5 Places to get your COVID-19 information

For those who know me in real life, you know that I am far from an alarmist. A realist sure, but I absolutely despise idle gossip and absolutely, seriously despise fear mongering, fake news and conspiracy bullshit.

What we are being asked to currently do in Ireland to combat the spread of COVID-19, and in many other countries, is by far that drastic. Like just stay inside as much as possible, for YOUR circumstances. Wash your hands, keep a metre distance from people at the very least (when possible), don't shake hands... these are not alarmist things to do. They are the very most basic things things we could change now to prevent a bigger issue in the future. We need to #FLATTENTHECURVE, and this can only be done if we all take tiny measures.

Those who rely on work (those who still have a job to go to) cannot stay at home all the time, not everyone can work at home and not all businesses can close down completely. BUT you can keep your kids away from other kids (cancel all playdates), no trips to the grandparents, drinks at home for just two weekends rather than the pub, get your food delivered where possible if you are high risk or have cold like symptoms, and really other very basic measures that many of us are lucky enough (privileged enough) to be in a position to do.

It's not about shaming people in to complying; we are all in very different circumstances. It's all about doing what YOU can do to flatten the curve.

- Lads, it's really not much of an effort when you think about it. Unless you are a dick. Don't be a dick. Have some consideration for all the nurses, doctors, general front line staff, food suppliers and supermarket staff, general civil servants/ army etc who are currently working their asses off behind the scenes at this very moment, to ensure everything is in place for you for the coming days/ weeks. Having your fucking 10th pint of Harp tonight in a crowded pub is a real piss in their faces.

With all that in mind I have compiled a basic list of bloggers and official websites that you should definitely consider getting your pandemic news from. Being informed can help greatly if you are feeling anxious right now, but make sure you are getting the correct information from reputable sources. You may want to stay away from Jim Corr, YouTube and racist Mary from down the road right now (actually that's just good advice in general).

The wonderfully funny and annoying world of brain fog

...Or "mind mist" as I once accidentally called it!

For those who don't live in the realm of chronic illness and/ or chemotherapy, let me first explain the concept around "brain fog"/ "chemo brain"/ "mind mist", or whatever non-medical way you want to phrase it. I would even throw "baby brain" in there, as I imagine it's quite similar.

Everyone has those moments where they walk into a room and forget why, can't think of the right word for an object, have no idea where they left something important or simply lose their train of... thought. But "brain fog" (I actually went to write "brain flog there" -seriously) with illnesses is different -it's pretty much constant, and even though it can take several forms, it can be quite severe. It's more than just the normal mix-ups.

Usually there is no known cause or explanation for the phenomenon, and it's not generally medically recognised. I suppose in most cases it's something that isn't easily studied or monitored. During chemotherapy I put it down to, well -I've cancer... knowing that you have cancer is pretty distracting to say the least. Of course people with cancer have preoccupied minds.  I assume with certain conditions that effect blood flow and/ or oxygen to the brain, such as orthostatic intolerance, that the reason for confusion is a pretty obvious one. I had heard of the term "brain fog" within the chronic illness community before chemotherapy, and recognised that I had some issues (mostly forgetting where I left things!). But the first time I had actually heard a medical professional discuss it was when I was diagnosed with cancer -"chemo brain", as they called it. But other than that, doctors don't really bring it up. It's important to note that it is not a medical diagnoses, rather than an annoying, sometimes humorous symptom. If you suddenly develop this and have no idea why, please see your GP immediately so all possible underlying issues can be explored.

For me, since chemotherapy, my fog has grown to absolute mind farts. I can't recall the name of a lot of items, varies on the items from day to day of course, but it is constant. It's fine/ doesn't really effect my general life in a negative way. If anything, me and Bicky get quite a laugh from it. For others, depending on the reason for the mental blocks, it can't be very scary and worrying. The above example in the first sentence, is actually a true case -I had brain fog, about the term BRAIN FOG. Seriously.

Here are some other fine examples of what I'm talking about, from friends, fellow spoonies and fellow bloggers (as well as some of my own word bombs):

A message to all bloggers

I adore this quote.

I have nothing against bloggers monetizing from their writing, quite the opposite, even if it's just not for me right now. So I don't want this to come across as such a post that is bashing that, as I know it's a sensitive topic in the blogging community. Whether you decide to make money through your blog or not, it does not define you as a real blogger, or even a good one. It's simply a personal choice, an added element that some opt into.

But sometimes people get lost with their writings, for various reasons -whether your blog is your hobby or your job. Bloggers get stressed out, worn out, upset with themselves if they don't meet their own high standards and don't post as much as they feel they should. It's YOUR blog at the end of the day, it's your art, it's your baby. Don't forget that. Enjoy it. Stop being your own worse critic. If you can't update it as much as you would like to, or as much as you feel is the norm -so? (Especially common amongst us chronic illness bloggers). Why are you judging yourself against imaginary boundaries? Stop feeling guilty, just stop it. You are not letting yourself down or anyone else. There is no need to post the obligatory apology, "Sorry for not being around guys", and then explaining why you haven't been posting. I do this, and I hate myself for it. I think it's a habit we all need to get out of and it's something I have been learning to do. When you think about it, it's actually really egotistical... Like, we're simple bloggers at the end of the day. We are not surgeons, we're allowed a day off -and probably no one will notice. I don't mean that to sound harsh, I am simply being realistic about what we are achieving here. Sure, some posts change views, help people in some way or maybe brighten a day just a bit. But to think that society will collapse if we take time out to recharge, or that we owe anything to anyone in this way, is just silly.

I know this might be different though if you have advertisers relying on you, but if you ever get to the stage that your blog is depressing you, or even getting you down a bit -STOP. And think. It shouldn't be like that. And sometimes, it does get to that level. I've heard many people talk about their blogs like they are a  depressive burden (in various online groups that I'm a member of). If you are struggling to keep up with advertiser's demands or deadlines and you are beginning to hate what you are doing -just STOP. Is it worth it? Is this what you wanted blogging to be? There must be a happy medium, maybe take less jobs on or have a break and write about something that you love. Perhaps something personal (those posts are scary, aren't they? They are also really liberating, and a good re-charge into getting your blogging mojo back).

#LWIBloggies2016: The eve of the awards

Tomorrow is the big awards day! For previous posts about it, see here and here. This is the second time I have ever been nominated for a blog award, and the first time that I have ever been shortlisted and then placed into the finalist list (the previous awards didn't have any shortening on the nominations prior to the awards night).

I've been so unwell lately, that I'm quite nervous about attending. I've had two social occasions recently/ the last couple months that really took it out of me -even though walking was limited on each occasion as much as possible. Where once an event (sitting down, relaxing, not really doing anything) would have had me in bed for the next day or two afterwards, events (of any kind) now have me in bed and in pain for days So while I have to choose wisely and have a massive sense of guilt about attending, I'm still determined to go.

Guilt might like seem like an odd term there... I suppose I should explain.

As you may have read in previous postings, or even rants on my Facebook page, every activity takes so much more energy to accomplish when you are unwell. Hence where the spoon theory comes into play (although it isn't always as straight forward). I have to pick and choose small activities as well as the bigger ones -which is important to do now, which can wait. This ranges from getting dressed to walking the dogs briefly, to doing the dishes or to bigger events like socialising.

If I choose something on the top scale today, going to socialise with a friend for a couple of hours, then I can't do anything else that day or the next day. If I do the laundry and wash the dishes then I will have to nap and can't play with the dogs. If I wash my hair then I can't make dinner and Bicky has to make it (which he does loads, I'm not at all being sexist and saying women should make it, LOL! Just of course I also enjoy doing it and want to help out more often). It's give and take and many times I feel like I'm letting others down, in never ending and forever loosing battle to accomplish as much as possible.

I desperately want to work full time and miss my job, even part-time, but I get up and use my energy to get dressed (yes, that's how ridiculous it is) so then I need to nap or at least rest for a while. I need to get up extra early to prep myself -take my pills, sit up and try get my BP higher/ normal before standing, pop my joints into place, move my hands and feet to try get some feeling back into them (peripheral neuropathy issues). Of course sleep is something not really in my control, and either is waking up. From "painsomnia" to phases of sleeping 20 plus hours, completely knocked out and non responsive to anyone trying to wake me. It's an endless rotation.

#LWIBloggies2016: I'm a finalist! - All the details

Drum roll pleeease... For those of you that haven't heard, I am now a ✯finalist✯ in the #LWIBloggies2016 🎪 (Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards)... This being my first year and generally not paying attention, lol, I didn't realise there was going to be another shortened list until the day it was out but delighted to be on it!!! Silly me! Then when they were announced, there was a sneak peak on snapchait -a format I don't use. Apparently one of the only bloggers in Ireland who doesn't, haha. I was sent the screenshot of the image by a couple of fellow bloggers but still didn't believe it until the official lists were out. I'm in the personal bloggers list of course, under the category of Health and Well Being (which I already knew obviously, but just in case anyone else was wondering). Here's the newly shortened, finalists list:


The awards take place on September 15th in Dún Laoghaire -the theme being circus (which I LOVE -well the more vintage, creepy circus/ freak show would be my thing, but same difference). The location being Duffy's circus tent (which I do not love). My heart actually sank reading that, I have been fighting with my conscious ever since. Like I had assumed, no animals will be at the circus on the night, the organisers are simply using Duffy's tent to coordinate with the circus theme. But here's my dilemma -Duffy's circus still use animals. They may have the lesser, "non wild" animals these days but they have a spotted history and either way will profit from this event in part -I'm sure they are earning something for renting out the tent at least, and I think some of the human staff will be there. Ergo, I am still contributing to an animal circus in monetary form, something I (and many people in the country) are against. Now the argument for this could be that the animals they seem to have these days (mostly dogs and horses I gather, and I think llamas and parrots but reading mixed reports) are not the traditional wild circus animals, and as a pet owner I am a hypocrite.

Blog Awards Ireland: long listed!

Delighted to announce that I made the long list for the Blog Awards Ireland (being sponsored this year by Littlewoods), in the category of Health and Well Being!

Thanks so much to anyone who nominated me... Fingers crossed I make it to the short list, although as I had to take a long break recently from blogging all together, I'm feeling truly honored to reach this phase alone.

My first ever awards night - IBA Blogger's Choice Awards

As anyone who follows my Facebook page will already know, I didn't win at the Irish blogger's Association's blogger's Choice awards at the weekend. Although seeing as how they had spelled my blog as "Cripple babay" on their website, I knew beforehand that I obviously had not won, lol. Still, I wanted to attend for the craic. Thanks to my sister for coming along with me. 

This was not only the first awards I have attended, but also the first year that the IBA have hosted any -So naturally enough there were some teething problems. There was their usual blogger's conference on during the day, but I did not attend this part as I knew I physically would not be able for one event after the other. 

IBA #BloggersChoiceAwards

I just bought my ticket for the Irish Blogger's Association's Blogger Choice awards!!!

So excited, it's the first time I've ventured to do anything like this. I'm a nominee, but I really don't care about that -Just looking forward to a fun night. Fingers crossed my body behaves and I'm not in bed lying down by 10! ...Still have to sort my wheelchair which I will not have by then (I know, I know! I'm getting on that, *pinkie promise*).

I finally gots me a Facebook page

As some of you may know, I gots me a Facebook page recently! Many, many hours are spent to set up and run such a high-tech, super powered, internets facilities. Only the elite and very noble are honored with such abilities to do so. Much wow.

☞CLICK HERE FOR PURE ABSOLUTE ENJOYMENT AND MORE FUNNY FUN TIMES☜

I wasn't going to bother, as I already had a page for my charity art and craft shiz (KittyLovesTeddies), and just shared my things there... but as I'm trying to become more part of the blogging community lately I realised

My very first Liebster award nomination!

So a fellow blogger nominated me for the Liebster award. 

For those of you (like myself a couple of weeks ago) who haven't heard of this before, it is as follows:
It's more of a chain-mail, rather than an actual "award". The point is to find and interact with new blogs, while promoting new blogs in the community. Every chain seems to have different rules, altered slightly, but the ones I received are as follows:

• Thank your nominator

• Share the award on your blog

• Answer 10 questions asked to you

• Ask 10 questions to 10 new nominees (who have less than 300 followers)

• Notify them via social media

The whole point is to discover new blogs so the best way to go about this is by posting in groups rather than nominating people you already follow. To find such blogs, I posted in two of my favourite Facebook blogging groups and