20 Years ago

On this day 20 years ago, me and that car landed on the Irish shore... from Grenoble all the way to the west coast of Ireland

french car resting in an Irish field

View from my studio under the roof in Grenoble.

On the ferry Wales to Roslare

West coast, first time at the Cliffs of Moher

Things I learned in the last 20 years

That post was initially called what I learned in the last 15 years... but I keep pushing the publishing date out.... so 20 years soon, since I moved to Ireland.

Mid way through the roaring 20's , let's see what I learned in the last fifteen-year span if anything.


On giving up / being resilient:

- I have dropped out of becoming a leading diver 3 times at this stage. The first time was an accident, I injured myself ( cracked rib ) which meant my diving season was cut short. However the second and third time, I had lost interest in scuba-diving, in particular the time spend on the activity, I wanted to do something else, and I had much more pleasure simply snorkelling.

- I also dropped out of a Msc in Statictics ( only earning a post-grad diploma instead ), I basically gave up while writing the dissertation, main reasons were:

    1. A change of personal circumstances, having to support my wife while she was going back to study (which turn into becoming a father ).

    2. I could not see myself in a beginner job again, doing statistics (I still love the maths but could not find an attraction in the prospective jobs).

On learning, or re-learning:

I thought for a very long time, that when I would have kid of my own, I would be a teacher and an educator, but it is turning to be the opposite.

I discover, on a daily basis, that I am at the receiving end of a great deal of education from my daughter. I now truly believe that I am learning a lot more from her than the other way around.
At level zero, there is the simple fact that I knew nothing about parenthood, and even now three years after a birth, I still don't know a lot. So this turn out to be a powerful learning experience.

First thanks to her I have rediscovered the simple joy and practice of being on the ground, through playing, crawling and rough tumbling. My body has become painfully aware of its stiffness, and how many natural movements have become alien to me.

So let's go through the long and ever increasing of things I am being schooled at:
    - patience:
    - time value and relativity : slow down, dealing with impatience, slowing dow on othe
    - be play-full.
    - keep being curious and continuously ask question.
    - improvisation but also the great power of being organised (plan plan, failure to plan is planning to fail )
    - assertivness ( authority )
    - the power of laugh
    -being tough and flexible
    - trust
    - being less selfish and more grateful

Having a kid is a fantastic teacher, an incorruptible reality checker:

    1. Yelling does not help

    2. Patience, take a deep breath

    3. It is fun, everything can be fun, funny.Laugh more, laugh all the time, have fun

    4. Move move, dance all the time.

Leading by example, and as a result improving my own habits for example brush your teeth everyday. It is actually better than telling someone to do it.

Kids are sponge, that take the best and also worst of us.

Life is short and can end up so fast

RIP

Weight Gain

15 years in Ireland have not been kind to my weight from this:

to about 20 kilos ( 3 stone ) more:

Revisiting Instagram - 2012

Since we are reaching the end of 2019, time to step back in time over  the last past seven years, through my old instagram account archive.

First Year 2012

Instagram 2012

2013

Instagram 2013

2014

Instagram 2014

2015

Instagram 2015

2016

Instagram 2016

2017

Instagram 2017

2018

No Instagram

Looking back at 2017

Somebody started walking, just in time to multiple visit the zoos and walk down the aisle with its parents... busy  year which flew so fast....Another busy year is gone

Pram nature walk and birdies

And a resolution for 2018 is: Do only One Thing At A Time.


PS: I would highly recommend this website: https://www.futureme.org/
to send yourself a reminder in a year time of your resolution / objective for the year.
I have been using myself for the past 6 years, a good reminder of sometime broken aspiration, and at other time fulfilled propheices.

Looking back at 2015... and moving on

2015 was a weird year for me, despite my vows (expressed in that post).
It felt like nothing much happened, that I was stuck in static place, and yet I am ending the year with the biggest event of my life: becoming a father.

A year which saw an imbecile and horrific attack on the newspaper which embodied my student spiritual life (Charlie Hebdo ), the resulting death of Wolinsky and Cabu.
At the beginning of the year, I thought I'd be

I have been a shitty friend throughout 2015, to some people going through hardship. Once more I gave up on the leading diver exams, I did not blog and write as much.....
That year felt like hibernating and now I am a dad....

10 Years in Ireland ....

A month ago, I read this French Foodie blog post about her last 10 years in Ireland, only to realize that myself, I was going to celebrate my 10 years in Ireland in a couple months.

And here we are, 10 years ago, I debarked in Rosslare with my old french car. A long road trip, which took me from the French Alps to the west coast of Ireland.

From the boat bringing me to Rosslare

To be honest, I initially thought, I would only stay a year or two, before moving on with some enhanced knowledge.

A thought, that I now realize has been shared by many expatriate, not the ones who left - as planned - after a year, all the others. One year, leading to another then without as much of a whimper to a decade.

So I am still there, 10 years after. So why did I stay so long ? What is making me stay ?

First, as a matter of fact, I  like Ireland. And more and more, the longer I stayed... even if at the same time, I am becoming more and more infuriated by some aspects of Irish life - I have the same relationship with France.

For each year I stay, there was a different reasons, from the diving, the professional challenge and finally the girl.

So in summary ... "Putain 10 ans !!!"

So to celebrate those 10 years, and yes I am copying the idea from the foodie post, I hope she won't mind. I do concur with most of the items in her list, except for Penneys, hence the duplicates.

1. The Irish people. I am not a people person, but Irish are incredibly friendly. In particular, they are really easy to work with - especially when compared to my own compatriots. I felt welcome here from day 1, and continue to have that sense, every time I encounter someone here. 
2. Pubs. An obvious one, linked to the previous item. I like the variety of ambiance, atmosphere. Nothing better than ending the day, sipping a Murphy by the fire, chatting away with friends. Since my move to Dublin, I am on a quest to find my perfect local.
3. The west coast of Ireland. I loved living by the atlantic ocean, being able with an hour drive to be by the rugged coast, from the humbling stormy waves, to a serene blue sea.
4. Scuba Diving in Ireland. I probably had the best of my dives here and love being part of this vibrant community.
5. The extra long days. Nothing beat a late evening barbeque by the beach under a late sunset.
6. The gigs in Ireland - I love how the Irish public engage with the music, and the musicians.
7. How passionate the Irish can be about any particular subject. At first Irish can seems passive, but they are also passionate, either for gaelic sport in their own parish, food, sea activity or music.
8. Irish comedians: Just look for Dara O'Briain, Dylan Moran, Foils arms and hog or the rubberbandits.
9. Cosmopolitanism. An incredible change has happened, from a country of emigrant, Ireland is now attracting brilliant mind from all other the world. I lived in Grenoble which use to have a big contingent of foreigners, but I never felt so much diversity pouring in the local culture. I am actually curious to see what Ireland will be in the next ten years as a result of this immigration flow.
10. And finally the one.

Looking back at 2013

I have been neglected this blog, since a couple months now, just realise this post was in my draft since the first of January 2014, so with a bit of delay here it is....

Looking back at 2013:

• January: Starting the year with walks in charming company on Dun Laoghaire pier.
• St Patrick in Düsseldorf -  My first steps as a contractor.
• Tea parties.
• H-cup final ASM defeat in Dublin.
• DIY and shelves.
• Bourkes Pub.
One of my favourite in Limerick, excellent provider of gigs.
• Summer in Cambridge.
• Airport, airport and more planes.
Between fortnight trip to Germany, then UK, and France, 2013 have been dominated by airflight to the point of sickness. Not good for my carbon footprint.
• Trip to London: Science Museum
• Electric Picnic 2013
Back to the Electric Picnic, to celebrate a special anniversary <3
• The Dubliners in Whelans.
• Depeche Mode in O2.
• Heatwave in Ireland. Snorkel in Clare.
• Forbidden Fruit
• Jerry Fish.
Somehow I miss his circus in the EP, so now I am in chase mode to catch up on his performances.
• New socks - so popular someone steals them from me.
• Dublin beaches.
Thanks to the heatwave, my transition from the west coast to the east coast beaches was easy :D
• Dublin Zoo.
• Saying goodbye to Limerick.
I finally moved all my stuff out of limerick city, where I first moved to Ireland 8 years ago.
• Starting as a student again - Statistics in UCD
Here it is the big one, back on the student benches for one year. UCD campus:
Back in ampitheatre:
First homeworks:
• Enjoying Dublin.
I am still in discovery mode with this city.
• Cats time.
• Introducing my girlfriend to my beloved Auvergne.

Thanks for the memories

Last weekend, i was walking in Pery Square and my heart sunk when i discover that door...
fully repainted in black - how suiting, with a number nailed on it. 

The place is being reconverted into offices, peering though some window i could see the demolition work in progress. Sad day, the closing and reconversion happened months ago, but being away at that time, i did not notice it happening.
This place used to be "The Wicked Chicken", an iconic place of the limerick nightlife for many of us, and also for me a place of many fond memories, where i met many of my past and current friends.
Gone is the red door...

With the sign on the left side...

The little sign ...

The graffitis in the smoking area have been painted over... 

I still remember the first time i step into the place, the atmosphere was hypnotic, the music had my heart stopping, and the crowd looks genuinely friendly and happy, it was a mix of open minded different nationalities.

At one stage the place was the required meeting point for the start of any good night out. 

 
I remember going there on sunday night and monday night for a quiet chat, the barman preparing our drinks before we even ask, and looking surprised every-time we would change from our habitual drink of choice.

I remember the first time i saw people in that place, that i now consider my friends, the 3 sisters at the end of the bar, the ever wearing cap barman, the man from castlegregory ... etc ...

Maybe I should have taken more pictures of the place, as I am searching through my files, and being annoyed not to find a photo of this or this particular feature, like the headless chicken or the pictures on the wall, some picture of friends - some deceased. 

Like this Giger painting, which funnily i also had in my student bedroom, years ago back in France.
I shall not forget the DJ in that place, which made it came alive, when on a friday or saturday night all the bodies would come pouring in the tiny place around 11, for a good old bop.

In the basement

There was also a downstairs, were some gigs were held, from punk-rock, to hip-hop new-york singer. I saw DJ Andy Smith down there, for some of the nothern soul mix i've heard in a club, along with some amazing boppers.

Sadly everything must comes to an end, people moved on, to other countries, to having babies... and slowly there was less and less people. At one stage the place closed down - in 2011 I think, I am happy i was there for the party on that day, it was impressive to see some many of the old figures coming back to say goodbye to a place of so many memories.

Article from the limerick post ... when it closed initially

And after that there was an attempt to reopen it, I spend a memorable new year day in 2012 there, with the barman pouring Jaggermaster at midnight on the customer... on a personal point of view... that night in the wicked chicken, certainly kickstarted the journey i am now embarked upon till this day.


It is all gone in a blur...

And so now number 14 on the 99 reasons to visit Limerick is gone ( http://flipittv.tumblr.com/post/22412708706/99-reasons-to-visit-limerick ).
Anyway thanks for the memories to all the DJ, the barmen, the barmaid, the owner, and all the people who made that place what it was.

The flame is not dead, other venues in Limerick have been taking over, go checkout Bourkes, The Blind Pig, Dr John ... and make your own music memories.

An old roll

Today I collected a the photographs developed of a very old roll - based on some of the pictures I am guessing it was 2006 or 2007.
It was a very good surprise to discover the pictures,

First rediscovering myself from 5 or 6 years ago.

me

   I still remember that road, I took several picture of it with different cameras at the time, i think it was up in the Connemara, not very far from Achill Island.

Follow the road

 Off course there was pictures of the sea....

Or wast it a lake lost in the fog ?

And of sheeps...

Sheeeepppp

    And of me fighting the elements...

Survivor mode

The pictures were all taken by one of these wonderful camera, in that case an Action Sampler.

Reeling the years - 2012

Almost forgot that post this year, so lets go for another spin of reeling the years. I actually think since i've been round the 5 year cycle, I will not do the post next year.

The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was I 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ?

Previous post were: 2011,  2010, 2009 and 2008.

2007: Limerick, Ireland

Limerick

Third year in Ireland, and still living in  Dooradoyle but soon i moved to live in the city centre.

This is also the first time I am seeing the ASM playing in Thomond park against Munster...

Le Renard in Thomond Park.

Note: on the following pictures, there might be some imprecision with the year it was taken ( it was around that, but it's grand)

2002: Grenoble, France:
Third year in Grenoble, working full steam in analog layout.
And I have starting scuba-diving in Marseille with that crazy guy:

The Master showing off ... 

1997: Clermont-Ferrand, France
In CPGE... eating mathematics and physics ..... amongst other things

L'inversion

1992: Hauterive, France
Le Lycée, en premiere scientifique...

1987: Hauterive, France
College Victor Hugo

Not the right year ... this one was 1990...

1982: Hauterive, France

Guess where ....

1977: Hauterive, France
One year old .... happy days ...

Who is this ?

Reeling the years 2011

Another spin of reeling the years.

The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was I 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ?
Previous post were: 2010, 2009 and 2008.

So let's go back in time by 5 years leap....


2006: Limerick, Ireland
My second year in Ireland, which saw my first dives in Ireland

Probably the year, I have visited the most Ireland, thanks to those guys: les boulets

2001: Grenoble, France
My first work ( permanent contract ) in France, Grenoble ( actually Meylan to be more precise ), as an engineer. And discover the nice bar in Grenoble:The Loco Mosquito
Also the year I graduated Clermont-Ferrand university.

1996: Clermont Ferrand, France
Still in CPGE at Lycee Blaise Pascal


1991: Hauterive, France
Starting in French High School

1986: Hauterive, France


1981: Hauterive, France
I think this is the year I started going to school, or was it the following.....

1976: Hauterive, France
That christmas I am barely 9 year month old, and I have many dogs to take care of me ( in the photo below i think it was atos )

Reeling the years (2010)

Well I am continuing on the previous post from 2008 and 2009,
The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was I 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ?
So let's go back in time by 5 years leap...

2005
Location: Limerick, Ireland
My first year in Ireland, and I've already change company, moving from Analog Devices in Raheen, to Intel in Shannon, and with a slightly different job. Goodbye analog matching transistor, and welcome timing headaches.

2000
Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France
Final year at University almost, finishing with Physics and the joy of crystal growth, to plunge in the wonders of micro-electronic

1995
Location: Hauterive, France
Final year in Cusset and moving in september to Clermont Ferrand for the CPGE
First year in Clermont Ferrand

(By the way not me in this picture, but a fantastic afternoon at the top of Puy de Dôme )

1990
Location: Hauterive, France


1985
Location: Hauterive, France
I think this is the year we started go in the mountains (Alps) for ou summer holidays instead of the sea.


1980
Location: Hauterive, France
I think i've got a BigTrack that year at christmas... so sad it got thrown away ( after many mistreatment ), especially now that the toy is back in fashion.


Note this year no top 10 thing of the year, please see Times top Ten everything:
Time top ten

Reeling the years (2009)

Following the post from last year, let's make that a yearly tradition.

The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was i 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ?
So let's go back in time by 5 years leap...

2004
Location: Grenoble, France

My last year, in Grenoble, a very strange year indeed, between "successful" promotion at work ( project and people management ), both great and tumultuous friendship moments... anyway that's the year I've decided i had to leave my job in Grenoble, and go abroad to see if things are different; at the time I had no idea of the country I would end up.

1999
Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France

In Auvergne, studying physics in Blaise Pascal University. Spending lots of time hanging out in cinemas and most notably in the Short movie festival.

1994
Location: Hauterive, France / Lycee Presles, Cusset
Failing the Baccalauréat

1989
Location: Hauterive, France / College Victor Hugo, Saint Yorre
I was not in Berlin for the wall fall.

1984
Location: Hauterive, France / Ecole primaire
France is winning the UEFA Euro_1984, and guess what everybody playing soccer, in the recreational area.
My parents now owns the local shop in the village.

1979
I am no longer the only kid in the house, as my brother just born in March, we're still living in my grand father house in Hauterive, Allier, France.