Its me. yeah....

so happy halloween to everyone.

I just got back from a great weekend.
Tommorrow we go pick up the car we rented to start our drive around the country. but not after we move john out of his apartment. [ i did not sign up for this, merely a circumstancial happening]

then we are off to New Grange,

email access may be scarce so don't expect many and you won't be dissapointed. I will expecxt a few... haha

also blog posts..... could be a few days before i get to a computer, so dont get too anxious.

Dreams and Aspirations

I hope one day. I can be this good.

Click here to see...

YOUR DUTY

Ok folks. you have all seen the little advertising box on my site. [ its just above this post ]

here's the deal. you come to the site, you read the blog, you comment or you don't,

but just before you navigate away from the site... click the advertisement. yes it will take you to another page, but then you can just hit the little X button and close the browser, or go to whatever webpage you want, but by hitting that little advertisment, i will get some CASH. sometimes up to $ 0 . 35 for each click.
i know it sounds like pennies, but if three people clicked on it. I get a dollar and some change.... so just click the little button now andthen.

Please?! its all i ask.. just hit the button.

Guinness is Good for You.

Rise : 7:30 am [ more accuratly 8 ]

Walked to Phoenix park.

This is Dublin's playground - the largest urban enclosed park in Europe, with a Circumference of 11km (7m) and a total area of 712 hectares (1,760 acres). Situated 3km (2m) west of the city centre. Ornamental gardens, nature trails, and broad expanses of grassland, separated by avenues of trees, including oak, beech, pine, chestnut, and lime. Livestock graze peacefully on pasturelands, deer roam the forested areas, and horses romp on polo fields.

We were in search of the roaming deer. We saw one. Its not like the deer we have in Canada at all. It looked small, with more markings. Its antlers were tall, not wide. its reminded me of a reindeer. yes, Rudolph., maybe even Prancer, as thats how it seemed to be walking.
After the walk in the park we decided to stop for a sandwich at a local place onthe way home. John being the Sandwich Hoarder that he is [ Horan the Hoarder] made me wait until we got home to eat it. Its about 930 - 10 am. I have been awake for like 3 hours give or take a few minutes and we have been walking around for like 2 hours. I am hungry, but oh no.. we haveta wait. The sandwch was good when i was finally allowed to eat it. One of the best i have had. We ate it on the roof.

Later that afternoon [ after a nap of course] I wandered the streets of Dublin alone. Found my way to the Guinness Storehouse for a tour of how the black stuff is made. It includes a free pint at the top. a bar that is a panoramic view of the city. I got my free pint. and while it was settling one of the staff came up to me and asked. Is this your beer miss? yes. thats shite. and then he proceeded to dump it out. he then poured me another. said he couldn't stand to serve a shite looking beer. [ apperantly the head had flowed over a bit] I guess what they say is true. The Irish really do take pride in their beer.

Got back to the apartment in time to leave for Dinner. Debbie Horan's house for some Lasagna. Home made of course. and it was Delicious. She is a fabulous host, and very entertaining. Barry and John seem convinced that we were ganging up, but in fact we don't , Women never do that. I never did get to see any baby pictures, so how bad could it have been?

Only a few more days left in Dublin. We have rented a car [ to pick up on Tuesday ] to take on our road trip around Ireland. County Clare, Northern Ireland, New Grange..... all of it while driving on the left side of the road. and John here doesn't even have his permit, so i'll be driving.

Wandering the Streets

Dublin, Ireland.

Its a great city. Laid back yet seemingly busy all the time. The weather is alot like Canada inthe fall. Windy, bit of rain and mostly just dark. like you expecxt to wake up one day here to loads of snow. snow that will never come. I heard someone say they spent some time in a hto sunny place and hated it. That they loved the misery of Dublin. In a way I can see the point. Its probably much like living in Vancouver would do to someone. You hate it or you don't. Although I love the sun, i think weather doesn't have that big of an effect on me and I could live in conditions like this.

Last week we spent walking the streets of the city. Didn't go an ' see' anything. just walked around. I didn't take many pictures since its just city. and once its taken all cities look the same. it loses its effect in pictures. We went to dinner with John's mother, at a fabolous chinese restaurant. There was an amazing amount of great food. even got the left overs for the following day. Sunday we spent on Winsome Wings. John's fathers Yacht. Moved it to a new marina for the wnter. Not much wind, but the sun was out and it was a gorgeous day. On the boat was John, myself, Jim [ his father] Patricia, and a couple of Italian girls. Both of them very nice.
Good food, good wine and even a cigar. was a great day.

Today went to the Trinity college again, to visit the Book of Kells. Its in the Trinity College Library. Then i walked around and went to a few shops on Henry Street.

Must find some food.

Picture update

posted 102 more pictures.


view here

Dublin Dampness

So landed in Dublin to blue skys for the afternoon, but since then it has been raining and cloudy, I am told it is like this all of the time here. The city has a much more laid back feel to it then London. and it is much much smaller.

Last few days in London were great. Stonehenge was amazing. Great to see. all the big rocks..... heh. It amazing to think of , to stand back and just look at it, wondering what it was like to have been there, working with such a purpose. Nothing we seem to do these days seems as great although I am sure in a few thousand years the people may look at what we have done and think that same.

Yesterday in Dublin, we went to the museum of Natural History. Basically is it a massive place filled with dead stuffed animals, but they are from all over Ireland and then there are some from all over the world. it was really great to see and they have done a great job of making them look real. A taxidermist heaven.

but now off to Marks and Spencer....

Locals

So twice this week we have run into a couple Jess and Rich at dinner. John knows them from a few yrs ago.

One night we walked into a italian place and we hear "OH NO what are YOU doing here!" and then again last night. At a place called Testi. they walked in but this time we were there first. and yes you can order testicles. I had Lamb Shish [ Kebabs]. I have now had them twice in my life. twice this week and i can not even begin to explain how tasty they are. heaven a piece of heaven in your mouth. I was sorry when i was finished.

We saw a movie at the Electric cinema in Notting Hill. It was very comfortable, and you can order a pint to go with your movie.... Saw 'A history of violence' and i am pretty sure i saw some graphic scenes that will not be shown in canada. it would be considered almost xxx.

went out for a few drinks after that as that is what everyone does in London, pints pints pints. also saw an old friend Jason.... terrifying tales of barracudas in the night.

Last night went out and met my family folks. Gail and Laurie, and thier friend Jess. Was good to see family. turns out we are all going to the Stonehenge tommorrow.. i had mentioned we were going and they had also booked tickets. different company but I am sure we will run into them.

Today. down to Oxford Street for some shopping. Maybe i'll find some cool clothes....

Pints'n' pics

here is the picture page from the trip.

http://spaces.msn.com/members/jarthurs

oh and i fell asleep.

all it took was 6 pints of beer or so.

Some Photos

Justice

so i am pretty sure i got a bit of sleep last night... but it was weird sleep... like i knew i was sleeping and was thinking about it...so was it really sleep? infact i had two set times of sleep.. one i was doing smething may sound weird but i called it london. and the other sleep... i called superstore.

wait. thats not sleep. thats psycho

so yesterday went to the Tower of London. saw all the old stuff of where people got tortured and banished and how the past royalty was all weird and killed each other. Henry the 8th and Ann, Bloody Mary etc. was interesting. I also saw the massive Tower Bridge. its very large.

watched a couple of Ravens fool around on the grass... one of them was doing summersaults down the side of a small hill. I do not joke. summersaults. i have video footage thanks to my lovely brother and wife's camera. its great. there is also a story about Ravens and the tower. If they ever leave the Monarchy will fall. so their wings are clipped and there is cages for hem at night.

i also have a full picture card. so will have to empty it this morning before heading off to Notting Hill.

Fancy a look?

sleepless nights, sunny days

So its been sunny here for 2 days. I was under the impression that there is never sun, only overcast and cloudy. guess its luck. on the other side of the spectrum, still very little sleep. i shound't say none since i have dosed for a few hours totall.. 30 min here.. hour there.

Yesterday went out to the pub pretty early. met up with some travelling friends of John, Sebastian and Kevin. brothers from france. good time, the pints went down good.

Today I am off to the Great Erection. Tower Bridge and maybe the Tate. Wednesday or thursday will be stonehenge.. looking forward to that.

Life is grand apart from the sleep but i am sure that will be remedied tonight.

You're in London Baby...

Lags from jets

So, i think that i have suffered a bit of jet lag. I havn't been sleeping at night. I lay there, and rest, and am not quite awake, but at the same time, am not asleep. everynight has been a bit better and i think that soon i will be welcoming the nightime to get some decent shut eye.

I find that those people who dont travel alot spend all their time going and going. seeing all there is to see. \i enjoy doing the touristy things. like yesterday. went into 'town' as they call it. saw big ben and picadilly circus. used the toilets at the canadian embassy... haha if they aren't going to let me in, who is? the guy didn't even wanna see my passport. he told me i sounded canadian enough. so if you are ever in london and can pull off a good canuck accent.. you're in. not without a security check first however. even had to remove ye old belt.

also went on the big eye. a very very large ferris whell type machine that goes around and when you are at the top you can see very far into the smog that is london. \My snot has been all sorts of colors since i arrived.

saw tarfalgar square and had some pigeons land on my head. and on my arms and everywhere. a guy gave me some peanuts and then i looked like a mighty fine treat. i took some pictures of ti all.. mostly for the benefit of my sister in law who LOVES birds so much.

but then are the days where i dont want to do anything touristy. i just want to sit and eat at a local restaurant.. just be part of the new city i am in. today was kind of like that. went for some breakfast. went for a walk in the park. walked through a very very freaky graveyard that iw ill take picture of. and just chilled in the quaint little place i am in. house sitting is great. gives it more of a home feel. and this house is so cute. the water is awesome. when i go home and someone asks me.. what did you do i london. i will be content with just saying.. i was just... there. i was there. i existed. i lived. not.. well on day one i spent from this hour to this hour doing this and this and this...... i am here. i am enjoying it emensely. i will see things, i may miss a few. but over all...i wont feel i missed out. cuz i made it here.

i have about 9 more days in london. going to see notting hill, maybe catch a movie there as i hear the theatre is amazing. i want to catch a bus or the tube and get off somewhere that sounds cool and wander around. people watch.

either way, it'll be fun.
until later....

London Calling

so people. i am in london.. trip got chasnged last minute as john met me at the airport in london as opposed to dublin the next day. \crazy. so now i am house sitting in london fr the next 9 days at some of johns friends house. \its all quite crazy. i still htink that maybe ibeleive iam in some kind of dream world. but its so fun. \\\\i dont find things weird at all with seeing john after 2 yrs. he says its abit weird but is getting better.. hadmany laughs already and evengot to see a concert#

Goldflappe? somethinglike that. it was great.. would even buy a \cd of theirs i think. maybe burn one.. haha

sorry about the weird grammer.. the keyboards here are a bit off....


more when i get sojme time as it is late late late here now...

T Minus.....

So I leave in the morning.

I still dont really belive it, even though today I got my money switched to Euro's and bought all the last stuff I needed before I left. All I have to do now is pack the top part of my bag, finish my carry on and get to the airport. I think in the morning, I'll start to think something is going on.. but right now.. still oblivious...

Not looking forward to the 6 hr wait in London. But it'll be better if Jason shows up!

next time.. from ireland....

bye

John

This is who is picking me up from the airport. This is who will be there for it all on this trip.

John ----------->

Sunday

So its sunday. The 'big' going away bash was last night. Although it wasn't big at all. I would say the most that were there at any given point is 10. But I wasn't dissapoinetd. Those who I cared about coming were there, the rest, well yes would have been cool to see them. But i am not one to cry, it was just a sit around and laugh party.

and I felt like I laughed alot.

I feel a sort of disconnection now. like I am lost. Its the transitional phase I guess. For all intents and Purposes to people here. I am gone. So i could shut off my cell phone and wouldn't even miss that many calls. But to the other side, I am not there yet. So i am kind of just existing for the next three days. Travelling purgatory. Those of you who have experienced it, know exactly what I am talking about.

October

So its October. but I am still in some sort of denial. I think that Monday... will be the day that i realize I am leaving. Yesterday i got my Hep A shot. wow. Thats NO FUN. my arm hurt like mad. These crazy waves of pain would strike and my whole shoulder felt dead. This morning it isn't bad at all. I may even be able to pull off work without looking like a fool or dropping something.

Last night $50 000 BINGO. didn't win. not a cent, not a door prize. All we got was some bingo dabbers and a lolly. But some girl won $13 000. And it was her 18 Birthday. so i guess thats good enough.

I may have convinced a friend to come sit with me in the London airport. I get in at about 4 am and have to kill 6 hrs before i fly to Dublin. I hope he shows. But if he doesn't. I am going to try to recreate the Tom Hanks movie The Terminal in the 6 hours I have. That my goal. I am going to need Extras. any takers?