aine livia

WINSTON RAND.... WAS A REALLY GOOD GUY....

Winston Rand who blogged at Nobody Asked - The Centre for Artificial Indifference and I have never met in person, only on the pages of our respective blogs and through email.  Can't recall how I bumped into Winston's blog. 

I do recall, being intriuged by the blog title - Nobody Asked - the Centre for Artificial Indifference - it was the play on words that tickled my sense of humour, and I believed behind that choice of title,  lay another sense of humour.

On Winston's blog, I found much more.  Wit, humour,a passion for things that he felt really mattered.  And a powerful, sensitive, empathetic communicator.

Winston, once wrote a post about one of my blog posts.  I was thrilled and moved to read "it has continued to haunt me, lurking in the shadows of my mind, whispering to me to return again for another reading."  What more could anyone, any writer ask for?

Winston's words meant a great deal to me.  They still do.  Yesterday I returned to his blog and that particular post, to check if I had thanked him and let him know how much his words meant to me. 

Winston Rand, was a really great guy, and I will miss him so much.  There is a really big gap where Winston once was.

Blessings on your head Winston.

 

Lynnley & Kyle

Lynnley, my niece married Kyle on 19th April in Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For All Those Choco-holics Out There

Visit my Cake Page!!

Gore Vidal: Telling It Like It Is....

Jon Snow of Channel 4 News (UK) interviews Gore Vidal.

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/gore+vidal+ready+to+kill/2238447

For Obama: In Hope, "After Winter Must Come Spring"

  "I wrote these words for everyone
Who struggles in their youth
Who won't accept deception
Instead of what is truth"  Lauryn Hill - "Everything is Everything".

This is one of my favourite songs.  And a beautiful voice. 

There is another beautiful voice, Barack Obama's, that I hope the people of America are listening to. 

To see and hear Lauryn Hill click on: To Continue Reading.......

A Personal Update: Things they don't tell you..... Just a little whining.....

Everyone was encouraging despite my own reservations and fears.  The nurse who did my assesment told me that I had the blood pressure of a twenty-five year old, and a good BMI.  The ECG showed my heart was still in the right place and though my blood is not blue it seems those tests showed nothing detrimental. So let's get on with removing this darn kidney stone.

So far so good.

I suppose the fact that the hospital unit is titled Day Surgery is a little misleading. You'll be in and out in about 6 - 8 hours they smiled.  Smiling must be important when you work in a hospital.  ( I wondered idly if they test applicants for jobs on their ability to smile).  Actually I was in and out in 4 hours.  Armed with a lot of paperwork and post-surgery information sheets we headed home, me in a haze of post general anesthetic and glad it was all over.

Did I say all over?  All that smiling and positive stuff certainly had me fooled.  My general anesthetic had led to my state of Pollyanna cockeyed optimism.  (Not something I am known for.)

I did everything I was told to.  Honest. But my rate of recovery is not what I expected, and hoped for.  Oh no.  Four weeks later, and that's four weeks of, what is for me, inactivity.  (That's looking for interesting progammes on the TV, and reading, eight books and I'm on the ninth.) That's apart from twice weekly visits to my GP's Surgery, and I'm now on the second lot of antibiotics, and to that they have added anti-inflamatories.  Just to be on the safe side, she said.

Oh I was tempted to ask, safe side of what?  But really, I just want to get out of there, so I kept my tongue firmly in place.  (Something else I'm not known for.)

Ah, but just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I develop a severe reaction to the medication, ( I won't go into that), and am now being tested for C. Diff.  Oh and did I say I'm now terrified. Must'nt leave that out.   

The holiday is cancelled.  Riding a bicycle is out of the question. Have been told off for walking to the high street to do some shopping.  What's left? 

O'Bama Everywhere (Vote for the next Irish-American President) Barack Obama, Everywhere Man

Get in the mood, sing along, Obama Everywhere Man.

Thanks to Winston for the tip.

Spring, Winter, Spring......

Last Saturday sunny and warm, and there was no sign of forecast snow as night fell, but then at 6am it began snowing.  And for a few hours on Sunday we had a winter wonderland in our Secret Garden.  Our Secret Garden is a piece of waste land at the back of our street, which is overgrown and full of trees, it's a little woodland, out there beyond that large tree and our back fence.

By late afternoon our winter wonderland had disappeared.

Earth Hour: Candle Light can be romantic......

At 8pm tonight we will be turning off all energy for one hour.  Candles are at the ready, and it will be interesting to experience life without electricity.

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Calling Every Citizen

of

The Planet Earth

.

You are asked to show you concern for the Earth’s Environment by turning off every light AND everything electrical that is not essential, for just one hour on Saturday March 29th at 8pm your local time.

.

This idea was started by World Wildlife Fund in Australia last year, has been spreading rapidly throughout the world. The purpose is to raise awareness of Global Warming and the Energy Crisis.

.

Please e-mail and text as many people as you can about this effective and worthy idea. This is a real demonstration of the power of the people, or if you like; THE POWER OF ONE. It can make a huge difference if enough people participate.

(as posted on  Green Nav's Open Blog)

A Page a Day....

For some time now I've been experimenting with collage.  This is the most recent one.  I cut images out of magazines and then pasted them together to make this image.  Then I drew over the images with coloured pens.  The hat is half a bag, with the feathers cut from skirt images, and then I drew designs on the hat and feathers.  Enjoying this.

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Inspired by:  Hanna @   http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/

Visit her, you'll be inspired too.

Dustin The Turkey: A Microcosm of the Irish Psyche or the Brainchild of Terry Wogan?

Every year, here in Europe, a surrealist entertainment spectacle known as the Eurovision Song Contest (hereinafter ESC) is held.  It's main function, to provide verbal exercise for one of the world's surrealist wits, Terence Wogan (Sir). 

Really it should be titled the "Eurovision Observation Contest", Wogan seems to be the only one willing to shout out, "The Emperor Has No Clothes", while the audience and participants sing, writhe and scream as if giving a performance of Wagner at Bayreuth.  A very modern version of course.  Or is it?

This year, taking their queue from Sir Terence, the Irish people have elected a "puppet turkey" Dustin, to sing at the ESC.  (And we all know what the ESC button is for on a keypad).  Yes, finally after winning Eurovision seven times, Ireland is determined to ESC an eighth.  Or are they trying to tell the rest of the world something? Like this is just a political chess game, masquerading as a song contest. 

And in case you can't quite picture it, here is a photo. Dustin is 18 years old, and has lived in a TV studio, with his presenters, somewhere in Donnybrook, Dublin.  This, as far as we know will be the first time Dustin has left Ireland.  And this year he became old enough to vote, and leave the country. Not that one necessarily follows the other.

Below a selection of Irish Blogs views on Dustin:

Head Rambles

For the Fainthearted

Irish Eagle

Alan In Belfast - for words of song, that's worth douze points, without the melody!

A Wish: A Summer Holiday, Birthdays, and Christmas

Just over six weeks ago my best friend said she wasn't feeling well.  As a health professional she is in her own words " the worst kind of patient".  A visit to the doctor revealed that their was a growth in her abdomen, and tests were ordered.  A CT Scan showed a growth in the pancreas.  More tests, and a biopsy later revealed a tumour that involved the Mesenteric Artery and Vein.  Inoperable, though she would be given chemotherapy.

Bags of Ideas: The Ainelivia Bag

One for me!

Lettice Leaf

Eleri Mai goes to 100 Aker Wood with Mami & Daddy, - A Tale in Pictures for Children of All Ages.

 

Eleri Mai goes to London with Mami & Dadi

Today our guest author is Eleri Mai Rice.  Eleri Mai is 5 1/3 years old, and lives in Wales, on a hill with Mami & Dadi, the cats, and a lot of pink things.

In my school holiday Mami & Dadi and me went to London to stay with Modryb Carol and Ewythr Charlie and Grey and Dim Sum.  We stayed four sleeps in London.  And we went to see London Zoo and The Tower of London (where the Queen's Bling is kept) and the 100 Aker Wood.  And Mami and Dadi taught Modryb C how to make Cawl.  We like Cawl in Wales.

Modryb=Aunty, Ewythr=Uncle

Here is Mami's recipe for Cawl.

Cawl Mamgu

Day One:  Take either scrag end/breast of Lamb and some Lamb bones, or unsalted Brisket of Beef and a Marrow Bone (cut to fit the pan).  Place meat and bones in pan with cold water to cover.  Bring to the boil, skimming off the scum, and then reduce to a very slow simmer for up to 3-4 hours.  When cooked place the pan and contents somewhere cold for the night.  (where four-legged residents cannot get to it).

Day Two:

Large amount of chopped Onion

Carrots, Parsnips, Swede, Leeks  All Chopped

Potatoes Diced,

Salt, Parsley, Garlic if desired

Take the Stock Pot and carefully removed the Fat on top and set aside for later.  Remove the meat and bones and set aside.  Sieve the Stock into a container, and return stock to the Stock Pot.  Add to stock, Onion, Carrots, Parsnips, Swede, Salt.

Remove meat from bones and add to Stock Pot.  Put some of the reserved fat into the Stock.  (This is important, as without some fat the dish loses flavour).  Bring Stock to boil and reduce to a low simmer for about 2-3 hours.  Add the Potatoes and simmer for another hour. Keep and eye on the stock as some potatoes can "go through" the water.  The Leeks and Parsley can be added any time in the last 10-15 minutes.  Or you can put the Leeks into the bowl and pour the hot Cawl on top.  This way the Leeks are still crunchy.

Serve with nice Crusty Bread and Black Pepper.

This dish tastes even better the next day.  Also freezes well.

Music Memories - 60s - Bobby Vee - The Night has a Thousand Eyes

Bobby Vee

Music Memories - My Guy - Mary Wells

It was a four mile bicycle ride to the Blackrock swimming-pool and we used to sing this on the way. No Walkman or Ipod, or MP3 then....   did I really just say that........!!

Mary Wells 1964

Music Memories 60s - Them- Here Comes the Night

And Van the Man, in a previous incarnation, Them

Music Memories - Tell it like it is - Aaron Neville

Aaron Neville

Music Memories - 60s - The Cascades

Rythmn of the Falling Rain - The Cascades

You know the way music can stimulate memories.  Well here's one; in Malloca's Cafe after an afternoon at the swimming pool, listening to the Cascades on the juke box.  Mamma Malloca said I'd wear out the record.