April 27
Hum. I stayed up too late on Thursday. Midnight. Again. I was exceling spreadsheets and use data loader to get good data into a Salesforce sandbox. Wait you are already falling asleep, well me too. It was midnight. Anywho. Went to work and gave a great presentation that received rave reviews, but still needed work. Not the presentation, but the application. Oh hum. Did a bit more data cleaning, and then took off to get poked since it turns out it is not a good idea to be a beekeeper and bee allergic to the be.ee.ee.z. Then popped home for a late lunch, took a call about surveys, and ‘helped’ pick up the kids from school. By helped I mean, did work email and stared into my phone. Bah!
Called an Uber pool at 3:30 and a Honda Pilot picked me up and whisked me off to SFO to arrive at 5 for a 7:30 pm flight. I think I lost my money clip in all the hustle and bustle, or it is stuck in a former pocket. I’m out 30 or 40 bucks which is a bummer. But if it magically returns it is like I just got back 30 or 40 bucks. Amazing, except that I lost it in the first place.
I’m in the very last seat on the plane. The cheapest of the cheap seats. Worse than families with small kids. I KNOW RIGHT, behind the really big guy who can not keep his pants on when he bends over with constant plumbing problems he needs to correct. I could almost open the bathroom door if I managed to stretch a bit across the super arrow isle. The other bit of good luck was I was on the isle. But I did have two beers, a weird veggie lasagna thing, a tiny turkey sandwich, and a packet of M&Ms. The 8 inch touch display in the back of the seat was useless. It sort of worked, but then I couldn’t hear anything with the shitty headphones they give out for free. I tried watching a really bad movie called geostorm. No I do not want to listen to it in German. Exit. Try again. No stop with German. Nine, NINE! I gave up, and reverted back to my wireless headphones. The wirelessness only lasted 6 hours. Lame. I did manage to recharge them through a battery that I cleverly brought with me.
I watched ‘The Shape Of Water’ which was whacky. Not sure if I liked it. I want to like it, but it feel it is a modern day ‘swamp thing’ but in better focus and a more interesting story. Did it deserve an Oscar? No. I saw Dunkirk which was very good and intense, but didn’t see the other 7. So can’t say who is the winner until I watch them all.
Then started the lost in space series on Netflix. The first episode is not great but I’m on the 5th one and it gets better with more character development which is nice. The robot is a bad ass, unlike the lame Disney movie a few years ago that bombed.
April 28th
Does a day start when you get off a plane? Well let’s hope so since I arrived at LHR London Heathrow at 2pm local time. Or.. 6am PST. Pick your poison. Landed in the new wing which was full of glass and doors and no people. I didn’t stand in line at all. There where a couple of lost Asians but managed to skip through them unscathed or without issue. Note to ‘The Fiona’ leaving on a Friday night at 7:30 pm and getting in on a Saturday afternoon is pretty good to get through customs.
I found a pub, La Salle, and have been typing out this masterpiece while the clock idly rotates. I had a nice chicken salad and a Brewdog. The baby knives they have would be the envy of our children at this place. I’m not sure how am going to stay awake for the next 5 hours? I texted Fiona at 2:22pm local time and got a sob story about the dog having to go out at 5am. Oh, poor dear. Only 2 hours and 15 minutes…. only 2 hours and 14 minutes… so tired. The brits look at me funny when i make my own iced tea. Sacrilege!
The ‘little plane’ which was a 737 too me into Cork which was half full. I managed to watch another episode lost in space on the hour flight. It was chilly and damp when I got off the plane. I went through customs for Ireland with a very stern faced fellow. I should have told him I was here for his beer, but am glad I stuck with my ‘for work’ response since I didn’t have my attractive family with me. Hooray my bag made it! Last off the plane since I wait 4 hours at heathrow it was first on, so last off. I called the taxi place for Netgear and they came and got me around 8:15pm. So farted around for 30 minutes at a deserted airport.
The driver was very nice and took me through town. I asked about football jerseys and run around 40 euros. Wonder if 80 dollars is too much? What is the equivalent gift for Niamh? There is a girl on the bus with a trolls hat with a puff on top that is all pink? Probably not as good? Perhaps they will both get key chains.
Checked in at the Lancaster Lodge and my room 404 faces a cool church, Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The taxi driver pointed out two nice places to eat, so walked down to Spitjack. It was a great place with fancy wine and beer. I had a knockmealdown stout from 8 degrees which was tasty with my salad. Was in bed at 10.
April 29
Woke up 2 times, but finally rolled out at 9:15. Walked down to the bus depot and saw the 10am bus, the 215, roll out. Missed it by that much… so got a one way ticket. Wait one way? No return? There is no option to return on the machine since the ticket is so cheap said the transport official. So I bought another one way and he put a note on it? Hope that works? I’ve arrived.
“Off the bus and to the left” the bus driver yells. So the horde of people, a few Americans with me trundle off the double decker. I make it to the castle and proceed to take many pictures.
Am I wiser or more wishful? Let’s hope so or the Fiona might take me on a cruise.
It is around 1 and buy some stuff for the kids, two green shirts. Found a nice shirt for the Niamh and an inexpensive soccer jersey for the Lawson. I think the Fiona will approve. I bought some postcards but the post office shut since it is Sunday. I tired the super market in Blarney but the said to try the gas station at the other end of town?
Before I find this mythical gas station at the and of town I stopped in the Blarney Hotel for a pint and a bit to eat. Picked up a quesadilla which is much different then a m Mexican quesadilla and a Beamish stout. The food was more like fajitas but sweet with only a dash of cheese. Unlike home where they drown the thing in cheese depending on where you go.
I finish up lunch and figure the buss dropped us off at half past so they would pick up around the at top of the hour. I got the top right but is it 10 minutes prior not after. Should have put that into my phone, However the is a pub next to the stop, musketry arms, so this allowed for another pint to be consumed. The have a football match on, for those of you who do not know this is soccer, while I update this glorious travel blog and drink a hop house 13 lager from Guinness? Who knew.
Anywho will go out and wait for the bus who could be early or late according to people I’ve spoken to about buses. I found Niamh’s new phone case with pom-poms, as she keeps misplacing her phone.
As predicted, the bus driver was very confused about my one way ticket. I showed him my ticket out with a hole punch, and he had the ticket with the note on it. Why the do not offer a round trip option on the line is beyond me, but the driver let me on and have my ticket back to me. He didn’t seem happy about it, but at least he didn’t run me off the bus. Ah, public transport. If you offer a way out then please offer a way back for the tourist like me who don’t carry cash. It is a very full bus back.
I meander back to the lodge and gave the Fiona a FaceTime call. Showed off my wears to Lawson but he didn’t like my yellow hair. You se I’m such a saint I had a halo on my head which turned my hair yellow. I turned off the switch from the wall and he approved- he jus woke up at it was 4pm when I returned so was 8am so he was still waking up. Niamh was was around so will have to call back later. I watched another lost in space, and the Robinson’s are still alive with their keen wit and intelligence. Why can they see how evil the lady is? Oh well.
I make my way to Brick Lane, and it is a very eclectic place. I’m having a cute hoor pale ale, by Heineken of all brewers? Who knew they could be creative with names? It more an IPA as it has some hops to it, but it is good and goes well with my tasty chicken wrap. 
The music is 70 funk with a bit of hipster thrown in for good measure which goes well with the Monty python slogans, ‘Your mother was a hamster’, and Mo the bartender from the Simpson’s in the door to the kitchen. I also like the bar stools that my mother would approve.
United Manchester just beat Arsenal 2-1 with cheers from the patrons. Need to find another tasty pint. Tasty pint found! However the shift change at this place was horrible. The bartender pretty much ignored me, the guy that took my glass didn’t ask if I wanted another, and no I don’t want to watch an NBA basketball game when I’m in Ireland. I ended up with a German wheat beer, a Paulaner Mümcher. No orange slice but don’texpect that from the type of rowdy place. I regret leaving a 2 euro tip as I’m sure the people that did help me will never see it. Made it back to the lodge and finished the Robinson series. Spoiler alert they are still alive, damn those clever Robinson’s. Asleep by midnight.
April 30, 2018
The dude next door is snoring and it is 5:30am in the morning. Oh what do i hear? the garbage truck backing in for the 8th time finding the sweet spot to grab all the bins at 6:30. Speaking of annoying sounds there is some sort of electric engine that idles or pulls or does something every 20 minutes that lasts 5 minutes long. As Niamh would say, ‘so super annoying’. As you can surmise I’m in great spirits, you should listen to me when I’m a little grumpy. I get up and can’t feel my left arm or leg. There is a reason why I like firm beds, so I will not be utterly deformed when I go to a hotel outside the US. Too late, as I try and convince myself the pain in my lower back is my spin being straightened for better posture. Yeah I have to keep up this mental positivity for the next 5 nights people so let’s hear the hand clapping. I said clap. Ok better, don’t get to much in a frenzy and giddy as I might get loopy from the attention.
The taxi arrives on time, but the old fella doesn’t understand why there is traffic at this time at 8:45. I get in at 9:05 and show my badge off but still have to sign the visitor book. Brendan comes and fetches me and shows me the important thing like the water cooler, coffee machine, and the bathroom. Otherwise I’m stuck in 2, 2 hour meetings this week and get to do my day job, and get to update my intrepid readers of my amazing adventure in country place to live outside the US. It is just like WA except they talk a bit funny and drive small cars on the left side of the road. They both have beer so might have to flip for it.
I’m taken to a great place near work by Pat who drives a Jag. I have a chicken/bacon salad but no beer as this is a work trip people. We went to the model farm which was very nice. Pat and Brenden are swell. Pat has on orange sunglasses and cords, he has a 6 month old, 3, and 5 year old. He got less sleep than me, hard to believe but true even if he did have a direct flight to Dublin and drive 2.5 hours to cork. Fiona there is no hopper plane, but a bus or train. I’m taken the bus next time if I come out again. Dumb layover Heathrow, grrrr. Little bit o pirate talk never hurt no one as me ma’me saye. Arggg.
Didn’t leave work til 8 and thought I lost my temp badge, I had already put it in my bag. Doh! I went to ‘liberty grill’ at 8:15 and met a couple from Georgia who ditched their 5 year old to hang out in Cork. See Fiona I’m not crazy it can be done. So serious all the time.
Paul and Cathy were very nice to let me barge into their night, but mostly I wanted to take a selfie with Paul. I like his… beard.
The warm chicken salad and micro brew from Killarney called the golden spear blonde put faith in me not all Americans are dumb when traveling abroad. After chatting close to an hour back to the lodge to send a spurring email for people to get stuff done or else hell hath no furry like an Indian lady named Radhika. Mic drop. Gotta call that taxi again for tomorrow. Oh hum.
May 1, 2018
Oh shit I slept in till 9:15. I woke up at 3:30am and 5:30am, but my watch was only set to go off m, w, f and not every day. Bummer. Called a taxi and they where here in 10 minutes and was at NETGEAR with 10 minutes to spare for my 10am meeting. Did testing for 2 hours and off to lunch with Brendan. Had a sandwich but had to get back for a 1pm call GST which was 8am east coast. And then another call from 2 to 4. The days are going by fast when all I do is work. I left work again at 8pm, and walked about a mile to the ‘Market Lane’ and had some beer tasters. The chicken salad had way too much ginger, and sat in a little nook at the front so didn’t get to see the entire restaurant. I walked back in the rain, and took a meeting at 10pm. It is now past midnight but have set my watch so I try to finish excel spreadsheeting in the morning. Yippie. I think i would much prefer to talk about the Robinson plot holes, but that will have to wait until another time. I said good night to Niamh who did a math assessment this afternoon and Lawson was finishing his, but she seemed in good spirits.
May 2, 2018
Yup past midnight so it counts. So I didn’t wake up, but I can’t turn my head to left or right. Huge knots in my back, but the good news is my alarm went off at 7:30am which I lazily got up 30 minutes later. Took a shower, shaved, and cleaned up all the rough edges so am nice and shiny. I call a taxi be fore I get in the shower and ask they arrive at 8:45. The don’t arrive till 5 minutes to 9 which is not bad, but I meet the nice old guy at the door as he turns around in the parking lot. To work. Then to lunch. Went with 3 guys this time, Pat, Brendan, and David. All very nice. We take Brendan’s Skoda since it is in the front and the rain is starting and with wind is picking up.
we go to an Italian place, Gallo & Galetti, and I have a tasty al-dente-a spaghetti bolognese. Back to work. I’m super late tonight since I’m spread sheeting and getting calls from Ritesh to update the cutover plan. Geez. I get a taxi and manage to get him to wait while I throw my bag in the room so I can make it to food from a place before the kitchens close. I want to go to Oliver Plunket, a live music bar. I make it in at 9:15. All the seats are taken down stairs. I go upstairs and two people (woman, man) are dancing Irish jigs. I ask for food. Kitchen is close. Damn. I walk back over to Market Lane since it said it was open late and close. Kitchen is open! Woot! Woot! I have a veggie dinner beetroot, walnut and feta cakes, sweet potatoe, carrot hummus, pickled apple and watercress. Yeah I’m typing from the menu. It is 10pm I can do whatever I want, don’t be a hater. I throughly the digit my beer. It just took a bit of time to get me my Murphy’s Irish Stout. Will go back to Oliver plunket and have one more pint;)
it was late and didn’t want to stay out very late as still have 2 more 16 hour days. Good times. I walked back, not in the rain this time and sent out a thank you email versus the end of the earth email like before. The taxi driver said the River Lee is quite nice and all the Apple people stay there. I might check in for the last two night as it is really not fun to not be able to stand up straight or turn your head. So much for positive thinking. Here is positive, I’m positive my neck, back, and other bits will be positively in shambles when I return to the states from this miserable bed. Not sure how these guys won a 2018 award hanging on the wall unless they gave it to themselves which might be possible. Oh, I figured our the noise that takes about five minutes to drone on. It is the toilet pressure pump pumping back up the pressure in all the various rooms after each flush. Yup super annoying. The long drones must be people taking showers. Why they can get a pressure system in the basement that feeds all the rooms is beyond me, but what do I know. Nothing John Snow nothing.
May 3, 2018
Hey people I got up at 7:40! I think I’m getting closer to being jet lag free 🤪. I think what really put me over way taking two Advil at midnight. I FaceTimed the Fiona but Lawson was skateboarding and Niamh was still in after school workshops. I think I would try an adventure today and take public transport. Yup I’m on a bus. A double decker on the top first row. I can see out the window so it is not very tourist friendly. All the hot breathing people streaming up the windows. The mornings are like California, cool and it warms up a bit. All the Irish are grumpy with the weather, too wet. Oh and it turns out there is a closer bus stop after walking the wrong direction to get the 8am bus. Oh well. Off to work and pay attention to google maps now, eh. Can’t mis me stop, he says in an old crinkly voice.
Made it to lunch, a Thai place in a different little village, Kanok Thai, in Ballincollig. Say that three times fast. Good now say it backwards, yeah I didn’t think so either. Went out with Brendan who took pity on me that I didn’t have lunch, and a Frenchmen named Remy.
I left work determined not to be shut out of a kitchen who needs to serve food no later then nine. So I left at 7:30 by taxi. Got back to the hotel and they locked me out of my room. Freakin A! Don’t they know I’m on a deadline to eat dinner. Apparently the authorization only lasts for 5 days so they had to bill me for five days and then reauthorize it for two? What a stupid system and again is really annoying. They have my card on file for the last 5 days, I didn’t get a check out bill the night before. Lame lame lame. Apparently if I don’t authorize the card on the last day they can still charge me so what the hell? Are you just as confused as I am? Stupid crappy lame hard bed kinda hodge lodge is the place? If I have to come back will try out the river river hopefully the beds are softer.
I made plans with a local guy we do business with to have a beer at 9:30 at the Oliver plunkett. I made it to the Gallagher’s a pub and bar over by the bus station. I walked to Gallagher’s and had a veggie meal with beer from a macro brewery from Cork! A Red Rebel and a Cheiftain from Franciscan Well Brewery.
Man there are a bunch of Americans in the city. Sitting next to some New Yorkers by their accent, and dialogue they are having with their daughter who is going to school out here is hilarious. Anywho need to go met my guy in a minute.
Met Shane. He is a good guy. It was super loud in the Oliver Plunkett with an electric guitar, bass, drums, and a harmonica player. I had 2 more new beers while I was there. A Heineken Singapore brew called Tiger. Meow. It was the Budweiser of Singapore with a hint of herbs. It was ok but on a fan favorite. Then had another Franciscan Wells beer called the Archway which was still a light beer, but better.
It was so loud we went to another bar around the corner called Counihan’s which was a nice quiet place where I finished up with a Murphy’s. All and all a good day for beer with a count of 5. Made it back to the lodge at midnight and got in the hard hard bed.
May 4, 2018
Got up at 7am and going to get the bus again. This time I walked down to the river Lee, but the freakin bus briber didn’t stop! 😂. So the next one that comes I’m going to flag down. They come ever 10 minutes and it is not raining. Guess you have to be a bit aggressive to get on the bus in Ireland 🤪. Made it on the bus! Woot! Woot! Looks like they are having fun at home making the dog look like a poodle instead of a dog.
I’m not a fan of the hair poof on top of the dogs head even in Ireland. Geez. Stop already with the hair poof? I guess my opinion doesn’t count since I don’t feed, walk, pick after her, or play with the puppy? Oh wait I do. Oh well I guess the two girls of the house win the ‘this is what the dog’s haircut should look like’ debate.
I wonder if I’ll miss my stop since I managed to miss the first bus? Hope not. Has here is 139.9 which seems like too much for gas. This is a collage town with a bunch of school kids on the bus. There really is not that many who stay on to get of at the stop I get off on.
The breakfast of champions buttered bacon bread. Went to the local store for a sandwich today, but this time David drove his Mazda. I have turkey, bacon, and butter on me bread with some cheese and lettuce thrown in for good measure. I left work today early, 6:30 and got back to the at 6:45ish. Shane recommended a place that had a good burger since I’m ready for my red meat. So I’m sitting in sober lane.
I could have gone to see Ed Sheeran tonight he is playing in Cork so people are descending into cork for a bite before the concert and probably after.it looks like he is playing 1.5 miles away from downtown at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and starts at 8:45. Not good for my 7:20am flight tomorrow. Next time the fiona has to ditch the kids and hang out at least in the uk visiting people and then hang out with me. Should have taken PTO in Monday to stay the weekend 🤪 and get a later flight!
So ‘The Fat Bastard’ with heaps of bacon (real bacon) and a smoking hot beef patty was very good. It would have better with a Murphy’s! Probably better than the one I had in New York? Hum probably all burgers are better when traveling, except Germany when I was a kid. Horrible burger of spam, yuck. I’m having a Murphy’s now to make up for the light beer. They are playing Ed Sheeran music now, Haahaa. The reason Shane mentioned this place was that on sundays from noon to 5 they flip a coin and if you gues ms the right way your next drink is free. A good gimmick to get people in the bar on Sundays 😉 Apparently they don’t flip a coin every Sunday since there is a bank holiday on Monday there is no coin flip 😩 it doesn’t matter that much since I’ll be on a plane, but still good to know if I’m in Cork on a Sunday not kissing a stone. The is some sort of DJ setting up and the bar is now pretty empty I’m the only one sitting at it, but the tables are full. What is weird is people actually getting Corona in a bottle. Nearly all the people who have ordered have gotten Corona or maybe is it just the women? Weird right? Well I guess since I think it it is a cheap beer tan sell a shit pot of them in Ireland? When I was up in Blarney everyone had a stout must me a generational or gender thing or maybe they like piss in the bottle? Hum. There is a soccer (football) game on and they now playing funk? The music collection is quite interesting, ‘Can I Rock’ by Cunnie Williams? Huh?
Ended up having a Murphy’s to end my time at Sober Lane. Only 4 beers, but good enough. Made it back and packed and started the slow process of excel spreadsheeting all the sheet into one happy sheet.
May 5, 2018
What do you call a drunk loud Irishman at 3am, and then at 4am. An Irish alarm clock. No need to set my watch for get up at 4:45am to get a taxi to get to the airport at 5:15. No, why would I need that when I have another source of waking a person to get a flight. Not sure if it was Tom, Dick, or Harry but they all had a merry good time at the concert. There are two more shows tonight and then on Sunday. Then apparently everyone sleeps on the bank holiday 😜.
Anywho, I made it to the airport along with all my friends going to London Heathrow. Let’s see if I can make it to the plane on time- only 2 hours until it leaves.
These is no TSA global security fast lane for security. Only one line through which leads to 8 gates. I’m at gate 6 along with all my Irish friends. They stopped me at security for an extra bag check since they picked up on my epipen. There is a hot buffet thing with interesting choices for breakfast, but nothing made to order. Then there is a bar. The bar had orange juice and a croissant. The orange juice came in a bottle, but the croissant came with marmalade which was very good. It is now a bit past 6:30am and the tv says to go to gate. There are 7 people at the gate but at least it is across from the bar so I can sit in a comfy seat. I should hopefully board in he next 30 minutes or so…oh hum let the journey start of wait it started at 3am when my Irish alarm went off.
Made it on the plane and there are more people on the flight leaving than arriving, a full plane. The opened the gate and chaos ensued of people boarding from the front and back of the plane. There was a blonde at the end of the gang way but she stood there shivering in her long green coat, she was lot a leprechaun, but probably could have said if you are 20 and higher board from rear, but I got in the back since I am 22C. At Heathrow I’m pretty sure there is only one way off so hope to get my connection. The gate closed at 9:40 for the next flight and I’m in the back of that bus at seat 42C. I arrive at 8:20 so have just over an hour to make it through LHR! Woot! Woot! I’m just rock out to Taylor Swift since it is on my iPad and why not I woke up at 3am I can do whatever the grump I want 😝
So the plane is 20 minutes late so now have an hour. Hum. Made it to the big board duty free with 3 minutes to spare when they where going to show the gate information! B49. Yes apparently I’m now playing gate bingo. Made it to the gate. Boarding will start in 10 minutes. They checked my passport for a second time and put a little stamp on the back. My aer lingus boarding pass does not have my group number but since I’m in the back of the plane I’m in group 3 or 4. Hopefully will leave on time at 10:25. It is 10:15 and I’m in my seat so see you in 12 hours or so.
Made it back the plane landed at 1:10. Looking forward to Abe’s that is not trying to kill me and seeing the wife and kiddos. Hopefully they will put down the iPads long enough to say hello.