Port Láirge

So how did Waterford get its name? The Vikings - both its Irish and Anglicized names actually. Waterford actually comes from the Norwegian words for windy fjord - any Norwegians out there to verify that? I can tell you that this place is VERY windy. In fact it is right now raining sideways due to the wind. Waterford is known as the Chicago of Ireland for its wind. It does seem to be windy here a lot!

Port Lairge is the Irish name (haven't figured out the pronunciation on that yet). Lairge is probably from the Viking name Largen (or something like that) as there was a high ranking Viking official by that name living here in the founding years. The city is actually getting ready for its 1100th anniversary in seven years - I think that we'll have to stick around for that! It's very interesting to me that the Vikings were here so long ago that the Irish name of the city has Viking origins.

Dublin is also a Viking name, but the Irish name of the city is Baile Atha Cliath. Did anyone guess how to pronounce that? You at least have to try - I'll give you a clue, "th" is actually pronounced "h"!

As I said, sideways rain today. We have been drenched the last two days. I did walk home in it yesterday, but am staying put today. Sunday was beautiful out, and we went exploring down at Hook Head. Hook Head juts out into the Atlantic off the southern coast just on the other side of Waterford Harbour from us. We took the ferry across the harbour, which is about a 10 minute ride and cuts at least 45 minutes off the driving. Our main activity was bird watching. We saw fulmars, choughs and gannets among the other usual suspects. Also skylarks who were flying way up in the air while singing their lungs out - really amazing. We then meandered back stopping at a couple of 14th century church ruins. Church ruins are interesting because of the graveyards surrounding and some times inside of them. I find it fascinating to read the names and dates and speculate about the stories of the people.

We have dug through and found homes for most of our stuff. Pile in the garage needs work, but out of sight, out of mind, so we'll just keep the door shut for now. :) I'm ecstatic to have water filters (I'm such a water snob), some summer clothes (although summer is now apparently over of course!), our comfy couch and chair, yummy bedding, pictures for the walls, a desk, waffle iron (yummy start to our Saturday morning), ok I'll stop, I could go on and on!

Yes, I'm still a lady of leisure. Several interviews, but I must not be making a very good impression as that is as far as it goes. I am going to start temping to get some experience in Ireland, as recruiters have told me that that will help. There just aren't a lot of marketing positions in this area, but as one of the recruiters reminds me, I only need one job!

I am watching my favorite TV show: Countdown. It is British, most of our channels are British actually. It is a gameshow where contestants get nine random letters and have to make up words, getting points for longest word. There are also a couple math rounds - they get six random numbers then have to add/subtract/multiply/divide those numbers to reach a given target number. Here is what I find so interesting about it - no money! If you win, you go on the next day, then after eight wins, you get to be in the championships and get a special prize package (with dictionary, tea pot and other goofy stuff). The show has been on for almost 25 years! The other interesting thing is Carol, who puts up the numbers. Not the British Vanna though! She has been on since the show began after answering an ad for an attractive woman that can do math (actually her mom answered for her). 99% of the time, she gets the math round - without a calculator. And if she doesn't get it at the time, they will often go back to her at the end of the show, and she'll have it then.

All the best from Ireland!