Hello, remember me... I've been to London and back since I last blogged, and had a lovely time. We visited Kew Gardens, and the best part was getting to say hello to Carolan and Ian. They're great!
Anyway, now we have won the 6-nations cup, and so the whole world is coming out of a depression. We're able to ignore the fact that our government is about to fleece us through its new budget, the economy has fallen down around us, and there has been another plane crash today. The sun is shining (well, it's not) and all is well with the world.
Gotta go now - it's Newtown week, so it's committees or meetings most of the week. Only 2 more meetings to go as chair of School Committee. Think of all the free time I'll have. What will I do? I'm even tempted by the special offer in the Castle Oaks leisure centre, but that may be going too far.
Monday 23 March 2009
Sunday 8 March 2009
Lazy day
It's been a lazy sort of a day. Carolan and Andy were here for the weekend but headed off at c.11am this morning back to Londinium. The dogs were so exhausted by their visit that they spent the day sleeping. Unfortunately they have started to wake up now and seem to feel that they have missed out on a walk. They have! Oh, well, maybe they haven't as B has just appeared in hat and coat. Maybe they sensed this was happening and that was why they were so excited.
Anyway, the weather has been so mixed that it is hard to know whether we are heading into summer or winter. We have had 3 seasons today - the one we haven't had yet is summer, mainly due to low temperature rather than lack of sun.
It was lovely to have Carolan and Andy here. We rang Ian yesterday to wish him happy birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing him next weekend in London.
Anyway, the weather has been so mixed that it is hard to know whether we are heading into summer or winter. We have had 3 seasons today - the one we haven't had yet is summer, mainly due to low temperature rather than lack of sun.
It was lovely to have Carolan and Andy here. We rang Ian yesterday to wish him happy birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing him next weekend in London.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Sunny day
I planted some seeds today, marking the start of the growing season. I planted them in pots in my greenhouse, but I hope that they will pop up nicely and just in time for the warmer weather we'll get in the next month or so. I've planted about 4 varieties of tomatoes, 1 variety of cucumber, aubergines (I've never tried them before), and some peas. I also transplanted some strawberries into pots that are big enough for them to grow into full-blown plants. I acquired a pottery planter thingy that allows 10 plants to poke out of it in different directions at different levels, and the rest have gone into conventional pots. I'm keeping them in the greenhouse for the moment but may put them outside as it gets milder.
The trouble about having a weekend with nothing on is that it allows me to realise how tired I am. I'm not sure I can face going into work tomorrow..... however, I will.
The trouble about having a weekend with nothing on is that it allows me to realise how tired I am. I'm not sure I can face going into work tomorrow..... however, I will.
Thursday 26 February 2009
How busy can it get?
On each day this week I have wondered why people have been disappearing home "early" from work, only to discover that it was after going-home time. How time flies when you're busy! Every minute has been taken up with something, and I've also missed doing lots of things I should be doing. However, today I think I've nearly finalised the bonus file so that I can send it to payroll. Tomorrow I need to complete the salary file for all the salary changes for 1st March. In addition we decided to change our health insurer, so there have been meetings with the new insurers, and people who need to be reassured that their various ailments will still be covered, without a break, by the new insurer. We've also had a visitor from the US who has needed attention, and a set of interviews for a senior vacancy. At least it is a good complaint to be busy during a recession.
I think the dogs are exhausted by it all. They are certainly being quiet, for once, and seem comfortable lying in their various locations. Goldie is dreaming as he grunts every now and again.
Why is it that when I find a hairdresser that I like she goes and works elsewhere? It's happened again. Is this a reflection on me, or is it that it isn't worth being a hairdresser if you are having to rely on someone like me to keep you in style? Anyway, instead of having a haircut on Saturday I'm going to have my eyes tested. The dogs decided that my glasses tasted good, so they (the glasses, that is) are no longer. Luckily they aren't my only pair, but my sight is deteriorating so I'm going to see whether there are glasses that will help when I look at a computer.
The new engine in Knocknagow is nearly ready for trying out. It's very exciting. We might actually have a working boat in time for Easter! They are now going to do some work on the hydraulics, so we'll be able to use our anchor again without getting it permanently stuck on the bottom of the lake. We'd better go up and have a look at it all soon, and even do some cleaning.
Prime Time is on TV at the moment. It is, as usual, very boring. It's not a programme I enjoy. I watched the final of Masterchef earlier, and the goody (my favourite) won. I think I might head to bed now and read my book by Barack Obama.
I think the dogs are exhausted by it all. They are certainly being quiet, for once, and seem comfortable lying in their various locations. Goldie is dreaming as he grunts every now and again.
Why is it that when I find a hairdresser that I like she goes and works elsewhere? It's happened again. Is this a reflection on me, or is it that it isn't worth being a hairdresser if you are having to rely on someone like me to keep you in style? Anyway, instead of having a haircut on Saturday I'm going to have my eyes tested. The dogs decided that my glasses tasted good, so they (the glasses, that is) are no longer. Luckily they aren't my only pair, but my sight is deteriorating so I'm going to see whether there are glasses that will help when I look at a computer.
The new engine in Knocknagow is nearly ready for trying out. It's very exciting. We might actually have a working boat in time for Easter! They are now going to do some work on the hydraulics, so we'll be able to use our anchor again without getting it permanently stuck on the bottom of the lake. We'd better go up and have a look at it all soon, and even do some cleaning.
Prime Time is on TV at the moment. It is, as usual, very boring. It's not a programme I enjoy. I watched the final of Masterchef earlier, and the goody (my favourite) won. I think I might head to bed now and read my book by Barack Obama.
Sunday 22 February 2009
Tired now
There is so much to learn about wine that what I really learnt this weekend is just that. I think, however, that I could attack a wine list with a bit more knowledge, and even be able to pretend I knew my Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays from each other. The blind tasting we did yesterday wouldn't have shown that, though.
The food in Ballymaloe is out of this world. Last night we had a six course dinner, with wines to match. It was absolutely splendid! Even breakfasts are wonderful, with really good coffee. There were some people on the wine course who were also attending the 12 week cookery course at Ballymaloe cookery school. Two of them recently retired. Instead of a round-the-world trip they are spending 12 weeks at cookery "boot camp" and having a great time. The husband had never so much as cooked a boiled egg but is thrilled at everything he is learning. It sounds like an excellent course to do (expensive, though, as it is 10,000 smackers for the course without accommodation).
Anyway, now I am very tired and could do with a week off to recover from all the travel I've done over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately work is too busy to allow for this, though I think I might try to put off a meeting arranged for next weekend in Newtown as I could do with a weekend at home. The weather might even continue to be nice enough to head out into the garden.
Did I tell you that I saw "Slum-dog millionaire" while I was in Dublin? It was excellent. The story line is very clever, and made for an enjoyable movie. I rarely go to films, but had a free evening with no need to entertain with others, so watched it in the film centre at The Square in Tallaght.
The economy continues to deteriorate here. 100,000 people marched through Dublin yesterday, protesting at a levy imposed on public servants by the Government to help to fund their pensions. It was also a protest against the frolics of the bankers who have helped to get us into such a mess. I don't see how Brian Cowen can go on much longer, but no doubt he'll continue to hold out. I wonder will the Greens pull out of government soon.
The food in Ballymaloe is out of this world. Last night we had a six course dinner, with wines to match. It was absolutely splendid! Even breakfasts are wonderful, with really good coffee. There were some people on the wine course who were also attending the 12 week cookery course at Ballymaloe cookery school. Two of them recently retired. Instead of a round-the-world trip they are spending 12 weeks at cookery "boot camp" and having a great time. The husband had never so much as cooked a boiled egg but is thrilled at everything he is learning. It sounds like an excellent course to do (expensive, though, as it is 10,000 smackers for the course without accommodation).
Anyway, now I am very tired and could do with a week off to recover from all the travel I've done over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately work is too busy to allow for this, though I think I might try to put off a meeting arranged for next weekend in Newtown as I could do with a weekend at home. The weather might even continue to be nice enough to head out into the garden.
Did I tell you that I saw "Slum-dog millionaire" while I was in Dublin? It was excellent. The story line is very clever, and made for an enjoyable movie. I rarely go to films, but had a free evening with no need to entertain with others, so watched it in the film centre at The Square in Tallaght.
The economy continues to deteriorate here. 100,000 people marched through Dublin yesterday, protesting at a levy imposed on public servants by the Government to help to fund their pensions. It was also a protest against the frolics of the bankers who have helped to get us into such a mess. I don't see how Brian Cowen can go on much longer, but no doubt he'll continue to hold out. I wonder will the Greens pull out of government soon.
Thursday 19 February 2009
Tomorrow it's Ballymaloe
Well, I'm off to learn about wine at Ballymaloe tomorrow evening after work. It's going to be a hard weekend... first, a wine tasting, then a dinner. On Saturday it's straight into a day of learning about wine (after a sumptuous breakfast), followed by another dinner. I'll tear myself away on Sunday morning after another breakfast. Tough, isn't it?
Anyway, this has been a busy week. I managed to get home from Dublin last night, a day earlier than expected. I've only been at work for 1 day in the last 10 so it was hectic. I'm going to be spending long hours catching up at what is one of the busiest times of the year. Pay increases and bonuses are all to be calculated and agreed by the end of next week, so panic reigns.
Goldie decided to eat the door-post in the middle of the night last night. It didn't make for easy sleeping. He wasn't interested in going outside, but couldn't settle. He disturbs quite a lot of nights at the moment. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but also can't settle. Leavy (at least, we assume it was her) managed an interesting task today. She emptied the meat from one bowl into the water bowl, making a lovely watery mix. It was neatly done!
It's eating time, so bye bye for now.
Anyway, this has been a busy week. I managed to get home from Dublin last night, a day earlier than expected. I've only been at work for 1 day in the last 10 so it was hectic. I'm going to be spending long hours catching up at what is one of the busiest times of the year. Pay increases and bonuses are all to be calculated and agreed by the end of next week, so panic reigns.
Goldie decided to eat the door-post in the middle of the night last night. It didn't make for easy sleeping. He wasn't interested in going outside, but couldn't settle. He disturbs quite a lot of nights at the moment. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but also can't settle. Leavy (at least, we assume it was her) managed an interesting task today. She emptied the meat from one bowl into the water bowl, making a lovely watery mix. It was neatly done!
It's eating time, so bye bye for now.
Friday 13 February 2009
For some reason
I don't know why the link that leads me to the web-site on this (work)lap-top gives the instructions and locations in German. Luckily, I've worked out how to get here anyway.
Ho, hum, not so good news on the TV as I woke this morning. A Continental airlines plane went down, killing all on board, late yesterday evening. It was going between Newark and Buffalo. I'm flying Continental today, and into Newark. If you follow statistical probability this means that I may be going on the safest airline in the world today as the likelihood of 2 crashes happening to one airline within 24 hours is very small. On the other hand, that is not a logical statistic.
I'm reading a great book that I bought for Ian. It's called "Plato and Platypus walk into a bar.... Understanding philosophy - through jokes -" The jokes are hilarious, but make you think. One piece of advice given is that you should bring a bomb with you each time you go onto a plane, because that means that it is unlikely anyone else will as 2 bombers on a plane is a statistical unlikelihood. That's the same kind of logic as is in the last paragraph. Ian should enjoy it, but I hope he doesn't mind that I'm just checking it's suitable for him!
I went for a walk earlier as it is nice and sunny out and there is a kind of spring coolness in the air. I'll be stuck in airports for most of the day so it was good to stretch legs. There are no pavements here. Or, rather, there are occasionally bits of concrete that seem to be leading somewhere interesting, but then they stop in the middle of nowhere. Another thing I don't understand is the grass. It is very coarse-leaved, and completely brown. Why don't they import Irish grass? Is this a business opportunity in these straitened times? And one other thing - the lake/pond I'm looking out on from the hotel apparently has alligators in it, but I haven't yet seen any. I'm disappointed.
Anyway, I'm homeward bound and looking forward to being back.
Ho, hum, not so good news on the TV as I woke this morning. A Continental airlines plane went down, killing all on board, late yesterday evening. It was going between Newark and Buffalo. I'm flying Continental today, and into Newark. If you follow statistical probability this means that I may be going on the safest airline in the world today as the likelihood of 2 crashes happening to one airline within 24 hours is very small. On the other hand, that is not a logical statistic.
I'm reading a great book that I bought for Ian. It's called "Plato and Platypus walk into a bar.... Understanding philosophy - through jokes -" The jokes are hilarious, but make you think. One piece of advice given is that you should bring a bomb with you each time you go onto a plane, because that means that it is unlikely anyone else will as 2 bombers on a plane is a statistical unlikelihood. That's the same kind of logic as is in the last paragraph. Ian should enjoy it, but I hope he doesn't mind that I'm just checking it's suitable for him!
I went for a walk earlier as it is nice and sunny out and there is a kind of spring coolness in the air. I'll be stuck in airports for most of the day so it was good to stretch legs. There are no pavements here. Or, rather, there are occasionally bits of concrete that seem to be leading somewhere interesting, but then they stop in the middle of nowhere. Another thing I don't understand is the grass. It is very coarse-leaved, and completely brown. Why don't they import Irish grass? Is this a business opportunity in these straitened times? And one other thing - the lake/pond I'm looking out on from the hotel apparently has alligators in it, but I haven't yet seen any. I'm disappointed.
Anyway, I'm homeward bound and looking forward to being back.
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