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Dr Catherine Conlon Tips on ways to stay healthy this Christmas

The public health doctor has some tips for keeping yourself and loved ones safe this season.

FOR MANY, CHRISTMAS with all its twinkly lights, family gatherings, soft lighting, old movies, presents and (lots and lots of) socialising is the best time of the year.

For others, not so much. Many find the season challenging and the pace exhausting. From financial pressures and dealing with bereavement following the loss of a loved one to spending time in intense family situations, there are lots of reasons why Christmas can be challenging and impact health and wellbeing.

Here are a few tips on how to get through the season intact.

Friendship and loneliness

Our friends and relationships literally keep us alive. Albert Einstein knew this when he said, ‘However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.’

Rose Anne Kenny writes in Age Proof (2022) that she was staggered by the evidence of how powerful the physical effects of friendship are and how much difference good friendships make – not only to pleasure and quality of life but to hard outcomes like heart disease and even determining when we die.

‘Good friendships add years to our lives.’ Prof Kenny explains that the strength of social contacts has an impact on stress and stress-related hormones, heart disease and inflammation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed that social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue across all age groups and a root cause of many of the modern epidemics of alcoholism, drug addiction, obesity, violence, depression and anxiety.

‘We have evolved to participate in community, to forge lasting bonds with others, to help one and to share life experiences. We are better together.’

The festive season can add to that loneliness. Showing compassion and demonstrating kindness to more vulnerable members of the community, such as friends and neighbours who live alone, can have huge health and well-being benefits for everyone.

Laughter

We are wired to be happy and share happy experiences through laughter. As well as making us feel better, laughter contributes to better health through exercising muscles, improving breathing, digestion and blood circulation.

Children can laugh up to 400 times a day, adults tend to laugh much less – about 15 times a day. But laughter is contagious and we are more likely to ‘catch’ it from someone we know well.

At a chemical level, laughter lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline and increases endorphins – the feel-good chemicals. Because it alters dopamine and serotonin, laughter therapy works for patients with depression. Endorphins also play a role in the immune response and in ‘killer’ T cells that help to fight infections.

So, as well as ensuring you and your family are up to date with vaccines against flu and Covid-19 this winter – having regular doses of laughter medicine is a real health booster.

Sleep

On average, we spend over a quarter of a century (26 and a half years) asleep, or at least in bed. Research from the University of Berkeley has shown that while a good night’s sleep stabilises emotions, a sleepless night triggers anxiety to rise by almost a third (30%).

Sleep is also critical to the replenishment of collagen – that scaffolding for skin, bones, tendons and cartilage.

That is why we look so ghastly with black circles around the eyes after a poor night’s sleep. Looking ‘as fresh as a daisy’ depends on that essential collagen replenishment through the night as we slumber.

Food

What we eat is key to getting a good sleep. The evidence confirms what we already know. Foods like aged cheese, cured meats including sausage, pastrami and ham contain lots of tyramine, an amino acid that triggers brain alertness. Some Italian wines and beers also have a high load of tyramine that make us more alert. Chocolate and caffeine are also stimulants.

High carbohydrate foods and acidic or spicy foods can all disturb sleep and Christmas is the time of year when all these foods are eaten in abundance.

Night caps can also disturb sleep – it may send us to sleep more quickly, but the length of the normal sleep cycles can be disrupted and as the alcohol is metabolised it can make us more wakeful.

Safefood has a host of resources to guide you through eating and feasting at Christmas – including how to thoroughly cook the turkey, storing, reheating or freezing leftovers, vegetarian cooking and inspirational Christmas recipes.

Less is more

As climate scientists and environmentalists warn of the burgeoning threat of climate breakdown and ecological collapse — finally, there is evidence of a social shift away from endless consumerism, particularly when it comes to fashion.

With the looming threat of climate disaster aligned with a cost of living crisis, many people are rethinking their habits, pledging to consume less and reuse more as well as ditching the habit of throwaway clothes.

In 2022, the Irish Charity Retail Report outlined that 7.3 million garments were sold across charity shops, bringing in €43 million in revenue and preventing the incineration of 17,300 items. Despite this, a tenth of global carbon emissions continue to be produced by the fashion industry and a staggering three out of every five garments produced will end up in landfill. This is why it is one of the most polluting industries in the world along with agriculture, transport and energy.

A huge part of fashion is the power of online influencers. A recent report from Behaviour and Attitudes found that almost one in two Gen Z consumers are buying products endorsed by influencers. But influencers can have a massive positive impact as well, as demonstrated by Irish YouTuber Keelin Moncrieff with 82,000 followers who has convinced many of her followers to forsake fast fashion because of its planetary impacts.

Those glittery throwaway dresses that are worn on a Christmas night out and dumped are now gaining a reputation for being ‘cheap and nasty’ and ‘terrible for the environment,’ compared to pre-owned clothes that are both cheaper and more sustainable.

At a time of increasing global instability with climate and nature collapse, homelessness and war, playing the consumerism game at Christmas of more and more spending for that picture-perfect home, laden dinner table and extravagant gifts, is finally showing itself up for what it is – a mirage created by a profit-driven, market-driven world, that insists on insatiable spending at any cost.

Well, guess what, we’re not buying it any more. We no longer need to cover every surface with plastic tat to make it special. Keeping it simple can take the pressure off the Christmas build-up without sacrificing the seasonal cheer. Christmas is about fun, laughter, traditions, good food, sharing time with family and friends and lots of lie-ins. Enjoy every moment. Embrace the break. 

Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork and former director of human health and nutrition, safefood.

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    Mute Noel_Random
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:10 AM

    The clue is in the job spec. Temporary.

    644
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    Mute Patabake Kennedy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:40 AM

    @Noel_Random: Seems to me that the card is also temporary. What use is it anyway.

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    Mute Greedylocks
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:57 AM

    @Noel_Random: 1984

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 4:09 AM

    @Greedylocks: yeah but no.

    15
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    Mute DJ François
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:42 AM

    @Global-Dominance: You need to quit drinking the alt right kool aid. No such thing will happen.

    37
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Patabake Kennedy: its all in the big plan where everything about a person will have it contained in the Card. Big brother stuff.

    30
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    Mute Donal Hunt
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Noel_Random: having managed projects in the past that made use of staff on short-term contracts (anything from a few days to a few weeks), the guidance I’ve received in the past is very clear. There should be a clear delineation of work and contracts should not be continuously extended (most companies aim to complete the relevant scope within 11 months while there is scope to extend it).

    Once you have staff on your books for more than 2 years, it’s hard to claim the work is temporary or exceptional. Any competent project manager would take this into account and design the project in such a way that they comply with the legislation in this area.

    Worth noting that the same people may have been working on different contracts over a longer period of time (i.e. there is room for contractors / temp staff to be placed with the same organisation over and over). However, there must be clear definition of responsibilities and most organisations ensure there are periods between contracts to avoid any misunderstanding regarding employment status.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:14 AM

    @DJ François: Ireland will become a safe multicultural dumping ground for the EU with its sea boarder it’s ideal for them containing any agro that will arise when they the streets are not made of gold

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:35 AM

    @Ian Breathnach: MillennialSpeak.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:20 PM

    @Patabake Kennedy: very useful I’d say.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:38 PM

    @DJ François: Alt right kool aid ? Lol, just apply for the green card and go.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:17 AM

    I don’t see the problem here. Surely you read your contract before signing it. At least I always do anyway. Also, they are being given loads of time to sort themselves out. Usually lay offs you are told that day or at best that week.

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    Mute john s
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:38 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: once u have unions involved they threaten strikes and bully employers . Lucas drivers signed up to contracts yet strikes for more even though they signed very good contracts. Kill the golden goose that’s what unions do

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    Mute JesusMoreBullshit
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: Temporary 6yrs is an awful long time

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    Mute Bhiniáimin Ó Beith
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:29 AM

    If they’re trained civil servants surely some of them can be transferred to other departments or even local authorities why waste the experience that they have?

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    Mute Alan Walter Gallagher
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:29 AM

    @Bhiniáimin Ó Beith: “trained civil servants” …anyone can push empty envelopes around and pretend to be busy!

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    Mute Declan Curley
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:57 AM

    @Alan Walter Gallagher: yawn

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    Mute David Glynn
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:33 AM

    Missing the point.This is about people. They have done a good job or would have been let go. Government should lead by example.
    As similar vacancies at the grade arise they should be offered to them.
    Temporary clerical staff tend to be people in their late thirties upwards who want security to raise ther families. And what’s wrong with that unless you want everyone to be on zero hours contracts in dead end jobs.
    Full marks to the unions.

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    Mute Cheapy Ryan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:26 AM

    @David Glynn: You’re havin a laugh.
    Since when has anyone in the public service ever been fired for being useless at their job?
    This is more of the same from the same unions that insisted on not a single redundancy when the HSE was being set up.
    Double-jobbing is meat and drink to them, means more subs for their slush funds, and ridiculous salaries.

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    Mute Irene Donegan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:50 PM

    @David Glynn: Given the delay in processing various claims such as Carers and Disability Allowances, there’s obviously a need for more staff in the DEASP.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:38 AM

    Well now that the writing is on the wall for these staff,they should look out for a new job and quit before they are handed their P45 and drop the government and their PSC contract ,the movable feast is a staff option also.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:52 AM

    @Honeybee: no need to rush out and quit. Given the States inability to manage projects (PPARS, Tribunals, NCH etc), this job could run & run…

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:38 AM

    @Honeybee: Now the condescending c u next tuesdays will see life from the other side of the bulletproof glass.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:11 AM

    These cards were useless anyway. Another e vote machine. Says it all about the incompetence of this government. Millions wasted.. and again workers pay the price.

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    Mute Tony Harris
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:28 AM

    @Donal Desmond: Useless??? What about the money saved through the detection of fraudulent social welfare payments for 1. No more cases of people claiming payments multiple times in different counties. Should be compulsory.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:48 AM

    @Tony Harris: how does the PSC prevent people claiming payments in multiple countries? Hmmmm you’re a bit fcked up. PSC card is a good idea but not as a national ID card by default.

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    Mute Cian
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:33 AM

    @Ian Breathnach: He said counties.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:28 PM

    @Tony Harris: Pity your comment does not include the bankers and developers let’s not forget Nama, The money recovered from social welfare fraud was miniscule compared to the Billions lost through the gangsterism of the above mentioned. The people convicted of social welfare fraud had not the resources of the state to shread evidence , or give inadmissible evidence in criminal cases concerning bankers. Of course the card was not designed for these gangsters.

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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:12 AM

    It would be cheaper in the long run to to terminate the contracts and pay compensation.

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    Mute Anti Toxic Quango
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    Dec 9th 2018, 7:51 AM

    Anther FG catastrophic waste of taxpayers money adding to the I/W Ltd and Leo’s €1.7 million spin unit….

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 9th 2018, 1:51 AM

    So bottom line is, it was all just another disgusting waist of taxpayers money, again!!

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    Mute Raymond McGee
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:12 AM

    @Colette Kearns: waist?? As in tummy?

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:28 AM

    @Colette Kearns: I beg to differ, the cards can be very useful, only recently I went out to find ice on my windscreen, the card scraped it off in a jiffy. A marvel of technology in public administration.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:35 AM

    @Raymond McGee: yes as in “ you in dummy “ thanks for your observation though!

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:45 AM

    @Colette Kearns: I’d say you thumbed up your own comment.

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    Mute Thomas Murphy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:02 AM

    They should also include finger print recognition or retina. Its the only way to limit payments to one per person. It would only be needed for a 2 month period every year to cut people claiming more than their fair share out.
    Any oposition to this would only be from multiple claimants

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:05 AM

    If their contracts were allowed to roll over for 4 years without a break technically they become permanent employees with contracts of indefinite duration. However if the continuity of the employment is broken if only for a day they loose that right. I think those managing the contracts have dropped the ball and the employees will get a full time job by default. Happens all the time in the public service

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    Mute Dam IenCahill
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    Dec 9th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Paul Murphy: not really.. are you saying that the legislation is designed to force headcount increases. Read it again. Justification is a hint

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 9th 2018, 12:19 PM

    It’s like saying that a builder must retain the blocklayers after the houses are built.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Dec 9th 2018, 5:43 AM

    The key to the successful outcomes was the element of CID. In the teaching profession when a teacher reached a certain time on continuing unbroken temporary employment they automatically became fully employed even though the original employment had been temporary continuously. This entitled them to panel rights of redeployment and so on if the post was lost due to falling pupil numbers.
    If the CID was successful in one of these card cases then has a precedent been set?

    18
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    Mute Donal Hunt
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:16 AM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: It would depend on the contracts and communication with the worker. Every case is different and its quite possible the work the successful complainant was different to these recent five.

    Projects typically have a number of roles and if you end up doing something similar to full-time staff but on different terms, the WRC will likely rule in your favour of you are being denied your rights.

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    Mute ChuckE
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:01 AM

    Unions again. Temp job claiming they might have other work to do if they are kept on. A scam if nothing else and unions again pursuing the jobs for life mentality. It is the main cause of some bloated public service sectors

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    Mute is our stadium ready?
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:32 AM

    No.

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    Mute Thomas Molloy
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    Dec 9th 2018, 10:07 AM

    We live in two parallel worlds, that of the honest and that of the dishonest yet we can only have one set of rules.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Dec 9th 2018, 3:41 AM

    “I’m entitled to a life long job” oh fck off.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 9th 2018, 11:31 PM

    So who got most of that 60 million or can that money not be traced anymore?

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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Dec 9th 2018, 9:06 PM

    They should contact Mary Mitchell O’Connor, she thinks contracts mean nothing. If you want to stay on you should.

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