Skip navigation

>It works… Getting my life back

>This evening, the Bootleggin band was back playing in the Hurlers Pub in Castletroy in Limerick. It was the first time since I got it, my new PA and my new ear-gear. It worked – fine! And, I didn’t have any head pain, so I feel really good now. I’m hoping that tonight’s gig marks the end of this Horton period and that I can work my way back to normal (whatever that is…).

>It’s getting better all the time…

>Life is still SHITE. I have excruciating pain at least once a day, but the frequency is dropping.

Pain, who needs it? I don’t. I wish for a day some weeks from now, when I don’t have to fear this.

>Hell is becoming more frequent

>It’s getting worse. Day by day, for the last week, the number of hours between Horton head pain attacks shortens.

During an attack, there is no time, no place, no world – only pain.
The intensity ranges between 8 and 10. Quality of life is getting very low.
Amount of work done between attacks is minimal…

>I’ve been to 9 today…

>and crying with one eye. The number 9 corresponds quite well both to the Kip and Mankoski scales of pain.

>Horton’s head ache

>After two years without severe pain, my Horton’s head ache re-emerged again last night. I think it’s wrong to call it head ache. It’s bloody excruciating pain!!!!

>Cyberviking’s Tabbouleh

>2.5 dl bulgur
3 dl parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cucumber, finely diced
5 tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 leek, finely chopped
10 leaves of mint, finely chopped
5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
5 tbsp olive oil (best possible quality)
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pour boiling water on the bulgur and leave it for 30 minutes.
Drain the bulgur and allow to cool.
Add all the other ingredients, mix well, and leave for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

>New Year’s Party

>We had a good New Year’s Party last night. Excellent nutritious and delicious contributions from everybody, good company and plenty of fun.

Gabriela’s fantastic 2008-cake

At the end of the night, my iTunes shuffled into Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water and we finally got to play our air guitars, or keyboards 😉

Liam on air guitar

Michael on air guitar

Cyberviking on air keyboards.
Happy New Year!!!

>Ultimate PA

>Today I picked up my ultimate keyboard PA system. A Numark 1,900 W amp, 2 ProSound 800W speakers and an Alesis mixer. This is a perfect match to my keyboard setup. I just wish I was well enough to be out playing a gig…. (currently suffering with chest infection).

>Ultimate Ears

>I know the Bootleggin Band is loud. Very loud. Or, as J.J. says “a wee band with a big sound”. I don’t have a problem with the big sound as long as I have hearing protection. So far, I’ve been using the cheap standard earplugs that you can buy in any pharmacy for less than a euro. But they dont give me the option to hear what I want to hear.
So, last night I ordered what I could afford from Ultimate Ears. It’ll be interesting to see (or rather hear) how it works….

>Empirical Science

>this evening, I’m working through all my recipes for toffee. I’m trying to develop the perfect toffee recipe. Anything is allowed, vanilla, brandy, mustard. The only way to find the prefect toffee is to make it and eat it. Pure fun, and science.