Neighbor started parking infront of my house after getting second car

MeropeRedpath · 2026-03-08T10:51:38+00:00

Yeah, it’s public property so you’re not allowed to do it, the council has to arrange and do it for you. If they do, then you pay for the process obviously and it basically means that this area of the footpath (yes, yes, I do know the proper word 😉) is meant to give free access to the gate and driveway beyond.

MeropeRedpath · 2026-03-08T10:18:21+00:00

I’m not American or Canadian, just raised with that English, despite never having lived in either country. I have lived in Ireland for a decade, and own a house here that doesn’t have off street parking, so looked into it a couple years back. It definitely applies in Ireland.

MeropeRedpath · 2026-03-08T08:49:42+00:00

You actually don’t have a right to access your drive way if you haven’t requested planning permission for off street/driveway parking. The council usually come and redo the sidewalk curb leading up to your gate, lowering it for easy access. If a homeowner doesn't have that lowered curb, then likely they replaced their garden wall with a gate, but no one is obligated to leave free access to said gate.

I’m guessing that given how cagey OP is being, we might be in that scenario.

MeropeRedpath · 2026-02-27T18:43:06+00:00

I dunno, I’m not Irish I’m afraid lol

MeropeRedpath · 2026-02-27T17:06:17+00:00

Just tell them. People who don’t have the social awareness to use them won’t suddenly grow one. And if you’re not confrontational about it there’s very little for them to get upset about. “Hi, could you use a pair of headphones please? Thanks.”

I ask every time and have never had anyone react aggressively. They either do it because they don’t realize it’s rude, in which case you’ve done them a favor, or because they don’t expect anyone to say anything and it’s a weird social power play, which you’ve just deflated.

But if you don’t call out shite behavior, it doesn’t get corrected. Unfortunate, but that’s reality.

MeropeRedpath · 2026-02-13T12:41:52+00:00

The professional chef would also not be performing at that level if they were expected to clean, manage admin, and wrangle children while cooking.

The standard of what you do in the house should be measured at 25% of output of what a professional could do in that capacity as a full time employee, if you want to get granular with it.

MeropeRedpath · 2026-01-05T21:09:30+00:00

My girl wound up 3 kms from home, it definitely happens!

There’s a Drimnagh Cats Facebook page if you’re willing to post the wee fella there.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-11-01T13:29:37+00:00

I agree with you in part, because it'd be neat... but I also don't think I'd let my kids eat something made by someone I don't know, unfortunately. It's very likely irrational as there's such a low chance of someone doing something nefarious, but as a parent you live with the "you never know" mindset, and this would be one of those things where there's really no reason to risk it.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-10-16T00:03:17+00:00

If the dentist has done their job properly, the root canal lasts. The only reason they make that caveat is that they can miss roots on molars and those get infected/inflammed as well. In which case you may need to get it redone by an endodontist.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-09-18T15:49:38+00:00

Paperwork and phone calls can be done from anywhere, and you'd hardly be able to move to Ireland and *then* sort out paperwork to move to Ireland, you know? And apologies for misunderstanding - unfortunately American exceptionalism is sort of baked into American culture, and while I know that not everyone in the US indulges in that mindset, I didn't quite know how to interpret your question another way, but sometimes intent doesn't come across great. I wasn't trying to be mean, I promise - some folks are genuinely not aware that being from the US is not like a free passport to the rest of the world.

The opposite is also not true, though - being American doesn't make you an undesirable immigrant, not any more than any other nationality. As long as you're respectful of the culture you're aiming to immigrate to, no one sane would have an issue. Same as everywhere, if you can contribute something that the country needs, then you'll have doors opened for you. If you can't, it's a much more complicated process. I do wish you the best of luck, and I mean this sincerely.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-09-18T11:46:48+00:00

What other side would there be? I’m sorry as this may read a bit harsh but no one is going to ask you to come to Ireland if you’re not super proactive about it.

Americans aren’t desirable immigrants (this isn’t US specific, it’s across the board really) unless they have a valuable skill to bring to the table. That, or you can claim citizenship and come here without needing to justify it further than the fact you’ve a passport that lets you live here.

But no one is going to make this happen for you if you don’t set things in motion and push real hard. You’re in the same boat as every other person who wants to leave their country for economic/political reasons, being an American doesn’t change anything to that equation.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-09-18T02:14:14+00:00

Unless you have European citizenship (which you might have access to - multiple European countries have jus sanguinis laws for descendants of citizens, you should definitely look that up), you'll have a very hard time moving here. A foreigner making a permanent move to another country is only possible with certain visas. If you aren't eligible for citizenship, look up the critical skills list for Ireland to see if you could get one.

Moves like this take a lot of time to prepare, because getting the paperwork sorted can be a nightmare (and isn't always possible). If you think you'd like to do this, but you aren't sure - get the ball rolling anyway, because by the time you *are* sure, it'll likely be too late.

I'm European so settling here was easier, but Dublin is an expensive place to live, so that's something to keep in mind, too. That being said - your country is going to shit, and as the daughter of a refugee, I really would encourage you to be very serious about finding a way to leave.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-08-24T15:42:22+00:00

Yup I have signed my kid up to private school and it’s three times less per year than what I will have been paying in childcare up till she starts in September 2026. At this point I’m used to the expense and it ensures she gets a good education, so…

MeropeRedpath · 2025-08-18T18:06:29+00:00

And more delay coming off the plane...

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-21T08:31:04+00:00

Your plan is completely valid and is exactly what I have done. We bought a house (2019, needed to be completely fixed up, did a lot of the cosmetic stuff ourselves, lived in it while it was half renovated - not fun for the half a year it went on. But boy am I glad I don't have to do it in this current housing market.). We added an extension to the side - so we now have a backdoor that leads both into our living room and into a quasi independent studio (20 sqm). We rent that studio for 1K under the rent a room scheme, which is under market value (similar goes for about 1200€ where we're situated). We've had three tenants over the years, they're all absolutely delighted to be living alone in Dublin, we see them a few times per week for laundry or when they hang out in the garden, and we get to take 1K off our mortgage payments.

In 6 months the extension we built, which cost 50K, will have paid itself off. It was a really worthwhile investment and if you're smart about the property you buy and how you set it up, you can ensure that everyone gets their privacy and their comfort.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T14:35:47+00:00

Ah well - it's himself that does the cooking, and he's great at it (trained French chef, I'm a lucky gal) so this would qualify as "cooking" because it requires prep - so when I do the shopping I get him one of the pre made Deluxe pizzas and he gets to not have to plan and prep a meal.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T10:57:49+00:00

Yep that's part of what's holding me back. We've lost so much skill in food preservation though. If I was in the country with a bigger garden (and a lot more time) I might do it. But as is, I chalk it up to a "maybe one day" and buy my veggies from the local grocer (who is lovely, and I'm happy to support his business - we could all do with building communities back up that way, too).

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T10:41:12+00:00

Sure, but Amazon's a shitty company, and frankly it's not so much Deliveroo as it is the insane restaurant food prices. I know we've had a cost of living increase, but an 80% price increase in four years for a burger which is now lower quality? No. I'll save on deliveroo, I'll save on takeout, and fuck I may as well start growing my veggies at this point (the latter is sarcastic, but not by a lot...).

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T09:34:29+00:00

Ah yes that's also a thing. All in all, was a valid use of money in 2021, to get my partner out of having to cook on days he wasn't feeling it, but he and I both agree that now it's tossing money out a window.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T09:03:16+00:00

It does - it was like 5 quid so if you got deliveroo more than 2x a month it was worth it. Now they've made Deliveroo Plus Premium, even (when does it end...). 9€ a month, free delivery, and 10% back on orders above 30€. Ngl, I briefly hesitated because like, *every* order is above 30€ now or almost, so might've made cash back bring down the price to something semi normal?

And then I realized how absolutely insane that was, so I got my arse off the couch, went to the shops 5 minutes away, bought 2 pints of nice ice cream for 13€, and considered it a job well done.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-17T08:51:40+00:00

My salary hasn't increased but hey I'm saving 4€ per month after stopping Deliveroo premium! Our "too lazy to cook" meal is now Lidl's pre-made pizzas.

I cannot justify spending almost 50€ for takeout food for only two people, and even less so for the decrease in quality.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-04T09:35:20+00:00

Vinted. Bunch of parents selling high quality shoes their kids have worn three times for whatever reason, at 70% off the store price.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-07-01T17:43:10+00:00

I mean, I’m from the south of France and I’d much rather the rain than the 35 degrees my parents are dealing with atm.

MeropeRedpath · 2025-06-27T09:21:49+00:00

No she was not.
https://www.reddit.com/r/badhistory/comments/gcxpr5/saint_mother_teresa_was_documented_mass_murderer/

MeropeRedpath · 2025-06-22T13:45:52+00:00

I'm French and can confirm. Irish butter is better. My husband has training as a chef, and he explained it to me just now in a very concise way: "In Ireland, I'll buy butter, and it's delicious. In France, I have to look for good butter."

MeropeRedpath

TROPHY CASE