SWEET TALK: Heidi Botting was on a trip to Cornwall when she spotted some sweets from her childhood: toffee crumbles. When she got home, she was craving more but couldn't find them anywhere.
She and her husband Jason took matters into their own hands and started their Bag of Sweets website. The Retro Box is one of their selections that will transport you to the back of the bus: flying saucers, space dust, wham bars, milk teeth, sherbet fountains and sugar mice among others. The site has just begun to stock Wonka sweets. You can keep your dentist, ahem, sweet, as there is also a big sugar-free range, including their own exclusive Citrus Crush. The website is based in the UK but they will deliver all over the world. See www.bagofsweets.com Nicoline Greer
EXHIBITION OF AN EXPEDITION
The incredible story of the Shackleton expedition to the South Pole has just arrived in the National Museum on Thursday from its permanent home in the American Museum of Natural History. The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition includes photographs by James Hurley, who was on the expedition. They show the uplifting tale of the explorers marooned on the bleak and barren Elephant Island while Shackleton went to get help from a whaling station in South Georgia. It also includes artefacts such as Shackleton's plum pudding ration bag and a letter from Shackleton to Tom Crean from the Kerry County Museum's permanent collection. At the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 until October. Admission is free. There will be lectures to coincide with the exhibition. (01-6486453) Nicoline Greer
A TOUCH OF NOSTALGIA
John Eagle says he doesn't put "modern things" in his oil paintings: "no cars, no concrete structures, and the roads are usually unsurfaced". His perspective is driven by memories of growing up in west Cork in the 1960s. "Through my paintings I want you to absorb my love for the slow time that Ireland is famous for, when people stopped to chat," he declares on his website. Sea and landscapes such as Ballycrovane (right) feature in Eagle's exhibition in Dungarvan from Tuesday. The show, Elements, is inspired by conditions in which people have had to work. Tracings by Ann Dunphy and More San Scapes by Anna Moore are also on display, and the exhibitions continue until August 27th. Old Market House Arts Centre, Lower Main Street, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, 058-48944. Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm, admission free. artscentre@waterfordcoco.ie. John Eagle can be contacted at 027-74275, and you can view his work on www.johneagleart.com
FRYING PANS AT DAWN
There'll be dancing in the streets today and tomorrow in central Dublin. There will also be a war waged using those well-known dangerous weapons - frying pans. Guerilla is a street theatre performance by the slightly bonkers Dutch consortium Warner and Consorten. It's part of the Diversions festival's Family Fun programme. Getting around the streets by way of strange contraptions made from prams and lampposts and playing unconventional musical instruments such as kitchenware and plywood saxophones, the 45-minute roaming performance will put a big wide grin on your face. Today in Wolfe Tone Park (beside Jervis Street Shopping Centre) at 2pm and 3pm and tomorrow in Meeting House Square at 2pm. Both events are free and not ticketed. www.templebar.ie Nicoline Greer
AN ECO-BURIAL It may sound a little morbid to plan your own funeral, but Judith Hoad sees it as an important part of life. She is tackling the "last taboo" head on, and has set about importing "Ecopods"; burial caskets that ensure the ultimate in recycling. The alternative coffins are a noticeably different shape from traditional ones, curved rather than angular, and are completely biodegradable, containing no toxic materials. The external finishes are made of mulberry and silk paper, and inside they have a lining of unbleached cotton or swansdown. Hoad also supplies wicker caskets made in Ireland by basket-maker Linda Scott. In addition, she can advise on all aspects of natural funerals, burial grounds that are not related to any particular religion, or burials without a funeral director, if you so wish. The willow caskets cost €1,500, the Ecopods cost €1,430. Judith Hoad, Living Earth, 074-9736406, or www.ecopod.co.uk. Nicoline Greer
HOUSE PROUD Photographer Perry Ogden told us about Around The Irish House, a new venture in traditional Irish furniture set up by Joe Lennon, an antique dealer from Co Louth, with the guidance of American Pip Simmons. Simmons sells the furniture Lennon supplies in her interiors shop in the Bahamas. The country-style pieces are available at a new shop in Dromiskin. Dressers, tables, chairs, sideboards and freestanding kitchen bits are one-offs repaired by Lennon before being painted, "distressed" or simply waxed. Sample prices: €450-€3,000 for a dresser; kitchen tables from €385-€1,200. Simmons, whose Harbour Island shop was featured in Architectural Digest, says, "I'm amazed that French reproduction furniture is so popular here whereas real Irish furniture is like a pair of blue jeans - the older it gets, the better it gets. This furniture is also so much more appropriate to Irish houses and can be mixed with modern pieces." Around The Irish House is a 45-minute drive from Dublin on the M1 to Dromiskin. Tues-Thurs 2-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (042-9382890) www.aroundtheirishhouse.com Eoin Lyons
COFFEE WATCH
Outraged by the price of takeaway coffee in Ireland, we asked you to send in suggestions on shops and cafes that sell good coffee at a reasonable price. Thanks for your contributions, a selection of which is published below.
Send your info to coffee@irish-times.ie, and remember it has to be good value, which we define as €1.50 or less.
I am the biggest fan of Naked Grape's coffee, MacCurtain Street in Cork. Latte, cappuccino or coffee plus a free club milk just €1.50. Yours, Eimear
Orange Square on Dublin's Baggot Street is celebrating its first year in business by offering all coffees for €1.50. You'd be mad to miss out as it is the best latte around Stephen's Green, Tony
I would like to mention the Gourmet Store in Kilkenny. I was in there on Saturday and had a superb Java for €1.30, Fergal Lawlor
The Bewleys shop in the Blackrock Shopping Centre does takeaway coffee - good, hot, strong and €1.10. Cheers, Siobhan
Bistro Bianconi, opposite the Luas station in Ranelagh, has just opened for lunch (large slice of pizza & coffee or can for just €3.50) and as it was such good value I popped in there. I was very impressed. I had a large cappuccino and it was gorgeous - none of that bitter aftertaste, just good, smooth coffee, Orla (Large cappuccino on its own is less good value at €2)
Dunne and Crescenzi on South Frederick Street make what could be the best coffee in Dublin. Regular cappuccino to go is €1.50, Prof Terry Barry
This is a readers' forum. Coffee has not been independently tested by The Irish Times