THE ONE WITH APPLE CORK FLAG AT HALF MAST

Jamie O Sullivan sent me a great (albeit sad) shot taken earlier today of Apple's European headquarters in Holyhill, Cork.

Via Jamie O Sullivan's Flickr

Sad day today, with the passing of an amazing visionary, Steve Jobs. It wasn't only in the world of technology Steve made an impact. He made a huge impact in the world of movies. One word. Pixar.

So may he rest in peace. Steve Jobs, the man who turned i into we!

THE ONE WITH NO TUNNEL THURSDAY

Today is the day! The introduction of tolls to the Jack Lynch Tunnel is now a large possibility. For most people who use the tunnel on a regular basis, normally twice a day, at a toll (for example) of 1.80 each way, 5 days a week, that'll set you back €18 a week. Which is €936 a year. Which is a family holiday! Which is health insurance for a year! Which is a helluva lot if you don't have it!

There is a huge knock on effect right across the board if the tunnel is tolled. It will effect traders in Cork, as people divert into the city to avoid the tolls, and in turn will bring the city to a standstill. It will be chaotic. It will effect Mahon Point. It will increase the cost of taxis, if they use the tunnel. People are paying more than over the odds for petrol, insurance, car tax, tyres, servicing. The list goes on!

So, here's what we're asking YOU to do! Don't use the tunnel today, Thursday September 29th. If you have nearly an extra €1000 to blow, by all means drive through it! This is about standing up! This is about people power! This is about highlighting what happens if you have to pay to drive through a tunnel that is less the 1km in length. It's about highlighting what happens if you have to pay to drive through a tunnel that is less than 20km from another toll. Most importantly, this is about YOU!!!

If the tunnel is tolled, don't be the one saying "I should have or could have". Today is the day you say "I DID!"

THE ONE WITH THE BEST EMAIL EVER SENT TO THE SHOW

Take a read of this! Best email I’ve ever received.

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why are you people involve in my issue concerning musicians and rap artist from USA such as jay z, rihanna, kanye, lady gaga and others? how are you people connected to this people and why is victor barry, dave mac and some of you people saying things about my family? why cant you people email me or write to me, do you people have my compensation from this above named musicians and rap artist? if you all do why dont you people pay up, is this a kind of robbery tactics? for almost 3yrs why did victor barry whom i have never spoke to or met in person follow me all the way from athlone and how is he connected to  elan pharmaceutical athlone and athlone laboratory roscommon? did the named pharmaceutical companies send or involve you people in this act? where is my money? who have it?  the HSE they are playing a major role in this matter did they  sent or aprove of you people and your involvement in this issue? reply i live at the above adress or email.

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THE ONE WITH I’M BACK FROM HOLIERS

Right then! Only a few hours to go before I head back to the airwaves on Monday morning. It’s amazing how quick 2 weeks can go. We spent a week in the Wicklow mountains in one of these…

which was great except it had a shitty TV…

But with views like this, who cares…

And when it didn’t rain there was an epic double deck…
We trundled around Bray and went to an aquarium, which to be honest, was a bit shite. Not a patch on the stuff they have in Dingle..

There was also some kind of Disneyland rip off on the Bray seafront , which was rather exciting as you can see…

After paying some carnie types to hook ducks and squirt water, the smallie done rather well…

From there we made for Howth to hang out with some of my “celeb” pals…Alas none were home, so we got fish and chips x 2 that cost 21 quid. That was after we took a hurricane swept walk on some well known pier

We then paid another 20 odd quid (on another day) to get into some place that had a few fields with some animals

It also had a maze, but it started raining and we couldn’t get lost..

On another day we decided to go to the Zoo and compliments of Google Maps we ended up here

Which was great except all I wanted to see was monkeys and shit on the particular day. Instead we continued taking directions from Google and ended up on the set of Braveheart (recognise the bushes?)

After much driving around Sally’s gap (or something) we eventually got some monkey action.. Who thankfully weren’t throwing shit, but rolling around in it instead. Evolution eh?

We also got to see the ape from those Clint Eastwood flicks…

From there we ended up on the set of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, where the Gorilla’s were more interested in breaking the fuck out of the glass..

We saw other shit too, like this orange pussy cat…

and a drunk Giraffe and passed out Rhino

The smallie started some exploring

And we ended up in some field near with a picnic, a waterfall and more skin eating flies than you’d see in a Concern advert on the TV. And we had to pay for the hassle as well

And then, on another day, we found that tower that’s on a billion copybooks…

There was plenty of other “antics” but for legal reasons, I can’t put them up here (or in other words, I can’t be arsed), but here’s a taster
I’d certainly staycation it again, but I could have probably got a month in Dubai for what we spent…

THE ONE WITH ONE

Thursday the 14th @ 18:46 I’ll have been a dad for exactly 365 days. More importantly, Cameron is the magic 12 months old.

It’s pretty mind boggling to think the last year has gone so quick. Professionally and personally it’s been a long, hard one but I’ve come out the other side.

I reckon we’ve gone through well over a thousand nappies in the last 12 months on an average of 3 a day. Not to mention formula and all the gadgets and shit that comes with a bambino. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. 366 days ago I never could envision myself as a Dad. I was never the one that was comfortable handling babies. I would dread the thought of visiting friends who had churned one out, as the “Have a hold there will ya” was inevitable. I never thought I could.

But, I, like millions of others, got on with it. Ger had a c-section, so the midwife done the first dirty nappy. After that, it was all me, for the best part for a few days, on the physical side of things. It’s funny how this “Your kid needs you, so wake the fuck up” instinct hits you like a tonne of bricks. It’s pretty mind-blowing actually. Even more mind-blowing was the absolute raw emotion of hearing that first cough from Cameron and what melted my head completely was him opening his eyes, looking into mine.

So it’s funny, to me at least, the way the last year has had an impact. Don’t get me wrong, it’s bloody hard. Personal life can take a bit of a hit. Relationship’s can struggle. You might have to do a feed, in the early days at least, at 2am. But for me, that’s not the hard part. The hard part is the trips to the doctor, the trips to the A&E. That’s the hard part.The great parts though, are endless. The first smile, the first words, the first attempts to walk. That list is constantly growing.

Overall though, I can’t pay tribute enough to Ger who has being amazing throughout the last 12 months. Duck to water comes to mind. As for me,I can change a nappy blindfolded. I can not bat an eyelid at being covered in shit, puke and piss. I can get up after 3 hours sleep and be happy as larry playing with Cameron. And, contrary to my original thoughts, I can be a Dad. And it’s epically awesome.

Enough of my gushing!

THE ONE WITH A LOST CAMERA BAG

For reasons beyond me, I left behind a small, Lowe Pro camera bag, with a 18-55mm lens and a filter inside. It was left behind at the viewing point on Lake Road in Cobh. It was left resting on a bin. On the very off chance that you or someone you know might have found it, please give me a shout. vicbarry@gmail.com
It would be greatly appreciated!!!!

THE ONE WITH I’M ALIVE

This blog is not dead! It may as well be I hear you screech, but time is something I just don’t have at the moment! There’s a tonne of shit to get on here from the first few months on air in the mornings, and I’ll start lashing on photos over the next while! All things on themoviebit.com are still rocking away, and any spare moments have gone into that. The rest of the time is spent in meetings, being roared at and getting lashed with bamboo rods. And that’s just at home! And 10 months now into being a Dad is going rather damn well!

Other than that, all be well. The violent head pains are gone from the early morning risings. Sure, the earlyish to bed is a pain in the arse and I desperately miss Sunday nights on the show and I do genuinely miss the nights, but all told, things are seriously going well. And that’s not coming from me, I’m one of these perfectionist bastards where nothing is never good enough etc. but general feedback from the show is very, very good. Even some of the haters have started to move away from the darkside.

And for the haters that are still out there, well, a bribe of some afternoon tea and cakes could well be in order! And, my blog reading friends, that happens tomorrow!!!! Afternoon tea, on the radio, in the morning.

THE ONE WITH WOOKIE WOMEN

At the beginning of March, I was discussing women and their hairy parts. Legs in particular. Many women made the point that it was an almighty pain in the hole to wax on a regular basis. So, would it be horrific if they didn’t shave / wax for a whole month? I put the call out and many responded, including these 3, who all got City Wax vouchers for their trouble!

THE ONE WITH STOMP