it's been a while. I'm still alive and kicking, no-one ever reads these do they? Anyway if interested, back in Galway for a few months about 10 maybe more who knows and then hoping a trip to Kiwi land for a while not sure how long..Nothing else special in the pipe line

This morning I woke to see that the summer sun had returned, it’s been taunting us hasn’t it!

Anyway, I set off into the sun around 07:15 a grand hour of the morning to be up thought I, traffic was nonexistent (if you have ever driven in Galway you will be well aware that this is the rarest of sights).

This morning I was heading to one of Galway’s suburbs; Oranmore, waiting for me there was going to be four of the best dancers this country has to offer.

My challenge was to try and get the lads to dance Irish style but as it was radio how was I going to transfer that audibly without any visuals?

I arrived at the venue; route 66 a massive club which reminded me of a VIP bar in the states, trust me if you are looking for one of the best new clubs in the country I would think this is it.

Anyway, I had a quick chat with Louise before I went in, just to let everyone know where I was and to everyone an idea of what I was going to try and do.

I was greeted at the door by Paul the bar manager. He gave me a quick tour of this amazing venue, Ibiza’s clubs would struggle to compete with this for style I thought.

About 15 minutes later, the Keaney family arrived. These were going to be my 4 dancers. Fergal who is a 5th year student in Callasantos collage in Oranmore, he has been crowned world champ 5 times now, his 2 sisters Ann Marie the youngest in the family and Rachel also have world championship medals, and then the heart throb of the group Cathal who is an all Ireland, Brit and European Champ as well as a world championship medal holder. A talented family indeed.

I had meet the lads a few days before to discuss the tactics for the show, we decided to go with Irish step dancing, you know the one with the fiber glass tips on the shoe so they make a tapping sound.

That way we could make a coherent sound for radio and people listening could make out what was going down.

Anyway when the Keaney family arrived we divided them into 2 teams.

Team x which comprised of Fergal and Ann Marie, and team Z which was Cathal and his older sister Rachel.

They had plenty of support in the venue; at least 40 classmates had turned up to shout them on. Straight away the 4 competitors took to the stage and got down to warming up; they were obviously no strangers to being on stage in front of a crowd. I went over to chat to their parents, Cathleen was delighted to see them do so well over the years, she explained that the whole family had been competing since they were 5, and all have world championship medals.

It was time to go and chat to the students and tell them to turn off their phones and to get ready to start screaming. I checked my watch again, something was not right, why had Dave (producer), not called for a sound check? I looked at my phone, to the left; it was totally bar- less, no reception. HOLY SH**T!! I ran back into the hall, 40 students, expectant parents, dancers on stage AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I ran up to Paul and calmly asked what network he is on; I presumed that if he lived here he would have reception. He did, I quickly txt’d the show from my computer to inform them of my new contact number. The new phone rang immediately, Dave was on the line, he was calm thank God. He explained that we didn’t have time to sound check, Louise would be chatting to us in 2 minutes.

I asked the students to get ready and to be as quite as possible when we go live, I told the dancers to take their places.

Louise came on and I explained the concept of the competition and the challenge, as far as I know we are the 1st station to ever try a dance routine live on air. The students gave a massive shout when I introduced the 2 teams.

Ferg went 1st, he rattled and kicked his heals up and flew across the stage, Rachel jumped up next for team Z, she completed a dazzling sequence, it was hitting up the supporters were going nuts, Ann Marie replied in style, the speed of her feet made me dizzy, finally Cathal gav

This morning was a scary one. Last week Tracy Lyons txt’d the show on 0851021045 with the word Wes and asked if I would come out to her house and help her with her 2 babies, Isabella who is almost 2 and Ben who is only 4 months.
To be honest I think myself quite good with kids, but only if they like me. I turned up at the house around 8 AM.
The house was suspiciously quite. I knocked on the door, and pushed it open.
“Hello?” I inquired. I heard a gurgle. I was in the right place. The kitchen door opened and Tracey appeared in her finest dressing gown, she looked delighted to see me. “Come in, come in” I cautiously wandered into the kitchen, a beautiful little girl was sitting up in her high chair smiling brightly at me. My heart melt, she was the cutest little girl. “Tea?” Tracy offered, I realized I was here to work so I said nope I’ll do it. Isabella left out a few playful screams; she was obviously thrilled with the company for breakfast. She was such a happy child, Tracy was great with her and Isabella herself was no stranger to a bit of chit chat.
I went into the living room to introduce myself to 4 month old Ben, but he was currently in the middle of a power nap, best leave him be I decided.
I heard the phone go off on the kitchen table where I had left it. I ran back into the kitchen, Isabella left out a few more shouts, Louise was on the line.
“Sounds like you have your hands full?” she asked. Yep, I had managed to get through feeding time I told her, and next on the agenda would be bath time. Tracy had a list for me to complete and she was not shy of dolling out the chores.
Ben let us know he had woken in the next room. We went in and it was then Tracy and I noticed that there was a stink coming from the bum of Isabella.
“I’ll change Isabella and you change Ben,” that’s fine I thought, if Isabelle has a number 2 in her nappy then I’d rather you handle it. A knock on the door came; it was Trish, Tracy’s friend who lives across the road. She had to laugh at the sight of me attempting to remove Ben’s vest, it was one of the ones that you button up under the bum.
Anyway, I think that Tracy premeditated her decision to allow me to change Ben, she informed me to expect nothing but liquid, but what greeted my nostrils as I pealed the nappy back caused me to real back as if I’d been shot. It had been a while since I’d meet with a stinky baby’s nappy, much to the amusement of the 2 ladies in the room, I quickly got back to work, Tracy and I were having a race. The worst was over, I had defused the situation and I’d done a “clean sweep” of the area. The enemy had been removed. I expertly applied the clean nappy. Tracy was defeated!
I finished dressing Isabella, she was full of giggles and chat, both Ben and Isabella were so good. She brought me upstairs for a tour and to see her room.
Then, it was demanded that I read little miss Naughty. As I was reading Louise called back, I informed her of my triumph in the nappy changing championships, it was time to go, Isabella said goodbye to everyone and even gave Louise a kiss through the phone. What a star!
We took some photos and bless little Isabella, she wanted to come to work with me. It was a magical morning, so big thanks to Isabella and Ben and Mammy Tracy!