stocking up at avoca!

this is a picture of my friend, mary clarke, making sure she gets her supply of cocoa bean. apart from a chocolate obsession, she also is fairly hooked on lunch at avoca and managed to also fit in a visit to avoca, suffolk street - all in one weekend! if you've never been to avoca, it's a fabulous and funky department store with unusual clothes, kitchen accessories, books and food. Try their quiche, fresh salads, cakes and coffee. you may sigh a lot as you go round the shop, wishing you could have everything...

kinvara (chinn mhara) head of the sea

if you've never been to kinvara in county galway, it is well worth a visit. it's the home of the cuckoo and crinniu festivals, a major gateway to the spectacular burren and home of burrenbeo, an interpretative centre with a fabulous cafe and a shop that sells our chocolate!


for those who don't know the magical burren, it's ireland's flagship heritage landscape: a land of fertile rock with diverse flora and fauna, unique panaramas and a rich and vibrant culture.

tonight was the official launch of the burrenbeo trust's new colour magazine and their monthly walk takes place tomorrow (sunday) at 2pm. just to let you know that everybody is welcome on the walk. look at http://www.burrenbeo.com/ for more details.