Back with a vengence

Okay, it's been a while. Life has been fast-paced. So much happening in the UK City of Culture, the land of the brave. Lots of positive developments to report, and hopefully not so much of the other stuff.
So what stimulated this return to action?? Hot off the email, the very latest -

VANI-T OFFICIAL ‘TAN OF CHOICE’ FOR MISS IRELAND 2010


Vani-T is delighted to announce it will be the official ‘tan of choice’ for Miss Ireland 2010, which takes place this September.
Recently credited as being ‘the Victoria’s Secret of the organic & natural beauty market', Miss Ireland's 2010 tan of choice has set the standard for tans worldwide in image, delivery of results, quality and purity, with a high natural and organic ingredient content.
Vani-T is adored by celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz, and now the newly crowned Miss Ireland will automatically feel like an A-lister on her big night too!
Vani-T’s innovative organic formula will ensure an all over flawless finish for the night where all eyes will be glued to each contestant. The professionals think it’s a great ‘tan of choice’ as it easily adapts to all skin types to ensure every contestant finds their perfect even colour!
Contestants will arrive out looking effortlessly radiant, sun kissed and glowing from head to toe for the ultimate red carpet look.
The most believable, flawless, long lasting tan imaginable
Vani-T Tan set to take centre stage at Miss Ireland 2010 – see the results for yourself.

Vani-T is distributed by Bronze Couture in Ireland. For stockist information nationwide, please contact Kassy on 059 918 0477

For further press information, product information or visuals; please contact: Lorraine or Jill at Unique Perspectives
Tel: 01 662 8585 or email jill@uniqueperspectives.ie

Remember - 'You read it first at . . .' etc etc

Of course last year's Miss Ireland was Laura Patterson from Derry.

Prompted off my seat . . .

by this exciting email today -

One sofa – endless variations

The Government

Want contemporary, classic style and functionality?

Why not try a Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition??!!

Indivi 2 from BoConcept is the most popular sofa from BoConcept. And for good reason. It's the ultimate modular sofa system and has a unique connection system for unlimited options. Try Nick Clegg for Deputy Prime Minister, or even Kenneth Clarke for justice Minister. Choose between a variety of seating units, leg designs and armrests. In the immortal words of Boris Johnston, you can even have "a kind of cross between a bulldog and a chihuahua" (but you must know how to spell 'chihuahua' to ensure correct delivery}And like this isn't enough, the solid wood frame and foam-core seat cushions ensure stable, comfortable seating and excellent durability. Yes, we can guarantee at least a full year of stable government.

The quality of real relaxation is given the pride of place. ['Brilliant' - Mr G. Brown] This is now possible with the new mega resting unit that gives Indivi 2 an even more modern and trendy expression. (yes, obviously words like 'modern' and especially 'trendy' are old hat, but we've already used 'contemporary' - see above)

Another way to renew the Indivi 2 collection is the new way to place legs. By opening up the possibility of fitting the legs under the seat units, an even lighter, floating sofa design is created. You can change the overall look of the sofa using different leg-positioning options. Specially designed for the Clinton adminstration, this is a 'must have' in government circles internationally.

[That's enough about sofas - Ed]

Bloody Sunday report - quelle surprise

There can be little surprise about the news that the publication of the Bloody Sunday report has been postponed until after the general election. As the BBC regional political correspondent Paul Rowley reminded us again on Radio Foyle this morning, he's been predicting 6th May as the date for the past year. This date has been long pencilled in on the government's timeline of events, and the little drama of 'It will, it won't' in relation to the Saville Report has been played out just according to the script.

That's all very well for the politicians, who always prefer to toss a hot potato in the laps of their successors in power, but it's cynical in how it deals with the families of those murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday. Once again their hopes have been raised and dashed, adding further to the anguish and strain they've suffered over many years.

Yes, it's been months . . .

.  . . and since I blocked those emails from the bathroomware company there doesn't seem to be much to report - other than real news, of course.

Belfast Telegraph were in touch today looking for some crystal-ball gazing in terms of the Foyle constituency. After considerable thought and research, one could only reach the conclusion that anything other than a win for Mark Durkan or Martina Anderson will be the shock of the election. Still, it would be some coup for Journal columnist Eamonn McCann to lift the Foyle seat at this stage of his political career.

Lots happening over in BBC Radio Foyle and a good bit of chat about the departures of The Voice of Derry, Paul McFadden, and another highly-experienced journo Eimear O'Callaghan. At the same time there's an advert in today's paper for 'Editor, BBC Radio Foyle'. Looks like the station manager's job, occupied so many luminaries over the years, Joe Mahon, Mickey McGowan, Poilin Ni Chiarain, Anna Leddy and others, most recently Paul McCauley, is no more.
Bit of a cold wind blowing along Northland Road at the moment . . .

Easter on the way, and with it lots of cappucinos, crisps and meat, sadly missed over the past six weeks (apart from that wee trip to Brussels - Lent doesn't apply on mainland Europe, done away with by the Reformation apparently). Might try to get to the Paul Brady concert on Saturday. Met Robert Peoples at lunchtime and he was telling me that Balkan Alien Sound are playing in Rodden's on Saturday night, so that could be an option for after. Great Sound it is, and further proof that Derry's getting more cosmopolitan by the minute.

Re-reading 'Four Iron in the Soul' (well, didn't realise I was re-reading it until after the first forty pages or so) by our own Laurence Donegan, the Guardian's golf correspondent whose career went so sadly downhill after he left the Tirconnail Tribune. Only play golf on Journal golf outings - which seem to be a thing of the past, is everyone that old? - but the book's still good fun.

What else is new? Well, our reporter Claire Allan was on BBC Radio Foyle (sort of theme developing here) this morning talking about how much she'd like to see a woman editor at the Journal. At which point a loud voice was heard over the station tannoy - 'Taxi for Allan'. Former Journal reporter Chris McCann, who initially sounded a bit nervous as the only man in a studio of woman discussing 'Women in Journalism', soon found his feet and counter-attacked along the flanks (or maybe that was the Arsenal v Barcelona game last night - 'What a first half display by Barca!', I heard a female voice intone while, as Chris mentioned on radio, simultaneously feeding the wain, vacuuming the living room, telephoning an old school-friend and re-reading 'A Room of One's Own'. If there's one thing men can't manage it's multi-tasking. . .)

Please hold there for a sec while I concentrate on this cup of tea.

Lovely. Anyway, there you have it, all the news that's fit to print. And in this multi-media world, here's a pic, yes, any pic . .

The winning shot in the Derry and North-West Frisbee competiton at the weekend, from Hugh F. Ough (silent 'g') of outer Moville.

That Parades Working Group discussion in full

- Gone, givis a seat
- No
- Just one or two for us, and one for Alliance and the Ulster Unionists
- Listen, you know the story - there's six seats, and we're taking them all
- But it's not fair!
-
- Hello?
-
- It's not . . . Hello?

Bathstore's price specials!!

Still getting the regular emails from Bathstore and hopefully will have the opportunity to purchase my own mixer tap one day.

All credit to the store for their novel approach to the after-Christmas 'sale' -

Pictured: Blade mono basin mixer was £149 now £109 (left) Parador was £179 now £199 (centre) Barcelona 3 hole basin set was £179 now £299 (right).

Customer - Is that the Barcelona 3 hole basin set?
Bathstore salesperson - Correct, madam
Customer - I could have sworn I saw that at £179 in the run-up to Christmas.
Salesperson - That's right madam, it's now £299. That's in the 'sale'.
Customer - Oh right! I'll take two then!

Merry Christmas, everyone

Apologies to the great hordes whose experience of the internet has been diminished in recent weeks by the absence of regular updates of this blog. Don't know how it happened, December just disappeared, taking with it part of November.

So with very best wishes for a joyous Christmas for you and yours, and a great 2010, here's a story from the editor's in box today -

News Release
Date of issue: December 2009
http://www.pdsa.org.uk/

Christmas tree at ‘root’ of cat’s illness

A taste for Christmas proved too much for Middlesbrough cat Leah when she became seriously ill – after swallowing a miniature tree. The peckish puss’s sickness mystified PDSA vets until tests revealed a discarded Christmas tree decoration as the ‘root’ cause.

Leah’s owner Claire Smith (27) noticed the one­-year-old cat was losing weight, suffering from chronic sickness and looking poorly, but had no idea why. It was only when vets at Middlesbrough PDSA PetAid hospital investigated the problem that an x-ray revealed a perfectly formed miniature Christmas tree in her abdomen.

PDSA Head Nurse Stephanie Williams said: “Various conditions can cause chronic vomiting and weight loss in cats so there were several possibilities to explain Leah’s symptoms. However the last thing we expected to see was a Christmas tree staring back at us on the x-ray! Even small foreign bodies can cause so much trouble in pets.”

Leah underwent surgery to remove the tiny tree, which had actually split into two pieces, and was kept in overnight for observation before returning home.

Leah’s owner Claire Smith added: “It was fantastic to see Leah after the operation and to take her home, knowing that the cause of her illness had been treated and she could recover.
“I was very surprised when the vets told me that Leah had swallowed a Christmas tree. I can see the lighter side of it now but it was a very stressful period. Now I make sure that nothing is left lying around that Leah can get her paws on.”

PDSA Senior veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley said: “We always see cases of swallowed ‘foreign objects’ around Christmas time. We urge all pet owners to look around their home, room by room, identifying any dangers to their pets. These can include decorations, toys, lighting, shiny objects and turkey bones.”