I had been promising myself for some time that one day I would create a blog that would allow me to express ideas and thoughts about life and politics based on my experience and learning in the two places where I have spent most of my life: Belfast in Northern Ireland and New York in the US of A. And for years I did nothing about it.
Then last year, while working in Dublin, I had a bad fall and smashed my right elbow. Those who know me will realise what a potentially devastating injury this could be; my arms, especially my right one, act almost as a second pair of properly functioning legs. Lengthy surgery, too many pins and plates to count and weeks in plaster followed but no healing. Eight months later and I am undergoing what I call a ‘voodoo’ treatment, ultra sound waves that are directed twice daily on to the fracture site.
Whether this works or not, and whether I am ever able to function properly again, is a matter that is still, as they say, in the lap of the gods, but it has given me the opportunity to fulfill that promise to myself as well as a name for the blog. I hope you enjoy!
Ed, old horse,
I’m really sorry to hear about your arm and hope the voodoo treatment works. I shall be following your blog and wish you good luck with it. My new publisher, Antony Farrell, of the Lilliput Press, has already written to you to commend your enterprise. I worry that you may be a bit too – what shall we say? – radical for most Americans. In a country where most of the Democrats are to the right of David Cameron, your comments are bound to come across as dangerously European. But what the heck! It’s, er, a free country.
hi walter
good to hear from you.
i was a square peg stuck in a round hole in ireland and no different now. only way to be!
Hi Ed,
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you directly. I am currently working on a PHD research project that will examine the impact and influence of surveillance on communities. I will be comparing Northern Ireland and East Germany under the Stasi. With your extensive experience reporting on the Northern Ireland Troubles I was hoping to get your thoughts. You can DM me on twitter and https://twitter.com/cliodhna_pierce. I looking forward to hearing from you soon and I hope your arm is healing nicely.
Best Wishes
Cliodhna Pierce
Hi Ed
Gosh: really sorry to hear about your arm. Hope the treatment works and it improves with time. Best wishes.
Robin Wilson
thanks, robin. much appreciated!
Any chance you might change the name of your blog to The Fixed Elbow?
I wish I could. But why do you ask?
I was merely hoping for some good news – viz that the quacks had comne up with something that worked.
thanks for asking, walter. the ultra-sound treatment is slowly doing its business and at this rate i hope to be vertical by early summer. inshalla.
Excellent! Go for it.
Hallo, Ed! I have a small booklet to send you; but I lost a lot of computer information recently, including your e-mail address and the postal address I need (if I ever had it). Could you send me contact details?
Diana and I are well, getting older, still active in Uganda and occasionally former Yugoslavia but not Ireland, apart from keeping up with many friends. There’s some up-to-date information on our website.
In peace, John.
Hi Ed, What do you think to the Queen of England on a state visit to Ireland.
i tried not to
Hi Ed
Would you mind sending me your email address? I’d like to ask you a question about “Voices From The Grave”.
Cheers
Jonothan Cullinane
jdcullinane (at) xtra (dot) co (dot) nz