Hello Strangers

December 22nd, 2011 by Mike
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Ok, so I’m the stranger here. Yes it has been a while. The last post was this back in September. Which saw my unsuccessful attempts at making bread in an earnest attempt to be to make something from nothing. It was also something from the list and in so doing I have knocked another item off the list. Even if progress is a bit slow on the list.

It’s been three months since I last posted. Honestly I would prefer to post more often but just don’t set the time aside for it really. I was orginally going to make this one big long post about the last few months but I think a better idea would be to set aside a few different post to dedicate to each topic, like my trip to Hong Kong, which should be a lenghty post as there are plenty of pictures to post and things to talk about.
Right now is time to get ready for the Christmas period. Work is over until the new year, shopping is nearly completed and the wrapping to commence, not to forget the amount of drink to be consumed, which begins tonight and will continue for the next few days. Out with friends, work colleagues and family at home.
So i’ll sign off here and wish all of you the merrist of Christmasses.
Mike.
Posted in Update

Not So Freshly Baked Bread!!

September 8th, 2011 by Mike
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Some of you may remember the list that I created in October last year, The 101 in 1001 list. Well It’s been lying idle for some time now. There are somethings that I have done recently that should have been added to this list at the start but I never realized it and some stuff that I am about to do that should be added to it. I just don’t know if adding after I have them done are just before I am about to them is right. The thing is, they are big things and things that should be added to the list. Some advise on these would be great if anyone wants to give some. Thanks.

Well onto the main topic of this post. Item number 4 on my list was to bake bread, well, viola, it is done, almost. I went at this my usual way, without proper planning. Ever heard the phrase, “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? Well this probably would have went a lot easier if I had planned it correctly. I did manage to make to loafs of bread.

First I got most of my ingredients, “most”, see a problem? I got the flour, self raising, some raisins, just to add something to it. A new baking dish and some grease proof paper, which from years of watching my mother bake Christmas cakes annually I though that I would need. See the picture below for when I though things where going smoothly, i.e., before I even started.

 

 

 

Cooking ingredients and equipment on the cooker

And so I got started. I mixed the flour with some milk and created my dough. The whole time not anyway near sure if I had the mix right. I done a lot of guess work with it I created a great big mess, see below!!

That picture makes it look like I knew what I was doing. Do not in anyway be fooled by this. I was, still am, a complete novice. Still this shall not deter me. I plan another go at it very soon. I have to admit, I did make two goes of this. The first loaf. I put grease proof paper in the pan and when it came out the paper was all stuck to it. The next time I didn’t use any because the pan was “non-stick”. That was a mistake. I had to pry the loaf from the pan with a knife!!

You can see below the final results. It was tasty, but not completely ate.

After having written this post I realized that I actually blogged about baking bread!!

I think I just really out-gayed myself!!

Mike.

 

 

 

 

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Posted in 101 in 101

Hong Kong

August 18th, 2011 by Mike
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So, for those of you that don’t know,I am heading to Hong Kong in 4 weeks time to meet up with my boyfriend, Frederick, who has been over there since the end of June (yes, yes, I know the question that you are dying to ask, being that he is asian, so of course he can catch flys with chopsticks!!). When the visit is over I plan on packing him into my suit case and dragging him back to Ireland with me. Luckily enough, it won’t come to this as his flights are already booked to return to Ireland, the same ones as I. It’s true what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

There are a few plans already made for when I am there. A visit to Bangkok in Thailand to visit both DJTonic and the newly breasted Jenny Winsiri. Visit the scene there, which from what I have heard is meant to be fantastic. With hosts like Tonic and Jenny I’m sure we won’t be dissappointed, no pressure guys ;)

Another place that we plan to visit is called Macau, which I am told is the asian version of Las Vagas, Viva Macau!!! I had never heard of Macau before until Freddie mentioned it.

While in Hong Kong some of the places that I plan on visiting are listed below in the links, click each link to get more details of each.

“Bats at Wetlands” Exhibition

Hong Kong Mid-autumn Festival

The Peak

Victoria Harbour

Disney Land Kong Kong (Yes, you read that correctly, it’s the child in me)

I will be in that part of the world for 3 weeks. I was also hoping to see the Singapore Grand Prix as it is on the first week end that I am there, but I will have to see what the story is with funds.

So the next 4 weeks cannot go fast enough for me as you can probably imagine.

Mike

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Posted in Travel

Book Review: 61 Hours by Lee Childs

April 21st, 2011 by Mike
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Book No.1.

I started reading this book in mid 2010 and for some reason put it down again. I couldn’t remember the reason that I put it down. So when I came across it at the start of the year again I decided that I’d give it another go.

61 Hours

Image by CraigGrocott via Flick

The problem was that I was I quickly reminded why I hadput it down. I found that the start of the book was quite slow to get started and didn’t seem like it had much momentum. I wasn’t connecting with the characters in any way at all. If I’m reading a book it is important to me that I feel something towards a character, be it hate, love, admiration, etc. I need to connect.

I had to work, which at some points seemed like a little too much for a novel, but once I got passed the first four chapters before I then started to feel something towards the main character of the book. He was someone that would have to grow on you and read more about in order to “get” him.

When we finally get into the town where the main part of the book is based it is then that we are starting to see the aspects of the book that would keep me gripped and wanting to read more. I saw things that made me ask why? They started to come quick and fast. It got to the stage that on the Sunday evening when I finished the novel I spent 8 hours straight, without interruption, turning page after page just to get to the end because I had to find out and know what was going on and what was about to happen.

In the end I had changed my mind about the book. I had gone from thinking that it was boring and slow to thinking that it was gripping, page turning and so full of action that I had to spend 8 hours straight just to get to the end.

I would advise this as a read to anyone. Just make sure to give it time before you put it down after the first chapter or two.

Mike

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Posted in 101 in 101

Something New For The List

March 18th, 2011 by Mike
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A symbol for list-class articles.

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve been thinking about a few new items to add to the 101 in 1001 list. Some of them actually make sense, some them are a good thing to do and others may seem pointless but I want them on there all for their own separate reasons.

The first one, which would be the good thing. Read 20 books in the 1001 days. I like to read a lot, but lately I just don’t seem to have the time or never take the time to pick up a book. It was only last week that I again got the chance to pick up a book and start reading and it occurred to me during the week that I should make more time to read and what better way to make sure I do take time to read than to put it on the list. I am currently on my first book of the 20, Lee Childs 61 hours. I’ll post a blog review of this when I have it read, which won’t be long more now, over half way through it now.

The next on the list is the one that makes perfect sense. For every goal I knock off the list I am going to put 10 euros into a savings tin. So when I have the list completed, I will have saved 1010 euros. IT can go to paying bills, loans or just to buy myself something nice. :)

The third one doesn’t really make much sense and is kind of pointless, but I always wanted to do it and love the sound of it when used to play music. Learn the piano. It might not be of much use to me but it would be nice to be able to play an instrument. I can see myself sitting down some day and just playing music that I can enjoy and relax to.

As part of the 101 in 1001 I have also added a new page for it. It shows my list, what I have done, what I have not done and what is currently in progress. So these are three more to add to the list.

Laters,

Mike.

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Posted in 101 in 101

She’s Packing.

March 16th, 2011 by Mike
4

I’ve decided that I’m finally going to part with my dearly beloved. Yes you’ve read that right. It’s time for us to split, to go our own ways. It’s not without a heavy heart that I say goodbye as she was the first one that I could genuinely call smart. Yes there where times when she was groggy and grumpy or full of fun and excitement, but we all have our moments. Yes indeed, it is time to say goodbye to my HTC Hero.

She was my first smartphone and I loved it from the first moment I opened the box. The knowledge that was at my fingertips any time I wanted it, or just to surf the net, read my facebook updates or spend ages trawling through my twitter feed and of course the hours spent playing Angry Birds (curse of a game if you ask me).

So what’s next on the cards? It can only be the HTC Ace Desire HD. “What’s so special about this phone Michael?” I hear you aks. Well lets see:

Screen: 4.3″
Processor: 1GHz
756 MB of RAM,
1.5 GB internal memory,
8 Megapixel camera,
720p HD Video recording,

Want to know more just visit the HTC webiste or watch the video below:

 

 

Jealous much? :)

Mike

 

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Posted in Gadets

My First Angry Post

February 19th, 2011 by Mike
2

I am writing this blog post to convey my anger and annoyance at the member of staff in Galway City Council that, for what ever reason, decided to remove my name from the register of electors, despite having gone to the city council buildings to personally hand in my form to make sure that I was registered.

As you can imagine, I am extremely annoyed that I cannot vote in the upcoming election due to a member of staff not being able to competently do their job. In a time when our country has been in one of its worst political and economical conditions that it has seen in some time. My vote, now more than ever, counts for something more than just an average vote. It’s my chance to join with my fellow Irish men and show Fianna Fail that after so many years in power that their politics have gone stale, outdated and are in need of radical changes.

I had already decided who I was going to vote for and I believe that this person and their party can do what is nesscary for the country and bring us out of the “Current Economic Climate”, as is the term that everyone seems to be using. But not only that, I also believe that this party is a much more open minded, clear headed and actually know what they are doing.

So to all that are entitled to a vote and don’t intend to, I implore you to vote as now more than ever you country and its people need you, or would you all like a free block of cheese?

Remember, every non vote is a vote for current government. If your not voting against them, your voting for them. So on the 25th of Feb, when they polling booths open, tell them what a bad job they have done.

Michael

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Posted in Politics

Time To Add

December 30th, 2010 by Mike
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Time to add another item to the 101 in 1001.

Go see an F1 Grand Prix.

Being an avid fan of F1 this one is a no brainer and will happen within the 1001 days. I would like to see a European grand prix. Belgium sounds good. Germany sounds great but Monza with the Tifosi would be excellent. To be surrounded by the Tifosi in Ferrari’s home grand prix would be something special, and if they won, it would be an incredible experience.

Clive experineced it this year at the 2010 Itailian grand prix with Fernando Alonso wining his first Itailian grand prix with Ferrari. This would be a must for any Ferrari fan.

Start your engines?

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Posted in 101 in 101, Goals

A White Christmas

December 22nd, 2010 by Mike
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I really don’t see what all of the fuss is about. For years the Irish have always wanted a white Christmas,  always asking “why can’t we get proper seasons and not all this rain all of the time!”. Well they finally got their wish, and what do they do? They bitch, moan and complain that they want the rain back.

Granted the snow is causing a lot of havoc with travel arrangements, but this is all down to travel companies, actually Dublin Airport Authority, for not being able to keep up with snow. There are countries that have this type of weather every year and they can cope with it. You might think, “but Mike, they are use to it” and I would agree with you, but of recent times, is this weather we are having really all that unusual that DAA can’t clear a runway of snow? That we had to wait until today for gravel to finally arrive to our shores to grit our roads. Surely some one in authority somewhere though, “After last winter, when we ran out of grit, maybe we should order a bit more?”.

So we have grit, we currently have Dublin airport open,  but for how long? All I’m saying is that can we not plan for these things as a possibility and be prepared and what will satisfy the Irish weather wise? I did hear on a few hot days during the summer, people complaining of the heat.

Also, this is going into a new category called Rants.

Mike

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Posted in Rants

Why Blog?

December 10th, 2010 by Mike
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So, it’s been a while since I last came to my blog for an update, so it’s high time that I sat aside some time to comptemplate a few posts for the next few weeks, or indeed, the next few days.

Sometimes it can be a bit of an inconvenience/bother to come up with blog posts, but then again what is the point of a blog other than to blog about what ever you choose to blog about. Some blogs are subject specific, some blogs cover a general range of subjects, some blogs change on a regular basis and some, like mine, are personal blogs where I can post about what ever I feel like. Which is what I prefer.

If I had the whereabouts or knowledge of a particular subject, I would gladly write a blog about that particular subject. The problem I find there would be my interests in a broad range of subjects. I find it hard to sit down and just cover one subject the whole time. I like different things, different music, different methods of living and just a general interest in a lot different things.

So for me a personal blog is the perfect fit. I can blog about things in my life, things I find interesting, things I like, music I like, technology I like, I think you get the idea at this stage.

If you have time, write a blog. It can be very fullfilling at times. It is one place you can voice your opinion on what ever you like. You may receive critisim in your comments section, but this is all part of the blog expereince as far as I’m concerned. You can argue your point.

Start a blog.

Mike.

P.s. After writing this post I then though about the title and what to call it. I decided on “Why Blog?”. Immediately I though “Why Not?” as the only content for the blog post. So why no blog?

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Posted in Blogging
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