“They’ll all be in the cloud thing anyway,” I said to my husband last night, talking about backing up my photos. “Maybe we should put them on the lap top anyway,” he said. “Just in case the cloud runs out of space.” It’s a conversation that wouldn’t have made much sense when
Did you see this list of emotions people experience but can’t explain? I loved it. I thought of some others that I’d put on my own personal list – less philosophical, more prosaic: Ijustcant: The annoyance you feel when you pass a pair of shoes on the stairs, knowing they’ve been there for
We stand, then look back and see the others sitting. We exchange glances, we’ve been caught getting it wrong. Best we stick to the plan now – we stay on our feet. The front row do too, but maybe that’s how it works. My eye is drawn yet again to
In most countries, temperatures of 18 degrees don’t qualify as a heatwave but in Ireland, we’ll take what we can get. It might be still chilly in exposed areas (in either sense) but we know how fleeting this is, and we’re making the most of it. Some signs there’s a
While beauty bloggers are sent highlighters and eye-shadows and lipsticks to review, parent bloggers are asked if they’d like to take a look at cleaning products. OK, not always, I’m exaggerating, but still. Wouldn’t it be great to be sent free beauty products? And to try them, and to write about
I’m going to sound like a killjoy now. I’m going to sound like the girl who always came last and never caught the ball (I was indeed the girl who always came last and never caught the ball.) But is it time to look at refreshing sports day? Could we
I’ve been tagged, blogger-speak for being tapped on the shoulder by another blogger, and the topic is “The A to Z of Me”. Which sounds slightly self-indulgent, but I’m curious to see where I end up. So thanks Bumbles of Rice for the tag, and here goes: A is for
“What age you is mummy?” asked my three-year-old recently. A topical question, when the internet is full of How Old Do I Look photos (clever Microsoft!), hitting on the mild obsession some (many) of us have with how old we look versus how old we are, and how publicly we’re
“Would you like them tinted too?” is the question I am asked every time I get my eyebrows done, and I always decline. “Up-selling…” I sniff to myself each time, refusing to be sucked in. Though a tiny voice in my head usually says, “But maybe they’re right – maybe
I had my fortnightly spill-on-the-desk incident today, only instead of the usual full cup of water, it was a full cup of tea. And not just on the desk, but all over my chair too, and the floor, and my notebook, and my dress. In the middle of the day,
Some friends of mine are meeting for dinner on Friday, and I can’t go. The pull to cancel my plans in order to join them is strong – hovering at the fringes of my mind ever since I saw the email. I’ll resist, but I’ll be wondering if it’s a
I am literally (not literally) the last person in Ireland to discover running. For years now, it has been the go-to option for people all over the country who want to stay fit and healthy. And we all know that it has become particularly popular since the recession, when people ran out
Have you read about Karl Stefanovic, the Australian TV presenter who wore the same suit every day for a year? He decided to do it to prove that men escape the kind of scrutiny to which women are routinely subjected. Co-host Lisa Wilkinson had given a speech last year about sexism, which
When you put yourself out there, when you work, when you have kids, when you run, when you build, when you create, when you challenge, when you try at anything, you set yourself up to win but also to fail. Enjoying the exhilarating ups and enduring the gut-punch downs. We
If you’re looking for a weekend break in a city with easy to follow street signs, smooth, well-kept pavements, graffiti-free buildings, a simple subway ticketing system, and taxi drivers that stay well within the speed limit, then I’d suggest that you give Lisbon a miss. But if you don’t mind
Today, just today, if I wanted to write about a topic that really interests me, the truth is, that would be on writing. Not parenting, not women in the workplace, just writing. I’m not sure it’s all that interesting for anyone else, but if you’ll indulge me for just one day, that’s what
Ray D’Arcy was in the playground. I glanced at him, looked away quickly, then casually glanced over a few minutes later. It was definitely him. Was Jenny there too? Yes! There she was! I had a sudden urge to walk over to the two of them and say hello. I
I recently had my hair-cut. It’s an experience that is in theory very relaxing – an enforced hour of peace and quiet. Time spent reading magazines or Twitter, drinking coffee, and being looked after – being the centre of attention. So a functional pampering – like going for a manicure
So, inspired by a recent Huff Post Parenting article called “Moms, put on that swimsuit!“, I’ve decided to show solidarity; I’m sharing some photos of myself at the pool. I’m kidding. Of course I’m not going to do that. I’m not insane. Like the mum who wrote the article, I
I haven’t stopped crying for two days – this is only slightly more crying than usual; fueled by goodbyes to teachers and to pre-school and to another chunk of childhood. I’m a crier. Anything sets me off. Some days, everything sets me off. Like yesterday. It started early, when a