blogster

Is it strange?

2010-04-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

You don't realise how much friends affect you until something happens. Over the weekend a friend told me that one of my friends might be leaving the country because her botfriend might be getting a job. So I texted my friend and she told me she was out of the country. Panic sunk in, I went through all emotions, from sadness (I'd miss her friendship) to anger (that I hadn't got the chance to say goodbye). But then she texted me later and cleared things up she was only on a city break while her boyfriend went for the interview

Gabriel Byrne

2009-10-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

I did this sketch while I was on a CE scheme in Nicholas Of Myra Parish centre.

BUNDORAN BEACH

2009-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

CAROLINE CORR

2009-10-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is one of my first sketches(1999)

W B YEATS

2009-10-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

TREES IN CANADA

2009-10-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

SPORT OF AGES(SHORT STORY)

2009-10-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

I can clearly remember my first job. Oh I must have been about fifteen.
“I know you’ve just finished your exams, but you’ve got to think about your future?” announced my mother.
I stared at her blankly.

I hadn’t decided what to do next!
Like many of my friends, I wondered if I’d written enough in the exams. My teachers had great hopes for me. They had already discussed with me the possible subjects I’d being doing for the Leaving Cert,
That morning my mother had demanded “While you’re thinking get a job, I don’t want you under my bloody feet!”

So I aimlessly sauntered down the main street, with nothing better to do.
I noticed the sign in Mooney’s Bar and Restaurant. The job was for, a lounge boy. I thought it’d be a nice little earner. The pay wasn’t great, (three quid an hour) but I didn’t care. Yes what could be difficult, about taking orders and serving drinks. I can remember thinking, I’m over qualified for this job. Mooney’s was an old man’s pub, so none of my friends would see me, if I made a mess of the job.

I strutted through the oak panelled doors, like gunfighter walking into a saloon. Mr Mooney sitting at the wooden bar reading his newspaper. It was what I consider to be an old man’s pub. The décor was wooden benches and dowdy coloured stools, and I figured the place had needed a fresh coat of paint. There wasn’t the usual big screen that was in most of the bars I drank in. I noticed a small TV in the corner.
Another thing I noticed was silent jukebox. I felt certain that my friends would never drink here.

“Can I help you son?” he asked, not even looking up from his newspaper.
My confidence was suddenly drained from me.

I didn’t want to appear too cocky or too timid.
“I’m here about the lounge boy job,”
He lowered his bifocals and examined me, up and down as if he was buying a new suit. I wondered did I meet with his approval? In my naivety, I didn’t realise how shrewd a man he was. I would later learn that he was one of the key players, in a game I’d just started.

“You’re Rita Barker’s boy aren’t you?”
I didn’t know how to answer him, because he’d a brief relationship with my mother before she’d married.
Surely he wouldn’t hold any bad feelings he had for my mother, against me.

“Yeah I’m Roger Barker,”
I hoped I didn’t sound too forceful.
“Well Roger have you any experience in a bar before?”
I thought for a moment. What was I going to say?
“No but I’m a quicker learner,”

I figured he’d heard that answer several times before.
“I’m a bit short staffed, so if you can come back later, say about seven…”
The excitement got the better of me.
“Does that mean I’ve got the job,”
He just fixed a stare on me.
“I haven’t decided, I’ll see how you get on tonight,”
There was something about his forced smile that unnerved me.

I walked home, because I didn’t live too far from Mooney’s. But I couldn’t get his smile out of my mind. I like to think of myself as a good judge of character. But I couldn’t figure out why the smile was troubling me.

* * *

“Mum, I’ve got a job as a lounge boy in Mooney’s,” I remarked, when my mother placed my dinner in front of me.
I could see the look of displeasure in my mother’s face.
“Well, you wanted from under your feet!”
She gave me one of that said don’t even go there.
“You could at least wish me luck,”

“I suppose there’s no talking you out of it!”
I made up my mind there was no changing it. I was going through my rebellious stage.
“Sometimes I think you’re too much like your father!”
I was slightly disappointed that I wasn’t going to get her approval.

“So what time does old Mooney want to you to start?"
I could hear the contempt in her voice, their relationship must have ended badly. But like my grandmother she seldom spoke about the past.

The past was a thorny subject in my house. I guess it all began when my father one day decided to up and leave. I don’t have many memories of my father, because he left when I was about six. I’d asked her once about him, she’d replied “You don’t want to know!”
I knew from old that was her way of wanting to change the subject.

I finished my dinner in silence. I put on my coat. I could see that she wasn’t ever going to happy with my job. But I would have liked a good luck kiss, but it didn’t happen. That was typical of my mother, who was convinced showing emotions, was a sign of weakness! But I thought she might make an exception this time.

I strolled into the crowded pub. A shiver went down my spine, because I’d set in motion a .chain of events, which couldn’t be stopped.

My employer greeted me with a warm smile, maybe I was over reacting maybe things would work out ok. He handed me an apron with the pub’s name on it.

“ See what those two ladies over there would like to drink?” he stated handing me a notepad and pen.
I walked casually over to their table. They seemed innocent, but I was about to learn that looks can be very deceptive.

“You’re new aren’t you?” asked one of the ladies, who was old enough to be my grandmother.
I must admit, the question threw me a bit.
“Well yes, what would you ladies like to drink?” I asked flipping open my notepad and clicking my pen ready to take their order.

The ladies just looked at me, as if they were looking at a new dress.
“What’s your name?” demanded one of the ladies.
At the time it seemed a very innocent question to me!
“Roger,”I replied with a smile.

The opening shots of their little game had been fire in my direction. The objective was clear, embarrass me!
Her friend pinched my bum.

“I think he’s a bit on the thin side, I like them with a bit more muscle,” observed the one just pinched my bum.
They reminded me of the two of the three witches from Macbeth!
What had I let myself in for?

“ I think you’re embarrass’ the lad!”
I could feel myself going red. Determined not to show my discomfort, I posed with my pen and chose to ignore their comments.

“Wwwhat can I get yyou..”
My hand started to shake ever so slightly, hoping that they didn’t see it.

“Your phone number,” requested Elsie, the oldest of the group.
I didn’t know where to look normally it was younger women who came on to me.
Fixing my glaze, hoping I came across as confidence. She was old enough to be my granny!

“I’ll leave you aalone and let you decide what you want to drink?”
I walked away from the table, and towards the couple at the next table.

“Oh Roger, we’re ready to order!” said Elsie seductively..
I glared at my boss, who was busy pulling a pint for a customer. His body language told me it was my problem and you better deal with it.

I pretended that I didn’t hear them and cleared away some glasses. Much to my annoyance, she blew me a kiss.

With sheer determination, I wasn’t going to let two old ladies intimate me, so I strolled up to the table stood motionless in front of them.
“Well what do you want?”

Waiting I half expected a smart answer, but I didn’t get one.
“Two Vodkas, and your phone number,”
She winked at me.
Her companion laughed at my situation. Her laugh made me cringe

I took their order, and returned to the counter.
“Those ladies giving you a tough time!” observed Mr Mooney taking the order from me.

“You could say that!”
I could see that smile, as he filled the two glasses with vodka and place them on a tray.
“The first rule of business, is to keep the customer happy,” he said handing me the tray.
If I’d wanted words of courage, I didn’t receive them from him.

“There you are ladies,” I said as placed to the drinks in front of them.
Just then I heard You’re the one that I want by John Travolta blaring from the jukebox in the corner. Elsie grabbed me and started to dance. I wasn’t used to dancing, because I had two left feet.

At that very moment I wished I was elsewhere. I was very glad my friends weren’t here. It took me a couple of minutes to get free from her grip. My discomfort seemed to amuse her

“Hi Roger,” shouted one of my friends as he came into the bar. Course Christine was with him. I have only trying to get into her knickers since first year, but Elsie had ruined any chance I might have had!

“I didn’t know you went for older women!” retorted Billy, my best friend as he walked into the bar.

I was seriously thinking of emigrating to say Australia!
I would never live this down, once Billy opened his gob to rest of my mates. My street cred was rapidly disappearing.

Elsie pulled me closer. I tried to pull away, but I think she must been a regular visitor to the gym. She was so close I could smell her sweaty armpits. I wondered how long the song was? Would she release me after it or would I be her prisoner for the rest of the night?

“ I’mm sssorry but I have a job to do, Mr mmooney won’t employ me if I don’t do it!”
She decided to release me after the song finished.

Mr Mooney got my attention and said “Hey Travolta, I’m not paying you to dance with the customers, the Ladies is out of order so I want you to stand at the door of the Gents to make sure there’s no funny business,”
She pinched me in the bum as I ran away from her.

“Ah come on we’re only having a bit of a laugh, isn’t that right Bridie,” she shouted, her voice could be heard across the bar. I felt as if the eyes in the pub were turned in my direction.

“It’s me birthday,” Bridie chipped in.
I was the birthday entertainment.

“You what I know want!” cooed Elsie.
I knew all to well what she meant.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Billy laughing.
These ladies were determined to embarrass the hell out of me.
At that moment, I was glad old Mooney had given me a reason to be somewhere else.

I took my place at the door to the Gents.
Elsie blew me a kiss, I prayed and hoped that my friends hadn’t seen it.
Billy laughing at my embarrassment..
I wondered was it at me, or something funny Christine had said to him.

Bridie walked into the Gents and said “ Is yours as big as your shoe size?”
I honestly didn’t where to look.

“What are you doing after your shift?” she said as she winked at me.
I was getting redder by the minute.
She finally remembered why she’d come into the Gents and stormed passed me.
I heard from inside the toilet “So this is where the big knobs hang out!”

Two bikers who I considered hard men, came running out, both of them give me filth looks.
Birdie rather innocently exited with the biggest smile I’ve seen.
Mooney is not happy with this and orders me back to serving tables.
Course the witches want drinks, so I try to muster up courage.

“What’s keeping Maggie?” wondered Bridie.
I watched as Elsie rummaged in her bag. I looked as an Anne Summer’s Platinum loyalty card and receipt for chocolate penises falls onto the table. She winked at me she finally found her mobile. I went to the bar to fetch the drinks.
“Hi Maggie, there’s a new lounge boy in Mooney’s, he’s only…”

I thought now’s the best time make a quick exit, before her friend arrived.
“You can pay for your drinks at the bar!”
I took off my apron and threw it onto the counter. Mr Mooney just looked at me, and pulled a pint for a customer.

I slammed the bar door, swearing to myself that I’d never set foot in the place as long as I lived!
Those two ladies had knocked the confidence out of me. Now I knew why the pub had such a high turnover of lounge boys.

The following day, I wandered passed the pub, feeling totally dejected. Mr Mooney invited me in.
“What happened last night, you left in such a hurry!” he enquired.
I wondered was he possibly not aware of what happened last night!

“You know the ladies, took a shine to you!”
Well if I never saw them again, I’d die a happy man.

“The job’s yours if you still want it!”
Did he seriously want to employ me after what happened last night!
“The previous lounge boys left before serving them drinks!”
The penny suddenly dropped that had been my interview.

T H E E N D

LAZANROTE DREAMING

2009-10-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

MAPLE SUGAR SHACK

2009-10-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

CYRUS GROVE

2009-10-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

IRISH ORCHARD

2009-10-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

A RESTFUL PLACE IN CANADA

2009-10-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

LAKE WALACE CANDA

2009-10-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSHIP

2009-10-22T04:52:00.001-07:00

THE MIGHTY OAK

2009-10-22T04:46:00.000-07:00

FIRST OF MY PICTURES

2009-10-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

memories of my pets

2009-08-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

I was in my friend, Mary's house and we were watching the film Marley and Me. The story is so simple and if your a pet owner you can really relate to it. I'm sure everybody who has or had a dog can see some of the antics that Marley got up to. When Marley leg hugged the dog trainer, it reminded me that my first dog Topsy did the same with the milkman. My dog Topsy like Marely would wait for me to get off the school bus. Topsy was named after my dad's dog. I remember we couldn't think of a name for our ginger cat, until we noticed one of my cousin's eating mints so we named the cat Minty. Though I can never remember any of my dogs destroying furniture, I do recall Millie(named after the year we got her, 1988, course it got shortened from millenium) the cat clawing the chair in my room. Boy do I relate to Marley's owner with the issue of STORMS, when there was one, Daisy made a bee line to my bedroom. She wouldn't come down until she was ready! She was half corkie half Jane Russell and very stubborn. When Marley was being put down it reminded me of the time when Daisy our last dog was being put down. The poor dog had a tumour for six week before we discovered.
But despite all their faults we all love our pets.
I would love to hear your memories

A tribute to a friend

2009-07-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I went to collect for SVP in Our Lady's of Victories, I noticed a sign "Home with God" and a black sash draped on one of the confession boxes. Upon closer inspection, I discovered it was Father Tuite, the spiritual director of the two conferences in Sallynoggin.

I approached the sacristan. I was saddened that he'd died on the Tuesday, if I known I would have attended the funeral or the removal. Sacristan and I argeed that he would go directly to heaven.

Father Tuite was a very spiritual man. When I think what qualities you would need to have of having a vocation, he springs to mind. He had a warmth and friendilness about him. I goyt the impression that he was loved in the parish of Sallynoggin. I discovered that he had 17 operations, between bye passes and leg operations, but in all my dealings with him, I don't think I ever heard him complain. It was the cancer that got him in the end. I hope and pray that he didn't suffer much towards the end

Father Tuite is sorely missed by all the members of Our Lady's of Victories and Our Lady's of Visitation SVP conferences in Sallynoggin, and I know I speak for everybody that knew him that I hope he's gone to his eternal reward in heaven.

Money not good enough

2009-07-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

In this time of recession the banks have decided that they want more from you than your money. They claim you life. They've become fortunetellers.
As in the case of my mother. My father died four years ago, so they assumed when my mother closed the joint account that she would be joining him. They didn't informed her of this fact, until she decided to transfer the paying of her pension from the post office to the bank. The bank then informed the social welfare that my mother had passed away four years ago. If this is the case why did she want to transfer the payment of her pension from the post office to the bank? Who's been signig her cheques for the past four years(The fraud squad should be called in!)? The question I want to ask how could the bank have been so stupid?

The pain of the anti-virus

2009-05-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

Every computer hack will give you the advise update your anti-virus on your computer regularly. Well I'm guilty of not following that advice. The main reason is I cann't afford to. I was in a friends house recently and there was a man updating her anti-virus software. He said one software package isn't enough. So he installed several. I watched and they seemed to be working, so I asked him for the list.

I took the list home and proceeded to download the free anti-virus software programs. Thats when things went haywire. I couldn't even access my emails. The lesson I learned you can only have one anti-virus software or your computer will go into meltdown!

2009-04-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

MONACO OR BUST
By Fred Price

March 18th 2009,

Tom my neighbour who’s a taxi was overly cautious as usual, got me to the airport in plenty of time. I was suppose to meet my other two travelling companions, Mary Ryan and Liz McArdle at 10 to 9. He’d worried that I wouldn’t get there so he picked me up at 7:30. My journey didn’t involve any traffic, crossing over the East-link and using the Dublin Port Tunnel meant I got to the airport at 8.

My companions had gotten The Patton Flyer at 8. So I read the Departure screen, our flight wasn’t delayed, it was scheduled to fly out at 10 to 11, our checking desk was 14 on the lower floor. So I texted Mary suggesting that we meet at the lifts. I got a text from her that they’d hit some traffic in Blackrock. Although I never admit it, I’m privately a bit of a worrier, so when my watch showed 9, I wondered would they get here on time.

Course I needed have worried because they arrived in plenty of time. Liz had already check-in online so Mary and myself had to check-in. I must say the Air Lingus staff were most helpful, the lady at the check-in desk suggested that Liz who uses a walker might avail of a wheelchair at Dublin and at Nice. So I went with the flow and Mary took charge of the boarding passes. I agreed with Mary the gate number wasn’t very clear and it did look like D28, so my merry band of traveller proceeded to go in that direction. But D28 didn’t exist, so Mary, myself and Liz had to retrace our steps back to B28. Luckily we had time!

I enjoyed the flight, it was the landing that concerned me. Some overstressed traffic controller had failed to inform our pilot that there was another plane on our approaching runway. Myself and Liz were totally unaware how near we’d been to disaster as the pilot took off and headed out to sea. I’m sure there people who’d hadn’t prayed in long were saying decades. When the pilot eventually, I along with my fellow passengers of EI0547 cheered as if we’d won the Lotto.

I must say the staff couldn’t be more helpful, not only did a staff member wheel Liz through the airport, but he also helped us unload our suitcases from the carousel. I was thirsty so I decided to get bottle water from the vending machine. When I turned around there was no sign of Liz or Mary. I assumed they’d gone into the Ladies, but they’d proceed towards the taxi.

Well after struggling to get our baggage and Liz’s walker into the taxi, I sat back and admired the scenery on the trip from Nice to Monaco. I was slightly disappointed that we weren’t met by what I expected from the French Rivera, a sunny weather. But what really rubbed salt in the wound was that I left what had been a sunny day in jolly old Dublin.

Driving through the one way narrow streets, the taxi dropped my party at the Hotel De France. Judith the organiser at the Monaco end had booked us in for four nights. She paid for my first night, so I can’t thank her enough. Being a low budget accommodation, there wasn’t a lift I had to carry my case up the spiral staircase to my third floor room. I suffer from vertigo and of course it hit me. God knows what the receptionist thought me when I screamed for help. She opened the door and announced to me that I had the best view, but that really didn’t make up for my panic attack.

The view from my room was a sea of rooftops. I could see no building more than my hotel and I didn’t see any nasty modern office blocks. Claude Monet and the impressionists came to my mind as I opened the slatted wooden shutters. I noticed the nearest chimney to my room has three pots, the first of which appears to be smashed. That says to me either it had just recently and the inhabitants of the building weren’t aware it happened, or maybe they couldn’t afford to repair it!

My room was basic, but cosy. I’d been told by a friend before I’d left that not many hotel rooms had showers, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that mine had one. For a hundred and Euro a night I thought it served its purpose. So I freshened up and joined Mary and Liz at the reception area.

Mary Ryan the leader of our little band of travellers enquired about getting directions to the Princess Grace Irish Library. So I along with the ladies got the bus. I will say the locals although they didn’t speak any English and none of group knew much French were very friendly and went out of their way to help us.

On the way to the library, I met Mary Collins and Agnes. This was the main reason why I’d come to Monaco, to support Mary’s art exhibition. The library was very small and the lift to it could only hold one wheelchair at a time, there were three wheelchairs users in Mary’s circle of friends. Mary had to remove the wheels from her wheelchair so she could fit into the lift.

I look around at her paintings a lot of them I recognise, but there are several I’ve never seen before. I make a mad dash to the refreshment table which has an assortment of different cheese’s, I had only a sandwich on the plane and my stomach is telling me its time to eat. I’m happy to see Miriam, Clare, Ollie Eva and Mia entering the small library. I’m also pleased to see that Pat and Tom, Mary’s parents are present. Agnes is filming it and she catches me clumsily knocking over the sign advertising the cheeses. I drift over to the drinks table where I get a Jameson. I circulate taking photos and mingling with the other guests.

Mark Mary’s brother makes an announcement that he’s presenting her with two new wheelchairs a powered and manual. I share the joy and amazement with everybody in the room. I hear from Olivier the company rep, who’s a wheelchair user himself that Mary will actually be able stand with these new chairs. I know they will make a huge difference to easing her chronic pain and increasing her independence.

I’m informed by the trustees of the library that there’s a noise curfew after 8:30, could you image what effect that would have in Ireland and that’s also the time of the last bus. Well the trustees arrange car runs to get me and my friends back to our respective accommodations.

Well my stomach told me the cheese wasn’t enough, so when I got back to the hotel, my companions decided to dine out in a restaurant not to far away. Monaco is near Italy, so I tucked into a lasagne. It no reflection on how comfortable the bed is, but I have a restless night. It doesn’t help that I had a bit of a cold. I always find it difficult sleeping in a strange bed.

March 19th 2009,

The following morning, I joined my companions for a continental breakfast. After a breakfast that just about filled me, we all decided that we’d take a trip to visit the rest of them in their apartments. Being unfamiliar with Monaco’s public we took the bus in the wrong direction and took the scenic route to my friends apartments,

My friends were staying in the Villa De Juilett, purpose built apartments for people in wheelchairs. The first I did was go out onto the terrace. The view of the bay did not disappoint me. I thought it was a very spacious apartment, Miriam, Clare and Ollie decided to go shopping for the essentials, ie. drink, so I thought I’d tag along.

I wasn’t paying attention to the bus driver, who was telling me that the ramps weren’t working and he’d only be going onto the next stop. So I finally copped on and walked back to my friends at the bus stop. The bus arrived with a working ramp, it could only take one wheelchair, so Clare and I got on.

The journey was short, Clare and I disembarked. Unfortunately Clare’s wheel on her chair nearly went over the side of the ramp. Then something that rarely happens, I saw the driver get out and repositioned Clare’s chair on the pavement. In the distance I couldn’t believe my but there was MacDonalds, but it wasn't the usual tacky big yellow M, it was a black canopy with the name in white letters.

I was taken aback when I entered the supermarket. I think it sold everything you could ever want. Several minutes later, Ollie joined Clare and me. He told me had to screws for the wardrobe door, I didn’t enquire how it broke, sometimes it’s better to leave some questions unasked. I heard Miriam phoning Clare, she said she was in a Sushi bar. I bought my drink and joined Clare at the check-outs. Miriam finally met up with Clare and they both left for their apartments, leaving me and Ollie to look for the wardrobe door screws.

Several minutes later, Eva joined me and Ollie in the Supermarket. Then I heard Ollie get a phonecall from Miriam and Clare they wanted more drink. I just looked at Ollie as he went off to get the screws and drink. Later on Eva myself and Ollie met up for a coffee, in my my case a beer. It was a chilly day and I hasd brought a jacket, I was feeling miserable so I decided to head back to the hotel.

I was hungry so I went into a pizzeria, unfortunately I forgot my wallet back in the hotel. The pizza arrived, I explained my situation. The waitress let me eat the pizza. I went back to the hotel and returned with my wallet. I was tired so I had an early night.

March 20th 2009,

I joined Mary Ryan for breakfast, the spiral staircase had proved very difficult for Liz, so she had decided to check out of the hotel and move into Mary Collin’s apartment. There was a square with an open air market so Mary Ryan and myself decided to check it out.

The credit on my phone was zero, I got Mary to phone the others to see what was happening. It just so happened that their plans were the same as Mary and mine. The Hotel De France offered a deal if you stayed more than three nights you could get free admittance to the museums, so Mary and I availed of this offer.

Mary and I got the bus to the terminus, where we met with the rest of the gang. Judith coordinate things and we all met up outside a lovely park.Then the gang and I headed to the Oceanic museum well worth the visit. I was impressed by the aquarium which was part of the museum. Luckily Ollie haf brought a phrasebook so we were able to translate the menu which was only in French.

The next place we visited was the cathedral, and being a member of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, I made it my business to light a candle at the statue of Saint Vincent De Paul, unfortunately there was only a picture of the saint. I took photos of Princess Grace and Prince Raineer’s tombs.

Then the gang took a bus to the casino, but I’d forgotten my passport which you need to enter the casino. So I left the gang to visit MacCarthy’s Irish Bar. I had gotten directions from the receptionist so I thought I’d find it on foot. That wasn’t the case, but I did come across Freddy’s Bar so naturally had to have a pint there.
Then the cent dropped I did what every tourist does and looked at the map. I could see that McCarthy’s Irish Bar was near the casino. I knew what bus to get.
McCarthy’s wasn’t what I usually discover in Irish bars abroad, there were no shamrocks, or Irish phrases which they almost never get right. I was pleased to find that the barman came from Donegal. I know this may sound stupid but it was very refreshing to meet a fellow Irishman. His name was Paul and he made me very welcome. I watched as he played backgammon with the other barman. It’s a game I know absolutely nothing about. But Paul explained the rules to me. I fell off the barstool, it wasn’t because I had too much too drink,(The screw under the seat came loose). An Irish French lady sitting next me suggested that I sue, but I wouldn’t dream of suing a fellow Irishman. So I ended up chatting to the lady. When I had two pints, Paul ordered me a taxi.

I got back to the hotel, and I was met by Mary Ryan and Agnes, who were trying to contact me but they had forgotten there was no credit on my phone. I assured them I was alright, closed the door of my room and finished the six pack which I’d bought the previous day in the supermarket.

March 21st 2009,

Judith had made arrangements for a trip, so she picked Mary and me up at the hotel and we headed to the others apartments. Olivier arrived, and I watched as he demonstrated how the wheelchairs worked to Mary’s personal assistants. I listened as Judith translated what he said, it transpired he’d used the manual wheelchair so he could stand at the altar at his wedding.

I along with the more mobile of the gang got into the first of two buses, while the people in wheelchairs got into the other one, I heard Agnes use her Polish charm, trying to chat up our driver. I couldn’t believe the phrases she was getting Judith to translate, I’m sure her mother wouldn’t approve.

I sat in silence and took in the magnificent scenery on the way to the Rothschild’s Villa and gardens. It was well worth the ten Euro admission. I joked that the Louis XVI decorated dinning room was mine. Words can’t begin to describe how breathtakingly beautiful the villa’s garden were. I can’t image a more perfect day, the sun even made an appearance. After a delicious lunch, I explored the gardens and I began to feel like a French Aristocrat before the revolution. Then I joined up the rest of them for the group photo.

I felt a pang of sadness as I board the bus for the return journey. But Judith asked the drivers to make a stop over the Italian border to San Reno, where I had tea in a café. Afterwards Miriam and myself got into the front seat of the bus. I was shocked as she then proceeded to flirt with the driver. It was getting dark and several times the driver took his hands off the wheel to read the phrase book, I was mentally pleading with Miriam to stop.

Much to my and everybody else relief, the bus driver managed to juggle Miriam’s advances, reading the phrasebook and brought us safely back to the apartments. Mia wasn’t ready to call it a day, and I’d brought my passport, because I didn’t realise that the border crossing had been dismantled between Monaco and Italy. So Mia agreed with me when I suggested the casino.

Being the last night I was determined to place a bet or two in the casino. I had clue about how to bet on the roulette. Mia was more clued in than I was, she’d won 80 Euros the previous night. I bought twenty Euro worth of chips. My random system didn’t seem to work and my chips went in a blink of an eye. I don’t what Mia was doing but she just kept on winning. So I bought another twenty Euro of chips. I soon lost all my chips, but I had to pull Mia away from the table. I was glad I’d convinced her to quit, because I would have hate to see her loose her winning of 130 Euro.

I got up did my last minute packing, had breakfast and decided to have one last look around the principality. I walked down to the harbour and watched a fun run. I bought a newspaper, because I want to see how Ireland had won the Grand Slam. Reading the sport section of a newspaper was a whole new experience to me. It would normally be the section I would discard when reading a newspaper.

March 22nd 2009,

Mary returned from mass at the cathedral, she told me she’d also seen the changing of the guard at the palace. Judith arrived and brought us to Mary’s apartment. Everybody settle their transport bills with Judith. It was the same arrangements as the previous day. I don’t think Ollie and Clare really wanted to leave because of the language problem they’d mistakenly thought the driver was going to load their luggage. So the bus had to make a return to pick it up.

At Nice and Dublin Airports, I witnessed something lovely, the care and dedication of Mary Collins’s PA working as a team to make sure everything went smoothly. Mary Ryan, Miriam and myself help them as well. Mary Collins had ordered to A.C.T.S. buses, and they also dropped me home.

Microhard

2009-03-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have for years being using Word and Excel. Word 2003 was the ultimate in word processing packages. I have done several courses in MS office so I thought I was computer literate. I even did an European Qualification which is the most up to date city & guild qualification so you would think I am qualified to work in an office environment, Wrong along comes MSOffice2007. I thought they might change a couple of functions add a few more options to the same basic menus. Oh no they have totally changed the complete so theres nothing the way it was!
Yes call me a ludite but I thought the old format was far more user friendly!

So don't get the new version I hear you say! And I won't, but image my shock when I had to face MsWord2007 and MsExcel2007 in an IT exam for a job as a clerical officer in DIT. I was put into a state of shock trying to discover where things were positioned! There didn't seem to be any logic for half of the things that were on the screen. I completely lost my confidence so much that what I could normally do with confidence proved difficult so I only partially completed two word documents and only started the excel spreadsheet!
I will be surprised if I get call for the short listed interview and it's only been a year and a half since I've done my last interview

An enjoyable night

2009-03-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I went to a variety night in the Kingston Hotel. It was a fundraise for my very good friend Mary.

On St Patrick's day,shes going to exhibit her beautiful paintings in the Princess Grace Library. It a well deserved honour for such a very talented artist. I'm sure her watercolours will be very well recieved. But because of her disability she needed to fundraise for the specialised medical equipment she'll need on the holiday.

Tony McArdle and his friends played some traditional music. They are a very talented bunch of musicians and although there were several groups on stage, they were able to marry their sounds. I must confess that I'm not a great lover of Trad music but it was a very enjoyable session.

The Raging Hormones were next on stage with their version of Riverdance. They were very funny and very talented.

There was an interval. To my shame I didn't buy any raffle tickets. But Liz at our table won lots of the prize. Then Mary made a speech. Then we were entertained by Mary, who sang "The Rose". I must admit I was moved to tears.

I hope the night made pots of money. Yes I will be joining Mary in Monaco. As her friend I have to support her in this opportunity of her lifetime.

why I don't like

2009-03-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

It annoys the hell out of me when people say or write the phrase Disabled. You might think it's just the editor thinking its a quick way of using as few of words as possible. But I find it very offensive, because phrases like disabled artists send out a negative message. They don't write Able-bodied or non disabled artist. Whether the artist in question has a disability should be of no importance, its only the merits of their ability should count. I think that certain people using the phrases disabled and able-bodied are being discriminatory. I will concede that I am an artist and I do have a disability, but it doesn't define who I am!

Using the phrases disabled and ablebodied implies that there is a difference and the latter is inferior to the former. That's why I prefer the phrase Person with a disability, its putting the person which is more important first and the disability if it needs to be mention secondary. I don't want anyone to refer to me as a disabled artist or that that my disability is used to promote my sketches paintings or writings, because if its good it should speak for itself!

My thoughts on being fit

2009-02-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

Last May, I joined a Gym. I suppose alot of people think I was mad start getting fit at 41. People usually have started earlier or not at all. But its one of my better decision.

I guess I walked a bit but I didn't take fitness seriously. And I suppose the fact, that I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my left arm and my left leg to a lesser extent, I didn't think I would beniefit from it. Another factor that stopped me was that I'm unemployed and donn't have much disposable income.

One day, I was visiting my friend Mary. She showed me the front cover of Spokeout, the newsletter of the Irish Wheelchair Association, because our mutal friend clare was on it. I read the newsletter and came across an article about the gym in the IWA, it cost 200 Euro for members of the public to join, and if you were a member or staff it only cost 50 Euro. Well the article was about how a woman had gained alot from joining. So I picked up the phone and decided to check it out.

So I went to the IWA, with not alot of hope. My friend with a similar form of Cerebral Palsy had told me about her experiences in a local gym. But she has more use of her left arm and her left leg is more affected than me. So It wasn't the same. Nicky the Sports manager showed me around. Firstly I tried the treadill, I struggled the lowest setting. Richie one of the instructors drew up a fitness programme for me. A week later after signing up as a member of the IWA I joined the gym.

Because of wearing a splint on my left arm(when I was younger) and not really using it much, its muscles became wasted. I suppose over the years I did get more mobility. I can stretch it out use my first finger and there was a time I could use my index finger, but my balance isn't good so I've fallen alot and I think I might have damaged it. So for the first few months I had to get one of the instructors to strap my left into a glove so I could use the different machines. Going to the gym made me thinking about going swimming (not that I'm a strong swimmer).

But as the months progressed after continuing to go the gym twice a week, I have noticed the changes. The increased muscle tone in my left arm. My balance has improved. I can now use most of the machines in the gym without the instructors help. I have recently used the leg curl but the instructor has to help me get into position. All the instructors use me as an example of what can be done. Another thing I've noticed is that my mind seems to be more focused I useto write but for a long time I had writers block, but since joining the gym my muse has returned.
I've set myself a goal it's to take part in the 2012 London Paraplympics!

The seed

2009-02-06T05:27:00.000-08:00

The following is a poem I'd like to share with you:

THE SEED
By Fred Price

In this time of darkness and greed,
Tell you what we need,
It’s to plant a seed,

It needs to grow,
We have to let people know,
How it glows,

It isn’t funny,
Having no money,
We can make it sunny,

If we let it into our hearts,
That would be a start,
So come on do your part.

We’ll dispel all this Gloom,
Make some room,
And we’ll remember the boom,

Do you know what we all need?
It’s the seed,
Love is the seed.

FIRST BLOG OF '09

2009-01-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,
Firstly I'd like to wish you a happy new year. I hope you overdid it(Tis the season to get pissed, over eat, have the traditional argument, and watch bore shit on the TV)or are you in the minority who are over seven and like to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate Jesus's birthday(Well fair play to you, I wish I was one of you).

Hope The guy in the big beard and red suit left you what you wanted? well I got Golden Disc vouchers and National Concert Halll vouchers (Its what I wanted). A lot of people think vouchers are a cope out present, but I totally disagree, they let you decide what you want I got alot of great DVDs. Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid is a must for all you fans. I got Queen + Paul Rodgers The Cosmos rocks, I haven't made up my mind if I like it or not! I liked Queen + Paul Rodgers when they played In The Point. That's my biggest regret in life not seeing Queen live when Freddie was lead singer, no one could replace him! But I'm willing to give Paul Rodgers a chance.

I got the best of R.E.M., I didn't realise they had so many great songs. Another great CD I got was the best of Roy Orbison, the man was a genius.

American Gangster, Carlitos way, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supermacy, The Bourne Ultamanium and the big kid in me got Bee Movie. My sister got me Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid, Spitting Image Series 2, now that brought back a lot of good memories!
tell me how you got on?

My review of 2008

2008-12-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

As this year draws to a close, I thought I'd share with you some of my thoughts.
Well the biggest highlight for me was my holiday in Lanazrote. I went with the two Pats. We went on the second week of August. The weather was great, well let's face it anything was better than the shit weather we had in Ireland. I think a week is too short, but than again it's better than nothing. The lads are great fun Pat Quinn (whose my drinking and swiming buddy) and Pat Burke who doesn't swim or drink (but likes pubs and insists the apartment we go to, must have a pool). Lanazrote has plenty of pub and a great variety of restuarants, from Mexican to chinese. The prices are quite reasonable. There are plenty of Irish bars, in my opinion the best was The Dubliner, the first night we went there there was a band and believe it or not the lead singer came from Ballybrack!! One of the nights we went to see Scotty from Lanazrote, a very funny comedian who claimed to be half Irish and half Scottish (which he said caused him a lot of problems, because his Irish half wants to drink all day and his Scottish half will do anything to avoid paying) You could get pints for two Euro!! The beach was fanastic, we thought we were paradise. Pool in apartment and a big shallow end (I've found in that most of the places, I've visited don't and for somebody who loves swiming but isn't a strong swimmer can be a bit off putting) We went to a ranch texas night which was a cowboy and indian themed night, it was very enjoyable. Pat Burke went on the bucking bronco, I did a bit of line dancing.

In May, I joined the Irish Wheelchair Association gym if you're a member it only cost 50 Euro and for members of the public it is 100 Euro (if you can tell me where the fees cheaper, I'll sign up). I remember my first day, how I struggled to even stand on the treadmill at its lowest setting. It was a tuff slog trying to get through the schedule. I thought at 41 it be counterproductive, but I proved myself so wrong. Now I can use most of the machines in the gym and besides making me fit, I find my mind more focussed.

I decided to take up an evening class in Newpark. I orgina;;y signed up for a writing for profit, thinking that I might be able to use my journalisic skills and do a bit of freelancing. But they couldn't get enough numbers for that class so they offered me an alternative of a writer's workshop. As it turned out I found the teacher John Kelly to be very insightful and my fellow classmates to be very talented. I'm looking forward to the second term in January'09.

The lowest point of 2008 had to be the loss of two friends David and Evelyn. Dave was one of the most selfless guys I've ever met. Although he had Down Sydrome, he had a very positive outlook in life. I remember when I use to visit him I would leave in a very positive mood. He'd know what was happening who got what planning permssion. I was very sad when I'd heard he'd had a massive heart attack and died. I think the whole of Sallynoggin was at his funeral and I thought it was very fitting that the sister had placed a picture of him holding a pint, on the coffin. Evelyn was another person who I'll sworely miss. She was a lovely lady and like David was a very active member of the community of Sallynoggin. She'd had a hard life lost two husbands and her daughter had be killed in a freak accident in the Kiliney Court Hotel

But I can't end on a sad note, the 175th anniversary of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, which was heldin Croke Park was a very uplifting experience. As a member I feel its given me new focus and I feel better able to deal with the work ahead. I want to wish my readers a happy christmas and may your wishes be forfilled in '09.

2008-12-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

Tell me what you think of it

Irish Barrack O'Bama

2008-12-11T03:44:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, I was at Action For Mobility's Christmas and 21st birthday party in the Royal Dublin Hotel. It makes me sad to think that was the last Christmas party in the hotel, because it's closing its door on December 21st.

The Royal Dublin Hotel is the only accessible hotel in O'Connell Street. AFM is a voluntary group made up of people with and without disabilities. The aims of AFM are promote accessible issues in the areas of transport, education and promoting indepence of its members and thus making people aware of issues which affect people with disabilities in their daily lives. In 1988 Sean Farrell (Barrack O'Bama) was a volunteer in the Irish Wheelchair Association, he was troubled by the attitudes that people had towards people in wheelchair and people with disabiliies in general. The prevailing attitude was that they were the receievers and it was people without disabilities who dictated what was good for them and the people with disabilities had little or no input. So Sean and his friends (who were of the same opinion) asked around and organised two weekends away. They didn't want to go to the usual places that people with disabilities went instead they tried to explore Bed and Breakfasts and hotels that were accessible. The other problem that they faced that there was no accessible transport so AFM was the first group to lobby CIE. Well after the great success of the weekends Sean and his friends set up Action For Mobility, what makes it different is that people with and without disabilities have equality and can input to the running of the charity. I was at Chairperson in 1994, secretary in 1993 and PRO in 1995. I was in charge of the Holiday and social committee from 1994 - 2000. One of the weekends I organised was an adventure weekend to Triglin. Members went Absailing (even those in wheelchairs) canoeing, sailing orienteering(although certain people with no sense of direction of direction got lost, yes I'm talking about myself). Sean when he made his speech at the party talked about the support he got fro Mochra Na Fiernne and Peter Murphy who organised a Table quizes to funraised for AFM. Carmel the current chairperson and Colm Nolan a former member talked about thier experiences in AFM and it was than that sean was christened Barrack O'Bama. There have been several Christmas parties, holiday and social and transport committee meeting and of the occassional drinking session in the Royal Dublin Hotel. Although they may not have gotten right (One or two members have christened it Fawlty Tower, with appologies to Basil) they were there for us!
The hotel is going to be flattened and turned into a car park (do we really need another one!)

The chopping of the Elms

2008-12-05T04:07:00.000-08:00

I was shocked the beautiful elm trees at Grange Grove,Deansgrange, County Dublin, being slaughtered. I admired their elegance and magnificence. They had been there as long as I could remember. People attached red ribbons and signs pleading with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, but they fell on deaf ears. I have to laugh the council makes such an issue about how environmental the council is but what they say and do seem to be polar opposites. This plan to widen the road has been on their books from before I was born.

Progress is the argument they give, but at what cost. Alot of the houses in Grange Grove have children and before the trees acted as a buffer, the house will now be on the main road. Speaking as one of the people who has been knocked down on the Deansgrange road, it's a very busy road. I'm no health expert, but any idiot will tell you that when its completed there will be more fumes and that leads to health problems such as asthma! Oh the Insurance companies are going to love it all that add traffic will cause more acciddents!

Trees achors soils so if theres a big rainfall (I know we don't get much rain!) will cause flooding and more claims to the Insurance companies oh they are going to love you
Was it the Environmental Services that posposed that the widening would be a great idea!

what I'd put into Room 101

2008-12-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Firstly I put porridge,I don't know how anybody can eat the stuff. Even the look of it turns my stomach. I also don't like parsnips and Fetta cheese "It is not lovely".

Another thing I cann't stand is this Reality shows, more like unreality, who in thier right mind would like to stay in a house for x number of weeks, with societys fame seeking freaks, be watched on the net and the tv, for money, I think the world is gone mad!!
I cann't stand Ant and Dec (TVs most annoying gits) and their show of has been celebs who are trying to relaunch thier ailing careers, oh thier stuck in a jungle please, let me out of this dumb down crap TV. The only show that merits some credit is Strictly Come dancing (though I'm not a fan this is an attempt by TV to reintroduce some culture) Ok alot of these shows are for charity, and I will concede they raise money, but aren't they also great PR stunts!

Football is game that drives me nuts, I think its more like a fashion parade and which team can get the most money!

This is great I get to moan

INTRO

2008-12-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

My name is Fred Price. I'm new to this blogging. So I suppose I'll tell you a little about myself. I have a slight disability Cerebral Palsy, which affects my left arm and left leg to a lesser extent.
I'm a writer, I've written several short stories and poems (so far none of them have been published) While I was doing an evening course in Cabinteely, I was encouraged to write a book review, which was submitted to The Irish Times. I did it on Guilt by Association by Susan R Sloane, it was published December 19,1997 in the Reader's Choice, if you want to check it out you can read it in the National Library. I did two weeks work experience in Irish News of the World, March 2001. I got five articles published ranging How Independing radio stations were beating RTE in the rates, the National Pensions Office transfering some of its jobs from Sligo to Boyle in Roscommon, TV3 complaining about RTEs bid for higher licence fee (they want to increase by £50, a licence cost £70,)I did a feature about Bono auctioning his "Fly" sunglasses for charity. I did a piece on food posioning, and one on the ticket touts. I'm secretary in Our Ladies of Victories, Saint Vincent De Paul home visitation conference, I was inspired to right an article about how I got involved which was published in The Bulletin, the quarterly journal of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul in Ireland. I continue to write short stories poems and pieces of non fiction.

I also paint landscapes and do a bit of sketching, I don't have enough pictures framed to hold my own exhibitions. I prefer to use arylic (which I would recommend to anybody who's starting painting) Alot of people will tell you to start in Watercolour, but this medium can be very unforgiving because if you discover that a picture should have been brightier, you can't do that in watercolours, on the other hand arylic mistakes can be easily corrected and you can paint light over dark. That is not to say I have paint a couple of watercolours. I'm involved with Eye Contact, a group of artists with disabilities, we meet Saturday from 10am (I'm not a morning person and I find it very hard getting up that early) to 12am in Richmond Cheshire Home. I would mainly work from photos, but I have painted in Lismore, Devil's Glen and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. I have also painted from my imagination. Well if you want to assume my identity keep reading this space and if you want to be Fred Price, I hope you do a better job than I'm doing at the moment....