David Condon Finds

Why Buy Me a Coffee Works – and How You Can Support This Blog Running a small business is a major juggling act, there's a good reason why self employed people have bags under their eyes and a caffeinated nervous energy look to them on a semi-permanent basis. There’s the work you do, the admin you planned for — and the admin that snuck up on you. Then there’s the website you maintain, the content you write, the ads you try to make sense of — all while figuring out how to keep the lights on, the wheels turning, and the bills paid. And all of this on a narrow budget of both time and money in a life that ain't getting any longer. Even when things go well, small businesses rarely have the luxury of a cushion. That’s where Buy Me a Coffee comes in — a simple, no-fuss way to support what I do here on this blog and behind the scenes in my business. And you can do it too!

Why I Keep Rewatching Sons of Anarchy — Even When It Drives Me Mad I’ve just finished rewatching Mayans MC, and as usual, that led me straight back to Sons of Anarchy for what’s probably my fifth full rewatch. There’s something about this show that keeps pulling me back in, even though I have a love/hate relationship with some of the content, especially the parts that try (and fail) to involve Ireland. So here's a breakdown of what I love, what makes me cringe, and why I’ll probably watch it all over again within the next year.

Why I'm Going to Spend Less on Google Ads — Thanks to AI Overviews You’ve probably seen the advice flying around: “Increase your ad spend to stay competitive on Google.” With AI Overviews taking over the top of search results and organic clicks becoming harder to earn, many large businesses, small business owners and bloggers are pouring more money into Google Ads just to stay visible. I'm doing the opposite.

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.

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?

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.

 What Happened to My Website Traffic? A few months ago — and seemingly overnight — I started noticing my website traffic slipping. Not just a slow day here and there, but an over-the-cliff drop in clicks and visits. The posts that once brought people in — especially my carefully written affiliate content — just weren’t pulling the same numbers anymore and very few were actually following my links. I went from a modest traffic level and some small commissions to nothing at all. Be sure to read my other post  Why Google Ads Is So Hard for Small Businesses after you finish here!

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.

Blogging in the Age of AI Overviews If you’ve used Google lately, you’ve probably noticed something different. Instead of clicking into websites, you’re getting answers straight from the search page thanks to AI Overview. Sounds handy, right? Maybe it is to the casual browser but for small creators like me, it’s a real kick in the teeth. Traffic has dropped to my website and new blog. Affiliate links don’t get seen and I have the Analytics to prove it. Product reviews and personal blog posts are being buried under summaries scraped from… well, blogs like mine.

Here’s what I learned when my entire blog urls disappeared from Google Search overnight and how I’m trying to fix it. I woke up one morning, logged into Google Search Console, and saw something that made my stomach drop, there were  ZERO pages indexed . My new Blogger blog wasn’t even a week old, but just the day before, 11 of my posts were indexed and starting to show impressions. Now? Gone. No warnings. No explanations. The only faint silver lining? GSC was now for the first time detecting all 26 URLs on my blog but none of them were indexed. Check out my other post  Blogging for Your Small Business: A Practical Guide for tips and practical suggestions after you finish here!

 Aside from the Revitive Circulation Booster, I’ve tried several other things that help with foot pain and neuropathy symptoms. Some surprised me like socks and eventually even a grounding mat of all things. I’m not claiming miracles, just sharing what’s helped. I've spent quite a lot of money testing various things out, not for the good of humanity but for my own relief. Hopefully If I can help you avoid wasting time or money, then it’s worth writing this. So if you're curious about what’s worked for me, stick around and I’ll walk you through it. Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

Dear Google Ads, I’m writing this post, not as a digital marketing expert, but as a small business owner who’s genuinely trying to use your platform and to be honest, I'm struggling. I’ve worked in IT, built and maintained websites, written blog posts, learned SEO basics, and made countless improvements to my online presence over the years. But when it comes to Google Ads? It feels like I’m trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. I’m not a luddite, I’m not afraid of tech. But your platform seems designed for ad agencies and highly advanced individuals, not small business owners like myself trying to promote handcrafted products, services, or local offerings. There’s so much potential here but the interface, terminology, and campaign setup make it feel like I need a degree in advanced computing just to run a simple ad.  Red Mist Loading! Explained below. You might also like this post on easy SEO for beginners  — I put together a simple, step-by-step guide after figuring i...

 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...

Places to Eat in Tralee During the Day I often get asked by my Airbnb Experience Guests about where to get breakfast in Tralee before their Experience starts in the morning — and once it’s over, the same question about lunch. It was something that never really occurred to me to research beforehand, so I’ve been caught out unprepared a few times. No longer though — I’m finally typing the keys on this Blog Post. If you’d like a bit of local knowledge, please read on. As someone who regularly hosts Airbnb Experience Guests and Woodturning Students, I get these questions all the time — and now I’m finally prepared to answer properly. This post is pulled together from my own experiences, with a few trusted recommendations from locals thrown in for good measure. Whether you're in town for a course, a short break, or just passing through, I hope this helps you find a great spot to eat during the day in Tralee.

A Local Guide to Evening Dining in Tralee Visiting for the Rose of Tralee? Festival season brings a great buzz to Tralee — and it’s also a great time to enjoy the local food scene. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat this evening, here’s a local guide to help you skip the guesswork. So you’ve found yourself in Tralee — maybe it’s the morning, late afternoon, or early evening — and you’re thinking about where to eat later. If you’d like a bit of local insight from someone who actually lives here (and eats here on occasion), read on. I wrote this because my Airbnb Experience guests and Woodturning Students often ask me for restaurant recommendations, and I’m never as prepared as I should be. So this blog post is my go-to answer from now on — yes, I’ve Googled a bit, but most of this comes from places I’ve personally tried, my Family have been to or trust through reliable local word of mouth.

Let’s be honest, if you’re visiting Tralee or anywhere in the Kingdom of Kerry or indeed Ireland, a bit of rain is all part of the charm (and almost guaranteed!). When the weather turns damp and your outdoor plans fall through, why not try something completely different — indoors and hands-on? That’s where my Woodturning Experiences and Woodturning Tuition come in. Read on and revisited the links, they are also at the end of the post. Take a quick look inside my workshop: Here’s what one of my woodturning sessions looks like — a fun and hands-on way to spend a rainy afternoon in Tralee. I have added a new video to my Experiences page too, you can visit that through the link above.

 Military Books That Made it to the Big Screen  For most of my life I have been fascinated by all things Military and I have collected Movies, Magazine Publications, Books and now Kindle Books with Wars and Military Themes as subject matter. Even better, I loved to find out that a movie is based on a Military Book, from a real life event. That way, the movie didn't end at the title credits and offered me something more. When I was younger I couldn't wait for the next high production War movie to come out. If you are looking for great Amazon Kindle books then read on below.  If you’re on the lookout for  free Amazon Kindle books , you might like this post I put together.

 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 .