Education and Learning

We Are Abandoned Ireland

2009-12-27T14:53:00.002Z

I discovered this site: www.abondonedireland.com today.

As I looked through the abondoned buildings, I was shocked to read that 155 “inmates”‘ bodies were discovered in the grounds of the Good Shepherd Convent in Sunday’s Well, Cork.

http://www.abandonedireland.com/mc.html

I knew this went on in Dublin, but I don’t remember this scandal.

A convent fit for royalty, an orphanage for our children and an Irish solution in the Magdalen laundry.
It only closed in the late 1970s.
Shame on us.
Women and children were impisoned here, there’s no other word for it.
Children through no fault of their own, and women for being human.
We cannot let this happen ever again to our fellow human beings.

It's ironic that I learned about these abondoned Irish on a website called abondonedireland - a site devoted to abondoned buildings in Ireland.

Should Bishops remain as Patrons of our schools?

2009-12-20T16:35:00.001Z

Church involvement in education - then and now

2009-05-27T18:58:00.002Z

I am really disgusted at the contents of the Ryan Report.
My heart was in my mouth reading about the abuse suffered by those poor, little children. I just don't know how they survived it. Many didn't.

I am very sad and mad as hell at the subsequent reaction of the so-called religious and also of our so-called Government.

I know that this is a very simplistic view, but children were abused in Ireland for decades because:

The State outsourced education and health care.

The State kow-towed to the church.

Has anything changed there?
No.
The church and religious still run education in this country.
They are still very involved in health care.
Woods and Ahern agreed to the shocking deal in favour of the nuns and religious.
Bertie taunted Pat Rabitte (when he questioned that deal) that he only wanted to get rid of the religious in Ireland!
Rabitte saw that as trying to ruin his reputation, and he was right, it probably did damage it.
The State is very deferential to bishops over education.
Many people are still scared of the church's power in Ireland.

I'm sick of the lies and rotteness, and more to come.

I have an idea to rid us of this rotten lot.
Seize everything they own (change the constitution if necessary).
Round them all up and send them to Haughey's island in Kerry - how appropriate! One screwed the country, the other screwed the country :-(
Let them do what they like to each other there.
Provide free counselling and care for the victims.
Keep the rest in trust for future cases, because this is not over yet.
Threaten FFers with the island too if they don't cop on pronto.

Special Education - Value for Money Audit

2009-05-16T09:01:00.004Z

Batt O' Keeffe, the Minister of Education and Science, ordered an audit of all Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in all schools in Ireland earlier this year. They are still at it. There are about 3,500 primary schools alone, and only about 20 SENOs. He says that he wants to make sure that the tax payer is getting value for money.

An SNA is appointed under very stringent conditions. A child must have a special need, a particular diagnosis and must basically have care needs (cannot do certain things for themselves, like go to the toilet, turn a page, eat, take medication, walk, see) and / or safety needs (will hurt themselves ar someone else) before they will be given an SNA. Often SNAs are shared between 2 or more children. There is no excess, I assure you. We need probably 10 times more SNAs in our schools, but this Audit is an attempt to cut, cut, cut.

The people carrying out the Audits are already completely run off their feet. They are the Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs). Their job is to examine professional reports, visit the school, meet the child and the parents and then award supports for this special needs child, or not. The Minister has them running around doing audits and reviews, so their core job is on the back burner. That suits, because if they don't have time to award resources, well the Minister saves more money. Meanwhile, the special needs children have no support in school and suffer immeasurably, as do their parents, classmates and teachers.

Now, let's look at this Minister and the value for money HE is giving the tax payer? He was in Ballingeary, Co. Cork last Sunday canvassing for his son who is running for Cork County Council - Batt handed over the seat to his son a few years ago. How nice of him.
You might say - so what if he was in Ballingeary canvassing for his son! What he does in his own free time is his own business!
Ok, fair enough! BUT, he had his big state car, his driver, armed bodyguards and 3 or 4 other cars full of men with him in a convoy!! Knocking on doors in a small village in County Cork, asking for votes for his son. IS THIS VALUE FOR MONEY? The driver and detectives were probably on double or triple time for the Sunday?? That trip out would probably have paid an SNA for a few months? This particular village has one of its own, Jerry O' Sullivan, running as an Independent candidate in this election, so Batt's boy is unlikely to get any votes there despite his Daddy's day out. If Batt went to Ballingeary, he's probably canvassing elsewhere too.

MINISTER, THIS IS NOT VALUE FOR MONEY. IF YOU WANT TO CANVASS FOR YOUR SON, DRIVE YOURSELF, TAKE YOUR OWN CAR AND GO ALONE, IN YOUR OWN TIME. SHAME ON YOU!
AGAIN!

That Linehan gene strikes again?

2009-05-08T19:02:00.006Z

Those Linehans (Conor, Brians Jr and Sr, and Auntie Mary too) are great for opening their mouths and letting any old thing flop out.

According to www.kildarestreet.com, in an attempt at glossing over Batt O' Keeffe's axing of vital supports for special needs children, Conor Linehan explained to the Dáil that -
"The mainstream approach to those with mild general learning disability is universally understood by educators to be the correct approach to this learning disability, which is general and mild by its nature".

What?

I am an educator. I don't understand any such thing, of itself, as a stand alone statement, without further supports. I support inclusion, but it has to be supported inclusion. We do not have supported inclusion in our schools, we have inclusion on the cheap.

A mild general learning disability IS NOT what it says on the tin, as Linehan makes out! It certainly is not MILD, as in not very serious, as Conor Linehan infers. This is a serious and a life-long learning disability.

In layperson's terms (this is for you, Conor!)-
Children can have a (1) high IQ; (2) an average IQ; (3) a low IQ; (4) a very low IQ and (5) an IQ which is difficult to measure.
Children who have been diagnosed as having a mild learning disability fit in to category (3). It is a LEARNING DISABILITY! This LD needs specialist teaching and support. Placing such a child into a mainstream class does absolutely nothing for them, they don't breathe in intelligence from other children in the class. They need careful and caring teaching. Class teachers find it really, really, really hard to cater for Batt's increased class sizes, not to mind catering for children with SEN as well.

Don't fall for FF's claims that their record in special education is fantabulous! It is NOT. Yes, provision for special ed has improved very much since 1998, but that is because it was virtually non-existent prior to that year. FF got their act together, because parents like e.g. Kathy Sinnott dragged them off to court! Today, in 2009, the special ed provision in Ireland is still bottom of the pile. It is a disgrace! The most that this FF crowd will give to a special needs child is FIVE hours of specialist teaching A WEEK. Yes, I did say a week! These FFers TOOK AWAY support hours (2 and a half hours per week) from pupils with Mild learning disabilities in mainstream classes in 2004/5. They also removed support hours (two and a half per week)from pupils with dyslexia! (The Minister who did this was Noel Dempsey. I will never forgive him for it). Those hours were miserably inadequate, but they were better than nothing. These children now have NOTHING, NO ENTITLEMENT TO ANY SUPPORT TEACHING, unless they are lucky enough to be in a special class, but now Batt is axing those.

Don't fall for FF's claims that these children will get support under the general allocation model. That's another crock! These children have NO ENTITLEMENT to any support in mainstream schools under FF's rules. What happens is that schools stretch and stretch their support teachers as best as they can in order to sqeeze in these children if at all possible. Schools are so over-stretched though that it just is not always possible. For a fact, the children do not get the amount of support that they need, which in my professional opinion is at LEAST one hour per day, every day.

The amazing thing is that when these children transfer to secondary school (if they do) then they DO get support teaching hours there. How typically FF stupid is that?!! It's in primary school that the foundation should be built for the child.

I am so disillusioned with this Government. They are not fit to govern. Dempsey stole support hours from learning disabled children in the middle of the boom years! Batt stole what was left.

Shame on ye all.
Shame on those who voted against the FG motion yesterday.
Shame on those yellow greens!
Shame on the FFers who spoke against the motion and showed that they hadn't a clue about this issue.

I work in this area every day. My pupils are fantastic, but they are not getting anywhere near the support that they need in mainstream schools. It is very unjust.

Don't worry, Conor, the boot up the backside we will give you, and the other Linehans,and the yellow greens shortly will only be MILD.................

Is your TD worth what you're paying him / her?

2009-04-26T18:33:00.004Z

Thank you, Bock, for telling me about this site -

http://www.kildarestreet.com/

It is very new (only days old), but you should go and have a look.
You can track your favourite TD - what did he say? What did he ask?
Shortly you can track expenses etc... too.

Excellent work and very timely!

The Cork Hurlers

2009-03-01T14:14:00.006Z

What's the story with the Cork hurlers?
Let me tell you.

The Secretary of the Cork County Board is a man named Frank Murphy.
He has been in this job for about 35 years now.
The dogs on the street say that he writes his own pay cheque.
No-one seems to know how much.
The County Board don't seem to believe in having an agenda prior to meetings.
They like "surprise" votes.
They had one of these in Feb of this year.
Delegates were unprepared. Clubs had given them no instructions as to how they should vote, because they didn't know there would be a vote.
People in Cork GAA have learned not to cross Frank.
If they do, then they say that there is a price to pay.
Fixtures miles from home.
General control stuff.
Delegates have learned not to vote against Frank, so they don't.

In 2002, the Cork hurlers faced Frank.
Their conditions were very poor - e.g. having to pick a corner in the gym in which to pee; poor diet, care, physio etc...
They went on strike.
Things improved a bit, but it seems that Frank never forgave them.
How dare they!
Many people in Cork believe that Frank foisted the previous far from successful Manager Gerald McCarthy on the Cork hurlers for one reason, and one reason only.
He knew that it would cause ructions.
People say that he hoped that a few of them e.g. Seán Og, Donal Og, Joe Deane, the Rock would retire, fed up with Frank and his yes men in the Cork County Board.
It didn't work out like that.
All 30 hurlers said STOP.
Frank's response? Hire a PR company to sling mud at the players.
Bad mistake. The Cork people love these lads.
10,000 marched in support of them.
Frank ignored 10,000 fans.
It is his way or no way.
To hell with Cork hurling.

The Manager was appointed in a democratice fashion, Frank says.
Was he?
The players said - anyone but Gerald Mac.
We can't win a bit with him.
We will not play for him.
Frank didn't tell the Board that piece of the jig-saw.
Then he pulled another good one.
Set up the vote for Gerald Mac (hurling) AND Conor Counihan (football) in the one vote!!!
Counihan seems to have what it takes, and has huge support.
Gerald Mac? Not really, but he seems to be Frank's man.
Counihan was definitely going to get the votes, so what better way of getting Gerald in than by having a vote like this.
Democratic?

What about Gerald McCarthy's role in all of this?
The players do not want him.
He has a proven track record (2 years as manager) of not being good enough.
He should have gone months ago, as managers generally do when they have lost the dressing room.
He refuses to budge.
Some say that he is being used by Frank.
Could be true. I don't know.
Could it be that he is putting personal interests before Cork hurling?
Surely not?
I don't know.

The players are making a stand against an undemocratic system.
It would be much easier for them to say nothing, put up with it, play knowing that they would not win with this man as their leader...
BUT - they are winners. They know what winning feels like. They know how to win. They know that they cannot win with Gerald McCarthy. They are not prima donnas. They do not want to choose their manager. They want to win. These lads train several times a week, they give their all to Cork for no financial gain. The people who are trying to degrade them, however, receive pretty hefty financial gain.

Support our hurlers was the byword for the March in February.
Another protest is now being organised for the 8th of March.
Why not at today's hurling match?
The organisers feel that it might become violent.
Also, people have vowed not to pay in to a hurling match until this is resolved.
Cork fans are happy to support the footballers and at the same time let the country know their views.
It might be one of the last times that Cork people get to watch the footballers too, because they have vowed to stop playing also if the dispute is not resolved to the hurler's satisfaction.

Here is the message:

IGNORED BY THE BOARD

March 8th - 2 p.m. Kennedy Park.............

To attend the Cork football match at Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

Dress code : Rebel.

If they want to ignore us on the street, we will have to take our message to them..........the last time it was for the players, this time it's for US!!!!

Frank Murphy and Gerald McCarthy and the Cork County Board thought that they would get away with fielding another squad! It has gone down like a lead balloon. About 40 - 50 young hurlers refused to play in this so-called 09 development squad. The lads who agreed to play are making a big mistake. Cork people will not forget that they have effectively breached a picket line. Word on the street has it that the County Board are grooming another set of lads for when / if the footballers go! Cork will erupt if that happens.

Some will say - Would they ever shut up, down there in Cork! We have far worse problems in the country!!
We have.
Problems created by people who think that they are above the rest of us.
People who have one rule for us and another for themselves.
People who are greedy.
People who are incompetant.
The Cork situation is a microcosm of what is wrong with our entire country.
The Cork hurlers are standing up and being counted.

Stand beside them.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions National Recovery Plan

2009-02-12T19:33:00.000Z

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has proposed the following plan for national recovery –
Here it is:

THERE IS A BETTER, FAIRER WAY

Congress Plan for National Recovery

Irish Congress of Trade Unions
February 2009
Introduction
Congress has consistently advocated the adoption of a Social Solidarity Pact as a better and fairer route to national recovery.

On January 28, Congress, Government and the employers settled on an outline Framework Agreement, which was to provide a basis for more detailed discussions on a National Recovery Plan.

The Framework committed all parties to a plan in which “all sectors of society contribute in accordance with their ability to do so, and….the most vulnerable, low paid, unemployed and social welfare recipients are insulated against the worst effects of recession.”

But Government failed to follow through on this commitment, which envisaged no less than a coherent response to all of the major issues facing working families.

They resorted instead to a narrow focus on the public finances - without seeking a contribution from the wealthy. Their intent is to achieve a competitive devaluation of wages across the economy, as we are no longer in a position to devalue the currency. Ironically, a currency devaluation would be more equitable, as it would reduce living standards for everyone, not just workers.

Congress remains committed to the concept of a Social Solidarity Pact and here we present 10 key initiatives that we believe must form part of such plan or agreement.

Our preferred option is to engage with all parties on these initiatives but if that is not possible, we will embark upon a major campaign to achieve a change in policy, commencing with nationwide demonstrations on February 21.

1. Protecting Jobs & Tackling Unemployment
Our social welfare system must be radically altered and integrated with skills enhancement, education and training. In a number of European countries, unemployed workers are guaranteed incomes of 80 percent of salary for two years, conditional on their participation in extensive training and upskilling. Employers are also assisted to identify alternatives to redundancy, such as short term working weeks and other arrangements.

A similar scheme, modified for Irish conditions, could be funded by amalgamating current expenditure on benefits with additional funding from the Public Capital Programme (PCP). This approach should be complemented by reprioritising the PCP to support job protection and labour intensive activities.

2. The Banking System & the Public Interest
The Bank Recapitalisation Programme involves handing over €7 billion of public money, from the Pension Reserve Fund, to the same people who presided over the collapse. Their refusal to forego enormous personal salaries and bonuses speaks volumes about their contempt for the taxpayer. That €7 billion must not disappear into a black hole and only one consideration – the public interest – should inform Government decisions on this crucial matter. And given all that has emerged about the conduct of senior bank executives, we require a complete overhaul of Corporate Governance and clear indications that wrongdoing will be punished. Support for the banking system should be conditional on:

o public control, either through Recapitalisation or Nationalisation;
o a legally-enforceable obligation to provide support for innovation and development in the economy, along with credit and support for business cash flow, where it can be shown that it is critical to job protection or creation;
o replace all top executives responsible for the crisis, in the relevant banks;
o remuneration from all sources for those at the top must be capped;
o three year moratorium on home repossessions, where people cannot pay due to redundancy or unfair dismissal.

3. Competitiveness.
In addition to the absence of a properly functioning banking system, the most immediate threat to our competitiveness comes from the weakness of Sterling, not wage rates. This accounts for about two thirds of the deterioration in recent months.

Energy prices must be reduced and the only impediment to this is the nonsensical regulatory regime that has pushed prices higher to ensure private generating companies make a profit. Coupled with the failure of our broadband infrastructure - following the privatisation of Eircom - this demonstrates the critical importance of strategic state intervention in the economy.

Our cost of living in Ireland is some 20 percent above the European average. Failure to pass through gains from a weakened Sterling and high professional fees are an unjustifiable drag on competitiveness.

4. The Pay Agreement
Congress continues to adhere to the Social Partnership agreement. The Government, CIF and IBEC have now, in effect, reneged on the pay deal they negotiated in September 2008. Yet, significant numbers of private sector companies have paid the first phase of that deal and others have committed to doing so. No credible reason has been advanced to explain why the ‘inability to pay’ clause has not been utilised.

This is no less than a campaign against wages, as an alternative to a currency devaluation, to promote competitiveness. But the state of the global economy is such that wage devaluation is unlikely to have much impact on exports, whereas it will seriously depress domestic demand.

Ultimately no incomes policy can have credibility unless the remuneration of senior company executives is curtailed, as has happened in the US.

5. Fairness & Taxation
The Framework Agreement includes commitments to fair and progressive taxation measures. But Government must spell out what this means in practice. How much of the €2bn shortfall will be carried by the wealthiest in the country? We believe the following reforms should be introduced:

o Income from all sources – capital and labour - must be taxed the same;
o Tax exiles must stay away if they don’t want to be taxed here;
o Tax shelters without a proven economic gain should be abolished;
o A property tax should apply to property other than the principal private residence;
o The levy on high earners (above €100k) should be graded upwards significantly;
o A new rate of income tax at 48 percent for high income earners;
o Abolish hospital co-location, with its generous tax breaks for developers.

6. Restoring Consumer Confidence
The property boom encouraged unsustainable levels of credit and spending. This has now been reversed and people are frightened to spend. This fear is paralysing the economy as people are worried about unemployment, pensions and repossession of their homes. As almost half our GDP comes from consumer spending, this has enormous implications. It undermines employment and jeopardises the survival of businesses. The state also loses out on tax revenue.

It is imperative that people’s fears are addressed. The failed policies of letting the wealthy off the hook, while forcing working families pay for the crisis, has already led to a slump in consumption unparalleled elsewhere in Europe. Retail sales in Ireland have been falling at an annual rate of 8 percent, as compared with the EU average of one to two percent. Recent VAT increases have exacerbated the problem.

Policy to date has been almost exclusively deflationary in practice. Surely the most sensible option is to stimulate the economy, rather than dampen spending and growth? To this end, all parties must now return to the negotiating table to agree a resolution of the situation on the National Pay Agreement, to provide people with some confidence for the future.

7. The Public Service ‘Pension Levy’
We acknowledge there is a crisis in the public finances. Government must return to the Framework Agreement of January 28. This recognised the necessity for radical measures to bring the public finances under control, on the basis of all sides contributing in accordance with their ability to do so. Until that happens there can be no sustainable plan for national recovery.

The so-called ‘Public Service Pension Levy’ is a crude and unfair instrument. As currently structured it is a straightforward pay cut. It has no regard for ability to pay. Indeed, some people on lower incomes pay proportionately more than those on higher pay. Apart from seeking to tackle the public finances without charging the wealthy a cent, it is also part of a strategy to drive down wages across the economy.

Workers did not create the problem, but will contribute to resolving it - as long as the wealthy also contribute. The problem with the course currently being pursued by Government and employers’ organisations is that the weakest suffer, while the wealthy contribute nothing.

8. Pensions
Private sector pensions are in crisis and there is increasing doubt about the long term viability of many funds. Government cannot stand by and allow people to emerge with nothing, having worked and contributed to a fund for perhaps 40 years. Waterford Crystal is a case in point.

Congress wants the National Pension Reserve Fund to be used as a Pension Protection Fund – which EU law requires us to establish. It has not escaped people’s notice that there is official reluctance to use it for this purpose and none whatsoever when it comes to propping up the banks.

Other innovations suggested by Congress include a state backed annuity and the possibility that private pension funds could have the option of voluntarily surrendering their assets to the state, in return for a certain level of guaranteed pension.

9. Employment Rights Legislation
In Towards 2016 Government committed to enacting a programme of legislation to protect the rights of all workers in the context of EU enlargement. The aim is to stop exploitation of workers regardless of nationality. Recent events in the UK demonstrate the need to get this legislation enacted quickly.

10. National Recovery Bond
It is clear that people are anxious to contribute to national recovery. This spirit could be channelled positively by establishing a National Recovery Bond. While we have enough borrowings for the immediate future, the state will presumably need to borrow more next year. With the cost of this borrowing increasing, a domestic National Recovery Bond could save the exchequer a lot of money. It could also be targeted at specific sectors such as school building or public transport, so people could see tangible gains

ends

I am a public service worker

2009-02-03T19:36:00.004Z

I am a public service worker....

Our ineffective so-called "Government" and their pals in IBEC have demonised us to such an extent, that I nearly feel that I should apologise for that or be ashamed or even scared to admit it.

I am a primary school teacher, and I would like to set a few lies straight.

1. Private sector workers are facing job losses, public sector are not.The pupil-teacher ratio was REDUCED in the recent flawed Budget. Many teachers will lose their jobs. Very few newly qualified teachers will be able to get a job in September 2009 and thereafter for quite some time.

2. Private sector workers are facing the dole queues.
During the 1980s, it was really difficult to get a full-time job teaching. It took me 10 years. Yes, ten years. I had to sign on the dole every Christmas, Easter and summer and when I had no work. It was tough, very tough. I have never enjoyed riches.

3. Private sector workers have lost their pensions, public sector have not.
I took out an AVC to address my pensionable service shortfall of ten years. It wasn't that I wasn't working, I was, but it was not permanent teaching, so the Government would not ALLOW me to pay any pension - hence the shortfall. My AVC is worth very little now due to the downfall, despite very large contributions from me each fortnight.

4. We can't afford to pay public sector pension contributions.
I pay 6.5% into my pension, as does every public sector worker.
How much does the private sector worker pay into their pension?

5. The public service pension is guaranteed, that's not fair.
Actually..... I don't believe that my pension IS guaranteed.
Our pension goes straight to the Government. Do they invest it wisely for us? No, they use it for day-to-day expenditure. My pension contributions run this country. You wouldn't think so the way IBEC talks about me.
Also, my AVC pension contributions have gone up in smoke, just like yours.

6. Private service workers have had to take pay cuts.
Why?
To keep profits high.
Do I have to suffer too for private sector employer's profits?

7. It's not fair.
No, it's not fair.
I HAVE TO pay into this pension scheme.
I have no choice.
6.5% of my annual salary is taken whether I like it or not.
Maybe I would like that 6.5% to spend?
Maybe I would like the choice?
I do not have a choice.
Instead, I was penalised by 12.5% in 2008 for being a part of this compulsory pension, and now I am being told to pay a pension levy too.

By the way, have you seen the breakdown of proposed levy contributions?
A teacher on 50,000 must pay 7.5% of gross salary on this levy, and pay tax again on it, with no means of claiming tax back on it.
A TD earning 6 times that teacher's salary must only pay 9.6%.
Why?
Why not 6 times the salary = 6 times the levy = 45%??
Why not, Brians?
Are we not in this together?
No, we're in it and you are special?
No, you are not.

Would the two Brians like me to leave this fantastic pension scheme? So fantastic that I have been penalised a 12.5% pay increase in 2008 already and now these dirty levies.
OK, what would that mean?
What would happen if we all left this fantastic pension scheme, that makes IBEC hate us so much?
Well, I would have an extra 6.5% in my pay packet.
The Government would have to borrow that 6.5% to run the country.
I would be eligible for the old age non-contributory pension when I retire.
That would cost me squat.
I would be eligible for a medical card and all of the added benefits associated with it.
I would take on the Fianna Fáil ethos - "Leave someone else pay for my lack of forward planning". Spend away bedamned and let the little guys take the tab!
I would blow my 6.5% and let the last hour be the hardest, i.e. let someone else look after my pension and me.
Sounds good.
Sounds damn good.
Two Brians, watch out.
I am very, very, very tired of carrying your can of worms.

I am not the enemy.
Brain Cowen, Brian Linehan, the Marys and all the rest of the FFs plus the light bulbers - THEY ARE THE ENEMY.

Don't be fooled.

What would I do to save those billions?
1. Put a cap of 100,000 on every single wage in this country.
2. Replace every single top banker.
3. Get rid of every Junior Minister and half of the TDs.
4. Get rid of Mary McAleese, we can't afford her.
5. Cap TDs pensions.
6. Withdraw pensions and drivers and cars from retired TDs.
7. Cut TD expenses radically.
8. Allow no expenses without a receipt.
9. Make Cowen et al stay in the country - no more gadding about.
10. Take at least half of profits from every Bank.
11. Make rich religious pay tax like the rest of us.
12. Make people in receipt of social welfare payments DO something, anything to avoid the "I am entitled" attitude.
13. Make everyone pay some tax, even €1, again to avoid the feeling of "I am entitled".
14. Create a whistle blower number so people can blow the whistle on tax dodgers / welfare abusers in anonymity.
15. Abolish the tax exile dodge and every other of the dozens and dozens of dodges.
16. Put €1000 on second houses and €2000 on third and subsequent houses - each.
17. Leave necessities alone. Look at luxuries and tax them.
18. Outlaw nepotism - that way Cowen, Linehan etc... etc... and etc... would never get into the Dáil. Pass a law that no child can follow their parent to the Dáil. Make it skip a generation to avoid mutation into crookery.
19. Make the Catholic church pay their own abuse costs. That would save at least a billion.
20. Last but by no means least - Issue a Government Bond / savings incentive. You give the Government say €2000 - for 5 years at 1% (or 0.5% or nothing) - that's €2000 that they don't have to borrow at 6%. Borrow from the Irish people in the form of a guaranteed bond. Money is still out there, but people are scared to spend it.

How am I doing?
OK for a start?
A couple of years of this and we will be sorted.

The argument that we have to pay our TDs well or else if we just pay peanuts then we will get monkeys...... well, that has been proven to be a fallacy.
I would clear them out of the Dáil.
I will never vote for any of them.
I do not trust them.
I do not believe that they have a clue.
They tempt strike and strife in our country.
Not good.
If the Brians had added 3 short sentences to today’s fiasco -
"This is a temporary measure to get the country out of serious trouble. We are only borrowing this pension levy from you. We guarantee to repay it within 5 years." (10 whatever)
- then the public sector would have been sore, but willing to help.
We have already given 6.5% to run the country.
Teachers have already given up half of their lunch break (to Dev) to teach Religion for nothing.
We are not bad people.
Just a soft target.

Don't be fooled.
Send your poison arrows to the correct target!

Lobby your TDs

2008-10-24T20:59:00.002Z

Labour have tabled a private member's motion on class size.
It is set to be debated on next Wednesday, and voted on the following day at about 12:30, as far as I can gather.

If you care about our education system, please lobby your TD, and tell him / her how you feel.

You can find the contact details for your local TD at www.into.ie - just scroll down a little to find them.

Here are e-mail addresses for all of our TDs. Some of them are out of date, so my apologies for that.

taoiseach@taoiseach.ie, bertie.ahern@oireachtas.ie, michael.ahern@oireachtas.ie, noel.ahern@oireachtas.ie, bernard.allen@oireachtas.ie, chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie, barry.andrews@oireachtas.ie, sean@ardagh.org, bobby.aylward@oireachtas.ie, james.bannon@oireachtas.ie, sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie, joe.behan@oireachtas.ie, john.browne@oireachtas.ie, aine.brady@oireachtas.ie, cyprian.brady@oireachtas.ie, johnny.brady@oireachtas.ie, pat.breen@oireachtas.ie, thomas.p.broughan@oireachtas.ie, niall.blaney@oireachtas.ie, richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie, ulick.burke@oireachtas.ie, joan.burton@oireachtas.ie, catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie, thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie, niall.collins@oireachtas.ie, minister.carey@taoiseach.gov.ie, joe.carey@oireachtas.ie, deirdre.clune@oireachtas.ie, dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie, margaret.conlon@oireachtas.ie, paul.connaughton@oireachtas.ie, sean.connick@oireachtas.ie, michael.creed@oireachtas.ie, joe.costello@oireachtas.ie, simon.coveney@oireachtas.ie, minister@finance.gov.ie, seymour.crawford@oireachtas.ie, noel.coonan@oireachtas.ie, john.cregan@oireachtas.ie, lucinda.creighton@oireachtas.ie, jimmy.devins@oireachtas.ie, minister@welfare.ie, john.curran@oireachtas.ie, michael.darcy@oireachtas.ie, john.deasy@oireachtas.ie, jdeenihan@eircom.net, minister@transport.ie, ciaran.cuffe@oireachtas.ie, timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie, andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie, bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie, damien.english@oireachtas.ie, michael.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie, frank.fahey@oireachtas.ie, frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie, martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie, michael.finneran@oireachtas.ie, olwyn.enright@oireachtas.ie, charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie, terence.flanagan@oireachtas.ie, sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie, beverly.flynn@oireachtas.ie, patthecope.gallagher@oireachtas.ie, tony.gregory@oireachtas.ie, paul.gogarty@oireachtas.ie, minister@environ.ie, minister@justice.ie, ministersoffice@dast.gov.ie, minister@dfa.ie, noel.grealish@oireachtas.ie, eamon.gilmore@oireachtas.ie, ministers_office@health.irlgov.ie, brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie, brian.hayes@oireachtas.ie, tom.hayes@oireachtas.ie, Jackie.Healy.Rae@oireachtas.ie, michael.higgins@oireachtas.ie, maire.hoctor@oireachtas.ie, philip.hogan@oireachtas.ie, sean_haughey@education.gov.ie, paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie, billy.kelleher@eircom.net, peter.kelly@oireachtas.ie, bwk@eircom.net, michael.kennedy@oireachtas.ie, enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie, ministerofstate@dcmnr.gov.ie, minister.kitt@taoiseach.gov.ie, michael.kitt@oireachtas.ie, seamus.kirk@oireachtas.ie, brian.lenihan@oireachtas.ie, conor.lenihan@oireachtas.ie, michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie, kathleen.lynch@oireachtas.ie,tom.mcellistrim@oireachtas.ie, martin.mansergh@oireachtas.ie, minister_martin@entemp.ie, padraic.mccormack@oireachtas.ie, jim.mcdaid@oireachtas.ie, ciaran.lynch@oireachtas.ie, shane.mcentee@oireachtas.ie, dinny.mcginley@oireachtas.ie, mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie, michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie, finian.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie, minister@agriculture.gov.ie, john.moloney@oireachtas.ie, joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie, liz.mcmanus@oireachtas.ie, olivia.mitchell@oireachtas.ie, john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie, arthur.morgan@oireachtas.ie, michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie, michael.mulcahy@oireachtas.ie, denis.naughten@oireachtas.ie, sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie, mj.nolan@oireachtas.ie, michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie, ocaolain@oireachtas.ie, aire@pobail.ie, minister_okeeffe@education.gov.ie, daniel.neville@oireachtas.ie, aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie, darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie, charlie.oconnor@oireachtas.ie, kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie, john.odonoghue@oireachtas.ie, fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie, noel.oflynn@oireachtas.ie, rory.ohanlon@oireachtas.ie, webmaster@defence.irlgov.ie, jim.okeefe@oireachtas.ie, ned.okeefe@oireachtas.ie, john.omahony@oireachtas.ie, sean.power@oireachtas.ie, boshea@eircom.net, christy.osullivan@oireachtas.ie, jan.osullivan@oireachtas.ie, willie.penrose@oireachtas.ie, john.perry@oireachtas.ie, mary.orourke@Oireachtas.ie, peter.power@oireachtas.ie, ruairi.quinn@oireachtas.ie, pat.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie, james.reilly@oireachtas.ie, alan.shatter@oireachtas.ie, dick.roche@oireachtas.ie, tanaiste@entemp.ie, minister.ryan@dcmnr.gov.ie, trevor.sargent@oireachtas.ie, eamon.scanlon@oireachtas.ie, michael.ring@oireachtas.ie, pj.sheehan@oireachtas.ie, sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie, tom.sheahan@oireachtas.ie, roisin.shortall@oireachtas.ie, joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie, emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie, dstanton@eircom.net, billy.timmins@oireachtas.ie, noel.treacy@oireachtas.ie, mary.upton@oireachtas.ie, michael.woods@oireachtas.ie, jack.wall@oireachtas.ie, mary_wallace@health.irlgov.ie, marya.white@oireachtas.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie,

The Next Generation of Broadband

2008-07-03T10:25:00.003Z

Is this another joke?
The NEXT generation of broadband is being rolled out?
The first generation is still in nappies!

Were you told that every primary school in Ireland now has broadband access?
Not so.
Some can't access anything.
Most have something, but it's as slow as dial-up, sometimes slower.
Some schools have reverted back to dial-up, because their so-called mega fast broadband is so painfully slow and unworkable.

This wonderful government has no meas in I.T. anyway.
How do I know this?

1. Mary Hanafin promised a "copper-fastened" (her words) 230ish million euro for schools.
That's seriously in doubt now, according to Batt.
It was always in doubt, Mary just spun and spun it.
She announced that scheme about 17 times, but delivered not one cent.

2. The last computer the Department of Education and Science provided to primary schools was circa 1998 / 1999, and that was a donation from Gateway. Parents are expected to fundraise since. So, we have so-called braodband in our schools, and a 10year old computer is meant to run it? I wonder how many Ministers have 10 year old computers on their desk?

3. 21 ICT Advisors based in Education Centres have been "returned to their schools". This means that schools now have ZERO access to experts. Batt's office says they want to support the individual school's ICT co-ordinator now. Whaaaa? Who's that? Most schools don't have such a thing. Those that do have a co-ordinator...well, it's just a title, it's just a teacher who has a class to teach and no time. He / she is not a technician who can maintain a 10 year old PC provided by Gateway on behalf of DES. The support is not there.

The timing of not renewing the contracts for these 21 ICT Advisors was partcularly disgraceful - the week of the holidays! Not only that, but each of the 21 are replaced in their schools (obviously) and 21 teachers who thought they had a job, who signed a contract! for a job - now do not actually have a job. DES don't care about being sued for breach of contract of course, because DES will pass the buck to the Board of Management, and let the ordinary Joe soap members of the Board get sued. Lovely!

4. Teachers do summer courses every summer. On-line ones have started to become very popular. They suit people, especially those with family commitments etc... they save on childminder fees, petrol, and can be done in your own time. They also encourage the use of I.T. Many teachers I know have used I.T. for the first time during an online summer course. Many teachers I know do 2-3 courses, some online, some face-to-face. What did the DES do this year? Decided that teachers can do as many face-to-face courses as they wish (as usual) but can only do ONE online course. What kind of discrimination and backward thinking is that? What kind of message does that give teachers about I.T.?

The Department of Education and Science don't think much of I.T., so when you hear the platitudes falling from FF mouths about the importance of I.T. going forward, to meet the needs of an expanding economy, to be well-placed for the resurgence in international markets - all of that babble-speak - know they're lying through their teeth.

The next generation of broadband?
Can we have the first generation first, please?
Can we have a REAL commitment to I.T.?
Can we stop LYING?
Can we educate our children for the future, please?
Any hope?

I'm Alive.

2008-06-30T14:23:00.003Z

Isn't it crazy the amount of people who kill their own people, i.e. husbands / wives, relations.
Sometimes I look at my dearly beloveds and wonder if they have it in them to do me in?
Surely not?
Although, beloved is always telling me (when there's a new murder on the news) that if he did the deed, he'd never be caught because he'd hide the body (mine!!) in the sceptic tank! Lovely!
Needless to say, I have told everyone to check there first if I go "missing".
This is all said in jest, but sometimes, just sometimes - I wonder?

Seriously though, isn't it a scary state of affairs when people who supposedly love each other can commit murder?

I am sometimes very sick of certain people in my life, but I don't think I could actually kill them. Disappear them to a gulag, yes, but kill them, no. What kind of a person would you have to be to kill someone? Maybe there's a killer in all of us given the right circumstances? What do you think?

Annoying People

2008-02-13T21:08:00.003Z

Anyone know how to block a number on a landline? on a mobile phone?
This person keeps ringing and annoying the absolute blazes out of me!
I can't call it a nuisance call exactly, because it's a relative......... Well, an in-law! So, I can't complain to the gardai, pity!
Worse again sez you and you'd be right, right, right!
Moany, groany, poor me phone calls!
Sickening rubbish.
I really want to screen these calls for a while.
Anyone know what to do?

An Open Letter To Minister Mary Harney

2008-01-27T21:43:00.000Z

Dear Minister Harney,
I have admired your guts and your work ethic for many years, but Mary, the health system is a crock!
A relative of mine (late 80s) was ambulanced to hospital yesterday morning.
He spent four and a half hours on a trolly in A&E, before being ambulanced to a second hospital for a scan.
The machine to perform the scan was available in hospital one, but these hospitals take turns to roster people to perform the scans at weekends. Saving money, I suppose, Mary... EXCEPT that hiring three ambulance crews on a Saturday (double time!) can't surely be cheaper than paying one or two scan people?????? Six crews actually, making 18 people, because there are two shifts.
Four hours more of lying on another trolley in hospital two, the scan was performed.
Three more hours were spent waiting for an ambulance crew to become available, to take the poor octogenarian back to hospital one. No, Mary, they were not rushed off their feet, they were on a break, then they changed shift, then it took a while to get cracking = 3 hours.
Back at hospital one, the octogenarian lay on yet another trolly in A&E waiting for a bed there all over again. Five hours more and a bed was sorted.
It was wretched. 17 hours of awfulness.
It was not an isolated incident.
Everyone we met was waiting for horrendous hours upon hours.
The stupendous lack of organisation and plain stupidity was evident on a huge scale in both hospitals.
Mary, please, for Ireland's sake, sort it, would you, please?
Mairéad.

Education in Ireland?

2007-12-18T19:45:00.000Z

We pride ourselves in Ireland of having a top class education system.
"Experts" maintain that we shouldn't be too worried about the building boom collapsing, because our real strength is our knowledge, our graduates, our people.
Various people have been questioning these facts recently.
Let's see, take a look at the primary (compulsory schooling) sector...

Mary Hanafin, T.D. Minister of Education and Science talks a damn good talk, but that's all it is - talk.
Remember when she promised to double the capitation grants paid to schools? Easter 2007 that was. INTO Congress actually - where she did NOT get a standing ovation, remember, but some journalists claimed that she did. Less than 8 months later and that promise was shown to be a complete lie.

Remember the class size protests we had all of last Winter by the INTO, teachers, parents and CPSMA? Did Mary lower our shockingly high class sizes and pupil-teacher ratio? Did she heck as like, as they say on Corrie. She won't either, according to Budget 2007! Your child, in a class of 20 plus cannot succeed as well as he / she could in a class of less than fifteen. I know hundreds and hundreds of classes of 30 plus. Your child! It is shameful. Mary Hanafin has done a great disservice to our children. How do you feel about that? I am as mad as Hell, but I'm worn down, fed up.

Remember how she talks and talks about how she has ploughed millions into special educational needs (SEN) pupils, and really, she can't do everything!!? It was Micheal Martin who did that in 1999. Mary did give a few hundred extra SEN teachers in 2005, but let's take a closer look at that. She only gave the bare minimum. She only gave enough to keep herself and her Government out of the courts. For example, currently, a child with dyslexia has NO RIGHT to extra specialised teaching, neither do kids with a Mild Learning Disability (LD) - these children used to have two and a half hours (PER WEEK - half a measly hour a day) but Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D. took that away and Mary kept it away; children with Down's Syndrome get NOTHING; children with a Moderate Learning Disability (more severe than a mild LD which we used to call "mentally disabled" back in our unenlightened day) - these children get 3 hours (PER WEEK - less than 40 minutes a day); children with Autism are entitled to 5 hours of extra, specialised teaching (PER WEEK - one hour per day)... What happens to these kids for the rest of the school day, the rest of the week? It's an absolute disgrace. Don't listen to a single word she ever says again. Do not believe her.

Remember the school building projects that she keeps on announcing? 25 million here, 3 billion there? It's easy to announce these things, what people don't realise is that she regularly announces plans for the same schools every year for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years, but makes no move whatsoever to build feck all!!!! Don't believe her. Don't be fooled by her. The Summer Works Scheme which was brutal to work around gave help to many schools to put in new windows, build toilets etc... She invited applications under this scheme but then suddenly did away with it after Budget 2007. Schools had to employ engineers etc... at 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 plus thousand euro a go in order to meet with the stringent application process - who pays them now?? The scheme used to cover these fees. Mary is not sure yet she says.... Schools have not got this money.

Water charges. Remember them? Hot potato this week. Now pretty much dropped. She didn't give a tu'ppeny damn about schools going into debt to pay these bills until she was told in no uncertain terms (this week) by teachers, principals and the INTO that if she wanted them paid then she would have to give the funds to pay them!!! Schools do not have this kind of money. These are State schools. The State must fund them. They are not funding primary schools even half way properly. Any funds that are given are given in installments, the first in Jan / Feb; so schools have to try to survive Sept, Oct; Nov; Dec; Jan. and usually Feb. with ZERO!!! Did you know that? It's an impossible situation. That's why schools go cap in hand to parents - wrongly, I believe. Very wrongly. Refuse to raise one penny for your local school ever again. Don't bake for the cake sale. Don't buy a cake. Definitely don't send in money for photocopying, art, drama... whatever. Schools should not ask for your money. They are in a very tight corner financially, because Mary is very, very, very seriously underfunding primary schools in Ireland. You can help more by writing to her and giving her a piece of your mind than by sending in that twenty euro that your schol really has no right to beg from you. Do not give it. Do not collect the Tesco, Super Valu, Dunnes tokens. Write to Mary. Tell her to fund your school properly.

Listen to the forked tongue of Mary Hanafin with new ears from now on....

Forgetful Michael Woods

2007-11-05T20:26:00.000Z

So, Brian Cowen changed the law so that Michael Woods could get the pension he forgot to claim?
"Ordinary" citizens who miss their pension deadlines have to just go and buzz off.
I say buzz off Michael Woods.
Remember this is the fella who "negotiated" with the church about their share of child sexual abuse claims! Negotiated? He cost the tax payer billions more like, and let the Church off with a negligible, capped, liability!!!!
Now we have to change the law to compensate him for his forgetfulness?
He should be compensating US!!
I hope every "ordinary" forgetful pensioner fights this one.

Blog Birthday

2007-11-01T19:08:00.000Z

I just realised that I've been blogging for a year now!
Yeeeeaaa.
Ooops, I missed my blog birthday.
My blog was one on October 29th.
Sorry blog!

What's Your Favourite Song

2007-10-24T19:26:00.000Z

I was thinking about favourite songs, and what they say about a person... For example, Roy Keane's favourite is said to be Bob Dylan's Positively 4th Street. Scroll down and read the lyrics. Here is a snippet:

You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

It's just Roy all out, isn't it? Not that I even know him!
I was soooo busy analysing Roy, that I nearly fell off my chair when I thought of my own favourite song and what it might mean about ME!! As a teenager, my favourite was The Eagle's "Lying Eyes" and I still love it. I absolutely HATE deceit and lying of any kind.

Do we choose songs because they describe us? Do the lyrics simply resonate with us? Do we like something that agrees with our own point of view? Do we simply choose a snappy tune?

What is YOUR favourite song? Tell us - does it describe a deep part of you?

Positively 4th Street by Bob Dylan

You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that's winning

You say I let you down
You know it's not like that
If you're so hurt
Why then don't you show it

You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it

I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with

Do you take me for such a fool
To think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don't know to begin with

You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, "How are you?" "Good luck"
But you don't mean it

When you know as well as me
You'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once
And scream it

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I'd rob them

And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understand
It's not my problem

I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you

Spin and Bull

2007-10-04T22:15:00.000Z

Well, I've heard it all now....
The new road linking Cork to Killarney is going to be re-routed because ecologists have found Killarney slugs in Cascade Wood in Ballyvourney. This road was to be built over 30 years ago and is a disgrace between Macroom and Killarney. The new GREEN Minister has said absolutely no to the slug destroyers!
Slugs?
The re-routing will cost a fortune! A fortune!
For slugs?
I know this wood. It's about 2 acres in size only. It's wild.
A big scelp of it was cut out of it only a few weeks ago for a prominent local politician's son to build a house on it.
Where were the slugs then?
Another well-connected fella cuts timber from it for his wood-burning stove!!!
What about the Slugs? Who will save the slugs from the builder? the chainsaw? the stove????
I listened to a programme about it on RTE Radio 1 tonight - The Green Light or something it's called. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The fabulousness of the slug was mentioned many times, and the ferns and the trees...... Some ecologist lady said how marvellous it is that the locals are full behind the protection of the slug and the wood..... No, they're not! They think it's a load of crap!
Spending possible millions to save a fecking slug?
I'm all for protecting our environment, but this is derisory!!
A slug, like??
Ah g'way from me wudja!

What about Miriam?

2007-09-26T20:57:00.000Z

OK we're all good and sick of Bertie and his escapades - but what about Miriam Ahern?
Why is she staying so quiet?
If my ex-husband was using our break-up and ME as an excuse for his tally-ho, I think I'd have something to say about it. (I don't have an ex-husband, thank God, they sound like nothing but trouble!)
If my ex-husband closed his bank accounts, dealt in cash, seemingly hid money and did me out of my due marriage settlement... I doubt I'd be silent! I doubt I'd be invisible! I doubt I'd hang out with him in public like Miriam did during the election!
How did Bertie swing the election is an easy one compared to - how did Bertie secure Miriam's support even though he "done" her?
The most cunning of them all, boy!
Did he promise her the moon?
Maybe we're all wrong about him and he's a great guy?
Miriam! What's the story?

New Adventure

2007-08-02T12:21:00.000Z

I took my courage into my hands over the weekend and bought something on e-bay!
I was too scared until now, but we needed a TV bracket that we couldn't find in the shops (for less than €250!), so I had a look on-line. I found a few great ones on e-bay, so I decided to have a go.
It was so exciting, bidding away.
I won it for £40.
The bracket was delivered on Wednesday, so that's not bad at all. It looks great.

I bought a much bigger (more expensive) item on Monday (again for a snip compared to the shops). That time the bidding was frenetic. I loved it, but stuck to my limit and I won again! It hasn't arrived yet, so I hope everything goes ok, but I'm feeling positive enough.
I have bought on-line before, but never on e-bay.
Was I the last e-bay virgin in Cork?

Liar, liar.

2007-07-10T22:21:00.000Z

Do you know a liar?
I do.
It's a person within my close circle.
He tells lies all the time.
He tells huge lies and stupid, pointless lies with the same unflinching gaze.
He gets really angry if he is doubted.
He has no word.
He is often caught out.
He brazens it out usually - "So what!" kind of thing.
He blames others (including me) for forcing him to lie!!
That drives me nuts.
He promises faithfully that he will never, ever lie again.
He does.
Again and again and again.
What to do?

The Irish Phone-Call Home

2007-06-17T12:22:00.000Z

John Mc got me thinking about the Irish phone-call to the old sod (land, not old fella!) in his response to my comment over at his place.
It made me remember the hoops my parents had to go through to phone home in the early 70s, when we lived in England, as part of the Irish diaspora.
Mam would write to her parents to tell them that she would phone the one and only local phone box at 6.30p.m. on Thursday, 17th of June - she'd give about 2 weeks notice in case someone else wanted to get a call on that day at that time - on that phone!
Then, the day before the big event, I would be given the job of phoning the operator, asking for the international operator, then the "Irish service" to book the call for the following day. I never questioned why I was given this job - even though I was only a kid!! Thinking about it today though, it was probably because I was the eldest kid, and because the operator might not understand my parents' Irish accent? As I think on it, they used to have quite a bit of trouble being understood by the natives. It didn't affect us too much though, because the Irish tended to stick together.
Anyway, the big day would come, and we would all be crowded around the phone. I would go through the rigmarole again at 6pm - 1. operator 2. international operator 3. Irish service - speaking to each operator in turn. Eventually, we'd get through to Ireland. Then the fun would start!! I would be put through to God knows how many exchanges, asking for Ballymagash 4 * (roaring down the phone because they couldn't hear me!!), spelling it, saying what county it was in - looking back, it was a scream, at the time though it was quite serious, because my parents contact with home lay in my young hands!
At long, long last, I'd be put through to another person and I'd say, "Hello, is that Ballymagash 4*?" and if everything had gone right (it didn't always) then I'd hear, "Hello, is that you, Mairéad, this is your granda. You're a great girl. Is your Mammy waiting there for me?" I'd hand over the phone, and Mam would get all the news of the weather, the weddings, funerals, illnesses - just like John Mc gets today when he rings home.
Like I said to John - some things have changed utterly, while other things haven't changed at all.

*Ballymagash 4 wasn't the number, but it was close. We didn't get an automatic service where I live in Cork until about 1984?? maybe later. We were physically "put through" by a local person whom we all knew, and by God but she knew all about us too, thanks to her excellent listening skills!!!

What a Week!

2007-06-15T21:25:00.000Z

Well, I have survived! So far anyway!
The two stressful things turned into three!!
First, I had an interview for promotion. That was the 6/10 one on the stressometer. It turned out well in the end. I got it. Yeaaa. Very stressful though.
Next, I can't talk about it - subjudicae - that was the 10/10 one, and t'was a good ten alright. Feicfimis.
Third, we got a little surprise visitor from Mr. Stress - hubby got news that he is facing redundancy. Not pleasant.
I suspect that the hundreds of job losses announced this week were kept under wraps until after the election. What do you think?

So, all in all, a very tough week.
I hadn't time to give the yoga a go, John, or the walk and soak, Conan, so I did a spot of deep breathing as per FMC. It worked!! Many thanks for the support everyone.

Stress

2007-06-05T21:24:00.000Z

I'm feeling a bit stressed these days.
I have two high-pressures things to do within a week.
Both have been brewing for a while.
The first thing is tomorrow (Wed), and it's been on the boil since September. It's about a 6 out of ten on the stress scale.
The second thing is worse, and has been hanging over me for about three and a half years. It's definitely a ten out of ten. It's hitting boiling point next week.

The butterflies are in full flight. I'm bilious and queasy. I'm nervous, irritable, cranky and a bit scared.
Any tips on getting through tough times?

P.S. My first-born starts his Leaving Cert exams tomorrow too. He's extremely laid back, cool and calm - long may it last!