I sit down to write my words this week whilst my mind wanders. What do I still need to get for Christmas? How many days is it? Have those items I bought online arrived yet? It must be the way Christmas has fallen this year making it feel like December is the shortest month ever. I am super excited for the Christmas break and to spend time with my family and friends. I love the run to Christmas and the busyness of it all, but by the time Christmas Eve comes I am ready for the break. There is much to be done between now and then. This weekend I have the Cool FM Christmas party, going to see Paddy Raff and checking out the ‘Sugar Sweet’ gig in Belfast, which I am super excited about.
The elves in my house have been running amok. Ivana sends me a picture message to work every morning showcasing exactly what they’ve been up to overnight. I myself was the butt of one of their jokes this week. When I looked in the mirror first thing they had drawn all over my face. The kids were in a wrinkle.
This weeks highlights included hosting the Action Cancer and Keith Duffy Foundation Christmas Ball at Titanic Belfast. It was the most incredible evening with an amazing amount of money raised. Keith Duffy spoke candidly about the work of his foundation and why he teamed up to help Action Cancer in Northern Ireland. With no script, he almost brought the entire room to tears. The entertainment was first class with the highlight of the night being Keith alongside Brian McFadden performing a back catalogue of Boyzone and Westlife hits. They had the room bouncing.
Also this week, I hosted the 5thRound Draw of the Irish Cup at the National Stadium. The competition has a new sponsor; lager brand , ‘Sadlers Peaky Blinder’, they made sure everyone in attendance had a peaky blinder flat cap to go home with. This is the second time I have hosted the draw and I loved it. The venue was full with representatives from all 32 clubs that were in the draw. The intermediate league teams left in the competition hope for a tie with one of the top premiership teams and the top teams hope to avoid each other. This time around it wasn’t to be for top teams Coleraine and Glenavon who drew each other. That should be some match.
Finally I made a trip to Dublin this week to be a guest on the ‘Elaine’ show on Virgin Media. The show has an all male panel on a Friday and the craic is always great. You really never know what will come up in the light-hearted conversation. This time around I was joined on the panel by top comedian Danny O’Brien and Clare FM breakfast presenter Colum McGrath.
Thanks for reading,
Have a great week,
Pete
