2 Month Summary - there's no creative title for that!

Well, I guess I owe everyone some updates. So much has happened, so I’ll start from February. OK, I can’t think what happened then… lets start with work.
Four Seasons is going well. One of the managers has told me that if a job comes up in the hotel in a job I would want (ie. Events!) he would give me a good reference. So even though the head of conference and banqueting is a fat pig and an asshole, the other guy still thinks I do a good job. In general the shoes hurt less, though some nights its brutal, I’m not gonna lie, standing in ugly 1inch heels for over 8 hours is not my idea of a good time. But I worked drinks the other night (ie. Not serving the actual food, just the drinks, but same event, with tips, sometimes) and it was one of those ‘good’ nights. I have lots of friends at work, but they’re the kind of people you only see at work, not outside of it.
The other job is great as well, lots of ‘dossing’ at work, going out for lunch and coming back late because we shopped at the Omni just a little too long. The girls at work are helping me “Branch out” and buy accessories to jazz up my wardrobe. I still do the same old, and its still not what I want to do. But I’m starting to really like the company, I know a bit more of the inside stuff and people seem to ask me to do things that they don’t trust the other admins to do. I’m kind of “that cool Canadian”, I’m not gonna lie, it’s a pretty big deal. Haha. Riiiiight.
Holiday time at work has been a top priority lately, planning when I’m going to take time off work. So far I’ve gone to London, Belfast, Glasgow/Edinburgh, and coming up I’ve got what I hope to be a bunch of weekends away in the summer to see more of Ireland, Paris, Kent (SE England), Canada in August and LANZAROTE!!! (one of the canary islands, for my friend at work’s wedding in October!)
That same friend who’s getting married, Deirdre, she lives in Meath, which is the county above Dublin, about 45min drive from where I live when there’s no traffic. (…a rarity) I’ve been there twice to party with her and her friends, and its pretty great craic. But I have to plan so far ahead to go out there and have to stay out there for the night and all that jazz. Oh Stamullen, what a great town. Haha
But not only do I get to travel, people are starting to come and visit! My first friend to visit... ok thats a lie Carla came in December, my 2nd friend to visit who I havent known since before I can remember, was Noah. He came for one day and was forced to do everything and drink and eat everything Dublin. A pint of Guiness, bottle of Bulmers, and Irish Whiskey highball. A roast dinner and an O'Brians lunch. So stereotypical. But was glad he came, and enjoyed my comfy couch. Now I can't wait for Beth and Lindsay to come, and anyone else who wants to sleep on my comfy couch!!
Anyways, my first real trip was with a friend, Nikki, who I know from UBC and is in Dublin on exchange at the moment. We went to Belfast and stayed with some family friends. Belfast is a place everyone should see, if not for the AMAZING ice hockey (the ONLY ice hockey team on the whole island!) then because it’s a great reminder how terrorism and gang problems can still be so prevalent in a “first world” country. The murals were definitely something to be seen, there is a huge contrast between the Unionist (Protestant) ones and the Nationalist/Irish (Catholic) ones. There is more of a united front on the Catholic side of things, but there are several Protestant groups, none of which I understand. I do get though that there is much more violence between them, and they would have the ‘less good’ paintings and graffiti around the town. Perhaps I could call it less organised. Anyways, something to be seen for sure. The rest of the town was alright, you know, just another European city with ghettos. We went out Saturday night to the oldest pub and another, not a big night, and I’d say the most excitement was getting a cab home and not being sure if it would safely get us home, like if it was a black cab or not. And as for the professional hockey game we went to, it had cheerleaders and was about as good at the B-team in high school. You know, Great Britain just isn’t known for hockey. So in sum, a city to see, but don’t take more than a weekend, there isn’t THAT much going on. Sorry Belfast.
Next event would have been My first Irish Paddy’s Day. That’s right, Paddy, not Patty as most Canadian would have it. We were wrong. I have now been corrected. It’s their National holiday (I got Monday off work and everything) But it was a bit of a let down. (I guess why most Dubliners head to the country for the weekend!) My mum was in town visiting her family (which now includes her daughter as well!) and so we went to the airport to meet some friends who were flying in. We watched the first match of the day (I’m talking, Rugby, 6 nations obvs) with them, and then I went into town to drink in a pub. Had a good few drinks with some med students, and back to a house party. All pretty hoe-hum. The next day however, my new work friend came out with Paul and I and his friends to the DJ Spinna show. Great times. We were out till 3:30 or so, then back to our place to post-party until the wee hours. I had to do some weekend work the next morning at a trade show at 9:30am. Yup. You’re right, I went to bed at 6:30 to make sure I got two solid hours of sleep in, making the day ‘off’ much more exciting.
My last trip just ended, I went to Scotland for Easter with a friend from home who’s living in London, and three Aussies. They were driving up there, so I flew in to Manchester and they picked me up and on our way we were. First we went to Glasgow, and day 1 was brutal. Really hammered teenagers, I’m talking, really. One kid threw a 7Up can at another. We went to a few pubs and places for food and drink, but nothing really spectacular. The next day Glasgow managed to redeem itself and we did a nice bus tour and saw the sweeter side of the city. There were people in the streets, bag pipers, sun, and well, a lack of drunk teenagers. We went up to the Necropolis which is like as nice as a cemetery can get. Morbid it as it sounds we walked around some really fantastic gravestones, and its was a really nice garden on a hill over looking the city. The cathedral there was also pretty nice, but sadly I’m starting to see the similarity between them all. Unless your religious I think they have a lot less meaning.
We were originally hoping to go to the Isle of Mull or look around the region a bit, but time was running out. As were our camera batteries and memory cards, but that’s a whole different issue of pre-trip prep all 5 of us missed out on. (don’t worry, I managed to dig around in my purse and find my spare battery later on, and others found space on their memory card by deletion!) We ended up just going to Edinburgh, and had a more pleasant experience there! We went into one hotel, no rooms, and they said there weren’t many in the whole CITY! (aww shit!) But then the next hostel we walk into, a group of 5, and they tell us, they called all the hostels in the city that morning and found no free beds, but they just released 6 beds. There we were, grabbing our beds just in the nick of time. Got dressed up went to the Oz bar, had a drink, went to dinner, back to Oz bar for more special auzzie rum and cokes, and then to this bar called Frankenstein. There we met a very special birthday boy called Lawrence walking around in a bike shirt, helmet (well it was on and off and swinging around at times) and he had his bike shorts pulled up like a speedo. We danced the night away and about 20 minutes before the bar closed they lowered this actual Frankenstein into the dance floor. CRAZY! Very exciting. The night also ended in cheap crepes and hot dogs, which honestly a plus, followed by a really hammered easter egg hunt in our hostel room. There weren’t many places to hide them, but I went in there and DOMINATED. I call it a skill. We woke up and did some touring of the city and then I went and saw the Castle, which I may have seen as a 9 year old, but defo don’t remember it!! There is a war memorial in there and I managed to find my great-uncle’s name in his regiment’s book from WWII which was kind of cool.
We left the city early in case there was traffic or road works like on the way up. Topping off the trip was driving through small towns in Scotland, like Biggar, which is the “big” (ie. 2 blocks of shops, not just 1) town near where my dad grew up. I saw dad’s small town name on a sign, I didn’t even think it was sign worthy!!! Lesson of the trip, Scottish road signs are not good. We took 40 minutes to try and get out of Edinburgh onto the Motorway. They kind of forget to use signage at times. Despite this I got to the airport 3 hours early, had to pay 10quid to check my bag because they found my face creams, toothpaste etc etc. I did manage to get the new Shopaholic book however, SO GOOD!
Now I’m finally home doing nothing for a day off. I’ve had a stream of people coming to visit me today checking out the apartment as I have to find a new flat mate! Next post, I’ll let you know who I choose!

A great blonde moment

It actually happened a few weeks back, but seriously, this blonde moment I'm actually quite proud of.
Bussing to work, sometimes I like to take a little snooze, I mean, its early, and it takes an hour, so might as well.
I often actually wake up before my stop and dont recognise where I am and freak, but so far, I've never missed my stop.
One particular morning, I woke up with a jolt and realised I was in this little village area where I could get stamps, and I was like 1/2 an hour early for work (the busses here are reliably unreliable, no matter what time i get to the bus stop, or what time the bus leaves, it will never get in at the same time, ever.) So I got off the bus, and bought stamps, and went to get on the next bus.
Here comes to moment, I see the 19 and 19A bus pull up at the same time, and I ask the first one if he goes up this street, which I know he doesnt, but you know, I'm an idiot. I got on the wrong bus. Realised it like 5 minutes later, and got off, and walked across the street to catch the 13 to get back to work. Then I got on the 13A, and realised a good while later that in fact that bus did NOT go near my job. I ended up at 20 minute walk from the office, got off and gave up on my ability to take buses anymore. I did get a nice tour of Glasnevin where I work though. I was 20 minutes late, which really, when I was going to 15 minutes early, kinda sucks.
My friends at work also pointed out that when I got on the 13A I was only a 5 minute walk from work. Damn.

LA Fitness - the light away from obesity

‘Tis the New Year and season for making resolutions; I am no exception. I reached the realization that I was quickly gaining weight and losing my muscle around mid-November, but decided starting a diet less than a month before Christmas was ridiculous and not even worth the effort. I enjoyed the last three months in Dublin feasting on any food I chose, boozing whenever I felt like spending the (excessive) money and going home after work to sit on a couch and watch TV. It was a great life, I’m not going to lie. All those times I’ve taken off swimming I’ve always hit up the gym, but this was it. Retirement from sport at its best was realised. I managed to gain what they call here, “a stone.” (14lbs!) Yes, Fat Gail had made her return, but lucky for me, if I wore the right clothes you couldn’t tell.

I could tell though, and new that it would be the stereotypical of stereotypical new years resolutions, I was going to join a gym and lose the weight. Unlike most, I’ve been realistic, I’m going to lose it for the summer… not two weeks like some people in my gym have decided is a realistic goal! Bikini season will start hopefully early May when I take a trip to Spain (more on that later.) I did start looking into gyms in last year a bit, and talked to a bunch of friends, but I found “my” new gym by walking in my front door, home from London and choosing to read the stupid flyer that I would normally ignore on the floor. Woot, there is a gym down the street. Like a 7 minute run (hopefully soon to be 5 minute run?)

I went the next day after work and checked it out, they were the first gym to have BOSU balls, wobble boards, lots of Swiss balls, spin classes, other studio classes (all of which are included) and a little pool. I tried the pool, with a pull out I manage 2-3 breast-strokes, and its about 30 degrees (which is really hot) I don’t think I’ll frequent it much. The spin should be great though, I always hate it during the class, and sometimes feel like I’m going to pass out…. I’ve taken to using my puffer before the class, point is I’ll do it once a week and hopefully hate it less and get skinny. Sounds win-win eh? The gym is actually kind of small, but so far I haven’t felt over crowded and there’s always a machine for me. It’s also kind of expensive, but spin and step and whatever classes are included, so I thought I’d deal with it.

ANYWAYS, there’s bound to be problems, right? TOTALLY… and everyone knows I’m not one to keep my mouth shut. Turns out, that BOSU ball… the only reason I joined this gym over the bigger one (not a single gym has any stabilizing equipt, it’s unheard of here!) well, it belonged to a personal trainer. So when the girl giving me the tour said, yes, of course we have them and I saw it, it was all a LIE! I said something to some of the staff in the least whiney or complainey way, and I think they’ve ordered at least one. Well that’s good eh.

Problem two. Part of the deal with the gym is every 6 weeks you can have a meeting with one of the staff, and get a program done for you, and weigh you and measure skin folds. OOOH! Skin folds, my personal fave. I guess kind of a perk, depends on how you look at it. I was honestly quite excited, like in a ‘how well did I do? How much did I actually manage to gain?’ In sum, as above, about 15lbs. This girl, Agata, struggling with her English a bit, and pronounciation a lot… well I’m really glad we got to meet. She pinched the folds, and a couple times I had to tell her she was doing it wrong (ie. Grabbing what little muscle I had left), she missed 2 fold tests, and came out with a figure that classified me as OBESE. Love it. I gave her my history, told her I’ve been doing weights since I was like 12, so pretty familiar, looking for some new and exciting stuff blah-dee-blah (that’s Dubliner for you)… She is over the moon that I’m not a bimbo walking into her gym, says she’ll take a couple days to put something together for me. I was like, ok, second chance, she’ll do something great…. NOPE. I was basically told to do all the machines, and the only dynamic exercises were the ones I showed her. Damn. Where’s the training there? So now I’m waiting to hear back from the managers to see about getting a trainer that knows more than I do (it really cant be that hard!) Until then, doing spin, step, using rowing machines, steppers, ellipticals (which, ps. Suck here, they’re really jerky) and a bunch of abs, and some weights – I don’t want to get a lot of muscle back, but really, its withered and doesn’t look pretty. Goal is 3 times a week. Which I’m doing. Minimum 2 cuz I get a month free if I make is 8 weeks. And if I ever find the effort to go on the weekend, that’d be nice to make it 4!

In other news, my social life is getting better. I’ve gone out with a few different groups of people, and don’t completely rely on Paul, my flat mate. He did have a birthday though, and I baked cupcakes and put sprinkles on them; God I’m good. Anyways, this weekend is a girl at work’s birthday as well, and she lives in Meath, which is a county north of Dublin, and totally Culchie (spelling??? It’s what they call the hicks here) And thought I think the bar we’re going to actually qualifies as just in county Dublin, it’ll be an exciting night out in the boonies I think.

Starting to plan some trips as well. Hopefully going to get up to Belfast and check out the capital of the North and see Giant’s Causeway for a weekend. Then would like to plan a trip for Easter… maybe travelling around the West Coast of Ireland with some friends from Bristol, if they get back to me? *WINK* or maybe head over to Austria to see Babsi an old roommate of mine from Rez in Calgary. And then hopefully me and Jess, who worked at the JCC with kids camps and went to UBC, she’s living in London, and we’re planning a week long holi in Spain for May when she’s off school. So stoked for that. Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Ibiza seem like the top cities to check out, but we’ll only have about 9 days, so we’ll see what there is time for… ideas for places to go? Let me know! Final trip of the year… Vancouver, August 5th -20th, write that down.

Other than that, I’m getting into a trend of not doing much of anything at work, going out for lunch, and gossiping and facebooking on company time. I’m working once or twice a week still at the four seasons, and that’s fine. The job is way better now that I know most people there, the managers know me and trust me a bit more, and I’ve got a few good friends to chat with all night long.


It's Paul and my awkward photo... but for whatever reason, I like it more than the one where we dont look like we'd rather not live together.


This is one of Paul's old school friends, he LOVES Canada! I'm proud of it.


This is Carolina from Poland, really awesome girl, enjoys the moment when we make her bf and Paul listen to backstreet boys.

Dublin Christmas, London New Years - sounds like 2 years ago, but with a lot less embarassment!

Well I guess it’s been a while. I kept telling myself I’d wait until next week after a certain event happened. Then more things kept happening. So hopefully I will cover it all, but be somewhat brief. Currently I’m sitting in my living room with my flat mate, Paul, and he is making fun of how detailed I make these things. I’ll show him!

I had Carla, a good family friend from home, come visit for 5 days towards the end of her backpacking trip through Europe. We had a pretty good time. I took a sick day and we went and saw some places in Co. Wicklow "The Garden of Ireland" - you know, show her more than the city. Went to the Dun Laoghaire pier, shopped and did lots of pubbing. I think she got the idea of Dublin life. This is us at the waterfalls by Powerscourt.



The Christmas party was a GAS. I brought my camera, and it became the star of the night. Everyone borrowed it and we came out with about 380 photos… 360 when you deleted the REALLY bad ones and one of the FLOOR. (there was more than one, yes.) We started with an all staff meeting at work, then mulled wine (gross!) at 2pm at this hotel in town (NB. The hotel was cheap, it is the one frequented by stripers and whomever they pick up that night!) We then got a late lunch – which all I could do was criticize because they weren’t as good as the four seasons – but it was ok. Then we had ‘activities’ for a couple house! Yup, its an all day and night affair, with drinking never ending, from 2pm to 2am! Anyways, it was a casino, which was brilliant. Loved it… and made LOADS of fake money. Sadly for the champions round, which I still believe I should have been in, I went to break the seal and missed being the champ. Oh well. We danced all night long. It was great. I have secret love for a guy at the company, but he’s like 40 with some kids, so it’s a pretty fake love. For whatever reason though, he’s my DILF. (but not actually F.)


Me and my poker chips... were stashed in my top, but I guess it wasnt a fail safe plan, they fell down through my dress.


This is the kind of good times we had. No the DILF isnt in the photo. I share that!

Had a second Christmas party with my job at the four seasons, didn’t pay to go to the dinner portion of the evening (LAME!) but did go to the three bars afterwards with them. My first real night out in Dublin clubbing, and I was in jeans and a friggin cowboy shirt. I thought they said we were going to a pub. I guess joke’s on me. I spent most of that my night with my other secret love. Dylan the South African. He’s the sweetest guy, a genuine gentleman, but he knows we’re friends because I just want to listen to him talk and say “Yaw” and “Howzit” South African accents are sexy.

The last day of work was the Friday before Christmas. If we showed up from at least 10am to noon we didn’t have to take a half-day from our holidays. If you showed up, you got to eat Christmas junk food, have ‘Irish’ coffees and play with little kids, as it was bring your children to work day! What a waste of time. But I got paid for it. So from that afternoon onwards I had until Jan. 2nd for break, and only had to take one day out of my holidays… speaking of holidays, first two weeks of August, I’ll be back in Canada. Write that down! And don’t go away!

One of my cousins, Kate, had a baby just before Christmas. I’ve never held a child that small before, but she was an average size, and I held her when she was only 3 days old. It was really cool. Everyone in Ireland is having babies. You cant walk anywhere without being hit by a buggie, or harassed by a small child. That’s how it is here, some say it’s in the water. (Especially at my company where there have been like 10 mat leaves in the last 2 years!!) Anyways, mum and baby Jessica are fine, and it’s really cool to hold a person that weighs less than the dumbbells I would use for bicep curls!


Me and Baby Jessica, 10 days old!

I spent Christmas in Ireland, and it was great. To be superficial for a moment, I swear I got more presents this year than I ever have. On the 23rd I went to lunch with Paul and his family, met a good few of them (there’s 6 kids, so not all were present!) They seemed nice, and really nice to me, which is grand. Then, my big plan of the weekend was the Squires’ (my family) and all the in-laws went for a nice big lunch in town on the 24th. Pretty much everyone came by. It was a great meal, and nice because I saw all my cousins, their wives/ common-law husband and kids, and then the extended family from there. The kids were definitely entertaining. Then we went to the pub, how typical. Stumbled home pretty buzzed and had a nice evening with Paul.

I had a busy Christmas Day, was invited to a few places. Walked from my place at about 9am to one of my cousin’s houses’ who lives near by. His kids had chicken pox and weren’t out the day before, so I saw them. Then my uncle picked me up about an hour later, and we went to his house. Saw my grandmother, aunt, aunt’s parents, and the other two cousins stopped by with their children… Then around 2 or 3 I was picked up by Keith, the guy I lived with for the first month here. I have my big Christmas dinner with the Edge family, really close family friends, all of whom have been to Canada and stayed in my house at least twice each I think. In the evening, we went to Keith’s family’s house for presents, and having never met his family, I still got a little something under the tree! (sweet!) Next day, still with the same family, did a nice walk up one of the “mountains” (read, small rolling hill) to work off the dinner, and went home and had leftovers. Watched this stand up comedy routine that someone got on DVD for xmas, so if you are into Seinfeld type humour, and know a bit about the Irish and British, look for Dara O’Briain, he was HILARIOUS.

Next holiday… Went to London for New Years and my week off work. I managed to spend about 170 POUNDS on clothes in top shop and H&M alone. But I got good stuff, and despite the pain of the crowds and crazy British teens, I made it, it was worth it. I went and saw the Tate Modern Museum with my cousin, which was a first, and it was pretty cool. We didn’t catch onto the you need to book a timeslot for the big slides bit… so stood in line for 20 minutes to ride the little one. Still worth it, but next time I’ll know. Go early, book slide on 5th floor. Can’t wait!!! I also saw the Museum of Natural History with my South African friend Dylan, who was in town visiting his cousin. Yes for dinosaurs, and going to see them early, cuz when we left the line up to get in to that part was like, over half hour long. It would REALLY suck to be those parents in the line up with their kids. OMG, how could my parents never have taken me to this museum, in all the times I’ve been to London. It was so good. I think every aspect of my university degree, except the business and language classes, was covered in an exhibit. It was the best field trip I never got to have. SO GOOD. It’s all simple stuff, but so interesting, even if you aren’t 10.

My two friends from Bristol came up to London for a day before New Years Eve and we went for drinks, made dinner at my place, had 3 bottles of wine at my place and went to the G-A-Y bar in Soho at 11:30. I think I was one of just 5 girls in the bar. Seriously. But it was the best night. We had so much fun, just the three of us. We said we would leave on the next ‘bad’ song… we had to wait like half an hour it was so good. Needless to say, I was hung-over all day on the 31st, and not in a big mood for another big night. I almost stayed in! We went to Spitalfields Market that afternoon and wandered around a typical London flea market type area, which was really cool. Had a nap, dinner at my uncles, and then went to meet Dylan in town to watch the fireworks. We had a great viewing place, given that instead of meeting me at 10:30 like we planned he was 45 mins late and we didn’t actually get into the crowd area until about 11:30pm. But we were in the front of our ‘section’ so no one’s heads blocked the sky. They were pretty good… for not being the Symphony of Fire, Celebration of Light. (OMG. Just realised I’m going to be in town for some fireworks. Lucky me!) Afterwards, we gave ourselves a walking tour of London, ran into Buckingham Palace (the queen was ‘in’), and found that every single pub was CLOSED? WTF. There were some bars open and the clubs were open, but pubs were shut down! What a bad idea. Even the KINGS HEAD! We didn’t get drunk, but it was nice to just wander and talk and laugh at the drunken strangers. Good times. (Did I mention my love for his voice?) I think he’ll be back next year again, and then maybe I’ll arrange a nice holiday to South Africa?


Dylan and I outside the fountain at Buck Palace, which we stumbled upon around 1am

Best part of the trip, having my other uncles Hampstead apartment all to myself for 5 days. I saw him for one day, for only about an hour, but he was between trips, and basically I house sat. Having a double bed was glorious, lots of fluffy down pillows, not worrying about energy consumption (aka bills) and being able to do whatever I liked, whenever I liked. I did a lot in London, but it was never rushed, I had lots of down time, which was sweet. A good recharge from the Christmas season!

Since then, I’ve come home… barely made it when the fire alarm went off in Gatwick half an hour before I was supposed to board my plane. It even smelt like smoke in the emergency exit hallways! But I made it. And I don’t think there was a fire. Or bomb scare that I know about. I’ve done some good work at work… which has tangible proof that everyone can look at in awe. I sent out an invitation to 1031 people for our awards show launch, of which about 170 came back as return to sender but I’ve already got people saying they want to come! AND I got to clean out our storage space, and phase one is complete…. A total reorganization of the corner under the stairs of all our publications. Lots of box lifting, but now they are no boxes in anyone’s way! Why am I sharing this ultimately boring information? Because it made me feel THAT good. I think I need to find a place like Organizers Anonymous; I take too much enjoyment from alphabetizing, colour coding and perfectly stacking things in line. Gross. It makes me sick to think about it.

That’s all for now, it was pretty long, and about 2 hours have gone by since I started this…not that I wrote the whole time… but anyways, I hope you all had great Christmas’, New Years’, Chanukah’s, and general holiday times. Please email me, or send me mail. I like mail. And Paul is jealous that I get more mail than he does so please contribute to my enjoyment. Miss you and Love you, Gail.

Work and Booze, often not mutually exclusive

Two weeks ago, when I was getting the catering work, I went for an interview for an office job. Met them on Wednesday, and then a second interview on Thursday. I got the job on Friday and started on Monday. (20 Nov) … pretty quick eh! So, tired of interviews and meeting people, combined with the fact that its not a crap position, I took the job. So a quick run down:

I’m the Executive Assistant for an energy company. I photocopy, print stuff, put packages together for meetings with clients, answer phones, direct calls and emails for general info, mail stuff, booking meeting rooms and order the snacks and bevy’s for them. I’m sure I’ll learn more and do some more difficult things, but for now, that’s it. I’m like a PA for the head of the team, and will take minutes at team meetings. There are 8 people in the team. So it’s pretty good. Not brain surgery, but it will give me a sense of how things work in Dublin and put some critical necessities on my CV. It’s an 11 month contract, until Oct.19, 2007. Then hopefully I’ll be more marketable to Dublin companies, and have a good knowledge of where things are and how things are done in this country.

The company is only 5 years old, so really small. There are less than 50 people in the office in Dublin where I am, but there are a few offices around the country. We get perks too, 8 hour work day 9:15- 5:15, BUT with an hour for lunch and 2 fifteen minute coffee breaks. I only really work for like 6 hours it seems, which is nice. The company focuses on renewable resources and improving energy efficiency. My department would be the ones focusing on industry, like factories and big corporate entities. Funnily enough, I’m using some of the things I learnt doing my geogs degree… who would have thought that would ever be useful!!!

So this is the real kicker. They hired me quickly, but there was a reason. The team had shifted a lot recently, and the team leader is new in the position, so they were going to do an off-site over-night team meeting, talk about the next year and stuff like that. My first day of work goes as follows… starting from the night before. Went to family event, drank a bit, felt sick, went to bed early, not getting anything ready because I would do it when I felt better then next day. Set phone alarm to 6:45am. Woke up at 8:05am, to my housemate opening his bedroom door. SHIT! Had to be at work at 9:15 am… bus takes an hour… not ready. Not sure what to bring to off-site, over-night. Throw together a few outfits to cover all levels of casual-ness. Eat food quickly, rushed shower... minor heart attack. Get to work at 9:45am. Not in trouble. THANK GOD! Meet co-workers, and go in car with boss and another girl on the team to Wicklow, about an hour and a half away from Dublin, in the country, (“Ireland’s Garden” it’s actually called!) About 15mins away from the hotel I recognise the little town we drive through. My cousin had his wedding reception at this great little hotel/spa resort in the country, all based on organic stuff called the BrookLodge. Frig! What are the chances that my job is taking me to the same place I’ve been before. This place is amazing. It’s so picturesque, when a North American looks at a travel book of Ireland, this is what they would imagine. All organic products, food, small company, built up around a little village doing the same sort of organic, ‘clean’ thing. Rolling green hills in the background, some scattered sheep on top, a little stone chapel in the corner along a little stream. Seriously. For dinner, we had a four course meal, everything was fresh organic, except some of the meat, which was ‘wild,’ and they couldn’t guarantee the animal never ate a chemical in its life! Delicious is an understatement. Plus lots of wine and a few pints before and after dinner, all on the company, it was glorious. Then going to bed, nice double bed (I have a single at home!) with fluffy new down covers and pillows. And one of those big rain showers in the morning, I showered for half an hour. Glorious. We did do work mind you. They all talked and I mostly listened, you know, getting an idea of what they all do. So in sum, trip to fantastic holiday spa resort (did I mention the hot tubing at night), and my colleagues are alcoholics. They’re all a bit older on my team, but that said - they were up later than I was singing and playing the piano in the hotel lounge! Lush day and a half.

Went back to the office for Wed - Fri that week, and did basic stuff. I’m getting all these inductions, listening to everyone at the company telling me what they do, so I can answer phone calls and emails myself. Simple stuff. The job is not challenging or stressful, yet at least. There are two other EA’s and in general there is a small group of us in our 20’s so its not too bad. Everyone is really friendly; I guess I’ll really get to know people at the company this coming Friday, it’s the staff Christmas party and I hear its quite a show. Drinking begins at 2pm! It’s like the Arts Country Fair of the corporate world.

For a good random story, I went on a Friday night with my flat-mate and a few of his friends. Went at 9pm to one pub, I was having pints while Pablo was having bottles… man I keep up well!!! We went to a bar afterwards which was open until like 3am… and for the most part, I think I was having tons of fun. Though I very vaguely remember being pushed out when it closed, I have recently been informed we went to Momo’s for falafel/doner/kebabs afterwards. Apparently I saw someone I knew there, but had no idea who it was, and I had a big messy kebab that was dripping everywhere and it managed to fall apart and explode on the floor all over my feet while I talking to this dude who knew me. Big mess. Still don’t know who it was I saw. Outside Momo’s, for any Madness fans, I spent a good 15 minutes learning the Crocodile Step. And mastering the Pablo Shuffle. Two HOT dance moves. Then we went home to have more wine, at least the boys wanted more wine, and I had a bottle in the fridge, and I like wine, so I joined in. I joined in as far as having a glass poured, having a sip and passing out on the couch. The boys continued to drink around me, finishing the bottle, and I woke up at 7am on my couch confused and not sure how I got there. Weird. But I’m still laughing trying to remember the evening. I guess 8 pints is a lot to drink though.

Now what’s left… Getting a wardrobe to hang my clothes in my room (it’s in the mail from Argos)… its not cool having them all in Pablo’s room, and say, him being sleeping before work and having to wear the same thing two days in a row. Also, a gym pass. Fat Gail is knocking on the door… its not quite like past times when it spread all over. The fat is localized to my tummy, which I guess is lucky enough. But I really need to get a regime going. Maybe now that I have a job and a regular schedule.

5-Star for you, 1-Star for me

Two weeks in and I don’t think more could have happened. I went on so many interviews, met with several recruitment agencies and fixed up my resume like 10 times. I went to meet one agency for a hotel receptionist job on Tuesday a couple weeks ago. On my way out, the girl mentioned a part time job they had doing serving and catering at a few hotels in and around Dublin through the agency. Training for it was on Thursday. I said that sounded pretty good, you know, get in with the hotels and work at the events that one day I would like to plan, or play a role in organising. I ended up working the NEXT day cuz they needed people badly.

This agency contracts out to a few hotels’ conference and banqueting divisions… 5-start hotels, not bad for a first waitressing job eh?! I’ve now worked there a whole bunch. Serving dinner banquets, parties, business breakies… lots of drunk people. Good times. Except for the part about the REALLY uncomfortable, not to mention, UGLY shoes I have to wear (they’re called court shoes, 1in. heel, plain, boring. Like a pilgrim shoe, without the buckle) Not to mention the fact that after a dozen shifts I no longer have feeling in my left big toe, its kind of weird, but I figure, who needs feeling there anyway?!? What is also crappy is that you can work 10 hours without a break. OK, it was just once that that happened, but it was my first day ever, and breaks in general are few and far between (and unpaid) ANOTHER not great thing is when the guys in charge give death threats and threaten to fire us (which is worse?) … Whatever. I'm sure human rights would care, but no one complains for no really good reason...

This week’s shifts made all the pain, cut feet, blisters, long hours, crappy pay all worth it. On Thursday I met a guy who works at the Westin, who was good looking might I add, that said he’d be happy to meet with me, as there are tons of events openings at his hotel. He was actually hoping to be transferred to Whistler soon, I could have talked to him for hours about Whistler, but I was working. I’ve got his business card, and hopefully will chat and meet up with him soon. (ED. NOTE: I emailed him after writing this initially, we're hopefully going to meet up next week after work one evening!) Even if it's not about a job, at least its some networking (and meeting a hot guy.) Back to the FS, on Saturday, after serving the meal quite quickly they ask who wants to stay and who wants to go. Since I had no plans on Sunday, despite being tired with sore feet, I thought I’d stay for the cash. He sends everyone else home, looks at us, says, “OK, good news, we don’t have to polish tonight, or reset. Just clear the room out. Now you can go in the kitchen and take any desserts you like, have a 15min break and come back.” OMG! They NEVER let us eat any of the food, left overs, cleared plate scraps, NOTHING. And now I got two whole 5-star hotel desserts to myself. Let me tell you the excitement bubbling through the lot of us. (ED. NOTE: Also since writing this, I have found the guts to ask the sort of cute dishwasher to smuggle me some food to a corner off the kitchen while we were polishing... I got another dessert and it was delightful)

Other than the work part of the job there are tons of people there working and I’ve met some cool people. They’re all Foreign or Students, but as was pointed out, I am in fact, foreign… so I fit right in!! There are two South Africans, I’m falling in love with them just listening to their voices. Hawzit? Yaw! We wear name badges, but the name maker is never actually there, so we just wear someone elses name from the day before. Often I’m Hayley, thought it does vary, I just try to stay away from the 19th century names, or eastern european names that i'm not sure how to pronounce!! (ED NOTE: I’ve met Hayley now, she seems quite nice, good friends with Rosin (row-shin) a friend from my first day. Random Story...I saw this Asian guy one day and he had Conor on his name tag… I knew it wasn’t his name, and due to some distain towards that name which you may or may not be aware of, I called him Charlie; now I’ve got other people calling him Charlie, no matter what his name tag says. Its pretty sweet. Charlie and I are tight.

In other Irish News, Gaelic is really hard. Weird at the best of times. I’ve actually met some people who can speak it fluently still in their 30’s after only having learnt it in school and just ‘getting it.’ Unlike “Oh Canada” being sung almost equally in French and English, here, their anthem is ONLY sung in Gaelic. Can you just imagine a crowd of Irish singing a song of which they have no idea what it means… now that I type that, I’d have to actually think about what the French version means. I mean, I could translate it, and I know what all the words translate to on their own, but I don’t think I’ve ever put it all together… beside the point. Lianne and I have really mastered our LUAS stops in Gaelic. That’s the tram from Dublin City Center to the ‘burbs… skytrain equivalent for the Vancouverites, c-train for Calgarians. Anyways, at each stop they announce it in English in Gaelic. Ie. Dundrum- Dun Droma. Milltown – Coll na Faa. (the others I would risk major typos trying to spell) Also, they have a dude in charge of “everything” here who’s well known to all, Bertie Ahern… he’s the Taoiseach…. Yup, you guessed it, it’s pronounced tea-shock! I just don’t get the language. Its messed up.

My First Home. Real Life begins

So I’ve moved in to my new place, so far so good. My room mate is a bloke called Paul. He’s from Dublin, near-ish where my granny lives. He’s 27, works selling mortgages, loves football (soccer), has like 5 sibilings (irish catholic, predictable!) and we get along great. We have a local stray cat that visits almost everyday. He’s all white and furry and is called Jackie (as in Jackie chan). Today I met a new stray which I will call Tiger, but he is not a cute, and less friendly. I’m living in a basement suite under a town house. It was redone pretty recently so I’ve got nice wood floors, tasteful paint colour schemes, new appliances, washing machine, dish washer, hob stove. (love it) I’ve been shopping everyday outfitting this place in awesome kitchen trinkets. There were two boys here before me, so there wasn’t much except a spoon, a fork, a knife and a cutting board to make sandwiches on. Now we’ve got TONS of stuff. The living room and kitchen are both huge, and we’ve got comfy couches and a sweet ass music system. No internet yet, but I’ll work on that. Then we I get it… skype and msn and facebook all I want… oh yeah, and looking for a job. Ugh.
Sadly for you readers I dont have CRAZY drinking stories yet. I've only gone out once. I've gone out once with Paul and a couple of his mates, nothing wild. What I CAN tell you the girls drink of choice would be Bulmers, while the boys have a guiness. Its like a fancy apple cider. And by fancy I mean not, but its popular at least. We are working on getting internet in our house right now, and as I sit here after midnight on a Friday night, Paul and I have tapped into local internet and are stealing from our neighbours, sitting on a couch together like nerds, on the internet, cuz we have it, finally, and it's free.
Many of you will be happy to hear that my flatmate will have none of this britney/bsb/pop THING i like to call music be played in our house... at least while he's around. I will try and work on some good country music, but he is doing his best to culture me with music from bands i've never heard of.
Last night was a random night of going for drinks at a few different places and at about 12 or 1am deciding just to come back to the gaf (house) with everyone we were with - only 6 of us. And it ended up becoming a dance party until after 4am. Loud music, and dancing in our living room. At one point the boys left the room and the girls decided it would be funny to play one of MY CD's and see how long it took paul to come back i the room and stop it. I played Everybody by Backstreet Boys for an entire MINUTE! WOOT! It was a gas for sure, Paul and Gail's Place has now become "Pablo and Britney's Gaf." I always felt I was a Britney (as in Spears) deep down inside... and my new friends have decided that I am in fact, so good that we can share names!
Now, hopefully I'll update this thing a few times a month- ish basis... maybe every two weeks... or when ever something really funny and worth while comes up. Hope you appreciate it. Photos to follow, if I can figure it out.