And this week's comedy beer is...

...Birra Moretti. Italian. 4.6%. A light-tasting beer - almost, but not quite (thankfully) tasting like alcohol-free beer. Pleasant...

Regards,


djp

The things I have to do, eh...?

In an effort to watch tonight's Magners League match between Edinburgh and Munster, I had a choice between watching it with an Irish Gaelic commentary on TG4, or a Scots Gaelic commentary on BBC Alba. Neither channel offers simultaneous commentary in English.

I started off watching the match on TG4, but the accent of the co-commentator was so harsh and unpleasant that I switched to BBC Alba. Even though I understood even less of the Scots Gaelic commentary than the Irish Gaelic, the Scottish commentator had a soft and pleasant voice. Plus there were some interviews in English that were not expected.

Looks like I'll be going back to BBC Alba when the need arises again.

Regards,


djp

The triumph of optimism over experience?

As seen on my morning walk today...

We'll know the outcome by 6 this evening. May the best team, eh?

Regards,

djp

Cash purchase

I was in Limerick buying shoes for a wedding I am attending in the coming week.

I hate shopping for clothes generally - shoes are a particular problem for me, in that I have rather wide feet, and modern footwear fashions dictate that you need to have narrow and very pointy feet in order to get anything remotely "trendy". I also have a thing about not buying terribly expensive shoes, in that (a) they're only going to get scuffed and worn and/or (b) at some stage I am going to get sick of wearing the damn shoes, and it'll be easier for me to chuck out an old worn cheap pair that I'm sick of, rather than an expensive, "good" pair that I'm sick of...

...or maybe I'm just a tightwad (there are other types of "wad" that one could be, I suppose - a "tight" one isn't necessarily the worst type...).

Spent hours roaming around Limerick and couldn't find anything that ticked the various boxes:-

1. - right colour to go with my suit
2. - right price
3. - looked nice
4. - actually fit

Eventually, I headed out to one of the out-of-town shopping centres and got what I was looking for, so much so that I even bought a second pair as part of a special offer.

But that, in itself, was not remarkable. What was remarkable was that while I was waiting to be served in the shoe shop, some chap came to the counter to make a purchase and gave a €200 note to the shop assistant. €200 notes are as rare as hen's teeth in Ireland, and the shop assistant wisely went to her manager to get approval to accept it. One minute later and the shop assistant apologised to her customer:- "Sorry, sir, my manager says we can't take a €200 note..."

"Oh, that's alright", sez yer man, and without further ado (or resort to other literary cliché), he extracts a big fat roll of banknotes out of his trousers pocket and peels off a couple of €100 notes...

Now, in these recessionary times, I don't know too many legitimate professions whereby a young looking guy wearing sports/leisure wear can make cash purchases using large-denomination banknotes carried around in his pocket. He certainly didn't look like a drug dealer or other variety of criminal. But I thought it prudent not to make eye contact with him nonetheless...

Regards,

djp

And this week's comedy beer is...

Crabbie's Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer. 4%. A bit sweet, but not terribly "ginger-y". Certainly nothing like the ginger ale they serve in Ikea.

Regards,


djp

And the ringtone for September 2010 is...

..."First Day", from the Futureheads' superb eponymous debut album.

Regards,


djp

My Top 10 iPod tracks - 010910

1. (-) - Adventures Close To Home - The Slits
2. (-) - Detox Mansion - Ben Gott
3. (-) - Acceptable In The 80s - Calvin Harris
4. (-) - Help - The Damned
5. (-) - Bust - Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards
6. (-) - Burn (Live) - Deep Purple
7. (-) - Set The House Ablaze - The Jam
8. (-) - Echo Park - Joseph Arthur
9. (-) - Snowblind - PlusMinus
10. (-) - Take On Me - a-ha

Regards,

djp

...and this week's comedy beer is...

...Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier. 5.5%. Tasty! Happy memories of the Electric Picnic from a few years back.

Regards,


djp

And this week's comedy beer is...

...Zwyiec. All the way from Poland. 5.6%. Niiiiice...

Regards,


djp

I kid you not...

...as seen at a car dealership in the heart of agricultural Ireland...

My American friends might wish to note that the term "fag butts" means something very different (and innocent) in Ireland from what it means in the US. Mind you the image created by applying the American meaning of the term does boggle the old mind a bit...;-).

Regards,

djp

...and this week's comedy beer is...

... Fuller's London Pride - an old favourite and fond reminder of pleasant trips to London. 4.7%. Yes, oh yes...

Regards,


djp

This week's comedy beer is...

(last weekend's, actually - been a busy few days...)

Grolsch - 5%. Very tasty! Had it in cans before, but never in the unique Grolsch bottle.

I'm guessing at some stage in the near future that Cobra is likely to feature. Had some at the weekend in a double longneck bottle (660ml) and not that expensive considering...

Regards,


djp

And the ringtone for August 2010 is...

..."Won't Get Fooled Again" from the Who's magnificent WHO'S NEXT album.

Meet the new boss, etc. etc. etc....

Regards,


djp

MyTop 10 iPod tracks - 01/08/10

1. (-) - One Of Us - Wire
2. (-) - Medicine Man (feat. Eska) (Trackademics Remix) - Zero 7
3. (-) - Float - Zomby
4. (-) - All My Friends Are Crazy - 500 Miles To Memphis
5. (-) - Glass Meets Wall - 7evenwords
6. (-) - Hello? Is This Thing On? - !!!
7. (-) - Witness - Asian Dub Foundation
8. (-) - The Sands Of Shepperton - Cousin Silas
9. (-) - Invisible - D-Side
10. (-) - A Friend Of Pat Robertson - Dada

Regards,

djp

And this week's comedy beer is...

Mrs. P and Younger Daughter have decided that, every week from now on, they are going to buy me some odd, obscure beer.

This week's selection was Hobgoblin, and I have to say that for a dark, syrupy ale, it don't taste half bad. 5.2%. Not one to go on a tear on, but definitely worth a taste!

Regards,


djp

Further critter cadaver update...

Now, this is a pigeon ...

I don't think Panther was responsible for this one - not left at our door. Still, supper was interesting last night...;-).

Regards,

djp

Critter cadaver update...

Ladies and gentlemen, I am reliably informed that this is a shrew.

Tiny little blighter, isn't he?

And dead...

Regards,

djp

It's time for the half-year review folks...

...wherein your humble scribe assesses how much progress has been made with his New Year resolutions.

Well, here goes for shport...

1. To get to see Arsenal play at least once this year - UPDATE - not sure if I will swing this. I'm starting to develop a severe allergic reaction to all the palaver that goes on at airports. And travelling by ferry/train to London is not a practical option. Maybe I'll just watch 'em on the goggle box.
2. To visit a country I've never been to before - UPDATE - bizarrely, this was looking very good for a while, as Elder Daughter is going to work in Mexico for a few months later this year. We had considered going over as a family to see her, but the combination of time and financial constraints mean that this is out of the question. Still, it's the thought that counts, innit?
3. To start cycling again as soon as the weather improves - UPDATE - the combination of weather, way too much sport spectating and the joys of home improvements meant that I've only been on the bike once since the start of the year. Things have quietened down a bit since the start of the year, so I'll revisit this soon.
4. To generally get the oul' bod a bit more together - UPDATE - walking, but not nearly as much as I should. Room for improvement
5. To undergo a spot of elective surgery - UPDATE - I plan to make a significant phone call this very week...
6. To either change my car or keep it for longer - UPDATE - came very close to making a call on this within the last few weeks. A (non-fatal) mechanical issue has arisen with the land-yacht, which would probably cost more to rectify than the car is actually worth. Still running fine though, and although there is great value to be had in buying secondhand cars these days, I reckon I have other financial commitments that are of a higher priority than changing the motor. I still monitor the market though. Regularly.
7. To have a better year at work than I had last year - UPDATE - so far, so good (touch Formica). There's always tomorrow, though. Literally...
8. To see friends more - UPDATE - this ain't working out. Must try harder
9. Not to volunteer to do anything for anyone under any circumstance - UPDATE - can't say that I haven't volunteered (exactly), but most of my offers are unlikely to be taken up, so that's alright then...;-)
10. To stop wrecking me own head - UPDATE - m'eh...

Regards,

djp

And the ringtone for July 2010 is...

..."Baba O' Reilly" from the wonderful Who album, WHO'S NEXT. Just make sure you get the Deluxe Edition...

Regards,


djp

My Top 10 iPod tracks - 010710

1. (-) - Oh My Gosh - Aaron LaCrate (feat. Mr. Vegas & Verb)
2. (-) - When Smokey Sings - ABC
3. (-) - Lucky Dime - Calexico
4. (-) - No Other God (Alternative Mix) - Kristeen Young
5. (-) - Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
6. (-) - Rock & Roll - Led Zeppelin
7. (-) - The Leading Edge - Red Box Recorder
8. (-) - Brand New Moses - Able Baker Fox
9. (-) - Come On - Actress
10. (-) - What Makes Him Act So Bad? - Adam Green

Regards,

djp