Ferris Wheeeeeeel

Yes, I went on the Ferris Wheel that has been set up on the side of Bray Head! Even though I have a morbid fear of heights. You look over the sea, the town, and the mountains, depending on where the wheel is at the time. I have a picture of me clutching the railings of the little thingie we sat in. (Wish I was a writer and had a facility with words.) Not sure if I will post the pic, though. I look pretty woof.

A Little 'Pome'

By Spike Milligan

Last night in the twilight gloom,
A butterly flew into my room,
Full of beauty, full of grace,
Much better than aliens from Outer Space.

He also wrote one of the funniest books I have ever read, about the drawing of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It's called Puckoon. An utter scream.

Faerie Music

Here's what I want to learn to play next, after a year devoted to the drum kit. And maybe after the hammered dulcimer, the wired string harp. But this is like Faerie music, isn't it? And her gown too!

Harry Potter Trauma

It's not looking good. Finn disappeared into her room much earlier today and only came out for meals. First sign of real trouble: a brief foray to the fridge for the organic chocolate hazelnut spread. "I need it," she mumbled, heading back upstairs with jar and spoon. An hour later, she is almost finished. The book, not the jar. Well, maybe the jar too. But now a box of tissues has gone in there and I can hear muffled sounds and nose blowing. This can only mean one thing. I am going to be a basket case. She is much tougher than me emotionally and - more importantly - she has always been good at separating fictional characters from real people. I am going to be a basket case.

A Different Drummer

Keep meaning to post that my drumming lessons are going well. My new teacher, a jazz drummer, is brilliant as he goes step by step and you learn to read music. Early lessons concentrated on the snare drum and reading/playing quarter, eighth, and 16th notes with rests and accents. Now we have moved on to the kit, using high-hat, bass drum, and snare. I practise 20-30 minutes a day. What's my dream here? That's for another day, but it has something to do with Yellowknife, a cowboy hat, and a smoky bar.

Fireworks!

It was BRILLIANT! I thought I was going to have a heart attack I was so thrilled. Sherron and I shouted our delight, louder than the kids. Fireworks are so magical - exploding in the sky, embroidering the night with colour and light and noisy beauty. Oh!

Fireworks and Fiddling

I'm fiddling around here as I wait for darkness to fall before joining friends down on the sea front for the fireworks display. I LOVE fireworks. They excite my very soul. Will see if I can get a pic with my new digital. The Bray Summer Festival is on and there is a fair on the promenade, a giant ferris wheel (yes, I'm thinking about it, omigod), and music on the bandstand. Oh, do pop over to my Book Blog and see the fabulous trailer another of my readers has made. This one is for The Hunter's Moon. Ah, such dreams to dream upon. I really would love to see my books as films.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Okay, it just has to be said. It has been raining non-stop since May. Even by Irish standards, this is DIABOLICAL. The entire country is ready to jump off the Cliffs of Moher. It's like living on Ferenginar. (The Ferengi home planet for you non-Trekkies.) Yes, it means I am working like a Trojan and don't mind so much being stuck indoors, but still ... one does like to get out once in a while!

Ode to Nova Scotia

Working away on The Book of Dreams and up to the chapter where I include a song by the late great Stan Rogers, my favourite Canadian singer and songwriter. His widow kindly allowed me to use the lyrics of Giant (about Fingal) in my book. I heard Stan sing it live in Toronto years ago at the Fiddler's Green folk club on Bloor Street. Knocked my socks off. Alas there is no video of him singing it on Youtube, but here is one of his songs and some great pics of Nova Scotia. I have set quite a few scenes on Cape Breton Island.

Save the High Queen's Rath!

Here is the latest national monument about to be destroyed by the M3 Motorway. Lismullen Rath was apparently the burial place of a powerful woman - the High Queen! - though, of course, they are calling her "a wealthy woman." (Patriarchal archaeology cannot conceive of female rulers despite oral and written tradition to the contrary.) The new Minister for the Environment is John Gormley of the Green Party, but alas it seems that, despite their earlier support for Tara, the Green Party is opting out in favour of political expediency. (That was quick, eh? No doubt about it, power corrupts.) But you can help. Go to www.PetitionOnline.com/taram3/ and sign the petition. You needn't live in Ireland to want to protect its heritage!

Little Girl Giant

Here's a weird video my sister Dee sent to me. (Yeah, she's the Deirdre who appears in The Book of Dreams.)The song is great, too. Wonder what country this is? And is it the music that makes her seem strangely sad?

London Love

Not long back from London where I had a fabulous visit with dear friend Ger Aron (writer of hit play My Brilliant Divorce, performed by the equally brilliant Dawn French). We went to see Fiddler on the Roof which was utterly fabulous. Tell you all about that in another post, but if you are anywhere near the West End, it is a must-see! Here I am in Regents Park, hand in hand with my new love. But I fear he may have feet of clay...