They say the Americans have a long-held love for the automobile. A big saloon car and an open road are classic icons of the United States. How would describe our relationship with the car in this country? I’m not sure I’d use the word ‘love’. I think the Irish person and their car is more like the couple who have finally reached the end of their tether and are barely putting up with each other; we’re just going through the motions for the sake of it. Traffic is a problem in I

The NCT is a bone of contention with many people. Is there a form of government taxation that makes people feel more aggrieved? I don’t believe there is, and yes, it’s taxation under the guise of road safety. There are far more serious causes of vehicular accidents, such as poorly maintained roads or adverse weather conditions, than emissions or a windscreen with a small chip in it or having too much loose change in the ashtray. (Okay, I made that last one up, but you get my

‘There’s a girl I know has a horn on her head.’ I’m used to the weird statements from my children at this stage. The school and the crèche provide fertile breeding grounds for Chinese whispers, half-truths and just plain nonsense. They believe anything and they’ll repeat the tall stories they hear from their peers. It’s mostly very amusing. I told my eldest boy that I used to go to school with Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately I think he believed me and proceeded to tell all h

Heard the one about the man with the top-of-the-range Aston Martin sportscar? His dog chewed off the fibreglass wheel arch. It is not a joke. Sadly this true tale is no laughing matter. Dogs, especially young canines, are known to chew whatever they can get their teeth into, particularly when bored or under-stimulated. A dog-owner in the UK went to work one day and came home later to find that his mutt had munched on his precious automobile. As someone who loves nice cars, or