awec wrote: » Walking a tightrope here pickarooney. :mad:
Podge_irl wrote: » I mentioned it before on this thread, but I went through NI with my English gf last summer and I found the whole experience surreal in the extreme. Those people I talked to were nothing but polite and lovely but the ambiance in Derry and outer Belfast was unsettling.
Stheno wrote: » They are also far more mannerly, but a little more traditional in terms of chivalry.
Stheno wrote: » Sorry awec, didn't mean to offend with my post, I just found it very intimidating. That said I also don't like going through very republican areas with the flags and slogans etc, was on the Falls earlier and didn't like it at all.
awec wrote: » I'm not at all offended.
Felix Jones is God wrote: » She should take the piss out of a certain northern footie team...Then she'll get a rise out of you
Stheno wrote: » Ive no clue about that though
Felix Jones is God wrote: » Yerra, neither does he, but that doesn't stop him
swiwi_ wrote: » So when we were fairly newly arrived in Ireland, I had a conference in Armagh. It was back in the days before I had GPS or a smartphone, so I printed out directions Dublin - Armagh on google maps, and off I went. I'm sure in theory it was the fastest route, but the directions quickly had me off the beaten track and onto a series of country backroads. It was very surreal travelling through little villages with big Union Jacks painted on the main street, and the flags on full display. I had the constant impression I was being "observed". At one point I had to stop for directions. I was almost nervous getting out of the car and approaching the locals. But they were nothing but friendly, no doubt helped by my clearly not Irish (nor Australian :mad:) accent leading to what seemed to me a visible relaxation of the atmosphere. Wouldn't rush back to Armagh, it had a very "Puritan" vibe about it, and we found ourselves short of places to consume alcoholic beverages at day's end. Northern Ireland itself, though, I very much like.
Deleted User wrote: » Funny, drive through non urban parts of the US and it's largely similar. Flegs everywhere.
bilston wrote: » You see the thing about flags, I reckon if you did a discrete poll of the people living in areas where flags were festooned everywhere you'd find the majority of people would rather they weren't hanging from every lampost. It's just best sometimes to keep your thoughts to yourself in certain places!
swiwi_ wrote: » Wouldn't rush back to Armagh, it had a very "Puritan" vibe about it, and we found ourselves short of places to consume alcoholic beverages at day's end.
swiwi_ wrote: » So when we were fairly newly arrived in Ireland, I had a conference in Armagh. It was back in the days before I had GPS or a smartphone, so I printed out directions Dublin - Armagh on google maps, and off I went. I'm sure in theory it was the fastest route, but the directions quickly had me off the beaten track and onto a series of country backroads. It was very surreal travelling through little villages with big Union Jacks painted on the main street, and the flags on full display. I had the constant impression I was being "observed". At one point I had to stop for directions. I was almost nervous getting out of the car and approaching the locals. But they were nothing but friendly, no doubt helped by my clearly not Irish (nor Australian :mad:) accent leading to what seemed to me a visible relaxation of the atmosphere.Wouldn't rush back to Armagh, it had a very "Puritan" vibe about it, and we found ourselves short of places to consume alcoholic beverages at day's end. Northern Ireland itself, though, I very much like.
Buer wrote: » I've spend a decent amount of time up there with both work and through friends who are from awec's neck of the woods. When we were in our early twenties, we all went on the beer, had the same craic and were all pretty unreliable scoundrels. As we got into our late twenties though, the lads from that area definitely started settling down far more quickly. A number of them and their peers were married. Several had kids. Their heavy nights out were 4 or 5 pints. And then when I went up to visit them for a weekend, I noted they were all starting to become involved in their local churches. Not just attending but some were playing music at services. Others were setting up AV stuff for them. One lad just went early to help set up the church. The odd bible quote was popping up on Twitter/Facebook. Now, obviously this isn't across the board, but there definitely is a far, far stronger link to religion in the north and I don't mean in the sectarian sense. There's a far more pious community in many areas than there is south of the border where we've begun to reject the church in masses. It's a curious thing. It seems almost that the people I knew saw their college years as their opportunity to have a bit of a wild time but their long term plan always involved the faith they were raised in.
awec wrote: » The city or the county? The city is the god capital of Ireland or whatever it's called.
Buer wrote: » swiwi_ wrote: » Wouldn't rush back to Armagh, it had a very "Puritan" vibe about it, and we found ourselves short of places to consume alcoholic beverages at day's end. I've spend a decent amount of time up there with both work and through friends who are from awec's neck of the woods. When we were in our early twenties, we all went on the beer, had the same craic and were all pretty unreliable scoundrels. As we got into our late twenties though, the lads from that area definitely started settling down far more quickly. A number of them and their peers were married. Several had kids. Their heavy nights out were 4 or 5 pints. And then when I went up to visit them for a weekend, I noted they were all starting to become involved in their local churches. Not just attending but some were playing music at services. Others were setting up AV stuff for them. One lad just went early to help set up the church. The odd bible quote was popping up on Twitter/Facebook. Now, obviously this isn't across the board, but there definitely is a far, far stronger link to religion in the north and I don't mean in the sectarian sense. There's a far more pious community in many areas than there is south of the border where we've begun to reject the church in masses. It's a curious thing. It seems almost that the people I knew saw their college years as their opportunity to have a bit of a wild time but their long term plan always involved the faith they were raised in.
CMOTDibbler wrote: » bilston wrote: » You see the thing about flags, I reckon if you did a discrete poll of the people living in areas where flags were festooned everywhere you'd find the majority of people would rather they weren't hanging from every lampost. It's just best sometimes to keep your thoughts to yourself in certain places! I think I know what you meant here, but what you actually said is almost the opposite of what I think you meant.
awec wrote: » On the way to Dundrum tonight and the car starts beeping and screen is saying engine malfunction. Feels like I'm driving a bus, foot to the floor and it barely responds.
mfceiling wrote: » Is it the focus? Head over to the motors forum...lads there might be a good help. Normally always is something to do with coils according to them.
awec wrote: » Yep. 90% sure it's the DPF. Was in with the mechanic a few weeks ago and he reckons the DPF is on it's way out but he wasn't 100% sure so said to drive and come in the next time it messes up. DPF costs over a grand.
awec wrote: » How is that so cheap? All accounts I have seen and quotes I have seen have been 4 figures. Are you a mechanic by any chance?
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