This was a genuinely great read, and a lovely story. It's wild to get such an intimate storytime from a life, a time, a place so different from my own, and I'm thankful for this platform and the opportunity to be reading this in the first place.
I caught myself tearing up, reminiscing of an unlikely dear friend I made at Aurora's concert in Milan, Italy. For reasons too long to explain in a comment, I ended up going by myself, yet searching for and meeting with a british stranger twice my age from Aurora's fan community on Discord. We met, had drinks together, screamed our hearts out to the gorgeous music, cried a bunch, and he even got Aurora to respond to him between songs! And *I* embarassed myself before the concert even started by saying "someone kill me" after dropping my phone. Suffice to say, that was before I knew he was ex-military, and had a drinking problem due to... well, having killed in the past. That knowledge came a few days later. At first, I gleamed from his curt "never say that again" that I had just been 'too much of a zoomer'. Granted, I was also already desensitized from death and had experienced it more than most, but it was definitely nothing like *his* experience. Either way, wild interaction.
Long story short, I ended up taking him back to his hotel, because he was *incredibly* drunk. I even met his brother and sister-in-law, who profusely thanked me for taking care of him and being a good unlikely friend. They proceded to tell me their life stories. We all gleefully 'overshared'. It was lovely.
All that to say; reading this felt like that. And I'd give anything to hear the conversation between you and Todd, stocious, broken-biked, and walking all the way back to Eileen's.
Also, it was great to get an insider perspective into an intra-Irish culture shock, to find out about the UVF, RUC, and the social dynamics surrounding them. At the end of the day, every country has its own versions of such groups and stories, but even a history buff can't really know them all. I immediately dove headfirst into the rabbit hole, and since reading this article, it ended up in a scene in my novel. I think I'm going to name the character Daniel :)
Lastly, I'm definitely stealing 'banjaxed' and 'to wit', which I'm frankly surprised I'd never heard before. Love your writing voice. Keep doing what you do :)
This is such a lovely comment and that's one helluva story you have. Thank you for taking the time to share and for your kind feedback - glad I was able to introduce you to some new vocabulary (what, you knew stocious before? 😂)
I don't think that conversation with Todd was very exciting, to be honest, but hey, go ahead and imagine what it might have been like, use that in your novel!
And I'm so honoured that you're naming a character after me - that might be the nicest compliment I've ever received ☺️
In a couple weeks I'll be sharing the story of when I was a medical guinea pig in Belfast, there's a bit more about the UVF and IRA in that one.
So complimentary to me, again, thanks a million for having fun while reading 😁 + 1 more story about NIrish not-very-happy recent past - every person I've met here tell me at least one.
Since I still get confused quite often when the locals are telling me some crack I guess I haven't got the slang yet. Moreover, we are living in a wee town and there is the unique accent - even people from the neighborhood sometimes don't get it, and even the locals themselves don't understand each other sometimes when greeting with their usual "What's the story, or How is she cutting", LOL:)
Awe, great, thanks a million for the series advice - exactly what I needed right now!
Great stuff, Daniel. We did a college trip to Dublin circa 2003 and had a similarly debauched blast (we also worked the free voucher system at the Guinness factory to our advantage as loads of people didn’t use theirs and handed them out.) Coffee and a paracetamol, good to go again the next day.
I feel you pain these days. I had a few (too many) pints with some old pals the other night and it genuinely ruined the next 72 hours of my life. Nausea, insomnia, anxiety - all the good stuff!
Nice to time travel back to the 90s for a bit! It blows my mind that we managed without mobiles, or perhaps the shenanigans came about more easily because of this?!
Hell of a story Daniel. I cannot wrap my head around going out on the pull in Northern Ireland pre the GFA. Fearless!
I COULD NOT LOVE THIS MORE
This was a genuinely great read, and a lovely story. It's wild to get such an intimate storytime from a life, a time, a place so different from my own, and I'm thankful for this platform and the opportunity to be reading this in the first place.
I caught myself tearing up, reminiscing of an unlikely dear friend I made at Aurora's concert in Milan, Italy. For reasons too long to explain in a comment, I ended up going by myself, yet searching for and meeting with a british stranger twice my age from Aurora's fan community on Discord. We met, had drinks together, screamed our hearts out to the gorgeous music, cried a bunch, and he even got Aurora to respond to him between songs! And *I* embarassed myself before the concert even started by saying "someone kill me" after dropping my phone. Suffice to say, that was before I knew he was ex-military, and had a drinking problem due to... well, having killed in the past. That knowledge came a few days later. At first, I gleamed from his curt "never say that again" that I had just been 'too much of a zoomer'. Granted, I was also already desensitized from death and had experienced it more than most, but it was definitely nothing like *his* experience. Either way, wild interaction.
Long story short, I ended up taking him back to his hotel, because he was *incredibly* drunk. I even met his brother and sister-in-law, who profusely thanked me for taking care of him and being a good unlikely friend. They proceded to tell me their life stories. We all gleefully 'overshared'. It was lovely.
All that to say; reading this felt like that. And I'd give anything to hear the conversation between you and Todd, stocious, broken-biked, and walking all the way back to Eileen's.
Also, it was great to get an insider perspective into an intra-Irish culture shock, to find out about the UVF, RUC, and the social dynamics surrounding them. At the end of the day, every country has its own versions of such groups and stories, but even a history buff can't really know them all. I immediately dove headfirst into the rabbit hole, and since reading this article, it ended up in a scene in my novel. I think I'm going to name the character Daniel :)
Lastly, I'm definitely stealing 'banjaxed' and 'to wit', which I'm frankly surprised I'd never heard before. Love your writing voice. Keep doing what you do :)
This is such a lovely comment and that's one helluva story you have. Thank you for taking the time to share and for your kind feedback - glad I was able to introduce you to some new vocabulary (what, you knew stocious before? 😂)
I don't think that conversation with Todd was very exciting, to be honest, but hey, go ahead and imagine what it might have been like, use that in your novel!
And I'm so honoured that you're naming a character after me - that might be the nicest compliment I've ever received ☺️
In a couple weeks I'll be sharing the story of when I was a medical guinea pig in Belfast, there's a bit more about the UVF and IRA in that one.
So complimentary to me, again, thanks a million for having fun while reading 😁 + 1 more story about NIrish not-very-happy recent past - every person I've met here tell me at least one.
Did you get all of the N Irish slang? Have you started using any?
There’s a serial on UK TV now based on a book called Say Nothing. It’s got good reviews and I’ve read the book, which was excellent.
Have you seen Derry Girls? It’s quite amusing.
Since I still get confused quite often when the locals are telling me some crack I guess I haven't got the slang yet. Moreover, we are living in a wee town and there is the unique accent - even people from the neighborhood sometimes don't get it, and even the locals themselves don't understand each other sometimes when greeting with their usual "What's the story, or How is she cutting", LOL:)
Awe, great, thanks a million for the series advice - exactly what I needed right now!
Omg this was such a fun read!!! 🙌 I have a massive soft spot for Ireland, and this so delightful!
Thank you, much appreciated 😊
If I’d known you were going to read, I would’ve had more swearing! Especially the Irish version: feck 😂
Hahahah yasss 🙏😂😂
Aww love this , so much fun 🤩 the photos are great 😊
disappointing lack of boking but I enjoyed it nonetheless :)
Glad you did, despite the absence of boking. I don't think there was any boking if memory serves. I'll try to dredge up a boking story from somewhere.
Great stuff, Daniel. We did a college trip to Dublin circa 2003 and had a similarly debauched blast (we also worked the free voucher system at the Guinness factory to our advantage as loads of people didn’t use theirs and handed them out.) Coffee and a paracetamol, good to go again the next day.
I feel you pain these days. I had a few (too many) pints with some old pals the other night and it genuinely ruined the next 72 hours of my life. Nausea, insomnia, anxiety - all the good stuff!
Nice to time travel back to the 90s for a bit! It blows my mind that we managed without mobiles, or perhaps the shenanigans came about more easily because of this?!