Ireland

Storm of the Epoch

Last Tuesday, I was reading a news article here in Dublin about how bad the weather was supposed to get this weekend. We’re in for a polar hurricane this weekend. It’s gonna be bad. So bad, in fact that it’s to be called the storm of the epoch. No really. I mean it. I’m not just pulling your leg…. I’m totally serious. It’s going to be travel chaos, once in a lifetime storm, and You can read the article here:

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/2010/12/severe-weather-alert-ireland-and-uk.html

The prize pieces of this article are the following:

“I can’t stress strongly enough that this will be a major winter weather onslaught and not just a drop in temperatures with a few local flurries.”

and

“When this polar hurricane develops…”

and

“All of these factors are building blocks towards what may become an epochal cold spell for Ireland and Britain in the next 20-30 day interval.”

Now, for those of you wondering, what exactly is an EPOCH?

According to the Geologic time scale – The largest defined unit of time is the supereon, composed of eons. Eons are divided into eras, which are in turn divided into periods, epochs and ages. The terms eonothem, erathem, system, series, and stage are used to refer to the layers of rock that correspond to these periods of geologic time.

An Epoch – more narrowly – is defined as tens of millions of years.

So, I am thinking “Day After Tomorrow” apocolypse type movie, and naturally planned for the worst. Made sure I had plenty of food, water, warm clothes in the house. I dug out my wool scarf, gloves, hat, and long johns (which weren’t put away very far since 2 weeks ago we had solid blocks of ice to skate to work on for a week) and put my heavy boots by the door. And I started waiting. and waiting. and waiting. and Guess what? I’m still waiting.

Wednesday night. Cold, clear, windy. -4 C.

Thursday night. Cold, a bit of mist, windy. -2C.

Friday night. Cold, flurries (didn’t even stick to most pavement), -3C.

Saturday night. Cold, clear, windy, -4C.

Sunday day. Cold, clear, sunny with blue skies and 2C (above freezing).

And the kicker? NO SNOW.
Not a bit. A hard frost – but the roads are fine, it’s not epochially cold. It’s not even a particularly memorable blizzard. Don’t believe me? Check out this picture – taken 5.minutes.ago.out.my.office.window…. by cell phone.

Dublin's Storm of the Epoch 2010

The storm of the epoch...2010.

Uh… Overkill much on that Dublin forecast folks? Where IS Robert Frost when I need him (Fire and Ice poem)?

(Ok granted, the storm went north and south of us, and they got lots of snow in the UK, but… I still don’t think that it qualified as “epoch” cold / blizzard conditions. Epoch? Really? Um.. The Ice Age.. now that was Epoch cold.)

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Sir Arthur Guinness Day = FREE BEER!

To Arthur!

Here in Ireland, less than two weeks in, I have to chuckle. It’s Sir Arthur Guinness Day, the day when everyone going to the pub gets a free pint of Guinness – for the toast at 17:59 PM (Yes, you did hear that right – FREE BEER!). It’s supposed to be a global toast – and there’s a big huge musical celebration at the Guinness factory for the event. Not only is it a huge musical event – it’s also televised live around the nation and shown in nearly every pub you can find. My video is a bit dark (it was in the pub, of course) but it gives you an idea of the happenings…

Why are we toasting at 1759 you ask? The reason is because it was 251 years ago, in 1759, on September 23 (or 24th) that Sir Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the right to make Guinness Brew itself. Ever since, the dark ruby red liquid has been brewed at St. James Gate brewery here in Dublin. Apparently, the brew is known around the world and is synonymous with “Ireland”, and the brilliant marketing people at Guinness started this “tradition” with the 250th birthday. Now, it’s an excuse to go to the pub, get a free brew (and then pay for a few more) and hang out with friends.

So, Here’s to Arthur, on the 251st anniversary of Guinness…

Prost!
Nah!
cheers!

It’s just too bad that I.Don’t.Like.Guinness. No really. I took the beer, drank a couple swallows at the toast, and then gave it away to those who actually enjoy it. Then, I went and ate dinner and had a diet coke. Just don’t tell anyone, ok? 😛

Free Guinness for the Toast!

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Made it, and alive

The park near my flat.

Hi everyone!

Well, I have made it to Ireland and am still alive. My furniture has arrived, and I”m slowly getting unpacked. I’m enjoying life here, and am laughing at the fact that it seems that every other day I’m getting soaked going to or from work. It’s amusing from the “well, it’s Ireland – what the heck did I expect” perspective. I’m looking into getting a proper pair of Wellingtons (aka wellies – aka galoshes) and a good waterproof jacket so that I am at least partly dry in between each of the walks to/from work and home. Hopefully I’ll find one I like, that fits, and that isn’t too expensive very soon.

On other notes, I did get a little brief visit with my great aunt last weekend – she was in town for the start of 14 day tour. She’s doing quite well, and she took a few photographs of us while we were out to dinner in the city. On the bad side, I took a ton of photographs of the trip over ( 20 hours of driving, then some 57 hours on the ferry in 4 days as I went to Ireland, back to France to return the car, then back to Ireland again) and also of my first trip to the Guinness factory, and some initial shots of Dublin – only to promptly lose my camera. I’m not sure, but I think I left it in the back of a cab after seeing my Aunt – and am trying now desperately to retrieve it (or at least the card out of it) as futile a chance as it may be.

I do, however, have a new smart phone – which takes pictures and video and does 10,000 other things I haven’t figured out yet. It’s not a great camera, but I suppose it’ll be ok for the moment – until I get my big one unpacked and find the tripods among the multitude of boxes that still remain. So, without further adieu – here’s a few pictures from the park that is 3 blocks from my apartment – complete with large green spaces, plenty of trees, and a pond. Riddick is very happy with the park – and all the doggies he gets to meet in there. (Is it just me, or are Irish doggies more friendly than German ones?)

More of the park near my house

More of the park and one happy dog.

Anyhow, more on how I’m settling in and hopefully photos of the apartment soon – once I’m done unpacking.

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