Last days in Sligo...and counting

It seems that the universe is trying to push us back to the big schmoke! I got a job there starting next week and wish the world could feel half of my excitement right now. After nearly 4 years living in Sligo County (I moved in January 2009) there are some things to be missed. Sligo is definitely one of my favorite counties in the west and living in Rosses Point just makes the farewell even harder. Fishing, the quietness, the silence and the lack of traffic, except when you face some tractors that keep you slow for some minutes. There are some pubs in particular that I will miss too: Harry's in Rosses Point (the best seafood chowder I think I ever had) The beach bar and The flying horse in Templeboy, and few others in Sligo town. I am gonna miss some of the friends that I made in the past few years too. On the other hand most of them got jobs/moved to other places before me so it was really about time to go, I guess. Sligo is one of the best surf spots in Ireland with places like Strandhill, Tra bhui, Enniscrone and some others that I didn't have a chance to try. Enniscrone is also another place that I will miss, that is for sure. Spending one evening in one of their pubs having some nice dinner, walking along their long beach, fishing by the pier, sea bath at the seaweed house, that place smells like holidays 24/7. Our current place too. Living in Sligo is to enjoy a different pace of life. 

On the other hand we are both city people. We realized we can't live that far from the city. Although there is traffic, stressed people, lots of people everywhere you go, there is that buzz, that sort of buzz we don't have in the country. I have also some friends + my in-laws, kaz family waiting for me there which makes my moving not that complicated. There is also a chance of dusting off my bass and take part in some cool jams. Dublin smells like music, a good one. I will finally become a member of the Irish Whiskey Society since their events only happen in Dublin and hopefully will keep my old habits on (fishing, homebrewing). No surfing though :-( I should point out that Dublin is perhaps few degrees warmer than here, I've noticed that in many times when I was walking with only t-shirts on the rest of dubliners would have scarves, gloves, hats and coats on. 

Till next time

p.s.: Things are going well with my dad. He is keeping an-eye on his intakes and probably feeling much better. Can't wait to visit them probably early next year. 

Rosses Point

Just a quick one. We haven't got the internet at home yet so every day we come down to the hotel to use their wifi. Below you will find some pictures I took this afternoon in our new village. I was told I am living in the posh area of Sligo which I think it makes sense. I am also unemployed so it feels like on holidays. Hopefully (or not) this will change soon. All these photos were taken with my mobile phone so their quality is not good, however am quite pleased with their colors, I call it "the autumn effect" :-) One of these photos shows a statue of a woman, which is in memory of those who lost their lives at the sea. The woman is representing their moms, begging for their safe return...I know, a bit emotional

If you ever come down to Sligo, make sure you visit Rosses Point and if you are a bit hungry try the seafood chowder at Waterfront, its yummy!

p.s.: got the good news that my dad is going to be discharged from the hospital this wednesday...no words to describe how happy I am :-)

Fireball - meteor showers in Ireland

Last friday night I was sitting here on my computer at about 11.00pm when Karen called me outside "quickly, quickly". I knew she was trying to get the cats back to the house but didn't have a clue of what was coming next. Out there above the horizon there was these fireball blazes coming up from East going above our heads towards west. There were at least three fireball blazes all flying together in a quite fast speed, just like the speed you see satellites orbiting our planet. It was absolutely stunning! Karen was freaking out for a minute about what they could be and I thought that it was either debris of a satellite or a meteor shower. 10 minutes later we checked on the internet and there were videos and reports from people all over the country and England. The news also said it was indeed a meteor shower but they probably didnt tell how spectacular it was because of its intense brightness. 


For videos and other reports of the same objects we saw click here:

For reports from U.K. HERE

If you have any video, photo, or any experience you had please share with me :-)

Hi there! It's been a while since the last time I've been here. Lemme see, in the meanwhile I had the special company of my folks who came over for initially 3 weeks but unfortunately they had to come back to Brazil after two weeks. My dad rushed to the hospital with an infection on his foot. He is diabetic and got two surgeries and after some odd time he is now recovering in hospital. Our thoughts and prayers for him and we will keep with our positive atittude that he will get out of that as quick as possible.

Below you will find some photos from this period of time that shows a bit of what was going on here. It is been freezing at the moment and I can defo say that autumn is here. I have my weapons ready for it and even bought a Boidhran(not totally sure about the spelling) Tutor for beginners. Bam bababa bam...I have learnt the basic beats and am using this 18yrs. boidhran that Karen kept. I have the pleasure to play my first song called the Swallow Tail (jig) for my parents in hospital through Skype (gotta love skype, dude).

We are also moving house in two weeks time. After two years living in the middle of nowhere we decided it is time to be closer to town. Rosses Point is the area.

                                          Carrowkeel passage tombs - 3000 BC!!!

                                          Sepultura's Paulo Pinto before their gig in The Academy \m/

                                          Derrick Green - Sepultura - The Academy

It was bigger than my foot

                                                                See?!

                                           "Eagles Flying" - Sligo

all the fishes above were safely returned to the ocean :-)

                                       That is it for now. Although they won't read this I just feel like saying that my family is doing an amazing job looking after my dad and my mom is even sleeping in the hospital. My brother and sisters are doing their best to bring some joy to them. I use skype to "visit" my parents and chat with them on a daily basis. It is just a matter of time...and patience, a lot of it!

God bless you!

Anto

Dun na síog

Today it was partly sunny so I decided to cut the grass. Had to take some hay fever tablets otherwise I wouldn't be here typing right now. Few months ago I've asked John, our neighbor who is also into folklore and Irish legends, why he always leaves a square of bush when he is cutting his grass and he told me that you need to leave a place for the...erm, fairies. I didn't ask what is the possible consequence of not doing that and decided to try myself too. It was fun to draw a circle and imagine that there are some invisible creatures living there. Today, few weeks since the last time I cut the grass I've noticed that the circle that I left has become even more flowering so I was careful to not cut it again...Who knows what the fairies could do? That was "gay" but regardless whether you believe it or not, it is just nice to see your garden with that ring of flowers, isnt it?

for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_fort

Only a fool thinks he goes fishing to catch fish

my wife took that pic yesterday at Aughris Head pier. It was the second time that I went there and got that mackerel which only stayed for 30 sec out of the water till I promptly put him back. As you can see it is summer in Ireland (11 degrees celsius) but I still have my jacket and cap on to keep my bald head warm enough. "Only a fool thinks he goes fishing to catch fish" is just a quote from Far and away: a prize every time by Neil Peart that I took the liberty to use as the title of this post. Till later! 

ladies and gentlemen.

this was the stage set up by me and Siobhan last saturday night. It was a pleasure to work in that event and I have to say am proud of the result. Looking forward to the next one :-)