Image via gillianberger at Flickr

In which case, yesterday was in no way wasted. A trip to the Maser exhibition kicked off the afternoon, in what can only be described as a trendy squat above an Asian market, was where it all began.

Random aside – Hipsters do love faux poverty don’t they? And, the exhibition, while great, was a total hipster magnet. I overheard two blokes talking about art, artists and those “cats” that imitate them and ride their coat tails to success. I wasn’t really listening as the combination of their corduroy jackets and moustache wax was distracting, but I heard enough to be blown away by the term “cats”. Especially when used in a non-ironic way. Another C-word sprang to my mind when I heard him, I’ll be honest.

Anyway, I went to the exhibition with a relatively new friend; we each giggled a little at the hipster dudes, bought a print & then wandered up to the nearest cafe for a catch up natter. And a plethora of belly laughs.

I’ve not laughed that hard in ages. Candid conversations laced with raucous laughter should be prescribed by GPs, so restorative they are. The people of Smithfield, and possibly a few neighbouring areas will have wondered what the hell was going on; two mad women let loose and apparently gone quite insane.

And so, we ended our guffaw-a-thon as we each had plans for the evening. Firmer friends than before the day had started, complete with a shared joke; funny to nobody but the two of us.

And oh, what a lovely afternoon. More of those please.

Even better was a post-night out Skype to The Boy, who, 7 hours ahead, was still fast asleep at 9.30am (local time) when his laptop auto answered and he sleepily asked “Why are you in my ears? I’m sleepy, and you’re in my head. What’s going on? How are you in my head?” All very reminiscent of  David After Dentist, but what I like to call, Billy After Drunk Sleep.

Needless to say, I responded romantically with “Are you sleeping with your headphones in, you knob?” and a hearty laugh, before signing off to get some shut-eye myself.

So, by E. E. Cummings’ standards, Saturday was in no way wasted. Boo ya!*

He has done some brilliant illustrations of well-known characters, with a twist. ROWFL and Wookie The Chew being two of my favourites.

Favourite new find in a while.

Not had a minute really. It’s been a mad few weeks. Work’s busy, which is great. But outside of work I feel like I’ve largely been drunk since the end of February. What with Six Nations frivolities with Jules, complete with the now infamous DonnchaPants; Paddy’s Day, Twestivals, Blog Awards, Leviathan, 30th Birthday parties, a visit from The Cousin & other random, impromptu nights out, my poor liver’s begun to audibly wince whenever boozing is mentioned.

I’m beginning to feel a bit frazzled to say the least. Not that it’ll stop me, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Besides, the parents are over this weekend and there are more festivities planned for that. So, for now, I shall continue to burn the candle at both ends, like thus…

That’s a visual metaphor of me, burning the aforementioned candle, at both of the equally aforementioned, ends. NOT setting fire to my own farts. To be clear. I don’t do that, because, well, I’m, not four-fucking-teen for starters.

Don’t light your own farts kids. It’s not big, it’s not clever and there’s always the risk that if you try to hard to fart you’ll shart and then we’re in a whole other world of pain.

I’ve gone off on a tangent, but fuck it, my point stands. Whatever it was.

Image via Fffound

Wahoo, it’s Pancake Day!

Everyone loves pancake day. Who wouldn’t? Well, Victoria Beckam probably, as I doubt a carb has passed her perma-pouty lips since 2001, but aside from that, who doesn’t love Pancake Day?!

I know I do.

Will I be giving anything up for Lent? No. Fortunately for me, I’m not affiliated with any kind of religion (though according to the last UK census, I’m a Jedi), so in true heretical style, I like to pick and choose which bits apply to me. Besides, I gave up giving stuff up a long time ago. I’m not a girl who believes in either/or; I believe in “and”.

So, I will have my pancakes and eat them. As for what will be on them? Just lemon & sugar. I’m a pancake purist. None of this syrup/ice cream/chocolate etc for me. Lemon & Sugar all the way. Nommy.

Enjoy yours… however you eat them

Mmmm, pancakes

[Image (c) Onesidezero via Flickr]

Just don’t go mad, eh…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczPDGC3f8U

Withnail and Vadar and Surmontil 50′s

Droids on a booze hunt & lacking auditions

Accident blackspots and lightsabre fights

This awesome mash-up rocked my Thursday night

Because, seriously, what’s not to fucking LOVE about it. Two of my favourite things all mixed together in a huge ball of BRILLIANT! Watch, enjoy, try not to get aroused…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmxra03b1nQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3EVuoOo3kA

So here you go; some random information about yours truly. Whether you wanted to know it, or not.

Your most marked characteristic? Well it kind of has to be my hair really doesn’t it?! That or my “slight” mischievous streak.

The quality you most like in a man? Aside from the obvious, I’d say the ability to make me laugh until my face hurts.

The quality you most like in a woman? The ability to be ambitious & successful without becoming a bitch & having to put other women down. Sadly a rare one.

What do you value most in your friends? Loyalty, acceptance & a never ending ability to make mischief with me.

What is your principle defect? My incessant ability to undermine my own self confidence

What is your favourite occupation? Sex.

What is your dream of happiness? A cottage in the highlands somewhere, an open fire, aran knitwear, red wine, someone special, a dog to walk & a crisp, wintery day outside.

What to your mind would be the greatest misfortunes? Never risking getting your heartbroken. The benefits far outweigh the risks, so why hold back?

What would you like to be? Queen of the World. Failing that, happy (in whatever form it comes).

In what country would you like to live? I only got here 18 months ago & right now, there’s nowhere else I want to be.

What is your favourite colour? Yves Klein Blue

What is your favourite flower? Hot pink peonies or irises

What is your favourite bird? Going to have to pick two. From the sublime, Peregrine Falcon as I think birds of prey are magnificent to watch; something quite magical. And then there’s the Kakapo Parrot, because it’s a bit mental & hugely adorable

Who are your favourite writers? P. G. Wodehouse, Evelyn Waugh, Stephen Fry,

Who are your favourite poets? Wilfred Owen. Not for Dulce et Decorum est, although it’s brilliant, but for Anthem for Doomed Youth & Greater Love. My two favourite poems ever.

Who is your favourite hero of fiction? Jeeves

Who are your favourite heroine of fiction? Wonder Woman

Who are your favourite composers? Cole Porter, Bert Bacharach & S.A.W

Who are your favourite painters? LS Lowry. And Eolai

Who are your heroes in real life? My Mum

Who are your favourite heroines of history? Elizabeth 1, Boudica

What are your favourite names? Andrew, Vena, Colette, Caroline, Nicola, Jess, Lisa, Jo, Alison, Sharon, Dan, Alan – family & close friends. To me their names are associated with nothing but great things.

What is it you most dislike? Pineapples. But on a less trivial note, people who are sneaky.

What historical figures do you most despise? Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, George W Bush, Ariel Sharon… hard to really despise the ones you don’t see fuck people over, first hand.

What event in military history do you most admire? The Christmas Truce

What reform do you most admire? Suffrage

What natural gift would you most like to possess? To be able to sing the way I think I can when I’m singing in the car/shower

How would you like to die? In a blaze of glory… if blaze of glory means in my sleep when I’m about 90-odd.

What is your present state of mind? Optimistic

To what faults do you feel most indulgent? Attention seeking, cynicism & cowardice.

What is your motto? Expect the best, be prepared for the worst, fuck what others think & do your own thing.

So, who am I going to tag? The lovely Sinéad, who tagged me in the last one

Details are there, in all their glory, over at the Littlequiz site thus: www.short.ie/corkfood

We have to wear something nice too. ThoughI’ve somehow roped myself into wearing something with bells on it. But not in a Leper kind of way. In a totally sexy bell-wearing kind of way. Obviously.

Though my bells will make it heaps of fun when we do the obligatory dance. Like Jimmy Saville on crack perhaps? :-/

Anyway, be there or… be elsewhere but tragically missing out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1rZqw5bXb4

By Eepybird.com

I am currently home in the UK with the family for a few days, which is lovely. It also inevitably means that at some stage my Mum and I will go shopping. This time there was discussion about Christmas creeping in. Namely my mum asking me what I wanted from her & dad… so far I have given this a total of zero seconds  thought. Eep!

Subsequently I then started to think about what I’m going to get people. Then we stumbled upon these beauties and I know a few people who are going to get a jazzy Suberversive Cross Stitch gift for Chrimbo. Needles at the ready!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFM140rju4k

“We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!”

I challenge you not to be singing that all day. Especially when you can download the song for free! Just go to http://www.ricardoautobahn.co.uk/ and click on the news link.