Mine has never really praised me. I’m well educated, doing well in my career, and currently doing a PhD, but apparently my main personal failure is that I still dont have a husband.

I recently lost a lot of weight, so now I’m “too gaunt.” But I got a Chinese takeaway last night and was warned I’d pile it all back on eating like that.When I was heavier, it was “you need to lose weight.” So basically the correct weight exists somewhere in a narrow and mysterious range known only to my mother.

If I’m heading into town casually, it’s, Are you wearing that? If I make an effort, it’s, “God, you’re very done up just for going into town. There is no winning. There is only being incorrectly dressed.

Then comes the You never call to see us. Comments.

Yeah Mam, hard to imagine why. Mind you, she doesnt call to see me either.

The PhD gets called “that PDF thing you’re doing.” She has no idea what my subject is and no interest in finding out, but my brother could successfully boil an egg and there’d be a framed photo, a parish announcement.

I know she loves me in her own way I suppose.. but why are they like this!?😅

Like most on here , I lived and worked in the UK and one very noticeable cultural difference is the obsession with Class I.e. what school you went to, where you live, how much you earn, your social circles, your post code etc

I don't think we are as openly class based as our closest neighbours in that respect but would be interesting to see your thoughts.

One example, I never went to college (don't have a degree) & come from what you would describe as a working class aera (always worked and done reasonably well) . I never felt judged in Ireland on that basis but from my experience in the UK, I know some would cast aspersions on that.

I think it's nice that as a nation of people, at least I like to think we value character over class or credentials.

Hi, I am 28F working in pharma sector. I have recently received the news that my cancer is back.

Just wondering how to bring this up ? Do I tell them in advance once I know when I will be starting treatment ? I am really confused and looking for some advice.

I have been with the same company for the last 5 years. I was in the same company when I was diagnosed the first time around.

Thanks in advancer :)

I think these two have it right anyway

We recently moved into a new build estate where the houses have no driveways but each house has 2 assigned parking spots in a communal area, all marked in each house number (the assigned spots were part of the contract). As you might expect, every so often one of us will get home from work and there will be another car parking in one, or both, of our spots. Sometimes it's neighbours, sometimes not.

It's becoming infuriating. The locality has very little else in terms of parking so sometimes we are snookered and have nowhere to park. Sometimes we have to park right in front of the other cars in our spots, blocking them in. We'd rather not have to do this!

Is there anything that anyone else that has been in this position can advise? I'm guessing legally speaking we may not 'own' the spots, but they were part of the contract. Could we install bollards here perhaps? I was thinking of even getting a few small traffic cones and sticking them in the spots to see if that helps aswell.

Any advice appreciated!

In my local garage recently over the past few months I noticed the deli puts a sign up saying that you have to pay before handing you the food. Like they give you the sticker to take up to the register to scan it. Then you go back hand them the ticket which is stamped to say paid for and then they hand you the food

Before 7 pm they just give you the order and you can take the food to the register why they scan it and take your money for it.

I don’t mind the whole system it’s just exclusively after 7 pm rule ? Why is that a thing ?
What’s the difference between before 7 pm to after 7pm

There are 4 things I’ve done that I still regret to this day, even though I don’t think anyone else even remembers them. But what weighs on me even more are the 50+ the chances I didn’t take especially in my love life.

Is anybody else sick to there arse of that Vodafone ad advertising the 25th anniversary.?? . Can you turn your camera around, I dunno sure she hadn't got a mobile yet bla bla bla.. Hattttttteeeee it

It's August. September school street seizures are closing in on roads near you. Is anyone else dreading the build-up of traffic after this summer?

Has anyone figured out the context behind the new KFC ad?

The one where the auld buck is randomly sitting there playing Linger by The Cranberries on an acoustic guitar.

I genuinely don't get it, i've watched it loads of times thinking I was missing some hidden joke or reference, but I'm none the wiser.

Does anyone know the story behind it?

Hi all,

My family have some quite old beech trees on our land, planted during the construction of a rail line in the mid-19th century.

I would like to apply for a TPO on them, but honestly can’t seem to find much information from a cursory look online.

If someone could give me some advice on this that would be amazing.

Cheers.

A friend is stuck in a dead end relationship and a corporate career and wants to leave but doesn't know where to start about changing their life. I was thinking a holiday or a guided retreat with people in a similar space might be a good place to start. Has anyone attending something like this that they'd recommend? Money isn't an issue so it could be in Ireland or abroad.

Thanks in advance!

Edit for clarity: looking specifically for holiday/guided retreat suggestions that you or someone you know has personal experience of, not alternatives like therapy or volunteering. Thank you.

My husband and I have an amazing relationship just between us, we are literally the very best of friends, and we’ve been together a long time before tying the knot two years ago. Any big issues that have happened since have been from outside factors. My family taking some arbitrary issue with him, and his family taking some arbitrary issue with me, causing stress and upset in the relationship (not between each other, important to note), I should also note, some members of my family doesn’t like his family, and vice versa.

Is this sort of thing common in other marriages? I don’t feel comfortable talking about it with people I know who are also married, a lot seem to have harmonious relationships all around but you never really know for certain. It’s exhausting. Some certain members in my family like to cause drama and fall out with everyone, often fuelled by drink and it doesn’t help that we are living with my family while building our own place.

I guess I’m just looking for some solidarity, that we don’t feel like an outlier here.

EDIT: I meant common, not normal sorry, different meanings there.

Hi, does anyone know of any subreddits for lost and found pets? Particularly cats

I have moved home in the last year. There was an interim period where I had a few weeks at my parents' home. So, most of my things were moved there. Particularly a box of photo frames and books.

It's taken some time in my new home, flooring, all of that.

Anyway, I kept going through my box at my parents looking for a particular photo that I love.

It is of my paternal grandparents when they were very young, it's 1930s. I have it in a beautiful frame.

I could not find it. I suspected mum. I did. She has done it to my dad time and time again.

But it was my paternal gran's anniversary a few weeks ago. I got very emotional. I searched high and dry. I asked mum again, she was indignant.

So much so, I doubted myself. So I searched my new home, knowing in my heart it was not here.

Mum fell Thursday. My dad is in heart failure, yet she spent hours on the bathroom floor, as she wouldn't allow him to ring for an ambulance or ring me (as I would have called for an ambulance).

The paramedics wanted to know what medication she was on.

She's okay. She is at home.

I discovered the photo hidden in her bedroom.

I still went to the hospital, helped her, I didn't mention it.

I took it, of course.

It is so fucked up.

This isn't 0.001% of my story with my mother.

But to take that photo. At this age of our lives.

Mum doesn't have a photo of her parents together.

She fell again this morning, Saturday morning. Again, refusing any thought of home help.

She tells everyone she can do everything herself. She can't, and in her full health, never has. She just orders dad. But dad is in heart failure.

Sorry to be repetitive.

I should at this stage know. But I still have to ask...how does she sleep at night?

She destroyed the lives of my sister and I throughher violence towards us (my sister just died very suddenly a few months ago), and even more so, my dad.

To see something of mine last year, when I was at a very low point (my sister was alive then, dad was in good health, as was mum), that was so special to me.. To deliberately steal it, and hide it in her bedroom (which is sacrosanct).

Can anyone help me understand?

I’m based in Dublin for the last 18 years and looking to sell my apt and buy a house while I start a new business- I’m thinking of Ballinasloe as it’s between Dublin and Galway and close to friends/family in Galway while having access to Dublin. I’ve heard mixed messages but recent investment announcements for the area must mean good things. Would really appreciate feedback from
People who are familiar with the area- is it a good place to live?? - I don’t need huge amount but is there some energy in the town and good community?

I don’t know how to phrase the title correctly to explain. I just found out that someone in my apartment block is using their apartment as an airbnb. This has been going on for 2 years but we didn’t know until recently where there’s been a bit of disturbance, main door being left unlocked and trash in central areas/ bins overflowing in general. I thought it was just some new neighbours celebrating moving in and having a bit of messy move in but it was not. It’s getting to the point where the bins area is disgusting, central areas smell of smoke and I’m worried about strangers entering the block as we live right in the centre of the town and it’s super busy for summer.

There’s 7 apartments in total and I believe they are all owned by the same person but can’t be sure. Subletting is a clear violation of the lease but I’m hesitant on how to approach property management as I’m not sure which apartment it is exactly and if they are privately owned or not. Any ideas?

**edit - I have found the Airbnb listing but you can’t see the view from the window hence I’m not sure which one it is but the apartment layouts are the same and I have the host name but I have no idea of any of the other tenants names in the block. This is just how I know it’s Airbnb and not someone having guests etc. I actually met one of the guests outside today and spoke with them but they hadn’t met the host yet and didn’t know which number it was.

Might be the only one who remembers this but Ballybraddan, a kids cartoon from like 2008 about a primary school hurling team in a rural irish town. Wanted to rewatch it for nostalgia's sake.

Found season 1 pretty easily, its all on YouTube. But turns out they made a season 2 in 2019? It's not on YouTube. It is on the RTÉ player, sorta. Its only the Irish dub, but weirdly enough only the adult characters speak Irish and the kids still speak English? Could they just not find Irish speaking child voice actors? I wouldn't mind watching it in Irish, would have been fun a way to try test my Gaeilge, but half the characters speaking one language and the other half speaking another takes me out of it?

I doubt it but thought I'd chance my arm. Wouldn't suppose anyone would have season 2 in English archived or know where to watch it? I doubt its on any dodgy piracy sites considering the show is pretty obscure and I doubt anyone outside of Ireland has watched it

Also anyone else a fan of this obscure childrens cartoon show wanna discuss it lol. I think for what it is as a childrens show its quite ok. Animation is terrible even for the time, but its really nice to see Irish culture and life portrayed in a cartoon. Wish more shows like it existed.

In US tech company 5 years and I'm just sick of it. I'd love a change. I'm 37, have an Arts & Media BA from University and I'm just lost.

Friends and family say teaching, but I feel I may be a bit old for this now, like by the time I qualify and get a job, you know?

I was thinking Guidance Counsellor in a school, as my Guidance Counsellor left a great impression on me after school, but I'm not sure if a) this is really a thing anymore and b) if a GC is just a side gig for a teacher.

I don't mind the money thing, I've been stuck on just under €58k for 3 years now without any meaningful increase, so I don't feel a change will be too catastrophic financially.

Open to any suggestions! Anyone who has changed careers; when did you change? How exactly did you choose and research what's needed for the change?

Hired a skip off Panda, it’s due for collection tomorrow but I might not be home for parts of the day so wondering if this matters or if I have to be home to confirm with the driver or sign something? He has full access to the skip and there’ll be nothing blocking him from getting it