Sunday 27 November 2011

50th Post :)

I should really go to bed but as I was about to log off I noticed that...



THIS IS MY 50TH BLOG POST!!


I actually cannot believe that I've managed to keep blogging for the last 4 months, I've honestly become almost addicted.
I didn't really want to blog in the beginning but now I'm so happy that I've reached 50 posts... I won't be stopping anytime soon. :)


(my first soppy sign off) Love, Sarah Smarties x

Castletown




Here are some pictures I took, last November, of Castletown in Celbridge. :)

SCHOOL BUZZ

Yes, you read my title correctly. I, Sarah Smarties, am excited for school tomorrow :D :D waaaaaheeeeeey!!
I've been gone for 2 weeks so I'm really looking forward to once again buzz with all the other (totes cool) TYs :)
Another good thing about tomorrow is that I'm going to help paint the backdrop for our school's production of The Sound of Music unce unce unce.
So yes, I'm super de duper buzzing to return to my educational institution.
This is a ground breaking moment.

BOI GOYS.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Work Experience the Final Day :(

I'm about to cry. Work Experience is well and truly over :'( The week been so amazing and unforgettable and I got to meet so many new people (I don't care that this is turning into a soppy sob story! I have feelings, ok?)

On our last day we headed into Dublin City to Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Sq. First thing we did was see where all the emergency calls are taken and how the system works. Then we were shown into a dark room that had a zillion TVs that had surveillance on them. It was so freaking cool! ^_^. The can access so much (like where callers are from and camera footage) by just typing in a few things.
Down the stairs to Community Relations/Community Policing (sure, whatever floats your boat). This is basically the contact that members of an Garda Síochána have with the public. For example; neighbourhood watch, juvenile liaison officers, road safety awareness etc. A group of Gardaí broke a world record and raised over 30, 000 euro by wake boarding over to Fishguard, UK from Ireland. For the craic, after the presentation we watched a video they had made during their training and it was hilarious. (Only the Gardaí would attempt to play hurling whilst wake boarding).
Then the BEST part... Criminal Assets Bureau (C.A.B). This is the unit that seizes criminal's possessions. There was a presentation showing some of the goods they had seized and you would not believe how much money that some criminals were making. The they put 8 watches out on the table and we had to guess it they were real or fake. I got 6 right which was better than most people !! I was the only person who said that the gold, diamond encrusted Rolex was real and of course I was right. By the way, it was worth 80, 000 euro. Now that is the most valuable thing I've ever held in my hands.

At the end we were presented with certificates for completing the placement at Blanchardstown Garda Station and we got some Garda pens and CAB pencils it was pretty gooooood. :)
Again, I want to thank absolutely everyone at the station for giving me an unforgettable week and I will be forever grateful for what I have learned from my Work Experience. :)

And I have some new friends too. Gosh, I'm so like totes popular.

I WOULD NEVER LIE

A HA!
Proof I was not lying when I said that the GASU uniform's had swag!!

Look at those LEATHER JACKETS!! How many people wear leather jackets to work? C'mon!!
                                                                            (Source)
Awwwwww Yeeeeaaaaah
I'm so smug now ^_^

Work Experience Day 4

The forth day of my Work Experience was definitely one of the best! :)
Started today off with a trip to the Garda Air Support Unit in Baldonnel (a.k.a. middle of the countryside). It was so unbelievable windy I was almost blown away. Had a quick presentation about the GASU and saw some footage that the cameras on the helicopters captured. My personal opinion: the GASU uniform have swag. I'm not even kidding. They wear like a navy jumpsuit with the word Garda on it and a leather jacket. A leather jacket!! I would work in that unit just so I could look that fly. (Do you get it? Fly...Helicopters...Positive adjective...Air Support Unit....Garda humour, I apologise). But, thats just what I think seeing as it IS maa blog.
Then, off we went to the Garda Depot in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. The Depot is where the Commissioner works, where evidence is kept, where the forensic labs are etc etc. In there, first we went to the forensic unit and had to use this really fancy microscope to see if two bullets had come from the same gun. Next, down to the basement we went which is where all the firearms are kept. OH YEAH. We were shown different types of guns like revolvers, pistols and AK47's. booyakasha. Aaaaand we got to hold them. I felt like such a boss. But, let me tell you, guns weigh an absolute ton!! Finally, we were given a presentation on the Garda Reserve which is a unit in which members of the public can become volunteer Gardaí. Obviously, you get training but their only jobs would be walking the beat and working at big events like sports matches. I'm actually seriously interested in definitely joining the Garda Reserve in the future. DEFO.

And now, there is only one day remaining :'(

Work Experience Day 3

Well day 3 of Work Experience has passed and it did not start off well. I had to wake up at 7!! Not a good time for a bed-lover like me -_- We were leaving for the Garda College in Templemore, Tipperary at half eight so I wasn't a very happy (or energised for that matter) bunny.
After racing to get good seats on the bus we headed off on the 2 hour journey. When we got there we were given a tour of the entire college. Its actually a reeeaaally nice college and it was so much bigger than I thought. The rooms that the student Gardaí accommodate are nice, theres a huge pool and the food is ...well...food <3 Garda Sharkey told us about the phases in becoming a Garda and we took a  look at some of the classrooms and lecture rooms. Then we did a shortened down version of the fitness test. It was grand to be honest. I say I would have passed the real thing ;) (cocky much?). There was a motor bike course going on when we were down there so the guy who was running it gave us a really quick presentation about it. To do the course you don't need to have any experience with motor bikes! *fist pump* . And theres also a tiny museum with a few Garda memorabilia in it so we took a look around there ourselves.

Joining An Garda Síochána when I'm older is looking more appealing with everyday of this Work Experience ooooooooooooooooooh :P

Anyways, still 2 days left to go :)
I DON'T WANT IT TO END.

                                                       Colaiste an Garda Síochána, Templemore.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Work Experience Day 2

Okilly Dokilly, finished Day 2 of Work Experience at Blanchardstown Garda Station and it was another amazing day ^_^
It didn't start till 1.30 pm cause we would be finishing really late so I had a delectable lie in! <3 :) ugh yeah. So anyways, got on the bus at 1.30, had the usually bus bant with my fellow TYs on Work Experience then arrived at the Garda Museum right beside Dublin Castle in the city centre. I had heard about the museum but I was actually surprised by how big it was and by how much artefacts were in it! It was spread over 3 floors and let me tell you, those spiral staircases were HELL. But the museum was really interesting. Some of the old uniforms made me roflol. We were also given sheets that had a fact file about a particular person, significant to the history of An Garda Síochána, on them and we had to read aloud about the person we were. I was Dr. Herman Goertz, a German spy during the War of Independence in Ireland. woo hoo. ICH LIEBE DICH. Then lunch :P
Back on the bus and off to RTÉ studios in Donnybrook. It was soooo amazing :o RTÉ is so cool inside :D I was tripping, bro. We were shown the studio where The Late Late Show, The Frontline and (more importantly to us) Crimecall is made. Aaaaaaand Grainne Seoige waved at me!! She waved at me, people!! Waved!! At me!! Apologies, but I personally feel very privileged. We were told how Crimecall asks the public to help solve crimes and how the set works by one of the producers of the show. We had a few minutes left afterward so we walked over to the outside set where Fair City is filmed.
And then, unfortunately it was home (after some more bus banter)

Bringing Day 2 of my Work Experience to a close.
And I'm once again, gagging for a bit more (unce).

Monday 21 November 2011

Work Experience Day 1

Could it be? A post title that actually describes what the forthcoming post will entail? A Sarah Smarties first, I do believe.
Moving on, I have completed my first day of this week's Work Experience :) It was so much fun. See, unlike last week, theres a whole group of TYs from other schools doing Work Experience at Blanchardstown Garda Station too. (well we weren't in the station too much :L)
First we had a introduction to what we were going to be doing for the week and I'm so freaking EXCIREEH (excited)!! But, I won't say anymore about what we're going to be doing *suspense*. The slide show also included information on the areas in An Garda Síochána, the ranks etc. But sure, I know all that hunnay!
We had a quick break then went to a boardroom in the station and a couple of Gardaí from the drugs unit showed us a slide show of all the drugs, the effects and pictures of seizures they had done. Also, there was all the drugs and drug paraphernalia on the table in the room so we had a good gander at them. The pictures that they had of, for example, a crystal meth addict were revolting >:P
Then a quick presentation on taking fingerprints and CSI (oh yeah baby... oh yeah) Just need to get a pair of blue tinted shades. (click ;o)
Then off in a bus to Blanchardstown District Court. There wasn't like a real court case going on, just loads of random small convictions. And Mondays are the days where all the people who don't speak english are in court cause all the interpreters come in. And because there was only small convictions there was no jury so we sat where the jury sit!! :D It was really confusing at the start but after awhile I found it really interesting.
Then back on the bus and of to the Garda Mounted Unit. These are the Gardaí who are on the horses, basically. It's in Áras an Uachtaráin which is the president of Ireland's -Michael D. Higgins- gaff! unce. The horses we're absolutely gorgeous <3 They're almost all grey and are Irish Draught Horses, all male (castrated lol) and all HUGE. The biggest is Lír (they're also all named after Irish mythical characters) and he is the biggest horse I've ever seen in ma liofe. He's like a giant - you should have heard the sound his hoofs were making :o We were shown all the horses and then around the stables. Didn't get to see Dobby Michael D. Higgins though :(
Then back to the station and home :)
Such a good start to the week, looking forward to the rest of it :D BOO YAH

adios

Sunday 20 November 2011

*moment of realisation*

Ok so after my suuuuuper long post about Work Experience I realised (cue moment of realisation) that it took way too long to write and was way too long for anyone to be interested in reading it.
So for next week's Work Experience, I'm going to try and do daily posts. 
That way it will be so much easier to keep track of everything I do and each post won't be the length of the bible!
waaaaheeeeey

Saturday 19 November 2011

Have you prepared yourself?

"Prepared myself for what?" you might ask. Have you prepared yourself for my humongous blog post about Work Experience, OF COURSE. 
Ready? Set. Go!


I did my Work Experience at Blanchardstown Garda Station, Dublin and I have to say, I had such a good time there! I was introduced to so many people (so many hands to shake!) who were all really nice and then shown around the station. One of the first big jobs I had to do was help Garda Keith and Garda Alex of the Community Policing unit in the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown. It was open day at the college and so the Gardaí had a stand in the hall along with other colleges such as Trinity, Dublin City University (DCU) etc. It was Keith and Alex's job to promote joining an Garda Síochána and answer questions. There was so much people coming up it was unreal. I listened to the answers the Keith and Alex were giving so in time, I was answering peoples queries too!! (very proud of myself) So, if you have any questions on joining an Garda Síochána, feel free to ask me ;) Keith and Alex were so friendly and absolutely hilarious! One thing that I learned from my Work Experience would be that the Gardaí are a bant and a half - whether you deem that to be a beneficial lesson is up to you.
Another big experience I had was sitting in on a daily briefing on Wednesday. It is when the Inspectors of the Station sit the other Gardaí - this includes people from the Community Policing unit, Drugs unit, etc.-down and tell everyone what needs to be done, reviews on performance, information on e.g stolen vehicles and other things along the lines of that. Inspector Kelly and Inspector Bergin are the Inspectors in Blanchardstown and the Superintendent of Blanchardstown, Superintendent Clavin, also sits in on the briefings. Sometimes, luckily on that particular Wednesday, the Chief Superintendent of the K District (Blanchardstown, Cabra and Finglas) - Chief Superintedent Coburn, sits in too. Overall, the Inspectors are the ones who spear head the briefings. I found it really interesting to listen to the jobs everyone was allocated with and to hear about the crimes that happened/were solved. Blanchardstown is up there with the busiest stations in Ireland so there is always a lot going on. I know, I know... there was a lot of big words in the last few lines but hopefully things get neater from here on in.
One of the BEST parts of my time in the station was working with the Drugs unit!! These people are my idols!! They were telling me all these stories about "drug busts" and how the criminals make the drugs it was so interesting I just sat there awestruck. Might I add that the Drugs unit is probably the most dangerous area to be in in an Garda Síochána. When they find drugs they seize it, hold it in the office in the station, then send it to the Depot to be tested. They had some drugs in the office which they were about to send to the Depot in sealed bags with the Garda crest on them so they showed me them. I held €70,00 worth of cocaine my hands people!!! In MY hands! (well it was in a bag but still!) It was such a crazy experience :o Then I got to hold one of the guy's guns (unloaded obviously) but I still mentally pretended to shoot and made PEW PEW sounds inside my head....ahem. Also, I got to try on a bulletproof vest. I will never forget my time with the Drug's unit to say the least.
I also attended a few presentations held by the Gardaí. For example, I went to a meeting for the owners of the shops in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre about security, fire hazards etc. (it was held because we're coming up to Christmas) Here, I met the Parish Priest and all I can say is ... What. A. Man. I sat beside him for the presentation and had a grand old chat. He is possibly the coolest priest ever! He has a Blackberry! A BLACKBERRY! Anyways, another presentation I attended was one for local licensed (as in, permitted to sell alcohol) businesses - pubs, restaurants, so on, so forth. I had to help set up the projector, the posters and then afterward I cleaned up the room. There was a slide show on the laws and legislations and then another on crime prevention. Again, Chief Superintendent Moore, Superintendent Clavin and many other Inspectors, Detective Inspectors and Sergeants attended. I actually learned a lot from those slide shows. And, I was also introduced to the Chief Superintendent so I felt really important - sad, I know.
Of course I did small jobs like filing, printing, stamping forms, organising work and random other simple jobs but I was never bored. Everything was so new to me that I guess I never lost interest.


Well there you go. The post you've all been waiting for - well, maaaybe not.
I have to say, I have gained soooo much from my Work Experience. I have learned that I can cope really well in sticky situations, that I have no problem introducing myself and that I can learn quickly. I'm also happy because it turns out, I'm not the worst at public speaking :D 
I'm doing another week of Work Experience next week which I'm so excited for!! ^.^


I want to thank everyone at Blanchardstown Garda Síochána so, so much for making me feel welcome and for giving me one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Oh, and hope you liked the lemon cheesecake I baked for you ;)  


Finally, the end of the longest posts in the history of Sarah Smarties.


C'est tout pour le instant!  x


Wednesday 16 November 2011

In other (unnecessary) news

Yours truly almost has 100 views on her blog.
yeow...that is all.

For some reason, people from Sweden, Belgium, Russia and other random places have viewed my blog. Do NOT ask me why! Sure, its only a TY blog.

I'm buzzin'
(also because its 2 days until the blog of a lifetime - an exagerration? nah)



SELAMAT TINGGAL*




*what? you expect me to translate it FOR you...yeesh

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Sup?

Hey, this is a really quick post just letting everyone know that I haven't fallen off the face of the cyber planet.

I've just prettied my blog up a little and I'm pretty happy with :) hope you guys like it too (you better!)


*well, isn't this post cheesier than usual...but, who doesn't love cheese?*

But, I'm in the middle of my Work Experience at Blanchardstown Garda Station so I haven't had much time to blog cause I'm waiting till I completely finish the work experience and then I'm gonna write one HUMONGOUS blog post aaaaaall about it so be prepared ...


So long, farewell.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Guess who's back (back), back again (again)

^bitta Eminem to get us rolling ;)

Riiiiight so, it's been so long since I blogged :O
We had a week off school for mid-term but now its time to get back into the school routine. :(
Even though I spent so much time over mid-term doing school work (damn you Geography) I barely even got a break! But, THANK GOD, I can finally say I'm finished that dreadful Geography project. It has been going on for ages!! Doing it was possibly my least favourite part of TY so far. There was so much work involved and our teacher taking a month off our deadline definitely didn't help matters -_- But it's done and dusted now and I never wanna think about it again!