It’s a bank holiday, and RTÉ One has made no concession beyond a 30-minute doc about a panto dame. Where’s the film after the news? At the least, it could have done a BBC1 and shown E2 of These Sacred Vows. It’s on the Player anyway. Oh, well - Silent Witness is back at 9pm, tonight and tomorrow…

Hoping Trump was just bluffing was “the tack Europe’s leaders took for too long - that somehow this vainglorious vulgarian only was obsessed with turning the Oval Office as gilded as Nefertiti’s tomb…” - You can read me (if you wish!) in Thursday’s Irish Daily Mail

I’ve wanted to go here for ages, and finally was taken today by my elder sister - the 1935 De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-On-Sea. Her, my younger sister, and I had lunch. A lovely way to end Christmas!

“Death had been shown the door, but he was reluctant to go through it just yet…” - For those of you interested, you can read Part One of the story of my stroke in tomorrow’s @IrishMailSunday

People have asked how I’m doing since I had a stroke in Rome in April. I had four months in hospital, and I had to learn to walk again. I have a way to go, but I’m good, thank you. Happy Christmas to all!

Life is weird. Just the other day, I was posting elsewhere about Giorgio Armani’s death, and the Duomo in Milan. Today, I find a bag of photos, and there are a few I’ve never seen before. Like my late father in 1955, aged 25, outside the, er, Duomo…

It’s far from perfect, but given the fact I effectively was paralysed three months ago, I’m grateful for walking again, splint and all. Arm has a bit to go, and I need practice outdoors, but improving every day. Physio and occupational team here in Enniscorthy are terrific! #StrokeRecovery

It’s hard to over-estimate the influence of Tom Lehrer on those of us who have a dark sense of humour. He came and he went, young and at the top of his game, and in doing so cemented his legend forever. Clever chap. He died yesterday at 97, and remains as relevant today as ever.

I weigh about half what I used to - I had a haircut today, the first in three months! 🤣 Who says there aren’t good people in the world, by the way? My regular Turkish barber in Gorey (thanks, #BabySis, for taking me there) refused to take a cent. 👏

Well, stroke update. I can prop myself up in bed, drink from a cup or glass, and ‘sign’ my name with the ‘bad’ arm. I can wear jocks, not a nappy. I can walk with a walker. This week, I’ll lose the catheter, and transfer to a car as a passenger. Onwards!

The cards and gifts keep coming! I promise I’ll reply to all when I can use my right hand again. Typing with my left still takes a LOT of time! Thank you all - it has made a huge difference, and your messages meant so much. 🙂

I wonder why air incident investigators need a black box, and two years to piece together an aircraft, when Sid from the Happy Valley Caravan Park in Greater London already has worked it all out…

I’m six weeks in hospital. I have very little power on my right side. I’m wearing a nappy. My wee is in a bag on my leg. #LoveIsland is back. I’m living the dream… 😜

110 years ago today, my great-grandfather James Kavanagh died in the Great War, and is buried in Hazebrouck, northern France. He left a widow for 40+ years, and seven daughters. We will remember them.

I’ve arrived in Rome to cover Pope Francis’s funeral. So, it seems, have millions of others.

#ThisWeekendsCocktail #Round2 The Kiev Mule You'll need: 50ml Ukrainian vodka Hollows and Fentimans ginger beer Fill a chilled copper mug with crushed ice. Add the vodka and the ginger beer, squeeze a lime wedge over it, and garnish with a sprig of mint. #щасливогоВеликодня 🇺🇦

This is a vital case, not just for the individuals involved, but for all EU citizens. Freedom of movement cannot only apply to those whose actions are approved by the state.

#ThisWeekendsCocktail #Round2 The Lemon Meringue Pie You'll need: 60ml limoncello 20ml Frangelico hazelnut liqueur 30ml lemon juice An egg white Shake all vigorously (no ice in shaker), and pour into a coupe. If you like sweetness, add 15ml simple syrup (1:1 sugar:water).

Hard to believe. My mother, Nuala, will be 10 years dead in September. I mourn, yes, but I prefer to be thankful for the 52 years she was in my life. Always there for advice when asked, never interfered. I’m half her, and I loved her. Give your mams a big hug today. 😘 #MothersDay

#ThisWeekendsCocktail The Apple Pie and Cream You’ll need: 40ml Baileys Irish cream 20ml Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple 10ml amaretto Add to a rocks glass with lots of ice, stir well with a swizzle stick, and lightly sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon.

Reminded of this tonight in the other place. After over 30 years searching for it, I couldn’t believe I finally found this photo of me, via Google, looking oddly askance at Frances Bean and Kurt Cobain backstage at the MTV VMAs in Los Angeles in 1993. The poor guy was dead seven months later.

#TonightsDinner Hake poached with nduja, butter beans, tinned tomatoes, red onion, garlic, red wine vinegar and chopped flatleaf parsley, with another sprinkle of parsley on top, and a glass of French Albarino. Leftover sauce goes to the blender to make a warming soup.

tariffs are just DEI for American cars and light trucks

Just wait until Thursday, so. PS - Syntax matters, folks.

#ThisWeekendsCocktail #Round2 The Sherry Baby You'll need: 30ml cognac 15ml Cointreau 10ml Pedro Ximénez sherry A dash of orange bitters Stir all in a rocks glass with lots of ice, and garnish with a slice of orange. Oh, and #COYBIG!

#ThisWeekendsCocktail The Chocolate Orange Cream You'll need: 40ml Baileys 20ml coffee liqueur (I used Patrón XO Café tequila, but Kahlúa works too) 20ml Grand Marnier, or Cointreau Shake all with lots of ice, fine strain into a coupe, and sprinkle with grated dark chocolate.

I would love President Higgins to invite Nikita Hand to dinner this week.

Because nothing says #StPatricksDay quite like a pitcher of, er, sangria… With added #Molly. ☘️🙂

The world has gone so crazy, I fully expect to wake up in the morning to learn Lil X has accidentally launched a nuclear strike on North Korea because one of his boogers jammed the override switch on the control panel.

Normal Human Being: ‘Got any plans for St Patrick’s weekend?’ Me (very quietly): ‘I might go to the recycling centre.’

It’s Henri de Toulouse-Lowtech. #FRAvSCO

My FB memories threw up this post I wrote about Eamonn Casey when he died in 2017, before all that we subsequently learned about him. Vile man.

Get Rekt

"Washington has become the court of Nero: an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a buffoon on ketamine tasked with purging the civil service." www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

There are nights a song pops into your head. You haven’t heard it for years. It’s not just the song. It’s the memories. A lively home. Family. Music your companion. The intoxicating scent of a future stretching before you, not your past behind you. 🙂 open.spotify.com/track/4PqGEh...

Some nights are better than others. 🙂

Next week, I’ll be driving the Xpeng G6. Entry-level price €42,000, €4,990 cheaper than Musk’s entry-level Model Y. 😉

Anyway, @halduncan.com is on to something with "fratriarchy": our tech overlords are nobody's idea of a patriarch; they're all obnoxious little brothers with an unfortunately sturdy class solidarity.

What do we think? Will the 🤡🤡🤡 on #TheTraitors finally nab Linda tonight?

What’s everyone wearing tomorrow?

MVG right now. #PDCWorldChampionship #LoveTheDarts

Here goes! #LittlervBunting #PDCWorldChampionship #LoveTheDarts

Post your favourite photo that you took in 2024.

I strongly urge you, especially my friends in the United States, to read this all the way to the end.

It’s time! #TheTraitors

Marc Almond singing Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is just about the best start to 2025 you could wish for. #Hootenanny

My #CarOfTheYear in my Irish Daily Mail motoring column is - *drumroll* - the #KIA #EV3. Great range, lots of tech, supremely comfortable cabin, and well priced.

My mother was born on Christmas Day in 1935. Not Noelle. Not Nollaig. Nuala. She died in 2015. I miss her counsel. I miss her hugs. I miss her.

imma be real with you I really don’t think this guy should be in charge of HHS and any Democrat who has anything positive to say about this dangerous dipshit is a mark