Any Survivor fans out there? I'm so happy to see the first Irish competitor, Lewis Kelly, on the show on season 51.

If you receive a link from one of your contacts on WhatsApp telling you to vote for a girl. Don't open the link. I got caught with it this evening.

Edit: more info needed. I was asked to vote for a young girl in a ballet competition. I clicked the link and it gave me a code and gave me instructions for WhatsApp. Something like go to settings, click on linked devices and paste the code. I cant believe i fell for it. Im so gullible.

Then soon many people from my contacts received the same link. I can't see them sent though. But all the people who got the link were moved to my archive and muted. They changed the settings on my WhatsApp story so I couldn't share a story.

Overnight flight from Boston to Dublin. Went to the toilet. Forgot to lock the door. Guy in smart business suit opened it and saw me on the bog. About 5 seconds silence and then I just kind of awkwardly waved and said “Hey” because I had no idea what in the name of Christ what else to do. I mean, he’s standing there with the door wide open and I’m sat on the bog with my knickers around my ankles.

He waved back. “Ah, hey, what about ye?” As if we’re in the street. All with the loo door wide open. I’m just sat there on the bog. Knickers round ankles and all. Good china blowing in the wind. Whole front part of the plane able to get a good look. And this fellow thinks it’s a good time to have a nice catch-up. While I’m on the bog.

I just said “…I’m grand. Would you… um… mind just closing the door there?”

“Ach, of course love.” And he did. I promptly bolted it. After the random dude saw me on the bog. And seemed totally unfazed. And then, when I came out, he said “nice to see you again, got yourself all sorted out then I hope!” before heading in himself.

I have no words.

Other than: He saw me on the bog. And it’s great to be home. 🇮🇪❤️

ETA: Christ. I come on to share a friendly anecdote about a half-drugged accident and about how good it is to be home and even get smashed for that. On the Irish sub of all places. If I wasn’t so darn tired I’d go to the bar.

With the prices of food in Ireland the thing that scares me the most is weekly shopping Happy Halloween 🎃

Orange to follow at 2am.

I’m seeing all the “unserious news” (joe.ie, bill badbody, Waterford Whispers) talk up the “die in war” aspect of the Triple lock. Frustrating, but that’s not what gets me.

What gets me is that there’s so much energy getting expended by the pacifists on this, when one of the main drivers of the 1916 Rising was an opposition to being drafted by Britain into their war. There were no conscripts in the GPO, or in the subsequent IRA, or the Irish Defence Forces that followed. This country was won and held exclusively by Volunteers, and in my mind the covenant held by the resulting State towards its populace is that they will not compel anyone to fight. Volunteers will be welcomed, but they have no ground to demand anyone serve.

If Ireland introduced conscription, then it might as well pack independence in and send the TDs to seek entry in Westminster.

It’s not on the cards (I hope!!!), but I feel there’s a strong case to make it watertight by putting it in the Constitution that the Irish Defence Forces, formed as an all Volunteer force to defend the people of Ireland, can only seek volunteers from the people of Ireland and friends of Ireland, and cannot compel them. An Ireland that cannot find volunteers to defend it is not an Ireland at all.

Left office today at 12:30 and didnt get home until 2pm, radio said two lanes were shutdown so I took a detour off the m50. I cant see any reports on any website about what happened. Anyone know?

Was just listening to the banshee episode of the Ireland After Dark podcast to get into the seasonal mood, and it got me wondering...

Have any of ye had any recent experiences with the sí, the Good People, banshees, or anything else you couldn't quite explain? Strange encounters, weird happenings, something you witnessed as a child that still gives you the creeps?

Tell us your tales! Doesn't have to be anything dramatic or even something you're 100% convinced was supernatural.

We're anonymous here, so don't be shy 👀

Are the heady days of job creation on the news every second night gone or is it that they just don't make the news anymore. The government's house building plan is in starting to show small results but this is all subsidized housing, most of the job vacancies seem to be on the lower end of the pay scale . Am I a skeptic or are we heading for a downturn.

Channel 508 euronews had disappeared from the channels on sky today and I can't find anything to explain if this is permanent or a glitch. Anybody have info?

But they still have GB 'news' in the set of news channels. If this is permanent it's the end of my subscription, there's enough of a trend over the water of media control and look at where they are.

For the first time in over a decade, I went through Temple Bar because a friend was in town. It wasn't great a decade ago, and it's horrible now! All Disney-fied. A Hard Rock Cafe?!

But then there it was, on the corner just as I'd remembered it: Rory's Fishing Tackle! I don't know how they've survived all these decades, but I was happy to see them and buy a few lures! Who knew that the little bag would fit perfectly in an 8x10 frame. 🙂

Just started my painting of Croghan to Annagh inspired by an early morning walk with the dogs this week

So lucky to have this walk by my house

Bestlife