Nothing but thugs - I hope they throw the book at them!

I'm not from London, or English but watching BBC Newsnight leaves me morally enraged! How can these idiots attempt to justify their out & out thuggery? Thankfully they are seen as just exactly what they are...THUGS! At the end of the day...they are hurting nobody but innocent people & the excuse that just because they grew up poor justifies their actions is an insult to all those who struggle every day but don't go around looting from their neighbours or destroying the streets.  And paraphrasing Martin Luther King don't get me started!!!!

The political wrangling by some attempting to feather their cap for when this is over is just disgusting but isn't all politics. The sensationalism by the media, insinuating that the government are not doing enough - good god people they were on vacation. It happens every year so stop pretending you're shocked that they were not there. You can scream from the top of the tallest building (if any are left standing) at the end of all this if it turns out that well someone sent them an sms or email to let them know they were about to attempt to destroy London or other cities.

Those saying the police are not doing enough...well unfortunately the police are damned it they do & damned if they don't. Fingers crossed that the "neighbourhood watch" that's going on in London tonight will not lead to any innocent people losing their lives or getting seriously injured.

What happened with the shooting of Mark Duggan is questionable but let his family take that fight as they the did (peacefully) on Saturday.  Today's looters really don't care what happened in those events. If they do, can they explain to me how stealing a plasma screen tv and new pair of trainers is going to help with the situation the Duggan family find themselves in? I don't expect anyone to be knocking on my door with an answer to that any time soon...

Thankfully all family & friends living in England are safe and have not been directly impacted. Let's hope it stays this way!

James

My friend L returned to visit Amsterdam recently and had arranged to meet a few old friends in a local haunt.  We both got there earlier than the others and my friend announced she was glad we did as she had something she wanted to tell me... my stomach lurched. My honest first thought was L is sick. That's what usually follows those statements in my life.  Thankfully she wasn't & isn't but she did have equally upsetting news...someone I knew had died earlier that year.  My stomach wretched and my appetite went right out the door.  I was still dealing with the loss of Eugene and now another fantastic young people was taken from this world. 

Back in March 2006 when L was living in Amsterdam she introduced me to the enigmatic James, a good friend of hers visiting from Boston.  James was a wonderfully fun, beautiful, easy going person. We clicked, we hung out and partied like it was going out of fashion. 

Hearing how his life was cut short through a simple stupid accident was heartbreaking.  James hit his head after a night out with friends in Boston and while paramedics were called his concussion was not dealt with. The following day he was admitted to hospital and remained in a coma until his family were forced to take the unbearably difficult decision to switch off life support.  I have lost people in my life but I have no reference point for how difficult a decision that must have been.

Brain injury is something that is not taken nearly as seriously as it should be. Please take care of all those you love and take nothing for granted...even the smallest bump on the head.

Feeling Old

I'm feeling weirdly old today, my oldest niece turned 21, yes 21 today!

I can't believe I'm old enough to have a 21 year old niece or that the cute little bundle in this picture is all grown up. 

Is Féidir Linn

Well the Irish weather had to crash the party to give cead mile failte this morning to President Barack & First Lady Michelle O'Ba...sorry, Obama as the touched down at Dublin airport. A short meet and greet with President Mary McAleese at the Áras followed by the Tree planting ceremony.

On to Farmleigh for a meeting with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny where he received an official gift of a hurley.  From the looks of it, his Irish Brigade will have to give him a few quiet lessons on how to swing the camán. :-)


After a brief lunch break and hiccup at the American embassy they headed to Moneygall for the biggest photo op of the day.

I bet anyone a fiver the secret service agent or two were minus clean underwear when this happened. :)

Moneygall is a small village on the boarder of counties Offaly and Tipperary. With the weather as wild as it was the fear was it would be a swoop in and out visit but the sun seemed to be following Barack all day and to the agony of his secret service went on a 45min walk about to meet and greet as many people as he could.  The walk about interupted on brief occassions to visit an Siopa Beag and Hayes' pub where he not only met his relatives including Henry VIII but he sank a good pint of the black stuff, made sure everyone got in on the tab, told a story in good old fashioned Irish style and made sure he paid the bill before he left.

But in true Obama style he finished the day with a rousing speech on College Green, Dublin. Not to be out done by Queen Elizabeth he also began his speech with a cupla focal.  He is one of the finest orators I have witnessed in politics so watch and enjoy. Is Feider Linn!!!!

Now if only he'd get someone to give me a job in his fine country all would be well with the world. :)

What a week!

Starting with some nervous moments on Saturday night during the voting of the Eurovision Song Contest when Jedward started scoring high points for a bit (good god the country can't afford a win) the week was jammed packed with such a mix of emotions I can't believe I've survived it relatively unscathe.  With the arrival in Ireland on Tuesday of Queen Elizabeth II for a historic 4 day visit; thoughts of how it would go; will the minority trouble makers cause a scene; will there be any major breaches of protocol sparking international tensions were abound.  The city of Dublin was on lock down and many holding their breath and crossing their fingers.

Alas, very little to worry about.  The Gardaí & Army boys did a fine job in herding the eejits well away from the Garden of Remembrance on Tuesday and the biggest talking point of the day was how she bowed her head in respect  "for our dead killed by her country men".   Watching news coverage through the week and catching up on those I missed on rte player I have to admit a huge sense of witnessing something historic in the making and a pride in the Irish people who gave the Queen of England a real Irish cead mile failte!

http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0520/media-2962359.html

Yes there were tears... but they were not the only tears this week. As if that wasn't enough to jam into one week, add two deaths and a birth.  The passing of a friend taken from us far too young and that of Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, a man dedicated to making this historic occasion happen brought many a tear and reflective moments.  The flip side was the birth of Mia Rose Margriet Lovelidge! As one friend put it...Life delivers little miracles sometimes. Welcome to the world sweet pea.

So it's now Sunday evening, the tears of joy, sadness, pride and hope have subsided (thankfully) and the people of Ireland are relaxing and getting back to normal...oh wait, President Obama arrives tomorrow morning!

What a week!

The Rock

So today the Queen of England was visiting my home county with her trip to St. Patrick’s Rock, Cashel better known as just The Rock. Not to be confused with Mr Johnson this rock, according to local legend, was made by the Devil himself when St. Patrick banished him from a cave. He took a bite out of the mountain 30 km north of Cashel and spat it out, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel – hence the Rock of Cashel & the Devil’s Bit were born. I’m not sure those living around the rock would want to be referred to as living on something the devil spat out but who’d argue with legend :)

Historically it was the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years.

The Rock is an icon that stands out from the landscape and for some living around the Deerpark/Gortussa hills, at night a beacon of beauty. The Rock lit up at night is a marvellous sight but can not compare to the sight of the Rock, day or night, as you drive around the bend on the way into Cashel from the Dublin road. For me even though I have 14km more to travel…in my heart I’m already home.

"It's the Queen. OMG, it's the actual Queen!"