Youtube users

So true!

Thanks to Dave for sending me the link
Check out the other comics here!

Do You Know the Way…

to Cirque du Soleil?

My week of amazing-ness was brought to a fantastic close with a performance of Quidam (translated as, an anonymous passer-by living lost in the crowd) by French-Canadian troop, Cirque du Soleil. The show took place at Dublin’s new O2 arena, which is such a lovely venue! I had never been to the Point, but the O2 is a brilliant place to see a performance – the amphitheatre seating means that wherever you are, you have a great view of the action and no one is blocking your way! There were also ample toilet facilities, and I wasn’t in a queue for more than 5 minutes (which in female standards is teensy!).

The show itself left me in complete and utter awe. The story followed a little girl on a boring rainy day – who slips into this fantasy world of acrobats, clowns and a mysterious headless man with an umbrella! The choreography was such that although your eyes were drawn to a piece of circus performance in the centre of the stage, there were no shortage of other acts appearing in other parts of the set. The characters reminded me of something from Pan’s Labyrinth, except not quite so scary!

When you go to a circus, what do you expect to see? Why clowns, of course! And boy did Cirque deliver! It’s two main clown pieces involved bringing audience members onto the stage and placing them in physically awkward situations. It was side-splitting kind of funny – and what a rush for those people on stage to have the entire venue applauding their efforts!

There were no shortage of amazing feats. My favourites included a troupe of Asian girls with Diablos – they were able to do things with them that I’d never seen (and I did a thesis on Irish circuses last June!). I also loved the acrobats that came out suspended on large rings – it was both beautiful and exciting to watch. The entire show was so graceful and daring! I loved every minute.

I also have to give a mention to the wonderful live band and vocalists that provided the sometimes eerie backdrop to the performance! They were so polished that you’d never have known the music was live.

If you missed Cirque du Soleil this time around – make sure you catch them whenever they come back! I for one will be first in line for the next show!

Bit of Xposé

Last week, while on work placement with TV3, I was lucky enough to get to see the Dublin Fashion Week Collective Salon Show! I spent the day with some of the girls of Xposé and got to see first hand what goes into making a piece for the programme. The show itself was at the Westbury Hotel and saw the models zig zagging in and out of  a tea party-esque set up as they struck a pose in some gorgeous threads!

Designers featured in the show included Sinead Doyle, Joanne Hynes and Rachel Mackey. Perhaps the most exciting addition to the line-up was Dublin born Paul Costelloe, who has opened up London Fashion Week for the last six years and hasn’t shown a collection in Ireland for over ten years! His autumn/winter collection is filled with glittering dresses and beautiful cuts – all of which provided the perfect opening for the show. Joanne Hynes’ collection was another of my favourites, and included a quilted leather jacket that was to die for! If there’s one thing I’ll say about the collections, they were definitely all wearable!

Rather than post pics of the event, here’s the Xposé coverage of the show!

We found it especially funny that after the show – all of the cakes, muffins and biscuits put out for the spectators were left relatively untouched – that’s fashion for ya!

I have to admit, I never thought much of Xposé as a production – that is until I got to work with the girls! It may look like fluffy television, but the Xposé team aren’t just a bunch of pretty (prettier in real life) faces – the presenters do a lot of their own research, do the interviews and even edit the packages themselves. So much hard work goes into each show – and they make it look easy!

Destination Information

I was tagged by Lyndsay to do this short but informative survey. Deep Breath here goes!

What’s the last thing you read or are currently reading?

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - still haven’t finished it (and its TEENSY). I’ve been sick lately so I’ve opted for DVDs which I can tune out from occasionally.

Do you nap a lot?

I really enjoy napping and nap whenever possible!

Who was the last person you hugged?

Prob my roomies – its the first time in weeks that we’ve all been in the same house!

What’s your current obsession/addiction?

I realise that this obsession is not a new one – but my mum just got me the ten season Friends boxset. Let the viewing begin…

What are you wearing right now?

My Jim-Jams

What was for dinner?

Chicken and waffles… did I mention I’m sick? It means I think, act and cook like a kid.

What have you been listening to lately?

Random stuff actually. I’m all into my podcasts at the mo – loving Radiolabs old stuff and Conversations with Eamon Dunphy. They’re simple but revealing interviews.

If you could have any super power,what would it be?

Super immune system girl! my tonsils are sooo sore

What is your favorite weather, and why?

I love warm and sunny weather. Think April/May time in New York! Warm enough to wear jeans and flip flops

What was the last thing you bought?

Emm technically a trip to the docs and some medicine – but if we’re talking something I actually wanted to pay for, then a cup of tea to take away from starbucks last night. Subsequently that tea was consumed in the sun in St. Stephens Green.

Say something about the person who tagged you :

I really don’t think I can top Catherine’s answer for this one! ha! However, I will say that Lyndsay is the best person for adventures, tea and parody song writing EVER.

If you could have a house- totally paid for, fully furnished- anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?

DUBLIN. Hello? Poor student about to be finished a Masters course anyone?

Favorite vacation spot?

Italy. I was watching Kathryn Thomas on No Frontiers reviewing Rome the other night and I was brought back to one of the best holidays I’d ever been on. The food, the wine, the sights – Italy has it all!

Favorite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is overflowing with a zillion others?

My ballet pump aerosoles. Not the prettiest pair in the wardrobe but by far the comfiest!

Name one thing you cannot live without :

Music – it gets me through most things

If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?

Back in Italy – with my bedroom right over an amazing traditional restaurant. I’d love to wake to the sounds on the cobblestones and smell the fresh bread baking.

*Photos from the last time I was in Italy  with my sister, Carolyn- 2005

Francoise Hardy

A mysterious character came into Karen Millen the other day and told me that I reminded him of this lady of the 1960’s.

I’d never heard of her before – but after watching her videos on youtube, I’ve become a bit of a fan! What a beautiful singer. In a weird coincedence, the name Francoise Hardy has just appeared in the book I’m currently reading (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). So, thank you mysterious browser: what a compliment!

All Kinds of All Ireland Talent

For the last five weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tyronne Productions on the All Ireland Talent Show! Now, now…don’t get excited – it was a short work experience gig and sadly was unpaid. However, I did get to watch the programme develop from start to finish, meet some fantastic people and learn a lot about how live studio TV works. What was my job?

The official stand-in for Dana. I kid you not!

When she wasn’t in studio at rehearsals, I got to stand around and pretend to be her! It was class.

Plus, I got to see the acts up close and personal and let me tell you – TV does not do them justice! I’m currently waiting for the final results now – and although I think all of the finalists definitely deserve to be there, my vote is with little Jack Lynch! He’s adorable, he lights up the stage and he is so talented. All at the age of seven.

Go B-Boy 6, Go!

Dug this out the other day…

Still good.

The Great Recession

Love this.

Shut up and…

I don’t think there’s anything in the world I want more right now. Buses just aren’t doin it for me anymore…Esp when I’m out filming interviews for a documentary! Try lugging a camera and tripod around Dublin’s South Side in the rain without a car. Or even better – getting on a Dart between 8 and 9 o clock with the gear. It is not a comfortable experience.

I’d be particularly happy  cruising around in one of these:

I hereby pledge that by 201o, I will possess a full driver’s license. Now, whether I’ll have a car is another story. But a girl can dream can’t she?

Will you be my Valentine?

Ah, Valentine’s Day. One of the most pointless holidays ever created. It exists purely to sell fluffy teddies, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, red roses and of course greeting cards. It warrants the question: if you love me, why do you need to show it on this one particular day in February?

And yet…the hopeless romantic inside me is dying for a bit of wining and dining this weekend in addition to an excuse to be with “my person”. Not that we need an excuse.

Valentine’s gone by have been fairly anti-climactic. I have great memories of last Valentine’s Day – spent with Johanna and Lyndsay on the couch watching girlie films. Johanna and I went to Tesco to pick up “night-in supplies” and were in hysterics noting that everyone else in the queue around us was male and had some form of the above, chocolate-teddy-roses combo in hand! Spot the single chicks! haha

I also have fairly blurry memories of previous Valentine’s Days that included staying in with a boyfriend and a pizza only to be interrupted by a persistent neighbour, receiving a light bulb as a present (mmm practical) and watching “So I Married an Axe Murderer” while arguing. All with different boyfriends obviously.

There was one Valentine’s Day that surprised me. I was single, in fifth or sixth year and asleep in my bed at home. My mum came in and said “Susan, there’s been a delivery for you” and I responded “Feck off, stop messing with me while I’m trying to sleep”. She brought in a dozen red roses from a very good friend of mine. It was such a lovely gesture!

Also, each year, whether I’m single, attached or confused, I am sure to get a card or email from my sister, Carolyn!

So you see, although my skeptical, independent, feminist side says: “down with Valentines’ Day, its commercial bullcrap!” My girlie romantic side sings, “I love you baby, and if its quite alright, I need you babyyyyy to warm the lonely night I love ….” (you get the picture….also its really hard to sing something in blog form!)

Even if it is a holiday that preys on the emotions of people everywhere – enjoy it for what it is: an excuse to be with the person you love..whether its a boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend!

Happy Early Valentine’s

Photos from: here, here and here!