I can't think of a title

You know when you are so annoyed you can't think straight? Well this story in the independent has got me.

It talks about congestion increasing along with respiratory illnesses and general misery. Ok, nothing new there really. Nothing to be extra annoyed about but then Minister Noel Dempsey had his say...

He has a report that is nearly ready to be signed to start a public consultation... Blah Blah and that we can't rely on Transport 21 to solve all our problems...

The fact that Transport 21 is nearly 2 years old and nothing is in place yet and there is still deadlock in getting new buses out on the road...

I know infrastructure takes time, but brand new buses sitting in garages because of a legal argument is farcical. Make a name for yourself minister and get something done! Anything!

Back Running

Today was my first attempt at running in a while. Even though I had the wrong runners, I went out for a short run. I did a 1k run in 5.13. The first run is always the hardest so hopefully they improve after this.

I'm going to try and get out tomorrow. Wish me luck. Maybe I will get as far as a 10k this year!

Buyer Beware

I went into the Arnott's Sale this morning to get myself some half price Asics. I got a pair of GT2130 and Kayano and it was a nice price. Got the boxes, went on home.

I opened them up to go for a run and what I had actually got was a paid of gel1130 and gel evolution. I'm peeved to say the least. By the time I can bring them back the one's I want will be gone...

Arg!!!

It's the afternoon before Christmas

and all through the house, everyone is buying 70 cans because the pubs are shut for 1 night.

The amount of queues and shopping going on is amazing and people's stress levels are going through the roof.

Sit back enjoy your dinner and take it easy people!

It's Alive! Alive!

I've been having bike troubles (when are you not having bike troubles I hear you say!) , what's new? So my bike didn't want to accelerate past 60kmph, which is all well and good on most of my journies but there are times when I would like to (and need to) go faster.

I rang 5 or 6 mechanics in Dublin today and all were booked up well into the new year. I decided to take matters into my own hands, so I oiled the chain, got the WD40 out and I lubricated manies a joint and I fiddled with something at the front of the chain (I don't know what it was!).

I went out for a ride, to the local shopping centre, I had to pick up some gifts, and on my way back I decided to pull back the throttle on a long straight road and low and behold, she roared. She roareth the roar of a bat out of hell and accelerated like, well a 250 maurader.

It's great to have her back!!!

Big Whoop!

I read today that the EU had just got bigger. Way to go EU. Keep eating your greens.

To quote the Slovak Prime Minister (Robert Fico, a youngster, fair play to him): "From midnight tonight you can travel 4,000km (2,485 miles) from Tallinn in Estonia to Lisbon in Portugal without any border controls."

That is of course true if you don't dare go to an airport. I recently flew from London to Dublin and had my passport checked at least 5 times. And Ireland and the UK have a free travel agreement, as well as both being member states of the EU.

So to recap today we are free to travel all around Europe, so go travel, leave the passport at home, there's no need for it.

Breakfast of Champions

It's Kris Kindle time of year. Which is Secret Santa to some of you and Amigo oculto to my good friends in Brazil.

I decided to go with a book this year and the one I chose is Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. It's for a guy I work with who loves Sci-Fi and old fashioned horror films. I thought this book would suit him down to the ground due to it's surreal nature.

It's the strange story of Kilgore Trout a Sci-fi writer and Kilgore Trout, a depressed car salesman. I've read it twice and to be honest you can't really summarise it. Well I can't. I can just say it is surreal, weird wonderfully written and shows you many side to human nature.

For me it is one of Vonnegut's Best. Enjoy

A picture from Sapa

On my recent trip to Sapa in Vietnam (on my honeymoon) I took this cool photograph. It sums up the versatility and craziness of the country.


Yes it really is a man carrying a motorbike on the back of his motorbike.

In Ireland, most of the things you do in Vietnam could not be done because of regulations and health & safety but come on people. Stop living in a bubble, go fall out of a tree!

Eco Fuel

Would you do anything for the environment? Would you power your car on human fat? Thought not, but it is great to see that some people are thinking outside the box.

Although they are so far outside the box I don't think they can even see the box anymore.

Maybe putting all this weight on will help the environment

Christmas Nonsense

The BBC had cut certain words out of a fairytale of new york when it was playing it on radio. I don't think I have to spell out what words were cut.

They've decided against it in the end, but was it for publicity or is it just how the world is these days.

I understand that some words are offensive to some people, but commonsense (if it still exists), should prevail.

My Hittail experiment

I was looking through my hittail and as usual it throws up some weird and wacky results. Normally I just read them and think 'that's odd', or 'that's very very odd'.

I've decided to see what hittail can actually do for me. It claims it can help boost traffic and hits to your site by identifying how people find your site, what keywords get them in.

I'm going to take the number 1 from my hittail and write a few articles on it. I'm also going to take some of the suggestions and write articles on it.

I am going to give it until the end of January to check the results. So I will give before and after stats from my Google Analytics.

Wish me luck.

A load of hot air.

Pressurized air to be precise. Ever since my little spill I have been very wary on my bike. The last 2 days the back wheel felt erratic and I just couldn't trust it.

I checked the tyre pressure and it was way too low. So after wrestling with a pump in a garage (why do they have to be so awkward) I sorted the air pressure out.

The bike feels a lot more manageable and I have much more confidence in it. All I need to do is sort the lack of acceleration and I will be sorted but i think that's a problem for after Christmas

What is wrong with the world

I may be a bit behind the times but I have just heard that Dublin Bus have a load of new buses lying idle because of a legal dispute with a private bus company.

So the general bus taking public are missing out because some lawyers and some civil servants can't get arounda table and sort things out. This is what the government is there for so get governing and get us the buses we badly need.

Traffic is only getting worse, let's try and make public transport a viable alternative.

Customers eh?

I had an irate calling me enquiring about why his email had stopped working. I had to think about it for a moment, and then I asked him had he sent the fax to the ieDR to transfer his domain over to my servers?

Yes, of course he had (cough cough). The site was still being hosted with another host and not been transfered over to my servers. So he hasn't transferred to me, he hasn't paid me but he sees fit to call me up shouting at me?

Some people eh?

Technorati Ranking

I have fallen outside the top 2,000,000 again. I need to get the readership up. So if you do come across my blog, let me know what you like and what you don't like and I will sort this out.

I want to be in the top million. Then I will have the power and I will rule you all.... WOOOHAHAHAH!

Tidying Up your PC

I gavce my laptop a bit of a spring clean tonight. I use MsConfig.exe to get rid of all that rubbish that starts up with your PC. Just type msconfig into your run box and then go to the startup tab. Remove anything you don't like the look of and that is a nice start.

Since I use Zone Alarm I've not had any virus trouble but I still use Avast just in case.

Amazing Animal

Check this little fella out on the BBC website. It goes to show there are a lot more things on going on in this world than we know about.

We don't know everything, I don't think we've even scratched the surface!

Gift Ideas

What do you get for the person who has everything? The Cliff Richard Official Calendar of course!

I've got my bike back!

After my little spill earlier in the week my bike was out of action. The mechanic who did the original service picked up the bike, repaired it and dropped it back. I was in no fit state to ride it today but I should be back in the game tomorrow.

The Budget

It's the big day tomorrow. It's the budget. It's a day you wait for with great anticipation and are always disappointed. I'm not looking for more money for me, but to see the money they collect used wisely for the country.

Some decent public transport would be good. So let's see if the Greena Fail TDs (the pun police are going to lock me away!) have had any influence and got the goverment to do something.

Fat chance!

Biker.ie

As you know I am a new biker (it's nearly 2 years now!) and I had a spill (biker speak for a fall) last night. I joined the biker.ie forum to tell them what happened and it was really cool. Lots of like minded bikers out there to run your ideas by.

Check it out.

Moving and a shaking!

Last week I told you about my lowly ranking on technorati. I just checked today and I've jumped over 480 thousand places into the top 2 million.

How cool is that?

I bet you all want to be my friend now!

The cleansheet is gone

Up until tonight I proudly had a cleansheet when it came to bike accidents. Tonight that all changed. I was coming home and at the last roundabout, I heard a pop, and the backwheel went out from until me. I tried to hold it but I couldn't.

Down she went and the engine popped a ball of smoke and dumped my oil all over the road. There were some nice people to help me up and I am fine (so far). A bumped knee and hip and a bit of a twinge in the shoulder from trying to keep her up. Hopefully it won't get worse over night.

What I want to know is what happened. What was the pop before I went down? did my engine leak oil and put me down.

I've gone through that roundabout thousands of times, and I was completely switched on when it happened. I'm going to investigate.

I'll let you know what I find.

August Rush

Last night we went to see August Rush. It stars Freddie Highmore and Jonathon Rhys Meyers, not to mention Robin Williams, Terrence Howard and Kerri Russell.

It is a super sweet film who's plot is like Cinderella meets Oliver Twist. It has some of the worst lines ever written for the screen but you couldn't hold it against it. It is enjoyable and Robin Williams is a really creepy Fagan like character.

Jonathon Rhys Meyers does a really strange Dublin accent. I can't quite put my finger on what is wrong with it but there is something not quite right.

Go to it if you like sweet films!

Ross O'Carroll-Kelly

On Thursday night I went to the Olympia theatre in Dublin to see "The Last Days of the Celtic Tiger". It's a play based on the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly books of which I have to admit, I have read and have liked (although the last few have been a bit too unoriginal).

On the most part the play was enjoyable, the accents were as poor as the people Ross was laughing at and the crowd burst into laughter when he said Ballymun and Tallaght (there was no joke, just the place names) so it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

There was one part of the play which really bugged me. There is a scene when his father has a soliloquy about all countries are founded on corruption and that if you have hidden a cheque from the tax man then you were as guilty as those at the planning tribunals. It was pointless and it struck me of the author trying to claw back some sense of identity other than that of his misguided protagonist (Have I just used that in a sentence, am i becoming one of them ???).

Would I recommend it? Only if you like the books, and if so, you've probably already been.

Am I worth it?

As it turns out I'm not, or more correctly my sites aren't. I stumbled upon a website calculator which works out how much your site is worth for advertising etc.

Living the Dream is worth a whopping $167. So if you want to empty out your change jar, make me an offer. I probably won't refuse.

I checked out a few other sites I run and nothing major, in fact mostly less than my blog, but then I decided to check out 6th's Blog. He is worth a whopping $77,832,073! Isn't that astounding. I checked and I doublechecked.

And to think, I paid for lunch today! (Does it matter that it was my turn?)

Web design - The truth

As you all know I have my web design & development business. I host about 40 sites currently so there is always work to be done. There is always more coming in.

I just came across the top 10 "Nos!" for freelancers and it applies to my business too.

It's strange how people some how thing their website is the least important part of their business and that their nephew who knows a bit about computers can whip something up. I know we don't like shelling out money but it's false economy. What you put in you will get out.

I've had one customer who we've been developing a site for over 2 years for!!!

6th is Artistic

My bro in law 6th is quite the artist. How cool are those sculptures! The only way it could possible be better is if it would "ribbit" when you walked past!

If only he would help me build that shed I started building with lollipop sticks back when i was 6!

If you own a restaurant buy this

That is of course you run a canteen or a place that currently uses plastic knives and forks. Check this ingenius item out.

So go on save the planet!!!

Wrong Turn

Today I had lots to do. I had to go collect some documents, drop them off get an insurance disc and then head over to the opposite side of town to the bank to collect a statement.

So I left work at 12:15, I thought I might be able to get it done within my lunch hour... How wrong was I?

Magellan here took a slight wrong turn. I was heading for Gardiner St. I missed the turn and headed up Amien St. A simple mistake I thought. A couple of lefts and I will be back on track. 50 minutes later I finally got where I was going.

So to the planners of Dublin, put some more road signs up, for the directionally special people like me.

Facebook, WTF?

Do you get it? I'm not sure I do? Am I getting old? Yes but come on, that surely can't be the reason?

If you have been living under a rock I'm talking about Facebook. It's a grown up Bebo.

It's the weird phenomena of social networking, which seems to be posting pictures of yourself and then doing some really annoying games (i like some of the quizes) and emailing each other. It is an overloaded email site.

Who loves you baby!

I just checked who is linking into my blog and have come up with some funny results. I have Alot of Blogs linking to me. Not litreally a lot of blogs, just one called a lot of blogs (I can see you drifting off).

I'm also over at Simply. I think that's down to the dilligence of the people who run Hittail (which is still cool).

But the best is the link to the Sex directory. I'm not going to link to it, because this is a family show!

From the Buy and Sell

Wardrobe. Also chest of drawers, going cheap, owner has no storage space.

Genius!!!

My Ranking

I was just checking on Technorati and my ranking has fallen to a horrible 2,124,856. I used to be in the top 800,000.

I must devise a plan, perhaps a strategy to claw my way back up to the dizzy heights of the top million.

Bye Bye Ads!

I've had ads on my site from the get go and to be honest they suck. I used Google Ads until I got a ban because of illegal clicks (we have 1 IP in work!!!). I then tried using Bidvertiser, but to no avail. You can choose your own ads out of a selection but because they are not related to the posts they look out of place.

So after $9.24 worth of clicks and about 3 months waiting for someone to push me over the $10 mark (so I'd get paid) I've decided to remove the ads.

I'm advertising free at the moment but I might put a link in to your blog or site, just get in touch!

Come on! My google Page Rank is 2. I'm not a nobody.

.ie Domains

Who is the cheapest to register .ie domains I hear you say? Say it! Say it! Anyway, there is a good blog article on this over here. I charge around €60 over at my web design and hosting company Red Tomato.

I can bring the price down if I'm hosting or designing aswell.

The problem for me is that I am not a reseller, I am a reseller of a reseller. Check out how you become a reseller. They make you jump through a lot of hoops but I think it is the way to go so watch this space.

What do you think?

What do you think to people including qualifications in their email signature. I cannot be clearer it is pointless and a waste of good pixel energy. So down with that sort of thing.

Traffic WTF?

I had an appointment in the gym in Westmanstown tonight at 6.20. I left work at 5 in the city centre and considering I'm on a motorbike I thought I would be able to get there. Alas this was not the case.

Traffic in town was pretty light and I hit the N4 without much fuss. With Buslanes and filtering I was at the slip road to lucan in about 35 minutes.

This is where it all went wrong. I went into Lucan, well I say lucan, I got about 200 metres past woodies towards lucan and had to turn back as it was backed up and there was no room for safe filtering. I made my way back onto the N4 and crawled up to the lucan turn off so i could get through the village. Alas and alack, I couldn't evern get towards Laraghcon (it's on the way). So at about 6.15 I turned for home.

I don't have to make that trip often and I feel sorry for anyone who does, but I'm not completely sympathetic.

Not everybody needs to use a car, there are some people that the bus routes are convenient for and tonight the weather wasn't even bad, it was crisp and clear.

Until we get some decent public represenation (canvas your local green TD Paul Gogarty although he might not reply) and start making the effort ourselves it is only going to get worse.

I got it,

I picked up my new bike in Bray and rode it all the way home. It is a long straight ride on the M50 and at 9 at night it is empty of traffic, well the bit before Tallaght anyway.

The new bike runs really well. I'll have pictures up soon!

New bike

I am collecting my new bike in Bray tonight and making my way back to Lucan. It will be a long trip on the M50, so hopefully my fingers will survice the cold!

Tay Ninh and Chu Chi

I've just uploaded our pictures from Tay Ninh and Chu Chi. This was our first tour in Vietnam and it gave us an idea of what was in store.

The tour was really cheap, you're talking $7 each (you could get it cheaper). We set off early Around 7.30 and we drove to a place called Handicap Handicrafts (I'm not making it up!), where disabled people make ceramics and lacquer products.

Then we went to the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh. This is basically the Vatican for this religion and it is a huge place which itself is quite impressive. The temple is magnificent but very gaudy. Then we looked around and say the service which was not as exciting as you might think. We had maybe 2 hours in this place when all you need is about 20 minutes. I'm not joking 20 minutes would have done.

After this we went on to the Chu Chi Tunnels where the North Vietnamese had a stronghold in South Vietnam. It is a strange place in the jungle but it was a very enjoyable tour. I found out I'm a bit claustrophobic as I couldn't bear to go into the tunnel. Sarah had no bother though.

I got to shoot an M16 there which was not as cool as I thought, It wasn't like Rambo.

More Honeymoon Photos

I'm on a roll. I've put up the pictures from Saigon which was the first few days in Vietnam. Don't worry there are not many pictures.

Bertie is not a man of the people

Bertie can normally say anything and we'll all say "Ah, poor Bertie!". But when you say that you are in a state of poverty when you are earning over 300k a year is just plain stupid. I don't care what comparisons he was making, he wouldn't know poverty if he had to step over it.

It makes me so mad!!!

Lets pay more for less

The licence fee is going up €2 to €160 a year. That will add up for a new ivory back scratcher for Pat Kenny or maybe an even more tailored suit for Ryan Tubridy.

RTE advertise the enemy

We all know RTE.ie is crap but I never really thought they were stupid. It turns out they are. Todayt in their entertainment section they are talking "I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here". This is a show on TV3 and UTV their 2 biggest rivals.

I know you can't ignore what is happening in the world but you don't have to promote other channels.

I just paid my licence fee last night so I've every excuse not to be happy.

Honeymoon Photos

I finally got around to putting some sense to the photos. I have sorted through the photos from Paris. So check them out and I will have the ones from Vietnam together soon.

Bear with me!

Technology

Tonight I've been working on a messageboard and I'm having trouble with a mysql database. I think my host company put it in a strange place (not on the server they said it was) but I suppose i will find out tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will be driven mad by Microsoft and their WCF. If you don't know, don't ask!

Let's take it up a notch

It's not all knob and fart jokes here at Living the Dream, ok well maybe it is, but not tonight. Check out the blog over here.

This is the blog of the Caird Library over in London Town (apples and pairs guv'nor) where my good friend Gary happens to work.

Keep on blogging (it's a word!).

Buying a bike

I'm on the lookout for a decent 250 cruiser at the moment and so far there is nothing out there. There are a couple of marauders out there but I'm a bit wary after my last experience.

So if you know anyone selling a decent 250 Cruiser, GET IN TOUCH! Please!

Driving Lessons

I was out again tonight terrorising road users in County Dublin. I was much better than the weekend but still a bit panicy when i was first at lights and at bit roundabouts when speed is of the essence.

All in all I just need time behind the wheel. Less than a month to the test now, so wish me luck!

A new low

I happened to switch on RTE as I pottered about the house, tidying some stuff away (not much, but every little helps). I heard what was on TV and stopped to watch. I thought at first it was perhaps an ad, or maybe some sort of mistake, but no it was possibly the worst comedy RTE have ever produced.

It was the english class and I beg you to watch a few minutes just so you can understand and empathise with my pain. It was cliched, which isn't always a bad thing, but the timing and delivery was so poor, I actually died a little inside (only kidding, it's not fair city).

I wonder was there a pilot even made or do they just put this tripe directly onto TV?

Running again

I actually went out for a cycle and a run this morning. The cycle was a necessity as I had to get something in for breakfast but the running was by choice.

I went out and did 2k in 10:20 which is quite respectable for the first real run in a long long time. I had a small twinge in my knee for maybe 30 seconds but it soon passed and I've had no reaction since.

I think I will try 3k on Monday or more likely Tuesday.

Confusing Racism Story

Some stories make little or no sense, and this one is very strange. How about you both shut up!

Mile High Club?

Check this out. What a weird world we live in, even airlines are publicity whores!

What Patrick did next...

The 1st of November is tomorrow and I have decided to start working towards a goal. I haven't fully decided what that goal is yet.

The 2 options are, a triathlon around August next year or a marathon in may or june, or maybe as far as the Dublin Marathon in October.

I have struggled with a knee injury for the past year and a half but i think the time is right to move past it with some good physio and good training. I will keep you posted on my progress...

Angkor Wat

On our trip to Vietnam we spent a couple of days in Cambodia. We went to Siem Reap and stayed in a fabulous little place called Journey's Within (about 7 minutes outside the town by tuk tuk). It was cheap by Irish Standards and I cannot fault their service in any way. The staff were super friendly and very very helpful. The bungalows are lovely, with free soft drinks and DVDs. You cannot go wrong!

From here we made our way to Angkor Wat to see lots and lots of temples. Angkor Wat itself is pictured and it is impressive from the outside and less so on the inside.

Jet Lag

It was my first day back in work today and it was very strange to be back. I wasn't expected as my computer had been dismantled. So first things first, I had to put that back together and go through my emails. It was painless. I was expecting a lot more than I had but 2 hours into the day and I was ready to work.

It's the first time I've had any sort of jet lag and it isn't too bad, it is actually working out quite well. Tired at 10 asleep by 11 and awake at 6.30. Sounds perfect eh?

I will soon be back to my awake all night and tired when i have to get up....

Vietnam

Just back from Honeymooning in Vietnam and here is the first picture I have decided to put up. It is a small example of the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City, where we began our trip.

Crossing the road is a matter of looking left and right while walking through every lane. I don't think I saw a traffic light being obeyed for the first few days.

I'm back

I got back home yesterday and have been getting back to normal, although I have a lot more washing than usual.

I've uploaded my photos to my laptop but i've not sorted them yet, so over the next week be prepared for pictures.

Now I begin my search for a new bike!

More of Vietnam

Well since I last posted we have been to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, which is a huge complex of temples. We moved from the swanky area of Ho Chi Minh on our return and even a very threatening taxi driver has not put a dampner on things.

We Went to the Mekong Delta and then we got the bus to Mue Nei (I'm not going to bother spoell checking that). We stayed in a bungalow about 20 yards from the beach.

Then yesterday we took the bus to Nha Trang and have been out scuba diving today!!!

I've filled 2 memory cards with pictures and bought a 2Gb one for the rest of the trip. There is no way i could possibly fill that!!!

It's been a while!

It's been ages. I have gotten married to the lovely Sarah and have been to Paris, and am now sitting in the truly majestic Majestic Hotel in Saigon. We are heading to Cambodia tomorrow.

Be prepared for lots of pictures!

It's a lemon

I finally got my bike into a shop and got it seen to. There was good an d bad news. The got it started again. It was the processor. The bad news was everything else was wrong with the bike. The exhaust, the brakes, the lights... No need to go on!

I'll be getting my money back (I hope!)

Another cyclist bites the dust

Floyd Landis has been found guilty of doping so he loses his Tour de France title and is banned for 2 years, which i think goes to 2009.

It's horrible to think how low sport can push great people.

Let's have some drug free sport!

RTE.ie a new low

Check out RTE's new venture. So now they are hawking jobs, tonnes of advertising, cars and whatever other crap.

I'm getting sick of paying over €150 a year for this rubbish!!!

Have a bit of class!

Taxi Drivers

When you are not looking for business turn off your light. I spent 20 minutes wandering the cold streets of Tallaght trying to flag down a taxi! 5 passed me with their lights on, one had passengers, the others just ignored me.

It still beats the 40 minutes spent waiting for a bus.

I just hear from the other room a repeat of the late late show is starting, why lord why? Is once not enough!

More bike woes

I push started the bike as the battery wouldn't charge. I went into town and had to push start again. And then the power just went! I was stuck for a couple of hours waiting to be recovered (and my insurance company had no record of me).

€108.50 to be recovered and now I need a new battery and I think the clutch might be gone...

od dear god, what have I done.

Bike woes

I hopped on the bike to head out (to my mothers to decorate) and she wouldn't turn over, the battery seemed as dead as a doornail.

So my neighbour Peter the biker, gave me a loan of his battery charger so I am charging the battery hoping that sorts things out!!!

Russian Roulette

Check this idea out. Sex Day! A day off work to have sex! And they are encouraging it!

Wonderful!

M50 Virgin

I lost it. I lost my M50 virginity. To those of you who don't know, the M50 is the main "Motorway" around Dublin.

I went from Tallaght to Lucan in about 10 minutes, knocking about 15 minutes of the alternative journey time. It even has a reduced speed limit at the moment so when the roadworks are finished it will be a very short trip.

Strange smell coming from my exhaust though, so I think I will take the bike off the road tonight!

Bus lanes

There is a discussion over on Boards about bikers using the bus lane.

I rarely use the bus lane and there is one most of the way home. I don't use them because I don't want to be pulled over by the Gardai and given a lecture and pay a fine. Some wave you on, some stop you.

When it comes to the law it should be black or white. Make it legal for bikers to use the bus lanes. I see too many near misses with people in cars changing lane without looking or indicating. (I'm not saying bikers are better with their indicators).

So show a bit of common sense on open up the bus lanes!

Random breath tests

I picked up my bike from my sister's last night. I had left it there before going on my stag. I had stopped drinking at about 2.30am and had a run and my breakfast and dinner when I did the test at about 9pm last night.

There was no doubts or question but I was very nervous taking the test. It was zero of course!

Never drink and drive kids!

Stag

I had a bit of a Stag on saturday. It involved karting, eating and drinking. So all in all it was pretty successful. I might even have pictures up of it later.

The highlights were the bad driving by me, Martin trying to drive me through the barriers and the lounge girl who refused to take orders before making us write the order down!

New Bike

First day on the bike and all is well. She is a lot noisier than my previous bike and I don't know if that is to be expected.

I think I will get her serviced next week to ease my mind.

Crazy Author

An author in Poland was just convicted of a murder. Nothing strange about that? Well the only reason he was caught was he wrote about an almost identical murder in his book. A book that was published.

In the book he described the perfect murder, poetic licence eh?

Chump!

New bike!

I picked up my new bike tonight and she looks great. It will take a bit of getting used to, she is louder and quicker but all in all she feels good.

I'm looking forward to getting out on the open road to see how she handles.

I'll post pictures tomorrow!

Bike news!

I sold my lovely 125 marauder and bought a 250 Marauder. Nice. Since I passed my bike test I can take a pillion passenger so the extra bit of power and torque will be very useful.

I will be dropping my bike off tonight and collecting the new one on thursday!

Hoorah!

Lazy Politicians

4 members of the cabinet didn't turn up for the first cabinet meeting of the new session because they were on holiday. They have had 10 weeks to go on holidays.

How would Mary Hanafin react if parents did this with children taking holidays in term time?

Double standards and poor public service!!!

The life of a web developer

We live a strange existence, with people not really understanding or valuing what we do.

I came across this letter which puts it beautifully.

The kids are back!

Schools are back today so the traffic is starting to get mental. It took an extra 10 minutes or so to get to work because of it and I am on a bike!

Just a message to all parents. Walk to school with your kids, it's healthier for you, for them and the planet.

An oldie but a goodie

I love this clip! It is so bad yet so good!

Busy Busy Busy

I've been so busy lately that I barely have time to think. I have a couple of projects working side by side in work and of course the client from hell (Steve, you know who I'm talking about).

Was at the Dubs match on saturday and it was so dissapointing. They lost it when they left their morale in the dressing room at half time.

I might have a seller for the bike but that is a whole post on it's own!

Touts with a site?

I was looking for Dublin Vs. Kerry tickets and I came across this site. Yesterday they were offering tickets to this game for €300, they have a face value of €40.

There is no way I would pay that for a ticket. They have extraordinary prices for all their tickets. Is this legal? Are they a tout with a site?

tell me what you think?

Bike Test

I had my bike test at the ludacrisly early time of 08:15 yesterday morning. I have not been well for the alst few days so getting up even earlier was hard, and I was very tired.

I dragged my ass over to Tallaght and started (after sitting in the waiting room for a few minutes). I felt nervous and although i knew I had got the questions right I weasn't 100% sure.

Then out to the bike.

"How do you check the brakes" he asked.

"Well you make the bike upright and check the brake fluid in this window here " (oh dear god, the window was empty).
"And you squeeze the brakes to see if they are spongy" (they feel spongy!!!!)

He was happy with that. He sent me out, drive around a bit, do a u-turn drive at walking pace all that jazz. Headed back and i was really nervous.

He came back to the desk and said "Very high standard, keep it up".

I was so relieved, now i'm looking forward to my insurace rebate.

More reasons for not liking the Evening Herald

Last week a story broke, a man had been found battered to death in his bed, his wife had been taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries. So the headline in the evening herald was...

Man Dead as wife fights for life!

I have to paraphrase as I only catch the headlines as I walk by the newspaper seller. I wouldn't dare buy one!

Motorbike Pretest

I had my pretest today and I was pretty nervous. I got there and there was really nothing to be worried about. You just drive like youhave a brain and take care and you will be grand.

It took a while to get used to the bike though because the back brack has a slightly different position to my own so i was on it all the time, but I will work on that.

Roll on tuesday!

Wikipedia Scanner

I've just read about a tool that tells you who edited articles on Wikipedia! Not who in person, but the organisation their IP address comes from.

It just goes to show no matter how noble an endeavour there is always some malcontent in the background trying to meddle and interfere.

The site is offline at the moment until the interest wanes, but check it out when it gets back online.

RTE and big brother

Don't read on if you think I am talking about the national broadcaster spying on us. I'm talking about their continued coverage (at least on their website) of Channel 4's Big Brother. Why?

If you are interested in big brother and have access to the internet, why would you go to RTE.ie to get second hand pointless information that you can get on Channel 4's website.

The pointlessness of Big Brother doesn't even come into it, and that is saying something.

So thank you RTE for wasting more of our licence fee on drivelling pointless crap!

Selling my bike

My friend is selling his 250 Maurader, and if I can sell my 125 I will be upgrading, so if you are interested be quick, like the wind, the flash, superman running fast and click here.

It's been a while

Ok, it's been ages since I last posted. Way too long, my apologies for that. It was a hectic weekend, Dublin were playing and beating Derry and we spent the rest of the day boozing. So about 3 oclock I definitely had enough. Meaning I could not take anymore without dying.

So I went on home, buying a lion bar and losing it in the 20 metre walk to the bus.

I slept and woke up feeling decidedly ropey and spent the next few hours in the recovery position. I then decided to bite the bullet and go for a run. It was the only guaranteed way to cure me, or perhaps kill me.

I did about 2.5 k and it was painful and unusual but I got to the end and I felt perkier, or to be honest slightly further form death's door.

Spent the rest of the day lolling about not able to do anything and would you believe today I feel pretty ropey still.

Roll on tuesday and recovery!

Beyond Temptation

Check out this chap. He is turning down 5 billion dollars to keep the land unmined and untouched. Now that is what you like to see.

Would I turn down that money. I don't know. I hope to think my principles could not be bought, but you woul have to see the giant novelty cheque before you could say yes or no.

Awesome website

I just StumbledUpon a site called FlashEarth. It's a place where you can use all the popular map sites in one interface. I've had a play around with it and I think it is really cool. Check it out!

They came up with the name first.

RTE have announced their new schedule. Check out the new Des Bishop show. "In the name of the fada". For the love of all things holy what sort of moron came up with that.

I think the had the name and then built a show around it.

Don't get me started on them calling a show Living the Dream. I'm the only one living the dream around here!

5k

At long last I did a 5k run. It has been a very long time since I had gone that far. It took 29:15 which is not a great time but it was pretty easy and I had no problems with my knee so that is great!!

It was great to be out in the fresh air but the mystery puddles made the going very wet!

Today I will be running in the gym so I hope there are less puddles although in my gym it's not guaranteed

Mind your language

Since I left school I have become really interested in learning languages. I have done some German and Norwegian which I really enjoyed. I intend to do some more classes later in the year.

Check out the BBC website. There is a whole section on learning languages. The French one is great. It will help most people. I've had a quick look at the German one too.

Is there anything that site doesn't do?

Depressing

Have a read of this. It's about how the Earth may evolve after humans have gone. It is creepy and poignant.

Nature just keeps on truckin'

Blogging

I've been pretty slack lately with my posting but it is because I have been so busy. I've been at wedding's, in Norway, back running and generally tired.

I am going to take it up a notch over the next few weeks and put the effort in.

So keep coming back as there will be better posts happening more and more often!

Running Again

I got out running again last night. It's the second time in the last 2 weeks. I ran 2k in 11:06 last week and then last night I ran 3k in 16:56.

The time wasn't great but I got through it without any problems with my knee and my lungs felt fine.

Hopefully I can pick it up to 5k in the next week or so.

Cantona is a legend

I read today that Eric Cantona is fronting the Homeless Worldcup. It's great to see that not all footballers live in their ivory towers oblivious to what is going on in the world.

Well done Eric!

Norwegian Army

Check this out.

It is fantastic

No more kontera content link

I have had Kontera Content link on my site for about 6 months and have earned something like 50c. I decided to can it like tuna. There's no point distracting my wonderful readers with pointless crap.

By pointless crap I don't mean my articles :o)

The tour has ended

It ended well and there was a very exciting time trial. It's bodes well for next year's event. Let's hope it will be an event without the word doping being used in every second sentence.

No more late night cycle highlights for me!

D Day

The tour will be decided today in the final time trial. Alberto Contador Vs Cadel Evans. Cadel has 1:50 to make up in the time trial and he is in with a serious chance. I think on a regular day he could pull out about 1:10 1:15. But it is all down to how both of them react to the pressure.

Someone is going to have a very good day.

A though struck me, if it's really close, are there time bonuses in PARIS???

Bike Test

I have my bike test on the 21st of August and I really want to pass, cheaper insurance and I will be allowed take a pillion passenger.

I am trying to get a pre-test sorted so I will keep you posted on who to ring if they are any good!

Maybe the Tour isn't dead

It's not as dead as disco! It seems to have risen from the ashes. Does the fact more people are getting caught mean more people are doing it or the regulations are getting tighter and the teams and their sponsers and not going to take it anymore. Go Rabobank, what a brave move.

Now there are 3 days left and Cadel Evans could come from the pack and win it, he will have to do a bionic time trial (and not the same way Vino did.)

These last few days should be great!!!

Another Tour ruined

More doping! I've really lost patience this year! Hopefully 2008 will be better, or best just stick to watching amateur racing!

Vino Veritas

Alexandre Vinokourov has failed a drug test. It was on the time trial where he kicked everyones ass! It was a blood doping offence, meaning that he had a blood transfusion from someone before the stage.

If it is true (we await the 'b' sample), how the hell did he think he would get away with it.

What annoys me more is that Kloeden has been higher in the GC all the way but Vino was still getting all the help! Grrrrr.

Oslo Dreaming - Part I

I spent the last weekend in one of my favorite cities in the whole wide world, Oslo, Norway. I was over to visit my great friend Mr. Kearns. It was my 10th visit!!!

So I left work and headed to Dublin Airport (boo hiss) and I went straight to security because I had already checked in with SAS. I queued for about 15 minutes before I got tothe top of the queue and was told that I couldn't go through as there was no barcode on my print out.

I had to trapse back to the desk and check in again! Grr!!! I complained at the check in desk and was told I could complain to SAS directly. So I went over and did that and they only went and upgraded me. They were great about it!

So I now skipped that security queue because I was a business traveller.

The flight was great, a hot meal, free drinks, a cognac afterwards. It is a hard life being a jetsetter.

When I got to Oslo I went to duty free and picked up some champers, if not, why not!

I got on the flytoget (airport express train) to Oslo Sentral and then from there to Montobello a plush suburb of Oslo. Mr Kearns was there to meet me from the train and we went and dropped my bags off.

We grabbed a couple of beers and headed to town and of course to Rock In but that is a tale for tommorrow.

Ha det!

Spamtastic new email!

I was getting way too many spams because of my blog email. 1 piece of spam is just way too much in my opinion so I have gotten rid of my old email address and replace it with living (@) dublin24.com.

So use it wisely and do not fall to the darkside

Shoeless and fancy free

I was so tired this morning that I came into work without my shoes. A grown man shoe-less in work. Let's hope I don't have to leave the building!

A new low

I was flicking through the independent today and I came across and article about the Wii. I'm fond of technology and opinion so I read on.

My ears popped and I felt dizzy. I didn't know what to think until I realised I had descended so low so quickly that my brain couldn't cope.

Have a read and see what journalism is all about.

Badminton

We went for a game of badminton today. It was the first time in about 16 years that I had played. It was great fun and we will definitely do it again.

It reminded me of being in school, we would line up in 2 teams either side of the net, taking a shot and then running off for the next guy. But a guy in are class did a drop shot over the net every time it was his turn ruining the rallies!

Nephew

Would you believe last week my sister gave birth to a ginormous little fella, named Patrick after me (or both his grandpappies, you decide!).

He is a bouncer of a baby and he gets on great with his big sister Claire.

So congrats to all involve!

Go 6th, 7th and 8th!

Back in the game

I went out for a run tonight. It was the first time out with my new orthotics and it went rather well. I only did 1km but I am very out of shape.

My knee felt fine and my gait felt natural. So hopefully there will be no reaction over night and I can get back into some more regular training.

Who cares Twink?

Twink, Ireland's foremost "entertainer" is at it again. She is using some random event to get publicity for herself. It's always good to keep yourself in the paper out of panto season.

Three cheers for Twink!

Barbra Streisand

Check this out for a disaster! People with money sitting where they like, it's not a suprise. The organisers blamed a few "opportunistic fans" sitting in the wrong seats, not the staff who were to move them and direct them to their seats.

They also blamed the roadworks and bad weather conditions. Now I was in the traffic jam because I live out that direction and the weather was a bit wet but no worse than it has been and the traffic on the roundabout is not restricted in any way going across that roundabout.

Sounds like the organisers and promotors were a shambles!

The tour.

How hardcore is this?

"X-rays showed that O'Grady broke five ribs in the fall, as well as fracturing three vertebrae and a shoulder blade."

He would have rode on if you'd let him. I think he finised the tour last year with a fractured vertebra!

Kloden and Vinokourov are still there or there abouts....

Yawn... it's a rest day.

It's been a while.

Twas a busy weekend. My Oslo bro, Paul Kearns was over so that explained friday night. Was out for a nice dinner Saturday and watched the Dubs win the Leinster title for the third time in a row. A three-peat as the americans would call it.

And then more boozing last night. I am rightly tired today!

Sananda Maitreya

How weird, I got a request to add Sananda Maitreya as a friend in Facebook. Who is he? He is none other than Terrence Trent D'arby! I actually own a Terrence Trent D'Arby album so I think it is pretty cool, although just a marketing ploy!

It's a cool random marketing ploy

The Press and Privacy

There is a hight profile case going on at the moment in Ireland. It is the case of a man accused of murdering his wife. At the moment his alibi is being questioned and they are using the transmissions of his mobile phone. He says he was one place, his mobile phone says another thing.

It's a bit worrying that they keep this information and who has access to it, but in a murder case you don't really mind.

The problem I have is that the guy giving evidence is from some mobile technology firm, who is just doing his job and he has been shown on the news, on both broadcasters (he could have been on TG4, but Nil Fhios Agam), and pictured in the newspapers including the irish times.

Why? What is the point of showing him walking into court and his face in newspapers? What purpose does it serve?

The press should let people have their privacy and not thrust them into the limelight, especially for a reason like this.

Puncture

I'm cycling to work at the moment because I am still waiting for an air filter for my motorbike (don't get me started). I grabbed my bike this evening and the back tyre was flat. I thought the lads had let the air out but unfortunately the tyre is split at the rim. I think it's just worn out.

So I hat to get the bus like a chump!!!

I'm not so sure.

Bus lanes starting operating on the quays in Dublin today. Dublin bus claim it will cut journey times by up to 20 minutes.

I got the 25X this morning and it got to town 6 minutes quicker than the normal quickest time. That's good I hear you say. But the thing is normal is when there is traffic. There was hardly any traffic before town today and the buses were clogging up the bus lane so I didn't see too much difference. Maybe on the way home it will be better.

If the sorted out the 25X route and made a couple of different routes from Lucan that would help too. And having a perfectly good buslane coned off is typical of the problems on this journey.

Buslanes on the quays are a great start though!

RTE makes sweeping statement

I just saw the news on RTE that unemployment figures for june have risen. Notice the accompanying picture.

Are RTE saying that unemployed people shop in LIDL?

Now maybe because they are in D4 and the shops there stock Ivory Backscratchers, they don't realise that normal people don't all shop in Superquinn!

Traveller beware!

I was looking for flights to London for the Tour de France this weekend and because I left it last minute I was looking around for the cheapest flights.

I found a site LastMinuteTravel.com I did a search for flights between 6am and 12pm for the flight over so i would be nice and early. I got perfect flights at 07:55. €135! Nice price too. So I booked and paid, and got the confirmation email....

That's when the horror happened. The depature time was 19:55!!! I did a search for morning flights got back 07:55 assumed it was in the 24 hour clock as it is written. But oh no!

Morons! There search is crap and their display is crap!

Have to go cancel and pay €30 for the pleasure!

Beware!

Living the dream

I just saw on RTE before the 9 o'clock news that there is going to be a new show called living the dream! How dare they use a commonly used phrase that I like as the name of their show!

I check the .com domain but it's already gone :o(

It's well for some!

The hard working politician's for Ireland are on holidays from the end of this week. 82 Days! To us in the real world that seems extreme, but with having to sit in the Dail for 92 days a year they must be tired.

So tired in fact that my local TD has not had time to respond to my email about commuting. It's been a week. If I don't get a reply soon I will name names.

Farewell Steve!

I'm just back from The Morgue, it's a pub in Dublin. Steve Clifford is off on a year long trip to Australia (lucky luck lucky). First stop China!

Good luck Steve! And remember start a blog!

Mark Cavendish makes the tour

I just read on the BBC that Mark Cavendish has made the T-Mobile 9 for the Tour de France. It would be amazing if he made it all the way to Paris. Hopefully he might take a stage with a bit of luck!

Why win?

Fabio Capello was sacked. He wins the league for Real Madrid for the first time in 4 years (when theysacked their then manager Vincente del Bosque).

Was it for how he treated Beckham? I don't think so, The Sporting Director is supposed to deal with those matters.

It's a mystery! Why win?

Astana dope?

Mattias Kessler has been suspended by Astana for a dodgy test result. Will this affect Vino's attempt at the tour and make my prediction wrong (although Michael Rogers should be in with an Aussie shout)?

I'm going to back Thor Hushovd for the green jersey and if he doesn't do it I think there will be an Aussie winner.

Triathlon (2)

I haven't done much on this to be honest but I did get in touch with the only person I know that has done a triathlon. Padraic, is living in Boston these days but he only left Ireland a year ago.

He did his triathlons in Ireland and I have mailed him to ask his advice on bikes. I want to get a decent starter bike and I want a bike that won't detract from my performance (come on! the only detraction will be me!)!

Baby steps eh?

So little time

You might have noticed that my blog entries have become more and more sparse and there are a few reasons for that. I've not been on my motorbike lately because it was in for a service and it's waiting for a new air filter. It's taking ages.

So I've been on the bus, trying not to laugh at Peep Show on my iPod. I started laughing too much so i turned it off so i don't look mental.

On top of that there is so much else to do! I will get on top of things and i'll be back in the game soon!

Trouser Chump

Check this story out from the bbc.

Some so called intelligent man tried to sue a dry cleaners for $54 million for losing a pair of his trousers.

He is a judge, a judge? What sort of mindset sues for that amount over a pair of trousers!!!

Triathlon

I have always wanted to do a triathlon and I have deciding it is the right time to start training for one. I hope to do one in 2008 some time.

Now considering I am still recovering from patella tendonitis and that I can't swim it is going to be tough.

But why would I want to do it if it was easy.

I'll keep you posted.

The Dubs

Went to Croke Park to see Dublin versus Offaly. It was a terrible game. Dublin were very poor and Offaly were rough and just plain terrible. To top it off the referee was whistle happy and inconsistent.

On the upside Dublin won and are in the final and there will be no hype about winning the all ireland after that performance.

Let's hope the put in a performance in the final

Orthotics (2)

Well I picked them up and wore them yesterday and today for a few hours each time. It is a big difference on my left foot so it is uncomfortable and will take some time to get used to them.

My knee so far seems fine, i put that down to the cycling more than the orthotics at the moment.

I intend to do a short run maybe 1 or 2 k on monday night, so fingers crossed.

Orthotics

Well the podiatrist called and my orthotics are ready to collect. All I have to do is make it over to tallaght between 9 and 5 monday to thursday and hand over €310.

Let's hope they don't cause me problems like the last set. Injury to my wallet is a whole different ball game!

Round 2!

Remeber the riots on O'Connell St. in 2006? Well the group who were having a legitimate rally want to hold another one.

Let's hope it is organised properly this time

Cross Dressing Cyclist

I was cycling in today and i was being passed by numerous cyclists as usual. One passed me and it was a real hard core cyclist. So Hard core in fact he was wearing see thru tights. It was a site that will haunt me in my dreams.

Bicycle repairs

I cycled into work again today and decided to have my bike serviced, Just to see if it made life any easier. I left it into a shop near work and asked for a service, brakes and gears and to fit a bottle cage.

They said come back later so i came back at about 10 past 5 and my bike was there to collect. They said there was no charge and I saw no bottle cage so I thought "free service" excellent.

I hopped on to ride back to work and nothing had been done!!! Nothing, the bike had not been touched! Brakes are not tight and the gears and a bit sloppy. And my front tyre had gone down slightly!!!

Should I name the shop?

Dublin Vs. Meath

We went to the Dublin Meath reply on Sunday. We managed to get tickets last minute, We were directly behind the goal at the canal end.

The highlights for me was me nearly catching a ball and Graham Geraghty hitting the inside of the post! Nice!

Dublin were victorious. Then it was a few after words with Steve, Ronan, Martin and Gillian. Name dropping eh?

Basso Suspended

Top Class cyclist Ivan Basso has been banned for 2 years for attempting to dope. But as he is 29 it will give him time to come back and maybe win the tour. Should bans be a lot harsher or is 2 years enough???

Pulling a fast one.

A guy in a bar sees a guy chatting up a cheetah, he says to the barman, he's trying to pull a fast one...

That's not the point of this entry but I love that joke.

Dick Roche on his last day as environment minster decides to sign an order which allowed a National Monument near Tara to be studied and then destroyed to make way for the M3. Nice work! So John Gormely has to deal with this on his first day in the job.

Talk about having your knees taken from under you, but if you look at Ireland's track record on the environment and archeology it shouldn't be a surprise.

WTF?

The Green Party has voted to go into Government with Fianna Fail. Then Trevor Sargent ups and resigns as party leader, WTF?

John Gormley for Tanaiste. Yikes!

Vinokourov - Is it his year?

Will Vino win this year's Tour? I will say here and now that I think he will, it all depends on how strong his team is. Judging be today's performance in The Dauphine he is in great form.

So check back in mid july to see if I am right.

More Cycling

I won't be doing the tour de france anytime soon but i will be buying a gel saddle immediately.

I tried a new route in and home today and there was a lot more cycle lanes but still I had to cycle through the M50 roundabout and avoid the liffey valley slip road. Motorists don't give a damn, they drive way too close!!!

Tomorrow I will try going through Ballfermot to avoid that crazy roundaabout.

Oh and well done Bren! Booyah!

Cycling

I've started cycling to work because my motorbike is out of action. It is about 10 miles and takes me 50 minutes in and 70 minutes home.

This morning when I got on my bike my poor ass!!!

Time for a gel saddle I think.

More bike troubles

Well I cycled into work today which is between 9 and 11 miles each way. It was so so tough but I will be doing it again tomorrow.

My motorbike is still having problems. I got a socket set and changed the oil and oil filter (so what if i spilled all over the side lane). I went out for a ride tonight and it was going great but then i was accelerating in third and it felt like it was going to cut out...

Dodgy petrol? Who knows! Time for a service.

Bike Troubles

Well my friend Bren showed me how to tighten my chain today so we sorted that and I need to pump up the tyres.

I was on my way home and the bike wouldn't go over 25 MPH and was threatening to cut out too. I want to change the oil and filters but i've not been able to loosen the nut to let the oil out.

Yikes!

Great Song, Great Video

I have mentioned Kopek before because I host them. They have launched a new video and it is fantastic. It is done by Eoin Duffy who I also host.

Enjoy.

Le Tour 1996

Now that Bjarn Riis has been taken off the list of winners for his 1996 "victory", what next? Will they award the race to the runner up? Jan Ullrich!!!

I'm biased as he has always been my favourite cyclist. But there are allegations against him too!

Such a shame he retired!

You've got to have it.

I've got all the things any self respecting blogger should have, Agloco, Bidvertiser, Hittail, Technorati, but does any of it do anything for me?

The short answer is no, nothing. But I have to say hittail is interesting, the random stuff that people search for and find me!

Does my site make any money? No, do people read it? Yes and that's what it's all about for me.

Now back to work I go!

Another Lesson

I was out for another driving lesson tonight and this time it went well. I hadn't driven since the last lesson because I live such a busy and popular life. Seriously, I do.

My driving skills are definitely improving so when I get my test date I will definitely pass. Only another 6 months at least to wait!

Idiot Drivers

I was on my way home tonight going along a nice new road. It was a 60kph zone so I was doing 60kph when suddenly a bmw flew by me on the inside within about 12 inches of me. I had seen him in my mirrors but that sort of manouvre always annoys me. Especially at high speed on the inside in the bus lane!

So another car did the same because obeying the speed limit really upsets some people.

There was a silver lining. They were both stuck at lights about 200 metres further on so i passed them with glee and rode on home.

Speeding Chumps!

Take that!

You wouldn't see take that do this!

Birthday Wishes!

Today is a fabulous day, despite the rain and the fact I am waiting for some furniture to be delivered. It is my birthday. Hurrah!

I had a scout around the internet for others who share my birthday and what a motely crew we have.

We have Johnny Weissmuller, the original and best Tarzan. He also won 5 Olympic gold medals for swimming.

The author Thomas Hardy, Pope Pius X, and the Marquis de Sade and of course the Yorkshire Ripper himself (yikes) also share the birthday.

Podiatrist

Well this morning I saw a podiatrist. He checked out my gait and my feet and knees and it turns out that the orthotics I had been given last year were the cause of my knee pain (or so he says).

So in 2 weeks with a lighter wallet I will try running. Fingers crossed!!!

You know you should!

I really should be sorting out my VAT for the last 2 months but is there ever a right time to do your VAT returns? This will be my first return done online thought the revenue online service so wish me luck.

My excuse tonight is that my digital cert is on my machine in work on not the one i'm at now so even if i did do it I wouldn't be able to submit it until tomorrow!

Stall tactics???

Testing

So you get caught taking drugs, your career is left in tatters. You serve your ban and come back to your sport, you make an impact, but you can never go to the olympics.

Your name is Dwain Chambers.

He has got a break in American Football and I hope he makes it. But now he is going to be tested more often because of his track record.

Is this the best method to catch drug cheats???

For the birds

A golden eagle egg has hatched in Ireland for the first time in over 100 years. They were hunted to extinction in the olden days when it was fun to shoot things.

All we need now are some wolves and some deciduous forest and we will be sorted! We can get back to shooting things again :o)

No Fair FIFA

Fifa have decided to ban matches at altitude. This comes after Peru had decided to move their world cup qualifiers to Cuzco.

There's me in goal playing football at altitude in Peru in 2006. I ran to the white line to get the ball and my vision went black, there was just no oxygen. It was a tough game of football, but we won so it's ok.

Fifa say it's for safety reasons, which I agree with, but I also think it is a bit biased towards the South American super powers.

And I also played football in the jungle and that was way harder than altitude!!!!

RTE.ie - Pure Quality

I waschecking out RTE's website today about the recent election. Check out the great screen shot from Sky News. Now maybe it's just me but you shouldn't really be promoting another channel on your own website and it is a poor quality picture. How about using some stock photograpy.

But what do you expect from RTE and their website that is paid for by the public and choc full of ads. Classy!

Fallen Idols?

Cycling has been turned on it's head even more today with Bjarn Riis's admission that he was taking EPO from 1993 - 1998. This means he was using EPO when he won the tour.

I remember watching every day of the Tour that year and being astounded by his performance, taking apart Big Mig in the Alps, the look on his face, the grimace mixed with a smile. He was the man who made Miguel Indurain seem human...

Now it turns out he was using EPO. Am I disappointed? I am a little if I am honest. You would like to thing cyclists are super human, you would like to think your heroes are invincible. They are not, they are human.

Does it take away from his achievements? Yes and no, let's not pretend that taking EPO will make you a champion, it won't. Year's of hard work and dedication make champions, but heroes?

He will no longer be a hero, but he will never stop being a champion, legend, idol even if it is a fallen one.

RTE.ie on election day

Well the results are coming in thick and fast and we are all eager to find out what version of fine something will be in charge (like it makes a difference!). RTE have been hyping up their result coverage but low and behold their website has been unaccessible all afternoon.

My licence fee at work!

Were they not expecting huge demand???

Irish Hobo makes good

I've always liked the romantic ideal of the hobo. Check this wonderful chap out. He has been living in a shack for 20 years and because he has been there so long sure why not give it to him. There you go mister hobo man, land worth a fortune.

No I am off to live in a shack in Herbert Park Ballsbridge on the off chance...

The whole house of cards

Drug taking in cycling has just been blown wide open. Ok, maybe not wide open, but wider. Telekom or T-Mobile as they are now know have one hell of a scandal on their hands. I wonder will any Tour winners make admissions? (2 in particular!)

As a former Tour de France director once said that they don't get up those mountains on fizzy water alone.

Should drug taking be allowed in cycling? Can it be stopped?! Discuss...

Charming Men

Take a read of this. This is the charming story of the young men who were brought up properly getting a slap on the wrist for a pretty serious crime.

I would like to see how this incident would be treated if it was committed in a less than salubrious area by people who had not been "brought up properly".

Word of the day - Barnacle

I was thinking last night of words that I find amusing and barnacle is one of them. So let's use it in a sentence.

The young lady was horrified when I asked her to inspect my undercarraige for barnacles.

Great sentence eh?

Driving Miss Daisy

I was out for my 4th lesson in about 8 days and I am really starting to get the hang of it. I seem to have found a really good teacher. I will give him a write up when i pass.

I cancelled my test so I won't be doing it for god knows how long. But I will stick with it and keep practicing.

So keep of the roads of Dublin, it's better that way!

So Long Politicians..

That time has come where no more electioneering can happen on the airwaves. So we can have a night off and enjoy the champion's league final.

If a politician dares call during it... They will feel the wrath!

The RSA

The Road Safety Authority have possible the worst customer service I have come accross. I have been on hold over 20 minutes and have been cut off and been told to ring other numbers that didn't work.

Please just answer the phone and let me talk to someone!

Myanmar

I was just looking around my google analytics for this blog and I looked at the countries who visited me. I got a visitor from Myanmar!!!

How remote is that? My word is stretching around the world!

So next time you are on and you are in Rangoon drop me a mail!

So very Tired

We were out last night carousing so I am exhasted and I can't wait to get home!

This is the best post ever!

Brian Cowen Smoked Dope!

First let me say a big whoop-a-dee-doo!

Who really cares what he did back in the 70's. Unless of course he killed someone or embezzled a load of money or beat some children. He didn't so who cares?

Although is it the start of his play for the top job? Clear out the skeletons....

What really struck me first was the lazy jounalism, some "journalists" read in hotpress that he smoked dope, so they write an article about that. That must have been difficult!

Lazy Journalism 1, Brian Cowen 0

Free Speech 0, Waste of time Stories 1

Politicians are children

In today's election news, Michael McDowell and John Gormely got into a slanging match in the street.

We vote for people like this to run the country when they are exactly the wrong type of person to run a country. We don't need childish egotists to run the country!

Read the article to the end, do you think Lucinda Creighton turned up because she had a good one liner??

Driving Lesson

I just had my first lesson in ages and it went ok once I got going. I was very rusty. I will need a hell of a lot of practice and luck to pass my test in a few weeks but I will try!

London Photos

You thought I would never get to it, but I finally got the album together. No comments yet but I put it up and that's enough for me.

London is an amazing town and I would recommend everyone goes there!!!

London Calling!

6th has gone mad!

Check out what is going on at 6thsensitive. I think 6th has gone mad! Or maybe it is a sugar addiction!!!

First you get the sugar,
Then you get the power,
then you get the women!

Patella Tedonitis - Update

It's been a few weeks since I lasted posted about my left knee. I bet you have missed the constant moaning!

Well, over the last few weeks I have had some pain and some general swelling on the inside of my left knee. I have run a few times even doing as much as 20 minutes without any ill affects. My knee doesn't sweel significantly more nor does it hurt much (the ocassional twinge).

The problem is that my gait running or walking feels very unnatural. My whole body feels off and I have had some shoulder muscle pain and I even had to take a day of work due to some back / shoulder muscle pain.

So today I went to my GP and got a referral to a podiatrist to see if that will stem the tide or maybe even improve them. I've also been given a referral to the Ireland football team's physio if the podiatrist doesn't help. So I have some numbers to call.

It would be great to know where I stand (even if it is all twsting and contorted).

Keep Running!

Accountancy and Tax Services - Connolly Consulting

I just finished updating my friend's website. He is a accountant and does tax returns and accounts and such. He is also my accountant and does a great job!

The site is best viewed in IE6 and looks exactly like his business card!

It looks pretty funky.

Careful Now!

I was riding home today from Tallaght to Lucan and I went up the Adamstown Road. Nothing unusual there. The weather was nice and I was cruising along. I was coming up to the roadabout and I slowed down as I do as it is a tight turn.

I get about 20 metres from the roundabout and I'm leaning slightly. And the front wheel completely lost grip and went on safari. They had put down an anti stick surface and it had not bound to the road so it was like sand.

I had just enough time, and going nice and slow to correct it before I would have been bounding straight through a roundabout or sliding along on my ass.

I was a bit shaken as i came to the next junction which had the same thing, at least this time there was a traffic cone that might imply something was going on, but no signs.

It is hard enough riding a bike in Dublin with the plethora of idiots out there without the councils putting booby traps in your way!

Put signs up for god sake!

The Evening Herald

I just walked passed a newspaper seller and today's headline says Harney's husband gets health service contract. Now I refuse to buy the rag but I wonder is there anything untoward happening there? As minister for health, does Mary Harney make such decisions or is it the HSE?

And is Mary Harney's husband a director of said company or just an employee? Enlighten me as I'm not going to buy the paper?

It got me to thinking about the lack of media outlets in Ireland. Independent News & media pretty much run all the evening newspapers in Ireland. This means these paper(is there more than one?) have a huge influence over the election, and printing sensational crap instead of actual journalism just doesn't held informed debate over actual issues in this election.

Let's ignore anything to do with Bertie's finances, or Mary Harney's husband. Let's talk about making this country better, better hospitals, better schools, safer streets etc.

Let's have a debate!

Entertainment.ie

The Irish Times have just bought 30% of Entertainment.ie for €1.5 million. That is a sweet pay cheque for a site that doesn't do anything new or even interesting.

I do really like it's celebrity gossip! How sad is that!?

Pangrams

Do you know what a pangram is? It is a sentence that contains all the letters in the alphabet, check out some of the strange ones.

My favorite is the latvian one!

Outdoor Adventure Centre near Drogheda

I am updating my friend's website for his outdoor adventure centre. It is called Neptune Outdoor Adventure Centre and is situated in Clogherhead in Louth.

I've been up to his hotel called the Greendoor in Drogheda and that was fantastic. It is a party town and myself and my good friend Olav sure did party!!

So if you are looking for a really cool place to stay near Newgrange, check it out.

If you are having trouble sleeping...

Read this for a snoozefest. I sometimes wonder about articles like this. I pity the journalist writing it.

If you are having trouble sleeping...

Read this for a snoozefest. I sometimes wonder about articles like this. I pity the journalist writing it.

London Calling

When I got the message that Manchester United had won the premiership I was sitting at Westminster Abbey. Do I look Happy???

Coconuts!

Do we really need a dependency on oil when we have coconuts. We survived for thousands of years without petrol and diesal so why not go old school.

I hate chuggers

During the day I often have to walk through Temple Bar or along Grafton St. I have not once been able to walk around here without being accosted by chuggers.

If you don't know what chuggers are, they are those people who stop you on behalf of a charity to try and get you to sign up to give money by direct debit.

No offence to charities but I am not going to give my money that way, I think the TV Ads and the crap I get sent through the post is enough.

I don't have time for Concern!

London Town

The lack of posts here was due to my trip to London. So be prepared for many many pictures to appear over at Dublin24 this evening.

The plot thickens

The Jumbo Jet that appeared, has disappeared.

Did he think no one would notice.

Driver gets lost making a delivery, so he does a runner, I wonder did anyone notice.

Science at it's best.

Check this out from Spain.

Up to 20 minutes!

I ran (ok, shuffled) for 20 minutes tonight, my knee was fine. It swelled a bit afterwards but no pain. All the pain was in my lower legs like my shins were about to explode.

I felt very flat footed too. I think it's time for some gait analysis.

Milan were too good!

I was too depressed to write anymore last night. Milan taught United a lesson.

That is all I will say!

Milan are too good!

It's half time in the champions league semi final and Milan are 2 - 0 up. Being a Manchester United supporter I am not having a good night!

Here's for a better 2nd half!!!!

Personal Finance Tips for Overseas travellers

Jimmy Atkinson over at www.yourcreditadvisor.com sent me over a great link to one of their articles. It's about how to look after your finances and yourself when you are travelling abroad.

Check out his 27 tips.

The Shiloh Conspiracy?

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie named their child Shiloh, we all thought hmmm, what a strange name that I have never heard before.

But suspiciously in the films "Rumour Has it", and the "Wedding Crashers" that name is said by both Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn. Both films were made prior to the birth.

Do you think the celebs are having the last laugh at the gossip hungry public?

Has Yazz let herself go?

The years have not been kind to Yazz, and what is she doing with Jennifer Anniston?

Gone to the dogs

I went to the dogs yesterday night at Shelbourne Park in Dublin. A good time was had by all and lots of drink was drunk and money was lost on those little horses.

I won the first 3 and then lost the rest. It is a such a random thing to bet on. I saw one guy run up with a second to spare to put €600 down! On a dog!

Madness!

Running Again

I have been out running twice this week so far, 8.49 on monday and 10.12 tonight and the knee feels fine. I will leave it until saturday before I run again and try and bring it over 15 minutes.

I hope to do a decent 5 mile run before the end of the year, if my knee can handle it!

When no one else can help...

why don't you call the A-team. It's not April Fool's day so this will be classic.

Save the planet

Check out 155 ways to fight climate change. There are a lot of tips there and most are easily done. So go save the planet!

I've been running

I got a letter in the post from Sportsworld about this year's 5 mile run. I don't I will be able for it but I would love to be.

It is a great event, really well organised and it has a good turnout. I did it in 40.56 last year and I will be back for a sub 40 next year.

I did go out for 8 minutes tonight and it felt good. So hopefully I can keep running and maybe make a race this year!

Take that science

Once again some old codger has come along to disprove science. I love this woman's attitude. I think her lust for life and chippendales has sustained her more than a few sprouts ever could!

London Marathon

The London Marathon was on yesterday and although it was on TV I hit the wall after watching about 20 minutes of it. I think it is easier to run it.

The conditions were hot and a poor man has died since.

I once ran in a very hot marathon when it was supposed to be weet and cold and it was a horrible experience so congratulations to all the runners yesterday.

Has Sheryl gone mad?

Check this out. I want a dining sleeve.

My precious eyes

Lately I have been getting really bad eye strain and I am finding it difficult to sit in front of the computer. So that is why my posts are less frequent.

I got my eyes tested and order some glasses, it is a very small prescription but with anti glare coating. I really hope this helps because the strain is pretty uncomfortable.

I will find out wednesday when i pick up the glasses.

Another one.

This is from Myanmar.

Amazing picture of amazing church

I stumbled upon an amazing photo of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Anything they can do...

Today the PDs are at it.

It's silly season, election economic promises.

Labour and Fine Gael announced their economic package for their election campaign.

It doesn't seem too outrageous but I wonder how much of it if any would be implemented if elected. I have a mistrust of politicans and I would like to be disproved.

So come on politicians remember that we are all working for a better Ireland so act accordingly.

Dave Allen - Telling the time

This is comedy gold!

The emperor's new magazine

Got canned after 1 week. So even though Smash Hits was recently canned because teenagers use the internet and don't like magazines for their music news, they thought they could sell magazines.

It must be the hardest industry to break into especially with the internet offering everything you want for free!

Angkor Wat

This is an amazing satellite of the ancient temple.

Myspace sucks!

Has anyone tried to join MySpace, I tried tonight only to be met with muddled screens and error messages.

Maybe I am getting old!

Nurses Strike

Who said statistics are a pile of steaming hooey? Everyone. But in this case it's true. A survey carried out by the website IrishHealth.com found that 79% were in support of the nurses action.

Is that a surprise? Not really considering the website is aimed at health professionals.

A new survey by the Irish Health News (also for health professionals) says that 43% of people support the action.

I wonder if they did a survey of non health professionals what the figures would be.

I think the nurses are unfortunate to be in the same pay scale as the pen pushers, because they need a degree to have the job and work longer hours but I personally don't think striking is the way to go. There is an implementation body in place for this exact reason.

If the government give them what they are asking for I wonder will there be more strikes on the cards?

I've worked in a semi-state body in the past and they had it so easy... but that's a whole other post!

The Kevin "Bloody" Wilson incident

I went to see Kevin "Bloody" Wilson a few years back i nVicar St. in Dublin. The tickets were bought for me and we sat in the front row. It was pretty intimidating but I kept me head down so it would all be ok.

No eye contact and you will be fine I thought! Unfortunately it wasn't enough. The support act was playing, Jenny Talia was her name. We were enjoying this when some people approached and said you are sitting at our table. My friend said no we weren't and showed the ticket. As the person turned the ticket the ride way up to show a 9 and not a 6, my heart sank.

We got up and moved tables but Jenny didn't let this slip by. She stopped her song and asked me, "I bet you feel like a right c*** now!?"

I spent the night in mortification... Oh and to make matters worse the show was recorded for DVD. I have not bought it nor will I ever, just in case I made it into the final cut.

Things to do in Dublin - Part 2

We recently went out to a night of comedy in the International Bar on Wicklow St in Dublin. For the princely sum of €10 we went into a tiny comedy club which was packed to the rafters.

We got our pints (after skipping a guy and then proceeding to knock his pint all over him) and sat down right on the stage. Now I don't like sitting in the front row at comedy gigs, not after the Kevin "Bloody" Wilson incident a few years back.

The gig was MCed by Aidan Bishop (i'd say he ius always described by who he is related to but i will skip the obvious). He did a pretty good job and his material was very funny. He introduced 4 acts, firstly a newbie student type. He was pretty poor on stage but we did spend the next few days quoting his jokes so we will not name him. He will come good.

All the comedy after that was excellent and the night ended with Joe Rooney trying out some new material.

I would definitely recommend this, €10, €8 for students for over 2 hours of good comedy.

Get their early to get a seat it gets paaaaaaacked!!!

Back to back

I had to leave work early because the the pain in my back. I spent the rest of the evening on the couch and generally lying down.

Today I wasn't fit to go to work but I am feeling much better, hopefully by tomorrow I will be ready for work.

I sit at a desk all day it's not like I am out climbing trees or lifting cars over my head. Now that would be a strange job.