I forgot to tell you all about our sailing last Sunday. We borrowed a Tirion sailing boat from Shannon Sailing and set out in low winds and blazing sunshine. I was wearing shorts - and it was still April!
The Tirion is very easy to sail, but has all sorts of possibilities for adjustments for the advanced sailor. It is a day boat, with a small cabin that doesn't really get in the way. The main emphasis is on deck space for seating. Ian and I sailed it on our own while b took photos of us. It was great fun, and just the antidote to jet lag.
Saturday 21 April 2007
The boat work starts
The weather here has been great all week but today rain was forecast for the afternoon. I wanted to do some painting on the boat so headed off to it mid-morning, having walked the dogs first.
I started cleaning the decks with the pressure hose and spent about an hour and a half doing this, completing about one-third of the boat. Then the electrics for the marina gave up. After some investigation it appears that the pressure hose caused this, so I couldn't continue. I then moved on to painting the gates that weren't finished last year. I had put anti-rust paint on them last week so they were ready for the main coat. I completed this and then gave up, exhausted by it all. The sun was still blazing out of the heavens. B had arrived to drill some holes in metal, but I decided to leave him to continue his activities and I returned home, via Nenagh.
Half way home it started to rain. It isn't very wet, but short showers are continuing every now and again. I've arranged to borrow the pressure hose belonging to the marina tomorrow so hope the rain doesn't settle in.
I managed to buy some organic manure in Nenagh, aka poultry shit. The garden will like a bit of rain. There doesn't seem to be much growing in it yet, other than weeds, but I'm optimistic that some of the seeds I planted last week will show their heads some day soon. There are some signs of the potatoes growing up so we might be able to scrap a meal of spuds some day within the next 6 months. Rhubarb is also growing, so that's what we'll have for lunch tomorrow.
I started cleaning the decks with the pressure hose and spent about an hour and a half doing this, completing about one-third of the boat. Then the electrics for the marina gave up. After some investigation it appears that the pressure hose caused this, so I couldn't continue. I then moved on to painting the gates that weren't finished last year. I had put anti-rust paint on them last week so they were ready for the main coat. I completed this and then gave up, exhausted by it all. The sun was still blazing out of the heavens. B had arrived to drill some holes in metal, but I decided to leave him to continue his activities and I returned home, via Nenagh.
Half way home it started to rain. It isn't very wet, but short showers are continuing every now and again. I've arranged to borrow the pressure hose belonging to the marina tomorrow so hope the rain doesn't settle in.
I managed to buy some organic manure in Nenagh, aka poultry shit. The garden will like a bit of rain. There doesn't seem to be much growing in it yet, other than weeds, but I'm optimistic that some of the seeds I planted last week will show their heads some day soon. There are some signs of the potatoes growing up so we might be able to scrap a meal of spuds some day within the next 6 months. Rhubarb is also growing, so that's what we'll have for lunch tomorrow.
Saturday 14 April 2007
I got out!
I arrived at the boarding gate for the plane to Shannon just as they were about to board as my connecting flight was two hours late. My name was called just before I got to the gate so I reported dutifully to the desk. They had been calling for volunteers to accept $500 plus an extra night in New York as the flight was over-booked. I was feeling secure as I had booked in very early, when I checked in at Jacksonville, but the man took my boarding card and tore it up. Eek!!! The next stage was obviously an interrogation, and I began to wonder what misdemeanour or felony I could admit to.
Anyway, joy of joys, they had selected me for an upgrade so he just wanted to print me out a boarding card for my new, elevated, status. Business class is comfortable so it was a nice flight, even though I only got about 2 hours of sleep. Even better, when I collected my car I found the front left tyre had not deflated, as it had done the night before I left, so I was able to drive straight home to bed.
I think it is Saturday. I've just looked at the time and find it is late afternoon. The sun has disappeared but it is still warm out. Tomorrow we are going to go sailing, which should complete the relaxation and make me ready for the week ahead.
Anyway, joy of joys, they had selected me for an upgrade so he just wanted to print me out a boarding card for my new, elevated, status. Business class is comfortable so it was a nice flight, even though I only got about 2 hours of sleep. Even better, when I collected my car I found the front left tyre had not deflated, as it had done the night before I left, so I was able to drive straight home to bed.
I think it is Saturday. I've just looked at the time and find it is late afternoon. The sun has disappeared but it is still warm out. Tomorrow we are going to go sailing, which should complete the relaxation and make me ready for the week ahead.
Wednesday 11 April 2007
Sleepless in Jacksonville
Don't let anyone cod you into believing that Florida is warm and sunny. I know, because I've seen with my own eyes, that it rains and is as cool as in Ireland. In fact, it is probably cooler than it was at home last weekend. I am pleased to learn this, though, as I'm happier when it isn't too hot.
I woke a while ago, expecting it to be time to get up as I felt refreshed. However, I discovered that I had only slept for a couple of hours and there is a long way to go until morning. So, in desperation, I've decided to blog. This happened last night too (not the blogging) and I eventually managed to get back to sleep for another few hours.
Our hotel is in a completely newly built "town centre". A developer decided that he would build what looks like a European town centre with lots of relatively small shops, without the covered mall that is more common in the US. It is a pleasant place to stroll around, though I haven't yet explored the shops. I was walking around the night I arrived and heard the sound of what seemed like a jazz band. I couldn't work out where it was, but it was pleasant so I explored further. In fact the music was coming from outdoor loudspeakers embedded near the ground, located all around the car park I was crossing.
The team training I'm attending is OK. It is interesting to meet all my HR colleagues from around the world but I don't have much interaction with them, or need to, so it is difficult to participate in team building.
I think I'll try to get some sleep again.
I woke a while ago, expecting it to be time to get up as I felt refreshed. However, I discovered that I had only slept for a couple of hours and there is a long way to go until morning. So, in desperation, I've decided to blog. This happened last night too (not the blogging) and I eventually managed to get back to sleep for another few hours.
Our hotel is in a completely newly built "town centre". A developer decided that he would build what looks like a European town centre with lots of relatively small shops, without the covered mall that is more common in the US. It is a pleasant place to stroll around, though I haven't yet explored the shops. I was walking around the night I arrived and heard the sound of what seemed like a jazz band. I couldn't work out where it was, but it was pleasant so I explored further. In fact the music was coming from outdoor loudspeakers embedded near the ground, located all around the car park I was crossing.
The team training I'm attending is OK. It is interesting to meet all my HR colleagues from around the world but I don't have much interaction with them, or need to, so it is difficult to participate in team building.
I think I'll try to get some sleep again.
Friday 6 April 2007
It doesn't really seem like Easter
Working on Good Friday in a company that operates 24/7 means that Fridays don't seem like the pre-cursor to the weekend, and this Friday was no different. Most people were at work today, with no obvious gaps in the car park. Mind you, I was one of the last to leave at 5ish, so the good weather encouraged everyone who could go to leave as early as possible.
I did some digging when I got home. The veg plot is nearly all dug now, and the weeds are beginning to grow. My seeds that are planted in the mini-greenhouse show no sign of growing yet. I'm hoping the freezing nights haven't killed them off.
Tomorrow we have to get up at 5am to go to Dublin so that we can join some friends who are moving their narrow-boat out of the city. It will be an interesting journey so they are going to be saddled with us for the day.
I did some digging when I got home. The veg plot is nearly all dug now, and the weeds are beginning to grow. My seeds that are planted in the mini-greenhouse show no sign of growing yet. I'm hoping the freezing nights haven't killed them off.
Tomorrow we have to get up at 5am to go to Dublin so that we can join some friends who are moving their narrow-boat out of the city. It will be an interesting journey so they are going to be saddled with us for the day.
Monday 2 April 2007
Sunday 1 April 2007
Ironing done, raring to go...
3 weeks worth of ironing done so I'm ready now for the rest of the day. A fresh cup of coffee is brewing and the sun is shining. It's going to be beautiful, though there is still a bit in the air.
I'm trying to teach the dogs that they don't need to defend us from the Martians in the graveyard. Goldie is beginning to understand but Leavy now seems to be taking over. Each time they bark the idea is to distract them, giving them the message that you aren't interested in what is happening outside our garden. I'm doing the distraction by feeding them tiny bits of sausage. It's hard to be consistent in their treatment, though, as I keep getting disturbed for yet another encounter with Martians.
I've been thinking about Pippa and her behaviour on walks. She definitely sees herself as leading them, starting with insisting on choosing her own stick to be thrown for her and refusing to chase any other stick throughout the whole walk. She doesn't come when she is called, unless it suits her, and last week b had got all the way home with the others and had to go back for her. She was still playing in the water at the river and he ended up having to wade in to grab her. She shows agressive behavious towards other dogs who come nearby. It all seems to be a mixture of protectiveness as she sees herself as leader of the pack, but also insisting that as leader she can choose what she wants to do. Definitely a case for a dog psychologist!
No, I'm being too optimistic. Goldie has found his favourite Martian, who digs graves and maintains the area, and got very excited barking at him. This is hard work! I think I'll get out the hoover instead.
I'm trying to teach the dogs that they don't need to defend us from the Martians in the graveyard. Goldie is beginning to understand but Leavy now seems to be taking over. Each time they bark the idea is to distract them, giving them the message that you aren't interested in what is happening outside our garden. I'm doing the distraction by feeding them tiny bits of sausage. It's hard to be consistent in their treatment, though, as I keep getting disturbed for yet another encounter with Martians.
I've been thinking about Pippa and her behaviour on walks. She definitely sees herself as leading them, starting with insisting on choosing her own stick to be thrown for her and refusing to chase any other stick throughout the whole walk. She doesn't come when she is called, unless it suits her, and last week b had got all the way home with the others and had to go back for her. She was still playing in the water at the river and he ended up having to wade in to grab her. She shows agressive behavious towards other dogs who come nearby. It all seems to be a mixture of protectiveness as she sees herself as leader of the pack, but also insisting that as leader she can choose what she wants to do. Definitely a case for a dog psychologist!
No, I'm being too optimistic. Goldie has found his favourite Martian, who digs graves and maintains the area, and got very excited barking at him. This is hard work! I think I'll get out the hoover instead.
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