Another face of the earth

Dec 15, 2008 by John    1 Comment     Posted under: photos, web

I bought a foot spa a couple of years ago. See I’ve garnered this odd affliction, where standing still for any amount of time kills my feet and leaves me utterly exhausted and fatigued for hours. Walking isn’t a problem. Standing kills me. Have been to two different doctors to no avail whatsoever.

One suggested a foot spa. Or maybe I thought it would be a good idea myself. Either way, it is now cast aside, like a bathroom version of a George Foreman grill, stuck in that useless little nook beside our shower. Any time I am seated on the throne, it looks at me with that big fake smile, begging employment. I don’t pay heed to such folly charms and go about my way without paying it any attention. I’m absolutely positive that as soon as I leave the smile fades and those hollow eyes fill with veruca salt tears.

I must send it on to Faces of the Earth, where it may at least find some friends.

The other half watching the footie

Dec 10, 2008 by John    2 Comments    Posted under: art, drawing

Homepages, the book.

Dec 8, 2008 by John    6 Comments    Posted under: writing

Homepages, the book went on sale today from Lulu. It’s a collection of short stories and photographs from Irish bloggers. All profit goes to to Focus Ireland.

I can be quite impulsive sometimes. I had my contribution written and sent off before I’d given myself the chance to decide if I liked it or not. But I’m still not sure if I like it, so ho hum.

Stocking filler? Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, GO ON. Pauline McLynn has written the foreward (sorry Pauline, couldn’t resist but I did resist in Tescos once!)

Organized with gob-dropping efficiency by Catherine.

The Blue Light

Dec 5, 2008 by John    5 Comments    Posted under: random, waffle

I can remember when I was much younger, entirely dismissing trad as fiddledy dee nonsense. How wrong I was, I’d like to go back and give myself a clip around the ear.

I was up in the Blue light last night. What a little treasure the place is. Perched on the hills of Barnacullia, not too far back from Sandyford, the view of Dublin is perfect.

Every Wednesday, musicians pile in one by one and join in with whatever is playing. Both elderly gents and young colleens with their fiddles. Artists sit by the crackling fire sketching the musicians and comparing their work. Lovely atmosphere, lovely place. It’s a bit of a bitch to get there and back but that just adds to the adventure of the night. Highly recommended antidote to the city at this time of year. And if you have any visiting yanks looking for somewhere traditional, they’d cream themselves.

Jingle Bells

Dec 2, 2008 by John    11 Comments    Posted under: music

Doing some long overdue CD spring cleaning, and found a CD with a few old tracks. Here’s Jingle Bells. Going by the date it looks like I did this coming up to Christmas 10 years ago. Quality is a bit ropey, in every respect.

If you can’t see a media player in this post, you can download the track here.

I think this photo must be well over a decade old too: