My Grad

Just made it by the skin of my teeth. Left Dublin Airport at midnight. Not much sleep the night before. Met Oisin in Starbucks at 9.00 a.m. and went across together to Trinity where Brian handed me the monkey suit etc. while I was queuing up for the gown. Ran into a random room hoping it was not belonging to the Trinity Girl Guides and changed, put back on the gown and made my way outside to meet Brian, Trish, Shirley, Caroline, Aileen, Sr. Alice, Derek and Siobhan. Hugs and kisses all round. Keara (sec.) and the lecturers Séamus, Noel and Jim were also there and there were a hundred and one questions. No time for photos but straight into the Public Theatre for the Commencement (graduation ceremony as in commencing your career as a graduate) ceremony. It was all very antique with organ music from the middle ages, the announcements in Latin and everyone dressed in robes. This in no small part helped create a great sense of occasion and of history. Commencements have been done in this manner and in this same hall for hundreds of years. It was all over in an hour and a half and then outside for many ‘Kodak Moments’. Check out the slide show on the left to see the evidence. Everyone was with family and friends and we all went our separate ways with a promise to meet on December 23rd, the day after I come back from Oz! No doubt there will be a few other days in The Bank in between.
Oisin and I joined Trish and family for a lovely lunch, followed by more hugs and shakes and goodbyes. When it was all over I was left with a feeling of contentment for what I had learned but even more for the friends that I had made. This is one group that I will keep in contact with. Only they can empathise with after school lectures, Starbucks at ‘half-time’, assignments, choosing a topic with all its difficulties, operating in the dark with often times conflicting instructions, ‘Systemic Thinking’ Paradigms, t-shirts that showed off a nice tan, Chapter One and the difficulty in getting started, the importance of Chapter Six, size twelve Roman numerals and one and a half space, pain, suffering, stress and comradeship. I suppose at this stage that it was worth it all but I am also left with a sense of relief that it is all over and that I have my life back.
P.S It did not belong to the Girl Guides!

"Do you need to go to the toilet?"

After breakfast found out that we were on standby to go today sometime. They had to fly a plane back from Irl and then turn it around. A wave of excitement went through the hotel which increased to tidal proportions when about an hour later we were told to be ready to leave at two o’ clock! As I was going back up in the lift with two of the girls, there was an Indian lady also in the lift. I was beside myself with excitement as there was now a possibility that I would make the grad. As I shuffled excitedly from foot to foot she turned to me and asked:
“Do you need to go to the toilet?”
The girls are still laughing! That will make a nice story to re-tell at the Reunion next year. Anyway, I digress, there followed a mad rush to repack the suitcases-why is it always so difficult to get the same stuff back in?- and check out. I also had to contact Peter to ask him to take home two suits that I bought in the sales in Abu Dhabi and email Trinity to see there the tickets were. I contacted Brian who filled me in on the details for tomorrow and kindly agreed to collect my monkey suit. Also sent texts and emails to family and friends.
After checking out, we all made a quick dash to the restaurant for our last five star lunch and then boarded the busses. Everybody was happy and some like me gave the lady from Etihad a great big hug. They were outstanding and how they looked after us was very much appreciated by all.
We got to the airport around three and just then got a text from O2 saying that there were free roaming texts for the next three days, due to the circumstances. Could have done with that for the last four days. The flight was due to depart at four but did not until after five. We had all boarded at four. As the plane was not full and others from hotels (that was how they prioritised) who were not due to fly out had heard on the grapevine and made their way to the airport, were accommodated as they arrived until the plane was full. We did not relax until we had passed the five hour mark which was past the point where the flight on Saturday last had to turn back. When the plane landed, there was a spontaneous cheer and round of applause.

I'm hot and it's yes...

Irish airspace opened last night and went to bed hopeful. Spoke to Etihad this morning and they say that a plane is leaving Dublin shortly to collect us. There is still a chance that I will make my graduation and that will give me three days at home. Oh joy!

The Katy Perry Feeling

'I'm hot and I'm cold, it's yes and it's no...'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X75mry1LcFg
Went to bed last night thinking that as Dublin Airport was to open this morning I would at least get home for my graduation, which is Thursday morning. Lots of flight in the queue but we would eventually get out. This morning I spoke to the Etihad rep who told me that Dublin had not opened. Rushed up to my room to check the internet to find that there had been further eruptions. Restrictions until 13.00 and likely to continue. It is very frustrating and nothing can be taken for granted. On Saturday last a flight had to turn back after five hours! My window is slowly closing as my return flight is booked for Sunday morning. Very disappointed.

Taxi

Took a taxi in to Abu Dhabi today and did a little bit of shopping. On the way home whenever the taxi driver exceeded the speed limit a voice from his sat nav told him to: "Slow down, you are crossing (sic.) the speed limit!" This happened in the different speed zones. Wouldn't you love to get that for your car driving offspring!

Latest update

Have just been told that there is a chance of flying in the next 36 hours. Flights are leaving for Germany today and will continue to other countries as the cloud clears. We have been asked not to leave the vicinity of the hotel.

Breakfast in Tiffany's

Well I never did have but it could not possibly compare to what I just had this morning. Those that know me will know that I don't have a great palate but I was able to feast on: freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit salad, porridge, cereal, STEAK, muchrooms, wedges, eggs cooked to order in front of me; chocolate, fruit and regular crossants, pancake and waffles cooked to order. I only had a little bit of everything but there were counters full of other old healthy stuff hot and cold that iIdid not go near. If you sat down and made a wishlist and then asked ten people to add to the list you would still not come near the choice of good food that we had. All while lookkng out at the trackside of the Formula One circuit. You could have opened the window and hit it with a spit it is that close. Mind you, you would have to careful because there would be a lot of other Irish spitting at the same time!
So, in terms of the poor creatures all over Europe sleeping on floors and paying through the nose for a room, I feel really lucky. Etihad have been outstanding and could not be expected by anyone to have done more for a huge gang of Irish waiting to get home. I am sure that they have done the same for all the other nationalities. They could have left us in the lovely three star hotel in Dubai but moved us here to this luxury instead. Apparently there are 40,000 stranded in the two cities due to the cloud of ash. The mind boggles that they could look after us all so well.. Etihad and Emirates are the two main airlines concerned in the two cities.
But still, I just want to be home and to meet family and friends. I had just one week there and it was jammed packed with things to do and people to see. I will miss most of that now and even looks like I won't make my graduation. This morning at the desk I overheard that we were booked in here for three days. My fear now is that they will ship me back to Melbourne as I am only going to Ireland for a week and not to stay.

P.S.

I said no thanks!

I am that person in the hotel lobby.

Picture the scene: after breakfast all are gatehered in the lobby for an announcement or the next latest update. We were informed that nothing was happening in the next 24 hours. We were also told that we would be changed to an Abu Dhabi hotel at six o’ clock. So Jed, Lorraine, Sinéad-Cavan, Maureen-Cork and James-Louth decided to do the city tour. (all in photo) We went around on a ‘hop on, hop off' bus just like in Dublin and London. Saw different parts as well as the sights I saw the last time. Interesting place. I have had a yen to go to Dubai (and play golf there) for some time. Now I end up there twice in the space of four months. Pity I did not bring the clubs. 39 degrees so it was a little hot. Spent a bit of time shopping in the Souks. I had great crack trying to buy an Arab man and woman salt and pepper set. ‘Man, woman, salt, pepper, shake!’ Could not find one anywhere but had seen loads in January when I was here. Eventually found out that they were banned on religious grounds. You couldn’t be lifting up an image of an Arab woman and shaking her! It was really nice having the lads and we have become friends.
Hotels were changed at six and it took about an hour and a half by bus to get to Abu Dhabi. Just before I left I got a call from Peter Madden who said that he was in Abu Dhabi but going to Dubai. I said that I was in Dubai and going to Abu Dhabi! Will try to meet up tomorrow, if I am still around. The new hotel is out of this world. Check it out: http://www.theyashotel.com/
Great service, stunning decor, rooftop pool/bar beautiful, very helpful friendly staff, (hundreds of them everywhere) A chap even called to the room and asked if I would like him to dress back the bed! Wonderful food, amazing reat selection! I have never stayed in the likes of it. This is where I came in: it is all so surreal.

Fair Play to Etihad

I have got to hand it to Etihad. They have really looked after us. When our flight was eventually cancelled they gave us food vouchers straight away. The problem is not theirs it being an act of God (or Allah in this case!) As soon as we had finished eating they organised a hotel for us. There were no hotel beds in Abu Dhabi so they taxied us to Dubai and put us up in IBIS there. WE had to check out our baggage and mine was ripped in the corner. They offered me a one-whelled replacement, which I refused and I eventually ended up with a lovely new ‘American Tourister’. Bit of a delay here but worth it not to have to fill in claim form and seek reimbursement. Our hotel voucher covers dinner, breakfast and lunch but we hope to be gone after breakfast. I met a couple of girls from Dublin in the lift and they told me that they left Abu Dhabi this morning bound for Dublin and had to turn back after FIVE hours. Ten hours of flying for nothing. That’s tough.
After dinner, Jed and I took a trip to the Emirates Mall which has to be one if the biggest in the world. There was a double line of taxis, fifty or sixty at least, continuously pulling up and people getting it. After a little stroll around we then hopped on one of the fancy trains. Spotlessly clean. It had carriages for women only patrolled by a woman officer (see photos) and fines were imposed for any eating or drinking. All the platform were sealed off on the train side and both sets of doors opened simultaneously. It took us about thirty minutes to walk to the station, which looked like an airport terminal. When we returned to the same station we got a taxi back to our hotel and it cost €2.50. Of course we gave him €3. The last of the big spenders eh?
We will find out tomorrow morning if we are flying out tomorrow, but I looked up the IAA website and things are getting worse. The next few days could be spent going in and out of the airport and still going nowhere.

Going nowhere in a hurry!

The flight has just been cancelled. Now we have to wait for food vouchers and then we will be briefed. Looking like hotel for a while. If that happens we will have to book out our baggage which could also take a few hours. Can't really do anything because I will need to stay at the hotel for briefing. There may be a pool at the hotel. Sorry now that I did not pack my togs but I wasn't expecting to be swimming in Ireland. What is it with me and flight problems?! On Jan 1st Dublin Airport was closed because of snow, had to do the same but at least I got more time to say my goodbyes. Here it is going to be just hanging around waiting for word.

Flight Update

My flight was delayed from 9.35 to 11.00, local time. It is now 11.30 local time and we are all waiting at the gate sitting on the floor. Found out about an hour ago (Airtel and 2FM news, isn't the internet great!)that Irish airports will be closed until 18.00 which is 21.00 here. As it is an eight hour flight we will not be hearing anything until at least 13.00 here. The screen still says 11.00! People on a flight to italy were loaded and then unloaded and seem to have gone to a hotel. Pandemonium but everyone is still quite calm if that is not a contradiction in terms. Just got a call from John in Irleand telling me to go back to Oz, but it is too early for that yet. Our flight still has not been cancelled which means thatn they still are going to attempt to get us away.

Volcanic ash flight delays

Heading home for a week for the graduation looking forward to meeting family and friends. Managed to get a week off which was very decent of the CEO and school, especially so soon after Easter holidays. A little bit of pandemonium in Melblourne Airport due to the volcanic ash over Europe. Uncertainity over flights, all flights to the UK and some other European destinations cancelled. The first leg of my flight was good to go. Many decided to stay in Melbourne but the next flight out of there for me, is on Friday next, apparently. I chose to come as far as Abu Dhabi and if the worst comes to the worst I can walk from there!

When I arrived in Abu Dhabi my flight still has not been cancelled. It was delayed by an hour and a half. It is very difficult as Dublin airport is open but the airspace is the problem. The flight here was fine and on time but about a third empty. No screaming kids! I slept about seven times, woke, read for a while and slept again... I have a headache. Not stressed though as I do not have any control over the situation. Got friendly with a few people (that's Lorraine-Ardee and Jed-Melbourne in the photo) as we are all sharing information. Pity my schedule is so tight.

123-it's a record.

Like all good things it came to an end on Saturday last. For 123 consecutive days Melbourne had reached at least 20 degrees ( a record) but on Saturday the highest temperature was only 18 degrees. It made all the papers and tv news. It even made this blog!

You have 71 new messages!

I thought that the amount of mail and email in Irish schools was ridiculous, and it is. Now what is the superlative of ridiculous? because that is what it is here. It is seven o' clock at night and I still have a mound of letters sixteen inches high (I measured!) and 71 emails to open. Professional development is a money racket here as there is so much money available in school budgets for it. You also get the usual brochures and catalogues to do with sport, religion, literacy, numeracy etc. Then the Dept send letters and emails and the CEO send mainly emails, all on a daily basis. As I am an NAP I have to be a bit more careful that I do not throw out or delete something important, so I can not 'empower' the school business manager. Anyway, I'm off for a cup of tea and a sambo and when I come back I will fill you in on how long it took to open the backlog that has built up since Easter.
OMG 20 mins to open the letters which was bad enough, but 45 mins to sift through the emails is OTT. I have printed out over 20 but will have to leave them until tomorrow as I am brain dead and have a pain in... (you guessed it my two shoulders!) "Handle each piece of paper once," how are ye!
...5 mins for the cup of tea and sambo!

Dia Dhuit Mr. O Coigligh

It brought joy to my heart to hear that this morning as I returned to school. The children used to say:
"Good morning Mr. O Coigligh and may God bless you."
So I have taught them to say:
"Dia Dhuit Mr. O Coigligh."
and:
"Slan leat, Mr. O Coigligh."
They have really taken to it and now many say it to me in the playground. I met one of the kids downtown before Easter and she said it to me there.
Oh joy! It really reminds me of home. I am thinking of doing some song and dance with them later in the year, to develop the cultural side of the exchange.

Melbourne Trains One

Give me a minute while I calm down! Okay deep breath: South Kensington was the nearest train station and it had six or seven lines and all sorts and sizes of trains passed through but very few of them stopped. It was only two stops away from Southern Cross and three from Flinders, the two main (huge) stations in Melbourne. That was if it did not take 'The Loop' which entailed another five stops. If you wanted to go to one of those five you were never sure how many stops away you were because it depended on whether or not it went clockwise or anti-clockwise around the loop. If you wanted to go to Flinders sometimes it was three stops away and sometimes it was eight. Southern Cross was two or seven stops away. On one occassion we got to Flinders and next stop was Southern Cross but we had to pile out and get on another train only to be told to get off that and on to the one we first vacated. Another time we wanted to go to Parliament Station which was one stop from Flinders but it did not go via The Loop. It stopped in Flinders and five minutes later it went back to Southern Cross which we had just left. It then went around The Loop and five stations later we arrived at Parliament which is only one stop from Flinders. Sometimes you asked the workers but we were often told to take a certain train to South Kensington only to find that it did not stop there. We often checked with two or three workers and still got caught out. In the end we trusted the commuters more and even they were often caught out. If the train did not stop at South Kensington you could get off at Footscray, the next stop and get a train back. These did not always stop either and we often ended up having to get a taxi. There has to be an easier way...

Des Bishop

The Melbourne Comedy Festival was about half-way through its month-long run. Tickets for Des were about a third of the price of tickets for the big musicals but his show only lasted an hour. It was based on the fact that his father is dying of terminal cancer which, for me, meant that the comedy was outweighed by the pathos. It was a clever idea to pay tribute to his father and comedians like to sail close to the wind but this was too close. Funny guy and he told some good jokes but I couldn't help feeling sorry for his dad.
But guess who we met? Yes the vets, well the three ladies were vets but Joe and Shane were not. They had recovered from Port Fairy and The Saw Doctors and just happened to 'rock up' looking for tickets. Turns out that we have other connections besides Joe being the brother of my son Fiachra's best friend. As Zig and Zag would say...We all sat together up the front, as you can see. Must look them up the next time I go to Melbourne.

Jersey Boys

Had not heard too much about it but was pleasantly surprised. It is the true story of Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons. Not a bad story but the music, singing and choreography were first class. I was surprised that I knew and liked most of the songs. Must get the cd.

Mama Mia

What you see is what you get. The live show is superior to the movie and quite funny. The music was classic even if the lead singer was poor. Felt like dancing but resisted the temptation as no one else got up! Harmless, enjoyable fun.

Bell's Beach ASP World Championship Surfing

The oldest surfing championships in the world held here every Easter. It was great to soak up the atmosphere at another world event. We arrived late in the day when it was possible to get right up close to the surfing. For more info and photos check out this link.

Philip Island

We saw koalas in the reserve, and though I had been there six weeks ago it was still great to again observe these wonderful creatures, up close. The reserve includes a tree-top walk so that you can get a really close up view. At night we visited the famous Penguin Parade. This is when up to 150 penguins come in for the night to nest but not before changing their minds several times and running back into the water. The smallest (and cutest) penguin in the world, the Little Penguin is around 33 centimetres tall with adults weighing just over 1 kilogram. The Little Penguin is the only blue feathered penguin in the world and will typically live for 7 years. Native to Phillip Island, the Little Penguins make the sand dune burrows their home. They start their day very early – leaving their burrows at first light to go fishing in the sea. At sunset, the magic of the Penguin Parade begins as the Little Penguins emerge from the sea and march in groups across the beach to their burrows. Unfortunately, on the night there were only about 15 or 16 that came ashore. When you consider that we were in a grandstand that contained about four thousand people, you can appreciate that it was a bit of an anti-climax. We did get to see four or five later waddling right beside us by the dunes on the way out, and that was amazing. Worth the time and expense and wait in the cold.
We stayed with the Mayor of The Bass Shire, which includes Philip Island: none other than Peter Paul, the principal from Chandler School in Melbourne. It was he who gave me the ITF details which was the beginning of my odyssey. As Zig and Zag would say:
"It's a funny old rock and roll world!"
Glynis and Peter were the perfect hosts and their house was like a hotel. It was great catching up as both had visited St. Mary's in Trim in 2008, the year after the Bursary. Peter has had many varied and unusual experiences as both principal and mayor and it was interesting and enriching to hear his many stories and views.

Grand Prix Formula One

This was a magnificent occasion and there was a great sense of glitz, glamour and gladiators! Those 'Roman' fellows were there getting their photos taken again and again and again. What is it about men in short skirts? Just as well there isn't a Scottish Grand Prix! The race itself was a high-speed blur, all I can say is that if you actually want to see the race and know what is happening, you are better off staying at home and watching it on telly. You can certainly hear and sense the power of the cars but if you wanted to know what exactly was happening you were reduced to race radio, large screen TVs or your smart phone. It was great, though.
Keeping with the Scottish theme, there was a concert afterwards by Simple Minds. There was a group of Scots beside us and none of us could remember any of their songs. We waited for about six songs and still had not recognised any, so went home.

Easter Holidays

I headed to Melbourne and stayed with Karin and Rick from Winnipeg, Canada. Karin is one of the fourteen fellows. We went to The Formula One Grand Prix on the Sunday. Leonard, my brother from Auckland, was unable to get his passport from Ireland so we missed out on a visit from him. Hopefully he and Denise will come over in September, but I will see them in July for a week, when I visit them. Therefore, we were able to stay in Melbourne longer than expected and Monday was spent shopping and booking tickets for Jersey Boys, Mama Mia and Des Bishop. Tuesday we went on a sight-seeing tour of Melbourne and said goodbye to Karin and Rick who were heading to Tassie for ten days. Wednesday and Thursday were spent on the famous St. Kilda Beach. The weather was in the mid-twenties but though there were quite a few on the beach, very few ventured into the water.
On Friday we visited Philip Island.
On Saturday we returned via the Sorrento ferry to Queenscliff and along The Great Ocean Road as far as Lorne. Then it was home to Warrnambool. Beach on Sunday followed by a visit to Tower Hill, a local wildlife reserve in the mouth of an extinct volcano. On Monday it was the Wildlife Park in Ballarat followed by another visit to the recreated gold mine town at Sovereign Hill and finishing with a sound and light show: 'Blood on The Southern Cross'. (more details earlier on the blog) The rest of the week was spent catching up on sleep and recharging the batteries for back to school on Monday.

Signs 1

Why would you want to?

 

Powernap

Everywhere you drive you are advised by roadsigns that sleeping kills and that if you feel tired to stop and 'Powernap'. There are even designated or recommended powernap areas. I suppose it makes sense in such a vast country where long journeys are commonplace. I had my first 'powernap' recently but found it very scary. I was feeling very drowsy so I pulled in to one of the areas and took a quick nap. When I awoke, my first thought was that I had fallen asleep at the wheel. It frightened the living daylights out of me. I had no problem staying awake after that! The powernap certainly worked for me, but I am not sure that this was the idea.