The last time I was in Dublin was 7 years ago. It was in the autumn of 2005, I lived in Copenhagen and had thoughts about moving abroad but wasn’t sure where. One of my best friends had just moved to London and another one was living in Dublin. And in Dublin there was also this guy.
He was from New Zealand and I’d met him when I was travelling in Australia a few years earlier. When me and a friend reached New Zealand and had completed our travels I stayed on with him for a couple of months extra before I had to go back to Copenhagen to do my MSc. It so happend that in the fall of 2005 when I was going over to visit my friend in Dublin he was just about to move there.
That fall I went over to Dublin twice and made the most of flexible working. Things didn’t work out with the guy however, and as a result I didn’t really want to move to Dublin so instead the decision fell on London. My friend who lived in Dublin decided to join me and on the 14th of February 2006 we jumped on a Ryanair plane with our bags and the rest, as they say, is history.
Life has a way of working out for the best, no matter what the situation. Looking back I’m so pleased that it didn’t work out with that guy and that I didn’t make the move to Dublin. Four months into living in London I met D on a night out after Sweden had lost to Germany in the World Cup. And that completely changed my life. D has inspired and encouraged me more than anyone to follow my dreams. He is my best friend and biggest support and puts up with me working pretty much all the time. He pushes me, tells me off, helps me calm my mind and massages my shoulders when I’ve been hunched over the computer for too long. Without him I could not have done what I’m doing right now. And for that I’m immensely grateful.
Though I’m thankful for not moving to Dublin back in 2005/2006, it’s really good to be back and I’m very excited about the Dublin Web Summit. Not to mention honoured to be speaking here on Thursday. And as for Dublin and the Irish, what’s not to like.
Tomorrow – Day 291 | Web Summit Day 1
Image: Photo taken earlier today on Grafton Street
Ps. To let you in on a secret, the profile pic I use everywhere is actually taken here in Dublin. Time to find a new one perhaps.
