I have to say, like Damien I will be delighted to see the back of 2007. Lots of things have happened this year that will make me glad to move into next year.
We had great news in July only to see the rug pulled from under us in early August. My previous job sucked big time with a new management structure all based in the US and A deciding that people in Cork we surplus to their requirements. I do honestly believe that what they are doing with the Global Servicedesks will not work. This comment is something I have been saying before anything happened with my job. They have a very narrow-minded, shallow idea and it will not work. I do hope though that it backfires and seriously bites them in the ass. Then after agreeing to leave, I was lied to by the management and so I'm really glad to see the back of them.
Finally we have been living in Cobh for the last three years. I can honestly say that I have never, ever, had such a tough time trying to live anywhere. It is almost impossible to integrate into that community and so we had to leave and now live in Dublin. Luckily, with the current climate, we managed to sell our house and hope the new people enjoy the house but we just didn't have the luck.
So, goodbye 2007 and so looking forward to 2008.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas
To the very few who read this blog, I hope you have a very Merry and peaceful Christmas and that 2008 brings everything you wish for.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
I wonder...
Regular Irish Bloggers (and many, many others) know Damien and Damien's previous life in Ireland Offline. When I worked with Damien I often asked and sought advise on telecom's issues and how to best get a result. When I was talking to him about getting crap cold-calls he said there is a number you can call and tell them you don't want to receive cold calls any more from Eircom or anyone else.Got me to thinking....
Is there a number to call to stop Jehovah's Witnesses or Born Again Christian's calling to my house? If they call and I tell them to stop and not come back does this suffice? Is there a list to get added to.
For the record, I'm not religious and don't want salvation.
Thanks.
Harney must go...NOW !!!!
Another case of pure negligence in our, ahem, wonderful health system. This poor women and I wonder how many more are like her. How many men in the same situation with regards to getting testing.
When is Mary Harney going to go and leave us in peace? When can we get a health system akin to our so-called world status? When, when, when are we going to stop asking these questions and get answers. WHEN ???
When is Mary Harney going to go and leave us in peace? When can we get a health system akin to our so-called world status? When, when, when are we going to stop asking these questions and get answers. WHEN ???
Friday, December 14, 2007
Twas the night before Xmas - Competition time
OK. Here is the challenge. On Twenty's blog he has his entry for "The Night Before Xmas" competition (even though he wasn't aware he was entering).
The challenge is to write your own version. Then link to this post from your blog with your entry (or leave as a comment), and then I will list them all on a post next Wed. Deadline for entries is Tuesday December 18th. People can then vote for their favourite and the winner gets a special prize (which I haven't decided yet but twill be nice, honest).
Now to go home and write my own version......
The challenge is to write your own version. Then link to this post from your blog with your entry (or leave as a comment), and then I will list them all on a post next Wed. Deadline for entries is Tuesday December 18th. People can then vote for their favourite and the winner gets a special prize (which I haven't decided yet but twill be nice, honest).
Now to go home and write my own version......
Harney - Please go!
I was listening to The Last Word the other day and they had a very sad story about a fella from Cork whose wife passed away. She was a young woman (early forties I think).
He took her into hospital, she was checked again, again and again and to no avail. Over the next few weeks more doctor and hospital visits but nothing was working. She couldn't eat and lost lots of weight. Eventually she was checked into hospital, spent the guts of 12 hours in a corridor waiting for a bed. That night he got a call to say she was very sick, he rushed in and she passed away. It turned out what killed her hadn't been diagnosed properly.
He tried to find the accountable person in the HSE and no-one would talk to him and even denied they were accountable. He sued the HSE and they admitted guilt and agreed a settlement. He still can't find the person(s) accountable and all they will say is "The HSE is responsible and accountable". Head's must roll. Harney's head must roll.
I really hope that she disappears very, very quickly never to reappear. Even if it means we have to give her a payment of €500, 000 it would be worth it to get rid of her. Useless, ugly, ignorant sow that she is. From what I can see, our health system is worse than when she started.
And do you know what makes this man's story even worse (if thats possible)? He is an ambulance driver at the hospital where his wife died and they couldn't even help him a bit. And his own management wouldn't meet and talk to him.
I think this story is indicitive of the sad, depressing, ignorant society that we now find ourselves. Very sad indeed.
He took her into hospital, she was checked again, again and again and to no avail. Over the next few weeks more doctor and hospital visits but nothing was working. She couldn't eat and lost lots of weight. Eventually she was checked into hospital, spent the guts of 12 hours in a corridor waiting for a bed. That night he got a call to say she was very sick, he rushed in and she passed away. It turned out what killed her hadn't been diagnosed properly.
He tried to find the accountable person in the HSE and no-one would talk to him and even denied they were accountable. He sued the HSE and they admitted guilt and agreed a settlement. He still can't find the person(s) accountable and all they will say is "The HSE is responsible and accountable". Head's must roll. Harney's head must roll.
I really hope that she disappears very, very quickly never to reappear. Even if it means we have to give her a payment of €500, 000 it would be worth it to get rid of her. Useless, ugly, ignorant sow that she is. From what I can see, our health system is worse than when she started.
And do you know what makes this man's story even worse (if thats possible)? He is an ambulance driver at the hospital where his wife died and they couldn't even help him a bit. And his own management wouldn't meet and talk to him.
I think this story is indicitive of the sad, depressing, ignorant society that we now find ourselves. Very sad indeed.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Is this the end of the Rafalution?
I don't often talk about football on this blog, but this time I feel the need to get something off my chest.The way things are going, I will surprised if Rafa Benitez will be Liverpool manager come end of June 2008.
Over the last 3 and a 1/2 years, Rafa and his teams have really brought us, the fans, many highs and some lows. We have had a Champions League win and another final. Our highest points total in 20 years and it took a monumental effort from Chelsea and Man Utd to stop us being in the top three. We have won the FA Cup, the European Super Cup, a Charity Shield and been in the League Cup final. All in 3 seasons. And yet the man is subjected to the most ridiculous criticism.
Yes, for the last 6 or 7 matches in the Premiership we have not played great but we are unbeaten. We are 6 points behind Arsenal after the same amount of games and we are 3 behind Man Utd with a game in hand. Yet these teams have no criticism.
I really fear for the situation. The press in England, the bastards that they are, have made it an almost daily report to lambast Benitez. Here we have a manager who in the last 4 seasons has been in 2 Champions League finals and won the UEFA Cup - a better record than Ferguson, Mourinho and Wenger have! Ferguson has been in 1 final in his entire 20-odd years at Man Utd. And yet what is written and said about him is unbelievable. This crap they write about the rotation system is utter rubbish and the man's record is unreal. You dont win 2 Spanish League titles without being an excellent manager. The press don't like Benitez as he doesnt conform to the English ideologies of football in that it should be played at 100 miles per hour and you play 4-4-2 with the same 11 each week. Crap.Utter crap. The man is a brilliant manager and what he has brought to England is as good as, if not better than, Mourinho.
According to the papers this morning Rafa will be sacked soon for clashing with the owners and Mourinho will be installed as boss. I really hope this doesnt happen. The owners at Liverpool need to get their heads out of their arse and see what he is saying. If we dont tie done Mascherano and get some others in soon then their return on investment will be even less. If they appoint Mourinho they may as well appoint Alex Ferguson as assistant as their loathing amoung Liverpool fans is about the same and loads will vote with their feet.
There are players at Liverpool who are also there due to Rafa and it is going to cost lots to replace them - and they will have to replace them. Reina will leave, Alonso will leave, Agger will leave. We may see Torres going and other too. I think we are just starting to see the best of Rafa's Liverpool team now. The players now know how we wants and some of the young lads are looking great. Lucas looks some player and Babbel is gonna be great - players who joined the team for the manager and not because of who owns the team.
I really hope that I am wrong and Rafa is Liverpool boss for many years, but this is another item of something that is rapidly decreasing my interest in football.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
What are the parents responsible for then?
While coming from the city centre earlier this evening, we had four young 'uns on the dart chatting about what they got up to last night. They were all around the 15 / 16 year age group. Last night they all smoked hash and a few of them had poppers on the way out. One of them was telling most of the people in the carriage (as he was talking loud enough) that Marissa wanted to give him 'head' and do him.
Another talked about rolling a few splifs today and sharing them with the others in the group and then was saying he spends about €25 each week on hash. Yup, €25.
When we were walking out of the station in Raheny (they were all off their heads) one of them spat in my wife's hair and another poked her in the back with an umbrella. Luckily for them Nicole didn't tell me about this until they had gone another direction and we were away from them.
If I had seen one of them doing that they, male or female, would have been pinned against a wall and shown in no uncertain terms not to even breath in our direction again. They really wouldn't want to get my temper going and little bastards like that get my blood boiling. And this is where we are really, really, killing our society. I would have been done for assault, probably, (and if one is going to be done for assault you better make it worthwhile) on that little fucker. What they done and the fact they were on, taking, and buying drugs (oh, and they were all drinking last night as well) would be irrelevant. People now-a-days have no manners especially children and teens. They get away with murder and parents do nothing to assist. They see it as the schools responsibility to not only educate, but instil discipline in THEIR kids. None of this education takes place at home and it should.
The problem is that schools cannot properly discipline kids as their discipling functions are removed. When I was at school the teachers used rulers to hit us on our hands. In my 8 years in primary school I'd say I got hit 3 times which is not a bad ratio. The fear of getting hit was sometimes more scary than the actual event. You knew if you got the ruler you did something to deserve it - and we did. It put a sense of discipline in us but also my parents put a lot of effort into manners and how to respect others (no smart comments). Now parents give their kids money and throw them on the streets (note how many hang around shops and mickey d's at all hours day and nights). And if a teacher so much as looks sideways at their child the trouble the teacher will be in is inconceivable. And this is wrong.
We will implode very soon as a society. Lots of the kids we are producing are rude, obnoxious, cheeky, place no value on anything and have no respect for any else. They don't know how to properly interact with people and because they are given money for nothing, they have no idea about work and have little or no work ethic - mummy and daddy will give me money.
When you listen to these radio talk-shows you hear people saying we need ASBO's, or better Policing, or more CCTV cameras, or teachers. No one mentions the parents responsibility in this
and surely as the people who have brought this person into this world, they are the people who should take most responsibility to improve what is happening.
Another talked about rolling a few splifs today and sharing them with the others in the group and then was saying he spends about €25 each week on hash. Yup, €25.
When we were walking out of the station in Raheny (they were all off their heads) one of them spat in my wife's hair and another poked her in the back with an umbrella. Luckily for them Nicole didn't tell me about this until they had gone another direction and we were away from them.
If I had seen one of them doing that they, male or female, would have been pinned against a wall and shown in no uncertain terms not to even breath in our direction again. They really wouldn't want to get my temper going and little bastards like that get my blood boiling. And this is where we are really, really, killing our society. I would have been done for assault, probably, (and if one is going to be done for assault you better make it worthwhile) on that little fucker. What they done and the fact they were on, taking, and buying drugs (oh, and they were all drinking last night as well) would be irrelevant. People now-a-days have no manners especially children and teens. They get away with murder and parents do nothing to assist. They see it as the schools responsibility to not only educate, but instil discipline in THEIR kids. None of this education takes place at home and it should.
The problem is that schools cannot properly discipline kids as their discipling functions are removed. When I was at school the teachers used rulers to hit us on our hands. In my 8 years in primary school I'd say I got hit 3 times which is not a bad ratio. The fear of getting hit was sometimes more scary than the actual event. You knew if you got the ruler you did something to deserve it - and we did. It put a sense of discipline in us but also my parents put a lot of effort into manners and how to respect others (no smart comments). Now parents give their kids money and throw them on the streets (note how many hang around shops and mickey d's at all hours day and nights). And if a teacher so much as looks sideways at their child the trouble the teacher will be in is inconceivable. And this is wrong.
We will implode very soon as a society. Lots of the kids we are producing are rude, obnoxious, cheeky, place no value on anything and have no respect for any else. They don't know how to properly interact with people and because they are given money for nothing, they have no idea about work and have little or no work ethic - mummy and daddy will give me money.
When you listen to these radio talk-shows you hear people saying we need ASBO's, or better Policing, or more CCTV cameras, or teachers. No one mentions the parents responsibility in this
and surely as the people who have brought this person into this world, they are the people who should take most responsibility to improve what is happening.
Friday, November 16, 2007
More Striking - Getting Boring!
So, they are all at it now. Aer Lingus staff are going on strike as well. Jee wizz. I do wonder how these people would cope if they worked for a private company where your job is important. I mean, look at what happened in Shannon with the Aer Lingus route. Maybe call their bluff and let other airlines take the routes that they are so happy to let go idle.
I was also reading a very interesting letter in the Metro. A girl in Dublin was saying that she bought a ticket for Dublin bus in advance. Because of the strike now, every bus that goes past her place is full and so she has to taxi it. Should she get her money back? I feckin think so...and take it out of the unions or Dublin bus workers coffers.
Feckers the lot of them....they may make my list yet !
I was also reading a very interesting letter in the Metro. A girl in Dublin was saying that she bought a ticket for Dublin bus in advance. Because of the strike now, every bus that goes past her place is full and so she has to taxi it. Should she get her money back? I feckin think so...and take it out of the unions or Dublin bus workers coffers.
Feckers the lot of them....they may make my list yet !
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Unions - Do we really need them?
This whole bus dispute in Dublin I have to say is really annoying me. I think it is completely uncalled for and is yet again a sign of how many Irish hide behind unions when they can't be arsed working. Yes, I said can't be arsed.
Personally, I think Dublin bus are well within their rights to ask the drivers change in the city centre. If there was no precedent then fair enough but I have been on enough buses in Dublin and seen drivers change in the city centre - so what is so special about those from Harristown?
In order to succeed in any business you must be prepared to experience some level of discomfort at some stage in your company. Its life, get on with it. It happens us all. Unfortunately in Ireland when any company who has a union behind them tries to change something, some idiot decides to call a strike because it might cause them a little discomfort. Of course when they decide to do this its never them nor the union who suffer its ALWAYS the consumer. 60,000 people they reckon are affected in Dublin the last few days.
I wait for the day for another unofficial strike. When these happen I always hope that the idiot who called the strike gets sacked if its found it shouldnt be called. Why should the consumers always suffer yet this idiot keeps their job. So come on union folk do what you are really there for and protect people. If its unofficial and is deemed unwarranted I ask you to make an example of the person who called the strike. It might stop others.
Unions are a great idea. I'm not against them. What I am against are the people running them. These people seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder and just want to show every now and again that they have some power, and do everything they can to annoy as many people as they can. They never see the bigger picture.
The new bus routes are needed in Dublin. They need to be introduced. Dublin Bus have gone through the correct channels to get it ratified. They have deferred these new routes twice but these are needed now. What can't unions move with the times? The fella that was suspended for refusing to work the new routes was rightly suspended. If my company went through the right channels and had to make a change for the right reasons and I refused I'd be given two options - leave or be pushed. That's it. And if this strike ends with these drivers getting more money for the new routes that will be disgusting.
Personally, I think Dublin bus are well within their rights to ask the drivers change in the city centre. If there was no precedent then fair enough but I have been on enough buses in Dublin and seen drivers change in the city centre - so what is so special about those from Harristown?
In order to succeed in any business you must be prepared to experience some level of discomfort at some stage in your company. Its life, get on with it. It happens us all. Unfortunately in Ireland when any company who has a union behind them tries to change something, some idiot decides to call a strike because it might cause them a little discomfort. Of course when they decide to do this its never them nor the union who suffer its ALWAYS the consumer. 60,000 people they reckon are affected in Dublin the last few days.
I wait for the day for another unofficial strike. When these happen I always hope that the idiot who called the strike gets sacked if its found it shouldnt be called. Why should the consumers always suffer yet this idiot keeps their job. So come on union folk do what you are really there for and protect people. If its unofficial and is deemed unwarranted I ask you to make an example of the person who called the strike. It might stop others.
Unions are a great idea. I'm not against them. What I am against are the people running them. These people seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder and just want to show every now and again that they have some power, and do everything they can to annoy as many people as they can. They never see the bigger picture.
The new bus routes are needed in Dublin. They need to be introduced. Dublin Bus have gone through the correct channels to get it ratified. They have deferred these new routes twice but these are needed now. What can't unions move with the times? The fella that was suspended for refusing to work the new routes was rightly suspended. If my company went through the right channels and had to make a change for the right reasons and I refused I'd be given two options - leave or be pushed. That's it. And if this strike ends with these drivers getting more money for the new routes that will be disgusting.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Tickets went..
The tickets on offer for the match last night between France and New Zealand went for face value.
And i'd say it was some game to be at as it was very exciting to watch.
And i'd say it was some game to be at as it was very exciting to watch.
Irish Rail Watch
For my 200th post I thought that I would post about something that is close to my heart....how much Irish Rail suck.
On Wednesday last, I travelled to Dublin by train for the first time in about 4 years. And they didn't disappoint. For all the published items on the amount of trains that depart and arrive on time I took three trains and all were late.
Train 1, Cork-Dublin: Due to depart on Wednesday morning at 10.30am - left at 10.33am (you may think this is pedantic but it is still late)
Train 2, Dublin-Cork: Due to depart on Friday afternoon at 12pm - left at 12.22pm. The tannoy system in Heuston station is poor and it was not only hard to understand the accent on the man speaking, but also what he was saying.
Train 3, Cork-Cobh: Due to depart on Friday afternoon at 3pm - left at 3.17pm. The funny thing about this, is that at 3.02pm they announced that this train was running late (really???) by about 15mins. A bit shoddy.
So, I am getting the train again this afternoon and will see what happens now.
On Wednesday last, I travelled to Dublin by train for the first time in about 4 years. And they didn't disappoint. For all the published items on the amount of trains that depart and arrive on time I took three trains and all were late.
Train 1, Cork-Dublin: Due to depart on Wednesday morning at 10.30am - left at 10.33am (you may think this is pedantic but it is still late)
Train 2, Dublin-Cork: Due to depart on Friday afternoon at 12pm - left at 12.22pm. The tannoy system in Heuston station is poor and it was not only hard to understand the accent on the man speaking, but also what he was saying.
Train 3, Cork-Cobh: Due to depart on Friday afternoon at 3pm - left at 3.17pm. The funny thing about this, is that at 3.02pm they announced that this train was running late (really???) by about 15mins. A bit shoddy.
So, I am getting the train again this afternoon and will see what happens now.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Anyone want tickets to the rugby quarter final?
So, I have a friend with 4 tickets to the World Cup quarter final in Cardiff.Does anyone want to buy them? If so, then leave a comment.
I dont think I will comment on the fiasco that was our performances as better writers than me have already done that.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Coming Soon
Everyone else blogged about this when he released the cover so I thought I'd be different and only mention it now. Twenty's book is nearly there.
One can hope that it makes it big, is put into a movie and grosses more than Harry flucking Potter. Feck it I cant stand those mind controlling movies and books.
One then one can hope that with his newly found fortune Twenty decends into a life of living it up, sleeping with numerous supermodels and other such fit birds and blows his entire fortune in a very short space of time and is back blogging then.
Maybe he could just live of his name afterwards like Chesney Hawkes.
One can hope that it makes it big, is put into a movie and grosses more than Harry flucking Potter. Feck it I cant stand those mind controlling movies and books.One then one can hope that with his newly found fortune Twenty decends into a life of living it up, sleeping with numerous supermodels and other such fit birds and blows his entire fortune in a very short space of time and is back blogging then.
Maybe he could just live of his name afterwards like Chesney Hawkes.
More Politics Stuff
As you may or may not know, Damien owns a few websites (when will the madness stop). One of these is www.politicsinireland.com. This has been newed up a bit, jazzed a little more, and is now ready for re-launch is grand Windows 95 style.
Go an have a look or we will set Gerry on you.
Go an have a look or we will set Gerry on you.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Must See Movie - Mischief Night
If you liked 'East is East' or kinda liked 'The Full Monty' then you must get out another English movie called 'Mischief Night'.
This is a really funny and well made movie set in Leeds in northeast Eng-er-land. The basic idea of the movie is that each year in Leeds they celebrate a night, sort of like Halloween, called Mischief Night. On this night anything can happen. The story centres around a women with three children each by different men. Mischief Night is on the Friday night but the movie starts the previous Monday and builds up to the Friday.
Its really funny but be prepared for some crass language and some drug-related scenes and it is defo an 18 rated movie.
Go get it out...
This is a really funny and well made movie set in Leeds in northeast Eng-er-land. The basic idea of the movie is that each year in Leeds they celebrate a night, sort of like Halloween, called Mischief Night. On this night anything can happen. The story centres around a women with three children each by different men. Mischief Night is on the Friday night but the movie starts the previous Monday and builds up to the Friday.
Its really funny but be prepared for some crass language and some drug-related scenes and it is defo an 18 rated movie.
Go get it out...
House Husbandry
You know, as much as it pains me to say this but I have really enjoyed having the last four weeks of work. Sure the house has to be clean and the dinner made for the good wife when she gets home, but its great hanging around the house.
Its also mighty for pretending to be cleaning the house when really on the interweb and watching Liverpool DVD's.
In all seriousness, I can see why parents that stay at home with kids do have a full time job. I don't have any kids but each evening you wonder where the feck the day has gone. You ask yourself: what have I done? Where did the day go? Did I achieve anything? In most cases you don't think that certain things take the amount of time they do or maybe in this day and age we all just want things done now and the quicker the better.
So I raise my hat and tip my glass to all those housewifes and househusbands and say fair play to ye.
Now, Im off to surf the web and then twill be dinner time.
Its also mighty for pretending to be cleaning the house when really on the interweb and watching Liverpool DVD's.
In all seriousness, I can see why parents that stay at home with kids do have a full time job. I don't have any kids but each evening you wonder where the feck the day has gone. You ask yourself: what have I done? Where did the day go? Did I achieve anything? In most cases you don't think that certain things take the amount of time they do or maybe in this day and age we all just want things done now and the quicker the better.
So I raise my hat and tip my glass to all those housewifes and househusbands and say fair play to ye.
Now, Im off to surf the web and then twill be dinner time.
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