This is SO COOL and something I’d TOTALLY do if/when I’m in South Korea–visit as many of my favorite K-drama filming sites as I can!

THE Belle Epoque house is so cool to see irl, and while I had a feeling the interior was mostly a set, it was still very surprising to hear it, and also that it’s actually a li’l café/herbal medicine shop? Nice.

Lol @ the YouTuber ordering the same strawberry smoothie Ye-ji did. Something I’d totally do, too. Also funny how there’s no “classic sandwich” irl. And $100 steak? Eh… maybe, but most likely not. I’ll just take a pic from the outside, too, thanks.

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    *pssst if you’re alive I miss you*

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      Psssttt~ I’m ALIVEEEEEEEEE~!

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        Dang it! I had a feeling that wouldn’t work. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It was that one cute gif of Ji Chang-wook (you’re probably like, “Which one?” Hehe, it’s the one where he’s all giggly and then waves)! Anyways, OMG, BUD. I’ve missed you! Long long time no chat! Thanks for checking up on me! 😅 we’ve got so much catching up to do!

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        GIRLY. YOU’RE ALIVE. OMO.
        WE SO DO. I’M ABOUT TO GO FOR A SWIM BUT WHEN I GET BACK AND TOMORROW YOU AND I WILL TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALKKKKKK??? OK? OK.

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          *nods* OKAY YES
          GO GO SWIM AND WE’LL DEFINITELY TALK! OKAY! 👌🏼👍🏼
          Hopefully DB/my Internet will be fast by the time I get back on later ‘cause it’s way too slow for my liking rn.

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    Hi @chingu I’ve been quite busy recently but I’ve managed to find a bit of time for DB. Did you do the competition? How is the job hunt going? And many other random questions…

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      Hi @vannerie! Thanks so much for checking up on me! I’ve totally been MIA from here in the longest time, so I guess you can say I was quite busy, too. Unfortunately, I can’t say I was away because I was whisked away to South Korea to become a K-celeb’s Seoul Mate (boo), but hey, I did score a job at the end of last year and have been working a lot lately, so no more job hunting (for now, heh)! Ooh ooh, ask away! It’s been so long since I was last on here, I miss you and everyone so much! How’s everything with you?

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        Hi @chingu I’m really pleased to hear you managed to find a job. I hope it is something you want to do. If not it is definitely a stepping stone and it’s always easier then to find the next job! I was very busy in the Autumn including a trip to the West of Ireland with my daughter at the end of November for a four-day course with a master basketmaker. I was expecting rain but we also had ice and snow! We added a couple of days to our trip so we could look round Dublin. 😀
        We’ve been busy cutting the willow bed here in January despite the non-stop rain. Now we are going to plant more cuttings and then make some baskets. Hooray!

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          Thank you so much for your support, vannerie! I’m really glad I got myself a job that comes with a stable (albeit lacking, huhuhu~) income. While it’s not something I wanna do for the rest of my life (I’m a team member/cashier at Target 🙂), nor is it my “dream job,” but like you said, I definitely consider it a stepping stone and it’ll certainly help me with my next job… whenever that may be. I’m having a good time, I love what I do, and I’m learning a lot, so I’m content. It’s been a little over a month since I’ve worked there and they’ve already recommended that I become a supervisor, which is like, “Omg, I’m honored, thanks!” But I just don’t think I’m ready, so I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing, which is also a lot since they try to cross-train everyone whenever they get a chance.

          But WOW! A master basketmaker in Ireland, huh? That sounds like an experience right there! You must’ve had a blast! It also sounds like wonderful bonding time with your daughter, too. She’s into basket-weaving, too, huh? How’d you handle the ice and snow? I couldn’t… too weak… *coughs* hehe. But seriously, I’m a weak gal.

          Hooray! Sounds like a lot of fun! You make ME wanna make some baskets, vannerie!

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            I’m really pleased for you and do take the opportunities to learn new stuff because it’s amazing what comes in useful down the line. 🙂
            My daughter and I are in this basketmaking adventure together so I’m sure she gets fed up with me sometimes! We’ve been to Joe (Hogan) once before but we were real novices at that time and needed a lot of help. We were able to work more independently this time. He doesn’t run lots of courses so we were lucky to get a place. We stayed in a cottage next to the workshop and walked along the loch to his house for lunch each day! I’ve driven a bit in snow but I’m not that used to it and we had a hire car, had to leave early in the dark to get back to Dublin for our flight so there was a bit of pressure. We had snow here before Christmas but mostly rainy since then with some cold winds thrown in. Not the best for cutting willow but you have to do that in the winter before the leaves come out if you are going to use it for baskets.

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          I’ll try to keep that in mind and do just that, vannerie. Thanks so much for all your advice!

          I love that basketmaking something both you and your daughter does together.
          Your basketmaking adventure sounds super fun! So the four-day course includes a place to stay and food, too?
          Where do you live again? I’m in Florida and it never snows here (well, apparently, there was snow in Tallahassee and Georgia in the beginning of the new year), but we’ve experienced quite a few cold fronts, which honestly, isn’t that cold compared to other places where it gets real cold. I’ve got a weak heart; if the weather’s 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, I’m trembling and shaking. 😅
          I’m glad you guys had a fun and safe trip back.
          I’d love to see more photos of you and your daughter’s baskets!

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            Yeah. We were staying in a holiday cottage that’s rented out in the summer months. There was another woman sharing our cottage and three guys in the other cottage. Tea/coffee and biscuits am and pm plus lunch at Joe’s house. We had to cater for ourselves breakfast and evenings so we stopped on the way there for provisions but people also leave stuff in the cupboard.
            It’s been raining most of January but it’s cold again today. There’s a wind coming from the north-east and it is about 4 degrees centigrade plus windchill. So not super cold but cold enough for us. We’re in Normandy.

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          Very cool. Didja try any good foods there?

          Ahhh, Normandy. Cool cool. Well, you guys stay warm and healthy! This crazy FL weather over here’s making everyone sick. Hot and cold, hot and cold. 🙄🤷🏻‍♀️

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            Haha! Actually we had fish and chips the first night in Dublin and it was delicious. I don’t know that it’s an Irish speciality, though – you get it everywhere in the UK too. We stayed in a Georgian Guest House and the owner recommended a couple of places. The second night we had a meal at a Japanese restaurant. Also delicious. And we had our breakfast at a nearby cafe.
            We had some snow yesterday and It was blowing up the road almost horizontal from the North East. Usually it is rain blowing down the road from the West or South West.
            It must be hard when the weather changes quickly from hot to cold and back. That’s usually when I get ill. We are still in Winter here so we expect it to be cold and icy some of the time. Our house is quite old (19th century mostly) and even though the walls are stone and quite thick there’s not much insulation.

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          Aw man, that all really sounds delicious! What’d you guys eat at the Japanese restaurant? I love Japanese ramen!

          Wow, sounds tough and cold where you are. I couldn’t… my ideal weather’s just a nice breeze and a li’l rain here and there is fine, too.
          Yep, the back and fourth crazy weather’s probably the cause for the flu that’s going around. Luckily, I’ve only gotten a small cold awhile back and I think I’m good now. You guys stay warm over there! Bundle up and layer up! Use the heater…?

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            Ooh. I think I had a chicken udon dish and my daughter had a curry dish. We had gyoza to start and green tea of course. The weather here isn’t always this cold but I woke up to snow yesterday (did you see the picture I posted?) and it was -3C this morning. We have a wood stove as well as heating and plenty of nice jumpers and thermals plus hot water bottles. I don’t think I could cope with -20C but I suppose people dress accordingly. I’m not very good in high temperatures either.

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          Sounds uh-mazing! I love chicken and I love udon, so chicken udon is 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Been craving some authentic Japanese ramen! I wish our go-to place was closer… love green tea! They say it’s really good for you. I drank a cup every day for awhile—should get back into doing that.

          I didn’t see the pic you posted (will check it out now), but omg, I’d DIE. I am NOT made for that kind of weather, vannerie. Nope. I’m glad you have all the necessary resources to live in that kind of weather. Fighting! It’s back to being hot over here. Haha. I think it’s safe to say that our “winter” is finally over. Haha.

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