YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE, NO LESS THAN THE TREES AND THE STARS, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE. AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS CLEAR TO YOU, NO DOUBT THE UNIVERSE IS UNFOLDING AS IT SHOULD. THEREFORE BE AT PEACE WITH GOD WHATEVER YOU CONCIEVE HIM TO BE. AND WHATEVER YOUR LABOURS AND ASPIRATIONS, IN THE NOISY CONFUSION OF LIFE KEEP PEACE WITH YOUR SOUL. WITH ALL ITS SHAM, DRUDGERY AND BROKEN DREAMS, IT IS STILL A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

BE CHEERFUL.

STRIVE TO BE HAPPY .



Thursday, November 16, 2006

How Much?!?!?

It's official we are now up to our titty fa fas in debt - we have become bonified home owners !

I haven't actually got into the house yet as it's panto season and someones got to paint Aladdins palace. Got the keys last Saturday well when I say keys we got someones keys - yes they gave us the wrong ones - NUMPTYS

All has been rectified we're waiting for the plaster to dry and then Pete's starting the painting then we move in around the 28th of November concrete floors and all. At some stage we'll get curtains but until then the neighbours will get to know us quite well I'd say. Roll on the end of the month I want in there.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

I'm So Excited

There is a 99.99999% chance I'll be heading to Oz for a coule of weeks in March. I was asked to go by Liz who has designed stuff for a company based here that have started 'Baby Raves'. They have been doing them here for the last few years and are now selling it as a package to all sorts, all round UK and now Australia.
Liz is a single mother and is reluctant to go herself during term time and feels it's also too far to go, so she asked ME!. I tried to act cool about it, especially there's always something that comes up that scuppers the whole thing.

Not been having a lot of luck with work related things - people not willing to pay me for the work I've done; people ignoring my texts re invoices, others deciding after a load of discussion and prep not to employ me and do it inhouse as I won't do it for 50p an hour! - I'm starting to get a tad paranoid about my work and ideas.

Hopefully the tide will turn, I do have other stuff coming up that will see me through to xmas, so things aren't dire yet.

'Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts.'

OUR HOOSE !
















THIS IS OUR HOUSE BACK AND FRONT AS OF LAST SATURDAY. THE FLOOR WERE LAID ON FRIDAY AND THE GARAGE FOUNDATIONS ARE GOING DOWN NEXT WEEK. HOPING THAT WE GET IN FOR THE END OF NOVEMBER BUT I'LL NOT HOLD MY BREATH.

WE SIGNED FOR IT IN APRIL AND I CAME TO REALISE VERY QUICKLY THAT THE EASIEST JOB IN THE UNIVERSE IS BEING AN ESTATE AGENT IN N. IRELAND THEY DO FECK ALL, AND GET PAID FOR IT - AMAZING. WOMAN ESTATE AGENTS TEND TO BE BOTTLE BLONDES AND FOUNDATION MONSTERS. THE LADS REJECTS FROM BOY BANDS OR EX INST BOYS WHO DIDN'T QUITE MANAGE TO PASS THE RIGHT EXAMS FOR ACCOUNTANCY. BUT THEN THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING ALL THE EASY MONEY.

OUR HOUSE IS IN BALLYHALBERT A VERY SMALL VILLAGE HALF WAY DOWN THE ARDS PENINSULA ON THE IRISH SEA SIDE AND THEREFORE THERE'S ALWAYS A HEALTHY WIND BLOWING.
APPARENTLY THERE WAS A PUB THERE ONCE BUT SOME DEVELOPERS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO FLATS!!
BUT DO NOT FEAR THERE IS ALWAYS THE BOWLING CLUB AND THE PIGEON FANCIER CLUB. OR RATHER POPPING INTO ASDA ON THE WAY HOME - NOT SURE THERE'S AN OFFIE IN BALLYHALBERT EITHER. THERE MUST BE TO SERVE THE HOLIDAY MAKERS THAT DESCEND ONTO THE CARAVAN PARK EVERY CHANCE THEY GET. WELL WHEN WE DO MOVE THERE'LL BE ALL THAT CHANGING ADDRESS GETTING NEW BROADBAND PROVIDER BUYING A FREEVIEW IF WE CAN GET A SIGNAL - MOBILE PHONE PROVIDER HAS TO CHANGE TOO FOR THAT REASON. AND YET THE PANTO/XMAS SETS WILL STILL NEED TO BE PAINTEDAND THE PROPS MADE - YEEHAA ROLE ON DECEMBER.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Rapture!


I did it Nim you should be proud.I wasn't really sure what was going on I'm not very smart with the whole computer link blog thing. Right must go got a pile of black-light crap to make - it's crap now cos i still have to make iot - it will be fabulous when I'm done. Hopefully it'll look something like the Pragues Blacklight theatre stuff above

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Ketchup




Had a moment there could not remember either my user name or my password as it's been so long since I blogged.

Thought I'd list some of the nice things that have happened in the last few days.

  • Got back intouch with me old mate Tracy from Dalriada school days. Have a few years to catch up on
  • Emer rang
  • Been offered s load of work from various people
  • My 6 year old niece Bronagh rang me to say thanks for the birthday pressie without being made to by her mother!! (I'm amazed by that one )
  • My electric car window is working again and it was just the switch , not the motor which would have meant more money. So now I'm not sitting on a wet car seat.
  • Our new build house has the roof nearly finished on it.
  • Me old pal Shaun sent me a daft email about evil clowns.

Over the summer I have been involved with 3 separate week long Summer Schemes. The first was with 6 year olds (though I think some parents were being sneaky and their offspring were not quite there yet!). That was a real slap in the face after having nothing on for the 3 weeks previously, so I was ill prepared - They sucked the life out of me the little darlings. Then I had a week at a theatre with 8 - 11 yr olds my voice was hoarse, so by the time I got to No. 3 I just used sticks and other pointy items - ONLY JOKING. the last week was the 11 - 14 yr olds. Hormones, serious amount of makeup and 'whatever!' attitude. I'm glad schools back I'm ruined.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Sian


Recieved some sad news the other day about an old friend of mine that I had'nt seen for a while what with me being in Belfast and she in Cardiff.

Sian always seemed to have a rolley in one hand and a pint in the other a very sweet lady who enjoyed a good night out with mates. I met her when I started working at the Chapter Arts Centre in Canton Cardiff, in the late 90s. She was always up for a good gossip and filled me in on who was who etc.

She had been fighting a battle against cancer for many years now and unfortunately for us it won. So here's to the lovely Sian save us a seat at the bar mines a Erdinger!!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

CARRRRRRRRNIVVALLLLLLLLL!!!!



Well the carnival day was a huge success despite some missing community group and missing bamboo sticks that were retrieved in the nick of time. We had loads of different carnival groups from London, Germany, and ........ wait for it............. Brazil - very easy on the eye. Lots of giggling females, lashes wafting and general dribbling.

Despite the constant distraction of the eyecandy we managed to get everything done. I was stewarding the Brazillians so I didn't get many photos but hope to scab some off others which I intend to post. However, I would like to make a very serious point that may not make a lot of sence to some but if you're from this part of the world you'll know.
The first of July in N. Ireland is referred to as the 'Mini 12th', i.e. it is kind of like a dress rehearsal to the 12th of July Orange Marches (now to be refered to as 'OrangeFest') Now the 'Mini12th can sometimes brew up a bit of scuffle ie riotious behaviour, our Carnival Day fell on the 1st of July, the 'Mini12th', but instead of the papers and the BBC covering any part of our Huge International Carnival Day they apparantly couldn't spare the people as they were all covering the rather more potentially 'contentious' and same old fecking crap Mini12th marches.

I thought we were trying to encourage N. Ireland to embrace the world outside of the shit that has been flogging us for fecking 37 years, I thought that N. Ireland was trying to create new attitudes and nuture new positive experiences with say for example a Huge International Carnival. It is astounding and disgraceful especially with the BBC s attitude.

For anyone that ever happens upon this it was brilliant, even though I say so myself being involved was great craic and result was something that N.Ireland needs more of .

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Make Mine a Large One...


Something very satisfying about making a giant slice of lemon, specially when it passes close inspection. It also survived the rain- it is skewered in place on top of a giant portion of fish and chips and was left outside over night. Now the thing about N.Ireland weather is that it can give you a false sence of security and with all this lovely weather we had for a few days we think hooray the summers here. Well it was there then it left but I think it's thinking about coming back again soon - unfinished business. Anyway we left the float out thinking it'll be fine, grand it will be but no, no, no, no, no, no, sopping, sodding wet it was next morning and still the rain fell. However the lemon is made of anti aqua stuff and survives to crown the big wet fish, like a beacon of lemoniness - what i wish i could do is make it swival continuously in a automated way, but I'm not that clever.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

My Voodoo Doll

CYRIL


This here is Cyril his my trusty voodoo doll well was - i donated him to a tv show because he was meant for bigger things than hanging about with me as I tried to figure out how to play forbidden siren. His coffee making skills were a bit ropey too. No Cyril needs the constant attention of a PA and I'm just not cut out for it. (Plus he can't hold his drink if you know what I mean!) So to the bright lights and heady world of BBC NI he went. I think of him often and wonder how he's doing - I tried to contact him, but he moves in very different circles now, doesn't return my calls.If you ever get the rare but priviledged opportunity of coming across Cyril give him my best.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

OK here goes

I make stuff like this beanstalk for a living and yes i'm wearing it!


This is quite scary cos I'm crap at
1. technology
2. keeping things like this up to date, and
3. being interesting.

I've decided to do this as i've been mesmerised by several random strangers bloggs plus a couple of me mates are at it, bloggsites that is.

So hopefully I'll get the hang of this milarky quite pleased that i managed to get the picture sorted not 100 % sure quite how I did it but there you go.



I'm going to get a coffee now and sit out in the sun that comes so rarely to our n.ireland shores as I'm currently enjoying a day off making stuff.