Life of Lu

Dear Marguerite,
In an alternative reality we are preparing ourselves for the weekend of a lifetime this weekend, you turn 30 on Friday! Whoop! Happy birthday little sister! Where have the years gone? I have no doubt that we would be hitting a European city for a few cocktails and a spa weekend or I would be back in Ireland for a party to end all parties. If there was one thing you could do by the tender age of 17 it was throw a party. 
I wish more than anything that we could have that weekend together. A weekend of gossip, of laughter and probably over indulgence. No doubt you would still disapprove of my style, my ability to put on make up and my hair. No doubt your insistence on getting ready for a few hours would still drive me insane. 
I often wonder what your life is like in that alternative reality. Are you a wife? Are you a mum? Are you a career driven woman with plans of world domination? Are you a wanderer with an insatiable lust to see all the world and explore it's wo…

I had a moment yesterday.
I cried.
The tears were unfortunate and a manifestation of forgotten memories and regurgitated feelings from years gone by.
The foundation of those tears were this blog, and the content of this blog.
I sometimes forget that there is a little part of the internet that holds my feelings, my deepest darkest moments and my anxieties, as well as my triumphs, delights and fond memories.
The blog was read, and it's contents had the potential to spoil a very important relationship in my life.
I got upset.
As I said, I cried.
For the first time in many years, I remembered the many people who turned their backs on me not because of anything I had done but because of situations in which I was merely an affected bystander. 
The mind is a wonderful thing in that it can hide these moments from memory. It is also a cruel master who can cut you with these moments when you are at your most vulnerable. At this time of the year I am at my most vulnerable. In reality I will…

It has been a little while since I've blogged. Not for any particular reason other than I have been stupidly busy with life and work. Those of you who read my blog regularly had the joy of having to witness me going through a roller coaster few months. The good news is that the roller coaster has stopped, I have survived the ride and I am looking forward to stepping on to the next few fairground attractions! Thank you to everyone who propped me up and supported me along the way!

We are getting into the difficult time of the year now. November. Ugh, how I hate November with a passion. The only positive is that my job is so busy it keeps me distracted from all the tough days and the month moves faster than any other month of the year.

This year, the November lull has arrived in mid-October. Two of my friends turn 30 at the start of November. My little sister should be turning 30 in early November also. Today I was ordering cards and getting together their gifts for their birthdays an…

I have just had the most wonderful week touring the spectacular state of Utah. The holiday was possibly, and probably the best holiday that I have had yet! I have come home rather thankful for a lot of the wonderful things in my life, and it is for that reason that I think it is important to do my thankfuls.

1. I am thankful for Tiffani. I think the world would be a much better place if we had more people like Tif. Her heart is so pure, and bursting with love. She has taught me so much about tolerance, loyalty and general niceness. Through Tif, I have made some wonderful friends who I had the pleasure to meet again this week. Tif is also the person who introduced me to my sometimes housemate Beau who is in my opinion a pretty mega sometimes housemate. When Tif thinks I am down, I get surprises in the post, such a notes that remind me of how much I am loved, or something sweet that shows me how much she cares about me. My world is a lot richer for having her in it and I am so thankful t…

Today is the first official day of my holidays from work, and truth be told they couldn't come at a better time. I am tired, exhausted even and full of doubt about what my future holds for a number of reasons. So, I thought to myself, what a perfect time to write a list of thankfuls to remind me of all the truly wonderful things I have in my life.

1. I am thankful for my team at work. I have a store team of about 50 and a management team of 6. I don't particularly enjoy talking about work online, as it isn't really appropriate but I am so thankful for my team. Every day they are a fountain of support, and their enthusiasm never ceases to amaze me. They are my reason for going to work every day, and I count my lucky stars that I have been given the team that I have. They make the tough days better and the good days great.

2. I am thankful for my Cambridge Consultant, Claire. 4 weeks ago I started on a rather scary journey of self improvement. I found Claire, spoke to her ab…

I must admit I am a little bit nervous about writing this blog today.
I am afraid that I will get a little too emotional when writing about a topic that is very close to my heart.
I will apologise now for if I ramble or get lost in a stream of consciousness. I hope you can make sense of what I am about to write.

This week, another life was lost to the tragedy that is suicide. I should correct myself, a famous life was lost to suicide. I have no doubt that this week, many families around the world are grieving and trying to figure out why one of their own has taken their own life.

The reason that I want to write this post is simply down to the number of horrible and ignorant comments that I have read on social media about Chester Bennington's death. For me, it highlighted the lack of understanding of mental health in this day and age.

I'm going to take you back on a wee journey with me and tell you why this is such a personal topic and why I feel that it needs to be spoken abou…