Hee hee hee

Flying off to Canada tomorrow on my silver broomstick. Happy Hallowe'en!

More Dunderry

Here are some more pics of the magical place where I attended a course in advanced shamanism last week. (Did a basic workshop and four modules back in 2000 and 2001. They influenced both The Light-Bearer's Daughter and The Book of Dreams.) The cairn - which looks like a hobbit house! - was built on site to hold drumming ceremonies inside. The holly gate led me down a woodland path where shafts of morning light fell through the trees. For Dunderry's own website see: www.shamanismireland.com.

Corporate Carry On

Wow, they've arrested the 26 year old guy who ran the TV-Links UK, which allowed you to link up to shows and movies available on the Internet. Interestingly enough, the British authorities -acting on behalf of FACT, the entertainment industry watch-dog ("we've got billionaires to protect") - have not raided offices or arrested personnel of those who actually provide the material, i.e. Youtube, google, etc. They're too powerful to touch! Check out the story by searching TV-Links UK and sign the petition.

Conclusion of Rat's Tale

Another small rat under the sofa last night. Dead. Pats on the head to Emma for being a great ratter and consternation about the house being a holiday hotel for vermin. Today, the mystery solved. In from outdoors comes Emma with another rat which she has been play-hunting all day. It's now under my book shelves and she can't get at it. I'm not helping her. I am seriously pissed off. Once this one is caught and dead, the cat door is being shut for good. New homeland security sitch. Emma does not get in unless she is proven rat-free. And where have I been all week? Away in the country doing research and having a ball! Pics to follow.

Little Mosque on the Prairie

Finn and I have been watching a great sitcom on the Internet TV Links about the Muslim community in a small town in the Canadian west. It is indeed called "Little Mosque on the Prairie"! And it is hilarious viewing. I love all the characters, especially the arch-conservative Baber (on the far right beside the gorgeous young imam). He has some of the best lines. When they are arguing over when to start Ramadan, someone mentions how they determine moon rise in Saudi Arabia and Baber says, "the Saudis couldn't find the moon unless it had oil spurting out of it." And while some would say this show goes a long way towards de-demonizing Muslims and introducing them to those who know nothing about them, I've got to tell you Finn and I are watching it because it's really funny and quite endearing.

Harry Potter Fun

Potter Puppet Pals in "The Mysterious Ticking Noise"

This is hilarious fun for all you Potter fans. Finn found it on Youtube. (Click on phrase.)

Good Morning, Sunshine!

New routines and order have descended upon the household as I fall into step with Finn's school schedule. She's attending the Insitute for Education in Dublin (posh prep school, her Dad and I are beggared) and she must be at the train station by the crack of dawn. Ho hum. After I drop her off, I do a brisk walk by the sea and sometimes join a gentleman from the Czech Republic for Tai Chi on the lawn before the promenade, as the sun rises over the water. (He's not always there, I don't even know his name, but we bow to each other and off we go.) Then it's back home for breakfast - fruit, toast, boiled egg, coffee - and it's to the computer to start work about 9:30 a.m. Well, that's a new me. Here's a pic of Bray Head from the promenade, a setting used for scenes in The Singing Stone and The Summer King. And I do believe I mention same in The Hunter's Moon.

New Photo

Check out the new profile photo with my black fedora which I bought from the famous Mr Rothman in Kensington Market, Toronto. Hmm. I think I look like the wicked witch of the West. Cackle. Cackle.

Weekend Off

Spent the weekend in Jampa Ling, my favourite Buddhist Centre in Bawnboy, Co. Cavan. I love staying in the big Georgian house with its high ceilings, wooden shutters that close over the windows at night, wooden staircase, long carpeted corridors. My friend's baby was being blessed by the Rinpoche and there were lots of people there who brought food to share. The desserts were stunning - chocolate biscuit cake, chocolate cream cake, a really moist apple cinnamon tart with cinnamon sticks on top, an apple pie with puff pastry swirls, and thick slices of curranty bread slathered with butter, perfect for this time of year with a cup of hot milky tea. Had a little chat with the gardener whose family adopted Bruce. Eddie told me that Bruce follows everyone around the house and sometimes after he has had his dinner, he jumps into his bed (in the kitchen) and rolls around and makes the funniest noises. My heart nearly burst when I heard that. I can just imagine the once-lonely dog thinking to himself, "I can't believe my luck! Happy happy me!"