Odd Player

Border-Crossing is a series of fifteen papers based on the proceedings of an international conference entitled “Mumming in Cross-Border and Cross-Community Contexts” held at the University of Ulster’s Academy of Irish Cultural Heritages in Derry, in 2003.

Three of the papers are directly concerned with mumming and rhyming in and around the border areas between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Taken together, these three papers build up a very vivid picture of how the mummers or rhymers of this area operated in the past and how the traditions have developed. In the 1930s and 1940s the mummers were not seen as a Catholic tradition. The houses of both Catholics and Protestants would be visited, and in some cases Protestants took part. The whole event would culminate in a mummers’ ball to which the whole community was invited, regardless of political and religious affiliations. After a decline during the troubles, there was a period when the mummers became a nationalistic expression. More recently, there has been an increase in groups of mummers in the area, and performances have moved from houses to community centres and pubs. Collections are made for charities, and the mummers’ dance has become a fundraiser. These performances may be in Catholic or Protestant venues, and cross-cultural charities are chosen to appeal to both sides of the community.

A fourth paper covers much of the same ground, but goes on to examine the apparent lack of texts in the Irish language. The author believes that although the main texts are of English origin, there are remnants of an Irish tradition within the ancillary characters. For instance, the doctor’s speech from the Antrim/West Tyrone/Armagh area has a series of impossible ingredients in the doctor’s cure. These can be closely matched to Irish texts of riddles for a cure for whooping cough. The author also hypothesises that the characters of Jack Straw and the Green Knight are actually two characters from an eighteenth-century Irish play (Sir Sopin and the Irish Chieftain, respectively). He surmises that an original Irish play has been supplanted by the English play, but that these independent characters have been retained.

(continue reading…)

My work has changed greatly since I started last November. The two most important changes have been changing to do work on a new BSkyB contract and moving to a new building.

We now work at the JSPB2 building up from MGt’s headquarters. The building, although still undergoing much work, is very modern. We have been kitted out with brand new equipment including computers and phones.

It will take a little getting used to but the new building is millions of times better than our last office.

I have just ordered a beautiful 30Gb iPod in black and I am waiting on its arrival. This iPod will be with my throughout university. I love music so it’s strange I have waited so long to get myself an iPod.

Well, it is less than two weeks until Disneyland now. The time has flown in.

Our tickets arrived yesterday and I spent last night sorting out all the ‘important stuff‘. Anyone who knows me will know that I am extremely organised and I have every little thing sorted out.

We are all thoroughly looking forward to the holiday!

Just a quick post to say I passed my theory test today!

Multiple Choice – 34/35 (pass mark = 30)
Hazard Perception – 63/75 (pass mark = 44)

This week, I have worked loads and tonight I am enjoying a relaxing night in. My Mum and Dad are away out for a meal and my brother has been at Alton Towers all day. My brother is just off the phone and is travelling home at the moment.

Recently, I was “signed off” to take “escalation calls” at work. Basically, that means when customers ask to speak to a manager, it is me whom they speak with. I thoroughly enjoy taking these calls and I am sure the skills I have gained from taking these calls will serve me well in later life.

When taking escalation calls I try my very best to ensure the customer is satisfied. I hope the customer is left with a positive impression of Sky and myself. On several occasions customers have personally thanked me and were genuinely very please with what I have done for them. This makes my job thoroughly rewarding.

It’s not all good though. On Thursday night I took an escalation call regarding a very angry customer. A team leader was listening in to the call. In the end, the team leader terminated the call on my behalf due to the way the customer conducted himself towards me. The team leader made sure I don’t take those kinds of calls personally. Which I don’t.

Anyway, on my “relaxing Friday night”, I didn’t intend to write so much about my work. I’m off to take the dog for a walk now.

Although I can’t wait to pass my driving test, I am really enjoying learning to drive. Tomorrow I will have my third driving lesson. I can’t wait!

My driving instructor is Bruce Fleming. I don’t think I could ask for a better driving instructor.

Since December, I have been going out driving with my Dad and I still do in between lessons. This helps me practice and build up my confidence.

I have also been practicing my theory test on the computer. Personally, I want to get the theory test over with so I can focus on my practical.

I thought it was about time I published my own blog. After all, everyone else seems to have one. For those who don’t know what a blog is, as I remember my Dad once mentioning he didn’t, here is a quote from blogger.com:

“A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.”

I’m not exactly sure where my blog fits in to that criteria but we will find out soon enough. I think blogs are great. They are quite fun to read actually. Below is a blog I stumbled across.

The Dullest Blog in the World

I personally aim for my blog to be better than that (well, I have to start somewhere!)

At the moment, I am revising Higher Chemistry as I have an exam tomorrow. Having a well deserved break just now. It’s a tough subject.

Thank you for reading this far in my first post of my new blog. Feel free to post comments and do come back.

Thank you!