Friday night at the races

Well folks, that’s one weekend down, another five to go. Actually its six, but that sixth weekend I’ll be in the plane making my way home, so really, its only five more weekends left here in Ireland. 

Friday night I went to the dog races. It was an event that was organised by work, all paid for by the company, for all departments. I wasn’t too keen at first, because I told Paddy it was mean, and I am one person that is ALL for the dogs. Everyone assured me that it is fine, that the dogs really enjoy running and it is a lot of fun. After all, its free drinks all paid for by work! I said “But if any of the dogs get injured while racing, I’m sure they get put to sleep” Paddy said “Aww Jules, it’s the same thing, I mean, you could be walking a dog down the road and the dog could still break a leg” I replied “I bet they get locked up in cages as well” They were like “Nahhh they get treated really well” Okay okay count me in.

Irish greyhound racing is really popular here, and its like a family event really. The mum’s and dad’s bring their kids here for a gamble and everyone enjoys watching the dogs chase an artificial hare. 

I forgot to bring my camera along with me (bummer), but here is a picture I got from Google. This was the greyhound stadium I went to. They have special packages and you can even enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine while watching the dogs.

Before we went to the races, we made a pitstop at a pub. Which is mandatory for Irish standards. And while we were all at the pub, I think the boys had at least 4 pints each. It was mad, I am convinced that they started drinking from a young age… before they even started crawling. 

At the races, I placed two bets, I didn’t win anything, but some of the others did. Greyhound racing is different to the horses, the dogs are so fast but their tracks are shorter and it all happens so quickly. There were 11 races in total. 

By the end of the last race, after a few drinks, (considering the lousy drunk I was) I was a happy camper. Everyone else I knew drank like a fish, and all the goss from work was coming out from every direction. Little Miss Frenchie (a French girl I sat next to for the first few months when I started work here) was rather drunk, and she is the type that gets Emo-drunk. Hahaha it was quite funny, she started talking about the shitburgers she’s had at work, and she was sobbing away. I was like “Whats a shitburger?” Paddy was like “You know Jules, when everything is going wrong at work, and you just had a bite of that shitburger? That’s a shitburger" Hahaha didn’t make any sense, but by that time, I’m sure he was sipping he’s 12^th pint. 

You would think the night would end there, but it didn’t. They wouldn’t let me go home. We all made our way to a club. I was like “A club?! You have clubbing in Ireland?!” Of course WE have clubs in Ireland. Well, sorry, I thought it was only pubs in Ireland. 

It was a lot of fun at the club, called DTwo. These Irish lads were dancing like there was no tomorrow. My entire working life, I’ve never seen my workmates dance like that before, it was absolutely hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

When I finally called it a night, I hopped on a cab and headed home. I don’t know what it was, I reckon all that alcohol in me, I couldn’t remember exactly my conversation with the old Irish cab driver, but when we arrived at my apartment, I was about to pay the cab fare, which was something like 13.50 euros, he said to me “Because you are such a lovely young lady, I’ll only charge you 11 euros”. I have never had a discount on my cab fare before, ever! I said to him “Because you are such a lovely man, I’ll give you 12 euros!” That was a deal, and he gave me his phone number and he said “You give me a call the next time you need a cab!” I said “Okay you can take me to the airport when I head home to Australia!” Only in Ireland, you’ll meet lovely people from all walks of life! 

A typical day at work

Part of living and working here in Ireland, is that I meet the local people and I learn a lot.. I learn about their culture, their language, their history, their country and their lives. You don't really get that when you're just traveling on a holiday, I mean, the hotel concierge doesn't really count. 

And over here in Ireland, I have met people that either love Australia, or absolutely hate Australia. The 'love' Australia part, is normal, I mean I have met so many Irish people while working in the Melbourne office. But the people that absolutely hate Australia, of course you won't meet them in Australia, are absolutely hilarious. The guy that sits right in front of me, Paddy (okay, he's real name is not Paddy) is your typical Irish guy that does not like anything about Australia.

"There are only convicts in Australia, Jules" 

I reply "You can criticise Australia as much as you want Paddy, I don't care because I am not Australian"

"Yes you are Jules, YOU live there, YOU are Australian"

Me "No Paddy, I am Malaysian, I live in Australia but I am Malaysian"

"No you're not, you live in Australia, YOU are Australian"

Then he goes "Streuth Jules, Streuuuuthh"

I say to him "Paddy, I have lived in Australia for 6 years now, I have never heard of the word Streuth before" 

"Streuuuuuuth Jules"

A word he probably picked up from Home and Away. 

"Seriously Paddy, we never use that word in Melbourne"

Paddy replies "What a shocker Jules....!!" hahaha again, a word that is very commonly used in Australia.

"Yes Streuuuuthhh Paddy, streeuuuth"

"What a shocker, Jules... You've had an absolute shocker Jules"

Oh shut up Paddy. Streuth Jules.

Everyday we have the same conversation, over and over again. All good craic. (Craic is an Irish slang, for... fun). I know my boss is sitting next to us, muttering under her breath "don't these two have any work to do?"

Feck It

I have been counting down the days as to when I return home to Melbourne…. I’ve had my fair share of fun.. 7 more weeks to go! No more visitors, so its just me myself and I now. No more travelling as well. I am so broke! I could squeeze one last trip because Ireland has a bank holiday at end of the month, but really, its no fun traveling to a different country alone. I am keen on going to Spain, but I will probably give it a miss.

It wasn’t a good day today. I mean work was grand and stuff, but I had to give confirmation to my Melbourne boss that I would return to the office soon, and resume my normal role… sad sad sad… but then again, it would be too good to be true if I had everything MY way, would it? Not only that, the two major projects I am involved in, has been delayed… which might probably mean I will leave before it finishes. That sucks. Oh well. Someone from the London office asked if I were interested in a role there after Dublin? No no no no… I mean it would be great, but no… I have a personal life and commitments! I dare not even explore that option to London because it just messes up my head.

Times like these I look at my photo album to cheer myself up, apart from throwing all my frustrations at Grumpy.

Grumpy at the Ha’penny bridge in Dublin. Its short for ‘half a penny’, the story is… back then, to cross to the other side of the bridge, you need to pay half a penny.

 

Grumpy and his love for a good pint of Guinness.

 

This was when we went to this tapas bar. Tapas in Australia would mean small portions of food, but look at the serve of this! Yummm.. we were meant to go for a tour outside of Dublin, but decided to just stay back in the city and relax and stuff ourselves with food and beer.

 This would have to be my favourite picture of them all. Hahaha he looks hilarious! Classic.

Grumpy loved the music on the streets of Dublin. You can listen to traditional Irish folk music in pubs, and its absolutely amazing, the ambience, the crowd, the music, it was lots of fun.

 

This is a hotel and pub. Called the Schoolhouse Hotel. It used to be a school. Lovely place.

We’d kick start our session with a Baby Guinness each. Tastes really nice for a shot, because it has Baileys in it.

And then it goes straight to my head…

And we go home drunk... and took a picture of me with heaps of Chanel bags, which Grumpy bought from Dublin’s high-end department store. He bought that many Chanel bags, the sales assistant in Chanel said to me “you are one lucky lady” like… hello…. They are not all for me!!!!! The other bag on the right is a Bottega Veneta bag which was purchased from Harvey Nichols in London. Not mine again..but for his mum. It was quite crazy, Europe is so expensive yet his family thought these bags were cheap compared to KL. Grumpy was clearly the bag lady here in Europe.

All good fun. But of course, all good things must come to an end… Like how an Irish would say.. ahhh feck it, Jules, feck it!