I'll be doing a longer and more detailed post about my recent steam train experience. For now, however, here are a couple of short videos to give you a taste of it. The engine waiting to be repositioned: The engine as it was being hooked back up to the carriages: I know the video quality isn't amazing - sorry! Steam trains are wonderful. … [Read more...] about Choo Choo Videos
Paramount+’s UI Makes me Sad
Paramount+ launched in Ireland a couple of weeks ago. It's obviously aiming to compete against Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and other streaming services. However as a new entrant into the space you'd have expected them to have a slick user interface and a great customer experience. You'd be wrong. I've tried the service out "in browser" as well as via AppleTV and … [Read more...] about Paramount+’s UI Makes me Sad
Keeping the Greenhouse Under Control is an Uphill Struggle!
I was away for a week up in Donegal. While the weather in Donegal might not have been that nice it seems like the weather in Carlow was a lot more pleasant. So when I came back yesterday evening I found that the greenhouse had been more or less taken over by my tomato plants (again!) . It's a great big verdant mess: Some of the tomato plants are now so tall that … [Read more...] about Keeping the Greenhouse Under Control is an Uphill Struggle!
A Quirky Bit of Irish History
Ireland was officially neutral during the Second World War and the Irish government referred to the war as "the emergency". But part of the island of Ireland was at war and physically we are very close to the UK, so there was always a risk that German pilots could get confused about which country they were over. And so the Irish government set up the coastal watch to … [Read more...] about A Quirky Bit of Irish History
Excellent Impressions While Singing
I'll admit that I do watch America's Got Talent and the other shows from time to time. Some of the acts are really good and there are worse ways to while away an evening. A recent audition that caught my attention was this one from New Yorker Merissa Beddows. You can see Simon cringing when she tells them that she's an opera singer, but then goes on to impress the judges, … [Read more...] about Excellent Impressions While Singing