A grey 1980s sky skimmed over sheltered Newtownards as I appeared on this planet. It was Sunday March 30th 1980 and there I was free to the world in Adair House in Ards Hospital, Newtownards, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom / Untied Queendom. I love Newtownards for some reason, and I’ve seen a hell of a Read more about Return To My Birthtown: Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland[…]
While I was young I spent most of my life in Bangor, Northern Ireland. I never supported the local football team, Bangor FC, as my team of choice (and my Dad’s and my Grandad’s) was Glentoran FC who played in East Belfast (a 20 minute drive) and I used to go to watch them. However Read more about Happy times at Bangor FC…[…]
I will mention Manchester in other posts, notably the England v. Northern Ireland match of 2005, but in 2006 I travelled up to Manchester to represent the South of England Northern Ireland Supporters Club in the annual five a sides tournament for mainland NISCs. This was the first one, and was organised by the North Read more about Mainland NISC 5 a sides, Manchester, England (July 2006)[…]
It was in September 1998 that I began working in Tesco. I had plenty of work experience and knowledge before that in different fields (Media Studies course placements; School work shadowing; School work placements; Watching Mum in A1 Car Hire; Shadowing Dad in BT; Boys Brigade Volunteer Work; Writing for Football and Music Fanzines; Editing Read more about Out of Stocks…Life in Tesco Springhill, Bangor (1998 – 1999)[…]
It wasn’t until 2001 that I first worked in a bar (probably by then I had spent enough time on the other side of the bar). I got the job through my good mate (at the time) Darren Latimer. I was employed mainly as a barman on the downstairs bar at McMillen’s Bar, Bangor. The Read more about Working Wednesdays: Barman in McMillen’s Bar & Restaurant, Bangor, Northern Ireland[…]
I had never been to Denmark, but had met a few Danish people in my time, notably Nethe from working on Bournemouth beach, and Hans from Tesco in Springhill. Northern Ireland were often drawn in the same qualifying group against Denmark, and I had been to 3 home matches against them. My only Northern Ireland Read more about On the roof? You’re having a laugh! (Copenhagen, October 2006)[…]
Reminiscing on previous jobs and previous experiences recently brought up this memory of not working, but being in A1 Car Hire, watching my Mum work. What’s the story? Well my kid brother was born in 1994, so my Mum, Muriel Blair, hadn’t been working but looking after young Daniel! Then my Mum got back into Read more about A1 Car Hire! (1995 – 1997)[…]
For some bizarre and unknown reason (justified only by money and the cost of travel) I didn’t go to a single Northern Ireland away match until March 2005, my 25th birthday match in Poland (except the one I’m about to write about and the England away match, both on UK soil, so not really ‘away’ Read more about Sent off for celebrating…Wales 2-2 Northern Ireland (September 2004)[…]