6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Jamie Vardy ‘has shock free transfer abroad BLOCKED after Arsenal legend vetoed deal’
JAMIE VARDY reportedly had a sensational move to Genoa BLOCKED by Arsenal legend and Invincible Patrick Vieira.
Vieira, who is the boss of Genoa, is said to have vetoed the move after club execs had put things in place for the former Leicester striker to make the move.
GettyJamie Vardy reportedly had a move to Genoa scuppered by Patrick Vieira[/caption]
GettyVieira, who is manager of Genoa, is said to have rejected the arrival of Vardy[/caption]
According to Italian outlet La Repubblica, Genoa had agreed personal terms with Vardy following negotiations spearheaded by sporting director Flavio Ricciardella.
But despite claims that Genoa had even enlisted financial help from club sponsors to pay Vardy’s wages, the deal was abandoned after Vieira didn’t give his seal of approval.
The Premier League icon reportedly told club execs he didn’t want Vardy, bringing the deal to an abrupt close.
SunSport have contacted Vardy’s representatives for comment.
The legendary former Stoke boss said: “If Jamie Vardy went to Rangers he would be joining a huge rivalry, they have new owners and will want to invest into the team to make things more competitive.
“Russell Martin is at a massive, massive football club and that comes with expectations. If he does bring big names in, that will go through the roof.
“Brendan Rodgers has done an unbelievable job at Celtic and Russell will be under enormous pressure to get closer to them next year.”
However, Pulis warned that Rangers will have to act fast with Vardy likely to be in high demand.
He added: “Jamie Vardy will not be short of offers. You don’t know whether he’s waiting for another Premier League club to come in for him, but he’s been a fantastic player.
“Taking Leicester to the Premier League title, winning the FA Cup, he is a fit lad and doesn’t look to have put any weight on. I’m sure he will have something on his mind.
“He’ll have a preference and he might be waiting to see what offers he gets, but he will have options all over the world.”
GettyTony Pulis has urged Vardy to join Rangers[/caption]
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Lando Norris lands first ever British Grand Prix win and F1 ace ends unwanted record as rain causes chaos at Silverstone
LANDO NORRIS was reduced to TEARS as he won a treacherous British Grand Prix which saw five cars out of the race and three safety cars.
The Bristol-born 25-year-old has gone from asking for autographs at Silverstone as a kid to winning the home race with over 10,000 fans in his very own Landostand.
GettyLando Norris won the British GP for the first time[/caption]
GettyNico Hulkenberg also scored a podium for the first time in 239 races[/caption]
It was a dream day out for the McLaren driver, who started in third and was helped by his teammate Oscar Piastri being slapped with a 10-second time penalty for a bonkers safety car incident.
Stewards felt the Aussie driver had slowed down unnecessarily under the safety car as Max Verstappen momentarily overtook him before spinning off track.
Norris roared “wooo, we did it” as he crossed the line, with him now just eight points behind Piastri in the standings.
Piastri came in second and Nico Hulkenberg secured third-place and a first-ever podium in 239 starts.
Martin Brundle’s star-studded grid-walk featuring Tom Holland, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba and many more showed just how many eyes are on Silverstone every year.
There was chaos before the race had even started as several drivers including George Russell and Charles Leclerc pitted for slick tyres as the rest of the top 10 stayed out.
Oscar Piastri got away well and had a sniff on the inside of the Dutchman, but the Red Bull stayed firm on his line and held the lead.
Max Verstappen got off like a shot-gun from then, snapping well beyond the two McLarens behind him.
Lewis Hamilton, the king of Silverstone in the rain, was all over the back of Lando Norris in the wet final sector.
The Ferrari even pulled alongside the McLaren but youngbuck Norris just held off the old maestro.
The virtual safety car was called into action as Esteban Ocon clattered into Liam Lawson, ending the race for the Kiwi driver and damage to the Haas man’s car.
ANOTHER VSC was called into action, this time to allow Gabriel Bortoleto’s car to be cleared as he had spun off track causing a piece to fling off, before desperately trying to make it back to the pint lane.
Leclerc, Russell and Antonelli were slogging it out on slick tyres designed for a dry track, well behind those on the inters.
There was thrilling racing at the front of the pack though, with Piastri snapping at Verstappen’s heels before easily dispatching him on lap 8 for the lead.
The heavens opened and Max Verstappen, whose tyres were knackered, ran wide and allowed Norris to pass him.
The top three then all stopped for fresh intermediate tyres but Norris suffered a dreadful stop and lost his place back to Verstappen.
The rain lashed down and Hamilton stated the obvious on his team radio, saying: “It’s definitely wet tyres right now.”
His team-mate Charles Leclerc had a huge droplet of water in his visor causing hi to go completely off track and cross country but he recovered to carry on
On lap 14, it continued peeing it down and with the conditions getting treacherous so the safety car was sent out.
That was terrible news for Piastri, who had opened up a 13-second gap out front.
It was out for five laps before Piasri got away again strongly, holding his lead with Norris tucked behind Verstappen in third.
Russell attacked Hamilton for eighth but the seven-time world champ got the place back and one more as his old teammate was caught behind Ocon.
There was more chaos and another safety car as Isack Hadjar slammed into the wall and was luckily left unhurt.
The Racing Bulls youngster had crashed into the back of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.
It was a bonkers restart as Verstappen momentarily pulled in front of Piastri who slowed right down.
Amid all the confusion Verstappen spun dramatically before recovering and dropping all the way back into 11th.
The Dutchman was left fuming, and said on his team radio: “Whoa, Mate! Jesus, just suddenly again slows down!”
The stewards were then investigating Piastri for a Safety Car infringement and he was later slapped with the ten-second time penalty.
Norris just needed to stay within touching distance from his teammate and the Silverstone crown would be his.
Antonelli was forced to retire for Merc, with the damage from his earlier collision proving too great.
It was game on for Hamilton, who licked his lips at the prospect of first Ferrari podium, nipping past Pierre Gasly on lap 29.
He then left Lance Stroll for dust and soared into fourth – he just needed to deal with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.
Russell’s gamble to stop early and put on hard tyres did not work for him as he spun off the sodden track, bumping across the grass and re-emerging onto the track in 13th.
On lap 42, Hamilton’s tyres were shot and he stopped for a set of softs before coming back out in fourth.
He dropped behind Leclerc but both Ferraris went off track before the Monaco-born driver pitted and Hamilton shuffled ahead again.
Piastri bizarrely said McLaren should swap his position with Norris if they think that he was unfairly punished for the safety car mishap.
You can imagine Norris’ reaction to that and the Aussie driver’s request was shut down by his team, not that he knew anything about it as he trumped his teammate at home.
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Dua Lipa shows off incredible figure in a tiny leopard print bikini on lavish holiday
DUA Lipa turned up the heat as she showed off her enviable figure in a tiny leopard print bikini.
The hit popstar shared a slew of snaps from her luxury getaway including many of her flaunting her impressive figure in the jaw-dropping bikini.
instagramDua Lipa looked incredible as she flaunted her figure in a tiny bikini[/caption]
instagramShe turned up the heat on her recent getaway[/caption]
instagramAll eyes were on the star in the carousel of Instagram snaps[/caption]
Dua, who recently completed a sold-out stadium tour across the UK, appeared to be letting her hair down on the trip as she basked in the sun and enjoyed some downtime with her pals.
In one snap, Dua’s bikini took centre stage as she showed off her tanned complexion while enjoying some snacks aboard a luxury yacht.
Her impressive abs could be seen as later posed on a hillside in the bikini top which she paired with a denim mini-skirt.
Dua accessorised the skirt with a leopard-print belt to accurately match her bikini top.
She struck a model-like post as she added a golden handbag for her sunshine adventures.
In other snaps, she could be seen wearing a two-piece black bikini underneath a see-through, shimmering cover-up.
Alongside the flurry of candid images, she added the light-hearted caption: “Jusss ‘avin a good time.”
Her fans were quick to gush over the singer’s stunning getaway with one fan writing in the comments section: “Living the dream ! Hope you enjoy every second of it !”
The pop superstar perfectly split the G at the first time of asking in a Dublin bar, before taking part in a raucous singalong to Don McLean’s classic, American Pie.
The singer’s Radical Optimism tour has seen her play two nights at Wembley, two at Liverpool’s Anfield, and one night at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Split into four acts and an encore, Dua’s career-spanning set went down a storm with fans and critics alike, featuring hits Be The One, IDGAF, Houdini and Levitating.
She fulfilled a lifelong dream when she played to 70,000 adoring fans atWembleylast weekend, a decade after performing in the city for the first time to just 350 people.
Dua Lipa's love life: A history
Who has Dua Lipa dated in the past?
Isaac Carew
Dua dated the British model and chef twice. The started dating in 2015 before splitting up two years later due to scheduling issues. They rekindled their romance in 2018 before splitting for good a year later.
Paul Klein
After she broke up from Isaac in 2017, she embarked on a new relationship that same year with the musician. They broke up after just five months of dating in 2018.
Anwar Hadid
One of her most high-profile relationships was with Anwar Hadid, brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid. Although they quarantined together during the COVID-19 Pandemic they called it quits in 2021 as Dua wanted to focus on being single
Jack Harlow
In December 2022, it was claimed that both of the music pairing were ‘hanging out’ together. Although after a few months it seemed that the relationship fizzled out.
Romain Gavras
The French director was first linked to Dua back in 2023 when they were seen in London leaving the BAFTA Awards afterparty together in February. They later walked the red carpet together at the Cannes Film Festival in May. They were later pictured together over the summer that year in July and August as they celebrated his birthday. She has since deleted mentions of him off of her Instagram.
Callum Turner
In January 2024, Callum celebrated the release of his Apple TV+ series, Masters of Air. The pair were spotted together at the afterparty of the premiere in Los Angeles. They were then spotted getting close on a number of dates. Insiders since revealed that the duo have travelled together and have met each other’s families. The pair then became more public with their relationship before rumours circulated of an engagement over the festive period. The singer appeared to confirm the news on social media, posting a photo with her huge ring in plain sight.
instagramShe showed off her gym-honed figure following her recent stadium tour[/caption]
instagramDua looked simply stunning in her holiday snaps[/caption]
instagramHer fans were quick to have their say on the pictures[/caption]
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Gulf Coast Stapletons influencer DEFENDS shamed husband after he plead guilty to 20 counts of having child abuse images
AN INFLUENCER has defended her husband online after he was sentenced to prison for child abuse images.
Joshua Stapleton, 39, and his wife Brittani, 31, document their Gulf Coast travels across social media, posting what on the surface seems like a perfect life – but it’s far from the truth.
gulfcoast_stapletonsJoshua Stapleton, 39, and his wife Brittani, 31, document their Gulf Coast travels across social media[/caption]
gulfcoast_stapletonsThe pair have amassed over one million likes across TikTok and Instagram[/caption]
Bartow County Sheriff's Office JailStapleton received a 20-year sentence[/caption]
gulfcoast_stapletonsWife Brittani has made it clear she stands with her husband in a TikTok video[/caption]
The pair have amassed over one million likes across TikTok and Instagram with more than 81,000 followers, sharing workout videos, meals and vacations.
But their popularity has certainly diminished since investigators made the heinous discovery that husband Stapleton had downloaded child abuse images, Fox 5 News reports.
Over four years since authorities initially launched their investigation, Stapleton received a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Five years are to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation.
But wife Brittani has made it clear she stands with her husband and posted a lengthy TikTok video addressing frequently asked questions on the harrowing situation.
She started the video by threatening legal action against anything spreading what she called “false” statements being spread about her husband that are “damaging” to his reputation.
Brittani said she knew about the charges against her husband, who wed in 2023, as they were friends before they started dating.
She said: “When the charges occurred, we were friends. […] I have a really good judge of character and I knew something was up. I knew that was not Josh.
“We had already been on several trips together beforehand. I’d spent pretty close time with this guy and I was like, hmm, something’s wrong here.
“Josh was absolutely upfront with me about everything in the charges. There were no secrets.”
Stapleton’s arrest followed an investigation launched by the Cartersville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, supported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Homeland Security.
The investigation was launched based on a tip submitted through the Internet Crimes Against Children program.
It was during this probe the 39-year-old was exposed for downloading numerous child abuse images between 2018 and 2020.
Addressing another question from concerned social media users, Brittany defended that the couple’s friends with children are aware of the charges against Stapleton.
She said: “ We’ve always been absolutely upfront with everyone. And guess what?
“A lot of these people have our backs because they have personally witnessed Josh around their children and know that there’s no issue.”
Stapleton was originally charged with 15 counts of child pornography possession, but was later indicted on a harrowing 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
He ultimately accepted a non-negotiable plea deal and pleaded guilty to 20 counts, while the remaining 20 charges were dropped.
Brittani shockingly rejected the claim that child images were on his “work laptop,” slamming them as “false”.
She ranted: “ Josh could not possibly have that on his work laptop because if you have ever worked for a corporation or any big company or anything along those lines, you know how secure those computers are.”
Brittani also pushed back against accusations that they were merely showing “fake lives” across their social media platforms, and said they are “still happy” as a couple despite the vile charges.
She rambles: “ We are still happy. He and I have no issues. He has been fully transparent and honest with me.
“Therefore, I know everything. I have been to court. I know everything. I can assure you that nothing about us was fake.”
Stapleton will have to abide by multiple “sex offender” conditions upon his release.
Bartow County authorities haven’t released additional information about the plea proceedings.
Stapleton is currently being held in the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Jail.
gulfcoast_stapletonsStapleton (R) was originally charged with 15 counts of child pornography possession, but was later indicted on a harrowing 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children[/caption]
gulfcoast_stapletonsStapleton (R) ultimately accepted a non-negotiable plea deal and pleaded guilty to 20 counts, while the remaining 20 charges were dropped[/caption]
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Inside Israel’s frontline rescue crew… from pulling families out of rubble to dodging Iranian missiles
IT’S the dead of night when Captain Yehudit’s phone suddenly starts ringing.
On her way home from the day job, the reservist’s battalion commander warns her Iranian missiles are incoming.
IDFRescue crews at the scene in Be’er Sheva[/caption]
IDFThe team worked to help civilians whose buildings were hit by Iranian strikes[/caption]
IDFCaptain Yehudit of Battalion 923 – part of the Home Front Command’s Southern District[/caption]
GettyA view of the destruction after an Iranian missile hit Soroka[/caption]
APFirefighters work in a building of the Soroka hospital complex after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran[/caption]
But no system can ever be perfect – and a very small percentage of barrages crash, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Within hours, the mum found herself pulling bodies out of the wreckage after Iranian missiles blitzed civilian homes in Be’er Sheva.
She was joined at the devastating scene by Major Neta and rescue forces of Battalion 923 – part of the Home Front Command’s Southern District – who worked tirelessly for the next 13 hours to help panicked citizens.
It was the first of three blitzes on the southern Israel city during the so-called 12-day war, including one just hours before the ceasefire kicked in.
Homes and even a hospital were blasted in Be’er Sheva in return by Iran – leaving at least four killed and dozens injured.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reservist Maj. Neta told The Sun: “We didn’t suspect [Iran would hit civilian areas], that was a surprise for us.
“We only hit military targets and they hit a civilian hospital – it was awful.
“We are here to save lives, and they are just trying to hurt us.”
In the early hours of July 19, Soroka hospital was among eight sites pounded by missiles in what was branded an “act of terrorism” by Israel’s health minister Uriel Buso.
Terrified patients were evacuated as ceilings collapsed, windows smashed and walls caved in.
Maj. Neta said: “There was a lot of mess, a lot of innocent people that we needed to move because it was dangerous. We had a fire there and a lot of wreckage.
“Luckily nobody was killed there, but easily could have been.
“There were people we had to pull out the wreckage, but I’m happy it ended up with only the building damaged but no souls lost.
Shocking footage showed the ground shale and huge plumes of smoke filled the air as the busy hospital was struck.
“There was a lot of mess, a lot of innocent people that we needed to move because it was dangerous,” Maj. Neta said.
“We had a fire there and a lot of wreckage.
“Luckily nobody was killed there, but easily could have been.
“There were people we had to pull out of the wreckage, but I’m happy it ended up with only the building damaged with no souls lost.”
IDFThe Battalion 923 squad assess the damage in a building[/caption]
IDFThey work for hours at every scene to check for casualties[/caption]
EPADamage to a room at Soroka hospital[/caption]
Jay SverdlovThe moment a bulding burst into flames after the struck by an Iranian rocket[/caption]
But when a salvo of missiles slammed into more civilian targets days later – just hours before the ceasefire came into force on July 24.
Corporal Eitan Zachs, 18, his mother, Michal Zachs, 50, his girlfriend Noa Boguslavsky, 18, from Arad, and Naomi Shaanan were killed.
At least 22 others were injured as the rockets hit the area at around 6am – including one that directly pummeled a residential building.
Cpt. Yehudit said: “Those first moments are a really big mess. People are in shock, there are many rescue teams in the zone.
“We had to take the bodies of killed civilians from the apartments that got hit.
“We had to break the bricks and the doors down to get them out. We also had a lot of civilians who got hurt.
“[After dealing with casualties] we then check every building four times to make sure there is nobody in there, even pets.
“From one building we rescued four cats, and returned them to their owners.
Iran exacts revenge on its own people
by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)
IRAN’S ruthless regime massacred defenceless inmates at a prison before blaming their deaths on shrapnel from airstrikes, insiders revealed.
It comes as sources warn the wounded regime is using the smokescreen of conflict to unleash a brutal execution spree and crack down on critics.
Cold-blooded regime dictators have also ordered the arrest of hundreds after accusing them of having links to arch-foe Israel.
An Iranian insider said: “The prison massacre now stands as another stain on Tehran’s human rights record – and a sobering reminder of what unchecked tyranny can unleash behind closed walls.”
“It’s hard work. It takes a lot of time. In my zone, we took nearly 13 hours to make sure nobody was there until we could leave the scene.”
Maj. Neta said their response after a missile strike can take hours – and squads will even do checks on apartments for casualties even if just a window is broken.
She added: “There was a lot of panic and confusion but they [civilians] were happy to see us.
“It is a relief for them to see soldiers coming to rescue them and help them.
“After that there’s a lot of rage, because they need a lot of stuff from their house, and the building is not safe.
“We have engineers that check the buildings before we allow civilians inside.”
Both Maj. Neta and Capt. Yehudit agreed they have to detach from their emotions to get their jobs done effectively.
Capt Yehudit said: “The last hit that we dealt with was just before the ceasefire.
Jay SverdlovThe moment of an Iranian missile strike in Be’er Sheva[/caption]
IDFThe team being briefed at the scene[/caption]
IDFCpt. Yehudit with her team members[/caption]
“So at the end of the day, everybody spoke about how it was the ceasefire and we could go home in a couple of days.
“It wasn’t less hard dealing with the scene, knowing that just a few hours ago I pulled bodies from this wreckage…and now I’m going home, back to my day job, to my family and my daughter.”
Maj. Neta added: “We have to detach when we are getting to a scene because we cannot do our job if we are not detached.
“But then after we speak to one another and we take everything out.
“It’s very important to speak about it and not keep it inside.”
Israel and Iran have been locked in a fragile ceasefire since June 24 – which Donald Trump has warned both sides not to break.
It comes after days of missile fire between the two nations before Trump pulled the trigger on a monumental US blitz of the rogue state.
Israel’s rescue teams fear Iran could launch further strikes – but insist they are prepared.
Maj. Neta added: “We don’t know if Iran will strike again. [If they do], we will come and do our job, as we did this time.
“But I hope very, very much they will not do it because we are only innocent people.
“It’s very difficult for us to lose a life. They don’t care about that.”
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on Marcos: P20-per-kilo rice program is here to stay
MANILA, Philippines — Despite some farmers’ laments on its “unsustainability,” President Marcos assured the public that the P20-per-kilo rice program “is here to stay,” describing it as the opposite—“achievable” and “sustainable.” Following the initiative’s implementation, an INQUIRER.net report revealed concerns surrounding the true cost and reach of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice promise. A farmer even
6 days agoBlogsComments Off on I was lying in bed when I was struck by harrowing condition – things got worse and I didn’t find out truth for years
LUCY Shiel was living her best life in college when her mind was attacked with dark thoughts that made her believe she was a “bad person” – and left her searching for answers for YEARS.
The Kilkenny woman was only 19 when a chronic condition came on “very suddenly” as she lay in bed after a night out, sending her head spinning.
Lucy is sharing her experience with OCD to raise awareness of the disorderThe 25-year-old was lying in bed after a night out when she was hit with intrusive thoughts for the first timeShe has shared the signs and symptoms to watch out for
And while multiple therapists waved the condition off as common anxiety, Lucy wasn’t convinced and finally considered she may be experiencing OCD.
The lifelong condition can be so debilitating that the World Health Organisation has ranked it among the top ten when it comes to the most disabling illnesses of any kind – in terms of lost earnings and lessened quality of life.
Lucy, now 25, told the Irish Sun: “I didn’t always have it, it came on very suddenly when I was 19.
“It was four years after that before I had even came across the concept of OCD online through American research.
“I had worked with therapists in these four years before but unfortunately none of them could figure out that it was OCD.
“Once I came across it myself, I went to my GP and I was like, ‘I think I have this’ and he was very good, he was like, ‘Okay, I’ll refer you for psychiatric consultation’ and once I got there they were like, ‘Yes this is very textbook OCD’, and that was two years ago.”
Lucy says that living with the condition was still a nightmare even after being diagnosed.
She explained that life with OCD is a constant battle between the brain’s conscious and subconscious, which is constantly spiralling into negativity.
Lucy herself was plagued by the fear of not being a good person and was always mentally battling self-doubt.
She explained: “It was hard, it was horrendous. It’s categorised by this onslaught of intrusive thoughts that are usually quite dark in nature, because those are the ones that grab your attention obviously.
“So they’re the ones that will make you stop in your tracks and go, ‘Why the hell did I just think that?’.
“They’re racing thoughts and as soon as they come at you you’re thinking, ‘Why did I think that?’, ‘What does this say about me?’, and you’re trying to get that thought out of your head.
“And the compulsive behaviours come in, some people might put the light on ten times because they think if they don’t then someone’s going to die then it’s going to be their fault.”
Lucy told how she was plagued by thoughts that she was somehow a bad person, adding: “A lot of mine was totally internal, from the outside looking in you wouldn’t think I was doing anything but I was doing a lot.
“I had compulsions in my head, neutralising a bad thought with a good thought after it, fighting with a thought or reviewing my memories to confirm I’m a good person. I’ll think, ‘You’re a bad person’, and I’ll go, ‘No, no, no, this is why you’re not.’
“So you’re always engaging in the thought in some way whether saying no that’s wrong or trying to disprove it, literally anything to get rid of it.
“I guess I spent a lot of time in different therapy chairs telling people about this.
“They said it was just anxiety and I tried to make peace with that but I had anxiety as a child and this was different.”
DIAGNOSIS DISCOVERY
“Another compulsion is Googling your symptoms but by Googling my exact thoughts I came across this Reddit page talking about OCD, and I was like, ‘This sounds pretty right.’
“That’s how I found out it was OCD and I thought yeah, ‘This is definitely me’, so I brought it to my GP and I was like, ‘It’s this thing’.
“Is it common, it’s hard to know because a lot of people will never be diagnosed or won’t admit to it because some of the intrusive thoughts are really dark and taboo and people are ashamed of the experience in their head.
“I know that two to three per cent of the world have it so you could apply that to anywhere.”
HERE TO HELP
Lucy decided that the lack of information available in Ireland was leaving people with OCD in the dark.
So after receiving her diagnosis, she created OCDiaries, an Instagram page aimed at educating people about the condition where she outlines what OCD might look like, the symptoms of it, and how it can be managed.
She said: “Since I started the page I’ve spoken to hundreds of people who have said thank you, I didn’t realise there were other people like this in Ireland.
“I wanted to start therapy again and I suffered a bereavement after my diagnosis and after I accepted that Ireland maybe doesn’t have our own resources I was telling people what OCD was.
“I wanted the person I was working with to understand OCD so if I fell into a spiral they would be able to cop that.
“Ireland is very behind, even though the knowledge is there, they don’t have it.”
DEBILITATING BATTLE
And the 25-year-old said that the crippling condition is often misrepresented and played for laughs in the media, despite the reality being much harder to deal with.
Lucy said: “It’s so misrepresented in the media as this funny quirky thing where you like to have things a particular way for no reason other than that’s just how you like it but that’s not how it is.
“That’s actually obsessive compulsive personality disorder which people can be diagnosed with, that’s very typical of the stereotype we see in the media.
“OCD is really different from how it’s portrayed in the media, they’re very different, it’s actually so debilitating.”
But the Lucy said that the condition doesn’t have to control the life of those who live with it.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OCD?
OCD affects different people in different ways, but usually appears as a particular pattern of behaviours.
These include four main steps:
Obsession – where an unwanted, intrusive thought or urge repeatedly enters a person’s mind.
Anxiety – the unwanted obsession then provokes a feeling of intense anxiety or distress.
Compulsion – as a result of feeling anxious, a person will carry out repetitive behaviours or mental acts that they feel driven to perform to better the situation.
Temporary relief – the compulsion will offer temporary relief to the OCD sufferer’s anxiety – but the obsession soon returns, causing the cycle to begin again.
While it is possible to just have obsessive thoughts or just have compulsions, most sufferers will contend with both.
Common types of compulsive behaviour in people with OCD include:
Cleaning and hand washing
Checking – such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off
Counting
Ensuring order and arranging things ‘perfectly’
Hoarding
Thinking “neutralising” thoughts to counter the obsessive ones
Avoiding certain places and situations that they feel could trigger obsessive thoughts
Lucy explained that after years of struggling with the condition, she went to A&E to deal with her nightmare situation.
Since then, she’s been prescribed medication but is still on a journey to discover and spread more information about OCD.
She continued: “I fully believe that recovery is possible, it is classified as chronic, it’s something that until the end of time I’m going to have to be on top of but I’ve been taking medication for the past two years.
“It was honestly a lifesaver. Prior to that I went to A&E and said, ‘I don’t think I can do this anymore’. It had been such a tough four years I said, ‘I can’t live the rest of my life like this’, the medication was a lifesaver.
“Some people have it for as a long as they can remember, I didn’t.
“It came on in an instant – it was crazy, a lot of people I’ve spoken to it’s come on them suddenly, I don’t know there could be something in our genetics that were predisposed, it could be trauma, there’s still a lot to know about it.
“So you can have intrusive dreams also, you know how you have dreams and they’re so bizarre and you’re not in control of them, they come from your subconscious, I like to think that’s where OCD thoughts come from.
“In a non-OCD brain there’s a filter between your subconscious and conscious mind that notices everything, but somehow that gets damaged and then all of those thoughts come to the forefront and you end up with these crazy thoughts.”
‘ATTACK CORE VALUES’
Lucy added: “My thoughts are very managed with my meds, they still appear but the meds give you space to realise it is OCD, and the big thing is not to respond to the thought once it presents itself.
“Nine times out of ten I’ll be successful with that with the medication, you have to just let the thought be there no matter how terrorising it is which is obviously easier said than done.
“The ones that distress you attack your core values, for example I’m not a religious person but a big one for religious people is they get thoughts while praying, that they are being blasphemous to God.
“I don’t get that but I get thoughts tracking what I do find important, because then you’ll pay attention.”
Lucy said there’s still a lot to know about OCD, which affects roughly 156,000 people in Ireland.
Asked if she had a message for those who would like to know more about the condition, she said: “You definitely know people who have it, your loved one could have it, it’s not a silly funny thing it’s very hard to deal with.
“But recovery is possible, it can feel like it isn’t, it can feel all consuming like my life is over but it’s not.”
The popular presenter said he was diagnosed at 25, but had become obsessed with washing his hands when he was just six-years-old.
Lifting the lid on his horrific symptoms, Brendan said: “I didn’t get intrusive thoughts until later in life and I could go and read about it because it’s terrifying.
“Whatever the bizarre thought is, the next thought is, ‘Oh my God why did I just have that thought’, and then you spiral.”
Brendan added: “I found OCD appears after very stressful times or during very stressful times.
“So you’re logical, but your emotional ability to just discount the thought, you can’t do that because you’re stressed.
“So you attach to this thought and then you feel really stupid. You feel really out of control.”
The Dublin native bravely spoke on air back in April about fears he had as a young adult.
TOUGH TIME
He said: “It can be quite harrowing. It’s not just your hands are dirty. My fear in my 20s was sharp objects, knives.
“I couldn’t look at knives or have knives in the house because my internal thoughts would then attach themselves to some harm.
“And then I’m like, ‘Why am I thinking that?’, because I didn’t feel like that.”
Brendan has learned how to “cope” with his distressing thoughts through counselling, therapy and books.
He explained: “It presents itself when I’m really stressed or when I’ve had a bereavement or something out of control. So I now have a good understanding.
“But then you’re afraid to say that even because it’ll present somewhere else!”
Lucy was unaware that she had OCD for yearsBrendan Courtney recently opened up on his struggles with OCDRTE
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6 days agoBlogsComments Off on ‘Such a shame’, gutted customers cry as popular Irish shop confirms closure after 49 years in business
CUSTOMERS of a beloved Irish furniture shop have been left gutted as it will close for good in just days.
Madden Furniture, located on Station Road in Ennis, Co Clare, is set to shut its doors on July 11 for the final time after nearly 50 years in business.
A popular furniture shop confirmed its closure on social mediaFacebook / Madden Furniture
The furniture shop was well-known for its incredible bed frames, tables, storage units and lounging selection.
And it had a huge impact on their community, with customers often raving about how fantastic the service was, including their friendly staff who were happy to help out.
However, despite being widely loved by its customers in the community and beyond, the business confirmed the news of its closure on Facebook.
The establishment confirmed that they are closing their doors for the very last time on Friday, July 11.
Talking to social media, the Madden Family wrote: “Dear Valued Customers, after 49 incredible years suppling furniture to our community, the time has come for us to say goodbye.
“We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years. It has truly been a privilege to be a part of your homes and lives.”
As part of their final farewell to the Ennis community, they have invited the community and their loyal customers to join their farewell closing-down sale.
They said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to find fantastic deals on our remaining stock, so don’t miss out!”
The sale kicks off on Tuesday, July 8, from 11am to 7pm and will last until 7pm on Friday, July 11.
People are encouraged to bring their vans, cars, and trailers for collections to make their purchases easier on the day.
Customers are also asked to bring their outstanding gift vouchers to the store.
And for those who have ordered furniture before the closure announcement are assured that their orders “will be fulfilled”.
They added: “We’d love for you to stop by, reminisce, and share in this bittersweet moment as we wrap up our journey together.
“Please be patient with our outstanding team as it will be busy.
“We will miss you all dearly and cherish the memories we have created together.”
‘SUCH A SAD LOSS’
Many loyal customers rushed to the comments to share their heartbreak over the popular store closure.
One customer wrote: “Wishing you all good health and happiness on the next chapter. So sorry to hear another great shop is closing.”
Another added: “So sorry to hear this. We were lucky to have such a quality furniture store on our doorstep.
“Wishing you all the very best, will pop in to the iconic store for a last shop before you close. Such a sad loss for Ennis.”
The third person said: “Such a shame, a good quality furniture store gone.”
Another customer wrote: “Sorry to see another great business go in ennis. Ye will.be greatly missed..here’s to the future and good health.
“Michelle have a ball in enjoying retirement. Well deserved.”
