I’ve been remiss in blog posts over the last couple of weeks, in large part due to having limited use of my right arm in addition to not having had much news to share. The weather has been becoming more and more summer-like, with highs in the mid 60s F / upper teens C. There have been a fair share of rainy days but also many beautiful blue-sky /partially cloudy bright days. And now with the...
May bank holiday weekend, returning to work
It’s the May bank holiday weekend in Ireland, which means I have Monday (today) off. The weather has been raining for the past few days, although today it’s just been overcast. Given the situation with my arm, I didn’t make any plans and have been just staying in Dublin. Last week was rather boring, as I was unable to return to work without my doctor’s permission. The people at work have been...
First week of new job, chilly weather, apartment projects, Ukraine still dominates news
My first week at Mazars is behind me. I worked from home the entire week as I’m still waiting for my building access card to be set up and there was no real reason to go in (most people are still working remotely). It’s mostly been onboarding, although I’ve already done a little bit of client work. The firm’s culture seems much better suited for me and the stated values resonate with my own. And...
Job transition, deltracron peak, Irish census
The weather is warming up slowly but surely, although the last couple of days it’s gotten down to freezing at night, with a typical scattering of showers but no heavy downpours. Daylight savings time went into effect last weekend, resulting in evenings that are noticeably much longer. Dame Street at 7:09pm It’s been a busy week — wrapping up my old job at UCD and preparing for my...
Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine, countdown to U.S. trip
Spring has not quite yet sprung in Ireland. There are only a few early buds beginning to emerge on otherwise bare tree branches. High temps continue to be in the single digits C / mid to upper 40s F. The weather has been alternating between bright chilly days and grey rainy days. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine continues to be at the forefront of the news here, along with concerns...
Ukraine invasion, first day working in office, weekend of socializing and shopping
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is dominating the news in Ireland and Europe, surely to an even larger extent than it has in the U.S. given the closer proximity of events. There have been many comparisons of the situation to World War II, calling Putin the 21st century Hitler, etc. At least Ireland is an island so it’s not directly connected to the European continent. However, the Irish...
Job offer, parade of storms, dining out, driving learner’s permit
It’s almost been a week since my last post… one of the longest intervals since starting the blog. The big news is that my interview with Mazars last Thursday so well that I received a job offer on Friday! I still haven’t signed the contract, but I have told my current employer that I am planning to accept the offer. As of now, I am expecting to start early April. Meanwhile, I...
Inflation, stormy weather, and the lifting of mask mandates; decompression week
Inflation has been one of the biggest news headlines over the past week Ireland, which has seen an overall 5.0% increase in consumer prices from January 2021 to January 2022. Last week the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance announced in this press release a €505 million package in measures to mitigate the cost of living, including (among other things): energy...
St. Brigid’s Day / Gaelic festival of Imbolc, 100th anniversary of James Joyce’s “Ulysses”
The beginning of February brought some wet and windy weather, and also marks St. Brigid’s Day / Gaelic festival of Imbolc. A summary from Wikipedia: “Imbolc / St. Brigid’s Day is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of St. Brigid, Ireland’s matron saint. The holiday begins on the evening of 1st February and ends...
Driver’s theory test, mid-week dinner party, another job interview
It’s Friday! What a busy week… not to mention month. Where did January go?! Dublin has been having chilly, but we’ve been having mostly sunny bright winter days. I don’t understand why people complain about the weather in Ireland at this time of the year, saying that it’s gloomy and depressing. Yes, it still gets dark relatively early but the days are getting longer...