In ‘08 a few things happened. I finished my thesis, got a sweet job despite the recession and moved to Dublin. It’s my first time living in the city proper and I’m still getting used to it. The job and the people at work are great. Next year, I hope to get stuck in with projects and move beyond training. Part of that will be studying and hopefully passing the Cisco ICND1 & ICND2 exams in the near future.

Of course I miss Limerick. We had good times from the very beginning of the year when we rang in 2008 in Oslo. I was perhaps most active in Clubs and Socs in the first half of ‘08, running one with the help of some really great people like Mike, Lorraine, Gina and counsel from John, ger, alan etc. We pulled off the 5th annual fundraiser and made it bigger and better than ever. A lot of hard work paid off to see so many people enjoying themselves including a fair few from NUIM who were down for a conference we hosted. Kudos to Declan, Jaffa and co for coming down and bringing so many good speakers.

I was also being very social with the skynet crew and we’d one or two parties and drinks in Java’s, the Groody Bar, some kebabs in Hannover after CeBIT. I think that was the last time I had Schweinshax’n too but there will be more in ‘09! And this time I might be the one driving the Mercedes on the Autobahn until it smells of burning oil. Bless the Mercedes garage for their efficient diagnosis – no oil cap (from the time we rented the car).

Some firsts for 2008 – first time that I went windsurfing, quad-biking, attended an IETF meeting, presented a radio show (with aoife on ragradio), went to an All-Ireland Hurling game and simultaneously go to a match in the Gaelic Grounds, Rally of the Lake and finally, visit Galway properly.

Travel-wise, I got to Oslo and Hannover obviously, but also to Brussels, Barcelona and Rome. Next year, I would really like to catch up with my friends in London, visit the US and return to Berlin of course. Further down the list, Stockholm and Paris are places where I have people to visit…oh and Steve in Cork too of course

1. Stephen Says:
   January 2nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm

   Aye! You must visit me in Cork!

2. Will Knott Says:
   January 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm

   Joe,

   Congrats on the job and the move (and on behalf of everyone reading this, are there still hiring and what are they looking for)