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Aida Austin

She is wearing her usual air of ‘colourful past’ and bright red lipstick

She is wearing her usual air of ‘colourful past’ and bright red lipstick

Monday, midday. I am walking to work with my head lowered, just to be on the safe side.

Sat, 30 Apr, 2016

I’d respond to my husband but that would mean lifting my head into a typhoon

I’d respond to my husband but that would mean lifting my head into a typhoon

IT’S 4.30pm in Cork and my husband and I are setting off towards the airport on foot, at a fast trot.

Sat, 23 Apr, 2016

"That Girlfriend has put an end to all that ghastly online dating your poor sister had to do", says my mother.

"That Girlfriend has put an end to all that ghastly online dating your poor sister had to do", says my mother.

Home, 11.30am. Tomorrow, my sister flies in from London to celebrate my birthday with me, accompanied by her new girlfriend whom I’ll be meeting for the first time.

Sat, 16 Apr, 2016

We gaze at the two chickens my sister has discarded outside. On top of each chicken is a white cat. The cats stare back at us, with chicken-blood grimaces.

We gaze at the two chickens my sister has discarded outside. On top of each chicken is a white cat. The cats stare back at us, with chicken-blood grimaces.

7pm, Sligo, my eldest brother’s house. My husband and I have just arrived for a family visit.

Sat, 09 Apr, 2016

I am never, ever going to forgive you for this,” I cry, “you said you’d never do this again after what happened on the ski-lift...

I am never, ever going to forgive you for this,” I cry, “you said you’d never do this again after what happened on the ski-lift...

11.30 pm, the night before St Patrick’s Day — and my husband and I are in bed, making plans for tomorrow.

Sat, 02 Apr, 2016

'I didn’t say shy. I said introvert: someone who is energised by being alone'

'I didn’t say shy. I said introvert: someone who is energised by being alone'

Saturday, 6.45pm. Home.

Sat, 26 Mar, 2016

Aida: Five minutes from the pub – there’ll be no stopping you

Aida: Five minutes from the pub – there’ll be no stopping you

WOOHOOO! Mid-December 2015 and it’s a toss-up, now that we’ve sold our old farmhouse, between living onsite in our one-bedroom wood cabin while we build, or renting a house in town.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

"Because less is more, since the house move, my husband has been embracing asceticism. He wants me to embrace it too"

"Because less is more, since the house move, my husband has been embracing asceticism. He wants me to embrace it too"

Saturday, 10am, my husband and I are in the cabin. We are “sorting your books out, once and for all”.

Sat, 12 Mar, 2016

Thank god for Rosie, at 16 she still goes by the affectionate family nickname of Rosie the Nun

Thank god for Rosie, at 16 she still goes by the affectionate family nickname of Rosie the Nun

9am and my youngest sister, who is due to collect my mother from Cork airport at three this afternoon, should be well past her point of departure from Sligo by now.

Sat, 05 Mar, 2016

Mum says, ‘god help me in the Wild West’. Ireland’s reputation is on the line. Things have to go smoothly...

Mum says, ‘god help me in the Wild West’. Ireland’s reputation is on the line. Things have to go smoothly...

Sunday, 8.45am. My mother, two daughters, sister, her four offspring and big, bounding dog that runs off all the time are coming to visit.

Sat, 27 Feb, 2016