Salutations one and all, and allow me first to say welcome to the year 2026.
As you may have gleaned, this post comes to you on 02/01/2026 — because I have already managed to mess up my plan of action for the year. Nevertheless, I shall power through and talk about how 2025 ended, and my hopes for the year ahead.
When I set up this website, I had made one of the biggest — and scariest — decisions of my life: quit my job, go travelling, attend a fitness camp, and grow as a person.
Thankfully, that time became the greatest period of my life, and one I will never regret. However… it was also short.
To anyone I meet, I tell them they need to do something like that at some point in their life. However, as I sit here and contemplate my own journey, I sometimes wonder — is it fair to say that when I cut mine short because a work opportunity I couldn’t pass up landed in my lap?
The answer to that question, for me at least, is no.
And that’s exactly why I appreciate those moments so deeply.
That journey awakened new feelings and new aspects of myself. It created a hunger to continue growing, continue improving, and continue being healthy — in both body and mind.
Although there were setbacks to those goals in 2025, I want to continue them and expand my horizons in 2026. That includes exploring more of myself, my beliefs, my surroundings, my country — and, if time permits, the world.
One thing I know for certain is that I plan to attend the WWE event in Turin, Italy — my first time ever visiting Italy. I want to come back here and tell you about the experience, good or bad, and reflect on the impact it had on me.
In 2025, I attended Clash in Paris — and while I was there, I focused too much on maximising the time rather than enjoying it. Maybe someday I’ll write about the journey itself: walking the streets of Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and everything in between. But that’s for future Craic.
For now, I want to say this:
To anyone who read any of the 12 posts from 2025, I truly appreciate you. Writing them made me feel more — more creative, more inspired — and I hope to continue that throughout 2026, even if it’s just a single paragraph or a quote that felt right on a given day.
I plan to continue with the support of the great Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the awesome facilities of ROM (Range Of Motion Sligo) (Instagram link) and hopefully share the positive steps along the way.
Ah — There’s my quote for the day.
You Had A Good Year – Craic Attack
Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!
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For those of you who don’t know, I’m a gamer. It’s one of my deepest passions—right up there with anime and wrestling (specifically WWE, yes I’m a mark!). These things didn’t just entertain me; they shaped who I am. Maybe it’s unfair to put that weight on them, but it’s the truth. It’s funny how the things we love, even when they’re objectively mediocre, can become so integral to how we think.
Take Crash Bandicoot: Twinsanity, one of my all-time favourite games. I might even review it someday. But there’s one line from the game that stuck with me for no real reason: “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.” It’s an old idiom, meaning people abandon a failing situation—whether it’s a business, a project, or something more personal—before it completely collapses.
So why am I starting this post with that line? Because since I returned home, I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve caught myself wondering if all the effort I’m putting into maintaining my progress—the training, the discipline, the momentum—is a waste of time. That maybe I should just let the rats leave.
But why? Why was a month back in Ireland enough for doubt and negativity to creep in? Why does fitness feel different when I’m traveling versus when I’m just… living?
Ironically, the answer might lie in structure. While I was away, I had freedom. I wasn’t working. No one relied on me. I wasn’t important. Now, you could argue two of those three things still apply (fair point), but the weight of responsibility hits differently when you’re home. And like many adults, I’ve found it all too easy to be smothered under that weight.
What’s funny, though, is that responsibility wasn’t totally absent in Thailand either. I often felt like I could have—and should have—done more classes, pushed harder. I wasn’t totally comfortable there either. In a weird way, discomfort followed me both places, just in different forms. And honestly, I wonder: if I had stayed even one more week after the camp, would these feelings have caught up to me there too?
Here in Ireland, thanks to the support of the great Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the awesome facilities of ROM (Range Of Motion Sligo) (Instagram link), I’ve got a new program, a plan, and structure again. Gavin’s kept me on track, helped me keep building on what I gained at camp, and reminded me that the journey doesn’t end just because the setting changes. ROM, for its part, has become one of the few safe havens I have when it feels like the boat is sinking faster.
I’ve been training regularly—at a pace that’s sustainable—and managing my food. Gavin’s helped me pinpoint what’s working, what could be improved, and how to keep making progress. And I’m proud to say that I haven’t just maintained what I achieved in Thailand—I’ve made small improvements since returning.
But that’s the thing—they’ve only been small.
In Thailand, I went from 17st 12lb to 17st 2lb. Here in Ireland, I’ve dropped just 5lb in the same timeframe—down to 16st 11lb. Stats. Relentless little buggers, aren’t they?. Gotta love them.
A long way to go but the little things stack up too.
In Thailand, if you walked into a 7-Eleven, the sweets were tucked away at the back. You had to choose to go there. Still annoying (they were near the protein shakes), but less in-your-face.
In Ireland? You’re greeted by temptation at the door. Sweets. Newspapers screaming doom. Prices that make your stomach turn. And staff who—through no real fault of their own—often seem just as beaten down as the customers.
I always try to be kind to anyone working in service—I know what they deal with. But in Thailand, even when people didn’t understand what I was saying, they smiled, laughed, engaged. Here? Flip a coin. Maybe they ignore you. Maybe they pretend not to hear you (that’s the worst one). Or maybe they try until another customer or manager kills the vibe.
Anyway—rant over. 😅
Another difference I’ve noticed—and this one stings a bit—is how cliquey things feel here compared to Thailand.
Back at camp, everyone was on the same journey. Different backgrounds. Different goals. But the energy was shared. You could chat with anyone, partner up with anyone, and no one looked at you sideways for trying. It felt like a team effort, even if we were all on our own paths.
Back in Ireland, I can’t help but feel like the walls are back up. Whether it’s at the gym, in a class, or just walking around town, there’s this sense of social territory. Like if you weren’t already part of a group, you’re probably not getting in now.
ROM has introduced something that could help with that—a communal coffee zone and a sauna (coming soon). It’s a beautiful idea, and I really hope it breaks down some of those invisible walls. For me I look forward to giving it a go, so if you ever spot me there pull me aside and say hello
Maybe it’s just me. But it does make you long for a change of setting—somewhere like the pub, where people are more open, more free. But of course, with alcohol comes chaos: louder crowds, more aggression, more questionable decisions. I haven’t had a pint since I got back, but resisting the temptation hasn’t exactly been easy.
So yeah—these pressures have made me question things. The worth of the work. The why behind the grind.
So why am I really feeling this way?
I’m not entirely sure yet. But I do know I plan to figure it out.
Once I settle into the new job and adjust to being truly back in Ireland, I want to keep expanding my horizons. Visit more of Ireland. See more of Europe. Take on new challenges. Try the things I’ve always said I would but never followed through on.
Maybe I’ll finally do the skydiving I promised myself 15 years ago—despite the fear of heights.
All I know is this: Looking back at the difference in atmosphere, camaraderie, and joy between this past month in Ireland and the one I spent in Thailand… it’s clear something changed in me.
That’s why I genuinely believe every young person should have a travel fund waiting for them on their 19th birthday.
One month away changed me. Maybe it could change them too.
I’ll leave you with the final image of the main meal I have been forcing onto myself almost everyday. Yes not having change in meals is boring but what can I say I am a creature of habit but it fuels the mission. (Still waiting on Gordon Ramsay’s review).
Two breasts of chicken with salt and pepper in a shallow fry with rapeseed oil and Balsamic Rice with salt, pepper, ground turmeric, smoked paprika and plenty of stirring
Oh and since no one have yet to complain the new closing line from my twitch streams (link here and below shameless plug) will stick around for now…
Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!
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It’s quite fascinating how much things can change in as little as 4 weeks. As you may or may not have noticed, I haven’t posted anything since I joined the fitness camp of Titan Fitness Phuket. There are a few reasons for that, but the main one was that I simply didn’t have the time to focus on it, and I wanted to put as much of myself as possible into enjoying the experience without having to feel like I needed to do something, take photos of something, or just fake the enjoyment of what I was at.
Thankfully, this never became an issue because the second of many home truths that came out of me doing this experience is the fact that I was insanely underprepared, a notion I will get to in the near future. However, what does that mean for these blogs? Well, now that they are done, I will reflect back on the weeks I had and discuss week by week my feelings, and by the end, hopefully you will feel how I felt and know if it’s something you’d ever consider.
Now, what was the first home truth? Be more cognizant of what exactly I am paying for. After finishing the last blog on the night of Friday the 24th, I went straight to bed, excited to start strong in classes the next day. Thusly, I arrived at the Titan camp at precisely 8am on Saturday the 25th. Why does this matter? Well, on a Saturday in Titan, there are a whopping 2 classes: Saturday morning Beach Training [7am] and a Body 360 class [10:15am]. Both are extremely fun classes worth their weight to go to; however, due to my arrival, one of those classes was null and void, and I had administrative necessities to get done, so it just so happened I missed the 360 too.
As a result, I effectively made my start date of Saturday the 25th of January a rest day for the week of exploring Old Phuket I had done. Graciously, I still had access to the open gym and food aspect of the package, so I immediately availed myself of those particular options. This is also where one of my many failings rose its ugly head again, unfortunately.
During my time within Titan, I attempted four breakfasts, one of which I do not have an image for. The first was a spinach and vegetable omelette, a delight that took me 40 minutes to eat—it disagreed with me that badly, taste profile-wise.
The second, an oatmeal and yogurt bowl mixed with some almond nuts, was a surprisingly nice breakfast; however, it took me a stupidly long time to eat the full thing, and towards the end, I wanted to end it all.
So, third, I tried the scrambled eggs. In theory, this was meant to come with an attachment of vegetables to accompany it—quinoa and avocado, just to name a few. Well, why is that an issue? Well, if you haven’t noticed it, my big fat red flag with food is vegetables. I absolutely loathe them, despise them, hate their very existence, and much to my chagrin, this experience didn’t help with it, so there’s a goal for me in the future. Alas, it led to me exclusively sticking to scrambled eggs and brown rice every single day.
In order to ensure that consistency was achieved above all else, the same principle was maintained for my lunch and dinners, only being one option: chicken with brown rice or, eventually, sweet potato for every Titan meal I had, alongside the two fresh protein shakes which comprised of water, a whole banana, and vanilla protein powder. Honestly, I did not care about the lack of change—I am a creature of habit and happily kept to the same; however, it did light a fuse in me to experience more types of food, even if I loathe it, and see what I have been potentially missing. Which will be good for when I do food reviews in the future—subtle plug, sure, why not?
Anyways, back to my initial point, I should have known the schedule and not put myself in a position where I basically missed an entire day’s worth of classes. In the future, and if you’re considering it, start on the Monday and arrive as early as possible in gym clothes because, especially if you have the Titan Fitness accommodation of the Little Hills resort, they will get that ready whilst you go to your class, and happy out—bob’s your uncle.
In my case, as I was getting my body composite done between breakfast and lunch. Below is an image of said body composition, and it was via these that I learned another hard truth: I am far more feebly minded than I figured. This is something I will write about in one of the future posts; HOWEVER, purely on a mathematical level, my composite before I joined was the most equal and standard my body was through the whole process. In fact, my InBody score was the best of the whole process in this picture. That would later screw with my mindset something fierce, but even looking at the numbers on this first day gave me a beating to my pride I didn’t expect.
However, it also led to figuring out the best thing about the Titan Fitness Camp and the Fitness Street and Thailand in general: everyone is so friendly, so approachable, and so aware that they are willing and wanting to converse. For reasons that I’m not sure they want to be named, after receiving this sheet, I met with a man called T. He told me to lighten up and look at the brighter side of things. It was the beginning, so I could only improve from there. We then conversed for a nice period of time, and I was invited to my first event of the street, a fight night in the nearby Tiger Muay Thai centre.
This had me genuinely excited. I had gotten my room—luckily one became available early, and I was able to go in, get ready, and make my way to meet a collective going to the event. Then I hit my first proper wall, the first thing that actually made me consider whether or not the entirety of the trip to Thailand was worth it. The omelette and chicken I had devoured earlier twisted my stomach into knots, and I was not in a condition to be 100 percent myself. Thankfully, someone who had been there before recommended a supplement known as a charcoal tablet that would resolve it mighty quick—just not quick enough for that night’s festivities.
This led to another hard truth, one that has been made painfully apparent throughout all of these posts: I am ridiculously cheap. Throughout the night, I had drunk six two-litre bottles of water at 80 Thai Baht a piece, which was 4x that of the 7-11 not more than 4 minutes up the road, but in this case, I acquiesced and paid like a good boy. Other than that, it was a really good night. It had competent production, good matches—if not a few cases of bad matchups—and even a free BBQ for the customers, which I cannot comment on as I was barely holding it together by then. Below are a few images and a couple of videos.
After the night was done, we all were ready to say goodbye before it was recommended that with our day off, which is a Sunday, maybe we could go into Old Phuket Town and go to the weekend night market. Honestly, it was one of the few elements of the Old Town I had yet to see as it was a weekend-only thing, meaning my escapades never got a chance to see it. So, we agreed we would go and see it as a group. Indeed, we might even add a few more people to the group if they’ll accept it.
Sunday was the actual day off that Titan affords all of its clients. For me, this meant getting in my 10k steps in some manner, but for this day, it was to relax at the Little Hill pool—a nice surprise as I never bothered to check and see if it had one. Sundays being the only day where Titan gave me no food meant I went up the road to a spot called Trooper Eats. If you’re ever on the Fitness Street, it gets my highest recommendation, which means nothing yet as I still need to come up with my grading mechanism—foreshadowing to the distant future of posts.
Anyways, I had improved so much from there, and we met up with everyone. We walked around it 2 or 3 times, encompassing easily 1 and a half hours of time. It was the first slight slip I had. I ordered and devoured a BBQ honey-roasted rib, and damn, did it make me nostalgic for the old times I had ribs at home. Alas, we walked around that street picking up bowls of fresh mango, a fish of some description, and a special tea. Honestly, I stopped listening after the others were convinced because I knew I was too ready to crack.
I then went home and got ready to prepare for the plethora of things that would come to me on the next day, Monday the 27th of January, my actual first proper day with Titan. However, hilariously, that will be a story for the next post coming in the next few days, as I think this post has gone on long enough. Thanks for reading and please leave a comment if you feel so inclined.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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Craic Attack Central 