Music Linky Thing

Tonight I was browsing through various sites and when I visited Filzarella's I spotted this great music linky thing she had going on her blog.

Well, I had to have one of those, didn't I?? (Right hand side, under the links - have a look!)

Sample below to show how it works. Just click on the arrow and it'll do the rest for you...

I purposely chose this track as the artist, Duke Special, is from Belfast. He also is a friend of my brother and was meant to sing at his wedding last year, but he got a massive big recording contract instead and couldn't make it.

Enjoy!

We Only Sing when We're Winning

I was at the Ulster V Glasgow Celtic League match at Ravenhill last night. Someone after the game said it was 'spineless, gutless, rudderless, skill-less and embarrassing'. Unfortunately, that's a pretty accurate synopsis.

Nobody had brought any paint, so we couldn't watch it dry, and there was no electricity, so we couldn't watch a kettle not boiling. For a while we tried watching the grass grow, but that meant having to look in the general direction of the pitch and risking the pain of actually catching sight of the other non-event on the pitch.

Most left early. We stayed.

At the end of the game (including 7 excruciating minutes of extra time) those around us who weren't sitting in stunned silence were booing the coaching staff and players off the pitch. Except for one small voice, that shouts out at the top of their voice:

'COME ON ULSTER!'

My Jill :-)

Another Teaching Gem

When you teach in the special sector you learn to expect the unexpected.

Like in the RE class when the class were asked what things they thought about at Christmas time. A good range of answers was forthcoming; shepherds, the star, baby Jesus, stables, Mary & Joseph, Wise Men ... even King Herod.

So when asked what they thought about at Easter, the answer that was least expected was ...

eggs!

Observations

A couple of things that have struck me today:

• window cleaners shouldn't be allowed to do upstairs before 8am
• more kids head towards the local tesco at 8:40 in the morning than towards the local high school
• cherry blossom is lovely on the tree, but a curse on your carpet

Face Lift

Welcome to my 'new look' blog!

These people look like ME????!!

OK, I think that has been up for quite long enough!

RTE

RTE is the national broadcasting company for the Republic of Ireland. Living in the North of the island, we have always had access to the channel, although at one stage (before NTL / Virgin) it did require an aeriel that was about 20 ft high!

Last night, very late, sister-in-law and I had managed to gain control of the remote for the tele and were flicking through the various cable channels when we chanced upon RTE1. The news was just finishing and the weather was about to come on so we paused for a minute to see what was in prospect for today. It cuts to a shot of a man, old enough to be your Da and dressed like hes going to your cousins wedding.

I'm studying the map behind him trying to work out what part of Ireland he is explaining the weather for, and I'm just not recognising it. And then sister-in-law sits up and exclaims 'Thats California!' And so it was. Why they were broadcasting the weather in California we can only guess. But, this being RTE, it's probably because Mary from Roundwood, Co.Wicklow wrote in to 'Brendan the weatherman' to say her wee Seamy had gone to Los Angeles for his holidays and could they please let her know what kind of weather he was having so she could send out some more factor 50 if he needed it.

We were still in shock from the weather when the 'Late night prayer' came on. How lovely, we both thought. We should have known better. The 'prayer' transpired to be a short story about Mary who was visually impaired and her dog going to Mass and then buying chocolate biscuits in the local corner shop. They didn't even say 'Amen' at the end of it.

I have to say, I haven't laughed as much in ages, the pair of us were choking on our late night cup of tea (all very Mrs Doyle!) So, if you have cable or even satellite, can I suggest you have a wee gander at RTE, it's good for a laugh.

I never did like honey ...

Off to Killiney

I'm heading off in the morning for a long, relaxing, child-free, blog-free weekend break to the Fitzpatrick Castle in Killiney, just outside of Dublin, where it is going to be 21 oC (min) all weekend.

I might never come back :-)

Japanese Rugby Team

Belfast is proudly hosting the IRB Under 19 Rugby World Championships at the moment. Consequently, you can hardly leave home without bumping into lots of young foreigners in Canterbury tracksuits!

Such was our experience today when we went to our local post office for a second class stamp; the shop was invaded by four six foot something Japanese boys! One of them spotted Mini Me in his Ulster rugby shirt and started to whistle and wave at him. Mini Me sort of waved back, but was too embarrassed to speak, so, business at the counter done, we went over to say 'hello'.

Unfortunately, none of the Japanese boys seemed to speak English, so communication was difficult. I did remember being taught to count to 10 in Japanese at one of those awful courses where everyone has to stand up and make fools of themselves in front of everyone else by doing the 'actions', but the only word I could remember was 'itchy-knee' and I didn't want to insult the boy who was obviously a winger by calling him the number of the hooker!

So, with all else failing, we reverted to the time tested method of communicating with foreigners - say it loud and say it slow.

Anyway, I think they got the message. Well, they definately got some kind of message because they followed us out of the shop and all the way to the car!

They've not had the best of campaigns to date (beaten 41-8 by Argentina and 107-6 by the Baby Blacks) but we're sure they will do very well when they are up against Samoa on Friday.

Good Luck Japan!

Book Circle & Pudding Club

Over the weekend I had an idea that I would start a Book Circle and Pudding Club.

Well, I like reading (escapist type novels) and I love puddings (all types, not so fussy on that count), so it seemed like a brilliant way to combine my love of the two with other like minded friends (and I've managed to find four so far).

When it's up and running you can find out more here

Afterthought

I'm glad I got rid of that verucca before I had the reflexology

Pure Bliss

I spent today (all of it!) in a spa .

I had my pedis cured, my aromas therapied, my exfols iated and my reflexs ologied. Apart from all that I was brushed, scrubbed, polished, rubbed, soaked, massaged, jaccuzzied, pampered and painted to within an inch of my life ... and fed like a king to boot.

Thanks to sister-in-law for the very special treat and the company.