Happy Hoffmas

Hi GuysI am finishing up work today, then heading back to Ireland so this is probably going to be my last post of the year.

For all you regular readers, thanks for your interest in this blog. It has been fun for me to put together pictures and stories of my activities over the last year. Its really cool to be able to think "what did i do last may" and then go and check it out in the archives section (over there on the right).

So, I would like to wish everyone a very happy christmas and a prosperous new year. I am really looking forward to catching up with everyone back home. See you in the shelbourne on the 26th!

Trad Session....

We have a gig every wednesday, a sort of informal session type of gig, where we sit around a table and encourage folk to join in. The place is really quiet most nights and I reckon the only reason we were hired in the first place is because there is this sign outside the pub and its up really high so nobody can take it down. Score another gig for the Black Velvet Band!!

I know what you did last....THIS summer

Hahahha. Here is a photo i just found on my phone. Feargal and me went to the hardware shop to pick up some DIY stuff a few weeks and couldn't resist the opportunity for an axe murderer shot. Scary stuff!!!! 

Golf Hazards

I found this photo on the computer last night, my mom took it while she was here. Its from when she was golfing with the roo's one day in Perth...
 

If I were a rich man....

Fiddler on the roof is coming to Perth. Here is a link to the preview etc. If you dont feel like reading all that then here is the crux of it, Topol is in it. Yes, THE dude. The guy who has a Golden Globe Award, Tony Award, Olivier Award and an Oscar nomination for his role in the film of the musical, is appearing in a production in Perth, and guess who is playing viola !!!! 24 Performances and its selling out so it may run for longer. Mozzeltoff!

Now thats advertising!

Margaret sent me a package the other day full of all sorts of stuff, but the funniest was this sign which I nailed to the front of the house.

Red Cross Package

This arrived from Margaret the other day in the post, full of ALL sorts of goodies and treats. Chipsticks, chocolate, tea and even a few presents, one of which I am going to nail to the front of the house tonight, ill post a picture of it tomorrow.....

Thanks a million Margaret, and excellent red cross package, wonderfully presented and skillfully packed.

Band Practice

Here are the lads learning some christmas carols for a gig they have in a few weeks. Christmas carols in the sun! 

Reillycam

Here is a few weekend shots of everyones favourite dog Reilly. Here she is sunning herself in the front garden and here she is looking all festive with some decorations from the tree.
 

Christmas in the sun.

Here is our christmas tree we put up last night, we dont have any decorations yet.

Christmas is pretty surreal here, Christmas tunes playing in all the shops, tinsel and trees all over the place and everyone in flip-flops!

Somehow it just doesn’t feel Christmassy. I sort of miss the high winds and widespread rain, some localised flooding and one hundred kilometers an hour winds wouldn't go amiss too.
Perth....eh...33 degrees today with a low tonight of 20.
 

It’s a bugs life…

Here is a piece of watermelon we left out in the garden for Reilly to chew on the other day (seriously, she is into cabbage and cucumbers and everything). Within a few hours a few thousand ants had descended on it. There is a line of ants from this in the front garden all the way around the side of the house. 

Christmas in Perth

Here is a picture I found on my phone from a few weeks ago and it is a pretty accurate representation of what is happening in Perth at the moment. Shorts & t-shirt weather with santa hats. Surreal! 

Porterhouse Returns

The band is back together again for 1 night only. We will be playing at the Shelbourne bar on MacCurtain street on Stephens night from 9-11 (roughly). Come one and come all, it will be a musical extravaganza combining the musical talents of two murphies drinkers, a beamish hound and a proud guzzler of the guinness's.

This band plays once a year due to its members living on different continents and never fails to generate a good buzz with its rendition of the Rooster Song (available at the bottom of this http://www.csmau.com/random.php page)

We used to play at the Bodhran on stephens night but this year we are trying something new. We will also be playing at the Bodhran on Friday the 29th of December in another evening of bia agus deoch, ceol agus craic.

Huzzah.

Reillys new jacket

Here is a picture of Reilly sporting a garment from her spring/summer catalogue.

There are a lot of dogs in australia. Most people have large gardens, and the time, to care for a pet. So as a result, there are a lot of doggy-accessories shops and dog clothing. I think that dog clothing is pointless. One person we know, regularly trims/shaves her dog, then has it wear a jumper. I mean, whats that about! So, it had to happen eventually, Nadine (Adams wife) got it for us. We use it from time to time as her formal wear for dinner parties, and social functions, lah dee dah.
 

Black Velvet Band gets a new lead singer...

Here is Feargal at our new wednesday "casual" gig singing the Auld Triangle. We had to stop him before he broke out the viola..... 

Feargal heads back to Dublin

Here we are at the airport yesterday with Feargal as he prepares for his flight back home. We had a fantastic time while he was here, the time flew! 

There is no escaping Daniel O Donnell

Well, Im sure you all know of, or have heard of, my good friend Owen Kelly. He is a violin friend from when we were about 5 years old learning twinkle twinkle little star and other such masterpieces of musical delight. He runs a really cool Mini site: http://miniclub.ie and he is a rock'n'roll star, a pilot, technical wizard, does all his own stunts and is always up to something or other.......

Well, he sent a christmas card/present to us the other day in the post and he has really outdone himself. This is without a doubt, the must surreal, uniquely hilarious present we have ever recieved!

It is an annual membership to the Daniel O Donnell fan club.


The card, when opened, recites a few bars from "silent night", with a voice-over from wee Daniel wishing us all thats good for the festive season.

This is the first of many packages from the crooner who is known worldwide for his love of his mammy and his desire for Barry's Tea that we are going to recieve over the next 12 months We can expect a membership card, a colour photo of Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell in all his glory, a full biography and a badge (which is my personal favourite)

Also periodically we will recieve a quarterly magazine with all the latest Danny O D hot gossip, a christmas card and last but not least a Daniel O Donnell calender featuring 12 fantastic images of the wee crooner from Kincasslagh in a bizarre display of 12 different wooley jumpers. 

Mexican Night Ole!

We had a few themed parties last week, this mexican night was the most outrageous. Everyone put in an effort, fake moustashes, toy guns, ponchos and sombreros. Here is Ann and Feargal in fill gringo attire and below is Jane (aka Senior Cortez) and I enjoying a few taco's & burritos.
 

More visitors from home

Carolyn Goodwin arrived in Perth the other day and stayed with us for a night before heading down to Margaret River for a holiday. She is on a 2 month break from her Riverdance tour and no better place to spend 2 months on the beach than Margaret River. Here she is giving us a rendition of Riverdance on the minature bagpipes.....