Sand sculptures.

When Mabel was 99 I brought her out to see the sand sculptures in the courtyard of Dublin Castle.
So it was when she was 100 years old.
Then again when she is 101 years old.
This year she is 102 1/2 so we went back again.

"They are not as good as last year, I hope they will be better the next time"

She is as sharp as a tack mentally but since she broke her hip she is slowing down.

Three cheers for Mabel...


The leaving Certificate results came out and loads of young people headed out to celebrate and to drown their sorrows.

My passenger from Clontarf told me that a group of them went out and her friend went home early without telling the others.
She got into a taxi (one of those illegal taxi drivers that I keep telling you about)

The driver kept going the wrong way and refused to take the correct road. He had locked the doors and terrified her by driving round and around. Terrified she started to cry and told the taxi driver that she didn't have enough money to pay him.
So he drove to a bank link machine and drove onto the footpath blocking her exit until she drew out money. Then he drove her home and she got no change.
She had the roof sign number but if he did that the roof sign is a duplicate or a stolen one and even if you had his ID you could bet it would be fake as well.

What a bad experience for any young person to have.

Learn how the video works on your mobile and quietly film as much as you can.
(Turn off the flash)

Once I saw an illegal driver challenged at the Westbury Hotel.
The driver handed over his ID and the garda asked him his date of birth. The date of birth given did not tally with the date held on record.

What happened?

Was he wrestled to the ground and taken away?
Was his car confiscated and towed away?

Well no ! They took away his roof sign and then allowed him to drive away.
He was back 1/2 an hour later with a different sign on his car.

This problem will not go away until it is policed properly, perhaps someone will be killed first.
I hope not. But perhaps hoping is not good enough.

If you have a modern phone download the HailO app, failing that ring a raido cab company and ask them to come and collect you. Ask to be told what the drivers name will be and ask the driver their name when they come.

Now if you don't know how to video from your phone, find out now.
Film as much as you can or even an audio account of the proceedings would be great.
Don't go home alone if you can.
There once was an all female taxi company called "Angels" A great idea but you cannot discriminate by gender.
Yet I never saw a female sperm doner.....Or a man as a surrogate mother.

I would love to see this business policed properly and when someone who is driving on forged papers is caught that their cars be crushed, then prosecuted to the letter of the law. How the hell can someone be allowed to drive away once you establish he has forged papers? Just 100 days of instant pouncing and hemming in of taxis would solve this problem.

By the way Mr taxi regulator if you think I exaggerate give me the man power and you will find out, I would work at it for free.