Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The job search continues.

It's been busy the last couple of weeks with many things going on. I applied for three positions in the Galway VEC. I was invited to interview for two of the positions. The interviews were last Thursday. I got word today that I did not get the job(s).

The applications were a form document which recorded much of the details of my qualifications but I included a copy of my CV and reference letters also. I did not learn how many applicants there were, or how many made the "short-list" for interview.

The interview panel was made up of three people. Two of them were officials associated with the VEC and one was the principal/director of the school in which the advertised position was available. Therefore the panels for both jobs had two people in common and one was different for each post. Both interviews took place in the same building.

It is a long time since I interviewed for anything so I do hope to get feedback from the panel to help me in improving my interview skills. But I did feel good about my chances for one of the positions, and I am particularly interested in learning from the panel about my performance in that interview.

After approximately eight weeks living at home I have been invited to interview for two jobs. In my book that is not bad going. So, being positive and looking forward to the "right" position coming up is what interests me now.

In the days when I was chasing acting jobs, rejection rolled off me like water off a duck's back. This isn't the case today - But It Will Be Tomorrow. I have a strong back.

It is human to question things and it is human to be disappointed and it is also human to get up and carry on. My position is out there and I will find it and it will find me. Perhaps more "water has to be shed off this duck's back."

And, if so, it will be.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Container arrives in Louisburgh

The container landed in Louisburgh driven by a very competent acquaintance of mine. He drove down the narrow approach road and in the gate as if it were a 5 lane freeway. I was worried that there would be difficulty with bringing a truck, with a 40 foot container attached to it, on to the back roads of West Mayo. The driver knew the terrain and he knew the destination so this eliminated some of the potential issues that might arise.

A neighbour came over with a forklift to remove a couple of heavy items. There were (P.J., J., S., M., K., H., J., S., B., J., P.,  F., and myself) thirteen people involved in the unloading of the container. Most of these were organised but some of them saw the need, parked outside, and joined in the effort. The community spirit is alive and well in West Mayo.

Anna had made a bunch of sandwiches and supplied drinks but there wasn't much time for either. Most of the helpers had a drink after the container was emptied but didn't indulge in the vittles.

The driver has transported materials, furniture and goods on the continent of America, Europe, Russia and in Ireland and said that he never saw a container emptied so fast. It took almost one hour to unload the container and a good portion of the goods were moved to the upstairs during that hour. Sometimes the obvious must be stated: "Many hands make light work."

I had been informed by others that it would be easy to empty the container in 2 to 3 hours but even at that, I was concerned that we might not get it done in time. Although, having an acquaintance as the driver helps to alleviate the anxiety associated with the container's return (some shipping companies put time restrictions on the container availability). He put us all at ease and conducted the offload professionally.

The arrival of the container and the unloading was an unexpectedly pleasant experience. I had somehow managed to forget much of what was in that container. The familiar items will, I think, remind us of San Francisco as we open the boxes and set up our new home. The house is being finished now but it may be December before we get to move in.

All in good time. The move has been great so far.

Images of Home


Carramore beach is a favoured destination of some surfers. Another beautiful day in the West of Ireland.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Images of the approach to our new home: Installment #3

The reek is clearly visible from the Westport to Louisburgh road.



                                 This is the approach to Louisburgh village. 


                                







 

Friday, October 9, 2009

Images of the approach to our new home: Installment #2

As requested I am posting photos of our new home/life. This will be an ongoing part of this blog.



As promised I am showing here the approach in the rain. The hint of course is the windshield wipers. Doesn't it even look good in the wet?











Our driver was very understanding when we needed to slow down or even stop to take some shots:

Images of the approach to our new home: Installment #1




Testing Cattle in West Mayo

The rain has made itself known today. But it is forecast to clear up in the afternoon.

I was over in the house organising things at about 8.15 a.m. and I got a call from M. I've known M since childhood. He was having the "testing" done on the cattle and was wondering if I could come over for twenty minutes to help with herding them into the yard. I was only a half mile away so I said I'd be straight over.

No bother getting them in the yard but couldn't get them in the shed. The vet arrived. You are supposed to be ready and waiting when Mr. Vet arrives. We weren't ready or waiting. He, the vet, was understanding and patient, but you'd be on edge to be ready for him anyway (kinda like in the old days how you'd be on edge if the priest was visiting!)

As we got the cattle into the crush the rain came hard. I was dressed for a San Francisco day except for the wellys I had purchased a week ago for lawn-cutting. So I had the wellys and that was a good thing. We were through fields of long rushes chasing after the livestock and sinking in the wet muddy soil. Even though I had wellys my jeans were wetted up to my thighs. The mud got on my jeans at the level of my knees. I don't know how this happens but it does and it reminded me of the days before I left, many of them spent in long wet rushes in the wet fields running after cattle.

The vet was "testing" for T.B . This is done, I believe, on all animals over 18 months if they're being sold ,and on animals over 24 months regardless of whether they're being sold or not. Mr. Vet trimmed a little hair off the animal's coat before inserting two quick injections located above the shoulder. After asking him, he answered that the trimming was a way for him to identify where he prodded the animal, so he could inspect that area in a few days to observe the reaction to the injection. I tried to see where he had removed the hair from but it was not clearly obvious to me. He also took blood from the animals in a very private, I would say, location. M., the farmer, lifted the animals tails up high while the vet took a sample of blood from the underside of the tail. This extraction was the exact same as we humans experience in the doctors office except not at a similar location. I can only imagine what it felt like to the cows and I hope that is the way I stay for life!

All done and we let the animals out into their fields again. I presume they were happy to be released and to have the invasion of their privacy over. Mr. Vet went on his merry way.

I was soaked to the skin. M. and myself talked for a little while and the coldness set in through the wet clothes. I was afraid I'd get pneumonia. I haven't got it yet.

I left M. at approximately 12 noon. Note to self: 20 minutes is 3 hours and forty-five minutes in Ireland. Note to self: Remember this and I'll be fine.

Got home. Changed. Lit turf fire. Anna was frying (again). We have to stop the fries. Brilliant. Rested on couch and had to remove my sweater. I was all warm and fuzzy again.

The day is clearing up now and it is promised good for a few days again. We've had great weather since we came back. It is indeed nice to be here and I think we are settling nicely.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Building a House (Post #1)

The Celtic Tiger is now a memory and you could be forgiven for assuming that prices are low and trades-people are available all over the place. They are not. But the system/culture here is strong. Trying to organise things in the US style just doesn't work, and frankly it is nice to see the culture restate itself.

Time is not something to be used as a commodity here. Time is living. It is a philosophical entity to be experienced and enjoyed and lived, not something to be scheduled, abused or misunderstood. Things get done here when they get done - not when you/I say they will be done.

We are at the finishing stages of constructing a new home that we started approximately six years ago. It has reached this stage by allowing the cultural approach to timing and scheduling take it's course. It has. It worked out beautifully while we were away because there was no sense of urgency on our part. Indeed we enjoyed getting to know some new people and rediscovering old acquaintances through the project.

Now that we are living here and somewhat anxious to get into our new home we are more aware of the schedule (lack of) and the cultural philosophical approach to time. Forty minutes chatting on the side of the road is still in vogue as it was when I left 20 years ago - and that is nice, it's a good thing.

Anyway, we/I are accepting the "time" as it is and in fact we are pleasantly surprised at the progress of the project and this is all happening within this approach to "time." We are "settling in."

Trades people show up when it fits into their "time." Generally if you ask a trades person what time they will be here tomorrow it is received with amusement/bewilderment and the question is not answered directly. Trades people don't show up when they say they will, if they say when, but they do show up and they work later here than my experiences of the US. So the work is getting done in "time." And it is on track. And it is getting done right (I hope).

Without trying to apply pressure to any individual I feel strongly that administering any kind of time-pressure on trades people here would have adverse effects (and we/I don't want any of those!). It gets done when it gets done.

For now it is getting done in "time" and also in time. So that is keeping everyone happy. It seems that we are settling in!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Buying a Car.

Today is a fantastic day. Today is the first full day that Anna has her own car. We decided to get an automatic Ford Focus because the difficulty of learning to drive a manual along with adjusting to the tight roads is a little overwhelming and time demanding at this point in time for Anna.

But today Anna has her independence back. Neither Anna or myself would call ourselves materialistic but this day has me appreciating a car that has given Anna her freedom back. The simple things like running to the shop, visiting friends etc. are a major task when depending on one manual car and one driver.

Anna and Tommy Og are gone to Westport , and Sarah is sleeping in her bouncy chair in front of the open turf fire in the front room that looks out to a view of Croagh Patrick . The Lisbon Treaty, which was voted in in a referendum in Ireland today, is being discussed on the TV. And I am here in the dining area updating this blog...

The car is an automatic Ford Focus, 2004 sedan. It is spotless. There are approximately 70,000 miles on the clock. We bought it from a company that rents cars and also sells them. So this was a rental car and a friend of a friend found it in Tipperary town.

Great to have good friends. One of mine drove me to Tipperary Town on Thursday and I bought the car and drove it back after stopping in Galway to deliver three applications for jobs teaching media studies.

Before we left San Francisco we sold a 2003 Ford Focus automatic with 30,000 miles on the clock for 4,000 dollars. It was probably worth 4,500-5,000 dollars but we got a quick sale to a friend of a friend. The car we bought is a 2004 Ford Focus, automatic with 70,000 miles on the clock and we paid 6,500 euros for it and we feel, and are informed by a reliable source, that we got a good deal. That's how it goes. We must stop comparing things because it can be annoying!

I called the insurance company, that I had insurance on the other car with, and they transferred the insurance to the new car until we get it sorted out. Interesting to learn that we cannot have one insurance policy for the two cars (as they do in the US). We must get a whole new insurance policy for the new car and this will probably be expensive. I will post later how that goes and if it works best to put Anna's name on that policy as the primary driver.

Whatever the cost it is worth it. Anna has her independence back today and she and Tommy Og are gone to Westport, Sarah is sleeping in front of the open turf fire...

And I will take 40 winks now in front of the open turf fire with the view to Croagh Patrick through the window.