And we're eating taco fries...a step up from twisty fries...
Friday, 22 February 2008
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Dublin still
Hi ho gang. Not sure who still bothers to log in to read this, so please gimme a shout out if you still do so I know I should still keep writing.
I suppose I should write anyway, just for my own records. I've stopped writing by hand in my book so I should at least write here to keep a record.
The boss has gone for a few weeks so it's less stressful here at work without him. He's not a bad guy-it's just high pressure when he's here.
I think I have a boyfriend now, too. Not sure how that happened but he's a top bloke. Up in Belfast, unfortunately, so that will mean trips up and down but it's not far away really. We went to the Guinness Storehouse/tour today and that was cool.
There really is too much to say right now in one little entry. I'll start writing more frequently so I can keep on top of what's been happening.
Work is ok, the people are all mad (in a good way). Quite a few of them are leaving soon which is a bummer but that's the nature of travelling and working when you're a backpacker I suppose...
I'd love to be able to save enough money to go sailing in Croatia for my birthday. That would be sweet. Gallipoli on ANZAC day would be equally as awesome. I paid for my passport today and lodged the application. So in 10 days time I should have a shiny new passport. Yay!
Been drinking way too much Guinness lately-it's criminal. Criminal how much Temple Bar charges for it's pints, at least.
Ok I suppose I should go. Not much else to say right now without getting too in detail. Should be putting some photos up in the next few days, too.
Hope everything is well wherever you happen to be.
xxx lisha
I suppose I should write anyway, just for my own records. I've stopped writing by hand in my book so I should at least write here to keep a record.
The boss has gone for a few weeks so it's less stressful here at work without him. He's not a bad guy-it's just high pressure when he's here.
I think I have a boyfriend now, too. Not sure how that happened but he's a top bloke. Up in Belfast, unfortunately, so that will mean trips up and down but it's not far away really. We went to the Guinness Storehouse/tour today and that was cool.
There really is too much to say right now in one little entry. I'll start writing more frequently so I can keep on top of what's been happening.
Work is ok, the people are all mad (in a good way). Quite a few of them are leaving soon which is a bummer but that's the nature of travelling and working when you're a backpacker I suppose...
I'd love to be able to save enough money to go sailing in Croatia for my birthday. That would be sweet. Gallipoli on ANZAC day would be equally as awesome. I paid for my passport today and lodged the application. So in 10 days time I should have a shiny new passport. Yay!
Been drinking way too much Guinness lately-it's criminal. Criminal how much Temple Bar charges for it's pints, at least.
Ok I suppose I should go. Not much else to say right now without getting too in detail. Should be putting some photos up in the next few days, too.
Hope everything is well wherever you happen to be.
xxx lisha
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
baby steps
After what happened I am really reluctant to post here again...but since I am not writing in my regular journal anymore I need to keep writing somewhere so the days don't get 'lost'!
I had a great time in Belfast and was sad to leave the friends I had made there, but there are new friends to be made in Dublin and the Belfast lads will probably visit down here sometime anyway. Plus, it's not like it's not far to go to get there if I want to visit them! Definately going to Belfast again so I can do one of the Black Taxi tours...
Having Passport woes yet again. Of course nothing goes easily but I suppose it would be a boring life if everything went according to plan. This job pays cash anyway so I'm not in the same rush to get the Visa/PPS number/bank account like I was before. I won't talk about work sorry.
The weather here has been nothing short of glorious. There is consternation thought because springe has already sprung it seems and all the flowers are starting to burst out and bloom, it's been sunny and clear during the day too. I miss the cold, to be honest!!! Luckily for me it was a nice day when I visited the Giant's Causeway-very cool! Derry was really interesting, too. Would love to go back and check out some more of it later...
I bought a new phone so I now have an irish phone number. I have most probably texted all of you guys anyway with my new one. Use that instead of my australian number pleasssseee!! It's such a chick phone, too. It's a little flippy pink shiny thing. Good on ya Sony Ericsson! Next thing to get is a straightening iron (you can pick them up for cheap around somewhere) and then finally a laptop. Definately need a lappy but am loathe to pay Dublin prices for them. There's one I really want from Circuit City but they don't ship to Ireland. Of course!
Argh I have the sniffles and need to run. There is a cup of tea with my name on it!
Sorry this blog will probably be pretty crappy for the next few entries while I get back into it properly. You can't be too careful about who reads this stuff, hey...
Take care,
xxx lisha
I had a great time in Belfast and was sad to leave the friends I had made there, but there are new friends to be made in Dublin and the Belfast lads will probably visit down here sometime anyway. Plus, it's not like it's not far to go to get there if I want to visit them! Definately going to Belfast again so I can do one of the Black Taxi tours...
Having Passport woes yet again. Of course nothing goes easily but I suppose it would be a boring life if everything went according to plan. This job pays cash anyway so I'm not in the same rush to get the Visa/PPS number/bank account like I was before. I won't talk about work sorry.
The weather here has been nothing short of glorious. There is consternation thought because springe has already sprung it seems and all the flowers are starting to burst out and bloom, it's been sunny and clear during the day too. I miss the cold, to be honest!!! Luckily for me it was a nice day when I visited the Giant's Causeway-very cool! Derry was really interesting, too. Would love to go back and check out some more of it later...
I bought a new phone so I now have an irish phone number. I have most probably texted all of you guys anyway with my new one. Use that instead of my australian number pleasssseee!! It's such a chick phone, too. It's a little flippy pink shiny thing. Good on ya Sony Ericsson! Next thing to get is a straightening iron (you can pick them up for cheap around somewhere) and then finally a laptop. Definately need a lappy but am loathe to pay Dublin prices for them. There's one I really want from Circuit City but they don't ship to Ireland. Of course!
Argh I have the sniffles and need to run. There is a cup of tea with my name on it!
Sorry this blog will probably be pretty crappy for the next few entries while I get back into it properly. You can't be too careful about who reads this stuff, hey...
Take care,
xxx lisha
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Videos!
As you can tell-I still sound Australian so nothing to worry about there.
Silly thing went all blurry for some reason.
my camera battery died on this one.
MORE TO COME!
Silly thing went all blurry for some reason.
my camera battery died on this one.
MORE TO COME!
You heard it here first.
Quick question....what do you think this is?
Answer:
It's one of our tour buses that got burnt out last night!!
Let's see that one more time:
Yeah another bus has been burnt when it's parked outside the hostel. Not directly outside, at least, but about 25m down the street. Fun fun fun. Not really, it's a major pain for everybody who has to deal with the consequences. Luckily, there was a bus big enough to take all the travellers up to where their next stop was (we even commented yesterday about the size of the bus coming up because it's a 51 seater-much bigger than the 33 or 15 seaters they usually send) but it's a damn good thing the 51 seater came up because without it, some travellers would be stranded!
Other than that, the management has come back and we didn't burn the place down or wreck everything so that's a thumbs up for us. Yay team! A few of the colourful characters of Belfast have been hanging around (friends of the management-a right laugh they are!). There's 'Fish', the cockney taxi driver who has a crazy ex-wife after him and has the funniest way of telling stories...
There's Terry the crazy american who has just been 2 years in Poland and is just hanging to go out and speak to people in english and drink a guinness...
There's Joey (a regular), who-in all seriousness-would have to be the funniest person I have ever met in my life. He has us in stiches and crying with laughter everytime he starts up. He's just like a hyperactive leprechaun!!! It's the best ever. He kind of reminds me of Eric Idle a bit when he's playing one of his characters. Joey is a tour bus driver so he knows lots of songs that he gets the bus to sing to pass the time and he has the funniest stories ever and knows how to tell them so that everyone around him just tunes in to see what he's saying. It's fantastic...
I've got a little bit of video somewhere but it just doesn't do it justice. The phenomenon that is Joey.
Anyway, enough of that.
Going back to Dublin on Tuesday to start at the Dublin Paddywagon Tours desk in the hostel. 4 days on the tour desk then 1 day in the hostel. Free accommodation plus wages on top of that-excellent. Oh-check out they have this TV show in Ireland called 'Life Without Me', it's kind of like one where the presenters take over the jobs of ordinary people or something. Anyway, they chose Paddywagon tours for one of their episodes last July. Here's the page where you can watch the episode. (paddywagon tours on tv)
On a happier note...Belfast rocks it's great and tomorrow I'm going out with the management (JJ and Jules) for a drive tomorrow to see some markets or something. Anything that gets me out of the hostel and into Belfast will be good. On monday I'm going on the Giants Causeway and Derry tour too, which I am excited about-the Giants Causeway looks awesome!!!
I also bought some tickets in the £95 EuroMillions draw last night (http://www.euro-millions.com) so we'll see how that goes. Checking results now. If you don't hear back from me, I'll be in the Greek Islands having a massive party with my lotto winnings. :-P
*edit*
Ok yeah I didn't work. Looks like I work for at least another week (as Dad would say). I got the two lucky star numbers (supplementaries) but that's about it. Oh well!
Ok gotta go...
Take care :-)
xxx leash
Answer:
It's one of our tour buses that got burnt out last night!!
Let's see that one more time:
Yeah another bus has been burnt when it's parked outside the hostel. Not directly outside, at least, but about 25m down the street. Fun fun fun. Not really, it's a major pain for everybody who has to deal with the consequences. Luckily, there was a bus big enough to take all the travellers up to where their next stop was (we even commented yesterday about the size of the bus coming up because it's a 51 seater-much bigger than the 33 or 15 seaters they usually send) but it's a damn good thing the 51 seater came up because without it, some travellers would be stranded!
Other than that, the management has come back and we didn't burn the place down or wreck everything so that's a thumbs up for us. Yay team! A few of the colourful characters of Belfast have been hanging around (friends of the management-a right laugh they are!). There's 'Fish', the cockney taxi driver who has a crazy ex-wife after him and has the funniest way of telling stories...
There's Terry the crazy american who has just been 2 years in Poland and is just hanging to go out and speak to people in english and drink a guinness...
There's Joey (a regular), who-in all seriousness-would have to be the funniest person I have ever met in my life. He has us in stiches and crying with laughter everytime he starts up. He's just like a hyperactive leprechaun!!! It's the best ever. He kind of reminds me of Eric Idle a bit when he's playing one of his characters. Joey is a tour bus driver so he knows lots of songs that he gets the bus to sing to pass the time and he has the funniest stories ever and knows how to tell them so that everyone around him just tunes in to see what he's saying. It's fantastic...
I've got a little bit of video somewhere but it just doesn't do it justice. The phenomenon that is Joey.
Anyway, enough of that.
Going back to Dublin on Tuesday to start at the Dublin Paddywagon Tours desk in the hostel. 4 days on the tour desk then 1 day in the hostel. Free accommodation plus wages on top of that-excellent. Oh-check out they have this TV show in Ireland called 'Life Without Me', it's kind of like one where the presenters take over the jobs of ordinary people or something. Anyway, they chose Paddywagon tours for one of their episodes last July. Here's the page where you can watch the episode. (paddywagon tours on tv)
On a happier note...Belfast rocks it's great and tomorrow I'm going out with the management (JJ and Jules) for a drive tomorrow to see some markets or something. Anything that gets me out of the hostel and into Belfast will be good. On monday I'm going on the Giants Causeway and Derry tour too, which I am excited about-the Giants Causeway looks awesome!!!
I also bought some tickets in the £95 EuroMillions draw last night (http://www.euro-millions.com) so we'll see how that goes. Checking results now. If you don't hear back from me, I'll be in the Greek Islands having a massive party with my lotto winnings. :-P
*edit*
Ok yeah I didn't work. Looks like I work for at least another week (as Dad would say). I got the two lucky star numbers (supplementaries) but that's about it. Oh well!
Ok gotta go...
Take care :-)
xxx leash
Thursday, 7 February 2008
You wanna drink Baileys from a shoe?
You guys probably won't get the Mighty Boosh reference... There is a Queens of the Stone Age gig on tonight so the hostel is packed...the punters had better not get rowdy! Got videos up on youtube I'll upload soon...also some more pics if the computer recognises my canon...
*edit*
Yes, the punters were very rowdy. We had to kick a group of 8 out the next morning. Sunday night the Smashing Pumpkins are playing at the same place-hopefully if anybody comes in for that they will be a bit better behaved.
Monday, 4 February 2008
The best haircut I never paid for.
I gave myself a haircut and I'm very happy with it! Will get some pics up later.
Been making lots of beds (40 today) and working and stuff and drinking lots of cans at night. It's all good! We take turns to cook or to go out and pick up the food and the craic is good up this way. Not crack. Craic. The managers are staying away for another few days so that's good too-means they are happy with how we are looking after the place!
Got some pics of my beautiful baby ducks back home-although they are hardly babies anymore!!! Thanks so much Bec for uploading them. I miss those little fellas so much.
That's Manny to the rear, if I'm not mistaken. Kali to the front.
It snowed so much the other night-big FAT clumps of snow that blanketed absolutely everything. We had a big snowball fight out in the street and as soon as we could scoop the snow up more would fall to replace it. I swear I made so many snowballs I almost got frostbite on my fingers.
I went out to get some photos today while the sun was still out and of course when I went out it started raining. Then raining harder. Then hailing. Had to walk back in it all. Oh well. It has rained practically every day since I've been up here but I don't care cos I don't need to go outside much. Plus I like the rain. Snow would be better but I'll settle for rain.
Hmmm current events what's been happening...well the Giants won the Superbowl, France thrashed Scotland in the Rugby, been listening to songs by Robyn (You Never Will Be Mine) and Scouting For Girls - (Elvis Ain't Dead) and watching Hollyoaks on TV. Oh man, Hollyoaks is my new favourite show!!! It's been about 8 to 10 degrees (celcius) here and mostly rainy. Things are expensive here and unfortunately I'm still buying Starbucks. It's almost £3 a pop here but damn it's delicious. The only thing that is cheap (compared to back home) is beer. Tennants, to be exact. I always thought that was a chav drink? Doesn't Mike Skinner from The Streets sing about it?
" If I want to sit in and drink super tennants in the day I will,
No-ones going to f*****g tell me jack," Yeah that's him...
Ok time for me to go. Dan's making pasta and it's almost ready. I'll do the books tonight ready for tomorrow and just wait for the last few check-ins I guess.
Been making lots of beds (40 today) and working and stuff and drinking lots of cans at night. It's all good! We take turns to cook or to go out and pick up the food and the craic is good up this way. Not crack. Craic. The managers are staying away for another few days so that's good too-means they are happy with how we are looking after the place!
Got some pics of my beautiful baby ducks back home-although they are hardly babies anymore!!! Thanks so much Bec for uploading them. I miss those little fellas so much.
That's Manny to the rear, if I'm not mistaken. Kali to the front.
It snowed so much the other night-big FAT clumps of snow that blanketed absolutely everything. We had a big snowball fight out in the street and as soon as we could scoop the snow up more would fall to replace it. I swear I made so many snowballs I almost got frostbite on my fingers.
I went out to get some photos today while the sun was still out and of course when I went out it started raining. Then raining harder. Then hailing. Had to walk back in it all. Oh well. It has rained practically every day since I've been up here but I don't care cos I don't need to go outside much. Plus I like the rain. Snow would be better but I'll settle for rain.
Hmmm current events what's been happening...well the Giants won the Superbowl, France thrashed Scotland in the Rugby, been listening to songs by Robyn (You Never Will Be Mine) and Scouting For Girls - (Elvis Ain't Dead) and watching Hollyoaks on TV. Oh man, Hollyoaks is my new favourite show!!! It's been about 8 to 10 degrees (celcius) here and mostly rainy. Things are expensive here and unfortunately I'm still buying Starbucks. It's almost £3 a pop here but damn it's delicious. The only thing that is cheap (compared to back home) is beer. Tennants, to be exact. I always thought that was a chav drink? Doesn't Mike Skinner from The Streets sing about it?
" If I want to sit in and drink super tennants in the day I will,
No-ones going to f*****g tell me jack," Yeah that's him...
Ok time for me to go. Dan's making pasta and it's almost ready. I'll do the books tonight ready for tomorrow and just wait for the last few check-ins I guess.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Doing things is what I like to do!
I saw this commercial in the US and really liked it. The song is by They Might Be Giants, apparently!
This one is playing in Ireland and I think it's funny in a goofy way. The guy's expression when he refuses the onions on his sandwich is funny.
On the Subway stores around here some of them have window decals of the two onions in the ad with a speech bubble coming off them going 'put us on your sandwich, or ELSE' and before I had seen the ad I had no idea what was going on but thought it was such a craic that they would have these two little characters to make people want onions, as if people weren't eating enough of them or something.
This ad. Well. There aren't really any words cos it's too strange. They're advertising cable TV or something I think.
OK enough of that. Time to get to work!
This one is playing in Ireland and I think it's funny in a goofy way. The guy's expression when he refuses the onions on his sandwich is funny.
On the Subway stores around here some of them have window decals of the two onions in the ad with a speech bubble coming off them going 'put us on your sandwich, or ELSE' and before I had seen the ad I had no idea what was going on but thought it was such a craic that they would have these two little characters to make people want onions, as if people weren't eating enough of them or something.
This ad. Well. There aren't really any words cos it's too strange. They're advertising cable TV or something I think.
OK enough of that. Time to get to work!
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
She works hard for her money...
Can't stay long-started training/work at the hostel. Changing beds, vacuuming, bookkeeping. Awesome it's good to be working again.
I'm hoping these computers will recognise my camera so I can upload some stuff.
Oops gotta go-break is over!
**********
Ok cut to several hours later!
I finally have some pics. Not that many because my camera ran out of battery but a few at least until I charge the little bastard up again. Seriously have had jack of it...
Anyway, enjoy!
James Joyce Bust in St Stephens Green, Dublin
Unbelievably beautiful green grass in St Stephens Green
Bottom of Grafton St shopping mall.
Inside the front gates of Trinity College. Again, unbelievably green grass.
Looking towards the hostel I was staying at. The red doors underneath the flags down near the blue van.
Back to pics from New York
Me out the front of Jackie Onassis Reservior, Central Park. Squinting into the sun, so it's not a particularly great photo sorry.
My favourite room inside the Museum of Natural History. Fantastic!
OKKKKK I still have photos to upload from my Canon, including those from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and some more from Central Park I think. The Pentax I still have stacks of photos to go-so stay tuned!!!
xxx Leash
I'm hoping these computers will recognise my camera so I can upload some stuff.
Oops gotta go-break is over!
**********
Ok cut to several hours later!
I finally have some pics. Not that many because my camera ran out of battery but a few at least until I charge the little bastard up again. Seriously have had jack of it...
Anyway, enjoy!
James Joyce Bust in St Stephens Green, Dublin
Unbelievably beautiful green grass in St Stephens Green
Bottom of Grafton St shopping mall.
Inside the front gates of Trinity College. Again, unbelievably green grass.
Looking towards the hostel I was staying at. The red doors underneath the flags down near the blue van.
Back to pics from New York
Me out the front of Jackie Onassis Reservior, Central Park. Squinting into the sun, so it's not a particularly great photo sorry.
My favourite room inside the Museum of Natural History. Fantastic!
OKKKKK I still have photos to upload from my Canon, including those from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and some more from Central Park I think. The Pentax I still have stacks of photos to go-so stay tuned!!!
xxx Leash
Monday, 28 January 2008
Luck of the Irish
It's been a fun and very not-boring last few days! And not in the 'OMG DRAMA' way but rather in a constructive way.
A few nights ago (Friday night) I met a Aussie girl at the hostel and she was cool we talked for a bit, she's already working over here in a restaurant I think. Anyway, her friends and her were talking about how the hostel we were staying in was booked up next weekend (the 2nd and 3rd of Feb) and when I was downstairs in reception I also heard the staff telling someone that too! So I checked on the internet and they said they were full, as did most other places in Dublin. Oh shite!
There is a football thing on or something that weekend I think, that's why there's alot of no vacancies. ANYWAY. I walked into the hostel around the corner (literally), Paddys Palace. Anybody who reads smh.com.au might recall the name from a recent story ('Tour bus set alight in Belfast' 25/1/08) because they also run the Paddywagon tours. But I digress. I walked in and asked the girl at the desk (an affable kiwi) if there was space next weekend and she said Yes! Even though their websaid said they were booked they still had space. So we got talking for a little bit and somehow it came up that I was looking for work here. She goes 'Would you want to work in a hostel?' Now, I probably haven't said it too much or at all on here yet but hostel work is number 1 on my 'top jobs' list for working abroad. Seriously there isn't much else I'd rather do. I'm easygoing about the jobs I want and want to work at lots of different places but above all else...working in a hostel. So I said 'YES!' and then she goes on to tell me that she's leaving soon and she will train me up to take over her job. Sweet! I give her my resume and she calls the sister hostel up in Belfast because those guys need a break for a week and it's an easier job than down here so the plan is to go up there for a week or so and work there then come back down, get trained for the specifics of this job then off I go!
How awesome is that?!? Earning pounds (in cash) and free accommodation and working at a hostel. I'm stoked. So I booked my bus ticket up there and am planning on leaving today.
This means I have to call or go and see the pharmacy that I had the interview tomorrow for and tell them I've had to go to Belfast for a week or so for an emergency but hopefully they understand and can reschedule. One problem was that I couldn't remember the place or even know the name of it, so on Sunday I had to backtrack and try to find it again. Being a sunday everything was closed and shuttered but I'm pretty sure I know the place now, and have their number.
I went to the reception at the place I'm at and asked them about the referral for my PPS number (sounds a bit too much like TPS, doesn't it?). The deal is (for anybody who wasn't paying attention before) that to get a bank account here you need a PPS number which is kind of like a tax file number back in Aus. To get a PPS number you need to either have a letter of referral or some kind of evidence that you are living here and have been for at least a little while. The hostels generally make you stay there for two weeks before they'll write you one. So I'm booked in for 10 days, right. That's so close to 14 days! I explain to the guy at the counter that I'm booked in for 10 days, but because it's all full on the weekend I have to go somewhere else and if I come back afterwards does that still count for my 14 days. He looks at me and says "We're not full that weekend..."
What?
He says that even if the internet says they are full they never realllllly are. But I heard the desk staff talking about it! Anyway, he goes onto the computer, prints me out a letter of referral saying I've stayed there for 20 days and gives it to me. What a champ! I feel bad that I'm probably checking out today.
So, with the referral in hand and high hopes of coming back to Dublin slightly richer I will go where the wind blows me and it seems that place is Belfast. They (the irish) reckon it's safe up there and there are no worries. But you never know. Aussies also think it's safe back home but then you have guys getting bitten by sharks and all sorts of nonsense!
**********
Yesterday I was surprised to get a text msg from Steve, the aussie guy I met on Australia Day (one of them, the one I talked most to). It said he was going sightseeing to Dublin Castle and stuff and would I like to come along? Of course I would! So off we trundled in a very roundabout way to Dublin Castle and took the tour. It was pretty interesting, especially the part where you go underground to see the excavation of the medieval ruins. We then went into Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells (I still don't know whether 7 euro to see an old book was worth it?) and the Long Room. Actually I take that last bit back-7 euro to see both was ok I suppose. The Long Room was AWESOME! Seriously it's 65m long and like, 50m tall (don't quote me on that though) and has books stacked everywhere. It's like the library in Harry Potter! We weren't allowed to take photos (booooooo!) but here is one someone else took:
Seriously...books stacked to the ceiling and these rickety little ladders on wheels they use to get up to them. In the display cases down the middle they had old Gould (you know, the bird guy?) taxonomy texts. Some of them were open to pages on the Koala and the Rock Wallaby :-P
After that it was like 'let's go somewhere we can be loud!' because all that being in hush-hush places was stifling. There was a 1st years football (ok, soccer) game going on outside so we watched that and yelled out at the appropriate intervals. There was one player, Eddie, who was the crowd favourite and we cheered him hardest of all. A pub lunch of irish stew and pint of guinness was next and was yummmmmm. Haven't eaten meat in ages so tasty irish lamb was a good choice!
That was what I got up to on my last few days, basically. Popped in to Paddys hostel yesterday arvo to arrange things with the guy from the Belfast hostel-gotta call him back today though because he was supposed to call yesterday but didn't. Hmmmmm not a good sign!
Today I need to drop in my PPS referral form, call up JJ from Belfast, and depending on what he says either check out of my hostel or send Steve a text asking if he wants to do anything today.
Sorry I don't have any of my own photos for you guys yet. It's killing me not being able to share them!!!
Hope everything is well back home, wherever home is for you.
Oh before I go and get my breakfast (STARVING), I should add that I got a text back (finally) from an irish guy I met at The Celt, and he wished me luck for my job prospects so I now have the Luck of the Irish on me!!! All that's left is to find me a leprechaun and I'll be set.
love you long time!
xxx leash
A few nights ago (Friday night) I met a Aussie girl at the hostel and she was cool we talked for a bit, she's already working over here in a restaurant I think. Anyway, her friends and her were talking about how the hostel we were staying in was booked up next weekend (the 2nd and 3rd of Feb) and when I was downstairs in reception I also heard the staff telling someone that too! So I checked on the internet and they said they were full, as did most other places in Dublin. Oh shite!
There is a football thing on or something that weekend I think, that's why there's alot of no vacancies. ANYWAY. I walked into the hostel around the corner (literally), Paddys Palace. Anybody who reads smh.com.au might recall the name from a recent story ('Tour bus set alight in Belfast' 25/1/08) because they also run the Paddywagon tours. But I digress. I walked in and asked the girl at the desk (an affable kiwi) if there was space next weekend and she said Yes! Even though their websaid said they were booked they still had space. So we got talking for a little bit and somehow it came up that I was looking for work here. She goes 'Would you want to work in a hostel?' Now, I probably haven't said it too much or at all on here yet but hostel work is number 1 on my 'top jobs' list for working abroad. Seriously there isn't much else I'd rather do. I'm easygoing about the jobs I want and want to work at lots of different places but above all else...working in a hostel. So I said 'YES!' and then she goes on to tell me that she's leaving soon and she will train me up to take over her job. Sweet! I give her my resume and she calls the sister hostel up in Belfast because those guys need a break for a week and it's an easier job than down here so the plan is to go up there for a week or so and work there then come back down, get trained for the specifics of this job then off I go!
How awesome is that?!? Earning pounds (in cash) and free accommodation and working at a hostel. I'm stoked. So I booked my bus ticket up there and am planning on leaving today.
This means I have to call or go and see the pharmacy that I had the interview tomorrow for and tell them I've had to go to Belfast for a week or so for an emergency but hopefully they understand and can reschedule. One problem was that I couldn't remember the place or even know the name of it, so on Sunday I had to backtrack and try to find it again. Being a sunday everything was closed and shuttered but I'm pretty sure I know the place now, and have their number.
I went to the reception at the place I'm at and asked them about the referral for my PPS number (sounds a bit too much like TPS, doesn't it?). The deal is (for anybody who wasn't paying attention before) that to get a bank account here you need a PPS number which is kind of like a tax file number back in Aus. To get a PPS number you need to either have a letter of referral or some kind of evidence that you are living here and have been for at least a little while. The hostels generally make you stay there for two weeks before they'll write you one. So I'm booked in for 10 days, right. That's so close to 14 days! I explain to the guy at the counter that I'm booked in for 10 days, but because it's all full on the weekend I have to go somewhere else and if I come back afterwards does that still count for my 14 days. He looks at me and says "We're not full that weekend..."
What?
He says that even if the internet says they are full they never realllllly are. But I heard the desk staff talking about it! Anyway, he goes onto the computer, prints me out a letter of referral saying I've stayed there for 20 days and gives it to me. What a champ! I feel bad that I'm probably checking out today.
So, with the referral in hand and high hopes of coming back to Dublin slightly richer I will go where the wind blows me and it seems that place is Belfast. They (the irish) reckon it's safe up there and there are no worries. But you never know. Aussies also think it's safe back home but then you have guys getting bitten by sharks and all sorts of nonsense!
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Yesterday I was surprised to get a text msg from Steve, the aussie guy I met on Australia Day (one of them, the one I talked most to). It said he was going sightseeing to Dublin Castle and stuff and would I like to come along? Of course I would! So off we trundled in a very roundabout way to Dublin Castle and took the tour. It was pretty interesting, especially the part where you go underground to see the excavation of the medieval ruins. We then went into Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells (I still don't know whether 7 euro to see an old book was worth it?) and the Long Room. Actually I take that last bit back-7 euro to see both was ok I suppose. The Long Room was AWESOME! Seriously it's 65m long and like, 50m tall (don't quote me on that though) and has books stacked everywhere. It's like the library in Harry Potter! We weren't allowed to take photos (booooooo!) but here is one someone else took:
Seriously...books stacked to the ceiling and these rickety little ladders on wheels they use to get up to them. In the display cases down the middle they had old Gould (you know, the bird guy?) taxonomy texts. Some of them were open to pages on the Koala and the Rock Wallaby :-P
After that it was like 'let's go somewhere we can be loud!' because all that being in hush-hush places was stifling. There was a 1st years football (ok, soccer) game going on outside so we watched that and yelled out at the appropriate intervals. There was one player, Eddie, who was the crowd favourite and we cheered him hardest of all. A pub lunch of irish stew and pint of guinness was next and was yummmmmm. Haven't eaten meat in ages so tasty irish lamb was a good choice!
That was what I got up to on my last few days, basically. Popped in to Paddys hostel yesterday arvo to arrange things with the guy from the Belfast hostel-gotta call him back today though because he was supposed to call yesterday but didn't. Hmmmmm not a good sign!
Today I need to drop in my PPS referral form, call up JJ from Belfast, and depending on what he says either check out of my hostel or send Steve a text asking if he wants to do anything today.
Sorry I don't have any of my own photos for you guys yet. It's killing me not being able to share them!!!
Hope everything is well back home, wherever home is for you.
Oh before I go and get my breakfast (STARVING), I should add that I got a text back (finally) from an irish guy I met at The Celt, and he wished me luck for my job prospects so I now have the Luck of the Irish on me!!! All that's left is to find me a leprechaun and I'll be set.
love you long time!
xxx leash
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