5 MINUTES WITH – KASIA WOJTACH

Kasia, her husband Robert and her three children settled in Buncrana from Poland just over four years ago. Her work at the Inishowen Development Partnership office as the Immigrant Integration Development Officer, she finds both varied and interesting. Kasia works with people from Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania and Poland organising trainings, courses, integration projects and information meetings. One of her latest integration project with the VEC is a story project for parents . The course teaches parents how to read and tell stories to their children in English. All nationalities attend, which strengthens both the integration of parents and nationalities. On the 11th of November (today), Buncrana library on St Mary’s Road are having their official opening of the Polish Library section within the library. Nearly 1000 books were collected by Kasia and her friends in Poland and brought over to Inishowen. These books will be available to borrow throughout Donegal and will be hugely beneficial to Polish children, adults or anyone who wishes to learn a new language.


What music do you like?
I enjoy listening to Sting, ever since he started with the Police. I also enjoy Jazz, especially soft jazz from Louis Armstrong and more recently Chris Botti. He is an Italian trumpet player, and I was introduced to his music at a wedding in Poland. Irish musicians from the Different Drums project are great too

What would you never throw away?
Books. Any books, I have lots of books at home and there will be even more in the library after today.

What book are you reading?
I read a lot of fiction books but at the moment I am reading a biography about Marina Vlady, the wife of an alcoholic Russian singer. It’s a very enjoyable book.

What was your favourite childhood game?
When I was really young I played with dolls and dolls houses. When we were a bit older we played a game called podchody. Translated this means to go over or to come up. We would divide ourselves up into two groups; one group would set off and hide. It could be anywhere in town. They would leave clues for us to follow and we tried to track them down. This could take all day sometimes. It was great fun

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I went to see High School Musical 3 with the children and before that I went to see Sex in the City with my friends; they are from Dungloe so we meet up half way in Letterkneny.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I start from the back, avoiding the sport, as I am not too familiar with it.

What is your idea of a good night out?
A party with friends or a trip into town.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Robert and I met in a dormitory that had both university students and technical school teens in it (Robert was in the tech). The pupils called it Alkatraz, as there were so many rules. I was with the girls on the fourth floor and Robert was in the boys wing downstairs. We had just started seeing one another and I decided to treat him to a candlelit dinner. There was just one shared kitchen, but I managed to cook some spaghetti bolognaise. I really, and I mean really overcooked the pasta until it was a soggy mess. Robert ate it and was so polite, he didn’t even comment although I could see a look of disappointment on his face.

Have you a favourite TV programme?
I occasionally watch Desperate Housewives when I remember it’s on.

How do you relax?
A good book and a glass of wine.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be a vet or observing and filming animals for nature programs.

Where would you like to go for your holidays?
Just somewhere sunny

Your idea of heaven and hell?
Watch the film - What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams…..

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
My father, he passed away three years ago and I still miss him. I would also invite Pop John Paul II. As a teenager I was involved in Catholic groups through the church and I thought his ideas about the whole of life were inspirational.

Favourite animal?
The lioness, she is strong and takes care of her cubs.

What couldn’t you live without?
Family and friends.

Biggest fear?
Darkness, especially driving over the hills from Carndonagh at night.

Biggest thrill?
A hug from my children and when they say “ I love you” I like to see people getting on together.

The world’s most irritating invention?
The answering machine. I don’t want to talk into a machine….

Do you have a hobby?
Books and psychology, I have always been interested in Freud

World’s most useful invention?
That would be the telephone, to be able to talk to anyone at anytime around the world.

What do you have for breakfast?
Sometimes porridge and sometimes a slice of toast and jam.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
It’s a bit of good advice from my granny. She said to spend 15 minutes of good quality time with your children every day.

Personal philosophy?
“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked”. That’s a quote from an Arabic poet called Khalil Gibran.

CABLE AND ACCESSORIES - EDITORIAL

Stephen McKeever demonstrates the smooth action of a Click switch.

Damian and Stephen are able to find stock easily in the well-designed warehouse.

Stephen cutting a piece of armoured cable to length for a customer.

Cable and Accessories offer a professional and friendly service to both complete novices and main contractors in the electrical industry.

Why are Cable and Accessories so successful?…… They listen to their customers.

Cable and Accessories are a trusted name in the electrical supply industry and hold major contracts with the ESB and Regional Health Boards.

The reduction of waste is a key factor in the company…. you can walk in and buy single items…… Sometimes you just need one 13 amp fuse, one light switch or a bulb.


CABLE AND ACCESSORIES ELECTRICAL WHOLESALERS

Cable and Accessories, the electrical wholesaler is proud to have a newly opened branch here in the peninsula. Centrally located on the Milltown Business Park in Buncrana, Cable and Accessories caters for both the retail and wholesale electrical market.

Established 25 years ago in Derry, they have now grown to be the largest independent electrical wholesaler in the North of Ireland, with well-established premises in Derry, Letterkenny, Omagh and Limavady. At present they employ 42 people around the country. Expansion plans won’t stop there either as they are planning to open more outlets around the country over the coming months.

Partnerships
Cable and Accessories value their capacity to build up and establish a working relationship and partnership with their trade customers. One of their selling points is that they will provide quotes for tendering purposes. This supports their customers to accurately price small and large contracts which can be an advantage in a successful tender.

Open to both the trade and public.
Making both retail and wholesale customers feel at ease is important to the success of the company. There’s no such thing as a silly question and if you have any product queries, Damian and Stephen are there to help. Damian has 26 years experience in the electrical industry and although Stephen has a long way to catch up in years, he makes up for it in enthusiasm. Between them they make a friendly and dynamic team.


Armoured cables
If you are considering underground cables for outdoor lighting and water pumps, Cable and Accessories are the only stockists in Inishowen that stock armoured cables. These cables are vital to ensure that the protective covering isn’t damaged by stones when buried. Stephen and Damian will cut the heavy-duty cable to any length saving you money and sparing any waste.

Reducing waste
The reduction of waste is a key factor in the company, with this in mind you can walk in and buy single items instead of multi packs. Sometimes you just need one 13 amp fuse, one light switch or bulb.

Get an account
Getting a customer account at Cable and Accessories enables the buyer to go into any of the outlets around the country to buy what they need, which frees the contractor to be mobile in any part of the country.

Nationwide back up of products
If for any reason the item you are looking for is not in stock in the Buncrana unit they have a fully stocked 20,000 square foot warehouse in Derry and an express delivery service. The item you require can be sourced and delivered to you in a matter of hours. The Buncrana branch has access to the companies HGV lorries and vans which; operate around the country, ensuring you get the products you need when you need them.

Stockists of household names
Cable and Accessories have sourced top quality brand named products that reflect their reputation for supplying the industry with the best.

Click wall accessories
Click are a world leader in products such as junction boxes, flush mounted switch and socket boxes, cable clips and connector strips. All Click products are manufactured to the highest quality levels and comply with all relevant British and European standards. Guarantees of up to 20 years against materials or manufacturing faults show how confident they are with product quality.


Hager
Hager is part of a dynamic, global company and is a world-class manufacturer of voltage distribution and electrical equipment. Their products cover all residential and commercial electrical installations, and ensure quality and flexibility to the installer and end user. They also offer a unique service of design solutions to meet customer needs, in the areas of energy distribution, building control, connection systems and cable routing. They are the main suppliers of MCB’s (Miniature Circuit Breakers) for the main fuse box in the house.

Robus
Robus is one of the leading brands of LED fixtures and includes LED products for both exterior and interior use. The new range of durable and corrosion resistant outdoor lighting products available from Robus includes bollards, bulkheads and wall lights. They also supply efficient, over-door convectors.

Dimplex
Dimplex heating systems cater for the domestic and commercial market. They produce high-energy efficient products such as heat pumps, electric under-floor heating and condensing gas boilers. Dimplex is an established world leader, with hundreds of products dedicated to energy efficient usage and comfortable lifestyles.
Their line-up covers heat pumps and solar water heating; commercial heating and air curtains; water heating; award winning electric fires and suites; portable heaters and domestic heating solutions for all around the home.

Ansell
Ansell Lighting design and manufacture lighting products that fall into six distinct groups. These are display, amenity, floodlighting, industrial, commercial and emergency lighting. Their design expertise provides multiple solutions for almost every interior and exterior application that includes a commitment to fulfilling the increasing requirement for products that are energy efficient.

Pyrolix and Response Burglar Alarms
With a home security system, your home is two to three times less likely to be broken into than a home without one. Cable and Accessories stock two class-leading companies Pyrolix and the wire free Response system. Call into the store and see what system suits your property.


Opening times
The unit is Open from 8 am to 5pm Monday to Friday….. They don’t close for lunch.

LEE TEDSTONE - EDITORIAL

Buncrana businessman, Lee Tedstone of Nvolve Ltd is ‘over the moon’ after scooping three business awards in the Shell Livewire All Ireland Finals last Thursday. The three categories are for the Best Use of Innovation, the Entrepreneurial Spirit award and the Export Potential award. “I am absolutely delighted,” says Lee “They are the best categories too as they reflect a good product, a good business and a good market reach.” It is a testament to the work and effort Lee has put into his business, that in two years he has created, from his Letterkenny base, a successful global company with clients across all industry sectors.

Clear vision
Lee was brought up in Buncrana on the Railway Road and always had a clear vision that he was going to work for himself. As a child he would go to work with his dad and watch his father and his business partner, Bertie Cartmill run their amusement business. “These two men had a big impression on me” Lee recalls. “I was fascinated by their lifestyle and how they interacted with their customers and their suppliers. I am sure it had an influence on me. I have fond memories of Buncrana in my childhood, being around the amusement arcades, going down to the shore front to go on the bumpers, the bingo at the weekend. There was a real buzz about the place.”

Lee went to St Columba’s boy school (now Scoil Iosagain) and Scoil Mhuire. He didn’t do particularly well at school as he always felt he needed to do things his own way and could do things better himself. Lee explains, “I liked to break the mould, if I was messing around and the teacher would tell me I was going to fail, I felt determined I would prove them wrong. I would challenge myself to go and do what I needed to.”

Lee did well enough to go to the University of Ulster to do his degree in electronics/software design and then went on to Queens to do his Masters in Semi-conductor Design. From there he went to Edinburgh where he worked for a company designing microchips, before moving to London to work in recruitment, project management and business development for a variety of employers, all within the electronics field. Through his work, Lee identified a gap in the market, where he felt he could make a contribution and as he wanted to come home, he moved back in 2006 to set up Nvolve Ltd.

Learning Solutions
The gap Lee had identified was a need for organisations to co-ordinate recruitment, training and performance management. Nvolve’s learning solutions division has developed software that trains staff faster, better and more cost-effectively than ever before, enabling organisations to manage and deliver their training at a fraction of the time and cost of more traditional methods. The business owners / managing directors can set objectives, which are filtered through the business hierarchy in the form of individual objectives for each worker that are measured against a timescale. Each employee can work on their own objectives and feed back what resources or training they need. This allows businesses to streamline and the success of the product is measured by the amount of money saved for the organisation. “The learning management side fits perfectly with organisations that have legislative requirements but it is effective for any business that wants to align their training activities to performance objectives,” Lee clarifies.

Software Solutions
The other division of Nvolve Ltd develops bespoke software to match the needs of their clients. Their customers include start-up businesses as well as large enterprises; any-one who needs a professional software solution in place quickly and efficiently. One recent example was a package for a community forum of golfers so they could keep in touch and chat on-line. Lee outsources his software development to a company in India, a partnership that has worked so well that Nvolve recently bought a majority share in the company. This means very competitive rates for his clients.

Lee is keen to point out that although their customers include large corporations and companies, more and more small local businesses are getting in touch with him. He explains, “Over the last few months about forty small businesses, local people from the Northwest have contacted me with an idea for a software package. There are some really good business ideas out there; I have found the entrepreneurial spirit has really gone through the roof. Some of these young businesses however, don’t have many resources or can’t afford to get a software package developed. I would encourage any-one in this situation to contact us for advice on how they could get their software developed.”

Sharing business skills
Lee is open to sharing his business skills. He recently gave a talk to 600 young people at Mount Errigal Hotel, which was organised by the Donegal County Enterprise Board. So what advice has he got for young entrepreneurs? “I would encourage people to engage with organisations such as the Inishowen Partnership, the Donegal County Enterprise Board and Enterprise Ireland,” he says. “I would also suggest that before they invest serious time and money on a service or product, they should try and get a commitment from some-one to buy it. You need qualities such as perseverance in business, drive and ambition as well as being able to keep your feet on the ground. If you have business acumen and skills, that is great, but you need perseverance to get through the hard times. However when you see the fruits of your hard work, there is no better feeling.”

Lee employs six people locally in Ireland and has sixty employees in the Indian software engineering company. He believes in meritocracy in the business culture and believes that employees in Nvolve get out what they put in. Two recent graduate employees have worked so well that they will soon be heading a new software division.

The future
So what about the future for Nvolve? Well, there are two new software products in the pipeline that are being developed and with the large amount of exports to the United States, Lee is looking at opening a sales office in the U.S. possibly in California. He is also going on a fact-finding mission to Dubai and has already secured business over there.

If you would like to contact Lee his e-mail is leetedstone@nvolve.net and his phone number is 0749116000.

Small Big-Sandwich Internote

After eating all those sandwiches last time, I was excited to eat some more sandwiches at a different place and internote again. This time, the sandwiches are from Silver Mine Subs. I used to pass by the place all the time without really realizing it is a sandwich shop, but this time things are different.
(note: I ate the large size of all of these sandwiches)

Steam Engine - This was the first sandwich I got. Unlike the last place, they sell warm sandwiches in addition to ones with only cold meats. The Steam Engine is a meatball sub. There was some other stuff on it too, like maybe peppers or onions or whatever, but the main thing here is the meatballs. I thought it was a good sandwich, although I messed up and dropped half of mine on the floor and it got a bit messy, but I ate it just the same.

Lawless Leadville - A turkey and ham sandwich. It's good that there was both turkey and ham, because I think it there was only one, especially if it was just the turkey, it would have been really lame.

Dodge City - It's a tasty pepperoni and salami sandwich. The vinegar makes the lettuce taste especially vinegary if the pepperoni and salami wasn't enough for you.

Tombstone - The Tombstone is kind of a plain boring turkey sandwich. I thought it needed some bbq or cock sauce when I was eating it. It's like the leadville, but they took out the ham and added in sprouts, which is stupid, even if the sprouts don't get in the way like that other beach-themed sandwich. If you need to eat something because you're hungry, and not because you want to taste some flavor molecules something, this will do it.

Georgetown - I don't remember anything about this one. I see a piece of bacon in my picture though, so maybe this was a turkey bacon sandwich, in which case I can already say it's way better than the Tombstone. There might be a better bacon sandwich available, but this is the only one I've had so far from this place.

I actually ate these sandwiches probably over 2 weeks ago and haven't been there since. I probably won't be going back there either so I decided just to make the internote now with what I currently had to work with.

OLIVER! - THE MUSICAL -BUNCRANA

There are more photo's on the buncrana.com website - click here to go straight to them...

BETTER HOMES GUIDE- EDITORIAL

How your home looks, reflects your own personal style and taste and a beautiful, practical home is a joy to come in to.

For those of us who love cooking, new units and fittings can help to make the kitchen a comfortable and effective working environment.

Professional landscapers and ground workers will make your outdoor space an all year round enjoyable experience, from a full garden makeover to clearing the leaves out of the guttering

BETTER HOMES GUIDE
With Christmas just round the corner now is a good time to get your home all ship-shape for the celebrations. How your home looks, reflects your own personal style and taste and a beautiful, practical home is a joy to come in to. With visitors and family coming home and neighbours popping in, there is still time to do all those little jobs and improvements to make your house as homely as possible.

Warm and Cosy

Start by making your home warm and cosy. Make sure your heating system is in good working order by getting it checked out. Radiators might need to be bled or the system flushed out. Boilers should be serviced and the system checked for leaks. Nothing spoils the look and integrity of your wooden floor than damp patches around the radiator pipes. Make sure the system has anti-corrosive additives as the fins of the radiators can block up with rust and make the system inefficient.

It can also be worth getting your chimneys swept out to avoid the risk of fires and increase the upward draw of the smoke. This will in turn make your back boiler more efficient. Consider putting in a wood-burning stove to cut down on the cost of oil and coal.

Heat rises, so a lot of heat can be lost through your roof. You can cut this down by insulating your loft. There are recommendations about the thickness of the insulating material and this will cut down on your heating bills. Another way to cut heat loss is to put in double-glazing. This can be an expensive out-going but the comfort will be felt straight away and it should pay for itself over the years.

Insulate your hot water tank. A special jacket that fits around the tank will slow down the amount of heat loss and keep your hot water at the right temperature for longer. Your cold water tank should also be insulated to stop it from freezing over in the winter months. Make sure that your taps aren’t dripping or leaking. Don’t forget to insulate outdoor taps in case of heavy frosts.

Revamping a Room

Giving a room a facelift needn’t be too expensive. A new coat of paint can make a big difference. Getting carpets, curtains and furniture professionally cleaned can also make a room feel fresher. Old pieces of furniture can be given a new lease of life by having them restored or re-covered. Built in cupboards and shelves can be a practical way of creating storage solutions for all your bits and pieces and can look good as well.

Kitchens

Kitchens are used a lot in the run up to Christmas to prepare the turkey and all the other trimmings for a family celebration. The kitchen is traditionally known as the heart of the home, as it is where women prepared nourishment for their loved ones. For those of us who love cooking, new units and fittings can help to make the kitchen a comfortable and effective working environment. Good storage, ergonomic worktops and sinks and enough storage can make the kitchen a pleasure to be in. Washable floors and surfaces ensure good hygiene. Think about your needs for your kitchen when making changes.
Bathrooms

Bathrooms can be a fun place to redecorate and stamp your own personality as well as being functional. Some people have themes such as the sea or garden, which is reflected in tiles, shower curtains or pictures. Power showers are a popular start to the day and leave you feeling wide awake and ready to tackle the day. A lovely warm bathroom is a great joy and still feels like a luxury. General maintenance of the bathroom is important such as seals around the bath need to be intact and water tight to avoid damp. Check that there is no leakage from the toilet overflow and that all the parts are working freely. Details like new tiles, a new floor or a funky toilet seat can add a bit of character to the room.

Gardens and Drives

Gardens and drives are worth a bit of attention too. No-body wants to slip on moss or wet decking so make sure these are kept clean through power hosing or washing down with appropriate cleaning products that will kill the moss and stop it from returning over the winter.

It can be a battle to keep the outdoor space outdoors. It is all too easy to tramp muck in when you go out to collect the coal or coming in from the car. Unfinished driveways covered in muddy hardcore can be laid with stone to make them safe to walk on and this is really important with the days being short and the long periods of darkness. The last thing you want is to fall and twist your ankle on a pothole. Professional landscapers and ground workers will make your outdoor space an all year round enjoyable experience, from a full garden makeover to clearing the leaves out of the guttering. There are jobs you could do yourself as well though. Start by cleaning all of the old summer bedding plants out of the window boxes and hanging baskets and replace them with colourful winter displays. There are plenty of plants to choose from and the impact is powerful. Your home looks loved and cared for and the sight of winter pansies and heathers is a warm welcome for visitors.


Brighten up the Bedroom

Make sure that you have the winter bedding in the bedrooms. Nothing warms a sleeping body for that “long winter’s nap” like a nice feather duvet and flannel bed linens. Rest your head on fluffy, soft down pillows. Since we tend to sleep longer in winter its important to be sure beddings are warm and comfy. Warm colours on bedroom walls can add to the cosiness, just one wall with a bold colour can make you feel as though the heating is on in the room. Don’t forget your hot water bottles too.


Planning and Preparation

With a little planning and preparation, you can make your home warm and comfortable for the long winter months so that family and guests enjoy the time together indoors. Nothing feels better and keeps people cheerful through the cold months of winter than a home that is well maintained and full of cosy winter décor.

KEEP WARM THIS WINTER

With the weather getting very cold over the last few weeks and the nights getting longer, we need to ensure our house is warm and comfortable for the winter. There are lots of practical cost efficient ways to keep your home cosy making sure you keep the draughts out and the heat in. Putting up a well-fitting curtain over the front door and using draught-proofing strips between the part of the window that moves and the frame and along the bottom of the back and front doors can help and of course insulating the loft is another effective way of making your home more energy efficient.

For older people, make sure that you eat regularly and have good food such as warming soups and stews and don’t forget, plenty of hot drinks. Keep yourself warm by wearing layers and keep as active as possible. Warm dressing gowns, slippers and blankets are useful for all the family.

Having a fire with a back boiler or a range in the kitchen not only adds warmth to the house, but can also give your home a heart.

Andy McLaughlin (Mac’s Coals)
Andy McLaughlin started working in the family coal business along with his father when he was 16. The business has been serving the heating needs of the peninsula for over 40 years. Andy has a drive in cash and carry in Buncrana and has opened a small depot in Carndonagh. Mostly though Andy serves his customers through his coal delivery service, six days a week. Mac’s offers keen rates for delivery of tons and half tons of coal as well as delivering slack and peat, cosyglow, doubles, anthracite and ecologs. You can contact their head office on 074 9361542.

Fuelog
With the price of oil becoming more unpredictable these days and with talk of global warming, a lot of people are looking at the wood burning stoves for an efficient and cleaner way of keeping their homes warm. John McCloskey has been in the business of supplying high performance clean burning logs for the last five years. He has two logging machines that can cut the logs to the size customers need whether it is a big stove to keep your outside shed warm or smaller logs for ranges and open fires. John has seen the demand for logs rise since he has started and delivers all over the area, from Derry, to Muff, Burt, Burnfoot and up to Malin and Moville and Glengad. Some people buy it loose and get a better price, otherwise John bags the logs in red netting to keep the wood dry and stop condensation. John can be contacted on 0862899369.