Monday 16 April 2012
Sunday 8 April 2012
I was doing some filing today and I came across the brochure from when David bought our house in 2006. When we moved into the house we found that the previous owners had left the brochure from when they bought the house (off the plans) in 1990.
I like saving things like this for posterity so I figured I'd scan them and post them here!
So here they are, from the most recent one back.
The 2006 brochure is made up of one A4 page, printed on front and back, and then folded in the middle to make a little brochure.
So this is both the front of the brochure (on the right) and the back of the brochure (on the left).
The lovely tree to the right of our house got blown down in a storm last year. Which saddened me, but made our neighbour happy because apparently it was affecting the light going into her bedroom upstairs (??!!!).
This is the other side of the A4 page/the inside of the brochure.
Oh dear, it is a bit embarrassing how little work we have done since we bought the house. But we did change the kitchen which was badly needed as it was 22 years old at that point.
The 1990 brochure:
The 1990 brochure is a grander affair. You have to remember that it was difficult to sell houses in 1990 whereas we bought at practically the peak of the boom, and indeed were in a small bidding war to buy.
(With hindsight - eek! But at the time it just seemed that it was just the way it was).
The 1990 brochure was printed on a piece of card twice the size of A4 - whatever that size is called. Again, folded over to make a brochure. Above is the front cover. It is called Porters Gate (two words) whereas now our estate is known as Portersgate.
Porters Gate is described as "Imaginatively styled homes in a magnificent setting".
Again, I remind you, it was difficult to sell houses in 1990!
Second page of the brochure. Our house is pictured at the bottom of the page. Because the houses had not actually been built yet (being sold off the plans) the pics are pencil sketches rather than photographs.
Third page of the booklet.
It is funny reading the blurb that was written in 1990, now that here we are in 2012.
For example it talks about the builders: "..........the Dolphin Brothers have the accent on quality and value, setting the standards for others to follow in to the next century".
Back page of the brochure.
Original houses plans in 1990.
Saturday 7 April 2012
This morning I went to visit a house that my twin sister and her husband have bought and are renovating.
It needed to be renovated from top to bottom, and from inside to out, so it is a huge project. But happily for Enid and Ciaran they are coming near to the end and hopefully it will be ready to move into the house in May.
Here is a blog Enid has been writing since they started the build: http://renovatinglpa.blogspot.com/
It's got some great pics and is a fantastic record for them to have in years to come.
It needed to be renovated from top to bottom, and from inside to out, so it is a huge project. But happily for Enid and Ciaran they are coming near to the end and hopefully it will be ready to move into the house in May.
Here is a blog Enid has been writing since they started the build: http://renovatinglpa.blogspot.com/
It's got some great pics and is a fantastic record for them to have in years to come.
Sunday 1 April 2012
I've recently moved building and while my old commute was much quicker - get off the train at Connolly Station and 5 minute walk to my office - my new commute brings me past some interesting buildings and sights in Dublin. This make the fifteen minute walk a little nicer!
I now get the train to the Docklands station which is literally at the back of the Convention Centre. There is not a great view from the back or the side of the building, but wow, what a building from the front! I'll post a pic of the Convention centre further on down in the blog but first let me show you the bridge I cross every morning and that I had to cross, in order to get the photo of the full Convention Centre into the frame:
It's a pretty cool bridge in my opinion.
It was designed with the intention of representing a harp (which is the national emblem of Ireland). And I think from this angle below this is very evident:
I like this pic with the Convention Centre showing through the harp "strings".
Here is a pic of the Convention Cente straight on:
I am sure this photo does not show the scale of the building. It is huge!!!
I have attended a couple of work events at the centre and it is very nice (and big!) inside. But I especially like it at night when they light up each tier with different colours.
The red boat (Liffey Tour Boat) in the centre of the pic, is very flat and goes quite fast. It reminds me of a serpent the way it cuts through the water.
Next interesting sight I see is this:
Wahey! Palm trees in Dublin!
Also, a very interesting old chimney stack which must be from an old factory located along the river. The factory is long gone, but I am glad the chimney stack is still here.
Right beside the chimney stack is this playground:
If I had children I'd bring them to this playground alot! It looks like a lot fun.
The mext building I pass, is my favourite building of the commute:
The Grand Canal Theatre.
I love the red sculptures outside. Particularly at night when parts of each "tube" are illuminated.
The view when you have your back to the theatre.
Again, another view, looking out from the theatre.
Staying in the docklands, I pass by a cute little marina with Bolands Mills in the background.
For those of your who know your Irish History I am sure you are well aware of the significance of this building in the 1916 Easter Rising.
For those of you who are not familiar with the 1916 Rising, the mills building was where one of the main garrisons and De Valera were located.
Check out these links for more info: http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/easterrising/saturday/ or http://theirishrising.blogspot.com/2010/04/bolands-mills.html
I like this building alot. I wish it was better preserved.
Next up I go under a very low bridge with some nice cobblestone underfoot:
It's very low! Feels like a little tunnel when you are in it!
Finally, last "interesting" building before I arrive at my office is the Treasury Building (current tenanted by NAMA & NTMA).
The lest said about the tenants is probably best (that's for another day's post).
But can I just say that that sculpture of a person climbing up the wall really freaks me out!!!!
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