Dublin Trip

A touch late for my report on last weekends Dublin trip but here goes anyway, we set off Friday afternoon and eventually arrived in Dublin at around 7pm. It was only a one hour flight but Ryanair have really selected their stewardesses well, reckon it would help if the one doing the safety announcements could speak understandable English (thats cheap European labour for you).
It was a short taxi ride to our hotels and as we were driving along I remember thinking how the streets just looked like English streets. I say hotels because most of the group wre in a different one to me & Lofty's brother cos we had booked late. No complaints though cos our hotel was excellent & just around the corner from O'Connell Street (the main street).
It was a case of dumping our luggage in the rooms & straight out to the Pubs (it was a birthday bash). Eventually we moved on to a restaurant for a meal, think I had steak on Friday night, can't remember. It was then on to a few more Bars which were all traditional Irish types. One thing we did notice was the cost of things compared to bach home, it is a very expensive City & that coupled with the poor £ to Euro exchange rate everything cost a small fortune. Important stuff like beer was the equivelant of between £4 & £5 per pint.
As the night wore on a people decided to make their way back to their hotels of course not to be beaten I stayed out till the last, think eventually getting to my room at around 2am.
We got up and was just having breakfast when a phone call from Loftys wife told us to get a move on as they had booked us on the Open topped bus City tour. We had to leave having 2nds & made our way round.
Now we got on the bus and a couple of the crowd said they was going to sit dowstairs in the covered section, of course us been heroes decided to sit upstairs in the Open. Now the tour took around 1.5 hours and believe me it was freezing, but not been one for surrendering we stook it out. It was actually quite interesting cos I didn't previously know too much about Irish history.
After we had warmed up following the tour we found a nice Pub for the afternoon in the Temple Bar area to watch the Rugby that some wanted to see (England v South Africa) while the women went shopping. That was a waste of time cos England got thumped so we decided to stay for the Footie results, in fact by the time we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for the night out we had sampled plenty of the local brew.
We all met up in the evening and went to a well known Irish Restaurant (Quays) we had booked for our main meal. We all had a good laugh & following the meal it was onto a few Pubs. Remember one and think they had the worst musician I've ever seen, just tried to play everything too fast.
Not a lot of incidents to report, think Ireland is just about Pub crawls, the only thing I'd say are the locals seem friendly in fact one bloke seemed to want to hug me & everyone else he saw. Got back to my room sometime in the early hours and slept in a bit Sunday morning eventually making breakfast at about 10.30am.
Then had a casual walk around before finding a coffee shop at lunch time, made our way back to the hotels mid-afternoon to get our taxi to the airport.

Did take some photos mainly of the City Bus tour -

Dublin Photos

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Been a bit busy this week and haven't had much time to get around all your blogs so I'll try catch up next week.

I say next week cos I'm away at the Weekend to the Emerald Isle, I'm off to Dublin for a couple of nights. Its my mate Lofty's birthday trip think there are 13 going, saying that it includes 5 couples and 3 of us single lads so maybe I'll have to be on my best behaviour.

What a great ideas ?

It concerned me somewhat last week when I read about the governments plan to release around 1,500 people from our prisons early to relieve overcrowding. Apparently many of these criminals have been convicted of violent offences (ok not murderers as such) and I am against it, to me done the crime means doing the time.
Now for sometime the law courts have been under instruction to give lesser sentances cos our jails are full to breaking point, this is wrong we should either build more jails or find alternatives. Now with the housing market frozen & many builders laid off unemployment high wouldn't this be a great time to build some new prisons, not only would it create work it would solve a crime problem because many released early do offend again.
While on the subject I also think prisons are getting too soft to me they should discourage people not to want to go back yet all I hear is talk about rehabilitation, sorry I think its poppycock.

However I have another great idea, last week I watched a documentry on the history channel about people that have won the Victoria Cross, which is Britains highest medal for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.
It got onto the battle of Rorkes Drift (1879) in the Zulu wars where 150 british troops defeated a Zulu army numbering over 4,000 (bit like the Americans Alamo except we won). Many acts of bravery happend and in all 11 VC's were awarded which is the most in one battle.
The story of one soldier who recieved the award interested me because he was only there because he had broken the law, apparently in them days people covicted of minor crimes were offered the choice of jail or serve in the army, he chose the army, bet he wished he hadn't when the Zulus came over the hill.
Anyway going back to my origional point wouldn't it be a great idea to offer people that commit some offences the chance to redeem themselves in the army and fight in such places as Afganistan, Iraq & other such wars.

About Me - Thanks Jenny

Well my blog friend Jenny got tagged with this and reckoned I'd give it a bash, so here goes.

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD. IT’S HARDER THEN YOU THINK!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? Bedroom
2. Your significant other? Work
3. Your hair? Gone
4. Your mother? Elderly
5. Your father? Gardening
6. Your favorite thing? Friends
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your favorite drink? Orange
9. Your dream/goal? Millionaire (need the lottery I think)
10. You’re in? Home
11. Your fear? Snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Alive
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. What you’re not? Skinny
15. Muffins? Muel
16. One of your wish list items? Laptop
17. Where you grew up? Yorkshire
18. The last thing you did? Lunch
19. What are you wearing? shorts
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pet? None
22. Your computer? Here
23. Your life? good
24. Missing someone? Yes
25. Your car? Focus
26. Something you’re not wearing? socks
27. Favorite Store? M & S
28. Your summer? Wet
29. Your favorite color? White
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Dunno

Now it’s 4 answers
32. FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME? Jane, Charlie, Pete & Steve.
33. FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: Yorkshire Pudding, Steak, Cheese, Pineapple
34. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW? Pub, Holiday, Elland Road, With Jane.
35. FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL RESPOND: Cactus, Celtic, Arlene & Fairy Mae

Change of Plans

A couple of posts ago I reported on my weekend away with Jane one of my friends on MySpace. Told you we got on really well and we were planning to meet up again at the end of January.

Well things have changed neither of us wanted to wait that long so we've booked a weekend together 5th-7th December, can't wait. We've found a real nice looking hotel near Stratford upon Avon - http://www.qhotels.co.uk/hotels/stratford-manor-warwickshire.aspx

This doesn't mean the January trip is cancelled, in fact we are in the process of planning that and many more get togethers.

4 Years of Obama - Quiz

Although I'm still uncertain how Barack Obama will perform I think its only fair to give him a fair crack of the whip. No point criticising and the truth about this great "Change" can only be judged by his 4 years in office.

What do you think he'll achieve in 4 years :-

1. What Tax levels will the Americans be paying compared to today ?
a) More
b) Less
c) About the same

2. What will Employment levels be ?
a) More Unemployed
b) Less Unemployed
c) About the Same

3. Value of the £ against the $ (currently £1 = $1.63)
a) More $ to £
b) Less $ to £
c) About the Same

4. Law & Order
a) Higher Crime Rate
b) Lower Crime Rate

5. Troops out of Iraq ?
a) In 18 months as promised
b) During is term of office
c) Still there

6. Troops out of Afganistan
a) All Out
b) Reduction in numbers
c) Increase in numbers
d) Same amount there

7. Environment
a) 80% cut in emmisions as promised
b) significant reduction in emmisions
c) Slight reduction in emmisions
d) No reductions in emmisions

8. Health Service
a) No Change
b) Free Health Service for the Poor
c) Free Health Service for all
d) Significantly Cheaper Health Service
e) Slightly Cheaper Health Service

9. Stock Markets (Dow Jones) currently approx 9,600
a) Higher
b)Lower
c) Same

10. Who'll win the next Election ?
a) Democrats
b) Republicans
c) Dunno

My answers
1. a)Higher Taxes
2. c) Similar levels unemployed
3. a) More Dollars to £ (think its actually about 15cents lower than it should be and will level out)
4. a) Higher Crime Rate, think more poverty will cause that as population increases.
5. b) Think they'll be out at some stage but 18 months is too ambitious.
6. d) Can't see the situation changing for both the US or UK could even be an increase.
7. b) Significant decrease although 80% not attainable
8. e) Think he'll make efforts but find its a bottomless pit.
9. a) Higher, think history suggests it will grow again
10. c) Dunno - Depends whether the "Change" is good or bad for the Americans & it can go either way I'm sure.

A Very Special Friend

As I mentioned on a couple of earlier Posts I planned to meet up with an online friend this weekend. Well the friend is from MySpace & called Jane, she is single, 7 years younger than me and from the south of England.
We previously met 5 months ago but that was only for a meal & chat on one of my trips down south, we seemed to get on well on that occasion and always planned to hook up again. We do keep in touch on a daily basis by one method or another.
Anyway I've just got back from our get together we met up in Windsor and have spent all weekend together, staying over in a nice hotel for a couple of nights.

So what happend ?
Did we get on ?

Well we had a fantastic time a jelled from the first moment to the last, don't think either of us wanted to leave.

What did we do ?

We had a couple of nice evening meals, Friday at a little Italian Restaurant in which we both had steak, Saturday it was what I would descibe as a Yuppie restaurant, I went for Pork, Jane had Chicken. Of course we visited a few Pubs but one of the highlights was Windsor Castle, its qite amazing we spent a full afternoon. We were going to do the River boat trip but the weather was iffy so cancelled them plans.

Will we meet again ?

Yes early next year (89 days to be exact)

Why so long ?

We are both busy and have numerous weekends pre planned, but to be honest January 30th is going to be the first of many get togethers (and I mean many).

(Before Cactus asks) Was there any Romantic connection.

Absolutely, a lot more than both of us anticipated.

What is my opinion of Jane ?

I said it in the title.

What a waste of money

I'll start with the American election and I must say I'm astounded by the amount of money the Presidential campaigns of both candidates are costing. If our newspapers are correct McCain as spent over $80million where Obama has spent an astonishing $281million. This is of course on top of what was spent on their campaigns to get the nomination of their party.

My big worry is where did this money come from considering the world is going into recession and surely it could be spent far more wisely. My other concern is where did the money come from and how many buisness men will have favours returned over the next four years. This election is going to cost the American Public a lot of tax money believe me.
The whole long drawn out system is a joke, everyone knows approximately 40% of the population will vote Republican, 40% Democrat & the money is actually spent trying to persuade the 20% Don't Knows or Couldn't care less types.


I'll also comment on another news item this week and that is the issue of Comedian Russel Brand & Jonathan Ross making offensive phone calls to respected actor Andrew Sachs about his grand daughter. Basically they were no better than play ground bullies trying to get cheap thrills at somebody elses expense.
Personally I don't like either of them, not my cup of tea, just consider them both lacking real talent. However the thing that shocked me most was to find out Ross has a 3 year contract with the BBC worth £18 million. This for a talk show host that can't talk properley, what a great way to spend my TV licence money.

Ok for 5 days

Mt Food intake plan was working ok for the first 5 days of the week :-
Monday - 2458 cals
Tuesday - 1927 cals
Wednesday - 1436 cals
Thursday - 1511 cals
Friday - 1429 cals

Average daily intake for 5 days - 1752 cals

Thats actually below my target of between 1860 & 2360 cals per day which should result in a weekly weight loss of between 1 & 2 pounds.

However I did say for 5 days because over the weekend I'm unsure what my actual intake was but I went away and know it would have been much higher. I was playing Table Tennis in the Veterans British League at Grantham and origionally going to just compete Saturday but was planning to drive there & back. Plans changed mid week when I transferred to a new Club and was selected both days so I decided to stay over. The exercise will have been good but the eating (& drinking) out wont have helped the weight loss.

On the playing side I did well winning 9 of my 10 matches the team was unbeaten winning two but drawing three, we finished the weekend third in the table.

I expect this week to be very similar making my food targets through the week but Friday to Sunday I'm off away for a weekend. I'm actually off to Windsor which is a nice part of the country (hell the Queen has a pad there). Its actually planned with a online friend (from Myspace) we are meeting up and spending the weekend together. I've met her before and we got on well so we decided to have a weekend together, probably 3 days with me she'll get fed up (hope not).

Change of Subject I've just read in the papers that bookings on flights to America from the UK are down 75% which confirms what I said in my last post. The same report says that increases of American tourists coming here are on the increase because its now becoming more financially viable. The weak pound is certainly causing those of us Brits who like to travel a few problems.

America is Closed

I think everyone who reads my blog realises I enjoy my trips across the water to visit America, well to be honest the chances of it happening again are slim.

Why you may ask ?

Basically its economics, the pound against the dollar as just crashed. When I first visited the States I got a reasonable rate of $1.70 to the £1 which was ok. Over the last two years the weak dollar has seen it get even better actually reaching $2 to the $1.

However recent weeks have seen either the dollar grow stronger or the pound crash because its now around $1.50 to £1. Today alone the pound crashed 7 cents, thats massive in one day and its threatening to drop even lower.

Of course this doesn't only effect my spending money it also puts the cost of flights up for me virtually pricing me out of any trips stateside. I suppose its a great time for any Americans who fancy a trip to the UK, they should think about it.

To be honest I need to rate to get back to $1.70 to make it viable, and I mean tourist rate. I'm sure the US election may make a difference, probably depends who gets in.

So for my trips next year it looks like its a good time to look elsewhere.