Friday, August 03, 2001

Is is already Friday the third of August. One month from now I will be in the middle of my first week back at the college. Time is really being devoured at this stage and while I am looking forward to going back to Canada, there is so much else that I must do here. I have yet to get my new passport. My old one expired four days ago. I have a lot of research to do for my project and while it is starting to take shape, there is still no definite direction. I have to rent a tuxedo for the debs on the 21st of this month. Actually that's a very interesting story. Maybe I'll post it in a few weeks. I need to get my tax forms so that I can get my tax back. Today is pay day so I should get my tax slip today. That will help as I will know exactly how much tax I have paid and hence, how much there is to get back. I have to get a rucksack, sleeping bag and several items like that. I get my flight tickets. While they are booked, they are not in my hands yet!! I contacted some universities around the country yesterday and asked them to send me information on applying using the IB. At lunch yesterday I decided to get my passport in order. I cycled 4 miles home, got my old passport, cycled the 4 miles back into the town and went into a store to get my passport photos taken. That was fine except that when I went to walk outside, the rain was torrential. I cycled back to the office and got all my water proofs. Then I cycled to the Garda station to get my pictures validated and the form filled in. Then went to the post office to get it sent off but there was a huge queue (or line for my american friends!) and i didn't have enough money. At this stage it was too late to do anything about it so I returned to the office a very tired guy. When I left the office, I stopped into the nearest shop to get myself a bottle of that Finches Fuel Drink; very nice stuff! They didn't have any. As I left, the rain started, so I waited under the shelter. The rain poured in like a damned river. I dedided to leave as I didn't know what time it would finish at. I wra[[ed up in my water proofs and set off. For the first five minutes I couldn't see. After 3 miles, I found that my socks had become so wet that they were starting to act like wet suit boots. My trainers were trapping the water in my sock fabric causing it to be initially cold but then warmed up and stayed there, leaving a warm film of water against my foot. My trainers were absolutely soaked. My new Salomon Exit Lows!!! I tipped them upside down and water ran out of them. I bought them for trail running so I am sure that they are well up to it. They are currently on the clothes line, drying out. Oh well. So the plan today is to get to the bank, get money and then send off for my passport. Having done that, I will investigate the possibility of hiring a monkey suit, oops I mean tuxedo.I had really better get to work

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

I finally caught up with Charmaine this weekend.We did not do a whole lot more than walk areound Dublin and talk but it was very enjoyable. I went from Dublin to Kells where I used to go to school and I went out with a few of my friends. Well I find that I am really not into the whole drinking scene and ended up writinf things on barmats. But that's ok. Had fun and it was great to meet the lads.