Mature Living Magazine April 2012

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE April 2012

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL

Accommodations befitting a king Mayo’s Titanic Village Breathe your way to better health Long Distance Grandparenting

Irish music in his roots, bones and very soul

A WEEKEND FOR TWO AT THE

See Page 33 for details

• SLIGO • MAYO • GALWAY • LEITRIM • ROSCOMMON

Contents

www.matureliving.ie

April 2012

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Seamus Casey Editor Editor: Seamus Casey seamus@matureliving.ie Advertising: Lisa Gilmartin lisa@matureliving.ie Production & Design: Stephen Finney steve@matureliving.ie

S

o, St Patrick’s Day and Easter have come and gone since our last issue.

It is hard to believe that there are almost four months of the year gone already. Fortunately, we have been blessed with a couple of weeks of fine weather. It is great to see people out in their gardens enjoying the sunshine and tending to their flowers or vegetables.

I was lucky enough to get a week away in Portugal at Easter and I feel that I have to commend Ryanair for the service they provided to us. To explain - a person that was travelling with our party was wheelchair bound and prior to flying she was very apprehensive about how she was going to board the plane as she hadn’t travelled by air since she had become confined to the wheelchair. What a welcome surprise she got when we arrived at Knock. Once we made ourselves known at checkin a member of staff was assigned to looking after our travel companion, helping her on and off the plane and taking responsibility for her until we were at our taxi in Faro airport. And the very same service was given on our return journey. Well done, Ryanair.

Perhaps our government could follow this “caring example” when it comes to providing for our senior citizens. A recent Report titled Inequalities in Old Age 2011 has revealed that living standards of single pensioners in the ROI have deteriorated considerably since the start of the recession, while standards in NI are even worse. In the ROI one of the key findings was that pensioners depend heavily on the State pension for their income. Furthermore, the ending of the Christmas bonus in 2010 and the reduced fuel allowance in 2011 was likely to have caused hardship.

All the more reason why organizations like Age Action Ireland, Older and Bolder and others are justified in keeping pressure on the government as another austerity budget is on the cards for 2013.

In this, our fifth issue, we have a one-on-one with Chieftain Matt Molloy; we take a look at Mayo’s Titanic Village, reveal some unbelievable inheritance stories, explore some accommodations “befitting a king” and provide some valuable dental advice, in addition to a range of new and regular features.

Once again, I would like to remind you if your group or organisation wishes to receive bulk deliveries of Mature Living please send your request to seamus@matureliving.ie or post it to: Mature Living, 28 Cleveragh Road, Sligo.

We also welcome input from your organisation and if you would like to have articles or photographs of recent events highlighted please send them to the same address, seamus@matureliving.ie.

Any photos that you may have of a colleague’s retirement can be sent to the same address.

Our next issue will be available on May 17th and the deadline for submissions is 6th of May.

News One-on-One with Matt Molloy Tackling it head on: dental rehabilitation Accommodations befitting a king Long-Distance Grandparenting Eddi Reader: voice of an angel 10 myths about your pet Legal Consequences of Nursing Homes not keeping proper Records Mayo’s Titanic Village The Bands of our Showband Era: Maisie McDaniel 3 of The Worst Selling Cars of All Time Adopt a burglar's way of thinking Misconceptions about Hypnosis Competition Food and Drink: Magic chocolate pudding Hotels Employment Breathe your way to better health Services Directory Teddy Bear Heaven in County Cavan Puzzles Dating: Meeting Place

Published by: IBS Publishing Riverview House, Barrett Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo and Cleveragh Road, Sligo Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 / 096-77743 Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: info@matureliving.ie

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28 30 32 33 34 36 38 40 45 43 44 47

News

State-of-the-art Hearing Centre Opens in Sligo

Pictured here are (L-R): Martin Shanagher, Audiologist; Dr Nina Byrnes; Kevin McGoldrick, Audiologist; and Lisa-Marie Anderson, Audiological Assistant from Hidden Hearing, Quayside Shopping Centre in Sligo.

H

idden Hearing, Ireland’s largest hearing healthcare provider, today officially launched its new hearing centre at Quayside Shopping Centre, Wine Street, Sligo. The new state-of-the-art hearing centre was launched by Dr Nina Byrnes, TV and radio medical affairs presenter.

The new Hidden Hearing facility offers the best professional hearing care, help and advice in a supportive environment, and the latest digital technology to diagnose and treat hearing problems. To celebrate the official opening of the new

Hidden Hearing Sligo branch and to promote better hearing health, Hidden Hearing is offering free one-to-one hearing assessments.

Speaking at the new branch, Kevin McGoldrick, Audiologist with Hidden Hearing Sligo said: “We are proud to have opened our hearing healthcare centre, which offers state-of-the-art facilities to test for and treat hearing loss. Our highly qualified team is providing free hearing consultations for anybody who is in need of assistance. The most important thing is to take action on your hearing loss as soon as you notice a problem, because

the longer you delay, the worse the problem will become.”

Martin Shanagher, Audiologist at the Sligo Hidden Hearing branch said: “Hearing loss is sometimes ignored by people and with one in six people in Ireland suffering from the condition it is a serious issue here. The facility here in Sligo compares positively with any other hearing care centre across the world. Hidden Hearing has invested significantly to ensure that our branches have the very latest technology available worldwide and the Quayside branch is equipped to deal with hearing loss of any kind.”

Guest of honour at the event, Dr Nina Byrnes, GP, TV Medical Affairs presenter and Medical Advisor to Hidden Hearing said: “I’m delighted to officially launch Hidden Hearing Sligo, which will provide state-of-the-art hearing healthcare facilities for the county. Hearing loss is sometimes ignored by people and with one in six people in Ireland suffering from the condition it is a serious issue here. The facility here in Sligo compares positively with any other hearing care centre across the world and it is a credit to the team at Hidden Hearing.”

Visit the new Hidden Hearing branch at Unit 12 Quayside Shopping Centre, Wine Street, Sligo or call 071 9170568 to make an appointment for a free one-toone hearing consultation with a qualified audiologist.

Dementia cases set to rocket

The number of people worldwide suffering from dementia is set to triple to 115.4 million by 2050, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

The WHO says the number of people with dementia is set to

double to 65.7 million by 2030.

It says training and caring for people with dementia currently costs the world more than 604 billion US dollars per year. This includes the cost of providing health and social care as well as

Page 4 Mature Living April 2012

reduction or loss of income of people with dementia and their carers. However, the WHO says only eight countries have national programmes to address dementia. A report from the WHO and Alzheimer's Disease International recommends that programmes should concentrate on improving early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, raise public awareness and reduce stigma.

The report says lack of diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's is a significant issue. Even in high income countries, only one fifth to one half of cases of dementia are usually recognised.

The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland recently called for urgent progress on developing a national dementia strategy in this country.

Podiatry Treatment By Deborah Sheridan Bsc Pod Med MChSI 4 Holistic Living The Square Claremorris 087 9807322 Also in attendance at Byrne`s Pharmacy, Kiltimagh on Thursdays

Trading As Pentico Contracting Ltd. Marella, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. Office: (096) 37926 Fax: (096) 37957 Farnan: (086) 0830664 Liam: (087) 256 9959 E-mail: pentico@ireland.com

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News

Afternoon Tea Party in Ballina

fashioned sing along!!

C

elebrate Age Action’s 20th Birthday in style with them!

Bring your friends for Afternoon Tea which will be packed with merrymaking, mirth and entertainment. This will be the first joint Age Action and Garda Community Relations event for older people in the West.

The Party will be held in the

Mount Falcon Hotel, Ballina, Co.Mayo and will be a jolly event. A lovely traditional Afternoon Tea will be served, and they are delighted that Tommy Marren from MidWest Radio will be the MC for the day and that Sandy Kelly, The Queen of Irish country will entertain them along with others from the area.

There might even be an old

Date: Tuesday 29th of May 2012.

Time: 2.30 to 4.30.

Tickets: €20 - €15 for groups of 5 or more.

Venue: Mount Falcon Hotel, Ballina, Co.Mayo.

To book tickets ring Rhona on 014756989 or email fundraising@ageaction.ie or write to Age Action, 30/31 Lr Camden St, Dublin 2.

There is also a tea dance in the Burlington hotel on the 8th of May for anyone that fancies a trip to the big smoke. Time is 2.30 to 4.30. Again, ring Rhonda for further details.

The entertainment for the afternoon will be provided by everyone’s favorite – Sonny Knowles and Tony Kenny. They will perform some of their well known hits, many of which you will be able to sing along to: My Son, Any dream will do, Butterfly Kisses from Tony and My Child, When the Snow is on the Roses, and of course, a wave from Sonny.

Hydration key to good brain health ARE you getting enough fluids?

Hydration is important for brain health -- particularly as we age.

The relationship between hydration and brain health is important — and becomes even more so as we age.

That relates to the fact that our thirst receptors age.Older adults may not have the drive to drink as much as a younger adult does.

This means that as we age we may have to consciously remind ourselves to drink in order to keep our fluid intake up.”

We know that as people become dehydrated their cognitive function decreases quite substantively – to the point that you may see mental confusion in some people. That’s why it’s very important that older adults ensure that they are drinking sufficient amounts of fluid.

According to reports, there are several reasons why older people are at higher risk of dehydration: Our thirst receptors aren’t as pronounced, so we don’t get the same cues to drink as we used to.

Some common medications, such as blood pressure medications, are diuretics, which push water out of our body. Ask your

physician or pharmacist whether any of your medications have this side effect.

Some people may be on special diets that restrict fluids.

There may be functional changes, such as incontinence, so some people self-restrict to minimize the need to go to the washroom.

How much should an older adult drink each day?

It is recommended at least 1,500 ml per day which is equivalent to six cups. This can be made up of coffee, tea, soup and other fluids. One way to ensure that you are drinking enough is by putting a container measuring 1,500 ml of water in the fridge in the morning and finish it by the end of the day.

If you are on a diet which restricts fluid intake, speak to a dietitian. You may be able to increase your hydration by consuming foods high in fluid content such as soup, cooked cereals, yogurt, pudding, and apple sauce.

If you exercise or spend time outdoors during warm weather, be aware that you need to replenish your fluids. The same

Page 6 Mature Living April 2012

MAKERS, SUPPLIERS & FITTERS MACE MIDDLE, CLAREMORRIS. www.mcganns.com

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In the last edition of Mature Living Magazine we gave you a chance of winning a Weekend Away for two in Killarney at the Holiday Inn. The luck winner was Nuala Stewart of Ballina, County Mayo.

Congratulations!

Collooney, Sligo • T: 071-913 0956 • M: 086-086 3991

www.grantwater.ie • info@grantwater.ie

goes for when you have a fever or an upset stomach.

Warning signs that you or your loved one may be dehydrated: - Reduced or concentrated urination - Dry mouth - Dry or sunken eyes - Dizziness - Rapid weight loss - Increase in confusion or change in mental status.

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From the smaller to the larger, there is a Spa just your size with the legendary therapy and quality we are known for Call today and get a special discount in Conjunction with “Mature Living Magazine”

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News

What is a credit union?

A

credit union is a group of people who save together and lend to each other at a fair and reasonable rate of interest. Credit unions offer members the chance to have control over their own finances by making their own savings work for them. Every credit union is owned by the members — the people who save and borrow with it — people like you.

When you become a member and start saving with your credit union you will have access to fair and reasonable rates on savings and loans.

Your savings contribute to your credit union’s loan fund. So your savings are helping other members.

Members like you. A credit union exists only to serve its members — not to profit from their needs. Surplus income generated is returned to the members by way of a dividend an/or is directed to improved or additional services required by the members.

Credit unions are non-sectarian and non-political, and continue that Irish tradition of co-operative self help.

It has been shown throughout history that by working together people can achieve far more through co-operation than by individual effort. The success of the credit union movements worldwide is a clear illustration of this. Credit unions have served their members well in Ireland since 1958, and as long as there are active members, they will continue to do so.

Joining a credit union Joining a credit union is easy once you are within the common bond of the credit union.

What is the common bond?

The common bond is the factor which unites all the members of your credit union — it is what all members have in common. Because of the common bond, all members have the good of their credit union at heart; they know and trust each other. The common bond ensures that the savings of members are available to fellow members as loans. It also enables credit judgements to be made on character and personal record as well as on commercial risk factor.

The most usual common bonds are: Community bond (where all the members live, and in some cases work, in a particular locality).

Occupational bond (where all members are in the same profession or occupation, or work for the same employer).

Associational bond (where all the members are in the same society or association).

What do I need to join?

When applying for membership you will be asked for proof of ID and proof

Limerick Abseil - News Flash!!!

Tubbercurry & District Credit Union Limited The Square, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo Tel: 071-9186297 • Fax: 071-9120883

LOANS AVAILABLE FOR ALL PURPOSES • Educational • Home Improvements • Cars Opening Hours Monday.......................................

Tuesday......................................

Wednesday..................................

Thursday.....................................

Friday.........................................

Friday Evening..............................

of address, for example a current passport and recent utility bill.

Depending on the rules of your credit union, to be a member there will be an entrance fee of not more than €1/£1stg and you will need to hold a minimum savings of between one and ten shares.

Closed 10.00am - 2.00pm 10.00am - 2.00pm 10.00am - 6.00pm 9.30am - 2.00pm 7.30pm - 9.00pm

For more information contact Tubbercurry & District Credit Union Limited, The Square Tubbercurry County Sligo. Telephone: 071 9186297

Senior Helpline

tallest hotel. Located on Steamboat Quay, this 17-storey hotel is an architectural masterpeice, and you can ABSEIL down it!!

THE building for Age Action Limerick Abseil in Limerick is - The Clarion!!

Location:The Clarion Hotel.

Steamboat Quay, Limerick.

The ship-shaped Clarion Hotel is one of the finest buildings in Limerick, not only a breathtaking piece of architecture, but it is also Ireland's Page 8 Mature Living April 2012

To Take Part: All you have to do is register (fee of €65) and then raise just €250 in sponsorship. Full training will be given on the day.

The Event: Saturday 28th of April from 10.00 until 17.00.

At this event we are going to try and set two Guinness World Records: 1) The Oldest Person to abseil down 200 Feet.

2) The most people to abseil 200 feet in one hour.

Come on, register and be part of it… you could hold a Guinness World Record!!!!

Download our poster from our website and display it where ever you can!!!

To get more information: Ring Rhona on 01-4756989 or email fundraising@ageaction.ie

SENIOR Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by trained older volunteers for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland, LoCall 1850 440 444.

Senior Help Line’s vision and mission is that every older person in Ireland would know the LoCall number, call if they need us and receive an empathic response.

The lines are open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm, Friday from 10am to 4pm; 7pm to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 10am to 1pm and 7pm to 10pm.

Senior Help Line is supported by the Health Service Executive and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

President Mary McAleese is the patron of Senior Help Line.

Constituency Office 28 Emmet Place Union Street Sligo Ph: 071-9145888 Ph: 071-9145890 Fax: 071-9141973 (Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm) marian@marianharkin.com www.marianharkin.com

I am available to meet constituents and If I can be of assistance on any issue, please contact my office to make an appointment for a time that suits

Marian Harkin MEP

Page 9 Mature Living April 2012

Feature by Stella Carroll

Matt Molloy

Matt Molloy lives and breathes for Irish music.

It’s in his roots, his bones and his very soul been amazed by his flute playing with The Chieftains, its fantastic that you can sit down here, for the price of a pint and hear the same music. Sadly, Matt’s beloved wife, Geraldine, passed away some three and a half years ago and Matt continues the hard work she put into the place. It’s a vibrant, foottapping, warm and friendly pub that deserves its reputation for craic and the best live music.

M

att Molloy was born into a musical family in Ballaghadereen, County Roscommon, and he grew up in that rich Irish heritage of traditional music. This was a household, where picking up the flute and playing a few tunes, was as natural as eating and talking. His father, uncle and grandfather came from Ballymote, Co Sligo and all played the flute in the lively style of this area. Today, he is considered to be one of the finest Irish flute players in the world. A genuine legend in his own lifetime, and a modest, friendly, cheerful man as well ! His unique signature style of flute playing combines piping techniques and acknowledges the influence of the great musicians, Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran.

This rich and flowing style of playing draws on the fiddle and flute style of South Sligo and North Roscommon and echoes his childhood musical legacy.

For the past 33 years, Matt has played with The Chieftains, Ireland’s most celebrated traditional Irish musician; prior to that he was a member of The Bothy Band with Donal Lunny and others, and they recorded four albums in as many years, all highly regarded to this day. In his own words: "We made great music and had a great time Page 10 Mature Living April 2012

but financially we were a bit of a disaster. We had too much of a good time!" After this there was a spell with the reformed Planxty before he joined The Chieftains.

Matt and his wife Geraldine moved to Westport, Co Mayo some 23 years ago, raising four children, Peter, Niamh, Clare and James. They opened the doors of the infamous Matt Molloy pub on Bridge Street at that time, and it has been thriving ever since. A trip to Westport would not be complete without a drink at Matt Molloys'. “It’s an old style bar with all the original features retained because that is what I like in a pub myself, and I have had plenty of experience to know what I like in pubs.” Matt laughs. “It can be like a league of nations in here some nights, with people from all over the world and you never know who you are going to meet.” Last year, Will Ferrell visited the bar, as did Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis. But of course, it is all about the music!

“We cater for all types and genres of music, but it’s in the old kitchen part, where the traditional Irish music session comes into its own. I enjoy a pint myself and I will chat away to anyone and often end up playing a few tunes with whatever musician turns up, and they always turn up!”. If he's not on tour, Matt joins in the session, and if you have

When he is not touring and playing with the Chieftains, or in the pub, Matt's great passion is sailing.

Westport of course, looks out on the islands of Clew Bay and the broad Atlantic stretches off to America.

The ocean calls to him every day and three years ago,he answered that call and sailed across the Atlantic.

In a complete contrast to a life played out in front of large audiences and the media, Matt sailed his boat ‘Eccentric Lady’ to the Caribbean “ Myself and four friends sailed from the Canaries to Cape Verdes and from there to Barbados, where my good friend, Michael Flatley, has a beach house.

We anchored at the beach house and rested a while.” It’s a long way from Roscommon to the beach houses of Barbados, and of course, there was music all the way across.

Bill Clinton meets the Chieftains

His unique signature style of flute playing combines piping techniques and acknowledges the influence of the great musicians, Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran.

Matt Molloy with Planxty

International Space station and clips have been posted on the internet of her playing the flute in orbit, on St Patricks Day 2011. Matt says the flute is back on earth now “ It’s no different and still sounds good having travelled 53 million miles into space.” This year the Chieftains celebrate their 50th Anniversary with their latest CD Voices of Ages, produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett and featuring collaborations with musicians like Imelda May and Paolo Nutini. It continues the bands reputation for innovative musical work firmly rooted in the Irish folk tradition. “ With 50 years of glorious music behind us," Paddy Moloney says, "I can think of nothing more exciting than to spend another 50 years collaborating with the best

voices of the future." Then they will be embarking on another epic tour of the Globe, kicking off at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin on the 21st May and taking the six times Grammy award winners , around the UK and to the United States and Japan.

Matt laughs at the idea of slowing down this pace as he himself approaches the recognised retirement age, he seems to have more energy and vitality than most younger men. “I suppose at some point we will have to ease up a bit, but Paddy is 74 now and has the energy of a 24 year old. For myself, I like to get home to Westport, the bar and my home comforts and play the traditional, authentic music of my roots.”

Matt’s flute playing is renowned and celebrated but you could also say it has an out of this world quality.

The astronaut, Cady Coleman, a gifted flautist herself, took Matt’s CD, Shadows on Stone on the Columbus Space Shuttle. “Your music takes me to a special place, so I took yours to one!” she wrote on the returned CD. More recently she brought a flute of Matt's and a penny whistle from Paddy Moloney on a mission in the

A genuine legend in his own lifetime, and a modest, friendly, cheerful man as well!

The Chieftains- Matt Molloy, Paddy Moloney, Kevin Conneff and Sean Keane.

Page 11 Mature Living April 2012

g n i v i l e matur

Feature Article

n o i h s Fa

FINESSE BOUTIQUE -Fashion for all ages and occasions

Suzie Mahony Desig!s - Award Winning Milliner 'Comhcheol' Rafar!, Loughrea, Co Galway.

www.suziemahonydesigns.ie Tel: 086 1948315 / 091 847326

Maura Bourke of Finesse Boutique, Foxford (left), pictured with some local ladies following a recent successful fashion show.

L

OCATED at Bridge Street, Foxford, Finesse Boutique in recent years has developed a reputation for quality ladies’ fashions from leading Irish and International designers. Specialising in wedding and occasion wear in sizes 8 to 26, proprietor Maura Bourke provides a total service to clients, completing outfits with fascinators and costume jewellery.

In addition, Finesse also stocks a large collection of fashionable day wear – at very affordable prices. It is certainly worth a visit to check out the value on offer. All elastic slacks, in black, navy and grey are available in high quality material at €49.95.

You can also get dressy and cotton tops in sizes and shades to suit the skirt and trouser ranges in stock.

Maura offers a bra measuring and fitting service with a range of sizes from 32 – 44. She also offers professional advice and guidance on all transactions and her business will shortly be found on Facebook.

This top quality fashion boutique is easy to locate, in the heart of Foxford, but on the main Dublin Road, with free car parking spaces available all day long. Open six days, Page 12 Mature Living April 2012

SUZIE MAHONY DESIGNS Award-winning Milliner

Monday to Saturday, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., this attractive boutique deserves a visit from the fashion-conscious female.

OVER the last five years Galwaybased Milliner Suzie Mahony has created a name for herself, both nationally and internationally as the milliner of choice for ladies attending glamorous events, from weddings to race meetings.

A designer of unique hats and headpieces, Suzie’s collections are

available in many boutiques throughout Ireland and her regular Pop-up Shop at House of Fraser, Dundrum, Dublin, has drawn fashionistas nationwide.

Suzie has won many awards, including the international Hatty Award, 2008, Network Galway Award 2009, the “I Do” Wedding Hat Supplier Award 2011.

Her designs have been worn at Ascot, Cheltenham and the Dubai Races. They have won “Best Dressed” at many race meetings, including two in a row at Punchestown, 2010.

Her collection was featured at Showcase 2012 at the RDS, gaining international interest for the milliner. Suzie has trained with many established Milliners, including Milliner to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, where she designed her own hat blocks for her unique collection.

This accomplished designer provides a unique service to clients from her studio. She works by appointment only and always tries to make her customers feel comfortable, relaxed and special when selecting a design.

MARIANS

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

Bridge Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon Telephone: 071-9662031 Web: www.marians.ie Established 1954

Top Labels "om Inter#ational and Irish Desig#ers Destination Store specialising in Bridal, Mother of the Bride, Bridesmaids, Occasion Wear, Qualit! Casual and Plus Sizes.

Marians of Boyle - Bridal and Fashion for all occasions

Experts when it comes to mother of the bride

M

arian’s of Boyle - established in 1954, the Marian year — is an Irish owned family business with a gilt-edged reputation and a tradition of excellence.

Marian’s is a destination store, with expertise in bridal and special occasion dressing, a must-visit

store for mother of the bride, guests, trousseau, and formal and casual wear.

Marians specialise in International and Irish ladies fashions, formals, bridal gowns, special occasion dressing, quality casuals and corporate work clothes. The fashion-buyers brief, at Marians, is to source glamorous, contemporary fashion of classical cut and design, that is welltailored and affordable. Providing great fashion advice on dressing for your shape, size, lifestyle and wardrobe. Marians, since 1954, are reliable, dedicated fashionistas who love fashion and have fun with it. Quality casuals and Fun fashions lead the way to MARIANS formals, bridal wear and special occasion fashions. Marians deliver on their promise of a unique shopping experience in the company of our friendly and experienced staff. A fantastic variety of labels such as Gerry Weber, Taifun, Basler and many more, guarantee smart casual styling for sophisticated ladies up to size 24.

This is a must-visit store when visiting the West of Ireland.

Bridge St$eet Foxford.

(On main Dublin Road) Tel. 094-9257713

Top qualit! fashion "om leading desig#ers

Open Mon. – Sat., 10.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.

Page 13 Mature Living April 2012

Feature by Sonya Hamill of Blue Apple Dental

Tackling it Head On Why bother with a dental rehabilitation?

A

re you noticing a deterioration in your dental health? Perhaps gradually losing more teeth, noticing a bit more wear appearing, experiencing more frequent bouts of pain, teeth becoming a little loose, teeth moving, dentures not fitting like they used to, gums feeling uncomfortable and inflamed? These are common problems as we mature, and they are the warning signs that maybe it is time to say, ‘Enough, no more patching up, let’s take stock now and create a plan for the future.’

What is ‘dental rehabilitation’?

Like rehabilitating anything, ‘dental rehabilitation’ is the term we use to describe the process for rebuilding dental health and function, usually with the associated benefit of making your teeth look great in the process.

Every person’s pathway is different, according to what needs to be done and what they want to do, but ultimately the goals are the same: to be dentally fit and healthy, free from disease, able to eat a good and varied diet, and to feel confident about your

teeth and smile. There is no age limit on this; having good dental health will benefit you regardless of what age you are.

So, what are the obvious and not so obvious reasons for taking this dental journey?

1.Health Benefits that Go Further Than Your Mouth: When someone is going to have a medical procedure, why are they often asked to go and see their dentist first? Well, it’s because the doctors know that your dental health has a very significant bearing on your overall health. Untreated dental disease, including gum disease, provides a constant source of bacteria in the body. A number of studies actually conclude that there is a link between heart disease and gum disease.

Therefore, treating these problems has huge benefits for your general sense of wellbeing and good health.

2. Looking Great with Natural Facial Enhancement: It is often underestimated, but your teeth provide a very

important part of the scaffolding for your face. That’s why people whose teeth have deteriorated find that the skin around the mouth becomes loose and more lines appear. Often the end of the nose and chin appear to come closer together than they used to, giving a ‘pinched’ appearance. Fixing the teeth will greatly improve these things. They naturally lift the skin, supporting your lips and the whole lower face. That is a large part of why people who have had their teeth fixed (even simply with a really good, new denture), look younger and fresher.

5. The Feel Good factor: This one is not to be underestimated.

For many people their teeth are a source of embarrassment; they have been used to limiting or hiding their smiles. Many studies have proven that smiling releases happy hormones, and so being able to smile freely provides a wealth of good feeling. We find that most patients didn’t realise just how big a difference having good teeth would make to their confidence and sense of wellbeing until after they had their dental work done. It’s fantastic being able to help bring someone to that point.

3. Don’t underestimate the importance of Back Teeth: Often when people lose back teeth there is a tendency to not replace them because people can’t see them.

This is a fallacy. Molar teeth are specifically designed to do the donkey work! They are strong and powerful, and ready for chewing. If you lose back teeth over time, this work is pushed towards the front teeth, which are not designed for this degree of rough and tumble, and so they start to deteriorate faster and suffer damage. Replacing the back teeth re-establishes the balance, and the chances of keeping the front teeth for longer are vastly increased.

These are just some of the differences a pro-active approach to dental health can make for you. I’m sure our patients could tell you a few more of their own, as everyone has their own personal reasons for having the treatment. But ultimately it’s about good health and feeling good.

The first step is always a consultation with a dentist who will take a fresh look at your overall dental condition; and then together you can come up with a plan for getting you where you want to be.

4. A Healthy Body: Your mouth is the gateway to the body’s fuel tank. We all know that a rich and varied diet contributes overwhelmingly to our general good health, but often poor dental health, or inadequate dentures, leads to an inability to enjoy the foods we would like to. Correcting this is really beneficial, and also is the ability to chew food well. Being able to chew effectively means the body can much better utilise the supplies it is being given.

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ is an award-winning dental practice in the village of Belcoo in Co. Fermanagh, run by husband and wife team, James and Sonya Hamill.

Blueapple carries out all forms of dentistry under one roof, and focuses on helping people overcome their dental challenges, to re-establish their dental health, comfort and beauty. They believe that there is no-one they can’t help regain their dental confidence.

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ has won multiple awards, including ‘Best New Practice’, ‘Best Young Dentist in the UK & Ireland’, and most recently ‘Best Patient Care in Ireland 2012’.

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Blueapple welcomes new patients.

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Outdoor Fitness - Visit us online www.outfit.ie

Outdoor Fitness

Why Exercise Outdoors? healthy lifestyle -that’s the bottom line.

But what does exercising actually mean? Well it’s all relative. When you are at peak of your fitness, you want to be able to run and jump and cycle and climb and you will train hard to achieve it. As you get older, however, your priorities change and you must place more emphasis on keeping flexible, maintaining balance and coordination, keeping good posture and keeping muscles, bones and joints strong and healthy.

You want to focus on these areas as you need to stay mobile, strong, and safe.

A

s part of our regular feature on Outdoor Fitness, in the coming issues we will be looking at the various health benefits - both physical and mental - associated with exercising. This month we will take a closer look at the physical benefits of exercise and how they relate to you. Exercise is vital to anyone looking to lead a happy and

Outfit is Irelands first Outdor Gym Installation Specialist.

We cover everything from site design to equipment supply, installation and maintenance.

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“They are very easy to operate and will certainly appeal to young and old. It is a fantastic addition to the town’s existing amenities.”

Declan Hurley Cork Councillor

Machine of the Month:

The Waist Extension Function:

Improves flexibility of waist and lower body. Improves balance. Strengthens tummy, arm and shoulder muscles.

Method: Grip handles with both hands. Place both feet on plate. Swing hips slowly from side to side. Step off plate before releasing grip on handles. The waist extension is one of the most popular outdoor gym machines. It stretches out the waist and hips to improve flexibility and it forces to tummy and legs to work together, thus improving coordination and balance. We recommend spending about 5 minutes on this machine, swinging slowly from to side to side.

Exercising regularly on machines such as the ones found in outdoor gyms is the perfect way to achieve such goals. These machines are specially designed to target the areas outlined above. Have a look at the machine of the month, which is designed to improve balance, coordination and flexibility.

George Burns, who lived to be 100, once said “If I had known I would live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself!” While it is true that some people are just blessed with good genes, the majority of us have to go to some sort of effort to keep healthy and in good shape. The good news is it’s never too late to start.

With just 20 minutes per day of focused exercise you can massively improve all these areas of your health. If you would like to see an Outdoor Gym installed in your locality, get onto your local council or councillor and ask them to look into it. The benefits speak for themselves!

Page 15 Mature Living April 2012

Travel

Accommodations befitting a king Talk about the royal treatment. History comes to life in these fabulous castle hotels.

Château de la Verrerie

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he splendour of bygone kings and rulers are captured in the world’s top castle hotels. With accommodations befitting a king, visitors can nap in a turreted keep, explore elegant, formal gardens or taste a rare vintage in a medieval dining room.

With more castles being converted into hotels in Europe and beyond, castle vacations are more popular than ever. Here is a sampling of the world’s finest.

FRANCE - Bourges Château de la Verrerie Built by the Stuarts of Scotland in the 16th century, this castle enjoys a lakefront setting surrounded by

woodland. Fill your days with gentrified pursuits such as horseback riding, fishing, shooting and hunting.

Château St. Gerlach

Palazzo Gritti

ITALY - Venice Palazzo Gritti Built in 1525 as the residence for the Doge of Venice, the Gritti Palace has hosted a long list of international royalty, heads of state and other VIPs. (It served as home away from home for Winston Churchill, Greta Garbo and Ernest Hemingway.) The palace offers luxurious accommodations to be sure, but its setting on the legendary Grand Canal makes it truly magical.

HOLLAND - Maastricht Château St. Gerlach Set on the banks of the River Geul, the castle recently received a US $26

Château de la Verrerie Page 16 Mature Living April 2012

Château St. Gerlach

million makeover from hotelier Camille Oostwegel.

The transformation kept true to

Lapa Palace

Lapa Palace the castle’s heritage, which dates back to the 15th century. Surrounded by the Ingendael Wildlife Preserve, the property contains an old farmhouse, convent, granary and Baroque church. The castle is also home to the restaurant Les Trois Corbeaux, known for its French cuisine.

Taj Lake Palace

PORTUGAL - Lisbon Lapa Palace This elegant castle was built in 1870 by a viscount for his son and then owned by the Count of Valenca. The dramatic décor features the work of local ceramist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro; the walls and ceilings are decorated by portrait painter Columbano. Be sure to check out the Tower Room, with an elevated walkway to a tower terrace that feels as if it’s been set adrift above the city.

Cooking classes are offered (but only in Portuguese).

Taj Lake Palace INDIA - Rajasthan Taj Lake Palace You’ll feel like a maharajah in this white marble palace that seems to float on Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur. Originally built in 1740, the palace radiates romance and the opulence of a by-gone era. The restaurant offers the local wood-fired cuisine of Rajasthan, and the spa focuses on ancient Indian healing practices.

NAMIBIA - Windhoek Hotel Heinitzburg Unexpected as it might seem to find a castle in Namibia, Count von Schwerin was influenced enough by the romance of the land to build a castle here for his fiancée in 1914. While not as opulent, perhaps, as other castles, the tasteful interiors are enhanced by the views of Windhoek and the surrounding Khomas Hochland mountains. Dramatic African sunsets add to the enchantment.

MALTA - Mdina Xara Palace The castle, built in the late 17th century, was inhabited by the British during WWII. Rich with character and a sense of history, the castle’s walls are integrated into the walls of the bastions of the fortified medieval city of Mdina. Dine on the rooftop terrace overlooking the city and feel yourself pulled back in time.

Hotel Heinitzburg

Glin Castle IRELAND County Limerick Glin Castle Mingle with the 29th Knight of Glin and his wife, Madame FitzGerald, in a beautiful 500 acre setting overlooking the River Shannon. The drawing room looks over a croquet lawn, and the

dining room is filled with rows of ancestral portraits. Dine in knightly splendour on freshly caught fish, locally reared beef and lamb, and organic fruits and vegetables from the estate’s garden.

Lapa Palace

Xara Palace Page 17 Mature Living April 2012

Feature

Long-Distance Grandparenting: Tips on Staying In Touch In today's mobile society, few of us are fortunate enough to have all, or even some, of our grandchildren living within easy driving distance. However, you can reach out across the miles to your faraway grandchildren by using some of these ideas. Most of them can be adapted for use on holidays and other special occasions.

T

elephone calls are great fun any time of year. If you can arrange to make some of the calls shortly after special events your grandchildren have participated in, e.g. a play at school or church, you will be able to share the excitement. Ask them to record the event and send you a copy.

You and your spouse can take turns recording each other reading stories and then send them to your grandchildren. If possible, have someone record the two of you sending greetings, especially on birthdays or other special occasions. If you don't own a camcorder use the recorder on your mobile instead. Include a greeting and a short explanation of why the story is special. If you need some idea starters or stories to record, check your local bookstore or library for ideas.

Page 18 Mature Living April 2012

Take pictures of you and your spouse engaging in various activities and send them to your grandchildren. Write letters as often as possible and include interesting newspaper and magazine clippings and cartoons. Use commemorative stamps on the envelopes-you just might spark an interest in stamp collecting. Create memories by making holiday decorations and/or gifts for each of your grandchildren. Craft stores have kits and supplies for almost any project.

Periodically, bake and send them cookies or other treats. If possible, use some old family recipes. These have a special meaning for everyone. Make some decorated cut-out ones. Package them securely (dry, unsalted popcorn makes good food packing) and mail to your grandchildren. Enclose a note telling the history of any special family recipes.

Knit or crochet an heirloom. These will be extra special if you are able to use some yarn from an old sweater or baby afghan of their parents.

Or, if you enjoy sewing, create an heirloom quilt for each grandchild. If possible, cut some of the blocks from material you once used to make them-or their parents-clothes.

Are you handy with wood? Create a birdhouse, toy, or other item. Mark it with the child's name, your name, and the date given.

Give your grandchildren mementos from your or their parent's childhood. Maybe it's a memory of a special Christmas past or a favourite ornament or decoration. Or it might be a long-forgotten favorite toy or book.

A scrapbook of pictures from your and/or their parents' past will give your grandchildren a sense of life in the "good old days." Many photo developers will make prints from another print, so even if you no longer have the negatives, you can easily have copies made for everyone.

Write a short-or long, if you have time-family history. You might include funny stories about their parents or tell of the dangers earlier generations faced. Include special memories and traditions your family shared.

Depending on your grandchildren's ages, you might give them a bit of family history. Frame an old map, the deed to the family homestead, a special letter, or a square of needlepoint or embroidery made by a great-grandmother.

Create a video family history using old slides and pictures. Narrate it or just set it to music.

Make up a quiz about their parents and/or grandparents. It can be a fun way for them to learn more about them and you.

Watch a television program together-even though you are in different towns, coties or countries.

For example, at Christmas, plan to watch a favorite holiday movie, e.g.

White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, or The Christmas Carol. Share your thoughts in letters or telephone calls. On various holidays and their birthdays, tape a special message for

each grandchild. Share your plans and holiday preparations. For an added festive touch, play holiday music in the background as you record your message.

If you know the kind of music your grandchildren enjoy, you could tape some music from a radio station in your area that plays that type of music. If the station does dedications, ask to have a song dedicated to your grandchildren and record it.

Send older grandchildren a book of blank pages. Ask them to use it as a journal to create their own memories.

Of course, visits should be planned as often as possible. Visit them or send them travel money so they can visit you. Using these ideas can help bring you closer to your grandchildren, even when hundreds or thousands of miles separate you physically. Happy Grandparenting.

Music Feature

EDDI READER voice of an angel

SCOTTISH singer-songwriter Eddi Reader turns 53 this year and still has the voice of an angel. She should be familiar to RTE viewers since she appeared on Transatlantic Sessions and was also a mentor on The Voice of Ireland. She is the recipient of three BRIT Awards, has topped both the album and singles charts and is particularly noted for showcasing the works of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.

Gerry Walsh discovered the many talents of this versatile artiste when she performed at Ballina Arts Centre recently. She is also scheduled to appear at the Westport Festival on 24th June this year. session vocalist and sang with acts like Eurythmics, The Waterboys, Billy MacKenzie and Alison Moyet.

In 1984 Eddi returned to the UK from Paris (where she had been working as a singer for the composer Vladimir Cosma, and recorded two singles with disco group Outbar Creek in a contract with EMI. Around this time she met Mark E Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter from the band Jane Aire and the Belvederes and they subsequently formed Fairground Attraction. Their first single, “Perfect” became a UK Number One, winning Best Single at the 1989 Brit Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, reached number two in the UK album charts, and won best album at the 1989 Brits.

THE bulk of the audience at the Eddi Reader concert in Ballina earlier this year might be familiar with her hit record “Pefect” or her rendition of the Burns classic “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose”. Few, however, could be prepared for such a stunning allround performance from an artiste totally at ease with her audience.

This was a beautiful, effortless presentation from a singer who can be described as a cross between Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris, but with greater versatility than either of the two, as evidenced in her capabilities with the aforementioned song titles. Here is a performer, with an incredible singing range, who sings from the heart, without any gimmicks, as evidenced towards the end when she disclosed to the audience she would not conform to a ritual of leaving the stage before returning to perform a final song.

“Instead, I will sing two songs . . . no, I will sing three . . . and then I’ll be gone”.

While Eddi has carved an enduring solo career, following her earlier stint with pop band Fairground Attraction in late ‘80s, life has not

always been “Perfect” for the Scottish woman. Born Sadenia Reader in Glasgow in 1959, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children, she was nicknamed Edna by her parents.

Their tenement slum was demolished in 1965 and the young Reader family moved to a twobedroomed flat in the estate of Arden, Glasgow. (During the Ballina gig she enthralled the audience with stories of how music and song was nurtured among the communities in Glasgow during this period). In 1976, due to overcrowding, the family was rehoused in a council development in Ayrshire; however, Eddi returned to Glasgow, to live with her grandmother until she finished her compulsory schooling.

Eddi took up the guitar at the age of ten and started her musical career as a busker, at first in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, then in the early ‘80s in London and around Europe. Back in Scotland she joined the punk band Gang of Four and peformed as a backing singer in their performance on BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test. Later she worked as a

Gerry Jordan, Ballina, pictured with Scottish singer/songwriter Eddi Reader following her recent performance at Ballina Arts Centre.

This success, however, was shortlived and in 1989, after a break, during which Eddi had her first child, Charlie, differences arose which finally led to the break-up of the band.

Before embarking on her solo career, Reader returned to Scotland and took a temporary detour into acting, playing Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne’s Your Cheatin’ Heart, a comedy drama for BBC television.

She later played the part of Joy 3 from the Michael Boyd production of Janice Galloway’s The Trick Is To Keep Breathing.

But the ‘90s saw the blossoming of Eddi Reader’s solo career and her second solo album Eddie Reader in 1994 (following her first, Mirmama, in 1992) won her the “Best Female Singer” at the 1994 Brit Awards, followed by Candyfloss and Medicine (1996) and Angels and Electricity(1998). During this time she also recorded the song “Ocean of Love” for the soundtrack of the Animated Danish film Help, I’m A Fish.

Eddie Reader continued touring (England, Scotland, Japan, Australia, Spain, the US and Ireland). In 2003 she recorded her Album of Material

by Robert Burns, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, which led to an international resurgence in interest in Scotland’s “bard”. Her star continued to rise and to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth, she released The Songs of Robert Burns Deluxe Edition, featuring songs like “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose”, “The Winter It Is Past”, “Green Grow the Rashes O”, “Leezie Lindsay”, “Dainty Davie” and many others. In 2009, also, she released her ninth studio album, Love Is The Way, featuring many beautiful songs like “Dragonfly” (my own favourite), “Silent Bells”, “Love is the Way”, “New York City” and others which she sang to a packed and enthusiastic audience in Ballina.

Those attending the Ballina gig may not be aware that Eddie Reader was awarded an MBE in 1996 for her outstanding contributions to the arts. In 2007 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Strathclyde. Later that year she was recognised for her contribution to music and to the education of young musicians with an honorary doctorate and a Doctor of Letters from the Glasgow Caledonian University. Also, in 2008, she received another doctorate, this time from the University of Stirling.

This is an artist with a lot more to give and her popularity in Ireland is growing rapidly. Reader fans are, undoubtedly, looking forward to her appearance in Westport this Summer.

Page 19 Mature Living April 2012

Pets Corner

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10 myths about your pet Will your cat always land on its feet? Are table scraps bad for your dog?

Here are 10 pet myths debunked. can be injured during a fall and they should not be ‘tested’ or allowed to climb in high places.

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ou’ve probably heard it before: Cats and babies don’t mix. A wagging tail means a friendly dog. But are these so-called nuggets of wisdom really true? Here’s what the experts have to say about these 10 commonly believed myths about our pets.

Myth: Cats always land on their feet.

Fact: While it is true that cats instinctively control their fall and have an uncanny ability to land feet first, this is not always the case. Cats

Myth: A wagging tail means a friendly dog.

Fact: Not always! Tail wags can mean different things, some friendly and others not. Instead you need to look at the overall posture of the dog and anything else it’s doing. Relaxed dogs generally have a gently wagging tail held horizontally or slightly lowered, and a raised tail usually indicates the dog is feeling confident. A dog with its tail tucked can indicate anxiety, avoidance or caution. Signs that you should back off from a dog include a stiffly lowered tail (wagging or not) combined with a lowered head, direct stare, closed mouth, and ears held back.

Myth: Animals that are neutered or spayed gain weight.

Fact: Not true. As with humans, your pet’s weight is typically related to food intake and exercise. An animal’s diet should be adjusted throughout its life to take into account age, activity and lifestyle.

Myth: Cats can’t be taught to walk on leash.

Fact: Dog-lovers aren’t the only ones who can enjoy a stroll with their furry companions. Yes, most cats can be easily trained to walk on a leash.

Just be sure to keep your cat clear of temptations such as trees that it may climb and get tangled in.

Myth: With dogs, bad breath pretty much comes with the territory.

Fact: While unpleasant breath can be normal, really bad breath can be a sign of dental problems. Ask your vet to look at your dog’s teeth regularly and follow a dental plan.

Myth: Your cat is a danger to your baby.

Fact: The fear that a cat can harm a baby by lying on it and smothering it is so widespread that some new families even consider giving up their cat upon the arrival of a new baby.

However, if common sense precautions are taken, a cat should present no danger to your baby.

These include keeping the cat out of the room where the baby sleeps, as well as never leaving the baby and cat unattended. As is the case with any pet, it’s a good idea to give your cat plenty of attention away from the baby so it will not feel abandoned.

Myth: Dogs and cats eat grass when they’re sick.

Fact: Not true. In fact, many dogs and cats simply enjoy the taste and

texture of grass. Beware, however, if your pet begins snacking in the garden. Certain common plants such as rhododendrons, daffodils, and marigolds can be toxic for pets.

Myth: ‘People food’ is bad for your pet.

Fact: This is sometimes true. Certain foods such as chocolate, grapes, garlic and onions can be toxic for your pet. You should also avoid giving your pet food that is spicy or high in fat. However, some foods such as carrots, apples, crunchy or lightly steamed vegetables and meat with the fat and gristle trimmed off are fine to share. If you are feeding your pet ‘people food’ on a regular basis make sure you use high quality ingredients and provide a balanced and complete diet. Note: Keep in mind that feeding your dog or a cat from the table even once can create a determined beggar.

Myth: If a dog’s nose is cold, it is healthy.

Fact: A dog’s nose is usually cold because of the evaporation of the moisture put there by the dog’s licking. A dog could have any number of illnesses and still have a cold nose.

Myth: Cats should drink milk.

Fact: While most cats like milk, they don’t actually need it if they are receiving a proper diet. In fact, many adult cats are lactose intolerant, and drinking milk can cause diarrhea.

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Page 21 Mature Living April 2012

Legal Advice from Caoimhe Haughey Principal of C.M. Haughey Solicitors

The Legal Consequences of Nursing Homes not keeping proper Medical Records and the "Organisational Duty of Care"

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his article is intended to address two very important issues which the general public should be aware of when seeking answers to questions from Health Care Professionals, Managers and Administrators responsible for the running, upkeep and maintenance of Nursing Homes, whether public or private.

Firstly, I would like to deal with the matter of keeping proper medical records. Medical records are critical to the care of a patient and they must be accurate. If they are not, the care of the patient is at risk and sometimes this has

very adverse consequences as this article will illustrate.

Secondly, it is the opinion of the writer that Nursing Homes have the same duty of care as hospitals when it comes to determining whether an error was organisational or systemic, i.e. not the fault or responsibility of one particular individual. In the past it was not uncommon for medical institutions to escape direct liability for medical malpractice by blaming an individual doctor or nurse for something he/she did or did not do. The Irish Courts now take the view hospitals owe various "organisa-

tional" duties of care that are or should be directed towards reducing or preventing errors on the part of medical staff, for example the ability of medical staff to access the results of tests, xrays, scans carried out in the hospital on the patient and access to the patient’s complete medical file. I am sure a lot of you reading this article have had either direct or indirect experience with making a decision to put a loved one in the care of a Nursing Home. Indeed maybe you were or are that person.

The decision to avail of Nursing Home care can be very difficult, stressful and

Keeping proper medical records ALL medical institutions that provide in-patient medical care including Nursing Homes are obliged to keep proper medical records; ensure the records are accurate; and that they are regularly reviewed and updated.

Most of us will recall the shocking Dr. Neary scandal which brought about the enactment of the Health Act 2007. This important piece of legislation contains provisions designed to protect whistleblowers from reporting mistakes, cover-ups and blatant medical malpractice. One of the features of the Dr. Neary scandal was the fact obstetric medical records had gone missing and others had been deliberately tampered with allowing an aberrant doctor to continue with his obscene practices, undetected for up to 20 years.

When dealing with medical malpractice cases it is unusual to find medical records have been lost or tampered with. Unfortunately however, it is not unusual to find that information provided by a patient or a member of the patient’s family has been incorrectly recorded or is simply missing. Examples of this can be as basic as incorrectly noting the patient’s date of birth or the mechanism of an injury where the incident is recorded as a "slip and fall" as opposed to a “trip and fall". Other more serious examples which have been the subject matter of litigation include noting a patient’s left arm for a surgical procedure as opposed to the right wrist. One can only imagine the consequences in terms of the trauma and upset caused.

How can patients and their families combat this and what is the attitude of our Courts?

Firstly, the doctor or nurse making the note in the medical records should always be asked to check what they have written or entered.

Words can be misinterpreted, taken out of context or simply not heard. Check and check again. Human error applies in all areas of human life. To err is human to forgive is divine.

Do not be afraid to query what has been written or recorded.

This is a basic right and contained in the Patient Charter which applies to all medical institutions and practitioners in this jurisdiction. Furthermore the family members of the patient have as much right as the patient to query the doctor or the nurse making the note, even more so if the patient is vulnerable or elderly.

Secondly, in the Supreme Court case of Moloney -v- Jurys Hotel Group PLC 1999, Mr Justice Barrington had to deal with a situation whereby certain evidence given by the Plaintiff/Patient did not appear to correspond with what had been recorded in his medical notes.

This inconsistency was crucial to the issue of liability in the case as it affected the credibility of the Plaintiff/Patient. It turned out the author of the medical note (i.e. the doctor) was not available to come to Court to explain the note he had made.

This meant there was no opportunity for the Plaintiff/Patient

to cross-examine this doctor. In the circumstances Judge Barrington accepted the Plaintiff’s/Patient’s version and gave him the benefit of the doubt as to the accuracy of the records.

This is a very important decision as it clearly endorses Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights which provides that all persons have the right of access to information retained by the State or a public body (i.e. hospital) and secondly it puts patients on a equal footing with health care professionals when it comes to determining the accuracy or otherwise of medical records.

In addition to the above, the Data Protection Acts 1988/2003, the Data Protection Regulations of 1989 and the Freedom of Information Act 1997 provide further protection and rights of access for members of the public seeking medical information and documentation.

In short this legislation provides that even though medical records are the property of the medical institution in question, that ownership is subject to an almost unfettered right of access. Information or documentation can only be refused "if it’s disclosure would be likely to cause serious mental or physical harm to the data subject or might be prejudicial to the person’s physical or mental health, well-being or emotional condition". If access is denied such a decision can be reviewed, or be appealed to the Data Commissioner and the Circuit Court.

upsetting for all concerned. Sometimes the need to avail of Nursing Home care is temporary but more often than not it is permanent. There are major financial, personal and emotional factors to be considered. The question always arises, in whose best interests is this decision being made? Is it for the patient, the family or both? To assist the patient and the family in making such a decision a huge amount of trust and faith is placed in the medical personnel treating the patient and of course, the Nursing Home selected. The choice made is of fundamental importance.

Organisational Duty of Care AS noted above medical institutions that provide in-patient care cannot insulate themselves from direct liability by "passing the book" so to speak.

It is now accepted in the UK and is in the process of being adopted by the Courts in this jurisdiction that the duties of care owed by hospitals are primarily organisational. They include the general duty to provide a safe system of medical care; employ competent staff; employ sufficient numbers of staff; maintain proper supervision and training of staff; provide safe equipment; ensure equipment is properly maintained, serviced and where necessary replaced, this is not an exhaustive list.

Where a hospital recommends, adopts or implements a certain practice that affects the treatment and management of a patient, there is an automatic assumption of an organisational duty of care. On the other hand where a hospital and by extension a Nursing Home has not adopted or implemented a recommended practice the question the Court must ultimately answer is, should that hospital, or Nursing Home have adopted and implemented the particular practice? In answering that question the Court will look to other similar hospitals, or Nursing Homes to determine what is the generally accepted and approved practice.

The High Court case of Gottstein –v- Maguire 2007, judgment of Mr Justice Johnson is a very good example of the above. This was a very tragic case where the patient died (he was declared brain dead) as a result of the hospital’s failure to provide suitably specialist medical staff for it’s intensive care unit. The deceased’s wife bravely took a case against the hospital as opposed to individual staff and her claim was upheld. The High Court case of Fanning –v- South Eastern Health Board 2005 is another example involving a defective laparoscopic instrument. It is clear from the above that a hospital will not escape direct liability because the error or medical malpractice was not directly made by the hospital itself in the sense of it’s owners, managers or administrative staff. In my opinion the same rules apply to Nursing Homes.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article or would like to discuss a potential complaint or claim, please do not hesitate to contact us for impartial, expert confidential advice.

Feature by Stella Carroll

Mayo’s Titanic Village A Mayo village remembers its tragic loss on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic

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n the 11th April 1912, the RMS Titanic sunk, in icy waters off the coast of Newfoundland, having struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. 1517 people lost their lives. Among the third class, steerage passengers, were fourteen people from the parish of Addergoole in Co Mayo. Eleven of them perished in the disaster and only three survived. They are known as the Addergoole fourteen and Laherdane, the nearest village, is called Ireland’s Titanic Village.

Emigration was not unusual in 1912. The land was still suffering from the ravages of the famine, people were poor and opportunities were few. The American Wake was a feature of Irish society and we can only imagine the hopes and dreams of these fourteen Irish people as they embarked on a new life. Among the passengers was Catherine McGowan, a wealthy business woman originally from Addergoole but living in Chicago. Catherine had been home on holiday and persuaded her young niece Annie to journey back to the States with her. When the fated ship began sinking there was hysterical scenes in the third class decks as the gates to the upper decks and any hope of freedom were locked and barred. It was two of the Addergoole lads, Pat Canavan and James Flynn who knew where there were ladders

to the main decks and led them upwards. Annie was just seventeen years old, small and slight; she was thrown into a lifeboat by a sailor that she had befriended a few days previously. Her aunt was not so fortunate and perished. Annie arrived in Ellis Island days later wearing only a dress and shoes. She never spoke of her ordeal and only gave an interview to her great grand daughter in 1984. It is a sad and heartbreaking tale of loss and survival. She went on to live to be 94. Annie Kate Kelly and Delia Mc Dermott also survived. The 11 who perished were: Catherine Bourke, John Bourke, Mary Bourke, Mary Canavan, Pat Canavan, Bridget Donohue, Nora Fleming, James Flynn, Catherine McGowan, Delia Mahon, Mary Mangan. The loss of so many lives was devastating to this remote rural area. News of the disaster was confused at first and they did not know the full extent of the loss for a number of days.

“The Addergoole Titanic Society believes that the loss of these 11 lives represents the largest proportionate loss of life from any locality on RMS Titanic. To put the loss in perspective, in 1911, the year before the Titanic sank the population of the Addergoole, was 3,496 people living in 703 houses according to the Irish 1911 census.

The eleven Addergoole passengers who perished represent 0.3% of that population, or 2% of all the Third Class passengers lost when Titanic sank. This was truly, an extraordinary loss for our small parish.” Addergoole Titanic Society.

Today the Addergoole Fourteen are commemorated with yearly vigils and ceremonies by the surviving relatives. Meticulous research and records are kept to preserve the memory of the dead. This one

hundredth anniversary will be marked with a cultural week, and events include a Titanic ball and an American wake in the village of Bofeenaun. Two stained glass windows in the St Patrick’s Church have been erected and the Society is active in meeting and corresponding with relatives and anyone interested in the story. Their website is www.mayo-titanic.com and visitors are always welcome to this Titanic Village.

Page 23 Mature Living April 2012

Memories

T

The Bands of our Showband Era

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.com

here were hundreds of them. Irish bands of every size, description and musical genre travelling the roads and borheens of Ireland. They travelled the length and breadth of the country from the 1950's through the mid 1980's. Although "officially" the term showband was coined in the late fifties and was used to describe bands that played a wide variety of music and usually included a "show" during the night, the term was gradually applied to all the bands that played in the 1960's. As the

Irish music scene splintered in the late sixties into pop, country bands, the term was dropped but we still find it the best overall description of the bands of the "ballroom" era. In the early days, they travelled in whatever they could find...bread vans, hearses, and even cars (roof racks and all). In later years, many (if not most) of them travelled in converted Ford Transit vans (like the one pictured right) that were normally used for delivery services.

After a couple of windows were popped into the centre panels, a

Maisie McDaniel B orn Mary Anne McDaniel, "Maisie" was one of the earliest female superstars of the Irish entertainment industry. At the height of her fame, Maisie was a regular guest on Irish TV, had hit records and was one of the most recognizable faces in Ireland.

Maisie began her career Maisie began her careerwinning prizes at singing competitions around Ireland. She became a celebrity when she won a major ballad competition in Swinford, Co. Mayo and turned professional under the watchful eye of manager, George O'Reilly. By 1963/64 Maisie had turned professional and was playing the ballroom circuit with her own group, The Fendermen.

Maisie's earliest recordings were typical girl pop vocals on the UK Fontana label, but it was George who suggested Maisie move to country and western music and she never looked back. However, even though she was a major star, appearing on (R)TE's Jamboree programme and Maureen Potter radio show, the Fendermen were dwarfed by the powerhouse lineups of showbands like Brendan Bowyer and the Royal, Butch

Moore and The Capitol, and Dickie Rock and the Miami.

In late 1964, her manager, George O'Reilly, decided it was time for Maisie to hit the showband circuit. She was to front the new Nevada showband, who had achieved only moderate success with Brian O'Brien as their lead singer. On St. Stephen's Night, 1964, the band debuted in the Premier Ballroom in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Within weeks, the band was seen as one of the best lineups in the country, but Maisie's role in their success was to be short lived.

On January 21, 1965, tragedy struck when she was seriously injured (breaking her hip) in an accident as a passenger in a car driven by showband entrepreneur, Oliver Barry. She was off the road, out of the Nevada and hospitalized for several months after the accident. And because of the accident, Maisie missed her chance to represent Ireland at Eurovision and was replaced by Dickie Rock in the National Song Contest.

After recuperating on her farm in Tullyhill, outside Sligo, Maisie decided to take a break from show business and in May, 1965 she

In 1970, Maisie McDaniel and husband, Fintan Stanley (behind Maisie) joined with former Cadet, Gregory in the Nashville Ramblers.

Page 24 Mature Living April 2012

row or two of old airplane seats were installed and the band was ready to travel "in style." Although style was a matter of opinion...if you're stuck in the back of a van on a cold and rainy winter's night, it may seem like "a long way to Tipperary," but it's even further to Castletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all the bands that played the dance halls, ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls, community centres, hotels, and town halls across Ireland but each month we are married ace accordion player Fintan Stanley.

Fintan and Maisie went to England for several years, playing the cabaret scene there, but were enticed back to Ireland in 1969 when she was offered the chance to be part of a new Telefis Eireann show, Hoot-nanny, which was hosted by Shay Healy (who would later write Johnny Logan's Eurovision smash in 1980, What's Another Year).

The show was a huge success and as a result, she and Fintan formed a five piece group called the Ramblers which originally included Des Moore (brother of Butch) on guitar. The re-launch of Maisie also included a unique "package" which manager George O'Reilly put together which also included the Paragon Showband, along with Maisie and the Ramblers.

In the March 6th, 1970 issue of Spotlight it was reported that the five piece group was expanding to six with the addition of the Cadets former front man, Gregory Donaghy with his first appearance set for at Easter Sunday. With the move, the band was renamed the Nashville Ramblers and they released a duet single, Okie From Muskogee which featured both Maisie and Gregory.

Although there seemed to be a glut of country bands hitting the road around this time, The Nashville Ramblers were being touted as one of the up and coming bands on the scene, mostly because of Maisie's earlier successes.

The band toured England and also appeared on the BBC Show, Country Meets Folk, as well as recording a spot for Larry Cunningham's Show on RTE. With their single doing relatively well, the band's reputation was growing, but in August, an article in Spotlight reported that Maisie would be leaving the band temporarily because of a threatened miscarriage. Gregory took over fronting the band and manager George O'Reilly said Maisie would be back and sing until about three months before the birth. A week later, the band announced Terry Mahon (formerly with Jim Farley's Tophatters), would be replacing Maisie, although it was still reported to be temporary.

Said Fintan, "Her doctor says everything is fine, but she may rest a little longer than the couple of weeks indicated earlier."

Although it had initially seemed that in 1970 the band was destined for great things,

planning to feature a band from the west with the help of Gerry Gallagher and www.irish-showbands.com . Apart from a few who enjoy near mythical status (such as the Royal Showband and a handful of others), most bands came together, played for a few years and then either reinvented themselves, changed their name, or just disappeared, their members either returning to civilian life, or scattering to two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer

All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce the articles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to know more about your favourite band or who was number one in a particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com number of bands that the country produced. Almost as hard to imagine, is the number of dance halls that once dotted the countryside, many out in the "middle of nowhere." Pick up next months issue for another blast from the blast from the showband era...

Top singles - 1966

in the October 2nd issue of Spotlight, an article announced Maisie "Won't Be Back."

The article also reported that Fintan had left the band as well. This would be Maisie's final flirtation with the showband circuit as she and Fintan settled down to life in Sligo and played the cabaret and lounge scene in and around the Northwest of Ireland. Maisie was permanently replaced by Terry Mahon, who had played with Jim Farley's Band.

Eventually Gregory formed his own trio before emigrating to Canada around 1974.

In the early seventies, Fintan and Maisie played the cabaret circuit and in 1973, an article in the Sligo Champion reported that Maisie had decided it was time to release another single, but that never happened.

Maisie did give birth though, in early 1973, to her and Fintan's only child, Lisa. Throughout

the 1970's, Maisie and Fintan continued to play the local cabaret scene on and off, but never made a commitment to the entertainment scene as before, preferring a quiet life in rural County Sligo. Eventually Fintan and Maisie split up and Fintan emigrated to the United States where he still lives today in Massachusetts.

However, in 1985, Maisie came out of her semi retirement and went into Greenfields Studios in County Galway to record an album of her former hits.

Sadly, Maisie passed away at her home in Sligo on June 28, 2008. She had retired from performing for many years, although her legacy as one of Ireland's premier female vocalists of the early 1960's lives on in her daughter, Lisa, who released a CD of Maisie's hits in late 2009.

1. Dermot O'Brien & Clubmen - The Merry Ploughboy (Envoy) 2. Johnny McEvoy - Mursheen Durkin (Pye) 3. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - There's That Smile Again/ Lovely Leitrim (King) 4. Dickie Rock & Miami - Come Back To Stay (Pye) 5. Ludlows - The Sea Around Us (Pye) 6. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Pretty Brown Eyes (Pye) 7. Pat Smith & Johnny Flynn Showband - Black and Tan Gun (Emerald) 8. Gregory & Cadets - More Than Yesterday (Pye) 9. Charlie Matthews & Royal Showband - Somewhere My Love (HMV) 10. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - Snowflake (king) 11. Doc Carroll & Royal Blues - Old Man Trouble (Parlophone) 12. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - It Doesn't Matter Any More (pye) 13. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Aching Breaking Heart (Pye) 14. Johnstons - Travelling People (Pye) 15. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - Among the Wicklow Hills (King) 16. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Showball Crazy (Pye) 17. Murty Quinn & Miami - One Kiss For Old Time Sake (Pye) 18. Sonny Knowles & Pacific - No One Knows (Pye) 19. Dermot O'Brien & Clubmen - I'll Walk the Line (Envoy) 20. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - I Can't Get You Out of My Heart (HMV) 21. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Together Again (Pye) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Darling I Love You (Pye) 23. Sonny, Sean & Pacific - I Only Came To Dance With You (Pye) 24. Houston Wells & Premier Aces - Above and Beyond (Parlophone) Page 25 Mature Living April 2012

Gardening

What's the Difference: Driveway surfacing materials

Solids

Maintenance: Semiannual washing and sealing.

Average service life: 30 to 50 years Permeability: Very low. Water sheds from the surface rather than drains through it.

Asphalt

Asphalt conceals dirt and stains better than most other driveway materials. However, it gets extremely hot under a summer sun. Asphalt is more resistant to

Cobblestones, which are typically chunks of solid granite or basalt, create an extremely durable surface that outlasts most other driveway materials.

Cobblestones can be used as a primary surface but are also very popular for use as driveway aprons and borders. cracking than poured concrete because it contains oil, which gives it elasticity. Like concrete, asphalt can be stamped and colored to replicate other types of driveway materials.

Maintenance: Semiannual washing; seal-coating every 2 to 4 years. Colored asphalt needs a new coat of color every 2 to 6 years to stay looking new. Average service life: 10 to 30 years Permeability: Very low.

Water sheds from the surface rather than drains through it.

Need a new driveway?

Don't get scammed!

Maintenance: Semiannual washing; regular weed control.

Average service life: 90+ years Permeability: High when set in sand; low when set in mortar.

Concrete

Concrete pavers are manufactured in a highly controlled facility where quality-control measures are paramount. The result is a product that is more uniform and stronger than poured concrete. Pavers come in

a variety of shapes and colors for nearly unlimited design options.

Maintenance: Semiannual washing and sealing; regular weed control. Average service life: 50 years Permeability: High when set in sand; low when set in mortar.

Brick

Clay bricks, which are cured by heat, are generally more porous than concrete pavers and are not as strong. They tend to attract moss more than other materials and should be set in mortar for strength when used as a primary surface.

Maintenance: Semiannual washing and sealing. Average service life: 30 years Permeability: High when set in sand; low when set in mortar.

I

Watch out for some of the following asphalt paving scam warning signs: Selling door-to-door.

Reputable tarmac contractors will rarely, if ever, sell their product door-to-door claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job.

Professional asphalt contractors know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they

Page 26 Mature Living April 2012

Push you to make a quick decision.

Trustworthy contractors provide a written estimate that will be valid for days or weeks. Never hire someone on the spot. Ask for references and check them.

in a variety of sizes and colors.

Loose stone should be applied over a solid gravel base and should never exceed 2 in. to 4 in. in depth. A driveway border of cobblestone or brick can help to keep loose stone from spreading to the landscaping.

No contract offered.

Insist on a written contract specifying in detail the work to be performed and the agreed total price, not just price per square foot.

Maintenance: Seasonal regrading and regular containment; regular weed control. Average service life: 90+ years Permeability: Very high

have leftover material.

Cash-only sales.

Most reputable contractors take cheques or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms.

Deals that seem too good to be true.

If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of work will also be quite low.

Macadam / tar and chip

Macadam is the process by which hot, liquid asphalt is sprayed over a solid gravel base and covered with colored stone.

The tar-and-chip method is very similar, except the liquid asphalt and the gravel are applied to an existing asphalt or concrete driveway.

Maintenance: Containment is only an initial issue. Repair as needed due to snowplow damage. Average service life: 6 to 10 years Permeability: Moderate (macadam); low (tar and chip)

Gravel

Gravel is a combination of stone, sand, and clay, and it compacts to a much more stable base than loose stone. Processed gravel makes a more durable driveway than natural gravel because the ratio of sand to stone to clay is more refined.

Maintenance: Seasonal re-grading and regular containment; regular weed control. Average service life: 90+ years Permeability: Very high

Loose Material

The look of loose stone, the maintenance of asphalt. Stone spread over liquid asphalt stays where it’s placed, creating a crisply edged, maintenance-free driveway.

We hear complaints every summer from people who say they were scammed by a paving company! So with the hope it will help keep it from happening to others, I wanted to share a warning put out today by Loose stone the watchdog association.

Small stones can be purchased n the last 3 years-- they received hundreds of inquiries about local asphalt and paving companies.

The majority of complaints were about shoddy work after customers paid thousands of euros upfront. The watchdog says often, after the driveway job is finished-- the paving company disappears leaving customers with no way to contact them.

Pavers

Cobblestone

Concrete

With the help of additives and pigments, concrete can be used to create surfaces in almost any color. When combined with certain aggregates and stamping techniques, concrete can also be finished with a variety of textures. Unlike other types of driveways, concrete surfaces demand expansion joints.

Without them, cracking becomes an issue.

There's more than just choosing a solid or loose surface.

As the welcome mat for your property, a driveway has the ability to make a significant impression on guests and passersby. Selecting a driveway material is no easy task, though, as aesthetics, durability, and maintenance issues differ. Costs can vary by region and by installer.

Feature Gardening Article

Open Week Days 10am - 6pm and Sundays 12 - 6pm

New Garden Centre

Now Open

Tuam Road, Claregalway, Co. Galway

formally JPK Garden Centre • on the Tuam Road after Roscommon turn off, 20 Mins from Galway. Tel: 091-799769

• • • •

Fresh Flowers Plants Wedding Flowers Sympathy flowers

R a r e pl a n t a va i l a b l e s f Ir e l a n d & r o m Hol l a n d , fr e s h fl o w er s d i r e ct fr o m H o l land in a ll o u r Sh o p s.

New Flower Centre offering Flower arranging classes and gift shop opening in August at our Garden Centre.

From May we will have a well know dutch designer working on our Wedding / Hotel team.

Order online at go-dutch.ie Go Dutch Flowers & Gifts - 137 Upper Salthill Salthill Galway Tel: 091-448445 Go Dutch Flowers - 29 Forsterstreet Galway City Tel: 091- 530720 Go Dutch Flower & Garden Centre - Knockdoe, Tuam road Claregalway Tel: 091-799769 Go Dutch Flowers & Gifts - 2 Vicar Street Tuam Tel: 093-52712 Page 27 Mature Living April 2012

Motoring

3 of The Worst Selling Cars of All Time

I

COMMERCIAL RANGE VOLKSWAGEN RANGE 2012 FLEET COMMERCIALS 2012 VW Crafter 3.0 MWB............................€25,500 2012 VW Amarok 163BHP 4Motion...............€35,500 2012 VW Caddy Maxi TDI 4 Motion 2.0.........€21,500 2012 VW Caddy TDI......................................€14,500 2012 VW Transporter 2.0TDI..........................€22,500

FORD RANGE 2008 Ford Transit Connect Kombi....................€10,500 2008 Ford Transit 260......................................€9,000 2007 Ford Transit 260......................................€6,500 2005 Ford Transit Connect Com........................€5,000 2006 Ford Transit Connect ...............................€4,500 2005 Ford Transit 280 LWB..............................€5.000

TRANSPORTER RANGE 2011 VW Transporter 2.0 DSL SWB...............€19,500 2010 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp LWB............€19,500 2010 VW Transporter 1.9TDI..........................€16,500 2009 VW Transporter 1.9TDI SWB .................€13,500 2009 Vw Transporter 1.9TDI LWB High Roof....€18,500 2008 VW Transporter 1.9TDI SWB................€11,500 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp (30K).........€15,000 2008 VW Transporter 2.5 LWB ......................€13,500

ISUZU RANGE 2005 Isuzu Trooper Dsl....................................€6,000 2004 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€4,500 2003 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€3,500 2002 Isuzu Trooper..........................................€2,000

GOLF RANGE 2009 VW Golf 1.6TDI Comfortline Van...........€12,500 2007 VW Golf 1.9TDI Van...............................€9,000 2005 VW Golf CL DSl Van...............................€6,000 CADDY RANGE 2012 VW Caddy Van TDI Choice...................€14,500 2010 VW Caddy Van TDI Choice...................€11,500 2009 VW Caddy Maxi Extras.........................€10.500 2009 VW Caddy Van TDI ...............................€9,950 2009 VW Caddy TDI Passenger 7 Seater.........€18,500 2008 VW Caddy Maxi ....................................€9,000 2008 VW Caddy TDI.......................................€8,500 2007 VW Caddy TDI .......................................€7,000 CRAFTER RANGE 2010 VW Crafter 3.5 HR EL...........................€24,500 2008 VW Crafter...........................................€15,000 2008 VW Crafter 3.5 LWB HR 9000KL..€14.600 + VAT 2007 VW Crafter...........................................€13,500 TOUAREG RANGE 2010 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Comm Extras..........€24,500 2009 VW Touareg 2.5TDI A/T........................€16,500 2007 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Com.......................€13,500 2005 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Passenger...............€12,500 2004 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Passenger...............€10,500 MITSUBISHI RANGE 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Extras Canopy...............€24,500 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€18,500 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€15,500 2008 L200 kombi 5 Seater ( Full Canopy).......€15,000 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5Sports....................€15,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB......................€16,500 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0Dsl 7 Seater......€13,500 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2.............................€12,500 CITROEN RANGE 2008 Citroen Berlingo DSL................................€7,500 2007 Citroen Berlingo......................................€6,000 2006 Citroen Xsara Pacasso DSl.......................€7,000 2005 Citroen Berlingo DSl................................€5,000 2005 Citroen Despatch...................................€5,000 2004 Citroen Berlingo DSL...............................€3,500 2003 Citroen Berlingo Dsl................................€2,750 2001 Citroen Berlingo Dsl.................................€1,500 MERCEDES RANGE 2008 Mercedes Sprinter 303..........................€12,500 2007 Mercedes Vito 115BHP.............................€7,500 TOYOTA RANGE 2009 Toyota Hi-Ace Van LWB.........................€11,500 2007 Toyota Hiace Van ...................................€7,500 2005 Toyota Yaris D4D....................................€5,000 2004 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€5,000 2002 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€3,000 2002 Toyota Landcruiser LWB..........................€6,500 2002 Toyota Avensis Petrol 7 Seater.................€3,500

PEUGEOT RANGE 2007 Peugeot Partner Dsl Van..........................€5,500 2007 Peugeot 407 DSL Estate..........................€9,000 2005 Peugeot 307 DSL 7 Seater.......................€6,000 2005 Peugeot Partner DSL................................€3,500 2004 Peugeot Partner DSL................................€2,950 2003 Peugeot 206 DSL Van..............................€2,500 2003 Peugeot Expert DSL.................................€3,000 2000 Peugeot Partner Van................................€1,350

t’s hard to believe it’s been over a hundred years since the first Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line. In that time, we’ve certainly made some great achievements in the world of automotives. We’ve figured out how to turn a black carriageesque piece of puttering equipment into a series of sleek, clean-running, space-age automobiles. We’ve learned how to make some of the fastest cars as well as some of the most powerful.Still, every once in a while a real stinker slips through the cracks. Once in a blue moon, a car is put on the market that is nothing less than a hazard to humanity. Ugly, inefficient, and sometimes even deadly, these cars are consumer repellent and can be fatal to the company that manufactures them.

1. Skoda

KIA RANGE 2008 Kia Carnival DSL 7 Seater.....................€12,500 2007 Kia Sportage 2.0DSL Comm..................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento Passenger 2.5 DSL EX..........€11,500 2005 Kia Sedona DSL 7 Seater.........................€7,500 2004 Kia Sedona DSL 7 Seater.........................€5,500 OPEL RANGE 2008 Opel Vivaro DSL Com LWB......................€9,000 2007 Opel Astra DSL Van.................................€7,500 2007 Opel Combi DSL.....................................€5,000 2007 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Dsl........................€10,500 2006 Opel Vivaro Dsl Com..............................€6,500 2006 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Petrol......................€7,500 2006 Opel Astra Dsl Van..................................€6,000

3. Lada

SUZUKI RANGE 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl 4x4..................€16,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl Passenger.........€13,500 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 X4 Dsl Passenger€9,500 2004 Suzuki Jimmy 1.3 Petrol...........................€5,000 NISSAN RANGE 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI CC Canapy...........€9,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI Crew Cab A/T....€10,500 2007 Nissan Pathfinder DSL A/T.......................€9,500 2005 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI Crew Cab.............€7,500 2002 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI Crew Cab.............€4,500 RENAULT RANGE 2007 Renault Master 2.7 Pick up 5 Seater ........€6,500 2006 Renault Master DSL.................................€7,500 2005 Renault Master DSL.................................€6,500 2004 Renault Master DSL.................................€4,500 2001 Renault Espace 2.0 Passenger .................€2,500 LANDROVER RANGE 2008 Landrover Discovery SE 2.8 V6 7 St........€27,500 2005 Landrover Discovery 3 DSL......................€9,500 2003 Landrover Defender LWB.........................€6,000 BUSES RANGE 2010 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL........................€19,500 2009 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL.......................€18,500 2009 VW LT 2.5 tdi 15 Seater (9Kl).................€27,500 2009 VW Shuttle 1.9 TDI 9 Seater...................€27,500 2008 VW Shuttle 8 Seater..............................€22,500 2007 Opel Zafari DSL 7 Seater.......................€10,500 2007 VW Shuttle 1.9 TDI 8 Seater...................€19,500 2007 VW Sharan TDI 7 Seater........................€13,500

Before Volkswagon bought out Skoda in the eighties, the Czech automobile company was considered the laughing stock of the automotive world – and for good reason too. As a car company, Skoda was ridiculously behind on every front by the time Volkswagon came knocking. Their cars were still being designed like they’d been plucked out of the sixties, with rear-engined models (the Skoda 105/120) and the kind of extras only a bland schoolmarm from a communist country would find appealing. It was too little too late for the Skoda, which is probably why not many people have ever heard of it.

2. Yugo

Al: 086 2449645, Derek : 086 8119141, Damien : 087 2368841, Niall: 087 6385033

AL HAYES MOTORS LTD., www.alhayesmotors.com GALWAY RD., PORTUMNA, CO. GALWAY

on. They sold well enough in their home country but weren’t so lucky in the United States. They were brought over to the Americas by entrepreneur Malcom Bricklin, who really thought Americans would eat up a low cost car that had no discernable style or class. Boy was he wrong.

Sure, the car caught on steadily but never reached the numbers the company expected – possibly because the Big 3 just didn’t want them in the mix. It was voted the “Worst Car of the Millennium” by Car Talk.

Tel: 090 9741390, 090 9742200

Founded in 1953 by a Serbian arms dealer, the Zastava Yuho Automobli company (Yugo, for short) has always had a bit of bad luck getting their cars to catch

If it’s starting to feel like we’re beating up on foreign countries, we’re really not trying to. They just keep making stinker cars. The boxy little Lada sold okay for its market in the eighties, but by no means has been as successful in the decades following. Owned by AvtoVAZ, a Russian car manufacturer, the Lada is a Fiatbased economy car, much in the same vein as the Yugo. It’s extremely cheap, which is why it’s extremely common to see Lada taxis, police cars, and other public service vehicles.

2012 FLEET RANGE 2012 VW Touran 1.6TDI 5 Seater ...............€25,500 2012 VW Tiguan TDI Passenger Extras..........€28,500 2012 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline..............€27,000 2012 VW Jetta 1.6TDI ................................€23,500 2012 VW Golf 1.6 TDI Plus Model................€23,500 2010 /2011 FLEET RANGE 2011 VW Touran 1.6TDI .............................€22,500 2011 VW Scirroco 2.0TDI Extras.................€26,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6 TDI Comfortline ...............€19,500 2011 VW Fox..............................................€10,500 BEETLE RANGE 2010 VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.4......................€19,500 2009 VW Beetle 1.4 High............................€15,000 2008 VW Beetle 1.4 High............................€14,000 PASSAT RANGE 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Highline Extras.........€25,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline....€26,500 2011 VW Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline.............€24,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline.............€22,500 2010 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140bhp Comfortline.€21,000 2010 VW Passat 1.6TDI................................€18,500 2010 VW Passat 1.9TDI Comfortline.............€19,500 2009 VW Passat 1.9TDI ..............................€16,500 2009 VW Passat 2.0 TDI 140BHP Leather.....€19,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4TSI Comfortline A/T.......€16,500 2008 VW Passat 1.9TDI...............................€13,500 JETTA RANGE 2011 VW Jetta 1.6TDI 4kl.............................€21,000 2011 VW Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline................€19,500 2010 VW Jetta 1.4 TSI Petrol.......................€15,000 2010 VW Jetta 1.6|TDI C/L..........................€18,500 2010 VW Jetta 1.6 TDI.................................€16,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.6FSI Petrol.........................€11,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.9TDI Comfortline...............€14,500 GOLF RANGE 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI BM Cabriolet..............€24,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR...........................€19,500 2011 VW Golf 1.2TSI 5DR............................€17,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Model..................€21,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Comfortline.........€18,500 2010 VW Golf 1.2TSI High Line Model..........€16,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR...........................€18,500 2009 VW Golf 1.9TDI Comfortline Van.........€11,500 2009 VW Golf 2.0TDI..................................€16,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 Comfortline 5Dr..............€14,500 2009 VW Golf TDI Comfortline....................€16,500 2008 VW Golf 1.4GT Sports........................€10,500 POLO RANGE 2011 VW Polo Petrol 5DR Choice..................€12,500 2011 VW Polo Diesel 5DR Choice.................€16,500 2010 VW Polo 1.2 5DR................................€10,500 2010 VW Polo 1.4 TDI Sport.........................€11,500 2010 VW Polo 1.6TDI..................................€12,500 2009 VW Polo Petrol 5DR............................€10,500 2008 VW Polo 1.2 5DR Choice......................€8,000 2007 VW Polo 1.2 5DR Choice.......................€7,500 4 X 4 PASSENGER RANGE 2011 VW Tiguan Passenger..........................€28,500 2010 VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 4x4 Passenger.......€24,500 2008 VW Tiguan 2.0DSL 4x4 Passenger.......€21,000 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitaro 2.0DSL................€17,000 2008 Hyundia Touscan 2.0 DSL......................€9,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DSL ...............€13,500 2007 Daihatsu Terios 1.5 Passenger 5DR.........€7,500 ESTATE CARS 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Trendline.................€24,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline....€26,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Leather 140 BHP...........€11,500 2006 VW Passat 1.9TDI Estate.......................€9,500 2005 VW Golf 1.9TDI Comfortline (Extras).....€7,500 2003 VW Passat 1.9TDI.................................€6,500

7 SEATER RANGE 2011 VW Touran 1.6TDI...............................€22,500 2010 VW Touran TDI 7 Seater....................€19,500 2009 VW Touran 1.9TDI Automatic..............€19,500 2008 Ford Galaxy 1.8 DSL Ghia 7 Seater.....€19,500 AUDI RANGE 2010 A4 2.0TDI Extras.................................€27,500 2009 A4 2.0TDI .........................................€22,500 2008 A4 2.0TDI..........................................€21,000 2008 A6 2.0TDI Automatic...........................€17,500 2008 A3 2.0TDI 5DR...................................€16,500 2007 A4 1.9TDI..........................................€13,500 2006 A4 2.0TDI...........................................€11,500 VOLVO RANGE 2008 Volvo S40 1.6 DSL..............................€14,000 2007 Volvo S40 1.6 DSL..............................€11,500 2006 Volvo S40 1.6DSL.................................€9,500 TOYOTA RANGE 2009 Toyota Avensis D4D............................€15,000 2009 Toyota Yaris 1.0 5DR............................€9,500 2008 Toyota Corolla 1.4................................€8,000 2008 Toyota Avenis Dsl Est...........................€13,500 2008 Toyota Verso 1.6 7 Seater...................€12,500 2007 Toyota Auris 1.4 DSl...........................€10,500 2007 Toyota Hiace SWB................................€7,500 2007 Toyota Corolla......................................€7,500 FORD RANGE 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T.....................€13,500 2009 Ford 1.6 DSL Zetec.............................€13,500 2008 Ford Mondeo DSL...............................€11,500 2008 Ford Galaxy TDI Ghia Model..............€19,500 2008 Ford Focus 1.4 5DR (34K)...................€10,500 2008 Ford Focus 2.0 TDI CC........................€13,500 2008 Ford Fiesta 1.25....................................€7,500 2008 Ford Focus 1.6DSL..............................€10,900 2008 Ford Focus 1.6 DSL Van........................€8,500 2007 Ford C Max Dsl.....................................€7,500 2007 Ford Focus 1.4 5DR ..............................€6,500 2007 Ford Fusion 1.4 5DR.............................€6,500 OPEL RANGE 2008 Opel Corsa 1.2 5DR.............................€6,000 2008 Opel Astra 1.4 5dr SXI Sport.................€8,500 2007 Opel Vectra 1.9DSl...............................€7,500 2007 Opel Corsa Van DSL.............................€5,000 2007 Opel Corsa 1.4 5DR.............................€6,500 2006 Opel Astra 1.4 3DR Sx1........................€6,500 2006 Opel Vectra 1.6....................................€6,000 SEAT RANGE 2008 Seat Cordoba 1.4TDI Sal......................€8,500 2006 Seat Cordoba 1.4 Sal...........................€6,000 2005 Seat Cordoba Dsl.................................€5,000 PEUGEOT RANGE 2008 Peugeot 308 1.6 Dsl 5Dr.......................€9,500 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Estate SW....................€8,500 2007 Peugeot 307 1.4 5Dr.............................€7,500 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Solaire Model..............€7,500 2006 Peugeot 307 1.4 5DR............................€6,000 HONDA RANGE 2007 Honda Civic 1.8 SE...............................€8,500 2005 Honda Civic 1.6...................................€5,000 2005 Honda HRV 1.6....................................€6,000 BMW RANGE 2009 BMW 318 Dsl Extras...........................€19,500 2008 BMW 118 DSl SE................................€15,000 2008 BMW 318 DSl Extras...........................€15,000 2006 BMW 318 Dsl Extras...........................€10,500 MITSUBISHI RANGE 2011 Mitsubishi Grandis 2.0TDI 7 Seater.......€29,500 2011 Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 DSL Estate 5DR.......€23,500 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 DSL.....................€19,950 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Petrol..................€17,500

2011 Mitsubishi Colt Cabrio 1.5....................€13,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR Automatic..............€13,500 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Extras €...............12,500 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Crew Cab Canopy......€24,500 AUTOMATIC RANGE 2011 VW Golf 1.6 DSL Comfortline..............€22,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T.......................€13,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI Comfortline................€21,500 2010 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T (5K)...............€12,500 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T.....................€13,500 2010 Quasqui 2.0 Petrol SVCVT A/T.............€16,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 TSI H/L A/T....................€13,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline.............€16,500 2009 Nissan Tida 1.6SE.................................€9,500 2008 VW Golf GTI 3DR 210BHP...................€13,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.9 TDI DSG.........................€15,000 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI SWB 100KL ....€19,500 2008 Landrover Discovery 3 SE 2.8 V6 a/t ...€27,500 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 DSL 7 Seater......€21,500 2008 Audi A6 TDI DSG Leather....................€17,500 2007 Skoda Octavia TDI ...............................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento ex Pasenger A/T leather....€11,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Highline DSG...............€12,500 2007 VW Passat Comfortline 2.0TDI DSG.....€12,500 2007 VW Jetta 1.6 DSG...............................€11,000 2007 VW Jetta Comfortline 1.9TDI DSG.......€12,000 2007 Kia Sorento 7 Seater ..........................€12,500 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 SWB A/T............€13,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5 TDI A/T Extras.......€10,500 2007 Nissan Pathfinder DSL A/T....................€9,500 2006 Vw Caddy TDI......................................€7,500 2006 Ford Focus 1.6......................................€7,500 2005 BMW 520DSL Extras............................€9,500 2005 VW Touareg 2.5TDI A/T Passenger......€11,500 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 A/T....................€10,500 2005 Nissan Micra 1.0 5DR A/T....................€5,500 2003 Nissan Almera 1.5 A/T.........................€3,000 2002 Toyota Verso Petrol 7 Seater .................€3,000 MINI RANGE 2007 Mini 1 1.4 ME32 ( Extras )..................€10,500 2003 Mini 1 1.6 ...........................................€5,500 SUBURU RANGE 2007 Suburu Impreza 1.5 Extras....................€7,500 2005 Suburu Legacy 2.0...............................€5,000 2004 Suburu Forrester 2.0 A/T 4WD.............€5,500 2000 Suburu Forrester 2.0 4WD....................€3,000 SKODA RANGE 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI A/T..................€10,500 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI..........................€9,500 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.4................................€3,000 2002 Skoda Octavia 1.4................................€2,500 CITROEN RANGE 2008 Citroen Picasso C4 DSL..........................€7,500 2006 Citroen Picasso 1.4...............................€6,000 2003 Citroen Xsara 1.4.................................€2,500 2002 Citroen Saxa 1.0..................................€1,500 RENAULT RANGE 2007 Renault Clio 1.2....................................€5,000 2006 Renault Megane 1.4 Sal........................€6,000 2005 Renault Laguna 1.9 Dsl.........................€5,000 2005 Renault Clio 1.2...................................€3,500 NISSAN RANGE 2010 Nissan 2.0 Petrol SV.CVT A/T..............€16,500 2009 Nissan Tida 1.6SE A/T .........................€9,500 2008 Nissan Quashqui 1.5Dsl......................€16,500 2008 Nissan Primera 1.6 SVE........................€6,500 2008 Nissan Tida 1.5 Sal..............................€7,500 2008 Nissan Navara 2.5T|D SE 5DR...........€13,500 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5 Sal..........................€6,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5 T/D SE 5DR A/T.....€11,500 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5 SXE ........................€6,500 2006 Nissan Almera 1.5................................€5,500 2006 Nissan Micra 1.5 DSL...........................€6,000 2006 Nissan Note 1.5...................................€6,500

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House and Home

Adopt a burglar's way of thinking When you're thinking about how to make your home burglar-proof, you have to think like an opportunist thief, because a burglar will look for the tell-tale signs of weaknesses in your home.

S

tart with the front of your house.

If your gate is open or broken, an opportunist will see it as a weakness. It's an invitation. Always close your gate. If it's broken – fix it.

And if you don't have one, get one.

It's the first psychological barrier to keeping a burglar away.

If you have just one cylinder lock on your door, a burglar knows that he can get into your home no matter what. If you have two locks on your door and your next door neighbour only has one, the burglar will very likely go next door. He's not going to make more work for himself.

Avoid ‘Beware of the dog' signs.

They are a sure indicator that you don't have an alarm in your property.

A thief will also think that you probably leave your back door open to let the dog into the garden. The same goes for an ‘I love cats' sign, or something similar. Pet owners often don't have an alarm.

If the front of your house looks weak to an opportunist burglar, he can guarantee that the back of your house will be even weaker. As soon as

a thief can get around to the back of your home, he knows he's probably safe. As soon as a burglar is in your house, whether he got in from the front or back, he'll go to the front door with either a glass bottle or a broom. The thief will balance the bottle on the door handle. If the owner comes home, the bottle will fall off the handle and smash before they get inside. This gives the thief a warning sign and time to escape. Or he'll jam the door shut with a broom.

Again, this will give the intruder a sign and time to escape if the owner fails to get into their house easily.

Did you know...?

One of the first things a burglar will look for is your calendar. This tells them when you will be out of the house, so they can plan their next visit.

Humans are creatures of habit.

They inevitably keep their house and car keys near the front door or in their handbag; a handbag will nearly always be left in the kitchen. Once a burglar is in your house, he'll look for

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Page 30 Mature Living April 2012

keys first. Then he'll be looking to find out what your habits are. Your calendar will be very useful. Again, we humans are predictable and almost always have a calendar hanging in the kitchen. The thief will look for key dates – when you will be on holiday, when you have a dentist appointment – any clues about when you're scheduled to be out of the house.

The next thing on a burglar's list is to look for small items – non-bulky valuables that can be taken straight away. This might include jewellery, credit cards, bank statements and spare car keys. The thief will make a note of all the bulkier valuable items in your house – he'll be planning to come back again to get these when he knows you'll be out.

Now the burglar knows you. He knows what kind of person you are from the items in your house and he has your bank details to clone later. If the burglar has taken a spare set of keys to get into your house, he'll normally trash it before leaving.

When a homeowner returns to a messy house, they have to go through everything to see what's missing.

They'll normally be concerned about expensive jewellery, antiques and items of sentimental value. Keys are one of the last things people think of and so often don't realise they're missing. So when a burglar returns to finish the job, it'll normally be within 7 to 10 days of the first burglary and the locks have not been changed.

How can you prevent yourself from being the victim of a burglary?

Here are some top tips: One of the best things you can do is to film every room of your house in detail with a video camera, or take lots of photos. Not only does this help you to remember where everything was before the burglary, but it also helps you to prove to your insurance company that certain items were in your house.

A key tactic in burglary prevention is avoidance and not just alarming your property. For example, chain up your wheelie bin to a fence away from your house. A burglar will stand on a wheelie bin to get into the first floor of your house. Furthermore, a wheelie bin is like a filing cabinet, so shred all your documents before you throw them away.

Join your local Neighbourhood Watch, or display a sticker saying that you do. This demonstrates to the thief that you are aware of the risk of being a victim of burglary and he'll most probably decide to move on.

Having two locks on your front door is really important and make sure your windows have window locks that are visible from the outside lookingin. This will make your house seem like too much hard work to a burglar.

Fix broken garden gates.

Put a wire basket on the inside of your letter box. There's still space for letters to come through the door, but it prevents burglars from fishing for keys through the letterbox – thieves know that keys are often left on a table next to the front door.

Don't keep a calendar in your house – it tells a thief everything about you.

Put a blind in the kitchen and in other rooms so that people can't see in. A thief can learn a lot about you before they even enter your house just by looking through the windows.

Keep suitcases and bags in the loft, or with their handles tied together.

Otherwise a thief will use those very bags to transport items out of your house. When parking your car, turn the wheel towards the curb rather than keeping the wheels parallel. It sounds so simple, but this makes your car alien to the opportunist thief because everyone parks their cars with the wheels straight. Those turned wheels means it will take a thief a few more seconds to steal your car. Every second counts and they don't want to take that extra risk of getting caught.

Keep windows and doors shut and locked, even when you are at home.

A thief will burgle your property even when someone is inside, for example, when they see a bathroom light go on. Use an alarm if you have one.

Don't make it obvious if you are a pet-owner. ‘Beware of the dog' often means ‘I don't have a house alarm' or ‘my back door is open' in burglar language!

House and Home

More distraction burglary crime prevention advice 'Bogus callers', 'doorstep crime' or 'distraction burglary’ is a crime that a lot of people fear. Follow our advice so that you can spot the signs of whether or not an unexpected caller to your home is genuine.

Top tips for deterring distraction burglars

Check ID Properly – check the phone number matches the number in the yellow pages, phone Directory Enquiries or keep a list of useful numbers such as electricity and gas

companies near your front door. Don't feel embarrassed leaving them on the doorstep – genuine employees expect their ID to be checked.

Keep your garden preened and the front of your house looking neat – bogus callers are more likely to target houses which look unkempt as they think you're less likely to care.

Make sure you use your door chain when answering the door and keep it on until you've seen official identification – if you don't already have a door chain contact your local Neighbourhood Watch team and they will put you in contact with agencies who can help you.

Make sure your back door is locked if you go to answer your front door – thieves can work in pairs with one distracting you while the other slips in the back.

Don't keep large amounts of money in your home. If in doubt, keep them out. Only let them in when you have

double checked that they are a genuine caller.

If you think you have been targeted by a distraction burglary tell a friend, neighbour, caretaker, Neighbourhood Watch representative and the Gardai.

Remember: • Most people who come to your door will be genuine callers, but it's always best to make sure.

• Fit a door chain or spy hole to help you check who the caller is.

• If you were not expecting someone to call, a genuine caller will not mind waiting outside while you contact their company. Find the number in the phone book or on your latest phone bill. Most companies have a password scheme.

• Genuine delivery personnel usually have uniforms and liveried vehicles

and should not need to come into your home. Charity collectors will have identification and will not be offended if you ask to see it.

• If you become uncomfortable after you have let someone into your home, even if it's someone you know, make excuses and leave. Go to a neighbour's house or ask a friend to come back home with you.

Did you know...?

• In 4% of burglaries, thieves used a false pretence to gain entry to a property •Follow the ‘Lock, Stop, Chain and Check' procedure: Lock – Keep your front and back doors locked, even when at home Stop – Are you expecting anyone?

Chain – If you decide to open the door, put the door chain on first Check – Ask for the caller's ID and check it by phone.

Page 31 Mature Living April 2012

Feature with Niamh Flynn

Misconceptions about Hypnosis In this, the third article on the subject of Hypnosis, Niamh Flynn of Bodywatch outlines some of the common misconception about the hypnotic state - particularly the question of who is in control and whether the person under hypnosis is in danger of revealing things about themselves they would prefer to keep hidden.

I

N an hypnosis session you will be under the control of a domineering hypnotist, you will reveal all your deeply buried secrets and you will not hear a thing.......right? Wrong actually. You could be forgiven for the incorrect perception however. Multiple misconceptions about hypnosis shroud this intervention in clouds of fear.

Sweeping statements espoused by those with little specialist knowledge on the topic have, inadvertently perhaps, weaved a web of mystery around a Niamh Flynn and physiologically psychologically sound process which can facilitate change.

The association of hypnosis with sleep may be an understandable observation given that individuals in a state of hypnosis during demonstrations and in clinic situations usually have their eyes closed. It is an obvious deduction to make unless otherwise informed. In reality, the time before sleep is actually very similar to the trance state but the brain waves are different when one falls into the state of sleep itself. It is the daydreaming type of state, the ‘aware but not aware’ feeling of detachment which is more correctly characteristic of hypnosis.

For the person in hypnosis this means that they will hear everything they choose to focus upon and if they choose to focus their attention inwardly on another thought or outwardly

on a noise or other distractions it is their choice.

Most of the time they will still be aware that the hypnotist is speaking but may not hear what they are saying... This happens normally in everyday life also. If you have ever been pre-occupied with something and, try as you might to maintain an interest in an ongoing conversation, the mind wanders and the words of those in your company may as well be floating over your head for all that you hear. Prolonged lectures on a topic of little interest can potentially have the same effect.... Somehow, in this hypnotic state however, if suggestions are relevant ,

One of the greatest fears people report when the topic of hypnosis arises is the fear that they will reveal something that they do not wish to share.

The fact is that you are in control while in a state of hypnosis they have an impact on our thought processes and our subsequent behaviour.

The persuasive and devious Svengali archetypal figure still associated with hypnosis to the present day has served a purpose to some extent. It does add mystery and mystique to the area of hypnosis and given the gaps in our knowledge about the physiological underpinnings

Page 32 Mature Living April 2012

of the hypnotic process it is no surprise such aspirations thrive.

One of the greatest fears people report when the topic of hypnosis arises is the fear that they will reveal something that they do not wish to share. The fact is that you are in control while in a state of hypnosis. If it is a suggestion work type of session, which typically, weight loss and smoking tend to be then you will not need to say a single word while you are in the hypnotic trance. There is another part to hypnosis, referred to as regression work or analytical work. This involves trawling back through memories to discover the reasons for a current pattern of behaviour that the person wishes to change. Examples include Bruxism (grinding teeth at night), panic attacks and nail biting. Nevertheless, you will be in control of what you choose to say and what you choose not to say. You are completely in control. In fact, you could open your eyes and walk out of the door of the hypnotherapists office any time you choose to.

Another popular misconception about hypnosis is that you will be completely unaware of everything; unable to hear what the hypnotist is saying.

All senses are heightened in hypnosis so the reverse is true. When you think about it rationally, if you have ever watched a stage hypnotist persuade his participants to forget their telephone numbers or imagine they are Superman/Wonderwoman as the case may be, the participants will need to hear everything that is being said in order to respond. Then it makes sense.

A common belief about hypnosis regards the perception of the hypnotized person’s intelligence.

Without exploring into the physiological differences which delineate those who are highly hypnotizable from

those who are moderately hypnotizable at this point in time it may be of interest to note that those who enter the state of hypnosis easily usually have excellent attentional ability ~ a compliment rather than a curse when it comes to learning and memory.

So, rest assured that the hypnotic experience is an

interactional one where you hear everything, you remain in control of what you say and how you choose to respond. Those who respond well are usually focused individuals with good attentional ability and a good hypnotist will adapt their style, be it passive or authorative to the requirements of their client.

Intensive Course June/July Galway 2012 Contact: Niamh Flynn MBA MMEDSCI BA CI DHP Tel: (091) 720145

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A. Cork; B. Dublin; C. Mayo.

The hotel has the best of both worlds, in a location that is both tranquil yet close to everything the vibrant town of Killarney has to offer. With full leisure & gym facilities, tea making facilities in all rooms, cozy traditional bar & restaurant, The Holiday Inn is truly a Haven for all seasons.

For further details Call 064 66 33000 www.holidayinnkillarney.com Terms and Conditions apply, Winners name will be printed in the May Edition of Mature Living Magazine

Food and Drink

Magic chocolate pudding Bring a little magic to your evening with this perfect chocolate dessert. Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS • 60g caster sugar • 60g fine semolina • 30g cocoa powder • 1 tsp baking powder • 30g butter, melted, plus extra for greasing • 2 eggs, beaten • ½ tsp vanilla extract • Icing sugar for dusting For the sauce • 90g light muscovado sugar • 2 tbsp cocoa powder •300ml hot water Method Mix together the sugar and semolina in a large bowl. Sift the cocoa powder and baking powder into the bowl, and mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract with

an electric whisk. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well blended.

Lightly butter the ovenproof dish. Pour the mixture into the dish.

Make the sauce: mix together the muscovado sugar and cocoa powder, and gradually stir in the measured hot water. Pour the liquid over the pudding.

Bake the pudding in a preheated oven at 180°C/gas mark 4 for 30 minutes or until the liquid has sunk to the bottom and the sponge is well risen and springy to the touch.

Sprinkle with icing sugar, and serve at once.

Variation: For a crunchier pudding, add 60g chopped pecan nuts or walnuts to the dry ingredients in step 1.

How about Pancakes for breakfast Kick-off your weekend in style with these delicious pancakes. Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS • 200g self-raising flour • 500ml milk • 2 large eggs • 150g oats • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 2 tbsp vanilla syrup (or granulated sugar) • 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter • Pinch of salt •2 tbsp lemon juice Method Put the flour, milk and eggs in a large bowl and whisk until smooth and gooey. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk again until as smooth as possible. Cover the bowl and chill for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight if possible.

To cook the pancakes, melt some butter in a pan and ladle in enough batter to make a pancake slightly smaller than a saucer. Cook for 1-1½ minutes on each side until puffed up and golden.

Pile the pancakes onto warmed plates and top with one of our favourite toppings...

American style crispy bacon, grill then deep fry in a hot fryer of oil for 20 seconds.

some double cream and spoon over strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

Maple syrup and streaky bacon Always use real maple syrup, not maple flavoured syrup. For the true

Berries, vanilla cream and maple syrup Whip some vanilla essence with

Apple cinnamon pancakes Cook some finely sliced Braeburn apples with some butter, cinnamon,

Page 34 Mature Living April 2012

a splash of cold water and some brown sugar. If you have them add a star anise and cook until the sugar caramelises and you have a syrupy liquid in the pan. Dollop the apples onto pancakes and then add maple syrup to taste.

Senior Resource Feature

Improving Communication Between Older People and Doctors

O

lder people belong to a generation that tends to view doctors as authority figures who are not to be questioned. That mindset can prevent them from having the conversations they need to have with their GP and unfortunately, the consequences of poor communication may be quite significant. Heather Gately of Home Instead Senior Care suggests some ways that family members and/or carers can ensure more effective communication between older people and their doctors.

Preparing for an Appointment • Put together a comprehensive Medical History Pack for the older person and bring a copy along to appointments - especially when visiting a new doctor. The Pack should include information such as a Medication Tracker (list of medications previous and current), details on any Allergies, past health issues and treatments, medical card number, private health insurance details, next-of-kin contact names and numbers, previous doctor’s names (if applicable) and so on. For a complete guide to preparing a medical history, download worksheets and checklists from http://www.caregiverstress.com/senior-safety • Prepare a list of questions with the senior in advance of the appointment focusing on the specific medical issue to be raised.

During the Appointment • Make sure the older person sits face-to-face with the doctor to ensure he/she can hear properly.

• Encourage the senior to take notes and ask the doctor to provide follow-up instructions in writing.

• Encourage the older person to ask questions if he/she doesn’t understand something and to ensure that the questions prepared before the appointment are all answered.

Dr. Dan Murphy of the Salthill Medical Centre in Galway says, “This Checklist is very helpful as anything that encourages better communications between GPs and our patients is to be welcomed” Heather Gately of Home Instead says, “If family members find it difficult to talk to elderly parents or relatives about their health, they should check out the 40-70 Rule® which provides advice and guidance on how to start sensitive conversations. The idea is that when the children are 40 or the older person is 70, it’s time to start talking about certain issues.” “Likewise, there are many topics that seniors themselves should begin discussing with their children once they are 70+.

“The 40-70 rule and other elder care resources are available online at www.homeinstead.ie” Page 35 Mature Living April 2012

Hotels

Young(Overat55)Heart

2 nights B&B & 2 evening meals 3 night package also available

ONLY €119 pps This offer is valid 7 nights a week subject to availability.

• Beside Blue Flag Beach, & Championship Golf Course • Social Dancing and music in the bar weekly • Perfect base for touring the scenic Northwest

Enniscrone, Co Sligo• Tel: 096 26000

www.diamondcoast.ie

Take in the sea air in Enniscrone

T

he 4* Diamond Coast Hotel has the largest guest rooms in the Northwest and is renowned for its friendly staff and excellent service. This claim has been validated with a Travellers’ Choice award from Trip Advisor. This Spring, we have great rates for the Over 55’s. Stay for 2 nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast for only €119pps with an option to stay an extra night with dinner for €50 pps.

Enniscrone, Co. Sligo is a traditional seaside village on the Atlantic Coast with plenty to offer.

• 5km of sandy beach perfect for a daily walk.

• Enniscrone Championship golf links with a separate 9 hole course.

• Kilcullen’s famous seaweed baths, celebrated for 100 years.

• Sunset Spa, Swimming at Waterpoint, Pitch and Putt, hiking in the Ox Mountains, or pottering in the jewellery and gift shops.

• A selection of excellent restaurants and lively bars.

Enniscrone also makes an ideal base for touring all the wondrous sights of Sligo and Mayo: • Yeats’ Grave and Drumcliffe Church

• Coleman Music Centre • Benbulben, Ox Mountains, and Nephin • Fr Peyton Centre and Knock Shrine • Museum of Country Life • Foxford Woollen Mills, and Admiral Browne Museum Explore the scenic Northwest: Call today at 096 26000.

Maldron Hotel Portlaoise - so different, so near

T

he Maldron Hotel Portlaoise is regarded as one of the best Laois Hotels. Value is what business and leisure travelers’ alike look for and value is what ? the Maldron Hotel in Portlaoise delivers. Comfortable and luxurious rooms, efficient friendly service and a superior product at an affordable price.

The Maldron Hotel and leisure centre Portlaoise offers ? all of this and a little bit more. Regarded as one of the finest family friendly hotels, you and your family can enjoy a great value break together at this Portlaoise hotel. Maldron Hotel Portlaoise offers a number of family rooms and interconnecting rooms that are very comfortable and spacious. The Maldron hotel Portlaoise is perfectly positioned for sightseeing breaks in Laois and for families to avail of the many local attractions for kids.

For business meetings in Laois, The Maldron Hotel excels with a dedicated conference floor offering 8 state of the art Conference suites and 4 syndicate Meeting rooms. All our rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi / Broadband, natural daylight and Air Conditioning. We also offer you complementary secure car parking making us one of the finest hotels in Portlaoise.

Our superb Club Vitae Leisure Centre offers you the chance to relax and unwind after a long day. As a guest

of ours, you will have complimentary use of the leisure centre including: 20m swimming pool, children’s pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, aerobics Studio and gym.

Stir Bar and Restaurant offers food to suit all array of tastes using only fresh ingredients. Our menus are created with you in mind and offer healthy options and vegetarian dishes making us one of the most popular restaurants in Portlaoise.

Body and Soul Treatment rooms is a luxury quaint spa setting providing an extensive range of complementary and beauty treatments tailored to suit the needs of each individual. Our therapists are highly qualified & exceptional in their field and provide an extremely high standard of treatment at affordable and competitive prices. For more info or to book check out our website www.bodyandsoultherapyrooms.com The central location of the Maldron Hotel in Laois I is ideal for exploring the beautiful sights & surrounds of the Midlands of Ireland from the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains www.slievebloom.ie to the monastic round towers at Timahoe and the Garden Trail of Laois there is something for both young and old alike. For corporate guests the location of this hotel in Laois is convenient when traveling to Dublin, Limerick Cork or any location in Ireland.

Friends Night Away

1 night Bed, Breakfast & Dinner from €55 pps

Golden Years Offer

2 nights Bed, Breakfast & Dinner from €109 pps Excellent range of packages available for families, Midweek and Weekend breaks, groups & Events.

Tel: 057 8695900 www.maldronhotelportlaoise.com info.portlaoise@maldronhotels.com

The Heart of the Great Western Greenway

N

Newpor$, Co. Mayo • Tel: 098 41155

Mid Season Mid week-Special

ewport is known as “The Heart of the Great Western Greenway” and sits on the banks of the Black Oak River, where tranquil, undiscovered mountain trails and walkways as well as the famous Burrishoole loop walks can be found.

Your hotel has every comfort, beautiful rooms classically decorated and furnished to a high standard, with elegant antique furniture happily co-existing with contemporary comforts and facilities, satellite TV and

(Sunday-Thursday)

2BB1D.........€100.00 per person sharing 3BB2D.........€150.00 per person sharing Enjoy a 2 or 3 night stay with breakfast and a 3 course evening meal included.

(Only available until the end of June) Please quote ‘mat#re living’ when availing of this offer.

www.hotelnewportmayo.com Page 36 Mature Living April 2012

telephone. There is a bar and restaurant with home cooking and we offer a packed lunch service should you require this on one of your trips out.

Please visit our website where you can see a range of packages and activities, from art classes to horse riding to fishing. www.hotelnewportmayo.com.

Hotels

Why choose a Hotel when you can have the Luxury of a Resort

P

4 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast and 5th night B&B FREE - €199 pp

*Dinner each evening *Full complimentary daily and nightly entertainment program *Transfers local Bus & Train Station *Complimentary tea & coffee daily *Full use of the leisure centre facilities In-House Activities: •Discount Spa Treatments •Complimentary use of Leisure Club – Pool & Gym •Complimentary Classes •Active 55’s Workout •Table Tennis •Bowling •Wine Tasting •Herbal Tea Tasting •Grow your own Garden •Classical Movies •Guilded Walking Tour •Flower Arranging Scenic Tours available on request

For Arrival - 2012 Dates • Sun 13th May • Sun 10th June • Sun 16th September • Sun 14th October • Sun 18th November • Sun 2nd Decemeber To Book: Call us now on 094 90 22033 or email to reservations@breaffyhouseresort.ie Bookings on line www.breaffyhouseresort.com

lanning a relaxing break away, the ideal location is Breaffy House Resort which is located in the heart of Co. Mayo. Set on 90 acres of gardens and rolling woodland. The House dates back to 1890, retaining some of its original Country House atmosphere whilst offering all of the luxury of a modern day hotel. The Resort is renowned for its warm welcoming staff with an excellent range of facilities. The Resort includes Spa, Leisure Centre with 20 metre pool, Sauna and Jacuzzi. The Resort offers deluxe rooms which include a range of suites, superior, standard rooms with all the facilities that your guests would require – direct dial telephone, multichannel colour T.V., radio, hairdryer, trouser press and tea/coffee making facilities.

This year we have put together an amazing offer of 4 nights Dinner B&B and 5th night B&B FREE when you book our Golden Breaks package. This offer includes 3 course dinner each night in the Mulberry Restaurant and breakfast each morning, along with 5th Night Bed & Breakfast free. Transfers can be

Go West this spring for a truly relaxing over 50s holiday ?

H

otel Westport is secluded in 7 acres of beautiful woodland in the heart of Westport. You’ll discover a uniquely friendly, comfortable and stylish hotel, abounding in warmth and relaxation.

Hotel Westport offers a variety of holidays and are renowned for their theme breaks – Golden Years (where you get an extra night’s dinner, bed and breakfast free!), Golf, Walking, Bridge and Indoor Bowling.

As part of their Golden Holiday Programme they take care of your every need! The holiday includes a full Irish Breakfast each morning (served until a leisurely 11am!), and a four course Table d’Hote dinner each evening.

They organise day tours too - Knock Shrine, Kylemore & Ballintubber Abbeys, Foxford Woollen Mills, Achill Island and The Céidé Fields (at your own expense), or for those of you wanting something a little more relaxing, book a treatment in their luxurious Ocean Spirit Spa. Choose from an array of treatments – specialised massages, soothing facials, exotic hand and foot spa treatments, luxurious body peels and wraps. They organize games and entertainment in the evenings too. You won’t want to go home!

The Hotel has 129 bedrooms with all the comforts of home. The elegant ‘Islands Restaurant’ overlooks the Carrowbeg River, while the ‘Maple Bar’ provides the perfect ambience for music and chat over drinks amongst friends. Avail of the extensive leisure facilities on hand, relax with a good book in the patio gardens or take a stroll along the Carrowbeg River into town where there is an excellent mix of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Hotel Westport is located in the perfect place to take in one or more of the many outdoor activities in the local area: Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, Clew Bay, with 365 islands, blue flag beaches, horse riding, golf, surfing, fishing, walking and shopping - just to mention a few and the nearest Hotel to the newly opened Great Western Greenway - 42km of uninterrupted walking and cycling taking in breathtaking scenery on the way, from Westport through Newport and Mulranny and into Achill Island!

A warm, friendly welcome awaits you at Hotel Westport, “One of Ireland’s best loved Hotels”. Sale Special – 18th or 25th March 5 Nights DBB Only €229 per person sharing. Call NOW for further details

arranged from local bus and train stations based on minimum numbers. Complimentary on site parking should you wish to drive. We have chosen a selection of arrival dates each month which means we can provide in-house activities such as wine tasting, table tennis, bowling, grow your own garden and pottery painting. This is the ideal location to explore Mayo.

The Hotel is just 20 mins away from the scenic town of Westport. All guests have complimentary use of the swimming pool, sauna, seam room, Jacuzzi, and gym. You may also take part in one of our many classes, which include Aqua Aerobics, Over 55’s workout and the increasing popular Zumba. If you fancy some pampering, enjoy some time out in Breaffy Spa. Which offers a range of facial, body and massage treatments to leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at leisure between 7:30am –10:30am each morning and Dinner each between 6:30pm – 8:45pm. The Mulberry Bar serves food for 12-9pm each day for snacks, light bites and main courses.

GOLDEN HOLIDAY - OVER 50’s 4* HOTEL WESTPORT

5 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Includes Sunday Night Dinner B&B FREE)

• May €309pps • June €329pps • July** €399pps • August** €419pps • September €329pps ** NO Programme. Start Your Holiday ANY Night!

Group Bookings Welcome

Our programme is tailored for your enjoyment Premier Room Upgrade Only €20 Per Night!

A pictorial record of the West of Free Trip to Kylemore Abbey Ireland over Golden Years Breaks 15 years

B

ook a 3 night midweek stay in the Harbour Hotel, Galway City this April and receive a free trip to Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Garden. Experience the best of both worlds, with luxury accommodation in the heart of Galway City, just 3 minutes walk from Eyre Square – where you can explore the medieval streets and experience the vibrant atmosphere of Galway City. Then escape to an oasis of calm and serenity to Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Garden.

Kylemore Abbey is the perfect day out, located in the heart of Connemara. The lakeside abbey is set against a backdrop of lush green slopes and is surrounded by the sloping mountains of the Twelve Bens. Originally a castle, Kylemore is steeped in history and tales of romance, tragedy and success. Home to Ireland’s only community of Benedictine nuns since 1920, this 1,000 acre estate has much to offer visitors Experience the Victorian atmosphere of the restored rooms of the Abbey, miniature Gothic church and Head Gardener’s House.

There are numerous nature trails, woodland and

BOOK NOW: Tel: 098 25122, LoCall: 0870 876 5432 reservations@hotelwestport.ie • www.hotelwestport.ie

with

lakeshore walks. For the more adventurous, guided mountain hikes are available. The Harbour Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Galway City, perfect for a getaway break. A warm welcome awaits you in the West, with complimentary tea and freshly baked scones on arrival for all Golden Year Packages.

Each room is designed with the comfort of the guest in mind, with pillow topped mattresses and fluffy duvets with crisp, white linen. For a special treat, upgrade to one of the Superior Rooms with a little extra space and comfort, additional amenities include a stereo system, bath robes and complimentary bottled water. There are a number of Harbour View rooms which also include bathrobes and complimentary bottled water.

Three Nights Bed & Breakfast with Dinner on Two evenings, plus a complimentary trip to Kylemore Abbey from €169pps, available Sunday to Thursday.

Book direct on 091 894800 or visit www.harbour.ie.

Page 37 Mature Living April 2012

Feature Article Employment

How to help your kids get a job

You can't job hunt for them, but you can help with the search. What experts say you can do to help your adult children find a job -- and where you should draw the line.

T

hey’re back — or perhaps they never left. In the past few years, the statistics show that more adult children are living with their parents than in previous generations. We’ve seen the surveys about the “boomerang” and “failure to launch” generation, but parents who have them aren’t interested in the numbers or the labels. Most want their kids out of the house and landing on their own financial feet.

There are many reasons why more adult children are living with their parents, but one of the biggest factors is not having a job.

Unfortunately, the numbers here aren’t promising: Unemployment is up among younger adults, and it can take six or more months to find a job, whether they’re a new grad or faced a job loss. In addition, and many students are graduating with record levels of debt and high expectations for their lifestyle. It all makes for a rather rocky start to an independent life.

While individual situations differ, experts agree that finding a job is a crucial step to gaining independence. If your child is struggling with this process, it’s only natural to want to help — but some

parents might be going a little too far. There’s even a buzzword for it: “helicopter parents”, who hover over their children’s every move.

Want to help, not harm? Here are a few dos and don’ts to help your adult child find a job, say experts.

Do: Understand that today’s job market is different.

The job search strategies you used decades ago don’t necessarily work now. While networking will be important, gone are the days of sending out mass-produced resumes.

Today, customisation is key — and social networking, online applications and online portfolios are the norm.

Likewise, the majority of workers will change jobs several times throughout their career. Job seekers aren’t making a life-long commitment to an employer — and the first job doesn’t have to be their dream job. There’s something to be said for “getting your foot in the door” and getting some experience.

Don’t: Lament about the “good old days.”

They’re gone, and hearing how good things “used to be” isn’t going to

ease anyone’s frustration. If you want to help, it’s important to have a sense of what’s going on in today’s job market and keep expectations realistic.

Do: Encourage them to clean up their (online) act.

More employers are turning to social media to research potential hires.

They don’t want to your kids’ holiday photos, profanity, derogatory remarks, gossip about previous employers and evidence of drug or alcohol use. Even an unprofessional screen name or an out of date profile can put off hiring managers.

Most experts tell job seekers to research themselves online and see what comes up.

However, social media can be a boon for job seekers when it supports their applications and expertise — such as “tweeting” about the latest industry news and posting their accomplishments. Social networks like LinkedIn also let users connect with people in their field, join groups and post questions.

In short, it’s time to review what information is available about themselves online, revamp their privacy settings and take time to craft their online presence. If it isn’t appropriate for you (as a parent) to see, chances are an employer shouldn’t see it either.

Don’t: Embarrass your kids online.

Yes, more older adults are joining these sites, but the internet isn’t the place to share your kids’ embarrassing pictures, correct their grammar or reprimand their behaviour. If there’s a problem, discuss it off line.

Many young people have no choice but to move back in with their parents as the recession deepens and they struggle to pay bills.

Page 38 Mature Living April 2012

Do: Point them towards resources.

Most colleges and universities have career services departments for current students and alumni. Many resources are available online — like career search guides and job listings — but these departments also offer workshops and one-on-one coaching.

If they’re still in school, encourage your job seekers to talk to their professors about crafting a resume and portfolio specific to their career path.

Other places to look: try your community’s job bank, professional organizations or alumni association.

Don’t: Do all the research for them.

Job hunting isn’t a one time event — for most workers, staying with a single employer for decades isn’t feasible. Many workers have to look

Employment comes to preparing applications and getting ready for interviews. Offer to edit the resume and cover letter, and play the employer in a role-playing exercise. Let your job seeker practice his or her “elevator pitch” on you, and, if asked, play consultant for proper interview attire and etiquette — like sending thank you notes.

Don’t: Take over.

You aren’t responsible for writing resumes and cover letters or crafting answers to interview questions.

Experts warn parents have to let their children take responsibility for the job search. You can provide information and guidance, but ultimately the choice is up to the job seeker.

Parenting boomerang kids is even harder in a recession

outside their current employer for advance, so it’s important to learn how to do it right — and do it themselves.

Overall, it’s important to remember that every family and every situation is different — and, sad to say, there is no “magic bullet” to finding a job Do: Encourage networking.

Experts call networking the number one job search strategy for a reason: the majority of jobs never make the postings, and the ones that do often net hundreds of applicants. A referral from a trusted connection can help job seekers tap into this “hidden job market”.

There are many ways to get started: encourage job seekers to set up information interviews with people in their field, join a professional organizations (students can join a discounted rate), try speed

networking, attend workshops and local events and use social networks like LinkedIn. Don’t: Tag along.

Believe it or not, parents have been known to accompany their offspring to job expos and networking events — even to interviews. Your adult children don’t need a “wing man” — and having Mom or Dad looking over their shoulder can undermine job seekers’ credibility and independence.

Do: Tap into your own network.

It’s okay to make inquiries on your kids’ behalf, say experts. In fact, job seekers should be talking to friends and family about their search. Older adults not only have the advantage of experience, they also have decades of building their own professional networks. Even if you don’t know anyone who is hiring, you never know where the next lead will come from.

Do: Encourage experience.

It’s a job hunter’s conundrum: employers are looking for experience, but how you can get experience when they won’t hire you? Experts say any job is better than no job, even if it doesn’t pay (like an internship or volunteer experience). Even if the job isn’t in your child’s field, he or she can build transferable skills and their network.

Another bonus: having a job offers a sense of purpose, helps restore selfconfidence and alleviates that sense of isolation. Employers don’t like gaps on resumes — and there’s some truth to the adage that “it’s easier to find a job when you have a job.”

Don’t: Accept excuses.

It’s easy to claim “there just isn’t anything out there” and lose momentum or give up. Don’t accept the doom and gloom, say experts.

Instead, encourage your adult child to focus on getting more experience and networking. It’s difficult, but necessary, to keep a positive attitude throughout the process.

Do: Hold regular check-ins.

You’ve likely heard that finding a job is a job in itself — and parents can keep the process professional by holding a regular meeting to discuss the job seeker’s progress. Experts suggest sitting down once a week (or more often, if necessary) to get an update, set goals, talk strategy and offer feedback. It’s also a good time to get goals and celebrate successes.

(And a more successful strategy than nagging.)

Don’t: Offer too much support.

There’s a fine between keeping a roof over your boomerang’s head and enabling their lack of success. When parents provide too much comfort and financial support, their adult children can lose motivation, say experts. Also, they’re enjoying a lifestyle they won’t be able to maintain alone.

How can you offer some incentive to move on? Experts advise that adult children should contribute to the household. That means paying rent and paying their own bills if they have a job, or contributing in other ways (like yard work, cooking, cleaning, etc.) if they don’t. Some strict ground rules — like setting a curfew and forbidding overnight guests — can also help. Living at home should be a little uncomfortable.

Overall, it’s important to remember that every family and every situation is different — and, sad to say, there is no “magic bullet” to finding a job. It can be hard to sit back and let someone find their own way — especially if they are under your roof — but ultimately finding a job is the responsibility of your adult child. The key is knowing how much you’re willing to help — and where to draw the line.

Don’t: Hassle your friends, family and colleagues.

You’ve made the introduction, now it’s up to your connections and your son or daughter to take it from here.

Hassling them won’t win you any favours and can reflect badly on your child. Let your contact get in touch with the job seeker, and let him or her handle the follow up.

Likewise, experts warn to steer clear of potential employers. There have been cases where parents have contacted an employer to ask why they didn’t hire their son or daughter or negotiate a salary. Though wellmeaning, these actions do more harm than good.

Do: Offer guidance — and a second opinion.

A second set of eyes and a second opinion can be invaluable when it Page 39 Mature Living April 2012

Health

Breathe your way to better health

R

esearch suggests that the way we breathe may hold a key to how the body regulates blood pressure.

When is the last time you thought about how you breathe? Take a slow, deep breath, and then exhale slowly.

Do it again.

When is the last time you thought about how you breathe? Take a slow, deep breath, and then exhale slowly. Do it again. Try to take no more than 10 breaths in a minute.

Page 40 Mature Living April 2012

Try to take no more than 10 breaths in a minute.

Research suggests that the way we breathe may hold a key to how the body regulates blood pressure. And while it has been long known that deep, slow breathing enhances relaxation, it may also help the body break down the salt we eat.

If you sit there under-breathing all day and you have a high salt intake, your kidneys may be less effective at getting rid of that salt than if you’re out hiking in the woods.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading causes of death in Ireland, affecting about one of every five adults.

High blood pressure can increase risk for strokes, heart attacks, and heart and kidney failure. It is also related to dementia and sexual problems. While the incidence of this disease increases with age, problems can be prevented if high blood pressure is properly treated and controlled.

The life-treatening health consequences of elevated blood pressure make it clear that every patient needs to reduce their blood pressure to below 140/90mmHg,research has shown.

Blood pressure allows blood to flow and deliver oxygen and food to the body. While anyone can get high blood pressure, people who are overweight and inactive, and eat too much salt are at higher risk. In fact, health experts say that losing weight, increasing physical activity

and cutting back on sodium are the most effective lifestyle changes people can make to lower blood pressure. Even so, most hypertension patients need medications, too.

While the risk factors are known, scientists don’t fully understand the root causes of hypertension. Earlier clinical trials on a nonprescription medical device called RESPeRATE showed that slow, paced breathing had a positive effect on lowering blood pressure. The machine is now used to test this theory on the effects of breathing on kidney function. Slow, deep breathing does relax and dilate blood vessels temporarily, but that’s not enough to explain a lasting drop in blood pressure. Dr. David Anderson, who heads research into behaviour and hypertension has a theory which he will test in a laboratory in Baltimore, Maryland, is that when under chronic stress, people tend to take shallow breaths and unconsciously hold them, what Anderson calls inhibitory breathing. Holding a breath diverts more blood to the brain to increase alertness, but it wrecks havoc on the blood’s chemical balance. More acidic blood in turn makes the kidneys less efficient at pumping out sodium.

In animals, Anderson’s experiments have shown that inhibitory breathing delays salt excretion enough to raise blood pressure. Now he’s testing whether better breathing helps people reverse that effect.

“They may be changing their blood gases and the way their kidneys are regulating salt,” he says.

If Anderson’s theory is right, it would offer another explanation for why hypertension is what he calls “a

disease of civilization and a sedentary lifestyle.”

Meanwhile, health authorities recommend lowering blood pressure by making changes in your lifestyle including: • Eat healthy foods (low in fat and salt) • Quit smoking • Keep a healthy body weight • Get regular exercise • Cut down on alcohol

Risk factors for “primary” or “essential” hypertension: • Age: Blood pressure tends to rise with age. About half of people over the age of 65 have high blood pressure.

• Ethnicity: The incidence of high blood pressure is higher among members of some ethnic groups, such as South Asians, First Nations, Aboriginal Peoples or Inuit, and Black Canadians: • Family history: If one of your parents has high blood pressure, you have a 1 in 5 chance of developing the condition. If both of your parents have high blood pressure, your risk is 1 in 3.

• Obesity: Excessive weight is a risk factor — especially if weight is stored around the abdomen.

• Diabetes: People with diabetes are at increased risk for high blood pressure.

• Stress: Repeated exposure to stress may raise blood pressure levels or contribute to unhealthy lifestyle choices.

• Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol increases blood pressure.

• Cigarette Smoking: Smoking may cause high blood pressure in certain individuals.

Source: The Heart and Stroke Foundation

Health

6 tips for the family caregiver condition can be overwhelming but there are some things that you can do to make things easier.

Caregivers have different needs at different stages.When a loved one is newly diagnosed, the carer usually seeks information and education about the condition. At a later time, community services, help from friends or relatives, emotional support and home services become important.”

Throughout their journey carers should also be asking what they can do to care for themselves.

C

aring for a family member or loved one can be overwhelming, but here are 6 ways carers can care for themselves.

Carers provide care for a family member, contributing thousands of euro in unpaid labour to our healthcare system.

Caring for a family member or loved one with dementia or other health

Sharing the responsibility is important.

2. Take a break Respite provided by a friend for even two hours, or other forms of support, widens the circle of care so that carers feel less isolated and can continue to participate in the mainstream of life.

Helpful Tips:

3. Get the most out of doctor visits Bring all medicines in a bag, bring written questions to ask about anything troublesome, and ask what’s coming next so that you can prepare for it.

1. Accept help Speak openly with your friends and family and identify what they can do to help you. Often they want to help but don’t know what you need. Each family member may have a particular area of expertise when it comes to caring. For example, if someone in your family is better at organising appointments and schedules, ask them to take on that responsibility.

4. Join a support group Carers of people with dementia have similar needs and concerns, thus may benefit from participating in caregiving support groups.

Support groups provide both concrete information such as where to get help and practical caring advice, as well as the emotional support of being with others who understand what you are going through.

5. Access community services There are a variety of services and agencies you can tap into which provide meals, transportation, home care, respite and day programs. Ask your doctor, social worker or check with your local community care centre.

6. Take care of yourself It is important to balance the care of your relative with taking care of yourself. See your own doctor regularly; get enough rest; keep physically active; maintain a healthy and balanced diet and continue to take part in activities that you have always enjoyed.

It is not uncommon for carers to feel a range of emotions such as loss, sadness and anger. Speak to family members or your doctor if these feelings become prevalent.

It can be a difficult journey but many caregivers talk about the tremendous feeling of gratification of being there for a person that they love.”

Having difficulty finding the right word?

THE ‘tip of your tongue’ phenomenon can be a normal part of aging. Here are some ways to keep language skills alive and in good shape.

It is not unusual to have difficulty finding the right word during a conversation. This “tip-of-thetongue” phenomenon may occur more often as we age. But no need to worry; if it happens occasionally, it is part of normal aging, and fortunately there are ways to keep language skills alive and in good shape.

What happens as we age is that most of us get slower and that reduced speed affects our ability to retrieve words as quickly and efficiently as we used to.

Gradually you notice that you need to pause and think — you have the word on the tip of your tongue. You know exactly what you want to say and you know which word you want to use but you just cannot recall it.

It feels as though your mind is unable to form that word.

The elusive word may come in a couple of minutes or a couple of hours and that’s normal aging. It’s when the words never come, you can’t retrieve any nouns or if the forgetfulness happens every minute in a conversation, then it’s a worry.

The speed of retrieval of words and the speed at which we speak

tend to slow down as we age.

Changes in our memory and retrieval process affect our word-finding abilities and language production.

Our decreased ability to filter out background information may affect comprehension, and our senses, such as hearing and vision, may not be as sharp, also affecting our comprehension.

With age comes wisdom But the good news is that our competency does not change. We are just as good at communicating what we want to say and understanding what is said to us.

This means that when it comes to quality there really isn’t that much change. The changes are quantitative not qualitative. Other than that, in normal aging you are just as competent as before.

Our vocabulary actually expands as we age. We gain more words and have a broader vocabulary than people in their 20s and 30s.

Wisdom isn’t related to language skills specifically, but to knowledge in general. Wisdom is our ability to use the resources that we have gained through life.

Strategies and tips To make up for lost words, people often intuitively use strategies such as: Fillers. These are words or sounds

that we use to keep a conversation flowing. They allow us to pause and retrieve the word. Things like: “uhm,” “what do you call it?,” “you know what I mean,” are considered fillers.

Non-specific words. Occasionally substituting general terms such as “this” or “that” for a noun we are having difficulty retrieving allows us to continue the conversation.

Tips for maintaining language skills: – Stay socially active because it encourages conversation.

– Practice reading and writing to keep your vocabulary growing and exercise your cognitive skills for using language.

– Do crossword puzzles which are good for practicing word retrieval.

Have your hearing and vision tested.

Hearing loss can prevent you from taking part in conversations and reduced vision can affect your ability to read.

– Participate in physical exercise because it will help you maintain your cognitive skills which in turn will benefit your language abilities.

– Get adequate sleep.

Things to watch for: Are your language use and word retrieval just slowing down or are they becoming abnormal? When

caught early there are strategies or interventions that people can maintain their language skills for longer. Is someone regularly using substitute words instead of the correct ones? This can be common as we age, especially in those who are sleep deprived, under stress or sick.

If the person doesn’t realise their errors, it may be a cause for concern.

Is a person confusing sounds such as saying “fable” instead of “table”?. If it happens often, that may be reason for concern. If you are concerned, speak to your medical practitioner.

Page 41 Mature Living April 2012

gadgets

Technology

I

n the Sixties, technology was exciting. The space race had well and truly begun, when in 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. The obsession with rocket imagery and silver foil reached its pinnacle in 1969 when Neil Armstrong took that famous small step for one man onto the surface of the moon.

The pictures were beamed live into households across the world and a few lucky people saw it in colour.

A more sinister development from the early years of the decade was the Berlin Wall, which was built in 1961. The Cold War provided the movie industry with an excuse for a popular run of spy films and books

by Len Deighton, Ian Fleming and John Le Carr were read by millions.

The James Bond films provided a show case of new technology and a glamorous image to the world of espionage.

Our selection of gadgets from the sixties has been taken from some of the most advanced products of the era. Selection has been made on technological sophistication and elegance of design.

Music on the move

Pocket transistor radio In the sixties every teenager had to have a transistor radio. They were just like mobile phones are today cheap, colourful and highly desirable. You could have music and news on the move. They were the passport to the modern world and showed that you were part of the "with it" generation. People in Third World countries would save hard to get one. Quality was often low, but you could not be part of the Swinging Sixties without one.

Styling often drew influence from American automobiles. From the later sixties though, a more modernist design ethic reappeared.

The radio above is a Pye - "Empire Made" (so made in Page 42 Mature Living April 2012

In the Sixties, gadgets held a special fascination.

The designers of the decade knew how to make their creations say "quiet, understated elegance" - this guy or girl has got good taste. Today they simply say I've got money - not the same thing.

Hong Kong then!). Here there is hint of the space age on the front of the radio.

ship of King Shwayder, who took over as president when his father Jesse, relinquished the role in 1961.

Phillips E3300 cassette tape recorder This was the world's first cassette tape recorder. It came complete with a microphone so that you could record your own voice. The E3300 was a high quality and expensive product. I can testify to the quality since I still use one today. Go for an early model with a round record button. It should not set you back too much, if you can find one. It was more portable than a record player, although the Walkman was a long way off!

Parker 61 This pen had a special capillary filling mechanism with no moving parts.

You simply unscrewed the barrel and placed the filler upside down in an ink bottle and the ink soaked up. In practice they performed poorly and often clogged up. Go for a later model with a cartridge filler if you want a more usable pen.

Samsonite Classic attache case In the sixties, the Samsonite Classic attach case was one of the coolest business accessories out. It was definitely an attachĂŠ case and not a brief case. This case was carried by secret agents, including Michael Caine in "Funeral in Berlin" (1966) .

No self respecting 60s executive could be without one.

The design is simple, stylish, and modern. New materials abounded hard wearing plastic exterior and lightweight magnesium frame. There are also some substantial locks - not the one key fits all as on most other brief cases of the era. If you had to fly on business, you just had to have one of these. Nothing else would cut the mustard in First Class!

Samsonite luggage was produced by Shwayder Bros, a company little known outside the US at the end of the 50s. They had always had a reputation for quality and innovation. In the 40s their Streamlite case was aimed at the growing number of airline passengers. As the jet age dawned they launched the Silhouette case taking advantage of the properties of glass fibre and magnesium to produce a design that looked modern and stylish, but was also light and strong. The Classic attache was a result of careful market research and captured the mood of the sixties executive. It was the first product launched under the leader-

Philishave battery shaver Even the humble shaver could look cool in the sixties. This battery shaver dates from 1967. It is an early example of the Philishave range.The two rotating heads have more than a passing resemblance to the air intakes of jet engines. Just the thing to pack in the hand luggage!

Photography

Pentax 35mm SLR The coolest camera of the sixties was the Pentax. Pentax launched the ground breaking Spotmatic with through-the lens metering in 1964.

These cameras were the first choice of professionals and amateurs alike.

It was lightweight (for the time) and easy to use. They take cracking pictures, if you haven't gone digital yet.

For the ultimate in sixties cool, go for a black Spotmatic.

Instant photography

The Polaroid Swinger provided instant pictures. You did not have to send them off to be developed. This camera was launched in 1966 in the UK. It must have been a hit at Christmas. The name was very much in keeping with the spirit of the

decade. Photographs were only black and white, but then so was television. It also had a slot for flash cubes - remember those?

Binoculars The number one binoculars in the sixties were made by Carl Zeiss in Western Germany. After the War, the Zeiss factory remained in the East, but many of the key workers moved to the West and established a new factory. The East German factory carried on as a rival, under the name Carl Zeiss, Jena. They stuck with old technology, whilst binoculars made in the West got better. By the sixties, the Western firm was the leading name in binoculars and the choice of the rich and famous.

Zeiss Binoculars from this era still command a premium in price, so we have chosen a British offering for this feature. These Solaross Binoculars (right) have quality optics, almost as good as Zeiss, a leather case and are lightweight and easy to use.

60s communications

Trimphone The trimphone was the nearest you could get to a mobile phone in the sixties.

A long cable with a stretchable curly cord meant that you could carry it around at parties. It was the first phone without a bell ringer - an electronic warble, which was imitated by birds, provided the ring tone. The trimphone had an illuminated dial and a new type of handset. It was stylish and modern. Just the thing for a swinging sixties pad.

You could choose from two-tone blue (shown), grey/green or grey/white.

You couldn't buy one, but had to rent one from the GPO for a few extra shillings a quarter.

Although the design by Martyn Rowlands dates from 1964, the GPO took a long while to get it right. Field trials started in 1965, but you couldn't have one otherwise until the end of the sixties.

Feature Featureby Article Stella Carroll

Teddy Bear heaven

in County Cavan

I

f you go down to the woods near Bawnboy, Co Cavan you are sure of a big surprise, for teddy bear heaven is just beside Brackley Lake on the borders of Fermanagh and Leitrim. Bear Essentials and the Silver Bear Visitors Centre is one of the most fascinating places on this island. Located beside the majestic marble arch caves and the amazing cross border Geopark.

In 1984, Anke Morgenroth and her husband Nico left their Hamburg home for the wilds of Cavan, to start an organic farm and honey making business. Anke fell in love with the Celtic culture, the land and the Irish ways. But she had a passion for bears also. “When I was young, I seldom played with dolls, but loved teddy bears and I was fascinated by the world of bears when I lived in

Canada. I adore wild bears and how they adapt to survive.” Anke began making hand crafted mohair teddy bears in the bedroom of her home some ten years ago. The first attempts were self taught from books, and then she got in contact with other teddy bear artists. Soon, the tiny collector toys were taking on a life of their own and the demand for them as gifts and well loved toys grew and grew. These are no ordinary teddy bears, but collector’s items, each with their own distinct character and individual appearance. The first bear she ever made, Liam, is a large and traditional bear, which is still the cherished bear of her own daughter Tessa, who herself has made a large collection of teddy bears in the past years.

One of the busiest parts of the Centre is the teddy bear hospital, where toys who have lost a limb, some stuffing or a button eye, can come for a small repair or a full makeover. The website www.bearessentials.ie has touching letters of gratitude from children and adults whose favourite toys have come home looking good as new.

Anke says “We also offer Teddy Bear Clinics to event organisers. We can come and repair as many teddy bears that are showing up on the day. A great option for a teddy bears picnic, charity or family event.

While all the children love to bring

their bears a lot of adults bring theirs’ too."

Today, at Bear Essentials you will find a teddy bear gift shop, selling Anke's unique designs of "My First Teddy" and other Irish made baby products ,all sitting in picturesque surroundings and magical gardens.

The Silver Bear conference centre is available for hire and there are workshops in teddy bear making and other arts and crafts which prove very popular with the many school tours, active age groups and other visitors.

Teddy bears date back to the early nineteenth century and were named after the American President ‘Theodore Roosevelt”. The most famous ones, and now the most coveted collector’s items were made in Germany by the Steiff Company. A unique harlequin Steiff teddy bear sold in October 2010 at the Christies Auction Rooms for 46,850 pounds.

Anke’s bears may have a more modest price tag, but the love and care that goes into making each one secures their place as family heirlooms in the future.

Page 43 Mature Living April 2012

Puzzles

WIN!

â‚Ź50

To be in with a chance of winning, sSolve the puzzle in the usual way, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to form the name of a celebrity who’s been in the news recently, and send your completed crossword along with your name, address and telephone number to us at the address below!

Puzzle Competition, Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo

Closing Date is May 5th 2012, Terms and Conditions Apply

Answers on page 38

Services Directory

ATLANTIC AUTOMATIONS

North West Counselling

Ballyneggin, Castlebar, Co. Mayo • Tel: 087-4187122 - Mob: 087-7587186 Manufacturers of quality Ornamental Gates, Railings and Stairs Specialists in Access Control Systems and Automatic Gate Systems

Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling

• Relapse Programme • One-to-one Counselling • Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre • Addiction and General counselling available Afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available

Counsellors are professionally trained and are fully accredited or working towards accreditation.

For appointments ring: 087-2879707, or 074-9723822 Email: taborhouse2004@eircom.net Tabor House, Drimark, Donegal Town

- Remote Control access systems - Keypad access control systems - Barrier access control systems

Helping people to recover

Visit our new SHOWROOM at Roadstone Retail park, Castlebar

Irish Shamrock Trees Whitethorn & Beech Hedging Trees and more Suitable for: • People with limited mobility Spray Foam Insulation

• People who have had hip surgery • People with back aches

For details of your local stockist

Phone: 087-9896948

• Aeos & REPS Specialists • All trees and tree plants • Refridgerated trees • Trees from €2.00 • All year round planting • Best Value Trees in Ireland.

We pride ourselves on our truly friendly and efficient service.

Tel: 087-2743914 24 HR www.irishshamrocktrees.com SUICIDE TEACH

ORGANISE PREVENT

S.T.O.P. is a registered charity which was set up to assist and support individuals who feel suicidal, are in distress or those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Currently S.T.O.P. provide the following services • Provides bereavement support through a suicide bereavement group which meets monthly.

• Support and outreach to those bereaved by suicide.

• Promotes positive mental health and related issues by attending information evenings and also visiting (when requested) schools, communities and organisations throughout Ireland.

• Counselling for those who are feeling suicidal / depressed or have been bereaved by suicide.

If you feel that you could benefit from any of the above support please call Mary on 087-4188053.

Feature Article Services Directory

JB DENTURE CLINIC Garden/Tone St, Ballina.

Boradruma, Snugboro, Castlebar

Mon-Thu 9.30 - 6pm / Fri 9.30 - 5pm • Homes • Hospitals • Nursing Homes Appointments by arrangement

Tel: 096-72189 or 087-6389500

We repair Kitchen seats, 3pce suites, fireside chairs, bar seating, sails, motorbike seats, headboards, office chairs etc. We retail foam rubber, vinyls, velours, webbing, buttons, springs, etc. Member of the National Guild of Craftsmen.

Open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Tel: 094 9023532 or 086 8350608

JAMES MCGRATH WESTPORT GAS REGISTERED GAS INSTALLER • REGISTERED OIL TECHNICIAN • CALOR GAS INSTALLER

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

• Solar Panels supplied and installed • Supplier and Installer of Gas /Oil Boilers • Domestic and Industrial Service • Gas and Oil Burner Upgrades • Heating Control Upgrades • Supplier of Valiant, Glowworm and Wolf Gas Boilers and Coster Gas Detection Systems

SERVICE AGENTS FOR Aga / Rangemaster / Electrolux / Zanussi / Parkinson Cowen Speed Queen and Maytag Laundry Equipment.

TEL (098) 35266 also (086)8169023 westportgas@eircom.net Servicing Mayo and North Galway

Bar, Hotels Private Houses All Upholstery undertaken Huge Selection of fabrics Contact: 086-8361070 or 071-9663986

Barcastle Retail Park, Castlebar. T: 094-9026100

www.symphonykitchens.ie

THOMAS KEANE KITCHENS

Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Main St, Coolaney, Co. Sligo Tel: 071-9167005

• Face Frame and in-Framed kitchens · Fitted Furniture MBedroom AIN STREET , BALLA • Kitchen available Tel: DVD 094-9366622

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & Tegkon Custom Steel Buildings

ballastoves@yahoo.com Page 46 Mature Living April 2012 www.tommykeanekitchens.homestead.com

Tel. 05793 – 51277

• Galvanised Steel Frame • PVC Coated Cladding - no painting • Variety of Colours • All Sheds come with a non-drip roof • We can supply a wooden or concrete floor.

• All sheds erected within 1-3 hours • All sheds come with at least one clear light on the roof.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS: • 3’x4’ window • Gutters and downpipes • Roller Door • Tile effect roofing

TEL: 086-240 7844 www.candssheds.ie info@candssheds.ie

Services Directory

Aluminium & PVC Repairs

CADDEN

To windows, doors and patio doors

Expert patio door repairs!

ENNISKILLEN

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

“ We cover Southern Counties at Northern Prices”

• Rollers • Tracks • Hinges • Door Realignment • Locks • Multilocking systems etc

www.caddenfunerals.com 24 hour caring funeral services • Covering all areas at competitive rates Funeral cars/Wreaths arranged EAMON OR MARY CADDEN 048-2866329938 MOBILE 00447718573502/00447752109265 “ a family concern, with a concern for the family”

Over 20 years experience servicing Irish windows and doors. Fully insured GLASS PARTS ETC REPLACED Brendan Gormley: 071-9183860 / 087-2562669

Keith - 085-1053588 / 071-9310787

For all your Home & Garden needs

The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

Save €€€s by calling to us • Fireplaces • Stoves • Gas • Oil • Solid Fuel • Electric • Granite Worktop Specialists

FREE (BER)

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with every house insulated this month (with this advert)

Free tea or coffee with this ad

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Phone: 048 66 326 327 WIDOWER (60) seeking widow single or seperated lady from Roscommon to share some good times with. I am sincere, outgoing, tt/ns, caring and affectionate, like to keep fit, country walks, outings etc Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 902 at the usual address MALE 70’S 5’5”‘ divorced, looking to meet a male for friendship Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 812 at the usual address.

LONELY MALE SEEKS LONELY FEMALE for friendship and maybe more.

Age from 55. I am an easy going non smoker, occassional drinker.

Interested in fine dining.

Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 900 at the usual address.

DIVORCED LADY Early sixties, with a very bubby personality, trendy dresser, loves dancing. Has own house and car.

Like to meet honest gentleman with view to relationship. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 816 at the usual address

FREE DATING* CLASSIFIED

I AM LOOKING FOR LOVE I love travelling, dancing, dining out. I am fun loving and easy going, I liek music. Would like to meet a nice lady 2-3 times a week for coffee and chats. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 820 at the usual address ROSCOMMON LADY Affectionate, easy to get on with, outgoing and likes dancing, would like to meet non smoker gent aged 60-65. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 814 at the usual address

MAYO CALLING Attractive widow aged 53, would like to meet man of similar age, for friendship and going out. I do not drink, I do smoke. I live alone and love the craic and music, I am honest and caring and get on well with people. All replies welcome to Box number 821 at the address below.

To Reply to Any Box number, simply place your letter in a Blank, Stamped Envelope and then send this into us at: Dating Section, Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo.

WRITE YOUR ADVERT HERE:

NO. OF ISSUES TO APPEAR IN (MAX 2) : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. These details MUST be completed for all adverts NAME:

(MAX 30 WORDS) - *Phone numbers will not be included in these adverts.

ADDRESS: Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo

TELEPHONE NUMBER: EMAIL:

STRICTLY PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY - BUSINESSES CAN CALL 071-9154538 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY SALES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT OUR EXCELLENT RATES. Please tick if you do not wish to avail of offers and information we may offer from time to time

Page 47 Mature Living April 2012