tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-880093061581392282024-03-13T21:44:03.864-07:00Cast a Bold eyeMari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-76278613557639599472015-09-07T07:44:00.000-07:002015-09-07T07:44:31.098-07:00Electric Picnic 2015Six picnics on, Electric P has metamorphosed into a compulsion - a contortion of hassle and fun, wierdness and wonder, irritation and pure craic. <br />
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The highlight of the weekend for me was <b>Bob Geldof's</b> (and <b>The Boomtown Rats) </b>frantic performance, all grey tossled head, gyrating and lepping all over the stage, with fab renditions of <i>Rattrap. Don't Like Mondays, Mary of the Fourth Form, Looking after Number One </i>and more. Afterwards, Bob chatted to the audience in the Hot Press Tent, a more relaxed version of his usual politically charged self as he reflected on his musical backstory, forty years on. <br />
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A bunch of student from Trinity College, the <b>Trinitones, </b>gave fab versions of Beatles and Black-Eyed Peas on the Salty Dog stage.<br />
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<b>Joe Rooney, </b>was his usual hilarious self in the Comedy Tent.<br />
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<b>Ann Enright, </b>(Booker winner for <i>The Gathering</i>), <b>Mary Costello </b>(<i>The China Factory, Academy Street) </i>were interviewed in the Literary Tent by <i> </i>journalist <b>Sinead Gleeson </b> about the short story form and both read recent short stories.<br />
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<b>George Ezra </b>gave a wildly ecstatic crowd <i>Budapest, Blame it on Me </i>and <i>Listen to the Man.</i><b><br /></b><br />
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<b>Dublin Gospel Choir </b>performed their usual Sunday morning wake up call, with fantastic versions of Stevie Wonder's <i>Masterblaster </i>and <i>Sir Duke, </i>amongst others.<br />
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<b>Miriam O Callaghan </b>interviewed <b>John Banville</b> (Booker winner for <i>The Sea), </i><b>Colum McCann</b> (<i>Let the Great World Spin) </i>and <b>Paul Muldoon</b> (<i>several poetry collections) </i>about their relationships with their fathers. <br />
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Just caught a glimpse of <b>George Hook </b>as he finished his talk on his teenhood experience dating girls (too much information, George) in the Newstalk tent. <b> </b><br />
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Would love to say that a photographer was grabbing a quick snap of me, but sadly not.<br />
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Tickets for EP 2016 go on sale on Friday. <br />
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-21174753668319862022014-09-01T03:05:00.001-07:002014-09-01T03:06:47.683-07:00Electric Picnic 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Each time I go I tell myself: this is it, my LAST Electric Picnic. This year was no different. 41,000 punters (biggest crowd ever) made for a lot of queuing - a very unpopular activity. Mindfield, for the second year in a row was without the usual packed line-up of novelists and poets. Two things that should be enough to keep me away. <br />
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Still, <b>Debbie Harry</b> (<b>Blondie</b>) chatted to us in the Hot Press tent. <br />
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<b>Kevin Godley</b> of seminal 70's band <b>10cc</b>, told us about his music production app www.wholeworldband.com - free to download, which allows anyone produce their own music online. <br />
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In the comedy tent, <b>David McSavage</b> was as frightening as ever, his mimicry of Gerry Adams, in particular, raising the roof.<br />
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A selection of bands from my formative years kept me in the front row of the Main Stage.<br />
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Seventies punk-rock band, <b>The Stranglers, </b>thrilled with classics such as 'No More Heroes' and 'Golden Brown' and particularly wonderful was their billing slot - 2pm - allowing this punter to enjoy them at a respectably early time!<br />
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<b>Sinead O Connor </b>was in fine form, belting out 'Emperor's New Clothes' and 'Take me to Church' but sadly for me, no "Nothing Compares." Still, she had her lovely daughter Roisin on stage and they sang a fabulous ballad together - surreal moment.<br />
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<b>Simple Minds </b>took me back years and good old <b>Jim Kerr (</b>although his voice is not as strong as it used to be but at 55 years of age he has to be forgiven) belted out his anthems: 'Don't you forget about me' and appropriately titled for all of us still giving it a lash: 'Alive and Kicking'.<br />
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I dropped in to see the anarchic <b>Rubberbandits </b>whose madcap set had a sort of unnerving aura - their song 'Spoiling Ivan' made me a tad uncomfortable - the desired affect, I suppose. <br />
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And a great sounding Cambridge electronic band, recommended by the teenagers in my house, <b>Clean Bandit</b>, whose catchy song 'Nowhere I'd Rather Be' was an anthem for the weekend. <br />
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As always, just being at EP is fun in itself:<br />
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especially when you spot a lampshade in a colour you were looking out for in ages,<br />
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or two Gardai whizz past you on bikes<br />
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or the sign over Body & Soul <br />
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or a legend puts his trademark stamp on it all.<br />
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The tickets for 2015 go on sale today.<br />
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As they say where I come from: 'No Comment'.<br />
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-21789362369765056502013-09-02T05:15:00.000-07:002013-09-02T05:16:37.268-07:00Electric Picnic 2013One thought before I let the photographs tell it all:<br />
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Mindfield (The literary and reading section) was duller, apart from a couple of exceptions, lacking the oomph of previous years, minus a few familiar faces or even some new ones I thought should/could/might have made an appearance. Perhaps the new management are pitching the festival more towards the music/younger end of the market - the selling out of 35,000 tickets would indicate a commercial success. If Mindfield continues to shed dynamic in terms of variety and calibre of writers/performers, they will lose at least ONE punter - and that should really worry the management-(as the younger generation would say) LOL.<br />
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Inch by inch I got there - thirteen thousand extra punters does make a difference to the journey.</div>
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On the way to the main arena, red umbrellas instead of red carpet.</div>
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Stradbally Hall, in the near distance, allows the Cosby family (owners of the land) to keep an eye on proceedings.<br />
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Stuart Carolan (creator of RTE crime drama <strong>Love/Hate) </strong>and actor Aidan Gillen held court on Literary Stage. AG read a Seamus Heaney poem. They talked about their working life -AG said he often felt like "walking away" from it all.<br />
A question to SC - "Have you had any reaction to Love/Hate from the criminal world?" SC shifted around on his seat and after at least 20 seconds averting his eyes told the spellbound audience he had indeed got 'enquiries' as to whether he had inside information, so accurate was his portrayal in <strong>Love/Hate</strong> of a particular crime. <br />
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The Poetry Divas strutted their stuff on Sunday morning, telling us about shoes so high and narrow, they gather your toes and cause you to totter, about the Irish using swearing as punctuation, about shopping for jeans and seeing "an infinity of huge arses" in the boutique fitting room angled mirrors, about a passion for a red headed man. In the row in front me, three young men snoozed and rested, obviously recovering from the night before. Watching their reaction as they woke up(open mouths, wide eyes and eventual guffaws) to the sight and sound of a poem about breasts and the various names they are called - hooters, brad pitts, fried eggs, melons, with photographs to illustrate, was as entertaining as the poem itself. <br />
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Musical highlights were English band and performers of the classic "Five years Time": Noah and the Whale</div>
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Daithi - a finalist in the All Ireland Talent show - proving once more you do not have to win a competition to go on to a successful career. The Strypes, a hugely praised young band from Cavan, showed their talent - even though their sound was a tad over-produced and frantic for me.<br />
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And the Dublin Gospel Choir who fabulously roused the Sunday morning crowd with songs such as Beyoncé (Crazy in Love) David Guetta (Titanium) and Queen (Somebody to Love)<br />
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The washing machine installation to remind me of all that work building up at home while I was off roaming the fields in Stradbally.<br />
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As before the weather obliged - blue skies, thankfully, most of the time.</div>
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The weekend was overseen by the loftiest and most influential participant of all.</div>
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Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-1664664415142094832013-08-01T04:44:00.000-07:002013-08-01T10:15:37.423-07:00No Added Salt, Sugar, or Fat, BreadRecipes are not my forte. I am not one of those lucky people who derives comfort and pleasure from culinary activities. Cooking and baking are duties, not hobbies. However, in these days of salt, sugar and fat-loaded EVERYTHING, I really want to share a recipe. (Makes FOUR loaves at the one time, so you are also saving on electricity.)<br />
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Two Pounds of Wholemeal Flour</div>
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8 Ounces of Pinhead Oatmeal</div>
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4 Ounces of Wheatgerm</div>
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4 Teaspoons of Bread Soda</div>
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4 Large Eggs</div>
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40 Fluid Ounces</div>
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of Buttermilk</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHbokHIDrWLUkP4Ml2NI6uzxrysxRCcu8OQpTbyM1qEnB6YYBzs7OVZ5VFZXGZgTOyj2WhZZ5baSGhYJDckuT2uuF2eyPRyFtAgVQPzBac0L2_IoKkIJ8ByG002QSWirHTBN3vhAQXvE/s1600/P7300002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHbokHIDrWLUkP4Ml2NI6uzxrysxRCcu8OQpTbyM1qEnB6YYBzs7OVZ5VFZXGZgTOyj2WhZZ5baSGhYJDckuT2uuF2eyPRyFtAgVQPzBac0L2_IoKkIJ8ByG002QSWirHTBN3vhAQXvE/s320/P7300002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> P<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">re-heat oven to 190 degrees Centigrade</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl</span></div>
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Rub out all lumps from the baking soda before adding.<br />
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Add all the wet ingredients and stir well.</div>
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Pour the mixture into four greased loaf tins and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.</div>
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Bake in the middle shelf of oven for 55 minutes<br />
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Wrap in a tea towel and allow to cool for a few hours before wrapping in cling film and placing (three loaves) in the freezer.<br />
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Of course, you keep one out to sample immediately.<br />
Bon Appetit!</div>
Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-18571506528697781972013-07-04T13:05:00.000-07:002013-07-04T13:21:36.985-07:00I Love YouTube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="225" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSp5husfwLMDvZccGKHxb8B7OmzTuyFqrVa3AoHmJDSUm6IGZZrlA" style="height: 225px; width: 225px;" width="225" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since February 2005 when three former PayPal employees created the video-sharing website, YouTube, the way we view has utterly changed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As well as its massive popularity as a way to access music videos (YouTube clip of South Korean Psy's <em>Gangnam Style </em>has been viewed <strong>1.7 billion</strong> times)</span><br />
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<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=JSWTDp9o6GvAKM&tbnid=xzurR16vjCm_-M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstyle.mtv.com%2F2012%2F08%2F30%2Fpsy-gangnam-style-music-video%2F&ei=18zVUaeUNOXm7AbZz4GYBA&psig=AFQjCNGhh0F9-7CaU5C21vI0Araf26ZjXQ&ust=1373052503928911" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="440" id="irc_mi" src="http://style.mtv.com//wp-content/uploads/style/2012/08/psy-gangnam-style-8.jpg" style="margin-top: 83px;" width="576" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> YouTube is now proving more popular than television as it allows <em>selective</em> viewing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So for those of us who would rather do just about <em>anything </em>than sit through some of Ireland's so-called chat shows (sorry, RTE) the best bits can be viewed on good old YouTube.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> instead of having to sit through a full programme.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">So when I heard that the Saturday Night Show had featured <strong>Linda Martin</strong> doing a version of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Daft Punk</strong>'s fabulous summer hit <em>Get Lucky </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=j8NLjLeUXhAsyM&tbnid=aTMisa4Lt6FTKM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fnews%2F1558833%2Fdaft-punk-releases-official-get-lucky-single&ei=RM7VUY-rEeee7AbtyIHgBQ&psig=AFQjCNGguvQJtKeOaN0XF7C0z8y-rY2U5g&ust=1373052868358916" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="430" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/daft-punk-pharrell-650-430.jpg" style="margin-top: 88px;" width="650" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and better still, she was getting roasted for her version, I <strong>had</strong> to see for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nZYQluJW-dM" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If there's anything I like more than being able to select the bits of telly I want to watch, it's being able to select those bits of telly that show women of a certain age refusing to 'go gentle into that good night.' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, it's not a great version of the song, but still....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You Go, Linda!</span></div>
Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-49447662807172882842013-06-05T02:19:00.001-07:002013-06-05T02:19:07.790-07:00Saying 'Goodbye' to my car of thirteen years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv0XVZAarB_mQ9ExtFmwOUBdah2ZneAAGOtt6VM5OP0WMBW4TrWqFVCcJFjg8FLndfde7CBlWl0DLE8U-1INQvpH1y3zRwqDjedrK44dqPbiphqFLamRpPr7UwiGV49S02kP4JaMsDm8/s1600/20130601_100438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv0XVZAarB_mQ9ExtFmwOUBdah2ZneAAGOtt6VM5OP0WMBW4TrWqFVCcJFjg8FLndfde7CBlWl0DLE8U-1INQvpH1y3zRwqDjedrK44dqPbiphqFLamRpPr7UwiGV49S02kP4JaMsDm8/s320/20130601_100438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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A relationship of thirteen years spans a range of life events. Parting is sorrowful. Okay, so my car is not human. But often I felt as if my little Suzuki Swift was a physical extension of me. Another foot maybe. She even had a name - Suzy. </div>
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A special privacy was achieved in the solitude of my car. </div>
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In the quietness of my little space, worries were analysed, plans formulated, stories hatched. Suzy saw the arrival of my daughter, now twelve, as well as family bereavements. She was my reliable steed during house moves, as I stuffed her little interior to the brim with furniture and fittings. She loyally transported me to readings, music sessions, meetings, festivals, supermarkets, job interviews, study days, book launches, visiting relatives, hospital appointments, schools, football matches, weddings, funerals, holidays. A constant in my life for thirteen long years.</div>
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Together we sped the roads of Kildare.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr2vTSS3wO2BWl8sqnoJKB3STqYOO-xyZzVOQs-pemNYBUmESatUi5k-t4iPIqzKuAwKJ1S5sgVxwv61EYD4LPFK6XjfDlkS625B8XzkePLSnPbYmkXdb2imcsvng5qFvZUTk5_iZcrg/s1600/20130601_100103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr2vTSS3wO2BWl8sqnoJKB3STqYOO-xyZzVOQs-pemNYBUmESatUi5k-t4iPIqzKuAwKJ1S5sgVxwv61EYD4LPFK6XjfDlkS625B8XzkePLSnPbYmkXdb2imcsvng5qFvZUTk5_iZcrg/s320/20130601_100103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And now as she leaves me to start a new chapter in her life, I say 'Goodbye' to Suzy.</div>
Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-1856533660179921082013-05-09T04:22:00.000-07:002013-05-09T05:09:49.943-07:00Gone Girl: Super Yarn, Dud Ending.Having noted its aeons-long presence on the bestseller list and its ubiquity in the prime position on every bookshelf in the country and resolutely determined not to follow the crowd and just buy it because everyone else has, (a la <em>Fifty Shades of Grey)</em> curiosity eventually wore me down. The first line helped too: "<em>When I think of my wife, I always think of her head. The shape of it, to begin with."</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQD4DXqbb814XR_oG1eaGkPeDIz-1PlHq-autAtYEK3oEbVTEemMH2Qy8yrYV8LdYX-aA4inxND9OyJbS4cw3DS7O-D3VjGqSMT6PAVtcNLWSQdLit-mjjfCw-Mne5a-I9X9vxfy_UY/s1600/P5080002%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQD4DXqbb814XR_oG1eaGkPeDIz-1PlHq-autAtYEK3oEbVTEemMH2Qy8yrYV8LdYX-aA4inxND9OyJbS4cw3DS7O-D3VjGqSMT6PAVtcNLWSQdLit-mjjfCw-Mne5a-I9X9vxfy_UY/s1600/P5080002%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></div>
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<strong>Gillian Flynn, </strong> former <em>Entertainment Weekly </em>writer and critic and author of two previous novels, has not only created a bang up to date, financial crisis and all, study of the dissolution of a marriage in <em>Gone Girl, </em>she has also written a novel that while I was reading, I thought:</div>
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If I was ever to write a novel, this is the one I'd want it to be most like.</div>
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Not just because it's sold millions of copies worldwide and is now being made into a movie but because I could <em>see,</em> <em>hear </em>and <em>smell </em> Flynn's characters, the detail was so apt and accurate. </div>
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<em></em> </div>
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Notwithstanding the dud ending that made me want to hurl <em>Gone Girl </em>against the wall, I remained glued and compelled until I got to its implausible, thrown together conclusion.</div>
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<strong>Gillian Flynn, <img height="409" id="irc_mi" src="http://gillian-flynn.com/about-gillian/gillian-flynn.jpg" style="margin-top: 99px;" width="324" /></strong></div>
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if you're reading this, I demand an ending re-write.</div>
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Before that ending, though, she<em> </em>mixes insights on the complexities of marriage into a tense thriller using an original, accessible writing style. Thrill-lit, maybe? </div>
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Lines I loved:</div>
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"<em>We were the first human beings who would never see anything for the first time."</em></div>
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Nick Dunne, husband, on the impact of the internet.</div>
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"<em>I'd fallen in love with Amy because I was the ultimate Nick with her. Loving her made me superhuman, it made me feel alive."</em></div>
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Nick Dunne's on his wife when they got married. </div>
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<em>"She's a cool girl. Men always say that as <strong>the </strong>defining compliment, don't they? Being the Cool Girl means I am a hot, brilliant, funny woman who adores football, poker, dirty jokes, and burping, who plays video games, loves threesomes and anal sex, and jams hot dogs into her mouth."</em></div>
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Amy Elliott Dunne's version of her husband's impression of her when they got married.</div>
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"<em>Can you imagine, finally showing your true self to our spouse, your soul mate, and having him <strong>not like you? </strong>That's how the hating first began."</em></div>
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Amy Elliott Dunne's diary entry on the day she disappeared.</div>
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<span id="goog_1252300507"></span><span id="goog_1252300508"></span> </div>
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<em>"Most beautiful, good things are done by women people scorn."</em></div>
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Amy Elliott Dunne on the family 'menial' jobs done by women such as planning holidays and children's birthdays</div>
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If you're one of the millions who read <em>Gone Girl, w</em>hat did you think?<em> </em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em></em> </div>
Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-45336681601617542942013-04-06T12:38:00.001-07:002013-04-06T12:38:41.600-07:00Waiting in Orlando, Florida<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdU3_2XPAbuwjRnINdchjjPb75tHO0sNkgWYPcTtsEb4eydlef-u2rfgawTB6B0rNYLHq57HSkoEWioWSg7FTd1fAofEoS3ph8Iwk8i_mMuvzSH_-lhoF655IJYgQ6lKr9IEH3rpdGXYs/s1600/20130326_174421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdU3_2XPAbuwjRnINdchjjPb75tHO0sNkgWYPcTtsEb4eydlef-u2rfgawTB6B0rNYLHq57HSkoEWioWSg7FTd1fAofEoS3ph8Iwk8i_mMuvzSH_-lhoF655IJYgQ6lKr9IEH3rpdGXYs/s320/20130326_174421.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
A study somewhere suggests that the average adult spends the equivalent of a year waiting in a queue.<br />
I won't risk guessing how much of our one week visit over Easter to Orlando, Florida, USA, was spent waiting in line. Lines at coffee shops - fifteen minutes, fast food outlets - forty five minutes, restaurants - twenty minutes, restrooms - ten minutes. The most memorable, though, was the line inside <strong>The Wizarding World of Harry Potter</strong>, on the way to <br />
Hogwarts. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RDoTZ9wpqSnGrzQF-6JaWD9i-lo0wDqmXW6JzMN6tjVc7xjsMSZTaOsSl5ZI8pTjWGxT_KsBIlJg6lomBCoMU2BY6pNBtG3t8FeA3TtHGG_9aPdVkx4yid7YTOhPGx65Oszazvz3To8/s1600/P3260032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RDoTZ9wpqSnGrzQF-6JaWD9i-lo0wDqmXW6JzMN6tjVc7xjsMSZTaOsSl5ZI8pTjWGxT_KsBIlJg6lomBCoMU2BY6pNBtG3t8FeA3TtHGG_9aPdVkx4yid7YTOhPGx65Oszazvz3To8/s320/P3260032.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-f0_KqH1v7TGCV2sqeUF7DwrjHgOOInDJLtIC1bQjjAdj3QdOne9GKd9RDtukAYlqI3ARcyyBrJC36EP1TSd515Mc5AqUsUAb8eK4rWH9x3JBiNf8ZktvhlhxVFmSfBNHvaplKR3gsg/s1600/P3260031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-f0_KqH1v7TGCV2sqeUF7DwrjHgOOInDJLtIC1bQjjAdj3QdOne9GKd9RDtukAYlqI3ARcyyBrJC36EP1TSd515Mc5AqUsUAb8eK4rWH9x3JBiNf8ZktvhlhxVFmSfBNHvaplKR3gsg/s320/P3260031.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9ZODCdkIGTHz9kwZnEwP-gSOCS3rGm7Zyi7m0o3EPM4ufHrtefbayeYRr1jejITc2MfRCMg6n4D9NEiDz6U73GuUXmkVLcHCqywirzzNRbuXTTQOixHvttOPOVC7CQKP2wDUlN3uV8c/s1600/P3260028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9ZODCdkIGTHz9kwZnEwP-gSOCS3rGm7Zyi7m0o3EPM4ufHrtefbayeYRr1jejITc2MfRCMg6n4D9NEiDz6U73GuUXmkVLcHCqywirzzNRbuXTTQOixHvttOPOVC7CQKP2wDUlN3uV8c/s320/P3260028.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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As we moved slowly along,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw911NWU9qc-A5iDcx_8UoolkoArhdWz5aXPXx4eVTW5DzDpDefkfW7gs9zvV6r6-VPdCzKwNrqdJyU8i3jHu3eyf37cYDbxGNBGmTu79JianbtaJu_3XL5RfGsX-MzfQgotU_Ida6GjI/s1600/P3260032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw911NWU9qc-A5iDcx_8UoolkoArhdWz5aXPXx4eVTW5DzDpDefkfW7gs9zvV6r6-VPdCzKwNrqdJyU8i3jHu3eyf37cYDbxGNBGmTu79JianbtaJu_3XL5RfGsX-MzfQgotU_Ida6GjI/s320/P3260032.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
contemplating how Harry never had to wait this long to get into his beloved boarding school, I admit the two hours did fly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7OxC3G7Nmhyphenhyphena_y9Jm4vlDg3ENSBwf1AeP7r8x2XKCTJbKksBzpsy3A7f1Yl9edqIo2uHj5JPLvDFY3IdGcdi86mdxYMs1iNd0WXm7p7xjj37YC12FGiqmVPGWvL4KjBSkIZG40mwm3M/s1600/20130326_130300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7OxC3G7Nmhyphenhyphena_y9Jm4vlDg3ENSBwf1AeP7r8x2XKCTJbKksBzpsy3A7f1Yl9edqIo2uHj5JPLvDFY3IdGcdi86mdxYMs1iNd0WXm7p7xjj37YC12FGiqmVPGWvL4KjBSkIZG40mwm3M/s320/20130326_130300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYHlpVPPRxFrVxCFuWGQQLlBI9wzgc2m9L9Uum5ayJxZD5SQipkYGhx-vDtc6A4PWSAUgbV5n7qdEe0bWZOp9k3bvXKD4WAb5pdvAIPj6Ymw_e1eHKZxNyZP89ojCWqjiIvjp6qS8qYk/s1600/20130326_130232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYHlpVPPRxFrVxCFuWGQQLlBI9wzgc2m9L9Uum5ayJxZD5SQipkYGhx-vDtc6A4PWSAUgbV5n7qdEe0bWZOp9k3bvXKD4WAb5pdvAIPj6Ymw_e1eHKZxNyZP89ojCWqjiIvjp6qS8qYk/s320/20130326_130232.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
When finally we got there, five minutes later, we were outside again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DXAM6xRb3hQu_FqZK7FFe0VD7kXxAOvO5BYIXbXgCFcV5srBhLYRp3B2RtHUCWAva61LnhcgaBJqixQh8yQ65EnlA1dXUGD5BsHN5qOsyEnYPTVijXYodwaFhJwdouou-oKnVbw3ZZ4/s1600/P3250018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DXAM6xRb3hQu_FqZK7FFe0VD7kXxAOvO5BYIXbXgCFcV5srBhLYRp3B2RtHUCWAva61LnhcgaBJqixQh8yQ65EnlA1dXUGD5BsHN5qOsyEnYPTVijXYodwaFhJwdouou-oKnVbw3ZZ4/s320/P3250018.JPG" width="320" /></a>All the queuing aside, you would have to be spilling over with mean spiritedness not to be infected with wonder at the spectacle of the Orlando Theme Parks.</div>
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The colourful underwater life </div>
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and the dolphin shows<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB9FmhpiQRwSOTFGhcMaRrrU4K45TTH-j5GoBT2TUbGi90H3QqZx6ofdedEM-BHVUPW9nG2Ma2k5yOnbhYuog0XGPfsi5_Rfvfasdu80Hbz_qWA3ZSra7_YbO_TBIUdzMl2INR5IXUC8/s1600/20130325_153732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB9FmhpiQRwSOTFGhcMaRrrU4K45TTH-j5GoBT2TUbGi90H3QqZx6ofdedEM-BHVUPW9nG2Ma2k5yOnbhYuog0XGPfsi5_Rfvfasdu80Hbz_qWA3ZSra7_YbO_TBIUdzMl2INR5IXUC8/s320/20130325_153732.jpg" width="240" /></a></strong></div>
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at <strong>Sea World.</strong><br />
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The madcap Horror Make up Show at <strong>Universal Studios</strong> that was more comedy than horror,<br />
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While sitting out on a grass verge, I watched the world go by and eavesdropped (nosey person that I am) conversations, mostly people arguing about what they wanted to do next, such is the hugeness of activity choice. <br />
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The hilarious Simpsons ride, on which I did venture, only to be mistaken by Maggie for a soother, and be vigourously chewed.<br />
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Fantastic break dance displays by Streetbreakz.<br />
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The stunning <strong>Aquatica,</strong> where man made beaches and endless water slides entertained my fellow travellers and allowed me to do what I enjoy most -<br />
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put my feet up and savour the greatness of <strong>Lorrie Moore's </strong><em>Birds of America</em></div>
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-42581836256603421222013-03-11T04:29:00.000-07:002013-03-11T04:29:12.509-07:00Feminism - RIP?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If Feminism is about equality and choice, then why are young women more insecure than ever? I would have thought that by now, the whole how you dress thing would be the very least feminism would have sorted out. As never before young girls are being targetted and influenced by images giving them the message - the less you wear the more attention you will get and your looks are the only thing that matter about you - whah?</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=PQplWpTb02ke4M&tbnid=SimZGUZ0c_HntM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flive.drjays.com%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F09%2F29%2Fdid-rihanna-really-need-to-goes-topless-while-filming-her-we-found-love-video-in-ireland%2F&ei=or49Ud-TK4uA7Qae94G4BQ&psig=AFQjCNGc7L-V4VybcVFqmYgZ3dO7LnmD3Q&ust=1363087394776078" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="639" id="irc_mi" src="http://live.drjays.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Topless-Rihanna-Films-Video-in-Ireland-5-733x1024.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="422" /></a></div>
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The message in a <strong>Dove (</strong>skin products) clip posted on <strong>Brigid O'Connor's</strong> lovely blog <a href="http://sortofwriting.blogspot.ie/2013/01/all-that-glisters-is-not-gold.html">here</a></div>
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has been going around in my head for weeks. (Just in case you can't access, it highlights images of perfect female bodies, cosmetic surgery and the pressures imposed by the beauty industry as witnessed by a young girl) </div>
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And if I needed convincing just how up close and personal this pressure is, my recent experience of my eleven year old daughter's venture to the local GAA junior disco, certainly did the job. "But everyone dresses like that," was the response to my protest at the micro shorts and t-shirt. Sure enough, a queue of bare, shivering, calf-like legs lined outside the clubhouse entrance. Each young girl dressed (or not, if you prefer) identically. The starkest contrast was the young male apparel - everyday jeans and football shirts - pressure certainly not equal here.</div>
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In <em>Raising Girls, </em>Australian author <strong>Steve Biddulph </strong>writes a chapter on 'Too sexy, too soon'</div>
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"The aim of advertising is to attack your mental health - to worry you and make you discontent. If you want to sell products to a girl, whether she is 4 or 14, you first have to make her insecure - about her looks, friends, clothes, weight, skin and hair. Everything about her is an opportunity to fail."</div>
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Biddulph offers sound advice to mothers for helping their daughters resist the onslaught of commercial interests, including no telly in bedrooms and talking a lot to them instead of them relying on soaps and rom-coms for influence and information.</div>
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Mind you, I need a bit of a reminding myself on how to stay strong in the face of it all.</div>
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I'm hoping <strong>Clarissa Pinkola Estes'</strong> much praised book will help.</div>
<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-82884572604508884632013-02-01T13:53:00.001-08:002013-02-01T16:11:25.160-08:00There's a Great Stretch in the Evenings<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=iF_bhWOFPicPeM&tbnid=3K9Z96GrvUOYsM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhandsonblog.org%2F2012%2F03%2F20%2Fspring-has-sprung-its-time-to-volunteer%2F&ei=FjQMUZidL9K7hAe5lYGAAQ&psig=AFQjCNHDMxHfold05Z2lO1-MDqouaTiK3A&ust=1359840662822635" id="irc_mil" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px;"><img height="347" id="irc_mi" src="http://handsonblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/spring_is_here.gif" style="margin-top: 165px;" width="450" /></a><a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=iF_bhWOFPicPeM&tbnid=3K9Z96GrvUOYsM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhandsonblog.org%2F2012%2F03%2F20%2Fspring-has-sprung-its-time-to-volunteer%2F&ei=FjQMUZidL9K7hAe5lYGAAQ&psig=AFQjCNHDMxHfold05Z2lO1-MDqouaTiK3A&ust=1359840662822635" id="irc_mil" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px;"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Of all the Irish sayings, the title of my blog post is the one that lifts my heart the most.<br /><br />There is such optimism in the air right now. The feeling that we've survived the worst of the winter and are safely the other side of that chilly season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even if the rest of the northern hemisphere think the first day of Spring falls on March 21st, the reality is, we really like to get ahead in Ireland and declare the 1st of February, the first day of Spring.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=aM8l7iuHoU3G6M&tbnid=35tZzHwGE7Xo5M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforthefainthearted.com%2F2012%2F02%2F01%2Fwhy-today-is-the-first-day-of-spring%2F&ei=SzUMUfiZBc61hAeKtYHwDA&psig=AFQjCNFoPPUQuBp5LgGDEwWzLFEWE0YYFw&ust=1359840971149341" id="irc_mil" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img height="453" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.forthefainthearted.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/n734217561_1211793_194.jpg" style="margin-top: 112px;" width="604" /></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever about the coldness yet of the days, the extra light makes all the difference - that great stretch in the evenings.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJbkoI_Brad8uOA9tjSwpVXg1-JblNHzHQcqKJbfKMkVUgWzMQv4RSVCk01oT8MmXMFUBkD2KEn2U6knHZAQPohELot-esb2qBypjkge4ALN3L7672Pv00Hj76tKPwA4gn-GOLPZa1rE/s1600/P1230083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJbkoI_Brad8uOA9tjSwpVXg1-JblNHzHQcqKJbfKMkVUgWzMQv4RSVCk01oT8MmXMFUBkD2KEn2U6knHZAQPohELot-esb2qBypjkge4ALN3L7672Pv00Hj76tKPwA4gn-GOLPZa1rE/s320/P1230083.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br /><br /><span id="goog_70530903"></span><span id="goog_70530904"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">And down the road from me, I spotted some green shoots.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even super poet, <strong>Emily Dickinson, </strong>had some upbeat feelings about Spring:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>A Light exists in Spring<br />Not present on the Year<br />At any other period —<br />When March is scarcely here<br /><br />A Color stands abroad<br />On Solitary Fields<br />That Science cannot overtake<br />But Human Nature feels.<br /><br />It waits upon the Lawn,<br />It shows the furthest Tree<br />Upon the furthest Slope you know<br />It almost speaks to you.</em><br /> </span> </span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-93116264818897222013-01-01T16:38:00.000-08:002013-01-01T16:40:40.860-08:00New Year and Film BloatIt seems sad to admit that lately, one of the deciders for me when choosing a movie is its length. For example, <em>The Hobbit's</em> backside numbing, twitch inducing three hour length, has kept me firmly away.<br />
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<em>Les Miserables </em>ties us to our seats for over two and half hours - not too appealing.<br />
And most of the movies I've seen over the last few years have stretched to two hours and over. Can it take that long to communicate a story? I think not. <br />
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It's a relief then to know I'm not alone in thinking that movies are being stretched beyond human endurance. <strong>The National Association of Theatre Owners, </strong>which represents 28,000 cinemas in America, calls for reduction in "film bloat" and wants to get back to the <strong>Alfred Hitchcock </strong>dictum: <br />
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"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder."<br />
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I couldn't agree more.<br />
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With all this in mind, <em>Parental Guidance </em><br />
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<em><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZslg-0pfQeE3JzpJ1FK4OOglwieveBCm-G2jb8BkxTo7k9slrRQ" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /></em><br />
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starring <strong>Billy Crystal</strong> and <strong>Bette Midler</strong><br />
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was the choice for a <strong>New Year's Day</strong> family trip (today) and while it was fun - mostly thanks to Mr Crystal's rapid, deadpan one-liners, but ultimately forgetteable, the best bit was the neat 105 mins.<br />
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<strong>Happy New Year!</strong><br />
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-36418320214669215182012-12-03T04:46:00.002-08:002012-12-03T05:16:28.112-08:00J K Rowling's Casual Vacancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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J.K. Rowling's offering of adult fiction was an irresistible draw.<br />
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After the unmatcheable magic (oops) of the Harry Potter series, with its well rounded, believeable characters who grew darker and more mature as their readers grew up, (or just grew older in my case) I wondered whether J.K. could possibly write any sort of story without resisting the temptation to inject a bit of surreality.</div>
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Such as Ron Weasley receiving a <em>howler</em> from his mother when he drives his dad's car (without permission) through the sky to school. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eQUA3jZTdanz2YG5avhsYw">here</a></div>
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Or facing your demons by waving your wand and chanting <em>riddikulus - </em>your tormentor is suddenly dressed in a silly dress and floppy hat, thereby reducing their power to terrorise you. <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Boggart-Banishing_Spell">here</a></div>
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During a recent television interview, J.K. admitted that she wrote <em>The Casual Vacancy </em> without the pressure of having to conform to any standard or genre, the success of Harry Potter having left her financially comfortable enough to experiment, and relaxed enough by her literary achievements not to get overly panicked if her adult writing flopped. </div>
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My thought as I ploughed through the first two hundred pages with its myriad of characters was, J.K., are you trying to emulate <em>Angela's Ashes </em>for misery lit?</div>
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Yet, I couldn't stop reading about Pagford with its snobbery, domestic violence, dysfunctional families, bullying, drug addiction, unhappy marriages and political rivalry. Despite, the roving point of view and lack of central character, <em>The Casual Vacancy</em> works, simply by letting you feel as if you are a fly on the wall, looking into every character's mind and recognising someone you know in each and every one. </div>
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<em>The Casual Vacancy</em><strong> </strong>is singularly without the magic of J.K. Rowling's children's writing but that doesn't stop it from being a surreal piece of realism.</div>
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-65104605535266752002012-11-03T14:08:00.000-07:002012-11-03T14:08:05.193-07:00The influence of Katie Taylor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="The woman from Bray is now an Olympic champion, a four-time world champion, and a five-time European champion" class="article-main-image" src="http://img.rasset.ie/00063fbb-642.jpg" /></div>
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One of the highlights of this summer was <strong>Katie Taylor's</strong></div>
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historically awe-inspiring win in <strong>London 2012 Olympics.</strong></div>
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While I've never been a fan of boxing - it's just too close to blatantly violent behaviour for me - it's hard not to be a serious fan of Katie and the determination, zeal and all round Amazonian brilliance of the woman. Yes, truly, a refreshing role model.</div>
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Therefore when this item appeared on the "pester list" over the summer in our house, there didn't seem to be a whole pile of reasons (thank you <strong>Argos </strong>for making it cheaply possible) not to succumb. Some dodgy drilling and a lot of grunting and lifting and there it was - on the wall of our front room. </div>
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And the violence is vented on a punchbag rather than a person.</div>
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Boxing gloves and all, it's keeping a few of the bored members of the family occupied. </div>
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Even women who should, at this stage, have more sense, are having a go.</div>
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A fine way to vent some frustration.</div>
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Katie, you have a lot to answer for.</div>
<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-72097625059463683002012-10-01T05:32:00.000-07:002012-10-01T16:21:59.964-07:00Fifty shades of books I couldn't finish.<br />
I often wonder about books I've <em>tried</em> to read but couldn't and what that says about me as a reader.<br />
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So hit me, I'm a philistine, but reading <em>Ulysses</em> felt a bit like pushing boulder up a hill. After all the effort, the boulder rolled back down and I was back where I started.<br />
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<img height="500" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EI4447KsL.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="336" /><br />
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Well, I did try. Laboured. Swam my way through all <em>Tolstoy's</em> dense, tortuous detail of family trees and character background and surrendered after the second chapter.<br />
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<img alt="The Master" height="215" src="http://cache0.bdcdn.net/assets/images/book/medium/9780/3304/9780330485661.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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I know, I know. He's a fellow countryman AND still alive. But Colm Toibin's take on the writer Henry James was just too tedious. And I did go at least halfway.<br />
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<a href="http://books.google.ie/books?id=KMoYEWULo2UC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0"><img alt="Front Cover" border="1" id="summary-frontcover" src="http://bks5.books.google.ie/books?id=KMoYEWULo2UC&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&edge=curl&imgtk=AFLRE73YU1iTeWS72Zan0oCbRdDzzdabgTN7YCjLmwrbCN6jE_2-ASnm4xafIGl99lIX_oz-xGIPOvHBvXAJ1p7HJCpnMal1qWQzeGUbl5gUCI2UT6HH07F9Ze5gwnY50ucMeDlbAQHE" title="Front Cover" width="128" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPVImkDIaVe4O2lqhSgtNZKSOJZ9Gfn2brbAwdFtvhwApjH-8Pqpis1nix8CbxJ0O2AyuKuQy8OgPWXqY29QXGc1hjBXZLcw5W6Bi3v0IbE6S4qvrGQu7rJZn35uBb-yna91tFKgutIs/s1600/PA010063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPVImkDIaVe4O2lqhSgtNZKSOJZ9Gfn2brbAwdFtvhwApjH-8Pqpis1nix8CbxJ0O2AyuKuQy8OgPWXqY29QXGc1hjBXZLcw5W6Bi3v0IbE6S4qvrGQu7rJZn35uBb-yna91tFKgutIs/s320/PA010063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I loved "How to Live " by Sarah Bakewell, which beautifully encapsulated the essence of Michel De Montaigne's wisdom in three hundred efficient pages. But when it came to Montaigne's ACTUAL essays, I could barely even lift the twelve hundred page tome, let alone read it. I suppose that just exposes me as someone who wants all the pleasure in as condensed a way as possible.<br />
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<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg"><img alt="50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg" height="331" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5e/50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg/220px-50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg" width="220" /></a><br />
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I suspect that a lot of people will have their own "Fifty Shades" story that sums up the essence of how this unavoidable, trendsetting phenomenon touched them (no pun intended).<br />
I did try. Very much in a what's-the-heck-is-all-the-fuss-about-anyway sort of way. A friend (you know who you are if you are reading this) bought it for me. I opened it somewhere in the middle (is that not how you're supposed to read saucy books?) and Ana was outlining in great detail, "oh my" et cetera, how she was unable to sit down at her desk at work, so energetic were her sexual gymnastics the night before with Christian. Somehow, I couldn't go on. What does that say about me?<br />
I brought it back to the supermarket and exchanged it with a highly amused shop assistant for a bottle of wine.<br />
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What books were you not able to finish?Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-86269883644969402062012-09-03T06:15:00.000-07:002012-09-05T05:21:03.591-07:00Electric Picnic 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co Laois is like a giant shopping centre, holding the wackiest and most wonderful that art can offer. </div>
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You stroll the 800 acres of rolling fields,</div>
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wander from hilarious readings by Una Mullally and Rachel (conversations overhead at Electric Picnic)</div>
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to exercise guru, Mr Motivator in the Dancerise tent,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Lmgo3TAjbt6p6Dnb3B-haRPZTpURQzf3RpezBRFnL6HjirVpIAA8Y9HuaaRWLf_xGPEYC5Rl_8qhAExxx1tGTc69-N5lhyiim_hKezd7FyQoQOjx6QEL1h1O7MNb1AFvw63yHytcZDM/s1600/P9010018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Lmgo3TAjbt6p6Dnb3B-haRPZTpURQzf3RpezBRFnL6HjirVpIAA8Y9HuaaRWLf_xGPEYC5Rl_8qhAExxx1tGTc69-N5lhyiim_hKezd7FyQoQOjx6QEL1h1O7MNb1AFvw63yHytcZDM/s320/P9010018.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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where he lifted the crowd literally off the ground to thumping disco sounds,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn_I7gL2gMGYPphYDmqOjwJJS_G5NiEbl-0w7rt7-jMuEFNZUws6JrcBKfdRkcZHNQbmHvznCLN_8x4AcXaA2jLjrwrnEpyV7RUxE5eGjbwIJxWJoEU_f2RmQpNOLT0ywVg_C6VsiaIU/s1600/P9010017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn_I7gL2gMGYPphYDmqOjwJJS_G5NiEbl-0w7rt7-jMuEFNZUws6JrcBKfdRkcZHNQbmHvznCLN_8x4AcXaA2jLjrwrnEpyV7RUxE5eGjbwIJxWJoEU_f2RmQpNOLT0ywVg_C6VsiaIU/s320/P9010017.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
(someone wasn't too impressed)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr7CabS6G31lpulGKCk62zeW6tqgfG8PaLsDEdmYnCYF0j6WQdCAUxFRz83QzSB1PdpVT_dGOe7atgjxpzbpSVLHoi8lLEn-T8YpBNIQ_U2xj6Pzr9u4nqKpNpUSEjCEJO9MxvTemQK0/s1600/P9010028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr7CabS6G31lpulGKCk62zeW6tqgfG8PaLsDEdmYnCYF0j6WQdCAUxFRz83QzSB1PdpVT_dGOe7atgjxpzbpSVLHoi8lLEn-T8YpBNIQ_U2xj6Pzr9u4nqKpNpUSEjCEJO9MxvTemQK0/s320/P9010028.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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to Booker prize winning author, John Banville, where he chatted about the wonder of millions of people buying and reading books thanks to the phenomenon of <em>Fifty Shades of Grey,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JfcghJtsBxIbCaxit1fAC2Cm37NAa7cMrrrNmCLDd-l2QO67eSw6Fcrl_SIqzRQ27axIQ50_wN8aNgDdpilIn5496bqygBiK3OxUrga79Cy2CzyFTwg2RKMvoKLyIDl00mjSILlCiao/s1600/P9010023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JfcghJtsBxIbCaxit1fAC2Cm37NAa7cMrrrNmCLDd-l2QO67eSw6Fcrl_SIqzRQ27axIQ50_wN8aNgDdpilIn5496bqygBiK3OxUrga79Cy2CzyFTwg2RKMvoKLyIDl00mjSILlCiao/s320/P9010023.JPG" width="320" /></a></em><br />
to Mahatmagansie (sp?) an Irish speaking band, who spat out Irish tunes in Greek/Russian style rhythms,<br />
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to punk poet, John Cooper Clarke who entertained a packed tent with anarchaic titled poems such as "Home honey, I'm high,"<br />
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to another Booker prize winning author, Anne Enright, who read from her scrumptious novel "The Forgotten Waltz" and chatted to us about the parellels between the excesses of the Celtic Tiger and the recklessness of her heroine, Gina's, adulterous affair,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIY2qhc7H9_i8j6VE8lSBEWDWPFBr38kxYJ4iXtJRjSg-7D69HLdH590d3C_kQxtUMGQmBZFnqO75UmOBfl29T7dhtxTPulzb47-s_xGkJpVHW4iOUkLzKeGe22Ae6pxSWcDNCrYhRSQ/s1600/P9010030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIY2qhc7H9_i8j6VE8lSBEWDWPFBr38kxYJ4iXtJRjSg-7D69HLdH590d3C_kQxtUMGQmBZFnqO75UmOBfl29T7dhtxTPulzb47-s_xGkJpVHW4iOUkLzKeGe22Ae6pxSWcDNCrYhRSQ/s320/P9010030.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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to dangerously satirical comedians such as Dave McSavage, who did a far from respectful sketch of Joe Duffy's <em>Liveline </em><br />
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while the man himself socialised just a few yards away,</div>
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to the Nuala's who glammed up the Comedy Tent.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuTMIFIQZxPxbP7xl_dYVDn25jtvcEQXZvsYwwmVc7TwfyJwJpsJuVnTw0VmUFx2BRis5uudo5edPUqtyp_THfI3Q0ag1JnDknyrcLi6_6d4nps2Lr6o_iPH7y1isDVp7k0X4ukC7yJY/s1600/P9020045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuTMIFIQZxPxbP7xl_dYVDn25jtvcEQXZvsYwwmVc7TwfyJwJpsJuVnTw0VmUFx2BRis5uudo5edPUqtyp_THfI3Q0ag1JnDknyrcLi6_6d4nps2Lr6o_iPH7y1isDVp7k0X4ukC7yJY/s320/P9020045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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You could also read tweets </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0_mCZIDTdSpZ85rWly-_j4DaeNh2CiNdKjMyVk_EnOu-y2OJe85o3eibhdK8u0iTqC9pC29xe2VlOCskC-8-S2wzC3ZpqUKp4qIoS0JP89XIKBPXluYHRPxMrIZKlZaeKJ9wKqW0_jA/s1600/P9010008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0_mCZIDTdSpZ85rWly-_j4DaeNh2CiNdKjMyVk_EnOu-y2OJe85o3eibhdK8u0iTqC9pC29xe2VlOCskC-8-S2wzC3ZpqUKp4qIoS0JP89XIKBPXluYHRPxMrIZKlZaeKJ9wKqW0_jA/s320/P9010008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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or lurk around the Trailer Park</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkQaIuRjpV2dpcDOB-vTM7jJxVfdH26lAAuk6i-E5HGRYYTYAYiRHUAD7wK4RP_SpVgo5PhPiLejUeempRA8fpdyesMOu54LtHRc07wexJmGIzyv3EH-X6fw76gCkgV-vV9_mC2SZ37k/s1600/P9020036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkQaIuRjpV2dpcDOB-vTM7jJxVfdH26lAAuk6i-E5HGRYYTYAYiRHUAD7wK4RP_SpVgo5PhPiLejUeempRA8fpdyesMOu54LtHRc07wexJmGIzyv3EH-X6fw76gCkgV-vV9_mC2SZ37k/s320/P9020036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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or watch people getting a mobile massage</div>
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The wristband will be reluctantly removed sometime over the next week.</div>
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-48245555385548997462012-08-19T16:57:00.000-07:002012-08-19T16:59:14.252-07:00Delphi, Connemara, two years in a row.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is said that you should not return to the same place in the hope of a repeat of past positive experiences. And I know that holidays are supposed to be a time for adventure, new destinations, stepping outside of the comfort zone and all that.</div>
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However, the dramatic beauty that is Delphi, Connemara in the West of Ireland, despite the gloomy overhang of cloud and drizzle, proved to be an irresistible magnet.<br />
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So it was a case of playing it safe, with the same view from the front door,<br />
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the same darlings (well, probably new ones) eating us alive, thanks to the combination of heavy foliage and twenty plus degree Centigrade temperature,<br />
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and the same mountains giving perfect symettry in flat lakes.<br />
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The main adventure this year though was a trip by ferry to <strong>Clare Island,</strong> fifteen minutes from the mainland and the former home of </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O'Malley">Grace_O'Malley</a></div>
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infamous pirate queen, also known as, Granuaile.</div>
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The weather forecast on the day was for a hurricane. </div>
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Instead, we got this. </div>
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Mistakes like that I can live with.</div>
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Together with a dozen barrels of beer (not for us), and ninety fellow ferry travellers, we sailed to the island,<br />
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and cycled in search of Anna's coffee shop,<br />
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only to discover it was closed due to a funeral, the first drowning on the island in sixty three years. The proprietress, Anna, on her way to the funeral, still kindly served us. She then left for the funeral, while we sat in the sun outside her house, leaving her door OPEN in case we needed anything else and asked us (absolute strangers) to lock up behind us..... the trust was refreshingly unexpected.<br />
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The rest of the day was spent on a beach that could have been on a Greek island.<br />
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It was enough to make you want to cartwheel.Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-43850852080233467852012-07-25T02:37:00.000-07:002012-07-25T07:22:36.348-07:00Madonna and the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While Madonna's attempts to shock continued apace in the half-full<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkfKBcK7VM9CIo1sTKl4k5sBa2wgmt3yz40HahCEpjHnADRhKHftqtWGzMkHGxu7mWisBXLeTTfEnT59OnSqqynSuxw16kNbY-dqYD2yxAVLVi4wCbhjc1iS2q8uhqXADI5HMty201uM/s1600/DSCF0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkfKBcK7VM9CIo1sTKl4k5sBa2wgmt3yz40HahCEpjHnADRhKHftqtWGzMkHGxu7mWisBXLeTTfEnT59OnSqqynSuxw16kNbY-dqYD2yxAVLVi4wCbhjc1iS2q8uhqXADI5HMty201uM/s320/DSCF0494.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<strong>Aviva Stadium, Dublin </strong>last night, from the Act of Contrition voiceover for <strong>Girl Gone Wild</strong><br />
to bloodspattered screens and pointed guns for <strong>Gang Bang</strong> to a thonged, rain spattered, bum in our faces <br />
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the real star (not) of the show was the RAIN which poured relentlessly (apart from a short, joyful break from 10pm to 10.45pm) on us, her pitch standing, straining-for-a-look fans.<br />
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If you hadn't listened to her new album MDNA, then the show could be a bore, as classics were thin on the ground. Around half way, I spotted fans chatting and disengaged while she sang <strong>Masterpiece, </strong>a song from MDNA and some leaving the 'Golden Circle' - a section near the stage that cost E140!! - at half time.<br />
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Highlight of the night was a gospel version of <strong>Like a Prayer</strong> -electrified the crowd.<br />
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For those of us who just admire the guts and general tenacity, even the wet-to-the-very bones rain, didn't dampen.<br />
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Didn't make it here though:<br />
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<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-70857429926230426962012-07-13T16:47:00.000-07:002012-07-13T16:47:06.782-07:00A whistlestop visit to the D-Day landing beaches.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After much on-line scrolling and searching, taking of a deep breath, pushing the "book it" button, running the gauntlet of the war like rigidity of Ryanair, and finally setting out on a fourteen hour coach trip with fifty fellow tourists, I found myself (and thirteen year old) in the town of <strong>Caen, Normandy, France.</strong> </div>
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Our first stop at the War Memorial in Caen took us through the timeline of events, from an actual re-constructed bombarded, Normandy restaurant building, shell holes intact,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAjidrgWsqWHRBSGGBkRw2Gd2Ur73cdtTXYVf4_ryXIz4rir17km2Yz1rlRZYxyEsgDYY1AjiyrqfwJUfmGI51-jeje0WUoqrvBvZ21cfEKYP3ujGLzM9SsMKF5UiWbsWuNxqEgtc_fE/s1600/P7110042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAjidrgWsqWHRBSGGBkRw2Gd2Ur73cdtTXYVf4_ryXIz4rir17km2Yz1rlRZYxyEsgDYY1AjiyrqfwJUfmGI51-jeje0WUoqrvBvZ21cfEKYP3ujGLzM9SsMKF5UiWbsWuNxqEgtc_fE/s320/P7110042.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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to the newspaper with the news of Hitler's suicide,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQevXb0xCMJTZ4-VG4beDPfK9kvzyrIkjs6cn4gajEbZHiQ_L3qQDMHA4U2eceuX295O8Gj-C75gs7ynftA8KS0y3CEDMI3Uf8QtmIHRtc3xFV5QwRk211TVDF-UkVTi_oP7N2ELijzk/s1600/P7110049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQevXb0xCMJTZ4-VG4beDPfK9kvzyrIkjs6cn4gajEbZHiQ_L3qQDMHA4U2eceuX295O8Gj-C75gs7ynftA8KS0y3CEDMI3Uf8QtmIHRtc3xFV5QwRk211TVDF-UkVTi_oP7N2ELijzk/s320/P7110049.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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with an array in between, of poignant, tear inducing black and white photographs, showing in savage detail the pointless brutality of war.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QaBOv6nmwtjIHQJkrWBE84Z522q7Db3jtfSsBY_m47ljn5s70hnECj9dSlTaY0scvFJPq7PQMljGuiQBEiTAm0IKu1-Pf-TtxgcMIJSZ_DAdiV_dD2_QMSnEKp3ullOCnRuXh2LRHE/s1600/P7110046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QaBOv6nmwtjIHQJkrWBE84Z522q7Db3jtfSsBY_m47ljn5s70hnECj9dSlTaY0scvFJPq7PQMljGuiQBEiTAm0IKu1-Pf-TtxgcMIJSZ_DAdiV_dD2_QMSnEKp3ullOCnRuXh2LRHE/s320/P7110046.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Our next stop was at <strong>Point du Hoc </strong>where the Americans launched their assault on 6th June 1944.<br />
The bunkers built by the Germans are still in fine shape,(fun had by tourists checking them out)<br />
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a testament to the expertise that went into them. <br />
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<strong>Omaha Beach</strong> where the greatest loss of life occurred is a fine, long, sandy beach and the sea gulls glided along as swiftly as any Spitfire plane.<br />
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The cemetery at Omaha, where 9,387 soldiers are buried, is a stark reminder of the extent of the casualties.<br />
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Eventually, when we got back to Paris, there was a sharp sense of how World War 2 has shaped our lives and how different things might have been. </div>
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Tis amazing what can loom behind the trees, as you fly by in a coach, if you're quick enough with the camera.</div>
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<br /></div>Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-42993825526003703232012-06-14T04:39:00.000-07:002012-06-14T04:39:52.859-07:00Killer Heels or Cosy Flatties?<div align="center">
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Are you a fan of the sky scraping, </div>
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totter along at a snail's pace, die-for-your-fashion footwear?<img src="https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?saduie=AG9B_P8QTsIONLwEPRROZ2yS_zj6&attid=0.1&disp=emb&view=att&th=137e22810502df49" /></div>
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Or are you determined to stay as near to the ground as possible while making those strides?<br />
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Considering that the average person will walk the equivalent distance of FOUR times the circumference of the Earth during their lifetime, I guess having a pair or two of comfy shoes is pretty important. <br />
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For those of us who have, in the past, succumbed to the lure of the killer heel and been rewarded with lifelong companionship of this:<br />
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Hallux valgus (a.k.a. bunion.) <br />
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the flattie is now the only option. <br />
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I console myself this will never happen to me:<img alt="Naomi Campbell" class="blkBorder" height="431" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/09/article-0-015C2BD400000578-847_468x431.jpg" width="468" /><br />
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<u>And</u> new research<br />
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says that people who wear flat shoes are more 'agreeable'. <br />
A little comfort for the sole. (Sorry)<br />
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Are you a killer heel fan or a flattie afficiando?<br />
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P.S. Not a gender biased question, Nicholas Sarkozy or Bono may comment, if desired.<br />
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<br /></div>Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-33689226958067254842012-05-14T05:07:00.000-07:002012-05-14T05:07:00.174-07:00Lines I love (Part Three)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are the ones that stay with me long after I've read the last page -previous ones <a href="http://castaboldeye.blogspot.com/2011/11/lines-i-love-part-two.html">here</a></div>
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Some lines are not just beautiful for the author's use of language and rhythm, but also for the bang-nail-right-on-the-head wisdom which resonates for ages afterwards, rattling noisily around in your head, like a butterfly in a room full of windows.</div>
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<strong>Infinitely wise:</strong></div>
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<em>'Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. Once we know that life is difficult -once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.'</em></div>
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<strong><em>M Scott Peck, The Road Less Travelled</em></strong></div>
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<strong>Insightfully melancholy:</strong></div>
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<em>'Dust had replaced her'</em></div>
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<strong><em>Brigid O'Connor, Message in a Power's bottle</em></strong></div>
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<em>'Later on in life, you expect a bit of a rest, don't you? You think you deserve it. I did anyway. Also, when you are young, you think you can predict the likely pains and bleaknesses that age might bring. Discovering, for example, that as the witnesses to your life diminish, there is less corroboration, and therefore less certainty, as to what you are or have been.'</em></div>
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<strong><em>Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending (Man Booker winner 2011)</em></strong></div>
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<strong>Spine-chillingly atmospheric:</strong></div>
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<em>'So instead of acknowledging applause, I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong.'</em></div>
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<strong><em>Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games</em></strong></div>
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<strong>On an affair:</strong></div>
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<em>'Gillian noticed herself taking on his (her lover's) mannerisms - the way he put a palm to his forehead when thinking or clasped his hands and rubbed them together. She felt as though he was with her, even when he wasn't. She was surprised, and oddly offended, by how logistically easy adultery was turning out to be. Damien's (her husband) apparent obliviousness angered her.'</em></div>
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<strong><em>Molly McCloskey, Protection</em></strong></div>
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<strong>Wildly psychedelic:</strong></div>
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<em>'Frida Kahlo likes to walk in colour, but she is hard pushed on Society Street. We wander together up Sarsfield Road; 'Where is all the yellow,' she asks, 'the red?' Frida, in a floral dress and Mexican silver, draws a tidings of magpies from the sky. She sings the reds of Sarsfield Road and they bleed into veins of the town, pulsing its grey.'</em></div>
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<strong><em>Nuala Ni Chonchuir, Frida Kahlo visits Ballinasloe, from The Juno Charm.</em></strong></div>
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Have you some loved ones?</div>
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(Lines, that is)</div>
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<br /></div>Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-24019143246976655732012-04-16T04:09:00.000-07:002012-04-16T04:09:03.629-07:00Novel to Movie -Betrayal or Brilliance? <br />
If, like me, you look for an accurate and faithful transfer to screen of a loved novel, then dollops of disappointment often await. My latest disappointment has been <strong>Breakfast at Tiffany's</strong> <strong>- </strong>I know, I know, the movie is over fifty years old and I'm only watching it for the first time now. <br />
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The whitewashing of <strong>Truman Capote's</strong> dark tale, of how far people will go for money, narrated by a co-resident who has a purely platonic relationship with heroine <em>Holly Golightly, </em>was mercilessly transmogrified into a sentimental, romantic movie that only barely resembled the novel. "Loosely Based" indeed. However, a visit to <a href="http://www.newbridgesilverware.com/museum">http://www.newbridgesilverware.com/museum</a><br />
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(Okay, I wasn't supposed to take photos.)</div>
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gave a fresh perspective on the whole novel-to-movie thing. <br />
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<img height="681" id="il_fi" src="http://www.realbollywood.com/up_images/audrey-hepburn9107.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="450" /><br />
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In the making of <strong>Breakfast at Tiffany's</strong>, the casting of <em>Audrey Hepburn </em>in the lead role, led to the creation of a seminal icon. Irrespective of the sanitising of the Capote's story, the movie in itself is an individual piece of art, a showcase vehicle for the glowing, screen-filling irridescence that is Hepburn's <em>Holly Golightly.</em><br />
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The display of Hepburn's fab dresses and jewellery worn in the movie,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASxcjJqI1ORRVdzZAHY1Mcp1SRe_Yv9p6iOIRzVsnVP5uioj86z83kV_xRpbofow__qX6NM7F56dR6nCPpz1AnPVQ6PsbImuUv8NR9Q4gXvrhkldBgrrxZs4ly1Bq09BK4tQkvv9ID9Y/s1600/DSCF0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASxcjJqI1ORRVdzZAHY1Mcp1SRe_Yv9p6iOIRzVsnVP5uioj86z83kV_xRpbofow__qX6NM7F56dR6nCPpz1AnPVQ6PsbImuUv8NR9Q4gXvrhkldBgrrxZs4ly1Bq09BK4tQkvv9ID9Y/s320/DSCF0445.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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as well as the original 1961 zany, promotional poster,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gE76hsloq_XxHvDmux1reO0xkpZOmVGdSojiITYLJTstPHyU4yA4wfI4BB7gYalnAc39swWoAROY5VLwtaxuptBENdRl9Da3czC-Lhc5Hw1gCbXXsVImFWEZE66VhjZfacVeNcA9PAs/s1600/DSCF0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gE76hsloq_XxHvDmux1reO0xkpZOmVGdSojiITYLJTstPHyU4yA4wfI4BB7gYalnAc39swWoAROY5VLwtaxuptBENdRl9Da3czC-Lhc5Hw1gCbXXsVImFWEZE66VhjZfacVeNcA9PAs/s320/DSCF0449.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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lends the movie an entity of its own, distinctly apart from the novel.<br />
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Perhaps the way to enjoy a loved novel to movie is to try and not have the written version hovering overhead, like a preying alter-ego but instead accept the new piece of art in whatever way it's been created.<br />
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It's hard, though. <br />
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Have you any novel to movie that's been a disappointment?<br />Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-32530803776499959222012-03-12T04:19:00.000-07:002012-03-12T04:19:41.661-07:00Laughter YogaCuriosity finally got the better of me and I headed into a balmy, relaxed Dublin city, on Sunday afternoon, for <a href="http://www.laughteryogadublin.ie/history/history.php">this</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6HGIaWhGLOGbdN2qz2XpbyylcpZG6xKVvIuzbqAMJhtsWrUC4eoSflRKQu4zN8Gy4ExTIxzEqi4SJjkfPZuriCzzeiFFZYxO0gdF78q2X1AQuxkXcb184rD_GBt4AGSIcsLu3cmGHII/s1600/DSCF0436%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6HGIaWhGLOGbdN2qz2XpbyylcpZG6xKVvIuzbqAMJhtsWrUC4eoSflRKQu4zN8Gy4ExTIxzEqi4SJjkfPZuriCzzeiFFZYxO0gdF78q2X1AQuxkXcb184rD_GBt4AGSIcsLu3cmGHII/s320/DSCF0436%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After a 'Miles of smiles' welcome from energetic and contagiously beaming leaders, Sharyn and Niall,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvfYEX_69btO-zCAxyxJBhvZLjKqt1JD7mB6TUYpbeyu9Jt6C6PXcfdn0EHn4jcWuT8Lr41f5VnkRyyLeRotIPBPxBX4UcQxYlGzxY4vspEbwYWQgcA9yFRd7qchLFL4Q_PUZ4grBf6Y/s1600/DSCF0437%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvfYEX_69btO-zCAxyxJBhvZLjKqt1JD7mB6TUYpbeyu9Jt6C6PXcfdn0EHn4jcWuT8Lr41f5VnkRyyLeRotIPBPxBX4UcQxYlGzxY4vspEbwYWQgcA9yFRd7qchLFL4Q_PUZ4grBf6Y/s320/DSCF0437%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> twenty five of us launched into an hour of funny walks (a la Monty Python), pulling faces, skipping, lying on the floor with our feet in the air throwing a tantrum, vowel laughter ( ''A-A-A', 'E-E-E' 'O-O-O' ) and frequently throwing our arms in the air going "Yay."<br />
The main principle is that laughter is as effective when it's fake as when it's real - the same physical and emotional benefits occur. And if you didn't know, guffaws burn calories, lower blood pressure and improve creativity and memory.<br />
As I joined the circle of participants, my main worry was whether my feet smelled -we had removed our shoes to take part. Also, the concept of faking a wide smile at a stranger, clapping them on the back with a loud cackle or pulling a face while staring into their eyes did initially bring on a bit of "I feel like a bit of a berk." <br />
<img height="290" id="il_fi" src="http://celebrationgoddess.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/laughter.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="457" /><br />
Those niggles melted away as the business of laughing loudly for an hour produced a high and as we finished up, Sharyn gave some exercises, or 'Free laughs' which can be practised at home in front of the mirror. <br />
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So, I'm off now to pull some faces and laugh out loud -O-O-O-E-E-E-A-A-A<br />
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</div>Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-18218133311284880362012-03-03T12:52:00.000-08:002012-03-03T12:52:56.016-08:00A Clear Head for Writing.<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="writers block cartoons, writers block cartoon, writers block picture, writers block pictures, writers block image, writers block images, writers block illustration, writers block illustrations " class="directory_result" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/vsh0238l.jpg" title="writers block cartoons, writers block cartoon, writers block picture, writers block pictures, writers block image, writers block images, writers block illustration, writers block illustrations " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I truly admire people who can write, no matter what. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Novelists, short story writers, poets et al, who despite the droning minutinae of day-to-day must-do's, apply the <strong>Kingsley Amis </strong>'seat of the pants to the seat of the chair' dictum and belt out those words.</div>Forget background noise - <strong>J K Rowling </strong>penned the first of her classics in an <img alt="" border="0" height="234" src="http://www.insiders-scotland-guide.com/images/elephanthouse.jpg" width="350" /><img src="http://assets3.qypecdn.net/uploads/photos/0280/9342/elephant_house1_carousel.jpg" /><br />
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Edinburgh cafe.<br />
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or lack of me-time -plenty of mothers with young children are mightily prolific (you know who you are!)<br />
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For some of us, even with the luxury of a few hours a week to get those words onto paper or screen, it's the head-fill of jobs and general family matters that hijack the head, dampen ideas and thwart the flow.<br />
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How clear does your head have to be to write?<br />
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Can you write in the midst of chaos, be it physical noise or a head filled with distractions?Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-82720015083304503702012-02-19T08:24:00.000-08:002012-02-19T08:24:21.987-08:00Madonna -Royal visit Number Two<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="270" src="http://www.madonnalicious.com/images/extra/2004/colin_slane_29august6news.jpg" width="270" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay. Cosmetic surgeried to within an inch of her life, hanging shamelessly around with toy boys not much older than her daughter, and dogged by rumours that she mimes her concerts, could we ever really believe Madonna was going to act her age and fade away quietly, like any other fifty three years old, seasoned, well-lived, lady? For those of us who can't help but admire the general display of grit, cajones, balls, (or whatever you want to call it) the prospect of another chance to witness the Queen in action is proving irresistible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Especially as her 2004 visit <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUluImtGC1lsiGb9V-InD1mZ8p-gMAMa3l3RPfamXkCQ9KedknfgshpCFCVrTMZGBELj61STyqHe0G-miczcf4-Hu79ybUzNw3X5ON4uHBgBt2uTNd2COF9UpLi991bC0gjYKtS4TH1w/s1600/DSCF0428%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUluImtGC1lsiGb9V-InD1mZ8p-gMAMa3l3RPfamXkCQ9KedknfgshpCFCVrTMZGBELj61STyqHe0G-miczcf4-Hu79ybUzNw3X5ON4uHBgBt2uTNd2COF9UpLi991bC0gjYKtS4TH1w/s320/DSCF0428%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a><br />
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inspired<br />
<em>A Royal Visit </em>which managed to get past the beady eye of <strong>Cliodhna Ni Anluain</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.rte.ie/radio1/sundaymiscellany/">Sunday Miscellany</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbPTkkDw_9lYKnJRi-0lQY5qLGMzf3wj_OE46_zZEZ0JYVSuohZThPFe0L3OFjjC7U-BOeT04Nv15hogSMnHng6zD1ylX_3QZVU8rKNgjjTA29c-y59pD8zALEEkmxG3rlhN8nxgD5xc/s1600/DSCF0427%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbPTkkDw_9lYKnJRi-0lQY5qLGMzf3wj_OE46_zZEZ0JYVSuohZThPFe0L3OFjjC7U-BOeT04Nv15hogSMnHng6zD1ylX_3QZVU8rKNgjjTA29c-y59pD8zALEEkmxG3rlhN8nxgD5xc/s320/DSCF0427%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And even though the thoughts of queuing and standing for hours on Tuesday night, 24th July, already has the sane person inside me going: "Mari, are you nuts, you're far too old for that stuff,"<br />
the less sane person inside is going, "you're not the only one around here who doesn't act her age."</div>Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88009306158139228.post-30638785664925940272012-02-08T13:15:00.000-08:002012-02-08T13:15:15.761-08:00Luddites of the world unite<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="274" id="il_fi" src="http://www.flora.ca/gavel.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="280" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While it's obvious my Luddite leanings do not stretch to performing a Mickey Mouse type attack on the computer, (I'm using one right now, after all) , my 'grouchy-ould-wan' antennae shoot up when it comes to the choice between reading e-books and paper books. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="293" id="il_fi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Kindle4.jpg/220px-Kindle4.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="220" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The concept of a swanky portable tablet upon which to read an array of novels, however convenient, still leaves me cold. And it's not just because the insanely, prolific <strong>Jodi Picoult </strong>had a good old fashioned rant against ebooks in the <strong>Sunday Times </strong>last Sunday - her income has reduced by 30% in the last year due to predominance of e-book sales. Or even that author of the brilliant <em>The Corrections, </em><strong>Jonathan Franzen</strong> said:<br />
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"<em>The technology I like is the ....paperback.</em> <em>I could spill water on it and it still works. So it's pretty good technology. And what's more it will work great 10 years from now. So no wonder the capitalists hate it. It's a bad business model."</em></div><br />
It's just that the e-book seems soulless, somehow. Is there anything more sensuous than the heady aroma of the pages of a new book? Or the browsing around a bookshop, where a surge of energy wafts from those masterpieces on the shelves?Oh and what about <a href="http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/Gissing.html">George Robert Gissing</a><br />
who said:<br />
<em> " I know every book of mine by its smell and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things."</em><br />
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<img height="276" id="il_fi" src="http://hsk2306.edublogs.org/files/2011/05/Reading-a-book-001-2ebrwcu.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="460" /><br />
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Call me what you will, but I don't think the paper book will ever become extinct. Not if there are enough Luddites around like me.Mari Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00196874968501090173noreply@blogger.com8