This is where things go horribly wrong...

Several months ago, I went to pick up our rental car for the trip to Dado's house in Killkenny. The car rental space is located on McCurtain Street on the northside of the city, across the River Lee, a short hop from city centre.  Several doors down from the car rental place, I noticed an empty storefront that used to be a traditional music store:  and I thought--that would make a good bar.  Which, for those of you who know me, is not such a big deal.  I think every space I see would make a good bar and fortunately for all of us other people exist who are able to envision hospitals, parks, museums...Didn't think of the space again until recently after I had made some inquiries on some other spaces in different neighborhoods.  I kept coming back to the space though and finally started asking around the neighborhood who owned it.  Turns out the space used to be part of the restaurant next door (the blocked up archway in the photo was the door that connected the spaces), but the owner let some friends use it for a music shop.  I called the restaurant a number of times looking for the owner to no avail and was told the space had been rented already.  Anyway, finally reached the owner, George, and yes indeed he had committed the space to a take away shop.  But, he said to call him in a couple of weeks because his tenant was "messing around" with the lease.  A week or so later, when CW was getting her eyes checked (the stability of our relationship is based mostly on her poor eye sight--I've told her I kind of look like Gabriel Byrne if she squints) in the neighborhood, I was "skulking" around the space as I tend to do.  Well, lo and behold the door opened and out popped George.  I introduced myself and told him I was very interested in the space.  Yes, he said, you told me that a week ago on the phone.  He did ask, however, what I wanted to do with the space and I said wine bar.  Hmmm, said George, give me a call Monday (it was then Friday) and we'll see where my current tenant is.  Monday came around and I went and met George. He told me that the take-away guy still wanted the shop but George's wife liked the idea of a wine bar in the space (leave it to the women!)  Anyway, I then gave George a package of photos and reviews of our New York and Edmonds bars as well as an Irish attorney and an Irish accountant who "represented" "my company"  (I got their names out of the phone book and was trying to get an appointment with them).  So here we are.  No lease signed yet but it looks promising. Are we out of our minds?  There are probably 5000 pubs in Cork City and exactly one wine bar (Meade's) Hmmm?  The publicans here have a very strong lobby and will do anything to keep the value of pub licenses (okay to serve beer wine spirits without food) extremely high (200,000-400,000 Euro just for the license)  However, the whole wine thing is a bit new here so wine licenses are not an issue as publicans see no threat.  In order to serve beer with wine however, we would have to serve a "substantial meal", have no bar, and only serve beer with the meal.  Screw that!  Will a wine bar work in Cork?  Not a clue but why not roll the dice.  Off to a restaurant show in Dublin this week as well as to check out the wine bar scene there.  Did meet with an accountant (good) and attorney (expensive)  We have the accountant forming a company just in case we go ahead with this but the attorney stuff I am attempting to do to save money.  Also, trying to get up to speed with health and building codes, where to find carpenters (Irish carpenters?  really?) plumbers, electricians, etc.., etc... Even if we don't go ahead with this space, the education has been interesting.  And, CORK would most likely replace MILAN on the window.  More to follow!

Not "Child's Play"

This is not Chucky from the aforementioned movie and I was subject to the wrath of my Dutch friend Sylvia when I suggested as much.  Apparently, it's a well-known much-loved Dutch doll from her childhood-oops.  And when I staggered up two flights of steep stairs (Dutch go up not out with their houses--right up there with Bangladesh in per capita population per area) after drinking strong European beer all night,(Quick bad joke: what do American beer and making love in a canoe have in common? Both f$x@ing next to water) this "doll" was waiting on my pillow.  Anyway, more on my last night later.  Trip was great. Friday:  Walked from our apartment in the pouring rain to the bus stop where I got the 6 a.m. bus to the airport (5 Euro--not bad)  My flight to London Stanstead was 9 Euro but because Ryan Air likes the add on charges I had to check-in at the gate (5 Euro) because no EU passport.   Then once through security, things looked quite a bit different than, say Sea-Tac:  Lots of 7 a.m. drinking at the bars.  And it's everyone, not just a bunch of louts or hens going away for the weekend--people actually treating travel as something to celebrate--SeaTac? Beer at 7 a.m.? Sure.  Nice smooth 1 hour flight to London--well London Stanstead, an easy train ride to London Liverpool Station.  Took the tube a few stops to Marble Arch and found my hotel (Where my mom and aunt were also staying on their tour).  Had a nice wander around the Grosvenor Square area where I was assigned for a while with that "Government" job--one of my favorite pubs--Red Lion--where I had a drink with thee Tom Jones-- was boarded up--wonder if he still has my boxer shorts I gave him?  Anyway, eventually found my mom and Rose Marie and because we were in London, we went out for Chinese food???? Next day, we went to Harrod's--wow, I am not much of a shopper but this store is pretty impressive!  No wonder Di was gonna hook up with this family. Went to a proper English pub for dinner and then I headed on the train to Harwich where I boarded the overnight ferry to the Netherlands--very impressive for 51 sterling--my own huge en-suite room, casino, restaurants, kids areas, cinema--had a bite/drink and then woke up as we were pulling up to Holland.  Quick train to Amsterdam and an easy tram to my hotel.  Ahhh, Amsterdam.  London left me a bit cold apart from some nice memories of previous visits--but Amsterdam--8 months to 80 years--all on bikes--in sweats and tuxedos and evening dresses.\ Yes, I am a sucker for bike transportation as those of you know who know me know well. Borrowed a bike at my hotel and went riding around--hadn't been to Amsterdam in a few years so took a while to get my bearings.   Red Light District:  like any good thing, used to be better. Now tour buses fill up the streets and it's a parody of itself.  But anyway, I went looking for it just to see its current state.  Missed it by a block (how is that possible?) and ended up in Cafe 't Mandje, a bar founded by one of Amsterdam's first open Lesbians--Bet van Beeren (1927-2007). Great mixed crowd and loads better than the Red Light District.  More biking/drinking next day and then a lunch with mom and Rose Marie.  Took the commuter train out 30 minutes to Sylvia (Dutch) and Johns' (Scottish) house--they have two dreadful creatures about DCs' ages. Have known these two friends ten years plus so a great visit even though Sylvia pointed out that they weren't those hip Dutch people who live in City Centre and put a family of four on a bike.  After a great night of Moroccan food, German beer, and a frightful night with Chucky, I was on my flight back to Cork.  All well at home except YDC freaked out at first day of preschool--CW left him anyway.  This weekend, I am on my own (payback??) with the DCs as CW is off to Dado's to see some relations.  That's it--looking forward to Edmonds.  May take one more trip before Edmonds to Littlehampton UK to buy a Dutch bike--21 hour ferry ride home--ouch!!.  My new favorite web site: "The Man in Seat 61"--thinking about the train to Casa Blanca in November! And also for anyone interested, I am doing Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk in June, 2009.  If you can walk and then drink, this is for you.  It's a 190 mile walking pub crawl from sea to sea.

London Calling

I am off to see me mum and her sister in London tomorrow. Then getting a overnight ferry to Amsterdam Saturday night(don't worry, it's the Belgians who forget to close the doors on their boats -circa 1987) where I will hook up with them on Sunday. Visiting Dutch/Scotish friends Monday night outside Amsterdam and then home Tuesday. Will try to report from the road and any Red Light District visits will be pure as well as purely in the name of research. Doei!

Dutch lesson: doei (do-we) = goodbye

Hey, you talking to me?

This is ODC and her new friend Eva at St. Maries of the Isle lounging around the classroom.  As soon as we figure out what language Eva's parents speak, we are going to invite her over for a play date.

"I got the news today, oh boy..."

Today Older Dreadful Creature brought home St. Maries of the Isle official "Track Suit" policy. Track suits are to be worn to school on Mondays and Wednesdays.  The good news is that we don't have to spend any more money on extra jumpers at Marks and Sparks as well as feeling that we have been truly accepted by the posh Irish track suit crowd--most mornings I go to the gym(no life of leisure here) after dropping ODC at school so it's possible that we may be walking together in matching suits.  If I can get YDC and the trouble and strife in them, the world is our oyster!!! 

Rhyming Cockney slang lesson:  Marks and Sparks = Marks and Spencer, a UK- based        department store

         Trouble and strife = wife

Root cause of Irish underage drinking solved (by me)

According to our Irish Lonely Planet Guide, there are exactly four children's activities in all of Ireland: Fota Wildlife Park, Kilarney Jaunting Cars, a musuem in County Kerry, and some dolphin that's tame enough to swim with. Well, we have been here a month, and have already done two of the four kids' activities. This past weekend we did the traditional Kilarney Jaunting Car with the dreadful creatures--I think these Irish horsemen work off-season at Central Park's carriage rides.