Lifestyle

9 Things I Miss About Ireland

June 25, 2015
Irish Fashion Day Trip Chic 12

Original Post

Writing last Friday’s post (Stripes and Sickness) really got me thinking about the things I miss from Ireland. I think sometimes people at home think the grass is greener away from Ireland (I know I sure used to), but everyone gets pangs of homesickness every now and again. For me, these pangs are even worse (and more prolonged) since I’ve been sick.

It’s been 9 months since I left home and moved to New York, so I guess it’s only natural to have a touch of homesickness. The funny thing is I know if I was to go home for a few days I’d want to come back right away! I do think I need a few days at home though, but I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon…

When it comes to the things I miss, obviously I miss my family and friends and hate missing out on family events. Bank holidays or holiday times in general are also hard. But there are a few other things I miss. Some are pretty obvious things and others are just me being me really. 🙂

1. Food

I could probably write one full post dedicated to the food I miss from home. In my last post I mentioned how the food isn’t ‘clean’ here and I would only LOVE some Irish food in my life right now.

First on the list is chocolate (of course!!). American chocolate tastes stale. Thankfully you can get Irish chocolate here. It’s pricey, but it’s so worth it! The selection isn’t as good though and I can’t get Wispa Gold’s (my favs). It’s also great to get random chocolate deliveries.

Next up is the bread. The bread here is full of sugar. Now I have a sweet tooth and I love my sweet treats, but when I want bread, I want bread, not sugar filled bread. It’s weird.

Coleslaw. I LOOOOOOVE Irish style coleslaw and all it’s mayonnaise(y) goodness! The coleslaw over here tends to be more vinegar based (which is horrible!). You will find some places with mayonnaise based coleslaw but there’s not enough mayo (it’s all about the mayo)! It’s no where near a tasty as what we get at home.

Crisps!!! Especially Walkers Thai Sweet Chilli Sensations and Doritos Chilli Heatwave (I’m making myself so hungry right now)!!

These are just a few things off the top of my head, but there is so much more – Sunday roasts, restaurant food, deli food, I could go on and on.

2. Penneys

Irish Fashion Pink Stripes 20

Original Post

No post about the things you miss from Ireland would be complete without mentioning Penneys. As silly as it may sounds, I really do miss the place.

Everytime I see their Instagram and Facebook updates, I get some serious pangs of jealousy. They’re opening their first stores over here in September and I cannot wait to raid them.

3. My Car

I miss the freedom of having a car. Traffic in New York can be crazy, so I don’t really miss it for commuting. I tend to miss my car most when the heavens decide to open out of absolutely nowhere (a tip if you’re planning to visit NY – never leave without an umbrella) or when I want to take a trip somewhere close by.

There was a few days over winter too where having my car would have been amazing. Especially the when it was so cold and snowy (it’s so hot right now, it’s so hard to imagine it was ever that cold)!!

4. Walking

Things I Miss About Ireland: Walking

Original Post

This one probably sounds a little funny because I walk everyday, but I don’t actually go for a walk like I used to at home. I miss that. It was my time to relax and unwind. Here, I just don’t seem to ever have the time to go for a dedicated walk. I also really miss walking in the countryside, as opposed to a city. Central Park is the closet thing I have here… not a bad substitution though. 🙂

5. Our Dogs

We have two dogs at home, Hero and Diesel. They’re both absolutely cracked, but in a good way. I used to walk them every day (or should I say they used to walk me!!). I miss those crazy kids!

6. Fresh Air

Things I Miss About Ireland: Fresh Air

Original Post

I almost forgot what fresh air felt like until I went upstate for Memorial Weekend. It was so nice to get out of the city and get some good clean air in my lungs. You really don’t realise how much you miss it until you leave the city.

I’m hoping for more of the same in Cape Cod next weekend for 4th of July.

7. The Greenness

I was also in need of some greenness in my life when I went upstate for Memorial Weekend. I got it but it still isn’t as green as home. The first time the true greenness of Ireland hit me was after a trip to America at the end of winter/start of spring a few years ago. Everything in New York was brown and dead. When I landed in Shannon I was literally blinded by greenness and I finally understood why Americans were so mesmerised by the green!

8. Cooking/Baking

Irish Baking: Homemade Snickers Cheesecake 1

Original Post

I love to bake! I used to make at least one ridiculously tasty (and extremely fattening) dessert a week when I was in Ireland, but I haven’t baked anything since I left home. Time is a factor, but I’m also afraid that if I bake something (like my Snickers Cheesecake or Oreo Truffles) I’ll end up eating everything myself. Sure my tummy will thank me, but I’m not so sure my hips will feel the same way…

9. Long Summer Evenings

I absolutely love the long summer evenings in Ireland. The days feel so long and you can pack so much in. Around this time of the year it really doesn’t get fully dark until 11pm. In New York, it gets dark so much earlier. I know it’s a city and it always gets darker earlier in cities, but it’s the same upstate too. Some times it’s the little things!

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Original Post

I read a study today that basically suggested the foods we eat impact the thoughts we have. It does make sense that the food we put in our body will have some kind of an impact on our brain, seeing as we need food to keep our bodies ticking over. I think this could also be why I am missing things from home more than usual. Right now I can’t eat or drink any of my usual treats, so I think it’s impacting on what I’m thinking about.

Hopefully, my diet will be back to normal next week (well to an extent), and I can shake off this little craving I currently have for home.

Lorna x

p.s. It’s funny looking back at my long hair! 😀

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17 Comments

  • Reply Flame Favourites: Interesting Reads, Shopping & NYC Faves June 26, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    […] you see Lorna’s post about the 9 things she misses about Ireland. My number 1 is also the […]

  • Reply Jessica June 26, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    I’ve never been to ireland but you are making me want to visit ASAP!

    xo, Jessica || The Petite Diaries

    • Reply Lorna July 8, 2015 at 11:57 am

      You should definitely go! It’s so beautiful… I’m only really appreciating it now that I’m not there 🙂 xx

  • Reply Sabrina June 26, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Hi Lorna, I really know how you feel! I only just moved here and they are exactly the things I really appreciate about Ireland! Especially the food and Penneys of course 😉 New York is an amazing place so make sure to make the most out of it! great blog by the way! Only came across it tonight x

    • Reply Lorna July 8, 2015 at 11:59 am

      Hi Sabrina,

      Funny how I didn’t appreciate them enough when I had them! 🙂 The food and Penneys will always be top of the list. New York is fab though and I can’t imagine not being here.

      Awah thanks so much… Delighted you like it 🙂 x

  • Reply sarahinks June 26, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    Ireland is on my travel bucketlist and I’m obsessed about it! Eventhough I’m not Irish, I can totally understand how you are feeling because Ireland is beautiful and living away from home is bittersweet…

    Sarah
    https://everydayconcepts.wordpress.com

    • Reply Lorna July 8, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      Hi Sarah,

      You should definitely make a trip! It’s fab… you’d love it 🙂

  • Reply Siobhan June 27, 2015 at 4:56 am

    Ah Lorna – great post! Totally agree with the food thing. Whenever I’ve been in USA for long stretches it is nice to get back to just roasting or boiling food haha

    • Reply Lorna July 8, 2015 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks Siobhan… haha that’s so true! You can’t get a good roast dinner. It’s all fried or should I say “grilled” 🙂 x

  • Reply Myss Monnster June 28, 2015 at 8:22 am

    I visited your blog by accident but I see I have found perfect post for myself. I will be going to Ireland for an internship in a week and your description sounds so nice (and nostalgic) that I want to go there asap!

    • Reply Lorna July 8, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      I hope you’re enjoying time so far in Ireland. Are you going to Dublin? Make sure you travel to the West coast and Galway especially, it’s FAB!! 🙂

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  • Reply Gluten, Diary and Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins July 20, 2015 at 7:52 am

    […] sick… real sick!! I’ve mentioned this in some previous posts (Stripes and Sickness and 9 Things I Miss About Ireland) but basically I’ve had to adjust my eating habits in a major way. I was put on a very strict […]

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