Spotlight ✨ Sunday ✨ // Talking River Island, Roller Derby and Rave Jumpers With Ellen Gough

The first time I saw Ellen she was wearing a bowler hat with this cute pixie cut. I remember turning to her in class and, rather excitedly, commenting "OMG you look like Alice Cullen!". (this was at the height of my Twilight days). She gave me a weird look but we hit it off and we've been friends since. Today, although her hair is now cut into a messy bob, she is wearing a bowler hat (she can't remember if it's the same one because she has so many).

Everything about Ellen screams art student from her almost-oval glasses, her floral turtleneck which provides modesty to the deep neck sweater she wears over it and variety of simple but elegant jewellery pieces. But Ellen actually studied Journalism with me, back in my LCFE days. She now works in River Island as Operations Supervisor in River Island after a stroke of luck with speaking to a manager about a Staff Wanted sign led her securing a job as Fitting Room Assistant. That was two years ago. She says the progression in promotions for her was down to spotting opportunities and seizing them, rather than waiting around for someone to offer a promotion. That's the Ellen I know; a girl confident in her abilities and plenty of work ethic (she was working three other jobs when she took on River Island).



Because we meet so rarely we have to take a few minutes when we meet up first to actually catch ourselves up on one another and then of course we reminisce about our year in college together. We get talking about her original blog and she mentions that I was in her first blog post (fortunately for me - and the entire world - she can't find the photos). I remember the day so vividly (and this one rave jumper I am so disappointed years later that I never bought) and all the fun we had she reminds me that that's what a blog should be about; having fun. She also gave me advice, something her granddad said to her when she way young; "have decorum, in everything you do". As she has ran her own blog, I asked her for any more advice for bloggers or those thinking of starting blogging and she suggested this:

1.) Have fun.
2.) Think before you post
3.) Never post bad emotional stuff without really thinking it through
4.) Just go for it - you can always delete your blog if you get bored of it


Ellen also participates in Limerick's Roller Derby and says that everyone should give it a go, whether you can skate or not. If you're looking to get fit for the new year but hate the thought of the gym or if you want to take up a new hobby or you want to make new friends, then Roller Derby is for you. What is Roller Derby? The best way to explain it is to click here (also, the movie this clip is from, Whip It, is definitely something to watch if you've never seen it before).

Recruiting starts Feb 1st at Delta SportsDome

Limerick Roller Derby is recruiting for new members on the 1st and 8th of February out in the Delta SportsDome on the Ballysimon road. Ellen ensures that you don't even need to have skates, just "bring a mouth guard and be over 18"

Ellen has said Roller Derby is a fantastic way to meet new and interesting people
Photo Credit: Olivier Vax Photographies

If you're curious to know more about Ellen she blogs to at ellegough.com and she has an Instagram too @ellegough.

And that's it for another week guys; I hope you're all out there kicking ass and taking names. 

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Until next time...

Aimee♥