Winter Has Come To Cork

So the frost and potential for snow has set in although compared to the rest of Ireland, Cork still remains a pretty snow-less city. However schools were closed in Dublin, as was the airport in Edinburgh and the Garda has warned citizens to stay off roads as much as possible.

Slight note: I enjoy how the police are called the Gardai or the official name is An Garda Siochana. It is just more fun to say.

I have been on a few "invigorating" walks these past few days. Despite the presence of heavy gloves, my hands are starting to match the Cork City colors of red and white due to the various levels of freezing and defrosting. I managed to get out on Friday night to Jackie Lennox for some chicken and chips. So my chicken and chips (ie. fries) are wrapped in brown paper and I am at the cashier getting ready to pay. Sidenote: Corkonians talk very quickly and in a sing-song manner so the words tend to run together to an un-trained ear. So I think the cashier asks me if I want a drink, I shake my head no. Then he asks me something else, I say "What?" and after about two more times of this "What is it? - What?" interchange, I finally figure out he is asking what I got. I proceed to apologize and make some line about zoning out or not being with it. The man just goes "oh it's alright, it was Thanksgiving yesterday, you are probably still hungover." It's 6:30 pm the next day. I just laughed though because really it was a very quick line on his part.

This weekend was pretty quiet. I got some Christmas shopping done. The city is decorated with lights hanging across the streets and the stores blaring Christmas music. Now with the expected snow, all you really need is Santa. From the looks of it though, Santa appears in the main city park at various times. None of this wimpy indoor mall Santas for the Irish, we like our Santas to have rosy red cheeks due to the weather.

On a different note, I think I may have mentioned that I get like seven channels. One of which features Skynews which is filmed out of London. Not offense to the British press corps but I think Skynews overuses the expression: "breaking news." Two days ago breaking news was that President Obama received 12 stitches during a pickup basketball game....Seriously, this is breaking news? Their Irish neighbor just received a huge bailout, the entire British Isles is freezing and North Korea attacked South Korea but Obama getting an elbow to the mouth warrants breaking news. I guess his lip was busted open so something did break in the whole experience but still I don't think Skynews was intending on using the word "breaking" literally. 

Regardless, I will miss the television. Particularly the fascination with soap operas and the X Factor. Although having watched the X Factor, I can understand the obsession.