Ronan’s Blog

YouTube - Sound Convoy - Hey,wir wollen die Eisbären sehn

I’m getting married this day 6 weeks and having gone through all the legal and church requirements, there’s quite a lot and not a definitive list anywhere, so here goes:

1) Attend a pre-marriage course (We did ours in All Hallows College fee is €150), you will receive a certificate.

2) Register the marriage with the births, deaths and marriages department in the HSE (HSE fee €150). You will need copies of your birth certificates, details of bridal party and bring your passports with you. You will receive a legal document to be signed on the wedding day
2a) If your priest is from abroad or not a regular parish priest, you will have to ensure that he is a registered solemniser

3) Got to the church where you were christened and get a new copy of your baptismal cert

4) Go to the church where you were confirmed and get a new copy of your cinfirmation certificate

5) Go to EACH parish that you have lived in since you were 18 and get a “letter of freedom to marry”

6) Go to your local parish priest, presenting the letter and certificates above, as well as a photocopy of the certificate you got form the pre-marriage course

7) Your local parish priest will then complete a “Pre-Nuptial Enquiry” document with you and (if necessary) send all the documents to the church in which you are actually getting married in.

More details are here

I was over in Paris at the weekend and having been there over a year ago, I had the nicest Coffee of my life in a Coffee Shop near Notre Damme.

Having searched for the shop, nad eventually found it …. Only for it to be closed, was heart-breaking !

Guinness
Guinness
Guinness
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Heineken
Heineken
Champagne
Champagne
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Red Wine
Hennessy Brandy
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Redbrest Whiskey
Redbrest Whiskey + Coke
Redbrest Whiskey + Coke
Redbrest Whiskey
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg
Carlsberg

Murphys
Murphys
Murphys
Murphys
Heineken
Murphys
Murphys
Murphys
Murphys
Heineken
Jameson & Coke
Jameson & Coke
Jameson & Coke
Jameson & Coke
Jameson & Coke
Heineken
Heineken
Weddings are hard work !!!

I just bought an iPhone on eBay… And I’m happy enough with the price that I paid as most for sale were going for around the price that I paid.

However, looking at the bid history, I notice there seem to be many bids by bidders with a long history of bidding but not actual purchases, my “No Reserve” auction item looks like it exactly wasn’t. Perhaps sellers up-bidding with different accounts ?

I’m an avid reader and once I get my teeth into a good book, that’s me set off on a reading splurge that lasts books after book until I encounter something awful that puts me off reading and sits idle beside my bed for a few months. This summer however (helped by a two week holiday in Portugal) I’ve read a lot of books and hear in a very quick format are some reviews:

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
Now I absolutely detest all period drama or anything set during the 1800’s, but Tess’s books are so well written that they really suck you in. I enjoyed this as I have all her books.
8/10

Gravity by Tess Gerritsen
An interesting departure here for Tess, bordering on Sci-Fi with so much of the book set in the International Space Station. I was hooked, but the girlfriend found it a tougher read. Its the first Gerritsen book that really jumps out at me as a movie possibility.
9/10

The Accident Man by Tom McCain
A fast paced thriller following the events occurring in the aftermath of a car crash in a tunnel in Paris. Everything a thriller novel should have. Reminded me a lot of Jason Bourne. Possibly the best book I’ve read all summer
9.5/10

The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins
Picked this one up in the hotel lobby for reading by the pool. I thought it was terrible. Lacking in development and suspense as the story jumped place to place. I was looking forward to the end from the half way point.
4/10

The boy in the striped Pyjamas by John Boyle
Really short book this one, I got through it in about 2 hours. Good little story, if a little obvious. Dressing up parts of the Holocaust in a sort of children’s story will not be for everyone The writing from the child’s point of view is interesting, but only for about the first 3 chapters.  I’ve just noticed that its being made into a Movie
5.5/10

I, Lucifer by Glen Dunard
For me this was a high concept novel and once it had been put out there it got stale quickly and I found myself losing interest. I was quite bored nearing the end and can’t say that I’ll be queueing up for the Movie when its released next year.
5/10

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Harlan is probably my favourite author right now. This is another stand-alone novel, so not part of the Myron Bolitar series. I re-uses some characters from his previous (and far superior book) “The Woods”. Not strictly a page turner as the suspense was getting a little out of control throughout and once it all came together at the end it felt somewhat unsatisfying.
6.5/10

The Richard Hammond Autobiography
I got two copies of this for Excess-mas last year. After returning one the otehr had been gathering dust, so it found its way into the holiday bag. It starts off well, charting his early life and charting his career as it varied from place to place until he got to Top Gear. Then once reached the famous crash (just before half way) the rest is mainly told by his wife and almost a minute-by-minute account of his struggle for life, recovery and rehabilitation. This one got left in the hotel lobby for someone else.
5/10

A short History of nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I love this, full of interesting anecdotes and explanations for how things have come to be what they are today. Its a book that everyone who thinks that they would be interested in, should read. Most of it is very interesting and enjoyable; however, at times it does meander a little and you may find yourself counting the pages to the next chapter. I enjoyed it immensely, although I did find it a little weird to be reading about Quantum Physics when lying on a sun bed on the beach… I had to put it down and go jump in the sea at that point.
8/10

The Third Policeman by Flan O’Brien
Oh dear. I bought this after hearing a review on Today FM. If it wasn’t so short it definitely would be the one sitting beside my bed for a few months. Its extremely painful. And once finished the book the “Publishers Note” that was added at the end, in efforts make things clearer (although being kinda obvious the whole time) just annoyed me even further. It was like a publishers admittance that “Yes, this book is shite, but think of it again in THIS light”. This was painful. I’ve bought two other books based on review by the same person which I’m about to start, I pray they are not 1/2 as bad!
1.5/10

My brother has launched his Artwork Website advertising his excellent paintings, and since I helped out on the website I feel it only appropriate to mention it here.

I currently have the “Laurel & Hardy” picture hanging in my Spare room and it looks great!
Give the website a look, at: http://www.iconartwork.com/

More news by category Topic -: Tramadol hydrochloride tablets Safety of phentermine Pyridium Generic viagra cialis Cialis generic india Information about street drugs or xanax bars Snorting phentermine Hydrocodone overdose Lithium Amiodarone Imiquimod Tramadol next day Pfizer viagra sperm Vidarabine Prevacid Viagra cialis levitra comparison Dutasteride Lisinopril Thiotepa Female spray viagra Black market phentermine Betamethasone Cialis forums What does xanax look like Loss phentermine story success weight Viagra alternative uk Mecamylamine Eulexin Viagra xenical Xanax in urine Macrodantin Epivir Ditropan Woman use viagra Cialis erectile dysfunction Xanax withdrawl message boards Atorvastatin Generic ambien Is phentermine addictive Next day delivery on phentermine Ethanol Natural phentermine Avandamet Xanax long term use Information medical phentermine Cialis experience Phentermine no perscription Compare ionamin phentermine Viagra cialis levivia dose comparison Noroxin Effects of viagra on women Viagra shelf life Hydroxyurea Dog xanax Viagra class action Hydrocodone cod only Nicoumalone Phentermine snorting Mirtazapine Quazepam Isradipine Xanax look alike Moxifloxacin Viagra experiences Piroxicam Nicorette Sotalol Cash on delivery shipping of phentermine How do i stop taking phentermine Niacinamide Phentermine weight loss Phentermine

I’m seeing a lot lately about Global Warming and minimizing your own personal carbon footprint and it really makes my blood boil. this Irish government has launched a service on the website www.change.ie where you can calculate your own carbon footprint and get hints as how to lower it.

The world at large seems to think that switching to hybrid engine and lower emissions cars and making other small changes to how you live can have a major impact on global warming.

Pure bullshit !

Allow me to present exhibit A: The Baijigou Coal Mine in China

This Coal Mine has been on fire since 1865!!!
Each and every month it emits almost the same amount of CO2 as the entire country of Ireland.
It has not been put out let, as its too difficult to do, and China can’t really be bothered.

So, do you really think that you personally can make a difference in the world ?

I just got one of these excellent one-cup cafetiere mug for having good coffee without doing a large pot. Perfect for work! I got it in Avoca (Powerscourt) if you in interested in getting one for yourself.
Smart Cafe: hot cafetiere mugs

A few weeks after donating blood on April 6th (The day before going on a Stag!) I got a letter from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service asking me to give them a call. Something had “flagged” in my blood and they wanted me to go in. Sounded a little dodgy, but I wasn’t too worried.

When I went in I was casually told that it looked like my blood had tested Positive for HIV, they believed this to be a “False Positive” and so they needed to do more tests. I was given some numbers, like a value of 1.04 and 1.08, something was said about truly infected people having a score of over 100, but no real context to how bad this could possible be. I gave another sample and was told I’d be called again in a month.

I left the building quite shaken. I spent a good bit of time researching HIV testing procedures and found that there are two types of test, an Elisa test and a Western Blot test. The first test is more of a screening test, while the second is more rigorous. I believe that my blood failed the Elisa test but passed the Western Blot test, but I was never told this. Frantically searching on the Internet for some way of reading the test results came up with no answers. I had to wait to hear back again.

About 5 weeks later, I went in again to be told that my sample had again given the False Positive reading and another sample was taken. This time I met a doctor who said “No,no - We don’t think you are infected”. Another long wait for the results of this test ensued.

Fast forward another 5/6 weeks and I receive another letter asking me to come in. RESULT!!! The tests are negative this time. Its explained to me that it was probably an excess of certain anti-bodies in my blood which caused the initial results. I had to give one final sample to complete the testing procedure.

Today (5th September) I received my final letter, confirming that the tests are again negative. This been a bit of a hairy time, one day short of five months after initially giving blood, it looks like its now all over.

PHEW