
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Cold But Good

Monday, December 22, 2008
Dorky Christmas Songs
1) I wish it could be Christmas every day. Really? Ham and turkey and pudding and custard every day? Spending more money that you've got every day? Cooped up with your family every day? Hmm.
2) There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas. Duh. And since the song is part of Bandaid's 'Feed the World' one would think that no snow would be a good thing for, say, refugees in tents who are used to subtropical weather.
3) He (a spaceman) hung in the sky like a star. Whoa. Should we put ET figurines in our crib scenes along with the Magi? (Are angels really aliens?) Skip the Birth of Christ, the big story here is the alien with a message that goes "nah nah nah nah nah nah nah."
4) Keep the vampires from your door. And this is on a Christmas album why?
5) How did Christmas Day become "Saviour's Day." Not that St Cliff can do any wrong. Didn't he write that song "Our Father"?
Okay, enough seasonal cynicism.
That's a wrap.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Winter Solstice

Friday, December 12, 2008
The Silly Season

are lights sparkling in the window, an old-fashioned crib scene in the porch window (I'm a Christian Buddhist, go figure), 'winter magic' oil burning in the snowman scenter, decorations all over the place, turkey ordered, plans confirmed for trips to Naas (Finn's granddad in nursing home) and then Sligo for Christmas in the Gyreum (http://www.gyreum.com/). Hope it snows, but not before we get there! I confess I am not doing cards this year. Will get back to them next year. Sorry about that folks, but something had to give! Here's a pic of the ginger bread house Finn and her cousin, Alice, made last year. They'll be making another one this year.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Teamhair
Monday, December 01, 2008
Teamhair trailer.mov
Here's a peek at Finn's Dad's film on Teamhair/Tara which is being broadcast on TG4 on Wednesday, Dec 3. Don't know why he starts out with an American bizarro, but I'll find out tomorrow when I attend the launch in Dublin. The film is about the history of Tara and the motorway being ploughed through its sacred valley this very minute. More to come after tomorrow's viewing.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Robin (The Hooded Man)
Ah, just found this on youtube, thanks to one of my sisters! The television series was a family favourite. The theme music is by Clannad, of course. I am actually working on a similar series, an action adventure set in ancient Ireland with mystical undertones. Early days, yet.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
San Antonio, Texas
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Worrying Animal
Lewis Thomas (1913-1993)
American physician and writer
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Meditation

Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Hallowe'en

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Findhorn Now
Here's my dream. I want to end up living in this community. I'll garden, meditate, do workshops, maybe put on writing workshops if they want me to, and also write my books and films. I can't go right away as the time isn't right, but I see it shining like a beacon in my future.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
US Elections
Monday, October 20, 2008
Hobbity House


Tuesday, October 07, 2008
For Cat Lovers

Sunday, October 05, 2008
For My Daughter Who Has Left Home
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Andrew sings Pie Jesu
Okay, I confess I do love to watch these talent shows from time to time simply because the most amazing gifted people do show up out of nowhere. Like this young man. I mean, you really don't see this angelic voice coming. I'm right there with the ladies weeping in the audience.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tutty's Bar, County Wicklow
This video is from last year's Music Under the Mountains Festival held annually in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow. I went over the mountains via Glendalough on Saturday to enjoy a fine sunny day and great trad music at this year's festival. It made me homesick for Kinvara. Tutty's Bar and the Hollywood Inn and the friendliness of everybody was just like the sessions I used to go to when I lived in the West of Ireland. Craic agus ceol.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WARNING
Monday, September 15, 2008
MacCrimmon's Lament - Martyn Bennett
I'm a little in shock here as I have just discovered that this brilliant young man - whom I listen to all the time in the car when I am travelling - died three years ago! How tragic. He is playing in the old style here, but he was also a techno-piper, plugging his bagpipes into electronic gadgets with amazing results. Oh I am so sad. He was only a little while upon the earth. Ochón. Ochón.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
The Tudors

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sa Ding Ding - Alive (Sanskrit Version)
Here's who I went to see at the World Culture Festival last weekend. She was STUNNING in every way - her voice, her movements, her costumes, her show, her dancers. She sings in Tibetan, Sanskrit, Mongolian,Chinese, and her own very shamanic language. I understand she is only 23 years old! A rising star. And this video is so magical.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Ice Music: Moon Magic
Here's something amazing a friend told me to look at. We were thinking of what kind of music we wanted for a film we are doing together. (No, I can't say anything else about it. Too soon!)Incroyable.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Buddhist Bliss
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Alice's Rabbit
Thursday, July 31, 2008
More Magical Book Sculptures


Thursday, July 24, 2008
Roving Soles
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Circuit of Lough Dan
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Break Time
Monday, June 30, 2008
Mythological Ireland
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Seaweed Bath

Monday, June 16, 2008
People of Europe, Wake Up!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Lisbon Treaty Dilemma
Here I am, two days before the big vote and, like so many Irish people, I am wavering back and forth. I want to vote YES because I support a United States of Europe. I believe this is the best way forward into the 21st century. As someone who grew up in federalist and multicultural Canada, I know this can work. A strong Europe is needed to help balance the power in the world and to confront global warming, global corporations, and global security issues. However, I am genuinely and gravely concerned that the Irish people are the ONLY people in Europe who have the right to vote on this turning point in history! That every other European country has refused its people the right to have a say in the matter makes my nostrils twitch (is there a rat in the room?) and urges me to vote NO. I swear, I can see myself in the polling both, my hand wavering over the two boxes, praying for inspiration.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Derelict Dublin

Friday, June 06, 2008
Silk Purse
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
It Has Begun

1) hair tint
2) full body massage by the amazing Sherron
3) Rhodiola (a root extract given to soldiers on the Russian front and London medical interns)
4) Rescue Remedy
5) good luck card with 50 euro (she also received cards from grandmothers, father, and godfather)
6) exemption from all housework.
7) chocolate brownies.
It begins with one exam this morning in English. I'd say she is well able for it as, only half awake, she corrected my use of the word panacea. "Don't you mean placebo, mum?" That's my girl.
Go n'eirí an t'adh leat, a stór!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sorry
Friday, May 23, 2008
I Hate Microsoft
Friday, May 16, 2008
It's All Working Out
Friday, May 09, 2008
Nostalgia
While having breakfast with Finn today - she made croissants with a banana and nutmeg sauce, yum - I somehow ended up talking about Topo Gigio, a little mouse that I loved when I was a child. He appeared from time to time on the Ed Sullivan Show (where I first saw The Beatles too!). As I tried to describe him I suddenly realized I could probably find him on youtube. And here he is!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Labour Day Weekend
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Fairy Amphitheatre

Tuesday, April 29, 2008
On the Boardwalk
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Living House

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hey Sailor

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Braving America

Friday, April 11, 2008
Delayed Response
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Canadian Seal Slaughter 2008 - GRAPHIC FOOTAGE
All right, here's the video. I've watched it and it's not as horrific as some of the other ones on youtube which document the seal "hunt." The point is we have to face what we are doing to animals. This is not for food. It is senseless and inhumane slaughter for fashion and fashion accessories.
Shame on Canada!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Rising
Easter is not only a religious festival in Ireland, it also marks a major political anniversary. The 1916 Easter Uprising was the start of the final and successful battle for Irish independence from England. Two brilliant modern films deal with the times that were in it, Michael Collins (with Liam Neeson) and The Wind That Shakes the Barley (with Cillian Murphy). Here is Sinead O'Connor, accompanied by the Chieftains, singing The Foggy Dew, which tells of the Dublin rebellion. Actually the revolution itself was a failure, but the British were really stupid and executed the leaders, mostly school teachers and poets, which created a groundswell of support that eventually led to the War of Independence.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
ARCHITORTURE I


Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The King Call
Reliving my youth here with Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy (which I thought for ages was 'Tin Lizzy' because of the way all the Irish people I knew pronounced it!)I've posted him over on my Book Blog as Finvarra and here he is singing about another king along with Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. But just look at those legs. They go on forever! They should be in the Guinness Book of Records.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Beannactaí Lá Phádraig!
Nothing like a bit of classic video for St Paddy's Day. The day the world changed for Irish dancing! It reminds me that when I was a kid we did loads of Irish dancing gigs around this time of the year. Only in Canada could that include St Patrick's Day celebrations in the Orange and Masonic Halls! (We also marched in July 12th Parades.) Roll on the day we see that in Northern Ireland too.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Olympic Shame
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Democracy is Precious
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Lest We Forget

Thursday, March 06, 2008
Free Tibet

Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Humorous Abandonment
Billy Connolly used to be my favourite commedian but I have to say Tommy Tiernan now owns my funny bone entirely. There's something wild and a bit dangerous about him. You never know what he's going to say next but you can be sure it will probably be politically incorrect. He's definitely not 'harmless.' I'd love to see him cast as the leprechaun or the cluricaun in film versions of my books. He'd bring an edgy hilarious anarchy to the stories. Roll on that day, me bucko.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Mea Culpa
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Insomnia Rules
One of the compensatory things about insomnia is those nights when you head downstairs, get a bowl of cornflakes, and turn on the television. There's usually something strange on, especially now when I only have the four Irish channels faintly received by my half-assed indoor antenna. I often find myself in the midst of some weird film like that gruesome one about the young space soldiers fighting giant bugs (I felt sorry for the bugs, it being their planet afterall) or that strange Lovecraft movie I watched to the end without ever understanding it, or that old RTE black-and-white production of Ulysses with Cyril Cusack as Bloom peeking through the keyhole as his wife Molly had sex while shouting out her famous soliloquy (given the soap opera crap RTE churns out these days, it was an amazing production! made in the 50s, I think). Sometimes it's reruns of The Panel (love dem lads) or Cold Case which I also love though the story-lines are oh so lame and she definitely got a face lift by the second season. Last night turned up this gem. RTE redeeming itself with a programme called Other Voices. It's music from the outer fringe. At first I thought I was looking at archives from the 60s/70s what with the reconstituted hippies and the young old-rock boys. But nope, it was 21st century footage.Sinéad O'Connor was brilliant, but Seasick Steve, coming into his own in his sixties (hup ye boyo!)was definitely the best. Here he is in all his glory. If you want to see the whole show go here: www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/archive.html.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Japanese Gas Attack
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sinking Ship
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Jumpin' Jehosephat
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Brilliant Day

Saturday, February 16, 2008
My Jewel, My Daughter
Friday, February 15, 2008
Post Valentine's Post
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Breakfast
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Mountain Gals


Out in the mountains today hiking with the Second Sunday Hiking Group. We climbed Mullacor through the mist, stopped for lunch by a great pine forest, crossed paths with the Wicklow Way and headed for the beautiful Glenmalure. More pics on Book Blog as this is Dana's territory in The Light-Bearer's Daughter. The dog is Nancy who came with us. She belongs to Kerenza of the fabulous Cathleen ní Houlihan hair. We are the stragglers I'm afraid and the rest of the hikers, including Mike who took the photos, are a good bit ahead of us! (Photo credit: Michael McGovern)
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Coyote Girl


Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Shrove Tuesday (yesterday)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Happy Dog
Monday, February 04, 2008
Year of the Earth Mouse
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Web Heroes
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Security Warning: Norton!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Golden Eagle Chick

Sunday, January 20, 2008
St. Germain - Rose Rouge(live)
Sometimes you have to kick over the traces and go wild, just to remind yourself you are alive! Went dancing last night at the Bel-Air Hotel in Ashford, then off into the mountains for an all-nighter, partying like a madwoman till dawn. We were celebrating the wrap of Kathleen's first film as director. GO, WOMAN! Here's some of the music we were dancing to. Love these guys.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Me Brains are Freud
Monday, January 14, 2008
Post Christmas Post
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Pullman, the Movie
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Duibh
1) support Finn through her Leaving Cert (barbaric Irish rite of passage)
2) take night courses in Digital Camera and Tai Chai
3) get down to business with new book
4) do the wonderful thing I can't talk about yet (see Book Blog where I can't talk about it also)
5) spend another small fortune on my teeth
6) have more fun
7) get ready to move to the West of Ireland - wa-hoo!
*Oh and check out my new website design on www.ormelling.com!*