That Friday Feeling!

This is the long Goodbye!

2008-05-27T00:26:00.003+01:00

Currently listening to Paul Brady's classic "this is the long goodbye". No subtle message intended, albeit I have been inabstentia from blogging for too long. But what a great song - Paul Brady, is for me, one of those musicians that I have so grown into - my Dad has been an avid fan for as long as I can remember, his song "the island" holds a particularly poignant meaning for our family - someone very precious was both found and lost to that song and it will forever make me cry. All that said I had never really gotten into Paul Brady's music until recently but all I can say is that I am so glad I did - the man is an unbelievable musician and wordsmith. Old age is sometimes a venerable thing - the appreciation it brings is a wonderful thing.

However, I have been missing from the blogosphere again for a month or so. No major reason why except that things have just been busy - work has been more hectic recently than it has been in a very long time. Then there have been long weekends away and a good bit of socialising in between. I put my hands up - last year I made a decision that I would blog as and when it suited me - I never want to be a blogger who lives to blog - more a blogger who blogs when it suits her life :)

Things in Curly K land are good even if they are busy. Lots of catching up on the blogosphere to be done again but c'est la vie.

Rats coming up through your toilet!!!

2008-04-15T23:59:00.003+01:00

So I was out planting some trees in my garden this evening. All was good with the world, had managed to get the first cut on my postage stamp lawn yesterday evening as well as managing to paint two newly acquired oak barrel planters for my decking into which my new trees were being planted this evening.

Then suddenly it all went haywire when my neighbours young son was hanging out the window pointing to a MASSIVE rat sitting in their garden. Now, I'm not stupid, I know already that rats are never far away, especially if you live near water, like I do - except knowing and seeing are two very, very different experiences. I mean I haven't felt this girly about anything since, well actually ever. I am freaked out - the one thing that I really couldn't handle is rats in the house, I'll deal with spiders, really won't like a field mouse but I'll actually make myself voluntarily homeless if I come face to face with a rat.

Of course, now I know I have not helped myself, even though I thought I was doing the right thing when I went online to find out what I could get to keep them out of my garden and happened upon this gem on Google Video - insomnia here I come for a long long time!!!!!!!!!! By the way turn down the sound if you're squeamish!

Room Escape Games

2008-04-08T23:40:00.002+01:00

Are bloody addictive!!! I wonder if there is an AA alternative for those hooked on them, need to find out very soon. I have spent far too long recently trying to escape from virtual roomson one of my favourite sites. All that clicking is not good for arthritic fingers but what the hell! It's no wonder I haven't been posting enough recently or updating my links or catching up with all my favourite blogs.

But did manage to get a fluffy link (hooray - Damien, does this mean I get a fluffy badge??? And no, I wasn't pissed off with you - merely rendered nostalgic!) Plus I managed to weed my lovely garden this evening. Is the fact that the evenings are getting longer fantastic? Hopefully I'll soon be able to use my recently transformed garden (hip, hip, hooray!)

Technorati Tags: AA Damien Mulley Fluffy Link Room Escape Games Point & Click

Bertie says the entire cabinet cried!

2008-04-06T22:35:00.002+01:00

OH PLEASE - SPARE ME!!! How was Bertie not embarrassed spouting that load of shite to the press! Pass the vomit bag, the whole episode is getting more nauseous by the minute.

"Bertie Ahern has said each of his Fianna Fáil cabinet colleagues broke down in tears when he told them he was stepping down as party leader.........."It was the first time in my life I wanted to get out of a Fianna Fáil meeting quickly, when all the men and all the women were collectively crying."

Technorati Tags: Bertie Ahern Cabinet Bertie's Resignation Fianna Fail

Never mind WWMD, look what he did!

2008-04-02T01:33:00.005+01:00

Ah Mulley, what have you gone and done?? Now I can't get this out of my head! It was a hit in 1987 here and in the US in 1988 - oh, the memories;

I was 15 and thought I'd never get old enough to do the things I wanted to do
Inter-cert was looming
Not allowed to discos
Still sharing a bedroom with my sister (it had red wallpaper with white love hearts on !)
Hadn't yet kissed a boy (or didn't for at least another 3 years!!!)
Thought I was fat - I wasn't
Tried to make sure I got to walk around town after school as often as I could to look at the lads from the local boys secondary school
Was also listening to Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, George Michael, Robert Palmer , INXS and bloody Billy Ocean cos their songs like the rest on this list were omni-present
Had stopped trying to knit leg-warmers but was still sewing a god-damned apron for Home Economics!
Was beginning to experiment with make-up and had a Miners eyeshadows
Naively thought I'd be married by 25 and just automatically have children
A Pan-Am Boeing 747 explodedover Lockerbie, Scotland from a terrorist bomb
The other George Bush was elected in the US
Kids cool enough to have computers (we weren't) were playing Super Mario 3
Big Brother's SamAnda twin combo were born!

20 years on things have changed somewhat, sadly not all for the better;

I'm now afraid of getting too old to do the things I want
Whilst the Inter-Cert is long gone, not so the Leaving Cert - it took me a while to figure out this link but I now know when I'm stressed - I dream or have nightmares about sitting the Leaving Cert!!
Now I'm dying to share my bedroom with someone again - haven't done so since I left home and started college!
Again I'm still waiting to kiss boys! Well actually looking for one that I can kiss again and again and again!!!!!
I am fat
Now when I want to look at men I drive around town!
Those songs evoke all sorts of memories
My mother still has that god-damned apron somewhere - but I did get As in both Inter and Leaving Cert Home Economics!!!
Like then I still only wear make-up when I'm going out but now have more expensive brands
Terrorism is still rife around the world
There is still a fucking George Bush in power
SamAnda are substantially more irritating than they were (I hope they weren't that fucking annoying when they were babies - surely someone would have drowned them!)

I still like Rick Astley though, the guy has a great voice and I only learned what a Rick Roll was tonight so you live and learn!

Technorati Tags: Rick Astley 1988 Damien Mulley WWMD Rick Roll

Slide & tilt patio doors?

2008-04-01T00:33:00.002+01:00

Trying to do some research on slide & tilt patio doors right now and there isn't a whole lot out there about what's available in Ireland so wondering if anyone has a slide & tilt patio door? Is it good? Where did you source it in Ireland? Will I need to re-mortgage to get one?

I'm simply trying to solve a big problem I've had in my house since I moved a few years ago. My house is a townhouse and only has one room to the back which is the livingroom and the only window in the room is the sliding patio door. It's great in the summer but any other time I dread leaving it open to air the room as I absolutely dread mice and rats and don't want them getting indoors so never leave the door open unless I'm in the room. This means that it doesn't get aired nearly enough as in winter by the time I get home it is dark and cold and sitting with a door open isn't really an option.

As I absolutely do not want french doors opening either in or out of the room and I cannot see any sliding doors with an integral window that can be opened I'm beginning to think that a slide and tilt patio door may be my only option.

Any information would be a bonus - what a pity architects don't think of all practicalities when designing houses!

Technorati Tags: Slide & tilt patio doors Patio Doors Ventilation

Too much to say!

2008-03-29T05:16:00.006+00:00

So, Curly K just had a fantastic first date.............good company, attractive guy, chemistry...............but......................and there is a but;................. shouldn't be.................but there is.

Some women (especially me!) are never happy I swear!!!!!!!!!

*Edit*

"Mental note to self (again!) do not post at stupid o'clock in the morning after a barrel full of wine!!!

There is no real but at this stage except maybe how the fuck do I do a Kim & Aggie on my house single-handedly in the next week or so :)!!!!

The but last night was probably caused by being told just before the date that an ex of mine that I really did like a lot apparently isn't over me and still likes me - duh to me - he broke it off a long time ago, has certainly made noises to the effect that he still likes me since we broke up but only when I was last seeing someone else. He's known for a long time now that I am single again and done nothing about it so he can go and jump as far as I am concerned.

And to be truthful last night was really a lovely night; great company and conversation, good looking single bloke no baggage and some chemistry to boot :)!

Now anyone got a phone number for Kim & Aggie! So much to do, so little time :)!!!"

Out of the mouths of babes!

2008-03-25T00:10:00.003+00:00

Some of the quotes thrown at me this weekend:

"are you feeling any better, will a hug make you feel better?" (woke up on Good Friday with Tonsilitis from hell!)
"the very best part about my party is having my Auntie Curly K come with us - it just wouldn't be any good or a proper birthday party without Auntie Curly K" (5 year old nieces are generally the most adorable people in the world)
"don't look at me, don't talk to me, I don't like you anymore" (3 year old nieces can be fickle sometimes and barren spinster aunts can just ruin your day by saying hello!)
"I'm not coming to your house tomorrow, I don't want to, I don't want to make buns and I want to go home" (5 year old nieces are not always the most adorable people in the world)
"I'm sorry about last night, I was really tired and I didn't mean it but I can't wait to come to your house to make buns" (5 year old nieces are generally the most adorable people in the world)
"your kitchen is very messy" (actually it was relatively tidy by Curly K standards. It was at that point it was decided that my nieces were not getting into my bedroom!!! Also according to this quiz I'm Lynette in Desparate Houswives, whilst their mother is Bree - I don't actually watch the show so I don't know what being Lynette entails but know even I know Bree is a slight clean freak!! )
"there are no toys in your house, there is nothing fun there, the only fun thing was the box that spins around" (a Rubics cube was apparently the only saving grace in the boring house from hell and both 5 year and 3 year old nieces agree on such important matters!)
"I had my ears turned off" (3 year old nieces are generally the most adorable people in the world especially when they have an answer for everything and a cheeky smile to go with it!)
"mine" (1 year old nephews tend to want absolutely everything they see but do so with such a gorgeous smile)

If it wasn't for the tax breaks I wouldn't exist!!!

2008-03-19T01:00:00.003+00:00

From what I can gather, myself and a number of my friends are purely the result of tax evasion on a mass scale. In the 70s there was apparently a bigger tax break if you got married before the end of one tax year, which used to begin in April. Therefore, right about now 36 years ago my parents had just arrived in Ballinasloe to begin the first night of their honeymoon, having left their wedding reception about half ten at night to leg it off to the hotel from their reception in the midlands. Hey presto, just under nine months later, myself and my sister arrived to make their first Christmas! We were honeymoon babies and like many others the result of the annual rush to the altar just before the end of the tax year!

36 years - if they'd murdered someone they'd be out years ago on parole for good behaviour! As it is they are still happily married and wandering along life's path together, not always in a state of wedded bliss (they are a normal couple with all the ups and downs of a normal couple!) but with a committment to their relationship and sticking together through the bad times and the good that I can only admire and hope to emulate some day. Happy wedding anniversary guys and cheers to the taxman of the day!

Yes, I am truly a miserable old bitch!

2008-03-17T03:51:00.004+00:00

Dear Friend,

I am, so truly happy, honestly, that you have met your soulmate. I am particularly happy that you met through me and am really, really happy that he is a truly lovely bloke. You deserve that, at the very least.

But, that said, please, please. please do not ask me out on any more of your nights out, I really don't think I can take it. I have actually started to like and respect your boyfriend a lot more than I do you - why, you ask??? Because, to be fair, your boyfriend is an absolutle gentleman and very kind and considerate. Why have I started to like him more than you?? A couple of reasons:

he loves you and completely knows (and really respects) what good friends we have been
he is an absolute gentleman and knows how important good friends are to anyone and knows we are friends and therefore minds me like an egg because you say I am important to you

I do realise that your life is really, really busy right now, what with work, family and having met the major love of your life. What I get really pissed off with, is the fact that you keep trying to pretend I am up there on your list - let's get real, I am not - invariably something has to give, I am, usually, that something - grand, that's actually fine with me. You are in love, working silly hours and trying to keep up with your new love and family at the same time. All grand, except, don't piss me off by constantly ringing at the very last minute to do something and pretending that I am on your list of priorities, stop trying to make me salve your guilt and make me pay lip service to the fact that your once in a blue moon phone-call puts me on your to-do-list; it doesn't - end of!!

I like you, I like your boyfriend, I DO NOT LIKE constantly being the last minute consideration, it just pisses me off - end of!

Open letter to an arrogant (Ranger Rover driving) bitch!

2008-03-14T02:24:00.004+00:00

Dear Arrogant (Range Rover Driving) Bitch,

Thank you for making me feel you were so close to me that we needed only one car, to be fair, had I known you had wanted a lift in the back of my humble car, I would have obliged. It warmed my heart to see you that you had your mother in your substantial vehicle - to be fair, like the rest of us, it's a lot more than ye had when ye were growing up!

It chuffed me to bits to see that you still manage to dress very well, despite having to shop in the wee exclusive boutiques locally - it's nice to see that you support the local community! I'm glad that you pointed out to me, in such a subtle manner, that you have been so successful in out-doing me, in monetary terms, by marrying a man with a rich father - well done you! How clever of you to dress well and flutter your not insubstantial eyelids at a number of men from moneyed families locally, whilst I, stupid fucking me, was at college, being a general tit and inconsequetially earning a degree along the way. How right of you to point out, in such an (in)subtle way that I was, in fact, wasting my time. Of course, you are right, the way to go, is in fact, to marry a man, who comes from a family with money, if one wants to feel superior and even just "show it off" a little. What pride or value is there, to be fair, in going to college, earning your own money, working in inconsequential jobs, actually working 9 to 5 and paying taxes; in even, heaven forbid, managing to buy a very wee house and car - all on your own - you are so right, it is in fact laughable.

Thank you for pointing out all these facts to me in a couple of subtle moves. I thought it was touching the way you felt you had to stay so close to my little car whilst driving behind me and how absolutely inciteful and clever of you to put me so subtly put me in my place when trying to park, the piece of shit that I was driving. How lovely of you to flash you headlights as I was parking and point out that, in fact, right being right, really I should move up for you and your mammy. All I can do is apologise, how terribly stupid of me to assume I could simply park my car without you practically coming into my boot, flashing lights along the way to let me know. I stupidly assumed that you could actually reverse park the huge vehicle you were driving, instead of having to bully a smaller car into going forward so you could fit into the parking space. It warms the cockles of my heart that you haven't been practising either manners or how to park since you married so well. I am beyond myself with delight that you know where you and I fit into this little town of ours, and thank you, most sincerely, for reminding silly old me, that it is, in fact, you that has life worked out. It is, without doubt, ensuring that one is wearing an outfit from the most expensive boutique in town, taking your mother out for a wee cup of tea whilst the minions actually work, ensuring you get the parking space that you deserve and hell, simply just flashing your money, or lights, as and when is necessary, to get what you want. Fuck the simple people; what is to be gained by being your own person, driving a car that costs less than the upolstery in a fabulous vehicle or even, in having common courtesy. You are right, of course, ensure everyone knows how wonderful, rich and fabulous you are, taking mammy out for a wee cup of tea whilst your nanny minds your children and the rest of the gobshites actually work for a living, look like shit and drive shit cars.

Well done you, keep on flashing and bullying, let's face it, it's always worked for you so far, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

Curly K

(Curly K has nothing against Range Rovers, in fact one of the first cars she ever drove was a top of the range Range Rover and she absolutely loved it)

Four things......

2008-03-10T11:26:00.003+00:00

I was tagged by K8 the GR8 a few days ago and never got around to doing the meme so here it is;

Four jobs I’ve held:

Waitress
Managing all document storage and retrieval in a large
Law firm Fundraising Administrator with a large national charity
Recruitment Consultant

Four movies I’ve watched over and over again:

The Great Escape
Up Close and Personal
Dirty Dancing (let's face it everyone of a certain age did because they had no choice - the fecking thing was omnipresent!)
Notting Hill

Four places I’ve been:

Ice Church in Helsinki
Raffles Hotel in Singapore
Harrods in London
Eiffel Tower in Paris

Four places I’ve lived:

Belfast
Drumcondra
Glasnevin
3 different houses on the same road!

Four tv shows I watch:

Top Gear
Grand Designs
Location, Location, Location
Good documentaries

Four radio shows I listen to:

Ray D'Arcy - Today FM
Gerry Ryan - 2FM
Rick O'Shea - 2 FM
Matt Cooper's Last Word - Today FM

Four things I look forward to:

Meeting my soul mate

Having children

A clean house

Sitting out my in my new back garden this summer

Four favourite foods:

Tagliatelle Carbonara
Bacon
Fresh Irish Strawberries
Steak and chips

Four places I’d rather be:-

Sitting on a Caribbean beach
Living in my dream house - a modest but really well designed bungalow overlooking a lake but near a town and not in the middle of the countryside and that is as eco-friendly as possible
Chilling at a luxury spa
Having a complete de-tox in a health farm

Four people I email regularly:

Don't really email apart from for work

The rules say that I have to pass this meme on to four people, then comment on their blogs to let them know. I'm leaving it up to anyone who wants to complete it to do so themselves

Spread the love - random acts of kindness!

2008-03-06T00:12:00.003+00:00

Have been really busy at work this last few days and what with that and trying to sort out feedburner and internet problems haven't had a chance to post. I still have to put something up about the blog awards and will definitely do so when I get a chance.

Just a quick post to say how three different strangers have shown me random acts of kindness since Saturday evening - there is still a lot of love out there folks!

Firstly, Curly K was ensconced in a wonderful 4 star hotel for the weekend in Dublin to attend the Irish Blog Awards. So, with about three quarters of an hour to go myself and the gorgeous sister (who of course upstaged me in her LBD!) headed down to our hotel foyer to grab a taxi over to the Alexander Hotel. Reception informed us that taxis were taking at least half an hour to pick up at that time. So, a conversation about heading out to hail a taxi ensues at the front desk. In the middle of all this, a couple who were also at the reception desk asked us if we were heading into town and offered us a lift. Ralph, from Galway and his lovely wife then proceed to drop Curly K and the Upstage Sis to the Davenport Hotel just round the corner from the Alexander, well out of their way from what I can gather.

Then yesterday I was stopped at the Statoil Service Station in Tulsk, grabbing a sandwich on my journey. Now whilst the shop has most things you need, it is not a really big station with deli and coffee machine etc. It was about half one and I was grabbing the first bite to eat that I'd had all day so I grabbed one of their pre-packed sarnies and a bottle of pop. The gentleman in the station was lovely and was commenting on how it was time to eat and I happened to mention that it was my first bite of the day and not even a coffee had passed my lips by that stage in the day. I was in the process of inputting pin for credit card at that point when he offered to make me a coffee to go - when there was no sign in the shop of a coffee machine. He went into a back room and came out with a cup of coffee in a paper cup and wouldn't add it onto the bill.

All three of these people; Ralph and his wife and the service station gentleman put themselves out without a second thought and with no prompting. It was just heart-warming and lovely.

Both gestures made my day, it reminds me a kinder Ireland that I grew up in, where whilst things were far from perfect, people listened more and offered themselves to help others a little more freely. There was certainly less materially and I'm not talking about no shoes or any of that hardship shite but there was a recession in the middle of my childhood and even without the recession the worship of all things material did not exist to the anywhere near the extent it does today.

So, over the last few days it's nice to have been reminded that life is good and that people when they are good and kind and thoughtful to each other are the best.

Mr. & Mrs Ralph and Service Station Gentleman to you I say a big thank you. I shall pass your acts of kindness on.

Technorati Tags: Random Acts of Kindness Irish Blog Awards

Normal service will resume shortly!

2008-03-03T16:11:00.002+00:00

When I get my home (Eircom - shite & expensive!) broadband sorted out - it's decided to have a little holiday all by itself - only fair really when you consider I was away all weekend in the big smoke and got to enjoy myself at the Irish Blog Awards (more about that later)

Whilst I think I've managed to rectify the validation problems with the feedburner feed, I am now left with no content showing up on the feed!

Technorati Tags: Irish Blog Awards Feedburner Problems Eircom Broadband

Feedburner saga continues!

2008-02-27T22:55:00.003+00:00

Feckin Feedburner saga continues and I am no further on. Went through Troubleshootize found that original blogger feed was invalid, pinged feedburner etc and hey presto original blogger feed was valid - even though I hadn't changed it. However, the feedburner feed was still coming up invalid - giving me an error message about image and link missing, which seemed to be coming from the photo in my blog header (which had been uploaded using blogger interface). I've tried removing the photo but the feedburner feed is still coming up as invalid!

The feed addresses are

Blogger feed; http://thatfridayfeeling.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Feedburner feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThatFridayFeeling

Any help on how I can fix my feedburner feed would be greatly appreciated as have been all round the help topics with no success?

Also, during the process of trying to re-ping and resync feedburner feed did kick into life again but only for the one post made after the problem had begun - all previous posts seem lost.

Plus if anyone has any ideas on how I can keep my photo in my blog header and still keep the feeds ok especially as it was loaded with blogger tools and was causing no problems with that feed?

If I delete the old feed and re-burn using same name would that work re photo and pull back older posts?

Seriously stuck here guys and all help gratefully received.

*Update - just realised I've also lost a number of my Loudervoice reviews that were posted to this blog - fuck this just gets better and better!* Bloody feeds!*

Technorati Tags: Feedburner Feed Problems Blogger

Feedburner problems - aghhhhh!

2008-02-26T21:46:00.003+00:00

Thanks to Quickroute I found out earlier this afternoon there was a problem with the feed for this blog. So, I have been trying to fix it, with no success. Initially, checking the validity of the blogger atom feed showed up a minor problem but just pinging Feedburner seemed to fix that mysteriously.

However, the feedburner feed is still showing up as invalid and it seems to be a problem with the photo in the header. I've removed the photo completely (no change), put it back, blah, blah, blah, pinged, re-synched and still the feedburner feed is invalid.

Am really not impressed with Feedburner / Google help with regards to this problem - keep getting sent backwards and forwards on never-ending loop of stupid generic fix pages between new google page and the old feedburner help forum! Neither of which has been of any use to fix this problem!

i really don't understand why suddenly the feed became invalid out of the blue! What do I do now? Aghhhhhh!

I mean, loike, there could be, loike millions of people out there trying to catch up with Curly K - well ok, ok, my two regular readers might like to be able to check in!

Technorati Tags: Feedburner Invalid Feed Feed Problems

Would someone tell that girl how NOT to make babies!

2008-02-25T11:38:00.003+00:00

Via Raimeis, Quickroute and the BBC a 16-year-old Argentine girl has given birth to her second set of female triplets. The girl gave birth to her first son at 14, then her first set of female triplets at 15. She had both sets of triplets naturally, no fertility treatment. She is one fertile young girl but in all seriousness will someone not take her aside and tell her how NOT to make babies. I mean if she continues producing children at this rate by the time she reaches 35 she could potentially have 42 more children - given her current rate of seven children in three years.

Honestly, call me old-fashioned but to have 7 children by the age of 16 is just tragic for all concerned.

The Oscars

2008-02-25T00:19:00.002+00:00

Now, I'm so not an Oscar-watching type of gal but just sitting here in the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning and all I can say is absolutely delighted to see two REAL Irish actresses on the red carpet being interviewed by Kate Thornton, firstly, Saoirse Ronan and then Ann-Marie Duff (by proxy so to speak) with her man James McAvoy.

Also, I have to say have just seen Ruby Dee, who I had never heard off, previously, but she is 83 and looks absolutely amazing! Truly inspirational.

"She has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for her portrayal of Mama Lucas in American Gangster. She won the SAG award for the same performance. At 83 years old, Dee is currently the second oldest nominee for Best Supporting Actress, behind Gloria Stuart who was 87 for her role in Titanic. This was Dee's first nomination. It was also significant in that hers is the shortest performance (at approximately five minutes) ever to be nominated for an acting Oscar." (Wikipedia)

Photo (c) http://beautyisasbeautydoes.blogspot.com/2007/10/legendary-ms-ruby-dee.html

Unfortunately Ruby is up against Saoirse Ronan for Best Actress in a Supporting Role so I really, really hope young Saoirse wins!

Well that's that sorted!

2008-02-22T17:26:00.004+00:00

It was all sorted, I had picked out the perfect dress for the Irish Blog Awards, a beautiful pink affair like (Exhibit A below) but then I ventured over to the Awards site and was absolutely horrified to find that Sweary has decided to do the lovely "princess-cut affair in chiffon and such, and be the belle of the ball........... But underneath the chiffon creation I shall probably have on some sort of short dress type thing, which shall impress all and sundry." All this because she is sitting at Twenty's table. (or so she claims anyway!)

Exhibit A

So all of a sudden it hit me that a short dress was de rigueur, panic set in but to be fair after downing a bottle of gin and smoking a pack of fags sanity returned. I remembered clearly a chic little number I had seen recently and with a deep sigh of relief I once again knew all was good in the world. The talented K8 (I think she might be a secret top fashion stylist!) had found the perfect little outfit for me to wear, exhibit B below. Not only that but she has let slip that she won't be wearing the exact same to the Awards, as she was reconsidering the blouse - phew, once again. None of that awkward fashion faux pas stuff will be going on in Alexander. There won't be a horrific clash of the "K"s at the ceremony, more a dignified mutual nodding of heads as we swish by each other in our equally stylish but not too similiar outfits.

Exhibit B

Needless to say I have already expressed my gratitude to K8 the GR8;

"K8 - so glad you said you’re not wearing the blouse to the Blog Awards - at least that way we won’t be identical. Thank you so much for highlighting the ideal outfit for me to wear to the Awards, so thoughtful of you to get one with waders to hide my “cankles” whilst highlighting some of my best features like my substantial thighs, arse and stomach. I think you might be gifted as a fashion stylist - I shall certainly be recommending you!"

I do hope you won't all be jealous of just how stylish this gal is going be on March 1 and I just know I shall be beating the men away!

Technorati Tags: Irish Blog Awards Fashion

"Dear Penis" Song

2008-02-22T01:38:00.002+00:00

Love this!

Sleep with the Angels Little One

2008-02-20T00:01:00.002+00:00

Oh how we prayed that day
Please dear God take this away
Let this insanity not be true
We'll do anything, anything in lieu
Let him prove them wrong and our hearts be filled with joyous song

Sadly, it was not to be
For you had a different destiny
Your parents torment was hell to see
A gaping hole left in our family
Tears fall as I write this note, we never held you, our little dote

All your fingers, all your toes
Your tiny hands and button nose
So perfect in your gentle sleep
You were never ours to keep
Yours was much too short a stay, you were going a different way

But on this your very special day
We know you are not far away
You are in a peaceful place
Far away from your little white case
Sleep gentle oh dearest one, you will always be our missing ray of sun

Would love to have this done to me in real life!

2008-02-18T21:40:00.006+00:00

Yes, my ass is at least that big - if only it were this simple in real life!

Technorati Tags: Photoshop Flab to Fab

Video (c) www.extremefunnyhumor.com

Last call for the Ladies Tea Party!

2008-02-18T11:48:00.002+00:00

Sabrina & Ina are making their last call on their invitation to all of Ireland’s women bloggers to join them for Martinis and olives, (or actually tea & cakes or dinner if you prefer but I’m more a Martini gal myself!) for a few hours before the Irish Blog Awards. It will be an informal get together to meet one another, chat about women and blogging in Ireland and to make friends before the Blog Awards so you know more friendly faces in the swarm!,

It’s all happening in The Market Bar • Fade Street • Dublin 2 • (01) 6139094, From 4:30 until whenever, probably around 6:30 PM. The Market Bar is approximately 12 minutes on foot from The Alexander Hotel, where the Irish Blog Awards are taking place at 7:30 PM. Dinner is sponsored by Microsoft Ireland. The Market Bar provides free WiFi.

Dinner is free thanks to Microsoft sponsorship, which means you just need to cover your bar bill. Please RSVP by posting a comment over here at Sabrina’s so they have some idea of how large a table to book.

Wish I could be there but unfortunately I won't be able to make it - have a martini or two for me gals!

Technorati Tags: Irish Blog Awards Ladies Tea Party

Luxury Self Catering Competiton - Glengarriff Lodge

2008-02-18T00:36:00.004+00:00

Via Conor just heard about this fantastic competition where a blogger could win a luxury self catering weekend worth €1175! Glengarriff Lodge are offering a luxury self catering weekend give-away at their self catering destination with a conscience. The Lodge is a luxury self-catering villa nestled in the ancient oak woods of Glengarriff, County Cork.

A former hunting lodge of the Earls of Bantry and situated on its own private island in the Glengarriff River, this thatched haven offers a rare opportunity to enjoy an absolutely pristine setting in complete privacy and comfort. It was completely renovated in 2006 and now boasts a tasteful combination of historic charm and modern luxury, with accommodation for up to eight people in four double bedrooms with three ensuite.

Looking at their website the lodge looks totally amazing and, I for one, would absolutely love to win the weekend. It looks like the ideal retreat, set in a fantastic setting! Of course for my money I'd bet that Manicmammy, Avoiding Life or JL Pagano wouldn't say no to winning a luxury self catering holiday either and might well be interested in entering the competition too!

Technorati Tags: Luxury Self Catering Glengarriff Lodge Eco-friendly and sustainable West Cork Blogging Competition

Let's have some dignity and keep Dustin an in-joke!

2008-02-17T02:03:00.005+00:00

Ok, so most people think the Eurovision has in recent years become both a joke and a political nonsense, that's a given. Whilst I can see the funny side of Dustin the Turkey ending up as a possible runner to be the Irish contender at the next Eurovision I think that that is where it should end - an Irish piss-take, within Ireland. Internationally, what is to be gained by us making a complete mockery of the Eurovision. I'm no fan of the Eurovision but the way I see it is, if it was good enough for us to bust ourselves to win for years, it is good enough to treat with a bit of respect. Let's not make ourselves arrogant, cocky and above-it-all. It's not that long since we were far from above trying to win the contest and hopefully sense will prevail and we won't make complete cocks (excuse the pun) of ourselves on the international stage.

Technorati Tags: Eurovision Dustin the turkey

Photo (c) RTE