It's been hectic!
Amidst the hectic process of selling his city house and moving to a country home, this author reflects on significant life changes, including family birthdays, car purchases, and a friend’s tragic loss, while managing their own surrogacy journey and concerns about a family member’s health.
Sale Agreed
After successfully accepting an offer on their city house, plans are set in motion for a new life in the countryside as they await a smooth sale.
Big Boys
The emotional final scene of ‘Big Boys’ resonates deeply with this author, evoking personal feelings of loss and reflection on friendship.
I am the guy I always wanted to be.
This author reflects on a photo from the pandemic that ultimately helped him realize he has become the confident person he always wanted to be.
We Didn't Know We Were Ready
A song tribute to Eoin French has captivated me since I first heard it at a 2023 session in Cork.
Seventy years young
Tomorrow is this author’s dad’s 70th birthday, and while he hopes tonight’s party will help him open up more with family, he’s also reflecting on their challenging relationship.
How are you feeling?
This author had a positive introductory counselling session to discuss current challenges and set goals for future sessions.
"You still eat the same food you ate as a teenager."
During my annual check-up, I discovered I’ve gained weight and have high cholesterol, prompting me to consider dietary changes, monitor my sleep, and seek counseling for stress.
Street View
After my grandmother’s passing, I searched Google Maps for her but found only myself captured in Street View in Cork.
Life-long friends*
A traveler reflects on a conversation overheard at the airport about reconnecting with childhood friends, which triggers memories of their own lost friendships after coming out as gay at a young age.
Oviedo on Film
Recently, a couple enjoyed a wedding in Oviedo, Spain, capturing memories with a film camera while exploring the city’s charming atmosphere.
Photographing People
Inspired by my grandfather’s extensive photo archive, I have shifted my photography focus from landscapes to capturing portraits of people, gaining confidence and skill in the process.
I Love Us.
Reflecting on nearly a decade together, the author appreciates their life and love while waiting in the car during her husband’s tutoring session.
Loneliness and Connection
Reflecting on feelings of loneliness and the need for connection, this writer contemplates seeking support from others amidst recent life challenges.
‘Harrington’s are here!’
A recent newspaper article about a local factory’s fire brigade fondly remembers this author’s late grandfather, who played a key role there, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his passing.
An Irishman in Al Khobar
A long-awaited reunion with friends sparked this authors reflections on a past work experience in Saudi Arabia that was both transformative and challenging.
Debs
This author reminisces about a school debs event 25 years ago, revealing fond memories and reflections on the passage of time.
Job rotation
A job rotation I’ve been doing for the past few months is coming to an end this Friday. It’s been a total departure from what I had been doing for the previous fourteen years, and I’m really sad to be finishing up. The team has been so supportive, and it’s given me an opportunity to show the business what I am capable of, which is what I set out to do. I hope it will result in some upward movement, as I feel confident shouldering more responsibility.
'Cool older brother'
I was standing outside Cypress Avenue on Caroline Street with my husband, brothers, and friend after our exit from a gig we had all attended when my friend commented on how nice it was that my brothers and I all liked the band we had seen. Adam, the brother, said to her that all the music he and our younger brother listen to had been influenced by me. He had mentioned this to me before and added how our mutual friend had brought up how, as teenagers, they would all listen to the music I discovered and how I epitomized the ‘cool older brother’. Back in those early days, I was into alt-rock and nu-metal, and we would sit through afternoons watching music videos on MTV2, Kerrang, and Scuzz in our parents' TV room. It felt really good to know that my brothers' and others' musical tastes were influenced by me in some way, and that I have continued to seek new music even today. We no longer hang out in our parents' tv room watching music videos, but whenever I see them, I share what I am listening to or post it on an Instagram story.
Live Everyday As A Lion
Today, I reminisced about the time I decided to get a tattoo following what I think was me realising that I’d wasted a lot of time procrastinating / doing fuck all. Looking back at it now, it was a sort of turning point.
It was around 2009, before ‘doomscrolling’ on Instagram or TikTok and before the word entered the lexicon, I would endlessly scroll through Tumblr, looking at anything from art and design to porn and photography. I lost a good chunk of my evenings and nights from that time through to 2013, a time which epitomizes ‘Peak Procrastination’ in my life.
Anyways, I’d spend excessive time online scrolling through photos of tattoo’s I really liked, super detailed snake skin designs, and full arm tattoos. I started to lean toward scripted tattoos, though, with some meaningful word or phrase. A guy I followed on Tumblr at the time had a really nice tattoo across his upper chest, just below his clavicle, and I liked how subtle it is (not on show on my arms or legs).
Around the same time that I was browsing for inspiration, I kept discovering some great new music, like I still do today. One band was a Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine side project called ‘One Day As A Lion’ that had emerged around 2009. Super funky sound, with amazing drum tracks and I was really into them for a few years up to that point. The band’s name coming from a quote by none other than Benito Mussolini: “It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep.” So, as a call to action, I thought it would be good for my tattoo to read “Live Every Day As A Lion.” I’m a Leo star sign, so at the time, it felt as if I was telling my subconscious that I didn’t want to be the way I was and that I needed to change, to be more like a lion.
Holy Cow, a tattoo place in Midleton that my brother had recommended, was where I got it done, and the rest is history. I got another tattoo a year later but none since, and I won’t rule out getting more in the future.
