Over the years I have left a fair share of my income in the Avoca cafe in Suffolk Street. After a tough week recently, I went in at the tail end of the working day for a cup of tea and a bun. Owing to my head cold, I had a lemsip instead of tea (powder by me, boiling water by them). After I had finished my bun, I went to pay, sniffing into my tissue (lemsip only moderately effective) and the man behind the counter (known to me by sight) smiled kindly at me and said, “That’s alright.” “Eh?” “Ah sure, it’s only a bit of chocolate.” Free bun worth €3.65 for me. Also, I suppose, free boiling water, and a warm, toasty glow. Wasn’t that lovely?
Ireland
A Snowball’s Chance at the Hellfire Club
We went up to the Hellfire Club in the Dublin mountains last weekend to see the snow but alas, it had almost, but not entirely, melted.
2012 in Review
This review consists of the first line from the first entry of every month and a photo from each month and the odd comment from me in italics. It’s very thrilling, now, so hold on to your hats.
January
When going through my posts to make yesterday’s list, I was slightly surprised to discover that I read 37 other books which were not on my bedside table in 2011.
Ah, yes, still the best new year’s resolution ever.
February
We’ve given up watching the news in the evenings; so, in fact, we’ve given up watching television altogether because all our TV watching consisted of the news and an hour of vain channel hopping thereafter.
Actually, we’re still largely off the news but we have acquired a number of box sets – Outnumbered and the Big Bang Theory. Don’t judge. Photo of first of many trips to Charles Fort this year. The children are tired of it.
March
We went to visit the President’s House.
We also laid in extensive supplies for the Princess’s birthday.
April
Michael eats nothing at dinner.
Michael eats even less now. The view is taken from our most successful family walk of the year.
May
Look, Daniel has shark teeth.
June
Michael reads and re-reads a lot of Asterix and Tintin.
July
Michael:Is there mass on Sunday?
Not the attitude you would expect from a small boy who loved bible camp in Garryvoe.
August
Mr. Waffle was restored to us.
And we went back to France where this photo was taken.
September
Another beautiful day made more beautiful by the certain knowledge that our fellow citizens at home were continuing to struggle in damp conditions.
This is a bit out of synch because I wrote about August in September. As you do. That line was written when we were in France. That photo was taken when we were in Kerry.
October
The childminder was talking to me about the children’s homework.
November
Me: You know that Thursday is November 1.
A post every day. And the Dublin Book Festival, where I took the photo.
December
I found this taped to the boys’ bedroom door the other night.
In case you are wondering, they had taped “passport needed to pass this point” on their door. It’s still there.
Overheard
As I was walking past the GPO, I heard an Australian say to a woman who was posting a letter, “Do you by any chance know what the Easter Rising is?”
That is all. Maybe you had to be there.
Life’s Rich Tapestry
I am pulling together a pub quiz team. My friend R and his wife have said they will come though he has warned me “our knowledge is more likely to be largely congruent rather than complementary.” I am keen to get a sporting expert for our team. R asked could he bring his [adult] children? By all means, bring offspring, said I, particularly if sound on Gaelic games.
His reply: “Believe it or not, S played on the Hanoi team at a South-East Asia Gaelic football tournament in Saigon. I don’t think I would have regarded this as a likely prospect when I was reading about Viet Nam in Time Magazine every week in 1968.”
Impressive Customer Service
We have to transfer the electricity in the new house from the vendors to us. The task of ringing customer service in the electricity company fell to me.
Them: Ring, ring, ring. Thank you for calling Airtricity customer service. Please input your account number. Please dial 1 etc etc. Eventually a human being comes on the line.
Me: Hello I’m ringing about moving an electricity account.
Him: You must be Anne.
Me: Sorry.
Him: Aren’t you Anne?
Me: Yes.
Him: I was talking to [the vendor] this morning and she said that you would be calling.
Me [faintly]: Oh right.
Him: Do you want it in your name or Mr. Waffle’s?
Me: How do you know my husband’s name?
Him: Did I get it wrong?
Me: No, no, you’re right, I’m just a bit surprised. Eh, my name please.
Him: Do you want to pay by direct debit?
Me: Yup.
Him: Give me your bank account and sort code details there.
Me [Give numbers]: But don’t you need me to sign something?
Him: No that’s grand. You’re all set up now from December 18th. That’s the day you closed, isn’t it?
Me [by now unsurprised]: Yup that’s right.
Him: I have the readings from the vendor; do you want to double check them or are you happy enough?
Me: That’s fine. I really hope that they are recording this conversation for quality purposes.
Him: Ah you’re very good Anne.
Utterly painless: Airtricity, I salute you. Although, if I ever acquire a stalker you will be the first people I will put on my list of suspects.