I have to say it

Irish American commentators on ESPN are the WORST I have ever heard (there are 2 of them). I am fortunate enough to get live Champions League football (albeit at stupid hours ......... beggars, choosers and all that) but the severe drawback to this blessing is putting up with Tommy fricken Smith from upstate Monaghan. His favourite and frequently used expression (which I believe he thinks is his own) is "stuck it in the back of the onion bag" which manages to make my blood curl every time I hear it - especially in that awful Paddy-Yank accent. First of all Tommy, "onion SACK" is the phrase we MAY tend to use if and when we use it - which is VERY sparingly, like on the occasion when ye DO see a ball rippling through the back of the goal. For instance, Robbie Keane's equaliser in injury time against Germany in the last World Cup had that effect - as you can see the ball make its way from the right side of the goal, along the net, towards the middle. And our pints went to the front. Secondly Tommy, shut up shut up shut up!!! Put it this way, Robbie Slater's Australian commentary is positive genius by comparison.

Also some lingo tips for yis all.

Ambo = Ambulance driver
Posty = Postman
Bottlo = Off licence
Exy = Expensive (this may be a Bec'ism - she has a few mind you)
Nuggets = Golf balls
Oppies = Options (which in game of golf you are meant to "take" if you are losing on the last hole. Involes money of course)

I shall update this one periodically when I come across some more fascinating local lingo.

Oh. I forgot to add, to those who were in Iceland on that famous Good Friday, CHEERS and happy anniversary!! Not sure if we had pizza last week on the day, but there were certainly a couple of G&T's. Expertly poured using the expertise once demonstrated by a certain.... Shelley. And Stef, am still trying to see if speakers work better when placed in a bin.

Peter, I can see your house from here.......

Ahh that old chestnut came back yesterday - Easter Saturday. A joke told in a far different fashion to when I heard it being told in Ireland. A one liner and right to the point here, where at home it would take at least good 10 minutes to build up to the delivery of the punchline. Blasphemous of course, but I mean, he was coming back to life on Sunday??

Stef, we have come a long long way in the world of medicine from when you had to "swallow a plastic bag" to have a gastroscopy. My way sounds so much better. And means I couldn't go to work either.

We'll get the Aibhe update in early. She's great. Fantastic. Sleeping like a champ. Eating (drinking?) like a bigger champ. She even had her first trip to the coast yesterday and, apart from a 1 hour tantrum in the Sheraton while the girls had lunch (I wasn't there but I certainly believe it), she appeared to enjoy her day. Meanwhile, Alex and I and a couple of other lads played the Hyatt Palm Springs course. Only 29 degrees yesterday, so didn't get too burned. The swim in the pool afterwards cooled us down a bit. So how's Spring?

All in all, things going along over here. Have been to Sydney and Melbourne with work on day trips which sounds all very cool but is actually pretty knackering. That said, for a low cost airline, Virgin Blue are soooooooooooooooo different to Ryanair. They're young, polite and friendly. And ALWAYS on time. And they still have the window shutter thingy's on the plane. Even met little Ms Molly Mitchell in Sydney (and her parents of course, she wasn't out on her own yet, they said they'd wait till she was at least 8 weeks before she could do that). Saw the new Spencer St station in Melbourne - very funky.

As most of you probably now know, we shall be home in June and of course Alissa has EVERYTHING pretty much under control from an organisation perspective. Here's hoping Aibhe will enjoy her first trip to Dad's hometown. Am sure we'll see most of yis all then - hopefully K & A will have had Jake's brother/sister so we can all share a pint of Guinness/Bulmers. Am also sure I'll drop another note and picture or two (in moderation!!) in here before then.