Some of the Joys of Professional Journalism....

.... include getting paid twice for the same article.

Alison O'Riordan of the Irish Independent expects her readers not to notice, perhaps?

This article appeared in June 2009 and this one in March 2010. Both are personal pieces on her ill-fated apartment purchase, just before the Irish property crash in 2008. But what strikes the reader is the cut'n'paste quality of the writing:

IT was supposed to be the most exciting time of my life -- instead I've endured sleepless nights and bouts of anxiety and regret since that fateful day when I signed away my life without really knowing what I was getting into.

The sleepless nights and bouts of anxiety will continue but hindsight is a very exact science and I can do nothing about that fateful day when I signed away my life and effectively put myself into my own financial prison.

I now see my apartment devalue massively on a daily basis. Hooke & MacDonald have said 40 per cent is the typical price drop for new houses and apartments in Dublin

I now see my apartment devalue massively on a daily basis.

Hooke and McDonald have said the typical price drop for apartments in city-centre locations is 40 per cent.

Trapped in a negative equity nightmare after dreams of city apartment living turned sour

trapped in negative equity with my dreams of city-apartment living turned sour.

And so on.

I have slightly less sympathy now :)