I wandered around Airfield farm and gardens yesterday. It’s very strange that you can get off the Luas at Balally in the midst of motorways and massive apartment blocks, and feel like you are in the middle of the country a short walk later! The 6 euro admission fee is a bit steep for what you get, but it is worth it every so often for the feeling of getting away from it all. After yesterday’s showers, it was fairly muddy and I was raging at missing an opportunity to finally wear the size 9 pink Hunter wellies I bought years ago in TK Maxx.

Our muddle through the mud was rewarded with getting close to the little lambs. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, but hopefully the small white blobs in the camera phone pic above still look like lambs! There are better photos on the Airfield Trust website.

Cinderella Shoes have opened a shop in the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre within the last couple of weeks. This shoe shop only stocks ladies shoes in larger sizes from size 8 to 12. I have blogged before about the lack of Irish shoe shops stocking any big sizes, so this is very big news for me!

The shop is located on the top floor of the shopping centre. It is painted purple and is beside the black Wrestling Mania shop, about half way down the same side as The Laptop Shop (the opposite side to the art gallery and toilets).

Cinderella Shoes opened a concession in Arnotts a few years ago, but whenever I visited, all I found was a couple of small shelves right at the back of their massive shoe department. So, I am thrilled to see a proper shop at long last dedicated solely to ladies with large feet (sorry about the pun there!). I dropped in last weekend to have a look and enjoyed the novelty of just being able to pick up shoes on the shelves and put my foot straight into them. My size 9 foot is extremely wide, and I was even able to even get into a couple of size 8s. They still have some Winter styles on sale, mainly boots, with knee high boots for only 60 euro in some cases. The Spring/Summer stock is arriving daily at the moment, and there were already some colourful sandals in the shop when I visited. They also stock a lot of more formal evening shoes, which is the trickiest type to find in large sizes.

Before you start hyperventilating, you won’t see anything Manolo-esque there and it’s not exactly Faith or Office either. Nevertheless, when you struggle to find even one shoe in your size in most other Dublin shoe shops, you should still feel like me in a sweet shop here. It’s one small step for mankind, but one giant leap forward for Dublin women blessed with big feet. Hopefully the Cinderella Shoes store will get plenty of promotion ensuring that they finally have a shop where they can find shoes to fit them.

I may well have found the most expensive ham sandwich in Dublin! Granted, it does ordinarily come with olives on the end of each cocktail stick and a stack of green stuff (which I am reliably informed is called salad) in the centre, but at 11 euro it’s rather steep! At least a bowl of chips, while still double the going rate, is relatively good value at only €5.50.

Perhaps Bono is planning to banish third world debt by charging outrageous prices for pub grub in Dublin?

Thankfully, I am not alone in my appreciation of appetising pastries and delightful bakeries and cafes are springing up all over Dublin city centre. Cake eating can be an expensive hobby but sure a lot of what you fancy does you good! Here’s a few of my favourite haunts and feel free to add your own:

• Keogh’s Cafe, Trinity Street
  The smells are so amazing when you pass by Keogh’s small restaurant that it is nearly impossible not to stop and buy something, a fact proven by the frequent queues out the door. Their coffee seems popular, but I stick to the cakes. My absolute favourite is the cherry and almond scone. Heaven! Be warned, they sell out fast.
• The Larder, Parliament Street
  This place has only opened recently, but it is clear that they have put a lot of effort into styling and presentation. The staff are friendly and welcoming too. I’ve picked up some lovely plain and brown scones here lately in cute cellophane bags closed with dainty The Larder stickers.
• Avoca, Wicklow Street
  This place needs no introduction to many and their massive scones are very tasty indeed, as are the gigantic chocolate cookies. Compared to everything else in the shop, the bakery offers surprisingly good value for money too!
• The Bakery, West Essex Street, Temple Bar
  Yummy chocolate muffins, apple sponges, scones, tarts and crumbles – I could go on and on. They also do some savoury stuff like soups and sandwiches if you are into that.
• Queen of Tarts, Dame Street
  Tiny little cafe that is nearly always crowded. I used to have a big soft spot for this place, but lately the cakes have not tasted quite as nice to me. But they are still pretty yummy, if a little pricey.
• La Boulangerie, Camden Street
  This cafe has now expanded so that the bakery shop has moved next door. It has proved very popular, even though it was a bit off the beaten track when it started. There are lots of specialist treats here along with the more common but just as delicious doughnuts, danishes, croissants and gingerbread men.