my bags are packed and it's time to go-well not quite yet

Good

I’m New York USA bound on Saturday, to be followed by DC (I had to say USA there, as I know there is a New York in Lincolnshire in England-bit of a story there too-maybe later-or even will tell in NY and DC, if the peeps there remind me). I excited and nervous about this expedition. Could be a whole new learning experience for me-maybe next year, or even this summer/autumn I could be heading out again and staying longer in just the one area-maybe get in some small town America (like in the Bill Bryson book). Must admit if someone had said this to me last summer I would have said that there is no way I would ever go to America-or in fact anywhere abroad. But then I’ve said all this before.

The outdoors –ok it’s cold,wet and sometimes miserable-BUT it is near perfect for getting outside and away from crowded, overpriced gyms-not only are you saving money,but also your sanity. The skies are clear,the air fresh and the craic is great. I cannot explain the after effect of a hike over a hill/mountain in a cold and wet day-when you step into the shower to get scrubbed down, and sitting with your feet up supping a mug of something hot, and reminiscing on the days walk .

No More of those “special” TV shows-not a big TV fan –but those “re-union” type shows never work in my opinion.

THE BAD

Digital Watches-and them ones on peoples mobile/cell phones. What is wrong with the “real” watches. Ask someone the time now (I don’t wear a watch-but have a pretty cool pocket watch and a cheap one I got at a stall in a market which is usually shoved in pocket in my backpack) and they bring out a smartphone (or whatever) and say “It’s 4:23” or GAWD FORBID “It’s 18:38” WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN? With the old real watches with the two hands on them you would hear them say “It’s almost 25 past 4” or “It’s almost 20 to 7” 18:38? I have to use my mental arithmetic to work out that 18 hrs is the same as 6pm . And the worst thing about these new fangled monstrosities means an end to one of my favourite jokes:- “What time is it Gerdy?” “It’s 10 past” “Ten past what?” “I don’t know, the little hand has fallen off my watch.”

The Book People-every so often these guys come round with bundles of books (and stuff). You can nearly guess what sort of stuff will be there, depending on time of year.Prior to Christmas, there are loads of recipe and children’s stuff. And around this time it is diet books –and every year the women at work will discuss the diet books claiming a particular author’s “last one” was very good and will sigh up for the new one-“mustn’t have worked then” I say and what’s wrong with just sticking with the old one? More I say-what’s wrong with getting out and exercising and cutting down on the rubbish. In saying that, last time I got a great “Where’s Wally?” book-kept me entertained for days…

The Whatever

THE USA TRIP-OK OK I KNOW I KNOW-I’ve said this a great many times before. I am still in two minds about undertaking this trip. I think I would have been happier going to a few towns “down south”(Galway,Cork,Ballyvaughan,Kinsale,Glencolmcille etc)-at least I am getting drink and crisps (ok ok potato chips) I know and like. I am nervous about the idea of being airborne for 7 hours-and twice, the jet lag, the size of the places I am going. But you never know I could end up loving the experience and when I return I’ll be making a plan for a return visit(s) (well there is 2 cities-3 if …well I’ll explain later). I hope to get some scratch cards and do the lottery over there-imagine the headlines “Gerdy from Derry wins massive jackpot in roll over lottery.” Better bring my Derry away polo shirt-just in case.

Any ways-that’s it-for now

the day gets closer

OK it’s too late now, if I had a pound for everybody who has asked me, why I am going to New York now and not March or April –even August, I would have £8 -oh and if you count € land too- €2. )The answer to this question-and I think I am the only person who will understand this-if I did NOT do this now, I don’t think I would ever have done it-well not unless some hot babe talked me in to going over there with her.

At the time of typing this there is news reports on television about terrible snow conditions there. My two contacts over there are telling me not to worry-it’ll pass. Yeah but what if I had booked my flight/hotel for this weekend instead of the 18^th? I do have a “what the heck-it’s only money.” Attitude here if it should go belly up, I have no idea what way the insurance works with regards to “acts of God” stopping a flight. And I have no idea how to contact the hotel in New York if the flight is delayed.

On the other hand, I hope this gets me over my avoidance of trips abroad, and that this could even become a regular thing.

Too be honest, I am more worried about letting people down over there. If by any chance (and I hope NOT) this has to be cancelled due to this inclement/unexpected weather-I’ll still find somewhere to go. Will obviously mean more spemding-but what the heck, this is what my “treat savings” are for after all.

I am now working on things I want to buy when over there. Me being me, it’s silly things mostly. I hope to get a new kit-lens for my camera and dump the old one somewhere over there. Of course I’ll be looking for the often mentioned bobbly hats,graphic novels,cds,maybe a new rambling waterproof jacket,a pen of some sort, tacky stuff, some camera accessories –maybe a couple of shirts.

I want to get a cheap pay as you go mobile(ok cell phone) to keep in touch with the contacts out there when there-but somebody has said I can get a half decent one with wi-fi and all that for a cheap price.

Thankfully my two American friends are keeping me calm and telling me that this weather thing will soon pass. I said it before-but I was hoping to see a little snow in NY as I’m sure it will be picturescue –but not what is there now.

Any –it’ll not be the end of the world if flight is cancelled etc etc .And I am not the only person who has booked a flight on these dates (and if I am, I wonder will I get a free upgrade) But what ever happens I really do hope to be back again come September or October this year-maybe one week in one city-see more-maybe get in some cycling/rambling.

Back on the weather again-this one made me titter-and I quote “New Jersey governor Chris Christie ordered non-essential state workers to stay home.” Bit of a double whammy here I thought –a free day(s) off –but then you think “hmm if I’m non-essential –how safe is my job?” Great but scarey picture of Lahinch harbour, County Clare of the waves battering the harbour-was there a few times with the ICS cycling holiday crowd I go on.

Will soon be the 10, 9,8 countdown-and then I’ll annoy everybody even more. Too lazy to check this over.

this week listening too "Crimson/Red" -Prefab Sprout and  "The Next Day"-David Bowie. Struggling to read "Wild"-Cheryl Strayed (strange cos i like this kind of stuff) -made up for it by reading "Where's Wally" and a new graphic novel called "Wormwood" -Wormwood is the anti-christ (his dad is the devil), his best friend is Jesus, he has a pet rabbit that can talk-great stuff it was too-very sharp biting wit.

to be continued and spell checked by my reader

And the countdown gets serious-almost

Well –we’re getting close to the serious countdown for the American trip. At time of bashing the keyboards it is something like 17 days-well if you count the overnight in Dublin pre flight it is 16 days. Whenever I finished my ICS holidays some Americans, along with the farewell hug said “And if you’re ever in the states –call and see me/us.”

I never thought I would be doing this-AND I am meeting up with 2 people out of my top 6 favourite people I have met on these trips-and I have met a LOT of people over the years on these holidays. There is one person-who is actually in New York I have lost touch with (despite my attempts to get back in touch) I think I have her email address somewhere and I think I know were her business is. I am not sure if trying again and letting her know I’m coming over would freak her out or not-so am holding back. Maybe, like in the movie “Serendipity,” fate and the powers that be will throw us together –what was it April said to Adam in “The Hot Tub Time Machine” –“Maybe the universe will bring us together again...” (don’t ya just love ellipses ? I can’t get enough of them… )ANY WAYS where was I? Yeah-maybe fate will throw Connie and me back together again-romantic old sop that’s me. Maybe this USA  trip could also become a regular thing-maybe stick in the one place for a whole week next time? Or even a meet up and a usa version of an ICS holiday? Maybe I’ll even meet a new Connie and soon I’ll be saying Connie? Who’s Connie?

So now I’m working out what I want to buy and do over there. Hope to get a new camera lens, graphic novels, cds,bobbly hats and tacky stuff-maybe a shirt or two. Of course see the sights, do a tour on bus and all that. And being the culchie that I am, I’ll be complaining about the exorbitant prices I’m paying for a coffee and a sandwich, and will walk up somewhere like Central Avenue looking around at the shops/stores mumbling “Jeez, I might as well be in Derry.” You never know I could make new friends there too. Might even take a couple of bags of the red taytos or our chocolate or  chocolate kimberlys? Also wondering what lenses to take with me-mind you the current kit lens which has a battle scar –so embarrassing/typical gerdy hoe it happened-will be left behind somewhere in NY/DC.

Hope to recover from the terrible 2013 cycling year and get more miles in this year. Also want to give the Irish Language holiday thing another go too, but hope to get back into my normal time for holidaying which is August. But it’s too early for me to be thinking about summer-let’s get NY and DC out of the way first-things can change.

Right good,bad, and the ugly

GOOD

Obviously the American trip-excited and scared about this.

The year of culture in derry-did not see a lot of it-but what I did catch was great. The all Ireand Fleadh was outstanding. I got to see one of my rock idols, Elvis Costello live-managed to catch one song on movie mode. And I actually met and spoke to the members of one of my favourite bands Bell X 1 when they did a free acoustic pop up gig in my local record shop-got them to sign the current album and got some photos and filmed one song too.

The Irish language/culture holiday was new and very different-by coincidence Carolyn from last year’s cycling holiday was on this too and she coaxed me in to doing the set dancing classes –which was great craic, a number of people told me I was actually good at it too.

The rambling club had a great year too-over at the Lake District again-weather not the best-in fact on first day we had rain of John Ford western proportions-but the craic was 90. And some great walks on the home island too. And I’ll explain the rock story when I am in NY and DC.

Music wise-the David Bowie surprise album “The Next Day,” Prefab Sprout’s “Crimson/Red,” and John Grant’s “Pale Green Ghosts” were all excellent-Bowie’s is as good as the stuff he was doing around the time of “Ashes to Ashes”. The Prefab Sprout one is basically Paddy McAloon on his own now-but this one is up there with the likes of “Jordan The Comeback.” Paddy is pretty ill at the moment, terrible problems with both hearing and eyesight. And music in general-got back in to my music last year-said it countless times before but to say my taste in music is eclectic is an understatement.

We’ve passed the shortest day of the year-so technically the days are getting longer. We won’t really notice until the end of this month-but hey. That’s not that far away.

BAD

The Tayto chocolate-cheese n onion crisps. Crisps and chocolate together-very bad idea here. Just did not work. Did not taste good to start with-but that after taste that stays in mouth when done was somewhat nightmarish.

The whole flag (pronounced fleg) carry on here. Should never have started in first place-made the situation here a laughing stock-makes me laugh any way.

2013 cycling year for me was a non event-hope to make up for it in 2014-if it was not for the rambling club I would have got no exercise at all.

Internet connection where I am-nuff said.

On a serious note, life in general. But then bad things do happen. We’re not immortal and life comes to an end sometime. But for some people it seems to come a little too soon. In the book “The Princess Bride” it finishes with the line “Life isn’t fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all.” Reason for this is because a cycling buddy of mine is pretty ill and it’s not looking good-sorry folks

The ugly

Selfies –fed up seeing and hearing about these things-but in saying that will no doubt do one or two when in the states.

The mud on my mountain bike- but will wash after next mtb ride.

Technolgy-just when I have the money gathered up to get the new canon 7D they will announce the 8D-which will be even more better than the 7 –as long as they just don’t bring out a replacement for my sony personal minidisc for a while I’ll be ok.

Currently hooked on that minefield game on computer-on the middle level at minute-soon as I do a complete one I’m on to the hard one-and am doing pretty good at minute.

Reading over these things and correcting mistooks is a pain.

good? bad? ugly? decide for yourself-comments please

It was in the news today that Ian Watkins, the lead singer in the band The Lostprophets has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for horrendous pedophile crimes. The young lady who sits opposite me at work said that she has binned all her Lostphrophets cds and things. To be honest I don’t think I have heard the band. I asked her if he had been found guilty of murdering someone would she still listen to his stuff. She thought for a moment and that she would. Phil Sector was found guilty of murder (I think) but his stuff is still played on radio. But when a rock star is found guity of a pedophile crime he (not sure if there is any she’s) is shunned and his stuff is never aired on radio (or anywhere again). It seems that harming a child is seen as a greater crime than taking a life. In a way harming a child is killing his/her childhood.

But still-what do you think?

Ok I have started to get the US dollars-so I’m building up the cash. I have Sue and Gabriel# to thank for pushing me into going with the initial plan. So now I am deciding the plan-things to get,things to see,PEOPLE to see-to be honest that’s what I am looking forward to most. I am  hoping I can get a new lens for my camera cheaper over there too. Of course I’ll be looking for tacky stuff too.

Christmas FM –I am scunered*  with it (well actually by the 2^nd day). I never thought I would be fed up hearing “Fairytale of New York.” And to make matters worse I am hearing ones I had hoped would never be heard again, like Dana’s “It’s Gonna Be A Cold Cold Christmas.”Bad thing here is she was quite pretty back then and there was a girl in my class at school who looked a lot like her too (insert sigh emoticon) Unfortunately I am yet to hear “Grandma Got Run Over By  A Reindeer.” Or  “Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me”-but then maybe that’s really a good thing as I would be turning the radio up and singing a long.

I know it’s been out a while-but after getting the US Dollars I treated myself to a limited special edition of David Bowie’s “The Next Day”-has extra songs/remixes and dvds. Listening to it as I type this and it’s pretty good stuff indeed.

Merry Christmas folks – just in case I do no more before then. Hope to a better attempt at 2014 than I did of 2013-maybe I’ll get some tips in the U S OF A. I’ll leave you with this….well I sort of HAD too.

By the way I would love to hear your comments on the Ian Watkins thing-if YOUR favourite singer was found guilty of murder or a pedophile crime-which one/both would make you dump all there stuff-or in fact would you even dump it at all?

# Gabriel-met him on an ICS cylcling holiday 4 or 5 times. He is everything I am not-very serious and “normal.” But we get on really well-almost a double act. I was told that he said he was envious of how I rattle the jokes off at a moments notice. I hope to meet up with him in Dublin the night before I fly out. Well Gabriel reminded me I was meeting up with Marni-another ICS companion from DC who I still enjoy keeping in touch with.

* Scunered-A term commonly used in Ireland (mostly northern Ireland) it means pissed off, bored, agitated  for any reason whatsoever

the good bad et the ugli (the editor's cut)

The Good

Well all the official stuff for my impending trip to America is paid for , Got the visa last week. So now it’s the serious bit of working out how much daily cash I need. Of course I’ll be armed with my trusty credit card and also my starbucks and subway “loyalty” cards in the hope that they still work over there. For the 9 odd days I am there I am thinking about getting £700-£800 in dollars. This, I hope, will cover any tours,coaches, trains and little things I may get. Hopefully my American friends will advise me here.

Now what to get when I am out there? You won’t get my humour here-but I am the sort of person who would travel out there and just come back with something silly-that I could have easily got back home-like a comb or packet of razor blades. But in saying that I have a few ideas:- gaphic novels,bobbly hats, cds (if possible of bands I see in pubs), a memory card for my camera, travel mug with some American symbol on it, somethings really tacky too etc etc. Gonna do some tours, but than I said that already.Much that I enjoyed the TV show I am NOT doing the Sopranos tour.

My sense of humour-people are baffled/impressed at how I can chip in with a joke during any conversation (more in ugly). It’s just key words that seem to spark something in my memory. But ask me to tell some jokes and I am in a quandary. It has to be spontaneous for it to work. Sometimes I am actually surprised myself.

Lightroom 5 (more in ugly)  This is another off shot of the mighty photoshop-it’s said to be better than elements and nowhere near as expensive as the full photoshop programme. I bought it (and a book) 3 or 4 months ago-but via some free discs I got with camera magazines I am slowly learning how good this is.

Been asked to take some photos of my sister in law’s friend’s daughter –who wants to become a model-I don’t feel confident enough to do this, too much pressure etc etc-but it could be a good experience and I could also use it as an excuse to take some family shots too.

The Bad

Even though I have paid for the flight,visa and hotels in both Dublin and America-I could still cancel the whole thing. You don’t know the way my mind works. Sorry folks –it would take to explain this. Well actually won’t take that long. I am still very very uncomfortable with the idea of being in the air for such a long period of time, and twice at that. And the fact that on one cyling holiday that started in Cork someone who flew there from JFK that morning was there before me and I was on bus from Derry. Despite the fact I will be meeting at least two great people-maybe more, you never know-for the life of me I am questioning why am I going to two big cities when I would be just as happy-even more so heading down to the free state and chilling out in a couple of medium sized towns with decent bands playing in pubs that serves the drinks I know and like. If I can cancel the hotels and not loose any money this could still happen-so do not be surprised if you see post saying “it’s all off.”

Only last week I discovered that it is possible to put my bobbly hats on back to front.

Somebody sitting down beside me on a bus when more than half the other seats are totally empty. Of course this does not apply if it is a Zoe Deschannel or  similar babe lookalike.

And the Ugly

The Advent calendar at work did not last long-did not blend in with my grinch (grinch?) attitude to the whole Christmas thing.Maybe if I had a more me advent calendar like the sugababes or judge dredd or the pre-change Scrooge  it would have lasted longer.AND NOBODY IN MY SECTION IN THE OFFICE HAS NOTICED IT’S GONE!!

Lightroom 5-yeah I know I said it was good but there is something I don’t know how to “fix” –but I think I know how to stop it happening again.And I STILL don’t like being hunched over a computer working on a photograph.

My remembering jokes thing-sometimes I wish I could adapt this “triggering” system thing to serious things like my job-and if I could have used that when I was at school-well what odds. I am actually flattered when people say they wish they could run off the spontaneous jokes like I do.

And here is a picture of a bobbly hat –as I think they are called something else in the states, in fact most people call them something else here too-happiness is a tight bobbly hat-that’s what I say.

the good bad abd all

The Good

The USA trip is starting to get into shape. I know the hotel in DC I want to book into. Only need to sort out the NY and “spare days” yet-and that is the main draw back.

The music mags do their “best of the year” free CDs and it is a good chance to hear some stuff I never heard before.

Email form some members of the legendary Kitty Club –from an ICS holiday. The club was started on a Donegal Safari in 2011 (I think) I missed this years holiday –for a few reasons. But there is already talk of another reunion in 2014-apparently my presence was missed this year-and I was told other group members were asking “Who is this Gerdy you speak of?” And there may even be a date change to August-which is my normal holiday time.

The Dr Who 50^th Anniversary show was actually pretty good-well not as disappointing as I thought it was going to be-was a bit confusing. Billie Piper was looking good too.

The Bad

The USA trip-I know, I know. Last night I was on very bad form and I was almost set to cancel the whole thing. Someone at work was saying to me that I should have gone for longer, because-and I quote “ Sure you have loads of leave left-and also money.” Huh? Where do people get this idea that I have loads of money. There are a lot of gold diggers out there that are  in for a big let down baby. I also don’t have that much leave left-enough for the USA trip but that’s about it. And if I DID cancel it, I would not tell anybody at work until I got back from the days off.

Those free CDs with the music mags-they NEVER include a track from the number 1 cd. Number 35 ,22 , maybe even number 4-but never number 1.

The picture on the cover of this month’s Saga Magazine is of Kim Wilde. My GAWD has it come to this. Something I never imagined would happen. For any one who does not know-Saga is a magazine aimed at the over 50s. Usually has interviews with retired mps or those radio presenters that have been on radio for 40 or 50 years- or Melvyn Bragg going on about some upper class twaddle but Kim Wilde?? Kim use to grace the front page of Smash Hits-a teeny boppers’ pop mag –that was too young for me back when. How long before it’ll be Kylie on there?

Got an email from someone from the cycling group discussing which one to do next year-FAR to early for that-let’s get Xmas and Easter out of the way first-and Xmas? Don’t start me on that-I’m by no means a Scrooge. But I can’t abide the build up-and the people who moan “oh my gawd it seems to be starting earlier every year.” Never too early for turkey-that’s what I say.

Xmas presents-at my stage in life now it’s socks,shirts or slippers-toys are now a thing of the past-shame- xmas( ok Christmas) and birthday presents should be something you WANT as opposed to something you need. Point made-ok?

The ugly

People that over do it with the xmas decorations-was down at the sister’s house on November 24^th and her next door neightbour had his/her house covered in “dancing lights” and had light up figures in the garden. I wanted to break one of the dancing lights in the hope it would turn everything off and he’d spend hours looking for the fault.

The American trip-moan moan moan

what's good-what's not

THE GOOD

Wellll the flight is booked-fly out to JFK  from Dublin at 11:15 Jan 18^th 2014 AD. Should be landing at JFK at 13:49. That’s American time-or whatever they call it over there.When I first saw that I thought-hmm, that’s quick. I’ll be staying overnight in Dublin on the 17^th –this’ll mean not having to get up at some unearthly time in Limavady  to get to the airport-think it’s 3 hours before take off. Flight back is 21:59 landing in Dublin at 9:30. Then’ll I’ll get bus to Derry and will be off work for 2 or 3 days before returning. My theory is-with the flight that late I’ll sleep easily-but then knowing me-no chance. No real plans what to do when I get there. Hope to do usual sight seeing stuff,meet up with a couple of people, get to a pub,or 2, or 3 with a band playing-no trad irish stuff though. And of course an hour after take off from Dublin I will call a stewardess over and ask “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” I’ll bet NOBODY has ever asked that before-then tell her if she upgrades me I’ll not ask it again.

             Currently reading and loving a graphic novel called “Chew” the humour in it really appeals to me-yeah it is very warped. And the main character’s twin sister-Toni

(he’s called Tony) is really sweet,funny and if she was real I would fancy her. Nearly finished part 6-she’s getting married-should be a fun packed wedding.

              Autumn –or fall –call it what you want.love this time of year. One of my top four seaons. The colours, the smells, that lovely sharp bite in the air. Really enjoy mountain biking and rambling this time of year. Very picturesque and all that.

                Just started season 5 of the Sopranos. It was around here the TV channel that showed it here started to mess around with the times. One week it was on Monday at 10:00 pm –then suddenly it was on Wednesday at 11:30 pm then 2 weeks later it was on Thursday at 11:00pm. So now I can enjoy it, sometimes 2 episodes at a time-with no adds.

THE BAD

The flight to America is booked. I KNOW I KNOW what I said before. But I could still very easily talk myself out of it-and just shrug my shoulders and count my losses –I already have cancelled a holiday this year-only lost the deposit mind you. But I kind of HAD to cancel that one. Wondering why the heck I am going to two big cities when I would be just as happy in a little Irish town with good music-and at drink and crisps/potato chips that I know and love.

OH NOOOOO   they killed Toni-and what a gruesome way too. Funny this is she saw it coming-very long story here. Ahhhh I’ll miss her-hope there’s flashbacks in episode 7 which I got today.

Autumn-it’s over so flamin’ quick. Last night it was raining heavily and very windy-and now it’s all gone. The roads are covered in leaves and this makes it very slippy on the roads that are covered in damp leaves-same in the forest tracks-boy’s but I hate this time of year. And I NEVER seem to have a camera handy for the good bits-you'd think I'd know by now-I mean Autumn happens every bloomin' year...

The Sopranos-into episode 4 of season 5. I’m losong interest-can see myself suddenly jumping to the final episode. Was better on tv at least I had a gap between seasons.This is getting like having to read a book at school.

Work-made a silly mistake today-did it before. Normally these things don’t bother me –as I know they are easily fixed. For some reason today I miffed that I was careless enough to let it happen.

The Ugly

Nothing really-just thought this category looked fitting here.

Only joking about the sopranos-am really enjoying it. Some bits are actually very funny. I was saying to myself-in real life it would not be funny-but the way it was done here was pure slapstick.

Gonna have to do something with layout here-might stick on a photo or two next time -and too lazy to check this.