David Condon Finds

I’ll start this by saying that this post applies to tourists coming to Ireland on vacation or holiday, and to our own “staycationers” who are brave enough to holiday at home. It’s written as a broad, practical guide for getting the most out of your time here, whatever the weather. If you do happen to find yourself in Kerry at any point, many of these ideas apply just as well there too.

How Airbnb Experience Reviews Really Work — A Guide for Hosts and Guests This guide is for both new Airbnb Experience Hosts  and curious Guests who want to understand how the Airbnb review system really works . Reviews on Airbnb aren’t just a formality, they directly affect a Host’s visibility, bookings, and reputation. Even well-meaning feedback  like dropping a star, making a vague comment, or answering Airbnb's extra questions without much thought can hurt a Host’s score and reduce their chances of getting future bookings. Many people don’t realise how easily this happens, or how much it can impact a small business. Note: This post originally lived on my main site, David Condon Woodcraft, but I’ve rehomed it here to keep that site focused purely on woodcraft and woodturning. This topic fits more naturally on David Condon Finds, where I write about platforms, experiences, and wider observations beyond the workshop. I was brought up with the phrase 'If you've nothing good...

I finished building the UCS Venator during Christmas, and at over 5,000 pieces it has been one of the most demanding LEGO builds I’ve taken on so far. Not difficult in a frustrating way, but demanding in terms of focus, space, patience, and sheer physical tiredness by the end of a session. I’ve already written about why I wanted to buy the Venator and where it sits in my growing UCS collection , but this post is more about the build itself . The practical side. The moments where things flow beautifully, and the moments where you really should stop, step away, and come back fresh.

We've all been there at one time or another.  A leisurely trip to the local Farmer's Market suddenly turns sour and brings you to the point of panic. Unexpectedly, a Market Trader and your good self  have made brief eye contact.  He/she has smiled pleasantly with a hopeful look that you will come over and look at their goods on display and possibly make a purchase.   Your heart beat increases exponentially and in your 'fight or flight' state your eyes dart around left and right looking for that distraction that will get you off the hook. You only came down for a loaf of bread and some small cake goodies, you never expected to be caught in the gaze of some small craft maker who wants you to buy from them. 

The days just after Christmas have a strange kind of calm to them. The rush has passed, the chaos of the lead-up is over, and for a few days the whole country seems to slow down, or even stop, at the same time. Shops go quiet, inboxes settle, and even the dog seems to think it’s time to take it easy. For me, this week has always felt like a mini reset that arrives automatically every year, whether I plan it or not. It’s not quite the New Year, and not quite the old year, just an odd little gap where life pauses long enough for you to catch your breath. The Pace Finally Slows Down St. Stephen’s Day 26th December is the first day I notice the difference. There’s no pressure to be anywhere, no deliveries coming in, no customer queries waiting. No Christmas dinner to eat and no gifts to give out. Even my workshop feels different. The tools stay quiet, the lathe stays off, and I’m not rushing from one job to the next. The office PC isn’t whirring constantly under my desk, or groaning unde...

Running a small business means wearing every hat — maker, picker, packer, customer service, admin, and occasionally, detective when a parcel goes wandering. Especially at this time of year (Christmas), when deliveries really matter.  Over the years I’ve developed a simple but reliable packaging system that keeps me organised and drastically reduces mistakes or ' did I do that? ' moments. It’s nothing fancy, just a routine that works and it might help other small business owners who struggle with lost items, packing errors, or customer queries. I go the extra mile for my customers benefit and my own piece of mind.   Christmas is when my system really shines but it also adds to my workload. Is it worth it do you think? Read on and see.

There was a time when Christmas morning meant pure chaos, tearing through wrapping paper like wild animals, sugar highs by 8 a.m. and that magical feeling that something incredible was about to happen. Fast forward a few decades and… well, the only thing getting torn apart now is your back when you bend down to plug in the tree lights. Somewhere along the line, the magic faded a little. The excitement that used to keep us awake half the night has been replaced by the adult version of Christmas anticipation, waiting for the turkey to defrost properly and praying the power bill won’t double because of those “warm white” fairy lights that you swore were energy efficient. 

Is Putting Ads on Your Website Worth It? The Harsh Truth From My Own Experience I used to think that connecting Google AdSense to my website would be an easy way to earn a bit of passive income. You know the thinking,  if people from all over the world are visiting anyway, why not make a few euro from ads? And technically, yes, I did make money. But here’s the part nobody tells you: I made it painfully slowly , over months and not days & weeks like I expected. And every cent came at the cost of my website’s credibility, user experience and overall performance which I only found out after the fact. If you’re thinking about adding third-party ads to your site, especially if it’s something you’ve poured time, effort and pride into, here’s my honest advice after learning the hard way. The “Income” Looks Good — Until You Do the Maths At the peak of my AdSense phase, I was convinced I was doing well. The dashboard showed little bits of revenue trickling in and I could see count...