Seamus Heaney RIP August 30, 2013
Posted by Rambling Man in Poetry & Humor.Tags: seamus heaney
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In memory of the great man, who died today and whose writing means so much to me.
by Seamus Heaney
Counting bells knelling classes to a close.
At two o’clock our neighbors drove me home.
In the porch I met my father crying–
He had always taken funerals in his stride–
And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow.
The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram
When I came in, and I was embarrassed
By old men standing up to shake my hand
And tell me they were “sorry for my trouble,”
Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest,
Away at school, as my mother held my hand
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses.
Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
I miss blogging ! April 4, 2012
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I miss blogging !
I also miss my Dad terribly, who was born on this day in 1928! RIP Da.
Strike 1 … wait, no … Strike 57,000,000,000 August 18, 2010
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Where has all the fuss about Ivor Callely gone ?
This country is great – you can do whatever the sweet f*ck you want ! And get away with it …
The state of our nation July 26, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish, Say it like it is.Tags: corruption, irish politics
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Not only should Fianna Fáil be put out of government, if there’s a shred of dignity left about the Irish people, they should be decimated as a party. The damage they have done to Ireland is incalculable. To the people, our infrastructure, our society, our public services, everything. The worst, sadly, is yet to come. People need to stop thinking about political parties the way they do about their favourite football team. You cannot be a lifelong FF supporter and blindly vote for them because that’s just what you’ve always done …
That’s exactly what I’m thinking too … but alas, I think the Irish electorate gives not a shite of the flying kind …
Flight of Earls … June 29, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish, Say it like it is.Tags: celtic tiger, corruption, Emigration, irish politics, paddy reilly, the recession
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Funny the way history repeats itself through song. First as tragedy and then as absolute farce !
A duck walks into a bar … June 28, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Poetry & Humor.Tags: duck joke
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A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich. The barman looks at him and says,
“Hang on! You’re a duck.”
“I see your eyes are working,” replies the duck.
“And you can talk!” Exclaims the barman.
“I see your ears are working, too,” Says the duck.
“Now if you don’t mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?”
“Certainly, sorry about that,” says the barman as he pulls the duck’s pint.
“It’s just we don’t get many ducks in this pub.. What are you doing round this way?”
“I’m working on the building site across the road,” explains the duck. “I’m a plasterer.”
The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it. So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.
The same thing happens for two weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town.
The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to him: “You’re with the circus, aren’t you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!”
“Sounds marvellous,” says the ringmaster, handing over his business card.
“Get him to give me a call.”
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says,
“Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money.”
“I’m always looking for the next job,” says the duck. “Where is it?”
“At the circus,” says the barman.
“The circus?” Repeats the duck.
“That’s right,” replies the barman.
“The circus?” The duck asks again. “With the big tent?”
“Yeah,” the barman replies.
“With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?”
says the duck.
“Of course,” the barman replies.
“And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?” persists the duck.
“That’s right!” says the barman.
The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says .. . .
“What the f… would they want with a plasterer?”
Callely ‘happy’ to return expenses June 25, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish, Say it like it is.Tags: corruption, dail eireann, expenses, irish politics, ivor callely
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UNREAL !! via today’s Irish Times.
These people chancers live on their own planet and are blatant about it and we don’t care one iota !
Mr Boyle said documents showed the Senator submitted claims for 45 nights in Dublin during 2009. “So you’re actually claiming money for a residence that you normally live in, whether you see it as a permanent residence or not?” he asked.
“That’s correct, yes,” Mr Callely said. He said this situation was “probably applicable” to other members of the House who have an apartment or house in Dublin and live in the country.
And while I’m at it, the article above misses the point ! The legislation exists for these people (and written by these people) to do this legally. All you need is a neck … and Fianna Failed have that in spades.
You can do ANYTHING in this country because the politicians know the electorate don’t care !!
The link in Irish minds and in our social culture, between the political corruption and our own inaction simply does not exist !
Bank Charges From the Dead June 23, 2010
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snopes.com: Bank Charges From the Dead.
An interesting read …
Shameless self promotion June 21, 2010
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Please vote for us to win this holiday competition – shameless self promotion, I know – but sure isn’t that what the interweb is for ?
Phrase of the Day #218 June 17, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Say it like it is.Tags: denis diderot
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” Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest ! ” – Denis Diderot, 1763
FIFA craziness (as usual) June 16, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Say it like it is, Sports.Tags: ambush marketing, bavaria beer, Denmark, fifa, Netherlands, world cup 2010
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I had to laugh at this typical FIFA related story – it seems the powers that be will stop at nothing when it comes to protecting perceived sponsorship violations !
I speak of course, of this crazy story, where several dozen orange clad Dutch supporters beauties (see below) were questioned by FIFA in a case of apparent ambush marketing from beer company Bavaria. The terrible display of national pride – because the Netherlands play in … wait for it … orange – happened during this week’s World Cup game between the Netherlands and Denmark (2-0).
So even though there were no logos, no slogans or flags or anything – just orange clad women – FIFA took umbrage upon hearing that Bavaria had sponsored the women to go and cheer at the match and promptly started an investigation !
These idiots are ruining football – between that and meddling with the bloody footballs … so far this World Cup has been pretty much crap.
PS : Drink BAVARIA BEER – for that cool refreshing taste – while watching the World Cup !
Fine Gael are imploding ! June 15, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish.Tags: fianna fail, fine gael, labour, politics
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They’re at it again … just when the incumbent government are at their weakest, their main opposition play right into their hands and implode with the news this morning that no less than 9 front bench TDs now have no confidence in Enda Kenny as their leader.
If Labour don’t wake up and smell the coffee of this opportunity quick, then we’re faced with decades more of Fianna Failed.
For Park Ji-Sung June 12, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Sports.Tags: football, football chants, greece, liverpool, park ji-sung, South Korea, world cup 2010
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For Park Ji-Sung who just scored to give South Korea a 2-0 win over a woeful Greece side …
(Tune: Lord of the Dance)
Park, Park, wherever you may be,
They eat dogs in your coun-terr-ee
Could be worse, you could be a Scouse,
… Eating rats in a council house …
Explosion at Galway City Hall June 11, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish.Tags: galway, galway city hall
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Jaysis, I can’t believe this one !
There has been an explosion at City Hall in Galway … apparently the building has been extensively damaged. No reports of injuries or what caused it as yet …
Not sure whether its the building above or the older theatre building …
Some Long Shut Place June 10, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Poetry & Humor.Tags: bereavement
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Some Long Shut Place
by the Rambling Man
I thought I heard you today
beyond in the parlour
rummaging through a drawer or some long shut place
a chair emitting your creak, too light to be anyone else
and yesterday too
when the child fell in the bathroom,
hushing her tears and the crying with silence.
Every so often you’d hold her, and she’d stop.
I think I hear you often
in her and in me and in things long forgotten.
A glance or a cough or a smell.
I stop for a minute and check, just to be sure.
I need you today
for the head is full of oul crap
like stale oil trying to start a new engine
churning and flying and not moving an inch.
I think you can hear me today thrun in a heap and distressed.
“Get up now and get out in the fresh air!”, you’d say
“You’re as good as any of them, and better than most!”
Yesterday’s words of guidance, provide my inspiration for today …
In memory of my late father, 14 years lost today.
Visualize the Gulf Oil disaster June 10, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Say it like it is, World Affairs.Tags: bp, environment, gulf of mexico, oil spill
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I just found this frightening website that allows people to visualize the scale of the terrible Gulf of Mexico BP oil disaster that’s going on right now. You can put the extent of a spill over a map of where you are right now just to get an idea …
I don’t think we’ve fully grasped what’s at stake.
This is crazy – those responsible should definitely be made to pay …
Hat Tip : Francis
Phrase of the Day #217 June 10, 2010
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TO be roared at somebody who is not performing well … for example, at the upcoming World Cup!
“Jaysis Chrissht [insert name here], you’re worse than a man short !”
A serious image editing tool June 9, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in General Bloggery.Tags: online image editing, pixlr.com
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All online … all cool !
Chinese Painted Dogs ! June 8, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in General Bloggery, World Affairs.Tags: china, dogs, painted animals
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My God – what will these people think of next ? Children dressed up as Nazis ? Oh wait, that’s my hometown !
Wrong, wrong, wrong and then wrong some more !!
Military Re-enactment weekend June 6, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish.Tags: military reenactment, nazism
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I am about to go to the Annual Military Re-enactment weekend taking place in my hometown … and I am worried that I will take one look at it and think that it’s complete glorification of Nazism ! Because thats what it looks like from here … this stuff is even illegal in Germany right ?
I shall report back from the only place in the world where you are still likely to see real WWII Nazi uniforms and here German marching calls etc. as well as buy the odd bit of “memorabilia” …. remembering what exactly ?
More anon … I could be angry by the time I post !
Callely must explain expenses June 2, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Ireland & the Irish, Say it like it is.Tags: fianna fail, ivor callely
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So Brian Cowen has told Ivor Callely he must explain his extravagent expenses in writing to a Seanad committee. So, despite living in Dublin and being a Seanad representative for North Dublin, being from Dublin born and bred, he claimed €80,000 mileage expenses as if he was living permanently in Cork.
Via The Irish Times – Wed, Jun 02, 2010
Eh, am I the only one that thinks he should make these explanations from jail ? Goes to show there is ZERO accountability in Irish politics. Nobody was watching him, nobody was questioning him … laughable if it wasn’t so fucking serious !
Ivor Callely – “working for you !” ME HOLE !!
Ladies & Gentlemen, Your Opposition ! June 2, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in General Bloggery, Ireland & the Irish.Tags: fianna fail, fine gael, general election, irish politics, new era website, voter apathy
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Go on – humor me – go to Fine Gael’s new website and play the game they seemingly thought would be a brilliant idea to get the country back on track !
It shows that our opposition parties have zero clue about how to really influence the result of the next general election. It’s as if they will get elected by magic next time out and Fianna Failed are going to just dry up.
Well let me tell you something Enda and chums, Fianna Failed are a national institution with zealously loyal supporters at every level, high and low, of this society – and I mean everywhere. They could commit ethnic cleansing and still they would be popular … so if you think that a new website and a silly game which whacks corrupt politicians over the head will make you more popular, then you are worse than I thought.
Why aren’t the opposition getting every available canvasser and local party man and knocking, policy documents in hand, on every door of the country, every day of the week ?
These f*ckers in the Dáil will not succumb to a video game a fancy website with a big picture of Enda Kenny on it as opposed to in-your-face policies … it will take a gargantuan effort to get them out … and to get you lot in ! These people rely on the apathy of Irish voters to their corruption – they rely on us not giving a shit.
You have it arse about-face Fine Gael, I’m afraid … I await the knock on the door from a Fine Gaeler with positive glee !
Phrase of the Day #216 May 28, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Say it like it is.Tags: politics
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I saw this one today while perusing some of the news feeds … it can be applied in many situations, not the very least of which is to the clowns governing the country without a mandate …
“I found many readers who do not receive on those wave lengths.”
The Gravestone May 28, 2010
Posted by Rambling Man in Emigration, Poetry & Humor.Tags: kiwi, maori culture, new zealand, new zealand poetry, polynesian culture, tauranga
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OK so this is a repost – but one of my “most searched for” terms is poetry from New Zealand or about New Zealand (where I used to live) …
So I wrote this one while I was there … hopefully a few people will find something of interest that they can relate to …
The Gravestone
(Kōhatu)
by The Rambling Man
The gravestone lies quiet, at the end of the lane,
open and looking out on the harbour. It’s raining.
White and tall stands the monument, adorned with simplicity
It is your sacred place, for I am forbidden to walk there.
Is it a man or a woman you hold ? or maybe a few ?
Are you a rangatira, some powerful man of old ?
Alone now it stands, on a misty patch of sage green grass
surrounded by fences and unwritten rules.
Are you a chief who once commanded many ?
Or a warrior, the slayer of taniwha ?
Or maybe a poet, a wise old lady, chin adorned with moko ?
All now lying quiet, looking over the water, guarding the Moana.
Maybe you roam between the lane and the harbour, just watching.
Ready to greet this Pākehā with a fearsome haka, sending me on my way.
But you would slap your thigh in disclosure and we could share a hongi, breathing the same breath, and sit and share our thoughts.
What can you see from your side ?
What can I not see from mine ?
The Rambling Man 