Death and Taxes - I'd prefer death

Did you ever notice that everyone has a story about calling the Tax office? I had the unfortunate need to call them last week and all I can say is thank god I am not waiting on them. The, ahem, lovely automatic voice states that you will have to wait 9-10 weeks for your request to be processed.....let me repeat that - 9-10 weeks !! Not hours, not days, weeks. That is just outrageous and just shows the sort of rubbish that is running this country.

Something that I was discussing with the wife the other day is that you never see or hear a politician stating that they will help the Civil Service when they get to office. This is one of the most disgracefully run parts of our country. For those not living in Ireland allow me to elaborate. If you work in the Civil Service it’s a job for life. If you are unable to do your job (as in your crap at it) you don’t get fired. You get moved to another department where you can do less damage. It’s virtually impossible to get fired from the Civil Service. And the pay is amazing compared to normal people.

But back to my complaint. Well, let’s see. I was transferring some of my wife’s tax credits over to me but wait - no - its cant be, well yes. They actually got our tax numbers mixed up so that my tax limit was smaller than my previous one and so I got shafted in tax payments this month. But when I called there was a rather abrupt woman who insisted it was my fault. And I had to agree with her otherwise she wouldn’t help (this they are noted for anyways) and then I would have crap tax to pay for the next 2 months (I would be at the end of the 9-10 week wait). Seriously, how can you run a business and tell your customers that they have to wait 10 weeks to get an answer...how can they call themselves a "service" when that is the one thing they don’t provide.

Ah...rant over. I’m sure others have the same situation.

Uncle Stephen

Well all...its been a tough few weeks for me not knowing when she was going to pop but pop she did - yesterday morning at 8.20am. Yup, just like busses. You wait years to be an uncle, gently coaxing on my sisters and brothers-in-law to spawn and then 2 in 8 months. It’s great!

So little Gabriel was born yesterday in Ibiza to join little Clíona in Dingle as being part of the special family...they are related to me.

No other news so I will leave ye alone.

(Oh, for those wondering, I have no idea of size, weight, hair colour or anything like that yet.)

Anyone ever seen a nice public jacks?

Well? Have you? Hailing from Donegal and living in Cork you can imagine the need for extraditing certain things while doing a 14 hour round trip back home. Most are disgusting, fowl, smelly and some are basically a hole in the ground. I urge you, send you pictures on and we will publish here.

How can we expect to have tourists if they can’t even crap in a bit of comfort? Right, now to get a digital camera and get this show on the road.

Urrrggghhh

"Urrrggghhh" - Yes, that's the sound most of us make on Monday morning's after a weekend of drinking. Friday was some session at a 40th birthday party in Newbridge. Great night had by all with yours truly having to dress up for the occassion as requested by the organiser. At this moment in time I wont divulge what I was dressed as....I will leave that to your imagination (which is probably the best place for it).

The one weird thing about the party was, I realised how feckin old I feel now ! See, if you can go to a 40th and converse with the friends of the person whose birthday it is then you must be close to that age. Remember being 20 and heading to something like that? You'd sit in a corner with the people of your age and just drink away but now, now you can talk with them - about things that interest them ! Feck it. Need to get some friends who are 20.

So back to uurrggghhh. As I was saying, its a strange word. Its pronouced as follows:

- Drink lots
- Lack in sleep
- Eat rubbish
- Wake up on Monday for work and the first noise you make is "urrrggghhh".

Also lost money on the World Cup this weekend. Was doing so well last week but lost all the profit over the weekend. Just throwing a few quid on each match to predict the outcome so nothing bank-breaking.

Still, hopefully feel a bit better tomorrow or else its "uuurrrggghhh" mark-2

Old friends

Strange this, but ever notice that when you go out for a "team night out" you rarely (if ever) talk about the people who are out that night. Its always those not there or those people who used to work in the company.

We had such a night on Wednesday and many names were mentioned and got me to thinking about the people that have passed through here. 'The Count' from Monaghan, Orla (with Tommy T) and Lorraine and of course the legends that are Billy and Liber.

Also, the stories that appear are always the same and are always funny. The PHD story and also the 'we need more sheeps' one....ahhh. Legendary. Probably will tell the stories fully here at a later stage but only when I am outside the realm of suing.

Back again

What can I say. After God knows how long I decided to write something here again. May as well as I have the space.

Suppose it was talking to Damien (thats Mulley btw) that made me remember this. Strange things these blogs and who reads them. Yer man there was going to be sued for a comment he made in his but it didnt happen. Makes you think you have to be careful. Still, cant stop free speech.

Only 2 days till the World Cup now and the canteen is done up nice. Should be a good tournament but who knows who will win. There are always some weird results but maybe not this time.

First Post

Well, tis my first post at my new blogspot. I suppose most people are wondering about the name "Big SC" and I suppose I need to fill their need with answers.

For those of you privledged enough to grow up with ITV/UTV or whatever you want to call it, you may remember an ad that ritually appeared each and every Christmas about a certain location in Ballymena. Well that ad stated "Theres a Big Shopping Centre in Ballymena....haigh" and thats where the name comes from. The memories of that coupled with the demise of that ad meant that it had to be rekindled elsewhere and where better than here.

Also, just to add, for those that are wondering, haigh is pronounced "high" (but say it very fast).

So thats it...hope you enjoy and if I remember, I will update.

p.s. Please excuse the quif above. The pic was taken after 60mins of football.