what the fricken hell was that nutcase doing heading the ball at knee height, 2 yards from goal in the last seconds of injury time in a Champions league semi-final? No offence Stef, but your Norwegian Riise is a muppet with no right foot. All I can say is he can make up for it next week thanks very much. As for all that boardroom nonsense, well, what do ye expect when ye let a pair of yanks (sorry, 1 Canadian) buy a football club. I could probably have done more research on Google than Liverpool seem to have done.
As for the Celtic tiger economy. Well well well. Things have slowed down a bit. Quel surprise. A bit surprised it didn't happen some time ago to be honest. Be interesting to see how the Gen Y brigade handle it. And all those millionaire developers. Thankfully, things won't ever again be like the early 80's touch wood. And good ole Bertie is gone. Maybe he didn't want to be associated with the economy downturn. Tarnishing his teflon image.
Economy here is feeling it a bit, but not too much yet. Good old China wha?? Of course the central bank f&ckers were still raising interest rates (to over 7% - are you kidding!!) up to last month coz people seemed to just not give a cr&p and kept spending like we're all about to fall over the edge.
Thats the extent of my economics reporting for the year.
I believe I am acclimatising (have acclimatised) to the Brisbane weather. The first in a trilogy of defining realisation moments came in November when I was home for those few mental days. I froze my nuts off. I lost count of the number of times I had to ask why the hell the heating had been turned off in the house. Occasion number 2 came probably in late January, when I bemoaned the crappy summer we had just experienced. It had been over 25 C pretty much constantly for 4 months and true, had rained a bit, but lets face it by my old Irish standards...... And finally, last week I was standing in the bathroom early in the morning, and simply had to put my towelling bathrobe on to get warm and thought how quickly winter was descending. It was probably about 15 C, and within an hour was well over 20. I've thought about wearing a jacket to work already and may even go that far next week. Traditionally, this is the most perfect time of year, with temps in the high 20's and nice cool nights. But I now have a jacket and am willing to wear it.....
As for the most important stuff..... 4 weeks to go. And ye never know, maybe earlier......
One can always hope.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Tick tock
Happy easter from the choc bunny munching machine
Pregnancy update. Almost 34 weeks and things are 'normal'. No need for more than that. Alissa's looking forward to a full strength beer and glass of wine not mixed with soda water. And having another alarm clock to look after.
I was flicking channels on the radio the other day when I'd been in the car for a while and landed on some station called Bay Area FM. A very amateur outfit but bloody funny and reminded me so much of our old backyard shed based pirate radio stations back home. Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. Long before the days of the commercial and legalised current versions of Today FM and FM104. The music this lot were playing was incredibly 80's (and therefore well up my street) and when Chris De Burgh came on with 'Don't Pay the Ferryman', I was half way through singing along word for word before I realised what I was doing. I knew why of course. Marian was a fan and had the albums, even went to a gig in Landsdowne or the RDS I seem to recall. Imagine, ole bushy black eyebrows man playing a venue like that. In fairness, perhaps it was the lack of musical quality around at the time, but Jesus that stuff was sh&t. But I like it because of where it brings me. Her only imperfection was her love of Chris de Burgh's music (yes, I know I am a music snob sometimes, but still, come on.....)
Also made me realise. I'm pretty much middle-aged. What that means I don't really know but am getting glimpses of myself every now and then, especially when getting checked out by the GP for blood pressure and cholesterol levels and all that.
I hear Radiohead are playing Malahide Castle. Are you fricken kidding me?? I waited for years and years for them to come and play Dublin, and then they do and they play 'my home village'? Might pop home with Aibhe for it. Ha.
After what was a really average summer (but fantastic news for the dams that went from 18 to 39% full and has ensured everything is very green - yes, I am a little obsessed by the drought situation, I accept this) we now descend into the cold winter days of 21 degrees'ish. Darker mornings means longer sleeps for Aibhe (generally). All is good. I love winter.
I went to the 2nd Virginblue charity hangar ball recently. The blog history has an account of the first one about a year and a half ago. Of course Mr (I refuse to acknowledge a meaningless knighthood) Branson was there in all his glory. A 2,800 person strong affair at 290 per person (I was invited so no paying for it for me - charity or no charity) and all went pretty well given what must have been a logistical nightmare. Even through Earth hour when all the lights went out and I thought I was eating tuna. Turned out to be shredded lamb.
Now then. Anybody wishing to travel from Sydney to LA (or the other direction) from December 15th onwards, please go to www.vaustralia.com.au. They are my new employer. Flying those big Boeing 777 babies. Still part of the Virgin Blue group, but now Finance Manager for, as they call it, 'Australia's newest international airline'. Was actually quite close to leaving the place, but a change as good as a rest as they say. Mind you resting hasn't been in the vocabulary for some time now.
We recently got Foxtel IQ on the high recommendation of Murt. Probably the best extra $20 a month we've spent. Assume you guys have something similar with Sky back home. Our back catalogue is now choc-a-bloc with episodes of Dora the Explorer, Curious George and the Wiggles. A heaven send when instant satisfaction is required or a particular episode is demanded. Must say, Curious George is currently my favourite. A very cute monkey.
We're preparing Aibhe for the arrival of number 2 by various means, one of which is the whole baby's bedroom which she has commanded as her own and has suddenly decided she likes all those baby toys. She has also dictated that this will be a girl. 'Boy maybe Aibhe?' 'No way, girl'.
If she's right, we'll have plenty of clothes.
Very economical.
Pregnancy update. Almost 34 weeks and things are 'normal'. No need for more than that. Alissa's looking forward to a full strength beer and glass of wine not mixed with soda water. And having another alarm clock to look after.
I was flicking channels on the radio the other day when I'd been in the car for a while and landed on some station called Bay Area FM. A very amateur outfit but bloody funny and reminded me so much of our old backyard shed based pirate radio stations back home. Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. Long before the days of the commercial and legalised current versions of Today FM and FM104. The music this lot were playing was incredibly 80's (and therefore well up my street) and when Chris De Burgh came on with 'Don't Pay the Ferryman', I was half way through singing along word for word before I realised what I was doing. I knew why of course. Marian was a fan and had the albums, even went to a gig in Landsdowne or the RDS I seem to recall. Imagine, ole bushy black eyebrows man playing a venue like that. In fairness, perhaps it was the lack of musical quality around at the time, but Jesus that stuff was sh&t. But I like it because of where it brings me. Her only imperfection was her love of Chris de Burgh's music (yes, I know I am a music snob sometimes, but still, come on.....)
Also made me realise. I'm pretty much middle-aged. What that means I don't really know but am getting glimpses of myself every now and then, especially when getting checked out by the GP for blood pressure and cholesterol levels and all that.
I hear Radiohead are playing Malahide Castle. Are you fricken kidding me?? I waited for years and years for them to come and play Dublin, and then they do and they play 'my home village'? Might pop home with Aibhe for it. Ha.
After what was a really average summer (but fantastic news for the dams that went from 18 to 39% full and has ensured everything is very green - yes, I am a little obsessed by the drought situation, I accept this) we now descend into the cold winter days of 21 degrees'ish. Darker mornings means longer sleeps for Aibhe (generally). All is good. I love winter.
I went to the 2nd Virginblue charity hangar ball recently. The blog history has an account of the first one about a year and a half ago. Of course Mr (I refuse to acknowledge a meaningless knighthood) Branson was there in all his glory. A 2,800 person strong affair at 290 per person (I was invited so no paying for it for me - charity or no charity) and all went pretty well given what must have been a logistical nightmare. Even through Earth hour when all the lights went out and I thought I was eating tuna. Turned out to be shredded lamb.
Now then. Anybody wishing to travel from Sydney to LA (or the other direction) from December 15th onwards, please go to www.vaustralia.com.au. They are my new employer. Flying those big Boeing 777 babies. Still part of the Virgin Blue group, but now Finance Manager for, as they call it, 'Australia's newest international airline'. Was actually quite close to leaving the place, but a change as good as a rest as they say. Mind you resting hasn't been in the vocabulary for some time now.
We recently got Foxtel IQ on the high recommendation of Murt. Probably the best extra $20 a month we've spent. Assume you guys have something similar with Sky back home. Our back catalogue is now choc-a-bloc with episodes of Dora the Explorer, Curious George and the Wiggles. A heaven send when instant satisfaction is required or a particular episode is demanded. Must say, Curious George is currently my favourite. A very cute monkey.
We're preparing Aibhe for the arrival of number 2 by various means, one of which is the whole baby's bedroom which she has commanded as her own and has suddenly decided she likes all those baby toys. She has also dictated that this will be a girl. 'Boy maybe Aibhe?' 'No way, girl'.
If she's right, we'll have plenty of clothes.
Very economical.
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