Incidentally

Just a few things, with no particular common thread…

There’s a cliché picture of your average Irish person as being very laid back and relaxed. Billy Connolly refers to the Irish as “white black people”! This relaxed attitude certainly extends to the use of indicators whilst driving. It makes for an “interesting” experience whilst crossing roads. One has to look at the driver, rather than the indicators and try to guess whether they look like they’re about to make a turn or not. Loadsa fun!

I’ve discovered that while an Englishman may deposit money into a bank, over here one lodges funds. I haven’t put my foot in it too badly at all, I don’t think.

It’s a little strange. I have never before lived by myself. I was still living at home with Mum and Dad, at the age of 27, when I married. I’ve now been in Cork for a little under two weeks and for most of that time I’ve had the place to myself. The internet and radio (often both together – I miss BBC radio and Planet Rock!) make things liveable when I’m at home and without company. I don’t have a television and am in no real hurry to get one. I doubt that your average free-to-view Irish channel holds a lot more to interest me than the British ones. Occasionally, just occasionally, I miss having one. A television in itself is no great outlay but then I’d have to look at either Sky or Cable and I’m acutely conscious that I’m not actually bringing any money in at the moment. It’s not an issue currently but I came over here with a finite amount of money and there are more important things than television. Anyway, I don’t need T.V. when I got T. Rex!

I rather think that I might do the tourist thing properly over the next few days, so that once I do start work (fingers crossed) I don’t have distractions. Then again, I could write the letters and make the phone calls that I’ve been desperately trying to ignore. There are certain people who ought to know where I am, I suppose. And I don’t necessarily mean my daughter or (soon to be) ex-wife. I’ll keep the channels of communication open for my Elder daughter but it really doesn’t surprise me that she’s not answering me. Hopefully she’ll forgive me one day. I did what I did with my eyes wide open and fully aware of possible consequences, though.

On a lighter note, it’s nice to be living somewhere with a open grate. On nights when it’s just a little cool, a small fire is warming and cheering. Once winter sets in, I’m sure that I can remember how to bank up a fire to warm the whole house.

For now, boys and girls, I shall finish this glass of wine that was left in a bottle and I shall repair to bed. I must remember to blow out the scented candle. On the subject of scents, isn’t it strange how some perfumes linger….?

Good night, one and all. Sweet dreams.