Wednesday, March 28, 2012

What I did!



So Im sure everyone rejoiced then this image appeared on the Weather report last night, it is SO rare so see images like this, I knew that Id need to make the most of the day.


My day started of very macho indeed. I went to the Garden Centre to get some compass for the garden. I felt very manly carrying all 3 bales out at once.

This manliness faded fast when I started my car, and Madonna's MDNA came blaring out the speaker. Oh Well.


And here was my mission for the day. Our faded and jaded fence needed to be painted.


Instead of another coat of varnish, we decided to change things up a little, so we went with a light tan colour. When the flower beds start to blossom, and the the green creepers grow along the panels, I think it'll look great.


And here's the finished effect. Which too nearly 5 hours to do both coats, and all the tricky bit inbetween. But, when the weather is fine, and you have good music pumping, the day really flies.


I had just enjoy time, and energy, left to deweed my herb garden.

Hopefully this will be the first of many gardening posts I have up here on WHAM this coming Summer.

SRN

Green with Envy!



I imagine this is Don Draper's apartment would look like. If he was a hipster bachelor type.

DRN

Monday, March 26, 2012

Its a new dawn, its a new day!



AND IM FEELING GOOD! BAH BOMP! BAH BOMP!

How amazing has the weather been these past few days? (For any non-Irish readers, it has been in the mid 20's for the past number of days here in Ireland, this weather in March is basically unheard of, so as you can imagine, everyone has been making the most of it. And I am no different)


and seeing as it such a nice day, I was feeling fruity for breakfast. Tescos had half price Strawberries, so naturally I brought two packs, only to remember that strawberries have a life of about 3 days. So then I thought, what goes well with strawberries, and the answer for what to have for breakfast became clear! PANACKES!


I'll never know why most people only have pancakes on that one Tuesday of the year? They are so simple to make, taste delicious, and everyone likes them! I had mine with Panda spread and strawberries!


Another great thing about this weather, is discovering old friends in your wardrobe, like this Ralph Lauren denim shirt I got in a 2nd hand shop for €5...


With the weather so nice, we decided to make good use of my patio, and I had some friends round for Lunch. We ate well, and spend the afternoon in the sun, laughing, and soaking up the rays.

All this took just ten minutes to set up, an old sheet became a table cover, comfy cushions from the sitting room became chair covers, and everyone was happy to help cook.

Tulips that were planted last year, have begun to bloom again, along with some daffodils too.

I finished a great day with a walk around town, just when the sun was setting and dusk began...

If this coming summer was half as nice as these past few days have been, then we are set for a fantastic summer.

Summer '95 all over again!

DRN

How could today get any better?



It can't!

The sun is shining, and its going to be like this for the week.

So for any poor souls who are stuck in the office this week, here is something nice to look at!

As for me, I'm off to the beach!

DRN

Friday, March 23, 2012

SYD2030 is here!



I have so much admiration for the markers of SYD2030! In a time where everyone seems to be broke, and no one is doing anything but complaining, nothing makes me happier than to see a group of young people trying to get a something off the group.

SYD2030 is a brand new web series, described as Gossip Girl down under, which focus' on Cameron Hunter, and how his world is turned upside down by the return of the mysterious she!

Considering the budget limitations, this first episode is amazingly promising. The cast a young and spirited, and while not professionals, they are convincing as fun loving teens. The music and score is great throughout, and the over all visuals, from the wardrobe to cinematography is most impressive.

Here on WHAM we'll be posting the next episode as soon as its live, so keep it here for everything SYD2030!

DRN

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Lecome, Lego


This is probably the best thing you will see all day! From Creative Review's blog:

"German ad agency Jung von Matt has created this charming print campaign to advertise Lego. The ads feature minimalist interpretations of some of our best-loved cartoon characters, all created with blocks of Lego: can you guess who's who?"

DRN




Sunny Side Up!



How amazing are these? If only I'd seen them in time for Mother's Day. Oh well. Still super cute, you can get them on Amazon.

DRN

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Whats new in DarrenLand!

Hello! My friends and I had a running joke that I should have my own TV show, ala The Comeback, because drama seems to follow me around. But since I hate people, I don't think id enjoy having a camera crew following me around, so instead, heres whats been happening in my life, Welcome to DarrenLand!


Last month my mate Alan and I went to see former Pussycat Doll (and XFactor Judge) Nicole Scherzinger at The Olympia. It was my first time in the venue actually, and I loved it. As for Nicole's show, I was equally impressed. I was never a huge PCD fan, but always liked Nicole, and Im glad that she sounds just as good live as on her records.


Halfway through the show there was a big comosion and all these girls in front me seems to be getting very excited and started talking pictures in my direction. I thought maybe the'd mistaken me for a celebrity. Not the first time this has happened, in Edinburgh last year I was mistaken for England Cricketer Freddie Flintoff, who is 12 years older than me, and once again for Mark from Westlife, also, not in my age bracket (note to self: by anti wrinkle cream).

So anyways all these people are pointing and taking pictures so it finally clicks that there may be someone more interesting than me possibly standing behind me. And there was. F1 superstar Lewis Hamiltion. Yes, he may be far more rich and successful than me, but I am much taller. Small victories. He was a good sport and let people take pictures, myself included. I shouted "WELL DONE" and pointed at his missus, then he gave me a big thumbs up, and a knowing 'yes, Im tapping that' look.


After that it was off The George with my buddy Shawn for a night of dancing onstage, thats whats you do in The G after all!

Last week I was back in Dublin but this time with my BF in tow. We were celebrating our 6 month anniversary in the capital, and we were both lucky enough to win tickets to the John Carter premiere at The Savoy. The film itself was fantastic, really good old school adventure film. Its a shame that all the press its getting is focusing on the films 250 Mil price tag, and not the content itself. But, if you are bored this weekend and looking for something to do, I highly recommend that you check it out.

As for the Premiere, it was a bit lame. The old celebs were a few Xpose heads, who seemed to linger outside the screen, waiting to be spotted. From The Savoy we went onto one of my favourite pubs, Pantibar.


At Pantibar every Thursday they have Make & Do-Do, where all the creative gays come out and are given a topic or theme by Panti, aswell as an abundance of Mala, paper, glitter, feathers, pipe cleaners, basically everything you'd fine in an 6 year olds art box!

The theme on the night was a self portait, which could be interpreted anyway you wanted. As soon as the theme was announced I went black in the eye, took my bitch hat off, and put my art bitch hat on. I was 100% eye of the tiger, determined to win it!

And thats just what I did. Looking around everyone was using the mala (Play-Doh to ye posh kids) and I figured I'd need to do something to stand out, so I went straight for the coloured paper and grabbed myself a scissors! So I did a mask of my drag queen alter ego, Miss Kathy Griffindor! And I won, well I came 2nd, but the guy who came first left before the judging (which was hilarious) had finished, so he advocated his position, making me default 1st place winner! Which I happily accepted. The fabulous prize turned out to be two drink tickets, which when we brought to the bar and asked for two Long Island Ice Teas, we were told that each ticket had a value of €5! Still, a win is a win. And after 3 years at design college, if I could not win an arts and crafts competition in a gaybar, I might as well have just handed my degree back then and there!


The week before last I was down in Cork, and not just to listen to their lovely accents, I had work to do. I applied to CIT college back in January, so I was called for a portfolio interview. The interview was fine, I talked about my work, and explained why I wanted to return to college. Id rather be working to be honest, but every design studio seems to want at least 2 years experience these days, and you cannot get experience without getting a job first. The eternal catch 22.

Upon leaving the college I noticed the car parked on the green of the college, I only saw it from the back, so I didnt think much of it, until I saw the from of it when I was on the bus. Well actually half the from of the car had fallen out. Yes, there was a crashed abandoned car on the green of the college Im hoping to be attending this September, where I come from, we call that GLAMOUR!


and last but not least, Ive been doing a lot of what I like to do best, shop! Well, more precisely, charity shop! At least once a week I rummage through all the local charity shops, hoping to strike gold. Admittedly, its mostly junk, but on the odd day you can find a few bargains. The 2 books above were one euro each. Banishing my belly and learning to draw, all for €2? What a bargain!


And this fabulous mirror? €5 from my beloved Cancer Society Shop! I needed a full length mirror, but didn't have the wall space for anything too big, so it was perfect.

and with that, so ends another episode of DarrenLand! Thanks for tuning in, and I'll try and blog more, seeing as I am not work, I have not excuse not to keep up with WHAM!

Id you want to keep up with my activities, come follow me on Twitter!

DRN

(This episode is especially dedicated to my two main girls, who are on opposite side of the planet! To Suzie in Australia, I Love and miss you! Shona in Canada, you are the Sabrina to my Katrina! Zelda to my Jezebellda! I miss you (and your cackle) so much!)

An Irish Tragedy!



This always happens to me ever since Ive started drinking Green tea... I leave it to infuse and find it an hour later.

DRN

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

OBSESSION!



Is there such a thing as too much cheekbone?

Of course not, don't be ridiculous!

Sean O'Pry looking mighty fine on the cover of Vogue Homme International!

OBSESSION is right!

DRN

A Cat's Life!



I suspect that this is what most cats do when they are home alone.

DRN

Liz Lemon!




Is always right!

DRN

Lets take two girls!



























My Love for The Simple Life will never go away.

Season 1 & 2 obviously.

They got progressively worse as Nicole got skinnier.

DRN