hello, hello

Here we are in our netcafe that we almost never leave......okay that's just how it feels.


We had our service meeting last night, and are finally getting to put names and faces together with the right people. They have a French, and two English congregations that meet in that hall, as well as a Chinese and a Russian group. The Russian group has their own Sunday meeting, and bookstudy, but for the service meeting they join our congregation. So for the watchtower and awake demonstration last night, we were treated to two in English and one in Russian. And occasionally when the brother giving a certain part (ie: announcements) was an English speaking brother who knew enough Russian, he would throw out some russian translations too. It makes for a very intriguing meeting, if a little longer than scheduled. But so VARY cool.


As I mentioned we were invited to dinner on Sunday after the meeting on the 7th. The family that invited us had forgotten that they were already engaged for this dinner party, but since the sister that invited us was fleshly sister to the one giving the party, she just had us invited to the gathering. So it was a treat. I have to say how enjoyable the whole "tea" procedure really is here. Its like a forced "time out" where you must sit down, drink calming refreshing tea, and munch on crackers with tasty spreads followed by chocolates. And of course more tea, if you are so inclined. So after the meeting the visiting speaker and wife, and the couple that invited us out (Ministry school overseer and wife), and their 10 year old daughter, drive us off to the country side of Dublin county where they live.....for tea. After tea, we all played a few rounds of pool while the other wives discussed their upcoming vacations to Lazorote (N. Africa/Canary Islands) and Spain, respectively. I told my mom how much the TMS overseer (Bro. Griffin) and the visiting speaker (Bro. Hunter) reminded me of Bob Berti and my uncle Clifford. So, it felt homey. Oh, and as we drove up, and got out of the cars, the neighbors popped their heads over the fence to say hi. Turned out to be the sister (and her hubby) of the one that invited us, so I assume we are to go to her house for the dinner. Nope. So far, I have meet 4 of these fleshly sisters, and thee mother...and I am told there are 2 brothers as well. eeek. We ended up, after tea, driving back almost all the way to Matt and my house, in Rathmines, to yet another sisters house for said dinner. It was very traditional fare: cooked carrots, roasted chicken, guiness stew, broiled parsnips,mashed potatoes, and bread and butter pudding or quince pudding for dessert with fresh cream. And the wine was served in Irish crystal carafes. I may learn something about Irish cooking yet.... And the conversation ran to what to say to the poor people who have had their faith in the Catholic church destroyed once and for all because of this huge court case scandal here about priestly sex-offenders. Then it moved on to travel tips, and the differences between American and European ways of life. I had no idea that most of the world has to pay a monthly fee for TV and radio licenses because you are "renting" government owned frequencies when you watch/listen. The government regulates it in the U.S., but there it steps back. They asked how it worked in America, and I said you buy a TV. You plug it in and you watch it. Same with radios. They were just as surprised by that as I was by the opposite. Ya learn something new everyday..... :)


Matt had his skill test with Compaq yesterday morning also. He says he did pretty well. but they aren't hiring until after they merger with H.P. settles down. but at least they were interested enough in Matt to bring him in to complete the first piece of the interview. He should hear back from them within the week to see if they think they would like him to do more, in case the hiring freeze ends.....
But, the interview both of us are really dying to have go well is tomorrow, with Lufthansa. But, a little on the disconcerting side, one of the brothers in the hall that is in IT, who has been trying to help Matt out where he can, says that he thinks he knows the guy who got fired from that job. And that he is a friend of a Witness. Something about the guy having him do things around the office that had nothing to do with IT, nothing to do with his real job. So, we told him about Matt's las boss who was a drill sergeant in the army, and occasionally had Matt doing things like cleaning out desks, and cleaning up in general.....hmmm. Then this brother (Geoff) tells Matt that he himself is soon to move jobs, and can probably get Matt hooked up with an IT sales position, if the Lufthansa thing flakes, or Matt's not comfortable with the new boss. He says just to let him know. I guess where he's going to the hiring guy was in the same computer class with him and owed him lots of favors from class. They got on well. So, even if Lufthansa doesn't come true, we still have some options....


I think we might go to this gorgeous park we have just discovered. Its called Iveagh Gardens, pronounced Ivy. Its about a 5 minute walk from our place. Its also a stones throw from Stephens Green, but no one seems to know about it so, its absolutely quite and pristine, and grand. It has a big waterfall, and rustic wooded paths, and a rose garden. Lots of statues too, some in states of disrepair that suggest the forest is taking them back, or that they grew out of the forest greenery to begin with. There was also a short hedge maze, near the rose garden. When we last went there, a daycare(creche) close by was entertaining a dozen 2/3 year olds by running them into the maze and watching them try and get to the center, or out again. Adorable.


Its right next door to the University of Dublin, on one side. Did I mention he entire thing is enclosed in an ancient looking stone wall? So there are only two working entrances. The other entrances are looked because they lead off to the back yards of private residences on the other side. There's a sunken archery grounds. It looks more to be used for things like soccer on sunday afternoons by families with kids. Great place for a picnic lunch.... One of these days we'll figure out how to scan pictures to this page, I hope.....

Heya kids,

So, Matt has 2 interviews coming up this week. One is actually just a placement/skill testing to see where Compaq could hire him when they get through the merger they are going through with H.P. They aren't hiring at all until after the merger, but they are thinking ahead. The other (I'm really excited about) is with Lufthansa Airlines.....If he were to get that job, you know what that means? TRAVEL TRAVEL TRAVEL. And for cheap. So, I'm trying not to get tooooo excited, in case it fizzles.....but it would be grand....

We had our first social occasion with our congregation. Dinner party of about 12 people. Great craic, as they say here....But, I'm hungry again, so off we go :)