David Condon Finds

Are we in trouble as a planet, as a species? Every single decade since the 1970s we’ve been told the same or similar warning: “In 10 years we’ll be in big trouble if nothing changes.” The bogeyman keeps shifting. Back in the 1970s, headlines warned of a looming new ice age. By the 1980s the panic had moved to the ozone hole and skin cancer. In the 1990s and 2000s it became global warming and rising sea levels. And now, in 2025, it has been rebranded once again as the “Climate Crisis” with most of the consequences already listed — rebranded new buzzwords for a new decade, but the same old gremlins rolled out to scare us into action.

Every morning lately, I’ve been going through the same routine while getting dressed for work. I pull on a pair of socks, only to notice the big hole or holes in the heel, mutter something unprintable, and then take them off again. The culprit? My puppy, Bud, who has developed a particular fondness for turning my socks into Swiss cheese when ever my back is turned or he gets unaccompanied access to my bedroom.

Selling online has been part of my life for over a decade. Like many people, I started with eBay but quickly discovered how much the fees eat into your earnings. Listing costs, final value fees, and PayPal charges all stacked up and by the time I shipped an item, I was often left wondering if it was even worth the hassle. That’s when I first came across eBid.net . The difference? I paid once for a lifetime membership right from the start, so I knew exactly where I stood. No recurring costs, no monthly pressure — just the freedom to sell when I wanted and only a small final value fee when you sell a product.  That decision still pays off today. Notes: I’m writing this post now as I reactivate my stores once again, and I thought it might be useful to share my experience for anyone considering giving eBid a try. This post contains an affiliate link  at the end — if you sign up, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. 👉 You might also be interested in a related p...

Seventeen years of self-employment has taught me one thing: working for yourself is equal parts madness and freedom. Some days it feels like feast, other days famine. And yet, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I could take a steady job, with the payslip, the pension, the clocking out. So why stick with a life that can be feast or famine? This post is about the daily tug-of-war between freedom and chaos and why, for me, the independence still wins in the end no matter the financial cost.  If you’d like to know more about how I ended up on this road in the first place, I’ve written a post with a little more detail here  about why I’m still self-employed . Maybe it is worth a read too.

Every so often, I feel the need to step back from my usual topics and write something that’s been niggling away in the back of my mind for a while. This post isn’t about woodcraft, or even the day-to-day struggles of running a small business, although in some ways, it’s connected. It’s about leadership and how those who are meant to represent us are often doing the exact opposite these days. Sometimes it looks like obliviousness, but more often, it feels like something else.

Some evenings you just don’t feel like cooking and that’s where a good takeaway saves the day. Whether it’s comfort food after work, a quick family dinner, or something to enjoy in front of a film, Tralee has plenty of options. I’ve picked out a few of my favourites in no particular order of importance, places I’ve tried myself and would happily recommend if you’re looking for a reliable takeaway in town. To save on fees for service and delivery I would advise ordering: over the counter first, via their website second and Just Eat third  If you want recommendations, always ask a local first!

There’s something about LEGO Star Wars that hits differently when you’re an adult. Maybe it’s the precision of the UCS (Ultimate Collector Series) sets, the joy of display-worthy models, or just the excuse to spend a weekend building a Star Destroyer without apology. And yes, there’s also the quiet satisfaction of knowing your mates are more than a little jealous, even if they won’t admit it. In this post, I’m sharing some of the UCS kits I’ve already added to my collection, the ones still on my wishlist, and why each set stands out. Not just as a toy, but as a piece of modern fandom and design. Whether you’re a long-time collector or just getting started, you’ll find plenty of inspiration (and maybe a few “must-haves”) here.

I’ve been prompted for the longest time by Google to set up a proper cookie consent banner (CMP) that meets their requirements. For a while I got by with the basic one my Wix website offered, but eventually Google’s persistent reminders — and the reality of GDPR, GA4, and Ads — made it clear I needed to upgrade. I’ll be honest: price was the biggest factor in choosing a CMP. Most of them are in the same ballpark cost-wise, but the monthly visit allowances can vary wildly. As a small business, you need to know your estimated daily traffic all year round before looking for a CMP and always allow for growth when choosing a CMP platform.

Introduction – A Changing Country I've been more than a little nostalgic of late due to all the current bad press in our country and indeed the rest of the world. I began thinking about my younger years and all the goings on of the past and how different life was ' back in the day '. After a bit of mental gymnastics looking over the last few decades, I keep coming back to the same conclusion: the 1990s was the last time Ireland truly felt alive.