My second novel The Night Train is now available to purchase on Amazon. It is about an aspiring rocker Brian who meets a handsome footballer Adam on the way home on the train and sees blood on Adam’s arm so he follows him off the train. From there he becomes embroiled in the case of Adam’s ex-girlfriend Chloe’s murder. Can he use his sleuthing skills to find out who the killer is? And can love conquer all?
You can purchase the book at the following link if you wish:
Cheers! 🙂
Tonight Monaghan’s Michael Lawson was crowned The Voice of Ireland champion for 2016.
Michael, who is mentor Bressie’s third winner, becomes the fifth male winner of the show. He beat off stiff competition from Sligo’s Kelesa Mulcahy from team Kian who was second, Meath’s Nigel Connell from team Una who was third and Dublin’s Laura O’ Connor from team Rachel who was fourth.
Mentor Bressie said earlier in the evening about Michael,
“People like you deserve to win because you are a natural talent and they don’t come along very often.”
Congratulations Michael and well done to all the finalists! 🙂
Michael’s version of 7 Years is now available for download on iTunes.
Tomorrow the next Voice of Ireland champ will be crowned with two women and two men left in the reckoning. Below is my verdict on the final four and who I think should be crowned champ 2016:
Nigel Connell
I have been for Nigel alongside Georgina who was on Bressie’s team from the start so Nigel is my winner. (And no, it isn’t because he’s Meath like me! But it’s a nice bonus! :-)) His vocals are effortless and he is so professional. His performance of Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight was brilliant in the semi-final. Me, Mum and Shar are rooting for him to win tomorrow. Go Nigel! 🙂
Kelesa Mulcahy
My second favourite in the final is Kelesa who is also very professional. She is very talented and would also be a worthy winner.
Michael Lawson
Michael doesn’t really sing the kind of music I listen to a lot so because of that I prefer Nigel and Kelesa’s performances but he does do what he does well.
Laura O’Connor
Like Michael, I don’t really listen a lot to the music Laura sings so I look forward more to Nigel’s and Kelesa’s performances. But she did come back having been at the live shows before and that attitude is admirable and it paid off.
Good luck everyone, especially Nigel! 🙂
I didn’t get around to writing up this blog post on dear old Vicente’s splendid Scottish National win because of college assignments. So here it is now everyone. 🙂
Paul Nicholls’ Vicente stormed to victory at 14-1 with Sam Twiston-Davies at Ayr. Alvarado made a surging finish to get second while Seeyouatmidnight finished in third position with Royale Knight in fourth and Vyta Du Roc in fifth.
Nicholls said,
“It was a brilliant result. You try all season to win these big races and a few of them have eluded us but that was a special moment. That was one of Sam’s best ever rides, I’d say. He’s learning all the time and he’s a fantastic guy. This has been the target for Vicente all season. I thought Cheltenham would do him good and you don’t win these races without a prep run.”
I won a bit of money on my dear old friend Alvarado so that was good. 🙂
Well done Vicente and all concerned! 🙂 And of course Alvarado and all concerned! 🙂
Streetlamps cast a glow
On this night-time show,
A cat roams the streets
Saying meow to every cat she meets
Going through the motions of defeats.
For tonight food is not to be found,
The food that would make her sleep sound.
She struggles on,
Pity that butcher’s is gone.
Scraps were usually present there
And she hadn’t in the world a care.
Tonight her paws feel rough
But she has to be tough.
Survival is her middle name,
Making it happen is her game.
She must keep looking for the prize
In the middle of her tired sighs.
A new skip looms from afar
Like a shining bright star.
The Scottish Grand National will take place at Ayr tomorrow. It is the National as a punter I have the best record in so I’m hopeful of a good result tomorrow.
Below are my six tips for Scottish Grand National glory 2016:
Midnight Prayer
I had a good win with this horse one day and the team of jockey Wayne Hutchinson and trainer Alan King are an excellent combination. They often get some big price results.
Emperor’s Choice
Speaking of excellent combinations Emperor’s Choice is a big price and has another excellent team of jockey Aidan Coleman and trainer Venetia Williams who have also given me some big price results over the years.
Folsom Blue
My dear old friend Folsom Blue is one horse bidding to bag the 3 Nationals for trainer Mouse Morris. This horse is placed a lot.
Alvarado
Like Folsom Blue, Alvarado is a horse that gets placed a lot. He can never be discounted.
Straidnahanna
(No photograph available)
Sue Smith’s Straidnahanna is a horse with a good chance tomorrow. This horse is there or thereabouts a lot.
Pineau De Re
Former English Grand National winner Pineau De Re is set to be ridden by Nico de Boinville who is a jockey who tends to get quite a few big price winners. I won nearly a hundred quid for just a few Euros on a horse that really expected to win once that he was on so with de Boinville on board a horse can never be discounted.
I am a proud Mammy today as my debut novel Blood is now available to purchase on Amazon. It’s a thriller with a romantic element to it and the fear with a thriller is that if I keep talking about it I’ll give away the killer so I’m going to shut-up! 🙂
Please check it out on Amazon and if you’d like to you can purchase a copy there:
Thank you! 🙂
As you can see in my previous post Kevin Simm was crowned the winner of the 5th season of The Voice UK. Below is my final live show review of the season:
Jolan Gidney-Craigen – Gladys Knight & the Pips – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Proceedings were got under way by the first of team Ricky’s finalists Jolan. I think Jolan took on a very big song here which was admirable but I didn’t feel it suited him and again like last week that surprised me because I thought it might. I love the song so much that it needed to hit me and sadly it didn’t.
Lydia Lucy – Alicia Keys – No One
Next up was team Will’s finalist Lydia. Sadly I don’t think this performance really worked to be honest.
Kevin Simm – Rihanna ft Mikky Ekko – Stay
Next up was the first performance by the newest champ. I loved the styling and the staging. It is probably unpopular to say but I didn’t enjoy his vocal on it. I actually preferred Kevin’s performances prior to the live shows really.
Cody Frost – Tears For Fears – Mad World
The final came to life for me when Cody sung this song which was a perfect song choice for her. It was haunting and beautiful.
Next up was the duets with the coaches:
Jolan Gidney-Craigen and Ricky Wilson – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
I love this song and it didn’t work. Jolan is good on the guitar though.
Cody Frost and Boy George – John Lennon – Imagine
This was beautiful. The only thing was that I did feel like George sung most of the song and it would have been nice if Cody had sung a bit more too. But it did sound good.
Kevin Simm and Ricky Wilson – The Killers – Mr. Brightside
I love The Killers and this didn’t work. I think the problem for me with both Jolan’s and Kevin’s duets with Ricky were that they were two rock songs that I love and they sounded kind of poppy and commercial which is fine but it’s not how I see those particular songs.
Lydia Lucy and Will.I.Am – Will.I.Am – Boys & Girls
I enjoyed this performance. It was probably my favourite of the duets on the night. Very creative staging too.
Throughout the night we seen the finalists going home for their homecomings, we were invited via television to Kevin’s sister’s wedding to her new husband and we had appearances from The Kaiser Chiefs and Cyndi Lauper both of who I love so that was pretty brilliant. The other finalists who didn’t make the final were also there in the V room and it was lovely to see them all back especially Jordan.
Soon the final 2 were revealed and it was time for both Jolan and Kevin to sing the winner’s song All You Good Friends. I’m not crazy about the song so I agree with Boy George on that but I hope it does well for the charity and good luck Kevin! 🙂
The Winner’s Single
Jolan Gidney-Craigen – All You Good Friends
Kevin Simm – All You Good Friends
And the guest performances for the final were Meghan Trainor and Shawn Mendes:
Meghan Trainor – NO
Shawn Mendes – Stitches
Finally to end let’s relive Kevin’s winning moment:
Download Kevin’s track now at:
Last night former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm was crowned the winner of The Voice UK beating fellow Team Ricky member Jolan Gidney- Craigen into second place. Earlier in the evening Cody Frost from Team George and Lydia Lucy from Team Will were eliminated from the competition.
Following his win Kevin said on his Twitter page,
On the night Kevin sang Stay by Rihanna ft Mikky Ekko, Mr. Brightside by The Killers with Ricky and his winning song All You Good Friends which is released in aid of charity and can be downloaded on iTunes at:
Well done Kevin! And the three other finalists too! 🙂
The English Grand National at Aintree took place for it’s annual outing. The 179th winner was the Mouse Morris trained Rule The World which completed the Irish and English Grand National double for the Irish trainer. It was also a double National win for Gigginstown House Stud who own both Rule The World and Irish National champ Rogue Angel.
David Mullins, in his first ride in the race bet The Last Samuri (8-1 joint favourite) and Vics Canvas (100-1) in a comeback on the run-in abroad Rule The World with Gilgamboa (28-1) finishing fourth with Goonyella (12-1) fifth.
Mouse Morris said after,
“This is just magic. I’ve got great friends who stood by me and helped. I’d have settled for third at the Elbow but he ran on like a train. He has broken his pelvis in two falls and before that he was one of the best horses I ever had.”
Mullins said it was “special and magic” and added,
“It was just amazing. I’ve never had a feeling like this and it all went to plan. To get the call to ride this horse was amazing. The fact that it is his first win over fences is more amazing than me winning on my first time around.”
Michael O’Leary said,
“I don’t know what to feel, I’m numb. I thought I had no chance in it. I wanted to win a Gold Cup and it was beyond dreams that I could win a Grand National. To win a Gold Cup, Irish National and Grand National in one year – I think I should stop, it’s not going to get any better than this.”
My mum who is on a bit of a National roll at the moment had Vic’s Canvas each-way so well done Mam! 🙂
Well done Rule The World and all concerned. 🙂
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