Grannymar

There are times in life when I walk a tightrope.

Sometimes it is by choice yet on occasions it is because I am drawn into a situation or life of another person. Part of the problem is that I am more of a listener than a talker. I have always loved voices and accents. Give me Anthony Hopkins or Richard Burton and the knees go a wobbling!

Being a people person I love back stories and learning what brings people to the place in life they now inhabit. For some it is pure happenstance, while for others it is a series of unfortunate or unexpected events. Sometimes the road seems level, coloured by flowers of joy and contentment, yet for others the path is rocky and rough causing many a stumble or fall along the way.

I don’t like to see any of my friends struggling and the ‘mother’ in me wants to help. Of course my idea of help may seem like interference to somebody else. Removed from a situation we all see things differently. It is a privilege to be asked for advice and it is all the more rewarding when it is accepted, and the person is able to deal with and move on from the problem.

There is one thing sure and that is I will not be bribed. Any information entrusted to me in confidence will not be passed on.

I have no professional training, yet over the years I have listened and talked to many people from different walks of life. Only once have I failed, and failed badly in my book. The person in question at times phoned me two and three times a day. I made myself available whenever they wanted to talk. They wanted to talk and asked my advice, but for every suggestion I made they found an obstacle. These conversations went on over two years. At times they heard but didn’t listen, eventually I realised that the depressed mood was affecting me and the person in question had become so used to wallowing that it had become a way of life. They refused to seek professional help.

I stepped back. I had to. If I let the birds of depression land on my shoulders who would be there to help me? Was I selfish? Did I do wrong?

What would you do?

Now we are all familiar with the phrase ‘the pot calling the kettle black……

But have you heard of the Chicken calling the Turkey foul fowl?

No!  I thought not.  I think you should go here, but please keep the laughter down!

Oh yes! It was me. I mentioned it yesterday in Five minutes of fame!

Today while trying to follow the goings-on at Creative Camp in Kilkenny via Twitter and Jaiku, well I need to keep a beady eye on the Toyboys, I found this via seanabc onTwitter:

The Many Uses of Vodka. I am not sure it was a good idea to read it.

Mine’s a lime juice and soda, thank you very much! You may keep the Vodka!

Podcamp Ireland took place on Saturday 29^th September 2007 in the Ormond Hotel, Kilkenny, Ireland.

Some of the people I met

Krishna De

Ellybabes

Clare

Martha

Now the Toyboys:

Conn

Martin ‘GD’

Dennis

Dean

Keith

Neville

Brian

Michele

Tom

Bernie

Will

Ken

Niall

Spudshow Music Podcast

There were more, (hugs & squeezes at the back of the room!) lunch and coffee friends, but my lips are sealed

Dario asked if I listened to a Podcast he takes part in. It is the ‘Jefferson Davis & Friends Podcast’. The other participants are Brianf and Grandad. Dario is a first year University student at UCD in Dublin. Like all eighteen year-olds he is in a hurry to experience NOW all that the life of an adult holds. Dario hand on heart I can tell you that no adult has been able to do so. If it were possible to learn all there is to learn in your short life so far, think how boring the next 80 years might prove.

Yes, I have listened to your Podcast and did understand what you were saying. I have the patience to let my ears acclimatise to the sound of the various accents in a Podcast. Did you ever wonder why I spoke so slowly when making a Podcast? It is to allow folk who are unused to the sound of my voice to hear each word. If you speak at normal conversation speed it may not come over, across the airwaves.

Conn Ó Muíneacháin of Edgecast media:> was the official Pod-caster at the IrishBusinessWomen.com conference last weekend in Westport, Ireland. Terry Prone of Carr Communications was a speaker and she gives food for thought to all of us who seek to communicate. Terry is my vintage and she believes in what she does, and this means she gives a convincing message without us realising. You can link to it at (24MB, 41:14, MP3),

I have to admit that I was dependant on my voice to communicate all my working life. Folk heard me speak and sometimes never met me.

On one occasion a gentleman came into the office and I happened to be the first person he spoke to. I asked if I could help him. He said that he had an appointment with one of our director’s. I addressed him by name and said that he was expected, and to take a seat while I informed the director of his arrival. He called me back and said “I have never met you before; in fact I have never visited this office. How did you know my name?” I smiled and again addressed him by name saying “I speak to you on a regular basis by phone”.

At times I have difficulty putting a name to a person’s face. If I close my eyes and listen to them the name usually comes to me.

By the way Grandad’s voice was not how I imagined it at all. He sounds far to young to be a Grandad!

I suppose one of these days I will have to think of a subject to Podcast about.