David Condon Finds

I’ve been using a basic cookie notice on my website for years and, to be honest, I never really paid much attention to it. But recently, there’s been a big push from Google for website owners like me to upgrade to a proper Cookie Management Platform (CMP) — the more advanced (and paid) kind that meets stricter compliance requirements for things like Google Ads and GDPR. So I did it. I installed Cookiebot, and now I have a full breakdown of how people interact with that little pop-up. And here’s what I found: a lot of people — at least a third — choose to reject all cookies.

Always on the Lookout for Great Products on Amazon in 2025! Discover 50+ Great Amazon Products for 2025 – Personally Tested & Recommended If you're always hunting for clever and useful Amazon finds, you're in the right place. I’ve put together a growing list of top-rated products on Amazon in 2025 that I’ve either personally used, plan to buy, or had “enthusiastically suggested” by family members (yes, really 😅). Unlike many generic roundups, this is a curated guide of standout items that have genuinely improved my day-to-day life—at home, in the workshop, and everywhere in between. From must-have tools and gadgets to fun gift ideas for her (and him), there’s something here for just about everyone. This List Got Too Big! This post originally featured all 50+ products in one long scroll — but it got too big and slow to manage, especially for mobile visitors. It was also living on my main website, which probably wasn’t helping the woodcraft focus I’m aiming for there — so I’...

Why I wrote this Post When the first symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy hit, those strange pin-pricks in my feet and legs, followed by tingling and numbness in random parts of my body—it completely blindsided me. I was worried, confused and desperate for answers. If you're feeling the same way right now, you're not alone. That’s exactly why I wrote this post: to share what I’ve learned, what I wish I’d known sooner, and to offer a bit of calm in what can feel like a very chaotic moment. Because those first weird sensations? They were just the beginning...

There was a time when courier services were a lifesaver for small businesses. Fast, trackable, offering one rate regardless of box size or weight and a welcome alternative to the long queues at the post office. But in recent years, many of us have started to ask the same question: what happened? If you're a small business owner in Ireland, you’ve probably had your fair share of headaches with couriers and you know exactly what I'm talking about. Missed collections, phantom “attempted deliveries,” and the endless loop of automated or non-existent customer service... it's frustrating, time-consuming, and damaging to customer trust. So why is this happening? And is it time we re-evaluate how we send and receive goods in 2025?

There’s an old saying in retail and hospitality that “the customer is always right.” It’s become something of an expected golden rule in business but I don’t believe it’s always fair. Especially not for small businesses or frontline employees who are often left to deal with entitled or unreasonable demands. As someone who runs a hands-on, customer-facing business, I’ve dealt with all kinds of people over the years. The vast majority of them are kind, reasonable, and a genuine pleasure to deal with. They ask questions, respect the time and effort that goes into the work, and treat me the way they’d like to be treated themselves. I value those people immensely — they’re the reason I keep doing what I do.  Before you read on: If you’re interested, I’ve written another post that goes deeper into what self-employment is really like — feel free to check it out after this.

What TV and Film Get Right (and Horribly Right) About Human Nature I was watching  The Last Ship  again recently — not for the first time — and something struck me all over again. It’s not the virus or the bombs or the zombies that make these post-apocalyptic worlds so terrifying. It’s the people. But is that really how people would be — or is Hollywood just colouring us all with the same brush? A brush that generates a lot of money.

Hoping for a Miracle Let’s be honest — if you live with any kind of chronic pain, inflammation, or restless nights, you’ll try just about anything that might help. Tablets, snake oils, electronic devices, praying to your fairy godmother — anything to bring relief from what ails you. I’ve always been a bit sceptical of “miracle cures,” especially when they’re splashed all over social media ads promising to heal you overnight.  Before I go on: I have a series of posts on Peripheral Neuropathy if you'd like to read how I found relief after reading this post.

So, why have a title like that for a blog post? Sure, isn’t every self-employed person loaded? Living the dream, setting their own hours, taking days off whenever they like? Expensive holidays in the sun...two expensive cars in the driveway. Give me a break! That’s the story you often hear but the reality is a little or a lot different, especially when you’re a one-person business in Ireland in 2025. “I’ve touched on a related side of things in another post too — about  why I keep blogging  for my business even when it sometimes feels like nobody’s reading. Feel free to have a read when you’re done here.

After writing my first blog post about the Revitive Circulation Booster, (link at the end if you missed it) I thought readers might like an honest update based on a year (and more) of living with Peripheral Neuropathy. It’s been a tough journey, and if you’ve landed here, maybe it has been for you too. I’ve added three updates in total (listed below), written at key intervals to reflect real life progress, slip-ups, and tips that may help. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) and has been split up and rewritten for an easier read.   Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

A Night Out in Tralee – Then and Now  🍻 Once upon a time, Tralee was one of the liveliest nights out in the county, packed pubs, buzzing nightclubs and the kind of weekend energy you could feel in the air. If you were around in the '90s or early 2000s, you'll know what I mean. Every weekend felt like an event, and for many of us, those memories still stand out. These days, the town still has its moments - especially from Thursday nights through the weekend or during big events - but like many Irish towns, the nightlife has evolved. It’s a bit more laid-back now, a little more local, but not without its charm. What follows is a local’s guide to some of the best pubs around town, a mix of music spots, sports bars, hidden gems, and quiet corners. Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

 Let me ask you something. When was the last time you saw more than one staffed checkout in a major supermarket? Lately, I’ve found myself standing in front of rows of glowing self-checkout machines with no real choice at all. No staffed tills open or a single one with a long queue, no one to talk to, just a machine and a scanner. I’m not against technology.  Far from it but something about this shift feels off. It’s not convenience anymore. It’s replacement. Staff are being sidelined, and shoppers like you and me are being quietly turned into unpaid workers. This post isn’t a rant, but a reflection. What started as a mild irritation has grown into something that bothers me and judging by the conversations I’ve seen online and in person, I’m not alone. Self-checkouts only work because most people are honest. If theft were the norm, these machines wouldn’t exist. That trust is being exploited, we’re expected to do the work and prove we didn’t steal. Looking for some cool...

 Thinking About Switching from Amazon UK to Amazon Ireland? Here's What to Know   You're not alone. With the launch of Amazon Ireland, many Irish shoppers wonder if it’s worth making the move. From delivery speeds to product availability, this guide breaks down everything before you switch—and how it might change your shopping habits. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) If you are not with Amazon yet, you may want to read about the membership benefits of joining Prime .

 Is Amazon Prime Worth It in Ireland – or the UK? Short answer: Definitely worth it. Based on my years of experience as a Prime member and customer on the UK site, I can honestly say the perks, from fast shipping to exclusive deals; make it a smart choice, especially for people in Ireland and the UK. If you’re on the fence, keep reading. Still unsure after that? You can use one of my links below to sign up for a 30-day free trial—I doubt you’ll want to cancel once you see everything Prime offers. If you are looking to switch over from the UK site, make sure to read this post Switching over to Amazon Ireland . 

In a change from my usual woodturning and craft-related posts, I need to address something I feel very strongly about—TV shows and movies, and how negativity online is slowly killing them and causing fewer and fewer new productions. From cancel culture to endless reboots, social media and media companies alike are taking a toll on creativity and storytelling. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below)  If you like real-life stories on screen, I’ve rounded up some of the best military books that were made into movies — you’ll find the Kindle editions here but you can pick up the books too. Why Boba Fett Was the Final Straw

We live in an ever changing world with constantly changing ideas, laws, regulations and methods of doing day to day things. The environment, climate and state of the world makes headlines on an ongoing daily basis these days. What was true and set in stone a few years back may not be so today. Vague enough? Welcome to 2024! The world has been railing against the mass us of plastic over the last few years and rightly so. We as human beings have no idea of just how bad the micro plastic problem has become. From being found in the deepest trenches of the ocean to the possibility that our bodies cells may contain traces of microscopic plastic. Health issues related to plastic use is just around the corner. The problems exist, they are not made up!

Christmas Stickers for Card Making or Gift Wrapping Now you can spruce up your craft and gift wrapping projects with a festive touch—3D and 2D Christmas stickers! Get ready for the holiday season with a large collection of Christmas stickers now on sale online  in Ireland. Create beautiful decorations, personalized gifts, or unique cards to wish your loved ones a Happy Christmas. These also make ideal Stocking Fillers for Children. Christmas Stickers are a surprisingly good way of embellishing gifts, changing the look of a Handmade Card and even make great Stocking Filler Gifts for small children that don't cost too much at all.  Since bringing these into my website I have used them myself to bulk up gifts. Costing under €4 in most cases these are fantastic value.  Let me take you through a few of the various types. This post was originally posted on my Woodcraft on 20th Jan 2023. website and I moved it here so as not to dilute my woodturning content. Check out my related...

Craft Ribbon & Satin Bows in Ireland – Buy Online or In Person For anyone finding this blog post out of the blue while looking to buy Satin Ribbon Bows, it's not an accident, I do in fact have many varieties of Bows for sale. I sell the full range of Italian Options Satin Bows in 3cm and 5cm and I have access to their full catalogue if needs be. If you read on you might be interested in why it came to be and what I have to offer.  Insider Knowledge; I have owned and operated my own craft business for about 8 years at the time of writing. My business started with a definite model but has meandered and side-stepped and changed throughout all that time. Why? The market conditions have moved constantly and I have had to move with it or face closure. My original business model was supposed to be 20% Woodcraft and 80% online retail but I had such a good time learning the Woodcraft side of things that I almost gave up on the retail part. Woodcraft ended up near 90% of my business but ...

Buying Satin Ribbon in Ireland - A Buyers Guide I have been in business for nearly 8 years (at the time of writing) and one of the main problems I had when I started my craft business was the sourcing of high quality products that would enhance the finished pieces I was making.  Early on, I started making Hardwood Hanging Ornaments as Christmas Tree decorations and I discovered there was a lack of affordable, quality satin ribbon around Ireland.  At least it wasn't very apparent what Quality was and what Brand was leading the way. Many retailers were selling ribbon by the meter which is an expensive way of buying ribbon. I ended up buying some ribbon from the US which were only available in 10 foot lengths on cardboard reels and they were a bit expensive I have to say.   While on holiday in the US I managed to find the same brand reels and I bought a good few to keep me going.  The quality of these ribbons were good but not great and I kept a constant eye out fo...