So in this post I want to start on a light note talking some more about last week before moving onto the finish of my January 2017.

As mentioned in Tuesday’s blog I travelled to my mum on Thursday the 18^th January to connect with her to embark (literally) on an adventure of a life time. As a TREAT from my mum we were going on a Cruise starting from Dubai. This being an appropriate time to publically say that I have the best mum in the world!! It was myself, my mum and two family friends (a married couple) whom I have known since I was old enough to rob their dinner at 4.00pm. Why wouldn’t I – it was tasty, they had a cool high chair and a bib! Plus by robbing this one at 4 I also got a second dinner in my own house!

It was not until we had our packed lunch in the airport (egg sandwiches) that I realised I was actually going to go on a holiday with 3 pensioners…… The game plan in my head started to change slightly. Had they really just tricked me into coming along as a minder?? I saw early nights in bed, sitting down for a rest every 5 metres or so, lots of reading and making sure they didn’t forget to take their pills in the morning.

First breakfast meeting with all four of us quickly started to realise my fears as the communications over coffee and eggs was all around the daily bathroom habits. Literally s**t talk. I had to politely express my concern about this type of conversation;

1. a) that early in the morning
2. b) over food
3. c) really not appropriate talk at all.

Little did I know that when pensioners have spent a full day in the sun, with wine being drank at regular intervals throughout followed by a few Pina Coladas and Latin dance classes the conversation topic would make a full U-turn. Full U-turn. At this hour of the night the table talk would contain phrases such as; lying with two feet against the wall, you never know if it is your last so make the most of it, lotions…. Once again I attempted to raise a few objections as to the content of our communications (bear in mind my mother is present) but I was silenced with – don’t be so prude to which my mother followed up with – she is the most prude person I know. To which I could only reply – I was reared well, just not sure by who!!!!

A week of lessons in other words and in slight need of trauma counselling on my return to Ireland.

Tommy learning how to belly dance!! 

A life lesson that I didn’t want……..                                                                                  

So back to 2017 and to the first part of the year. On the 31^st January I was due in Ennis District Court. This was not my first visit to the courts as I had for a period of nearly 6 years at this stage had a battle in my hands which had been one of those mountains life throws in your way to climb. Yes mountains. This one could not be broken into gravel or sand in my shoes.

I have never shared the story of the 6 years that led me to the 31^st January 2017 and to share it all would most likely produce a book. So to give you an idea of what these years brought me (taught me) here is a summary;

• Having never been to a courtroom in my life I know found myself involved in three different cases all at once.
• Receiving post would make me feel nauseous…… letters that tended to come with accusations at particularly inconvenient times such as Christmas….
• Each event would see me lose focus for long periods of time as my subconscious would play on my mind and cause a large amount of stress hormones…. Also convinced my first grey hairs arrived at this time.
• One case was criminal proceedings against me, being accused of theft of intellectual property (a memory stick). This was to me the worst of all the parts of this process. To firstly have my offices searched by the Gardai, followed by making a statement, followed by an official arrest on a bank holiday Monday, the latter all because of the perseverance of those trying to “rattle my cage”. With this part they did do just that, but what they also ensured at the same time was the same perseverance back in ensuring that the truth would eventually come out. I will never forget the day when the call came from the Sergeant over my case. I was on my way to UCC as I was completing my H. Dip and he called to tell me that no charges were going to be brought. I think I had to stop the car for at least half an hour to be able to see the road for the tears that were streaming down my face. Relief.
• The other case was a case taken against me, my business associate at the time and our company – one that never moved forward from the world’s longest solicitor’s letter.
• One that I myself took for unfair dismissal which was the appeal that was dropped after many adjournments, changes of solicitors and sick (unwell) defendants, on the 31^st of January. This meaning that the decision of the tribunal made nearly a year previous was now the final outcome of the case.

On that day, the 31^st January, I will never forget what my solicitor said to me when the appeal was dropped – “That was a bit anti-climactic wasn’t it?!” After all this time…….

I still find it hard to talk (write) about this…… which to some extent makes me angry. I have nothing to hide, nothing to feel ashamed of but it is a process / part of my life that I wouldn’t wish for anyone else to have to go through. Not a lesson I needed…… or wanted.

However I have used the whole process as one hell of an educational journey and I have used what I learnt from the process to my advantage as well as the fact that it made me stronger as a person.

If there is one rule I will give you from facing into these life mountains, as I believe we all have them to climb, at least once, then this is it.

See them all as educational lessons whether technically, practically or mentally because it’s true what the experts say. Learning makes us grow and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (the latter part being lyrics not any expert statement!!)

Until next time……