The thoughts and ramblings of a landscape gardener…
Sep 4th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
i need an aeroplane
yes, you read it right! I did the car [click here] and the boat [click here]. And you guessed I want to do a plane. It completes the trilogy of land, sea and air.
The question is can you help? Not too big! Not a jumbo! Just one like this or close enough. I don’t want to fly it. It doesn’t even have to look good…. anyone wanna know more - be serious - and pick up the phone!
Sep 4th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
an electric feeling
it had been organised to tweet meet-up at the pink boat at the stradbally festival. And it happened. Myself, Maryrose, David, Frankiep, Ciara, Debbie and some extra added friends joined to kick off the celebrations.
The boat joining the picnic really started online via Rick and it was very appropriate that its new berth was celebrated by some of those who [online] had been involved along the way.
... with peter vamos of phantom 105.2fm
Of course it has a home for life now and to all [you know who you are] I thank you - from my heart.
This is a gardening weblog of course. And the deal has always been if its greenie or related to my business it goes in. So I wont do a review of The amazing Stunning or The Sex Pistols. But, to say I was proud, was an understatement. I was also so very honoured that this could be shared with others in my life. To those who I met at The Picnic, who sang, laughed and shared time with - thank you all. It was an honour.
Now all thats left to do I suppose is walk away….
...what a journey to walk away from
Sep 4th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
waste matters
I met Catherine Costello, the project manager for waste matters at Damien Mulleys event. It was unusual, to see a website such as this represented at what was essentially a ‘how to use a weblog best‘ seminar - mainly as I thought I would be the only one [ie with a 'non techie' blog].
Catherines, now famous, story was how a flat screen television was found in a skip - before you ask it only needed a new plug!
I had a rumage through the site [click here]. For me it’s well built, very well designed and very easy to use. I found I could have refurbed my office, my house and got two bikes. One person was even donating 50 computer monitors. I know last week I had 2 sheds, an outdoor table c/w 6 chairs to give away and thats just the start of it. Bulaidh bós to Catherine for so many reasons - one of which was attending courses like to and appreciating that we can all learn more. With that in mind it’s is a pity others don’t take a leaf out of her book! hmm wonder will I find anything for my garden….
| Category | Description | Amount | Available/ Required |
Area | |
| Baby Goods | Reversible buggy. | Available | Macroom | Details | |
| Baby Goods | Cosato stroller good condition | Available | Crookstown | Details | |
| Bikes & Accessories | 2 mens bicycles | Available | Youghal | Details | |
| Furniture | Wooden bunk beds wanted can exchang… | Wanted | Rosscarbery | Details | |
| Furniture | Green three piece suite. | Available | Midleton | Details |
Sep 3rd, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
dreaming of the picture
5/6/7 Sept 2008 Dublin Show, Punchestown, Co. Kildare
I was at this last year. A genius event on the calender and will be there again this year. I do get a free ticket because I write for the magazine, but, this is about selfbuilding? So why am I putting in out there? Because as this article says and what the self build team try to promote is an understanding of all the factors required to complete your home [there is a big difference between that and a house!]. And I’ve just gone through it…
From the old ways of building to sustainability and the future - it’s all there. Who knows I might buy you a cuppa even bump into you! For more information click here. As a by the way - my self build finished in March and [before one asks] yes my garden is ‘almost’ complete and the inside decorating is not yet started… ?!
Have a great day and enjoy!
Sep 3rd, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
september 13/ 14 phoenix park
I’m looking forward to this. I like Farmleigh House and if you do nothing else on this day the tour of the house is so worth while. Straight from the promo page [pretty much] here’s what one can expect at this free for all - unless you decide to buy something - event.
On Saturday & Sunday 13/14 September Bord Bia with the OPW, will host Ireland’s first ever national independent drinks festival at Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park. Featuring the very best of Ireland’s independent micro-breweries, cider makers, distillers and liqueur companies. Patrons will have the opportunity to taste and purchase an array of products from the very best of Irelands somewhat “lesser known” but innovative and unique drinks companies, and meet the brewers, distillers, cider and liqueur makers behind the high quality range of products on offer - see here for a listing of the companies taking part.
SeptemberFest offers something for all the family, both young and old alike. With various bands playing on the music stage, to street performers, medieval displays and a lecture series on Irish food and drink history, there will certainly be something to whet the appetite in more ways than one!
Artisan food producers will also be on site throughout the event to feed the masses with their range of hand crafted crepes, quiches, pies, hot dogs, burgers and lots more besides.
The festival will be open each day from 11:00am to 6:30pm and admission is free. There is limited car-parking available on site as well as an extended bus service which runs throughout the Phoenix Park and includes numerous stops at Farmleigh.
Sep 2nd, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
...making it look so easy
Understanding that my only computer training was on a BBC computer 45 mins per week in secondary school, that I had no computer training in college and obviously no computer training thereafter - i’ve come a long way. I’ve made efforts to change that and that needed to go to a higher level.
Wednesday 17th August, at the much spoke about cork interational airport hotel, no more than 10 people who use ‘technology’ as part of their business [who doesn't?] learnt from a master on how to best use this tool to ones advantage.
It was good that the class size was small, the class was of varying backgrounds and that it was all made relevant [everyones story] to ‘your’ business. Its is also good when the guy at the top of the class appreciates this and can smile. Of course we all had different motives to what we wanted from the course, but it thought me so much and I wanted to learn.
If you think of your web site/ blog [simply] as an overhead and dont mind as long as it *looks* alright then this course is probably isn’t for you. But Damiens course covers [click here] so much and it was an education that was so much appreciated and I must admit now an advantage.
Aug 26th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
tweet up at the pink boat?
[yeah - i moved it...] Electric Picnic is nearing - click here
Adrian proposed it.Maryrose is bringing two. Marie Boran thought it would be great. David said he’d join in. Frankiep & Ciara are aboard now. I know Rick [on hols at the mo'] will be there. And of course i’ll be there…
You don’t ‘have to’ wear pink, you don’t have to be able to swim - you don’t even have to have been dragged seen the abba movie. What you do have to do is be slightly humorous, mldly inspired, not be a fan of the cheeky girls and be up for a bit of a laugh.
It’s in the art trail at no 11. Casino Royal Boat - that’s another story but - one I didn’t want to use for Bloom 2008. [I'll explain later...]
11). ‘Casino Royal’ Boat – donated by Peter Donegan
The 1957 Royal Cruiser Mark II is reported to have been originally christened Casino Royale and allegedly featured in the James Bond movie of the same name in 1967.Fast forward to 2008 Peter Donegan gives it it’s inaugural land trip to the Bloom Festival where it featured, freshly painted pink (“to make people smile”) in his fully recyclable garden that he designed & landscaped for the festival. Wanting to find a good home for it after the festival he launched a national campaign on 2FM which is when we heard of it and were happy to adopt it in exchange for some festival tickets which were auctioned for the Niall Mellon Township Trust www.irishtownship.com where they hope to build a Garden of Hope community garden.
Back to the festival…. It could be a load of headless chickens in pink headbands - it could be just a bunch of hippies at a music festival. But how many times have you ever seen a pink boat… Join the Electric tweet-up and sign up for the revolution…. be sure to wear some [sun] flowers in your hair.
What’s a tweet-up. Well it’s a meet up for twitter-ers, I suppose.
Aug 25th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
casino royal boat after 20 years in storage
the casino royal boat has an amazing story. Why didn’t I use it, to my [possible] advantage? The boat was a ruin. Inside-less, sideless & due to be dumped. Could I/it ever have been fully restored - no.
It was next to consider could I give it *any* use other than a skip? yes.
the pink boat coming to life
The pink boat became a part of my garden design for Bloom 2008 ‘pour l’amour de jeux’. A fully recycled recylable garden. Something not for the cricket judges, but for the people - a ’show’ garden.
halfway there-ish?
The pleas went out on 2fm courtesy of Rick O shea. It was never for the money as I think you can gather by now. Hence the name - translated as ‘for a love of the game’, the reason why I put an entire company almost to financial ruin. Some critics say attention seeking - I say it would have been cheaper to put my face on billboards all over Dublin City for a year… it would. Electric Picnic were all of the right answers. It was a boat I’d got free. They took it free. They gave 2 tickets to me and 2 to auction. I outbid the highest bidder.
casino royal early 2007
The casino royal bit - I knew. All involved did. At Bloom, I met a lovely guy Bill and his wife Ann at the show. Bill was a boat builder by profession. He was contracted to rebuild ‘casino royal’ all those years ago. The name had to be erased. The guy who contracted Bill went broke and the boat stayed in storage already stripped, empty and getting worse. In the meantime the name had to be removed [legally] from the boat… and it was.
A letter from Ann after the show explained:
Of course the name has been erased from the boat because of copyright. Once the film was made, it was then only permitted the use of “Casino Royale”
This is what electric Picnic says on their website:
11). ‘Casino Royal’ Boat – donated by Peter Donegan
The 1957 Royal Cruiser Mark II is reported to have been originally christened Casino Royale and allegedly featured in the James Bond movie of the same name in 1967.Fast forward to 2008 Peter Donegan gives it it’s inaugural land trip to the Bloom Festival where it featured, freshly painted pink (“to make people smile”) in his fully recyclable garden that he designed & landscaped for the festival. Wanting to find a good home for it after the festival he launched a national campaign on 2FM which is when we heard of it and were happy to adopt it in exchange for some festival tickets which were auctioned for the Niall Mellon Township Trust www.irishtownship.com where they hope to build a Garden of Hope community garden.
That said it all still comes down to a very large list to whom I still say thank you.
All Posts related post and the Pink Boat Story can be found here.
Aug 25th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
'your money' does so much...
I want to thank all of you who raised, donated [no matter how much] or simply gave me your couple of spare shillings, for my second journey with The Niall Melon Towship Trust. This will be my second year travelling to Cape Town. Thank you all. If not to me for the charity. Bulaidh bós - you deserve applause!
To this I must and should thank those who helped me. I had to raise €5,000. This is how it was done, with *your* help.
There was of course Sara and Nicola who did the mini marathon for me and raised over €710. Ladies, from my heart, I thank you.
niall mellon township
There was also a client who, on her behalf, Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd donated the entire paid invoice. This raised €2750.
There were those who purchased tickets for the Gardeners Ball, an amazing night, made more special by those who I spent it with. We really had ‘a ball’ at that one! Half the money from the ticket price of €250 went towards my journey. This raised €750.
There were those who gave me VIP tickets in exchange for a very large pink boat. I bought these myself for recently married friends [i couldn't get a higher bidder]. This raised €790, the balance of the account.
All that’s left to say really is… thank you [all] for being a friend
Individuals: Helen & Noel O’ Dwyer; Derek O’ Dwyer; Sean & Frances Gordon, Siobhan & John Farrell; Liz Matthews; Mary & Lilly Yu [my niece]; Jackie Donegan; Kathleen & John Friel; Noel & Stephanie; Michael & Nicola Nugent; Jean Michel Hallet; David Milner; Paul & Emer Kenny; [little] Sarah O’Dwyer [if there is anyone else please email me and i'll add you to the list]
Companies: Packing Machine Solutions; Niamh Butler Architects; Electric Picnic c/o Pod Concerts Ltd; the staff of Iarnród Eireann and the staff of Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd.
Aug 25th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
what type of pink?
I was down in Longford some time ago for a meeting. I’d been there before - It’s where I found the type of pink I wanted for the boat.
For ages everyone was saying ‘nobody uses that shocking pink!
…and there it was the whole time right beside the waterways filled with boats moored up beside it…. amazing where inspiration is found.
And of course Longford is so pretty…
