Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Last Day!!!!
last day last day last day last day last day last day last daaaaaaaaay. Add your own music and sing along!
New job monday folks! Will let you know if I surive the exit interview without venting my spleen and the leaving drinks without making a fool of myself and speaking my mind! Oh the temptation's there alright, believe me!
Will she make a reappearance???
New job monday folks! Will let you know if I surive the exit interview without venting my spleen and the leaving drinks without making a fool of myself and speaking my mind! Oh the temptation's there alright, believe me!
Will she make a reappearance???
Euro 2008
Thankfully we've avoided England in the draw I know some people were salivating at the prospect of playing them but personally I found the thought of God save the Queen being belted out at Croke Park really distasteful.
However it's not the worst draw out there though I don't fancy our chances much with both Germany and Czech Republic in our group. When did Germany and Italybecome a second bucket team and Sweden and Greece a first? 'Tis a crazy world!
The link should bring you to the full list!
However it's not the worst draw out there though I don't fancy our chances much with both Germany and Czech Republic in our group. When did Germany and Italybecome a second bucket team and Sweden and Greece a first? 'Tis a crazy world!
The link should bring you to the full list!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
The Heebie Jeebies
I was a bit bored last night as the boy was fixing the 'puter and we couldn't do stuff on it so I ended up watching crap TV with a blanket over me and a cup of tea. It was nice.
It was nice until Big Brother time and George Galloway's best bits and him being a cat. Jaysus.
Red Mum has the video on her site which I hadn't watched cause I don't have sound here and video stuff doesn't tend to work on my system, but you should check it out if you really want to know what this is about.
Jaysus. I'm still in shock. I thought I was going to cry last night watching it. No really. It was that disturbing. What the hell was he thinking? I don't think I'll ever be the same again.
It was nice until Big Brother time and George Galloway's best bits and him being a cat. Jaysus.
Red Mum has the video on her site which I hadn't watched cause I don't have sound here and video stuff doesn't tend to work on my system, but you should check it out if you really want to know what this is about.
Jaysus. I'm still in shock. I thought I was going to cry last night watching it. No really. It was that disturbing. What the hell was he thinking? I don't think I'll ever be the same again.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Justice for Justice sake?
It's hard to escape the news from yesterday that Wayne O'Donoghue was sentenced to just 4 years in prison for the manslaughter of Robert Holohan. My own initial reaction was one of surprise and then horror and distress when I heard the reports of Mrs Holohan's victim impact statement in the court prior to sentencing. The questions raised by her on first impressions are shocking. But on further consideration and analysis as was provided last night the reasons why these questions weren't posed in court seems a little clearer.
Robert Holohan
The DPP have an obligation to argue the strongest case they can in any given case. That often means that while evidence is present it may not be arguably strong enough to lead to a conviction. It would appear that this is the case with at least some of the physical and forensic evidence referred to by Majella Holohan.
However I have to admit that I am still surprised that on the strength of the case presented to him as we heard reported via the media that the sentence is for only 4 years. I understand that as there was only minimal physical trauma inflicted on the body that this was a mitigating factor in the judges decision. But the fact, as alluded to by him before sentencing, that Wayne O'Donoghue actively misled the authorities in the search for Robert's body, that he did not admit to what happened until the body was found and generally behaved in a manner which succeeded in creating more pain and hardship for the families involved than was necessry, surely should have attracted a harsher sentence? If it was an unfortunate and tragic accident he would surely have been in a better condition if he had behaved rationally and looked for help at the time of the event.
Wayne O'Donoghue
That's the part that really puzzles me. The other puzzling factor for me is why the DPP initially sought to bring a Murder conviction but downgraded it to Manslaughter. Murder convictions are not sought lightly as they are incredibly difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt and often a manslaughter conviction is easier to prove and therefore the preferred option. At no stage have I come across the reasons why the charge was changed. Has anyone else?
What we are left with now in this case, is the confusion and questions concerning Majella Holohan's statement, the fact that O'Donoghue will probably be out next year with good behaviour, and the media circus which is bound to pursue this one for the next few days. The question of whether justice has been done is a mute point. How can there really be justice when the sad fact is that 2 families have been destroyed by these events and while I hope that the Holohan and O'Donoghue family will one day find peace, life will never be as simple as it once was for them, or the community they come from.
Robert Holohan
The DPP have an obligation to argue the strongest case they can in any given case. That often means that while evidence is present it may not be arguably strong enough to lead to a conviction. It would appear that this is the case with at least some of the physical and forensic evidence referred to by Majella Holohan.
However I have to admit that I am still surprised that on the strength of the case presented to him as we heard reported via the media that the sentence is for only 4 years. I understand that as there was only minimal physical trauma inflicted on the body that this was a mitigating factor in the judges decision. But the fact, as alluded to by him before sentencing, that Wayne O'Donoghue actively misled the authorities in the search for Robert's body, that he did not admit to what happened until the body was found and generally behaved in a manner which succeeded in creating more pain and hardship for the families involved than was necessry, surely should have attracted a harsher sentence? If it was an unfortunate and tragic accident he would surely have been in a better condition if he had behaved rationally and looked for help at the time of the event.
Wayne O'Donoghue
That's the part that really puzzles me. The other puzzling factor for me is why the DPP initially sought to bring a Murder conviction but downgraded it to Manslaughter. Murder convictions are not sought lightly as they are incredibly difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt and often a manslaughter conviction is easier to prove and therefore the preferred option. At no stage have I come across the reasons why the charge was changed. Has anyone else?
What we are left with now in this case, is the confusion and questions concerning Majella Holohan's statement, the fact that O'Donoghue will probably be out next year with good behaviour, and the media circus which is bound to pursue this one for the next few days. The question of whether justice has been done is a mute point. How can there really be justice when the sad fact is that 2 families have been destroyed by these events and while I hope that the Holohan and O'Donoghue family will one day find peace, life will never be as simple as it once was for them, or the community they come from.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Crazy crazy people
On the news this morning on the way to work I heard a story about how in England a reality TV story was pitched on the basis that strangers would be put in a house together with the purpose that the remaining 2 strangers would conceive a baby on the show.... I think the Observer explains it a bit better:
I think the scientists call this process desensitisation,
and it works alarmingly quickly. For example,
in a matter of days BBC3 will broadcast Mischief:
Let's Make a Baby, a programme which is clearly
meant to be a response to Greg Dyke' question:
'How low can reality TV go?' which he posed at
last summer's Edinburgh TV Festival. The
show's premise is to set up an independent
TV production company and hire a
comedian-turned-MD to pitch a format entitled
'Let's Make A Baby! (The Race To Conceive
Britain's First Reality TV Baby)' to a bunch of
executives at Europe's biggest TV sales fair.
Presumably this idea felt fresh, funny
and suitably envelope-pushing way back in,
say, September; but if I read this week
that it is to run on Saturday nights throughout
February, hosted by Davina, I'd not only be unsurprised,
I'd probably not even bother tuning in. Though
obviously, 'Let's Make A Superbaby! (The Race To
Conceive Britain's First Celebrity Reality TV Baby)'
would be a different matter entirely and you'd have
to peel me from the screen. And surely it's time
Vernon Kay and Tess Daly had another one?
But according to the news this morning it was all a big joke and the people involved just wanted to see how many suckers would turn up for the auditions. 200 hundred people turned up. 200 people thought it would be a great idea to get on a Reality TV show by offering to make a baby with a complete stranger on live television, their choice of partner being controlled by the whims of teenagers with too much time and money on their hands. I think there is an argument for sterilisation in this story. Does that make me a conservative, eugeniscist? I know that's strong but stories like this make me feel very cross and worried about the society that we have created. What would happen to the child? Would the £15,000 prize money go towards its upkeep or would the TV company take it away to make a Truman World type show for real? The mind boggles.
Or is anyone else gob smacked by just how low people will go to get their faces and other bits on the telly?
P.S. rambles on stuff I've seen lately have been put up on my other site if you have an interest.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Mounting the insurmountable!
Yes I did! I climbed my first hill type mountain in about 10 years this weekend.
It's true I thought I was going to die from some sort of altitude sickness that robs your breath and hits you with the worst dizziness I've ever experience, but that just turned out to be exertion on my part according to my more experienced companions! I felt a bit pathetic at that stage but soon rallied when I reached the top lay on my back panting loudly and moaning for a while and then realised that I'd made it!
View from the top!
Going down was much easier and my tip to anyone who wants to try this mad sort of exercise activity is that on the way down utilise your bottom as much as possible! I did and it was very effective!
This is the path we took, it's steeper and more difficult than it looks and this was very near the top so don't scorn!
It's true I thought I was going to die from some sort of altitude sickness that robs your breath and hits you with the worst dizziness I've ever experience, but that just turned out to be exertion on my part according to my more experienced companions! I felt a bit pathetic at that stage but soon rallied when I reached the top lay on my back panting loudly and moaning for a while and then realised that I'd made it!
View from the top!
Going down was much easier and my tip to anyone who wants to try this mad sort of exercise activity is that on the way down utilise your bottom as much as possible! I did and it was very effective!
This is the path we took, it's steeper and more difficult than it looks and this was very near the top so don't scorn!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Affairs of the Heart
I've been pfaffing around all morning, working, laughing, chatting, you know the usual stuff, with half a thought on what I could blog about today as I didn't wake up with an idea or become inspired by anything on the way to work this morning. I was beginning to wonder if I was developing Bloggers Block because absoloutely nothing was occuring to me, which is very unusual for me. But one of the more positive aspects of this blogging business for me has been that I am beginning to get to know myself better. When I am concerned or worried about something I ignore it and leave it to float around in the back of my mind while I get on with stuff and try not to think about it. However this means I prevent myself from thinking about anything and thus the block.
Today it occurred to me that I was blocked because there was something that I wasn't addressing and that this time it's the uncomfortable topic of heart disease.
You see over christmas a close family member that I am extremely fond of and close to ended up in hospital for the second time in 2 years with heart trouble. Not a heart attack but they're getting there if you know what I mean.
Recently another very important person in my life also recently told me that they are high on the possibility list for developing heart disease, and medication is nearly a certainty at this stage.
Today another person who is important to me is having an angiogram performed on them to look for potential blockages. Thankfully I've just heard, in the course of writing this post, that all is well and there will be no need for surgery, but there will be need for medication more than likely.
All of these people are about the same age. They are active and love life and I love them. Nothing bad has happend, which I thank God for, but it's made me realise that that is not always going to be the case. I don't like this thought.
Today it occurred to me that I was blocked because there was something that I wasn't addressing and that this time it's the uncomfortable topic of heart disease.
You see over christmas a close family member that I am extremely fond of and close to ended up in hospital for the second time in 2 years with heart trouble. Not a heart attack but they're getting there if you know what I mean.
Recently another very important person in my life also recently told me that they are high on the possibility list for developing heart disease, and medication is nearly a certainty at this stage.
Today another person who is important to me is having an angiogram performed on them to look for potential blockages. Thankfully I've just heard, in the course of writing this post, that all is well and there will be no need for surgery, but there will be need for medication more than likely.
All of these people are about the same age. They are active and love life and I love them. Nothing bad has happend, which I thank God for, but it's made me realise that that is not always going to be the case. I don't like this thought.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Beautiful and Talented
I am hereby admitting to having been completely and totally hooked on Soapstar Superstar on TV3 and ITV for the last 10 days or so. I watched it religiously every night and even voted to keep people in. I think the extra time on my hands is going to my head a little! I just thought it was the most entertaining of the celebrity type shows I've ever seen. Not to mention the really astounding talent of the majority of the people who performed. I think Andy Whyment was the overall biggest shock to me. Alright so he's no oil painting but his voice was really impressive and his efforts to dance and entertain must have won him many supporters. The first night I watched it and realised that Kirky was on the show my reaction was to hide behind my hands in order to observe the carnage. I like when I'm wrong like that!
Andy or Kirky take your pick
Other impressive performers for me were Roxanne Pallett and Lee Otway. But Roxy definately impressed me with her voice and if I was a bloke or into girls she'd definately be my type!
However, the winner of the competition deserves a special mention. Not only is he flippin' drop dead gorgeous, plays the piano and guitar, he also sings like an angel and moonwalks! Richard Fleeshman, or Craig the Goth in Corrie. The only problem I have with him is that he's only 16! Why is he still so young?? It feels so wrong to drool over one so young.... It doesn't stop me though!
Moody, interesting and oh so very young.
Andy or Kirky take your pick
Other impressive performers for me were Roxanne Pallett and Lee Otway. But Roxy definately impressed me with her voice and if I was a bloke or into girls she'd definately be my type!
However, the winner of the competition deserves a special mention. Not only is he flippin' drop dead gorgeous, plays the piano and guitar, he also sings like an angel and moonwalks! Richard Fleeshman, or Craig the Goth in Corrie. The only problem I have with him is that he's only 16! Why is he still so young?? It feels so wrong to drool over one so young.... It doesn't stop me though!
Moody, interesting and oh so very young.
Persistent Pedestrians
On my little trot to work this morning I was plugged into Today FM as per usual and was pondering my options for posts today and my life in general, as you do on a Monday morning, until I reached the Sean O'Casey bridge, which (for the uninitiated) is a brand new pedestrian only access bridge across the River Liffey in Dublin and which links the IFSC to the south side. It's dead handy for me and I use it all the time. So I was a little put out this morning when I reached the bridge and found that the gates were closed, but mysteriously there were people on it. As I approached I noticed that some very brave and resilient characters were scaling the closed gates and hoping onto the bridge and continuing to cross as if this was the way it always is. I declined this option and took the long way round, cause I'm not that brave! Besides knowing my luck it would be actually broken and I would be the won to fall into the murky depths of the Liffey if I had tried to hop the gate.
This is the picture I took at the south side end of the bridge, I just managed to catch the last of the gymnists before the "men" closed the barricades properly!
I think this came out a lot better than I intended although it looks better on the bigger size so click through to enlarge!
This is the picture I took at the south side end of the bridge, I just managed to catch the last of the gymnists before the "men" closed the barricades properly!
I think this came out a lot better than I intended although it looks better on the bigger size so click through to enlarge!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Tá sé críochnaithe
I sat my final written exam this morning, in and out in 45 minutes I was! Couldn't get out of there fast enough! The exam is really not even a test and even though the translation piece from Gaeilge to English was one I had never seen beforefrom Fiche Blian ag Fás, I made a stab at it anyway! All I know is the kid was dead excited about going mackeral fishing!
So now I guess I am finally finished, excepting the 3 minute agallamh (interview) tomorrow that is, and I'm laughing!
I will also turn 28 tomorrow which is no laughing matter. I wouldn't mind but I have an application in with the powers that be to allow me to stay 24 forever. But d'ya think they've got round to processing it yet? Nah, can't be bothered was the explanation I got, when I queried the delay, the cheek of them, you'd know time meant nothing to that lot wouldn't you?!
Ah well I guess I'll just have to keep pretending that age doesn't matter, keep focusing on the 5 year plan I made when I was 25 and life began to get serious, and keep ignoring those grey hairs that wave at me when I'm in the bathroom in work where there is just far too much of that harsh natural light, that is until one of my friends kindly take me aside and tell me truth, and I know they will, some day, soon...
On the upside I have the rest of the day off and tomorrow and will be heading homewards bound to see the Rents again and to celebrate my oldness with them, who are lets be fair still much older than me! I will then return to Dublin at some stage next week get horribly drunk with my friends, and all will be as it should be once more!
So now I guess I am finally finished, excepting the 3 minute agallamh (interview) tomorrow that is, and I'm laughing!
I will also turn 28 tomorrow which is no laughing matter. I wouldn't mind but I have an application in with the powers that be to allow me to stay 24 forever. But d'ya think they've got round to processing it yet? Nah, can't be bothered was the explanation I got, when I queried the delay, the cheek of them, you'd know time meant nothing to that lot wouldn't you?!
Ah well I guess I'll just have to keep pretending that age doesn't matter, keep focusing on the 5 year plan I made when I was 25 and life began to get serious, and keep ignoring those grey hairs that wave at me when I'm in the bathroom in work where there is just far too much of that harsh natural light, that is until one of my friends kindly take me aside and tell me truth, and I know they will, some day, soon...
On the upside I have the rest of the day off and tomorrow and will be heading homewards bound to see the Rents again and to celebrate my oldness with them, who are lets be fair still much older than me! I will then return to Dublin at some stage next week get horribly drunk with my friends, and all will be as it should be once more!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Oh Mary, Why can't you have some sense?
At this stage I guess everyone is aware of the public gaff made by Senator Mary O'Rourke on sunday night where she announced that her winning of the Fianna Fail nomination for the next election was down to her staff "working like blacks". Naturally there was general shock and upset expressed by people and I have to say that when I first heard there was an involuntary, shocked hand to mouth action from me. It's not a phrase that is commonly used in this country anymore, well at least not in the public arena, and luckily for Maryo, it has been widely accepted that it was not an intentional racial slur, but an unfortunate slip of the tongue...
As a consequence, I was considering language last night and how what is acceptable to say, and what is not, is such a transitory thing. I remember very clearly my Grandmother using that phrase to me as a small child to compliment me on working hard to clean my room. To her it was acceptable and a form of praise. Clearly it's roots are not though, as I presume it refers to how hard slaves were made to work by others in a less enlightened time. I also know my Granny was aware of this because she's the one who explained it to me when I asked her. The other thing that she taught myself and my brother was the bad version of Eeney meeney miny mo, but being a child I thought the word was "knicker" as in a pair of pants and found the concept of a pair of pants being chased and caught by the toe absoloutely delightful (I think I've mentioned my fertile imagination before!). But when my mother discovered what we were saying, it was gently explained to us how this version of the rhyme shouldn't be used anymore and "tiger" was a much better alternative, and that's the version that my little sister has always used, thankfully! There are other phrases and references which I can think off which just wouldn't be acceptable today either, but were commonly in use up to 15 or 20 years ago, which is a very short time really.
There have been times when these phrases have come to mind during the course of a conversation but, the edit button in my head does it's job and I don't use them, in fact I even feel bad that they are even still there in my repertoire of friendly phrases at all. If I feel this way and judging by the general reaction yesterday from people on hearing of Maryo's comment, others also feel this way, why then does Mary O'Rourke feel it's ok to use that kind of language? Is her edit button not working?
As a consequence, I was considering language last night and how what is acceptable to say, and what is not, is such a transitory thing. I remember very clearly my Grandmother using that phrase to me as a small child to compliment me on working hard to clean my room. To her it was acceptable and a form of praise. Clearly it's roots are not though, as I presume it refers to how hard slaves were made to work by others in a less enlightened time. I also know my Granny was aware of this because she's the one who explained it to me when I asked her. The other thing that she taught myself and my brother was the bad version of Eeney meeney miny mo, but being a child I thought the word was "knicker" as in a pair of pants and found the concept of a pair of pants being chased and caught by the toe absoloutely delightful (I think I've mentioned my fertile imagination before!). But when my mother discovered what we were saying, it was gently explained to us how this version of the rhyme shouldn't be used anymore and "tiger" was a much better alternative, and that's the version that my little sister has always used, thankfully! There are other phrases and references which I can think off which just wouldn't be acceptable today either, but were commonly in use up to 15 or 20 years ago, which is a very short time really.
There have been times when these phrases have come to mind during the course of a conversation but, the edit button in my head does it's job and I don't use them, in fact I even feel bad that they are even still there in my repertoire of friendly phrases at all. If I feel this way and judging by the general reaction yesterday from people on hearing of Maryo's comment, others also feel this way, why then does Mary O'Rourke feel it's ok to use that kind of language? Is her edit button not working?
Monday, January 09, 2006
Trixiblue
The Post New Year/Christmas, January, Monday Morning, Back to work blues have arrived folks. Yes I had 2 lovely weeks off and yes Christmas was lovely and I don't have an ounce of tiredness left in my body! But why does it have to end and why does everything land on top of me at the same time? Christ it was soooooooo hard to raise myself from the pit I call my bed this morning, oh and the pitiless frost and trek to work weren't the most appealing incentive either while I'm at it! Ah well I'm here now, normalcy has returned and I have a pile of work I have no intention of doing on my desk to greet me this morning!
As you would expect I read some books and watched some movies and will probably wax lyrical about some of them on my review site in the next while, so keep an eye on it if you're interested.
On other matters I'm happy to report that I am actually enjoying revising for my Irish exam, which is due to take place later on this week. It's not a very difficult exam and I have discovered that my grasp of the language isn't as appalling as I had originally feared. In fact I'm enjoying it so much that I'm seriously considering trying my hand at improving my knowledge of our native tongue once the dust has settled! Who would have thought eh?
Enough for now, the word is out that I'm leaving here and people keep dropping by to talk to me and I don't want my secret blogging life to be revealed prematurely!
As you would expect I read some books and watched some movies and will probably wax lyrical about some of them on my review site in the next while, so keep an eye on it if you're interested.
On other matters I'm happy to report that I am actually enjoying revising for my Irish exam, which is due to take place later on this week. It's not a very difficult exam and I have discovered that my grasp of the language isn't as appalling as I had originally feared. In fact I'm enjoying it so much that I'm seriously considering trying my hand at improving my knowledge of our native tongue once the dust has settled! Who would have thought eh?
Enough for now, the word is out that I'm leaving here and people keep dropping by to talk to me and I don't want my secret blogging life to be revealed prematurely!
Monday, January 02, 2006
Welcome to 2006
Well here I am supposedly studying extracts from An fiche blian ag fás so that I can reproduce them next week in both Irish and English when I discover that the computer in the office that I'm using is a) on and b) attached to the internet. Bingo! Of course I had to stop by and have a little look at my pride and joy and sure while I'm at it write a little post as well!
Christmas has been brilliant. I was at home with my folks for 8 lovely days, lying around in front of the fire, ignoring the world and watching dvd's and reading books it was glorious. I am presently in the south west of the country with the lovely boy's lovely family doing much the same as I did with my own lot, except I now have to break the reverie to start thinking about the blasted Irish exam! Ah well having now studied the papers and notes that I have I realise that it's not that bad and with a bit of effort and my super recall powers all should be well!
I'm glad that 2005 is now behind us and the new year is finally here. I feel that it promises to be a really memorable and positive one for me and the boy and I am more excited about the possibilities that are open to us now than I have been for a very very long time. I think we may be about to turn a corner and we shall reap the rewards of our hard work. Well here's hoping anyway, we're certainly going to try! If all goes to plan things will be very different for us from now on. Leaving home on New year's eve I was struck with a sad feeling that Christmas may well be a different experience for me from now on, but there's no harm in that everything can't stay the same forever and change is good, most of the time! It's just a bit weird and scary when I think about it, but I think we all dread change even if it is for the better.
Well that's it for now if I wander back this way I'll drop in again! In the meantime Happy New year and new beginnings to one and all!
Christmas has been brilliant. I was at home with my folks for 8 lovely days, lying around in front of the fire, ignoring the world and watching dvd's and reading books it was glorious. I am presently in the south west of the country with the lovely boy's lovely family doing much the same as I did with my own lot, except I now have to break the reverie to start thinking about the blasted Irish exam! Ah well having now studied the papers and notes that I have I realise that it's not that bad and with a bit of effort and my super recall powers all should be well!
I'm glad that 2005 is now behind us and the new year is finally here. I feel that it promises to be a really memorable and positive one for me and the boy and I am more excited about the possibilities that are open to us now than I have been for a very very long time. I think we may be about to turn a corner and we shall reap the rewards of our hard work. Well here's hoping anyway, we're certainly going to try! If all goes to plan things will be very different for us from now on. Leaving home on New year's eve I was struck with a sad feeling that Christmas may well be a different experience for me from now on, but there's no harm in that everything can't stay the same forever and change is good, most of the time! It's just a bit weird and scary when I think about it, but I think we all dread change even if it is for the better.
Well that's it for now if I wander back this way I'll drop in again! In the meantime Happy New year and new beginnings to one and all!
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