tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68620542000922591632024-03-13T01:51:31.052-07:00Various500 Characters Max - sounds like a lotNiamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.comBlogger876125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-87889831443473882122024-01-01T05:39:00.000-08:002024-01-01T05:39:13.833-08:002023 The literary highlights<p>I don't have a full top ten list this year, so I'll just call them out, the literary highlights... as they occur to me.</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm still writing. Most every day. First thing I do, the shed is still working for me. </p><p>Having Covid this year - as per the last post had an unexpected silver lining of getting me into funny song writing... that and being at the Edinburgh festival which we sprung on the kids as a surprise... one of the most magical things of the year.</p><p>Got to Tyrone Guthrie in Monaghan again - so grateful to Mr Various Cushions for making that possible by holding down the fort at home to let me away. It is soul nourishment, and a pure joy to be there. </p><p>Got to the Short Story Festival for a magical evening featuring Orlaith Foyle, Billy O'Callaghan and Alexander MacLeod.</p><p>Connecting with my many inspiring friends all year - Lubrication corner, Hurts like a pain writers, Swerve, Cork Writers, to name but a few - continues to enliven and enrich me.</p><p>There's no list of big awards or anything. I did finish writing the novel I'd been working on for the last few years and plotted and began its sequel. Began to send it out too, but only to far away places that I knew would be unlikely to answer. Tried it in the novel fair too, but no cigar there for me this time. So it might be getting close to the time where I'll have to actually approach people with it here. The fun thing is as book two gets fleshed out, I'm finding things I need to add to number one, little seeds that can go in there, to be allowed to grow up in number two. I have a vague idea of what three might be too, so there's little chance this project is gonna let me go for awhile, however like I said above - the funny song writing is giving me a chance to enjoy the lighter side of things and actually finish the odd thing. </p><p><br /></p>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-34349278845805219142023-12-09T09:00:00.000-08:002023-12-09T09:01:36.069-08:00Steve Goodie - "how 'bout Another (bunch of) DUMB SONG (s) from STEVE (Goodie) FOR NO REASON?" a review<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I recently had some Covid, and during that useless time of foggy-brained lying around on the various couches and beds of my home, I steeped myself in the back catalogue of Steve Goodie, whose show(s) we saw in Edinburgh earlier this year. He had kindly gifted us a cd on our way out the door, which the kids have since memorised (including audience noises) so he was already a bit of an obsession in our house. In my fevered listening, I became even more influenced, and have even begun writing my own silly songs, an affliction I now count as an unusual side effect of long covid - so now I'm even more appreciative of the talent that goes into such things. They are hard to get right. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Anyway to my great excitement he recently released a new album - which I have enjoyed greatly and review below for your insight and enjoyment, go get it on bandcamp, thank me later.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The 177th Album, made in SG’s 130th year is an instantly heart-wrenching, gut-healing classic. McDonald’s is mentioned three times, an admission perhaps that he is, in fact, their long-rumoured secret artist in residence. <br /></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Many animals are hurt in the making of this album; sheep, cats, reindeer and gerbils, but the human animal is worst hit. In the searingly honest sleep disorder song, we learn of the nightly torment of the artist. It is hardly surprising then to find him lashing out at colleagues during Allegedly Funny Songwriter – really a cry for help, a way to get his email address out to anyone that might engage. He also takes aim at his own audience in Go F yourself – (a song with the clearest pronunciation of the word “Fries” ever heard in modern music), having used one of them mercilessly in Mic Stand a few songs earlier. <br /></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two song titles feature the colour orange, one for the traditional swipe at his anti-muse, the man he writes most, and the other for a frivolous look at what’s important in life, featuring cats again – the artist’s true views on cats are left unresolved, an ongoing mystery. A ray of hope forms at the end with a nostalgic trip back in time to celebrate getting even with people who can’t cope with excellent shirts. A joyous finish for a rollicking good listen. <br /></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This album is so hot the cover should really say “Keep Frozen”, but otherwise no notes. A triumph.</span></span></div>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-87715732198514748422023-01-01T01:01:00.003-08:002023-01-01T01:01:47.681-08:002022 The Literary Highlights<p> </p><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can’t remember whether I usually go ten down to one or one
to ten on these lists and I refuse to peek at the last post, so here goes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10. Early in the year I entered the New York Midnight Short
Story challenge. It’s expensive to enter, but the money goes partly to charity
and you get feedback on your entries, so you at least get something in return.
It’s the only competition I entered in the year. It is great fun – the prompts
force you to try new things and the deadline makes you complete it. I highly recommend
it. This year I got to round two with my comedy caper that had to include divorce
and a perfectionist yielding a wonky divorce themed festival that was a front
for a criminal couple. I still think the idea might be a runner – MCD – get on
to me and I’ll tell you more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9. I went to Tyrone Guthrie Centre in the Summer, thanks to
my agility award from the Arts council, for the heatwave. It was the most delicious
experience. The place is stunning and the environment created, the camaraderie with
other artists made me more determined than ever to cling on to this part of
myself. I felt like a big pretender at first and was only a month into a new job
that I was totally absorbed in at the time, so it took a day or two to adjust
to it, and realise that I am actually as much an artist as anyone. It was a
productive and motivating time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8. Visitors came while I was away. I was sorry not to get to
see them, they are the most lovely people in the world, but it was nice timing
as the family were well distracted with them and there was a happy co-incidence
surrounding their visit. It necessitated the moving in of a bed into our home
office, which meant the eviction of a desk out to the shed. The desk in the
shed is now a <b>key</b> attribute in my fight to stay writing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7. I’m making the shed writing ritual into another
highlight. I go there first thing every single day, and guess what, the desk is
always there, never piled with laundry or with things missing like used to
happen when I used the office. It’s free from distraction, the kids don’t find
me there as often, and it was been nothing short of crucial to keeping me in
the game rather than letting me get sucked entirely into the new job. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6. I read at Munster Literature Centre’s Cork International
Short Story Festival in October. It was my third time getting the opportunity
to read at it, and the kids were very impressed to see my photo in the
brochure. It’s a great festival with brilliant events throughout. That same day
I heard a feast of flash fiction, which is really such a different discipline,
but so yummy. Also saw the wonderful Wendy Erskine and Alan McMonagle whose
book “Psychotic Episodes” I’m really enjoying right now. So grateful to Patrick
Cotter for the invite again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5. Have kept in touch albeit a little sporadically thanks to
GAA, with my lovely writing friends in Cork, who I met through the fantastic
fiction at the friary (which I hope against hope will be back in some form… say
it ain’t so!). They have done fantastic things this year in writing, amazing
illustrated poetry, organising incredible literary events up the country, and
going back to full time education too. They are an inspiration and their
writing is fantastic, so I look forward to hopefully seeing a bit more of them next
year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4. The kids had<b> a lot </b>of activities for the year –
sort of because we’re playing catch up on covid, getting them out while we can.
This is giving me lots of time sitting waiting for them in cars, which is
productive writing time, so I’m excited about that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. I’m also still in touch with the wonderful Dublin writers
who I love and who are dear friends. One of them has begun work on a fascinating
novel that I’m waiting on with bated breath. Another won the prestigious highly
commended prize at the Johnathon Swift competition – always a precursor of
great things. Another has her debut novel coming out next year on the exact
anniversary 101 years to the day of Ullysses. Triona Walsh’s Snowstorm, you
heard it here first (unless you’ve already heard the buzz building). It’s gonna
be huge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. I’ve learned first aid. It’s not exactly a writing highlight,
but is a life skill, and while I hope I never have to use it, it’s something
for the cv, so I’m throwing it in here. I know it’s tenuous but the list is
pretty pathetic/ thin these days – the new job has been almost all consuming,
so I’m constantly trying to balance life and it, and this is an example of something
it has given back for all that balancing. It has been a challenging year from
that point of view and I feel the one ahead will be tough too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2.5 Twitter getting really bad can only be a good thing. Just
need someone to buy insta and make that rubbish as well, so that I spend less
time online.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. I’m still writing. Plugging away. Got a first draft
completed of the novel, have gone through it once, now going through again by character/
changing tenses/ highlighting dialogue, a lot of busy work while the big issues
in it simmer in the subconscious and hopefully emerge solved shortly so I can
fix it into something that might be readable (this usually takes 8 drafts in a
short story – so we could be here a while). The process is enjoyable though, sometimes
lifesaving, it’s an escape and a therapy. A secret delight I can dive into –
one thing that’s all mine and really helps keep me sane. So I’ll keep going at
that, so I will, and you cannot stop me, don’t even try….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope wherever you are/ whenever you read this, you have something
with equal meaning and truth in your life, that feeds your soul and makes you
know it’s all worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy new year to you wherever you might be. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">XXX<o:p></o:p></p>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-61081506097270237832021-12-30T07:51:00.001-08:002021-12-30T07:51:15.548-08:002021 The literary Highlights<p> Hard to believe another year is almost done. Hope everyone has had as good a festive season as possible so far (It's not over yet!!!) </p><p>As is my tradition, hereby find my 2021 highlights in terms of writing life. </p><p>1. Entering the NYC Midnight Short Story competition - they give you a character, a genre, a subject - and a deadline to get your story done by - the deadlines get shorter with each round. It's hefty enough cost wise to get in, but I found it so much fun and inspiring, that I'm doing it again this year. They give feedback within each round too which is fun.</p><p>2 Getting accepted to go to Annaghmackerig - I have heard magical things about this place, so will be super excited to go there to write - sometime Summer 22.</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3 Winning a mentorship from Munster Literature Centre with Billy O'Callaghan. A workshop with Billy got me back to writing a few years ago, so it was super special to win this and get to pick his brains in a one to one setting. He was really so great, totally inspiring, encouraging and really thought provoking. Such an honour.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4 Great to get to a physical launch this year and see people in person, it was to see the launch of Madeleine D'Arcy Lane's "Liberty Terrace" collection which is a super warm book about Cork lives. It was amazing to meet Madeleine and other Fiction at the Friary friends at the event. A very special evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5 Physically
meeting some Zoom writers. I had joined an online group in which I only knew one member up to last year, and got to enjoy lots of great writing by them via the internet, so it was a lovely writing highlight to meet them in person this year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">6 A friend convinced me to apply for an Agility Award from the Arts Council and an award was granted to me, to do some writing. I'm still a bit shocked, but delighted about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">7 I moved jobs this year. Not exactly a writing thing, but after 10 years in one company (almost two of those within my own house), branching out into a new industry and getting to go out to work every day again has felt like a shot in the arm inspiration wise. Meeting grown ups, seeing a bit of drama, getting to chat, it's all so much better than sitting at home with a mountain of boxes clogging up the writing room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8 Got accepted to an online workshop given by Caoillinn
Hughes, which was pretty magical. She's very interesting and had lots of thought provoking things to think about. It felt like she delivered a 3 week course in a morning, so it was pretty full on, but brilliant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">9 The reclamation of the office has allowed for set up of a Reading Nook - ie two bean bags and a stack of books, that has been a lovely place to pass a bit of time reading - instagram records the high points of this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping going - I've been encouraged by the successes of the year, and have been devoting a lot of energy lately to one big project, which is hard enough to keep at, if you've ever taken on big projects you probably get me. It's been up and down, but I'm still showing up for it most days, and intend to keep at it too. So that's a win too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wishing you an inspiring and amazing 2022, if there's anything you are doing daily for the first 100 days to make your life better, do let me know, am looking for ideas... </span></p><br /><p></p>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-83204365772552901462021-01-07T14:06:00.004-08:002021-01-07T14:06:58.037-08:00Happy New Year<p> I thought about doing my usual literary highlights for the year last year, but felt a bit hesitant about it, having been such a weird and hard year for so many, it seems strange to celebrate it as a whole. Having said that, I've a terrible memory, so for my own sake as much as anything, I have decided to continue the tradition, just with the more sedate title of Happy New Year. And I do wish you a Happy New Year too, and hope all is ok in your world wherever you are.</p><p>So here they are:</p><p>10 - I landed a few nice publications last year - starting with online - in the Honest Ulsterman, Wilderness House Literary Review, Fresh Ink. So that was great and encouraging. The last acceptance of last year was just published today on Coffin Bell - can be read here: <a href="https://coffinbell.com/cold-light/">Cold Light – Coffin Bell</a></p><p>9 - Got a story made in to a podcast by the wonderful crew at the white rabbit drama group in the UK - a kids story, so it was lots of fun to listen to their interpretation of it.</p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-ah7zq-e1aa92&source=gmail&ust=1610142342476000&usg=AFQjCNHKbu_lR1hoGdXiJNSZb-RCv45UEQ" href="https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-ah7zq-e1aa92" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-<wbr></wbr>ah7zq-e1aa92</a></p><p>8 - First publication on paper in the USA (for some reason paper is more exciting!!) in Issue 5 of Orca Literary Journal, only got around to enjoying the issue in full over the Xmas, so that was great and got to appreciate I was in really good company there.</p><p>7 - First publication on paper (and indeed at all) in Australia - Melbourne University used a story of mine in their annual anthology - Antithesis. I sadly missed the launch of the anthology due to miscalculating the time difference, but the thought of it alone was all very exciting. </p><p>6 - Online course in Short Story Writing with Billy O'Callaghan - this was a joy to do during the first lockdown - it was a bit of light and joy and enthusiasm that really helped keep me going with the writing, as when the old existential angst was high at the start of all this, I couldn't write at all, found it impossible, so this was a bit of a lifeline to keep my toe in the water.</p><p>5 - Fiction at the Friary and on Campus - <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://anchor.fm/ucc&source=gmail&ust=1610142843066000&usg=AFQjCNEO_2JNO_5mIUwpxH2LJjfKa8JF4A" href="https://anchor.fm/ucc" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://anchor.fm/ucc</a> this is a lovely podcast of readings and interviews by the amazing Danielle McLaughlin and Madeleine D'Arcy and features open mic readings (including one of mine) from their fab live monthly events (which are so badly missed with this whole pandemic thing)</p><p>4 - Saturday Stories - this is something my son has taken up - writing a story of a saturday morning, which he reads then for anyone who will stand still long enough - they are dependably funny, a great way to kick off each weekend.</p><p>3 -Reading - reading is always important to writing, and though I haven't done as much as I should have this year, I was grateful to get to read some great books, standing out was Doireann Ní Gríofa's "Ghost in the throat" - if you're an international reader - Hi Bug/ Titus/ Rachel - and haven't heard all the fuss, get it ordered, it's bloody beautiful</p><p>2 -100 rejections - this was the magic number Billy O'C gave that you have to aim for, I think I may have even got 101, but it's true for him and very motivating to realise that if you get your 100 rejections then you've done your job for the year.</p><p>1 - Writing Buddies - I missed my real life local writing group this year, but have found more groups online that have been just fantastic, some with old friends and some with new, (and my local group have even set themselves up now, so I've more groups than every to be going to) but all of them brilliant and all have kept me somewhat motivated and sane for the year that was in it. </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p>Anyway - here's hoping for a creative and beautiful year ahead for us all.</p>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-9036927989697642412019-12-30T14:04:00.000-08:002019-12-30T14:07:25.387-08:002019 - the literary highlightsFirst of all apologies to anyone who clicked through to here thinking it would be a well informed analysis of the actual literary highlights of this year, instead you'll find this is all about ME, and what's been going on with me, writing wise this year, it's a way to keep myself honest maybe, and to track my progress perhaps.<br />
<br />
So 2019, how did it go versus the previous year.<br />
<br />
Well, in no particular order...<br />
<br />
at Number 10. (and I'm not talking blond headed Prime Ministers)<br />
a Workshop with Aifric McClinchy - my lovely writer's group in Midleton organise writing workshops from time to time, and this is the only one I managed to make this year. (they're open to the public for a ridiculously small fee by the way). Aifric's workshop was lovely and chilled out, and was great to meet some of the member's of Midleton's other writing group. There are two groups in the town.<br />
<br />
At 9.<br />
Midleton writers launching our anthology "Midleton Miscellany", the book included artwork inspired by some of the writing, done by local secondary school students, as well as including some stories from Midleton Hospital residents and the resulting product was a beautiful book, launched in the distillery to much acclaim.<br />
<br />
8.<br />
I've continued attending Fiction at the Friary as religiously as Fambly life allows, and have loved it every time, but most especially getting to meet a hero of blogland in actual real life - the fabulous Niamh Boyce, she was exactly as nice and sound as I expected and really majorly inspiring.<br />
<br />
7.<br />
The writing. I've managed to somehow keep up the enthusiasm this year and have ground out 10 stories, more or less, I'm focussing on stories all the time and I think that focus is helping a lot when I've such limited time to spend at it.<br />
<br />
6.<br />
The rejections. Thanks to advice from the workshop that started me off last year, I've been cherishing my rejections and counting them to see how much more I've been sending out. I've gone up by a factor of ten this year. I'm a bit scattershot at times in my approach, so that might explain a lot of them, but it's something to celebrate. I've also began trying to send out 2 for every rejection I get, as I've still got less than half of what was recommended previously - if I keep this level up I should have a lot more rejections to glory in next year.<br />
<br />
5.<br />
From the well. I got a story into Cork County Council's From the Well anthology this year, "Are Fish Ever Happy" Delighted with the kind mention of it in the introductions too.<br />
<br />
4.<br />
A reliable first reader, I have a very kind and widely read Aunty, who I have just begun to employ this year as my reliable first reader, she is astute, kind, and not unlike myself so I find her feedback often makes a lot of sense to me. I'm hoping she'll put up with me for another good while yet.<br />
<br />
3.<br />
Really nice PFOs from high places, great to get the encouragement that what I've been doing almost made the cut at times.<br />
<br />
2.5<br />
An amazing writing weekend away with old friends, a brilliant recharge and fun times. Much needed and hope to repeat it.<br />
<br />
2.<br />
The time I made the cut - with an appearance in Southword 37 of my story "Expecting Art" - was absolutely thrilled with this.<br />
<br />
1.<br />
Being invited to read at the Cork International Short Story Festival at the launch of Southword 37. Reading in a beautiful theatre, with said First Reader Aunt in the audience along with proud parents, and writers I really admire. Such a thrill to do and a real highlight too to attend the rest of the festival and listen to other great writers.<br />
<br />
So overall a pretty good year, here's hoping 2020 is inspiring and productive to all my readers, (Hi Bug & Rachel!X)<br />
<br />Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-60687462097349207312018-12-31T13:13:00.001-08:002019-01-01T02:45:57.666-08:002018 - the literary highlights.<div>
Well another year over.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I write a diary, which, much like this blog has been very neglected of late, like very very, like I didn't even write in it since 2016, I just discovered. I normally try to write on it towards the beginning of a new year, end of an old year. But that's just an aside.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And now, for the main event. The literary highlights of 2018, for me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. I started back writing. I think I can officially say this, as I'm now confident that I'm back, since starting back around May of this year for reasons that will shortly become clear, and writing fairly regularly since. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
2. Reading poetry in a meadery, invited by the lovely Emerging writer, I had a lovely time reading in Kinsale Meadery with the poetry divas. I brought the kids with me, and though they were very well behaved, I can tell you, 4 years and poetry readings are not actually the best of friends.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. Mathew Geden's workshop - as part of Midleton writer's group I got to attend Mathew Geden's lovely encouraging poetry workshop, I'm not writing poetry at the moment, but many of the skills are transferable, and he was a great teacher.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. Culture Night, Midleton. The lovely thing about this evening in Wallis's pub in Midleton was the local history on show, also that my fab Aunty and Uncle from Barbados were there and I got to say a couple of poems in front of them, kinda nerve-wracking too for that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
5. Fiction at the Friary. Finally got to this event for the first time this year having wished myself there over several year. Was not disappointed. I made 3 events. Thomas Morris, which I blogged about, also Tania Farrelly and David Butler, who were absolutely fab and fascinating on a sweltering summer's day, and finally Kevin Power, who was hilarious and brilliant, and it was lovely to see him. These events are great too because of the free books you can win just by reading at their open mic. I read twice. Two Books. Ching Ching.<br />
<br />
6. A trigger. Billy O'Callaghan's short story workshop. Another one with Midleton Writers, this happened in May. We spent a spell binding afternoon with Billy generously sharing his approach to, and love of story telling. He reminded me of some of the things I love most about short story writing, and I started that very night applying his lessons. I've written almost 6 stories since, a big increase on the previous 7 years of 0 finished stories.<br />
<br />
7. Encouragement. One story from years ago I had given in to Billy as a pre-read. He gave everyone a page with feedback at the end. He said lovely things about my writing. Definitely a big part of what is keeping me going in the journey.<br />
<br />
8. Some Successes. Sent said story to the Irish Times for New Irish Writing, and they wrote me a very kind decline where they said it was strongly considered. I then took a prompt from Fiction at the Friary to write a story including the river Lee somehow. This story was one of three they selected as winners of their competition.<br />
<br />
9. Benefits. Two lovely things that came with the win was the chance to get some feedback from the writers who run Fiction at the Friary - Madeleine D'Arcy, and Danielle McLoughlin. It was great getting direct feedback from such talented writers. The second lovely thing was a very enlightening drama workshop on how to read your work with Corca Dorca Theatre Director, Pat Kiernon - this was a half day that got me thinking more about writing but also scared me a bit as it showed how well things can be read, and made me want to use it well.<br />
<br />
10. Big Moment. The big moment of the year was the culmination of the above where I got to read my winning story at the Cork International Short Story Festival. It was terrifying. There was a lovely, very appreciative audience, and we got some great feedback, I was delighted to get to go first as well, so I could properly enjoy my fellow winners Olivia Fitzsimons and Deirdre Kingston doing their thing. One of the favourite hours of the year, definitely.<br />
<br />
Anyway - grateful to be back "at it" and hoping it lasts. Wishing you loads of creative success for the coming year.<br />
<br />
x</div>
Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-90215322048215145632018-02-25T11:16:00.003-08:002018-02-25T11:16:49.060-08:00Fiction at the Friary -Went to see Thomas Morris at the Friary bar today, a very enjoyable occasion, the pub is quirky, cramped, intimate, the sound isn't great, but the people running the event are more than sound enough to make up for it.<br />
<br />
Thomas read 3 new pieces, having enjoyed his "we don't know what we're doing" collection of short stories colleciton, I was delighted to hear new work, and his diatribe on scarf wearing in response to Colum McCann's advice to writers was pretty hilarious. He had a touching piece about a mother & son coming to terms with a transvestite dad, and an excerpt from his Encylopedia of fictional historic rats which I think my son would have enjoyed. There followed a very interesting Q&A where Thomas gave some interesting insights into his work and the challenges of the writer with a big successful first collection.<br />
<br />
So they gave out pictures of rats and places as a writing prompt - I got a white lab rat and the oval office, here's what I wrote<br />
<br />
"I hear he keeps a trained rat on his head, trained by elite navy seals, rotated and rested on a regular basis. There's a whole swarm of them, they're kept behind the curtains when they're off but when it's show time they leap on to the big patchy surface, in under the scruff, legs and arms fit into special grooves carved into the skull and they tell him what to say:<br />
Rocket Man better watch out.<br />
I'm a very humble genius.<br />
Arm the teachers.<br />
Some days the rats obviously get distracted, they don't quite behave and they forget to tell him anything. So the first man falls silent. His words accurately reflecting the quietness of his head, the money worshipping slump, the yucky fixation on self.<br />
They are the days the media calls him presidential and the rats get scolded by whoever is pulling the strings. The master of ceremonies, a mini maestro of the planet gets cranky if the puppet comes across as normal.<br />
His job is pure entertainment after all, distraction and delusion. Fail to grab the headlines and you give them space to think. Ratings, it's all about the rat things, little arms pull the levers, tiny hands twitching at power, pink eyes delerious with rage."<br />
<br />
There followed a delightful and brief enough open mic, the crowd tending to drift away as dinner time approached, topics varied from intrusive HR enquiries, failed alcoholic dragons, to ruined weddings, bitter vengeful crazies, and nude men in drumshambo.<br />
<br />
A most interesting afternoon.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-12297568142798176112017-09-12T12:57:00.001-07:002017-09-12T12:57:39.779-07:00Head clutter and the real worldSo I'm kind of hooked on twitter recently. Follow me, do!<br />
<br />
I'm not going anywhere, but you can follow me all the same.<br />
<br />
I'm following lots of people, which is confusing when they go different directions, (kind of like my toddler neice and nephew at a wedding one time when I was left minding them and they both went opposite ways and I was like the wizard of oz scarecrow all twisted out of shape trying to point myself the two ways at once)<br />
<br />
worse though is the hyper imminence of news.<br />
<br />
There's so much sad things happening, and meanie pantses and I feel so UUurhghghg - wishing I could do more to make things better overall. <br />
<br />
anyway - let me know if I can do anything for you, anything at all, using my new found sphere of influence in the bewildering sphere of twitlands perhaps, or even something more mundane, the only criterion being that it has to be positive, take less than 4 mins and approx 300 cals to accomplish, and it should be something I'll get amazing kudos for as well as the soft and fluffy glow of feeling better about the world....<br />
<br />
I need to limit my time in twitland though, I really do.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-55969562907123020212017-08-18T12:17:00.001-07:002017-08-18T12:17:19.884-07:00Things to do on a quiet holidayBuy a 750 piece jigsaw, and nearly break your back to get it done, rename it the 749 piece jigsaw, predictably enough, even though it was sellotaped closed - it was bought for 2 euro second hand.<br />
<br />
Take the scooter and slip it through puddles when the road is dry to draw black lines that fade when you go far.<br />
<br />
Get a bouncy ball and make it bounce from the path onto the large rock, it should be possible, but it's not.<br />
<br />
Take panorama pictures with people moving on purpose so they appear twice and sometimes with extra limbs.<br />
<br />
Go on a hundred walks, long and short. Mainly short.<br />
<br />
Read all the books.<br />
<br />
Drink all the wine.<br />
<br />
Eat all the chocolate.<br />
<br />
Visit the home of the Táin Bó Cúaine and marvel at Méabh and the amount of men she managed to marry, though only one of them has made it onto her wikipedia page.<br />
<br />
<br />Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-71715752830577709812017-06-27T03:09:00.000-07:002017-06-27T03:09:12.780-07:00On winning my first poetry comp - a night at Ó BhéalLong term readers of this blog will find it hard to believe that my brilliance in poeting has gone widely unprized - as in prize giving ceremony - as in recognition by winning of a prize... all these years.<br />
But now, all that has changed. Thanks to the lovely people at Ó Bhéal last night, the weekly poetry night that I have just made it to, after 6 years in Cork, and their fabby doo five word challenge. Myself and Emerging Writer both had a go.<br />
<br />
The words we were given were - Body, Ship, Planet, Palm, Avalanche -<br />
<br />
and with only 15 minutes and the odd Sup of wine, I came back with this to scoop top honours and a free drink from the bar<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The reader of palms was overly calm<br />
as he sold me a planet of riches<br />
he spoke of the lambs and how serious qualms<br />
could be fed to a pallet of witches<br />
<br />
So I stepped on the ship & intended to slip<br />
to the east when the avalanche landed<br />
But my body was tipped, on the side of my lip<br />
& the feast was like nothing intended<br />
<br />
like a terrible something was bended<br />
& into the mist ever ended<br />
<br />
the palm reader, I promptly unfriended<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was actually v honoured to win, and surprised to get it really, because some of the others were seriously good as well, and everyone seemed to know each other - so I thought naturally a long termer would get the honours, but a good punch line always produces a whoop or two, and the MC Ciarán is a good and fair adjudicator, at least according to me...<br />
<br />
We then saw Linda Ibbotson & Sarah Byrne doing their thang.<br />
<br />
It was super. Linda is a visual artist also, and it shows in her work, bringing us to the Jardin du Luxembourg and back to Kinsale - she read beautifully.<br />
Sarah, for me, was a revelation, she does something with criminals and victims of crime during the day, (almost like a superhero), then comes out and unassumingly slays audiences with gentle gin soaked hangover poems, as well as some darker ones, breaking up the lines with deft little additions<br />
<br />
"I held the mouse's little brown body (I didn't really)"<br />
or having said that Light & Fire are not the same thing, saying "I bet you're glad to have that clarification, it's good to get that one cleared up"<br />
<br />
I've just joined her mailing list. Anyway - great to know that Cork has a serious share of talented folk around the place.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-32120252124645868622017-05-12T14:07:00.000-07:002017-05-12T14:07:17.913-07:00How is it not Friday yet, oh waitSo I was going to write a post yesterday about what a long week it has been, and how could it not be Friday yet - and how maybe it was friday somewhere else in the world but it really needed to be Friday here yesterday because I was, frankly, ex haus ted. <br />
<br />
So tired was I that I forgot to post the post about it, and now I'm too late, because it is Saturday. No actually it's Friday.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry, I'm a bit tired.<br />
<br />
I was so tired on the train on Wednesday I wrote quite a garbled excel related email to a colleague that merited the following response which I really felt deserved wider reading<br />
<br />
"<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Niamh,</span></span></span><br />
<div _fallwcm="1" class="bdyItmPrt" id="divBdy">
<div>
<div>
<span lang="en-IE"><div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">I
am sure that when you penned this email, it all made sense. However, in
its transit via cyberspace it appears to have become, unfortunately,
corrupt. I once tried to read Ulysses backwards. That was a similar
experience."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I really wish he would start a blog. The above mail had me in stitches.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Anyway enjoy the weekend all y'all</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-21862920509187644212017-05-01T08:46:00.001-07:002017-05-01T08:52:13.628-07:00Here's the sunIs it that time of year again? there were hailstones only last week, and ice on my car. Now I feel like I could almost go out and buy an iced coffee, but not really.<br />
<br />
The 3 year old's birthday party was yesterday, only decided really what we were doing about it on Thursday night, being hopelessly disorganised... So texted around, invited people, most of my friends are pretty dignified people, so only committed to <i>maybe </i>making it - not sure, but they'd try, because they had possible other plans for the bank holiday weekend, which was totally understandable and fair enough, but it did leave me in a bit of a sticky position, half of the possible attendees were unconfirmed... anyway I won't bore you (too late you say), happy ending, they almost all showed up, there was much merriment and screaming and running around, and very very few tears. The nearly 6 year old had bumped his head before the whole thing while playing "being invisible" which of course requires him to walk around with his eyes closed, so I was glad there was no further drama for the day really - that was plenty.<br />
<br />
We spent much of today just getting over it all, lolling around the house and garden (not laughing out loud - at least not all the time, that'd be weird), it's annoyingly nice all day, so that any minute spent indoors is a minute of guilt, she says as the cartoons play in the background - yes I'm sick of bug hunting I'll admit it.<br />
<br />
I do love the little one though, the threenager. (of course I love both of them, but since it's her big day I'm gushing a bit). She is so stubborn. (I do not have a clue where that comes from). She is fearless (ok so I stole that out of beauty and the beast, but she watched that, so she is pretty hard to rattle too), She's always had a real ease in the world about her, as if she's a woodland creature from a disney film and everything is always just wonderful. She is super kind to big bro - donating the caterpillar face off the cake to him yesterday so he'd be happy. She's cool as a cucumber, she needs hugs less than I do, but when she does give one out it's amazing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, gushing over, nothing to see here. Smusheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-39512012632812240732017-04-18T00:16:00.000-07:002017-04-18T00:16:20.196-07:00InnitMyself and Mr VC got to go to London for a couple of days last week, just for a break, it was, I can reveal exclusively here, the best trip to London had by any parents of two young monkey bootses so far this month, bar none.<br />
<br />
Some random highlights included:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The amazing Foyles book shop</li>
<li>Finding Van Gogh's Sunflowers while looking for a coffee shop</li>
<li>Seeing Agatha's Mouse Trap in the Salubrious St Martin's Theatre</li>
<li>The Elgin Marbles that are not in fact marbles at all</li>
<li>The genuine friendliness of the Londoners. I often go there for work, but rarely stop to talk to anyone (except the people in the big fun meetings I go to), so it was an eye opener how nice they all were, we didn't meet one unfriendly person, and even got a free plastic bag from a big supermarket who shall remain nameless.</li>
<li>Having a train all to ourselves because it wasn't really supposed to be going from that station but yerman said "Not officially - but hop on there anyway" and even the driver still talked to us as if he had a full train.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Other than that, the house is full of Chocolate here. Hope all y'all had a good Ishtar.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-81131444280514766052017-03-27T23:38:00.002-07:002017-03-27T23:38:24.155-07:00More notes from a trainThe guy across the way, diagonally has his two fingers up to me, he's lucky I don't take it the wrong way, they're just supporting his temple as he stares in deep concentration at the screen.<br />
My baldy friend opposite has just answered his phone after zero rings. Talk of a hotel in London, 7 k a room, fuck off. <br />
They both got on while I slept, and then I was woken by the ticket man, pesky ticket man. I was all in a heap getting out this morning, 6 minutes later waking than I'd planned, nearly fell down the stairs, (last two steps of it at least), ripped the calendar and made an awful clatter, probably waking the kids.<br />
I needed that hour of sleep that "they" stole from me at the weekend, "they" who decide these things, why don't "they" just leave me the hell alone...<br />
<br />
They're building a funfair next to my workplace, honest to goodness, funderland, with a proper ghost train behind my bosses desk, and when we're at meetings upstairs there'll be people outside the window dropping from heights and screaming (and I don't work at Apple or anything). This will go on for 3 weeks. Can you believe it? We had a lovely bit of wasteland beside us, there used to be a dairy there and it had been reclaimed by nature, was a real little paradise in suburbia, a haven for wildlife. The fun fair is putting paid to that though. <br />
<br />
Yerman opposite has lost his call now 3 times in a row and last time hung up while shaking his head in disgust, all while I could hear the other person still talking. Hates losing any bit of control I'd say. Expensive headphones on him. He'd love to think I was writing about him. <br />
<br />
Anyway - so yeah, there was a poor little lost pheasant going around our car park yesterday, avoiding the diggers and construction, and I hope he'll be alright, but sure nature never really has a happy ending. Wild animals don't live long lives, finally quietly and peacefully passing on surrounded by their loved ones. <br />
<br />
I'm very tired and have been up very early, so that thought is making me disproportionately sad.<br />
<br />
So I'm going to think of sleepy puppies instead.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://videos.komando.com/watch/5754/kims-picks-dont-even-bother-trying-to-get-this-sleepy-puppy-out-of-bed">http://videos.komando.com/watch/5754/kims-picks-dont-even-bother-trying-to-get-this-sleepy-puppy-out-of-bed</a><br />
<br />
Though I daren't go back to sleep in case Mr Money decides to sell my laptop out from under me. I'm fierce secretly passive aggressive to strangers though aren't I? Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-81606856043423535422017-03-14T13:34:00.000-07:002017-03-14T13:34:00.799-07:00At the cutting edge of MilkTwo threads of research into milk have come to my attention in recent days... which I thought I'd share, being the kind sort of sharing type of person that I am.<br />
<br />
One is in terms of milk's interaction with the microbiome* of a baby - apparently natural human milk encourages good guy bacteria bifidobacterium to grow like crazy in the baby's intestine (so it becomes 80% of what's there), and that in turn sort of gives the child a good micro "fingerprint" for want of a better description, it shapes how their guts will work and what types of bacteria will live there for a good while into the future - reducing a person's predisposition to all sorts of diseases and yukkiness.<br />
Now, the scientists love the bifidobacterium, partly because it's "Y" shaped, and partly because when they give it in spades to prematurely born babies they are 15 times less likely to get a nastly gut illness called NEC. So Mam's milk encourages this good bacteria, got it? Right, so what the scientists are now trying to do is figure out what the good bacteria is making out of it - basically what is it excreting, so that they can mimic this, you guessed it, and add this product to formula, bug poop. I think this is a little strange, but admittedly fascinating. <br />
<br />
Two is that there's actually a lot of research going into Equine milk. Yep, horses. I know there's a brand called Cow & Gate and a scandal called horse gate, so marketing might struggle a bit more with that. We don't mind getting a helping hand from Daisy to feed our babba's cos we're used to that idea, but Black Beauty, or Shergar? Would that only make the kids too bloody fast anyway? Any parent who has raced behind a toddler in a terrifying game of multistory carpark chase, knows this is possibly not the best idea. The boffins are looking into it because apparently horse mammies are very like human mammies and feed their young more often than cows. I also wondered if this one will ultimately lead to Monkey Milk, which would surely be closer again, but again marketing might stop this bright idea in its tracks, sure it's unlikely the monkey equivalent of veal will have such a ready market.<br />
<br />
Maybe easier to support mammies who want to use their own home made stuff, family recipe, passed down the generations, freshly batch prepared every time, perfectly adjusted according to the weather, age of the child, time of day, growth spurts the child is going through, and infections going around. Just maybe. <br />
<br />
<br />
* for the science bit - the microbiome is the family of bacteria that we all live with, that live on and in us, they outnumber our cell's 10 to 1, but scientists think that ratio goes down to 1:1 after a good poop. (sorry - gawd I seem to be apologising in my posts a lot lately)Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-47263215528776704062017-03-05T01:31:00.000-08:002017-03-05T01:31:06.579-08:00Poetry is mainstream now - and sorry but so is humongous horrible suffering.Almost 7 years ago, I posted two groundbreaking and prescient reports on the popularity of poetry<br />
<br />
<a href="http://variouscushions.blogspot.ie/2010/05/poetry-getting-incredibly-popular-says.html">http://variouscushions.blogspot.ie/2010/05/poetry-getting-incredibly-popular-says.html</a><br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<a href="http://variouscushions.blogspot.ie/2010/05/poetry-getting-incredibly-popular.html">http://variouscushions.blogspot.ie/2010/05/poetry-getting-incredibly-popular.html</a><br />
and now dear readers, it has come true.<br />
<br />
Poetry is so popular, the wonderful Stephen James Smith was at the pre-Oscar's party last week reading his specially commissioned poem "My Ireland" well worth checking out if you haven't seen it by the way... I knew him before he was famous but after he was 12.<br />
<br />
Then, you know what happened, a young poet, like younger than 200 years of age, was on the Late Late show on Friday. <br />
Just to put it into context: The late late is our barometer of what is mainstream in the world of Ireland. You hear about a trend of people wearing bottle caps over their eyes for example in new york (so this is the start of the trend, 0.0000000001% in Ireland even know about it), then you see it on a cutting edge arty magazine that the experimental fashionistas in the capital are into it (so the top 0.0000005% in Ireland have discovered it), then you see a cooler than cool looking hipster in the local tavern with one (we're at 1% levels), and eventually someone on the late late has it (totally mainstream - up to 40% of the population are into it)<br />
Anyway yerman Emmet Kirwan he was called, was brilliant and talented, eloquent, engaging and overall a really good representation of the power of poetry.<br />
<br />
So now, that must mean that 30 - 40% of Ireland are into poetry in a big mainstream way at this stage. Which is lovely and aren't we all great. I'll have to start writing again soon to take advantage of it!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately after him, there was a lady with a too familiar story of abuse, and horrific neglect suffered at the hands of supposed care givers. Rosemary Adaser spoke about the terrible things that happened to her, and I'm glad she did, and I'm sorry they happened, and I hope her telling us about it helps somehow ensure it is way less mainstream into the future. <br />
Ryan said to her at one point "I don't know what to do with what you're telling me". This is a natural reaction - it's like, don't be telling me sad things, It doesn't make me any happier to know about your sadness. <br />
I do feel like the very act of living in the first world and having first world problems is a bit like burying our heads in the sand and ignoring the suffering in worse places, especially that caused by our wasteful habits, greedy insatiable appetites and climate change, but sure, feck it. At least poetry is getting mainstream, isn't that great? I've loads of lovely little notebooks bought for when the muse strikes again. All made from recycled and recyclable paper and sure there's a lovely resonance there as the poems will be recycled too when they eventually get wrote.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-20406800527510491672017-02-26T12:49:00.005-08:002017-02-26T12:49:53.331-08:00The Playground ChallengeFoolhardy of a Friday morning on a Parental Leave day off, I says to the kids, I says, Will we do a challenge? We'll see how many playgrounds we can "do" in one day will we?<br />
<br />
So we drew a map, and we made a list, complete with check boxes, to fill in on successful conquest of each site.<br />
<br />
We started with the windswept seaside one. It was busy for some reason, tripping over itself with toddlers. A bit wet, and treacherous for climbing because of that, there were lucky moments (well I make my own luck by following the two year old closely) when I managed to catch a child that was otherwise about to stand up half way down the tall slide and trip over herself.<br />
<br />
Then it was time for the one inland a bit, beside the GAA club. There was a dog doing laps around the outside of it, and as always at this one, a good sprinkling of hippies within - one with a gorgeous babba strapped to her. Kids climbed more, pretended they were kings of the castle. This one has a particularly good spider's web type yoke.<br />
<br />
Next up - the wilderness called - there were only two other families at this one. Hardened by the elements, the mammies were chilling out, the kids running riot, falling off things from heights, and eating junk food - sort of junk food, crisps - that Danger Cushions was mad jealous about. The energy was flagging on my side by then, so with a promise of our own junk food I enticed them back to the car to go home for lunch.<br />
<br />
We set off again, making a pit stop for the promised junk food, and arrived the one between the marsh and the train tracks. The rain was just stopping as we got there so we had it to ourselves for a few minutes but then they started coming out from the woodwork, mammy judging me for having my kids eating junk in the playground, judging me more for dragging them away after only 25 minutes, I wanted to shout "it's their fourth one today" but I didn't want to appear to be ungracious. They clicked well with some kids here, but it was really time to be getting on to the next place, so we bade them farewell.<br />
<br />
The next spot beside the community centre had a lovely little vibe to it, and really good mix of things for their age groups, ie a super easy side, and a just at the edge of the older one's ability side, so though I thought they'd be bored and just as likely to sit on the bench at this one, they continued to play, tirelessly roaring around it.<br />
<br />
The last playground of the day was suddenly drenched by an arriving cloud that seemed to smile down at me saying "Niamh, you've done enough, the kids have been exercised enough for today" and the threatening looking teenagers within it finished the argument in my head, it was home time. And if I don't win Mammy of the year after that, then I tell you it's not worth playing for!!!<br />
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(Whitegate, Cloyne, Lisgoold, Glounthane, Carrigtwohill & Midleton playgrounds were not harmed in the writing of this post)Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-87614543044222586122017-02-12T13:29:00.001-08:002017-02-12T13:29:16.354-08:00PerspectiveHave you ever watched the International Space Station live feed? on youtube?<br />
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Here's the edge of night-time from over the atlantic - just off the edge of Canada, just as I type - screen shotted<br />
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You really gotta check it out<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzMQza8xZCc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzMQza8xZCc</a><br />
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You can even see where in the world you're looking at on the map <a href="http://www.isstracker.com/">here</a><br />
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It makes you feel pretty small, and also freaks you out - i mean what if you see the other side of the world exploding, how long would the internet still work for?<br />
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<br />Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-4487237880760858942017-01-31T13:13:00.003-08:002017-01-31T13:13:34.925-08:00The WorriersAre you a worrier? They sound a bit like the less glamorous cousins of the Borrowers... I'll admit it though - I am one. One am I.<br />
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I have forehead creases to prove it, that's the only outward sign though. Most people think I'm very relaxed. I like to act that way, still haven't shaken the cool dude type act that I photocopied from my older brother when I was about 12 and took his advice to heart "Just act like you like the doors", but deep down, I'm really not as cool as I seem.<br />
Ok, ok, don't ROFL,,, those who actually know me in real life know that I don't seem as cool as that last phrase seems to suggest that I seem, but I mean cool in the sense of unworried. I've had various people tell me that they think the world could fall down and I'd still be relaxed, unruffled, unworried, and maybe that's true. I think the worry I talk of is more of an unreasonable type of thing, a less practical thing than being worried about the real things that you should worry about. Now really it's not a big hard type of worry or actual anxiety thing, (see now I'm worried I'm falsely advertising it) my worries are a type of fuel to imagination perhaps emanating from the supernatural type worry generated by a Nun teacher when I was 9 years old telling my class the devil might actually be hiding under the bed, and also to say good bye to our parents carefully each day since they might die in our absence at school. I have move on from such serious worries to WAY more trivial things. Maybe I'm like trump, tweeting to my innermost mind the drivel of my opinion on entertainment shows to distract myself from more serious things.<br />
For example - I worry about which lane I should drive in, in the Jack Lynch tunnel - the side with the phone or the side with the escape doors - I hate that they have them on different sides, but I suppose everyone would only want to drive on the side with both if they were together. I also always hate slowing down at that point that has the sign post showing you are 50 metres each way to the door or the phone, how would one choose which way to go in that case, in the event of an emergency?<br />
I was worried about winning that recent trip to the movie premier, not just about what to wear, who would mind the kids etc, but about whether or not to accept a bucket of popcorn in the extremely impossible chance that I ended up seated beside Ewan for the picture, like would my munching put him off the film? I suppose that wouldn't matter too much though, as at least he already knows what's going to happen, unless they filmed alternative endings to keep it secret.<br />
Of course others can stoke worries for us too, Danger Cushions recently invented a whole new worry for Monkey Boots as she embarked on the adventure of potty training, he called it the "poo monster", and said she had to be careful to go really quickly and run away when done. He even found proof, a sample of the same monster's fur (otherwise known as cotton wool) which I duly confiscated to get tested in the lab at work. Luckily she doesn't seem to have paid him much heed. Her biggest worry is whether or not to accept the burden of ruling her kingdom as recently revealed in a late night conversation with herself.... in very serious tones... whispered... "I am the queen..... I am not the queen.... I am the queen.... I am not the queen"<br />
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Of course she will always be the queen of cuteness in my eyes.<br />
Apart from the obvious (with the world kind of falling apart and all) what are your biggest worries oh dear readers? I will try and set your minds at ease.Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-41027474169961880832017-01-25T13:00:00.000-08:002017-01-25T13:00:01.964-08:00Food Musings<br />
Food is Art. Food is not just the visual art we are used to thinking of, the rainbow plate of amazing-ness - the mosaic - the bento box. It's becoming more - it's deeper. <br />
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It is drama - the goji berries grown at high altitude surviving with their lectins giving them the edge to survive. The stories on our food, the personalities selling it to us, the feelings it engenders are part of the opera that food is becoming.<br />
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Food is deeply personal, what we choose to nourish ourselves with becomes part of us. The art we choose to consume also affects us, helps make us who we are.<br />
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Food was always a key part of human cultures, but it has taken off, at least in our culture, in recent years as a key cultural expression. The theatre of food at Electric Picnic, along with numerous other food markets and stalls. There's an insatiable appetite (pardon the pun), particularly among the millenials, for food to be part of how they express themselves. Food is no longer a chore in Ireland, there I've said it. It is becoming something that we are fascinated by, that we use to fascinate others. (If you haven't tried the Okinawa purple sweet potato then you're among friends, but if you have - please tell me where to find it).<br />
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Food is a voting opportunity, a daily political choice, a way to show the world your philosophy, a way to make the world more like the place you want it to be - whether by planting your own tomatoes, showing love through extravagant preparation of something for others or for yourself, or buying a premium ice-cream that promises at least an hour of orgasmic joy on the couch in return for a hefty price.<br />
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Andy Warhol (I'm reading a way too long biography about him right now) was inspired by food products, and consumer products in general, but food products are currently turning around and being inspired by art, with high end popcorn showing up with beautiful prints, impressionistic arrangements on plates, Mango strewn bento boxes.<br />
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Food is from nature, and nature & food always inspired art (remember your first drawing of a fruit bowl?), so it's no surprise how much food is seen as a visual beauty, but it's increasingly being used in a more challenging way. At my xmas work party, I had a lemon thing for dessert that looked like a raspberry thing. This was a head F&*K, this is what art sometimes does and what food is now trying to do. Take you by surprise, laugh at your assumptions.<br />
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Food is poetry - mark my words. The O- Cajun- al pun, will develop, the novels will be read while you browse, while you cook, the letters will be embedded in the apples, like they used to be in sticks of rock. Bottles of wine will grow on trees, in the actual bottle, as food becomes sci fi.<br />
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Yes, I might've just been to Harrods. Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-58215440894459387672017-01-17T13:04:00.002-08:002017-01-17T13:04:27.629-08:00On 2fm todayHad great fun today on the lovely Eoghan McDermott's show on 2fm, reading out the following monologue, my version of Choose Life, from Trainspotting - in an effort to win tickets to the premier of the difficult, 20 years later, second film, in Edinburgh. Final winner will be decided on Friday, would be amazing to win altogether, but sure either way it was a bit of fun!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose Online. Choose a blog.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose a fear soaked headline.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose the family you like.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose a tiny screen.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose flashing memes, stars cracking a snap
chat and elector-tainment.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose
bitcoin wealth, slow food movements and mental endurance.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose interest in the dog fighting a pumpkin,
the dog saved by a stranger, the dog with a friend who’s a cat.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose viral inspiral.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose your pretends.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose pleasure of the novel, and by that I
mean new, things that take two seconds or less.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Watch DIY vines showing instant results.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose junk for the mind, lurk through
charity posts and read about cults and life, god forbid, outside of online from
the hole.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Choose falling in to it for
any spare minute no matter the cost.</span><span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The
lost bits of peace, the days in a daze, reading chats and ok’s and wondering
where all the time went, day bright blue light invading your bed, blinding your
head.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Choose your future.</span></div>
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Choose life.</span>Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-31312315297143763152017-01-05T14:16:00.000-08:002017-01-05T14:16:03.270-08:00Why nothing is so popularI'm obviously not talking the Neverending Story Nothing here <br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0649178/?ref_=tt_trv_qu"><span class="character">G'mork</span></a>:
Because people have begun to lose their hopes and forget their dreams. So the Nothing grows stronger. <br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000441/?ref_=tt_trv_qu"><span class="character">Atreyu</span></a>:
What is the Nothing? <br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0649178/?ref_=tt_trv_qu"><span class="character">G'mork</span></a>:
It's the emptiness that's left. It's like a despair, destroying this world.<br />
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No<br />
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I'm talking of a nothing that's popular and up and coming. It's all the rage and comes in different flavours. The first is head nothing. Empty your mind, put down your head for a while and fill it with lightness. Nothing in your head for a while, turns out it's a really really good thing. Like from your childhood when you stared into space for a while, or like transcendental monks - leaving your brain alone for even a teeny little while, like 10 minutes a day, makes it stronger and more creative. Try it if you don't believe me, but not just yet because there are a few other types of nothing that are big right now and if you switch yourself off you'll miss out.<br />
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Getting nothing done. Otherwise known as exercise, is also particularly celebrated at this time of year. Furiously working hard in the gym for example - moving things around, and putting them back exactly where you found them in the end - or going for long walks, starting and finishing in the same place after up to several hours of exertion - or swimming up and down in the same piece of water, all great examples of working hard - and getting a whole pile of nothing done.<br />
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Eating more nothing. Also called dieting - Nothing-eating is an art form, and can be accomplished by many means - but generally a fashionable thing to do, a book called French women don't get fat, even advises avoiding places where the foods that tempt you are available so that instead you eat nothing in place of the sugar coated pastry of your dreams.<br />
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And my final nothing for tonight, the house proud nothing. Nothing on any surfaces, nothing on carpets, acres of nothing in every room, surrounded by luxuriant materials chrome/ wood/ glass and what have you, this is a particularly hard type of nothing to obtain in a plastic strewn house after xmas, but the big psychological boost towards it's achievement is that great big wallop of nothing sucked into the home when you shake off the xmas tree, to remove the decorations and get that fecker down - this makes you believe that your house is almost as tidy as pre-xmas and that with just a little bit of work and concentration some long term nothingness can be found.<br />
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Good luck to you all finding your little bit of nothing in the new year.<br />
Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-17114424492219894892016-12-30T13:06:00.003-08:002016-12-30T13:29:16.739-08:00Tips for a perfect 2017I have decided to make 2017 the best year EVAHHH.<br />
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How you may ask? I'm going to follow the following simple steps to having the perfect life:<br />
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I will stop insulting my mother in law by telling her I'm trying to write a funny blog post, and asking her to refrain from talking - definitely will not do that in 2017. Especially since she now wants to read said funny blog post when it's done and now the pressure is on.<br />
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Speaking of pressure, I plan to put my self under all kinds of enormous pressure ("Niamh is thinking", my mother in law just told my sister in law, warning her not to talk!)... in the coming year.<br />
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I will follow every one of those "in just five minutes a day you can X, Y, Z your self to miracle hair, teeth, relationships, shoes" articles. I will build on the success of these every day until I work up to one full 24 hour session of 5 minute portions of perfection by teeth pulling with coconut oil, tricks to sort out dodgy posture, loving questions for my children, (she took just five minutes a day and now her kids are perfect).<br />
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I will multi-master, no, I will multi-dominate. No more multi-tasking for me, 2017 is going to be a year of brilliance, and all my limbs and faculties will be full on, full time, 100% of the day.<br />
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Speaking of full time, I plan to find and hold down four more full time jobs, so that I have one for each working day of the week, they'll all compliment each other and will sometimes mix and meld, so that no one boss will feel left out and all will find my work stupyfyingly amazing. This will involve quite a few interviews and job applications at the start of the year, but I'll somehow squeeze that into lunch breaks, which will also involve a bit of yoga and choir practise, but sure you gotta sweat to compete, (compete pronounced to rhyme with sweat - there that's a new word pronounciation I've made up just there now, already and it's not even yet the year for the magic).<br />
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I will of course be pursuing my film-making career following the viral sensation that was my first "mini-Movie" but I will be pushing myself in this area and will warn my fans they may find some of my future work a little experimental (stress on the mental part).<br />
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There will be charidee work I will be also absolutely trouncing, with a skipathon, a ladies pole vaulting competition in fancy dress that I will win though dressed as a koala, and a massive round of homeless comforting which I will do during the wee hours every second thursday of the month.<br />
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I will dissuade Trump from doing anything too silly via twitter, and will also use the same tool to talk the english out of brexiting, I can't believe no one else thought of that, like no-brainer!!<br />
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I will stop celebrities from dying in 2017, not on my watch in the year of perfection.<br />
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I'd also hope to travel some more, see a bit more of Kerry, or even my own native Cork. Cork's great so it is, you should go there more if you haven't already been. I will also aim to try each pub in my local town and sing karaoke in each even if there isn't a karaoke night on.<br />
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I will try every recipe in my newly acquired on loan book of Bento lunch box ideas, all 501 of them, before I get half way through the year, so that I know which are my son's very favourites for back to school time.<br />
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I am making all these commitments very publicly here so that I may be judged and may judge myself on how I perform.<br />
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I hope this is somewhat helpful to inspiring all you readers to go on to greater and greater heights in the coming year.<br />
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xxNiamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862054200092259163.post-54443885193925104632016-12-26T08:40:00.001-08:002016-12-26T08:40:27.561-08:00Now for something completely different<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Niamh Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519443787482685320noreply@blogger.com2