Dublog

Still, cold days

2009-05-12T22:02:00.003+01:00

Once the leaves have fallen, the city takes on a starkness. The bare trees stand like ghostly sentinels, branches reaching skyward, allowing the more feeble sunlight to reach further. The sun, when it rises around 8.20am struggles to reach it's high point of the day then fade again by mid afternoon, setting by just after 4pm on the shortest day. It's very low to the southern horizon and usually requires sunglasses when driving! Still there is beauty if you look for it. The following reflections show this, just look around you and it's there for the observant. Though most people only venture out if the have to, heads bent against the cold, scurrying to their next warm building, or out for a quick cigarette or a cup of coffee, that serves to warm the hands as much as the inner person. The still cold days are best. If it's frosty, it promises sunshine rather than the cold grey wet or damp days. The cold seeps into the bones and the sun has no warmth, but it shines, trying and promising to return in the summer.

Reflections

2009-05-12T21:59:00.002+01:00

Beware the man in the red suit!

2009-05-12T21:52:00.002+01:00

It was fun to help Scott dress up in his Santa suit - more a St. Nick coat, to hand out pressies to the children at church. His Ho Ho Ho was very effective and the children were too excited to notice any accent. I wonder if they even think about what accent Santa has??!!

Christmas dinner was a fun affair, lots of vegies, turkey and stuffing (from Marks and Spencer) and a Fortnum and Mason pudding all the way from the UK and amazing Brandy sauce. Oh yum!! Lunch was around 2pm and we felt so full that the pudding sufficed as dinner about 7pm.

Our tree was only small, but suited our place and it was lovely to turn the light on at 4pm of an afternoon to cheer up the place.

All things Christmas!

2009-05-12T21:44:00.001+01:00

A Northern Hemisphere Christmas

2009-05-12T21:24:00.002+01:00

Having come from the Southern Hemisphere, there is nothing like a Northern Hemisphere Christmas. It's like all those cards we used to get years ago have come alive! Dark afternoons and evenings, candles, fir trees (not pinus radiata branches) lots and lots of lights, people rugged up, singing carols...somehow it seems more logical to be cold at Christmas, instead of being warm, sunny and waiting for it to get dark to view the lights.

Wreaths on doors are a big feature in Dublin, so many styles and so creative. Lots of white fairy lights in trees, outside and inside. Shops all lit up. And not all decorated from November, but in December.

There is nothing like popping into the French Paradox with friends for a Christmas drink, the fir trees with the wine glasses as decorations! Mulled wine! beautiful warm red wine, with spices and orange rind...

Going out, rugged up in a warm red coat, with hat pulled down over the ears, gloves, a scarf..steamy foggy breath as you laugh...peeling off layers as you enter a friend's house...hanging your coat on the pile on the newell post...

A quick walk in the park..seeing robins with their red breast, boldly 'bounching' up to you with an enquiring look on their faces, no fear of the cold

And of course feeding the deer sugar cubes down at Enniskerry was a delight!

Christmas in Dublin

2009-05-12T21:22:00.002+01:00

A way with words

2008-12-20T20:14:00.002Z

Every country has it's quirky way with words. Australia is known for it's 'crikey, blimey, strewth' etc, but Ireland has some quaint turns of phrase too.

There are the often heard 'Thanks a million' or 'that's grand' One you hear on the TV a lot from newsreaders after an ad break is 'you're very welcome back'.

When talking to someone about an acquaintance you will often hear them refered to as 'your man' or 'your wan' (woman).

One of my friends has a classic expression when she is worried 'I'm in bits', she'll say!

Parents are often referred to as 'your mammy and Da'

Probably the one I found the most amusing is when ending a phone conversation the person will say in rapid fire 'bye, bye, byebye, bye....' even as they are hanging up the phone.

Ah that's the craic!

The end of autumn

2008-12-20T20:06:00.002Z

Autumn has gone. The last batches of leaves fell early December, the sun still shone and there wasn't too much rain, but the winds got stronger, the frosts arrived and the days kept shrinking - sunrise is now 8.35am and sunset is 4.06pm.

Freezing Frost

2008-11-30T21:11:00.002Z

Well that is what the MET said we were in for..and it was freezing!! And stayed frozen for much of the day, especially if still in the shade. We woke to about -1 degrees and -7 with windchill. The cars were caked with frost (good thing we park undercover!) and the roofs were like snow. Gosh even the sand at the beach had frost on it! They day was clear and bright here, but Dun Laoghaire was buried in fog, with one or two church spires looking like they were suspended in mid air. We headed to the park around lunchtime and were amazed at how thick the frost still was. Even more amazing was that half the lake was frozen! I wonder how much was frozen overnight? The ducks were up one end and some in the middle. A couple were a bit trapped, but managed to scuttle onto the ice and fly off. Seagulls were walking on the ice and young soccer boys were throwing anything they could on the ice, cracking it at the edge and throwing the pieces onto the surface in an attempt to break more. Yes, ok, I couldn't help myself and had to pick some pieces up just to show how thick it was..oh and to throw a couple of pieces too..well, wouldn't you?

Midday Frost

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Ice on the Lake!

2008-11-30T21:02:00.002Z

Aquatic life on the half frozen lake

2008-11-30T20:55:00.001Z

Skerries and Howth Harbour

2008-11-15T22:06:00.001Z

Howth Harbour

2008-11-15T21:39:00.004Z

Autumn in Dublin

2008-11-15T21:18:00.003Z

What a gorgeous time autumn is in Dublin! Those mild sunny days, some are still, some are wild and windy and some are dull, cloudy or wet, but whatever they are, it is colourful.

The parks are delightful and the vines covering old Georgian buildings are turning ruby red. Recently while cycling in Phoenix Park the leaves were fluttering across the roads as I cycled under them, the hills towards the Wicklows looked stunning with sun on the green fields and misty clouds drifting in. The deer in the park were grazing in a large herd and were only about 10 meters from me. As I slowed to look at them, two suddenly leapt up from the ravine to my right and leapt and bounded across the road right in front of me! It was an amazing sight. Another one of those 'only in Dublin' sights that I was grateful for. The road in the second lot of pictures is one I ride down into the quieter part of the park.

In the Herbert Park shots, it was a late afternoon, still as anything and the ducks were just lazying in the sun.

Autumn in Herbert Park

2008-11-15T21:14:00.002Z

Autumn in Phoenix Park

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Breakfast Bellamys & Beach at Sandymount

2008-08-23T19:22:00.002+01:00

Saturday Breakfast

2008-08-23T19:06:00.002+01:00

Routine is important when living in a new place. Getting to know the names of the guys at the pizza place downstairs, and Russell and Ranjid the brothers at the Indian around the corner; Christopher the hairdresser downstairs who is always up for a chat about his next trip when outside the shop for a smoke. Not forgetting Cormac at the gym whom we heckle in spinning classes - we seem to be the only ones who respond to his 'make it hurt' 'work harder'!!!

Our weekend routine is breakfast at Brownes Cafe in Sandymount. Sandymount is a rather quaint village area around a triangular green in a posh area and close to the beach. We love our eggs and crisped bacon and Tara from Nepal makes a good coffee. We always have a chat with him and the waitresses. Then we go to the Spar shop and buy the weekend papers and often head over to the beach to see if the tide is in or out and have a walk and often strike up a conversation with dog walkers.

Sunday is a stroll over to Bellamy's pub in Ballsbridge centre for a Bulmers cider and a small Pringles. In winter the fire is very welcoming.

Getting to know your locals gives a sense of community and belonging.

Waiting.....

2008-08-23T17:55:00.003+01:00

Life is full of waiting and it's no different whatever country you are in. Two weekends ago I was waiting at Dublin for a flight to Birmingham, UK. Leaving home at 3pm for a 50 min flight seemed straightforward. It was, until the skies opened and Dublin was deluged with rain. Thunder and lightning meant planes couldn't be refueled till the danger had passed and plane arrivals were delayed out of other destinations. I'm not sure why the brand new departures area from Dublin airport doesn't have air bridges (maybe they are still to be added) but it made for a rather damp trip to the plane once it arrived and was refueled. Still, I passed the time chatting to Fran, from Birmingham, who had been to visit her mum in Wexford and shared her family story with me. It ended up being a 6 hour trip but they say patience is a virtue!

This week it was waiting at Immigration for our GNIB 'Garda Cards'. We seemed to arrive as everyone else did, had to queue for a number, then sit and wait for 2 hours to pay for our new cards (100 euros) then sit again and wait 'about 20 minutes' for our new cards. This took actually took one hour and was delayed further as now fingerprints are required and it seems my right index finger must be nearly worn to the bone as they had trouble getting a scan of it - took about 6 attempts till they were happy. I hope that doesn't happening every time I try to get into the country!

Belfast - after the Troubles

2008-07-24T20:57:00.003+01:00

Belfast and Northern Ireland have had a tumultuous history. To me, Belfast was the bombed city, where Catholic and Protestants were at each other, where bombs and soldiers were a way of life and so was retaliation and on the television news at night.

In 1998 The Good Friday Agreement was finally signed after two years of talks and 30 years of conflict. This is one of the better things Tony Blair may be remembered for. The history is long and complicated.

We took a Black Cab tour of the Falls and Shankill Roads area and the famous murals. Gerrard, our driver was a wealth of information (from the Falls Road himself) and his childhood was marked with the scars on the conflict (including his leg from a car bomb) The history is fascinating, Shankill Road area is depressing and Falls Road, well I wouldn't want to go there at night either. The housing has been rebuilt, mainly because the rows of cottages were bombed out.

The murals represent many of the branches and factions of the IRA - a complicated history and the fighters for their causes and the victims. Bobby Sands, the IRA freedom fighter is probably best known for his 66 day hunger strike in the Maze prison in 1981- a film last year called Hunger, based on Bobby won an award at Cannes. Life is a high price to pay for your cause.

The peace wall pictured below divides the catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods in Belfast and divides this region of the city running for over 3 miles. It has gates and is open, but can be closed electronically and are often closed at night and in the 'marching season' and other memorial times. The barriers consist of iron, brick and steel walls up to 25 feet high, topped with metal netting. Houses on the Falls Road side of the wall have metal grates over the yards of the houses, as it is still common practice to have objects hurled over the wall.

Belfast is currently undergoing a huge regeneration and is a popular tourist destination now. Oh and George Bush is noted for his 'part in history' in war by the artists of Belfast. And you can even go and see where the Titanic was built!

Murals

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Belfast - Northern Ireland

2008-07-24T20:41:00.002+01:00

Random photos - Belfast

2008-07-24T20:32:00.002+01:00

Here's some shots from Belfast that just had to be included. Roseleigh House, our B&B we stayed in - it was gorgeous!! The breakfast was awesome, white linen and silverware and we had a front room.

Knockbreda Presbyterian Church. We were taking photos when a guy strolled over and invited us in - they were having a floral exhibition and when I said I knew a lecturer at the Presbyterian College back in Australia, they got the minister and we had a lovely chat. The displays were wonderful and very creative and the pipe organ was stunning. I would love to have heard it played.

Now who would be a policeman in Northern Ireland? Check out the security at the police station!!!! And they are all like this -no windows, grates, wire...it doesn't bear thinking about.

Cows!! a 'call of nature' stop near a paddock and then I turn around and see my audience!! I had to laugh.

Belfast

2008-07-24T20:29:00.001+01:00

The Antrim Coast

2008-07-24T19:47:00.002+01:00

Northern Ireland is stunning. We think it is one of the prettiest parts of Ireland we have seen so far (there is plenty to see yet!) Probably the beautiful warm sunny weather helped, but this area is very open, rolling green hills and the usual green cliffs right to the sea edge. Portrush beach and sandunes were just like home - we even took photos of the sand!! The day was so clear we could see right across to Scotland and see the Mull of Kintyre. Fortunately Paul McCartney wasn't out with the bagpipe brigade that day!

We did go to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge that I planned to cross, but a 20 minutes wait to buy tickets that cost 8 pounds and another 45 min wait to cross both ways forced us to keep moving in search of lunch. It is a 20m long and 1m wide bridge of wire and rope spanning the chasm between the sea cliffs and the little island of Carrick-a-Rede - 30m about the water. Not sure Scott would have carried out his threat to cross it. I would have, I'm game for anything!

Dunluce Castle is perched on a crag of basalt and was the seat of the McDonnell family in the 16th and 17th centuries. Part of the castle including the kitchen fell into the sea in 1639 taking seven servants and a night's dinner with it!

The rest of our trip back to Belfast was along the Antrim Coastal road and through the 9 Glens of Antrim, beautiful little coastal towns.

Antrim Coast Northern Ireland

2008-07-24T19:29:00.003+01:00

A selection of pictures of the Antrim coast - stunning scenery, Portrush Beach and ruins of Dunluce Castle and some Aussie braving the icy water. The locals all wear wetsuits!!

The Giant's Causeway

2008-07-24T19:16:00.002+01:00

The Giant's Causeway is basalt columns, solidified lava from an ancient flow. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 in recognition of its outstanding geological features. It receives half a million visitors each year (and you can see some of those in the photos below!)

Of course the Irish are great story tellers and they will tell you it is called Finn MaCool's Causeway..he was a giant and wanted to do battle with a rival giant in Scotland. Finn built the stones across the sea so the giant could cross and face a challenge. Seeing him approach Finn fled home and had his wife disguise him as a baby (she must have been creative!) when Benandonner saw the size of the 'baby' he assumed the father must be HUGE and fled in terror ripping up the causeway in case he followed...hence the steps in Antrim, Ireland and similar at Dingal's Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa!

My Dad visited this same spot on a leave pass from the Air Force during WW2 (1942)and sent me copies of some photos of him in his uniform on the same spot we were.

The Amazing Giant's Causeway

2008-07-24T18:56:00.002+01:00

Just a taste of the stunning scenes and rock formations

Summer in Dublin

2008-07-24T18:44:00.002+01:00

Summer in Dublin! Well one thing about it means that the days are long...the nights short and it's the time to get out and do things. Other than post on blogs!! Opps. Since the summer solstice the days are getting shorter, but to go to bed at 10.30 and it still be light and the sky never really getting dark but being a beautiful deep blue is amazing. Of course the downside is winter, but I don't want to think about that right now. I actually think the long days have the effective of wearing you out gradually and it gets harder to get up each morning. Or maybe that is just me! People make the most of the long nights - the park is filled with touch rugby teams, soccer teams, picnickers and the tennis courts are busy. This summer is, unfortunately, similar to last year - not very warm! Last year was the wettest in 50 years and looks to be following a similar pattern. There have been a few days in low to mid 20's which are wonderful. The scary thing is the Irish lads whip off their shirts and reveal their lily white chests and office workers pour into the parks at lunch time and the rubbish bins overflow with lunchtime rubbish. If the sun is out and it's not windy, it's rather pleasant being outside or on the balcony. But I think I prefer it to the 38-40 degrees experienced back home early this year.

Aquatic life in Herbert Park

2008-05-23T21:04:00.002+01:00

I thought I would share these pics with you!

Night shots in the Park

2008-05-23T17:57:00.002+01:00

While enjoying the 'free' Bruce Springsteen concert last night, we took the gear and got some artistic night shots! Enjoy!

Coastal Wildflowers of the Burren Region

2008-05-23T17:43:00.002+01:00

Co. Clare

2008-05-23T17:24:00.002+01:00

Another long weekend saw us heading off to County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher. Ennis was our base for this trip. We headed off via the coast through Lahinch, an unexpected surfing spot and 'holiday' feeling seaside village. The scenery here is true Ireland, rocky coast, the greenest green rolling countryside right down to the sea and little cottages dotting the countryside. Golf courses abound, including some with ruins just looming up out of the greens!

The Cliffs are somewhat a victim of their own popularity, now having huge parking areas (eight euros to park) and paths and fences and the usual tourist shops and experiences with souvenirs for those eager to spend their money. Getting there early as possible is highly recommended. And don't try to climb over the fences, they are there for a reason and the rangers will blow their whistles and be onto you in a flash.

The Burren region is further up on Galway Bay and is an incredibly barren landscape, but captivating also. It is acres of limestone karst pavements, but between the seams of rock are fissures (known as grykes) which support an amazing array of wildflowers.

This area seems a popular holiday spot, I think because of fishing, surfing and close proximity to the Aran Islands. The main road is narrow and lined with rocks and B & B's - seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Parking must be a nightmare in summer!

Ballyvaughan round on Galway Bay is a peaceful spot and on a good day Galway and the Connemara can be seen. It's a good spot for cyclists to recover too!

The Cliffs of Moher

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Cycling is popular (and hard work in the Burren)

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Co. Clare Coast

2008-05-23T17:09:00.002+01:00

Surfing at Lahinch, Liscannor Bay; coastal rocks; Doolin Harbour with ferries to Aran Island and the quaint village of Fisherstreet.

Ruins around Co. Clare including 14cen High Cross

2008-05-23T16:41:00.002+01:00

Driving in Dublin

2008-05-15T18:17:00.002+01:00

I guess I'm not alone in saying that I am scared of driving in a new city or country! But, I can say I am slowly getting more confident as I get more familiar with my area. I have driven 3/4 way across the country and done plenty of driving on our trips, but the city can be more daunting. At first I had to memorize the trip on a map if I was going somewhere and was in trouble if a diversion was in place. Now I can change my mind on a trip and not get lost (so far!)

Nearly all parking in Dublin is paid parking. Closer to the city costs more. One of my greatest fears is getting clamped. The traffic guys are ruthless and any 'clearways' that are not observed will result in the yellow machine on your wheel, a huge sticker on your car window and the need to phone them, wait and then pay 80 euros to get unclamped. I observe this outside our apartment every afternoon at 4pm! Hasn't happened to us yet, but I am worried one day I will misread a parking sign and be a victim!

At first I thought that drivers here were very impatient, with lots of horns 'bipping', but after driving more I have decided there is a lot of tolerance on the road (there HAS to be!) Taxi drivers are the most considerate, indicating for you to turn, or pull out so the traffic isn't held up. This attitude is infectious and I find myself letting others in or waiting for them so the traffic isn't held up. More than I would at home I think. Of course with the narrow streets here, it's almost necessary to aid good traffic flow. Some streets are so narrow that with cars parked one side, traffic can only flow one way at a time.

Also being a pedestrian, you get stopped for which is rather nice and unexpected.

A funny story when we did first arrive though, we pulled out of our apartment block and sat for ages trying to turn right, unwise in peak hour traffic, a little while later the phone rings, it is Damien who sold us the car saying 'you have to learn to drive like the Irish guys, you are too polite, just go'!! He was in the car dealership across the road and recognized the car!! We had a good laugh (and have learnt to take more risks!)

Ennis Co. Clare

2008-05-10T22:30:00.002+01:00

The latest trip we took was to Co. Clare, where we stayed at Ennis, a medieval town. It's historic centerpiece is the Friary, which was founded for Franciscans by the O'Briens around 1284 and the friary was active under O'Brien protection until at least 1570. By 1670 the confraternity was reduced to one Friar and the O'Briens, Lord of Thommond, had kept the buildings in repair until this time. The Sacristy and Refectory may be as early as 1314, and the Cloister (pictured below) may date 1400 or shortly afterwards. Much of the existing church dates second half of the 15th century.

Ennis is on the Fergus River and a thoroughfare for those heading to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren region.

Ennis Friary - not everything is ancient!

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A tombstone at Ennis Friary

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This tombstone, like many others, had been moved into the Friary to protect it and been laid on the floor. I was really impressed by the wording here below:

Erected
To the memory of
John Charles Ryall Died July 6, 1861
by his afflicted widow who deeply and sincerely
mourns the loss of one she so fondly
loved and is consoled only by the hope of a
reunion with him in heaven through the
merits of the Saviour in whom
he fully trusted for salvation.

Belated Anzac Day Photo

2008-05-10T21:18:00.003+01:00

I know it's late, but just loaded up this photo of the dignitaries from Anzac Day and thought some would like to see it. Australian Ambassador is Anne Plunkett, on right of photo.

More Spring blooms, but check the closing times!

2008-05-08T21:45:00.001+01:00

Spring in Herbert Park

2008-05-08T21:32:00.003+01:00

Street Art

2008-05-08T21:26:00.003+01:00

There are a number of street artists (not including the Grafton Street buskers) and this one guy's artwork is in Talbot Street north of the Liffey. There is often another guy who does chalk drawings of the Madonna outside Trinity College. I think he is only there in summer due to his medium, but last summer tested his patience I am sure, being the wettest summer in 50 years! He does the same picture, day after day with intricate detail.

Counting the Counties!

2008-05-05T21:49:00.002+01:00

We had a road trip across Ireland on the weekend and kept count of the number of counties we drove into or through. The Republic of Ireland has 26 counties and Northern Ireland has six.

We managed to drive through eleven of them!!

Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon, Galway, Clare, Limmerick, Tipperary, Laois. Three of them we went through twice and we didn't retrace our steps on this trip.

Ireland also has four provinces; Leinster, Connacht, Munster and Ulster (Northern Ireland). Managed to cover the first three as well! Ulster will be the next Bank Holiday weekend.

Ireland - so close to everything!

2008-04-27T22:29:00.004+01:00

One good thing about being in Dublin is it's so close to the UK and Europe, so a long weekend or a few days is a good chance to 'pop over' and see somewhere different.

Four days in the UK recently was a good opportunity to do some voluntary work for a friend and also spend a weekend socializing and relaxing.

Sunday after church in Oxord, we cruised through villages, crossed the Thames and we arrived at the King William IV pub at Hailey. Drive up Quiet Lane, cross Church Lane and eventually, there it is - a pub seemingly in the middle of nowhere with rolling green hills all around. Opening time is 6pm and a perfect time to have a Gin and Tonic and sit outside at the tables and laugh at the crazy lambs in the field opposite as they played and jumped and chased each other. I liked the 'brother and sister' in picture!

A good way to spend a Sunday afternoon

2008-04-27T22:25:00.001+01:00

Oxford Villages

2008-04-27T22:21:00.002+01:00

Below are some gorgeous homes in villages with names like Clifton Hamden, and Sutton Wick. The garden was just gorgeous and down a dead end lane that lead to a church (maybe that doesn't really make it 'dead end!)

We had lunch at the Barley Mow, on the Thames in Long Witteham, Abigdon. A typical pub, old patterned carpet, low dark beams and good 'pub grub'. The Shepherds Pie was delicious!

Houses in Oxfordshire Villages

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A sign I loved and a friend I made!

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These pictures are taken at Maum, near the Maumturk Mountains in Joyce Country, named after James Joyce, the famous Irish writer. This is the region that hosts the Connemara Marathon each April. It is stark, but amazing.

Also in this region is Kylemore Abbey. This 19c neo-Gothic mansion was built for Mitchell Henry after he spent his honeymoon in the area and loved it. During WW1, a group of Benedictine nuns left Ypres and eventually set up in Kylemore, turning it into an Abbey. Today they run an exclusive boarding school here.

P.S. The gate WAS open!!

Nothern Connemara

2008-04-27T18:23:00.009+01:00

Tully Cross is just north of Letterfrack, a Quaker established village near the entrance to the Connemara National Park. Tully Cross has many thatched cottages and from there the road leads to Killary Harbour, which looks like a fiord but may not have been glaciated. It is 16km long and over 45m deep and and mussel rafts dot the harbour, as can be seen in the photo. Also you can see the Atlantic! It was rather special to walk on the beach and realise we had reached ocean that sends us most of our weather here in Dublin. The surf wasn't that great, but the wind was strong!

Roundstone - Connemara

2008-04-27T17:15:00.003+01:00

Roundstone is the quaintest little harbour village. The harbour is actually a long way from the sea, seemingly inland along Bertraghboy Bay. As with much of this rugged coastline the harbours are at the top of inlets. It is home to lobster boats and traditional currachs, with tarred canvas bottoms stretched over wicker frames. As you can see, the one street requires patience and courtesy by all drivers! The villagers are very friendly and welcoming people. It is on a coastal road that leads to Clifden, one of the Connemara's most popular summer towns and a very scenic place with the 12 Bens - grey quartzite, bare peaks in the background and needle sharp church spires on the skyline. This road is very narrow and sparse, between bogs and rocky flats with glimpses of the rugged coast in the distance and old and modern versions of typical Irish cottages dotting the countryside.

Rainbows in the Connemara

2008-04-27T17:12:00.002+01:00

The Bridge at Oughterard - and some wildlife!

2008-04-27T17:03:00.001+01:00

Oughterard, Co. Galway

2008-04-27T16:52:00.002+01:00

At Easter we headed across Ireland to Galway and stayed at a small town call Oughterard, on the shores of Lough Corrib, the largest lake in Ireland. We stayed in a guesthouse and had a traditional Irish breakfast (well the options were there, we didn't try the black pudding or sausages) and woke to an amazing view - see pictures. This a big angling area and the 'Gateway to the Connemara, a wonderful wild area of Ireland with stunning mountains and lakes and bogs and rugged coastline. We were welcomed by Michael who made us a pot of tea and we sat by the peat fire getting the low down on the area from him.

Afternoon Tea in Co. Galway

2008-04-26T20:51:00.004+01:00

My friend Jen from the UK (we used to work together in Australia about seven years ago) came for a week and we had a great time. It was a good opportunity to visit some of her relatives, so off we headed to County Galway. I was pretty pleased that I managed to drive 3/4 way across Ireland! We had actually been this way at Easter, so I knew the route to the N6 which leads to Galway. We stopped at Moate for lunch and then headed to Aughrim to her place. Although she had been there a couple of years ago, things do change (even in country Ireland) and after driving many gradually narrowing lanes, we eventually had to stop a passing motorist and ask directions.

We found the house and were welcomed upstairs to the lounge for a chat - mainly family history. After a while she put the tea on and eventually called us downstairs, apologizing that we had to walk through the kitchen, which contained a wood stove, a table, the dog's basket and a drying rack on the ceiling. We entered the tiny dining room and the table was set with a beautiful cloth and the good china. She had spared no trouble and we were served scones with butter and jam (cream is for Sunday), coffee cake, warmed apple tart and fruitcake and our cups were topped up repeatedly with tea. She still digs her own potatoes and does all her own cooking and keeps busy with news of the relatives and locals. We also called to visit her sister who is 89 and frail but still manages on her own. We sat by her stove in the kitchen as she reminisced about being a new bride in the family home which had raised 9 children! About 5pm we had to leave (and say no to more tea!)

I found it a privilege to see another side of country life in Ireland, listen to stories of life in the last 80 years and the hardships of farm life.

Getting some culture in Dublin

2008-04-26T20:17:00.002+01:00

We are keen to experience many aspects of life while living here. Ireland has a strong history of literature and the arts.

One Sunday afternoon recently we went to The National Gallery of Ireland. As it is free, we will do it in stages. Who would have thought that a painting of a family evicted from their home during the potato famine would have been so realistic that waves of homesickness swept over me and had me in tears?

Today we had our first trip to the theatre. We haven't been for a long time. So we went to a matinee of 'Love Letters' at the Tivoli - Jerry Hall and David Soul were the two actors, recounting their lives through a series of letters they wrote to each other. David has certainly aged since Starsky and Hutch!! ( I can say this as he born 14 years before me!) They weren't demanding roles, sitting reading the letters, but we enjoyed it and plan next to go and see The Deep Blue Sea which has just opened and getting great reviews. Then there is the Natural history museum, Trinity College and the Book of Kells....so many things to see!

Anzac Day In Dublin

2008-04-26T20:02:00.002+01:00

April 25th. 6.30am. Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin.

A dawn service to remember the Anzacs. How special to be with over 100 other Aussies and be part of a memorial service to honour those who died in service of their country. Ten Anzacs are buried at Grangegorman and a candle was lit at each grave so respects could be paid.

The morning was still and cool. The occasional solemn but special. A harpist played and speeches were made, wreaths laid, prayers said. The last post played.

This is the third year the Australian Embassy has held the service and we were so grateful to be a part of it. We met the Australian Ambassador who wanted to know why she didn't know about us being in Ireland! A light breakfast was provided afterwards. Snags and bacon in a roll, orange juice, anzac biscuits! Tea and coffee, with the optional shot of Bundaberg Rum! And a sprig of rosemary to remember, which we wore for the rest of the day.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Ireland - the IT hub???

2008-04-17T14:43:00.003+01:00

I'm trying to be very controlled as I type this! Eleven days ago our internet went down, it has been slow every since - when it works - and not all the computers will work at once. I have discovered internet cafes all over the place and am currently sitting on the coffee table, with the laptop on a chair right in front of the telly so I can plug straight into the router!

Very annoying when some of Scott's work needs to be done at night to contact the development team back home and I like to be in regular contact with family and friends. The landlords have been helpful, but are getting sick of us! We have had stories from a damaged fibre optic cable to an upgrade that hasn't worked and needs to be rolled back to everything is ok...all this from the 'service provider' We've had our router checked, reset and the modem is located elsewhere in the building so we can't try that. Sometimes the mac works, sometimes it doesn't, the other two don't work on wireless...arggghhh! as my daughter says

I'm off to the UK tonight for a few days..hopefully when I get back it will be sorted as I have lots to upload and update!

Oh and it's not just the internet...no mail is being delivered in our area due to staff refusing to work to new regulations....

Where is that carrier pigeon?

Apartment Living

2008-03-30T21:08:00.005+01:00

I've always been the sort that likes a bit of space, some green and some distance between myself and the neighbours. That ideal isn't very practical when inner city living is the most logical thing to do. Having now lived in two different apartments I see more benefits than negatives.

The first place we lived was on the sixth floor and very large by Dublin standards. It faced East/West and I never tired of the view of the Howth lighthouse and ships coming in and out of the harbour when I stepped out of the shower. Having dinner at night with the windows open we would chuckle as a duck on the lake in the park below would quack indignantly!

Now we are in a smaller, brand new apartment which faces the other way, but the sun is currently just peeking in our bedroom window when it rises and floods the living area of an afternoon. We are now on the third floor. We are closer to the station and the gym is just across the road, so no excuses! As you can see from the picture, we get some good views of the weather too.

Advantages seem to be security, views and stairs to exercise on rather than take the lift! Sometimes I feel a bit isolated, but I guess you can feel like that in a house too. Fire doors are a pain, well if the neighbours let them slam they are! We rarely hear neighbours, but the penthouse upstairs must have tiled floors as we do hear footsteps sometimes when lying in bed. Also having an Indian restaurant downstairs is nice, but not at midnight when they seem to tip bin loads of empty bottles into the metal dump bin that sits in the lane out the front!! Also the trucks that collect these skips seem to come somewhere between 5 and 6am, I guess when there is less traffic on the road.

Fortunately the pubs in our 'village' are a bit further up the road, so we don't tend to get woken by late night revellers on their way home, though occasionally some party goers seem to think the louder they talk, the better (even at 4am!)

Oh and Sunday night doesn't have to be 'rubbish' night, like at home, just take it out when going downstairs or out in the car!

Public Transport in Dublin

2008-03-28T12:12:00.002Z

Dublin is a relatively small city, so it's pretty easy to walk around the main city (we can walk into Grafton Street in 30 minutes from our place) but to travel a few suburbs you do need to use public transport - unless you are driving!

Dublin has a rail network (The Dart); a lightrail (The Luas) and buses. When I say rail network, that is probably used rather loosely. The Dart has two main lines; one travels north/south on the coast and the other travels east/west north of the city. I must say I'm pretty impressed with the trains. Maybe it's because they only have two lines, but they run pretty regularly and generally run on time. (all upcoming stations are announced in English and Gaelic) We are a 4-5 min walk from Lansdowne Road Station which gives us a good chance to keep track of the progress of the new Lansdowne Rd. Stadium being built. Three or four stops and we are right in the city, depending if we want to be north or south of the Liffey River.

The lightrail is called the Luas and it travels from south up to St. Stephens Green on the edge of the city and the other line travels from Connolly Station (the 'Grand Central' of Dublin) west; actually running pretty much parallel with the Dart line. There is talk of extending it to the Docklands but I heard on the news yesterday that the cost is reported to be something like 6mil euro per km! (may be higher, but I can't find a direct quote-anyway, lots of taxpayers money!)

So that leaves a big gap in the middle of south Dublin! There is a bus network, but we have only needed to use it once. I think you would need your Scouts Map Reader's badge; a sat nav system and your Gaelic language translation book to get your way around on the buses, but if you know the hood, then it probably seems easier. London seemed easier! The government has poured a lot of money into improving the public transport and this shows in the buses. None are over 4 years old and they are rather attractive double deckers in navy blue with yellow upper decks. The need to improve public transport is due to the increased number of cars on the road and the streets that were just not designed with cars in mind.

Of course like most places the wonderful new ticketing system has its teething problems - Scott buys a weekly ticket and by about day 3 it won't work in the machines, apparently a problem they are 'working on'.

Now where did I want to get that bus too? Was it Ballyboden, or Ballybruck, no maybe it was Ballintyre, or Ballinteer....

St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-18T21:09:00.003Z

Monday was St. Patrick's Day. Dublin has the second largest parade in the world (trust New York to be the biggest!) After a very wet Saturday, Monday dawned clear and sunny. That doesn't mean it was warm! The temperature still rarely hits double figures, but if you get out of the wind in the sun it can be pleasant. We drove to the Canal and walked up to Dame Street, right outside Trinity College. The crowd was huge and about 10 deep, some people had been there since 9am to get front row viewing. We were on some steps, but the smart people bring step ladders! We just enjoyed taking in the sights. The Irish have NO inhibitions on this day - wearing the craziest things and not caring what others think. Plenty of the big green hats, the fake beards, scarves in orange, green and white and my favourite, the headbands with 'shamrock antennae'. The more sedate wear a bunch of real shamrocks in their pocket or on their lapel. Unfortunately I couldn't find a pair for myself! My award for 'Most Euro Confused' goes to the guys in the green tops, with green hair, kilts, footy socks and wooden clogs!! We headed down to St. Stephen's Green which is looking splendid and on to the Ceili Mor. It's basically a big Irish dance.

Unfortunately not many younger Irish people are aware that St. Patrick's Day is meant to commemorate St. Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland. I will let the video tell the rest of the story.

Dublin Canals

2008-03-18T14:09:00.003Z

Dublin has two canals, the Royal Canal which is north of the River Liffey and the Grand Canal which is to the south.

The Royal Canal was approved in 1790 as a means of transport for freight and passengers across Ireland and was finished in 1817. It starts at the Liffey River in Dublin and travels 145km to the Shannon River at Cloondara. Along the way there are 46 locks. Most of the locks are still in good working order 200 years later. This canal is currently being repaired and will open to small craft next year.

In 1790, a disgruntled director of the Grand Canal Company decided to built another canal through the midlands to the River Shannon, though it was not feasible for the country to support two canals. This became the Grand Canal, south of the river. The last boat sailed on the canal in 1960.

Below are some pictures of the Grand Canal in Dublin 4. This area is about a 15 minute walk from us and is very picturesque. Unfortunately being in such an urban area it has lots of rubbish in it. It is very shallow in parts and many homes back right onto the canal and some are less than a meter from the water level. Its a pretty spot to walk or run along the banks.

The Grand Canal

2008-03-15T22:37:00.002Z

Churches in Dublin

2008-03-15T21:56:00.003Z

There are lots of them! We have 3 within about 10 minutes walk from our place. Every town and village seems to have a church spire you can see from a distance.

So far we have been to 4 churches in Dublin. A Church of Ireland with an Australian Vicar; a Baptist Church with an English Pastor and a Presbyterian church with a female minister!! No wonder we are confused!! We have also been to an inner city church in a rather poor area that has a great outreach to street people. Each church was built in the 1800's and some retain all their old features, others have been modernized inside in some ways to make them more practical and useful. Many churches have small congregations of aging people while some are very lively and bible based churches. The Church of Ireland we went to is in a village and was apparently used (or part of it) in the filming of Ballykissangel. Being in a village, it is a very friendly church and someone always is keen to chat to you. The Baptist church was also very welcoming. A friendly church is something you need when you are in a new country and well out of your comfort zone.

National Irish Pastimes

2008-03-11T20:55:00.003Z

With St. Patricks Day just around the corner I thought I might share my observations of 'national Irish pastimes'

So far:

*Drinking

*Eating sandwiches served with 'crisps' on the side and 3 litres of mayo, in the sandwich

*Eating pork sausages and bacon, preferably boiled (ugh!)

*Sport - Rugby, football (soccer and Gaelic variety), hurling

*Digging up roads.

Now I know this last one doesn't probably fit the normal view of a pastime, but I figure it must be as it isn't an election year and it happens continuously. Even when a road seems perfectly fine, there will be a team of men, one on the digger, the rest watching (nothing new there!) while the road is dug up for some purpose unknown to the casual observer. I guess there is a good reason, I have yet to find out why. Being a cyclist, I can attest to how frequently this is done. In our stretch of road - about 400-500m I have counted 15 different road surfaces and eight levels of road. The road is never replaced with the same surface. Either they invent new ones, have run out of the old surface or are just digging it up to test a new material. Of course they are very polite about it, always putting up signs apologizing for the inconvenience and advising how long the disruption will occur. Usually this is incorrect by about 5 weeks, but the thought is there.

I think on my next ride I will pump my tyres up to 120psi. Just to be sure.

Spring is Coming!

2008-03-09T20:08:00.004Z

Spring is coming in Ireland and the daffodils are pointing the way! After the dull months of January and February, the drifts of daffodils are a cheery sight everywhere you look.

They are planted in clumps around trees, flower beds in gardens, drifts down major roads and even in flower boxes and can be found outside the shabbiest of cottages.

The pictures below are in the gardens of Merrion Square. This square is located between Trinity College and Leinster House, the home of the Irish Parliament. The square was laid out in 1762 - 1764 and is a great example of Georgian architecture. It is a haven from the busy traffic of Dublin and well protected and calm within the gardens.

The park was originally a refuge for victims of the 19th century famine. It came into the possession of the Catholic Church in the 1920's and the plan to build a cathedral never came to fruition. Archbishop Ryan gave it to the City of Dublin and the gardens were built in 1974. They are a tribute to the literary of Ireland, including the Oscar Wilde Garden, built opposite the house his parents owned.

Blossoms are appearing on the trees, leaves are still to come. Daffodils in many shades and styles abound, their heads bobbing in the wind and grape hyacinths and pink and blue hyacinths, snowdrops and other bulbs are planted throughout the park. Crocus, the harbinger of Spring are so welcome as they remind everyone that better weather is coming. Spring - especially March - is a time of extremely variable weather in Ireland, with gales from the Atlantic and showers, rain and lovely sunshine. That can all happen in one morning! Snow even fell last week!

Friday was Daffodil Day in Ireland, a great chance to support the Cancer Foundation of Ireland and add some cheer to the home as well!

2008-03-09T19:47:00.009Z

Oh dear, Ireland

2008-03-08T21:10:00.002Z

Today Ireland suffered defeat at the hand of Wales, who claimed the 'triple crown' - which means they finished top against England, Ireland and Scotland. Well done to them!

The Welsh descended upon Dublin and we saw 'the lads' loading onto the bus and headed on the Dart to Croke Park in their Brains Beer (Wales sponsors) Rugby tops. I kinda though Brains Beer was a bit of an oxymoron in a way....

We headed down to our local pub, Bellamys for the last half of the game. Actually we have 4 'locals' in our little village of Ballsbridge, but Bellamys has the nicest atmosphere. An open fire, comfy seats and its never crowded and the barman sometimes wears a bow tie. A 'G & T' for me and cider for the man and we were set. Actually our screen is bigger and clearer at home, but hey, you have to get into the atmosphere with the locals!

Everyone in the pub was glued to the game and we got into the spirit of it by cheering on the rare occasions it was warranted. We groaned when Ireland gave away a penalty shot with only 5 minutes to go and felt sorry for O'Driscoll when he was dragged off injured. Hopefully he will be back for next week's game against England at Twickenham. We came home and watched Scotland beat England despite Johnny Wilkinson highest score.

But as the barman said, every Irishman will have forgotten the result within and hour!

The 'Beach'

2008-03-08T11:58:00.004Z

To be fair we have only been to 3 beaches in Ireland so far, but our local beach at Sandymount is a rather interesting place when you have grown up in Australia and had such wonderful beaches.

The sand is grey and the tide seems to be always out and that means you can only see the water as a thin blue line on the horizon. If you are around when in comes in, watch out, it comes in faster than a Nathan Bracken delivery. There are always people out walking on the Strand, walking their dogs on the sandflats and rugged up and straining against the wind. Despite a wide flat path just up from the sand, cyclists are not allowed on this path. Boo hiss!

In summer I was amazed to see families roll up with buckets, spades towels and park on the very narrow strip of dry sand for a session of play and 'find the water'. It is always interesting to watch someone in their boardshorts and goggles hike the few hundred meters to try and get wet. I'm sure they would be half way to Wales before the got up to their waist!

Today after breakfast we drove to The Strand and noticed the tide was in!! They also had sandbags at all the entrances to the Strand walk and metal 'flood barriers' across the carparks!! Maybe its Spring tides or a storm surge is predicted. The next few days there are gales predicted, but we are on the East coast, not the West where the Atlantic weather comes from.

Last Sunday we drove to Wicklow and the beach there was rocks. And I mean rocks. The size of golf balls, tennis balls - but very pretty at the same time. There was an amazing golf course right on the edge of the beach - you wouldn't want to hook your shots!

I doubt I will ever find myself in my bathers at an Irish beach - let alone get wet at one!