Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

It all seems rather dead in the blogging world of late. I'm running short on inspiration myself lately too. And I don't like it. Any suggestions?

New York, New York!

If anyone hasn't heard of Paloma Faith over the past summer, then where were you? She is a pretty new music artist who is from the UK and has had good success with her debut song Stone Cold Sober and New York.

Whilst I was mooching around on YouTube the other day I stumbled across some songs of hers which haven't been released yet but are very very good. One is called Broken Doll. Now the best video of this song was recorded at the ICA. Well I think it is safe to say that I fell in love with both her and the song after watching this video. She is an extremely pretty lady and such a good and naturally entertaining performer.

Then I came across a rather funny video. It's not professionally shot so it looks a bit shoddy but it's very entertaining really. It's called It's Christmas And I Hate You. Made me laugh anyway!

Check her out. I hope you're impressed as I was! Check out the video to Broken Doll below....enjoy folks!

Why can't I stop spending?

Things are slowly getting back to normal for me. Having been in Spain the week before last, and being as sick as a small hospital last week, I haven't really had much time for the aul blogging.

I had a bad case of gastroenteritis last week. Probably due to something I had eaten or drank in Spain. Took a bit of time to go away too which really annoyed me. I even went to the doctor on Friday morning as I was feeling so crap. I just had to wait for it to go the doctor said. Thankfully I'm 100% better since yesterday. Yay!

Only problem I have now is that my tan is completely gone. I am really not impressed by that. All that sitting around by the pool in the scorching sun went to waste as nobody got to see my tan when I was upside down in bed for the week! At least I have my Spanish memories.

Now to the point of this post. Why can't I stop spending? I live for my Tuesdays. That's when pay day is. All 204.30 glorious euro of it! Ha. Except it doesn't go as far as I would like it to go. In fact, by Wednesday it's gone. Eek. Mostly on a car loan which I'm stuck with but hey it could be worse. I am surviving.

Spain wasn't even an expense. It was the cheapest holiday I have ever been on. And it was all the best and the most relaxing.

My problem lies in little luxuries. For instance, there was a perfectly good and nice duvet cover on my bed. I got an idea in my head on Saturday that I would like a new one. So off I popped to Hickeys Home Focus (I think that's what it's called) but I didn't see anything I liked there. Then I went into Harvey Norman saw a beautiful duvet cover there. Asked had they got it in King Size and he came back with this huge big clear plastic bag. He was talking to me but all I saw was the price tag beaming at me............€220.

Can I not just buy the duvet cover and the two pillow cases?

No it all comes as part of the seven piece set, sorry.

What else is in it?

Duvet Cover, two matching pillow cases, two fancier pillow cases, a roundy cushion thing and a huge fancy luxurious throw.

Oh right, I think I will leave it. Thanks for your help.

Well I got into the car and I was gutted. It was just so nice. I went into the city and had a look in another shop and saw some duvets which were equally as nice, I suppose, but I just wanted the €220 one.

Then I got an idea. There was a furniture shop in another town about an hour away which I knew from before had the same products as many shops in my town but much cheaper! And as luck would have it, some of my family were going to that town on Saturday evening. Made a phone call and we left at 2.30.

Got to the shop and ran upstairs looking for my duvet. They had the same brand as the one I wanted but I couldn't see it. After 10 mins of searching the place (It's huge!!!) I found it. The style I wanted. The size I wanted. Perfect. Now the price. Panic set in looking for the price tag. It was actually staring me in the face but I was so excited I didn't even see it. Eventually I copped it, €160. How bad? €60 less than my town. Went off downstairs with it to pay.

The retail assistant asked me if I was OK. Probably because I had a big stupid, smiley, fools head on me. Then I said something which I have never ever ever said before.

Can you do any better on the price of this?

He looked at me. Hmmm. Any of the older stock take your fancy?

No not really. I want this one.

OK. Took out his calculator.

Now I was expecting him to say €150.

Oh €120 is the best that I can do, is that OK?

Oh yes certainly and I will take your hand as well while I'm at it! Ha.

It looks fantastic. I love it. And it was €100 less than I could have paid a few hours earlier. But I really didn't need it. I really couldn't afford it. It's more than half a weeks wages!!

I just have no willpower! Am I alone in my weakness? ;)

Back With A Bang

I was in Spain for a few days last week. It was absolutely gorgeous. Weather was fantastic. Food was nice. Poolside was quiet. Most relaxing holiday ever!

Then I came home. Went to my voluntary job on Monday morning. That was fine. Came home and had my dinner. Didn't feel so great. Went to bed. Woke up suddenly at 4am and started vomiting. Didn't stop until late last night.

Haven't got sick all day but my stomach feels the most dodgiest it has done in years! At least there are no flu symptoms or I'd swear I had the swine flu.

Talk about back with a bang. Less than 12 hours after getting off the plane and I vomiting my guts up....repeatedly! Damn Ryanair.

Hope y'all didn't miss me too much! ;)

To Whom It Concerns...

OK so, like the rest of the nation I tuned into The Late Late Show on Friday night. I had never been a fan of Pat Kenny as host. He was too cautious, too afraid to ask questions, terrified what a guest may say and just made the viewer feel uneasy. That's my opinion on Pat Kenny as a presenter. So as you can see, it was with great relief that I heard that he was to retire and there would be a new host for the popular Friday night show come the autumn.

Cue Ryan Tubridy. Now in the beginning, I was quiet a fan of Tubridy's. I used to tune in religiously to his early morning breakfast show on 2FM. It was a great show and he was a good presenter. Then he started to annoy me. Soon after he was moved to RTE Radio One. I never followed him to Radio One. Then he also got a Saturday night prime time TV show. I hated it. It was old fashioned, dark, dreary and just boring. I was dreading what he was going to do to The Late Late Show. Although, I was looking forward to seeing how different it would be from when Kenny used to present it.

First show of the season was on last Friday night. The opening credits were good. I liked having the old theme tune back. Then Tubridy walked out and the set looked rather budgeted. He did his usual chitter chatter and announced the first guest. An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.

I really don't have many political views. I do have a slight interest in what goes on in the country and even more so the last few years so I am by no means on Brian Cowens side or any other political person for that matter. The way I see it is, that the country is struggling and no matter what the other political parties say, they still won't be able to turn it around if they are elected. It's going to be a slow process no matter what party is elected. We just have to ride it out.

Anyway, back to The Late Late Show. The interview that I was about to see both shocked and appalled me. Kenny, as previous host, always skirted around issues. And, yes, the show did need someone who wasn't afraid to ask questions and just get stuck in and interact with the guests. But Tubridy just launched straight into a vicious, malicious, string of quick fired questions. One after another, bang, bang, bang. I could not help but feel sorry for Brian Cowen. Nobody should have been treated like that on a TV show.

I really do think that he should not have been asked questions about his personal life. Especially about his alcohol consumption. I am sure the man likes a drink, just like the majority of the country, but he is by no means an alcoholic. Tubridy over stepped the mark.

Having met Brian Cowen and his wife, Mary, at a few occasions I can say that he has a lovely family. He is a very down to earth man. And more importantly, a very honest man. I do not think it was fair the way he was treated by the RTE "presenter".

I could see that Tubridy had listened to the masses and decided that he would not be afraid to ask questions to guests but this was ridiculous. He should have been ashamed of himself. He was clearly trying to make a name for himself with this new format.

I would also like to point out how brilliant Brian Cowen was in answering Tubridy's questions. He responded the minute Tubridy finished asking the questions. He did not flinch. He did not stammer. He spoke clearly and concisely. It really does go to show how great a leader Brian Cowen really is. I think it is more a case of bad timing for him to be Taoiseach. Had he been elected five years ago Ireland would love this man.

I would hope that Tubridy realises the error of his ways after this weekends interview(s) and steps up his game next Friday night.

I should add that he also made a fool of Bryan McFadden, formerly of Westlife. Again this was uncalled for.

I can't help but think that Miriam O'Callaghan or Gerry Ryan would have been a much better host for the show. I know Gerry Ryan is not without his faults either but I think it's safe to say that he has great respect for his guests and would not treat them in the same regard as Tubridy treated his guests.

Only time will tell what the future has in store for both Tubridy and The Late Late Show!