'Mind Yourself' - My Happy Place

For their 'Mind Yourself' campaign, Independent.ie asked me to discuss my happy place and, in light of recent personal events, this is what struck me...

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An old farmhouse nestled along a winding rural road; the hub of our family.

Her house was the centre of the wheel for our entire family - aunts, uncles, cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, neighbours and friends gathered there.  

Her doors were always open.

Nana was the pinnacle of our family and all spokes lead to her.

It was more than just a farmhouse though it was a home and it holds a very special place in my heart.

As I write this piece my mind wanders back to my childhood days of calling down to see Nana, of Sunday spins  to the beach and evenings spent sitting by the fire watching Judge Judy call the shots.

All memories now. Happy memories of a happy place. My happy place.

The house, and the woman at the centre of it, was the glue that held our family together.

You could drop in on any given day and you would be sure to find her either sitting in her chair in the sitting-room poking at the fire, standing at the kitchen table making her famous brown bread and marmalade or out in the yard looking for one of her hens that had escaped (again).

Her house was a hive of activity; the yard was always buzzing with farmers rushing here and there and with 18 of us grandchildren and as many more great-grandchildren, there was always someone visiting for a chat and a cup of tea.

That was the thing about Nana; she loved to chat and I always left her house laughing at something she had said or marvelling at a story she had told.

She had a profound influence on everyone who walked through that house although she had a special way of making you feel like you were the only one.

She instilled some of life’s most important qualities in me; that your health is your wealth, education is a privilege we must take advantage of and the importance of being independent should never be underestimated.

And Nana embodied each and every one of those qualities.

She treasured being healthy and, even in her later years, enjoyed a sneaky dip in the sea during summers spent in Rosslare. She embraced education reading the Independent from back to front every morning and then giving out about the latest political scandal for the rest of the day. And she was independent! Long before Beyonce released her chart topping ‘Independent Women’, Nana was leading the way as an independent lady even driving to the shops and mass at the age of 91.

In the days after Nana's passing her house was where we gathered. It was where we needed to be; each of us reminiscing on our own memories of olden times and funny stories.

Strangely enough it was my happy place. For those few days it was where I needed to be to feel close to Nana.

There was a profound sense of family, of love and of togetherness during those sad days.

In the midst of all the sadness and grief, Nana's house remained the hub we had always known it to be. It, or rather she, remained the glue that held us together.

Nana’s house remained the light in our darkest time.

It was my happy place. Our happy place.

As addictive as a drug: Narcos Season 1 Review

The opening scene of the Netflix original Narcos describes it as ‘magic realism’; a real story told magically or a magic story told in a real way. And that it is.

The series, fictionalised but grounded in real events, documents the larger-than-life story of the rise and fall of drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Defence Enforcement Administration’s futile efforts to catch him and the infamous Medellín cartel.  

The so-called “King of Cocaine” demands your attention from the get-go as he flaunts his lavish lifestyle of wealth, women, drugs and the more than occasional mass murder. Switch your attention for a minute and you’re lost. With more plot strands than I care to count this series demands nothing but your full attention.

Narcos, the colloquial term for drug dealers, intertwines real archival footage with the drama of the show, giving it an authentic almost documentary feel. The use of English subtitles over spoken Spanish only adds to the intensity of the show.

The infamous Pablo Escobar's life is portrayed in this Netflix original

The show is narrated through the words of DEA agent Steve Murphy, played brilliantly by Boyd Holbrook, but it also manages to show the other side of the drug war through the eyes of Escobar.

Behind the cocaine-fuelled gun shots and violent outbursts is an astonishingly good performance from the main man himself, Wagner Moura, portraying Pablo Escobar.

The Brazilian actor is mesmerising in his role as the all controlling, all powerful drug lord demanding loyalty and, in most cases this means life or death, from his fellow drug traffickers. Yet he is capable, at times, of showing love and affection towards his wife, his mother and his children. This split personality is unnerving for the viewer as we wonder what his unpredictable mood is capable of next.

For the squeamish people out there Narcos does not shy away from violence and when it comes it comes in short, quick and gruesome outbursts leaving little to the imagination of the audience. There were times when I had to cover my eyes to avoid the graphic bloodied images caused by Pablo’s destruction.

In essence Narcos follows the typical good guys versus bad guys stereotype but, with more twists than a windy old Irish boreen, there are times when the viewer questions how good the good guys are and whether they have crossed a line in search of the bad guys.

Narcos succeeds in keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat; eagerly waiting to click ‘next episode’ to see where this real-life story will take you next. Like the drugs they flaunt throughout the show, Narcos is nothing short of addictive.

Annnnnd that's a wrap: I graduated!

Four years ago I clutched my Leaving Certificate results in my hand, hoping and praying all my hard work had paid off.

I desperately wanted to study Journalism and New Media in Limerick but, with the points set to increase, I had an agonising wait to see if I had got it or not. A few days later I happily clicked ‘accept’ on my CAO form. I was officially Limerick bound!

Officially a qualified journalist.

Four years later and it’s hard to believe my college experience is over. As cliché and all as it sounds, time really does fly and last week I graduated!

I spent a lot of time in fourth year wishing the year would hurry up and end. I couldn’t wait to be finished my final year project, assignments, exams and all the stress that goes hand in hand with it. I was more than ready for the stress of college life to be over. I was ready to go out into the real world and be an adult.

But the night before my graduation, with the big day literally only a few hours away, I had a scary thought. I suddenly realised there was just one small problem with my single-mindedness. Once I donned my cap and gown that was it; the safety net of education, which I have known for the last 18 years, would suddenly be gone.

And with the economy still looking more like a rollercoaster and less like smooth sailing it’s no wonder I’m slightly anxious. I have nothing concrete lined up. I’m all dressed up with no place to go. No place to interview.

Every so often I find myself thinking these negative thoughts, which are made all the worse by people constantly asking me what exactly I’m doing with my life and when am I going to get a real job and stop working part-time pulling 99’s. The truth is I don’t know. I’m really not sure. I’m still figuring this whole life thing out.

When the not-so-positive thoughts don’t creep in I’m confident. Confident I’ll get a job in my chosen field and confident that things will work themselves out. I’m pretty sure something will come up. In some shape or form. I’m just not sure how long it will take…

Waving goodbye after four great years.

The President of UL, Professor Don Barry, reminded me of all this during his speech at the graduation. He reminded us how proud we should be for getting this far and achieving a third level qualification and, more importantly perhaps for those of us with nothing solid lined up, reminded us that things always have a way of working themselves out. He said we must “never, ever let anyone tarnish our spark”. Wise words from a wise man.

So, with that in mind, I’m not so much nervous about the future as I am curious.

College life was (so far!) the best four years of my life, but I’m ready for the next chapter now.

All I can say is bring it on!

Interrailing Do's and Dont's

The Interrail Experience...                                                                                        

After spending what can only be described as the best four weeks of my entire life travelling around Europe I am finally, and somewhat reluctantly, back on Irish soil. Leaving sandy beaches and scorching sun to return to a very dull and dismal Dublin airport last Sunday night was a firm reminder that the dream was well and truly over. Returning to work today after almost four and a half weeks away was a further realisation that I was back to reality with a bang.

So what better way to lighten my mood and my post-holiday blues than to reminisce about my Interrail experience. Like the J1, interrailing is quickly becoming an almost mandatory rite of passage for young Irish students. But before you set out on your trip of a lifetime, here are some do’s and dont's to consider…

Travel Buddies

DO: Travel with someone you know inside out and upside down. Someone you know has the same interests as you and someone you know will want to do and see all the same things as you. You are going to be spending 24/7 in each others company so choose wisely. I travelled in a group of four (my boyfriend and I and one of my best friends and her boyfriend) and it was the perfect combination. We were all interested in doing and seeing similar things and it made our trip a whole lot easier. 

DON’T: Go with people you may end up falling out with over a missed train, a bad hostel or deciding what to do. Interrailing is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do and see things you might never get a chance to do again. Make sure you’re doing them with the right person. Don’t waste your time away with someone who can’t be bothered to get up early or stay up late and has no interest in doing the same things as you.

Pack smart

DO: Travel lightly. Trust me, you really won’t wear half the things you think you will. It’s useful to pick out outfits before you leave; it’s more efficient and will hopefully prevent you from over-packing.

DON’T: Bring anything unnecessary. I’m talking hairdryers, straighteners etc. If the weather is good your hair will dry naturally or, if you're lucky, they might have one in the place you're staying.

Booking accommodation

DO: Book in advance. Not everyone is a fan of booking accommodation in advance but, personally, I would recommend it. After a long day/night travelling you really won’t want the extra hassle of having to try and find a suitable hostel in a new city. We booked all of our accommodation in advance (some weeks in advance, others just a few days) and found it really handy. Plus, booking in advance gives you the added bonus of picking and choosing the best value for money hostels in the exact locations you want.

DON’T: Leave it ‘til the last minute. During our trip we spent three nights in each place which really isn’t a huge amount of time. We wanted to make the most of each new place we visited by doing and seeing all we could. Wandering the streets looking for a place to stay wasn’t one of them.

Have an idea what you want to do

DO: Make a vague plan of what you want to see and do in each place before you get there. It’s important to have a rough idea of the attractions in any of the places you’re going as it will save you time and ensure you make the most out of each destination.

DON’T: Be lazy and waste your days. Interrailing really is the holiday of a lifetime so be proactive and make the most out of every day. You’ll only end up regretting it if you don’t.

Count your dolla bills

DO: Keep an eye on your bank account. You’re there to spend your money doing and seeing lots, but it’s important to remember you’re probably on a budget. Try not to blow your money in the first week as you get to grips with what you can spend daily. If you are on a strict budget cheaper countries like Slovenia will suit you better. Personally I found bigger cities like Vienna and Munich to be very expensive (but still worth it!).

DON’T: Think that money grows on trees. It doesn’t, unfortunately, and it will run out. Make a plan of what you can spend daily and stick to it. That’s the best advice I can give.

Picture c/o: Imgur

For my sister...

To the baby of the family,

Tomorrow you turn 11. Imagine.

I remember so clearly the day you were born. I was eleven too. I didn’t know if I would be welcoming a new baby brother or a new baby sister.

I wished for the latter. Poor Michael has been outnumbered by women in this family ever since.

You will always be the bambino of the family so to see you grow up before my very eyes is a strange, but wonderful experience. I have had the privilege to be someone you can look up to and admire and I know I don’t always get it right but I hope I’m setting some sort of a good example.

When you were a baby you were effervescent, stubborn and oh-so-very cute. Now you are slowly (but surely!) morphing into the ultimate teenager.

I’m almost getting used to not being able to find my mascara or lip-gloss because you’ve robbed it and are experimenting with it in your bedroom. It doesn’t mean I’m not still mad about it being gone. I am.

As the baby of the family I never really thought the day would come when you would suddenly have an interest in fashion and make-up but you already do. 

But you're still so young so slow down...you will have years and years of wearing make-up everyday and wishing you didn’t have to. Putting on fake eyelashes and straightening your hair. You will have endless nights out with your best friends, getting dolled up and heading to Creation like I do now. Your time will come.

It doesn’t seem like 11 years ago you came into this world, peeping out through big blue eyes. In another 11 years you will be my age. 22.

By that stage you might have gone to college. Or you might not. I know you think school is “soooooooo boring” right now but stick with it. I only ask that you follow your passions and do what makes you happy. You are one of the most creative 11-year-olds I know; making homemade lip-gloss, hair dye, nail varnish and all sorts of other bits and bobs. You are so talented at music too. Please don’t ever stop playing the piano or singing. Even if the singing drives me mad from time to time. 

And the cooking! How could I forget the cooking? You will make more of a chef than I ever will.

Also, keep reading. The beauty of getting lost in a good book never fades away. Trust me. Keep at it, even if the lure of your iPod is more enticing.

Take an interest in the world around you. I know you already do this, dreaming of big city living in London and New York but don’t be afraid to explore other places too. Sometimes people and places aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

In 11 years time maybe you will get the opportunity to do what I am doing now. I hope you travel and see what the world has to offer. Ignorance is not bliss so don't be afraid to try new things, ask questions or voice your opinion. Lord knows you have one! 

Finally, you will never be too old to sleep in my bed. I might give out about you sneaking in there but you make the perfect spooning partner.

Love,

Your big sister x 

Oh and...

Age is only a number, true love is eternal

The romance surrounding weddings often brings a tear to the eye. Even more so when the love story of the couple at hand is this cute…

Wedding bells are in the air...

                                                                        

There had been months of planning and preparing for the big day. Finding the right church for the ceremony, booking the hotel reception and, most importantly, choosing the perfect wedding dress. There was also invites to be designed, table decorations to be organised and seating plans to be approved. There was so much to do, but Annie didn’t mind. After all, she had time on her hands and was determined to make her big day absolutely perfect.

Annie had always thought the old saying "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" had been written especially for her and, after four weddings as maid of honour, she had given up all hope.

And then she met Tommy.

He strolled into her life and settled comfortably as if he had been part of it for the last 82 years. They went for walks together, read the newspapers every day and, occasionally, played cards. They fought like any old couple; bickering and niggling as if they had been doing it for years. But they had just met. They were in the honeymoon phase; despite being 82 and 86-years-old respectively.

She knew she loved him and wanted to spend what little time she had left on this earth with him. So, defying the odds and proving that age really is only a number, they tied the knot last summer less than a year after they met.

At 82-years-old Annie finally walked down the aisle.

She knew their story was one for the books and, at her wedding reception, Annie beamed as she said:

“When I think about it there’s nothing incredibly special about Tommy and I together. Except that I think our love story is the sweetest of them all.”

Pictures c/o: Top Vectors and U Turn Crossfit. 

Des Bishop's 'Coming Home'

The funny man is back on Irish soil after an interesting time in China

From the Glen to Beijing and back home again.

Des Bishop’s ‘Coming Home’ tour left audiences with tears rolling down their cheeks as he performed his hilarious, sold-out gig in Cork last weekend.

His stand-up show garnered impressive reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer and, having brought it back to The Everyman for two nights this year, it’s easy to see why.

‘Coming Home’ tells the entertaining, amusing and laugh-out-loud account of Des’s two years living in China where he challenged himself to learn one of the world’s most up-and-coming languages.

Having already spent a year in the Gaeltacht in a bid to learn cúpla focal and speak as Gaeilge, Des decided to set the bar even higher and try his hand at Mandarin.

Our tickets for the show last Friday night.

Without giving too much of the show away, I can tell you, if you’re lucky enough to see this performance it will leave your cheeks hurting and stomach aching from laughter. Des’s anecdotal stories of working in a local restaurant as a ‘welcomer’, attending match-making fairs, learning to play ancient Chinese instruments with the locals and, finally, making an appearance on the Chinese version of ‘Take Me Out’ are guaranteed to entertain you.

The problems he encounters along the way, the inevitable difficulties he has with the language and the differences he experiences with the culture are all told in brilliant, comedic fashion by the much-loved Irish-American.

His recount of his time on Take Me Out is one for the books as he recalls how he got the audience clapping along to ‘Come Out Ye Black and Tans’ while also yapping away in Mandarin AND trying to woo the ladies for almost half an hour. Talk about multi-talented!

However it was just a fleeting visit to his old haunt in Cork as the New Yorker returns to his home city next where his ‘Made in China’ tour, as it is known outside Ireland, hits the Barrow Street Theatre for a three-week run.

Having spent years laughing over his jokes and eagerly waiting to finally see him, Des Bishop did not disappoint, and, if this show is anything to go by I can’t wait to see the next!

Picture c/o: desbishop.net