syringe 28 March 2009
I am still haunted by the ear syringing conversation on the bus. We have ‘bad’ ears in our family and regularly suffer from earache. Add to this that at various times in my life I have had perforated eardrums (nasty) and you get some of the picture as to why I might be a bit obsessed when the conversation turns to the bits attached to the side of my head. Actually, turns out I am slightly deaf in both ears as a result of the old perforations – another wonky bit, 2 of them in fact. Anyhow, what got me about the 2 ladies, particularly the one wondering if she needed her ears syringed was that they had the conversation 3 or more times, circling around then going through the same details, in practically identical word patterns. They agreed that she should soften the ear wax with olive oil first. That brought me back – when I was growing up in the west of Ireland (a couple of centuries ago) olive oil was for medicinal purposes and you bought it in the chemist. You certainly never would have contemplated cooking with it – that would have been freakish. I had an awful urge to lean over the top of the seat and tell the woman a lie about which type she should use (Sicilian extra virgin?) but didn’t want to actually become part of the merrygoround. The other woman’s brother suffers with his ears too, it seems, and she said he’d had them ‘done’ so often he has tinnitus now. I know too much about it too as a result.
They moved on to a gruesome murder trial that’s being held in Dublin at the moment and discussed infidelity in general and the particulars of it in this case and that was most illuminating too… When we got to the 3rd version (quite Beckettian as I think of it now) I put on my ipod and zoned out. It’s all still in my head though…clearly…
syringe 28 March 2009
I am still haunted by the ear syringing conversation on the bus. We have ‘bad’ ears in our family and regularly suffer from earache. Add to this that at various times in my life I have had perforated eardrums (nasty) and you get some of the picture as to why I might be a bit obsessed when the conversation turns to the bits attached to the side of my head. Actually, turns out I am slightly deaf in both ears as a result of the old perforations – another wonky bit, 2 of them in fact. Anyhow, what got me about the 2 ladies, particularly the one wondering if she needed her ears syringed was that they had the conversation 3 or more times, circling around then going through the same details, in practically identical word patterns. They agreed that she should soften the ear wax with olive oil first. That brought me back – when I was growing up in the west of Ireland (a couple of centuries ago) olive oil was for medicinal purposes and you bought it in the chemist. You certainly never would have contemplated cooking with it – that would have been freakish. I had an awful urge to lean over the top of the seat and tell the woman a lie about which type she should use (Sicilian extra virgin?) but didn’t want to actually become part of the merrygoround. The other woman’s brother suffers with his ears too, it seems, and she said he’d had them ‘done’ so often he has tinnitus now. I know too much about it too as a result.
They moved on to a gruesome murder trial that’s being held in Dublin at the moment and discussed infidelity in general and the particulars of it in this case and that was most illuminating too… When we got to the 3rd version (quite Beckettian as I think of it now) I put on my ipod and zoned out. It’s all still in my head though…clearly…
comer 26 March 2009
I did a talk at Castlecomer Library this evening as part of their 10th birthday – wonderful evening and thanks to the good people of the parish for turning out – we had a great time. Interestingly, the cake, which was ordered over the phone, said ‘libery’ – yup 3 words for the lad or ladette on the other end of the phone = education education education!
Only other thing to report at the moment is that we should all be conscious of what we foist on others on our journey – the bus from the Naas to Comer end of things was filled with an elderly lady talking to a pal about ears being syringed – I may never recover….
dandruff 25 March 2009
Richard went shopping for the shower gel last week and came home with shampoo – an easy mistake to make I guess and possibly a good one i.e. we all have hairy bits and the better, I suppose, if they are fluffy and so on…HOWEVER, he bought shampoo for people NOT ONLY with hair (he is bald) but also WITH DANDRUFF…go figure….
led us today to amuse and bemuse ourselves with stuff and in the midst Vic Smurfit remarked on how Fair Isle was called FERILE when she was at (posh – and there it ends) school and I had the dream of one day making something a charity Art auction item which would be a cat in a Fair Isle pullover called ‘Ferile Cat’
madness 24 March 2009
Technology was not my friend, yet again, today…The new washing machine arrived this morning but because the old one was plugged in behind the dishwasher, which is now too snugly plastered in, it couldn’t be removed and jettisoned at the same time as the new put in. In fairness the builder sent 2 of the lads over to solve the problem and install the new joy. Just as well I was here, though, because they misunderstood what I said about the dishwasher and removed it to the back garden and prepared to install a 2nd washing machine in the kitchen. We sorted that and got the new lad/lassie up and running. I overdid it on the fist load which was over ambitiously heavy and fecked the thing up pronto (I had to drain water the hard way = out and over the floor – nuff said) – if you could see the MOUNTAINS waiting to be cleaned you’d understand why. Anyhow, sorta sorted now and all’s working well. Amazing how that can plunge a gal into despair, however.
I used the frustration to take a hammer and nails to the wall and hang a few paintings back up – satisfying to beat metal on metal in ‘a dance as old as time’.
Then, feeling that the day yet could be saved, I headed for the Hubby’s office for a 45 minute Russian lesson only to find he’d organised for it to be at home and I had wasted an hour across town on the bus – he neglected to remind me of the good news from last week – it mattered naught as when I got back Skype was (as usual) playing silly buggers in our house and we couldn’t proceed. Oh, and yes, my homework – which took me FOREVER yesterday – was ALL WRONG!
I am now partaking in the age-old, and non-dependent on technology, activity or drinking wine…
Tomorrow the OCTOBER ‘roadshow’ hits Cork when the ladies of the company hit town to publicise our run of the show there just after Easter – if you live anywhere near Cork (ie in Ireland) come along and enjoy the play at the Opera House – it’s a great show and a guaranteed good night out (not too many of those around these days!). We will travel there and back by train, which is an old technology and hopefully one that hasn’t been messed with too much (apart from adding comfort) in the last while…I will bring my laptop but only for show; I don’t expect it to work properly for me and break the habit of its lifetime (so far)
yet... 23 March 2009
Yes, it was an amazing sporting weekend for the Irish and just when I thought it might be so for me too my (soccer – for those beyond these seas) team, Aston Villa – also beloved of Nigel Kennedy and Tom Hanks – were THRASHED 5 nil by Liverpool…ah well, it was almost pride before a fall, but in a really good way, though it still REALLY HURTS – we looked AWFUL and they TOOK US APART.
As to the Irish celebrations and all of the raw emotion involved, a friend was heard to utter today ‘I had difficulty explaining to my wife why I was crying after the game but had not at the birth of our first child…’ – there it is in a nutshell. my dears.
I think the rugby win alone has surely lifted the drinks industry out of recession – that goes for the Welsh as well as Irish system there. And spirits (no pun intended) are lifted in these dark times. It is still a huge buzz to think of it!
Slowly and surely I am getting the house back to the way it should look – which means it must be time for the builders to come back and wreck it – for they are not done – oh no…at least one more BIG week to go…
And I haven’t even contemplated the garden though it is CALLING me now weeping, as it is, in neglect. I don’t want to upset or disturb the birdies too much, however. They are having a wonderful time out there recently – it’s theirs really and I shouldn’t interfere. I’ll reclaim the bits they’re not interested in – decking and so on.
Did a lot of Russian homework today – it took HOURS and my head REALLY hurt afterwards…I’ve also spotted one BIG spelling mistake even before the corrections come in, so I am despondent. I feel I’ll never get the hang of it even in the slightest. It is so totally different from English and our alphabet and way of thinking…and complicated, in spite of the logic it may follow. I feel like a proper dunce.
Onwards and upwards, mes amis…
slam 22 March 2009
My dears, I was a bit overwrought with happiness (I’d also supped a few) by the end of yesterday and also worried about something so I thought I’d give myself a dispensation to blog today rather than last night, when the worry might be sorted (more of that anon). Well, unless you live beyond our galaxy you will have noticed that the Irish won the Grand Slam* yesterday and, yes, our eyes are collectively smiling about that and will do long into the next decade I should think. What a great match it was, too. I thought the Welsh had it and was cursing O’Gara’s miskicks in the first half (which would have left us 6 – 9 points ahead and in a comfort zone, of sorts). Both teams were magnificent and worthy opponents, both hungry for the win, and I never want to have to deal with the tension of that last minute, or indeed last Welsh kick, ever again. 61 years we have waited and now that we have the taste for it I hope it won’t be as long again. I hosted a wee doo at the house for them as wanted to see it on a larger screen (that’s working though, for what it’s worth, the house is not completed yet – builder banished till he has all ready for same and can go at it in one short sharp shock) and that was great fun altogether. Then I showed CASINO ROYALE on blue ray for the 2 locals who were attending.
When they left and I was pottering I turned on the tv again and got stuck into Bernard Dunne’s boxing match – he was making his bid to be World Champion against the reigning champ Cordoba, a Panamanian. I know boxing is not everyone’s cup of tea but I will watch the top notch bouts as they are regulated and, relatively, safe and the opponents usually well matched. Mind you, after Natasha Richardson dying of a blow to the head during the week, I was conflicted about this. Dunne won, fairly comprehensively, knocking Cordoba out at the end of the last round. And that’s when the worry started properly – Cordoba didn’t move for a long time and was stretchered off. However, it was later revealed that dehydration was the cause, no more.
And so, all round a great day for the Irish.
I am hoping my beloved Aston Villa can beat Liverpool later today (soccer, for those of you beyond these isles – the round ball and no use of hands) and will be planted in front of the screen screaming for that – I have contemplated NOT watching it as my nerves are shredded after yesterday but, hey, an old gal’s gotta get a thrill somehow…
*rugby for those who live far, far away from here – the one with the oblong ball and lots of physical contact.
ticking boxes 20 March 2009
Yup tis the season o tickin o them boxes. SO,
Yesterday I started the new novel = tick!
Today I did a good russian lesson (if tough – that language is a FECK to try to master) = tick!
Watched a great game of domestic soccer = my beloved Bohemians (well, I do live within spittin distance after all – and spits seem to be the currency) versus old rivals Shamrock Rovers and WE WON – tick!
Tomorrow I totally WILL unpack all boxes of shite and give the shite a new home = tick!
I will SO watch IRELAND win the GRAND SALM = tick!
Life will be GOOD…
It’s what we’re bred for and try our utmost to achieve? (okay, okay, dunno if that’s the unpacking of those feckin boxes or the winning of sporting titles but surely all are trophies?)
list 19 March 2009
Had one of those lists today that included ‘start novel’ (hey, who doesn’t, I hear you cry) and the news is I DID! I have been thinking obsessively about it awhile – that’s normal for me – and this morning I woke up early and the first proper images came to me – these had been elusive till now but I think I am happy with the ones that were insistent today and at the least we have lift off, which will make my poor editor happy…now for another 99,000 words…The Young Wan in the play recently heard me going on about how I hadn’t got a break on the beginning of it and said ‘sure, you have until September’ – I haven’t truly loved her since.
Mandy, a regular, tells me Cardiff Castle is a wonderful day out – it started as a Roman Keep or Fort and grew and grew throughout the centuries, with the animals I saw (a kind of Victorian Neverland?) and a strange metal basement corridor all within the parameters of the delights within – I am SO going there next time. She also asked if Cardiff was as clean as always – YES – the only other place I have encountered like it in that regard is Minsk in Belarus.
And to the sadness – I think we are all shocked beyond words at the random death of the beautiful Natasha Richardson. So young. So talented. Lovely in all respects. And plucked from us. We know not the day nor the hour, so let’s get LIVING! Surely that is the best tribute to all cut short or indeed cut off at all? And you all know I SO don’t agree with death and this is yet another mark against it, frankly.
stone animals 18 March 2009
Cardiff looked utterly fabulous today and I only wish I’d had time to go into the magnificent castle there. One of the great sights from my drive into the city the day before yesterday was the walled surround of that castle. I don’t know but I assume the walls are a Victorian feature. Splendidly, climbing over those walls are various exotic animals as if they are sneaking out – lions, bears, and so on. Utterly enchanting.
I decided to head back to Dublin and leave a trip to London awhile – economics and the fact that I SO need to unpack the last of the boxes and get everything out and working again. Then I can make a lovely return to Soho (and it will be soon) – in the meantime I shall send Himself over. He is a very lucky bunny at the moment as I came back from Cardiff with a ticket for him for the rugby match on Saturday. Hopefully he will be there to see Ireland take the RBS trophy…though I will have to tell you that Welsh tails are up, if my impressions this time out were anything to go by.
Another partial success is that I think I may have found a pair of jeans that don’t look utterly awful on me – hope they look okay when I wear them in Real Life as opposed to a cramped dressing room – it’s a difficult item of clothing to get right for a roundy woman such as myself.