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.

I don't like cricket

Nor do I understand it. But I have spent from 3.30pm until 10.20 pm today watching the amateur Irish cricket team give the professional English cricket team a right good run for their money in the cricket World Cup.

I am now a fully signed up member of the Blarney Army

If I were a flight attendant, these would be my announcements:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane"

"To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."

“In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favourite."

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive.

"Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Belfast International. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"

When it's OK to say the 'F' word ...

Flip!

Mini Miracle

Author's note: some of you will read this title and assume I am pregnant! That is not the case; if it were the title of this piece would be 'Unbelieveably Major Miracle', or maybe substitute Accident for Miracle!

I drive a black Mini Convertible, I got her (affectionately christened Minnie Mouse) 26 months ago when the time had come that a boot was no longer essential in a car to house prams and buggies and the like. I'm not really big into cars, but I love this one to bits.

At the end of March last year, more or less exactly a year ago today, when I was at my doolali-ist, Minnie Mouse was stolen. The thieves came into the house (which was occupied at the time) took the house and car keys, locked our front door behind them, jumped into Minnie and drove off. Just like that, at 8.50pm on a Friday evening.

As I said, I love Minnie to bits, but at the end of the day she is just a car. And although I was distraught that she had been taken, my real concern at the time was how was I going to deal with the police and insurance companies when I couldn't even string together a coherent sentence for my own brother!

Of course the police came round - 'ordinary' PCs, detectives and eventually Scene of Crime boys. Questions, questions and fingerprint dust everywhere. We had an emergency locksmith call out that night to change the house locks so we could at least get a half decent nights sleep.

The whole event took it's toll; the next day I was worth nothing, tried to put on a brave face, but knew I was slipping back to the 'doughball' (my word) I had been a few weeks previously - forgetting words, mixing up words, incoherent, distracted, forgetful, shaky .. I could go on!!! Suffice to say, it wasn't good!

At some stage in the morning the 'boys' went to play rugby and mum called to take Dolly to Irish Dancing so I was left to my own devices. Just for about 10 minutes. When mum returned, she found me standing on the doorstep, scrubbing it down with a nailbrush. Why? Couldn't tell you! Couldn't tell you now, and certainly couldn't have told you then. But I did realise I was being stupid as I was doing it. I remember that.

I also remember, very clearly, sort of threatening God that I didn't want to go all the way back to where I'd come from and could He please make sure that didn't happen. You see, a friend from work had sent me a prayer card during the previous week which had led to a telephone conversation in which we talked about how, when you hit rock bottom and you can't do anything for yourself, if you rely on God, He'll see you through. Well, that was sort of where I was at!

Due to my unstable state, we only told three people outside family what had happened with the car, to avoid any 'fuss'.

The police had told us that if we didn't hear anything within the first 24 hours, the car was gone - stolen to order. And we hadn't heard a dickie bird; it hadn't been found burnt out or smashed up by joy-riders, we hadn't had the 'ransom' call, and it hadn't been spotted or found in any of the known 'lock-ups'. Bye Bye Minnie Mouse :-(

The weekend passed and the day came for phoning insurance companies. I elected to stay in bed, which was probably the best place for me! Hubby took a days leave to sort out the insurance etc etc etc ...

He was speaking to the police on the phone, confirming that they had no news, when his mobile phone rang. It was one of the three friends we had told that the car was stolen. The friend asked hubby to confirm my car registration number, which he did. He asked him again. Then to everyones astonishment (including the police who were still on the other line) he said he was looking at my car, which was parked up outside his office in a small village about 20 miles away from Belfast!

And sure enough, there it was. Undamaged, nothing stolen from it, just sitting there. And whilst everyone else is getting very excited about the whole thing, I'm sitting there as cool as a cucumber - completely out of character for the time. Why? Because I had asked God to sort out the problem, and He had done, in the best possible way!

So, how's that for a Mini miracle?!

A blessing

May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck,

brightened by a song in your heart,

and warmed by the smiles of the people you love.

Part Two

Fan hits sh1t back, where it hurts most

The Princess and the Pea

Camilla PB had a hysterectomy recently, at the exclusive King Edward VII (£500-a-night) Hospital. Apparently, when she turned up for her op she arrived accompanied by her personal mattress and bed linen. Furthermore, during her stay, she only ate food prepared by the Prince's staff at Clarence House and brought to the hospital for her.

Now, I'm wondering, how it would go down if I turned up at Neely Ward in the Ulster (NHS) Hospital in May dragging my mattress and bedlinen behind me.

Sure enough, I have very nice bedlinen, which I am quite attached to, however it is for a King size bed, and let's face it, chances of getting any bed, never mind a king sized one, in an NHS hospital ...

As for requesting meals from home - I imagine I would be gently reminded that there was a McDonalds right across from the hospital, if I felt like the walk!