I had a really bad docking of the Hyaku today. People crowded around me. I nudged the throttle. We went the wrong way. Ah!
It has been a while since I posted. It has been really busy here. Always lots of stuff to do. I will catch up over Christmas.

Hi there this is a test. Abd

I need to get my ee done!

Ah, I'm tired. I got nearly 8 hours sleep last night and my eyes still want to close. The shame!

I have been around the world since I last wrote. Well, not quite but I will get to that. I went to the debs with Charmaine and it was a lot of fun. I think that we both felt out of place. Not to worry, a good time was had by all. That was the day that I finished up work. Charmaine stayed until wednesday evening. Thursday we went to Clare to visit my relations. Barry was singing in the boys under fifteen all Ireland finals in the Listowel Fleadh on Saturday so we went and stayed in Kerry for a night. The next day was the Fleadh and the town was packed. As soon as that was over we dashed back home so that I could leave at 7 in the morning.
When I was checking into the airport in Dublin to fly to London, they had over booked the seats (As they do) and did not have enough room for me so they bumped me up to first class but then, with British Midlands, it didn't mean a whole lot. I got the meal first or something. So having arrived in Heathrow the next thing to do was get to the plane to St. John's. I stayed in Newfoundland for a few days with one of my closest friends, Françoise. Heathrow airport is such a nightmare to traverse. Getting from the crappy terminal that they put the Irish into and then to the far side to Terminal 3!!! Agh! I went through security check after security check. I couldn't believe it; one thing after another. My poor bags have probably been exposed to dangerous levels of X-ray radiation at this stage. I hate Heathrow airport. Luckily this time I left from Gate 5 which is only a jog away from the Connections centre. Normally they send me down to gate 26 or gate 30 and then you are talking miles. I got to St. John's and was relieved to see my baggage.
I'll stop there as I want to get my breakfast.

So I have rented my tux, sent off for may passport and contacted the universities. Peter from the States called in for three days. It was such a wierd feeling to see someone in your home that you have only ever seen 5000 miles away. Very bizarre.

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