I haven’t been involved in Pegbar in several years but it is great to be back and engaging with the animation community again. For 2020, the plan is to keep social media going on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. There will be three posts a week promoting artists that are working in animation, animation related industries… Continue reading Pegbar … 2020
Extract from Pollinators.ie: There are 99 bee species in Ireland: the honeybee, 21 species of bumblebee, and 77 species of solitary bee. Bees are the most important pollinator of crops and native plant species in Ireland. They are a key component of our wildlife and one of the busiest, least appreciated work forces we have.… Continue reading Nature Watch – Pollination
This time last year, I was in Whitby with friends. We had rented a cottage in the seaside town. Subsequently the annual Goth Festival was on, and the town was hosting a number of events including pop up goth stores, music events and even Goth Morris Dancing. As the lockdown is on, and my Yorkshire… Continue reading Macabre Morris Dancing
As lock down continues I don’t think I’ve talked to so many friends and family, just checking in with folk to cheer one another up, in the last year than I have in the last 3 weeks. From checking in with neighbours to see if they need anything from the shops or just talking to… Continue reading Your Tribe, Our Tribe, Your Life, Our Life …
Education is a process … which makes one rogue cleverer than another Oscar Wilde I love this quote from Oscar Wilde and believe everyone should be aiming to educate themselves in whatever field or craft they engage in, then put it in their practice to develop themselves and let that learning digest so that it… Continue reading Making One Rogue Cleverer than Another
With the country self isolating, more and more folk are working from home, it is really important to look after your mental health whilst in isolation. Isolation could be with other folk, but being locked up in a house for a while can have weird effects. Believe me I know … just weeks before coronavirus… Continue reading Audio Therapy in Isolation …
As you know, we are in a global pandemic. Some of us are fortunate to be able to work remotely, self isolate and try and look after our family, friends and neighbours. Others are not so fortunate and will run into serious/fatal complications … And then there are frontline responders putting their heart and soul… Continue reading Create Aid calls on you to help frontline responders around the globe.
Now that Coronavirus/COVID-19 is spreading, people are staying at home for work, self isolating and making some great efforts in order to stop this virus from spreading. It is a world wide pandemic and needs global attention and endeavours from all walks of life. Part of that, the comedy and entertainment world have stepped up… Continue reading Home Tasking for Sanity
I’ve loads of tasks to be doing around the house now that we’re in lock down in Ireland. Well Taskmaster tasks that is … Have to keep sane during self isolation … As a massive fan of Taskmaster I hope to knock a few of these out over the next few weeks. This is from… Continue reading Loads of Tasks to be doing …
The second edition of games that have made a serious impact in my life and why! The first game was ‘Stardew Valley’, this time it’s ‘The Long Dark’. Like ‘Stardew Valley’, this game plays a big role with recovering from mental health issues. The game’s only aim is to survive another day, or another hour,… Continue reading Learning to Survive – The Long Dark
After missing the opportunity to hit the big Arklow Bingo night last year with Saoirse and her Mam, Saoirse saw an advert for ‘Bingo Loco’ being organised in the local hotel. From the flier, it looked like Bingo with a bit of ‘craic’ involved. I think there were some Gameboy’s and SNES’s up for offer… Continue reading Bingo
So Brexit has happened. It’s been 4 years in the making … 4 years of a headache … 4 years of worry for people … and it’s still not complete. They’re still going around in circles with negotiations … dodgy trade agreements not fully defined, bleached chicken and chlorine washed meet scares, pro-eugenic advisors being… Continue reading Hard Brexit Happened … How was it for you?
For Christmas I was given ‘The Almanac – A Seasonal Guide to 2020’. I’ve never owned or read an Almanac before. It was surprisingly great, I pull it out regularly to see what I should be doing seasonally. It’s also amazing as I’m on a journey of repairing my mental health and this book guides… Continue reading Welcoming Spring & Imbolc Celebrations
I personal don’t own any Slipknot albums but every time they visit Ireland, I have to attend. They’re a fantastic spectacle and have savage tunes. When I was a teen, my friends gradually moved from Nirvana and Metallica to more nu-metal bands like Slipknot, Korn, and Deftones, whilst I moved backwards in time to Black… Continue reading Growing Old in Style – Slipknot Dublin 2020
Today is Mam’s birthday. She was born 4th Jan 1960. She would have been 60 today and we’re having a bit of a shin dig in her honour back at Dad’s house. It’s a nice way to catch up with all the family and recount old stories of fun, mischief and adventures. Mam past away… Continue reading The Feasting continues …
Happy New Year everyone! I hope this message meets people in good spirits and in optimistic hope for 2020. There are a few games from the last decade I want to write about that made a significant impact into my life. I thought I would start off with ‘Stardew Valley‘, and it’s simple but reassuring… Continue reading How managing a farm ignited my creativity …
Happy New Year folk! and all the best in 2020! Leave a comment if you want your fortune told … pick a number from 1 to 8, then a colour – green, red, blue or yellow and lastly pick another number from 1 to 8 again. “I hope that in this year to come, you… Continue reading Fortune’s Fortune Telling Machine
Brady Brothers Arklow had a grand opening of their American Motor Museum today. I’m not a mechanophile nor a petrolhead, but the aesthetics behind the designs of these cars are fantastic. Their collection captures a history of slick, bold and daring stand out design for the cars. The models define the age of the car… Continue reading Arklow’s American Motor Museum
I hope you all have a wonderful festive time and a merry new year! Please see my Winter Solstice Greetings for the full post. Lots of love to everyone! Have 10 hour of the Charlie Brown dance to keep you going through Christmas Day!
The UN Climate Change Conference has come to an unresolute deadlock with multiple nations quarrelling over responsibility of climate change instead of looking at progressive ways forward for this planet and its occupants. This is disappointing as ever since I was a kid I’ve been thought to respect the environment, recycle and replant … My… Continue reading Crafting Christmas
“I am a man who takes heart from the season’s change” Matt Berry – Solstice – Kill the Wolf I think it is really important these days to press pause at seasonal calendar events to reflect on times past and how you are going to go forward with the next part of your life. Although… Continue reading Winter Solstice Greetings
Happy Bake Cookies Day! Who doesn’t love a good cookie … nom nom nom! There are several reasons to celebrate cookies other than a sugary treat. Cookies have history, they’re not just an American hallmark Christmas film thing or a stable diet in Friends. The word originates from Koejke, a Dutch word meaning ‘little cake’.… Continue reading Bake Your Day a Little Better
Its Hot Cocoa Day! Lets celebrate! Domesticated by the Olmecs, converted into a treat by the Mayan’s and turned into wealth by the Aztecs. Cocoa beans have a significant history in regards to development of civilisation. Chocolate has over 600 flavour compounds that excite the brain. Like with most delicious things in life, companies have… Continue reading Hot Cocoa Day
I’ve been going through some old art and bits and putting together some old painting ideas into new forms, deconstructing them and reconstructing them into new things. This was installed in the front room. I took an old abstract expressionist painting exercise, cut that up into panels, then photographed them with a macro-lens on the… Continue reading Expressionist Collage
I love the idea of ‘Make a Gift Day’. It takes the consumerism out of the festive season and the result is that you have a really special and individualised gift to give one of your loved ones. It is also a great opportunity to collaborate with friends or family in making gifts for others.… Continue reading D.I.Y Gifts
Here is some 360 footage of the Lonesome Boatmen. The Lonesome Boatmen are a collection of trad and rock musicians that meet up on a Sunday in the Harbour Bar for a session. They play most Sundays at 4pm in the bar section, and for the month of December, Bray is having free parking on… Continue reading The Lonesome Boatmen
Over in the states, Touchtunes declared the day before the US holiday of Thanksgiving to be their National Jukebox day. The day was established in 2017. Despite Jukebox Day being nice publicity day for Touchtunes, I do love a good social with friends around a Jukebox/playlist. Jukeboxes have been a staple diet of the American… Continue reading Celebrating Jukeboxes
I’m still playing around with Tik Tok videos, here is some footage from earlier this evening. Just some festive fun happening in Arklow as they turn the Christmas lights on for 2019. There was Arklow’s Pipe Band, Christmas Carols, a Christmas Carnival, Fireworks and of course a visit from Santa Clause. Check out the Christmas… Continue reading Arklow Christmas Lights
Now that it is too cold for insects, its time to give my greens in the planter a little tender loving care if we’re going to get some spoils for Christmas. I started by setting up a mobile of CD’s over the plant patch to act as a scarecrow for birds as they’re still eating… Continue reading Christmas Greens
Dry November is where folk go sober for the month or a little bit more in order to rejuvenate their liver and overall well being before all the feasting and indulgences that come with Christmas and seasonal celebrations. Not only is it Dry November but its ‘Action on Alcohol’ week this week (18th – 22nd… Continue reading No Conditions – Alcohol Awareness Week