tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40320662011-07-08T00:58:51.946+01:00An Irish woman's social, political and domestic commentarySarahnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-45248623415975143092008-07-31T16:46:00.005+01:002008-07-31T19:27:21.886+01:00

HI everyoneMy sarahcarey.ie crashed big time this morning when some US and UK tech blogs linked to me. We're working on getting it back up. In the meantime thanks for the emails and support. Apparently a row is taking place on sites as to whether or not strawberries and muffins are an appropriate motivating tool for employees.Update: Cuil has made this announcement. http://www.cuil.com/info/

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1131385403668484442005-11-07T17:40:00.000Z2005-11-07T17:43:23.680Z

Blog moveThis blog is moving! I have moved to a new site! (www.sarahcarey.ie). Hope you all approve. The new site gives me a bit more functionality and it's kinda nice to have my own domain name. The entire blog has been moved so old posts will still be there, altho, the comments didn't migrate, and I haven't categorized all the posts yet. If you have my blog on your blogroll, I'd appreciate it

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1131111928533168012005-11-04T13:42:00.000Z2005-11-04T13:45:28.550Z

Sarah's blogI am planning some changes to the blog - all will be revealed soon. But one thing that came up was the name of the blog. Irish readers will be familiar with the meaning of the name GUBU (grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecendented, as per Haughey's famous statement when murderer Malcolm McArthur was found in the home of the Attorney General). But I am not sure if this

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130850412732649882005-11-01T13:02:00.000Z2005-11-01T13:09:43.776Z

What's a modern girl to doMaureen Dowd in the NYT elaborates on women in the movies. A long article, but here's a relevant bit. All about how men still want to marry down and women want to marry up."Moviemakers these days are more interested in exploring what Steve Martin, in his novel "Shopgirl," calls the "calm cushion" of romances between unequals. In James Brooks's movie "Spanglish," Adam

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130849954884256162005-11-01T12:50:00.000Z2005-11-01T12:59:14.943Z

Trick or TreatHallowe'en has passed and I am outraged. I hate to begin rants with "when we were young" BUT when we were young all the children on the road got together weeks beforehand and began our preparations. We collected stuff for the bonfire and sorted out our "puca". There should be a fada on that "u" and it's pronounced pooka for the non-Irish speaking reader.We created a whole

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130846455449640932005-11-01T11:48:00.000Z2005-11-01T12:00:55.503Z

Domestic updateFirst: a triumph. I want to formally acknowledge the brilliance of using washing soda as a stain remover. Previously I used it solely to clean out drains: pack into the bath or shower drain, pour on boiling water or for impressively explosive results, boiling vinegar, and hey presto, clean drains. BUT, recently started to use it for those nasty tomato type stains that NEVER come

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130796609900867322005-10-31T22:07:00.000Z2005-10-31T22:10:09.920Z

MarathonOut and about today and I came across the Dublin Marathon. I had time to watch the runners painfully drag their feet along in the rain. And I thought. Why? They were suffering. It was so utterly stupid. I just don't get it. Go home. Run a few miles a few days a week. But marathons are for the deranged.

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Lawlor/Journalism/WatersJohn Waters has written the oddest column. As usual it starts out really well. "Several of the editors and publishers of newspapers which carried the story have apologised to the Lawlor family for the pain and distress caused to them. But such pain and distress would have been even greater had the story been true. Doesn't journalism have a responsibility in this regard

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130706156245379852005-10-30T21:01:00.000Z2005-10-30T21:02:36.250Z

This week's ST - They’re only entrepreneurs, not gods Every time a pin-striped politician spouts platitudes about our great fortune to live in a democracy, I feel like spitting. Who lives in a democracy? Perhaps we do for the few hours in the evening that we crash out in front of the telly. For the rest of the time we live in an autocracy. We exist at the mercy of a brutal dictatorship that is

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130705727871351302005-10-30T20:19:00.000Z2005-10-30T20:55:32.576Z

Ferns ReportEveryone is still reeling from the Ferns Report but the consensus is that the Bishops are the ones with the real case to answer for protecting the monsters (and there is no other word) who abused the children. There is more to come. Apparently Maynooth College would provide a report in itself. This has got to break the hierarchy. They deserve to be broken and I hope they have to fork

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130526145480504532005-10-28T20:00:00.000+01:002005-10-28T20:05:24.066+01:00

Harriet MiersDid she withdraw or was she told to withdraw? Scott McClellan made an interesting slip in his press briefing this morning:"She called the President last night at 8:30 p.m. He was in the residence when she called him, to inform her -- inform him of her decision."Maybe he did inform her....and a little later"He [Bush] is deeply disappointed in the process. He will move forward in a

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130500959379059262005-10-28T13:01:00.000+01:002005-10-28T13:02:39.400+01:00

Dave Fanning ShowUntil next Tueday you can listen to me (oh joy!) on Tuesday's Dave Fanning show talking about the Bridget Jones/women on telly thing.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130274195207522662005-10-25T21:45:00.000+01:002005-10-25T22:03:15.283+01:00

LawlorI've had complaints that I haven't yet commented on the death of Liam Lawlor! Firstly it is with great pride that I must observe that The Sunday Times chose not to publish any of the details about the so-called hooker. Unlike the entire O'Reilly stable, SINDO, Sunday World, and even the Trib. Ireland on Sunday published that there had been reports that she was a hooker but conflicting

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130092047035900512005-10-23T19:24:00.000+01:002005-10-23T19:29:27.686+01:00

ST - PensionsI don’t have a private pension and I haven’t the slightest intention of taking one out. My finances are tight enough as it is. With a growing family and a mortgage, my daily expenditure is at its peak. Why should I divert funds from our budget so that executives in Irish Life or Eagle Star can pocket big commissions and drive fancy cars? You’ll have noticed that none of these

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1130010612389832512005-10-22T20:29:00.000+01:002005-10-22T20:50:12.500+01:00

BetrayalA report on last night's visit to The Gate for the Pinter play Betrayal. The bad comments first. Typically the actors (possibly under poor direction) ruined it. Emma, the heroine (played by a woman who used to be the vet in Glenroe), was terrible. She had the most affected manner of walking and standing around I've ever seen. I am not sure whether she was told to ham it up a bit, or

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129979232730533202005-10-22T11:59:00.000+01:002005-10-22T12:07:14.153+01:00

1916Cannot believe that after my so recent mention of Garret FitzGerald's revolutionary roots that bloody FF manage to hijack 1916 for themselves. How do FF supporters so conveniently ignore the fact that the biological and political descendants of the 1916ers mainly ended up in Fine Gael? Christ, even my favourite creep Michael McDowell has a right to commemorate it without having to get the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129822084949277692005-10-20T16:20:00.000+01:002005-10-20T21:29:19.553+01:00

Multiple personalityFor some years now the National Lottery's Telly Bingo programme has been presented by Shirley Temple Bar, a drag queen previously best known for her/his acts in the gay bar The George. It was always slightly disconcerting to watch this freakish creature host a programme watched by elderly people. However, it is even more disconcerting to watch the real person, Declan Buckley,

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129810354881061412005-10-20T12:59:00.000+01:002005-10-20T21:28:35.533+01:00

Garret the GoodI had cause to consult Garret's autobiography today (All in a Life) and came across this passage. He had been describing his early childhood, how his brother Fergus taught him to type at the age of 7 and other such gems. He then talks about Nurse O'Neill having charge of him until age 5 when she was replaced by a governess Miss Cuddy until he was sent to an all-Irish boardiing

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129797410655240772005-10-20T09:35:00.000+01:002005-10-20T09:36:50.663+01:00

Radio RowsI was most fortunate to hear this live yesterday. Play this and fast forward to 22 minutes. Will go down in the annals as one of the best rows ever on radio between Joan Rivers and Darcus Howe.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129629910505823222005-10-18T11:03:00.000+01:002005-10-18T11:05:10.513+01:00

Pinter/SeinfeldPO'Neill makes the link between Pinter and Seinfeld...who would have thought it...now I can watch The Betrayal on Friday having seen its offspring on the small screen. Soooo post-modern.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129576049501967562005-10-17T20:05:00.000+01:002005-10-17T20:07:29.506+01:00

PinterI will confess - last week I knew practically nothing about Harold Pinter. In fact, I knew less than nothing - I thought he was Scandinavian. But! I am researching and I am going to see his play Betrayal on Friday. Turns out we are on the same wavelength. He has been conducting a massive anti-war campaign. The Guardian published a series of "letters to Bush". Here is Pinter's.Dear President

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129554206113381502005-10-17T13:58:00.000+01:002005-10-17T19:53:13.280+01:00

Doh x 1000I continue to be defeated by household so-called technology.In a state of high hassle, I was trying to get them organised for a walk because the baby wouldn't sleep and a stroll in the pram was the only solution. I tried to pull up the release handle to make the back seat of the double buggy lie flat. I pulled and pulled and it just wouldn't release. So I forced the back down anyway. I

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129550508645361122005-10-17T12:55:00.000+01:002005-10-17T13:01:48.656+01:00

ST on Bridget JonesHeroines today are pathetic, with one kicking exception Bridget Jones is back. An Irish newspaper is running a weekly column about the eternally thirtysomething ditz who still can’t get her love life sorted out. Now I don’t mind the author, Helen Fielding, milking her Jones character for every available penny, but I do mind that the most popular female heroine of the past 10

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129239568980698852005-10-13T22:35:00.000+01:002005-10-13T22:39:28.986+01:00

CommentsHow I would love to adopt this policy from Wendy McClure's blog on comments. SHE got a book deal from her blog! So it appears I am not the only one whose blog actually helped them. Must explore Blogger's help section to see if I can censor comments BEFORE they appear on the site. I have started deleting the very abusive ones and as you may have noticed I had to introduce word verification

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129207368558058402005-10-13T13:18:00.000+01:002005-10-13T13:42:48.623+01:00

Councillors and ConferencesToday's IT reports : "Councillors have been banned from claiming expenses for attending conferences organised by political parties, under new rules issued by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche. The measure follows controversy after Fine Gael councillors were last month forced to drop plans to claim State expenses for attending a party conference in Athlone.....Last

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129122917709734092005-10-12T14:14:00.000+01:002005-10-12T14:15:17.716+01:00

So-Called American Aid.Great article here from the NYT on the bogus nature of what counts as "aid".

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129061229476495632005-10-11T21:02:00.000+01:002005-10-11T21:07:09.476+01:00

Rosin Ingle in the PhoenixHadn't see the Phoenix in a while but much reading in it today including a critique of Roisin Ingle's column and book. Here's a worrying quote:"In fairness, basing a column around the ups-and-downs of one's personal life is a tough brief at the best of times, and with Ingle's egocentric style offering precious little in the way of insight, she frequently attempts to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129060889233636202005-10-11T20:56:00.000+01:002005-10-11T21:01:29.240+01:00

CorrespondenceI have been a bit sensitive of late to the occasional hostile comment or letter to the ST. However, today for the 4th time since I began at the ST, I received a handwritten letter, re-directed from the ST's offices. And, for the 4th time, it is a nice letter.The first one was from a 60-something woman who thanked me for writing the column on the value of stay-at-home mothers. She

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129059736662961202005-10-11T20:41:00.000+01:002005-10-11T20:44:02.570+01:00

Mary RobinsonI see that Conor Brady, writing in today's IT agrees with my assessment of Mary Robinson ;-)"That Mary Robinson is one of the most remarkable Irish people of her generation is not in question. But in retrospect, it is difficult to measure the extent to which she was an initiator of change, as distinct from a personification of new values and priorities that were in the ascendant in

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1129027838647468172005-10-11T11:42:00.000+01:002005-10-11T20:40:58.273+01:00

Loyalist violenceHere's part one of an excellent essay on the reasons behind loyalist violence in the North. I used to try and rationalise their failure to progress politically on a number of grounds, for instance, that their might feel justified in feeling that Sinn Fein were conning everyone. But when they started attacking the Chinese, I thought, to hell with them. The Chinese are such a hard

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128954740704073422005-10-10T15:26:00.000+01:002005-10-17T13:58:51.890+01:00

Doh!I've been using the new washing machine since February. A glance through the instruction manual tells me that I've been putting the powder/tablets in the pre-wash section of the drawer. NO WONDER the bloody clothes weren't washing properly. And I was complaining about crap washing powders. In my defence, the pre-wash drawer was labelled "1" so I thought that meant it was the most important

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128884639838268782005-10-09T20:03:00.000+01:002005-10-09T20:03:59.846+01:00

ST on friends - Why female friendships are more deadly than the male You read a lot of rubbish about the inability of men to form loving friendships in the way women do. As far as I can see, the difference is that women create not deep friendships, but deeply hysterical scenes. Tears, phone slamming, spiteful reminders of past failings, drunken reconciliations and admissions of PMT-fuelled

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128458360727178742005-10-04T21:37:00.000+01:002005-10-04T21:39:20.740+01:00

GranniesHere's an interesting article on the importance of maternal grannies. Note that in developing societies, they are more important than fathers for infant mortality. I wonder what John Waters would make of that.....

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128449156244240752005-10-04T16:35:00.000+01:002005-10-04T19:05:56.333+01:00

Irish Times Doctoring PhotosMy esteemed county councilling father was Liam Fay's source for this suggestion in the ST. He is speaking about "self-styled Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI)" chaired by Feargus Flood of Tribunal fame, presenting a report on the dodgy goings on relating the granting of planning permission for a hotel beside Trim Castle. "The CPI report added little to existing public

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128269288249674632005-10-02T17:06:00.000+01:002005-10-02T17:08:08.260+01:00

Today's STWould the real Mr Darcy please step forward? Men just don’t get Mr Darcy and how could they? For Darcy is not a man at all; he is the anti-man. He is everything a man is not and therefore we women adore him. Unfortunately for the fevered brows and beating hearts of Pride and Prejudice fans, he remains a work of fiction. It’s not about the wet shirt, though that gratuitous scene from

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1128028373673021542005-09-29T20:32:00.000+01:002005-10-05T19:36:00.086+01:00

P&P: BBC vc MovieIt's time for another U-turn. I went to see Pride & Prejudice after all. I hadn't been to the cinema in ages and my sister and I had to get over our disdain for all the other people there and the ridiculous noises that cinema audiences make these days (chatting, mobile phones, rustling sweets, in an out to the toilet, god almighty, sit and down and be quiet for a few hours).

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127852963618917202005-09-27T21:14:00.000+01:002005-09-27T21:29:23.633+01:00

Islam in Western SocietyA brief update on the progression of my thoughts on this. Last year I posted on this issue and I had decided that the State shouldn't get involved in telling people what they could and couldn't wear. But Kevin Myers has now written two columns on the topic and I have to record that they have persuaded me. There is a line between what is acceptable practice in a western

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127828741969961252005-09-27T14:41:00.000+01:002005-09-27T14:45:41.970+01:00

Mumbo jumbo - or usefulI've been thinking a lot about alternative therapies lately. There is such a huge range of what does work, what is placebo, the benefits of religion, fads like NLP, benefit of simple cognitive techniques in improving mental health, my yoga and pathetic efforts at meditation. Here's something else to add to that list. Walking on hot coals. It's easy to knock it, but is there

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127828181242511442005-09-27T14:34:00.000+01:002005-09-27T14:36:21.243+01:00

IT typoAmazing. The Irish Times gets it wrong! In an interview with John McColgan, creator of Riverdance on his new production of The Pirate Queen (musical about Grace O'Malley) he says: "We thought about a musical with its routes in Ireland and with dance." I presume he meant "roots". Happens to us all.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127827915915682412005-09-27T14:29:00.000+01:002005-09-27T14:31:55.923+01:00

What goes around comes aroundI see that "Sir" Tony is getting a taste of his own medicine:From today's IT"An overseas group, which plans to publish a free newspaper for Dubliners "within the next few days", is attempting to block Independent Newspapers from using the word "Metro" in the title of a competitive publication."When John Ryan started his ill-fated "Stars on Sunday" he had to fight off

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127684214930329362005-09-25T22:23:00.000+01:002005-09-25T22:36:54.973+01:00

Kate MossI have one thing to say about Kate Moss. I don't think she's that great looking. Perhaps in real life. But in photographs? Never seen the attraction. And her clothes aren't cool. They're a mess. And her legs are bandy. I couldn't care less what drugs she does or with whom she has sex. She's young and rich. And they're all it so I am sorry that the press turned on her. But who is a beauty

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127682940878677352005-09-25T22:09:00.000+01:002005-09-25T22:15:40.880+01:00

Miriam Pregnant AgainMiriam O'Callaghan is pregnant again. She has 7 children. 4 from the marriage with Tom McGurk, and 3 with Steve Carson. So this will make the lads "even". Its almost unseemly in this day and age to have so many children - still, she's rich. She says she's happiest when she is pregnant. I understand this because despite the physical traumas of pregnancy, you feel extremely

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127682316588573652005-09-25T22:03:00.000+01:002005-09-25T22:05:16.590+01:00

Sneaky civil servantsI know its "my" paper but I must say the ST does get good stories. Here's an interesting one about sneaky civil servants using their access to databases to rat to the press on Lotto winners.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127682008375196862005-09-25T21:53:00.000+01:002005-09-25T22:00:08.390+01:00

Protesting ColumnReal leaders don’t indulge popular fears Civil servants at a pension office in Sligo voted to go on strike last week. Not for any of the usual reasons — better pay or shorter working hours. Instead they’re threatening a walk-out because Vodafone is putting three mobile phone antennae on their roof. The workers believe that the health risks are so great it is their duty to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127507232114625252005-09-23T21:10:00.000+01:002005-09-23T21:27:12.183+01:00

Lincoln and DepressionHere are some extracts from The Atlantic's feature on Abraham Lincoln and his lifelong battle with depression. The author uses accounts of the time to tell the story of how his illness was viewed. It's compassionate and fascinating."Abraham Lincoln fought clinical depression all his life, and if he were alive today, his condition would be treated as a "character issue"—that

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127394028197777192005-09-22T13:59:00.000+01:002005-09-22T14:00:28.206+01:00

Civil Liberties, yeah right.Check this out. As the guy points out, he is actually lucky.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127333901698313112005-09-21T20:33:00.000+01:002005-09-21T21:18:21.780+01:00

Media missed storiesThanks to Paddy for this link listing big stories of the year that the meeja missed or under-reported. The one about Iraqi farmers is particularly good.It reminds me of when a woman I half-know called Kim Bartley happened to be in Venezuela in April 2002 filming in the Presidential palace when it was reported via CNN and then throughout the world that Chavez had resigned and a

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127248050637106052005-09-20T21:02:00.000+01:002005-09-27T22:18:43.306+01:00

Myers on AmericaA popular technique in columns is to list arguments made by opponents and then dismantle them in a crushing withering fashion. But the opponents did not make those arguments at all. They made other one less easily deconstructed.Anyway, here's Myers today. How disappointing for our many American-hating fellow-Europeans to see that people in New Orleans are now returning to most

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127244419139160802005-09-20T20:17:00.000+01:002005-09-20T20:26:59.166+01:00

Violence on TellyA letter in today's IT: "Violent death has become an accepted and apparently essential part of our television entertainment diet.Research has shown that the average child in the US or Britain will see more than 7,000 violent deaths on television before starting second-level education at 12 years of age......The effects of this exposure to violence on television have been

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127162761127013162005-09-19T21:44:00.000+01:002005-09-19T21:58:55.570+01:00

Silence of the DogsMy dog column has prompted some questions and under examination a lamb-like incident has emerged from my childhood.You see when we were kids we actually had two Jack Russells. One was Buttons. A really friendly stupid dog. Mongrel of course. Then we came across her one day in actual copulation with next door's Jack Russell (purebred). The result arrived and we called him Yosser

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127075255104959752005-09-18T21:22:00.000+01:002005-09-18T21:27:35.113+01:00

Pride and PrejudiceI have square eyes from watching the UKTV Gold Pride and Prejudice fest today. They are showing the entire BBC series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The only question is why on earth would anyone even attempt to remake this, especially in film version? Colin is the last word in Darcy and Jennifer Ehle gives Lizzie maturity and depth. All the other characters like the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127065187406952702005-09-18T18:37:00.000+01:002005-09-18T18:39:47.413+01:00

Lady ColumnistsMany many thanks to Leon for this hilarious link. Have been LOL for the last 10 minutes reading it. I pray I am not on the same road as the lovely Roisin.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1127058152236795862005-09-18T16:35:00.000+01:002005-09-18T16:42:32.280+01:00

ST on DogsDogged, hounded and harassed: I want your mutt banned When I’m minister, I’ll ban dogs. I’d ban their irresponsible owners, but there are probably some constitutional issues there, so the dogs will have to take the rap. All right, those mutts with a purpose other than the validation of their owners’ egos would be allowed stay. Guide dogs, sheep dogs and the occasional faithful retainer

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126821188606715842005-09-15T22:23:00.000+01:002005-09-15T22:53:08.643+01:00

A giddy day with some groundingI was very giddy and excitable and my heart was racing all day. I had an appointment with the osteopath, and you know what? They are making progress. My poor pelvis is getting more stable all the time and they've started on the shoulders. My mother did reveal that there was a fall and she actually did take me for an x-ray when I was about 8. She was afraid my

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126776293739231812005-09-15T10:15:00.000+01:002005-09-15T10:24:53.746+01:00

CondomsHere's a wonderful article by friend Tom McEnaney in today's Indo about his work giving away condoms in TCD in the late eighties. It's hard to believe it was still illegal to sell condoms back then. If link doesn't work let me know I'll send you the article or reprint in full.One addendum. In 1992, Tom and I decided to re-introduce the condom blowing competition during Trinity Week. But

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126730989522839622005-09-14T21:41:00.000+01:002005-09-14T21:49:49.526+01:00

Ireland's ODA "target"Bertie says we will reach our target 0.7% GNP by 2012. Now, will someone ask him what does he mean by target this time? 'Cos the last time a target was just a lofty goal, not a commitment or a promise. Let's nail him down this time.The news was quite funny. A decrepid looking Geldof bending Bertie's year and poor Conor grinning in a most bizarre fashion trying to look like

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126518539284884832005-09-12T10:47:00.000+01:002005-09-12T10:48:59.293+01:00

Not waving but drowningSince I used the phrase I've been trying to remember the rest of the poem. So here it is: (It's be Stevie Smith btw)Nobody heard him, the dead man,But still he lay moaning:I was much further out than you thoughtAnd not waving but drowning.Poor chap, he always loved larkingAnd now he's deadIt must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,They said.Oh, no no no, it was

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126517769992963072005-09-12T10:33:00.000+01:002005-09-12T10:36:09.993+01:00

Past popular postsI've been messing with my templates. I decided to put in links to past posts that I am occasionally asked for. So any special requests? Maybe the Moriarty ones? The dead lambs was popular too.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126514471867469442005-09-12T09:36:00.000+01:002005-09-12T09:41:11.873+01:00

Waters on HobbsJohn and I have our moments, some via correspondence, once on-air, mostly in my head, but I really like what he has written today. Here are just some lines. If anyone would like the whole thing mail me and I'll send it to you."But more and more the feeling grows that we are going nowhere rather than somewhere, that we live in a land where the miracle of the loaves and fishes has

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126450624827867922005-09-11T15:55:00.000+01:002005-09-11T15:57:04.833+01:00

The Future is NuclearI agree with David McWilliams. Nuclear is cleaner, more efficient, and isn't going to run out. Who knows, maybe by reducing our dependance on oil and willingness to fight over it, it might even save lives.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126441455661914702005-09-11T13:07:00.000+01:002005-09-11T13:24:18.736+01:00

Poor ConorHe's done it again. Here's how the ST runs the story:"What an ass,” one senior party figure sighed. “His rare mix of stupidity and arrogance is a dangerous cocktail. Bad enough to fall asleep on the phone, but why did he have to go on RTE to explain it? Could he not just disappear for a few days?” It was supposed to be a Fianna Fail think-in, but it started to sound more like a drink-in

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126432854044904892005-09-11T10:54:00.000+01:002005-09-11T11:00:54.053+01:00

This week's ST - Bonds - What Bonds?I might be home (almost) alone but at least I’m not trapped A distinguished gentlemen from Harvard lamented the absence of personal bonds at a bonding session for Fianna Failers in Cavan last week. Since then, the press has been full of Professor Robert Putnam and his book Bowling Alone, in which he warns that the disintegration of personal bonds in the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126347706624252312005-09-10T11:19:00.000+01:002005-09-10T11:21:47.493+01:00

Hobbs Smear continuesThe campaign intensifies. From FRONT page of the IT"A former client of TV personality and financial adviser Eddie Hobbs who moved funds offshore in the 1990s had to subsequently make a €1.25 million settlement with the Revenue, writes Colm Keena, Public Affairs Correspondent"and to keep the lawyers happy..."The former client has told The Irish Times that he did not inform Mr

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126298086423899152005-09-09T21:12:00.000+01:002005-09-15T22:53:58.870+01:00

Eddie Hobbs and Rip-Off IrelandMore news from the front line. The meeja have swallowed government inspired spin hook, line and sinker and the debate now centres on Eddie's personal life instead of the issues he has raised. I cannot believe the likes of Vincent Browne have so willingly become Bertie's lackies in this campaign. Apparently The Village tomorrow will explore Eddie's role as a Director

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126264241829557682005-09-09T12:08:00.000+01:002005-09-09T12:10:41.836+01:00

More PowellIt's beginning to look like this interview is a launch for his campaign to get the nomination for Republican candidate in the next presidential election....."Former US secretary of state Colin Powell has joined the criticism over the response to Hurricane Katrina at all levels of government. "There have been a lot of failures at a lot of levels - local, state and federal," Mr Powell

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126260217729962392005-09-09T11:01:00.000+01:002005-09-09T11:03:37.730+01:00

Powell on WMDFrom today's NYT"The former secretary of state, Colin L. Powell, says in a television interview to be broadcast Friday that his 2003 speech to the United Nations, in which he gave a detailed description of Iraqi weapons programs that turned out not to exist, was "painful" for him personally and would be a permanent "blot" on his record."I'm the one who presented it on behalf of the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1126206274220917932005-09-08T19:33:00.000+01:002005-09-08T20:04:34.293+01:00

MPC and OsteopathMy multi-protocol client is working...which means I have even more access to the outside world..if it (the world) wants that. A brief update on my bone issues. My normal osteopath decided I was too far gone for her and called in a superior bone cruncher (a man of course) so help sort me out. They are convinced I must have had a fall as a child because everything is crooked. I

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125947459887566042005-09-05T20:03:00.000+01:002005-09-05T20:10:59.893+01:00

AcronymsPaddy is trying to teach me to be a Geek but so far all I have managed is to understand what a multi-protocol client is. I have yet to successfully make one work. However, in a userguide they handily provide a list of acronyms - some we know but some are kinda funny so I publish them here for your entertainment and you can show off. I deleted the obvious ones btw.afaik as far as I know

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125860900263840612005-09-04T19:55:00.000+01:002005-09-04T20:08:20.316+01:00

Good citizenry of Enfield (not)If you thought yesterday's post revealed poor characters in the village, I have more news today from another estate which is almost worse.Enfield has long been home to many criminal types. Not necessarily the type that cause trouble for the locals. For example, before the CAB(Criminal Assets Bureau) got him, we were the home town of John Gilligan, drug boss and

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125831244759580832005-09-04T11:47:00.000+01:002005-09-04T11:54:04.763+01:00

This week's ST: May he be well, may he have his own toilet It is a truth universally acknowledged that single people build their social lives around the goal of getting married. Marrieds can’t help wishing, on occasion, that they could go back to being single. I sat in a pretty Scottish church last weekend with fingers crossed, wishing my two friends a successful marriage. If uniformity of

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125778276673601542005-09-03T20:53:00.000+01:002005-09-03T21:11:16.680+01:00

Auctioneers & RacismApropos, as Pat Kenny says, auctioneers, here's a story from the frontier that shocked me.There's a meat factory in our locality and it is normal practice that abbatoirs selling meat to Arab countries have to provide Halal meat. This means that instead of the cattle getting the bullet, they get their throats cut and the blood can drain out of them. My sister used to work in

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125584129206028732005-09-01T15:01:00.000+01:002005-09-01T15:15:29.216+01:00

Groceries OrderSome weird reporting by the IT today.The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has accused the Competition Authority of basing its case against the controversial Groceries Order "largely on assumptions".....The CSO stressed yesterday that it had no opinion on whether the Groceries Order was scrapped. However, the case made by the Competition Authority was "based largely on assumptions"..

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125517178897506482005-08-31T20:07:00.000+01:002005-08-31T20:39:38.953+01:00

Men in CrisisI love this....from Tuesday's IT "Males (Men as leaders and elders)Ireland, the group which aims to help men find themselves, is hosting several seminars on male spiritual development.""Particularly in today's society, so many men try to avoid at all costs the painful parts of themselves. It's almost like not accepting their humanity. I see so many men getting caught up in

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125508730464251962005-08-31T18:17:00.000+01:002005-08-31T18:18:50.473+01:00

Thank you'sAll my thank you letters are up to date.Wedding parentsWedding bride and groomLast last weekend's barbequeLast last week's dinnerAnd I received a thank you for the wedding gift.The world can rest easy. Well, my world.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125436637305314622005-08-30T21:29:00.000+01:002005-08-30T22:17:17.373+01:00

MarriagesDrinking tea in the early evening watching M. mow our ridiculously huge lawn, my uncle and I reflected on how we would reduce the amount of grass and the news that an outward relation appears to have accepted her husband back into the home. We knew that after a legal separation of about 4 or 5 years, there had been some family holidays and the occasional overnight stay. However, the news

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125305237729710022005-08-29T09:46:00.000+01:002005-08-29T09:47:17.733+01:00

A cool customer keeps his fingers crossed It started with white lies (“no, your bum does not look big in those trousers”) and the fake-enthusiasm lie (“your hair is gorgeous!”). Then there are the denying lies (“I wouldn’t recognise an off-shore bank account if it jumped up and bit me”) and, more recently, the spinning lies (“it’s not a cutback, more a budgetary adjustment”). I’ve been trying to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1125304896500878672005-08-29T09:15:00.000+01:002005-08-29T18:01:05.943+01:00

Post-Wedding BluesDon't worry, not mine, someone else's. I'm posting early in the hope of benefitting from the therapeutic effects of blogging, thus preventing a Monday mope and resultant lack of productivity which would have onerous consequences for the remainder of the week.I truly have stepped off the set of Four Wedding and a Funeral. Scotland, jokey priest (or moderator or whatever they have

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1124882651570175932005-08-24T12:11:00.000+01:002005-08-24T12:24:11.576+01:00

Eddie HobbsEddie, for furrin readers, is a short man with a thick Cork accent, who has previously presented a show advising people how to get their finances in order. I think he's great. His latest show Rip Off Republic is mad and brilliant. He presents it before a live audience and lectures them like a Christian Evangelical preacher about how they are being ripped off by producers and the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1124634010980441202005-08-21T15:08:00.000+01:002005-08-21T15:20:10.990+01:00

Table mannersSarah Carey: Manners maketh civilised children Manners featured high on the agenda last week and a consensus quickly emerged: children are unruly because their parents are too tired to teach them how to behave. I’m not so sure that it is that simple. The disappearance of the family meal may contribute to the disappearance of table manners, but there are other forces at work in the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1124633296578544962005-08-21T14:57:00.000+01:002005-08-21T15:08:16.586+01:00

Personal update and other newsApologies for long absence. A combination of poor physical health, multiple mental inputs and a computer that died but was ressucitated by a kindly neighbour all contributed to a failure to blog.On the physical health issue, those who are bored by other people's health problems may skip the next paragraph. For those who are still reading I had the most bizzare

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1123496363880776742005-08-08T11:05:00.000+01:002005-08-08T11:19:23.890+01:00

AuctioneeringAn update on this. I met the brother (and sister) yesterday and asked them about the proposed regulation. They are vehemently in favour of regulation. They are members of the IAVI which insists on a high standard of education and CPD (continuing professional development). They invest a lot in knowing the law and promoting good ethics amongst their members. They are sick of having to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1123495541539017762005-08-08T10:54:00.000+01:002005-08-08T11:05:41.553+01:00

Sunday Times websiteI just noticed that the Sunday Times website has a menu which gives my column a wider audience (well, apart from their mystery subscr. policy). Ireland is listed separately, so if you were an English reader you may not be bothered clicking on that. However, I'm listed under Review, so people are more likely to see my work than if I was just under Ireland. Dare I write to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1123494868462148872005-08-08T10:51:00.000+01:002005-08-08T10:54:28.476+01:00

Breast is best etcWhy breast can be such a test The winter vomiting bug a few years back was a godsend for new mothers trying to breastfeed in maternity hospitals. When the virus struck, it was necessary to ban all but essential visitors. The wards were cleared of overbearing aunts, unruly children, enthusiastic colleagues and sniffy mothers-in-law. Traumatised mommies could weep in peace, and

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1123235175897207942005-08-05T10:32:00.000+01:002005-08-05T10:46:15.906+01:00

AuctioneersToday's IT front page reports that the government is being asked to regulate auctioneers - a popular enemy. Since people hate paying huge money for houses they choose to blame the estate agents. A bit like people complaining about the CAO for high points even though its the students themselves who achieve the points. Anyway, as the family are auctioneers I feel duty bound to defend

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122976808663969322005-08-02T10:52:00.000+01:002005-08-02T11:00:08.666+01:00

Second sad storyThere's a gorgeous guest house called Delphi lodge down in Mayo. It's run by totally charming anglo-irishy types and we had an hilarious stay there some years ago. It's one of these places where all the guests sit at dinner together at one big table and we met some really interesting people.We set off to stay there again last year and left the child with my mother. We were looking

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122976334878454682005-08-02T10:47:00.000+01:002005-08-02T10:52:14.880+01:00

Other ethical issuesApropos (as Pat Kenny says) ethical living I have two other stories. Last week the landscaper arrived. I'll give you his name as he is a member of a local famous family; the Holtons of Cloona. They are famous because there were 17 of them, 15 boys I think and maybe two girls? One of the wives did the plans for our house, one of them marked out our site, another works for

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122976014878450952005-08-02T10:45:00.000+01:002005-08-02T10:46:54.890+01:00

Moral clothesThis week's STIt's time I started to think global, act local How does one live a moral life? It used to be quite straightforward. Refraining from having sex without the intention of procreation pretty much qualified you as virtuous. The sexual revolution and globalisation have made life much more difficult for those who crave a trouble-free conscience. Sex doesn’t feature on the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122638683386658292005-07-29T12:58:00.000+01:002005-07-29T13:04:43.400+01:00

IRAI keep turning off radio stations and still can't avoid the complete tripe about this IRA statement. Hands of history are yet again upon us. This statement by the Taoiseach sums it up: "Tonight will be the first night since 1969 we won't go to our beds feeling that same threat right over our heads. "Oh hello? What were those so-called permanent ceasefires all about? I thought anyone who didn't

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122569249326057712005-07-28T17:44:00.000+01:002005-07-28T17:47:29.336+01:00

IRA StatementThe IRA have a made yet another historic statement. I've been flicking around the radio stations trying to find one NOT talking about it. I can't be alone in being bored to tears by IRA statements. I've really finished with the whole Northern thing. When they started turning on the Chinese and running them out of their homes (they being the Loyalists on this occasion), I thought,

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122239828683540772005-07-24T22:08:00.000+01:002005-07-24T22:17:46.283+01:00

Aer LingusThis week's column on Tom McEnaney's great story about the Aer Lingus 12-point plan to make their staff miserable.Is crushing your staff an idea that has wings? Marie stood in front on the mirror and for the first time saw what we saw. Scraggy hair, the T-shirt emphasising her saggy bosom, the ridiculous skirt, the hideous Doc Martens. She hung her head in shame. Trinny and Susannah,

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1122060894261841162005-07-22T20:32:00.000+01:002005-07-22T20:34:54.270+01:00

Domestic GoddessAm feeling like a high achiever today. In addition to my usual duties I cleaned out the fridge, washed a 6 week old stain out of the carpet, cleaned the tiles in my fireplace and then made Italian Baked Cod for the extended family and served it with gorgeous new potatoes all preceded by Prosecco on the patio. This makes up big time for watching Will & Grace during the afternoon!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1121886900175395612005-07-20T18:17:00.000+01:002005-07-24T22:19:54.680+01:00

Andrew BlackA belated note to record Andrew Black's success in the World Series of Poker last weekend - he came fifth and won $1.75m. Not bad - for about 15 years devotion to the game. When I entered Trinity College as a naive fresh little, well fresher, Andrew was either in his final year or was still loitering. The first time I saw him he was attempting to throw a pint over Shane Ross, then and

Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1121718160342799422005-07-18T21:18:00.000+01:002005-07-18T21:22:40.350+01:00

DebtThis week's ST....Debt is heavenly — according to banks The fine weather has made the hiring of a landscape gardener an imperative. The decoration of our new house is almost finished. An abstract by a trendy artist and a few more lampshades would complete the picture, but already I can show guests around and glow in the warmth of their compliments. When I look outside, my pride dissipates.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1121114914629109912005-07-11T21:42:00.000+01:002005-07-11T21:48:34.650+01:00

Labour-Fine GaelEveryone's been complaining about our grey weather for months. Yesterday the sun finally came out and in 27C sunshine we all immediately wilted and complained about the too sunny weather. Anyway, here is this week's ST column and I'm in a funny predicament. I filled in for Alan Ruddock and his column is usually 1400 words which I duly provided. However with the bombing coverage

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1120664965436484772005-07-06T16:47:00.000+01:002005-07-06T16:49:25.440+01:00

Haughey programmeJust picking up from the comment thread. I am going to reprint in full an article from today's IT for the benefit of those who didn't see the series. It is rather long but as the IT is subscription some of you might otherwise miss it.Dice loaded in favour of Haughey Did Charles Haughey succeed in remotely controlling the television series on his life, asks Muiris

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1120598481337793112005-07-05T22:06:00.000+01:002005-07-05T22:21:21.360+01:00

HaugheyThe series has now finished; I have to catch up on a few episodes. I wasn't fanatical about watching them all because a lot of the same old people said the same old things. Principally, he was a great legislator and the end was all so tragic. Others point out that even though he took the money he didn't actually do anything in return so somehow that's ok. If rich people wanted to support

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1120575324809351122005-07-05T15:53:00.000+01:002005-07-05T15:55:24.810+01:00

Portraitbtw, I have been reading Portrait. Very slowly it must be said. Anyway, it is exactly as I described the 'genre' in my article. Stephen wandering around absorbed in himself and his self-conscious superiority to everyone else. I did enjoy the lecture by the priest on the retreat. Liveliest bit so far. And the dirty little git has been visiting prostitutes!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1120575196521768642005-07-05T15:48:00.000+01:002005-07-05T15:53:16.530+01:00

Sky columnHI, here's this week's ST which existing readers can tell has been adapted from previous experience. One note tho'; the powers that be must have tried to replace an 'it' with a noun but picked the wrong one. I am a little person and could never pick up a television never mind throw one anywhere. On the other hand I have destroyed at least 2 remote controls in a temper. (quite some time

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1119963149126476652005-06-28T13:32:00.000+01:002005-06-28T19:24:14.286+01:00

U2 and multi-taskingWent to the final U2 concert in Croke Park last night. I'd been there for the Joshua Tree tour in 1987 and knew not to be blown away as I was then a mere teenager up the front. Now I was up in the seats in the Upper Cusack out of the throng. Still was most disappointed with the sound quality. We couldn't hear Bono's voice on most of the songs. Still, Running to a standstill,

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032066.post-1119868177317477282005-06-27T11:26:00.000+01:002005-06-27T11:29:37.316+01:00

A country lifeThought I should record how lovely the countryside is at the moment. Meadows are high; the four baby sparrows in the pump house are now roosting on the rafters. In another month or so I might be able to get in there to clean it out! Birds wake us up every morning. Goddamn rabbits still running around laughing at us. Everything is lush and green and most enjoyable.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0