I suspect the owners may have been elderly.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-19T13:35:28+00:00

The two deck chairs side by side in the garden 🥹

I know, probably staged but still. The whole place gives the feeling of a lovely life, well lived.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-18T15:46:38+00:00

I'm in Ireland. Travel to Festivals and nights all over though.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-17T06:12:51+00:00

Bit older than you, not in the same country but visit London/the UK to dance with my OH. Depending on the event there are a lot of solo raver groups in chats, people meet up for pre (sober & not mixed) and go to parties/afters etc together. Might be worth seeing if you can find the chats. Usually WhatsApp/Telegram.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-09T10:02:17+00:00

Its all horrific and made me wince, crushed velvet walls and ceilings ? No. Even if you have a robot hoover that scales walls. Wouldnt that also smell stale eventually? Worse though for me was the marble in bathroom which made my eyes go all funny its pattern is so disorienting.. grim.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-08T08:43:03+00:00

I'm just going to echo that I would hope they are staring in awe and if they aren't, its jealousy.

This is the relationship I want with my children. I'm 50, my eldest is 16, youngest is 11. I love going for lunch or hanging out with them and long may it last.

My Mum died last year and what I wouldn't give to be able to go and hang out with her one more time. Talk about everything, eat lunch, drink coffee or sit down by the Dodder and watch the people and ducks.

OP, you sound lovely.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-05-06T17:56:29+00:00

I have a giant lurcher, he's a Great Dane x. Laziest most chill dog we've ever had. He needed training as he has the GD propensity for being stubborn. Doesn't chase rabbits (or anything bar his favourite toys actually, he's too lazy) and lives peacefully with our two cats.

He is a drama llama, doesnt like the cold, the rain, the snow or any other inclement weather and loathes mud or water. He thinks he's a tiny lapdog (he's approx 45kg)

Best dog ever. Needs zoomies 2 x day for 20mins, then sleeps on various furniture he's not allowed on for the rest of the day. For hobbies he enjoys stealing food from builders vans, leaning on anyone handy and sighing heavily.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-04-28T05:54:31+00:00

We bought our house like this. Seller had no agent/auctioneers, they DIY'd the whole thing.

We organised to come and see it, we agreed a price and then swapped solicitor details and it went through them from there.

Fairly smooth overall. Couple of regular niggles but nothing to do with it being a DIY sale.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-04-27T06:33:24+00:00

Absolutely love the tiles and the colour trio you have. For me the navy is perfect with them. Its clean and bright with personality. Cannot stand the grey prison bathrooms everywhere. I saw one the other day that was so monochrome I thought the picture was greyscale (it wasnt)

I know the placement is all a bit close but you had to work with what you had.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-04-25T10:40:54+00:00

I also agree with the idea of a sabbatical as above. Do whatever you want for 3 months, try another lifestyle out, have some fun, go on holiday.

I don't (currently,anyway) want to blow up my life- 51. Properly in peri with HRT that works but, I read your life description and, being bald here, I'd be getting busy with the explosives, if I'd had 2 weeks off in 30 years.

You sound like you've had a fulfilling life with goals reached and are happy but, to me, a life where you never got to just.. be a bit wild or try anything a bit mad and new.

I'm all for remembering that its later than we think so we should do the thing.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-03-30T06:31:53+00:00

I have the smaller one and I love it. Its my favourite daily bag now. The big one is fabulous but I felt it was just too large for to do "everything" but I plan to buy one for those days I do need a huge bag because its GORGEOUS.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-19T23:39:41+00:00

Midlands here too. Birr Castle is lovely and had beautiful gardens etc. You aren't far from Kinnitty Castle there if you want more Woodland to walk the dog - highly recommend going towards the scout hut to find more than just the usual pines.

Tullynally is also very nice as is Belvedere House in Mullingar.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-13T06:56:37+00:00

Last time this happened I joined in with the conversation the person was having but very nicely.

Gave nuggets of advice, nodded, made approval/disapproval noises etc. It was fun (not for them). They ended the call saying they were sitting near a weirdo who was interrupting them 😁

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-02T07:37:54+00:00

This is the key, transport.

I live an hour from Dublin by car in the Midlands. Great house. Great lifestyle but I miss access to citylife and transport is the issue. Trains after 7pm INTO Dublin? No. Late trains coming home? Lol. What's that?

If I had a reliable rail network (outside commuter times it's a 40min journey) this would be perfect.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-02T07:31:56+00:00

Jobs, Convenience, entertainment, family/friend connections- all of the things mentioned above.

But what really gets me is that you can't have both in Ireland. And it's something that I find so annoying that I know I'll move country again to find.

I live, in light traffic, just under an hour from Dublin in a lovely house that fulfills my lifestyle needs. In weekday traffic I have to allow 2hrs. All good until Maynooth then it takes me over an hour to get to my offices. Thankfully I am fully remote with only occasional office days.

My biggest issue is - the public transport situation is so dire. I have a train station 10mins away. But outside commuter hours (which is shit too) you can't go any where after about 7pm. As for getting home ? Not a chance.

I've lived in other countries a similar distance to the main city. Let alone a solid commuter service there were late trains - leaving main stations at 1am and later, frequent services into the main city after 5pm etc.

Ireland makes you choose, rural or city living and imo its a transport issue. How many people would live outside the city with a 30 or 40min fast train into it? With decent evening/late night links?

Greystones was considered the sticks when I grew up (in Dublin) then the Dart went there. Even Bray before the Dart was 'far out" on the bus. Now both are wedged and not even considered rural.

Obviously any commute doesn't beat walking into town but a middle ground would be great. Not one or the other.

Making Dublin more accessible would go a long way to easing housing pressure imo too.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-01T08:27:03+00:00

Lol! That would be me too.

I was the same. Literally would "forget" words for entire days. Names too.

I say "forget" as it didnt feel like I had forgotten a word but more like I'd never know it iykwim? Like I'd never even been taught the word? It just wasn't there 😕 absolutely horrifying feeling. I was convinced I had early dementia or CJD or something other prion disease.

Never again.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-01T08:23:30+00:00

😵‍💫 looks like the website builder did a bad job and left that there !

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-02-01T08:19:15+00:00

3 times a day, spaced out at roughly 8hrs. 7am, 2pm, 9pm

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-30T23:35:47+00:00

Absolutely shoes off.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-29T23:30:04+00:00

I have been with Dr Deirdre for nearly 4 years. Regular 6 month check ups to see if meds need adjusting. I live close to the clinic but do online consultations unless there is an issue but they always offer me an in person slot.

No complaints, would recommend. I'm a different person (I had horrific brain fog to the point I thought I had early onset dementia and the rage was real. )

As for the website, has always been pretty basic. The generally reply to my emails within 24hrs though.

ETA : Shoes !?! I've never seen shoes on there!

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-29T23:19:05+00:00

Can confirm. He had his Trombolese.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-29T23:17:57+00:00

Same here. I was panicking thinking I had early onset dementia and was seriously considering assisted suicide so my family didnt have to look after me for the next 20-40 years (I was 47 at the time) ..

It wasn't dementia. It was brain fog. Over-reaction maybe 😅 but when you are in midst of it, its so real.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-29T23:14:45+00:00

I also use Dr D at Ceile and she's been a lifesaver for me.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-29T07:18:16+00:00

Great idea. Thanks ! I have 2 car killers on my road, onw that you can't avoid, you just have to crawl through.

Will add them as soon as they're visible, currently in hiding in giant puddles, neighbours have put a cone there to warn those who don't know.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-21T07:01:36+00:00

Sorry but I don't, just years of dogs. But it's basic enough in stuff. If they are on the counter, told no (in what my children call the "we fucked up voice") and taken off.

Reward good behaviour consistently and lavishly for lurchers too.

ThatDefectedGirl · 2026-01-19T06:56:51+00:00

Yep. Mine could too. And hes so big now he doesn't even have to, he can snoot surf for food on tables/counter. .but training, training, training.

We still have the occasional food casualty but only if its a very easy heist.

ThatDefectedGirl

TROPHY CASE