Category: The Site

Well, I guess I’d never have noticed it as I don’t try to contact myself all that but I’ve repaired the link to my contact form. Daniel (Glowday) had been trying to get in touch, which means I can update the DemoBar preview post, and eventually found me via Skype. Turns out the slug on the contact page had changed, for some reason unknown to myself, but all is well once again and my phone / email / address details and contact form are back in public view.

I’ve finally gotten around to mending up the archives and actually displaying a decent list of archived posts. If you take a look at the kenmc.com archives you’ll now get a month-by-month list of all the blog posts going back to October 2005. By appearance it looks like the winter months last year (November to February say) were my busiest. At least I’ve got it done now anyway, makes it quite easy to find posts methinks.

Of course, I should add that they’re done with the KG Archives plugin by Kates Gasis, <10kb, nice and tidy.

Another of my blogs, LiverpoolAccess.com, has received the same makeover kenmc.com picked up leading into the weekend. Same theme (as this), modified stylesheet and new logo. I had been using my own variation on the 3 column K2 theme for the site but figure that after a year it was time to freshen it up a little.

Actually quite happy with the way both kenmc.com and liverpoolaccess.com now look.

I’ll be appearing on Rob O’Connor’s show ‘Irish Beats’ on Beat 102-103 this evening. Due into the station for the 6pm start, show going out live so no idea whats going to happen. I know it will involve some kind of element of KilkennyMusic.com, the One Take Sessions and monthly gigs. Just have to wait and see what happens!

You’ll be able to pick it up on the radio pretty much anywhere in the South East of the country or stop by the website to listen live. Rob’s show is usually a great one, nice focus on Irish acts, local music etc., something I’m wishing will start in Kilkenny (if I get the finger out).

Today is certainly “one of those days”. Its been a mental week in trying to catch up with blogging, between work and gigs, podcasting and more gigs and the fact that it turned out to be a short week. I actually lost a day somewhere during the week, started work on Tuesday and by the end of the evening thought it was Monday, threw me off completely.

Mind farts seem to be the course of the day though, I’ve 11 drafts waiting on kenmc.com, four of which were started today but by the time I get to the end of the post and hover over the submit button, I’ve lost my train of thought completely and think “ah yeah, I’ll come back to that one later”.

Have had some interesting blogging ideas because of it though and with the weather the way it is for the night there’s no time like the present to put pen to paper.

Been a while since I changed the theme on the blog and having effectively broken my last one (as well as IE throwing a small fit), I’ve gone and given kenmc.com a change of clothes for the summer. Slimmed out, added some stripes to the header, brought in a few images from flickr, tidied up some of the load, deriving the theme from Non Zero.

Header background generated online by the Web 2.0 Stripe Generator, fun to play around with for background images. (result here).

Silly title for a blog post, I know, but then again some people in Amsterdam themselves are quite silly, in particular one chap we were approached by last night.

I’ve made it back from Amsterdam, still alive and in one piece and with the batteries mildly recharged. Such a fantastic city, everything “just works” (so my brother says after the few days away), tons of photos, way too much food and drink (all good of course), and so much to see.

Days were spent strolling the streets (did manage to hit a museum or two along with Madame Tussauds), drinking too many cappuccinos (those Dutch know how to brew a good coffee), and ducking in and out of places for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a croissant here, a donut there. Found loads of amazing little shops, am amazed at the amount of English in the city (by language and nature) and would certainly go back again.

The hotel we booked wasn’t exactly as advertised but for the amount of time we actually spent there it was totally reasonable, and given it’s proximity to everything I wouldn’t have a problem booking there again for a short stay – comfy beds, well lit rooms, friendly staff. Didn’t see that breakfast room they’re supposed to have (and a big sign in the lobby suggested that you have to go up the street for breakfast) but with a wealth of options within a minutes walk you’re not going to have any trouble eating.

Did take a river cruise and managed to squeeze in a few photos but it was great to just shut off for the few days (bar a quick check to the office on Monday morning) and just take everything nice and easy.

While the Red Light District is something I’d suggest to absolutely anyone for the sheer experience of walking around, you’ve got to be weary of the drug dealers. Jesus Christ – they’re everywhere. You can’t walk five minutes up the road without someone whispering “smack, charlie, cocaine” in your ear but if you keep on walking you’re grand rather than even dignify them with a response – not that it matters to them or anything.

Go back again? Most certainly, might even play the tourist next time and actually get to see some of the better known sights and sounds….

For now it is high time to get to bed, get set for the morning, get back to some regular blogging….

Jesus its been a busy few days. Started another podcast, first one a little rough but it’ll get there, just have to put the pennies aside to open a radio station at some stage. Auditions underway for the big show in August – I can see it being something of a musical bootcamp, though the musical numbers aren’t massive by any standard. Between script meetings, directors meetings, gigs, a dodgy foot, sleepless nights, lack of energy I’ve got seven posts sitting in draft status. Bah humbug.

Must… press…. publish…..

And someone wants to kill someone through their blog? Sure is one way of telling you’re getting popular…

The blog awards has some nice attention down in Kilkenny anyway, the Voice and KCLR 96FM quickly on to me today so there’s “possibly a piece” in the Kilkenny Voice this week, with an actual piece on the Blog Awards likely to run the following week. Made a brief appearance for myself on the KCLR news to plug the awards and KilkennyMusic.com. I’ll be on the radio again next week for an hour show on Tuesday night from 8 to 9pm, you can listen live on KCLR96FM.com, this time the show looking more at KilkennyMusic.com outside of the web again, playlisting tracks from the One Take Sessions and Presents series of gigs.

Could be a career in this radio thing yet I tell ya!

While the weekend is great planning wide, today is NOT a day to be getting power failures.

In the past week we’ve had three power outings in the building, something which happened earlier this summer at the fault of one of the companies in the estate but when you’re neck deep in a project on a Sunday afternoon and you’ve just made a great breakthrough the last thing you need is the sound of alarm bells ringing in the building reminding you that your computer screen is now black and whatever you had on it before it turned black is well and truly gone.

Note to self – invest in another UPS.

…and it`s back to work I go. Guess that means that the holiday season is pretty much over! Christmas tree coming down at the weekend, leave the few decorations around the place up a bit longer (Sligo got significantly more “Christmasified” than Kilkenny this year) and time to start tucking into the year. Hope everyone had a good holiday season….

As we step into 2007 having safely made it through last night I would like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2007 in whatever field you’re in. 2006 has been a blogging pleasure and hopefully it will continue that way for the New Year.

I think a drive to Waterford is in order… rumour has it that Gino’s might be open and dear God do they have good pizza 🙂

Great week away up in Sligo (Lough Talt area if anyone is interested, its closer to Ballina, Mayo, than it is Sligo but we just sneak inside the border). Too much food, not enough getting out-and-about, plenty of beer, wine, music, song, the whole lot. You think people would just NOT email you over the Christmas, a week producing 182 non-spam emails.

Off to get some blog reading done as there seems to have been a nice bit of activity in the week 🙂

Whatever language you say it in and what ever country you’re in or from, Happy Christmas to you. Thanks to everyone who has been reading during the year and continues to do so. If you’ve never introduced yourself, don’t be afraid to drop me a line.

I hope the festive season is good to you and wish you all the best (in blogging and in life) for 2007.

The theme should be looking a hell of a lot more usable now in IE… apologies for the ould inconvenience.

Just a quick apology for those visiting the blog through IE, I’ve screwed with the theme a small bit and just haven’t gotten around to fixing it as I’m still playing catchup after getting home from Toronto. Noticed it when I was away but I’ll get to it shortly…

Of course, you could just make the world a brighter place and use firefox 😀

Well not exactly just yet, my flight doesn’t leave until around 8 tonight but we’re going for a good breakfast, hitting the road for Belfast to get there in time for an evening bite to eat. Then, its off to Canada, arrving in Toronto around 10pm local time. Who knows what the blog situation will be like but now that I’ve actually uploaded photos to my flickr account I might just be tempted to snap a load of shots in Toronto and get some online.

Ah I’m just looking forward to my first proper break away anywhere possibly since I started college back in ’01. Roll on the food, drink, sights, snow….

Have a good week!

I’m off to Toronto on Friday for a week or so, first proper break away since starting the business with Aidan last year. Came across a few things I wouldn’t mind getting to do. Anybody been there or have any tips for anything on during November 24th – December 2nd?

As much as I want to do NOTHING when I get there, you’ve still got to get out and see a few places, and so far I’ve got the following…

• Gourment Food And Wine Expo (Nov 25th or 26th)
• Lunch in the CN Tower
• Stroll around the Distillery District
• Trip to the Hockey Hall Of Fame (closet NHL fan, and took in the Basketball Hall Of Fame last time I was in the States)
• Visit the Ontario Science Centre and maybe spend a few quid in EfstonScience (supposed to be great for gadgets)

Anyone any tips?