The complex story of loving someone with mental illness

M'anam presents 'Open Your Eyes' art exhibition

So I've been really quite on here, apologies! Hope you've been keeping up to date on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I've been busy with side projects and the all important health stuff -updates on the latter in a separate post in a couple of days.

One project that I'm very excited about, is an art piece that I've submitted for a local exhibition to be held in Dundalk museum this Friday (July 28th). The event is organised by M'anam, a community group who organise various platforms for those with know-how on multiple subjects, to showcase their work and knowledge. They hope to teach and promote different cultural practices, skills and hobbies. So far they have done so through a number of fun and informal talks in Dundalk. This is their very first art exhibition, and I'm honoured to be taking part alongside some wonderfully talented artists.

Life after cancer: Birthdays

Howdy followers -on this, the day of my birthday!

I'm a whole big 31 years on earth today! (...That sounded odd... I don't mean like I was on a different planet before or anything... This is a really dumb intro).

Anywhosy, unless you are completely new around here, you'll probably already know that in December 2013 I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin's lymphoma, to be more exact) and was very luckily declared cancer free by my scan in September 2014 (scup science! -And also I should point out, contrary to that post, there is no going back to "normal").

How to tell when you're old af

As my 31st birthday approaches, I'm reminded of how old I am (I assume that's the point of birthdays).

Yes, I'm old. And yes, of course it's all relative -you may be reading this and be 60 and all like "STFU, wench". But anyways, my point is, I'm officially not "young"... Do you know how I know I'm not young? I am happy to be old. The last year I have developed into this stage of my life where instead of being all like, "man, I wish I was I was 23", I think "man, I am delighted to not be 23".

Anyway, enough quotation marks! If you are still unsure if you qualify as old AF/ not young, then read over my list to determine...

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1. You learn to ask for sauce on the side

No I don't mean metaphorically, although you are apparently a guru in everything that you perceive as "alternative health" as well as sassy life advice. I mean in restaurants, dining out. I used to hear people ask for that, or similar requests. And to be honest, thought -wut?

I'm not a regular at going to restaurants, but the older I get, the less sauce I want. Not even a calorie control thing, as with

Stop telling children they can be anything they want to be - They can't. And that's ok !

I'm a big believer in making your own life and not depending on "what will be, will be", wishing things/ magic woo or blaming others for your situation. In this life hard work, actually DOING gets you places -no matter what wishy-washy quotes on Facebook tell you.

You cannot be anything you want to be -Disney and your parents lied to you. That's ok though! If you could, life would be far too easy. Boring, even. Have faith in yourself, of course, but back it up with actual action. It may still all fail and fall apart, but you tried -You didn't wait for faith to screw things up instead. If it makes you feel better that "it wasn't meant to be", "God must have better plans for me", -Sure, go with that. But sometimes, can we not just admit that hey that's life, and sometimes life is shit? Can we be practical about it for a minute? 

When outcomes are out of your hands, such as with chronic illness and disease, then adapt. Change. You can control how you feel and you can control how you alter your life plans... as a kid I wanted to join the police. I kept this dream with me into my teenage years. I loved art and writing too but wanted to keep these as hobbies, rather than a career. I think it was at 17 I realised joining the police would never be possible -I could not run. I simply fell over my own legs when I tried to. I had known deep down, of course, that my health and abilities had been declining for years. But I had ignored it, pretended I didn't care much for running and sports rather than the truth that I was struggling to do them... That realisation devastated me, more than I actually even

The longest hour

Recently I have been researching ways to go about getting the much needed hip surgery that I require. I will inevitably need a complete replacement, there is no way around that, although there are also surgeries I can have which could save the hip for a little bit longer. If I lived in the UK, or anywhere but Ireland, I would have began this treatment as a child. I wouldn't be on an ortho waiting list for years, given bad physio which made my condition worse, and basically told that I need to shut up and put up, I am "meant to be in pain", and good luck trying to get those surgeries in Ireland... a little more on that ---> here, as not to repeat myself.

Me and Bicky had recently decided enough was enough. we would somehow save and go to the UK and just get the new hip that my body needs. I'm nearly 31 and

Goodnight daddy x

On January 8th, 2015, my lovely father passed away suddenly. Goodnight big man x

Not how did he die, but how did he live?

Not what did he gain, but what did he give?

These are the units to measure the worth

of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?

But had he befriended those really in need?

Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,

to bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,

but how many were sorry when he passed away. 

-Author unknown 

Dad, Claire, me and Cara (around 1985)

Throwback Thursday: Some childhood memories

Flicking through some childhood photos there and having a giggle, so thought I'd share my amusement with yous :)

Happy Thursday, folks!

I'm in the front row, red dress... 
My sister Claire is to the right with the red hair-band 

Pretending to swim! 
...I had lovely red-ish hair for about a year. Then the colour changed again :(