WW7 2023

WOMANSWAY.IE 51 Picture This Do you have photos you’d like to share? Send them to [email protected] GET IN TOUCH Find out what Woman’s Way readers have been up to recently… Spring buds peeping their heads and Daisy my cat having a smell. From: Helen Farrell Our dog Buffy brings so much happiness to our lives. From: Veronica Hehir, Co Offaly My rescue cat Tittin. From: Laura McPhillips, Co Monaghan How cute is this? Swanning around the canal. From: Eileen Walsh, Dublin A heron on the Royal Canal near Ashtown. From: Anne Farrell, Co Dublin 51 WW7 Picture this KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 18/03/2023 15:39

PUZZLES 52 WOMANSWAY.IE OVATE A Hemispherical arch B Pertaining to the female reproductive organs C Egg-shaped SLAKE A Satiate B Exacerbate C Regenerate COPACETIC A Satisfactory B Unacceptable C Arcane CATALYST A Bright B Ancestor C Person or thing that speeds up change The word may sound familiar, but do you know what it means? C; A; A; C. ANSWERS: WORD WISE REMEMBER WHEN? 1 • A Clockwork Orange caused controversy at the cinema • The fi rst email was sent • Ewan McGregor was born • Doors frontman Jim Morrison died 2 • South Africa hosted and won the Rugby World Cup • O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of murder • Forrest Gump won the Best Picture Oscar • Barings Bank collapsed in the UK 1971, 1995. ANSWERS: Born in Dublin in 1985, I started out playing mini rugby in Bective Rangers. I then played for St Mary’s and Leinster and eventually became captain of the Irish rugby team. I’ve played on the British and Irish Lions and won World Player of the Year in 2018. I’ve now become the top points scorer for Ireland, overtaking my sometimes rival and friend Ronan O’Gara. I’m an Irish writer and actress, born in Dublin. I’ve appeared in stage roles with the Abbey Theatre and the National Theatre and have a very distinctive birthmark under my left eye. I’m probably best known for my role as Amanda Kinsella in the crime drama Kin, which has just come back for a second series. CELEB PIXELS JOHNNY SEXTON; CLARE DUNNE. ANSWER: PRIZE CROSSWORD 7 ACROSS: 1. EXPEL (4); 3. DISCIPLE (8); 9. SIGNIFICANCE (7); 10. DEMANDS (5); 11. PROVE (12); 13. MULTITUDE (6); 15. EXCELLENT (6); 17. IMBUE (12); 20. TRAVERSE (5); 21. ROUSES (7); 22. ERRANT (8); 23. INCURSION (4). DOWN: 1. CONTRARY (8); 2. BUSH (5); 4. EXCURSION (6); 5. LENGTHWISE (12); 6. GRAPPLE (7); 7. TRICK (4); 8. INCESSANTLY (12); 12. PREOCCUPIED (8); 14. RESENTMENT (7); 16. MELODY (6); 18. RING (5); 19. DEEDS (4). QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTION ISSUE 6 ACROSS: 1 POWERLESS; 8 RUN; 9 INDOMITABLE; 11 VISITOR; 12 ODOUR; 13 RELIEF; 15 INSANE; 17 LEANS; 18 ROUTINE; 20 UPRIGHTNESS; 22 CAR; 23 DETERRENT. DOWN: 2 OWN; 3 REMIT; 4 ENTIRE; 5 SUBJOIN; 6 PREROGATIVE; 7 INTERVENE; 10 DISPLEASURE; 11 VIRULENCE; 14 ENSURED; 16 ARIGHT; 19 UTTER; 21 SIN. ENTER TO WIN FANTASTIC BUNDLE HOW TO ENTER Please send a picture of your completed crossword grid to [email protected] No postal entries please. The closing date for entries is April 10, 2023 This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries after the closing date. Winners will be notifi ed by email. The editor’s decision is fi nal. One lucky reader will receive a Silcare Rose Gold Cosmetics Luxury Collection from Quinn Hair & Beauty. The bundle features a Silcare So Rose So Gold Body Cream, Silcare So Rose So Gold Hand Cream, Silcare So Rose So Gold Foot Mask, Silcare Hand Scrub, Silcare Face Cleansing Gel, Silcare Micellar Water, Silcare Body Butter and Silcare Lip Scrub. Visit quinnhairbeauty.com WORTH €50 52 WW7 Timeout KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:28

TIME OUT WOMANSWAY.IE 53 THE BIG QUIZ 1>> Liam Neeson is currently starring in fi lm noir Marlowe, directed by Neil Jordan. What big-budget fi lm did the pair work together on in 1996? AInterview with the Vampire B Michael Collins CThe Crying Game D In The Name of the Father 2>> Millions of rotting what are to be removed from an Australian river, due to hot temperatures? A Frogs B Birds C Fish D Insects 3>> Paul Mescal missed out on an Oscar recently, but which sequel has he signed up to star in next? ATerminator 6 B Banshees of Inisherin 2 CThe Godfather part 4 D Gladiator 2 4>> A dad who previously crawled the London Marathon while dressed as a gorilla announced he is going to run the race what way this year? A On his hands B Backwards C On one foot D On his knees 5>> Banshees of Inisherin missed out on winning any gongs at this year's Oscars. How many nominations did the fi lm have in total? A 9 B 10 C 11 C 15,000 D 30,000 13>> Greeks dye their Easter eggs only one colour. What is it? A Light blue to represent the nation's fl ag B Red to represent the blood of Christ C Green to represent the olive D Pink to represent its national fl ower bear's breech 14>> What fl owers are often associated with Easter? A Sunfl owers B Roses C Daisies D Lilies D 12 6>> The Elizabeth Banks directed comedy Cocaine Bear appears to have started a trend. What other cocaine-fuelled animal fi lm is coming to cinemas later this year? ACocaine Dog B Cocaine Cat CCocaine Shark D Cocaine Hedgehog 7>> A 67 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton, nicknamed Trinity, will go on sale at the Koller auction house in Zurich, Switzerland next month. What dinosaur species is the skeleton from? A Pterodactyl B Stegosaurus C Triceratops D T-Rex 8>> Which duo recently took the glitterball trophy on RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars? A Suzanne and Michael B Brooke and Maurizio C Carl and Emily D Panti Bliss and Denys 9>> The race is on to replace Ryan Tubridy who stepped down from presenting The Late Late Show after how many years at the helm? A 12 B 13 C 14 D 15 10>> Which bank did Swiss giant UBS save by buying it out? A Silicon Valley Bank B Credit Suisse C Royal Bank of Scotland D AIB 11>> Which of the following is not an Easter tradition? A Cracking eggs to predict the future B Making art from coloured sawdust C Children dressing up as witches to drive away evil spirits D Carving boiled eggs 12>> The French town of Bessières celebrates Easter by making and eating a giant omelette. How many eggs are used? A 1,000 B 5,000 1 B; 2 C; 3 D; 4 B; 5 A; 6 C; 7 D; 8 C; 9 C; ANSWERS: 10 B; 11 D; 12 C; 13 B; 14 D . 1 12 3 5 10 7 13 53 WW7 Big Quiz KOTCCAMAK.indd 3 23/03/2023 12:13

54 WOMANSWAY.IE By Prudence Wade, PA Check out these low-cost recipes from Jamie Oliver. JAMIE’S WONDERS FROZEN BERRY AND APPLE CRUMBLE Serves 8 Total time: 45 minutes Crumbles are a perpetual crowd favourite, and Jamie Oliver’s here to help home cooks make a saving by using frozen fruit. “Beautifully soft berries, sweet apples and a buttery oat topping, this recipe is proof that you don’t need fresh fruit to make a cracking crumble,” says Oliver. “I’m keeping costs down by swapping in frozen mixed berries and granulated sugar (which is around half the price of caster sugar right now!). If you’ve got any apples lying around that are past their best, this recipe is also great for bringing them back to life.” Ingredients: 1kg mixed frozen berries 2 eating apples (300g) 100g unsalted butter (cold) 150g plain fl our 75g rolled oats 150g granulated sugar Vanilla ice cream, to serve Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Tip the frozen berries into a large bowl, and place in the microwave on high (800W) for 10 minutes until defrosted. Or leave to defrost in the fridge overnight. Once defrosted, drain and reserve the excess juice (see Tip). 2 Meanwhile, roughly chop apples into onecentimetre cubes (skin and all). 3 Cube the butter and place in a mixing bowl with the fl our. Rub together with your fi ngertips until it resembles breadcrumbs, then stir in the oats and half of the sugar. 4 Tip the berries into a 30cm x 25cm baking dish, stir in the chopped apple and remaining sugar, tossing until the apples are well coated. Sprinkle over the crumble topping, then bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until beautifully golden. Delicious served with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Tip: Love your leftovers Transform the berry juice into a lovely syrup or cordial. Simply add two teaspoons of sugar and reduce in a saucepan on medium-low until the sugar has dissolved, stirring regularly. Decant into sterilised glass bottles and keep in a cool place for up to two months. Delicious drizzled over ice cream or yoghurt. Or, simply leave as is and dilute in water – it makes a cracking cordial. GIANT VEGGIE PUFF ROLL Serves 4 Total time: 55 minutes Perfect for your next picnic or light lunch, this is a simple vegetarian recipe. “Transform a handful of ingredients into something spectacular with my stunning veggie centrepiece,” says the chef and cookbook author. “We’re talking crispy, fl aky pastry fi lled with the most comforting fl avours, complete with pops of feta and a crunchy salad.” Eat it hot or cold. ENERGY 320kcals FAT 11.4g SAT FAT 6.6g PROTEIN 4.1g CARBS 53.1g SUGARS 32.3g SALT 0g FIBRE 5.3g 54-55 WW7 Food - Jamie KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 22/03/2023 16:44

WOMANSWAY.IE 55 By Prudence Wade, PA RECIPES Ingredients: 2 cloves of garlic 3 onions Olive oil 600g carrots 1 heaped tsp mixed spice 1 x 400g tin of butter beans 100g feta cheese 1 x 375g pack of ready-rolled puff pastry 1 large splash of semi-skimmed milk 1 little gem lettuce Red wine vinegar Method: 1 Peel and finely chop the garlic and two and a half of the onions. Place in a large nonstick frying pan on a medium heat with two tablespoons of olive oil. Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. 2 Meanwhile, grate 500 grams of the carrots then add to the pan along with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper and the mixed spice. Cook for 10 minutes, or until soft and sweet, stirring regularly. 3 Drain and tip in the butter beans and cook for two minutes, stirring constantly, then use a potato masher to squash the beans and veg until everything comes together. Crumble and mix in most of the feta, then remove from the heat and leave to cool. 4 Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Unroll the pastry sheet on its paper and place on a baking sheet. Pile the filling down the centre of the pastry, shaping it into a nice, thick sausageshape. Lightly brush one of the long sides with a small splash of milk, then use the paper to fold the pastry over and press down to secure. Trim the edges and use a fork to seal the pastry together. Brush the pastry all over with the remaining milk, then use the back of a knife to very lightly score it at two-centimetre intervals. Bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden and puffed up. 5 Speed-peel the remaining carrots, peel and finely slice the reserved onion and click apart the lettuce leaves. Crumble over the remaining feta, then toss together with three tablespoons of oil, one tablespoon of red wine vinegar and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. 6 Slice the veggie roll into four, divide between warm plates and serve with the salad. Easy swaps Curry powder or ras el hanout would be great in place of the mixed spice. Flavour bombs Mixed spice is a great investment and will last for months in a cupboard – use in marinades, dressings, broths, or as a base for curries and chillies. WW ENERGY 760kcals FAT 42.9g SAT FAT 15.9g PROTEIN 19.1g CARBS 75g SUGARS 18.1g SALT 1.6g FIBRE 14.3g 54-55 WW7 Food - Jamie KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 22/03/2023 16:44

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA 56 WOMANSWAY.IE Kylie Minogue talks about her love of rosé, and why she wanted to make a non-alcoholic wine. Lucky WE SHOULD BE SO 56-57 WW7 Drink - Kylie KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 22/03/2023 16:45

DRINK By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA WOMANSWAY.IE 57 Kylie Minogue fi rst set a trend for doing The Loco-Motion in 1987, and now she’s spearheading another movement: for non-alcoholic wine. “I see it becoming a very mainstream choice, which is amazing. It isn’t simply a trend, it’s a movement – and I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” the 54-year-old says. The singer-songwriter – who launched Kylie Minogue Wines in 2020 – released 0% Alcohol Sparkling Rosé wine in December, with The Drinks Business saying one was sold every 10 seconds in the run up to Christmas. Minogue – who fi rst found fame as Charlene in TV show Neighbours in the 1980s, recently reprising her role in the fi nale last year – says non-alcoholic wine has changed her drinking habits. She wanted to launch the new product to have an option for non-drinkers or the sobercurious, but says: “The challenge was to get the fl avour profi le just right.” She continues: “Our production process involves a blend of European premium grapes and green tea selected from the Liu-Da Mountains of Yunnan province in China, providing maximum development of wine attributes, without generating any alcohol. “This careful selection of ingredients is refl ected in the extraction process of the tea, with one bud and two leaves individually hand-plucked at a time. “Brewed into a strong infusion and added to the grape ferment, the result is an additional mouthfeel and fi nish, rounded off with dried tannins to present a complex and fi nely balanced sparkling rosé, minus the alcohol.” First Tastes The pop star has released 15 studio albums over her career, with hits including Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Spinning Around and All The Lovers. She’s since added winemaking to her CV, with Kylie Minogue Wines selling more than eight million bottles since it launched. Minogue remembers the fi rst time she had a glass of rosé, saying: “I’m sure it would have been in the South of France in the early Nineties.” She continues: “The important encounter was in Nashville in 2017 when I was working on my album, Golden. It was the height of summer and after a day in the studio, I was enjoying a lovely crisp rosé whilst dining al fresco. “There was a moment when the light caught my glass and it was so gorgeous, I proclaimed out loud, ‘I’d love to have a rosé one day!’ I had no idea how this would come to be, but as it turned out, a few years later I met my now business partner [Paul Schaafsma of Benchmark Drinks] and that dream became reality.” Making Music Fresh from performing at Sydney WorldPride, Minogue sees a similarity between making songs and wine. “One of the wonders of wine, as I get deeper into my understanding and appreciation of it, is the journey. And just like music, the story starts anew once it reaches the listener or consumer,” she refl ects. “I always feel songs take on a new life the second they’re released to the world. People will hear that song and create their own moments, stories and sometimes landmarks. I’m fi nding this to be the same with my wines.” What does she think about the reputation of wine as a male-dominated fi eld? “Thankfully, this perception and reality is changing,” says the star. “As an example, I’m buoyed to see Liquid Icons, who hold the annual Golden Vines Awards, have a fantastic scholarship programme, where they highlight and support diversity within the world of wine.” Beyond her wine mastery, the singer is busy working on a new album which she describes as a “pop-dance exploration”. “I can’t give too much away, but there’s some 2000s electro, Nineties house and what I like to call emoto-pop,” says Minogue. “I can’t wait to share this with fans and enter the next era of music and live performance.” WW “One of the wonders of wine, as I get deeper into my understanding of it, is the journey” 56-57 WW7 Drink - Kylie KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 22/03/2023 16:45

58 WOMANSWAY.IE By Prudence Wade, PA F ood blogger Anisa Karolia says she understands the meaning of Ramadan much better now that she’s an adult. Ramadan (taking place this year between March 22 and April 21) involves abstaining from food and water during the day, as well as dedicating yourself to prayer and charitable acts. The fast is broken at sunset every day with Iftar, where family and friends traditionally gather around the table. “When you’re young, you don’t really think about the charity side of Ramadan,” Karolia explains. “I now think more about countries where they don’t have food at the end of the day. We know that we are fasting, but we are looking forward to a table full of delicious food.” Food is important during Ramadan – both abstaining from it, and coming together over it for Iftar. This is why Karolia – who has been blogging about food since 2015 – has dedicated her fi rst cookbook to the holy month. Called The Ramadan Cookbook, it’s full of recipes for Suhoor – the small meal eaten just before sunrise – Iftar, and beyond. This is what Karolia wants everyone to understand about the role of food during Ramadan… There’s a bigger meaning behind it “Part of Ramadan is about food, but that’s not all it’s about. “It’s a month of training us to become good people, being kind, and getting close to God. It’s trying to pray more, trying to remember Him more – food is a small part.” Karolia says the fasting element of Ramadan is about “discipline”. “Discipline not just with food, but with everything. We always try to be the best humans we can be, but we try to be more charitable during Ramadan, and think about the less fortunate.” Nutrition is important When you’re fasting during the day, thinking about how you fuel your body at night is important. As the fasting involves skipping water from dawn to dusk, Karolia says rehydration is key. “Coconut water is really good, it’s refreshing and hydrating,” she says. “Watermelon is good, too.” Dates are commonly seen during Ramadan, because they contain “a lot of vitamins and minerals”, explains Karolia. She also considers how she prepares the food, and has been increasingly using the air fryer, to keep meals lighter and healthier. Preparation is key To dedicate herself to the holy month as much as possible, Karolia says: “I batch make chicken and lamb samosas in advance. “A lot of people who observe the fast in their homes will prepare savouries a few weeks beforehand. It makes life easier in Ramadan,” she explains. “It means they can concentrate on other things and not overexert themselves.” Karolia also likes that this gives her time for a nap. “Because it can be a long day, especially waking up pre-dawn. Summertime can be more challenging than winter” – as the days are longer, meaning Muslims fast for longer. Sweet treats Sweet dishes often adorn the table at Iftar, though Karolia doesn’t like anything too heavy. “I try to stick to milky desserts, rather than cheesecakes or anything rich, such as chocolate,” she says. She often makes a falooda milkshake, which she describes as “really refreshing”. This is “made with boiled milk that is cooled down, which alters the fl avour. Rose syrup and cardamom is then added. It can also be made with nuts and a dollop of ice cream”. Food helps bring family and friends together Karolia calls Ramadan “a special month”, and says food “gets people together”. She remembers traditions she had growing up, which she is now passing on to her children. “My favourite is warmed chapati, covered in melted butter with sugar sprinkled on top. My mother would roll it up. It was so nice.” Food also brings Karolia closer to her neighbours – she tends to give some of the food she’s prepared to people next door, “This teaches my children about sharing and showing kindness.” This is what blogger Anisa Karolia wants everyone to know about food during the muslim holy month of Ramadan. RAMADAN EXPLAINED “It’s a month of training us to become good people, being kind, and getting close to God” 58-61 WW7 Food Ramadam KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 18/03/2023 15:42

WOMANSWAY.IE 59 By Prudence Wade, PA RECIPES Continued overleaf >> CAULIFLOWER MANCHURIAN Serves 2-3 You won’t miss meat on the table with this fl avourful dish. “Also known as Gobi Manchurian, this popular Indo-Chinese dish has crispy caulifl ower fl orets tossed in a spicy sauce,” says Anisa. Ingredients: 1 caulifl ower, cut into fl orets 1tbsp oil, plus extra for deep-frying 2 garlic cloves, chopped 58-61 WW7 Food Ramadam KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 18/03/2023 15:42

60 WOMANSWAY.IE BUTTER CHICKEN Serves 2-3 Creamy and delicious, this is a crowd-pleasing curry. “A royal dish if ever there was one, butter chicken is known for its luxuriously rich texture and, for me, the thicker and creamier the better,” says Anisa. “It’s a flavourful, aromatic curry with a butter and tomato base – wonderfully creamy and tastes out of this world.” 1 fresh green chilli, chopped 1 red onion, diced 2 spring onions, finely sliced, plus extra to garnish ½ red pepper, diced ½ green pepper, diced 2tbsp tomato ketchup 2tbsp chilli sauce 2tbsp dark soy sauce 1tbsp rice vinegar 1tbsp chilli flakes 1tbsp ground black pepper 1tsp salt For the batter: 100g plain flour 20g cornflour 1tsp chilli powder 1tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1tsp ground black pepper 1tsp salt 200ml water Method: 1 Cook the cauliflower florets in a large saucepan of boiling water for eight to 10 minutes, then drain in a colander and set aside. For the batter, mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Then slowly add the water, stirring all the time to make a smooth batter, thick enough to coat the cauliflower. Drop the florets into the batter and stir gently to coat. 2 Heat some oil for deep-frying in a large saucepan on a medium-high heat until it reaches 180°C. Fry the cauliflower florets in batches for about six minutes until golden and crisp, then drain in a colander to remove excess oil. 3 Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large wok on a low heat, add the garlic, chopped chilli, red onion, spring onions, and red and green peppers, and cook, stirring, for two minutes. Add the ketchup, chilli sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli flakes, black pepper and salt, and heat through for one minute. 4 Toss the fried florets in the sauce, making sure to coat them properly. Serve the cauliflower in a bowl, garnished with sliced spring onions. 58-61 WW7 Food Ramadam KOT2CCAMAK.indd 4 18/03/2023 15:42

RECIPES WOMANSWAY.IE 61 The Ramadan Cookbook by Anisa Karolia is published by Ebury Press. Photography by Ellis Parrinder. Ingredients: 4-5tbsp oil 2 bay leaves 1 onion, fi nely chopped 500g chicken breast, cut into chunks 1tsp ginger paste 1tsp garlic paste 1tsp chilli powder 1tsp chilli fl akes 1tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1tsp ground coriander 1tsp ground cumin ½tsp ground turmeric 1tbsp butter chicken masala or tandoori masala ½tsp salt ½tsp ground black pepper 1tbsp dried fenugreek leaves 1 fresh tomato, chopped 250g tomato passata 100-150ml water 125ml milk 150ml single or double cream 30g butter 2tbsp lemon juice Fresh coriander, chopped, to garnish Method: 1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan on a low heat, add the bay leaves and onion, and cook for fi ve minutes until golden brown. Add the chicken, ginger paste and garlic paste, and cook for 25 minutes, until only a little moisture is left from the chicken. 2 Add the chilli powder, chilli fl akes, Kashmiri chilli powder, ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, butter chicken masala or tandoori masala, salt, pepper and dried fenugreek, and stir well. Add the fresh tomato and passata, cook for one minute, then pour in the water, milk and cream, and stir well. Simmer for eight to 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. 3 Add the butter, letting it melt through the sauce, then add the lemon juice, and serve sprinkled with chopped coriander. DATE AND NUT SLICES Makes 28 Perfect for Ramadan – but delicious all year round. “Start your day with these nutritious slices. Ideal for Suhoor or Iftar, during Ramadan, they are rich in vitamins and minerals, and packed with lots of energy,” says Anisa. “These will help suppress sugar cravings and control your appetite through the day.” Ingredients: 50g butter 250g pitted dates, fi nely chopped 50g granulated sugar 20g chopped pistachios 20g chopped almonds 20g chopped cashews 50g Marie biscuits or digestive biscuits, broken into pieces Sesame seeds, for sprinkling Method: 1 Melt the butter in a saucepan on a low heat and add the dates and sugar. Cook until the dates soften and start to look mushy. This will take eight to 10 minutes. Add the chopped nuts and biscuits, and stir everything together. 2 Take a sheet of baking paper and lay out fl at. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and place the date mixture on top. Roll into a log shape, using the paper to help make a tight roll. Chill in the fridge for one hour until fi rm, then cut into onecentimetre slices. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three weeks. WW 58-61 WW7 Food Ramadam KOT2CCAMAK.indd 5 18/03/2023 15:42

62 WOMANSWAY.IE By Hannah Stephenson Give yourself a juicy harvest on your patio, with our pick of the best fruit trees for pots. 'Red Falstaff' apple Fruit Trees 62-63 WW7 Fruit_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 18/03/2023 15:50

WOMANSWAY.IE 63 By Hannah Stephenson GARDENING When you think of fruit trees, do you imagine great orchards heavy with the weight of apples, pears and plums? Or sweltering Mediterranean locations, harbouring fragrant citrus growing in the wild? Well, you too could be picking fruit from a tree – but much closer to home. On your patio, in fact, even if you’ve only a small space to work with. Citrus trees can be grown in pots and be put outside in summer in a sheltered, sunny position when the weather warms up, from mid-June to late September. But you will need to keep fl eece handy to cover the plants in early summer on cold nights, or you could lose them. Lemon trees aren’t hardy, so they will need to be moved indoors once autumn comes. There are some patio fruit trees, however, which are hardier and will withstand our winters in a patio pot too. Fruiting plant specialists at Chris Bowers and Sons have identifi ed two apple trees plus a pear, cherry and a plum that are all perfect for pot-growing on a patio – and they don’t need to come inside in winter. “Super-column trees are ideal for patio and terrace gardens and thrive in containers,” says John Bowers, son of the nursery founder. “What makes them so special, apart from their hearty cropping, is a greatly simplifi ed pruning process. “They take up very little space and enjoy a freely spurring nature creating abundant crops which ripen very well and quickly, benefi ting from the hours of sunlight. This also encourages sugar production enhancing the fl avour of the fruits.” Bowers has selected fi ve varieties that can all be grown this way… 1 APPLE ‘RED FALSTAFF’ This is an indomitable cropper with frostresistant blossom. The handsome fruits are bold red and crisp. They will store for several weeks. This newer variety has great disease resistance. 2 APPLE ‘LIMELIGHT’ These are very easy to grow and manage, perfect for those who like green apples. It has a refreshing, juicy fl avour and average frost resistance. 3 PEAR ‘CONCORDE’ Bred from the famous ‘Conference’ pear but with a sweeter fl avour, this is freely producing from late September and throughout October. It is a compact, easy-to-manage tree and selffertile, with excellent frost resistance. 4 BLACK CHERRY ‘SUNBURST’ A reliable, decadently sweet black cherry that ripens in July with large, black juicy fruits, it’s the hardiest and most reliable sweet cherry for the UK climate – and it is self-pollinating, says Bowers. 5 PLUM ‘JUBILEE’ An excellent cropper regardless of the weather, and a much better and tastier plum than the ubiquitous Victoria, Bowers advises. It ripens early with an abundant yield of rosy purple, egg-shaped fruits with yellow, fi nely fl avoured fl esh. WW Plum 'Jubilee' Apple tree in a pot Apple 'Limelight' 'Sunburst' cherries How to grow fruit trees in pots • Plant a tree in a 20-litre container and use a loam based compost, such as John Innes No 3, Bowers advises. Water well after planting. • Use a slow release fertiliser that can be pushed into the compost. Alternatively, use a seaweed based foliar feed that should be applied every three to four weeks in the growing season. • Water at the base of the tree every day when it is warm and dry, or every two to three days otherwise. Do not water between October and March. • Pruning is simple – just pinch back all side shoots to three or four buds in late summer. The main growing or leader shoot can also be shortened at this time of year if desired. 62-63 WW7 Fruit_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 18/03/2023 15:51

64 WOMANSWAY.IE By Hannah Stephenson, PA you are preparing your mix, you could steep a few stems in the mix and then remove them.” Growing tips: You could grow it in a hanging basket, lined with coir and moss, as it is very drought resistant. Rosemary is a sun-loving, drought tolerant herb. Be careful not to over-water it and if you have heavy soil, add plenty of grit for drainage. 3 GARLIC CHIVES “These are among the great pollinator plants. All the alliums are fantastic for bees and butterfl ies, but particularly garlic chives, which have a white fl ower with a fl at leaf cross section. It’s fantastic grown in succession with ordinary chives, which come up early but often by May they are looking manky. “To manage that, cut them to the ground, water and spread some comfrey pellets over the ground, which are rich in potash. We then have a lull, so we grow garlic chives which we can pick in May and June, and in September and October.” Pick the leaves, but you can also use the edible fl owers in savoury dishes such as soups or over a tomato salad, where you want some sharpness, and also on a rice salad. Keep picking the leaves, as they become tougher than ordinary chives. Growing tips: Grow them in very well drained, poor soil in a sunny spot, perhaps on the edge of a path. “There’s a hint of ginger, a little bit of bay, so it’s slightly spicy and aromatic. It has a very unusual smell, so might be used in potpourri, but I would use the leaves in a tomato sauce in the winter, because it’s evergreen, to give it a warm, aromatic fl avour. Use it as you would bay, such as in a stock. “It has fl owers which are brilliant for pollinators, and then in the autumn it has these juniper-like berries. In Turkey, those are used crushed slightly in Turkish delight with rose petals.” Growing tips: This evergreen herb needs a sheltered spot, ideally by a south facing wall. Raven grows hers as a punctuation plant in her herb garden: “You can start it from seed, but I would do it from cuttings.” 2 ROSEMARY PROSTRATA “This is again used widely in the Mediterranean as a terrace fi ller and you’ll see it growing wild there, cascading down the side of olive terraces. If you don’t have it on the edge of a wall, it spreads out in a very low, undulating dome about 40cm high. “There’s also a ‘Green Ginger’ rosemary, which doesn’t look unusual, but smells and tastes of ginger beer, which is very popular with cocktail makers. You’d want to crush the leaves and use them in a cocktail, or to fl avour puddings, either using it to fl avour sugar syrup to then drizzle over a cake or when Want to branch out from your regular homegrown mint, parsley and thyme? Gardening expert and TV presenter Sarah Raven, author of a new book, A Year Full Of Veg, says there are lots of unusual herbs that you can’t buy in the shops but are easy to grow at home. These herbs will give you masses of fl avour. Plus they’re great to grow even if you don’t have much space. “In a window box or a series of pots on a doorstep, you can produce delicious fl avourenhancers for countless meals and, unlike newly sown annual salads, neighbourhood cats tend to leave these pungent leaves alone,” says Raven. Here, she suggests six alternative herbs to grow this year and perk up your dishes… 1 MYRTLE “Myrtle is incredibly commonly used in the Mediterranean, where it’s a marker for slightly damp ground. It’s a wild shrub, really, and the leaves are incredibly aromatic and deliciously fragrant. Gardening writer Sarah Raven offers some fun alternatives to parsley and thyme. HERB INSPO Lemon myrtle leaves Sarah Raven 64-65 WW7 Herbs KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 18/03/2023 15:52

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 65 By Hannah Stephenson, PA 4 LOVAGE “A classic ingredient in Hungarian goulash, this is widely used in northern Europe because it’s an incredibly hardy herbaceous perennial, which forms quite an elegant border plant. It’s an umbellifer which can reach about 1.5m, with classic umbels like angelica. “But when you are using it as a herb, just pick the baby leaves from the heart of the plant, or the taste can be too intense. If you continually crop it, it will continually produce new foliage. That is where it is most delicious, like a smoky celery. You can use it to fl avour soups, stews and stocks.” In spring, Raven chops it coarsely into a salad dressing – but two small leaves will be enough – or she’ll make a lettuce and lovage soup, which gives an intense smoky celery fl avour. Growing tips: It’s very easy to grow in full sun, but keep cutting it down to the ground to encourage more baby leaves to form. 5 LEAF AND STEM FENNEL “This is not the same as Florence fennel. We grow a lot of bronze fennel, partly because we love it for the frothy copper carpet you get from it very early in the year. Along with ordinary chives, it’s one of the fi rst things to leaf up. It’s wonderful as a backdrop to early edible salad in the vegetable garden. We grow it in lines between the polyanthus and violas.” Use it to bring an aniseed fl avour to dishes. For instance, where you might use tarragon in summer chicken or fi sh dishes, tarragon is late to emerge, so you could use leaf and stem fennel instead. It’s also a key ingredient for a spring salsa verde. Growing tips: Treat it harshly, keep cutting it back to get fresh leaves, but allow some to grow on, which will produce fennel seeds to harvest and also use the edible fl owers. Be warned, it is invasive and if you allow it to fl ower, it will seed prolifi cally – so it’s perfect to grow in a pot. 6 CHERVIL “The beauty of chervil is that it’s a native wildfl ower and incredibly hardy. It doesn’t germinate in heat. It germinates in September, and has a fi nely cut vivid green leaf, which grows throughout the winter, with totally hardy foliage. “In late spring, it throws up these umbellifer fl owers, but we grow it for winter salads. It’s like a cross between parsley and dill. But don’t cook it, because it has extremely volatile essential oils.” Chervil will also attract bees and other pollinators. Growing tips: “Sow it in August or September, either in the ground or in seed trays, and it will germinate when it starts to get colder and darker, and will grow through cold with low light levels,” Raven advises. WW Garlic chive fl owers A Year Full Of Veg: A Harvest For All Seasons by Sarah Raven is published by Bloomsbury. Available now. “In a window box or a series of pots on a doorstep, you can produce delicious flavourenhancers for countless meals” Leaf and stem fennel Rosemary prostrata A pot of chervil 64-65 WW7 Herbs KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 18/03/2023 15:52

66 WOMANSWAY.IE By Hannah Stephenson, PA Revamping your borders with a riot of colour. elaborate foliage and pale-pink fl owers that are favoured by hoverfl ies. “These dusky ornamental elders make excellent additions to a summer border of perennials, because the domed pink fl owers slot into summer’s pastel palette with ease. The dark foliage creates a contrast and it’s particularly useful at highlighting palebrown grasses, such as miscanthus.” The dark elder foliage would look sensational next to the late-spring fl owers of the snowball tree, Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, she suggests. The fl owers of this primroses, hardy ferns and hybrid hellebores. “The overhead canopy of branches will protect the ground from the worst of the weather, be it drought, frost or heavy rain. “More importantly, woody plants provide a winter framework, just when many plants have retreated underground. Their presence adds another element to your garden – structure,” says Bourne. Flower power on the edge Garden edges don’t tend to get quite as much attention as the rest, so select easy shrubs that don’t need special treatment, such as ornamental elders, or Sambucus, which offer domed fl owers in summer and black foliage and berries in winter, she suggests. ‘Black Lace’ (syn. ‘Eva’) and its sibling ‘Black Beauty’ (syn. ‘Gerda’) have dusky Are you fed up with your boring boundaries edged with high-maintenance, lowinterest planting? Fear not, because your borders can all be perked up with a mixture of the right easy-care shrubs that will provide fl owers and fruit. So says gardening expert and writer Val Bourne, who maintains that using a mixed planting of ornamental shrubs will require less work than a formal hedge and give you plenty of colourful interest too. “If you use deciduous plants, the woody canopy will allow light though once the leaves fall. In winter, the woody roots will help to drain the soil, allowing you to underplant with easily grown spring woodlanders, such as pulmonaria, Beautiful primroses, hardy ferns and ground from the worst of the weather, be it drought, frost or heavy rain. because your borders can all be “More importantly, woody plants Val Bourne Boundaries Revamping your borders Beautiful Mahonia 'Winter Sun' Viburnum x bodnantense'Dawn' 66-67 WW7 Boundaries KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 20/03/2023 11:39

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 67 By Hannah Stephenson, PA large shrub also cut well, so it’s a fl oral favourite with fl ower arrangers. Seasonal additions “As summer days arrive, you could experience the lemon-scent of a mock orange named Philadelphus ‘Belle Étoile’. This is my favourite philadelphus, because each single white fl ower has a soft-purple blotch framing a boss of pale-yellow stamens. “This arrangement stops the fl owers from looking glacial and, as many a gardener will tell you, clear-white is the most diffi cult colour to deal with under the summer sun. If you do, add plenty of green foliage, or place it in dappled shade to soften it.” Like all mock oranges, ‘Belle Étoile’ will tolerate poor, dry soil, so it’s likely to thrive in the drier summers we’re tending to get now, she anticipates. Late performers The upright Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ will provide fl owers from late-autumn until March or April, she advises. “The small clusters of pink fl owers are highly fragrant during November, when they bear a strong hyacinth scent. They continue to fl ower once the leaves fall, whenever the weather is warm enough, ending in a fi nal spring fl ourish. This shrub doesn’t do a razzle-dazzle, sock-it-toyou display. It just drip-feeds the fl owers in, whenever the weather allows.” Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) will always give some January fl ower in milder winters. “The small, ivory-white fl owers sustain early-fl ying honeybees, so this will need pruning in early spring, otherwise you’ll be cutting off latent fl ower buds,” she says. “I’d also add Abelia x grandifl ora because it provides late-summer autumn fl owers. There are variegated forms, such as ‘Confetti’ and ‘Kaleidoscope’, but the plaingreen leafed form sets off the clusters of pink buds and pale-peach fl owers really well. “If you do go for a variegated form, cut away any shoots that revert back to plain green. You can’t fail to notice the cinnamonbrown stems too, a feature of this twiggy shrub in winter.” Flowers amid foliage Try to include some evergreen structure, although be aware that evergreens tend to be less hardy than deciduous plants, Bourne advises, so may need some shelter. “Everyone, in my opinion, should have the brilliantly architectural Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ for its November fl owers. Each gently arching stem is topped by a radiating cluster of pale-yellow fi ngers of fragrant fl ower, underpinned by prickly foliage. “It can tolerate quite a lot of shade and still fl ower well, although the architectural framework needs space to shine. When planting a boundary edge, position your plants a metre away if that’s possible.” You’ll also get a sweet perfume from the ivory-white fl owers of Osmanthus x burkwoodii, a large evergreen shrub capable of fl owering in relatively shady areas, she suggests. “The privet-like green foliage and clusters of tubular white fl owers, evenly spaced along cinnamon-brown stems, are a compensation in early spring. It will fl ower earlier in a brighter position, and many add some snowdrops at the base.” If you have a sheltered side to your boundary and enough space for a billowing, fl owering evergreen, Mexican orange blossom, or Choisya ternata, will produce most of its white fl owers in spring, followed by an autumnal fl ush, Bourne adds. WW “Include some evergreen structure, although evergreens tend to be less hardy” Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' Sambucus 'Black Beauty' Philadelphus 'Mock Orange' Choisya 'Sundance' hedge 66-67 WW7 Boundaries KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 20/03/2023 11:40

68 WOMANSWAY.IE Knit a V-neck cardigan for a special small one. 6th row. K4, * p3, k3, rep from * to last 5 sts, p3, k2. 7th row. P2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, * p3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. 31[35:39:43:47] sts. 8th row. K4, * p1, k3, rep from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2. These 8 rows complete edging. 9th row. (K0[16:9:10:10], k2tog) 0[1:1:1:3] times, (k0[0:17:19:0], k2tog) 0[0:1:1:0] times, k31[17:9:10:11]. 31[34:37:41:44] sts. Now work as follows: 1st row. K4, purl to end. 2nd row. Knit. These 2 rows set the sts – front opening edge 4 sts in g-st with all other sts in st-st. Keeping sts correct as now set throughout, cont as follows: Work 19[23:25:29:31] rows, dec 1 st at beg of 4th[6th:6th:6th:6th] and 1[1:1:2:2] foll 8th[8th:10th:8th:8th] rows and ending of every row. [55:61:63] sts. For All Sizes Work 20[28:30:32:34] rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every foll alt row and ending with a ws row. 23[25:25:29:29] sts. **/ Cast off. LEFT FRONT Using 4 mm needles and thumb method cast on 73[83:93:103:113] sts. 1st row. P2, k7, * p3, k7, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. 2nd row. K4, * p7, k3, rep from * to last 9 sts, p7, k2. 3rd row. P2, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, * p3, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. 59[67:75:83:91] sts. 4th row. K4, * p5, k3, rep from * to last 7 sts, p5, k2. 5th row. P2, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, * p3, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. 45[51:57:63:69] sts. (k0[31:16:18:13], k2tog) 0[1:3:3:5] times, k57[15:9:10:6]. 57[63:69:77:83] sts. Now work in st-st as follows: 1st row. Purl. 2nd row. Knit. These 2 rows form st-st. Working in st-st throughout, cont as follows: Work 19[23:25:29:31] rows, dec 1 st at each end of 4th[6th:6th:6th:6th] and 1[1:1:2:2] foll 8th[8th:10th:8th:8th] rows and ending with a ws row. 53[59:65:71:77] sts. (Back should measure approx 11[12:13:14:15] cm, 4¼[4¾:5¼:5½:6] in.) Shape Raglan Armholes Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 47[53:59:65:71] sts. For 1st Size Only Work 8 rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and foll 4th row. 43 sts. For 3rd, 4th and 5th Sizes Only Work [2:2:4] rows, dec 1 st at each end TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to 10 cm, 4 in, over stocking stitch on 4 mm needles or the size required to give the correct tension. Check your tension – if less stitches use thinner needles, if more use thicker needles. ABBREVIATIONS alt alternate; beg beginning; cm centimetre(s); cont continue; dec decrease(ing); foll following; g grammes; in inch(es); inc increase(ing); k knit; mm millimetre(s); 0 no rows, times or sts; p purl; patt pattern; psso pass slipped stitch over; rem remain(ing); rep repeat; rs right side; sl 1 slip one stitch; st(s) stitch(es); tog together; ws wrong side; yfwd yarn forward. CIRCLE THE SIZE YOU WISH TO MAKE. BACK Using 4 mm needles and thumb method cast on 141[161:181:201:221] sts. 1st row. P1, * p1, k7, p2, rep from * to end. 2nd row. K1, * k1, p7, k2, rep from * to end. 3rd row. P1, * p1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end. 113[129:145:161:177] sts. 4th row. K1, * k1, p5, k2, rep from * to end. 5th row. P1, * p1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end. 85[97:109:121:133] sts. 6th row. K1, * k1, p3, k2, rep from * to end. 7th row. P1, * p1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, p2, rep from * to end. 57[65:73:81:89] sts. 8th row. K1, * k1, p1, k2, rep from * to end. These 8 rows complete edging. 9th row. (K0[15:8:9:6], k2tog) 0[1:1:1:1] times, Cute Button as a 68-69 WW7 Knitting KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 20/03/2023 11:43

KNITTING WOMANSWAY.IE 69 MEASUREMENTS To Fit Chest 41-46 46-51 51-56 56-61 61-66 cm 16-18 18-20 20-22 22-24 24-26 in Actual Measurement, 48 54 59 65 70 cm at underarm 19 21¼ 23¼ 25½ 27½ in Full Length 24 26 28 30 33 cm 9½ 10¼ 11 11¾ 13 in Sleeve Length 17 20 24 29 33 cm (adjustable) 6½ 8 9½ 11½ 13 in MATERIALS V Neck Cardigan Smarty DK shade 100g Coral Ice 1479 balls 1 2 2 2 3 Yarn amounts may vary when using other King Cole yarns. NEEDLES 1 pair 3¼ mm (UK 10 – USA 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4 mm (UK 8 – USA 6) knitting needles Buttons – 4 for V Neck Cardigan, or 5 for Round Neck Cardigan with a ws row. 29[32:35:38:41] sts. Shape Raglan Armhole and Front Slope Next row. Cast off 3 sts, k to last 6 sts, k2tog (for front slope decrease), k4. 25[28:31:34:37] sts. Working all front slope decreases as set by last row, cont as follows: Work 1 row. For 1st Size Only Work 8 rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of next and foll 4th row AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll 2 alt rows. 20 sts. For 3rd, 4th and 5th Sizes Only Work [2:2:4] rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of every row AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll [0:0:1] alt row. [28:31:31] sts. For All Sizes Work 20[28:30:32:34] rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of next and every foll alt row, ending with a ws row, AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll 0[4:1:4:1] alt rows, then on 4[4:6:5:7] foll 4th rows. 5 sts. Shape Back Neck Border Extension Next row. Knit. Rep this row until Back Neck Border Extension measures 9.5[11:11:12:12] cm, 3¾[4¼:4¼:4¾:4¾] in, ending with a ws row. Cast off. RIGHT FRONT Using 4 mm needles and thumb method cast on 73[83:93:103:113] sts. 1st row. K4, * k7, p3, rep from * to last 9 sts, k7, p2. 2nd row. K2, p7, * k3, p7, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. For 1st, 3rd and 5th Sizes Only 3rd row. K4, * sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, p3, rep from * to last 9 sts, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, p2. 59[75:91] sts. For 2nd and 4th Sizes Only 3rd row. K1, k2tog, yfwd (to make a buttonhole), k1, * sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, p3, rep from * to last 9 sts, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, p2. [67:83] sts. Working a further 3 buttonholes in this way on every foll [10th:12th] row and noting that no further reference will be made to buttonholes, cont as follows: For All Sizes 4th row. K2, p5, * k3, p5, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. For 1st, 3rd and 5th Sizes Only 5th row. K1, k2tog, yfwd (to make a buttonhole), k1, * sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, p3, rep from * to last 7 sts, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, p2. 45[57:69] sts. Working a further 3 buttonholes in this way on every foll 8th[10th:12th] row and noting that no further reference will be made to buttonholes, cont as follows: For 2nd and 4th Sizes Only 5th row. K4, * sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, p3, rep from * to last 7 sts, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, p2. [51:63] sts. For All Sizes 6th row. K2, p3, * k3, p3, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. 7th row. K4, * sl 1, k2tog, psso, p3, rep from * to last 5 sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, p2. 31[35:39:43:47] sts. 8th row. K2, p1, * k3, p1, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. These 8 rows complete edging. 9th row. K31[17:9:10:11], (k2tog, k0[0:17:19:0]) 0[0:1:1:0] times, (k2tog, k0[16:9:10:10]) 0[1:1:1:3] times. 31[34:37:41:44] sts. Now work as follows: 1st row. Purl to last 4 sts, k4. 2nd row. Knit. These 2 rows set the sts – front opening edge 4 sts in g-st with all other sts in st-st. Keeping sts correct as now set throughout, cont as follows: Work 19[23:25:29:31] rows, dec 1 st at end of 4th[6th:6th:6th:6th] and 1[1:1:2:2] foll 8th[8th:10th:8th:8th] rows and ending with a ws row. 29[32:35:38:41] sts. Shape Raglan Armhole and Front Slope Next row. K4, sl 1, k1, psso (for front slope decrease), k to end. Working all front slope decreases as set by last row, cont as follows: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. 25[28:31:34:37] sts. For 1st Size Only Work 8 rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of next and foll 4th row AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll 2 alt rows. 20 sts. For 3rd, 4th and 5th Sizes Only Work [2:2:4] rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of every row AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll [0:0:1] alt row. [28:31:31] sts. For All Sizes Work 20[28:30:32:34] rows, dec 1 st at raglan armhole edge of next and every foll alt row, ending with a ws row, AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at front slope edge of next and foll 0[4:1:4:1] alt rows, then on 4[4:6:5:7] foll 4th rows. 5 sts. Shape Back Neck Border Extension NOTES The yarn amounts stated are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Where only one fi gure is given this applies to all sizes. Where the fi gure 0 appears, no sts, times or rows are worked for this size. After casting off one stitch will remain on the right hand needle which is not included in the instructions that follow. IMPORTANT To ensure accuracy only KING COLE YARNS are suitable. No responsibility will be taken for the result of using any other yarns. It is essential to work to the stated tension to ensure the correct size of garment. Next row. Knit. Rep this row until Back Neck Border Extension measures 9.5[11:11:12:12] cm, 3¾[4¼:4¼:4¾:4¾] in, ending with a ws row. Cast off. SLEEVES (Both alike) Using 3¼ mm needles and thumb method cast on 33[33:37:39:41] sts. 1st row. Knit. Rep this row 5 times more, ending with a ws row. Change to 4 mm needles. Starting with a knit row, cont in st-st as follows: Work 33[14:40:28:22] rows, inc 1 st at each end of 3rd[3rd:5th:5th:5th] and every foll 6th[4th:6th:6th:6th] row. 45[39:49:47:47] sts. For 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sizes Only Work [25:9:33:49] rows, inc 1 st at each end of next and every foll [6th: 8th:8th:8th] row. [49:53:57:61] sts. For All Sizes Cont straight until Sleeve measures 17[20:24:29:33] cm, 6½[7¾: 9½:11½:13] in, ending with a ws row. Shape Raglan Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 39[43:47:51:55] sts. For 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sizes Only Work [2:2:4:4] rows, dec 1 st at each end of every row. [39:43:43:47] sts. For All Sizes Work 28[26:30:30:34] rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every foll alt row and ending with a ws row. 11[13:13:13:13] sts. ** Cast off. TO MAKE UP Join all raglan armhole seams. Join cast-off ends of Back Neck Border Extensions, then sew one edge to back neck edge and top of Sleeves. Join side and Sleeve seams. Sew on buttons. Pin out Cardigan to the measurements given. Cover with clean, damp tea towels and leave to dry. See ball band for washing and further care instructions. WW For every King Cole pattern you buy, a donation will be made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation. 68-69 WW7 Knitting KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 20/03/2023 11:43

70 WOMANSWAY.IE A €500 VOUCHER AT LASER + SKIN CLINICS To enter, please answer the following: NAME ONE OF THE TREATMENTS AVAILABLE AT LASER + SKIN CLINICS. HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by April 10, 2023 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘Laser + Skin Clinics Competition’ Email your answer by April 10 to: womansway@ harmonia.ie including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Laser + Skin Clinics Competition’ This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries after the closing date. Winners will be notifi ed by email. The editor’s decision is fi nal. One lucky reader will win a €500 voucher to use at Laser + Skin Clinics. Recognised as one of Ireland’s most reputable and innovative aesthetic skin clinic groups, Laser + Skin Clinics truly sets the bar for the next generation of anti-ageing clinics that offer the most innovative, safe, and highly effective treatments, alongside a fi ve-star service. Whether it is the stubborn cellulite you’ve been unable to shift, a loss in skin elasticity, hair thinning, visible veins, skin damage, acne scarring, rosacea or pigmentation, Laser + Skin Clinics has a full suite of treatments and tailored packages to specifi cally target every patient’s range of concerns simply, safely and swiftly. Our Body Suite will help you tone and shape your body, with ground-breaking treatments from BTL technologies that include Emsculpt, Emsella and Exilis. LaserAndSkin.ie is now offering Malahide the latest aesthetic treatments and solutions in its beautiful new clinic, including Anti-wrinkle, Fillers, Chemical Peels, Hydrafacials, Coolsculpting, and so much more. For more information or to book a consultation visit laserandskin.ie COMPETITION WinAT LASER + SKIN CLINICS 70 WW07 Laser Skin Comp SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 20/03/2023 12:30

HOROSCOPES WOMANSWAY.IE 71 Find out what your horoscope has in store for you in the weeks ahead with Patrick Arundell. ARIES 21 March – 20 April Ask for it, and you just might get it, Aries. A positive Mercury/Jupiter link gives you the confi dence to boldly go after what you want. Along with your usual fl air, you’ll also have great sensitivity to others’ moods and needs. If you take this too far, it could hold you back. If used wisely, it can be an advantage. Still, the more you put yourself out there, the more you’ll thrive. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May This week’s Quarter Moon can be a call not to ignore your intuition, and instead to refer to it often. Midweek is the time to pay attention to those nudges to go somewhere or do something. You might also feel drawn to someone who could be very helpful to you. Don’t second guess this feeling. Run with it. Keen to overhaul your image? It’s time for the authentic you to emerge. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June A fortuitous encounter could be a high point, bringing a new opportunity that can be a game-changer. You’re in luck, and a connection you forge might yield gold. You’ll also be on the trail of something that may enhance your income. Whether you spot a job or business opportunity or see a way you can profi t, this is the time to go for it. Your calculated move may pay off, Gemini. CANCER 22 June – 23 July You’ll notice the dynamic energy of Mars as it moves deeper into your sign. And you’ll experience more vitality if you don’t keep doubting yourself. Have a long-term plan in mind? A prudent combination of energies means that with a sound strategy, you could very well indeed. Take advantage of a buoyant aspect to empower your goals and enhance your reputation. LEO 24 July – 23 August On the one hand, you’re bursting with ideas that could bring positive change into your life. On the other, you may be experiencing a crisis of belief. If you spot an opportunity this week, jump at it rather than give in to any misgivings. It’s a great chance to overcome emotional blocks, but don’t let this process prevent you from forging ahead with an idea whose time has come. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September A fortunate infl uence in your sector of fi nance and business gives you the boost you need to circumvent a tricky issue and come up trumps. It might also give you the upper hand in discussions and a chance to prove yourself. And a connection you make this week can turn into a solid friendship. It may start slowly, but you could come to rely on each other over time. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Your relationships are your biggest asset this week, as it will be the people in your life who are the bringers of good news, opportunities, social gatherings and recommendations. With Mars and the Quarter Moon in a high-fl ying zone, you’ll also be busy with decisions and plans around your career and goals. A fortunate aspect suggests that the effort you put in will be rewarded. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Good things come your way as the Mercury/ Jupiter tie encourages you to think big and be daring. You’re also persuasive and easily able to sell your ideas to others. This week, something promising may be coming your way that changes your lifestyle for the better. There’s also potential for a new friendship or romance that begins rather cautiously, but soon heats up. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December You’ll be ready for something different, as an uplifting link between Mercury and Jupiter encourages fresh adventures and a proactive approach to showcasing your creative abilities. Looking for romance? You may be drawn to someone who is a great conversationalist. When it comes to domestic matters, you’re about to make great progress with a very tricky issue. CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January You’ll be ready to take someone’s proposal more seriously, which can mean a week of discussions and negotiations. And as pushy Mars aligns with practical Saturn, you’ll be ready to drive a hard bargain. Have a lot of feelings about this project? Keep them in the background until business is concluded. News or an event on the home front could bring happiness. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February You’re on a roll when it comes to talking, negotiating and taking advantage of big opportunities. You could be very persuasive too, mainly because you’re so enthusiastic that others can’t help but feel the same. And there’s the chance of securing a contract that might be long-term, and a boost to your income. A surprise visit can make your week perfect and unforgettable. PISCES 20 February – 20 March There could be a small windfall coming your way that while not life-changing, might be enough for a treat. Someone may also give a present that brings much happiness. This week’s Quarter Moon encourages you to invest in something purely for your own pleasure. If it leaves you feeling good, then don’t hesitate. Finally, a lively reunion brings a chance for a catch-up. WW 71 WW7 Horoscopes KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 22/03/2023 11:47

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ADVICE WOMANSWAY.IE 73 Columnist and trained counsellor Fiona Caine answers another set of reader dilemmas. Dear Fiona If you have a problem you need help with, email Fiona by writing to [email protected] for advice. All letters are treated in complete confidence and, to protect this privacy, Fiona is unable to pass on your messages to other readers. Fiona regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence. HOW CAN I EVER TRUST ANOTHER MAN? My boyfriend left me six months ago. I have no idea if someone else was involved, because he didn’t explain why he dumped me. In fact, he said nothing – just packed his bags and moved out of our flat, leaving me to cover the rent. Then, just last month my stepdad walked out on my mother. He’d been seeing another woman apparently, and decided he was better off with her than my mother. She’s really upset. How can men be so hurtful and thoughtless? We put our trust in them, and all they do is betray us – which is why I am so confused right now because there’s a man I’ve met who wants to take our relationship to the next level. We’ve only been seeing each other for a few weeks, but he seems to be kind, generous and sincere when he says he loves me. How can I trust him though? My exboyfriend was just like this for three years, right up until he wasn’t! I’ve ducked the issue so far, but I don’t think I can keep him dangling for too much longer or he’ll lose interest. I do like him, but I really don’t want to be hurt again. What should I do? H. W. FIONA SAYS: TAKE YOUR TIME A rejection like this is always painful, especially when you don’t know why. But please don’t let these two examples of ‘men behaving badly’ convince you that all men are like this. They are not – and if you allow yourself to dwell on this and how your ex-boyfriend hurt you, you’ll never be able to move on. Yes, he treated you shabbily, but perhaps it’s better that he left when he did. Just think how much worse it would have been if he’d done it 10 years into a marriage and you had children. Looking forwards, it’s possible to minimise your chances of being hurt by simply never committing your feelings to another person. However, the flip side of this is that you’ll also never experience the highs that a genuinely loving relationship can bring. For this reason alone, I think it’s better to try for love, than go through the rest of life never knowing. There are no guarantees that it will work out, and the only certainty is that you’ll not find happiness in a relationship unless you try. However, I am not saying you should jump immediately into a relationship with the next person who shows some interest in you, even if they say they love you. You’ve only known this man for a few weeks, and it would be prudent to spend a bit more time getting to know him. So, rather than push him away, tell him you like him but would prefer to take things slowly and get to know him better. Explain that you’re recovering from a painful break-up and ask him to be patient. If his feelings toward you are genuine, he should be more than willing to do this. IN LOVE WITH A FRIEND OF MY PARENTS I’m 16 and have fallen in love with one of my parent’s friends. He’s 32, lives nearby and visits our house frequently. When he visits, I try to get as close to him as possible, and often wedge myself into the sofa beside him. Last month, he popped in when my parents were out, and I told him how I feel. However, all he did was smile and say that I should get out more and date boys my own age. He didn’t say no, however, so I hope I can still persuade him. The problem is he’s stopped visiting so much, and when he does, he makes sure my parents are around. And if I still manage to get close to him, he moves away. He still smiles at me a lot but that’s it. My parents think the world of him, so should I just tell them how I feel? E. B. FIONA SAYS: PLEASE TRY TO FORGET THIS This man is doing what he can to let you down gently, but you seem not to be getting the message. He’s given you no indication that he’s interested in you, yet you persist in trying to create a relationship where none exists. Quite rightly, rather than betray his friends (your parents), he’s done all he can to distance himself from you – and I think you should too. For now, please don’t be hurt. Instead, accept what he’s said and get out more with people your own age. He is trying to make it clear that nothing is going to happen between you. WW 73 WW7 Dear Fiona KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 20/03/2023 12:31

74 WOMANSWAY.IE By Katie Wright, PA HABIT HELPS Wellbeing Check out our expert tips on how to cut back on things that are bad for you. 74 75 WW07 Wellbeing Opener Cutting SCCCSC2ANAK.indd 2 20/03/2023 12:34

DIET WOMANSWAY.IE 75 By Katie Wright, PA Our new year resolutions are long forgotten. Our Lenten promises may have run out of steam as we face into the last lap before Easter. But it’s always a good time to make healthy changes. Here, experts explain what makes it so hard to give some things up, and offer advice on how to stay the course… CAFFEINE “Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why so many turn to their mug of coffee or tea for that spring in their step,” says Professor Denis Kinane, founding scientist of health and wellness services provider Cignpost. Whether you love a latte or an Earl Grey, that buzz is what makes caffeinated drinks so addictive. “Like any other stimulant, when you stop taking it you may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can make it harder to quit,” Kinane explains. “Caffeine affects the central nervous system, so you may get shaky, irritable, and suffer with headaches.” To lessen the severity, try weaning yourself off. “Start slowly, each day consuming a little less to make the transition easier,” he suggests. ALCOHOL As opposed to alcohol addiction (for which you should seek medical help), if you struggle to cut back or even quit moderate drinking, it’s likely to do with the lifestyle aspects. “Alcohol is often seen as a way to relax and socialise,” says nutritionist Melissa Kuman. “It’s also everywhere, so it is hard to forget about.” Therefore, you’d do better to reduce temptation by avoiding activities that revolve around booze. “Remembering that there are other ways to unwind – such as listening to music, reading a book or socialising with friends who are also staying sober – can be really helpful,” says Kuman. “If you’re looking for an alternative, consider non-alcoholic drinks, such as non-alcoholic gin and mocktails, which can be equally as tasty and satisfying.” MEAT From bacon sarnies at breakfast to roast dinner with all the trimmings on Sunday, meat-based meals are seriously tempting for carnivores. “Many people fi nd meat incredibly enjoyable to eat, due to its savoury fl avour and satisfying texture,” says Kuman. “It’s also incredibly convenient, since it’s widely available and easy to prepare.” To curb your cravings, try experimenting with meat alternatives. “Consider plant-based proteins, such as tofu, tempeh, Quorn and seitan,” Kuman says. “It’s also worth exploring various vegetarian meals to fi nd ones that you fi nd delicious. Spaghetti Bolognese with Quorn mince and shavings of parmesan is a favourite of mine.” CHOCOLATE AND SWEETS “Studies have shown that chocolate can be as addictive as hard drugs by momentarily tapping into the same pleasure centre,” says Kinane. “However, ‘momentarily’ is the key word here. When you eat chocolate, your brain responds but that response only lasts a few minutes, which is why it leaves you craving more.” Likewise, sweets and lollies cause a spike in blood sugar and a subsequent ‘crash’, which makes you want to grab more goodies. “If you’re looking for an alternative, consider healthier snacks, such as dried fruits, which have a chewy, sweet texture or creamy yogurt, whipped with peanut butter,” Kuman says. Citrus fl avours – such as water with a squeeze of lemon or lime – can zap sweet cravings, and it helps to stock up on nutritious foods, she adds: “Keep fruit handy for a natural sweet treat, and eat little and often to avoid reaching for sugary foods when you’re hungry.” FAST FOOD The reason burgers, fi sh and chips, fried chicken and other high-calorie takeaway favourites are so satisfying apparently relates back to caveman times. “Evolutionarily, getting calories on board is extremely important for survival when food is scarce,” Kinane says. “That can go some way to explaining why we fi nd fast food so enjoyable. [They are] high in refi ned carbohydrates and fats, making them rich in calories.” That doesn’t mean you have to eat rabbit food all Easter, though. “Many of your favourite takeaway classics can be made healthier and cheaper at home,” he says. “Particularly those with high satiety, which will make you feel full quicker – foods high in protein can be great for this.” Kuman also recommends batch cooking, so you’ve got healthy meals on hand. “Salads are a great meal prep dish, as you can make lots of different components and combine fresh ingredients each morning,” she says. “You could also sign up to a food delivery company, which makes healthy cooking easy and convenient.” WW promises may have breakfast to roast dinner with all the trimmings on Sunday, meat-based meals are seriously tempting for carnivores. Professor Dennis Kinane fi nd delicious. Spaghetti Bolognese with Quorn mince and shavings of parmesan is a favourite of mine.” “Salads are a great meal prep dish, as you can make lots of different components and combine fresh ingredients each morning,” she says. food delivery company, which makes healthy cooking easy and convenient.” Melissa Kuman 74 75 WW07 Wellbeing Opener Cutting SCCCSC2ANAK.indd 3 20/03/2023 12:34

76 WOMANSWAY.IE By Lisa Salmon, PA FIT ATANY AGE 76 77 WW07 Conley SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:32

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 77 By Lisa Salmon, PA Rosemary Conley has a huge amount to thank fi tness for. Not only has it brought her fame, fortune and happiness, she credits it with helping save her life, too. “When I was two, I developed asthma. I was really very poorly as a child, and my parents were told I was unlikely to live beyond 10 years old,” says Conley – who shot to fame with her Hip And Thigh Diet in 1988, later launching a nationwide chain of franchised Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs. “Thankfully, and obviously, I’ve lived a lot longer than that!” Now 76, she has made very good use of the ‘extra’ time she’s had. As well as her clubs, which went into administration in 2014, she’s written a plethora of books, made regular TV and video appearances – and even now still teaches exercise classes and keeps herself extremely fi t. Conley, who lives with her second husband Mike Rimmington in Leicestershire, continues to see a lung specialist regularly – and says he told her if she hadn’t become a fi tness trainer, her life story would be very different. “I’ve been teaching fi tness for 50 years, and it’s been good fortune that I turned into a career of fi tness, which has developed my lungs,” she refl ects. “My specialist cannot believe that I do what I do with the lungs I have.” She now has monthly injections of a new biologic asthma drug, which has “dramatically extended” her breathing capacity, as well as taking four inhalers every day, plus a bronchodilator. “Right through my life, with inhalers, tablets, etc, I’ve managed my asthma,” she says. “I’ve never been hospitalised with it, but it has very much been there. I’ve had to have steroids occasionally. I’ve had pneumonia, I’ve had chest infections, and my body will react badly if I get a really bad cold.” She also has the chronic lung condition bronchiectasis, which damages the airways and can cause excessive mucus. “It all sounds incredibly gloomy, but I have to tell you, I’ve led an incredibly full life,” she says. “I still teach classes, I go for personal training twice a week, and I do a ballet class on a Friday. Normally, I walk for 30 minutes every morning as well. “I work well in the gym, I really do,” Conley adds. “I invest myself in my fi tness because I want to live – I want to live as long as I can possibly drag every year out of my life.” The remarkable pensioner proudly states that she has blood pressure of 120/60: “At 76 years old, that’s not bad.” DIET STRUGGLES But although she’s very slim and fi t now, she has had her own weight problems in the past, she points out. “I struggled to maintain my weight for quite a while, and it was when I discovered low-fat eating in 1986 that my whole life changed as far as food was concerned, because I found I could eat quite well and lose weight.” A few years later, her Hip And Thigh Diet was published. “It was a huge international bestseller, it made me famous,” she says. “It was very appropriate then, it’s not particularly appropriate now. I still bang the drum for lowfat, even though it’s completely unfashionable. I still eat a low-fat diet myself, absolutely.” She says she “absolutely never” eats takeaways, declaring: “I think they’re unhealthy. I really am a fi rm believer that we should try and cook our own food so we know what’s in it, and if we did, we’d feel so much better.” Despite her age, she has no plans to hang up her trainers, and is still full of infectious enthusiasm about the classes she teaches and their loyal members – some of whom are even older than she is. “I do two classes every Monday night, I’ve been doing them for 50 years, and I have many members who’ve been coming for over 40 years and they’re still coming every week, bless them. I love them! They’re fi tness classes, and we do some aerobics and some strength work, and I have three people who are over 80, and about 10 people in their mid-70s. We’ve all grown old together.” Attending her weekly gym and ballet sessions help keep her core muscles strong, she notes – and she does all this despite the fact she has arthritis in her feet and hands. “I’ve got a knee injury at the moment, and arthritic feet, but I can normally manage my arthritic feet with paracetamol, and exercise – it’s so important you move when you’ve got arthritis,” Conley stresses. “It’s in my hands too, but they’re not painful, whereas my feet are painful.” She’s determined to share her keep-fi t message with other older people – in 2021, she even launched a new website (rosemaryconley.com), designed to help the over60s live longer, healthier, happier lives. “It’s about lifestyle,” says Conley. “You’ve got to fi nd a way to make one or two decisions, like stop snacking, for example.” Of course, she believes exercise is crucial whatever your age, and for people just starting a fi tness journey, she suggests it’s always a good idea to simply go for a walk. “It’s free, it’s healthy, it’s good for your legs, it’s good for your heart and lungs. And if you’re feeling fi tter, then fi nd a walk with a bit of a hill in it, and that’s even better. “It’s never, ever too late to change your lifestyle. If people in their 80s start exercising, the benefi t will be enormous,” Conley enthuses. “With the right attitude and a love for life, it’s amazing what can be achieved.” WW The original diet and exercise guru Rosemary Conley talks about leading fi tness classes at 76, and why asthma and arthritis haven’t held her back. “I really am a firm believer that we should try and cook our own food so we know what’s in it, and if we did, we’d feel so much better” 76 77 WW07 Conley SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:32

78 WOMANSWAY.IE By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA 78 79 WW07 Spinning SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:33

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 79 By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA 3 VARIATIONS IN IMPACT Indoor cycling can be good for anyone. “A lesser referenced, but completely valid benefi t is the fact that it can be as low-impact as you want it to be – meaning it can be fantastic for anyone recovering from injury. You can still achieve a great workout, but due to the stationary nature of the bike, there is little chance for re-injury,” Mitchell explains. 4 LOWER BODY STRENGTH “Indoor cycling can be sensational for your lower body and core muscle defi nition. There is no underestimating how vital your core strength is to everyday life – we are talking about the muscles that literally hold us up,” Mitchell says. 5 REDUCTION OF INJURY “As much as classes are accessible to those recovering from injury, cycling is also an amazing exercise for reducing your risk of injury in the future. If you don’t use it, you lose it, right? If you’re not using your muscles and joints, they become rusty – the more we activate our muscles, the longer they will take care of us – and indoor cycling activates almost every muscle in the body during a single session. This reduces your risk of future injury by an incredible amount for everyday life,” Mitchell says. WW S pinning, or indoor cycling, is a great way to get fi t, but what exactly are the benefi ts? 1 IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH “From entry-level to intermediate fi tness seekers, there really is nothing quite like a cycling class for all-around health and wellbeing benefi ts. One major benefi t is in its intrinsic link to improving cardiovascular health – a global issue impacting an ever-ageing and less active population. Never has there been a more pertinent time to prioritise cardiovascular health and care,” says Lee Mitchell, personal trainer and editor of running advice site Jogger. “Classes can be intense, often working the cardiovascular system towards its upper threshold. This means that your heart, lungs and circulatory system will be working incredibly hard, leading to a long-term reduction in resting heart rate and actually improving your capacity for all exercise – lessening the strain on your heart and effectively conditioning it. Remember, your heart is a muscle like any other – it must be worked and cared for like any other.” 2 POSITIVE HORMONES Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your mood. “Another amazing – yet unseen to the naked eye – benefi t, is what happens inside your head. There is a deluge of endorphins that are released almost instantaneously, triggered by this form of exercise. “This leads to a more specifi c release of dopamine and the feeling of accomplishment achieved by smashing a goal. There is no limit to this sensation, as it does not dull over time – meaning you will receive it each and every time you get on that bike. This [feels like] elation and leads to the added knockon benefi ts of classes being a fantastic stress reliever and confi dence booster in the long run – taking care of your body and your mind in tandem,” says Mitchell. INDOOR CYCLING What are the benefi ts of the popular group cycle classes? 78 79 WW07 Spinning SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:33

80 WOMANSWAY.IE By Abi Jackson, PA Half of us aren’t getting the optimal seven to eight hours of sleep a night, according to the Twinings 2023 Sleep Census – and it’s having an impact. Almost a third of the 2,000 adults surveyed said they’d experienced reduced productivity, while 22 per cent said they’d fallen out with friends or partners as a result of being sleep-deprived. This probably sounds all too familiar to many of us. So, what’s going on? ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP? “If we look at the factors which can disturb sleep, they are endless, whether that be lifestyle factors, bedroom environments, work, or external influences like stress and mental health. But insomnia tends to be a learned condition, whereby the brain begins to associate night-time with wakefulness,” explains Dr Guy Meadows, co-founder of Sleep School. “As a result of beginning to worry about not sleeping, the brain begins to become hyper-aroused, and to associate night-time with being in a state of fight or flight. That’s a chronic condition affecting around 10 to 15 per cent of the population,” he adds. “What’s clear about this Twinings research is the vast majority of people are Health NIGHT, NIGHT... As new findings reveal most of us aren’t getting enough shut-eye, we talk to a leading sleep expert. 80 81 WW05 Health Opener Sleep SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:36

SLEEP WOMANSWAY.IE 81 By Abi Jackson, PA just not getting enough sleep. A quarter are getting fi ve hours or less a night.” THE LATE BEDTIME TRAP There’s an obvious solution: just go to bed earlier. So, why does that feel so much easier said than done? “We are in a very challenging time,” Meadows acknowledges. “We saw from the research, 17 per cent are feeling stressed about fi nances, 15 per cent are worrying about work. There was research from ONS [Offi ce for National Statistics] as well, which showed more and more people are getting a second job. So unfortunately, if people are working longer, people are generally sleeping less.” It’s understandable if people feel their only opportunity to relax is late in the evening. “I think there is an element of people wanting to have their own bit of time,” agrees Meadows. “From the research, 19 per cent said they’re staying up late watching fi lms or TV.” As relatable as this is though, it can be a “trap” that eats into our sleep – and ultimately leaves us more drained. ARE WE PRIORITISING SLEEP ENOUGH? “What is absolutely key to me is raising the importance of sleep. Sleep is the single most powerful performance-enhancing, health-providing behaviour known to humankind – and it’s completely free,” says Meadows. “And we unfortunately do put it very low down on our list of priorities, despite the fact that getting that little bit of extra sleep will mean you wake up more refreshed, a little happier, you might be a little bit more productive, not to mention all the health benefi ts. “I think there does need to be a bit of a re-evaluation – from people, and there’s a certain responsibility from tech as well. All the streaming services, our smartphones, they’re designed to hit on our weaknesses, whether it be a little swirling button [when] a message comes up that stimulates the release of dopamine in our brain – and we just love it, we love to keep scrolling.” WHAT IF YOU WAKE DURING THE NIGHT? For many, waking during the night is the problem. Identifying external factors adding to this is helpful – noise, a bedroom that’s too hot, aches and pains. Are there solutions you could try? Stress and anxiety might be a big culprit, if you’re lying in bed with racing thoughts at 3am. How we respond to night-waking plays a big part too. “One of the fi rst things I always try to get across is that it’s perfectly normal to wake in the night. That helps to allay a lot of anxiety and frustration – because people believe, ‘Oh, I’m meant to put my head on the pillow, fall asleep, and not wake up until [the morning]’. The reality is, we sleep in cycles which are an hour-and-a-half to two hours long, we have these natural breaks,” explains Meadows. “One of the problems is that when we experience times like now, when we’ve got more to worry about, our thinking mind can hijack those [natural breaks], and that can make it harder to fall back to sleep.” One of the worst things we can do is reach for our phones, as the light exposure activates our physiological waking mode – not to mention the emotional responses if you happen to see a work email or message. Meadows suggest a mindfulness exercise instead. “What we want to do is respond in a way which helps us to stay in a state of quiet, restful wakefulness. Just resting in bed is actually really helpful – you’re still getting growth and repair, and memory consolidation and energy conservation,” he says. “If you fi nd your mind is super busy, using some sort of acceptancebased mindfulness exercise can be really valuable. Focus your attention on something in the moment – for example, the breath. “Do a little body scan, noticing: where do I feel the contact of the bed with my body? Scan from the head to the toes, nice and slowly, just going, ‘I can feel the pillow on my cheek, I can feel the mattress on my shoulders, the duvet on my toes’. Doing that helps get out of your head and into your bed.” Thoughts will come and go – and that’s OK. “It’s about being able to acknowledge those thoughts, rather than banish or block them. That’s the skill we want to practise, being able to notice and let go, notice and let go,” says Meadows. “That helps us stay in that state of quiet, restful wakefulness, which is the steppingstone towards sleeping.” WW “Sleep is the single most powerful performanceenhancing, health-providing behaviour known to humankind” Too much screen time makes it harder to sleep 80 81 WW05 Health Opener Sleep SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:36

82 WOMANSWAY.IE By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA Endometriosis is still underdiagnosed and misunderstood by many. It often takes a laparoscopy (a surgical procedure to access the abdomen) to even be able to diagnose endometriosis, and the average sufferer waits seven and a half years for answers. So many people are left with debilitating symptoms – putting their lives on hold. Here, three women share what it’s really like to live with the condition. GRACE HART-COOMBES 22, and host of the Gynae Waiting Room podcast “I was diagnosed with Endometriosis in March 2021 after almost eight years of symptoms. Since the moment I started my periods, I’ve had problems,” Hart-Coombes says. Going to the doctor for the fi rst time with symptoms aged just 14, she was given the combined contraceptive pill and sent on her way. “Over my teenage years, things got worse, I spent a lot of time in and out of A&E, had 50 per cent attendance at school and was referred to various doctors. The gynaecologists did scans and did not fi nd anything, so referred me to gastroenterologists who did various investigations which were not conclusive. After this, I was referred to a psychologist and told I had anxiety-led abdominal pains at 16.” Several years later, after taking information to her doctor about endometriosis, she was taken seriously and had two laparoscopies – fi nally resulting in a diagnosis. “Prior to my second surgery, I would sometimes have two months off work, where I would be physically unable to even take myself to the bathroom. Last year, I LIVING WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS Endometriosis is a debilitating chronic illness – here’s what it’s like to live with. Grace Hart-Coombes 82 83 WW06 Health Endo SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:47

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 83 By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA had to change careers due to the physical restraints endometriosis put on my body, I left what I thought would be my forever career [as a physiotherapy assistant] because it was too physically straining.” Now she works more fl exibly in marketing but her life has been constantly disturbed by the condition. “I’ve grown apart from friends over the years, due to being unable to follow up with plans. There have been many strains throughout the years on all relationships in my life due to them struggling to understand – friends, family, and partners. “When I have fl are-ups, I have to rely a lot on my parents. I’m terrifi ed of not being able to have children, having to have multiple surgeries, and having to manage pain and the mental health that comes along with it. I have been prescribed oral morphine for the bad fl are-ups, and can’t go a day without using a hot water bottle or a TENS machine [pain relief from a mild electrical current]. “My life is completely controlled by endometriosis. I have had to make dietary changes to avoid possible triggers of pain, I have to be careful I don’t over-exert myself. When the pain is at its worst, I struggle to eat, I get extremely nauseous, I suffer immensely with constipation, and I become increasingly anxious about leaving the house.” YANA MILADINOVA 27, a senior account manager in PR “I was 13 years old when I got my fi rst period. I was 14 years old when I was told to ‘man up’ and participate in PE classes despite my heavy period and horrible pain. After years of drugging myself with painkillers, going to doctor appointments and reading hundreds of articles online, I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2021,” she says. Miladinova has had one laparoscopy and is on track to have another, as she says medications do nothing for her debilitating pain. “Endometriosis impacts your whole body, physically and mentally. I had to stop drinking alcohol and caffeine as they are infl ammatory ingredients that intensify my pain. I even tried a glutenfree diet for a while as there was research that said it could help with endometriosis,” she says. “Every woman experiences it differently, but it’s usually recommended to exercise and stay fi t, so there is less fat in your body that can irritate the endo tissue. But even that could be a challenge as the pain can come at any time, and I have had several occasions where I start crying during my workout – it feels like someone is tearing your fl esh from the inside, and there is nothing you can do.” But it goes beyond physical pain. “Personally, I think endometriosis has affected me more emotionally and mentally rather than physically. No doctor prepares you for the emotional toll that this condition takes on you. You start blaming yourself and ask the worst question possible – what if I did something differently, would I have it then? “Mentally, I’m exhausted. The condition is forever, and I have accepted that, but realising that there is something in your body that you cannot control no matter how much you want, that’s just annoying. I feel anxious most of the time thinking about the future. There have been cases where endometriosis affects women’s fertility, so what if that happens to me?” JO GIFFORD 46, blogger, author and graphic designer Gifford’s journey with endometriosis began at 19. “I experienced heavy periods and chronic pain that sent me to the A&E multiple times. However, it took nearly a decade for me to receive a proper diagnosis,” she says. “During that time, I felt like I was in a state of limbo, struggling to understand why my body was constantly exhausted, despite being [young]. “My fatigue and pain not only affected my personal life but also my professional life. I was working as a graphic designer and design manager while also pursuing a part-time master’s degree, but my body couldn’t keep up with the demands of a nine-tofi ve work schedule and social activities. “Eventually, I hit burnout and knew I needed to fi nd a way to manage my symptoms while still being able to work and thrive.” Changing her work setup has brought some relief. She became a freelancer in 2006, allowing her to work remotely and asynchronously. “Despite the challenges of endometriosis, I am grateful to have become a mother to twin girls. However, managing chronic pain while caring for them as infants was incredibly diffi cult. “My symptoms have fl uctuated over time, and now in perimenopause, I also deal with adenomyosis which affects me every month. Some days I am fi lled with energy and can be a vibrant, active woman in my fourties, but other times, I am completely exhausted and struggle to get through the day. “Living with endometriosis can feel like your life is on hold, with crippling fatigue, pain, waiting for treatments and diagnosis, and uncertainty about how you’ll feel on any given day. “It’s challenging for those around me to understand the invisible toll it takes on me mentally, emotionally, physically, and energetically. I have to constantly battle my symptoms and adjust my plans last minute based on how I feel. “I try to focus on the positive moments when I am able to wild swim, lift weights, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy the things I love.” WW Jo Gifford Yana Miladinova 82 83 WW06 Health Endo SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:46

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86 WOMANSWAY.IE By Hannah Stephenson, PA SHOP SAVVY Beware of supermarket sales ploys and psychological tricks, warns finance expert Paul Lewis. 86 87 WW04 Household Food Shop SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 21/03/2023 14:55

HOUSEHOLD WOMANSWAY.IE 87 By Hannah Stephenson, PA How can we change our behaviour to save money while food shopping? Financial journalist Paul Lewis, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box and author of the new tiein book, offers the following tips… 1 BE AWARE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PLOYS “Supermarkets know psychologically how we shop. So they will put the things they want to sell roughly at eye level,” says Lewis. “If you want cheaper things, look at the lowest shelf or the higher shelf and see if there’s a cheaper alternative that isn’t at eye level. Things at eye level are also items that they hope you’ll buy when you didn’t really need them.” 2 MAKE A LIST “Always make a list and try to stick to it,” he advises. “If you see something that isn’t on your list but looks really nice, ask yourself, ‘Can I really afford that?’ and if you can’t, don’t buy it. Spontaneous purchases don’t always get eaten and are generally more expensive.” 3 AVOID FOOD SHOPPING WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY We’ve all heard this before – and it really can make a big difference to what ends up in our trolley or basket. As Lewis says simply: “If you food shop when you’re hungry you’ll buy too much.” 4 USE A SMALL TROLLEY “Go for a small trolley or even just a basket,” Lewis advises. If you have a huge trolley there’s plenty of room to put stuff in and that may include things you don’t need, he adds. 5 AVOID AISLE SURFING “Don’t go all the way round, up one aisle and down the next, because you’ll be going past all those things they are trying to make you buy,” Lewis says. “Go to the things you need, assuming you know where they are and it’s a supermarket you’re used to.” 6 TIME YOURSELF “There was some research by Bangor University which found that after 40 minutes of walking around a supermarket, your brain starts making irrational decisions and you start putting things in that you shouldn’t put in. “Also, do your shopping towards the end of the day, when supermarkets are more likely to reduce items, but be aware that the things they mark down are the things they can’t sell tomorrow.” 7 MAKE YOUR OWN BARGAINS “Supermarkets will try to sell you stuff they want to get rid of, or they are making the most profi t on. But own brand [items for things] such as beans and frozen peas are often as good and are cheaper. Wean yourself off expensive brands and on to own brands and cheaper brands. “You’ll also fi nd that unwrapped fruit and vegetables are cheaper than ones in plastic wrappers, normally. Look at the price of items per 100 grams, per weight, or per unit. With dishwasher tablets, for example, don’t look at the price of the box, look at the price per unit, which they all list,” Lewis adds. “Some can be twice as much per unit as others. Buy the cheapest, which might not always be the biggest. It might be a smaller one that they want to get rid of. Never go for a two-for-one offer, because chances are that number two will never be eaten or will go off.” 8 CONSIDER SCANNING If you scan your items as you go round, that will help you keep a tally of how much you’re spending before you get to the checkout, and give you an easier opportunity to put things back, Lewis observes. 9 DO YOU REALLY NEED FRESH BREAD? “We all love fresh bread, but it can be dearer. Of course, the smell of the bread is there because it tempts you to buy more than you need,” says Lewis. “If you buy two loaves when you only need one, put one in the freezer because it will keep for quite a long time.” 10 WATCH OUT FOR CATCHES WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE “With online supermarket shopping, they still try to tempt you to buy things with offers, you can’t always fi nd what you want and they aren’t cheaper.” He also agrees that fresh items you haven’t selected yourself may be closer to their sell-by date than they might be had you picked them yourself. 11 CHOOSE SUPERMARKETS WISELY “There is a huge difference between supermarkets and the cheapest are much cheaper than the most expensive,” says Lewis. “The problem is that it’s a long way to some supermarkets and if you have to get a bus, you can outweigh any possible savings by going to a supermarket closer to home. But if you do have that choice, it’s worth thinking about.” WW shopping? Financial journalist BBC Radio and author of the new tieto make you buy,” Lewis says. “Go to the things you need, assuming you know where they are and it’s a supermarket you’re used to.” 6 TIME YOURSELF “There was some research by Bangor Paul Lewis lowest shelf or the higher shelf and see if they can’t sell tomorrow.” Money Box by Paul Lewis is published by BBC Books. Available now. and vegetables are cheaper than ones to get a bus, you can outweigh any possible savings by going to a supermarket closer to home. But if you do have that choice, it’s worth 86 87 WW04 Household Food Shop SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:55

By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA 88 WOMANSWAY.IE A romantic tattoo is a pretty bold move and celebs don’t seem to be afraid to make it. Getting a tattoo for a romantic partner is one of the biggest commitments you can make – outlasting many a relationship. But that doesn’t stop lots of celebrities taking the plunge with ink. 1 JUSTIN AND HAILEY BIEBER Never afraid to make a serious declaration of love, Justin Bieber allegedly still has an angel tattoo on his wrist, said to have been for former long-term teenage sweetheart Selena Gomez. Now, he has a matching peach tattoo following hit single Peaches with his wife Hailey. While his is doodled on his neck (amongst his already extensive body art) his wife’s is more subtle, located on her forearm. 2 CHRISSY TEIGEN AND JOHN LEGEND Presenter and model Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend have never been quiet about their love and their family, and these cute matching tattoos spelling out the names of their kids and each other are an adorable way to take their family everywhere. When the couple lost their unborn baby in 2020, a new tattoo of his name, Jack, was added to Teigen’s wrist. She quipped in an Instagram post about the matching family tattoos that they are “ a cool tattoo family now”. 3 JENNIFER LOPEZ AND BEN AFFLECK Power couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affl eck appear to have had new tattoos done to celebrate their “commitment” to each other, sharing pictures on Instagram on Valentine’s Day. Lopez’s, on her side, shows an infi nity symbol with an arrow through it, while Affl eck’s consists of two arrows with the initials J and B. “Commitment. Happy Valentine’s Day my love,” Lopez captioned the post. 4 BEYONCÉ AND JAY Z Beyoncé Knowles and her husband Jay Z went against wedding ring traditions and replaced bands with tattoos – and both have the number four in Roman numerals (IV). In her Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 concert series, Knowles went into the logic behind LOVE 1 A romantic tattoo is a pretty T 3 a  88 89 WW07 Celeb Tats SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 22/03/2023 17:01

By Imy Brighty-Potts, PA WOMANSWAY.IE 89 CELEBRITY 5 4 the number’s importance in her personal life. “On 4th April 2008 — eight divided by two is four — [Jay Z] put a ring on it,” she explained. Both of their birthdays are also both on the fourth of the month. Many fans have gone on to replicate the ink. 5 DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM Beckham is inked all over, and he has a huge range of tattoos for – and matching with – his wife Victoria. The ex-footballer has a tattoo of her name on his hand and a full-body image of the Spice Girl on his arm. He also has ’99’ tattooed on his pinky fi nger – the year they married. On his wrist are the Roman numerals ‘VIII.V.MMVI’, representing May 8, 2006 – the date they couple took part in a secret commitment ceremony. Victoria got her husband’s initials, ‘DB’, on her wrist to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary – but later got it removed, telling Today show last year that she became “a bit sick of the tattoo” and that it had “started to bleed and go a blue-y colour”. 6 BROOKLYN BECKHAM AND NICOLA PELTZ David Beckham’s son Brooklyn has followed suit, and already has several tattoos for his new wife Nicola Peltz, including a huge inking of her surname across his chest. The word ‘marriage’ is emblazoned on his wrist and his wedding vows are literally written out on his inner arm. In 2020 he had Peltz’s eyes inked onto the back of his neck, and underneath is a love letter to her. Peltz is thought to have ‘Brooklyn’ inked on her back and both have matching butterfl y tats. 7 ZAYN MALIK AND GIGI HADID One Direction star Zayn Malik and model Gigi Hadid ended their relationship in 2021 but do have matching tattoos for their daughter Khai, who was born in September 2020 – red inkings of her name in Arabic. 8 MEGAN FOX AND MACHINE GUN KELLY Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly love a matching outfi t – and a matching tattoo. They have the same voodoo doll tattoos on their ring fi ngers. WW 8 88 89 WW07 Celeb Tats SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 22/03/2023 17:02

CELEBRITIES 90 WOMANSWAY.IE 1 SIR IAN MCKELLEN’S POETRY RECITAL Sir Ian McKellen opened the SS Daley show with a reading of Alfred Tennyson’s poem The Coming Of Arthur. The 83-year-old wore a navy pea coat, trousers and beret. He walked the runway, then joined designer Steven Stokey-Daley for a bow at the end. 2 FLORENCE PUGH’S SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE Actor and red carpet style icon Florence Pugh made a surprise appearance on the Harris Reed catwalk. Wearing an elaborate harlequin sequin dress and huge headpiece, the Don’t Worry Darling star – who later wore a dress designed by Reed for Nina Ricci to the Baftas – opened the show, held at Tate Modern. Reciting a spoken word piece, she invited the audience to “embrace the lamé and sequins of life, because all the world’s a stage”, quoting Shakespeare's comedy line in As You Like It. 3 SECONDHAND STYLE AT OXFAM Putting sustainability in the spotlight, Oxfam’s Fashion Fighting Poverty show featured a slew of celebrities wearing secondhand outfi ts. Supermodel Erin O’Connor, activist and broadcaster Munroe Bergdorf, and model Daisy Lowe (currently pregnant with her fi rst child) were some of the stars who walked the runway in clothes that are now being auctioned on eBay. 4 JULIEN MACDONALD’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN Following a three-year absence from the London Fashion Week schedule, Julien Macdonald was in the mood to party on Sunday night. Presenting his Julien X Gabriela AW23 collection (a collaboration with Mexican designer Gabriela Gonzalez), the Welshborn designer brought the house down with a highoctane show soundtracked by club bangers. Clad in sequin-encrusted gowns and skimpy bodysuits, supermodels Winnie Harlow, Leomie Anderson and Cindy Bruna gave a masterclass in catwalking, as they strutted the runway and posed for photographers. The enthusiastic audience included Gemma Collins, Amanda Holden, Despacito singer Luis Fonsi, and Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara. WW By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor London Fashion Week was back with a bang for autumn/winter 2023, returning to a full schedule of catwalk shows and presentations. Celebrities were out in force – on the runways and the front row – as designers old and new unveiled their latest collections. Here are some of our favourite moments… London Moments Florence Pugh backstage at Harris Reed Daisy Lowe walks for Oxfam Sir Ian McKellen on the SS Daley catwalk 90 WW07 Celeb London SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 22/03/2023 11:51

CHARITIES WOMANSWAY.IE 91 By Astrid Madsen At Woman’s Way we’re all about the positive power of giving back. Here’s our round up of the best ways to pay it forward this fortnight. LEND A HAND Living with COPD On World Health Day Friday, April 7 from 12 to 1:30pm, COPD Support Ireland is hosting a free webinar called Living Your Best Life with COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease refers to conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema. Expect tips on positive lifestyle changes, including maintaining mental fi tness, making food enjoyable and rediscovering the benefi ts of outdoor activity. Speakers include psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy, award-winning landscape gardener David Shortall, and chef, author and TV presenter Adrian Martin. Attendees will also be signposted to resources in their communities, such as support groups, hospital pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, Living Well self-management support programmes, the COPD & Me exercise programme, and the SingStrong programme for better lung health. To register visit copd.ie Walk for Autism Fundraise for AsIAm, the Irish autism charity, on World Autism Day this Sunday April 2 at 11am by taking part in the 5 km Same Chance Walk for Autism. It’s a woodland walk at the Belmont Demesne in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Book a family pass for €50, or individual tickets at €25 each, and fundraise what you can in the run up to the day. The money will go directly towards supporting programmes and services for autistic individuals and their families. To register visit asiam.ie Get It Checked When treating cancer, early detection is everything and the Irish Cancer Society is asking everyone to keep up to date with their screenings. Case in point is 74-year-old Mary O'Callaghan from Swords, now fully recovered, who was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. Her GP sent her for a mammogram because her sister had just had breast cancer. "My generation or older, may still feel that there is some stigma attached to breast cancer and they don’t feel comfortable talking about it,” said Mary. “I want people of my age group to know that it is ok to talk about it, and that support is there for them.” Memory Tree Donate to The Alzheimer Society on memorytree.ie, a remembrance website that raises funds for the charity. Your donation will add a leaf on the virtual memory tree in the name of somebody special who is no longer with us. You can donate as little or as much as you want in memory of a loved one. Simply share their name and also add a special story or a simple message if you wish. The Alzheimer’s Society provides services for people living with dementia, their families and carers. There are over 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland and behind each one of these is a person, a family, a loved one, a community and many thousands of memories. Visit memorytree.ie June Bank Holiday MARATHONS Start training for a June bank holiday weekend mini-marathon to support your charity of choice. The VHI Women’s 10-km mini-marathon in Dublin takes place on Saturday June 3, with the Irish Cancer Society and the Laura Lynn Foundation at the ready with free t-shirts and fundraising packs to get you started. There are many more charities to support, from Diabetes Ireland to Operation Smile which helps children with clefts. Further south, the Cork City Marathon on Sunday June 4 can be run as a half marathon as part of a charity run with the likes of the IPCC’s Team Childline. Visit vhiwomensminimarathon. ie, corkcitymarathon.ie and charity websites. Daffodil Day is the annual fundraiser supporting the charity’s good work but donations are accepted online year-round. Visit cancer.ie 91 WW7 Lend a Hand KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 14:56

QUICK FIRE 92 WOMANSWAY.IE By Niamh O’Reilly Paying Who would be your ideal dinner guest? Hands down Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally. I think they are just so funny and you couldn’t invite one without the other. It would just be rude. Describe yourself in a hashtag? #Lucky. How could I feel anything but lucky? Not only am I cancer-free, I am healthy. I have the most amazing husband and my boys are the most beautiful souls. They’re very active souls which means that I’m also #tired. What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I’m quite sensitive and I think that it’s quite a nice thing about me. Even though I am extremely resilient and come across as a confident person I am very sensitive. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I think this is why I am an empathetic person. Never leave the house without? Usually a child. I also don’t leave without my phone and a bottle of water. I find since my treatment if I don’t drink enough water I feel miserable pretty quickly. What’s your wake-up ritual? I would love to say that my wake-up ritual is a very zen affair but with four small children ages six and under it is not always. Of late though I am trying to make sure that I go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and have some time to myself to get ready and have a cup of tea before the boys wake up to get the morning off on the right foot. What will you be doing in five years? Personally, I know I’ll continue to be healthy and enjoy family life. I’ve always wanted to be a mum and I feel so lucky we completed our family before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know not everyone is as lucky. What’s the best thing that happened to you this month? Myself and my husband have managed to persuade enough babysitters to look after the boys so we can go away for a night. We can’t wait. With four children under six, these trips are few and far between. What’s your favourite board game? It used to be Monopoly but my husband is really competitive so he’s ruined that one. Over Christmas, we played a lot of Cluedo and had great fun teaching the boys. When are you most inspired? Usually late at night when I’m supposed to be winding down. I’m a night owl. Do you own any pets? Yes, we have two cute little dogs. Oscar and Millie. Most embarrassing moment? I don’t think I tend to embarrass myself quite easily, although I do have a habit of putting my foot in it. Ideal way to spend a Saturday night? Definitely a steak dinner with my family, my husband cooks the best steak. When the boys are in bed a glass of wine and a comedy on the TV. What is one thing you still have from your childhood? My aunt bought me a teddy bear that is a purple duck-billed platypus and I just love him. His name is Quackers and the older two boys have him in their room now. They share him these days and if one of them is scared they’ll snuggle him. I tell them that he’s kept me safe all my life and he’ll always keep them safe. What’s playing on your music playlist right now? A mix between Cocomelon and Hamilton the musical. They each serve their purpose depending on the day. If you could raid one woman’s wardrobe, whose would it be? I think Pippa O’Connor, I love her classic style. WW Mum to four boys, nurse and midwife Laura O’Brien’s life was turned upside down in 2020 when she got the news she had breast cancer. Contending with pandemic restrictions and a four-month-old baby, she came out the other side and set up Your Hospital Bag to make life easier for those requiring hospital stays. Laura O’Brien itForward 92 WW7 Quickfire KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 20/03/2023 16:28

LIFESTYLE WOMANSWAY.IE 93 WE TRIED... airports selling brush-your-teeth-quick contraptions. My memory is a bit hazy but I think they were toothpaste tablets stuck to a bristle. My pills tasted pretty much like my memory of that. A bit chalky, not much mint fl avour. Some foam but nothing like toothpaste. I also had to remind myself not to swallow the pill after one chomp. It did feel somewhat futuristic. Will food come in pills next? Thankfully, they don’t taste horrible. They’re just bland. A hard sell compared to regular, smooth, minty-fresh toothpaste. My brain couldn’t help but ask if A, it really was toothpaste, and B, if these wannabes really could clean my teeth. The lacklustre foaminess did not last for the full two minutes either. But then I remembered a dentist once told me that brushing correctly was the most important part of the process, not so much the toothpaste. (It obviously was not the dentist in the advert on telly.) I don’t have a scientifi c way to prove this but the tablets felt like they were doing the same job as my regular toothpaste. My teeth felt just as clean after brushing. MID-WAY THROUGH I stayed at it for a few days. Then I caved, and switched back to the good stuff. My mouth simply could not thank me enough. It was in foamy minty heaven. Naturally, I went on to forget about the tablets for a while. Then when I got used to toothpaste again, I could no longer ignore the paper bag on the bathroom shelf. And so I went back on the chew. Insipid as ever. But do I really need to enjoy brushing my teeth? It feels like nowadays every mundane experience has to blow your socks off. Or at least entertain you. Yes, the lack of foam and minty freshness are a bit of a downer. But then again, foaminess probably comes at the expense of yet another chemical that kills nature in some maddening way. END RESULT I’ll keep at it but will try out other brands of tablets that promise more spice. What I really can’t get my head around is why regular toothpaste isn’t banned. We know how to make toothpaste tablets. We know toothpaste is a waste of precious resources (especially water) and damages wildlife. If toothpaste tablets were the only option, I’m convinced those TV dentists would formulate great-tasting, foamy pills in no time. WW WHAT? Toothpaste tablets are small white pills designed to replace toothpaste. Pop one in your mouth, give it a chew or two until it starts to disintegrate and you’re ready to brush your teeth as normal. Made of chalk and ingredients that care for your teeth, some are fl avoured, others whiten. They may contain fl uoride or even chemicals, so check the ingredients. I bought plain ones, without checking the ingredients. WHY? Toothpaste tablets avoid most of the things that are wrong with regular toothpaste. Such as the ingredients harmful to marine life, including colourants Helidone Pink and Brilliant Blue FCF. It also does away with packaging. As we all know by now, manufacturing plastic and disposing of it is harmful to the environment. That sleek shiny plastic tube is not easy to recycle either. And as with most care products, if you look at the label, Aqua is the main ingredient. Which is a fancy way (or the Latin way) to say water, one of our most precious resources. We need to conserve it, even in Ireland. Just look at the plans to get water from the Shannon River to supply Dublin. STARTING OUT I bought the tablets out of curiosity at my local refi ll shop. The vendor just scooped a handful into a paper bag, so I’ve no real idea what’s in them. Not that I asked. It did take me a few weeks to get around to trying them out. Mostly because they reminded me of those vending machines that were around We’re all about self-care at Woman’s Way. In this issue, Astrid Madsen tries toothpaste tablets. Toothpaste Tablets Does the D stand for Delightful or Disgusting? 93 WW07 We Tried SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 3 21/03/2023 15:11

OPINION 94 WOMANSWAY.IE By Grumpy Old Woman WHY is this a thing? BACK GARDEN DOGS I you live in a suburban area, the chances are you are in close proximity to a back garden dog. Sadly there are far too many pet owners who think leaving a dog to live out the back from morning to night is perfectly acceptable, or even worse, in a side entrance, dog run or balcony. I’m not talking about working dogs who get stimulation and company on the farm every day. I’m talking about the lonely dog banished to live in an average small garden. Dogs are living, breathing creatures who want to be part of the family, but too many are ignored for much of the day. This situation has worsened since people have returned to normal living after the pandemic and no longer have time for the dog. A lot of the problem is due to owners being illprepared for the realities of dog ownership. When the novelty of having a cute puppy wears off, too many owners can’t cope with the toilet training, chewing, jumping up or shedding hair that is part and parcel of owning a young dog. Aside from the unfairness to the poor loyal little creatures, bored dogs often entertain themselves by barking incessantly at every noise or passing bird. My friend works shifts as a fi reman, and his neighbour’s dog barks all day long when he’s on nights and is trying to sleep during the day. It isn’t fair on him having to put up with the noise but he’s reluctant to complain in case it makes the situation worse for the dog. Raising a puppy comes with challenges and all too often, dogs are acquired by people who are inexperienced around pet ownership. When the novelty wears off and the kids are no longer interested, the poor pooch gets banished from the house. Destructive behaviours can develop in bored dogs, which is why they entertain themselves by digging up plants or pulling washing down from the line. They get so excited when someone fi nally enters the garden, they excitedly jump all over them, probably with muddy paws. I live near to people who shove a bit of food at the dog once a day and don't even speak to her when they go to get something from the shed. I can't get my head around it. As the owner of a number of rescue dogs, it astonishes me how many people are fi ne with leaving their dog outdoors in a wooden hut when it’s cold and raining. I recently saw a dog that was confi ned to a dog run, with just a plastic bed in a cold concrete shed to sleep on. Our animal cruelty laws are so weak and ineffectual, the sad part is that once a dog has food and shelter, the owner is operating within the law. Dogs need company, love and affection. If you can’t bring them in from the cold, please, please don’t get one. WW 94 WW07 Why Is This A Thing SCCCSC2AMAK.indd 2 22/03/2023 11:52

HITTING THE NEWS STANDS ON APRIL 10 WOMANSWAY.IE 95 HELLO SPRING! IN OUR NEXT BUMPER ISSUE Yay! A brand new season beckons with warmer days and longer evenings. It's fi nally time to pack those winter woollies away and start dressing lighter and brighter. And around about now is a great time to reset your goals for the year (can you even remember those New Year resolutions?) Get ready to greet spring in style and cherish every moment of this wonderful time of year. Don't miss it! SPRING CLEANING And we're not just talking about the home. It's time to declutter our minds too with WW's expert tips. NEW SEASON STYLE We've got the low-down on what's trending in accessories. SUNSHINE YELLOW Let the sunshine in with our style special on all things yellow. CONTOUR KNOW HOW Learn how to defi ne and create sleek cheeks like a pro. FLORAL FEVER Flower power is trending in interiors. We show you how to make it work in your home. PLUS... Fabulous recipes, gardening tips, knitting and lots more... 95 WW7 Next Issue KOT2NCAMAK.indd 3 23/03/2023 10:43

Inspired by Nature, powered by light. ™ HarvestFresh™ unique crisper drawer technology developed for Beko fridge freezers uses innovative 3 colours light technology, which cleverly mimics the 24 hours sun cycle and natural sunlight, ensuring essential vitamins in fruit and vegetables are preserved for longer. All of this so you and your family can enjoy nutritious meals and a healthier lifestyle. 12077 Beko 2020 HarvestFresh advert 207x280mm.indd 1 25/09/2020 10:49