My daughter’s new phone number will stay with her for life. It’s like we’ve given her an invisible, digital tattoo
When I sent on the number to Herself she got a bit weepy, in an our-little-girl-is-growing-up way
An unsettling conversation on the Dart leaves other passengers open-mouthed in amazement
Seán Moncrieff: Unsettling conversation was a reminder there are different Irelands, some of which we only hear about when something terrible happens
I meet friends whose version of my life seems to be completely different to the one I recall
Seán Moncrieff: The brain sifts experiences and makes judgments: what’s useful, it retains; what’s not, is dumped
Television infidelity is apparently a real thing and can be a major cause of door slamming
Herself told her colleagues that she and I have our own TV shows, which we watch separately. Cue a sharp intake of breath
Daughter Number Four has been sucked into the slimosphere. We naively enabled it
Seán Moncrieff: Despite her earnest promises to be careful, it of course got into every nook and corner
I’ve rearranged our books based on colour and height. Apparently this is controversial
How else would you end up with Marian Keyes sandwiched between My Life and Loves by Frank Harris and Naomi Wolf’s biography of the vagina?
Social media taps into a dark human need to be mean to other people
As people – even Stephen King – flee the platform, discussion of where to move to feels underpinned by a sadness that the kind of virtual space they crave may no longer be possible
Ukrainians in Ireland must be nervous. There’s a difference between a tough decision and a cruel one
With a week to go before Irish general election, you can see that cynicism has crept into our politics
Seán Moncrieff: Is it normal to have a teddy as an adult?
In scientific terms, a soft toy is known as a transitional object, providing emotional security to a child. But those feelings can continue way into adulthood
‘I never know when the Dart will arrive. And Irish Rail doesn’t seem to know either’
When looking to plan a Dart trip, the information on the digital sign, the schedule on the Irish Rail app and the website are no more than serving suggestions
‘When the cinema lights came up, we all hugged, and I wondered why, on this day, the magic worked for me too’
Seán Moncrieff: Towards the end, on two separate occasions, I felt a shudder run through me
I hate running. I tried it and it didn’t do me any good. I can’t be alone feeling like this?
I think I might belong to an as-yet-unidentified subset of humans who will never find exercise enjoyable
If we don’t expect an improved Government, we won’t get one
Rather than break a promise, Simon Harris might simply change his mind about the timing of the general election
Tote bags offer a lesson on our imperfect responses to the climate crisis
If you’re feeling down about carbon emissions, take that feeling and stuff it into a tote bag
Seán Moncrieff: The woman in the car rental office was a black hole of emotion, sucking up feelings but giving nothing in return:
She told us the bill for the damage would be, rather neatly, €300 - plus a €50 ‘damage processing’ fee