May 2005 Archive
Sonia O Sullivan
09 May 2005, 13:33
I take it you're one of these clowns who only takes an interest in athletics once every 4 years. Otherwise, you might have noticed that Sonia finished a very creditable 4th at the World Half Marathon championships last year AFTER the Olympics.Then again, maybe you're also one of these fools who sees anything other than a medal at the Olympics as failure, yet wet themselves with excitement when Ireland merely qualify for the World Cup.The above was a well thought out reply to one of my earlier entries..Yes I love nothing more than once every 4 years watching athletics forming an opinion and then ignoring it for the rest of the time..I really must apologise, Well done Sonia, running a race and finishing 4th..thats only 3 places away from winning..So it now seems that she and her supporters or the above supporter anyway, are happy with not winning. I suppose the above correspondent is happy watching a once great athlete, being outshone by the younger athletes.I noticed last week, when I was taking a break from ignoring athletics, that Sonia won her appeal for funding..surely that money would have been better spent on young upcoming athletes..If Sonia is happy competing knowing she's not good enough to win anymore then thats her look out. I cant see exactly she's getting out of it. I really cant see how her olympics could be seen as anything other than a failure...but roll on germany 2006.. I have my leprachaun hat..irish flag(unless my arms are too tired to carry it)..varios tshirts commerating the irish teams heroic journy to germany..but do keep us updated with details of her valiant, yet ultimately futile attempts at competing, best of luck to her competing for Australia see how long they tolerate losing.
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Awards
09 May 2005, 15:09
I would have to agree with the general consenus that the night was a success. It could have gone either way but i think the venue was perfect if perhaps a little dark and perhaps they should invest in a mike and speakers..they're might even have been a song or two.The photos looked great even if my hair in the photos made me look like a cast member of The Village of the Dammned, but then that was the effect i was looking for. The hair is mostly back to normal.I'm sure you probably noticed I was in a suit and tie. Flurkboy and Seamie said we were going to Q and A afterwards. I thought we were going to the show with Mr Bowman and the politicians, boy was I wrong. However on hindsight I probably was the most alternatively dressed person in the Temple Bar Music centre. Oh if only the Ho in the know was there to see the goings on but I swore I'd say nothing, all I'll say is I wont be able to look at wheelie the same way again.and I'm beginning to think the 6 pints of lemon juice story might be based on a true story..but I'll say no more...Peace out
Grafton Street Vs Wexford Street
10 May 2005, 10:38
The awards were a few hours away. I had just checked in to my room in my favorite hotel. As a valued guest they allocated me a lovely room on the 4th floor with a small balcony over looking temple bar. The rain had taken a break to re charge and the sun was shining. I sat out on the balcony, enjoying a cigarette and looking out over the roof tops..SeamieK and Flurkbot were standing waiting at the top of grafton street but the view was quiet impressive and they would have to wait. The view in question was a guy in one of the apartment blocks on dame street, strolling around his apartment in nothing but a skimpy towel..Alas with saddness in my heart I departed to meet up with the two boys. Its always fun to spend an afternoon in the city with them, if only because I get to feel like I'm starring in the 60's TV programme The Land Of the Giants. We wandered over to cafe bell to take our picture beside Mary. Mother of God, and her dead son jesus..It was to be a start of a spiritual journey. Seamie was looking for a fruit that smelled like Jizz. The shop that sold them was on wexford street so off we went. As well as shops that sell fruit that smell of Jizz. Wexford Street is the Charity shop capital of the world.. The are shops by real charities and one or two made up ones.. The things you can find if you look hard enough. I cant remember the name of the first charity shop we entered but boy did we find a bargain. Its a lovely picture of Our Lady of Ebola(probably not correct but there are stream of blood coming from her eyes). We were giddy with excitement as each shop was a treasure trove of crap..mostly the stuff that even the wombles wouldnt find use for. Where else in the world could you by a trophy presented at the 1993 Roscarbury Festival to the best novice, or a Sunday Times "The Month" cd rom, from a couple of years back and for the bargain price of €1.00..A steal, but I'm not sure who's doing the robbing.The quality of the items varies depending on the Charity. Obviously the big glamour Charities are given the best stuff and my recommendation would be Enable Ireland. The always try to keep their stock exciting and new.So remember, Life cant always be BT's and grafton st's other swanky shops, why not try buying something for the soul and devote some time to Charity shops.
3 station land
11 May 2005, 11:11
How did people survive in the days before cable television. I'm currently living in a world of only 3 stations and once the soaps wereover and a couple of hours to kill before desparate housewives,I was stuck with a choice of fair city , a movie of the week called beating jesus with yer wan who played raquel in corrie and a nature programme about the honey badger in the kalahari desert. The honey badger won out. It provided an insight into this elusive creature and blew apart all the long held myths about this creature. I wasnt aware of any of the myths but the narator told us there were some. We followed a husband and wife team as they spent 3 years following the honey badger, chasing it with big nets, injecting them with tranqulising them and weighing the badgers, then dumping the badgers in a hole in the sand. We didnt get to see when the badgers came around with a massive headache, wondering how they got from walking along to lying in a hole in the ground.There was touching scene as the mother spent her days finding food for its young 'un and digging new burrow, chasing away jackels and teaching its young how to survive. It had its moments of saddness when the first cub was badgernapped from the burrow while the mother sought food. It didnt survive so she had to start all over again. We got to see the next won grow up to be an adult female badger. calously the mother threw her out as she went seeking suitors. There she was giving off her signals as male badgers with in radius came flocking to try and have a go. Its difficult to describe but I imagine its the kalahari equivalent of club M or tamangos.It got me wondering about the husband and wife team. How did they meet, wasit a long shot ad on gaire or a similar sire..Wanted woman to spend 3 years in desert, following honey badgers and lying under went towels covered in bees. I suppose I should give a mention to their guide who was dressed as if he had just come from the kalahari paddys day parade.I will offer this advice to karate clubs, forget calling your selves the cobras or other deadly snakes, the honey badger is much more vicious and has any snakes number.well thats all for today, I must take my leave and root out NTL's number, TV is for entertainment not infotainment
Surreal Bar
12 May 2005, 10:56
I've been suffering with a bad cold the last few days, I should have just stayed in bed but I enjoy playing the marthyr from time to time. I've been sitting in work, looking like death warmed up, coughing, sneezing and general moaning of how my body aches. My brain must have seen the white hair on saturday and thought it should be behaving like an octogenarian, although I'm sure my suffering is of no interest to you dear readers(all 2 of you).Anyway the point of todays epistle is not about my pain but rather a bar I was introduced to last evening. The soaps were over for the evening and a perusal of the tv listings didnt hold out much hope of an evenings entertainment, so It was decided that a pint was in order. I dragged my cold ravaged body from the comfortable sofa, enrobed my self in my jacket and we headed off into the night. My first excursion to sample the wares of the local publicans. We passed on the patriots inn and wandered down a side road. Although,technically, we were heading closer to the city centre, it had the feel of a rural byroad. We soon came to a smallish stone building. The sound of singing was drifting through an open window and floating away into the night air. We opened the door and stepped inside.I had a hard time beliving I was still in Dublin. Ot was like going trough the magic door on bosco. The decor was like a 1950's rural pub, but genuine not like some of the pubs that spend a fortune trying to look old. The music was coming from a group of people sitting at the far end of the bar, even if the far end wasnt more than 10 feet away. It seemed to be just an ad hoc session. We ordered our drinks and sat on two empty stools, A small black dog, of indetermined ugliness, had free run of the lounge. The selection of songs played was fairly eclectic, but familiar enough that you could join in, which I did. I also found out that I have another twin wandering the streets of Dublin. Its starting to feel the boys from brazil. He said he could have sworn that he's seen me singing there before, and if it wasnt me then I must have a twin who's sung there.Although It was my first time there, it didnt take long to feel at home. The bar person was friendly but unintrusive. The locals didnt turn and stare at the unfamilar faces. Another bonus of the pub is its prices, Two beers cost 8 euro, which is good value for Dublin.While it wouldnt be a place that you would spend every evening, Its nice to know such an oasis exists.As we readied ourselves for our departure, the housemates phone rang. It was a wrong number. He laughingly told me that it was a woman asking if he was in north Mayo. I looked around the bar, looked at him and said, "You know, we just might be". We stepped back through the time portal and back into Modern Dublin..All was right with the world......apart from this fecking cold, that has my heart scalded
The Rematch
13 May 2005, 10:01
Poor Loosefit, Poor Poor Loosefit. Poor Poor Poor Loosfit. Poor...ok you get the idea. Last night saw the resumption of our pool table hostilities. Still some what tired and fluey, I arrived downstairs to see that the table was all set up. He looked confident, he was like a tiger waiting to pounce...the cue was drawn back, the cue ball hurtled down the table...3 blacks and less than one pint later, its 3 nil. The confidence gone..the tiger replace by an aging house cat. It was all over bar the shouting. He clawed one back, I won the next. It was 4 won. looking like his worse defeat. The impending defeat was delayed by the arrival of Bboy. Despite his claiming to be no good, was actually quite a useful player. He soon saw off the challenge of the deflated Loosefit. His run soon came to an end. The black ball disappeared. loosefit was playing for pride. He closed the gap. It was 4-2. Thats a close as he got. Inspired shot selection and lay ups soon saw him 6-2 behind. It was over. The victory dance was done. We played one more. It was academic. The history books will show that it ended 6-3. He went home to lick his wounds...deflated, defeated...drunk
Our News
16 May 2005, 09:56
Well Its monday again. The morning sky was grey as if lamenting the passing of the weekend. It was almost the polar opposite of the previous friday evening, where the sun shone and the whole weekend stretched out with endless possibilities. Now its monday again and the those possibilites are just memories.Friday. I skipped all the way hoping bursting with excitement. It was to be my first night out since the night before and plans, exciting plans had been made for the hours that lay ahead. By 8 o'clock we were in a taxi on our was to the Dragon. Dublin was beginning to fill up. It was still early I suppose and not too many patrons were in the dragon. Our early starting hour meant we were in time to nab one of the booths. The booth gives a feeling of privacy and an oasis of space once the bar begins to fill up..well in theory any way.We sat down and ordered a drink.. The third of our fellow ship, Seamiek, was on route and due to join us presently. About 8.30,a rosy cheeked vision of loveliness approched our booth. We're okay for drink we told him..SeamieK arrived shortly afterwards..We were joined by the other house mate Fiona, her girlfriend and a few of her work collegues. They were currently starring in Oh, you're so homophobic. It was more a performance art piece that took place in various pubs around Dublin. We stayed there till about 11 when the young kids went off to the george, while the older crowd, looked for a quieter place where the gin is cold and the the piana's hot..so after a couple of drinks in centre stage I was chaufered home for a good nights rest before the saturday activities.Saturday was another glorious day, we headed into town, then split up to go our separate ways. I was heading home, Flurkboy was lunching with his mother and Seamie was meeting an imaginary friend..However like a teen ager couple who've had a silly row and broke up we were back together a few hours later for a bit of shopping. I had decreed earlier that we would all wear pink that evening so we had to find Seamie a suitable number..with that mission accomplished we headed back to D8 with 3 bottles of wine. The two lads tucked in their take away sushi and wine while I prepared my dinner and then sat out on the deck in the sun singing along to random songs on the IPOD. The highlight being our ensemble dance number to All That Jazz..I wish I was making the last sentence up but I'm not..We had tickets forthe theatre at 8 so after washing and scrubing we set of into the evening as the light declined..More wine was had during the show and then it was off once more to the dragon..Man was it packed. Other bars must have been hit hard in the tills saturday night. We lasted till about 12.30 in the throng and then headed back to the centre stage. Its only a small cafe but it had a good atmosphere. We chatted with the ever amicable barman, Philip, and then sadly at 2:30 we were told to fuck off, by the way, and we headed home. Our tired heads the pillows, separate pillows i may add, about 4.Sunday is fast becoming one of my favorite days. We hit the town about 2 for a spot of lunch and a few hours of arsing around with no particular agenda. We popped in to yello to see how their lunch crowd was doing. We played pool in Gubu, and were joined by Loosefit for a game follwed by some browsing in the Jervis Centre.We did a bit of shopping in the oriental market nd left with more noodles than you can shake a chop stick at and then in what was the highlight of the week end for Seamie(well he is from the country) we took the LUAS back to D8. We waved seamie off about 7 for his long journey home and then settled down for to watch the meaning of lifeForeign trips and parental visits mean that It'll be a quiet weekend next week..though it is eurovision weekend so perhaps it wont.
Ruf I , Ruf You, Ruf Us
18 May 2005, 10:06
The phone rings, the middle of the night, my mother yelling what you gonna do with your life...actually that was the mid day phone call. Monday evening, I got a call asking if I would be interested in seeing Rufus Wainwright, son of Loudon. brother of martha. Of Course I would I replied. My grand mother had taught me to refuse nothing but blows, and depending on the type of blows in question I might even refuse them..but I digress. I confess I knew very little of roofie's work but I enjoyed his version of hallejuah on the shrek sound track. so I was interested to hear more of his work.The hooter sounded signalling itwas time to clock off from the mine for another day. I washed the coal dust from my face and set out to meet the ticket provider. The show was due to start at 21:00, so we took in some liqud libations in Gubu and then in Dublins newest Straight Bar turned gay bar in the hope of increasing their profits, The Dragon. It was quiet and we were able to get one of the nice booths..Characters were pulled asunder and world problems were solved before we headed off to Vicar street.Well they were out in force..The community's sons and daughters and friends assembled there. the young, the old, some chavs wearing gold, their duty to fulfill. at the vicar street hall on Thomas st, a mile from where robert emmet was killed....I hadnt expected there to be as many as there was. We had celebrities in attendance(well Neil Hannon anyway). We had staff from a dublin restaurant, one in particular looking stunning in a pink pashmina, long pink Nails, blue jeans, pink flip flops and ringletts in his hair. The bell rang summoning us to assemble in the hall. The air of anticipation filled the room, finally applause broke out at the front of the room as Rufus took the stage, soon all the room was cheering. A light illuminated the stage. He broke into what sounded like the muslim call to prayer and contined for about 5 minutes in this vein. I dont know whether it was the acoustics in the room but he sound like a stroke victim trying to communicate. He possibly had been to a chiropractor just before the show, if I'm to believe the utter shite from the Primetime Documentary from a few weeks back..I believe next weeks expose will be crossing roads can lead to being hit by a car..any way I'm getting off topic but It annoys me to see the journalism of fear creeping into Irish News, that stuff is best left to Fox.Sadly I lasted about 45 minutes, He was clear, concise and camp when he spoke but muffled when he sang. We repaired to the bar, where a few others had gathered with the same complaints. I did check back in incase I was missing anything and was lucky to just get there as he started singing Hallelujah. At least I heard what I came for so I was happy. A heavy morning workload decreed that I leave early so I dont know how the rest of the show went. There were some other Gaire Members in attendence so maybe they'll fill in the gaps
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A sad day
19 May 2005, 11:46
Well its over. Easily the longest relationship I've had has drawn to a close. I dont know but theres a kind of hollow emptiness inside. It ended about 3.30am last night. We've had a few good years together and exciting adventures, but thats all in the past..Its time to move on, sure there'll be the occasional chance rendezvous but nothing definate....so yeah, last night I bid farewell to Obi-wan, yoda, darth vader,luke leia, et al. It must one of my earliest clear childhood memories, I would have been 4 maybe 5 when it first opened.I remember someone asking as we went to school if I had seen no..I had chosen walt disneys Cinderella over it(proof that its genetic),but the singing mice were great..I think I saw it shortly afterwards. I remember collecting the star wars comic that came out each week. I remember filling in a subscription form to hand to your local newsagent so that he would be sure to order a copy for you. I remember entering a competion to win a darth vader light saber. I remember getting a letter, thanking me for entering but sadly I was not a winner. Fine I thought, thats me done with the dark side.Iwould not consider myself a complete star wars nut. I didnt devote my life to collecting all the figures, but I loved the story.I loved rooting for the good guys. I still get a lump in my throat at the end of Star wars IV and VI, especially when the victory music plays and Yoda,Ben and Anikin are reunited and appear to Luke. You get a feeling that all is right with the universe.Another thing that has been amusing about Star Wars in recent years are the People who hate Dubya but think Darth vader is the coolest thing ever.Maybe Dubya or Rumsfeld should get a cool suit and then his policies would be more popular I never wanted to be a sith lord. I always wanted to be Luke but I suppose I'm happy enough being me, till my time comes to save the galaxy.Right so on to the Movie..I dont think it needs much of a review as more people know what happens.I surprised that more jedi didnt cross to the dark side.Every time yoda opens his mouth it seem to be a warning that no matter what emotion you were feeling at the time, it was the path to the darkside. I read that the purpose was to show Anikin as a tragic figure who was manipulated in to crossing over, out of love and a way to prevent his wifes death. I felt that what he need was a good spanking and be sent on his way, with the advice to stop acting like a petulant child.Is the movie good, Yes. Is it as good as the original, No. The graphics are great, the story is fine but the characters dont seem to have the warmth of original trilogy. I wont ruin it but I did like the irony of lukes birth co inciding with vaders unveling..So we know the whole story..there will be no more the 6 separate films can now become oneAnd before I go can I just mention the gobshites who clapped and cheered when the lights went down in the cinema. And then complained because not enough peopled joined in...oh if i'd have had a lightsabe handy....
A sad day part deux
19 May 2005, 22:50
are we wasting our time entering a competition that has finally cut its tenuous links to music and is now a geopolitical contest..or is it time that the contest is organised into 5 regional contests with the top 5 in each region going through to the final..one thing is sure, the 10 finalists to go through were not voted in on musical tastes..Howin the name of god that a darkness tribute band got through and the strongest song from Belarus didnt make the final 10 will surely send the organisers back to the drawing boards to get the competition back to its routes.I cant see why RTE are wasting money sending over contestants. This at least would have the silver lining of us not having to endure You're A Star.Each year the contest is losing its appeal. If the balkans want the show so much then let them have it. We'll just have to find something else to do each May.
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