Friday Feeling!

Well just out of the exam and alls well; I’d say I averaged about 68% and the study last night helped out a lot just sitting in the lab taking a quick breather before I head back to the house and pack; no Networking lab today!
My brother Ross, his wife Lucy and my twin sister Rachel are going to be passing through in around an hour so I’m grabbing a lift home with them. It’ll be great to see Ross & Lucy! granted I saw Ross last month but its always good to see him but Lucy hasn’t been back from the states since last Summer.

The family is having some sort of get together on Sunday so we’ll all be there; I wan’t to try get a picture of my four brothers and I. I was thinking about it last night and its approximately 9 years or so since there was a photo of the five of us taken together.

I was the smallest back then so it’ll be a bit of a role reversal; pity there were no photos taken in between. Although thinking about ity maybe it was a blessing

Probably going to get thrown into some gardening work the minute I get home; me being at home for any number of hours is a rare commodity so I’m sure the parents will take full advantage of my skills in heavy lifting and strimmer / lawnmower usage. Oh well they’ll wan’t the house looking nice for Sunday and if I do it today it means I can relax tomorrow.

Going to the Happy Medium gig tomorrow in the pumphouse. My old friend Kieran Byrne is playing support and I have to pick up some of my equipment from him; looking forward to hearing some of his original material too! Haven’t seen the Silloheuttes before so I’m interested in seeing what they sound like. Also the upstairs of the pumphouse has been converted and I’, looking forward to seeing what changes they made.

Although being completely honest most of all the main thing I’m looking forward to is next week

 

Its weird feels like yesterday was last Thursday!

The weeks are really flying by; seems like only last week that next week was a month away. Strange night last night our cat (I’ve renamed her “Kissen” its Swedish slang for cat) didn’t show up Maybe she decided to stay in her real home; hopefully we’ll see her again though. Was a bit restless last night couldn’t really stay still kept wandering back and forth between the sitting room, kitchen and my room.

Eventually ended up dozing off on my bed round 12.30am although my housemates woke me since I’d gone to sleep with Johnny Cash blaring “Hurt” (such an amazing song) and they were a bit tired of it since it had been looping for about an hour.

Didn’t get back to sleep till around 3am then; I picked up the guitar and just starting playing everything and anything that came into my head. Bits of riffs making up songs off the top of my head as I was playing. Its weird I can actually make reasonably decent songs that way! its just that I can never remember them afterwards (I really should just record myself but its kind of a spur of the moment thing).

Trevor came down today he’s staying over and packing up his stuff to leave tomorrow; so I won’t be moving rooms till Sunday. He keeps telling me to remember that his room is freezing and that I won’t last in it; but its got an electric heater and its exactly the same (insulation wise) as my room so I should be grand

All in all life is good

 

Completely out of it………

I’m completely out of it today; couldn’t sleep last night ended up wandering around my room. Feels like I’m almost in a daze and the funny thing is I still won’t fall asleep till 2am or so tonight. Damn internal clock College is going reasonably well though I cant remember a word of lectures today; mind was wandering near and far.

Only two months till I have to get my end of year project in. I have to get my ER-Diagram off the ground and then I’ll be able to link my page too it. I should be fine; just have to keep plugging away at it.

Can’t wait for the weekend! my brother and his family are coming home for a quick visit and I haven’t seen the kids since last summer!. Its going to be great craic catching up with them.

Wrote a new song last night. Still needs a bit of tweaking and a title; here are the lyrics:

(Verse 1)

I’m standing on this branch,
With the world spinning far below;
And I’m trying hard to reach you,
As I’m thrown to and fro.

But the distance is between us;
And I’m trying to bridge the gap.
But the closer I get to you;
Theres a chance that it could snap.

(Chorus

And I could fall down;
Right before your eyes.
While trying to reach you;
You’re unresponsive to my cries.

And so I call out;
I acknowledge all the blame.
Are you still with me?
And do you feel the same?

(Verse 2)

I’m getting closer to you;
And I hope you feel the same.
The longer that I’ve know you;
The less I feel the rain.

And I say I’m mad about you;
And they think I’m just insane.
But I don’t care I’m working on it;
Its my hope, I’m not ashamed.

(Chorus

And I could fall down;
Right before your eyes.
While trying to reach you;
You’re unresponsive to my cries.

And so I call out;
I acknowledge all the blame.
Are you still with me?
And do you feel the same?

Needs a bit of work. but its getting there

 

Nothing beats a decent Saturday & GIG

Apart from the gig today has been great! just relaxing and taking it easy! Spent this evening playing my electric guitar (its great to take a bit of a break from my acoustic and let it rip on occasion ;)) and browsing the internet at the same time (see fig.1 :P)

When I wasn’t playing guitar or browsing the internet I spent time playing with my dog Pippin; I suppose I haven’t mentioned Pip yet; he’s a wire haired Daschund (sausage dog) and I have a habbit of talking to him about life the unverse and whatnot (don’t be alarmed…… everyone does it :P) I took this picture of him at Christmas time (If you’re wondering why he has a bow around his neck its because my twin sister likes to torture small animals for fun on feast days :P) 

I got the recording back from the Gig in Ryan’s on the 27th and I couldn’t be happier with it although it does seem strange in parts where I’m engaging in friendly banter with the crowd and all you can hear are my replies! Its was really weird hearing myself recorded properly for the firt time! I have to say a big thanks to Paul Harmon for mastering it and Kev for doing the sound engineering, lads you’re legends! but you know that…… you got the drunken new years eve text message 

Now I just have to make that special copy

And maybe a pit of poetry…………..

 

GIG: 

Its silent up here;

They’re waiting, expecting, anticipating.

The weight is on you now;

Don’t screw up.

Make a mistake;

Just keep going thats all.

Bright lights make you sweat.

Or is it nerves?

Good crowd tonight;

Can’t let them down.

Start with the easy numbers;

Build up  bit of confidence.

Nothing like a gig.

 

Gig Ryans 03-02-06

Happy days! Its Saturday, the gig went well, and I’m relaxing at home after a great night. The gig was great craic and I’ve never been as proud as to have been playing with two of the most talented musicians I have ever had the pleasure to play with Maurice Ramsbotton and Peter Doran.

I took these photo’s at the gig last night :

Such a brilliant Night!

 

Alls Well & Falling

Happy days today! I got my exam results for the past week and a half! the two exams I had were the two continuous assessments worth the most marks of any CA’s all year. Each assessment was worth 15% of the overall year and I got 11% in Business Management and 14.6% in Information Systems Engineering. My lecturer in ISE laughed at the expression on my face whe he handed back my result; Complete SHOCK

Gig coming up tomorrow night! can’t wait; starting to feel a wee bit nervous (which reminds me I have to make a set-list) but I’ll be ok. Last week was the one that mattered most to me; hence, why I was so nervous. I’ll play better with less nerves tomorrow; Or so thankfully I’ve managed to convince myself

I have to attened a meeting tonight for the clubs and societies in the Dinn Rì in Carlow as president of the Fencing club up here. Its all good though as we get a free dinner in the restaraunt and a free pass to the Foundry (Dinn Rì’s nightclub). We just have to sit in for a talk on methods of improving our club and promoting it around the college. I’m giving my pass to Trevor as a small present he’s going out with his classmates to celebrate his last Thursday night in Carlow before he leaves the college (and on that note).

A shocking development occured last night. My housemate Trev announced to me that he’s dropped out of college and is moving out of the house within the next week. I’ll miss the chap as he and I get on like a house on fire. Looks like it’ll be me and the Swede’s and our housmate Noel who none of us know as he locks himself in his room 24/7. Our original theory is (and bear with me on this………no pun intended) that he lives in his room with his imaginary friend who is a red and white polar bear by the name of Sanka; this is a typical example of the things you come up with when you have a bit too much time on your hands. Seriously though he never says more to us then “The music is too loud, turn it down”; its a wee bit weird.

With Trev leaving I was offered the option to move into his room by my land lady; since my room is half the size and the rent is the same. So it looks like I’ll be moving rooms at some stage next week! That’ll be fun

On another note lets see what I come up with today I’m starting to enjoy my daily poetic breaks from college:

Falling:

You went early last night.
Strangley lonely without you.
Makes sense to me;
But what about you?
How do you feel?

Find my mind drifting of late;
With a tell tale smile on my face.
Am I alone?
Do you feel the same?
Too early to ask; too soon to know.

I feel like I’m falling;
But not from a height.
Yet through cloud.
Too early to tell you;
Too soon to know for sure.

So I sit and wonder;
Mind drifting again.
I’m falling;
A tell tale smile on my face.

 

Wednesday and Things.

Well my break from tests didn’t last long but it was good while it lasted; I’ve got a Systems Administration test coming up on the 10th of February. I’m not too worried though I still have plenty of time to revise; and its one of my stronger subjects.

Currently sitting in one of the labs in the library; off for a few hours so I’m working on a web page assignment due for Friday. Complicated stuff but I’ll get through it; there are a few benefits to being an eternal optomist

Kev came up for a visit last night; unexpected but extremely welcome. I only realsied this morning that he is only the second person to come up for a visit and the first in over a year to call up. Funny considering Kilkenny’s only 25 mins or so down the road.

Gig is coming up on Friday and I’m going to take all the tips I was given last week and implement them this week. I’ve always believed its better to learn from your mistakes then to regret making them in the first place (can’t change time after all) and this is a good chance to show just what I’ve learned in one simple week.

Kev said the quality of the recordings from the gig last week is excellent; I can’t wait to hear it. Its so cool just being able to do something you love and entertain people at the same time.

Feeling poetic again; seem to be writing a lot more of late. Todays creation is…….

Things ( don’t regret learn):

I sit in the clouds as my life flashes by.
A warm glowing glint In a hurricanes eye.

The things that I’d squandered or driven away.
Are now coming back to me clearer than day.

The things that I’d learned from lifes brief insights.
That just made me stronger prepared me to fight.

The things that I’d needed but never could see.
The times that I’d struggled to simply be free.

But I don’t regret; I’ve learned much in my time.
Experience made me; A man in my prime.

Not my best IMO (but it ryhmes :P) just floated out.

 

Gig on the 27th

Well now that I’m back to my good ol’ free college broadband I can finally get round to putting up some photos of the gig the other night. Gig was good and I got some useful pointers on performing that I’m going to implement into my next performance. These are as follows:

• Make a Set List (Thanks Kev)
• Focus on the mic and relax more; don’t hide away (Thanks Maurice)
• Work on song structure a bit more (Thanks Paddy)

Hopefully these will help me improve a bit more; and hopefully I won’t have a cold for the next gig (next Friday). I just uploaded these pics from the other night!:

Maurice Ramsbottom - Guitar Hero!

Kentar (thats me!) playing support for Maurice!

Kevin Reade sound engineer extraordinaire! (full time legend)

Paul Harmon……… likes Cats & Radiohead (and recording the gig; thanks man!)

A shadow of my former self………

I uploaded a 12 second clip of me playing redemption song in Ryan’s (found it on my camera!) its not great but I like it. (Warning you should only watch this if you have broadband or some such; its approx 6MB in size) Hopefully it’ll work……….

Click HERE: for Kentar’s 12 sec rendition of Redemption Song (I would advise BROADBAND!)

 

gig tonight and alls well (within reason)

Right, I’m pumped full of meds, Wrapped in my warmest of woolens and nervous as hell! Gig is tonight and my cold hasn’t fully gone away; my voice is a wee bit muffled. I’m taking Lemsip max cold & flu relief and praying for a lucky break tonight.

Sound check is about 7 so I should be ok; the longer I’m up and about the better. I jjst need to relax a bit; always difficult before a gig and a little bit of nerves is always good (a cold on the other hand is not :()

Just finishing a lab report due for today and then I’m off; had a test this morning. didn’t go too well but I studied for it so I’m not feeling guilty. Got my four originals and maybe three or so covers lined up for tonight.
All in all life is going really well

 

Nervous…….Cold……joy of joys

Woke up today and feel like I’ve managed to develop a cold during the night joy of joys; I’m playing support for Mossy tomorrow so this is exactly the sort of thing I don’t need right now.

Paulie’s recording the gig; and I don’t wan’t my voice to be all muffled and stuff. I wan’t my songs to come out with the full ability of my voice behind them. I need to go find some magical medicine asap.

Nervous as hell about the gig. I saw the article about it in the Kilkenny Voice and that sort of publicity means that this could be the largest audience I’ve played in front of so far; and the last thing I need right now is a cold.

Currently listening to every bit of Nick Drake I can get my hands on! Why didn’t I listen to more of this stuff before! Its exactly my type of music; absolutely brilliant, chilled out, relaxing, acoustic. Thanks to Hazel I may just have discovered a whole new musical influence