The jury was complete (read about the selection process in PART ONE). It was now 11.30am. The trial would commence at 2. We were informed by our designated jury minder that as the court was not yet in session, we were free to leave, on the strict condition that we be back by 1.30. As we were now working for the nation of Ireland in the administration of criminal justice, we were entitled to a free lunch (at the taxpayer’s expense) while the case continued. We were handed a menu with three options, should we wish to dine in the jury canteen. I chose the chili beef and rice. A wise decision. Continue reading Courtroom adventures (part two) →

I arrived home from work one evening in early March, to find in my postbox a brown envelope. Contained within it was a summons from the Court Service of Ireland, informing me that I was required to attend a jury selection process at the Criminal Court of Justice on an appointed date. How thrilling I thought to myself. I’ve seen Matlock. This would be exciting. Continue reading Courtroom adventures (part one) →

Panic not however, my small but loyal readership. It is only temporary. Continue reading This blog is going on hiatus →

Home for the weekend, I decided that I needed a dose of culture. As luck would have it today was the opening day of Ireland’s Biennial of Contemporary Art – otherwise known as EVA International. Continue reading EVA International – Limerick style →

Some weeks ago I interviewed for my own position in the wastelands. My department is restructuring (reducing), and to allow the company harmonise synergies (fire people) without announcing redundancies. Therefore all the job titles were changed. And the job descriptions were also subtly altered – by about 15%. We were then told that as the department was transitioning into a shiny new phase, we would have to interview for these shiny new job titles. Continue reading I need new shoulderpads →

This coming weekend, I am planning a trip to Limerick – my first in three months. The last weekend before I am potentially soiled (for life!) by my civic duty in the Irish court system. As my final weekend of innocence approaches I am thinking about what silly scrapes and jolly japes I can engage in over these days. Continue reading Limerick by night →

As I boarded the bus this Monday morning my heart was heavy. Morosely I looked out the window. From the evidence on all the lamp-posts, between now and May 25^th (referendum date) it’s going to be all abortion, all the time. Continue reading YES-terday →

When I moved t Dublin over two years ago, I made a solemn vow to myself to explore the town properly. In a manner that I had neglected to do when I lived here last century.  For a while I was dedicated to this worthwhile task – the Greystones to Bray Walk; the Howth Head Cliff Walk (on new year’s day 2017); Glendalough; Malahide; Glasnevin Cemetery; Dun Laoghaire; Dalkey. All visited and explored. Continue reading Spring walk in the sea →

I’ve been half heartedly following the latest Facebook scandal involving a company called Cambridge Analytica.

Apparently this company used a Facebook quiz (taken by 270,000 people ) to mine the personal information of 50,000,000 Facebook users (the ‘friends’ of those who took the quiz) and then sold the data to politicians and political parties on the ‘Leave’ side to allow them to target undecided voters in the Brexit referendum. Without their knowledge. Facebook was well aware that this was happening. Allegedly. Continue reading Mark Zuckerberg ate my hamster. →

I have spoken previously about my revulsion at the bastardization of the English language to suit the requirements of marketing companies and the text-speak generation. Particularly when it comes to food establishments.

About how certain words send an icy chill of irrational rage down my spine. How I will never darken the door of any café or restaurant that styles itself as an ‘eatery’. Regardless of how totes delish the menu is. Obvs. Continue reading A new concept in dining →