Views from a Coffeehouse

O Conaill Chocolate Bakery Cafe - Cork

2012-01-04T21:23:00.007Z

Most cafes I visit are most likely to be in Dublin where I live. Some of my favourites are listed in the sidebar. Occasionally I get to visit cafes and coffeehouses elsewhere, some of which I blog about, but most of which I don't. This one is worth taking the time to write a few words of personal recommendation (for what that's worth, right?).

A couple of days away with the family to County Cork this week provided the longed for opportunity to walk around Cork City. I've become very found of Cork very quickly. For a start I like how the main shopping area has developed between the River Lee and a southern channel of the same river thereby forming a shopping island. The gloriously wide avenue of St Patrick's Street attempts to cut the island in two before it sweeps around and asks Grand Parade to complete the task. The tributaries of this main route provide some fascinating small streets and laneways where you will find independent clothes shops, art and craft stores, bakeries, chic restaurants, bookshops and a couple of fantastic traditional toy shops where batteries are not included because they are not needed! The English Market also offers some fine fare with fruit and veg, cheeses, breads and olives, fish so fresh you think they're still breathing (and lobsters which are), meat of every variety, and a chocolatier who provided sweet treats for Queen Elizabeth's recent historic visit.

But I'm not writing a piece for the Cork Tourist Board. I want to tell you about O Conaill Chocolate Bakery Cafe. It's located on French Church Street, one of those alluring passageways off St Patrick's St. On a cold, gray January afternoon the warmth from within the cafe seemed to be silently suggesting that to walk past would be foolish, forever leaving you wondering what it might have been like. Now here's the thing: For most people the choice of whether or not to enter would be easy, but when you have four children in tow, one of whom is still in a buggy and by the sound of things needing a nap, you think twice before entering. But in we went, such was the attractive power of the place.

Clearly this is a popular spot in Cork as all seats downstairs were taken, while upstairs at tables and couches another crowd sat, sans enfants, with only the company of other adults or a book. I will admit that I was more than a little jealous. There was even a queue for take away coffee and hot chocolate! But then a vacancy became available and it was perfect: a hightop table, surrounded by stools, which was large enough for all of us with room for four more children - should we have desired!

As is clear by this blog, if I'm going to write about a cafe it's because I have a coffee there. This was no exception and the regular latte served to me was most acceptable. No doubt countless other people go to O Conaill's for the coffee (and huge cookies for just 1euro! Nice), but with certainty people go for the hot chocolate. Not because it's served up in a huge mug with mountains of marshmallows, capped with too much whipped cream and drowned in sprinkles - far from it. This is hot chocolate for the more discerning palette. My wife enjoyed a dark chocolate, cinnamon and orange drink decorated with a small tricolour of mini chocolate buttons on the side. It was most agreeable and my wife gave it the rating of the second best hot chocolate she has ever had. (You'll have to ask her about the first.)

To top off the experience three delicious drinks were served to my older children. Then when the chocolate barista noticed our youngest was a little more than unsettled he provided a complimentary warm milk with just a drop of vanilla essence. It did the trick in seconds.

I've gone out of my way to Cork for coffee in the past, but I wouldn't recommend that cafe now. (Anyway, I don't think it's still there). However, if you are ever in the Cork region it would be well worth your while visiting the O'Conaill Chocolate Bakery Cafe on French Church Street.

An added bonus is that they also have a bakery down another one of those lovely side streets!

New Year - Try Again

2012-01-01T11:43:00.001Z

No one ever really keeps New Year resolutions and I am no exception. I've stopped trying.

But a thought popped in to my head so I reached for my blog again.

Happy New Year! I hope you'll read on below.

My Personal Coffee History - Part 1

2012-01-01T11:42:00.006Z

This morning I made a cafe latte for my wife and myself. The beans were roasted just a few days ago at one of my favourite specialty coffee roasters in London - a blend of El Salvador and Guatemala - and then precision ground just seconds before I brewed. The resulting thin flow of espresso from my machine was reminiscent of dark, golden honey with a buttery, sweet fruit aroma. Steaming the milk I then added it into the rich coffee base managing to pour the shape of a heart on the top - especially for my wife. Delicious.

But it hasn't always been like this.....

The first cup of coffee I remember making was for my dad and a friend he was meeting with at home. I'm not sure what it was - probably Nescafe, but I also remember Cafe Hag floating around the kitchen. Whatever it was, it was instant coffee. (It's okay. I was just a kid. I didn't know any better.) I would have been around eight or nine years old and the responsibility of handling a kettle of boiling water then bringing the cup of hot, brown liquid to my dad is what made the impression on me rather than the coffee itself: 1 tsp of coffee granules, 2 tsps of sugar, add some milk (full-fat back then) are the instructions I recall. Nevertheless, it was the start of a journey which has and still does bring a moment of pleasure with every cup.

I drank tea before I drank coffee, and at quite a young age. My mother was from Ireland and my father England - two great tea drinking nations. It came naturally. I still drink tea today (possibly just as much as coffee; some days more so), but I no longer drink it with lots of sugar as I did when I was younger. On rare occasions someone may accidentally hand me a cuppa with sugar in it which I will, of course, graciously accept and for a moment I'm transported back to different times simply through the taste of hot, sweet, milky tea. On the flip side I struggle to drink coffee with sugar added to it. A freshly brewed cup of quality coffee will be naturally sweet and probably more flavourful without milk.

I can't say for sure when I started drinking coffee, but I would guess it wasn't too long after learning the art of independent coffee production. I certainly can remember coming home from secondary school (11 yrs old), flicking on both the kettle and the TV and sitting down to enjoy a cup of coffee and a Wispa chocolate bar. (Thank you Cadbury's for bringing them back!)

Cups of sweet tea and instant coffee were all well and good, but an early milepost in this journey occurred when a new coffee machine appeared in the kitchen of our small house in South Wales. I have a vague feeling that we already owned a coffee percolator (can there be a worse way for brewing coffee?), but this was different. It was a present from my dad to my mum I think and it featured two main functions. One was that it brewed ground coffee into a small jug at a high ratio of coffee to water in order to extract as strong a flavour as possible. The other feature was a steam arm used to heat, no scald, a jug of milk. This morning as I steamed my milk I carefully skimmed the surface introducing air to the milk and stretching it with fine microfoam. The result is a velvety, textured milk brought to a high enough temperature to produce a caramel sweetness, but stopping before the milk gets too hot and tastes burned. Back in my mother's kitchen however the aim was to produce big bubbles in the milk by raising and lowering the milk jug so the steam arm would gurgle while submerged and splat as it was removed from the milk only to dive back in again. The result was astonishing and the finished product was affectionately and rather aptly named. This was years before knowledge of the cappuccino. This was the age of the Frothy Coffee. No matter the quirkiness of the name the very act of personally crafting such a drink was enough for me. I was smitten.

Years later and then living in England I learned a valuable, but heart-breaking lesson. My grandmother accidentally placed that frothy coffee machine on top of a hot oven. It melted and was ruined. I hugged my grandma while she cried and told her that it didn't matter. It was just stuff.

Today I am very happy with my growing and varied collection of coffee machines, grinders and brewers. It has become quite an investment, but is very satisfying. I do feel a little bit proud when every now and then I get a drink just right. But I've learned to hold loose to it all. There are things far more important than coffee.

More thoughts on this journey to follow.

Signs and Wonders

2011-08-25T22:51:00.003+01:00

Every now and then I have to travel from my home in Dublin up to meetings in Belfast. It's only a couple of hours drive, but - depending on who you talk to - you do get to cross and international border. I'm happy to make the journey with other people, but if I'm honest I quite relish the time alone in the car for a few hours. I usually take along a couple of podcasts to listen to: often some theological seminar balanced by Car Talk for the way home.

Today as I was approaching Lisburn (I think) just outside of Belfast I happened to see a small sign at the side of the road that advertised a near by "coffeehouse". That phrase caught my attention because it isn't often used this side of the Atlantic and I began to wonder what delights were to be found. I drove on and thought to myself, 'I should stop there sometime and check it out.'

You may or may not be surprised at how often I think to myself, 'Oh I must.....sometime.' Perhaps you encounter similar wistful moments. It wasn't until a minute later that I thought about how I was making good time that morning and maybe I should turn around and find the coffeehouse that was luring me. If not now, when?

On managing to turn the car around and find the sign again I turned down a small country road, eventually pulling into a car park of what looked like a block of warehouses. The "coffeehouse" was actually a large restaurant, but it looked pleasant enough so I went in, ordered a latte, declined a scone and sat in a sofa by the window. There was no one else around so it wasn't long before my coffee was brought to me.

Wow.

I haven't seen coffee presented like this in a loooong time. The drink was in a tall glass mug which was not too unusual. It did however allow a view into the overwhelming proportions of coffee and froth. It was an even 50/50 split in the mug with another third again of froth on top, sitting like a delicate white meringue peak still soft from the oven. I sensed that the girl who brought me the drink was quite pleased with her creation and I wondered for a moment what training she was given. Is this something you learn in a book or watch a video? Or perhaps it was a skill passed on from the older proprietor of the restaurant because 'that's the way our customers like it.'

Unfortunately I didn't. This wasn't helped by being able to see coffee grounds sitting at the bottom of the mug. All of which goes to prove that spontaneity and going down the road less travelled isn't always all it's cracked up to be!

Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge

2011-07-31T20:20:00.005+01:00

I knew the first time that I entered Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge that if anything was going to awaken me from my blogging slumber then this was going to be the place that did it! (The fact that it has taken half a dozen visits before I write should, perhaps, be left unsaid.)

I came across a flyer advertising the cafe in a local community centre while attending for my daughter's end of year Feis. That community centre is about 4 or 5km from the cafe which just goes to prove that the further you throw your net the more likely you are of catching something. But why would I want to go to a cafe which is a bit of a distance from where I live?

The answer to that question was on the hand-held advertisement: It wasn't the 50% off voucher. It wasn't the 'Cadbury's purple' colour scheme of the design. It was simply the inviting words: "Open until 11pm."

Finally! A cafe in Dublin that stays open past 7/8pm. My local coffeehouse used to stay open 'till the wee small hours......but not anymore. I had to get down to Accents to check it out.

I did and it's great. An almost perfect coffeehouse. The kind of place that, were I to run my own cafe, it would be very much like this. For me it takes the Starbucks model of a 'third space', a home-from-home environment, and says we can do better. And they do.

The cafe is spread across two floors: the ground floor with serving area, a few tables and sofas and a nook which is home to a well stocked bookcase. Then there is the basement which is not the dingy sort of affair that you often find in coffeehouse basements, but is very comfortably furnished with sofas, chairs, huge beanbags, handmade tables, portrait photos on the wall (I think I spot the owner??), and lighting which is subtle but still bright enough to read a book from the further selection available.

Added to this are coffees in their usual shades, a wide variety of teas, chai (which I'm happy to admit I have no idea what it really is, let alone tasted), plus a fantastic hot chocolate that you would go out of your way for on a cold winter day....and quite probably a cold Irish summer night.

To top it off they a completely family friendly. In fact they positively encourage families to visit!

There's more I want to say about Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge, but I'll save it for another post. Suffice to say, well done for creating a wonderful and much sought after space.

An Unfinished Project

2011-02-02T21:42:00.003Z

My guess is that blogs can be broken into three categories. Those that write prolifically about anything and everything, those that write half-a-dozen posts before giving up entirely, and then there's the rest of us. By that I mean those who stop-start-stop-apologize for not blogging in a while-start again and write profusely-stop-apologize again-start-then disappear for an undetermined period of time. I place myself firmly in this last category.

And yet I've never felt like I was done with blogging even though the general popularity of it has seemed to fade somewhat. (Please be assured that I am most certainly not done with coffee!) Unfortunately I allowed Views from a Coffeehouse to become another in a fairly extensive list of unfinished projects - along side sorting out photos, putting pictures up, getting in shape, editing home videos, memorizing poetry, cleaning out the den, and goodness knows how many books.

So here I am again almost five years to the day when I first started and I'm going to give it another go. I still want to tell you about the things I'm seeing/hearing/reading over coffee. I might do some coffee videos. I'd like to write up my personal history of coffee. Plus I never did actually fully write about when I visited every Starbucks in Ireland - though I'm not sure there's much point. Once you've been to one Starbucks.....

Speaking of the 'bucks, I have noticed that the stats which now are available for me show my post about McCafe vs Starbucks as the most visited page. If you google "mccafe vs starbucks" I come out as number 2 in the USA and UK and number 1 in Ireland! I'm just a little bit proud of that insignificant achievement.

Right, I've just used my new hand grinder (thanks mother-in-law) and brewed some beans from Machacamarca, Bolivia using my aeropress. Time to find out how to freshen up this whole blog a bit and get going again.

To Coffee!

More sobering than coffee

2010-09-02T20:18:00.003+01:00

I don't really know Dave. Just bits really. Mostly from what he writes on his blog or from the comments he leaves on mine. But what he writes he writes well.

I've been somewhat absent of late in reading blogs I enjoy, but took a moment this evening to catch up with Dave. What I read was a snapshot of the moment a man losses his job:

Pondering Dave: Forgetful Me

God bless you, Dave and the hundreds and thousands like you who still suffer consequences because someone somewhere thought they could control the economy.

By the way, if you get a chance, you'll also discover some great short poems on Dave's blog.

Climpson & Sons - London

2010-08-13T14:49:00.007+01:00

On a rainy, but warm August afternoon in London I manged to find a moment to steal away from the family holiday to visit Climpson & Sons, one of the cafés listed on the London Coffee Map.

The café is to be found on Broadway Market in east London and, on entering, I instantly liked it. Ordering a flat white I take a perfect seat at the front window and observe life. With about 15 people also drinking coffee and enjoying toasted cibattas and pastries there's not much more space. Most are trendy, young Londoners. And me. Plus a couple of guys from 'Frisco who seem to be patronising a crazy homeless guy outside by seeking his advice for how best to turn a bin bag into a rain jacket.

So I sat at the window (I always will if a seat is available) and watched the world go by. And the world did go by: An orthodox Jew left the bakery across the street while two boys dressed in white robes returned home after Friday prayers. A couple of mothers laden with buggies and kids on scooters made their way to the nearby park and a vagrant stepped in to the bakery hoping for some charity. Across the road the bald and tattooed hairdresser took another drag on his cigarette and watched curiously, along with me, as a man walked down the street and stopped to put a red sticker on a door before moving off quickly. A sign perhaps for the angel of death to not passover.

Meanwhile the bin-bag-jacket homeless guy sheltered under the dripping canopy in front of me and, finishing his cup of milk which the café had earlier given him, signalled through the window that there was a little left for me should I want it. I declined and he made his way to another part of the world down the street.

The coffee was long gone before I managed pull myself away to return to my own world.

Ah yes, the coffee. Fantastic.

Café Moda - Rathmines

2010-05-04T23:38:00.004+01:00

It would be wrong to say I have a love-hate relationship with Moda. Hate is a very strong word and should be used far less than it typically is. Love is an even stronger word. You can decide for yourself whether you think it should be used more or less often. Instead, I think I’ll refer to my relationship with Moda as like-dislike. There are times when the service is appalling – I’ve been known to sit around for 15 or 20 mins waiting for someone to take my order – and the coffee has been awful – I’ve sent coffee back because it was clearly too cold, and I’ve also burnt my tongue on too may occasions. However, there are times when the staff is friendly and helpful and the coffee served has been pretty good. But my feelings for Moda actually go beyond coffee.

This coffeehouse, located on the main Rathmines Road next to the long abandoned fire station and across from the majestic looking library (but don't judge a book by its cover), was one of the first places I visited when arriving in Rathmines almost seven years ago. Right from the start I was drawn to its atmosphere – subdued lighting, original artwork, some interesting tunes, the cosmopolitan mix of guests discussing interesting topics, a sense of the spiritual, and (back then) the distant waft of cigarettes coming from the smoking room. The clincher for me was the fact that the café opened early in the morning and continued to serve coffee until way past midnight. Unfortunately it now closes around 10pm, which is better than most cafes, but no longer provides the late night alternative to the pub. In fact, I have a feeling that it’s lucky to be open that late at all. Back when Ireland suddenly realised it no longer had money it looked like Moda may have had to cut right back to solely being a daytime café. What a shame that would have been.

This was highlighted for me this evening, as I sat in a fairly quite Moda, reading The Well-Connected Community by Alison Gilchrist, and was reminded of the phrase ‘third space’ – “an accessible and accommodating place that feels like a home away from home where there are neither guests nor hosts, simply regular users who share the space and engage with one another as and when they choose.”

You see, Moda gives more than good/bad coffee, cream cheese and bacon bagels, and the simple but delicious toasted scones. It provides a much needed space in Rathmines for the community to connect – something that is badly lacking in this area and a topic for which I have a particular passion.

So, God bless Moda and long may its doors stay open. May it be a space for friends to laugh, cry, whisper, shout, argue, play, share wisdom, break up, kiss, or be silent together until late in to the night.

(With just a little more attention to the way the coffee is served, please.)

Flat White - Starbucks Ireland

2010-04-22T17:17:00.003+01:00

I've mentioned previously how I'm fond of the style of coffee served in Australia/New Zealand called the flat white. So when I heard a rumour that Starbucks in Ireland now serve a flattie I made a mental note to give it a try. I don't think I've been back to a Starbucks since I finished my coffee odyssey. (I never did write that one up...) Today though I managed to stop by. After buying a magazine - a title I've never read before - I went for a coffee.

The sign describes the drink as something like a dark and creamy coffee that is hand crafted especially for me. I also noticed that it is more expensive than a regular latte at €3.30. And smaller. But not in a mug.

I was served by a lovely young lady who, after hand crafting my drink, gave a small exclamation of delight when she saw the pattern that she had poured. Apparently she hadn't got that result before. I was pleased for here.

Taking my coffee to a comfy chair I sat down to enjoy this moment and browse through the magazine.

What a waste of money. It was absolute rubbish and I couldn't face finishing it. I'm talking about the magazine - Philosophy Now; I was intrigued by its front cover article relating to New Atheism, but it was nothing new.

Unfortunately after a couple of sips of the coffee I had exactly the same reaction to the drink. What a shame.

Coffee keeps me up at night

2010-03-22T01:05:00.003Z

I've never had a problem with coffee keeping me awake at night. I guess I'm not one of those people who, like my wife, blame the cup of coffee they had at 2pm on the fact that they are so restless going to bed. No doubt that over the years I've probably built up some level of caffeine tolerance.

However, I have found that over the last few months coffee has been causing me to go to bed far too late - virtual coffee that is. I've really enjoyed discovering some great websites that are highlights in the world of coffee. One such site is the English coffee roaster Has Bean.

I've been receiving a few bags of coffee from Has Bean recently which are always a pleasure to get and an education to drink. (They'll ship to anywhere in the world). But one of the best features of the site is owner Steve Leighton's vlog, In My Mug. In it he describes a different coffee each week which is available to buy. The enthusiasm that Steve puts into his coffee is immense and very entertaining. So here's a taster of one of his vlogs as he describes a speciality coffee from Kenya....which I have just ordered.

By sheer coincidence I'm sure, you may have noticed the competition at the end of this video...I'll let you know if I win!

If you've never ordered freshly roasted coffee before then why not give Has Bean a try. It will take your coffee experience to a new level and may even sway the competition result ;-)

By the way, if you are "one of those people" Has Bean also roasts decaf. I just don't like to talk about that sort of thing very much.

Like Coffee for Ale

2010-03-17T08:00:00.005Z

Ah, St Patrick's Day. That one day in the year when you can put aside any commemoration of how one man of God challenged and changed the history of an island and, instead, put on a green, sparkly cowboy hat and get drunk. (I'm such a cynic.)

I've lived an alcohol free life now for over 15 years. I consider it my personal holy vow that I made with God. And here I am now, living in the home of the "black stuff" - Guinness, but growing in my appreciation for the other black stuff - coffee. However, if I was to take a drink it would most probably be ale with it's variations in tastes and styles to take you on a never ending journey of discovery. So I smiled when I came across this ancient poem that combines one man's religion with his love of ale.

I Should Like to Have a Great Ale-Feast

I should like to have a great ale-feast for the King of Kings; I should like the Heavenly Host to be drinking it for all eternity.

I should like to have the fruits of Faith, of pure devotion; I should like to have the seats of Repentance in my house.

I should like to have the men of Heaven in my own dwelling; I should like the tubs of Long-Suffering to be at their service.

I should like to have the vessels of Charity to dispense; I should like to have the pitchers of Mercy for their company.

I should like there to be Hospitality for their sake; I should like Jesus to be here always.

I should like to have the Three Marys of glorious renown; I should like to have the Heavenly Host from every side.

I should like to be rent-payer to the Lord; he to whom He gives a good blessing has done well in suffering distress.

Irish; author unknown; tenth-eleventh century.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit.

Coffee with my Namesake

2010-03-11T20:00:00.003Z

My wife was out the other evening so, instead of wasting the evening away in front of one of a number of screens that vie for my attention, I pulled out a book from the ‘Classics’ section of the bookshelf and spent some time reading. The book I chose was Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – the second century Roman emperor/philosopher. I lit a fire and made myself a coffee – an espresso con panna: the strength of an espresso with the decadence of the cream seemed somehow appropriate.

It made for a most agreeable evening. Here are a couple of quotes.

On family attributes:

From my grandfather Versus: decency and a mild temper.

From what they say and I remember of my natural father: integrity and manliness.

From my mother: piety, generosity, the avoidance of wrong-doing and even the thought of it; also simplicity of living, well clear of the habits of the rich. [Book 1:1-3]

On living in the moment:

Even if you were destined to live three thousand years, or ten times that long, nevertheless remember that no one loses any life other than the one he lives, or lives any life other than the one he loses. I follows that the longest and the shortest lives are brought to the same state. The present moment is equal for all; so what is passing is equal also; the loss therefore turns out to be the merest fragment of time. No one can lose either the past or the future – how could anyone be deprived of what he does not possess? [Book 2:14]

On beauty:

We should also attend to things like these, observing that even the incidental effects of the processes of Nature have their own charm and attraction. Take the baking of bread. The loaf splits open here and there, and those very cracks, in one way a failure of the baker’s profession, somehow catch the eye and give particular stimulus to our appetite. Figs likewise burst open at full maturity: and in olives ripened on the tree the very proximity of decay lends a special beauty to the fruit…Looked at in isolation these things are far from lovely, but their consequence on the processes of Nature enhances them and gives them attraction. So any man with a feeling and deeper insight for the workings of the Whole will find some pleasure in almost every aspect of their disposition, including the incidental consequences. Such a man will take no less delight in the living snarl of wild animals that in all the imitative representations of painters and sculptors; he will see a kind of bloom and fresh beauty in an old woman or old man. Not all can share this convictions – only one who has developed a genuine affinity for Nature and her works. For him there will be many such perceptions. [Book 3:2]

Intelligentsia Coffee - Espresso Video

2010-02-01T23:49:00.003Z

Intelligentsia Coffee holds a special place in my heart, so I was excited to learn that they are producing some short videos about various aspects of coffee. I had to post this one. It's a very, very nice piece of work. Enjoy!

Espresso, Intelligentsia from Department of the 4th Dimension on Vimeo.

476 coffees in 353 days

2010-01-26T21:11:00.003Z

I'm not sure why I find this so fascinating, but I do...

Take a couple of seconds to check out this website of one man's photographic spreadsheet of coffee consumption in 2009.

(Hint: Click on the small 'i' button at the top for more info.)

Good quote

2010-01-20T21:44:00.003Z

I've just come back from a great coffee in one cafe and a mediocre coffee in another. But that's by-the-by. Here's a quote from something I was reading while I was out. It's to do with community development, networking, etc, etc:

"How do you hold a hundred tons of water in the air with no visible means of support? You build a cloud."
(K.C. Cole)

Nice metaphor.

Birthday Treat

2010-01-19T19:42:00.007Z

I finished off work early today - well, it is my birthday - and my wife told me I had to go out for the afternoon while as she and the kids were going to make a "surprise" cake. I happily obliged and headed off to the Bald Barista.

I was hoping to catch up with Buzz and have a coffee with him. We were planning on brewing up some espresso beans he had just received which he described, in what I presume are professional terms, as *%&*!* amazing! Unfortunately he wasn't around so, following a quick double espresso, I headed off to my other favourite coffee location to see Colin at 3fe.

What I've been really liking about 3fe is that if a customer simply wants a cappuccino to go, that's fine. If another wants to stick around longer and talk coffee there's time for that too. Also, despite the name of the cafe (third floor espresso) they serve filter coffee as well. Only, this isn't filter coffee that is already sitting in a flask waiting for you to order it, this is filter coffee that is ground and brewed by the single cup. There are always a couple of coffees to choose from and they are never run-of-the-mill standard beans. Today I had the time (and excuse) to stay a while and have a few cups.

I had a Brazil coffee that had hints of hazelnut and chocolate and an incredible Ethiopian coffee with clearly palatable fruity notes of orange, red grape, and a very floral scent. I know this all sounds a bit poncey to anyone who thinks that coffee just tastes like coffee, but it really is amazing that you can discover these flavours in the cup. I've been enjoying it anyway.

But what was most fascinating was a coffee-type drink called Kilimanjaro Cascara. This is basically an infusion of dried coffee cherries, brewed much like you would a fruit tea. The coffee cherry is the usually discarded fruit that is wrapped around the seed which we have come to know and love as the coffee bean. Anyway, once brewed it makes for a deliciously syrupy-sweet, fruity drink...that also tastes like a mild coffee! It could also be served cold like an iced tea, but I'm not so sure about that. I don't like iced tea, though I'm told I haven't really had it served to me the proper way.

My coffee excursion ended with a double shot of Colin's seasonal espresso and I was off home (slightly shaking) to see what the family had been up to. I arrived to discover a cake from a single estate origin run by a young family in Dublin. On the nose there was a warm, pleasing aroma and I was looking forward to tasting this unique blend of flour, sugar and eggs. It had a soft mouthfeel with a sweet, decadent chocolate taste which was dominant on the plate. I definitely detected high notes of syrup and icing with a hint of sugar strands. I also discovered custardy tones running throughout. Superlative!

Coffee Morning

2010-01-09T23:45:00.003Z

Ireland is currently in the grip of Old Man Winter - an unprecedented cold snap and blanketing of snow (all relative of course). By Friday afternoon the government decided to close all schools until next Wednesday. All Schools! The whole country!!! Most kids haven't even returned to school following the Christmas break. This is one that will be talked about for years.

Anyway, when it's cold outside the idea of getting out of bed is tough going, made worse by three young children who never seem to know how to play nicely together at 7:30am. However, salvation came in two forms: Saturday morning TV for the kids and a cafetiere of delicious Bolivian coffee and a couple of brioche to take back upstairs for myself and the wife.

What a treat. Sitting in bed watching the big fluffy flakes fall outside while enjoying a fantastic coffee and reading a book. A book I got for Christmas (and when I say I got I mean I got it - and gave it to my wife to wrap up) about coffee. 250 pages of nothing but coffee. Brilliant.

I had just worked my way through the growing regions of Central and South America and was moving on to India when the limits of Saturday morning TV kicked in. I'd like to say it was the responsible parent in me that got me out of bed....but it was the thought of another cup.

Third Floor Espresso (3fe)

2009-12-12T23:55:00.003Z

If there's one thing I like more than going to a birthday party full of three year olds it's going out for coffee instead. So imagine my sense of joy when, this morning, my wife suggested that she would take our younger two kids to a party if I would take responsibility for our eldest.

Oh what could we do......?

Wait a minute! As it happened I needed to run into the city centre to pick up a couple of bags of coffee I ordered. (I'll tell you about that another time). The location for the pick-up was at a brand new cafe that I was excited to visit. Following the promise of sweets child A was just as excited too!

So I headed down to Third Floor Espresso, located at the Twisted Pepper on Middle Abbey St in the centre of Dublin. 3fe is a new venture (just open 6 days) of Colin Harmon - current Irish Barista Champion and fourth place finalist in the World Barista Championship. I knew I was in for a treat.

Before I talk about the coffee, let me start with the name of this great little place - and when I say little, I mean there was room for maybe a dozen people at a time at most. I really liked that. It meant that you were right there watching and participating in the crafting of the coffee. That said, I believe there is more room available for expansion as the business takes off. Anyway, the name: Third floor espresso is very conveniently located at street level! The 'third floor' comes from the history behind the genesis of this new cafe. You can read about it here. And as for 'espresso', yes of course that is served along with the usual additions of variously foamed milk (and latte art). But what is also great was the offer of filter coffee made using not-so-common methods. And so to the coffee:

Moments after walking in I was handed a cup of coffee that was just produced using a vac pot. I wish I had arrived a few minutes earlier as I've not seen one being used before. (Why did I promise to stop and buy those sweets!?) Soon after Colin brewed up another cup using a 'pour over' unit from Japan that made the preparation and brewing of the coffee almost ceremonial. And the result was a fantastic cup of coffee. Colin's friend, Dave, was on hand to talk me through this coffee and could confirm that what I was tasting had a big, fruity blackcurrant flavour to it. It was amazing!

By this time sweets and patience were starting to run out for my little girl. Just time for an espresso. Another great result! I didn't say what I was thinking in my head. (I've learned that making uninformed guesses can make you look a bit daft. I can admit now that when I first met the Bald Barista I asked if he put a chilli pepper in the coffee beans because it was so spicy!) The espresso blend is seasonal so every few months it will change which is very different from most other cafes.

All-in-all 3fe looks like a good place to get a great cup of coffee and learn a bit more about what goes in to making a perfect cup. A welcome addition to the Dublin coffee scene.

Season of Goodwill

2009-12-01T23:33:00.002Z

I've decided to set myself a couple of challenges for the month of December.

Over the past year I have discovered that the more I learn about coffee the more critical I can be about the cup that I am served at a cafe. Sometimes that has come out in my blog posts, but most of the time it's been in my head...or said to my long-suffering wife. The flip side of this knowledge is, of course, a greater appreciation of a cup of coffee when it is well produced.

However, for the next few weeks I'm going to try my best to simply enjoy the whole experience of coffee even if what I am served isn't that great - the location or the people I talk to or the thoughts in my head might be instead.

The other thing that I am going to do is impose on myself a 10% charity tax on any coffee I drink during December. I'm doing this in response to my thoughts about yesterday's post. So the more coffee I drink, the bigger the donation will be to Christian Aid.

What if I didn't drink coffee?

2009-11-30T23:58:00.003Z

Representing my church I attended the AGM today of Christian Aid (Ireland). The event was held at Bewley's Hotel near Dublin Airport. For those outside of Ireland, Bewley's is a well established and historical purveyor of tea and coffee in Ireland. I guess they also purvey guest rooms too. But it's not Bewley's that I want to talk about - though it is coffee related.

Christian Aid is an international development organisation who raise funds and help local churches connect with vital projects in the developing world. I noted down what the Chairperson said was the driving motivation behind Christian Aid: "To eradicate absolute poverty because absolute poverty is an affront to God."

One speaker highlighted a recent trip to Ethiopia - the home of coffee. His presentation included the story of a small group of women who pooled some money in order to give micro-loans to the local residents in order for them to develop some sort of livelihood. The way this collective of about a dozen women initially raised some capital was through coffee. Actually through not drinking coffee.

Part of the tradition for many in rural Ethiopia is the drinking of coffee in a ritualized way. Typically this coffee ritual takes place three times a day. However, these ladies for-goed one ritual each day and pooled the saved money instead - about five cents each. Five cents!!

You and I wouldn't think twice about such a trivial amount of money, but once enough had been collected fair loans could be made. So the story continued:

A woman takes out a small loan from the group and buys a large bag of corn and a large can of kerosene. These then she decants into small vessels and sells on to others at a small profit. From that profit she buys a goat which she milks for extra income. Her newly earned money is then used to buy another goat which she breeds with the original and several months later the goat gives birth to two more. These new goats are sold for a decent enough amount of money to start to give hope for this woman and her life is transformed. All for just skipping a coffee and investing five cents. It was a powerful lesson and one that, as I write this now, causes me to think about what I could do if I skipped the occasional coffee and did something else with the money.

Costa Coffee in Ireland???

2009-11-22T22:44:00.002Z

Wandering around Dublin city centre on a cold, wet, windy Saturday morning is not really my idea of fun. Especially when accompanied with three under-5 children, one of whom had had a high temperature the night before. Still, a bit of fresh air and exercise never killed anyone. Probably.

However, my morning was brightened up when I noticed a Costa Coffee store on a busy corner of Dawson Street just up the road from my favourite toy shop - all 50 sq. meters of it (if that) packed form floor to ceiling with classy toys! So while the kids were peering in through the toy shop window I headed into Costa for some coffee and the low-down on their arrival in Dublin.

Costa Coffee have been brewing up a pretty decent cup in the UK for years, and as a chain store over there would have been the biggest rivals to Starbucks - with probably a couple of hundred more outlets than the mermaid. What I have always liked about Costa is their support of Fairtrade long before it started becoming trendy and certainly long before their biggest rival did. That and they do a nice selection of pastries.

I return from my recon trip with a vanilla latte for my wife and a regular latte for me, plus a chocolate mini yule log. (I can't believe I bought something so Christmasy already...but I guess we were in the process of helping out Santa).

"Get this," said I to herself. "Costa have been in Ireland for ages and I never knew it! And they have 27 cafés across the country!!"

"Let me stop you right there," says she, nipping in the bud any thoughts of an another pilgrimage....

Coffee Diagrams

2009-11-19T23:52:00.004Z

A while ago someone asked me if I would explain what the differences are between the various styles of coffee. So, going on the premise that a picture is worth a thousand words I shan't bore you with intricate details......even though I might find it interesting. Instead, here's a great picture I came across:

(Designed by Lokesh Dhakar)

Why would you do that????

2009-11-09T22:51:00.002Z

My mother-in-law from America has been over for the last couple of weeks. Although living in Ohio for many years her family history is from the South. Every now and then she will give me a little insight in to some of the customs of that part of the country - like what they serve for breakfast: biscuits and red-eye gravy.

The "biscuits" I can cope with. Think a lighter, fluffy/flaky bread roll, a bit like a plain scone but less dense. (Nothing like a chocolate digestive biscuit). Served with the biscuit is some bacon. Ok so far. All this is topped with red-eye gravy. Here's how that is made: after frying the bacon remove the meat from the pan, but leave the fat and juices behind. Then add to the pan......my goodness I can hardly bring myself to say it......then add to the pan............coffee!!!!! And you got yer gravy.

Please, anyone from the Southern States, can you confirm this abomination is true?

That said, I did take my m-i-l to Temple Bar market last weekend where we sampled chocolate covered bacon.

Farewell to Starbucks

2009-11-02T23:55:00.002Z

I wasn't planning on going to Starbucks in Ranelagh today, I just happened to go past it. Actually to be more precise I happened to go past where it was! I wound up doing a double-take and thinking, 'Wow! Starbucks has closed.'

The door was open so I peered around inside the empty store, save for a display of coffee packets and a few bits of unsold merchandise. I found someone to explain what had happened. Apparently this wasn't the only Irish store to close. Five of them closed on Friday!

Unfortunately the grounds ran out for Starbucks cafes in Ranelagh, Dundrum, Tallaght, Swords and Dalkey. I can't help feeling the people of Dalkey may be feeling a little bit smug right now.

While I'm not really bothered about these stores closing down, I do feel sorry for the people who worked in them. I guess that even in a small country such as this the mighty Starbucks over-stretched itself. I'm glad I finished visiting them all when I did! It almost now gives my Starbucks coffee Odyssey an historical perspective.

Welcome to the 21st Century, Cosmo

2009-10-14T19:57:00.002+01:00

I've never had my own laptop before...until today.

Now I'm sitting in a cafe, writing my blog, using wifi! I feel so free!!!!

I might even go out this week and get one of those telephone things with no wires coming out the end. Can you imagine? Phones without wires!

Oh, man. I'm more behind the times than Great Uncle Bulgaria.

My Next Door Neighbour

2009-10-12T11:54:00.003+01:00

If I don't blog this right away I will forget,and it's too wonderful to be lost...

I just put the kettle on and made a cup of tea - the lazy way: just a tea bag in a cup. On going to the fridge for milk I discovered that we had none! Not one drop! So I went, with hot cup in hand, and knocked on my elderly neighbours door. She answered, still in a dressing gown and curlers in her hair. She's great craic. A real, old Irish woman who always has a story to tell and a quirky saying for every occasion. If chatting at the front door were an olympic sport she would win a gold medal.

Anyway, I explained my predicament and she was only too willing to oblige...and tell a story: Apparently she doesn't drink tea and always drank coffee, even as a young child. She was out the other day with her nephew and stopped for a coffee in "one of those Starbucks places", to which she added:

"Call that coffee?! My granny! It was bilge."

I literally LOL. And I don't even know what bilge is!

Square Mile Coffee - Autumn Espresso

2009-10-05T22:45:00.002+01:00

I deliberated for a couple of weeks deciding whether or not to order a couple of bags of beans from Square Mile Coffee Roasters. This is not because I was unsure of what the quality would be. They are the people who roast for Flat White cafe. No, my hesitation was purely based on what it would cost to have the coffee sent to Ireland. But last week I decided to go ahead and order some beans, mainly for three reason plus and obvious fourth:

1) I had just run out of my stash of Flat White beans.
2) It would be cheaper than me flying to London.
3) They come in 350g bags as appose to the regular retail standard of 250g.
and 4) I was just curious!

Despite there being a postal strike in the UK my coffee arrived today - a seasonal short-run blend: Autumn Espresso - with a roasting date stamp of 28th September. One week for the beans to settle. Perfect.

I wasn't in a position to try them out straight away, but for the next couple of hours my mind was distracted from productive work just at the thought of running them through my machine. (Good grief! I really am starting to think I might have a problem.)

Eventually I got my chance! Cutting open the top of the bag I gave it a gentle shake and then stuck my nose in for a good sniff. Ahhhh, a wonderful nutty smell combined with the sweet aroma of warm buttered toast.

I was amazed at my first shot of espresso that I pulled. The pour was a delight to watch and the crema was incredibly thick - about half the volume of the shot itself. I was amazed that my little machine could get such a result. It proved to me what you achieve with fresh roasted, high quality beans and a grind seconds before pulling the shot.

And the taste? After sipping through that crema the flavour was warm and fairly sweet, kind of like dark chocolate. Then, a second or two after tasting, a fruity sharpness comes back and pokes you in the throat. Coffee is so multi-sensory. I love it!

I followed up my espresso with a double shot latte. The added milk made it caramely and really quite rich. Perhaps even too rich for my taste. I'll see what tomorrow brings.

Alas, I had to pull myself away and get on with the rest of the day; so maybe I don't have such a problem after all. That said, I have been thinking about the coffee a fair bit this evening...

Tir na nÓg Caife - St Anne's Park

2009-10-03T21:22:00.003+01:00

I once came across a shocking statistic that there are more golf courses in greater Dublin then there are children's playgrounds! If I may take that further, I have come to discover over the last few years that there are no playgrounds that I know of that are located next to a cafe!!! I'm not sure why this is as I am sure they would do a cracking trade in take-away coffee. At the very least, as someone suggested to me last week, one of those travelling coffee wagons could do worse than to hang out around playground gates - especially as autumn draws in. (Coffee Angel, if you are listening, there is a market to be exploited).

Today, despite forecasts of possible rain, we ventured across to the other side of the city to collect conkers and go bike riding in St Anne's Park, Clontarf. Oh what a picturesque family scene, you're thinking. Yes it was......but we did get wet. I don't like being wet.

Anyway, there are two other features I like about the park. One is the Saturday farmers market at the Red Stables and the other is the playground which, although not right next to each other aren't too far apart. Within the market is the usual mix of organic fruit and veg, bread and baked goods, olives, flowers, crepe van, wool stall, cheeses, and a coffee stall. But I didn't get coffee from there.

Also located in the Red Stables is a cafe which is open everyday and recently under new management. It is Tir na nÓg Caife. But I didn't go there for coffee either. And here's why:

While having fun with the kids in the playground my mind wandered to the thought of enjoying the slab of M&M cookie bar that my wife had made and packed in her bag. Naturally it would be best enjoyed with a coffee so I began thinking of reasons why I should be the one to leave the three kids in the playground to fetch a couple of lattes. And then something wonderful happened...

Coming from out of the mists, somewhere from way beyond the west, two youthful figures strode into the chaos of the grounds, smartly dressed and donning green aprons. Did her name badge say Niamh? And I felt sure he was refered to as Oisin, but my caffeine withdrawal may have been playing tricks with my mind. Regardless, they came with wonderful greetings from Tir na nÓg and asked if I'd like to order anything from their menu. Within minutes they returned with two very good lattes.....and then they were gone.

**********

By the way, the Tir na nÓg is the mythical celtic Land of Eternal Youth. Find out a bit more about it here.

After Hours

2009-09-30T23:33:00.002+01:00

Too many cafes in Dublin close too early in the evening. That includes my latest favourite. However, the thing about having a cafe on the premises of an international hostel is that just because the coffee stops flowing doesn't mean the whole place closes down. Quite often people still stick around to chat or browse online. Sometimes someone decides to provide a little entertainment.

Usually the entertainment is some international traveller pulling out a guitar and singing a few songs...if you're lucky. If you're unlucky you might be there when the Bulgarian guy comes in, pushes the tables and chairs back, and starts performing Riverdance with the hope that spectators will join in.

But this evening was a bit different. A young American girl had just arrived in Ireland this morning and immediately jumped at the chance to perform an impromptu concert of her own songs.....on the ukulele! I couldn't help but stick around because I kind of like the sound of the ukulele - once you get past the comic value of the way the instrument looks. I find that there is something about its sound that even if playing a sad song in a minor key you still can't help smiling and tapping your feet.

The artists name was Milly Geronimo. You can check out her myspace page here. Have a listen to 'Heat me up' which is the first track on her wonderfully homemade EP that I bought.

Oh, and as it's the last day of September (ally-ally-o) that brings me to the end of my blogging challenge of posting everyday this month...except most weekends....and a couple of missed days. However those minor under-achievements meant that serendipitously - a word which is used in the song above - this is my 200th post on my blog. A cracking average of one post every 6 and a bit days. Hmmm, that's at least once a week I guess....

Here's to 200 more! But maybe not tomorrow as I tend to always wind up blogging way after hours.

Coffee at any price

2009-09-29T22:15:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I managed to get in to watch the Irish Latte Art competition. I say 'managed to' because, a) it was part of a trade show only for people in the catering business, and b) I didn't have a ticket. However, the words "I think there is meant to be a ticket left at the desk here for me to get into the coffee competition" plus a nice smile seemed to do the trick.

After getting past a crowd of exhibitors offering me free samples of ice cream, pizza, chocolate, olives, bread and information about a start of the art walk-in refrigerator unit I found the show stage of SCAE - Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (Ireland Chapter). They were hosting the coffee competition.

After waiting around for a while longer than expected the competition got under way to see who could pour the best looking latte art - those little designs on the top of your drink. It was interesting for a while, but to be honest the views of the final creations were not great and I got a bit bored so I left before it was over. However, the bonus was that there was free coffee to be had. After the judges had viewed and tasted the drinks they were offered to the audience. For some reason I couldn't help thinking of this experience of passing around a special cup as similar to a common chalice used in Holy Communion! Imagine that: coffee and a danish instead of bread and wine.

I was the recipient of a great looking cappuccino created by Bela Zudor of Avoca Cafe in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow (a lovely, if a bit expensive, place to go for lunch). He went on to win the competition!

Leaving the competition I wondered around the trade show again and bumped into Buzz who was demonstrating machines for Milano Coffee Systems - the people he just bought a machine from. Buzz didn't seem to be into the coffee competitions scene. All tricks and no substance, I wondered?? I chatted with one of the guys from Milano about their cheapest fully automatic machine - press one button and it does everything for you. We have a ministry project set for Rathmines and I'd like to be able to offer quality coffee to people who are part of what we will do. The price for the machine? €10,000.

I gave a nice smile, but it didn't seem to do the trick.

Flat White Video

2009-09-28T01:07:00.002+01:00

Needing to come up with something to blog about today I hit upon inspiration when I opened up a bags of beans that I recently picked up from Flat White cafe.

I know! I'll make a little video!

So here's my attempt at making The Flat White - an AUS/NZ classic.

An Evening to Remember

2009-09-24T23:17:00.003+01:00

Yesterday evening while I was at the Bald Barista I was chatting to the owner, Buzz, and he was telling me that they were getting a new espresso machine on Thursday. After talking through what the main features of the machine would be Buzz then invited me back to watch them install and set it up!

So this evening I was back again. (Big thanks to my wife for releasing me from kids bedtime duty!) There on the counter, waiting to be plumbed in, wired up, and brewing was Buzz's new pride and joy - a Faema Stylema.

For about the next three hours Buzz, his staff, a couple of guys from Milano Coffee Systems and me talked coffee, watched numerous shots of espresso being pulled and tasted a few too. Buzz was obviously thrilled with the new addition and anyone who came into the cafe the rest of the evening wanting coffee got it for free. I guess, though, that he's no longer particularly excited about his water boiler as he still charged for tea. :-)

What was particularly great was that this expert barista was talking through his techniques with me - some great insights into the way he works.

But wait! The evening then got even better!! As we all sat chatting around a table Buzz turns to me and says, 'Do you want to have a go at pulling a shot?' I couldn't believe it, and to be honest I was a little bit giddy with excitement. It was brilliant!!! Monica, Buzz's other pride and joy, talked me through the process then entrusted me with this brand new piece of equipment. (I thought it turned out as a pretty good shot, IMHO).

One of these days I'll write a post about significant moments in my coffee history. This moment will definitely feature.

So thanks, Buzz, for allowing me to experience a bit of coffee culture at a new level.

Espresso fueled bike ride

2009-09-24T23:16:00.001+01:00

Was it just me or did large quantities of espresso make my bike ride home from the cafe this evening a little easier? Perhaps even faster??

It's in the post

2009-09-23T23:53:00.002+01:00

Last January a small group of us met in our home one Sunday morning for 'Brunch Church'. As part of our gathering we wrote down on cards various goals we would like to achieve by the end of the year - a movie I'd like to see; a way I'd like to develop my spiritual life; somewhere I'd like to visit, etc. etc. The cards were sealed in an envelope to be opened at a later date.

Last Sunday we opened the envelopes to review how we were doing. Hmmm. Some done, but more to be accomplished. Just as well there is still three months left of the year!

One of the tasks that was yet to be completed said on the card: "What is something meaningful you could do with €20?"

I can now cross that off my list.

Somebody will (in 3-5 business days) receive their own copy of The Perfect Cappuccino movie.

;-)

An Ethical Question

2009-09-22T23:18:00.002+01:00

You know how when you're in a grocery store and you buy a bunch of grapes and you eat a couple before you get to the checkout so the bunch is lighter than when you first picked it up and therefore cheaper than it should have been which means you didn't really pay the full amount that you should have which means that technically you stole those two grapes.

Does the same apply to coffee beans?

Buzzing Along

2009-09-17T23:25:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to Buzz the Bald Barista who has just won another award for his part in creating the Fixx blend of coffee which he uses in his store. He made a point of showing me the letter as I stood in the queue the other day. The espresso blend won a Gold Award at the Great Taste Awards 2009 - check out the amazing variety of foods and drinks that were judged on from producers in the UK and Ireland.

Added to that, earlier this summer Buzz opened a second store, this time solely for take-away. I like it. There is room for a couple of people to stand and chat (which I did), but what I really like is that he has opened on the doorstep of some big coffee chains in the Harcourt area of Dublin.

Good on yer, Buzz. I hope you can draw a good number of people across the road for coffee that is a little more exciting.

And added to all that, this evening I received a limited edition gift voucher to the Bald Barista!

Who's for coffee? I'm paying!

Coffee Quiz

2009-09-16T23:33:00.002+01:00

Regular commenter and young and naive newlywed Snot Head recently posted this coffee quiz. If you missed it when it was on my sidebar, click below to see how well you know your 'ristretto' from your 'no fun latte'.

Can you speak coffee talk?

I think he missed a couple

2009-09-15T23:36:00.000+01:00

Following my goal to visit all the *bux in Ireland I was doing a little research this evening. I came across an obsessive man named Winter who I presume was the inspiration for me taking on this challenge. Not only is his goal to visit all the store in the North America (99.1% complete - ie. 8,459 stores) he wants to visit every store. In the world!!!

He has been doing it for about 12 years now and trys to visit around 15 stores a day. You can find out more at Starbucks Everywhere.

Anyway, it looks like he has visited Ireland a couple of times, most recently at the end of May this year. But in checking his records I have a feeling that he has missed some that I've been to. He says he doesn't visit "licensed" stores (as opposed to company owned) which may account for the two in Dublin airport and the one in Cork airport. But I still think that leaves him short one or two.

Perhaps I should tell him?

Mission Accomplished!

2009-09-14T19:46:00.002+01:00

It has taken far longer than I thought and certainly longer than it should have, but today I brought to realisation a goal that I have been pursuing for over three and-a-half years. This morning I walked into a Starbucks store in Dublin's Docklands and said those now too familiar words, "I'll have a tall latte, please", thereby securing the crowning achievement of having a coffee in every Starbucks store in the Republic of Ireland.

Ta-da!!!

Fair play to that last cafe. It tried to out wit me. For a long time I thought it was a double listing on the Starbucks store locator (like the one in Blackrock) so I hadn't been pursuing it. When I eventually discovered it existed it took three attempts to complete. On Saturday I couldn't find it. On Sunday it was closed. But this morning I made a major detour on my bike to a meeting in the city only to be able to spend about four minutes with my latte before I had to head off. But it was enough to get the task done!

I'll write more later this week about the whole experience.

*Big sigh*.....now what?

Coffee and a good nights sleep

2009-09-11T23:49:00.004+01:00

When it comes to drinking coffee it is clear that people have differing levels of tolerance for caffeine. Some, like myself, are quite content to drink coffee at all hours without incurring adverse effects while others just stick to a morning jolt to get them going. I have heard people say, "I don't drink coffee after lunch as it would keep me up at night." I find this both bizarre and a cause for curiosity regarding what time they actually go to bed!

So, how do you strike a happy medium. What should a person do who enjoys coffee in the evening, but is worried about the consequences of caffeine? Tonight I attempted to create a solution.

I brewed up a double shot of espresso and steamed some milk in order to make a latte. Then I added a few spoonfuls of Horlicks to the hot milk before pouring the components together. I thereby created a cup of coffee that had the potential to both wake you up and help you to sleep.

The only problem was that it didn't taste very nice. It wasn't as shockingly horrific as my last experimental latte, but I couldn't face more than a few sips before pouring it away and making something far more satisfying.

That said, however, I suppose I could have just made decaff.

Sentosa Art Cafe - Ranelagh

2009-09-10T20:58:00.006+01:00

I'm not sure if anyone would really need to ask me what my favourite month was, but if they did I would probably say September. It's a month where you would fully expect it to rain, but not feel too grumpy about it. It is, after all, autumn. (That said, the ancient Celtic calendar has autumn starting on the 1st of August. The 1st of August!!!) But it is the fact that September is often sprinkled with beautiful days that I appreciate the month so much. Today was one of those days. A fresh cool start to the morning that soon warmed up to very agreeable temperatures and a cloudless blue sky that was worthy of a pair of shorts.

All this to say that this evening, in the dying minutes of sunshine, the golden light bid me to come out and have a bit of a ride around the streets on my bike. I soon found myself cycling through the back streets of Rathmines and into the neighbouring urban village of Ranelagh. As I cycled up the main Ranelagh thoroughfare I made a point of glancing around for a cafe that I hadn't been to, but had received a tip off about. It soon jumped out at me.

Sentosa Art Cafe, which opened in the spring of this year, is part of the Sentosa Art and Home company whose focus is on "bringing colour into your home". This was clearly evident in their cafe. Bright coloured sofas of varying prints and designs spaciously laid out, high-key lighting, and large, vibrant pieces of artwork that they hope can be transferred from their walls to yours. My favourite feature was the front 'wall' on to the busy street. It is floor to ceiling windows that force you to look in as you are passing, and a wide, open door that makes the entrance easy.

I got the impression that a high proportion of people who frequented the place where women. The magazine rack with nothing but 'Women's Interests' publications was a bit of a give away. The people at MummyMaps have narrowed it down further to mothers with buggies. Big double buggies!

The only thing I found disappointing about the cafe was, ummm, the coffee. (And maybe that Q102 was providing the soundtrack).

Unfortunately, as I find myself slipping more and more into coffee snobbery, I now make a point of watching how my coffee is made, if at all possible. Partly to critique and partly to learn. So I couldn't help noticing that, for my latte, after the shot of espresso was pulled the barista simply touched the side of the milk jug to check the temperature and then went ahead and just poured the milk into my cup despite the fact that there wasn't someone just ahead of me in the queue. Immediately this made me think of two outcomes. Either the latte was going to be cold or if it was hot enough that would be the result of overheating the milk in the first place for whomever the previous customer was. On tasting I discovered it was the latter option. The milk was burnt.

Never mind, I thought. I'll have another go around and try an espresso. Another disappointment I'm afraid. On two accounts. Firstly, the double-shot of espresso was served in a mug. A mug!!! The only redeeming feature of which was that I could get my nose right into it to get a good sniff of the aroma. It was quite bright and fruity which I thought (whether purposeful or not) went well with the decor of the cafe! But then I sipped it and burnt my tongue - thereby rendering the tasting of it pretty redundant. However, because I have a somewhat reserved nature (most of the time) I didn't make any mention of serving an espresso way too hot. Instead I just quietly wondered how I was going to drink half a mug full of espresso and then cycle home with it sloshing around in me!

However, dear reader, don't let this put you off visiting Sentosa Cafe if you are ever in the area. It seems like a great space to meet, work or read. They are open until 10:30pm on weekdays and 9:00pm on weekends so I have no doubt that I'll return for a longer visit next time. I just happen to think that they could craft their coffee to a higher standard as an extension of the artwork they are trying to sell.

Hope I'll finish this book

2009-09-09T23:51:00.002+01:00

Good grief, it's been over a year since I started reading Tom Wright's book Surprised by Hope. I'm not sure why I haven't finished it yet, but it might have something to do with the fact that there are currently at least 12 books sitting on top of a couple of bookshelves waiting to be finished - this probably says something about me as a person.

So this evening I armed myself with the book and headed out for coffee to make a determined effort to get it completed. (**Spoiler Alert!** The main character in this story doesn't actually finish reading the book by the end of the evening, but instead spends time talking to the barista and completing a double espresso and a very nice latte.)

The book explores the issue of Christ's resurrection and what that means for believers today...and in the future. It is far more than simply 'Jesus died and was raised again so that when we die we will be "raised again" to go to heaven.' The emphasis is on the resurrection as a sign of the new creation to come and how we make that future hope a reality in the way we live today.

I was particularly struck by these words to do with the creativity in the church in the light of new creation possibilities:

"Part of the role of the church has been in the past, and could and should be again, to foster and sustain lives of beauty and aesthetic meaning at every level, from music making in the village pub to drama in the local primary school, from artists' and photographers' workshops to still-life painting classes, from symphony concerts to driftwood sculptures. The church, because it is the family that believes in hope for new creation, should stand out in every town and village where new creativity bursts forth for the whole community, pointing to the hope which, like all beauty, always comes as a surprise."

It's good stuff and I kept reading on further for more inspiration. Though, I must confess, I didn't get to the end of the book this evening as I found myself chatting to the barista while I enjoyed some fine espresso and a latte.

Hmm, I wonder what a little creativity could do to the coffee-and-a-biscuit time after a Sunday morning church service?

I'm not blogging today

2009-09-08T23:40:00.002+01:00

The only problem with setting yourself the challenge of blogging almost everyday in September (weekends optional) is that if you have nothing worthwhile to say then what's the point in saying anything.

I'm afraid I didn't have any coffee inspiration today so I won't be posting anything......except this notice - hereby fulfilling my challenge for the day.

Coffee to commemorate the dawn of mankind (?!?)

2009-09-07T23:30:00.008+01:00

Somebody somewhere at sometime thought that it would be a good idea to take the car that they drive to work in everyday and turn it into a four wheel advert. You know the kind of thing I mean - the company phone number/email address/website plastered all over the vehicle. Obviously somebody thought that it might work in drumming up some business.

This evening I happened to be driving behind one such car. It caught my eye because it was advertising a brand of coffee and tea that I hadn't heard of before: Gurman's. A little research online led me to discover why I wasn't familiar with this company. It is based in Lithuania!

Anyway, I was delighted to see that along with their brand of coffee they also have a number of speciality shops that serve over a hundred blends of tea and coffee, plus a cafe. I was even more delighted with they way they described the cafe on their website:

Enjoying the great coffee at the Coffee and Tea House “Gurmans”, situated
in Klaipėda „Friedricho pasažas“ at the old marketplace, which was also enjoyed
by the Lithuanian noblemen and gentlemen going back to the 16th century, as well
as other different kinds of coffee and tea, which you will certainly not find
either elsewhere in Klaipėda, the entire coast, or even Lithuania, you will get
into the mysterious world of drinks, commemorating the dawn of the mankind.
Coming to us will turn to some nice entertainment. You will be embraced by the
blend of amazing aromas, playful colors, and discriminating tastes.

The cakes and desserts of the House will pet your palate, and the scent of
hot buns will make you forget the ado of the day.

Here's a photo from their site:

I believe the man in the middle is having his palate petted while the lady on the right seems to have forgotten her ado. The lady standing seems to be consulting some ancient document probably from the dawn of the mankind.

Unfortunately you can't get Gurman's coffee in Dublin (so who knows why one of their cars was driving along Rathgar Road - the driver possibly forgot the ado of the day and took a wrong turn). However, it looks like you can get it from a couple of shops elsewhere in Ireland.

I must get some of their coffee! I must pet my palate!

Two tall lattes to go

2009-09-05T22:40:00.002+01:00

"Do you know why I don't order a cappuccino when we go out?", asked my wife as I handed her a paper cup and took a sip from mine.

"Because unless we go to an exceptional café they are never as good as the ones you make for me at home."

Aawwww.

Some Favourite Views

2009-09-04T23:23:00.001+01:00

I've been blogging for over three-and-a-half years now and though I still haven't reached 200 posts (I will in a few days though at this rate) I do have a few views from my coffeehouse that are memorable for one reason or another. I've put them in the side-bar to the right, but if that is too far to travel then you can also find them below:

Boy in the window

Black Gold

Don't try this at home, kids

Intelligentsia Coffee

Keep Left

So, why did Jesus die? (part 2)

Starbucks in Dalkey

Stealing kisses

Voices in my head

Why I dislike iced tea

Living Coffee

2009-09-03T23:30:00.002+01:00

Scanning across my (meagre) DVD collection this evening I was looking for something to watch which I would enjoy, but my wife almost certainly wouldn't. I wasn't being cruel. My wife was out for the evening.

Would it be Sunshine or Memento? Dark Knight, perhaps, or Prestige? Hmmm.....

Then it jumped out at me - Living Coffee. A tv series produced a couple of years ago for some food channel in Australia and hosted by former World Barista Champion Paul Bassett that covers everything you need to know to imerse yourself in the wonderful world of speciality coffee.

13 episodes. Over six hours of viewing. Awesome.

I like to think that Paul Bassett gave me my first lessons in making great coffees like Roger Taylor first taught me how to play the drums (albeit with two wooden spoons and an armchair).

Rock on!

Bean there. Done that.

2009-09-02T20:49:00.002+01:00

It's been hanging over my head for too long now. My unreasonable desire to visit every Starbucks in Ireland. So I resolved to make the most of this blogging month and clear this thing up once and for all.

And I don't even like Starbucks anymore!

Anyway, a quick check of the store locations in ROI confirmed that the bux expansion across this land has seemed to have ground to a halt. Surely, with what seems like just two more stores to visit, I can achieve my goal.

So imagine my delight when my wife informed me that she was going to meet someone in the Lucan area of west Dublin. Aha!, I think. That's not far from Liffey Valley shopping centre, host to a *bux. I offered to drive my wife out to where she was going in exchange for my coffee excursion. She agreed as long as I took the three kids with me.

Now at this point I don't want to come across as melodramatic, but it was pouring with rain and there was no underground parking and the main car park was full so I had to park half way up the overflow car park and I had in tow with me a five, three and one year old (who was in a buggy with no rain cover - I can't believe my wife forgot to put that in the car!). After navigating several inviting puddles we made it to the mall. Now it's not a huge mall (like I said, I don't want to sound melodramatic), but I did traverse the length and breadth of the shopping centre, both high and low in search of my mediocre latte. The only way I was able to keep the three children quiet was to stuff their faces with chocolate. (I can't believe my wife forgot to tell me that the baby was too young for chocolate bars!)

Eventually I resorted to desperate measures and asked for assistance. I was told that the cafe was outside the mall and turn left. As I made my way in this pitiful pilgrimage an uneasy feeling started to develop in my stomach. My mind riffled through images filled away in my brain under folders marked 'Been there. Done that.'

Wait! What was the category of that folder?, I thought as I exited the mall and turned left.

Then I got visual confirmation.

Stink.

A Coffee Resolution

2009-09-01T23:45:00.002+01:00

Right.

Let's give this another go then.

Let's get blogging.

Over the last few years I've made little resolutions for the month of September. So this September...I'm going to blog about coffee. Everyday. Or at least Mon-Fri....

Let's begin with something negative, shall we?

Best & Worst Coffee

2009-09-01T23:44:00.002+01:00

I've just had my 10th wedding anniversary. By happy coincidence so has my wife. So we decided to celebrate together with a weekend in London while my parents looked after the kids.

I love London (maybe it's because I'm a Londoner). There is always something to see and do and I'm increasingly discovering places for great coffee too. I've already told you about Flat White cafe. I took the opportunity to visit it again with my wife. Another amazing espresso for me and me ol' trouble (that's me using London lingo) said that the cappuccino was even better than I make at home. I was happy to concede that title, but also purchased a couple of bags of their espresso beans to refine my craft on return to Dublin.

Now I don't believe in yin & yang, but on our trip I did experience the complete opposite of that great coffee. After a meal at a middle-east style restaurant I couldn't resist trying an Arabian Coffee from their menu. I had a feeling I knew what it was probably going to be like - similar to a Turkish Coffee which I might tell you about later this month.

To be honest, I didn't fully understand the description the waitress gave - she had a strong accent and the jingle-jangles from her belly dancing outfit didn't help - but I picked up the words: espresso, rosewater, sugar, cinnamon.

Oh. My. Goodness. It was foul. Without a doubt the worst cup of coffee I have ever had. I tried to be adventurous, honestly I did, but a couple of sips was all I could handle. It was a shame, really. The history of coffee is traced back to ancient Arabia (hence the variety of bean that is used in most quality coffees from around the world is called Arabica) and I was hoping for something a bit special. Now I can't help thinking, what if this is traditionally what coffee is supposed to taste like!!!

The Perfect Cappuccino Movie

2009-07-11T00:54:00.003+01:00

I don't have very many coffee related DVDs on my shelf except for Black Gold, which I have previously blogged about, and Paul Bassett's 13 part TV series called Living Coffee, which has helped me in the preparation of my coffee at home - including my choice of cups! I suppose some DVDs in my collection feature coffee/cafés in someway, like Rik's Café in Casablanca or the railway station tea room in Brief Encounter (plus the strangest looking coffee contraption towards the end of the film that I later discovered was called a vacuum pot), but now I'm getting off track...

This morning a new addition to my collection arrived: The Perfect Cappuccino. I've just finished watching it this evening and really enjoyed it. The film is an hour and a half documentary following the journey of the film maker in search of a decent cup of coffee while asking the question of why people settle for a mediocre cup. While the film speaks from an American viewpoint it is quite easy to relate to what is being said by anyone whose life is surrounded by brands, mass marketing and consumption. That said, the movie does bounce back and forth a bit from the U.S. to Italy - the home of espresso and the cappuccino.

A large part of the film examines the ubiquitous nature and goings-on of Starbucks as aposed to small coffee chains or independent unique coffee houses. And while the film doesn't totally slam the mermaid it does set up space in your head for you to do that yourself. That said, the public have a lot to answer for in the fact that they continue to feed the animal - or do they not realise the animal is feeding them?? I digress again. Much of the documentary features the predicament of a small cafe (that seemed to be creating the reality of community and not just the experience of it) as it faced legal action from the bux over the café's name: DoubleShot.

The film will give the average coffee drinker a good introduction to the wider world of coffee without getting bogged down in the stuff that coffee geeks love. What I also liked is that it was filmed, scripted, directed, edited, etc by one person! The only thing that I don't think Amy Ferraris did was actually make any of the coffee - though she did recieve a grant to live in Italy for a year to study the cappuccino!!!

Because it is an independent film it made the price of it a little higher (plus shipping to Ireland almost doubled that!), but that is a price I am willing to pay to support a project like this - plus because it is independent it can say what it likes about globalized coffee companies.

The film has been playing in a number of places across North America and elsewhere. It hasn't been shown publicly here in Ireland yet, but I'm in the process of figuring out with the film maker as to how to do that!

Here's the trailer to whet your appetite.

Almost Famous

2009-07-08T23:53:00.002+01:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to get down to the Bald Barista, but I made it this evening. As usual, with not much time to spare before they closed, I ordered a couple of drinks.

I watched my espresso pour like dark honey into the cup then immediately took a sip as I stood at the counter. The beans were just roasted six days ago. I'm really getting into quality, fresh espresso. Delicious.

While I was waiting on my latte the barista (one of Buzz's co-conspirators in the campaign to bring quality coffee to Dublin) said to me, 'Do you by any chance write a blog about going to coffeehouses?'

I was stunned! On two accounts: first that my cover had been blown (the give away was that I mentioned racing down to the cafe after putting the kids to bed - I guess I must have put that in a previous post). I was also stunned and quite flattered that a coffee expert read my blog.

I said to the barista that I'd blog about this, but in all my giddy excitement I forgot to ask his name - you know who you are, the guy behind the counter from NZ who does have hair.

All this goes to prove that you should really think about what you write in a blog as you don't know who is reading...and when you might meet them. Fortunately I've got nothing but good words for the Bald Barista cafe and all the staff.

Talking about going public...

2009-07-08T23:25:00.003+01:00

Sometimes people seem more than willing to make a public declaration of what they believe (or don't believe). Sometimes this is achieved by being unwittingly invited into one end of a phone conversation.

As I sat reading my book, enjoying my latte, another customer in the cafe who was sitting a couple of tables away answered his phone. His end of the call went something like this:

"Hello....yes, that's right.....sorry, who is this?.....No, I'm not interested.....No, I've tried this stuff before and it doesn't work for me......Well the whole idea of spirituality and.....no, it's kind of like one of those pyramid schemes....No, I don't need to..............."

I was intrigued and very curious as to who was on the other end of the phone call. Religious groups and pyramid schemes??? Could this be some sort of indulgences for the 21st century?

Anyway, the phone call ended with the guy giving a brief summary of his feelings towards religion which amounted to "hating organized religion because it was so closed minded."

Obviously that's not a new statement. It's been said thousands of times before. But as a person of faith with a few minutes to spare I decided to ask myself the question as to why so many people think and feel that way.

Firstly, lets get out of the way the notion of appealing to the fact that the church you or I might belong to is pretty disorganized anyway. I don't think this would help. But I can't help wondering in an ironic way how much thought and open minded analysis is actually put into making a blanket statement about such a huge, historical movement?

However, I think I understand what he was probably saying between the lines. It would be quite easy to list a handful of issues that many people would accuse "organized religion" of being closed minded about - although they probably mostly revolve around sex: who can have sex with whom; when can you have sex; what happens after you have had sex; and so on. But I can't help thinking that these and other topics are, at best, secondary issues in matters of religion and faith. If we were to take a moment to look at the primary issues I think the perception of closed mindedness could be dramatically brought into question.

Speaking from my religion - Christianity - at the heart of my faith is an ascent to these beliefs: that somehow out of complete and utter nothingness a supernatural personality, that we have come to name as God, spoke, and life and all that it means to be alive came into existence. Then several milenia latter following numerous attempts to figure out life (to varying degrees of success), this same divine power in some incredible way (God only knows how) was enfleshed and stood on the dirt that he had created. Many of us came to know him as Jesus the Christ. Then after a few years of preaching, teaching and just being, many influential people thought of this Jesus as espousing a far too liberal view of faith and had him killed. But that's not where the heart of my faith ends. (Get ready, folks. This is the point at which it turns mind blowing.) Within a short weekend that dead god-man was resurrected - not like some sort of ghostly apparition, but full on flesh and blood! And not only that, but this resurrection was a sign of a future event guaranteeing that we too would one day, somehow (there's that word again) also be resurrected from the dead!!!

I can't help thinking, how much more of an open mind do you need to believe something like that?

Does anyone else think this..?

2009-06-30T08:30:00.001+01:00

I walked past an Insomnia cafe yesterday and noticed a big poster in their window advertising their new "recession busting menu" which included a muffin and any coffee for only €3. So called great deals like this are springing up all over the place. Not just at cafes, but for cars, TVs, furniture, whatever!

While I assume that I'm meant to feel some sense of appreciation and excitement at being able to get a coffee and muffin for only €3, that's not my first thought. The first thing that come into my mind is: 'Now only €3! I knew you had been ripping me off this whole time. And I can't help thinking you are still making a good profit.'

Don't try this at home, kids

2009-06-28T19:52:00.002+01:00

When a professional barista enters a championship the three drinks they present to the judges include their most excellent straight espresso, an exquisite cappuccino, and a signature drink which is an espresso based creation of their own.

This evening my wife asked me what signature drink I would make to represent our kids. As it happened the children were watching one of their favourite shows - Charlie and Lola (probably the best children's animated show around at the moment. And it has an brilliant theme tune that just seems to make you feel nostalgic for childhood). Lola is particularly keen on strawberry flavoured milk so it seemed obvious and easy enough to make a pink milk latte. So I mixed together a little Nesquick and gave it a go.

I have to say that aesthetically it looked quite good. I managed to pour the steamed milk to create a pink heart on the top of the dark coffee. But oh my goodness, it did not work as a drink! Even the tentative half-sip was enough to make me gag.

If you're curious as to what the real guys do you can check out the 2009 World Barista Champion, a Welshman who works for a small coffee outlet in London.

McCafé vs Starbucks

2009-06-15T23:47:00.004+01:00

There is a war going on, particularly in North America, and it is over coffee. (Actually there are probably several real conflicts going on in the world over coffee - but that's for another day.)

It would seem that Goliath is taking on Goliath for the title of most popular (ie. most sales) of espresso based drinks. Business analysts seem to suggest that the Hamburgler is stealing market share from the mermaid, but there is rarely mention of taste. So the good folks at Coffee Review decided to simply test a few drinks from both establishments - McDonald's McCafé and Starbucks.

Four drink types were tested: Cappuccino; Latte; Mocha; Caramel Latte.

You can read the full article here. Or if you can't be bothered I'll tell you the results.

When it came to price McCafé was always cheaper. But it would seem that you get what you pay for and Starbucks had the edge for quality. That said, the regular latte was rated as pretty much equal.

The research didn't take into account that compared to the "speciality coffee" sector neither of these companies produce excellent coffee. It was simply a test between brands.

You might like to have a go at this research yourself!

For what it's worth though, I'd take a Whopper with cheese over a Big Mac any day.

Flat White Cafe

2009-06-15T00:13:00.003+01:00

This past week I was in London for a meeting. I managed to get over a little ahead of time (while the wife and kids were at home with a virus - oops) and decided to use those moments of solitude wisely...drinking coffee.

God bless the Interweb. A quick search for great coffee in London brought up a few choices which I was able to narrow down and plan a route from one to the next. I managed to have a couple of really good coffees, but the one that stood out for me was Flat White cafe. Run by some Aussies and named after a classic Oz style of coffee, the small cafe is located on Berwick Street in London's Soho district. The walk along the street takes you past such establishments as the Gourmet Hot Dog, Pastry Pilgrimage, and a collection of XXX clubs with peep shows for a fiver - do yourself a favour and spend the money on thrilling yourself with a couple of Flat White espressos.

Ah, the espresso. I placed my order and then asked them if they minded me watching them pull the shot. They were more than happy to and willingly answered my questions while doing so. The results were amazing (and I told them so). This short drink was the best espresso I've had - like the latte equivalent at Intelligentsia.

Many people would balk at the idea of drinking a double shot of espresso - too bitter. Not this one. It was smooth and bright, had a great crema and an incredible sweetness - almost too sweet. Delicious.

Of course, I also ordered a flat white. Also very good.

I'm back in London again this week with my (now healthy) family. If I can talk my wife into a visit...

By the way, a flat white is a bit like a latte, but with less foam on the top.

Bald Barista wins best espresso again!

2009-05-21T23:19:00.002+01:00

I managed to get down to the Bald Barista again this evening - I've been a few times since I originally blogged about it. When I got there the man himself was particularly upbeat, and for good reason. The cafe has just today been voted as serving Dublin's best espresso according to The Dubliner magazine. The cafe won the same accolade last year from the Irish Times. However, this time the survey was done by a secret espresso drinker (can I have that job next year???) who discovered that attention to detail and quality is presented in every cup.

I have to say that the blend used does produce a flavour that I haven't yet experienced elsewhere in Dublin and after a few visits now it is growing on me more and more. Tonight's shot actually seemed that little bit extra special.

The article will appear in the special summer issue of The Dubliner - so I'd like to think that I might be blogging an exclusive breaking news story!

Anyway, congratulations to the Bald Barista. If readers are ever in the south inner city area of Dublin go check out the cafe on Aungier Street. It's about a five minute walk from St Stephen's Green.

An Apologetic for God

2009-05-12T23:56:00.009+01:00

Sometimes when I take a book with me for coffee I hope to find something inspirational and thought provoking, but end up coming away disappointed. At other times I take a book or a magazine with no real expectations and come away with new insights or ideas. The espresso must have been good because the latter is what happened to me this evening. Reading a few remarks about suffering caused my mind to wander and think, ending in me formulating an apologetic for God (as if God needed someone like me to defend him - which is what an apologetic is, rather than apologising for God).

It went something like this.

When people experience suffering (in whatever circumstances it may be) there will always be some who blame God. Fair enough.

However, many people would cite suffering as proof that God does not exist:

"How can there possibly be a god when I see this child suffering from cancer?" Also understandable.

So I started thinking to myself, what if that same person imagined that God did exist? Would they resort to the same response as the first person above - namely to blame God for suffering? Quite possibly.

However, by their own admission God could not exist because of suffering, therefore who do you blame for the misery that envelopes so many people? Clearly not God because he doesn't exist. Yet suffering continues. It would just seem that bad things happen to some people (while others experience good).

So I began to wonder, would it be possible to bring God back into the equation despite the suffering in the world. Now God exists, but this time does not become the target of blame because stuff just happens. Suffering in the world can't be proof of a world without God.

Ah, but if there is suffering in the world and God exists, then why doesn't he do something about it? Why doesn't he cure that sick child? I suppose my honest answer is that I don't know, but that is wholly unsatisfactory. So perhaps I should answer that maybe God will do something about it.

St Paul wrote some famous words suggesting that despite what happens in life three things should remain: faith, hope and love. I like the idea of faith and hope. It has a particular optimism that says things could be different.

There was once a man in an ancient land who, for whatever reason, was sentenced to death. His pleas to the king for mercy where to no avail until he came up with an idea. "Your majesty," groveled the man, "if you spare my life for one year I will teach your horse to fly". Intrigued, the king granted a 365 day extension to the man's life. When questioned later by one of the servants as to why the man made such a ridiculous promise, the man replied, "In one year I may die anyway. Or the king may die! Or, who knows, I may even be able to teach that horse to fly."

To me this simple illustration speaks in someway about faith and hope in times of adversity. But what do we do in the meantime for those who suffer as we wait in faith and hope for a change of circumstances? What can we do? We love.

But is loving through suffering something God can relate to?

Not everything lucky is good for you

2009-05-12T23:56:00.007+01:00

I sat at a table by the window this evening so I could occasionally watch the world go past my latte. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a cyclist seemingly toss a packet of cigarettes on to the roadside. I found this quite annoying and couldn't understand why he didn't just find a bin to throw them away.

A few minutes later a man came walking down the street, saw the packet and gave it a good kick a little further down the road. Now I was getting cross! How could someone take an interest in a piece of rubbish only up to the point of kicking it, but not disposing of it?

Soon enough another cyclist came across the packet, but this time he stopped and picked it up. Hooray! Someone with a social conscience for the well-being of our planet. Then this cyclist flipped open the lid, looked inside and smiled. He pulled out a cigarette, popped it in his mouth and cycled off.

I wondered, who was the victim of a negative outcome in that interchange?

Bob Dylan and my brother-in-law

2009-04-28T23:52:00.000+01:00

If you're a fan of music that speaks to the deeper aspects in life you might like to head over to my brother-in-law's blog, Songs for the Journey.

Nick hasn't been blogging for a while, but the arrival of Bob Dylan's new record seems to have brought about the inspiration needed to get writing again.

For me, Songs for the Journey would go well with a nice flat white - good quality with no froth.

The Bald Barista

2009-04-22T23:00:00.004+01:00

I've gone past it so many times. Sometimes in a car. Sometimes on a bike. Occasionally on a bus. Always in a bit of a hurry to get somewhere else. So last week I was determined to pay a visit to the Bald Barista - but it was closed. They, along with too many other cafes in Dublin, close at 8:00pm, so I opted for The Joy of Coffee instead as I hadn't been there in a while.

But this week I got the kids out of the bath a little earlier than they would have liked in order to get them in bed and get out! (I didn't leave them alone of course. My wife was home.) I headed on my bike for the couple of miles down to Aungier Street just in time to get in before they closed.

At the counter a sign proudly recognizes the cafe as serving 'Dublin's best espresso' as voted for by The Irish Times in 2008. Clearly this was where I should start. The barista, who wasn't bald, but for all I know could have been the man himself in disguise, pulled a nice looking shot of espresso and told me I couldn't have it until I named the band that was currently playing on the CD. I couldn't, and would never have guessed The Doors at all. Fortunately he was gracious enough to give me my little cup anyway, although this may have been because I had already paid for it - which at €1.50 for either a single OR double shot is certainly the best value espresso in Dublin!

I was just saying to my wife this afternoon that I'd like to attend some sort of coffee appreciation class, so I thought I'd have a preliminary go at picking out flavours in the cup. I stood at the counter and had a couple of slurps before chancing my arm and saying, 'There's quite a floral taste there, I think.' To which I fully expected the barista to say something like, 'No, you idiot. There's a caramel and honey base with a hint of cherry and some chocolaty notes with grapefruit riding through.' But he didn't. He just looked at me for a moment and asked, 'Is this your first time here?', then followed that up with a couple of extra stamps on my new loyalty card. The Gracious Barista.

As I watched (with interest and envy) as he poured me a great rossetta on my latte I quipped that it was a shame they closed at 8:00pm, but he didn't think so. I guess he was tired. Fair enough. Fortunately the cafe is located in Avalon House - a backpackers hostel. So even though the espresso stopped flowing I could sit in the cafe for another hour reading my book.

I'll definitely be back. Not just for the espresso, but because the international flavour of people watching is fun too.

Someone's painful road to Calvary

2009-04-09T23:26:00.002+01:00

Life, as beautiful as it is, causes us to ask many questions. The life of faith, which can be just as beautiful, can also provoke the same reaction. For me, one of the greatest questions centres around the events that are remembered over the Easter weekend. The latter part of the celebrations, the resurrection, I actually have very little trouble with. It seems, in essence, a perfectly reasonable and (super-)natural way to end the story. It is, however, the events surrounding the cross that I find so hard. But I was reminded this week in a daily email subscription that the resurrection follows the crucifixion; it does not erase it.

So once again I am left asking the question, why did Jesus die? What was the meaning of his death? Although this is a topic I have wrestled with for many years it isn't foremost in my mind most of the time. But of course this time of year demands giving it some thought. (I did a little thinking last year too: Part 1 and Part 2).

Tonight I took along a book to my local coffeehouse that presents various views of the atonement (the meaning behind Christ's death) through history. For sometime now I have been wanting to study more about the idea of liberation and victory as a consequence of the cross. So I read a little about Irenaeus and his understanding of the atonement. This is a theory from the very early days of the church which grew in popularity up until medieval times, became almost extinct during the Enlightenment, but started to gain popularity again during the first half of the 20th Century through the work of Gustaf Aulen's book Christus Victor (ie. the victorious Christ). The theory goes something like this:

Whether through voluntary action or external coercion, human beings have "fallen" under the control of oppressive and dehumanising powers - typically described as sin, Satan and death. (The Bible presents this through the story of Adam and Eve and their willingness to submit to the seductive ways of the 'serpent'.) Therefore humanity forever struggles with the realisation that they too often do the things they know (somehow) that they shouldn't do, and too often don't do the things that they should.

Since people cannot free themselves from this cycle of being, Jesus Christ appears as the power of God to liberate human beings. God becoming incarnate (meaning 'in the flesh') was able to share in the life of his creation and become subject to those pressures and sufferings that all humans face - the ultimate pressure being death. But by going through death and into life (the resurrection) Christ is shown as victorious over all oppressive powers - even the sting of death.

By his life, death and resurrection, Jesus Christ inaugurates a new age and a new community of freedom, marked by inclusivity and equality. The Church is then meant to be the sign of this new age witnessing to the victory of God over the powers that attempt to pull us down.

I find this theory quite exciting, but very humbling. As the words Tim Rice put in the mouth of Jesus say, 'to conquer death you only have to die'.

I want to explore this area further looking into the theology of liberation, but as I was reading and thinking about these things this evening it struck me that theology is all well and good, but is of little use if it can't be rooted in real life:

For the last few weeks now I have noticed a small group of people enter the coffeehouse at the same time each Thursday. Not always the same people, but certainly a core group of them that I have come to recognise. I had wondered why they always seemed to show up with such regularity, thinking that they must meet there first before heading out to a pub or club somewhere. This evening I figured out the opposite was true. It became apparent that they had all just come from a local AA meeting. One young man in particular seemed to be receiving some extra support as the others offered him various prayer cards, mini rosaries and good luck trinkets to help him in his sobriety.

What, I thought to myself, does Christ the Liberator say to that man? It seems a little too easy to say (and perhaps a little trite) that claiming the all sufficient power of God can free you from your addiction. While I believe that liberation is possible the process has to start somewhere. I soon contemplated that for that man, and for myself, it starts with a deep surrender of ourselves and the painful road to a cross where I may need to die to myself in order for a liberated life to arise.

Shortest of stories

2009-04-02T23:09:00.003+01:00

One of the community projects that we run as part of our ministry is a toddler group called Paintbox. As part of the morning I do some storytelling, usually along with whatever the theme was for the day. So, to help me prepare for telling the fable of the Wind and the Sun I took along a copy of Aesops Complete Fables to the coffehouse to read some of the other 357 fables.

They are quite nice to read because they are so short, but leave you with something to think about at the end. So here's a few for you:

The Traveller and Chance

A man was worn out after a long journey, so he threw himself down beside a well and went to sleep. He would have certainly fallen in, but Chance [Tyche] appeared and woke him up, saying:
'Hey friend! If you had fallen down the well you wouldn't have blamed your own foolishness - you would have blamed me.'

Thus, plenty of people who meet with misfortune through their own fault blame it on the gods.

The Flies

Some flies had found some spilled honey in a cellar and started to eat it. It was such a sweet feast that they couldn't stop. But their feet became stuck to the spot so that they couldn't take flight. And, as they began to suffocate, they said:
'How wretched we are! We are dying for a moments pleasure.'

Gluttony is often the cause of much harm.

The Man Bitten by a Dog

A man who had been bitten by a dog roamed far and wide, looking for someone to heal his wound. Someone told him that all he had to do was wipe the blood from his wound with some bread and throw the bread to the dog which had bitten him. To this the injured man replied:
'But if I did that, every dog in the city would bite me.'

Similarly, if you indulge someone's wickedness, you provoke him to do even more harm.

The Horse and the Groom

A groom used to steal his horse's barley and sell it. To make up for it he spent the whole day grooming and currying the horse, who said to him:
'If you really want to see me look good, don't sell the barley that is intended to feed me.'

Thus, greedy people trick poor people with their seductive talk and with flattery, while depriving them of their bare necessities.

Suggestion Box

2009-03-05T23:26:00.001Z

The local coffeehouse that I most often go to has been under new management for a while - although there haven't been huge changes that I can tell. (Except they now sell homemade brownies instead of from some company, but manage to charge more!)

But on the way out this evening I noticed that they had a customer suggestion box on the counter. Suggestion boxes are a little odd I think. Slightly cruel. They seem to invite negative comments that are probably directed at people who probably never suggested having a suggestion box in the first place.

So I am facing a dilemma. Because, as it happens, this evening I did think to myself, there was way too much foam on my latte. Probably more that you should put on a cappuccino. I also noticed on the way out that the steam arm on the coffee machine wasn't getting cleaned right after it was used. Plus, (oh boy, I'm on a roll now) I think it would be worth their while grinding coffeebeans just before they are used - but that's starting to get technical and I'm not sure it is the kind of suggestion that they want. (But they do have the equipment to do it!)

The other dilemma is the placement of the box. You know full well that once you've paid for your coffee, dropped a note in the box and left that they will get it out straight away. There's no sense of anonymity.

Of course there's the question of would it make any difference anyway!?

Do you ever put notes in a suggestions box? Was it followed up?

Confirming my suspicions

2009-02-28T23:30:00.002Z

In my ongoing pursuit to visit every Starbucks in Ireland I managed to cross another off my list today. (A fourth one in Blanchardstown shopping centre!) My wife can't really understand why I bother visiting them all as they are "all the same". But, for the most part, she goes along with it and allows me to indulge myself.

Granted, Starbucks, like any franchise, are all pretty much the same. However, what they offer is coffee served in a hugely diverse number of ways - thousands of combinations. I experienced one of those today. The man ahead of me was ordering a drink for his wife which was made up of six customised elements. I know it was six because he had to repeat it a few times to the lady taking the order - and because he was counting the elements out on his fingers! Here's what he ordered:

A grande latte - decaff, non-fat milk, wet (that means no foam), extra hot, caramel syrup, and whipped cream. (Umm, didn't that last element just cancel out the skinny milk? And anything resembling foam on the top?)

I simply ordered a regular latte which I think confirmed my suspicions of myself that I've had for some time - that I live a mostly boring life. Either that or the poor guys wife was anal. Or pregnant. Or both.

No, that can't be right about myself because I've been really enjoying my espresso machine recently and getting deeper into the world of coffee. In fact, I realised that today was the first time I had been to Starbucks since Christmas! The visit confirmed another suspicion that I've had for a few years. Now that I know how to make a half decent latte at home it's clear that Starbucks coffee is not that great. I don't want to say insipid because that sounds a bit cruel, but it certainly wasn't as strong or flavourful as I thought it was.

Perhaps it's just as well that I only have one more store to visit to complete my mission.

A Liturgical Treat

2009-02-24T23:55:00.003Z

It has already been said that a cup of tea without a biscuit (cookie) is a wasted opportunity. I would agree. The same logic can be applied to a cup of coffee and I always like a little something with my latte - a chocolate brownie, a caramel slice, a blueberry muffin...you get the idea.

This evening, to go along with my home made latte (I'm getting better and better at making them!), I decided to create my own special treat. Today marked Shrove Tuesday otherwise known as Pancake Day. It signals the preparation for the Christian season of Lent and while most people are unlikely to be reflective and shriven today many of them will make pancakes. I tried both, but will refrain from making public confessions of sin here opting instead to tell you about the pancake I made.

I should point out to readers who may not be from Ireland or the UK that pancakes in this part of the world are a little different from the version in North America - delicious though those are! Here they are bigger and flatter. More like a French crepe. Anyway...

I decided to combine the bookends of this season with Shrove Tuesday (pancakes) and Easter Sunday (chocolate eggs). After making the pancake I served it up and placed a Cadbury's Creme Egg in the middle, rolled the pancake up, placed it back into the hot pan for a minute then applied pressure in the middle causing the egg to goo.

Oohhh mannnnnn. Unless you have good reason not to try this like giving up chocolate for Lent or you have an egg allergy (yes there is real egg in Creme Eggs - I've had an allergic kid vomit all over my house because I gave him one. He lived.) then you've got to try this.

If you've never made pancakes it's really simple. Jamie Oliver gave me this recipe:

1 cup of plain flour
1 cup of milk
1 egg (not chocolate egg!)

Mix it all together. Simple. Unwrapping a Creme Egg is even easier.

Let me know if you give it a go. I have a feeling I'll make more before this season is over.

A Moment of Inspiration

2009-02-14T23:26:00.002Z

The other day my sister phoned me. She was due to attend a conference, but because of the snow it was cancelled. Instead, she told me, she spent two hours at home reading my complete blog!

How very nice.

It was enough to make me think about picking up a coffee cup and keyboard again and seeing what happens.

So, in the unlikely event of another heap of snow in which you are looking for something to do, feel free to start here.

What I've been up to...

2009-02-14T23:25:00.002Z

Although I've let blogging go recently that doesn't mean that I've not been drinking coffee. Far from it. In fact I think I've probably drunk more lattes in the last six weeks than I had in the previous six months. You see I got a little present for Christmas which has, for the most part, kept me at home rather than going to cafes.

So here's a video of me making espresso. Um, it's kind of long. Sorry if you feel like I might have wasted 7 minutes of your life...especially if you only drink tea.

I've not given up on going out. In fact, I've noticed a couple of cafes locally that I haven't tried yet, so there's still plenty to do! (Plus I still have two more Starbucks to finish off my "goal").

Why are you wishing me a happy birthday?

2009-01-19T16:21:00.002Z

I've not been at the computer all day today so I was surprised to see a couple of comments in my inbox from bloggers wishing me a happy birthday. I didn't recall ever writing about my birthday and yet the comments were clearly being directed from my blog. How strange...

And then I remembered how last night my wife was a little too interested in the signing in procedure!

Thanks anyway, everyone, for your birthday greetings. I hope you've all had a good day too.

(By the way, I'm not convinced that they are tights - more like a babygro that merely looks lacey.)

On a cold January morn, many years ago...

2009-01-19T09:15:00.003Z

I was born in King's Hospital, London. Not with a coffee cup in hand (that wouldn't come along until seven years later) and my parents did't name me Cosmo (that came many years later).

Here's a picture of me as a baby. You'll notice that, even though I was a boy (still am, in fact) my mother dressed me in tights. Maybe it's an Ulster thing? Any insight, Ali?

So if you're having coffee today, have a piece of cake as well, because it's my birthday!

Ali IRL

2009-01-09T23:52:00.001Z

Just back from a lovely evening with Ali and her husband Graham - tasty food, good conversation and a nicely presented latte at the end of the meal.

Ali has undertaken the challenge of meeting people from blogland in real life and (outside of her own family) I was the first to be visited. It was fun to meet a "stranger" that I only know from the internet. (But, hey kids, don't try this at home - they might not all be as nice as Ali).

As my wife and I drove home I realised that I should have thanked Ali for her blogging influence. I've become a bit irregular of late (get it? It's a pun on my blog address), but I'm going to have a go at getting back into writing a bit. However, the thing that motivated me in my early blogging days when I thought no one would read what I had to say was that Ali (then known as Chemical) showed up on my blog and from there drew in other readers to my site. So thanks, Ali!

And thanks again for coming down to Dublin. Enjoy the next part of your challenge in Huston!

Intelligentsia Coffee

2008-12-18T00:29:00.005Z

I've been back from the States for a couple of weeks now, but just haven't managed to get around to blogging a bit more. However, amidst the silence, there has been one thought that has been running through my head this whole time: the cup of coffee I had at Intelligentsia.

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that the latte I had at this Chicago based coffeehouse was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. Now I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I do know the difference between bad, mediocre and good. This particular cup was excellent.

Why was it so good? I'm not sure. Like I said, I'm not a connoisseur. However, it was so smooth, a great micro-foam, wonderful aroma, a full taste and not a hint of bitterness. The last sip at the end of the cup was just as good as the first.

I'd heared about Intelligentsia some time ago on a podcast at Coffee Geek, but had forgotten about it. Then, while in America I came across it again on an AOL poll of the best coffee in the USA - it was ranked second. I was interested to see that they had three cafes in Chicago (and one in LA) especially as we were going to be spending a couple of days in the windy city. And then I discovered it was just five blocks from our hotel!!!

We were staying in Chicago for two nights which meant that, once the kids were in bed, one of us would explore on one night and the other the next. My research told me that Intelligentsia where open until 10pm. I took the first night and made my way from the corner of Diversey and Clark, up Broadway to the coffeehouse. Eventually I found the location...only to discover that they had closed early for staff training!!! I could see them through the window, sitting around a table laughing and drinking America's second best coffee. I managed to catch the eye of one employee and quickly seized upon the opportunity to mime flying a plane then pointing at myself then pointing at her, but it was to no avail. (Now that I think about it, I wonder what she thought I was trying to say?)

Anyway, my wonderful wife, faithful and generous partner that she is, came back early the next night so I could try getting that coffee that I wanted without flaying my arms around in the process.

I brought home a couple of bags of their coffee which I'm trying to make last until Christmas morning, but I'm getting through the beans pretty quickly. There in lies the only downside to the experience. Intelligentsia only send their coffee beans (sold within 24 hours of roasting) across the USA and Canada. However, a bar has been set for standards in coffee. I suspect it will be sometime until I meet that standard again.

Kofenya

2008-11-24T18:35:00.001Z

My in-law family live in a small town in Ohio called Oxford, home of Miami University (not to be confused with University of Miami - which is in the part of the country that you would expect it to be).

I've always liked Oxford. It has a nice feel to it and, due to a high student population, a number of cool cafes. My wife provided me with the opportunity to escape for a few minutes so I headed uptown to get some coffee. I came across Kofenya (apparently Russian for coffee) which I hadn't noticed before, but has apparently been there for about five years. It's the kind of place that I would think of when I thought about a coffeehouse. Nice atmosphere without being dark and grungy, the buzz of conversation and the aroma of coffee that could be smelled before you entered the door.

Every other table had someone using a laptop (I really should get one - it would make blogging more fun), people were studying, listening to their ipods or just conversing. One woman was weaving bracelets and another couple of friends were talking about the difference between Christians and non-Christians. I wish I could have heard more of what they were saying - you don't get conversations like that much amongst college aged students in Dublin.

All-in-all it was just a cool place to hang out. Plus it was the sort of place that on a good day could make you feel younger than you are, but on a bad day could well have the opposite effect!

I hoping I can visit a couple of the other cafes in Oxford before I leave.

True to its name

2008-11-23T16:27:00.001Z

Travelling to see the in-laws meant a flight to Chicago, rent a car and drive for about five hours. There are closer airports, but it would have meant changing planes and we wanted to keep that kind of hassle to a minimum with our kids - plus it means an excuse for a couple of days in Chicago on the way home.

We decided to break the drive up with a stop at a motel in the middle of Indiana. By the time we arrived it was about 8pm local time, but it felt like 2:00am. Of course, this didn't stop me from going out for a cup of coffee once the kids were settled.

The place where we stayed didn't have much going for it, but I couldn't resist heading across to the 'Iron Skillet' - a dinner connected with a gas station. The first thing I noticed was that it was a smoking restaurant with a small area reserved for those of us who were a little more picky.

I chose to sit in a booth, but what I really wanted to do was sit with the truckers on stools at the counter. However, I noticed that there were a couple of things missing that would make it obvious that I was a fake - a well worn cap, an abundance of hair. Oh and a truck.

Within seconds of sitting down my waitress came and asked if I'd like something to drink. I ordered coffee and it soon arrived. A classic diner cup with a rounded rim and a slight curve to the body. It was accompanied by my own pot of coffee for me to refill as I pleased - God bless America!

Of course, I couldn't just order a coffee. I needed something with it. So, although it was now pressing on for 3:00am for me I ordered a plate of blueberry pancakes and watched ESPN while I waited. Soon enough my order arrived: pancakes and crispy bacon, little tubs of whipped butter and a small jug of warmed syrup all served on - what else? - an iron skillet. Brilliant.

On my way out I noticed that they were doing a Thanksgiving special on Thursday, but while I was intrigued with the thought of turkey, sweet potatoes and corn served up on a skillet I think enjoying it with family will be far better.

Cafe Americano

2008-11-22T16:24:00.000Z

We are in the States for a few weeks visiting my wife's family in Ohio for Thanksgiving. So I hope to blog a little about coffee on this side of the Pond...

ZZZzzzzz

2008-11-19T19:13:00.002Z

Oh man, I'm tired this evening. I think life with three young children is beginning to catch up on me. I'm not sure coffee will help, but I'll give it a go...

Poor Girl

2008-11-04T23:43:00.002Z

As I was going for coffee this evening I heard a clunk-and-crash coming from a lane way just off the main street I was walking along. As I got closer I saw young girl whose entire exhaust had just fallen off her car! I paused for a moment wondering how I could help, but seeing two people talking with her I kept on walking on the other side of the road.

When I arrived at the coffeehouse and placed my book on the table while I removed my coat I was struck by its title: Beyond the Good Samaritan.

I felt awful.

Playing the Game

2008-11-04T23:22:00.002Z

It was a quiet evening when I arrived at my local coffeehouse tonight and the area where I sat, with six small sofas and about a dozen cube-seats, was only occupied by a young couple, early twenties I'd say.

They started to kiss.

Now when I say kiss I mean they were really going for it the way that young lovers do when they don't give a stuff who else is around. Look, I'm no stranger to seeing people kiss in public, but wow, this was something else. He was really making a move on her. I think he might of been wanting to taste what she had for breakfast!

And then the strangest thing happened. They stopped kissing, he ordered a blueberry muffin and then proceeded to explain how to play chess!

Now when I say explaining the rules of chess I mean he was really going for it in a big way using packets if sugar, empty cups and a half eaten muffin to illustrate how each piece moves. The lesson concluded with this quote:

"A good chess player will be able to think five moves ahead. I can only think two or three moves ahead."

Yeah, thinks I, and I bet that it isn't just limited to chess.

I know that look!

2008-11-04T22:49:00.004Z

As the coffeehouse got busier this evening another couple sat in my section of the room. They were a bit different from the other couple. I could tell that straight away. Despite the fact that they were sitting on a love seat she was giving him the cold shoulder while he ate his caramel ice cream. Her arms were cross and her gaze was slightly downward, staring at nothing in particular.

He gave her a little playful nudge on her knee to which she responds by slowly turning towards him, and if looks could kill...

Ohhh, I feel for you, man.

I wanted to go over and ask if everything was okay, but because I has become quite good at ignoring a need this evening I decided to leave them be. Instead I said a quick prayer for them both and within a few minutes they were smiling at each other. They even shared some cake.

I felt much better.

It made me think of a friend (and boss) of mine who gave me some wise counsel before I got married regarding falling out with your partner from time to time. The reality is that couples will have arguments that hurt, but it's the kissing and making up that is fun.

I think these two could take some practical advice on how to do this from the other couple sitting across from them (who had by now managed to track down a chess set and were actually playing!)

Beating the Credit Crunch

2008-11-03T23:07:00.002Z

This morning my wife suggested an idea for saving money - at least €3 that would otherwise have been spent on a latte: Make your own lattes at home without an expensive espresso maker and milk frother.

I've tried this before (without great success), but my wife had a twist on the frothermation. (That's a new word. It means the formation of froth.)

Simply make a pot of coffee as usual. Then fill an empty jam jar with milk. Put the milk in the microwave for a couple of minutes - or until just after you see it bubbling over - then put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously. The jar I mean, not yourself (unless you want the contents of your stomach to experience frothermation).

As it happened, yesterday evening's late snack was toast and we used up the last of the marmalade so we had a jar available to give it a go.

I wouldn't say that it was the frothiest coffee I've ever had, but it was certainly the orangiest!

Smoke Free

2008-10-25T00:37:00.002+01:00

Even though it has only been three or four years since the smoking ban in public places came into force in Ireland, it's somewhat difficult to imagine it as not being something that has always been in existence - such is the overwhelming success of the project. The Irish government have tried hard in this area of public health action. They continue to discourage smoking with annual increases in the price of cigarettes - another 50 cents was added just a couple of weeks ago.

The other day I was sitting in the area formerly designated the smoking room of my local coffeehouse. I soon noticed that smoking was in the room again only not in a physical sense, but as a matter of discussion.

A group of four people (who didn't all arrive together) were discussing their trials of giving up the cigarettes as a topic of conversation. It didn't look like they had intended to meet for this reason, but a micro-community seemed to have formed and an ad hoc ex-smokers support group was in the making. They spoke about how difficult it was to give up, what gum they chewed as an alternative or how often they changed the patch.

It caused my mind to think about a couple of elderly people I know, both smokers. I am aware that they are on limited pensions and live in very humble dwellings and most definitely cannot afford to smoke. And yet they do. Such is the grip that tobacco has on people - many of whom started smoking when it was fashionable and health concerns were of no concern at all. Suddenly I viewed the 50 cent increase as unfair. Completely understandable, but for some unfair. It also made me loathe the tobacco companies even more.

My faith background has traditionally held a strong position in relation to harmful substances and it continues to do so. I am proud to say that I have never smoked a cigarette in my life - a testament to at least something in my upbringing holding fast. (I wish I could say the same for every piece of wise advice offered me!) That doesn't put me in a better position, but it does cause me to ask, what could I do to help? Because I don't imagine that the extra revenue created from adding 50 cents to a packet of cigs will be filtered back in some form to help my old smoking friends to quit.

By the way, if you are a smoker who is trying to give up: God's grace and strength to you!

Starbucks in Dalkey

2008-10-11T14:50:00.005+01:00

A few months ago I mentioned that there was quite a stir in the coastal village/town of Dalkey, just south of Dublin. Plans were underway for opening a Starbucks and some locals didn't like the idea.

Anyway, Starbucks went ahead and opened a couple of weeks ago and as I was kind of passing Dalkey I had the opportunity to pop in for a latte this week. (My wife would later dispute the 'kind of passing Dalkey' and was a little concerned that it meant our kids who were with me only had cookies and crisps for lunch - plus a bottle of expensive fresh orange juice, I retorted!)

My first impression of this Starbucks was...I couldn't find it! This has to be the most discrete store I've ever seen. I drove past three times before I saw it. Once inside, I have to say, I really liked it. Although there wasn't many places to sit on the ground floor, the upstairs looked like a great place to hang out/do business/study/meet friends, plus anything else that makes Starbucks more than just over-priced coffee.

Now to be fair I didn't get a chance to visit any of the other cafes in that town, but there does seem to be a few choices. Reports from locals suggest particular loyalty to the other coffee shops so there shouldn't be any worry about those ones going out of business. Right?

Going too far for coffee

2008-09-17T21:08:00.002+01:00

I woke up this morning and decided to make a 300 mile round trip just to get a cup of coffee.

In my quest to visit every Starbucks in ROI I knew that my biggest challenge was going to be getting a latte from stores outside of Dublin. The Starbucks website has two such stores listed. One in Kildare and the other in Cork.

I have already managed to visit the Kildare store. I'd rate it as one of the nicest Starbucks around. It's in a small outlet mall (with a great kids playground) just outside of the town (or city?) of Kildare, about an hour's drive from home.

As for Cork, that was going to be another matter. But today, I did it! And it was relatively simple.

Fortunately the store in Cork is at Cork International Airport, so when I saw Ryanair doing a special offer for flights I couldn't resist the opportunity for knocking this one off my list. The latte cost more than the plane tickets!

It was all a bit if a surreal experience, walking up to the barista and ordering my drink, a wry smile on my face. I was desperate to tell him what I was doing, but as it's all a bit silly I decided not too.

After the coffee I bought a sandwich and sat outside of the airport on a sunny embankment. Then I got on a plane and came home again.

Now I need to quickly finish off visiting the last couple of stores in Dublin so I can say I did it because if they open up a store in, say, Leitrim I'm not sure that I'll ever get around to completing the task.

Tim Tam Slam

2008-09-15T21:45:00.002+01:00

I first had a Tim Tam biscuit when I was visiting my folks when they lived in Australia about 6 or 7 years ago. The Tim Tam is an Aussie institution. It's kind of like a Penguin biscuit - only not as dense. So it was on that visit that I first discovered the 'Tim Tam slam'.

About a year or so ago I noticed that you can now get Tim Tams in Ireland. (You can get them in the UK too, and in USA I think they are called 'Arnotts Originals'). Every now and then a packet finds its way home from the grocery store.

Anyway, today I favoured a cup of coffee for my afternoon break as opposed to my usual tea and I opened the biscuit tin for something suitable to dunk. Tim Tams! And I just had to do a Tim Tam slam. It was so good I felt I had to blog about it!

By now some readers may be wondering what a Tim Tam slam is. Check out this video that gives clear, step by step instructions as to what to do.

I should say that slamming with a cup of tea would work, but if you can drink coffee then the flavours work better.

Let me know if you give it a go.

What were you doing when…?

2008-08-29T01:18:00.002+01:00

I've been drawn into another meme by Ali! This time it's about significant events in recent history from my perspective. Here goes…

Princess Diana's death – 31^st August 1997

I was assistant director of a Salvation Army summer camp for children in north-east Ohio, USA (Camp Neosa). The main season had ended and the kids returned to school, but for the last couple of weeks in August we ran sessions for others – older people or church groups. As I recall it was Labor Day weekend and people from Salvation Army churches across north-east Ohio had gathered for the annual 'Camp Meetings' – worship services, bible studies, BBQs, hanging out. It was always an easier pace than the rest of the summer so I quite enjoyed it.

It was over breakfast on the Sunday morning (5 hours behind UK time) that someone came and told me what the news was. I think at first I thought they were joking. Obviously they weren't.

A few days later on the day of the funeral my girlfriend (now wife) came over to my apartment at about five in the morning so we could watch the funeral. Two things about the funeral struck me. One was a marvellous piece of choral music that I don't actually remember what it was called, but all the way through it was a sustained pedal-point drone sung by the basses. The other thing was the images of flowers being thrown on to the hearse as it drove along its route.

I can remember thinking at the time that there seemed to be an awful lot of fuss about this woman and it wasn't as if Mother Teresa had died. That happened six days later on 5^th September 1997.

Margaret Thatcher's resignation – 22^nd November 1990

I wasn't particularly interested in politics in 1990 and so couldn't say for sure what I was doing when this event took place. I do remember the striking photo of her in the car leaving Downing Street – the Iron Lady, crying.

Attack on the Twin Towers – 11^th September 2001

I'm sure for many in my generation this will be our JFK-assassination-where-were-you moment.

My wife and I were just a couple of days into our training for ministry in The Salvation Army at their theological college in London having moved to the UK from the States earlier that summer. We had had some kind of introductory class in the morning followed by lunch with our "session mates" and staff. The afternoon was set aside for official photos. It was after we had been photographed and were walking down a corridor that a member of staff stopped us to say that there had been a plane crash in America – the full extent of what had happened was not yet clear to reporting media. (I could tell a similar story of travel news reports on the radio regarding a malfunction or "power surge" on the London Underground on 7^th July 2005).

My wife and I returned to our little flat to continuing unpacking and arranging furniture. I decided to turn the TV on to see if there was anything on the news about this plane crash. What we saw shocked and stunned us and will forever be imprinted in our minds. One of the towers had been hit by a plane in what seemed to be a horrific accident. A few minutes later we watched as the second plane struck instantly changing the perspective of the scene.

As the afternoon progressed lots of people came around to see us and ask about my wife's family – a thousand miles from New York. We assumed they were ok, but it was impossible for quite some time to get a phone connection to the USA so great was the demand for communication.

My wife planted a small American flag outside as a symbol of solidarity. I was touched when, later that evening, I noticed that some of the teenagers whose parents we were training with had placed a few candles by the flag, and a hand written prayer.

England's World Cup semi-final v Germany – 4^th July 1990

I was a teenager living in Felixstowe, Suffolk. A few friends had come around to my house to watch the game and we were all bitterly disappointed with the result. I have a feeling one of my friends kicked a bird table in our back garden and broke the top off. Later on, as we wondered through our small town centre that evening, I saw a Germany football shirt in the window of a sports shop. I spat at it. (Not a very proud memory that. Sorry.)

President Kennedy's Assassination – 22^nd November 1963

Umm, if I was a teenager in 1990 I'm sure you can appreciate that this event has very little emotional attachment for me. Like Ali though I have enjoyed the conspiracy theories.

Right, now I've got to think of a couple of people who could have a go at answering these…

I'm going to nominate my wife even though the only two that will really apply to her are items 1 and 3 – both of which I was with her at the time. It might be interesting to hear her side of the same event.

I'll also nominate jsi and miz melly.

Finally, I am going to randomly choose a complete stranger by clicking the "Next blog" button above. So…

mints it's over to you! (Poor girl has lost her snail).

Begining of the End for Starbucks?

2008-08-06T21:48:00.002+01:00

Ali was kind enough to think about me today as she read a news report on the BBC's business pages. (I'm not sure what I'm more impressed about - the fact that Ali thought of me or that she reads the business news!)

It looks like Starbucks are planning to close 61 of its stores in Australia - more than 70% of its business! This reminded me of news last week that for the first time since Starbucks went public 16 years ago they have encountered a loss in their quarterly finances. Is this a sign of changing times for Starbucks?

However, I have more conclusive proof! I decided to take my game of visiting every Starbucks in ROI a little more seriously and have knocked off a few more from my target. (Look out for a future blog about this on 17th September).

Currently, the Starbucks website for the Republic of Ireland shows that there are 25 stores waiting to be visited. My current figure is 15. (Although it could be 16 as I can't remember if have been to the one at Liffey Valley shopping centre. I should have taken photos!)

BUT, I have my suspicions that Starbucks are not as big as they say they are! I recently noticed that there were two listed in Blackrock. I'd already visited the one in the old Post Office, so I purposefully went back to the town last weekend. There was no trace of the second store and one of the baristas at the Post Office told me they were the only ones. On closer inspection of the website listing the "second" store is given the same street address that the Post Office is on. This double listing also causes me to doubt that the details of the store at the IFSC in Dublin and a store on Custom House Quay are not two separate stores, but one. The IFSC is located on Custom House Quay!

But wait, there's more!

The clincher for me that Starbucks are in trouble is the fact I have noticed in a couple of their stores (and I presume nationwide) that they are offering FREE REFILLS on their filter coffee. Now, I whole heartedly welcome the introduction of free refills (most places on this side of the Atlantic are too tight to make that offer), but I have never come across this at Starbucks. Bring on the loyalty cards too!

What does this mean for Starbucks in Ireland? Interestingly, what could this mean for Starbucks in Dalkey? (Check out some of the comments since I posted a while back).

I don't know! What do you think?

What I do think is that I better finish my game quickly before I wind up with a sense of failure if a store closes before I get to it.

Cup Holders - Breaking News!

2008-08-05T22:11:00.002+01:00

In order to combat the mind numbing task of grocery shopping (I'm not sure now how it wound up as my responsibility) I decided to go to a different store than usual. I went to a local store of the chain referred to below - and low and behold they had trolleys with "cup holders". Plus a separate holder for the scanner gun!!! (And one for a bunch of flowers).

Could it really be a cup holder?!?

Yes!

A regular latte was swiftly bought from the store cafe and I went about my task in a much better mood.

Salad, onions, (sip, sip) bread, milk, cheese, (sip, sip) washing powder, orange juice, (Hey, look at me everyone. I'm drinking a cup of coffee while putting frozen peas in my trolley).

It just felt right.

Cup Holders

2008-08-02T15:32:00.002+01:00

I once read that in America one of the primary issues for many people when buying a car is how many cup holders it has got. Whether or not this is true I do not know. I like to think that it is as it would be a factor for me given the choice. My latest car has no "real" cup holder in the front - just improvised one that are very likely to cause an accident one day. I actually think that the car manufacturer has purposely left out cup holders in the front (there are plenty in the back) in order to discourage drivers to be drinking coffee/tea/whatever while driving in an unsafe manner. They might have a point. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has put a vehicle worth thousands of Euro in jeopardy just for the sake of trying to balance a hot cup of coffee and a donut worth less than five Euro.

Anyway. I happened to go into a grocery store today (a slightly more up market store than usual) and I noticed an addition to the traditional shopping trolley. It was a cup holder! This is a great idea and one that I have been waiting to see implemented for a while. Truly, I am a man before my own time.

Hmmmm, hang on. On further reflection, I wonder if it was actually a holder for the automatic scanner gun that some stores let you take around the shop?

The Joy of Coffee

2008-07-31T23:55:00.003+01:00

This evening, as soon as the kids were in bed, I dashed out to get to a toy store in the city centre before it closed. I needed to pick up a present for our daughter's birthday. It's not until next week, but I have this awful habit of seeing something great and waiting to get it/book it/see it and then wind up missing it all together. So many times! Anyway, I got there just before they closed and managed to buy the item I wanted - last on the shelf.

While I was in the area I thought I'd head around corner to go and see The Dark Knight. Unfortunately all the viewings for the rest of the evening were sold out. (Nicoley has a review).

Fortunately I had a back-up plan prepared: a book under my arm and the knowledge that it was just a couple of minutes walk, over the River Liffey, and into Temple Bar. I love the Temple Bar area and don't get down there nearly enough. It has a great buzz about the place especially in the evening. I knew I would find somewhere good for coffee and I wasn't disappointed.

I stoped in to The Joy of Coffee. Immediately I liked it. It is a small coffeehouse with a distinct continental feel to it - solid wooden tables, a simple vase of flowers and chairs that creak. Ireland has had a smoking ban in public places for a few years now which I am very pleased about, but I must admit that the occasional whiff of smoke blowing in through the open door from passers by did add a little something extra. I wish we all could have got together and sat around one of the big tables.

I headed for the rear of the cafe, a darkened area with a bar and stools across the back wall and only a small lamp to give any light. It gave me a view of behind the counter where I could watch the staff pull the shots and serve slices of cheesecake drizzled with caramel. I sat next to the lamp in order to read my book, Surprised by Hope (which Tea4Two says she is going to review ;-)

In choosing my drink I opted for something different that usual: a cortado. I'd not heard of it before so I thought I'd give it a try. It's a shot of espresso with a dash of steamed milk and a touch of foam - basically a mini latte. I really liked it and could picture myself having one each morning. It's espresso with a bit of the edge taken off. Nice.

I left the cafe thinking it would ages before I would come back again then it dawned on me that it would take less than 10 minutes to cycle there and I wouldn't have to worry about finding somewhere to park in the city. Plus they are open late!

This is just as well because I think the seats by the large window at the front looking out on to the cobbled streets of Temple Bar seem very appealing.

Lost in Translation

2008-07-29T00:43:00.002+01:00

I was in a cafe the other day and a group of tourists from France came in, excitedly. I wouldn't have described the cafe as something of Parisian quality (although I'm sure there are some bad cafes in Paris), but the group felt it worthy of taking a photo nonetheless.

One lady took charge, ordered the other half dozen or so women to move chairs, get from behind menus and freeze in a suitable pose.

I don't know an awful lot of French, but I've remembered a few words here and there (un café s'il vous plait). So I smiled when I heard the photographer's request:

"Dites le fromage!"

I think the meaning behind the phrase got somewhat lost along the way.

Thanks Wallace

2008-07-28T09:13:00.002+01:00

I'm finally getting around to making some changes to the look of my blog, but I just wanted to say thanks to Wallace (he is currently swimming in shark infested waters! Well, wading in them at least.) for setting up and taking the photo that is my current header.

Thanks!

Pray As You Go

2008-07-23T11:50:00.002+01:00

It might be that you like to take a few minutes quiet out of your day to spend some time in reflection or reading or praying. To help and encourage me in my faith journey I think this aspect is important. However, (as I've said before) I'm not very good at keeping the discipline.

I wish I was one of those people who could get up at day break, make a pot of coffee and retreat to a room in the house where you spend some time with God. But I'm not, so I'm always looking for fresh ways to make this connection.

I have come across Pray As You Go which is a site run by the British Jesuits. It's a ten minute or so daily podcast (Mon-Fri) that includes a piece of music, a Bible reading, a thought and some space for private prayer. It's a contemplative way of connection with God which you can do sitting at your computer, or put it on you mp3 player and take it with you! I subscribe through itunes (you don't need an ipod) which makes it easy to have ready when I want it.

Today's (23rd July) piece of music is particularly beautiful. Maybe you would find the site helpful too?

Why I Dislike Iced Tea

2008-07-18T00:03:00.002+01:00

Jessie made a comment about the joys of iced tea - and questioned it being the worst thing in the world I have ever had. Ok, so there are worse things in life than iced tea. Much worse. However...

Want to know why I don't like the stuff?

Back in 1994, during a summer break from studying film and TV at college (what a great way to spend a few years at college!) I worked at a Salvation Army summer camp in California (what a great way to spend the summer!) Two major life events occurred at Camp Gilmore. I feel in love with a lifeguard from Ohio who later became my wife. I also realised, in a more grown-up sort of way, that God loved me too and there was nothing I could do about it. However, neither of these points have anything to do with iced tea.

Summer in California is hot. And dry. The whole season I was there it almost threatened to drizzle once, but didn't actually manage to muster itself up to that point. Kind of the complete opposite of an Irish summer.

It was on a particularly hot afternoon, after a hike through the camp trails, that I entered the dinning area and spotted the tables all prepared for the evening meal. On top of the tables were jugs (pitchers) of icy cold, golden coloured drinks. My taste buds, parched as they were, worked up the ability to send signals to my brain to inform me that one of my favourite drinks was ready and waiting for my consumption. The pre-thought of flavour flooded my mouth as I poured a glass and took a huge gulp of apple juice..............no wait!

Iced tea!

Unsweetened!!!

My senses were devastated and I've never returned to the vile stuff again.

By the way, any hot tea drinker worth their salt will tell you that on a warm day a cup of tea is more refreshing than a cold drink.

Heavenly Cafe

2008-07-12T14:08:00.002+01:00

My wonderful wife suggested that I go out for the morning by myself. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I put a book in my backpack and jumped on my bike to find a cafe that was open at 9:00am on a Saturday. The one I wanted to go to wasn't open yet, but just down the street was one that was open and I had been meaning to go to it for a while now - the Heavenly Cafe.

I'm not sure really why it is called Heavenly Cafe. I should have asked. I'm sure I'll go back again because they had quite a nice looking breakfast menu. I just stuck to a latte and blueberry muffin (served with cream!?).

You have probably noticed at restaurants or cafes that waiting staff are given a little signal to let them know that an order is ready - maybe a light is switched on or someone jingles a little bell. I had to smile in the way they did it at the Heavenly Cafe. It was the sound of a doorbell - you know, bing-bong. I imagined sitting in a cafe in heaven, hearing a doorbell and thinking, 'Oh, someone must have just arrived!'

13 of 24

2008-07-05T23:39:00.002+01:00

My wife works so hard with our kids and doesn't get the breaks she deserves. So this morning I suggested that I drop her off, on her own, at a large bookshop while I take the three kids (almost 4yrs, 2 yrs, and 8 weeks) to a café. Oh man, was that ever a mistake? I did have an ulterior motive and it was to get a latte from a Starbucks that I haven't visited yet in my effort to get a coffee from every Starbucks in Ireland. You need to know that they only arrived on these shores about two years ago. Now they are opening thick and fast and I'm not sure how I'm going to visit the one at Cork Airport. I've had 75% visitation, but now I'm down to just over 50%.

I have to say, it didn't really matter today that I couldn't enjoy a relaxed coffee and muffin as the store I visited has to be the worst location for a Starbucks I've ever been in! Never mind, I can cross it off my list and won't have to go back again.

Ironically, I have yet to visit the Starbucks just a three minute cycle ride from my home!

One for the Tea Ladies

2008-07-05T23:09:00.003+01:00

I gather that there are some readers who wouldn't touch a cup of coffee with a barge pole. Fair enough, I understand. I feel the same way about mushrooms and coconut. However, it would appear that you do like to drink tea. (I trust it is the hot variety and not – I can hardly bring myself to say it – iced tea. I'd rather have a bowl of Thai style mushroom soup.)

It is certainly no bad thing to like tea. Actually I probably drink more tea than coffee each day, but will rarely "go out" for tea. Anyway, for tea drinkers everywhere, can I recommend a book that my wife picked up for me today during her hour of leisure? It's a book about the great British cuppa and all that goes along with that. It could equally be about the great Irish cuppa as, I think, the Irish drink more tea per capita than the English. The book is called Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down. If you are from this general area of the world you will instantly understand this cultural reference, nod your head and think, yes, I do like to sit down at some point in the day with a nice cup of tea. It's just what you do.

The book covers everything you need for a basic understanding of tea – the tea bag, the tea pot, choice of cup or mug, etc. But there's more: As the book says, "A cup of tea without a biscuit is a wasted opportunity." So there is an extensive section on all things biscuity with reviews of some of the most popular biscuits – Custard Creams, Digestives, Shorties, Malted Milk, Lincoln, Tunnock's Wafer, Fig Rolls, Hob-Nobs, Party Rings, Mint Viscounts, and much more! Kimberleys get a mention as do Oreos (although Oreos are not looked upon with the same nostalgic charm on this side of the Pond). There is also a shorter section on cakes (including the debate, is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?), plus a section at the end on the actual sitting down process of the tea break.

Apparently it is a very funny book. I say apparently because I only read the first chapter before my wife picked it up and started laughing out loud from the sofa while she fed the baby and I fed the kids.

The authors also have a website which I have previously mentioned.

Now, have you put the kettle on yet?

Latte

2008-07-04T23:12:00.002+01:00

I've often wondered why lattes are sometimes served in a glass, rather than a traditional mug or cup. Today I think I found out the potential of why.

This evening I made my self-promised return to Rotana Cafe for a latte and some baklava. I was not disappointed.

Maybe it was because, when I arrived, I was the only person in the cafe that the server took such care with my drink - or maybe she treats each act of service the same way. No matter, what was presented to me was a picture. Sitting at the western facing window with the evening sun warming the view, and being in no particular rush, I took the time to take admire this act of micro-art:

The latte, served in a clear glass, was comprised of three tones of brown. At the bottom was a creamy coffee colour followed above by a wide band the colour of caramel. The top layer looked like it was a rich, hot chocolate the dark shade of which contrasted against the cap of foam - a clean, pure white head of froth. And then - the piece de resistance - a single espresso bean decorated the top.

I watched the bean as it slowly...slowly...very slowly sank through its foam bed and was baptised into the essence of its own becoming.

Delightful.

Sitting with Patrick

2008-06-29T22:28:00.004+01:00

Following dreary skies this morning, the weather cleared for a beautiful late June afternoon. Looking for something to do with the kids we returned to the Grand Canal for coffee and a stroll. Only this time, the young toddler was a fast and fearless two year old! Not quite so leisurely.

However, we did stop and sit with Patrick Kavanagh again which gives me an excuse to print another of his poems.

I was out on a walk last Good Friday and stopped into a small church where a choir was practicing. At the back was a book-counter with a few items for sale. I bought a book with a collection of Kavanagh's work just because of this poem:

A View of God and the Devil
Patrick Kavanagh
God
I met God the Father in the street
And the adjectives by which I would describe him are these:
Amusing
Experimental
Irresponsible -
About frivolous things.
He was not a man who would be appointed to a Board
Nor impress a bishop
Or gathering of art lovers.
He was not splendid, fearsome or terrible
And yet not insignificant.
This was my God who made the grass
And the sun,
And stones in streams in April;
This was the God I met in Dublin
As I wandered the unconscious streets.
This was the God that brooded over the harrowed field -
Rooneys - beside the main Carrick Road
The day my first verse was printed -
I knew him and was never afraid
Of death or damnation;
And I knew that the fear of God was the beginning of folly.
The Devil
I met the Devil too,
And the adjectives by which I would describe him are these:
Solemn,
Boring,
Conservative.
He was a man the world would appoint to a Board,
He would be on the list of invitees for a bishop's garden party,
He would look like an artist.
He was the fellow who wrote in the newspapers about music,
Got into a rage when someone laughed;
He was serious about unserious things;
You had to be careful about his inferiority complex
For he was conscious of being uncreative.