LEARNING GUITAR

I'm trying to learn to play the guitar at the minute. It's always been something I felt I couldn't do and I'm slowly proving myself correct. My Uncle Rab lent me his old acoustic guitar about a month ago and I've been slowly going through the motions of trying to teach myself. Mostly it's just been a lot of noise and sore finger tips. I'd love to stick at it and see where I am in a years time, but right now it's just frustrating and unrewarding. My fingers are short and fat (plmbers fingers I've heard them called) so chords are hard to do. And I'm always up at the climbing wall so my arms are usually too burnt out and fingers too raw to practice for long on the guitar. But maybe these are all just excuses for my lack of commitment. Watch this space.

MORE MOURNE SNAPS

More hiking this week up the Mourne Mountains. This time with my little sister. A lovely day out.

ARTICLES: BUENOS AIRES TO CUZCO

I wrote a few articles for my hometown paper here in Ireland. I know some of you asked me to send them, but this is much easier. Just click on the article and it should enlarge big enough to read.

INCOMING: MIST

Up the Mournes yesterday when the mist surrounded us. One minute it was sunny and clear. Fifteen seconds later we couldn't see two metres in front.

DOUBLE WHAMMY!

I just got stung by a wasp. I really can't believe it. I sat down on the sofa to write on my computer, felt a sting in my butt, reached round and pulled up a wasp. I nearly screamed when I saw it between my fingers. I quickly crushed it and threw it to the ground (the Buddhist in me is still weeping). Then I had a feel round and discovered it stung me not once, but twice. Both cheeks have swollen lumps in them. I'm glad I killed it! I've looked at him and his stinger is gone, which means it's still in me somewhere. My mom's in Turkey at the minute and there's really no one else I want to trust with the responsibility of getting it out so I don't know what's going to happen. I've put some toothpaste on so maybe that will fix it.
The irony of the whole situation is that just two days ago I was teasing my little brother because of his jumping around at the presence of a wasp. "When's the last time one stung you", I asked. About sixteen years ago was the answer to which I replied "Well then, what are you worried about? Leave them alone and they won't bother you". God, I'm such a know-it-all.

NORTH ANTRIM COAST

My brother has a house up on the north Antrim coast. I spent a week up there biking, exploring and chilling out. My other bro and little sis came up to stay for a while too. It's beautiful part of Northern Ireland, especially when the sun comes out. Here are some snaps:

OXEGEN 2008

Oxegen is Ireland's biggest music festival. I went this year with a load of friends as well as my bros and sis for three days of great bands, camping and partying.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

By Rudyard Kipling

FAMILY TIME

I've been spending a lot of time with my three siblings this last month I've been home. And it's been really enjoyable. I had forgotten how nice it is to have family around.
Here we are; looking nice (above) and after too many beers (below).