Category: Uncategorized
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Friends
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.
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Managing anger
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…
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Embracing blindness
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…
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Family history
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…
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Openers, closers and in-betweeners
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…
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Musical update
‘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…
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The ultimate accolade
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.…
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Anniversary approaching
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…
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A musical life
To a large degree, music is my life. Throw in a few drops of the good stuff, the occasional bit of grub, a wee bit of meditation and that’s about the size of it these days. Our merry little band of musicians got back on stage in The Great Institution of Chatham Street the other…
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Simply the best
As fate would have it, in the year that Mam moved on, I found myself going it alone to the Westbury Hotel yesterday. Various family members were invited to join me but none accepted and I have to say I am very grateful to them all because I had the best Christmas Day ever. The…
Blind light 