Poverty is a relative thing; but no man is really poor till life becomes a desert island that gives him neither food, nor shelter nor hope.
– Jennifer Worth ~ Farewell to the East EndI had wanted to kill myself not because I hated living, but because I loved it. And the truth of the matter is, I think, that a lot of people who think about killing themselves feel the same way - I think that’s how Maureen and Jess and Martin feel. They love life but it’s all fucked up for them, and that’s why I met them, and that’s why we are still around. We were up on the roof because we couldn’t find a way back into life and being shut out like that - it just fucking destroys you man.
– Nick Hornby, ‘A long way down’We all spend so much time not saying what we want, because we know we can’t have it. And because it sounds ungrateful, or disloyal, or childish, or banal. Or because we are so desperate to pretend that things are OK, really, that confessing to ourselves they’re not looks like a bad move. Go on, say what you want. Maybe not out loud, if it’s going to get you into trouble. ‘I wish I’d never married him.’ ‘I wish she was still alive.’ ‘I wish I’d never had kids with her.’ ‘I wish I had a whole shitload of money.’ ‘I wish all the Albanians would go back to fucking Albania.’ Whatever it is, say it to yourself. The truth will set you free. Either that or it’ll get you a punch in the nose. Surviving in whatever life you’re living means lying, and lying corrodes the soul, so take a break from the lies for just on minute.
– Nick Hornby, ‘The Long Way Down’A man who wants to die feels angry and full of life and desperate and bored and exhausted, all at the same time; he wants to fight everyone, and he wants to curl up in a ball and hide in a cupboard somewhere. He wants to say sorry to everyone, and he wants everyone to know just how badly they’ve all let him down.
– A Long Way Down by Nick HornbyOf course, we had to have a party. Nuns love a party.
– Jennifer Worth (Shadows of the Workhouse)Life turns on little things. The momentous events in history can leave us untouched, while small events may shape our destinies.
– Jennifer Worth (Shadow of the Workhouse)Happy Birthday Alan
It’s the lovely Mr Alan Rickmans 66th Birthday today so BIG happy birthday.
Might be 39 years older than me - but the man is still FIT!!! lol!!
Day-to-day things, the ordinary, the mundane is what keeps the motor running. How extraordinary the ordinary really is, a tool we all use to keep going, a template for sanity
– Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia AhernIt is during troubled times like these that people see straight, though others watch with concern and try to convince them that they can’t. Weighed minds are just so because of all their new thoughts. When those who have passed through their troubles and come out the other side suddenly embrace their new beliefs wholeheartedly, it is viewed with cynicism by others. Why? Because when you’re in trouble you look harder for answers than those who aren’t, and it’s those answers that help you through.
– Thanks for the Memories, Cecelia Ahern
I was bored laying around the house yesturday so I got dressed (most important - you run the risk of getting arrested if you don’t), jumped on the train and headed to Belfast with my camera and here are a selection of the photo’s that came about as a result.
Well, I’ve always loved Northern Ireland and have sang it’s praises to anyone who will listen to me all my life, so am loving this advert! :)
Come and visit Northern Ireland folks - call round to mine and I’ll give you tea and cake!! lmao!
Discover Northern Ireland - ni2012 TV Advert - January 2012 (by discoverNI)
TV Show Survey
Pick your five favourite TV shows (in no particular order) and answer the following questions about them. Don’t cheat!
- Downton Abbey
- Ally McBeal
- Jam and Jerusalem
- The Young Ones
- The Royle Family
1) Who is your favourite character in 2?
John Cage. I just love him. I would marry him in an instant!
2) Who is your least favourite character in 1?
Thomas - he’s a very well written villain. There is nothing remotely likeable about him.
3) What’s your favourite episode of 4?
Ohhh – that’s really difficult. I think if I had a gun to my head and HAD to pick it might be ‘Sick’ – more wee moments stand out from it than the others.
4) What is your favourite season of 5?
Probably the third – I liked the dynamic of it when baby David came in.
5) What’s your favourite ship in 2?
There was no such thing is shipping in Ally’s day! Lmao! I’m an old doll you know. Lol!! Ally and Billy was the big one that everyone wanted but I was never too fussed. I would have liked to have seen her get together with John and was sad when that didn’t happen.
6) Who is your anti-ship in 2?
I didn’t really dislike any of the relationships that much. I wasn’t too bothered when it came to this shoe actually. Oh oh oh – nooo! I remember one! Billy and that secretary, didn’t like that!!
7) How long have you watched 1?
Since it started
8) How did you become interested in 3?
I saw it advertised and since I was a fan of almost all the cast before it had even started I absolutely had to watch it.
9) What is your favourite character in 4?
Neil! I am a massive Rik Mayall fan BUT I just absolutely adore Neil!!
10) Which show do you prefer out of 1, 2, or 5?
Ohhhhhh – difficult. I think Downton is my favourite at the minute but Ally is the show I grew up watching, and is probably the programme I have stuck with and loved longest over the years. I prefer them both in different ways and for different reasons so I can’t pick between them.
11) Which show have you seen more episodes of, 1 or 3?
I have seen every episode of both of them. I have them all on DVD too.
12) If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be?
Neil! I am a big depressed hippie already!
13) How would you kill off your favourite character in 2?…
I can’t kill John! ARE YOU MAD!!! I get depressed for about a month every time I get to the end of watching them and have to watch the last episode and see his wee sad face!!
14) Give a random quote from 1.
“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”
15) Would a 3/4 crossover work?
Ha ha ha! Well – it would be strange but it probably would. Jennifer Saunders, who plays Caroline in Jam and Jerusalem, is married in real life to Ade Edmondson, who plays Viv in The Young Ones and both Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French appeared in episodes of the Young Ones. Plus along with Nigel Planer who plays Neil in the Young Ones, the four of them all appeared in ‘The Comic Strip’ together. So while Jam and Jerusalem is really NOT the alternative comedy they made together in the 80’s together – The Young One’s characters COULD have appeared in Jam and Jerusalem as their older selves perhaps.
16) Pair two characters in 1 that would make an unlikely, but strangely okay couple.
17) Overall, which show has a better cast, 3 or 5?
Ooohhhh – another tough one. I love the casting in The Royle Family – I mean it is perfect. These people are just comic gold. And it shares Sue Johnston with Jam and Jerusalem. I think though that Jam and Jerusalem might win though because I am a fan of so many of the people in it. I love Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French and have seen almost everything they have done over the years. I’m a big fan of Pauline McLynn – both as an actor and a writer. Sally Philips is absolutely brilliant. David Mitchell is fab and if I am honest I have a bit of a crush on Simon Farnaby in his role as Spike. Plus Miriam Margolyes and Kate Rusby both appear in episodes!! You just can’t beat that for a cast! SO MUCH British talent in one little comedy!!
18) Which has better theme music, 2 or 4?
Ummm – well Young One’s is probably better known for it’s music because they included it in a way that hadn’t really been done before and I like quite a lot of it, but over all the music from Ally McBeal would probably be more my taste.
About me
Random rantings of a wee Northern Irish lunatic! :DMy name is Nicola, I'm 27 and from Northern Ireland. Love my friends, some of my family and all of my god kids.
Love reading, chickflicks, watching tele and taking photographs. My interests include history, Harry Potter, Twilight and british/irish comedy! :D
