Queuing . . . for a hug.Not content with hugging more than 26 million people around the world, Amma the Hugging Mother from India will be back in Ireland this week, flinging her arms around all comers.
She says her hugs symbolise giving and that her embrace helps awaken the spirit of selflessness in people. Amma is at the National Show Centre in Cloghran, Co Dublin, on November 19th and 20th. See www.ammaireland.org
Watching . . . Nollaig Number 1.This strangely compelling talent show is on TG4 on Sunday nights. The contestants, God love them, compete for the chance to release a single which they hope will reach number one in the Christmas charts, which is about as likely as that permasmiling cheat Joanna from The Apprenticegetting to the top of the charts.
In the meantime, the less talented contestants have to endure insults as Gaeilge from a Simon Cowell wannabe, Tom Ó Brannagáin. On balance, it's probably a good thing most of them don't seem to understand Irish.