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March 2, 2020 Contents On the cover Regulars
Vol.57 Issue 8
4 Julie Walters 21 Kids’ page
COVER IMAGE: 8 Mood boosting tones 26 Puzzles
Julie Walters 20 Prevent mum guilt 32 Knitting pattern
22 MasterChef judges 34 New in books
Hi there, 25 Exclusive reader offer 36 Reader fiction
We have a mixed bag of 29 Win Sunway vouchers 40 Soap gossip
articles and features this 50 10 wellness wonders 43 It’s your letters
week and that’s always my 52 Delicious recipes 44 Tarot advice
favourite, because it shows 45 Horoscopes
the breadth of what we can Pg 29 COMPETITION
offer. From asking your SWUINNWAAVYOHUOCLHIDEARYFSOR Pg 8 46 Health news
help to complete our reader €w1o5rt0h 56 Food news
survey and our sex survey btaodbhbecchwyySeeSeaaecAoooufisnutntnSouluttlnnSinumteihdbrsweanuiwnrutaerrmrwneweeaytlinaeltpwhxayayo,yasalkepyoctdtyaHyieoi.e.rsoybavonioruEEktcnuaeuwriliinxrenilios-isyndacaipnojenhnoIf,hangrlcrtooyoeygokdeifayursrsospostnosehayshsrtawoerudoifktelcotnmohlrueiihboonflritlerxiniemwerhdsen5pobdwgxbe4dtepeauy,hiaweoirdabyadoSrlsetrnetieeuiugtshlltnbdcyasienhboattuter,tyowyerlwls.stnibyeaod.htboSawia,cuoateifouysshnhyrnaiboenariy,hhdtSskofwtkehs.huoootiioynaeehinlelknnoiiyoyeddtawipDunwrrotenaaharehaguuxyydlvoyeehpbf,flecpnobdole-aklaioireuggrlnbnngwistieyhaduslousahodnhtiaoswinwbsuayddienyndiva.lt,eiloetwhleiendhhltudsediahaeregsrys.ase.t Salou 60 Home and away Pg 50
- we’d be delighted if you
considered doing both - to Celebrity Equinox Your life
an exclusive reader offer
with Cotton Traders (20 per Lake Garda Sunway 6 Kiran Millwood Hargrave
cent off once you spend €30 10 Washing clothes
and over) and of course, a tThoewfoinlloowneinogfqtuweost€io15n0: vouchers, answer 12 What’s new in beauty
lot of lovely beauty and book tCChoaemncpyoolmeutpebeotthiotekioeannsStreuymnfwaoairlym. Bhoeonslitdpoaayfgeloun4clk3in. oer?use 14 Neutral make-up
competitions, we want our Call 01 231 1800 today for the best deals and destinations on your dream holiday. www.sunway.ie 16 Unusual jobs
readers to get involved with 24 Agony advice
Woman’s Way as much as WOMANSWAY.IE 29 30 Your credit rating
possible. 37 Domhnall’s colum
WIN 38 Marita Conlon-McKenna Pg 32
We’ve interviews with 42 Self-Made
cover star Julie Walters and Pg 14 48 Minding your heart
Irish acclaimed author Marita 58 Domhnall reviews hotels
Conlon-McKenna (I’m not 62 e WW week
sure my childhood self has
quite gotten over it) as well as WELL DONE WINNERS! Pg 52
reader fiction, agony advice,
puzzles, health advice and Issue 5 (February 10)
what’s going on behind the Beauty bag Judy Kavanagh, Dublin 24
scenes in Woman’s Way HQ. Lucy Wolfe products Heidi Merman, Co Dublin;

I’m extra excited this week Margaret Moran, Dublin 9; Jackie Carroll, Co Wicklow
knowing that, in two issues Sussed 2 Cal hamper Marie Dooley, Co Kilkenny
time, we’ll be launching Bellamianta tan Anne O’Neill, Co Galway
the big event of the year - I New books Betty O’Connor, Dublin 18
hope you know what I’m Crossword Margaret Cunningham, Co Cork
talking about - so I urge you
to get your thinking caps Pg 60
on and your best words out
to nominate someone very Editor: Áine Toner Email: [email protected]
special. More on this very, Deputy Editor: Amy Wall Email: [email protected]
very soon. Staff Writer: Niamh Shields Email: [email protected]
Art Director: Karl O’Toole Email: [email protected] Designer: Áine Duffy
Have a great week from all Publisher: Norah Casey Subscriptions: [email protected]
the team.
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“I was nervous
about working
with
Meryl” “Itisan
emotional
JULIE WALTERS ON HER UPCOMING FILM, experience, in
WORKING WITH COLIN FIRTH AND WHY HER RELATIONSHIP WORKS watching it and

in making it

too”

e Secret Garden is one of the than the original but that in a crying. When our lovely house mistress, who has her
most eagerly awaited films of sense, adds to its charm. director, Lewis Gilbert, was own issues which manifest
the year and Julie Walters is talking about possible Oscar themselves in a pretty nasty
not only one of its stars but a “It has been lovingly nods I genuinely thought he way. In a sense I was reminded
big fan of the book and as well directed and written and was mad. I did meet Sean of being back at school when
as loving the story she loved those of us who were fortunate Connery at the premiere. I had we were taught by nuns. ey
her very own ‘secret garden’. enough to be involved were a crush on him as a teenager. were pretty uncompromising
charmed by the whole thing,” and I can’t say that my
“It is such a beautiful story,” said Julie. “ ere were many “My whole world could schooldays were the best. I
said Julie. “ e previous film locations in some of the most have changed at that point. I couldn’t get interested in most
portrayed the book beautifully beautiful parts of the country found an agent in Hollywood subjects and used to constantly
and I think the new version is and that reflects on the essence and loads of people urged me get into trouble for doing
as good if not better. I know of the story. It is an emotional to go there and become an impersonations of teachers.
I would say that but a lot of experience, in watching it and ‘international star’. I wouldn’t
people are waiting to see it in making it too.” make a move until I knew e secret of doing that is
and I am sure they will not be what I might be asked to do not to get caught. I did and
disappointed.” Julie Walters is no newcomer and when the scripts started to eventually I was asked to leave.
to emotional films of course. arrive I knew I had no choice
e new film is set in the It was Educating Rita that really – I had to stay in Britain! “Mrs Medlock doesn’t really
immediate post-World War brought her to everyone’s understand the situation in
Two era, a few decades later attention both on stage and on e scripts were dreadful, which she finds herself and
the big screen. total rubbish, and I thought only knows one way to handle
that if that was what I had to things and that is with strict
“For the film I played do, then forget it. I had been discipline. e little girl who
opposite Michael Caine and he offered much better quality comes to stay – Mary Lennox
was brilliant,” she recalled. opportunities here so I stayed.” – is beautifully played by Dixie
“He became a kind of mentor Egerickx and well, really the
and we have remained friends e Secret Garden is a good whole cast is quite brilliant, me
to this day. To be honest I example of what Julie means. excluded of course.”
thought I was dreadful in it.
When I first saw the film, I “It is the fourth time I have It’s different from one of
said, ‘Oh God, it’s awful. And played alongside Colin Firth
I’m awful in it.’ I went straight and he really is quality and a
to the toilets and started great choice for the film,” she
said. “I play Mrs Medlock, the

4 WOMANSWAY.IE

COVER INTERVIEW

Julie’s favourites, Mamma Mia! “ at is my home and it is that’s great because we have Her cancer diagnosis
I would do another Mamma not very secret but it is where so much to talk about all the
I am not an actress but a very time, catching up with what Dame Julie revealed she
Mia! tomorrow,” she revealed. ordinary person who wonders each other have been doing. was diagnosed with bowel
“I loved it. ere was never whether to put the washing He is a great leveller. I have cancer. The condition was
a dull moment and I found machine on before I go two lives. I am a stage and film discovered 18 months
myself working with people shopping or afterwards. ose luvvie but at home I am a very ago, a er doctors found
I had admired for a long are the biggest decisions I take. ordinary woman who people two primary tumours in
time. When Cher and I were don’t take any notice of in the her large intestine. She
introduced we had a big hug “We have a 200-acre supermarket. told the BBC’s Victoria
and my glasses caught in her organic farm which is run by Derbyshire show that, a er
wig, that was nearly a disaster my husband, Grant Roffey. “To be truthful, I did think chemotherapy, she had been
but we managed to untangle As well as growing things we of stopping acting a few years given the all-clear.
ourselves. I was nervous about have cattle, sheep, pigs and ago and I have thought of
working with Meryl Streep chickens and Grant looks after taking a year off now and The actress first visited a
because she had won so many it all. I help a bit and it is nice to then. I could really get used to doctor with indigestion and
Oscars, been many places and be able to dress sloppy and get permanently being at home “slight discomfort” but later
got many T-shirts. I knew out there in the fresh air and and doing what I do when I’m returned with symptoms
she could out-act just about do something different. not working. I tried it once such as stomach pain and
anyone in the world, including but after a while a script came heartburn. She was referred
me. I need not have worried, “We have a couple of market through the post and I read it to a gastric surgeon for a CT
she was lovely and very, very stalls locally and regular, loyal cover to cover and knew I just scan and later, while on the
down- to-earth. She was like a customers as well as supplying had to do it. set of The Secret Garden,
big sister. to hotels. Grant is a dab hand received a call asking her to
at making sausages and bacon. “ ere are few weeks go go in.
“I have always liked Abba We have never wanted it to be by when he does not buy me
music so if there is another a big business, just part of what flowers and we leave each Recalling the moment
Mamma Mia! count me in.” we do. at way it stays fun. other romantic notes all the of her diagnosis, she said:
time – not bad after being “Shock. First of all, shock.
Julie does have her very own “Grant is not from the together so long.” WW And I thought ‘Right’. Then
‘secret garden’. entertainment business and you hold on to the positive
which was that he said ‘We
can fix this’.”

She was diagnosed with
stage three bowel cancer,
which indicates the cancer
has spread into nearby
lymph nodes, and is one
level below the most serious
categorisation.

Despite remaining upbeat,
Dame Julie said she thought
“Well, I may not come round
from the anaesthetic” while
awaiting surgery.

She said she had “30cm
taken out of my colon” in
hospital.

WOMANSWAY.IE 5
By Bernard Bale
By Alex Green

OPINION

Friends

are forever

KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE EXPLAINS WHY
FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY WE CHOSE FOR OURSELVES

Celebrations are a double- “My number came in. Quite apart from composed, and I’m forever
edged sword for me. Ask of bridesmaids emotional support, they grateful.
anyone who knows me, and grew and grew provided so much practical
they’ll say I love them – I’m as I realised just help. My friends were no less
always looking for any how invaluable my invaluable in India.
excuse to open a bottle of friends were” We decorated our UK
fizz or get dressed up. But venue with hand-folded We married on a beach
ask anyone who really publicly, I wanted to share paper cranes, that are in Goa, under a full and
knows me, and they’ll say my life with him. at supposed to be a lesson in luminous moon.
I like them in theory, a lot declaration only became patience for a new bride, but
more than in practice. important when there was actually became a lesson I’d wanted to be wed in
a person attached – never as in kindness from friends, Delhi, where my family are
My problem is I’m an an abstract notion. especially one who made from, but my mum and uncle
extroverted introvert. I three quarters of them! insisted on something more
love people, love being So I’d never dreamt of laid back. My friends agreed,
affectionate and open with being a bride, or of what our We stole ivy from friend’s and they were right. Family
my time and feelings, but wedding would look like. gardens to spray it gold for often know you better than
it also takes away from table decorations, and asked you know yourself, and these
me. From my energy, my But I knew I had to friends to scout old hardback women could tell when I
happiness, and sometimes celebrate both in the UK, and books from charity shops for needed to slow down, to take
my health. So when my in India. My twin-cultures centrepieces. a breath, to let go.
long-term partner proposed, are vital to who I am, and to
he was insistent that we my husband, and so already My number of bridesmaids Like Tom, my uncle and
were not too ‘extra’ with our we were looking at double grew and grew as I realised my mum, they recognised
marriage celebrations. the work. just how invaluable my the warning signs of anxiety,
friends were. I ended up or stress, and took practical
e thing was, that was Luckily, I’m surrounded by with eleven, and that was me action to help me avoid them.
never going to happen. I’m supportive people who know being controlled!
half-Punjabi, and we know how I get about celebrations. We had only a hundred
how to party. Together with my mum and I have insecurities around guests, minute for an Indian
dad, Tom sat me down and what I bring to a relationship wedding, and thousands of
Weddings in India are even said we were going to do – I think all my friends are flowers.
more of a big deal than they this as a joint effort, with a so much more brilliant and
are here, and even if we did, budget and a plan, and that I wonderful than me, and I walked towards Tom
as my uncle called it, India- was not to deviate from it. finally it felt like a chance to under a canopy held by my
lite, it was going to be an epic show them what they meant cousin, my Didi, and my
event. Most of all, I had to ask for to me. friends, and realised in that
help if I needed it. moment that they were much
I’m not someone who On the morning of our more than that. In every way
dreamed about getting is is where my friends wedding, ten friends dressed that matters, they were my
married. Marriage only the venue with Tom, while sisters. WW
occurred to me when I met I flapped about in the hotel,
Tom, and knew he was drinking champagne with The Way Past Winter
someone I wanted to stand my mum and relaxing. by Kiran Millwood
with in front of the people Hargrave (Chicken
I love most, and tell him, is is the greatest wedding House) is out in
gift I got – the gift of time paperback now
to myself, to go into the day

Win... A beauty goody bag

Fancy winning yourself something nice? If you’d like to take home a mystery beauty goody bag, all you need to do is answer the
following question using one of the mechanisms on page 43. On which pages will our find our puzzles?

6 WOMANSWAY.IE

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WOMANSWAY.IE 9

FASHION

Are you washing
your clothes properly?

IT’S NOT THE MOST EXCITING HOUSEHOLD TASK – BUT
GETTING IT WRONG COULD DRAIN ENERGY AND RUIN YOUR CLOTHES

Many of us have just been getting on may fade if washed in a detergent stated on the packaging and is related to
with the laundry for years – but are containing bleach, and wools and silks how dirty clothes are, the size of the load,
we always doing it in the best possible can be damaged if washed on the wrong and the hardness of the water in your area,
way? For example, new research cycle or in the wrong detergent. explain the experts at Ariel.
shows clothes last longer and shed
fewer microfibres in quicker, cooler Dirt alert Turn some clothes inside out
washing cycles.
You can also sort fabrics into piles of Turning clothes inside out protects them
“Consumers claim their clothes can extra-dirty clothes, if you really want during the wash, say the Ariel experts.
lose their fit, softness and colour after to get the best results from your wash. It’s a good idea to turn clothes with
fewer than five washes – this means it’s Very dirty items can be pre-treated with embellishments like glitter inside out, as
more likely they will ditch them long a stain remover before being washed, this will help stop them sticking to other
before they are worn out. Using shorter, advise the Ariel experts. garments.
cooler washes is a simple way everyone
can make their clothes last longer Hand-wash certain items Be careful with delicates By Lisa Salmon
and keep them out of landfill,” says Silks, delicate woollens, and party clothes Pop delicate items, like underwear, tights,
Lucy Cotton, who led the joint Leeds with embellishments can be damaged silks and lingerie, in a laundry bag to
University/Procter & Gamble research. in a washing machine and may need to protect them, suggests Persil. Just use a
be hand-washed, warns Persil. Use cold pillowcase if you don’t have a laundry bag.
A cooler wash is better for the water – hot water could damage some
planet too – separate research by the fabrics – and a detergent designed for Use the correct wash cycle
Energy Saving Trust found washing at delicate fabrics (liquid detergent will help Refer to the garment label for the required
30°C rather than 40°C reduces energy avoid residue). Let garments soak in the wash cycle, and to your washing machine
consumption by 57 per cent per cycle. detergent water for around 10 minutes manual to properly understand the
But, as well as doing cooler washes, before giving them a little massage to different settings. Persil say generally, the
what else should we know about the clean, and rinse in clean water. ‘Normal’ cycle uses warm water (30-40°C)
best ways to wash and dry fabrics? to wash, followed by a cold water rinse,
Use the right detergent with moderate machine spin speeds. It can
Check the washing symbols For whites, use detergents containing be used for cottons and coloured, mixed
bleach, and use one without bleach for fabrics. The ‘Whites’ cycle uses the hottest
When you first wash clothes or bedding, colours. As for choosing either biological water (60 or 90°C) and fastest spin speeds
check the washing symbols on the label or non-biological detergent, the makers to get dirt out of white fabrics. ‘Delicates’
– it could stop you from ruining your of Persil explain that biological washing is a gentle cycle using cold water and slow
new items in the wash. The symbols tell liquids and powders contain enzymes that spin speeds, for delicate fabrics that could
you what temperature to wash fabrics help break down some fatty or protein- get damaged by a vigorous wash. ‘Pre-
at, whether they need dry cleaning or based stains, making them smaller and wash’ can be used for very dirty loads.
hand-washing, and how they can be easier to wash out. Biological detergents
dried and ironed. Which? has a guide work best at lower temperatures, as Don’t overload
to washing symbols on their website to their enzymes can become ineffective Never overload your washing machine,
explain what they mean (which.co.uk). above 40°C. Non-biological detergents as it could mean your clothes don’t get
don’t contain enzymes and rely instead cleaned as well because they won’t be able
Sort your colours on powerful cleaning agents to remove to move around enough. If your palm fits
stains. The enzymes that make biological between the clothes and the machine,
Sort your fabrics into whites, lights, detergents effective can sometimes irritate there should be enough space.
deeper colours and darks, and delicates. sensitive skin, so non-bio can be a good
This is necessary, explain the experts choice for those worried about the effect Leave washing machine door open after use
who make Ariel detergents, because of washing powder enzymes on delicate or This will allow the machine to air out and
some dyes can ‘bleed’ during the sensitive skin. help prevent mould and mildew from
wash, especially if washed at a higher growing, advises Persil. Remember to
temperature, so white fabrics can get Correct detergent dosage always be extra careful about this if you have
unintentionally dyed during a mixed The amount of detergent needed will be curious pets or toddlers in the house. WW
colour wash. This can even happen
in very cold water, depending on the
garment. In addition, deeper colours

10 WOMANSWAY.IE

TELL US ALL SEX SURVEY 2020

SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH THE TEAM TWYHTEOHILNLUAUKTS

It’s something that’s talked about in o ces, homes, 1B0EWSEAXYISERTO FMRAEGE
classrooms, universities and bars and restaurants. Everyone DDOARYEO?U
has an opinion. We’re too obsessed with sex, we don’t BSEUVSENTESEDX MYTHS...BerEToSThtiHeWc rfiEiETscEEteHTioNoESnf
speak about it enough, we’re not talking about the real C20om20plseetxe souurrvey
subjects linked to relationships and intimacy.
MBFfiaUcYctSTtiToHvEneRrSsus MCPOSISUYCCNOHSNOECLTELHPOETRRIOAFNIPOISSNTAARADONAUDLNYCDEERLXOTPIVOFEISE,EDLSUCTSOHTUEAPMLNEADSNDYESIRE
So that’s where you, our lovely readers, come in.
We’re asking you to share your views on sex and sexual TALK ABOUT IT SEXUAL HEALTH MATTERS “To spendMy vulva is ugly
experiences with the team. time being eroticy“oTuhnegrewisoamsetnrotnhgatidveualvaamsong
in their lives or even in their
All information will be kept anonymous – we appreciate that hormonal cycle.
you may not want everyone to know your business, frisky or with yourself is aare ugly,” says Daly. “It’s a
otherwise. We appreciate your time and your honesty. vital part of self-phobic response that comes He is only a er one thing
lovfrom years of shaming around “I learned during tantric
The feedback we receive will go to shaping relationship/sex- e and self-vaginas and it has such a training that for women to
based articles in Woman’s Way so thank you in advance. exploration”strong effect on how they are be interested in sex, they
sexually. There is a shyness need a level of safety and a
All fully completed online surveys will be entered into a draw and protection that filters sense of being desired and
to win one of five Woman's Way goodie bags. into the sexual act. In couples wanted. This will open a
All entries must be received by March 2, 2020. therapy, often she will hear woman’s heart, and an open
her partner say lovingly and heart opens the vagina.
impassionately, ‘I love it, it’s For men, their heart opens
so beautiful,’ but they aren’t through sexual intercourse,
able to receive it. The way to so at the moment of orgasm
overcome it is a ‘flooding’ of in penetrative sex, a man’s
sorts. You spend time with chaenarhtawppillenbuervsetnopifeint’,sacnadsutahlis
your vagina, looking at it sex. For that moment, the
and gradually desensitising icsownnheactttihoenythareeylgoeotkdinugrifnogr.s”ex
yourself to the look of it.”
libido becomes a pulse. It’s means it requires way more.”
easy to feel that because you
don’t have lust like you used Masturbation is for singletons
Ittoi,syjouustdsoimn’mt hearvinegluasttaaltoawlle.r “There is this idea that
level, it’s still there, you just masturbation is only for people
need to go and find it.” who aren’t having sex with a
sMtryosnegxerdrtihvaensmhoyuhlduns’btabned’s pI acartnn’tersaiftiIsnfyeemdytoys otfoltahuDmceahrelywoorfsitudphgelagosyieirl.sestM,stsharhersoosigwaunggeiihrtniignnseggenatshcuheal partner, that it’s a poor man’s
“In medieval times, women “There is a sense that it isn’t or bathing together, and of sex, and that it’s just to relieve
were considered to have the real sex if you are using toys, course, kissing and cuddling.
stronger sex drive and failing or that you are a failure. It’s “It may not be as quick and palneaeseudr.iInpgr.eTfoersptheendtetrimmeself-
to satisfy a woman’s sexual a prudishness and a belief people can give up. In long being erotic with yourself is a
iTnsheseetdrmosnywgtaehsrtgthhraoatunmnwdeonsm’fsoesrnedx’sivdhorarivcsee. that everything should be term relationships, couples vital part of self-love and self-
denied them permission to completely natural, when in are used to each other and exploration. Your capacity to
have a strong libido and for fact using a vibrator can help that can make it feel like a bring yourself
it to be important to them to restore elasticity of the chore. Use this as a time to relationship is sexually into a
in relationships. Women are vaginal walls and can help learn more about interacting about knowing
with penetration.” with each other, there is more yourself sexually.
to sex than penetration and “It can be experienced
you still have the capacity to as shameful if your partner
orgasm. And don’t forget to catches you, that you are
expected to hold the emotional uMpydsuerxindgrimveewnoilpl dauryse duoseeslnas’ht pinrgosviodfeluitbaen, yyomuorrbeody excluding the other person.
strand of the relationship.” “For some women, the drop and the sensitivity of your skin yInosutresaedlfysoeuxucaalnlyutsoegiettthoebr,ring
in oestrogen and the resulting
Daly points out that desire higher levels of testosterone
for sex varies from person can lead to an increase in your
to person, for both men and desire. For other women, the that both of you can be
masturbating and witnessing.”
women, and can wax and
wane depending on the time See www.fionadaly.com
for more information

30 WOMANSWAY.IE

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12 WOMANSWAY.IE

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WOMANSWAY.IE 15

NOT THE USUAL
9 TO 5 WE MEET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE

CHANGED THEIR LIVES BY CHOOSING
AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE OFFICE GRIND

Many of us see the new Crowdfunding enabled
year as a time to start Helen to raise the money
afresh, to make some needed to fund a studio which
resolutions and to turn will be built next year. Her
over a new leaf. For advice to anyone wishing to
some this could be losing start a new project is to find
weight or learning a some support from like-
foreign language while minded people.
for others it could mean
changing their lives by “ e best advice I can offer
embarking on a totally anyone who is considering
different career. setting up a small business
on their own, is to find their
But while it can be tribe,” she says. “Find a
daunting to attempt support network which is
something out of the offering something similar
ordinary, we spoke to five to what you want to do. I
people who threw caution joined an online group called
to the wind and embarked Bite the Biscuit and through
on a career path with a its support and mentoring,
difference. I found the confidence to
achieve my goals. Having
HELEN HANCOCK lives in “My work is unusual “My work someone to push you is
Derry with her two children. mainly due to its concept is unusual key – it can make or break a
As a glass artist, doula and and also the materials I use mainly due to its business. I’m excited about
advanced breastfeeding to create the glass, but the concept and also what’s ahead and how
counsellor with Cuidiú, she message is strong. I support the materials the work I do will change
has combined her skills to lactating mothers on a daily I use to create the breastfeeding awareness
create an unusual product – basis as a breastfeeding and hopefully breastfeeding
glass ornaments infused with counsellor so recognise much glass” outcomes in Ireland and
breastmilk. of the trials that go along across the world.”
with breastfeeding. It can be to raise awareness around
“In 2017 I asked few of the physical or deeply personal breastfeeding and bring the helenhancockglass.com
mothers I was supporting and the overwhelming conversations about lactation
if they would be willing emotional connection we out of the clinic settings and
to let me experiment with feel towards our baby at a into homes and galleries
incorporating their milk vulnerable stage of life was where they weren’t being
into glass and they all going by unnoticed. I wanted discussed.
agreed,” she says. “Armed
with several bags of fresh “Mothers feel the glass is
breast milk I began trying rewarding and it’s responsive
different techniques to see if to their need to validate an
the milk would maintain its important and not always
white milky hue within the easy time in their life.”
glass. After a few hours I had
created a phenomenal result
and a world first in hot glass.

16 WOMANSWAY.IE

REAL LIFE

BÉA SALMON HAWK off for many years. My mother, it’s good to start to develop an business, how to go freelance
lives in Glenmore, Co grandmother and great- idea whilst you are still working and marketing. ey even
Kilkenny with her wife grandmother were storytellers and use all the free resources offer an excellent mentoring
Audrey. Although she in the South of France, so I around. e Local Enterprise system, and this really
is both an actress and learned a lot from them. Now Offices usually run incredibly helped me to get started.”
a psychotherapist, she I tell stories at local festivals cheap or even free courses
has devoted her time and at all the major attractions on how to start your own www.bayathestoryteller.com
to storytelling and now in the Wexford and Waterford
charms both children and area. My events usually last
adults with fairy tales and around an hour and the stories
Celtic yarns. have a common theme.”

“In the olden days, e mother-of-one (she has
storytellers used to travel a grown-up son called Fred),
the land in the summer and says being a storyteller is her
gather stories and news, dream job, but she would
says Béa. “ en they would advise others not to jump out of
settle in the winter in a castle a stable career without testing
or a village and spend their the water first.
evenings telling tales to the
villagers. Before schools, this “I really love storytelling
was the way the basic lessons but it’s important to also be
were taught such as how to sensible,” she advises. “It’s
be kind and what to be wary never a good idea to give up a
of. I have told stories on and full-time job without having at
least six months' savings. Also,

By Arlene Harris TOM MURPHY lives with his bottles, but I feature in my
wife Mary in Castlebar, Co adverts because I personally
Mayo. Having run his own guarantee every bottle and love
pharmaceutical company interacting with the public.”
since 1994, last year he
embarked on a mission to e entrepreneur says it can
‘save the planet – one shave at be difficult to start in business.
a time’ with his latest venture
De Facto (a natural shaving “I believe Irish people are shy
oil in recyclable bottles) as he in asking for advice,” he says.
launches his campaign to Can
the Can and rid the world of “We are a secretive nation
shaving foam cans. and feel that if we ask for
business advice someone will
“I recently discovered that run away with our ideas... So
one thumb sized bottle of take advice from someone you
De Facto shaving oil is the trust and then just go for it.
equivalent of 12 bottles of
shaving foam/gel – and these “I also feel very strongly
can’t even be recycled,” he that SMEs, such as De Facto,
says. “If just 1,000 shavers keep small communities
switched to De Facto shaving going but they don’t get
oil then up to 500,000 cans due recognition as much
would be saved from going to of that goes to the large
landfill. Now, imagine if that multinationals, despite the
number was a million – this is SMEs employing well over 90
why I launched my worldwide per cent of all private sector
campaign to rid the world of workers in the country. So
expensive, polluting shaving I would like the national
foam cans. conversation to change ... and
to make SMEs the economic
“I put the oil in small plastic centre of attention.”
recyclable bottles because I’m
not allowed to ship in glass www.defactoshave.com

continued on next page

WOMANSWAY.IE 17

REAL LIFE

“I’ll say yes to
the opportunity
and learn how to

do it later”

HANNAH MAY Jane lives to bed before I left for work – MARIE POWER, aka e Biodiversity Week and beach
in Dublin with her three the only thing I was missing Sea Gardener, lives in Co. clean-ups throughout the
children. As well as being was sleep.” Waterford with her husband year.”
a health, fitness and Kevin. A member of Food
parenting blogger and e mother of three was the Waterford Way, Marie Marie loves what she does,
running her own company, then asked if she would be has been running seaweed meeting people from all over
she also spends her interested in learning how workshops since 2007 and now the world - this year alone has
weekends on stage dancing, to blow fire, so she agreed shares the health benefits of brought people foraging from
fire blowing and showing and before long this was seaweed in her book, e Sea Hawaii, Mumbai, Toronto, and
off her pet snake. incorporated into her act Garden – A Guide to Seaweed more. She says there are very
(along with her serpent Foraging and Cookery, which few negative aspects to her job
“I have been a dancer since friend). offers recipes, foraging tips and being passionate is crucial.
I was very young and became and more.
a choreographer for music “We (the dancers) were “Being outdoors in some of
videos at the age of 19 after contacted by a guy who “I’ve had a long association the most beautiful places in the
meeting a female rapper who wanted us to be his dance with seaweed and foraging country is a huge highlight and
asked me to choreograph her troupe, but we had to learn to because as a child my cousin there are very few cons in my
video,” she says. “When I blow fire,” she says. introduced me to the delights job, apart from the occasional
met her dancers they asked of carrageen foraged from e challenges of trying to supply
me would I podium dance “So we bought all the Copper Coast,” she says. artisan food into what is
in clubs with them and equipment from England and predominantly an industrial
although I had no idea of a lovely man taught us how to “Later in life, while food chain,” she says.
this job, I said yes, because do it; I wouldn’t recommend voluntarily leading a rocky
that’s me, I’ll say yes to the it as using barbecue fluid shore ecology outing with the “I would advise anyone
opportunity and learn how to or paraffin can cause lung Irish Wildlife Trust, I started thinking of setting up on their
do it later. damage and/or death [if not bringing soup, scones and own to think it through, try
used properly] - but it was cookies made with seaweed to work with ideas which
“So dancing on stage on paying the bills and meant I and the reaction of the group are genuinely innovative and
the weekends became my was there for my kids while was fantastic so it caused me to meaningful and tee up some
life – it was handy because I teaching some dance classes contemplate a full-time career support agencies. Waterford
was there during the day for on the side too. as a forager and food producer. Chamber Skillsnet, BIM and the
the kids and got to put them Local Enterprise Office were
“ en we were hired to “Now my days are spent very helpful to me and it’s also
walk up and down a club outdoors foraging for seaweed, important to have the support
with a snake and I fell in love leading foraging walks and of those closest to you – my
with him so decided to get developing my range of foods. family is my bedrock, and have
one of my own. I also organise some special been crucial in so many ways.
events, such as Ireland’s
“Fluff was just one foot at Ancient Feast, Exploring “Artisan food making is
the time and I brought him Wild Foods Beyond the Shore something one can only do
everywhere. He grew slowly and A Seaweed Celebration if they have a passion for it,”
and when he was ready for – a collaboration with award- she says. “It is not a get-rich-
work, I promoted him with winning Momo’s restaurant for quick model and is more
the dance business. this year’s Waterford Harvest about expressing creativity,
Festival to name a few. lifestyle compatibility and
“ ese days he just stays doing meaningful and hard
around my neck and people “I’m also still active with work.” WW
get in pictures with him the Irish Wildlife Trust and
and sometimes as a finale I run educational tours for www.theseagardener.com
hop on stage and do a five-
minute dance with him – it’s
all good fun.”

www.aphoriaevents.ltd

18 WOMANSWAY.IE

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PARENTING

9 ways to banish working

mum guilt

GUILT CAN STEAL A MOTHER’S PEACE OF MIND.
IS IT TIME YOU GOT RID OF IT?

When we embark on environment. However, the 4 Protect family time 7 Refuse to live with guilt By Una Rice
motherhood, we’re issued author is not without solutions
with many warnings and and claims that it’s better for Don’t allow other things to Life is certainly too valuable
advice from family, friends mum to work half days rather seep into precious family time. to live with feeling guilty all
and experts. Sleep issues are at that a few days of long shifts. Protect mealtimes, down time the time. Is there something
the top of the list. Coping with and weekends, so that this bigger for you that you dream
tantrums. Dealing with school But if guilt is eating you up, time you spend with your baby about like setting up your own
problems. And then there’s it can be hard. You might find or children isn’t hijacked by business? Ultimately could
the elephant in the room: the it difficult to break out of the demands from others. this give you more freedom
area of working mum guilt. It’s cycle or see any solutions. But, and hours to spend with your
something that resonates to they are there. 5 Be accountable young family? Is it time to
some extent with most mums. be kind to yourself and take
1 Feel the guilt Be accountable for how you that brave step, even if it’s
Most mothers carry some turn up for your children. It’s uncertain?
level of working mum guilt. Examine why you feel so far better for you to look back
Who hasn’t experienced guilty. Are your hours away knowing you spent Saturday 8 Don,t have regrets
that gut-wrenching moment from your children simply too fully engaged, connecting 100
when your child has a high long? Does your boss operate in per cent on your picnic rather Life is not a dress rehearsal -
temperature in the morning a way that increases your guilt, than with a mobile phone in this is it. Try to fast forward
but you’ve got an important with late meetings or last- your hand. Being totally with fifty years and look back on
meeting and there’s only one minute events, or even work your child/children like this life with your young children
thing to do but issue meds and calls to home in the evening? rather than with half your and think about what it is that
send them to school? Are you not entirely happy mind on a work task will really needs to change to break the
with your child’s nursery make a difference. guilt cycle. As the old saying
Who hasn’t looked at their setting, but feel like you have goes, no-one dies wishing
child from time to time, no other option? 6 Sort out childcare they’d spent more time in the
realised how big and grown office.
up they’ve suddenly got and 2 Get clear They’re only babies for a short
feel the huge pangs of regret time, and these years fly by. 9 Feel uncomfortable
about not spending enough If your guilt stems from Isn’t it a nicer thought to have
time with them? And what something outside of you zero regrets than to muddle Read books like author
new mum hasn’t been filled ie, how your boss operates along not very happy? So if Erica Komisar’s Being
with dread at the thoughts etc. then become clear about childcare is a bugbear then There: Why Prioritising
of returning to work after how you would like things to look into getting even better Motherhood in the First Three
maternity leave, knowing that change. What is your preferred childcare - the best and most Years Matters. However
separation anxiety doesn’t just way or the ideal scenario? compassionate you can afford. uncomfortable it makes you
affect babies. One change could make a feel, it may be the catalyst
3 Have that conversation huge difference - for instance, you need to create a positive
Working mum guilt asking a grandparent to do the change in your own life that
is not entirely eased by If there’s someone you need to child-minding for a couple of allows you to move forward in
opinions from people like speak to who is a player in your days a week. a guilt-free way. WW
American Psychoanalyst guilt, then it’s time to stand
Erica Komisar, who claims up for yourself and have that
that babies experience stress chat. Is it time to make that
when separated from their appointment with your boss, to
parent and over time this create new work boundaries?
can increase. According to Perhaps it’s time to talk with
Komisar, it’s better to leave nursery staff if you have had
a baby with a relative rather any concerns about care that’s
than in a nursery, and she affecting your ability to work
is scathing of the nursery without worrying about your
child’s environment.

20 WOMANSWAY.IE

JUST FOR KIDS

FRUIT AND BERRY FRUITY CROSSWORD

Find all the words from the word list (ignore spaces and dashes) Can you fill in the fruit below?

APPLE GRAPEFRUIT PEAR
APRICOT LEMON PINEAPPLE
BANANA MANGO PLUM
BLUEBERRY ORANGE RASPBERRY
CHERRY PEACH WATERMELON

PIRATE TREASURE WHAT COMES NEXT

Fill in the pirate crossword below Can you figure out which fruit comes next in each row?

WOMANSWAY.IE 21

AO‘FSWETRSEAEETTMRBWIOPEOISNCTO’ECHUER “I definitely
MASTERCHEF IS BACK FOR A 16TH SERIES, AND THE get a real tingle of
COMPETITION IS AS TOUGH AS EVER, WITH SOME excitement when
DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BE MADE someone is a good
pastry chef, but
Cooking in the MasterChef that they’re not professional quarter finalists have been
kitchen is just as scary as you’d chefs,” quips London-born chosen, the competition really we are getting
imagine. There’s a box on Wallace. “I think, ‘Is that heats up, with challenges such less of it”
the counter containing three honestly what you do on as cooking in a professional
mystery ingredients. Apron a Wednesday night? You kitchen, and a trip abroad - this “But, yes, we are eating a lot
on, I lift up the lid to discover a honestly cook like that?’ I find series, to Mauritius. The final more veg. The wonderful thing
whole lemon sole, spinach and it incredible.” sees three contestants vying to about vegetables is that there
mushrooms. be crowned MasterChef 2020 is a finite number of meats
“The MasterChef firsts this champion. and fish, but vegetables, we
After a panicked 40 minutes year were extraordinary... are still growing and inventing
- which involves filleting a It was the first time we saw As for trends, the chirpy, different types.”
fish for the first time ever - I something from Hawaii,” chatty pair agree the rise of
manage to rustle up something reveals Torode. veganism is clear this series. “We definitely don’t eat
that vaguely resembles a dish. Viewers can even expect a enough plant-based food - I
That’s not to say there aren’t plant-based challenge. definitely don’t,” admits
When presenters Gregg things the dynamic duo is father-of-four Torode, who
Wallace and John Torode grab a bored of seeing, having fronted “I think the use of more married former EastEnders
fork and dig in, I get a taste of the show together since 2005. vegetables at the expense of actress Lisa Faulkner last
the tension the real contestants meat and fish is most certainly October (they met when
feel under those bright lights. “It’s not the dishes, it’s the happening,” Wallace chimes in. she appeared on Celebrity
stupid excuses,” Wallace, a “And we both welcome that. MasterChef back in 2010).
They declare my ideas were former greengrocer, notes That’s a wonderful thing.”
good, but the execution didn’t exasperatedly. “You’ve under- “I used to run a meat
go to plan; there’s way too cooked it, and regularly we get, Asked if they’re cooking with restaurant! But I don’t eat
much garlic in the sautéed ‘Well, I didn’t want to over- meat less at home themselves, anywhere near as much meat
veg, and the pan-fried fish cook it’. Well, no - I didn’t Wallace points out he doesn’t as I used to.”
is overcooked, without that want you to do that either. Are have much time to be in the
coveted crispy skin. they are only options?” kitchen now. One thing Wallace says he
is saddened by in this more
My food might not have “I have to tell you, I am so His wife, Anna, gave birth health-conscious age is the
impressed, but the judges bored of raw scallops,” sighs to son Sid in May last year, so decline in pudding making.
insist that, 16 series in, they’re Torode, who first appeared on when he’s home from work,
still left amazed by the skills television on This Morning. he’s busy “playing with the “I don’t think there is
of the real contestants in the baby and sleeping”. enough of that. I definitely get a
BBC competition, which sees The format of the show is real tingle of excitement when
amateur cooks pitted against simple: each week there are “My family do most of the someone is a good pastry chef,
each other. two sets of heats, in which six cooking,” elaborates the TV but we are getting less of it.”
talented home cooks battle personality, who also has two
“I want to have their it out to make it to Friday’s grown-up children from a
backgrounds checked, to see quarter final. Once all the previous marriage.

22 WOMANSWAY.IE

CELEBRITY

FRANKIE BRIDGE:

‘GOING INTO HOSPITAL
SAVED MY LIFE’

The former Saturdays star
admits her new book, Open,
wasn’t easy to write – but
she hopes it’ll help others

It can be a very close callBy Georgia Humphreys“I’ve resigned myself to theWith her elfin frame, pixie Hospital in London.
in some episodes as to which By Hannah Stephensonfact that I’m public property,haircut and dazzling smile,“I just felt so out of control
amateur cooks will make it it’s as simple as that,” Torode Frankie Bridge may look
through to the next round. Do suggests, matter-of-factly. like she hasn’t a care in and lost. I had no idea what
the pair ever have arguments the world. But a lifetime was going on. It was a really
over the decision? “I’ve actually invited myself of mental health issues - scary time.”
into someone else’s lounge via ranging from chronic anxiety
“Yeah, there have been their television, therefore they and an eating disorder, to She was in hospital for a
moments, because we are both have the right to be able to say a breakdown at age 23 – month.
passionate about what we do,” ‘hi’ to me.” has prompted the former
reflects Wallace. Saturdays singer and Strictly “I believe going into
“What I don’t get,” he star to write a memoir Open, hospital saved my life. It gave
“We might find that we are continues, “is that the one in which she discusses her me the time I needed to learn
championing different people who takes the photograph of experiences in the hope that about myself and to figure
and there is only room for one. you, usually doesn’t like you. others will take solace and out my medication and have
It does happen. But, we know It’s usually their sister, or ‘My find it helpful. all the therapy I needed. It set
each other. So, if John starts to mum really loves you, can I me up for the rest of my life.
get emotional or even slightly have a photo with you?’ And I An ambassador for It didn’t fix me but it made
angry about it, then I know think, ‘You can say you like me mental health charity, Mind, me the person I am today
how much he cares. as well if you want to!’” Bridge has talked about her and gave me back control of
experiences for many years. myself.”
“I think we both stamp our It certainly sounds like an
feet once or twice a series,” all-consuming job. “My depression is chemical, Today, she still has therapy
confides Torode, smiling. “And not circumstantial,” she and is on medication.
I think that’s really good. But Torode says there’s a rule explains. “I was so anxious
in his house that, after work, from such a young age, I came “I think I’ll be on anti-
“One of the things that we he doesn’t talk about the cooks out the womb that way, it’s depressants for life. My GP
both admire about each other he’s seen that day. just part of my personality, doesn’t make me feel bad
is that we both care. But we and had mental health been about that. Whatever gets me
have our own lives. We have “Because Lisa always wants spoken about then like it is through the day and through
our own personalities. We have to know who it is. And then, of now, maybe it wouldn’t have life, I’ll do it.”
our own likes and dislikes and course, she’ll get despondent if escalated with me not having
I think, because of that, we she sees the person and thinks control over it.” Having children has altered
end up with a fully equalised they are really good, and I send her mental health, she agrees.
judging opinion.” them home!” WW She reveals she had suicidal
thoughts, although she never “It gives me another sense
The show is a huge hit, and MasterChef returns to BBC tried to take her own life. of purpose. They are a great
is broadcast around the world. One on Monday, February 24, distraction. They take up so
They often get recognised by Wednesday, February 26 and “I was terrified of dying. I much of your time. Before
fans and asked for selfies. Friday, February 28 was too scared to do it.” having them, all my thoughts
were surrounded around
She continues: “With me and my life. Now,
depression and anxiety, you with the boys, it’s taken
are constantly overthinking the pressure off myself
things and analysing in a little bit and it’s made
your head. Sometimes you me realise that I can’t
just want some quiet. You control everything in my
can’t sleep and you don’t life, and sometimes the
find enjoyment in anything. kids are going to fall over
Sometimes you just think, and scrape their knees
‘What’s the point?’” and I can’t control
everything.”
The worst time, she recalls,
was the build up to admitting Open by Frankie Bridge
herself to the Nightingale (Cassell) is available now

WOMANSWAY.IE 23

AGONY ADVICE

AAUgoNnTy

CCOOULUNMSENLILSOTRANFDIOTNRAAINED
CAINE OFFERS ADVICE

MY RETIRED HUSBAND days on end. “In the In the meantime, try not
HAS BECOME SO LOW He sleeps until mid-morning meantime, try to criticise or judge what he’s
My husband has been retired for not to criticise or doing, as this will probably
just over a year and I am really nearly every day yet is always judge what he’s only make him more defensive.
worried about him. When he tired and, if I say anything, he Instead, try to offer love, support
first stopped working, he had gets angry. I want to help him but doing” and patience.
such big plans; he was going just don’t know what to do.
to write a book, completely re- P. W. behaviour, but I wonder if he If his doctor does diagnose
landscape the garden and study might also be depressed. depression, then treatments
for a degree. FIONA SAYS: RETIREMENT are available that will gradually
CAN SOMETIMES TRIGGER Not washing regularly, sleeping bring him around. Either way,
In fairness, he started all DEPRESSION lots and not caring about his encourage your husband to look
these projects but over time has People often retire with great appearance would certainly for new challenges.
gradually dropped each one and expectations and there’s nothing support this, so I think you
for the past four months, he has wrong with this, but if the reality should encourage him to see his If he can find a job, start a
really let things slide. of retirement doesn’t live up to doctor. new hobby or sport, volunteer
these expectations, people can with a charity or perhaps even
He no longer walks every day, easily become disillusioned. This start a business, I am sure he
something he has done for as might explain your husband’s will soon lift himself out of this
long as I have known him. rut he is in.

I have also discovered that
he is not washing regularly and
often wears the same clothes for

I RESENT THAT MY PARTNER FIONA SAYS: HAVE YOU be completely unaware that this that one of you could drop off
GETS FIRST DIBS ON OUR CAR TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO upsets you. the other at their class and pick
We only have one car, and once COMPROMISE? them up again afterwards?
a week, my partner uses this Whilst I agree that this seems Discuss it with him and suggest
to go to his football practice. unfair, I wonder if you’ve told your it would be fairer if you could at It should be possible to reach
A few months back, I started a partner how you feel – he may least take it in turns to use the a sensible agreement but, if he
yoga class that I really enjoy but, car. Alternatively, is there a way is unwilling to share, you may
unfortunately, this falls on the have to resort to more drastic
same night. tactics, like simply getting to
the car first.
However, he always gets to use
the car, leaving me to get the bus Perhaps then he will realise
which takes forever, and the only how frustrating and unfair it is
time I got to use the car was the – although, if you’re not careful,
week he had man-flu. it could all get very petty and
confrontational.
He’s never once offered to let
me take the car, even though the If he still doesn’t recognise
bus route is easier for him and I the unfairness of the situation,
share the car payments! It’s so then I suppose you could
unfair and I’m starting to really consider stopping your
resent it. contribution towards this car’s
J. T. payments and get a vehicle of
your own. WW

24 WOMANSWAY.IE

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THE BIG PRIZE CROSSWORD ACROSS
1 - Temporary way of dealing with a problem (7)
Once a month, we will be o ering readers (and crossword fans) a super puzzle to test 5 - Dismissed from a job (6)
your skills. This month, you could win an overnight stay at Bellinter House. 8 - Sagacious (6)
11 - Be ill (3)
WIN! AN OVERNIGHT STAY W€O4OV0ER0RTH 12 - Pace (4)
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you to retreat, relax and indulge yourself in the heart of the Boyne 29 - Shape (6)
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makes Bellinter House so extraordinary. The team at Bellinter 36 - Paid announcement (13)
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to ensure that your stay is an unforgettable experience. No request 42 - Italian dish (10)
is ever too big www.bellinterhouse.com 44 - Device for measuring time (11)
48 - Merchants who sell goods (9)
50 - Lanes (6)
51 - Place of refuge (9)
52 - Flow copiously (4)
53 - Bind (3)
54 - Church instruments (6)
55 - Myth (6)
56 - Sprinkling (7)
DOWN
2 - Colossus (5)
3 - Pork and beef sausage (9)
4 - Photography technique (7)
5 - Type of pasta (9)
6 - Harsh; corrosive (7)
7 - Valleys (5)
8 - Permit (5)
9 - Big cat (5)
10 - Windpipe (7)
17 - Relating to a city (5)
18 - Snatched (4)
19 - Stubborn (9)
20 - Accumulate (5)
22 - Happen again (5)
23 - Ask for earnestly (5)
25 - Crash (9)
26 - Eurasian crow (4)
27 - Enclosed (5)
28 - Join together; merge (5)
30 - Scheme (4)
31 - Arm joint (5)
32 - Military trainee (5)
34 - Feeling of boredom (5)
36 - Confess to be true (5)
37 - Frolic; play outdoors (3,6)
38 - Form of illumination at night (9)
39 - Photographic material (4)
41 - Item used by asthma su erers (7)
42 - Small round boat (7)
43 - Went in (7)
45 - Dramatic musical work (5)
46 - Expels from a position (5)
47 - Supporting frame used by an artist (5)
49 - Ascended (5)

Post the completed crossword with
the competition form on page 43 to
Big Prize Crossword 8, Woman’s Way,
Rosemount House, Dundrum Road,
Dublin 14. Closes March 9, 2020.

26 WOMANSWAY.IE

CELEB PIXELS CODEBREAKER PUZZLES

Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the MEDIUM SUDOKU
same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle

I recently helped to HARD SUDOKU
tell a Marriage Story
with Adam Driver and
Scarlett Johannson

6 LETTER WORDS: Adults; Camera; Editor; Eldest; Equals; ISSUE 7
Fixing; Li ed; Locate; Sneeze; Starve; Values; Wooden. 8 SOLUTIONS
LETTER WORDS: Appetite; Aquarium; Creation; Electric; MEDIUM SUDOKU
Emotions; Japanese; Occupied; O cers; Quarters; Suspends;
My alter-ego is a Triangle; Wildlife. 10 LETTER WORDS: Accomplish; Background;
smart-talking spy Formidable; Skyscraper,
who likes to Avenge
things... FOUR WS will test your knowledge of Who, What, Where and When.

I played a woman who 1 WHO... wrote the novel Mr east of Laos? HARD SUDOKU
refused to grow old in WHERE... is the Prime Meridian
a cult 90s film with Midshipman Easy? located?
Meryl Streep WHAT... sort of creature is Sciurus WHEN... did Catherine of Aragon marry
vulgaris? Henry VIII of England?
WHERE... in Africa is the city of
Oran? 3 WHO... wrote the television drama
WHEN... was the actress Julie
Walters born? series Boys From The Blackstu ?
WHAT... is the state capital of Indiana,
2 WHO... won golf’s Mercedes US?
WHERE... in Africa are the towns of
Championships for the third Marsabit and Garissa?
consecutive time in January 2006? WHEN... did the actor Charlie Sheen
WHAT... is the country that lies due marry actress Denise Richards?

1: Captain Frederick Marryat; Red squirrel; Algeria; 1950 .2: Stuart
Appleby; Vietnam; Royal Greenwich Observatory, London; 150.
3: Alan Bleasdale; Indianapolis; Kenya; 2002.

WOMANSWAY.IE 27

PUZZLES IMPOSSIPUZZLES

WHO AM I? 1 “What are you doing with my just one year older than eight
new insurance policy?” Sam times the total of the two digits
A newsreader, I was born in Bridgend in 1961. I have had cameos asked. of my age.”
as an announcer in Doctor Who and Skyfall. I regularly present Gareth smiled. “Nothing, Dad,” How old was she?
the BBC News At Ten on BBC1 and the BBC News At Five on he replied. “It’s the serial
their 24-hour news channel. number. It’s just one less than 3 Santiago looked down over
twice the square of its last three the boy’s shoulder. “That’s my
An author, I was born in Kensington in 1874. My cousin was a digits. Isn’t that something?” new licence number,” he said.
well-known right-wing politician. My novels include The Man It certainly made the number “What’s the idea?”
Who Was Thursday and The Napoleon Of Notting Hill. unique, but what exactly was it? “I found something about it,
ANSWER: GK CHESTERTON. Dad,” Matias replied. “If you
ANSWER: HUW EDWARDS. 2 “How old am I?” Jess asked. add three times the square of
“I’ve got no idea,” replied its last three digits to its other
CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ISSUE 6 Tommy. three, you get the number
“Well, you can figure it out again.”
ACROSS: 1 Fluorescent; 9 Reacted; 10 Relax; 11 Motto; 12 Sterile; 13 yourself,” his aunt told him. “I’m But what was that number?
Sphere; 15 Frayed; 18 Upright; 20 Fight; 22 Therm; 23 Enamour; 24
Assassinate. DOWN: 2 Least; 3 Outdoor; 4 Eldest; 5 Carve; 6 Nullify; 1: The serial number was 1755937. 2: Jess was 41 years old.
7 Promiscuity; 8 Expenditure; 14 Harness; 16 Refrain; 17 Stress; 19 3: The licence number was 560432.
Gamma; 21 Gloat.

CODE WORD

3 LETTERS DRYERS GATHERS
BAR DULUTH GRANDMA
GAS EDGERS JIMENEZ
PAW HANGER KNEADED
TAN ISOLDE LANTERN
ISOMER MUTATED
5 LETTERS LEAVEN OPPOSED
ABEAM MAKE DO PAPERER
ADIEU OMELET PELAGIC
ARRAY PIPE IN PIRANHA
DAISY RELAID POTAGES
DREAM REWIND SEMINAR
DULSE SANK IN SINE DIE
ENDED SCARCE STARKLY
GEODE SIRREE STEERED
I-BEAM SPARGE STIRRUP
LADEN STEP ON SWALLOW
LINED TAGGED TARRIED
MARTS TEASER TEENIER
NAVEL TEENSY THEATER
NEEDS UNCIAL THINNER
NUMEN UNKIND TRACING
PANDA URANIA TREADLE
RANTS VIENNA ULYSSES
RHONE UPBEATS
SALEP 7 LETTERS WANTING
SUM UP ADDRESS WAPITIS
TIDED BALCONY
VAPID BEST MAN 8 LETTERS
WIDEN BLINDER EERINESS
YEAST BOARDER ODORLESS
BOATMAN RUBIDIUM
6 LETTERS CERAMIC WINNIPEG
ABATOR DENTIST
AMUSED DERIDES 9 LETTERS
BADGER DINGOES LIMITEDLY
BAILIE DISAVOW PART-TIMER
BUSSES EATABLE SHORTENED
CAVIER ESCUDOS YESTERDAY
COACTS FORERUN
CUSPID GALLEON

28 WOMANSWAY.IE

COMPETITION

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Call 01 231 1800 today for the best deals and destinations on your dream holiday. www.sunway.ie

WOMANSWAY.IE 29

HOW TO…

SCORE HIGH
WITH CREDIT

IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING FROM MOBILE PHONE CONTRACTS TO STORE
CARDS, FROM BANK LOANS TO MORTGAGES, YET MOST OF US DON’T
GIVE OUR CREDIT RATING OR SCORE A SECOND THOUGHT

With lenders everywhere related court judgments or Unlike the Central Credit information. Even having just
becoming increasingly risk indicators that a lender may be Register, when you apply for a slightly wrong address can
averse, it’s time to pay close taking legal action against you. a loan from an Irish Credit have an impact on your score.
attention to this important Bureau member, that lender
aspect of personal finance. A credit report reflects a full can ask the ICB for a credit Also check for fraudulent
Woman’s Way has this guide to picture of your credit history, score or rating which is a activity – for example, if
credit ratings and 10 Top Tips to good or bad. summary of your credit report someone applied for credit
boost your score. at a particular point in time, in your name without your
In Ireland, there are two and which may assist faster knowledge. Importantly, you
These days, even buying a credit reference bodies that processing of loan applications can get incorrect information
new sofa or car on a payment collect financial information by lenders. corrected. You can also add
plan, can depend on having a to form a credit report – the a statement to your credit
good credit score or rating. You Central Credit Register, If you have a good record of report to explain any special
may be financially stable, with operated by the Central repaying loans, then you get a circumstances. For example,
a good job, but if you don’t Bank of Ireland, and the high score. If your repayment if you have had significant
have a good rating, you could Irish Credit Bureau (ICB), a record is poor, you get a expenses due to relationship
be turned down for even the private organisation, owned low score. It’s important to breakdown, bereavement,
cheapest contract or deal. and financed by its members remember that the Central illness or another cause.
(which include banks, credit Credit Register and the ICB do
Under EU law, lenders must unions and local authorities). not decide whether or not you Get on the register
assess your creditworthiness are accepted for a loan. Make sure you are on the
before agreeing to give you By law, lenders must submit Register of Electors. If your
a loan. When you apply for information about your loans Lenders use the information name’s not on there, you’ll find
credit, a lender tries to predict to the Central Credit Register. provided to assess your loan it much harder to get credit.
your future financial behaviour Your consent is not required. application themselves before This is because credit reference
based on the way you’ve acted making a decision. agencies are able to verify who
and managed your money in However, you are asked you are, which can make you
the past. To do it, they look at a to consent to your loan HOW CAN I IMPROVE appear more stable to lenders.
credit report. information being added to the MY CREDIT SCORE?
ICB database (this is normally Break old financial links
This report may include how contained in the application Check your report If you currently have, or have
many credit/loan applications form small print). Make sure that your credit had a joint bank account, joint
you’ve made recently, how report is accurate before financial or credit agreement
much you owe on current It is compulsory for lenders applying for any type of loan. with another person in the
mortgages, loans, credit cards, to check your credit report Check for missed payments past, your credit file could
overdrafts, hire purchase in the Central Credit Register you did not realise were be linked with theirs. This is
agreements and personal when they are considering missed, or any incorrect
contract plans (PCPs) etc. a loan application of €2,000
or more. Lenders can also
It may also include details access your credit report if you
such as the amount of the have applied for a loan under
loan, the amount still owed €2,000.
and any missed payments,
plus your name, date of The Central Credit Register
birth, address(es) used by does not currently score or
you in relation to financial grade credit reports. Your
transactions, and any debt- lender will make a decision on
your loan application based on
their own credit policy.

30 WOMANSWAY.IE

MONEY

of loans, it can lower your How can I check
score - would you lend to my credit report?
someone who already had › By law, financial
lots of bills to pay elsewhere?
Ideally you should eliminate institutions must ensure
any outstanding debt before that information they hold
applying for new credit. or give to anyone else
about you is correct and
Otherwise, pay off more than up to date. So you have
just the minimum payment the right to insist that
every month. This shows they correct any incorrect
that while you may have a information about you.
lot of loans or credit cards,
you manage them well and › Irish Credit Bureau (ICB)
are making good headway
into repaying what you’ve – you can apply for a copy
borrowed. of your credit report free
of charge, online at www.
No cash from credit cards icb.ie or by calling 01
260 0388 to request an
This is both expensive to do, application form.
as interest is higher and you’re
charged it even if you repay in › Central Credit Register
full each month and crucially,
many lenders see it as evidence – You can request your
of poor money management. credit report free of charge
by going online at: www.
By Audrey Watson known as financial association. any court judgements for debt Close unused accounts centralcreditregister.
Having a spouse, friend or can impact your score. ie/borrower-area or by
Lenders may consider the calling 01 224 5500 or
family member’s credit rating Credit cards little and often amount of credit you have emailing myrequest@
linked to yours could affect Using credit regularly and access to, as well as the amount centralcreditregister.ie
your personal rating if they responsibly is key to raising of debt you owe. If you have
have a poor score. If you’re your score. Keeping your credit a credit limit of €3,000 on › Both websites also offer
renting a flat or house, your card active, by spending small a new, unused credit card,
flatmates’ credit history could amounts and making payments lenders may believe that you information on amending
affect yours if you’re both (or on time, makes you appear might spend it all at once. mistakes on a credit
all) named on bills. more attractive to lenders. report and/or placing an
And it shows that you can pay Having a large amount of ‘explanatory statement’
This means that lenders back any money you borrow. available credit may make (Central Credit Register) or
can search linked persons’ Try to keep your overall credit lenders think you can’t handle ‘personal declaration’ (ICB)
credit records when you apply utilisation low, ie, how much more. Close all accounts such on your credit report if you
for credit. And, if they don’t of your available credit limit as credit cards, store cards, wish to explain an event or
like what they see on others’ you use. If you have a credit mobile contracts and accounts circumstances about your
reports, it could result in a limit of €2,000 and you’ve that you don’t use or need. It’s loan or loans.
‘no’ for you. If you split up used €1,000 of that, your better to cancel a newly opened
with someone you’ve had joint credit utilisation is 50 per cent. credit card, or an unused store › You can check your credit
finances with (or just moved Keeping your utilisation low, card, than one you’ve had for a
out from a flat-share), once preferably under 25 per cent of long time with a good history. report as often as you like
your finances are no longer your limit, shows lenders that without affecting your
linked, write to the credit you can manage your credit. Avoid multiple applications credit score or rating.
database and ask for a ‘notice FURTHER INFORMATION
of disassociation’. Avoid ‘payday’ loans Every time you make an
Lenders sometimes view these application for credit, a ‘hard › The Citizens Information website:
Pay bills on time loans as a sign that you cannot search’ is carried out and a www.citizensinformation.ie provides
manage your money and some mark, called a ‘footprint’ is information on credit history databases
This is a great way to prove to reject anyone with a payday left on your report. If you and the information they hold.
lenders that you’re capable of loan on their file, even if they make a lot of applications in a
managing finances effectively. paid it off in full. short space of time, this could › If you have a query about obtaining
If you have a credit card, never negatively impact your score, credit or a copy of your credit report you
miss a payment, or pay late. Cut existing debt as it makes lenders think can contact the Citizens Information
Missing or late payments even If you already have a lot you’re desperate for credit. Phone Service on 0761 07 4000,
once or twice can lower your Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm, or visit
score and may stay on your If you’re rejected for a loan, your local Citizens Information Centre.
report for up to six years. Also, try to resist the temptation
to immediately try another › The Money Advice and Budgeting
lender. Instead, wait a while Service (MABS) is the State’s
before you apply again. WW money advice service and also offers
information about credit reports and
credit scores online at: www.mabs.ie

› MABS also runs a Helpline (0761 07
2000), Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm,
and also operates from more than 60
locations nationwide. MABS is free,
confidential and independent.

WOMANSWAY.IE 31

Twoof akind

THIS MONCHROME JUMPER IS PERFECT FOR CHILLY DAYS

Reykjavik by DROPS Design want an elevation.
DROPS Design: Start from the wrong side with
Pattern no li-110 o -white and purl 9-9-9-10-
Yarn group B 11-11 stitches past the marker
SIZES: thread in the middle of the back,
S - M - L - XL - XXL - XXXL turn, tighten strand and knit 18-
MATERIALS: 18-18-20-22-22 stitches back.
DROPS LIMA from Garnstudio Turn, tighten strand and purl
(belongs to yarn group B) 27-27-27-30-33-33 stitches,
350-350-400-450-500-550 g turn, tighten strand and knit
colour 0100, o white 36-36-36-40-44-44 stitches
150-150-150-150-200-200 g back. Turn, tighten strand and
colour 0519, dark grey purl 45-45-45-50-55-55
KNITTING TENSION: stitches, turn, tighten strand
20 stitches in width and 26 rows and knit 54-54-54-60-66-66
in height with stocking stitch = stitches back. Turn, tighten the
10 x 10 cm. strand and purl 17-17-17-17-21-21
NEEDLES: stitches past the marker thread
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED in the middle of the back. Move
NEEDLES SIZE 4.5 MM. the marker thread here. Then
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE work YOKE as described in the
SIZE 4.5 MM: Length 40 cm and text.
80 cm for stocking stitch.
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED KNITTING TIP:
NEEDLES SIZE 3.5 MM. To avoid the knitting tension
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE becoming tighter when working
SIZE 3.5 MM: Length 40 cm and pattern it is important that
80 cm for rib. the strands at the back are not
Needle size is only a guide. If tight. Use a size larger needle
you get too many stitches on 10 when working pattern if this is a
cm, change to a larger needle problem.
size. If you get too few stitches
on 10 cm, change to a smaller CASTING OFF TIP:
needle size. To avoid the cast-o edge being
PATTERN: tight you can cast o with a ½
See diagrams A.1 to A.6. size larger needle.
Pattern A.1 is worked in rib.
Patterns A.2 to A.6 are worked DECREASE TIP (for sleeves):
in stocking stitch. Decrease 1 stitch on each side
INCREASE TIP (evenly of the marker thread as follows:
spaced): Work until there are 2 stitches
To work out how to increase le before the marker thread,
evenly, count the total number knit 2 together with o -white,
of stitches on the needle (e.g. (marker thread sits here), slip
88 stitches) and divide by the 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 1 with
number of increases to be made o -white and pass the slipped
(e.g. 8) = 11. stitch over the knitted stitch.
In this example, increase by
making 1 yarn over a er each DIAGRAM
11th stitch. On the next round
knit the yarn overs twisted to = o white
avoid holes. = dark grey
ELEVATION (back of neck): = between 2 stitches make 1 yarn
Skip this section if you do not over; on the next round knit the
yarn over twisted to avoid a hole
= shows 1 repeat in height and how
the patterns are positioned above
each other

32 WOMANSWAY.IE

KNITTING

Knitted jumper with Nordic Icelandic Continue, repeating the patterns as shown stitches and allow it to follow your work
pattern and raglan in DROPS Lima. in A.2/A.4. Diagram A.3 is worked 2 more onwards; it will be used when decreasing
The piece is worked top down. Sizes times in width each time the 16 rows are mid under sleeve. Start the round by the
S - XXXL. repeated in height. Continue increasing marker thread and work A.6 in the round
like this for a total of 22-26-30-32-32-34 (= 8-9-10-11-12-12 repeats of 8 stitches) –
JUMPER times on each side of A.2/A.4. When the start with the correct stitch and row in the
last increase is finished there are 272-304- diagram so the pattern is repeated as before
Short overview of the piece: 336-368-384-400 stitches on the needle in both width and height, but the first and
e neck, yoke and body are worked in the and the piece measures approx. 17-20-23- last stitch of the round are always worked
25-25-26 cm from the neck-edge. Continue with off-white (to give neat decreases
round with circular needle, top down. the pattern as before but without further under the sleeve).
After the neck you can work an elevation increases until the piece measures 19-21- When the piece measures 2 cm from the
to make the neck slightly higher at the 23-25-27-29 cm from the neck. division decrease 2 stitches mid under
back. is elevation can be left out; the neck sleeve – read DECREASE TIP. Decrease like
will then be the same front and back – see e next round is worked as follows: this every 3½-2½-2-1½-1-1 cm a total of 11-
description in text. e sleeves are worked Work 80-88-96-102-110-116 stitches as 14-17-20-23-22 times = 42-44-46-48-50-52
in the round with short circular needle/ before (= back piece), place the next 56- stitches left on needles. Continue working
double pointed needles, top down. 64-72-80-80-80 stitches on 1 thread for until the piece measures 41-39-38-36-
sleeve, cast on 8-8-8-8-16-16 new stitches 34-33 cm from the division – or to desired
NECK: on the needle (= in side under sleeve), work length; there is approx. 4 cm left to finished
80-88-96-104-112-120 stitches as before length. NOTE: shorter measurements in
Cast on 88-92-96-104-108-112 stitches with (= front piece), place the next 56-64-72- larger sizes due to wider neck and longer
short circular needle size 3.5 mm and dark 80-80-80 stitches on 1 thread for sleeve, yoke – adjust so you finish after a complete
grey. Change to off-white and knit 1 round, cast on 8-8-8-8-16-16 new stitches on the repeat in height. Change to double pointed
then work rib (= knit 2/ purl 2) for 4 cm. needle (= in side under sleeve), work the needles size 3.5 mm and knit 1 round with
Now work A.1 in rib. last 0-0-0-2-2-4 stitches as before (= back off-white where you increase 2-0-2-0-2-0
Knit 1 round with off-white where you piece). Cut the strand. Body and sleeves stitches evenly spaced = 44-44-48-48-52-
increase 8-4-0-8-20-16 stitches evenly are finished separately. THE PIECE IS NOW 52 stitches. Work A.1 in rib (= knit 2/ purl 2).
spaced – read INCREASE TIP = 96-96-96- MEASURED FROM HERE! When A.1 has been completed, cast off with
112-128-128 stitches. Change to circular knit over knit and purl over purl using dark
needle size 4.5 mm. Insert a marker thread BODY: grey – remember CASTING OFF TIP. Work
at the beginning of the round, or in the the other sleeve in the same way.
middle of the back if you want to work an = 176-192-208-224-256-272 stitches. Insert 1
ELEVATION in the back of the neck – read marker thread on the one side of the piece, ASSEMBLY:
description above or go straight to YOKE. in the middle of the 8-8-8-8-16-16 stitches
cast on under the sleeve. Allow the thread Fold the neck to the wrong side. Sew
YOKE: to follow your work onwards; it marks the cast-on edge down using dark grey –
the beginning of the round. Work A.6 in sew small, neat stitches on the inside of
e first round is worked as follows: Work the round (= 22-24-26-28-32-34 repeats the jumper (make sure the seam does not
A.2 (= 1 stitch), A.3 over the next 32-32-32- of 8 stitches) – start with the correct stitch show on the right side and the seam is not
32-40-40 stitches (= 4-4-4-4-5-5 repeats and row in the diagram so the pattern tight). WW
of 8 stitches) and A.4 (= 1 stitch) = back is repeated as before in both width and
piece, work A.5 (= 2 stitches) = raglan-line, height.
A.2 (= 1 stitch), A.3 over the next 8-8-8- Continue working until the piece measures
16-16-16 stitches (= 1-1-1-2-2-2 repeats approx. 24 cm from the division – adjust to
of 8 stitches) and A.4 (= 1 stitch) = sleeve, after a complete repeat in height. Change
work A.5 (= 2 stitches) = raglan-line, A.2 to circular needle size 3.5 mm and knit 1
(= 1 stitch), A.3 over the next 32-32-32-32- round with off-white where you increase
40-40 stitches (= 4-4-4-4-5-5 repeats of 36-36-40-44-48-52 stitches evenly spaced
8 stitches) and A.4 (= 1 stitch) = front piece, = 212-228-248-268-304-324 stitches. Work
work A.5 (= 2 stitches) = raglan-line, A.2 (= A.1 in rib (= knit 2/ purl 2). When A.1 has
1 stitch), A.3 over the next 8-8-8-16-16-16 been completed, cast off with knit over knit
stitches (= 1-1-1-2-2-2 repeats of 8 stitches) and purl over purl using dark grey – read
and A.4 (= 1 stitch) = sleeve. Finally work CASTING OFF TIP.
A.5 (= 2 stitches) = raglan-line. ere are
now 104-104-104-120-136-136 stitches on SLEEVE:
the needle (= the first increase to raglan is
finished). Place the 56-64-72-80-80-80 stitches
Continue this pattern; i.e. increase 1 from the thread on the one side of the piece
stitch on each side of A.2/A.4 (= a total of on short circular needle/double pointed
8 stitches increased every 2nd round). needles size 4.5 mm and knit up 1 stitch
Read KNITTING TIP and REMEMBER THE in each of the 8-8-8-8-16-16 stitches
KNITTING TENSION! When A.2 to A.4 have cast on under the sleeve = 64-72-80-88-
been worked 1 time in height there are 176- 96-96 stitches. Insert 1 marker thread
176-176-192-208-208 stitches on the needle. in the middle of the 8-8-8-8-16-16 new

WOMANSWAY.IE 33

BOOKS

He o Jackie! ONE TO
WATCH
Clare Mackintosh, Fanny Blake, Catherine
Steadman, Daisy Buchanan and Jade Beer HAmaredriTcoa FWinads
have written exclusive introductions to
their favourite Jackie Collins novels. e re- by Kathleen Alcott
issues are part of the ongoing programme to (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
celebrate Jackie’s writing legacy. Jackie wrote
32 novels, each a bestseller and the author sold In the late 1950s, against the backdrop of
over 500 million copies in 40 countries.
the Mojave Desert, an Air Force test pilot
WOMAN’S WAY BOOKS
WRITING CLASS and a bartender have a brief but intense
THIS WEEK YOU
Each week, we’ll be giving advice for anyone CAN WIN A COPY OF affair. Each will go on to find fame, infamy
looking to make 2020 the year they begin THE 24-HOUR CAFÉ
writing their book, short story or blog BY LIBBY PAGE AND or both. Vincent Kahn will become an
(and everything in between). We’ll pick an FOUR SISTERS BY VAL
important theme or topic and give some WOOD. TO ENTER, astronaut and the first man to walk on the
pointers that may help if the muse hasn’t hit SIMPLY ANSWER THE
you yet. FOLLOWING QUESTION moon, while Fay will be wanted for violent
AND COMPLETE THE
This week we’re talking Geography – ENTRY FORM ON acts of political terrorism, campaigning
location is paramount, particularly if you’re PAGE 43: WHO WROTE
basing your work somewhere that’s well AMERICA WAS HARD against the horrors of the Vietnam war
known. Be careful that timings are correct TO FIND?
– it doesn’t take 15 minutes to get from for which she believes the space race has
Dun Laoghaire to Rosslare so don’t think OMAUR5TCH
your reader will go along with it. And things become a shield. e third voice of the
like that do matter, maybe not to someone
who’s reading your book and doesn’t know novel is from the next generation. Wright,
Ireland or your chosen location well, but the
inconsistencies will infuriate a local reader. the unsuspecting consequence of a desert

Are you writing? What are your tips for romance, becomes the by-product of
other WW readers? Email Áine at
[email protected] his parents’ wars, denied a clear future

YACORNER without first finding his cause. Kathleen

THE PURE HEART Alcott is an author to watch.

by Trudi Tweedie (Chicken House) Áine

When 17-year-old Iseabail is employed by THE PAPER
a wealthy merchant to be his daughter’s BRACELET
companion, her life changes for ever. Transported from her remote
island home to the Scottish borderlands, Iseabail is unnerved both by her precocious, by Rachael English
unpredictable young charge and the house’s secrets. (Hachette Books Ireland)
This is one of my books
A TREASON OF THORNS for 2020 and it’s only February. It’s
a real skill to take real events, and
by Laura Weymouth (Chicken House) heartbreaking events at that, and
create a story that will entertain and
When her father is convicted of treason, Violet is exiled from her beloved ancestral give you pause for thought. Katie, a
home, Burleigh House. One of the six great estates of England, its magic once kept former nurse in a mother and baby
her well – enchantment in its bricks and mortar providing secret hiding places, even home, has kept a box of paper identity
lighting fires on the coldest nights. However, on her return Violet discovers that the bracelets from the babies born there,
place has gone wild with grief. as well as a notebook with their
mothers’ details. A er her husband
dies, Katie decides to send the
information out there, to try and help
reunite adopted people with their birth
mothers. As you can expect, there’s
heartache, sadness, joy and failure
as Katie and her niece turn detective/
counsellor. It is an emotional read
that had me smiling in parts, crying in
others. The di erent stories intertwine
and you know there’s a twist coming…
and it’s so satisfying when it comes.
I read it in one go and it was a
pleasure to read Rachael’s beautifully
researched novel.

34 WOMANSWAY.IE

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her three younger sisters ever since
WOMANSWAY.IE 35
their mother’s death ten years ago. She

and the girls’ beloved father have

worked hard to keep the family together

and now it’s time to celebrate as Matty turns

eighteen. But their joy is shortlived when tragedy

suddenly strikes.

The Wreckage

by Robin Morgan-Bentley (Trapeze)

Ben is driving on the motorway, on his usual
commute to the school where he works. A day
like any other, except for Adam, who in a last
despairing act jumps in front of Ben’s car, and
in killing himself, turns the teacher’s world upside
down.

Into the Labyrinth

by Donato Carrisi (Little Brown)

A young woman wakes up in a hospital bed,
disoriented and with a broken leg. With her is
a man who introduces himself as Dr White, a
criminal profiler. He explains that her name is
Samantha, that she has been kidnapped and kept
prisoner, but managed to escape.

By Áine Toner Two Sisters

by Josephine Cox (HarperCollins)

Ellen, loyal and honest, is her father’s favourite,
but Georgina is impulsive and unreliable, and
can’t please a father who has never shown her
love. e big house, Grindle Hall, offers them
both a chance of betterment, but while Ellen
follows the steady path, Georgina takes a darker
road and soon, her actions will have fateful
consequences for them all.

READER FICTION

The dress

She had saved all her extra money for the intricate neckline she didn’t notice her on her sister’s face told her that all her
weeks and now she had the material to boss walking down the floor towards where hard work that day had been worth it.
make herself a dress for the big dance she was working. Her friends knew what She explained to her how she had made
in the Mansion House in Dublin city she was doing and so one of them let out a the dress and how she would escape and
centre. Her widowed father would go loud cry as if she would faint to distract him go the dance. He’ll strap me if he finds
for a drink on Tuesday night as always from where he was heading and she quickly out but it will be worth it.
a er men’s sodality and if she was fast changed the thread on the machine and
enough she would have her dress made went back to work. Her sister was to tell her father that
by the time he came home. She had she had a bad headache and she had
already cut the material to match the The dress was almost finished and it was gone to bed but instead of going to bed
paper pattern she had bought. pay day. The boss would spend the next she climbed down the bathroom drain
hour paying the sta and she would finish pipe, careful not to catch her new dress
When she arrived home from work in the dress just as soon as he le the floor. in anything on the way down and o she
the sewing factory on Tuesday she set went to meet her friends to go to the
about making dinner so that not a minute She was on her way home on the bus, dance.
would be wasted. her new dress in the bag on her knee and
all she needed to do was ask her father’s She had a wonderful time and she
As soon as her father had gone out she permission to go to the dance that night. danced the night away with a slim
would open her mother’s sewing machine handsome man she had seen before at
and she would make her dress. She took extra care cooking his dinner the dances. He asked if he could meet her
that evening and made sure everything was again and she agreed.
However, at dinner her father told her in its place as he sat at the table.
that he would not go out tonight as Fr He le her home where her sister was
Breslin was on retreat and there would be A er dinner as herself and her sister waiting to let her in and she went to bed,
no sodality. cleaned up, with her heart racing she pleasantly tired and happy. Her father
casually asked if she could go to the dance never knew she had gone out and he
Her mind raced, how would she make and to her horror he said no. never knew about her new dress and all
her dress? Her father would not allow she had gone through to make it.
anyone use his late wife’s sewing machine Tears welled up in her eyes but she was
and she knew better than to ask, but not about to give up that easily. Two years later she married the man
soon she knew what she would do. she had met that night at the dance.
She waited a while, made him a cup of My beautiful mother and my wonderful
As a seamstress she was pay by piece tea and went to her room but not to sulk, father.
work and always met her target and she was going to that dance.
even made a bonus most weeks and by
Thursday evening she had her quota She got herself ready quietly and then
reached as she was a very diligent worker. called her sister to their bedroom. The look

Friday morning arrived and she had
packed the material into a bag and was
on the bus to work extra early.

She would lose her job if she was
caught making the dress but she could
always get another one.

She started working on the dress and
by the time her boss came in she had the
best part of it made, he always went for a
smoke a er his cup of tea at 11am. So she
took no morning break but instead she
got another part of the dress made.

Lunch was half an hour, so she took
ten minutes and used the rest of her
break to almost complete the dress. She
decided to finish it and as she worked on

Want to be published in Woman’s Way? By Sean Redmond

We are always looking for reader fiction! To get involved, simply email a short story of approximately 800 words to Áine at
[email protected]. If you require the submission requirements, she’ll email them back to you. Happy writing.

36 WOMANSWAY.IE

T here, I said it: OPINION

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

WILL MANDATORY CALORIE POSTING IN RESTAURANTS BE
IN EVERYONE’S BEST INTEREST ASKS DOMHNALL O’DONOGHUE

“You realise how calorific of Ireland revealed that 95 impact local producers and fish such as mackerel versus
that is?” my health- per cent of those surveyed farmers whose ingredients the calories from a bowl of
conscious friend once supported these initial plans vary from season to season. chocolate ice-cream,” she
quizzed as I was enjoying while a newly released study explains.
some dessert. “Anywhere conducted by the Economic Beaufield Mews, the
between 400 - 500!” and Social Research Institute former Stillorgan eatery, “I’d be concerned that
found that displaying such even argued that the the public may equate the
If it hadn’t been for the data “resulted in a drop government’s lack of nutrient quality of food
masticated mixture sealing in the calories consumers understanding about the with its calories, which is
my teeth together, my jaw ordered for lunch and an difficulties restaurants definitely not the case in the
would have hit the floor! even bigger drop in the face was “one of the many above example.”
Wasn’t that almost a quarter calories they ate.” reasons we closed down.”
of my daily allowance? Furthermore, Joanne
I assumed that this As an alternative, there is aware that introducing
At the time of this addition to menus across were calls for greater calories could, for some, add
exchange, my knowledge of the country would benefit emphasis on food education unnecessary anxiety to the
nutrition had been limited. people like me, striving to be in schools or highlighting experience and recognises
better informed. However, the healthier options on that dining out isn’t just
roughout my twenties, I quickly learned of the menus. about breaking bread - the
I’d seen food as fuel rather fierce resistance within the social aspect is equally as
than something that should industry - including chefs Undecided, I spoke to important.
be analysed. However, after from Michelin-starred Joanne Gribbin, nutritional
ushering in a new decade, I restaurants such as Chapter therapist and founder of “If you’re celebrating
began paying more attention One’s Ross Lewis and Liath’s LifeForce Nutrition. In a special occasion, I’d
to conversations around Damien Grey. addition to her Navan- recommend that you relax
nourishment and nutrition. based clinic, she has and enjoy the celebration,”
(I’d little choice - along with Words and phrases like previously collaborated Joanne says. “If you’re eating
an IBS diagnosis, it seemed “expensive,” “inaccurate,” with restaurants on recipe at lunchtime during your
that age had cruelly insisted and “impossible to enforce” calculations. working day, I’d advise
on dramatically slowing appeared in many of the thinking of what activity you
down my metabolism). heated discussions. ere “A major concern my might be doing later - this
were also concerns about the clients have with eating can guide you on how big a
One such conversation that standardisation of menus, out is knowing what’s in meal should be.”
piqued my interest began which would, consequently, their food and wondering if
in 2012. Spearheaded by the X meal is healthier than Y She suggests simple
Irish government, calorie 500 meal,” Joanne reports. “For but useful tips, including
posting in premises was set people trying to be more opting for vegetables or
to become mandatory. conscious about the calorie salad instead of chips and
content of their food, this keeping an eye on sauces and
Despite several attempts, proposal could be a sensible dressings.
the initial proposals didn’t option.”
quite cut the mustard and Joanne concludes: “I take
never materialised - but “However,” she cautions, a balanced view of nutrition.
the topic was recently “it could dissuade a person If you eat as close to nature
revisited. from ordering what they as possible, move every
want to have because of day, stay hydrated and
People are now the guilt our current diet socialise with people, you
eating out more culture has created.” immediately feel better and
frequently so, the energised.”
government argued, Joanne echoes an
calorie posting could argument made by several By making more educated
empower us “to make chefs that not all calories are decisions, not based on
informed choices” about created equal. calories alone, it seems we
what we consume. really can have our cake and
“Consider the calories eat it too. WW
e Food Safety Authority from a fresh piece of omega 3

WOMANSWAY.IE 37

The importanceof

loofolkooinkginbgacbkack

MARITA CONLON-MCKENNA’S NEW BOOK SHOWCASES THE FAMINE THROUGH NEW SETS OF EYES

“You need to take history and tell had anticipated. it down in fact for the future. e fact
it through the right eyes, that’s so “I saw beautiful locations along the that he put so much effort into it, he was
important.” We are sitting at Marita such a meticulous kind of man, I felt
Conlon-McKenna’s kitchen table, Wild Atlantic Way, down to West Cork, it was a message that he put it there to
having tea and biscuits, and discussing absolutely fantastic aspects over the sea, be read. It was in the Skibbereen, Cork
her latest novel, e Hungry Road. e tumbled cottages and old stone walls. and Dublin papers, then e Illustrated
10-year-old me who read Marita’s first I kept having this image of a ruined London News, the second highest selling
book (and modern classic surely) Under cottage on a beautiful piece of land paper in the UK after e Times, then the
the Hawthorn Tree and sobbed about overlooking the Atlantic and thinking American and some European papers.
the characters’ arduous trip to the other what happened there. e story was
side of Ireland, is suitably excited. going to be that someone in America is country doctor doing all this and I
inherits this bit of land, or they buy it thought, if I was doing a book I’d have to
“I just love Irish history,” says Marita. in Ireland, and they come back to trace include him. If I hadn’t found Dr Dan’s
“Apparently when I was 12, I told my their family. e Famine would come in diary he wouldn’t be in the book and
history teacher – she was from Glasgow, but it was going to be a modern story. it wouldn’t be the same, it would be a
she was a kind of Miss Jean Brodie, much weaker book.
feisty woman – that I was going to write “But when I started writing, I started
a book about the Irish Famine. We’d researching the Famine again and “ en I was reading about the local
barely touched it in school but I was there’s so much more available now. I parish priest, what he was doing, Fr
very curious and I’ve always tried to just found the present part was going Fitzpatrick, and I felt I was getting to
find things out. I remember when Under away and away and away and I was know these good people in the town
really interested in the past. It was going who had such good intentions and this
e Hawthorn Tree came out, she told me to be West Cork or Kerry anyway as calamity, like a big wave, came on top
that I had told her I’d do it.” that’s where I saw the cottage. ere’s of them, and they really struggled to do
Abbeystrowry graveyard in Skibbereen their best. I thought that people didn’t
When it comes to writing, she likes, where there are 9,000 coffinless bodies know what those in towns did.
‘to take the different angle, not the buried in the pits. My grandmother is
obvious one.’ e Hungry Road was buried in the graveyard, she died when “ ere have been a few books about
meant to be titled e Cottage but my mum was only 11. It was always a the Famine but they’re about ground
circumstances ensured that what was place of special feeling for me.” down peasants and the big house, the
published was different to what Marita master with the whip and the bounding
A frequent visitor to Skibbereen hounds. ere’s also a massive big
and West Cork, Marita noticed a small romance in it too, but there’s absolutely
plaque dedicated to Dr Dan Donovan, no romance in my book.”
who, while working for the good of the
area, published Diary of a Dispensary Marita knew she wanted to include a
Doctor, detailing the reality of the plight tenant farmer, the original plan for e
for those affected by the famine. Cottage, and Mary Sullivan was created,
developing into a significant character.
“What he was doing and what Like Fr Fitzpatrick, Dr Donovan and
he undertook was incredible,” says his wife, Henrietta, seamstress Mary
Marita. “Even though he was all day recounts the events that changed
in the workhouse, in the town, in Ireland in the 1840s.
the dispensary, even though he was
exhausted he would take out his pen “I wanted her to be something before
and paper every night and write. I felt she got married and I just had a picture
he wanted to record it for the time to be of her with thread and scissors – so I had
remembered but I also felt he wanted her as a seamstress,” explains Marita. “It
was only meant to be a by-line, not a big

38 WOMANSWAY.IE

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

By Áine Toner thing, but I knew that when things were “People think the I wasn’t writing, I’d be a researcher or a
bad, that she would work. Famine was a passive historian. Once I got his [Dan’s] diaries,
disaster, but I wanted I’ve actually toned down in the book as
“When the potatoes fail, she vows to to what I’ve read.
never let her children go hungry, that’s to show that, no,
how the first part of the book ends. She people were doing “Nearly everything he does in the
represents tenant farmers who fought things. Everyone book is recorded, there’s only a tiny bit
tooth and nail. Everyone thinks they was trying to do of artistic license. I just felt it was real,
laid down and died. and incredible. It’s about stuff that is
something” there for all to see but has been unseen,
“People think the Famine was a or has been seen but not acted on.”
passive disaster, but I wanted to show United States, in the hope of a better life.
that, no, people were doing things. “ e Famine clung to them. It marked She’s no stranger to history research
Everyone was trying to do something, and having written books on 1916 (Rebel
they didn’t lie down and die. ere was them and changed them,” says Marita of Sisters – I’d recommend reading), the
a lot more going on than people think. those who made the crossing. Magdalene laundries, World War Two,
the travelling community, among other
“I just wanted to have different eyes “Some had strength and courage subjects, she’s ready to write differently.
to tell the same story. I felt if I was to forge on and build a new life but
bringing a big romance into this, it was unfortunately, some didn’t, some were “ e really big parts of history that
taking away from what was happening. so traumatised that they didn’t get over interest me, I can rest easy, I’ve done
I wanted people to read the book and it. ey must have had PTSD but didn’t them and I can go and write books that
care about Mary, Henrietta, Dan, Fr know of it at the time. I wanted people are nothing like that now,” she says.
Fitzpatrick, the town and the people.” to get that feeling that just because they
left, that wasn’t the end of it.” “I love reading historical fiction. I’ve
We talk about luck when someone a grá for reading about the present, but
casually mentions something to you that Marita’s depth and breadth of research also about the past. Fiction
will later appear in a book (no spoilers is to be applauded and I would have is about finding the good
but it involves an animal) and the depth happily sat all day in her home listening characters and then you
of research that goes into telling a story to what she found. have your story.” WW
of this magnitude while ‘plaiting so
many elements together for a reader.’ “ ere was so much more now than The Hungry Road by Marita Conlon-
there was 30 years ago,” she says, McKenna (Transworld)
e Hungry Road also details life post- comparing it to when she wrote Under is available now
Famine, when one family, out of so many, the Hawthorn Tree. “I loved research, if
makes the treacherous journey to the

WOMANSWAY.IE 39

Aisle remember it all

WILL SARAH AND ADAM’S WEDDING WEEK GO WITHOUT A HITCH? WE WOULDN’T BET ON IT

QUITE
THE
EVENT!

Coronation Street wanting to know why Yasmeen was Also this week
crying. Not getting the answer she wants,
It’s the week of Sarah and Adam’s Alya visits Yas and questions her. Later, › Who commits to their future?
wedding. Gary suggests to Maria that Geoff does the whole emotional blackmail › Aggie’s back in nursing
they get on with booking their own thing with Yas as she comforts him. › Who agrees to a fitness routine?
wedding (surprise, surprise). Meanwhile,
can Adam reconcile Sarah and Bethany in Geoff also wants to pay for Tim and
time before he says ‘I do’? Sally’s wedding. Convinced that Ray is
trying to sabotage her reputation, Alya
Daniel leaves Sinead’s things on a resolves to do some digging.
couple’s doorstep. Way harsh, Daniel.
At the wedding, Beth is quick to Jade wants Tyrone to let her see Hope
congratulate Bethany on airbrushing again but he’s non-committal. Tyrone
Sinead out of their lives. Oops. Just as tells Fiz that at Hope’s insistence, he’s
Daniel is breaking down while delivering bought a cheap bracelet for Jade for her
his best man’s speech. birthday. is won’t end well, will it? Has
Jade pushed them too far?
Later, Daniel talks to Adam about what
he’s proposing to do. is is not a good Adam dupes Ali into confessing to his
idea, Daniel, repeat: this is not a good recent fling with Maria. Ooh, he’s such a
idea. Do not do it. better pick for Maria than Gary!

But back to Bethany. She decides, in a Elsewhere, Nina wants to go bat
mature way, to follow her own path and watching with Uncle Roy rather than
clarifies what she’s going to do. head to a gig with Amy, Simon and Asha.

Alya wants answers from Geoff, And Craig wants to lose some weight
(but still loves cake).

40 WOMANSWAY.IE

SOAPS

Emmerdale EastEnders Fair City

ings seem to be on the up for one Iqra has exciting news which enables her Bosco is appalled that his threat was
villager but someone important in their to make grand plans with Keegan. taken seriously. Can he iron things out?
life may be more affected than they And he is really that bad a driver?
realise. Cue revelation after revelation Chantelle tries to support Gray but it
(and not all of them will be welcomed). doesn’t go terribly well. Jane gives Hayley an ultimatum as
And then boiling point... Aidan threatens Carol, who has a plan.
Someone plans to go travelling but their Meanwhile, Lee lies to Anto about his
Tracy’s upset when Cara makes a dig loved ones are less than impressed. working relationship with Aidan.
at her but the latter is taken back when
another resident suggests she’s being Jay plans a family afternoon to cheer Mairead and Phoebe clash over what
super judgemental. Lexi up, but he isn’t prepared for a the right thing to do is. ere may not be
bombshell. Get ready for this... a ‘right’ thing in this case. Meanwhile,
Dawn’s overjoyed but Will barely what does Will decide to plead?
manages to raise a smile. But why? Meanwhile, the walls begin to close
in on someone’s lies as someone makes Melanie accuses Juliet of rearranging
Victoria’s worried when Wendy crosses plans to get to the bottom of things. the cupboard as a cruel joke... but who is
a boundary while Chas reluctantly offers the cupboard re-arranger? Maybe it’s a
someone a job at the scrapyard. Linda and Mick are thrilled when chance to bond.
Ollie wins second place in a competition
because of his homemade costume.

Holby City Ros na Rún EastEnders’ Emma coSnfiOdeAntPial
Barton (Honey
Mitchell) has said

who she wants

her character to

end up with. “I’m

not going to lie,

speaking as Emma

I do think Honey

and Billy belong

together,” Emma

told the Radio

Times. “They write

Max finds herself in a desolate state after In true village style, someone lets so brilliantly and
receiving blindsiding news, but following another’s secret out of the bag... before
her fall out with Ric has she lost her that person needs to tell another. And truthfully for them so it’s not like they
closest confidante? Say it isn’t so, Max, we that’s right before a tragedy.
like this partnership! will just simply pick up, there is always
After a much needed heart-to-heart,
Max tasks Jac and Kian to decide who Bobbi Lee needs to bond with You Know a journey with those characters and I
should be Clinical Lead, but neither are Who. Is this the start of a new beginning?
quite ready to take on the baton. love that. Let’s see where her and Billy’s
Will Caitríona do the right thing or is a
Will a challenging case unite Darwin’s prison sentence on the horizon? She finds relationship goes…” The snag is that
top consultants? potential buyers (for her stolen goods) but
things will become nasty. Billy is currently romancing Karen Taylor,
A loved-up Essie attempts to do the
right thing, but her joy is short-lived Frances is feeling unwell and Malachaí which is fine, because we have a so
when shocking revelations threaten her wants to nurse her back to health. Will he
friendship with Dom. get his own way? spot for Karen (and an even so er spot

By Áine Toner for son Keanu). BUT... we do think that

Honey and Billy should end up together

regardless of how things have worked out

currently. Watch this space.

WOMANSWAY.IE 41

SELF-MADE

Buzzing with success with
Bumblebee Flower Farm

MAGS RIODRAN TELLS US HOW SHE STARTED HER DREAM COMPANY

Mags Riordan is a professional “I invested in myself through from her answer how passionate you’ll get a selection of pollinator By Niamh Shields
florist, columnist and founder online workshops with the she is about her job. friendly seeds for you to take
of the Bumblebee Flower Farm internationally renowned Erin home and make your own magical
located in Noen Hill, West Cork. Benzakein of Floret Flower “To me my flowers are the bumblebee friendly oasis. This
“I’m a city girl, born and bred, Farm and learned how to grow most breathtakingly beautiful is an opportunity to experience
never had a garden and didn’t commercially on a small farm blooms in the world. They are Bumblebee Flower Farm and gain
know the di erence between using high intensity plantings and so much more than just flowers an insight into what we do and
an annual and a perennial,” successional sowings. I went on because they support a huge why we do things the way we do.
she says. “It wasn’t until I to study in UCC for their Diploma range of fauna especially my Introducing you to the wonderful
moved to West Cork in the in speciality food production beloved bumblebees. All that we world of edible flowers, pollinator
early 1990s that I got my first and graduated in 2018. This grow here is with the intention friendly plantings.”
garden, started planting and was one of my greatest of keeping our bees alive and
couldn’t stop. This is where I achievements personally. This led in turn creating the air that we In true self-made fashion I
really got to understand the to UCC’s Ignite entrepreneurial breathe. Our beautiful flowers asked our entrepreneur of the
cycle of life and how we are all programme, which was the and foliage are the end result of week does she have a life motto
connected, and every action has toughest and most rewarding our work. We truly believe you and she gave us not one but two.
a reaction.” year I ever put down. I never can cultivate beauty that has a
spent so much time outside my positive and supportive e ect on “The most certain way to
Fast forward to 2002 with the comfort zone as I did on the our environment.” succeed is always to try just one
move to Castledonovan to a four- programme. I wouldn’t be where I more time,” and in true brand
acre blank field, where it became am today if it wasn’t for it.” There have been many style, “Bee kind.’” WW
Mag’s life project. highlights to date for the
I asked Mags what flowers entrepreneur that she couldn’t For more information
“The farm started as a refuge meant to her and you could tell possibly pick one. on Bumblebee Flower
for wildlife by creating safe Farm, log onto
corridors and habitats and that “We truly “Working with chefs is another bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie
has evolved into Bumblebee believe you can part I really enjoy especially our Have a small business
Flower Farm with healthy diverse cultivate beauty collaborations with Eddie Attwell and want your story
eco-systems that supports and that has a positive for our pop-up Flora, Fauna and told? Contact Niamh at
protects our ever-growing flora and supportive Food event as part of a Taste of [email protected]
and fauna,” says Mags. West Cork Food Festival,” says
effect on our Mags. “Winning the Euro-Toques
The florist discussed how environment” Land Award for our sustainably
she had very low confidence in grown edible flowers grown in
expanding the business until she respect for biodiversity last year
discovered her dyslexia diagnosis, was a huge honour for us.”
which transformed her life.
This year already has been
“I discovered I was dyslexic unstoppable for the florist.
a few years ago, this was the Mags and team have no desire
turning point for me personally of slowly down either. “This is
and professionally. I can’t begin already an incredible year for
to explain the relief and weight us with the introduction of our
that was li ed from me. It helped online Gi of Life bouquets
me understand why I struggled with nationwide delivery. We
so much with some things launched this service just before
and why I excelled at others. I Valentines.”
had a new found belief in my
capabilities and for the first Mags is also hosting early
time believed I could become a spring workshops for those who
businesswoman and thus began want to gain further insight.
my entrepreneurial journey.”
“The first of our open days
Mags took the bold step to is on March 29. We’ll have a
get involved in workshops and talk and tour of the farm with a
return back to college. focus on planting and pollinator
friendly plants and flowers, and

42 WOMANSWAY.IE

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DANA’S RETURN OOH! GREEN ANGEL GOODIES UP FOR GRABSIRRYEAOELLAAULDNRD platform. Lovely to read of how her parents young then 18 year old girl! Good luck Dana
YOUR LIFE YOUR WEEK YOUR READ kept her grounded at such a young age and I now look forward to purchasing My
- she has always come across as a very Time and listening to your music once again.
I really enjoyed WINLPUKAXICLUKLRAAYGSHESPEINAE mheearlos modest, unassuming woman. MARAGRET O’CONNOR, CO KERRY
reading the article on (THEY WON’T
Dana. The title seems What really struck me in this article OVER TO US
apt as Dana has had ArecoyImomumplruisontveiecnatitneigeo?nn was her honesty around her mental health
a rollercoaster ride and how she lacked confidence even in Thanks to Fiona from Co Meath who
over her long career. ‘I feel I have found her own ability at certain stages in her wrote in suggesting a feature. We value
Hard to believe that it myself again’ life. Counselling was her way of getting her time in suggesting an interviewee
help and well done Dana for sharing this and we don’t place someone’s
bookGiving back special NEEXWCLRURESAEIADVDSEE(ERTXOFTIRWCATICINOT!SN) AEXSPKETRTHESTYLE ADVICE insight. The fact that she said she has achievements over another when it
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Ma echeatrSitraOblleiveic,on ¤1.7917th February 2020 forward is great to read.
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I love her life motto, to not judge the and at the moment, we don’t have a
CONFRONTATION book by the cover and to meet people with facility to post out knitting patterns but
a smile as we never know what is going on if you email Áine, she can email it to you
is 50 years since her big in anyone’s life. So true! directly. Thanks.

win. I can still remember her beautiful I’m sure like so may more readers that
we are looking forward to seeing the
voice on the night and how quiet and shy documentary about the Eurovision and
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she appeared on such a massive world

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Competition entry form DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE

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Address:
Your answer: Your answer:
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Page 34 Win books Competitions, Issue 8, Rosemount House,
Your answer: Dundrum Road, Dublin 14
or email [email protected]
A winner will be selected at random. Closing date: Midday, Monday,
March 9, 2020. Terms and Conditions apply. Editor’s decision is final. WOMANSWAY.IE 43

TAROT

SPOTLIGHT on birth cards

WHAT ARE BIRTH CARDS AND HOW CAN YOU FIND YOURS?

Did you know that you have WHAT IS MY search on your card and read when I first calculated my Illustrations by Samiramay | Dreamstime.com
a specific tarot card that BIRTH CARD? some other interpretations own birth card many years
corresponds to your date of on it. Or you might like to ago I hated it. Why? My birth
birth? Known as ‘birth cards’ When you have your sum look at a few different visual card is Strength and at the
these are very rarely spoken number, use the below to representations of it. time, I didn’t feel strong. I was
about, but to me, they’re one figure out which Major recovering from a long-term
of the most important pieces of Arcana card it relates to: WHAT IF MY BIRTH CARD illness, I had really poor health
information that we can know. IS A ‘BAD’ CARD? and I thought this was the
Knowing your tarot birth card 1. The Magician universe’s idea of sarcasm. I
is like being handed a key to 2. The High Priestess ere are a few cards in remember being quite upset.
the unique puzzle that is you. 3. The Empress the Major Arcana that
Our birth cards reflect back to 4. The Emperor immediately make people feel However, over the years of
us the highest potential of who 5. The Hierophant uncomfortable (namely Death, working with my birth card,
we can become, the lessons 6. The Lovers I’ve grown to resonate with it
we’re here to learn and they 7. The Chariot e Devil and e Tower). I so deeply.
show us how we can live well. 8. Strength/Justice want to take a second to relieve
9. The Hermit any fears you might have if you I can now see the gifts
In this new series, I’ll be 10. The Wheel of Fortune found that one of these cards is that Strength offers and it’s
showing you how you can 11. Justice/Strength your birth card. become the energy that I
calculate your own birth card, 12. The Hanged Man aspire to embody fully in my
what it means and how you 13. Death Firstly, there are zero ‘bad’ own life. And with every new
can use it to live your best life. 14. Temperance cards in the tarot deck. I will interpretation of that card
15. The Devil admit that the depiction of that I read, the more fully I
HOW TO CALCULATE 16. The Tower these cards doesn’t exactly know and understand myself.
YOUR CARD 17. The Star encourage us to feel serene Strength has been a gift and
18. The Moon when we look at them. But each a powerful tool for my own
ere are a few different ways 19. The Sun of these cards, contrary to the healing.
of calculation. I calculate using 20. Judgement negative stereotyping you may
the following method: 21. The World have seen in popular media, If your birth card doesn’t
1. Add every single number represents great transformation appeal to you straight away,
in your date of birth across cards correspond to the 21 and positivity. e Death card know that it’s been given to
until you have a final sum. cards in the Major Arcana (or does not mean literal death. It you for a reason and you will
E.g. 9/12/1984 becomes: ‘trumps’) of the tarot. ese means the death of what’s no come to understand it (and
9+1+2+1+9+8+4= 34. are the big cards that you’ve longer serving you and a rebirth even love it) over time as you
2. Take your sum number and probably seen on television that into a life that’s much happier. grow into its energy and learn
add it across again. E.g. 34 have names like e Lovers or the lessons that it offers to you.
becomes 3+4 = 7. Your birth Each of these cards represent
card is card number seven, e e Sun. positive change and powerful NEXT TIME…
Chariot. lessons. We just squirm when
ONCE YOU KNOW we see them because as humans In our next feature, we’ll be
It’s important when calculating YOUR CARD we’re hardwired to fear change. doing a deep dive into card
your card that you add any None of these cards mean number one The Magician.
sum number above 21 down to Once you know what your birth anything awful or that anything
a single or double digit. Birth card is, the fun can really begin. bad is going to happen to you.
Once a month on this page,
I’ll be doing an in-depth look WHAT IF I DON’T
at each birth card and offering LIKE MY BIRTH CARD?
insights into what it means and
how you can utilise the energy I’ll let you in on a little secret,
of that card to live your best
life. But when it comes to tarot
cards, we create the meaning
we ascribe to them. So I would
encourage you, now that you
know what your card is, to
do a little research on it. You
might like to do an internet

44 WOMANSWAY.IE

HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES

WHAT’S IN YOUR STARS THIS WEEK?

Pisces Aries

Feb 20 - Mar 20 Mar 21 - April 20

It is likely that you are Mixed messages coming
feeling emotionally your way this week can be
wobbly. is is not a confusing. Suggestions and
time for seeking advice new ideas are aplenty. is is
as looking to your inner a time, though, for seeking
self. Knowing what you the facts and not the fantasy.
want is not the same as When it comes to work,
knowing what is good for sudden decisions are not
you (and others). recommended.

Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo

April 21 - May 21 May 22 - June 21 June 22 - July 22 July 23 - Aug 23

Just giving yourself the time Do you have the feeling you are Relationships change over is is a week when you
to think properly is all that is going in the right direction? time. One which has recently feel appreciated and loved.
needed this week. Don’t be Good. Do you also have the become stronger seems to be Also, in realising your own
rushed or nagged into making feeling that there is much more shaping up well. As much as talents, you are able to build
any knee-jerk decisions. Fire to do? Spot on. Even so, you you want harmony though, your confidence. is is long
up your brain by getting out in don’t have to do everything be honest about your needs. overdue. e fresh enthusiasm
the fresh air and just letting life at once. Pacing yourself gives Not reacting to something it breeds draws others to you.
flow. is is when the answers the chance to think and adjust that you disagree with can be
start to come. things as you go along. worse than telling a lie. ere is nothing quite like the
smell of success, is there?

Virgo Libra Scorpio COMPETITION

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Be prepared to trust your Like to be in control? Has is week continues to see do is answer
instincts and take a flexible someone started nibbling your mood up and down. A bit the question
approach. is is especially away at one of your personal unbalanced in your future? using the
true when it comes to home spaces? Maybe you have Stand still for a moment. Some form on page
life. Maybe there has been less pulled back from a plan that good advice was given to you 43: Which
input in this area recently. used to be shared? Remember last week that you have not yet star sign is
Fine if you are happy with the that life goes on no matter how acted upon. Someone needs to represented by
results. Still, a little bit of give involved you are. Something see your support in action. Are the fish?
and take is necessary. of a rebalancing is needed. you ready to give it?
WOMANSWAY.IE 45

Health newsHHYADPPRYATION COMPARE IN TRAINING
FOR SAVINGS
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YOUR implemented by
WEEKLY the National Dairy
ROUND-UP Council in Ireland
OF ALL to highlight the
THINGS importance of milk
HEALTHY as an important
part of our diets
at all stages of CDOAMFFIONDGIUL PD…AY 2020
life. Chocked full of
electrolytes, a glass of Daffodil Day 2020 takes place on Friday,
milk contains essential March 27 and the Irish Cancer Society is
vitamins and minerals that encouraging people to get involved in order to
help fund essential supports for those in need.
help to support bone health, Speaking at the launch, Averil Power, Chief Executive
normal cognitive brain function, of the Irish Cancer Society said: “The Irish Cancer Society relies on
energy release and more. public donations to fund 97 per cent of its income, and needs to raise
€4 million on Daffodil Day alone. This money is used to fund crucial
services like the Daffodil Centres, free counselling and our Volunteer
Driver Service. We want our services to be available for everyone who
needs them. We cannot do this without the public’s support.”
Daffodil Day 2020 is supported by Boots Ireland. To find out how you
can get involved log on to www.cancer.ie

46 WOMANSWAY.IE

DATE FOR SOOTHE ROSACEA HEALTH NEWS
YOUR DIARY:
DENIM DAY Uriage Roséliane Range is a special anti- BRING ON
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Denim Day for Dementia returns on Friday, that’s subject to redness. We love the For the first time, Marbella Fitness Camp
March 6 and the campaign is asking Roséliane Anti-Redness Cream (€17.50). in the south of Spain is opening up its
everyone to don their denims and donate Rich and non-greasy, this cream helps to doors to Irish clients. The week-long fitness
€2 to help support the 55,000 people inhibit the key bootcamp is set to run from May 17 to 24
living with dementia and their carers. factors that trigger and will feature elite training from some
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reducing their
appearance on Get more pep in your
the surface of step first thing in the
the skin. morning by swapping
your beeping alarm
YWSHOHOUEW…NECWRLAECSAUNRTEHTDAEIYNLOA?SUTR TIME noise for some music.
According to a group
It’s a weird question, but a valid one. Did you know of researchers from
that shower curtains contain more germs than your Australia, using a
toilet seat? Yes, it’s true. So how often should you be standard, jarring
cleaning it? According to experts this will depend on a ‘beeping’ alarm noise
host of factors, such as how often the shower is in use and can actually leave you
how steamy your bathroom gets. However, a good rule of thumb is to clean your feeling groggier when you get out of
shower curtain at least once a month (more if you notice it picking up soap scum bed. On the flip side, a more musical
or growing mould). and melodic alarm can leave you feeling
more energised and alert. If you’re
By Amy Wall STOPPING SNIFFLES the type of person who finds yourself
reaching for the coffee throughout your
If you’ve ever suffered through hay fever, you’ll know what morning, this may be a simple change
a draining condition it can be and with hay fever season that could have a hugely positive
arriving earlier and earlier each year, it makes sense to impact on your life.
be prepared. The Hay-Band is a once-off investment that
can help to alleviate symptoms of hay fever. It works by WOMANSWAY.IE 47
applying pressure to the LI-11 acupressure point on your
arm – a point that’s been used for centuries to help soothe
the symptoms of allergies and hay fever. Simply wear it on
your arm and enjoy some relief. It’s drug-free and causes no
drowsiness or other side effects.
€12.99, available from www.hay-band.co.uk

HEALTH

YourPROTECT

HE RT

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEART HEALTH

This month the Irish Heart Foundation PaantdierLnaitdziazomypHbreaossnesanandteowrrisEthdKTaSormedniatyhWFaMrd It’s never too late to adopt a healthier By Amy Wall
(IHF) is encouraging women to focus on lifestyle. The important thing is to start
their cardiovascular health with their ‘Go this occurs with less exertion and if it with achievable goals. Find an exercise that
Red for Women’ campaign. The campaign becomes severe and unstable, can occur you enjoy such as walking with friends or
aims to raise funds for the IHF so they can at rest. If this happens dial 999 and call your dog, swimming or dancing. Do a little
continue to support the lifesaving services for an ambulance as you may be having and often, and build up what you do over
they provide across Ireland, while also a heart attack. If the narrowing occurs to time. If you smoke, seek advice to help you
helping to raise essential awareness around the brain, it could lead to a TIA or stroke. quit smoking. It’s difficult, but people are
women’s heart health. Facial, arm or leg weakness or paralysis, more successful in quitting with help.
blurred vision and slurred speech are the
We spoke to IHF Medical Director, most common signs of stroke. Heart attack and stroke are two conditions
Dr Angie Brown, to learn more about associated with CVD – how important is it
cardiovascular disease and how we can What causes CVD? for women to know the symptoms of both?
keep our hearts in tip top condition. There are multiple risk factors for CVD, The quicker you get treatment, the more
some which we can’t do anything about likely you are to get a better outcome. The
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)? such as ageing, gender, genetics and family symptoms of a heart attack in women can
Cardio vascular disease (CVD) is among history of premature CVD. Modifiable risk be quite vague making it hard to diagnose.
the leading causes of death and disability factors include smoking, diabetes, high They can include nausea, tiredness,
in Ireland. It includes all diseases of the cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity shortness of breath, back pain or tightness
heart and circulation, but most commonly and physical inactivity. The risk increases in the jaw rather than the more familiar
it refers to coronary heart disease such as after the menopause. symptoms of a crushing pain in the chest
angina or heart attack, stroke and other that shoots down one arm.
blood vessel diseases. Do you have any tips on how
someone can begin to look a er thei The ‘FAST’ acronym was developed to
There’s a shocking statistic that one in heart health? inform the public about the key symptoms
four women in Ireland will die from CVD… of a stroke: ******
Cardiovascular disease affects both men › Get your blood pressure, cholesterol
and women, with almost 9,000 deaths in FACE – Has their face fallen on one
Ireland each year. One in four women in and blood sugar checked regularly side? Can they smile?
Ireland will die of cardiovascular disease ARMS – Can they raise both arms and
and it is so important for women to look › Be active keep them there?
after their heart health. Women can › Eat less salt and processed food and SPEECH – Is their speech slurred?
experience different symptoms to men and TIME – Call 999 if you see any one of
if they have any risk factors it is important more vegetables and fruit these signs
that they are checked and treated. Eighty
per cent of premature cardiovascular › Drink less alcohol How can people get behind the IHF’s ‘Go
disease is preventable. › Stop smoking Red for Women’ campaign this month?
By Going Red for Women, you can support
What are the signs and symptoms of CVD? What advice would you have for someone the Irish Heart Foundation’s work in
There are many signs and symptoms of who might feel as though it’s too late to communities across Ireland, raising
CVD and each will differ depending on adopt a healthier lifestyle? awareness of and helping to prevent
where the narrowing of the arteries occurs. deaths from cardiovascular disease. There
Women can experience different and more are lots of ways to get involved – hold a
subtle symptoms to men. walk in your local community or a coffee
morning at home or work throughout
If the narrowing occurs to the arteries February or donate to the Irish Heart
going to the heart it can cause angina, Foundation. WW
which can cause pains in the chest or
breathlessness. Sometimes pain in the For more info log on to www.GoRed.ie
back of the throat or teeth can occur –
these symptoms may come on initially
on exertion but as the disease progresses

48 WOMANSWAY.IE



EXHALE ATTRYHOTHMIES

SIMPLE WAYS TO Abhyanga
SUPPORT YOUR
WELLNESS Abhyanga or ‘self-massage’ is a beautiful
practice that stems from the ancient
AMY LOVES art of Ayurveda. Deeply calming for
mind, body and soul, it involves gently
It can be hard to find the time to take care of massaging the skin with warm oil. Not
ourselves and if you struggle to squeeze a only is fantastic for soothing the nerves
little me time into your day, here’s something and promoting feelings of self-love, it
that can help. The Sacred Self-Care Oracle by also offers deep moisturising for the
Jill Pyle (Hay House UK, €25.80) is a card skin, increases circulation, promotes
deck containing a host of lovely self-care better sleep and more. In Ayurveda, the
practices. Simply shu e, pick a card and then type of oil you should use for Abhyanga
do the activity suggested. The accompanying depends on your Dosha (or unique
guidebook o ers readers some in-depth constitution) and it’s worth consulting
guidance and approachable messages for with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner
anyone in need of some calm. This is such a to find out what’s best for you. But, if
clever way to help you engage with self-care you’d like to get started yourself, you
on a deeper level. A lovely gi for yourself or can use some organic, virgin coconut
another, it’s available now. oil. Gently warm the oil by placing it
a cup and then placing that cup in a
G d vibes shallow bath of hot water. Make sure the
oil is warm (not boiling) and then begin
Give your skin (and massaging it into the skin from head
your soul) a positive (hair optional) to toe in long strokes. You
boost with Crystoil will be slippery so be very careful when
from spiritually- moving around afterwards!
charged beauty brand
LLIO. Crystoil is a WHY DON’T YOU…
range of essential ‘Irdoetntteinfyeygogusr’?
oils infused with gemstone crystals to
create a unique elixir. Simply shake the Rotten eggs are those annoying
bottle before adding some drops to a bath things that leave you feeling mentally
or massage all over your body before upset and exhausted. Everyone has
stepping into a bath or shower. We adore at least one. Whether it’s watching
the Love Yourself Bath and Body Crystoil the news or interacting with someone
which contains a blend of rose geranium, who exhausts you, this week try to
lavender, orange and palmarosa. It’s also identify what your rotten eggs are
infused with rose quartz, the stone of and then think of solutions on how to
unconditional love to help open the heart minimise the impact they have on your
chakra. Prices start from £45/€53 approx. mental health. For example, if one of your
and the full range is available from eggs is feeling upset watching thrillers or horror
www.llio.love. movies, you might make the decision to stop watching
them or if the news drags you down, why not being more selective about
where you source your news from? Instead of reading upsetting headlines,
you could choose to stick to one newspaper or news show that you don’t find
as di cult to engage with.

50 WOMANSWAY.IE