Living in Ireland

Northern ireland is one of the areas that many tourist miss, this is a shame it is quite a beautiful as the rest of Ireland.  This is the Giants Causeway in County Antrim.

It is going to be one of those years.  Taxi drivers are on strike from time to time to stop new licences being issued.  They know how to bring Dublin to a complete stop.

Sliding sash windows look great, they are usually in the older houses - like mine. However they do give allsorts of problems in the older houses. Most sash windows are not double glazed, and that is hell for the bills and keeping the heat in the house during the winter - even here in Ireland, where it is never really cold.

I knew all this before moving into this house, so why did I go for something that was going to cost me much more money in the long run? Well, firstly - they look great. And they are usually much bigger windows, letting more light into the rooms - which makes a great difference when one spends so much time at home sitting in front of a computer as I do.

However since moving in the windows have slipped somewhat and will not go back again - and have ever tried getting an Irish landlord to fix anything. They have all read Castle Rackrent I guess.

So the next house will be more utilitarian - double glazing please.

There is nothing worse than having a great luxury wet room that ends up leaking and causing dampness.  The following guide is how the professionals tank a wet room.  And tank to you and me is waterproof.

Walls

Start by applying a primer called keraprimer on a clean dry surface i.e. plaster board.  Dilute primer 1:1 with water and let it dry for at least 1 hour before waterproofing with a latex/fibreglass material called kerafibre.

Stir the kerafibre well before use and use reinforced material in corners, junctions and over screw heads, brush kerafiber over the tape and make sure it is thoroughly wet.  On pipe inlets use reinforcement tape (cut out hole) press the patch in fresh kerafiber and brush kerafiber over to ensure it is wet.  Apply the first coat of kerafiber on the entire wall area then let it dry for at least 4 hours before applying the second coat.  Kerafiber changes to a darker colour when dry.

Apply the second coat of kerafiber and let it dry for 6-12 hours before tiling.  Check the thickness of the coat and apply extra kerafiber on thin or porous spots then allow to dry again.  The amount of kerafiber required min. 0.6 1/m2 and min.coat thickness o.4 mm.

Start tilling from the second lowest row of tiles, and at least 10cm from the floor.  Fix the tiles on the wall with superfix tile adhesive.

Floors

Apply keraprimer on a clean dry surface; dilute the primer 1:1 with water.  Use reinforcement tape at corners, junctions and over screw heads brush kerafiber over the tape and make sure it is thoroughly wet.

Use reinforcement material crosslaid to seal the floor drain.  Brush one sheet on the floor with kerafiber then brush the other one crosswise onto the first one brush well with kerafiber as well.

Apply kerafiber around the floor drain (40×40cm) and turn the double reinforcing sheet onto the drain.  Apply a coat of kerafiber on the entire area and let dry for at least 2 hours, (kerafiber changes colour as it dries).

Apply a second coat of kerafiber and let dry for 6-12 hours before tiling. Check the thickness of the coat and apply extra kerafiber on thin or porous spots. Allow to dry.  The amount of kerafiber is 0.8 1/m2 and min and the coat thickness should be 0.5mm.

Once it is dry cut out hole for floor drain.  Make sure the diameter of hole is at least 40mm shorter than the diameter of the drain. This ensures the brim of the hole reaches the seal of the floor drain.  The kerafiber coat must be at least 1.5mm thick around the drain.

Press a compatible tension ring carefully to the floor drain and cut off any extra membrane from under the tension ring.  Brush kerafiber over the entire floor area, up to the tension ring seal tension ring/drain junction with silicone.

Fix the tiles on the floor with superfix tile adhesive. Fill the joints with tile adhesive wait 15-30 minutes and wash excess grout off tiles with a sponge.  Wring the sponge well as excess water can discolour the joints.

Clean off excess grout and use silicone on all seams and corners.  Leave for 24 hours to dry completely.  Floor heating can be used gradually after a week from the joint sealing.

Advanced Wet Rooms supply and fit wet rooms through out the UK and Ireland. You can also buy wet room supplies from their on line store.

Is there anyone now looking for a personal injury solicitor in Dublin? The reason I ask is the snow. Strange you may think. But follow my logic.

As part of an accountancy course a long while back i had to study a little on Irish law. Now being a Brit I expected Irish law to be very similar to British law, (well that is what I get called here - better if you called me a Scot really). Anyway as part of this course I found out that much of Irish law is influenced by American law - i was stunned, why would anyone so close to the UK not want to follow the best legal system in the world? Not the English one you twat, finish the sentence before you start getting upset, but the Scottish system.

Anyway there is only one case that I remember from that rather dull year. A son sues his mother. he walks into his mothers house, a home he no longer lives in - in comes in by the back door. His mother has just finished cleaning the kitchen floor - he slips and hurts himself and sues her. Wow. He wins and the house insurance pays out.

There was a chuckle of derision when it was noted in the case they were residents of Tallaght - for all you glaswegians it is a bit like saying someone from Govan.

Anyway I hope the personal injury solicitors are not too busy after the snow and ice of the last couple of weeks.

Another interesting fact about solicitors just read last week in the paper - apparently there was 749 of them on the live register during December - that did kinda surprise me. Wonder is there are many seo consultants - or does anyone know we exist and would they bother to count.

I want some real snow, I miss skiing and snow boarding - tough I hear you say. So here are some pics.

Whirlpool baths are becoming increasingly popular, with more people benefiting from their home spa whirlpool. Whirlpool can be fitted with a filtration system which cleans the bath for you, allowing you to spend your time relaxing. Whirlpool baths are known world-wide for their luxurious designs and relaxation. They are the perfect thing for relaxing at home after a hard day at work or just the normal everyday stressful activities. Whirlpools are designed to fulfil the consumers luxury wants for hydrotherapy, aromatherapy and ultimate bathing experiences. Read more »

I was thinking more of talking about the DART when I picked this photo - however my thoughts turn more to how good a day this was.  The sun is shining, it does illustrate that it does not always rain in Ireland.

The day we got the train we were going to Howth to walk along the cliff edges - it is an easy 30 minutes on the train from the centre of Dublin.

I hear often people complain on this blog about there being little to do in the city during the winter - to a certain extent that is true - but some imagination can get you out and moving taking in what is often beautiful countryside.  At the same time I lived in Vienna during nearly two winters - it was also fairly dull in the winter - to have some fun we had to get out of the city - maybe cities are just like that.

Dublin Dart

Finding a tax adviser can sometimes be a difficult process if you have not had to engage an tax adviser previously. Many small and new businesses make the mistake of completing their own tax returns in the early years. Often a Tax adviser can save tax in areas that individuals would not be aware of – this is money well spent.
There are few things more stressful than not having a good grasp on your finances and feeling unable to approach your tax adviser. So its important to get a good one; here are some tips on choosing an tax adviser for your business:
1) Try and choose a tax adviser before you start your business as they will be able to add value at the early stage.
2) Don’t accept a bad service from your tax adviser. You deserve better. If you change tax advisers your new tax adviser will deal with the handover so if you are getting bad advice or service then change.
3) Ensure your tax adviser works with small business clients and has experience in various sectors.
4) Ask what other services the tax adviser provide - do they provide business advice, can they do accountancy or have they contacts to help grow your business?
5) Get a fixed fee, paid monthly with unlimited telephone support so you won’t be afraid to call them when you need to them.
6) Go with your gut feeling, if you don’t think you will be able to get on with the tax adviser after the initial meeting then you probably won’t.
7) Ask for testimonials. A good tax adviser won’t mind if you talk to other clients. Make sure your tax adviser keeps in regular contact with your business - not just at year end! They can hep and advise on capital purchases throughout the year.
9) Sometimes its best to have an tax adviser who has a smaller practice as they understand what it’s like running a small business also they won’t be tempted to pass your work onto the junior staff.
10) Make sure your tax adviser is fully qualified, for example as a certified or chartered tax adviser. Ask them what qualification they hold and check with the qualifying body.
McNamara Associates are Dublin Accountants and Tax Advisers. They offer a full service practice.

For a French treat in Dublin check out Chez Max.  I don’t know any other French restaurants in Dublin, there must be some - but Chez Max will take some beating anyway.

They have two restaurants in Dublin, No 1 Palace Street, just beside Dublin Castle off Dame Street.  The other which has just opened is at 133 Lower Baggot Street - for me great as it is closer to home.

So why do I love Chez Max so much?  First the service is great - really that is something considering most Dublin restaurants act if they are doing you a favour by serving you.  Second, and perhaps should be first, the food is great, it tastes!  Really, this is not new cuisine, with tiny serving that would leave you hungry, this is real French food and it tastes wonderful and is heaped on the plates.  And lastly the atmosphere - they seem to do their best to let you eat in peace and at the same time it almost feels like my own ding rooms - there is a reasonable space between the tables - everything in the restaurant appears to be carefully chosen.

Oh, nearly forgot - the price.  This one stunned me - myself and my beautiful woman ate there for less than €30 - amazing.

Contact details - http://www.chezmax.ie/

Telephone - 01 633 7215