tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46107643311218357232011-10-05T22:44:05.700+01:00Ireland, here and there, how I love and loathe itRotharnoreply@blogger.comBlogger921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-2348018761191405132010-07-09T11:03:00.000+01:002010-07-09T11:04:14.186+01:00

I'm on top of the world agaaaaaain

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-5411020566421452332010-02-01T20:11:00.002Z2010-02-01T20:22:13.800Z

Yep I am the slowest blogger in the world. Since my birthday things have not stopped at all. Being in the bicycle industry made me think I would have some quiet months when the Irish weather would settle in. Nope! We had a proper Christmas rush and had to move to bigger premises only 9 months after the first shop opened. Meanwhile I met a wonderful bike mechanic who has been working with me since

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-1863230030591782692009-10-10T10:52:00.007+01:002009-10-10T11:45:29.530+01:00

Here I am! I am crossing the line. Because the past year has been quite difficult and eventful and that it coincides with me reaching the 30 number, I have been thinking quite a lot about the past 10 years. I have to say, I am pleased.10 years ago, I was celebrating my 20th birthday around a frozen lake in Sweden. Two dear friends of mine had bought food and booze and we got drunk in the cold, in

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-55789823691470112222009-07-24T19:15:00.003+01:002009-07-24T19:25:05.940+01:00

Wow, I don't know how I get the time to write this, but this is a very busy time for me and my little company.Rothar is growing and growing, I am barely time to do other things. But it ROCKS! For some reason, bikes bring nice people along, my volunteers are good and committed, my sales are going up, the word is spreading all around Dublin, in other words, I am myself a Captain of (very small)

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-15803799095906319332009-07-10T02:30:00.000+01:002009-07-10T02:31:22.859+01:00

Fait chier, chuis encore bourree...

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-9969600891070529162009-07-01T13:19:00.002+01:002009-07-01T13:31:30.462+01:00

I had talked about it some time ago: some Swedish women in Uppsalla had been asked to leave a swimming pool because they were going topless. "If men can go topless, why would it be forbidden to women to do the same?" they asked. Why should female breasts be sexualised? A big debate (and not a very tasteful one generally speaking) followed. And here it is!http://www.thelocal.se/20250/20090624/And

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-62753206758787684032009-06-22T00:51:00.005+01:002009-06-23T20:48:07.652+01:00

That is not a random question that a to-be tourist would be asking, that is actually a friend of mine who was thinking about moving over here and he asked: "so, tell me, is it worth moving to Dublin?"He caught me off guard: this question has millions of answers and I genuinely didn't know what to say. So I suggested him to give my answer in writing. Here is what I wrote:"Darling, if you are

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-15917767836670236152009-06-09T10:49:00.002+01:002009-06-09T10:54:35.781+01:00

sometimes... Ups and downs, and today is an up! I got awarded for my work with the projet by the Social Entrepreneurs. It means a bit of money, a bit of training, and a lot of free advertising. Whisky's on the way!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-54373478900439730762009-06-02T09:49:00.002+01:002009-06-02T09:53:56.169+01:00

Must be spring, I don't know, but I feel all light and optimistic. And emotionally rested and have buried the hache de guerre with my ex. Life's getting good again. What a relief!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-67512936618641066392009-05-22T11:01:00.003+01:002009-05-22T11:16:40.803+01:00

As you know, or maybe you don't, I have been unemployed for the past two months, and working away for my project. I have the honour then to be a recipient of the Job Seeker's Allowance. It is the open door to a life full of distraction, happiness, fulfilment, in other words it sucks.Why?First of all, the amount you can get is 200€/week. Considering the rents in Dublin, this is generally just

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-48802863853081397992009-05-01T11:36:00.002+01:002009-05-01T12:00:48.363+01:00

Yes my friends, we are in deeeeeep shit in here. The ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) published the figures last week: Ireland is going to go through the worst recession of a Western country EVER. The GDP would shrink by 9.2% by 2011, a number never reached before. Yes, we were proud of our Celtic Tiger and our success story. A small poor country that had succeeded to reach the rank

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-40716775195616837972009-04-27T11:21:00.000+01:002009-04-27T11:22:01.684+01:00

Ai sommeil

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-19872448196123722562009-04-22T00:41:00.001+01:002009-04-22T00:50:39.459+01:00

A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-16247879954862074052009-04-08T10:14:00.001+01:002009-04-08T10:15:04.912+01:00

S'il y a bien un truc dans ce monde qui me rend de mauvais poil, c'est d'avoir le vent en pleine face lorsque je suis sur mon velo. Grrrrrr

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-18921256893667913582009-04-03T17:26:00.002+01:002009-04-03T17:26:59.578+01:00

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-23779589862589093142009-03-25T09:59:00.001Z2009-03-25T10:32:11.782Z

Aaaaah! I discovered it (yeah, I am always very late, having no TV makes me watch stuff that are 2 or 3 years old) a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say, despite my reluctance for any TV show, this stuff rocks.First reason: the set. The whole thing is in Baltimore, which is apparently a city as rough as a bear's ass (1 homicide a day.. keeps the doctor away. yep, no need for one anymore at

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-20692428688065806152009-03-13T12:03:00.003Z2009-03-13T12:14:06.286Z

You have to take the shit and pull yourself out of it.In three weeks, I lost my job, my relationship collapsed, my father had a heart attack. That would be enough to make anybody paranoid. I'm not. I am in pain, but the light is at the end of the tunnel.Working on the project, looking for a flat, thinking about how long I can live on my savings are very pragmatic ways of getting courage and

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-23713679870403975782009-02-28T13:36:00.000Z2009-02-28T13:37:23.374Z

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-58785148995021538682009-02-23T18:06:00.002Z2009-02-23T18:07:10.937Z

viennent de s'achever. Le Petit Prince and His Quirky Princess ne sont plus. Les histoires d'amour finissent mal etc...

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-69835205129247286512009-02-09T19:48:00.000Z2009-02-09T19:49:57.565Z

Pfff manque total de credibilite, fait chier.I blame my boyfriend (had to find guilt somewhere)

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-61004845497874022152009-01-27T22:39:00.002Z2009-01-27T23:03:52.157Z

On n'en est pas encore la, mais j'essaie! Ca fait une semaine tout juste et tout ce que ces sites de brin (site du ministere de la sante en France, quismoking.ie ici) disent est vrai! En gros, on dort moins bien (deja que c'etait pas terrible..), on est irritable, on a des envies presque incontrolables, on pense a la clope, on doit changer ses habitudes pour ne pas "y" penser (serieux des fois

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-46821752705873298022009-01-14T17:19:00.008Z2009-01-14T21:50:13.116Z

I know it is just January 14th, but still, I started a couple of stuff I've decided already. This is the result of my surhuman efforts so far (je m'envoie des fleurs hein)1) Write or call my grandmother more often: needs a bit of discipline, I think a reminder every three weeks would be a good idea2) Learn how to grow herbs on my balcony: errr, have you seen the weather in Ireland in winter? even

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-33039666352129213982008-12-31T09:35:00.001Z2008-12-31T09:40:15.275Z

Be less naiveAnd that's all for now folks! I wish you a good year 2009.. Long live friendship, love and mort aux cons!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-90465420821596787782008-12-30T09:48:00.001Z2008-12-30T09:48:32.246Z

Learn how to make a proper smoky eye (for ignorant people and / or men, this is a make up technic that makes you look like Avril Lavigne)

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-66766043989635715142008-12-29T17:44:00.003Z2008-12-29T17:51:03.153Z

Resolution #20: Write or call my grandmother more oftenResolution #21: Learn how to grow herbs on my balconyResolution #22: Get comfortable with people of another opinion (i.e. right wing)Resolution #23: Watch different films, not only the ones talking about one eyed women in South India or the conflict in the Middle EastResolution #24: Learn photography

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-28349748527944900672008-12-24T10:43:00.002Z2008-12-24T10:50:07.995Z

Resolution #18: Learning relaxationResolution #19: Kick my own ass to have this bicycle group started

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-82287331440140196222008-12-22T09:58:00.002Z2008-12-22T10:09:59.021Z

# 14: Visiting the friends I haven't seen in ages, in Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic etc# 15: Learning how to sew properly# 16: Get a pair of stilettos# 17: Tell people to fuck off when I mean it

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-89230972132199528542008-12-18T09:37:00.001Z2008-12-18T11:09:10.792Z

Resolution #12: Get into sports. Boxing is the preferred optionResolution #13: Have my oven repaired

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-56375604202894055392008-12-16T09:30:00.000Z2008-12-16T09:31:30.667Z

Give my mom her birthday presents on time, put reminders for other people's birthdays

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-52183021684157023122008-12-15T09:59:00.001Z2008-12-15T10:04:50.075Z

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-45661711041573757682008-12-15T09:48:00.002Z2008-12-15T09:56:53.281Z

Resolution #9: Clean my apartment more oftenResolution #10: Stop eating jellies by kilo. One or two at a time should suffice

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-25690909203769267812008-12-12T12:47:00.000Z2008-12-12T12:48:59.711Z

Stop drinking like an Irish person, i.e. binge drinking once or twice a week

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-20374254265570636012008-12-11T09:14:00.001Z2008-12-11T09:14:50.628Z

Make a decision about this redundancy plan we have just received

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-38105006508250582372008-12-10T09:52:00.001Z2008-12-10T09:56:25.976Z

Sort out my life (yeah, it's vague). Job, family, friends etc.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-8332101083985749222008-12-09T09:12:00.001Z2008-12-09T09:12:37.036Z

Stop swearing at each end of sentence

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-17925521793351222832008-12-08T09:50:00.002Z2008-12-08T09:56:44.228Z

Didn't have time yesterday.Resolution #3: Go on a (long) tripResolution #4: Find a Swedish speaker and get conversation classes

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-81171052519265632332008-12-06T13:08:00.000Z2008-12-06T13:09:22.497Z

Start practising yoga

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-13125613722426022742008-12-05T09:47:00.000Z2008-12-05T09:48:42.452Z

Stop smoking in bed

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-65319281420939625192008-12-04T15:32:00.004Z2008-12-04T15:40:26.673Z

It might be a bit early, but I think this period of questioning and sadness and winter might actually be a good moment. So until December 31st, I will write one resolution for 2009.Resolution #1: write this daily bloody resolution every dayAnd no, there is no link between the picture and the text. I just thought the picture was deadly

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-16788344754972327452008-11-25T17:13:00.002Z2008-11-25T17:29:50.664Z

J'ai les boules. Ces dernieres semaines ont ete difficiles. Je ne vais pas enumerer les raisons pour lesquelles j'ai les boules parce que je n'ai pas envie d'en parler, mais c'est pas la grande forme. Et puis je suis fatiguee.Si quelqu'un est assez gentil pour me prendre sous son aile et me donner des forces je suis preneuse. Serieux, je vais de deception en deception, de peur en peur, les

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-63160485501087910042008-11-18T18:45:00.003Z2008-11-18T19:50:48.023Z

My dad's mom passed away last week. I didn't know her that much, but I felt like dedicating this to her. One thing I know is that she loved Mozart.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-8117284281325229672008-11-03T15:34:00.002Z2008-11-03T16:08:14.504Z

I didn't sleep well last night. I am a bit sick and cannot stop coughing. But there was something on my mind too. I saw a beautiful film: HungerThis film is crude, terribly blunt in the way it shows the process of hunger strike (this is mostly about Bobby Sands, who died after 66 days of hunger strike in a confrontation with the British Government at the beginning of the eighties). This hunger

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-6904811663291865662008-10-21T09:13:00.003+01:002008-10-21T09:47:13.844+01:00

We had a birthday party on Saturday night. Several people's birthday in fact, all more or less crossing the 30 border. You think this would be a recipe for something warmish, a bit boring, a bit reasonable, where people would go to bed just after 2 o'clock. Well, no.It had all the elements of the first "boom" (party) when we were 13. Here is a list:- The boy who drinks too much, gets totally

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-56616168042908307882008-10-15T12:59:00.004+01:002008-10-15T13:34:29.734+01:00

Yeah! Fuck it! The Irish government has just announced the new budget for 2009. Gloomy gloomy. In short, VAT is going to increase, taxation on salaries (1% levy on wages up to €100,100, 2% afterwards), job seeking allowance is on the decrease, all social payments are cut, hospitals bills are going to be higher AND last but not least, some of the state agencies are going to close, and all of them

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-66958412000731352792008-10-01T13:33:00.004+01:002008-10-01T14:26:56.894+01:00

C'est un truc rigolo que j'ai copie. Liste des 7 choses et applique a ma fabuleuse personne. Allez.7 choses que vous voulez faire avant de mourir :*aller dans l'eau sans paniquer*aller vivre dans un pays en dehors d'Europe*apprendre une autre langue etrangere*finir ma psychanalyse*vivre dans une communaute hippie ecolo*enregistrer un disque (je serai jamais rock star mais je peux toujours faire

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-83751560853936668802008-09-16T17:30:00.004+01:002008-09-16T18:10:34.967+01:00

Yep, I think all trades have their drawbacks. I always wondered what it was like to go out with a cook for example: does he / she even let you go into the kitchen? Don't you feel ashamed about presenting him / her the macaroni with cheese when it is your turn to cook and that he /she did a Roasted Langoustine with apple purée, glazed pork belly, jabugo ham, warm apple jelly and purple Nasturtium

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-20733359490766715232008-08-28T11:58:00.003+01:002008-08-28T12:11:00.736+01:00

Coucou! Sorry not to update this, August has just been crazy. Check it out:- We have been away from Dublin every weekend to present Rothar! It has been very successful but we haven't had any time to rest at all. The Irish Green Gathering is a great festival, I recommend it to everyone- We have been working with our group of young lads in Ballyfermot. Interesting and rewarding! Even when they

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-2941588686175875082008-07-25T10:04:00.003+01:002008-07-25T10:16:28.373+01:00

And it is Friday again! I am quite sure it is similar in a lot of your offices, but in here, Friday has a special taste. And a special je ne sais quoi that really pisses me off. What is it? This bloody expression! Thank God It's Friday (aka TGIF)- "Why is it annoying you Anne? Don't you think you are doing your ranting Frenchie never happy about anything crisis right now?"- "Well, maybe, but

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-30330197723105174072008-07-23T12:52:00.004+01:002008-07-23T14:19:20.818+01:00

Helloooo! I am sorry to have abandonned you for so long, times have been hard. But I am back! and in a good form.I know that we are supposed to make resolutions at the beginning of the year, but fuck it, I decided to do so at the end of July. I pretty much decided to give up everything that is useless, that costs me more than it brings me, things that bother me to embrace a new life. Here is the

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-78578464771920145972008-06-23T15:31:00.001+01:002008-06-23T15:31:45.959+01:00

Il a pas l'air impressionne et c'est normal, je l'ai force a prendre la photo. Cet homme aux cheveux fous est Stephen, dit le Petit Prince (a cause des cheveux justement) et est ce qu'on appelle ici un "petrolhead", entendez un roi de la route.Parce que le petit est ne dans une famille de mecanos, pere mecano, freres mecanos, oncle mecano, ca baigne dans l'essence tout ca! Trois voitures, deux

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-63871875315892917722008-05-31T14:56:00.016+01:002008-06-12T09:35:45.892+01:00

Libe a fait le resume en francais! http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/monde/331420.FR.php As you know, or maybe you don't, Ireland is the only country in Europe which will hold a referendum for the ratification of the Lisbon treaty. It will be held on June 12th, and the campaign started. The arguments are very low levelled to my mind. The big parties (Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour) are

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-77360919140232146582008-05-26T11:53:00.008+01:002008-05-26T18:32:46.372+01:00

We went to Cork this weekend. I had gone to Cork four years ago with my ex and a couple of friends, and that was a painful experience. Probably because my relationship at this time was already disastrous, probably also because we had taken the wrong route with the car and that it had taken hours to reach the city, probably also we didn't know where to look and we ended up playing some silly game

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-61242336982280013372008-05-24T00:02:00.003+01:002008-06-23T15:30:18.621+01:00

Il a pas l'air impressionne et c'est normal, je l'ai force a prendre la photo. Cet homme aux cheveux fous est Stephen, dit le Petit Prince (a cause des cheveux justement) et est ce qu'on appelle ici un "petrolhead", entendez un roi de la route.Parce que le petit est ne dans une famille de mecanos, pere mecano, freres mecanos, oncle mecano, ca baigne dans l'essence tout ca! Trois voitures, deux

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-21615480173203583572008-05-14T16:17:00.003+01:002008-05-26T18:33:33.190+01:00

Hi everyone, just a little bit of free ad for myself. Stephen and I are setting-uo a charity. The aime is to recycle bicycles and sell a part and donate a part to other charities. The ultimate goal is to develop local employment, self empowerement of certain communities, with a feminist insight (I think women should cycle more, it is good for the head, the self confidence and the ass!) and

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-20725491354732369082008-05-08T18:07:00.020+01:002008-05-10T12:24:30.808+01:00

J'adore! Tres present dans deux villes que je venere, Lisbonne et Bruxelles, l'art de rue decore les murs les plus insolites et donne un dynamisme et est quelquefois fait par des gens tres talentueux. Il peut se decliner en bande dessinee, comme ici a Bruxelles:En version funky, toujours a Bruxelles. L'afro semble revenir a la mode ces temps-ci:On peut trouver pas mal de pochoirs a la Bansky dans

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-60416009673900444152008-04-29T13:37:00.004+01:002008-05-07T12:34:33.359+01:00

Yep! I am a biker.. Well, not quite yet. I know how to drive this bike (the picture, it is the bike I use), but I am not quite well assured yet. "Get your licence" you will tell me. Well, I have it! This is an originality of this country. I am legally authorised to drive this motorbike without having received any practical training before (I just have a "provisional licence" which I got by

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-76225687871043553302008-04-18T22:55:00.003+01:002008-04-18T23:04:47.930+01:00

This is a video taken from my bike (camera on handle bars) on my way to work. As you can see there is no cycle track and buses are big. I am lucky enough to be able to avoid rush hour thanks to my flexible working hours. So this was taken at around 9.15 on a sunny day. Hope you enjoy it. Bisous!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-52285454819101249672008-04-14T12:57:00.005+01:002008-04-14T13:09:18.949+01:00

Alors m'enfin vous vous demandez pourquoi je vous emmerde a entrer une adresse email pour lire mes posts.. Bah en fait je me suis recue pas mal de commentaires haineux / pas gentils / machistes / menacants, et ca m'a pas fait plaisir. Alors je suis en train de repenser mon blog, en mettant l'option "commentaires" seulement disponibles aux gens proches mais je sais pas encore trop comment faire.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-29289656844945669992008-04-04T15:29:00.004+01:002008-04-07T11:20:33.091+01:00

A lot of you know how I look. I am slim. Very slim say some. There is a strange phenomenon when you are slim: you are harassed about it. No, I am serious. I am getting sick of hearing things such as "oh but YOU shouldn't complain about anything, look how slim you are", "of course you don't know what it is like to feel uncomfortable, you're so slim". It even happens at work. Once, I was heating

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-11023981907749589602008-03-21T17:48:00.012Z2008-03-21T18:37:46.210Z

Une atmosphere bizarre regne a Dublin aujourd'hui. Il semble que la ville est assiegee: les bars sont vides / A strange atmosphere has invaded Dublin today. It seems the city is besieged. Bars are empty:Ils sont meme totalement fermes. They are even totally shut down:Cependant, quand on y regarde de plus pres, on s'apercoit que l'alcool est emprisone dans les supermarches / If you look closer,

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-37671145035066411432008-03-17T18:16:00.006Z2008-03-17T18:56:17.983Z

Today is Saint Patrick's day. Happily drinking (heavily) in town, people wear the national colours in every way. Shorts made of the national flag, painted shamrocks on the cheeks, and having a bit of craic (Irish expression you can translate by having fun with everything, especially nonsensical conversations in pubs during hours).So because today is supposed to celebrate everything that is Irish,

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-54383262645220625972008-03-13T10:56:00.006Z2008-03-13T11:32:30.192Z

C'est le nom que nous donnent les gens qui font partie des lobbies "pro-life" (des especes de tares extremistes qui pour montrer leur attachement a la vie exhibent des photos de foetus morts... allez comprendre...) lors de nos manifestations pour demander la legalisation de l'avortement. Et ca prouve leur progressisme et leur haute tolerance de considerer que le terme "lesbienne" est une insulte

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-43285223976340891062008-03-10T13:58:00.002Z2008-03-10T14:29:18.188Z

We did it! I have to say I was extremely pessimistic about this stuff, especially about the number of people who would turn up. We were 120, 150 even more according to the persons in the group. The event, the booklet, the band afterwards (fantastic, check here ), everything was a success. The women's history in Dublin is no longer a secret for me, and I discovered so many things that I would

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-35591604810406826832008-03-07T11:41:00.004Z2008-03-07T12:00:44.650Z

J'ai decide de faire quelques petits changements a ce blog car je trouve qu'il manque de clarte. Deja pour les langues employees c'est galere, et je ne sais pas trop comment m'en sortir, donc j'ai cree deux rubriques: en francais et in English. Ensuite je pense m'orienter vers des choses plus precises, comme la vie a Dublin, ou mes coups de gueule politiques, et cela dans une humeur un peu

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-56975245655560992342008-02-20T12:52:00.001Z2008-03-10T14:30:31.800Z

This country is, you have guessed, quite conservative on social subjects. There are numerous examples in the very recent past that would reflect reality in the 1960's in Scandinavia. For example, until 1966 female civil servants had to quit their job when they were getting married. Condoms were banned up to 1973 (there are several testimonies about how the Irish customs were searching people's

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-42649416403780245982008-02-06T13:46:00.001Z2008-03-10T14:30:31.802Z

I am currently working on a feminist walking tour of Dublin to celebrate the International Women's Day on March 8th. I am in charge of taking pictures of some monuments remembering Irish women's history. One of the saddest part of this history is the Magdalene laundries.Maybe you know about it because you have seen Peter Mullan's film, The Magdalene sisters (if you haven't, try to have a look).

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-42883062581971937972008-01-28T12:58:00.001Z2008-03-07T12:03:18.043Z

There is a strange phenomenon is this world which is called human interaction, intercourse - shagging in short - everything that is related to this quite simple activity seems very complicated, especially for urban young -ish people, fed with Carrie Bradshaw and other Bridget Jones. Here are some different situations:A - You are in a long-term relationship.THE MYTH: perfect solution to have a

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-82212082408378238822007-12-18T12:51:00.001Z2008-03-07T12:09:07.303Z

Hommage aux Strokes en guise de titre..Aujourd'hui est mon avant-dernier jour de travail pour 2007, et vu que je ne blogge qu'au bureau, j'annonce donc que ce post est le dernier de cette année. Alors cette année, comment fut-elle? Ma foi, je peux me dire que j'ai du bol dans la vie:- Une année pleine de .. travail. Et oui, rien qu'en 2007 j'ai occupé 3 différents postes dans 3 entreprises

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-3745926496382871132007-12-11T12:34:00.002Z2008-09-17T11:45:19.015+01:00

The title is a pure product of my imagination since it is forbidden to have an abortion in this country. Totally forbidden you'll ask? Well, here are the facts (I advise feminists to take a cigarette or a drink as this is extremely infuriating): Like in a lot of countries at this time, laws were passed in Ireland in 1861 to outlaw the "procurement of a miscarriage", whether one oneself or

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-77043736806595128152007-12-06T09:40:00.000Z2008-03-07T12:09:07.304Z

Je suis de mauvaise humeur, et ce pour plusieurs raisons- Rachida Dati: je l'ai ecoutee ce matin sur France Inter, elle propose que les personnes, en particulier les delinquants sexuels, restent en detention (elle a appele ca des "centres de soins fermes") meme apres avoir purge leur peine. En gros, on ne les enferme pas pour ce qu'ils ont fait mais pour ce qu'ils pourraient faire. Ca me revolte.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-32870882311518670442007-12-04T11:20:00.000Z2008-03-10T14:30:31.804Z

You're going to say I just have one reference newspapers and one subject of conversation, but this article of today's Guardian is presenting a highly debated subject: sex education in schools (see www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2221466,00.html)First question: should schools deliver sex education? Isn't it parents' role to actually do it? Well, considering the amount of

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-53252697409921205442007-11-22T12:15:00.000Z2008-03-10T14:30:31.805Z

A new movement appeared in Sweden, the "Bara Bröst" movement, that you can translate by "Merely Breasts". It all came from 2 women deciding to drop the top of their swimsuits in a public swimming pool. They were thrown away, because it is indecent, sexual etc etc. Frankly, I support those girls so much.What they say is true (see website http://barabrost.blogg.se/ there is an English section).

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-78176003478748474862007-11-19T12:18:00.000Z2008-03-07T12:04:28.477Z

The cold and damp, damp weather has come in here. We will not see any kind of bright days until March or April, if we're lucky. It is quite strange, I do remember loving winter in Scandinavia, the 6 months of snow and darkness had not been that hard to bear. It is my fourth winter in here, I have to say I am not a fan. Although the autumn can be beautiful and warm and colourful (the picture was

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-6663611986324499222007-11-15T11:36:00.000Z2008-03-10T14:30:31.807Z

I read today that feminist women were better in bed and happier than the average (it is NOT propaganda, it is a study revealed by the extremely serious Guardian, see link http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2211202,00.html) What I like in this article is the rehabilitation of a notion that is so taboo (she employs herself the "f word", and this is a very intelligent way of

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-78454290628760040552007-11-09T14:48:00.001Z2008-09-17T11:46:33.416+01:00

Aujourd'hui je fais du plagiat, c'est decide.. Marre de creer des textes originaux, je pique! Alors j'ai trouve un truc tres rigolo sur le blog d'une copine, qui vit a Dublin aussi et qui ecrit ca (les sections en bleu sont mes rajouts a cette sympathique liste) L'adresse du blog d'Anne-Laure (j'adore la premiere partie de son prenom!!) si vous avez envie d'authenticite: http://www.alblog.fr/

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-57712467660796039932007-10-27T14:16:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:04:28.478Z

Some of you are telling me it is wrong to write in English because they don't understand it, some others blame French for being too complicated and blablabla, och du Jenny klagar du ocksa nu! Hmmm.... dunno what the hell I have to do now...Last time I was about to write I wanted to say some words about the family stuff. The Family with a capital F for a lot of people, the pillar of the society

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-79311311417972958592007-10-09T17:59:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:09:07.304Z

Well, you're going to tell me I'm lying but it's true, my bloody computer froze in the middle of a beautiful text, I lost everything. Pisses me off so you'll just have a picture of Ha'Penny Bridge in the centre of Dublin, I'll make comments another day. Kisses!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-25054686085121682312007-09-27T13:30:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:04:28.479Z

I've decided to rant today.. I have my reasons! I have been away from my desk the past two days because a bloody kidney infection prevented me from getting up. It hurts! I am better now and as I said I am back at work.. 50 emails to read, 50 voicemails to listen to, people at your desk the whole bloody day, leave me alooooooone! I want my bed, or better lying on this beach there. It is a beach on

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-17246347199237051562007-09-13T13:47:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:06:12.584Z

Bonjour les amis! J'ai fait ma merde, je le sais... N'ai meme pas pense a editer ce petit blog qui pourtant me fait du bien.. Alors les news, les news... Encore change de travail! Je suis maintenant dans un service public. je distribue des sous aux gens qui aident d'autres gens. C'est une administration, c'est long, fastidieux mais c'est un soulagement que de faire quelque chose d'utile. Et puis

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-78558441545457570592007-08-03T08:55:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:09:07.304Z

J'ai appris ce matin que la Russie réclamait les terres arctiques, et plus précisément les fonds sous-marins dudit continent. Motif: "grâce" au réchauffement climatique, les glaces fondent, les fonds sont plus accessibles et qu'il y a t-il dans ces fonds sous-marins, question a 2 balles: du pétrole bien sur, et du gaz aussi! C'est désespérant, il n'y a donc rien en l'homme qui permette de penser

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-76827168657025033582007-07-30T18:49:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:04:28.480Z

I was listening to some radio programme this morning before going to work, the subject was how to improve the carbon footprint and reduce the ecological consequences of our post-capitalist ways of life. I was wondering about where to begin and with what. The main problem in my case would be to stop taking flights. Living abroad, the airport has become my train station, I go there as often as a

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-16575420788151087012007-07-23T12:33:00.001+01:002008-03-07T12:09:07.305Z

Encore une photo prise de ma fenetre, de chambre cette fois-ci (vous devez vous dire "elle passe sa journee a prendre des photos de sa fenetre celle-la" ben oui en ce moment, oui). Voici la lumiere de l'Irlande, telle que l'on peut la voir apres le 62eme jour de pluie consecutif (source, RTE, la tele nationale locale). Je vous rappelle que l'Irlande est a la meme latitude que le Danemark, les

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-18700014293479396172007-07-23T12:00:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:09:07.305Z

La photo que vous voyez a ete prise sur le rebord de fenetre de mon petit appartement. J'ai cede a la tentation des planteses carnivores, et voici la preuve que ces petites choses (celle que j'ai doit faire maximum 15 cm de haut) bouffe de la viande! La pauvre mouche, j'espere qu'elle n'a pas trop souffert. Je suis curieuse maintenant de savoir combien de temps elle va mettre pour la digerer..La

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-76527916482141190652007-07-13T15:11:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:05:27.480Z

Today I got a new job. It is the same work as the last one, only permanent contract and in the historical part of the city. I'll be there cycling about 15 minutes, the government's buildings and the Taoisach's (pronounce Teeshock, prime minister) department will be just a few doors away. I cannot say I am jumping with enthusiasm even though I am glad and relieved. Not so much more to say for the

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-66168324872428594512007-07-12T17:42:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:05:27.483Z

Alors la photo qui est attachee a ce texte ne devrait pas etre trop exotique pour ceux d'entre vous qui vivent sous le regime sarkozyste. Ceci est un membre de la Garda Siochana (prononcer Gaarda Chiocana), un flic quoi. Les contestations sociales etant une chose assez rare en Irlande (mais elles sont traitees par la police irlandaise de la meme facon qu'a la maison, c'est presque emouvant), je

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-75313131704559492262007-07-12T12:27:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:08:43.525Z

This is a selection of some pictures I took when I was travelling with my copine Elodie last year. A very partial view of course, the country's so wide, so rich, so diverse. So those images are taken in Mexico City, Palenque and San Cristobal de las Casas (both cities are in the Chiapas area, a beaaaautiful but terribly poor region).

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-68020279686288115622007-07-11T16:28:00.001+01:002008-03-07T12:06:48.574Z

Today I went to my weekly psycholanalysis session. When this lovely guy (whom I pay a lot to listen to my crap) asked how I would categorize myself, I described it as I thought it was, i.e. middle-class / slightly academic very usual person. He noticed I never mentioned my gender. And in fact, I don't think this is relevant. Why should I be considered a woman before the forementioned elements? I

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-7170729357092815052007-07-11T13:21:00.001+01:002008-03-07T12:08:26.433Z

C'est beau le Japon nan?

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-64004504226595088452007-07-10T16:31:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:07:57.736Z

Ca fait un mois et demi qu'il pleut, j'en ai marre! Une petite photo de Dublin pour les gens egoistes et terriblement mechants qui ne sont pas encore venus me voir.

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-21587892452005154472007-07-10T15:36:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:08:43.525Z

This is Mexico City. This was the first stage of our 6 week-long trip. Mexico City is, needless to say, absolutely huge. Oppresssive, dirty, boyant. Millions of souls walking, running, begging, families staying on the footpath, thousands of tourists trying to speak English with the autochtones. smell of tortillas.. and men. Oppressive impression to be looked at, stared at the whole time. If it is

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-67363672175866893412007-07-10T14:56:00.001+01:002008-03-07T12:07:45.702Z

Fetchez la vache!

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610764331121835723.post-4770024004886867932007-07-10T12:10:00.000+01:002008-03-07T12:08:43.525Z

I arrived in Mexico one year and 10 days ago, came back to Dublin 6 weeks afterwards.For this period of time I've been lazy, postponing the time when at last those bloody pictures would be published. It is apparently very unfashionable to develop pictures on paper. Alright the web version is cheaper. Alright, it prevents people from putting their greasy fingers on them and it takes less space in

Rotharnoreply@blogger.com1