Time to forget

Ok Ireland seems to be finally over the Thierry Henry handball incident. I think I need to move on from it too. The draw for the World Cup finals was yesterday, and with Ireland out, I think we all need to choose a new team to support. Who do I cheer on next year in South Africa 2010? Here are the Groups.

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D	Group E	Group F	Group G	Group H
South Africa	Argentina	England	Germany	Holland	Italy	Brazil	Spain
Mexico	Nigeria	USA	Australia	Denmark	Paraguay	North Korea	Switzerland
Uruguay	South Korea	Algeria	Serbia	Japan	New Zealand	Ivory Coast	Honduras
France	Greece	Slovenia	Ghana	Cameroon	Slovakia	Portugal	Chile

Tne 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Official Book is now out for anyone that's interested.

After much thought, there really is only one logical choice. England. Yes England remember that old enemy. That’s just it, they are the old enemy and that’s all history. The new enemy is France! I personally have more reasons to get behind England. For one I live here in England and it really is a great country to live in. Reason number two my little boy Tiernan is half English, and of course the other reason is that my future wife is English.

I think putting it all together, I and a lot of others will see many reasons to support the English, in next years World Cup. We watch English football week after week, we know the players, we speak the same language and we both hate the French.

It's time to forget. Leave your potatoes at the door!

Thierry Henry Cheats Ireland out of World Cup Finals

This is a game I'll be telling Tiernan about as he grows up. After a 14 month campaign it all came down to a French goal that was the result of a Thierry Henry handball. Henry clearly controlled the ball with his fingers and actually handled the ball twice. You can plainly see it in the above photo and the video below.



After playing so well throughout the game, it is just sickening. Robbie Keane was the man again and brought us level on aggregate in the 33rd minute. It was 1-1 after Robbie's cracking goal. All we needed was another goal and they would have needed two, due to the away goal benefit.

I really think now its high time we brought in the same kind of video technology they use in other professional sports like Rugby. The linesman missed two of the French players in an offside position and then the handball. It's almost unbelievable that he could have missed the blatant handball. Thierry Henry needs to hang his head in shame.

Northbrook Street Newbury Closed

The main shopping street was closed on Saturday the 14th of November in the busy lead up to Christmas. I approached the town centre with my son Ben after just seeing Night at the Museum 2 in the Newvuebury cinema , yes that pile of pants from a previous post.



We could see a two fire engines and a police car. It looked very serious. The road was cordoned off from pedestrian access with police officers and firemen all around the scene. It looked to me as if there might be a fire above one of the shops. I thought this to be the case as I could see the crane of the fire engine move close to a window above Robert Dyas. Ben and I moved in for a closer look and I spoke to a police woman. She told me that one of metal cables that had been holding up a large banner that spanned the road, had sheered off the side of the building.



It had been whipping around in the strong winds, lashing against the ground. Thankfully no one had been injured, I was also relieved to find out that there had not been another fire. I say another because only a few months before the nearby HMV had been gutted by fire.

Killing Zombies

When you have a baby you really don't get much time to play computer games. When you do get to grab a few minutes and a free arm you really don't feel like playing epics like Rome Total War or Oblivion. Two games, which I used to spend all night playing. I love strategy games and I'd plan my next move even when I was away from the game. I have to admit it I was a bit of a nerd about my gaming. Now I just don't get the chance. I'm either working, helping out with the baby, eating or sleeping. Oh but when I do get the chance I love nothing better than taking out a horde of mindless brain hungry zombies.

My games of choice right now are either the blocktastic Boxhead 2 with its huge swarms of Lego like zombies and devil bosses or the darker and more serious The Last Stand 2. I think they are both superb and are both equally worth a look. Here's some screenshots I took of them.

Boxhead 2

The Last Stand 2

PC Games for Christmas

My mother has asked me what game I'd like for my PC for Christmas. I haven't been really keeping up on my games since Clarah was pregnant, so I'm really not too sure. I've narrowed the choice down to 3 games, Dragon Age: Origins, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, or Fallout 3. Please people help me decide. Here's 3 gameplay videos that should help you choose. I love my RPG's but I have to bare in mind that I now have a lovely little baby that wants all of my time. Maybe a fast paced shooter like Call of Duty 2 would be easier to dip in and out of.

I have S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout 3 seems quite similar, if anyone has played them both could they let me know how they differ. I also have Oblivion which is based on the same engine and is supposed to have a lot of similarities too. In both games you decide the outcomes and can be either bad or good.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Dragon Age: Origins

Fallout 3

Newbury Cinema Opens

The new cinema in Newbury Berkshire has finally opened, just in time for the Christmas season too.

Ben my 7 year old and I just finished watching Night at the Museum 2. Not a great film for me, it lacked soul and wasn't getting any laughs until the end. Ben loved it, and gave it 10 out of 10 even though his reaction was 'It was a nice film'. Then again he is 7 and loves everything.

The cinema itself was spotless, with luxurious seats, that felt like silk. There was however a few technical hitches. First of all the screen wasn't focused correctly so that only half the picture was viewable. This was thankfully fixed before the second trailer ended. Shortly after this they had another problem. The lights came back on and the screen turned blank. I could hear an alarm go off. I'm not sure what exactly happened but it may have been a door alarm. After around 3 minutes the lights dimmed and the film began.

Still the show must go on! All in all it was a fun boys day out.

John and Edward to Go But Oh No Simon Goes Crazy

Simon Cowell is a money making smug man. I can't believe he did that. He says he got such stick for letting it go to the public last week, then what does he do? He leaves it to the public vote again. Seriously, he'd rather see John and Edward over Lucy Jones? Lucy has a supreme singing voice and a great vocal range. Jedward are comical and have little going from them apart from big hair and bad dancing.

I am in no doubt that the only reason that Simon kept them in was to keep his programme in the newspapers and constantly talked about. It was a cynical ploy of his to make sure that the show he makes so much money out of is always in the headlines. X Factor in just another way for Simon to boost his ego. Simon had already said plenty of times that Jedward were making a mockery of his show. I now have no respect for the man. Simon Cowell needs to be ashamed of himself for what he did to Lucy Jones. If Lucy had of gone to a good act she could have got over it so much easier, but losing to John and Edward when your as good as she is... well, it's just not fair.

Just to remind you of how good Lucy was even from the start. She sings one of the biggest songs a female vocalist can sing. Whitney Houstons "I Will Always Love You".

Jedward - John and Edward, So bad its good

Sometimes I'm glad Tiernan our baby was born English. Irish people have a hard time as it is, trying to escape the stereotype of being fools. John and Edward have knocked us back years. They must know at this stage how bad they, yet they keep getting worse. Seriously are they even trying to improve?



This week on the X Factor they sang the Ghostbusters theme tune and it was like something a school would put on for a talent night. They came onto the stage in the Ghostbusters station wagon, it was just a sheet of cardboard. They really find it difficult to sing in tune and in time, and the rest of the contestants are far superior singers. I have to admit Jedward are unique, and in their own way are entertaining. I'm sure they will get through tomorrow night, as they have a legion of kids voting for them.

Ben, my 7 year old, would vote for them every week if we let him. He raves about them all the time and if we slag them off, which we can't help, he says "You take that back" or "How dare you". He really does love them, but at his age he loves most silly things and they don't come sillier than those two.

They are even now doing Jedward t-shirts look. For the love of god, where is the humanity.



I'm sure X Factors John and Edward are nice guys at heart, but they don't belong in a singing competition. Please stop Jedward, they are making a holy show of us Irish. As if Boyzone and Westlife didn't ruin the reputation of Irish culture enough, now we have to contend with these terrible tone-deaf twins.

Photo courtesy of ITV http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/

Dame Shirley Bassey Sings Manic Street Preachers Song

Yes, it's true, Dame Shirley Bassey is back. The famous Welsh diva with unforgetable tracks like "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds Are Forever" has released a new single. The song is called "The Girl From Tiger Bay", and was written by fellow countrymen James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire both of Manic Street Preachers.

Hearing the song today it was unmistakably a Manics song. Shirley's delivery was warming and should garner her many new fans. Her new album is called "The Performance" and it sees Dame Shirley performing tracks written by the likes of artists such as Tom Baxter and the Pet Shop Boys.

"The Performance" album track listing is:

• "Almost There" (Tom Baxter)


• "Apartment" (Rufus Wainwright)


• "This Time" (Gary Barlow)


• "I Love You" (Nick Hodgson)


• "Our Time Is Now" (John Barry/ Don Black)


• "As God Is My Witness" (David Arnold/ David McAlmont)


• "No Good About Goodbye" (David Arnold/ Don Black)


• "The Girl From Tiger Bay" (Manic Street Preachers)


• "Nice Men" (KT Tunstall)


• "After The Rain" (Richard Hawley)


• "The Performance Of My Life" (Pet Shop Boys)

David Arnold steps in to produce Dame Shirley Bassey's first album of original material in 20 years. Now at 72, Bassey's voice seems as powerful as ever, and with talent like hers she will always be relevant. Arnold was quoted in the press as saying "All these songs were just songs, until Dame Shirley Bassey sang them. There's something about a Bassey performance that can knock the wind out of your sails, make you laugh, make you cry, let you in on the joke or be led to a more exotic place."

The whole concept reminds me of a similar idea from another welsh singer the "Not Unusual" Tom Jones. His Album Reload was more of a duets album though with James Dean Bradfield again taking part, as well as a host of many other greats from 2000.

Lower Lough Bray

I was listening to the podcasts on Newstalk today when I stumbled upon this - Michael Fewer - Walking in Wicklow. I use Newstalk to stay in touch with what's going on in Ireland since I crossed the sea.

It's a beautiful description of the lakes and surroundings of Lower Lough Bray. The Lough or lake is situated in the Wicklow mountains and is only 30mins drive from Dublin city centre. I may have been brought there as a child with my brother, father and mother but for the life of me can't remember. After listening to this podcast I have every intention of bringing my own family there. Its wild and unspoilt, and to me places like this are the soul of Wicklow.

All credit for the photos of the stunning lakes goes to Michelle Kenna.

Isle of Wight Christmas

Thats it, it's all booked - we are all off to the Isle of Wight this Christmas. Clarah, me, the three kids and parents are all off for a holiday on the island. We are going to a holiday resort called Gurnard Pines. Gurnard is just outside Cowes and only about 10mins away by car from the ferry port. We'll be staying in a 3 bedroom bungalow but there are lots of different types of accommodation. The facilites look great and there's lots to do and to keep the kids entertained.

• Play areas for the kids


• A creche


• Indoor swimming pool


• Outdoor swimming pool


• Tennis courts


• A bar (Very important, especially when you have two Irish men around)


• Woodland all around the resort

It's going to be the first time Clarah's been able to bring Ben away on a holiday. Tiernan won't really know whats going on, but by then he should be crawling. I wouldn't be suprised if he can say a few word by then, like "More turkey" lol. Its going to be such a special Christmas with our baby, the kids and my parents flying over from Ireland.

Heres a google map of the are showing the resort of Gurnard Pines (circled in red), the large ferry port to the right and the beach above.

Here's a You Tube video of Gurnard Pines. We are all really looking forward to it.

Back Blogging

I'm back again after another spell away from blogging. I'm now working for an ever expanding company called Web on High. They are based in Newbury and specialise in creating web sites that make money. We create sites that rank well in Google and thus bring in revenue. I've been working there for over a year now, and have got to work on some pretty big sites.

The even bigger news is, I am now a father. Tiernan Joseph Patrick Carton was born on the 14th of July and weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Yes he has my surname, as Clarah wanted it that way, seeing as we plan to marry one of these days.

Tiernan has changed our lives big time, it's been stressful at times but mostly it's been great. Clarah and I have become so strong as a couple and I feel like there's nothing we couldn't handle together. Tiernan's been sleeping well most nights and we both get enough sleep, me more than Clarah I must add. He'll be 16 weeks old on Tuesday and he's full of babble. I could swear at times I can hear him say "hello" or "thank you".

Ben and Beth just love him, and entertain him any way they can. Ben reads him stories from his Ben 10 books. Tiernan loves been spoken too and Beth even makes an attempt at singing.

He's getting big now and able to hold his head up. We've got him one of those Bumbos. They are great and when he's not too tired he sits up in it. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't support him properly, but its great, it has a back to it and the whole seat is moulded perfectly to hold him. We managed to pick ours up from Mothercare.

We had a look at the Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo while we were there and were impressed. We tried Tiernan out in it and thought it was great. He'll be able to bounce in it and play with lots of different interactive toys all around the swivelling seat. I think that's got to be his Christmas present from us as he's so active and we know he'll love it.