sting 21 February 2008
May I recommend the Compub Store on Henry Street in Limerick for all your computer needs. They rang today (you’d have thought they had read the last blog) to say that my mac airbook was in and as we were in the general direction of the city on our way to Tralee (circus folk on the move again) and all it took was some whinging and a fine lunch at The Wild Onion (best diner this side of the moon) and I was delivered to the store and collected the beauteous item. It will take me SOME TIME as you know to get it up and running but I have never seen or experienced a more beautiful thing in my whole life.
The Husband gave up regular tea and coffee recently and hardly ever drinks alcohol anymore so the question amongst the cast now is ‘how far away is tantric sex?’ I may have to draw a line…We are now asking ‘what would Sting do?’ I am scared. But, as Owen Roe says, at least we can meditate after the event, which is better than sitting around doing nothing…
the 21st century 20 February 2008
The new, improved, clean and serene Pauline goes from strength to strength for the iTouch is finally up and working (thanks actually to a lovely man in the Compub store in Limerick along with an instructional half hour with my friend and work comrade Peter Daly and not a lot to do with me, but hey ho). I fear it may be too total a success, though, as now all I want is to lie about listening to my favourite tunes. Still, I do feel very like a 21st century gal and that can’t be a bad thing.
And for those of you who couldn’t help but contact me and ask about yesterday, it was really mostly between me and a machine and, yes, I did look over a few times and it wasn’t all that bad to behold. But it will probably be the 22nd century before I repeat that experience.
Whereas right now I am attaching some earphones to my bits and tuning in and out. A lot more pleasurable.
so so strange 19 February 2008
I have just had the most bizarre experience of my life EVER and I was the instigator of same and even paid good money for the treatment. The strangeness I speak of goes by the name ‘colonic irrigation’. I’m not sure I will ever have another in this lifetime and I don’t think I can, in all honesty, recommend it to anyone either. I got to thinking that after 45 years of general system abuse it would be a good thing to have a clear-out, so to speak (perhaps in preparation for another 45 years of life?). Starting afresh. And now ‘tis done. And it wasn’t that pleasant. Nuff said. Mind you I am starving right now and must have plenty of room within for lovely food things – in fairness I do feel like I want to eat only the best now and drink herbal teas and let the old bod be a temple for a day or two. Then I’ll get on with that notional 45 more years on this earth.
strange 19 February 2008
Strange to be in another new town and to see a new set of types entirely. The weather has gone nippy and there is still much to be done – a school visit in the morning and a few treatments in the hotel spa to be had. I do actually like a pamper, I have discovered, complete with guilt that it’s a total indulgence. I never go there when at home but like to splash out on the road. And as one of the cast has declared ‘it’s tough to tour’ which is hard to explain to those at home who think you are just out laughing your silly head off. It can be disconcerting and lonely and it’s important to be good to yourself. Well. I’m trying…
hotels 18 February 2008
I love hotels and think I probably should and could live in one. What’s not to like, really? For instance, I arrived in Port Laoise, checked in (to the wrong room) and many hours later, when I regained a brain, realised my bags were all a few doors down, so I got the lovely night porter to come and help me debunk from one place to another and now all is well. I guess it’s the help in life that I like…we all need a little help, eh? And it was bizarre, I can tell you, as I went through the door of the right room earlier, a little squiffy, thinking I’m not in Kansas anymore but I’ll roll with it and where did I actually leave my bags in the sober long ago…
poker 16 February 2008
It’s evil…when you’re not winning. The lads of the company got burned by an amazing run of cards and luck that I had at the beginning of the tour and have been determined to win all back. Last night was the night. I am the poorer for it. My tried and wonderful system of anti-poker (ie ‘so 4 kings would be better than what’s on the table?’ etc) could not stand up to the fact that the cards did not run my way. Let that be a lesson to me. I am much better at bingo, and may have to suggest that as the company game from now on. My grandmothers were both bingo whizzes, playing many cards all at once. I hear that bingo halls have suffered terribly because of the smoking ban and that makes total sense, in as much as there are no breaks built into a bingo session – you get your books and settle in for the long haul and indeed the game you sit out for a smoke might be the very one you were going to win on. Luck is a fickle mistress. I am chastened. No more poker with the boys for this old dame. Till the next time…
dunking 15 February 2008
Ennis is a lovely town altogether and a fine place to have spent, what a single friend of mine likes to call, Smug Couples Day or St Valentine’s. Some WAGs joined the tour for the occasion. The show was great. And Owen Roe found out that in the 18th century nagging, scoldish wives were dunked in the river here, the Fergus, to soften their cough. Lovely.
happy day 14 February 2008
oh, and a happy Val’s day to all! x
technology 14 February 2008
Technology and myself are not happy badfellows right now. Basically, I bought an iTouch – a souped up ipod for those of you who don’t know. And in fact all I needed was an ipod, but in order to be fabulous and groovy I went for the upper option. We do own an ipod which Richard’s sisters gave him for a birthday but it has gone on its holidays somewhere around the house, therefore I reverted and was seen IN PUBLIC using a cd player (the horror, and SO last century). Anyhow, purchased the wunderitem and attached it to my laptop to charge, then put a man onto the doing of the rest because I am a luddite. He imported the latest iTunes application then discovered that my laptop (not THAT old) is such a dinosaur that I cannot transfer same to the itouch. I need to upgrade my hardware = more money. And there’s a cd totally stuck in that bit of my laptop so I can’t even download music from the laptop to the itouch, let alone buy it off the internet. We did the show during all of this crisis and the laptop battery was drained of juice and after the post show discussion and a grip-and-grin (or meet-and-greet) with some types we retired and talked nonsense for Ireland amongst ourselves and when I retired I plugged all in that I might post this blog first thing this morning BUT I did not put the swipe card in the electrics thingy by the door and nothing happened as I slumbered…again technology and myself not seeing eye to eye. I sort of give up now. Electricity is magic but when that magic is gone the sadness is great as twas for yours truly earlier. And as for the information superhighway and all of its tricksy spawn, I am a hitchhiker abandoned but the side of the road in the rain holding a damp cardboard sign for nowhere.
obama 12 February 2008
I am endlessly fascinated by politics and always, but ALWAYS, vote. I am a large pain in the butt of any yoof I know when they get to ballot-casting age and I believe that we must make our mark – even if it is a protest in the form of a spoiled vote. I would go so far as to say that I think voting should be compulsory. My Mum was the one to get me interested first. She was always a bit of a lefty and I guess it was only natural I should veer there, although my Dad was much more middle of the road or even edging rightwards. I would travel home to Galway to vote when I was a student as I was registered there at the time, though studying in Dublin. Later I performed on the much lauded and missed SCRAP SATURDAY on Irish radio with Dermot Morgan and Gereard Stembridge, a political satire in which I played all of the women of Ireland as neccessary. These days I am honoured to be asked out to play with the 2 Johns on Bremner, Bird and Fortune so my interest is constantly whetted. And now we have the American Presidential election to delight in. For those of you who are interested – and we all should be as it’s a hugely important election for the world and not just the U.S. – I can recommend a look at a video called YES WE CAN OBABMA SONG on Dipdive.com, or you’ll find it on YouTube also. It’s really moving and if I was an American I would be rushing out to support that man. It’s deliberately using a speech he made in Martin Luther King mode and the words and sentiments are as basic and important as anything else involved in this election. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Also, welcome to all fans of The Wright Stuff who have checked out the site – do scroll back through other blogs – I think everything for the last year is there.