“I am an architect, they call me a butcher” – Nicky Wire. If I ever owned a butcher’s shop, I’d call it ‘The Silence of The Lambs’. Literally thats what it is, and plus I love that sort of comedy. If you don’t get it you need to catch yerself on for fuck’s sake. My Read more about Working Wednesdays: The Silence of The Lambs…Life As a Butcher At Steenson’s Ballyholme[…]
“I can’t belong here; alone inside of you…” – Ben Paulley, 2005 The era of music I grew up with was Britpop. I loved Oasis and that’s the sort of music that makes me tick. I love it. Guys with proper tunes, proper enthusiasm, guitars, melodies, catchy choruses etc. In 2005 I was working for Read more about That Time I Managed a Rock Band Called The Waves[…]
As a typical 80s kid, I enjoyed the privilege of buying my first ‘records’ on vinyl and cassette. That’s for those of you too young or ignorant to remember the time before CDs. Somehow my first cassette and first vinyl were both Kylie Minogue. Well I fancied her big time when I was 8. My Read more about “I need more time just to make things right”: My Love Of Oasis⚫⚪And The 1990s🎸🎙️[…]
I had always loved the radio. I used to listen incessantly to Radio 5 live (909 medium wave) and Radio Ulster (1341 medium wave) mainly for the football. But I also enjoyed Mike Edgar’s show on Radio Ulster and plenty of music. It was only natural that when I was 17 and started a course Read more about “Jonny Blair on the air” – Nerve Radio🎤📻Days at Bournemouth University[…]
It was a song by Ultravox in case your music brain has deserted you. Vienna is one of those cities in Europe that everyone knows, its appeared in countless filims and has the privilege of capitaling Austria. I didn’t plan a holiday there or go there by chance. I went there to watch a football Read more about It means nothing to me….ooh Vienna![…]
Having been a massive enthusiast about the Northern Ireland international football team since the 1986 World Cup, I had slowly worked my way to the point where I wanted to do something with my knowledge and passion. Initially this meant just turning up at Windsor Park to watch Northern Ireland matches. I used to go Read more about Here We Go…Again – The fanzine undeniably infatuated with the Northern Ireland international football team[…]
Totally unrelated and in no way meant to be to the tune of ‘Is this the way to Amarillo?’ My Dad actually wrote that wee song when we travelled to the Greek island of Rhodes in 1990. Life will take us here, there and everywhere. Every day and every time we meet someone new it Read more about Is this the way to Afandou? (Why don’t you travel with me?)[…]
Back in 1997 when I first stumbled upon politics in a big way, I also started a course in Media Techniques and Competences at Belvoir Training Centre in the Belvoir Estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In many ways this first period of time away from the bland, middle class British-ness of Bangor was a wake Read more about Studying Saturdays: Beavering Away, Life in Belvoir, Belfast, Northern Ireland[…]
After a crazy year in 2007 where I was on 34 aeroplanes, 3 boats and numerous trains, buses, trams and cars the year ended with a not so lucky break! I have now visited 29 countries, but am left with a broken leg – well foot really – 3 metatarsals. I managed to break Read more about A Bad End To 2007: Footloose and Legless[…]
In September 2003 I left my job in the butchery at Steenson’s to move to England and start my degree at Bournemouth University. The only problem was I hadn’t sorted out a job yet in England, and also hadn’t worked in England before (or actually lived there). The first day in my new house in Read more about Working Wednesdays: ASDA la vista baby! Springbourne, Bournemouth, England[…]