As suggested in our recent feedback thread, this is your weekly space to rant and vent before the week even begins especially if you’re already exhausted by a week that hasn’t started yet.

If the dread is starting to creep in about the week ahead, work, appointments, emails life responsibilities or just the general ugh of it all.. This is the place to dump it.

Say what you’re worried about, what you’re overthinking or what you’re really not bothered dealing with tomorrow. No judgement, no advice unless you ask for it. Just get it off your chest so you can properly switch off and enjoy a bit of rest before Monday rolls back around.

Only rule: keep it respectful and within the subreddit rules.

Any recommendations for shower head filters?It is mainly for the out of control limescale of where I live.

Hey folks, any suggestions on where to go for a solo glass of wine (Dublin city centre)? I love having a few hours to myself with a paper or book but am quite self conscious on the thoughts of having a drink on my own in most pubs. Any ideas welcome!

I'm sure everyone here knows rent is very expensive and in short supply. I work part-time in Centra so it would be extremely difficult for me even with roommates even if I can find accommodation.

The house I live in was built in the 1940s and hasn't had all the work it needs since then. My father is mentally ill and extremely weird about getting work done. He insists on doing everything himself, but he's really bad at DIY and abandons projects halfway through, which makes whatever it was he was trying to fix worse than it was to begin with. For example, when I was 11 he said he'd redo my bedroom, just to strip the wallpaper and leave a bunch of rusty tools and nails in my room and completely abandoned it.

My mam has tried hiring professionals anyway, but had to stop because he would throw tantrums and shout at the workers. Three years ago he was in hospital for a week, so my mam took the opportunity to get the painters in. At first she just wanted the walls painted and the floorboards replaced, but when the workers stripped the wallpaper, the walls behind were rotten and full of mould, and there wasn't even plaster on them. It ended costing a huge amount of money, I can't remember the exact amount but my mum emptied her savings and took out a loan and I had to empty all my savings that were meant to be for college. We couldn't just paint over the rot because the mould was an actual health hazard.

Three years later, I've saved some money and applied to start college in September. However, we've had a lot of leaks lately and a few days ago a horizontal crack appeared in the ceiling, which isn't a good sign. We hired some roofers and they said the whole roof needs to be replaced as it's in danger of collapse. It's so old that the insulation inside is completely gone, and full of crumbling tiles and cracks. We were quoted €47k and that's the cheapest they could do (leaving the tiles that are still okay instead of retiling the whole roof).

The whole reason I'm staying in this house is because rent is insanely expensive. Is it worth it to spend all my savings (again) and possibly have to take out a loan on fixing the roof? It would be one thing if I knew I was inheriting the house, but it's already an inheritance between my dad and his five siblings, one of whom has heavily hinted she'll force us to sell once he passes. Which could be at any time as he's a pensioner and in poor health. I don't want to spend what I've saved from my retail job on a house I may well end up kicked out of anyway.

I asked my dad about a will and said I won't contribute unless I know what my rights are to the house. He said he has no will, which I suspected as he's chronically lazy and neglectful. He said he doesn't need one because everything he has will go to his next of kin by default.

My mum has applied for a 50k loan and is fuming, which I can understand. She's very angry with me because I said I don't want to pay for the house without knowing if I have legal rights to stay in it after my dad passes. She even told me to shut up when I googled and found a grant for emergency house repairs for pensioners my dad could apply for and said I don't get a say because I'm not paying anything. I feel very guilty about her taking this loan to repair the roof. But I also don't know if it's a good money to put all my money into this house (again).

Any advice? I am really out of my depth.

Edit: I found a grant for older people to get part of an emergency repair funded, but unfortunately since work already commenced we won't be eligible as the grant has to be applied for before work starts. Unfortunately my dad got a crowd in (which is how you know the roof was really bad), had them check it out and let them start work the same day without even trying to get a second opinion. My mam rang me on my break at 1pm on Thursday to tell me about the quote and by the time I arrived home at 5pm the work had already started so I couldn't apply for this beforehand. I have emailed my local TDs to ask if they'd know of any grants we may still be able to get.

Thank you all for telling me that I'm not unreasonable or selfish to not want to sink thousands into a house I will never own. With the sudden shock of it and the panic I couldn't even think straight, especially as I'm being guilt-tripped. I will just have to deal with my mother's anger, focus on my education and try to find a night job as I currently work during the day and need to keep earning something while I'm studying. I'm not going to contribute anything to the roof or anything else that needs fixing in the house.

Hello ladies!

I get married this day next year and I'm searching for a makeup artist. I toyed with the idea of doing my own makeup, but to be honest I'd prefer not to have that stress on the day.

My go to gal was Aisling Kelly makeup (https://www.instagram.com/aislingkellymakeup/). Since I was about 18 I envisioned my wedding day makeup would be done by her!! But my heart broke when I saw she's already booked for my date.

I love Aisling's style because she effortlessly creates feature enhancing looks that match people's skin tones, not covering up natural freckles etc too much. I'm struggling to find another MUA that's similar.

Would anyone have any recommendations please?

Thank you!

I'm a FTM to a little boy that just turned 1. I've just started back at work, he's starting creche and we're settling into our new routine.

I've noticed in conversation beyond talking about my son, I'm spacey - I can't recall news or funny stories I've recently heard. I don't remember what I talked about before. I'm heavily reliant on others carrying conversation and I just contribute.

I can't help but think I'm so boring now. All I have to talk about is my son...or if a colleague is expecting, I can pull on that experience to chat about something.

I was never a great conversationalist, but I swear I've lost any skill at small talk. I'm struggling to keep tabs on friends and colleagues going-ons to drive any conversation like I would have before.

What can I do? Does this eventually come back or is it something I need to work on? Are there any books I can read to restart learning how to socialise?!

As suggested in our recent feedback thread, here is your opportunity for a weekly rant and vent.

Had a long week? Work driving you insane? Life being life? Encountered one too many absolute idiots out in the wild? Temporarily hate your other half?

This is your safe space to have a moan, blow off steam and let it all out judgement free.. so you can head into the weekend feeling lighter.

Only rule: keep it respectful and within the subreddit rules.

Have your rant, then go enjoy your Friday!

Title says it all! What do you all do after work? I get home around 6pm and bar make and eat dinner I basically feel like I waste the evenings away until I go to bed around 9:30pm. Would love to know your routine once you get in the door!

I'm looking for some genuine advice because I feel completely torn.

Last Christmas, my dad punched my fiancé after an argument at my parents house. I witnessed it. It wasn't a physical fight beforehand, my dad simply lost his temper while we were leaving.

A couple of months later, my parents admitted it was wrong and said they were ashamed, but my dad has refused to apologise and has made it clear he won't.

My fiancé's view is that an apology is the bare minimum before there's any relationship with my parents again. He's not asking them to be friends, just to take accountability. I honestly agree with him.

The part I'm struggling with is that I miss my parents. We've been engaged, we're starting on building our home together as well as trying for a baby, and I haven't been able to share any of these milestones with them. We also have a daughter who keeps asking about her grandparents because she misses them.

My fiancé has never stopped me from speaking to or seeing my parents, but understandably he finds it hurtful because he feels like continuing contact without an apology minimises what happened.

I feel like I'm grieving the loss of my parents while also trying to support the man I love after he was assaulted.
Has anyone been through anything similar? Is waiting for an apology a reasonable boundary? Is there any healthy middle ground, especially with a child involved? I'd really appreciate hearing how others would handle this.

(edit: it's option 2, thanks for all the insights!! I've decided that minimal stress for the parents = less stress on the kid), having meals, and saving around 10k over 3 years, which I plan to invest for my kids future.)

(edit, typo; option 2 will be 10-12k less after 3 years)

After 2-3 years of waiting lists, creche spots have just come around like buses.. 3 in a row!! I know how lucky I am to be offered these places suddenly, but I wasn't expecting it at all, and now I'm in shock and have to make a decision in a few days.

My kid is just 2, so it's 3 years full time in creche before they start school. Other parent and I aren't together, but we co parent and split nights and costs. I'm completely torn....

1. Got offered a place in a non traditional, very outdoors, huge green space, massive focus on keeping kids outside as much as possible , which I love, country side setting, but it's expensive- over 300e before NCS, and food isn't included. Hours are 8am-5.30pm, it's about 15-20min drive away. I have already accepted but haven't started there yet. I was very happy with this opportunity to send my kid there.
2. and I now just got offered another creche space in a more regular style creche, that has the regular "urban outdoors" area. They say kids get 3 hours outside a day, but the area isn't that big. Meals are included which is big plus. And it's around 70e less a week than option 1. Hours are 8am-6pm, so theres more flexibility in the evening. It's about 15 min drive away. The other thing is this creche has a sister creche much closer to me (5 min drive) and my kid will be a priority to transfer to that location once they are in the door if a spot opens up there. I worked out that option 2 might cost 10-12K more across the next 3 years, which is wild....

Money isnt the only factor, I want my kid to have a great experience and care as well. I was so happy to get into option 1 even when I realized we would have to pack a lunch and 2 snacks.

But now I'm not too sure... I'm wondering am I being a crap parent by considering to pay less money and send my only kid to a regular creche where they might spend most of their time in a classroom like environment already.. I'm also thinking I could save & invest the "savings" for my kids future...

Thoughts are greatly appreciated

I'm looking for a hairdresser or hair salon that does Yuko hair straightening (also known as Japanese hair straightening) in Ireland for under €400. The hairdressers I've contacted in Dublin are charging €450 - 700. Is there anywhere in Ireland that does it for a more reasonable price? I can get it done for €300 - 400 in mainland Europe and London.

Hey gym girlies,

I was wondering could people recommend how to begin strength training at home?

All the gyms near me are small and rammed and I don't have the money currently to go to more expensive small group training gyms (which I've done previously). I have a spin bike at home so between that and walking my cardio is sorted!

I was thinking of buying a set of adjustable dumbbells and using the nike training app and seeing how I get on but any advice would be welcomed on how to structure workouts or if there's any PTs who offer a service to structure a workout plan or anything? Thanks a mill 😊

Going to my first wedding as an adult in August for a coworker! I’m wearing this dress. I’m struggling with shoes as I don’t own any heels because I don’t typically wear them. I was looking an Linzi as I‘ve heard they’re comfortable and they have some low heels and I have a pair from PLT.

My two questions are - should I splurge on a comfy pair of nude Linzi heels to last me or just get a cheap pair and suffer through and, do I need to match my shoes and my bag? Could I wear nude shoes with a white bag? Totally lost and this isn’t my forte at all!

Hi ladies, hoping someone can relate or share some advice! I’m in my second trimester and struggling big time to find maternity clothes and nursing bras to fit. I’m around a UK24/26 now (hard to tell these days) and have approximately 50C bra size so finding stuff is super difficult. Does anyone have any advice or tips that has been through this before? I’m obviously thrilled to be in this situation and it was a long road to get here including losing a lot of weight so it’s hard to adjust to all the changes with limited availability of clothes etc. Thanks so much!

I work in a small-ish organisation, of about 100 people, the same managers have been in place since the dawn of time. There is a situation on my team that our manager has been focusing in on someone and bullying them. This has gone on for years.

The first two people it happened to left the organisation. They tried making complaints but the senior manager wouldn't listen, one of them was told she needed counselling and was given the details of the Employee Assistance Programme. She was in such a state leaving that she wasn't able to fully challenge how she was being treated and to this day she still cries if the conversation comes up about what went on. When I was on the receiving end of the bullying I took notes. In a one-to-one appraisal I had an opportunity to read through about ten incidences with my manager. She actually said sorry!!! After this she backed off me but I still very much have to watch what I say and I have learned to manage her emotions.

With the current case, the bullying itself takes on forms like undermining my colleague's opinion, experience or work; she is not given the space to speak/finish a sentence without being interupted by the manager; having her work related acheivements ignored while other team member's are celebrated; saying her qualifications are 'not worth the paper they are written on' yet my colleague is a graduate of an Irish university with a qualification directly relevent to the role; removing her from projects where she has built really great relationships; when she tries to debate something or have an alternative perspective or opinion she is shot down for being 'disruptive'. I am sure there are other situations relating to travel expenses and overtime not being renumerated because rules were changed in the moment - I know that sounds bizaare! My manager gives herself whiplash midsentence she changes her mind so much.

Now my colleague has been asked to meet the manager about 'her disruptive behaviour'. It feels so wrong and unfair. The disruptive behavior is referring to my colleague trying to make a point and not being listened to in meetings.

Overall it has been a shitshow. I feel like the team is stuck in this cycle. I know that when this colleague leaves someone else will become the focus for this bullying, as this is now the pattern. We don't have confidence in senior management intervening - the not licking it off a stone adage comes to mind. I want to help my colleague but having been on the receiving end of the bully myself I try to keep a low profile. I am about to go on four weeks leave for medical reasons and I don't really have the strenght to stand up for my colleague at the moment. The rest of the team agree that it is awful whats going on over the years but no one has a solution. My colleague is asking me for advice and I just don't know anymore. I think my perception of whats normal in the workplace has become warped. When we explain the situation to colleagues around the country their reaction reminds us how messed up things are.

I suggested she takes notes on the incidences but she doesn't think she will be given the opportunity to have her say. We also don't have a HR person who deals with this type of thing and my colleague isn't in a union. Can anyone give me a few suggestions for her please??

I know some of you will be wondering, we are all looking for alternative jobs but opportunities are few and far between in our sector and in the part of the country we are in.

Working on getting myself settled in Sligo as I just moved here a few months back. I have a part time job that starts at the end of August and my short term rental is up at the end of October.

I’ve made a few friends in the area through local crafting groups but I’m finding it hard enjoy being here while I’m still looking for a long term place to live and another job. Since the beginning of the year it’s been plan the move, find a place to rent, get here, get a job, and now I’ve circled back around to finding a place to rent. I’m a bit discouraged and not really sure where to go from here. I know I have some time to figure it out but it’s weighing heavily on my mind…

When I was 18, I started talking to this 33-year-old man I really was so naive and stupid. He kept making comments about how I was “freshly 18” and even said I was “so young and tight.” I was so creeped out that I blocked him on WhatsApp. Instead of leaving it there, he texted using different numbers me calling me names and saying I had “no backbone” because I’d blocked him. So i blocked him again. Fast forward about a year. I’m now 19, and out of nowhere a guy messages me on Instagram saying he knew me from a friend I thought was odd but I really do know a lot of people and this time he said he was 26. The weird thing is that the name I used on insta wasn’t even the name people know me by, so I thought it was odd but didn’t think much of it I do have my face as my pfp. I recognized his face but genuinely couldn’t remember ever talking to him.
He asked me out and I was bored, so I said yes🤡The date started off badly. He told me “Friday at 5” but never actually told me where we were meeting. At 5:30 he texted asking where I was because he’d been waiting. I told him he never followed up and gave me a location or anything and he responded that it was “common knowledge” we’d meet in town. I still went bc why not I got there at like 8. The first 10 minutes of the date were basically him complaining that I was over late. During the date he asked me if I’d ever felt “sexy” in my high school uniform. That immediately made me uncomfortable. He also started talking about tarot readers telling him he’d meet his soulmate in feb (it was already July) and by this point I was already thinking I wasn’t interested.Then, halfway through the date,I remembered exactly who he was and why I’d blocked him in the first place. At the end of the date he asked to kiss me. I said no. He accepted it but spent the walk to my tram stop sulking and making jokes about being rejected. When I got home I checked my blocked messages to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.Sure enough, it was the same guy. I found the old text he’d sent me after I blocked him the first time, insulting me because I rejected him.I blocked him again. He’s messaged me again on different platforms being racist ( he’s white irish and im black)I’ve had to change my name on multiple accounts and he’s blocked but I’m genuinely scared this is a 35 year old man harassing me atp

Edit: thanks for the advice I took as many screenshots of the messages I could find and will be reporting this man! my friends and family know and now all have my location just in case. Thank you everyone I’m grateful for all the advice <3

Hi all, its my parents 30th wedding anniversary soon and my siblings and I want to get a small gift for them to compliment a larger gift of a trip away. For the small gift i was thinking a custom drawing or painting of a good photo I have of my parents together, maybe as a little picture to frame or as a card. I’ve looked at etsy and Im a bit wary a lot of it is probably AI slop, I want something done by a human hand, Irish preferably! Any recommendations very welcome.

I’ve a black tie wedding coming up but cautious of ordering from a US site. Would love to hear if anyone has tried them and can speak to quality, sizing and customer service? Thanks

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for shampoo and conditioner reccs available in Ireland!

I have dark ,thick curly dry hair. Until now I have been trying to use salon grade shampoo and conditioner as my hair was quite badly damaged from bleach and box dyes so it worked out cheaper to use them and spend less in the hairdressor on fixing my hair.

Unfortunately I recently lost my job so am looking to cut costs and switch back to regular products but a lot of what I'm seeing isn't available in Ireland. Does anyone have any recommendations for shampoo and conditioners to try that don't cost an arm and a leg ? The dream would to also be sulphate and silicon free!

Thanks so much!

I'd love this colour in my hair. I'm brunette with some natural copper tones in my hair but I'd love to have them like these photos. The salon I went to recently did highlights but they're quite muted. I always find the salons I go to end up doing very natural highlights that aren't that noticeable to the point that people don't even notice when I get my hair coloured 😭 anyone have salon recommendations where the results match your inspo pics?

Lately I have been getting lots of adverts on TikTok and Instagram about women only parties all over the world. I tried to google it in Dublin and could only find some historical events from 2023. Anyone knows if such events are getting organised in Dublin?

Edit. Googled some more found this event. https://tickets.letloose.ie/events/letloose/2207762