Rare Ould Times

Bourbon and Blogger

2012-01-20T17:17:00.000Z

So, logging back in to add a new post and... bam! Hit with a Google request... Since Google is already linked with blogger they want me to consolidate. Ok, ok. Fine. But did they HAVE to change the interface? I don't remember all my font settings and they're different! I think! Maybe! Who knows. I have to go back and check everything, find where the settings and formatting options are hiding. I really should have just learned to code a decade ago, as planned.

Evan Williams 2001 Single Barrel

Anyway, the nice chaps at Master of Malt sent me a bourbon sample! Yay! This one is Evan Williams 2001 Single Barrel, coming in at 43.3%abv. This one was aged for a decade before bottling by Heaven Hill. The result? Yum. Yes, I might say that often, but this is one smooth, tasty bourbon. A bit of spice, a bit of that vanillay-caramelly flavor, but nothing to overpower you. Therein lies its danger. It is an easy-drinking bourbon, even neat. Almost a bit too easy for a good sippin' whisky.

Not sure if you like bourbons? Or do you call Jack a bourbon (don't get me started)? Then give this one a try! You can of course, grab a dram sample from Master of Malt, or just buy a whole bottle. You'll like it! And if you don't, just send it my way and I will make sure it doesn't go to waste.

I am, of course, always on the lookout for new whiskies to sample, so if you see one you'd like me to try, just let me know! I will be happy to try before you buy...

Ritual Holiday Rantings

2011-11-30T17:41:00.000Z

So, it's that time of year again. Yup, now that we've all stuffed ourselves silly on turkey, stuffing and pie, it's onto the next batch of holidays. The Winter Holidays. There's lots of them, but typically (and pretty much exclusively here) it is advertised as Christmas. And it habitually causes me no end of trouble.

There are several arguments that tend to appear. One is about "taking the Christ out of Christmas", and I think it has several variations. In order not to have to decorate for ALL the winter holidays, lots of places justify putting up a tree because "it isn't Christian, really. it's Pagan". Then there is the annoyance from some at being wished "Happy Holidays" instead of a "Merry Christmas". Both arguments, in my opinion, are trite and, well, pathetic. A big ol' fir tree, covered in tinsel and shiny lights is a time-honored symbol of, yep, you guessed it, Christmas. Was it borrowed and adapted from other, older traditions. Of course it was! But it has been incorporated into the celebration of a Christian holiday. If people choose to put up a tree who aren't Christian, great. They're pretty. It does not mean everyone else accepts it as a symbol of their own holidays. As for "Happy Holidays", if you're insulted by that, get over yourselves. I can't tell by LOOKING at most people what their faith is, so how am I supposed to know what you celebrate? It isn't meant as an insult, but as a nice way to be generic about the season. Smile, say "thank you".

Oh, but there is more. See, most of you have cottoned on that I am, in fact, not Christian. I don't celebrate it. Here in the UK I see a LOT of "taking the Christ out of Christmas". It's surpassed being a holiday for a religion, and appears to just be a generic holiday. Buy presents. Put up a tree. Tell your kids about Santa. Cook a turkey, eat mince pies, and drink more than you need to. OK. Fine. Go ahead. Your decision. I don't mind the lights, I abhor the music, but I am offended by the insistence that I should celebrate it "because Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity". Argue and defend all you want, folks. I read. I understand how the holiday came to be. I get it. You can justify it all away as being really a pagan and roman holiday. Hm. Here's my problem. If it WAS pagan, you'd be celebrating the Winter Solstice, which isn't on the 25th, and has no Santa. And often no tree, depending on region. If it WAS Roman, you'd be celebrating Saturnalia, starting on the 17th of December. And as much as I am aware that many roman traditions weaved their way into Christmas, Christmas is still a Christian holiday. It was created (yes, in part to ease conversions) to celebrate the birth of the Christian Messiah. Um. Most holidays in most religions were invented to celebrate something, so why do the Christian ones somehow get special dispensation as "not really about the religion"?

So please, celebrate what you want. Enjoy yourselves. But don't tell me Christmas isn't about Christianity, because to me, it is. I have my own celebrations, my own traditions and they don't include mince pies or trees. And I am HAPPY. I was fine never believing in Santa, and I don't need or want a stocking of stuff. Feel free to take the "Christ out of Christmas" and celebrate it as a more secular day. And if you want, wish me a Merry Christmas. That's fine. I'll wish you a Happy Hanukkah right back.

Enjoy whatever winter holiday you celebrate, and may you have the fortune to be with family and/or friends.

Another Dram Review

2011-08-24T13:36:00.001+01:00

And we're back! Thanks to the lovely people at Master of Malt, I received a lovely box of 5 dram samples. Four whiskies and one rum!

Cragganmore 20

Whisky the first: Cragganmore 20 Year Old 1991 Single Cask.

This little Speyside beauty is a MoM bottling, and comes in at just over 108 proof. The first thing that came to mind as I sipped was "SWEET"!! I wracked my brain trying to nail down why I was thinking that someone slipped a dessert into my whisky glass, but kept on tasting. Yep, there it was, a delightful vanilla custard taste. Like a slightly spiced vanilla pudding, there in my glass.

As I taste everything neat, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the stronger whiskies. Not in this case. Totally drinkable, and the alcohol content just brings a nice warmth to the dessert flavors. Yum.

Dailuaine 27

Whisky the second: Master of Malt Dailuaine 27 Year Old.

Another MoM bottling of a Speyside whisky, this one was distilled and put into a refill sherry hogshead when I was 8 years old. The end result was another dessert in my whisky glass!! Ohboy! Coming in at just over 107 proof, this whisky brings all the lovely wintery spices to the table. Gingerbread, honey, vanilla, and more.

In general, this one was similar to the Cragganmore. A sweet malt, yet it had a lot more spice. Perfect for these upcoming cool autumnal nights.

Dalmore 14

Whisky the third: Master of Malt Dalmore 14 Year Old 1996 Single Cask.

From Speyside to the Highlands, this time MoM got their mitts on a hogshead from Dalmore. This 14 year old is bottled at cask-strength, a whopping 111 proof. And boy, can you taste it! This one is a bit boozy, malty, and spicy. Another good winter warmer, but definitely not for the faint of heart (or palate)!

If you're in the mood for a really nice "sippin' whisky" to get you through the cold winter months, this surely is one to try. Or at least put on your wish list for Hanukkah or Christmas (or winter holiday of choice).

North British 20

Whisky the fourth: North British 20 Year Old 1991 Single Cask.

Next, we're down to the Lowlands of Scotland. MoM nabbed a cask of this bourbon-casked grain whisky. Yep, it's a grain whisky but it drinks like a bourbon. This indeed makes me happy.

Coming in at the strongest of the set, this one packs a wallop at 112 proof. But it's sweet! And spicy! And bourbon-y! Wait, it's whisky, not bourbon. Oh heck, who cares? It tastes great and is full of happy little flavors. Those folks in Edinburgh have done themselves proud. I think I'll put this on my OWN Hanukkah list..

Now, I was happy with the latest bottlings from Master of Malt, and there was one more to try. Staring at me from the little label was the face of Ron Jeremy. Um. WHAT? Yes, folks, it's the rum you were waiting for..

the adult rum!

Ron de Jeremy, the adult rum.

As a rule, I don't like rum. There was an unfortunate tasting of a glass of coke when I was younger... a glass of coke that had RUM in it! I was caught unawares and put off the taste. In my later years I was able to drink rum only when masked by lovely fruit juices (hello Planters Punch!!), but I had never actually enjoyed the taste itself.

So there I was, staring at the tiny face of Ron Jeremy, unable to pawn off the sample to my Dad for a tasting. So I sacrificed my tastebuds, poured the dram into my whisky glass and took a sniff. Hm...not bad. Rather spicy and fruity.

On to the tasting. At a fairly standard 80 proof, I wasn't worried about getting overpowered by booze. A very SMALL sip. Well, that wasn't scary. Actually, it was rather nice. Smooth, spicy and fruit. Not overly sweet. I was impressed!

This rum is very drinkable straight. I can't comment on how it compares to other rums, as I have never sampled them straight! However, if you don't like rum, give this one a try. You might be as surprised as I was!

(really hard to get through that one without all the jokes..)

Well, that's the end of the box of samples. Hopefully I will get more soon! Leave a comment and say hi!

Smokin'

2011-08-11T13:37:00.000+01:00

As promised, but maybe a little late, is another short and sweet whisky review! A while back I ordered a bottle of Smokehead Whisky, a single malt from Ian MacLeod (of the clan MacLeod, no doubt).

The Smokehead!!

Now, I decided to take my time with this one. Instead of just taking a sample taste and blogging right away, I kept it around and had it as my evening dram. Ok, let's get real...it was more likely 2 fingers or so, not just one. Who can drink just one?

So back to the whisky. It's an Islay malt, and nice and peaty. And smokey. Very very smokey. The first taste slams you hard. Holy cow. Was it going to be TOO strong? Thankfully, at only 86 proof there wasn't an underlying sting of "too much booze" to overpower.

Back for the second taste. Ok, much better. The peat and smoke, although strong, mellow out a bit once you know what to expect. And it gets really tasty.

It might look like a gimmicky whisky, not worth your time and/or money. But it isn't a gimmick. It is a well-crafted single malt to blow the pants off you! Rather like those old cartoons with the smoke pouring out of the ears, this one is a mind-blower.

If you're in the mood for something new, something to keep you a bit warm through the upcoming Fall and Winter months, give this a try! Go on, it's easy... just click on that link. However, if you need something now, click on that other link.. the Master of Malt one. See it? Right over to the right of this post. I think I bought the last bottle of Smokehead until stocks are renewed..

I am awful at blogging

2011-07-16T21:34:00.000+01:00

Or maybe it's simply because my life is, well, normal and generally uneventful. Or maybe it's because I haven't had any whiskey to sample since before Passover? ;) That will have to be remedied.

In the meantime, I have had visits from my husband and friends from Wales, the latter involving much driving in the new Prius and geocaching in the rain. I got my 2nd degree black belt in JuJitsu in between house guests, if I can call Iain a house guest? For now, I am trying to stay in shape and generally healthy, and am covering my thursday night JuJitsu club over summer break. And, as always, trolling for tutoring students. I might pick up a few young ones shortly before school starts again. Math..why is it always math? Can't teachers figure out how to teach it? But apparently it is hard to find primary school tutors at an affordable rate. The tutoring business in town quoted one parent £45 an hour. For arithmetic. So I saw fit to raise my rates to a whopping £15/hr for the wee ones. We shall see what the end of August brings.

Iain'll be home for another visit soon, with the goal of running and getting in shape again. So, I said I would kick him out the door each morning for some exercise and would make him breakfast. Smithwick's as a reward if he worked hard. He agreed, so I guess that's settled! I am not sure he knows what he's in for, but hey...he's the one who said OK to the idea!

After that...more JuJitsu as I am helping my sensei practice for his 6th degree black belt. Rumors are that I will be dragged to Liverpool for his actual test. EEP!

Otherwise, a typical Northern Irish summer. Rain, a rare bit of sun, parades and riots.

A Few Wee Drams

2011-03-13T19:10:00.002Z

It's that time again. Well, actually, it's well past that time, as I finished my samples from Master of Malt a while ago. They deserve a review, Jessica-style!

Highland Park 13 Year

First up is the Master of Malt bottling of Highland Park's 13 Year Old Single Cask. Coming in at a healthy 114-proof (57% abv), this one's not to be taken lightly. If you've read any of my other reviews, I am not one to linger on confusing tasting notes. You can easily read this online if you follow the link! However, this little number is aged in bourbon casks and we all know I have a certain fondness for bourbons! So, 13 years after hitting the casks, this little number comes out warm, sweet, and slightly smoky. Yum. Yum. Yum! And best of all, no water needed! Although it's cask-strength, it's not over-powering!

Caol Ila 30 Year

And on to the Master of Malt Caol Ila 30 Year Old Single Cask. Man, oh man! Distilled when I was a wee lass of 5, scampering around the streets of Miami, it emerges with some serious punch! Slightly stronger than the Highland Park, at 57.4% abv, it still isn't too boozy. However, it's full of flavor..spicy, a bit fruity and vanilla-y, and loads of good smoke! A total winner. A bit hard on the wallet, but a wee sample would make a great little treat!

As always, simply follow the links to get your own. And...many thanks to the very very kind folks at Master of Malt for letting me try these lovely whiskies!

Murphy's Law

2011-03-06T18:56:00.000Z

Or you local people might call it "Sod's Law". There have been many corollaries over the years, but in the end, if something can go wrong, it will. It's all about timing. So, my husband is working overseas for a while. We accepted this, made the decision, and forged ahead. Living apart is nothing new to us, and with the Internet and free phone calls, it's not as bad as it might seem.

Everyone keeps asking me, "When is he going to visit?" as if he is going to come racing home every weekend, simply to spend less than 2 days here. Not being funny, but that's a bit unrealistic considering the travel arrangements, not to mention costs. We figured we'd just wait to see when his schedule allowed a bit of vacation time, and go with that.

Last week, he got the word that he will have the last 2 weeks of April. I checked the calendar and sighed. There really isn't a worse time. If he got his vacation when I was in the States in May, then he'd visit someone else, or just enjoy the time off. But life is not that simple. Why?

Because I am currently training for my 2nd degree black belt. When we made the decision for me to stay here in N.Ireland, it became a goal. I had the time to put in the effort and train 4 times per week, forging ahead and getting the belt. I think we honestly didn't expect vacation time until summer, anyway. My test is the first weekend of May. Those final 2 weeks will be stressful and I can't afford to get sick. And he ALWAYS gets sick on vacation...which means so do I. Add to that: Passover.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but Iain doesn't keep kosher during Passover. The few years he HAS been home he's been working, so he'd have his normal cereal and sandwiches at work, and be OK with a grain-free dinner. But now he'll be home for all meals, and I won't be able to go out to eat at many places! I can't really force him to eat Matzoh, can I?

Now, don't get me wrong, I am happy he'll be able to visit. It just comes at a bad time.

What would you do? Would you give up your own activities and things in your own life? Am I being selfish in saying that we'll have to work with my plans as well? Should I work my schedule around his, no matter what? Personally, I am happy that my husband respects my own independence and is OK with the fact that my own activities might conflict with his vacation time. If he gets sick, he'll sleep in the other room. If he wants a real sandwich, he might just have to walk into town and get one. Mostly, he'll be happy to hang out with Loki while I am at JuJitsu, not having to do any work for a change!

Review: Island Whisky

2011-02-19T15:38:00.001Z

A while back I made it through another Master of Malt dram sampler set. This time it was the Island Whisky one, and a rather tasty one indeed!

Island Whisky Set

First of all, anyone who has tasted a few Scotch whiskies has probably discovered that they're all very different, even within the same region! Maybe you like one particular style, but have no idea how to branch out. And, let's face it, the guy behind the counter in your local liquor store will either know nothing, or try to sell you the most expensive thing he's got. If you don't like it you're likely stuck with the bottle taking up space in your pantry, gathering dust.

So, when my parents sent me this set for Hanukkah, I was quite happy that I could experiment a bit! The Highland Park 25 Year Old and the Tobermory 14 Year Old were the most mellow, without being too boozy. I never like when the alcohol overpowers the flavor. The MoM Arran 12 Year Old and the Jura 16 Year Old were a bit more flavorful, but my favorite had to be the Talisker 57〫North. It's nice and powerful; a bit peaty with some sweet and smoke thrown in for good measure.

The only downside? I didn't have any more...

Whisky Bitters

2011-02-12T20:38:00.000Z

I recently got my paws on a bottle of Master of Malt's new whisky bitters. I immediately went off in search of simple recipes and came across the classic Manhattan and Old Fashion. Easy to make, and I already had the basic ingredients! I decided to make my Old Fashion without the addition of any soda water, or tonic, but just a few teaspoons of simple syrup, a healthy dose of bitters, ice (3 cubes), and a good shot of whiskey. I think it was The Irishman. I also left out those pesky garnishes as I am not fond of maraschino cherries and I was out of oranges after mulling cider.

The Bitters!

One word. YUM.

Several words. Sweet, spicy-cinnamon and nutmeg, slightly fruity.

The flavors are wintery and not remotely "bitter". A few drops will even give a bit of a kick to any regular whisky, if you're so inclined. However, if you think it's sacrilegious, stick to adding the bitters to cocktails. You won't be sorry.

Review: The Bourbons

2011-01-16T23:21:00.000Z

Thanks to a nefarious little promotion by the good folks at Master of Malt, I found myself in the possession of neat little boxes containing 5 drams of whisky. Encouraged by the hopes of perhaps winning a free Gold membership in their new Dram Club, I ordered a tasting set. For my first, I chose from my home country and got bourbons.

The Bourbons!

Now, don't be fooled into thinking that I consider Jack Daniels to be a good bourbon. It's not. It's Tennessee Whiskey, and I don't really like it. I like GOOD bourbons. You know...the expensive ones. But as they're wicked hard to get over here (the only shop locally that had any stopped stocking them), I figured the "try before you buy" option was pretty great, and merrily justified it by hoping I might just win the contest.

So what's in the box?

1. Buffalo Trace. 45% abv.
2. Parker's 27 Year, Heritage Collection. 48% abv.
3. Noah's Mill. 57.15% abv.
4. Rock Hill Farms Bourbon. 50% abv.
5. William Larue Weller. 67.4% abv.

Now, let's not be fooling ourselves. If you're reading this you probably aren't some tasting aficionado, and if by chance you are, get thee to the website and read the tasting notes for yourself. Now, for the rest of you. All five are really good, classic bourbons. They all have those good familiar flavors of vanilla and some spices. They are, as you can see, very strong, and it shows. The Buffalo Trace, Noah's Mill, and William Larue Weller were all very boozy and tempted me to add a dash of water to mellow them out. Definitely sippin' whiskeys.

I prefer a bourbon I don't have to water, and although the Rock Hill Farms was very yummy, I was most impressed by the Parker's. At 96-proof you'd think it'd pack a wallop, but no where in the mix did I get the boozy overtones. It was smooth and incredibly easy to drink neat. Dangerously easy to drink neat. A quick check of the bottle details tells me why: it's currently out-of-stock and runs just under £150. I always did have a taste for the expensive.

If you're in the mood for something a bit more affordable, I'd suggest grabbing a bottle of Knob Creek or Baker's. You can always get one for me while you're at it.

Coming soon: More tasting sets and Master of Malt's new bitters!

A Jew on Christmas

2010-12-24T21:11:00.000Z

Growing up Jewish, I never really gave Christmas too much thought. Sure, the trees were pretty and we helped neighbors decorate, but December 25th was just another day. A day, of course, that often included Chinese food and a movie. I had Jewish friends, and most of my other friends understood the fact that I just didn't celebrate Christmas.

Fast forward a few decades, and move across an ocean.

People ask, "what are you doing for Christmas?" and seem genuinely shocked at the answer of, "nothing". Here in Northern Ireland almost everyone celebrates Christmas. Granted, this is because most people are Christians, although even my Atheist friends celebrate it, Santa and all.

Now, I have nothing against Christmas in and of itself. The commercialization and the constant advertising does get annoying. The unfortunate lack of understanding is worse. People tell me that Christmas isn't Christian, and has nothing to do with the religion. This, of course, hearkens back to the invention of the holiday, placing it whack in the middle of loads of Pagan and Roman winter celebrations and borrowing traditions. That's fine. But that's not a reason for me to just put up a tree, roast yet another turkey, and eat mince pies. I've seen the stress Christmas can bring..the need to have all the food, the exorbitant sums of money spent on useless presents just to give a present, and all the chaos. I don't want it. It is not, nor has it ever been, part of my life. Period.

And, ya know, that's OK. My husband is Christian, but isn't hung up too much on the holiday, so we have agreed to celebrate Hanukkah as our "gift-giving" and "cookie-making" holiday. We light the menorahs, have gelt and I make latkes and rugelach. And it's 8-days long, so I can always go to the store and get potatoes.

I am not missing out. I am ok. December 25th is just another day for me, and although I miss my Chinese food, I am happy to have it as nothing more than a day off to watch bad movies on TV. A Christmas Story, anyone?

So to all my Christian friends: Merry Christmas!

Beer and Whisky

2010-10-17T17:57:00.000+01:00

Sadly, my foray into whisky sampling by the dram hit a hiccup when I discovered that there was only one free sample per person! I don't blame Master of Malt, but it was a bit unclear at the start.

I did, however, order this neat pairing while ordering a bottle of whisky to take back home to my mom. An English whisky and a London porter! Who could say no to a free bottle of beer? The other night, with no where to drive, I sat down and opened the porter. The bottle LOOKS big, but really it is less than 2 imperial pints so I didn't feel bad about not being able to seal it back up and drinking it that night. I have had Meantime's London Porter before and I really love the chocolate and coffee undertones. My 2 favorite flavors...coffee and chocolate in a pint glass! I then opened up the bottle of The English Whisky Co's Chapter 9. It's nice and peaty, even though it is a very light colored dram.

Sip of one, then the next. Hm. Can I say "yum"? Perfect compliment.

Then I had a better brainstorm. See...earlier in the day I had made some chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts and bourbon. Knob Creek bourbon, to be specific. One bite into the smoky flavored cookie was all it took for perfection.

So there you go. A fantastic indulgence. Want to try? Click through my blog to Master of Malt before the special deal runs out! And have-at that cookie recipe, too. You can diet next week!

Whisky Review : Bowmore 26 Year Single Cask

2010-10-05T20:12:00.000+01:00

In most things, I do not profess to be an expert, yet I am happy to try, to learn, and to experiment. A short time ago I came across a great little opportunity : whisky blogging! I get a sample of whisky, I tell you all about it, and send you off to the Master of Malt shop for more information. And, of course, to buy a bottle if you are so inclined. And if you are so inclined, please click through from my blog!

The Bowmore 26

Monday morning this little beauty arrived for me. Now, I couldn't really justify drinking the dram before lunch, or even after, so it was left aside for when I returned home from a night of JuJitsu. A lovely treat!

As I said, I am not an expert. To be honest, all of the tasting notes for whiskies tend to leave me a bit baffled. But, I know what I like and that's a good enough place to start.

I opened up the lovely little bottle (yes, that's a real wax seal!) and decanted into my whisky glass. At slightly over 53% abv, I was expecting a hit of alcohol, but was pleasantly surprised with sweetness. Most reviews say it's floral, and I am inclined to agree. A lot of people say violets, but I don't have any on-hand for comparison.

We have sweet and floral, but what about the taste? Again, I was expecting more of an alcoholic hit, and again I didn't get one. Instead there was a bit of an oily feel...in a good way, though. The flavor was sweet and smoky, and warming. It was totally delicious. Dangerously so, as the alcohol taste was hidden...probably in the 3rd dram! I gladly savored the taste, sipping my way to the bottom of the glass.

This whisky is a serious treat! A great birthday present for a whisky lover, or just for yourself. ;)

Want to read more? Or try a sample for yourself? Click through under the picture to go straight to the product information. Or, just click the Master of Malt logo over there on the right side of this blog.

Thanks for reading, and keep an eye out for the next sample!

today's blog was sponsored by Master of Malt. you can follow them on twitter, or check them out on facebook.

Vibram Report #1

2010-10-03T20:59:00.002+01:00

I am not a runner. I am not a doctor, nor am I qualified in any way to make recommendations. That being said, I got new shoes!!

toe shoes and toe socks!

I've was diagnosed with what I'll call chronic tendonitis in my quads, due to being slightly knock-kneed. My doctor said, "don't run, but swim and bike". The problem was that my knees started to hurt long before I built up the surrounding muscles.

Recently, after getting my black belt and staring down my 2nd Dan test in about 7 months, I decided that enough was enough. I will not let this silly physical anomaly stop me! So shoe hunting I went, and I ended up with this daft looking creations! The Vibram FiveFingers KSOs! And of course, fun toe socks for cooler days!

I started by simply walking. Loki gets a daily walk, so what better way to break them in? All the sources say to ease into them as they work differently than normal shoes...

So, break them in I did. Nice easy walks, about a mile and a half, with socks, and without socks. Then I walked them into town...about 3 miles round trip or so. Not far, no. But far enough to test.

The result: Totally comfortable! Sure, they force your toes out, and that takes a bit of getting used to, but no longer is my little toe crushed under the others! Ok, so there is stuff between your toes, but you get used to that! I felt no actual pain or strain, and chalked up the initial soreness in my calves on the first day to the water aerobics class I took at lunchtime! No blisters. No aches. No rubbing.

The final initial test was today. I wore some other shoes. Ones with a fairly good arch support. The difference was astounding! All the aches in my knees and legs were noticeable again.

So what's going on? The vibrams are designed to let your foot...and arch...work as it should! Your arches should take on some of the impact and act as little springs, but in regular shoes that doesn't happen. There's all sorts going on physiologically that I won't get into..you can read it on the site.

But my initial impression is that these suckers will let me basically walk in my preferred state: barefoot! And this, my friends, is a very good thing!

Coming Soon!

2010-10-01T14:33:00.000+01:00

very soon I will be blogging all about my new shoes and whiskey! Watch this space!

Musings

2010-07-13T13:38:00.003+01:00

So, we have had the annual Twelfth parades. Called marches here. Celebrating when a dutchman came and conquered the Irish for the British Crown. This means locally that it is a "loyalist" and a "protestant" event. There are organization and lodges all over that are into this bit of history and like celebrating it. See...N.Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom and loyal to the Crown.

So..they get pipe and drum bands together, and wear pretty sashes and carry large banners through local towns. This is all known. They do it every year. And every year there are problems. You see, there is "the other side". People...sometimes known as "republicans" or "catholics"... don't like the idea of the pretty bands marching through the towns one weekend per year. Or something.

So what's the deal?

The deal is that both sides are stubborn. Yes, sure..have the marches! They're actually nice to watch when they're all dressed up! But let's be realistic. Don't try to hold them in overly sensitive neighborhoods. Be intelligent about where you want to march, as you know there is the small minority of people who don't feel the same.

It is a tough call. Freedom of expression shouldn't be denied simply because others don't like what you have to say. But you have to be smart about where/when/how you express yourself.

It is "the other side" that causes MOST of the problems. You see, the silly few think that an acceptable response to the marches is to throw things. Dangerous things. A 4-year-old was hit in the head with a full pint-sized can of beer. Police officers were mortally wounded...one being hit in the head with a chunk of masonry. The protesters are a violent lot. Very violent. They cover their faces while they throw lit malatov cocktails. And then they get angry when the police responds with water cannons, riot gear, and as a last resort...rubber bullets.

Everyone knows what happens. And it appears to the vast majority of us on-lookers that no one is doing anything about it. But what CAN you do? Do you stop the marches? Can neither side of the screw-ball religious/political spectrum have a parade?

I don't know. But I do know that this country has laws and if you break 'em, you should be punished. Marching is NOT against the law. Throwing dangerous objects with the intent to do harm, however, is.

My draconian solution: send the "dissident" republicans south. They want so much to be a part of the Irish Republic...send 'em over. And as for those on the loyalist side who play the same game when the roles are reversed... lock 'em up. Yep, they are loyal to Queen and Country, so should be subject to local UK law. These types of people are a blight on society. And we all know what we do with blight...we eradicate it.

Will it work? Of course not. But it might let the rest of us enjoy this Province more! ;)

A New Year

2010-01-02T19:56:00.004Z

New Years tend to come with resolutions. We make them, and generally...we break them. So instead of making a whole list, I will just have one. To get things done. I will pick a thing that needs to be done, and strive to do it. Then, I'll pick another one. With a few underlying goals for the year, such as being a bit smarter about managing my diet and exercise, and putting away extra money for "treats". To accomplish the last I have set up a brand new savings account, just for the leftovers at the end of the month. We shall see if it works. But my first real "thing"...clean/organize my office. It holds some of the last remaining moving boxes, as I don't have as many closets here. It also holds everything else that doesn't have a "home", or I just don't want to deal with at any given moment. Company coming...all the clutter gets transferred to the office. It has reached critical.
But enough of that. Iain and I went to Wales over the Christmas week to visit with some friends. Avoiding the family pressures and stresses sounded like a good idea, and it also meant I was under NO obligation to contrive something for "Christmas".

We spent lots of time engaging in non-Christmas-like activities!

Our friends are into geocaching, so we got taken out on all sorts of excursions, with stops along the way to look for little hidden tupperware containers. We made it all the way to Stonehenge! But, no, I did not take pictures. The weather was atrocious whenever my camera came out, so grey skies and grey rocks weren't on the menu. I'll go back in summer. :)

But we also went to the Big Pit, a coal/iron mine. It's not too deep, so since it closed they take tourists down. Hard-hats and LOTS of walking while bent over. Well, ok, so I didn't have to bend over too much. ;) No electrical/battery-powered things allowed underground, but I got a couple shots from the surface.

However, my version of Christmas did happen. I brought my copy of A Christmas Story, and forced everyone to watch it. Laughter all around, so I can keep everyone as friends! But most importantly, we had Chinese food and went to see a movie. Sherlock Holmes. So it was on Boxing Day, but that's close enough.

Happy 2010!

November ramblings

2009-11-24T15:13:00.006Z

Well, once again I have neglected my blog for entirely too long. So after guesting at Mom's site, I thought I'd re-visit my own.

Fall is definitely here. I had to fill the oil tank in the backyard and turn on the heat. After a short visit to Inverness to visit Iain's great-uncle for my birthday, I came home and started the Halloween preparations. It's not a big deal here, but I still carve pumpkins and have a bowl of candy for any trick-or-treaters. This year's pumpkins were fun...Jack Skellington and the Flying Spaghetti Monster!!

Enough kids came to justify the candy, but there is still some left!!

Then came the physical side... my black belt test. After 15 years of

martial arts, I was finally in one place and un-injured enough long enough to get to that major milestone. I started going to 4 classes per week, just to get the practice in. Senseid Jayne and Pete really make me work hard, and I was finally ready. I stole a breakfast idea from my sister, Nicole, of peanut butter oatmeal...and added banana and Hershey's syrup. Washed down with a Gatorade! It kept me going strong through my 2-hour test. The result is that I am now a black belt in WJJF Ireland.

So what's next? My second-dan, of course!! I should have just enough time before we up-sticks and move to somewhere else. :)

hanging in N.Ireland

2009-04-21T13:09:00.002+01:00

Hi all. Haven't blogged in a while, so here I go. My eyes are doing great. Left is still lagging, but they say it's normal. Go back in June for another checkup. The weather has multiple-personality disorder and no one seems to know if we'll get a summer. Last year summer was in April and April's almost over! It also happily adheres to Murphy's Law, for as I rush out to get the dog for a w-a-l-k before it rains, the sun appears as soon as we get back to the house.

Iain's due home in about a month, but probably will get home in time to unpack his stuff (IF it gets here in a reasonable time-frame) and repack for other courses. Mostly short ones, I think. Then is schedule is all up in the air, and we'll know more when we know more. In the meantime, I have been given the all-clear to "fall down" again so it's back into JuJitsu full-speed-ahead. And eventho I have 7 months before I test for my black belt (on Jason's birthday!), I am getting put through my paces. But, it's "use it or lose it" and I want to not have to THINK at the testing session and just "DO".

Oh, and Toe Socks are kick-ass!

Got Matzoh?

2009-04-03T16:52:00.000+01:00

Just a note to say Happy Passover to everyone!

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Updates, Spring, and other news...

2009-03-17T10:47:00.007Z

Oh wow! I haven't posted in a long time. That is probably because I am lazy and there isn't much going on. Well, the word is out that we are staying put for a while longer. Probably about 2 or 3 years. NOT moving again makes me happy, and means...yard work! The back yard deteriorated a bit over the winter, and I have permission to "do whatever I want" with it, provided it doesn't cause a safety risk to workers. The local hardware/garden center is going to love me. The birds are coming back, too.

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In other news, my LASIK procedure seems to have gone swimmingly. There's a bit of bruising, and some residual blurriness, but they say that's normal. I go back Friday for another check-up, just to make sure everything is fine. Then it's another 3 weeks before I have to go back. Next time, I will have to time the appointments to allow for the 1/3-off train tickets!
That's probably about it. I am on schedule now to test for my black belt in November, and if I work hard, I might be able to get my second-degree black belt just before we're due to get new orders. It'd be a lot of work, but I just might be able to do it. :)

coffee, coffee, and more coffee

2009-01-16T16:13:00.004Z

I just finished doing a blog post for http://www.exilecoffee.com. Which is my friend Andrew's site/blog about all things coffee. I had my camera with me for the UKBC regional heats.... A barista competition. So we watched people make coffee! The lighting was horrible, but I was able to get some decent shots. Sadly, some of my better shots were of a competitor who didn't end up placing! Here's one of my better shots...

This was during the layering process of the specialty drink made by the second-place winner. A honey and orange syrup, topped with espresso. She finished it off with foamed milk and some orange zest. Sadly, we didn't get to taste it! Judges only!

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All in all, I had a good time at the competition, and we got to make coffee on a fancy machine at the back of the room. Rather...I had people who knew what they were doing make me coffee! And then they brought out smoothies and cookies...all the better because Andrew and I were too busy talking to skip out during the lunch break. It was raining anyway, so we stayed dry and caffeinated!

2009-01-16T10:36:00.004Z

after attempt and attempt, changing the default font here is a pain!
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In the neck! but maybe it worked!

weird code

2009-01-15T23:01:00.000Z

Oh, how i enjoy testing code. :)

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and how weird things work!

2009-01-15T21:43:00.002Z

So, here I go testing something!

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And something else, too!

testing for Mom...

2009-01-14T16:54:00.004Z

So, here I go, testing some code for mom. Let's see if it works. Click on that "more" down there...

More...this should be hidden text...

Music List!

2008-12-06T20:16:00.002Z

Oh hey! Music! A neat little widget so you can listen to a selection of what I like to assail my ears with on a daily basis!

The Big Giant Head

2008-11-22T21:45:00.003Z

Dogs are wonderful friends and it's sad to see them go. So, Mars, give my love to Shark, Muffin, and Merlyn. They're waiting for you up there.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2008-10-31T19:42:00.004Z

Happy Halloween in a very FSM fashion!

sun? rain? both!

2008-10-16T15:51:00.003+01:00

As I sit here in the bi-polar weather that is all Irish, I figured I'd write another blog! All is going just peachy on the home-front. Loki doesn't get all the walks he should because as soon as we're ready to go, the heavens open up.

Say hi, Loki! "tgujjgnb!" So he's not the best typist. :)

He has, however, recovered from his challah-consuming incident and is as goofy as ever. My house repairs are finally done, and my dryer is actually connected to an outside vent! The insurance company came through with a payment (better than nothing, but sure wouldn't pay for a new sofa like the one that got damaged) and the check is at the bank! My new sofa still hasn't arrived, but should be in before Thanksgiving. 12-week delivery window, since it comes from the US.

The prep-work begins for packing for my trip to CT. British Airways allows 2 carry-ons, except for flights originating from UK airports! However, it looks like I can check-in online from Belfast, check bags and print boarding passes!! We're getting out of the dark ages for international flights at last!

The application for my permanent settlement visa is almost ready to go. All that's left is picking out decent "documents" to include that prove we've lived here 2 years and send them a ridiculously large amount of money and my passports. So, I will be goin' nowhere after I get back from CT until they process. We don't want to ask about waiting times!

Dogs and Challah

2008-10-02T01:13:00.004+01:00

Well, the move has gone about as well as expected. It took a week for my phone/internet to work and another 2 weeks to decide my internet was really BAD and a couple of calls to tech support seem to have resolved (knock wood) the issue. My large sofa is still in my garage and I am now waiting for the insurance company to decide on a settlement value, since it's not reparable. My new sofa has been bought, but hasn't made it over from the US yet. Yes, I buy American-made furniture! And, I have recovered from the stench of paint fumes.

I celebrated Rosh Hashanah as always, with home-made challah and pflaumkuchen. Loki, however, has a certain unsubtle penchant for bread-like baked goods. He was staring down the challah since it came out of the oven. To keep it safe, I left it in the oven when I was away. Just in case. He's tall... Until tonight. I was on the phone when my ride to JuJitsu came. Wednesday class is in Kilkeel, which is a good hour-long drive south. I only go sometimes. In my hurry, the challah was left on the counter. It is now devoured, as the cat devoured the kid. (insert Odell singing) Loki couldn't resist. And there was most of it left. But, he ate it everywhere. On the sofa, on the big soft chair, in the middle of the room, in the office on his bed, in the bedroom in the corners. IN my bed. Yes, there were crumbs in the corners, under the couch cushions, and in my sheets. In the process, he licked/rubbed his nose raw and therefore got blood on said cushions. And my sheets and quilt. His bed...no...that's clean.

So, at 11pm I started cleaning. And vacuuming. And stain-removing. And changing the sheets. And rubbing stain remover into the quilt and getting that in the wash. Cycles take over an hour here... But, it came clean, along with the couch cushions, as far as I can tell.

Next time, the bread gets put away.

and the move goes on..

2008-08-30T22:04:00.004+01:00

And the countdown begins! I have less than a week before I move...a mile across town. My movers are scheduled to pack Friday morning and unpack Friday afternoon. So, being slightly more adventurous movers (or realizing they in fact take too many tea breaks to get the job done in a day), they call to come Thursday afternoon to "pre-pack". There goes my afternoon of getting things ready my way. Oh well. Loki will be hurried off to the kennels in the morning, and I will make sure the packing men are gone by 6. I have a JuJitsu class to get to, and well, since I asked to be moved on a Friday for a reason....they can just work faster!

The good news about the move is that the army will make sure the electric is switched on so all I have to do is call and switch the account address. The phone SHOULD be on, but they can't tell me how long it will be before my DSL is up and running. And my satellite TV...I called too late...it'll be a whole week before they can come out and get the new equipment up. With any luck, I'll get a basic signal from the existing dish and not miss NCIS or Private Practice. We are sadly way behind in TV. I haven't even seen ads for the second season of Army Wives!

With luck...I'll have internet shortly after the move, get everything all set up to my liking, and perhaps won't be plagued by the bored teenagers who come around my current neighborhood at night and drink...

On Moving..

2008-07-02T16:40:00.005+01:00

The word has come back that, in light of there being no houses in England for us and that Iain will have 2 moves within 11 months, we are able to keep the house here in Northern Ireland. It will mean that at some point before the end of the year, I will be moved to another house. But that's the army's responsibility to orchestrate. Iain will be off at the end of August..fully moved into the Mess by the army. All we have to do is collect the things he needs to take with him!

The logistics of everything will probably be more complicated than necessary, but we're talking military intelligence here, folks!

Just another summer day

2008-06-01T17:01:00.007+01:00

It hasn't rained. I've had to actually water the lawn. I tried washing my car...and to no avail...it's threatened, but no rain. So, everyone is having barbeques and the air smells like charcoal. We have still heard nothing about housing, so we wait and wait. In the meantime, I am going to force myself to keep sorting through things I really don't need and find new homes for them. Lots of bags of clothes to be taken to a clothing bank, but I am dreading the chore of going through my books. The local library is going to be happy with all the nice things I can provide!

So for now, things progress as normal. Normal is good over here. Exciting isn't always good, so I'll take normal and boring any day!

Moving dilemma

2008-04-27T16:19:00.005+01:00

Iain's away for a 5-day geek course, and before he left said we might be able to move across town right away. So we get to decide if we want to deal with the hassle of getting packed up and moved across town in May and then move again in August. There are benefits to the move...we'd be mostly packed and would be in a slightly better neighborhood. The army wants to close this development and sell it soon, as well. And, if it turned out that there wasn't housing suitable in Blandford, I'd already be settled and we wouldn't have to try to move me into a house across town AND get Iain's stuff together for a move to England at the same time.

Decisions, decisions...

I made a blog..

2008-04-17T12:53:00.002+01:00

Well, what can I say? I joined the ranks of bloggers! And first up in my opening post is the latest news. Tomorrow is my last shift at the wine shoppe. I'm tired of it, and standing for hours on tile floors is not good for one's back. Also, I got my purple belt in JuJitsu Monday night. I am just recovering from muscle ache..in time for tonight's class!

In terms of "us", Iain made it onto the Foreman's Course! It is in September in Dorset. As for our move, all is up in the air. If there is ample accommodation, I suspect we will move in late August. If there isn't accommodation, well, I might have to stay here in N.I. a bit longer. The downside of that is that I might have to move across town! However, nothing is certain until it's written in black&white and triplicate...and you have the new house keys. So...more on that as I find out!