Officially back scuba-diving

That's it, after a couple of snorkels in the lake and in the sea, I am officially back diving with an impressive 30 minutes dive in Newfie, Kilkee down to 10 meters. Lovely day and lovely dive with great people indeed.

To illustrate this some picture of Kilkee with the ladies going to train for the Currach race.

Concert Bucket list

• Radiohead: Dublin 2006 and 2008
• The Who: Cork
• Jethro Tull: Dublin 2011
• Gorillaz: Dublin 2010
• Arcade Fire: Dublin 2010, and Marlay Park 2014
• Joseph Arthur
• Page & Plant Dublin 
• Robert Plant Dublin The Pint (3Arena) 2018
• P.J. Harvey  Dublin Olympia 2023
• Tryo: Grenoble
• Pink Floyd 
• Jeff Buckley: impossible
• Bjork Electric Picnic
• Lisa Hannigan: Limerick
• Mick Flannery (Dolans 2009)
• Noir Desir: no longer possible
• Rodrigo y Gabriela: (Limerick)
• Dyonisos
• Ham Sandwich Dolans, Whelans, 20 year 2023....
• Jerry Fish Circus Electric Picnic - checked

- updated 10 June 2016
- updated 30 May 2019 

- updated 22 October 2023

Self explanatory picture..

Yep wet and cold....

What would you do if your income was guaranteed ?

There is an interesting idea, coming from Germany:

Susanne Wiest petition for unconditionally basic salary ( In Germany any citizen can propose a law if it get 50000 signatures, actually this one got 120000, see the petition in german.

The proposition is, every single citizen would receive Euro 1.500.- per month as a basic right, without any constraint, attachment, commitment or compensation. Additionally people would be free to earn additional money.
This basic income, means, that whatever citizen decides to do ( work, watch tv all day,.. ) he would be secure in term of basic needs.
This independence ultimately would lead to a greater freedom, as you decide what you do, what you want to do and when you want to do it ?

I do have question about the whole feasibility of the thing, but that does lead to the interesting question of the title:
What would you do if you had no pressure to work for an income ?

Here's an excellent article (in french) about this question:.

Et vous, quel travail feriez-vous si votre revenu était assuré ? (Périphéries)

Favourite Pubs in Limerick

After 6 years, in Limerick city, it's about time I compile the list of my favorites pubs in town, though the order might vary from year to year, month to month, mood to mood...

• Mickey Martin: Funky and convivial, great music and amazing people.
  

• Costello tavern: The best fiver you can spend on a Saturday night in Limerick, relax and calm for intensive talk downstairs, or even some beer-pong ... after just follow the red carpet (the mythical sweaty carpet ! ), and your feet will be able to do some crazy dancing on the tune of the Smyths, Radiohead and other RATM...
  
• Bourkes: A new old place, which has been revived last year, very pleasant, with like in the country a good mix of different age group mixing happily.
• Tom Collins: relax and quiet, perfect for a French talk in front of a pint. Used to have good traditional band on Wednesday:
• Wicked Chicken: For many years my favorite in Limerick, small dark and wicked usually great DJ mix, ideal for a round of 2 of Jägermeister, I miss Phil the barman though ...
  
• Curragower: Good, perfectly place on the way home on a Friday night, on the way to the Thomond park for the weekends...
  
• Baker Place: The wicked chicken twin older brother ( sharing the same bathroom where naked men can slap their butt ), excellent to see young new band performing.
  
• Dolans: the place for concert in Limerick, also great for a breakfast on Munster game day. Checkout the Gig listing on their website.
• SinBin only on a salsa night ( as a replacement of Daffys): Well since Daffy's disappeared (RIP), we needed a place for the salsa party and the Clohessys nightclub turn to be a more than okay place.
• Nancy Blake: Well this is a non-controversial pub ( the least objectionable pub for anybody), the classic always reliable, i probably prefer the smallest warmer room than the outback.
  

Special mention: The White House, Flannery's ( the one ion catherine street), The WindMill Bar, Clohessy's ( for the 6 Nations), The Locke Bar, Glen Tavern

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

Three things about me ....

In 2010, I've definitely bad at blogging ( 8 post so far compared to the 87 i did four years, ago ) let's try to improve on this. This one came through FB, where you get tagged and have to write 3 things about you, so here it is:

Three names I go by:
1. Christophe
2. Tof ( only in France )
3. Christopher ( by most Irish who suppose there is final R in my name)

Three Jobs I have had in my life: ( by decreasing time length sentence )
1. Chip Design Engineer
2. Student
3. warehouse man / shop assistant

Three Places I have lived:
1. Grenoble France
2. Monza Italy
3. Clermont-Ferrand France

Three Favorite drinks:
1. Sparkling Mineral Water ( St Yorre / Chateldon )
2. Spiced Rhum ( Actually just finished filtering a 2 liters batch ready for consumption)
3. Tariquet Premieres Grives

Three TV Shows that I watch:
1. Try to reduce my TV consumption so...
2. Any documentary by the BBC ( Ian Hisllop Do gooders, Empire of the sea, The story of Kellogs cereals.... )
3. How I met your mother

Three places I have been:
1. Red Sea
2. Corsica
3. Belfast

Three favorite foods:
1. Andouillette
2. Potato Omelette (French style)
3. Pasta alla carbonara

Three friends that I think will respond:
1.NA
2.NA
3.NA

Three Things that I am looking forward to:
1. Christmas in Auvergne ( family and mountain biking in the snow )
2. Arcade Fire Concert in Dublin in 5 days
3. Getting back in the water ( scuba-diving, snorkeling ... )

Three Things that are always by my side:
1. Camera
2. Nokia cell phone
3. pen and paper