Sean at school with his friends Aaron Q and Mike
Sean had a desk diary for 2007. He left it blank except for two items – near the back is a detailed account of a new sport Sean had invented, called ‘Kones’ – with diagrams, rules, projected world rankings, major championships and leagues, and top players. It seems a bit similar to American football.
Sean wrote the following on 22 January. He was 15 at the time.
One month get fit plan
30 mins extra study every night
15 mins of gym after school and 15 mins at night
Flax seeds every morning–evening
Cut down on sugar intake and eat better foods
Spend more money on skin + hair + tooth products
Spend less time on the computer and tv
Take an occasional walk
Brain training 3 times a week
Shave every 2 days or more
Go for the odd run
Use moisturiser and get rid of spots
Make sure my hair stays fairly short
Improve appearance at school
Get with at least 3 decent looking girls in the next month
Whiten teeth
Don’t sleep after school
The road to God knows where ... Brendan O'Brien 
We were having a conversation the other night about how games are surprisingly dissimilar. I suspect that Kones is not as similar to American football as all that.
I’m sure you’re right. France is ranked 4 at Kones, by the way, and Montpellier is the top French club (5th in world).
And Susanna just bought a Stade Francais jersey for her boyfriend.
I shall have to have a go at them flax seeds mesself. What are they supposed to do to you?
They put you in tip-top health.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/flaxinfo.htm
We had a brief phase of putting some on our cereal. You probably don’t eat cereal.
They make the finest Irish linen too.
Good morning Brendano. Very interesting to read Sean’s thoughts on his personal fitness regime. Very impressive coming from a fifteen year old.
Hello Cymbeline. I have briefly read your comments here and in another blog. Your thoughts and your writing remains as perceptive as ever.
Hello Shermeen – thank you, and nice to see you.
I agree re Cymbeline.
Hello Shermeen. How lovely to see you on this blog. What you and Brendano kindly see as perception can also be an unwelcome burden which causes me pain. There are not enough fields in my mind. Brendano knows this and I thank him for his unwavering trust. I admire the light and serenity that you and Brendano display. You possess a far greater gift, a gift that I will never have. Extraordinarily good people in different ways, both of you.
Yes, Sean’s personal plan is a delight, isn’t it? I like the modesty of it. He did not need to do all that. He was a lovely boy already.
Thank you Cymbeline, your generosity of spirit is unique as is your warmth and genuineness. Although I lack Brendano’s pedagogy, my conviction in your integrity has also been enduring.
Just called in to wish you a Merry Christmas, Brendano, thinking of you and your family 🙂
Merry Christmas to all commenters 🙂
Thanks Donald. Merry Christmas.
Felices Navidades a ti y a tu familia también, Donald 🙂
Merry Christmas, Donald.
Hello, Brendano.
Time goes by and so quickly. Sean sounded exceedingly mature from what I read in this extract.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Happy Christmas. I’m sure Sean will be in your thoughts too. He obviously and rightly is, I’m sure, every day.
Happy Christmas to Shermeen, and Cymbeline too. We rarely meet these days in cyber-space but best wishes for the New Year to you all.
Hello Araminta – nice to see you. We found the desk diary soon after he died, and were amused by the ‘Get with at least 3 decent looking girls in the next month’ line. He was never afraid to aim high.
Sean is in our thoughts virtually every minute. It’s still very strange not having him around. But we do enjoy life, and will certainly enjoy our Christmas.
I imagine it will be a rather sad Christmas for you given your own bereavement this year, but I hope your happy memories of your mother will bring you joy.
So, Merry Christmas to you, Bilby and your families.
How kind of you to think of my mother, Brendan. Yes, it will be strange not having her with us, but as you say, she will be in our thoughts.
Having the little one, my grandson for his second Christmas will be wonderful. My mother did get to know him him before she died, and we had a very special Christmas last year with four generations present, so yes, this year will be different but hopefully happy.
Thank you for your good wishes. 🙂
Hello Araminta
Happy Christmas to you and Bilby.
Merry Christmas Brendan and to you all good people ! I wish you all the best.
Thanks Levent, and best wishes for 2012 to yourself and your family.
Brendano
I wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful Christmas. May God be with you.
Thank you very much, Shermeen, and Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Hello, Brendan
From what I know of you and your posts here, you will have a Christmas filled with the love of family and friends. No doubt there will be sadness, but also much happiness in memories of your lovely Sean. I hope there will be laughter too, Brendan!
Happy Christmas to you and your family and my very best wishes for the New Year.
Hello Bilby … thanks very much for this: I know there will be some sadness as well as happiness in your home too.
It has been a nice Christmas so far. Pauline’s mum is staying with us; I sang in the choir at mass last night and will be doing so again shortly … we have seen a lot of friends over the past couple of nights and will be doing a fair bit of socializing over the rest of the festive season.
Likewise, Happy Christmas to you and your family, and I hope you’ll have a great 2012.