It is with deep shock and sadness that I learn of the death of Tony Gregory T.D.

He died today at the age of 61 after a long illness.

He was a champion of inner city Dublin. He was a bit of a rebel. He rarely (if ever) wore a tie in his capacity as a T.D.

Gregory was a secondary school teacher before he became involved in politics.

He did a deal with Charlie Haughey in 1982 pledging his support for the Government in return for a cash injection into his deprived inner city Dublin constituency.

He was also an ardent campaigner on local issues including drugs and social justice.

He never held a cabinet position but this didn’t hold him back in his efforts to improve the living conditions for the people of his area.

A good politician. A true Irishman.

Rest In Peace Tony. You won’t be forgotten.

Tom Crean (1877-1938) was born on a farm near the village Annascaul in Co. Kerry.

At the age of 15 he joined the British Navy and ended up being on three of the four major British Antarctic expeditions:

1. The “Discovery” (1901 – 1904)
2. The “Terra Nova” (1910 – 1913)
3. The “Endurance” (1914 – 1916)

Despite a personal request from Ernest Shackleton, he rejected the chance to sail on the “Quest” in 1921.

Tom Crean spent more time in the Antarctic region that either Robert Scott or Ernest Shackleton and he lived longer than both of them.

After his Antarctic explorations he took part in the First World War. He retired from the Navy in 1920 after 27 years of service.

Crean married Eileen Herlihy in 1917 and they had three daughters. Two of his daughters, Mary and Eileen, are still alive today. Their sister Katherine died at the age of four.

Tom Crean opened up his own pub, “The South Pole Inn”, in Anascaul, in 1927.

Tom Crean died in 1938 at the age of 61 in the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork of a burst appendix.

A Video Tribute to Tom Crean

Mount Crean in Victoria Land and the Crean Glacier on South Georgia commemorate this humble and selfless man.

Tom was decorated with sword at Buckingham Palace. He received several medals including three Polar Medals and the Albert Medal.

Tom Crean never spoke publically about his Antarctic endeavours.

An unsung Irish hero.

Rest well Tom.

(Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer written and performed by Aidan Dooley ~ check the website for dates and venues of performances)

Wendy Richard of ‘Eastenders’ and ‘Are You Being Served‘ fame has told the world that she is dying of cancer.

She as written her will, planned her funeral and is planning to marry her long term boy friend.

I’m truly sorry to hear of her illness. She was a great actress and I’ve had many a laugh from watching ‘Are You Being Served’.

Thanks for the laughs Wendy. My thoughts are with you.

Got this from Laura’s blog. I’m posting it here in remembrance of my mother who died of cancer 5 years ago.

Rest In Peace Mother.

A fitting tribute I think ……..

Paul Newman, the actor, died on Friday at the age of 83. He had been suffering from cancer.

Newman was a legend in his own time. A cool, suave and sophisticated man he was nominated for the Academy Awards 10 times.

He won an Oscar in 19878 for ‘The Colour of Money’. He also won two honourary Oscars.

Newman founded a food company ‘Newman’s Own’ from which he donated all his profits and royalties (well in excess of US$220 million) to charity.

What an amazing man.

Rest In Peace Paul. And thanks for the entertainment.

It’s a blog run by Caroline Middlebrook – an English lass who gave up full time employment to earn a living from the net.

I am following Caroline’s earning exploits on her ‘business’ blog Making a Living Online with Caroline Middlebrook.

Her ‘Life Should Feel Good‘ blog charts her personal journey through life and is well worth subscribing to!

If you’re inclined to making some money on line …. her main blog is worth subscribing to also!

I’ve been following Adrian’s blog for some time as he charted his battle with two forms of leukaemia. He has charted the highs and lows of his battle with cancer on his blog.

Adrian Sudbury has been a reporter for both the Huddersfield Express and Chronicle Series and the Huddersfield Examiner. In November 2006 the 25-year-old was promoted to digital journalist, effectively editing the new-look Examiner website. Just two days into his new role he became seriously ill and called in sick. A week later he drove himself to A&E and was eventually diagnosed with leukaemia. It was then identified that he actually has two distinct types of the disease running at the same time. According to the medical literature he is the only person in the world to have this condition. As such, it has not been possible to offer Adrian a prognosis. Here he shares his experiences of the disease and his treatment.

He has also run a very successful campaign where he wants to get a 40 minute talk to all second year sixth form students about why it’s important to think about donating blood, bone marrow and organs.

I write about Adrian because he has posted that he is moving into the closing stages of his life and that he has literally a weeks fews at most to live.

Read his latest post and leave a comment of support if you can.

I loved ‘The Rockford Files‘.

Jim Rockford was suave, rough, tough ….. and he always solved the case …. eventually!

James Garner was/is a great actor … always under rated in my opinion.

I read in the news that he suffered a minor stroke but the prognosis is good.

I hope he’ll pull through and make a full recovery.

Get well soon James.