David Condon Finds

When it comes to LEGO Star Wars, few sets carry the same weight as the new  LEGO Death Star 75419 . It’s massive, instantly recognisable, and easily one of the most ambitious sets LEGO has ever produced. For collectors, it’s the kind of build that doesn’t just sit on a shelf, it becomes the centrepiece of a collection. Perfectly displayable as it has a flat back, any wall space will do. I’ve already looked at some of the heavy hitters in the UCS (Ultimate Collector Series), including my post on the UCS Millennium Falcon and a recent deep dive into the Why the LEGO UCS Venator is my next purchase .  The Death Star is one of several major LEGO Star Wars sets that collectors may consider when planning their next large purchase. I look at more UCS models, helmets and collector builds in My LEGO Star Wars and Display Set Guide . The Death Star deserves its own spotlight, not only because of its sheer size, but also because it sparks one big question: is it really worth the money?...

If there’s one thing I love, it’s Star Wars and even more, Star Wars in LEGO form. Building these sets satisfies the wishes of my younger self while giving the grown-up me a fresh creative challenge. Over the years, my collection has grown steadily: multiple UCS (Ultimate Collector Series) models occupy pride of place on my shelves, and I wrote about them in detail in my UCS collection post . Every new UCS set I add feels like a milestone, and I’ve been eyeing my next big acquisition for a while. That brings me to the LEGO UCS Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser . It’s a set that checks so many of my boxes. Below, I want to walk through exactly why I think the Venator is going to be the one I commit to next. I got it! Blog Post Update: I’m delighted to say I finally picked up the Venator and built it over a few days during Christmas. If you’d like to see how the build actually went, I’ve documented the full experience in a separate post, Building the LEGO UCS Venator – A Slow, Hea...

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.

There are nights when cooking just isn’t worth the effort. You know the ones. Long day, nothing in the fridge, and the couch is calling. That’s where a decent takeaway makes all the difference, and thankfully Tralee has a few very good ones. I’ve picked out some of my go-to spots below. These aren’t based on ratings or trends, just places I’ve tried myself and gone back to again. One quick tip before you order: skip the apps if you can. Order over the counter or through their own website first, it’s usually cheaper and supports the business more directly. And as always, if you want the best recommendation, ask someone local.

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. UCS sets are at the heart of my LEGO Star Wars collection, but they sit alongside helmets, smaller collector models and other large display pieces. I have brought the complete group of related articles together in My LEGO Star Wars and Display Set Guide – UCS Sets, Helmets and Collector Models . 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...

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.