THURSDAY
I Spy…
On Prime Time (RTE), presenter Fran McNulty had a rather pointless question for Russian Ambassador to Ireland, the usually combative Yury Filatov.
“Ambassador, how many Russian spies are there in Ireland?”
It’s not like Mr Filatov was going to start counting on his fingers, before helpfully replying: “Fran, I’m glad you asked me that. I think we have seven currently operating here, sorry, there’s one in Carlow too, make that eight”.
Instead, the Russian Ambassador broke into a slightly impatient smile, before dismissing the question on espionage (which was based on claims recently made by a senior Garda).
“I find that it’s insulting to my intelligence to find an answer which is not … which is polite”.
As for Fran’s (understandable) headline-seeking question, I share his presumed disappointment at Mr Filatov not telling viewers precisely how many Russian spies are operating in Ireland.
Of course if there was a super-effective Russian espionage ‘system’ in place here – and I’m not saying there is – Mr Filatov could have known what questions were likely to come up!
FRIDAY
Electrifying Elvis
On this Electric Picnic weekend, let’s remember perhaps the greatest music legend of them all.
Today is the 47th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. If he was alive now, he’d still only be 89 (Elvis died on August 16th 1977, aged 42).
I’ve been a big fan of ‘The King’ since my teenage years. Whether he’s in vogue or not at any given time in the evolution of music is irrelevant. For millions of fans worldwide, Elvis is still the greatest, an artist who transcends genres, trends and eras.
Elvis had well over 100 Top 40 hits, including 21 number ones in the UK. Arguably the greatest artist of all time, he had a tremendous charisma and presence. What really made him incomparable was his extraordinary voice, and mastery of almost all genres. Listening to Elvis today is as captivating as ever.
On this date 47 years ago, Elvis was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his Graceland mansion by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The world was plunged into mourning.
The ‘King of Rock and Roll’ had been fighting personal demons for some time. Elvis mania had become too big for Elvis. He was a beautiful soul and the ultimate timeless artist of the 20th century and beyond.
The book he was reading at the time of his death was called ‘A Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus’.
SATURDAY
Showtime
At 6.25 pm this evening, after dropping our son off at Roscommon Golf Club (new craze), I saw the chairperson of Roscommon Show Committee diligently putting a large road sign away as light drizzle (and the curtain) fell on another successful show.
For the competitors and attendees, the show was over. For Damien Hannon (chairperson) and his committee colleagues and volunteers, there was still work to be done.
‘Trade stands and dogs’ the large sign had proclaimed, prominently standing on the Athlone Road all day. Now, with the crowds dispersed, the chairperson was putting the sign away, as fellow volunteers tended to other small duties. The 52nd annual show was over, and its current custodians had done their community some considerable service again.
Congratulations to the various winners, and thanks to the show committee and event sponsors for all their work in keeping this great tradition alive.
SUNDAY
Wild weekend
Proof that it really is the media ‘silly season’ comes via Sky News, which has an exclusive on… the parrot that flew away from home for ‘a wild weekend’.
Flew away? As Roy Keane would say… “it’s their job”.
Anyways, I digress. I suppose there were amusing aspects to the story. ‘Jobby’ the parrot lives in Glasgow. I only read of his exploits today, when browsing the Sky News website. Apparently, in the early hours of a recent Saturday morning (just after midnight), ‘Jobby’ fled from the ground floor flat that is his home.
The bird’s owner, who had just returned from singing with a band in a local pub, went into a panic. 40 hours passed. Eventually, Jobby was located, five miles away, living it up in the maternity unit of a local hospital. According to a witness, the parrot was “eating crisps and playing around”.
(When I chatted to our very talented cartoonist Paraic about cartoon options earlier this week, we visualised a more exciting weekend away for Jobby. We wondered if Paraic could somehow link my separate ramblings this week on the playful parrot, Elvis and Las Vegas into a surreal cartoon; the resulting terrific illustration is published alongside).
Anyways, Jobby was reunited with its relieved owner, and was said to be “sleepy” on the Sunday.
“He had a wild weekend and now he’s just like ‘I need to rest’” his owner said.
I don’t know if Jobby is one of those talking parrots or not, but I imagine it was a bashful (or smug?) ‘No comment’ from him to all media enquiries (Sky News et al).
MONDAY
The gambling Doc!
On ‘Louis Theroux: Gambling in Las Vegas’ (an ancient repeat which was shown again tonight), the droll documentary-making star meets a retired doctor-turned slot machine obsessive who cheerfully admits that she has lost four million dollars in seven years. Hardly what the doctor ordered?
A mystified Louis mischievously suggests to the woman’s powerless son that his inheritance is being whittled away (his mother, also present: “If it’s gone, it’s gone”). The son mustered a resigned smile.
As for the obstinate gambling doctor, surely it was time to get a second opinion on her choice of hobby?
As an aside, maybe Las Vegas could be next stop for Jobby the Parrot (see ‘Sunday’).
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY
Showstopper…
Judging by some highlights broadcast on Wednesday morning, Obama seems to have been the star of last night’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Barack didn’t do bad either, but it sounds to me like Michelle stole the show. Is she indeed the Presidential candidate that got away?
