Category Archives: Random stuff

Not adventures :)

Oct18

A walk out in nature – Glendalough!

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A walk out in nature – Glendalough!

Monday, 22-June-2026


Midweek hikes are the best, aren’t they?

Dodging the crowds is obviously a bonus, but there’s just something extra-magical about being out in nature when most people are at work. It feels like I’m playing hooky, stealing a kiss, or any other metaphor for getting something special.

The hike itself was lovely – the weather was warm, hot even, and the sky was clear. Sunscreen was slathered on, though the omnipresent threat of rain here in Ireland was just over the horizon. I think we got a small spattering of rain near the beginning, but honestly I couldn’t tell you one way or the other.

What I can tell you was that this was a lovely escape from the city, and an escape from work. We cooked a hot lunch over a camp stove, we took our time, and we enjoyed the process. Heck, we ran barefoot through the grass a few times, and even played in the trees!

Oct17

Simple beauty

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Dublin, in the Summer

After some jet-setting adventures, it’s always a nice reminder to focus in on the simple beauty that surrounds us. Flying to Bulgaria, or the United States, or even the UK is fun and exciting… but the every day is just as amazing.

The small bits are where life stays happy. They’re just as beautiful, as amazing, and as important as the big things, and the fact that they can be more plentiful doesn’t mean that they’re less worthy of note.

Oct9

An Irish Whiskey Society whiskey tasting

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Thursday, 11-June-2026

Andrea’s been a part of the Irish Whiskey Society for a while now – I can’t quite remember how and when she joined, but I’ve gotten to hear about the tastings that they put on every so often.

It’s neat – Not quite my cup of whiskey, for one reason of another, but it’s cool and fun and I was quite excited to be invited along to a special tasting… a tasting for “airport exclusives”, alongside a few other rare bottles from the society’s private stores.

…

Yeah, I’m not saying no to tasting rare and unique whiskeys. Come on, now.

“So? How was it, Ben? Get to the point!”

Alright, alright – in short, it was lovely… but I’ll be honest with myself (and you, dear reader) that I’m not a particularly skilled or loquacious whiskey taster. I enjoyed many of them, was underwhelmed by some of them, and was thankful to be walked through the whole process.

I took photos of the ones that I could, and made a point to stay in the moment, appreciating the chance to try bottles that there’s pretty much no chance I’d pay for myself (not due to quality, but due to the sheer cost of the bottles).

Good times, had by all.