power 23 September 2008
Battery v v flat so I’ll make this quick – went to Warwick to speak to independent booksellers (you gotta love those)
then off to my bro and sis in law in saff lahndan where there was JAZZ happenin – normally I would tell you jazz is bad..but this was tuneful and fab – I am really not happy to report this…yup, jazz with a tune -ARGH
Mr Michael 21 September 2008
What is it with George and the public loos? He loves ‘em, it seems, in spite of the fact that they’ve not been good to him. I can’t imagine the poor man is so deluded he thinks he can be anonymous anywhere anymore and, to be honest, my heart does go out to him on that score. From what I hear he’s a lovely chap and I happen to know that his family are lovely as my brother and sister in law sat with them and chatted when he played Dublin last year (I was away working and SICKENED not to be at the gig because I think he is an amazing performer and totally talented singer). My friend Miche is most amusing in his observation a la Oscar Wilde that ‘to be arrested in one public toilet may be considered a misfortune…’ You can all fill in the rest.
The banks aren’t the only things going bust – the Hadron Collider is banged up, in all the wrong ways, too. Suppose it means we can relax about the black hole the scientists are hoping to replicate…or whatever it is they’re up to. I met the lovely Brian Cox (poster boy extraordinaire for physics and also a top physics type) when Cillian Murphy starred in the movie SUNSHINE and he invited me to go see what they were up to then and this was even before the new super collider was finished – I think I should take him up on that sometime and maybe I will understand enough to pass on some top misinformation and start a few juicy rumours – whoever knew science could be such a blast?…if that’s the right way to put it…
Off to Warwick in the morning to talk to some Independent Booksellers. Looking forward to meeting them, though the idea of saying amusing/interesting things for 20 minutes is terrifying. I have never had less than a good time hanging about with booksellers. They are a wonderful breed and totally up against it, even when times aren’t as tough as they are now. I think I’ll ask everyone for books as gifts this Christmas (or bookshop vouchers for the sales in the New Year) – to me that is a total win-win situation.
2 shows 20 September 2008
It’s strange being home so to mark that I did something I haven’t done in a while – I went to 2 theatre shows today. The Dublin Fringe Festival is drawing to a close and the Dublin Theatre Festival is about to kick off so it’s a dream time for theatre here in the capital city. The shows could not have been more different. The matinee, called THE DARK ROOM, was like a gay cabaret but dark, dark, darker than that – mostly about a drag queen who infects unsuspecting lovers. Great, interesting, disturbing, though not quite as shocking as I think we were supposed to find it (that’s the jaded 21st century for you – we’ve kinda seen it all) Tonight it was a show based in a disused secondary school about school days, so that of itself was scary. I don’t think there was anyone there who didn’t feel they were more than 5 minutes away from being hauled into the principal’s office to be read the riot act, or about to get detention for cheek or not handing in an essay. I think that is a universal thing for us all – we never lose those feelings, it’s probably still a residue of guilt left over from not working hard enough when we were ‘in the system’. The audience of 14 got keys and followed the action alone in each room in whatever sequence the starting number dictated and there were also communal scenes too. It was fab. So inventive. Some of the rooms just held installations, others were full on action. It made total use of a great location (genuinely a disused school) and there was a kind of creepy feel to the place. Oh, and my cousin, Maeve McGowan, was fantastic in it as a teacher who just could not handle those nightmare kids (she got to spend most of the night in tatters crying, then had a wonderful end scene in which she was really funny). The whole spectacle was directed by Louise Lowe for her own company Performance Lab and anything she does is always worth going to.
So what can I tell those of you who ain’t in Dublin? Well, the G cat is a bit miffed not to be blogging more but is acting all cool about it, which means her retribution will be biblical and awful (and guess who’ll get smote most? yup, yours truly).
Richard is aghast that a Russian translation thingy on the interweb that he uses every so often to help him when he writes to people is actually probably not telling them what he intends. I told him that’s what it’s like for me when I use him as my translator. I remind him of the time I asked the people at the fabulous Klara Bara in Odessa whether the cat always outside was domestic and had really asked ‘is that a homemade cat?’ Language, eh? We say one thing and mean another..and then some…
what the? 19 September 2008
What the hell has been going on in my absence? The whole house is in on the act! Of course both are acting all innocent ‘we were just missing you’ now, but I can spot ganging-up and the like from a distance of hundreds of miles (well, from however far away Kenya is). Back now and there will be a new era announced if that pair continue their shenanigans.
Wrecked but happy to be reporting of such good work in Africa from World Vision Ireland. We flew back early today via London and had one of the great airport announcements in Nairobi. A toupee had been found in the departures area and the male voice wanted to know if anyone had ‘lost their hair?’. If we’d had a bald member of the party I think I might have encouraged them to go get it…
Change 18 September 2008
When she returns from Kenya (and yes, I knew that’s where she was headed), there will be some CHANGES around this place. First off, I have hung up a letter in the bathroom – no prizes for which one. The letter P hangs on a string above the litter tray in the hall and will remain there until my virtual house arrest comes to an end. I see a lot of building going on, but cannot see ANYTHING that could be of benefit to me; complained at the drawing stage too, but was ignored. She better come back with a chicken.
G
latrine 17 September 2008
Sa sa!
I had a wonderful and unexpected experience today. We visited some schools in our project area and, at the Primary School, I was scheduled to open the new latrine block. What no one told me was that it comes with a sign. I am now part of that loo block as there is a sign saying it was ‘launched’ by yours truly on this day. I actually thought I would cry…and for all the right reasons. I was very honoured, to be honest, and now there is a little bit of Kenya that will forever be me. I think it’s better than a blue plaque. I really will have to post photos of the trip and espeically my proud moment. As I have been working/filming all the way through I haven’t taken any pics but the others have so I’ll gather what I can and post them next week when I am home.*
And before any of you start up, yes, I am sure my name has appeared on loo walls before…just never as good as this.
It really is still very affecting and gratifying to see all of the wonderful work, and the sheer confidence of this community as they get ready to go it alone is extremely moving.
*update: see the photos here
pps you're great 16 September 2008
Jambo, all. Today there is a signal so, although I know some of you prefidious wretches have contacted Richard via the site to tell him he is the voice of reason etc, tis ME back again now – it seems a waste to, er, WASTE the signal and don’t worry I won’t stop him blogging.
We visited a lot of agricultural projects today and I have come back to our billet weighed down with the best of fruit (bananas, avocadoes, paw paws) as well as the most delicious macadamia nuts I have ever tasted. The people are so thrilled with the training we have helped give them and they are so generous too with their produce. I was also gifted a cockerel and eggs so part of that haul will be lunch tomorrow – hope it’s not the chicken just yet – he’s a handsome devil and I hope he lives to see a few more adventures before the pot. If he is dinner tomorrow I may have to go the vegetable route…I also milked a super goat today, called Lucy, and her young kid is now called Pauline! When I say super goat I mean she’s not just great but also bred to produce more milk and meat that the ordinary local lads. It’s been amazing so far and I am so proud to be part (though only a TINY part) of the World Vision Ireland programme. When you see such a success story you get all spurred on to do more. Bring it on.
Back to you now Richie
PS - I Love You 15 September 2008
A week ago, this was going to be a PS – I Love You scenario: Pauline would leave five thoughtful and carefully penned blogs for me, the Husband, to open up one-by-one, day-by-day and type in as per strict instructions; there was, of course, talk of the odd embellishment from the Kenya trip and maybe even the possibility of a contribution from The G. However, once she discovered that there was an internet cafe near her hotel she let go of this blockbuster drama idea – much to my relief, it has to be said.
Cue today via text: ‘Aaaaaaarg – no sgnl n nternet caf – in da blue post hotel in thika in case any o u r in da area. 2 waterfalls on eithr side o us. Said 2b crocs in da river. Pls do blog’
It’s never easy.
Night all – The Husband
Kenya 14 September 2008
I am off to Kenya today for a week with World Vision Ireland – I’m a patron, along with the lovely and talented Victoria Smurfit. Vic can’t come as she’s is great with child and I’ll miss her on the adventure. Basically, we are about to sign off on our first ever self sufficient project. There is a community in Kenya now ready to function on its own. It’s a very proud day for us and has been about 15 years in the making. This is what it’s all about – giving a good quality of life to a whole community while focusing on sponsored children – it costs less to sponsor a child than the price of a takeaway coffee a day. We’ll film how things are over there to show everyone over here when we return. And now you know why I got myself all of those exotic diseases.
I hear tell of a little internet service in the small town we’ll be staying in (about an hour and a half outside Nairobi) so blog service should be as usual.
And of course, as we all know, even if I cannot blog, there are others who can on my behalf or in my stead – remember Lviv at the New Year? Oh, there’s always a way…
phone 13 September 2008
Richard is married to his mobile phone. For example, today, a SATURDAY and for any like himself with a weekly day-job it’s a day off (although as he’s an agent, there are no days off really, but that’s another story – indeed one I covered in BRIGHT LIGHTS AND PROMISES) the first thing he asked me to do (after saying yes to a cup of tea) was to hand him his phone which was charging gently nearby. I have now christened him ‘a phoney’ and have assured him the name works on more than one level…