6 months in Dublin

Hello all. I realised today it’s been quite a while since I wrote anything here. So, I hope to bring things up to speed now and I really will try to keep up-to-date better in future!

We’ve been in Dublin for half a year already now. I’m surprised to think that we’ve been here that long – it’s gone so fast! We arrived in April, found an apartment in central Dublin in May. In June I accepted a job offer with a small IT development company as their ‘Web Designer’. Since then we’ve had several visitors over from NZ, we’ve found a great church here – St Marks, we’ve made a our first sightseeing trip across to continental Europe, and we’ve made plans for several more trips in the coming months. All in all we’ve been keeping pretty busy and we’re enjoying life here in Dublin. As the Irish would say – ‘it’s grand’

I’m enjoying my work. I’m the sole designer and only female in an office of IT guys. I’ve got plenty to do and I enjoy the variety and the challenges that come with the job. I was offered the job after an unbelievably short job hunt – only 2 days from when I started looking to when I got the offer! Finding a job so quickly and finding a job that fits so well with my skills and interests was a real blessing! The workplace has a fun and laid-back feel and I’ve found it great getting to know the guys at work and hearing all their stories and insider info about Dublin and Ireland. The one drawback to my job is the travel time. My work based in Dublin 24, outer area of Dublin. That means about an 1 hour 20 mins of travel each way for me. Not so cool.

Matt’s work at Google seems to be going well too. Google is keeping him busy but also looking after him well. Matt will be off on a trip to the US later in November with Google to spend time at the Head Office in Mountain View (but I’ll leave it for Matt to tell you all the details of that).

I’m so thankful that we’ve found a church here in Dublin to go to. We’re going to St Marks which is a church of 2 or 3 hundred. For those who find the labels helpful – the church comes under the Pentescostal/evangelistic/Assembly of God sort of denomination. There are a good number of ‘young working professionals’ like ourselves and it’s been great to start meeting some of them and find some fellowship at St Marks.

Coming up for us:

  1. Winter. I fear it’s going to get much colder than I would like here. Apparently lots of people buy little hot water bottles they can wear under their jackets when they go out 😀 I may have to find me one of those!

  2. A trip to Paris in November. Paris – could there be a more romantic, cheesy, cliche place to go for your wedding anniversary? I think not!

  3. Matt’s trip to Mountain View and Whistler.

Comment from Brownie on 2007-10-25

Good to hear everything is going well and your enjoying it! Shame I wont be seeing you in November, maybe I will have to head to Dublin sometime!

Keep your eyes on my gallery im working on photos to upload Alaska etc soon.

Comment from Gill on 2007-10-26

Great to catch up your views and perspectives after 6 months in Dublin and to be have been to your place! Sure glad it wasn’t winter then – the wind was cold as it was! We’ll go to church with you next time we are over!

Comment from Nat on 2007-11-03

Hi Kat,
Glad that finding a job there was hassleless. Gutted about the travel time. We have the opposite…tend to sleep in a bit too long before finally dashing out the door. This morning was a prime example. The alarm went off at 7am and I finally dragged myself out of bed at 7.50am!!! Had a quick shower, dressed and tied hair up to look vaguely respectable. Dashed down the school drive and into the staff room to check if I had any relief for this morning, thankfully not. Waltzed back home, had breaky and leisurely got ready to go back to school ready to teach for period 3, my first of the day! heehee. We should really catch up sometime. We’re off to Sth America, to my bro’s wedding in Dec, but back again at school early Jan….maybe feb ish when we’ve got some money again and not living off the credit card….!!!