Getting that “sporty physique” back…

Right, the festivities are over, and that means the indulgence must stop and the power walking must start again. There’s no point in trotting out excuses about “needing a winter layer”, “defending myself against the cold with a ring of blubber” or “walking conditions are too treacherous to even consider setting foot outside” – although, believe me, I’ve tried them all in […]

Scared of clowns?

Perhaps you ought to be, kids.

Liverpoo-el literacy “ledgends”

As Liverpoo-el fans who might form part of my friends and family will doubtless agree, I have not gloated once about Fiorentina’s glorious double victory over them in the Champions League group. And nor will I; I’ll simply celebrate on my own – as Viola fans are a bit thin on the ground ’round my way, […]

Easy Food Recipes of the Month!

As I’ve mentioned before, I have a slight weakness for Easy Food magazine, the monthly step-by-tiny-step guide for novices of the fine culinary arts of tin opening, bread browning and kettle operating. The October ‘Halloween Special’ contains some appropriately horrifying dishes with which you can easily ruin even the most voracious of appetites. But before we get all complicated, let […]

Pret A Mangy

Like my friend Rebekah, I do enjoy happening across English errors, whether inadvertent or straightforwardly remedial. I’ll reserve judgment about which category the above (which stopped me in my tracks in Dun Laoghaire) falls into, purely because it’s not clear whether:

The Pap and The Poop

This is a blog about a log. Sorry about this; I’m writing from Scotland, where the locals (including most members of my family) are utterly charmed by tales of excretion. Lots of non-Scots may think this is entirely to do with Billy Connolly and his jolly old japes about jobbies, but all he did was […]

Pointless Nostalgia: Puffa Puffa Rice (again)

Due to overwhelming demand (and the extraordinary patronage of ANITA ALOHA , star of a 1960s Kellogg’s commercial), it seems we may have a ‘Bring Back Puffa Puffa Rice’ Campaign on our hands. Personally, I’m all for keeping the past in the past but, if they can bring back Wispas, we could be in with […]

Waterford: The Sky’s The Limit, Bar None

Waterford is having an indentity crisis. Of course, this may just be my opinion as viewed from the vantage point of Dublin, but it does seem that it’s not a city entirely at ease with its image. Take the poster to the left here. “Waterford – Summer City”, it states, colourfully. What great Waterford landmark have […]

Salad Days

I’ve just bought a Korean lunch box. People have been asking me what’s ‘Korean’ about it, and the truth is, I’ve no idea. It was just made there. All I can tell you is that, if this is a standard example of a Korean lunchbox, they’re very good at making them. As short-legged people who […]

Political Hot Potato

In the spirit of fellowship and togetherness, the Taoiseach yesterday met the heads of the Church of Ireland from north and south. And, in the spirit of Christian generosity, the Archbishops brought Mr Cowen some lunch, in the shape of a gigantic baked potato. Then, in the spirit of perma-starvation, our Brian scoffed it before commencing dialogue with the […]