Too Much Wisdom Is A Dangerous Thing

I should get a slap on the wrist for being a bad blogger. In my defense though, I was couped up in bed with tonsillitis (just before Easter break, natch). To add insult to injury - and to explain the title - I have an impacted wisdom tooth that is making my life a misery. Because our healthcare system in Ireland is so wonderful (!) I'm being refused help for the time being and am having to put up with the usual 'Ah sure we'll prescribe you painkillers, be grand'. I'm tempted to give someone a bread knife and a pliers and do the job DIY style. I may end up looking like the Joker but at least I wouldn't be in agony anymore!

In more exciting news, if you live in Sligo you may have seen me on the front page of the Sligo Weekender (no, I didn't kill anyone). I always thought my media debut would be headlined 'Face Transplants: Before & After' or something like that, but thankfully this was for something exciting. I absolutely love cooking - if you followed my Instagram before I revamped it you may have seen my foodie posts. I was so excited when a talented chef, Liam, gave me the opportunity to feature some of my recipes on his up-and-coming food website, BiaMaith. The website is great if you want to find out how to cook quick, easy meals on a budget so definitely check it out!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and didn't feel too guilty about inhaling Easter eggs (if you had them). Personally, I never want to see chocolate again for as long as I live. (This is a lie, I literally just ate some chocolate mini eggs and they were amazing). Over the Easter break I  mainly relaxed, got my hair balayaged (ooh get me) by my best friend Bethany - blog to follow, probably - and went to Strandhill a couple of times as the weather was actually pretty nice. Of course, it has now gone back to being baltic, but that's okay because I'm back to work. Thanks, weather gods. 

We also adopted another rescue dog so now we have 2 smelly dogs in the house. He appears to be a cross between a pug and a terrier and he's so ugly it's adorable. I loves him. Even when he does fart and it smells so bad it could knock you out.

So that was just a quick update to redeem myself after not posting for so long. I have a few exciting things coming up so expect more regular posting from now on! *slap on the wrist*

Did you do anything exciting over Easter? Let me know!

Getting To Know You

I now have that shite song stuck in my head. Thanks, brain.

While uuhming and aahing about what blog post to do next - and while browsing other blogs for inspiration - I thought to myself, 'Hey, I am quite strange. Surely I have a few facts about me other people may find interesting?'

So voila. A list of 11 facts about me. Hopefully some of you read this list without yawning once or going 'Dis bitch boring' and clicking out of it.

P.S. I know I'm strange.

P.P.S Please don't judge me.

1. Technically, I've had plastic surgery. No, not a nose job or a boob job or anything scandalous like that (though God knows I could do with them) but when I was around 14 I had my ears pinned back. For as long as I can remember, I got bullied in school for having slightly large super sticky-out ears. The nickname of choice was 'Dumbo' which was horrific at the time but now I think of it, Dumbo is awesome and really cute. So are sticky-out ears. 

2. I pushed my brother onto our marble fireplace when I was 2. He cracked his head open, I got put to bed in my slippers (the ultimate punishment when your brother is bleeding all over the place, apparently) and my mum nearly got arrested for child abuse. 17 years later all is forgiven (though I still get blackmailed with this sometimes) and I seem to actually recall doing it.

3. I dropped a glass on my big toe and I have a scar that looks slightly lightning bolt shaped. I guess you could call me Harry Pottoe. (That was bad I'm sorry).

4. I bit my bottom lip so hard my tooth went through it. Also have a scar under my lip. Why are so many of these facts about injuries? Weird.

5. My teeth are probably one of my biggest insecurities. They're extremely overcrowded and crooked so I avoid laughing/smiling/anything to do with my mouth - leave it - as much as possible. I also have very weak enamel and dental phobia so that's fun!

6. I left school when I was 16, just after I finished my Junior Cert. And I don't regret it one tiny bit - in fact I'd say it was a great decision. Now I'm not saying it'll be the same for everyone, but for me this was pivotal in bringing out my self confidence. I did a course at Sligo Community Training Centre, went on to do a course in Sligo College of Further Education and I'm now doing an internship - who knows what's next. I may not have a Leaving Cert but I am happy.

7. I used to have a snail collection when I was about 7. I hoarded all these random snails from the garden and kept them in a lunchbox. My two favourites were called Major and Champ and I used to race them against each other. Yes, it was possible. They also lived in my dolls' house and I drove them around in my Barbie car.

8. I also had pet stick insects. I was a stick insect breeder. They bred like rabbits so I gave some away to people at school and sold them to my teacher for a fiver each. #entrepreneur

9. My first words were 'Spice Girls'. I really loved the Spice Girls.

10. I make up little dances spur of the moment and perform them in the kitchen. Saying that, I haven't done one in ages. I've always thought to myself, 'I wonder if I'll ever find anyone who will dance in the kitchen with me?'

11. I used to have 2 pet chickens called Paxo and Stuffing (horrible I know) and I used to put them down the slide and dance with them. Pretty sure I have a video somewhere of me doing that. Those poor chickens. I always thought the fox caught them but now that I think of what I put them through they probably ran to the fox and begged him to take them away from it all.

I hope some of these facts were interesting. Do feel free to share or comment - it makes my day! If you have any weird facts I'd love to hear them.

All Good Things Come To An End...

As the Eminem song goes, snap back to reality. And as the Nelly Furtado song goes, why do all good things come to an end? Before I start to sound like a whimsical reading of the UK Top 40, I'll get into the meaning behind this title...

As you all know, the Christmas holidays are well and truly over at this point. I have tried to use the excuse 'Christmas is only just over!' to validate still eating 40 chocolates for breakfast but everyone sees past this façade now. I returned to work on the 5th of January, partly dismayed and partly relieved. I get bored so easily and I was beginning to get cabin fever so I was thankful to get back to some sense of normality and routine. Somehow I think the 3am bedtimes and 2pm breakfasts weren't doing me an awful lot of good! 

Whenever I'd go back to work/college/school after the holidays it would always take me a while to get settled. The things I find the hardest to adjust to are:

Getting up early in the mornings. I value my sleep a lot, as anyone who has tried to wake me up early knows. I live for those extra 5 minutes in bed, so much so that recently I've decided to sacrifice looking socially acceptable for extra sleep. I may resemble a baked potato going into work now, but at least I'm slightly more refreshed!

Eating at weird times. I say weird; they're actually perfectly normal times to eat. Whereas before I'd have breakfast any time from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. now I have to actually eat my breakfast IN THE MORNING. The indecency of it all. If I'm going to work I get up at 8:30 a.m. and have something quick like a piece of fruit or a smoothie before I head out the door and then have something more substantial at our 10 a.m. tea break, but I find myself getting starving soon after as I'm used to eating whenever, wherever (who am I, Shakira?) and I now have to adjust to having lunch at 12:30 p.m. During the holidays I would've barely been awake then. Oops.

Writing and using the phone. Bit of a random one but you know when you were in school and after the summer holidays you'd come back and forget to write? Yeah, this is me. In fact, I forget to function in society like a normal human being. On my first day back it took every ounce of willpower to avoid answering the phone with 'What up?!' and I can't even explain the amount of times I wrote words in some mumbo jumbo backward kind of way.

Writing 2015 instead of 2014. We all have this problem. I don't even know what day it is anymore to be honest. I judge the days by how motivated people seem. If it's a Monday, everyone seems a little less enthusiastic and if it's a Friday there's a spring in everyone's step and you can practically smell the weekend in the air (the sweet smell of vodka and regret, mainly).

My heart is this cold.

Another thing I quickly wanted to address, mainly because my blog is like my diary and I like to get things off my chest, is that unfortunately the romance is no more. I did a blog in October-ish about my new relationship and I've had a few people ask how it's going so I just thought I'd briefly clear things up on here. I'm not looking for sympathy or attention - it was a clean break and it was simply because of distance, timing and some other issues that seemed unfixable. Thankfully there's no hard feelings (I hope) so I'm thankful it ended on a somewhat okay-ish note and I'm certain it's for the best. 

I do wonder sometimes if I'll ever be capable of maintaining a relationship but I have to remind myself I'm only 19. I'm so young and I have at least another 15 or so years before I'll lose hope and reside to a life of 40 cats and watching The Late Late Show in my dressing gown. Mind you, doesn't sound all that different to what I'm doing now...

Out With The Old, In With The New

Firstly, I'd like to wish all my readers (all 2 of you, heh) a very happy New Year. Thank you so much for reading and sharing my posts. It's quite comforting knowing people care about the shite I ramble on about!

I was inspired by my mum's post to write a post about how my 2014 was. I feel like the majority of people didn't seem to have a good 2014 but for me it was, on the whole, a year full of experiences. Most were good, some were bad, but it's all a learning curve for a youngster like me.

 

Highlights:

Started driving. I would have liked to have been able to put 'learnt to drive' but alas, I'm not quite there yet. It's not that I find it extremely difficult, it's more that 50% of people on the road are fecking eejits and I can't trust their motives. Still, I have 7 lessons done and I haven't killed anyone yet so in my eyes that's a great start.

Finished a college course and got my qualification. I now have a FETAC level 5 in Business Administration which is what I want to do (until I change my mind and decide I actually want to do neuroscience or something completely random, because that's a me thing to do).

Went to London. For a proper, touristy holiday. Spent time with great people, ate some great food and nearly lost a limb trying to maneouvre my way around the tube stations, but it was an experience.

Went to Spain. My best friend Bethany and I had a blissful few days in Torremolinos, Spain, tanning it up (she tanned, I came back looking even whiter than I was before I left Ireland), checking out the nightlife and drinking far too many cocktails. I'd love to get to do this again in 2015.

Started an internship. I know some people think Jobbridge is a slave trade but I'm grateful for the experience and connections I'll get. I also get awful cabin fever and I love having something to get me up and out every day.

Started the blog. For ages I'd been going on about wanting to start a blog and in 2014 I finally bit the bullet. I love having a place to essentially store my memories, vent or just share my interests. I've only had this blog for about 7 months or so but I'm absolutely delighted with how it's going.

So those are just a few highlights of 2014, not to mention spending quality time bonding with my older brother and being able to always cheer each other up through hard times, with my dad who never fails to make me laugh and always looks out for me, and sharing every experience and good time with my mum who is always there for me to tell me when I'm being a muppet and keep me grounded. My family are my rock and I'm so fortunate we're so tight-knit. I love you guys. *sniff*

So before I get too emosh I'd just like to say thanks to my friends and family for making it a great year and to everyone who has read my blog. Hope you all have a great 2015!

Fireworks & Firsts (Lucy's Life)

I know I'm all over the place with my tags but hey, I never said I was the most organised girl ever! Lucy's Life is basically a little update on what's been happening in my life. These past few months or so have actually been pretty eventful for me.

First off, I'm now (sort of) working! I'm doing an office internship - which I know causes a lot of controversy but we won't go into that, I see it positively as a way to gain experience and hopefully employment down the line - as a receptionist and I'm really enjoying it so far. So if it seems like I'm neglecting my blog it's because I'm just that bit busier lately - but I will still find time to post! 

Second, after many years of sitting on my bed in my cat onesie (yes, I really do own a onesie covered in cats) shovelling Doritos into my mouth wailing 'WHY DON'T I HAVE A BOYFRIEND' (that's only semi-true...) I can now say I am in a relationship. Of course, because the Universe is a bitch he happens to reside in the UK which is a bit unfortunate but I'm all about positivity and so far we're making it work. Last weekend I travelled to London - on my own for the first time, wouldjabelieveit - to spend the weekend with him and we had a lovely time. We went to Greenwich for our first date - he planned it perfectly for me; we ate Mexican, visited Greenwich market and got Starbucks *swoon* - and I saw the Cutty Sark, in case you're wondering what that random ship is. I'm a bit raging I didn't get any nice photos of the two of us (you probably think he's made up now) but I'm hoping I can convince him to take a few selfies when he comes over this month. 

Lastly, for Halloween I went up t'North to watch the fireworks display in Enniskillen. It's my second year seeing them and again, I thoroughly enjoyed it - and I didn't wake up the next day with a hangover, even better. I'm such a scaredy cat I jumped every time one went off (the fireworks, that is) and I hid behind people as a sort of human shield but apart from that I love watching fireworks, there's something so magical about standing around with a bunch of strangers watching the air getting polluted. I kid, I kid - it was beautiful.

So those are a few exciting things that have happened recently, hope some of you maybe found this little update interesting and I'll be sure to do another soon.

Carving & Crying

Don't worry, this blog isn't gonna be as gory as the title sounds!

On Wednesday night I got the opportunity to go along to Shells pumpkin carving event. I'd never heard of it before but apparently this was their 4th and it's a very successful night every year. It was my first time having a go at properly carving a pumpkin (I'm more of a Christmas girl) but I'm the most competitive person ever so I marched in there, knives at the ready, one step away from yelling a war cry.

Upon arrival we were offered a drink - I chose a hot apple brandy and it was just perfect for the chilly Autumn night. We were also served a taster of Shells pumpkin broth. I've never been a huge pumpkin fan because it's one of those nondescript vegetables that you don't really know what to do with and it smells a bit like farts but I have to say, Shells pumpkin treats totally changed my mind. 

The café was beautifully decorated as usual: paper bats were scattered across the wall and witch hats and candles set the mood for the evening. Two tables were set out laden with pumpkins and craft supplies to use for your creation. I was very impressed with how organised it was. 

After some mingling it was time for the real fun to start. We got 45 minutes (and I spent half of that time fecking the innards out of the pumpkin and removing bits from my hair/mouth/underwear) to carve our pumpkins. Throughout the carving we were served plates of pumpkin goodies - pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin risotto balls which were unbelievably tasty, pumpkin fritter, pumpkin samosa and finally, pumpkin pie and pumpkin brownies. I was getting so into my carving I couldn't eat much! 

When we were all finished carving all our pumpkins were lined up and the lights were switched off so we could see our glowing creations in all their glory. Some people's pumpkins were amazing so I knew I wouldn't win but I was still disappointed when I didn't - I'm a bit of a sore loser! I was expecting to go in and somehow magically carve the Mona Lisa into mine but it didn't happen. Here's my attempt (attempt being the operative word) below on the bottom right - it's an owl. Sorta.

When we left I picked a chunk off my pumpkin and fecked it across the carpark because it let me down. You know that scene in The Inbetweeners where Simon gets dumped and he puts on a happy face until he gets into his room and starts wailing? That was basically me.

All in all it was a great evening, so much fun and something a bit different for Halloween! I highly recommend it if you're looking for a group activity. Participation fee is €25 but considering you get fed and watered it's very reasonable in my opinion - plus you get to keep the pumpkin!

Thanks to Shells for a wonderful evening. Let me know how you're spending your Halloween!

Afternoon Tea at Eala Bhan

I was delighted to be given the opportunity to sample Eala Bhan's delightful Afternoon Tea today along with my mum. The award-winning Eala Bhan is one of my favourite restaurants in Sligo town, situated beside the Garavogue river. I've eaten here a few times before for lunch and have never been disappointed but as their Afternoon Tea is relatively new to the menu I was excited to try it - I do love a good Afternoon Tea. 

Immediately upon arrival a lovely waitress was quick to hold the door open for us and show us to our table, perfectly situated in front of the window and overlooking the river. One of my favourite things about the restaurant is the decor - it's beautiful in its simplicity and would impress anyone visiting with the selection of W.B. Yeats poem extracts on the wall and the soft lighting woven through the dividing curtains - making it ideal for a quiet, romantic dinner or lunch.

When we were seated we were offered tea or coffee (served in the most adorable china) and a complimentary glass of Prosecco to start us off. We were then presented with the most delicious amuse-bouche of courgette and butternut squash soup - I could've eaten a whole pot. Soon after our waitress and Anthony Gray, the owner of Eala Bhan, carried over three 3-tiered stands piled high with sandwiches, cakes and confectionery. Everything was so beautifully presented and lovingly made I almost felt bad eating it - almost. We didn't know where to start so we decided to sample the sandwiches first. There was a generous selection of fillings including salmon and cream cheese, smoked ham and cheddar, goat's cheese and pepper and a scrumptious chicken and pesto. The sandwiches were served on a selection of different breads; soda bread, bagels and wholemeal bread. 

I started getting full very quickly but of course I had to try some of the sweets on offer: cookies, macaroons, chocolates, cheesecake, marshmallows and scones were among the selection, all locally sold at Le Fournil in Tobergal Lane, Sligo. I had a bit of everything and they were all absolutely decadent. The cookies and the macaroons were my favourites. 

We were so full we couldn't eat half of it but the lovely waitress was happy to package up our leftovers so we could enjoy them at home, a nice touch considering I didn't want to waste a bite of the delicious food.

It was genuinely one of the most impressive things I've had the pleasure of eating and I'd highly recommend the Afternoon Tea for anyone celebrating a birthday, special event or just if you want to treat yourself with something different - why not!

A big thank you to Anthony and all at Eala Bhan for being so accommodating and letting me come along. Check out Eala Bhan on Facebook and their website.

Get Up And Go: The Power Of Positivity

On Saturday I was invited along to the Get Up And Go event being held in the Clarion Hotel. I've never really been to an event where there's opportunity for networking as well as being able to watch some inspirational guest speakers so I felt quite special.

It was an early start - 8.30 a.m. - but seeing as we got stuck behind a tractor on the way (if you're not Irish you're probably wondering how this is a valid excuse - in Ireland, it is!) we arrived at around 9.00 a.m. The event was on until 4.30 p.m. so we also got treated to a coffee break and lunch - I have to say I got a bit too excited by the free sandwiches - a nice touch.

The event focuses on positivity, inspiration and motivation. I'd like to think I'm a fairly happy-go-lucky, glass half full person and I feel strongly about positive thinking and being around positive people. Negativity breeds negativity which I've learned from associating with a few negative minds - all they do is drag you down with them.

There were around 6 speakers at the event I believe (then again I did Foundation maths so I probably counted wrong) but I'm going to focus this post on my favourite speakers - most notably Norah Casey from the Irish Apprentice. It was really interesting to hear about her story.

I've watched Norah on the show and thought she seemed a bit of an 'Iron Lady' so to speak, a typical strong woman who seemed a bit intimidating, but watching her speak with honesty and integrity I realised she was very open and real. She spoke about her husband passing away and how it opened her eyes. I had a lot of respect for her being able to stand in front of a crowd and tell a heartbreaking story. She also interacted with the crowd so people from all walks of life got to tell their story which I found very interesting. Surprisingly a few people in the audience said they had left school at 16 - as did I - and have gone on to live an extremely happy and fulfilled life which is so inspiring to hear. 

Ooh look a motivational image!

 I have to be honest and say I didn't agree with one of Norah's points. She asked the audience to think about when everyone is at their happiness. To me the answer to that is subjective. For example, I'm at my happiest now, at this stage of my life. According to Norah you're at your happiest when you're in love. While I agree being in love can be one of the best things it can also be one of the worst and I don't think you have to be in love to live a happy life. Love can also be very destructive. (Ooh get me, I feel like Plato.) 

Another speaker that captured my attention was TeeJay Dowe from Talent Dynamics. Her stage presence and passion for working with young people was very inspiring. Again, I applauded her for how honest and upfront she was. The message of her story was that just because what you're doing is seen as a 'good job', no matter how high your salary or your grades it doesn't account for happiness - which I strongly agree with and stand for. As someone who has been snubbed for being an early school leaver I have to say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I did think at a few points she tarred every young person with the same brush, though. While I agree some young people in this generation have no spark left I don't think that stands for every single young person - but at the same time I admire her for wanting to change that.

All in all it was an interesting day and it did make me think (albeit disagreeing with a few of the points made but I'm only human) and it must've had some effect as today I cleared out the fridge and all the cupboards in the kitchen. How's that for motivation! ;-)

Thanks to all at Get Up And Go for inviting me along and for a well organised event. You can read my mum's account of the day here.

Opinions: Sligo

As I was thinking up new ideas for blog posts, my friend provided a very interesting idea I hadn't thought of before. He suggested I give my view of what it's like to be a young person in Sligo. This may not be relatable to all of my readers but I thought it may still be an interesting insight to see how it compares to other places in Ireland, or indeed in other countries.

I'm born and raised in Sligo - despite getting an interrogation every time I sign my surname ("That's not an Irish name. Where are you from?" "Er..Sligo." "But where are you from originally?" "Sligo.") 

For this blog I decided to get other people's opinions - sort of like a poll.

For the most part, I like Sligo. We're blessed with beautiful scenery and historic attractions, which I think a lot of us can forget from time to time as we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

In other areas, I believe Sligo is a little lacking. Unfortunately due to the current economic climate many shops have had to close, thus leaving Sligo's shopping scene a little barren. There are plenty of footwear and sports stores, but I find affordable clothing hard to find in Sligo. We are lucky to have quite a few charity shops, but I'm sure I'm not alone in saying a H&M, New Look or Bershka would be a welcome addition to the town. I think cheaper shops would be better tailored toward a lot of people's budgets and the student population. I also think our Penneys would greatly benefit from a revamp, newer stock being added more frequently and a second floor (I know, I'm being greedy now).

We're quite lucky that we're spoilt for choice in terms of food, with everything from Chinese to Italian to Mexican food. However, again, I can't help wishing for more affordable places that don't just do fast food. If you're on a budget, some of my favourite affordable, good quality places to eat are as follows: Chapters on Bridge Street, Swagman Bar on Wine Street, Casa Mia on Tobergal Lane and Grappa on Rockwood Parade. If you're after fast food of course we have Four Lights, Roberto's and Zam Zam's (best kebabs ever, they're the size of a small child). I'm still mourning the loss of our Burger King and McDonald's - they're seriously missing out not putting it back in the town centre. And we don't even have a Starbucks. 

As we have Sligo IT and Sligo College Of Further Education, student nightlife is plentiful, so no complaints there - although I do think nights out can get so expensive here. My favourites are Fifth On Teeling (I did a review about it here), Swagman Bar and Velvet Rooms. Shenanigans is also good for student deals.

One thing I find quite disappointing is the lack of clubs for young people. We have the Crib, which is for younger people, but nothing really for people in my age group. Unless you're sporty (which I'm not, unless eating is a sport) or artsy (I can barely tell a pen from a pencil), you're pretty much out of luck. I think a cookery/baking club, a photography club or even just a youth group type of thing would benefit a lot of people in the town, especially now summer is here and a few of us are just sitting at home twiddling our thumbs.

Anyways, you're probably sick of me rambling and ranting all the time, so here's what others had to say about Sligo:

"There's not much to do, everywhere you go there's a pub or a club. Most of the population are alcoholics. What Sligo needs to do is open an adventure centre that caters to all ages, a skate park or a bowling alley." 

I also agree we need something like an adventure centre or a bowling alley - aside from the cinema, there isn't much else you can do in terms of activities.

"We like rural Sligo - there's lots to do, tranquil walks, quiet pubs and friendly people - but we don't go into Sligo town too often."

"I think Sligo is good for a lot of different sports clubs and social clubs but there should be more going on in the town such as more festivals."

"Good pubs (Shenanigans, The Brewery), some good clothes shops (Penneys, River Island) and places to eat such as Supermacs and Limoncello - but I hate the traffic." (My friend, a Donegal native, said this. Then again in Donegal a traffic jam is a few sheep and a tractor.)

"From a daytime perspective there aren't many facilities that aren't sports related. Not the broadest range of shops either. That being said there are some great restaurants and nightlife such as Fifth On Teeling and T&C's, no shortage of live acts and fairly good prices. It's also close to the sea which is nice."

"There's not much to do but I like the Penneys!" - Bethany's sister (thanks Megan).

So that's about it. Hopefully if we ever get out of this rough patch with the recession Sligo will continue to evolve and improve. Until then, if anyone has any comments on this or even things you like to do in Sligo, I'd be more than happy to hear them.

The Problem With....

For whatever reason, my most popular post thus far has been The Problem With Penneys. Whether or not it's to do with the fact I use the word 'arse' in abundance, who knows. All I know is, people agree with it. 

This blog is not about any body parts, you'll be disappointed/pleased (delete as appropriate) to know. It's about things I have a problem with in everyday life, much like Penneys jeans that do not restrain my generously-sized backside.

The problem with....

Having an unusual surname.

I'm sure there are loads of you out there who also have this problem. I'm not sure where my surname comes from - I believe it may be of Scottish origin - but it's not the simplest surname. For privacy sake I'm not going to name it here but those of you who know me in person will probably understand. Every time I go to the bank or the hospital or anywhere that requires my surname to access a file, I'm met with a squinting face as if I've just said 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' backwards and in Hebrew. I wouldn't mind, but it's not the hardest surname to understand. After I've repeated myself and spelled it out - I now just tell people and immediately spell it out after - I'm usually met with something like "That's not an Irish surname". It's almost like to live in Ireland you absolutely have to have an Irish name. 

Ordering Subway for the first time.

We've all been there. Subway virgins. It's quite daunting, popping your custom-made sandwich cherry. The first challenge is knowing where to queue. Yes, there's queueing protocol in Subway. Whereas you'll usually be inclined to queue on the right hand side, in Subway you queue left to right. Many a time I've gone to Subway and had someone unintentionally skip me in the queue because they haven't yet learned the Subway queue code. Usually when this happens the workers give you the sympathetic 'so-it's-your-first-time' look and let you off, but eventually you learn the drill.

Next, the bread. So much bread. Flatbread, white bread, crusty bread, seedy bread, cheesy bread, wholemeal bread. Why are there so many different bread varieties? Which one are you gonna choose? Why don't you have more time to make a decision? Your hands start to sweat as you feel the eyes of the seasoned Subway customers burning at the back of your head. You quickly choose a bread type that you didn't even want (you don't eat white bread for goodness' sake, why did you order the Italian sub?) and regret it for the rest of the day. 

Then you have to choose what you actually want in it. There's a board above your head listing suggested subs called names such as 'Spicy Italian' or 'Subway Club'. There's a club? Is Subway this exclusive? Fear not, you can get whatever you want in your sub. Everything, if you really want to go all out. Just a word of advice, though - don't get Meatball Marinara if you're meeting your beau later. You'll thank me for this advice. 

Phew, you're almost finished. Now it's time for sauce. Again, is this many sauce varieties really necessary? It's like walking into the Heinz factory. How are you meant to know what sauce goes with your chosen sub flavour? The reason I never get sauce on my Subway is partly because of that reason and also because they really go overboard putting the sauce on, even when I ask for 'the tiniest bit'. You generous people, you. It always amuses me when I hear people pronouncing 'Chipotle' as 'chipolata' or asking for garlic mayo or red sauce. You're not in the Four Lights now, Toto.

I have to admit, I still recite a script before going in to order Subway.

Living in the arse-end of nowhere.

That's the countryside, really. Where I live isn't so bad, but when I used to live out in the proper countryside, I nearly needed to send my map co-ordinates and a camping kit to anyone wanting to visit or they just wouldn't be able to find it. 

Planning a day out takes as much preperation as organising the Olympic Games (probably) because unless you can drive, you're screwed. My city folk friends think I'm being meticulous when I ask them a week in advance when we're meeting, but it's actually just so I can see if I can get into town. 

A friend in London once told me to just 'get the bus in'. Oh sure, I'll get the once daily bus into town at 7 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. Those times are just ideal. Thankfully my mother puts up with me always asking for a lift into town, but I really should finish my driving lessons.

By far the worst part about living in a small area is the fact that if you burp, the whole village knows about it before you do and it may as well be on the front page of the paper. 'Local girl BURPS, every man and his dog outraged.'

I'm not melodramatic at all.

Stopping The Stigma

Trigger warning: Depression

In light of a recent tragedy - the premature and deeply saddening loss of talented actor and comedian Robin Williams - I thought I'd make a quick post. I may get a bit deep and serious here but bear with me.

I just want to make a disclaimer that I am in no means an expert and I'm certainly not trying to self-diagnose. I just want to describe my experience. The last thing I want to do is offend anyone.

As a young person in Ireland, where I find services and education for depression and mental illnesses lacking, unfortunately I have been subjected to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Knowing people who have suffered from depression and going through a tough time myself a couple of years ago, I speak from some experience here. After leaving school early I found myself with bad social anxiety, not wanting to get out of bed or do anything because it felt pointless. Though this rough patch didn't last for long (thankfully) it still hit me pretty hard. As someone who is always generally happy-go-lucky and celebrates every little victory it still scares me sometimes to think of how certain events can hit us hard and knock us down. I reassure myself that for me, I overcame it by talking about it, but for a lot of people I understand it isn't that easy.

Depression can be hard to understand but I try my best to be supportive rather than do what I see quite a few people doing - making depression out to be 'not a big deal' or saying 'everyone has bad days, get over it'. It's all too easy to say these things or tell people to 'just smile' or 'cheer up'. If you do this please try and understand it's not that simple.

While talking about it is absolutely the best thing to do, it's scary and it's hard. Talking about it makes it real. But talking about it is also the first step toward getting help. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of or made fun of - it doesn't decrease a persons worth and it certainly doesn't mean they're weak.

So I urge you - if you're suffering with depression, please talk to someone. Your family, your best friend, a doctor, a teacher, anyone. It probably means feck all but if anyone who feels down is reading this, please don't hesitate to talk to me - I'm actually a pretty good listener. You're most certainly not alone.

I sincerely hope I didn't offend anyone with this post - again, I'm not an expert, I just thought I'd address this topic and maybe it helps some of my readers. It was enlightening to see all the supportive posts on Facebook surrounding Robin Williams' death, mostly care and support from others doing similar to what I'm doing, encouraging people to get help and pointing out the fact that no matter how happy and carefree someone may seem, you never know how they really feel.

Some helpful links/numbers in case you need them: (Ireland)

The Samaritians: 116 123  Text: 087 260 9090

1 Life Suicide Helpline: 1800 247 100 / Text 'HELP' to 51444

Teenline Ireland Helpline: 1800 833 634 (7pm -10pm)

Aware (Helpline for Depression): 1890 303 302

Console (Bereavement Support): 1800 201 890

The Senior Helpline: 1850 440 444

The Perils of Alcohol

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a tipple (hopefully no-one misread that) as much as the next 18-year-old girl. The side effects, however, I could do without. I don't condone drinking until you can barely stand or passing out - I'm sure some of my friends will read this and scoff - but there's nothing wrong with having a good night out.

Thankfully, I'm not too bad when I'm intoxicated. I don't get aggressive and I'm not that crying 'why doesn't he love me' girl you always see on a night out. I don't wear shorts that reveal so much arse cheek that they may as well be belts, I'm so not bothered wearing heels mainly because I can't walk in them - it's worth looking like a midget for the sake of comfort. 

In saying that, I had a few drinks on Saturday night and was a bit worse for wear, shall we say, so much so that I didn't notice the puddle of fluid (I'm praying it was a drink rather than vomit/urine/some other unknown bodily fluid) on the floor and subsequently went arse over tit. In my state I did manage to turn my fall into a sort-of impromptu dance move by sliding down the step and scooping myself up with a flourish (that's what I think anyway, to anyone watching it probably just looked like I did, in fact, fall on my arse). Note to self; in future, check the ground for any spillages.

If we have to do the whole labelling thing I'd say I'm more outgoing and elated when I've had a few drinks. Also a bit of a kleptomaniac if we're counting that time I stole some girl's burger and chips, but we won't mention it. Besides, if it were Aesop's Fables the lesson learnt would've been: Don't leave your burger and chips with a stranger. Trust no one.

I do have an awful case of foot-in-mouth when drunk - it's unfortunately true that a drunken mind speaks sober thoughts. I have annoyed a few people with my biting 'wit'. I must come across so rude.

I also have the drunken dancing problem. I'm no Michael Flatley, but you know what it's like when you get a bit of liquid courage. Suddenly you think you belong on Strictly Come Dancing when in reality you look like a gazelle being electrocuted.

And of course, the intoxicated texts. We've all been there. Texting an ex/enemy with a spiel that's barely even legible and then trying to pass it off as a pocket text when they know well you were just being a drunken fool. I still remain adamant they should invent an app that produces a mechanical hand to slap you before you even attempt to drunken message someone.

To conclude, we all know one of the highlights of a night out is getting food at the end. You can't beat a kebab after a night out - although trying to eat a kebab daintily is near impossible so good luck getting more of it in your mouth than down your top. You don't eat a kebab, you shift it. 

If you're going on a night out soon make sure to read these tips - they could save you a sore arse or a chest that stinks of garlic mayo.

Hospital Heartache

Yesterday morning, what was meant to be a simple, routine visit to the doctor turned into...well, the opposite of that. I casually mentioned I've been getting pains in my heart lately, expecting the response to be something like; "That's because you're a lazy bitch" (in medical terms, obviously). I thought wrong. My doctor practically got whiplash as she turned to look at me and bombard me with questions. She proceeded to call the hospital and write a letter. I craned my neck to see what she was writing on the envelope. Emergency Department.

This whole thing wouldn't have been as bad if she wasn't doing that concerned-doctor thing, mm-ing and aah-ing as she wrote the letter that probably said I was about to keel over any second. What I had originally gone in for - my prescription and my routine vitamin B12 injection - was thrown out of the window.

If you live in Ireland (or maybe it's just Sligo), you'll know that going to the hospital is a day out in itself. Waiting hours in a stuffy, smelly emergency department is tough going as it is without having to watch people come in just because they have the flu or something minor. As soon as I mentioned to the receptionist I was in for my heart I was promoted to second in the queue, much to the dismay of another fellow who came in before me. As my name was called and I went to be assessed he stormed up to the nurse and demanded to know why he wasn't next, he was in before me. The nurse explained to him names are called in order of severity, not first come first serve. He gave me a look as if he was glad I was about to be poked and prodded to within an inch of my life. 

Luckily I had a lovely nurse (a female one, much to my dismay when she whipped my top up) who made me feel even sicker when she started calling me 'darling' in that worried voice doctors and parents do. She attached cables to stickers all over my body. I imagine I looked like some kind of cyber-octopus with all of these wires dangling off me.

After more waiting I was promoted to a bed for the whole of 20 minutes while I got my blood taken and a drip inserted - which was baby pink, very stylish may I say. A guy in the bed beside me fainted and about 15 doctors all rushed to him, it was like a real life episode of Casualty. After I had an X-Ray I got my bed taken off me because I obviously didn't look sick enough and got shoved into a Relatives Room. Top care as usual in Sligo General Hospital.

The highlight of the whole ordeal was when a nurse walked into my cubicle and said 'Hi. Adele?' and I said 'No...that's not me'. She proceeded to stare at me for a minute as if I might actually morph into this so-called Adele and go 'Just joking, I am Adele'. Eventually she left and I turned to my mother and said 'Never mind, she'll find someone like me'. *ba dum tiss*

Finally, after 6 and a half hours of waiting, my doctor took me into another room to 'have a chat about what they found', which obviously panicked me even more. I was expecting her to tell me I had 4 hearts or an entire chicken drumstick in my lungs or something like that. Instead, she told me that thankfully it wasn't something very serious such as a blood clot or angina, but as the results weren't conclusive I would need a heart monitor for a week to monitor any abnormalities in my heart, so another trip to the doctor is necessary. She also said inflammation of the cartilage near my heart can't be ruled out, so I'm still not 100% what's happening. All I know is I'm glad it's nothing very serious.

I also want to say thanks for everyone who wished me well on Facebook, it's so nice to know people care about me even if we've never met.

My Day In Photos #1

To add some more variety to my blog I had a flash of inspiration. On days I've done something of interest, or if I've done something I think you'll enjoy seeing, I'm going to compile a post of my day in pictures. I love reading these types of blogs as they allow insight into what people get up to, so hopefully you'll enjoy them too.

Today I headed to Eagles Flying in Ballymote with my mum. We're both mad into animals and have been to Eagles Flying quite a few times before, but we hadn't been in eons so we decided to go back today. Eagles Flying have an assortment of different animals - horses, sheep, goats, a giant pig called Rosie (if I was an animal I think I'd be her), a hedgehog, fox, raccoon, rabbits, guinea pigs...and of course birds of prey. Twice a day, visitors get to watch a show and learn about the birds - not to mention they get to experience them flying over their heads. It's hilarious seeing some people's reactions when a massive bird is flying centimetres above their head. During the show today one of them managed to get caught in my mother's hair, saved her from having to brush her hair. 

So that's been my day. I've also been attempting to read a book I got from the library which I'm not enjoying very much but I hate quitting midway through a book so I shall persist. 

'Til the next adventure..

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I thought I'd do a bit of a different post today. I guess you could see it as a chance to get to know me better. Or just a chance to see how fussy I am.

This post is gonna be about trivial things that make me tick and things that make me sick, hence the title. Disclaimer, if you are easily offended (which, if you read my blog, I should hope you aren't) and do any of the following things that annoy me, don't take it to heart. I'm sure you're a lovely person, just with disgusting habits.

The Good - Things I've Been Loving Lately

The library. Bit random, I know, but I recently went to the library after having not been for eons and it was an enlightening experience - mainly because one of the assistants (if Cupid was a person he would be this guy) was all too keen to help me get sorted (with my library card, get your minds out of the gutter). I am secretly hoping one day I'll be sitting in the library and my life will suddenly turn into Pretty Little Liars - minus all the murdering - and the guy of my dreams will approach me and admire how artsy and intelligent I am. Pffft.

'Not my circus, not my monkeys'. My favourite phrase nowadays, introduced to me by my mother. I've found myself getting a little bit too stressed over how idiotic some people are. The way some people are treating this whole Garth Brooks situation like it's the end of the world has probably given me premature high blood pressure. When I find my blood boiling I calmly say to myself; 'not my circus, not my monkeys'. It's better than doing yoga, probably.

The Fault In Our Stars. For those of you who don't read anything but the back of the Cornflake box or if you've been living under a rock, The Fault In Our Stars is a Young Adult fiction novel by John Green. I read the book last year and was very excited when I heard about the film adaptation. I won't spoil anything but it's a heartwrenching story. However, I was adamant I wouldn't cry at the film - the only film I've ever cried at is Marley & Me. Alas, I left the cinema like a sobbing wreck. When it finished Bethany turned to me and said; 'What kind of movie did you take me to see?' Still, aside from the emotional turmoil, it was a beautifully done film and I recommend you see it while it's still in cinemas.

The Bad - Things I Hate

Odd sandwich choices. This makes me irrationally angry. I lose a bit of respect for people who eat coleslaw in sandwiches. Coleslaw is a side, it's not designed to be put in sandwiches. It's meant to be enjoyed on its own, not undermined by two slices of bread. I don't think very highly of egg salad sandwiches either. And potato salad sandwiches are just a whole other ballgame. I also subconsciously judge people on what they get on their Subway sandwich, but in fairness, I get such a boring Subway I probably get judged too. I'll never forget the day I got avocado on my sub and someone looked at me like I'd just asked for human remains.

The lack of facilities in the cinema. I said to Bethany when we were in the cinema the other night, why aren't there wee tables on the back of the cinema seats like they have on aeroplanes? Too many times I've set my popcorn down on the floor only to trip over it or have someone else trip over it and send half of it spiralling down the aisle. There's nothing more depressing than floor popcorn. By the way, if anyone steals this idea and patents it as their own, I hope you knock your popcorn over everytime you go to the cinema.

The Downright Ugly

Crocs. Need I say more?

I could go on and on but then this blog would turn into a book. What can I say, I'm easily annoyed.

Sad Tales of Car Boot Sales

I'm a poet and I don't even know it.

Apologies for the lazy blogging lately, I've been sick (curse you, Sea Sessions) and haven't been up to much, therefore I had nothing to blog about. I don't think many people would be interested in hearing about what I got up to - mainly lying in bed binge-watching Orange Is The New Black - so I decided to wait until I actually did something productive.

I'm mad for a good car boot sale. I'm mad for a good bargain in general - isn't everyone? - I get most of my clothes from charity shops because I don't have the money to spend €30 on one top in this economy, and chances are no one else is gonna be wearing the same things as you.

Since moving house I realised how much stuff I have accumulated, so when I heard about an upcoming car boot sale in Sligo I was delighted I'd finally have the chance to get rid of some unwanted items that were takin up space in my room. I filled up some boxes with clothes, shoes, books and DVDs to sell and me, my mum and my brother headed on our merry way to the venue where the boot sale was being held.

I've been to some depressing and disappointing car boot sales in my time, but this one was by far the most disappointing. 30 minutes in I still held on hope that there would be a sudden rush of people who were all dying to buy our quality items. I felt like a child at their birthday party when nobody turns up but their parents, except there wasn't even free food or balloons to console me. 

I envisioned myself making a fair amount as I had so much stuff to sell and had priced it fairly - I think anyone who charges €10 for a secondhand dress is a bit deluded - so I thought I'd make about €50 which I can add to my London savings. I made a grand total of...... *drum roll*

NINE. EURO. 

Soul destroying. That wouldn't even buy me lunch in London. If anyone wants to donate to the Charity of Me, feel free.

At one point we were so bored we started playing with a box of Lego we were selling and I made the beautiful creation above. The one on the left is a self portrait. We were having a whale of a time until some fun-sponge bought the Lego off us.

Also, what is with people taking the p*ss trying to haggle ridiculous amounts? Some woman had the nerve to ask would I sell her 2 handbags for €2 (I was selling them for €2 each, one was from Topshop). In the end she begrudgingly bought one of them. I think I'm better off selling my stuff online or somewhere where people actually appreciate the bargains they're being offered.

*sniff*

Anyway, that concludes this sad tale. If anyone wants to find me in London you'll see me standing outside Buckingham Palace with boxes of bric-a-brac, holding a sign saying 'Will sell cheap clothes for Oyster Card'.