@Ireland Curator: Holly Howe

[Cries a single tear]

[But remember, I will always love you MORE] Goodnight Ireland x

So say hi to the writer Lane Ashfedt @ashfeldt

@sextonireland @Hollytorious ta!

@RevDBH @Hollytorious Thank you!

But now I'm going to bid you all farewell and introduce the next curator...[opens the envelope, rustles the sheet of paper]

And anytime you're feeling bored, you can always say hi @Hollytorious

So thank you, thank you, thank you, I've had so much fun and learned so much from you all

@ireland @clarevirtually Cheers!

@clarevirtually That's lovely!

So I think I ended up doing over 1,000 tweets this week, which must be more than average as it was week 26 and there's been 14k tweets!

But got on so well with @xfirefishx that we ended up heading to Shoreditch House to booze the afternoon away

Was going to go to Asda to complete the circle by buying some Irish foods (was told they have an Irish food section at the Surrey Quays one)

Oh, I'm going to be really VAIN and RT @NarcoDreamer (am allowed to as have also RTed mean things people have written about me boring them)

@constantwaif Thanks Grace

It was called Hysteria and thankfully wasn't too uncomfortable to watch with a stranger

And today, I met another follower called @xfirefishx - we went to the cinema to watch a film about vibrators

But some of you were nice and seemed to enjoy it - bless y'all

Yesterday, I bored some of you to death with my tales of being a #BadBridesmaid on my friend's hen do - thanks for putting up with that

Also briefly discussed theatres above pubs while I went to a play in one in London about suicide #FunTimes

On Friday we played "guess the monument". It was the Beacon in Baltimore. That was the only photo I had #ShortLivedGame

@PeopleofLeeds @hiddenbradford @TweetWeekManila @PeopleofPDX @Pobol_Y_Cymru @PeopleOfUK @PeopleOfCanada @sweden @curatorchina Bye!

@cathyby cool!

@james_mc_f thanks - you can always say hi @hollytorious!

@auntyamo @Hollytorious Yes, that would be ace!

@cathyby oh the shame - MIKADO biscuits - they're what you want

Argh...20 minutes left of tweeting time...types furiously...

@cathyby A sweetring? What's that? Sounds like it might be a good thing!

@auntyamo @Hollytorious Yes, best to be safe and stay schtum!

Oh yes, we also had a little chit chat about Irish journalists, with many (myself included) expressing their admiration for Fergal Keane

@auntyamo Well, I may add to it @Hollytorious, but the bride to be follows me there so I'll have to be careful!

But at 8pm, @pogmogoal and @hilsallen came to my rescue, so a shout out to those lovely followers (and it was lovely to meet you both).

Oh what fun we had

Well loads of people were there obviously, just nobody for the tweetup. So I had to kill time by tweeting about my dating misadventures

No one was there.

At 6.45, I got to the bar (yeah, I was late, but if you had been paying attention to my tweets, you would know that I'm always a lil late)

@auntyamo Neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Mikado, sans chocolat, all the way...

I arranged for fireworks, dancing girls, goodie bags with diamonds, the WORKS. It was going to be my big night...

So on Thursday, I was EXCITED, because I was organising a MASSIVE tweet up of London-based followers of @Ireland

@missminiboss Thanks Sheila!

@runmurphyrun @Hollytorious cheers!

@scarie Thanks!

@sextonireland cue psychosomatic tooth ace ;-)

Carried on the art thread on Wed, but looking at illustrators, where Ireland has quite a few shining lights

You all wowed me by collectively responding that his nationality is his business and my heart swelled with pride

Someone asked me to raise the issue about Rory McIlroy's nationality (Irish v British). Tbh, I had never heard of him #HateSport

One follower foolishly suggested that Kimberly biscuits were better than Mikado and tried to trick me into agreeing with him, the swine...

@chrisdaygalway ahh go on then!

Oh, and by the way, I'm usually @Hollytorious if you find yourselves missing me ;-)

@brianocofaigh tell me about it

@BrendanMRogers it's there on the table, can't you see it?

@Dickensonfarms pleasure

@chrisdaygalway Cheers my beloved nephew

@scarie Lucky them!

They're pink & white and the sugar sends shots of pain up your teeth cart.cranchs-sweetshop.co.uk/index.php?p=pr… (Oh look, 3 times the price in the UK!)

It was because I had brought back a bag of iced caramels for my London colleagues - do you all know the ones I mean?

I didn't expect to start my week by tweeting about Irish foods, in fact, I'm not sure I even explained why

So first and foremost, I would like to say a BIG thank you to all the lovely followers who tweeted at me during the week

@ke4no greedy...

@ke4no Where's mine? Sigh...I'll go make it myself then

Right, I'm going to make a cup of tea and then I'm coming back to spend some quality time with you guys

Never had that drink until I moved to the UK, such a good summer drink, almost as good as West Coast Cooler, ha ha

The sun is shining, might get my last Pimms of the season in then ;-)

@stonehuts @xfirefishx Yes, no naked sunbathing just yet

Instead @xfirefishx & I have ended up on the roof of Shoreditch House, pretending to sunbathe by the pool

Was going to go to Asda to visit the famed Irish section but got distracted enroute...

Yes dear followers, we left wearing our own clothes, sorry to disappoint

So just in case you're all on tenterhooks about how the cinema went, well @xfirefishx and I both turned up clothed...

@xfirefishx See you in 5 (running late - sorry). I'll be in yellow wedges ;-)

@xfirefishx sweet or salty popcorn btw? Gonna try and pick some up enroute

@xfirefishx @jason_house Oh damn [takes clothes back off...]

And here's me with the other bridesmaids. Worst thing about this pic? I'm ALREADY stooping in it. pic.twitter.com/5Te7uTTs

To fill you in from yesterday - here's a pic of the dance class pic.twitter.com/dZKdcIPh

To recap, this is the film about vibrators that I'm going to see with an @ireland follower that I haven't met before. [What comfort zone?]

@jason_house You're such a spoilsport! Now back to letter-writing with you ;-)

I'm up. And I'm off to meet a stranger at the cinema. And I'm still not dressed. So not a morning person

@do_rand @IamFulchy Ah yes, probably. I was thinking "draw" which is how people here describe weed

@eds209 What? That was a a very coherent text! And no, sadly wasn't drunk. That prob would have made it better. New pic I see??

@tannerydungarva Am 31 so Britpop was the music of my teen years, happy memories

@emersonhex I think it's an apartment block now :-(

@brianocofaigh yeah, I'll be sacked as bridesmaid. Will have to tweet loads tmrw so it vanishes down my timeline

@emersonhex gawd, I remember the fear every Wed & Fri that we wouldn't get in. Always did tho ;-)

@tannerydungarva @todayfmofficial I miss 90s Britpop

I've escaped! On the bus. Eminem is leaking from some girl's earphones. She's tapping her foot out of time. #BadBridesmaid

@emersonhex Glad it's gone tho so I'm not tempted to go there. Went aged 20 & thought, my, they're young in here. (I used to go aged 15!)

Battery is about to die, this may be a divine intervention to let me go home #win #BadBridesmaid

So they just put on Azaelia Banks, I'm the only one dancing #bizarre #BadBridesmaid

I did all my training in Sir Henry's in Cork. Loved indie but r&b is always better to dance to

Tempted to bust out my dance moves. Oh yes my followers, I have previously been called a hip hop honey & not in an insulting way #TrueFact

@iamfulchy "and pass the draw" ;-)

@lollypopz81 omg no, tack-o-rama

@mikepumpkin oh, we had a few dates afterwards ;-)

Oh I was doing so well, if only you had seen me. But they've put house music back on now FFS #BadBridesmaid

[Dancing interval] #BadBridesmaid

Oh...they're playing Sean Paul's Get Busy [remembers pulling a hot Ugandan at a Sean Paul concert many years ago]

@peopleofleeds It's been good so far but today hasn't been ideal as I've had a hen do I couldn't get out of which means boring tweets :-(

@chrisdaygalway Londoner for life ;-)

@dleacht yes,but a very bad unsupportive bridesmaid who hates tacky stuff!

@vampsaam NO, last night was all about the fear, today is the day ;-)

@lollypopz81 One of the party is a trained pole dancer. She got tol told off for using the pole!

Omg, they have a machine that doesn't pump out smoke but air freshener in gusts onto the dancefloor #choking #BadBridesmaid

@chrisdaygalway yeah, you know I'm old, innit...

@dleacht They bought sambuca which I loathe, so no shots for me

They're playing bad house music. I'm also in a club that is only frequented by tourists. Send help. #BadBridesmaid

Plotting my escape #BadBridesmaid

This hen do is going downhill rapidly and I'm struggling to stop yawning #BadBridesmaid

@iamfulchy @sweden @weareaustralia Why I'd be delighted to reply, innit, begorrah ;-)

Oh no, they've started the dares. Wonder if I can sneak off home to bed?

@timmygadget @hollytorious Sorry, haven't really been logged in this weekend but will sort out tomorrow

@timmygadget @hollytorious Ahh, I'll need to check if I followed you back!

@timmygadget Well holler @hollytorious next time you're in London!

@ammanton I KNOW!!! I'll not be a happy camper ;-)

So yeah, even on his wedding day, the groom has stress ha ha

We say we'll reduce it to £100k if the bestman waxes his legs. He does. Then we reduce it to £10k if he drinks chilli oil, etc., etc

It roughly goes as follows: They ask how much for the bride. We say £1m, or whatever. They say they can't afford that.

It's called "Fetch the bride". The groom & best men turn up at the bride's home on the morning of the wedding

So for those asking why the wedding day starts at 5.30am, it's because we're playing Chinese wedding games first

@ammanton you have no idea how much makeup I need ha ha

@timmygadget well have a drink or two for me;-)

Ok...I have a photo coming up for you lot with the Chinese massive (& a few of us non-Chinese!)

@ammanton I know...dying inside right now!

@timmygadget aww, thanks Tim. Getting a lot of hate from some of the male followers, ha ha

@brianocofaigh red bull more like!

Apologies to the male followers who are bored senseless by these tweets, tho I'm not sure stags are less heinous

Have now been told I need to be at the bride's house at 5.30am on the day of the wedding, does she not know I'm not a morning person

@stranebrain @cjamcmahon Sorry boys, couldn't get out of this hen do to stimulate you with intellectual tweets ;-)

At a gym doing 1920s dancing BUT drinking champagne, so that makes it better

I love dim sum so like the Cantonese restaruants that serve the authentic stuff, esp cheung fun!

To clarify on previous tweet, the restaurant serves westernised Chinese food cause it's a UK chain

@hellofrmsg I adore real dim sum but this is an English chain...they don't even make har cheung fun :-(

@tanhuiyi @hellofromsg no no, Ping Pong serves westernised dim sum, not like in the proper Cantonese places I go to

@mikeneglia details are on the WorldIrish website, address is in the twitter profile

Now in Ping Pong for dim sum which hilariously I look down on as I think it's westernised Chinese food, my Chinese friends love it, ha ha

@cjamcmahon @johnmoynes @mikeneglia @wholesomeie you should apply & show us how it's done ;-)

@alexisdaria tiny bit of Cantonese, but yes, Japanese is much easier to learn, I struggle with the tones

@cjamcmahon @johnmoynes @mikeneglia @wholesomeie Not sure it's a "persona", I like talking about serious & silly stuff, like most people!

@alexisdaria Yeah, I love Hong Kong, used to live there a few years ago

@alexisdaria this one is at end of Sep, next is in HK at end of Oct, plus been to 2 earlier this yr in Apr & May

@owenconnor ahh yes, got you, that's true

And now to go shoe shopping. Hoping this will be quick cause I'm starving & want to go for lunch!

@owenconnor nah, all my Chinese friends use it as a term of affection, they see me as one of them #truefriends

@hockamania yes exactly

My many Chinese friends refer to me as an 'egg', meaning white on the outside, yellow on the inside, I think they're right :-)

It's the year of the dragon, so it's a good year for getting married.

So having never been bridesmaid before, I am bridesmaid twice this year, & BOTH brides are Chinese (I'm gigantor)

So yup, I tower MILES above everyone else...

The bride to be is Chinese. Two bridesmaids are Chinese, one in Sri Lankan & then there's me

So we're all in our bridesmaids dresses now getting measured. Let me give you some background...

@constantwaif oh that's still close, good work!

However this is all a rather pointless exercise as the dress already fits fine #bahhumbug

Hmm three more stops to go & my fitting appt was 12.30-1pm, this isn't looking good

Urgh, the armhair of the guy I'm sitting beside keeps rubbing against my arm :-( #BusFrottage

@constantwaif mmm, although I've been in my (almost) Shoreditch flat for 12 years now

@rainbowplethora I guess in these situations, you could describe them as 'ironic'

Oh my, I really am being a hater today & luckily for you I brought my charger so can tweet ALL day long.

The guy also keeps referring to Shoreditch as 'the cool place', which it was about 10 years ago

Their geography of the area is also rubbish but I'm too tired/wannabe English to correct them

The girl is in her 30s by the way. A child in polka dots would be vaguely acceptable

The girl could have stepped out of the 80s, yellow skirt, polka dot tights

Some funny posh people on the bus in morning suits who are late for a wedding

On the bus now, can tweet in peace

@MDRN1 @scarie true, true

@AthyMensShed The crack is I'm LATE for the fitting of my bridesmaid dress which is in 20 mins and I'm still at home - eek

@MDRN1 @scarie Yes, from 4pm but late for the bridesmaid dress fitting now

@scarie @MDRN1 [crawls back into bed]

Sighs...

Allow me to also note, this is the SECOND hen do. The first was a weekend in Paris for the entire bank holiday. This is the "London" hen.

@zkhashram dun, dun dun dun, dun dun duuuuuun...

@scarie @MDRN1 Me too, but this one is going to be "the other type"

@chrisdaygalway MORNING!

@MaryECostello No no, the hen do is TONIGHT! I was just moaning in advance last night!

@Fernhillclon @alsiewalsie Yup, passed through, my aunt lives in Ballinglanna

@LucerneBelle indeed!

So while I get myself ready, how about y'all watch this amazing video via @jason_house on confusing iPhone 4 users: blogs.artinfo.com/objectlessons/…

I'm supposed to be in Soho in 45 minutes for my bridesmaid fitting. I have just gotten out of bed.

A reluctant good morning to you all!

@mandylyn88 it's one minute to midnight, I'm in bed & you're my last tweet of the eve! Night!

@redmadden as long as the bedbugs don't bite ;-)

@mdrn1 oh I'm still here til 8pm on Sunday...oh yes...

@ke4no in that case I declare you officially insane!

@eileen1812 ha ha

@maryecostello Some of my friends had nice ones which were just drinks in a bar, but this one has activities & embrassing games *rolls eyes*

@auntyamo ha ha

@ke4no where are you off to?

@chrisdaygalway I knew that bastard was on twitter & not following me. He's going to be in trouble at Christmas...

You lot are sneaky. I tweet that I'm going to bed, y'all tweet back to keep me up answering your tweets. Secretly like it tho...

@mandylyn88 Sorry, I'm just an old git. 5 nights in a row of being up til the small hours & I'm knackered!

@conziesays true, true...

@chrisdaygalway How do you know my cat?!

@ke4no Ahh, I can't nap, apart from when I'm on a plane & have a stranger's shoulder to drool on. I'm @hollytorious btw, keep in touch!

@conorjh Shall check those links tmrw when I'm on a computer but thanks

@ke4no It's worked for the last 15 years ;-)

@chrisdaygalway ha ha, I wish I had a cat to be at home with. Sadly my beloved Basil resides with my parents in Cork.

It's my friend's hen do & I really fricking hate hen parties, but I'm bridesmaid so can't feign illness :-(

My preferred way to spend Saturday is in bed, catching up on sleep but tomorrow I have to get up earlyish

This is quite typical of my London life. Busy every weeknight, a little more chilled at the weekend

Well after a week of late nights, I think I may turn in early

Wow, that play was incredibly moving, esp as you know the writer killed herself soon afterwards

@joeystrider it's the Drayton in South Ken

Do we have pub theatres inIreland? I.e. there's a theatre above the pub

So tonight's play is in a pub theatre, which was something I hadn't come across before I moved here

Right, less tweeting, more walking, am late (as per usual). @CultureRevealed will be cross!

Even his Christmas cards are amazing, wonder what it takes to get on his mailing list! #Heatherwick

Amazed how many of his designs I recognised, incl the toilet cubicles in Hong Kong's Pacific Place mall (they're v.cool)

The Heatherwick exhibition was amazing, wish I had given myself more time to explore it

Cheery sidenote, the playwrite committed suicide after writing this play #448Psychosis

Then later this eve, I'm going to see the play 4.48 Psychosis with @CultureRevealed thedraytontheatre.co.uk/event-list/ica…

Right - better hit the road and get to this exhibition at the V&A

And this was my report from my first week of living in Hong Kong in 2009..ahh...happy days postcardsfromholly.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/5-thin…

Sorry - I'm working and not tweeting. Did I mention I used to live in Hong Kong? All I pined for was an oven #RealTalk postcardsfromholly.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/oven-o…

@only_neel mission accomplished

@SheenaDempsey Yes, although I never realised there was all that heavy breathing at the start until I looked it up on Youtube ;-)

@constantwaif No I haven't! Haven't heard this song either for years - no idea why it popped into my head!

I can only put it down to the fact that I'm working on an application for UK government funding that is unbelievably mind-numbing #boogie

For some reason I have this random song in my head: youtube.com/watch?v=C5vSYW…

@DianaJSpencer Was wondering if it would have more of a mental illness focus

@DianaJSpencer oh that's a shame :-(

@ISLEmagazine Thank you

Right kids, I had better do a spot of work if I want to leave early to go see an exhibition...now go out to the garden and have a play...

@boringdaddio The place is lovely, we all thought the food was only ok, but my parents had eaten there b4 and said it had been very good

@chrisdaygalway ha ha, today has been terrible for smutty tweets. I'm usually well behaved, but holler @hollytorious if you ever pop over

[Secretly relieved that a girl asked first] Also, having now seen the trailer, I think the film will be fairly tame [crosses fingers]

So @xfirefishx has stepped up to the Sunday morning challenge and will be coming along to watch the vibrator film with me

@boringdaddio Are you going to Rolfs? (That was where we went for lunch)

@xfirefishx Thanks for your text - see you there (and they have a cafe so we can take coffee in with us)

@boringdaddio Yup yup - I was there last Saturday!

@redmadden @guardian Probably to tie in with the release of this film...

@xfirefishx No, not *that* kind of *period* comedy [unable to write anything normal this morning]

@xfirefishx Sure - will you be able to get there at that ungodly hour on Sun? Just watched trailer & is more of a period comedy - phew

@MDRN1 Yes - that would be lovely

...vibrators...so that should make for a delightfully uncomfortable experience to watch with a stranger imdb.com/title/tt143551…

Item 2. A cinema ticket to "Hysteria" at the Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch on Sunday at 11.45am. It's a historical(ish) film about...

First come, first served...

Heatherwick designed the Olympic cauldron and he also did the magnificant British seed pavillion at the Shanghai Expo: vam.ac.uk/content/exhibi…

Item 1. Ticket to the Heatherwick exhibition at the V&A. I'm going this afternoon around 4.30/5pm if you would like to me my plus one (free)

But unfortunately, you have to be in London to qualify - sorry to my homies in the mother/fatherland

To make up for my lack of quiz pictures, I might do a giveaway instead

@MDRN1 The people (students & adults) and the speaking of Irish - ha ha. Weird cause I had been to loads of other summer camps & loved them

@oflahertyb What? I love making cupcakes with glitter icing to throw at the children below my balcony...

@MDRN1 YIKES! That's horrific - still squirming in my seat thinking about it

@Cella65 Thank you!

@chrisdaygalway Ahh - whoopsie

@chrisdaygalway Yes *totally confused now*

I can never thank my parents enough for rescuing me from that place. Really not my cup of tea. BUT, most people who went there loved it...

Clearly they forgot my FOUR DAYS OF HELL when I went to Irish college in Cape Clear when I was 14 (You have to catch a ferry from Baltimore)

Am not even entirely sure why my parents took me to Baltimore last weekend. I think they thought I hadn't been before, which was weird...

Oops - I think my little photo quiz may have sounded like I had many mystery photos for you all to guess. Sadly, I don't.

@MDRN1 @Jim_Sheridan @Hollytorious Ahh - you're both Cork homies? Wonderful [goes off and makes a pot of tea] [gets out the *good* biscuits]

@thelittlepakeha @newzealand Ha ha, yes, you can never keep everyone happy but it's been a good experience so far

@chrisdaygalway Ssshhh! It's our little secret ;-)

@redmadden Oh I don't mind too much, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I'm off in a few days back to snuggly @hollytorious

@chrisdaygalway In MY defence, I could have said you're not too old to go over my knee ;-)

@enorris Oh *that* Baltimore. I see what you did there ;-)

@StoneHuts ha ha

@alsiewalsie I don't think I've ever been there

@BridgetFitz @igaeilge Precisely, and it shows why we have such a great country because people have such varied interests

@StoneHuts Oh lordy, I'd probably die from exhaustion. Am also pining for my @hollytorious account which I've abandoned this week!

@enorris Tbh, had no idea it was an issue so haven't a clue...

@enorris WHAT WHAT WHAT? There was drugs in Baltimore and I missed them?!

@chrisdaygalway Aunty? AUNTY? How old do you think I am? {I am actually an aunty...sighs...there goes that argument...}

@StoneHuts You did {pats you on the back} - I'll send you one of those cubic zirconias from last night as a prize...

@BridgetFitz If people only tweeted about what everyone wanted to hear about, it would be terribly dull! Am disappointed I missed your week!

@BridgetFitz I know, odd. I liked @igaeilge's tweets because I have no interest in Irish language so was great to hear from someone who did

@alsiewalsie No, from Cork city

@StoneHuts Yup yup!

@LeFiffre Aww, merci beaucoup, most people have been pretty amazing on here to be honest

A beautiful photo of the Baltimore Beacon (Lot's wife) from @alsiewalsie taken in August: pic.twitter.com/a11W0RMj

@alsiewalsie That's a great shot!

@MaryECostello Yes, it certainly makes for an interesting debate!

@BridgetFitz Like how you've brought that neatly full circle to my pseudo-rapper opening on Monday morn - thank you!

@chattynige close as in they're both in the Old Testament? Yes. Well done you!

@alsiewalsie Argh - I didn't take any other photos when I was home *curses stupidity*

...I should really be tweeting for @Ireland because I live in London. So you know, swings and roundabouts (I really love that expression!)

But to be an impartial journo, I also have to tell you that some have told me that I'm "not tickling their brainwaves" and another felt...

But seriously, advance thanks for the amazing support and praise *blushes* - it actually means a lot and I'm v.flattered

For thoses of you in search of LOLZ at my expense, I'm usually embarrassing myself @hollytorious

@matcat123 Oh wow - that sounds cool

@bobertellis91 Yup yup, it's the Beacon in Baltimore

@Frank11Guinness Thank you - I aim to please (while amusing YOU and embarrassing ME)

@Jim_Sheridan Hi Jim, that's very kind. I'm @hollytorious

@chattynige No, Lot's Wife!

@brianocofaigh Ha, yes, good guess!

And @colm_ryan correctly identified it by its local name Lot's Wife (as it looks like a pillar of salt)

Well, the boys won that round. @clockwork_rob said Baltimore first, followed by @richardscriven who said the Beacon, Baltimore

This also has a biblical nickname (thanks Google!) - does anyone know what that is? pic.twitter.com/Ymuf603p

Friday morning quiz - who knows where this is? pic.twitter.com/gl9FofGO

@StoneHuts Brave/stupid/optimistic - one of those probably ;-)

@TimForde Thank you - very kind. I do have another one coming up about a real misadventure in Ukraine, but still trying to shape it...

@xfirefishx God, sounds like when I worked at Emap back in the day...

@TimForde Gosh, that was quick! Nothing really I guess. He lives in NYC, I'm in Ldn, we email occasionally...shame...he was HAWT ;-)

@xfirefishx ha ha - what kind of mag do you produce?

@xfirefishx Plus you warned me in advance you couldn't make it so I wasn't hanging around expecting to see you! Oh well, makes for a story!

@xfirefishx That's ok - at least it was work. Someone else was "hungover", another "couldn't find the bar" *rolls eyes*

@xfirefishx That's ok - it was only an experiment anyway and thankfully something I won't have to do again :-)

@Diarmaid_Twomey Thanks Diarmaid!

The NYC tale has a second part too...but maybe don't read this if you're eating... postcardsfromholly.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/close-… #EmbarrassingTales

So to feed your filthy habit, if you're bored you can read about how I was abandoned in NYC but then met a boy: postcardsfromholly.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/close-…

But the most interesting part was how interested the followers suddenly became when I started tweeting about embarrassing stuff. You SICKOS!

But UNLIKE that particular dating misadventure, at least someone showed up this time. Was beginning to think it was me...

Unfortunately by that stage as I had been mournfully tweeting about my dating misadventures to kill time, my phone battery died

Then POW! Within five minutes of each other, @pogmogoal & @hilsallen turned up - PHEW!

So yes, last night was a bit scary. Stood on my own at the bar for an hour & a half thinking no one was coming :-(

@redmadden @pogmogoal @Hollytorious @hilsallen Yeah, once again Brenda didn't turn up. Where IS that woman?!

@eatlikeagirl @TanneryDungarva Hi *waves*. I'm also at @hollytorious for day to day mumblings

Photographic evidence that SOME people turned up last night (L-R): @pogmogoal @hollytorious @hilsallen #TweetUp pic.twitter.com/4LxucWmT

@FutureStateIRL @LDNIrishCentre @irishinbritain ha ha - thanks!

@DianaJSpencer Perhaps this is where I went wrong!

@ms_awesomelife No, I was waiting for a different guy but for some reason, the old man thought I was a girl named Brenda that he was meeting

@koth Thanks!

@PurpleTravel @PeopleofLeeds @PeopleOfUK @sweden @TweetWeekUSA Thanks!

Good morning: youtube.com/watch?v=qu4v5h…

@contrepeter @hilsallen @pogmogoal Sadly we've headed home now!

@chrisdaygalway @hilsallen @pogmogoal Hell yeah!

@mrsims82 Thank you, very kind. I'm usually @Hollytorious

Sadly none of the 12 who signed up made it in the end. But it was certainly an interesting experience ;-)

For the record, @hilsallen was only a maybe & @pogmogoal only found out about the event at 6pm - big up both of them for coming along

Also, the advantage of small numbers meant we could ditch the crap pub for private members club @SohoHouse #TweetUp #win

I'm declaring #TweetUp a success. Only 2 showed up but they were wonderful. Thanks @hilsallen @pogmogoal for making the effort, appreciated

@eilisnic Thanks Eilis, two came in the end, phew!

Woowoo, @pogmogoal & @hilsallen have just turned up. #Tweetup success but my ph battery is almost flat, sorry folks

@rob2mcgrath oh really? It's on Warwick St behind Piccadilly

@bmacgo ooh, it may still be happening!

@pogmogoal @hilsallen Ok, will wait for you

Ooh, two people say they're coming now *dashes back to bar, all is forgiven*

Hmm, thinking of going home & wondering if this is why I don't hang out with Irish people in London #flakey

@auntyamo there's hope for us all then

@pogmogoal maybe! What time can you get here? Thinking of going home tbh

@paulmwatson oh, he cancelled in the end, story of my life

@snastablasta no no, he was looking for a different person

@neatfreak_ ha ha, just went up to a redhead asking if she was Blahnaid, repeating my own dating story

@bmacgo Sum total of zero so far

@neatfreak_ you're here? I'm in green at the bar

@pogmogoal yes, please come rescue me! Two people are allegedly coming after 8, I'm unconvinced

For more of my dating misadventures, allow me to refer you to postcardsfromholly.blogspot.com. Look for the NYC 2-parter, decidedly unclassy ;-)

Actually that was a bit of a shit story, but it was short enough for twitter

Or maybe "Brenda" was half his age on the lookout for a sugar daddy? Who knows? I left before she arrived. If she arrived that is...

And I wondered [Carrie Bradshaw style], how did he think he had pulled a girl at least 30 years younger than him?!

I look up "No, I'm Holly". He looks crestfallen. "I'm meeting a woman from the internet called Brenda here." "Sorry, not me."

So this guy in his FIFTIES comes up to me (I'm 22) & says "Brenda?" I don't realise he's talking to me. "Brenda?" he says again, urgently

Oh god, feeling I may have built this story up too much now...

@james_mc_f me too, feeling decidedly uncomfortable right now

@tannerydungarva ha, my dad knows I'm a liability ;-) I can no longer shock him

@mrsims82 Thanks comrade, think you're the only one drinking with me ;-)

@irishinbritain aww thanks *weeps*

Arranged to meet a guy in his 20s for a date at Eros nr Piccadilly Circus, rather near this pub in fact

About 10 years ago, I did a spot of internet dating. Yeah, get me, I was way ahead of the curve...

Oh well, while I wait for everyone to NOT turn up (but what about the diamonds & dancing girls?), let me revolt you with this story

@tannerydungarva @eatlikeagirl Thanks! Very kind

13 years in London & I'm turning English. Too scared to talk to ANYONE at this bar #TweetUp

@rob2mcgrath Are you still coming? I'm here but people are bailing left, right & centre

@darren_walsh51 Aahh! *taps nose knowingly*

@darren_walsh51 ha ha, but then how can I pay for the cubic zirconia...I mean diamonds...

Trying to see if I can acertain what "Irish people" look like #Tweetup

Feeling slightly like a hooker on the prowl now #Tweetup

I'm here *waves*. Stood at the bar, green top, come on people

@pogmogoal In The Warwick pub near Piccadilly, scroll back my timeline & you'll find the addy in a doodle link

Running late kids - should be at the Warwick around 6.45pm #TweetUp

@theartdictator Gawd..then I'll have to start buying cashew nuts if bloody FASHION people are coming ;-)

@Fintasm Yes his coverage of the genocide was incredible and quite simply mind-boggling. I recall the image he painted of bodies in river

@theartdictator I think my mum even gave me an article about her and said she was Irish. Or else, I really am mixing her up w/someone else

@theartdictator But it's going to be the bestest party in the world ever (I think about 4 people are coming, real talk)

@theartdictator I was having a senior moment - was thinking of Glenda Bailey for some reason, who's totally English!

@ken_nicoletti I know, think of the diamonds...

@constantwaif Thanks Grace! We'll raise a glass to those who won't be with us (in the partying sense)

@auntyamo YES! Oh hang on. NO!

@brianocofaigh that's how we roll when I organise @ireland TweetUp parties - no expense spared for my lovely followers

@zkhashram Cubic zirconia in the post to you my friend...I mean diamonds, real, genuine, shiny diamonds...

[They won't suspect A THING]

Yes London followers, EVERYTHING is going to plan. You're going to be enthralled #TweetUp

[Prints out map of Soho's strip clubs]

[and peanuts]

[Runs to Argos to stock up on Cubic Zirconia] [Then runs to Tescos to grab some cava] [Throws some sparklers in the shopping basket too]

[Desperately tries to think of a new magic name to avoid going bankrupt]

Doh!

But only if you can figure out that my name is Rumpelstiltskin doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

There's also going to be a big fireworks display, the finest foods known to man, and goodie bags with genuine diamonds doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

So London homies, who is coming to the TweetUp tonight doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23… I've hired dancing girls, male strippers, bought champagne...

@Contrepeter Thanks!

@Enaregina @bomulligan @timmygadget @FutureStateIRL @Rob2McGrath @hilsallen This is the only eve I'm free this week, sorry :-(

@xfirefishx Well some people are joining at 7.30/8 I believe so keep your eyes on twitter if you would like to join us later

@Enaregina @bomulligan @timmygadget @futurestateirl @Rob2McGrath @hilsallen Numbers are dwindling - you guys still up for meeting this eve?

@seacliffbroome Yes, but it wasn't - all the cubicles were the same!

@MiguelDelaney @TheKavOfficial A brief note here - guess she's doing family stuff: dk.co.uk/nf/Author/Auth…

@MiguelDelaney Thanks Miguel

Another recommendation - Vincent Boland at the FT - from @theleggalamb

Oops - nearly forgot the lovely @ManusCranny on Bloomberg News #IrishJournalists

@theleggalamb Who is Lex? Can't find by googling!

So yes, Orla Guerin, the late Veronica Guerin (no relation), @migueldelaney @ConorMcNamaraIE, the service @storyful, any more?

@redmadden Well happy birthday to @FergalM3!

@conorleeson Certainly not...like I said - I'm TERRIBLE at telling accents apart!

Must also mention Fiona Hayes @theartdictator who was the art director for Russian Vogue. She's currently at GQ India I believe... v.glam!

I know the editor of one of the big fashion magazines is Irish but can't remember her name. @theartdictator do you know who I mean?

Which Irish journalists (and other media types) are shining internationally?

I think it's an industry in which the Irish really shine. I was particularly inspired as a teen by Fergal Keane's coverage of Rwanda

So further to my previous discussions around Irish art, my other passion is Irish journalism, as that's technically my trade!

@jeditraining ha ha!

@jeditraining Sorry bout that but I hope the next curator provides better intellectual stimulation! Til then, how about a nice cup of tea?

@brianocofaigh ...Chinese weddings, where both brides are tiny. Think I'll be on my knees for both sets of photos ;-)

@brianocofaigh Thank you, that's very kind. Feel free to say hi @hollytorious to hear about my adventures as a bridesmaid at 2 forthcoming..

And further to identifier no.1, I am NOT the man with the beard in the photo...thanks...

Will hang around the bar area of the Warwick (like a floozie) and will tweet an update if we find a seating area...

I'll be wearing heels, so should be around 6'1" so just look for Gigantor propping up the bar with a G&T

As I've decided to represent @ireland I'll be wearing a green top & green eyeshadow (but black jeans & black cardigan)

@xfirefishx Yes, loads of people ask me if I'm American, though when I was growing up, Irish people thought I was English #NoWinSituation

@xfirefishx Jack of all trades - will explain more tonight - but comms mgr for a charity + freelance art journo + occassional art pr ;-)

@auntyamo I don't know who that is - is that a bad thing?

@brianocofaigh I know there's that very naselly one - if that the one they call a D4 accent? [Not good with Dublin postcodes]

@xfirefishx Ha - I can't even tell Cork & Kerry and I'm from Cork. Well, I can tell the harsh Cork accent but not the regular one ;-)

@carnsoreboxer That's a shame. My friends here tend to have a much better grasp of Irish history and current economic situation that I do!

Here in England, I find it much easier to tell if someone's from Manchester or Liverpool or Newcastle or Somerset or Birmingham, etc., etc.,

Having said that, I'm RUBBISH at identifying regional Irish accents. I can pick out Dublin, and obviously Northern Ireland, but that's it!

@StoneHuts innit! [See how I try to adopt their lingo?!]

@cathalkeogh Very true. These ones were spotless, just v.bizarre!

@Diarmaid_Twomey Ahh bless you!

@carnsoreboxer Oh lordy, that's hilarious...

@brianocofaigh @RemiRough I love Ofili's work, however Ye's work reminded me more of the mad pop colours of Takashi Murakami

The work behind us is by Ye Hongxing & is made of hundred (thousands?) of stickers screamlondon.com/exhibitions/cu…

So here's me last night after I unexpectedly ran into artist @remirough at Scream Gallery launch pic.twitter.com/4ES72Dff

@timmygadget @Enaregina @Rob2McGrath @bomulligan @ccrossan @futuresta @xfirefishx @hilsallen Come along after, am sure we'll still be there

@LDNIrishCentre Oh boo...but who knows - maybe a future curator will organise one again

@hilsallen Great

@MaryECostello Ha ha - it is glorious though!

@janescanlan You were right - scarf came off 10 mins into the walk and gloves came off about 15 minutes later!

@helena_bonett @royalacademy Thanks Helena!

@jason_house Of course I'm wearing the pants - literally AND figuratively

Right, now it's office time. Like Hammer time, but less energetic...

@hilsallen Sure thing - I'll keep an eye on twitter during the eve - plan so far is The Warwick near Piccadilly - would be great to see you

So it definitely feels like autumn today in London. Beautiful blue skies but chilly. I've just dug out my scarf & gloves (but no coat!)

@Rob2McGrath Excellent - see you later!

@Enaregina Sadly I am too...the free wine last night was not the one ;-)

So tonight's London meetup IS happening. 6.30pm at the Warwick, Piccadilly. doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23… I'll be the one in black...

@ireland @Enaregina @xfirefishx @bomulligan @ccrossan @timmygadget @LDNIrishCentre @futuresta @Rob2McGrath I can get there for 6.30pm

@Enaregina @xfirefishx @bomulligan @ccrossan @timmygadget @LDNIrishCentre @futuresta @Rob2McGrath Near Piccadilly and 50% off booze til 8pm

@Enaregina @xfirefishx @bomulligan @ccrossan @timmygadget @LDNIrishCentre @futuresta @Rob2McGrath Shall we try here? thewarwick.co.uk

@LDNIrishCentre @Rob2McGrath @futuresta Ha ha, no, still working on it!

@chriscrumble I *did* see you!

Morning! *waves*

Wow, just found out one of the guys at dinner works with David Bailey (the photograper) - WOW

Oh I love my life in London, love these unplanned get togethers with random arty people

Have now been dragged by them for dinner at a Mexican restaurant with 4 others, so far I've only had a margarita ;-)

So decided to go to Scream gallery opening & ran into artists @WayneChisnall & @RemiRough #SmallWorld

@hannigancork Oh, ok, I think I may have missed the joke then! Do explain #BitSlow

@hannigancork Do you mean because they don't deal exclusively in Irish artists? Most big galleries have an intl roster of artists...

@fhayesmccoy Apparently his work is also on show at the RHA in Dublin too

The Kerlin Gallery is showing at @friezelondon but Frieze doesn't list the countries for its galleries so maybe there are more? #Irishart

Does anyone know which Irish galleries are going to be exhibiting at forthcoming art fairs? FIAC in Paris has none it seems... #art

@Damian_Barr It's a veritable slur on your good name, don't they know you're part of the temperance movement?! #LitSalon

Dublin gets in on the act! RT @GirloftheSummer The ESB's collection of Sean Keating paintings are on show at the RHA rhagallery.ie/html/exhibitio…

And then I found this website for Irish botanical artists! irishorchidsociety.org/artists.php #art

@Contrepeter When you said heavy rain, I was thinking of Ireland ;-)

So shout out to my father (who twitter stalks me!) who mentioned the artist Sean Keating who's on at the Crawford, Cork crawfordartgallery.ie

@Damian_Barr Yeah, Irish...you've probably had more than two speakers over the years! Was running out of space to explain!

The lovely @damian_barr hosts #LitSalon. Previous salons feat Irish author Colm Toibin and Cork resident David Mitchell. Have I missed any1?

@Enaregina #firstclassworldproblems more like ;-)

Debating what to do tonight. Literary Salon at Shoreditch House or opening party of a new gallery in Fitzrovia? #ConflictedSocialite

@Enaregina @xfirefishx @bomulligan @ccrossan @timmygadget @LDNIrishCentre @futuresta @rob2mcgrath Soho is fine...tho numbers are dropping!

Continuing the bat theme - check out these baby bats in blankets - SO CUTE! (esp no. 8) buzzfeed.com/gavon/baby-bat… #BatWalk

@Contrepeter Oh boo - where are you coming back from?

Alan Nagle was recommended by @Dreendrikel - I like his graphic bird illustrations: yellowhammerillustration.com/25486/208516/g…

@IanHealy Boo - you can't sneak away for a "lunch break"?

@CiderIreland @irishbotanical Yes - I spotted that - it automatically made her my favourite ;-)

More recommendations from @clockwork_rob @MJGillustration @SteveSimpson & @AlanDunneDOTie

@theartdictator @OliverJeffers Thanks for the tips Fi

@CiderIreland @irishbotanical That's cool!

@timmygad @LDNIrishCentre @futuresta @rob2mcgrath Does Farringdon work for tmrw night or would you prefer Soho? (Better pubs in F'don)

@contrepeter @enaregina @bomulligan @IanHealy @ccrossan @xfirefishx Does Farringdon work for tmrw night or would you prefer Soho?

So illustrators you recommend include @anniewestdotcom @irishbotanical @oliverjeffers @phewsha & PJ Lynch #art #illustration

@MaryLooby1 @SheenaDempsey Check out her thumbnails for her book on her blog: sheena-dempsey.blogspot.co.uk

@conorjh I'm not - it's GREAT - and very educational - keep em coming!

What other Irish illustrators are excelling at the moment? #art

One Irish illustrator that I am a fan of (and am lucky to know) is @sheenadempsey who writes & illustrates beautiful children's books

Jim Fitzpatrick is the guy who did the iconic Che Guevara image btw: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fitzp… #art

So one Irish artist no one mentioned yesterday was Jim Fitzpatrick. Is that because his work is more like illustration?

The London followers of @Ireland tweetup is coming along nicely. Will announce a venue later - come along tmrw night: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@whendowelive @Nerin_ Really? #tempted

@theauldbogroad Ha ha - no, went on a #BatWalk last night and clearly they invaded my subconscious!

Right, to the BATMOBILE!! [I mean office...and on foot]

@mynameisedd @jenniecph @sweden There's LOADS - most countries have them @iam_pakistan @i_amGermany @weareUkraine @weareFrance etc., etc.,

@redmadden ha ha, brilliant

@IrishBinka Oh my god - they have West Coast Cooler *runs to the store*

Poor blighters must be half starved to death in Ireland in that case #BatWalk #RainAverse

So final #BatWalk fact for you - the reason they don't fly in the rain is because their dinner doesn't go out in the rain either ;-)

@adamjld That's very considerate of you

@adamjld Ahh, I thought a microsecond would be enough for all the sharp minds out there ;-)

Thanks to @ShaunakSA & @mckenna1977 for this funny dating ref: i.imgur.com/doLTA.jpg

I used to love Batman on TV! RT @Nerin_ @ireland This is how it starts... Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na Ireland!

If you missed my [ahem] exciting adventures in Regent's Park, London last night, then click on #BatWalk for the full run down ;-)

Ahoy! Morning all. Guess what featured in my dream last night? Yup, you guessed it - BATS! #BatWalk

@IrishBinka No I haven't! Will have to check it out. Someone else mentioned the Asda in Surrey Quays having an Irish section too #funny

Here is @profkatejones demonstrating echo-location on one of the participants #BatWalk pic.twitter.com/Kbxx1mWc

@TriploidTree @celaV @ProfKateJones Yes, it was great fun - and Kate - I'm usually @hollytorious!

@jackifus yeah, torch is British English and flashlight is American English!

@ShaunakSA ha ha!

@Rob2McGrath Here are the details in case you're around next week wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/event…

@jacqs70 Here you go: wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/event… Think there's another one next week

@brianocofaigh Amazing - bet they had some good ones out there

@RampantRichie Yes, they had these gadgets that you tune into the bat's frequency and they beep when the bat is nearby

Whoops, should have brought a torch #BatWalk

@jacqs70 no prob

@rob2mcgrath In Regents Park but the gates are locked now. Another next week I think

@andobrien Regent's park

Stood on a bridge trying to spot bats skimming over the water. The radar picks them up but we just see big moths, eek #BatWalk

Now I can hear 'em but can't see 'em #BatWalk

To clarify, I'm the one who is tweeting & dodging the lake, not the bats ;-) #BatWalk

They are actually swooping above our heads, this is pretty cool. Also, trying not to veer into the lake while tweeting #BatWalk

Apologies for mammal confusion, it's that bats are more genetically similar to us than mice says @profKateJones #BatWalk

Two people have machines that allow you to hear the bat calls, almost sounds like a bird #BatWalk

We've just seen loads of bats, the detectors are chirping away, funny sound when they eat an insect #BatWalk

#BatWalk is being led by @ProfKateJones so you can direct qs to her, tho she's not online right now

Apparently we'll be using bat locators, so talking about the different frequencies the different species use #BatWalk

A load of pigeons started flying, everyone looked up excitedly, oh the disappointment #BatWalk

Hmm...need to get clarification on the rat/mammal point...perhaps she said mice? #BatWalk

Fact 3: Only 3 of 1,200 species of bats drink blood, only 1 drinks human blood & that's in S.America - phew! #BatWalk

Fact 2: Bats are responsible for pollination. No bats would mean no tequila apparently! #BatWalk

Fact 1: Bats are mammels so they're closer to humans than to rats! #BatWalk

@sarahmccrann prob 6.30, venue tba!

@Ashfeldt It's the actual rain apparently - I'll find out tonight and report back!

@Joryansparkles Oh my gawd, I'd be having nightmares for months after that!

@SarahMcCrann Ahh - another Londoner - are you coming along on Thurs? doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

Also MUST take down the Olympic bunting tonight! pic.twitter.com/xE7KhG5g

Well the dark clouds have passed so hopefully the bats will be out tonight!

@hilsallen Ahh right, I think I have heard of that. Oh well, good luck with your match!

@hilsallen I have absolutely no idea what that it!

@TWkLGBTQ Oh I know that, just don't want anything flying too close to my head #wimp

@hilsallen Well it's a beautiful place to go nerding! Are you around for the London meet up on Thurs? doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@CarlowCountyMus @GatheringIRL That sounds wonderful - good work!

@TWkLGBTQ Yes! Although I'm worried I might get a bit freaked out! Am bringing a friend so I have someone to hold on to, ha ha!

@joeystrider The @dublinfringe seems to have lots of good stuff on - enjoy!

So has anyone more exciting plans than going on a bat walk?! I believe there's a football match on tonight... [suppresses a yawn]

So it's sunny in London but I can also see some dark clouds looming and apparently bats don't fly in the rain - who knew?

@timmygadget Shouldn't that be "packing :-)"? Think of the sushi...

So does anyone have anything fun planned for this evening? I'm going on a Bat Walk in Regent's Park - hope it won't be too scary :-/

And just a reminder for London-based followers - we're having a meetup on Thursday: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@LDNIrishCentre @irishinbritain That's very kind of you to offer - thank you. Aiming for zone 1, but I'll let you know & thanks again

Solved the mystery of which Irish gallery is showing at @ABMB. It's Mother's Tankstation in Dublin - has anyone been? #art

Two more - Gearoid Hayes and our Venice 2011 representative Corban Walker

Have also been reminded that @anewspace did a Dublin street art tour while curating this account in April: worldirish.com/ireland/36 #art

@igaeilge That's great - thanks Concubhar

And despite making contact with the Arts Council in 2011, they never emailed this to me: artscouncil.ie/en/news/news.a… It's just a pity I guess...

I've already received press releases with various countries' plans for 2013 Venice Biennale. Ireland only recently announced its plans...

So here's an example of why maybe Ireland isn't at the top of the contemporary art world. As I freelance journalist, I cover the art...

@Magsodo Just shouted him out. Ahh yes, slow on the uptake, only just spotted the matching surnames! Like his work tho

Two more for you: Gearóid Ó Duinnín and Enda O Donoghue #art

@Magsodo @endaism Ooh - I like. Reminds me of US-based artist Alexandra Pacula

@igaeilge Really like the look of his paintings. Is he on twitter? (I'm not on FB sadly)

An Irish artist I know & would recommend is Conor Harrington @conorsaysboom, he recently had a fab show in London which I believe sold out!

Well @conorjh really knows his stuff! Other top contemporary artists: Willie Doherty, Brian O'Doherty, Michael Farrell & Sean Scully #art

@conorjh Thanks - gonna tweet this list now - lots of good names!

@MaryECostello Yes, excellent artist but not contemporary - looking more at those working after 1950

I also need to big up @psneeze for best Irish art fact: Did you know Ireland won a medal for art in 1948 Olympics? bit.ly/P9ESBF

The one and only Francis Bacon - doh! Born in Ireland to British parents...we can stake a claim on him, right??

Hang on, hang on, hang on...I've just remembered a BIG name artist...although this can be contested I guess...

I also was interested to learn about Amanda Coogan the performance artist. Quite like that kind of thing & she worked with Marina Abramovic!

Some more coming in - Dermot Seymour, Louis le Brocquy, and Samuel Walsh. Richard Mosse is a fantastic photographer and one of my top picks.

@IrelandHandball Erm, would that be the artform of rugby?

@StoneHuts @safefood_eu Yes, only took them half a day :-)

@StoneHuts @CoimicGael @breac_an_tsil @unakavanagh Yes, definitely, but interested in contemporary so 1950s onwards

Irish artists I've been pointed towards include Dorothy Cross, John Behan, Edward Delaney, Harry Clarke, Mick O'Dea & Cian McLoughlin

@Ashfeldt Guess it's to do with if he considers himself to be Irish. I'm like Jack Charlton & will accept anyone with a % of Irishness!

@CoimicGael @StoneHuts @breac_an_tsil @unakavanagh [deep inhalation of breath] - that's heartbreaking!

Proof that Twitter makes you fat

All that talk of CornedBeefvsSaltBeef yesterday meant I got a salt beef sandwich for lunch!

@auntyamo Thanks Annmarie and nice to meet you @AlanHurleyArt

@MaryECostello Yes perhaps, and easy to produce multiples of books

@unakavanagh @conorjh @MaryECostello Yes, Clarke is fab, remind me of Arthur Rackham or Aubrey Beardsley - love that style

@unakavanagh @MaryECostello Yes, but many countries' taxi-drivers can name at least one of their artists but ours prob can't despite talent

@zkhashram Ha ha, yes indeed!

@robertbabington that sounds great

@paddycullivan Yes, I like their paintings - thanks for the tip

@conorjh She's definitely one to add to the list - thanks - I wasn't familiar with her work

@unakavanagh @ken_nicoletti Is that for 2013? Are Heneghan Peng designing a new pavilion then? (Seeing as we don't have a permanent one)

@LeFiffre Wow - I never knew those were the figures - that's actually incredible

...but then how does that explain Joyce, Beckett, Shaw - our "famous Irish writers" who also lived/worked abroad?

So a few people have suggested that lack of famous Irish artists is due to them having to live/work abroad...

Right - need to walk to the office (late again, I'm blaming ALL of you!!) - but I will get back to those who have tweeted and keep thinking!

@LDNIrishCentre Hi @GaryDunne, erm, let me have a little thing about a venue first and I'll get back to you this aft - that ok?

@LDNIrishCentre Yup - venue still tbc tho!

@jason_house Thanks! That link has been favourited by a load of people now!

@paulmwatson @Nerin_ Yes, perhaps a screenshot would have worked better in that article, but hey ho!

@MarketsAlive Ha ha, drugs for the artists and booze for the writers, eh?

@unakavanagh @MaryECostello So who is our equivalent to Anthony Gormley or Henry Moore?

@JHNKNNY I thought there were some in Dublin, but now I'm thinking they were prob contemporary in 1920s, not so much now

@ken_nicoletti Yes, I saw the pavilion at Venice last year. I liked it, but felt the work was very similar to Anthony Gormley :-(

@MaryECostello Exactly...do you have an answer?

@hellofrmSG You mean doing the weekly rotation thing?

Where are our Damien Hirsts, Tracey Emins, Lucien Freuds, Andy Warhols, Pablo Picassos? There *was* Jack Yeats a long time ago I suppose...

We're a creative country, we have good art schools, so where are those artists going? Surely they can compete against intl artists?

Example: Cork-born Chloe Early exhibited @ScopeArtShow in Miami last year chloeearly.com/ce_flash.php yet there were 100s of UK artists there

@psneeze @eolai I live the idea of a social media fuelled painting tour - very cool

And here's some background on the Miami art fairs for you. I went last December - there was A LOT to see: postcardsfromholly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/my-fav…

Yesterday I received a press release from @ABMB (Art Basel Miami Beach) which said they would have ONE Irish gallery, anyone know which one?

I'm specifically referring to Irish contemporary art in the intl sphere. I travel to many art fairs & biennials yet rarely see Irish work

@Nieceynow Wow! No wonder you're knackered. Suppose he probably is too ;-)

Today I'm planning to pick your brains about contemporary Irish art in the hope that it can soon be my Mastermind topic of choice

@Nieceynow How did he do in the end? I missed it.

@iam_pakistan Afternoon Jazib!

@hannigancork This is EARLY for me!

@kuykendalljsa Yes, I will endeavour to remember to give a special shout-out to Kansas!

@elbon2 @PTHosford Hmm...I'm not sure. I know TK but the ciderette part isn't ringing a bell. Now I MUST find it!

If you wanted to watch Shock of the New but can't access BBC iPlayer, then @jason_house sent a link for all 8 episodes: goo.gl/Fdw0r

Good morning Vietnaaaaaaaaaaa, no, no, no Irelaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand!!

@andobrien Oh don't you start now!! I think they've just plucked a figure from the sky tbh!

@aidancoughlan Yes, my mistake, sorry. I do some work in UK Gov policy so have a suspicious mind!

@GreenClouds4 @Claredaisy Makes sense for them to pool budgets in that case, wonder if they do?

@aidancoughlan I said "who knows" - I certainly don't know. It's not an unheard of practice in the world

Oh crikey, I need to quickly watch episode 2 of The Shock of the New before it expires on iPlayer #art

@JanWWBosch And infect the moon too? You're like some sort of evil scientist...

@Claredaisy I don't think so..seems to be this lot: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Safe… but who knows if there are kickbacks going on...

I love that of all the issues discussed today, it's the #safefood campaign discussion that has been the most contentious

@datalore_tv @ChangEvery2Days @paulmwatson @socialistHR The Metro is published by the same people as the Daily Mail, they're both quite mad

@JanWWBosch Thank you. Should I book my flights or will it be coming in the post?

@Claredaisy Gin *does* kill germs. By god, I think you're onto something... *jumps into bath of gin*

@StoneHuts think I did it in 38 sonnets

@StoneHuts ha ha

But I'll be back in a while. If you have nothing better to do, you can time me to see how long it takes me to walk 2.5 miles...

Right kids, I need to walk home. Now that you've revealed me to be a gin-swilling, non-cleaning, fastfood-eating cretin, I need to exercise

@StoneHuts You can try - just say Ireland told you so...I'm almost like the Government..honest...

@OLDEFARM I want to join them for dinner!

@paulmwatson @socialistHR Oh gawd, you're stressing me out, I'll exhale and THEN stop breathing

@conorleeson @susankilkenny Megalolz - full points for that tweet - I bow to greatness...

Attention! I have solved the #safefood dishcloth conundrum. Throw away all dishcloths & stop cleaning #ProblemSolved [pats self on the back]

@susankilkenny @conorleeson Oh that's ok tho...but was the bread fully cooked????

@socialistHR Ha - it's fine - I just won't breathe - that will show them!

@susankilkenny @conorleeson Not...DAIRY...products. I'll get social services onto you...

@BlakeCreedon Yes, didn't Murphys or someone have that ad about 93.2% of all statistics being made up?!

@CarlstedtRana Who knew they were so dangerous. Wait til they find out about kitchen knives...

@eds209 Thanks! You've also spared yourself from death too...I will protect you when I launch my attack...

@susankilkenny @conorleeson And make sure you wear gloves before handling them. And make sure you throw out gloves every hour #safefood

@ramcguinness Exactly...I confess to keeping mine for weeks on end and nothing's ever happened to... [thud]

@wholesomeIE @NaomiMindy @susanjharrison Yes, but can you actually boil j-cloths?

@susanjharrison Hmm, yes, am still not convinced

@NaomiMindy @wholesomeIE That made me LOL for real

@celaV @BlakeCreedon Ha ha yes, maybe you cry Bingo when you get a full house!

@StoneHuts exactly!

@wholesomeIE @naomimindy Yes, I think washing is fine, they seem to be suggesting binning them, v.bizarre

@nikkers09 It tastes great but it may turn your insides orange #justsayin'

@tim_brannigan Yes. My friend taught me the "what colour is my sofa" q. I guess I lost you somewhere...

In fact, I recommend checking out #safefood - some delightfully sarcastic tweets under that hashtag

This is the #safefood ad with the dubious claim I'm referring to: twitpic.com/at78of

Really? Really? Two days? This seems utterly bizarre. Surely we'd all be dead from food poisoning if it was that big a problem

Glad I went home to Cork at the weekend to be in on the joke from my last RT. Saw a billboard for throwing away washing cloths after 2 days.

See, proof of small world. Just got a RT from @BlakeCreedon (thanks!) who is my old friend Caroline's uncle.

@LeFiffre Not that, just that I could only find work in big cities because I work in communications

@nikkers09 Well, they have it in Tescos in Dublin and it's everywhere is Cork, no idea for the rest of the country...

@tim_brannigan He, too, was unimpressed... #SomeOfThePeopleSomeOfTheTime

@tim_brannigan I learned that q from a friend. She was interviewing rapper Ludacris & he said there's nothing I haven't been asked before...

@tim_brannigan Surprisingly close to the truth #busted

Typically because there's too much on here, @irishmammies is on at the same time as the Tino Sehgal talk @FriezeLondon #Conflicted

Am now v.excited. Just found out my personal fav twitterer - @irishmammies - is coming to London next month londonirishcentre.org/events/comedy-…

@nikkers09 It's a softdrink, made by CocaCola, like tangerine Fanta, v.popular in Cork. Does not taste of tangerines...obviously...

@tim_brannigan Do you know what colour my sofa is? [I think I could be onto a winner here...]

So @RobTheChick thinks that someone's eyelashes could follow this account. I like the idea but WILL IT RAISE THE NUMBERS? *flutters lashes*

Oh it would never work...how could a tenth of a person follow @ireland? And which tenth? Their hand? Their foot? Their teeth?

Also noticed that this account is a mere 820 followers short of 10,000. So it everyone asked a tenth of a person to follow...

@OLDEFARM Is that soda bread in the bottom left?

Yes ladies and gentlemen. Back to the most important thing we discussed ALL DAY. Proof that Tanora has reverted to its original recipe.

Important news flash!! @PTHosford has uncovered some incredible evidence for us: Look @ireland here it is! pic.twitter.com/WRV4XKAu

@tim_brannigan Are you bored of me already?! Handover is on Sunday night...

@redmadden Why yes, that will bring the punters in! Will you be joining us?

@BMacGo Mmm...so tasty ;-)

@auntyamo Yes, I know. If only I could stop pigging out on biscuits in the office I'd be sorted!

@BMacGo Hmm...sometimes...or a liquid dinner. Don't usually get home til after 11pm so not hungry at that stage. But I snack A LOT at work!

@redmadden Yes...perhaps I could invent a new cocktail

@Nieceynow My beloved father fed me up on them over the weekend - SO GOOD!

I'm definitely aging backwards. I was so mature at uni, staying in, cooking, now I'm out every evening. Oh hang on, I have a salary now!

@PeopleOfCanada At least you were a student though! I'm *supposed* to be grown up!

@BMacGo Not really. I buy cereal for breakfast, bread and soup for office lunches, and crackers & cheese for late night snacks!

I like to think of it as unintentional dieting ;-)

When I moved to London, I used to cook proper meals all the time. Now my fridge just has milk and tonic water (to go with all that gin!)

@mikeneglia Yes, I think it's really important that we all read each other's literature to learn where other people are coming from

Hmm...homemade sodabread again for dinner? Yup that will work because I have NO food at home...ever

@mygoddelusion What, you mean reading when you should be paying attention?!

@brianocofaigh Well @regnom suggested that maybe they swapped reading materials later in the night, making them equally cool!

@RegNom Now that really would be cool!

@Marcc68 Probably not then - this is my cousin: jennyhowe.com

@ribe6760 Was it you in the departures lounge?!

@walkcork ha ha, true, true...

@walkcork Yes - I was so impressed!

And I was looking at them both in amazement, wishing I could take a sneaky photo (I couldn't). #OppositesAttract

Last night at Cork airport there was a couple sitting opposite me. She was reading a Christian mag, he was reading a Richard Dawkins book!

@timmygadget innit!

@unakavanagh Wow - that looks amazing. Please shove some in an envelope and pop in the post thankyouplease

@Marcc68 Oh that's a pity - was beginning to think it was a very small world!

Having said that - I frequently run into people I know in London, which I always find baffling given that 8 million people live here...

So it seems like @Ireland is just like real Ireland - you can't go anywhere without running into someone you know ;-)

@enorris Hey Eoin - thanks for that :-)

@Marcc68 The jazz singer? That would be my first cousin!

My plans for this evening have been cancelled so might just stay on in the office for a while and do some more work, busy week ahead anyway!

So it looks like my London meetup on Thurs may well be going ahead. Do sign up if you're free: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@Marcc68 Many jobs! Run the Comms dept for a charity, do freelance journalism, also art pr, jack of all media trades really

@LDNIrishCentre @darraghdoyle @irishinbritain Thanks for signing up! doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@JohnGNolan I can imagine! Are you around on Thursday? doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@JohnGNolan Came to London for uni but always planned to stay afterwards - I love it. (Did slip away to Hong Kong for a short while tho!)

@I_amGermany You could confuse everyone and have an @Ireland tweetup in Cologne!

@Beanmimo @darraghdoyle Ssshhh! No one knows we're having an affair ;-)

@timmygadget Mmm...perhaps...shall have a think...and see how many people actually want to come

@TheSonicScrew Well if there's one you can recommend? Are you coming along?

@darraghdoyle Only the finest Champagnes dahling...

@timmygadget Ps - when you're in London: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@MaryLooby1 He was great! Not on FB, but follow me @Hollytorious. I also run the Culture Vultures - we go to a lot of plays!

Oh, and re Thursday's London meetup, it will NOT be in an Irish pub, because I fricking hate them *throws some controversy into the pot*

@darraghdoyle Oh I'm definitely planning on more than 15 ;-)

@MaryLooby1 Amazing - SO JEALOUS! We must arrange our own meet-up some time...

@MaryLooby1 I loved it (and cried!). Who did your flatmate play?

@Enaregina Add your name! doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@darraghdoyle Oh lordy, not sure I could cope with thousands of people. Seeing which followers are interested: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@constantwaif if you fancy it doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

@Isejael If you fancy it: doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

Oh crap - I think I'm organising a meet up for @Ireland's followers in London (& you don't have to be Irish to come): doodle.com/3kabt9w8vcap23…

We coud meet somewhere and stand in a room tweeting each other without making eye contact. Oh hang on, we're Irish, THAT would never work!

Oh no, what have I started? Do my London homies want a meet-up? It would have to be this Thurs eve? We don't even have to talk...

@constantwaif Yeah, felt I left for a reason and that was to meet new open-minded people but think younger generation is better now

@theauldbogroad Nah - definitely traitor because they sell Kerrygold but I pick Anchor because it's softer and doesn't rip my bread up ;-)

Ooh, the Red Arrows just did a fly-past - never a dull moment in London - think it was Olympic-related pic.twitter.com/6g4wHXeT

@NarcoDreamer Don't be scared, it will be amazing! Streets are paved with gold here depending on your interests, seriously

@MaryLooby1 Ooh - maybe we'll have to do a swap - a play opening for a gallery opening? Did you see Philadlphia at the Donmar btw?

Hmmm...lots of London-based Irish getting in touch...almost tempted to arrange a meet-up. Could form a modern ghetto #NotKilburn

@ReadoutSignpost Yes, of course!

@timmygadget Enjoy and eat as much as you can!

@ConzieSays @eleanormcevoy Well if the Irish gave out OBEs, I'd get you one for sure. But they don't. Unlucky my friend, unlucky...

@ConzieSays @eleanormcevoy Well, consider it a personal challenge from me [i.e. the WHOLE of Ireland] to find this data out before Sunday!!

@MaryLooby1 @x7o @IrishBinka Ain't that the truth ;-)

@ConzieSays @eleanormcevoy I'm B Monkey Positive so find out...waiting with baited breath in case it turns out I'm bad ;-)

@fhayesmccoy Nice blog. And I like your point that Irish is NOT Gaelic, tho that's what my parents call it, thought it was generational...

@MaryLooby1 Mayfair...but only for an hour which sounds a bit stingy to me!

Have just been invited to a Jim Beam party. Free booze is tempting but free bourbon, not so much. Unless they disguise it in cocktails...hmm

@lingmops @LeedsBookClub Dunnes used to sell pork pies when I was a kid. Used to be my "Saturday treat" #Loser

@notRuairi Well, if you do decide to take the plunge, feel free to reach out to me @Hollytorious

Ok y'all - I'm going to take a break because I have one of those 'job' things, so prob shouldn't sit here tweeting all day. Back later x

@unakavanagh Yeah, I think so too. One has British, the other Malaysian but Malay is a pain for getting visas, I'd swap for convenience!

@notRuairi Of course, I was a teenager then! But I still would be bored in Cork - I go out every night in London - galleries, theatre, etc.,

@notRuairi Back then I loved art and fashion, neither of which was happening in Cork. Also felt like an outsider, but fitted in in London

@theauldbogroad I know - SUCH a traitor *blushes*

@ConzieSays Hmm yes, tho I went to a Prodestant primary & a Catholic secondary so am fairly balanced, ha ha

@timmygadget I've always found Ireland to be rubbish at any Asian cuisines. I'm so spoilt here in London - sorry!

@ConzieSays I also found the Chinese to have similar values to the Irish re education, family, respect etc. Not sure if the same in Korea?

@ConzieSays Amazing. Have never been to Korea but will make it there one day. Lived in HK for a while tho and loved it ...

@timmygadget @LeedsBookClub Ooh...I do like pork pies...gawd I'm so unhealthy...

@unakavanagh That's great, two friends of mine are British/Malaysian but Malaysia still won't allow you to have both :-(

@TWkUSA @MoroccoCuration @PeopleOfCanada @CuratorsMexico @weareFrance @sweden @iam_pakistan Morn/Afternoon all! Lovely to meet you *waves*

@cormaggio I feel very at home here but that I never fit in when in Cork. Maybe cause I was a teenager then tho

@MaryLooby1 Yes, would be so much niver if we could

Reminded by @ConzieSays of the family issue. That would throw a massive spanner in the works 4 me as prefer Irish education system & values

@ConzieSays Excellent point - might have to raise that

@ChicaneryBear I don't know - that is what they sent to me!

@unakavanagh Ooh - where else can you apply for? I'm a Citizen of the World wannabe ;-)

@DirkVanBryn It can be a very tough call to leave one's home country - I'm just a big city kind of girl - I love Hong Kong too & lived there

@conorjh Me too - felt v.odd putting up flags for the Olympics (but a friend bought them for me, so felt obliged)

Shout out to my Fountainstown fans @Alan_199 @amhaincreations @deshocks If you haven't been to that Cork beach, DON'T, it's our secret!

Am impressed by the modern, liberal, thinking that abounds here. I'm feeling so proud to be Irish right now *Big Smile*

Wow. You guys. I'm AWED by your greatness, seriously. Have had lovely, considered, replies to the Rory McIlroy tweet

@iamDarragh Nope! Born and raised in Cork, now living in London. You don't have to live in Ireland to be Irish ;-)

But oh...if I won the Euromillions, I would buy a holiday home in Fountainstown, Cork. I miss Irish beaches so badly, in summer or winter.

That's not to criticise Ireland, but it can't fulfil my interests the way London can and I would struggle to find work there too.

When I left Ireland, I couldn't wait to see the back of it. Now I'm older, I see what it has to offer, but still not sure I could live there

Having lived in London for 13 years, I'm still Irish not British. But I am proudly a Londoner and not a Corconian - I love this city SO MUCH

But would the poster also feel disgusted it the person had said American?

From @IrishBinka: "@ireland disgusted to read this! Anyone with thoughts? pic.twitter.com/H3e0ayEd". It's a touchy subject so be mature all!

So...it's lunchtime. You're eating Irish foods and feeling happy. Well, sounds like the right time to throw some controversy into the mix

@ChicaneryBear Boo :-(

@cormaggio boom boom!

@theauldbogroad No, Anchor butter, with tuna and unhealthy lashings of mayonnaise!

@helpwithdebt Yum #jealous

@seanfw I think that one most definitely is! Bravo my good fellow!

@cormaggio Yes sir, I believe you are. Now you know which subject to pick on Mastermind

Any Irish in London connected to GAA? Get in touch with @Frank11Guinness. I don't hang out with many Irish people here...

More from @cormaggio on #CornedBeefvSaltBeef: Seems like Irish corned beef dates to 12th Century: http://bit.ly/AaNal

So @unakavanagh seems to be the most adventurous/healthy as she recommends nettle soup as well as seawood soup - yum!

@robyntmorton Exactly - Kimberley are rubbish. Back me up to @davemolloy!

@spiritualissues Well an Australian sent me this so maybe you can have this instead: youtube.com/watch?v=kDzkA9…

I have just made us sound like a nation of lard-arses, but we eat healthy stuff too. Who has had seaweed soup?? (Not Japanese miso btw)

...and all the Irish followers can have a Tayto sandwich, with black pudding, Golden Crisp and Tanora, Club Orange or Cidona to drink!

I'm glad that loads of you are writing to tell me that you're feeling hungry because it's almost lunch time! Homemade sodabread for me...

@darraghdoyle Just don't dribble on the keyboard, can be tricky to clean up...

@SandraOCallagh @cormaggio Oh yes - I've heard of that but don't think I've ever tried it - sounds delish tho

@Frank11Guinness I'm not really connected to the Irish community at all here - sorry - but I can ask for you if you like?

Am told by @ofarry that salt beef & corned beef are the same, 'corned' refers to corns of salt used in the curing #CornedBeefvsSaltBeef

@Alan_199 Oh no! You'll just have to wheel out the emotional blackmail!

@shaybearshere Amazing! Might have to pop there and check it out!

Look what my mum made for me y'day to take back from Cork to London. (Note London Eye in the background!) pic.twitter.com/jeOywjfx

@robertbabington @PTHosford @gillmac Ahh - you need to find yourself a friend of Cork to show you the finer things in life - HA!

@vwdasher What a great ad - very Monty Python-esque

@davemolloy @auntyamo Oh bollocks. If it makes you feel any better, they also look revolting!

@robertbabington @PTHosford @gillmac It's a soft drink like Fanta but from tangerines (tho blatently synthetic!). V. popular in Cork

I think I hate all of my followers. You have all made me REALLY HUNGRY for foods I can't have (yeah, yeah, I know I started it...)

@davemolloy @auntyamo No, no, NO! It was because they're so grim that they had to smother them in choc to make them palatable - HA!

Word on the twitter street is that Tanora went back to the old recipe after an outcry - phew! @PTHosford @gillmac

@LeedsBookClub @timmygadget Oh yes...hmm...I did try pickled eggs. Hmmm...

Also debating with @davemolloy Kimberley vs Mikado. OBVIOUSLY Mikado are a million miles better...thoughts?

@davemolloy but them's the truth :-)

So been discussing with @cormaggio corned beef vs salt beef (I can get salt beef in London at bagel shop). Which came first?

@auntyamo Aww bless!

@timmygadget @LeedsBookClub Ha ha - surely you can get good fish & chips in Ireland, no?

@AislinnOT @LeedsBookClub @JaneyHurley Yes! And batter burgers - you can't get them outside of Ireland either it seems

@theauldbogroad To be honest, the day I'm not late will be a day for Ireland. Just varying degrees of lateness for me really!

@dulpit27 @joycorkery Yay - glad is has been changed back - was disgusted when I tried the new one!

@ailbhegrogan Chicken fillet rolls? As in burgers? Or a kind of sandwich?

@LeedsBookClub @JaneyHurley @AislinnOT Yes, MUST be fried.

@gillmac Speak to @PTHosford - he seems to buy it in Dublin - he said in Tescos

@PTHosford What what what? Does it have different packaging? How do you identify it? (Will send my dad to the shops at Christmas!)

@RegNom Noooooooooooo, I must have missed it #FAIL

@joycorkery You know you're Irish when you're obsessed with potato. Or Nigella Lawson, who is also a big fan

@ChicaneryBear No, more of a Tayto girl to be honest. What things do you/would you miss?

@shaybearshere No way - really? In Selfridges?? I've only found Mikado in Turkish corner shops bizarrely

@davemolloy Oh god no, don't like the ginger nut base in a Kimberley #MikadoForLife

@NarcoDreamer There is nothing wrong with chocolate in the morning. Cake is better but chocloate is good too

@danhanley Ha ha - yes, red lemonade - though the food colouring scares me (says the girl who drinks Tanora...)

@JaneyHurley @LeedsBookClub I've got my mum's brown bread with me in the office today #win

@constantwaif Oh yeah- I haven't had that for YEARS!

Ask @unakavanagh or @blathnaidhealy as they set this one up so could probably advise you on setting up a UAE account

@cormaggio Ahh yes - I make do with salt beef from the bagel shops in Brick Lane which is kind of similar

@iandevlin No, they were Tayto but in white packet & made in Northern Ireland

Yes please @nlireland ALL care packages would be gratefully received :-)

@iandevlin Aww Cidona, such a classic drink. Do those Taytos have different packaging cause the ones in the UK do weirdly

I used to miss Tanora but WHAT IS WITH THE NEW RECIPE? Tis an outrage. Maybe I'll use this week to campaign for CocaCola to change it back!

I also miss Taytos crisps & Mikado biscuits but once in a blue moon, you find them in London :-)

I miss Golden Crisp, West Coast Cooler & potato pies from the chippie! They're deepfried battered balls of potato if you've never had one

If you don't live in Ireland anymore, what food/drink do you miss? @leedsbookclub misses Club Orange & black and white pudding

@theartdictator Well it's still exercise, right?!

This morning I've already popped to @blackratgallery to pick up some art work I bought last week and now enroute to the office (a tad late)

@slid1980 Maybe it especially resonates with countries that are islands?

@LeedsBookClub Jumping is the way forward - I LOVE my life in London - so much to do!

@RegNom Yes, ha ha, we're definitely good at it!

@Enaregina Thanks! Going to be tweeting about art and media later in the week so stay tuned! What part of London are you in? I'm east!

@liamcredmond Thanks Liam - really enjoyed your tweets last week

@fahadaliG @UAE I don't know to be honest...

@ChrisMPaton Yes, although I was permanently mixing them up as a child!

I moved to London when I was 18 as I always dreamed of living here. My bro moved here in the 80s, but wasn't such a fan. Jumped or pushed?

@jtatcmf No pun - my teacher just seemed obsessed with it but my English friends have little interest! Wondering if it was an Irish thing

@poshknacker_1 @sweden Why I was a *delightful* 18-year old, I'll have you know!

@karenboconnell Yes, for sure!

@eilisnic Or more probably - I also did French & Italian for my Leaving Cert!

@poshknacker_1 @sweden Oh I promise an interesting week for sure! Gonna be discussing emigration and the Irish art market abroad!

@jackifus Ha ha, that must be it. Just remember my teachers being obsessed with us getting it right!

@TheKavOfficial Ha! You never hear mention of news on Fox News from what I can gather ;-)

Was thinking the other day, I wonder if Ireland is the only place where most people know the difference between immigration and emigration?!

@theartdictator Hey Fiona! Yeah...I can't really compete with the hot weather you're no doubt enjoying!

@pencreed Hi Penny *waves* and thanks!

@robertbabington Yes, I'm a child prodigy but shush now!

So in keeping with my dodgy rap theme, let me shout out to all my Irish homies in London (I'll drop this soon, I swear)

The upside of going home at the weekend was that it didn't rain in Cork...almost. Well it was definitely less than usual anyway...

So the downside of going home at the weekend was that everyone told me how HOT London was. Typical that I would miss the heatwave...

@unakavanagh tea to start, then coffee to power me through the day!

@iam_pakistan Thank you! I look forward to yours too - did you also start today?

@WeAreAustralia Oh no! Will have to read back through your timeline to see how you got on then!

@unakavanagh Well, tragically I need to head into the office, otherwise yes, I would most definitely be in bed - am not a morning person!

@paulmwatson Thanks Paul

@WeAreAustralia Or should that be "evening" for you?! Hope your first day of curating went well, as you can see I've just started!

@unakavanagh Hi Una!

@bintiness Ahh I see - Liam did a great job last week. Hope I can keep up his momentum

So apologies for the delayed start this morning, but only got back from a weekend in Cork at 2am last night so am KNACKERED. But topped up!

@bintiness That's me hiding beneath my hair in the profile pic!

@NeatFreak_ Ahoy! Glad someone got my terrible Monday morning joke ;-)

So, now that I've killed that Jay-Z song, I'll say hi properly! I'm @Hollytorious, from Cork city but have been living in Ldn for 13 years

Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Holly, H to the O.L (ly). #WannabeRapper