ArchiveDecember 2020

Sunday walk to Docklands, more couch potato time, COVID-19 cases surge again

It’s extraordinarily bright out today, the sky is a cloudless blue, although the wind is chilly. My friend J and I meet up and walk down to the Docklands. There are few people out in this part of Dublin compared to the packed shopping districts. We have lunch at a Boojum burrito bar location facing the Grand Canal. There are a few tables out front that are already taken, so we opt to stay inside...

Dinner al fresca, brown butter & bourbon rice krispie treats

It’s been a lazy Saturday. I am slow moving in the morning, then my friend O. from Strasbourg calls, and we end up talking for around 2 hours. I catch up on a few neglected emails with friends, and by the time I look up more than half the day is gone. It’s clear out but colder today, highs in the upper 40s F / 13 C. It would be a shame not to get out and enjoy the rainless...

Progress with PPS number application; afternoon shopping

Today my weekly SuperValu delivery comes early, just after 10am. Ciarán, the familiar deliveryman, calls ahead to give me a heads up and make sure I’ll be home. Fine by me! It’s a large order so I take two trips to haul all the bags upstairs. After putting everything away and finishing up breakfast, I finally hear back about my Personal Public Service (PPS) number application. I receive...

Job applications, COVID concerns, air fryer quesadilla

Today I’ve been focusing on getting a few more job applications out. Two are postings for finance manager positions in the not-for-profit / public sector, but they’ve been posted via recruiters without any identifying information as to their client organisations. Another Finance Manager job is at Self Help Africa, which really interests me given its international aspect. Their work seems to cover...

Quick errand and window shopping on a rainy day

One of the fluorescent tube lamps in the bathroom light fixture has started to flicker, creating an eerie strobe effect like in a horror movie. This gives me a pretext to leave the apartment, in spite of the more gloomy and rainy weather. I first stop into the Dunnes Stores a couple of blocks away, which has a small housewares section, but they don’t carry any fluorescent tube lamps. I also...

Kilmainham gardens

It’s clear and relatively warm today. My walking buddy CJ and I meet up to take advantage of the good weather before the rain returns. We take the Luas / light rail westward out to Heuston Station to explore some gardens around the nearby suburb of Kilmainham, which was where the Knights Templar settled in the 12th century. The Gardens at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham (the hospital...

Another homebody day, job hunting, and homemade eggnog

Another important parcel/package is scheduled for delivery today, so once again I find myself homebound.  The recruiter for the contract position at Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA) emails around 10am to let me know they “decided not to progress with my application.” It’s disappointing news, but not overly upsetting. At least I have established contact with...

Asian food market + smallest menu ever

My friend J comes over to hang out again today. He is a big fan of instant ramen and takes me to an Asian food market a few blocks away in search of some unique flavours. I’ve probably walked past it several times without taking any notice. Once you walk through the small storefront, the place opens up to a surprisingly large shop inside with several aisles filled with all sorts of...

CV/resume session, shopping, and my passport card arrives

It’s clear and colder today after a week of off-and-on rain. However, I find myself stuck in the apartment again waiting for a package to be delivered. Instead of a walk, my friend CJ comes over to discuss CV/resume strategies since we’re both in job seeking mode. He has built an impressive template and database system for matching his skills to job postings, etc. It’s a short...

Afternoon errands around Dawson Street, and why eggs aren’t refrigerated here

My usual Friday morning SuperValu grocery order is delivered around 11am by the familiar and jovial Ciarán. I’ve learned to expect a call from SuperValu beforehand around 8:15-8:30 to inform me of any unavailable items and ask if I want any substitutions. I think there’s only been one week when everything I ordered was in stock and delivered. This week only a few items are...