Jubilee Celebrations. Worth The Money? (16 Days to Go)

With just 16 days to go the to-do list is becoming one big muddle. Not that I did'nt expect it but I'm starting to realise I wouldn't have been able to prepare properly regardless.

The expense of moving has also been a lot more than what I had initially expected. Last night I forked out £170  in shipping costs from Hertfordshire, UK to Wicklow, Ireland. Only to get a call from the haulage company telling me that for insurance reasons they are not covered to carry personal goods. On top of this the shipping company are simply a web based handler and they do not have a direct contact number. So I have had to book another 'shipper' which funnily enough was half the price??? GRRR! Now I'm left with the annoying task of trying to recover the £170 paid to them with only an e-mail address for contact. 4 hours later and still no response to my e-mail, getting a bit miffed!

I'm not far off sorted though. The haulage company will collect my stuff tomorrow so effectively by tomorrow evening I will have nothing more to do while in the UK except finish my last 2 days work, have some farewell drinks with friends and colleagues, pack the last of my clothes and fly home. Once I get to this point I'll be more or less home free (excuse the pun).

In other news, had my end of year drinks with the guys from college, was a great night, apart from the constant rain, I wont miss that at all! Last night was another farewell session, with the 'Folk Music' crowd this time. Was a good night and it was nice to see the people that welcomed me onto the scene when I first arrived in the UK.


I spent most of the weekend packing and trying to sell stuff on e-bay (complete waste of time) and didnt really get a chance to see any of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

Not that I would have watched any of the jubilee celebrations anyway. In fact I think spending the kind of money on those celebrations was rediculous, it could have gone to some charitable organisations, there's plenty of them out there that could have made good use of all those millions, you can be sure they would stretch a long way! .

I bet she would've been happy with a do in the Buckingham Community Centre with the Sex Pistols (or at least what's left of them) bashing out the hits from 'Nevermind the Bollocks' and I'm sure Carl Cox would've been happy to spin a few beats in exchange for a Big Mac. I can see it now,  Harry wired in a corner, Prince Charles and Camilla mashed 'giving it sox' and Kate grinding on William after a few Gins... Now that I would've watched!!!

 

Anyhoo... Till my next scrawlings.

Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,

Damien

Living (and Driving) With Epilepsy... And Other News (21 Days to Go)

So my new Full Driving Licence arrived this morning, thanks to mo chara Barra for his assistance, and also to my little brother again, he's done me a fair few solids already in this whole process, it's good to to have close friends and family... This has been something that's been sorely missed over the last two-and-a-half years and they'll be missed even more when I'm 'half the world away' (excuse the song reference but I'm really looking forward to Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds at Hultsfred)...

The New Licence... With Some Minor Adjustments Of Course (Can't Be Disclosing My Secret Identity Now Can I)

In other news, my little Sister Sam is well on her way with her travels... She left just over a month ago to see the world and although I know she'll be missing our family and her mates, I know she's having an amazing time; it's a life experience that's scarceley rivaled. So far she's been in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and she's just arrived in New Zealand where I presume, after a month or two of seeing the sights and the magnificant landscape of New Zealand's islands, she'll be settling down to ply her trade as one of NZ's newest top Hair Sylists for the next year... Lucky her!!

It's hard to believe I havent driven a car or a motorbike in almost 15 months! Anyone that's been in a similar situation will know that when you lose your licence for a long period of time, it's like losing your independance. Having to reply on public transport and friends and family to get around is so frustrating, the world becomes a much bigger place and it almost feels inaccessible. (I know that's a bit deep for a Friday afternoon but I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself right now so I could care less!)

I know one thing though. I wont be taking any more risks with this condition... Epilepsy is one of those things that unless you experience it from the individuals' perspective, you can never really understand it, especially because every individual with Epilepsy is different.

Most of the time I can work around the little issues though. Underlying traits of the type of Epilepsy I have, Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) such as Sleep Disturbance, Epilepsy Related Memory Loss or Myoclonic Jerks have become regular features but I can live with them as I've gotten used to them over the years.

The memory loss aspect of it, I admit, can be extremely frustrating. Especially as some people get the impression you're not paying attention or you havent listened to what they've said to you etc etc, the list goes on. Although there will always be times where I can't get around it, I've generally learned to balance it with simple memorising routines or just by reading things 2 or 3 times etc. It can be very irritating when reading a newspaper or a book though because I'll often get through a page and realise that I've taken absolutely nothing in, which means I have to read it all over again. Other times I'll be speaking with a friend or colleague and I'll get halfway through a sentence and realise I've forgotten a basic word. It's not even forgetting the word that's embarrassing, it's the pause halfway through the sentence that gets you, then you need to try think of an alternative word to replace this basic word. I can only imagine how it comes across :)

The myoclonic jerks don't really bother me at all though. Everybody has twitches so I can usually pass the Jerks off as a twitches... Granted some of them are quite abrupt but my friends just seem to find it amusing. Last night, I had a particularly exaggerated jerk and my right arm and leg literally jumped a foot above where they were resting. My mate was sitting on the couch too and immediately immitated what I'd just done. I doubt it even crossed his mind what had caused it but his response to it gave me a laugh and made me feel a lot less self conscious about it. I have had other instances though where I've been holding a cup of tea or coffee and it will just fly out of my hand. That can be pretty embarrassing but luckily it hasnt happened very often and thankfully I've never scalded anyone :)

Unfortunately though, there is the graphic side to JME. A full on 'Tonic-Clonic' seizure can be quite a scary thing. It starts with a load roar as the air is pushed out of the lungs and reverberates against the vocal chords. Then you lose all body control and consciousness, fall to the floor and your limbs and torso shake vigourously. This can last up to 5 minutes... In many cases the patient will wet themselves and bite the side their tongue as their molars clench together.
Fortunately for me I only experience the latter during my seizures but I'll tell you something for nothing; because of the force of the bite, the pain is excruciating and the discomfort can last for weeks after... Trying to eat when one side of your tongue is swollen to the size of a ripe cherry is not nice! The effects of a seizure can last days too, I suoppose the best way I can describe it is a feeling of cloudiness or grogginess. But the fact of the matter is, each seizure damages your brain cells and I can scarcely afford to lose any of mine as it is! :)

The person(s) looking on will only see the ugliest side to the illness though, which I suppose I will never understand aswell as I dont actually see this aspect of it. The fact that this is what people think of when they think of Epilepsy is a pity but it is, unfortunately, unavoidable. It is a graphic image and when you see it, it is etched on your memory, especially if it is a friend or loved one. For me though, I just wake up with a sore tongue and no memory of what's happened and I'm usually surrounded by people who happened to be there at the time. Usually the look on their faces is a mix of fear, shock and concern.
In fact, up to a year ago I had never actually seen a tonic-clonic seizure happen. When I watched a video of a one online, I have to admit, it was pretty brutal but unlike some people around the world I am lucky to come from an educated society, where luckily people are more understanding. Although most educated people dont know much about Epilepsy, they know enough to at least understand that it is just an illness, just like Diabetes or Asthma. Africa however is a different story altogether...

I know Mauritius is much more developed than most other parts of Africa and there is a good support network in place in the form of the International League Against Epilepsy, but there is still the stigma attached to it.
Also, knowing that I will occasionally need to work in much less developed countries on the African continent has made me think long and hard about looking after my health. A lot of the less developed countries still possess a widespread view that Epileptic Seizures are some form of demonic possession and for this reason Epileptics become social outcasts. In some cases, they are even tortured by witchdoctors in tribal villages where they believe they can 'Excorsise' the demons from these people. In many circumstances this leads to life threatening injuries, disfigurement and even death.

For these reasons I'm a big supporter of what the ILAE is doing as they extend help to these people and help integrate them back into civilised surroundings and help get their lives back to some sort of normality. Mostly though, it's about educating people, especially in underdeveloped countries where this work is needed most!

Anyway, it feels good to have my licence back and I've also sent off for my international permit so that's both of those crossed off the list, as they say in Tipperary, "We're chuggin diesel!" (We're moving along nicely/ things are progressing well).

Anyhoo... Till my next scrawlings.

Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,

Damien

 

What to Expect - Mauritius Off The Beaten Track (22 Days to Go)

So up to now I’ve been doing a lot of research about Mauritius, it’s inhabitants and it’s culture. I’ve seen countless pictures showing the island’s beauty and have spoken to quite a few Mauritians and Expats on forums and blogs around the ‘Interweb Glactica’ and although I know I won't truly appreciate it until I get there, I’ve already started to learn a lot about the country...  Most people think of Mauritius as a sun, sea and sand destination, but from talking to some of these locals and expats, I’ve already learned that there is far more to this cosmopolitan Indian Ocean island than meets the beach tourist’s eye.



Open Air Food Market in Port Louis



The first thing I’m told I’ll notice when walking around Port Louis is the smell of jasmine, mixed with the scent of freshly-baked savouries and cinnamon and ginger spice, apparently it hangs in the air and works as a taste-bud trigger for hungry locals and tourists alike. Apparently simple evening pleasures like sitting outside a restaurant with a coffee are noticeably different to other destinations. One of the posts on a blog I’ve been reading sums it up perfectly; “Diners chatter away in Hindi, French and Creole, some switching from one language to another with apparent ease, and as Indian women in colourful saris eat and chat to stern looking businessmen in suits; Hawaiian-shirted tourists eye up the attractive local Metis girls. Then a waiter, bearing a platter piled high with shrimp curry, fish masala and cumin rice, sails in from the kitchen, dispensing laden plates with an easy smile. My stomach rumbled in anticipation.

Diners at the Cari Poule, one of the most popular restaurants in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis, are a microcosm of this tiny, cosmopolitan isle: two-thirds Indian, part African-Creole, with some Chinese citizens and a few Europeans (mainly descendants of the island's first sugar planters). Mauritius is a heady mix of ethnic and religious groups, attractive Creole and colonial architecture, transparent seas, low mountains and sugar cane plains. For such a small island, it has variety in abundance.”



Caudan Waterfront



I’m told that the capital Port Louis until recently, featured on most visitor's list of things to do, but development of the Caudan waterfront in the late 90’s, incorporating old dockside buildings and a new marina has apparently changed all of that. The Caudan has helped draw new life into a city that was once deserted after office hours. Visitors now follow locals to the upmarket boutiques, multiplex cinema and pavement cafés of this happy mix of old and new.



Government House with Queen Vic Statue



Long term expats tell me that the heart of the city is changing too, although there are still remnants of its former life as the capital of a French, then British, colony. At Government House, a statue of Queen Victoria looks out unsmiling from the three-storey, colonnaded building built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries... For some reason, these pictures remind me of the bust standing on the bar of the ‘Queen Vic’ in Eastenders (have to say, I don't think I’ll miss that J).



Place Sookdeo Bissoondoyal



Mahe de Labourdonnais

Government House is apparently the traditional focal point of the capital, standing at the head of the Place d'Armes – which has now been renamed ‘Place Sookdeo Bissoondoyal’ in honour of a leading Indo-Mauritian politician. This isn't the only tongue twister I’m likely to encounter. When I started reading up about my home for the next few years, I began wondering how I would fare with these place names. Even the airport ‘Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport’ reminded me of a mouth muddling Welsh Gaelic roadsign and when I first mentioned I was taking the job, one of the first posts I received on Facebook was from a good friend of mine, Mac, who is currently living in Buenos Aires. The post simply read: “Mauritius!! (Main Airport, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport J tee hee)!! Congrats Damo, best of luck!” I was glad I wasn't the only childish 30 year old to take amusement from that!

I have already seen pictures of the broad avenue from Place Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, flanked by elegant palm trees which seem to mirror the columns of the adjacent colonial buildings, leading to the docks and to the statue of Mahe de Labourdonnais, the former French governor who did much for the city in its early days.

 

Chinatown - Mauritius



To the north lies Mauritius' own China Town, a busy thoroughfare of small shops and family traders, where Indian curry houses give way to Chinese sweet and sour. Garish plastic and chrome ornaments gleam from shop windows while along Royal Street stands the extraordinarily ornate Jummah Mosque, with its priceless teak doors and decorative towers, built for Muslim merchants in the mid-19th century. China Town bustles with traders and traffic where I’m told not to be distracted by the nearby mosque's marble finishes, in the watch-your-wallet street. I’ve also been given a heads-up’ to avoid the temptations of the Chinese casino. Payday and blackjack are a dangerous combination!



Jummah Mosque

  

Jummah Mosque Street leads up to a climb to Fort Adelaide, Port Louis' citadel, which was built by the British in 1835 and to the south rises Port Louis' volcanic backdrop, with the peaks of Pieter Both and the appropriately named La Pouce ("the thumb"). Below, to the north, lies the city skyline, the docks and the vastness of the Indian Ocean beyond.

    

Pamplemousse Tropical



Outside Port Louis, the tourism advertising people have summed up Mauritius as sun, sea and sand, which I gather, is partly what it's about, but I’m told it’s a must to see the extraordinary Pamplemousse Gardens (which is apparently one of the best kept tropical gardens to be found anywhere). From there I’ve read that the rugged south coast offers a strange sense of disjointed familiarity that can regularly be experienced in foreign climes - shopping streets in Rose Hill and Quatre Bornes apparently have a touch of multi-ethnic London, with branches of Barclays and advertisements for desk diaries "newly arrived from England".



The Westernised Quatre Bornes



On the northern tip, Creole fishermen graft away at Cap Malheureux where I’m told it’s not strange to hear the sound of an ice cream van playing "Jingle bells" and "I come from Alabama with a Banjo on my Knee" and serving 99’s to Chinese schoolgirls.

Creole Fishermen at Cap Malheureux

I’m also told how I will notice the rhythm changing in the evenings and that dependant on where I am living it’ll be quite normal to be kept awake by the high-pitched sounds of Hindi Music and Indian parties. In Grand Baie, it is apparently not uncommon for tourists to be welcomed in to locals’ wedding parties, after being drawn in by garlands strung across the street, and tables laid out with samosas, onion bhajis, chapattis and rich Indian sweets sprinkled with coconut and dripping with honey.

Grand Baie Beach

Grand Baie is Mauritius' answer to St. Tropez, fashionable and bustling in season, with some of the island's leading hotels. The Royal Palm, offers master suites from around £2,000 a night, a long way out of my price range but maybe I’ll pay the Royal Palm a visit when I become a rich and famous rock star J. Grand Baie is also the main centre for sailing and diving which I intend to do a lot of. Hopefully I’ll be able to complete my PADI ‘Divemaster’ qualification while I’m there. Who knows, in ten years I might have escaped the office and own a dive shop and be living the island lifestyle! A pleasant thought I must say!

 

Anyhoo... Till my next scrawlings.

Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,
Damien

Vaccinations, Painful on the Arm and the Pocket!!

I know this is hardly worth a post but after another trip to the doctors I'm still confused as to what's going on??? I've had three calls from the GP today and one visit. I think I'm almost there with regards to getting a few months supply of my Epilepsy meds but who knows, the doctor may have just tricked me into thinking that... Like when Dr. Dre tricked me into thinking "Bitches Ain't Sh*t But Ho's and Tricks"... Surely that's not true Dr. Dre??? I think I would've heard about that, National Geographic would've done an exposé or something!

Anyway, while at the doctors, the quirky nurse from Newry, Maria, reminded me I still needed to get the second of my 3 Hepatitis B injections and a Tetanus booster...

Another £80 into that black hole of miscellaneous moving expenses!

Till my next scrawlings...

Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,

Damien

Ireland @ Euro 2012

I love football... Not to the same extent as a lot of my friends and family  but only where club football is concerned.
From an early age my family followed Liverpool (this stemmed from the fact that my Granny had a thing for Kenny Dalglish in the 70's) and like everyone else, as a child I followed them fanatically along with Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland. As the years moved on though, I lost interest, the money side of things and the lack of any real heart in the players kinda killed it for me...

One thing I never lost interest in though, was International football. Anyone that knows Irish football fans know they are some of the best in the world. Every time we reach the finals of a major tournament we are credited by international football associations  and the governing bodies ;for our friendliness, our behaviour and our general passion for supporting our team.. I can say in all honesty that we are the life and soul of the party at every tournament we play at!

This passion for supporting our country transfers to our players too. We're not exactly the strongest of teams but what we lack in skill and finesse, we more than make up for in heart and pride in wearing the green and white. Every player playing for Ireland does so to the absolute best of their ability and they put their heart into it, something that is absent from club football nowadays.

We have been unlucky in recent years but when Ireland actually qualify for a major tournament the mood of the country changes. Everybody gets behind the team and everybody at home is in high spirits. I remember faintly our first and only time at the Euros, I was no more than six and all I can remember is my Dad screaming at the TV and then jumping around like a lunatic (which I later learned was because of Ray Houghtons' goal that beat England).

My most vivid memory though, is that of Italia 90... Going through the streets of Dublin was like being at a giant carnival. Every house had Ireland flag bunting, lamp-posts, telephone posts and kerbs were painted green, white and orange and I distinctly remember a few people that had litterally painted their cars green, white and orange with cans of Dulux. When we beat Romania on penalties and Pat 'Packie' Bonner saved that penalty and David O'Leary finished them off, I remember everyone on my street going crazy. The parents from every house gathered on the road to have a few drinks and celebrate (back when you knew all of your neighbours) and all of the kids ran around for hours hysterically flying the flags and singing Olé Olé (we're all part of Jackie's Army)... It was mass hysteria!! But great times! Unfortunately Toto Schillachi broke our heart's in the quarter finals...
Jack Charlton and the team however, arrived back in Dublin a few days later to over a million people in the streets... They were heroes and in my eyes (and most other peoples eyes) they were now legends too!! To this day, Jackie Charlton is the most beloved Englishman in Ireland!

A few years later Jack took us to USA 94. First game against Italy, a wonder shot from Ray Houghton lobbed Pagliuca to exact revenge over the Azzuri and the game finished 1-0. It was a great start and overall a good tournament and good memories.

A few years later in Saipan at the Japan and Korea world cup with former defensive rock Mick McCarthy in charge, the commotion over the Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy dispute looked likely to overshadow the tournament. In the end though Keane went home, the team pulled together and we qualified for the last 16, only to be beaten on penalties by Spain. I was in Spain at the time. If I'm honest, some tears were shed. It didn't help that I was smack bang in the middle of the winning teams supporters!

That would be the last tournament we would attend up to now and with the heartache of loosing in such unfair circumstances against France (we hate you Thiery Henry) to qualify for South Africa 2010, qualifying this year has been a huge boost!

So here we are, just over a week to go to the game against Croatia and I've been following the media regarding the tournament meticulously. Unfortunately though. I've just found out that The Stone Roses come on stage at the same time that the second half between Ireland and Spain kicks off... I know this is probably the only chance I'll ever get to see The Roses live but I have the feeling that if that half is likely to affect our chances of qualification from the group, I think I know where I'll be!!

Come on Ireland!!!!


Till my next scrawlings...

Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,

Damien

The Cost of Moving Abroad & Mauritius Security Advise (23 Days to Go)

So 23 days to go and I'm starting to realise how expensive moving out of the UK is actually gonna be!

I got my Vodafone bill today and on top of my standard tarriff the additional costs for calling Ireland, Johannesburg and Mauritius has added another £120, I mean really, a phone bill for £173, isnt that disgusting!! I feel violated! Then when I factor in how much they're gonna charge for finishing my contract early it looks like I'll be paying close to £400, what a bunch of gangsters! (You can probably tell I'm not best pleased).

Then to add further pain to my bank account I've been getting quotes for shipping my stuff back to Ireland, every one of them was over £100... It's looking like I'll be dipping into overdrafts/credit cards for the first month or so... Not the favoured option.

Getting my Epilepsy meds sorted is also causing a bit of an annoyance, I cant understand why it's so difficult to issue a prescription for 4 months???  So now I need to go down there again tonight to sort it out, why it can't be sorted over the phone is beyond me! Thankfully I've been in touch with the Epilepsy society in Mauritius and they've said Epilepsy meds are available easily and free of charge, so if I'm stuck I should be able to get sorted over there.


Anyway, I'll move on from this or I'll just become more annoyed. Got an e-mail from the new job's HR Department. It basically consisted of 'security advise' and general tips etc.

Now not that it worries me in any way, but some of the points in the security advise section were a bit odd? Maybe they're just covering all possibilities, and most of it would apply to most countries I suppose but I might be a little bit more cautious now that I've read it...

This is the first part of the document I was sent:


"Mauritius

Security Advice

GENERAL ADVICE

• Dress as inconspicuously as possible and avoid ostentatious displays of wealth. Avoid displaying money, wearing jewellery or carrying valuables such as laptop computers or cameras.
• Never mention that you are travelling alone or give out personal information.
• Be aware of the city’s geography and avoid high-crime areas (often lower-income districts) if possible.
• Avoid disputes, demonstrations, political rallies and commotions on the street. Do not stay to watch or photograph them.
• Ignore verbal ‘bait’ from passers-by – do not get into an argument – and avoid eye contact with strangers.
• If lost, do not stand in the street consulting a map – go to a busy shop and ask for directions, or consult the map there inconspicuously.
• Always carry some form of communication equipment, such as a cellular phone programmed with numbers that would be useful in an emergency (police, embassy etc).
• Memorise important local phrases (yes, no, how much, stop here etc).
• Avoid walking in city streets after dark, especially if alone. If you are walking, take only brightly-lit, busy streets.
• Always be alert to your surroundings. Be wary of loiterers and remember that attackers often pass their victim and then attack them from behind.
• If you suspect that you are being followed, enter any busy public place and call for help.
• Limit alcohol intake – individuals are more vulnerable to attack if they have been drinking.
• Never accept food or drinks from strangers. Criminals often use such opportunities to drug victims.
• Do not use public transport at night.
• Use only accredited taxi services with radio communication.
• Distribute cash in more than one pocket, and keep a small amount in a top pocket to hand over to a criminal who confronts you. A dummy wallet – with a small amount of local currency, an expired credit card and some useless receipts – can be useful to satisfy a mugger.
• Where possible, obtain small denominations of currency and keep the bulk of cash and cards in a money belt, which should only be accessed in private places.
• If attacked, co-operate with assailants and do not make eye contact or sudden movements. Resistance is more likely to provoke violence.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE FOR WOMEN

• Dress modestly to avoid drawing attention. Observe and respect local clothing customs.
• Be aware that you may be stared at if travelling alone. Ignore any propositions or suggestive comments.
• Avoid eye contact with strangers, especially on the street and on public transport (consider wearing sunglasses). In some cultures, eye contact with a man is considered a sign that you want his company.
• Avoid walking through isolated roads and parks at any time of the day. Do not travel on public transport after dark without a known male companion.
• Try to enter taxis at hotel entrances instead of hailing them on the street. Alternatively, hire a car and driver from a reputable company.
• If alone, restrict evening entertainment to five-star hotels or membership clubs.
• Be prepared to ask trusted contacts to accompany you to your car, a taxi or your hotel after dark.
• Ensure that hotel room numbers remain confidential. Do not display the room's key tag in public areas, and stress that the room number should not be given to any inquirers. When checking in, ask the receptionist to write the room number down, rather than tell you within earshot of other people.
• Insist that the hotel room has a key-chain, deadlock and spy-hole, and that the door and window locks work properly.
• Never open the door to anyone without taking precautions. If someone claims to be a member of staff, get their name and department and check.

IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT

• Never head towards an incident or disturbance, and be careful about taking photographs. Find whatever safety you can.
• In the immediate aftermath, make reasonable attempts to account for other members of your party. If you are in a group, stay together.
• Make an immediate and sustained attempt to communicate out. Mobile communications might break down as the volume of traffic increases following an incident. SMS texts or landline services are an alternative.
• If you can, get away from an affected area to a place of safety, such as a major international hotel, a diplomatic mission, hospital or known office location.
• If necessary, medical assistance should be sought without delay. Any injured people should be accompanied to hospital and you should find out where any injured people will be taken. If you can, seek advice on any private medical facilities.
• Once at a place of safety, continue to communicate. Even when telephone lines are down, email and broadband links sometimes stay in operation. If communications have failed altogether, take whatever steps you can to get a message to the nearest diplomatic mission.
• Do not leave the place of safety without notifying someone of your plans. Attempt to identify other foreigners similarly affected, stay together and pool resources. In general, avoid the temptation to relocate, certainly without ensuring that the route is clear and informing someone outside of your plans.
• The priority at this stage is security and communications rather than extraction."

Interesting stuff no?


So I just need to concentrate on getting my stuff packed now. The plan was to sell as much as possible but a combination of procrastination and lack of time means I havent gotten around to doing that. So until I'm fully packed and I know exactly what needs to be shipped, I can't get a precise shipping quote. Hopefully I can get it done before Friday in time for a Saturday collection.

I should also get my licence in the post tomorrow, then I can get the forms for the International Permit sent off. The sooner the better this stuff is all sorted cos at the moment I'm as stressed as a cat at a fireworks display!


Anyhoo... till my next scrawlings.
Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,


Damien

24 Days / Three-and-a-Half Weeks to Go

So now we're up to date... Saw the dentist this evening who charged me £125 for a short consultation and a filling, it took no more than 20 minutes! I have to say I felt violated paying that amount of money but thems the breaks. It was either that or I let the hole get bigger which I can be sure would've been a lot worse in the long run but at least that's sorted and off the list now.

**Note to Self** Cut Down on the Sweets!

The weather for the last 5 or 6 days has been amazing, from Friday the 25th to Monday the 28th the temperature was tabling off at about 26Degrees. It's made it a great few days... Myself and my mates from the house, Nick and Tim had a bit of a night on the town on Friday and it was one of those memorable nights (here's to Magners and Estonia)! I have to say though, my mood elevates completely when the sun is out, which I suppose is another reason I'm choosing to make the move.

Anyways, just a few more things to get done now. Mainly the packing and shipping of all of my stuff home which is gonna be the one that requires a bit of graft and then when I get back home I'll have a fair few loose ends to tie up but we're definitely motoring now!

Roll on Euro 2012 and roll on Hultsfred...


Anyhoo... till my next scrawlings.




Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,


Damien

The Difficult Task of Getting Through 'The List' - Part 3

Moving on from the last post, got back to St. Albans in the early evening of May 19th... Champions League Final, great match! One of those truly entertaining games of ball, a pleasure to watch! Great comeback by Chelsea!

I wound down over the rest of the weekend to get set for college on Monday morning. I'm studying a work related course which I take a day off a week for and it's coming toward the end of the year. By the weekend we'd gotten the flights and accomodation sorted for Sweden so I just needed to play the charity gig and that would more or less cross those off the list too. Was a great night in aid of a housebuilding and school supply charity in Addo Township in South Africa and a lot of money was raised and we had some good folk music too (and some dodgy folk music aswell) and I should point out that I got a standing ovation and cheers for more after my set :)

Went to college the following day and handed in all of the assignments and work I'd been doing, almost a month early which felt good, a big weight off! That was off the list too... Things were starting to come together, I got the dental appointment booked and then it would be really just the packing and shipping to be sorted and when my licence arrived in the post I could get it photocopied and get the Internation Permit form posted off.

The ball is rolling fast now...



Till my next scrawlings.



Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,


Damien

The Difficult Task of Getting Through 'The List' - Part 2

So I arrived in Dublin nice n'early on the Friday morning with one day to get a load of stuff done...
Luckily I've got a sound little brother who, for the price of the toll bridge fee, came to meet me at Dublin airport at 8am (cheers Bro, much appreciated).
I could see he was tired, apparently 2 toddlers will do that to you! Still though, he didnt mind taking me to two different Garda (police) stations to get my Police Certificate sorted and despite the best efforts of a cranky Bean Garda I managed to get this crossed off the list.

Next up was was to get GP's Medical Report from my family Doctor which I needed to renew my driving licence. (I have Epilepsy and my licence had been suspended for over a year on medical grounds). After a couple of hours waiting around for him to come in, I managed to get that sorted too, all I needed to do now get some passport photos and take all of the relevant documentation and forms etc to the Motor Taxation Office in Nutgrove to reapply for my licence.

This turned out to be not so straight forward... Apparently, as part of the government's 'Austerity Measures' my local Motor Tax office had been shut down (smart move Enda, close a government office that's so busy the queues are usually 1hour long and force the good folk of South Dublin to travel to the other side of the city to tax their car or apply for a licence). So basically I had a choice, try to convince my brother to drive to Clondalkin in West Dublin (bearing in mind he hasnt had breakfast yet and it's now 1pm) or take the bus to North Dublin and hope I can make it by the 3.30 closing time.

Luckily my lovely Mammy happened to show up and by pure chance needed to go to the Motor Tax Office to get a log book re-issued. Things were working in my favour...

So I got to Clondalkin Motor Tax Office and managed to reach the counter at about 3pm. Right away the woman behind the counter made it clear she was gonna make things difficult. Firstly there was a problem with the Certificate the Driving Licence Authority (DVLA) had given me for the date I stopped driving and the relevant driving qualifications on my licence. Secondly, my GP's report was in the wrong format, or on the wrong form (I was getting frustrated and was pretty tired by this point).

Anyway I was about to concede that I wouldnt get it sorted today and that I'd be rushing around right up to the last minute when I had a light bulb moment... I'd been reading Neil Straus' bestseller 'The Game' (I've been recommending this book a lot lately to all red blooded men) so I decided to try apply a little 'Game' to the situation (no harm in trying eh). The woman behind the counter was probably in her late thirties early forties (yes this is relevant) and aside from her obvious boredome with the job, I could tell that behind her Civil Servant 'front', she was quite friendly.
So after displaying an overly peacocked smile and paying some (seemingly unintentional) compliments aswell as applying some witty banter and (indirectly/playfully) making fun of some of her mannerisms she started to warm considerably. Within about ten minutes, she'd gotten her boss to contact the DVLA in Wales to verify my letter and had gone through my file to find an old medical report that she could apply my latest medical to... Then she stamped my application, gave me a receipt, we exchanged pleasantries and I was on my way. Licence renewal crossed from the list...

I decided I deserved some breakfast at this point so myself and my Mam went across the road to McDonalds for a well deserved 3.30pm late breakfast quarter pounder... Thanks Neil Straus :)

All I needed to do now was complete my form for my International Drivers Permit and give it to my Dad to post (I forgot to do this) and look forward to seeing my friends. I hadnt seen most of the lads in a couple of months so it was nice to have a few beers and talk crap for the evening. Pretty therapeutic I must admit.


Till my next scrawlings...



Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,


Damien

The Difficult Task of Getting Through 'The List' - Part 1

So I there I was, faced with the logistics of getting everything on 'The List' done and dusted, but like I said, I have a terrible habit of putting things off so I was trying my best not to procrastinate...

The easiest things to get sorted were the e-mail to give my landlord my notice and booking the flights and the hire car. This was done with the help of Michael O'Leary and his no-frills airline (big fan of Ryanair by the way, despite it's obvious annoyances).

Thanks to the Euro 2012 and the fact that my flights were in the same time period but not going anywhere near Poland or the Ukraine, I managed to get my last flight out of the UK and the Sweden flights relatively cheap. The flights back to Dublin to sort the licences and visa requirements were also procured at a reasonable rate and I'd managed to get flights at reasonable hours which would mean no 4am taxi fares to Luton airport... Unfortunately when booking these particular flights, I had forgotten about one of the gigs I was due to play. So without thinking about it, I booked two days off work and booked return flights for Wednesday evening the 17th May, completely forgetting I was due to play support to for Kieran Goss the following night!

After a few hours spent kicking myself I was forced to book a new outgoing flight for the Friday morning, costing me £100 and another £45 for the taxi to the airport! Wasn't pleased at all!!

Anyway, the gig went well and I got a great reception so my level of 'pissedoffedness' was significantly reduced. Home to bed for 4 hours sleep before a 6.30am flight to Dublin - #completelywrecked


Anyway, till my next scrawlings...


Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir,


Damien

The List

So notice given, flights booked and a mountain of things that needed to be done!!! Where was I to start???

I made a list of things that needed to be done. Although quite concise, I’m a terrible procrastinator, so I knew I’d be doing well to cover half of this stuff early on. Anyway, it looked something like this (in no particular order and probably in no way interesting):

• Get a Police Certificate in Dublin check for my working visa.
• Get my licence renewed in Dublin (which given my situation would be far from easy).
• Book return flights back to Dublin to sort out the above and a final flight back to Dublin from the UK.
• Give my ‘moving out notice’.
• Arrange for my stuff to be shipped back to Ireland from England.
• Book a hire car to get around while trying to sort out all of the necessary stuff before I leave.
• Get the gaping hole in my tooth filled (I’d just broken a big filling).
• Get an international drivers permit sorted out.
• Get three months worth of college work to distinction standard, submitted a month earlier than the submission deadline.
• Pack up my belongings to prepare for shipping (being a bit of a hoarder I’ve amassed quite a bit of stuff in two-and-a-half years).
• Book flights/accommodation to/for Sweden - I’d previously made a commitment to a friend to go see The Stone Roses in Hultsfred. (Three days I could scarcely afford to give up.)
• Put time aside to practice for/play 3 gigs that I’d already made a commitment to play.
• Arrange a bit of a farewell party before I leave the UK.
• Arrange a bit of a farewell party before I leave Dublin.
• Spend as much time as I can with my family and friends and see as much as possible of the newest arrivals (my nephew and neice Kealan and Robyn and my best mates twin girls Aoibha and Caoimhe) cos they'd be substantially bigger next time I saw them.
• Try to get all this done while being massively distracted because Ireland are playing at their first European Championship finals in almost 25 years!

So that was the challenge, it was around the start of May and there was a lot of organising to be done, forms to be filled, etc etc. The following few weeks would go surprisingly smoothly but I wasn't counting any baby hens!


Till my next scrawling...


Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir...


Damien

The Job Offer and the Decision

So today is the day I lose my 'Blogging Virginity'... If I'm honest, I know little or nothing about blogging, purely because I've never envisaged myself as the blogging type. I'm not sure if it's because I've never really had any interest or if it's that I've subconsciously thought that I just don't have the time (code for I'm just too lazy)... Either way, this is the start of (hopefully) many updates as I prepare to move to Mauritius to start a new job and more or less a new life .

I suppose the reason I've decided to write the blog is so that friends and family can keep up with how I'm doing and sure if anyone else takes an interest, that's an added bonus... So I'll try to give some information about me along with a bit of background as to how this has all come about.

So about me... I’m a Building Estimator from Dublin, Ireland but have been living and working for the last two-and-a-half years in the UK, in a small city about 20 miles north of London called St. Albans. I transferred here in January 2010 with the company I’ve been working with for the past 5 years or so and like so many others in similar situations to myself, I’ve experienced first-hand, the effect that the economic downturn has had not just on the Construction Industry in Ireland and the UK, but on life as a whole.
Moving away from friends and family was never going to be easy but at the time I was faced with the choice to continue employment with my company’s UK business or join the list of redundancies and remain in Ireland waiting to see what came along. As someone who’s never been out of work for more than a couple of weeks though, the choice for me, although not easy, was obvious and almost two-and-a-half years later, here I am moving even further afield (although arguably to a much more favourable location), who would’ve ‘thunk’ it? Not me!

While I’ve been in England I’ve made a lot of really good friends, some of which I hope will remain lifelong friends and aswell as this I became heavily involved in a relationship with an amazing girl, who for almost two years was more or less my closest friend. Unfortunately that aspect of my time here didn’t work out the way I would have liked and that’s really a story for another time/place so I’ll keep that to myself.

Anyways, at the moment the job I do is in demand so for the last year or so I’ve regularly been contacted by recruitment consultants offering me interviews with various different companies, most of which I respectfully declined.
At the end of February however, I was approached via e-mail by a consultant representing an international infrastructure and civil engineering company with a very interesting proposition that unlike the others, caught my attention straight away. The position was a new role with a company from Johannesburg who had recently merged with an Irish engineering company and were expanding their International team working from their Mauritius offices. As a result they were looking for someone with my qualifications and experience to fill that slot in the Mauritius office.

For those that don’t know too much about Mauritius, it’s a sub-tropical Indian Ocean island off the south eastern coast of Africa (about 870km east of Madagascar) with about 1.2 million people descending from many different places ranging from Africa, India, Britain, France, Netherlands and China, so basically it’s a veritable melting-pot of different cultures and as someone that loves to travel and see new cultures and places, my interest was well and truly tickled!

The reason the job caught my attention was because I had worked with a guy named Joe in Dublin a few years back. He had just moved to Dublin from Mauritius and aside from being extremely friendly, the way he spoke about Mauritius and the pictures he had shown me every time he arrived back after a few weeks at home, always made me want to go there, I’ve not got much more of an explanation but ever since I had laid eyes on those pictures I had always wanted to see the country.

Anyway, after the standard fare of communicating back and forth, I did a Skype interview and was eventually unofficially offered the job and sent for my medical and inoculations etc.
The day after receiving the offer, to say I was in two minds over what to do, would be a massive understatement. The stress of making such a big decision was almost making me physically sick, there were so many pros and although not so many cons, the cons that did exist, were quite substantial. It was a huge step to take and one or two reservations I had about the job and other minor downsides, were eventually blown out of all proportion and I turned the job down...
The following day I received an e-mail from the recruitment consultant with some comments my ‘boss-to-be’ had made regarding my e-mail declining the offer. His comments didn't beat around the bush (him being from Limerick in Ireland that wasn't surprising). Basically he schooled me on why I would be crazy to turn down such an offer, but at the same time put most of my other hesitations to rest and within a day, I got back in touch and asked was the position still available and if so that I’d like to accept.

So this was the middle of April and after signing all of the relevant documentation and going through all of the necessary admin stuff and receiving my flights details etc, that was that, I handed in my notice at work and started working out what I needed to do before the 22^nd June, when I would be flying out of Dublin airport to start my new life as an Indian Ocean Islander.


So that’s the guts of how this all came about... I hope you enjoyed my first blog and there’s more to come about the weeks after the job offer and the weeks leading up to my departure date... Oh and sorry if the next 8 or 9 posts lack substance but my intention is to get this onto the ‘Expat Blog’ forum which requires a minimum of 10 posts for new blogs.


Anyhoo, till my next scrawlings.


Do chara, do mhac, do dheartháir...


Damien