Bobbles: The Demon Dog

Here is a photo of Bobbles - the dog that has been the bain of my existence at home in Dublin. Sure, he looks pretty cute here, but he is seriously emotionally unstable. He has major separation anxiety and goes nuts barking whenever people come or go anywhere. I mean, I come in to the living room to say goodnight to my folks and he goes nuts, viciously barking at me. Same deal if I say goodbye on the way out to college. He's even managed to learn Italian and goes crazy if I say 'Ciao' instead.
Things have gotten better recently. My sister is a part-time dog whisperer, and my parents have finally started to listen to some of her advice. When he goes out into the back garden now, they put him on a long chain from time to time and it seems to be teaching him some boundaries. I was all in favour of the electric collar and spraying citronella in his face, but these were deemed to cruel.
I will dearly miss all my family when I get back to Japan, but I'm counting the days until I no longer have to share living space with this little monster. The paradox is that the little blighter seems to love me -he snuggles up to me when I sit on the couch, tries to sneek into my room to lie on the bed, and even waits outside the bathroom for me to finish in the shower. Can you imagine what he'd be like if I was actually nice to him?

Still here!

Okay, I'm up to like my third e-mail asking me if I've passed away. I guess that's as good as sign as any to update this thing. The problem is, since I last wrote a blog entry embarrassingly little has happened to me.
Well, that's not entirely true: being back in Ireland has confirmed for me that Japan is where my heart is. I'll be heading back there to start a new job in November. I'm well excited: I'll be a proper grey salary man, all suited up and living in the centre of Tokyo. I've really missed my life there.
Apart from that though, it's slim pickings. Let me think...
I had a nice quiet family Christmas; I had one of the most fun New-Year parties that I can remember; I flew over to Boston to visit with friends and shocked them all by actually bonding with an infant and not coming out in a rash (maybe there is some paternal instinct in me after all); I've had an ongoing battle with my parent's dog - the more I hate him, the more he seems to love me - we're all about dysfunctional relationships in my family; I've really enjoyed doing my Masters - as I said to a friend, it's been really nice to feel good at something. I'm not used to feeling that way; I've given up the booze - two months and counting. I've never felt better. And that's about it. A bit of a sad tally for nearly 10 months.
So, the outlook for the next couple of months is a lot of the same - mostly writing up my dissertation and preparing to head back to the rising sun. Perhaps knowing the clock is ticking for my time in Dublin will cause me to see the place with different eyes and think of something worth saying about the place. We'll see.

Unbelievable

Take a look a this photo. I shot it two days ago on September 19th. Can you believe it?
I went with my friend to a bar situated on the 1st floor (2nd floor for our Japanese readers) of a central Dublin hotel. Walking up the stairs, there in front of you is a great, big, decorated Christmas tree... in the middle of September.
I mean, I know the hotel wants to advertize itself as a venue for Christmas parties, but come on!

I went to a masked party

In this photo we're getting the Luas (tram) to go to the masked party. We actually went the whole journey in costume. It was pretty funny. What was funnier was arriving at this nightclub expecting everyone to be wearing masks, only to discover we were practically the only ones who bothered. P.S. K., please note I'm wearing the scarf you so kindly gave me... in summertime!

Operaza no kaijin

I had to put up this photo. During the night, I swapped masks. You can see this is a brilliant Phantom of the Opera style effort. One of my friends, O., in Japan was completely obessed with 'Operaza no kaijin' (The Phantom of the Opera). This was my tribute to her.

So typical

I went to the opera last night in our National Concert Hall. I made a real effort getting ready. I put on a formal shirt, a jacket, the whole lot. I left the house feeling pretty cool, pretty confident, pretty slick.
Five minutes later I stepped in dog poo!
I bet that sort of thing never happens to James Bond.

Afternoon tea

As I said, Ireland's history is one of successive invasion. Each new wave leaves behind their mark. The Vikings left their ship-building, the British, afternoon tea.
My sis and I stopped in for some tea and scones during a weekend shopping trip in town. The service was great: real linen napkins, real silver service, wait staff in white gloves, the lot!
Well to tell the entire truth, my sister enjoyed the traditional, refined refreshment while I went for the more iron-rich energy drink that is a fine pint of Guinness. Just looking at the photo of it on the table there is making me thirsty. I'm such an alco! As we say here in Ireland, "There's eatin' and drinkin' in it.
It was simple and spontaneous, but one of the happiest moments I've had since I've been back.

World's largest replica Viking ship

I headed into the National Museum to check out the Sea Stallion, pictured above. They found the original ship (Skuldelev 2) in Denmark in the 60s. With analysis of the rings in the wooden planks of the remains, they were able to determine that this boat had been made in Dublin in 1042.
Ireland's history is one of successive invasion. At that time the Vikings were in the ascendant and Dublin (Dyflin) was the major trading centre of the Western Viking World. It's clear from this find that the Vikings who settled in Ireland brought their skills with them. The focus was on making ships that were light, maneuverable and capable of transporting a lot of people across the open sea. All the better for plundering our poor monasteries (remember we were the Island of Saints and Scholars at the time). I keed, I keed!
The Scandinavian method at the time was clinker-building. This involves making a shell of overlapping planks of wood. Then, wool is soaked in tar and stuffed in the gaps to make shell watertight. More supporting planks are added to the inside of the structure. Then the ship's frame is held together with strong nails.
The Danish team of archaeologists strictly followed these ship-building techniques in constructing the replica. It took about four years, from 2000-2004. They were so confident in their work that they felt able to sail it all the way from Roskilde to Dublin. And it'll be going back again soon.
For those of you who enjoy statistics: it's made of oak, it's 30 metres long and 3.8 metres wide, it uses 60 oars and could carry 60-70 people.

A prize to whoever can tell me what part of the ship this was