Where have I been?
For about two and a half years I have been up to my neck in the wreckage of the celtic tiger. Like many others, I took a beating when the economy crashed. 2009 was spent in semi-denial attempting to save the un-saveable – Businesses, jobs, savings, reputations.
Relationships could also be on that list.
2010 was a lean year maintaining the status quo. During that year, an enforced three month break saw the rescue of my perspective. Still here and healthy. During that time, emigration was being considered – I’m glad I haven’t had to yet.
2011 still hasn’t seen the end of the wreckage, but at least I can handle it better than I could two years ago.
I am very lucky to have some income via contracting work. I am back on Oracle development, but no longer as a DBA. My main focus now is PHP development. For once in my life I am enjoying “Front End” work and I have started reading up on web design especially in the area of Enterprise Applications – Maybe this is where my future will be.
On another positive note, my wife is now working for herself as a silversmith. The eventual plan is to sell high end silverware through her own site. That is the long term goal. A more immediate focus is the sale of Irish themed jewellery via her online shop Claddagh Design. She has already made a great success of her blog with nearly a 1000 visitors a month – Good going in such a specialised area.
So that is why this blog has been so quiet. Fair enough eh?
My desk reclaimed!
Before:
Yes, I am a messy B. No room for my notebook (paper) or Netbook. But I also have a big, albeit cheap, table saw and lots of solid Ash left over from flooring our house. So now…
90% of the cables are gone, thanks to new elevated extension lead (between South America and Africa, there, above the Monitor). All I need now is a good wireless mouse and key board. And a switch so that I can share it with the netbook. (Them buttons too tiny for me).
I love making stuff life this.
Vancouver Police Museum: Sins of the City Walking Tour
Learn about vice in the early days of Vancouver by participating in the Vancouver Police Museum’s unique new walking tour – Sins of the City. While leading you through the oldest parts of Vancouver, your guide will regale you with stories about:
- Bootleggers, prohibition, and the often quirky evolution of liquor laws (and their enforcement) in the city
- The development of the early drug trade and the surprising Vancouver origins of Canada’s narcotic laws
- Racial and labour tension boiling over into demonstrations, riots and murder
- The evolution of the sex trade, from brothels to streetwalkers
- The city’s considerable predilection for gambling
Participants are also invited to visit the Police Museum on the day of their walking tour at no additional charge.
This is probably the best walking tour I have ever been on. All down to the passion of the guide.
One thing, DO NOT approach the Police Museum via East Hastings – That’s 250 scary yards you could do without.
The old “Lets build a stadium with public money” con…
If we needed more proof that politicians work for themselves and not for us, it has arrived.
Our leaders want to finance 100 per cent of the new Colisée de Québec with our taxes. Stephen Harper is hesitating, but his deputies in Quebec have already said yes. What a spectacle they made posing for photos wearing Nordiques jerseys, pandering to Quebec City voters. Pathetic.
The project will be a black hole for dollars. The idea is to cough up $400 million (about $200 million from Canadian taxpayers), and then to soak up a $3.5-million deficit each year. All without asking the private sector to throw in a single penny. Smack in the middle of an economic crisis, too, with our hospitals crumbling and our debt increasing by $135 million a day.
Do most Canadians (or Quebecers, for that matter) want to pay for this project? Makes no difference. Our politicians will do it anyway. There are seats up for grabs in Quebec.
This debate has brought out the beggars. “Montreal has its concert hall, we want our Colisée!” “We spend money on culture, why not on hockey?” Mayors of other Canadian cities are already up in arms. Everyone wants a new stadium.
Meanwhile, the mother of two who, between preparing lunches and helping with homework, has no time for lobbying, sees her taxes keep on rising. Someone has to pay for the goodies handed out to the beggars.
If this is democracy, it needs an overhaul.
Like OMG!
Didn’t Bertie Ahern attempt the exact same thing with the Bertie Bowl? Looks like his play book has been leaked. All the Quebecers are missing is the breath-taking ambition.
Vancouver Rules
A Month of Run Days – Days 1 and 2.
66 days tweetless. I needed a break, I don’t think Twitter should be such an ever present in my life, so I took a break. I also had a load of crap going on, so it didn’t take much effort on my part to forget that twitter exists. And amazingly, I had all of 2 conversations about twitter with “real” people during that time. That was nice.
Also, prior to my departure, I found myself less and less interested in my tweet stream. So my next job is to cut, cut, cut. If I unfollow you, please take it personally.
So why come back. Cos I need you.
Well, I need something -I am training for a half marathon. Training has only been going ok, so I am hoping to shame myself into upping the ante through Twitter and my blog. (a la Soon-to-be-not-fat-Pat). So I am starting a Month of Run Days.
I started the year well, but the last week of January was a disaster with zero motivation. Managed to make it back into the Gym yesterday, February 1st and did a 30min 6K run which is fast-ish for me. Followed it up today with a quick-ish 2.5m hilly run. I’ll be keeping you updated. And if not, pelt me with eggs.
The French Agree
Going by this poll on the Le Monde website, it seems that the French agree that Ireland deserved to go through to the World Cup finals and that they have the Referee to thank for their success.
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