I’m not working at the moment and have decided to maybe try starting a small business. I’ve settled on a market stall and I’ll be doing my research this week. I’d be looking at maybe ready- made meals or deli- style foods so if anyone has any ideas they’re more than welcome here . Will be visiting my first Market here on Thursday to get a feel for it and maybe ask some questions like do I need a casual traders licence, hotow much a pitch costs and if I have to source a stall.

We have a new addition to the household in the form of a little black whippet mix called Saoirse. She’s a beautiful little thing and definitely keeps me busy! We got her from our local pet rescue http://dierenasieleindhoven.dierenbescherming.nl/ , who we were very impressed with. We had looked at the animal shelter in Den Haag but decided that because we were both working full time it wouldn’t be fair to keep a dog cooped up in the apartment all day. Now I have the time and we have a garden, we’re better equipped for her. As soon as we moved here, Keith raised the issue again so we took a trip out. At the animal shelter here, they make sure all the dogs are chipped, vaccinated and neutered if old enough and they make you fill out a form to check your ability to look after any animal. They sometimes do home visits if necessary aswell. Because Saoirse was a puppy when we got her, the fee was 150EUR. If we had chosen an adult dog, it would have been 90EUR.  All in all we are mad about her and she is a little angel, very clean, well behaved and happy.

It is lonely here sometimes though, because it’s early days, I’m alone all day and the weather’s been terrible- so much snow!! We have met a couple of people here but everyone works except me . People have their own stuff going on at home so obviously it’s a bit tough to keep in touch regularly. Just not sure how often we’ll be able to get home this year between money issues and Saoirse. Hopefully we’ll hear from people a bit more.

Una xxx

So i have a Nokia E71 and have been using mobile internet for years, way back when the first GSM phones came out, when you used dialup networking  with *99# for it to create a GRPS connection, and its come a small way since that.

From the early days of Dialup over GSM at 9600BPS to Current day with 3.5G (I can’t believe its broadband) there has been one failing with all connectivity, the 3G modem, or connecting your phone to your laptop.

Bluetooth was finicky and usually slow, unless both devices are Bluetooth EDR Enabled, even then it can be a pain to get the two devices to pair etc.

USB Cables are a joke as well, for one, they rarely charge the device at the same time, which i think they should do, plus you had to carry around another cable with you.

Dedicated 3g Modems are another disaster, why is it that the providers have to release the CRAPPIEST connection software ever, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, Three … I’m looking at you … I mean could you not have released nice minimalistic software that doesn’t have massive company logos emblazoned all over it.

Enter Joikuspot, which i found after getting completely racked off with the Vodafone software + my Huawei modem and I was after starting in Germany working, I’ve used various incarnations of 3g offerings from various different networks and they’re all rubbish. In fact I had a better experience using the Huawei modem on Ubuntu, which is saying something.

The idea with Joikuspot is simple, your have a Series 60 mobile that has Wi-Fi and 3g, so you download this Application and it turns your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, simple ? Well yes it is that simple.

Download the application from:

http://www.joikushop.com/

You can enable encryption (just like you do with a normal Wi-Fi router)

Set a Network name

Then enable sharing ..

Search for the connection on your laptop, enter your network key and thats it.

More than one person can also use it.

The other option is to carry around a fullblown 

Linksys WRT54G3G

Which works just as well but I think carrying around a phone that does pretty much the same thing is much better.

It comes in two flavours, Light and Premium, Light being free and only allowing only port 80 and Premium allowing all traffic.  The Premium version was 19 Euros and well worth it.

Of course you could always run OpenVPN on port 80 on your home network and *ahem* not have to pay for the Premium version at all, but I think its worth purchasing

The Licensing is quite simple too, it sticks to your SIM and not your Phone, so if you get a new phone then its no problem changing over !

Today Ireland votes on Lisbon MK II. – Hope that goes the same way it did before.

We went to Ireland for my best friend Elaines wedding .. Congrats Mrs O’Sullivan.

We were are the Leeds Music Festival which was frikking awesome.

We went on Holiday to Malta, actually more specifically Gozo, which is fantastic.

I don’t normally have much of an opinion on policital matters, but i think this is a farse. It didnt go through the last time .. so lets change it a little bit and ..well .. this time .. sure the people don’t know whats best for them. Lets make the choice for them.

I firmly believe that Ireland is a republic and it should stay that way. If it goes the way of Harmonisation, the big ones (Germany,France and Italy) will start dumping their problems on everyone. High taxation in Germany is there to offset the problem with paying for the east and their aging population, they really are pushing for a uniform tax rate across europe because of their economic issues (which are improving at the moment)

I’ll be honest, i didnt read the whole thing, its 120 pages long and i only just finished a book. There isn’t any honest information out there from what i can see so, i can only go from the facts.

1. It was introduced, countries had a referendum, some countries (including the Dutchies and Irish) voted NO.

2. It was changed slightly (from what i understand it still has the end result)

3. It was announced that it will be put into practise.

4. Countries that previously voted no were told they cannot vote this time.

5. Ireland announces that its having a referendum on it, Ireland will be the ONLY country in the EU having a vote.

6. This happens:

IRELAND and Europe will “pay a price” if there is a ‘No’ vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned voters last night.

To me that should read: “Vote yes or else”

7. This happens:

Protests are being held outside 40 Irish embassies this weekend congratulating Ireland on holding a referendum denied to 487 million Europeans.

To me this strikes me as something that is being forced on the people, if you have to address a nation, that is a Republic, with a reasoning that is “Vote yes, because i said so” what are people supposed to think.

Also, if people are protesting that they don’t have a vote, does this seem right, why would they protest if there wasn’t a problem. I know theres always some nut that comes up with a reason, but these are people in Independant states that previously voted NO.

My issue isn’t with the Lisbon treaty itself, its how its being forced on people. This is not the “United States of the European Union” Anyone else remember who tried to force their Ideals on Europe, who thought they knew best ?

Again, i’ll say it, Ireland is a REPUBLIC people and it should stay that way, it took us long enough to get it , the European Union is great, but its an economic deal at the end of they day and we are keeping to that deal, it did not include forcing “Harmonisation” on people.

Next thing we’ll be required to carry “Papers” with us for identification purposes

Oh wait .. we do already .. in Holland anyway

Welcome to the European Union Comrade:

We made our first trip home last weekend. Spent Friday at Anto and Krista’s engagement party, Saturday with Keith’s family in Clonmel, Sunday with Jason, Alan, Susan, Trev and James and Monday having our flight cancelled in Cork Airport- the strangest thing is we felt homesick for the Hague….. Guess it’s because our new house is here but still a weird feeling.

Aoife is here at the moment doing some human rights- type things and I think she’s enjoying herself (!). We’re going to eat in a new Himalayan restaurant tonight with the Aliens and tomorrow is the big 1st anniversary dinner and party in Rootz.

Monday we are hosting the Paddy’s day festivities in the Shilleleagh (hope Thomas is ready for us!) and after that we will concentrate on the house for a couple of weeks.

Elinor and Richard are having a big murder- mystery dinner on the 28th of this month for Richard’s birthday. I’ve never been to one before and am both excited and nervous at the prospect. Keith is going as lady candy cane and I am her ex- footballer turned manager husband who is woman obsessed…. should be entertaining!!

Anyway, keep in touch and hurry up with the visiting! We now have a kindly donated spare bed!!

Una xxx

Now that Keith has put up the flickr account I better upload the rest of the photos.

Paddy came to visit for Keith’s birthday and I think he had a good time. So busy while he was here that I didn’t really see him until we got to Monday.

Had another interview this week, really want the job so I hope it goes well….. although knowing my luck…..

Got confirmation of Dara’s hen night aswell, I’ll have to make it home for that one! Also we’re thinking we might go on a diving holiday with some of our friends here- they’re going in May and I’d love some sun…

Will update this more often, its just been an uneventful month!

Una xxx

I mean, your a ferry company, and you associate an advertisment to:

A. The Crap movie Titanic which i found it hard to stay awake through.

B. The Titanic

I think they actually just traced the image.

Click below on each to compare.

It was my birthday this weekend !

We had friends over on Saturday … had a Wii night .. what a laugh

We went out drinking on Saturday (surprise surprise)

and we went to the brewery

Its near a place called BOOM, in Belgium. I’m serious … theres a place called BOOM in Belgium.

BOOM … and your braincells are gonnneeee

I’ve also added a flickr account so you can see our photos on the left.

Argh .. assholes break into your car … leave your ipod and stuff then leave and are kind enough to lock it again afterward.

What a BALLS.

Oh well, have to accept change. Speaking of which my new job starts next week. I’m quite looking forward to being locked away in an office building somewhere 5 days a week actually. It’s all new for me so it’s a bit exciting. Was also offered a job in Keith’s office but had to turn it down on principle- it wouldn’t be very cool working together I think.

We successfully managed to find a permanent abode aswell which we’re very pleased about. City centre, spare bedroom, proper bathroom and a savage balcony which will be perfect for barbecues during the summer months. The commission for the estate agent was a bit cheeky, and we’re going to be a bit broke for a while because we have to furnish it aswell but considering location, price and layout we think it’s more than worth it. Our landlord has been lovely and helpful aswell, he’s a nice fella and it’s a pity we haven’t seen more of him to be honest.

Missing home as usual, can’t wait to go home in March and see as many people as possible. Aoife and Paddy are coming to visit at the end of this month aswell so at least we’ve got that to look forward to.

Keith has organised weekly go karting with Legal Aliens in De Uithof starting tonight, it will be interesting to see what happens there. Feel a bit better about going this time because it’s not my first time…

Hope everyone at home is doing well, Keith wants to start putting pics up here but for the moment they’re all on my facebook so if you have it, add me and have a look!!!

Una xxx