Bakker Bugle Blog Say it three times fast. In Luxembourgish.

6 January 2008

First Visit to the Mothership

Filed under: ireland — Anita @ 12:59

As many of you know, Will and I have a fondness for IKEA. [Editor’s Note: Dave’s objections notwithstanding, we cannot resist the Scandinavian huldra of affordable design.] Once or twice a year, we would organize a trip to the Schaumburg (Illinois) store to get nifty storage containers, unique household items and functional furniture. Imagine our shock and dismay when we discovered that Ireland did not have an IKEA. Not one store on the whole island – a tragedy! We discovered this deficiency before we moved, so we made a final run to the Schaumburg store. We managed to get almost every IKEA thing we could need, but we did have a few holes that needed filling with cheap, function Swedish designs.

Not long after we moved here, the news of a new IKEA opening in Belfast reached our eager ears. The store opened in December. ikeajan08.pngWhile the island is small, Belfast is still about two hours away. So, it wasn’t reasonable or practical to go to Belfast just to shop at IKEA, as we really didn’t need that much. But, due to circumstances outside our control, we had to go to Belfast Saturday morning. Never ones to miss an opportunity, we decided to go to IKEA after we completed our commitment.

We arrived not long after the store opened, before the crowds began. Our friend Kathryn went with us and all three of us had an excellent shopping experience. We found rugs, storage units, a small table – everything we think we need to make our apartment just a little more perfect. Since Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain, the currency is Pounds, not Euros. Right now, it takes about two US dollars to get to one Pound. So, to get a feel for what things cost, you just doubled each posted price. Even I can handle that!

IKEA has plans to build a Dublin store, but they have to wait for some roadwork to be finished before they are allowed to build the store. The best estimate right now is 2010. Sometimes, things take a long time in Ireland…..

17 December 2007

A stocking full of links

Filed under: culture,dublin,ireland,links — Will @ 17:51

What’s News in Ireland? These links represent the stories that seem to dominate the newsmedia of Ireland.

Independent: Drivers on learner’s permits may be safer
The fiasco about learner’s permits turned the newsmedia’s attention to driving safety. Some counter-intuitive conclusions are being publicized in the wake of the policy shift. When it comes to roads safety, Irish expectations differ from American “common sense” — but not when it comes to children. But in Ireland, the combination of large families and small vehicles makes for an awkward situation for many parents.

Independent: Traditional light bulbs banned
The Greens joined Fianna Fail to form the current Irish government. That didn’t cause a big shake-up, but the number of green initiatives is increasing. This week, the Government announced the official obsolescence of the incandescent bulb.
Guardian (UK): “Dead” kayaker returns to face fraud charges
A man declared dead in 2002 by UK authorities walked into a London police station and declared himself a missing person. For the past two weeks, suspicions coalesced into a criminal case. Now, his wife and himself are charged with fraud.

Independent: Cocaine is a new scourge for Ireland
Cocaine use has been relatively uncommon in Ireland, but the newspapers seized on the story of increased cocaine use recently. The story is all the more dominant, given the apparent role of cocaine in the death of one of Ireland’s beloved models, Katy French.

Independent: Michael Lynn scandal continues
Michael Lynn is a lawyer and property developer who fled Ireland for a second time after defrauding banks and individuals in complex schemes involving multiple mortgages on the same properties.

Independent: EU “constitution” referendum is contentious
Ireland is one of the few EU countries holding a popular vote on major changes to the European Union. Some people say that the changes are a back-door version of the constitutional revisions that were rejected by French and Dutch voters. Others say that the changes are vital and necessary, and that the process of approving them is reasonably democratic. I don’t fully understand the issue yet.

Interesting Links

Ireland’s 1911 census available online
If you’re into genealogy, this may be big news! The National Archives released a big set of data about the residents of Dublin in 1911, and an exhibit about the face of Dublin that year.

The remarkable Guinness family

IKEA in Belfast!
Anita has been waiting for this development with great anticipation. The North is working hard to change its image, sometimes using bizarre means.

Independent: Oprah hearts Obama
This was big news in Ireland, too.

13 December 2007

Christmas holidays

Filed under: administrative,entertainment,ireland,sports — Will @ 23:51

The Bugle staff might not be productive for the next few weeks. In Ireland, office Christmas parties are taken very seriously. From what we understand, it can take up to two weeks to recover. So the staff apologize, in advance, if they are not able to maintain the levels of Bugle excellence that you expect.

Relax, enjoy your own festivities, and look forward to lots of new stuff in the new year!

6 December 2007

Holiday Traditions, Observed

Filed under: B&B,culture,mental state — Will @ 22:37

We Bakkers have pride in our willingness to immerse ourselves in new cultures. That said, we are not about to ignore the great American holiday that celebrates our great nation’s 400-year-long, mostly-well-intentioned imperialism. What’s more, we had fellow Americans in town on Thanksgiving Day!

Will made chicken, because the turkey steaks in the grocery store were intimidating. He also located something approximating cranberry sauce, at the local exotic foods store. Anita came home from work early, so she could mash up the best potatoes Ireland had to offer, finish the sweet potato casserole, and set the dining table. The pièce de résistance was Anita’s pumpkin pie.

It was all possible due to our dear guests, Sharon and Jaime. (more…)

5 December 2007

Flickr Photos Update: The Visit of Jaime and Sharon

Filed under: B&B,entertainment,ireland,travel — Will @ 16:20

At last, the photos from the epic visit of Jaime and Sharon are available to the loyal readers of the Bakker Bugle Blog. Each photo has a title and most have comments, so click through and enjoy the stories! (For the real details, ask the ladies yerself.)

The best way to view the photos is to start at the Collection Page and click through each day:

30 November 2007

Pop music

Filed under: entertainment,ireland — Will @ 12:40

Anita and I listen to Today FM in the morning. It’s a national station, broadcasting somewhere between 100 and 102 MHz all over the country. Most of the radio stations here have a programming format that I would describe as old-fashioned: a potpourri of DJ banter, call-in games and prizes, comedy routines, and pop music across at thirty-year span.

Here’s a sampling of music that we hear quite frequently on the radio. You’ll probably recognize most of it from American radio! (more…)

24 November 2007

5 Stars *****

Filed under: B&B,dublin,ireland,travel — Sharon @ 1:26

I am no Rick Steves, but here’s what he won’t tell you about Dublin, Ireland….

There is a new place called the Bakker B&B, est 2007. Conveniently located to the airport and is walk-able to many tourist attractions, such as Trinity College, Grafton St Shopping, St Stephen’s Green, etc.

The Bakker B&B is very homey & welcoming. Don’t let the name of the address fool you. “The Basement” is the place to be with a radiantly heated stone floor & crazy fireplace. This place is comfy & warm, not damp & misty, like the Ireland outside its door in November.

The guest accommodations are suitable for double occupancy & are the same rate for singles even during the peak season…(more about that later). Your stay at the BBB includes breakfast, but upon request may also include lunch & dinner (or dinner & supper).

Be sure to engage the owners in local and national news in the States. If you are lucky, they will even share a pint with you at the local pub, whether Guinness or Jameson, both are sure to make fast friends, especially if you buy a round or two.

Extra Special Perks include – a free walking tour of Dublin and Tourist information, such as info on local customs, maps, pamphlets, & reading materials. Internet connection is available by request.

The BBB is open all year round, but only exclusively by reservation. A minimum of 6 weeks notice is required.

Though the Euro is currently a lot stronger than the dollar, this visit is a must for all loyal (passport carrying) Bakker Bugle Blog readers. During the high season (April/May/June) visitors should book their exact dates of travel to lock in their stay.

Your satisfaction, like the coffee…….may be instant.

21 November 2007

Ten Things to Do, from a tourist, not Rick Steves

Filed under: B&B,entertainment,ireland,travel — Sharon @ 13:50

In no particular order:

  1. Embrace the culture. It is easy to do without much effort.
  2. Explore by walking about each day.
  3. Partake of a local alcoholic beverage — beer or whiskey, it doesn’t matter. Disclaimer: Number 3 is not for the pregnant or those who could become pregnant … you know who you are.Beers of Sharon
  4. See a castle … and while you are at it, a babbling brook or a nearby river or canal.
  5. Observe the local wildlife from a safe distance.
  6. Go on a brewery tour … see #3 above. (No, I am not an alcoholic.)
  7. See a round tower — though rare — it lends itself both to fairy tale and phallic visions.
  8. Buy some postcards and mail them back to your jealous friends in the States … Try not to rub it in too much when back home.
  9. Buy local artisan souvenirs (wool, lace, marble, pottery) for family and friends, because it is cool and you rubbed it in too much in #8.
  10. Take pictures to remember the fun and hospitality, and to quote a friend, how it was “f*ing picturesque” (said in an Irish accent).

17 November 2007

Visitors, Going to the Ring of Kerry

Filed under: B&B,ireland,travel — Will @ 23:53

The B.B. B&B hosts Sharon and Jaime, great friends and honoured Commenters of this blog. Their visit started with a chilly walk around Dublin, but all four of us were pleasantly surprised to see that Grafton Street has been decorated for Christmas.

Tomorrow, we depart for the Ring of Kerry. Anita and I saved this famous Irish destination for our esteemed visitors. Our first stops will be the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, followed by a night at a B&B in Killarney. On Monday, we’ll drive around the Ring of Kerry clockwise — the opposite of the direction that the tour buses use. On Tuesday, we plan to visit the Rock of Cashel.

By coincidence, we served Cashel Blue cheese at our party last night.

15 November 2007

Dublin Marathon

Filed under: dublin,entertainment,sports — Anita @ 13:55

The last weekend in October was a bank holiday weekend (meaning a Monday off). That Monday, the 27th annual Dublin marathon chose to start in our front yard (literally). The main start was on the east side of Fitzwilliam Square, so the runners lined up in front of our house as they sorted between their start times.

I’d never been to a major race before. The start times were a bit staggered (elite women at 8:45, wheelchairs 10 minutes later, then the main start a bit after nine), so I dragged Will out early. It was like a small carnival outside our door — skinny people in trash bags, not so skinny people in trash bags and others in more normal running clothes. They were all over — some already lining up to get into the stalls, others wandering around talking to friends and family, still others making use of our park for a public toilet….

Will and I headed up to the starting line. It was a cool morning, only in the 40’s, but that is the perfect temperature for a long run (or so I’m told). It was so emotional and exciting to be at the start and I didn’t even know anyone running. Watching the runners throw their extra clothes and trash bags off right before the start, seeing the runners bounce and bob as they get ready for the start, feeling the large group pass you by as the main start happens…. it is a overwhelming experience. I can’t imagine how much more so it must be for the runners.

The most amazing part is how fast the city of Dublin cleans up after these events. The streets around our square were wrecked with clothes, wrappers, bottles and floating trash bags, but within a couple of hours, the city workers had the square looking like normal again.

Take a look at our photos of the event at Flickr: Set of Marathon Photos

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