phenomenon

Padlocks of Love

The locks on Ha'penny bridge. #Dublin #dublinireland #locks

Over the weekend, I went to Dublin for a Massage.  Over much of Europe, a tradition of sweethearts has taken hold since the early 2000’s, where the sweethearts affix padlocks to bridges.  Here in Dublin, being just 10 days after Valentine’s Day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were plenty of Padlocks of Love with messages in “sharpie” markers written on them attached to the historic Ha’Penny bridge.

The locks on ha'penny bridge 3. #bridge #dublin #dublinireland

The locks on ha'penny bridge 2. #Dublin #dublinireland #lock #love #bridge

The locks on ha'penny bridge 4. #dublin #dublinireland #locks #love #bridge

While skies were overcast (and we had many a snow flurry), I thought it added to the lovely idea of two loves locked together despite the bad weather and the turbulent waters rushing in the River Liffey below.

The locks on Ha'penny bridge 6 with the River Liffey in the background. #dublin #dublinireland #lock #locks #wishes #love

The thing is that it’s quite controversial – and they’re not sure to remain. The city council has ordered that the locks be removed – because they are potentially damaging to the bridge.
City Council cuts locks off bridge

I suspect, however, that even if cut off, the sweethearts will return to continue the tradition – in the name of Love.

The locks on Ha'penny bridge 5. #dublin #dublinireland #locks #wishes #bridge

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Jedward Candy Bar

Things that make you go humm.

Folks, Jedward has come out with a candy bar. It just makes me want to cry, because it’s so painfully pop culture, punny, laughable and sad all at the same time. Someone else bought it for me as a gift, and my first thought was that I *Had* to blog about it and post pictures, because this is something that is lost in translation (and I’m sure didn’t make it across the pond). So here they are.

Jeward candy bar 4 (Jedward Twin Bars - Popping Chocolate Bars)
Jedward candy bar – twin “popping” chocolate bars

Jedward "popping" candy bar 3 (Full on, Crazy, Jeadly!)
(yes, it says that it’s FULL ON, Crazy, JEADLY)

Jeward "poppin" candy bar 2 (want to Meet Jedward?)
Want to Meet Jedward? Get the golden ticket! (Thank Goodness I didn’t get the ticket.)

For those of you who don’t know who Jedward is, let me explain (although I’m not sure there is any explanation for these two). They were twin contestants on “x factor”, which is basically the “American Idol” for Britain and Ireland. They’re 17 year old blonde teenagers who, for lack of a better word, are stupid – and famous for it. They can’t really sing, and they (like Bieber fever) are everywhere here in Ireland and one doesn’t really know why. You can’t get them gone. They’re on TV (doing ads for a local cell phone company), starring in Celeb Big Brother House, and earlier this year – were Ireland’s entry for the Eurovision song contest (please don’t get me started on the contest).

They’re voted one of the year 2011’s most annoying…

and deservedly so.

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