My back and hips feel really sore when I wake up this morning. I had flipped the mattress over the weekend during my deep spring cleaning in hopes that it would help, but I think the slats under the mattress just aren’t enough support for a big guy like me. I’ve researched different solutions, although there seem to be limited options in Ireland other than buying a new bed setup, which is not something I’m going to do while at my current apartment. Instead of box springs, European beds typically have either slats or a foundation/base under the mattress. IKEA sell a mattress foundation for €230+ that’s about 8” tall, which might work with the bed frame in my apartment, although the foundations are “currently not available online” (and I’ve been checking regularly for the past few weeks). However, if I bought a mattress foundation, it would be very bulky to move and I’m not sure if my landlord would appreciate me leaving it behind.
The simplest solution that comes to mind is putting a layer of thick plywood on top of the slats underneath the mattress. I’ve actually done this before for platform-style beds I’ve had in the states. The challenge with this approach is how to obtain the plywood. When searching online, I come across some “DIY” building material shops for home repair and craft projects that will cut and deliver plywood sheets. I try calling a few, although no one picks up, so then I try sending some enquiries via email. One smaller family-owned company emails back almost immediately with quotes for two plywood options: birch or malaysian. I end up placing an order for a sheet of the birch plywood, cut into two pieces so that it’s easier to handle, which is priced for €135 (including the €20 delivery fee). For payment, I initiate a transfer to the company’s bank account using their IBAN number provided with the sales quote. The transfer should post tomorrow, and hopefully they will be able to deliver the plywood later this week.
Another priority for today has been looking into scheduling the first exam for my CMA accountancy qualification. The exams are administered in person by a company called Prometric that has training centres around the world, including Dublin, which I was sure to check before starting off with my studies. When I check for available testing days/times, there are only a few slots left in May, either early or in the middle of the month. At the current pace of my study programme, I’d finish the material for the first exam by the end of May, which means I would need to accelerate my studies by two weeks to be ready by mid-May. I think this is doable, although I email my study programme to see what they say. Originally, I was hoping I could take both exams before the current testing period closes at the end of June. Now I’m thinking that might be too ambitious, because it would leave me just two months to get through all the materials for the second exam.
There is more snow/sleet today, and it’s quite chilly with highs in the mid 40s F / high single digits C. Despite the colder weather, I get out for a short walk to St. Patrick’s Park in the late afternoon. I order a chai latte from the cafe in the corner of the park and sit down on a bench for awhile. The park isn’t packed like on warmer days, but there are still plenty of dog walkers, a few scattered people out for exercise, and parents with wound-up / bundled-up kids.
View of St. Patrick Cathedral park:
One of the big topics in Ireland news today is the government’s decision to change the next vaccination priority groups so that they are based solely on age without any consideration for a person’s occupation (I believe front-line health care workers still have priority). The reasoning is that people in older age groups are much more likely to have severe symptoms of COVID-19, hospitalization, or risk of death. The various associations/unions for teachers and the gardai argue that they are at higher risk of exposure due to their jobs than older people who stay at home. It doesn’t sound like the government is going to budge, and hopefully the stalemate doesn’t lead to any labour strikes… that would only make matters worse. There’s also supposed to be more discussion this week about adding more countries to Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine list —including possibly more EU countries — although this apparently raises some legal questions around EU citizens’ right of free movement.
Until next time….
