I haven’t the time, nor motivation lately to make daily blog posts - quite simply I’m out the door with work, school and trying to maintain sanity around the yard! I know I like to give a concise update bi-weekly, but lately I haven’t even been able to do that!

With the good weather we’re having at present, I’m lapping it all up in my stride, as knowing the Irish weather’s traits I know it won’t last for long! Over these past few days I’ve been found anywhere there’s sun, but unfortunately, my Irish skin isn’t used to the sun…so I just burn and then give out about how I’m “Burnt to Fuck” for the next week or so!

And with the improvement in weather, I acquired myself yet another bus - why? Because I wanted to! Plain and simple, I used to travel to school on it when I was a younger youngster, and always liked it. I seen it most mornings until recently, so I went in search and came across it - looking sorry for itself.

So after some carefully practised blagging, it was mine. Even got loads of spares, glass and a tank of diesel for my efforts! So last week, it made its maiden run to our yard in Wicklow where I set to cleaning and fixing it - it had a timing problem from the injector pump, and a ropey steering wheel, all since have been fixed.

As you all know, I’ve owned other in the past (still own half of them), but this one will be something for me to mess around with. My others have been ’show vehicles’ meaning they have to be finished to the highest of standards in minimal time, whereas this although it will be finished to a high standard, I will be taking my time to learn as I go along - something I couldn’t do to my other vehicles.

The above photo was taken whilst out and about in Wicklow on Sunday. The weather was superb, so the opportunity was seized to remove the Dublin Bus logos and take it for a 50 mile road run into Arklow and back as well as around a few other seaside spots around.

While we’re on the subject of photos, I have to admit my stupidity on Saturday, of myself drowning my camera with Club Lemon. I wasn’t looking while I was opening my ‘refreshment’, and with Steve’s driving it caused an eruption of Lemon all over my camera - which soon became rather sticky!

Although I managed to clean it all off when I go home, I feel that it was the final blow for my long suffering Olympus, it’s been dropped several times, soaked with diesel, been in unbearable cold and hot weather, had the lens shot with steel shavings from an angle grinder, it’s been nearly crushed multiple times and thrown at something when I’ve been pissed off. It’s had a hard life, so maybe it will be time to retire the old girl to a reserve camera. I’ve been thinking of a Fujifilm SLR, maybe S9600, or perhaps a secondhand Canon 30D? It will indefinitely be a pity, as it takes great photos! See below.

A bridge over the former Dublin reservoir, near Vartry, Co. Wicklow

Unintentional closeup of greenery with VW ‘Type 2′ in the background.

…well infact I do! Approximately two weeks ago, I was interviewed alongside other leaving cert bloggers to give my opinion on a number of leaving cert study-help related websites and services. I was contacted and interviewed by Gráinne Faller, a journalist for the Irish Times. Below is a scan (a bad one, my copy of the Times was passed around…alot!) of my ‘piece’. The name is slightly misspelt - a common mistake with the many variations of Donohoe, Donohue, Donahue, Donoghue, etc…

As well as myself, other bloggers were interviewed such as our good friend Mark Walsh and Kevin Holler.

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We’ve treated ourselves to a new theme, which was modified by a friend of ours (I was owed a favour :razz: )- with the code itself modified by myself and brought upto a Widget friendly stance. The header was also designed (albeit badly) by myself using some new brushes I got for Photoshop - made it somewhat technology come WEB 2.0 looking. I like it…opinions please!

We ditched our other theme, as we found a few errors in it and as it wasn’t mine I didn’t want to touch the structure and f**k it up even further!

*EDIT*: Found a problem with IE…trying to fix it!

I’m way to bust lately to be blogging, I just had a spare half hour to throw up a post - not even on the computer neither. I’m blogging on the laptop whilst doing a history essay and renewing a few domains at the same time - who says men can’t multi-task?

Between school, and other online work I haven’t the time to blog, I’ve three websites to get up in the next few weeks - I’ve a habit of starting (designing) and not finishing them, the arduous task of making the content! I also want to get a portfolio online to showcase my work (what little there is!).

In the time since I’ve last blogged I’ve gotten on the road to nowhere, I’ve ‘acquired’ my first car - and two days later acquired my second car :-D . Both Fiat Punto’s, I know you’ll be gritting your teeth at the unreliability and cheap feel of them, but I got both for free - one a 1999 1.2 60S from ‘Payne in the Arse‘, which needs a new camshaft and some other minor work, and the other a 1997 55SX from my uncle - he bought it for my cousin to start driving and she had other ideas. It was a wreck when he got it, but as he’s a mechanic he put a new engine into it, 5 new tyres and a fresh NCT.

So now I’ve motivation to get my Full License, which I hope to get come June. I would have done more driving lessons - if Irish School of Motoring hadn’t ‘lost’ my file after I paid for 5 hours of lessons and only partook of one! For shame ISM!

And on another note - we’ve painted the bus! My uncle (same one who gave me the Punto), gave his time to paint and buff the bus, a big job. We’ve only got it white so far, and we’re awaiting a sign writer to apply blue and navy striping and logos. The pic below is of it in Greystones on Saturday 5th of April 2008, still requiring completion - needed corner trim, wheel trims, a good waxing and striping.

For those who are interested, we’re organising a run upto Belfast in the above bus for a show held up there annually. It’s not an anorak event, but a gathering of vintage cars, buses, trucks and anything else with Irish heritage. Click here for more info.

This is a popular topic for Irish bloggers - the resignation of An Taoisach Bertie Ahern. Many of the non-Irish readers will be oblivious to this news, that our equivalent to a Prime Minister announced that he will be stepping down from his post in the coming weeks. This is the outcome of a recent tribunal involving himself, and unaccountable funds stowed away under his mattress…!

In my opinion, he was simply living upto his politician front - corruption. But he for the most of it was fairly honest and open about it. I won’t go too into detail about it, as the media has already blown the story wide open - for more details about the tribunal and its outcome see here.

I like Bertie, he’s an honest (for the most part), genuine man. The sort of bloke you could walk into a pub and have a pint with. I really admire him for the way he stepped down with dignity and pride, whether he was taking back handers or not, many Irish people adore him as Taoisach (myself included).

The below song is a very apt song IMO, Bye Bye Baby - Bay City Rollers

Well I’m finally getting around to dusting off the cobwebs which the blog has gathered over the past few weeks. I’m working over the course of the next week or so on getting this blog preforming as best as I can. Firstly is a much needed updates (will be going up in the next 10 minutes!), I haven’t updated since Wordpress 2.3.1, which was quite a while ago - so with the release of Wordpress 2.5, I thought it was the perfect time to update, and while I’m at it update the plugins and possible locate a new theme while I’m at it!

Excuse any interruptions over the next few days.

Update: All went smoothly, the update from 2.3, to 2.5 went faultlessly - some amazing features, I’ve played with 2.5 RC1 whilst in development and was astounded by the better AdminCP layout and publishing interface!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA, occurs when the lower chambers of the heart, called ventricles, stop beating normally and start quivering very quickly and chaotic. This is called ventricular fibrillation or VF. When the ventricles fibrillate, they do not contract normally, making it difficult to pump blood or oxygen to the body. Often, VF can become so erratic that it can result in SCA. If SCA is not corrected immediately via a shock from an external defibrillator or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), there is little chance of survival.

According to the European Society of Cardiology, SCA is the single most important cause of death among adults of the industrialized world. The American Heart Association states that everyday in the U.S., almost 900 people experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest – that’s more than 325,000 people a year. If an individual is not treated within four to six minutes from the onset of SCA, the results can be fatal.

SCA usually occurs without any warning. However, symptoms include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, abnormal breathing, an inability to find a pulse and loss of blood pressure.

Source: Inside Cardiac Arrest - Heart Attack 

I’m finally back to civilisation at last, after over a week of ‘Cork Fest‘ - which is basically a marathon of doing constant mechanical work, and getting old buses shifted for no pay (it’s already been established that I’m clinically insane…). It’s great craic (for the most part), especially when we got our hands on some heavy machinery - you haven’t tried stress relief until you smash carefully park a coach into smitherines!

I got back on Sunday night, in under 3 hours in a 5.3l Vauxhaul Omega! The main reason why I haven’t been posting since, is I’ve been bed ridden, with appendicitis - nothing acute, I’m on antibiotics and should be back to normal in a few days. I’m using it as an excuse to stay in bed on the laptop :smile: .

I’ve got so much work to siphon through, I’ve the launch of a number of websites looming,  I’ve got bills to pay, oh and I’ve the minor task of painting a coach :???: . Of which is due to attend a show in Belfast on Saturday 26th of April, more info here if you want it . There are also some issues with this blog that need to be addressed, such as the header, Wordpress version update, and the fact my new emoticons aren’t working .

No point getting worked up over it, I’m going to enjoy my time off - everything else can take a backseat *phone switched off*.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Just a quick well wishes post, I’m sure everyone, wherever they are is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in their own way - I know I’ll be celebrating it in true Irish fashion…getting drunk/pissed/bladdered. 

The streets of Dublin are coarsely filled with green wigs, Irish flags, whistles, and people generally having a good time. I suppose, you cannot beat St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland can you?

It’s my Dad’s birthday on Paddy’s Day (have a guess what his name is ), so it’s usually a big day in the family - meal, presents, and the odd uncle or two up for a visit. 41 today, which I suppose isn’t old if you’re a tree…or maybe a tortoise! 

I was supposed to go to Bray today with some friends, but having caught that blasted stomach flu that’s been doing the rounds I’ve duly grounded myself to the confines of the homestead. Although I’m over it, I don’t want to push myself, I’m off to Cork for a week tomorrow and don’t want to be sick/relapsed for that!

Yes it’s true, Google likes bloggers again! Like many others, I’ve been granted my PageRank back, although it is considerably lower than the PageRank that we were boasting about prior to being deranked.

I had worked hard to get my PR4 status, submitting to directories, promoting on forums/other blogs and even paying for linkbacks - why? Because at the time PPP programs loved you if you had a higher PR, higher PR, higher payout .

I was quite surprised that I got my PageRank back, considering this blog is lying idle alot nowadays - due to me being tied up elsewhere most evenings and weekends. There is no time to research, plan nor write anymore, although I probably could make a better effort at posting - I now have more motivation, now that my PageRank has been reinstated!

It appears other bloggers have been given the same treatment from Google, Smemon has gotten his PageRank back around the same time as myself :smile: .

Since I moved into the new house three years ago, I’ve never given my bedroom a ‘clean out’, I don’t mean I never swept or mopped the place out or emptied the bin - that’s done daily. But I mean clear out the junk harvesting under the bed, behind the computer desk, in the closet, on top of the wardrobe and just bin the stuff you don’t need/want.

So yesterday, after meeting the president of Ireland Mary McAleese, who celebrated our schools 30th anniversary with us, when I got home I was in a productive mood. I got to work, firstly syphoning through the junk in the closet (we don’t usually have them in Ireland, but for some reason my house has them…), I sorted the crap, boxed the stuff I wanted to keep and put it into the attic. Did the same with the shite under my bed - boxes mainly; for christmas I usually get something in a big huge obnoxious box - this year a PC… So flattened them and into the green bin they went.

I filled two large bags full of junk, and one full of recycling; paper, old school books, phone boxes etc…

Needless to say, it was enjoyable for the first hour…but got really irritating thereafter :???:

Like everyone else, I Hate, Despise, Loath, and Fear Dentists - people who chose to inflict pain as a profession! I hate going to the dentist so much that I’ve managed to put it off for the past four years - when I required an extraction. I think I’ve managed to put them off for so long from the brushing twice a day, and not eating too much junk food (although I still eat a fair amount of it!).

But recently, I’ve been getting a sharp pain in on of my molars. More than likely cause through blogging and coding - I tend to drink a lot of sugary drinks while on the computer, and although I brush my teeth regularly, it still doesn’t make them immune to the enamel attacking sugar and glucose.

So I think it’s time I book my appointment with the dentist - time to bite the bullet! It could be something minor like a filling, but then again if left untreated a root canal could be the order of the day .

Yes, us males really do overreact with these types of  situations .

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m no longer going to say “I’ll be back shortly” and so on, as frankly, these days I don’t know what I’ll be doing and when. I’ve been offline the past few days, as I’ve been doing proper work - more info here. Myself and ‘Payne in the Arse‘ have been tackling the arduous task of replacing the head gasket in a 1979 Leyland Leopard - hardest work I’ve done in a long time!

Don’t get me wrong, I love doing work like that, it’s challenging, but it’s a trade that I’m learning. I don’t know many people who would give up their weekends to strip down a huge lump of an engine, to replace basically a piece of re-enforced cardboard, and then rebuild the engine - would you do it?

I could have easily stayed in bed on that cold Saturday morning, gotten up at 2pm, and lazed around for the day, maybe going out or maybe working online. But, instead I was up and ready at 8am, in Wicklow for 9:30, and had no feeling in my fingers by 10:00!

Before retiring for the day at 11pm, and going home to get the metal shavings from my hair, and trying to get the smell of semi-synthetic oil and diesel from my hands.

Up the following morning and out the door at 9am (a lie on ), to do the same thing again! What those people have been saying is true… I am mad! :twisted: . But I love it, for some sick twisted reason. You have fun, gain a skill, get free lunch, and get whacked out with the fumes - and in my case set myself on fire…twice .

So, I’ve decided to focus on career prospects - instead of the blogs, websites, and other dealings I’m involved with. I’ll keep the websites open, just I doubt they’ll have many updates over the next few months. School is major reason to why I’m cutting down severely on the making money side of the web - I made good money while I was focused, but once I didn’t get as good results as I had wished, a decision was made on my part to sever my online activities. It won’t benefit me in the long term aspect of things.

Don’t get me wrong, this blog will be fairly active. But from a personal aspect only. Very few business and blogging articles will be written in the foreseeable future. I’d like to thank everyone for their support in the past few months, but I’m retiring from the exciting world of blog entrepreneurship for now.

Aaron Donohoe

I’ve been finding the past few oppressive mornings to be the coldest, most bed welcoming in a long time! It’s mornings when you can hear the wind/rain belting off your window, the street lights are on as the blue haze turns into morning, and you just want to hit that Snooze button, and turn over in the bed and fall back asleep! But unfortunatly most of us can’t - work, school, college, children etc…

This morning was on of the worst for me - the alarm chimed at 7:30 as it always does. I snoozed it, and knew that I had another half an hour to get up - benefits of living a stones throw from school! I let the alarm chime at it’s usual 9 minute intervals, I find this a good way to wake up…as it stops you dozing off again!  But for some reason as the alarm went off for the last time, I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed - due to the cold!

The central heating had been on since 7:00, so the room was cold persé. It was just the instant chill I feared, when you first get out from under the downy duvet. The chill that gives you goosebumps, and sends a shiver down your spine. It’s mornings like this when you can get dressed faster than any other time of the year!

The walk to school was brisk, fresh…or f**kin’ freezin’ - take your pick! Fortunately, my school somewhat cares about our welfare and usually has the heating on all day during the winter - with the added heavy school coat you can be nice and toasty during Double Maths… (which ended up being a free!) :wink: .

We were somewhat charged with the news of some ‘excitement’ in the school that day. There had been a big row between students in Construction, and a few ‘Sissy Slaps’ were thrown about. All the people involved wouldn’t be incredibly talented with their fists (although neither am I…). No one was victorious, all parties involved were collared swiftly, but we got great fun out of the exaggerated tales going about the class groups after lunch!

I’ve been lost recently, for some reason my EasyPHP MySQL packed in, and after two re-installs it still won’t boot the MySQL databases. Which means I’m lost when it comes to coding! What’s the point in coding if you can’t test it! So I’m presently looking for a new WAMP programme - any recommendations?

I did get around to a new theme though. Looks more simple, loads faster and is Widget enabled. The previous one had a few problems, so I’ve de-commissioned it for a while…

I’m finally back online, after I decided to take a few days leave - a much needed break! I still haven’t really gotten into the swing of things yet since the Christmas period, having been dodging work and other bits and pieces. I think it’s time to settle myself down now, I’ve opened up another hosting business recently, it’s just about self-managing, the script manages everything from processing payment, through to creating the accounts and lining up support tickets in order of priority etc… More details on it shortly, as I’m still setting it up (the website).

Since last week I’ve relaunched Blogger Hub, except this time it will be solely for Wordpress, and Wordpress related products and discussions. I’ve no experience with other platforms like Drupal, Typepad and whatever else is on the market, so it would be pretty stupid to continue to run a board on topics I know little about, or have no experience with - on the other hand, Wordpress is such a widespread product it will interest both beginner and intermediate bloggers. The usual topics covered: Running your Blog, Styling and Modding your Blog, Monitising your Blog, Selling Products and Placements on your Blog, and the general “blogging banter” thrown in for the sake of it. I don’t see it catching on for a while - I’m being pretty realistic in this, forums are a difficult thing to setup, and even trickier to get running - no one wants to talk on an empty board, but the board will be empty without anyone chatting on it. A Catch 22 situation! I will have to put my marketing cap on and get some members in, one thing which may interest them will be the fact that I’m trying to figure out a way to have it as a revenue sharing board… :razz: .

More website news, I’ve finished the Motor Vehicle Preservation Society of Ireland website, it needs a lot more work - such as optimization, and more filler content drafted up, but it was a past-deadline realese, and Payne was on my neck to get it online - “take yer time” generally means “where’s me f**kin’ website” in webmaster talk… It’s online now, alongside the Blog which was a 5 minute jobby. He’s happy with the result, I wouldn’t be 100% happy with it, it’s a bugger to load on Dialup (or slow broadband), but that’s just a case of reducing the size of the navbar icons and header image. All these loose ends will be tidied up in the coming weeks (possibly months :neutral: ).

On another note, I’m on the road finally! I got my “Learners Permit” last week, and I’ve taken a few driving lessons. I’m already capable of driving, it’s just road ettiquette, general use, and caping my speed… I mentioned the last one, as I kept creeping over the speed limit on my first lesson - of which the instructor didn’t give me any instruction… (a family friend). I’ve got a fair bit to improve on, such as roundabouts, and merging. I’ve been practicing Hill Starts, Emergency Stops and 3-point turns, I’m not great at them but practice does make perfect!