Local Women Magazine North West June Edition 2020

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Women Magazines are now frontline who are risking their lives day and daily supported our fundraising efforts. available as digital downloads from our during the Covid-19 crisis.

Many of you contacted us because you are unable to website www.localwomenmagazine.com Like everyone we have been humbled by the work leave your homes and couldn’t get out to buy Local priced at just £1 each. done by NHS workers during this pandemic and we Women - now you can have it delivered digitally For the months of May and June the proceeds from wanted to do whatever we could to support them. direct to your device. the downloads will go directly to the Health Trusts The Local Women team have volunteered their Why not download a copy of Local Women? Tell in Northern Ireland – so, by reading the magazine time to produce the magazines for the five areas your friends to download it too - and let’s raise as online you are supporting the NHS workers on the of the country and our advertisers have fully much money as possible for the NHS!

I’m so ready for things to go back to normal.

Every day I can see little changes, shops beginning to reopen, the roads getting busier, people returning to work.

Things are moving fast now and it’s only a matter of weeks before lockdown will be a distant memory – well, for the time being. Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming.

Because the uncertainty continues for mums in particular as we ponder a future of part time schooling and a lack of available childcare.

Yes, of course I know, childcare is a problem for both parents not just mums… but I think we all know who the bulk of childcare falls to!

While it’s a blessing to be safe and healthy, the stress and emotional upheaval of keeping children occupied and trying to homeschool sometimes feels like an uphill battle.

There have been days when I haven’t even got dressed, never mind run about the place baking bread and enthusiastically teaching my reluctant son how to count to 100 in French.

There have been weeks when homeschooling has been nonexistent, days of gaming, days of TV, hours, and hours of doing not very much at all.

But we continue. And we try to make sense of this new normal – I hate that expression! I try not to think too far ahead to the autumn term when schools might only open for a few days a week.

Facing the unknown is tough, particularly when it comes to our children. They have missed out on so much already.

But every day things improve; life is moving on. School will return full time one day – won’t it?!

Until next month,

Managing Editor: Kim Kelly, editor@localwomensnews.com Business Editor: Gillian Anderson, editorcol@localwomensnews.com Design: design@localwomensnews.com Sales: salesmid@localwomensnews.com Accounts: accounts@localwomensnews.com

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Council rolls out

Garden Waste Recycling Bins

Derry City and Strabane District Council has rolled out over 12,000 brown bins in an effort to help people recycle garden waste.

The Garden Waste Recycling Scheme allows the public to dispose of all their green waste, which includes leaves, grass, weeds, dead plants, cold ashes, twigs and small branches and flowers.

Materials including rubble, plant pots and plastic food packaging are not suitable for disposal in these bins.

Council’s Waste Services Manager Nicola McCool said the further roll out of brown bins is welcome news and she thanked the Council for facilitating this during the current emergency situation.

“With the current pandemic more and more people are at home and spending time in their gardens and having the garden waste bins to dispose of their green waste will be very beneficial. I would once again like to acknowledge the efforts of all the Waste Management staff at Council for their continued service and dedication during this difficult time.”

For info on this scheme visit www.derrystrabane.com/greenwaste

THE LESSONS LEARNT…FROM MUM Castlederg’s Johann Muldoon tells Local Women how the unwavering support she received from her mum Patricia set her on the road to success and inspired her to set up an online forum where women can support each other.

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By Lisa Smyth

hey say there is nothing like a mother’s love.

And that is certainly true for the bond between Johann Muldoon and her mum, Patricia.

Growing up in Castlederg, Johann was bullied by her classmates and even picked on by her teachers and through it all, Patricia was her biggest champion.

When Johann was nine, Patricia found the money to pay for her to attend Omagh Academy – setting her on the path to happiness and success.

Over the years, Johann has gone on to prove her doubters wrong and she now juggles her time between raising her three children and taking her Moneymore-based business to a global level.

Despite how busy she is, however, Johann is now channelling her efforts into setting up a charity aimed at helping and empowering women – and unsurprisingly the inspiration for Platform NI is Patricia.

She said: “My mum was such a big influence on me, she was a community psychiatric nurse and she spent her life helping people.

“When I was small, she used to take me out to work with her and she would always explain to me that you should never judge anyone.

“She had unfaltering confidence in me, unfaltering loyalty to me.

“I remember going to a cross country race event when I was 12 and I hated cross country, I’m more of a sprinter, I prefer fast results.

“She said to me, ‘someone has to come first, and it might be you’, and that’s always stuck with me.

8 | Local Women Magazine

ƒ Johann became the first woman in Northern Ireland to receive an MBE for architecture

“Everything I’ve done since then; I’ve always thought about what she said to me.”

Tragically, Patricia died when she was just 55 years old, and Johann has felt her loss every day since then.

“It was sudden, she had breast cancer when she was 42 but she had recovered from it and it had never come back,” continued Johann, mum to Conn (5), Erin (4) and two-year-old Jack.

“However, it was oestrogen dependent and they removed her ovaries and her womb, and she went through the menopause very quickly as a result.

“After that she developed epilepsy, it caused quite a few problems, she also had vertigo.

ƒ Johann is constantly inspired by her mum

“Within three months it was the largest private group of its kind in the country and now has over 8,000 members.”

“She was on medication for the epilepsy as it was quite severe and then she had a seizure in her sleep and that’s when she passed away.

So, she started to work towards launching Platform NI.

“It was horrendous, it was the thing I always feared because she was always my safety blanket, when things went wrong, she fixed them, she made things better even just by talking about them.

Johann continued: “I’ve been involved in many groups myself over the years, but there were none that fitted across the board, for those retired, stay at home, business people, professionals, there were all quite specific, but I wanted to give a voice to all women irrelevant of their situation.

“I still feel the loss now, it’s always there, I constantly think about her in some way or another.

“It’s not in a negative way, I’m not sitting around crying, but I’m aware of the loss and what impact she had on my life.”

Johann knew that she wanted to do something to honour her mum, but it wasn’t until the death of a dear friend in September last year that she began to put her plans into action.

“I went to see her in Omagh Hospital, and we spent time together talking about our lives,” said Johann.

“We’d had great fun with each other over the years, we had great stories that will never be told.

“When we were talking, she mentioned ƒ Johann is on a mission to help other women

“The stories which have been shared and the positivity which the group has created, down completely to the women within it, led me to about how I spoke at my mum’s funeral and establish the charity.” she said I could have such great influence It has a number of objectives – in particular, than I think possible.

Johann is keen to address issues relating to “She said it because even though my heart was childcare, retraining, and mental health and breaking, I was able to get up and speak from the well-being. heart about my mum.

“I’m looking forward to seeing change happen “I’d never thought about it in that way and then and being part of the process. when I left, I knew it was the last time I would “I’m working with a number of other women, see her, and I was walking out of the hospital and who are successful, who represent different I was so upset. groups of women, and we’re working to develop “I was thinking about her and my mum, these befriending and support groups. two, wonderful women, who had achieved such “One of them is Maureen Owens, who has wonderful things in their lives, and their stories were being lost, no-one would know how great worked and run two businesses and is also an administrator for Families Moving On, set up they were. after the Omagh bomb.

“It was then that I decided I was going to “They are all amazing women and they’re do something, and I went home and set up a committed to making a difference.

Facebook page called ‘‘The lessons learnt’. ƒ Castlederg woman Patricia Muldoon

“It’s such an exciting time and I’m really excited “I wanted to set up a forum where women could lift each other up, where they could speak about what we will be able to achieve. honestly and support each other.

“People have been saying to me I must be mad “I have always written things down and I because of all the work it’s taking, because I started posting bits and pieces and learning more already have my business and the kids, but I love about Facebook and quite quickly the group proving people wrong. started taking off.”

“It’s even more exciting because it’s a legacy to In fact, Johann was overwhelmed by the success my mum and everything she did for me. of the page, which she said demonstrates the “My job as an architect is about legacy, having unmet need for women across Northern Ireland. children is about legacy and now, so is the charity.”

Local Women Magazine | 9

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AESTHETIC TREATMENT CLINIC

Summer - is it a blessing or a curse?

While we can’t get enough of the sunshine, the warm weather can wreak havoc on our skin—especially for those with hyperpigmentation. Emma Heaney from Elite Aesthetic Clinic is here with some simple solutions.

By Emma Heaney, RN RM PHNS INP Elite Aesthetic Clinic

Hyperpigmentation falls into one of three categories: •

Actinic lentigines, also known as sunspots, age spots etc

•

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation - a result of inflammation in the skin caused by acne, burn, rash or traumatic injury.

•

Melasma - caused by hormonal changes and can be the most difficult to treat.

There are an array of celebrity cosmeceuticals and hyperpigmentation treatment options available at Elite Aesthetic Clinic to combat any of the above pigmentation issues. However, our clinic doors remain temporarily closed. So, here is a basic road map for effectively treating hyperpigmentation.

I have given focus to at home skin care which will keep your pigmentation at bay until we can welcome you back into our clinic.

How to Treat Hyperpigmentation Step 1: Sun Protection In Europe, 20 per cent of women over 25 have some degree of hyperpigmentation, which increases significantly as they age. One in three women over the age of 40 suffers from this skin disorder, a figure that can rise to 90 per cent among women over 50.

What is hyperpigmentation?

This is a common condition in which darkening of the skin occurs due to an increase in melanin production.

This darkening occurs when melanocytes (pigmentproducing cells) over-produce melanin, forming concentrated deposits of brown pigment in the skin.

Hyperpigmentation may be caused by sun exposure, specifically exposure to the UVA/UVB rays, inflammation, hormonal changes, or skin injuries.

Hyperpigmentation can occur anywhere on the body and affect all skin types.

10 | Local Women Magazine

Please, please, please wear an SPF, but remember not all SPFs are created equal.

Sun exposure and damage is cumulative. SPF will protect your skin from harmful rays which cause aging (UVA rays - think “A” for aging) and burning (UVB rays - think “B” for burning). As more of us will be working from home right now please be mindful, your computer screen (phones, laptops iPads etc) might actually be giving you wrinkles. Coming from the high energy visible light (or blue light) emitted from screens, studies have found that this light can penetrate your skin into a deeper level than UV rays, causing symptoms like pigmentation, age spots and fine lines.

Apply your SPF three to four times daily. An excellent broad-spectrum sunscreen and my personal favourite is Elite Clinical protect SPF 50. It is a full protection cream with a

light, velvety texture suitable for all skin types. It contains enhanced Q3 and Q6 actives and vitamins that protect against oxidative stress and photoaging.

Step 2: At Home Skin Care Regime Two years ago, I was invited to Barcelona to visit the HQ and laboratories of the only company that singly specialises in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Since then I have developed some excellent result driven protocols .

Say goodbye to dark spots, uneven pigmentation and dullness with Elite’s bespoke Meline home care routine, which comprises of a day and night active treatment serum, a daily Hyaluronic acid, together with a weekly at home depigmentation mask. This at home plan is a prescriptive approach.

Meline Skin Care is fabulous as a standalone home treatment or in conjunction with our in-clinic treatments.

A less invasive mix of products and ideal for uneven skin tone, I would recommend Reveal cleanser C20 serum Protect SPF 50 Glow Exfoliate And at night: Illuminate serum.

Elite Clinical Skincare will cleanse, promote cell turnover, exfoliate and target existing pigmentation and uneven tone to prevent future dark spots from occurring. C20 is rich in antioxidants that mops up the free radicals that act like vandals in the skin.

Step 3: In Clinic Chemical Peels Some at home peels are of no significant clinical value. Yes, they will leave your skin feeling refreshed, but you could equally achieve the result with your exfoliator.

As a clinical trainer in chemical peels, I have witnessed several burns created by the wrong peel, wrong strength, on the wrong skin either applied by patient or practitioner. NEVER underestimate the power of a chemical peel, but in the correct hands amazing results can be achieved.

Elite exclusively offers Meline which acts at the cell level, going to the root of the pathology. By regulating the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, Meline products not only eradicate dark patches, but also effectively prevent their reappearance.

Meline provides integrated solutions which combine professional treatments with home care products, which act together in synergy.

Treatment intervals: Two to three treatments, second treatment four weeks followed by three treatments six to eight months later

Treatment Intervals: Four to six treatments, two to four weeks apart.

Treatment time: Five to 30 minutes, depending on the treatment area.

Recovery time: Minimal downtime, slight redness for one

Treatment time: 30 -60 mins depending on the treatment area.

to two days, 48 hours of sun avoidance.

Recovery time: Minimal down time.

Microneedling in the correct practitioner’s hands, using a brightening and antioxidant cocktail can rebalance, regulate, and unify uneven skin tone. A combined depth treatment may be performed to manage and correct uneven tone without overstimulating or harming the skin.

Step 4: IPL IPL Skin Pigmentation treatments work by transmitting heat to the pigmented skin areas. The IPL technology is attracted to dark pigmentation, effectively drawing the discolouration to the surface of the skin, allowing the dermis to begin the healing process of correcting the blemishes over time.

IPL Photo Rejuvenation treatments are often the perfect complement to Skin Pigmentation treatments. When used in conjunction with each other, you cannot only treat pigmentation, but also rejuvenate your skin leaving you with even skin tone and an even clearer complexion.

Step 5: Microneedling

Microneedling and uber chemical peels combo and/or an IPL combo treatment package are available in clinic at a reduced package price.

Treatment Intervals: Three to six treatments, two to four weeks apart.

Treatment time: 60 minutes depending on the treatment area.

Recovery time: Minimal downtime, slight redness for one to two days, 48 hours of sun avoidance.

The best treatment for your pigmentation will depend very much on your age, life style and the nature and extent of your pigmentation. Expert assessment, diagnosis and advice are vital if the treatment is going to be successful for you.

For most, whilst treatments can deliver good results, they do not provide a cure for the underlying cause and all will require you to continue to protect your skin from the sun and use maintenance products to keep further pigmentation at bay.

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If Nothing makes you feel better than seeing your freckles, sun spots, skin discolouration and age spots disappear leaving a fresher and younger looking you Then Book an online consultation with the team at elite or alternatively you can be add to our waiting list but let’s start your home care regime today

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Local Women Magazine | 11

CLICK HERE TO VISIT

Lock Down Ending?

Refill your Equivalenza bottle and save money.

Find some great Perfumes & Aftershaves at - www.mermaid-cove.com Equivalenza | Level 3 | Richmond Centre | Derry City 12 | Local Women Magazine

THANK YOU TO OUR

NHS HEROES

As things slowly get back to normality, Local Women Magazine pays tribute to the wonderful health care professionals in our communities who have worked tirelessly to keep us all safe during the pandemic. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Local Women Magazine | 13

“THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF MY NURSING CAREER”

Staff Nurse at Altnagelvin’s Cardiology Ward, Lyndsey Nelis, has worked hard throughout the Covid-19 crisis keeping her patients safe.

It was spring when Lyndsey Nelis from Derry realised that she was about to face the biggest challenge of her nursing career.

ƒ The rainbow of hope wall done by all the children of cardiology staff

As news of the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the nation, and in particular the dreadful news coming Italy where mortality rates were rocketing, it was clear this new virus was getting closer to home.

Lyndsey says: “I knew it was only a matter of time before I was about to be fast tracked into the biggest challenge of my nursing career to date.”

Working in an acute cardiology setting has its fair share of challenges on an average day, but Lyndsey says that what the ward experienced earlier this year was something completely different.

It was a steep learning curve - they had no previous experience of Covid-19 or how to manage it, no way of knowing how quickly it was spreading, no previous experience of how to swab patients for Covid, but most importantly for Lyndsey and her colleagues, they had no previous experience of how to manage a cardiac arrest in this situation.

ƒ Lyndsey and husband Ronan

14 | Local Women Magazine

Thankfully the decision was made for all staff to take showers before and after work, wash their hair after every shift before going home and to change clothes and shoes before leaving the ward to help minimise the spread and everyone adhered to these new set of rules.

As the situation unfolded, policies and procedures on the way to care for patients changed rapidly, sometimes on a daily basis, adding to the general stress on the ward. ƒ Lyndsey, Ronan and Dáirsaí.

Patients were no longer allowed to have face Lyndsey explains: “Cardiac arrest is a scenario to face contact with family members which was which can be chaotic at the best of times and a another added pressure on staff. rapid response is essential for keeping a patient “Morale was low, and patients were frightened. alive or bringing them back to life. This scenario As a ward everyone worked together and now came with a lot of new challenges, on and protected each other to make the ward was a off the ward. safe environment for our patients.

“There was a great fear, that even though I would be wearing PPE at work, I could still bring the “I could not be prouder of the cardiology team virus home to my family or pass it on to vulnerable I am part of. Behind every good team is a great leader and ours is Sister Marie McGrellis who members of the community. from day one made sure the ward had everything “At one point the option to leave my husband it needed to get through this pandemic, with and child and stay in temporary accommodation patient and staff safety her main goal. was suggested. At a time of such uncertainty, the last place I wanted to be was away from my “It feels great to say we have survived and if a nearest and dearest, but I didn’t want to make second wave is to come, we know our cardiology ward is ready to survive it once again.” them ill either.”

“THERE ARE SO MANY UNSUNG HEROES”

For Glengormley nurse Linsey Sheerin, working through the pandemic was a surreal time but one she found extremely rewarding.

It is International Year of the Nurse, but at the start of 2020 Linsey Sheerin wasn’t expecting any congratulations or praise for the job she loves.

ƒ Linsey Sheerin from Glengormley

Who would have believed that just a few months later, nurses and other NHS workers would be receiving rounds of applause on doorsteps across the nation?

Mum-of-one Linsey from Glengormley, who is Service Manager at the Emergency Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital, has always enjoyed being a nurse. And she says she is proud to have been part of a team that worked full time under intense conditions during the pandemic.

She explains: “If one good thing comes out of this, it is that nurses and health care professionals are getting the long overdue recognition they deserve.

“I have never witnessed such dedication and teamwork and it makes me so proud.”

Like all of us, it was in January when Linsey first began to hear rumours about the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping China.

Towards the end of that month there were serious concerns that it was only a matter of time before it hit Northern Ireland.

“We monitored the situation, but it didn’t

seem real until we saw it in Italy. At that point we knew we had to get ready.

“We started to learn more about the virus, and we received training and took part in simulations.

Everything swung into action very quickly. There are so many unsung heroes who worked round the clock to reconfigure the department to adhere to social distancing and to enable us to isolate people presenting with symptoms.”

As the department geared up for the big changes about to happen, at home Linsey had to explain to her daughter Zoe that if things got bad, she might not be coming home for a long time.

“At first there was such a sense of the unknown.

No one knew what was going to happen. We were preparing for something, but we didn’t know what was going to happen. The waiting was hard, it made us all feel very anxious.

ƒ Linsey with her daughter Zoe and husband Neil

“I had to explain to my daughter that I might have to stay at the hospital. In work we all made preparations for that. No one knew if we would

have to sleep at the hospital or what was going to happen.”

The anxiety experienced by the staff was also felt by patients. Many people attended hospital as they were convinced, they were displaying symptoms of Covid.

“All the anxiety was heightened by having to get used to the full PPE that was now required.

It’s very different working with colleagues in PPE as often you don’t even recognise them and communicating can be an issue.

“Waiting for the storm to hit was tough but we were prepared. We got used to the new way of working.

“Our team became closer and, in fact, we became closer with many of the other staff in the hospital. We became like a family.

“Everyone pulled together and, although it was surreal, we got used to the new normal.

“Right now, there is still a lot of work to do. We are busier than ever, and the work continues.

“People can be reassured that if there is a second wave, we are ready. This time we will be even more prepared and can deal with whatever is thrown at us.”

Local Women Magazine | 15

“I’M PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF A FRONTLINE TEAM” Ballymoney nurse Colleen Morrison joined in the frontline battle against Covid-19 when she provided support to care homes.

If you had told Colleen Morrison at the start of the year that by April she would be working back on the frontline in a residential home, she wouldn’t have believed you.

But for the dedicated Ballymoney Community Manager, the Covid-19 crisis has seen her move back into frontline nursing and, although it has been a tough time, she describes her new role as a ‘privilege’.

Before the pandemic, the nurse of almost 40 years was working in a community management role, overseeing a team of health and social care professionals in the Ballymena and Antrim area.

Although she found her job rewarding, it was a far cry from the busy days on the ward she remembered as a trainee nurse back in 1983.

Colleen, 58, was able to use everything she had learned on the wards and community over the years, plus her extensive management experience, to play her part in the fight against Coronavirus in the care home sector.

When it was revealed that care homes needed support to fight the pandemic, Colleen didn’t hesitate to volunteer herself.

She explains: “I knew I needed to go into the homes myself. If I had an elderly relative, I would want to know that they were safe. It was important to see for myself what support the staff needed.”

Mum-of-three Colleen organised a group of fellow health and social care professionals to go into local care homes to help support the staff through the unprecedented crisis.

“I know the amazing work the carers in these care homes do.

They have always gone above and beyond to look after their patients, but no one could have predicted what was about to happen. It was completely overwhelming.

“I wanted to make sure we weren’t taking over; we needed to support their work and find new ways of working to keep staff and residents safe.”

16 | Local Women Magazine

ƒ Jessica and Emily with their mum Colleen. Jessica is a doctor working in a Covid Ward (right) and Emily is a chemical engineer (key worker - middle) working on respiratory drugs for a major pharmaceutical company (GSK.)

Over the past few weeks Colleen and her team have been working in various care homes throughout the area to offer help to staff who have been left to cope with a healthcare crisis that no one could have predicted.

Her team including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychology and mental health staff went into the homes to look at all aspects of care.

“Basically, we wrapped a team round each home. Carers have a different job from nurses but we share the common bond of caring and compassion. Many of the carers regard their residents as family and they never hesitate to go above and beyond to look after them.”

“During the Covid period it meant adopting new infection controls and protocols for both staff and patients.”

“Although it has been years since I have been in frontline nursing, it was great to get back in and use my skills to help out. My team were just fantastic.

It is a wonderful example of integrated working and an amazing team effort.”

Colleen has the utmost respect for carers who have been tasked with a very difficult job over the past few weeks and months.

“At no point did we take over, that wasn’t

ƒ Colleen Morrison from Ballymoney

ƒ Colleen’s yeldest daughter Kerry who is married with two boys Charlie and Harry. She is a medical secretary in Causeway Hospital.

our job. We were simply there to support. We had to help the carers adapt to a new normal and deal with the correct use of PPE and increased infection control.

“I am so proud to be part of team that was able to help and do our bit. I feel very proud to be a nurse and it is so heartening see the good work people are doing.

“I would like to reassure people that the situation is under control, and we are ready to go back into the care homes at any time should the situation arise.

“It has been a tough few months but so worthwhile. Community care is a great place to work and I feel this situation has brought out the best in so many people.”

“I AM PROUD TO BE A NURSE”

Inishcaron nurse Patricia McDade’s working life was turned upside down as she set up a Covid Ward at Mid Ulster Hospital to help fight the pandemic.

Managing the Covid Ward at Mid Ulster Hospital has given Patricia McDade a renewed pride in her profession and total appreciation of the wonderful colleagues who are part of her team.

ƒ Patricia with her daughters Kia and Dominique

Pre-pandemic mum-of-two Patricia from Iniscarn near Draperstown worked in management as a lead nurse at Mid Ulster Hospital and looked after a team of health care professionals as well as a 21-bed rehab ward.

But in matter of days, Patricia’s working life was turned upside down as the hospital prepared for the Coronavirus pandemic.

Patricia explains: “It started to gather pace around St Patrick’s Day. Obviously there had been lots of talk about the pandemic but around that time was when we knew things were going to change for us at Mid Ulster.

patient at all times.

“We needed to quickly convert the rehab ward into a Covid Ward. Everything needed stripped out and refitted within a matter of days.

“It all happened so fast. The patients in rehab had to be fast tracked – thankfully most of them were able to return home and we had to get ready for something that we really couldn’t imagine.

“While the refurbishments were being done, we had to carry out training programmes. Some of the people working with us had never worked on a ward before so we adopted a buddy scheme to help them bed in.

“I can honestly say I have never seen such a dedicated team. Every single person working

ƒ Patricia with friends from her running club.

“Obviously with the restrictions on visitors we had to find ways of helping the patients keep connected with their families and we used iPads and Zoom calls so they could communicate. ƒ Patricia McDade from Iniscarn

on that ward was vital from domestics, porters, nurses and doctors.

“Everyone pulled together so well, and nothing was too much trouble. It was a difficult time but there was something uplifting about seeing people working together for the good.”

During the months of May and June, the Covid Ward at Mid Ulster became busy. And Patricia says it was teamwork that pulled them through those dark days.

“We became like a family and I am delighted that we had so many success stories coming out of that ward. Covid is such a terrible illness.

Everything happens so fast. A patient would be fine in the morning, maybe with just a loss of appetite. By teatime they would have gone down badly. It comes on so fast which means added pressure on staff who need to be with the

Every nurse does their best. We all think, ‘what if this patient was my mum?’ And it helps us to be the best we can.”

Patricia says she is proud to be a nurse and honoured that she and her team were able to run the ward. However, as the situation improves, she says she would like to see the ward return to a rehab facility.

“I am confident that if a second wave comes, we are ready. I feel well prepared. We were able to act very quickly last time so now we know exactly what needs done.

“I had tremendous support from my senior management team in particular director Phil Hughes, A/D Karen Harvey and Wendy Longshawe and I can’t thank them enough.

“Now, I would very much like to get back to normal and while the situation is not over, I would like to urge people to be calm and sensible.

“We are in control now and I am proud to say that I am a small part of the team that helped.”

Local Women Magazine | 17

“CARING DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK”

Rathfriland Domiciliary Care Worker, Susanne McCabe, has been working hard during the pandemic keeping her clients safe and now she is training to be a nurse. that everything was going to be okay.

Some people are born to be in a caring profession and Susanne McCabe from Rathfriland is a wonderful example of a true professional.

“Some of the older people were very anxious about what was going to happen. They were worried we weren’t going to come out to them anymore. I had to reassure them that we would be continuing with their care.

Having worked as a Domiciliary Care Worker throughout the pandemic, the 20-year-old is now planning on becoming a nurse.

“There are changes of course. It takes longer to get ready to go into a house because you have to change completely into PPE. It cuts back on the time we have with our clients, but we have to stay safe

Susanne works in the community with elderly clients and those with physical and mental disabilities, delivering care plans.

However, she sees her role as more than just a job and has built relationships with her clients who she describes as “like a family.”

“It was important that I did my best for my clients. Over the years I have grown so attached to many of them. I just want them to feel comfortable and not to worry.”

Susanne says: “I can honestly say I love my job.

I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

Susanne’s work has inspired her to start studying for a nursing degree and she will be following in the footsteps of her mum Colleen who has been nursing throughout the crisis.

“Throughout the pandemic it’s been hard watching my friends all off on furlough while I have often worked seven days a week. But I don’t mind really. I l love what I do.”

But she intends to combine her work as a carer with her Open University degree.

When Susanne left school, she knew she wanted to go into a caring profession, but she didn’t want to go to university.

“I wouldn’t want to go to college full time, I want to continue working as I enjoy my job.

“I wanted to get started straight away. I found my job as a Domiciliary Care Worker and have never looked back.

“Most days it doesn’t feel like a job. I visit lots of regular clients and I have built up an amazing relationship with many of them. I love helping and making people feel safe.

It’s the perfect job for me.”

But of course, Coronavirus has made Susanne’s job more difficult and she has had to adapt to lot of new safety measure to keep herself and her clients safe.

Many of her clients are in vulnerable groups and so she has to wear PPE and received training on new safety protocols.

ƒ Susanne McCabe from Rathfriland 18 | Local Women Magazine

And, while she was anxious about the threat of the virus, she knew she had to reassure her clients

“It can be tough, but it is so rewarding. During the pandemic people have finally seen what carers like me do. We don’t get credit very often, so it was nice to be appreciated.

“However, the work itself is so worthwhile that it is reward enough.”

Brighter days are coming, so it’s the perfect time to introduce a little pink into our colour schemes, with accents of blush and splashes of fuschia.

Hi everyone, It’s been another month in lockdown which is tough for us all – but on the upside at least we have plenty of time to have a look at our homes and contemplate how we would like to change them.

There’s nothing quite like spending 24 hours a day in your house to make you decide that you need new colour palettes.

This month to cheer us all up I am introducing pink into my schemes – it is such an uplifting colour and one I know lots of people adore.

So many people ask me for pink in their colour schemes – it never seems to go out of fashion and retains its popularity.

been designed for my clients, they love pink and

But a note of caution, there is a fine line between stylish accents of rose, salmon and coral and a Barbie palace!

Pink is such a nice colour to team up with grey and white. I love mixing different textures and fabrics in my design projects to create depth and tone.

For the perfect backdrop, wallpapers by Designers Guild, Casamance and Tim Wiman are gorgeous.

Paint colour is important, as there are 50 plus shades of grey to choose from - it’s important to get a grey that suits the pink you love and has the right tone.

Colour consultations are so important at the initial stages and will save time and money. It’s good to invest and get it planned out and perfect for you as a base.

as you can see,

it doesn’t have to be confined to a bedroom and

can

be

used

throughout your home.

Pink gives any room a boost and reminds us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Looking to the future, my new studio in Lisburn is opening as soon as it’s safe to go back out and I can’t wait to get started on this new project.

Currently I am working from home and can provide you with a full interior home consultation to give your home a new look when lockdown ends.

Looking forward to welcoming you all back soon.

Everything you see in the pictures has

NEW STUDIO OPENING SOON Carryduff Road, Temple, Lisburn| W: www.monteithinteriors.co.uk CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE: Contact me on 07545 243500 or via social media for more information Local Women Magazine | 19

Established since 2000

MOVING FORWARD WITH DENTAL TREATMENTS

Michele King from Portstewart Family Dental looks at the future of dentistry after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Over the coming weeks, we are hoping to be NEW MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF able to return to some kind of normality.

COVID-19 TRANSMISSION Our normal cross-infection control protocols However certainly for us at the dental at Portstewart Family Dental against all practice our working environment will change previously known pathogens are already significantly. This is due to the fact that Covid-19 woven into all clinical activity carried out at is in the saliva and in order to perform most the practice. routine dental treatments it creates an aerosol spray which could potentially contain this virus. It should be remembered that a dental Therefore, certainly at this present time we are practice is already a very clean environment very restricted in our procedures and are only compared to public areas and there is no able to provide emergency advice and care. evidence of Covid-19 transmission occurring in increased rates in dentists or their staff.

Many of you may be aware that on the news recently it was stated that dentists are now We have collectively evaluated all of the ready to reopen. However, this statement was updated guidance and observed what measures for the dentists working in England. During have been put in place in other countries. the Covid-19 period the English dentists were BEFORE ATTENDING AT THE PRACTICE completely closed, and all patients were You may be asked to complete a prebeing triaged and treated for emergency care attendance form, which will include in specialised urgent dental centres only. The details of your viral status and update English dentists will shortly be reopening to your medical history. Ideally this would be provide emergency care only, not normal/ sent electronically if possible, to reduce routine care yet. However, in Northern Ireland, paperwork. If we feel that you are at risk we as local dentists have been providing of being currently infected, even if you are emergency care throughout, being allowed to asymptomatic, we will respectfully request triage our own patients and provide emergency for you to delay booking any appointments care whether in the form of advice, pain relief with us for at least one month. or antibiotics or indeed referral to the urgent We will recommend that patients in the highdental centres if required. risk groups for developing complications We have been advised however that we will from coronavirus delay non-essential dental receive four weeks’ notice from the Health treatment for as long as possible until the Board of being able fully reopen our surgeries trend of the pandemic becomes clear. If and, at the time of writing this article I have not you are in a high-risk group and do require received any such advice. treatment, we will schedule your appointment at the beginning of the day.

the surgery to let us know you have arrived.

Our receptionist will then be in contact again when we are ready for you to enter the surgery. One adult is able to attend with a child; please do not bring additional family members with you unless they are happy to wait in the car or outside the building.

ARRIVING AT THE PRACTICE On arrival at the practice, please wear a face mask from the surgery door to when you enter the treatment room. Then, before leaving your treatment room you will be asked to put on your mask.

When you attend the practice, we will welcome you, and we will take your temperature with a no-touch thermometer. If your temperature is above 37.8°C, you will be unable to enter the practice and will be asked to return home and self-isolate as per When travelling to the practice, we would current government guidelines. You will be recommend that you limit close contact asked to sanitise your hands. with other members of the public as far as possible. On arrival at the surgery please The surgery will look a little different as all areas remain in your car if possible and telephone have been decluttered, removing all magazines, leaflets to enable a cleaner environment.

20 | Local Women Magazine

Accordingly, appointments will be staggered so that patients do not arrive or leave at the same time as other patients as far as we are able to manage.

We have been advised to close all rest rooms, if at all possible, we would ask if when you arrive at the surgery that you have already toileted at home.

PRACTICE PROCEDURES You will find that the practice may appear to be quite bare when you attend.

All clinical and common areas including door handles and surfaces will be regularly disinfected in addition to our normal surface cleaning protocols between patients.

We will be providing a buffer period between patients to allow additional time for additional decontamination procedures, allow for any treatment overruns and allow preparation time for the next patient so that they do not need to wait in the reception area. At present, we have been advised that if the treatment is non aerosol generating, then waiting time after treatment is completed before decontamination is allowed to begin is 20 minutes. However, if the procedure has created an aerosol this waiting period is then up to one hour before the room is allowed to be decontaminated. Aerosol generating procedures (AGP) examples include use of dental drills, ultrasonic scaling, etc. This is to allow time for the aerosol to fall to the ground which can then be thoroughly cleaned. This therefore will affect the numbers of patients that we can see during a working day.

All dental staff will be using personal protective equipment in line with current recommendations and evidence. This may mean we will be wearing surgical gowns and FFP2 or FFP3 mask depending on the treatment required. So, we may appear very different in surgery, however we consider it very important to reassure all patients and especially any children attending that we are still the same friendly team underneath.

In the surgery we may ask you to use a mouthwash before some dental treatments are provided, and to use a disposable beaker to spit into not the spittoon.

We are confident that we will be able to provide dental care for patients in as normal an environment as possible while bearing in mind our responsibilities to mitigate risks of infection spread as far as is practically possible.

We are missing you all greatly at the surgery and hope that we can return to provide a broader range of treatments as soon as possible.

Stay safe. Until next time,

Michele Established since 2000

6A Lever Road │ Portstewart │ BT55 7EF

Tel 028 7083 2798 www.portstewartfamilydental.co.uk Local Women Magazine | 21

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A new garden for the Instant kerb appeal summer months... with a driveway from Tobermore Do you wish you had a garden to enjoy during the spring and summer months, for outdoor dining or for children to play safely? The idea of revamping your garden can be exciting but where do you start? Take a look at our hints and tips for getting your new garden project underway.

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Find inspiration for the style of garden you like: Browse magazines, Pinterest, Instagram or create a ‘My Favourites’ folder using Tobermore’s inspiration gallery.

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consider the Tobermore EasyClean range – EasyClean paving resists staining from infiltrating the paving surface so that spills can be simply wiped away.

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Think about who will be using your garden. Do you need a play area for children or grandchildren? And do you need to consider an area for animals? You may want to screen off

unsightly items such as an oil tank, coal bunker or bins Think about creating a feature or focal point?

Why not think about including a feature such as a circle in your paving, a path, or create a fire pit using Tobermore’s

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for patios you can use block paving or patio flags. The choice is yours!

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What can I do with a small garden?

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Incorporate some raised beds which can be easily

upgrading it with some decorative paving. Consider linking paths

constructed using Tobermore’s walling range. This will also help add colour and character to your outside space.

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Will your area be used to park a car or just as a garden patio?

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I don’t know where to start!

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Tobermore Paving Centre Tel: 028 7964 2411 24 | Local Women Magazine

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Local Women Magazine | 25

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TANYA’S GOT THE GOLDEN TOUCH

ƒ Tanya Cunningham

28 | Local Women | Feature 28 | Local Women Magazine

Starting as a Saturday girl in a jewellery shop set Donemana’s Tanya Cunningham on the road to success.

Now she’s the owner of Stewart’s Jewellers, Strabane.

By Maureen Coleman Pictures by Gerard Gormley

W

ƒ Cover girl Tanya Cunningham

hen Co Tyrone woman Tanya Cunningham was in her final year at Strabane High School, her careers teacher told the class of a part-time job that was available at a local jewellery shop.

“Our customers are very loyal,” says Tanya. “We tend to see them coming back and as a result, we are on first name terms with all of them.

Tanya knew she wanted to work in retail and thought the weekend position sounded perfect, so threw her name into the hat. The teacher even drove her to the shop so she could sit the interview.

“The shop has built up a good reputation and thanks to social media too, we’re spreading the word.”

Tanya was successful and soon found herself not just selling jewellery but helping out with repairs and jewellery displays. She had a knack for everything she turned her hand to and enjoyed the buzz of meeting customers and helping them choose that special piece.

After a year or so, Tanya moved on but continued to work in retail as that is where her heart lay. Then about 10 years ago, fate decreed that she return to jewellery. She landed a job in Stewart’s Jewellers in Castle Street in Strabane, working in sales and repairs within the family business for seven years.

When the owner, who had inherited the wellloved shop from his father, decided it was time to retire, he offered his experienced sales team the chance to take the business on. Tanya jumped at the chance and is now the proud owner of Stewart’s Jewellers.

“The business has been in the town for 70 years this year and I took over two and a half years ago,” says Tanya.

“When I worked there for seven years prior to taking the shop over, I did a bit of everything, sales, repairs, displays. I was delighted when I got the chance to run the shop myself, especially as working in the jewellery business was how I started working life when I left school.

“It’s basically the same type of business but we modernised the stock to keep up with the times. We introduced new lines; more modern, fashionable jewellery but rather than focus on brand names that customers can buy online, we picked pieces in gold and silver that is that bit different; the type of costume jewellery that you mightn’t get elsewhere.”

Breathing new life into old pieces of

Tanya, who comes from Donemana, believes family businesses such as Stewart’s are the beating heart of any small town in Northern Ireland and says that over the years, it has built up a loyal clientele. Occasionally, an elderly customer will pop in to ask about the Stewart family or because they have fond memories of the shop.

“We’re seeing more and more celebrities like Holly Willoughby, Victoria Beckham and the girls from Love Island wearing gold at the moment.”

The mum-of-two has seen trends come and go in the years that she has worked there. One huge trend she’s noticed recently is the return of good quality, nine carat gold. For quite a while gold fell out of favour with jewellery lovers and was replaced with silver, platinum and rose gold.

While the latter has enjoyed a surge in popularity and continues to sell well, Tanya predicts nine carat gold will be all the rage again.

“We’re seeing more and more celebrities like Holly Willoughby, Victoria Beckham and the girls from Love Island wearing gold at the moment; little gold chains, gold watches, that type of thing and that’s definitely taking off,” she says.

jewellery is something the staff enjoy, such “The great thing about yellow gold is that it can as an earring passed down through the keep for years it and will always look expensive. generations transformed into a ring. Repairs “Watches are also very popular as a fashion are another aspect of the business, fixing statement and come in many different designs, watches and old chains. colours and shapes. Again, we’re seeing the big, “We send jewellery away to have work done, glitzy watches being replaced by traditional gold like a broad ring that’s been passed down by ones with smaller faces.” a grandparent to be cut into a narrow band,” As well as modernising the collections, Tanya she says. “Most of the repairs we do in the has also given the shop a face-lift, though shop though. keeping the layout the same. She believes people “We sell a lot of nine carat gold rings, necklaces like to feel comfortable and familiar in their and bracelets and things like new-born baby surroundings while perusing the displays. bangles which we inscribe on the premises for “I love the job because I love jewellery and I free. We also engrave gifts, jewellery and watches for our customers and this free of charge service enjoy meeting people too,” she says. “About 10 or 15 years ago, another shop was closing down on items purchased in the shop is very popular. in the town and I’d thought about taking it over, “We do stock a selection of wedding and but I’d just got married and was starting a family, engagement rings but it’s not a big part of our so the timing wasn’t right. business. However, if our customers want us to “Then when I got the chance to take over order something specific and have a design in mind, we can try and source it for them. Dress Stewart’s, I just knew it was the job for me. It’s a jewellery that is that bit different is what we brilliant, well established business and I’m proud to be in charge.” really specialise in though.”

Local Women Magazine | 29

A Family Affair Local Women’s Gillian Anderson caught up with our gorgeous cover girls Jane Bell and Beth McKnight.

I

t’s a real family affair when it comes to Beau & Belle salon in Limavady. Owner Jane Bell works alongside her lovely daughter Beth as the business rapidly becomes the ‘go to’ salon for all hair and beauty needs under one roof.

Local Women met up with these lovely ladies to find out more about them and the business.

Tell us about yourself?

Jane: I have been a registered nurse since 1990 and most recently I was employed as regional manager of a group of Care Homes. Having turned 50 and feeling the stress of the responsibility of my role and daily long distance travel I decided it was time for a change.

Beth: I am currently studying Business Management at Queen’s University Belfast - I have always had a desire to be in management or to own my own business, so this seemed like a natural fit.

22 feature

30 | Local Women Magazine

How did Beau & Belle come about?

Jane: Once I had decided to make a change in my life, things happened pretty quickly. My husband and I purchased ‘Sun Gods’ tanning salon in Limavady re-naming it ‘Beau & Belle’ with a view to re-directing my training and skills as a registered nurse to the field of advanced skin treatments. I trained in microdermabrasion, chemical peels and radiofrequency. When I saw what a difference these simple treatments made to the condition of the skin, I was hooked!

Beth: I have always had a desire to be in management or to own my own business. I decided to take a placement year as I felt I would gain valuable experience. I worked for FP McCann’s marketing department as part of my placement year, which gave me an insight into marketing standards and practices. Half way through my placement with FP McCann, my mum, Jane, decided to start a new business venture, so I reluctantly made the decision

to help her open Beau & Belle. This was a very hard decision for me, however, family always comes first for me and I saw it as a great opportunity no matter how scary it seemed.

What sort of services do you provide?

Jane: We offer a wide variety of treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening treatments, microdermabrasion and dermaplaning exfoliating treatments, chemical peels, galvanic and light treatment facials. We also offer Murad skin care treatments and products. We like to offer treatments that are clinically proven to actually work and provide results and we also like to offer treatments with little ‘down time’ with effective results and at a reasonable cost. I personally look after skin care including radiofrequency, microdermabrasion, microneedling, dermaplaning, enzyme therapy and chemical peels alongside our experienced beauty therapist Emma.

Beth: My main role within the business is marketing. I like to keep things as current and cutting edge as possible. I am currently gaining experience in management and leading our team which I hope to do in the future. I have trained in HD Brows, Henna Brows, Lash Lifts and also makeup. I like to have a diverse role within the business and spread my skill set over all aspects of the business. Currently I am focusing on finishing my degree but I’m hoping to train with more makeup artists in the future to build on my experience. I also plan to develop the business further once I have finished my degree.

The business has expanded since you first opened what new treatments and services do you offer?

Jane: We have a fantastic team at Beau and Belle now. As Beth said, she is our makeup, henna brows and HD brow artist and is very passionate about transforming our client’s look. Hannah, our hairdresser, has brought her expertise from Melbourne to Limavady, with her fabulous colours and hair extensions - she specialises in Beauty Works nano bead extensions. Nensi is our sought-after nail artist rapidly gaining a reputation in Limavady for her beautiful gels and acrylics.

Over the next few weeks we will be introducing eyelash extensions to our treatment list. Our lash technician has trained at the Elizabeth Sands Beauty School, allowing us to offer top quality lashes.

How do you find working together as a mother/ daughter team?

Jane: It’s a real ‘leveler’ working with my daughter. She keeps me grounded and brings a ‘younger’ dimension to the business,

keeping the focus current. I think that I drive her crazy with my lack of tech know how! Beth has now gone back to Queen’s University to complete her business degree. The year that she has had in Beau & Belle has been a real advantage for her with her studies. Seeing a business start up and develop in real life and learning from my management experience has been invaluable.

It is fantastic doing this together. We often are sitting around the kitchen table late at night discussing plans and going over our social media marketing. I love having her youthful vibe and her angle on things. I find it so refreshing.

Beth: My mum has taught me things that you couldn’t learn anywhere else. She has been in management for over 30 years; however, I never fully appreciated how effective her management was until I started to work alongside her. She has such a positive energy and drive that is reflected in her team, keeping us all motivated. She has the ideal management skillset, which has a big part to play in our success. Not only is she driven, but she is very ethical in her decisions and has taught me how to make decisions that are fair for everyone. Working alongside my mum is great as we bring two different aspects to the business, which work very well together. It can be hard at times, but I would never change it as we both have the same passion and life goals.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Jane: My favourite is treating skin to get real results. It’s so satisfying when a customer says that they can now go out without worrying about their skin concerns. I love to see their skin ‘glowing’. I love client ‘selfies’ when they are pleased with their skin.

I used to be a Regional Manager for a locally owned care home group. My role was largely around compliance. This change in direction is so different, work is a joy.

Beth: I remember my mum doing my makeup for me for my birthday in P7. I remember being amazed at how different I looked and wishing I could look like that every day. From that day on I have always had a passion for makeup and how different it can make you feel. For years, I had acne and hid behind my makeup. Now I use it to express the individual’s style and give them confidence and I love being able to transform someone’s look. Beauty as a whole is extremely rewarding as you can transform someone’s mood and how they feel about themselves.

What would you say is the secret to the success of Beau & Belle?

Jane: What we try to do in Beau & Belle is to offer affordable, effective and quality treatments to everyone. We are friendly and welcoming and really enjoy our customers company in the salon.

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feature 23

Local Women Magazine | 31

THE WRIGHT STUFF

She’s endured some tough times in her journey to successful businesswoman, including a serious car accident and the flooding of her salon, but Eglinton make-up artist Rosemary Wright is still at the top of her game.

By Maureen Coleman • Pictures by Gerard Gormley 18 feature

32 | Local Women Magazine

A

s one of the North West’s leading make-up artists and beauty therapists, Rosemary Wright has built up a hugely successful business over the last 25 years.

The Eglinton based mum-of-two and proprietor of Ashburn Image skin clinic operates a popular one-stop-shop for numerous clients who travel from all over the region to avail of her award-winning artistry and beauty treatments.

Long before beauty blogging and vlogging became fashionable, Rosemary was making a name for herself in the industry, winning Ireland’s top make-up artist three years in a row.

But her journey to success hasn’t been without its obstacles and hardships, which makes her story even more inspirational.

Fourteen years ago, Rosemary was travelling back from a job in Dublin when the car she was driving was involved in a serious head-on collision on the Newry by-pass. The driver of the other car was killed in the crash and Rosemary was badly injured. Wounds to her feet meant she was unable to walk or stand in the aftermath of the accident and she had to get about her main salon on a stool with wheels. But the incident also forced Rosemary to re-evaluate her life and she decided to close several other salons she ran at the time and focus on the Eglinton one.

Then just two years ago, disaster struck again when Ashburn Image was damaged in floods caused by persistent heavy rain. With the help of her staff, the local community and a high-profi le VIP, she was able to repair and rebuild her business, which continues to thrive.

Rosemary says: “The impact of the floods was worse to deal with than the accident. Seeing the damage to the salon really affected me badly. I’d put so much into building it up and making it successful, so to see the place flooded was really heart-breaking.

“It was a terrible time for the whole village. So many people lost their homes when the village went below water as a result of non-stop rain. I’d bought an old building and had worked 24/7 to do it up and get it just the way I wanted it.

“I remember arriving at the salon and actually having to swim to get in through the door. That was so traumatic, even worse than the car accident. I was devastated.

“But we got the place cleaned up and were back at work two days later. The staff came in and so did the clients. They didn’t mind that the place smelled damp and I was so grateful to them for their loyalty.

“Everyone was amazing. The staff helped out and I got great assistance from the local community and local businesses. I’ll never forget how kind people were.”

It was this same resilience which helped her return to work after the car accident on November 24, 2014. Rosemary remembers every single detail of the crash – the collision itself, the fi re officers cutting her free from her car, being rushed to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

She counts herself fortunate that she survived, despite being badly injured.

“The soles of my feet were cut off,” she says. “But I came out of it alive. Because of my injuries I wasn’t able to stand for a while, so I had a wee stool with wheels on it to help me move around the salon when I got back to work.

“The accident changed my outlook on life. It changed me.

I sold off my other salons and kept the main one. It became my sole business venture.”

Following the flooding of 2017, Rosemary won the support of Prince Charles, when he paid a visit to Eglinton to meet people whose lives had been affected by the results of the torrential rain. During a conversation with the Prince of Wales, Rosemary explained how she was having to fight to receive the insurance money needed to rebuild the salon. The following day the insurance company, which had previously refused to release the funds, contacted her to say it had reconsidered its position and were going to pay her the money. The company confirmed Prince Charles had played a role in its U-turn.

Rosemary, naturally, was delighted with the news and contacted Buckingham Palace to pass on her thanks. She later received an invite to the Palace and also to Hillsborough Castle, where, once again, she came face to face with the Prince and thanked him in person.

Since then, business has flourished, and Ashburn Image continues to go from strength to strength. Rosemary, who has two daughters, Ashleen, 20 and Emerald, 19, loves her job and says she was always destined to work in the creative field.

“When I was at school, I was good at two things – sport and art,” she says, “I remember my mum saying to me that I was good with my feet and my hands, so to aim for a career that used either.

“I worked as a fitness instructor for a while and around this time, started to do make-up for the ladies coming to the class. I enjoyed it and was doing a good job so decided to go back and do beauty therapy, which led to me opening my own place.

“The beauty industry has changed a lot in recent years. Now it’s not so much about who is best at the job but who has the most followers on social media. But clients still want someone who they can trust to do their make-up properly.

“Everyone can fi lter images, edit and make tweaks here and there before posting on Instagram or Facebook but at the end of the day, clients want someone they can trust to do a good job. At Ashburn Image, we can provide a whole range of skin care treatments as well as hairdressing and nails and I really do have the best team anyone could ask for.” feature 19

Local Women Magazine | 33

A Tale Told By An Idiot

Again, I have resorted to my favourite soliloquy from the whole of Shakespeare’s plays, having already used the first line of it as another title a couple of years ago: “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow;” and surely there is enough despair hinted at in these Macbeth extracts to fit the bill for some of what is happening at this point in history.

By Myra Dryden drydenmyra@gmail.com

Y

ou could be forgiven for thinking that I am the idiot above, especially if you have been following me for the last ten years – and sure why shouldn’t you? But the buck eejit on this occasion is not me, dear me no. It is a contortionist over three thousand miles away across the pond. I say contortionist because he is able to appear before the American public with both feet in his mouth, one of which he has shot himself in, and slapping himself vigorously on the back at the same time. No mean feat (you can’t beat a good old cliché at a time like this, and as Jimmy Cricket used to say… there’s more!)

Wouldn’t it be marvellous if someone with enough nerve could create a cartoon of that?

Well, I can dream.

From that moment, at the onset of this disastrous virus, when he declared that he could see light at the end of the tunnel I knew he hadn’t the sense he was born with. As my mother would have said, sure a blind man could see that it was a freight train speeding towards him packed with COVID-19 which it was determined to drop off at every stop in all fifty states, before returning to the White House to flatten him.

Well, the American

34 | Local Women Magazine

voters got the Barabbas they bayed for three years ago. Let’s hope they don’t make the same mistake this time round.

Which reminds me, how did your Easter go? Of course, family gatherings were out of the question which meant I missed my grandson Jack on his hunt round his Belfast garden to discover where the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs. But I needn’t have worried because thanks to that camera thingy on my phone he took me all over, pointing out every little nook and cranny where that cunning little criter had concealed his stash. Furthermore, it seemed that the naughty little man had gnawed round the edges of the eggs because Jack spotted the teeth marks on the shells ( hope your crowns are still intact, Charlotte!)

Later when Jack confided that he thought there was still one to be found I almost gave the game away. Unthinkingly, I breezily assured him that mummy would get it for him. He was shocked at my ignorance: “Granny! Only the Easter Bunny knows where it is,” and his tone was that of, don’t you know anything? I was tempted to reply after the fashion of Manuel from Faulty Towers: “I know nothing.” But it would have gone over his head, so I kept schtum.

On the subject of heads (yes, I know, I’m not really on the subject of heads, but I had to get on to the next bit somehow) mine is a disgrace at the moment, or at least what passes for hair on it. What with my hairdresser being on lockdown and me having no hands for doing anything with thin wispy seventy four year old locks, I’m in

a right state. I resemble a very stunned chicken looking over a hedge it has just been dragged through backwards.

I knew I should have bought that wig when I had the chance; but every time I came close I was plagued again by the picture of it gracing some bovine bonce in Inishowen after a gale force wind in Foyle Street. Apparently, an APB and a small reward would have done the trick, but would it be worth tuppence by its third return? I daren’t imagine.

In despair I took the scissors to it last week. I didn’t think a chunk off the front and both sides could do much damage. I’m not over it yet. Containment couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Suffice to say that I have covered most of the mirrors around me awaiting that wonderful day when Fiona throws open her doors again and I join the stampede, with a paper bag over my head.

But there are other things I miss about the Salon: The whole atmosphere is warm and friendly, there’s always plenty of craic, you get a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit, and the mirror at Fiona’s station takes a stone off me. What more could you ask for?

Maybe a couple of up to date magazines: even so, I enjoy the old news, which actually is rarely old to me for I haven’t a clue about the lives of the famous.

All this to avoid the elephant in the room: COVID-19. Of course, I touched on it at the beginning with that bit of nonsense about Trump but we both know it deserves more than that. As do all the wonderful people involved in helping us to get through it. The

front line workers as they have become known to us now, and whom we gladly and enthusiastically clap each Thursday night now; and that group includes more than simply the nurses and doctors. It acknowledges those other essential workers who put their necks on the line daily: the ambulance teams, the fire crews, delivery people, supermarket assistants, those still actually producing food for those markets, corner shops, chemists, hospital and street cleaners, post workers ( I apologise if I have left anyone out ) and I have benefited from most of those great services without putting my head outside the door, because I am considered to be in that vulnerable group of elderly, although sans underlying health conditions.

And what about the thousands of people who signed up in response to the National Health call for volunteers to back up all of the above, in whatever capacity they are needed. If this virus has done anything positive in this otherwise disastrous crisis it surely must be in the area of bringing our population together to help each other while still keeping within the guidelines. There is a true Christian spirit returning and I for one welcome it.

It was that spirit that got the Derry community through The Troubles, and still exists today. It’s what I missed most when I was moving around before I finally settled here again. I was not in the North for the worst of The Troubles in the seventies and early eighties, but I have seen enough documentaries and heard plenty of first-hand reports to convince me of the support network that neighbours provided for each other.

Note, I have not even mentioned the Coronavirus death rate yet, but what can I say that hasn’t been said a thousand times before: horrific, frightening, biblical; and almost as bad for the loved ones left behind, not even able to grieve properly or attend the funerals. For me the saddest sight was that of the mass grave in The Bronx where unclaimed bodies had to be buried as paupers: possibly individuals whose relatives were too poor to take responsibility for burying them, or maybe were illegally in the US and afraid to expose themselves to the authorities.

In one of his Holy Sermons, seventeenth century poet John Donne puts this before us to ponder on: “Every man’s death diminishes me/ Ask not for whom the bell tolls,

Sending our love to Granny Myra Over in Boston, Myra’s son Jeremy, daughter-in-law Eileen and her two precious grandchildren Maya and Eoin are missing their granny.

L

ockdown has been tough for everyone - but perhaps the one group of people we miss the most are our grannies.

There is nothing quite like the bond between grandchildren and grandparents. While raising our own children can be fraught with stress – grandchildren can do no wrong. Granny always says ‘yes’ and is happy to indulge her grandchildren – no matter what age they are!

Each year Local Women columnist Myra travels to Boston to see two of her grandchildren Maya, 11 and Eoin, 9 who are the children of her son Jeremy and his American wife Eileen.

Jeremy has lived in America for over 20 years and Boston is home for the family. Regular readers of Myra’s column know that she thoroughly enjoys her visits to the USA. But this year there will be no visit to Boston. The Covid-19 crisis dictates that Myra has to stay in Derry and, although lockdown is easing a little in the USA, there will be no foreign travel for the Boston Drydens either.

The family is keeping in touch with phone calls and videocalls – but of course, it’s not the same.

Eileen says: “The children are really missing their granny. They so look forward to her visits and they love spending that special time with her.

“It’s tough knowing that we can’t come to Ireland this year either. We just want to send Myra all our love and tell her that we miss her.”

It tolls for thee.”

God knows just how much we have been diminished over the past month, and will continue to be over the next months, even years.

Apropos of those months and years I fear I will not get to see my family in Boston anytime soon, certainly not this year.

They phone me most days and all the family keep in touch through that WhatsApp business, which I am excluded from because I haven’t a baldy notion how to get on to it!

But I shall dearly miss New England in the Fall which was to be my next holiday. There is nothing like it. The beauty of those big spreading trees and the colours: red, yellow, golden. You’ll have to make do with those meagre images, my powers of description are severely limited (unless Aidan our Local Women designer steps in and adds in a picture of New England in the Fall!)

As I look back over this literary (who am I kidding, I should be so lucky) meander I think I really must admit to being the “idiot” of the title after all. You didn’t have to agree with me so readily! Despite that, God bless, and keep safe. ƒ Maya and Eoin send their love to Myra all the way from Boston Local Women Magazine | 35

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Rightprice reopens for business

CHRONICLE (2).pdf

1

29/05/2020

10:15

THOUGH never obliged to shut under government rules which left ‘homeware’ stores exempt, Rightprice Coleraine closed its doors THE CHRONICLE, 28th May 2020 in the interests of public safety.

Page 5

Rightprice reopens for business

But with restrictions now eased, the store reopened on Monday, May 18 and customers have been back to the Bushmills Several local companies, including Carnroe THOUGH neverwelcomed obliged to shut under government which left Supplies, Signature Printing, Exorna Group and Road premises.rules Smurflt Kappa, have assisted with PPE, ‘homeware ’ stores exempt, Rightprice

sanitizer,

signage,

dividers

and

other

Coleraine closed its doors in the materials.

Management been working hard behind interests of publichave safety.

With a range of safety precautions in place, Butscenes with restrictions now eased, therelaunch. store the store will operate in a limited, controlled and the to prepare for the reopened on Monday, May 18 and customers

safe way with reduced hours from Monday to have been welcomed back to the Bushmills Road Friday 10am-4pm and reduced number of

premises. not to say that staff were idle That’s staff. during Management have been working hard behind There will be a one way entry and exit system, the scenes to prepare closure. for the relaunch. the temporary The store continued controlling the number of customers at any one That's not to say that staff were idle during the time. operating a contact freecontinued delivery Sanitizer service, temporary closure.

The store stations and many other measures operating a contact free delivery service, are in place as recommended by government supplying mattresses, chairs, supplying beds,beds, mattresses, tables, chairs,tables, lift advice listed on nibusinessinfo.co.uk reconfigured and rise chairs plus flooring to vulnerable people “ Safety will stay in place as to longprovide as its a safe environment. lift chairs plus ooring to vulnerable and and those inrise desperate need. needed,” commented Managing Director, Ryan All the work going on has been done under Pollock. people thoserules in desperate need.“ This was a huge Several companies, including Carnroe strict socialand distancing and when doors decision local which we have not opened to the public, the showroom was taken lightly but it's one which seems to have Supplies, Signature Printing, Exorna Group and reconfigured to provide a safe environment.

Rightprice on the Bushmills Road in Coleraine reopened for business on May 1 8. been under very well received. ” All the work going on has been done Smurt Kappa, have assisted with PPE, sanitizer, strict social distancing rules and when doors signage, dividers and other materials. opened to the public, the showroom was Rightprice Coleraine have introduced strict social distancing measures to ensure customers remain safe. The store will resume normal hours from 1 st June and will be Monday -Saturday.

9am -5.30 pm. There will be no late Thursday advice listed on nibusinessinfo.co.uk opening until further notice. “ Safety will stay in place as long as its There will be a one way entry and exit system, needed,” commented Managing Director, controlling the number of customers at any Ryan Pollock. one time. “ This was a huge decision which we have not Sanitizer stations and many other measures taken lightly but it’s one which seems to have are in place as recommended by government been very well received.”

Rightprice Coleraine have introduced strict social distancing measures to ensure customers remain safe s the showroom reopens.

Local Women Magazine | 41

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What Women Want

HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE… Lori Gatsi-Barnett from the JoinHer Network speaks to Louise Warde Hunter, Principal and Chief Executive of leading Further and Higher Education College, Belfast Met, about why women have what it takes to deal with a crisis.

Continents, and time zones are grounded and facing a new normal. This new reality has opened our lives in so many different ways. For the first time the whole world is in the same place and our experiences are exposing just how similar we all are. Everything has changed and for a while we have become aware of our limitations as we are not out and present everywhere, but living indoors for a moment, in this time.

At the same time, looking from the window of the house, on either side we see how resilient people, families, friends and communities are.

We have had to consider the value of life and the danger and uncertainty no one could have ever imagined. Looking out neighbours have taken on consideration for each other, vulnerabilities have been so evident and the appreciation for everyone on the frontline battling it out to save us all.

The weather has been bright and sunny as if to tempt us to go beyond our back yard. Gardens and outdoor living spaces in our homes have provided a safe haven as with our children we plant and practice science projects that we certainly don’t want to ruin our floors. The sound of laughter, games outdoors, the aroma of barbecue days and the best staycations worthy of a travel agent family deal, is another aspect of this new normal that we presently face.

consistent and courageous response, whilst not losing focus and having decisive action plans. It has been beautiful to watch and applaud female leaders at work.

Louise continues: “At this challenging time for so many, communication has never been more important to us in all the communities we are part of, whether they are our communities of family and friends, our local neighbourhoods or our communities at work. How we connect and engage on-line has changed and accelerated.

From video meetings at work to the advent of the social media family quiz or the latest Tik Tok challenge, there’s a sense that whatever the world looks like, as we emerge from isolation, we have reinforced new lines of communication years ago when she was studying the qualities in our daily lives.” of successful leaders of change in the public Globally we are changing because in every sector, there was a clear correlation between the community, whatever its make-up, family, characteristics of good change leaders and the friends, our local neighbourhoods, or our attributes often associated with women leaders. colleagues at work, we all recognise that we The common denominators were an empathetic matter. In whatever we choose to stay connected, approach and sustained, good communication. we should reflect on what matters. Additionally,

Back indoors on a rainy day, home school and home office complete, those board games, puzzles, trivia and consoles! The competition between generations rages on to see who wins the challenges and who cheats! Winning at its best! For a brief moment we are all caught up living, creating memories and embracing belonging, unity and cherishing wellness and safety hidden within the house. By now we have all become so particular about cleaning standards, making sure everywhere is disinfected as we fight a The true test of leadership has been put on war with detergents. display with how different governments have “I have always been interested in how people responded to this pandemic. The evidence has cope with and manage change” says Louise been overwhelming that women have what Warde Hunter, the new Principal and Chief it takes to deliver in times of crisis. There Executive of leading Further and Higher is obvious confidence, calm processing of Education College, Belfast Met. She said, many information, swift delegation of duties and a

appreciate the finer things and make time to be present in the moment. Rekindle hobbies, rewrite songs and remake movie scenes, redesign our living spaces, hold dear our loved ones and plan for the future. Whichever side of the window we stand on, I’m confident there will always be hello from the other side.

For more information find us at joinher.co.uk Local Women Magazine | 49

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Loving Me Loving Life Learning to love yourself is the most important thing you can do in the quest to create the life you truly want.

W

ho remembers being taught how to actually love yourself?

It is often commonly mistaken as arrogance or conceit. We often hear it as a criticism of others, “Look at her, she loves herself!” You can see some people physically squirm at the very mention of it, as for many it can feel so at odds with what they were taught as children.

However, it is one of the most important things to learn in life, if not the most important. We are the only voice in our head, we are the one constant person in our life, regardless of what happens, so surely the relationship we have with ourself, is something we should at least think about. One of the problems I see is that in general most people’s understanding of ‘loving yourself’ means that they should tell everyone how great they are and act like they are better than others. Ironically those who do this usually far from truly love themselves.

Learning to love yourself is about firstly getting to know yourself, moving towards acceptance of all parts of you, liking and learning how to love yourself, not just by how you feel about you, but in how you care for you. It is by taking these actions of self-love that we begin to permit ourselves to live more fully, by ensuring that all our needs are met, rather than using all our energy to meet the needs of others.

The mindset shift I work on with clients is the reverse of this. By teaching clients how to respond to their own needs and to embrace their true self and permit it to shine through, regardless of what others think, this positively impacts on their relationships and the way in which people respond to them. It begins to look like real confidence without the need to make others feel less. Instead it inspires those around them to make similar changes in their own life.

A lot of mothers are so overloaded with the pressures of modern living, to have and be it ‘all’, that they simply have long forgotten that they matter too. Ironically, the more they put their own needs further and further down the list, the more it affects them and their family.

Quite often I tell clients to do the illogical. For example, when you have a long list of tasks to do

and unleash your inner potential. It is a 12 week programme consisting of weekly 1-1 Facetime or face to face sessions (once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted these will resume), weekly journaling activities, course materials and an initial mindset transformation, where we focus on exploring who you are and what you want from the course.

I’m also an energy therapist, and can integrate this into the package, based on client needs and requests.

In addition, I have a set up a ‘Mindset for Mums’ group providing weekly wellbeing ‘get togethers’ on zoom. These are free of charge thanks to funding from Garvagh Development Trust.

The purpose of this group is to offer wellbeing and mindset tips for mums during COVID 19 lockdown. It is also to provide a network of support and non-judgemental space for mums to and feel overwhelmed, I advise them to take a support one another. I have decided to target this break, preferably by taking time to go outdoors, meditate or even take a nap; something which will group, as there are a lot of mums under immense pressure at the moment; juggling home schooling, relax the body and mind and recharge it.

When setting goals and working out what we want working from home, and parenting, as well as trying to meet their own needs. from life, how can we begin to do this if we don’t know who we are. Most people define themselves I am also currently offering counselling and personal development mentoring via Facetime, by their job title or role in the family but have WhatsApp and telephone, which can be booked never even considered who or what is behind on a weekly basis. these titles.

Make yourself a priority, nurture any feelings that When we begin to look more closely at this, we may begin to gain more clarity about what we truly surface, and seek professional support when you need it. want from life, not what we think we should do Ask yourself what would my life look like if I loved based on what we think will please others or the ‘rules’ and restrictions we have been placing in our myself more? What would I permit myself to be, do and have? own lives based on limiting beliefs.

I believe we all have a duty to love ourselves, Stay well, so that in turn we have more to give to others. I Louiseanne can see that for a long time we have been taught to give and give to others to our own detriment, where as when we can meet our needs first, the For more information on the work help we can give others is much more sustainable.

Louiseanne does, visit her Facebook The other thing I find is the happier I am, the more page: I want to spread it to others, as well as being more https://www.facebook.com/ capable to do so. lookwithin16 This has led me to put together the selfor email: louiseanneq@gmail.com development course ‘Loving me-Loving Life’. I offer a unique, tailor made programme supporting you in learning who you are and how to love yourself so that you can create the life you truly want Local Women Magazine | 51

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THE MOOD OF DRESSING WHILE YOU WORK FROM HOME DURING COVID19.

Hello, to all my readers this month I thought I would write about the mood of dressing for work during covid19 while you move from the office to the comforts of your home as your typical workday.

Once again, we challenge huge changes in our lifestyle and in our work environments. The coronavirus pandemic has forced most of us to work from home which has led to the tricky dress code when there is nowhere to go, so what do you actually wear to make your day

productive and help you feel motivated while you type up that memo, or take that business call .

Just remember ladies that when you are feeling low, clothes always have the power to give us warmth and security especially at a time like this so firstly don’t opt for a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie, keep this wear 60 | Local Women Magazine

you have kept those pjs on ! Just remember our clothes can motivate us and establish a purpose to our working day environment.

for your afternoon walk plus you don’t want to get caught out with that all important conference call on Zoom, unless you opt for dressing from the top up otherwise known as “conference call dressing” keeping business on top and pyjamas on the bottom then you can easily cover up and your colleagues won’t notice any difference !

As we all face daily bad news and restrictions it is tough enough trying to work let alone start pulling out that office skirt from the wardrobe and delving into your closet for your most stylish shirt , but in times of crisis it is so important to feel good and getting dressed can act as a form of self care , so what I suggest is when you get up in the morning , after your breakfast and before you settle down to opening up your laptop browse through your wardrobe and opt for a piece of clothing that makes you feel comfortable but productive , maybe this will consist of a nice blouse with a collar, a shirt , or just simply a smart colourful top that would look well on that zoom call !

Comfort is important too, and it is very easy to just throw something on in the mornings but you don’t want it to feel like its yesterday’s clothes so take out a nice pair of stretch jeans or classy comfortable elasticated waisted pants along with good footwear , trainers or soft ankle boots, try to avoid staying in your slippers unless

If you are looking for a little bit of a lift in your day try choosing bright colours to boost your mood, I find this really works for me and I have noticed that when my customers come to visit me instore at Gasp they immediately feel lifted when they try on colourful pieces especially during the spring summer season, so try bring this mood into your home office environment it will make such a difference to your day!

If you are really feeling brave and you have always wanted to practice power dressing for work well now is the time to do this from the confines of your kitchen table, your colleagues won’t recognise you in that zoom call while you dress to impress with that powerful pinstripe blouse, tight knee length skirt with a slit up the side and red soled high heeled pointed shoes , YES you are in control of any difficult situation that may arise at work , you are ready bring it on !!

Just on another note you may not all realise that I have revamped my online store www.gaspboutiques. com , we are taking all orders online with shipping direct to your door, I have had a little extra time to work on this while the boutique has been closed during this pandemic so please feel free to browse away and send me any queries you may have , I am more than happy to help you in any way that I can.

I do hope you, your families, and loved ones are all keeping safe and I look forward to seeing you all again in store very shortly, it is trying times for each and everyone one of us , but I do believe we will all get through this as a nation and hopefully a successful covid19 vaccine will be approved shortly so we can all bring a little bit of normality back into our daily lives.

In the meantime, Safe Safe everybody.

Until Next Month Regards

Ann Doyle

Proprietor of Gasp Boutique Armagh Local Women Magazine | 61

“Nothing is more important than our family” Local Women catches up with Northern Ireland golf star Darren Clarke and his beautiful wife Alison, who are on lockdown thousands of miles apart and getting ready for a big family reunion.

R

By Kim Kelly

there aren’t many other people there.

“We really don’t know when flights will ight now, Alison Clarke should be resume. We chat daily and sometimes have soaking up the sun in the Bahamas family chats. Our children are scattered all with her superstar golfer husband over the world. Conor is here in Portrush Darren. with me, Tyrone is in Florida, Stuart is in As I am chatting to her, the beautiful model boss Belfast and Philip is in Baltimore, so it’s is indeed basking in the rays – but, she’s a little quite a task getting us all together, but closer to home in sunny Portrush, while Darren is it’s important to stay connected. thousands of miles away in their other home in “A few other guests at the resort are Abaco Island. stuck there with Darren and they have It’s been two long months since Alison and all been making the best of it, but at this Darren were together. When the lockdown was time I think anyone would rather be at announced back in March, it was too late for home.”

Darren to return home to Northern Ireland.

Luckily there’s a golf course so Darren All flights in and out of the remote Abaco has been able to practise daily – but it’s Island in the northern Bahamas were cancelled just not the same as being at home in his and there he has remained ever since – trapped beloved Portrush. in paradise!

“I’m in paradise, yes, but it’s really tough being away from Alison and the boys. I miss “Most people think they would love to be stuck on a tropical island for lockdown,” Alison laughs. them all so much and the tough part is not “Of course, it’s gorgeous but it’s very remote and knowing when things will get back to the new normal when we can physically see each other again.

ƒ Alison Clarke 64 | Local Women Magazine

“All the borders and flights got shut before I could either get home or bring the family here. We have been very fortunate that, so far, we have no cases of COVID on Abaco. However, all of the Bahamas has been on curfew and weekend lockdown to battle the virus so, my trips off property have been very limited. The golf course and practice facilities have remained open, enabling me to work hard on my game away from Flippers Beach Bar here!”

ƒ Alison and Darren with the Ryder Cup

So far summer 2020 hasn’t been what any of us expected.

ƒ Alison and Darren on their wedding day

Lockdown has tested us all – not being able to see family and friends, the uncertainty of work and, okay it may sound a little shallow, but the closure of hairdressers and beauticians has hit hard.

For a woman known for her glamour and beauty, Alison hasn’t let a global pandemic stop her looking her best. Take one look at her Instagram pictures and you’ll see she looks better than ever.

She’s got a tanned and relaxed beachy vibe going on – and it really suits her.

People often ask me what Alison is really like – I think they have the impression that she is high maintenance and spends her days in a spa – absolutely not! us.

In reality the model boss and former beauty queen is an advocate of natural beauty. She’s a real girls’ girl, great fun and best of all – very practical!

“It is time to move forward in different ways. We won’t truly know the full picture until we re-open again. It is an interesting time for all of us, but we will adapt.”

“People are surprised that I am so low maintenance,” says Alison. “Under normal circumstances, I love Michele International for hair and Beauty Boulevard for my nails - luckily, the girls there have taught me lots.

“I travel a lot with Darren and I can be away for weeks at a time. It’s important that I can look after myself because I don’t want to be relying on unknown hairdressers or beauticians.

And of course, one of Alison’s most asked questions is about the future of the Miss Northern Ireland pageant which has been put on hold until it is safe to go back to the bars for heats.

ƒ Darren who is currently in lockdown in the Bahamas

“I have learned to do a lot of my own beauty treatments when I have to. But I have to confess that I recently used a box dye for the first time since I was about 20!

“I phoned Chantel from Michele International and told her what I was planning – she wasn’t thrilled of course but she talked me through it, and it worked out okay!

Eight girls have already been picked for the final, but the rest of the heats have been suspended.

“Miss Northern Ireland will continue when it is safe to return to the bars and hotels. Things are uncertain right now, but we will definitely be back.

“We are lucky that our current Miss Northern Ireland Lauren Leckey is so active and visible on social media. She is still the current title holder and is a great ambassador for the competition.”

ACA Models is currently closed. Obviously, as But before all that, there will be an amazing family reunion. As we slowly emerge out of much of the agency’s work relies on big events like “I’ve been giving my hair a rest and not drying it, so I’ve been enjoying a more natural, beachy the Irish Open or Balmoral Show, there is no work lockdown, new flights should be announced soon. for her team of models. look.

Alison is monitoring the situation closely and “Lockdown is the time to embrace our natural watching as the fashion world undergoes a beauty and let it shine – we have no choice!” seismic change.

And lockdown is clearly suiting Alison who “The fashion world is changing every day. is looking fit and healthy and more youthful than ever from her daily beach walks along the Brands like Gucci have announced that they are reducing the number of fashion shows a year from north coast. five to two. In essence fashion is now seasonless,” It’s certainly a change of pace from her usual she says. frenetic work lifestyle, organising fashion shows “Collections from spring 2020 are in warehouses and events and of course the Miss Northern – will they be brought out next year?

Ireland pageant.

Whether the reunion is in Portrush or the Bahamas still remains to be seen.

“It really doesn’t matter where we meet,” says Alison. “As soon as flights open up either way, we will be together.

“Lockdown has been hard. I have seen almost no one in ten weeks. I have become an expert at grocery shopping online. I have been so careful as this virus is terrifying.

“But it has reminded me of the importance of family and made me accept a more stripped “Of course, this all filters down to us. Right now, These days beach walks have replaced meetings back lifestyle. and fashion shows – Alison’s days are spent we can’t even buy clothes in real life, only online. quietly catching up with admin and talking to The fashion world may never be the same again “We will all come out of this a little different and friends online. and obviously as a model agency this impacts on I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.”

Local Women Magazine | 65

COLOURFUL CLASSICS FROM KULAR FASHION

Hi everyone!

We hope you’re all keeping well and staying positive through these testing times. Hopefully, we’re coming out the other side and ‘normal life’ isn’t too far away.

This month’s column has been inspired by the now-famous NHS rainbows we’ve been seeing everywhere over the last few weeks.

It’s been great to celebrate our key-workers and give them a muchneeded, virtual pat on the back for all the hard work they’ve been doing. Our Shoe-Floor Manager, Richard Lynch, created an amazing rainbow-balloon display which you might have seen if you were walking around the city.

Casual & Colourful Polo Ralph Lauren has a fantastic collection of colourful casual wear, from sweatshirts to t-shirts to loungewear.

Now is the perfect time to introduce some colour into our wardrobes, and no one does colour quite like Ralph Lauren.

We have been working hard behind the scenes and are delighted to announce we have launched the Polo Ralph Lauren range onto our website. As some of you might already know, we have exclusively carried the Polo Ralph Lauren range in store, but we have now expanded and moved it online too.

The Polo Ralph Lauren range is filled with classic pieces that every wardrobe should have. We’re going to show you some of our favourite colourful and casual pieces from the collection that will look great as we enter the Summer months.

66 | Local Women Magazine

Crafted from soft fleece for that perfect ‘lived-in’ look and feel, Polo created a range of sweatshirts in lots of lovely, bright colours. We love the hot pink and vibrant yellow, which would look great teamed with white or blue denim. These sweatshirts would give you that injection of colour that all of our wardrobes need at this time of year. One of the great things about Polo Ralph Lauren is its versatility. You can team these sweatshirts with shorts or a skirt now, or with jeans in the Wintertime.

Our favourite has to be the rainbow-hued trim with the crochet detail on the left sleeve and the iconic logo printed across the back.

You could treat your favourite key-worker to a lovely present and gift them the rainbowthemed sweatshirt.

Knitwear for Summer

Cool & Classic

Let’s face it, while the weather might be great at the minute, we don’t have long hot summer nights for too long here in Northern Ireland. Therefore, light knitwear can be bought and worn all-year-around.

Nothing says Ralph Lauren more than their classic Oxford shirts. The washed cotton is cut for an updated slim silhouette and finished with the signature embroidered Pony at the chest.

Made from soft Pima cotton and featuring a textural cable-knit motif, these short-sleeve sweaters are a stunning addition to your wardrobe and will carry you into the Autumn too. The bright striped version is a real eye-catcher; however, they do come in a range of muted pastel tones if you prefer something softer.

Coming in a range of colours, there will be a tone that suits your complexion and make you feel like a million dollars. Team it with a skinny jeans and trainers for the ultimate casual look now, or dress it up with a tailored trouser and court shoe for an office-appropriate ensemble later in the year.

Check out our new blog and keep up to date with all the latest news from Kular Fashion

www.kularfashion.com/blog Don’t forget you get 10% OFF your first order online plus FREE DELIVERY on all orders over £25 Ferryquay Street | Derry~Londonderry | 028 7126 1326 @kularfashion

kularfashion

@kularfashion

kularfashion Local Women Magazine | 67

FORGET HAIR LOSS NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!

SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION...

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW DOT MICRO IS A MULTI AWARD WINNING COMPANY THAT PROVIDES A FANTASTIC HAIR LOSS SOLUTION CALLED SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION. The clinic based in Holywood, County Down provides a non-medical hair loss solution. Scalp micropigmentation can be used to treat hereditary hair loss, and other forms of Alopecia and can even camouflage scars on the scalp.

My only regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner.”

Don Allen

One of our valued clients

SO HOW DOES SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION WORK? Tiny flecks of ink are applied to the top layer of skin. These super tiny dots resemble shaved hair follicles or can look like the base of hair follicles under thinning hair.

Mark Smith, the global multi award winning scalp micropigmentation artist can basically make thin hair look more

dense or can a give a bald guy back what actually looks like a full head of hair but shaved.

It’s amazing.

The great thing about scalp micropigmentation is that the results are almost immediate and can last many years before requiring a top up treatment.

WHAT CAN SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION BE USED TO TREAT? Scalp micropigmentation is also known as SMP or a hair tattoo. The treatment’s popularity is huge in the US and other parts of the world and now becoming a popular choice as a hair loss solution in Northern Ireland.

SMP has many uses. It’s most common use is for men who have severe hair loss. However, It’s equally effective for giving the appearance of more density in thinning hair and so a

great option to men and women alike suffering from various forms of alopecia.

BEFORE

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In addition, it’s commonly used to camouflage scars on the scalp. These could be either small scars from minor injuries to large medical scars.

The clinic offer free consultations with various treatment special offers on through winter and spring.

Give us a call today on +44 (0) 2895 570 001

SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION IS AN EFFECTIVE AND IMMEDIATE HAIR LOSS SOLUTION FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN THIS TREATMENT IS AN EXCELLENT WAY OF TREATING VARIOUS FORMS OF HAIR LOSS OR CONCEALING SCARS ON THE SCALP

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See their latest results on Facebook and Instagram

Get an extra guest room, dressing room or new kids play area simply by installing natural gas

I

f you’re like the many others who are currently working from home at the moment you might be dreaming about how to get a bit more space at your place.

Social media is awash with images of people having set up personal workstations in the most interesting of places, from the corner of kid’s bedrooms, to garages, to kitchen counters. Throw in the chaos of looking after kids, two parents working from the same house, a few dogs and cats, and suddenly home isn’t the sanctuary it used to be - in fact most houses are bulging at the seams.

Of course, we are all doing the right thing to reduce the risks of spreading coronavirus, but sometimes, when juggling kids, deadlines, zoom calls and space issues, it’s understandable that things can get a bit fraught and tight!

Well, did you know that natural gas might offer a solution? If you haven’t already got natural gas you can get more space at your place by installing it. That’s because when you switch to natural gas from oil you can get rid of the tanks in your roofspace, the hotwater cylinder in the hot press and the oil tank in the garden too – allowing you to reclaim a whopping c. 75sq feet of space from your home which opens up lots more space for new rooms and areas.

C

M

when the time comes to sell.

Y

The opportunities don’t end there. With natural gas the hot water cylinder in the hot press is taken away which suddenly opens up possibilities for a brand new dressing room, laundry room or even a walk in shower.

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K Lastly by installing natural gas you can remove the oil tank in your garden. Hello garden reDoes the idea of having an extra room appeal? design. Ever wanted outdoor space to sit, Removing the hot water tank and pipework relax, entertain or a place for the children to the peace of mind of never running out. You’ll from your attic could mean a loft conversion play? Now you can. also being doing your bit for the environment is possible. Converting loft space not only Simply, firmus energy natural gas is the by reducing carbon emissions by up to 50%*. provides extra space, whether for an extra ultimate home improvement. Not only do you So what are you waiting for? Find out if you living room, home office or bedroom and get more space at your place but you’ll get can get natural gas today by calling our bathroom, but even better, when done well, all the normal benefits too including instant customer servives phoneline on 0330 024 can add pounds to the value to your home heat, smart controls, endless hot water and 9000 or heading to firmusenergy.co.uk/gas.

We also have a team of energy advisors who are ready and waiting to answer any questions you might have. Just head to firmus energy. co.uk, choose the energy advisor dependent on the area that you live, and give them a call. Want more space at your place? Choose firmus energy natural gas.

To date, over 100,000 customers have connected to natural gas with firmus energy and are enjoying the benefits that natural gas brings - from constant hot water, to more space in the garden, more efficient boilers to simply being a better choice for the environment.

Homes and businesses interested in making the switch to firmus energy natural gas can find out more by calling 0330 024 9000 or visiting www.firmusenergy.co.uk • When compared to oil 70 | Local Women Magazine

More Space

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goodbye oil tank, ergy Our en rs adviso to dy are rea r call u take yo

hello kids play area Register your interest today at

firmusenergy.co.uk/gas

Local Women Magazine | 71

WIN WIN WIN

The ultimate home improvement with firmus energy and Tobermore

I

nstalling natural gas is the ultimate home improvement giving you More Space at Your Place both inside and outside the home!

And this summer firmus energy has teamed up with paving and walling experts Tobermore to offer homeowners the chance to transform their home this year by winning the ultimate home improvement.

If being at home more often over the last few months has inspired you to start your own home or garden improvement journey then this competition is for you.

Up for grabs is ÂŁ1,000 towards installing natural gas and ÂŁ1,000 towards Tobermore paving as well as a personal landscape design consultation which you can use to help create your dream outdoor space.

Just head over to firmus energy’s website for full details of the competition

www.firmusenergy.co.uk/more-space as well as get ideas and inspiration for your home transformation.

72 | Local Women Magazine

Local Women Magazine | 73

74 | Local Women Magazine

Local Women Magazine | 75

For many children home isn’t a safe place…

The amazing counsellors at Childline are hard at work during the pandemic. Belfast’s Denise Quinn explains that with children in crisis across the country, donating to the charity is more important than ever.

A

By Maureen Coleman

Co Antrim woman, who is a counsellor with Childline, has spoken about how she and her colleagues are continuing to support children and young people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Denise Quinn, from Belfast, has been a supervisor with the NSPCC-run service for around six months and is part of a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are answering calls and email contacts at Childline’s Belfast base.

Denise, who was a social worker for 11 years before joining Childline, has been granted key worker status with her colleagues at the Belfast base. Childline has 12 bases across the UK including two in Northern Ireland – Belfast and Foyle.

The 38-year-old said: “Now, more so than ever, our children and young people need the service. We as adults are anxious and worried about the future and struggling to understand what is happening, imagine what that is like for a child. Their world has changed practically overnight.

“The routine of going to school, seeing their teachers, playing with their friends, studying for exams that are no longer happening, and doing things that they enjoy, to instead being at home 24/7 perhaps with brothers and sisters they don’t get along with, and with parents who are themselves stressed, mean children are very vulnerable. We are very aware that already children are struggling with their mental health and don’t have the resilience and coping skills needed right now.”

in. We will be there to listen to them, to let them know they are important, to support them and keep them safe. Whether they are upset about not seeing their best friend, how anxious they are about not doing their exams, that they are frightened about their mum who is a nurse, or worried about when they will see their CAMHS worker again,

She added: “That’s where Childline comes Childline will be there.

76 | Local Women Magazine

“I am so very aware of the children and young people for whom home isn’t a safe place, either physically or emotionally, and for all sorts of reasons. These children are now more vulnerable than ever. There is no teacher to look out for them. No visits to the school counsellor. And no friends to spend time with. It is these children that I am especially worried about and who need to Childline to be there.”

“We will be there to listen to them, to let them know they are important, to support them and keep them safe.”

Denise and her colleagues at Childline are now urging the public to continue to support children during this challenging time. To adapt to the ever-changing situation, the NSPCC has launched its appeal ‘We’re still here for children’.

Despite Childline having to close the night service for the first time and having a 30% drop in volunteer hours, due to counsellors having to self-isolate, it’s battling to still be there for children across the UK. The NSPCC is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline so the charity can continue to answer calls and be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.

Between January 21, 2020 and April 8, 2020, Childline delivered over 2,200 counselling sessions across the UK to children and young people who were concerned about Coronavirus.

Denise added: “Yes, it is hard to keeping going to work, when almost everyone else is staying at home. It’s hard when everyone is so anxious, but trying not to be. And it’s hard to leave my children knowing that many of their friends are being brilliantly homeschooled by parents and having lots of fun each day. But then I have that chat with a child who is anxious, or lonely, or frightened, and I am able to listen to them, and even if just for a short time, to help them feel safe. Then that guilt about my own children disappears.

“No matter what lies ahead in the coming weeks and months, I know that Childline will be there. I feel very grateful to be part of a team of staff and volunteers who are continuing to come to work so that our children continue to have someone who will listen, someone who cares, and someone who will support them to keep safe.”

In the past few weeks Childline has heard from children whose parents have lost their jobs and are under growing financial pressure, as well as from young carers struggling to look after their siblings whilst their parents fall sick with Coronavirus symptoms. Childline is also hearing from children who have had suicidal thoughts and talk about feeling trapped and isolated.

To support the appeal, the NSPCC has launched a new television ad which features a Childline counsellor talking after a shift about the vital importance of the service.

Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk Childline also has a huge online community where children can get support from their peers on message-boards and use expert resources to help them through any issue they are concerned about.

If adults are worried about children they can get advice from NSPCC practitioners on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk The NSPCC is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline so the charity can continue to answer calls and be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.

Local Women Magazine | 77

U TURN FITNESS ACADEMY

FAKEAWAY RECIPES Dieting can be tough, in order to ease the transition we have developed a selection of healthier alteratives to our takeaway favourites.

Salt and Chilli Chicken INGREDIENTS

Calories: 371

•

2 x chicken breasts, sliced

•

1 x eggs

•

20g Ground Almonds

•

1 x pepper, sliced

•

1 x onion, sliced

•

1 x chilli, sliced (or 1/ 2 Tsp of Lazy chilli’s

•

depending on preference)

•

1 x tsp coarse sea salt

Carbs: 1.6g Fat: 19.8g Add cals for side ie Rice 154 cal per 100g

DIRECTIONS 1.

Pour some ground almonds onto a plate and add the teaspoon of sea salt to it – mix it through!

2.

Take your strips of chicken and dip it in a bowl of beaten eggs, before rolling it in the Ground Almonds mixture – repeat until all the chicken is coated.

3.

Cook the chicken at 200° for about 20 minutes or until you think it has cooked through.

4.

While the chicken is cooking, stir fry (using fry light) the green peppers, onion and chillies.

5.

When the chicken is ready, add it to the pan to combine it with the vegetables.

6.

Serve with rice or noodles and devour.

CHICKEN BOX INGREDIENTS •

180g chicken breast cooked and

Calories: 379

•

shredded/cut into pieces

Carbs: 29g

•

200g homemade chips

Fat: 9g

•

Sea Salt

Protein: 43g

•

¼ tsp Paprika

•

¼ tsp Onion granules

•

Pinch of Sea Salt

•

Onions and peppers

•

Sauces - Skinny Co Sweet Chilli Mayo, Chilli

•

& Garlic Mayo

DIRECTIONS 1. Cook up chicken whether than be thinly sliced and fried or boiled then shredded 2. Cut up potatoes toss in tbsp of olive oil/coconut oil & Seasonings 3. Put in the air fryer and cook for 18mins at 170°(can be done in a normal oven also) 4. Once Chips, Chicken and veg are all ready plate up and cover in sauces and enjoy :)

Full range of sauces and protein available at Sport Health Nutrition Follow us on Facebook/sportshealthandnutrition45 78 | Local Women Magazine

OUR GIFT TO NHS STAFF

As a thank you to all our wonderful NHS staff we are offering full access to all editons of our cookbooks. E-mail seanakelly16@hotmail.com or dannyglenn1990@gmail.com and we will forward.

PROTEIN PANCAKES INGREDIENTS MAKES 2 PANCAKES •

30g Oats - blended into flour

•

Half scoop of protein (Vanilla, chocolate etc),

•

1 egg

•

Water 50g to 75g (depending on how thick of

consistency you like) ADDED TOPPINGS

spicy beef nachos INGREDIENTS SERVES 3

Calories: 338

•

180g 5% Mince

Carbs: 32g

•

2 x Wholemeal wraps

Fat: 8g

•

100g Passata

Protein: 33g

•

1 x tsp Lazy Garlic

•

1 x tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

•

1 x chilli, sliced (or 1/ 2 Tsp of Lazy chilli’s

•

Greek yogurt

•

Skinny Co Chocolate Sauce

•

Strawberries (mashed up to jam consistency)

DIRECTIONS 1. Blend oats into flour 2. In a bowl whisk together blended oats, protein and egg then add water 3. Melt a tsp of coconut oil in a pan and pour in half the mixture, cook for 2 to 3 mins until browning the flip and repeat 4. Add preferred toppings and enjoy Calories: 270 Carbs: 19g Fat: 9g Protein: 25g Add cals for toppings

depending on preference) •

1 x tsp coarse sea salt

•

1 x tsp Coconut oil

•

Skinny sauces Sweet Chilli Mayo & Garlic Mayo

• Can add onion & peppers SALSA •

1 red pepper

•

1 red/white onion

•

1 tsp Lazy Garlic

•

1 tsp Lazy chilli (add mo

•

re if prefered spicy)

•

2 tbsp passata

•

1 tsp of tomato puree

DIRECTIONS 1. Fry your mince in coconut oil with the garlic, Chilli and onions and peppers 2. Add in the rest of the seasonings with Passata & Worcestershire sauce 3. Make Salsa - Sweat off chopped peppers & onions add Garlic and Chilli stir well, Add in passata & tomato puree combine until reduced and serve 4. Serve with Skinny sauces Sweet Chilli Mayo & Garlic Mayo To make carb free swap out wraps for baby gem lettuce

www.uturn.fitness Follow us on Facebook/uturnfitnessderry Local Women Magazine | 79

with Anna Nelis

H

ey everyone, my name is Anna Nelis!

I am 10 years old and I am currently living the worst part of my life EVER during Lockdown! I wish that Coronavirus would go away so that I could go outside and play with my friends. Instead I am stuck in the house with my two little brothers and my crazy parents. When is this going to be over?

I have decided to write to all the fed-up children out there to give them ideas of what to do during Lockdown when you are bored. Hers is a list of my favourite activities that I have done so far:

A Little Bit More About Me

W

hen I was in P5, I found out that I am Dyslexic.

I was sad because I felt like I was dumb and couldn’t even say the word! I was embarrassed to tell people. I still am, a wee bit.

I know now that it’s okay to be dyslexic, because if everyone in the world was the same, life would be very boring. Plus, being dyslexic gives you superpowers! My brain works differently, so I can solve problems in ways that other people can’t.

Did you know that Roald Dahl was Dyslexic, and he wrote books for a living? It’s amazing that he could write books that have been read millions of times even when he struggled to spell.

Maybe next month, I will write a page in my Dyslexic language and see who can work it out

LOCKDOWN TASKS FOR YOU • Funny Face Art

• Making Fruit Salad • Planting Seeds • Making Plasticine • Baking my own Birthday Cake

MY FAVOURITE APPS FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS 80 | Local Women Magazine

If you are Dyslexic like me, I would love to hear about your superpower! Don’t be embarrassed, be proud!

Giota Beag Eile You can write to me in Irish or English as I go to an Irish Medium School.

You can email me at reception@localwomensnews.com

Friends over the Fence

L

ife during Lockdown isn’t that bad, because I have made a friend over the fence. Her name is Hailie, she is nine and she is tall like me! In fact, we could be twins- our friendship was meant to be. We like all the same things, like, Harry Potter, Ferrero Rocher, Billie Eilish and our favourite colours are green and purple.

Every day after our schoolwork is finished, we go outside and talk over the fence. I don’t even know what we talk about, but we have a good laugh and Hailie makes me happy. It is amazing the games that you can play over the fence if you have a good imagination. We play ‘Hide ‘n’ Seek’, ‘Heads or Tails’, ‘Four Corners’ and ‘Five Second Rule’.

I love having a friend to keep me company during Lockdown, and when this all over, I am going to go straight next door and give Hailie a great, big hug!

My Mum told me about a poem called, ‘Mending Wall’, by a famous American

Poet called Robert Frost that she had read in school. In the poem, Robert and his neighbour are fixing the wall between their two farms, and the neighbour explains to Robert that, “good fences make good neighbours”. If it wasn’t for my fence, Hailie and I wouldn’t be friends as we wouldn’t be able to keep a safe distance from each other. Our fence splits us up, but it has made our friendship grow.

My Favourite Things

Hailie’s Favourite Things

FAVOURITE SINGER: Billie Eilish

FAVOURITE SINGER: Billie Eilish

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Purple

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Purple

FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Tom Fletcher

FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Tom Fletcher

FAVOURITE HARRY POTTER CHARACTER: Dobby

FAVOURITE HARRY POTTER CHARACTER: Lund Lovegod

FAVOUITE TIC TOC DANCE: Renegade

FAVOUITE TIC TOC DANCE: Unicorn

FAVOURITE TIC TOC INFLUENCER: Kouvr

FAVOURITE TIC TOC INFLUENCER: Avvanni

FAVOURITE FOOD: Kebab

FAVOURITE FOOD: Chinese Beef and Mushrooms with no Mushrooms

FAVOURITE DISNEY CHARACTER: Dumbo

FAVOURITE DISNEY CHARACTER: Dumbo

FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Puppy

FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Elephant

FAVOURITE SCHOOL SUBJECT: Maths

FAVOURITE SCHOOL SUBJECT: Lunch Local Women Magazine | 81

TOP TIP WHY NO T USE PASTA F OR HAIR OR FOR A CURLY B EARD?

Funny Face Art

Making Art from rubbish This project was lots of fun because it was easy and creative to make and only uses materials that you have around the house. Any age can create a funny face, or any kind of face that you want, because they don’t have to be perfect. You can make a cross face, a happy face, a sad face, or even a surprised face. All that you need is:

• Cardboard • Paint • Tape or glue • Any extras that you want to add to it yourself.

Making Fruit Salad

We were asked to make a Fruit Salad as part of our homework from school, but I didn’t mind because I love fruit and it was nice and healthy. You can use whatever fruit you want and you can change what fruit juice you use. My Mum made it with us as we had to use a knife.

Ingredients: • Blueberries • Grapes • Kiwis • Strawberries • Pineapple • Apples • Pure Orange Juice •

Wash your fruit

•

Get an adult to help you cut the fruit

•

Add to the bowl and pour juice over the fruit

EAT!!!!!!

82 | Local Women Magazine

TOP TIP POUR YOGHURT OVER YOUR PORTION. YUMMY IN MY TUMMY!

•

Cut out a shape for the face from a cardboard box.

(I got an adult to do this for me as the cardboard was hard to cut and you need to use sharp scissors)

•

Cut out shapes for the eyes, nose, mouth and ears, or any extra shapes that you want to add.

•

Draw a design or pattern on your face and then paint it.

•

Paint your shapes and leave them to dry.

•

Once all the paint is dry, stick your shapes to your face and DONE!

Planting Seeds

B

efore this dumb Lockdown started, my Grandad gave us seeds and pots to grow our own plants in our new house. I was happy because we sometimes plant in school and I love doing it. My Grandad gave us tomato seeds, sunflower seeds and Sweet Pea seeds. After a couple of weeks, they started to grow shoots out of the soil, so we replanted them in bigger pots and now they are flourishing. I can’t wait for the tomatoes to grow so that I can eat them.

We have hanging pots on the fence filled with strawberry plants. One strawberry is already big, but it is green, sadly!

I am keeping an eye on it every day so I can eat it before my brothers get it! It has been very sunny in our garden since quarantine started, so the plants are growing quickly without a greenhouse.

We have an herb box and I am learning all the names of the herbs like Thyme, Rosemary, Coriander, Basil and Mint. I love gardening because you can get dirty and messy without getting in trouble.

If you have been planting flowers or fruit and vegetables during Lockdown, then please send me your pics.

TOP TIP PUT SOME STONES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIG FLOWERPOTS TO HELP THEM DRAIN PROPERLY.

Making my own Birthday cake...

This cake recipe is the best because it is really easy to make!

Before you start, preheat the fan oven to 180 degrees.

•

Ingredients For the cake

• 225g/8oz plain flour • 350g/12½oz caster sugar • 85g/3oz cocoa powder • 1½ tsp baking powder • 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • 2 free-range eggs • 250ml/9fl oz milk • 125ml/4½fl oz vegetable oil • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 250ml/9fl oz boiling water

For the chocolate icing

• 200g/7oz plain chocolate • 200ml/7fl oz double cream

Now, all that you need to do is put all the ingredients, apart from the boiling water, into one bowl. Once you have done that, mix with an electric mixer and pour a small bit of the boiling water in at a time. Put the mixture in the lined cake tins and put it into the oven at 180 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. When you think the cake is ready put a knife or skewer into the middle of the cake and if the knife comes out clean then the cake is ready. You have to let the cake cool down in the tin before you decorate it

How to make the icing •

For my birthday cake I used the ganache icing that I have included in my ingredients list. It is just as easy to make as the cake and tastes so good! Heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan at a low heat. Once it has all melted, put it in a bowl and whisk it until it is all shiny and thickened. You must leave it for 1-2 hours until it is thicker and ready to spread.

RECIPE TIP THE CAKE MIXTURE IS QUITE THIN, SO YOU NEED TO USE SANDWICH CAKE TINS AS THE SPRINGFORM TINS WILL LEAK.

Assemble the cake •

Remove the cakes carefully from the cake tins.

Spread a little bit of the icing on one of the cakes and then place the other cake on top.

Spread the rest of the icing around all the cake and then decorate it whatever way you want!

Instructions 1. In a large bowl, combine all of your dry ingredients (flour, salt, cream of tartar) and mix well.

• 1 cup flour • 2 tsp cream of tartar • 1/2 cup salt • 1 tbsp cooking oil • 1 cup cold wayer • 2 drops liquid food colouring (not compulsory)

2. Mix food coloring with

your water first. Then add the vegetable oil and water

with food coloring

to a large pot Mix together.

3. Add the dry

ingredients to your

pot and mix well.

4. Cook over low to medium

heat until the dough starts to form and becomes dry.

5. Once it starts to form a ball together and looks fully cooked, take off the heat. Let the dough cool first before touching.

6. Once cool, knead the dough for 5 minutes to make the dough soft.

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SHOP ONLINE AT

www.shannonsboutique.com T: 078 7799 1350 | E: shannonsboutique19@gmail.com shannons_boutique1

@shansaccessoriesx

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LW WEDDINGS

Naomi

Daniel

BRIDE: Naomi Hall, from Coleraine GROOM: Daniel Farmer, from Burton Upon Trent WEDDING: 28/05/19 CEREMONY: Portstewart Baptist Church RECEPTION: Leighinmohr House Hotel HAIR: Tiffany Faulkner MUA MAKE-UP: Moods Hairdressing DRESS: Castle Couture Luxury Bridalwear FLOWERS: Pauline Reid Flowers HONEYMOON: Riviera Maya, Mexico PHOTOGRAPHY: Alexandra Barfoot Photography www.alexandrabarfoot.co.uk

Newry Street | Kilkeel | Co Down | T: 028 4176 2315

New Wedding List Service

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We want your Weddings!

Relive your special day by seeing it in print.

Send your lovely wedding photos to weddings@localwomensnews.com and we will feature it in our magazine. It doesn’t matter when you got married.

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Lindsay

Paul

BRIDE: Lindsay Holmes, from Bessbrook; Daughter of Norma and Paul Holmes, Bessbrook GROOM: Paul Gollogly, from Mullaghbawn; Son of Thomas and Rosaleen Gollogly, Mullaghbawn WEDDING: 20/09/2019 CEREMONY: Flagstaff Lodge, Newry RECEPTION: Flagstaff Lodge, Newry BRIDESMAIDS: Joyce Holmes and Abbie Holmes BEST MAN: Gary Bennett PAGE BOY: John Holmes PHOTOGRAPHER: Edel Fearon (E Media & Photography) HAIR: Julieann Fleming MAKE-UP: Tara Doran DRESS: Divinity Bridal FLOWERS: Denise Hanna

Newry Street | Kilkeel | Co Down | T: 028 4176 2315

New Wedding List Service

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LW WEDDINGS

Corina

John

BRIDE: Corina Ryan, Derry; Daughter of Janet Ryan and Arthur Kelpie GROOM: John Paul Devine, Derry; Son of Seamus Mc Bride and Margaret Devine DATE: 14/09/2019 CEREMONY: Steelstown Chapel RECEPTION: An Grianan Hotel.

BRIDESMAIDS: Heidi Doherty, Ciara Kelpie, Melissa Rabette, Jennifer Coyle and Chantelle Simpson MAID OF HONOUR: Leah Devine BEST MAN: Sean Mc Cole GROOMSMEN: Philip Craig, Brandan Bradley, Lee Bradley, Josh Bradley and Mickey Devine PHOTOGRAPHER Gerard Gormley Photography and Eyecon Photography HAIR: Caroline Healy at Vanity MAKE UP: Lauren Carton DRESS: McElhinneys, Ballybofey FLOWERS: Groovy Ruby Ltd

Newry Street | Kilkeel | Co Down | T: 028 4176 2315

New Wedding List Service

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Rebecca Deaglán BRIDE: Rebecca McErlean from Bellaghy; Daughter of Gerard and Louise McErlean GROOM: Deaglán Lowry from Slaughtneil; Son of Mark and Thérèse Lowry WEDDING DATE: 20th July 2019 CEREMONY: St. Mary’s Church, Bellaghy RECEPTION: Slieve Russell Hotel BRIDESMAIDS: Debbie Tennyson, Erin McKernan & Aoife Jones BEST MAN: Rónán Lowry GROOMSMEN: Conall Lowry and Ryan McErlean PHOTOGRAPHER: 4Ever Photos HAIR: Kirsty Brady (Hair by Kirsty at Hidden) MAKE-UP: Hannah Murray Make-up & Brow Artist DRESS: Verona Bridal FLOWERS AND CHAPEL/VENUE STYLING: Happy Ever Vintage

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Kerrie Eugene BRIDE: Kerrie Tennyson from Clonoe; Daughter of Conor and Paula Tennyson GROOM: Eugene Ryan from Brocagh; Son of Eugene and Lilly Ryan WEDDING DATE: 05/10/2019 CEREMONY: Kingisland Chapel RECEPTION: Cabra Castle BRIDESMAIDS: Caroline Doris, Clare Tennyson, Olivia Mc Crystal BEST MAN: Don Ryan GROOMSMEN: Conor Tennyson, Ciaran Campbell PHOTOGRAPHER: Say Cheese HAIR: Stacey Carberry MAKE-UP: Catherine Fleming FLOWERS: Maura Quinn, Ardboe

Newry Street | Kilkeel | Co Down | T: 028 4176 2315

New Wedding List Service

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Using our architectural skills, the team at Gravity Architects are re-creating workplace layouts to maximise space and safety – and get you back to work With the Covid-19 crisis an ongoing battle, social distancing is of paramount importance. Never has ‘keeping apart to stay together’ been more important. But, as businesses gradually get the green light to reopen, the problem of how to keep employees and customers safe within your workplace is proving problematic.

Going forward businesses need to ensure that safety is the number one priority and a significant change in how we operate as a society is underway.

That’s why you need to ‘future proof’ your business to keep the spread of Covid-19 to a minimum so you can keep trading. But the new social distancing guidance is throwing up a myriad of problems for businesses who operate in confined spaces, or with many staff, or who are customer facing.

That’s where UK and Ireland based Gravity Architects can help you. The team at Gravity Architects are using their specialist design skills to make sure your business is compliant and your staff and customers are safe. Architects work every day to maximise space in small buildings and are perfectly placed to show you space saving ideas. Years of design experience means that Gravity Architects have the ability to find solutions to your problems. They can help with office or shop layouts and show you the space saving tricks of the trade

that will make your business operate more means that we can help you find solutions efficiently while staying safe. to your problems right now.

Liam Nelis said: “Architects test their skills every day working on floor plans of buildings to maximise function and utilise every inch of space. “We are well versed in working to strict guidelines and have the ability to cut through the red tape and get projects moving.

“Many businesses have said they feel their layout means they will never be able to open their doors again – but we believe there is a solution to every problem.

SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS

MEDIUM-TERM SOLUTIONS

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

Our short-term solutions will ensure your business can start to operate at the earliest opportunity whilst maintaining safety for colleagues and customer.

Medium-term solutions will provide an opportunity to start operating with a higher level of staffing whilst maintaining safety and social distancing protocol.

Long-term solutions will maximise your operational opportunities whilst minimising the risk and disruption in the future.

“We will work with you to make your business work. We will ensure that your business is fully compliant with government guidance “There is nothing we love more than a so that we can all get back to work as soon challenge and our years of design skills as possible.”

For more information call on 028 7126 3206 or email Liam at lnelis@gravityarchitects.co.uk

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