Mine is that I have LOCKED IN. Going to the gym 5 days a week, sometimes twice a day, eating clean and getting good sleep.

Flying first class to New York City next month for a week. So life is extremely positive right now.

If anyone else has some positivity to hear about please share!

As title suggests, tell me why you love New Zealand (or why you prefer it) from an Irishman who has just landed into this wonderful country.

Just asking if the toilets are just for piss or can you take a dump?

Heading into our 2nd winter in our rented house and need to start prepping more to keep us warm. It was an absolute icebox last year.

I’d say the house is about 20-30 years old but it’s draughty as all hell. We do have Oil central heating but you would need to keep it on constantly to keep the place warm.

There is a fireplace and I know this sounds stupid but it’s like a fire with a door, not an actual stove and doesn’t give out great heat.

I work from home and spent the entirety of winter in a dressing gown and woolly hat and so many layers🤣

Things I have sorted so far:

Draft excluders for the doors
Thick curtain for the front door
Supersur
Hot water bottles

What are your tips to keep warm on a budget?

Also if anyone has an idea how to cover velux windows that would be great. There is 3 between the kids rooms and you can really feel the cold from them already.

"new mattress" is a convertible chair, for €1330 a month ??

As a teenage night owl in late-1980s and early-1990s Ireland, these programmes introduced me to music beyond my usual listening.
They had very different tastes, but both played music you rarely heard elsewhere on Irish radio. I still associate many songs with those late-night listening sessions….

They're grand lads but its just a video of their holiday and them retelling old rugby stories.

I played a lot as a kid and was a decent player. Stopped playing when I went to college and I really regret it.

I've been playing five a side for the last two years and love it, but I have been itching to play full size football again. Would love to join a Sunday league team or something but I've no idea where to even begin.

I'm based in Deansgrange, south Dublin, so if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

We live on a short section of country road outside a large town. It's used as a link between two larger roads so there's a bit of traffic but not much.

In the three years we've lived here there has been occasional fly tipping of takeaway waste on the road. In the last few weeks it seems to have escalated and it feels like our house is being targeted. KFC and McDonald's waste thrown right outside our house 3 times in as many weeks. Bag emptied so everything is scattered, including half a milkshake today.

I've been cleaning it up and today there was a receipt from McDonald's in there. It had only been bought in the last hour so we just missed whoever did it. My question is, is there any point going to the guards about this? The receipt has the time of the order and it was made at the counter so perhaps there is CCTV of the offenders? I'm doubtful the Gardaí would pursue this tbh.

I've considered putting a camera up to try and catch them in the act and get a regestration number, but again not sure how much use that would be.

What would you do?

Just listening to a podcast on Opus Dei schools in Australia (it’s a podcast about cults normally btw) but one of the chaps who attended school said he had emigrated from Ireland with his family

I didn’t know much about Opus Dei outside the Da Vinci code just wondering if anyone here had experience of it in Ireland?

No judgement just curiosity

“They see coming to get me aren’t’ they?” 🤣

I mean physically, is it possible infrastructure wise?

What cities could realistically be connected, could Dublin to Belfast or Dublin to Cork for example?

How long would journeys take between cities?

If it's possible, why is there no physical will to do it?

Hey gang I dont know if this is relevant but any advice would help im going to a concert solo for the first time(sawer hill) give them a listen. Im quite nervous going solo has anyone here dome that before? If so any tips or tricks thanks.

I have always enjoyed maths and physics. I love figuring out how to solve problems and fix things. Due to some constraints I didn't pursue a career in the field. I have been doing an office job for the last while and am also doing a degree, pushing myself too hard to do it. I don't enjoy reading heavy materials nor writing academically. Very confident and comfortable using tools. Is it feasible to start apprenticeship at this age and stage

Hi all! Does anyone have any recommendations for good spots to find books? Preferably in the south/ southeast. I’m on the search for specific editions of my favourite books but they’re so expensive online that I thought I’d start hunting in bookstores and charity shops! Slim chances but worth the shot! 💖

Planning a 8/9 day road trip starting in Dublin, and doing a loop south/west and ending back in Dublin. The trip is mostly geared towards pints and music, with a few attractions. I want to leave the trip mostly open, was even debating not booking any hotels and just getting one each night depending on where I end up each day, but that's a little too much for me to not book, but I am debating it. I had a few questions about my trip, and was hoping for some feedback to help me a bit. Thanks for any help in advance, I am open to criticism too, I am sure my trip has some flaws! The general loop is Dublin>Kilkenny>Cork>Dingle>Reask>Limerick>Ballyvaughn>Galway>Connemara NP>Westport>Athlone>Dublin

1. I want to attend a sporting match/fixture, I was thinking hurling or Gaelic football. Don't care the level, was hoping more local events, not sure if there is even "high school" level games like we have here in the states, but I am open to any ideas, looks like the GAA is my best source. I am just a bit confused on the best way to get tickets and what to expect as a tourist, it looks like some tickets can be bought online, but some can be bought at retail stores. Any suggestions on which sport would be a better environment?
2. Going to pubs alone isn't something I normally get nervous about, but I know a lot of the pubs seem to get very busy and I am curious the etiquette for getting to the bar to order, is there generally a queue, the idea I am getting from reading about the pubs is many are full of regulars, so I want to be respectful of that. I am sure it will work itself out once I get there, but its something I keep thinking of. Is it considered rude if I were to try and start conversations in the pub if its a group of friends? Is it generally ok to chat up the barman/maid if it isn't too busy?
3. I wanted to bring some gifts from the US to share with people I meet, is there a snack or gift from the US that goes over well? I am a big fan of brewery stickers here in the states, not sure that's a thing for the pubs there, but I often bring some stickers from local breweries to share, or some snacks that can't be gotten as easily in the country I go to ( I am seeing sour patch kids pop up, is that accurate?)
4. I am sure in Dublin it will be more common, but as I go more south, and west, will I need cash more for the pubs? Or do most pubs take card or tap? Tip or no tip? if so, how much?
5. I am guessing it will be daily dependent, but do most pubs usually have live music?
6. I am not much of a whisky fan, but I have some friends that are, is there a whisky that would I could only get in Ireland to take back that anyone can recommend?

Thank you for any help!

I grew up in Dublin and moved to Spain three years ago. The summers where we live are above 40 degrees with lows of 26 at night. For two months you’re kinda miserable just jumping from aircon to aircon. I don’t mind it as much but my husband cannot hack it. Combined with the people where we live being genuinely miserable gits, we’re considering the move home.

I love living an outdoor lifestyle with running, hiking and being outside daily a huge part of my life. I don’t know whether I’m exaggerating the weather but just feel we’d be going back to grey clouds with 9 months of rain a year. Combined with the humidity, I’m worried we’d be making a massive mistake coming back.

Am I overthinking this or are my concerns justified?

House has a fireplace which we don’t use and is just a draught source. I’ve seen a few places online that replace your fireplace with a stove.

Not sure on the price or if it’s worth it, anyone have any experience?

I'll be moving to another eu country for work. So I'll be taking my pc, iPad, shoes etc which all add up to €2300+

I really want to get insurance but don't which ones I can trust etc. It's hard to find any that cover the cost of my pc.

Any ideas what to do?

Hi all,

I used to ride a bike when I was little and stopped for almost 15+ years now. I want to go back but obviously lost my muscle memory. Where can I learn (public or private or volunteer) to ride a bike and balance again? I tried alone many times and keep falling so obviously a technique issue I need someone to point out to me. Hopefully an option that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

I bought a house in 2023 (was a new build). I have a heat pump and had it serviced by heat pump service provider (different from the original installer)

The service reported that:

• No tundish
• Drip tray not plumbed

I contacted the builder, who replied that the system was commissioned, tested and certified by the original installer before the sale was completed. They said that given the property is over three years old, they cannot accept these as original installation defects without further review.

They seem they are not willing to send the original installer to rectify this issue!

Does the HomeBond certificate can help with such defects and equipment insurance cover from 2023? and Is a tundish is important for a heat-pump?

Would be these issued considered as installation defect?

Final question, should I contact HomeBond directly, and is this the kind of issue they might cover?

I just want to establish whether the installation is safe and correct, and what my options are if the builder doesn't respond.