Keeping me warm in 2009

What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.

- Samuel Coleridge

Last June I left a comment on a blog that began a correspondence with a lovely Australian lady who was learning how to get better at knitting.

This Christmas I received a parcel in the post. It was one of the few presents I received and came as a total surprise. Inside a lovely handwritten card reading:

Dear Darragh

How are you? I hope you're feeling mighty fine. I'm not sure if you remember but earlier in the year we exchanged an email or two and I said I'd be thrilled to knit you a hat. Well here it is. plus a little bit extra.

I'm sorry though that it has taken me so long to post it over to you. I had read on your blog that your big birthday was in August so I knitted like crazy to get it done in time. And I almost made it, but wasn't sure of your exact birthday, and indeed fell in love with what I'd made for you that I wasn't sure I could part with it.

Having sadly not sent it in time for your celebrations I set the whole project aside for a time. I'd so furiously worked on it that I couldn't even stand to knit again for a long while. But, it was made just for you. And now I can't wait for it to get across the blue ocean to you and hopefully keep you snuggly and warm this winter.

The quality of the knitting on this scarf is excellent and the photos really can't do the vibrant colours justice. Even my mother, herself an avid knitter in her day, commented on the fine workmanship (and put dibs on the hat if I wasn't wearing it).

Coastal Aussie, thank you. I'm extremely touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness and thank you so much for taking the time to create such a lovely gift just for me, and all the way from Australia! Though I'll lend my mam the hat, that scarf will do me right up until St Patrick's Day, knowing Irish weather. Snuggly and warm is definitely what I'll be. I'll have to send you a pic of me in it.

I tell you, between blogger, knitted and toyboy badges, t-shirts, toys, posters and all the tickets from Movies.ie, I haven't done at all badly this year. Not at all.

Thanks again CA, and Happy New Year. There's something on the way to you as I type :)

Happy 31st Birthday Martyn

Hello there Martyn, I'm Darragh, a friend of your sister Mary.

I know it's weird of me to write to you, considering we've never spoken or met, but I'd like to wish you a Happy Birthday today.

I've been friends with your little sister for over a year now. In that time I've found her to be one of the sweetest, most caring people I've ever met. Though we're very different, her and I, we have a slightly strange connection that makes for a very strong friendship.

We've often talked about you. She's fond of all her brothers but you hold a special place in her heart, and I think that's why I'm writing to you now. She's often told me what a great guy you are, how you're the bestest brother anyone can have. You sound like someone I'd like to have a pint with.

Your sister has probably changed from the little girl you grew up with. The little girl who you were so protective of, who was your sister even though she was adopted and who once whacked you in the eye with a well thrown hairbrush causing your primary school teachers to believe you'd been in a fight, rather than sweet innocent Mary causing the damage. She still causes divilment the odd time :o).

I'm proud to know your sister. I know you'd be proud of her. She constantly surprises me with how she thinks with her heart and how she cares about people.

Yesterday she told us about you. We were discussing grief after death - a friend of ours is finding it difficult to come to terms with the death of her uncle eight days ago. She wondered if it was strange that she mourned his loss so much, even though he was 'just' her uncle. She needed good advice, support and empathy.

Your sister wrote her one of the most poignant, thoughtful things I have ever read online. It took my breath for a moment. She wrote it, Martyn, about your tragic death in a car accident 11 years ago.

You shouldn't have to bury your feelings, it would be my brother's 31st birthday tomorrow if he were still alive, he's dead just over 11 years and believe me it NEVER gets easier, yes you learn to deal with it and you don't break down as often, but it will ALWAYS be there and it will never fully go away.

I know I still miss my brother dreadfully and I always will and I do still have days where I sit and cry and cry and cry.

Your uncle wasn't 'just' your uncle, he was a person you obviously loved and thought a great deal of and you are therefore allowed to grieve for as long as you like.

There is no time frame for grieving, there's no such thing as, ok he's dead a week, a month, a year or whatever, now get over it and stop grieving, you will grieve for him for the rest of your life but it will be in a different way.

My nieces know all about my brother, even though they were all born years after he was killed, and any children I have will know about him and I'll always talk about him and remember him and have pictures of him around me.

I'm sorry I'll never have the chance to meet you, Martyn. You'd be proud of your sister, a beautiful woman who still loves you, still misses you and will celebrate your birthday today, remembering the brilliant big brother you were and the part of her life, her heart that you are and will always be.

Rest in peace, sir. Your sister is doing great, with friends that love her and will be thinking of you both, and your family, today.

Aw, thank you Marian!

Well aren't you the sweetest person ever?

"... I have something you might like, I had forgotten I had it so it needs a new (better home), send me your address and I'll send it on to you..."

They arrived safely today :)



What a thoughtful gift!

I'd send you a Thank You card but they'd be nowhere near as good as yours.

I'll think of something though. Where did I leave that recipe book? :o)

Hello Sheila, remember me?

Monday in Davy Byrnes was just one of those random nights. Unplanned, uncoordinated and deliciously fun. I learned important lessons - a smile and a glint in the eye goes a long way. Saying please and thank you always helps.

But above all I learned to never, ever leave my camera behind with Anthony, Darren or Niamh now they've been involved in this.





Sheila left her camera behind her in the pub, with all the great photos she’d taken of the night. All the people she'd been with. So we thought, what if we added, erm, everyone else? Tourists, locals, barstaff... everyone? Tee hee hee.







All photos can be seen on my pix.ie page. My sincere thanks to everyone in Davy Byrnes for their great sense of humour.
Sorry Sheila!



I would greatly appreciate that because this was done for fun and with the willingness of so many nice people, that these photos are not used to make fun of any of the participants. Please contact me regarding using the photos, and if you'd like any taken down, just let me know.

Bad Habits - shocking stuff altogether ;)

Just been sent a link to this by my beautiful friend Emily.

It's a short film she wrote and directed, starring the lovely Emma Cavanagh and Dave Kaczmarczyk.

Beautifully shot, great sound and a simple - if slightly unrealistic* - story.

*I mean seriously, I've NEVER known a nun as pretty as that one!

Well done Emily, really loved it :) It's great to see such quality come from young, talented Irish film makers.

What did you think of it? Just click below to tell us!

Blogger beers were fun

A big thanks to Alexia for arranging last night, which turned out to be one of the funniest and most random nights I've had in ages.



Ben, Darren, Anthony, Alexia and I were in the Market Bar, Dublin. We were joined by two gentlemen from Northern Ireland - David, a graphic designer passionate about his typography and barbers and Phil, photographer to the stars and the next table.





It's brilliant when a group just clicks, and we certainly did. Conversation flowed, as did the drinks; blogs and opinions critiqued; secrets were shared and phones compared. (Dave won that one).

There shall no doubt be many photos on their respective blogs - I didn't take too many, I was laughing so hard at the tales of landlord woe, dodgy hairdressers, gadgetry, lamp loving, badges and all sorts of stuff.

Ben's haircut was lovely though



From the confines of the Market Bar we escaped for a late couple to O'Neills, hijacked some Chicago folk and put the world to rights over a pint or three.



And, would you believe, no hangover this morning. How great is that?

Thanks all of you. It was fantastic. :)