We're in quite a situation in Ireland right now. One of our leading left pols has been called names forever because he once participated in a protest which immobilised a car carrying a govt minister for an hour. Meanwhile our Táinaiste has had many supportive words for those who burn out migrants.

Gotta love Private Eye. Always cuts through the crap.

I was initially not overly enthused at Bloke gifting me Ready Or Not as I don't play FPS games or games set in modern settings, but we just had a go at a joint mission, him on his PC , me on my Steam Deck, and it was pretty fun! #gaming

Very much looking forward to reading this book and this podcast is always immensely informative and fun.

Very excited about this #dinosaur exhibition coming to UCC . It'll be great to go to the Glucksman Gallery and not leave mildly baffled 😆 #speirgorm Latest news and views from University College Cork share.google/0I0bl65PUQjV...

Off to the old country to visit my brother and hopefully a friend or two in 2 weeks . Booked the basic fare with just 1 small carry on for the first time ever. Endless click bait headlines tell me it's nigh on impossible to not get charged an extra 75 by Ryanair . We shall see...

I have my 6 monthly free doctor's check up after work. In retrospect, being weighed and getting blood tests directly after the bank holiday weekend that was also the Jazz. Was at a house party Sunday night till late and consequently spent yesterday eating all the carbs known to humanity.

Out jazzin' just saw a woman make it back through a rammed bat with 4 baby Guinness, only for one of her mates to drop it immediately upon being handed it . A tragedy of Shakespearian proportions #speirgorm #cork

Huzzah! Faux fur coat season is upon us

Just went to vote , didn't receive a polling card , but went with my passport to the building I've been voting in for 15 years and it's closed . Wasn't very enthusiastic about this election , but FFS ! I guess I should have checked. Pretty confident the person I'd be voting for is getting in anyway.

Thought I was going to get soaked on my way home from work with that sky . Thankfully not ! #speirgorm #cork #ireland

Odd evening though . All the heads were there for potential good craic , but the vibe was off. I'll be grateful tomorrow to have opted for an early exit .

Wearing a pair of very wide leg jeans and I can't decide if I look cool or like a right twat. It's a fine line .

At break it was just myself and a Ukrainian colleague in the canteen. She opened an umbrella indoors . Now I don't believe in this nonsense, while telling her that I told her in Ireland and the UK some people consider it unlucky. Which led to a chat about more stuff considered lucky / unlucky...

There's some really good material here. I'd particularly recommend THISTLEBONE.

My new duvet arrived and I don't think I've been this excited about bedtime since Christmas eve 1979.

Just watched that John Candy doc , lovely stuff . I mean there is no universe where I thought I'd discover he was anything but wonderful , still good to have it confirmed. Also , now extra pumped for my annual concession to Thanksgiving, as a non American -watching Planes Trains and Automobiles

A mate in England has just sent me a pic of vegan friendly pork scratchings. I mean , they have to be better than actual Pork scratchings. Years ago I took a Cork mate back to the UK with me and made them eat some , they found them vile , then offered them back to me and I said fuck no ,I hate them.

Well I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to The Toy Soldier Factory. In the basic workshop they have quite a range of stuff to pick from to paint , though actually not that many soldiers! It was a great way to spend an hour . Lots of cool stuff in the shop too. #cork #speirgorm

#inktoberday10 #inktober2025 #inktobeer If you are of a certain age and grew up in the UK , today's prompt would surely have conjured an image similar to this. Today's prompt -sweep

After 30 odd years of passing the sign for it when travelling about county Cork , I am going to the Toy Soldier Factory on Friday. Bloke has the day off and I finish work at 1. We were trying to think of somewhere to go and they do a workshop to paint a tin soldier each .

M Gibson having a follow up Jesus film next year reminds me that lots of people went to see The Passion and said it made them feel like going back to mass and I couldn't think of a statement less likely to entice me to the cinema.

The Sunday pints I reluctantly agreed to on Friday have been cancelled and I am absolutely delighted. Drawing , gaming and napping ahead.

My current phone doesn't have a designated light painting setting , but figured the long night exposure one would do the same job and it did! #cork #speirgorm

Gilla Band in Cyprus Avenue last night

#Inktober #inktober2025 #inktoberday3 prompt crown

Gilla Band are playing tonight , but my sacrum fracture is very sore the last few days . Been umming and ahhing all week about whether to buy a ticket as it's standing. But just bought one there , hoping the combo of that Friday feeling , booze and solpadeine will get me though.

Genius delivery company thought it was a good idea to leave w rolls of fabric outside the back door of the factory in the pudding rain, before the factory opened . It is light coloured fabric too, so water damage will leave a mark .

This one is a bit sketchy to say the least, #inktober #inktoberday2 #inktober2026 Prompt -weave . I cannot see the word weave without thinking of The Lady Of Shallot

Just splashed out the grand total of €8.88 on Assassin's Creed Origins and Spiritfarer in the Steam autumn sale. Having said that , with all the side quests , I'll probably still be playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey when the winter sale starts .

Contemplating Cure tickets for Marley Park . Seen them once - in 1991 . It was most excellent. I think I'll throw myself at the mercy of an Irish summer and the inconvenience of trip to Dubland. If Bloke didn't have a sister in Dublin a trip to any other of their dates would probably be cheaper!

#inktober #inktober2025 #inktoberday1 prompt moustache

Been challenged to do Inktober this year. It's been a couple of years since I last did one . Mildly allergic as perma tired at the moment, but could help with my artist's block. Not overly enthused by this year's prompts, but I'm sure I'll find some ways to interpret them more to my taste.

My weather app has never used more than 3 drops to imply heavy rain before

Didn't we try to tell ye, didn't we?

Covid booster shot done , flu jab next Monday. Hopefully that'll be me and my asthmatic chest ready for winter.

So I enjoyed the marmite peanut butter, the marmite pizza ,the marmite hot cross buns, and the marmite Mac and cheese, however, even reduced to clear this is a step too far for me

Tickets booked for One Battle After Another later , might as well see what all the fuss is about . Don't think I've seen a single bad review

So I've gone for one of my solo dances in the late bar , which I always feel a bit cringe about as I just go nuts dancing on my own and always end up having to tell 1 or 2 guys that I'm not on the pull , I just genuinely miss dancing. However I just saw a guy filming himself dancing. So feeling ok!

Today in Fiona's guide to sensible over 50s fashion- Never underestimate the importance of comfortable footwear

A reminder that the OPW could not find a kingfisher on our lovely River Bride in Blackpool. All they really needed was a magic kingfisher stick and a highly motivated individual to find them. Filmed this evening. It wasn’t difficult. #cork

Me and Bloke taking turns putting on tunes. He made the fatal mistake of saying he likes harmonies.. He is now in to his second hour of me belting out Crosby Stills and Nash.

They have the Tanora ale back in Fred's. Toasty

Catching up on #AlienEarth Weird how I am normally gore averse , but have absolutely no problem with it when it invokes the xenomorph.

Gaming since 4, but think I'm done for the evening as my carachtar has just been sent on a quest to get a bear scrotum by an old lady in Delphi who wants to make ancient greek Viagra for her husband and my day has been hectic enough already.

“Mummy, daddy, look at me…”

I wrote something about feeling like a guest in a country that is my home. bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...

Concerned text from Bloke last night- Are you ok? You are v quiet. Had to explain I'd been playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey for 5 hours straight. Which gives gaming a couple of other perks as well as blocking out my anxiety.. Extended phone battery life Too busy to raid my crisps stash.

I told Bloke how I was listening to @wmarybeard.bsky.social 's new podcast Instant Classics and he produced these from a cupboard . I dare say Mary will be more in depth , but they could be a good primer!

The Bigfoot themed jewellery I ordered from Luxulite a while back arrived with my brother last weekend. Luxulite being a UK based creator. Delighted with it