Okay, at 4.45pm on the first Monday back to work after Christmas, you’ve pretty much made it through one of the worst days in the work calendar year for many people – congratulations!
To keep the momentum going, we’ve got a few more reasons for you to be cheerful.
1. Creme eggs are back!
For a limited time only, of course...
2. First Fortnight two-week festival
It’s rather ambitious to kick off a festival in the first two weeks of January but First Fortnight has been running at this time since 2009 – and to great success. Billed as Ireland's only mental health arts festival, its aim is to challenge mental health stigma and there are numerous events such as therapy sessions, gigs, movie screenings, plays and much more as part of the festival. For more, go to: firstfortnight.ie
3. There's still more ‘Charlie’ to go ‘round...
While the three-part series is proving to have almost the Marmite effect about its subject, it’s still a worthwhile snapshot of Irish political life at the height of former Toaiseach Charlie Haughey’s power.
Two more episodes are left to air this coming Sunday and next, RTE 1 9.30pm
4. The new Star Wars film is out this year
Fans have been waiting for years for a new Star Wars movie and in December their patience will finally be rewarded with the release of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Old favourites including Harrison Ford will return to join a new crop of stars such as Oscar Isaac in JJ Abrams’ continuation of George Lucas’s space epic.
5. And so is Fifty Shades of Grey
Calm yourselves, ladies... the eagerly-anticipated big screen adaptation of E.L. James’s kinky novels is released just in time for Valentine’s Day next month. Jamie Dornan stars as bondage-loving billionaire Christian Grey alongside newcomer Dakota Johnson as submissive Anastasia Steele.
General release on February 14th (naturally)
6. It’s Rugby World Cup year
The current Ireland squad has the quality to contest a semi-final, at least. There should be no tiptoeing around that point; with Joe Schmidt at the helm and world-class players such as Johnny Sexton, Paul O’Connell and Rob Kearney involved, this should be as strong an Ireland set-up as we’ve ever had. And it's only a hop, skip and a jump away over in England. Bonus.
But if that’s too far off for you, just remember...
The first 5 days after the weekend are always the hardest #backtowork
— MATRIX (@matrixfamily) January 5, 2015
We asked the good people of Ireland, what's the first word that comes to mind when we say 'first Monday back after Christmas'...
