From Bath to Cork with Baby Grace

I’ve started using AudioBoo.  This enables me to talk to people - or at least broadcast.

I’ve gradually realised many people don’t like to read.  They simply don’t love the act of reading.  Of those who avoid reading, there are many who love audio.

Irish people particularly love radio.  

Maybe I’ve been cut off from many people?  Maybe, if there was an audio version of my blogposts, I would be more inclusive - and more popular?

I found AudioBoo by accident, and got into using it via my iPhone. [You can contact the CEO of AudioBoo via Twitter @MarkRock.]

So far I’ve made over 30 podcasts - all raw, unedited, each no more than 10 minutes long.  You can find them all here. 

Yesterday I made 4 podcasts:

(1)  Water explosion in Cork - after the water supply to many people was suddenly cut (1.46mins)

(2) My newest business idea - sharing thoughts from my business life (2.41mins)

(3) Blackrock Castle Observatory today - on my way there: what was on my mind (2.56mins) 

(4) Where’s best place to visit in Cork City?(1) - all about Blackrock Castle Observatory & Fota Island Wildlife Park (5.18mins)

I hope you find something interesting & valuable among them.  My plan is to keep this up and move towards a situation where there is always an audio version of each blogpost.

What do you think of that idea?  Share your view in comments below, please. 

I began this blog in 2005.  The experience that got me into blogging was the thought that my infant daughter, Grace, might read this some day - she might like to find out a bit about her dad.  This blog might also become an interesting piece of family history - even a legacy to her children’s children …

Ten days ago, I was chatting to a friend of a sister-in-law - I’ll call her Sarah.  Sarah’s father was born in one country, moved to Africa - ended up in Ireland where he had a career.  The more I listened, the more I felt there was a great story in the family.  I asked Sarah if her dad would write his story.  It turned out her father has written 300 pages - and is looking to publish it.

I offered to help with advice about publishing.

This led to an interesting conversation with the author.  He sent me a sample of his writing.  I’m going to read it to see what the writing’s like.  I have no doubt the story’s there.  But, is the writing good enough to capture a wider audience?

If you write for your family, you don’t need an editor - they’ll love the story no matter how it’s written.  If you write for work colleagues & associates, they’ll be interested in the content - you won’t need to do much editorial work.  

If you want your story to capture the attention of strangers, you have a job on your hands.

There is so much stuff out there, why should anyone read your story?  There are too many stories for anyone to read all the good ones. [See Gabriel Zaid "So Many Books".]

It has to be the writing.  The quality of your writing better lift the story to another level.  You don’t get to be able to do that without a lot of practice - perhaps at least 10,000 hours of practice before you begin to become a good writer? 

A new channel - a fresh outlet - an entry into a room full of people I don’t yet know …

That’s what it feels like.  YouTube is something I’ve known about - but not joined - so far.  I’ve taken ages to uploading something - ages thinking about it.

But I returned from Lourdes with Mother loaded with goodies - lots of video clips taken on iPhone.  I’ve found out how to share such video.  I’m putting all the bits I took - in crude form - up for you  to dip into.

At least some of my family will be interested to see what the Mother was up to.  Hopefully one person from the Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage will value the material.

This is the link to my YouTube channel.  Let me know if you find the raw footage valuable, please. 

Written during the last official part of the Limerick Pilgrimage to Lourdes…

Light my fire

Re-light the candle within.
kindle the glow,
so the spirit flows
from the one source
that matters to me. 

I confess

I am but human
unreliably humane
inconsistently sane
incontrovertibly incapable man.
This afternoon
I bring my confession,
my most precious gift,
the one I’ve been saving for,
I cart it like baggage
- into this "wilderness of unopened life" -
lay it down as carpet
for whatever future
I have to come.
My confession is my strongest link,
my deepest crutch,
the wellpool from which I draw
my hope of a better life
for others.
I dwell in its depths,
the disappointments of its heart.
From the shortcomings,
all my safest knowing comes.
From confession I find love, I confess. 

"Good morning Father, I love your blue."

"I said Mass at the Grotto at half-past-seven."

0905  Collecting ‘juice’ , two croissants

"Morning ladies…"

I am on the pilgrimage to a hotel, the sick segregated to another (resting) place.
We are world’s apart, joined only for public view.
The wheelchaired of the Diocese are our most valuable asset here?

There is work here,
cleaning off tables,
lying out napkins.:
one knife per person,
spoon, fork, saucer, teaspoon,
menu,
[nurses come carrying smile & wave]
oil, vinaigre, salt & pepper
- a table made ready for lunch. 

Squabbling table 

"Will you please stop squabbling
over who pays for the drink
- I’ve come to Lourdes 
for something else than money.
I can’t take any more,
I think I’ll go to another table
- my father brought me up
to eat our food
without the distraction of commerce…
He was right."

The lady form Brandon winced.
The elderly white hair in her brother’s wheelchair
changed the subject.
The artist who’d gone to the bar,
with her mother’s wallet,
missed the outburst. 

"We’re going on a Procession."

"A Procession, what’s a Procession, Pooh?"

"Piglet, my dear little friend, a Procession is a fire light."

"A fire light? What’s a fire light Pooh?"

"A fire light is a fire you walk behind, obviously Piglet."

"I’ve never walked behind a fire, Pooh.  Is it a hot fire?"

"No, Piglet, it’s not a hot fire, it’s not a blazing hot fire like you’d have if you were cooking a feast, little one."

"Are we going to dinner, Pooh?"

"No Piglet, this is a Procession."

"Oh good Pooh."

 ____________________________________

PS  When I read this to my cousin from Canada, she told me there was a connection between Winnie the Bear and Winnipeg.  I can’t remember the connection now - must look it up. 

Lines written on the coach returning from the mountains at Gavarnie… 

A multilayer
sedimenatry
experience

At the bottom, a foundation of raw light,
material
pre-material matter
a base for motion to stir on existence
to gain purchase
a bed for the soul
a spirit field
before there was any such thing,
a depth of unfathomable mystery
to feel the weight of layers
the crush of attracting time
in between the stratifications
a big bang, splintering dust
congealing design
the construction of beauty
the framing of the Universe
beyond accident
beyond will,
deeper still
a sliver of glue
to bind pieces
so that the water of body
and the water of mind
might be fused

the rest is history…