Well, it was a splendid weekend that started in fantastic style with a big outdoors event to kick off the Fringe Festival, a giant puppet show after dark on Saturday evening. Check out the pics I took on my mobile:

There were thousands of people there, and it didn't even rain so it was just great. The venue was the big courtyard at the Collins Barracks Museum on the north side of the Liffey. The show was by a Galway trouple called Macnas. Words can't describe it, but the Macnas website makes a fair stab at it!

Workwise, it's a busy time for all of us in the restaurant trade, because we're getting psyched up for the Dine in Dublin week, starting on the 18th. There are lots of cheap offers for diners, but I would like to mention that we humble kitchen staff are hoping that this won't also mean no tips! :-) We'll be doing our best! I'm just glad I'm not going to be working on Culture Night, because I'm totally looking forward to it and plan to go to at least 15 things, even if I have to plough through the rain to do so. And speaking of rain, I'm prepared for the autumn in a flowered raincoat I picked up at a fleamarket at the weekend for 2 Euros. Fantastic!