It Hurts!

Back to work when everyone else is still on holidays!
I had to treat myself today, to get over the pain, but that's the end of shopping until February as of NOW!
I now possess anti-social January entertainment, and a clock radio, so that I make it to work on time every day in 2009 (unlike today, when I overslept by a full hour and a half...Sloth).

Thanks Santa!

'Tis the Season

Going skating tonight, should be messy.



Firstly, must face the Christmas madness in town to get my Nana some handcream - last present, two days before Christmas! I am good. See you soon, Santa!

Resonant Frequencies

Alvin Lucier - I am Sitting in a Room

Time Machine

Ah cripes, the time is flying and I just need to sleep, like...forever. Someone press stop on the time counter! Before I do hit the hay, I thought I'd treat my plethora of viewers(!) to a few gems from the ridiculously accomplished Hilliard Ensemble.

'Parce Mihi Domine' - Hilliard Ensemble & Jan Garbarek



'Saphire' - Hilliard Ensemble (Piers Hellawell, 1995)



It would've been nice to be able to post their rendition of El Grillo here, but I can't find it. Alas, fear not, for this very serious young man is going to melt your ears with with the des Prez classic on the Melodica...Enjoy!

Today's Lessons

Miles Davis - So What



Learnt the above in college this eve, and came across the below on my internet travels, fits the bill for me today, moreso than the upbeat version of So What we did earlier - wasn't much in the mood for such liveliness.

Agustí Fernández - Can Ram [Agustí Fernández - Piano, Barry Guy - Bass, Ramón López - Percussion)

Dilemma!

Two Wise Men

Ruby, My Dear - Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane

The Weekend, Enumerated

I did quite a lot this weekend, with great people, and enjoyed every second of it!

1. Friday night - I went to Anseo for some drinks and kept very international company - Brazil, Canada, Latvia and Ireland were all represented.
2. We tripped across the street into Devitts to hear some trad ceol, which was a little more modern than I'm accustomed to - a jolly old gent cantered a marvellous tune, sean nós style, which we were more than prepared to chat through, until we heard the words Internet, google, myspace, joystick and YouTube cleverly intertwined into a bittersweet love song. Possible New Year's Resolution - go to more sessions?
3. Saturday - hit the road up to Belfast and indulged in some delicious mulled beverages and bratwurst at the Christmas Market.
4. Went to see Boxcutter and Mary Anne Hobbs in the Black Box, much fun, much dancing, much 'ow' on my ears.
5. This was followed up by a tremendous homemade quiche, nomnomnom.
6. Sunday - Visited Cavehill for the first time, and was taken aback with both the marvellous views, and my idiocy for not visiting it when I lived in the city.
7. Read trashy magazines on the bus back to Dublin, listening to Bert Jansch, and have just tidied my room to within an inch of it's life.

Productive!
One last thing: I picked myself up a styleophone in UO so I can pretend I'm Bowie for a while.

Laughable Loves

Hello New World...here we go, hope I get used to this...!

My laughable loves in the hop-skip-jump up to Christmas:

1. Mittens - this cosy pair from Coal Head Wear look just like my Topshop ones which have disappeared themselves from the website.

2. On a par with the Messiah, Silent Night and Jingle Bells when it comes to Christmas listening...






3. If only I could embed taste and texture - take a trip to Thorntons and pick up a box (or 5) of their delectable Winter Choccies. Quickly, please. Before I place their entire stock on my ever expanding hips.