A Substack To Make You Smile!
In a world of bad news, I'm trying to rebel and create smiles...
Things that make the Irish smile ….and I hope you too!
These are all short clips and in a funny ridiculous Lou way, I’ve linked them all together through a theme that leads from each one as you will see below…..It’s how my brain works…Strange I know but I kind of made a game out of it for myself…Always looking for the fun I am….In turn I hope you enjoy the links from one to the other and I hope they make you smile!
So let’s start! :)
This is an ad I spotted promoting Ireland…It features Sharon Horgan - one of Ireland’s best - when it comes to writing, acting, directing, producing hit tv shows and she really is one of the funniest people on the scene.
So my main connection of Sharon Horgan in this ad for Discover Ireland leads me onto one of the funniest tv shows Sharon was part of - both as an executive producer and one of the lead actresses -Introducing you to: ‘This Way is Up’
And since we now have Aisling Bea in the story…..Aisling is one of my absolute favourite comedians…If you have never heard of her or if she’s new to you, I’m nearly jealous because you have so much of Aisling’s hilarious humour to discover. As an added piece of information, Aisling hails from my home county of Kildare (Ireland has 32 small counties that made up the island & I live in Kildare - East of the country towards the midlands). So in geography land, she lives down the road, around the bend, over the hill of allen and just beyond the fields. Well, she lives in London for over a lifetime now but she’s still a Kildare woman and we are very proud of that. Here she is on the Jimmy Kimmel Show being her ridiculously funny self. I promise you that you will be smiling as you watch this brief clip…..
So from Kildare’s finest lady, we move to one of Kildare’s finest gentlemen and what a wonderful talent he is - Christy Moore. I’m choosing Christy singing on Ireland’s most famous tv show ‘The Late Late Show’ with the legend that was Gay Byrne back in 1999. Christy is one of Ireland’s most gifted songwriters and singers and is loved by all not only in Ireland but all across the world….(Interesting fact: The Late Late Show is the world’s longest running chat show)….You can guess why I’ve chosen the song I’ve chosen…..
So from the beautiful song called ‘Nancy Spain’ which I organised to be sung to Gran at her 106th birthday mass (we were all a mess that night when the beautiful Eva Sheridan - age 12 sang ‘Nancy Spain’ to Nancy Stewart in front of a packed congregation…It was pure magic and I’ll always be so grateful I got to do that for Gran. So of course when I hear that song, tears flow for me for so many reasons…So the final link to this week’s substack of smiles is and has to be a video of the wonder and the magic of Nancy Stewart. The video I’m including here is a shortened version of the video that went viral & now stands at over 5 million views and it’s the video that I know will make you smile. The lady who lived to be 107 years of age and smiled until her last breathe- Granny Nancy.
So this week’s Substack of Smiles was a little different to the usual set up but I just decided for fun, we would mix it up. I really hope you enjoyed it & please feel free to pop a comment below to let me know if I made you smile today! #theaimofthegame
And just before I finish up, I’d love to to give two local shoutouts here!
**The first is a very good friend & Facebook Family member Greg Commins who was very kind to set me up with my very first digital business card - made by TAPiTAG, an Athlone based company. Let’s support local and an Irish company - TAPiTAG is the name to remember. I had looked into getting one of these before heading to the states but time didn’t allow but magically as if Greg knew I was looking for one, along with the wonderful company that is TapiTag, I know very luckily have one & I love it!
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Big thanks to the legend that is Greg Commins! Thank YOU Greg!
**And Secondly I’d love to give a shout out to my local soccer club - BBC United I live in a small rural village in county Kildare (yes… see… you already knew that right?!) My two nephews who I love dearly play with BBC and love that club for everything it represents and simply put love their soccer games & teams. Ed Fox - one of our Facebook Family members mentioned to me that they were trying to fundraise to buy new nets for the pitch and also to improve the club in general and that they were starting an online lotto so I wanted to include it here in case you might like to support. You can’t beat a little lotto to fundraise for a community group and this is a great one. In true Irish style, three lines can be purchased for a fiver and all the funds go to supporting this small village club. I’m right behind them as many a sideline I’ve stood and been so proud of my nephews and their teams and I’m a big believer than anything that brings people together is a good thing - not only for physical health but mental health too.
The link to this fundraiser is here if you want to join- all money raised is going directly to the club- click here
Okeydokey so that’s it for today….Hope you enjoy this week’s efforts to make you smile & I know this was a bit different from my usual structure but just thought it’s fun to mix it up. It’s good for me too. Because it tests me as well as a writer, as a creator and even though I started 3 other sub stacks to get here, I’m happy where I ended up and I hope you enjoyed today’s messing!
Hope you have a lovely weekend and don’t forget, keep looking UP!
Lots of love and light to you always,
Lou x
PS. For anyone who might not know I am a farmer’s daughter…My mam is a dairy farmer and this weekend, it’s a big farming date in our calendar….We are making silage so the fields that now look beautiful green….the grass will be cut and brought in to the pit for winter feed for the animals. You can expect plenty of live videos over on my fb page - www.facebook.com/livingandlaughingwithlou if you might see what all this fun looks like, come join us. Also my younger brother Justin recently spotted a family of cute foxes living on the farm too….3-4 young cubs running around and it is just beautiful. I have only seen mam and dad fox but I’m doing a David Attenborough on it presently and trying to spot them from a distance….Again you can watch this all develop on the Fb lives & all sorts of messing from me….and not to forget if you are feeling lonely, sad or just out of sorts, come join the Facebook Page, I promise you, I might not be able to change much but I promise you I will help you see the light in the dark & help you to keep looking up xx
I’d be so grateful if you enjoyed this you might share this with a friend or leave little comment for me down below! Thanks a million for being here x
Loved this, Lou, and the connections between all the funnies. Brilliant xx
Variety is the spice of life Louise and therefore I have loved dabbling in all sorts of communications from you in this substack. To be able to embrace your mood and share in the things you love and which are dear to your heart it’s a thumbs up from me. Keep looking ip and doing what you do best , cheering others up,
💗🌈🦋☘️🥰🐞🙋🏼♀️