ooh, I want to go to this school....

photo credit

Earlier this year I was in Ireland with Tom of Birmingham World Tour fame and his girlfriend Emma. While in Dublin I bought my first Bodhran Drum and couldnt wait to play it. Im still absolutely terrible but think Ive just found the perfect way to improve.

Each summer the isle of Inis Oírr holds a Bodhran Summer School which attracts musicians from all over the world. They have a beginners course which sounds right up my street.

Today the Guardian Travel site has a video of this years festivities,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2010/sep/02/ireland-bodhran-drumming-school

Details of the summer school can be found here,

http://www.craiceann.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Wish upon a Star

photo credit

Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

Isn't this the most beautiful photograph of shooting stars, taken this August during the annual Perseid meteor shower.

Its stuff like this that really reminds us what life is all about...

No Singing, Just Drumming...

I am sitting at my desk, about to leave for my first drumming exam, Rock School Grade Three. Ive been playing the same three pieces since Christmas as my broken wrist stopped the exam happening in March.

But now its here, and Im a little bit nervous, and terribly under prepared.

I only have one guarantee, it will absolutely most definitely go better than Grade Three Piano....

....only because this time I dont have to sing.

Wish me luck x

Given In, Gone Shopping

The whole point of the World Tour of Birmingham was to demonstrate that there is more to the UKs biggest metropolis than just shopping.

So far shopping has been avoided at all costs, but today I just had to give in.

At the top of New Street, even I have to admit there is, on occasion, a little gem.

Victoria Square, host of Birmingham's seasonal markets.

At Christmas it has a wonderful German market full of original and surprisingly untacky gift ideas.

And in June it hosts the International Food Market. Ive been avoiding it for weeks due to my new pledge not to buy anything my waistline and wallet couldn't afford but today, after squillions of rave reviews, Tom took me. And it really is exceptional. All the food looked fresh and tasty with some interesting treats from around the world. We purchased Italian sweets. I got the most amazing Black Forest Nougat.

And now my keyboard is covered in delicious sticky purple fingerprints.

Next Stop, America!

Hello from a very windy, bleak and absolutely, gloriously beautiful Achill Island.
The Armchair Backpacker is in West Ireland with Tom and Emma. Staying in a wonderful cottage ideal for future escapes from civilisation.
This is a photo of Tom taking a dip in the Atlantic.

Every Good Woman Has A Rubber Duck In Her Handbag

The little yellow one is Baby Ducky, my triathlon mascot. He comes everywhere with me at the minute.
The red one is a present for a friend who's more prepared for the Word Cup than the England players.
I hope she loves him, and has a canny big handbag.

Blog Deliberations

How personal should this blog be? I am struggling to decide.

I read other blogs and they are super, almost cringe worthy, over exposing their soul, personal.

I think this blog it too clinical, it doesn't show much of me, and isnt that what a blog is supposed to be?

Yet every attempt gets scrapped, I know too much about my soul, and can't find the fulcrum in this see-saw.

I shall continue this deliberation, and keep writing posts ill never publish, blogging should be a modern alternative to therapy.

Maybe it already is.