Sometime when you’re feeling important,
Sometime when your ego’s in bloom,
Sometimes when you take it for granted
You’re the best qualified in the room.
Sometimes when you feel that your going
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions
And see how they humble your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to your wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining
Is a measure of how you’ll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you’ll find that in no time
It looks quiet the same as before.
The moral in this quaint example
Is do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself, but remember—
There’s no indispensable man.

This was the favourite poem of Jim Reeves.

Its meaning has significance to me at this moment in time.

Hugh Leonard, playright and journalist, died today at the age 83.

He wrote a play called ‘Da‘ which was performed 697 times on Broadway.

I met the man many years ago at a Murder Mystery Weekend in The Park Hotel, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.

He had penned the weekend of murder, mystery and intrigue.

I have a photo of myself and himself at the event.

A rare claim to fame.

I liked the man.

Rest In Peace Hugh.

Michael Crichton, the million-selling author of thrillers such as ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Andromeda Strain’, has died of cancer, his family said.

He died yesterday in Los Angeles aged 66 after a long battle with the illness.

Crichton was a brand-name author, known for his stories of disaster and systematic breakdown, or dinosaurs running amok in ‘Jurassic Park’, one of his many books that became major Hollywood movies.

“Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand,” his family said in a statement.

The 6ft 9ins author was also a screenwriter and filmmaker, earning, producing and writing credits for the film versions of many of his titles. He also created the TV hospital series ‘ER’ in 1994.

In recent years, he was the rare writer to get on well with President George W Bush, perhaps because of his scepticism about global warming, which Crichton addressed in the 2004 novel, ‘State of Favor’.

Crichton’s views were strongly condemned by environmentalists, who alleged that the author was hurting efforts to pass legislation to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

A new novel by Crichton had been tentatively scheduled to come out next month, but publisher Harper Collins said the book was postponed indefinitely because of his illness.

“While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us – and entertained us all while doing so – his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes,” his family added.

Rest In Peace Michael.

Hamlet (as recited by moi)

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at
it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know
not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Now get you to my lady’s chamber, and tell her, let
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
come; make her laugh at that.

I’ll still talk to you all when I’m famous ~ you can even send me a postcard via Hollywood Post Office.

Now where was I? …. ah yes! ….

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble (Macbeth) …. oops …. sorry Grannymar …. I didn’t mean to take over your lines!

The Merchant of Venice (as spoken by Portia)

The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.

“My life burned inside me. Even such as it was, it was the only record of me, and it was my only creation, and something in me would not accept that it was insignificant.” ~ Nuala O’Faolain

“I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again”. ~ William Penn

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they cab be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.” ~ Anne Frank

JK Rowling made £3million a week last year.

Amazing stuff …. I’m not greedy …. a million will do me ….

My first purchase would be my Kerry hideaway!!

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W.B. Yeats

A memorial tribute to the journalist and author Nuala O’Faolain will take place in New York on the 24th of June.

The Women’s Voices for Change website carries a tribute to Nuala.

It written by Polly Devlin and is entitled ‘The Intricate Rented World’.

It’s a brilliantly written epitaph.

It captures the essence of Nuala and shows the world what kind of lady she was.

Again ….. thanks for your contribution and Rest In Peace Nuala.