The Bodhrán Project

(image source)

Bodhrán: Irish percussion instrument. The name is a compound borrowed from Old English, bod meaning "command" or "precept" and hrān meaning "whale". The word refers to the sound of the instrument, which is similar to the grunts made by the leader (usually the dominant male) of a whale pod.

Hahaha, actually not. But it would be cool, wouldn't it? Did I mention that I LOVE making up fake etymology for existing words? This is what linguistics is for. But this one is too easy to see through if you know the pronunciation. (And if you've ever heard any whale songs and bodhrán players before and are aware of that they sound as different as possible.)

Actually, bodhrán has nothing to do with medieval things, it started to grow popular only around the 18th or 19th century. The name, of course, is Irish Gaelic, and is said to be related to the word bodhor, meaning "drum", though the exact meaning is unclear. The instrument itself is a very basic frame drum, it looks similar to a tambourine, apart from the fact that the latter is normally struck with the bare hand, while a bodhrán is traditionally used with a tipper called cipín (Irish Gaelic, meaning "kindling"). (information source)

Why am I giving this boring presentation about a silly Irish yoke? Because I officially fell in love with Irish music and this drum is just aaaawesome. So I made a deal with myself to buy one and learn how to play on it once I have enough money for that.

Since I moved to Belfast, I literally find money on the street every day, 3 coins per day on average, which is just crazy, I mean, there's money on the pavement wherever I step and nobody seems to care but me. I've been here for 12 days, and I already have more than 1 pound in total. So I decided to buy the bodhrán using the money I find on the street. It's quite expensive, the cheap ones start from 50 pounds, so it will take a while, but I don't really need it right away, now I'm concentrating on monologues and other skills to get involved in acting as soon as possible.

Kid Quotes

I haven't been around for a while, and I have no idea when I'll be back. Life is tough, and I don't really feel like talking about it now. But I came around to share a small collection of kids' quotes, because I left Drogheda a few weeks ago, and I miss those three little monkeys so much I think I'm going to die :(

I heard Dualta's (4) voice from the bathroom:

"My poos are very big, but Noinin's poo is even bigger."

Conversation with Noinin (2).

Me: "Where should we go today? Should we go to the toyshop?"

Noinin: "Yes. That's good."

Me: "And what about the bookshop?"

Noinin: "That's good, too."

Me: "Great. And what else would be good?"

Noinin, without hesitation: "Monkey."

Eventually, we still skipped the zoo.

Sibling love. Noinin came to me with teary eyes to tell a story.

"Dualta bit me!"

Me, searching for the bruise to kiss it better: "Where did he bite you?"

"In the kitchen."

Well, unfortunately I was unable to kiss her on the kitchen.

Dualta got a new toy.

"It's Superman," he explained to me.

"But he doesn't have a cape, where is it?"

He looked at the yoke for a moment, then said "it's gone in his belly button."

I should have known. I mean, come on, where else? :D

When I was quite new around and wanted to know a few things about the boys' schools, I happened to ask Dualta "is there a playground in your school?"

"Yes."

"What's in it?"

"Everything."

I needed a bit more specific answer, so I kept on asking.

"A slide, maybe?"

"No," he shook his head sadly.

"A swing?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Wide grin. "Everything else."

Optimism is the key. Well done, my boy.

Roan (6) was our oldest, and his classmate Robert (6), who lived close to us, somtimes came around to play with him. I was in my room, and they were playing on the corridor, so I couldn't see them, but this conversation is still epic.

Robert: "I'm the big brother now."

Roan: "Okay, what age are you? Are you a teenager?"

Robert: "Um... no."

Roan: "Then what age are you?"

Robert: "I'm twelve."

I was trying not to laugh too loud in my room, but then Roan went even further: "What?! That's an adult!"

Holy Mass on Palm Sunday, I was sitting next to Roan. The priest started to say the homily:
"Today is Palm Sunday."
I heard Roan giving a sigh and murmuring impatiently:
"Oh, we know that!"

Dualta was singing:
"I'm sixty and I know it!"

That's all, folks. Anyway, Belfast is quite a nice place. I hope things will turn better soon and I'll be able to see its true beauty behind all the shit that's been happening to me here.

Home, Sweet Home

I haven't really been online recently, but I have my reasons. Very good reasons, actually.

Last Tuesday I came home to Hungary to visit my family. I arrived to the airport around midnight and spent the following day in Budapest to meet some people. I finally obtained the Hungarian translation of Tolkien's Beowulf and I even got it signed by the translator, who is a very good friend of mine. One more book I can't wait to read - I think I've got too many plans realted to books for this year. I'm about to reread Terry Pratchett's full Discworld series as well, which means, oh gosh, 41 volumes.

Anyway, I finally arrived to my hometown, and it was quite a good feeling to see how much I was missed, my mom even baked biscuits with "hiányoztál" (which means "I missed you" in Hungarian) written on them. It literally made me cry.

Also, I met my parents' lovely cats. I've seen them before on skype, but seeing them in real life is different, I can pat them and all, and they get my clothes covered in cat hair :'D

Too bad my entire holiday at my parents' house is actually about getting prepared to go back to Ireland. I need to buy many things to bring them abroad, and next week I'll spend a whole day in town to arrange some official things. I wish I could just leave them until next time, but unfortunately I can't.