students 1 October 2008
Well, now. I had a wonderful night in the company of the students at me old college Trinity in Dublin. As I walked through the campus to the theatre (for twas the drama society I was visiting) I saw a big queue waiting to go into the Historical or Philosophical Society – couldn’t tell which one – turned out me old mucker Ardal O’Hanlon was speaking to them and another comedian – IF.com Edinburgh award winner extraordinaire David O’Doherty – was with the other society. An embarrassment of riches. Anyhow, the Players members I met tonight were a delight. To be honest, if the country is to be left to them I think it should be sooner rather than later – they were smart, mannerly, fun and trustworthy which is a helluva lot more than most of our public representatives and I think they’d have more common sense than to let the country get into any further mess. Hand the place over now, I say. They are so much more savvy too than we were ‘in our day’. And I came away all glowing with much booty – a hoodie with D U Players embroidered on it (yes, all you others who once were members I HAVE THE HOODIE – read this and weep) an honorary patron’s ‘certificate’ and my membership for the year. RESULT. I almost wish I was starting over again at university (but knowing what I know…and maybe staying my age too – never thought I’d say that…) as I think I’d have a ball. Great people and I wish them all the success and fun in the world – already they deserve it.
sweet little lies 30 September 2008
We had a good sporting moment in the house the other night. I was kissing the cat (and making myself sneeze and my head expand with mild allergy) and I turned to Himself and asked ‘What will I do when she goes?’ followed quickly by ‘I’ll never love again’. In fairness to the man, he laughed like a drain.
Forgot to tell you all, in case you missed it, Ireland was the first country to officially declare itself in recession – that was last week. Today the government stepped in to guarantee all us citizens’ deposits up to 100,000 euro in the banks…I suppose they’re actually going to insist on a person actually having that 100k first of all in a bank account?…and not take the excuse that your paltry savings WOULD be 100k if it weren’t for the recession…
Off to my old Alma Mater tomorrow evening to give a talk to the student drama society. I believe it has grandly appeared as ‘An Evening With…’ here and there on sites around the college. Shriek! It’s just me TALKING for goodness sake. Still, there’s bound to be lots of free or subsidised drink available to the students to keep their boredom at bay – I know there would have been in my day and I’d hate to think a fine tradition had gone the way of the dodo simply that young minds might be fresh for study after a night out. I’m also vaguely wondering if I should tell a few lies and see how long they take to get back to me and how further mangled they have become in the reportage…Tempting…
finance 29 September 2008
I don’t understand banking but I do know that if I ran my little business (that’s essentially me and what I do = acting and writing) like some of the major financial institutions have over the last while, I would have been closed down long ago. In a way, we have all been acting like them in as much as most of us have borrowed too much without the back-up to cover it if there’s a crisis. Mostly us muggles don’t do it out of sheer greed and ultimate capitalism though, like some (all?) banks have done – for most of us it’s to put a decent roof over our heads or send our kids to college and what have you. I initially thought this recession was going to be a lesser thing than the one in the 80s, which I remember as a grey, cold and hungry time, but it looks like it has the potential to be so much worse. I think that’s a frightening prospect. I worry a lot about not having enough to pay my bills and I become very unhappy with financial uncertainty. Now it looks like we’ll all have to face into that. In my end of the business I can only hope that the old notion that during hard times people want bread and circuses holds true and, if so, a high wire or trapeze act is what I’ll be living for the forseeables.
halt 28 September 2008
I’ve had to get back on the treadmill to halt the spread. I have a bit of a rule that when my clothes start to feel tight or not fit properly or just look downright shite on me it’s time to act. There is now a tyre around the midriff that won’t disappear of its own volition. In fact it’ll take more than the treadmill for that – the dreaded willpower to eat and drink less will have to come into play. I hate having to take formal steps to remedy the situation. They don’t always work for me either. Sure, I feel better for having exercised and that, of itself, is a good thing but I need to be dashing around for work, and all of the adrenalin that gets expended with that, for the body to drop the pounds. Mind you, a trampoline sounds a great way to achieve all that and good fun too – nowhere to put even a mini one, what with the CHAOS reigning courtesy of the builders. We should have 9 weeks to go at this stage but we lost at least 2 because of the shit weather during what we should never have to call a summer.
I had a lovely email from Chris in the US who lives in the same town as the Newmans and is very glad to report that Paul Newman was a total gentleman, a joy to encounter and worked tirelessly to raise funds for local schools and charities as well as his national work. Her heart, like everyone else’s, is broken at his passing. What a great guy.
flaking 27 September 2008
My friend Jonathan has rightly pointed out that I missed a huge opportunity when I opened my African latrine – I should have said ‘God Bless all who soil in her’ – GRRR, it’s awful being wise (and punnish) after an event.
There is one unexpected by product of my Kenyan visit. I was careful to apply my sun screen but the one little bit I didn’t do was the parting in my hair and I got a burn along it. Quite stingy and sore. (I know, I know, shoulda worn a hat) A week later it’s still tender but in the meantime, like any sunburn, the skin has begun to flake and I look like I’ve got the most horrendous dandruff. Not only that, in the manner of the Super Goats, it’s giving larger than the usual slake – a Super Flake, if you will. Not pretty.
Sad news about Paul Newman today. What a star. A GREAT actor, a beautiful man and a thoroughly good human being. He was of the opinion that if you are lucky you should give a bit back by reaching out and helping those who aren’t as blessed – it’s a good rule of thumb and a decent way to live. He will be sorely missed.
the photos 26 September 2008
Well, now – didn’t I tell youse all I’d post a few pics of the trip to Kenya. As you’ll see if you point your cursor on ‘em (am I getting the terminology right here?) the caption comes up.
Some words of explanation, though. The Africans were MORTIFIED that my name was misspelled on the loo – not their fault, the Dublin office had mislead them by mistake ( shocking as I am a Patron of World Vision Ireland and to get my surname wrong is a BIG no-no with me…however, I guess the point is I now have a lovely loo in Kenya with me moniker on the wall, so we’ll all relax re the rest).
Pauline junior is a Super Goat – she is bred from a Mum (Lucy) who is also a Super Goat = three parts German Alpine (a breed that’s been living in Kenya for generations) and one part ‘local’ goat. These super creatures give 5 times more milk and 3 times more meat than the ordinaries. It’s likely that Pauline will be passed on to a family in need, as that’s what the deal is with the goats, and she’ll give milk and breed for them.
And the poo is used as fertiliser – it’s great stuff and non-smelly, I can report – it’s SUPER POO. The goats live in pens built on stilts so that the poo is easy to collect. Don’t worry they’re not cooped up all day – I checked. And they are also the happiest, most laid back animals I have met in a long time
Kenya photos 26 September 2008
fog 25 September 2008
The weather went nuts again this morning. It’s September, for all those of you who refuse to believe it – and who could blame you. I looked out the window at around 9.30am and it was foggy. Bizarre. The sight was rendered even odder by the presence of a van outside the house boasting of global solutions on its side – the solar panels man was surveying the place for our bid to save a bit of the planet. If September is this dark and cold it’s hard to see how we’ll be getting much juice out of those babies once they go up. As I mentioned it was pretty damn nippy so I ran with the surreality of the day and switched the heating on. Hey, it was just going that way, okay?
I thought the day was on a downward path so I started doing my tax return too, while I was in the mood.
Good things happened however – Ugly Betty returned and so did Bones. The bad thing was they clashed and the flicky thing for changing channels is locked into a bit of the house we can’t access so I had to sit on the very, very edge of the sofa in the makeshift living area and switch over and back manually. Quite a mad way to watch tv. Actually we had a television once that allowed split screen viewing, though you could only have sound from one programme and it was one of the most pointless things I have ever encountered. At least the way I did things tonight meant I heard whatever I was watching…and the ad breaks were at slightly different times so I got the gist of both shows. Thinking about it, though, I guess I should learn how to use the video, eh?
papier mache 24 September 2008
I visited the Stockwellian branch McLynns while I was in London and saw the purple papier mache version of St Basil’s (iconic Red Square landmark) that Ellie has made for Richard. it is truly extraordinary, very much as the real thing is. It looked a little unwieldy to be taking on the Tube so I’ll visit again next week and cab home. I love the art the kids do and would take ANYTHING on offer. Perhaps it’s time to bribe them into making some more – I guess we could call it a commission…
Extraordinary news from the US where John McCain wants a suspension of the Presidential race so that he can concentrate on the economic crisis. He wants the debate scheduled for Friday postponed. Most odd. Wonder if it had ANYTHING at ALL to do with Obama’s new lead in the opinion polls?…or am I just being overly cynical…
Fell in love with a pair of red shoes in Heathrow today. REALLY badly in love. It was early in the morning so I told myself I was being foolish and didn’t allow myself to try them on…I haven’t been able to get my mind off them all day. Now, the thing is, I already have at least 2 lovely pairs of high-heeled red shoes, which I rarely wear…but these were especially beautiful and looked a bit Carrie Bradshaw. However, the house needs shelving and ‘cabinets’ more…oh but they were FINE…every gal needs red shoes…chausseurs rouges…(hope I got the French right there?)
I’ll get over them. I’ll have to. Probably would have been best to try them on, realise they were quite uncomfortable, and possibly a tad slim for my feet (I am no Sarah Jessica Parker, in fairness) and then I could have limped away safe in the knowledge they were not for me – now I’ll simply pine. Ah well. Think I’ll hunt out my own lovelies and totter round in them till they hurt.
club 23 September 2008
I took a cab with a taxi driver who lives in my old area in Dublin during the week. He used to drink in my local and he reminded me of The Monday Club. Basically, it was a loose group of the disaffected who couldn’t be arsed going to work of a Monday. There were different members each week. In a way it’s still a splendid idea and as far as I know no one has ever died from taking a Monday off and heading to this pub nor has any business gone bust because of it. It’s a comfort to know it’s still going and that a little bit of anarchy is available each week. Mind you, I suspect a few Tuesdays were lost over the years too nursing the hangover from the Monday Club.
The pub in question had few rules but as a matter of policy if you were barred you stayed barred and the only time that rule was relaxed was for family funerals. My Dad used to love having a jar there and I don’t think he ever found a pub he liked as much in my new area, though I do still live quite close by. He also loved that the bookies was just across from the side door of the bar and the lounge boys would even go over and do your bets for you if you wanted. Now that’s service.