I went to Cuan Mhuire a few years ago. I am fairly blunt in my ways sometimes.
We were all chatting about unusual fire lighters - CM doesn't supply them, we had to get people to bring them in to us. They spoke of sugar, old toilet roll tubes, etc.
One woman said she used to burn old runners/ shoes, that it was great for getting the fire going.
I said that's terrible for the house, all the fumes/ toxins released from burning it. Not to mention the environment.
She accused me of having 'no idea what it is like to have cold children who need warmth' I didn't have DC at the time.
I asked her was she drinking/ smoking at the time. She was, but I was still the cow for pointing out that maybe she could have bought firelighters and one less drink. She was looking for sympathy for being so poor she needed to burn runners, but wasn't getting it from me.
I'm not the cow am I? I am sober years now but only getting therapy for my complete lack of self esteem so things like this sometimes circle my head.