Random Etchings of a Fragile Mind

Future flying of time

2009-08-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

Time seems to blur and fly by when you close your eyes, tis almost the end of the summer and i havnt written much since april.

Mental changes going on for the better. finished college, life ahead of me and funnily enough it feels brilliant, its like college was great but the best is yet to come. Ideas and opportunities flow endlessly from my head onto paper and screen,

Thoughts of how to change, influence and invent jobs flow like a river, now its a matter of putting these ideas into practice.

I have truely chilled out this whole summer whilst still getting tons done. Now all i need is a job to pop into my lap.

I now have the job of writing some more stories from travels down so as i can preserve their memory.

The music end of things is moving too, workin at Electric picnic and potentially Moondance festival so now for next year I intend capitalising and getting more into organinising and create ajob of some kind for myself.

Life is ticking along at an almighty pace but in the most exciting and pleasurable way possible.

Bring on the picnic! Live long and prosper.

The Good type of Doom!!

2009-02-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Been listening to Sludgey,Doom groovey tunes all evening, stoner doom.. christ its got some good vibes to it... just sucks you in and before long your bobbing away!!!

Mystic Krewe of Clearlight
Spirit Caravan
The Hidden Hand
Dalis Llama
Blue Cheer
Goatsnake
Sleep
Acid King
Witch

Savage bands which really have some serious licks, If only they would play Ireland?
Music is a serious language of emotion i think. It just can reposition your mood to a better one or just allow you to melt into a song or just chill.

That what I love about it, its escapism without the escape.

I turned my back on music to go to pubs now its time to get back to it and immerse my soul in it!!

Medicate the Nation!

New York Adventures 2004 Part 1

2009-02-08T16:32:00.001-08:00

I went on a J1 Visa to New York in 2004, it was one of the most enjoyable trips I have taken on my own. I learned an unmeasurable amount about life, work (hard work), people, race, american culture and indeed myself.

I got a job working as a labourer with my uncle in law, the construction sector in New York city is a massive employer in the grand scheme of things, it employs a lot of Irish and Mexicans which you would never know of.

My first day on the job was seriously hot, it was on amsterdam avenue in the basement of Columbia University, the job involved carrying rubble in buckets from the basement to a skip 2 floors up. Lovely sweat inducing work alright.

But the wages were fantastic $20 an hour so I shall not complain. New York City proved to be a very attractive place to me as a young (19) Irish wide eyed lad, I couldnt believe the immensity of so many people in such a small area. My first trip into the city, I was scared due to all the hype about the subway being so dangerous but I had no problems. I was staying in the Bronx in the Irish Area where Katonah avenue and Mclean avenue are. I got a bus to Woodlawn subway station and caught a 4 train to the city. I asked a man on the subway how long the journey took and it turned out the man was from Contae Cabhan and used to know my Great Uncle there. He ran a pirate Trad station in New York for 20 odd years.. very nice man.

I got off at Grand Central Terminal and walked and walked before I knew it, I was in China Town and it was 9Pm. 6 miles or so I walked that day taking in Central park, 5th av with sachs, Loui vuitton and many other spots.

I was thinking I should head back to woodlawn when I realised I had lost my wallet, you don't know the shit hemorrhage I had after realising I had no money to get back to the Bronx. Thankfully I had some dollars in my shorts, see thats what happened, the shorts pockets were crap and it just slipped out.

I was at Mulberry street subway station but it was shut so I walked to the next one in Chinatown and silly me bought a ticket the wrong way, I appealed to the good nature of the ticket seller claiming stupidity and I think it was the mixture of fear and Bambi eyes I gave here she let me through the correct gate to the awaiting 4 to Woodlawn.

When I got back to Woodlawn station, I heard my name been called and turned to see my aunt standing there. A cop had found my wallet and rang the number (my aunts) I had left in my wallet in case this kind of thing happened. She thought I had been mugged as I had no phone to call or text her.

My first day in New York City was a serious adventure, I got my wallet back with the cards then next day.

Do not wear shorts with crappy pockets for holding your wallet. A phew moment.

Conversational Thoughts through Time

2009-02-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

Ive decided not be so composed about my words as i used to be, writing should flow from the heart but i suppose sometimes need structure but not always.

I am in a very new place, only one more project to do in college then I am straight into my dissertation on River Management. Time is ticking by to my last days in DIT and it is sad but also pretty cool at the same time. I have realised that I love solitude, been on my own gives me time and energy to focus on my thoughts, ideas and what I need or want to do. BUT I also love hives of activity, helping people in volunteering circles. Its what drives me to be passionate about life.

I hear many people saying they live for the weekend, I dont get this, I live for EVERY day as each brings something strange and unique that makes you frown, smile or cringe.

Life is definitely moving along at a fair pace for me. I have just spent a bit of time typing ideas for the DIT Green Week this year when I should have been doing a Risk Management case study. Its strange what and how we spend our time doing.

I was on a lunch date today with a girl I met a week ago, went ok, but that spark wasnt there, that moment you can chill and just talk about whatever. The conversation went ways and directions I couldnt turn back from, many holes were dug, but I dont feel so bad about it because I have realised that some people are compatible for short periods of time and others for life time.

I 'looking for anything, just to meet some really interesting people and talk, the topic of conversation has been lost in this dying Celtic Tiger economy. Somewhere between double vodka and redbull and hammered. The need for people to get blotto incenses me as it induces a very different type of person to come leaping forth from a person. The same is true of me, I do not like the very drunk me as I forget names and the detail. The 'detail' is the best part about conversations, the moments a spark can be lit between friends or lovers to make a conversation truely satisfying and enjoyable.

I am not using this blog to complain too many people do that already. From now on I choose Life, I choose to go to places I can talk, have the craic. Loud places are now beyond me except for gigs.

Shivers in the City

2009-01-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

Calmness in the city, stillness in the air,
people walk by with many a care,
frozen breath exhaled by all,
the suns early morning shadow flickers/snakes along the wall,
numbed fingers fumble for heat,
under cover in glove and underground in pleat,
red cheeks, chapped lips, sighs of melancholic bliss,
happy, sad, lonely or not, miss loathing, enjoy the lot,
begin with a smile, a flash of the teeth, and take it from there till the next time you meet.

06-12-2008

Words of randomized disorder

2009-01-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

Underneath the sky of sorts, hung over angst, new sense of things, a bigger outlook, a more insightful glimpse at misfortune, an expanded view of the world, a step outside of the focussed world through the looking glass of life, misaligned musical troposphere, kaleidoscope of wonder that is life. Cacophony of immense virtue to be virtuous and be victorious to rise above your moralistic sermon and responsibilities to be an animal but to hold onto what is the essence of human compassion and innocence a world divided by suspicion, intolerance, skin badness beauty surrounded by elegance hidden inside for discovery, step by step, what is it that makes you honourable selfless but incomplete, guided by my head, led by my heart, respect forgiveness, freedom of choice, solitude acceptance, rebirth rejoice, renew ignite ambiguous interpretation, passion senses, pulsing emotions, floating ideas, world improve, coexist, exit fin.,,

12/12/2008

Wave of Time

2009-01-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

With a wave of hands and shouted goodbyes,
a close of the doors, as years pass by,
o my how the time flies, minutes 2 hours and hours to days,
before you know it, years mark graves,
births, anniversaries of all kinds,
some full of happiness, some full of doubt,
others mean nothing, expressions of mouth,
is happiness a memory, a feeling or a moment in time,
to be lost to the stars or forever be mine,
lost in the dark, lost inside my head,
up the stairs thread by thread,
include those thoughts in a letter,
why hold back, you will feel none the better,
what is not said, what is not heard is the most important part of this microcosm of a world.

05/01/2009

Growth of man, Death of Earth

2009-01-17T17:59:00.000-08:00

Nest are built in the tallest tree,
clad in an ivy rich green sea,
winds do whisper stories and fables,
they are caught by the branches of lime and maple,
gnarled and wind swept, exposed to all weather,
used as a home and a post to tether,
to dig the soil and plant a seed,
is a wonderful magical worthwhile need,
from the ground grows a stalk,
to make the neighbours jealous and baulk,
all it takes is an idea, a future plan,
for without trees and water there would not be man,

pleasure and knowledge are gained from the land,
whether in field, mountain, or wood where you stand,
a concept of the future and the children yet be born,
what do we pass on, what do we offer, nothing and loss and a fistful of scorn,
our kids are the future, they have to survive,
without food they cannot eat or oil not drive,
solution pollution, where have you been,
open your eyes to truly see.
Angry, bitter and annoyed with my peers,
I choose to change and influence their fears.

03/01/2009

Unspoilt

2009-01-17T17:53:00.000-08:00

And if the days were to turn to dark, and the nights never stopped,
I would still feel the same way I felt on that hot day in June,
the sun beat down so stifling a scene, Such a beautiful flower,
untouched unspoilt but experienced in the ways of the wild world,
beyond virginity of nature, above ridicule of senseless acts,
drink now for in refusing water, you thus refuse life,
fear not the elements of far away clouds,
they are but a merry array of senseless spurned souls,
beauty is but a passing seed on the wind, intrinsic beauty is held within forever, released only in death to the blood red skies of winter,
to forget the reason you’re here is to have lost your purpose of life,

Alone with my thoughts and dreams again, meandering miles of river leads me to a place of wonder, an icy eclipse of my mind, all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain, your eyes draw me in until I get lost in oceans of dizziness, inhaling sleep off the pillow, listening to the cool night shimmer and disappear, winds hide whispers barely audible to ears, if I could live forever, swimming in life, I would be happy to float, to pursue dreams remote, removed from my tree top honey love.

Happy Sad Happy Glad

2009-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

Is love a feeling or an act to which we gravitate?
to want someone for who they are is friendship,
add hearts and is it love or selfishness enshrined in a bubble.
Do we really know what is good for us until its too late.
Why do we question our hearts when our minds can’t make that decision?

Life is a funny instrument of learning, to hurt yourself, you must trip and fall to truely know it hurts.

In love, it seems like you are indestructible but the problem is people are not. Hearts are broken in an instant.

People tend to not reveal their true selves to others, I find this easy and difficult to understand. To reveal your true self is baring your soul, to be stripped of all that makes you strong. It may be all that you are, in allowing someone to see exactly who you are, gives the power to the looker. Depending on their character, the looker could choose to strike that revealer down or embrace their most beautiful qualities with that of their not so appealing qualities.

To be judgemental yet not take a look at your own person is hypocritical, reminders need to be given to all who forget.

To see beyond normality to the frailest part of a human being, their minds. This is what I strive to do, perfection is a mystery of the modern world. To be perfect is in fact a feeling not an image, a feeling that crawls through your whole body, from brain to spine. When you view a person on image alone, it is false to forget that hidden qualities only reveal themselves in comfortable and unexpected moments of conversation.

Everyone is guilty of forgetting to appreciate the simple things that lay before them, gentle persuasion by guidance is the best way to get your opinion back on track but normally it is by sudden and detrimental means that derailment leads to permanent destruction of a friendship or relationship.

Presumption rather than direct conversation takes over as the hundreds of internal conversations in your head begin and end yet the spoken word between two people does not happen.

What exactly am i saying?

Well basically all fights or disagreements occur due to a lack of revealing of souls to one another but the catch 22 situation is how much does one reveal before they are completely exposed. Holding back is the defence mechanisms people use to prevent their spirit from been crushed completely.

But I see trust where i see suspicion, what are we doing here on earth if we decide to hold back in any form of friendship or relationship. Christ man we could come to a horrid end in the near future or last for 100 hundred birthdays. The point is to use balance i suppose but also to use and abide by that phrase Carpe Diem, seize the moment or the day. Regret i do not believe in because i take chances in everyday life that lead to a good or bad outcome. I have to live with that decision but at least i did or chose to do a certain act, try a certain activity or attempt a new challenge.

There is a word to describe every moment in life. To have hope is to be alive, to be alive is to believe in a dream, to have a dream is to see a future!

I have many dreams, some i shall never be able to realise, some i am striving to achieve in the immediate future. Self improvement is rife in this age of New Years resolutions but most are based on image and health, give up drink, smoking, more fitness etc.

It is good and bad, but self development in terms of taking a step back and looking at how your life is going is a major change.

I do this in hard times to remind myself how minor the problems I have are in comparison to the world.

To have a go get em personality is not everyones cup of tea but to have a proactive or positive outlook on every day things sure makes life go a lot smoother.

Take a break and sit back and laugh the next time it pisses rain on top of you amd not a an umbrella to show. Or any problem that builds, grab a hug off a good friend or smile at a passerby.

On my way back from college one day, i was really in a bad mood, i was wearing a santa hat and the rain was pelting down. I had my head down and then just looked up, i locked eyes with this lady passing by and she smiled, i smiled back and in that split second, i had a flicker of christmas spirit renter my body and it was suddenly quite funny to be walking in the rain wearing a santa hat.

The world is a lonely and hard place to live in if you let it get on top of you, immerse yourself in family, friends and the activities that make you smile.

To be intrinsically happy either single, attached or in between is the most important thing for the health of any person. Mental health although underrated is what keeps us going, is what motivates us and makes want more of life.

For this new years resolutions, I intend to talk more to people, drunk or sober, preferably sober as it is then you can really know a person.

Lunar Thoughts

2008-12-25T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Sun, the Stars, the Moon and Mars,
Too distant to touch too close not to clutch,

All things connected to me, round the world forever to see,
The sun lights the way, the moon burns through the grey,

Stars like eyes that shine as brightly like the first time stares turn to cares,
Pick a star and close your eyes, take me to that place of ice,
Cold but bright filled full of memories of mine,

Ploughs pull lines arranging the skies in organised disarray,
My mind is a cavity missing that time and day,

To wish the past undone is to be a fool, smiles were had but only as a rule.

The future is on its way, the past exists but not today,
The present I make up as each day disappears into a fade. –

24 June 2007 2.38 am

Anonyminity

2008-12-25T18:31:00.000-08:00

Anonyminity is the pinnacle of popularity..! Have you ever experienced the feeling of walking into a room where you know no one and feel eyes upon you.. the feeling of power is unreal. The feeling that you control that room for a split second in time. A brief period of anonymous drink sipping before mingling with unknown and malevolent vultures. Purity before innocence, Feasting before indulgence, Pity before respect, Head before heart. – 27 June 2007 12.41am

Strange Fruit

2008-12-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Lyrics of "Strange Fruit" by L. Allen, the version I prefer is by Mark Lanegan in the Twilight Singers, very historic and emotional song about changing times, racism in the world.

Southern trees bare strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the roots, black body swinging in the southern breeze, strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Yeh.

That stolen seed, from the darling south, the bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, steel magnolia, sweetest red, there the sun has smelled of burning flesh, yeh. illicit fruit for the crows to pluck, for the rain to gather, for the winter sun, for the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, there is a strange, yeh, bitter crop.

Yeh, yeh, yeh.

Southern trees bare strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the roots, black body swinging in the southern breeze, yeh, strange fruit, its true, strange fruit.

Quotes and Sayings of yester world

2008-12-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

The fisherman has two homes. If he tires of his shoes, he can pull on his boots; sit in his boat or Currach out on the tops of the waves. Doesn’t the man who has fishing in his blood prefer the thwart to the stool, the line to the spade, the sound of the waves to the chattering of home? Eoghan O’ Colm

Athnionn ciarog, ciarog eile! – One beetle recognises another.

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things” – Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince 1532)

“The world that we have made as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems that we cannot solve at the same level we created them at” – Albert Einstein.

"Cad a Dheanamhfaimid feasta gan Adhmaid" – What will we do without our woods, from the 17 century brehon poet.

A sound man is good at salvage, at seeing nothing lost. – Lao Tze, 500 BC

“square their actions by the square of virtue" and to learn to "circumscribe their desires and keep their passions within due bounds toward all mankind".

Freemasons..

“Ireland without its history is nothing” – Paul De Paor.

There are three lines on your finger, each one an inch – A Perfect World, Kevin Costner.

Don’t take life too seriously, you may never get out alive – Van Wilders Party Liaison.

Mar is ar scath a cheile mhaireann na ndaoine – we all live in each others shadow – 03/06/2008

Only when the last trees have died, the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught, will we realise we cannot eat money – Cree Indian saying.

"And when the future hinges on the next words that are said, don't let logic interfere, believe your heart instead."
-- Philip Robison

"If you love someone, let them go. If they return to you, it was meant to be. If they don't, their love was never yours to begin with..."
-- Unknown

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-- Henry David Thoreau

"Within you I lose myself Without you I find myself Wanting to be lost again."
-- Unknown

“I’m looking for the least possible amount of responsibility” American Beauty.
Manage the unavoidable, but Avoid the Unmanageable.

The hand remains on the branch but not on the bush.

Oxegen Bliss

2008-12-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to win two camping tickets for Oxegen 2006 off the Dave Fanning show on 2FM back in March 2006, it was on one of those nights when I should have been studying, what’s that?

On Friday the 7^th July I got a phone call from Tom Dunne(Today FM) who was to be doing the Pets Sounds stage at Oxegen, he wanted to know how I was going to get to Oxegen and how prepared or unprepared I was. He said that 2 FM would ring me over the course of the weekend, so off I set with gas cooker, poncho, eggs, bread, beans, rice, oil, noodles, Irish stew in a can and 2 slabs of beer (Fosters as always).

And of course the comfort accessories to include Aldi tent, sleeping bag, 3 legged folding chair all packed into a giant rucksack that was taller than me.

At round 6 on Friday evening we arrived to Punchestown Race course and then had to choose among 5 of us where to go. campsite A or B. “Which is closest?” “A I think”, so it was decided A was the hotel for the weekend.

No matter how much planning or not you do, that walk is always a killer especially with 2 slabs of beer on your shoulder.

We ended up walking to Camp area A22, don’t know why, it jus felt like the right thing to do, we wanted to see where that white bricked road ended up. Tent up, feet up, chill, sit, drink and banter.

Best nite to be at Oxegen is the Friday, everyone goes crazy and it’s more a gathering of soul stumbling going on. There was a bet on to see how many camping pegs we could collect, the wan that got the most got a slab of beer. But it didn’t work out coz I got caught and chased by this dude who thankfully was off his face and fell while running after us.

Saturday

Fri nite came and went, Saturday everyone’s hopes were drown literally, it poured down from the early hours till about 3 or 4pm. I got out the cooker and lashed together beans, French toast and a cuppa tea, its amazing what u can do sober.

The first band I saw was Bic Runga at the Pet sounds stage, very chilled out start, then Jose Gonzalez who was taken aback and had to stop playing his well known ‘Heartbeats’ song as everyone had joined in. He put in a particularly soothing performance, ‘Crosses’ coming across a crowd pleaser also.

Then came We are Scientists and Dirt Pretty things, The sun showed itself later on in the afternoon, have a few blanks where the hours flow by rapidly, then The Who and The Sorely missed Mr James Brown got his funk on in style. (RIP)

Sunday

Sunday started off with everyone a wee bit woozy, the beer and craic from the nite before needed to be replenished, I had some beans and French toast, no queuing for me.

Bell X1, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Placebo, Manu Chao played throughout the day with the weather holding off just grand. Finest performance of the day was Rodrigo Y Gabriela who I went to see instead of the Chili Peppers.

Last band was the Chili’s who put in an average performance in my opinion, then the partays began, kickin’ off the last nite of an exciting, exhausting but equally exhilarating July weekend.

Monday

“O my head”, last day was Monday, with the alcohol low and the sun starting to rise in the sky, Carnage began to take hold, packing up time is not the nicest after a savage weekend, by the end of the festival YOU WILL have made friends with everyone from the next door neighbor to the cleanest toilet cubicle. And then there’s always room for romance, you could find the woman/man of your dreams or some fun in the sun. Sitting in a field doesn’t seem like the best place to meet some one but it happens I can testify to that. Savage Cabbage.

And finally for the whole weekend, I spent a grand total of €7.50, all due to my fantastic cooking skills, don’t knock it, if it saves you €€€’s and also the time queuing for the rubber burger.

So get your ticket, tent, sleeping bag and all related paraphernalia cause its coming, with the line up at the moment been Muse, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, the beautiful Tori Amos and many more still to be announced..

I would like to mention a significant incident that happened at the Oxegen weekend 2006, a crash occurred in Co. Laois where 3 Festival goers died in an unnecessary car accident, remember to drive safe on your way home from the festival, don’t drive if your still inebriated, its not worth the carnage.

B safe, B seen, Breath OxEgEn…

By Trevor Seery.

South African Adventure

2008-12-25T18:14:00.000-08:00

I want to tell you a story, due to semesterisation of my college year, I saw a perfect opportunity to take a wee bit of a trip abroad as they say, the destination South Africa…my holiday took in many parts of SA but the most unbelievable one that stands out is a nite in Cape Town in the southern tip of SA.

On the 12^th January 2006, my friends and I went to a restaurant called the Green Dolphin, had linefish a few beers and a bottle of wine. After dinner the group of us headed to a bar called Cantilla Tequila right on the waterfront for a few more drinks. Started dancing to some great tunes and soon this chic starts dancing with me, nice looking body with hair combed off to the side. We started getting closer then she invites me to sit down with her friends, her name was Tazneema and she had another friend with her wearing a head scarf.

Before we left this pub her other Dutch acquaintance told me to be careful, I thought nothing of it. The group of my mates and the 2 of them went to a Scottish bar, tazneema brought me off to the side and we talked bout different things. Towards the end of the night we went to the exit of the waterfront to look for taxis, my 3 friends got into one taxi and said id get another one but ended up sharing one with the 2 “ladies”.

I asked where they lived they said only ten min away, but I said id drop them off so they would get home safe (Irish naivety) then head back to my own apartment cause I wasn’t feeling well. After 5 min driving we stopped and changed taxi, I asked why and they said that that taxi didn’t go out the direction they lived, warning bells were ringing but I was drunk and easily led. So paid 50 rand and got into another taxi, I noticed we were heading towards cape town airport, I freaked as the alcohol began to subside from my system. They were talking Afrikaans to the taxi driver so I could not understand the jist of the conversation. I shouted STOP!! And he did, I said how much further and where so we started driving again and turned left into a place called boethanfontein, a very dodgy looking place I must say. At this stage I realised what the fuk am I doing here. And took my money out of my wallet as well as my credit card and put it inside my sock but she noticed and started grabbing for the money. She asked me to get out of the taxi but I told the driver that if he drove me back to cape town pronto id pay him double. The driver took off at speed the door of the taxi banging open and closed like in those classic chase films. The two girls at this stage know where my money was and were each reaching for my socks, the driver drove to a police station but it was unmanned then he drove to another but I had had enough at that stage and jus before he sped up I opened the door and bailed out rolling onto the hard motorway asphalt, as soon as I got up I ran in a dazed crazy rabbit way down the hard shoulder of the A1 and thank god saw a police car coming towards me I waved and shouted to get their attention and they pulled in beside me.

The taxi was pulled up 100 yards away with the driver and 2 girls hassling each other, I explained my situation in between puffs of much needed breath to the smiling cops. We all walked back up to the taxi and the cops asked the girls questions they got stroppy an were put in the back of the paddy wagon, the taxi driver explained his side and said he would take me back to cape town with no extra charge I relented as I had no other way back, he bought me a cup of tea and said that he had 600 rand in his pocket and that the girls could have robbed him too if they had had a knife or gun. We sat and talked about the crime problem in the area and in SA for a while then I returned to my apartment dazed but still alive.

This story is a reminder to those travelling anywhere in the world to be aware and switched onto entrapment situations. It is not a condemnation of South Africa just an experience I encountered and wanted to share as advice in the future. Safe trip.

Romancing the Student

2008-12-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

Is there any romance in students nowadays or has it all turned into drunken grunts and nods towards the neon exit door for a quicky and a cigarette afterwards.

Good question, is romance dead in college or hidden beneath last weeks Dominos pizza boxes. Lets examine the DIT campus break down for further info. Who I am doesn’t matter, I wish to stay anonymous for this article to save face. Literally.

Well DIT has a population of 20,000 students give or take, I’m bad at maths so we’ll have a sliding scale of

1.] Scoring Heaven, 2.] Even Stevens and 3.]Sausage Factory/Fanny fetale.

Aungier Street - The newest and biggest of the DIT’s has what I would call scoring heaven potential but if you are a culchie knock it down to a mediocre as fashion decorum is essential to score with the clientele therein, new clothes everyday essential. Not for the tenaciously thrifty or shower in a can type of people. Bizeeness, journos, media and the future suity types study here.

Bolton Street - The bogger haven and industrious engineers den of D North side marks a poorly sausage factory rating from my point of view. Its like that veritable end of nite desperation dive where you see a lonesome lassy on her own but she has been spied by another competitor. Do you a.) keep your dignity and walk home alone, or b.) try to score her by frantically competing verbally with the other guy with one arm braced on the bar to prevent collapse. Bolton Street needs nae deserves more female students desperately. Necks crane at the slightest female presence. Observe starvation at its best or worst.

Cathal Brugha Street - Interesting one this. More girls than guys but still a scoring heaven if not for the flesh but for the food cooked by present culinary students. Go try cathal brugha street food, it will scintillate the pallet more than any dodgy breakfast roll. And food is the way to a guys heart. Get cooking. But the goddamn stairs will kill you, the neverending staircase, does anyone know where it actually goes? Stairway to Heaven.

Kevin Street – E = MC something or other. Haven’t been up this direction in a while but its kind of fairly evenly distributed so even stevens. But still its got a swimming pool and for any voyeurs among us who want to feast their eyes on Irish milk bottle tan of students male or female it’s a good place to go. But mind the floating plasters, ah no they have this sorted out now.

Mountjoy Square – The arty students among us with the intense artistic genius to derive pleasure from the most inanimate of objects, and it is definitely a scoring heaven for lads or even a fanny fatale. Hmm. But does anyone know where it is? Its like that Zoolander expression “But how do they fit the kids into the school”, I will never know. Portland Row has its own elite who scowl at your mere suggestion that they study in Mountjoy Square. Don’t tempt fate or you will get bitten.

Now there are other campuses but c’mon don’t have word limit for the 50 other ones, so what does this all have to do with romance, what does anything have to do with romance.

Well your college environment can shape the way you view people and sometimes compatibility comes into it. What the fluck is that, a 6 pack and a naggin and anyone is compatible, right or roysch for Southside campuses?

What am I trying to say, well think outside of your stereotypical niche in your college and explore the vastness of Dublin. Some students finish their study having gone to only a small number of places due to handiness. Venture across that river and see what the other side has to offer not only in watering holes but artistic and architectural richness. There’s more to do besides drinking, it’s a brilliant part but try everything once and you never know, romance could tap you on the back looking for a light or to beat the living crap out of you for 50 cent.

Space Cadet J

The Merits and Joys of Tea, the Saviour of all

2008-12-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

TAE! what would we do without it? It’s a drink that begins friendships, breaks silences, soothes exam stress and nerves, or as a greeting when someone enters your house. Irish people as a nation consume on average about six cups of tea a day, that equates to 3.2 kg (7lbs) a year!

But what of the history of the cuppa, well Tea drinking came about due to Ireland’s association with the British Empire, and tea in loose form was imported in 1835. Only the most affluent drank it due to the high import price. But as the popularity and thirst for it spread the price dropped and tea houses opened up all over Ireland.

Tea was sold loosely in grocery stores for all to buy, in shops such as Barry’s grocery store in Cork. There was a lack of enthusiasm for bagged teas due to the belief they were of inferior blend and quality but J. Lyons & Co. (Ireland) improved the quality of the blend and the popularity for bagged tea increased.

There are three basic types of tea:

Black tea is fully oxidized as part of its processing. Most Irish teas are of this type and yield an amber-coloured beverage with a hearty flavour. There's good reason for that. It's often said that a good Irish cup of tea is "strong enough for a mouse to trot on."

Green tea isn't oxidized, has a more delicate flavour and is lighter in colour.

Oolong tea is partly oxidized and has a distinctive taste that is different than either black or green tea.

If you are a serious tea drinker, you will understand the negligible but glaring differences in tea taste! The question springs to mind, are you a Lyons or Barry’s person? The difference in taste stems from the origin of the tea leaf or blend which in Irish terms is sourced from East Africa and Sri Lanka. Did you know that there are three grams of Tea in a tea bag and 50 thousand litres of the stuff is drunk per person per year in Ireland.

Many other black tea brands exist on the Irish market to include Tetleys, Tesco, Aldi, and then there’s the green teas that elicit a very wry guffaw from my direction when talked about.

Another question springs to mind in the make up of a cuppa, are you a strong tea drinker with the tea bag squeezed to an inch of its life or a weak tea drinker who prefers the dip and lift technique of lightly coloured or what I like to call pissy tea.

And then there’s the absolute ultimate question whether you are a biscuit dunker or not, I have gotten many strange looks from people when dipping a biccie in a cuppa, but god man, if you haven’t tried a sufficiently dipped and tea soaked biscuit or piece of chocolate in a cup of tea then you cant really call yourself a tea appreciator.

There’s a precise point called soakage limit or break off point that you need to know to be a successful dunker. If you go over this stress/strain point or if the limit of proportionality is breached, you will end up with fatigue failure and burnt fingers trying to fish the biscuit out if there isn’t any spoon. It can get very complicated as there are many types of biscuit out there, but all it takes is practice and a little experienced dunking. So go forth and drink tea and dunk like you have never dunked before.

Trevor Seery.

Forbidden Fruit

2008-12-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Bitter as a lemon,
Sweet as a peach,
Like the fruit atop the tree,
Just out of reach,
I made my choice,
It felt so right,
Taste can blur thoughts and vision,
For the sake of a bite.

Forbidden fruit,
Never to fall,
To feel the slight of grass dew and early morning call,
Fruit is precious, bruises to touch,
Through time, it fades in colour but retains its embarrassed blush,
Out of season but in the mood,
Defining boundaries, a dessert food.

Combined with passion,
Strawberries and Ice cream,
What you say in reality,
They will never know what it means,
Orange chocolate, a taste that lingers,
Eye to eye, entwined fingers,

A passion fruit, an exotic drink,
Take a slow sip, to allow you to think,
You pay the price for making a choice,
A game to some, a lover’s voice,
To hear those words, send shivers up the spine,
A summer special, Lemon and lime,

Poisoned by an Apple, an apple so neat,
Ruby red and delicious, ever so sweet,
Forbidden fruit, plucked by a boy,
Adam was his name, his one vice, joy,
Eve, his other half, went a separate way,
Could not see a life with him on that special day,

Banana and vanilla milk shake malt,
So thick and creamy, nothing I could fault,
People never really know each other until its past prime,
To realise when something you really wanted was wrapped up in time,
Remember the moments now and then,
Life is full of ripe choices, Carpe Diem,

Love is fruit, it kisses the ground,
Freedom granted, where love has no bounds,
Forbidden fruit, knows not what it shows,
Until it ages and fades,
To memories of old,
A simple twist, a leap of faith,
From branch to ground,
A reason too late,

Blind to love and blind to hate,
Courtship of seeds, is dormant till a date,
A point of time, unheard of, as of yet,
Two seeds they found a perfect place, a place to never forget.

Trevor Seery – 22/12/2008

Blinded by Wonder

2008-12-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Eyes squinting in the bright lights,
Head held high in the suns crystal flight,
Rain drops fall like tears from my face,
Not because of loss, not because of pain,
But of a feeling that makes my heart race,
A feeling that cuts like a stab to the heart,
Let it be so, with a brand new start,

Memories of old flames, from the grate of regret,
Leave them be, but never forget,
You have missed the bus; you have missed the train,
My attempts to catch you seem to have been all in vain.
A flightless bird cornered by fear,
I am out of the game until I fly again my dear,

My mind is awash with the floods of the season,
Many an excuse but never a reason,
The world was here before we met,
It shall remain after our memory forget,
I want what I can’t have, and I can’t have what I want,
It’s a hug, a kiss, a voice to console,
One thing in my life I could not control.

All stars align so perfectly in place,
A situation corrected, a smile to my face,
Time is just a moment, plucked from the skies,
A feeling righted by enthusiastic replies,
Lost in thoughts, thoughts and dreams,
Nothing is ever as easy as it seems,
As I wish upon a star,
I think of you and where you are?

Atop the waves of wonder, once upon a time,
The sun cast its rays of light that made eyes sparkle and shine,
A page started, a new corner turned,
A lesson in life and love earned.

Trevor Seery – 05/08/2008 – 05/12/2008

Into The Setting Sun

2008-12-24T13:21:00.000-08:00

A glow of phosphorus orange hangs above the tree line,
Shrouded in clouds and time,

Used as an anchor,
A return to the peatlands of Bangor,

The road it twists and turns,
Offering the way the light it burns,

A path that leads to the west,
A place where I am at my best,

The walls they do appear in force,
Of stone and lichen laid in course,

Trees become thin on the ground,
Flat land very hard found,

Return to Mayo, return to my home,
Where the waves are whipped into a foam,

Settled in the nest of good will,
Down beside the river mill,

The Bunnadober covered in light,
Remnants of a millers plight,

To make work from a river,
Watching the Trout dart and quiver,

This is home, I call it so,
I'll never live far from my Mayo.

Trevor Seery - 11th September 2008

Loveless Lullaby

2008-12-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

Wakey, wakey rise and shine,
When the tide was high and you were mine,

Diamonds shine when put with Gems,
Left alone, they turn to sand,

Look West to Islands of Gold,
Watch the waves turn and fold,

As I wish upon a star,
I think of you and where we are,

With bated breath I wait,
For the Loveless Lullaby intake,

In competition with myself again,
a false sense of security appears,

A bottomless chair, A nameless name, a faceless face
and a loveless lullaby remain,

The gull swoops on the wing,
eyes scanning far and near in the spaces in between,

The surf churns rocks deliciously breaking,
a sound as normal and as frequent in time,

The trees on the horizon line,
sway and mime,

Branches like arms outstretched,
reach for the sky,

A comfortable place, a real fine time to begin a loveless lullaby.

Trevor Seery - September 2008

Fleeting Feelings

2008-12-24T13:18:00.001-08:00

Drunk with love,
Sober with pain,
Awakened by the rumble of drops of rain,
I remember back to times gone by,
Was it fun or all just a lie?

We can say we had fun,
we could say we had a ball,
Heartbreak is just another great fall,

The times we had were too unreal to be true,
Lying awake at night thinking of you,
Long phone calls bridged the distance,
Until we could be together for a momentary instance.

It was all about timing, muddled up somewhere,
Memories are all I have now and the light scent of your hair,
I will never forget the moment we met,
In that field with the music,
Ill never ever regret.

I loved you for that time, them short few months we had,
Until life took over, and things went mad,
I don’t know what it was that divided us so,
How I changed from being your friend to your foe.

All I know is you misunderstood my intention,
What I wanted it seemed I could never mention,
But for once in my life I can blatantly see,
You were someone I could not keep,
Untamed, unnamed forever will you be,

Another year over, its all in the past,
Never have I wished more for a year to last,
Time to move forward, time to move on,
Summer time was here but now it’s gone,

I still think of you sometimes,
And that can of coke,
Imagine... it began and… ended,
with a puff of a smoke…! !

Trevor Seery – 30/11/2006

Change

2008-12-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

The Moon stares at me from a lofty height,
Wind cuts through the trees,
a distressing sight,

Pale light on pale skin,
Clouds roll by as if running a race,
Shaded in a glow is a familiar face,
Early morn presents a storm,
Eye is in the middle,
Presumptuous and predictable as can be,
Female form blocks the moon,
She will be back… be back soon.

Confined in spaces, spaces called rooms,
I can remember days when there were no fools,
No speech, no sight, no hearing at all,
Then one day it began to fall,
Leaves theyre brown, yellow and red,
Its all becoming clear forever in my head.

When they touched the ground and found a home,
They were safe now never alone,
The circle begins for another time,
A season, a reason brought about by a chime…

Trevor Seery - 3/12/2006

Soul Kisses

2008-12-24T13:15:00.001-08:00

A kiss to hand, a kiss to mouth,
A kiss that seems to be smuggled in doubt,

Eyes to scars and ears to fears,
Ask the question, get it clear,

An open mind, an open heart,
Be aware of a time to part,

Deep inside the soul of all,
Is a constant aching fear of a fall,

Love without hate, love without fear,
Lose yourself in your one true dear,

Let the heart choose and not the head,
Cause the day will arrive when you may be dead,

Take that chance, a leap of faith,
You may end up with your soulmate.

Trevor Seery - September 2008

Shadow Keeper

2008-12-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

I am the Shadow Keeper, with you through the night, flashing in the window and along the stair flight,
See me sometimes, sometimes maybe not,
I will make you paranoid until the darkness …stops,
When a curtain moves or a sheet blows I will obey,
The shadow lands are here to stay,

I am your Shadow Keeper, locked inside your head, until the darkness falls and you are in your bed,
Is the light on? , is it off? , your eyes are closed so tightly you cant tell whats what,
creeping along your wall and over that lampshade, I could have taken your soul,
But I chose to fade,

I am a Shadow Keeper, released only at night, until you close your eyes when I am out of sight,
I see you through your peeping fingers, when you least expect,
That flash its me, seen in the mirror reflect,
A sheet will not hide my presence,
Wait for dawn to come, what remains is my essence,

I am their Shadow Keeper, I disappear without a trace, into oblivion and the beyond of outer space,
Once upon a time I used to have a mind, but its all gone now… forever in rewind,
When the dusk begins to fall on a stormy moonlit night, it is the perfect time of shadow light,

I was the Shadow Keeper once seen by all but now I am invisible except against a wall..! ! !

Trevor Seery - 2006

A Stirring of Memory

2008-12-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

Its just one of those things that happens to us all,
puts us in harms way but never to fall,

A momentary glance to eyes that shine,
never would i have believed that she could be mine,

Take your chances and never regret,
the times that you had to the the moment you met,

Time is precious days flow by,
recalling missed days with a sigh,

And now a few years down the line,
i'd like to think that i am mine,

If i could do it again not make mistakes,
we could have taken our time for both our sakes,

The light that woke me up, the fight that broke us up,
all a memory, of you and i,
from beginning thru middle and to end with a cry.

13/12/2007 Trevor Seery.