an award-winning broadcast journalist, international media trainer and consultant, and writer
The creative zone chez Paul - where no one can hear you scream... It's a funny old thing, but when you are convinced you've always wanted to do something, and then you actually get to do it, sometimes the experience may not be quite what you expected. I hate that phrase - 'Be careful what … Continue reading Appetite for literature
Ok, I'm stealing the very clever title for the gatherings held by the English Society at Queen's - but I'm stealing it because it so aptly describes a recent night. This week I went to a poetry reading. I've been to prose readings before, but up until a few months ago you'd have been as likely … Continue reading Poetry and Pints
I've spent a couple of nights this weekend being well and truly entertained at the theatre, as part of the Belfast Festival at Queens. On Saturday I was gripped by Huzzies at The MAC , in jaw dropping awe at writer Stacey Gregg's dialogue - sharp, stinging, hilarious http://unitedagents.co.uk/stacey-gregg . It's a play about a band, so the music was … Continue reading Read all about it…
I was reminded sharply this morning, of the time I spent in New York last year, with breakfast accompanied by the disturbing coverage of superstorm Sandy. The city that never sleeps was deserted, blacked-out and, in many areas, underwater. It was a chilling sight - and weirdly, almost as apocalyptic as 9/11. Thankfully, all our pals are … Continue reading Paper tigers?
As the excellent political analyst Alan In Belfast asks, http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.co.uk/ - does the world really need another blog? The answer to that is that it most definitely does need one like his, but it probably doesn't need one like this quite so much! However, that's not going to stop me I'm afraid! Having spent the last twenty years … Continue reading A new beginning
Well, here we are in that horrible limbo of leaving, but not quite. It's around 96 degrees today, so really too hot to do anything, but pack (which we've done) and wait (which we are doing) and try not to sweat too much. I spent all of yesterday wracked with worry that I haven't done … Continue reading Goodbye or is it see you later
They do love their signs in New York. Many are telling you what, or more likely, what NOT to do; some are informing you of quite unenforceable laws; and many are issuing warnings - warning of an entirely obvious nature in some cases. There was a great one on the boardwalk at Coney Island which … Continue reading The writing on the signs
I hate being a tourist when I'm 'abroad' so I was delighted to come to New York to work, rather than just visit. But since I finished the job Mutley and I have had the most amazing time just drifting around, pleasing ourselves and looking at things! I know I'm on holiday because haven't looked … Continue reading On the tourist trail
Living in Harlem is a very different experience to living on the Upper East Side. While that may seem like a statement of the obvious, it's a reminder of the ways neighbourhoods can change so quickly on this tiny island. Of course, coming from Belfast, that's also no surprise to me - but in Northern … Continue reading Black power
And speaking of trains, this weekend it's been all change as far as my life here is concerned. Mutley is finally here! And it's changed everything - for the better, I hasten to add! I had reached the point where I had had enough of all of it - the job, the weather, the city, the … Continue reading All change