Mature Living Magazine

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE August 2014

FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL IN LEINSTER

The Gift of Active Retirement

Colour and the Garden

New rules for dating over 50

Ease your pain at the pump

Faith, Family and Herbs

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August 2014

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T’S August already but the warm weather, thankfully, remains with us. For those of us who are active and enjoy travelling in Ireland, there is a plethora of Summer festivals and musical events around the country and if you choose to go West (or live in the West for that matter) the muchsignposted Wild Atlantic Way provides a coastline map for any tourist/visitor to experience the beauty of our western coastline and soak up the social hospitality along the way.

If you are in the West this week a visit to Sligo is a must to experience the All-Ireland Fleadh. The local community have left no stone unturned to provide visitors from all parts with a week to remember. With Sligo’s cultural and musical tradition, in addition to the county’s natural beauty, it is certainly the place to be this week.

Our one-and-one personality this week, Sean Boylan, the legendary former Meath GAA football manager and herbalist, also speaks in praise of the west of Ireland, particularly Achill Island, which he visited for many years when his children attended Scoil Acla. Sean, now 70, fully fit and in fine health, speaks to Gerry Walsh about his sporting, business and family life and the positives of having a strong simple faith to bolster him through good times and bad. Married at 47 and father of six, his attitude to life and love makes for interesting reading.

In this issue, also we offer some practical advice on how to enjoy and active retirement and if you are into dieting to lose weight or achieve better health we point out some of the reasons why many diets don’t work . . . though in reality, we it may be down to simple indiscipline. There may be a misconception that older people are not attuned to computing technology; however, more are more seniors are embracing online opportunities and gadgetry to enhance their lives. Online dating allows lonely people chat with potential companions from the comfort of their homes; there is also the facility for online shopping and the benefits of social media and audio books. Read about the many innovations on page 45. We also deal with the many benefits of hypnotherapy. In our holiday section this issue we move down under and explore the many wonders of Australia, where many Irish people have travelled in recent years seeking employment opportunities and many of their relatives are combining social visits with opportunities to experience the sights of the vast continent. We present some culinary ideas from Spain and even provide advice on selecting your bathing suit.. We include the usual array of features and competitions in your August edition and look forward to introducing another feast of articles in our September issue. Look out for details, also, on our next Mature Living Expo coming your way.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the Summer.

Seamus Casey - Editor

LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION WINNERS Congratulations to last months competition winner Sean Kehoe, Balthinglass, Co Wicklow who won the breakaway to the Forster Court Hotel Galway.

Editorial: Seamus Casey seamus@matureliving.ie Design: Stephen Finney steve@matureliving.ie Advertising Sales: Lisa Gilmartin lisa@matureliving.ie

News One to One with Sean Boylan Stretch, strength, balance – the power of pilates Colour and the Garden 80 Ways to Feel Young and stay Sharp The Bands of our Showband era Five reasons most diets fail Give Yourself the Gift of Active Retirement Older Celebrity Brides How to pick the Best Bathing suit Breakaways The New Rules for Dating After 50 From Empty Nest to Full House: Preparing for Eldercare Travel: Fancy heading down under?

Discover fun and exciting hobbies Competition A Taste of Spain Angelscopes Technology Motoring Services Directory

4 10 20 24 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 36 37

38 40 47 48 50 51 52 54

Published by: Benbulben Publishing Limited PO Box 41, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Printed by Datascope Ltd, Enniscorthy • Tel: 053-9234493 Tel/Fax: 053-9270857 Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: info@matureliving.ie

The information in Mature Living is carefully researched and believed to be accurate, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements or opinions expressed herein are not necessary those of the editor or publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the publisher. Neither are any claims made within the advertisements. Before consuming any products mentioned in the publication readers are advised to consult with their general practitioner or equivalent professional for opinion or advice.

Cover Photo: Tina and Sean Boylan on the way to the game. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

News

Bus pass scheme preserved after Age Action campaign A ge Action has wound down its Hands Off Our Travel Passes campaign after the Government publicly committed to the “full retention” of the travel pass scheme.

The campaign was launched on June 25 amid concerns that a major review of the scheme, commissioned by the Department of Social Protection, was due to report in the coming weeks. Among the issues being considered were the introduction of an annual charge for the pass, limiting the times at which it could be used and restricting the forms of transport on which it could be used. “Given the importance of the travel pass to so many older people, we launched the campaign to oppose any negative changes to the scheme, and to highlight how older people used their passes. We wanted to ensure our policy makers fully understood how the pass enabled people to do a whole range of activities,” Age Action spokesperson Eamon Timmins said.

Over 500 Age Action members completed a questionnaire earlier this year. Without their passes they said: • 57% would not be able to attend medical/health appointments; • 55% would not be able to do their shopping; • 43% would be unable to

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Age Action members (from left) Phyllis Talbot, Noel Nutley, Pat Doyle and Ellen Reddin at the launch of the “Hands Off Our Travel Passses” campaign.

Photo: Conor Healy carry out personal journeys, such as trips to the post office or library; • 61% could not visit family or friends.

Apart from using the pass for essential regular journeys, the travel scheme is also used by older people to go on short holidays or breaks and is therefore also an important support for the domestic tourism industry.

As part of the campaign, older people and their families were urged to contact their TDs, senators and councillors to secure their support against any cuts to the scheme.

The campaign got off to a lively start, with members taking part in a photocall on board a Dublin Bus vehicle. Members also contributed to the press

conference to launch the campaign, which generated national radio, television and newspaper coverage.

Age Action raised the issue directly with the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, at the pre-Budget forum.

Members contacted their local politicians and engaged with them on social media. The issue was also debated over two days in the Dail, as a result of a private member’s motion tabled by Fianna Fail Social Protection spokesman Willie O’Dea. By the time the campaign was wound down on July signed our online petition to support the campaign. Among these were 19 TDs, six senators, one MEP and 27 councillors.

The decision to end the campaign was taken after the Government included the commitment to the “full retention” of the travel pass scheme in its statement of priorities for 2014-16, published on July 11.

“We are satisfied that this commitment means that, regardless of what else the review recommends when it finally reports to Minister Burton, the travel pass scheme will not be negatively affected in any way,” Mr Timmins said.

“We are grateful to all politicians who helped secure this commitment, both those who publicly backed the campaign as well as those who worked behind the scenes to resolve this issue,” he said.

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Average health insurance bill now €1,150

T

he average health insurance premium paid out by subscribers last year was €1,150, according to the Health Insurance Authority (HIA).

This represented a 10% increase on the average premium paid out in 2012, according to the HIA's latest annual report. The HIA says the average amount in claims paid per insured person fell by 2% in 2013, reversing the trend of the past 10 years, when the average claims per insured person had been increasingly significantly. In the four years between 2004 and 2008, the average prescribed benefit paid per insured person increased by 6.7% per annum on average, and by 12.6% on average between 2008 and 2012.

The number of treatment days in

hospital covered by health insurance fell by around 3% in 2013, according to the HIA. The Authority says the fall in claims per insured person in 2013 is a favourable development for the sustainability of the health insurance market, especially when considered in the context of drivers of of upward health costs.

These include lower tolerance of people towards ill-health, new medical and surgical developments and the ageing population, the HIA says.

It says the VHI currently has 54% of the health insurance market share, compared to 95% in the mid1990s. prior to competition.

Laya Healthcare now has a 23% market share, Aviva Health has 15% of the market, while GloHealth has a

Page 4 Mature Living August 2014

4% share. The health insurance market is the largest non-life insurance sector in Ireland, according to the HIA. Premium income in 2013 was €2.4 billion, having risen from €2.2 billion in 2012.

Forty five per cent of the population were covered by health insurance at the end of last year, compared to 50.9% at the end of 2008.

The Authority says while the number of different health insurance products continues to grow, in the main, these new products are similar to those that already exist.

It says a significant recent development has been that during 2013, insurers started selling health insurance products that do not cover all public hospitals.

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News

Celebs to help tea party fundraiser

Launching the Guess Who’s Coming to Tea event were (from left) Julie Oates, Gerald Kean and Robin Webster.

A

ge Action is teaming up with Irish Guide Dogs in a unique charity partnership this October to organise hundreds of fundrais- ing tea parties across Ireland.

The Guess Who’s Coming to Tea event is a fundraiser with a twist, in that a number of celebrities are supporting us.

Our supporters and friends will be asked to organise a fundraising tea party. Party organisers can then vote for the celebrity of their choice and be with in a chance of that celebrity dropping in to their event for a cuppa!

“We are really excited to be linking up with Irish Guide Dogs to organise

the Guess Who’s Coming to Tea event,” Age Action’s Daragh Matthews said. “Our target is to organise 500 tea parties in homes and workplaces across Ireland to help the two charities raise €100,000. “But if the event is to be successful, we will need the help of all our members and friends around the country,” he

said. “We are urging all our members to organise a tea party in their community and to encour- age family members to do likewise in their localities and in their workplaces.” The tea parties will be held as part of Positive Ageing Week, which begins on October 1 (UN International Day of the Older Person) and October 9 (World Sight Day). It is hoped that the Guess Who’s Coming to Tea event will raise public awareness of blindness and vision impairment as a major national public health issue.

Details of the celebrities who are supporting the tea parties will be unveiled later this month when the campaign is launched. Age Action and Irish Guide Dogs will be launching a website guesswhoscomingtotea.ie.

Supporters will be able to register their tea party, vote for their celebrity guest and get their party packs to help them celebrate the day.

More details of the events and where they are happening will be in the September edition of Ageing Matters.

Diabetes foot problem signals heart issues

T

he loss of sensation that people with diabetes sometimes experience in their feet may predict their risk of suffering a cardiovascular event such as a stroke or heart attack, a new study suggests.

Diabetes can cause blood vessel and nerve damage, particularly if the condition is poorly controlled.

This can lead to poor circulation and a loss of sensation in the feet, which is known as peripheral neuropathy.

UK researchers looked at over 13,000 people with type 2 diabetes and found that a lack of sensation in the feet could indicate future cardiovascular problems.

"While the risk of cardiovascular

disease is known to be higher in patients with diabetes, predicting which patients may be at greatest risk is often difficult. We looked at data on individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease and found that those with peripheral neuropathy were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease," the researchers from St George's, University of London, said.

They noted that while poor sensation in the feet is already a known risk factor for foot ulcers, which in extreme circumstances can lead to amputations, ‘this is the first study to show that it can also indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attacks or strokes'.

However, the researchers emphasised that a lack of sensation in the feet can be easily identified by a GP. "The good news is that peripheral neuropathy can be easily identified by simple tests carried out in GP surgeries. The results of the study warrant further investigation as to whether even greater control of risk factors including blood pressure and blood sugar can prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular disease.

"There is likely an unmet potential to reduce cardiovascular disease in this group of patients through greater monitoring and simple treatments," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Heart.

Unpopular prescription charge is a healthy €120m HSE earner The so-called "nominal" prescription charge for medical card holders has become a lucrative earner for the health service and will generate €120m this year.

The charge - which is now €2.50 per item, compared to 50c when it started in 2011 - was brought in on the pretext of cutting down on card holders getting needless prescriptions.

It means that medical card holders, who shelled out around

€27.6m in the first year it was introduced by the last government, have seen a big rise in payouts.

Pharmacists have warned that it is leading to some medical card holders rationing medicines because they cannot afford the maximum of €25 a month.

It comes as Health Minister Leo Varadkar has indicated that he is looking at introducing a nominal charge for "free" GP visits when

Page 6 Mature Living August 2014

they are extended to non meanstesting groups after the under-sixes and over-70s.

The GP fee is seen a method of deterring people from abusing free care - but past experience with the prescription charge has shown how this kind of levy can be hiked.

Around €43m of the income from the charge this year is hived out to help offset the savings of €619m which must be made up by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Voiceless in hospital following a stroke

By Patricia Conboy

Y

ou are aged 82, living alone and your mobility is limited.

Out of the blue, you suffer a stroke.

You wake up in hospital. You are unable to move, your speech is impaired and your mind is clouded. These are chilling circumstances. What is going to happen to you?

The hope is that you will receive the care and rehabilitation you need to maximise your chances of recovery. However, if you do not, who will tell your story and seek redress on your behalf ? If your family are caring and present, the likelihood is that they will advocate for you. If, on the other hand, you are already isolated and you do not have family, your situation is more precarious.

Recently, Ireland’s Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall made a speech to his European counterparts on the theme “Listening to the Voiceless”. He highlighted the need for proactive outreach by Ombudsmen to groups who find it difficult to access their services.

Target groups identified by the Ombudsman included people with disabilities and those who have difficulty expressing themselves due to illness or medical condition. This is an important message.

Even as I agreed with the message, I found myself wondering how to make it practical for people such as the 82 year old stroke patient above. What is the best way to safeguard the interests of people in hospitals who have experienced rapid onset of disability accompanied by loss of capacity to self-advocate and, ultimately, to seek redress – should this be warranted.

When family are present and caring, they advocate on behalf of their relatives. Praveeen Halappanavar, for example, advocated on behalf of his wife, Savita, following her death in a Galway hospital in 2012. Thanks to his persistence, we the citizens learned about the circumstances of Savita Halappanavar’s death. Left to their own devices, our intertwined political and health systems would not have yielded this information to the public.

There are patients in hospital today with newly acquired disability who are ‘old old’, isolated and, literally, voiceless following stroke or other health event. Within the system as it functions now, we cannot be confident that their interests will be safeguarded. Widespread deficiencies in stroke care, for example, have already been documented in a national audit published by the Irish Heart Foundation in 2008.

Beyond the anecdotal, we know very little about the direct experience of isolated, voiceless patients within the health system. This is a process that could be assisted by the Ombudsman’s focus on strategic engagement with hard to reach groups; and his current investigation of the experience of making complaints in public hospitals. I hope so. Anyone of us may end up voiceless and immobile in a hospital bed following a major health event. In the face of that degree of dis-empowerment, the knowledge that patients like us are named, visible and tracked within the health system would offer some level of comfort and protection. As of now, we would be at risk of invisibility.

Twitter : @PatriciaConboy1 https://www.facebook.com/AgePolicyAnalysis

News

Simon Communities highlight growing problem of rural homelessness

T

he eight Simon Communities of Ireland highlighted the issue of rural homelessness at the launch of a review paper on the subject in The Bush Hotel, Carrick-onShannon on Fri 18th July. Marian Harkin, MEP launched the paper, ‘Left Out in the Cold – A Review of Rural Homelessness in Ireland’.

The panel on the day included Mairead Lavery, Editor of Irish Country Living Magazine in the Farmers Journal, Niamh Randall, Head of Policy & Communications with the Simon Communities of Ireland, James Claffey, Policy & Communications Officer with Irish Rural Link Social Inclusion & Rural Ireland, Claire Mc Tiernan, CEO of North West Simon Community, Frances Clifford, Senior Caseworker HSE Sligo/Leitrim, Margaret Mc Connell, Senior Executive Officer of Sligo County Council and Patrick Quinn, National Office.

Although homelessness is usually associated with urban areas, evidence from the Simon Communities around Ireland shows that it is very much present in rural areas too. The causes of rural homelessness are similar to those of urban homelessness but there are differences. The most common difference is that rural homelessness is regularly more 'hidden'. There are a number of barriers that prevent people who are homeless from accessing the housing and support that they need in rural areas. Niamh Randall, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities said just because rural homelessness is more hidden does not mean it is not an issue. “It is a mistake to see homelessness and housing insecurity as a mainly urban problem. It can be more acute and visible in our cities but the Simon Communities are working at capacity all around the country – in rural as well as urban areas. In rural areas people may not be sleeping rough instead they are staying with family and friends or they are living in over-crowded and unfit accommodation. Limited access to homelessness and support services is increasing the risk of homelessness in rural areas and is also preventing people from moving out of homelessness. Responses must be nationally driven but locally resourced and delivered to ensure people can remain in their communities where they

Marian Harkin MEP

have family and support networks, even when they run into housing and income difficulties. In fact, these are often the times this is most important. It is absolutely crucial that the new Ministers at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Minister Alan Kelly and Minister for State Paudie Coffey maintain momentum and direction if we are to achieve an end to homelessness by 2016.”

Geographical distance can be a barrier for people accessing services and also for service providers to reach people who are in need. All Simon Communities report that they do incur extra costs as a result of the geographical spread associated with rural homelessness. For the Communities, the cost of travel to deliver services was one of their major expenses. Use of public transport by service providers is not a viable option in most areas as it is unreliable, costly and time consuming.

Niamh Randall, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities said although isolation is a problem among people who are homeless in general, this is worse in rural areas, where people may be living alone some distance from their nearest neighbours.

“The lack of, and distance from, social activities further exacerbate this problem where people often need to travel to the nearest town to access social activities. This can be challenging or impossible if there is no access to transport or where people do not have the resources to pay for transport.

The review found that people generally know one another in rural areas and there is often a perception that homelessness doesn’t exist in their community.

Page 8 Mature Living August 2014

Such close-knit networks can act as a double edged sword. On the one hand as a protective factor against homelessness with immediate community support being offered when housing or income difficulties are experienced. On the other hand, fear of stigma and shame in such small communities can prevent people from actually seeking assistance and their plight goes unknown until a crisis hits.”

Niamh Randall, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities said ensuring a flow of affordable housing supply, coupled with open ended support, is essential to tackling the issue.

“Social housing construction schemes must ensure that there is a range of housing options available appropriate to people’s needs, for example the provision of single housing units. It is critical that there is ring fencing of some housing units for people moving out of homelessness in rural and urban areas. It is now essential that the Government reappraises the upfront investment required to generate the flow of accommodation that, along with adequate support, would enable people who have been homeless to access sustainable housing across the country. This is especially important across the main government departments with responsibility for homelessness – Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Health/HSE and the Department of Social Protection.”

‘Left Out In The Cold: A Review of Rural Homelessness in Ireland’ is available at http://www.simon.ie/home.asp x For media queries and interview requests Helen McCormack, Simon Communities of Ireland Tel: 01 47 27 202/ 085 8065141

Where to now for savers?

A

ll of us have abiding memories of our school days. It can be an event, an achievement or, in my case, a phrase. The phrase that has long lived in my memory came from my physics teacher – an astute and measured individual - who regularly declared “that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.

Those words of wisdom are particularly apt in the context of the European Central Banks decision to cut their lending rates on Tracker Mortgages. It’s natural that those who have these mortgages rejoice at seeing monthly instalments decrease but as my former physics teacher pointed out there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The reaction in this instance is the fall in rates currently being offered by the banks. If you have money on deposit the fact is that saving rates have more than halved from a high of over 5% AER two years ago.

The knock on effect is that banks here are trying to shore up their balance sheets and so the ECB rate cuts has a negative reaction on deposit rates.

DIRT Rate Increase With decreased interest rates the Government in their wisdom have decided to increase DIRT to a punitive 41% or even 45% for some people who have unearned income from rent, deposits and dividends of over €3174 each year. Subsequently, up to half of the miniscule interest you receive from the banks is taken in tax - bearing in mind that this money (in most cases) has already been taxed as income tax!

DIRT free deposits accounts for those aged 65 and over These accounts allow you to receive any interest earned on money on deposit, paid to you without the deduction of DIRT, where you satisfy certain conditions: • Are aged 65 or over?

• If married or in a civil partnership the total annual income for you and your spouse/partner will be below the relevant annual exemption limit.

• Exemption limit for a single person is €18,000p.a. and for married/civil partnership is €36,000p.a.

So what are the best options out there for savers who don’t want to take any risk?

Currently the best fixed term annual deposit rates on offer are between 2% and 2.25%. Depending on how long you want to tie up your money for PTSB offer 2.25% AER (annual equivalent rate which should always be used when comparing different rates.) They offer this rate over 16, 18 and 24 month periods and I believe it’s a rate that won’t be around for long so well worth looking into if if you are DIRT exempt.

What about An Post DIRT Free Accounts?

An Post is traditionally the home of the saver who wants their money safe and exempt from DIRT but they too has been forced to reduced their rates. They do become an attractive home for your money if you’re looking to investment over a medium to long term of between 4 to 10 years but short term you’re better looking to the bank rate of 2.25% AER if you are DIRT exempt.

For those who are willing to take a risk with their money there are some very good protected equity funds in the markets place that would protect 70%, 80% or even 90% of the highest point your investment reaches. At the same time these funds allow you a certain ‘safety blanket’ if markets turn but I would recommend you speak to a Qualified Financial Advisor in relation to your options here before making any decisions.

Finally, be aware that banks are now starting to offer Tracker Bond products that guarantee your capital and allow you access to the markets. The reality here is that this ties your money up for 5 years (or more) and in most cases you don’t make any money - you just get your original capital back! You should make a point of fully familiarising yourself with the terms and conditions of tying your money up for a short term period. Remember, if you need access to it, the bank will penalise you – so read the small print.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction We live in strange economic times and one man’s meat is another man’s poison. When I hear good news in the media I immediately think of my old physics teacher and wonder what is the equal and opposite reaction to this good news story?

Mark Gilmore QFA BBS 087-6788975 mark@moneytreefinancial.ie www.moneytreefinancial.ie Mark Gilmore T/A Money Tree Financial Services is a Qualified Financial Adviser who is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Sean Boylan

Faith, Family and Herbs MENTION of Meath man Sean Boylan evokes images of Gaelic football management, spirituality and herbal remedies.

But these only go a small way towards painting a picture of an enigmatic personality, who is full of the joys of simple, positive living. was overwhelmed by the nonjudgemental nature of the Australians – their capacity to accept people as they are. The Australians have tremendous respect for each other. “There was no tolerance of intolerance” he said.

You could walk the streets of Perth at any time and feel completely safe. This could be contrasted with so many other large cities, some even closer to home.

Séan, Tina and children pictured a few years ago. Photo: John Quirke Photography

N

ow aged 70, and living with his wife (of 24 years) Tina and their six children, ranging from 22 to 10, in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Sean is the fifth generation of his family to carry on the herbal business there, extending back to 1798. “We were in Tara before that, until the house was burned”, he said. Sean’s eldest son, Sean Og, a noted pianist, has just completed his performance degree course in the Royal Irish Academy.

“Strong faith and the herbal business – that is part of what we are”. After a short period in agricultural college Sean left and learned the business from his father as did his five sisters and a number of other people who worked with them on the farm. Dunboyne Herbs has grown and expanded over the years.

Sean’s other passion was sport of all genres. He was manager of the Meath football team from 1982 to 2005, during which time they won four All-Irelands

(1987, 1988, 1996, 1999) though he is quick to point out that they lost a few as well. He also guided the team to three National Football League titles and eight Leinster Senior Football Championships. In recognition of his services to Meath GAA Sean was conferred as Freeman of the County of Meath – the first and only person ever to be bestowed with the title – on 23rd April, 2006.

He loves all sport and, ironically, in the early days hurling was his greatest passion.

He played for 20 years with Meath and has two National League Division 2 titles to his credit. He often wondered what he would do when he finished playing GAA games, so he was delighted to be appointed a stand-in manager of the football team initially. The rest is history.

Though Sean is immersed in family life and the varied activities of his six children he seemed so relaxed and enthusiastic to speak forthrightly on many issues, but in a non-judgemental fashion.

He was appointed coach of the Irish International Rules side in

Page 10 Mature Living August 2014

2006. Though the period is noted for some of the violent incidents during matches, and on one occasion he threatened o remove his players from the field at half time, he is full of praise for the character of the Australian people. During his trip there with the team in 2008 he

Love and Marriage Sean was 47 when he married Tina (Yeats), who was 18 years younger than him. “I didn’t rush into it”, he said jokingly. Yet, if circumstances had been different the union might never have happened.

As they both grew up in Dunboyne their families were always intertwined. Tina’s family would come to the Boylans’ home as kids picking fruit and herbs. He was always happy and relaxed in Tina’s company, but never felt there was anything between them.

Perhaps the age gap had much to do with the delay in developing their relationship; however, another factor was Sean’s yearning to be a Cistercian monk and the fact that Tina, a former nurse, became a Daughters of Charity

nun at the age of 23 when she worked with handicapped and marginalised people.

Though her work was fulfilling, Tina eventually found the life of a nun to be a lonely one but when she left the plan was after a summer re-adjusting in Dunboyne she would travel to Australia to continue working as a nurse.

However, the romance with Sean developed and everything seemed just right. They had known each other so well . . . and Tina also was a close friend to Sean’s mother, Gertie.

They got married in late December 1990 – December 22nd in fact – because there was no Gaelic football on that day.

Tina had never set foot in Croke Park before she married Sean, but all that soon changed. They had their six children quickly (four boys and two girs) and Sean speaks of parenthood as “an amazing joy, a miracle really”. Sean and Tina are extremely happy. Though Sean was in the throes of management with the Meath team and away quite a lot when the kids were young, they were always so delighted to see him come home. They work as a team and are alike in so many ways, with strong simple faith which helps to shape everything.

Two Greats” a handshake from Mick O’Dwyer after a Meath / Kildare match in the 90’s.

Photo: John Quirke Photography

At a training session

Sharing the joy of victory. Photo: John Quirke Photography It’s not that they are prescriptive about their faith or beliefs either. In a previous interview Sean said: “We wouldn’t be craw-thumpers but I can’t pass an oratory without going in, even if it’s only for a minute”.

CANCER SCARE All of this was put to the test in 2009 when Sean was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While many people said they were surprised that he (such a healthy man) should contact cancer he reassured them that none of us are immune from it. But he and his family coped with the disease, as they did with many of the other vicissitudes of life . . . with positivity, love and laughter.

“To overcome a setback like cancer you attack it mentally, clinically and spiritually”, he said.

Thankfully, Sean received the”all-clear”. “There’s an energy I get from my faith that helped my recovery”, he said.

But he admitted that the experience changed him. From a position where he had always helped others he was now the vulnerable one. Before that he never walked, he always ran. It was a humbling experience, but all part of life’s journey.

Sean is now fit and healthy (even after two knee replacements) and, yes . . . he still works with his clinics. He rides a bike and swims a few times each week. With five kids involved in sporting and leisure activities he and Tina (who is a full-time housewife) have an extremely busy home life. But he recommends it. Even during the interview his flow was interrupted on some occasions to deal with domestic matters. To relax he loves the radio or

watching sport; he sometimes reads a bit but the busy home life constrains him a bit.

Holidaying abroad was never easy, either in his sporting management days or now. The easiest time to get away was always after Christmas.

When I asked him about his musical tastes he laughed, saying “you’re going to ask me about the Garth Brooks concerts, aren’t you?” While I assured him that was not the intention he gave his personal views on the whole debacle openly and candidly. “There were too many references to precedent in the debate. We have come to love the Rule, while sometimes forgetting the Rule of Love”.

Even in the north during the height of the troubles people were coming together and having fun. It was hard to see where problems would arise with the concerts. A large percentage of residents from the Croke Park area had no say in the matter. He recalls Meath and Dublin playing four matches in succession to a packed stadium in 1991 and there were no riots. People just had a good night out.

“The last time Garth Brooks was here people organised barbecues and had parties in their houses. After all the doom and gloom of recent years we should be thinking more in terms of partying than rules and precedents. ” Here he quoted an old colleague, Jack Fitzgerald, who had been a Meath representative on the Central Council of the GAA for 37 years (also a Senator in the Oireachtas): “It’s the Spirit of the Rule that’s important”. It is obvious Mr. Fitzgerald was referring to some GAA refereeing decisions, but if the cap fits . . .

Getting back to the question of

musical tastes he loves traditional, classical and trad jazz. In fact he loves everything from Pavarotti to Brush Shiels and is a Paul Brady fan. He has always marvelled at the universal bond and language of music.

Sean feels Ireland, for all its faults, is such a wonderful country. Through his travels abroad he was proud to learn about the missionary zeal of the Irish – those who work with poverty-stricken people in particular. The teachers, incredible nurses and others who went abroad with Goal, Concern and other organisations are unsung heroes. The Irish have left their sporting, cultural,

spiritual and business imprint everywhere. 15% of Mexicans are of Irish extraction. There are members in the cricket club of Buenes Aires who actually play hurling. Whole counties left Ireland for the US and so many never came back. But The Gathering has proved they want to retain links with home. “We have enormous pride in ourselves, something that shouldn’t be stifled by too much structure or rigidity. We are also a resilient race; at the turn of the century only four people in Ireland could write in Irish and one hundred could read the language. Yet it survived and flourished.”

His advice to young people is to watch out for each other, to be ambitious and never be afraid to make a mistake. He recalls playing for Meath against Kilkenny back in the ‘seventies and losing by thirty-three points.

Yet he loved it and was proud to have the opportunity to play the game. Continuing with sporting analogies he instanced an old colleague, Michael Regan, a Carrick-on-Shannon native, who

was picked as a sub on a Connacht hurling team to face Munster. Though scheduled to line-out at corner-forward when called onto the pitch he immediately ran to the opposite end to mark no less a star than Christy Ring . . . an experience that could never be taken from him!

Retirement is not in Sean’s vocabulary. “It is important to have something to do . . . even if it’s a computer course or something. People can be lost not knowing what to do.

In the Ireland of the future Sean feels it is important for us to keep the good things we have – our faith and family traditions.

If we follow our true nature facing a crisis will not be such a burden.

When I spoke with Sean it was literally hours before Meath’s showdown with Dublin in the Leinster championship. He was optimistic, as usual, predicting there was always a 50/50 chance when fifteen men met fifteen.

Knowing Sean Boylan as I do now he will still see positives in the result.

Sean pictured with son, Sean Og, a talented musician.

Page 11 Mature Living August 2014

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Feature by Claudia McGloin - Advanced Nurse Practitioner

What is Constipation?

Everybody has their own normal bowel habits which vary from person to person.

Some adults go to the toilet more than once a day whereas others will go once every three to four days or even longer.

T

hroughout my nursing career, I have seen varying degrees of bowel habits and have seen the impact that this has had on patients and their lives. I am frequently asked about constipation and what can be done to prevent this so, this is the perfect topic for this month’s editorial seeing as summer is here and people need to get their constipation under control.

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a very common condition that affects people of all ages. It means that you are not passing faeces as often as you normally would do, you have to strain more than usual or you are unable to completely empty your bowel.

Constipation can also cause your stools to be unusually hard, lumpy, large or small like nuggets. The severity of constipation can vary greatly from person to person with many people only experiencing constipation for a short time with no lasting effects on their health while for others constipation can be a chronic condition that causes significant pain and discomfort which affects quality of life. In addition, constipation can also cause: stomach ache, cramps, bloating, nausea and loss of appetite.

If you continually strain to pass faeces, it can cause pain, discomfort and bleeding. Excessive straining can also lead to Haemorrhoids. More commonly known as Piles, Haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that form in the lower rectum and anus.

is in their colon. Many experts believe that the average person has between 5 and 20 LBS of waste matter in their colon. A person suffering from constipation has up to 40 LBS of waste matter in their colon.

The colon or large intestine is located at the end of the human digestive tract. Its primary functions are to eliminate waste, conserve water and reabsorb electrolytes and minerals into the body.

Waste materials that remain in the colon for extended periods of time (impacted faeces, dead cellular tissue, mucous and parasites etc) pose several health problems. These waste materials can be reabsorbed into the blood stream making us feel weak, tired and ill. Impacted faeces can also impair the colons ability to absorb minerals and can cause the overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast. A build-up of faecal matter in the colon can also inhibit muscular action causing sluggish bowel movements, slow transit time and constipation. Colonic Hydrotherapy can greatly alleviate the congestion and build up of unwanted toxic waste.

What causes Constipation?

Most cases of Constipation are not caused by a specific condition but several factors can increase your chances of having Constipation. These include: • Not eating enough fibre, such as fruit, vegetables and cereals • A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits • Ignoring the urge to pass stools • Side effects of certain medication • Not drinking enough fluids • Anxiety or Depression • Pregnancy • Weight • Lack of Exercise • Psychological Issues such as privacy There is a strong connection between emotions and how the gut works. Feeling upset can make your bowel slow down.

Emotional upset, even in childhood, may result in constipation years later. This has always been evident during the Colonic Hydrotherapy treatments at The Claudia McGloin Clinic and why we will work on both of these issues to give your bowel the optimum treatment.

Your GP may prescribe laxatives for constipation and will advise on changes to your lifestyle and diet. See above on the factors that cause constipation.

Colonic Hydrotherapy and Constipation Did you know that 80% of all illnesses start in the large intestine?

Most people have no idea how much old, hardened, impacted faecal matter there

Page 16 Mature Living August 2014

A Healthy Colon The colon or large intestine is an important part of the digestive system.

The colon handles the bulk of the food we eat. Its lining includes sensitive nerves and glands that aid the assimilation of food especially vitamins, enzymes and water. When the colon is working properly its peristaltic (muscular wave like) motions move food through the system and eliminate unassimilated substances in the form of waste within 16-24 hours after eating. A healthy individual with a clean and healthy colon will have 2 bowel movements per day.

They should be large, well formed, buoyant and not accompanied by a foul odour.

Needless to say a healthy colon is essential to a healthy body!

A Toxic Colon Over time the colon may become unhealthy and lose its ability to properly eliminate all the waste materials from the digestive tract. This is due to a combination of Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise, Drug Intake, Lifestyle and a variety of other factors. When the colon becomes less active the body does not eliminate its waste materials as effectively. Therefore, when the elimination process is not functioning properly deposits of waste matter build up along the colon wall. When this occurs, the waste material remains in the colon for days sometimes weeks. If this waste material deposits along the colon wall it may not leave there for months or even years. These deposits of

faecal matter can get to 2 or 3 inches thick!

The Colonic Hydrotherapy treatment stimulates bowel activity by using the body’s natural nerve and muscular response mechanisms and so is essentially a natural treatment. Colonic Hydrotherapy can tone and exercise the bowel aiding the evacuation of waste both during and after the treatment.

Are you feeling or experiencing any or all of the following?

• Bloated • Constipated • Weight Gain • Lethargic • Flatulance • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) • Backache • Indigestion • Candida • Insomnia • Body Odour • Dark Circles Under Eyes • Poor Concentration • Colitis • Diverticulosis • Diarrhoea • Menstrual Pain • Bad Breath • Parasites (Worms) Then a Colonic Hydrotherapy treatment is for you! For further details please contact Claudia at the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728 to book a consultation. Or visit the clinic website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com

Finance with Ken O’Neill of Flanagan Ford Financial Advisors

Inheritance Tax Planning

Inheritance tax – the tax that has risen quite dramatically under the radar!

What is Inheritance tax?

Inheritance is a tax which can arise where a beneficiary receives an Inheritance as a result of someone dying (or a gift from somebody in their lifetime). This tax falls under the heading Capital Acquisitions Tax . Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) was originally conceived as a way to claw back some funds for the Revenue from the “very wealthy”.

Who pays the tax?

The person receiving the inheritance or gift is liable to CAT and not the person or the estate providing the benefit.

Tax Free Amount.

Subject to certain exemptions, (e.g. inheritance from a legal spouse, family home exemption etc.) most assets both inside and outside the state are assessable for Inheritance Tax. Each person has an amount that they can receive tax free but it depends on their relationship with the person from whom they are inheriting from. The balance is then taxed at 33%. This tax rate was a low at 20% in 2008.

Not only has the rate with which this tax is charged been increased by 65% since 2008, the reduction in the thresholds (tax free amount) have been reduced quite significantly as can be seen from the table below.

GROUP THRESHOLDS Where the person receiving the Group 1 €225,000 inheritance is a child of the disponer.

Group 2 €30,150

Group 3 €15,075

Where the person receiving the inheritance is a lineal ancestor, descendant, a brother/sister or child of a brother/sister of the disponer.

All other cases.

Thresholds have been dramatically reduced. For example, the group 1 threshold from parents to children reduced from €521,208 in 2008 to €225,000 in 2013 a reduction of over 50%.

There may be a perception that, given the recent reduction in estate and asset values, the need to plan for CAT has gone away. The exact opposite is in fact the case.

For example Mr & Mrs Kelly are aged 55 and their estate valued €1,250,000 is to be divided equally between their 2 children.

Their children’s inheritance tax bill will be €264,000, i.e. 21% of the estate will be taken in tax.

The Solution The solution is a Section 72 Life Assurance policy written on a whole of life basis. The premium in this case would work out at €5,691 annually. So the options to Mr & Mrs Kelly are 1. Lose 21% of the estate in inheritance tax.

2. Save what you would pay in Life assurance premiums i.e. €5,691 per annum to try to accumulate what would be needed to pay the CAT liability. In this example, Mr & Mrs Kelly would need to save €5,691 for over 69 years to cover the CAT bill.

3. Put a Section 72 Life policy in place to protect the estate at a cost of 2% per annum of the tax bill.

Making a return If you are resident in Ireland you must get an agent who is resident in Ireland , such as a solicitor, to take responsibility for the payment of CAT. Gifts or inheritances with a valuation date on or after 14 June 2010 have a fixed CAT pay and file date. All gifts and inheritances with a valuation date in the 12-month period ending on the 31 August must be paid and filed by 31 October.

This means, if the valuation date is between 1 January and 31 August, you must complete the tax return and pay the tax on or before 31 October in that year.

If the valuation date is between 1 September and 31 December you must complete the tax return and pay the tax on or before 31 October in the following year.

Late Payment Fee There is a surcharge for late pay and file of CAT. The surcharge is based on a percentage of the total tax payable for the year the return is late and graded according to the length of the delay.

However, there is an overall cap on the level of the surcharge which is calculated as follows: • 5% surcharge to a maximum of €12,695, if you complete the tax return and pay the tax within 2 months of the pay and file date.

• 10% surcharge up to a maximum of €63,485, if you do not complete the tax return and pay the tax within 2 months of the pay and file date.

Reliefs and exemptions.

Certain reliefs and exemptions apply to certain types of assets. These have been introduced over the years to primarily encourage private enterprise and to avoid the forced sale of a family farm, business or the family home in certain circumstances.

Spouse or Civil Partner Exemption – Gifts or inheritances received by one spouse or civil partner from the other are totally exempt from CAT.

Agricultural Relief – the value of farmland, buildings and stock can be reduced by 90% where the beneficiary is a qualifying farmer and he or she holds the property for a minimum of 6 years.

Business Relief – can provide a similar reduction of 90% of the value of certain businesses or private companies, where both the business and the beneficiary meet certain qualifying conditions.

Family Home Relief – exemption from

Gift and Inheritance tax is available on the value of certain dwellings with up to an acre of land where the beneficiary meets certain conditions which ensure that the property was, and continues to be, their home.

If you feel that there may be a CAT liability when you pass on, and you would like further info on this subject please do not hesitate in contacting me here in Flanagan Ford. You can email me on ken@flanaganford.ie or call 071 9159222.

Impact of Higher Tax rates and Lower Thresholds in recent years Below is a table showing the impact of the increase in the tax rate and the reduction of the thresholds over the last number of years. These figures are based where an estate was left to one child.

2008

2012

2013

Tax Rate

20%

30%

33%

Group 1 Thresh

€521,208

€250,000

€225,000

€300,000

Nil

€15,000

€24,750

€500,000

Nil

€75,000

€90,750

€750,000

€45,758

€150,000

€173,250

€1,000,000

€95,758

€225,000

€255,750

€1,500,000

€195,758

€375,000

€420,750

€2,500,000

€395,758

€675,000

€750,750

€5,000,000

€895.758

€1,425,000

€1,575,750

Inheritance

Source: Irish Life Technical Dept

Page 17 Mature Living August 2014

Fitness

Stretch, strength, balance – the power of pilates The century-old exercise system of Pilates gets an age-friendly makeover with aworkout for all fitness levels

G

erman-born inventor and gymnast Joseph Pilates developed the eponymous system of exercises in the 1910s. And today, it still works several muscle groups simultaneously through smooth, continuous movements with a particular emphasis on strengthening and stabilizing the abdomen, back and pelvic girdle region known as the core.

Performing the movements correctly involves finding the right rhythm and learning the correct breathing. Visualizing your core helps you breathe more fully, expanding your ribcage instead of just lifting your chest up and down. People often say they feel lighter, taller and more graceful after a Pilates workout. Pilates himself said that after 30 workouts, you would have a new body.

Pilates is a safe and effective workout for older people because it has minimal to no impact, and movements can be adapted for the individual to accommodate specific injuries and physical limitations. The aging process affects our bodies in ways that Pilates can help address. As we age, we tend to “shrink” and experience back problems; Pilates will help improve posture as it works to lengthen all the connections of the spine and enhance flexibility of back muscles. It helps maintain flexibility in joints that tend to stiffen, improves balance and coordination to help avoid injury from falls, and keeps muscles and movements flexible and fluid.

Pilates can also help women suffering from poor bladder control and incontinence.

Women suffer needlessly when they are led to believe that incontinence cannot be corrected or they’re advised to do Kegel exercises, which focus on strengthening only the pelvic floor. This alone will not prevent urinary incontinence.

Pilates strengthens the entire core, not just the pelvic floor.

A Pilates workout takes about an hour and can be done on floor mats or using specifically designed equipment. The instructor coaches you on breathing, then helps you isolate muscle groups. Once you are familiar with the Pilates style of co-ordinated flowing movement combined with long

stretches, you move on to the Universal Reformer, one of Pilates’ first inventions. This high-tech machine is equipped with straps, springs, pulleys and a sliding seat, which all help muscles to lengthen and strengthen.

Many gyms and community centres now offer some type of Pilates program. It’s also possible to learn Pilates from books, online instruction and videos.

Pilates pioneer Moira Merrithew (www.merrithew. com), who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Stott Pilates, a contemporary approach to the original exercise, has created more than 155 titles for all levels that can be seen on the Stott Pilates YouTube channel.

And read on for three new approaches to the fitness system.

Page 20 Mature Living August 2014

Gravity training The Workout Gravity training is a resistance workout performed on a machine called the Gravity Training System (GTS) that looks similar to the original Pilates Reformer but replaces springs with pulleys and uses gravity for part of the resistance. There’s an adjustable incline glide board – the steeper the incline (there are eight settings), the more challenging the workout.

A squat stand works the lower body, LAT (Lateral Adjustable Training) bars focus on the back and shoulders and cables target the arms.

Fitness Strategy “You’re pulling and pushing your own body weight instead of iron weights for resistance.There’s no impact or jarring on the spine and joints, so it’s perfect for anyone with fibromyalgia, arthritis, knee, hip or shoulder replacement

and osteoporosis.”

Barre-based workouts The Workout Ballet dancers do barre classes where they practise basic moves like pliés and relevés (leg raises) while standing at a stationary wooden handrail called a barre.

Dance-inspired workouts borrow the form, alignment and high-repetition exercises of classical barre classes to sculpt long, strong dancer’s muscles.

“Barre Beautiful takes classical dance training moves and fuses them with Pilates’ moves and principles to create a workout that focuses on building muscular strength, control and endurance while increasing flexibility.

Exercises are focused on lengthening and extending as you work. Targeted muscle work – micro-contractions and isometric contractions that

strengthen and tone muscles not typically used in exercise. In a typical barre class, you’re doing several repetitions of small, pulsing contractions that tone deep into the muscle.

Fitness Strategy It’s great for an older audience because it’s a full body workout that strengthens all of the muscles in the body using body weight or light hand weights, thus increasing muscle mass and improving bone density. This workout places emphasis on the postural muscles in the back and abdominals assisting in our bodies’ ability to stand taller.

Plus, it’s low impact making it easy on the joints.

What to expect The classic barre class at Barre Beautiful takes you through many traditional ballet exercises:

Feature

It’s Never too Late to Become Fit and Healthy

By Nancy Burnham

leg raises, pulses and pliés.

Extending your leg outward to do leg raises or pulses requires you to also lift up from the crown of the head, contract your abdominals and squeeze your legs.

Basically your entire body is engaged even if it seems that all you’re doing is going up on your toes. There are arm circles using light hand weights, followed by abdominal work on the mat. With every stretch and extension, there’s a feeling of my body being realigned and posture improved, which feels wonderful after a day sitting at a desk.

There are also various balletinfluenced arm movements using light hand weights followed by abdominal work on the mat.

Power Pilates The Workout Described as Pilates on crack, Lagree Fitness

(www.studiolagree.com) was created in 2001 by Sebastien Lagree, a Los Angeles-based celebrity Pilates trainer. Lagree redesigned the original Pilates Reformer equipment, creating his own apparatus called the Megaformer on which the workout is performed. The hourlong circuit workout incorporates familiar Pilates exercises, like the hundreds and side bends, with new movements designed

by Lagree.

Fitness Strategy Lagree emphasizes doing each exercise as slowly and controlled as possible, which targets the deep stabilizing muscles of the core, glutes and pelvis, says Pino Gagliardi, Lagree Studio coowner. “The intense circuit workout has minimal breaks between each exercise, which creates a cardiovascular effect.

The human body is a marvelous and mysterious thing. At 67, looking back at what I learned so late in life, my appreciation for body chemistry grows more and more every day.

When I retired at age 60 my health was typical of those who care for others, not themselves, carry stress with them all the time (and in my case) have a fondness for bread and sweets.

At 49 my hands required treatment for osteoarthritis.

At 56 my right knee locked up necessitating 6 months of physical therapy.

At 58 I needed foot surgery for bunions.

At 60 my diagnoses were asthma/low level COPD with high blood pressure, pro-lapsing heart valves, high cholesterol, depression and anxiety.

Instead of looking forward to a carefree retirement, I was spending time in doctors’ offices and taking prescription medications.

Honestly wanting to feel better but not knowing where to turn, life seemed short.

With tendonitis in my left shoulder, constant pain in my lower back, a “widow’s hump” developing, and 30 pounds overweight, I knew that I must take control of my health care.

When I walked into the new gym I requested a personal trainer because I knew I needed professional help to exercise correctly. As I sat across from the trainer, a total stranger, explaining my many issues, I felt vulnerable, inadequate, stupid, overwhelmed and frightened. He was asking all the right questions. “I can help you,” he said.

That was the beginning of my marvelous journey to recovery; a journey fraught with tears, fears, joys, pain, anger, and frustration that culminated in my own desire to help others who were out there looking for answers. Total strangers who observed me during training (sometimes at my worst) would come up to me and tell me I inspired them. What an uplifting surprise!

When we eat right and exercise the body makes wonderful chemical adjustments that we do not see at the time. As my body transitioned my blood pressure dropped, my cardiovascular systems improved and the weight fell off as fat transformed into muscle. After 12 months I was off of all but one medication – cholesterol. That, too, came under control. Each person must start their journey at their level.

Keep a goal in mind and move forward

with determination to meet that goal.

My aging process has given me challenges with two broken ankles, torn muscles and ligaments, and knee surgery. Instead of looking at these and other bumps on life’s road as obstacles leading to a sedentary state, they instead are opportunities to learn more about how to train muscles that support the injured areas. Do not accept the status of ‘aging’ as one of ‘slowing down’ but instead as a new adventure.

Try weightlifting to improve muscles tone, overall strength and bone density. Proper form when using dumbbells, Kettlebells and/or barbells might be a new exercise adventure, it will certainly pay off so don’t be afraid to try them. Find a certified personal trainer that you are comfortable with, explain your challenges and goals to them. You, too, may inspire someone else.

Nancy Burnham’s journey to health began at age 61, when she stepped into a gym for the first time in her life. After years working at a desk, Nancy was spending her retirement drowning in ailments – from two pro-lapsing heart valves to arthritis and low-level cardiopulmonary disease. After deciding one day she simply wouldn’t accept the status quo, Nancy went from not even being able to operate a treadmill to completing a Warrior Dash. At 65, she earned her ACE Personal Trainer Certification and at 66, she hit a personal best by completing a 200-pound dead lift. She now owns Simple Fitness for Seniors in Lisburn, where she specializes in working with older adults with special conditions including rotator cuff injuries, diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease.

Page 21 Mature Living August 2014

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COLOUR

INSPIRED PLANTING

WORDS by Leonie Cornelius PHOTOGRAPHY by Suzy McCanny and Leonie Cornelius

AND THE GARDEN

Garden Designer and TV presenter Leonie Cornelius looks at the amazing effects of using colour in planting design.

W

no right or wrong, only what makes you feel happy right now.

Combining colour in gardens is much like creating a careful artistic composition. What I would like to explore a little here is a few colour combinations which have fascinated me in gardens and why I would choose them to create a certain scheme.

hen I was studying garden design at KLC School of Design in London one of the main things that we looked at was the use of colour in gardens. Colour can have a profound effect on our psychological experience of a space as well as making a space feel larger, smaller, longer or narrower. As a designer, much

like an artist, one goes through phases of colours that one is drawn to. For example, when I started designing I loved neutrals of peach and whites. Then on the next project I would find myself drawn to strong explosions of all colours and tones. After trying out most combinations I can finally embrace the fact that there is

Hot or warm Colours There are rules in garden design, or what I like to think of as guidelines in garden design.

For example, we tend to not have more than 10-15% of hot colours such as reds, oranges and yellows -those at the top of the colour wheel. The reason for this is that schemes can start feeling disjointed and stressful with too much warmth.

left) my main colour palette was varying shades and textures of green. I had the feathery lime greens of the Acers, the deep earthy struc- tural greens of the Carpinus hedging and the soft fluffy green of the grasses.

What finished that scheme however were the dots of colour in between. Spikes of Salvia in deep, calm lilac, dots of Aquilegia in maroon pink and swathes of light pink Saxifraga from my own garden. The amazing purple foliage of the Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ gave it a little depth.The main colour palette of cool colours was also represented in the hard landscaping of structure and walls with deep purple and light lilac being complementary hues to the planting

and fun take on a summer meadow. The colours chosen repre- sent the fun free feeling of childhood and aim to give a little feeling of happiness to the staff and teachers every day.

Fun The garden I recently completed for Carbury School in Sligo (left hand page top left and right) has a wholly different colour scheme. The warm orange of the external walls of the building acted as a starting point for the colour scheme and the mix of yellow Primulas, purple Nepeta and many other pinks and lilacs were a playful

A Psychadelic Meadow Another recently completed project was an installation for the Dubarry of Ireland brand for their UK flagship store for the duration of Chelsea in Bloom.

The brief was all about modern colour and yet not losing the Irish Identity of the brand.

Here I went all out with the colours which were a mad mix of yellows, blues, greens,

Cool Colours Green is one of the main cool colours in gardens but we have a big range of blues, purples, and lilacs. These colours have a soothing effect on a person experiencing this space.

Elegance For me it gets really exciting once we start mixing up the colours. For my Bloom in the Park Garden in 2012 (bottom

Page 20 Mature Living August 2014

Starting off in a planting scheme you have your greens, your base colours which can vary from deep, dark greens to limes and yellows. Green will always be the main colour in your garden no matter what. I love green with its infinite textures and move- ment and it’s amazing what you can do with a simple mix of greens with the

odd dot of colour. Green is also associated as a colour with the feeling of safety, fertility and relaxation-no wonder gardens make us feel good! The plants you add after this tell your story.

What is it you want to say in the scheme that you are creating?

Do you want to invigorate, soothe the senses or create a playful and fun composition.

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But even though I chose all the colours on the colour wheel they somehow worked out perfectly proving that

everything is possible, if combined carefully and of course as long as it makes you smile.

Leonie Cornelius is an award winning garden designer and TV presenter who runs her own business-BLUME design house. contact: www.blume.ie corneliusleonie@me.com

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ature Living is full to the brim with information on events, finance, travel, pets, food and drink, health, hobbies and much much more! For just €35 (to cover postage and admin costs) you can have Mature Living delivered to your door. Mature Living is published once per month and a subscription covers 12 months. Complete the form below. You can pay by cheque or Postal Order made payable to IBS Publications I would llike to subscribe to Mature Living Magazine for 12 issues.

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Health and Fitness

80 Ways to Feel Young and stay Sharp Part One

A

ging is a natural, inevitable part of life. As we grow older, it becomes easy to look back wistfully on years past and wish we could reclaim our youth. While your 20′s may be the peak of physical capability and mental clarity you will ever reach, that doesn’t mean that all the years that follow have to be a letdown. In fact, all the wisdom and knowledge that you’ve accumulated with your life experiences can make them better than ever!

You can still look and feel young and vibrant for years if you take care of yourself the right way.

But retaining your vitality is about so much more than doing the Sunday crossword and eating your vegetables – though those

can play a part. Here we’ve compiled an abundance of tips for promoting the health of your body, enhancing your mind, and feeling young at heart no matter your age.

Preventive Maintenance Before we dive into all the healthy habits you should adapt, here are some things you should cut down on, eliminate completely, or keep in mind for your personal wellness and safety.

1. Avoid degenerative substances. – Regenerative substances work to rebuild your body and keep it healthy, while degenerative substances tear it down. It has been said that the top five degenerative substances are processed foods, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and rancid fats

Page 26 Mature Living August 2014

and oils. A study was even done that found a correlation between depression and processed foods.

Thus, it is wise to only consume these things in moderation.

2. Limit your intake of omega-6 fatty acids. These generate inflammatory hormones in the body and can be found in corn, cottonseed and soybean oils, and safflower.

3. Don’t rely on supplements for the nutrients you need.

Supplements have been touted as a godsend, but you shouldn’t become dependent on taking them in place of foods that naturally contain healthful nutrients. Not to mention, these megadoses of nutrients may interfere with your body’s natural defense mechanisms.

4. Cut your calorie consumption. A lower daily intake of calories can prevent the slowing of your metabolism as well as slow the aging process. To make this easier, control the portion sizes of your snacks and eat your meals off of small plates.

5. Trim your belly fat. Research has shown that an excess of fat around your torso can triple your risk of dementia later in life.

While you don’t have to be especially slender to be healthy, this fact is important to take into consideration.

6. Protect your skin. Not only should you take precautions to avoid skin cancer, but it’s also good to remember that healthy skin is a primary contributor to a youthful appearance. Thus, you should wear sunscreen to prevent

premature aging, do not excessively tan or visit tanning beds, treat dry skin, and exfoliate often to remove dead skin cells.

7. Clean your teeth. As your dentist always reminds you, make sure to brush and floss your teeth. You can also use whiteners to keep your smile looking fresh and young.

8. Look after your heart. Your heart, right alongside your brain, is a major hub of activity in your body. Among other things, it keeps oxygen flowing through your body and manages your immune system. It is good to watch your cholesterol, monitor your blood pressure, and adopt positive habits to ensure that your heart stays healthy.

9. Quit smoking or don’t start.

Smoking presents a whole host of problems that can affect both your physical appearance and your overall health. Besides giving you extra wrinkles, it also can cause lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and even damage your memory.

10. Stay away from drugs. They can significantly impair your mental clarity.

11. Take precautions. This may make you feel like a little kid again, but even doing relatively small things such as always wearing your seat belt or putting on a helmet when biking are important. You never know when one of these choices might save your life or protect your brain from harm.

12. Regulate your multitasking.

While many people swear by

multitasking, it actually isn’t a very efficient practice. Studies have shown that it affects how well you process and recall information. If you really want to remember what you are working on, concentrate on one thing at a time.

13. Resist mobility aids until you truly need them. Staying active is the key. Build up your strength and endurance to retain your muscle tone, rather than buying a cane or walker and relying on it to keep you moving while you allow your muscles to atrophy.

14. Schedule regular checkups.

See your doctor every 6 months to a year to stay informed about the state of your health. If you notice any negative symptoms between visits, take detailed notes so you can come to your next appointment prepared.

15. Learn more about your medication. Do a bit of digging into any medications you are currently taking to make sure they aren’t causing memory impairment. This may be done through checking the side effects on your own, asking questions or reading discussions in forums, or talking to your doctor. Then if it is an issue, adjust your dosage or switch medications entirely.

16. Manage any chronic conditions. Living in denial will not make your health problems magically go away. Whether it is something going like fibromyalgia or an ailment like thyroid problems, remove the things in your life that make them worse and take the steps you need to feel better.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry In the last few years, there has been a lot of buzz about certain powerfoods that greatly enhance your diet and increase your longevity. But what are these socalled superfoods, and what specifically do they do for your body? And are there any other generally helpful eating habits to remember?

17. Always eat breakfast! What they say about breakfast being the most important meal of the day may have a grain of truth.

Among other benefits, eating a healthy breakfast can give you a more nutritionally complete diet, improved concentration and performance, and better weight control.

18. Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Of all the superfoods, those containing omega-3 fatty acids are probably the most widely acclaimed. An excellent, natural source of this fat is fresh fish. Salmon is the very best choice, but there are plenty of other fish that will do.

These include: Tuna Anchovies Sardines Herring Trout Arctic char Halibut Mackerel Bluefish Sturgeon Try to find wild fish instead of farm-raised, as those may have high levels of contaminants.

If you aren’t the biggest fan of fish, never fear. Many other foods also contain omega-3s. Walnuts, winter squash, kidney beans, pinto beans, pumpkins seeds, flaxseed and flaxseed oil, and soybeans are great options.

19. Make like a plant and absorb some chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll purifies your blood, body, and skin. It can be found in veggies like spinach, celery, kale, parsley, collard greens, and

watercress.

20. Protect your brain with leafy greens. For even more rabbit food, try cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and arugula, as they have been said to maintain the health of your brain and dramatically slow the process of aging.

21. Try a bit of CoQ10. Foods containing Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, can help treat high blood pressure, and they may even delay aging and improve skin, although no definitive research has been conducted as of yet.

While CoQ10 is naturally present in a variety of foods, the highest amounts can be found in organ meats – such as heart, liver, and kidney – as well as beef, pork, peanuts, parsley, avocado, and soybean oil.

22. Improve your complexion.

Clear up your skin naturally by munching on carrots, squash,

oranges, grapefruits, lemons, papayas, or pineapples.

23. Reduce your depression.

There are a handful of different foods that have nutrients which combat the symptoms of depression. For example, did you know that oatmeal is a source of serotonin? You could also be eating oysters and cashews for the zinc, or asparagus and avocados for the folate.

24. Season your food. Some spices may ward off Alzheimer’s, lower your blood pressure, and even protect against certain cancers. So when you prepare your next meal, considering sprinkling on some garlic, rosemary, sage, turmeric, or lemon balm.

25. The talk about tomatoes.

New studies say that the red pigment in tomatoes called lypocene protects your cells from DNA damage caused by exposure to the sun. So break out the

tomato paste to thicken your chili, or eat a bit of pizza or spaghetti.

26. Super fruits. You’ve probably heard all about the benefits of blueberries. These little berries are anti-inflammatory, packed with antioxidants, and may even reduce the effects of dementia.

Goji berries are another super fruit, full of vitamin C, iron, and a bunch of other vitamins and minerals. Here are even more fruits you could be snacking on for a health boost: Pomegranate Apples Bananas Mangos Watermelon Raspberries Apricots Cantaloupe Strawberries 27. Get enough calcium. I’m sure your mom reminded you plenty of times while you were growing up to drink your milk in order to keep your bones strong.

That advice didn’t strictly apply to your childhood, as this need for calcium will never go away.

Not to mention, consuming dairy products can help with weight loss and prevent the onset of osteoporosis as you age.

28. Don’t forget your whole grains. Oats, brown rice, buckwheat, barley, millet, and quinoa are all good ideas for promoting a more well-balanced diet. They contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a bit of protein.

29. Indulge in dark chocolate.

For a healthy dessert or a tasty treat, try dark chocolate. It has been proven to lower your blood pressure, improve blood flow, and prevent the formation of blood clots. Just remember that chocolate is better for your health when it’s in moderation, and try to find some with 60% cocoa content or higher.

30. Snack on other specific sweets. For instance, peppermint can cause an increase in alertness and memory by acting as a stimulant, and ginger is able to ease arthritis pain.

31. Drink plenty of water. It is always important to stay hydrated. However, there are several factors which influence what proper hydration really means. These include: Weather and climate conditions Amount of clothing worn Physical activity Exercise intensity and duration Level of perspiration Type of medication(s) you are on Existence of certain medical conditions (diabetes, heart disease, cystic fibrosis) 32. Brew some coffee. Too much caffeine can be a bad thing, as you already learned, but just a cup may boost your brainpower.

33. Fix a cup of tea. Drinking tea can also have positive effects. Green tea, for example, can reduce the risk and recurrence of several kinds of cancer. Black tea, white tea, and chamomile all have their own unique benefits.

34. Have a glass of red wine.

Numerous studies have been done on resveratrol, the compound found in grape juice and red wine. It is possible that drinking these things will mean experiencing fewer problems of old age, such as heart disease or cataracts. However, researchers haven’t stumbled on anything concrete yet, so you should stick with one glass a day – just enough to reap the health benefits without going overboard and inviting a different host of problems.

Pick up next month’s Mature Living Magazine for Part Two

Page 27 Mature Living August 2014

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

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973) A lthough Earl Gill got his start in the 50's playing with other bands around Dublin, the Hoedowners started life as the resident band in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, as were many bands of the day, they were actually more of an orchestra. During the winter the band played in the hotel ballroom, but during the summer they hit the road. In a 1969 Spotlight article Oliver Barry said that Earl was originally a piano player, but had an accident that severely injured some of his fingers and he turned his talents to the trumpet. However, his early training made him one of Ireland's most talented arrangers in the country.

Around the same time in the early sixties, Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade and sang part time with a group called the Keymen. He went to England after serving in the Irish Army where he continued to work by day as a carpenter and by night sang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.

When he heard Earl Gill was looking for a vocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately.

The original "road band" included Mel Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar), Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphy and Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, the band was known as the Earl Gill Band. In the mid sixties, RTE (then known as Telefis Eireann =TE) started a television show called the Hoedown and Earl and the band were hired to provide backing for the singers. They took on the name The Hoedowners for the show and it stuck.

Around the same time, they teamed up with manager Oliver Barry, and set their sights on conquering the ballroom circuit. At that time the band was known as Earl Gill and his Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early 1966, after changing to their new name, they released Wonderful World of My Dreams and it went to number five in the Irish Charts, starting a string of hit records which would become legendary as there

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

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60's that there wasn't a Hoedowners record somewhere in the charts. In the 1960's and early seventies, the Hoedowners were one of the most successful Irish recording artists with 14 singles hitting the Irish charts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967, Sean was selected to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. This was Ireland's third attempt - Butch Moore and Dickie Rock had preceded Sean. The song was If I Could Choose. Sean came in second behind England's entry, Sandie Shaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, the record reached number two in the Irish Charts and provided the band's fourth hit single. The same year the band released "Sunset" one of very few instrumental songs to be released during the showband era.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

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 - 1968 Birmingham with tonsillitis and missed several dates in March. In mid-1968, Sean and the Hoedowners became the first artists to release a single on the new Dolphin Records, started by their then manager, Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of the Capitol. Sean and the boys also released the first album on the new label, Ireland's Own Sean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the band underwent a shuffle when several new members joined including guitarist/vocalist Dave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys had their first number one hit with The Lonely Woods of Upton. In July, the band followed this up with the song, When The Fields Were White With Daisies which was arranged by Noel Kelehan and provided them with yet another number one hit and they became one of the few Irish artists ever to have a single in the top twenty for

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane (drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering (guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks to Mel Dean for lineup info.

Page 28 Mature Living June 2012

12 months straight. A chart survey published in Spotlight in January, 1970 showed that Sean Dunphy was far and away the top recording artist in Ireland based on the number of weeks and position in the charts for all of 1969, ahead of Joe Dolan and in third place, The Beatles. The only other Irish acts in the top ten of the survey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick" route when they released Poor Poor Farmer as Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who was actually Earl Gill. The single got to Number 3 in the Irish Charts and the band got plenty of press. The trend would continue in 1972, when the band donned costumes as circus performers and changed their name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joining the band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentry drummer, Shay Murphy. Each member of the band dressed as a different character from a typical circus lineup. However, the writing was on the wall for the Hoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December 20th, 1973 described Sean as the former lead singer with the Hoedowners, so we are assuming the band split up in mid to late 1973. He went off to do a residency in Canada (which seems to have been all the rage at the time), but was due back in Ireland in early 1974 for cabaret dates around the country. Also, around this time Earl Gill took over the management of Hugo Duncan and the Tallmen.

Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member of the band for help compiling this story.

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye) 2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target) 3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye) 4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin) 5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset) 6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald) 7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye) 8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS) 9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA) 10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye) 11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn) 12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex) 14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target) 15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram) 16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune) 17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune) 18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye) 19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target) 21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/ Woman Woman (King) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye) 23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune) 24. Memories - Oh No (Rex) 25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor) 26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One) 27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release) 28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye) 30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic) 31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye) 32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin) 34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor) 35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor) 36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target) 37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye) Page 29 Mature Living June 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

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973) A lthough Earl Gill got his start in the 50's playing with other bands around Dublin, the Hoedowners started life as the resident band in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, as were many bands of the day, they were actually more of an orchestra. During the winter the band played in the hotel ballroom, but during the summer they hit the road. In a 1969 Spotlight article Oliver Barry said that Earl was originally a piano player, but had an accident that severely injured some of his fingers and he turned his talents to the trumpet. However, his early training made him one of Ireland's most talented arrangers in the country.

Around the same time in the early sixties, Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade and sang part time with a group called the Keymen. He went to England after serving in the Irish Army where he continued to work by day as a carpenter and by night sang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.

When he heard Earl Gill was looking for a vocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately.

The original "road band" included Mel Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar), Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphy and Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, the band was known as the Earl Gill Band. In the mid sixties, RTE (then known as Telefis Eireann =TE) started a television show called the Hoedown and Earl and the band were hired to provide backing for the singers. They took on the name The Hoedowners for the show and it stuck.

Around the same time, they teamed up with manager Oliver Barry, and set their sights on conquering the ballroom circuit. At that time the band was known as Earl Gill and his Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early 1966, after changing to their new name, they released Wonderful World of My Dreams and it went to number five in the Irish Charts, starting a string of hit records which would become legendary as there

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

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60's that there wasn't a Hoedowners record somewhere in the charts. In the 1960's and early seventies, the Hoedowners were one of the most successful Irish recording artists with 14 singles hitting the Irish charts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967, Sean was selected to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. This was Ireland's third attempt - Butch Moore and Dickie Rock had preceded Sean. The song was If I Could Choose. Sean came in second behind England's entry, Sandie Shaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, the record reached number two in the Irish Charts and provided the band's fourth hit single. The same year the band released "Sunset" one of very few instrumental songs to be released during the showband era.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

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 - 1968 Birmingham with tonsillitis and missed several dates in March. In mid-1968, Sean and the Hoedowners became the first artists to release a single on the new Dolphin Records, started by their then manager, Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of the Capitol. Sean and the boys also released the first album on the new label, Ireland's Own Sean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the band underwent a shuffle when several new members joined including guitarist/vocalist Dave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys had their first number one hit with The Lonely Woods of Upton. In July, the band followed this up with the song, When The Fields Were White With Daisies which was arranged by Noel Kelehan and provided them with yet another number one hit and they became one of the few Irish artists ever to have a single in the top twenty for

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane (drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering (guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks to Mel Dean for lineup info.

Page 28 Mature Living June 2012

12 months straight. A chart survey published in Spotlight in January, 1970 showed that Sean Dunphy was far and away the top recording artist in Ireland based on the number of weeks and position in the charts for all of 1969, ahead of Joe Dolan and in third place, The Beatles. The only other Irish acts in the top ten of the survey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick" route when they released Poor Poor Farmer as Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who was actually Earl Gill. The single got to Number 3 in the Irish Charts and the band got plenty of press. The trend would continue in 1972, when the band donned costumes as circus performers and changed their name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joining the band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentry drummer, Shay Murphy. Each member of the band dressed as a different character from a typical circus lineup. However, the writing was on the wall for the Hoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December 20th, 1973 described Sean as the former lead singer with the Hoedowners, so we are assuming the band split up in mid to late 1973. He went off to do a residency in Canada (which seems to have been all the rage at the time), but was due back in Ireland in early 1974 for cabaret dates around the country. Also, around this time Earl Gill took over the management of Hugo Duncan and the Tallmen.

Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member of the band for help compiling this story.

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye) 2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target) 3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye) 4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin) 5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset) 6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald) 7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye) 8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS) 9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA) 10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye) 11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn) 12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex) 14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target) 15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram) 16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune) 17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune) 18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye) 19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target) 21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/ Woman Woman (King) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye) 23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune) 24. Memories - Oh No (Rex) 25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor) 26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One) 27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release) 28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye) 30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic) 31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye) 32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin) 34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor) 35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor) 36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target) 37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye) Page 29 Mature Living June 2012

Health

Five reasons most diets fail W

e’ve all been there. Desperately wanting to lose those few extra pounds, or in some cases a lot of extra pounds, but no matter which diet we try we always seem to end up where we started from. It’s frustrating and demoralizing and it tastes like failure. But it doesn’t have to be this way, says Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an American based obesity expert and the author of The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work.

“If there was a quick fix we’d all be skinny,” he points out. “The more permanent the weight loss needs to be the more permanent the lifestyle changes need to be.” So what’s preventing us from getting there?

1. We think dieting has to be painful

2.We under-eat

“The past 60 to 80 years of modern day dieting has been predicated upon the notion that dieting success is about suffering,” says Dr. Freedhoff. “It suggests that people struggling with their weight don’t deserve to eat like normal people or use food for comfort and celebration. Instead they’re only supposed to use food for fuel and shut off the other normal uses. This doesn’t work.”

Trying to starve yourself into thinness doesn’t work either. “Hunger is a very powerful physiological force,” says the diet doctor. “It’s second only to breathing for survival. To think we can fight 100 million years of evolution which has made our bodies really good at securing calories simply because we want to get into a particular clothing size is folly.”

3. We over-exercise “People undertake exercise regimes that are truly ‘regimes’,” he says. “People see these shows on TV where they suggest that exercise to the point of throwing up is desirable. Again, that is not a lifestyle – it’s a life sentence.”

People also tend to overestimate the number of calories they’re burning, which can lead to frustration. “As a consequence, exercised-based approaches to weight management tend to get disappointing quite quickly,” he says. “That’s why gyms are busy in January and empty in March.”

4.We eat out too often and consume too much processed food

5. We don’t think about the calories we’re drinking

“People are usually aware that sugar-sweetened beverages can be problematic but they don’t always think about the cream and sugar in their coffee,” he says.

“And people really don’t like to think about alcohol because they enjoy it so much, but red wine has double the calories of Coca Cola and that’s something you can’t ignore if you’re trying to lose weight.”Best advice he can offer?

“Weight management, in general, needs to be about people striving to live the healthiest lives they can enjoy — and not the healthiest lives they can tolerate.

They need to make lifestyle changes, that are significant and enjoyable, but not severe. And that can be challenging when you’ve got a society telling you they need to be severe to work.”

Page 30 Mature Living August 2014

“We’ve been duped by the food industry and our own willingness to believe you can find health and weight loss in restaurants or boxes, but it doesn’t work that way,” he says. “We, as a society, seem to be using restaurants and processed foods like our grandparents used refrigerators and the produce drawers.” Dr. Freedhoff says he sees far more people who eat out three to four times a week than he does people who eat out three to four times a month. That equates to weight loss woes. “The calories we consume in restaurants are non-intuitive and astronomical in many cases. That salad you order might have more calories than a person burns in an entire day.”

Health

Give Yourself the Gift of Active Retirement

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etirement holds the promise to be a much earned time to enjoy life at a slower pace and renew your focus on activities you enjoy that you didn’t have time to do before. If you’re like many, it also holds a hope to get in better shape and lose a little weight.

However, more often than not, retirees actually become less active, and gain weight!

A study called “The Effect of Retirement on Weight” followed almost 38,000 retirees and concluded that retirement contributed to weight gain.

Some of this weight gain was

from less activity after retiring, not more – even though most had more available time to be active. Unstructured meal times and eating out more often were also to blame.

Researchers also found that being overweight can shorten your life; for every 2.2 pounds gained after age eighteen, women’s odds of surviving past seventy dropped 5 percent.

Diseases to blame are cancer, heart disease, complications related to smoking and diabetes.

It is a fact that as we get older we need fewer calories to maintain our weight – about 5% less for every decade after 40.

To maintain weight we need at least one hour of moderate activity each day to keep the weight from sneaking on. And even though physical decline is typically 36 percent between the ages of 60 and 90, if you exercise regularly you can cut the drop by 50 percent or more.

The positive news is that weight gain and physical deterioration don’t have to be a part of your retirement future. Recognizing the potential to become less active and gain weight with retirement can be used to prod us into action, and create a plan. What’s a retired

girl to do? Follow these eight tips and to fight the statistics: Walk and talk. If you are a multitasker extraordinaire like me, walking can be a great opportunity to catch up with friends or listen to a sermon on the ipod. It can also be a great time to pray. Wear a pedometer if you want to see how many steps you’ve taken and miles you’ve walked – it’s a great motivator! Aim for 10,000 steps a day to keep off the pounds. Start slowly and work your way up, if you haven’t been active recently.

Walking videos work! There are many videos available, but

Leslie Sansone has great free videos ranging from 15 minutes to 50 minutes on You Tube.

They are worth watching sometime Get out of the chair regularly. Standing for at least 10 minutes every hour, whether you’re watching television or on the computer, will keep your metabolism burning, and is better for your back, too.

Eat the good stuff. Make your food choices mainly fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Stay away from junk food, and order wisely when eating out.

Eat earlier. If you can eat before 7pm, all the better for your body to digest the food before you go to bed.

Eat less calories. Click here to calculate how many calories you need to maintain or lose weight. To watch your portion sizes, try eating off of an eight inch plate, and forgo seconds.

Find someone to hold you accountable. With a support buddy you’re less likely to slip up or miss a workout.

Find an activity that you like.

Try new things, keep your mind open. Create an arsenal of ideas handy to turn to when you’re not sure what kind of exercise to do.

Although retirement is a time to enjoy some free time, don’t lose site on how important it is to take care of your spiritual and physical self. It takes effort to make a plan, then follow it, but it’s much easier to prevent weight gain and physical ailments than to lose weight and treat health conditions.

Use retirement as a time for you to focus on your health.

Making a commitment every day will be well worth it!

Page 31 Mature Living August 2014

Fashion

Older Celebrity Brides I

t’s summer wedding season, and brides everywhere are putting the finishing touches to their Big Day outfits. But what if you’re an older bride walking down the aisle for the second or third time, are you going with a big full-blown all-white gown or marching to your own beat in something unique? It looks like there might be no fashion rules – thankfully – when it comes to mature matrimony. Some like, Katie Couric, 57, who recently tied the knot this summer took a traditional route in a white lace gown. While others, like Tina Turner who married last summer, opted for a green gown with fishnet leggings. But then again, Turner is a rock star of legendary status, known to shimmy in skimpy leather dresses, so a white beaded gown would hardly seem to be her image. We round up a few memorable wedding dresses that mature women wore to walk down the aisle.

For her fifth wedding in 2002, fashion plate Joan Collins was a vision in lovely lavender when she tied the knot with Percy Gibson

ed actress, Julianne When the flamed-hair Freundilich in 2003, Bart Moore wed director ing non-traditional wedd ry ve a for ted she op . wn by Prada dress- a lavender go

Lisa Niemi, 57, the actress, dancer and author, who was married to the late Patrick Swayze, remarried this summer to jeweler Albert Deprisco. Niemi wore a stream-lined formfitting white gown.

Rock legend Tina Tu rn Erwin Bach in 2013 er, 73, for her nuptials to , wore a black and green silk tulle gown designe d by Giorgio Arma ni.

The embodiment of over-the-top excess, Ivana Trump, for her wedding to Rossano Rubicondi in 2008, opted for an ivory lace gown

ole Kidman went for For her second marriage, Nic gown by te a very traditional look – whi – for her wedding l vei h wit te ple Balenciaga, com 5.

200 in to Keith Urban in Australia

Page 32 Mature Living August 2014

For their intimate backyard wedding in 2008, both Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and Portia de Rossi, 35, opted for creamy white outfits designed

by Zac Posen.

For her marriage to Prince Charles in 2009, Camilla Parker Bowles donned a pale blue silk chiffon dress

by London label, Robinson Valentine, and topped it off with feathered hat by Philip Treacy.

How to pick the Swimming Costume

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ongratulations! You are finally taking a relaxing holiday to a sunny tropical

spot.

All you need to pack are a few shorts or pants a couple of tops and a Swimming costume.

Cue the music for “Jaws” when the young woman is

and suck. Repeat this mantra each time you put on your suit.

Tuck in your breasts, lift up your rear so it is in the swimming costume versus hanging out around the edges, and suck in your stomach when you walk to or get up from your lounge chair.

Never underestimate or abuse the power of the cover-up. A simple lightweight tank dress or oversized shirt is far more flattering than shorts and a tshirt and fits so well with pool or beach surroundings.

swimming in the ocean, as the thought of finding and wearing a swimming costume may cause equal amounts of dread and fear, as well as some blood curdling screams.

Relax a while and let us give you a few tips on how to pick the best swimming costume for you and get you back in the water, or at least be able to lie down on a lounge chair. We want you to enjoy your time in the sun in style and comfort.

Seven Tips on How To Pick The Swimming Costume Suit: Do not try on suits that are the same size as your clothes.

Don’t ask me why, but swimwear sizes do not correspond with clothing sizes.

Women need to try one to two sizes up for a flattering and comfortable fit.

Choose a suit in a color that compliments you. And FYI: Avoid white, especially if you plan on getting wet. White suits will always become see-through.

Highlight your smaller parts with lighter colours and camouflage your somewhat larger parts with darker colors. I use this trick to minimize what I

consume at the all you can eat at buffet tables and the few too many Pina Coladas.

Watch your back. No, really take a look and see if the shape of your back is pushing over the edge of your swimming costume. If it is, then go for a style that has a higher back so more of you is held in.

Of course you wish you had a smaller waistline, so look for suits that have shirring at the middle. The fabric gathering is a great way to disguise muffin tops and tummy poufs.

Tuck, lift and suck. Tuck, lift

10 Everyday Tips to Achieving Great Skin

By Andrea Ryan We all know that exercise and proper nutrition are huge factors in getting and maintaining great skin, but there are some other “must dos” to get your skin as healthy and youthful-looking as you can! Here are 10 simple, everyday tips on how to achieve great skin: 1. Keep your skin clean by using a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night.

Always go in an upward motion when cleansing your face. It’s important that you always start off with clean, moisturized skin before you apply any make-up and before you go to bed.

Ladies, do this no matter how tired you are. Cleanse your face in the morning with a gentle cleanser and cool water.

Unlike warm water, cool water constricts blood vessels and can help diminish redness and puffiness around the eyes.

2. Apply toner to freshen up your skin.

I like to use large cotton rounds as my applicator.

3. Apply a serum to your face,

neck and chest to begin keeping your skin hydrated.

Serum is the best way to bring proper nourishment to your skin. After your serum, apply a daytime moisturizer that contains at least a 15 SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Once again, apply to your face, neck and chest. I even suggest applying your SPF moisturizer to the back of your hands. They need protection, too!

4. Try to get a facial once a month.

If you can’t get a professional facial, treat yourself to an athome facial at least once a week. Use your mild cleanser, then exfoliate with a gentle scrub that contains exfoliants that are round and nonabrasive. Larger exfoliant shapes can injure the skin and cause irritation.

5. Apply a facial mask after exfoliating.

Try using simple egg whites as your mask. Apply the egg white and wait until it hardens, then rinse it off and see how shiny and smooth your face looks and feels!

6) Shorten your shower.

A long, hot shower may feel fabulous but it’s drying out your skin. Take lukewarm, short showers. Moisturize within 3 minutes of stepping out of the shower. By doing that, you will lock moisture into you skin.

7) Sleeping on your face can cause “sleep line” wrinkles over time. Avoid sleeping on your stomach if you can; try sleeping on your back or side, which is best. Definitely use a silk pillows to insure no wrinkles and keep your hair looking better, as well.

8) Get a good night’s sleep!

There’s a reason looking wellrested goes hand in hand with brighter, healthier skin.

A good night’s sleep allows your skin to rejuvenate itself, repair free-radical damage, and build new collagen.

9) Put your eye cream and moisturizers in the fridge to keep them cool, which makes these products even more beneficial.

When you wake up in the morning, your eyes can be puffy and dark; but once you massage the cool, soothing lotions and creams onto your face, your puffy eyes will disappear.

The coldness of the fridge will not only help your eyes and face but also give your product a longer shelf life.

10) Even when you’re steering clear of the sun, or it appears to be a cloudy day, always be sure your makeup foundation or moisturizer contains at least a SPF 15 or higher…I go higher!

Breakaways ...With so much to choose from, what better way to spend a day or so than at the beautiful Royal Marine Hotel…

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short drive along the South East coast will bring you to Dun Laoghaire, where overlooking the bay you will find the Royal Marine Hotel. Steeped in history, and a favorite with the locals, this landmark hotel is an impressive sight on the Dun Laoghaire skyline. A hotel has stood here since 1828. Many celebrities, and even royalty have passed through its doors over the decades. In 2004 this magnificent old building closed for restoration, a painstaking labour of love by the present owners.

Situated in an elevated site on 4 acres overlooking Dublin Bay, the hotel has stunning views that on a clear day stretch as far away as Howth; and yet is still only a short journey from down-town Dublin. The original hotel has been extensively but sympathetically renovated with precise attention to detail.

Discover the Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina

And it is just this same attention to detail, we extend to you as our guest – whether overnight or simply joining us for a drink in our bar or dining in our restaurant.

The large bay windows and high ceilings of the Bay Lounge highlight the grandeur and historic feel that is central to the hotel style. Lavishly furnished it is a comfortable and ideal venue to meet friends and family for coffee, lunch or perhaps to enjoy the age-old tradition of afternoon tea whilst overlooking the gardens, with spectacular views of the harbour. Our resident pianist completes the ambience every Saturday afternoon.

Or perhaps dine in relaxed style in our Dún Bistro where the delights of the Restaurant are matched only by the professional friendly service and stunning views over the harbour. Serving an Early Bird Menu, Table d’hote

and a la Carte Menus.

Try out lively Hardy’s Bar for a local drink (named after the famous actors and world famous partners Laurel & Hardy who stayed in the original Royal Marine Hotel). Food served every day until 10pm. Live music every Saturday night.

The Pier Health Club offers state-of-the-art cardio and resistance equipment, free weight area and a luxury 18 metre swimming pool. We are proud to offer our members a spacious, relaxed and welcoming environment in which to exercise. Or simply retreat into the hushed tranquillity of the sansanaSpa (the only Failté Ireland ‘comprehensive’ spa in Dublin) and choose pampering delights from our extensive treatment menu.

With so much to choose from, what better way to spend a day or so than at the beautifully restored Royal Marine Hotel…

Golden Years at Mount Falcon Estate €239 pp

3 nights Bed & Breakfast with 1 Bistro Dinner €25 Spa Credit (valid towards any 1 Hour Message or Facial) Complimentary use of the Estate Golf Driving Range Complimentary use of our leisure centre with 17m heated pool 100 acres of Estate woodlands, walks & river Moy Connaughts Best Restaurant 2013 (RAI)

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he fascinating history of one of Irelands finest surviving Anglo Irish grand houses awaits visitors to Mount Falcon Estate outside Ballina in County Mayo. After exploring 100 acres of mature forest and walkways, discover the archaeological remains of a 4,500 year old court tomb. A quick stroll around our 3 acre lake with resident ducks and then a few lengths in the 17 m indoor heated swimming pool, relax in our sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room and build up an appetite for traditional afternoon tea; served in opulent lounges in front of roaring open fires. Mount Falcon……something for everyone.

Transfers to local Bus & Train Station on request 10% discount at Foxford Wollen Mills Mayo on our Door Step

MOUNT FALCON, FOXFORD ROAD, BALLINA, CO. MAYO TEL: 096-74472 • FAX: 096-74473 EMAIL: EVENTS@MOUNTFALCON.COM • WEB: WWW.MOUNTFALCON.COM

Active Breaks at The Villa Rose Boutique Hotel and V-Spa 50+ Active Breaks

2B&B+2 Dinners €119pp 3B&B+3 Dinners €159pp 4B&B+4Dinners €199pp Includes Tea & Scones on arrival with Activities & Entertainment all week

Dancing for Pleasure Breaks

June 8th – 11th Inclusive €239pp 4 Nights B&B+4Dinners, Tuition & Dancing to Live Bands Nightly Anytime Golden Years Break Sunday – Thursday 3B&B+2Dinner €139pp No single Supplement on any of the above subject to availability

4 Star, Family Owned, Town Centre hotel

Reservations: 074-9132266 reservations@villarose.net • www.villarose.ie

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he Villa Rose Hotel is a 4 Star, family owned, boutique spa hotel located in the town centre of Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

Situated between Letterkenny & Donegal Town it is an ideal base from which to experience all that Donegal and the North West of Ireland have to offer.

The hotel comprises 57 beautifully appointed bedrooms, contemporary in design with the emphasis on absolute comfort acting as a home away from home. All bedrooms are ensuite and include safe, tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary bottled water, plasma screen tv & complimentary wi-fi.

Avail of free parking and complimentary newspapers each morning. Facilities include Fara’s Restaurant & Wine Bar for a delicious meal in modern and elegant surroundings, The Forge Bar with live light entertainment, The ‘Wee’ Bar serving lunch, bar food & specialty coffees overlooking Ballybofey’s bustling main street & The V Spa for pampering & relaxation.

The Villa Rose offer a wide range of holidays for the 50+ market including Ballroom & Sequence Dancing and 50+ Active Breaks including a range of

optional entertainment & activities to partake in during your stay. Whether you are looking for a relaxing break away or for an exciting trip with the possibility of meeting like minded friends then the Villa Rose is the destination for you. Contact Leona McGee – dedicated 50+ Events Marketing Coordinator at the Villa Rose for full details

Breakaways

Enjoy the beautiful views of the untouched countryside of Mayo

Join us here at Knock House Hotel and enjoy the beautiful views of the untouched countryside of County Mayo. It is a haven of peace and the perfect setting for a relaxing break. Located just 20 minutes from “Ireland West Airport Knock” and 10 minutes from Claremorris Train Station. Take up our 4 Day special Offer for February and March of €199 includes 4 Nights B&B and 4 Evening Meals.

During your break with us we cater to your every need , and it’s a lovely opportunity to make friends and mix with like- minded people. Enjoy our Four Seasons Restaurant which overlooks a beautiful garden and captures the magnificent spire of the Basilica. Over the years it has earned an enviable reputation of food, wine & service.

Knock House Hotel is within minutes of wonderful attractions including Knock Marian Shrine and Museum. Within a short drive; Fr Peyton Memorial, Museum of Country Life (Turlough ), Foxford Woollen Mills and the Western Greenway Cycling Route, and within an hour’s drive, Kylemore Abbey, Michael Davitt Museum and Ceide Fields. Local outdoor activities include hiking and walking, golf, horse riding and angling.

Enniscrone Beach is within a 40 min drive where you can swim, surf or enjoy a seaweed bath.

To book this wonderful deal please call Karen on 0949388088

Special Offer From Knock House Hotel 2 Nights Bed, Breakfast and 2 Evening meals May, June & July €160pp When you call to book Quote : Mature Living PHONE KAREN NOW! *This offer is exclusive to Mature Living Readers and can not be used in conjunc"on with any other offers. *Subject to availability *Terms and Condi"ons apply

Knock House Hotel, Knock, Co Mayo www.knockhousehotel.ie • info@knockhousehotel.ie Tel: 094 9388088 • Fax: 094 9388044

Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB

Over 55’s Special Offer 3 B&B + 3 Dinners From

€150pps

4 and 5 Night Breaks also Available

Subject to Availability Available on Selected Dates

Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071 919 0400

www.sligoparkhotel.com • Email: Sligo@leehotels.com

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warm welcome awaits you at the fourstar Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club, On the outskirts of Sligo Town in the Heart of Yeats’ Country set in quiet parkland and surrounded by some of the most scenic countryside in Ireland ranging from the majestic Benbulben to the gentle waters of Lough Gill. In the heart of Yeats’ country for over 40 years, the Sligo Park Hotel is a well established favourite.

Relax in the spacious lobby; take a stroll into town or venture to the nearby ancient sites including Carrowmore, Slish Wood, Dooney Rock & Knocknarea or an abundance of woodland retreats.

Wherever your interests lie, Sligo is sure to have something to offer.

Stroll along Atlantic shores taking in some stunning scenery. Why not try your hand at pottery, take a walk up Knocknarea mountain or go surfing in Strandhill?

After a days exploring, sit back and relax in the jacuzzi before savouring the atmosphere of the Rathanna bar and Garden Terrace and enjoying the creative delights in the Hazelwood Restaurant.

Sligo is surprising !

Visit the stunning Leitrim countryside tours and visits to the surrounding unspoiled countryside. The location facilitates visits to the many nearby lakes that comprise the Leitrim countryside and shopping in nearby Sligo or Enniskillen A visit to Lough Allen hotel & Spa in Drumshanbo is a must and there are packages to suit any budget.

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ne of the best places to base a home holiday or a week-end break is, undoubtedly, the Lough Allen Hotel in County Leitrim. Situated on the shores of Lough Allen, only 14 km from the bustling town of Carrick on Shannon, it is only a short walk to the town of Drumshanbo.

The hotel has offerings to compare with the top hotels in Ireland and also has the stunning Leitrim countryside. Spa treatments, leisure centre and a sumptuous candlelight dinner are all part of what’s on offer for an unforgettable break. A family re-union can be rounded off with a lavish evening meal It is an ideal wedding venue or conference centre.

The central location of the hotel in Leitrim facilitates

Drumshanbo • Co Leitrim www.loughallenhotel.com

Mid Week 2 Nights B&B Offer 2 Nights B&B for 2 people Only €99 Available Sun-Thur Only...€49.50pps

Please mention Mature Living Leinster when booking

To Book Call 071-9640100 or email reservations@loughallenhotel.com

Mature Dating

The New Rules for Dating After 50

Raise your hand if any of the following apply to you: You’re a worried 50-something trying to traverse the dating scene. Divorce or widowhood has thrown a wrench in your plan of growing old with your spouse and now it’s time to jump back into the dating game. Or maybe you never found that special someone and the new dating culture is slightly (ok, very) intimidating.

Don’t worry! You’re not a fish out of water. Even though it always seems like you’re surrounded by blissful, married couples, there are many other 50-somethings having the same dating frustration. Yes, the dating game has changed in the digital age. And no, learning to navigate these new advancements doesn’t require sophisticated technical skills. The challenge comes in determining which method is best for you— because there’s no rules in digital dating!

So, where should you start?

Email + Telephone Does a mutual friend want to match you up with someone fabulous? Consider exchanging emails. Just don’t let the backand-forth continue for too long.

Once you’ve established mutual interests, exchange phone numbers so you can be your authentic self! Or, instead of just a regular phone call, try using an iPhone or iPad to FaceTime to

develop a personal connection at a time when digital dating can seem impersonal.

Online Dating Whether you’re curious about online dating or a seasoned expert, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t dismiss it just yet!

First, ask for some help setting up your profile. Ask your techsavvy kids or a close friend to take a few photos for your profile—you know they’re always honest and will help you choose the best one. Many of the larger online dating sites also offer technical support via email, phone or have a comprehensive FAQ section.

Expand your idea of your ideal match or the perfect date. Online dating gives you the opportunity to meet different types of people. You can find that person who loves to play music or who’s a vegan or even someone younger than you! It’s important to not get too caught up in your list (you know, the one that gives a detailed account of the traits your perfect mate has) because you might be missing out on some fantastic potential matches!

Other Tips It might seem impolite to ignore potential matches that email you, but only pick three or four people that you’re interested in

getting to know better. Focus on them so you can avoid feeling overwhelmed.

In the new digital realm there are many opportunities to meet new people. People should avoid assuming something is serious too soon. Let’s say you hit it off via email, had some side-

splitting conversations on the phone and even had a perfect first date. But hold it! It might be a mistake to only focus on one person at a time. I’m not saying that two people can’t click immediately and begin an exclusive relationship, but just be aware of your dating situa-

tion, and don’t take other opportunities for granted! Initiate contact with anyone you deem interesting, and see what you can catch!

You can still find Mr. Right after 50—and online dating apps are the new “It” space.

3 Common Online Dating Mistakes Women Over 50 Make

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he reason I'm such a strong advocate for online dating is because I know it's the easiest place to meet single men over 50. The problem is, no one gives you the rules for being successful with it.

In fact, I've found three common mistakes women over 50 consistently make that end up totally frustrating them in their search for Mr. Right. It's time to change that. That's why I'd like to share these 3 mistakes with you, along with what you can do to successfully find a great guy online.

Mistake #1 - Not Displaying Your Unique You! Having success finding quality men to date online starts with posting a great profile and picture that makes you stand out from everyone else. Most women usually list their qualities in their profile as a way of getting a man's

attention. An example is...

I am a kind hearted, professional woman who likes to travel, be around water, shop, and go to movies.

Although a sentence like this gives a lot of information about you... it reads like a dating resume. It's dry and does nothing to make you stand out.

And there's nothing in it that would get a man excited about meeting you. Here is an example of a sentence I've seen when it comes to describing the men women want to meet.

I'm seeking a man who is truly interested in working on a relationship and willing to give at least 50 percent to a relationship.

The first sentence is heavy and a man reads it as this woman is still bitter from a past relationship where a man didn't bring enough of himself to the table. The second sentence is very general and subjective.

What 'comfortable in your own skin' means to you could be totally different than what it means to a man. It's a broad sentence that, again, won't engage a man to contact you.

Instead, write the list of qualities you want in a man.

Then create a story using a couple of those qualities along with one or two of the activities you love to do. This type of profile will engage a man, helping him identify that he's the one you are looking for.

Mistake #2 - Forgetting To Play Dating feels like a chore when you don't know how to play and flirt with men either online or in the real world. I used to recommend not writing men first because most women would write something like this...

I like your profile. It sounds like we have so much in common. I hope you'll write me back.

BORING! BORING! STILL BORING! Go ahead and write a man but be playful. As an example, if a man is wearing a suit in his picture, write him and say something like...

I love when a man wears a suit.

He looks really sexy.

It's flirty, fun and engaging and a man feels good hearing this.

I'll share a secret about men...

They love compliments just like you do and this is the type of flirting that allows you to choose the men you want to go out with, versus always being chosen by men you don't want.

You are still a beautiful, sensual woman and flirting brings this back out in you. It's unbelievably appealing to men!

Mistake #3 - Not Knowing How To Relate To Over 50s Alpha Men I've found most women want an Alpha Man in their life. Why?

Because he makes her feel safe and protected. Life has changed since then and so have women who are now capable of doing this for themselves.

And this has created a huge problem for men.

Why? Men don't feel needed by women our age anymore. And when a man doesn't feel needed, guess who he turns to?

That's right...a younger women who can make an Alpha Man feel his strongest and best because he's needed.

Women don't realize that the way they talk sounds like, "Wah wah wah," to a man.

He tunes you out and as you know, this only frustrates you more.

But if you really get who men are and you know how to talk with them so they hear you...well, they'll jump through hoops and climb over mountains to be there for you. And that feels pretty good!

Feature

From Empty Nest to Full House: Preparing for Eldercare who does not live with her, according to research and surveys. She is married and employed and more than a third have children or grandchildren under the age of 18 living with them. So what can you do to be better prepared to handle eldercare responsibilities? Here are four tips to get you and your family prepared for longer lives.

T

here’s a silent evolution going on for many baby boomer women. The days of the carefree empty nester are disappearing.

In its place: the full house (figuratively or literally). More women in their 50s are finding their responsibilities expand rather than contract: elder care responsibilities, continuing responsibility for adult children; help raising grandchildren; and, worry about your own financial future. No wonder we’re feeling tired and more than a bit overwhelmed.

Why? Because the roles we spent a lifetime perfecting suddenly get turned upside down. Let’s take a look at eldercare. Going to visit Mum and Dad is no longer about fitting into the familiar role of being the child. Suddenly you’re thrust into the role of parenting your parents with no road map for how this should

work and quite often parents who are no better prepared for the role reversal. I joke that for years I had no idea where my parents were as they traveled, holidayed and visited friends.

But after my father’s debilitating stroke almost overnight I knew not only exactly where they were, but struggled with them to make decisions about life changes ahead. None of us was prepared for this change in relationship.

We could have been.

Preparing for Eldercare There are thousands of caregivers in the country caring for people over the age of 50.

With baby boomers aging and continued advancement in medical care that number is expected to continue to climb.

Approximately 66% of family caregivers are women. The typical family caregiver is a 49year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother

Page 37 Mature Living August 2014

Tip 1. Talk to your parents now about what they want as they age.

Don’t wait. It’s not an easy conversation, but you will be so glad you did if a health crisis hits. Where do they want to live when they can’t get around as easily? Do they have resources earmarked for care, like long term health insurance, that could help pay for care if they need it? Government help are available to those who are impoverished but waiting lists can be long. Is moving into your home a solution and if so what steps would you need to take to make it “senior friendly?”

Are there big do’s on their list or mandatory don’ts? Do you have the names of their doctors and where their legal documents are located? Has a power of attorney been designated? A popular document used by many planners is “Five Wishes” which helps guide a person through the financial, emotional and spiritual aspects of aging. One of the toughest aspects of caregiving is the emotional strain or guilt of wondering if you are doing what they wanted. Get their

perspective while their able and healthy.

Tip 2. Don’t make promises.

Know their preferences, express your commitment to that direction but don’t make promises you can’t keep. You just don’t know what lies ahead. Their health condition may be such that you can’t keep them in their own home or yours. Make sure you feel you have permission to do what’s best for all involved if they can no longer make decisions on their own. (This advice applies to spouses and siblings, too.)

Tip 3. Get your siblings onboard.

Nothing rekindles sibling rivalry like talking about who knows what’s best for Mum or Dad. So try to broach the subject with your brothers or sister before a crisis hits. Get a sense of what resources each bring and the role each might play when the time comes. Ask anyone who has been through an eldercare crisis and they can tell you that the worst time to start planning and organising is at the hospital discharge meeting.

Tip 4. Plan for Yourself.

The statistics tell us that there is very good likelihood that many of us will live into our 80s and 90s. And that more than 70% of us will need some type of long term care assistance over the age of 65. Planning for long term care should be part of your financial and retirement planning. Some people have

enough money to self-finance long term care which can cost upwards of €60,000 per year.

Long term care insurance is another way to pay for care in the future and, the best time to buy it is when you are in your 50s and healthy. The key is to have both a long term care plan and a way to finance the care you want. That’s a great gift to give your children.

If you are considering quitting your job to care for your family member make sure you understand the financial impact on your own retirement plans (income, social security benefits, health insurance costs to name a few). Eldercare can be an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs with loving memorable moments and unbridled frustration. Ask anyone who has been there. The good news is that by planning ahead some of the decisions will be easier and the stress less.

A

ustralia, being such a large country (it’s an Island, a continent as well as a country, to be exact), it’s natural to be intimidated by all the many sights and things to do.

And with friendly citizens and a land rich in diverse cultural backgrounds and indigenous traditions from thousands of years ago still recognized today, it’s no wonder why the Australian culture is often seen to be very similar to the Irish culture. But with a bit more of a laid back attitude. And with more beaches, of course!

We’ve compiled the top three reasons why you as a Irish traveler should finally add a checkmark next to ‘visit Australia’ on your bucket list.

And, of course, why you need to specifically book a tour when you visit Australia.

Convenience and Time Saving: The Outback or the beach? Tour the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Blue Mountains? And this is just Sydney – then you must think about Melbourne and Cairns and so on. You wouldn’t want to travel all the way to Australia just to see one city. Plus, it would be quite hard to jam several activities into one holiday, and plan them each out in a timely manner on your own when unexpected delays could crop up.

There are many organized cross-city tours that take you from Sydney to Melbourne, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and so on within one vacation package. Often these tours include return flights, accommodations, most meals, hiking trails and various

The Great Ocean Road

activities like snorkeling, and of course, plenty of photosnapping opportunities.

Safe and Never Boring: From dining on a luxury boat cruise overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to dinner on a first class train from Sydney to Melbourne, no two nights are the same when you travel with an organized tour.

Organized tours are known as being a safe way to travel as you’re with a group and activity levels are appropriate for all ages no matter who is on the tour. These tours ensure that each day will be vastly different from the next as there are many pre-planned and well-organized activities – saving you a lot of time in the preparation process of having to research each place individually. Each site visit is seamless, safe and easy – one day you could be visiting Blue Mountains just west of Sydney and the next day you’d be heading on a train to visit Michaelmas Cay (The Great Barrier Reef).

Get Your Fill on The Popular and The “Hidden Gems”: Booking a tour that takes you to many cities throughout the country ensures you don’t miss a beat, treat or feat! Did you know about The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant in Melbourne? While bustling through the hip streets of Melbourne on a tram, The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant allows you to enjoy a four course meal including Kangaroo Loin, Tasmanian Ocean Trout, Victoria Fillet as well as a selection of Australian cheeses.

Did you also know that

Freycinet National Park / Wineglass Bay throughout the country, you don’t ever have to tip any waiters when dining in restaurants? It’s not customary to tip waiters in Australia, saving you money to enjoy your travels (or grab a few extra souvenirs from each city on your tour!).

Another reason why Australia is a great place to visit?

It’s affordable – internal roundtrip flights within Australia are roughly €150. Australia is affordable, it’s safe, and it’s got a lot of fascinating places to visit.

Let your travel agent help you add a checkmark to your bucket list today and assist you in incorporating several Australian destinations in an easy 14-day, 19-day, 22-day or 27-day allinclusive voyage along the east-coast of Australia! Most travel agents will guide you through your trip planning process from end-to-end seamlessly. On everything from

baggage limits, ideal climates for particular locations, offbeaten path delights, insights on the best of restaurants, cafes and shopping, and all the best airfare deals.

The Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road, located in Victoria, is arguably one of the best scenic drives of the world. Its official length is 243 kms (approximately 150 miles), but it will take you a full day to enjoy it due to the narrow and windy traffic lanes (only one in each direction). It hugs the coast line with panoramic views of the ocean and cliffs, and it winds its way through cool climate rain forests.

There are many beaches that you can stop and swim at along the drive, and also numerous townships, hikes, and other attractions for you to partake in.

The Grampians National Park Located in Victoria, 175 kms

Great Barrier Reef

north of Warrnambool (the official end of the Great Ocean Road) is the Grampians National Park and the township of Halls Gap. The park is 1,672 km² in size and is host to amazing hikes, series of low-angled sandstone ridges, and is one of the richest Indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern Australia.

Its beauty and grandeur are well known to locals, and stuns all who come to visit. You can almost feel the magic of the Indigenous dream time legends in the land around you.

Fraser Island Located just off the coast near Hervey Bay in Queensland, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. With over 120 kilometres of pristine beaches it's easy to understand why thousands of people visit each month. The most popular way to get around the island is by hiring a 4wd for 2-3 days and explore where ever your fancy takes you.

With inland fresh water lakes, rainforests with rare flora and fauna, the Dingo, wrecks for snorkelling and scuba diving, gorgeous beaches, and much more, it's no wonder this paradise is such a sought after tourist destination.

Great Barrier Reef Located in Queensland, this attraction, along with Uluru and the Sydney Opera House, is one of those attractions that is known by virtually everyone, and is synonymous with Australia.

Stretching for approximately 2,300 kms, it is home to a vast wealth or rare, endangered, and unique animal and plant species.

It's hard to recommend one particular area of the reef to visit, but most people agree that the Whitsunday Islands are absolutely stunning, and we recommend taking a 2-3 day sailing trip/tour around the area.

With snorkelling and scuba diving areas literally everywhere you are bound to experience wonders that will stay with you for the

Kakadu National Park

Fraser Island

rest of your life!

Daintree Rainforest Located in northern Queensland, approximately 110 kms north of Cairns (and don't forget to stop at Port Douglas on your way, it's stunning), the rainforest is a nature wonderland. It is Australia's largest rainforest, about 30% of Australia's reptile, marsupial and frog species, 65% of the country's bat and butterfly species, and 20% of Australia's native bird species can be found within the Daintree. And let's not forget it's also home to a prehistoric bird, the Cassowary!

With so many things to see and do, including: crocodile boat tours, visiting one of several animal sanctuaries, going on a mangrove adventure tour, hikes, local Indigenous tours/history, it's easy to see why it's such a popular destination for tourists and nature lovers alike.

Kakadu National Park Located approximately 200 kms south east of Darwin in the

Grampian National Park Victoria Northern Territory, Kakadu national park covers nearly 20,000 km² (3.2 million acres), and includes the traditional lands of several Indigenous tribes. With over 5,000 rock painting sites, it's easy to see that this area was particularly sacred to the traditional landowners.

It is a natural wonder that holds both a World Heritage Area listing and as a UNESCO site (there are only two other sites in the world that hold both awards). With stunning gorgeous, rare and endangered animals and plants, the notorious salt water crocodile, and many other natural attractions, this park will leave you breathless and in awe of both its history, it's remoteness, and it's power.

Ayers Rock Enough said. If you come to Australia you must see Uluru (in the Northern Territory). So many times we have heard people say something like, "I was not going to bother, you know, it's just a rock. But once I started to get closer, and it got bigger, and bigger, and bigger, it's hard to put into words the feeling that overcome me. You could feel the history, the magic, the splendour that is Uluru".

So if you are thinking about not making the journey, rethink your plans and make it happen somehow.

Something that we'd recommend is taking a guided tour from Adelaide. These normally span 3 days minimum (and can go for 7+), but well

worth it. You'll get to see much more than just the rock that is Uluru!

Freycinet National Park / Wineglass Bay Down in pristine Tasmania, sticking out into the sea on Tasmania's mild east coast is the rugged and beautiful Freycinet Peninsula, home to Wineglass Bay. The peninsula is home to numerous other bays which provide beautiful secluded swimming beach, snorkelling and scuba areas, rock pools, and many other attractions.

With many hikes (one goes along the entire peninsula and takes 3 days), guided ranger activities, camping areas, an outdoor theatre, scenic drives, there are enough activities to keep you busy for many days.

DISCOVER FUN AND Bridge - A Beautiful Game

Call for a golf lesson today with Brendan McDaid in Dublin on 087 243 6805 or email info@brendanmcdaidgolf.com www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

PI is home to Senshido Ireland. Mick O'Brien is part of the Senshido Interna!onal Team and also Senshido Europe.

Our Mission is to teach REAL self-defence through Proven awareness strategies that enhances your overall personal safety and wellbeing and World-renowned physical tac!cs that can be applicable to anyone, despite gender, size or age that have empowered and saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world from suffering violence!

For more Informa!on go to www.selfprotec!on.ie Telephone: 087 707 7394 • Email: info@selfprotec!on.ie

Ranald Milne Bridge Classes • For Beginners • For Improvers • For Intermediates • For Masters Telephone: 086 3868480 dublinbridge@iibi.ie (www.iibi.ie/dublinbridge

“Bridge is the most entertaining and intelligent card game the wit of man has so far devised…everyone should learn it…”, so wrote the author Somerset Maugham.

Today, bridge is still one of the world’s most popular pastimes with tens of thousands playing it on the internet at this, and every, moment. 36 countries competed in this year’s European Championships. The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland, which organises our national competitions, has in excess of 20,000 members in Leinster alone, where there are more than 280 bridge clubs to choose from (not even counting the bridge played socially in Tennis and Golf clubs) and where some 30 schools will offer Bridge as a transition year subject next term.

And that’s because Bridge is a microcosm of life in the raw. For those few hours you’ll be set any number of challenges, both to your intellect – your memory, logic and cunning – and to your personality - coping with winning, losing, your mistakes, partner’s

mistakes and the opponents’ blind luck (your luck, of course, being entirely deserved!)

So, if you’d like an adrenaline rush without jumping out of an aeroplane, then give bridge a go. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised.

The Sheer Satisfaction of Growing Your Own

G

ardening doesn't just exercise your body, it exercises your mind as well.

Planning what to grow and when to sow is more complex than you might think.

Now before you think I've lost it completely, growing a cauliflower is not that easy. The correct variety has to be chosen for the time of year, sown in the right mix and transplanted at the right point into a specially prepared bed. Then it has to be fertilised, defended from weeds, marauding pigeons and hungry caterpillars until, with luck, you end up the proud owner of a wonderful white cauliflower surrounded by dark green leaves and tasting better than any cauliflower you have eaten before.

It might not look any better than those sitting on the grocer's shelf and it might even have a bug or two hiding amongst the curds but you know exactly what has gone into growing it. No nasty pesticide residues

to be absorbed or 'food miles' accumulated transporting it halfway around the world.

Extra Fresh Beans By now you might begin to grasp the sheer satisfaction you can get from growing your own, but it doesn't stop there. You will suddenly discover how popular growing your own makes you. The first time you have a glut and donate some extra fresh beans or lettuce to a friend your fate is sealed.

They'll be back round to see you in short order. Unlike most hobbies that cost you, growing your own is profitable. Your own vegetables cost very little in comparison to the cost of buying vegetables.

I'd encourage anyone to grow their own but, even if you have a large garden, an allotment provides a change of scenery, an interesting bunch of people that you probably would never meet elsewhere and advice on tap. All joking aside, it is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can have.

Yoga Fitness Yoga Fitness is a bright, uplifting place, with a caring, relaxed and fun atmosphere.

It’s exceptionally well equipped and is in a great location right in the centre of Dun Laoghaire Feel and look healthy and confident Learn how to relax and release stress Yoga - Pilates - Zumba •Yoga for Men- Body Toning • Yoga for Sports and Runners • Yoga for Active Retirement • Restorative Yoga (stretch and relax) Pregnancy Yoga • Join today and receive an instructional DVD for free!

79 Georges St. Lower, Dun Laoghaire • Tel: 085-7637981 info@yogafitness.ie - See more at www.yogafitness.ie

Cookery Lessons and Classes Courses start from €50.00 Lady Eve’s teaching methods are simple, clear, to the point and memorable. We all want to be in the presence of great food, good wine and close friends. Lady Eve delivers the teaching method so well. She teaches with ease and comfort, in a way that’s unforgettable.

Donnybrook, Dublin 4 • Tel: 086 227 0125 e: nikki@ladyevecookery.com • www.ladyevecookery.com

EXCITING HOBBIES So you want to write? ... and get paid A huge range of women’s magazines welcome reader’s letters, and usually pay.

What do readers want to read?

In the short story market, standards are high, competition fierce, the outlets restricted. You need to research publications thoroughly to stand any chance of acceptance. It is not just a matter of writing a story and submitting it to any magazine that takes your fancy; you need to assess what editors are looking for.

Some publications offer writers useful guidelines; ignore them at your peril! Intensely study your chosen magazine. Count the number of words of the published short stories. If most are the popular length of around 1,000 words, it is no good hoping for an acceptance for your 2,000 word submission. Approach by e-mail, (letters are now out of favour)

W

riting is a great hobby for men and women over 50.

It can pay and there's an enormous market out there.

Thousands of book publishers, newspaper and magazine editors are in need of continuous supplies of material, not only in Ireland but, in this digital age, all around the world. If you fancy getting ‘into print’ and be paid, here are some basic, useful tips to improve your chances.

One of the best ways of getting practical help at the start is by

joining your local writers' group, where the membership is likely to range from raw beginners, to published authors. Many local colleges run evening classes on writing improvement, others offer long distance courses. The ‘Writer and Artists’ Year Book’ and ‘The Writers’ Handbook’ are essential reading for all writers.

Useful magazines such as ‘Writers’ News’ and Writers’ Forum’ are available either from newsagents, online or by subscription. Book shops offer many

with a brief, business-like, query, asking if they might be interested; if they say ‘no’ try another suitable publication.

Limitless material The market for feature articles is far, far greater and easier to break into. The advice is the same as for short stories. Do your research. What to write about?

Subject matter is limitless.

Play to your strengths.

Do you have an unusual hobby that readers would find fascinating?

Be persistent. Keep checking out any available markets where you can sell your work. Develop a radar system where incidents in everyday life can be turned into a good story or an interesting article.

Want to write a book?

Well, that’s another story!

‘how to’ titles for aspiring scribes.

A great hobby for men & women over 50 A reasonably easy start to get into print is by writing letters to your local paper. Mention something local that you feel strongly about; make it controversial and the editor will love it! There’s little chance here of any payment but, hey, your name is in the press. First rung up the writing ladder.

Pigeon Racing - Fancy that!

P

igeon racing grew up in the industrial areas of Britain where it was known as ‘poor man’s horse racing’, and was enjoyed by the working class man. Today,

the sport is enjoyed by people from varied social backgrounds including professors, doctors, vets, school teachers and business owners as well as tradesmen, lorry drivers

and gravediggers! Even her Majesty the Queen, patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, has a loft at Sandringham where she continues a long line of Royal participation

going back to her great grandfather. Fanciers across Ireland keep their pigeons in specially designed lofts. These vary from small structures housing perhaps a dozen birds to larger premises where hundreds of pigeons are kept for both racing and breeding purposes.

Members compete against each other racing in clubs.

Apart from his pigeons a fancier will require a special timing clock. The secret of the race is traditionally a small rubber band that is placed around the pigeon’s leg.

Club members will enter their pigeons into a race and after being ‘race rubbered’ the pigeons go into a basket on a special airconditioned transporter constructed to carry racing panniers. The trans-

porters travel to a fixed starting point for the race (the liberation site).

When the fancier has taken his pigeons to the club he will also have taken his timing clock and all the members’ clocks are synchronised. Because the club members may live anywhere in a town the finishing point is varied depending on where the fancier lives so each pigeon is racing a different distance. At an agreed time the pigeons are released a transport official at the liberation site and the pigeons race home.

When the pigeon arrives back at the loft the fancier has to take the rubber band from the pigeon’s leg and place the band in the timing clock.

As he does, so he ‘strikes’ the clock thus recording

the arrival time of the pigeon.

The winner of a race is calculated by dividing the distance from the liberation site to the loft divided by time it has taken for the pigeon to fly home. This gives the pigeon its velocity and the bird with the fastest speed is declared the winner. Pigeons can cover astonishing distances at speeds in excess of sixty miles per hour; top racers can therefore achieve more than five hundred miles in one day. Traditionally the sport covers two main routes; north road racers fly their birds south from places such as Thurso and Lerwick, whereas south road liberation points can be as far away as Pau in Southern France and Barcelona in Spain

Adult Education

Going back to school when you're Over 40, 50 or 60 portunity to get your degree or take continuing education classes at home on line.

College Life for Older Students It's a good idea to look into the social environment of the schools you are considering.

Some schools focus on full-time students, and schedule courses almost exclusively during daytime hours when older people may be unable to attend classes. Other colleges and universities run special programs to ensure their schools are viable

A

re you considering going back to school? If you're over 40 it may have been years since you've studied anything in a formal classroom setting. Maybe you just want to keep your mind sharp. Perhaps with the shifting state of the economy you are considering ways to strengthen your resume to achieve greater financial security. Or, are you being drawn to the vibrant college environment with its variety of viewpoints and social opportunities?

Whatever your reasons for considering continuing your education, it can be a difficult, even intimidating step to take, but one that may well be worth it.

How will you handle the cost of tuition? Is there financial aid out there for you? Do people over 40, 50 or 60 really belong in a setting dominated by undergraduate students in their late teens and early twenties?

Fortunately the situation is far different from what you may imagine. It is becoming much more common for people who spend years in the workforce, or

who take years off to raise children, to decide to go back to school.

What Type of School is Right for You? The easiest, and often cheapest, back-to-school option for "non-traditional" students, which includes the over 40 crowd, is often to enroll in a community college. Anyone who lives in the community can enroll to take courses at a price much lower than a more traditional university. This can be an excellent way to take a few classes close to home. You'll get a feel for the college environment while earning college credits. Once you are comfortable with attending a community college, you may decide it is the right environment for you, or you may decide to continue your education at a larger college. To a great degree which school you attend will be based on your location and ties to the community, or on your interest in relocating. And now there is even the growing op-

options for older students. This includes a separate admissions process and access to financial aid. There are also schools and programs that focus their attention almost entirely on less traditional students. Numerous small career training schools across the country design their schedules around making classes available at hours when adult workers are most likely to attend.

Taking Classes On-Line The web offers a wealth of col-

lege and university on-line bachelors and graduate degree programs, as well as enrichment classes.

This can be an especially important option for homebound seniors or those who live a distance from a college or university. In many cases scholarships, grants, discounts, college loans or other financial aid may still apply.

Make sure, however, before enrolling in an online degree program that you determine that the college or university is accredited.

The

Exhibition

www.matureliving.ie

E T A M I T L THE U

SHOW

Sun 23 Nov Mon 24 Nov at the

Sligo Park Hotel

• Fashion Show • Genealogy • Health Checks • Investment Advice • Alternative Therapies • Job Expo • Legal Advice • Crafts & Baking • Afternoon Tea Dance • Antique valuations • Home Improvement • Holidays • Recruitment Opportunities • Motoring • Gardening • Cosmetic procedures • Computing and Internet tuition • Personal finance • Property ..... to name but a few!

This event is the ideal place for industry enthusiasts to network and showcase their products to their target market.

To Book a Stand call Seamus on 085-2498067

Therapies

Hypnotherapy Explained understand and redress any imbalance between the two, resulting in reduced feelings of stress and anxiety and increased feelings of calmness and positive energy. Clinical Hypnotherapy has been used widely and successfully for many years in Australia and overseas for the relief of a number of problems and conditions.

M

uch modern day mental and emotional distress and even some physical illness can be traced to underlying anxiety, tension and stress arising out of an imbalance between our cognitive or conscious beliefs and desires, and the beliefs and desires we hold below conscious awareness in the sub-conscious mind.

Modern Clinical Hypnotherapy is a powerful form of Psychotherapy combing cognitive therapeutic counselling techniques with subconscious healing techniques.

What does a Hypnotherapist do?

The old image of a man with a

beard dangling a watch or a crystal in front of your eyes and taking control of your mind is just a myth made up for comic books, movies and TV. Being hypnotised feels just like being very relaxed. Modern hypnotherapists will simply assist you to become so deeply relaxed that, with a little guidance, you can begin to make the changes you want to make to your automatic behaviors and/or emotional reactions so they become positive for you instead of negative.

Clinical Hypnotherapy can assist you to come into conscious awareness of your sub-conscious beliefs and desires and thus enables you to begin to

Benefits of Hypnotherapy Well known in the community as being effective for giving up smoking and for weight management, Clinical Hypnotherapy is also powerful in many areas of life in which people experience symptoms of pain, stress, anxiety and tension – some examples are listed below: Pain management Stop smoking Fears and phobias Stress management Improved memory Gambling addiction Sporting performance Academic performance Exam nerves Sexual problems Performance anxiety Gaining self-confidence Improving motivation Overcoming grief Overcoming insomnia Pre-menstrual tension Nail biting Bed wetting Gaining permanent, positive outcomes from Clinical Hypnotherapy can take anywhere from one or two sessions to many weeks of therapy depending upon the complexity of the problem and the nature of the underlying subconscious beliefs that are causing or contributing to the problem. Clinical Hypnotherapists may belong to one of many hypnotherapy associations so It's worth asking the hypnotherapist about their qualifications and checking with the association for clarification.

What is a Wellness Coach?

Are you feeling a little out of sorts? Feel that you’re not achieving your goals? Or do you just need to be steered in the right direction? If so, a wellness coach might be just what the natural therapist ordered!

We all want to live well and enjoy a healthy and long life.

Sometimes, however, we get off track or aren’t sure how to move forward with our lives. A wellness coach is a mentor who can partner with you in reaching your goals and making the most out of your life.

What Does a Wellness Coach do?

Wellness coaching is a relatively new field in the health arena.

You could say the modality has arisen from society’s focus on living longer.

Wellness coaches are professionals who help people make a blueprint for their lives.

You might want to change your career, lose weight, find better balance or start a family. Or perhaps you’ve lost sight of your

goals and need to find a new direction.

What to Expect in a Wellness Coaching Session A wellness coach can help you identify the roadblocks that are holding you back. In this way, your coach becomes a mentor who can put a fresh perspective on things and offer suggestions on which steps to take next.

Your coach is likely to use a broad range of tools and techniques in your session. They may tap into counselling, goal setting and a range of other therapies to coach you and help you set life goals.

Finding a Wellness Coach Many life coaches can be considered wellness coaches.

The easiest way to find a life coach is to use the free ntpages directory. You can search for life coaches in your area and compare their services and coaching styles.

Once you’ve found a wellness coach, you can look forward to renewed vigour and ambition.

Offering holistic therapy: Reiki treatments, Reiki workshops, Autogenic Training workshops and Mindfulness Meditation classes in the heart of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire.

Both clinics are conveniently located close to main bus routes and train stations.

Melanie Pelka is a certified and experienced Reiki therapist/teacher, Autogenic Training therapist/teacher and Mindfulness Meditation practitioner/teacher.

Appointments in Dun Laoghaire and Dublin 4 • Mobile: 087 1319891 E: info@dublinreiki.com • W: www.dublinreiki.com Page 44 Mature Living August 2014

Alternative Therapies - Acupuncture

Weight Control Chronic Fatique Syndrome

A

cupuncture is a system of healing that focuses on improving the overall well being of the patient.

Health problems are treated by the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points.

Originating in China, these points have been mapped out over two thousand years and have more recently been confirmed through electromagnetic research.

Traditional acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (energy), also referred to as Chi and Xue (blood) through distinct pathways or meridians that cover the body.

Acupuncture, that is inserting special needles into acupoints, stimulates and enhances the free flow of Qi, therefore regulating the harmonious energetic balance of the body.

This consequently relieves pain and restores health.

Conditions Treated with Acupuncture The list of conditions commonly treated with acupuncture is extensive and includes: Allergies / Asthma Arthritis / Joint Problems Back Pain Bladder / Kidney Problems Constipation / Diarrhoea Cough / Bronchitis Dizziness Drug Addiction / Smoking Fatigue Gynaecological Disorders Headache / Migraine Health Maintenance Heart Problems / Palpitations High Blood Pressure Immune System Deficiency Knee Pain / Neck Pain / Stiffness Pain Relief Paralysis / Numbness Pre-Menstrual Syndrome Sciatica Sexual Dysfunction Shoulder Pain

Skin Problems Sports Injuries Sprains and Strains Stress / Anxiety Tendonitis

Acupuncture Treatments The location of the points selected, the nature of the problem, the patient's size and age and the acupuncturist's style are all factors that will determine how deep the needles actually go.

Acupuncture needles are usually inserted from 1/8 to 1 inch in depth. The patient will feel some cramping, heaviness,

distention, tingling, or electric sensation either around the needle or travelling along the energy pathway.

However the pain level is considered mild. During the treatment the patient will need to uncover the area on which they will be worked and will usually lay on a massage table.

The number of treatments required for healing varies depending on the duration, severity and nature of the complaint.

Trish Willams Ayurveda I can help you find your true self, your gifts, your skills and your talents, so that you make a real difference in your business and/or personal life .... helping you to free yourself from any 'negative baggage' and empowering you to achieve this both easily and effortlessly. Imagine discovering the key that unlocks your full potential. - Carol Passemard

www.breakthroughretreat.com E: carol.passemard@gmail.com

T: 087-1413026

Specialising in Champissage Indian Head Massage and Kansa Vatki Foot Massage

www.trishwilliamsayurveda.com

Mobile Service available Dublin and Wicklow • Ph: 085-8417665 Arklow, The Arklow Natural Healing Centre, 8 St Mary’s Terrace, Arklow (Next to library in Arklow) Ph: (01) 9034210 – Allow phone to ring to get answer phone

Page 45 Mature Living August 2014

Puzzles

Answers on page 37

Win 2 Night’s Bed & Breakfast for 2 people plus a bottle of House Wine on arrival

As one of the finest Clare Hotels, the Falls Hotel & Spa is nestled in a wooded vale beside the t!mbling waters of the River Inagh. The distinctive building known today as the Falls Hotel & Spa in Co. Clare conceals within its walls an eighteenth cent!r" mansion, a late medieval castle, and a for#idable histor" of four and a half cent!ries embracing clans and warfare, landlords and tenants, poets, dreamers and ent$epreneurs. The Falls Hotel & Spa is one of the finest spa hotels in Ireland and is a popular location for hotel breaks in Clare for families, couples, g$oups and individuals.

To Be in with a chance of winning this excellent prize, Simply answer the question below and send your answer, along with your name, address, email address and telephone number to us at the address below..

Q: What historic building do the walls of the Falls Hotel and Spa Conceal?

Send your ent$ies into us at: Falls Hotel and Spa Competition, Mat!re Living Magazine, Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo Ter#s and Conditions apply, Closing Date for enties is 5th September 2014

Falls Hotel & Spa Ennistymon Co. Clare Telephone: 065-7071004 • www.fallshotel.ie

Food and Drink

P

erfect for dinners, lunches and snacks, this spiced tortilla is a great in-the-fridge standby for many occasions

Ingredients 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 onion, sliced 1 red chilli, deseeded and shredded 2 tsp curry spices (we used coriander, cumin and turmeric) 300g cherry tomatoes 500g cooked potatoes, sliced bunch coriander, stalks finely chopped, leaves roughly chopped 8 eggs, beaten

E

4 slices brown bread half small bunch parsley, chopped

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped 1 lemon, zest and juice 2 x 120g cans sardines in sunflower oil, drained

Method Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, then sizzle the garlic clove and red chilli.

Add the lemon zest.

Add the sardines and heat through for a few mins until warm.

Toast the brown bread. Stir the parsley into the sardines, add a squeeze of lemon juice, then divide between the toast and serve.

njoy the taste of the Med with this fresh, wholesome supper using an oily fish that's packed with omega-3 and a good, cheap storecupboard staple

Page 48 Mature Living August 2014

Method Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the onion and half the chilli for 5 mins until softened. Tip in the spices, fry for 1 min more, then add the cherry tomatoes, potatoes and coriander stalks to the pan. Season the eggs well, pour over the top of the veg and leave to cook gently for 8-10 mins until almost set.

Heat the grill and flash the tortilla underneath for 1-2 mins until the top is set. Scatter the coriander leaves and remaining chilli over the top, slice into wedges and serve with a green salad.

Food and Drink

T

ry a fresh spin on doughnuts by piping them Spanish-style and serving with a thick and indulgent dark chocolate sauce Ingredients 50g butter, melted ½ tsp vanilla extract 250g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder about 1 litre sunflower oil few chunks of bread For the sauce 200g bar dark chocolate, not too bitter, broken into chunks 100ml double cream 100ml whole milk 3 tbsp golden syrup ½ tsp vanilla extract, if you have some For the cinnamon sugar 100g caster sugar 2 tsp cinnamon Method Boil the kettle, then measure 350ml boiling water into a jug and add the melted butter and vanilla extract. Sift the flour and baking powder into a big

mixing bowl with a big pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre, then pour in the contents of the jug and very quickly beat into the flour with a wooden spoon until lump-free. Rest for 10-15 mins while you make the sauce.

remove with a slotted spoon and drain on the kitchen paper-lined tray. Carry on cooking the rest of the dough

in batches, sprinkling the cooked churros with some cinnamon sugar as you go.

Once you’ve cooked all the

churros, toss with any remaining cinnamon sugar and serve with the chocolate sauce, for dipping.

Put all the sauce ingredients into a pan and gently melt together, stirring occasionally until you have a smooth shiny sauce. Keep warm on a low heat.

Fill a large deep saucepan onethird full of oil. Heat until a cube of bread browns in 45 seconds – 1 min. Cover a tray with kitchen paper and mix the caster sugar and cinnamon together.

Fit a star nozzle to a piping bag, 1.5-2cm wide is a good size. Fill with the rested dough, then pipe 2-3 strips directly into the pan, snipping off each dough strip with a pair of kitchen scissors. Fry until golden brown and crisp, then

T

his anytime summer salad will be on the table in just 30 minutes

Ingredients 500g bag baby new potatoes, halved 4 eggs 225g green beans, trimmed 225g chorizo ring, sliced 1 garlic clove, sliced 2 tbsp sherry vinegar 2 tbsp chopped parsley Method Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling salted water for 12 mins, adding the eggs after 6 mins, and the beans for

the final 2 mins.

Drain everything and cool the eggs under cold running water.

Meanwhile fry chorizo slices for 1-2 mins, until beginning to crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the oil from the chorizo in the pan. Add the garlic to the pan and cook gently for 1 min.

Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vinegar and parsley, then toss with the potatoes, beans, chorizo and seasoning. Shell the eggs, cut into quarters and add to the salad.

Page 49 Mature Living August 2014

Angelscope for August

with Fiona Faery

F

iona Faery is an Irish Psychic Medium who unites people regularly with their loved ones in spirit & also offers psychic guidance with her Faery oracle card readings. She is a regular on Irish radio & has monthly columns in various publications. Fiona is known for her optimistic no-nonsense approach to life. She teaches workshops on mediumship and helps 'baby' mediums build their confidence & step into their power. Her spiritual poetry has found a home on her Facebook page; Fiona Faery where she posts a daily poem. Her poetry is aimed to motivate & empower, as Fiona believes in helping people connect with their soul purpose. She reads internationally through her website www.fionafaery.ie

Aries

Taur!s

Gemini

Dreams coming true : This is a wish card, your asked to close your eyes and make a wish. Focus on what you desire and in visualise it as if it's already happened. How would you see? Feel? Act? As if your dreams came true. Too often we focus on the blocks and the things that stop us from focusing or realising our dreams instead of allowing the universe to help us achieve them. Very lucky coincidences and synchronicities follow this card. Your asked to make one small change daily to push you towards your dreams. Never stop believing!

Lucky Day: 19th August Lucky colour: Brown

Faery of beauty This beautiful Faery aids with communication. Have you been feeling blocked in speaking your truth? Self esteem is at the root of dis-empowerment.

It's time to take a step back and see those who you feel comfortable expressing your authentic self with & those you don't.....

Too often we act as mirrors to those around us ..who project their insecurities on to us.

It's your choice Taurus if you choose to accept this. August is a month for truth for you.

Lucky Day: 20th August Lucky colour: Blue

Happily ever after : One of my favourite cards. It's going to be a great month for you Gemini as you have the Midas touch about you. It's a great time to apply for a job, sell your house, take up a new hobby, as any venture you embark upon this month will be destined for success!

Balance here is the key, pace yourself as mid August a "helpful" person may try to take the wind out of your sails.

Stay true to your beliefs - move onwards & upwards!

Lucky Day: 29th Lucky colour: purple

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Environmental Awareness: It's time to get out & about in Nature. Do you hear the call of the wild. The song of the birds carries a promise to your heart - freedom. The modern world us full of distractions that dull the mind and keep us in a heightened state of fear. You are being guided to slow down, connect with nature, go for a walk, run, swim etc. feel yourself becoming grounded once more.

It's time to clear the cobwebs and clear the deadwood from your life! Lucky Day: 16 Lucky colour: green

Faery of laughter The best tonic in life is a good laugh! Laughter cures all matter of ills. Stress affects our ability to go with the flow as we become rigid with routine.

It's time to allow yourself to let go. Call a friend who makes you smile, watch a funny film or go for a night out with someone who brings you joy.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you could hardly breathe? Close your eyes and recall the memory. Can you feel the joy spreading through you? Never forget your happiness lies in your hands.

Lucky Day: 21 Lucky colour: purple

Sagi#arious

Capricor$

Faery of family harmony: Tensions can run high in family's. There may be sibling rivalry or buried resentments. bubbling to the surface.

There is a Polish expression "not my circus not my monkeys!" It refers to you being pulled into arguments and disagreements which have nothing to do with you! You may be fed up being the peace - keeper, dogsbody, negotiator in your family . Remember you are choosing to stay in this role . Only you have the power to step back and not have your energy drained . You need to place a value on your time and energy, for if you don't .....who will? Lucky Day: 26 Lucky colour: brown

Faery of new friends: This is a gorgeous card of friendship . Friendship itself is a precious gift . People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. You may have one or two friends step away lately, let them go. For new friends arrive with new lessons to teach hoy on your path to your true self. You may also discover the truth behind a lie that you were told!

Truth is stranger than fiction at times! Time to show the frenemies the door !

Lucky Day: 30 Lucky colour: pinke

Cancer

Peace of mind: This card brings peace of mind & a sense of calm. You have a decision coming up soon. You will know what to do when the time is right. Jump & the net will appear! This card urges you to trust your own gut instinct. Pay no heed to those who would try and talk you out of your decisions / choices as they are not you.

Loved ones sometimes feel they know best but tis can come from a fearful/controlling place.

Listen to your gut. If it "sits" with you , you won't go far wrong!

Lucky Day: 19 Lucky colour: orange

Scor"io

Body Movement: Libra you are being guided to get out and about. Our bodies need exercise . Without it our health starts to deteriorate and our joints seize up. Libra is the embodiment of balance. If your karmic scales feels out of kilter at present , try and be present in the moment. In a coffee shop, savour the taste of the coffee , listen to the sounds that surround you. Stop those rushing thoughts that hurry you in to the next task urgently. You are being guided to connect with your body and that starts with your breathing. Notice how relaxed you are after 3 deep breaths?

Notice how heavy your shoulders are? It's time to release the tension! Ready set go!

Lucky Day: 25 Lucky colour:lilac

Faery of feeling safe: Someone has rattled your cage Scorpio and your shields are up!

This person is known to you and you grow weary of their selfishness. You are facilitating this behaviour by being compliant to their actions in hope the will "come around" themselves. They won't! It's time you defined your boundaries so when someone crosses the line you will know and importantly they will also when they've overstepped the mark! Trying to keep the piece or saying nothing for a quiet life has it's own karmic backlash. Speak now or forever hold your peace .....? Lucky Day: 14 Lucky colour: white

Faery of Problems: This Faery is here to help you clear out any problems that squat like pesky pixies in your head as you try and find a solution to the quagmire of indecision facing you. Sometimes life can overwhelm you. Acting like the proverbial ostrich with her head stuck in the sand is not a long term solution ! When you face your problems they are never as bad as you originally thought .

The more energy we pour into a negative situation the worse it gets. Step back and gain perspective . Share your fears with a close friend/ family member . A problem shared is a problem aired . After all you are the one in the control seat if your life - don't let your fears control you. Lucky Day: 28 Lucky colour: yellow

Faery of kick up your heels: It's time to put your favorite music on, kick up your heels and dance! When was the last time you actually danced? (Chair-dancing doesn't count!) You're well overdue good company , good food & good wine!!!

Faeries love to party , it's what they do best !

You are being encouraged to take a leaf out of their book and make plans to enjoy yourself. What may feel like a luxury is actually a nessessity. Give yourself something to look forward to. For that's when life gets less difficult when we know there are better things in store!

Lucky Day: 22nd August Lucky colour: blue

Aquarius

Pisces

Fiona Faery gives private 1-to-1 sittings at The Sligo Park Hotel on the last weekend of every month. She is also available for private consultations or One Question readings on her website www.fionafaery.ie You can contact Fiona to Book a Private Reading @ 0863736143

Travel Technology

How the older generation are becoming more tech savvy I

t seems that technology is no longer something that the older generation aren’t interested in.

In fact, more and more elderly people are embracing new innovations and realising the extensive benefits that technological advances afford in their day-to-day lives.

It wasn’t that long ago that elderly people hadn’t even heard of the internet, let alone understood what it did or how they could start using it. Fast forward to today and internet connections are standard features in the homes of many elderly people around the world.

However, there are of course those less tech savvy grandparents that haven’t yet got the internet in their homes.

If you want to fill them in on the benefits, a great starting point is to compare broadband packages to see which ones offer the best in terms of service and price.

Having an internet connection is no longer the apogee of an elderly person’s technological

remit. To prove our point, here are five ways in which older people are embracing technology: Online dating Believe it or not, online dating is one way that grandparents are taking advantage of their internet connections. After all, many elderly people can find themselves lonely in the later years due to bereavement.

Online dating provides them with a new lease of life and the chance to find love once again.

Internet dating also allows elderly people to chat with potential companions from the comfort of their own homes.

Audio books The older generation will remember audio cassettes that allowed them to listen to their favourite books being read aloud by a narrator. Nowadays those old cassettes have been replaced by audio books which can be enjoyed on a variety of devices such as laptops, smartphones and MP3 players. Audio books are particularly appealing to elderly people as they don’t require young eyes!

Online shopping With mobility often being an issue for elderly people, online shopping has introduced a way for them to make purchases from their armchair and then take delivery at their front door a few days later. This eliminates any travelling and can also be conducted with total peace of mind. Buying gifts for grandchildren has never been so easy! They can even be delivered direct to the child’s house, which adds extra excitement to the occasion.

Social media With more and more teenagers using social media, sites such as Facebook have become a great way for grandparents to interact with their grandchildren. No longer do grandparents need to wait to hear from their families.

They can simply log on and get themselves up to date with everything that’s going on.

Social media is also a great way to view recent photos and new additions to the family, especially when grandchildren live overseas or in a different part of the country.

VOIP services With services like Skype so readily available, more and more elderly people have found a quick and easy way to stay in contact with their families.

High quality webcams also make for a more personal

chat and are a great way to see how grandchildren are growing.

Gone are the days of letter writing, which means that online chat services are fast becoming the primary communication method for many older people.

Colour portable The standalone camera market is making its comeback, as people finally realise smartphones are great for snaps on social media but top quality images require dedicated devices. Here are our top three

It’s going fast

Sony Alpha a7 CSC + 28-70mm Lens – €1,799 This new breed of CSC or Compact System Cameras offer all the functionality of larger cameras but have removed the mirror so they’re smaller and lighter. This unit is Sony’s flagship snapper right now, offering a 24.3 megapixel sensor into a sturdy magnesium unit weighing in at just 416g. Clever internal workings mean it has superfast autofocus tracking for quick-moving targets (be that sports’ day, or a trip to the Grand Prix).

Starters orders

Canon EOS 1200D with 18-55 mm lens – €699.99 To coincide with the launch of this new model, the folk at Canon have released an EOS companion app to help get beginners through their first DSLR experience. But though it may be aimed at newbies to the big camera market, with an 18 megapixel sensor and a decent ISO light sensitivity level that enables almost see-in-the dark performances, this Canon definitely has a serious side too.

Nikon 1 S2 Compact System Camera 11-27.5mm Lens – €529.99 We were initially drawn to this one for its summer inspired casing, but on further inspection the internal workings and image delivery are just as impressive. There isn’t a viewfinder but you’ll soon get over that when you see what the 14.2 megapixel sensor does offer; shooting at speed and delivering 20 frames per second in autofocus and up to 60 in fixed focus.

These are specs to make bigger and more expensive cameras weep – and a built-in flash just adds to their woes.

Page 51 Mature Living August 2014

Motoring

Ease your pain at the pump this summer In fact, sensible drivers can lower fuel consumption by about 33 per cent at motorway speeds and by 5 per cent in the city. Such reckless driving is not only unsafe, but also puts unnecessary wear and tear on your tires.

Be sure to buy the right grade of gasoline Consult your owner’s manual: if your vehicle is designed to run on regular, filling the tank with more expensive mid-grade or premium fuel will not make your car run any better.

R

oad trip! It’s a time-honoured summer tradition, but fluctuating fuel prices have many travellers feeling the pain at the pump. But don’t lose heart. If you’re planning to hit the open road, taking a few small steps could add up to surprisingly big savings.

And according to some experts, if you keep your vehicle speed at, or below 100 kilometres an hour on the road, you could lower your fuel costs by up to 20 per cent. Engaging your cruise control on the motorway will help you to maintain constant speed.

Here are some practical ways to put the brakes on gas guzzling:

Go in high gear Use high gear or overdrive when driving at motorway speeds.

Switching to high gear will reduce engine speed thereby saving gas and cutting wear to the engine.

Ease up on the gas pedal While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), fuel mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph (96 km). In fact, according to the reports every five mph that you drive in excess of 60 mph is about the same as paying an additional 24 cents for every gallon of fuel.

Avoid aggressive driving Jackrabbit starts following by abrupt, screeching stops can cut both motorway and town mileage.

Page 52 Mature Living August 2014

Buy on price and convenience Fuel is a commodity product and one brand is as good as another. Looking for a convenient way to comparison shop? Check out online tools or smart phone apps that provides a listing of the cheapest fuel prices by area.

Keep in shape (your car, that is) It pays to keep up with your car’s maintenance. Change oil, engine coolant, filters and spark plugs at intervals recommended in the owner’s manual.

Keeping your engine tuned will reduce fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent.

And fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 per cent.

For greater fuel efficiency, tyres should be maintained and properly inflated.

Lighten the load.

For holiday driving, try to avoid the roof rack and pack as much luggage as possible in the car. A loaded roof rack can cut fuel economy by as much as 5 per cent. And an extra 100 pounds of ‘junk in the trunk’ can cost you up to 2 per cent in fuel usage. (Note: The reduction of fuel consumption is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight.

This usually affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.)

Roll down the window.

Heavy use of your air conditioner can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 – 20 per cent.

Don’t let your tank get too low.

It may be tempting to procrastinate when it comes to filling up, but letting your tank get too low can cost you in other ways, according to Consumer Reports.

The reason? The fuel acts like a

coolant for the electric fuelpump motor, so when you run very low, this allows the pump to suck in air. This in turn creates heat and can cause the fuel pump to wear prematurely and potentially fail. The repair could end up costing several hundred euros to fix. Besides, who wants to take a chance on a faulty fuel gauge or some other mishap and run out of diesel or petrol on the road?

Services Directory Puzzles

E&M Window Systems Unit 3A, Stadium Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15

Telephone: 086-3239679

PVC Back door supplied & fitted

€760

Front & back door supplied & fitted

Come and join us for a Superb Cruise (May to October) and Enjoy a Splendid Meal while you Cruise

Grant information available T: 01-4130556 • ercommunitycare@eircom.net

€1650

• Doors • Windows • Conservatories • Sunrooms • Pvc Fascia & soffit • Guttering

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Bawnogue Enterprise Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Medical Alarms From Spring to Autumn the classic Galley Cruiser plies the beautiful and smooth three sister rivers for which the South East of Ireland is famous worldwide. Meanwhile, delicious meals, prepared from fresh local produce by our own chefs, are served aboard.

Call 051 421723 or visit our website www.rivercruises.ie

A1shutters & doors Manufacture & Install all kinds of Garage Doors, Roller Shutters and Industrial Doors

GARAGE DOORS €550 Installed Eric: 01-8497399 • Mob: 087-7654979 Email: a1.shutters@hotmail.ie www.a1shuttersanddoors.ie

The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

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

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Working with the Community for the Community

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Large Selection of Rise and Recline Chairs and Orthopaedic Chairs Very Competitive Prices on all products Orthopaedic Chairs available in black or brown

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Emergency Pendants

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke Alarms

Services Directory

Addiction Treatment Centre "Our mission is to provide a dedicated centre of excellence delivering a quality client centred approach with compassion and dignity while respecting the values and beliefs of all our clients"

Fit Radiator Panels & Improve the comfort of your home, and reduce the heating bill up to 30%

Grave Maintenance Service • Headstones • Grave Maintenance • Grave Renova!ons • Wooden Surrounds

nior unt for Se vert o c is d % 25 ith this ad Citizens w

Who can come to the Centre?

Anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's alcohol, gambling or substance use. A doctor's referral is not necessary

BEFORE

Martin Quinn MIAAAC Accredited Professionally Qualified Counsellor Available for Private Consultations

An Average 4 Bedroom cost approx €300.

Fitting time 2 hours approx

Gulladoo Centre, Cornafest, Co. Leitrim, Telephone: 049-4339605 Mobile: 086-8638842 Email: info@gulladoocentre.com

Energy Saving Systems.

Coolarane, Athenry, Co. Galway • Ph: 091-797131 or 087-4172228 • Email: energysavingsystems@eircom.net

AFTER

It is important to all of us that the final res!ng places of our loved ones are looked a"er and cared for at all !mes. Due to age, distance, lack of !me or transport, you may not be able to keep family graves and their memorials well looked a"er as you would have wanted.

Grave Maintenance Service Ltd. Unit 4b Eklad Park, Malahide Road Ind Estate, Coolock, Dublin 17 Phone: 01-8904466 • Mobile: 087-2261943 Email: info@gmsireland.ie • www.gmsireland.ie Associate Member of Irish Associa!on of Funeral Directors

CHIMNEY FIRE RELINE • REBUILD • REPAIR

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Damaged Chimney Repair Contractors

Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & Tegkon Custom Steel Buildings

• 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.

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I offer you insight in any area of your life from love life to Tel/Fax:family 048-66386338 • dgwindows@btinternet.com finances, life and work.

There is not an area of life where I have not been able to help and give what has often proven to be invaluable insights.

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

MULTIPURPOSE GARDEN SHEDS & GARAGES All the main supports of our garages are constructed of heavy duty box section steel for strength and durability and are hot dipped galvanised for longer Life.

Our Units are built to withstand the harshest weather conditions.The sheeting is hot dipped galvanised and pvc coated to the colour of your choice.

• Water Analysis • Water Filtration • Water Softening • Well Drilling • Pump Supplied and Fitted • Rain Water Collection & Purification • Sewage Treatment Systems IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

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Contact: Ray Lynch Corlis, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon Clare Office " Contact Eugene at the Indoor Market " 085"2188506 Phone: 086"8943034 or 094"9621938 AGENTS REQUIRED

Services Directory

New Curved Stairlifts starting from as little as €4300 plus vat

New Straight Stairlifts from €1499.00 plus vat!

(VAT Fully Refundable)

Expert representatives based all over Ireland operating from our Cork & Dublin offices.

Client assessment and joint surveys with occupational therapists.

• ACCESS LIFTS • STAIR LIFTS • BATHING SOLUTIONS • MOVING & HANDLING Acorn Business Campus, Mahon Ind. Park, Blackrock, Cork

Tel: 021-4614221 Mob: 086 - 8343533

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• New & Reconditioned Stair Lifts • Repairs • Servicing • Grant Information T: 01-8390262 / 087 807 9993 E: kevin@ableplus.ie A full Price List for our products / services is available on our web site www.ableplus.ie

• Domes!c Garage Doors • PVC Coated Roller garage Doors • Insulated Sec!onal Garage Doors • Fire Doors • Remote or Manual Auto Gate Systems & Barriers

Tel: 090-6627907

INDEPENDENT DUBLIN LADY (64) Would like to meet an honest, respectable, non smoking gentleman, My interestes are Dancing, Cooking, gardening and having a good chat with a nice person.

Replies with a stamped envelope to box number 1060 at the usual address.

DUBLIN WOMAN 56 would like to meet a good man for friendship and companionship and fun. I am great company, independent, single, just stuck in rut at present, can you dig me out? If you can just get in touch and we can meet and see. Replies with a box number 1042 at the usual address

SLIGO LADY 50 BUT LOOKS 10 YEARS YOUNGER Would like to meet nice, respectable, loving, genuine, honest man for fun and dancing and see what happens. Replies with a box number 1023 at the usual address.

SHY SLIGO LADY lakes cinema, concerts and DVDS, Music etc. Would like to hear from a Gent 60+ with similar interests for a friendship maybe leading to a relationship Replies with a box number 998 at the usual address.

SLIGO LADY SEEKING MALE Late 50’s, likes music, dancing, walking and travel. N/S, S/D, profrssional l;ady, loving, caring,

FREE DATING* CLASSIFIED

and honest. Interested in friendship maybe leading to a relationship. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 1012 at the usual address.

GENTLEMAN WIDOWER 54 yrs. Landscape gardener W.L.T.M. female professional, not married. In the northwest for friendship and craic. 6ft 1', blue eyes, hair salt & pepper. Looking for lady 40 -47yrs. Longtime relationship. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 975 at the usual address.

SLIGO MAN WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM LADIES age 50 years onwards, my age is 55 years,

friendship and romance. Replies with a box number 1011 at the usual address.

YOUNG AT HEART LADY in mid - 60’s. w.l.t.m. genuine gentleman foor friendship. well travelled, enjoys dancing, gent of similar age. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 965 at the usual address.

GENTLEMAN, 50’S Many hobbies, gardening, cooking, walking, wildlife, swimming, would like to meet a kind, genuine, female for companionship and romance. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 1022 at the usual address.

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ADDRESS: Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo

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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 55 Mature Living August 2014