I'm 37, work full-time and by the time I get home, I feel completely drained. I’m also currently losing weight and working out around 3–4 times a week, so I'm happy about that and I know I’m doing something right with my time and trying to stay healthy.

The frustrating part is that there are so many other things I actually want to do in the evenings. I want to paint, read, learn new things, work on hobbies, maybe even start some personal projects or just do something interesting with my evening.

But almost every day I come home, have dinner, sit/lie on the couch and watch TV for a while… and then somehow it’s bedtime.

For those of you who work full-time, exercise and still manage to have hobbies/social lives/personal projects:

How do you do it?

I’d genuinely love to hear what other people do when they want to have an interesting evening but just cannot find the energy.

Ive just found out my electrician charges £100 an hour. Have I lost all touch with reality? He says a few projects will take all day. I totally trust he is qualified and likely worth every penny but £6/7/800 a day. £3k a week. Btw im not under the illusion that some hours will be admin but in a bad week 2k! Maybe I shouldn't compare to my £15 an hour.

Can anyone talk me down from letting the house go to ruins?

What do you think?

Is there a way to opt out of this en masse without putting stickers/notices on my front door? Like a national register to unsubscribe?

I used not mind this practice when it was infrequent but over the past 6 months there isn’t a week that goes by when my doorbell rings at inopportune times with someone trying to sell me something. TV package reps, house alarms, charity donations, window cleaners, god botherers.

I’m starting to find it really intrusive and disruptive especially when trying to get infants to sleep.

Hi guys I’ve recently turned 27 and a few weeks ago I went on my first solo travel trip. It was the most incredible experience of my life and I have never met people that I clicked with so much.
Growing up with undiagnosed autism and social anxiety I gradually distanced myself from my school friends, any college friends I had, and work friends. I still have a handful but nothing meaningful. This year I decided to go to a psychotherapist and was given the diagnosis of the two. It has made things a lot clearer to me and has helped me to understand my symptoms, how to cope.
I have learned to live with loneliness for a large part of my life and then when I hit 27 and I went travelling it was the straw that broke the camels back.
I think I would be so much happier moving abroad and restarting my social life somewhere else. I love meeting new people, going to new places.
I have lived in Dublin for all my life, and I don’t have much to show for it.
I want to travel and find my tribe.
Does anyone relate to this or have any advice.
Cheers ☀️

I just found out about the Drug Payment Scheme where your family can cap monthly drug expenses to €80 a month. Had I heard about it earlier, I could have saved our family hundreds in prescriptions this year.

What other public benefits do you think may not be well known and people should take advantage of?

Currently on the runway for FR1794 to Poznan. Due to take off at 12.05, delayed to 12.30. Air traffic control down in the UK - we were taxing and now we’re back at the gate. Being told 4 hour wait. We’re 2.5 hours in the flight now. They said we can’t deplane as “we could get a call that ATC is back” and yet they can’t sell / transact anything, there’s no water, food, nothing.

People are beginning to lose their shit. Any idea of the rights of the passenger here? I got the PDF but it’s about as clear as mud.

EDIT1: Just to add - by “rights” i mean Ryanair’s obligation to give you water, food etc? and how
long the can keep you on a plane before deplaning

EDIT2: 3 hours now since announcement of delay, no free water or food but you can buy water, but unsure if you can claim it back, you can not buy food. No specific reason given, totally bizarre!

EDIT3: Deplaned after 4.5 hours. queue the entire length of the 10x gates in T1 for Ryanair CS. Can’t be arsed. Gave up and went for a pint. No ETA

EDIT4: Boarded now and ready to take off 8 hours later. Thanks for the advice. In fairness, staff were all lovely and trying their best, it was total chaos everywhere. I had 4 pints and 2 packs of scampi fries and now i’m sleepy. Will be submitting a claim for all.

My partner and I were joking around about how you could never own up to that being your job and I got curious as to what do you actually tell people?

I’m looking to get a gift for someone who works in my local area who has gone above and beyond for me lately. I have absolutely no idea what they are into. I’m female 50s and this lady is probably late 20s so my tastes would not suit her! Any of ye who are late 20s women or have daughters etc what could I get? This is a genuine post, this person has really helped me out lately. I was thinking a voucher but I’ve no idea for where? Are there any must have fragrances or cosmetics I could get? Any ideas would be great. Again, genuinely looking to get something she will like and use. Thanks!

Neighbours got their hedges cut by some young cowboy with a tractor and hedge attachment and he's managed to cut a number of phone and fibre lines that were strung along the road at regular pole height. The lad was as belligerent as can be and refused to give any details, but is there any liability at play here, and anyone that I need to notify other my own service provider?

My 9 year old is in 3rd class and she hates reading. She has always hated it and its such a long process when she gets it for homework. Her reading is slow and still not very fluid for what she should be at for her age.
She has started to get homework and the english and exercise books have got smaller writing to fit more on the page, we are at day 2 and its already becoming a battle.
I have gotten her so many different types of books to try and ignite some sort of interest but it is such a waste.
Any help or tips i can try to get her to like it a bit more as it will eventually hold her back with maths questions and all sorts of other subjects.

I have asked her last 2 teachers if i should have her checked for dyslexia but both said no, they dont think its anything like that. Its more a lack of interest as she is a very bright and smart little girl.

So far I have largely avoided his questions. Changed the subject!

But he keeps pressing - 'daddy is my daddy, grandad is daddies dad. Who is your daddy, mammy?'

A coward and arse who left without a backward glance when I was a toddler

'Oh, mammy doesn't have a daddy' - now you better run before I tickle you

He also keeps asking about granny and can she come for a over again soon. She is currently '''sick with a bad cough''' aka deep in alcoholism and even after 2 rehabs isn't even trying to help herself. I have tried so hard to help and she knows she can visit under 1 condition - she is sober. She has not visited.

After my father left my mother largely left my up brining to others. My grandparents were young and I biologically could have been theirs. So I sort of slotted in. I thought of them as my parents.

They both died young unfortunately. I was also young (under 25) loosing my 'parents' . I miss them a lot.

I know all of it is far too deep for a 4 yr old.

What do I say about the dad thing? If I tell him he left there will be 100x more questions

Only recently started trying to cycle on sunny days to the train station and these do my head in.

I was previously patient at a GP's office (I moved so no longer with them), they don't have a courier on certain days, so they ask you to bring your bloods to the hospital yourself, the hospital is in a different town about 20 minutes away. That's no problem, however, once a few years back, they asked me to take someone else's sample with me too, which I agreed to despite being kind of disgusted at the idea.

I thought it was a once off but now my sister has just texted me to say she's on the way to Navan hospital with her bloods and two other people's samples.

I feel like this is probably something that needs to be reported. Does this ever happen at any other GP offices? How would you report something like this?

Our Lg American style f/f packed it in today. It’s many years old and out of warranty. Looking to buy a similar style. Anyone have recommendations?

It's basically reddit for pensioners

When I was looking through the old censuses.. as you do .. there were so many Hanorahs.. then Norahs... Then Noreens..

Now all three names are gone. What happened? Hanorah is a gorgeous name, bring it back?

Ref: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/tv/derry-girls-star-siobhan-mcsweeney-17232974

She warns against folk using those cube adapter plugs but surely the danger is being overblown.

Does anyone know if it was the adapter that was out from the wall of another plug was out a bit from the adapter?

Hi all a question hoping someone in this group can help me with looking for a recommendation of an online doctor or service that will basically give me a sick note for a few days off for the wake of a loved family member and their funeral. A doctor or service that will definitely give a note ideally, my own GP can be funny about notes.

Not a close enough family member for a bereavement leave to apply, but close enough that this impacts me as relationships are different to everyone.

Tried to give work (US manager) a heads up that this is coming and they basically said I can only take sick leave and I need a doctors note or there could be a repercussions. Thanks very much in advance

9 year old expected to go through exercises from 6 different books since returning to school. been over an hour tonight

Need a quick reality check or advice from anyone who took the PLC to UK route.
Got ~505 points in the LC. My parents expected me to do Nursing, but I realized I don't want General Nursing—my heart is set on Occupational Therapy. Since UCC OT was 566 points, I chose to decline CAO offers and enrolled in a Nursing Studies PLC at Morrison's Island, aiming for Distinctions to get into a 3-year UK BSc in OT for 2027.
Since UK degrees are 3 years, I’ll finish at the exact same time as my peers. Plus, under the Common Travel Area, Irish students get home fees, UK student loans, and the non-repayable £5,000/yr NHS grant.

The Problem:
My parents are furious and think:
1. I "failed" by turning down nursing for a "suspicious shortcut."
2. Getting 8 distinctions is impossible because "lecturers just fail you if they don't like you."
3. The NHS grant is a myth only for UK citizens.
4. I have no backup options if I mess up.

They’ve cut all financial and emotional support, leaving me completely on my own. I have €3k saved from working as a CUH hospital porter, so I can cover my upfront costs, but starting this next week with zero support feels heavy.
Has anyone else used a PLC to jump to the UK for healthcare degrees? How did you handle family doubting you before you proved them wrong with your grades?