Blind light

Earlier this year I decided that Christmas would be a family free zone for me this.time around. For a while I had a more impolite way of describing the upcoming season of goodwill however my two Irish nieces advised me that I really should drop the expletives and so who am I to disagree with…

Paul is in the habit of surprising me so I guess I should have known that he would show. We shook hands, he sat down beside me and we chatted. Small talk. I doubt if we will ever discuss The War. He sang and then split to pick up his daughter from the airport. Next…

As I reflect on the past two years of anger, family turmoil and sadness, I have come to appreciate more and more the importance of good friends. People who will listen to you and give you honest feedback. I feel very fortunate to have many such people around me.

On more than one occasion a cousin of mine has told me that it is time to put away the machine gun. Up to now my response to her has been to say that it is gathering dust and is almost decommissioned. Often I say about myself that I have fallen out with more people…

I can still see. Not a lot, as the saying goes, but I can still see. I am able to write this blog with ease. Having said all that I would also say that the notion of blindness is a constant companion. The piano keys do not seem to be as obvious as they once…

On the surface all that happened was that Mam died. Scratch that surface and it would seem that there is a family story there going back many years. My Dad spent his early years in Meath with his aunt, uncle and cousin. Although he had health issues he seemed happy there and was set to…

We had our latest gig in The Great Institution the other night. It went really well. We appear to have found a nice formula. The man who goes by the name of Joey Magic got everyone in the mood with a few bluegrass / clap-along numbers. There followed a lovely variety of songs and tunes…

‘Music, alcohol and a tiny bit of food’. This has often been my response in recent times whenever I am asked as to how I am doing. And to a large degree it is the truth. Throw in sleep, guided meditation, radio, tv, audiobooks, meeting up with friends and that is about it. It’s a…

So there I was last Saturday week, doing my bit for Guinness pensioners everywhere, propping up the bar of The Great Institution on my favourite stool. By all accounts it seemed like quite a standard Saturday. That was until the barman who is sometimes known as ‘King of the Quips’ gave me the momentous news.…

It’s coming up on a year since Mam moved on. It’s a rare day that I don’t think of her in some way. Anytime I get a reading from my talking weighing scales I make a little comment to Mam. Mostly the remark is that I have some work to do. Very occasionally I would…