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A-Z Challenge – Z is for Zzzz’s (Time for zzz’s and beers, but not in that order!)

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So here we are…April 30th and just the one letter left to blog! It had to be an awkward one to finish on, but we can’t change the order of the alphabet can we? I’ve taken liberties with the today’s topic, given it’s more of a sound than a word. The idea is clear though…this A-Z challenge has sure been challenging for me and I’m looking forward to a break when it’s over! There have been days when I found myself sitting in front of a blank screen late in the evening, desperately trying to find inspiration for a topic or word under that day’s letter. And I’ll readily admit a few of my blogs were weak. Overall though I’m happy with my contributions to the blogosphere, and am feeling pretty proud tonight.

There were a few days where no blog was posted due to a mixture of busy day combined with bloggers block! This automatically cranked up the pressure on the following day as two blogs were required to get back up to speed. Thankfully, I never fell more than one day behind. Don’t think my little brain would have been able to handle the thought of writing three blogs of three separate letters in one day!

My blogging challenge has taught me some things, some new and some that I knew already but had forgotten.

New Things:

  • Cornelius Ryan is Irish. What a legend! (see T)
  • Aachen was the first German city to be liberated by the Allies in 1944 (see A)
  • I like writing flash fiction (see I, N)

Things I knew but had forgotten:

  • Agua de Valencia is very nice! (see V)
  • I love visiting new places and really want to see more new places really soon! (See A, H, Q, V)
  • Dutch football fans are hot! (see O)
  • I really enjoy taking part in competitive races (see W)
  • I love relaxing in my home (see K)
  • 20 years this year since I finished school…agh! (see Y)

As I sit here now sipping a beer to celebrate finishing the A-Z Challenge, I’m pondering how my blog can evolve. Or if it’s already evolved as much as it can, and if I’ll retire it now! In the main I’ve written this blog for me, to see if I could complete the A-Z challenge and also to write about things that mean a lot to me in my life…sport, music, writing, travel, movies, history. Board games. And breakfast cereal! I’m proud to have completed the challenge, and need to reflect now on the areas I liked writing about best and whether there may be a future blogging on those topics. I’ve had some lovely feedback to some of the blogs, so thanks to everyone who has stopped by and especially those who took the time out to like or comment. Well done to all the other A-Z bloggers who have completed the challenge, I raise my beer bottle to you in salute. For now I’ll sign off, until the next blog.

Time to grab some zzzz’s. Well deserved I think!

A-Z Challenge – Z is for Zzzz’s (Time for zzz’s and beers, but not in that order!)

A-Z Challenge 2015 – S for Shuffle

kevinmccarthy77, , , 2 Comments

iPhone shuffle. Let fate decide the soundtrack to my day. Or the soundtrack to my work commute, at the very least. A random set of songs from the 2,000 odd beauties in my phone. Sometimes they don’t quite fit right in sequence, but still sound great on their own. And sometimes they follow each other in perfect harmony and manage to capture a mood while travelling on the tram or walking and taking in the various sights and sounds. Such as walking through Trinity College en route to the office, as spring sunshine breaks through and just the right song comes up. Like Hoppipola by Sigur Ros.

Or sometimes the soundtrack can change a mood, for the better. Early morning work angst anticipating issues or problems during the commute. Then a belter of a song comes up on random play and negative thoughts turn to positive ones. Like Sabotage by Beastie Boys. Or Go With the Flow by Queens of the Stone Age. Or Next Year by Foo Fighters.

Anything can happen on any given day. Radiohead followed by Beach Boys. Vampire Weekend followed by Arcade Fire. A beautifully understated Camera Obscura track sandwiched between manic Pixies and Weezer tracks. Pink Floyd then Modest Mouse.

Then there are my own playlists for certain moods and situations. One for running, full of energy and euphoria. Crossing the finish line of a half marathon in Vienna with the sounds of Invincible by Muse in my ears was some feeling! On the totally opposite end of the spectrum, there’s a playlist of chilled songs that works perfectly on flights especially when some private time is needed and maybe a nap. Nodding off to Bjork’s All is Full of Love or Birds by Bic Runga is very pleasant indeed.

The random play soundtracks are the most interesting though, keeping me honest and entertained on the morning route to work before they slowly dissolve into the order of the day.  One tune might stay with me during the day however, until I’m out of the office heading for home and another random playlist takes over. Wonder what little gems tomorrow morning will bring…

A-Z Challenge 2015 – S for Shuffle