Days 6 and 7 - County Monaghan Libraries.
Got to Dublin Busarus from Heuston which was interesting as I was trying to make the journey with Suitcases and a guitar and so were numerous Ireland Football Fans although they were sans Guitar and Cases, although I have never been on such a packed Luas. My Wife waited at the Busarus with me until I got on the bus… Unfortunately she had to go back to work on Thursday and Friday, so it was an upset and lonely poet who travelled up to Monaghan by himself, feeling Tired and already missing his wife.
I did take my CD Walkman, with numerous AC/DC CD’s for listening in preparation for their new CD that is coming in two days, I always wanted to form an AC/DC tribute band, using Acoustic instruments but keeping the Power and Rhythm of AC/DC, calling it ‘Acoustically Causing Downright Chaos’, but never got around to it. Though I have been thinking about it recently as I have been looking forward to this album’s release and I’ve been playing AC/DC riffs on my guitar in libraries during this festival, whilst waiting for the Children to arrive… When I got my walkman out, I realised I forgot to include ‘Back in Black’ although I do remember getting it ready for packing… I really should get an I-pod so that I can never forget CD’s again…
I got to the Western Arms Hotel, where I was staying, at around 2200 hrs and tiredly made my way up to my Room… I contacted my wife to let her know that I missed her and that I had arrived… and then I thought I would get to sleep, but I was wrong. This room had a television, a remote and many channels so I spent a lot of time flipping before I fell asleep.
The morning started with a lovely Breakfast as is my tradition for this festival… An employee of Monaghan Library, the Library I was reading at, then came to pick me up and we walked around to where the library where I thought I would have three readings.
I sat there for a while drinking Coffee and Playing AC/DC riffs, until the first class came in. It was a mixed group and it went very well… The Limerick section was a success and the songs went down very well. Poems were also well received and again, requests about where to purchase my poetry were made by the teacher and the pupils. My poem ‘Raining in the Library’ has seemed to go down very well with the Children and it did so again in this session.
The next session was again well received, they seemed to be a lot younger than the previous group… The Songs seem to go down really well with the younger crowd and this session was no exception.
After a Coffee Break, We then did something that was totally new for me, We drove to a school, now I have done this before obviously, what with me actually going to a school in my younger years, but I have never given a performance in a school before all my performances being in Libraries. In fact the last time I went into a school was to vote in the Lisbon Treaty where that damned democracy annoyed our elected officials again… But I was really looking forward to this visit. The School was St Patrick’s School in Clara and the Performance took place in their School Library. The decision to hold the performance in the Library was due to the fact that the school was launching MS Readathon and they wanted a literary event to mark this, but they were unable to get one so they made do with me…
The performance itself went down very well again, 51 children, all ages and the teachers were very impressed… unfortunately we were very rushed towards the end and autograph hunters were disappointed… I enquired about MS Readathon and was informed what it entailed. I then questioned if they were to stay awake for 3 days how many books can they read? I was given many numbers from 20 to 3450…
After the reading I went back to the hotel and lied down for a bit flipping the channels… I then went to the town to look for something to eat and most places were closed. I did find something eventually and then went back to my hotel room, tired and decided to Flip Channels again and this is where I stayed for the rest of the night except for going downstairs for something to eat.
The following morning after breakfast, I was driven to Castleblaney library which is where I would spend the next 6 hours performing to 3 schools.
The first group were a group of boys who the most inquisitive group I think I’ve ever had. Before the poem ‘Raining in The Library’, I inform the group that ‘the next poem is about something bad happening in the place we are in,’ all of a sudden many imaginations went into overdrive as to what it could be… The best one was regarding the Pipe’s bursting and all of us getting stranded in the Library, my poem seemed a bit a bit tame by comparison although it was well received. There was a picture of Ardal O’Hanlon on the wall as part of the READiscover adverts, and during one of my poems a young boy interrupted and said, ‘There’s the man from Father Ted.’ Now as a huge Ted fan myself, there is no way I’m competing with that so I agreed and continued my poem after everyone had seen the picture. I got many requests again to go on X-Factor or America’s Got Talent, in fact one boy told me, ‘If I don’t see you on X-Factor next year, I’m going to be upset.’
The next group were a group of girls who seemed slow to get going… The first thing I do is perform ‘The Coat-Hanger song’ and at the end I say ‘Everyone…’ With the hope to get the whole group singing ‘Yes I give my Coat-Hangers names.’ But no one sang along in the beginning until coaxed by me and their teacher. After this it got better and subsequent poems and songs were well received…
After something to eat, my last group, of this library and unfortunately the whole festival, arrived… An exceptionally great group to mark my last performance of the 2008 festival… Jokes were told limericks were written enthusiastically, Football Poems went down well and Tottenham were again mocked… Before my last song, Joe the Wriggly Rock’N’Roll Star, I told them this was my last one and they were not happy, in fact I had a request to make it last an hour…
I was then driven to the Bus-Stop and it was an exceptionally happy but extremely tired poet who boarded the bus back to Dublin. I got back to Dublin earlier then expected and was re-united with my wife at her place of work. I dropped my stuff off and then went to Grafton Street, where I purchased the new AC/DC album, I went to the Decent Cigar emporium to buy a cigar and I also bought a Cafetierre, three things I hope to enjoy this weekend…
So that is it for me again for another year… I have too say this has been my best year… I’ve enjoyed myself, the children, teachers and Librarians have also enjoyed themselves and as I write this I am so happy but sad at the same time… Happy at what has been a success and sad that it has come to an end for me… I love this festival and I look forward to it every year… The Performances I give are enjoyable and they can be chaotic, unpredictable and loud and I wouldn’t have it any other way…
Here’s looking forward to next year’s festival…
Showing posts with label Children's Book festival 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Book festival 2008. Show all posts
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Children’s Book Festival 2008 part three
Days 3,4 and 5 - County Cork Libraries.
I write this whilst travelling from Cork to Dublin, it is written the old fashioned pen and paper way… I hope to have this typed up on Saturday, but I will not promise…
When I get to Dublin I will travel up to the final County I will be performing in, Monaghan.
I hoped to write a blog after every day, but tiredness became me too much last night, so part three of my festival blog will encompass 2 days of performing and one of travelling.
Anyone reading this far will have the impression that that I have been experiencing new things during this festival… Well this blog will document a wonderful trip of familiarity as well as new experiences. This is my fourth year doing the Children’s Book Festival and there has been one constant through each four, County Cork which is where I’ve just been.
Travelling down on Monday afternoon taking a journey I’d taken many times. Arriving at a B&B We had stayed in for the last two years. In the evening, my wife and I walked down the familiar St Patrick’s Street, over to the familiar Oliver Plunkett Street to go to a favourite restaurant of Ours, The Indian Palace. Both me and Daria love Cork, it is where we both lived when we first met, in fact it is where we first met…
Even the first library visited was a Library I had performed in before, Charleville… When the girls arrived, I asked them if they had encountered me before and the response was 100% negative. I deduced from this that I was either so boring they’d forgotten me, or that it was a different class I read to before, I will chose to believe the Latter.
I do feel sorry for people who come to this blog hoping to find a disastrous and humiliating experience for me, because I am sorry to report that it was another successful performance. I was a bit worried about the reading due to the doom and gloom predicted by Ryan Tubridy and his guests on his Radio show that was on in the car on the way down. I was questioning myself, whether I can be funny, knowing that Brian Lenihan might be putting a tax on it later…
Luckily it didn’t affect me and I even got a joke out of it, when I read a poem called ‘Christmas in July’ I ask if anyone can tell me when Christmas day is, a young girl responded with, ‘25th December just around the corner.’ I then responded with, ‘Well that depends on whether Mr Lenihan decides to cancel it in his budget.’ This statement was met with horrified gasps and even a call for industrial action on the pupils side…
Again, Comment sheets were not used during the reading, but many of the children informed me that an enjoyable time was had by them.l
The next Library was Millstreet Library where again, Poetry, Jollity and Rock’N’Roll combined in a wonderful way. This class was all boys who really enjoyed the football section, and again requests were made to me to write poems for other football teams. One of the teachers is a Tottenham fan, so hopefully he appreciated it to. I included a Q+A session again at the end, which soon descended into a joke telling session which was fun.
It was an exceptionally tired Poet and Wife that arrived back in Cork City, in fact neither of us felt good at all and we realised rest was the best thing for us. Unfortunately I had errands to do on McCurtain Street, although this meant I could buy a Coffee in the cafe ‘Cork Coffee Roasters’, which is a Café I would highly recommend. On my return, a decision was made to rest and I decided not to write out a blog. We spent the evening in having Pizza and waiting for Prison Break and Desperate Housewives to come on the Telly… But at 2100 hrs, we discovered that Prison Break was not on, Victoria Beckham: Coming to America was on instead, which made us feel a lot worse.
The following day meant a change of T-Shirt. Now I know I mentioned in a previous blog that I will talk about my Charlie Brown T-Shirt and anyone reading it will probably wonder why would you need to explain a T-shirt to us? Well I’ll explain and hopefully that will answer that question for you. Last Thanksgiving, I went to America to spend time with my In-Laws and wife’s family. Before I went, a question was asked if I would provide some idea’s regarding gifts I might like at Christmas, and I made a suggestion of a Charlie Brown Zig-Zag T-shirt due to my Love of all Things Peanuts. When asked by, her family, ‘Why would Paul want a Charlie Brown T-Shirt?’ her response was, ‘I have no idea, maybe he wants to wear it for his performances?’ When she informed me of this conversation, I replied, ‘No, it’s because Charlie Brown is Cool.’ But then I thought what a great idea… So anyone who has seen me perform comedy, poetry or song at the end of last year and all of this year, will have seen me wearing my Charlie Brown T-Shirt… Now that may be good for the occasional Comedy night or the occasional reading, but if I was to do that for the Children’s Book festival eventually the T-Shirt will get up and do the performance itself… So I needed a change of T-Shirt in Cork so that I can wear it in Monaghan. Although I do believe it is rather fetching, do you?
The two readings today were in Fermoy and Mitchelstown again both went exceptionally well. In Fermoy a mixed class danced along to ‘New Shoes Blues’ and ‘Joe the Wriggly Rock’N’Roll star’, The Poetry was also enjoyed and I received many enquiries as to where my poetry can be purchased. I also got many interesting questions, including, ‘Why does Helium make your voice go Squeaky?’ I had no idea.
The next class were all Girl’s who all wanted my autograph at the end. I got many great compliments including various requests to go on X-Factor. When I tried to explain that Simon and Louis would not agree with them and besides I do not like queuing, they informed me that they are sure I would do well.
So I felt really good, and tired, as I was taken to the train Station to get the train, and this is where I am now… I’ll write from Monaghan.
I write this whilst travelling from Cork to Dublin, it is written the old fashioned pen and paper way… I hope to have this typed up on Saturday, but I will not promise…
When I get to Dublin I will travel up to the final County I will be performing in, Monaghan.
I hoped to write a blog after every day, but tiredness became me too much last night, so part three of my festival blog will encompass 2 days of performing and one of travelling.
Anyone reading this far will have the impression that that I have been experiencing new things during this festival… Well this blog will document a wonderful trip of familiarity as well as new experiences. This is my fourth year doing the Children’s Book Festival and there has been one constant through each four, County Cork which is where I’ve just been.
Travelling down on Monday afternoon taking a journey I’d taken many times. Arriving at a B&B We had stayed in for the last two years. In the evening, my wife and I walked down the familiar St Patrick’s Street, over to the familiar Oliver Plunkett Street to go to a favourite restaurant of Ours, The Indian Palace. Both me and Daria love Cork, it is where we both lived when we first met, in fact it is where we first met…
Even the first library visited was a Library I had performed in before, Charleville… When the girls arrived, I asked them if they had encountered me before and the response was 100% negative. I deduced from this that I was either so boring they’d forgotten me, or that it was a different class I read to before, I will chose to believe the Latter.
I do feel sorry for people who come to this blog hoping to find a disastrous and humiliating experience for me, because I am sorry to report that it was another successful performance. I was a bit worried about the reading due to the doom and gloom predicted by Ryan Tubridy and his guests on his Radio show that was on in the car on the way down. I was questioning myself, whether I can be funny, knowing that Brian Lenihan might be putting a tax on it later…
Luckily it didn’t affect me and I even got a joke out of it, when I read a poem called ‘Christmas in July’ I ask if anyone can tell me when Christmas day is, a young girl responded with, ‘25th December just around the corner.’ I then responded with, ‘Well that depends on whether Mr Lenihan decides to cancel it in his budget.’ This statement was met with horrified gasps and even a call for industrial action on the pupils side…
Again, Comment sheets were not used during the reading, but many of the children informed me that an enjoyable time was had by them.l
The next Library was Millstreet Library where again, Poetry, Jollity and Rock’N’Roll combined in a wonderful way. This class was all boys who really enjoyed the football section, and again requests were made to me to write poems for other football teams. One of the teachers is a Tottenham fan, so hopefully he appreciated it to. I included a Q+A session again at the end, which soon descended into a joke telling session which was fun.
It was an exceptionally tired Poet and Wife that arrived back in Cork City, in fact neither of us felt good at all and we realised rest was the best thing for us. Unfortunately I had errands to do on McCurtain Street, although this meant I could buy a Coffee in the cafe ‘Cork Coffee Roasters’, which is a Café I would highly recommend. On my return, a decision was made to rest and I decided not to write out a blog. We spent the evening in having Pizza and waiting for Prison Break and Desperate Housewives to come on the Telly… But at 2100 hrs, we discovered that Prison Break was not on, Victoria Beckham: Coming to America was on instead, which made us feel a lot worse.
The following day meant a change of T-Shirt. Now I know I mentioned in a previous blog that I will talk about my Charlie Brown T-Shirt and anyone reading it will probably wonder why would you need to explain a T-shirt to us? Well I’ll explain and hopefully that will answer that question for you. Last Thanksgiving, I went to America to spend time with my In-Laws and wife’s family. Before I went, a question was asked if I would provide some idea’s regarding gifts I might like at Christmas, and I made a suggestion of a Charlie Brown Zig-Zag T-shirt due to my Love of all Things Peanuts. When asked by, her family, ‘Why would Paul want a Charlie Brown T-Shirt?’ her response was, ‘I have no idea, maybe he wants to wear it for his performances?’ When she informed me of this conversation, I replied, ‘No, it’s because Charlie Brown is Cool.’ But then I thought what a great idea… So anyone who has seen me perform comedy, poetry or song at the end of last year and all of this year, will have seen me wearing my Charlie Brown T-Shirt… Now that may be good for the occasional Comedy night or the occasional reading, but if I was to do that for the Children’s Book festival eventually the T-Shirt will get up and do the performance itself… So I needed a change of T-Shirt in Cork so that I can wear it in Monaghan. Although I do believe it is rather fetching, do you?
The two readings today were in Fermoy and Mitchelstown again both went exceptionally well. In Fermoy a mixed class danced along to ‘New Shoes Blues’ and ‘Joe the Wriggly Rock’N’Roll star’, The Poetry was also enjoyed and I received many enquiries as to where my poetry can be purchased. I also got many interesting questions, including, ‘Why does Helium make your voice go Squeaky?’ I had no idea.
The next class were all Girl’s who all wanted my autograph at the end. I got many great compliments including various requests to go on X-Factor. When I tried to explain that Simon and Louis would not agree with them and besides I do not like queuing, they informed me that they are sure I would do well.
So I felt really good, and tired, as I was taken to the train Station to get the train, and this is where I am now… I’ll write from Monaghan.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Children's Book Festival 2008 Part 2
Day 2 Kilkenny Libraries
Myself and my wife, made our way down to Kilkenny in an evening trip that consisted of Luas, Train and Taxi. It was a tired Poet and his wife that sat on the train.
We dined on the train as we knew I was going to be in no mood to go around searching a city we’ve never been to before for food. Included in this were two bananas which seemed to obsess a man on our train who had had about three cans of Bulmers…
’Have you any Banana’s for us?’ he constantly asked us despite constant negative responses… ‘I want a Banana…’ He repeatedly said.
He got off the train at Carlow and I resolved never to eat a Banana on the train again, it always seemed like an innocent pastime…
We were staying at a guest house called Fanad House, which I will strongly recommend… Lovely nights sleep and even lovelier breakfast with Delayed Coffee.
Brenda from Kilkenny Libraries, picked us up early in the morning and we then were taken to Loughboy Libraries…
47 Children, all of the male gender, came to hear my poems and songs at this library… I think it went exceptionally well… I say think, because due to only having 45 minutes each session and the size of the group I was unable to have the comment sheets filled out during the session so my wife gave them to the teachers and was asked to have them filled out when they got back to school… I thought this was a good idea and I did it for the next sessions as well. Certainly some of the Children told me it went well.
The fact that I am a Tottenham fan and I have to announce this during my football section was met with much amusement due to us being bottom of the premiership, also I was asked to sing songs about many other teams, but I have to say in this blog, that will not be happening.
When I entered the Library I was met with a wonderful display in my honour and this can be seen below.
After the reading, we had the a quick Coffee and some soda bread before we were driven too Graiguenamanagh library, and again I read to a group of Boy’s which I can, again, only assume went well. During the Limerick section, I had a queue of Boys wanting my autograph, which obviously pleased me. With this session and the Baldoyle Library reading, I have started to have a Q & A session afterwards, they go well, I think I’ll keep it in.
After this reading, we were taken by the Librarians to a nice, again recommended if anyone is in Graiguenamanagh, coffee shop/café called The Coffee High.
The next group re-balanced the gender audience as they were all girls and again a wonderful reading was had… There was an enquiry as to whether my stuff can be viewed on youtube, and I responded in the positive. After the reading a couple of Girls stayed behind in the library to look at the internet and I saw that they were on youtube, I was hoping they were looking up my stuff, but it was actually the Jonas Brothers, oh well.
Graiguenamanagh is a lovely town, and after the reading my wife went to photograph the river, whilst I wet to an Antiquarian Book Store in the town.
We decided to stay in Kilkenny an extra night as neither myself or my wife had been there, and we ended up having a wonderful time visiting the castle and also I had my first taste of tapas at a lovely tapas restaurant (again recommended) called Grapevine… We left Kilkenny deciding we are definitely going back in the near future…
Myself and my wife, made our way down to Kilkenny in an evening trip that consisted of Luas, Train and Taxi. It was a tired Poet and his wife that sat on the train.
We dined on the train as we knew I was going to be in no mood to go around searching a city we’ve never been to before for food. Included in this were two bananas which seemed to obsess a man on our train who had had about three cans of Bulmers…
’Have you any Banana’s for us?’ he constantly asked us despite constant negative responses… ‘I want a Banana…’ He repeatedly said.
He got off the train at Carlow and I resolved never to eat a Banana on the train again, it always seemed like an innocent pastime…
We were staying at a guest house called Fanad House, which I will strongly recommend… Lovely nights sleep and even lovelier breakfast with Delayed Coffee.
Brenda from Kilkenny Libraries, picked us up early in the morning and we then were taken to Loughboy Libraries…
47 Children, all of the male gender, came to hear my poems and songs at this library… I think it went exceptionally well… I say think, because due to only having 45 minutes each session and the size of the group I was unable to have the comment sheets filled out during the session so my wife gave them to the teachers and was asked to have them filled out when they got back to school… I thought this was a good idea and I did it for the next sessions as well. Certainly some of the Children told me it went well.
The fact that I am a Tottenham fan and I have to announce this during my football section was met with much amusement due to us being bottom of the premiership, also I was asked to sing songs about many other teams, but I have to say in this blog, that will not be happening.
When I entered the Library I was met with a wonderful display in my honour and this can be seen below.
After the reading, we had the a quick Coffee and some soda bread before we were driven too Graiguenamanagh library, and again I read to a group of Boy’s which I can, again, only assume went well. During the Limerick section, I had a queue of Boys wanting my autograph, which obviously pleased me. With this session and the Baldoyle Library reading, I have started to have a Q & A session afterwards, they go well, I think I’ll keep it in.
After this reading, we were taken by the Librarians to a nice, again recommended if anyone is in Graiguenamanagh, coffee shop/café called The Coffee High.
The next group re-balanced the gender audience as they were all girls and again a wonderful reading was had… There was an enquiry as to whether my stuff can be viewed on youtube, and I responded in the positive. After the reading a couple of Girls stayed behind in the library to look at the internet and I saw that they were on youtube, I was hoping they were looking up my stuff, but it was actually the Jonas Brothers, oh well.
Graiguenamanagh is a lovely town, and after the reading my wife went to photograph the river, whilst I wet to an Antiquarian Book Store in the town.
We decided to stay in Kilkenny an extra night as neither myself or my wife had been there, and we ended up having a wonderful time visiting the castle and also I had my first taste of tapas at a lovely tapas restaurant (again recommended) called Grapevine… We left Kilkenny deciding we are definitely going back in the near future…
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Children’s Book Festival 2008 part one
Day 1 – Fingal Libraries
Our Cafetierre got broken last week…
Bear with me, it is relevant.
Without our Cafetierre, I have been starting each day with instant coffee. Now I do not believe I become a real poet until I’ve had my morning coffee. The students, teachers, librarians I read to, probably think I wake up rhyming, but no…
The question should be though, am I any less of a poet if I start the day with an instant coffee rather than a filtered one? (Also the question should be if the opposite of instant is delayed, how come filtered coffee is not called delayed coffee?)
This question would be answered today as I start my run in the Children’s Book festival 2008 in my resident county of Fingal, therefore I not in a B&B, I am at home for breakfast and I start my day with an instant coffee. Getting the 0820hrs dart from Howth, I arrive at Malahide at around 0900hrs for my first reading at 1000hrs.
Now although I have lived in Fingal since May this year, I must admit, with some shame, I had never ventured over to Malahide, therefore I have no idea where the library is, but I must commend Malahide town planners for 2 reasons:
1) There is a town map at the station showing the library,
2) There is an insomnia coffee shop outside the library.
So it was to Insomnia I went for a coffee, maybe I did not need to worry about the instant coffee question. (Although I maintain the first coffee is the most important.)
After Coffee, I enter the library and set up my stuff…
A group of 25 kids enter at 10 and I start with ‘The Coat-hanger song’. This seems goes down well and is confirmed by positive comments received at the end. I then start to read my poetry. I must be more nervous then normal, as the teacher announces that she’s enjoying my poetry but I am reading a bit fast. I slow down, but the nerves still get me as I mess up a few chords of my song, ‘mis-spelt football team blues’, but apart from this everything else goes well, especially my blues song, ‘New Shoes Blues’, which receives wonderful comments.
During the Limerick section the teacher tells me she is very impressed and even hints at wanting to purchase a collection of my verse.
At the end of the session the comments received were exceptionally positive… Even my hair and Charlie Brown T-Shirt (More on that in a later blog) received praise.
After Malahide, I get a bus to Baldoyle Library 1.5 hours early, I store my stuff at the library and go to a pub called Graingers for a Paul Tubb approved breakfast with a delayed Coffee.
I go back to the Library and pretty soon a class of girls arrive and I immediately mess up the start of ‘The Coat-Hanger Song’ I apologise and then say, ‘Let’s all pretend that didn’t happen.’ This gets a couple of giggles, and for the next hour I do not put a foot wrong.
This time there is no hint, the teacher actually asks to purchase my poetry as does a girl in the front row.
During the Limerick session I am surprised to find out that Louis Walsh, the grown man who gets an inappropriate amount of pleasure making young girls cry, writes Limericks… I also got the impression that the girls were fond of him, so I will refrain from giving my opinion of him.
Also, although I received totally positive comments from the Girls, a couple of girls did say that I should not sing my Blues Song… I imagine this is what Louis Walsh would say, in fact I can imagine singing this to Louis and Simon, who respond with, ‘John Lee Hooker? You are more like TJ Hooker…’ Oh well, I was not planning on queing up 4 the X-Factor anyway.
Also in the Comments, one girl did write, in response to the question, ‘What would you like to see at the next reading?’ That they’d like to see fashion and make-up tips. Believe me I am no Brendan Courtney, I will be of little use in this department…
Honestly, Mothers of Ireland, would you like your daughters receiving fashion advice from this man?
So all in all an exceptionally positive day. As I write this, the old-Fashioned way with a pen and paper as I intend to type this up later, in a café in the CHQ whilst I wait for my wife. I feel pleased with the way things have gone today, and also pleased my wife will be accompanying me tonight to Kilkenny, for my next set of readings… Looking forward to it immensely.
Our Cafetierre got broken last week…
Bear with me, it is relevant.
Without our Cafetierre, I have been starting each day with instant coffee. Now I do not believe I become a real poet until I’ve had my morning coffee. The students, teachers, librarians I read to, probably think I wake up rhyming, but no…
The question should be though, am I any less of a poet if I start the day with an instant coffee rather than a filtered one? (Also the question should be if the opposite of instant is delayed, how come filtered coffee is not called delayed coffee?)
This question would be answered today as I start my run in the Children’s Book festival 2008 in my resident county of Fingal, therefore I not in a B&B, I am at home for breakfast and I start my day with an instant coffee. Getting the 0820hrs dart from Howth, I arrive at Malahide at around 0900hrs for my first reading at 1000hrs.
Now although I have lived in Fingal since May this year, I must admit, with some shame, I had never ventured over to Malahide, therefore I have no idea where the library is, but I must commend Malahide town planners for 2 reasons:
1) There is a town map at the station showing the library,
2) There is an insomnia coffee shop outside the library.
So it was to Insomnia I went for a coffee, maybe I did not need to worry about the instant coffee question. (Although I maintain the first coffee is the most important.)
After Coffee, I enter the library and set up my stuff…
A group of 25 kids enter at 10 and I start with ‘The Coat-hanger song’. This seems goes down well and is confirmed by positive comments received at the end. I then start to read my poetry. I must be more nervous then normal, as the teacher announces that she’s enjoying my poetry but I am reading a bit fast. I slow down, but the nerves still get me as I mess up a few chords of my song, ‘mis-spelt football team blues’, but apart from this everything else goes well, especially my blues song, ‘New Shoes Blues’, which receives wonderful comments.
During the Limerick section the teacher tells me she is very impressed and even hints at wanting to purchase a collection of my verse.
At the end of the session the comments received were exceptionally positive… Even my hair and Charlie Brown T-Shirt (More on that in a later blog) received praise.
After Malahide, I get a bus to Baldoyle Library 1.5 hours early, I store my stuff at the library and go to a pub called Graingers for a Paul Tubb approved breakfast with a delayed Coffee.
I go back to the Library and pretty soon a class of girls arrive and I immediately mess up the start of ‘The Coat-Hanger Song’ I apologise and then say, ‘Let’s all pretend that didn’t happen.’ This gets a couple of giggles, and for the next hour I do not put a foot wrong.
This time there is no hint, the teacher actually asks to purchase my poetry as does a girl in the front row.
During the Limerick session I am surprised to find out that Louis Walsh, the grown man who gets an inappropriate amount of pleasure making young girls cry, writes Limericks… I also got the impression that the girls were fond of him, so I will refrain from giving my opinion of him.
Also, although I received totally positive comments from the Girls, a couple of girls did say that I should not sing my Blues Song… I imagine this is what Louis Walsh would say, in fact I can imagine singing this to Louis and Simon, who respond with, ‘John Lee Hooker? You are more like TJ Hooker…’ Oh well, I was not planning on queing up 4 the X-Factor anyway.
Also in the Comments, one girl did write, in response to the question, ‘What would you like to see at the next reading?’ That they’d like to see fashion and make-up tips. Believe me I am no Brendan Courtney, I will be of little use in this department…
Honestly, Mothers of Ireland, would you like your daughters receiving fashion advice from this man?
So all in all an exceptionally positive day. As I write this, the old-Fashioned way with a pen and paper as I intend to type this up later, in a café in the CHQ whilst I wait for my wife. I feel pleased with the way things have gone today, and also pleased my wife will be accompanying me tonight to Kilkenny, for my next set of readings… Looking forward to it immensely.
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