Life of Lu

On this day, 14 years ago, the world lost a little bit of its magic, when at 11pm, my little sister took her final breath and life changed as we all knew it. She was only 17 years old. 17 years and 19 days to be exact. As I sat here today reading all the lovely messages written about her, my heart soared with pride in the fact that in her short time with us, she managed to have such a big impact on so many people. Marguerite Mary O'Dwyer, an ambassador for mischief, mockery and for having a marvellous time. I miss her so much.

It is funny how every year there is something different that I focus on for the anniversary. I never choose my train of thought, I think the year since the last anniversary chooses it for me. Last night, I got fairly plastered on wine and when my other half went to his bed, I sat and sang along to every sad song I could think of. I had a wee chat with Mags before I went to bed and woke up this morning well rested and ready to seize the day. 
I got quite sad a…

Today is Thanksgiving in the USA.
It is also the end of Beaufest but that is a story for another time.
I have love the idea of a holiday where we reflect on the things for which we are thankful.
I attended a funeral this week. It was the funeral of my friend's father.
It was a beautiful service and a lovely send off to a man who lived a most fascinating life.
As we waited for the service to begin, the organist played 'Going Home'. It always reminds me of singing in the school choir back in the day. It also reminds me of Marguerite's final journey from the church to her grave all those years ago .
Funerals and music are funny like that.
I sat and listened to very moving eulogy, and my thoughts turned to my own father.
Suddenly he felt very far away.
But as the day wore on my thoughts turned to the positive and I became rather thankful that even though he is far away that he is still here.
The mind is a vortex of craziness, procrastination, insanity and deliberation and …

Can you believe it? It has been a year since Stuart and I went on our first date!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY STU!!

A year, a whole year, and oh what a wonderful year it has been!

It is a funny world, had you told me this time last year that I would be living with a man in twelve months I would have thought you were as bonkers as a box of frogs. Fast forward 12 months and I am living in domestic blitz with the most wonderful gentleman.

Our first date was very nearly our last date. We met at a bar after I had finished work.  Stu had chosen to sit on some high bar stools at the bar, which is fine if it weren't for the fact that he suffers from vertigo, especially on backless stools! So while he was trying to balance and not faint I assumed that he was not interested in our date.  The bar stools of choice were not very comfortable and made my bum quite numb. About an hour in I got fed up of the stools and his lack of conversation, and asked if we could sit on a couch instead. (I was going to f…

Ooft! Isn't this a question and a half?!

My dream job would be a travel writer. I would love to live the life of Michael Palin or Bill Bryson.
I have a huge curiosity about cultures, languages and traditions that are different to my own.
There are so many things that I want to do and see, things I should have done in my early twenties but did not.
I will still get them done.
But what a perfect way to do these things - as a travel writer!

This is a tough one because there are a number of quotes and phrases that I try to live my life by, or reflect upon. I am not sure if I have a favourite.
My life  mantra I picked up many years ago, but I don't know where it came from.
That is 'Fuck it or Fix it'.
I use it all the time. If I have a problem then fix it. If I can't fix it then fuck it. Move on.
That is sometimes easier said that done but it does help me out a lot sometimes.

I also really like a quote by Thomas Edison.
'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that it won't work'.
It is a very comforting sentiment sometimes.

I read a book years ago called 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu. I highly recommend it.
In that book he says 'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting'.
I have always like that outlook.

I always struggle with challenges such as these, where I have to give some facts about myself. Can I think of 20 things and if so will they be any good? Pressure! Well... here goes....

1. I love letters. Not bills and what not, I mean real, news filled letters. I have a handful of people whom I write to, and they write back in return. Alas, I am not very good at replying in a timely manner! I have had penpals since I was about 11 years old. Two of which were from Belarus. Their names were Tatiana and Irena. One of the highlights of their letters were the wee boxed stationery that they used to write on. I loved it so much.
2. I dislike sheep. Immensely.
3. I have 2 tattoos. One of a fairy, and one of a fox.
4. I love ducks and foxes. And Hairy Coos.
5. I think puns are severely underrated.
6. My favourite book is Jane Eyre.
7. My favourite author is more difficult... maybe Jasper Fforde... though the compilations of Irish tales by Sinead DeValera have a special place in my heart as do …

My Blog's Name
Well, you have probably figured out that the blog is called 'The Life of Lu'. I started writing my blog over a decade ago for a number of reasons, mostly as an easy way to distract myself from grief, and after a while to help me move on from my grief. I actually originally called the blog 'labhaoisenidhuibhir' after my Irish (Gaelic) name, but as the blog became more central to my world and more reflective of my world I changed it to 'Life of Lu'.