Following a zoom training program today a suggestion was made for all of the attendees to submit their favorite song to share during the break. This was to help us get to know each other better and it certainly helped as we got to experience a lovely variety of music that as individuals we may normally not have been exposed to.  There was everything from opera to folk to show tunes to Pharrell and being ‘Happy’.

Later I began to think what it would be like to get together with some friends and sing some of our favorite songs. Like Karaoke without the bar and back round music. Maybe under a tree in Newbridge or Malahide castle?

I know in the past that this was called choir but as we are somewhat limited during lockdown, I envisioned a small group sitting in camping chairs and having a singalong.

Then I remembered that I think I sing like Sinead ‘O Connor when in fact it probably sounds more like Phoebe from Friends. I realized that perhaps most of us would have woeful voices but that maybe this would be part of the fun.

If we were truly woeful maybe people could pay us to shut up and we could donate the money to a local charity? Any ideas?

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

I love these lines from Friends.    Perhaps because they are so cleverly written and as such are so quintessentially ‘Chandler’. They say the best character writing in a book, film or TV script should allow the reader to remove the name so that the words in and of themselves would clearly indicate who is speaking. It’s the same for any of the characters in ‘Will & Grace’, the dialogue will always be distinctive for each person.

The best chat up line that I ever-embarrassingly- tried to deliver was ‘Is this seat taken?’ In my defense we were a Hen Party on the rampage in Barcelona and a ‘chat up lines’ deck of cards was offered up for everyone to pick a card.     It was, of course, a drinking game and if you failed to deliver your line upon some poor unsuspecting suitor you would need to take a shot as a forfeit.

My guy was a gorgeous Spaniard who asked me to dance and as we were dancing, I surreptitiously placed my hand on his bum and delivered my line. I will never forget the shocked look on his face. His expression resembled that of a person who had been assaulted. It was very embar-ass-ing. Geddit…Sorry.

This nowadays would pretty much be the case. He ran away. Very.  Fast. My chat up lines ended there and then. Forever.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

I thought of this song whilst I was on the beach today and want to share it with you. I had attended a course earlier on where communication and nonverbal cues were discussed. Maybe that’s why this song came to me as it is primarily about love when each partner knows and loves the other so well that actions speak louder than words. Where this type of intimacy is the bedrock of a beautiful relationship.

I hope you enjoy.

And just for some comedy here is the JP clip on Gluten Intolerance that I promised. It makes me cry laughing. Apparently many coeliacs find it hilarious too.

https://youtu.be/Oht9AEq1798

 

Song

 

Glint

When you glint, when you sigh

When you gather yourself together

When you flounder, when you are shy

When you smile, whatever the weather

You light me up, you set me free

To be myself. Be better at being me.

The veils of your essence revealed gloriously

You are the branches to my tree

You are my dawn chorus, my symphony

When you make me coffee. When I make your tea

How you like to be touched by me

You light me up, you set me free

To be myself. Be better at being me.

The veils of your essence revealed gloriously

You are the branches to my tree

You are my dawn chorus, my symphony

 

When you are cheeky and full of mischief

When you are bored beyond belief

When you are excited and full of glee

When you are kind and so happy

 

You light me up, you set me free

To be myself. Be better at being me.

The veils of your essence revealed gloriously

You are the branches to my tree

You are my dawn chorus, my symphony

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

I wrote a song today that I would like to share with you.     I was not particularly stressed out but then I remembered that my post yesterday was a parody on meditation. Which I watched twice today as I think J.P Sears is hilarious. Tomorrow I will post his ‘Gluten intolerance’ which is even funnier.

My apologies in advance for such a sombre song.

 

Song

Don’t tell me

 

You pulverize my mind

I know you are not unkind

You just don’t understand

I cannot jump to your command

Chorus

Don’t tell me

I’m too sensitive

I know

Don’t tell me how to live

Gotta go

These are my mistakes to make

It’s my life for fuck sake

You get things wrong too

I have to work this through

Chorus

Don’t tell me

I’m too sensitive

I know

Don’t tell me how to live

Gotta go

We are so unalike

You don’t get my psyche

Let me be to fuck things up

It’s my life for me to map

Chorus

Don’t tell me

I’m too sensitive

I know

Don’t tell me how to live

Gotta go

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

 

This is a picture from a ladybird ‘Book of Mindfulness’ that I enjoy. The art of mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist tradition designed to slow down the mind and focus on the moment. It has been proved to be successful in treating PTSD when used in the form of meditation. And also, has known benefits in neuroplasticity.

Harvard in 2010 researched 2,250 adults by using an app and asking them throughout the day about their actions and their thoughts. I think that this kind of defeats the purpose, using an app. Surely one of the litmus tests of mindfulness nowadays is being able to resist your phone.

Here is an alternative to the usual meditation.  Humor alert. It may make you smile.

https://youtu.be/i1UQSLuSqyQ

‘Words are more powerful than actions’ challenges the paradigm……..

Once upon a time we used to daydream.

http://adeleleahy.ie/?s=the+forgotten+art+of+daydreaming.

I can recall getting the bus as a young girl, having no phone in my hand to distract me and enjoying staring out of the window and allowing my mind to wander.

Don’t get me wrong. I am a fan of mindfulness. Anything that encourages peace and a Zen like state has to be good. I am just not feeling it today.

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

Lately I have reminded myself of the pure genius that is Gary Larson and the Far side cartoons. I have mentioned him before. To the point where I have begun to imagine two dogs rescuing two humans from a human rescue center.   One says to the owner of the center ‘

Do they shed?’ and the owner replies

‘Yes, she has a She shed and he has a He shed’.

There have been many other cartoonists who have used dogs as owners of humans but Larson has to be my fav.

The other day whilst I was sitting with my friends following our sea swim, I was looking at a group of ducks in the water. A seagull swooped in over them and nearly took one out. I thought to myself ‘What do they say to each other if they want to advise one another to duck?’

I realize that the above thoughts are indicative of a very slow day indeed but they humored me during the moment.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

I came across the above topic at a zoom meeting during the week. And I was reminded of the importance of active listening in communication. The cynic in me looks at all the ways we can communicate now besides a face to face meet up or a telephone call.

We have email, text, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Blogging and Pinterest. And yet I sometimes think that with so many ways to stay in touch that sometimes I feel out of touch. I have always had a mixed reaction to social media.

Once upon a time, when I was growing up, there was this thing called ‘Mass’.    It is very much out of fashion now for a myriad of reasons (most of which are too upsetting to go into). All religion aside, it did have the effect of a community gathering and anyone that did not attend was noticeable by their absence and concerned questions would be asked.

Nowadays so much of our communication is conducted in isolation which is a bit of an oxymoron in and of itself, but there you go. We are all so connected, yet so apart.

I had fun looking up Gary Larson cartoons. I almost forgot how clever they are. There will be plenty more over the next few days.

Big Bang Theory – Active listening https://youtu.be/p1jzdSzGHnA

Everyone loves Raymond –https://youtu.be/4VOubVB4CTU

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

I love this joke that I am about to share with you and was telling it the other day to a friend. One of my favorite bits is when, prior to commencing the joke, I ask them to clear their mind. Then I immediately add’ Oh, you are way ahead of me’.

It’s a humor test and normally takes a second for the person to figure that I am calling them empty headed. By which point I can see the light bulb going off in their head and then I am hopefully waiting for a laugh. It doesn’t always happen but thankfully it did the other day.

So, here goes.

The 42 bus is driven by Pat who loves to listen to RTE 2FM.In particular Tara Stewart who plays his favorite Irish band ‘Fontaines DC’. When he starts off at the main stop 15 passengers get on. At the next stop four passengers get off and one passenger gets on. The next stop six passengers get on and eight passengers get off. The next stop two passengers get on and three passengers get off. At the next stop three passengers get on and two passengers get off. At the last stop five passengers get on and four get off.

I then say to the person/few people ‘Okay have you got that? Grand what was the name of the bus driver?

The hardest part is trying to keep a straight face as you watch everyone diligently doing their sums as to how many are left.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

Well, here we are. Officially on the run up to Easter. I have considered learning a new language for Lent. Mandarin? No thank you. I will have a satsuma. And then I may have a mandarin. Just to mix it up a bit.

Citrus fruit really brings out the crazy in me.  It never used to.  I put it down to lock down.  Don’t get me started on limes. They are my new culinary favorite additive. I could say that I need to get out more.  But then, don’t we all?

I feel obliged to share some of the ‘Pancake Tuesday’s’ puns.  Seeing as I have been on a roll with them recently. I promise I will stop after today as I know that I will be panned for them (Ouch…)   The woeful pun train really needs to leave the station at some point.   If I am finding them on the brink of being too cringe worthy, I can only imagine what you must be feeling.

• I can’t believe it’s pancake Tuesday again. Honestly, it just creped up on me.
• If anyone else makes a bad joke about ‘tossing’ on Pancake Day, I will batter them.
• My dad always makes the pancakes too thin… I shouldn’t have to put up with this crêpe. (My favorite)
• You’d batter believe it’s Pancake Day today.
• These pancakes are flipping delicious!

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

 

 

Today was my first sea swim for 2 weeks since my hypothermia episode.  It was 13.5 degrees in Dublin today, a difference of 11 degrees from two days ago. The sea was cold, but it was still blissful.

A giant dead seal was washed up on Portmarnock the other day which caused a lot of disturbance. The birds were circling and dogs were also attracted to it.  I can only guess that it must have been hit against the rocks throughout the course of the storm last week.

At least 2 feet of sand has been eroded from velvet strand in Portmarnock. It is now more ‘rocky’ and ‘stone’ strand.  Let’s hope the coming weather will bring the lovely sand back.

I believe that Katherine Hepburn swam in the sea every day up until she was in her 80’s. She claimed that ‘the bitterer the medicine, the better it was for you’. I tend to agree.

Although I gather that non sea swimmers are getting fed up with the popularity of people hurtling themselves into ice cold sea water. (WPA-Woeful pun alert) There has been something of a back splash with non-swimmers hurling waves of witty remarks towards sea swimmers.

The pier pressure has not gone unnoticed. However, my favorite response to the naysayers would have to be ‘Please excuse my resting beach face as I go about my day swimmingly’.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele