Day 303 - Sunday, October 30th, 2011

Mum and Dad were up from Cavan for the day so we had a very pleasant lunch in a restaurant whose name escapes me (gasp!) where the service was slow but the food was d'lish. Nephew Adam is now a quarter-year old, and is getting more alert and cute by the day.

Later in the evening, I met up with some of my old friends from DCU, on the occasion of the Bank Holiday Sunday, but more importantly to remember the 10th anniversary of the death of Denis McCarthy, who was lost to us 10 years ago in a car accident. Outrageously-good banter and copious pints of Heineken were enjoyed in his honour for several hours at Bruxelles Drinking Emporium off Grafton Street, which was stuffed to the gills with revellers in yet another sign of the devastating effect that this recession continues to have on us all. The streets were lively and awash with boisterous young ones, bedecked in Hallowe'en finery. All wonderful examples of the enjoyment that life gives, life that Denis sadly no longer possesses on this earth, but life which he continues to inspire in others.

Contentment :   16.5 / 25
Excitement :      3.5 / 10
Memorability :   6 / 15

Overall Score : 52% (28th out of 303)

Day 271 - Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Incredibly, today was the hottest day of the year (so far) in Dublin, with the mercury rising to 25.9 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Spirits were noticeably high in the city centre at lunch-time, and luckily I had the forsight to prepare some incredible home-made ham, cheese, tomato, coleslaw and scallion sandwiches that were thoroughly enjoyed in the St. Stephen's Green sunshine.

After work, I CityBiked and strolled along the canal to Mount Argus for a visit to Joanne, Austin and Adam, who intensely eyed up his present of Sully from Toy Story (in teddy form) and will likely make a decision in due course on whether he likes it or not but the signs are good. He is growing and getting ever-alert, and was in great form all evening. Austin cooked up a Chilli Con Carne storm and highly delicious it was too.

 

Contentment : 15.5 / 25

Excitement :    3 / 10

Memorability : 4.5 / 15

Overall Score : 46% (68th out of 271)

Day 255 - Monday, September 12th, 2011

I was sent a text a few weeks ago offering me 50% off my next Bombay Pantry order - 50%!!!! Alas, the offer expired yesterday but I called anyway to be told "Computer Sez No" by the kindly phone-attendant. I asked for Head Office's number, had a lovely chat with Madam Head-Office who duly promised to immediately instruct her drone to accept my 50% off request - great success!

Naturally, I grossly violated the deal by ordering a feast for 6, and brought the d'lish Indian booty over to Austin, Joanne and Adam, the latter of whom politely passed on the offer, being 7 weeks old and all. The other two, with me, dug in though, and 2 starter platters, fire house lamb, murgh (chicken) chutney and chicken chili masala were duly savaged with lashings of rice. (The other 3 courses were dispersed evenly for cold-storage and future devouring.)

Adam is in utterly splendid form, with his 3-week spell of windy-pops seemingly behind him - all part of trials and tribulations of babydom!


Viva Bombay Pantry!

Contentment : 15 / 25
Excitement :    2.5 / 10
Memorability : 3.5 / 15

Overall Score : 42% (94th out of 255)