http://www.sayonaradeadweight.com/

Another ‘free’ album doing the rounds… May I suggest you give the wonderful Steve Jones some money though…

Saw this on Foy’s blog.

I lied about the regular updating thing. I was about to say that nothing much has happened but that would be lies. A lot has happened but much of it isn’t for here. It requires wine and long chats. I shall catch up with many of you for these things soon.

On Friday Lyndsey, Andy and I went to see Duke Special and the RTE concert orchestra in the NCH in Dublin. It may have been the best I’ve ever seen him perform. The concert was stunning! The new stuff sounds terrific. I’d say it’ll beat SOTDF which obviously takes some doing! Amazing! There are no more words…. oh and the conductor looked like he was having fun from where we were in the front row.

Wonderful photos of the night can be found here from someone sitting high up!

Check out new songs Diggin’ an early grave and, my favourite, Those proverbs we made in the winter must end. (snappy title!)

Actually check out all the videos of the Bristol gig on youtube. He was all my himself but it looks like an awesome gig. Although ‘Those proverbs…’ needs the orchestra I think!

They taught us ‘Diggin’ an early grave’ at the concert hall and did it as the encore. It ended with Duke and Temperence Society Chip Bailey ’falling’ off the stage and singing the end lying on the floor!

I wish I could write a better review to do the gig justice but all Lyndsey and I managed was ‘His voice… His eyes… He’s wonderful….  *sigh*’

So… that wasn’t a bad night!

This week I’m trying to keep my mind off the results… The external examiners meeting is 2m…

Next week mum and I are going to Galgorm Manor for a wee overnight spa break. Massage and some mud mask thing with dinner and a nice hotel room! Sounds lovely and I can’t wait. May I recommend looking a the  photos of the spa on the website and not feeling jealous…. I’m getting a bit excited!

The furthest I’m likely to get for the rest of the summer is Ballywalter to our caravan. I think I need a bit of rest beside the sea and Ballywalter looks like the best I can do so let’s hope it doesn’t rain too much so I can return refreshed to Glasgow!

There we go… that’s all my news… tell me yours!

Hey, Sorry I haven’t been blogging recently. I’m doing nothing noteworthy.

Fran is, read her blog.

If that link doesn’t work it’s  http://basementboxes.livejournal.com/

My day’s atm are mainly spent in the SL. I’m currently making an endocrinology ‘cheat’ sheet. This is how cool I am. I will say somethin when I’ve got something more interesting to say!

I can’t sleep…

Those of you that know me well will know that this is not unusual.

I normally find it really hard getting to sleep but the last 2 nights I’ve been waking up after an hour and then not being able to sleep til 5 or 6. I’ve rendered myself a bit useless. I’m going to drink a lot of coffee this morning and get some work done after lunch when I’ve woken up a bit.

Not happy.

Tried herbal nytol.

Didn’t work.

Any suggestions? I’ve tried the whole relaxing thing….

When I was in primary school I had a music teacher called Miss Ireland. She was a bit of a legend. she still is a bit of a legend.

She had catchphrases

“don’t stand there like a parish charger(?) with your 2 arms the one length” -this may not be accurate as I have no idea what a parish charger is… I was 10….

“I couldn’t hear you behind a tram ticket”

“I am cursed to forever drink cold tea”

(on answering the phone) “hello, Purdysburn mental institution”

or

“Hello, Belfast zoo”

She would stand up to play the piano with one foot on sustain and one on the ground.

She would call all the guys Stephen if she couldn’t remember their names

And she would call the girls “Fanny” or “Fanny by gaslight/gaslamp”

The film “fanny by gaslight” is on tv this morning

According to wiki

“Fanny finishes at boarding school and returns to London, where she witnesses Lord Manderstoke fight and kill her supposed father. She soon learns that her family has run a brothel next door to her home and (on her mother’s death) that he was not her real father. She goes to meet her real father - a respected politician - and falls in love with Harry Somerford, his advisor. Manderstoke continues to thwart her happiness”

Why, out of all the names in the world would miss Ireland choose to call generations of girls Fanny by Gaslight? It’s a film/book about victorian prostitution.

Made me laugh.

I got up this morning and decided I couldn’t face the SL today so I’m at my desk in clothes I wouldn’t leave the house in.

I made a giant pot of coffee and I’m going to do 8.4 and 8.5 (spinal cord injuries and the brain) after I finish listening to the bugle.

That is about it. My life is not very exciting.

ooo… Just remembered I have a melon…

George, emma and I are sitting on the second level of the SL. The first year that was here is now gone and I really need to do something constructive!

*Goes to do something constructive*

Thanks for the support guys. I’m gonna try to blog a couple of times a week just to let family and other folk at home know that I’m ok.

And I am ok. I recognise the shitness of the situation but much worse has happened to me tbh so ‘fine’ will be the response if you ask me how I am.

I’m an optimist… I just happen to like Leonard Cohen.

Enjoy summer madness if any of you are there.

The biggest pain in the ass is that this is the first madness I’ve missed since I became a Christian… 6 years ago this week actually… Oh how things have changed… I’m not the same person I was 6 years ago… and I’m not the same Christian I was 6 months ago.

Ask me how I am in 6 weeks

‘I don’t feel particularly good
But don’t worry ‘bout me I’ll get by
‘Cause that was the last day of June
and this is the first of July’

(Almost) -Foy Vance

I am aware that it’s not the 1st yet… I’m also aware that Foy didn’t write that…

Or something like that. I’m finally, after far too long, starting to feel a bit like myself again. This may take some time!

And when I find myself again I will post… I promise

From a friend’s blog 

He didn’t write it but he did send it…

Here’s the background