busy day at the school all day but they produced a spectacular cake for me, and all sang happy birthday (led by Darina!) - such a sucker for acts of sentimentality.
Me with my plate of birthday sushi made by my Japanese housemate Satoko
The big event of the day was the dinner....Lara had taken charge and organised a pot luck dinner, which was nowhere near as humble as the name suggests. We were spoilt with fresh sushi, korean vegetable dish that I never did learn the name of, jerk chicken and cous cous, caponata, mackrel, prawn curry,

To die for lemon meringue pies by Jeni
followed by mini lemon meringue pies, coconut rice pudding with fresh mango, chocolate delights and apple crumble. All washed down with many bottles of Australian wine (in honour of the birth country!). It was a great night of food, wine and lots of laughs and I was bowled over by the outpouring of friendship and sweetness from my new Ballmaloe crew.

Satoko holding my bday cake while the gang sang me happy birthday : )
From adopted Irish hospitality to la dolce vita...
After an epic day battling Ryan Air and their ridiculous policies I made it into Parma at 1am on Saturday morning, walking through those familiar streets has never felt so good!
Blue skies and pretty flowers in Parma
Lovely to see Ant again and to speak for longer than a skype connection can hold out (always tenuous when using Irish wifi). I enjoyed just wandering around and seeing the familiar Parma things, speaking Italian, being back in the little apartment in Borgo Retto (this was the last time. for real!) and getting excited about seeing my friends again.
Pizza con salamino picante
We got together for dinner at Orfeo, the pizza restaurant that stole our hearts (or should that be stomachs?) this year. Cheap, delicious, decent wine sold in carafes - what more could a student ask for?

Virginie and I enjoying our gelatos!
Followed (obviamente!) by a gelato at K2 best gelateria of all time. That is, until they didn't have caffe gelato when we arrived! Che palle....didn't dim the gusto with which it was enjoyed - not a lot of high quality gelato kicking around in Shanagarry.
Hard to top seeing friends and boyfriend and being in happy little Parma....ooh but wait there's more! Enter a surprise birthday trip to Venice stage left. Parma is only three hours by train from infamous Venezia and some people (yes Judy I am thinking of you!) from Uni have been there more times than I could count this year - but I hadn't been since 2001. Blearyeyed we rolled onto the train at 8am on a Sunday and my god was it worth it when we stepped out of the train station and saw this view
If I had had to go home after that ten minutes standing on the steps soaking it up I would still have been happy - there is something about the vistas of Venice for me that was like taking a big long refreshing drink of beautifulness, rehydrating the soul.
Kebabtastic
Lunch was impromptu and improvised - a delicious kebab (they claimed they were the first in Venice) eaten in the sun, sitting by the side of a small canal, drinking red wine out of small tupperware beakers brought from home! Wouldn't have traded it for a michelin starred meal.
Classic Venitian moment
On the Ponte Academia looking over the Grand Canal
Mesmerising cloud formations over the Isola della Giudecca