Sensitive feedback!

I am sure that there was a more sensitive way of giving me feedback than that employed by T yesterday evening, when she reminded me that I had recently borrowed a book from the local library and that "...it obviously didn't work".

Unsure what she was talking (and still clearly suffering from an overdose of barley) I let her explain. Now, whilst I am not admitting that the book was actually borrowed for me, I will - in the interest of fairness to all other beings whom I have maligned over the previous 10 months or so - let the evidence speak for itself!

Yesterday's date: 26 March 2007

Library book return date: -



The book: -



Now my only real consolation was that the book was actually borrowed on T's library card, and as she was in town today she had to take it back to the library.

The opportunity for ridicule on the part of the librarian was fairly high. But when T returned the book with the comment "Spot the irony?", the librarian indicated that this was not unusual and that the library's official response was the same as when borrowers of the book "How to manage your finances better" returned their book late.

That being - "That will be a 60p fine please" - Talk about rubbing it in!

Clock Botchers

For really getting one's small hands in a twist, it's impossible to beat Expedia's ad in today's Metro. The ad read: -

"The clocks go forward this Sunday. Do something inspirational with your extra
hour!"

...and we let them plan our holidays?

The Grudge Match

In 1996 I took Moog to his first rugby match at Twickenham - The Pilkington Cup Final between Bath & Leicester. In a close, tense match it was decided when the referee, Steve Lander awarded Bath a penalty try, which took them into the lead with minutes to spare.

Today we went to Leicester to see the re-match some 10+ years later, with the original players - some fit, some fat - and in an entertaining fixture played in wind, rain and snow - Leicester won 45 - 15.

Memory loss and the "black stuff"

This afternoon, I made two amazing scientific discoveries. Firstly, I managed to establish a causal link between memory loss and barley; Secondly, I was able to establish that a pint of Guinness can count as one of your 5 daily portions of fruit or vegetables.

These discoveries both occurred in O'Neill's bar in the centre of Dublin where Nigel & I decided to shelter from the rain (well it might have rained if we'd stayed there long enough!), whilst watching Ireland narrowly beat Scotland in the Six Nations Rugby. It was sometime after the fifth pint of Guinness (made from malted barley) that "the girls" reappeared claiming that we were meant to have phoned them much earlier in the afternoon to arrange to meet up. I had completely forgotten, which must have been as a result of the barley.

It was some time during the afternoon drinking session that I also discovered that a pint of Guinness has less calories than a pint of orange juice (210 versus 220 calories). Therefore, apart from inducing memory loss, Guinness is less fattening than oranges and therefore better for you. That afternoon I was therefore able to consume the equivalent of my 5 portions of fruit all in the space of two and a half hours!!!

The world's most expensive pint of Guinness

Today was our first full day in Dublin, and in order to make the most of our short visit we decided to visit the cultural sites of the city.

Given the history of the city, the choice was immense. Art galleries? University? Dublin Castle?

All of the above would have been good, but in the end we chose the Guinness Factory, with its (self?) guided tour. The cultural significance of the factory and the pivotal role that it played in providing meaningful employment to workers scratching a living following the famine in the early 20th century didn't figure 'one jot' in our decision, BUT the fact that the 14 Euro admission price included a free glass of Guinness did.

Our tour guide had advised us to head immediately for the seventh floor bar where the free beer was served and which also gave a great panoramic view over the city.

The view was great, as was the beer. In fact the beer was so good that we fancied another and so had to head to the fifth floor bar and restaurant where we enjoyed lunch and another Guinness.

The lunch was good, as was the second pint and with time passing by we decided that we should continue our tour of the fair city.

It was later in the day that I realised that there were certain elements of our factory "visit" that hadn't quite been as planned. In effect the first pint of Guinness had cost 14 Euros and the combination of the words 'tour', 'Guinness' and 'free', were more appropriately ordered 'tour-free' and 'Guinness'. To be sure, to be sure.....