Pubs and Rugby Matches

Judith, Alex, Brian, James

Just a quick update regarding a fun evening I had last weekend when James (the post-doc I'm working for) invited both myself and another undergrad working in the lab to join him and his friends at a pub downtown to watch the 6 Nations' rugby match between France and Ireland. I was quite excited as this would be the first time I watch a 6 Nations' match and nonetheless, I would get to watch it at a pub in Ireland! So I drafted Judith and Alex to come out on the town with me and we made our way over to O'Neill's pub downtown, which is a great old Victorian-style pub and was packed with expectant rugby fans to the point where it was hard to move, let alone find a seat! Luckily, James and his friends had been there for a while and had managed to snag a table!

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect as I was walking in to join my supervisor and his friends at a pub and it did make me a bit anxious as I've heard that mixing work and play is not always the best of ideas! But it turned out the be a fantastic adventure, as the rugby match got cancelled (to my great dismay and that of many others at the bar) and we decided to head over to a nightclub called Dandelion for a bit of dancing! We ended the night at good ol' McDonalds (I know...) for a burger and fries and were all feeling quite tipsy at the end of it all!

As an aside, I do believe it's worth mentioning that, in order to get to the ladies' room at O'Neill's, one has to walk down a narrow flight of stairs for which the walls are covered with old school paintings and advertisements for beer and such! This pub is also a complete maze in every way possible. It is very easy to lose your way, but wherever you DO get lost, you'll be sure to find another bar from which you can order drinks, so there's no need to worry on that front! ;)

Expanding on this restroom adventure, and seeing as how I was beginning to feel a bit tipsy by the time I ventured out on my own to find the toilets, you can imagine my amusement when I realized that the stalls are equipped with fluorescent lights... Now I told myself I wouldn't post this picture on the web and would keep it for my own entertainment, but I have quickly come to the conclusion that it would be rather selfish of me not to share what I think would amuse a number of other people out there so to finish off this wonderful post, here's to hoping your inner child is as amused as I was!

... and that is just the toilet paper in the bowl FYI! -_-



P.S. Also had my first Guiness in Ireland... and it was FANTASTIC!