Uh oh, I can feel another list coming on. This one is a top ten of things that have been ‘challenging’ so far - in order of frustratingness (I know it’s not a word, but it’s my blog and I can make up words if I like):

1. I can’t have a bank account

2. I had to queue for 20 minutes to be told I can’t have a bank account (by a fantastically friendly lady - everyone in Ireland is friendly - maybe that’s why the queues are so long?)

3. The reason I can’t have a bank account (so the fantastically friendly lady tells me) is because I have no bills in my name.

4. Yes, you got there before me, didn’t you. The reason I have no bills in my name is because I can’t pay them because…I don’t have a bank account!

5. They turn the water off at 11pm (’because there’s a water shortage’ the fantastically friendly lady from the water people told us - and you can hardly complain because water is free here - bonus!). Mind you, that’s not really frustrating because I’m always in bed before then anyway. Our lodger told us.

6. I don’t know anyone. This is a problem because I don’t know anyone I can ask to babysit, and as I told my friend B, short of accosting smiley looking people in the street and asking them to look after my kids, I’m pretty stuck until school starts and hopefully I make a few friends.

7. I have a toothache and don’t have a babysitter (see 6 above). Ask any mother and she will tell you the chances of your two children behaving while the dentist has his fingers in your mouth so you can’t shout at them are very slim.

Nope that’s it - it’s a top seven today I’m afraid. No, actually, I’ll add three fantastic things instead…

8. I’ve found Tesco! This is important to a girl, and excuse my housewifeliness (well I am a housewife) but it’s fab to find a familiar shop. They do really interesting things like Value Potato Farls. What the hell are they?!

9. There’s no road rage. Everyone drives like a lunatic here, and regards it as completely normal behaviour. No-one seems to get cross, no matter what you do. Yes, even when hubby is driving. Maybe it’s because they’re used to people swerving into their path trying avoid all those dead things by the side of the road…

10. Sons #1 and#2 have discovered a golf driving range down the road. You get 100 balls for 8 euro, and 50 free if you come before 2pm (aargh!). I don’t mind because we get to stop in the pub on the way home. Well, you have to cross over you see, because it’s safer to walk towards incoming traffic (ahem). The range is on the same side of the road as us, but further down. Obviously, there’s the ubiquitous rabbit population who are, of course, completely unaware of all the golf balls thudding around their ears and sit merrily by the markers checking out the form. We wondered if anyone had ever hit one and if so, whether there’s a special prize (queue frenzied shots by sons who, of course, missed every time.)

Got to ten this time!

Yes, the sun has managed to fight its way through the cloud for at least..ooh..half an hour this afternoon and my own little Monty and Tiger have been whacking tennis balls into the bushes with their little golf clubs (what, you don’t seriously think I’d let them have golf balls do you?). #1 son is looking a bit dashing in his bright orange t-shirt and white tracky bottoms, cleverly accessorised with a bright orange golf visor and single white golfing glove. Needless to say #2 son’s got his Brazil kit on as usual (I do wrestle it off him to wash it every few days, honest). The front lawn’s covered in divots, but hey, at least we’re not stuck inside watching Timmy Turner’s adventures with Cosmo and Wanda (they’re his fairy godparents - don’t you watch telly?!). Here’s a pic of the back garden and..I can’t believe it, I’ve actually got a flipping rabbit in there by accident!

I know, I know..but it’s just another thing that strikes me as completely weird. I have never, ever seen so many dead things by the side of the road as I have since I’ve been living here. For your delectation, and in order of weirdness, is my top er..eight:

1. A horse (yes, really - a whole one)
2. A dog (hello? doesn’t it occur to someone to look along the road when their dog’s missing?)
3. Masses of cats
4. Badgers
5. Foxes
6. Squirrels
7. Birds
8. A kind of curly haired, pale thing and #1 son thought might be a poodle but I’m reserving judgment.

There you go. Thought for the day.

Hmm..a very frustrating morning. Have been trying unsuccessfully to take a photo of one of the Paddys (or should that be Paddies) for you. The stealth approach proved unsatisfactory, so I tried the commando version: hurling myself out of the door clicking the camera in the hope that I caught one of them on film. They’re all completely traumatised now at the sight of a slightly dishevelled English bird travelling towards them at high speed, and have gone off for a lie down - but I got one!!! Okay, so I haven’t mastered posting photos yet, so it’s a bit blurry, but hey it’s a start.

I can’t believe it, it’s cold and windy this morning. Isn’t August supposed to be slightly warm at least? Oh, and did I mention I’ve got terrible toothache? Next instalment - Irish dentists!