Tag Archives: St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day ‘Google Doodles’ Over The Years.

by Anura Guruge
on March 17, 2024


Click to ENLARGE. From the ‘Google Doodles‘ Archive.

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7 Pounds Of Corned Beef Cooked To Perfection, In A Pressure Cooker, For St. Patrick’s Day, 2024.

by Anura Guruge
on March 17, 2024


Click image to ENLARGE.

Well, cooking meat, in most forms, is something that I am fairly good at — better than most. It helps because I eat meat nearly everyday. SMILE. I am a meat eater — have been all my life.

My soon to be 18-year old daughter LIKES corned beef — but she ONLY eats it on St. Patrick’s Day! So, I make sure I cook corned beef for her. She only eats the meat. Not the cabbage.

Fairly new pressure cooker. First time I have used it as such, rather than as a crockpot. WOW. SERIOUS PRESSURE.

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Bagpiper Used For President Biden’s Visit To The ‘U.S. Capitol’ For St. Patrick’s Day Was SCOTTISH NOT Irish!

by Anura Guruge
on March 15, 2024

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Click image to ENLARGE. YouTube video (link).

There is a BIG difference & it is very easy to spot.

Click image to ENLARGE. From ‘Google‘.

I know my bagpipes. First thing I look for when it is supposed to be an Irish occasion rather than Scottish.

I noticed that Biden didn’t even glance at the piper. Very rude. But, he is Irish. SMILE.

Well, now YOU know the difference. It is OK. You don’t have to THANK ME. This is what I do. SMILE.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2022 — ‘Beannachtaí’.

by Anura Guruge
on March 17, 2022

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Click to ENLARGE. Base image from my U.K. ‘BBC’.



Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2022.

Unlike Joe Biden I am NOT Irish. But, also unlike Joe Biden I don’t think all Irish are stupid. SMILE. I know quite a few Irish who are smarter than Joe Biden — though I understand that is a low bar. No. No. I am very fond of the Irish. Really am.

And I have seen ‘Riverdance‘ per se, at least, 4 times & many of its spinoffs.

Well, I have to now go down and enjoy my corned beef & cabbage.

Google .

by Anura Guruge
on October 19, 2021


The formal Independence ceremony at ‘Independence Square’. This was the setting for the story. Click to ENLARGE.

I remember it well from my childhood. We would go and play on and around it. Click to ENLARGE.

The original national anthem as it was sung in 1948.


What the original 1948 78rpm record looked like. Click to ENLARGE.

The first words that aired on ‘Radio Ceylon’ moments after Ceylon officially became independent were:

“Where is that bloody record?”


The Independence Day 1948 Story

The Ceylon Independence Ceremony was held during the day (unlike the Indian one in 1947 which took place, quite correctly, at midnight, the Indians counting the minutes). Duke of Gloucester (Prince Henry, the 3rd son of King George V) and Duchess of Gloucester attend the official flag-raising ceremony in Colombo. Per my adoptive father the flag raising was to occur sharp at noon. The National Anthem was going to be played on Radio Ceylon as the flag was raised. This would be the first time the National Anthem,  Sri Lanka Matha, had been played on the radio — British rule not permitting it previously. There was, as was to be expected, much anticipation. Much of the population, which was probably around 8 million at the time (I am guessing), would have been listening to the radio. There was no TV or Internet. This was 1948.

It is just before noon. The Union Jack is hauled down for the last time.

The new Ceylon flag, resplendent with the lion rampant, is ready to be hoisted aloft for the first time.

Anticipation builds.

It is noon.

Radio Ceylon plays the (BBC) Big Ben chimes for the hour.

Ceylon is independent.

There is no cheering. Just silence. The crowds are waiting for the national anthem to be played so that the flag can be raised to it.

There is a pause. It soon becomes pregnant.

Still nothing. Just silence on Radio Ceylon. People check their radios to make sure that power is still on.

Suddenly, a British voice is heard:
where is that bloody record?

……..
Those were the first words broadcast to the newly independent Ceylon by Radio Ceylon.

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