Maman Poulet

Message on my mobile today indicates that this matter has been sorted, more tomorrow! I think Conor had a lot to do with it!

No Comments »

There’s a closeted gay TD story doing the rounds – well the rounds of national and provincial journalists who have nowt better to do with their time. This stuff is very 1990’s and can’t have any impact as there has been nothing with regards to voting for anyone elected recently to be hypocritical about – possibly the only reason I might (and that’s a heavily guarded might) support outing. So why is it happening now?

2 Comments »

Dear UPC/NTL

In February I opened an account with NTL – it was for digital tv and broadband at an introductory offer of €14.99 per month- I also ordered sky sports. I organised to pay by direct debit.

I then received bills which indicated that I was not on the intro offer and that the direct debit had not been applied. I paid the bill of 170 euro with the promise that the offer would then be applied. I kept receiving inaccurate bills and was told by NTL staff to ignore them as it was being sorted out. In the midst of all this I then lost service for 2 weeks (I even blogged about it) – and NTL could not send someone to fix it and appointments were then missed by NTL staff – when it was fixed it was found that someone had disconnected my supply accidentally or maliciously and I was told it was not a billing issue.

I kept receiving 2 bills for some reason – one for the broadband and one for the television service. This is despite a FAQ on the NTL website which says that you only issue one bill per household. I was again told that it would be sorted out.

Then there was a direct debit taken from my account last month – HALLELUJAH! But it was only for 11.98. But it was a start.

Today I received a bill which indicated a minus balance of 4.98 and told me that my service was disconnected.

• I still have my service would you believe – and I would love to keep it (I know it’s hard to fathom but it’s a television service and broadband and it works most of the time and I can’t have a dish and don’t want a landline).
• I would also like to pay for my service properly by direct debit, the correct amount at the offer I ’signed’ up for. I know I owe you money but I have no clue how much! Your staff kept promising me that it was sorted – I thought you were starting to finally debit stuff from my account – but now its only for broadband it seems.
• I would like to receive one bill also. And I would like to be compensated for the time I had no broadband or television and the day off from work I took when your people did not show up to sort out my service.
• I would also like you to ring me back when your staff promise that a senior member will sort out the matter and contact me.

Could someone at a senior level who can kick the appropriate ass please call me – thanks!
cc Conor @ Pricewatch in the Irish Times…. I’m sure he’s only delighted (not…)

15 Comments »

Here’s the real story behind that Thriller video – forced participation by political prisoners, prisoners on remand, and ‘personal gangland practices’ by the warden who is related to regional governor. Prisoners forced to dance until they bleed.

The Warden says the scheme of getting the prisoners to dance is a model of modern criminal Justice. I-Caught on ABC News finds the background story and tells about the choreography, the leading woman, and the non existent crime rate within the prison and the fame game that is being played.

No Comments »

During the election campaign in one of the round ups for Irishelection.com I dared Kieran of Icecream Ireland/ Murphys Icecream to a political challenge involving the award winning blogging icecream – he more than accomplished himself with photos of politicians with ice cream including Bertie, Jackie, Michael (more time to lick it now), Enda, Pat and Breda.

John Edwards is eating ice cream on his bus tour of Iowa. There is over a year to go before the US election – long enough for another challenge to be completed? The Irish vote could be tapped with a scoop of Murphys?

1 Comment »

‘Mind the lady in the ..[long pause]… moving thing’

That was the corker I heard said by a mother to her two children as I made my way up Talbot Street this afternoon. That was after negotiating the IFSC Luas construction works alongside someone I knew years ago and had met in M&S with her two year old. Two year old was absolutely fascinated with the mothership and it was great craic comparing ‘buggies’ and racing.

I’ve had the mobility scooter for about 4 months now. Years of being disabled suddenly made very visible overnight by 4 wheels and a seat. The walking stick I have used for over 10 years only was temporary to the able bodied. I’m loving my mobility, haven’t killed anyone yet and the punctures are a thing of the past as I got hard tyres on and am coping with the sore neck and back as a result but it’ll get better. It is quicker for humans on two feet to move aside rather than me but I’m very polite and stop and wait and say it’s ok all the time when actually the eejits who look ahead but not down and who think that they own the footpath could’ve moved to the side and let me past.

If I’m feeling good about the mothership I’m not too sure about how I feel about the rest of society. This week in Supervalu pondering the deli a woman walked straight past me in Olympic gold medal winning for queue jumping fashion and ordered her sandwich. She had to move to the side to get through – it was not like I could have been avoided in the rush to the ham, coleslaw and red pepper sambo on white bread.

When she had the item in her hand she turned around and saw me and said ‘oh sorry I didn’t see you there’. I decided that was enough and replied ‘That’s alright, I’m well used to people walking by me, ignoring me, and treating me like I’m invisible.’ I moved up to the counter and ordered and didn’t wait for a response – there wasn’t one! The scooter is not something one can easily ignore – and now neither is it’s occupant.

No Comments »

Inside Out is a programme on Dublin City Anna Livia. But from today Inside Out is a podcast hosted by IrishElection.com.

For the first podcast myself (‘lifestyle’ blogger according to them would you believe!) and Cian were interviewed about elections and blogging. Find out more about the podcast here and how you can listen to it – for the uninitiated – you can listen online, download it as an MP3 file, or use your MP3 software to grab each episode and put it on your player. Inside Out have had a great variety of guests to date and with the new podcast relationship with IE it looks like we’re going to have some interesting listening in the weeks ahead especially when the silly season was over!

Stick it in your itunes subscriptions or rss feed – gwan, it’ll be out every week and will be interesting to see how it develops !

2 Comments »

Kildare Village Outlet is a great discovery! Lots of bargains, well things you think are bargains anyway! L’Officina which is a branch of Dunne and Crescenzi is also there and great antipasti was had – lots of staff and no customers which was a bit strange to watch given the usual experience in town where its no staff and too many customers in most restaurants.

I got a sensible pair of shoes, and nice smellies, and sports gear for the rooster. Lots of kitchen shops and dishes and glassware, but I resisted. As for Le Creuset? Well I couldn’t justify a stock pot in my galley kitchen even though they were half price.

But I bought

And you know it might just go with one of these

Wouldn’t you say Morgan?

*The title of this post is inspired by the wonderful  Nicecupofteaandasitdown.com

2 Comments »

Caroline writes about her latest purchase, which has all the cooks drooling. I think I’ll have to win one or win the lotto, cos let’s face it I will not be entertaining the sacrement (phew) or getting such gifts to enable purchase of said item.

However tomorrow evening I’m visiting this place which has this place and I’ve never bought a piece of this before. Will I, won’t I? It’s an outlet store so it’ll be cheap and worth it and bad karma not to won’t it?

Ah yes it’s the silly season on Maman Poulet – so go look at this very impressive list of Irish Food blogs and cook something or drool over something!

4 Comments »

So I’m taking a bit of a break, on my annual pilgrimage to the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival,  pleasantly forgetting Michael McDowell (who???). 

It’s the silly season, why? Well it can’t be true that we now have Senator Ivor Callelly and Senator Eoghan Harris. I’m only dreaming or too tired from being to 3 movies today on top of a full day’s work.

20 million people in Asia are affected by flooding.

And now England has a case of Foot and Mouth. 

Excuse me while I immerse myself in some rather fine movie making, a bit of cooking and forget about everything else. Red Mum is such wise woman spending a long time in Turkey, taking fab photos (oh to have some spices!) and becoming an internet tech support woman (multi talented is RM). 

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend – only one more of them before Xmas – such tides of great joy I bring ye all!

2 Comments »