O.R. Melling's Blog, page 11
November 11, 2013
BOOK LAUNCH!
Friday, November 29, 6:30-8:00 pm: Charlie Bryne's Bookshop: "The Best Bookshop in Ireland 2013" (Irish Times): Middle Street, Galway City: PEOPLE OF THE GREAT JOURNEY: To be launched by Prof Dáibhí O'Croínín (University of Galway): Guest of Honour, Panchen Otrul Rinpoche: Mediaeval music with harps: Clare wine and cheese.
November 8, 2013
Radio Interview!
This Friday, 3:30-4:30 I'll be blathering away about life, the universe and everything as well as my new book PEOPLE OF THE GREAT JOURNEY on Dublin NearFM 90.3 on your dial. You can also listen online at http://nearfm.ie/. It's the book programme called 'Cover to Cover' with Paula Wiseman.
October 15, 2013
Sa DingDing
Posted this a long while back, but it's worth showing again! Also she is mentioned in my new book People of the Great Journey, i.e. my young Tibetan character wears a T-shirt with her image and name on it! Saw her live a few years ago in the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, for the now defunct World Culture Festival (killed by its own success and riotous after-hour scenes). Sa Dingding sings in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Sanskrit and what appears to be her own shamanic language. A brilliant artist.
October 9, 2013
People of the Great Journey
Hmm, here's a youtube ad for my new book that I just found. Check out the creepy automatic voice!!! Also I think you can get the e-book super cheap on itunes at the moment for an early promotional deal. It's all out of my hands but I'm very impressed with what my publishers Hay House UK are doing. I've got interviews in magazines and on radio coming up, plus a massive press release and review copy circulation.
October 4, 2013
NEW BOOK NOW AVAILABLE!
While the official pub date is November 3, I can see from the Hay House UK website that my new book PEOPLE OF THE GREAT JOURNEY is now available in print and e! Here's the link: http://www.hayhouse.co.uk/books/17818.... And don't ask me why Blogger doesn't link anymore but it apparently doesn't so here is the Hay House website to make things easier: www.hayhouse.co.uk and just search for the title or author. Now let's be clear. This is an adult novel - there is a chapter called "Sex and Chocolate" - but it is, like most of my work, a fable nonetheless and yes, there be fairies. Well, a mad Irish púca to be exact. Oh, warning, there are some parts that are fairly harrowing but what can I say, it's about life, the universe and everything and that means there are inevitably dark things in it. Hope you enjoy it!
September 20, 2013
Mongolian Shamanism
Here's a photo of me at an incredible shamanic ritual site at the foot of the Bogd Khan sacred mountain outside Ulaan Baatar. This is the religion of Chinggis Khan, though he didn't let it rule him, as he executed the chief shaman who was trying to create discord amongst his sons and generals. Proper order, state and religion should always be kept separate - there's nothing worse than a power-mad cleric, see the Spanish Inquisition etc. I found a definitive book on the subject Mongolian Shamanism by Prof Purev Otgony, translated by Prof Purvee Gurbadaryn, both Mongolians with traditional backgrounds (as opposed to Western New Age pseudo-knowledge which is best avoided). Meanwhile, hoping to upload a photo of me on a camel over on my regular blog but need to sort out the technology.
September 19, 2013
A Beautiful Little Story
A friend sent this from Mongolia. Well worth watching. (Not long back. More to post later when the rest of me arrives.)
September 3, 2013
Event in the Blue Sky
Big day today. We are all heading off for ASRAL's major fund-raising event at the Blue Sky Hotel, the poshest hotel in town, i.e. in Mongolia. All sorts of people have been invited - diplomats, business types, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), artists, politicians and so forth. Now that the Irish economy has collapsed (Ireland has been Asral's chief funder) and the global downturn has affected international generosity it's time to turn to the post-communist era newly-rich classes of Mongolians to help support their fellow countrymen and women who have not prospered in the boom or bust climate.We'll be entertained by Mongolia's finest rock band "Khurd" (means 'speed' in Mongolian), the lead guitarist of whom is a student of Rinpoche's. Two people have come over from Ireland to help promote and organise the event, we've also had two of our major sponsors arrive from England with their son, and we are all dressing in our best. I'm putting on a frock as they say in Ireland and I've spit-polished my lama's shoes in proper naval order (you use water in the lid of the polish tin, a rag, and the polish, no other equipment, but one hour on each shoe, tiny circles. Meditative, actually.) Here's a pic of the Blue Sky Hotel overlooking Sukhbaatar Square. Gorgeous building. Owned by a former president. Most of the property in UB, including giant shopping malls, are owned by politicians or former politicians. Go figure.
August 30, 2013
Seamus Heaney's Passing
Word came tonight from Ireland that Seamus Heaney died today - our great poet, son of a farmer, sweet Northern Irishman. We lit candles, drank bowls of airag and read his poems aloud in Outer Mongolia - Shane, Eimear and me. I think he might have liked that. Here's my favourite called "Scaffolding": Masons, when they start upon a building,/ Are careful to test out the scaffolding./ Make sure that planks won't slip at busy points,/ Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints./ And yet all this comes down when the job's done/ Showing off walls of sure and solid stone./ So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be/ Old bridges breaking between you and me/ Never fear. We may let the scaffold fall/ Confident that we have built our wall.
August 27, 2013
Horse Cafe
Slowly but surely getting some photos up. Here's a cute shot from the big horse race day. We sat down in one of the many canopied food stalls to enjoy khusheer (deep fried mutton pancakes)with suutei tsai (milky tea) when a posse of riders drew up to order the same for their lunch and we were surrounded. In a sudden head-staggering loss of brains I went to offer this horse some left-over meat. Doh. Like that herbivore would bite. (Photo credit: Stephanie Ng, but it was my idea)
