A map put together from pieces of the map the official website: alton-towers.co.uk/themepark/
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Monday, June 13, 2005
alton towers map
alton towers
So this weekend we went to Alton Towers. The 3 of us (myself, mike and Conor) who can't go to America for the summer decided to have our own adventure and it was great!!
We got cheap bmiBaby flight from Cork to Birmingham on the Friday evening after work, where we hired a car (with the help of my grandparents credit card at the last minute) and drive to Alton! We arrived and checked into our B&B/Pub for a good nights rest before our amazing dat ahead of us!!
Waking nice and early the next day to a Full English (I do miss the Full Irish...) breakfast and then it was off to the park!! If you ever go to Alton Towers, you have to get used to 1 thing, and that is queuing!! They love it there!! They queue for everything from parking your car, to going on the mono-rail, to getting your tickets to the park, to getting in, to getting on rides, to pretty much everything!! The longest we queued for was for Rita (their new ride) and that lasted about an hour. After that we decided that it wasn't worth wasting that much time again. We got on all the big rides, Nemesis, Air, Oblivion, Ripsaw a good few times, using the fast-track tickets and the single rides queues. 'We are 3 single riders who would like to get on the ride... Together..'
Oh I nearly forgot one of the best rides. Duel is their old haunted house that they re-kited with quazar type guns in the carriages and you go around and shoot the ghosts!! Its great as you get points for everything you hit and you can compare with everyone else!! Brilliant Day!
That evening we went on an adventure to a near by town called Uttoxeter where we had a nice Bangladeshi meal a.k.a. an Indian! Following that it was straight home to bed!! Next morning we checked out and headed straight to the park, where we got in all the rides we liked the most the previous day and a lot of shopping. We finished up on Spinball Wizard and was quite surprised at how good it was, and we were not expecting it to be that good. We headed straight up to Manchester Airport where we caught our flight home!!
A brilliant weekend was had by all, maybe except Mikes face on the plane, but he'll be prepared next time!!
Next mission: Oak Wood in a day!
Monday, June 06, 2005
idiocy level
Idiocy Level
That reminds me of a class extention you can get for firefox. It shows you the current level the US is at, but dumbs it down. Currently its yellow, "scared".
green blue yellow orange red
Citizen Guidance on the Homeland Security Advisory System
This is quite amusing. It sounds like its repeating its self a lot. Damn Americans and their Colour Codes!
That reminds me of American Dad. The creators of Family Guy. I can't wait to see it as it looks really good. And from what I hear from people from america its Funny as well!!
http://www.fox.com/americandad/
Sunday, June 05, 2005
connecting xbox to pc
Ok, I forgot how to do it, but eventually remembered/found out how to do it.
This is how to connect your PC to your Xbox.
For my PC I used:
IP address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
For my Xbox:
I used an Avalaunch dashboard, and doubled checked the setting in Evox.
DCHP: Disabled
IP address: 192.168.0.3
Gateway: 0.0.0.0
DNS1: 0.0.0.0
DNS2: 0.0.0.0
Proxy: Enabled
Port: 8080
Username: xbox
Password: xbox
And in the FTP program on the PC I used:
IP Address: 192.168.0.3
Site: Xbox
Username: xbox
Password: xbox
EASY!
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
mostly harmless...
Mostly Harmless...
The Blog from one half of the current 2FM breakfast Show! Intresting reading (sometimes!!)
Monday, May 30, 2005
summer time
So summer has started. I've put up the usual "band is gone away for the summer" post on the isinglas website. Everyone is getting ready to go to America for the summer J1'ing. That just leaves me and 2 other work experience guys that have to stay and work for the summer back at home. There is also a few others hanging around, but I bet it's going to be a quite enough summer.
I'm working in Musgrave's as part of my course in college. Conor (right in the master chief pic from gamecon) is working in banta and mike another guy doing applied physics and instrumentation is working in Lilly or something.
Our plan is to have as must fun as those feckers in America. And we plan to do this by completing missions! And our first one is to get to Alton Towers for the weekend without missing any work!
Sunday, May 08, 2005
over a month!
Personal update!
So much for keeping everything up to date!! I've been so busy with Work!!
Just done over 1 of my 6 months on work placement and i'm really enjoying it.
My laptop also went in for a service so i was computer'less for a few weeks. Thankfully everything is back to normal now and i can start putting everything back onto it again.
Until next time...
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005
post secret
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
A nice website a came across that makes you think. Some of the secrets are very humourous and some bring you back down to earth. These are real secrets that people share.
I'm sure i'd have a few postcards that i could send in...
Monday, April 11, 2005
Saturday, April 09, 2005
not too bad
Well with the 1st week over and another 25 to go its not as bad as it seems!! I made more money in that last week than I have all year, so that's a positive side to it!!
Really, I can't complain, all the people in Musgraves are great, and they are helping us find our feet. There is 3 of us who have started in the IT dept so at least I'm not on my own!!
So far... Thumbs up!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
6 months starts tomorrow
So tomorrow I start my 6 months work placement!! 6 months of work, 9-5, 5 days a week, for 26 week, or 6 months. I've worked last summer in Kandersteg doing the early and late shifts, you know, starting at 6:30am (sometimes 5:30am!) and working till 8pm (and sometimes 9pm!) but I didn't mind it, I never saw it as work, it was fun! I was among friends and I had a great time. The last time I had to do something like this was back in secondary school. (9-4) but then again that was school, so I didn't mind it!! Well I just hope it all does ok and I enjoy it, and its not too much hard work!! Only time will tell!
Thursday, March 31, 2005
gamecon
So Easter weekend myself, Conor and Footsie headed up to Dublin, with the car full of XBOX's, TV's and food for 24 hours of gaming!!
It was from 9am on Saturday morning until 10am on Easter Sunday Morning!! There were guys on PC's on one side of the room and on XBOX's on the other side. It was all linked up to one huge network and it was CLASS!!
There was also competitions and prizes, but were way too bad to win anything... altho we did win out first game of Halo2... 100 to 1! No lie!
Besides that, i'm up to nothing this week, my exams finished last Thurday, and i start work next Monday! Looking forward to it i must say...
Thursday, March 17, 2005
paddys day
Its St. Patricks Day!
I was going to send out a email to everyone wishing them a Happy St. Patricks Day, but i couldnt find anything worth while to send! I did find some intresting facts about St. Patricks Day tho!
As you may guess, its an American website!School children have started a little tradition of their own. They pinch classmates who don't wear green on this holiday. Wearing green is strictly a U.S. custom, as the color green is not popular in Ireland. Green is connected to the old green flag and a time when Ireland was not free. Green is also a color connected with hope and nature.
Many people will be eating Irish food such as Irish Stew and Corned Beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. Corned Beef is not an Irish dish. It is what Americans think the Irish eat. A more traditional meal would be ham and cabbage or bacon and cabbage. Some say that in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day the traditional green beer is prominent. However, in Ireland, many years ago, St. Patrick's Day is considered a holy day and Pubs were not open for business. There were no parades, no drinking or wearing green. Green was considered an unlucky color.
Leprechauns are little make-believe fairies from Ireland. They are the little old men who are shoemakers for the fairies. They usually stand about 2 feet tall. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. The legend is that if you catch one you can force him to tell you where he hides his gold.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
the real start
This is where it all really began on this site! I have signed up for this blog for ages, but never used it! So lets start now!!
I hope to put all my log KISC logs up here soon and some pictures. I also want to put up a load of pictures from ski trips, last summer and other general things that I feel the world needs to know and see!
Enjoy it you crazy person for looking at this!
P.S. Don't let anyone know this is where it starts :oP
Saturday, September 25, 2004
views of the centre
I found these two photos on the Summer CD, they are pictures of Kandersteg International Scout Centre and surrounding areas from the air. Really impressive!!
bire and kandersteg
Two nice pictures of Bire taken from the ground. Lovely view on a clear day!
Nice photos of the Kandersteg village... Class!
Sunday, September 12, 2004
staff day out
Our Staff Day Out - Summer 2005 - in Photos.
The view from Mount Titlis.
Sole, a honorary Corkonian!
Panoramic view from the top of Mount Titlis.
From deep inside the mountain!
You can rent those little bikes to whizz down the mountain road from half way up Mount Titlis. Amazingly Scary!
A sign in the Hotel where we had our Big S.D.O. Meal!
One of the courses for our meal. Traditionally Swiss, I forget what its called!
The L.T.S. Table back in Ski bar!
And some S.T.S. at their table!!
Ali and her Boot. We told her it was a bit too much for one person, but she didn't listen!
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Sunday, August 08, 2004
spirit of the games
To get into the spirit of the Olympic Games we had our Campfire themed! With a lighting by a native (South African) dressed in a traditional Greek costume!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
to the hutt
On our way up to spend the night in the Upper Hutt during training. I was honored in taking charge of the dogs, but Lucy was also there...
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Friday, June 11, 2004
swim in oeschinensee
The Proof I have swum in Ocschinensee Lake! Its a bloddy cold glacier lake! Also present, Brick, Simon, Sole and Kasia!
Thursday, June 10, 2004
rafting
During their stay, Brick and Simon went rafting! Good fun, and there was a guy with a camera in the raft infront taking pic's for them! Then gave them a CD at the end!
lts dinner
Some of the LTS at our Dinner before the Crazy Summer Season Starts! Don't we all look so Happy?! If only the food was ready...
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
mini reunion
The General Assembaly was last weekend and besides setteling in to the new job and working our asses off!, we had a Mini Reunion with Bart visiting!!
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Saturday, September 13, 2003
thats all folks
Well I never got to do that update from Kandersteg. I’ve just arrived home and everything went well. The bad thing is that I’m home and already I miss everyone and everything. It really was a sad day.
Happy Birthday to Mezer, see you in a few days when I recover!
I’ll work on a revamp on the website and work on my report to be submitted to my International Commissioner (if there still is one).
If you’ve being reading these while I’ve being over there, I hope you enjoyed it. If you’ve stumbled across this website, please read my entries, you hopefully will get a good feel of that it was like for me to volunteer my summer in Switzerland.
I’d recommend it to anyone, Thank you K.I.S.C. for my summer!
Slán,
Darran.
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
last time :*o(
Hey Hey,
Were nearly at the end of the season. 3 months came and went so fast it’s hard to believe that this time next week I'll be in college! But before we leave we have a few things left to do. On Thursday is our Staff Day Out, and what a day is planned... it’s going to be good fun, really good!! Looking forward to that, and then there is the packing, which is always fun! We also had our Departmental Dinner last week, which was a really nice night. And there is a few other things planned for us, but if you want to know, you will have to come on staff to find out!
A big shout out, as they say on the Radio, or Happy Birthday to Mary who is 17 today. Hope you have a good day!
I have my tickets ready and everything for my trip home. I'll leave Kandersteg on the 11:34 train, and my flight in Frankfurt is at 19:50. So I should be arriving into Dublin around 21:00. It will be a long day, with a lot of good byes in the morning; I figure I'll be at the train station on the hour every hour from very early in the morning!
I hope to put up one more update before I leave, but if I don't get a chance I'll be updating the website some time next week and tell you how everything went!
G'luck
Darran.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
normal life at kisc... normal?
How it going everyone from home, around Ireland and around the world!
Good good here. The season is coming to a close... awwwhhhh but still lots of things to do. The last two weeks everyone has being kicked from their departments and we all become departmentless short-termer's who will help out in whatever area of the centre that needs help. My last week was spent in CaMpSiTe! (said correctly) which I really enjoyed! It is a pity I only swapped into that department once the whole season. I also had my usual shop and catering as well as a few days off thrown in for good measure!
Speaking of which today I took a stroll up to a Mountain Hut (2548m) to complete my Gold Huttentest award! It was a really nice hike and a very nice day! Its funny that I always end up having good days off that are organized at the last minute! I've also got a trip to Milan or somewhere near there; it’s in Italy anyway, for next week. So I'm looking forward to that!
Tonight someone from the Geneva (World Scouting H.Q.) came to talk to us and get our feedback on the new award: Scout of the World Award. It will be launched around the world in 2004 but because we completed the award except for a report that we will do next week, we are able to receive the award! We will be the first in the World. It’s an award that tried to open people’s minds to Environment, Development and Peace. Overall I see that it has great potential and I will be urging my national association to take this on board, and it could be a good opportunity to develop the Rover sections.
But I'm sure you'll hear more about it in the future. Nothing else strange here. But because I am going home soon, I'm starting to look forward to it. A nice K.C.'s in front of the T.V. would be nice. But saying that, I'm sure if I was able to stay on longer, getting ready for new staff arriving, a new season and so on, I wouldn't even think about home!
Oh one last thing, I'll be checking all my logs with a proper spell checker when I get home!
Talk to you soon,
Darran.
Saturday, August 23, 2003
Sunday, August 17, 2003
2 out of 3 aint bad
Captains Log, Star date, one seven eight oh three.
Everything is going swimmingly, the moral is still high and the crewmembers are still getting on with each other. There was an incident last night, due to what we believe was an electrical storm. The sky's started to make noise and there were sightings of beams of light coming from nowhere. Then we lost power. It took engineering about two hours to restore power. During that time we could do nothing, no DVD's no music and there was a second sitting starting in the kitchen, so we had to wash dishes by hand. Also we lost communications, as the telephone system needs power to work. Overall the experience was enjoyable, a break from the usual, and then staff night out was cancelled! We all ended up in the staff room with lots of beer and drink, and a good night was had by all. And we had our hour sleep-in this morning as well, things couldn't get better!!
Yesterday marked two months being here and only four weeks left. The summer is coming to an end soon, but still there is guests, who we must remember are on their camp, and we must not forget that, because they have being looking forward for the last year for these weeks and saved much to come here. We all cant just sit back and not worry or work, because there is still jobs to do, like they have been done all summer.
Well I'm off now, a night of movies await!! And I'm off tomorrow! Yeah!
Darran.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
all down hill from here
How’s it going? And how’s things from your part of the world?
It’s being a while since my last update, so here is one to keep you updated with the goings on at Kandersteg International Scout Centre. Not much has happened these last few weeks, were just getting by. Well I say a lie there was things happening, but I will not say. You must come here to experience it for your self to find out what I'm talking about!!! So the last few weeks have being good fun, winding down from August 1st, but still about 700 on site and plenty to keep us busy!
I've also caught up with a few e-mails to different people, and I'm looking into going Skiing somewhere towards the end of the season, if its possible!!
One last thing, To all the Leaving Certers, I wish your the best tomorrow, and I'm sure whatever happens there will be options for you to take!
Good luck,
Darran.
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
getting ready
Scouts from all over the World, all celebrating Swiss National Day... August 1st 2003. 
aug 1st
Now that was a crazy, mad, long, different, fun day. August 1st 2003, Swiss National Day. I'm not going to say anything about it, you can read what was said on the official website, but it is definitely something that much be experienced by yourself.
Thank you for e-mailing me, and I will reply as soon as I get a chance. Its good to hear from home and what is going on.
Well done to Damien on achieving his Explorer Belt! I'm not the only one in Carrigaline who achieved it anymore!!
I am also thinking of applying for Long-term staff for next summer. As College gets in the way, I'm only able to apply for a 4-month position. I'm thinking of going for Buffet Assistant or Campsite Assistant. It starts at the start of June and finishes at the start of October. It would be pretty cool if I got the job. I'd like to go for Shop manager but its 5 months, so unless CIT will allow me to sit exams in April I wont be able to!
Gotta go, talk to you some other time!
Darran.
Friday, August 01, 2003
its nearly here!
What a crazy few weeks... were run off our feet getting ready for August 1st, TOMORROW!!! I start work at 6am, which isn't too bad, I'm used to it from catering, but I won’t finish until nearly mid-night. I've being meaning to write in the log earlier but I kept on having things to do, like our second disco last night, which was pretty cool.
Happy Birthday to Julie on the 29th! Hope you had a great day, and. because I'll have collapsed by the 2nd, I wish Brick a Happy Birthday as well, and have one for me.
When things settle down a bit in another week or so I'll reply to your e-mails and send a load of e-mails to ye.
Anyhow, I need some sleep as there is a busy day tomorrow... and I'm kinda getting excited!!
Until the next time, Happy August 1st!
Darran.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
dancing at the disco
Still reading Harry Potter but I keep getting distracted... a lot of late nights. Hopefully will get to finish it before September! August 1st is coming up and plans are being put into action, we nearly know where we will be for every second and what we will be doing in those seconds from 06:00 in the morning until late into the night! Speaking of which, I'm just back from our 1st disco that we held down the village for everyone, there was about 300/400 people there. My jobs for the night were Bar at the start, then a bit of dancing and then some Police Duty, which meant I had to sit on the side of the road telling people to be quite coz its past half ten! I'm only just back now. Even thought some people will be still clearing up until 01:30 in the morning we still all have to be up for Thought of the Day at 8! Well what else happened this week? Today I lead my First Hike, but we turned back due to the weather. Oh the joys. That’s about it for this week, Keep an eye out on the official website for news or photos of me... Oh Happy Birthday to Catherine who was 20 last Sunday.
Hope your all missing me...
Darran.
Thursday, July 17, 2003
usual going ons in kisc
Hello from Kandersteg again!!
I had a very interesting week this week! Last Friday I had my first International Campfire with over 600 people attending. I was helping out making sure everything was running smoothly! It was a good night!
The start of this week was nice and interesting as I was on top of the roof of the old chalet cleaning gutters! That’s some height, and the scariest thing I've ever done, but pretty damn amazing! Then I had to cycle up to the upper hutt (1890m) in the rain for a climbing workshop the next day. I was very tired, but it was a good laugh! Then today I was put in charge of a Service Project, where I had to organize and make sure that a group of Spanish made a fence in the campsite and repaired a picnic table. We did it just in time for lunch. And just as I was finishing my lunch today, a voice from behind me says "Dia Duit!” I turned around to see Colm Doyle standing there! He was there with his whole family! I was shocked! It was a great surprise and I was delighted to see a familiar face in Kandersteg. I opened the shop for them and gave them a tour of the place! It was really nice to see them. Now I wonder when everyone else will be popping in to say hello!
For now I must go, I have the day off tomorrow and I have the Harry Potter book to read, so it might be a long night!!
All the best!
Darran.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Thursday, July 10, 2003
settling in nicely
Hello from beautiful Switzerland!
Things here are great. Were getting on with all our jobs, I'm becoming quite good at the shop till and the early mornings in catering aren’t too bad. The staff nights out are a nice break and are varied from week to week. I've also visited Thun on a day off I was planning to spend in bed and relaxing around the place. It’s a nice city, and a load of crazy people jump into the nice clear blue, Freezing River and swim down stream. I also went for a swim in the lake just out side the city and it was very welcomed because it was very hot that day.
Yesterday and today were my first two swap days and I was in programme. Yesterday I was thrown into the deep end and told to run a stone carving workshop and a screen-printing workshop, but I managed! Today I was on a Cheesery Hike for my second time, with a group of Americans, and now, after today I can lead groups up on that hike on my lonesome! Next week I think I’m at the upper hutte and I’m doing a climbing workshop.
Between now and then there will be lots to do. Shop tomorrow, Catering over the weekend and then House. Its all pretty easy, not much brainpower needed!! I also had my first day on duty last Sunday. Duty being one of the three people each day that don't get a lunch break or a dinner break or a night off because you have to stay in reception to look after any tiny or major problems or questions anyone has, you also have to do all the check-ins (or campsite chickens) and be the one who must make sure there is someone sober in the chalet all night. So when we finished at half ten we weren’t able to head off to the pub for a quick one!!
Anyhow, I must go, see how the BBQ is getting on. The theme this week is Black plastic bag fashion!
Oh, and I'm guessing no one is coming over to see me because I haven't heard from anyone yet?! Talk to you in the future!!
Darran.
Thursday, July 03, 2003
happy birthdays
There are a few people that I have to wish Happy Birthday over the last few days.
Conor Crowley, the one who is a quarter of a Century on the 30th of June, Happy Birthday!
And Diarmuid! Happy 21st! Hope you have a Brilliant night! Sorry I wasn't there, but I'm stuck in Switzerland :oS
Darran.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
i'm OFF
Good morning, it’s my first real day off! I didn't have to get up early for thought of the day or breakfast, but I did have to get up early for a lift into Bern. I'm off with Bart (NL), Chiu (HK) and Christine (US) for a day out! Speaking of which there was a change in staff. Branco (YO) couldn't get a Visa to come here in time so they replaced him with Bart (NL). And Roufa (TZ) had to leave us because his English wasn't the best, but he promised to start to learn it and will be back next year.
Also, if you’re looking at my list of countries that are represented on staff, Greece isn't represented. I got confused with the GE that means Georgia, not Greece!! Sorry Tiko, I’ll correct it when I’m home!!
That’s about all the next I have at the mo, yesterday was the first real Kandersteg rainy day we had, but today is looking alright!
YiS,
Darran.
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