Philip Nolan

@philipnolan.bsky.social

Journalist. Likes a bit of grub.

@philipnolan.bsky.social Philips if you happen to see this, my X account @bevantrisha has been hacked. If you could put out a general message, we share a lot of the same followers I would be very grateful don’t open a DM from me it’s a fake. Trying to get my account back.

It’s a bank holiday, and RTÉ One has made no concession beyond a 30-minute doc about a panto dame. Where’s the film after the news? At the least, it could have done a BBC1 and shown E2 of These Sacred Vows. It’s on the Player anyway. Oh, well - Silent Witness is back at 9pm, tonight and tomorrow…

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Hoping Trump was just bluffing was “the tack Europe’s leaders took for too long - that somehow this vainglorious vulgarian only was obsessed with turning the Oval Office as gilded as Nefertiti’s tomb…” - You can read me (if you wish!) in Thursday’s Irish Daily Mail

Front page of Thursday’s Irish Daily Mail with headline about Trump’s deal on Greenland, and promo about why women should have a secret stash of their own cash.

I’ve wanted to go here for ages, and finally was taken today by my elder sister - the 1935 De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-On-Sea. Her, my younger sister, and I had lunch. A lovely way to end Christmas!

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“Death had been shown the door, but he was reluctant to go through it just yet…” - For those of you interested, you can read Part One of the story of my stroke in tomorrow’s @IrishMailSunday

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People have asked how I’m doing since I had a stroke in Rome in April. I had four months in hospital, and I had to learn to walk again. I have a way to go, but I’m good, thank you. Happy Christmas to all!

Me standing up at the fireplace.

Life is weird. Just the other day, I was posting elsewhere about Giorgio Armani’s death, and the Duomo in Milan. Today, I find a bag of photos, and there are a few I’ve never seen before. Like my late father in 1955, aged 25, outside the, er, Duomo…

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It’s far from perfect, but given the fact I effectively was paralysed three months ago, I’m grateful for walking again, splint and all. Arm has a bit to go, and I need practice outdoors, but improving every day. Physio and occupational team here in Enniscorthy are terrific! #StrokeRecovery

It’s hard to over-estimate the influence of Tom Lehrer on those of us who have a dark sense of humour. He came and he went, young and at the top of his game, and in doing so cemented his legend forever. Clever chap. He died yesterday at 97, and remains as relevant today as ever.

I weigh about half what I used to - I had a haircut today, the first in three months! 🤣 Who says there aren’t good people in the world, by the way? My regular Turkish barber in Gorey (thanks, #BabySis, for taking me there) refused to take a cent. 👏

Well, stroke update. I can prop myself up in bed, drink from a cup or glass, and ‘sign’ my name with the ‘bad’ arm. I can wear jocks, not a nappy. I can walk with a walker. This week, I’ll lose the catheter, and transfer to a car as a passenger. Onwards!

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I wonder why air incident investigators need a black box, and two years to piece together an aircraft, when Sid from the Happy Valley Caravan Park in Greater London already has worked it all out…

110 years ago today, my great-grandfather James Kavanagh died in the Great War, and is buried in Hazebrouck, northern France. He left a widow for 40+ years, and seven daughters. We will remember them.

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Hard to believe. My mother, Nuala, will be 10 years dead in September. I mourn, yes, but I prefer to be thankful for the 52 years she was in my life. Always there for advice when asked, never interfered. I’m half her, and I loved her. Give your mams a big hug today. 😘 #MothersDay

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Reminded of this tonight in the other place. After over 30 years searching for it, I couldn’t believe I finally found this photo of me, via Google, looking oddly askance at Frances Bean and Kurt Cobain backstage at the MTV VMAs in Los Angeles in 1993. The poor guy was dead seven months later.

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#TonightsDinner Hake poached with nduja, butter beans, tinned tomatoes, red onion, garlic, red wine vinegar and chopped flatleaf parsley, with another sprinkle of parsley on top, and a glass of French Albarino. Leftover sauce goes to the blender to make a warming soup.

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