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Published by Harmonia Norah, 2019-11-08 06:59:48

WW45 2019

Woman's weekly magazine

Woman’s Way
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Winter warmers
e Hairy Bikers, Si and Dave, have hit the recipe jackpot once again

Chorizo and red peppers give this cod dish a nice Spanish
flavour. Again, this is a really easy way of cooking fish and
there’s plenty of delicious veg.

Cod with 2 tbsp tomato purée spoon. If there’s a lot of fat › Cover the pan and
chorizo and 400g can of white beans
white beans (preferably cannellini), drained in the pan, spoon off all but leave to simmer until
and rinsed
Serves 4 4 cod loin steaks, skinned › about 2 tablespoons. the vegetables are just
You will need Salt and black pepper Add the red onion, red
1 tbsp olive oil tender. Put the chorizo
150g cooking chorizo, thinly To serve
sliced Chopped parsley (optional) pepper and cabbage and back in the pan. Season
1 red onion, thinly sliced Lemon wedges
1 red pepper, sliced cook them over a medium the cod steaks with salt
250g white cabbage, Method
shredded heat until they have started and pepper and place
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped › Heat the olive oil in a large
1 tsp dried thyme to soften, then add the them on top of the beans
200ml red wine sauté pan or frying pan with
a lid. Add the chorizo and garlic and thyme. Cook and veg. Cover the
brown it quickly on all sides,
then remove it with a slotted for a further 2–3 minutes, pan and leave to steam

then turn up the heat and very gently for about 15

pour in the wine. Leave it minutes or until the cod

to bubble and reduce for a › has just cooked through.
Serve sprinkled with
couple of minutes, then stir

in the tomato purée, beans parsley, if using, with

and about 250ml of water. lemon wedges on the side

Season with salt and pepper. for squeezing over.

52 WOMANSWAY.IE

RECIPES

Ratanerddtebotenaeitotirnnoot be the size of the edges, a little big. Bake for 20–25 Who says a tarte tatin is
just for pudding? With their
Serves 4 rather than the base, and minutes until the pastry is rich sweet flavours, beets
You will need and red onions make good
1 x 320g all-butter puff pastry larger rather than smaller. puffed up. Remove the tart partners and they’re lovely
sheet in a buttery tarte tatin – or
30g butter Chill the pastry until you from the oven and leave to upside down tart if you
2 red onions, sliced into thin prefer. We use those packs
wedges are ready to cook the tarte stand for 10 minutes, then of cooked beetroot which
1 tbsp light soft brown sugar makes this little treat very
1 tbsp sherry vinegar › tatin. butter in the pan. › invert it on to a large plate. easy to prepare.
large thyme sprig, leaves only Heat the Sprinkle with more thyme
400g cooked beetroots, cut into
wedges (vac-packed are fine) When it has melted, add leaves, cut into wedges,
Salt and black pepper
the red onions and cook and add a slice of cheese to
To serve
Thyme leaves over a medium to low heat each slice, if using.
A few slices of goats’ cheese
(optional) until they have started to

Method soften. Turn up the heat a

› Preheat the oven to 200°C/ little and add the sugar and

Fan 180°C/Gas Mark 6. Take vinegar. Stir to dissolve
the sheet of pastry and
cut it to fit an ovenproof the sugar – a caramel-like
or cast-iron frying pan
with a diameter of about sauce will form around the
20cm. The pastry should
› onions. in the thyme,
Sprinkle

then add the wedges of

beetroot. Season with

plenty of salt and pepper,

then stir to coat the

beetroots with the buttery

sauce. Make sure the

beetroots are spread evenly

across the pan in a single

layer, then turn off the

heat. Leave to cool to room

› temperature. and
Cover the onions

beetroots with the pastry,

tucking in the edges if it is

Boozy 1 tbsp brandy (optional) › leave to chill. syllabub.
syllabub trifle Zest of 1 lemon, plus extra to Now finish the
garnish
2 tbsp caster sugar Whip the cream until
400ml whipping cream
Serves 6 it reaches the soft peak
You will need
1 packet of trifle sponges or stage, then stir in the
fingers
2–3 tbsp raspberry jam Method sherry mixture and whisk
100ml sweet sherry or marsala
150g amaretti biscuits › First start the syllabub. again to combine. Spoon
500g raspberries
1 large pot of custard this over the trifle, then
50g toasted flaked almonds
Put the sweet sherry or sprinkle over the toasted

marsala in a bowl with almonds and some extra
lemon zest. WW
the brandy, if using, the

lemon zest and caster

sugar. Stir until the sugar

has dissolved. Leave this to

For the syllabub stand for at least the time it
50ml sweet sherry or marsala
takes to assemble the trifle,

but for several hours if you

› are able to prepare ahead.
To assemble the trifle,

Everyone loves a trifle. first spread half the trifle
This pudding looks very
posh but it’s really just an sponges or fingers with
assembly job. You have
to mix the syllabub, but the raspberry jam and
the rest of the work is just
piling things into a bowl. arrange them in the base
Not too hard really when
you think of the treat you of a trifle bowl. Pour over
have in store.
the sherry and top with the The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders by
Si King and Dave Myers (Seven Dials,
amaretti biscuits, followed €24.99) is available now. Photography
by Andrew Hayes-Watkins.
by the raspberries. Spoon

the custard over the

raspberries, then cover and

WOMANSWAY.IE 53

Food newsYum!

M&S’ new range of
sourdough bagels are things we want right
now. The bread lovers among us – and there are a
few – have said these have a chewy crust with delicious
flavourings and our bagel buddies know what they are
talking about. The product development team travelled
to the USA in search of the best recipe and we think the
cinnamon & raisin bagels (€2 for four) are absolutely
perfect! But the others are just as delicious.

Crisps! SIÚCRA X CATHERINEPringlesPiriPiri
FULVIO’S FRENCH ONIONChicken flavour
SOUP WITH CHEESYHallelujah! Inspired by
crisps have arrived.

DUMPLINGSa leading Portuguese
A HUG INBBQ chicken
SFOuRpTeHrEVaWlIu anewtastemarinade sauce,

A BOWL!the flavour is
Serves 4
Ingredients

N adventure for For the soup

3 tbsp butter dumplings, place the

Congratulations to snackers. It joins 1 tbsp rapeseed oil flour, oil, salt, thyme
SuperValu for being the other key 600g onions, finely sliced
awarded 118 Blás Na flavours in the 1½ tbsp Siúcra Granulated into a bowl, add
hÉireann awards at the Pringles family. Sugar
ceremony in Dingle. Welcome home, 3 garlic cloves chopped the egg, cheese and
Forty-two of these awards Piri Piri Chicken! 2 tbsp plain flour
100ml white wine enough milk to make
1 litre good quality beef stock
soft dough. Shape

the dumpling into

come from SuperValu’s Three of the best… walnut size pieces. (It’s
own range of products,
YOUR important to make

TEA TOWELSWEEKLYwith the brand’s Food For the dumplings small ones so that
Academy producers
ROUND-UP winning 76 awards, 120g self-raising flour they cook in time).
OF FOODIEwhich recognise the
TIPS AND very best in Irish food 3 tbsp oil You’ll need three per
and drink.
Get booking!NEWSFor more log on to ½ tsp salt soup bowl, so use the
www.supervalu.ie
Folk doves 1 tsp chopped thyme leftover mix to form
€6.95 from
Rex London 1 egg, beaten more small dumplings

70g Gruyère cheese, grated and place them on a

Sheela Butterfly 3 to 4 tbsp milk › lined baking tray.
na gig €5.95 from Ladle the soup into
€10 from 12 small thin slices of
designist M&Co. Gruyère cheese 4 ovenproof soup
Sprigs of thyme, to garnish
bowls and place three

January. Some love it, some don’t. If the thought of a cold, wet first Method › dumplings into each.
Place a slice of Gruyère
month of 2020 is making you feel a bit bleurgh, why not consider › Heat the butter and oil
onto each dumpling.
booking a special school dinner at The Tannery Cookery School? in a large saucepan, add
The Tannery introduces a special January weekend stay with dinner the onions and sauté for Place these soup bowls

served on shared tables in the chic and cosy Cookery School and an 10 minutes. onto a lined roasting
overnight stay in the gorgeous Townhouse, designed to dramatically Add the Siúcra
› tray and into the hot

cheer up the month. Available on January 17 and 18, and January Granulated Sugar and oven for about 4 to 5

24 and 25, School Dinners at The Tannery are evenings designed sauté for a further 15 minutes, keeping an
exclusively for residential guests with chef Paul Flynn cooking for minutes, stirring as they
eye on them. At the

very limited numbers in the do tend to burn. same time cook the
Cookery School. The price Add the garlic, sprinkle
› › remaining dumplings.
- €150 per person sharing The dumplings should
– includes an overnight in the flour and cook for
2 minutes. Pour in the be caramelised and

stay, breakfast the following white wine and stock, of course also cooked

morning and a welcome simmer for 15 minutes. through. Garnish with
Preheat oven to 220°C/
drink on arrival. › sprigs of thyme and
For more information,
tel: 058 45420 or log onto Fan 200°C/Gas Mark 8. serve immediately
www.tannery.ie To prepare the
› with the additional

dumplings on the side.

54 WOMANSWAY.IE

SOOHCSIAOL Love your weekly
dose of fashion,
Investigate our Instagram @womans_way beauty, interiors,

Delve into the team’s love of a motivational quote and, if food, travel, health
you haven’t gotten your weekly issue, learn what’s in the and celebrities?
magazine that week. Plus, we love cake so there’s plenty of
pictures of buns and sweet treats as we try not to reach for Keep up to date with
the biscuit tin in the o ce… the Woman’s Way
team on our social
media channels

Facebook

Instagram Find us on Facebook
@womanswaymagazine
Team up with us on
Twitter @Womans_way Here you’ll get even
more competitions
From news stories than in the magazine,
to celebrity quotes to shows around the
to behind the scenes country, food, health
videos and photos of products and even the
what life really is like odd beauty bit. We
to work on Ireland’s update multiple times
best selling women’s per day to give you a
magazine, our Twitter little extra slice of WW
has it all. Make sure life.
you tweet us too!
Twit ter

Big man,JP Simpson talks about his new business
and the home that grows with you

tiny homes

JP Simpson has seen both sides I was realising that tiny living style homes encourage people treatments we use on the
of the coin when it comes to is brilliant but not always to engage with nature and woods would be plant-based
the housing market. JP, from practical; people end up having spend more time outdoors, JP and it just makes for a beautiful
Kinsale, is a carpenter by trade, kids or space becomes an issue. says they also afford people the fast build and all of them are
has ‘been building’ for two I’ve done a few tiny homes opportunity to continue having minimum A3 rated.”
decades and says that seeing the but the modular ones is where the lifestyle they want ‘without
different styles of homes he has we’re taking the company.” having a €300,000 mortgage.’ Offering a 20-year guarantee
been involved in the creation on the ‘structure and the
of over the years helped him JP hopes his modular “They have a very nice, fairly exterior’ of the homes, the
to realise what ‘people actually construction design will be fancy, top of the range home ethos of the company is to “get
need and don’t need.’ the way forward as it is allows but [they are] not chained to it people into a house, into their
potential buyers the freedom for the next 10 years.” own home,” JP explains.
“I think there is a huge shift to own their own house in
in movement especially in the a shorter amount of time Provided a potential buyer Over the course of their
States, Australia and in New and leaves them in a more or buyers have planning launch weekend in July, 1,500
Zealand towards downsizing. comfortable financial position. permission, from the time people viewed the modular
You don’t need 10 pots and 10 they sign their contract with system home in two days and
pans; three pots and three pans “Basically [if] a couple wants JP’s company to the time their the reaction was exciting.
will do you. I think people’s a 1,200 sq ft house but they new home is delivered, it takes
way of living has changed from can’t afford it, we design you between three to four months. “The vast majority of people
our parent’s generation, there’s a 1,200 sq ft house but then are in two groups; it’s young
a lot more travel,” he says. we build you a 600 sq ft home “We would build all the units people trying to start off and
which you can afford. inside a workshop, then drop just can’t afford it, but they
“People want to be out doing them to site finished, connect can afford the smaller unit and
things instead of just being in “Then in five years or 10 them together. We would be then expand. Or older people,
the home the whole time.” years’ time when the funds one week on site and then you parents who are downsizing,
become available or you have have a house to move into.” who want an easier house to
These lifestyle changes, kids or whatever, you add live in with less maintenance.
coupled with the often- it on like fancy Lego. Click With the exception of some
unattainable cost of purchasing on the next module or two of the cedar timber cladding “People in urban areas say,
a home, is what led JP to devise modules to bring you up to the that comes from Vancouver, Big ‘We do actually have a nice
Big Man Tiny Homes - a new size you need. All your wiring Man Tiny Homes is all Irish. size garden, can we put a unit
avenue for his already existing and plumbing and everything in for our child?’ The beauty
building company, which will is ready to go because it’s “That’s only because we of our system is, we could get
go into production in 2020. designed that way from day don’t have any here but it’s planning to the back of your
one, so we would have the new all FSC [Forest Stewardship garden and put a one module
“I had been kind of cabin extension attached to your Council] approved,” JP says of unit in there so young people
living and tiny living for about house in three days.” the cedar wood. “Everything, are saving their money and
15 years. Through that and as much as possible, is when they get a site, we then
through the market research Not only do these modular environmentally friendly and can actually pick up that unit,
ecological, so all the oils and take it to their site and attach it
to the rest of the house as they
have designed it. We don’t do Michelle Newman
a five-year [guarantee] knock
it down after 10 years kind
of structure, this is a lifetime
house.” WW

Bigmantinyhomes.ie

56 WOMANSWAY.IE

TAKE 10… Brandon double bed frame INTERIORS
with storage drawer €499
space saving storage
ideas for big and from Harvey Norman
small places
Corner storage unit
Jumbo storage bag €4.95 €70 from Argos
from Rex Ireland
Arlo storage jars Tropical storage box €14.99 Wire wall shelving
€6 from Next from Homesense €31 from Argos

Multi storage drawer unit Bedside drawer €119 from
€37.50 by MW by Matthew Michael Murphy Home Furnishing
Williamson @ Debenhams

Leather magazine
basket €91
from Amara

Bamboo food storage
boxes €12.95 from

Rex Ireland

Partner Promotion

HOME from HOME
Woman’s Way visited Ireland’s most anticipated holiday park

e Irish staycation has the television. “Trying a
a lot to compete with: e small boy is now weekend break
seaside holidays in sunny seemed like the
resorts with pools, a tween and activity way to restore my
beaches and waterparks breaks are something I faith in a holiday
to entertain, well-priced find myself googling in
restaurants and bars and an effort to find a holiday at home”
the excitement of visiting that will keep everyone
somewhere new. Our last happy. e Center Parcs
holiday at home was eight opening in Longford
years ago. We had just ticked my boxes, with
bought a house and could words like forest lodge, spa
stretch to a July week and restaurant while he
in Sligo and Westport. loved the idea of the water
It rained for four days park and aerial adventure.
out of five. We spent a Trying a weekend break,
fortune on cinemas, at the invitation of
indoor pools and leisure Woman’s Way, seemed like
centres to keep the small the ideal way to restore my
boy entertained. Staff at faith in a holiday at home.
the two hotels we stayed
in offered little in the way e weather was
of recommendations for certainly on board as
local restaurants or places we drove in blistering
to visit. All told, it was a sunshine towards
disappointing experience Longford, showcasing
and one I wasn’t keen Ireland in all its beauty.
to repeat. Until the We stopped in Belly
advertisements for Center Cafe in Mullingar for a
Parcs began showing on delicious lunch – highly
recommend – which is just
15 minutes or so from the

58 WOMANSWAY.IE

TRAVEL FEATURE

resort, worth keeping in mind The Village Square is the TOP TIPS but it wasn’t available, which
if you are staying in Center heart of the park, housing › Book your activities was a disappointment.
Parcs for a week or so. the restaurants, cafe, shops, and restaurants well in
sports plaza, with a host of advance – they fill up Saturday’s activity was
Check in was quick and indoor activities, and the quickly. laser combat, (paintball
painless: it’s drive through Subtropical Swimming › There is a takeaway without the paint) something
and when you hand over Paradise. This indoor service available from all I hadn’t tried before, although
your reservation number, waterpark – heated to over 29 of the parc’s restaurants. the tween wasn’t as keen:
you receive ‘smart’ bracelets degrees all year round – was › Do a grocery shop before leisure centres with broken
for all guests that open your first on our agenda. There’s a you go. equipment had turned him off
lodges as well as lockers wave pool, slides, lazy river the idea. It’s a group activity
in the activity areas like and rapids (my favourite!), It’s an informal restaurant and we lined up to get our
the subtropical swimming as well as a water play area serving family favourites bucket hats fitted with sensors
paradise. for smaller children. The like burgers, steaks and ribs and laser guns. The combat
selection of activities around with a children’s play area zone has forts, trucks and
The lodges are nicely the pool area is fantastic, from to keep them busy while you huts to hide behind and our
designed and well-appointed. snorkelling and mermaid finish your meal in peace. A two instructors divided us
The open-plan living, dining lessons to mini jet skis. clever idea is the kid-height into two teams and talked
and kitchen area has all The tween had a fab time buffet station with the usual us through the rules of
the mod cons needed for a trying aqua jetting, a mini suspects: chips, goujons and engagement, and we were off.
short or long stay: a decent- submersible, shooting around sausages. My fajitas were It was so much fun: the best
sized TV with a selection of underwater James Bond style. seriously tasty and I was part of two hours running
channels, a fridge, oven, hob keen to try the homemade around, firing guns, hollering
and dishwasher with lots of After all that activity, it watermelon-mint lemonade
cupboard space. Our lodge was time for sustenance at new-found friends, adults
had two twin bedrooms, one and dinner was in Huck’s and kids alike. And the tween
with an en-suite toilet, and American Bar and Grill. loved it.
a family bathroom. A small
outdoor patio space with With an hour or two to
barbecue is a nice touch, and spare in the afternoon, I
disposable barbecues are on cycled to Aqua Sana, the
sale in the village shop. It’s a park’s stunning spa with
car-free resort and after you no less than 21 hot, cold
settle in to your lodge, you and meditative experiences
have to drop your vehicle to including outdoor hot tubs,
the car park for the duration reflexology foot spas, a lava
of your stay. We headed for sauna and volcanic steam
the Cycle Centre where there room. There are a number of
is a fantastic selection of bikes restful rooms too with water
available for hire, from adult beds and heated loungers. It
and junior mountain bikes was heavenly. WW
to tandems and trailers. You
can also bring your own and A visit to Centre Parcs solves
there are bike parking areas many of the staycation issues:
throughout the park. a variety of activities, indoors
and out, a range of eating
By Tara Corristine options on your doorstep
and comfy, cosy beds. See
www.centerparcs.ie for more
information

WOMANSWAY.IE 59

Travel newsCthherAisltgmaarvsein TTIEMNE EORUITFIEN

Make it a Christmas to remember with Soak up the sun on
this seven-night trip from the Travel Christmas morning in
Department. On Christmas Eve, enjoy a Tenerife. You can enjoy
festive dinner at your hotel before spending seven nights at the
Christmas Day at your leisure. As part of this Globales Tamaimo Tropical
holiday you’ll get to enjoy a guided tour of Hotel in Puerto de Santiago
Seville, a trip to the historic town of Silves on a self-catering basis
and a full-day excursion that includes a visit from €719pps. Flights
to Lagos. There’ll also be plenty of time to depart from Dublin airport
relax, unwind and enjoy the festive season on December 20.
in the sunshine. Prices start from €679pps For details call 1850
and include flights, four or five-star hotel 453 545 or log on to
accommodation on a half-board basis, www.tuiholidays.ie
transfers and excursions with expert local
guides. Flights depart on December 19. Find your
For details call 01 637 1600 or log on to festive spirit
www.traveldepartment.ie
Before the hectic pace of
Lovely Limerick festive season kicks in, why
not steal away for a night
Spend two nights at the four-star Limerick Strand Hotel this Christmas. Arrive and enjoy a stay at Faithlegg?
on Christmas Eve to a Christmas hamper before enjoying dinner in the River You can enjoy an overnight
Restaurant followed by live entertainment. Guests travelling with children will stay and a full Irish breakfast
receive the all-important milk, cookies and carrot in their bedroom for Santa the following morning
and Rudolph. On Christmas morning, wake up to a Bucks Fizz breakfast, then from €55pps. This offer is
enjoy a five-course Christmas Lunch. Christmas High Tea will be served in available when the Winterval
the Terrace Bar later that evening. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking in Waterford City opens its
out on Stephen’s Day. This package is doors from November 23.
available from €399pps. Winterval celebrates the
For details call 061 421800 or log on to winter season and visitors
www.strandlimerick.ie will be able to get into the
Christmas spirit by posting
Christmas Off to market letters to Santa, ice skating,
Preview browsing the Christmas
Soak up the festive atmosphere of markets and catching
Travel Special Cologne’s Christmas markets with the unique light show at
this city break. Spend three nights Cathedral Square.
CHRISTMAS AT THE CONRAD in the three-star Centro Hotel For more information log on
Kommerz in Cologne, Germany, on to www.faithlegg.com
Enjoy a two-night stay at the Conrad Dublin this Christmas. a room only basis from €199pps.
Arrive on Christmas Eve to a traditional welcome of Flights depart from Dublin airport
mulled wine and mince pies before enjoying some festive for travel in December.
gourmandises at Lemuel’s that evening. On Christmas
morning, take a hearty breakfast before the main event of For details call 01 539 7777 or log on
Christmas Day lunch at the Coburg where Santa himself is to www.clickandgo.com
due to stop by for little ones. Each child will receive a bespoke
gift and Santa will be providing some festive fun and games.
This package is available from €575pps. A supplement applies
for children under 12 years of age sharing a parent’s room.
For full details call 01 602 8900 or log on to
www.conradhotels.com

60 WOMANSWAY.IE

All the trimmings HOME & AWAY

The two-night Christmas package at Fitzpatrick Castle SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Hotel is sure to delight. Arrive on Christmas Eve to carol
singing, mulled wine and mince pies, followed by dinner in Now here’s a clever idea. Get your Christmas shopping done and
PJ’s Restaurant. After breakfast on Christmas Day, enjoy a dusted and then head to Killashee Hotel and enjoy an overnight
champagne reception followed by Christmas Day lunch with stay with breakfast the following morning and a three-course
all the trimmings. This package is available from €510pp and a evening meal in The Bistro from €105pps. This package also
three-night package is also available from €630pps. includes a 10 per cent discount card for the nearby Kildare Village
For details call 01 230 5558 or email: [email protected] and Newbridge Silverwear. You’ll also be able to avail of a 20 per
cent discount on all 55-minute spa
treatments at the Killashee Spa
and a 10 per cent discount on all
25-minute spa treatments.

For details call 045 879 277 or log
on to www.killasheehotel.com

Pop the bubbly
Now here’s the perfect Christmas present for that someone special

in your life. Enjoy an overnight stay in the stunning champagne

suite at Wineport Lodge, a romantic dinner for two followed by a

lazy breakfast in bed the following

morning. This package also includes

RFIOTYFAOLRTY DERSCEAAPME a bath basket, handmade chocolates
and a half-bottle of champagne
in your room on arrival. The
‘champagne suite experience’ is
available from €500.
For details call 090 643 9010 or log

Make it a Christmas to remember with on to www.wineport.ie

this four-night festive package from Pure luxury

Lough Eske Castle Hotel in Donegal. Spend your Christmas in the
luxurious surroundings of the five-
Arrive on December 23 and get a good night’s sleep and star Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa
in Co Wicklow. Arrive for a two-night
on Christmas Eve enjoy a three-course dinner and mulled stay on Christmas Eve and receive
mulled wine and mince pies for the
wine and mince pie reception. On Christmas Day guests adults and carrots and reindeer dust
for little ones before enjoying a special
will wake up to a full Irish breakfast and in the afternoon Christmas Eve dining experience. On
Christmas morning enjoy breakfast
celebrate with a glass of sparkling wine followed by a followed by a four-course Christmas
Day lunch along with a special gift
Christmas Day buffet lunch. Christmas night supper will and visit from Santa Claus. Packages
start from €749pp based on two
be served that evening and you can finish off the day with adults sharing.
For more information call
live music. On Stephen’s day there’ll be a morning festive

brunch followed by a gala evening in the hotel’s ballroom

that night. This package is available from €830pps.
For details call 074 972 5100 or log on to

www.lougheskecastlehotel.com SSEAENKITNAG

Shannon Heritage has
just announced that
Santa Claus will be

returning to Bunratty 01 274 8888 or log on to

Castle and Folk Park again www.powerscourthotel.com

this festive season. The Christmas Experience

at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will be Go all-in
running from November 22 to December

By Amy Wall PERFECT PRAGUE 23 and during this time, you can visit the Spend seven nights at
man himself in his famous grotto. New for the SuneoClub HSA El
Take in Prague’s famous Christmas markets Christmas 2019 will be the addition of a fun Trebol hotel in Costa
house experience. The ice rink will be back Tequise, Lanzarote, on
and spend three nights at the four-star this year, as will Mrs Claus and the Golden an all-inclusive basis
Vale cottage. The hugely popular ‘Breakfast from €979pps. Flights
Angelo By Vienna House in Prague on a bed with Santa’ event will also return on selected depart from Dublin airport on
weekends in November and December. December 23.
and breakfast basis from €182pps. Flights For more information log on to For details call 1850 453 545 or
www.bunrattycastle.ie log on to www.tuiholidays.ie
depart from Dublin airport on December 13.
For details call 01 8047 100 or log on to
www.abbeytravel.ie

WOMANSWAY.IE 61

50 OVER 50

A decade of firsts

In her own words author Julia Roberts talks
about the importance of trying new things

I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I believe will happily do 40 or 50 lengths of a What He Did, is out now. It was quite a
age is all in the mind and my mind reasonably sized pool. tight schedule over the summer to get
still seems to think I’m in my 40s. the second book finished and edited, the
Unfortunately, my body doesn’t always My favourite is backstroke which third book in the series plotted, along
agree. In fairness, my body has had one is great for the upper arms and I like with planning our wedding and working
or two health issues to deal with in the breaststroke too, but I’m not so keen full-time at QVC, but I like to keep busy –
13 years since I reached my half century, on front crawl. something else which is important as we
which have prevented me from doing age. at feeling of still being useful and
as much fitness as I used to, but I’m still Diet also has a major role to play as I contributing is essential.
pretty active. I think exercise is not get older. I don’t mean going on a diet
merely beneficial for physical health to lose weight, although my husband It’s not just in my work life that I like
but also mental wellbeing. Whenever and I did do that before our recent to try new things. On my 60th birthday
I’m seriously stressed I head for the wedding and I have to say we both felt I went jet-skiing while on holiday in
little wooden cabin at the bottom of our better for it. We’ve both been vegetarian Spain, while for my 61st it was zip-
garden, which houses several pieces of for the past 34 years so naturally have a lot wiring for the first time on the seafront
gym equipment, and work up a sweat! of fruit and vegetables in our diet, but I’m in Brighton. I topped both of those by
not fanatical about healthy eating. going parasailing, a long-held ambition
I have a treadmill, rowing machine of mine, the day after our beach
and air-walker, but my favourite piece I actually believe that a little of what you wedding in Mauritius this past summer,
of equipment has to be my Pilates fancy does you good – pizza, chocolate, and the wedding itself was a first for me
machine, a home version of the Pilates chips and cake… I eat them all, just not after living with my partner for 41 years.
Reformer machines you may have seen every day and I keep an eye on portion
in a gym. I’ve been a fan of Pilates for size. When we were dieting recently, As I mentioned earlier, my health
around 20 years – it keeps you strong the only thing I really missed was bread, has thrown me a couple of curve balls
and supple, two key things in the fight while the hardest thing for my husband in recent years. I was diagnosed with
against ageing prematurely. I also love was not drinking wine. chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2012 but
to swim, particularly on holiday, and am currently free of medication after
I don’t drink much alcohol and also five years of oral chemotherapy drugs.
steer clear of sugary fizzy drinks. I I also now have signs of post-polio
actually love water, which is fortunate, as syndrome having survived paralytic
it is really good for the skin. polio as a baby. I have always said I
would never have Botox injections, but
While on the subject of skin, I’m very I now need to have one in my calf to
fortunate to work at QVC, the UK’s relax and lengthen one of the muscles,
biggest shopping channel where I’ve been followed by physiotherapy sessions and
a presenter for the past 26 years. I have an operation in early 2020.
access to some of the most effective anti-
ageing products and expert advice from While my body may not be quite as
our on-air guests. I never skip taking able as it used to be, it doesn’t stop me
my make-up off at night and always from living life to the full as long as I
moisturise my face and body after a bath keep a positive mental attitude. WW
or shower. So far, I’ve managed to stave
off the wrinkles but, to be honest, it’s not What He Did by Julia
just good skincare habits, genes play a Roberts (Bookouture) is
part too. My mum is 93 and could easily available now
pass for 20 years younger.

Another way to feel positive about ageing
is to keep trying new things. From the age of
10, when I won second prize in a short story
writing competition, I had always wanted
to write a novel. Fast forward 49 years to
June 2015 and my dream finally came true.
I self-published my first four novels before
signing a three-book publishing deal with
my publisher, Bookouture in October last
year at the grand old age of 62. My first
novel with them, Little Girl Missing, book
one of the DCI Rachel Hart crime/thriller
series, came out in June and the second one,

62 WOMANSWAY.IE

COLOUR IN CORNER

Take a few minutes peace and quiet out of your busy day to colour in this powerful picture. As you concentrate on colouring,
expect to feel increased levels of wellbeing. We encourage you to tap into your creativity and balance your self-expressive chakras.

Image by Gulnara Sabirova | Dreamstime.com

©2017 P&G

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