One thing ends and another begins.
The guy on the island is gone and the Oktoberfest begins.
The local scrap yard guy has a Porsche!
This is the view from the lake view hotel..Not bad?
Back in the "Big Smoke" again.
While I was on my travels in the rain and mist,Dublin was bathed in glorious sunshine.
We spent 2 nights in Youghal and a day in Killarney before coming home.
We found out that a friend who lives there had turned 60, so we went to him to wish him well.
Youghall is doing very badly at present. Lots of shops closed up and a feeling of despair all around.
There is only one hotel in that town the Imperial hotel, so we went there for a meal.
My wife has a few limitations with regard to diet, nothing too difficult though.
Boiled or roast chicken with boiled vegetables and boiled spuds. Nothing added.
No, there was no boiled potatoes, chips or mashed or wedges and that's it.
No, they couldn't chop up a spud and cook it.
Rice? No we can't do that.
Cous Cous? I see it comes with herbs and lime juice, could you cook some and serve it plain? No!
We did manage to arrive at some kind of compromise in the end but I can tell you we will never set foot in there again.
I had a guy in the taxi who knew his way around a kitchen and he told me that this place might have a cook who comes in once or twice a week. The food is then cooled down and put into the fridge. Then microwaved as needed.
That makes sense, but not great food.
In Killarney we went to the lake hotel a 4 star hotel. The view of the lake and the service was better than you could get at home.
The server came back 4 time during the meal to see if all was well.
In Youghall the server was sitting in the bar talking to the customers while we ate,she only came back when we were finished.
To cap it all the 4* hotel was cheaper.
So do you want to make money ?
Open a really good restaurant in Youghall---There are plenty of empty places to set up in.
Going back a few years ago a man walked into a small hotel and asked for dinner.
"Sorry sir we are finished serving"
Then the customer said.
"Could we have a sandwich please?"
"Sure I can organise that for you, Tommy! Stop scratching your arse over there and get up and make these people a few sandwich's"
Things have moved on a good bit from then and got much better. But things will slip back fast enough if managers don't keep an eye on the staff at all times.