Will Ye No Come Back Again?

A happy & peaceful new year to you all my dear friends.

Wouldn't it be great to see world peace and an end to all wars?
I reckon if all nations recruited only gays into the military then war would be a thing of the past.
Just imagine, " I'm not shooting you, You're fucking Gorgeous"!

If You Build It, They Will Fill It With Stuff!

I've always been convinced that people are obsessed with putting stuff in/on any available space. Even if they have no stuff to hand, when they see an empty vessel, or bare table/clear worktop, or floor void of furniture, they will go and search for stuff to put in/on said space!

I have commented on this to Mrs. Map and all the Maplettes on numerous occasions, but they all reply with the usual 'ptfft'! (Dad on one of his missions again!)

So this evening, before I left for my gig, I put an empty bread basket on top of the microwave oven. Upon my return it contained TWO cameras, a Calculator, a Bracelet, two Dress Rings, a pair of headphones, a keyring and half a bag of Hulahoops (a spud based snack!)

I rest my case! (Remember, I am the only male in a family of five!) :¬)

Killing.Me.Slowly!

'Killing me softly', what a fucking song!
I had to sing it tonight, and I swear it drained the fucking life out of me!
It made me want 'to die' in more ways than one.
It made me want to hurt many people with rusty microphones, in places where microphones were never meant to be.
WHY would a bride request this drivel for her first song with her new husband?
It's beyond me my friends!
I have yet to find a more boring, life sapping piece of shit put to music.
It just seems to go on FOREVER.
I have promised myself as a new Years gift, never to sing this piece of tripe again!
And I have never said this of any other song.

Next!

Tradition.

So, ever since we got married, and especially since the babies came on board, this is what we do on Christmas eve.
We call it the Santa run.
All five of us load up the Stew Wagon with our gifts, and off we go.

Nanna Stew is usually first call, Aunty Rena lives there too, and so does niece Carol at the moment, and grand-niece Abbie. So four birds with the one stone.
Then uncle Eddie & Val. (My youngest Bro & his wife & family.) Then Bobby, Jacinta, Jimmy, Helen. Pajoe, Noelie. Mrs. Mac, my Bud Jim & Ber & Lexie, Paul & Fran, Aisling & Aine. And More.

I never gig on Christmas eve, too tired from the visits, and so much to do.

I start cooking my ham about 9pm. Then start my veg preps. We don't do turkey, but we have a leg of lamb and two ducks.

Starters to get ready, desserts to prepare, wine to cool.

Better get to the 'leaba'!(Bed!)

Tá a lán tuirse orm!
Oiche mhaith agat mo chairde go léir!
Amárach!

I sang this song for the first time tonight.

Love it, Love Bruce.

(Ya HAVE ta love Bruce!)




:¬)

xxx

It Was A Cold Dark Night!

Went to a comedy club tonight.
The four support acts were that bad I lost the will to live, let alone wait for the guy I went to see! (Dave McSavage.)
I did bump into him in the lav though!
He looked sadder than me.
(Nice hat though!)
And he had yet to face the crowd I had just left.
Dave is a seriously funny man.
But don't keep us waiting Dave, don't wait for a bigger crowd.Don't be hangin' out in the lav!
Come upstairs and make us laugh.You lost a good audience, cos people were leaving in droves! Well maybe not droves, but TWOS! As did the 'Maps.! (It was a small crowd to start off with!)



Funny?
No!

My first review!

A Little Memory For UB! (tee-hee!)

And many thanks to all of you who sent Christmas cards!
I am having your hand-writing analysed as we speak! :¬)

Black & White

We put up two Christmas trees this year.
(Some years we put up FIVE! One year we had ELEVEN!)

The Black, Goth tree is in the front (living) room. It's a spiral, pop-up tree, takes two mins to put up, all the decorations and lights permanently attached.

The White, snow covered mystical tree, is in the 'extension', the newest part of the house, at the back. It takes many hours of loving dedication to decorate, (in white and silver trimmings), by the girls. When they were younger I would tell them where to put each bauble and snowflake, each frosted pine cone and feather. Now I just get the stuff from the attic and let them at it. Needless to say, the tree looks much more fantastical these days! This is the tree under which all the gifts appear. This is the room where we all spend the first hour of Christmas morning, in our Jammies, usually VERY early!

The Black tree is the one you can see from the street, and it looks great through the window, for all who pass by to see, even though it has taken little or effort to assemble.

The White tree is seen only from the inside, by us, and our friends and loved ones who come to visit. A lot of time, dedication and love has gone into how it looks.

I wish you all peace, love and health.
Be nice to your friends.
And even nicer to everybody else!

Eddi Reader - Charlie is my darling - Live At The Basement

I know ye'll like this Charles!


I love this woman, and she's a FB friend!

'Stories For Sale'

I went drinking with my very good friend 'Paul The Plumber' last night. He can drink even more beer than I can! Many people think he is always 'down', but really he's just a deep thinker. He doesn't suffer fools and always says what's on his mind. Some people don't like him for this, and it bothers him none! He often goes to our little bar alone, sitting by himself in deep thought, minding his own business. But if anybody, including strangers start a conversation with him he will gladly take you into his company. If he likes you. I, for some reason, have the ability to make him laugh out loud! Something that happened quite a few times last night, making the rest of the regulars stare at us more than once!

('PTP' was a guitar player in the very first band I was ever in, and we became friends instantly. He moved to America not long after the band split, returning about 10 years ago and bought a house around the corner from mine.)

Last night, as the drink flowed, and we ran out of things to say about plumbing and Celtic FC (his two fave subjects, Jimmy would like him!), we started to talk about music (my fave subject! REALLY!) and had a big chat about Christy Hennessy (RIP). A great singer/songwriter/performer. And a lovely man. He had the happiest face I've ever seen, it radiates peace and contentment, unlike Paul's! (Only joking!)

I didn't know Christy personally, sadly, but I'm more than glad to know Paul.

Cheers!

My All-Time Favourite Tenor.

Would You Like A Christmas Card?

I might regret this, but anyhoo!

We didn't send cards last Christmas, as is the way over here when we have lost a family member during the year.
So this year I want to send MANY!

I know some of your addresses but not all, so, if you would like a card from the Mapster well then just email me your whereabouts. (My email address is over there on the right!)

:¬)

The Blades - "The Bride Wore White"

Feckin' great wedding tonight!

(There were some family there!)

Love this song!

Where Would I be Without My Gay Fans?

I sang these songs way too many times this weekend!
We surely would be lost without our gay contingent!
They do keep us happy!

Plus.
We got our first gay wedding booked for next year.
(De Valera must be turning in his grave!) Fuck him!
Two very good friends of mine. Should be a blast!
They're having trouble picking the bridesmaids though!

And as for the Best Man?





(I was as skinny as Travolta once. So was He!)

Sign Of The Times!

And It's Time For The Irish To Do What They Do Best!

EMIGRATE!

Caledonia

Tonight I sang this song for the first time in public. Twice.
It's a song that has always been close to my heart.
A song about the homeland, where Granda Stewart came from.
I have a very strong calling to Scotland (Caledonia).
Maybe that's why I love playing the pipes, and it's my excuse for wearing a kilt!!
And my excuse for loving Glasgow, and a certain ugly heided friend!

This version of the song is sung by THE MOST Irish woman I know.
And in my opinion, she OWNS this song! The lovely Dolores Keane.

Enjoy!

There's One Brewing!

Lunasa - 'Morning Nightcap'

Happy Birthday (Pat's) MTL

Death Becomes Me! (Or, Black IS Very Slimming!)

A mask can be a great thing!
(And a bit of 'dressing-up' always lifts the spirits!)

Y

A Sign.

Somedays, that's all we're waiting for.

Oct. 25th; International Kim Ayres Day!

Photographer
Philosopher
Phather
Phriend
(and a musician too!)

These are just some of the things my friend Kim Ayres is spectacularly good at.

I am honoured to know you pal.

Have great fun on YOUR day! :¬)

I Am The Bastard Child Of Robert Smith & Johnny Rotten!

Gimme a Mic & a wig, let me entertain you!

Heaven

3am.
2 slices of wholemeal bread,
Slathered with pure Irish butter,
4 rashers of the finest smoked bacon,
Heinz ketchup,
Bottle of Bud.

strange night

And it was strange.
And fun.
But strange.
But fun.
Don't you just love showbiz?
Dontcha?

Is That The Time?

I'm still here!
Stuff has been taking up my time.
Good stuff and bad stuff!
But it's still only stuff.
And stuff can be moved around until we figure out what to do with it.
Some stuff we just throw out, dump it, flush it, recycle it.
Other stuff, well, other stuff just takes time.
And takes up time.
But you and me we know we got nothin' but time! @¬)

CAROLINA

For Pat & The Patient

For the lovely Pat and her 'MTL'!

Love Is.......

Realising that though she may be 18, and living away from home...

She will always be your baby!

No! I am NOT Narcissus.

There is beauty in everyone.

St. Paul's Letters

Well it is Sunday!
Hope you are all having a good one.

Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo

According to Ma, one was a gifted Maestro at the age of two.
Amazing what a kid can do with a stick! :¬)

For Annette, Kate, Anna & Helena.

8

My friend 'hope' (She of the huge acts of human kindness) is a bit nosey, and wants to know all sorts of things about me, and other decent dog-fearing folk!
And she has given me 8 questions to answer about myself.
In return, she promises to put my firstborn through 7 years of Medical School!

And I get to pick 8 of YOU to answer the same questions!

So, the questions;

1. Why did you start blogging?
Someone told me that blogging was dead, so I thought I'd start a revival!

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, with no restrictions on cost, where would it be, and why?
Russia. I have been to Moscow once, with my band, and I found the place truly fascinating! I would love to go back and explore more. (The vodka was good too!)

3. Did you have a teacher in school that had a great influence on your life? If so, what?
No! Most of them were vile bastards!

4. If you could spend the day with a famous person, who would it be, and what would you do?
There is one person, famous indeed in Blogland, from a certain city in Scotland. We would spend the day (ALL 24 hours!) drinking and telling tales! (I fear it would carry on into the next day!)

5. Toilet paper - over or under?
Over or under what?

6. Name one thing in your life that you would do over if possible.
That's easy, spend more time with my Da!

7. Tell us about your pets, if any.
No pets, nothing to tell.

8. Do you live in a small town or a large town?
A small city!


And so to you. (You are not obliged!) :¬)

sav
Leah
Madame DF
Clyde
UB
GYPSYWOMAN
Ponita
Milady

:¬)

My Mind Is In Waltz Time Today

I hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday.

hope Is GOOD!

My friend hope is a hero!

(Update; Changed the vid, other one wouldn't play!)

Doctor In The House!

Sunday, dawn, 13:30, (I'm a musician, this is dawn!)
Eldest wakes me, "Coffee?"

"Huegha"

"Coffee then!"

Typical Sunday 'morning' for me, 'cept Eldest is over excited.
She just got her schedule for medical college.
And can't wait to tell me all about it.
And bleary-eyed as I am, even though it was my turn to drive the BandWagon last night, and hence was sober on returning home, (but it was still a late night!)
I can still see,
She's like a lottery winner!
(And in a way she is!)

Our baby is going to Medical School!!!!

It's one Sunday less at home,
One Sunday closer to college,
One Sunday closer to being a doctor!

Me? I came from what could only be described as the slums of Limerick.
Mrs. Map though, she came from what could only be described as 'almost' the slums of limerick. (She married below her station!)
And here we are, our first born going off to one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country.

We are so proud. (D'uh!)
And so is she, for she knows her history, and from whence she came.
She never knew her Grand Daddies, or they her, but both of her Nana's hearts are swelled to bursting!
And her sisters are proud as punch.

Big changes for all in the Map house.

I'm not trying to take credit, but when a couple of kids from the 'wrong side' dig their way out, meet, fall in love , marry, have mega brainy kids and try to make the next generation better?

(Movie out soon!)

:¬)

Stew D'Oh!

I'll be back soon.
I'm trying to set up my recording studio.
It's taking time.
And concentration.
And time.
(Did ya see what I did there? 'Stew D'Oh'?)

I have all the pieces,
I've had 'em for a while.
Putting everything together is a pain,
AND a blast!
The manual is MASSIVE!
And leads and wires all over the place!
One page at a time 'Sweet Jeebus'!
But we're getting places.
Only 467 pages to go.
(I did manage to record 6 songs so far!)
Now, how to mix, and master!
Watch out world, gaurd your ears,
For a new sound beckons!

:¬)

UPSNDOWNS!

So why did I think I could have a week of good?
Ma took to her bed again,
But for once, she actually talked about it.

She said she had 'a turn', a moment on her own, when she thought she might actually be going to die.
And she was on her own.
She said she was so terrified, not of the thought of death, but of being alone when it happened.

It's rarely that Ma is on her own, and because she is still a very independant woman, even at the age of 85, my sister, her carer, the odd time will go out sometimes with her partner for an hour or two. Ma is the first to tell anyone how capable she is of looking after herself.

But Ma got what I think was an anxiety attack, she thought she was going to die, die all alone, and when sis didn't get home at the appointed time, this obviously escalated the situation. Poor Ma. And poor sis who had to take the brunt and handle the situation when she arrived home after one of her rare nights out.
She is frightened,
She is scared,
My Ma,
And my sister.

And me.

What a week.

More Celebrations.

The youngest is 12 today.
(I still think of her as the baby!)

She celebrated yesterday by throwing a cookery party with a group of her best buddies.
The house was a bit mad for a while, but they were having a grand ol' time.

Helena had been planning it for a few weeks, so I'm really glad it all went off well.
Everybody got to make lots of sweet and savoury goodies, and what they didn't eat for the party they got to take home.

(They did leave some goodies for me though!)

It all go in Chéz Map this week!

Happy Sunday all.

I Got A Feeling...........

Someone is happy!

Proud Parents!

KateNap passed all her exams with flying colours!
She got the highest marks in the school.
For the past 10 years!
Ma & Pa Stew are more than a little happy!
College places out on Monday, but things are lookin' good.

(Pop over and congratulate her if you have a minute, she would be delighted.)

Can you SEE my smile?

Goin' Back To The Country!

Spent most of the morning listening to country music.
My first music love.
And I've been a bad lover to her.
I've neglected her.
And have forgotten how fun she was to play.
So, this guy has decided it's time to get a country band together.
It'll take a while, but I've already recruited my favourite picker (Jonathan) at his gig tonight (where he made me do 2 Elvis songs!)!
I didn't expect to be singing, but I had a ball!
I need a drummer, and a bassist. And maybe a fiddle. And a piano.
I have a drummer in mind already.
Fuckit, I'm goin' back to the country!
Watch this space.

(Fuck, he's even got my name!)

When We Started The Voyage......

A man is still up to his tits in paint and wallpaper paste!

In the meantime, a song for all my friends, but in particular Charlie, just because, and the lovely Gypsywoman, who celebrates her birthday today! (Pop over and give her a kiss!)

This is Christy Moore, backed by Johnny Duhan (from Limerick, and the composer of this wonderful piece.)

Enjoy.

August 6th 1925

Lucille Ball, my favourite comic actress was 14 years old.
Andy Warhol was 3 years from being born.
The original 'Phantom Of The Opera' starring Lon Chaney, was a hit at the 'movies'.
As was 'The Goldrush' starring the wonderful Charlie Chaplin.
And my Ma was born.
Ma celebrated her 85th birthday in her usual style this weekend, (lots of whiskey!)

I hope to fuck that I have HER genes!

Happy Birthday Ma, I love you, but you know that!

A couple of her faves.

Changing Rooms.

This week I am mostly painting.
And wallpapering.
For my children are getting older.
And swopping rooms.
And what once was cute, is now 'OMG'! I can't believe I picked that colour!'
And one's children want a more 'mature' look.
One wants 'Brown walls, and a pink Georgian wallpaper on one wall, with a chandelier'!?
And another wants 'All white, mainly, minimalist like, but with MEGA multicoloured stripes on a contrast wall'!?
The other one couldn't care less. She's off to college in a few weeks. Hence the frenzy in room swop!
At the moment my house looks like a badly organised jumble sale!
Chaos!
That's not good for my brain.
My brain likes order.
I fear I may be BORG!

(Or just old & grumpy?)

Resistance IS futile!

Two Songs That Quite Possibly Changed My Life. (2nd Attempt!)

Two completely different songs.
Two completely different artists.

The first was the one that made me want to sing.
The second was the one that made me want to get up on a stage and sing in public.

I know a lot of you will like JT, not so sure about Mr. Numan! :¬)

Sideways To The Sun.

I have met many many people in my life.
I'm sure most of them have liked me as much as I have liked them. (!!!)
Whaddya gonna do?

Some of the people I like most?
Well, I haven't actually got to meet them yet.
And I'm not talking Rock stars, or Actors, or Celebrity chefs etc.
Some of the people I'm talkin' about are you peeps.
Yah!
And one of my favourites is a weirdo (You KNOW he's not!) who goes by the name of Charlie.
A man I have yet to meet,
But one I would be honoured to meet, and proud to meet.
An old friend I've never met.
So, again, ('cos he just LOVES getting attention!) a wee song for Charles.

(There's a bit of 'blank' towards the end of this vid, so, like, it's kinda just blank, like, so, like, there's, like, just blankness. Like! :!)

I didn't make it! Like!

Take A Hike.

Tuesday morning.
Bored child.
Low funds.
What to do?
Pack a lunch and some strong boots.

This is the Clare Glens, not in Clare but on the Limerick/Tipperary border.
It gets it's name from the river Clare which runs through it.

It's less than half an hours drive away and has just the right amount of 'danger' to keep a kid happy and excited for a few hours.
(Oh, and Helena liked it too!)

(Of course I forgot to bring the camera, again, so these are from the phone. A bit over-exposed Kim?)

What Time Do You Call This?

You know your getting old when you're home from a gig and the children haven't come in from their parties yet!

I suppose I'd better wait up for them and their friends, (who are staying over).

I might as well have a few beers while I'm waiting, I suppose.

The things a father has to do. :¬)

It Was Twenty Years Ago Tomorrow

The Parents in this family are out of here for a few days r'n'r.
We're off to Galway, where there just happens to be an Arts Festival in full swing!. (It's quite a major event actually.)

The Map offspring will be looking out for themselves.
The laundry is done,
The fridge & freezer are packed to bursting,
And I've stayed up all night drinking any and all booze that was in the house.
(Just to keep temptation out of the way don't ya know!)

Happy Anniversary Mrs. Map!

See you all in a few days.
Mind the shop, and keep an eye on the girls.

A Great Night For a Tenor.

Had a real treat last evening.
Meself and KateNap took ourselves off to a see and hear a wonderful tenor in concert in St. Mary's cathedral.

Derek Moloney, a local lad, is doing quite well for himself in the music world these days.
We had a rather fabulous time in a perfect setting, and the few hairs still remaining on the back of my neck did stand on end.
Goose pimples were also having a rare outing.


His special guests were Seoda, a truly magnificant female choir, and a favourite of Kate's.
(Isn't it grand when a teenager and her ouldfella can share a night like this?)

I last saw Derek twenty years ago next Tuesday.
He was the boy soprano who sang at our wedding!

If Derek is ever performing in your area then take it from me you will have a fine time at his concert.

Stuff.

Stuff happens.
And there ain't fuck all we can do about it sometimes.
And , old as I am, I am still learning that.
There ain't fuck all we can do about it MOST of the time.
There ain't fuck all we can do about it ALL of the time!
But it's good to know you are there.
And I'm here, should you want to tell me about 'stuff'! :¬)

xxx

For Charlie

A wee song for our good friend Charlie who has been lazing about the house and letting all the work to Martha!

(And not forgetting 'Irish' & 'Molly'!)

Bits

1; A guy in the pub tonight (he don't know me from the proverbial Adam) just 'couldn't get' why I have tattoos! Amazingly, I COULD get why he is such a 'prick'!

2; My girls really enjoyed the athmosphere in the pub (not a regular experience for them) this evening, for the world cup final. They were amazed by how many people knew their Da! (I like to think these people know me for my fame as a musical star, and not for my infamy as a bar-fly!)

3; Those accounts ain't gonna tally themselves! (I've been putting this off for too long now!, I just hate Mondays!)

4; I don't care HOW cheap they sell the stuff, Fosters Lager tastes like shit!

5; You are all invited to my 50th Birthday celebrations on 11th June 2011 (the day after my actual birthday) in a venue to be decided, cash gifts only please.

6; I miss my Pal.

All Under One Roof

All my babies are home tonight.

Lessons In Life, Numbers 1 & 2.

Number 1; Sometimes it can take putting your hand in the fire to feel what it is like to be burned. (For Kate, my eldest.)

Number 2; A windy day is the best day for flying a kite. (For Helena, my youngest.)

We all learned something today.

:¬)

DIE? me? DIE?

So, we're in the pub tonight.
And we were talking about inquests, as you do, into the cause(s) of death.
My younger sister was supporting her best friend today,
At the inquest of her said friend's husbands death.
He committed suicide by hanging a month before their first wedding anniversary.
As you can imagine, all present were still traumatised by the event, which happened only a few months ago.
A tragic affair for all concerned.
And the conversation got around to funerals.
And how the funeral service would be performed etc.
And Herself asked if I had a particular priest in mind for mine!
A 'particular' priest! Bastards the lot!
I nearly choked on my pint!
(Why do wives always presume the husband will 'leave this mortal coil' first?)
She knows I'm not catholic, but she says that maybe the kids would want a traditional catholic funeral.
MY KIDS??
Protestant bastards the lot of 'em!
And 'HELLO'? Who says I'm gonna be the first to go??
I have great intentions of being the last to go!
The very LAST I tells ya! :¬)

Let's Get Physical!

Right!
Time for action!
Yes, action, physical action!
Exertion even!
Them pounds have been creepin' back.
And they ain't gonna shift themselves.
So, hopefully there will be less of me sooner than later!

(I'm sweating just thinking about it!)

PAUL BRADY The Long Goodbye

Paris Takes Us.

...time goes by.

We were in the kitchen at home.
You were doing the ironing, and we were playing a game.
I had to choose a word, and you would try to sing a line of a song with that word in it.

'These 'BOOTS' are made for walkin',
'Put your 'HEAD' on my shoulder',
'Every night I sit here by your 'WINDOW'.

I think I must have been very young, 'cos I remember playing on the floor, and looking up at you. (Or was I looking up TO you!)
Doing the ironing, and singing. And playing games with me.
And there was just the two of us.
(There may have been other kids in the room, I don't know, but they are not in this memory.)

Every time I iron a shirt for a gig I find myself in that lovely memory.
I don't have a gig tonight,
But I think I'll Iron a few shirts anyway.

Our Helen (my Big Sis) is gone a year today.

Happy Fadder's Day!

It is a wise father that knows his own child.
(W. Shakespeare. 1564-1616)

Thank you KateNap!

Special Olympics Limerick

What a wonderful week we had in our wee town!
The Special Olympics graced our place yet again.
Well done to all the wonderful athletes.
And a huge round of applause to all the volunteers who gave time, energy and lots of love and hugs.
But of course, they were rewarded tenfold!

We did what we could, what we are good at, and entertained all those (3000) volunteers tonight, at a great party! You are such a wonderful bunch, and it was our pleasure to see you all having so much fun!

Well done Limerick!

Day At The Beach

Annette and myself took ourselves off for the day to the coast.
Sunny, but quite breezy and a little bit too chilly for a swim yet!
(Coward, I know!)
I did manage to get a 'redneck' tan though! :¬(

Of course we forgot to bring the camera, these are from the phone.

As usual, the beach was over-crowded with day-trippers!


Aaah, there's my lovely Annette, in the middle!


Can you spot the elderly couple and their dog just sitting peacefully amongst the throngs of sun-worshippers?


This is the 'Pollock Holes' in Kilkee, County Clare.

Some People Think I Post Too Many YOOTOOBS! Well Fook Me!

I earn my living as an entertainer.
It's not an easy job.
But then again, I don't have a job.
I have a way of life.
And I get paid for it.
I am a very lucky man.
Like a lot of other people, some days are good, some days are not.
But the good days are very, very good.
And a happy man comes home to his family after a 'days' work!
I may never be a star in the global sense.
But that doesn't matter to me.
I get all the adoration I need at home.


I Think Gaz looks like Pa!
(Only KateNap will get this!)

Fortyniner!

Cash gifts only please.

:¬)

A Pot Of Paint! (And A Brush!)

I remember a night, long ago, I was maybe 6? Ma sent me to the shops, local, back in the days when kids could be sent to the shops without fear, or even the knowledge, that there were 'weird' fuckers out there waiting to pounce on yer kids!

Anyway, I remember this evening so well. My siblings had gone to bed, and Ma wanted something (cigarettes), from the local shop. I saw a little bottle of paint, and a brush in the window. But I knew, even in my little kiddie head, that we couldn't afford such luxuries!
This to me was all my Santa's dreams coming together. To say we were poor was an understatement! And yes, I know my Ma was buying her few cigarettes, but back then, that was such a 'way out' a luxury that kept people who had lived through both wars, well, SANE, that was their 'right' I suppose. Can any one of us 'young' people even imagine what it was like to live between two wars?? And back then smoking wasn't the bad thing it is today!

Anyway, that pot of paint and the little brush. I told Ma about them when I got home. I remember so well Ma counting her pennies, and asking if I knew how much that paint and brush cost, and if Tony, (the shop owner) would take the cigarettes back in exchange for them!

I remember not going back to the shop, whether that was 'cos I wanted Ma to have her cigarettes or just because I couldn't be arsed going back to the shop I can't remember!

But I do remember Ma asking.

That evening is stuck firmly in my head!

Love is such a wonderful thing.

xxxx

Am. I. Wasting. My. Fucking. Time?

I know I'm supposed to be doing this shit for me/myself?
But if you ain't listening then what's the point eh?
And I know the faithful 6 or 7 are always there, but I talk to ye 'other' places anyway yeah? So, more comments yeah or I'm gone! Seriously, I could be knitting or something! Fucksake!

You have one day.

I mean it!

Or I'm gone.

UPDATE; 24 hours later! Now! That wasn't too fucking hard was it, eh?

Is it wrong that all I crave is your undying love and ceaseless adoration?

And the odd comment or two? :¬)

(Now wasn't that fun?!)

Paul Brady Ate My Hampster

Well of course he didn't!

I think we all need a bit of 'cheering up'!

Cuba anybody?

I Want To Take You To The Island..

This song gets me on so many levels!
I was born and reared in a place called d'island'! (Not the most posh place in our town!) This song has nothing whatsoever got to do with where I come from!

(I was listening to this when my brother told me that Da had died!)

Ye'll Get this, Or, Ye'll GET this! Aye Pal?

And aye, HE do sound like this!

The Things Men Do.

Back in the early 1950's Da had to leave home, leave his wife and family of three young kids, leave his country and his friends, leave a way of life. It was a bad time, no work, no money, the only thing to do was to 'take the boat', go to England, hope to find work on the building sites and send money home every week to provide for his family. And this he did this for ten years. Ten years! The things men will do for their families. (I presume this is why there is a ten year gap between me and the big bro!) And yes, I know women are just as capable of such things, and DO such things, and make sacrifices and accomplish extraordinary feats when it comes to caring and providing for their loved ones. But today I am talking about Dads/Husbands. And the things they do to provide for, and protect those who are 'life itself'! And I don't know about the rest of the world, but us celtic men are probably a bit 'old fashioned' when it comes to the 'providing and protecting' thing. No, now that I think about it, I'm sure it's not just us, I think all Dads/Husbands must be the same the world over. And all Mams/Wives too for that! I just know I would do anything to protect my kin, would suffer any pain if it meant shielding them. Would lay down my life if it came to it, and that is not a boast, just fact. What man wouldn't step in front of his wife or child to take the force of a blow? And I know 'quite a few' people who are like me.

And I can think of one in particular.

18

Our Firstborn turns 18 today.
Was it that long ago already?

Make a Da happy and pop over to KateNap with your good wishes!
It will make her day all the better!

Alan Stivell

Once, when I was a wee young teenage thug bagpiper, I shared a stage with this genius of celtic music, (in France!). I also shared a dinner with him after the concert, he sat on my left, I was in a state of total AWE! My friends had never heard of him, and thought he was just this guy with the weird harp and even weirder eyes! I knew him as a Megastar! (I had, and still have a lot of his stuff on vinyl)!

Will Ye No Come Back Again?

I'm feeling a bit melancholy tonight/this morning, so give a lad a break, yeah?

Closing Time. Hey U.B. You'll Get This...

Feckin' Ash-Cloud!

We're supposed to be flying to Disneyland Paris tomorrow.
But that ash-cloud has reappeared over Ireland.
And some flights have already been cancelled!
Helena, our Youngest, has the saddest face!
Here's hoping the wind changes direction during the night.

Ponydoll/Babylon/Pretty Boy/Stew?/eh?

Things are looking up for my good friend!

I Stand Accused!

It has been said,
By many,
Recently,
And in the near past,
That I, Map,
For 'tis me,
Have a tendency to do,
Such a thing, as,
(Which, while may make some maidens blush,
And others run for cover,
And others still,
Grab me in inappropriate places,
And I don't mean in a church!)
FLIRT!
Me?
A flirt?

OK, I know I do this 'thing',
It's just that I never realised it was flirting!
And most of the time it's just good harmless fun.
On my part anyway.

During tonights gig I was doing 'mah thang'
And a lovely lady was 'responding', at the front of the stage.
Nothing out of the ordinary for me.
'Flirting' if that's what you call it.
I call it 'playing to the crowd'!
But then 'boyfriend' appears,
And places his frame between Map and herself!
(And 'boyfriend' is BIG!)
So she tries to move around him,
To get in my view, as it were, again,
But 'boyfriend' is quick,
(And obviously very insecure!)
And pushes her away from the stage, back to her seat.
And then he comes back and dances in front of me,
With his back to me, trying to block me from the audience!

What can I say,
He's in his early twenties, good looking lad,
I'm almost fifty, tall, shaved head, tattoos, fit, singing, dancing,

Ah, now I get it! :¬)

.......

Art On My Sleeve

Indulge Me.

My Father's House

Higher!

Feels like one of those (good) days!

Pope. Hope? Nope! Dope.....

I don't suppose tearing up a picture of him, by me, would make a blind bit of diffference anyway!

Dream?

Wake up.

'UH'?

Wake up.

'Da?'

Sshhhh!

'You can't be here! You're not supposed to be ..'

Sshhhh!

'Does Ma know you're back?'

NO! And you can't tell her. You can't tell anyone!

'But you've been gone so long I ....'

Sshhhh.. just get dressed, I'll wait downstairs, just be quiet!


'Da, I don't understand. You're gone, GONE! what...'

Are we goin' for a pint or what? That's what you want, ya?

We never did have that Father and Son drink did we?

'Ya, but that's what I wanted before.. ya know.. before..'

Yeah, I know, but, I'm here now. So, put yer coat on.

'Ah Da, I have to tell Ma, she'll be delighted like, she'll be..'

Sshhh! Quietly, just you and me, you and me right?


'Another pint Da?

Whatever you're up ta yourself son, I'm here for the night!'

'Another it is then'

And a couple of small ones?

'Course Da, have to have the couple of small ones'!

Great night Son.

'Twas Da!'

Give yer Ma a kiss for me.

'I will Da, will I tell her about our night out?'

If ye like son.

But this was just for you, and me, yeah?

'Yeah Da, yeah!'

Now, back to sleep, and remember this night son, eh?

'Yeah Da, I will!'