WW13 2024

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… Furry friend in a fur ball. From: Sandra Feehan Camping confectionery. From: Nellie Fenton, Co Sligo Are you sure it’s summer? From: Mya Reynolds, Dublin Not quite jet set, but jetting off. From: Deirdre Brennan, Co Cork This sage smells divine. From: Lorraine Ryan

52 WOMANSWAY.IE ENTER TO WIN QUINN HAIR & BEAUTY HOW TO ENTER Please send a picture of your completed crossword grid to [email protected] No postal entries please. The closing date is July 1, 2024 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 Silcare QUIN professional haircare products, including serums, shampoos and conditioners, and Quinn Hair & Beauty hair tools to tame your locks. Visit quinnhairbeauty.com WORTH €75 No postal entries please. The closing date is July 1, 2024 1 WHO… appeared on the front cover of the April 29, 1929, edition of Time magazine? WHAT… is the title of the debut album by Arctic Monkeys? WHERE… in Finland is Rovaniemi, the administrative capital? WHEN… did Madagascar gain full independence from France? 2 WHO… released the albums Circus and No Frontiers? WHAT… is the code word for the letter I in the NATO phonetic alphabet? WHERE… in South America are the cities of Coquimbo and Antofagasta? WHEN… did former taoiseach Seán Lemass die? Princess Elizabeth of the UK; Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not; 1 ANSWERS: Mary Black; India; Chile; 1971. 2 Lapland; 1960. THE 4 Ws An actress, I was born in Minnesota in 1982. My fi lms include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Illusionist and my award nominations include a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. I moved into production so that I could develop projects with challenging and interesting roles. I starred in, and was executive producer on, The Sinner and the true-crime miniseries Candy. I married Justin Timberlake in 2012 and we have two sons. An actress and also a farmer, I was born in Westmeath in 1954. I worked at the Department of Agriculture in Dublin for four years as a serological assistant testing for brucellosis. I have always been very open about having depression. My fi rst professional role was in The Philanderer at the Gate. I was a lead actress in Glenroe from 1983 to 2000 and have been in numerous theatre plays, including Big Maggie, Shirley Valentine and The Matchmaker. CELEB PIXELS Mary McEvoy. 2 Jessica Biel 1 ANSWERS: PRIZE CROSSWORD 13 ACROSS: 3. UNAWARENESS (9) 8. EGG-SHAPED (4) 9. HARMONISE (9) 10. YELLOW (6) 11. IRON (5) 14. PROPORTION (5) 15. BLACKTHORN (4) 16. PINCERS (5) 18. IMPECUNIOUS (4) 20. DWELLING (5) 21. COMPASSION (5) 24. BREEZE (6) 25. OFFER (9) 26. ENTHUSIASM (4) 27. SUPPORT (9) DOWN: 1. ENLIST (9) 2. WHIRLPOOL (9) 4. INCREASED (4) 5. SMELL (5) 6. APPROACH (6) 7. CRAZE (4) 9. AUTOMATON (5) 11. FLOWER (5) 12. MASSACRE (9) 13. DEFILE (9) 17. ABSOLUTE (5) 19. GO BACK (6) 22. ENTRAP (5) 23. RIVET (4) 24. NIL (4). QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTION ISSUE 12 ACROSS: 1 DRAB; 3 ASSASSIN; 8 COVE; 9 PERCEIVE; 11 DISINTERMENT; 13 NORMAL; 14 ELAPSE; 17 INCONSISTENT; 20 INVOICES; 21 SIDE; 22 SOLITUDE; 23 LESS. DOWN: 1 DECADENT; 2 ADVISER/ADVISOR; 4 SKEWER; 5 ACCOMPLISH; 6 SCION; 7 NEED; 10 ANTAGONIST; 12 RESTLESS; 15 PRESIDE; 16 ASCEND; 18 NOVEL; 19 KISS. IMPOSSIPUZZLES 1 If you add a third of the time from now till midnight to half the time since midnight, you’ll get what the time is now. What is the time? 2 John had seven children whose ages were spaced evenly, two years apart. If the eldest is fi ve times as old as the youngest, how old is the ‘middle’ child? Middle child is 9 years old. 2 Time 9.36 am. 1 ANSWER:

TIME OUT WOMANSWAY.IE 53 THE BIG QUIZ 5 8 1>> Who plays Penelope Featherington’s love interest Colin in season three of Bridgerton? A James Phoon B Daniel Francis C Luke Newton D Sam Philips 2>> Where would you fi nd the staircase art installation called The Vessel? A Dubai B London C Chicago D New York City 3>> What character does Elizabeth Taylor play in the 1958 fi lm Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? A Maggie Pollitt B Desiree Armfeldt C Frances Andros D Leslie Benedict 4>> Who has replaced Brian Dowling as Suzanne Kane’s cohost for the summer on 98FM? A David O’Reilly B Thomas Crosse C James Kavanagh D James Patrice 5>> Which small dog with a huge personality is a national symbol of Mexico? A Jack Russell B Chihuahua C Yorkshire Terrier D Pomeranian 6>> Which former tennis star recently released her Muckross Lake? A Roscommon B Louth C Cork D Kerry 14>> Who plays DCI Vera Stanhope in the ITV crime drama Vera? A Angela Lansbury B Brenda Blethyn C Julie Walters D Vanesa Redgrave book, Wimbledon: A personal history? A Steffi Graf B Martina Navratilova C Chris Evert D Sue Barker 7>> Which president of Ireland served the shortest term, dying in offi ce after one year and 145 days? A Douglas Hyde B Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh C Erskine Childers D Sean T. O’Kelly 8>> Gail Platt is leaving Coronation Street after 50 years. Which actress plays her? A Sue Cleaver B Helen Worth C Sally Dyenevor D Barbara Knox 9>> The repetition of vowel sounds in a sentence is called… A Assonance B Consonance C Alliteration D Dissonance 10>> Where would you fi nd the colourful Rainbow Mountain? A Chile B Peru C Argentina D Sudan 11>> What is a fear of blood called? A Heliophobia B Hypochondria C Hydrophobia D Hemophobia 12>> Cooking vegetables until they’re soft and translucent is called…… A Sweating B Broiling C Searing D Steaming 13>> Where would you fi nd 1 C, 2 D, 3 A, 4 D, 5 B, 6 D, 7 C, 8 B, 9 A, ANSWERS: 10 B, 11 D, 12 A, 13 D, 14 B. 1 2 3 10

54 WOMANSWAY.IE I f you were ever curious about how to deep-fry a Rolex, you’re in luck – that specifi c recipe is in songwriter Benny Blanco’s debut cookbook. Most of the ingredients you’ll have in your cupboard already – breadcrumbs, salt and pepper, Parmesan, eggs… oh, and a €15,280 watch, preferably gifted to you by Ed Sheeran. “Man, this one really gets everyone,” jokes Blanco, who’s had a hand in some of the biggest hits on the radio, from artists like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Rihanna, The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran – to name a few. He’s also previously collaborated with popstar Selena Gomez – the two debuted their romantic relationship on social media last year, and have been hitting the headlines ever since. Blanco recently went on the talk show circuit to promote his new cookbook and opened up about his relationship on the way – talking on The Howard Stern Show about his plans for their upcoming fi rst anniversary. But back to the Rolex – the stunt came along randomly, when Blanco was cooking with a friend and she made the suggestion. “We literally wound up frying a Rolex that Ed Sheeran gave me and it still works to this day perfectly. Honestly, I should be the spokesman for Rolex,” LA-based Blanco, 36, says. While he might be best known for penning songs for some of the biggest names in music, among his friends Blanco is the go-to guy for dinner parties and recipes. “My friends would be like, ‘I have a date in 30 minutes – what do I cook?’ Or they’ll be like, ‘Okay, it’s Thanksgiving today – can you give me every recipe?’ It’s crazy,” Blanco says. No longer will he have to text his friends last-minute recipes, because he’s written a cookbook full of his favourite dishes, called Open Wide. Instead, Blanco says: “I just send them an Amazon link.” Getting the opportunity to publish a cookbook feels like “my most surreal, deepest, wildest dream came to fruition”, Blanco says, and other than a deep-fried watch, the other recipes are actually edible – ranging from lamb shawarma and latkes to chicken cutlets and lobster rolls. For Blanco, his love affair with cooking started when he was 13 years old with a George Foreman Grill, something he calls “the Holy Grail”. “One of my friends had one, and we would all go home after school and we’d gather around BENNY’S Producer and songwriter Benny Blanco talks about falling BITES in love with food. this man’s little grill and make these elaborate sandwiches and wraps – they’d be so cheesy – and quesadillas. “I remember making one for a stoned group of my friends, and I remember cutting one open and giving it to my friend and looking at his face as he gasped and ooh’d and aah’d. When that happened I was like, wow, I have to replicate this feeling. “It was a feeling of giving someone an experience and I was so drawn to it. It’s the same way in music, too – it just hit me, and I was like, I have to do something like this for the rest of my life.” Nowadays, Blanco appreciates the mental health benefi ts of cooking. “As a person who can’t sit still and my neuroses overtake me, it’s always been in my back pocket,” he says. “I urge every person out there to grab an onion and cut it, it’s like Xanax.” He’s even taken his obsession with food a step further by growing his own produce at home in Los Angeles. “I’ve always been pretty crazy about saving food and making sure I use every last little bit of food,” he explains. “But when you grow something from the start of it to the end, you don’t want to throw away a f****** stem, because you saw this thing that is your little child make its way to a big carrot. You’re like, I have to eat this entire carrot and I’m not leaving one speck of it.” Not that he eats all of his produce himself, but Blanco teams up with US charity Support+Feed, which was established by singer Billie Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird. “We give the majority of the vegetables to food deserts in the LA area where they can’t afford or don’t have access to healthy, clean vegetables,” Blanco says. “We’ve been able to do such amazing

WOMANSWAY.IE 55 RECIPES By Prudence Wade, PA Continued overleaf >> “The whole experience was‘the highlight of my life’, Blanco says. ‘I actually died’” things with Support+Feed… It’s such a gratifying thing, because I’m getting to grow vegetables for myself, and I’m also given the opportunity to create these amazing experiences for families who are less fortunate.” Ultimately, Blanco is constantly chasing that initial reaction to his food: “When someone tilts their head back and goes ‘mmmm’.” But his platform and the circles he runs in mean some higher-profi le people are trying his dishes. “I was with the musician Jessie Ware, she’s a very good friend of mine, and we were cooking,” Blanco remembers. “She said, ‘I have a friend coming round for brunch’. We’re all cooking, and she said: ‘Yeah, it’s Ottolenghi’. And I was like, oh my God. “Everyone made these huge, big plates of things, and I had no idea – I was just making a salad. When we were all eating, Ottolenghi – Yotam, he was like, ‘Oh, this salad’s delicious, who made this salad?'” CAPRESE WITH ROASTED PEPPER AND BURRATA Serves 8 Get ready for summer with this fresh vegetarian salad. “If you don’t feel like roasting your own peppers, buy the best jarred peppers you can and you’ll be able to make this salad in two seconds,” says Blanco of his caprese salad recipe. “Be sure to add the truffl e oil. I promise you it’s worth it. It’s the best dressing I’ve ever had in my life. You’ll want to lick the platter when the salad is gone.” Ingredients: 2 red or orange bell peppers, seeded and halved Olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2tsps Dijon mustard ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1tsp honey 2tbsp mayonnaise ½tsp truffl e oil 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 2 (6- to 8-ounce) balls burrata or fresh mozzarella, torn Fresh basil leaves, for garnish Method: 1 Preheat your broiler with the rack in the upper third of the oven. Place the peppers, skin side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with a bit of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until well charred. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic. Let steam for about 10 to 20 minutes until softened and cool enough to handle. Discard the skin by rubbing it with a paper towel. You don’t have to remove the skin, but it feels a little bit better to eat if you do. Slice into strips and set aside. 2 In a small bowl, combine the Dijon, balsamic, honey, mayo, and truffl e oil. Whisk until well combined. Spread on the bottom of a plate or platter. 3 Build the salad on top of the dressing, sprinkling the peppers and tomatoes to fi ll the plate. Nestle the torn burrata into the veggies. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with basil leaves. Ottolenghi ended up asking Blanco for the recipe – which was a salad made with croutons from scratch that are “buttery, white winey and cheesy – they’re delicious”. The whole experience was “the highlight of my life”, Blanco says. “I actually died.”

56 WOMANSWAY.IE 6 Sprinkle with one tablespoon sugar. 7 Place a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil on the lower rack to catch any drips. Bake cabbage on a centre rack at 350°F (177°C) until meat is falling apart and rice is cooked, two to two-and-a-half hours. Tent with foil if getting too dark. BENNY BLANCO’S CABBAGE ROLLS Serves 6-8 This is a tasty way to feed a crowd. According to Blanco, this is the perfect recipe to “make ahead of time and freeze”. He says: “I make 50 at a time, reheat them later, and give them a new home in my stomach.” Ingredients: 1 large or 2 medium heads green cabbage, about 3lbs 2 onions, chopped 6 cloves garlic, chopped 2tbsp unsalted butter Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2lbs ground beef (80 per cent fat) ¾ cup uncooked white rice 2 eggs 1 can crushed tomatoes 1 cup water ½ cup chopped golden raisins 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1tbsp for baking ½ cup ketchup 3 lemons, juiced 1 orange, juiced ½ cup sauerkraut ½ cup white wine vinegar ½tbsp cinnamon Method: 1 Remove the core from the cabbage and separate into leaves. Blanch a few at a time in salted boiling water until pliable, one to two minutes per batch. When cool enough to handle, use a knife to remove the ribs. Chop one cup cabbage and reserve for later. 2 Cook onions and garlic in two tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. 3 Combine beef, rice, eggs, and half the sauteed onion mixture. Season with one tablespoon of salt and some fresh pepper. Add a little handful of the mixture to each cabbage leaf and carefully roll it like a little burrito, folding up the sides to create a little package. 4 To make the sauce, combine the remaining onion mixture, crushed tomatoes, water, raisins, sugar, ketchup, lemon juice, orange juice, chopped cabbage, sauerkraut, vinegar, and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper. 5 Put a thin layer of the sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Tightly pack the cabbage rolls in the pan, and then add the remaining sauce. You want them to be swimming. BENNY BLANCO’S BAKLAVA Makes 36 If you’ve only ever had shop-bought baklava, it’s time to make your own.

WOMANSWAY.IE 57 RECIPES Open Wide: A Cookbook For Friends by Benny Blanco is published by Dey Street Books, priced €23. Photography by Johnny Miller. Available now. “I love pistachios so much,” says Blanco. “Pistachios and the combination of fl aky phyllo dough and honey turns me into a sweet sticky boi.” Ingredients: 3 cups toasted walnut halves 1 cup pistachios, shelled and roasted, plus ¼ cup fi nely ground 2tsps ground cinnamon 1¾ cups sugar Pinch of salt 1 lemon, zested 1tsp vanilla extract ½ cup honey 3 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled 28 sheets philo pastry Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). 2 In a food processor, pulse the walnuts, one cup pistachios, cinnamon, half a cup sugar, and a pinch of salt until fi nely ground. If you don’t have a food processor, chop the nuts by hand or put them in a ziplock bag and crush them with a pan. 3 In a medium saucepan, combine one cup water, one-and-a-quarter cups sugar, and the zest of one lemon and heat over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and stir until the sugar has dissolved, about two minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and honey until combined. Let cool while the baklava bakes. 4 Brush a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter. Carefully layer seven philo sheets into the pan, brushing butter between each layer as you build. Sprinkle a third of the nut mixture over the top. Repeat two more times, then place seven more philo sheets on top of the last layer of nut mixture, brushing butter between each layer. 5 Brush the top layer with a lot of butter (half a cup). Cut the baklava lengthwise three times to create four equal strips. Then make diagonal cuts at a 45-degree angle about nine times, to create thirty-six diamond-shaped pieces. 6 Bake until deep golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully pour the syrup over the baklava. Sprinkle with pistachio dust and let cool before serving. WW

58 WOMANSWAY.IE H aving a picnic by the sea or a barbecue with neighbours in the back garden is the perfect opportunity to come together and share food with friends. You might be wondering what to whip up though – and luckily, TV chef Ainsley Harriott is here to help with one of his favourite recipes. His veggie burgers with avocado salsa are perfect for summertime. “These vegan black bean burgers are full of texture and Caribbean spice,” he says. “The crunchy peanut butter and bite of the cashew nuts adds a nice bit of body, and the polenta gives a good crisp coating. I love them spicy, but you can leave the chilli out if you prefer. “If you have a nut allergy, try using tahini in place of the peanut butter, and stir in some sunflower seeds instead of the cashews.” AINSLEY’S VEGGIE BURGERS Here’s how to make Ainsley Harriott’s spicy black bean burgers. 1tbsp vegan mayo 25g panko breadcrumbs A handful of coriander leaves Zest of ½ lime 3tbsp fine polenta 2tbsp coconut oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the salsa 1 large avocado, peeled, stoned and finely diced 2 ripe vine tomatoes, de-seeded and finely chopped ½ red onion, finely chopped 2tbsp chopped coriander A pinch of caster sugar Zest and juice of ½ lime For the hot pepper mayo 3–4tbsp vegan mayo Hot pepper sauce, to taste To serve 4 burger buns, halved Crisp lettuce leaves, shredded Method 1 Heat a small drizzle of oil in a frying pan, add the onion and pepper and gently sweat over a low-medium heat for three to four minutes until a little softened. Add the garlic, chilli and jerk seasoning and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Set aside to cool. 2 Pulse the nuts in a food processor until coarsely chopped, then tip into a large bowl. Put the softened onion and pepper, half the black beans, the rice, peanut butter, mayo, breadcrumbs, coriander and lime zest into the food processor. Season well and blitz for 30–45 seconds until well combined. Scrape the mixture from the sides and blitz again ISLAND BLACK BEAN BURGERS WITH AVOCADO SALSA Serves 4 Ingredients: 2tbsp sunflower or coconut oil, plus extra for drizzling ½ red onion, finely chopped 1 small red pepper, de-seeded and finely diced 1 small garlic clove, minced 1 medium-hot red chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped 1tbsp jerk seasoning 45g cashew nuts 1 x 400g tin black beans, drained, rinsed and patted dry 125g ready-to-eat brown rice or bulgur wheat 1 heaped tbsp crunchy peanut butter

WOMANSWAY.IE 59 RECIPES Prudence Wade, PA Ainsley’s Good Mood Food by Ainsley Harriott is published by Ebury Press, priced €29. Photography by Dan Jones. Available now. until combined but still with plenty of texture. Transfer to the bowl with the nuts and remaining beans and mix well with your hands, adding a little more peanut butter or mayonnaise if the mixture is too dry, or breadcrumbs if too wet. Divide the mixture evenly into four and shape into burger patties with your hands. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to fi rm up. 3 Meanwhile, mix the salsa ingredients together in a bowl to combine. Season with salt to taste and set aside. 4 In a small bowl, mix together the hot pepper mayo ingredients. 5 Spread the polenta on a plate with a small pinch of salt and gently coat the patties on all sides. 6 Heat a frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the oil. When hot, add the burgers, reduce the heat to medium and cook for three to four minutes without moving. Gently turn over and cook on the other side for three to four minutes or until heated through and a crust has formed. Alternatively, spray the burgers with oil and bake in the oven at 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 for 12–15 minutes or until crispy. 7 Lightly char or toast the burger buns, then spread a dollop of the hot pepper mayo onto the base. Add some shredded lettuce, top with a burger and add a good spoonful of salsa. Top with a little more hot pepper mayo and fi nish with the burger bun top. WW

60 WOMANSWAY.IE A s a born and bred Dubliner, Anna Haugh knows a thing or two about how to make soda bread. The chef and restaurateur remembers her aunt Sadie baking it fresh every week during her childhood, measuring the ingredients with her hands – never using scales. If the idea of baking bread by eye fi lls you with fear, Anna has “taken my talented aunty’s guesswork out of baking” with a recipe from her new cookbook: “If you follow it, you are sure to be sinking your teeth into delicious homemade bread without any trouble.” She says: “Traditional Irish soda bread was literally made from just buttermilk, salt, fl our and bicarbonate of soda, and was best eaten on the day it was baked. “I’ve brought the recipe up to date and added butter, sugar and egg, which makes the crumb softer and allows it to stay fresh for up to three days, so there’s less chance that any of it will go to waste.” Her advice is to keep it in the fridge, so it’ll last longer and be perfect for toast. Even better, this ingenious recipe uses something you’ll likely have lying around the house – tins of baked beans. Anna says: “A clever way to use leftover cans from your baked beans is to wash them out and use them for this recipe. If you don’t have any cans, a 500-gram loaf tin will do.” Still not convinced you should try this recipe yourself? Let Anna explain what it really means to her. “When my mother fed us homemade bread, she thought she was doing what my grandmother did, feeding and nourishing her Anna’s SODA BREAD IRISH Irish chef Anna Haugh says that everyone should make soda bread in a baked bean can. SODA BREAD Makes 1 x 500g loaf, or 2 baked bean can-sized loaves, or enough for 4 generously. Ingredients: 30g salted butter, plus more for the cans or tin 300g coarse wholemeal fl our, plus more for the cans or tin ½tsp bicarbonate of soda 1tsp baking powder 25g demerara sugar 1tsp fi ne sea salt 1 egg, lightly beaten 300g buttermilk Method 1 Preheat your oven to 200°C fan. Butter and fl our two old baked bean cans, or a 500g loaf tin. It’s important to have your oven preheated and your cans or tin prepared before starting the recipe, as once the dough is mixed it is best baked immediately. 2 Melt the 30g of butter and leave it to cool slightly. 3 Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix so they are evenly dispersed. Make a well in the centre, then add the cooled melted butter to the well with the egg and buttermilk and mix well and quickly with a spoon. Your mix should be wet and drop off the spoon. 4 Working fast, divide the dough between the prepared cans or tin. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 160°C fan and cook for a further 35 minutes. 5 Take the bread out of the cans or tin and let cool. Once cool, if you wrap it in clingfi lm it will stay fresh for longer. This is delicious just with butter, or wonderful with smoked salmon. WW children,” she says. “What she didn’t realise is that she gave me warm, happy memories of eating and this is something I hope to create for my son.”

WOMANSWAY.IE 61 RECIPES By Prudence Wade, PA Cooking With Anna: Modern Home Cooking With Irish Heart by Anna Haugh is published by Bloomsbury, priced €30.16. Photography by Laura Edwards. Available now.

62 WOMANSWAY.IE Do you really need to lift tulips in summer or can you leave them in the ground to come back next year? S o, the last of the tulips are now in fl ower, but impatient gardeners who want to focus on their summer blooms may be debating whether to lift the tulips that have fi nished blooming, or leave the bulbs in the ground in the hope they’ll come back next year. So, what do you do? Richard Wilford, horticulturist and head of garden design and collection support at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and author of The Plant Lover’s Guide To Tulips (€23.99, Timber Press), says it depends on your soil and the variety of tulip. They need free-draining soil “At Kew we have very free-draining soil, that is quite sandy below the soil surface and drains really quickly. TulipTalk

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 63 By Hannah Stephenson, PA “We do leave tulips in the ground and they do come back but if you’ve got heavier soil or clay soil then they probably won’t survive the summer. “They need a dry summer, which is why a lot of people lift them when they have started to die down and then store them somewhere cool and dry ready to replant in the autumn,” he says. Some varieties fare befi er than others “There are different groups of tulips. I fi nd the lily fl ower tulips a bit more resilient. They tend to come back. We’ve got Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ at Kew which has come back several years. “You’ve also got the Fosteriana hybrids. So, Tulipa Fosteriana is the species and there’s a whole range of hybrids that are bred and still have a lot of Fosteriana in them and are much more likely to come back year after year.” Other groups such as 6 and Greigii are early-fl owering and tend to be fairly resilient. He also says that the Darwin hybrids, largefl owered tulips with stems around 55cm and in a range of rich colours, may last a few years without lifting if the conditions are right. The least likely tulips to come back are the Single Late Group, he says, which have tall stems that can reach 60-70cm and fl ower in late spring with an egg-shaped bud opening to a rounded cup-shaped bloom. “They are just very highly bred and they can come back but it depends on the soil and the summer,” he says. The weather makes a diff erence Tulips like long hot dry summers in freedraining soil. If we have a wet summer and your soil is clay or heavy, bulbs are likely to rot in the ground. If you are going to liffl them… Dig the bulbs up carefully when they are dying down. The sign that they are ready to lift is when their leaves will brown. You don’t have to leave them until the leaves have all fallen off, as that will make them harder to fi nd, particularly if they are planted in a mixed border with other plants which are going through a growth spurt. Carefully lift them using a hand fork, making sure you don’t pierce any bulbs, rub off the soil and lay them, with leaves attached, in a cool, dark place, maybe in a paper bag or in nets that can be hung in the shed to allow good air circulation. At least you know they are going to have a dry summer rest, but make sure you store them in a cool, dry location. Lifting tulips also gives you the chance to remove any rotting bulbs and replant the smaller tulip bulbs and offsets in another part of the garden where they can build up strength. Then you can lift them the following summer to add to the bigger bulb collection. If you’re going to leave them in the ground… Be prepared that you may lose some because of the weather, but also be aware that the tulips that do return may not be quite the same as the originals, as they may not grow as tall or have such big fl owers in successive years. Some gardeners, however, welcome this naturalistic, unpredictable surprise the following spring. WW Beautiful yellow and white Fosteriana tulip 'Sweetheart' fl owers A tulip that has fi nished fl owering Tulips being dug up Planting tulip bulbs in the autumn Tulip Bleu Aimable

64 WOMANSWAY.IE Award-winning herb grower, Jekka McVicar, offers some expert advice on successful techniques to rear seedlings. rosemary, but you should prune it after fl owering to stop it getting woody. But stay within the green, don’t cut into the woody bit. That way, you’ll keep it bushy, and the same with lavender. “We have a mantra here. We cut back one eighth in the eighth month for lavenders like ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’, the angustifolias. It gets the plant to regenerate and protects it for the winter.” Jekka suggests cutting back oregano after fl owering, then you will have a rosette to pick through the winter. Thymes should be cut back after fl owering to stop them getting woody. 4 Sharpen tools “Every open day I have, I take people through this. Keeping your tools sharp and clean is really essential to keep your plant culinary and medicinal herbs at her herb farm in South Gloucestershire. She offers the following tips, which may make all the difference to your success rate. 1 Always water in the morning “People tend to water when they come in from work and if you send your seedlings or your young plants to bed wet, and the temperatures drop, they’ll suffer. It’s best to water before you go to work.” 2 Check your soil "If you are growing herbs in heavy soil, add grit or well-rotted compost to open it up as most herbs like free-draining soil," she says. 3 Don’t forget to prune “People are always worried about pruning I f you’ve had mixed success with herbs, there may be some simple growing techniques that could turn your failures into triumphs. Internationally renowned herb grower Jekka McVicar, winner of 62 RHS gold medals who has witnessed climate change, disease and pests over the years, has been bringing herb growing to the masses for 40 years. Now, the author of a new book, 100 Herbs To Grow, has a collection of more than 400 HAPPY HERBS Water in the morning

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 65 By Hannah Stephenson, PA 100 Herbs To Grow by Jekka McVicar is published by Quadrille, priced €42. Available now. healthy and productive, so you don’t spread disease. “When you use a blunt tool, you shatter the stem, then the water gets into the stem and you can lose the crown of your plant. Things like lavender quite often die because blunt tools are used.” 5 Invest in a good watering can “Buy one where you can turn the rose up or down, so if you’ve sown seedlings, you will water with the rose up. If your plant is mature and you want to water, you turn the rose down. “If you’ve got a pot you want to water, take the rose off and water the soil on the pot. It’s not an expensive thing to get, but it’s essential. It’ll save you hours and lots of plants.” 6 Feed on Fridays Jekka uses a seaweed-based feed rather than a nitrogen-based one. “If you’ve a herb in a container and you’re using standard potting compost that you buy in garden centres with food in it, the nutrients last about eight weeks. After that, your container plant is living on water and your love. So you need to feed it. And we have another mantra here, ‘Feed on Fridays’. “If you feed the herbs on Fridays, you’re not making the plants grow lush, big and all over the shop. It’s just like you taking multivitamins, you are giving it back its minerals so that it stays healthy.” 7 Use the right compost “I fi nd it better to sow the seeds using a seed compost, because it’s lower in nutrients than a multi-purpose. Multipurpose is trying to do too many jobs. I use a potting compost for growing my plants. You get a better result. “If I’m using herbs for cutting and picking, like salad herbs such as rocket and mustards, we give it a mulch of my homemade compost. We don’t dig, just put a layer of compost down, which will give you enough feed for the crop.” 8 Pick basil leaves from the top Always pick basil from the top of the plant, not the sides, Jekka advises. It will make the plant branch out and you’ll get new leaves. Picking herbs from the top generally keeps them bushier. The exceptions are bay and myrtle, which you should pick from the sides. 9 Sow some herbs in autumn “The best time to sow parsley, coriander and chervil is September because the soil is warm and there’s moisture around it, and parsley will germinate within days,” she says. You may have leaves by the following month and those autumn sowings should give you leaves throughout winter. WW “If you feed the herbs on Fridays, you’re not making the plants grow lush, big and all over the shop” Always pick basil from Use the right compost the top of the plant Prune rosemary after fl owering A border full of herbs Invest in a good watering can

66 WOMANSWAY.IE These essential tools and accessories will have your pesky garden maintenance tasks sorted this summer. ALL TOOL-ED UP I t’s summer, when your garden should be in its prime, with fl ower-fi lled borders, luscious lawn, and no sign of weeds. Of course, we don’t live in an ideal world but having the right tools and accessories to help you achieve the garden you want can take some of the toil away when weeding, watering and garden waste have all to be tackled. Here are fi ve essentials for the summer gardener, who would rather sit and admire their plot than spend hours working on it. 1 Hozelock Auto-Reel Mobile 35m €307.60, mydiy.ie It may seem like the rain will never stop this summer, but when it does, you’ll need to water your garden pots, hanging baskets, vegetables, fruit and fl owers, and this new kit from Hozelock makes the job much easier. The hose reel is not only mobile and very easy to wheel around, but the hose is retractable, so you won’t have to wind it in at the end of your watering session as it will do it for you automatically. 2 Niwaki Weeding Hoe €18, niwaki.com Your plants may have grown with all the rain we’ve had, but so will the weeds. To make the job easier, invest in a one-handed weeding hoe from Japanese lifestyle brand Niwaki which will not only make lighter work of weeding, but will also enable you to get to deeper rooted weeds. The Niwaki hoe – you can buy right-handed and left-handed versions – has a carbon steel blade and pine handle and is also handy for preparing seed rows and drills.

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 67 By Hannah Stephenson, PA 3 Gardena Garden Waste Sack Pop-Up €42.99, conrad.com You always need something to put your green waste in, and if you’re short of storage space, Gardena has just introduced a new popup garden waste bag (in medium and large), which is sturdy, rectangular and a good size for tipping your clippings into your brown bin. It also has a handle on the base as well as the sides, to make that job easier. Once you’re done, it folds fl at, so is easy to store. Made from more than 70 per cent recycled plastic, it’s UV-resistant, frost-proof and comes with a fi ve-year warranty after registration. 5 Bulldog Lawn Edging Knife €40, turfy.ie If you’ve mown your lawn but want the edges to look neat against your fl ower borders, invest in a half-moon edging tool which will help you shape your lawn edges and keep everything neat. The Bulldog Premier lawn edging knife is tougher than many others, forged from one piece of steel for extra strength, allowing clean and easy cuts, and an ash shaft and T handle. WW 4 Burgon & Ball Compact Miracle Block Paving Brush €12.99, coopsuperstores.ie If the weeds in your block paving are getting on your nerves and you’re fed up with damaging your kitchen knives to tackle them, have a go with Burgon & Ball’s short-handled block paving brush, a hard-wearing wire brush that will help remove weeds and moss from the grooves of your block paving, but also comes with a handy metal weeding blade attached to the brush, which will remove more stubborn weeds.

68 WOMANSWAY.IE SIZES: 2 - 3/4 - 5/6 - 7/8 - 9/10 - 11/12 years Child’s height in cm: 92 - 98/104 - 110/116 - 122/128 - 134/140 - 146/152 YARN: • DROPS MUSKAT from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B) 150-150-150-200-200-200 g colour 18, white BUTTONS: • DROPS BUTTONS NO 600: 6-6- 6-7-7-7 items. NEEDLES: • DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 4 MM: Length 60 cm. • DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3 MM: Length 60 cm. • DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 4 MM. • DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 3 MM. The technique MAGIC LOOP can be used – you then only need 80 cm circular needle in each size. KNITTING TENSION: • 21 stitches in width and 28 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm. NOTE: Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size. GARTER STITCH (worked back and forth): • Knit all rows. EDGE STITCHES (I-cord): WORK 2 EDGE STITCHES AT BEGINNING OF ROW: Slip 1 stitch purl-wise with the strand in front, knit 1. WORK 2 EDGE STITCHES AT END OF ROW: Work until there are 2 stitches left on the row, slip 1 stitch purl-wise with the strand in front, knit 1. Repeat at the beginning and end of each row. BUTTONHOLES: Work buttonholes on the right band (when the garment is worn). Work from the right side when there are 4 stitches left on the row as follows: Make 1 yarn over, knit 2 together, 2 edge stitches. On the next row (wrong side), knit the yarn over to leave a hole. The fi rst buttonhole is worked on the fi rst row after the neck. The other 5-5- 5-6-6-6 buttonholes are then worked with 5-5½-6½-6-6½-7 cm between each one. NOTE: The bottom buttonhole is worked in the transition between the stocking stitch and rib. PATTERN: See diagrams A.1 to A.4. The diagrams show all rows in the pattern from the right side. RAGLAN: Increase 1 stitch before/after 2 knitted stitches in each transition between body and sleeves. The marker-threads sit between these 2 stitches. Increase 1 stitch by making 1 yarn over, which is purled twisted on the next row to avoid a hole. DECREASE TIP(for sleeves): Decrease 1 stitch on each side of the marker-thread as follows: Work until there are 3 stitches left before the marker-thread, knit 2 together, knit 2 (marker-thread sits between these 2 stitches), slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit 1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (2 stitches decreased). Daisy Fields Cardigan pattern knitted in DROPS Children 48-2. DROPS Design: Pattern r-038-bn. Yarn group B. Visit garnstudio.com. Try your hand at this children’s cardi, perfect for summer parties. the sleeve-stitches as follows: - remember the BUTTONHOLES – read description above. NOTE! When A.1 to A.3 is fi nished in height, work 1 more repeat of A.2 in width between A.1 and A.3. Work 6 band stitches, knit 12- 12-12-12-12-12, increase 1 stitch for RAGLAN – read description above, knit 2 (marker-thread sits between these 2 stitches), increase 1 stitch for raglan, work A.1, A.2, A.3, increase 1 stitch for raglan, knit 2 (markerthread sits between these 2 stitches), increase 1 stitch for raglan, knit 22-22-22-26-26-26, increase 1 stitch for raglan, knit 2 (marker-thread sits between these 2 stitches), increase 1 stitch for raglan, work A.1, A.2, A.3, increase 1 stitch for raglan, knit 2 (marker-thread sits between these 2 stitches), increase 1 stitch for raglan, knit 12-12-12-12-12-12, 6 band stitches. Continue with the bands, stocking stitch on the front and back pieces, lace pattern on the sleeves and increase for raglan on each side of the 4 marker-threads every 2nd row a total of 9-9-7- 8-8-7 times (including the fi rst increase) = 172-172-156-168-168- 160 stitches. Continue increasing every 2nd row but every 2nd increase is now only on the front and back pieces (4 increased stitches). I.e., increase on the front and back pieces every 2nd row, on the sleeves every 4th row. Increase like this 10-12-16-14-16- 18 times on the front and back pieces (5-6-8-7-8-9 times on the sleeves). NB! The increases on the sleeves will not continue as shown in A.1 and A.3 because it is now increased on every 4th row. A.4 shows a repeat of the pattern, make sure it matches the cardi Fancy SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE The neck and yoke are worked back and forth with circular needle, from mid front and top down. The yoke is divided for body and sleeves and the body continued back and forth with circular needle. The sleeves are worked in the round with double pointed needles. NECK Cast on 94-94-94-98-98-98 stitches with circular needle size 3 mm and DROPS Muskat. Purl 1 row from the wrong side. Work as follows from the right side: 2 EDGE STITCHES – read description above, 4 GARTER STITCHES - read description above (= 6 band stitches), * knit 2, purl 2*, work from *-* until there are 8 stitches left, knit 2, work 4 garter stitches and 2 edge stitches (= 6 band stitches). Work this rib for approx. 3 cm, with the next row from the wrong side. YOKE Change to circular needle size 4 mm. From the wrong side, insert 4 marker-threads and increase stitches as follows: Work 6 band stitches as before, purl 13-13- 13-13-13-13 (front piece), insert 1 marker-thread, purl 16 and increase 3 stitches evenly spaced (sleeve), insert 1 marker-thread, purl 24-24-24-28-28-28 (back piece), insert 1 marker-thread, purl 16 and increase 3 stitches evenly spaced (sleeve), insert 1 marker-thread, purl 13-13-13- 13-13-13 (front piece), 6 band stitches as before = 100-100-100- 104-104-104 stitches. On the next row (right side) begin to increase for raglan and work diagrams A.1 to A.3 over established pattern. REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION! After the last increase there are 232-244-252-252-264-268 stitches; you have increased 19- 21-23-22-24-25 times on the front and back pieces and 14-15-15-15- 16-16 times on the sleeves. Continue with the bands, stocking stitch on the front and back pieces and lace pattern on the sleeves, without further increases, until the yoke measures 15-16-17-17-18-19 cm, from the neck mid-front. Now divide for the body and sleeves as follows: Work the fi rst 38-40-42-41-43-44 stitches as before (front piece), place the next 47-49-49-49-51-51 stitches on 1 thread for the sleeve, cast on 6-6-6-8-8-10 stitches (in side under sleeve), work 62-66- 70-72-76-78 stocking stitches

WOMANSWAY.IE 69 KNITTING Diagram = knit from right side, purl from wrong side = knit 2 together = between 2 stitches make 1 yarn over, which is knitted or purled on the next row/round to leave a hole = slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit 1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (back piece), place the next 47-49-49-49-51-51 stitches on 1 thread for the sleeve, cast on 6-6- 6-8-8-10 stitches (in side under sleeve), work the last 38-40-42- 41-43-44 stitches as before (front piece). The body and sleeves are fi nished separately. The piece is now measured from here. BODY = 150-158-166-170-178-186 stitches. Continue back and forth with stocking stitch and 6 band stitches as before on each side. When the body measures 11-13-16-20-23-24 cm from the division, work 1 row from the right side and increase 16-16-16- 20-20-20 stitches evenly spaced (do not increase over the bands) = 166-174-182-190-198-206 stitches. Change to circular needle size 3 mm and work as follows from the wrong side: 6 band stitches, * purl 2, knit 2 *, work from *-* until there are 8 stitches left, knit 2, 6 band stitches. Continue this rib for 3 cm. Cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl when the piece measures 33-36-40-44- 48-50 cm from the shoulder. SLEEVES Place the 47-49-49-49-51-51 stitches from the thread on the one side of the piece on double pointed needles size 4 mm and knit up 1 stitch in each of the 6-6- 6-8-8-10 stitches cast on under the sleeve = 53-55-55-57-59-61 stitches. Insert a marker-thread in the middle of the new stitches under the sleeve and allow it to follow your work onwards; it is used when decreasing under the sleeve. Start at the marker-thread and work pattern in the round according to A.4 – the stitches which do not fi t into the pattern on each side under the sleeve are knitted. Make sure A.4 matches the established pattern from A.1-A.3. When the sleeve measures 2 cm, decrease 1 stitch on each side of the marker-thread – read DECREASE TIP. Decrease like this every 3-4-5½-6-7-8 cm a total of 6-6-5-5-5-5 times = 41-43-45-47- 49-51 stitches. Continue working until the sleeve measures 19-24-28-32-36-40 cm from the division (or to desired length. There is 3 cm left). Knit 1 round and increase 7-5-7-5-7-5 stitches evenly spaced = 48-48-52-52- 56-56 stitches. Change to double pointed needles size 3 mm and work rib (knit 2, purl 2) for 3 cm. Cast off with rib. The sleeve measures approx. 22-27-31-35- 39-43 cm from the division. Work the other sleeve in the same way. ASSEMBLY Sew the buttons onto the left band. WW

70 WOMANSWAY.IE COMPETITION Eight lucky readers will each win a Russell Hobbs compact 4L Mini Cooler worth €59.99. Versatile and compact, the Russell Hobbs four-litre Mini Cooler is your compact solution to refreshment on the go for summer 2024, ensuring your favourite drinks, snacks, and even beauty products are kept cool during the warmer months. Ideal for not only a bedroom, offi ce, or countertop, the 4L Mini Cooler is also perfect for camping, caravan trips, or family days out. For ease of travel, the retro style cooler is compact, weighing only 2kg, and is also equipped with a foldable carry handle. The advanced thermoelectric system cools beverages up to 20°C below ambient temperature or heats items up to 65°C above. It comes with an EU mains 220V power lead and a 12V DC car adaptor. A RUSSELL HOBBS MINI COOLER Win To enter, please answer the following question: WHAT WEIGHT IS THE RUSSELL HOBBS 4L MINI COOLER? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by July 1 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Russell Hobbs 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. EU mains 220V power lead and a 12V DC car adaptor.

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 Brace for a potential tugof-war around fi nancial matters. Mars in Taurus forms a tense angle with Pluto in Aquarius this week. This might stir deeprooted confl icts over resources or values. Even so, Chiron’s healing touch encourages resolution through growth and understanding. Thoughtful communication can mend fences and build stronger relationships, so keep talking. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Feisty Mars in your sign clashes with Pluto in visionary Aquarius so prepare for a showdown over your goals or career path. It may lead to a battle of wills, challenging you to defend your ambitions. And yet celestial Chiron offers a silver lining, providing healing through refl ection. Be honest about what you stand for, and your words and actions will match your true priorities. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June You might fi nd your inner calm disrupted by an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. This tension could unearth latent frustrations, especially if you’re venturing into new territory. Consider enlisting a friend’s help as a familiar face can transform anxiety into adventure. This weekend you may be captivated by a mesmerizing idea or an enchanting new acquaintance. CANCER 22 June – 23 July An awkward situation may reveal areas where you remain infl exible or stuck. A potent Mars/Pluto angle can stir up stubbornness, tempting you to cling to the familiar. Yet this is an invaluable chance to heal and grow. Ask for the support of close ones whose perspectives can help you see beyond your current stance. You’ll fi nd the strength to move past these obstacles. LEO 24 July – 23 August Diffi culty in aligning your views with those of another could cause a major glitch that threatens to stall a plan or project. It’s essential to talk things through if you want to move forward. A willingness to see the bigger picture while still handling the details can also help you reach an agreement. The weekend needs care as someone may not be all they seem. Go easy. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Are you undecided between duty and desire? Your responsibilities weigh heavily, yet there’s a siren call to something more thrilling, promising a taste of adventure. This week challenges you to balance or choose between secure and exhilarating options. Plus, be wary of enticing schemes. Not all that glitters is gold, especially in propositions cloaked in urgency or pressure. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Your world may be rocked by a powerful, intense desire, whether it’s a whirlwind romance or a burning ambition. Such intensity can cloud judgment, setting you up for disappointment if expectations aren’t managed. Don’t bottle it up, Libra, let it out and listen to feedback. A little pampering can help you navigate these deep and choppy waters with grace and wisdom. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November As Mars in tenacious Taurus forms a tense square with Pluto in unyielding Aquarius, brace yourself for power struggles that hit close to home. This aspect could pull you into control battles, but the secret to peace lies in open dialogue and willingness to compromise. Avoid making signifi cant decisions this weekend. Instead, focus on healing and recalibrating. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December You might feel the squeeze of external pressures pushing you into activities that are exhausting. If you can’t get out of this, seek solace in leisure activities that rejuvenate your spirit and sharpen your mind. A hike, casual game or creative pursuit can provide the mental oasis you need. Suspect someone might not be showing their full hand. It’s wise to keep your wits about you. CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January You might be gripped by an intense craving that could leave you unsettled. Despite your usual stoic nature being overridden, it’s likely to pass quickly, leaving you to wonder, “What was I thinking?” Try anchoring yourself in simpler pleasures. Tread carefully in relationships, especially if you’re asking for something. Be sure you really are on the same wavelength. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Mars in Taurus tussles with Pluto in your own sign, so there may be tensions at home, hinting at a brewing confl ict of interests. Consider adopting a lighter, more playful approach to soften any confrontation. Healing Chiron encourages you to initiate open dialogues that can mend fences and clear the air. Shopping? Keep receipts handy to safeguard against potential buyer’s remorse. PISCES 20 February – 20 March Faced with a delicate dilemma? Should you reveal a secret or keep it under wraps? The potential for fallout looms large if it goes too far. Let your conscience be your guide. Considering hosting a gathering? It could lift your spirits but be selective about who you invite. Choose companions who will behave. Prepare your guest list with care as your peace of mind depends on it. WW

ADVICE WOMANSWAY.IE 73 Columnist and trained counsellor Fiona Caine answers another set of reader dilemmas. DearFiona 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. MY HUSBAND HAS A GAMBLING PROBLEM I always thought my husband was a fi nancially savvy and sensible man. A letter he got recently has left me in no doubt that he’s very far from that. Last week he dashed out the house on the way to work leaving the letter opened on the hall table. I thought this was unusual because he wasn’t late and normally deals with all letters before he leaves. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I read the letter to discover it was from a fi rm of debt collectors chasing him for an outstanding sum. I tried calling him during the day but he wasn’t taking calls. That night I asked him what it was all about and was shocked when he confessed it was for gambling debts. He didn’t elaborate further and has avoided talking about it since then. The problem is, it’s a huge sum, far more than we can possibly pay and I am terrifi ed that we are going to have to sell our house to cover it. What makes this all so shocking is that I had no idea he even gambled. I love my husband and want to help but how can I get him to talk about this and admit we have a big problem? D. T. FIONA SAYS: ENCOURAGE HIM TO SEEK HELP I think he knows there’s a problem. Leaving the letter for you to see was almost certainly his way of telling you this. It is sad and worrying that, having taken that step, he can’t now talk about what you’re going to do about it. Sticking his head in the sand isn’t going to make it go away. I suggest you make a start by reminding him that you love him and explain that you want to work with him to resolve this problem. Then encourage him to attend a local Gamblers’ Anonymous meeting (gamblersanonymous.ie). These meetings are completely confi dential and there is no need to make an appointment, just turn up. These will give him a chance to share his experiences with others who are likely to have similar problems and get some muchneeded support as he seeks to break away from this addiction. While he does this, you may fi nd it helpful to contact the charity Gam-Anon UK & Ireland (gamanon.org.uk), which supports anyone affected by the gambling of a partner, a family member or friend. Both organisations focus on gambling as the problem to be resolved but this leaves the issue of the outstanding debt. For this, you will probably need to consolidate the debt in some way and agree on a schedule to pay it back. A debt counselling service can guide you through this process so please contact MABS - the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (mabs.ie) for free, impartial and expert debt advice. MY HUSBAND WON’T LEAVE HIS AFFAIR PARTNER My relationship with my husband over the past 10 years has been rocky at best. For some time now, he’s been having an affair with a woman who is 15 years younger than him and only a few years older than our son. From the moment I found out, he promised me that he loves me and wants to stop seeing her but is worried by how she’ll react. It seems she is very unstable and has threatened to kill me and our children if he leaves her. He admits he was foolish to have started the affair in the fi rst place, but he feels he can’t just walk away in case she really does injure herself or us. We have come so close to separating so many times in the past but he always persuades me to give our marriage one more chance. Will I ever really get him back? L. P. FIONA SAYS: HE’S USING EXCUSES Let me get this straight, he’s forced to continue this affair to prevent harm to you and your children? Well, that’s convenient. Sorry but I call baloney when I hear it and it’s time this charade came to end. If he genuinely loves you and wants this marriage to continue, his affair should end immediately. Then, together, work out what caused him to stray in the fi rst place. An Accord counsellor (accord.ie) could help you to do this. I’M STRUGGLING SINCE MY CANCER DIAGNOSIS A recent diagnosis of breast cancer has completely derailed me. I am usually such an organised and strong person but something about this is really worrying me. I am trying to keep a lid on my emotions for fear of upsetting my husband and children. The problem is I know so very little about what’s going to happen and have no one that I can talk to about it. N. M. FIONA SAYS: OPEN UP TO YOUR HUSBAND I am sorry to hear you’re going through this, but you should fi nd all the information and support you’re likely to need at Breast Cancer Ireland (breastcancerireland.com). In the meantime, please fi nd a way to talk through your worries with your husband. You may have always been the strong one before, but this could be his chance to be strong and support you. I’m sure he and your children suspect something because no matter how you’ve tried to hide it, you will have changed. By not talking about it, they may fear your feelings towards them have changed. WW

74 WOMANSWAY.IE exhaustion, which is an all-consuming exhaustion caused by unprecedented demands on our energy.” The GP says the feeling of hyper-fatigue is linked to busy lifestyles, high-pressured work lives and other stressors such as the cost of living, climate change, social media, full social calendars, caring responsibilities and energy costs. And psychotherapist Helen Wells, clinical director at The Dawn Rehab, adds: “Hyperfatigue is a more severe and persistent form of exhaustion that goes beyond regular fatigue, characterised by extreme tiredness that doesn’t improve significantly with rest. Hyper-fatigue often impairs cognitive and physical functioning and is usually associated TIRED OF IT ALL? What does it mean to be hyper-fatigued and how can you tackle it? Wellbeing But although we all know what tiredness is, what exactly is hyper-fatigue? Dr Samantha Wild, a GP at Bupa Health Clinics, says hyper-fatigue isn’t a medical term but was a trend identified last year by the research agency Mintel, who said: “The pandemic, rising cost of living, energy crisis, geopolitical unrest, and climate crisis are taking their toll, leaving consumers feeling overwhelmed.” Wild says that while feeling exhausted is very common and we all feel tired sometimes, it can usually be put down to late nights, busy family life, long hours at work, or having disrupted sleep. But she explains: “Hyper-fatigue is the state of continual mental, emotional and physical We all get tired from time to time – but new research suggests over half of us are feeling hyper-fatigued, meaning we’re exhausted all the time. A study by the vitamins and supplements company Solgar found 55 per cent of people it surveyed are hyper-fatigued, rising to 65 per cent of 25-34 year olds. More than a fifth blame the ‘always on’ working culture for their constant tiredness, with just over a third of 25-34-year-olds attributing it to this lack of work-life balance, and 19 per cent putting it down to spending too much time on social media.

WELLNESS WOMANSWAY.IE 75 By Lisa Salmon, PA with chronic stress, burnout, or underlying health issues. “This profound exhaustion can lead to a continuous cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unable to recuperate.” So what can people do about hyper-fatigue? Solgar ambassador and sprinter Desiree Henry, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2016 Rio Games, says when she does too much she can get a sense of hyper-fatigue, and recommends some ‘headspace’ time to get back on track. “I am as guilty as most people of probably spending too much time on social media and spreading myself too thinly by trying to do too much, all of which can lead to feelings of overdoing it and that sense of hyper-fatigue,” she says. The athlete, 28, points out that she has “a variety of tricks” she uses to keep her mind and body calm, including breathing exercises or just a few minutes of quiet. “If you fi nd it hard to take time for yourself then it can be a good plan to schedule ‘headspace’ time,” she says. “You are giving yourself space and time to think, to be in the moment and to recalibrate. Those moments of nothing can be as important as the moments of full-on effort.” Here’s what the experts recommend to combat hyper-fatigue… BE KIND TO YOURSELF Wild warns that even if you address the lifestyle factors that may be causing hyperfatigue, it may take time to get back to normal. “There is no magic cure for fatigue, especially if you’ve been feeling tired for a long time,” she says. “Be kind to yourself and set realistic goals and make sure you’re getting time to rest in between working and enjoying yourself. “If you’re overwhelmed by social plans then make sure you empower yourself to say no, rather than agreeing to everything and then regretting it.” PRIORITISE A SLEEP ROUTINE Make sure you have a good bedtime routine, advises Wild, who says this means not taking mobiles to bed with you, as this can wake you up rather than help you sleep, dimming the lights about two hours before you go to exhale,” she suggests. “This will help your muscles relax and help you drift off to sleep. Your sleep routine is so important to making sure you get a good night’s sleep.” EAT A HEALTHY DIET Wild recommends your diet is rich in vitamins and minerals, as this will help with fatigue. She suggests choosing high-protein foods such as meat, fi sh, beans, pulses, eggs and nuts, as protein is a good source of energy. “Having lower iron levels can make you feel more tired, so try to add green leafy vegetables which contain iron into your diet,” she says. EXERCISE REGULARLY “You may feel too tired to exercise, but exercise actually boosts your energy levels,” explains Wild. If you don’t exercise at the moment, start with small exercises and build them up so they become regular, she advises. “Try different types of exercise until you fi nd something you enjoy, or you won’t want to bed, and relaxing and unwinding from your day, perhaps by having a warm bath, reading or watching a box set. Then, make sure the bedroom is a good temperature to sleep in and isn’t too noisy. “Once you get in bed, lie on your back and take a deep breath in for four beats, then Desiree Henry exercise and give up quickly. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous either, it can be as simple as a quick 30-minute walk round the block – this can help clear your head.” ADDRESS SOCIAL MEDIA USE Wells says social media addiction or excessive time spent on social media platforms has a detrimental effect on wellbeing and is linked to increased anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, and hyper-fatigue. “The constant stimulation from notifi cations, scrolling feeds, and the fear of missing out leads to our brains becoming overwhelmed and exhausted,” she explains. “Taking breaks and setting boundaries around social media consumption is key to resetting attention reserves and restoring healthy energy levels.” TRY TO REDUCE STRESS Wild says stress can make us feel more tired, and suggests: “You can reduce stress in a number of ways, including through exercise, talking about how you’re feeling and practising mindfulness. When things feel overwhelming, stress can become allencompassing – you could try writing down reasons why you’re stressed and look at simple ways in which you can overcome them.” IMPROVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE Wells says there’s a clear link between worklife balance, burnout, and hyper-fatigue, explaining: “Poor work-life balance often leads to chronic stress, as individuals struggle to juggle professional demands and personal responsibilities, and this persistent imbalance can result in burnout, which further exacerbates hyper-fatigue.” She says patients frequently report feeling overwhelmed and unable to recharge, leading to declining mental health. “Addressing these issues through therapy involves setting boundaries, fostering self-care routines, and developing stress management techniques to restore balance and wellbeing.” GET CHECKED OUT If you’re worried about any tiredness, Wild says you should speak to a healthcare professional who’ll be able to look into why you may be feeling like this and recommend the best course of action. WW

76 WOMANSWAY.IE Have you ever scrolled through photos of people enjoying hikes in the great outdoors, wishing it could be you? Remember, the outdoorsy infl uencers posting their adventures were all once beginners too. We asked three of our favourites to share some top tips for newbies… FINDING COMMUNITY Alice Keegan founded The Adventure Girls Club (@theadventuregirlsclub) to help inspire more women to get outdoors. As well as running day hikes, weekend trips, skills workshops and more, it’s about fi nding community, which can be a great way into exploring new activities. “There are so many groups out there,” says Keegan. “Social media is a good place to start, as well as Eventbrite and Meetup. com. Find a group to suit your needs – some groups are for people who want to do more challenging walks, others take it nice and slow. If you feel more comfortable being in a group with the same gender, race or religion to you, there are plenty of amazing groups that represent different communities too. “I run The Adventure Girls Club – a hiking group for women and non-binary people. I know it can be super scary to show up to these events for the fi rst time, but most people who enjoy the outdoors are nice and welcoming. You all have something in common, so there should be things to talk about, and if you are shy and want to just walk alongside the group and listen to the conversations, that’s fi ne too.” START SMALL If you’re tempted to hit the trails by yourself, Keegan’s main advice is: “Start small and work your way up. Just go for a small walk from your front door on your own and get used to what it’s like walking by yourself. Then you can build up the confi dence gradually to do longer, more remote walks. “I’d always recommend sharing your route with someone before you leave, with a rough time of return, as well as reading up on how to get help if you need it,” she adds. “Pack plenty of food, water and layers and always take a fi rst aid kit. “If you struggle with navigation, download an app such as the OS Maps app or book yourself onto a navigation skills course. But mainly, just go for it. Once you start, you will soon learn things and become a better hiker each time you go out.” PACK SMART “Over-packing can be as problematic as under-packing, but for a host of different reasons,” says Kate Appleby, an adaptive adventurer, advocate and speaker who documents her outdoor adventures whilst living with incurable illness on her Instagram (@kate.s.appleby). “One way to make sure you nail the perfectly prepared kit bag is to take time to fi nd the bag contents and setup that really work for you, and pack the night before. REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Want to do more hiking this summer? These seasoned walkers share their top tips. community, which can be a great way If you’re tempted to hit the trails by yourself, Keegan’s main advice is: “Start small and work your way up. Just go for a small walk from by yourself. Then you can build up the confi dence gradually to do longer, more remote walks. Alice Keegan

WOMANSWAY.IE 77 By Abi Jackson, PA FITNESS “Don’t rely on just stuffi ng things in at the last minute, instead pack sensibly and carefully. Your back will thank you for saving unnecessary weight, while carrying the essentials you need for most eventualities maximises your chances of keeping safe. Think space-saving too. Wrapping some gaffer tape around your hiking poles is a great way of carrying around some emergency repair material, but taking up no added space!” There’s tons of helpful info on packing online. Key things to think about include: how much food and water will you need? Essential fi rst aid? Navigation tools? Phone charger? Hat/sunnies/SPF? Layers/waterproof? Torch? Hygiene supplies? BE SAVVY WITH FUELLING Appleby adds: “When we talk about fuelling our bodies for hiking, it’s easy to concentrate on what we eat and drink the day of a hike – but we should be putting focus on what we consume the day before a hike too. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and surgery foods, and consider complex carbohydrates like wholegrain pasta and beans the night before, as a slower-to-digest fuel source.” SAFETY FIRST The goal is to have a lovely day in nature – and chances are, this is what you’ll get. But being prepared in case you do encounter slip-ups is always a good idea. “In mountain rescue, we always say to be ‘adventure smart’,” says Carys Rees, who shares content inspiring women to get outdoors via Instagram (@this.girlwalks), as well as being a member of Central Beacons Mountain Rescue. “Do you have the right gear for the day, do you know what the weather will be like, and are you confi dent in the knowledge and skills you have for the day you have planned? “Most rescues tend to happen towards the end of the day when people are tired, so a key thing I would always tell people is to make sure your phone is charged and to bring a power bank. “I also carry a Garmin InReach Mini, a company satellite communicator which essentially allows me to contact people regardless of signal, and also has its own built-in SOS function,” Rees adds. “Knowing what to do in case you do get into trouble is half the battle. So should the worst happen when you are out, dial the emergency services for help.” WW If you need emergency help while hiking, dial 999 or 112 and ask for ‘mountain rescue’. This will lead to an interaction with someone in a garda station who will take details from you and then alert the local team. Kate Appleby about fuelling our bodies for hiking, like, and are you confi dent in the knowledge and skills you have for the day you have planned? “Most rescues tend to happen Carys Rees

78 WOMANSWAY.IE approach to things; it’s been replaced with more of a flow. “Do you get as much done? I’m not entirely sure – but does it matter that we don’t get the maximum done? Why are we forcing ourselves to do the absolute maximum in any one day?” TRANSITION Brazier is in a bit of a “transition” phase right TAKING THE PRESSURE OFF TV presenter Jeff Brazier wonders why we force ourselves to do the absolute maximum every day? called Indistractable by Nir Eyal. I’d make sure I meticulously plan each day and set out goals and things I need to do in a particular order. “But I feel like I’ve sort of let go of ‘must get everything done’,” adds Brazier, 44, known for appearances on shows like This Morning and Loose Women. “Don’t get me wrong, there’s still things that need doing. I think I’m just finding a new Ever feel like pressure to be productive is ruling your life? Then you might want to take a leaf out of Jeff Brazier’s book. As the TV presenter says: “Until recently, I’ve always been a big list keeper. I used to do something called ‘timeboxing’ [a popular time-management method where you plot out allocated time frames for tasks], which I learnt from a book

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 79 By Abi Jackson, PA a period living in a refuge for women and families escaping domestic abuse. “I’m constantly learning and evolving,” he says today. “But I can proudly state that I had psychotherapy for seven or eight years, and now. There’s been a lot of refl ecting, and he’s switching things up. “It doesn’t mean I don’t want to be driven, but I don’t want to be driven from the same place,” he says. For example: “I don’t want to go to the gym because I expect myself to look a certain way at 45 years old – I want to go to the gym because I enjoy certain aspects of it.” It’s seeing what life looks like “when you take the ‘I must do this’ or ‘I have to do that’ out of the equation”, he adds. “It feels new for me. It feels softer, kinder, slightly more comfortable and more aligned. “It’s something I’ve been unravelling recently, and it’s just about knowing your self-worth, knowing that you’re enough, that you don’t have to continue to feel like you have to prove yourself. “I think there’s a lot of people who place high expectations on themselves on a daily basis. I know I’m defi nitely one of them. In some respects, maybe it’s helped. Maybe it helped me bring up the kids, maybe it helped me to stay healthy, maybe it helped me to stay married. “But – having a motivation is great – but if your motivation and drive all comes from trying to satisfy the expectations of others, or having an infl ated expectation of yourself based on needing to survive, then I would say that your motivation can come from better, more resourceful places.” Brazier’s presenting career started after a stint on Shipwrecked in 2001, back in the days when reality TV as a distinct genre was still relatively new. A year later he started dating, and subsequently had two sons (Bobby, now 20, and Freddie, now 19) with late Big Brother star Jade Goody. They split up in 2004, and following Goody’s tragic death from cervical cancer at age 27 in 2009, he became a single dad to their boys. During his own childhood, Brazier – who married wife Kate, a PR fi rm director, in 2018 – spent time in foster care, as well as “Sometimes it’s the part of you that holds the trauma that might be making decisions in relationships or in work” Jeff Brazier has changed his way of thinking that was to do with inner child work. “When you’ve experienced trauma when you’re younger, there’s a lot to unravel. Otherwise, you have to be careful, because in life sometimes it’s the part of you that holds the trauma that might be making decisions in relationships or in work. “I think most of my career I’ve spent just treading carefully and being safe, not necessarily true to who I am, or how I would have gone about certain things if I didn’t maybe have that experience of knowing that certain things should be feared.” TV work is still central in his career. He is also a trained grief counsellor and life coach and in 2017 published a book, The Grief Survival Guide. Then there’s his brand ambassador role with ‘super supplement’ brand Revive Active. Making this part of his selfcare routine easy is one timemanagement hack he’s sticking with: “I think sometimes there’s too much jargon with nutritional supplements, and it doesn’t help us really feel assured in what we’re taking. “Also, there’s millions – there isn’t enough time or cupboard space to store all of them. So I really appreciate Revive Active’s approach, they make it really simple.” During the pandemic, Jeff started running local Grateful Strides ‘walk and talk’ groups. It started as a way of helping people get outside and reconnect after lockdown, and he still cherishes the movement today. “It’s a really simple premise, but I can’t speak highly enough for how powerful it is. I will never stop doing them. “Community is vital,” he adds. “As someone who has, on the whole, brought up kids on his own, you feel very on your own at times. And that can be of your own doing, it can also be because the situation lends itself to just coping with what’s in front of you. So yeah, community for me is really important. “If we lack something in our life, we can always replicate it by taking positive actions towards creating it in other ways. “So maybe in some respects, me starting the walks wasn’t just for others,” says Brazier. “Maybe it was for myself as well.” WW Jeff Brazier is a brand ambassador for super supplement experts Revive Active.

80 WOMANSWAY.IE LIVING WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT PEOPLE? Firstly, it’s a surprisingly common mental health condition. According to Irish charity Aware, one to two per cent of people experience a lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder in Ireland. The charity Bipolar UK estimates that over a million adults in the UK have it, around 30 per cent more Health As chef Heston Blumenthal shines a light on the condition, an expert explains what it means to be bipolar and how it’s treated. the chef, 57, owner of the esteemed Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire, among others. Speaking about the need for a change in attitudes towards neurodiversity in the workplace, he adds: “The world needs to move on from outdated and archaic misinterpretations of perceived difference, and embrace the opportunities neurodiversity presents.” Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has revealed he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The restaurateur was previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2017. “My most artistic, innovative and exciting work is because I am neurodivergent, which I describe as my superpower,” said

WOMANSWAY.IE 81 HEALTH By Lisa Salmon, PA than the number of people with dementia. However, it’s also estimated at least half a million people with bipolar disorder in the UK are undiagnosed. “It’s really critical that people like Heston are able to be open about their condition,” says Simon Kitchen, CEO of Bipolar UK. The condition is thought to have a genetic link – evidence suggests those with a parent who is bipolar have around a 10 per cent chance of developing the condition, and those with two bipolar parents have up to a 70 per cent chance of having it. MOOD CHANGES A serious mental health condition, being bipolar causes signifi cant mood swings, ranging from highs (hypermania or mania) to lows (depression), as well as a mix of both, where symptoms of depression and mania occur at the same time between periods of stability. “It’s characterised by extreme highs and lows of emotion, and energy as well,” says Kitchen. “Hypermania is where people tip over into a high energy state, where they can be very productive and very charismatic, and consequently, many people with bipolar can be very high achievers because of this. “The problem with bipolar is if it’s not managed, it can tip over into fullblown manic episodes, where it’s like a train running down a mountain – it can’t stop itself,” he adds. This can lead to sleeping problems and very erratic behaviour. Kitchen says: “They might send emails to a colleague at two o’clock in the morning, they might end up experiencing hypersexual behaviour, or put themselves in very vulnerable situations. And they can also spend lots of money in a short period of time, and take on lots of debt. “The other side is that for the high, there’s always a low, and the lows for bipolar depression are very debilitating,” Kitchen continues. “People might spend weeks, even months in bed, and they can also experience really intrusive suicidal thoughts.” He says up to one in fi ve people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, and that this risk is signifi cantly higher if someone doesn’t get appropriate support to manage their condition. DIAGNOSIS IS KEY There is effective treatment for being bipolar, however Kitchen says 60 per cent of people living with the condition get no always a low, and the lows for bipolar depression are very debilitating,” Kitchen continues. “People might Simon Kitchen treatment or support, and it takes an average of nineand-a-half years to get an accurate diagnosis. As a result, undiagnosed people can carry a lot of shame about their behaviour, he says, and their relationships can be badly affected. “It really damages family relationships. Whereas if you know you’ve got a mental health condition and that’s what’s caused your behaviour, it doesn’t make the impact necessarily easier, but it means the person living with the condition doesn’t have the same level of shame. This is part of the condition that can be managed.” HOW DO YOU TREAT BIPOLAR DISORDER? Mood stabiliser medication can be used as treatment, often in conjunction with an antipsychotic to manage “Undiagnosed people can carry a lot of shame about their behaviour and their relationships can be badly affected” Heston Blumenthal mania, or an antidepressant to “bring them up slightly”, explains Kitchen. The most common mood stabiliser is lithium, although Kitchen points out that some people respond better to different medications. Psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling, can also be very helpful. In addition, lifestyle changes are important, including making sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, and people with bipolar disorder can benefi t from planning their lives carefully. Kitchen explains: “If you’ve got a new job, if you’re really excited about something – those feelings for bipolar people can trigger an episode. So we would always encourage people to plan their lives so they don’t have too much stuff going on at the same time, good or bad. “So don’t start a new job, get married, and go on holiday all at the same time – space it out so you’ve got them going on at different times.” While there’s no cure, Kitchen says: “With the right medication and support, you can live a really good life. It’s really diffi cult at times, but it’s possible to go for years at a time without severe episodes.” LIVING WELL WITH BIPOLAR “Most people, when they fi rst fi nd out they’ve got a diagnosis, they see it as ‘this is the end of my life, I’ve got a really severe mental health condition, I can’t do well with it’. It’s a real moment of despair for them because they don’t think there’s any hope, when in reality, the diagnosis is the start of their life getting better,” says Kitchen. “It’s not easy, but life can get better and they can get in control of this thing. And meeting other people who have been through that journey, and being able to support each other through it, is really powerful. “Talking about mental health, and bipolar in particular, shouldn’t be taboo – that’s really critical. The more people are open about it, the more it’s easier to manage.” WW Aware runs a Living Well With Bipolar Disorder programme, visit aware.ie.

82 WOMANSWAY.IE palpitations as a symptom of anxiety and panic attacks, and it is common for people to have palpitations when they are anxious,” says Yuko Nippoda, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). This is due to the body’s ‘fi ght or fl ight’ response, which can happen in moments of acute stress, causing a spike in cortisol and adrenaline levels. These ALL ABOUT ARRHYTHMIA Experts explain how abnormal or irregular heart rate or rhythms are associated with a range of potential conditions. are anxious,” says Yuko Nippoda, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). or fl ight’ response, which can happen in moments of acute stress, causing a spike in cortisol and adrenaline levels. These Yuko Nippoda could it be a problem with your heart? Arrhythmia – the medical term for an abnormal or irregular heart rate or rhythm – is associated with a range of potential conditions, some of which can be very serious and will need to be monitored and treated. Here’s what you need to know. CAN ANXIETY CAUSE PALPITATIONS? “Many people do experience You’re standing in the kitchen washing up, waiting for a bus, even getting ready for bed in the evening and there it goes again – your pulse suddenly pounding and racing in your chest. We all know heart rates speed up a little with strenuous exercise, or momentarily leaps if we get a sudden fright – but what if you’re getting palpitations when there’s no obvious cause? Is it stress and anxiety, or

HEALTH WOMANSWAY.IE 83 By Abi Jackson, PA Dr Oliver Segal and electrophysiologist at The Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, also wants to highlight. “While palpitations can certainly be stress-related or due to anxiety, it isn’t possible to tell the difference between this and a genuine heart rhythm problem. ECG monitoring and other tests are necessary for reassurance,” says Segal. This is especially the case if you’re also experiencing other physiological symptoms. stress hormones can bring on a number of physiological responses, including a sudden rise in heart rate – an inbuilt survival mechanism preparing us to take quick action. Ideally, this is just temporary and things balance out again. But when people are dealing with ongoing or chronic stress and anxiety, that heightened state can linger. Nippoda says it’s normal for people experiencing anxiety-induced palpitations to “worry there might be something wrong with their heart”. “When they have palpitations, they might become more anxious, as the heart is a vital organ for life. However, the more they become anxious, the more likely they’ll have palpitations, and this might become a vicious circle,” she explains. HOW ELSE CAN YOU TELL IF ANXIETY IS AFFECTING YOUR BODY? If stress or anxiety is the culprit, chances are there will be other indicators too. “When people have anxiety and panic attacks, they become shaky, sweaty, nauseous, tense, restless, and fi nd it diffi cult to sleep. They can also have abdominal discomfort,” says Nippoda. You might also feel generally tense and on edge, and perhaps seem more impatient and irritable and struggle to relax. Sometimes, it’s quite clear that you’re under pressure and have a lot on your plate, although anxiety doesn’t always have an obvious external cause. ALWAYS GET THINGS CHECKED All that being said, as Nippoda adds: “On the other hand, palpitations may well be due to physical illness, so those who are really worried should seek medical advice, to be on the safe side.” When it comes to heart symptoms, it’s always best to get things properly checked out – sooner rather than later. It’s a message Dr Oliver Segal, consultant cardiologist “If you also feel breathless, have chest pain or feel faint, dizzy or pass out, then these are all potential red fl ags,” says Segal. “Symptoms that occur without stress are naturally more likely to be heart-related, as are symptoms that wake you at night. Symptoms with exercise can sometimes be very serious and should be checked out.” HOW IS ARRHYTHMIA DIAGNOSED AND TREATED? Your GP will usually start by asking about your symptoms and history, as well as listening to your heart and checking your pulse and blood pressure. Segal explains that specifi c tests can help detect heart rhythm issues: “Usually, an ECG, echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart), ECG monitor (often a patch monitor), and blood tests are needed.” Common arrhythmia conditions include atrial fi brillation (AF), which causes an abnormally fast, irregular heart beat and is particularly likely in older age groups, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which causes the heart to suddenly beat much faster for bursts lasting a few minutes to several hours. Heart block, meanwhile, is associated with an abnormally slow heart rate, sometimes also with an irregular rhythm. Treatments depends on the type and severity of the condition, possibly including medication, pacemakers and procedures such as catheter ablation (where a thin tube is inserted via a vein or artery to correct problems with the heart’s electrical signals). While not all arrhythmias are serious, some (such as AF) are linked with a signifi cantly higher risk of things like stroke and heart attack. “Early diagnosis and treatment can often prevent this,” says Segal. “Sometimes frequent ectopic beats can be a sign of heart failure, putting you at risk of collapse or cardiac arrest. Again, early diagnosis is key to avoiding these.” And if underlying heart problems are ruled out, and stress/anxiety is causing your palpitations, getting the appropriate advice and support can make a big difference here too. Breathing exercises can bring quick relief, while longer-term support with talking therapies and sometimes medication may also be benefi cial. WHEN IT COMES TO HEART SYMPTOMS, DON’T SELF-DIAGNOSE “Self-diagnosis is never a good idea – even for doctors!” says Segal. “We see plenty of people who waited too long to get tested and now regret that decision. It is always best to get checked out early for reassurance.” WW “Symptoms that occur without stress are naturally more likely to be heart-related, as are symptoms that wake you at night”

84 WOMANSWAY.IE of people surveyed saying they are open to chatting about their pay. While around a third think it’s appropriate to talk about their salary with friends, just one in six (16 per cent) would openly share or post about their salary on social media. Over eight in 10 (82 per cent) people think that the salary should be clearly stated on job adverts, according to the survey of 1,000 people by OnePoll in March. The Gen-Z generation feels the MONEY TALKS Feel awkward chatting to friends about money? These tips may help. or post about their salary on social media. Over eight in 10 (82 per cent) people think that the salary should be clearly stated on job adverts, according to the survey of 1,000 people by OnePoll in March. The Gen-Z generation feels the Alina Jaffer Finance squeeze on budgets, household bills (53 per cent) and the cost of everyday essentials (53 per cent) are the topics people are most open to discussing. In fact, the research fi nds that for those who do feel comfortable talking to friends about money, the main reason for this is because the cost-of-living pressures have simply made it an unavoidable topic (45 per cent). Wages was the third most popular topic up for discussion, with nearly a third (32 per cent) T he squeeze and strain on budgets may have made people more inclined to open up to friends and loved ones about money matters, new research reveals. Nearly two-fi fths (38 per cent) of people think we are better at talking about money now than we were back in 2019, before the spike in living costs, according to Virgin Money. More than half (56 per cent) feel comfortable discussing money with their friends. Understandably, with living costs putting a

FINANCE WOMANSWAY.IE 85 Vicky Shaw, PA Personal Finance Correspondent most comfortable talking about money, the research indicates. Nearly seven in 10 (68 per cent) 18 to 24-year-olds feel fi ne about chatting about money with friends. Being more open about money with friends can have its advantages. Some people think that being able to talk freely about money helps them say no to social situations without feeling embarrassed or pressured to attend (32 per cent) – perhaps helped by the “loud budgeting” social media trend where people are vocal about their fi nancial priorities. Some also feel that talking openly can help people feel less anxious about money (32 per cent); and that it makes it more likely that people will be in control of and realistic about their fi nances (31 per cent). In addition to the survey fi ndings, chatting to friends about money can also help people to stay ahead of scams. Perhaps discussing a dodgy text or email you’ve received could help to prevent a friend or family member from falling for a similar message. Graeme Sands, head of personal banking at Virgin Money, says: “The subject of personal fi nance has leapt up the news agenda in the last fi ve years, and it’s positive to see that with a backdrop of cost-of-living pressures, most people now feel more comfortable discussing their fi nances with friends. “We need to continue to challenge the notion that money is a taboo subject or that it’s rude or bad manners to discuss money in your social circles. In fact, it’s hugely important to be open and honest about money with loved ones to improve our collective relationship with money.” While it appears the majority of us do feel comfortable talking to friends about money, nearly a fi fth (19 per cent) admit they feel uncomfortable doing so. The research also indicates that women feel less comfortable discussing money with friends than men, with 49 per cent of women feeling comfortable versus 64 per cent of men. For those who aren’t comfortable talking about money with their friends, 43 per cent say it’s because they are embarrassed about their fi nances and 42 per cent say they have been told that it’s taboo or bad manners to discuss money with friends. Alina Jaffer, a money expert at Virgin Money, has some tips on how to build “Discussing a dodgy text or email you’ve received could help to prevent a friend or family member from falling for a similar message” confi dence talking about money – and explains why it’s so important: 1 KEEP THE CONVERSATION POSITIVE AND JUDGEMENT-FREE Jaffer says: “The cost-of-living crisis has impacted almost everyone in some way, but one benefi t of that situation is that there is now much more of a common ground when it comes to talking about money, and people have got better at opening up about their fi nances as a result. “Instead of focusing on the negatives, try to start by discussing the positives – (for example) what you’re currently saving for and why, what you’re looking forward to spending some money on after payday and what the best thing you bought last month was. “These things can be as big or as small as you like, but it’s good to remind yourself what you’re working towards and helps to have a valuable, judgement-free conversation around money.” 2 SET FINANCIAL BOUNDARIES “It’s important to feel as comfortable as possible when talking about money,” says Jaffer, “so it’s sensible to set some boundaries around which areas you are and equally aren’t willing to discuss ahead of starting the conversation – for example, you might be happy to chat about your bills but don’t want to open up about your salary. “Setting boundaries in advance keeps the conversation focused on ‘safe’ topics and helps to avoid any awkward situations for you or your friends, making for a more positive experience for everyone involved.” 3 DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES Jaffer says: “It can be diffi cult to avoid comparing yourself to your friends and family, and even to infl uencers on social platforms who seem to be living their best lives, but it can also be dangerous to do so. “Comparing yourself to others can make you feel like you’re not doing as well or aren’t as successful, leaving you feeling down, unmotivated and stressed out. However, nothing good comes from spending for the sake of it – you do not have to keep up with the people around you if that isn’t best for your bank account right now, and, quite frankly, real friends won’t care whether you’re spending as much as them or not. “Being able to talk about your money and what you’re comfortable spending with friends can be hugely benefi cial, as it means that there won’t be any awkwardness or stress when it comes to planning social situations, such as nights out, birthday presents or trips away.” WW

86 WOMANSWAY.IE Adventurer and TV survival expert Aldo Kane on achieving a work-life balance. L ike the idea of being burnout-proof? For former Marine-turned-explorer, adventurer, author and TV personality, Aldo Kane, the key to this is quite simple – but easily overlooked in a world where hyperproductivity and constant screen use are the norm. “I’ve always relaxed, but before there was never any delineation between what was relaxing and what was working,” says Kane, 46, known for shows such as Channel 4’s The Bridge and Expedition With Steve Backshall. “Now I’m strict with what I do, and how much of it I do. Every day, I’ll do something that is recovery – and it’s not sitting in front of a television, because that isn’t actually rest. You’re physically resting, but you’re not resting your brain and all the pieces that you need to be resting to be a burnoutproof ninja. “For me, saunas are good, and getting outside for a walk. Running, biking, climbing trees – just basically being outside. Not sitting still, but also not being frantically busy jumping from one thing to another. “I want to be able to do highconsequence, high-risk jobs for years to come,” he adds. “But if I do them back-toback without doing any work on myself, I’ll burn out, and then I won’t be able to do them.” So far, these “high-consequence” accomplishments have ranged from setting a Guinness World Record as part of the first team to row the Atlantic east from mainland Europe to mainland South America in 2016, to being a go-to survival specialist for a host of adventure TV shows. Filming for epic-sounding docuseries OceanXplorers for the Disney+ National Geographic network has taken up a lot of his time in recent years. ALDO’S NEW Adventure

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 87 By Abi Jackson, PA community – especially as new parents who, like many these days, don’t have extended family living close by. “Anna does the hard yards of almost everything we do, because I’m away working and she’s looking after the kids and holding the house together and all that stuff,” notes Kane, who says his default mode is a bit “lone wolf” – harking back to his sniper days. “I’ve just come back from the jungle from this new project I’m working on – and we’re living together, bathing together, BOUNDARIES Kane, who grew up on Scotland’s south-west coast and is now based in Bristol, joined the Royal Marines at 16, becoming one of UK forces’ youngest ever snipers. After 10 years, he left an expert in handling some of the world’s toughest environments; deserts, jungles, mountains, the Arctic. Much of this is charted in his recently-released book – Lessons From The Edge: Inspirational Tales Of Surviving, Thriving And Extreme Adventure. But right now, he is also facing adventures of a very different kind… Kane and his wife, TV producer Anna Williamson (they met while shooting on an erupting volcano in Ecuador in 2015), welcomed son Atlas three years ago, and a few days before we speak in May their second lad was born (going by “baby” for now, until they decide on a name). The thirst for those “high-consequence” missions hasn’t waned, but fatherhood has made Kane more conscious of work-life balance – something he admits he previously “didn’t value at all”. “I just had an effi ng amazing job. I was loving it and I was in it, you know? When I was in the Marines, I was a sniper, and that wasn’t just my job but was my identity. I’ve always been ‘the sniper’, ‘the adventurer’ – and it kind of blurs the lines between work, recovery, rest, being a dad. “It’s something I’ve been working on for the last three years now, that separation between my spaces. So I have ‘Aldo Kane at work’, and I have ‘Aldo Kane the dad’, and then the space in between, when I transition from one to the other.” He’s also been putting in boundaries. “I now have a load of ‘power down’ routines that I do when I fi nish a job,” Kane explains. “I defi nitely think a lot more about this stuff, instead of just coming home and going – right, what’s the next job?” These routines might be unpacking as soon as he’s home (“for me, that’s like closing your laptop at the end of the day”), then shifting completely into dad mode. “It’s part of the bigger picture of keeping your mental, emotional and physical health in check – having siloed parts of your life, so that you can deal with things, and you’re not bringing work home, and not bringing home to work.” Not easy with the constantconnectivity of our smartphones, right? “So, I now have zero notifi cations,” says Kane. “I have two bits of tech, a laptop and phone, and my screens are essentially black – I don’t have millions of apps jumping up at me. And I only use WhatsApp, email and social media at designated times of the day now, and then I’m off it again, so it’s not intruding on me anymore.” Discipline often seems hardwired in former high-level military folk. But while he acknowledges he has a “high level of grit”, Kane’s had to learn from experience too. When it comes to those phone boundaries, it was coming back from a job about eight years ago in Venezuela, where he’d been offgrid, that sparked it. “I started to feel anxious and I didn’t know why, I just had this uneasy feeling,” he recalls. “But actually, it was the thought of coming back into GSM signal where you’re going to start getting all the messages, you know, what have you missed, blah, blah, blah. So now I’ve self-imposed that, so I don’t get interrupted at all.” Something else he’s been reassessing is the importance of Lessons From The Edge by Aldo Kane is published by Yellow Kite, priced €22.40. Available now. Aldo fi lming OceanXplorers eating together, we’re this little fi lming community. But when I come home, then I’m kind of isolated.” So, he’s trying to rally more company on his bike rides and trips to the climbing wall – especially “now we know community is one of the biggest predictors of longevity”. Kane adds: “I’m big into longevity now in health and fi tness, mainly because I have my new kid and Atlas, and I’m 46 so I’m late compared to when people normally start a family. Social connection and belonging to groups is really, really good for us, so I’m trying to rebuild that up. “It’s always been something I know the value of, but it can be diffi cult because my life is so transient, when I'm back for three weeks, away again for two, back for a week, away for a month. That's just part of what I do." WW

88 WOMANSWAY.IE excruciatingly long waiting lists, desperate to be diagnosed, he’s able to connect with both parents and kids. He acknowledges that neurodiversity can make kids picky eaters. He knows that being the second most successful British author is an incredible feat for a man who looks at a page and sees the words jump around. But he also knows that being neurodiverse has made him – and kept him – who he is today. “Conventional writing has never worked for me,” says the chef, author and campaigner, noting he uses dictation as his weapon in order to visually tell a story. “Cookery books Chef and best-selling author Jamie Oliver talks about how a bit of tough stuff can make you strive harder. EPIC JAMIE grace our screens 25 years ago, is back in the limelight with his latest children’s book, Billy And The Epic Escape – the second one he’s written and a sequel to the fi rst. And as he promotes the adventures of his hero character Billy and his mates, he’s also talking openly about his own struggles growing up. NEURODIVERSITY As a child with severe dyslexia, Oliver found school incredibly diffi cult and describes words as “his enemy”. He also has Attention Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And at a time when there are so many children on I s there anyone as successful, yet down to earth, as Jamie Oliver? He’s known – and adored – the world over, is the top-selling nonfi ction author in UK history, has a TV career spanning a quarter of a century and somehow, always seems so normal. Maybe it’s his enormous brood of kids. Oliver and his wife Jools have fi ve children, aged between seven and 22-years-old, which must surely keep him in touch and on his toes. Or maybe it’s the fact that he’s neurodiverse. Oliver, 49, and the original Essex boy to

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 89 Billy And The Epic Escape by Jamie Oliver is published by Puffin Books, priced €15.99. Available now. By Claire Spreadbury and Prudence Wade, PA have always been treated a bit like a Haynes manual – like a ‘how to’ or step by step. So, that’s not really writing. This is. Even though it’s a kids’ book, it’s still real writing. So, I had to fi nd my confi dence.” There’s an important message about confi dence within the book, something Oliver struggled to grapple with. “I think confi dence, worry and anxiety are all part of a cauldron of different emotions that challenge us,” he says, honestly. “And I think that they can present themselves when you’re young, as things that hold you back. But at the same time, as you get older, [they provide] a tension that makes you do your best work. “Life’s not supposed to be linear or easy. I want my kids to struggle as much as possible, in a safe and controlled way. If it’s too easy, it’s really vanilla.” EARLY LIFE Oliver talks in an open way, those famous blue eyes still twinkling, and is unafraid of a challenge. He chats gratefully about having the opportunity to work at the weekend when he was young, in his family’s Clavering home and pub, The Cricketers, which is now a hotel. “Cooking – 100 per cent – saved me. Because, while everything was going very badly at school, at the weekend – at work – I was able to be someone and have something to offer. Cooking was normalised, earning £1.20 (€1.41) an hour was normalised and getting paid because I did what I promised was normalised. So, I had my confi dence building on one side, and dare I say it, slightly diminished on the other. “I had such resentment towards the written word, and traditional learning. And I’ve got Left, the Olivers in 2017; with wife Jools at the BFI Film Festival The Oliver family's former pub and home, The Cricketers, in Essex rid of that now,” he says, almost sounding relieved. “I guess what I’m trying to say is book two was not a chore. It was beyond exciting. It was completely intentional. And probably without knowing it too much, it was therapy. And to be heading towards 50 and still learning big lessons, still making yourself vulnerable to criticism – I’m proud of it.” Oliver’s words are heartfelt. He clearly cares about the book and wants it to be loved. He is now able to trust in his own unique process of getting those words down, and feels genuine pride in his achievements. Having grown up being “not good at a lot of stuff that is measured in a school environment”, not getting good school reports or positive reinforcement, he’s come a long way, most of which, he owes to that lovely old pub. “Pubs are welcome to all,” he says, reminiscing. “Pubs are really unique. My best friends were travellers. And I grew up around farmers and old age pensioners. You know, the cricket club, the bowls club, the tennis club, rich city boys drinking single malts and smoking expensive cigars with an E-Type Jag out the back; pubs are really special places. And that was my school, really. Teenage Jamie was in love with people, optimistic for life and learning how to be glass half-full. And I don’t mean it in a romantic or sugary way. But when you live in a pub, and when you are interacting with the public, you see the best and worst of the community, but mainly the best. “Every day, you go down for service, which even as a kid, I was still acting as a kid in service. Dad was going down for service, 12 to three, six to 11. It’s like theatre. And no matter what, you got to brush yourself down and go for it. “Even today, I say to my girls – you’ve got to brush your teeth, look in the mirror, and decide it’s going to be a positive day, decide to be glass half-full. And I know – I know, I know, I know – it’s easier said than done. But also, if you do try, and if you do have that intention, it’s about being glass half-full most of the time, and hopefully having friends around you that will catch you on the not so good days.” Oliver really does come to life when he talks about that pub. Which is no surprise, as that’s still the lifelong dream. “When I left the pub, and left for London at 16, my dream was to come back. And even now, with everything that I’ve done, my dream, sincerely, is to retire and open a pub!” He bursts into laughter as he reiterates how happy he is, but with the big 5-0 approaching, maybe Jamie Oliver’s next big thing will take him very much back to his roots. “I love my life. And I love my team. And I love the work that I have the opportunity to do,” he says. “But I still haven’t fulfi lled my career goal, which was to open a beautiful pub, and do my version of what I grew up in.” WW

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CHARITIES WOMANSWAY.IE 91 By Andrea Smith 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 Nissan Mizen to Malin Fundraising Cycle Lend your support to a pioneering Irish breast surgeon who swapped his surgical scrubs for cycling shorts this month to undertake a 670km cycle to raise funds for breast cancer research. Professor Arnie Hill, chairman of Breast Cancer Ireland, cycled with 75 members of Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club in Stillorgan as part of the Nissan Mizen to Malin fundraising cycle, to help raise funds for worldclass research into this disease, new treatments and personalised therapies. Text “Cure” to 50300 to donate €4 to Breast Cancer Ireland. WW Be in with a chance of breaking bread with legendary football star Roy Keane in aid of Cork-based national charity Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Two people will win the opportunity to have a private lunch or dinner with Keano, and can each bring along three guests. FUNDRAISER FOR PALESTINE Join the gang at Electric Circus on Talbot Street, Dublin, for a night of music, food, and community. It takes place on Thursday July 4 from 6pm and funds raised will support humanitarian efforts in Palestine, and provide much-needed aid and resources to those affected by ongoing confl icts. Visit electriccircus.ie. Relay for Life Wexford Head to Páirc Charman in Wexford on June 29 and 30 for Relay for Life Wexford. Each year, huge crowds descend to remember loved ones, share survival stories and to raise both awareness and funds to aid the work of the Irish Cancer Society. Over 500 entries across 45 teams will take part in the relay over the 24 hours, while a wonderful lineup of entertainers will donate their time and talents free of charge. There will also be a host of fun activities for kids and a selection of food vendors. For full details, visit relayforlife.ie. Barretstown 30th Big Picnic Enjoy a rare opportunity to experience the Barretstown magic fi rsthand. Taking place at Barretstown Castle on July 7, activities include canoeing, scavenger hunts, mini golf and competitions and prizes. Funds go towards free medically endorsed therapeutic camps and programmes for children and their families living with cancer and other serious illnesses. Fees are €20 per car, or entry to the campus and a Fossett’s Circus performance for two adults and two children is €50. Tickets via barretstown.org. This event will be an informal occasion to get some insights into Roy’s playing days, management roles and his thoughts on today’s Premier League. Tickets for the raffl e to have a chance to have a meal with Roy are €10 each, with six for €50, and are only available online. Tickets via guidedogs.ie. Be in with a chance of breaking bread with legendary football star Roy Keane in aid of Cork-based national charity Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Two people will win the opportunity to have a private lunch or dinner with Keano, and can each bring along three guests. survival stories and to raise both work of the Irish Cancer Society. Over 500 entries across 45 teams will take part in the relay over the 24 hours, Lunch with Roy Keane

QUICK FIRE 92 WOMANSWAY.IE By Andrea Smith Dervla McTiernan is a bestselling Irish crime author living in Perth. She has sold more than 400,000 copies of her Cormac Reilly series, and her novel, The Ruin, is currently in development as a limited TV series. What’s the best thing to have happened to you this month? I got some fun news about a TV adaptation of one of my books. That was a high point. Heels or flats? One thousand per cent flats. I am so over unnecessary pain. What is something you can’t do? Where do I begin? Right now it’s probably running. I keep trying and failing to make it through the Couch to 5k programme. When you were 12, what did you want to be when you grew up? A vet. I still think I would have liked it. If you could choose somewhere else to live, where would it be? I live in Western Australia, and my parents and siblings are still in Ireland. There are times when I miss Ireland very much. Who was your first celebrity crush? This is embarrassing now, but it was Mel Gibson. I saw him in Tequila Sunrise when I was about 12 and I thought he was gorgeous. What is your favourite movie? I’m not sure I have a favourite, but of the older movies, Last of the Mohicans comes to mind, and this year I really liked Anatomy of a Fall. What’s the most important advice you’d give a teenager? That the intense pressure to conform in school disappears as soon as school finishes. That school is extra hard if you are an independent thinker, but that you should hold onto that independence any way you can (quietly if you have to) because it brings a lot of strength and joy as you get older. What colour was your debs dress? It was black, and kind of a knock-off of the Liz Hurley safety pin dress. I felt pretty cool at the time. How do you start your day? If it’s my turn to be ‘on’, I start by feeding the pets, then the kids, then I make school lunches, then I do the school run, then clean the kitchen, then put on some laundry, then I have breakfast, then I make a cup of tea to bring to my desk. If it’s not my turn, I stay in bed and do Duolingo. WW What Happened to Nina by Dervla McTiernan is out now from HarperCollins (€14.99). It’s an emotional novel of suspense about two families pitted against each other - one seeking justice around the disappearance of their daughter, the other desperate to clear their son’s name. Write The Stuff You’re going out for brunch. What are you having? Two fried eggs on toast, and a hot chocolate if I’m in the mood for sugar. What age did you have your first kiss and where? It was at a pub/club in Monivea where everyone went because they let you in underage. I was 15 and the last of my friends to have a first kiss so they all gave me a round of applause in front of everyone. Deeply mortifying, but, even at the time, kind of funny. What makes you laugh? My kids make me laugh most days and my husband has a great sense of the ridiculous. How do you manage stress? That’s an ongoing battle. It’s mostly a combination of very good books, the odd Pilates class, and really goofy TV. What’s your guilty pleasure? Lately I’ve been rewatching really old seasons of Location, Location, Location - see goofy TV stress release above. Who is your favourite solo artist? I’m not sure that I have one, but I will say that I really admire Taylor Swift. She’s a gifted writer, very, very brave, and unapologetic in how she lives her life. She also deals with her extreme fame as graciously as I think anyone could.

HOME WOMANSWAY.IE 93 HACKS By Sam Wylie-Harris AROUND WINDOWS • If you’ve experienced the buildup of black mould around your windows or sealant, you can attempt to remove these using washingup liquid or white vinegar. • While this solution has been tried and tested and can work depending on the severity of mould buildup, the best way to avoid a recurrence is to remove the sealant from the windows entirely before resealing them. • It’s worth checking your window frames while inspecting the extent of your mould buildup. • Mould could be a result of cracks in your windows, with air being let in. It’s important to ensure your windows are sealed properly once you’ve removed the mould present – to ensure no further buildup occurs. IN THE BEDROOM Condensation in bedrooms is something commonly overlooked, especially if you’re not spending that much time in it – other than sleeping at night. • You can help by investing in a dehumidifi er and using it daily to collect accumulation of water in your bedroom. • Open the windows regularly to help circulate the air in and out and prevent mould forming; especially if your room gets hot and stuffy. • Keep the heating on a low temperature. At night your body heats up, which can cause a buildup of condensation in your room, so try keeping it to a minimum. ON EXTERNAL WALLS Exterior mould can be down to a number of factors, including a leak inside your property, or moisture getting trapped in exterior walls. • You can buy fungicidal chemicals designed for cleaning mould off exterior walls, which should be used when cleaning the damaged area. • From here there are various other tactics homeowners can take. But the fi rst thing is to identify the cause of the penetrated damp – and go from there. • Mould buildup on exterior walls of houses is trickier to deal with. So seeking professional advice and guidance on the best solution is the recommended approach. WW When it comes to the nitty-gritty of dealing with damp and mould, condensation is at the root of the problem. As Edward Jonkler from Remora Cleaning explains, mould is a form of fungus that can grow on walls, windows and corners of your home due to damp and humid conditions, and buildup of condensation. “Mould can show up in various forms, however it usually appears as dark spots or clusters around your house,” notes Jonkler. “It will continue to grow in your home if not treated or cleaned, and the conditions you are living in are not altered.” Here’s what he recommends to prevent its growth… IN THE BATHROOM If your bathroom is not well ventilated, condensation can build up, which can result in mould growth. • Install an extractor fan and ensure it has a delay on it, so it stays running past the time you use your shower and toilet in the bathroom. • Check your vents are working and open to help the air to circulate better. • The heat from bathroom radiators helps to dry out damp patches on walls and windows, resulting in less condensation and it helps reduce the buildup of mould. • Ensure you’re using the right paint. There are special paints designed to be used in bathrooms and kitchens; or opt for an anti-mould paint with mould-resistant formulas to stop growths specifi cally in wet and damp areas, like your bathroom. From controlling condensation to ventilation, here’s how to keep those pesky black spots at bay. Banishing mould Put a dehumidifi er in the bedroom Mould could be a result of cracks in your windows

OPINION 94 WOMANSWAY.IE By Grumpy Old Woman WHY is this a thing? PLAN CANCELLERS T wo months ago, I spent a lot of time and energy organising a meet-up for a group of four women. It was very tricky trying to get a date that suited everyone, particularly as two of us live in different counties. Diaries were consulted, other tentative plans were checked and we fi nally settled on a date that worked for everyone. A lovely lunch venue was agreed on and all we had to do was wait for the date to roll around. With fi ve days to go, the fi rst apology came in. One friend had apparently forgotten that she had concert tickets for that very day and she was very sorry, but she could no longer make it to lunch. No sooner had she sent in her apology, when someone else chimed in to say that actually it no longer really suited her either as a complication had arisen so it would be better for her to cancel too. So after melting my head trying to get everyone together in the fi rst place, I reluctantly had to cancel the lunch. I don’t have the heart to arrange it again right now, to be honest, but why is it that people bail so easily on plans? No matter what is happening in my life or even if I fi nd myself suddenly landed with extra work, as is par for the course in my line of work, I will still go to something if I’ve made a commitment. I won't let somebody else down even if my heart is not in it and it really doesn't suit me any more. I’ll get up at 5am to get stuff done or even work through the night rather than let somebody else down. Yet other people don’t seem to extend the same courtesy back to me. I’ve been left with spare concert tickets and empty seats at charity lunches on the day because it no longer suited someone to go, even though they were most enthusiastic to begin with. I’d much rather someone said they couldn’t go from the very start than cancel at the last minute. There is nothing worse than having to ring around to ask if anyone would like a spare ticket with short notice, because they know well that they weren’t your fi rst choice for the event. At that late stage, you end up asking loads of people before you fi nd someone who is actually free at short notice to accompany you, and sometimes, you just end up letting the ticket go to waste. I am part of a weekly group activity and our organiser has a real penchant for cancelling at the last minute. We can’t do the activity without him, so it means that we all end up being ditched for the evening. What drives me mad is that he always leaves it to the last minute to cancel, even though we often suspect he must have known way before he lets the rest of us know. It’s a real lack of respect and consideration for other people’s time, and I think it’s really selfi sh. It’s a hard one to address though as if you get annoyed about being cancelled, you run the risk of appearing unreasonable and uncaring. Even though the cancellers are the unreasonable ones, in my opinion. WW

WOMANSWAY.IE 95 OUR BEACH LIFE SPECIAL ISSUE IN OUR NEXT BUMPER ISSUE Summer is fi nally here and we can all breathe out, relax and enjoy the feeling of sand under our toes. And even if you’re not going away somewhere exotic, hopefully you’ll have some time away from your regular routine to enjoy the brighter and warmer (we hope!) days, as there are plenty of fabulous places to check out here in Ireland. We’ll have a round-up of great places to go to give you some ideas, and we’ll look at how to really live that beach life well, whether it's in the Bahamas or Bundoran. Oh, and what to wear while you’re there..... You won’t want to miss it. OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Holidays are known for their restorative powers and there is a real joy to going off the beaten track. We have some great ideas for you. SUN-KISSED INTERIORS Vivid hues – from lipstick pinks to brilliant blues to clashing patterns – evoke thoughts of carefree, lazy days of summer, and inspire a happy-go-lucky vibe. We’ll show you how to do it. RAINY DAY BLUES As experts say that sun and rain signifi cantly impacts our mental health, we examine why exactly our mood changes with the weather and what we can do about it? BEAUTIFUL BASKETS With summer in full swing and all eyes on suntraps, chances are you’re looking to add a riot of colour to spruce up your patio, bijou balcony or front entrance. We have expert tips for brilliant blooms to brighten your outdoor space. HEAR, HEAR If you have hearing issues, you’ll be interested in reading about Manchester United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, who has just been fi tted with his fi rst hearing aids. PLUS The latest movie and book reviews, knitting, mouthwatering recipes, amazing competitions and so much more… HITTING THE NEWS STANDS ON JULY 1

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