ang and friends 10 May 2010
I did Angela And Friends on SKY today and wonderful it was to be new friend for a while…great bunch. BUT was reminded of being at a bbc ‘do’ once – when they used to throw one for us actors and types every so often – and I saw the glorious Angela Griffin (for it was she) sitting on a couch and I lurched at her muttering ‘you’re fab’ before noticing she was very pregnant and therefore sober and lurching away again before hawing alcohol and sentiment all over her. Happily, she doesn’t remember! But I have told her now…and all of you…so it’s OUT THERE…and at least I’m not proud of myself…
wales 9 May 2010
I opted for a boat and train journey today as I didn’t trust that derned Icelandic ash cloud to be civil and allow flights as per schedule – to be honest I can’t bear not being where I say I will be when I will be these days and so wanted to avoid added stress. SO the ferry it was and I must recommend the fast boat between Dublin and Holyhead – veh pleasant passage and, if you are in the market for it at all, upgrade for the extra 16yoyos (euros, m’dears) to the ‘plus’ lounge and sit facing back toward Ireland and it’s a proper pretty sight. The weather was lovely all the way across. THEN came the 5 hour train slog to London but at least the initial bit through Wales was beautiful. At one stage the mountains were those stains on the sky that recalled ‘blue remembered hills’ and then the sea was to the left and mountains to the right and the sight equally beauteous. Lovely indeed, and because I had the time and it was a Sunday and there were papers to be read and thoughts to be thunk it was all grand – don’t want to have to do it every week though, thank you very much, so please Mr Volcano CAN IT!
Am on ANGELA AND FRIENDS on SKY tomorrow afternoon if anyone is adjacent to a tv set…
lay 8 May 2010
lay in some sunshine today and the feeling was all TENERIFAY and therefore all good – resonant of such good vibes, y’know? I’m not sure St John’s Wort is doing anything for me as my sunshine holiday a month ago lifted my mood and was at same time as i started taking the ‘wonder herb’ so i can’t tell – i have my suspicions that sunshine is the way….
clinton 7 May 2010
saw an interview on irish tv tonight with a woman who has a disability and is using it in her life but also to honour those others who carry disability of whatever sort with them every day – inspirational thought was this: she met bill clinton once and he said to her ‘you must never take criticism personally, you must take it seriously’ – babble-ish perhaps BUT…
locked out 6 May 2010
I am glued to the television watching the results for the UK election. Disturbing that many many people seem to have been turned away at the last moment – surely the places we vote should be able to get all those who are there by closing and in time into the room so that they can vote – seems the venues were not prepared and also there was no plan as to what might happen should this situation occur – I feel challenges coming on…big shame that it should happen at all…a disgrace, actually…
greece 5 May 2010
Best comment so far on the Greek bailout? The New Economist frontpage has the headline ‘Acropolis Now’. Dat’s funny….
I’m horribly excited by the UK election tomorrow and plan a night in front of the tv viewing the results as they’re counted and returned. To all of you with a vote USE IT, even if it’s in protest – you know me on this: EXERCISE your democratic right. People have died to win suffrage, are still dying for it. Also, it’s imperative to have your say, make your mark. End of Pauline’s Preaching.
Am loving being at home. But have scoped out all ferry timetablesavailable between our islands and have started back-up plans and contingencies for the next 3 weeks, as there are committments that cannot be messed up because of that dern ash cloud…
Victoria Smurfit is a goddess – just saying…
shameless 4 May 2010
well, couldn’t resist so i watched the series finale of SHAMELESS a week early on one of the ‘4’ channels and i must say i think it has been great season and i could NOT be prouder of that show. what a mind paul abbott has to conceive of it in the first place and hurrah for all who make it including, and i suppose especially, Company Pictures and Channel 4 who are continuing to make brilliant dramas as a way of dealing with recession rather than cutting back like a whole lot of other like ‘places’.
had a great time on The Wright Stuff today – again, there’s a show i love doing. we touched on a lot of subjects close to my heart but none more so than stress. i’ll not lie to ye, mine is still a low to medium hum in the background and the heart is racing all the time. i sleep for 3 hour stretches then am so wide awake it’s painful. i have to learn some way of making this manageable BUT I WILL… let’s say it’s a phase….
NOOOOOO 3 May 2010
I am in London for the briefest of overnights (or so I thought) to do the Wright Stuff on tv tomorrow – Channel 5 – a show I love so no complaint there BUT my plan to fly home immediately thereafter and see my lovely, and newly returned from Australia, husband is thrown skywards (with travel restrictions) because the friggin Icelandic ash is back over Irish airspace. I am SO not pleased….
In other news a young friend who is doing comedy gigs, temporarily, in the UK has volunteered to canvas for the Greens in Brighton. Technically, that makes him an immigrant worker on less than minimum wage…so not a word to the BNP…
solid 2 May 2010
It rained solidly for (a solid) 14 hours just before I left London. I didn’t have to be anywhere, particularly, during the time as it involved night-time mostly, but I was awake for quite a lot of it also in the wee small hours and this morning. It was tremendous to know I didn’t have to brave it and it was an atmospheric backdrop to a lot of fevered thinking. And because I live in a little complex by a tiny courtyard with metal walkways the sound was truly urban – the constant and heavy downpour ringing on metal. It sounded beautiful, actually.
53 1 May 2010
A wonderful Irish broadcaster has died, far far too young, and the country is reeling from the news. Gerry Ryan was the lynchpin of the morning schedule on the second strand of the main, national broadcaster. He was the most incredibly entertaining man, wore his vast intelligence lightly, and brought the sense and fun to a day. He was a huge life force and to have him taken at 53 is just wrong. It is impossible to state how much he will be missed. We needed his irreverence but also his courage and ability to see through the shit and name things as they are. He was a wonder and the world is a lesser place today without him.