Anne Scott

This is singer songwriter Ann Scott. She's playing tonight in Galway's famous Roisin Dubh. She's really rather good. You can listen to her here.

You don't need to "poke" her.

Bless The Weather

Yesterday, I was denied one of the greatest pleasures in my life. Contemplating the mess in someone else's house. As my avenues of pleasure have narrowed over the years this one has grown.

I went to pick up the eldest daughter from a house party. I approached the house with great anticipation. This house party, I was told, had more than twenty kids present. What joys would await me there.

As is my wont at these affairs I simply walked straight in. These are busy people. They don't need to be answering door bells. As I went into the living room and then through to the kitchen I sensed that something was gravely wrong? If anything, this house was tidier than my own. I met the husband first.

"What's going on?", I asked. "Where's the mess?".
"Ah" he said. "We were blessed with the weather. Kids played outside all day".

Definition of BLESSED
1
a : held in reverence : venerated b : honored in worship : hallowed c : beatific
2
: of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person

"Fuck sake", I thought. "Even God is against me now".

Smithwicks Monde Selection

Credit where credit's due to the good people at Smithwicks who have won a medal at the Monde Selection. This just isn't any old bullshit product marketing award where, for example,

Applicants must fill in the entry form and product registration thoroughly before sending these two documents by fax, e-mail or post to Monde Selection who will, on receipt, provide confirmation of participation and invoice with payment being due within 30 days of receipt and all bank charges at the customer’s cost.

Further examination of their website reveals that,

Monde Selection are an international Institute For Quality Selections ... the beers jury is chaired by Mrs C. Liétar, an eminent and recognised retired lecturer & professor who used to work as an expert in the brewery industry.

Love it. She used to work as an expert in the brewery industry.

But to be fair Smithwicks didn't just win any old medal. They won, as their expensive new labelling reveals, a Gold Medal which is only awarded to,

Products obtaining an average result between 80% and 89%

Presumably they were just below average in the rest of the tastings.

Protected by Angels

You can see me reflected in the car back window taking this picture. I'd parked behind and when the woman got out and went into the church hall I dived out and took the picture. Then I noticed that she'd left a small, sleeping child on it's own in the back.

Of course, it wasn't really on it's own.