Do You Like Scary Movies?

Why yes, yes I do!

I rented “Paranormal Activity” last night and have been reminded of how much I adore the horror genre.

I am among those who absolutely love having the living daylights scared out of me! Ghosts, monsters, psychics, scary little children, the boogie man, clowns – any or all of these things will do. Coupled with dark alleys, creaky houses, full moons and the main character doing the exact opposite of what the safe option would be.

A couple of summers ago, some friends and I decided to rent a different horror flick every week. I’ve seen so many of them, I almost laugh at this stage! We watched everything from “Nosferatu” straight through to “Saw III” and it was a definite learning experience. If a scary film is bad, it is immediately evident. Perhaps the evil baddy is not mysterious enough or the main characters are so unlikeable that you don’t really care if they end up locked in a dungeon forever. But if the film is good, well then it sticks with you forever.

I think the best ones combine psychological scary with physical scary. “The Descent” written and directed by Neil Marshall is a great example of this dynamic. My friend Joey coaxed me into watching it a few years back and it still reigns as one of my all time favourite scare fests. For starters you have a group of mouthy girls in a maze of underground caves. Obviously one of them is stupid enough to have forgotten a map. This classic horrifying situation becomes complete with tiny cramped tunnels and close calls with caving equipment. Aside from the cave-scares this film is so much more. If you like horror, give this one a go!

Another one I only saw recently (hangs head in shame) and absolutely love is the Hitchcock classic, “Psycho”. At first glance I thought it would be dated and cheesy but on the contrary, it was supremely shot and directed and gave me the heebie jeebies (like any good horror should do).

So what did I think of “Paranormal Activity”? Freaky-deaky to say the least. I love the whole hand held camera style (ah “Blair Witch” we remember thee well) and the lack of music makes it even freakier. I’m already looking forward to “Paranormal Activity 2″.

One dead give away that I’m genuinely scared watching these films is that I make stupid jokes right before the scary part like, “oh crap, the lights just went on. Ha, why would a demon even need to turn the lights on?! huh?!” Lame.

So without further ado, Susan’s List of Scare-tastic Horrors (in no particular order)*:

1. The Descent

2. Psycho

3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (The original)

4. The Ring

5. It

6. The Shining

7. Silence of the Lambs

8. Scream

9. The Exorcist

10. Halloween

*These films are best watched on a cold, dark rainy night when you’re all alone in a big old house.

Can’t wait for the weekend!

You know those people who would do anything to hide their birthday? I’m totally not one of them!

There will be cake. You have been warned.

Just one day out of life, it would be so nice

Relaxation, History, Culture and Action. Those are things that make up my perfect holiday. Those are the things that made up my recent trip to Croatia.

My first impressions of Dubrovnik were formed on the taxi journey from Dubrovnik airport to our little holiday apartment in Zaton Mali. As we drove along the small, winding, cliffside roads I couldn’t help but be in awe of the jagged coastlines, deep blue water and the vast expanse of terracotta roofs that stretched on for miles. The sun was setting as we arrived at our accommodation and I can’t think of a more perfect way to see Croatia for the first time – bathed in a warm orange glow.

Our apartment was perfect for two people – small and clean with a kitchen/living room, bedroom and bathroom. The best part was the little balcony with the stunning view of Zaton Mali (a bay just a few km outside the city of Dubrovnik). Using the shower was a humorous exercise to say the least. Croats like their shower heads mounted on the wall at your waist and expect you to use them handheld. Our bathroom was constantly covered in water as a result! The people who own the apartment were adorable, and had a big beautiful golden retriever dog called Otto who welcomed us home every evening.

There are a number of must-see things in Dubrovnik – the first and most important is a walk around the huge walls. The walk takes roughly 90 minutes, but it’s the best way to see the city and get your bearings. Another experience we couldn’t have done without was a walking tour of the Old City. Our tour guide was brilliant, taking us on an intriguing, funny and sometimes quite dramatic journey through the tiny streets. We enjoyed the tour so much that we returned to the same tour guide for a tour specifically on the recent conflicts in the area. To hear about the war from a native Croat who was resident in the city was an unforgettable and enlightening experience. I could never just stop in a country and sun myself for a week – I’m definitely an advocate of learning a bit about the place you’re visiting!

If it’s activity you’re looking for the Dubrovnik area has it all: Sea Kayaking, Hiking, Sailing, Mountain Biking, Jet Skiing etc. The first action we embarked on was a half day sea kayaking trip around Zaton Mali. It was amazing fun – especially because neither of us had really done it before! We were given life jackets and put in a two person sea kayak – Conor in the back and myself in the front! We were accompanied by our guide and two girls Haley and Nicole, from the US and New Zealand! When we first set out, the weather looked really changeable and sure enough we encountered some rough water and a bit of rain…but thank god we pushed through because once that cleared, the skies were blue and the sun made the water sparkle. First we stopped at a little private beach and had a swim in the clear blue water. We had time to sun bathe there and grab a quick coke before heading back out on the water! Then we hiked up through some woods and ended up on top of a ridge with the most unbelievable view of the sea, the coast line and some enormous cruise ships. It was magical.

Another action filled day was spent on the island of Mijet – home to one of Croatia’s national parks. After a hilarious search for breakfast among the dockside cafes (which only serve coffee and alcohol at 7:30am) we got on our ferry to the island. The place was like paradise. We rented some mountain bikes and set off to explore. Now, I’m not the most experienced biker – so it’s a good thing Conor has a lot of patience – but soon enough I was getting the hang of it and really really enjoyed whizzing around the place! We had lunch over looking one of the two warm water lakes and then went for a dip!

Lokrum is another must-visit island off the coast of Dubrovnik. It is by far the closest one only taking fifteen minutes from the Old Town to the shores. If fairytales really happened, Lokrum was the setting! The place is car free and inhabited by a large troop of peacocks that strut around the place calling to each other and showing off their magnificent feathers. Lokrum is also home to a really excellent botanic garden and a huge fort on the top of a high hill. We loved the island so much that we went there twice – spending our last morning at a spot called “The Dead Sea” – a little lake surrounded by trees and cliffs and the perfect spot to quietly get some sun. We were the only people there for ages that morning…just us and the peacocks. Ah, heaven.

One thing we really enjoyed about Dubrovnik was the cuisine! Famous for their seafood, between us we sampled a variety of dishes. Conor tried Oysters, Mussles, Squid, Trout and Black Risotto (Risotto with black squid ink!) and I, the less adventurous one, had fresh Scampi, Crap soup and Sea Bass. We also had some Bosnian food (Conor really had to push me for this…ha) which was actually delicious! The two fancy places we went to were Proto (located in the Old City) where Bono once ate, and a local place in Zaton Mali called Orsan. Both were absolutely fabulous!

Speaking of Bosnia, we couldn’t go to Croatia and not visit one of it’s neighbours, so we booked a tour of Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina. We got a coach from our apartment and a guide explained the area and its history to us. We took a guided tour of the visually and culturally interesting city and even had lunch with the local guide who was a really unusual sort of fellow! After an action packed week, it was nice to sit back and let the guide do the work!

It wasn’t really a boozy kind of holiday – but when we did pop out for a few drinks, we had a ball. One place that no visitor should miss is Buza Bar. There are two of these cliffside bars, both set up on the outside of the Old City Walls with not much indication of how to find them! Once you do locate that little hole in the wall (we heard the rat pack booming from beyond!) it is pure paradise. We sat at a table on a cliff overlooking the bluest, cleanest water I have ever seen. The sun beamed down as we sipped our local beers. Once we had finished our beers, we ventured down the rocks, closer to the water. After plucking up the courage – we both dove into the Adriatic sea! The rest of the day was spent lying on the rocks, drinking beer and relaxing! Perfect, perfect thing to do – day or night!

If you’re looking for a holiday with it all – sun, relaxation but action, history, art and culture too – Dubrovnik is definitely one for your list!

Salt and Vinegar?

It could be all those years I spent in New Yawk. It might be the lure of deep fat fried food. Maybe it’s the banter behind the counter. But one thing’s for sure….

I LOVE FISH AND CHIPS.

Fresh cod and freshly cut chips wrapped in paper with salt and a tiny bit of vinegar – there’s nothing like it!

In fact, they’ve become a makeshift tradition in my life. Every Friday my team in work (known affectionately as the McGurkettes) stroll down to our favourite chipper – Leo Burdocks! There’s normally a long line outside the door as the lads bustle about behind the counter getting everyone’s order ready. We carry it back to the 4fm studios triumphantly and head out on the balcony to devour our treat in the sunshine.

MMMM…is it Friday yet?

Today is National Fish and Chip Day – members of the Irish Traditional Chippers Association will be selling this takeaway classic at half price. Check here to see if your chipper is on the list!

The Summer Wind

I hate the cold. As a result, I find myself shuddering in situations where most people are comfortable. To me, luke warm is freezing cold. I can’t go anywhere without some sort of cardigan or sweater – especially here in Ireland where even a good day in the summer is still fairly breezy and subject to an obligatory rain shower every few minutes.

Have you ever seen the brave souls who get into the Irish sea on Christmas day? Well, I’d rather jump off a cliff than attempt such a feat of cold bloodedness.

The Winter of 2010 has set new records in the cold stakes. It brought snow, floods and frost like never before. It has led to dry, broken skin, sore lips, frozen noses and stinging ears. It’s winters like these that bring on my memories of New York in the Summer.

Most New Yorkers are used to the sweltering heat that comes along in May and fizzles out somewhere in the middle of September. When I first arrived in Brooklyn, in May 1994 – I hadn’t a clue how to handle life in what felt like an oven. But I was a kid, and kids can easily adapt to weather shifts and changes.

It was my mother who suffered the most. Every time she turned on the oven she had to sit down and wipe her brow with a tea towel, sighing, “this bloody heat!”. She used to say that when she crossed the road in the summer, she was so hot and worn out, she was afraid that wouldn’t make it to the other side. At her command, our little sweaty apartment was fitted with the best air conditioning money could buy, as well as a BBQ so we could avoid using the kitchen.

My biggest issue with the hot weather, was wearing a school uniform in it. When I got to Catholic High School, we had to wear these woolen short skirts and since it was far too hot for tights, knee high socks completed the preppy look. It wasn’t so bad on the walk to and from school – but come exam time, it was sure to make the difference in the classroom. You’d sit down on your plastic seat (you know the ones with the little desks attached?) and within half an hour, your whole leg would be stuck in place with sweat. You knew you’d have to move it eventually to get comfortable, the question was, would it be slow or quick, like a plaster. Inevitably, you’d end up with these horrible red marks on your thighs. Very attractive.

Sometimes on the walk home from school, I’d walk through McDonald’s – in one side and out the other – without even looking at the menu, just so that I could have two minutes of air conditioning to tide me over.

One place you definitely don’t want to be for a long period of time is at a subway station in the Summer. The heat is almost unbearable and you stand with your eyes fixed on the tunnel hoping the train will come, the doors will open and the air conditioning on board will dry your sweat and clear your head – which was slowly overheating minute by minute.

But it isn’t all bad. The summer in New York comes along with the most amazing smell -a mixture of cotton candy, BBQs, freshly cut grass and sun tan lotion. It comes in the form of this rush of heat to your face, which is especially noticeable if you’re in manhattan, walking in between two particularly tall sky scrapers. There’s also the whiff of hot dog stands, the sound of an ice cream van, vendors shouting “Ice cold water – one dollar” on every corner and on a quiet block, the sound of secadas buzzing from the trees.

When you’re a teenager, a New York summer is very uneventful, but totally memorable at the same time. The average day would go as follows: wake up at noon (or later), wander out onto the stoop to get the mail (while enjoying the warmth of the concrete on your toes), eat cereal while watching trashy daytime talk shows, pick up the phone to talk to other teenaged humans also watching trashy daytime talk shows, slip on flip-flops, meet up with friends with zero plan of action, hang out on someone’s stoop while gossiping, get pizza, hang out on a different stoop while gossiping, go to the cinema to enjoy the air conditioning, go to a final stoop for more gossip, go home. It may sound dull but it was heaven at the time.

This Summer will be my first one in a long time that’s New York-free. With a full time job here in Dublin, there’s no hope of me escaping to Long Island, Brooklyn or Manhattan for June, July or August. I guess I’ll just have to hope that all those weather-predicting postmen are correct and that Ireland gets a little slice of the bliss that is a sweaty, humid New York season.

Williamsburg Summer 2008

Raise a glass…

If there’s one thing I hate doing, it’s sitting around every evening watching TV. I’ve always had this great sense that if I did that, I’d be wasting time! I’m lucky enough to live in one of the most culturally exciting cities in Europe and one of my continuous goals is to take full advantage of all it has to offer me. In that sense, I’m even more fortunate to have an interesting and adventurous boyfriend (he’d be blushing if he read this!). From day one, we’ve always surprised each other with really creative “dates” – everything from Dublin’s Ghost Bus (highly recommended for a good giggle!) to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (sure to inspire interesting conversation) to interpretive dance at the Project Arts Centre (hilarious. Plain hilarious).

I wasn’t quite sure about what we had planned for last night. It was something I was comfortable with, but like a child on the first day of school – I couldn’t help but be a bit nervous and apprehensive at the prospect of being placed among new people conquering one of the world’s most feared tasks: Public Speaking.

Toastmasters is an internationally recognised public speaking club where members meet once a week to speak both off the cuff and prepared. The whole point is to progress in skill and confidence and to be evaluated by your peers in a constructive and positive environment. Thursday evening’s interesting date was to a meeting of Dublin Toastmasters at Buswell’s Hotel.

My first impression was of the extremely welcoming atmosphere. The Boyf had been there a few times before and immediately one of the club members recognised him and said “hello”. The people in the room (about fifty in total) surprised me.They ranged in age from mid twenties all the way up to the oldest Toastmaster in Dublin who is ninety-two. There were many different nationalities in the room including Irish, British, Polish and South African. Some spoke with the typical Dublin south side drawl, others with sing-song north side accents and other’s still with Irish accents from farther afield. Toastmasters come in all shapes, sizes, colours and creeds.

The meeting flew by, and although I wanted to speak on a few of the topics, my fear held me back. It wasn’t until the end of the meeting that I realised that several guests, in the exact same position as me had spoken!

The topics session was really enlightening. The Topicsmaster would pick out a question or topic and then the name of a member. The member would then have to speak on the random topic for two minutes. Afterwards others could speak to respond. Topics ranged from, “What was your most memorable job?” to “Chance favours the prepared mind”.

The whole experience reminded me of my days competing in Speech and Debate competitions. The speech team at my all girl high school in New York were always the ones to beat at State competitions and we knew it. My category was “Dramatic Interpretation”, so I would basically memorise a monologue and perform it for judges who would then critique me. The pressure was immense and I can remember always feeling just a little bit sweaty before each performance.

One particular competition comes to mind. I had been doing very well that Saturday and had made it to the coveted final round. The dress for such events was fairly professional – with all of us wearing skirt or trouser suits. My piece was a colourful monologue in the voice of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s certifiably insane wife Zelda – it involved acting like a bit of a flirt, shouting at no one in particular and eventually dying in a mental hospital fire (phew! I’m wrecked just remembering it!) While performing it for the final time that day, I went a little far with the flirting and ended up accidentally flicking up my skirt right at the judges. Nice. I was mortified. Would the judges disqualify me for vulgar behaviour? Should I stop speaking?! I managed to push these crazy thoughts aside and soldiered on ending up in a respectable third place! (My entire team slagged me for weeks, attributing my trophy to my flashing the judges!)

The meeting of Toastmasters last night made me want to be a better public speaker. The members totally inspired me! It’s definitely something I want to join in the near future.

Curiouser and Curiouser

When I look back on all the amazing books I’ve read over the last two decades – I can’t help but fondly remember the children’s books that have shaped my literary appetite as it is today.

I guess the first book to stand out is CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which I was given by my cousin Joe. The copy I own has been read so many times that the cover looks like it’s been through a tsunami. I loved the fantasy world that it transported me to and that in the end, ordinary children could be warriors, Kings and Queens. the fact that one of the characters was called Susan really delighted me even though I always secretly wished that Susan was as exciting a character as Lucy!. I read the book over and over and enjoyed it without ever needing an explanation. Then, when I was in Junior year of high school we did the book in class. Suddenly, there was all this religious symbolism attached to the classic book of my childhood. Fascinating as it was, it was totally unnecessary for me. I love the book whether it has one level of meaning or fifty.

From a very young age, Lewis Carroll’s  Alice in Wonderland really got me dreaming. The book appeared before the Disney version for me – and as a result, I never really quite got what Disney was getting at. The Lewis Carroll version is so much grittier, more frightening and funnier! When I was a child my mum used to leave me in a main street book shop while she did her food shopping next door. It was during one of these sessions that I discovered Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and the Dodo. I still have my hardback copy bought from that very shop in Bray.

Sometimes called the greatest children’s author of all time, Roald Dahl will always hold a special place in my heart. Like the Carroll version of “Alice”, Dahl gave kids a look at fantasy in a slightly grimier way. In a world where you’re small and powerless, Dahl provided a resistance to authority and it was the kids that always triumphed. The Witches was always my favourite, followed closely by Matilda – but I have almost all his books and they’re all cello-taped together or missing pages! I still buy Roald Dahl’s books for my little nephews.

Truly wonderful children’s literature is timeless. You can read it as an adult and it still transports you, endears you and frightens you. Harry Potter did this for me as a young adult and I’m already looking forward to re-reading all seven books with new eyes! Can’t believe I almost forgot to mention Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy – children’s books that I couldn’t put down for a minute.

Another book, written as a children’s story but definitely for adults is Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder. It took me about six months to finish, but my god was it worth it. It’s a history of philosophy through the eyes of a young girl and takes you from ancient times right up until the present-day. Accompanying the course is a magical tale of confusion and fairy tale fantasies that make you question your own existence and place in the world. I would highly recommend it for anyone who’s looking for something thought-provoking.

So, grab a cup of tea – get out your favourite childhood read and remember how amazing it was.

I’ll be attempting a children’s story here in the next week or two. Wish me luck!!

Pick your poison

I’ve always been a bit of a tea freak. I drink about four or five cups of Lyons a day! That may seem like a lot , but apparently its average in Ireland. After all, we have the highest number of tea drinkers per capita!

Ireland has always been thought of as a tea drinking nation – but as the Celtic Tiger hit the country’s economy, coffee became a hip alternative to the cuppa cha. Words like “grande”, “frapaccino” and “skinny latte” seeped into our lexicon and there’s no going back. Or is there?

This is what my radio documentary is all about. What is Ireland’s national drink? Are we all still drinking tea like our grannies, and their grannies before them? Are people more hooked on an Americano? and the big question is: why? What kind of image is associated with the beverages?

So – please help me out! Take my poll – its only one question afterall.

Tell your friends. Tell your friends’ friends. I need to know the answer!

Please and thank you

There’s only now, there’s only this

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE fan of the hit Broadway musical, Rent (and who isn’t?!). I’ve seen the show three times in NYC and countless times on DVD. I suppose it isn’t hard to be swept up in Rent madness – the music is rockin’ and the message is a solemn one: live each day as if it’s your last and make it count. It’s also very attractive to us 90′s kids – as the show is set in the once bohemian Alphabet City, Manhattan during that decade.

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Rent for the fourth time – this time on the Helix stage. It may not have been Broadway – but it was just as exciting and twice as special because performing were my old drama group: DCU Drama. The leading roles were played by people who I consider to be my best friends! Plus – I was there to support my boyfriend, Conor who played drums in the fantastic band that accompanied the show!

Now, I may be biased, but the DCU Drama version of Rent blew. me. away. There was so much energy, heart and complete dedication to the show.  I spent the last half an hour crying at how amazing it was (am I a sap? yes). And I’m very proud to report that the show won Best Event at the DCU Clubs and Socs Awards the other night!

As part of a radio programme I was producing, I did some interviews with the cast and recorded some musical numbers. Alan McHale (who plays Mark) produced a video using some of his own footage and my radio stuff – to be submitted to the Board of Irish College Societies!

Here it is:

Off With Her Head!

Meet the newest addition to my growing collection of Disney DVDs! I haven’t seen Alice in Wonderland in years – but has always been one of my favourite stories of all time.

When I was seven, my mum used to do her food shopping and leave me in a little book shop in Bray while I waited. Every day I’d pick up Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts and after a few weeks I had it finished! My mum bought me a lovely hardback edition of the book – and I consider it the first real piece of my library.

The story has also inspired many other art forms including some gorgeous trends in fashion. I think the creepy fantasy element to the book is what fascinates people – the white rabbit, growing and shrinking, the Dodo and a tea party. It’s Lewis Carroll’s strange and wonderful descriptions that have caused Alice to permeate into so many other areas.

I’m not sure the Disney film brought quite as much magic with it – but it definitely made a good effort! I can’t wait to re-watch it.

PS. the DVD says: Virtual Tea Party Included. Wanna join?