Day 259 - Friday, September 16th, 2011

Although it was on Tuesday, today was decreed to be the official birthday of Signorina Lara Della Volpe - that's Miss Laura Of The Wolf for those of you who don't speak Italian. The Birthday Girl anointed the Sub Lounge to be the venue, with its bustling beer garden, DART trains roaring overhead, and most importantly of all, its €3.40 pints.

Beforehand, I met Johnny D in the nearby Dark Horse Inn for a couple of pints of plain, which were retailing at an incredible €3 each - expensive Dublin, my eye! Particularly enjoying the inexpensive alcoholic fare was a 6 foot 6 American, who kept coming up to the bar every 3 minutes to buy a pint, and by his last visit, he was swaying from side to side like a tall building after an earthquake.

Onto the Sub Lounge, and a large crowd as present, with many of them here to pay tribute to the birthday lady herself. Neil "Dutchy" Holland was in the house, as was Lady Zara McMullin, Danny The Swede, Terence O'Flaherty in a triumphant leopard-skin ensemble, Al Carroll, Baroness Ann-marie Ferguson and Trevmeister Underwood - a glittering array of starlets, I'm sure you'll agree.

Shinners and Damiano encircle the birthday girl

A Damiano escort from Signorina Lara!

Contentment : 15 / 25

Excitement :    3 / 10

Memorability : 4.5 / 15

Overall Score : 45% (76th out of 259)

Day 250 - Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Another blogging milestone - 250 days - and after flagging somewhat in the past couple of months I sense that I may be getting a 2nd (or 3rd/4th/5th) wind to bring me to the finish line that is a mere 115 days away! I have already decided that next year's blog will be a leaner, more direct affair - no harm, sez you.

Lunch was taken at the Clarendon for the first time in a while, and its soup and pepper chicken offering for a tenner (including tip) went down a treat.

Thursday Night Darts Club took place a day early this week, in its regular Doolan's haunt, but its taking place looked in danger until 7.15pm when the necessary 4th athlete arrived. Everyone is obviously saving themselves for the double-ranking event next Thursday, but all present tonight profited well, with Lara "Tryples" Della Volpe making a triumphant return to soar up the World Rankings from 15th to the crucial 12th position, which offers the final berth for the World Championships in December. After a slow start, Conch-Shell "The Conqueror" O'Keeffe ironically slowed his throw to reap his highest points dividend since April, whilst I pipped John "The Equaliser" Delaney by 2 points to lift my first title since May - great success!

Contentment : 16 / 25
Excitement :    3 / 10
Memorability : 3.5 / 15

Overall Score : 45% (74th out of 250)