♫ Soft Kitty, warm Kitty... Non-smoker Kitty, inhaler-using Kitty...

So sick girl is sick. Big news! Ha... I've had a... chest infection? Flu? (not 100% sure really) the last couple of months. It's mostly been fine, felt only like the end of a cold or something, but wouldn't go away. Then my temperature blew up, got chesty, yada yada... Long story short, I've been mostly bedridden the last two weeks, unable to breath/ sleep. Joints also been bit worse, I guess to be expected when I'm sick/ run down. The good news is that I'm off the cigarettes/ rollies! :) Totally by accident obviously, as I couldn't breath in deep enough to actually inhale, har! But good all the same, I knew I had to quit for a while. I gots myself one of those nicotine only sticks (the older version, not those fancy, sonic screwdriver looking yokes) but not using it very much, just good to have for when I next partake in alcohol.

Bad news is that I'm on my second round of antibiotics (I haven't taken antibiotics since having pneumonia when I was 19 -It isn't something I go into lightly), I now own an inhaler (because I didn't have enough medications and health-related accessories) and my immune

Bicky's marriage equality fundraiser

As I've mentioned in a prior post, I'm trying to help the yes campaign for the upcoming marriage equality referendum in Ireland. As you can imagine, the no campaigners are vast in number, monies and power, so fundraising is a must. This is not about religion, this is not about children, this is not about politics -This is about every Irish woman and man having the same human, basic rights as each other! Not an LGBT member? Great! It is straight allies I'm trying to appeal to here.

So to recap on what I kinda already said in the prior post: 

what can you do? Well apart from the obvious voting yes... 

1. Donate: Text "Love" to 50300. Save and post this pic to your Facebook profile (with the photo settings set to public of course, so that your mates can share).

2. Live in Dundalk? Attend the local

Neurologist, round 2

So after a year and a half since my first appointment with the neurologist, I *finally* had my second! Hurr-bloody-aaayy! Nothing incredible to report, but as I'm meant to mostly be blogging about my diagnostic journey, then it's worth a mention...

She would like to monitor my BP for a few days to see how low it is. Not the all important, illusive tilt table test but it's probably the next best thing! So at least we are finally getting somewhere. She also wants to see MRI results of one I had on my C spine a few years back (I was given a CD, hopefully still have it somewhere). At the time they took images of my brain but didn't actually read them/ include them in their report. They were mostly concerned with the C spine and any damage done to the shoulder. It's just cautionary, rule out any nastier reasoning for being dizzy, clumsy and the general lack of coordination.

Here's a photo from that MRI that I do happen to have. I look dam sexy as a size 0.

Not sure yet when I'll

The best days

My favourite days are like these. Some photos from last Sunday -Myself, Bicky and the dogs in Stephenstown pond. Enough said.

Midweek randoms

Not exactly midweek for another hour, but most definitely random. Wee thoughts and recent observations that don't individually deserve their own whole post...  Fun-filled links, titbits (Or is is tidbit? I wasn't sure, LOLZ, doubted myself and had to Google it!) of information you should be aware of and just downright demands/ things you should do, read, watch... Bite size CrippleBaby, if you will... Fun size, even! Have I sold this to you yet? Good. Carry on. 


If you donate to nothing else this year, donate to create Ireland's first cat cafe in Dublin... Yep. You read correctly:
Cat Cafe!

Finally having my second/ big neurologist appointment this month. 1 and half years after the last appointment... Nervous. And not just because it's on Friday the 13th... *Reminds self that superstitions are complete twat bollox*

Want to travel and volunteer? Apply for this (Not one of those scammy organisations, I promise):




Live in Dundalk? Go to this every Tuesday in the Bartender:

Prepare to wet yourself: To Kill a Mocking Bird sequel! 

Visit my new side thing (cause I didn't have enough going on)... Free stuff

Enjoy comedy

How to be vegan in Ireland: Food

I've been meaning to write a post like this for a while now, a short guide if you are considering becoming vegan and happen to live in Ireland -A very non-vegan place! Just the food stuff for now. My experiences written here are mostly based around shopping and dining in Dundalk, Ardee and Carrickmacross, so unfortunately, the supermarkets near you may vary -as many Tesco and other supermarkets do from town-to-town.

Vegan Alternatives

Pasta and Breads: I was surprised to find out that a lot of breads are vegan (apart from the Irish soda breads, of course) and store-bought pastas that don't say 'fresh pasta' on them -So no alternatives needed there! Just check the ingredients on packs. Usually allergy words like milk and eggs are in bold.

Spreads and Sauces: In Ireland we have dairy free margarines such as Pure (Sunflower, olive and soya varieties) and Dunnes Stores own brand (which is much, much cheaper, and I think lower in fat) SunLite. If you want to try Pure anyway, it's available in Tesco's and Dunnes Stores. Most tomato based pasta sauces are fine, but again, simply check the back of the jar. Or even better (and healthier) make your own with tinned tomatoes. It's insanely easy and cheap.
I love pesto and that's one thing I missed (there's hard cheese generally in pesto -which I found out recently a lot of people don't realise). I discovered a delicious one in the SuperValu in Ardee (some home-made brand, can't remember the name right now, *sad face*) and then also made my own version... Ok, ok, Bicky made it. He's back to being a part-time stay at home wifey and fur-baby daddy... And apparently a pesto making expert. So easy to make and so delicious... Nom nom... anyway, where was I... Oh mustard. If you're looking for bit of an extra kick in sandwiches, most mustards are grand. Another good one is egg free mayo -available from Holland & Barrett and the PlantGoodness24 website.
And of course, the forever love of every vegan, the one and only, sexy hummus.

Fake Meats (Alternatives): Some vegetarian foods are also accidentally vegan (get used to that term! It's everywhere... Google it if you ever want to read other vegan food lists). Linda McCartney sausages (which in my opinion are waaaay tastier than the Quorn version) are also suitable for vegans (available in Tescos and Dunnes Stores), and Aldi have two vegetarian burgers which also happen to be vegan. Hooray -Check out their "Mae's Kitchen" bean burger and vegetable quarter pounders. I should point out here, that I was temped to put the above items under the "Junk Food" section. They are at the end of the day processed foods and basically junk... Like I'm not against the odd treat, but don't be under the illusion that because something is marked vegetarian or vegan that it is automatically healthy. You can be vegan and eat chips or processed shite all day... You just won't feel very good. In that case, you might as well

On the rag: A note on feminism

It's been a while since I'v had one of my famous rants (famous? ...Yeah, I only have about 10 followers, but I'm still saying famous. Deal with it), and what better subjects than politics and feminism, eh? And yes, yes, I'm totally late to board the train, and I'm sure by now yous all totally get that feminism is not hating on men? And that anti-feminists (or at least the childer who post shite on the internets) simply wish things were 'just like the 1950's' for the oh so pretty lady clothes? Yes, yes?? Good.

Well with that in mind I'll skip over all the obvious stuff and just have a wee chat about this article:
"9 Times When Irish Politics has Been Really Sexist"

At first read I laughed, of course, and I'm sure you will too. They are funny comments. Funny because they are: A.) Outrageous, B.) Oh so very dam Irish and C.) It is human nature to think "well, they were just having a laugh though" ...The latter passed my mind only briefly before I stopped myself. Is it wrong to comment on a women's looks, if you are saying something nice? "Flaming red hair" sounds more of a compliment to me. The argument could be made, that if it was the other way around, would men in politics care so much if they were being commented on? Perhaps not. And perhaps it wouldn't be such a big deal in the media. But the bigger picture is simply that there are less women in politics -and as we all know, women do not have the same rights, respect or pay in many professions. This is where the issue lies, in case anyone reads the article and thinks: "What's the big deal?". It's the same old bullshit of "Oh sometimes black people are racist to white people, ya know!" ...Eh, yeah, of course, and where as this is clearly not right and neither is excusable, there is a difference. The difference being years of oppression.

Examples of being judged on our looks as females is everywhere. There are certain pubs and nightclubs that I just rather not bother going into, that my male friends would have no issue in entering. I don't mind a bit of fun, a bit of joke (after all, social situations