Grateful Dead Covers Project

I have written about discovering The Grateful Dead before, here

Well there is a recent project for fans of the Dead to film themselves performing tracks of the band and uploading them to youtube. Details of which can be found here.

I thought I'd give this a go, and here are my attempts...

My CBF 2009, Part one

And we’re off… First day completed, 3 shows down, 32 to go. I’m now back at the B&B typing this up, (But unable to post it to the website until The Weekend.) Before we go out into Ennis again.

My festival technically started on Tuesday purchasing guitar strings and various remedies and preventions from the Chemist… But It was a pretty uneventful trip, I didn’t even see any one trying to convince me how I need to vote in the Lisbon Referendum, so I decided nobody needed to hear about this trip, and I therefore I need not blog about it…

Then there was Wednesday, which found myself and my wife, leaving our home in Howth and making the Journey by Dart, Luas, Train, and then another train before we got to Ennis, as well as my wife, I was accompanied with a collection of Stories from the Master, P.G. Wodehouse (See Picture). We got to our B&B in Ennis at around 1900 hrs, but the journey wasn’t eventful enough to Blog about, so I will not. I will mention, that we went in to Ennis for the first time and found a lovely Chinese Restaurant called, The Prince Dragon.



And then, we came to Thursday, and the purpose of this Blog, my first day of the 2009 Children’s Book festival and Poetry Ireland day.

The day started with a lovely Breakfast with Coffee, then Irene, from Clare Libraries, came to pick us up. We then drove to Kildysart Library where I was to begin the festival. A group of over 50 Children entered the Library on time and I started with, ‘The Coat-Hanger’ Song. The group were exceptionally enthusiastic, and the poetry seemed to be enjoyed. The Limerick section went very well, and it was a wonderful way to start the festival. The children had already studied my poem, ‘Football in the Classroom’.

After that event, we then drove to Newmarket-on-Fergus for my second reading. Due to getting stuck behind slower vehicles we were late getting to the Library, but on our arrival, we discovered so were the Children, so I used this to my advantage and got my photo taken with some childhood heroes of mine (See photos below)






When the children arrived, another wonderful performance was had and they were another wonderfully enthusiastic group. A video of me performing my song, ‘Got New Shoes Blues’, at this Library can be seen below. There was some confusion between the City of Limerick and the Limerick poems whilst trying to explain the Limerick section, but I must have achieved it eventually, as again wonderful Limericks were written.

After this Library we were then driven to Shannon Library, which was my final library for the day. Two schools were read to in one session, one was a Gael Scoil. Another wonderful session was had by an exceptionally enthusiastic group. I was told, that I was very good, by a young girl who put her hand up especially to make this statement. When I asked if any of them had heard of the Blues, one Boy answered, ‘it’s music that old people listen too…’ Now, I know that I can officially be called old now, but I’ve been listening to the Blues since I was a teenager, have I always been old?

After this reading we were taken to a restaurant over the road from the Library for a lovely toasted special. And then driven back to the B&B, and that is where I am now, writing this…

As promised here is a video of me performing my old persons music…

I've made a news site in Sweden

Yes....

After years of trying, I have finally made the news in Sweden.

The link below leads to a news story that has a video of mine linked to it.

http: //nyheter24.se/nyheter/udda-nyheter/92257-tomten-har-arresterats

When translated, the story roughly reads:


Santa Claus has been arrested
The U.S. has at least ten blank similar figures arrested last week.

Christmas is here. Time for reflection and a chance to spend time with loved ones. Children loafer and waiting for Santa. Probably in vain. The U.S. has at least twelve empty similar figures arrested last week. Usually associated with drunkenness and other manipulations. While there are ongoing investigations in the United States around the fact that many of the bearded men is similar to the long-deceased Karl Marx. Perhaps it can be a new wave of Marxism as joking on us during the current financial crisis?

See the strange but funny music video on the site that went there


The Strange but Funny video is mine...

märkliga men roliga means Strange but Funny... Sums me up maybe? I Think I will use it to sign off all my posts from now on.

I wish anyone reading this the greatest of times over the festive season...

Paul Tubb
märkliga men roliga

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.

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.