Do I need a phone to use Sky? I don’t know for sure, but if pressed for an answer I’d give an equivocal “maybe!” There’s plenty of conflicting evidence around and plenty more on Google of course.
Category Archives: When-in-Ireland
Sky Digital Packages and Pricing
After getting Sky Digital installed yesterday I need to choose a suitable package of channels. I took advantage of the €1 installation which meant I had to go for an expensive package of channels this month. As I don’t have enough interest in soccer to justify the sports channels I want a cheaper package next month!
Who collects the household rubbish in Blarney?
When you’ve a question, who do you ask? Google! I searched for rubbish collection blarney ireland in an effort to find out who, besides the council, operate garbage/rubbish collections in Blarney, Co. Cork. Damn blogs have polluted the search results! 🙂
Much Later … On a more serious note. Here’s a list of Bring Sites in Co. Cork. Looks like I can recycle glass, paper and cans in Blarney but I hope that list isn’t out of date now! Here’s a commentary on the woeful state of recycling in Ireland. We’re way behind everyone else.
Earlier today I noticed that Ballincollig has an extensive “Bring Site”. You can recycle paper, cans, glass and even plastics there!
Pensions in Ireland
It’s one of those things everyone should have but nobody wants to think about, until it’s too late in some cases! A representative from the Pensions Board was on the radio this morning reminding people to look into pensions!
Apparently you can get half of what you contribute to a pension back in tax relief! That’s something I must look into in the next year or two.
Thank you for the skip!
You know it’s election time again. Politicians are being nice and taking notice of their constituants. Not that I mind, much. Things get done. It’s a pity I’m moving to a completely different area as this gesture is wasted on me!
Several weeks ago a letter arrived at home saying the road outside would be resurfaced. Although the letter was written by a local councillor, it was at pains to point out that it was a cross-party effort that resulted in the action taken! Two days ago preperations began on the road. Woo!
A few mornings ago another letter arrived. This time from our local Labour Councillor, Denis O’Flynn. In it he stated to, “have arranged from my allocation of ward funds to have two rubbish skips delivered to your area on Friday next the 26th of March. I have asked for these skips to allow you the residents to dispose of the larger items of rubbish.”
Well, thanks very much! I took home a load of rubbish from the new house and dumped it this morning. Pity I had to go out to Blarney at 2am this morning after the pub. Only got 4 hours sleep last night. Yawn!
Denis – I would have voted for you anyway, simply because Labour are flavour of the month for me and I’m disillusioned with FF and FG. Must find out who my representatives are in Blarney.
And for those who’re interested, here’s a list of members of Cork City Council. Just in case you want to have your own skip delivered. Remember, you have until June 11th when the local elections occur!
Worms!
Heard on Today FM a few minutes ago, and here for reference purposes.. Ray was asked about composting waste food so he got an expert on the line. My father has a composter which has worked wonders to cut down the amount of waste we throw out. Mel and others have told me about wormeries a few times. These are basically the same, but they have worms in them, and according to the “expert” they’ll consume waste material 10 times faster! With the introduction of weight based billing for rubbish collection at the end of the year I can only imagine that sales of these devices is going to rocket over the next few months!
House things
So I spent the day doing house things – washing machine, beds and wardrobe were delivered. I got a buzz out of setting up the washing machine and connecting the vacuum cleaner. Yes, yes, yes.. cheap thrills, but they’re my washing machine and vacuum! 😛
Had a frozen pizza for dinner, must get a proper oven-lighter thingy, lighting it with a match almost took the hand off me with the roar of flame from it! All going well, I shall probably be living there on Friday night or perhaps Saturday.
House warming parties to be held sometime next month. Ring the doorbell with your elbow and I’ll take the presents from your hands. lol.
Buying a House in Ireland – It's mine!
And I’d be moving in except that the vendors want to varnish the floors in their new house first. My solicitor told me to go over there, get the keys, and change the locks.
I’m more conciliatory and I’ll give them 24 hours. After all the stress of the boundaries and everything.. *grr*
Later… My solicitor got in touch and put on the pressure. They moved out tonight and I’m in! I helped Ger and his father-in-law move stuff out and we finished around 8pm. His wife Liz doesn’t like me I think, but then she made my life hell over 3 broom sticks and a bit of twine.. Here starts another phase in my life!
Buying and Moving House in Ireland – Utilities
Part ??? of ??? – almost there!
I get the keys of the house on Friday so I’m quite excited at the prospect! There’s still a lot to be arranged, and transferring utilities is one of those jobs. I rang The ESB, Bord Gais, and Eircom earlier to find out how.
- Using the 2003 02 area phone book I saw that the ESB had a number of phone numbers. Unfortunately the first sales number I tried went through to their emergency/fault line! Ring 1850 372 372 if you want to talk to a sales guy. I was kept on hold for less than a minute and told to get a meter reading on Friday, get a forwarding address, ring them again and the account will be transferred.
- I rang Bord Gais then. The phone was answered immediately. A meter reading has to be done by the current owners, they should ring Bord Gais on Thursday or Friday with their new address, my payment details and the meter reading. Their phone number is 1850 426200.
- Finally, I rang Eircom. I was kept on hold for a good 3 minutes. Different recorded voices came on from time to time saying there were delays, and sorry for holding, etc. I thought it was strange to have different people recording those messages but it’s probably cheaper than hiring more staff to man the phones. Anyway, story is much the same. They ring Eircom, give my name and payment details. Transfer of a phone account costs €12, and if I want a new number it’ll cost €24.59. Isn’t it strange how the ESB and Bord Gais can transfer an account for free? (or at least they never mentioned a cost, in which case, my apologies to Eircom!) Ring Eircom at 1901 and press 1 for a sales person.
Much Later … It’s much easier than that. The previous owners took meter readings, and rang the various utilities to transfer the bills over to their new address. Bord Gais and the ESB were informed of my moving in to their house, and I rang Eircom and got the phone line connected a few days later.
Haunted Houses, Ghosts and Poltergeists
I need a spooky category.. Gerry Ryan has had a few calls from women saying their houses are haunted. I’ve an open mind about this and wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand at all.
The first caller said that she saw a silver haired woman lying on the bed next to her one morning, she turned away and back again and the woman was gone. She heard her child mumbling one night and went into her room later and the child said that she had been trying to call out and she was held down by something. Last Monday she took 3 photos of her children and apprently there’s an hump-backed old woman with a cane in the picture. A psychic told her that the woman in the house doesn’t want them living there! *gulp*
There’s more, and it’ll probably be repeated on Saturday morning so have a listen then!