WW12 2026

WOMANSWAY.IE 51INTERIORSBy Sam Wylie-Harrischic, Hoppen also likes to bring quirky accessories to the table.“When it comes pudding, we always do a really nice cake. Everyone loves custard, so we’ll make a nice custard.“But I put my custard in a glass teapot, and that looks nice. So interesting ways to do things on the table that you wouldn’t expect… that people will take away thinking ‘God, that was cool’.”She’s also a fi rm believer in blending the old with the new. “All the stuff my mother’s given me, I mix it in… so nice bits of silver, I love all of that. I think the more you can mix, the better. And it takes the pressure off people to know that that’s okay; because we’ve all got stuff we’ve had before, but we want to buy new things. “It’s the same way you dress. You’ve got something from years ago, you put something new with it; it feels new. So I think it’s fi ne.”To top the most stylish tables, summer blooms make a big impact, and Hoppen’s love for fl owers is well storied. “I think you have to keep it at a low level.”With side and dinner plates to dish up your favourite recipes, the collection also features a playful slogan platter. “Big salads, meats and fi sh, whatever you want to put on it… but I love the fact it just says Bon Appétit.”“It’s happy. We need happiness. We all need those positive affi rmations at the moment. And why not have it on a plate?”When it comes to laying the foundations for a beautiful tablescape, Hoppen doesn’t play by the rules. “If I ever drink wine, which occasionally I will, I’ll drink it in a tumbler with ice. I love that… I just like it.“Everyone always laughs at me, but I like mixing. You might have some old glass that’s crystal, but mix it in with my new collection – I like the mix of it, so there are no rules.”But she does play it old school with a seating plan. “I always do a name card. I think it’s easier, because when you’ve got 12 people coming to sit down for dinner and people go ‘where do I want to sit?’“Well if they can see their name, and I just draw it really nicely, it makes it easier.” And sometimes she switches out place cards for something less formal.“I’ve got luggage tags, like the old-fashioned luggage tags, and I write their name on that and put it on the napkin… and that’s quite nice.” Especially if it’s a casual, mid-week meal. “When you say ‘come over for a kitchen supper,’ that doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish and gorgeous,” highlights Hoppen.“You know, it’s the same way as people say ‘what shall I wear?’ I say ‘come in jeans, come in whatever you want, whatever you’re comfortable in.’“Because the more comfortable people feel when they’re out for dinner in somebody’s home, or you’re in your home, the better the night is.“And then it gets to midnight and people are like ‘Oh, it’s a school night… we’ve got to go home, but we don’t want to.’ That’s a good night.” In contrast to her modern style, and author of 10 books focusing on contemporary “I mean, it kind of drives me mad. I love the idea of having food all the way down the centre of the table, because it feels very Italian and family. The problem is, I love fl owers down the centre of the table, so I’m always juggling for space with my own self; but you’ve always got to keep everything low.“But there’s nothing better than some beautiful fl owers down the centre, and then you’ve got big things of bread and big chunks of butter, and it’s a celebration when you have people round.”Moreover, she says you can use anything you’ve got to put them in, and suggests thinking out of the box.“Even if you’ve got Pyrex mixing bowls because you haven’t got anything else, you can fl oat fl owers in them and put them down the centre of the table.”Hoppen continues: “If you’ve got baked bean tins, take the baked bean wrapper off and fi ll that with herbs; and do herbs down the centre of your table. “Anything goes, as long as you can create it and make it look stylish.” WWM&S X Kelly Hoppen S/S 26 Home Collection is available online and in-store now.Dining area in Kelly Hoppen's Cotswolds barnKitchen in Kelly Hoppen's Cotswolds barnEntryway of Kelly Hoppen's Cotswolds barnM&S X Kelly Hoppen Footed Wine Glasses

52 WOMANSWAY.IEOnline...womansway.ieSubscribe...01 240 [email protected]/womanswayTiKTok...tiktok.com/@womansway1Lefi ersOur next Star Letter Prize winner will receive the NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Expert Targeted Wrinkle Filler Serum (€25.99) which visibly reduces fi ne lines and wrinkles in just fi ve minutes while also ensuring longterm deep wrinkle treatment. The 5 per cent Active Complex with Pure Coenzyme Q10 and Bioxifi ll peptides penetrates the skin 10 layers deep to stimulate collagen production and fi ght stubborn wrinkles from the inside out. NIVEA’s Q10 range is available online and in stores nationwide, visit nivea.ie.Our next Star Letter Prize winner will receive the NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Expert Targeted Wrinkle Filler Serum (€25.99) which visibly reduces term deep wrinkle treatment. The 5 per cent Active Complex with Pure Coenzyme Q10 and Bioxifi ll peptides the inside out. NIVEA’s Q10 range STAR LETTERPRIZEPens at the ready...Let us know what you've been up to recently, or what you thought about this issue, to be in with a chance to win our fantastic Star Letter Prize.We love to hear from you so do get in touch; email [email protected] to see your letter published here.I will defi nitely be wearing this pretty lip gloss. I got a variety of lip glosses, a primer and two perfumes which smelled decadent. A big thank you to the Woman’s Way team and Kiko Milano.Helen O FlynnBad serviceYour Why Is This a Thing about bad service was thoroughly enjoyable, as always. Love your column. I haven’t come across a similar situation yet, whereby a shop assistant calls someone to have a chat just as I approach the counter. But I have been in many shops where the speaker phone appears to be on non-stop. Presumably to pass the time (it seems to me the boredom threshold of young ones these days is incredibly low). I wouldn’t be surprised if we started getting implants to digitise ourselves even further. No need for phones then! But no matter what the future holds for technology, a heartfelt ‘hello’ and a simple ‘goodbye’ will always go a long way, benefi ting both people in the interaction. Some things will never change.Mary ParsonsBring back the ‘60sThe cyclical nature of fashion, and how it ties in with societal values, is fascinating. I suppose we are all nostalgic for the decades of our youth and so now we are treated to 1990s and 2000s styles. The 1980s were about money, pure and simple, and so the following decades had little choice but to push back on that crudeness, and I have to say I quite like that ‘90s look. However, I would argue that today, what we need more of is a return to the 1960s. Groovy fashion it was but, most importantly, it was a time that questioned the very notion of going to war. And people genuinely realised the absurdity of it. My hope is that we circle back to that. Nuala Ward STARLETTER!CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WOMAN’S WAY ISSUE 09COMPETITION WINNERSGionni: Kathleen Meehan, Karen Marie McCarthy; Hair Doctor: Anne Cotterell, Geraldine O Halloran, Sharon Hassett; Little Heirloom: Siobhan Moynihan, Matthew O'Malley, Liz Barry, Fiona Manning, Mairéad Ní Cheallaigh; Walter Raleigh Hotel: Nuala Maguire; Prize Crossword (Quinn Hair & Beauty): Teresa Butler; Star Letter (Nivea Q10):Joan Poland.STAR LETTERMaking peace with my hairSome say I have very pretty hairSome people even rave about my hairBut I just fi ght with my hairCaring for my hair is such a choreWashing and drying it – such a boreHow can I bear it anymoreIt takes so long to wash itThen twice as long to rinse itAnd as for the business of drying itAnd then there is the expenseOf cutting and colouring it which really makes me quite tenseIt is just such nonsenseBut now, I wish to make peace with my hairWhich I am so blessed to wearAs my crowning glory throughout the yearThree cheers for my hairClare O’ReillyWhy Is This calls someone to SpoiledI recently won the Star Letter Prize and received this beautiful Kiko Milano box of goodies in the post. I felt thoroughly spoiled and although I don’t usually wear makeup, getting implants to digitise ourselves even

Picture This WOMANSWAY.IE 53...take a snap and send it in to [email protected]'d love to hear from you!GET IN TOUCH GO ONAlly Garvey and Caoilinn Doyle showcasing racing fashion looks from New Chapter Boutique in Naas.From: The Curragh Racecourse on the launch of the Classics Season, curragh.ieSink your teeth into delicious treats from June 11 to 14 at Merrion Square, Dublin.From: Taste of Dublin, tasteofdublin.ieAt the Marilyn Mater’s Paddle fundraiser for women’s cancer care.From: The Mater Hospital Foundation, materfoundation.ie Ducks in a row.From: Marie Harney, Naas, Co KildareTraditional Irish music comes to Dungarvan, Co Waterford, from June 17 to 21.From: TuneFest, tunefest.ie

54 WOMANSWAY.IEHOW TO ENTERPlease send a picture of your completed crossword grid along with you name, address and telephone number to [email protected] postal entries please. The closing date is July 6, 2026This 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. Winners’ names may be published. The editor’s decision is fi nal.Our Prize Crossword winner will receive the Russell Hobbs Chilluxe Ice Cream Maker. With seven pre-set options for ice-cream, sorbet, milkshake and more, plus a re-spin button for an even smoother taste, you’re in for a treat. It comes with two tubs, dishwasher safe parts, 800W power and baked stone colourway. TIME OUT1WHO… won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the fi lm City Slickers?WHAT… was the name of Phileas Fogg’s valet in Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days?WHERE… was Kim Dae-jung President from 1998-2003?WHEN… did writer Georgi Markov die, after being stabbed with a poisoned umbrella in London?2WHO… played Mandy Rice-Davies in the fi lm Scandal?WHAT… borough of the City of New York includes Central Park?WHERE… in Europe are the cities of Limassol and Larnaca?WHEN… did scientists Albert Einstein and Alexander Fleming die?Jack Palance; Passepartout; South Korea; 1 ANSWERS: Bridget Fonda; Manhattan; Cyprus; 1955. 2 1978. THE 4 WsThis now 80-year-old boasts a sixdecade career, an Oscar, Grammys, Golden Globes and more reinventions than most pop stars have stage outfi ts. She remains the blueprint for surviving fame with your cheekbones and sense of humour intact. From Sonny to sequins to selling out arenas, she has never knowingly gone quietly.Back in the fi lm pages lately, with an acclaimed turn in The Outrun and a new project alongside Jessie Buckley, this Hollywood star is still only in her early thirties. She already has four Oscar nominations and a career that jumps neatly from period drama to indie cool. Born in New York, raised in Carlow, she’s one of our own.PRIZE CROSSWORD 12ACROSS: 6. Beat a doctor in the fi nal (7) 7. Kind of spirit found in petrol lighters (5) 9. Consumed stirred tea (3) 10. Ring tuner about paying another visit (9) 12. Flees by air? (5,6) 15. Quartet of mailing clerks may provide the rest (4-7) 17. Sunny refl ections (9) 19. Pull two out of shape (3) 21. Poetic feature of the River Severn (5) 22. Made allowances? (7).DOWN: 1 & 5Dn. It will give you full power (5,7) 2. Main departure? (3) 3. Lies about a piece of land (4) 4. Countries may share them between them (9) 5.See 1 Down 8. A bit of a blow for those wanting refreshments (6) 11. Kindly support (9) 13. Runs away from Penelope Smith (6) 14. Someone sitting over the body (7) 16. Not the best man (5) 18. Teachers do it for money (4) 20. Number in the phone book (3).QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTION ISSUE 10ACROSS: 1 Pedal; 4 Octopus; 8 Contact; 9 Olive; 10 User; 11 Hang back; 13 Ears; 14 Stye; 16 Overseer; 17 Fine; 20 Smear; 21 Potting; 22 Suspect; 23 Pitch.DOWN: 1 Picture houses; 2 Dunce; 3 Lead; 4 Outlay; 5 Thoughts; 6 Private; 7 Speak at length; 12 Preserve; 13 Eyeless; 15 Despot; 18 Idiot; 19 Step.REMEMBER WHEN?1• Louise Brown, the fi rst test tube baby, was born• Sid Vicious was arrested for the murder of girlfriend Nancy Spungen• Charges against Gerry Adams of being a member of the IRA were dismissed• Karol Wojtyla became the fi rst nonItalian Pope since 15232• Jacques Chirac replaced François Mitterrand as French president• Nick Leeson was arrested for his part in the collapse of Barings Bank• A Los Angeles Superior Court jury found OJ Simpson not guilty of murder• John Major was re-elected Conservative Party Leader 1995. 2 1978. 1 ANSWERS:The following events all occurred in a year in living memory. Can you guess the year?CELEB PIXELSENTER TOWINSaoirse Ronan. 2 Cher. 1 ANSWERS:

Special Discount Price + post and packing freeBe the Bossof You in 2026Are you all in when it comes to living your life to the full? Norah Casey draws from personal experience in embracing the joy and vitality of life – seize it, shape it and drive it. Only you can design your own future.Spark!‘A really enjoyable page-turner that doesn’t lecture anyone’RTÉSpecialOffer€12.99 (usual price€14.95)Or purchase by simply scanning the Spark! QR Codevisit harmonia.ie

56 WOMANSWAY.IEPANZANELLA SALAD WITH SLOW ROAST TOMATOES AND PICKLED RED ONIONServes 4IngredientsFor the pickled red onion:2 small red onions, peeled150ml red wine vinegar50g caster sugarPinch sea salt500g mixed tomatoes2 tbsp olive oilSea salt and pepper150g leftover sourdough2 tbsp olive oil½ cucumber50g green olives, chopped in half5 anchovies, choppedBasil leaves, for garnishMethod1 Start by making the pickled red onions. Thinly slice the red onion using a sharp knife or mandolin and place in a bowl. Into a small saucepan, add the red wine vinegar, sugar and salt and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mix to cool, then pour the mix over the red onion slices. Cover and place in the fridge.2 Preheat the oven to 150c. Slice the tomatoes into halves and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper then roast in the oven at 150c for 1 hour.3 Slice the leftover sourdough into cubes and place in a bowl. Add some olive oil, salt and pepper and mix lightly in the bowl to evenly coat. When the tomatoes come out of the oven, increase the heat of the oven to 200c and add the sourdough pieces to a baking tray. Cook in the oven at 200c for 10 minutes until golden brown.4 To assemble the salad, chop the cucumber into bite size pieces and place in a large bowl. Add some chopped green olives and chopped anchovies, along with the sourdough croutons, roast tomatoes and some of the pickled red onions. Drizzle with some more olive oil and mix gently to combine. Then spoon into a serving bowl and garnish with some basil leaves. COOK LIKE A CHEFAward-winning chef Mark Moriarty is back on our screens with his second series of Cook Like a Chef. ROASTED COD WITH WARM BOIS BOUDRAN SAUCEServes 2IngredientsFor the bois boudrin sauce:90ml olive oil10 ripe, cherry tomatoes, halves3 banana shallots, peeled and fi nely diced100g tomato ketchup15g Worcestershire sauce10g soy sauce10g Dijon mustard1 tsp tobasco sauce25g tarragon leaves,20g fl at leaf parsley leaves, chopped2 large cod loin, skin off and cleanedFlaked sea salt 1 tbsp vegetable oilOlive oil to garnishChervil to garnish

WOMANSWAY.IE 57RECIPESEach episode of Mark Moriarty’s new series celebrates one hero ingredient, highlighting what makes it special and transforming it into three completely different dishes that are clever, creative and packed with flavour, sharing essential chef tricks, timesaving hacks and practical kitchen know-how along the way.He meets farmers, growers and producers bringing our food from farm to fork, exploring why these ingredients taste so good, what makes them worth seeking out and how seasonality, care and craftsmanship make all the difference when it comes to sourcing ingredients and stocking up our store cupboards.Back in the kitchen, with a handful of core ingredients, a well-stocked pantry and the incredible produce from all over the country, Mark shows how anyone can create impressive meals without spending hours in the kitchen.Cook like a Chef is available on RTÉ1 and RTÉ Player. It’s sponsored by M&S Food.Here are some of his recipes to try. 1 tbsp olive oil4 garlic cloves, sliced1 onion, diced1 tbsp tomato paste100ml white wine vinegar50g caster sugar400g tin of chopped tomatoesPlain flour, for dusting1 pack pre-rolled puff pastryHandful fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish8 small tomatoes or large cherry tomatoes1 egg, lightly beaten for egg wash1 ball of burrataSea salt and black pepper½ tbsp olive oilMethod1 Start by making the tomato jam. Put the olive oil in a pan over a low-medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for a few minutes until golden brown. 2 Add the onion and cook for a few minutes to colour, then add the tomato paste, vinegar and sugar. Simmer, while stirring regularly, until thickened with the liquid reduced by half. 3 Once reduced, add the chopped tomatoes and Method1 Start by salting your fish. Season the cod liberally with sea salt and leave uncovered in the fridge on a cloth for at least an hour, but ideally overnight.2 To make the bois boudrin sauce, heat a non-stick frying pan and add the olive oil. Add the tomatoes and diced shallot and fry on a medium heat for 3 minutes until softened. Then add the rest of the ingredients for the sauce to the pan. Stir well with a wooden spoon to bring the ingredients together, bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and set aside.3 Portion the fish and place a non- stick pan on a high heat, add the oil place the fish in flat side down. Cook for 2-3 minutes before flipping and cooing for a further 2 until the flesh is white and cooked through. Serve in bowls with the sauce and garnish with good quality olive oil and chervil.cook, stirring occasionally, until it is a thick jamlike texture. Allow to cool, then chill in the fridge (can keep in the fridge for weeks).4 Preheat the oven to 200c and place a flat oven tray in the oven to heat. Lightly dust a work surface with some flour and roll out the puff pastry. Use an upside down small round plate to use as a stencil to cut out two circles of pastry. Then place them onto a sheet of parchment paper5 Use a fork to prick holes in the pastry, just leaving a gap without any holes of around 2cm all around the edge. Spoon on some jam and smear it just over where you have pricked the pastry with the fork. Slice the tomatoes in half across the middle and place them face side up on the jam, then add some basil leaves. Brush the uncovered edge of the pastry lightly with some egg wash.6 Lift the parchment carefully onto the heated oven tray and place the tray in the oven. Cook for 25 minutes at 200c. 7 Remove from the oven and place the galettes on a serving plate. Strain the burrata, then tear it in half in half and place a half on each galette. Finish with some sea salt, black pepper, olive oil and fresh basil leaves. WWSLOW ROAST TOMATO GALETTE WITH BURRATA AND BASILMakes 2IngredientsFor the tomato jam:

58 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Sam Wylie-HarrisWe look inside a new cocktail book with seasonal twists on classic serves.Cited as the Queen of Cocktails, Sarah Gualtieri cut her teeth working as a photographer with food and beverage clients before starting her cocktail blog, The Boozy Ginger.Today, the New York-based photographer and creator has written her fi rst book, Sips of the Seasons, with eye-catching imagery to accompany her creations.“Five years ago, I started my journey into crafting cocktails at home and sharing them on social media.“I learned a lot about making classic cocktails and fi nding the right balance of fl avours,” writes Gualtieri (@the.boozy.ginger), who has 266k Instagram followers.“One thing that was always guiding me as I worked on new recipes was using the freshest ingredients available.“I have always loved gardening and having fresh herbs and vegetables ready for cooking, so it only made sense that I would use those fresh ingredients in my cocktails too.”A deep dive into seasonal cocktails for every occasion, the book promises an eclectic mix of 40 stylish cocktails themed to the four seasons, alongside a section on syrups – from blackberry to lavender, to spiced cranberry.With notes on glassware, garnish and a trio of infusions made with vodka, Campari and gin.Easy on the eye, here are four favourites to whet your whistle…Gin SmashExtracted from Sips of the Seasons: Fresh Cocktails for Every Holiday by Sarah Gualtieri. Published in hardback by Quadrille. Photography by Sarah Gualtieri. CocktailsSeasonal

WOMANSWAY.IE 59DRINKSBy Sam Wylie-HarrisCUCUMBER AND BASIL GIN SMASH“I try to keep fresh herbs year-round – in pots inside, and then move them outdoors or plant new seeds in the spring,” writes Gualtieri.“Having fresh basil is a must for me, both for cooking and making cocktails. I love the fl avour and the fragrance that this herb adds to a drink. I also always plant cucumbers in my vegetable garden each year and usually have a steady supply of them by July.“This pairing of herbal fl avours, along with the botanicals in the gin, makes it so refreshing,” suggests the author.Ingredients: 60ml gin, 60ml cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup, 3 basil leaves.Method: Put the cucumber, basil and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker and gently muddle. Pour in the gin and lemon juice, then add ice and shake until chilled. Press the cucumber ribbon around the inside of the glass and fi ll it with ice. Double-strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a basil sprig.APEROL MIMOSAOnce spring celebrations begin, Gualtieri says there’s one cocktail that’s her go-to for gatherings and The calming scent and subtle fl avour also pair very well with lemon. “Adding it to this classic, refreshing cocktail tastes like spring in a glass.”Ingredients: 60ml vodka, 15ml triple sec, 30ml fresh lemon juice, 30ml lavender syrup, small sprig of culinary lavender or a lemon twist, to garnish.Lavender syrup: 250ml water, 220g granulated sugar, 2g culinary-grade dried lavender buds. Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and warm over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.Remove from heat, add the lavender and steep for 10-15 minutes, or until fragrant. Allow to cool completely, then strain through a sieve. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Makes 350ml.For the rim: Superfi ne (caster) sugar, fi nely grated lemon zest, lemon wedge.Method: Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a shallow dish. Run a lemon wedge around the outside edge of the rim of the glass. Dip the rim into the sugar/lemon mixture, rotating to coat. Tap off any excess and set aside briefl y to set.Sunday morning brunch: “The mimosa. It’s a simple cocktail with a ratio that can be adjusted to each person’s preference.“Adding Aperol turns this one into a cross between a mimosa and a spritz and adds a burst of colour, just like the early spring blossoms.“Garnish with an edible fl ower for a feminine touch,” suggests Gualtieri. “I love to start planting my edible fl ower garden in early spring with pansies, violets and marigolds.”Ingredients: 30ml Aperol, 45ml orange juice, 90ml prosecco or sparkling wine, edible fl ower or orange slice to garnish.Method: Pour the orange juice into a champagne fl ute. Top with prosecco or sparkling wine, add the Aperol, stir gently and garnish.LAVENDER LEMON DROP“I’m lucky enough to live close to lavender farms in New York and I have also planted many of my own,” writes Gualtieri.“While my lavender bushes aren’t in full bloom until June, I use dried culinary lavender to make syrups and infusions in the spring (which is also the best time to plant it in your garden).“Lavender can be used for so many different things, from cocktails and baked goods to lotions and perfumes. Half-fi ll a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and lavender syrup. Shake vigorously and strain into the rimmed coupe. Weave half a lemon through a cocktail pick to place on top.SUMMER SPRITZ“I often say that every season is spritz season, but they taste just a little better in the summer.“There’s nothing better than enjoying a bubbly spritz while dining al fresco or lounging by the pool. While a classic Aperol or Hugo spritz are both great choices, this combination of both – with a hint of bright citrus – is one of my favourites.”Ingredients: 25ml Aperol, 15ml fresh grapefruit juice, 15ml elderfl ower liqueur, 90ml prosecco, 30ml soda water. Grapefruit slices and edible fl ower (optional) to garnish.Method:Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the Aperol, grapefruit juice, elderfl ower liqueur, and prosecco. Top with soda water, then stir to combine. Garnish with a grapefruit slice. WWAperol MimosaSummer SpritzLavender Lemon Drop

60 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Eleanor Fleming, Press AssociationGeorgina Hayden shares some of her favourite dishes.Cfi kingGREEK AND CYPRIOT

WOMANSWAY.IE 61RECIPESBy Eleanor Fleming, Press AssociationContinued overleaf >>Award-winning food writer and cook Georgina Hayden has shared three lesser-known yet “gorgeous” Greek and Cypriot dishes to try this summer – and they do not require fancy ingredients.One of her favourites is called tava and she says it is “such an easy dish” to make.“I love it,” the 43-year-old says. “It’s basically slow-cooked lamb mixed with rice and/or potatoes, lots of tomatoes, onions and cumin.“You really don’t have to do anything – you don’t pre-fry anything, you don’t pre-cook anything. It’s all completely raw, you literally just mix it all in a big tray and you put it in the oven.“You could put it in at 10 or 11 o’clock on a Sunday morning and that is your all-in-one Sunday dish… it’s a gorgeous dish.”Another is yiahni, a style of cooking where vegetables are slowly cooked in olive oil and tomatoes, and occasionally with meat, and she says this is a “wonderful way of celebrating vegetables”.She says cooking vegetables for a long time, sometimes up to an hour, makes them “sweet and tender and delicious”.“It was something we ate in abundance and we’d always have it as a big pot on the table, with fresh bread, a bowl of olives and olive oil on the side, and I love that style of cooking,” she says.The third is called afelia, which is slow-cooked chunks of pork with red wine and crushed coriander seeds, but she says this is “very rare”.She continues: “You wouldn’t fi nd it anywhere other than a Cypriot person’s house or a Cypriot restaurant, and it’s something I haven’t seen doing the rounds yet.“But it’s super tender, melt-in-the-mouth, and really aromatic. It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous dish.”Growing up above her grandparents’ Greek-Cypriot taverna, Hayden developed a love of cooking and storytelling through the recipes passed down to her.The mother of two started her career working at various food magazines and then went on to join Jamie Oliver’s food team where she worked for more than a decade.“I very much grew up in this food environment and our life revolved around the restaurant,” she says.“I always joke that my life is pretty much, My Big Fat Greek Wedding – I married an English boy and grew up in a restaurant and was geeky and wore big glasses – but that’s where I get my passion from.”Although she is “biased”, Hayden, who lives in London, says she loves Cypriot and Greek food and another favourite dish is avgolemono – a “nourishing” type of chicken soup.Through her work and her travels across the world, she is “constantly writing and developing and having fun with food” and creating new recipes.This led Hayden, who writes for publications such as The Telegraph, Delicious Magazine and Observer Food Monthly, to release her latest cookbook called MEDesque.Described as a celebration of the very best of Mediterranean food done Hayden’s way, the recipes are easy yet delicious and inspired by fl avours from the coastlines of Italy, Spain, the Baltics and beyond.“My fi rst few books were super traditional… but for the last two, from Greekish (2024) and MEDesque now, having fun with them has been liberating,” she says.“We’re all so busy, whether you’ve got kids or not, or you work or you’re a carer, we want one-pan dishes or we want things a bit quicker.“It’s so much fun being able to get those recipes and mess them up a bit.”Hayden adds: “I’m never a prescriptive cook. I think it’s all about having things in your arsenal and knowing what you can use when, and I think that’s a really powerful tool.”From working on a fi shing boat in Malta and learning to make pastry in Morocco or fresh almond milk in Sicily, she has had many memorable food experiences.She says she met some olive farmers in Crete and described them as “two of the healthiest people I’ve ever met my life” – and the couple both incorporate olive oil into their diet in an unusual way.“They pour olive oil in their coffee in the morning,” she says.“He wasn’t saying it for comedic effect, he meant it and said, ‘Yeah, I have olive oil in my coffee every day’, and I just thought, ‘Wow’.“I mean, this guy must have been in his 50s and he was the absolute vision of health, and I just thought, ‘Gosh, there’s so much to learn’.”Hayden says the Mediterranean diet is often referred to as “the best in the world” and, with “fad diets and social media”, she feels it is important to keep learning and to keep trying different foods.As for other dishes olive oil is used in, but not commonly, she says it is delicious poured over vanilla ice cream with a pinch of salt or baked into cakes as it “keeps the sponge moist”.There’s even an Amalfi lemon, almond and elderfl ower wedding cake recipe in MEDesque which includes extra-virgin olive oil.“I’m always team olive oil,” Hayden says.Hayden, who has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, along with Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, has various trips planned this year and wants to continue learning about food.One of her favourites in MEDesque is the one-pan lasagne, which she says is great for a beginner, but she explains that “95 per cent of the ingredients in the book are very everyday”, so everyone can make the dishes.Speaking about what she hopes people will learn from the cookbook, she says: “It’s just making the recipes their own.“As a food writer, if I can write a book which becomes a staple part of someone’s kitchen, I mean, that’s the absolute dream.”Cfi kingPAPPA AL RATATOUILLEServes 4Georgina says this ‘humble’ dish is ‘so delicious’.“A mixture of ideas inspired by my adoration for Italian pappa pomodoro, but with French and Spanish infl uences,” Georgina says.“It’s so, so delicious, though it’s very humble and it doesn’t look like much.“It becomes so creamy that it’s hard to believe it contains no dairy.“If you’ve got a glut of lovely late-summer veg, it’s just stunning, a great make-do-and-mend style soup.“If you don’t have a courgette, don’t worry about

62 WOMANSWAY.IEit; if you have more peppers, just shove them in. Make it to your tastes.”Ingredients4 garlic cloves2 red peppers1 aubergine2 courgettes½ bunch of thymeExtra virgin olive oil1tsp caster sugarA 400g can of good-quality chopped tomatoes125g stale bread, ideally ciabatta (gluten-free, if needed)Sea salt and freshly ground black pepperMethod1 Start by prepping all your vegetables.2 Peel and finely slice the garlic. Halve the peppers, remove the seeds and finely slice. Peel the aubergine in stripes, leaving some of the skin on, and cut into small cubes, around one-and-a-half centimetres. Cut the courgettes the same size. Pick the thyme leaves.3 Place a large saucepan or flameproof casserole over a medium heat and pour in four tablespoons of olive oil, then add the garlic.4 Fry for a minute before adding all the rest of the prepared vegetables, the sugar and most of the thyme.5 Season generously and fry for 15 to 20 minutes, over a medium-high heat, until the vegetables are coloured and starting to soften.6 Add the tomatoes to the pan, pour in 800 millilitres of water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and leave to simmer for around 30 minutes, until the soup has thickened and is rich.7 Tear the bread into small chunks and stir into the soup. Cook for a further 10 minutes.8 Stir in two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, taste and adjust the seasoning.9 Serve with the remaining thyme sprinkled over the top.2 Peel and cut the aubergine into one-and-a-half to two centimetre cubes.3 Set a wide, shallow flameproof casserole that has a lid over a medium heat and add enough olive oil to cover the base.4 Fry the aubergine for around five minutes until golden. Season as you go and stir just a couple of times; you want to get a nice crust.5 When it’s golden, add the minced meat and increase the heat to high. Break the meat up with a wooden spoon and season it well.6 Add the ground cinnamon, dried oregano and cayenne. Brown for a few minutes, then add the chopped onions and garlic and fry for a further 10 minutes.7 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190°C/170 fan/gas mark five.8 Stir the tomato purée into the meat, fry for a few minutes, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer while you slice the potatoes. Scrub, then slice them as finely as you Ingredients2 red onions2 garlic cloves1 large aubergineOlive oil400g minced meat (Georgina likes half beef and half pork, but use what you like, even lamb is good)1tsp ground cinnamon1tsp dried oregano, plus more for the top¼tsp cayenne pepper2tbsp tomato purée400ml beef stock750g waxy potatoes, red-skinned if possible250g mascarpone250g Greek yogurt1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk50g ParmesanSea salt and freshly ground black pepperMethod1 Peel and finely chop the onions and garlic cloves.ONE-PAN MOUSSAKAServes 4 – 6Georgina says this recipe can easily be made on a weeknight evening.“Making a good traditional moussaka is a wholesome, but time-consuming process,” says Georgina.“That’s not the case with this version, which I created because of the love for the one-pan pastitsio from my last book, Greekish.“This is a recipe that you can easily make on a weeknight evening. We’re not spending time whisking a white sauce here, or frying slices and slices of veg.“It will impress, while also absolutely satisfy that Greek holiday moussaka craving we all get from time to time.”

RECIPES WOMANSWAY.IE 63MEDesque by Georgina Hayden is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing. Photography by Laura Edwards.1tsp ground cinnamon150g chocolate (Georgina likes a mixture of dark and milk, but whatever fl oats your boat…)200ml single creamMethod1 Blitz the plain fl our, 175 millilitres of the whole milk, the eggs, sea salt and vanilla in a blender until smooth. You can also do this by hand with a whisk.2 If you can, cover and leave the mixture to rest for 30 minutes, or in the fridge if leaving longer (though bring the batter to room temperature before cooking).3 Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark seven.4 Cut the butter into cubes and place in a large ovenproof frying pan or cast-iron pan.5 Pop into the oven until the butter has melted and is browned (this adds loads of fl avour), but you don’t want it to burn, so keep an eye on it.6 Working quickly and carefully, leave the pan in the oven, pour in the batter and shut the door. Leave it untouched for 20 minutes (do not open that door!).7 Then reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark four and bake for a further fi ve minutes.8 While the pancake is baking, make the cinnamon sugar and the hot chocolate. Mix the icing sugar and ground cinnamon and set aside. Cut or break the chocolate into small equal-sized pieces and place them in a heatproof bowl.9 When the Dutch baby is almost ready, heat the single cream and remaining 100 millilitres of milk in a small saucepan over a medium heat, so it is hot but not boiling. Remove from the hob before it starts to bubble, then pour it over the chocolate. Leave for one minute, then stir until you have a thick, smooth chocolate sauce.10 When the Dutch baby is ready, remove from the oven and dust straight away with the cinnamon sugar, as evenly as you can. Serve with the chocolate sauce on the side. WWcan, two to three millimetres thick.9 Remove the casserole from the hob and lay the potatoes over the top, overlapping them as you go, a bit like a hotpot. Season and sprinkle with a little extra oregano, drizzle with olive oil and cover the casserole with the lid.10 Place the covered dish in the oven for 30 minutes, removing the lid for the last 10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.11 Mix the mascarpone, Greek yogurt, egg and egg yolk in a bowl. Finely grate in most of the Parmesan, season and stir it in.12 Remove the casserole from the oven, pour over the sauce, then fi nely grate over the remaining Parmesan.13 Return to the oven, without the lid, and bake for a further 25 to 30 minutes, until golden all over and bubbling.14 Leave to rest for fi ve minutes before serving.CHURROS DUTCH BABYServes 4Georgina says this is her kids’ dream breakfast.“I love classic Spanish churros for breakfast – who doesn’t?” Georgina says.“Dipped in hot chocolate, they’re such a treat, but deep-frying is not something I want to be doing on a weekday morning (or any morning, come to that). This is a striking and fun alternative.“As with all good batters, you can just leave this one in the fridge overnight for next-level effortlessness. My kids’ dream breakfast.”Ingredients85g plain fl our275ml whole milk3 large eggsA good pinch of sea salt1tsp vanilla extract50g unsalted butter4tbsp icing sugar

64 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Hannah StephensonSaving Our Songbirds“When you look at the diets that our garden birds have, including greenfinches, it’s incredibly varied” Greenfi nch on a branch with rose hipsWith greenfi nch numbers in dramatic decline and bird diseases spreading at garden feeding stations, experts are urging gardeners to rethink how they support wildlife – from planting seed-rich fl owers to keeping feeders scrupulously clean.

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 65By Hannah StephensonGreenfi nches were once abundant in our gardens, but numbers have dropped by almost two-thirds in the past decade, according to the recent results from this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch.They are also on the conservation “red list”, with other surveys indicating a loss of more than two million birds since the mid-Nineties.The RSPB recently announced that it is asking people to pause feeding birds seed mixes and peanuts between May and October, primarily to stop the disease trichomonosis, caused by a parasite and spread through infected saliva or regurgitated food, commonly at feeding stations.It has long affected pigeons – when it was called canker – but appears to have jumped to fi nches, says RSPB wildlife gardening expert Adrian Thomas.Chaffi nches have also become prone to it and there’s an indication that bullfi nches might have got it, so it may be moving through the fi nch family, he observes.But with the RSPB advising not to feed birds seed mixes and peanuts from May to October or to use fl at-surfaced feeders because of the increased risk of disease, what can gardeners do to help greenfi nches and other affected species?Feed the birds naturallyBird feeders should always be treated as a supplementary food source, says Thomas.“My primary aim in the garden is for my garden to produce the food that birds need and make my garden rich in food naturally, rather than relying on a bit of arable farmland somewhere in the world producing tons of bird food.“Lavender is great at producing seed, Verbena bonariensis is great at producing seed.”Cottage garden plants which set seed will give birds opportunities for feeding, he adds. Rose hips are ideal for fi nches, from ramblers and climbers.“When you look at the diets that our garden birds have, including greenfi nches, it’s incredibly varied. They need more than a constant diet of sunfl ower seeds.”He warns that chaffi nch numbers are on an “incredible downward slide” and that there were originally more chaffi nches than greenfi nches. “It’s a lot of birds to lose in our landscape.For both of those, seed is really important. But when you look at what greenfi nches eat naturally, they are moving on an almost weekly basis. In autumn they might go for yew berries, extracting the seed from the middle, or elm seeds, or charlock and wild cabbage seeds.“At another point it might be dandelion seeds – and that’s what we as gardeners can do. We can fi ll our garden with plants that give us joy as they fl ower but they’re also producing seeds at different points of the year.”Sunfl owers (Helianthus annuus) are a great source of food for fi nches and sparrows during the colder months, while the cone-heads of echinacea and rudbeckia that fl owered in summer and autumn are also packed with seeds.Don’t forget insectsWhile greenfi nches are almost exclusively seed eaters, they do eat some insects, bringing them to their chicks in the nest. Adult chaffi nches eat a lot of insects during the breeding season, he explains.“So a garden that is rich in plants produces seeds, berries and attracts insects. It never fi nds an absolute balance but it fi nds an equilibrium when you stop the pesticides and grow lots of different plants.”Avoid heavily cultivated plants“What isn’t great at producing seed is a lot of the heavily cultivated plants which are so full of petals they haven’t got any of the reproductive organs in place and they don’t set seed.”Check bird feeder hygiene“There are other diseases that can be passed on at bird feeders, so keep those feeders clean, keep water sources like bird baths clean, as they are another key transmission point for trichomonosis,” Thomas advises.He recommends that bird feeders are cleaned at least once a week and if you can’t dismantle your tubular feeder or get to the nooks and crannies, dunk the whole thing in a bucket of water with mild disinfectant solution and make sure it’s dry before you refi ll it.As for birdbaths, he says: “The advice is now to change that water on a daily basis and use tap water, because if you’re using rain water or collected water it may well have disease vectors in it.”Move feeding pointsWhen you go back to feeding the birds, move their feeding stations regularly.“Birds gathering in the same point are allowing this transmission of the disease and it’s often bits of food that have been dropped on the ground underneath, and birds gather at that point.”Move your hanging hooks and feeders to different parts of the garden weekly and don’t use fl at feeders, Thomas advises.“The era of the bird table is over because that fl at surface allows birds to gather all in one place and be in contact with the saliva.”What about winter?It’s okay to keep offering small amounts of mealworms, fat balls, or suet year-round, but when you start offering seed and peanuts in late autumn and winter make sure you don’t put out large amounts of food which is left hanging around for weeks, he says. WWChaffi nch with an insect in its beakGreenfi nch on a bird feeder

66 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Hannah Stephensonname ‘buff-tailed’,” says Goulson.The queen comes out of hibernation in early spring, feeding on spring fl owers and then looks for a nest in a hole in the ground, so can often be seen fl ying low to the ground.Plants they like: Lavender, catmint and borage, although they will feed on many other plants.2 Southern cuckoo bumblebee“As the name suggests, it’s a bit like the bird – it specialises in attacking nests of buff-tailed bumblebees. The female comes out of hibernation a little bit later, when the buff-tailed bumblebees have already built their nest and got their fi rst batch of workers, and the southern GARDENBEES2 Southern cuckoo bumblebee“As the name suggests, it’s a bit like the bird – it specialises in attacking nests of buff-tailed their nest and got their fi rst batch of workers, and the southern Dave GoulsonCan you tell your average bufftailed bumblebee from its murderous cuckoo relative? Do you know which bees can sting and which can’t, or which are likely to live in a bee hotel or make their nests underground?Pollinators are so important for food security, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Perhaps it’s time to observe the bees that visit your garden more closely and consider planting some of their favourite plants.Anyone who doesn’t really know what they’re looking for may want to bag a copy of The Bee Spotter’s Guide by bee expert Dave Goulson, founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and professor of biology at Sussex University.Bees live in burrows, holes in trees and even empty snail shells. They have favourite fl owers. Some even sleep curled up in the blooms, Goulson explains.“Quite a lot do that, because the males don’t typically have a nest. Flowers provide a bivouac for the night. The males of all bees are pretty useless creatures. Their only job is mating. They don’t gather food for the nest. In the daytime they often sit on fl owers, having a bit of a drink to fuel their next search for a mate.”Here are some of the bees you may spot in your garden at this time of year.1 Buff -tailed bumblebeeThis is our most common bumblebee. “It’s one of our biggest bumblebees, on the wing from late February right through to summer. It has two yellow stripes and a slightly brownish bottom, hence the Buff-tailed bumblebeeSouthern cuckoo bumblebeeHow well do you know these important pollinators?

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 67By Hannah Stephensoncuckoo bumblebees try to sniff out a bufftailed bumblebee nest.“If they fi nd one, they murder the queen. They are big, strong insects with a thicker skin and a longer sting than normal bumblebees, and kill the queen, then they basically enslave her worker bees into their own workforce.“They show no interest in people. They are quite common, with broadly the same yellow stripes as the buff-tailed bumblebee, but they have an extra bit of yellow next to the white on the tail.”Plants they like: The males are particularly fond of brambles.3 Red mason bee“This is one of our most common solitary bees. People think of bees as living in a hive, the social creatures of queen and workers, but it’s only the honey bee and the 20-plus bumblebee species that are social.“We have about 270 species of bee, so roughly 250 of them are solitary insects which means that the female makes a nest on her own and there are no workers. She just rears sons and daughters.”The females have distinctive inward curved horns, used to gather, carry and mould balls of damp soil that are used to construct cells for their brood.The red mason bee is the most common occupant of bee hotels, made of horizontal tunnels such as bamboo canes and other hollow stems. They also nest in holes in walls or trees with holes in them and are only on the wing in April and May.“They are quite small, red and fl uffy, and are called mason bees because the female bee nests in holes. They cannot sting humans. The stings of most solitary bees species are too weak to penetrate human fl esh.”Plants they like: Apples and pears. You may also see them on forget-me-nots, grape hyacinths, rosemary and pulmonaria.4 Hairy-footed fl ower beeOne of Goulson’s favourite bees, the male is a fl uffy brown, emerging in early spring, followed a week or two later by the jet-black female, which has orange hind legs.“They are about the size of a small bumblebee, so they are quite big solitary bees. The name comes from the fact that the male’s midlegs have long hair protruding from the feet.“When he’s courting the female bee he brushes her face with his hairy feet. It seems to work. The females nest in holes, but they burrow into clay banks usually and they are on the wing at this time of year.”They have a distinctive hovering and darting fl ight pattern different to most other bees.Plants they like: Their favourites are comfrey and lungwort, Goulson says.5 Wool carder bee“This is a striking solitary bee with bright yellow spots along the sides of its abdomen. It’s called the wool carder bee because the females collect hairs from hairy-leaved fl owers and use them to build a nest which looks like it’s made out of cotton wool.”The male is really aggressive, Goulson notes. “They look for a patch of lamb’s ear and defend it against any other bee, not just their own species but any other insect, in fact, that comes into the patch (but not humans).“They’ll fl y at it and have these big pointy bumps on the underside of their body which they’ll stab at any insect that dares to enter their territory and crush it. They do that because basically they’re defending a resource that the female needs.”Wool carder bees, which are on the wing from late May to early August nest in cavities and will take any man-made opportunity, Goulson says. “I’ve got some drill holes in my wooden picnic table in the garden at the moment. “They are coming out on the wing now and a bit later into the summer.”Plants they like: Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) for building nests. They feed mainly on woundworts and legumes like bird’s-foot trefoil. WWRed mason beeHairy-footed fl ower beeWool carder bee on lamb's ear leafThe Bee Spotter’s Guide by Dave Goulson is published by National Trust Books.

68 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Hannah StephensonEach year, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show attracts both top designers to put on jawdropping displays and visitors to be inspired by the vast array of fl ora and fauna on show.But those in the know have secrets behind the scenes to achieve horticultural perfection, or simply get through the week with the least physical and mental stress possible, while visitors remain blissfully unaware of their toils.Here, six Chelsea exhibitors reveal some of their secrets behind the scenes during the horticultural event of the year.SARAH EBERLE We use tweezers“We have incredible attention to detail but even to the point where we use an artist to paint over any damage, maybe to rocks or to trees or plants,” says multi award-winning designer Sarah Eberle, winner of a record 19 RHS Chelsea gold medals.“And we have an army of amazing helpers who come in with scissors and tweezers and secateurs and dusters, and they prepare all the plants for us as we put them in,” says Eberle, who this year designed The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden On The Edge, highlighting the often-overlooked edgelands – countryside areas on the fringes of towns and cities.“I once did two gardens and a trade stand and an RHS feature at the same show, and during that I walked the equivalent of sixand-a-half marathons in nine days.“The funniest thing that ever happened to me was at RHS Hampton Court where I did an estuary garden and on the morning of judging I found that somebody had put a supermarket trolley in there.”KATERINA KANTALIS Show plants ofi en remain in their pots When show gardens are created, plants often remain in their pots hidden by soil, reveals Australian Katerina Kantalis, who deesigned the Vikingsponsored balcony garden A Little Garden of Shared Knowledge.“When you plant your garden you usually come away with small plants. You’ve got your 9cm or one litre or two litre, but for Chelsea we can’t really do that. You really want to see a mature planting scheme. You bring together two pots, three pots, four pots, fi ve pots and mesh them together to make it look like one mature plant.ChelseaBEHIND THE SCENES ATDesigners reveal some of their secrets, from hiding chairs to using tweezers, at the prestigious gardening event.Sarah Eberle

GARDENING WOMANSWAY.IE 69By Hannah Stephenson“Some people, especially with the bigger gardens, plant with the pots in because there’s not enough time, so they mesh all the plants in and then put soil and mulch on top. Some people do actually plant straight into soil but that takes a lot more time.”LUCY HUTCHINGS We hope for rainWhile many visitors will hope it doesn’t rain on show day, exhibitors in the Great Pavilion are always hoping for a downpour, says Hutchings, co-founder of heirloom seed company She Grows Veg with Kate Cotterill, two-times Chelsea gold medal winners whose display was entitled Feast, where heirloom veg meets woodland dining.“When it starts to rain, the entire audience at the show rushes into the Great Pavilion and suddenly we are surrounded by people and everyone wants to look at our exhibits. So, you might not be hoping for rain, but we are.”Chairs are another hidden luxury, says Hutchings, who is on her feet for a very long time at the stand. “Chairs are life and you can’t have a chair on your stand and you might be standing from 7am to 10pm.“We learned very quickly that the key is to have chairs hidden backstage and we take it in turns on a rota to go behind the scenes for a little sit-down so that we can get through the day.”PHIL JOHNSON Seeds take hours to pack The small team has to decide which varieties they will display at the show, says Phil Johnson, managing director of English Sweet Peas and self-confessed ‘sweet pea nut’.Their display won a gold medal on their debut at RHS Chelsea last year and they are launching the Nigel Slater – Fruit Fool sweet pea at this year’s show.“Our fi rst criteria is, ‘Have we got enough seeds?’ We have to pack all the seeds ourselves individually. We have to put hundreds of packets of seeds into little envelopes with these labels on – and it takes hours.”MAX PARKER-SMITH It’s not as competitive as it seems Some designers go the extra mile for research, or in garden designer Max Parker-Smith’s case, to the other side of the world. His inspiration for his Chelsea garden came from the Indian Pacifi c train line which runs between the green cities of Adelaide and Perth, which he explored.“I got to see the epic Jurassic landscapes and the wonderful green cities of these two states,” says Parker-Smith, who created Journey Beyond The Tracks: From Adelaide To Perth Australian Garden.Back on home turf, he says of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show: “There’s a really great community and when people are struggling or in need of assistance or materials, we are there to help each other out. It’s not nearly as competitive as you might think.“And the show gardens get to live on somewhere else. As soon as Chelsea’s fi nished, they get rebuilt and get to be experienced by more people in years to come.”The plants from Parker-Smith’s garden are being relocated to Kensington Gardens, while the hard landscaping will be going to Longleat, “next to the fl uffy koalas”, he says.ALEX MICHAELIS It’s like a mini-city before the show “The build teams often work through the night to the last possible moment to make sure every detail is as close to perfection as it can be,” says the co-designer of The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine garden with Harry Holding, which is now being relocated to its new home in Morecambe. “Chelsea, in the build-up, is like a minicity with people walking around, machinery, a bustling community supported by the wonderful RHS. There’s a buzz in the air and when something goes wrong, everyone pulls together to help. It would be great if it were like that in actual cities.” WWLucy HutchingsAlex MichaelisMax Parker-SmithPhil JohnsonKaterina Kantalis

70 WOMANSWAY.IEFfi dcrochet Sink your teeth into these crochet patterns to create your very own tiny treats.Avacado

WOMANSWAY.IE 71CROCHETYARNDK (light worsted/8-ply) yarn on a 3.25mm (UK 10, US D/3) crochet hook; I used 50g/1¾oz/191yd/175m yarn balls – but none of the makes will use up an entire ball, meaning they’re great stash busters. With this yarn, each make is approximately 4cm (11/2in) tall.CROCHET HOOKSGenerally, size down about 1mm from the recommended hook size on the yarn label when making amigurumi. If using the recommended DK yarn, use a 3.25mm hook. For those with smaller hands, I recommend Clover Amour hooks. STITCH MARKERSStitch markers will help record the end of the round when working in a continuous spiral. Simply place the stitch marker in the last stitch of the round, and move it up each time you fi nish a round. I use Clover’s ‘Locking Stitch Markers’ and fi nd them indispensable.NEEDLESUse a tapestry needle with a blunt tip for joining various crocheted parts and weaving in loose ends. The ‘Bent Tip Darning Needle’ by Clover makes joining amigurumi pieces much easier. Use an embroidery needle for embroidering face details such as noses and mouths. EMBROIDERY THREAD (FLOSS)When using embroidery thread (fl oss) for face details, always separate the fl oss into two bundles of AVOCADOFront And BackRound 1: using dark green yarn, work 6 sc in an adjustable ring (6 sts).Round 2: *2 sc in next st* six times (12 sts).Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st* six times (18 sts).Round 4: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc* six times (24 sts).Begin working in turned rows.Row 5: 1 ch, turn, work 7 sc, 1 ch, turn (7 sts).Row 6: sc2tog, 3 sc, sc2tog, 1 ch, turn (5 sts).Row 7: 5 sc, 1 ch, turn (5 sts).Row 8: sc2tog, 1 sc, sc2tog, do not turn (3 sts).Mini Amigurumi Food by Julia Chiang is published by Search Press. Round 9: continue working in the round to create a border around the piece. *4 sc, 2 sc in next st* six times (36 sts – stitch counts may vary).Round 10: 1 sc in each st (36 sts).Finish off and weave in the end.Make another piece using light green yarn, repeating rounds/rows 1–9, but do not fi nish off. Insert two 4mm (¹⁄₈in) safety eyes between rows 6 and 7, with 3 sts in between. Place the two pieces on top of each other, and continuing with the light green yarn, slip stitch the pieces together, stuffi ng as you go (36 sts). Using black embroidery thread (fl oss), embroider a ‘V’-shaped mouth. Using pink embroidery thread, embroider cheeks to the left and right of the mouth.SeedRound 1: using brown yarn, work 6 sc in an adjustable ring (6 sts).Round 2: *2 sc in next st* six times (12 sts).Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st* six times (18 sts).Round 4: 1 sc in each st (18 sts).Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the seed to the avocado, stuffi ng lightly as you go.SUSHI (MAKI ROLL)Round 1: using white yarn, work 6 sc in an adjustable ring (6 sts).Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sts).Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st* six times (18 sts).Round 4: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc* six times (24 sts).Round 5: *3 sc, 2 sc in next st* six times (30 sts).Round 6: *2 sc, 2 sc in next st, 2 sc* six times (36 sts).Switch to three strands each. Use one bundle at a time for embroidering. This allows the embroidered features to be more detailed. SAFETY EYES4mm (¹⁄₈in) safety eyes. If you are making a toy for a child, use black thread (fl oss) to embroider the eyes instead, or glue on some felt eyes.TOY FILLINGSoft polyester toy fi lling, available in most hobby and craft stores.SYMBOLS IN THE PATTERNS Figures in round brackets at the end of a round or row tell you how many stitches there are in that round or row. Crocheting borders is an inexact science, so in these instances you'll fi nd the note ‘stitch counts may vary’, since the fi nal stitch count does not need to be exactly accurate. Round brackets amidst the round or row instructions indicate that all stitches enclosed should be worked into the same stitch.Asterisks ** mean that all instructions in between them are to be repeated the stated number of times. IMPORTANT NOTEThe patterns use US crochet terms. US single crochet sc is, in UK crochet terms, a double crochet dc.ABBREVIATIONSch chain sc single crochet dc double crochetsl st slip stitch(es)st(s) stitch(es) TBL through back loopblack yarn. Insert two 4mm (¹⁄₈in) safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, with 3 sts between them.Using black embroidery thread (fl oss), embroider a short line between the eyes for a mouth.Round 7: 1 sc TBL in each st (36 sts).Rounds 8–11: 1 sc in each st (36 sts).Switch to white yarn.Round 12: *4 sc, sc2tog* TBL six times (30 sts).Round 13: *3 sc, sc2tog* six times (24 sts).Round 14: *2 sc, sc2tog* six times (18 sts).Round 15: *1 sc, sc2tog* six times (12 sts).Stuff.Round 16: *sc2tog* six times (6 sts).Finish off in the round and weave in the ends. Using orange, pink, light green and dark green yarn, embroider tuna, salmon and avocado onto the maki roll. WWSushi

COMPETITION72 WOMANSWAY.IEWIN A 6-MONTH SUPPLY OF PROCYDINTo enter, please answer the following question:Procydin is formulated for adults of what age?HOW TO ENTEREmail your answer by July 6 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Procydin 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. Winners’ names may be published. The editor’s decision is fi nal.Five lucky readers will each win a six-month supply of Procydin Grape Seed Extract. Procydin is a science-backed grape seed extract supplement designed to support circulation, mobility, skin health, immunity and overall wellbeing.It is especially formulated for adults aged 40+ and is also designed to protect from antioxidants.Known as ‘Nature’s Vitamin P’, grape seed extract contains powerful antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, which help protect against oxidative stress. Combined with Vitamins C and E, Procydin offers an easy daily addition to support an active lifestyle and long-term vitality. Procydin Grape Seed Extract is available in pharmacies and health food stores nationwide, priced €19.95 per pack.

HOROSCOPES WOMANSWAY.IE 73ARIES 21 March – 20 AprilWarmth, generosity and a sense of ease fl ow through family life, making this a great time for entertaining and celebrating good news, or just the joy of being together. Lovely Venus also eases into fun-loving Leo, encouraging you to tap into your brilliance and enjoy expressing yourself creatively and romantically. Should one issue prove hard to discuss, try to be patient.TAURUS 21 April – 21 MayIt’s a good time for communication, as your words can be positive and inspiring. Connections deepen, and plans and projects come together. Even so, Mercury’s angle to Saturn could mean you’re reluctant to discuss something deeply personal, and yet doing so could help you resolve it. As Venus glides into your home zone, it may be time for an uplifting makeover.GEMINI 22 May – 21 JuneValues expand, confi dence grows, and opportunities to enhance income appear. An awkward aspect hints that one fi nancial conversation might involve friends or a social group. If you feel short-changed, it’s a good idea to get it all out in the open. As Venus glides into your sector of talk and thought, you’ll communicate with style but not without a touch of drama.CANCER 22 June – 23 JulyCould this be your lucky week? A Venus-Jupiter merger in your sign brings positive encounters, golden opportunities and pleasant surprises. Welcome them with open arms. A clash with someone in authority may need careful handling, so don’t promise anything unless you can deliver. Yearning for a touch of luxury? A small treat will hit the sweet spot.LEO 24 July – 23 AugustPositive feelings bubble up from deep within and may be the reason you’re ready to take that leap of faith. If you’ve hesitated in the past, you’ll feel ready now. Have doubts about a getaway or vacation? Check the details and make any changes. As Venus dances into your sign you’ll glow with loveliness, but if you do fancy a makeover, this is the time to go for it.VIRGO 24 August – 23 SeptemberFriends can be real gems, supporting you, inviting you to unexpected meals or outings, and just being there for you. One person may be the exception by being a tad demanding. You possibly know who they are and exactly how to deal with them. As Venus enters a private zone you’ll be ready to assist others who need a hand. Do remember to be kind to yourself.LIBRA 24 September – 23 OctoberFortune smiles on you, especially in your career, business goals, and in furthering your ambitions. The lucky break you’ve been waiting for could show up, so stay alert. An edgier aspect hints at confl ict around bold plans. Trust your instincts, not another’s opinion. Venus in your social zone enhances your popularity, so enjoy dating, romance, and more good times.SCORPIO 24 October – 22 NovemberA trip or outing could lead to a fortuitous encounter and a new friendship. You may feel as though you’ve known this person forever, as their company can be delightful. Someone else may be more critical, but don’t take their words too seriously. With Venus gliding into your career zone, use your charms, and others will be keen to help you with major plans.SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 DecemberEmotional depth can be an asset today, revealing positive yet powerful feelings. Let instinct guide you to take the right track, and trust and intimacy will also expand. And yet, you may need to hold a diffi cult conversation this week, which could enhance a key bond if you handle it with kindness and care. Your appetite for life also increases, seeing you drawn to the exotic.CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 JanuaryRelationships get a positive boost, meaning the possibilities in key connections can be greatly enhanced. A chat could lead to exciting developments. Conversations about home and family may need more care, and tact and diplomacy can bring positive solutions. As Venus glides into an intense zone, desires may be stronger than ever, so be careful what you wish for.AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 FebruaryEveryday life seems uplifting and work fl ows smoothly. Small acts of kindness can ripple out and increase your sense of wellbeing. There may be one sticking point if you and another person can’t decide on a plan of action. Being willing to compromise helps. Venus’ move into Leo encourages cooperation and is a great infl uence for enhancing connection.PISCES 20 February – 20 MarchLeisure activities can be so much fun with romance, creativity and cultural visits high on the list. It’s time to showcase your wonderful talents. You may doubt the wisdom of investing in yourself, and yet if you do so wisely, you’ll benefi t. As Venus enters your lifestyle zone, get ready to be kinder to yourself. Nurture your wellbeing and you’ll soon feel the benefi ts. WWFind out what your horoscope has in store for you in the weeks ahead Yourstars with Patrick Arundell.

A GREAT GIFTFOR TRAVEL LOVERSJust €30 for an annual subscriptionOr pay monthly for just €2.50 PLUS DELIVERED FREE STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOORBUY ONLINE AT HARMONIA.IE OR CALL OUR SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE +353 1 4659872PLANET WOMAN TRAVELSUBSCRIBE NOW Editor: Norah Casey““We curate the best of female focused travel and destinations for solo adventures, great escapes, wellness retreats & incredible experiencesPublished quarterly by Harmonia Limited. Planet Woman Travel queries; email [email protected]

ADVICE WOMANSWAY.IE 75Columnist and trained counsellor Fiona Caine answers another set of reader dilemmas.FionaIf 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.DearI am a working, single mum of three and can’t copeI really struggle to cope with my three children at weekends and during school holidays.I love them very much and try to be patient but, at times, I get so angry and wound up that I shout and scream at them to behave or be quiet.But all it seems to do is buy me a few minutes of quiet before they start up again.Nothing I do seems to keep them under control and I end up arguing with them, just to stop their squabbling. It’s ridiculous and I feel like I am going out of my mind. I’m an adult and ought to be able to deal with this calmly, but I can’t.I have always believed that smacking is wrong, but I confess I have come close to it a few times.And I am frightened that it’s only a matter of time before I lose it completely and smack one of them. My partner, their father, left me last year for someone else and it’s been tough juggling work and looking after the children.And it feels like I am doing a less-than-perfect job of both just now.So much so that I wonder sometimes if I am just a bad mother and that they would be better off in care. Things can’t go on like this; something needs to change. They are back at school now, but I am already dreading the long summer holidays.I feel like a failure and just don’t know how I will cope.I. G.Fiona Says: You are overwhelmed, but reaching out for help is a positive stepYou’re not a bad mother, you’re an exhausted, overwhelmed one.Looking after three youngsters on your own is incredibly stressful and I am not surprised that you lose your temper at times.However, that doesn’t make you a bad parent, it just makes you human.At times, all parents think that they can’t cope.Crucially though, you’ve recognised that you are stressed and are aware of the dangers of getting angry. You’ve also reached out for help and want things to change before someone gets hurt. That’s hugely positive and, in my book, makes you a good parent, not a bad one. For now, go easy on yourself, stop trying to be a perfect working single parent.Your children don’t need perfection; they just need you.If arguments start or you feel things boiling over, try to step away before they escalate. Make sure they’re safe and go to another room for fi ve minutes, breathe, make a cup of tea or phone a friend for a chat – anything that interrupts the spiral.If letting the children have some screen time buys you that break, so be it.Also consider counselling. Alternatively reach out to One Family (onefamily.ie) which provides support and counselling for single parent families.Asking for help is not failure, it’s good parenting that protects your children and yourself.I regret not staying in touch with my old friends but don’t know how to reconnectI moved overseas 12 years ago for work. It was an exciting chapter in my life and I was super busy.I managed to keep in touch with friends for a while through social media and email, and the occasional trip home, but over time I did that less and less often. Eventually life just took over and, apart from my parents, I lost contact with just about everyone.Looking back, it was a stupid thing to do. I really should have kept in contact, it’s not as though it’s diffi cult these days.Which is why it now feels really awkward to try and re-connect now that I’m back for good.I miss those old friendships. The connections I made while overseas just don’t feel the same as the ones I made at school and university. I feel embarrassed that it’s been so long and I don’t want them to feel I’m just turning up out of nowhere expecting to pick up where we left off.Is it too late to reach out to my old friends? And how do I reconnect after such a long gap without making it awkward?K. G.Fiona Says: Send a message saying you are back and would like to catch upIt’s not too late, though 12 years is long enough for lives to have changed signifi cantly, so the aim should be to simply reconnect, not restore friendships as they once were.If you’ve still got contact details, I suggest you start with one or two people that you valued most or who you think might be most open to an approach. Make it a simple, low-pressure message that acknowledges the gap, but doesn’t apologise for it.Say you’re back after many years abroad and would like to catch up if they’re open to the idea.I’d avoid using a surprise phone or video call as this may feel awkward.Instead use text, email or social media which will feel less pressured and give them space to respond without feeling as though they’ve been ambushed. Then work your way through your contacts.If those have gone completely cold, a search of social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram will have a high probability of fi nding them. Additionally, your old school and university may have alumni networks.However you fi nd them, accept that you may get mixed outcomes, not everyone will be happy or comfortable to hear from you.That’s fi ne, it doesn't refl ect badly on you or your earlier friendship, it’s just that their life may have moved on and old friendships no longer have a place in it.If people do respond positively, though, don’t go for a big reunion, suggest something timelimited like a coffee.Let things develop gradually through a few conversations rather than try to recreate closeness in one go. And be ready for the possibility some friendships come back in a different form. That’s fi ne too, they’ll be no less important – and you may well fi nd that people who were once only acquaintances become much closer now that time has passed.Just to encourage you, I know you think 12 years is a long time but a group of school friends I hadn’t seen for 30 years are now amongst my closest friends! WW

76 WOMANSWAY.IEhours and four seconds.“I’ve certainly had long periods in my life where I’ve felt that I’ve really lacked purpose. I’ve not really enjoyed the things I’m doing and just been a half version of myself,” he suggests.“I think for anyone ambitious, you want to try to live up to what you can be – and that CHASING GOALSEndurance athlete Spencer Mathews talks about how his mindset has shifted over the years.Wellbeingfocus to fatherhood, entrepreneurship and becoming a world record-holding endurance athlete.“I’ve gone through years and years of not caring about anything and going out all the time,” says Matthews, who collaborated with The Turmeric Co for the recent London Marathon, which he ran in three After experiencing long periods where he felt like he “lacked purpose”, the Spencer Matthews we see today is vastly different to the reality star who appeared on Made In Chelseain the 2010s.Matthews, 37, has now turned his

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 77Town doing an Ironman – this is something special.“I myself don’t have any experience with suicidal thoughts, but I thought, imagine waking up and not wanting to be here anymore. All of sudden it rationalises where you are and I found that moment quite helpful to understand that what I was doing could potentially help some of these men who are not in a good headspace.”For those who want to take on any kind of challenge themselves, Matthews says: “It sounds silly, but really making an effort to only really started for me a few years ago.”Matthews, who interviews athletes for the podcast Untapped, suggests a shift around fi tness and wellbeing helped change his mindset.“To me, my physical and mental health is probably the most important part of my life plan,” he says. “If you’re not well and healthy and living a full life, everything you’re striving for feels a little bit more pointless.”ChallengesIn recent years, Matthews has committed himself to gruelling endurance challenges – including running 30 marathons in 30 days across the Jordanian desert in 2024, then taking on seven triathlons on seven continents in 21 days in 2025 (which was dubbed ‘Project Se7en’). Matthews’ 30 In 30 challenge earned him the Guinness World Record for “the most consecutive marathons run on sand”, and he clocked up two further records during Project Se7en.“Endurance challenges are great goals to have,” he explains. “I operate better when I have goals to chase.”Matthews, who founded nonalcoholic spirits brand CleanCo in 2019, says staying focused helps him maintain a sense of direction.“Boredom is a bit of a trigger of mine,” he explains. “But now, I haven’t felt bored in a very long time.“For me, unless there’s something to target, it’s quite easy to bend the rules on exercise. I fi nd having one massive goal a year fun to work towards.”For Matthews, mindset is key to success in any kind of race – and having a sense of purpose helps too.“I feel very privileged to be able to do some of the events that I’ve done,” he says, adding that “being able to travel the world and raise money has also felt quite purposeful to me.”He suggests that having a cause has helped him push through diffi cult moments, pointing to his Project Se7en challenge supporting James’ Place, which focuses on preventing male suicide in the UK. Matthews recalls a particularly diffi cult moment during an Ironman triathlon challenge, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run in Cape Town, South Africa. “I had about 15 minutes in the water where I was really struggling and felt quite frightened,” he says.“But I had to stop and think: I’m in Cape “For me, unless there’s something to target, it’s quite easy tobend the rules on exercise”try and enjoy training and races helps.“When you start to feel crushed, tired, full of lactic acid, slow and heavy, that becomes a pretty serious reality. If that’s all you’re thinking about, it’s pretty diffi cult. So try and enjoy it.”Staying The CourseHe also stresses the importance of remembering that discomfort when exercising is temporary.“Any pain you’re feeling is going to come to an end,” he says. “You will regret giving up almost immediately. Just strap in for the pain, try and enjoy it and it’s a lesson that you’ll remember.“You’ll remember that pain and you could perhaps use it in other ways.”On the other end of the spectrum, Matthews suggests that going “too hard all the time” with exercise might mean “there are consequences to pay”.With research from The Turmeric Co fi nding that 47 per cent of people admit they use pain relief just to keep exercising, Matthews says that recovery is just as important as training. “We’re human beings. We’re not machines. I focus on easy wins that exist to give myself an edge so I can train and not get injured,” he continues.“Turmeric is a great example of a scientifi cally proven concept that is affordable and really easy to use. It’s one shot in the morning, full of antioxidants and anti-infl ammatory.”Away from training, Matthews, who is expecting his fourth child with wife Vogue Williams, says maintaining balance at home is essential to his wellbeing.“I spend time with my kids and my wife. I try not to sacrifi ce the things that matter,” he says. “I work very hard and fortunately so does my wife.“We spend our evenings together – we’re usually in bed early and our evenings are about winding down together.”Having once lived a very different lifestyle, he says the contrast is clear.“I’ve gone through years of not caring and going out all the time – I know which I prefer,” he says.“If you put in the time and consistency, good things happen. It sounds obvious, but it took me a long time to realise that.” WWWith Vogue at the BAFTA Awards

78 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Lisa SalmonKnown for starring in film and TV classics like The Forsyte Saga and Vanity Fair, actress Susan Hampshire took on a different, and far more challenging, role in her later years.The three-time Emmy award winner gave up acting to care for her husband, entrepreneur and theatre impresario Sir Eddie Kulukundis, after he was diagnosed with dementia.But far from resenting the enforced change, Hampshire, 89, describes caring for her husband as a “privilege”.“He was my husband and being able to step away from work to care for him full time allowed me to spend so much time with him,” she says.“That’s something I’ll always be grateful for. Yes, I gave up work to look after him, but if I hadn’t, I would have missed that time with him.” Although the Alzheimer’s Society says people with dementia may sometimes be physically or verbally aggressive as the disease progresses, Hampshire says her husband, who died in 2021 at the age of 88, was never like that.“I felt very fortunate that despite everything, he remained kind and gentle throughout,” she remembers fondly of her second husband – she was previously married to French film producer Pierre Granier-Deferre, with whom she had a son. “That never left him – he was always good-natured, and always appreciated everything I did for him. He was never nasty, he was always very nice to me, and always very thoughtful. I’m heartbroken to lose him. “It was a privilege to look after him.”Charity WorkSince Kulukundis’s death, Hampshire, who is based in London, has fundraised for CARING FOR PEOPLEWITH DEMENTIASusan Hampshire says that caring for someone with dementia is ‘incredibly hard’, and urges people to look out for symptoms.

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 79By Lisa Salmondementia were initially subtle, but she recognised there were changes to his normal behaviour.“There were a few early signs that made me think Eddie had the onset of dementia,” she recalls. “Things he’d loved all his life gradually became confusing and challenging for him.“He’d always had a brilliant brain and could do complex maths in his head, but suddenly he couldn’t. He was also an avid reader, always had a book on the go and read several newspapers every day. He was the kind of person who could fi nish a book in one sitting, but I began to fi nd him staring at the same page for long periods without actually reading it.”She says another change was his behaviour Alzheimer’s Research in his memory and has raised over €1.5 million to support the charity’s search for a cure.But she says she feels strongly that more needs to be done to spot the signs of dementia earlier, including the link with hearing loss. Research led by University College London suggests nearly half of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented by tackling 14 key health and lifestyle factors, including hearing loss.Yet research has found only three per cent of adults name hearing loss as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s. Taking steps to protect and manage hearing health alone could result in seven fewer cases of dementia for every 100 people who develop the condition.It’s not yet known whether hearing loss causes dementia directly, perhaps through it leading to the brain getting less stimulation and therefore becoming more vulnerable to dementia, or whether it causes other conditions, such as loneliness and depression, that increase the risk of developing the disease.“Taking care of hearing health is a practical and effective way to look after brain health and help reduce dementia risk,” stresses Samantha Benham-Hermetz, executive director at Alzheimer’s Research.“Evidence shows that looking after hearing through regular hearing tests and using hearing devices when recommended could help reduce the number of dementia cases. Despite this, awareness of the link between hearing loss and dementia remains low.”Although Kulukundis didn’t have any issues with hearing loss throughout most of his life, Hampshire says: “We did notice his hearing start to decline as the dementia progressed.“I’m absolutely convinced losing your hearing is connected to dementia. In my age group a lot of people have hearing loss but they’re quite prepared to just turn the TV up. For people above a certain age, it’s worth getting their hearing checked out.”Early SignalsHampshire says signs of her husband’s “I’m absolutely convinced losing your hearing is connected to dementia”With Eddie in 2004Eddie and Susan after their wedding in 1981With her CBE in 2018on the phone. “He used to love chatting, but he started avoiding calls or would say ‘Speak to my wife’. Over time, his most common phrases became ‘Where’s Susan?’ or ‘Ask Susan’.“He found reassurance in knowing I was nearby, which is why we eventually moved to a fl at where he could always see or hear me.”But even just being able to hear his wife had to be carefully managed, and Hampshire explains: “I found it helped to always speak gently to him, with love and respect, calmly and reassuring – a strong or raised voice would just make Eddie clam up.“I also tried to help him feel independent by giving him choices so his ideas felt like his and not mine – simple things like ‘Would you like hot or cold breakfast?’ or ‘Shall I wear this or that jumper?’”She says the way people with dementia lose their independence is one of the many terrible things about the disease, stressing: “One of the truly awful things about dementia is the loss of independence and not being able to care for yourself. I think that’s really tough.”But while she refl ects on caring for her husband for more than 10 years as being “incredibly hard,” she says she’d do it again “in a heartbeat”, and reminds other people looking after loved ones with dementia: “Caring for someone you love is incredibly hard and exhausting, but it’s something you’ll never regret.“There are sleepless nights, long days and so much patience required, but your devotion means you won’t be left wishing you’d done more. It’s better to feel tired than to carry regret, in my opinion. I certainly would do it again in a heartbeat.”Despite losing her husband fi ve years ago, Hampshire, who was made a CBE for services to drama and charity in 2018, has maintained her own healthy lifestyle. She makes a point of doing 10,000 steps every day, eats a nutritious diet including lots of nuts and vegetables, and spends a lot of time gardening.When asked what her secret is, she simply replies: “Don’t sit in a chair all day or in front of the TV – get outside whatever the weather.“Listen to the birds singing.” WW

80 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Camilla Fosterattention on routines, relationships and practical actions within our own control. In uncertain times, protecting mental wellbeing increasingly means recognising when awareness quietly tips into overwhelm.Here Dr Chetna Kang, consultant psychiatrist at Central Health London, explains what political anxiety is, identifies the key signs to look out for, and shares some helpful tips on how to manage and overcome it.WHEN THE WORLDFEELS TOO MUCHFrom global conflict and rising oil prices to health scares and political instability, experts say increasing numbers of people are experiencing “political anxiety” – a modern form of stress fuelled by constant exposure to unsettling world events.a constant low-level sense of threat, even when danger is not directly affecting our daily lives. Signs can include compulsively checking news updates, disrupted sleep, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness or a heightened sense of dread about the future.Experts say one of the healthiest responses is learning to stay informed without becoming consumed, setting boundaries around media exposure and focusing In an age of rolling news alerts, global unrest and economic uncertainty, more people are experiencing what psychologists increasingly describe as “political anxiety” – a persistent sense of worry linked to world events that can leave us feeling emotionally exhausted and powerless. Rising oil prices, conflicts across multiple regions, fears around emerging health threats such as hantavirus and an unpredictable political climate can create

WELLBEING WOMANSWAY.IE 81By Camilla FosterWhat is political anxiety?“Anxiety lies on a spectrum from general dayto-day worry which everybody experiences, right through to degrees of anxiety which lead to panic disorder or symptoms of PTSD,” says Kang. “It’s essentially concern and worry on the mildest end, and symptoms of a mental health problem on the other end of the spectrum.“Therefore, when you associate anxiety with a particular trigger, like politics, for example, it will be levels of worry that are more than a day-to-day healthy concern that is particularly associated with a political climate.“When the trigger is political, then we call it political anxiety, although political anxiety is not a diagnosis in itself.”Anxiety can have a big impact on your daily life, so here are six common signs to look out for…1 Pervasive thoughts“If you are experiencing political anxiety, it’s likely that your thoughts about the concern are pervasive,” says Kang.“Whilst you’re getting on with day-to-day life, your mind might be constantly ruminating about, or feeling anxious in the background about, whatever political threat you’re worried about.”2 Feelings of helplessness“Politics can often feel far removed and when our minds go to a topic which feels outside of our circle of infl uence, it can increase the feeling of helplessness,” says Kang.3 Diffi culty concentrating“Your mind and thoughts might drift off to either the country where the political event is happening, or the future that you’ve created in your mind,” says Kang.4 Mood changes“Anxiety is an emotional and behavioural response to a threat, and you may fi nd yourself becoming more and more irritable,” says Kang.5 Struggling to sleep“You might not be able to switch off at night and struggle to sleep because when we’re stressed and feel threatened we feel like we need to be on high alert,” says Kang. “This can create a vicious cycle because as well as the anxiety itself affecting your cognition, immunity, your health, then the lack of sleep perpetuates this and makes it worse.”6 Headaches“Your body will talk to you in different ways to tell you something’s not right, and some people will experience headaches when they are feeling anxious or stressed,” says Kang.Here are her top tips on how to overcome this…Focus on what you can change “If our focus remains on areas which are out of our reach, we will stay in a helpless, fearful state. “However, bringing the focus back to what we can change can help us feel empowered because when we take action and see results, it gives us confi dence,” says Kang. “It gives us motivation to continue focusing on things which are close to hand, and that rational experience helps neutralise the irrationality that anxiety brings.”Move your body “Anything that gets your body moving can “You can use things like breath work or yoga or mindfulness to ground yourself”help move your mind away from the future or the past that you’re dwelling on, and it moves back into the present,” says Kang.“In addition, during exercise a lot of the tension that you’re holding in your body gets released.”Become aware about when you tend to doomscroll “Analyse what your peak doomscrolling times in the day are and try to steal back short blocks of time,” recommends Kang.Try some grounding exercises “You can use things like breath work or yoga or mindfulness to ground yourself,” says Kang.She recommends trying the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. “For this, you focus on fi ve things that you can see, four sounds that you can hear, three sensations that you can feel on your skin (touch), two things that you can smell in the atmosphere around you and one thing you can taste in your mouth,” explains Kang. “This helps bring your attention back to the body.”Talk to loved ones“Confi de in someone that you trust and talk to them about how you feel,” advises Kang.Create a relaxing winddown routine before bed “In the hour before bed, try to keep your bedroom screen-free, and instead do calming activities like listening to calming and grounding sounds, reading a paperback book or taking a warm bath,” suggests Kang.Seek professional help “If your political anxiety goes on for more than a few days and starts going into weeks, then I would recommend seeking professional help,” says Kang.“Start by going to your GP because they can get you access to talking therapies quite quickly, and if it escalates or gets worse, they can then refer you to mental health services to see a psychiatrist for an assessment.” WW

82 WOMANSWAY.IEHealthBy Camilla FosterHooper. “For PCOS, we look for signs of excess androgen levels, such as testosterone,” says Hooper. “Secondly, we look for signs that your ovaries are not functioning as usual, and for women this is usually signs that their periods are not regular, or that they are not ovulating regularly.“Thirdly, we look for polycystic ovaries, which is something that you see on an ultrasound. It’s when you have lots of tiny fluid-filled follicles on the ovaries that look like a string of pearls.”If you have at least two of these features, you may be diagnosed with PCOS.6 SIGNS OF PCOSSymptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome usually become apparent during your late teens or early 20s.Misconceptions about this common condition persist and many symptoms are still frequently overlooked.We spoke to Dr Lucy Hooper, co-founder of Coyne Medical, who has explained what the current diagnosis process for PCOS involves, and has highlighted some early subtle signs to look out for.WHAT ARE THE MAIN FEATURES OF PCOS?Irregular periods, excess androgen levels and polycystic ovaries are the three main features of PCOS that doctors look out for, explains Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects around 10 to 20 per cent of women of reproductive age in Ireland, but experts say that misunderstandings about cysts and an overemphasis on the ovaries often leads to late diagnoses.A new consensus statement published in The Lancet, led by researchers at Monash University in Australia, has proposed renaming the condition polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) instead, to more accurately reflect its wider impact on the body.

HEALTH WOMANSWAY.IE 83By Camilla FosterSymptoms of PCOS usually become apparent during your late teens or early 20s.Here are six common early symptoms of PCOS to look out for that are often overlooked…1 IRREGULAR PERIODS“In the fi rst one to two years after your period starts, it’s very common for them to be irregular, but after that they should start to settle down to a regular pattern,” says Hooper.“If it’s less than 21 days or over 45 days in a cycle length (from day one of the period to day one of the next period) on a regular basis, that is something worth looking into.“Having maybe one month where you have a really short or really long cycle is not uncommon, especially if you’re ill or stressed, but if it’s a regular pattern, then that’s worth reviewing.”2 ACNE“Excess testosterone levels can cause symptoms for women, and one of the most common is acne and trouble with their skin,” says Hooper. “Sometimes this is dismissed as normal, especially in teenagers, but there might be an underlying hormone issue which is causing it.”The doctor says that although many young women often don’t get tested for hormone issues until their acne gets really bad, she recommends seeking tests sooner rather than later.“Rather than going through lots of different antibiotics for acne or different skin creams, ideally you want to know if you have any hormonal abnormalities sooner to help get you the right treatment quicker,” says Hooper.“If it’s being caused by underlying biology and is part of PCOS, then something like an oral contraceptive pill can be really helpful for lots of people’s skin issues.”3 EXCESS HAIRExcessive hair growth, on the face or body, is another common symptom of PCOS, according to the Health Service Executive website.“There’s a misconception that only people that are overweight or obese are affected by PCOS”“Excess hair on the skin might also be a sign that there’s an issue with someone’s hormone levels,” says Hooper.”Sometimes excess hair is more obvious in particular ethnic groups than others.”4 MOOD CHANGESMood changes are often dismissed as a normal part of being a teenager. However, research shows that hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS can signifi cantly impact emotional wellbeing.“There has been some really interesting research over the past few years that has looked at depression and mood changes, and some researchers think it may actually be part of the early presentations of PCOS,” says Hooper.“Therefore, experiencing mood symptoms, especially symptoms that change a lot with your cycle and periods, is something that should be considered as part of a patient’s whole picture.”5 WEIGHTMany people with PCOS experience weight problems such as being overweight, rapid weight gain and/or have diffi culties losing weight, according to Verity.“There’s a strong link between polycystic ovarian syndrome and being overweight,” says Hooper.However, she emphasises that people who aren’t overweight can also be affected.“There’s a misconception that only people that are overweight or obese are affected by PCOS, but there are actually lots of females that are affected that are of a normal weight,” says Hooper.6 DARKENED SKIN PATCHES“There’s also a link between polycystic ovarian syndrome and having insulin resistance,” says Hooper. “One early sign of insulin resistance is acanthosis nigricans, which is when your skin becomes darkened and slightly changes in texture in a skin fold, such your arm pit.“This is something that can easily be missed or not thought to be related to other symptoms that you have.” WW

84 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Camilla FosterPREVENTINGALZHEIMER’S know, and highlighted what lifestyle changes can help.WHAT ARE SOME RISK FACTORS THAT WE CAN’T CHANGE?Age “Age is one of the biggest risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s because the chance of developing dementia increases as we age,” explains Oakley.Above the age of 65, a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years, according to Alzheimer’s Society’s website. Part of this is due to natural changes in our body.“One thing that we know leads to dementia is the build-up of certain Staying active and socialising can boost your health and your brain power.Participants also completed online cognitive assessments.Researchers found that combining the blood test with online brain tests can help identify a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s and then prioritise them for further testing, treatment and support.Although dementia is often a difficult topic to discuss, understanding risk factors can help people make informed choices to potentially reduce their chances of developing the condition.We spoke to Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, who outlined some key dementia risk factors everyone should Agroundbreaking tool which involves a finger-prick blood test and an online brain assessment has been created to estimate an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research.The study, published in Nature Communications journal, involved 174 participants who carried out the selfadministered test at home and posted their samples back to the research teams.The finger-prick blood test measured biomarkers, p-tau217 and GFAP, which have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and general brain decline.

HEALTH WOMANSWAY.IE 85By Camilla FosterSex “The data shows us that women are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease as they get older than men,” says Oakley.According to the Alzheimer's Society, there are about twice as many women over 65 with Alzheimer’s as there are men over 65 with the condition. However, Oakley says the reasons behind this are currently unclear.“There are different theories around hormones and menopause that are being investigated, and lots of research is trying to work out exactly why this is so we can hopefully make changes to stop this,” says Oakley.Genes “There are genetic risk factors and certain mutations that people can have that can be passed down through families that can make you more predisposed to developing different forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease,” says Oakley.Out of 10,00 people who have Alzheimer’s, less than 10 of those people will have it because of a familial gene, according to Alzheimer’s Society’s website.There are also certain risk genes that increase a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s, such as the APOE gene.“If you get two copies of APOE4 gene, a copy from your mum and another one from your dad, that signifi cantly increases your chances of Alzheimer’s,” says Oakley.“However, it’s important to emphasise that the APOE gene only increases a person’s chances of getting dementia and doesn’t cause the condition in everyone who has it.”Certain health conditions “One of the things that we know with Alzheimer’s disease is that it can become vascular, which happens when the damage in your brain is not only caused by certain proteins, but is also caused by a restriction of blood fl ow in and out of your brain,” explains Oakley.“Therefore, things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and conditions that affect your blood fl ow and metabolism such as diabetes, strokes and cardiovascular disease can all increase your risk of Alzheimer’s.”proteins, such as amyloid and tau, in our brains. Over time they aggregate together into these insoluble masses and start causing damage in our brains,” explains Oakley.WHAT LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN WE MAKE TO REDUCE OUR RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?“You can reduce your individual risk by doing things like quitting smoking, drinking alcohol only in moderation, having a healthy balanced diet, keeping a healthy weight and staying active,” says Oakley.In addition, if you can keep your cardiovascular health under control, that can reduce your risk of developing dementia.“We often say what’s good for your heart is good for your head, so controlling your cholesterol, and monitoring your blood pressure can make a big difference,” says Oakley.Staying connected is also important. “I would encourage people to carry on picking up hobbies and engaging with people,” advises Oakley.“We also need to look out for our older loved ones and support them where we can to engage in hobbies and social interactions, because it does play a really important role, not only in general enjoyment, but also in reducing their risk of developing dementia.” WWAre there any lifestyle factors that can increase our risk of dementia?“The 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention, intervention, and care showed that about 45 per cent of all dementia cases are based on modifi able risk factors, rather than things like ageing and genes that we can’t change,” says Oakley.The report found that addressing the following 14 health and lifestyle factors could prevent nearly half of global dementia cases:• Quality of education in early life(5 per cent)• Social isolation (5 per cent)• Air pollution (3 per cent)• Traumatic brain injury (3 per cent)• Hearing loss (7 per cent)• Depression (3 per cent)• High blood pressure (2 per cent)• Type 2 diabetes (2 per cent)• Obesity (1 per cent)• Physical inactivity (2 per cent)• Smoking (2 per cent)• Excessive alcoholconsumption(1 per cent)• Uncorrected vision loss (2 per cent)• High cholesterol (7 per cent)

86 WOMANSWAY.IEblack and white gown with a sheer mesh panel.Amandaland’s lead Lucy Punch also opted for vibrant hues in a tangerine Stella McCartney gown and a metallic Stone and Mason clutch. Other stars to turn heads on the red carpet included Amanda Holden, nominated for Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job alongside Alan Carr, who stepped out in a silver silk and mesh two-piece by Basil Soda.The glamourous look featured diamante detailing and a sheer train.Meanwhile, Rose Ayling-Ellis opted for a sunny sunshine yellow halterneck gown with cape detailing. WW By Lara Owen, PAFresh pastel shades, soft neutrals and vibrant bursts of colour lit up the Bafta TV Awards red carpet as Irish stars including Vogue Williams, Laura Whitmore and Una Healy embraced elegant summer-inspired fashion in London.Una Healy in spring pastelsLaura Whitmore in Mara HoffmanVogue Williams stepped out in white lacePhilippa Dunne in Sister JaneIRISH STARS BRINGSummer GlamourTO THE BAFTAsher fourth pregnancy with husband Spencer Matthews on Instagram.Laura Whitmore also showcased her baby bump in a nude, strapless maxi dress with a ruched bodice by sustainable designer Mara Hoffman.The 41-year-old presenter paired the look with a pearlescent clutch and gold cuff.Elsewhere, singer Una Healey wore a butter yellow and baby blue structured gown, complete with a cut-out waist detail and a powder blue miniature handbag.Actress Sinead Keenan, who stars in the thriller How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, opted for a more classic look, in a strapless Irish stars embraced fresh spring hues at the Bafta TV Awards in London, with vibrant greens, powdery pastels and soft neutrals dominating the red carpet.Amandaland’s Philippa Dunne stepped out in a lime green sequined midi dress by Sister Jane from the Dream: The Garden Atelier collection, complete with white fl oral accents.Presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams also stepped out in a halterneck gown, wearing a white maxi dress with a sheer lace overlay. The star showcased a new fringe, stepping out after recently announcing

FASHION WOMANSWAY.IE 87Amanda Holden in Basil SodaBy Lara Owen, PASinead Keenan opted for classic monochromeAmandaland's Lucy Punch in Stella McCartneyRose Ayling Ellis in sunshine yellow

88 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Hannah StephensonRUNNING AGAINST TIMEBrothers Jordan Adams (left) and Cian Adams holding a message of support from the Prince of Wales, on the eve of undertaking 32 marathons in Ireland

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 89By Hannah StephensonT here are extraordinary people who turn heartbreak into purpose and brothers Jordan and Cian Adams are surely among them. Jordan was just 15 when his mum Geraldine was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at only 47 years of age, a devastating illness that claimed her life fi ve years later. Now both brothers live with the knowledge that they carry a gene that could lead to the same diagnosis in their own 40s, yet instead of retreating from that fear they have chosen to fi ght back publicly and powerfully. Having already raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, the pair embarked on an astonishing challenge – running 33 marathons in 33 days including one in each of Ireland’s 32 counties after Jordan completed the London Marathon carrying a fridge on his back. Jordan, 30, is running the marathons with support from physio brother Cian, 25. Their courage, resilience and determination to raise awareness for dementia research is nothing short of inspirational and has caught the attention of some notable admirers.Recently the Prince of Wales sent a message of support to the two brothers on their all-Ireland marathon challenge, describing them as “inspiring”. William wrote that he is “incredibly impressed with your inspiring journey and ambitious challenge”.FAMILY LIFEThe siblings, who grew up in Redditch, Worcestershire in an Irish family, have raised over €1.5 million to support the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the work of their non-profi t organisation, the FTD Brothers Foundation.The challenge started with Jordan running the London Marathon earlier this year on April 26 while carrying a 25kg fridge on his back. The brothers then immediately travelled to Ireland where Jordan ran a marathon a day in each of the island’s 32 counties, fi nishing the 33rd in Dublin in late May. The royal letter was read to the pair by their father Glenn.William wrote: “Taking on such a demanding challenge, to honour your mother’s memory and raise awareness of frontotemporal dementia, speaks to your remarkable strength.“You are inspiring people far beyond those who stood along the marathon route here in London, and those who will no doubt be cheering you on along the roads of Ireland.“It takes great courage and generosity to turn such personal adversity into hope for others.“By sharing your story so openly, you are helping to change understanding of dementia and giving countless families strength, comfort, and a sense that they are not alone.“I hope you are both proud of all you have accomplished so far and wish you both every success for the road ahead.”Reacting to the letter, Jordan said the recognition was “absolutely incredible and feels incredibly surreal”, adding “I don’t think it’ll sink in for a long time”.BEACON OF HOPEHe said when he received his diagnosis eight years ago “I could never have imagined that we could have created the impact that we have or reached the corners of the world that we have, by sharing our story and trying to be a voice of hope for millions of families”.But he said the event is “part of a long journey” by his family which he hopes will help “change the world of dementia”.Cian added: “It’s an extraordinary thing that we’ve raised that much awareness that it’s reached all corners of the globe and now includes the royal family as well.“It’s people in these positions that matter, who are starting to get wind of our story and the importance of putting dementia on the map.“Dementia research is still quite far behind other diseases and we don’t want that to be the case anymore.“Beyond and outside the scope of monetary targets, what we’re most proud of is the recognition and all the communities coming out and telling us their stories in Ireland as well.”The letter came on day 14 of the fundraiser as they travelled though Co Leitrim. It was a poignant moment for them as the county was home to many of the 12 Irish relatives they have lost to frontotemporal dementia. The brothers fi nished the 32-day challenge in Dublin at the end of May and said the letter kept them going until the end. WW“It takes great courage and generosity to turn such personal adversity into hope for others”On The Late Late Show with Patrick KieltyJordan Adams reading a message of support from the Prince of WalesAfter losing their mother Geraldine to frontotemporal dementia, brothers Jordan and Cian Adams have transformed grief into an extraordinary mission, raising more than €1.5 million for dementia research while completing the astonishing challenge of 33 marathons in 33 days across Ireland.

90 WOMANSWAY.IEIn an era where sustainability has become one of the most overused words in business, FoodSpace has quietly spent the past decade simply getting on with it. Long before “seasonal sourcing”, “zero waste” and “ethical food systems” became fashionable industry language, the Irish catering company was already building its kitchens around those principles – not as marketing slogans, but as everyday practice.FOOD WITH PURPOSEFounded in Ireland in 2016, FoodSpace now operates more than 20 client cafés nationwide and has built a loyal following for food that is thoughtful, seasonal and deeply connected to place. Their menus champion local producers, whole ingredients and vegetables that arrive according to the rhythms of the Irish growing season rather than the demands of convenience.The company never set out to be the cheapest option in the contract catering market and that has very much been part of its identity from the beginning. Instead, it focused on creating food systems rooted in quality, sustainability and long-term relationships.“There has always been clarity in what we do,” says Gráinne Carberry, Director of Catering with FoodSpace. “If anything, it has been a question of timing. The language the industry is using now around food, sourcing and culture is the language we have been working with since day one.”RESPECT THE CRAFTThat philosophy is visible not just on the plate, but in the atmosphere surrounding the business. Kitchens are designed around collaboration and respect for craft. Many of the chefs are growers themselves, bringing From seasonal Irish kitchens to a sustainable cookery school taking shape in The Gambia, FoodSpace has spent the past decade proving that thoughtful food systems built around people, place and produce can createlasting change far beyond the plate.Gráinne Carberry and chef Conor Spacey

INSPO WOMANSWAY.IE 91practical training in cookery, hospitality and sustainable agriculture, while an on-site café will give young people hands-on experience in customer service and food preparation.LOCAL SUPPORTThe wider impact of the project is already becoming apparent. During a recent visit, partners encountered one local school operating two shifts daily to accommodate 1,745 students because of overcrowding. In response, the team purchased 1,745 pencils and 1,745 exercise books – one for every child. At a nearby maternity health centre, donated computers are now being used to digitise patient records for the fi rst time.At the heart of it all is the belief that food can become a catalyst for something much bigger than simply feeding people.“The ethos travels because it starts with respect,” says Spacey. “Respect for ingredients, for people and for place. Whether that is in Ireland or in The Gambia, the principle is the same.”As FoodSpace marks its tenth year in business, its story feels increasingly relevant in a world searching for more sustainable ways to live and work. The company’s success suggests that perhaps the future of food does not need radical reinvention after all. Perhaps it simply requires slowing down, respecting seasons, valuing people properly and rediscovering the connection between food, community and place that many societies once understood instinctively. WWVisit food-space.ieIn partnership with Waste to Wonder Worldwide, Apleona and a wider network of collaborators, FoodSpace is helping to develop a Sustainable Cookery School in The Gambia – a project that is rooted in long-term community investment – and the foundations are already in place. More than 3,000 bricks have been laid and a solar-powered borewell now supplies clean water not only to the school but to the surrounding community. When complete, the centre will provide a natural understanding of seasonality and produce into the workplace. Staff retention is unusually high in an industry not always known for longevity and many client relationships have lasted for years.The food itself refl ects a deceptively simple philosophy: work with what is in season, use local produce wherever possible and waste as little as humanly possible. Menus lean heavily into vegetables, legumes, grains and carefully sourced Irish proteins, proving that sustainability does not require sacrifi ce.“Building a better plate starts with better choices,” says Culinary Director Conor Spacey. “Seasonal vegetables, whole ingredients, less waste. These are not big gestures. They are small decisions made consistently. That is where the difference lies.”There is also something about the company’s refusal to criticise the wider catering industry while still offering a clear alternative. FoodSpace has grown not through noise, but through consistency.Now that philosophy is stretching far beyond Ireland.Volunteers Carly, Eileen and Gráinne at a school taking writing materials to them. That school has 2,000 studentsThe foundation being laid for the new cookery school, a project in partnership with Waste to Wonder, due to open in February 2027 “At a maternity hospital, donated computers are being used to digitise patient records for the first time”

FAMILY92 WOMANSWAY.IET here’s no perfect way to raise children. But if you’re despairing because of unruly kids, adopting some Japanese parenting methods could be the way to go.Japanese parenting emphasises unconditional love, community, and harmony with nature, as a way to nurture well-behaved, respectful and creative children, explains author Lisa Katayama, who used Japanese methods to bring up her own two children after moving from Tokyo to America. And now she’s shared the core principles involved with Japanese child-rearing in her new book, The Japanese Way of Parenting.She says: “As a fi rst-time parent, I felt a need to fi nd more calm, more connection to self, more order in the sea of chaos I could have easily drowned in.”She says she drew on her experience of growing up in Japan to write the book, and explains: “There’s no onesize-fi ts-all approach to parenting, but I believe some core Japanese principles – like respect, community, and mindfulness – translate beautifully into daily family life.”Here are 10 of Katayama’s most practical parenting tips to try at home…1 GREET OTHERS PLEASANTLY AND POLITELYKatayama says that in Japan, even small children are greeted warmly. Raise Kinder Kids the Japanese WayLisa KatayamaFrom teaching children mindfulness and empathy to encouraging independence, gratitude and respect for others, Japanese parenting principles are gaining global attention for creating calmer, more connected family life.Lisa Salmon, Press AssociationRaising kids the Japanese wayShe says: “When I drop my kids off at day care, their teachers greet them with ‘Ohayo gozaimasu’ – good morning.“Parents exchange the same greeting. When everyone around you behaves this way, you quickly learn that politely acknowledging others is simply what people do.”She suggests that instead of being on autopilot, parents should model warm, genuine greetings, explaining: “This teaches kids that the world around them is worth acknowledging. It costs nothing, and just one warm greeting can make someone’s entire day.”2 TEACH KIDS TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVESMost parents know it’s faster to clean up after their kids than to wait for them to do it themselves – but this habit has a cost, Katayama warns. “Kids quickly start to expect it, parents grow resentful, and the unspoken message that someone else will always sort out your mess isn’t one most of us intend to send.“Teaching children they’re responsible for the wellbeing of their environment is a life lesson worth the short-term effort.”And she points out that you can

WOMANSWAY.IE 93FAMILYmake kids cleaning up more fun by playing a clean-up song, setting a timer, or giving a toddler a real cleaning tool rather than a toy one. “The goal isn’t a spotless home, it’s kids who understand they’re active participants in making a household function,” she explains.3 BELIEVE EVERYTHING HAS A SPIRITThe Japanese are animists, believing everything has a spirit, even laptops and kitchen knives, and Katayama asks: “What if your kids thought about whether their belongings were being treated well? Are their books shelved neatly? Are their clothes given room to breathe in a drawer, or stuffed in and forgotten?“When children are encouraged to think this way, they begin treating their things, and eventually other people and the natural world, with more care and intentionality.”4 THINK ABOUT EVERYONE’S FEELINGS, NOT JUST YOUR OWNOne of the values most deeply embedded in Japanese culture is a collective awareness – considering how your actions affect the people around you, says Katayama.Japanese schools regularly hold sessions where students discuss how their choices make others feel, but she points out: “Bringing this practice home doesn’t require a formal curriculum. It can be as simple as pausing after a confl ict and asking your child: ‘How do you think that made them feel?’“Over time, this habit of perspective-taking builds genuine empathy – not just the ability to say sorry, but to actually understand what someone else is going through.”5 LEARN THE ART OF SAYING ‘DOUZO!’The Japanese word douzo is roughly equivalent to ‘here you go’ in English, but it carries more meaning, says Katayama. “It’s a small word that encodes a big idea – that offering something to someone else feels good, and relinquishing your grip on something you want can be its own reward.”She suggests using it the next time two kids are battling over the same toy.6 KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SHOESRemoving shoes at the door is a well-known Lisa Salmon, Press Associationaspect of Japanese home life, and one of the easiest to adopt in Western homes, says Katayama, who suggests keeping a doormat or rack near the entrance so everyone can leave their shoes there.“It keeps the home cleaner, and creates a small but meaningful ritual, a moment of transition between the outside world and the calm of home,” she says.7 DO ONE THING AT A TIME, MINDFULLYKatayama says many mums and dads “parent at a sprint”, and points out: “This pace isn’t just exhausting for adults, it creates a distracted, fragmented environment for children who are still learning how to focus and regulate themselves.“The concept of doing one thing at a time with full attention is foundational to Zen Buddhism and deeply woven into daily Japanese life – from the careful preparation of a bowl of matcha, to the way a meal is assembled and presented.“This kind of mindful focus, modelled consistently, gives children permission to slow down and do the same, and will help them to more easily pay attention.”8 GREET YOUR FOODBefore eating, Japanese children say Itadakimasu – a phrase that Katayama says has no perfect English equivalent, but expresses gratitude for the food, and for everyone who helped bring it to the table.“Whether your family adopts this phrase, says grace, does a moment of silence, or simply takes a collective breath before the fi rst bite, a small mealtime ritual does something valuable – it slows things down, builds appreciation for something that’s easy to take for granted, and gives kids a signal that the meal, and the people around the table, deserve their full attention,” says Katayama.9 TAKE LESS THAN YOUR SHAREEnryo is a Japanese concept of restraint – the practice of holding back out of consideration for others. Katayama says that at a shared meal, Japanese diners will often leave the last piece on a plate untouched, out of respect for everyone else at the table.“It’s a small act,” she says, “but it signals something larger: that your own desires don’t automatically take precedence over someone else’s comfort.”She points out that this is a powerful concept to introduce to children, who are naturally inclined to take what they want, and suggests framing it as a challenge – ‘Who can show the most enryo?’.“Over time, this teaches kids that restraint can be its own kind of strength,” she says.˙10 FIND A SENSE OF PEACEAfter the second world war, Japan adopted pacifi sm as a core national value, and over generations, that commitment worked its way into Japanese culture, explains Katayama.She says parents have to fi nd their own sense of peace, and explains: “It’s not about being placid, but about consciously choosing a calm and grounded way. The more you practice, the more that peace becomes contagious – and the more it shapes the kind of people you’re building together.” WWTeach children to clean up after themselvesThe Japanese Way of Parenting by Lisa Katayama is published in hardback by Workman.

OPINION94 WOMANSWAY.IEBy Grumpy Old Woman WHYis this a thing? OIL DEPENDENCYIn 2022, the war on Ukraine saw energy prices soar and the Irish government’s response was the universal electricity credit. Fair enough, it was a short-term solution to a sudden and unforeseen crisis. But instead of addressing the exposure revealed, nothing has been done. The war in Iran has caused another wholesale energy price and supply crisis and we are feckered once more. Spain was badly affected by the Ukraine war energy crisis of 2022 and electricity costs reached an all-time high. Their government responded by accelerating an already growing renewable push so that electricity costs dropped by 50 per cent and now 65 per cent of their electricity comes from renewables. Although not immune to energy price shocks, Spain is much insulated from them with the added bonus that its power sector emissions have fallen by more than two thirds over the last two decades.Meanwhile, Electric Ireland is to raise energy prices for residential customers from July 1- electricity by 8% with gas prices rising by 7.7%. Prior to that we were already paying 40 per cent over the EU average and have the highest domestic electricity costs in Europe. According to a 2026 ESRI report, 14 per cent of Irish households, one in seven families, are unable to afford adequate warmth or pay their energy bills in full. This is not only bad management, abominable planning and plain stupid, it’s criminal. The ESRI calculated that lifting every fuelpoor household out of energy poverty would cost roughly €370 million a year. Instead, in 2024, the State spent €575 million on universal electricity credit. And, because no lessons were learned, they’re looking at having to do it again. The abject failure to think big or to think long term ends up being far more expensive, in human, eco and fi scal terms than thoughtful investment. In Ireland only the already well off can afford to pay for long-term signifi cant energy savings like solar panels or an electric car. “Although not immune to energy price shocks, Spain is much insulated from them”While limited insulation upgrades are available at no cost to owner-occupiers in receipt of specifi c social welfare payments, there is nothing for many of the people who would benefi t most. There is simply nothing inevitable about this. Countries with far fewer resources than Ireland have cracked it. In China the government built village-level solar arrays in its poorest communities and structured the scheme so that impoverished families received direct income from electricity sold to the national grid. In six years the programme had installed 26 gigawatts of capacity, benefi ting over four million of the country's most destitute households, raising their per capita disposable income by 8 per cent. Clean energy, poverty reduction, and grid contribution — all at once, and not a cent in upfront cost required from the benefi ciaries.Ireland, a country that has run budget surpluses and collected billions in corporate tax windfalls and which provides endless examples of fi scal incontinence, does not lack the funds to make energy affordable for everyone and signifi cantly improve our carbon emissions. Is it the political will that is missing, or the ability? WW

WOMANSWAY.IE 95DON'T MISS OUTIN OUR NEXTBUMPER ISSUEChartreuse GreenIt started on the runway and now it’s being called the colour of the season (what about cerulean blue?). It’s defi nitely got a marmite vibe but if you love it, we show you how to style it.How to Look ChicWe have some simple tips and tricks to seriously upgrade your look, without spending huge amounts of money.Tackling DeathComedian Dawn French on why she decided to tackle the controversial issue of ‘end of life’ decisions in her latest novel.High-Fibre HeroesTV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall talks about how to get more fi bre in your diet. And we have three of his delicious recipes to share.Organic RosesDo you reach for pesticide the moment you spot an aphid on your budding blooms? We ask the experts for tips to deal with pests on your roses organically.Plus Streaming picks, book and movie reviews, crafting, gardening tips, health and well being advice, celebrity interviews, beauty updates and so much more…HITTING THE NEWS STANDS ON JUNE 22The Leaving Cert is nearly over, the primary kids are getting demob happy and summer has offi cially begun. It’s time to get outside and enjoy every last ounce of sunshine (with sun protection of course!). In our next bumper issue, we celebrate the great outdoors in all its guises.Don’t miss it!OUR OUTDOOR LIVING Special Ifi ue

Enjoy a healthier lifestyle with more nutritious mealsBeko’s HarvestFresh™ fridge freezers use innovative 3 colour light technology in the crisper drawer to cleverly mimic the 24-hour sun cycle, preserving vitamins in fruits and vegetables for longer.**†Feefo impartial owner reviews, last 12 months.*T’s & C’s apply.**Tested by Intertek. Based on Vitamin C and Vitamin A measurements in tomatoes, green peppers, carrots, spinach and celery directly exposed to the light technology compared with Day 0 conditions over a 5-day period.Beko appliances are recommended by 90%of our customers.†90%Enjoy a healthier life with Harvestfresh™Inspired by Nature, Powered by Light.™Terms and conditions apply *FREEYEARBeko Parts& 2 Year LabourGuarantee*beko.ie1654 Beko HarvestFresh Advert 207x280mm_v4.indd 1 08/09/2025 09:13