The guards in Dublin need to work on their image. Personally, I'm intimidated by them because they…read morepatrol the city with scowls on their face. Often, they seem to be on their high horse, looking down on the ordinary folks. My perception wasn't challenged when I visited the Store Street Garda Station with my flatmate. Everything I just wrote above was basically confirmed. My flatmate and I weren't in the station because we're criminals. Instead, my friend need to speak to a sergent regarding a car he used to possess that had no insurance for. There was a lone policewoman at the reception desk. She was chatting away about CCTV footage with an older man and only interrupted that conversation to yell at some knackers who were also queuing to speak to her. I know that as a woman, people often challenge your authority, but this guard totally overreacted and seem to be taking out her hang-ups on civilians. She was grumpy as hell when she got to me and my friend. She was also impatient, not taking the time to comprehend my friend's accented English. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with how she handled the situation. People like her make others fear the guards instead of feeling protected.

Like Alexandra, I also have a bone to pick with the Gardaí of Store Street. Now, I have nothing…read moregood, bad nor indifferent to say about their mode of interaction with members of the public, as I have never dealt with any of them in an official capacity. My gripe is with whichever cretin whose bright idea it was to get rid of the bicycle racks outside the station. What could the rationale possibly have been? It is true that there is always a load of brass monkeys outside Store St, and no doubt bits and pieces went missing from bikes occasionally, but I'd rather lock my bike up outside a Garda Station than in other parts of the north city centre. And there isn't really anywhere else suitable to lock a bike up in the surrounding area. The nearest place that I'd feel comfortable locking up is outside Pearse St Garda Station (where you also see junkballs trying locks, so be careful). It's true that Pearse St is only an extra two minute cycle, but if you have some business near Store St but have to lock up in Pearse and walk all the way back.. well, it'd be a right pain in the bum. So put back the bike racks, please, and don't use my use of the word "cretin" as an excuse to ticket me if you catch me breaking a red or whatever.

There really isn't a time when giving in aid of the world's children isn't a good idea. Right now,…read moreUnicef is working hard to ensure the safety and well being of thousands of Haitian families and children still waiting for basic supplies for survival. It's time to get your shopping bag out. The toys and early learning resources for sale at the front of Unicef's Dublin HQ just scratch the surface of ways you can take part in this charity's work in Haiti and around the world. If you don't have a little person to buy for, take a few extra steps to the front desk and the good staff will be happy to help you help the world - even a little bit.

An imposing old building just off O'Connell Street, which handles your tax affairs. Sound like fun?…read moreDidn't think so. Bearing that in mind, the Tax Office while busy is bright, airy and welcoming. If you want a face to face with those who can answer your income tax questions, then this is a one stop shop. If you want to catch up on some reading it's an ideal place for you also, as you could be waiting some time to be seen. That said, for civil servants who deal with the public, the staff are friendly and helpful.

The tax office used to be really stuffy and crowded. The first time I had to come here I decided…read moreto show up at 9am so I would be one of the first ones in the queue when they opened at 9.30am. When I got here the queue was all the way around the corner past Burger King already and it wasn't until nearly 11am that I got to talk to one of the guys to sort out my taxes. Oh how it has changed. Since the renovation, there is no counters downstairs anymore and instead there is a big self-service counter where you can fill in your forms and just drop them off. Upstairs is where you get to talk to one of the civil servants. As long as you avoid going to the tax office in the early morning and around lunchtime you can be in and out within 15 minutes- yes, that's happened to me a few times! The only downside is that the security guard won't let you wait with a cup of take-away coffee for security reasons.

I woke up and the first thing I thought was "awah crap, I've fallen asleep in the queue and missed…read moremy slot". sadly this was not the case, I was still in bed, dreaming of the unpleasant ordeal ahead as I took my number and waited the prerequisite 300,00,000 years to get to the counter only to be told I am in the wrong line and did I bring my DNA sample and no sir we have no public toilets..... nightmare. So, imagine my surprise when I walk into a big brightly lit space with sure enough a line that turned out to move quickly and when I got to the counter the guy smiled... really, a for real smile and sorted out the car tax quicker than I could say "are you sure you don't want to send me to another line or something?" It was so painless it was almost disappointing. Still, bring a book in case someone is having a bad day!

It was an honor, you all are heroes and I'm grateful for our memories. Russ, Jake and myself miss…read moreyou all. Looking forward to 2016!!! Ireland Rugby rules! We sent an American flag to your memorial.

I made the big switch.... I moved from the traditional ESB electrical supply to Bord Gais; utterly…read morepainless, very quick and I'm saving a small fortune... apparently, cant say I've noticed a huge difference in my bills recently. None the less I'm willing to believe cash is being saved and that I'm better off!

i moved house in may ,rang bord gais/bord gais energy and informed them of my move,the next month…read morei recieved a bill with standing charges for the old address, when i ran they said the account was still open and that i would have to get in contact with the landlord for them to close the account, after not being able to contact the landlord(who lives in America) i got back on to bord gais,endless phone calls later ive paid 4 months standing charge for the gas and have just been informed that ive an unpaid bill for my elec, which they sent to the old address.save yourself the worry and the agro and dont go with bord gais, theyre fine to take your money but when you,ve a problem there not that interested.they cant even close an account!!