Last Goodbye - ( We All Shine On) 

 
Bless me ,<<First Name>>, it has been nine weeks since the last blog from Monaghan’s 4^th largest workwear company and during that time I have….

Before I come on to that I’d like to thank you all for reading and commenting on this blog over the last 8 years. It is coming to an end. The diversion between what I want to write about and what’s suitable for a blog that is supposed to be concerned with steel toe cap boots and work trousers has steadily increased…as you may have noticed. So this Brix blog will now become a monthly affair with details of new products and special offers.

And if you would like to continue to receive the inane ramblings of a well-intentioned, but clearly troubled, lost soul, then you can sign up to my new personal ramblathon :

SuperJetRobotDinosaurs.com

Since we last met....




But back to the last 9 weeks……
 
Got seven of Eileen’s youngest nieces and nephews to jump in puddles of what they assumed to be mud…we live between two dairy farms.

Helped with the Monaghan Wall Art project. My help consisted of taking photos and saying “That’s class Joe !”

Started our new year of Monaghan CoderDojo with the fantastic assistance of new mentors, Rory, Henri and Fachtna,  who are all now hefty teenagers. Rory is at college studying beer and computer science, but started with us as a student when we began Coder in Monaghan in 2012. Similarly Henri and Fachtna started as students with Coder when they were in primary school and now they’re transition year students and helping out as mentors. We are very proud of them…but we hide it very well.

Met Lynn, my ‘Murican cousin who I hadn’t seen since we were thirsty teenagers.

Took our teenage kids and goddaughter to W5 in Belfast  for old time’s sake.

Swam in the sea at Clogherhead with several generations of the Clerkin clan and some distantly related jellyfish.

Took one or two photos of Pasta & Tuna ,our cats / furry overlords.

Volunteered to help at our local Parkrun 4 times…uncannily I always time my turn with the times that Marta brings Rocky Road.

Saw my counsellor 4 times…I think I’m making progress…she hasn’t cried the last two.

Visited that London with my family, where we saw Hamilton, The Mousetrap, Camden, Spitalfields, Covent Garden, Design Museum, the DaVinci Collection at Liz’s Big House, the Tate, the Tate Modern, stayed with my schoolfriend Ronan and his family and drank his entire collection of Cunes Reserva….and anything else containing alcohol.

Had the Bejesus scared out of me on Saw at Thorpe Park….I was very,very brave.

Ran several hundred miles with Ray, and Gareth , including the Silent Valley and Monaghan Half Marathons, the Ned Run and the Monaghan 10 Miler, as training for this month’s Dublin City Marathon. All for my little buddy Hailey.

Was loved unconditionally by my SoulMate despite me being me at all times.

Watched Neil Gaiman's 'Good Omens' - brilliant !

Annoyed Marc Kelly until he finished our giant feet for Big Ross in Rossmore Park.

Received actual money from the BBC for a story for Tenx9 in Belfast.

Celebrated Ella’s 3^rd birthday and persuaded her to call her new doll Jemima .

Mourned the loss of Noel Melvin, one of life’s true gentlemen.  A generous and inspirational coach to a generation of kids around the county and a damn fine runner. Still not fully come to terms with it.

Visited Cologne, ran along the Rhine, drank decent Pils, ate two nights in a row in the Funk Haus.

Joined 40 of my fellow Monaghan Town Runners, who are all taking part in the Dublin City Marathon this year, in combining our efforts to fund raise for SOSAD, a suicide prevention and counselling service.

On many visits to the Mater hospital admired the dedication of the nursing staff.

Started back as an assistant to the assistant coach for the Phoenix Athletic juveniles.

Ate my own weight in Blasta Bogman Burgers over the last 9 weeks.

Celebrated Robyn’s 18^th birthday with 25 of her close friends in a bouncing marquee at the side of our house. Star of the evening was my SoulMate who earned the eternal admiration of everyone present by rocking it out to Dexy’s Midnight Runners. One of many odd moments was when the assembled crew roared along to Jim McCann’s version of ‘Grace’. Ever since Jake played the role of Joseph Plunkett in the Easter 1916 play that song makes me cry…even when 25 drunken revelers sing it….4 times in a row.

Tearfully returned my goddaughter to the airport…she’s OK for a Slytherin.

Listened to Lana Del Ray’s new album ‘Norman F***ing Rockwell’ more than once.

Told Jake, while sober, that I was quite proud of him , and insanely jealous of his university life in Galway.

Attended and ‘American Wake’ for our neighbor Cathal who was heading off to New Zealand for what Hilda hopes will only be 6 months.

Started writing a new story for a project with Ryan and Laura featuring a larger than average , talking wombat called Ezekiel who wears an orange and navy striped jumper like Jo Whiley’s.

Admired Robyn’s new murals of 2-D from Gorillaz and someone else whom I was later disappointed to discover was Tyler ,the Creator…

Helped out at the inaugural Monaghan Street Food Festival….I did NOT eat ALL of the donuts…I only ate MOST of the donuts.

Celebrated Elliott becoming the black sheep of the family having failed to not get an honour grade in all of his Junior Cert exams.

Took Tuna , our nice cat, to the vet three times because of a lacerated paw. She did not like being put in a cat box, which led to lacerations to my paw. She cried, I cried, we both agreed that we were very brave and are friends again.

So that’s most of it.
 
See you further down the road.
 
May your god go with you.
 
Thanks for all the fish.
 
Toodles,
 
Paul