I’ve noticed recently, that espresso seems to have qualities similar to Guinness. Maybe I am just being too Irish about this, but, I did work in a pub when I was a student, so I am aware of the pint pulling and the settling stage.

Well, espresso, without a shadow of a doubt settles. It goes from cloudy brown to a black colour with a lovely crema froth on the top. It makes me giggle every morning when I watch it settle. Guinness! I think to myself.

Espresso also seems to prefer certain shapes of cups and glasses to others. It is very happy swriling into a round bottomed cup. Less so into a flat bottomed glass.

Among other things I have discovered is that hitting the button for steam builds up some pressure that is great for getting a good crema. Along with pressing the button to get water flowing before actually loading the machine with coffee.

The best discovery of all was the discovery of the heaven that is espresso with a little sugar in it. For years I have been drinking espresso neat, without sugar. It was generally bitter. Then one day I put in a little sugar. Heavenly.

I even convinced my mother, probably a fifty year veteran of coffee and tea without sugar to try some sugar. She is completely convinced that sugar in espresso is the way to go. She also wants a gaggia but that is anther story.

Who knew a coffee machine would provide so much entertainment. And sharing. I just love making coffee for people. Be it espresso, lattes or whatever. I suppose it helps that I had some training as a student. But still. A coffee machine brings people together.

If you are wondering what to get someone for Christmas, I can recommend a Gaggia.

permanent tsb’s internet banking arm and telephone banking arm are doing something very strange. When you ring to get details of your account, it is necessary to enter an open 24 number and an access code. If you wish to speak to a CSR to ask them to do something, they then request that you confirm your name and address before they’ll do anything.

When you ask them to set up the details of a new account that you would like to transfer money into, they say that they will have to call you back. For extra security or something. Having provided all these security details isn’t enough. You have to sit around and wait for a call. Before the call back, they ask for your open 24 number.

Then they ring you and ask you again for numbers in your access code, numbers on your atm card, your date of birth, your address, when exactly you opened the account, e.t.c., e.t.c. It strikes me that this is slightly hysterical behaviour on their part. Considering that you can get full access to your account anyway, once you have inputted your security details, why is a call back necessary? Not to mention that it makes you completely distrustful, having so provide different details to the ones presented initially when you called. There are only six digits in an access code, so, if you provide three the first time and then the other three the second time, is it any wonder that alarm bells start ringing in your brain and you begin to wonder are staff members engaged in some sort of inside scam job? It wouldn’t be the first time.

Their new system is completely over the top. I just hope money doesn’t start walking out of my account now.

SK and I were in Lansdowne Road today for the final farewell match. They said a season or two ago that it was the last match too, but today, you got the feeling that it was for real.

For one thing, there was shiny green paper blown up into the air. Then, there was the players stripping to their shorts and throwing jerseys and boots and socks into the terraces and stands.

It will be sad when it is all knocked down, but I am looking forward to the shiny new stadium.

I think though, that the IRFU should organise the sale of commerative pieces of old Lansdowne Road. Sods of turf and pieces of concrete. They could give the proceeds to charity.