Fionnuala
@silentletters.bsky.social
I read a lot, make way too many dumb jokes, and occasionally do some journalism.
What they don't tell you about having functional neurological disorder is all the fun mini games FND comes with. Like "you've lost most of the use of a joint. it grinds when moved. it's agonising. it's deformed to the touch. MISSION: you have 2 minutes to persuade the doctor to take you seriously."
May 29, 2025 at 9:23 AM
What they don't tell you about having functional neurological disorder is all the fun mini games FND comes with. Like "you've lost most of the use of a joint. it grinds when moved. it's agonising. it's deformed to the touch. MISSION: you have 2 minutes to persuade the doctor to take you seriously."
Living with long-term medical uncertainty is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. Since my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, every day has been precarious.
But not all of the lessons have been harsh. This week, I'm discussing the best of them.
But not all of the lessons have been harsh. This week, I'm discussing the best of them.
The Absolute Miracle of a “Boring” Day
Since my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, I’ve stopped believing in “boring”
medium.com
May 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Living with long-term medical uncertainty is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. Since my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, every day has been precarious.
But not all of the lessons have been harsh. This week, I'm discussing the best of them.
But not all of the lessons have been harsh. This week, I'm discussing the best of them.
Me waiting on the phone call when the car has been doing Weird Things and the garage tells me they have to do research before they can give me a repair quote
May 16, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Me waiting on the phone call when the car has been doing Weird Things and the garage tells me they have to do research before they can give me a repair quote
As a thoroughly ADHD-having ex-dopamine addict I sympathise with the general idea, but when are we going to stop this faux helplessness before the dreaded paragraph? It's not productive to embrace this perceived lack of control and act like reading is insurmountable.
May 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
As a thoroughly ADHD-having ex-dopamine addict I sympathise with the general idea, but when are we going to stop this faux helplessness before the dreaded paragraph? It's not productive to embrace this perceived lack of control and act like reading is insurmountable.
Man, Enid Blyton is a bit darker than I remember.
May 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Man, Enid Blyton is a bit darker than I remember.
For the first time this year, I managed to read at least one hour a day for the whole month. Most days I managed 1-3 hours, with some significant outliers.
This has resulted in a total of 81.7 HOURS total read this month! That's over three whole days! I had to do the maths twice to be sure 😂
This has resulted in a total of 81.7 HOURS total read this month! That's over three whole days! I had to do the maths twice to be sure 😂
May 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM
For the first time this year, I managed to read at least one hour a day for the whole month. Most days I managed 1-3 hours, with some significant outliers.
This has resulted in a total of 81.7 HOURS total read this month! That's over three whole days! I had to do the maths twice to be sure 😂
This has resulted in a total of 81.7 HOURS total read this month! That's over three whole days! I had to do the maths twice to be sure 😂
Car is doing Weird Things but garage can't book it in for two weeks. I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. No public transport, ¼-mile long driveway kind of deal. Time to party like it's 1895.
April 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Car is doing Weird Things but garage can't book it in for two weeks. I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. No public transport, ¼-mile long driveway kind of deal. Time to party like it's 1895.
I've been thinking a lot recently about the insidiousness of poverty: how it seeps exhaustingly into absolutely everything.
This week, I'm writing about my own experiences with poverty, from budgeting food on less than £1 a week to homelessness.
This week, I'm writing about my own experiences with poverty, from budgeting food on less than £1 a week to homelessness.
When Your Best is Not Enough
The endless exhaustion of poverty
medium.com
April 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I've been thinking a lot recently about the insidiousness of poverty: how it seeps exhaustingly into absolutely everything.
This week, I'm writing about my own experiences with poverty, from budgeting food on less than £1 a week to homelessness.
This week, I'm writing about my own experiences with poverty, from budgeting food on less than £1 a week to homelessness.
How do they elect a new pope anyway. Does someone just throw the pope hat over their shoulder and whatever cardinal catches it wins?
April 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
How do they elect a new pope anyway. Does someone just throw the pope hat over their shoulder and whatever cardinal catches it wins?
Last Friday I was in a labyrinth used bookshop and apparently within this building there are, give or take, 300,000 books. I emerged with 10 of them.
I am still not over the existential crisis.
I am still not over the existential crisis.
April 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Last Friday I was in a labyrinth used bookshop and apparently within this building there are, give or take, 300,000 books. I emerged with 10 of them.
I am still not over the existential crisis.
I am still not over the existential crisis.
Reddit downvoting is so weird. OP can be like "here is a question" and someone else is like "here is a succinct and correct answer to your question! :)" and it's like -3. I can be like "this looks so nice!" and I check back and it's -1. Why do you people hate joy.
March 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reddit downvoting is so weird. OP can be like "here is a question" and someone else is like "here is a succinct and correct answer to your question! :)" and it's like -3. I can be like "this looks so nice!" and I check back and it's -1. Why do you people hate joy.
Estrangement is a rational response to an irrational dynamic. Yet despite more adults choosing to estrange, it's still widely misinterpreted -- especially by the parents we cease contact with. This week, I'm writing a letter to my fellow estranged adult kids from the mothers we no longer speak to.
A Letter From the Mother You No Longer Talk To
We owe them a fair hearing, right?
medium.com
March 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Estrangement is a rational response to an irrational dynamic. Yet despite more adults choosing to estrange, it's still widely misinterpreted -- especially by the parents we cease contact with. This week, I'm writing a letter to my fellow estranged adult kids from the mothers we no longer speak to.
I will catch up with my reading challenge this week by god
March 23, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I will catch up with my reading challenge this week by god
Just witnessed somebody in the restaurant change their baby's nappy at the table, put the dirty nappy in a shopping bag, and then proceed to not even sanitise their hands before touching everything including the door 😭 This is the second time I've seen this, what the fuck is wrong with people man
March 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Just witnessed somebody in the restaurant change their baby's nappy at the table, put the dirty nappy in a shopping bag, and then proceed to not even sanitise their hands before touching everything including the door 😭 This is the second time I've seen this, what the fuck is wrong with people man
Why is it whenever I make a hilarious comment on a Reddit thread, the whole thread gets deleted by the mods. The worldwide conspiracy to prevent me becoming the world's funniest and most beloved comedian continues, yet I shall not be silenced.
March 12, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Why is it whenever I make a hilarious comment on a Reddit thread, the whole thread gets deleted by the mods. The worldwide conspiracy to prevent me becoming the world's funniest and most beloved comedian continues, yet I shall not be silenced.
In this article I'm talking about a weapon I didn't know I had for the longest time: the power of journaling in an environment where everyone is trying to convince you that you're wrong.
The Gift My Teenage Self Gave Me
Journaling as a weapon against abuse
medium.com
March 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
In this article I'm talking about a weapon I didn't know I had for the longest time: the power of journaling in an environment where everyone is trying to convince you that you're wrong.
Just added the 1000th book to my "personal library" shelf on Goodreads. And there's at least 40 books I haven't added yet. I think it's safe to say I have a serious problem -- I'm going to need more bookshelves.
February 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Just added the 1000th book to my "personal library" shelf on Goodreads. And there's at least 40 books I haven't added yet. I think it's safe to say I have a serious problem -- I'm going to need more bookshelves.
Some recent upheavals have got me thinking about a very specific kind of grief: grieving for a planned future now inaccessible.
The future of relationships, the potential for children or jobs... even totally hypothetical what-could-have-beens. These are all serious losses, and we grieve them all.
The future of relationships, the potential for children or jobs... even totally hypothetical what-could-have-beens. These are all serious losses, and we grieve them all.
A Very Complicated Grief
Navigating the loss of longed-for futures
medium.com
February 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Some recent upheavals have got me thinking about a very specific kind of grief: grieving for a planned future now inaccessible.
The future of relationships, the potential for children or jobs... even totally hypothetical what-could-have-beens. These are all serious losses, and we grieve them all.
The future of relationships, the potential for children or jobs... even totally hypothetical what-could-have-beens. These are all serious losses, and we grieve them all.
Stress is such a fucking trip. How can I be starving hungry and excruciatingly nauseous at the exact same time. Like girl pick one.
February 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Stress is such a fucking trip. How can I be starving hungry and excruciatingly nauseous at the exact same time. Like girl pick one.
I'm a mostly chill vegetarian, but I'd like to politely ask my local Tesco why they feel the need to only offer cheese/coleslaw and egg/mayo out of the WHOLE meal deal selection? And then put ham or chicken in EVERY ONE of the salads? I am begging you for variety here.
February 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I'm a mostly chill vegetarian, but I'd like to politely ask my local Tesco why they feel the need to only offer cheese/coleslaw and egg/mayo out of the WHOLE meal deal selection? And then put ham or chicken in EVERY ONE of the salads? I am begging you for variety here.
Here I outline the many reasons why you shouldn't give your kid an Irish name but spell it... well, Englishly.
So You Want to Give Your Kid an Irish Name
Great! Congratulations on your wonderful taste. But how are you planning on spelling that? The case against anglicisation.
medium.com
February 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Here I outline the many reasons why you shouldn't give your kid an Irish name but spell it... well, Englishly.
Writing about something a little close and personal this week: functional neurological disorder, an often overlooked complication of chronic trauma.
When Your Body Won’t Stop Keeping the Score
Taking a look at functional neurological disorder (FND), and why “it’s all in your head” shouldn’t be used to invalidate.
medium.com
February 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Writing about something a little close and personal this week: functional neurological disorder, an often overlooked complication of chronic trauma.
Been blasting a lot of Green Day and My Chemical Romance lately. Now back on my Alan Moore bullshit. Think I accidentally woke up age 17 again.
January 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Been blasting a lot of Green Day and My Chemical Romance lately. Now back on my Alan Moore bullshit. Think I accidentally woke up age 17 again.
Smoothed out my Tunnocks wrapper and thinking it looks like old timey Communist posters. Anyone? No?
January 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Smoothed out my Tunnocks wrapper and thinking it looks like old timey Communist posters. Anyone? No?
Every time I file my nails (using a normal honest god-fearing nail file) I remember my friend in high school who would use the great big belt sander in the technology and design workshop to do hers. Absolute madness. Bronagh if you're out there what the fuck
January 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Every time I file my nails (using a normal honest god-fearing nail file) I remember my friend in high school who would use the great big belt sander in the technology and design workshop to do hers. Absolute madness. Bronagh if you're out there what the fuck