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Reading La Catedral Del Mar in Spanish

Published April 22, 2008 Books , Personal 7 Comments

I’ve just started reading La Catedral del Mar; a novel set in 14^th century Medieval Barcelona, by writer Ildefonso Falcones. The book has been a best-seller in Spain for couple of years now and has already sucked me in after only a few pages.

I’m reading it in Spanish, so the page turning is fairly slow. I have my trusty MSDict Spanish dictionary on my Nokia N95, without which the whole experience would be a lot more cumbersome. I can’t really imagine enjoying the laborious chore of turning the pages of my big Spanish-English Tome every few minutes to keep up with the book I’m reading. An electronic dictionary on my phone is just the ticket.

Writers tend to use language uncommon in normal speech, so reading novels means you’re going to come across words that you’ve never heard before. Luckily they tend to stick to certain choices for words, so the dictionary crunching gradually diminishes as you progress through the book.

With this book, I’m finding that I want to read at the pace I would read in English, simply because I want to know what happens next. The book is just exciting. It means I’m starting to let some words go; I have an idea of what they probably mean so I carry on. Of course this doesn’t always work and if I find myself confused, I go back and look up the culprit word and carry on.

What’s nice about reading a really good book in another language is that it makes learning new words so easy. It’s the best way to motivate you to learn. You’re learning to facilitate your enjoyment; the joy of reading.

The book is also now available in English. I saw it in Easons at the weekend.

Airport Security is Ridiculous

Published April 8, 2008 Personal 0 Comments

Having successfully avoided the mayhem of Heathrow’s new T5 this weekend, I still had to deal with the silly security personnel in London Luton.

First, I could only pass through security with one bag. If you have 2, you need to put one inside the other to get through. (It’s the same in every UK airport as far as I know) Only in the UK! I think every international airport should make this rule compulsory for any UK citizen travelling outside their country.

Second, and this the best one, upon arriving at the queue to pass through the x-ray machines, Luton had a very long snake effect path for large queues, but it was 95% empty. So, having ducked under the rope a few times to reach the end of the queue, the security guard, (who seemed a little too alert to be natural) ran after me to tell me that I couldn’t do that! It was already done, but he still felt obliged to teach me the Luton ways. In an international airport!

And finally, I had a nearly empty tube of toothpaste, which could fit more than 100ml’s. I said I would cut it in half and tape it up, but “nooo” was the answer. I know this one has nothing to do with Luton and I really didn’t expect them to let me, but why not? The rule is 100ml or less..

Silly altogether.

Back Home

Published March 26, 2008 Personal 0 Comments

I left the country for 10 days on holiday and got back Monday just gone. Spent the time in Madrid - as usual. It’s the hidden price for having a partner from a different country; holidays are pretty much all spent going to the country of the one who’s not living on ‘propia tierra’. It’s not exactly a high price to pay, but voyages to new countries become a bit difficult to arrange.

Since moving back to Ireland 3 years ago, it’s the second St Patrick’s day I’ve spent away. The one time I was here, the sticky drunken madness of Dublin city bars put me off altogether. It doesn’t sound too patriotic, but sure there you go. I head abroad on our national holiday. Actually, funnily enough, I’ve never met a more “Irish” bunch as the ex pat’s in Vienna. Paddy’s day in Charlie P’s beats the socks off being in Dublin on March 17th hands down.

Last week, Madrid was host to the first of 5 weddings we are going to this year. I do like weddings. They’re always a good party, but they cost a lot.. Luckily it was on the first Saturday so I had the rest of the time to recover. Spanish weddings can go on pretty late!

So I’m 2 working days in and all is well with the world. A short week this. Friday closing in fast.

Coffee Anyone?

Published March 12, 2008 Personal , coffee 2 Comments

After over a year and a half trying to decide whether I should or not, (that’s a long time trying to decide anything!) I got myself an espresso machine. They’re not cheap for what’s basically a coffee brewer, hence the indecision.

Anyway, so far the purchase has proven well worth it. Coffee in the mornings is now so much nicer. Not to mention stronger!I only have it a few days, so I’m still trying it out at any given opportunity. It’s my new toy! The one I got is a Gaggia Baby Class.

After reading the instructions that came with it, it really is easy to make a very nice espresso (creamy Guinness head and all) or a larger mug of coffee. It takes a few minutes to warm up so I turn it on before a shower in the morning and afterward, I have a lovely cup of barista grade coffee. Yum.

I’m still trying to get the hang of steaming the milk though. If all you want is frothy milk, it’s actually really easy, but I’m trying to get good a making this “microfoam”; basically really small bubbles in the milk which give it a rich creamy texture. Done properly the milk will pour from the jug like cream. It apparently sweetens the flavour of the milk, but what I want to be able to do is make the finished cup of coffee look really nice. Did you ever get a cup of coffee with a heart shape made out in the milk? That’s what I’m trying to do and it only works if you can get the milk to this creamy texture.Check out the video below for what I’m trying to do..

I’ve been doing a bit of reading up on the machine I have at various places around the net, and it seems that the steam rod on domestic Gaggia machines aren’t that great for making this microfoam, but in the video the guy is using the same rod as what’s on my machine, so I know it’s possible!

To Post Or Not To Post

Published March 6, 2008 Blog , Internet , Personal 1 Comment

That is the question..

I came across this blog post which says that the Irish Tax Office used information found on the internet (Facebook, Linkedin etc.) to conduct a tax audit on it’s author Evert Bopp. The story was picked up by other bloggers and by the Irish and International press.
About 2 years ago, I noticed in the stat counter for an idle Blogger blog I had that one of the visitors was a referral from a Google search on my name and the IP address of the visitor was the Irish Revenue Office. At the time I thought there was a good possibility the revenue office was auditing me online, but subsequently I thought that maybe it was an old friend googling me from their office. Now it seems clear that they were indeed checking up on me.

I’m new to blogging and lately I have been mulling over what exactly I should and shouldn’t post. I have nothing to hide (it must be said), but nearly every time I have an idea for a post I instinctively stop myself and try to analyse whether there would be anything at all in the post that could work against me professionally. I usually end up binning the post as the steam is taken out of it, which is a shame.

I want this blog to be on a personal level where I feel free to write in my own style and on topics I find interesting, but to do that I have to figure out where my line is on stuff that should not be posted publicly. I haven’t even used a curse word yet, as I haven’t figured out if employers or clients would look on it negatively. I’m pretty sure that 99.99% of anything I want to write will be fine, but I still need to figure that out for certain. I need to feel it. Otherwise I’ll end up paralysing my posts with over analysis.

If course it’s better to start out cautiously and find your feet prudently. I’m an employee after all and hopefully it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. I have to take into account employer’s opinion of me, but I’d like to quickly develop an instinct for what information should remain private and what style is beyond the bounds of blog decorum..

The Future Kings of Spain?

Published February 1, 2008 Music , Personal 0 Comments

Who says?

Being Irish, I don’t take much umbrage with a music band using a name that suggests that they are going to be the future rulers of Spain.

However, my girlfriend (who is Spanish) instinctively didn’t like the name when she first heard it. Fair enough you say, no biggie. Nothing to lose sleep over. In fact, it was never mentioned again.

But in the back on my mind, in half-thought, I had been making some ideas on why they might be advertising themselves as the Iberian rulers of tomorrow. Perhaps it was a comment on the status of politics and regional nationalism in Spain today. Maybe they were so clued in, that they felt confident enough to make a very public comment on the possibility that Spain’s political geography could change considerably in the future. Or maybe it was a comment on the possibility of the united states of europe becoming a reality. Perhaps not.

Anyway, we went to see them play last night in Whelan’s in Dublin. They’re just kids (OK well they’re not exactly kids)! But one look at them and it’s 100% clear they’re just a bunch of dossers. Seeing them on stage; it just blew away all my little theories on why they call themselves The future kings of Spain. They couldn’t possibly be making any sort of political comment. They probably just liked how it sounds. It serves no purpose other than to give them a name and slightly irritate Spanish people. And to be honest, I don’t blame anyone for taking offence (big or small) at the name. I mean, who would go around suggesting that they are going to rule a foreign country? Even in jest. People have died for less.

They deserve a kick up the arse. And a name change. Future kings of sod all if you ask me.

Happy Birthday to me!

Published January 21, 2008 Personal 0 Comments

It was my birthday on Saturday. I’m older than ever now. Goes without saying of course, but it is something of a state of mind. Mind you, I think the loss of youth follows the same pattern as the stages of grief (albeit on a milder scale) and this year I feel like I’m into the 5th stage; Acceptance.. Hopefully it is a passage and not a cycle.

I have to say that this birthday was probably the best birthday I have ever had. My other half arranged a surprise party for me and gathered some of our friends to a bar in Dublin. They lay in waiting; to spring a unanimous “Surprise” on me as I walked thought the door. Truly touching! I hadn’t ever had the honour of a surprise birthday party so it was a particularly moving to see a group of my friends all making a nice gesture all at the same time!

Some even made it up from Cork just for the evening. I assume they made the trek as they hold me in such high regard as opposed to just not being able to say no to Arancha (joke)!! Either way, it was very much appreciated, and won’t be forgotten.

Only problem now is, I’ll have to do something extra special for Arancha’s b’day.. At least I have a few months to think about it.

2OO8 will be the year of the Contact Lenses

Published December 8, 2007 Personal 0 Comments

I was planning to do it for ages, but now it has finally come to pass; I am the newest proud contact lenses convert. This means now that I can see everything as I walk down the street, from a crystal clear image of stuff they put in the shop windows, to the detail on peoples clothing. The local talent can now also be sketched with a mere glance.

I’d say my driving has improved no end too..