Yet a few more of my favourite things, in no particular order:

Unidentified Human Remains and The True Nature of Love – 1989/1990, Toronto, written by Brad Fraser and directed by Jim Millan at the Poor Alex Theatre and remounted with most of the original cast (including the absolutely brilliant Brent Carver) at Theatre Passe Muraille. I saw the play six times during these runs and each viewing felt as fresh as the first. Love, death, sex and friendship. Intense, intense, intense. The best thing I've seen on the stage.

Billy Bragg at The Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London on August 24, 1990.I've been to countless Bragg concerts since the 80's but seeing him in his hometown, now was that was amazing. All those English accents singing along from the very first words of A New England – pure magic.

Egg-fried rice at Royal Villa Chinese restaurant, 13 Shop street, Galway. Simple egg-fried rice but it's fantastic.

Christopher Plummer as King Lear, 2002 season, Stratford Festival, Ontario, Canada. I've never seen such an enthusiastic standing ovation. The entire production was outstanding but Christopher Plummer was the man of the moment.

Cinnamon ice cream at Menrui Noodle and Juice Bar, 24 Erie Street, Stratford, Ontario. I was crushed to find out they don't make their own ice cream anymore. *June 28, 2004 – last time I was in town I discovered they'd closed down completely.

Paul Gross as Hamlet, 2000 season, Stratford Festival, Ontario, Canada. Hamlet goes electric.

A Whistle in The Dark, The Company Theatre, Young Centre for The Performing Arts, 2007. This is the most difficult to watch piece of theatre I've ever seen. The constant threat of violence was draining to the point that at times I wished we could hurtle straight towards it, just to get it over with. But there was no taking your eyes off Jonathan Goad (Michael), Allan Hawco (Harry) and the spiralling tension of this production. This one's going to stay with me for a long long time.

Mr. Trellis, Dublin, 1988-1993. I stumbled upon this comedy trio in The Comedy Cellar (upstairs in the International Bar) back in 1990 and became a Wednesday night regular during subsequent (and extended) trips to Dublin. Ardal O'Hanlon, Barry Murphy and Kevin Gildea have since gone on to other funny things but I vividly remember the thrill I felt watching them that first night, surer with each moment that I was seeing something special.

The mushroom and herb burger at Elephant & Castle, Dublin, 18 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland. Mmmm, those mushrooms are sublime.

Fireworks: Dublin, March 13, 1999 as part of the St. Patrick's day festival. This breathtaking display was orchestrated by Syd Howard and billed as the biggest in Europe at the time. We watched the show from the roof of one of the office buildings by the river Liffey and did those sparks ever seem close! My young niece was the only one who wasn't ducking.

Frances McDormand as Stella (A Streetcar Named Desire), The Gate, Dublin, 1998. Probably the only time I'll see Streetcar live because I can't imagine a better Stella.

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