Exploring La Palma

Hiking & running in one of the lesser known Canary Islands (December 2018) Visiting “la Isla Verde” Our 14th year away at Christmas, since John left us in 2005. We've always gone away. I look forward to it, so this time split my time by discovering a new island: La Palma. I’d read a blog …

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Canada & Quebec: What’s different?

Canada is a peaceful place. The pace of life is calm, even in the city. Drivers are patient. Cyclists are well lit and wrapped up. Streets have character, with unique shopfronts. Lots of Irish surnames – Murphy, Maguire, Mulcahy. Plenty of British influence: spelling - “centre” not “center”’; a bronze statue of the Queen on …

Comparing Quebec and Ireland

Visiting Quebec for 2 weeks this autumn has made me think a lot about the parallels between these 2 places. Even though they are very proud of their language and heritage, they're not anti-British or anti royalty. They still show that patriotism to fight. On the face of it, you see so many differences: language, …

Visiting Quebec

I spent 2 weeks exploring Quebec in late October 2018, visiting a good friend in Ottawa. I was lucky to have a local tour guide and get to explore great cities like Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, as well as the great outdoors. Here are my thoughts from my diary. Trip Highlights Hiking up Mont …

Returning to Canada

I’m on a plane over the Atlantic, on my way back to Canada for the 4th time. It brought back memories of my previous trips. First time was in 2002 when I visited Toronto for the World Youth Day festival, where I got to attend Mass with Pope John Paul II. We also got to …

Wild Atlantic Way Cycle

5 days in West Cork & Kerry on the bike with the Microsoft Crew Day 1: Kinsale to Skibbereen 106 kilometres A long day - 2 days in 1 really, up at 5:20am with the alarm, to get on a bus to Cork. Seeing new faces and old friends. A quick pitstop change in Kinsale …

Charity Events at Work: What I Learnt

In September 2018, I took part in a charity fundraiser with my colleagues at Microsoft Ireland. A team of 80 people fundraised over €110,000 for Ireland’s only children’s hospice, Laura Lynn. I wanted to share my thoughts on all the great things that I learnt by taking part, both from a personal and team point …

Exploring Co. Down

Last weekend, I spent a couple of days in Northern Ireland. My excuse was the Belfast Titanic Triathlon, so I stayed on and explored a new part of the province – East County Down & the Ards Peninsula. It was a really nice couple of days, staying in Portaferry and cycling a lap of Strangford …

Thoughts on America

January 2018: After a week in Trump’s America, working, travelling and meeting people, here are some thoughts: Work Start early, finish early Face to face meetings are great Redmond, WA has so many job opportunities The drinks fridge is impressive Microsoft is full of white & Asian people The Reno office is really quiet People …

Skiing in Tahoe, USA

I was lucky enough to ski at Lake Tahoe in January 2018, while on a work trip to Reno, Nevada. It was very cold but beautiful and a great experience. It got me thinking - how does skiing in the USA compare to the European Alps? 20-Jan: Skiing at Heavenly Back in South Lake Tahoe …