Great day for the Irish !

Behind the Tivoli theater there is a car park and on the walls there is some fantastic Graffiti It is no accident that the college of art and design is across the road.

There was a line I read in a book a while back.
"When the pupil is ready to learn, then the master will appear"

I do look on the bright side of things and when he came he told me something which I will pass on to you now.
His father had had a heart attack and all his sisters were wrapping him up in cotton wool and keeping him inside doing nothing except watching television. He told his dad that he had a choice to live a good and normal life or to become an victim of his heart attack.
"Today you are in much better health than before your heart attack".
So he had the choice to live like a normal person or to curl up and die at home.
So his dad decided to come over and helped his son hang a back door and after that they went for a good walk with the dog. His life has turned around again because he has decided to live his life instead of just dying at home.

He then told me that this downturn in the economy will pass.

But perhaps it will give us something that is very valuable while it is here and that is time to spend with our families, time to fix all those things which are broken, time to cut the grass and empty out the garage. In short it is now time to tackle the jobs which have been waiting to be done and take back your life.

I do indeed have a list and the work is now in motion,as the list gets shorter you feel that your efforts have been put to good use and you feel better about yourself.

The last thing he told me was All THIS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT AND YOU CANNOT FIX IT,MORE THAN ANYTHING YOU MUST NOT LOOSE HOPE.
YOU OWE THAT TO YOURSELF.
THINGS WILL GET BETTER.
THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO IS TO RELINQUISH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE,
ALL THIS WILL PASS.

Then he paid me and got out. So the apple trees will get pruned, the lawns cut, the gutter cleaned and fixed. The list is long and includes do my income tax

Just today my car is in getting touched up for the NCT and licence renewal.
I can't find the log book or the paper licence so there will be a big hunt on until they are found. I really don't know why you have to bring the papers in as everything is on computer anyhow.
(St.Anthony is a great saint for finding things)
So now I have 36 hours off to experience other things.

Cheltinham would be great1.

Talking about saints!

A certain Polish Pope had St. Patrick removed from the ranking at one time. But for once the Pope was wrong and we will celebrate again. Look here to see what's happening.

Ballymun

There was a film that came out around Christmas about Ballymun,I missed it.
It won a few awards.
This development was a hell on Earth for many years, built to relieve a chronic overcrowding in the city it was never finished. No shops cinemas etc so the people went wild.

Today it has been mostly rebuilt and the area has come on no end, but every taxi driver will have stories of the old Ballymun.

So try clicking here to find the film.
If there is a problem try again here to watch it.

Let's hope that from now on all the tales from new Ballymun will be posative ones.

International Womens day

Moore St More like Baghdad than Dublin





This was on display in the RHA a few years ago, its super I think


What can I say.
Bless you all.

If women ruled the world there would never be any wars.

Just complete entire countries sulking for years.

Well it is said that you make your own luck.
Now this is not Gospel it varies according to the whims of the Gods.

But it is said that if you have a positive attitude you will attract positive things towards yourself and vica versa.
But if you are a grouch snapping at everyone, then you attract misfortune upon yourself.

One lady got into the taxi a few weeks ago and she was making a toxic brew for herself for sure.
She was a air hostess and I offered to tell her a really good joke.

"Look I don't want to listen to you. I am off duty now so I don't have to talk to you"

So she didn't hear a great joke and created a heap of bad karma for herself.

Then on Tuesday I was hailed by a couple who were having an argument. Instead of jumping in they stood there talking. I was blocking traffic and as the door was not open I drove off. This is a hard thing to do as passengers are hard to find.
Then just down the road I spotted a lady waving on the other side of the road and swung around. She was going to Baggott St. which was a good step away.
The first couple had crossed the road by this time and did not notice that I was the taxi which had abandoned them a moment before.
But the new passenger had a story to tell. Choking tears back she told me that she had been in another taxi and she asked him to stop the car until she sorted the seat belt out which was jammed.
The taxi driver just slammed on the brakes and shouted at her to "Get out of my fucking taxi you stupid bitch, if you're so thick you can't even put on a seat belt then I wont let you ride in my taxi"

So she was then thrun out on the spot.

She had his roof sign number and was going to ring the taxi regulator.

Well I didn't tell her that she was waisting her time.
The powers that are in charge of the taxi industry don't know or even care about anything.

It is a sad fact that in our modern society people simply do not do their jobs.

Still Spring is far advanced and the Flowers are popping up all over the place.
It was a really mind winter. Europe got minus 25/30.
No wonder they are still coming to visit our green island.


The Joke ?

Now if you don't want it read no further.

A guy was walking towards the airport and a young air hostess in a uniform he didn't recognize was walking beside him.

He decided to try a few of the airlines slogans to find out which airline she represented.
"Fly the Rolls Royce way"? BEA
"as smooth as silk" ?Thai air
“It’s the o-o-only way to fly.”?Western Airlines
"We’ll take more care of you"- British Airways-
"We’re National, the Sunshine Airline. Watch us Shine."- National Airlines

Just then she stops and turns around to face him.

WOULD YOU EVER FUCK OFF YOU BLOODY CREEP.

Ah now I know which airline you are Brianair.

The King is back

Ah the stone heads that adorn the arches on the fruit market in Francis St.
Someone once told me that they represent the features of the people who live in the countries where the exotic fruits came from.
The market has been closed for many years which is a pity.

Anyhow Francis St. is also the home of the Tivoli theater. Until the 10th there is a really good show on.

Kevin Doyle will be Elvis, the other guy singing in this clip is one of Elvis's origonal backing group.




Just in case you miss it

A cry for help

One thing about driving a taxi is that it gives you a chance to think between jobs.
What would it be like if I won the lotto?
What will I do next when I have to give up the taxi business?
Will it rain today?
Whats going to happen next?

All big things to ponder on, but here is a situation that no one should find themselves in.

She got into the taxi with a washed out expression, she had reached the wall of exhaustion and now was on autopilot.
She gave me an address and an area. I told her I didn't know the street, she said it was OK.
50 yards was all we covered when she started talking.

Some people talk to be sociable.

But this was an escape of emotion fear and grief.
You may know that we have had a spate of murder suicides lately.
Really horrific killings. No I don't know why it is happening now, but perhaps it is all the doom and gloom going on with no end in sight. Plus the fact that those people who caused this avalanche of finances have not been brought to justice, nor will they because our elected representatives have their dirty hands in the till.

"I am so tired I could sleep for a month"

She went on to ask me if I had heard of that shooting in the midlands where the man shot the girl and then shot himself?
"Well he did that in my car"

She took me through the whole situation and "then when he didn't come back to the house I walked down to where he said he was going. I saw the car and walked up to it, I knocked on the window, I thought he had fallen asleep, then I opened the door and he flopped over, I knew he was dead straight away, he had shot himself.
I found out later that he had shot his girl as well"

So all the screaming for help and the police arriving, she was suspect number one for the murder. Her phone was taken away to study her calls. After a few sessions of questions she was set free, without phone or car.
She managed to arrange a session with a therapist and after 10 minutes the police came banging on the door for another session with them in the Garda station.
If she had money the Garda would have to produce a warrent, they couldn't just badger her like they were doing.
The poor woman was a wreck !

She happened to mention to one of her kids that she would have to get another car.
"You needn't ask us for any money" was the answer she got.
She let rip with her tongue.
"All the things I have done for you lot and when I was stranded down there none of you thought that I might have needed someone to get me cigarettes or a bottle of lemonade.
I have done a really bad job on rearing you lot"

Whe we arrived close to her road she drew a blank.
"I can't believe it. I can't remember where I live"
Now I can understand that perfectly well. So I pulled over and opened the windowas and asked her to close her eyes and count slowly up to 10. Sure enough her head had re booted and we finished our journey €12 on the meter. "Just give me €10" I said.
I knew by her face that that was the first bit of kindness she had recieved for a few days.

Back home again

A "Gay pride" flag flies from the Blackpool tower








The famous "Comedy carpet"


Ornamental lights which displays patterns at night.


So you need a ventriloquists doll? No problem


Magic dealers stalls, your illusions become a reality.



FISM the world championships of magic, coming to Blackpool this Summer.








Creating publicity for Showzam !


The party's over, the makeup is off.
Christian Faria Loading up the truck and van to drive back to Holland.
Showiz is not that easy either.

Ah well back in Dublin after attending the 60th Blackpool magicians festival of magic.
I must say it is quite an intense experience.
First of all there is the dealers who sell wonderful magical tricks. Things which will work in the palm of your hand up to and including bespoke illusions for your stage act.
There was around 120 dealers in all.
Then there are lectures from world famous magic lecturers, though these people are largely unknown outside magical circles.

Then there was the magic shows,
Magic from the Orient a big contingent from Korea filled the bill.
Great manipulation,show closed by Yu Ho Jin
There was quick changing by Yuji Yasuda


Magic from America, a wonderful mind reading act

You have to love Dirk Losander

Jason Latimer seen here with his glass cups and balls. What a finish!

Charlie Fry was fantastic performer, great entertainer and nice guy.


Then on Sunday Europe took to the stage.
Gean Garin did you ever see anything as clever as this?


Christian Farler did the Olympics of magic with one grand illusion after the next endidng whih and escape and substitution from a water chamber.

Then wonders beyond belief Amethyst produced a live tiger in a cage right there in front of 3,000 people.
In the discussions later it transpired that "health and safety" were also kept in the dark for many reasons. WOW

The white hats are good. A black light act, but this camera here keeps cutting away.


President of the Blackpool magicians club is the one and only Ken Dodd OBE.

Now 200 years old.!

Magic

Down around Dollymount strand.

I must say I am still stunned today after reading an article in the Sunday Times on last Sunday week.

Toyota motor corporation have told their dealers in the UK the following.

"If a customer comes in for a service while the car is under warranty you are not to fix faulty things unless the customer brings it to your notice, you must not tell them about the fault".

So there might be "nothing" needs fixing this week (car is under warranty).
Next week (no warranty) you get a list of 12 things which need fixing at your expense.

In one part of the article a guy in the UK had sold 3 dealerships rather than implement their dodgy policy.

"I, more than anyone, wish for Toyota's cars to be safe, and for our customers to feel safe when they use our vehicles"
Akio Toyoda, Toyota president

That quote is only 2 years old.

I for one person would be more than happy to be the one who made the best cars in the world !

Even if I never made any profit at all.

But I would be very upset if I destroyed the trust my loyal customers and ruined the prestige of the Toyota name by shafting them just for a few dollars profit.

Need a used car? look here.


Hooray for the taxi regulator enforcers.

They pounced on St. Stephens green and went thought the paperwork of all the taxis they had hemmed in.

I wonder what they found?


On this St Valentines day I hope some magic comes your way.


Speaking of romance, did you hear the one about the lady that suggested to the Dublin taxi driver that they have sex in lieu of payment for the taxi fare?

Well says the driver.

Its been so long since I had sex that I can't remember which one of us has to get tied up first.

And they say romance is dead!


Not long until Blackpool magicians convention this weekend.









Blackpool has loads of live shows on through the Summer and into the Autumn so there are loads of dance groups around the area.This is the Hounds Hill shopping center.


Dancing in Dublin

Rewarding bad service.

Saturday night party dresses



inside Clonliffe college



2 Garda cars on a breakdown truck.
Did you ever buy one at auction?



Big tower inside Guinness


Here is one worth running past you.
It sort of shows you how the human mind works and yet it makes no logical sense.

A taxi is at the rank at Heuston station and 2 guys walk up to it and ask "Do you know where The Dublin industrial estate is? Are you sure you know? How much will it be?"
On hearing of a ball park figure they got in.
The driver asked them why they were so hesitant.
"Well yesterday we got a foreign driver who drove off and he was getting directions from someone over his mobile phone, he drove us all over the city and we were very late getting there."
The ride had cost them €35, but they gave him €40 because they felt sorry for him, they didn't get a receipt because his printer was not working either.

So the other taxi pulls up with at their destination in 1/2 the time, €16 on the meter, they get a receipt and €4 change and off they go.

So they reward bad service, such is life.

A Chef from Donegal hopped in. Her boyfriend was ill all night long and she had been acting as nursemaid. The taxis are needed when people are late.

She told me a tale about when she was younger. She had an awful stomach pain and went to Letterkenny hospital. They took a Scan and the "doctor"gave some stomach powders and suggested indigestion.
No matter how much her father protested it made no difference.She even drew a stomach full of gas, just to illustrate her point.
No second opinion was offered so he grabbed the scan and scoped her up and drove to a hospital in Derry where the operated straight away.

The scan clearly showed an obstruction in the Bowell and her intestine was about to burst.

So I asked her if she had sued the hospital?
"Well no" she said
She went on to explain that she had been told that it might take up to 10 years to come to court. She also felt that money gained that way was not lucky.

I told her that had her dad not been so strong willed that she would have died.
Insurance is paid so that if the doctor is not fit to do their job the patient gets some compensation. Also by not taking her to court she stands in incapable doctor impostor who is making life and death decisions.

If she felt that the money would be unlucky for her she could give it to charity.

Remember a doctor was suspended from Letterkenny hospital when it was discovered that she did not know how to take a patients pulse and she did not where the pulse could be found.

Like the rogue taxi driver she does nothing about it so they can just do it again.

From a strictly legal point of view.
"A missed diagnoses is no indication of neglectful or careless behavior. Therefore strictly speaking you would not have a case in law."

So Last Monday week I got a lady going to a clinic for the Mater hospital off Upper. Drumcondra Rd.
Right from the first minute I got the war cry "You're going the wrong way, turn around" etc.
I knew the actual place she was going to and I also knew that Upper Drumcondra is at the bottom of the hill and higher up at the canal end is Lower Drumcondra Rd.
In the end I pulled into the little street she was going to and stopped outside the clinic door.
"Why did you stop? I'm going to be late."
"Look at the street sign ! Look at the name on the door, just pay me and get out."

So she did just that saying "I never would have made it here on my own"

Your right there I thought to myself driving off.