Room With A View

Here you go. This is the view from my window now, only in the larger real-life view there's a lot more sea to look at, compared to the picture! The window itself is big and at the "head" of the living room/kitchen, and there's a sofa placed at an angle to it so I can see this view whenever I sit there to read or play Runescape or... well, or update my blog! I love this place, it is so peaceful and pretty, and as well this is the first rented apartment whose furniture I really like and that has colours and fabrics I would have chosen myself (deep forest greens and beiges and light yellows, solid pinewood and cotton).

Getting here wasn't so easy, but I got it done. I had organised the whole thing like a military operation, and directed every phase like a field general! By Friday evening, the packing was done, and I was on my way to Shane's new house near Clonmel. Unfortunately Róisín wasn't there that evening, she had to babysit and had taken Darragh with her. It was a shame I didn't get to see them, but Róisín had left me a lovely card, and then Shane gave me birthday- and moving-house presents from both of them: a bottle of pink champagne, a beautiful candle on a holder, and a CD by Steve Howe. I was blown away! The invitation that night was the best idea they could have had in any case, it was such a good feeling to be in a furnished house and eat a proper meal after a week of climbing over piles of cardboard boxes and living on readymade food. I had Mexican wraps and red wine with Shane and Caitlin, while the little monsters (aka the twins) were uncharactaristically quiet and actually slept. Later on, we showed each other videos on You Tube and I think I managed to "infect" them both with Nightwish. Ha!

I hardly slept that night but that was because of nerves - the bed was wonderfully comfortable and the room nice and warm. Because of nightly roadworks in Tipperary Town the previous two nights I hadn't had much sleep there either, and so I was completely exhausted by Saturday morning. I dragged myself out of bed, cuddled Aisling and danced with Muireann on my arm, had breakfast, and then left around half nine with Shane in tow. The guy with the van arrived at my house just before eleven, and we began loading both the van and Shane's car - I gave them three of my six bookshelves, my glass desk, and some bits and pieces I don't have room for in the new place. We just about found the time for a bite to eat in my favourite fast-food across the street - favourite mainly because of the lovely people there - and then came the bit I had dreaded: I had to carry Tia and Mirias's cage into the car and drive them up to Dun Laoghaire.

They were absolutely terrified, the poor things. It was a really long drive, relatively speaking. Two and a half hours is a lot for two frightened little budgies. I talked to them, put on music, and even got Mirias to chirp a little after a while, but Tia looked about half her usual size and was trembling, actually trembling, the entire time. My heart was breaking for them but there was nothing I could do. Thankfully I found my way without any problems, and soon I had the budgies in my new bedroom where they could find their bearings while my two hired helps, Inga, and myself unloaded the van. I was ready to keel over with tiredness by then, and the fact that my new apartment is three flights of stairs up on the second floor, didn't help. Finally, finally, it was done. I started to do some unpacking but soon fell into bed, next to my still very quiet and subdued budgies.

Still, it was DONE! I spent Sunday and Monday unpacking and organising, and in the afternoon Alan and Michelle helped me bring a number of boxes to Catherine's house where she'll store them for me because I don't have space. It was lovely to see them all! Sunday morning was another highlight - Inga and Rachel had treated themselves to a hotel-with-spa weekend in a local hotel, and had invited me to breakfast in their room. I walked down to the hotel and realised that I have all of three minutes' walk to the sea! It was a gorgeous day and I thought I was dreaming as I walked by the harbour, listened to the seagulls and took in the sight of the bright blue water. The hotel breakfast was great too and it was lovely to see Inga and Rachel with her little daughter Caroline. It was these little "breaks in civilisation" my friends gave me, that kept me in Easy World all this time. Yes, the move was exhausting, I was stiff and sore from all the physical work and the lack of sleep, but all in all I was deeply happy. It all felt so right!

By Monday evening, I had unpacked all the boxes, torn them up and brought them to the nearby Recycling Center. My flat was beginning to look like a home, the budgies were in their place, and I was very proud of myself. I had also scouted out my lovely new town and found the dance centre and archery club where I'm going to get back into shape in the next few months! I'm starting an archery beginners' class next Friday, and two dance classes in April, it's all arranged. I was set up for work and ready to meet people.

And people I did meet, the best colleagues you could imagine. I'm sorry but the following must needs be a rave. I just love my new workplace! First of all, I have all of 20 minutes drive to work and the traffic isn't very heavy at all. But more importantly, this is the best company I've ever worked for, and yes, I can say that already. I have seen a lot in my work-life and I know what to look for. Here's a company who walk their talk, actually mean their vision, and treat their people accordingly. There's a lot of respect, care, and most of all, training going on. The people are highly professional, everyone is pulling their weight and working hard, and at the same time I've never had so much fun at a workplace. I had been a little worried about working with Germans again, but these are the least typical Germans I've ever met, in the good sense! I felt included from the start and for the first time in my entire life, I feel like I can completely be myself with the people I work with (yes, I could be that when I was still working at universities, but never in a "regular" nine-to-five job before now).

On my second day, I got to chat to my two closest teammates about religion, and it was great. I never thought I would ever get along brilliantly with a born-again Christian but that's what my colleague Regina is, and she's also completely open and tolerant and asked me interested questions about my pagan practice. The other one, a guy who isn't religious at all, was open-minded too. As well, he's a drummer and into metal. Did I mention I love my colleagues?

For once, I can't wait for training to be over so I can get on the phone and do my actual job. But first I'll have to learn about the products, and that's quite a challenge. I haven't got the first clue about IT so it's all new to me. I'm reading presentations and entire books as well as listening to my colleagues' calls. They are extremely helpful and take a lot of time to explain things to me, even when it's not in their job description and the boss isn't there to notice. I feel like a sponge soaking up all that information and hope I'll get a lot of it done by the full moon - it's the best time for this kind of thing, after all.

To summon up this rather long entry: I feel as if I have accidentally stumbled into paradise, in every respect. And I am so immeasurably grateful! This is the time of planting new seeds, new ideas and plans, and I intend to do just that this coming season. It's only two weeks to the Spring Equinox and I look forward to the sabbat like never before. This is it, I'm moving into the Page of Cups, "getting my wish". It's not only on the cards, it's on the horizon and it is also right here already. What a time to be alive!

Simplify, Simplify

I have such news! Yesterday I got a phone call from the HR person of "my" software company in Dublin, who told me that they'd gone to the highest management about the need to hire me, and it had worked - I've received an official job offer and accepted, and I'll start on Tuesday! So it won't be necessary to take odd jobs and keep looking. I'm so happy and relieved and am really looking forward to working there. The package they offered me is really good so I'll be able to afford the kind of life I've dreamt of for myself in Dun Laoghaire.

This has given me a huge boost, and made moving house seem like a breeze all of a sudden. I've had a very busy week with all the organising and packing and that's why the above is one of only a few pictures I've taken with my new camera so far. I just haven't had the time to familiarise myself with it yet! But the quality of the picture is visibly better already. I can't wait to take pictures of Dun Laoghaire and my new apartment; maybe I'll get a chance on Monday, which I've reserved for organisational stuff like getting a resident's parking permit from the council. I'm also going to try and finish unpacking by the time I start the new job.

The last few days have been a very cleansing experience, inside and out. The fact that I'm moving to a much smaller place has made it necessary for me to throw out anything I don't need or use anymore, from ornaments to cosmetics to superfluous cables and paperwork. The new moon of course made it a perfect time to do this, and I felt immense relief when I had driven four large sacks of rubbish to the landfill. Now the moon is waxing again and I am ready for my new beginning. If I had orchestrated all this according to the moon cycle, I could not have chosen a more fitting schedule! I had the Thoreau quote in my mind a lot, the one I've chosen as the title of this entry. I feel I'm simplifying and streamlining my life and my possessions along with it.

There were painful bits among the letting-go process too. The worst was when Anto was picked up on Sunday. I talked to him before I put him into his transport box and told him he's the cutest gecko in the world, the cleverest hunter, and the fiercest little dragon, and that I love him so much. I couldn't bear the thought that it was the last time I'd look at his cute little face. I managed to hold it together while Conor and Rob carried the vivarium into the car, but when they were gone, I went back upstairs, sat down on the bed and started crying. I couldn't really stop for a good few hours, every time I looked at the empty space where the vivarium used to be, I welled up again. I went online in Runescape to distract myself and watched x-files episodes on the side, and that worked after a while, but I'm still very sad and miss the little beggar so much.

But for now I'll have to focus on getting myself over to Dun Laoghaire. My task will be to carry out the whole moving process and then to make a home there. Unlike the house I'm in now, which was only ever meant as a temporary solution, the new apartment is supposed to be mine for at least two years or so. Well, you never know with me, but that's the plan anyway! And so I'm going to place my things with love, create a haven of peace, a ritual space, and plenty of room to dance, of course. It'll be a true home for myself and for Tia and Mirias.

I'll try and go online at least once a day in the next few days, wherever I can find internet access. My own internet will hopefully be hooked up by the beginning of next week! Expect me when you see me... but I will be looking out for comments as often as I get the chance.

From The Mountains To The Sea

This is the last bad-quality picture I'm going to post here, because I finally got myself a CAMERA again! I'm over the moon because I have been without a proper camera for over five years. Finally the gods have answered my pleas and whispered to the wholesellers of consumer electronics that they should reduce the prices of digicams. Mine is by Canon and cost all of 69 Euro. Watch this space!

I have lots of news. The moon is waning and I'm due to sort the good things from the bad, the wheat from the chaff, amongst my personal possessions once more. I'm going to spend most of the next week packing, because the weekend after next, I'll be moving to Dun Laoghaire! I found a gorgeous one-bedroom apartment overlooking Dublin Bay. My street isn't actually by the sea, it's a good bit inland, but the ground is rising slightly there and I'm on the second floor so I have an unobstructed, and breathtaking, view. The apartment is in an old-world-style Victorian house and has lots of character. There's a living room with a "kitchen corner" (which I love - I dislike having to go into a separate room to cook) and then there's a small flight of stairs, about 6 or 7 steps, that leads up to the bedroom under the roof, with slanted walls. Did I mention that it's gorgeous?

If I sound eager to move now, then let me assure you that I am! Quite a change from the cringing, whining hag who didn't want to go away from Tipperary, isn't it? Now don't get me wrong, I still love it here, or rather, I love the beauty of the county and the character and liveliness of Tipp Town itself. But otherwise, nothing holds me here anymore, I realised that on Monday when I went to view apartments.

Dublin welcomed me with open arms. It's as if the city reached out and gently took my fears and worries from me, one by one, to gently dissolve them. I had worried about living in a city and missing the beautiful nature - then I sat on the DART, the Dublin commuter train going out to Dun Laoghaire, and from station to station (that's not a Bowie quote, in this case!) the view became more stunning. The train was going along Dublin bay, I saw yachts and sailing boats and when I came to Dun Laoghaire itself, even a large car ferry that was just arriving from Wales. The picture above was taken from Monkstown DART station, just above Dun Laoghaire. I realised then just how much I'd missed the sea.

Here's another (and better) picture, courtesy of Scot on http://scotherrick.smugmug.com/Ireland:

I had also worried about the anonymity of a big city. But then on the train journey out to Dun Laoghaire (which by the way is only about 15 minutes from the city centre), a guy started chatting to me and turned out to be from Dalkey, which is just South-East of Dun Laoghaire. It was nothing sensational, but he had a great sense of humour and we just talked easily until I got off the train. On the journey back, I asked a middle-aged lady about the best station to get off in the city centre, and we ended up chatting throughout the journey. She was great, we talked about literature, and then it turned out she had a cousin in Cahir here in Tipperary! This in itself is nothing too startling, Irish families are huge and everyone has some cousin, auntie, or other relative in pretty much every county, haha. But it made me feel on familiar terrain. Anonymity, my foot! Everyone I asked for directions or even bought a ticket from that day, was exceedingly friendly.

I also worried about safety; after all, I'm a woman living on my own and I don't want to move into a dodgy corner of some suburb where I'd be scared to walk home at night. But not so: the street my apartment is in is lovely, it's a little square actually with a park in the middle containing a tennis court for residents. Shame I don't play tennis! The houses are all Victorian and in good repair. I have all of two minutes' walk to the nearest bus station and five minutes to the DART. Check!

I viewed a total of four apartments and immediately fell in love with one of them. Two of the others cost 100 Euro more per month and still don't have as much character. It was a case of, walk in and feel at home. I KNEW this was my place! And I'm allowed to bring my budgies. The only sad bit is that there isn't enough space to bring Anto as well. I don't want to go into this too much, you can probably imagine how downcast I was when I realised I would have to let him go. It's for the better, and he'll have a great home with a reptile nut who is a bit of an expert on geckos. Anto will be adored and well cared for, but I'll still miss him so much...

As for the job, I heard back today. Turns out they love me and are desperate to hire me, especially since they need more people on the German team. However, the headquarters in the US won't approve any job offers until at least April! I had long talks today both with Mairead (my ex-colleague who got me the interview) and the HR person of the company, and from the looks of it, there's nothing they can do right now. They are trying every possible loophole, without success so far, and otherwise they're just hoping I won't be gone to a different company in a month's time! I have to say, I would love to work there and I've been thinking - I'll move to the big city, surely there must be lots of temporary opportunities there? I had a look today and already spoke to two recruiters who have 1-2 month contract jobs on their books. I'll find something once I'm there so I won't have to worry about paying the rent. In the meantime, I'll still be applying for other permanent roles although to be honest, my first choice would still be the software company.

And so I'm going to start packing once again, and sorting out stuff that I can throw out, as I said at the beginning of this entry. I don't know when I'll have internet again, if all goes well it should happen by the Monday after my move, the 2nd of March. I'll be in touch before that with an update though!

Friday The 13th

It’s Friday the 13th again, just like it was 39 years ago today, when a certain hag was born five minutes past midnight. Happy birthday to me! I might be 39 now but my birthday still feels as tingly and exciting as it did when I was a child. I just LOVE getting older, always have, and I find people who think of themselves as “old” when they’re in their 40es or 50es, increasingly ridiculous. As for me, I’ve been ageing backwards ever since I started on my products seven years ago, I am demonstrably healthier and stronger and also look better than I’ve ever done before - and I intend to keep this tendency for at least another 20 years or so. So bring on the 40es and then the 50es, as far as I am concerned! But for now, I’ll enjoy being 39.

There’s even a chance that I’ll get a new job for my birthday. I had two interviews with a software company in Dublin last week and this week, and apparently they loved me and are preparing an offer. They’ve been checking references, and if everything goes well, I’ll hear back from them over the next few business days. Fingers crossed! It would be a great job, sales but also relationship building on a high professional level, just what I do best. It would also be well-paid enough for me to afford living - and actually LIVING! - in Dublin, where a tiny flat costs upwards of 800 or 900 Euro a month and a monthly ticket for public transport 120.

The above picture was taken Monday evening, when I was staying with my ever-patient hulder who put up with a hagish visitor yet again. Inga and Seanie have a young Burmese cat now, called Freddie, and the little beggar is the cutest, craziest, and most loveable little furball. I spent half the evening cuddling him, and the other half he jumped around chasing everything he could find. At one point Inga grabbed and cuddled him and that theirs is a big big love is obvious from the picture, don’t you think?

This is Freddie on my lap (I had a sleeping bag spread out across my knees, and he loved that):

I was very grateful to be able to stay with them, the evening was a tonic for me in those two stressful days in Dublin. I had a total of four interviews, if you count the one with a recruitment consultant on Monday afternoon. I then went on to interview with a large Irish media company, who immediately afterwards invited me back for second-round interview on Tuesday at noon. The second round with my software company had been scheduled for 8 am on Tuesday, so I got up at 6 after yet another night of just a few hours sleep. Thankfully, Seanie had offered to give me a lift into Dublin city which saved me a lot of walking to and from the train, and so I had a few minutes time before leaving the house. I decided I could use a cuddle and went into the kitchen, to find a delighted Freddie almost falling over his own feet cuddling and purring at the top of his voice. Just what I needed!

Both interviews on Tuesday went well, and afterwards I could finally relax. I went into a beautiful if slightly touristy pub and thawed myself out in front of the fireplace, with a book in my lap and a large mug of tea in my hand. I had been freezing the entire two days, which had been two of the coldest this year. Of course, that’s when I had to have my interviews and wear a skirt suit with tights and pumps! My feet were blocks of ice within two minutes of leaving the house. I guess it was the full moon that kept me going, there was a lot of energy around although I was tired. It was great to have those interviews at the peak of the lunar energy, even though it meant I couldn’t have a ritual this month.

The energy seems to have helped, because both companies liked me. I really hope I will get an offer from the software company, I feel this could really be my place for the next few years. It’s weird, isn’t it, that I’m looking forward to being an employee. Other people work for years and then feel the freedom when they go self-employed. I on the other hand, have hardly ever had “regular” jobs, and I’ve tasted the insecurity as well as the freedom, so now for once in my life I’ll go for (relative) stability to consolidate my finances and build my own thing on the side. And then I’ll go from there.

The excitement and stress of the past weeks has taken its toll, I have a “theoretical flu” that at first didn’t feel theoretical at all when it reared its ugly head yesterday morning. I immediately cancelled any plans of going to Cork or doing anything special for my birthday and prescribed myself strict rest and lots of vitamins. It seems to be working, I still don’t feel 100% myself again, but I’m not completely “flu-ed up” either. And since it’s looking as though I’ll move to Dublin very soon now, I’ve decided to have a combined housewarming/late birthday party once I’m there. I’ll go and view apartments on Monday, by the way, and I hope I’ll have an answer from my company by then.

Last but not least, I’d like to show you something. I took a few-seconds-long, horrible quality video with my phone camera, of my budgies listening to Nightwish! The distorted sounds in the background are actually a bit of “Nemo”. You can just about make up the shapes of Tia and Mirias on top of the CD shelf, and hear their excited chirps, haha. Aren’t they so cute?

Tia and Mirias listen to Nightwish from Sibylle Leon on Vimeo.