Issue 94 July - August 2018
NOW E3.00/£2.75
Times
The magazine for people who don’t act their age
Fifty Is The New Thirty!
Just ask Kylie
Rachel English:
Queen for the world:
A portrait of Britain’s longest servicing Monarch
Working for fun:
How I started to write
How and where to volunteer
Capital treasures:
Challenging osteoporosis:
Walking the Dublin Mountains
Health bones for a healthy future
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July/August 2018
Contents 4
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News:
2
The Aussie ‘pocket battleship’ hits 50: Profile of Kylie Minogue
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Peace of mind for your will: 51 Senior Times is now partnering with the Community Foundation of Ireland to introduce the Older Persons Fund to our readers.
Guess the year: Another Teaser from Jerry Perkins
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Readers survey:
Queen for the World: 14 Lorna’s Hogg’s portrait of Britain’s longest ever serving Monarch Creative writing: Eileen Casey on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing
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Rachel English – how I started writing: 24 Continuing the creative writing theme Rachel English, who has just published her fourth book, reveals how she started writing Messing about on the river: 26 Lorna Hogg visits the many of the towns, villages and hostelries featured on Jerome K Jerome’s classic Three Men in a Boat Healthy bones – an investment for an healthy future: Dr Miriam Delaney explains
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Further education special: 34 An increasing number of older people are going back to the books. Senior Times looks at some of the further education options available Should I retire or stay in work: 38 Once upon a time those who were lucky enough to have a job retired at 65. Now things have changed.. Frank Stranahan, the body-building golfer : Dermot Gilleece on the lifes and times of Frank Stranahan, ‘The Toledo Strongman’.
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Capital attraction: 48 In his latest walk, Conor O’|Hagan guides you over the Dublin Mountains Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan Editorial Director: John Low Editor At Large: Shay Healy Consultant Editor: Jim Collier Advertising: Willie Fallon Design & Production: www.cornerhouse.ie Contributors: Lorna Hogg, Dermot Gilleece, Maretta Dillon, Jim Collier, Peter Power, Matthew Hughes, Mairead Robinson, Eileen Casey, Debbie Orme, Connie McEvoy Published by S& L Promotions Ltd.,
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Western Ways: 56 Welcome to George Keegan’s occasional column featuring updates on ‘happenings’ along the Western Seaboard in travel, arts, food and entertainment On the Vales trail: 59 John Low visits some of the attractions of Munster Vales, Ireland’s newest inland tourist ‘route’. Cosmetics and beauty:
61
How to volunteer abroad: 70 Comlámh, the standards organisation which facilitates international volunteer placements, argues that age is not a factor Northern Notes:
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Wine World: Try terrific Tuscans for summer
78
Majorcan misadventure: Paul Kavanagh recounts how his wife’s accident signalled an enforced stay in The Balearics
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Meeting Place:
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Crossword:
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Crafts:
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Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: +353 (01) 4969028. Fax: +353 (01) 4068229 Editorial: John@slp.ie Advertising: willie@slp.ie Sign up to our newsletter and be in with a chance to win some great prizes at www.seniortimes.ie Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
News Now HIQA and the Mental Health Commission call for better protections for vulnerable adults The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Mental Health Commission (MHC) are recently hosted a seminar on the safeguarding of adults in health and social care services. The seminar, ‘Adult Safeguarding: Promoting Rights, Health and Wellbeing’, aimed to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding adults who may be vulnerable, and provided attendees with the opportunity to discuss how Ireland can better promote the rights, health and wellbeing of people at risk of abuse or harm.
Addressing over 200 delegates at the seminar, HIQA CEO Phelim Quinn announced that HIQA and the MHC are developing joint national adult safeguarding standards: ‘These standards aim to minimise and prevent the abuse and neglect of at-risk adults. This must surely be our aim, every bit as much as reporting and investigating abuse when it takes place’. Since their establishment, HIQA and the MHC have monitored a wide range of health and social care services across the country. During
Empowering older people with exercise ‘I Can – Empowering Older Adults Through Exercise’ is a new campaign to highlight the work by Siel Bleu, a not-for-profit organisation, who promote exercise among older adults and people with chronic illness with over 4,500 people currently attending classes. Siel Bleu exercise classes are currently happening nationwide in community centre settings, nursing homes, in private homes and with organisations like The Men’s Sheds, COPD Support Ireland and IHF Stroke Survivor Groups. The classes are the first specific effort to promote exercise among older adults and patient groups in Ireland, with the aim of improving overall wellbeing. Siel Bleu Ireland is a social enterprise and charity who deliver life enhancing exercise programmes to older adults and people living with chronic disease. Founded in 2010, Siel Bleu Ireland now delivers their programmes to over 4,500 people across 20 counties and employs 23 members of staff 2 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
this time, inspectors have come across many services that provide excellent, person-centred care. Unfortunately, however, inspectors have also encountered services where a number of people have been vulnerable to exploitation or abuse of a physical, financial, psychological or sexual nature. To find out more about adult safeguarding, the short short animation on YouTube. Join in the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #adultsafeguarding.
Website ‘saves Irish holidaymakers 200 euros a week on car hire insurance ‘ iCarhireinsurance.ie, a provider of car hire excess insurance has launched in Ireland ‘saving holidaymakers on average over €200 a week when they’re hiring a car’. The dedicated Irish website, iCarhireinsurance. ie, allows Irish residents to buy excess waiver insurance in advance of travelling, rather than from the rental company. Research by iCarhireinsurance found that a combined super waiver policy for a week this summer, 28 July to 4 August 2018, from six rental companies surveyed (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt) in five locations (Nice, Faro, Milan, Crete and Barcelona) costs on average €240. This compares to a policy from iCarhireinsurance.ie for the week costing €31.92, a saving of €208. For more information contact: Ben Wooltorton, Sales and Marketing Director, Halo Insurance Services Ltd Tel: +44 7739 719 570 or email ben@haloinsurance.com
Retirement Solutions from Aviva
Aviva’s Open Market Annuity now comes with enhanced rates An enhanced annuity rate might be available if you or your spouse / civil partner are suffering (or have previously suffered) from medical conditions such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke. If you’re nearing retirement and considering buying an annuity you should talk to a Financial Broker. They will advise if you or your spouse / civil partner can qualify for an enhanced annuity rate with our annuity product.
Find out more: see www.aviva.ie and speak to your Financial Broker Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland Limited. A private company limited by shares. Registered in Ireland No. 252737 Registered Office One Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Member of Insurance Ireland. Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Life & Pensions One Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Phone (01) 898 7950 Fax (01) 898 7329 www.aviva.ie Telephone calls may be recorded for quality assurance purposes.
International busts at Castletown House
Health and social care charities call on Government to publish Sláintecare implementation plan
Dark Forest Head one of the works in On A Pedestal, an international exhibition celebrating the contemporary portrait bust at Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare running until the end of August.
The Health Reform Alliance is to call on the Government to publish its implementation plan for the Sláintecare report ‘without delay’. The Alliance says Ireland now has a detailed roadmap to achieve universal, publicly funded health care, but it is being held back by stasis in its implementation. Kathryn Reilly, co-chair of the Health Reform Alliance, said: ‘Sláintecare is single long-term vision for health and social care in Ireland, but at the moment it is just a vision. That is why,
News
a year on from publication of Sláintecare we are calling on Government to publish its implementation plan without delay, and to ensure the necessary funding is made available on a multi-annual basis’. The Health Reform Alliance has invited Robert Yates, Project Director of the Universal Health Coverage Policy Forum at Chatham House, to Dublin to share his expertise on universal health coverage, and to support its call for action from the top of Government.
Depaul relies on the work Safety priority for Ireland’s largest of over 400 volunteers public transport provider each year Without the support work of the more than 400 volunteers the Depaul has on average each year, there would be gaps in some of the work being done by the charity at a time when homeless numbers continue to increase. Depaul volunteers come from all walks of life and include students, people in full time work, participants of the European Voluntary Service (EVS) and retirees. Many of Depaul’s volunteers are over 60, have finished raising their families or have retired. Volunteering in Depaul homeless services gives a sense of structure and an engagement in the community that many miss upon retirement and it can be an outlet for their valuable skills and experience. The charity has a variety of volunteering roles available and is always on the lookout for people to join its ranks. Depaul needs the help of volunteers for everything from gardening, to preparing breakfast for service users in hostels, helping out at reception desks or simply engaging with people experiencing homelessness by playing cards, pool or music. All that is required is a friendly and a non-judgemental approach. To find out more about volunteering with Depaul, or to request an application form, call Jemma on 086 4680965, or visit ie.depaulcharity.org
With almost 140 million customers carried last year, safety awareness is high on the priority list for Dublin Bus. The recently launched a new customer awareness video, a support for all bus users to ensure they are travelling safely and smartly and aware of the needs of fellow customers. View the video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6ON_w2TZg&feature=youtu.be Dublin Bus carries 72 per cent of commuters during peak hours on over 1,020 buses across the city and Greater Dublin Area. 61 per cent of all public transport trips into Dublin City Centre are on the bus. Customers have varied needs and requirements, from older people to students, parents with young children and people with disabilities. The video highlights the key areas to be mindful of when travelling by bus, simple things we do every day such as safe queuing at bus stops, moving up and down the stairs and using the handrails at all times, being more aware of the surroundings especially when standing and moving around the lower saloon; before settling in to catch up on the latest happenings on social media. The video also includes important messages for older people and customers with mobility needs, highlighting the features available on each Dublin Bus which can ensure they have a safe and comfortable journey including accessibility ramps and the ability to lower the bus to make it easier to for them to board. www.dublinbus.ie YouTube: www.youtube.com/dublinbusnews Twitter and Facebook: @dublinbusnews Instagram: @dublinbusnews
First meeting of the Loneliness Taskforce takes place The Loneliness Taskforce was established by Dr. Keith Swanick in collaboration with the CEO of ALONE, Seán Moynihan, to coordinate a response to the ‘epidemic of loneliness and social isolation’ in Ireland. Through its work, the Loneliness Taskforce is seeking to increase awareness about the issue and to produce a set of recommendations for Government, state agencies and all policy makers. Over 300 submissions have been received by the Taskforce sent from the general public, Oireachtas and Northern Ireland Assembly Members, MEPs, NGOs, Local Authorities, Public Participation Networks, and Volunteer Networks across the country, both North and South. The Loneliness Taskforce includes members from the education, sporting, nursing, psychology, business and academic sectors. It is hoped that the Taskforce will release their report with recommendations for Government, state agencies and all policy makers in the summer.
Lifetime Award for Shay Healy Senior Times Consultant Editor Shay Healy was recently honoured with the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his long-running career in television and entertainment.. The veteran broadcaster, songwriter and journalist was presented with the lifetime achievement award in hour of his diverse body of work spanning 55 years at recent the IFTA Gala Television Awards Ceremony in Dublin. Commenting on the honour, Shay said: ‘I am thrilled to accept this honour from the Academy and my only regret is that I didn’t keep a record of all the times and dates when so many people shared their musical and artistic talents with me. This award is as much about them as it is about me.’ 4 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
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Aussie’s Pocket Battleship Hits Fifty
Once upon a time there was a young girl called Kylie. Kylie lived in Australia. She wanted to be the new Olivia Newton-John. She stood in front of the mirror with a hairbrush and did a few Olivia moves. They went quite well. Then she started to sing. That didn’t go quite so well.
But then one day Kylie lost Cinderella’s golden slipper. She left “Neighbours.” It would always be dear to her heart, she said, but, as she put it, “It wasn’t Gone With the Wind.”
Kylie appeared in a daytime television show called “Neighbours.” She played a character called Charlene in it. She was a mechanic.
That was a good insight. When you thought about it, or even when you didn’t, “Neighbours” wasn’t Gone with the Wind. In fact it wasn’t even Dallas.
Charlene loved Scott. Scott was played by Jason Donovan. Everyone thought they were going to get married in the show. They were right. Half the known world watched it. People thought Kylie was going to marry Jason too but that wasn’t quite as important. They thought they were going to get married and have loads of kids and get a little house on the Great Barrier Reef and go surfing every day and at the weekends have a few cans of Fosters on Bondi Beach and stick a few burgers on the barbi and have a few biccies afterwards.
Kylie left Jason too. They both pursued singing careers. People thought Jason’s would last longer, him being a man and all, and Kylie didn’t really have much of a voice, did she? I mean she wasn’t even as good as her infinitely more successful sister Dannii, the “real” talent of the Minogue family. And besides, actresses from daytime soap operas didn’t usually go on to have singing careers, did they, or at least singing careers lasting longer than Andy Warhol’s fifteen minutes.
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But Kylie liked surprising people. She cut a disc called “I Should Be So Lucky” and before you could say “Where’s me flamin’ didgeridoo?”, she was. Before long, half the country was humming it. Then she made a few more records. Before you knew it, bingo, she was world famous, shaking her booty all over the place and even winning awards for Rear of the Year – which is much more important, as we all know, than any singing awards. The albums came out thick and fast: Impossible Princess, Enjoy Yourself, Rhythm of Love , Light Years, Fever, Body Language. She flashed that 1000-watt smile and the sort of teeth that probably sink themselves into an apple every morning with religious zeal and danced and sang her way into the world’s heart, even when the sometime girl-next-door was wearing the kind of outfits the supervisor of Camberwell High School in Melbourne (her alma mater) would tell her she’d go to hell for pouring herself into and forgetting to say when. It had to be the influence of “bad boy” Michael Hutchence, didn’t it? I mean Jason Donovan would never have told her to go on stage dressed in something that had about as much material as a handkerchief, would he? It was a bit like what happened to her role model Olivia Newton-John in Grease after she met that rascal John Travolta. He got her into leather and she lost all that wide-eyed innocence and turned into Olivia Neutron-Bomb. Kylie isn’t only rear of the year anymore, she’s body of the year. And you can see most of it. When she made a video of her song “Put Yourself in My Place” in 1994 she did a take-off of sci-fi sexbomb Jane Fonda from the camp classic film Barbarella. The striptease accompanying the video had some logic: the ether was pulling her clothes off because she was in outer space. Her compatriot Clive James commented, “Kylie seems to be taking her clothes off at approximately twice the speed at which I put mine on.” Of course it doesn’t take much to dress a girl as petite as Kylie. She wasn’t much more than Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 7
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five feet tall. (A quick way for her to travel on her world tours would be for her to go in one of her suitcases as storage). But, like Bono, the stage is a platform sole for this dynamo. She left “Neighbours,” she said, because it gave a “completely distorted view of normal life.” Which was true. But when Kylie became famous, all the “completely distorted” things that happened in “Neighbours” started to happen in her real life.
thought: What was it about showbusiness that seemed to make the on-again off-again thing almost mandatory?
Her career went viral. The albums continued: Aphrodite, Kiss Me Once, Golden. Madonna even put her name on one of her t-shirts. When Madonna puts your name on a T-shirt, you pretty much know you’re made it. But Kylie is too modest to let this go to her head. “Madonna is the Queen of Pop,” she says, “I’m only the Princess.”
She even got cancer - and conquered it - which is like something that might have happened to the gritty Charlene in “Neighbours.” It was just another chance for her to reinvent herself – and for her old “Neighbours” fans to love her more. Was Kylie more Charlene than she realised? Was her life turning into a soap?
There’s another difference. When Madonna puts on her kinky gear and does all those moves, you believe it. But Kylie is really just dressing up. She’s too nice to be a sex predator. She’s still Charlene behind the fishnets.
But where was Jason during all of this? Well, sad to say, poor Jason’s career went into meltdown after he sued a magazine for saying he was gay. He won the case but it was a pyrrhic victory. Kylie, meanwhile, went on to become a gay icon. Kylie knew where stardom was at. Jason shouldn’t have annoyed the gay community by denying he was one of their tribe so vehemently. It came across as homophobic.
Madonna is more like her dysfunctional mum. Asked once about how she felt about her image adorning so many bedroom walls, she said, “I’m sure I’m on a few dartboards as well.” But I doubt that. Madonna would be more likely to be on the dartboards. She made movies as well. She duetted with people like Justin Timberlakeand, The Pet Shop Boys. (Of her famous derriere, Timberlake said, “On a scale of one to ten, it’s 58.”) She started appearing on daytime TV shows as a spokesperson for well, something. She was immortalised in Madam Tussaud’s four times. A statue of her was put up in the Melbourne Docklands. And she had a string of boyfriends that promised the earth but delivered very little in the end. Because Kylie, like so many superstars, couldn’t find l-o-v-e, no matter how many of them promised to walk her down the aisle. The tabloids had a field day. Hutchence. Mark Gerber. Lenny Kravitz. Olivier Martinez. Andrez Velencoso. Joshua Sasse. All possible Lancelots, then all vamoosed. Were they boyfriends or ingredients for some kind of salad dish? Her fans the world over scratched their heads and 8 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
The Highest Selling Australian Artist Of All Time recently turned fifty. Can this be true? Can Charlene from “Neighbours” really be fifty? Should there not be some law against people as girly as Kylie Minogue ever reaching that milestone? The last record of Kylie’s that I bought was, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Some people don’t know what I see in it. They say it really has only one line in it. That may be true, but then most songs have really only one line in them. If it’s a good one, though, that’s enough. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” has a hypnotic power. It gets into you like a drill pounding away at your insides. You can’t – to coin a phrase – get it out of your head. You keep singing it to yourself for no good reason as you’re walking down the street. If you’re someone like this, be careful to do the “la la la” bits in a low tone or people will think there’s something wrong with you and give you funny looks.
Homesharing
Homesharing: The future for affordable Homecare? With record levels of staff shortages within the Healthcare and Homecare sector, there are over 6,400 vulnerable people in our society waiting on their Homecare package to begin. These older people and people with disabilities are either waiting in hospital for discharge or at home, left in a very vulnerable state. Homesharing is the newest model of Home support in Ireland today. Homeshare enables two unrelated people to share a home for mutual benefit. Typically, an older householder with a room to spare will be carefully matched with a fully vetted accommodation seeker who will provide an agreed amount of support in exchange for their accommodation (usually 10 hours per week). The support provided by the Homesharer might include help with daily living tasks such as; household chores, shopping, gardening, meal preparation and companionship as well as providing an overnight presence in the home for security and peace of mind. They do not provide personal care. Householders are people who have a home that they are willing to share but are in need of some help and support. The arrangement continues as long as it is working for both participants. It can end with 1 month’s notice period, or immediately if there is a breach of conduct as we ensure safeguarding for all participants. Key benefits of Homesharing Homeshare is a simple concept with numerous and wide-ranging benefits for all participants. It is proven to be an effective and sustainable response to many key challenges we have in society:
• Helping an ageing population stay in their own homes for longer. • Affordable supplementary support at home, saving over €3,000 per month in most cases (figures based on current traditional Home care supports through private arrangements) • Promoting health, wellbeing and social inter action. • Providing affordable accommodation for younger people and professionals at a time of record housing shortages and high rent. • Combating social isolation and loneliness for both the Householder and the Homesharer. • Homeshare builds relationships between two generations, thus bridging the generation divide. • Peace of mind for family members, knowing their loved ones are not living alone. History of Homesharing Homesharing was first established in the 1970’s in USA. It was adopted in the UK in the 1980’s. Today, there are over 15 countries worldwide with Homeshare Initiatives. Currently THE HomeShare in Ireland has over 20 matches within the first 8 months of it’s conception. We work very closely with Homeshare International and Homeshare UK. Who we are With over 60 years experience working in the Healthcare and Homecare sector in Ireland, we realised a great need in Ireland for an alternative and affordable option for people to remain living in their own homes. We adapt bespoke matches to ensure the Homesharer provides the exact support you require for yourself or your loved one.
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Costs Involved There is no cost to the Householder or Homesharer until a suitable match has been agreed. Once a positive introduction has been established, both the Householder and the Homesharer pays a yearly Placement Fee of €350 (inclusive of VAT) to THE HomeShare. The Homesharer moves in with the Householder for a Trial period. After all, no one knows how something is going to work until you actually try it. After the 2 week trial period has ended and both parties to the agreement are happy to continue, there is a monthly Support Fee of €195 paid to THE HomeShare by both participants to pay for the running costs of the scheme and ongoing monitoring and support to both parties of the agreement. No money is exchanged hands between the Householder and the Homesharer except an agreed contribution to utility bills if applicable. This Support Fee ensures continued, ongoing support, quality assurance, home visits and monitoring by THE HomeShare, as well as phone calls and meetings if appropriate with multi-disciplinary team members and family.
www.thehomeshare.ie info@thehomeshare.ie 01 209 1916
transport for all
Mobility Scooter Permit To travel on Dublin Bus with your mobility scooter you must have a permit. This is because some mobility scooters are too big to fit on Dublin Bus buses. To find out if your scooter is the correct size, contact our travel assistant, who will check your scooter to see if it will fit on to the bus. They will also give you some helpful tips on bus travel. To contact the travel assistant email travelassist@dublinbus.ie Phone 01 7033204
Guess the Year By Jerry Perkins
For IRELAND, it was a symbolic year for many reasons. Roger Casement was reburied at a state funeral in Glasneven Cemetery. Taoiseach Seán Lamass travelled to Belfast for a historic meeting with Northern Ireland leader Terence O’Neill. Butch Moore became Ireland’s first representative in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary. The Young Scientist Exhibition was held for the first time. Unofficial first Taoiseach WT Cosgrave died this year as did comedian Jimmy O’Dea. Among the famous Irish people born in this year were comedians Ardal O’Hanlon and Sean Hughes; jockey Kieren Fallon; footballer Denis Irwin and ‘Artemis Fowl’ author Eoin Colfer. In BRITAIN, Winston Churchill received a state funeral, Edward Heath took over leadership of the Conservative Party, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were arrested for the Moors Murders, and television advertising of cigarettes was banned. 12 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
FURTHER AFIELD, US troops set foot on Vietnam soil for the first time. Martin Luther King Jr, and 25,000 civil rights supporters, marched from Selma to Alabama’s state capital Montgomery. Ed White made the first space walk of any US astronaut. Lyndon B Johnson was elected to his first full term as US President. The Indo-Pakistani war took place. Canada got a new flag; adopting the red maple leaf instead of the Union Jack and Canadian ensign. In SPORT Jack Nicklaus won his second green jacket and US Masters title at Augusta and his fourth major championship in all. Arkle won his second of three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups. Liverpool won their first FA Cup, beating Leeds Utd in the final at Wembley; Inter Milan won the European Cup, and Stanley Matthews played his last top flight game at the age of 50. For FILM it was the year of ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Dr Zhivago’, but the 37th Academy Awards were dominated
by ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Mary Poppins’. Gerry Anderson’s ‘Thunderbirds’ screened for the first time in the UK, meanwhile. It was a particularly stellar year in MUSIC with The Who releasing their seminal ‘My Generation’ album; The Rolling Stones notching up their first US number one single with ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ ; Bob Dylan controversially going ‘electric’ at the Newport Folk Festival and releasing ‘Like a Rolling Stone’; and the Beatles single-handedly inventing stadium rock by playing to nearly 56,000 people at New York’s Shea Stadium. (Answer on page 71)
Modern History
Queen for the World Wedding day 1947
Lorna Hogg details how ‘The Queen’, Britain’s longest reigning Monarch, has achieved both admiration from her own people and worldwide respect from staunch Republicans On 3rd June 2018, Queen Elizabeth celebrated the sixty fifth anniversary of her Coronation. That event ushered in the second Elizabethan Age, and a reign which has which has lasted longer than that of any previous British sovereign. ‘The Queen’ as she is simply known worldwide, has achieved not just love and admiration from her own kingdom and Commonwealth, but worldwide respect from staunch republicans. So just how has this silver haired 92 year old lady, famed for her handbags and colourful outfits, (chosen so that people can spot her easily) achieved this level of status and recognition? Certainly not for any lavish lifestyle. One of the world’s wealthiest women, the Queen remains careful with money, enjoys ‘staycations,’ hates waste, and sticks to a simple diet - weaknesses include afternooon tea, chocolate and a gin and Dubonnet. She loves her family, dogs, horses and the countryside. She enjoys the same TV programmes as her subjects - including the middlebrow Downton Abbey, Countdown and Pointless and Coronation Street. As the undisputed ‘Boss’ of the family firm, she takes her work seriously – Christmas Day is her one day off from the famous government r` ed
boxes’ containing government papers which have to be signed, and which accompany her everywhere.
of York , became King in a country shocked and disillusioned by the Abdication, and soon at war.
Yet the Queen has one striking characteristic from which we can all perhaps learn - her willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. Throughout her reign, she has on many occasions been called upon to challenge her own codes and conventions, and to move with the times, whilst maintaining longstanding Royal family traditions.
After that war, on a South African tour, the 21 year old Princess made a vow that her entire life, long or short, would be dedicated to her people’s service. She was soon called upon to fulfil that vow. On her father’s death in 1952, the 24 year old Princess automatically gave up her life as a carefree young naval wife to Prince Philip, and took on role the role of Queen, Head of the Church of England, and of The Commonwealth. Prince Philip, then a promising naval commander, had to retire from his life at sea, and support her.
Some of those traditions were formed early in her life. The little Princess Elizabeth grew up in a world in which people ‘put up and shut up’ with their lives. Duty, deference and discretion formed her code of behaviour. As a toddler, she waved from her top floor nursery on Piccadilly, over to her grandfather, King George V, ‘Grandpa England’ in Buckingham Palace, in a world which would soon be rocked by the Abdication Crisis. It came about when her Uncle David, the Prince of Wales, developed a close relationship with a twice married American, Wallis Simpson. When he became King in 1936, he announced that if he could not marry the now divorced Wallis, he would abdicate – and did. Her father, the Duke
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The circumstances of her father’s Accession meant that the Royal family was especially sensitive about divorce and unsuitable marriages. Hence, in the 1950s, when her sister, Princess Margaret was very close to the divorced Captain Peter Townsend, the Queen could not publicly support her sister against the speculation and comment about a possible marriage – and the Princess gave him up. In the 1970s, the young Royals also found themselves expected to make s` uitable’ marriages. Camilla Parker Bowles, a girlfriend of Prince of
On Buckingham Palace balcony following her Coronation in 1953
Wales, was not in those days seen as a suitable royal bride material. In the 1980s, actress Koo Stark had a close relationship with her devoted Prince Andrew – until the press discovered her appearance in a mildly soft porn film. In the Queen’s lifetime, however, values have gradually changed and long established views on relationships, religion, divorce, and family breakdown have been challenged. Duty and sacrifice are no longer powerful drivers in society. Social media, 24/7 news and the r` ight to know’ have not spared the Windsors, as royals worldwide have joined the celebrity culture. Over the years, the Queen has herself faced some personal criticism, that she she was a cool and inattentive young mother, leaving Prince Charles and Princess Anne to go on Royal Tours. Unfair, perhaps, in that she merely reflected the mothering styles of her background and time. Like many women, however, she has developed a special bond with her grandchildren, all of whom adore and respect her. They also say that they are amazed at how much Granny knows about their movements. They, in return keep her up to date – including reputed ‘tutorials’ on mobile phone usage and social media. Her grandchildren are amongst her biggest supporters and in 2012, along with the rest of world, saw a surprising new aspect of the Queen – her sense of fun and willingness to take a risk. At the opening eremony of the London Olympics, accompanied by Daniel ‘James Bond’ Craig, she appeared to ‘parachute’ into the arena in a perfectly timed stunt, as her astonished grandsons Princes William and Harry yelled ‘Go, granny..’ However, there have been some adjustments on both sides with regard to what is acceptable royal conduct – and what is not. The younger royals learn quickly when the regal lines have been crossed. In 2008 the Queen happily changed her dress code, donning a fascinator for the afternoon wedding reception of her grandson
Peter Philips at Frogmore House. However, when pictures of the event were later sold to a magazine – which could have set a precedent for later press intrusion, whilst the Queen’s views were not made public, royal sources said that the situation would ‘never happen again.’. Famlies of course, bring the greatest joy – and
sometimes anguish, into most people’s lives, and the Queen has been no exception. Her 1992 Annus Terribilis, concluded with her childhood home, Windsor Castle, threatened by flames. Three of her children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and the Prince of Wales had to deal with broken marriages. Embarassing tapes of private phone conversations and pictures appeared – and Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 15
Modern History and the Royal popularity ratings dropped. It must have seemed to the Queen as a reminder of the unthinkable – the spectre of a divorce by another heir to the Throne.
When Prince Harry’s relationship with his American actress girlfriend became serious, there was considerable interest in how the Queen would react to the divorced, bi-racial staunch feminist. In fact, Meghan , and later, her mother, were greeted warmly by both the Queen - and the corgis.
Those events however, paled in comparision with the tragedy of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. At Balmoral, aside from her grieving young sons, the Royal Family had to deal with what seemed like a nation’s grief. ‘Show us you care’ shouted the headlines. ‘Why is there no flag flying at half mast?’ The Royals were called cold and uncaring, as they judged that the young princes would be more secure in the privacy and calm of Balmoral, than dealing with the grief of the crowds who gathered at Kensington Palace. When the family returned to London, no-one knew how they would be received in the tense. atmosphere However, the Queen walked to the waiting crowds, and offered to place flowers they had brought as floral tributes. She also made an unprecedented live television broadcast that week, paying personal tribute to Diana. She accepted that Diana’s funeral was going to be very different from those she – and the nation, had previously known. There were no muffled drums and pipes, no impressive lengthy formal parades. People wept, and threw flowers on the cortege. Guests included singers, actors, actresses and designers rather than international royal mourners. A rock star sang, and Diana’s brother appeared to criticise the Royal family for their style of child raising. There were clearly lessons to be learned in adjusting to twentieth century life, and the Queen accepted them – no mean feat for an essentially shy and very private seventy year old. Receptions at the Palaces became more inclusive, and there were more opportunities at home and on tour to meet a wider range of people. In 2005 Prince Charles, future Head of the Church of England as well as future monarch, wanted to marry his long time love, the divorced Camilla Parker Bowles. Changes in the Church’s attitude to re-marriage of divorcees allowed for a compromise, and the couple married in a civil ceremony in Windsor. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attended the church blessing at St. George’s Chapel. Now, her grandchildren marry for love, not lineage. They enjoy their own interests in youth, and bring up their own children, before taking on full royal responsibilities. However, despite his youthful freedom, Prince William will one day be King, and during his time at Eton College, each Sunday he walked over to near by Windsor, for tea and some role preparation with his grandmother. As they continued to develop their own interests and careers, the young princes received some criticism for their travels and partying. It was noted that their elderly grandparents notched up many more public engagements than they did. However, the the extent of support and love for both princes at their weddings, showed the Queen
They said it could never happen..her meeting with Martin McGuinness
During her celebrated visit to the English Market in Cork.
to be correct in her judgement. Now, the princes have their own interests and foundations, plus taking on some of their mother’s charities, and it was recently announced that Prince Harry and Meghan will work with Commonwealth Youth. Change and adaptation have not been restricted to family life. The Queen has put personal family history aside and shaken hands with controversial political leaders, and made highly successful State Visits to Russia and South Africa. However, many feel that the most important State Visit of her reign – and her most challenging, was to Ireland in 2011. On that highly sensitive occasion, demeanour, a misunderstood regal gesture, or particular emphasis in the delivery of a speech could have lasting implications.
announced that many of the couple’s charities and interests will be taken over by his grandchildren, who will also take on more long haul travel. When Prince Harry’s relationship with his American actress girlfriend became serious, there was considerable interest in how the Queen would react to the divorced, bi-racial staunch feminist. In fact, Meghan , and later, her mother, were greeted warmly by both the Queen - and the corgis.
Security was tight - it must have been the royal couple’s first experience of driving through empty streets, waving enthusiastically at anyone wtho had braved security measures. The polite wariness started to change at the Garden of Remembrance, where the Queen bowed her head at this symbolic site. However, it was her dinner speech, with its opening words in Irish, given in an utterly silent St. Patrick’s Hall, that fully won over press and public. The success of the newly relaxed visit to the English Market in Cork, or her standing ovation at the National Concert Hall reception could not have been previously imagined. One challenge all of us have to face and plan for is increasing age, and many leaders find it difficult to devolve powers. At her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, however, the Queen dramatically introduced a new slimmed down ‘core’ royal family, when just Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, plus the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry joined her on the Palace balcony. When Prince Philip decided to retire from public life last year, it was
16 16 Senior Senior Times Times l lNovember July - August - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 2017 l www.seniortimes.ie
The press had over the years suggested that previous royal brides had not received enough royal support for their adjustment when they joined the family. Hence, it came as a surprise when The Queen broke with tradition to include Meghan at the family Christmas celebrations last year - and her rescue dog Guy travelled with the Sovereign to Windsor for the wedding celebrations. Eagle eyes noted that within days of the wedding, a photograph of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in in the Queen’s private apartments. Meghan’s full acceptance as a member of the family was demonstrated when in late June, she joined ‘The Boss’ to skilfully work the crowds on a relaxed and hugely popular visit to Cheshire. As one of the best recognised and most extraordinary women of her times prepares for the next phase of her life, it is clear that one of her successes lies in the fine balance she has struck between the vital preservation of royal traditions and the equally vital adjustments to modern life. She is now equally at ease opening Parliament, addressing Commonwealth leaders, and visiting and listening to survivors of disasters such as the Grenfell Fire and Manchester bombings. But then, as one American visitor recently remarked after meeting her, ‘this Queen sure knows how to reign....’’
Light Afternoon tea on
Finance
Forestry? Not relevant? Think again!
Planting twenty acres of forestry in Ireland should generate an annual return of 4.7% income tax free cash for 15 years (paid for by the Department of Agriculture) after which intermittent income is generated through thinning your forest for another 15 years before harvesting your commercial tree crop and cashing in your investment. The realistic net return generated over the thirty years it will take for your forest to mature is between 4.5 to 5% per annum. Compared to the run-of-the mill investments this roughly equates to a gross return of 7% to 7.5% and compared to current bank deposit interest rates of 1.2% (or 0.8% after DIRT) an investment in Irish forestry will yield approximately five or six times better return for investors. You don’t even have to be a farmer! This is open to everyone! So what’s the catch? Quite simply there is none – just a lack of awareness of what a growing number of investors in Ireland have already discovered: • State grants cover the cost of planting your commercial forest • Premia payments from the State are paid yearly to the forest owner for 15 years and are income tax free • Typically, Irish commercial forestry should return 5% real rate of return to the forest owner over the crop rotation of approximately 30 years • Realistically it only becomes economically viable to consider forestry investment with an investible sum of €150,000
Profit from the occupation of woodlands in the State, managed on a commercial basis is exempt from Income Taxes for individuals and companies. Grant assistance for establishment, management and reconstruction of woodlands is also exempt from income taxes as is the annual premium. It gets better - Forestry income has been removed from the High Earners Restriction for forest owners who manage their plantations on a commercial basis. The removal of forestry income from the High Earners Restriction for active forest owners and farmers, means that clear-felling income will be tax-free. Unfortunately there is no escaping USC or PRSI. Government supports for forestry are very favourable as forestry creates employment in rural areas whilst supporting a growing export sector worth over €355 million in 2016. Forests are also a renewable energy resource. 47% or the Irish forestry estate is now privately owned by 21,000 forest owners. There is no reason why you should not be one of them and Veon can make this a reality for you! Coupled with owning your own forest is the issue of leaving a growing lasting legacy that will produce revenue and enjoyment for your children and grandchildren and beyond. Leaving aside the societal benefits of forestry from carbon sequestration, flood prevention, reducing soil erosion, improving biodiversity and air quality there are sound financial and economic reasons to consider forest ownership for yourself.
18 Senior Times July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Joe Codd, Director of Sales
Commercial woodlands, excluding land, owned by individuals are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the growing timber. Growing timber in commercial woodlands is exempt from stamp duty but the underlying land is not. Commercial woodlands in the State are subject to Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) on gifts to or inheritance by individuals regardless of the residence or domicile of the disposer and beneficiary. In addition to specified exempt thresholds, relief is available to commercial woodlands as agricultural property or potentially business relief. The relief, as a reduction in market value is as follows: • A flat rate reduction of 90% applies to both inter-vivo gifts and inheritance of commercial woodlands • All gifts and inheritance between husband and wife are exempt from CAT • From 20/11/2008, the woodlands can be located in any member State of the European Union and still attract Agricultural Relief. • Parent to Child exemption is €310,000 and the rate of tax is now 33%. Viewed simply as an investment, forestry makes sense in the long term but viewed as a legacy it takes on a whole new meaning as it is an excellent mechanism to pass on wealth from one generation to the next. There are few other investments that can be as engaging as that of a woodland as the forest owner can dictate whether or indeed how much or little they wish to do themselves.
Finance With a nationwide presence, Veon Ltd is Ireland’s leading forestry management company overseeing 50,000 acres of forestry in Ireland. Services include forestry establishment, annual management, forest roads, harvesting, investment forestry and the buying of plantations. Clients range from forestry fund companies to farmers, woodland estate owners and private land owners. Veon also manage forestry within a number of Irish estates including Coollattin Estate, , Coopers Hill Estate, Coolavin Estate, Brownhall Estate, Kilcooley Estate, Anaghmore Estate, Cloonalis Estate and the Perceval Estate. We work directly with our clients to deliver the highest possible returns that contribute positively to social, economic and environmental sustainability. With our nationwide network of offices, Veon is Ireland’s largest purchaser of commercial forestry plantations for investor clients.
Veon’s nationwide team
Whilst owning your own private forest is not something everyone can achieve, it remains a profitable rewarding choice for many people who have never considered forestry as an investment option.
Value in forestry
A brief investment example is illustrated below: Purchasing Land
34 Acres
Land Purchase Price E153,000 E4,500 per acre Income from the State
E107,100
E7,004 per year for 15 years
Timber income from year 15 to 30
E408,000
Cost incurred for total lifetime E107,000 Potential profit over 30 year term
E255,000
If you wish to have a chat about turning this dream into a reality then please contact Joe Codd on Freephone 1800 719 399 and we would be happy to discuss the available options with you. Joe Codd, Director of Sales B.Agr.Sc.(For.) Dip.Sc.(For.) M.S.I.F. Email: jcodd@veon.ie Mob: 087 983 7462 Freephone: 1800 719 399 or Tel: (01) 6219406 www.veon.ie Veon Ltd., 1 Leopardstown Business Centre, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 D18 N578 Veon Ltd is the only private forestry company registered with the Central Bank of Ireland as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM).
Looking for ways to minimise inheritance tax? Seeking an income Tax Free return? Thinking of a long term legacy investment? Think Forestry > Find out how forestry can help to provide solutions for you > Contact Veon Ltd on Freephone 1800 719 399 > Or visit our website at www.veon.ie Veon Ltd is Ireland’s leading forest management company with offices nationwide. Minimum investment level €150k
Veon Ltd is registered with the Central Bank of Ireland as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM).
Freephone: 1800 719 399 www.veon.ie Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 19
Creative Writing Eileen Casey
The nuts and bolts of writing flash fiction
Eileen Casey explains ‘Flash Fiction’, a fun yet challenging way to begin writing again after a drought. Writing flash gives such an advantage to writers, especially when the thought occurs: ‘There’s a story in there if only I could figure out a way to tell it’. Hemmingway’s six very telling words have spawned a number of competitions, a recent one being in The Irish Independent. ‘Unwanted child grew into Wanted Man,’ sticks in the mind.
Baby Shoes for Sale, Never Worn. Hemmingway’s six word short story says it all and in such a short space. Focus on the pathos of the shoes having never been worn carries huge emotional weight, together with an implicit back story. Every word, written in the format of an advertisement, carries pathos, the wordage may be small, but the freight is large. William Trevor, master storyteller, has said that he really learnt his trade as a young schoolboy. His English teacher used set exercises which were focused on economy. Stories were written to six line length, possibly Trevor’s own first encounter with flash fiction. Trevor, who also worked as a sculptor for several years, believed in ‘chipping away.’ Less is definitely more. 20 Senior Times July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
However, to return to Hemmingway. His six very telling words have spawned a number of competitions, a recent one being in The Irish Independent. ‘Unwanted child grew into Wanted Man,’ sticks in the mind, for sure. It travels an enormous distance in such a short space. Wordage for flash fiction varies from 100 words to 1,000 settling for somewhere in between. Flash fiction is very close to how a flash of lightning hits, electrifies and is gone. Flash fiction is an encounter for the reader, a brief encounter but one that stays in the mind, depending on the skill of the writer. Other names for the form include five-minute fiction, postcard size, micro-fiction. In France, such works are called nouvelles. In China flash fiction is called, the smoke-long story (as long as it takes to smoke a cigarette).
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Creative Writing
Short story writer Katherine Mansfield (1888 – 1923) is always worth a read. Her stories focus on moments of disruption. Greatly interested in people and the dynamics between them, her stories are often simply snapshots of relationships.
Jean Rhys made Rochester’s wife her narrator in Wide Sargasso Sea. A character or an event from myth or legend (place yourself in the legend)
Because it’s such a short length, editing is crucial, every word really does count. Flash Fiction, like longer length work, also operates on the three Unities, Time/Action/Place. If these three elements are there, then chances are, the story is viable. Stories need to be simply told and with emphasis on the unfolding of the story. Short story writer Katherine Mansfield (1888 – 1923) is always worth a read. Her stories focus on moments of disruption. Greatly interested in people and the dynamics between them, her stories are often simply snapshots of relationships. For example, characters meet after a distance of some years and while one may have stayed the same, it’s clear that the other has moved on. Mansfield is quoted as saying: ‘Would you not like to try all sorts of lives – one is so very small – but that is the satisfaction of writing – one can impersonate so many people.’ This impersonation, this getting under the skin means abandoning the ego, the author’s voice. Recording character profiles on a regular basis creates a strong empathy with characters outside your own life experience. Even the smallest spark of interest/intrigue in the life of someone else, can yield the material for flash fiction. The best way to begin writing a flash fiction type work is to write the story to around 2,000 words and then make the entry point much later than allowed for in the first writing. Most of draft work is throat clearing to a certain extent. It’s always good to start the action in a moment of crisis or, as stated above, of disruption. It’s NOT a good idea to enter a story by reeling out an amount of exposition. If a character is driving home through the night, focus is immediately on the white hands clenched around the wheel, the rain on the windscreen, the sound of the wipers, the urgency of the journey. No reader wants to be brought back to the point where the character is leaving the hospital building, paying for parking, wondering if it will rain etc. etc. All that matters to this particular story is the inside of that car and all the details provided by this setting. ‘The rhythmic form of the short-short story,’ Joyce Carol Oates said, ‘is often more temperamentally akin to poetry than to conventional prose, which generally opens out to dramatize experience and evoke emotion; in the smallest, tightest spaces, experience can only be suggested.’ 22 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
I’m in total agreement with Oates. Readers of poetry will know that economy of language is key, together with other ‘poetic’ devices. Being able to use figurative language, metaphor and symbol means that language is yielding itself up over a number of layers. The flash fiction writer does not have the space afforded the novelist. If the novel inhabits a whole house, then the flash fiction writer has to operate in one small room, with one small window. Below is an example of flash fiction where all the elements are working together. My Snow Globe World ( By kind permission of Doreen Duffy) My hands shook while my mind raced with thoughts. I tried so hard to slow down to give myself time to take just one thought and follow it through, it seemed almost impossible. My mother had offered to stay over but I said no. I didn’t want anyone else telling me that I had to let go, release this grief. How unhealthy it would be for me, for Jamie, if I kept holding onto it so tightly. Nobody understood that this ball of grief is all I had left of them, if I let it go I would have nothing. The little clock chimed five am. I had to go to the hospital to collect Jamie today, to bring him back to this house. This hollow shell of a house, too quiet with just my voice trying to fill the rooms. It was the last thing I felt like doing but I though if I put up the Christmas decorations somehow the house might feel like home again, at least to him. My eyes burned and my throat twisted and tightened painfully yesterday when he said, “I’m going to write to Santa again Mum, there’s still time, I’m going to tell him I don’t need the removed controlled jeep or the surprise. Instead, just bring Daddy and Laura back home to us.” My hands shook a little more, black shadows flickering on pale walls while I fiddled with the tape on the box. Was it really a year ago that I
Creative Writing
smoothed that tape to close over the lid and protect all our precious Christmas baubles for one more year. I took another decoration out but this time the tremor in my hands was too much. I watched as my snow globe world rolled from my grasp onto the floor, across the boards, the snow fluttering wildly now. The hands on the miniature clock tower inside spun backwards, back through time, unwound the memories of other Christmas’s in this house. The tiny group of singers, their gently sculpted faces all red lips and bobble hats, twirled uncontrollably across the floor, buried in the deluge of snow until it crashed hard against the marble fireplace and shattered into tiny pieces. Did they hear the sound of glass breaking? Had he turned his head to look back and see her body hanging limply in the baby seat? Did he hear Jamie scream, did he see his eyes opened wide with fear? Had he taken that drink when I asked him not to, when I phoned him? Had he driven too fast because I annoyed him by ringing and asking him not to have a drink especially with the kids in the car? I fell to my knees and picked through the shards of glass. I lifted the tiny figures, held them to my lips, held them in my hands. The tiny figures lay perfectly still across my white bleeding palms. (first published in The Irish Times) Here we have a story that is incrementally conveyed to the reader. Anne Enright once said that the telling of a story should be like how the headlights of a car operate only revealing what’s immediately up ahead. My Snow Globe World is a story that is slowly building from the general to the particular, working around the image of a snow globe, which is at once protective but also deadly when it crashes, breaking into shards. The duplication of the husband/sons by the tiny figures in the snow globe is a master stroke of showing and telling. The resulting scene of glass breaking, the uncontrollably twirling and being buried in ‘the deluge of snow’ is no less horrifying than if the real scene were unfolding. This is where using symbol and figurative language has paid off with interest. As well as keeping snippets of intrigue from newspapers/magazines, it’s also useful to visit existing fiction and see if you can amplify or even redefine a familiar character. Parody works also. Jean Rhys made Rochester’s wife her narrator in Wide Sargasso Sea. A character or an event from myth or legend (place yourself in the legend). A place-name (unusual for some reason) can be a good starting out point. Children’s stories are particularly good vehicles. You can parody an unmistakable style, Katherine Mansfield say or a favourite writer of your own. Questions to ask on completion of a flash fiction work: Is there a plot? (does something actually happen), is there a point to the plot? (does the plot drive home a point?), is every word absolutely necessary? If the flash fiction focuses on a character profile, ask yourself at the outset what your intention is, what do you wish to highlight about this character for the reader. Choose one option from the following choices. Maximum wordage is 1,000. Idea One: Take your character on a ‘lightning’ journey through the night. Write a piece of flash fiction which begins with a car journey, a character and a source of conflict. Use every detail/element at your disposal to hold the reader right to the very end. Or Idea Two: Find your own newspaper/magazine item and use it as the source material for flash fiction. Finally, a reminder that creative writing is alive and well supported in Ireland. During May last, I attended Words Ireland, a festival held at IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) organised by the main literary bodies in Ire
William Trevor, master storyteller, has said that he really learnt his trade as a young schoolboy. His English teacher used set exercises which were focused on economy. Stories were written to six line length, possibly Trevor’s own first encounter with flash fiction. land. Their function is to support writers at various stages in their careers, offering financial support as well as guidance with regard to publishers etc. I was lucky enough to have read about this event and so, I went along and had a truly wonderful day out. For me, going to Words Ireland was like a gardener going along to Bloom in the Phoenix Park. I met loads of writers I knew, enjoyed many of the various presentations (ably delivered by some of the most prolific writers working in Ireland today) and came away with loads of literature (what else!) from the various stands and stalls. The Arts Council, Poetry Ireland, Publishing Ireland Ltd., The Irish Writers Centre, The Stinging Fly, among others ensured that writers were well aware of all that’s available. Definitely one to watch out for next year.
You can help create a brighter future for Ireland’s sickest children.
By leaving a gift in your will to CMRF Crumlin. By leaving a legacy in your will to CMRF Crumlin you can help ensure sick children receive the best care, and access to the latest treatments and potential cures. You will be supporting Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and the National Children’s Research Centre. But more importantly you will be helping to save and improve the lives of children for generations to come.
Every sick child deserves every chance. www.cmrf.org CMRF_A4_Legacy_ad.indd 1
When writing your will, your family and loved ones come first. But perhaps you would also consider leaving a lasting legacy to CMRF Crumlin that will provide life-saving treatment to children in the future.
For further information call Siobhan on 01 709 1700 or email hello@cmrf.org
Charity Number: CHY4483A
Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 23
20/11/2017 16:32
Creative writing
Continuing the ‘how to’ writing theme, Morning Ireland presenter and author of four novels, Rachel English reveals how she got started and says it’s never too late to start!
It’s never too late to start writing! Like lots of people, I always wanted to write. When I was a teenager, I wrote all the time. I kept a diary; I loved composing school essays; I scribbled notes about everything that interested me. And then I stopped. I’m not sure why I gave up, but I think a lack of confidence may have had something to do with it. Often, the discussions around writing can be off-putting. You read in the papers about the amazing achievements of wonderfully talented people who have written three novels by the age of twenty-two and have agents and publishers clamouring to sign them. And you say to yourself, ‘Well, I’m never going to be like that, so what’s the point?’ Then, a few years ago, a friend asked me a question: what did you love doing as a teenager that you never do now? Her argument was this: as teenagers most of us are passionate about playing sport or singing or painting or something. We revel in being creative. Then life intervenes – and we stop. But why shouldn’t we get the same enjoyment from those activities when we’re in our twenties or thirties or even older? So, when I started my first book, I thought of it as revisiting an old hobby. Save for my mother and my husband, I told nobody. To be honest, I didn’t know whether I would be able to write a novel. What if the idea lurking at the back of my head wasn’t strong enough? What if I didn’t have the discipline to come home from work and write? I won’t claim writing came easily to me. I gave up more than once. What I hadn’t appreciated is how addictive it becomes. There were days when I practically ran home from work to get
stuck into a new scene or to play about with a tricky paragraph. And yet, even after I’d completed several drafts, I remained reluctant to talk about what I was doing. It was only when I got an agent and he sold the book that I started to think of it as an actual novel rather than a hefty file on the computer. At that stage, I realised that not telling people was pretty silly. Still, I wish I’d recorded the moment when I broke the news to my colleagues on Morning Ireland. You can guess their reaction by the fact that I had to keep reassuring them that this wasn’t a hoax. This may sound a bit naive, but when I began writing, I never gave much thought to what ‘type’ of book I was writing. All I knew was that I had a group of characters I wanted to spend time with and a story I loved telling. I also wanted to try and capture a time and place. Oh, and I was spurred on by one particular image: a girl I’d seen on a train who was enjoying her book so much that it was practically welded to her nose. If the train had gone up in smoke, she’d probably still be sitting there quietly turning the pages while chaos unfolded around her. I hoped that if I got my book ‘right’, somebody somewhere might react to it in the same way. And that is the very best thing about having a book published. When you meet a reader and they want to talk about the story or the characters, the feeling is just brilliant. At this year’s Listowel Writers’ Week, I met a woman who wanted to talk about a scene in one of my books, The American Girl, that made her cry. I was so touched, I almost cried myself.
24 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Although my fourth book, The Night of the Party, is now out in the world, there are still times when I feel like an imposter; when I half expect someone to tap me on the shoulder and question my credentials. The nerves are the same too. I worry that no one will read it, and that if they do, they won’t enjoy it. People who have written ten, twenty, books, tell me this madness doesn’t go away. I’m often asked if I have any advice for someone who’s interested in writing fiction. I try not to be overly prescriptive. What works for me, mightn’t work for you. What I do say is this: please don’t think that you’ve left it too long or that writing is for other people. It’s never too late to start. The Night of the Party is published by Hachette Ireland
Four copies of Rachel English’s latest book to be won! Senior Times, in association with the publisher, Hachette Ireland, is offering four copies of Rachel English’s latest book The Night of the Party in this competition. To enter simply answer this question: How many books has Rachel English written? Send your answer by post to Rachel English Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Or email: john@slp.ie Deadline for receipt of entries is 18th August 2018. The first four correct entries drawn are the winners..
for every child, a dream Do you dream of a world where every child has clean water, nutritious food, healthcare, an education and a safe environment to grow up in? You can make your dream come true. Did you know you can leave the gift of a better future to a child in your Will? It is really easy and inexpensive to do and you don’t have to be wealthy to make a difference that will last a lifetime. Please consider this very special way of ensuring your love for children lives on. For more information, please call Justin on 01 878 3000 or go to www.unicef.ie Thank you. Credit: UNICEF/ Bangladesh 2017/ Bindra
Literature
JKJ, humourist, novelist, journalist, essayist and playwright was born on May 2nd 1859, in Shropshire, the youngest in a family of four.
Messing about on the river In the latest in her series of literature-themed travels Lorna Hogg visits the Thames Valley whose many towns, villages and hostelries feature in that much-loved Victorian favourite Three Men In A Boat
When aspiring author Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat appeared in1889, it was initially disliked by many serious literary critics. They – and he - would have been astonished that a century later, this history of the River Thames and lighthearted story of a friends’ boating trip rowing on a river skiff, has never been out of print. It has inspired TV programmes – a BBC 2 film famously re-created the trip with Griff Rhys Jones, Rory McGrath and Dara O’Briain. It has also encouraged Thames Valley tourism, and remains a regular on lists of Top 100 British books. The humourist, novelist, journalist, essayist and playwright was born on May 2nd 1859, in Shropshire. The youngest in a family of four, he followed two sisters and a brother who died young. Their father was a lay preacher, businessman and investor. However, failure of those investments ultimately led to family ruin. The Jeromes would follow their father’s work south to Poplar, in London’s East End, where they created a new life. The young Jerome, however, struggled to fit in, having dreamed of life as politician or literary figure. Even worse, at 13, shortly after the youngster 26 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
The graceful suspension bridge at Marlow with All Saints church on the left.
achieved a place at St. Marylebone Grammar School, his then penniless father died, followed by his mother two years later. Jerome left school to work on the railways, where his first job included picking up trackside coal. He was now alone in the world, his two sisters having left home. Like his sister Blandina, Jerome loved theatre, and decided to try life
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Literature
Market Hall, Kingston-upon-Thames, the town where the story starts..
Holy Trinity Church, Cookham
Following the route
as an actor, joining a local repertory company in 1877. When that failed, he determinedly resorted to other work – ranging from journalism and short story writing to builder, packer and solicitor’s clerk. However, he never gave up on his writing, and his first books soon appeared - On the Stage and Off` plus Idle Thoughts of An Idle Fellow. He also wrote for Home Chimes, the magazine which would later serialise Three Men in a Boat. By June 1888, Jerome was successful enough to marry the recently divorced Georgina Harris. They had a ready made family, with her existing daughter Elsie, and the couple’s short honeymoon, was spent rowing on the Thames on a small boat. Jerome later claimed that the trip, plus the many taken with his friends, inspired his bestseller, published in 1889. Its gentle, understated non-satirical humour and observances about the trip taken by the hapless travellers Jerome, his friends George and Harris plus the fictional dog Monmorency, was an instant success, but many serious critics belittled it. It remains a light hearted and inspirational guide to a beautiful part of England. Some of the lessons learned by the travellers still hold good, including remembering the fact that it can be difficult to find your way back to river campsites in the dark: the importance of bringing along a tin opener, and booking ahead for accommodation. His success provided Jerome and his growing family, now including his new daughter Rowena, with the security for him to write full time. He focused on novels and plays, and had some critical success with his play The Passing of the Third Floor Back. He became a part of London literary life, but had less luck as an editor. However, urbane and relaxed, he had many interests, and travelled widely. Jerome was too old to sign up for the First World War, but he did become an Ambulance driver in France. In 1927, he suffered a stroke afer a motoring tour, and died on 14 June. Jerome was cremated in Golders Green and his ashes are buried, along with his wife and sister, in the local churchyard at Ewelme, Oxfordshire, where he had a farmhouse.. 28 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
These days, it’s easy to follow the route of the Thames travellers, either on the water by boat hire/ river cruise, or bus/train, or by walking the Thames Path. Jerome enthused about the beauty of the river, which meanders through Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and his descriptions still hold good. Sunlight still ripples on the water against the grey green of trailing willows and lush water meadows. Tow paths are still walked, colourful regattas celebrated and busy locks still bustle. However, the magnificent river mansions such as Fawley Court, Taplow and Mapledurham have now been joined by many water front homes of celebrities and local residents.
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Literature The Bull Inn, Sonning
Take the train or river bus from London to Kingston Upon Thames, where the story starts. Nearby lies Runnymede, now owned by the National Trust, where the famous Magna Carta, was signed, and Windsor, which can also be reached by train from Slough.
The Bull Inn, Sonning This ‘veritable picture of an old country inn..’ and ‘fairytale little nook’ is now a picture postcard pub with a handful of luxurious boutique style bedrooms.
Maidenhead was a popular stop in Victorian days, when it was popular for trips to nearby Boulter’s Lock. It also has excellent train connections to pretty villages such as Cookham, Sonning and Bourne End, now wealthy areas, with superb local restaurants. Marlow, famed for its graceful suspension bridge and where the Three Men shopped for provisions, also lies nearby. The Compleat Angler luxury hotel retains its river frontage, whilst Bray, the famed foodie site is nearby.
The George and Dragon, Wargrave Excellent views, ‘nestling where the river bends makes a sweet picture as you pass it’ it offers classic pub dishes, with al fresco dining.
Reading also has good connections to Henley, famous for its regatta, and beautiful riverside walks. Unsurprisingly, this area is known for many TV locations. There is a Midsomer Murders trail. Some Poirot and Morse episodes were also shot around here. Shiplake, where after a pub crawl, two of the Three Men could not locate their river island camp, is nearby. Up river, pretty Pangbourne, where Jerome’s return rowing trip ended, has less crowded beautiful riverside walks. It’s a short trip on, by train or boat, to the picturesque market town of Abington, and then Oxford.
The Angel on the Bridge, Henley A cosy pub with history, views and food, and reasonably priced. The Swan, Pangbourne Dating back to the seventeenth century, a classic pub, with old oak beams, open fires, great food and a river terrace. The Barley Mow, Clifton Abingdon 650 years old, with overhanging thatched roof beams and fireplaces, this famous pub serves traditional pub food in a friendly atmosphere.
One of the great attractions of the route is the number of old pubs and inns in which the Three Men stayed, or rested, and many still fit Jerome’s description of Clifton Hampden, where the travellers stayed, - ‘a wonderfully pretty village, old fashioned and peaceful..’ Mine hosts.. Whilst some of the ancient pubs mentioned in the book have sadly gone, many remain for your choice of quick drinks, riverside meals or just lazy afternoons and evenings. The Two Brewers, Marlow A friendly historical pub, dating from the 1750s and serving good pub grub. The Compleat Angler, Marlow Nestling beside the famous suspension bridge, and reputed to be where Jerome wrote part of the book, this superb hotel is famed for its atmosphere, location, food and five star service. 30 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Kingston Upon Thames
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Family Run Hotels in the Heart of the Boyne Valley & Ireland’s Ancient East
Health
Healthy bones: an investment for a healthy future Dr Miriam Delaney explains
Why should the Over 50’s care about bone health? Osteoporosis is not going to effect me, its an older persons problem. I am healthy and have never broken a bone.. STOP! That’s where you are wrong. Osteoporosis (weak bones at risk of fracture/breaking) effects both men and women with aging. Why should we be concerned? Because in Ireland, one in three women and one in five men over 50 years will break a bone because of osteoporosis! A huge problem.
Healthy bone
Osteoporosis
blocks. To achieve this, we should eat a recommended daily intake of calcium from birth (200mg), throughout childhood (250-1000mg), adolescence (1300mg) and adulthood (1000mg-1300mg). To absorb calcium from our diet, we need vitamin D which is made by our skin on exposure to sunlight. However, to maintain a normal blood vitamin D level requires 20 minutes exposure to sunshine every day. This is not usually possible particularly due to the lack of sunlight in Ireland. Vitamin D is available in some foods, but dietary sources of vitamin D are limited, and so vitamin D supplementation is recommended, (200iu for children, 200-400iu for young adults and 400-800iu for adults).
Osteoporosis accounts for more days in hospital than diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer together. 20 per cent of patients will die in the first year after a hip fracture and another 30% will never regain independent living.
Calcium needs can be met through dietary sources, milk (dairy, soya, rice, cashew, almond, etc) yogurts, cheese, ice cream; fortified juices, pizza, some vegetables, beans, nuts, fruits and many more (www.iom.edu/
But if I break my wrist or ankle from a bad fall, surely that’s to be expected? It healed without a problem. Unfortunatley that is NOT true. Bones are designed to withstand impact. Any bone that breaks resulting from a fall from standing height or minimal trauma is a ‘fragility fracture’ and the individual should be evaluated for Osteoporosis.
Spreading calcium intake Spreading the calcium intake over the day allows our bodies to absorb it. Good nutrition including protein, fresh fruits and vegetables enhances bone health. Remember, calcium and vitamin D are not a treatment for Osteoporosis. They are part of our nutritional daily requirements for health.
So, what can we do? Healthy bones are a lifetime investment. We have to provide the building
Bones need weight bearing exercise to stimulate bone growth and repair. Throughout life, activity through walking, running, jumping, sports,
32 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D).
Health
dancing are key. Not only to maintain bone density, but also muscle strength and balance, essential in preventing falls, particularly with advancing age. Bones are at their strongest at age 20-30 years. After 30, bone loss starts and accelerates in men over 50 and post-menopausal women. This is a normal age-related process (like wrinkles in our skin or grey hair). A 10 per cent loss of spine bone density doubles the risk of spine fracture, and a 10 per cent decrease at the hip, increases hip fracture risk by 2.5. There are many factors that add additional risk, such as excessive alcohol, smoking, caffeine, family history of fracture, low BMI, certain medications such as steroids, anti-estrogens or anti-androgens used to treat prostate or breast cancer, and many more. If appropriate, your doctor can order a bone density scan to help evaluate your risk of fracture and decide on a plan with you. Bone health, preserving bone, and prevention of osteoporosis has got to be our aim. So good nutrition (including vitamin D supplements) and appropriate exercise are key, bone density testing at the appropriate time, prompt action by you and your doctor in response to fractures (a red flag), and then taking medications as advised by your doctor to reduce the risk of future fractures. So if you aim to remain healthy and active in later life, fracture free and independent, focus on your bone health today. Efforts now are an investment in your future. Here’s to strong bones and fracture free living! Dr Delaney will be speaking on this subject at the 50 Plus Expo in the Glamont Hotel, Galway on the 4th and 5th of September. See page 73 for details
BON SECOURS HOSPITAL GALWAY
Dr. Miriam Delaney is an endocrinologist who is a specialist in osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. She is the Director of the new Bone Health and Osteoporosis Programme at the Bon Secours Hospital Galway. She studied medicine in UCD and worked at St. Vincents Hospital, Dublin. After extensive further training in Boston, she completed a fellowship in endocrinology, and then one in bone at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Then consultant and Associate Director of the Skeletal Health and Osteoporosis Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by Associate Director of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program at the Cleveland Clinic, USA. Extensive research and publications in the field of osteoporosis, bone density, Vitamin D and calcium related disorders. She is also a member of the teaching faculty for the ISCD (International Society for Clinical Densitometry) in Ireland. Most recently, she has worked in the School of Medicine, National University Ireland Galway. Dr. Miriam F. Delaney MB, BCh, BAO, MRCPI, FACE, CCD Director, Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program, Suite 5, The Consultants Clinic, Bon Secours Hospital, Galway. Phone: 089-7086570.
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Further Education
Back to the books Opportunities for studying for the 2018/19 term and beyond The findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, ‘50 Plus in Ireland – 2011’ merely confirmed what many of us already know: that 80% of over 50s feel that life is full of opportunities. So, what better time to go back to the books and take up a further education course or degree? Whether you’re preparing for a new job, starting your own business after retirement, following a hobby or just starting to catch up on missed educational chances, this is the time to grab the educational opportunities which abound all over the country. For many, further education means college. So, if you’re secretly nurturing an ambition for mortar boards and dreaming spires, then start looking into opportunities for mature students. The first port of call might be www. maturestudents.ie. Alternatively, consider the websites for the leading third level colleges and universities for details of the variety of courses, college life and qualifications. Try www.tcd.ie : www.ucd.ie :www.ucc.ie : www.ioti.ie : www.gomaynooth.ie : www.itcarlow.ie/LLL For details of available grants, go to www.citizensadvice.ie Open University Of course, where and how you live may make college life difficult. However, you can still study for a degree no matter where you live, with the Open University. In Ireland, 2000 students have qualified with the OU since 2000, graduating in disciplines ranging from engineering and business studies to health, law, psychology the arts and computer studies. If it all sounds too isolated, bear in mind that tutorials, optional in many cases, help to link students. Summer school residency, popular with many students through the years, is being gradually phased out, but there are still some opportunities in the arts and humanities. Some language courses also require spending a short spell abroad. Telephone the OU in Dublin at 01 678 5399. Distance learning is becoming increasingly important for a generation linked by social media, and well used to internet communication. Go to www.coursesdirectonline.ie, or www.theopencollege.com, to help you to explore the range of courses on offer, ranging from developing a hobby to upskilling. Check also the Irish Training and Education Centre, for details of
courses, which can range from setting up a business to developing a hobby. For many of us, however, further education means evening classes, and the VEC is hard to beat in its sheer range of courses for qualification, training, self development, up-skilling to developing a hobby. Courses across the country range from second Level, to Further Education, courses for Adults and Evening Classes. The range is so wide that in some cases that you may not even realise what a course could do for you until you read the details! You can take courses in TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language, ideal for working or travel abroad. You can add to existing technical or professional qualifications. You can learn new crafts, explore the arts, learn to Photoshop – or computing skills for older adults, take up screenwriting, learn bridge, or discover jewellery making. Griffith College, with campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, has developed a reputation for its wide ranging courses, professional and vocational. Business skills, Accountancy, Law, Music, Drama and Design are all on offer. Griffith Colleges are also linked to Springboard Courses, which can help the unemployed get back into training in jobs which have employer demand. Kilroys College is known for its practical courses in skill development, and many are ideal not just for developing hobbies, but in utilising skills and interest to create opportunities in work. From budding nail technicians and beauticians, to those who want to follow up on in interest in dog grooming or photography, there is something here for a wide range of interests and requirements. Of course, many people are held back through difficulties in reading or writing skills. The good news is that there has never been a better time to learn, or improve abilities. Check www.qualifax.ie for details of adult literary help across the country. Plus. it’s the ideal time of the year tostart to learn, follow up a new interest, gain some qualifications, further a hobby, or expand your life. A course could be the start of a new pastime or enthusiasm. It could help you into
34 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
work, or towards the work you really want to do. It could equip you to go into business, or help you to communicate, or spark an interest in lifelong learning. It could open up a life, allowing you to book travel tickets, shop, bank online, or even email or communicate with distant family and friends. Like they say at the Open University, it’s never too late to learn! Aontas mission AONTAS as a membership organisation believes in the right of every adult to continue their learning throughout their lives. The mission of AONTAS is to advocate for the right of every adult in Ireland to quality learning. Who are adult learners? AONTAS estimates that there are approximately 200,000 adults involved in formal, further education programmes. These are adults availing of education through local VECs (including adult literacy, community education, Youthreach, VTOS, Back to Education I nitiative, PLC programmes and Senior Traveller Training Centres). Over the past two years over 10,000 adults have entered third level education, and there are now almost 160,000 adults on FÁS programmes. A further 30,000 adults are estimated to take part in non-formal community education. During the boom years, it is estimated that one in every five people was employed in the construction sector in Ireland. Over the past two and a half years, employment in the construction, manufacturing and retail sector has declined dramatically. With little immediate prospects for employment, many of those employed in these sectors have no other option other than to upskill or retrain. Also an increasing number of highly skilled adults have also found themselves unemployed and adult education is providing a gateway for them to change career. This has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of adults requesting further education. To find out more about your current training and education options, go to www.aontas. com/whatnext and you can navigate different sections of their online booklet.
LEARNING IS A LIFELONG PROCESS LIFELONG LEARNING AT INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CARLOW The Faculty of Lifelong Learning at the Institute of Technology Carlow has the largest cohort of part time students in the Higher Education Sector. We offer a range of programmes from certificate to masters level across business, law, humanities and many more. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education & Care Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Management Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting Honours Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Higher Certificate in Business Certificate in Introduction to Psychology Certificate in Cognitive & Social Psychology Certificate in Abnormal Psychology Certificate in Psychology: Adjustment and Positive Change Certificate in Meeting the Challenge of Challenging Behaviour Certificate in Managing Quality Change in Social Care Certificate in Restorative Practices Certificate in Group Work and Facilitation Skills
SPRINGBOARD+ Funded programmes are available under Springboard+. This upskilling initiative in higher education offers free courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. Springboard+ is co-funded by the Irish government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020.
Certificate in Introduction to Social Care Certificate in Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition Certificate in Disability Studies Certificate in Introduction to Criminology and the Irish Justice System Certificate in Ageing Studies
Institute of Technology Carlow
@ITCLLL
Institute of Technology Carlow
ITC Lifelong Learning
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Faculty of Lifelong Learning Email: LLL@itcarlow.ie www.itcarlow.ie/LLL
Further Education
Register now for IT Carlow evening courses In today’s competitive market every little thing counts when it comes to recruitment and promotion. Employees must always be mindful of where they are and where they want to be in the workplace and whether their employment prospects are best achieved through expanding their knowledge in a different discipline or by complementing their existing qualifications with new knowledge and skills in this ever-changing world economy. The Lifelong Learning Centre of IT Carlow offers the following post graduate opportunities on a part time basis both at Masters level in MBA, MB, MA in child, youth and family Studies and MSc in Information technology management and at higher diploma level in business, digital media, applied social studies and early childhood education and care. The centre also offers a wide range of undergraduate degree programmes so whether your interest is business, accountancy or law, applied social studies or early childhood education and care, there is an Honours degree, Ordinary Degree or Higher Certificate programme available to study part-time for you. As a part-time student you can study at a pace and rate that suits your situation. This means for example that you can choose to study a stage of a degree programme over two years rather than one year. IT Carlow has always been recognised as a provider of high quality mechanical engineering and other technical programmes and there are a number of options available for those technically minded from the BSc in Management (Craft) or the BSc in Management (Energy), both one-year degree programmes designed specifically for all tradespeople wishing to upgrade their FAS qualifications to the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering programme where a student can study to Higher Certificate, Ordinary degree or Honours degree. In addition a range of CAD and PLC programmes are also available. The Lifelong Learning Centre is also pleased to offer applicants recognition of prior learning where for example if previously a student studied to Higher Certificate or National Diploma or similar they would be considered for direct entry to the next stage of their programme. As each programme has its own entry requirements it is recommended that you contact the Lifelong Learning Centre directly on (059) 917 5280, email LLL@itcarlow.ie or check www. itcarlow.ie/LLL for further information. 36 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Great opportunities at NUI Maynooth
Many education providers these days focus overwhelmingly in providing education and training that is bound up with employment and career development. While these are very important features of a person’s life they do not paint the complete picture of the variety that a university education can offer. We in the Department of Adult and Community Education put the idea education for its own sake, for the sake of sheer human curiosity and wonder at the centre of everything we do and all of the courses we provide. The Department of Adult and Community Education National University of Ireland Maynooth has been working with adults for over 30 years. In that time we have worked with thousands of people who are living proof that one is never too old to learn. We have a range of courses designed to cater to the needs and wants of people from all walks of life and all educational backgrounds from people who left school with no formal qualifications to those who have completed doctorate level programmes. Our level 7 and 8 certificate courses allow people to experience third level education at a pace that suits them. Courses include local history, creative writing for publication; psychology and addiction studies among others. We also have a very popular Return to Learning course for people who are thinking of taking up higher education on a full time basis. Most courses take place 1 evening per week over 24 weeks and many are available in local outreach centres throughout the country. Our part-time degree programmes in local studies/community studies (level 8 honours degree) are offered in both our Maynooth and Kilkenny campuses. You can combine modules from across eight of the university’s academic departments including adult and community education, anthropology, ancient classics, applied social studies, nua ghaeilge, sociology, geography, and history. If you do require professional development courses we also have a suite of programmes designed to meet the needs of people working in education, community or service provision. Our courses seek to give people the power to transform their lives and shape their world in a manner this is beneficial to the individual and their community wherever and whatever this may be. We want you to be part of that: join us at NUI Maynooth. For further information please call us at 01 708 6062 and we will send you out a brochure or view our brochure online at: http:// adulteducation.nuim.ie
Retirement
Should I stay or should I go?
Once upon a time, everyone retired at 65 – those who were lucky enough to have a job anyway. Now, not so much. The proportion of older workers, particularly those who want to work beyond what was the traditional retirement age of 65 is forecast to grow significantly in the future. Maretta Dillon examines the options. As a society, we are getting older and living longer. It is estimated that by 2055 there will be 2.3 million people of working age in Ireland but about 4.9 million pensioners. It is a big challenge to meet their pension expectations. In Ireland, many people do not have personal or work pensions and so are dependent on the State Pension to sustain any standard of living in
retirement. All of this explains why the State Pension age is increasing to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. Bridging the gap until you reach the point at which you receive the State Pension is now a crucial question for a lot of older workers. Have no fear, the Government has produced
38 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
the thrillingly entitled document, A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, which provides a concise overview of where we are at. It was the focus of a recent meeting of CIPD (the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) which further explored the subject. A quick sidebar here and probably of less
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Are you unhappy with the service from a government department l a local authority l the HSE a nursing home l an education body?
If so the Ombudsman may be able to help OUR SERVICE IS IMPARTIAL, INDEPENDENT & FREE The Ombudsman can investigate complaints about providers of public services. You must have tried to resolve your complaint with the body before contacting the Ombudsman. If you are unhappy with its response then you can complain to the Ombudsman: Online: www.ombudsman.ie By E mail: Info@ombudsman.ie In writing/In person: 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2 Call us if you need any assistance at 01 639 5600. The Ombudsman cannot take complaints about consumer matters, financial products, private pensions, An Garda Síochána.
Retirement
interest to older workers is the idea of auto enrolment in a pension scheme in which both the employer and the employee make contributions. These schemes are mandatory elsewhere including the UK and Australia. They are considered a good idea but are complicated and we in Ireland are only at the beginning of a long consultation period with the various stakeholders. Up until relatively recently, a retirement age of 65 was considered usual and included in most contracts of employment. And for the most part, employees were happy to retire. However, attitudes have changed. Terminating someone’s employment just because they have reached 65 can now be viewed as discrimination under the Employment Equality Act. Employers must now offer what is called ‘objective justification’ as to why someone has to retire at 65.
Gardaí and fire fighters can retire earlier – in fairness, who wants a 65 year fire fighter at the bottom of the ladder?); creation of a balanced age structure in the workplace (not so much of a problem for the tech companies with their predominately under 30’s workforce!); personal and professional dignity (employers find themselves in something of a bind here, fearing that if they speak about age and ageing it can be construed as discriminatory); succession planning (employers are looking for certainty and if everyone is due to retire at 65 it makes it easier to sort out issues around succession). In 2017, the Workplace Relations Commission published a Code of Practice on Longer Working*. It is, despite the title, very interesting and sets out some best principles and practices to follow during discussions between employers and employees in the run up to retirement. The Code is concerned with: how to use the valuable skills and experience of older workers; on what grounds could an employer object to someone wishing to work longer; what new retirement arrangements will be needed; how to deal with requests from employees who wish to work longer. Employers naturally need to plan so having a discussion with individuals about their retirement intentions is vital. The Code is very clear that information and suitable guidance can help employees to make more informed choices in planning for their retirement. Employers should consider the provision of certain supports, for example, suitable pre-retirement courses, a flexible or part time working arrangement, counselling etc., essentially with a view to assisting the transition to retirement.
Some of the reasons that might employers might offer are : intergenerational fairness (how do you allow younger workers to climb the promotional ladder if there are too many older workers in situ?); health and safety (the reason
Of course, there is an onus on the employee to ask themselves if they can continue to work to the required standard? Maybe it would be possible to look at other more flexible working patterns, for example, more part time work or a different role? Employees need to think about
40 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
how long they want to work – until they receive the State Pension or beyond? Will working longer affect their pensions or their contract of employment? These are very individual decisions and employees need to be as informed as possible. The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPCI) offers a variety of courses that explore these options. They recommend people attend their pre-retirement course about two years out from when they propose to leave. It may be that post the course, individuals decide to stay on at work. They may decide to work longer but in a different capacity either at the same firm or elsewhere. Alternatively, starting their own business is an increasingly popular choice for older people. RPCI offers courses to explore all these options: • • •
Planning for Retirement Working On in Retirement Start Your Own Business
If you are nearing retirement age and are not sure what to do, a conversation with your employer about taking one of these courses might be very worthwhile. *A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 – 2023 http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/pdf/ PensionsRoadmap.pdf Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Longer Working) (Declaration) Order 2017 / S.I. No. 600 of 2017 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/ si/600/made/en/pdf
Established in 1974, the RPCI is a Registered Charity, a not for profit organisation, wholly independent of all financial institutions and with a voluntary board of directors. RPCI is based at 14/15 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 Ph: 01 478 9471 / www.rpc.ie Courses are held in Dublin and around the country on a very regular basis. Check the website for more details.
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DentalImplantsSeniorTimes.indd 1
21/02/2018 14:18
Golf Stranahan sparked a revolution in body-building golfers Dermot Gilleece on the life and times of Frank Stranahan, ‘The Toledo Strongman.’
Body-building has become such a key element of tournament golf these days, that aspiring professionals seem to be out of place if they don’t have a well-developed chest, with pecs almost bursting through their polo shorts. Which makes it fascinating to note that weight-lifting was considered entirely unsuitable for golfers -until the emergence of Frank Stranahan, ‘The Toledo Strongman.’ 42 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
As heir to the Champion spark-plug fortune, Stranahan enjoyed the luxury of probably being the game’s first full-time amateur.
Nutrient combo offers long-term cardio-protective effect When Swedish scientists documented years ago that a combination of selenium and coenzyme Q10 lowered cardiovascular mortality by 54%, it made headlines worldwide. The researchers have since monitored the long-term protective effect of the supplements and found that it is still significant, even after 12 years. A 54% lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease was the outcome of the groundbreaking KiSel-10 study where Swedish scientists tested a combination of selenium and coenzyme Q10 given for five years to a large group of healthy older men and women. 10 years after the study was terminated, the scientists looked at the number of survivors among those who had taken the supplements and those who been given matching dummy pills (placebo).
Significantly lower death risk Although the risk had increased a little, it was still 48% lower in the supplemented group. Again, after another two years, the researchers compared the two groups and found that among those who took the supplement, there was still a 41% lower risk of dying of a cardiovascular disease compared with those who took the dummy pills. In other words, even 12 years after the original study was terminated, there was a significantly reduced mortality risk among those who had taken selenium and coenzyme Q10 compared with those who got placebo.
Twelve follow-up studies University of LinkĂśping cardiologist, Urban Alehagen, who headed the original KiSel-10 study, and his research colleagues have published a total of 12 follow-up studies based on the more than 50,000 blood samples that they collected during the five-year study period.
Strengthens the heart What they have been able to see is that selenium and coenzyme Q10 given in combination lowers cardiovascular mortality, while strengthening the heart muscle function and improving various markers of heart health. For instance, they have found that the two nutrients enable the heart to pump with less effort, something which they can see by measuring levels of a cardiac stress hormone called NT-proBNP. The scientists have also found that people who take the supplements are less likely to suffer from fibrosis, which is a thickening of the heart muscle wall that impairs the heart’s ability to contract.
Source: PLoS One. 2018 Apr 11;13(4):e0193120 Still reduced cardiovascular mortality 12 years after supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for four years: A validation of previous 10-year follow-up results of a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in elderly.
The scientists chose Danish products for their research The two nutritional supplements that were used in the original KiSel-10 study were chosen specifically for their documented quality. Both brands are Danish and manufactured by the highest pharmaceutical standards. The coenzyme Q10 preparation is the official science reference of the International Coenzyme Q10 Association (ICQA), the organization that coordinates Q10 research worldwide. The selenium preparation is a high-quality, pharmacy-grade organic selenium yeast with documentation showing that 88.7% of its selenium content is absorbed in the body. Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 43
Golf
Joe Carr was given a bunker lesson by Stranahan . He then got up and down eight times in the British Amatuer to beat the American who stormed ‘I’ll never do that again. That’s the last time I’m ever gonna teach anybody anything.’
As heir to of becoming the Champion spark-plug fortune, Stranahan enjoyed the luxuryof probably being the game’s first full-time amateur. Eventually the lure of regular tournament play caused him to turn professional, but not before he captured the British Amateur title, 70 years ago. This became a ringing endorsement of the skills he had acquired as a junior from Byron Nelson, the distinguished head professional at the Inverness Golf Club.
73 or 74, but if you were a little stiff, you might shoot 67. I was the strongest guy out there by far.’ Square-jawed and fit as a butcher’s dog, he wore tight shirts to show off his physique and packed 400lbs of weights into his Lincoln car, while competing in weight-lifting contests throughout the US. In fact he looked like a man who had everything, except that as Lee Trevino famously pointed out, ‘ God never gives you everything; He always holds something back.’ For Stranahan, it was grey matter. In fact he would have fitted fairly comfortably into the much-loved American notion of not being the sharpest tool in the shed. Joe Carr seemed to enjoy him enormously, and delighted in ribbing Stranahan whenever the opportunity arose.
Byron Nelson was one of the Stranahan’s first teachers and Frank credited him with the skills he had acquired as a junior.
‘When I was an amateur, they [professionals] didn’t mind my beating them because they got the money anyway’, he once remarked against the background of four PGA Tour victories as an amateur, along with runner-up finishes in the 1947 US Masters and the Open Championships of 1947 and 1953. ‘But when I beat them as a pro, it was a little different.’ At his peak, Stranahan was a wonderful self-publicist. Apart from his golfing prowess, he claimed to be the only serious weight-lifter to attain high stature in the game. He was also a very useful long-distance runner and competed in a total of 102 marathons, with a best time of 3 hrs 19 mins in Boston. ‘If I became a little stiff, it didn’t matter,’ he said. ‘I had much more strength and energy than the other players. If you felt perfect, you might shoot a 44 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
‘I always considered myself to be a very bad bunker player,’ Carr recalled. ‘And when I had beaten Frank by 2 and 1 in the Walker Cup at Royal Birkdale in 1951, he was kind enough to give me a bunker lesson.’ Carr went on: ‘When I returned to Sutton after the Walker Cup, I practised what he had taught me for about a week, and my technique improved no end. As things turned out, the [British] Amateur was played at Porthcawl that year and who did I meet in the fifth round only Frank. And I got up and down eight times out of bunkers to beat him. Whereupon he stormed: ‘I’ll never do that again. That’s the last time I’m ever gonna teach anybody anything.’ Notoriously self-willed, he was unpopular with British caddies who were used to having their advice taken. In fact the story goes that a certain caddie, on being sent ahead to give Stranahan the line for a blind shot to a green, deliberately directed him into thick gorse. When the player arrived on the scene, the caddie showed him the ball and said: ‘Well, sir, if you think you know so much about it, let’s see you get out of that.’ And then promptly departed the scene. Stranahan and his sister, Barbara, were children of the second marriage of Robert Allen Stranahan Jnr, who founded the Champion Spark Plug Co in Toledo, Ohio. So, Frank never needed to concern himself about money and was drawn to golf because ‘it was something I could do by
5 features that identify an effective Q10 preparation
Scientifically documented effect
A cheap Q10 preparation may turn out to be expensive, if it has no effect. You will have wasted your money. However, if the effect can be documented with scientific research that is published in an esteemed science journal, you are guaranteed an effective and safe product.
Same quality as a medical drug Nutritional supplements are manufactured in compliance with food regulations. Contrary to medical drugs, supplements are not requested to document their effect. If a Q10 preparation is manufactured in compliance with pharmaceutical standards, the raw materials and manufacturing process are carefully monitored. Everything must be documented, just as it is the case with medicine.
Data to show absorption after ingestion of the product
Absorption AUC(%) compared to that for BioActive Q10 Gold
100%
mg/Liter x Hours (%)
66%
1 BioActive Q10 Gold
2
60%
58%
3
4
3 other Q10 products
natural energy source that can be used by anyone. studies Q10Q10 is isaanatural energy source that can However, be used show that elderly people, high-intensity athletes and heart patients can benefit by anyone. studies show that elderly from a higherHowever, intake of this nutrient than the average population. people, high-intensity athletes and heart patients can benefit from a higher intake of this nutrient than the average population.
Free from unabsorbable Q10 crystals Many Q10 preparations contain insoluble and unabsorbable Q10 crystals in oil. Such crystals can only dissolve when exposed to temperatures that are way above our body temperature. Pharma Nord has taken out a patent on a method that converts the crystals into “snowflakes” that dissolve rapidly at body temperature in the stomach. This guarantees effective absorption.
BioActive Q10 Gold from Pharma Nord is a safe choice. The preparation has been used in over 100 scientific studies, 25 of which are double-blind and placebo-controlled. It contains patented Q10 “snowflakes”, which the body absorbs fast. All manufacturing takes place at Pharma Nord’s pharmaceutical manufacturing plant and is controlled by the Danish food and pharmaceutical authorities.
Pharmaceutical grade Q10 raw material When manufacturing Q10 preparations by medical standards, it requires the use of a pharmaceutical grade Q10 raw material. This guarantees that the raw material has an adequately high and uniform quality and is devoid of impurities.
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IE_Q10_AD_Senior_Times_210x297_0618
In order for a Q10 product to work, the body must be able to absorb the active compound upon ingestion. Documentation must therefore be available to show the blood content of Q10 before and after ingestion of the product.
Golf
Stranahan lost in the fifth round of the US Amatuer to the eventual winner, a gifted young native of Pennsylvania by the name of Arnold Palmer.
Square-jawed and fit as a butcher’s dog, he wore tight shirts to show off his physique and packed 400lbs of weights into his Lincoln car, while competing in weight-lifting contests throughout the US.
myself and get all the credit for success’. He added: ‘I always liked to be on my own.’ An American contemporary, Bill Campbell, recalled: ‘To succeed in golf was vital to Frank’s sense of well-being. But I told him in 1950 that when he lost, it was going to be devastating because he had nothing else to counter it.’ In the event, he had only moderate success as a professional, winning the 1955 Eastern Open and the 1958 Los Angeles Open. Which may explain why, having been totally consumed by golf from the age of 10 until he was 40, he lost all interest in the game on reaching middle-age. Twice a winner of the British Amateur, the coveted prize of the US Amateur eluded him. In fact his father was so obsessed by the idea of his son becoming an American champion, that the player waited until 1954 before turning professional. As it happened, his swansong in the event that year was in Detroit, where all his father’s business associates lived, but Stranahan lost in the fifth round to the eventual winner, a gifted young native of Pennsylvania by the name of Arnold Palmer. Stranahan made a memorable visit to this country in June 1951 for the last of a series of three significant exhibition matches at the Co Sligo GC in Rosses Point. The event was staged a month after the Walker Cup matches and on this occasion, rather than being rivals, Stranahan and Carr teamed up as a formidable amateur partnership for a 2 and 1 victory over local hero, Cecil Ewing, and three-time winner of the Open Championship, Henry Cotton. The schedule must have tested Stranahan’s fitness to the limit, given that he flew into Shannon at 5am on the morning of the match, having travelled 6,000 miles from his third triumph in the Western Amateur Championship in Indiana. Given a subsequent trip by road from Shannon to Rosses Point, there was no shame in the American’s round of 79. We’re told that the big gallery following the match, delighted in the brilliant 46 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
golf played by Carr who was under fours for the 17 holes played. With victory secure, Carr went on to complete the round in 70 strokes which more than compensated for the inadequacies of his partner. In fact they outscored the opposition for whom Cotton carded a 72 and Ewing 77. Apparently Cotton played beautifully from tee to green, but couldn’t get his putts to drop. When it was all over, Stranahan showed himself to be the perfect guest by turning to the large gallery and graciously thanking everybody involved in organising the match. He also lavished praise on the quality of the links. In his later years, he continued to look after his body, prompting him as a 74-year-old in 1997 to declare: ‘One of my big interests is longevity. I think I can make 120 quite easily. I’m shooting for 150.’ The Almighty ordained, however, that he would have to settle for considerably less. Still, the player who was hailed as the premier amateur of his era and the best since Bobby Jones, was 90 when he died in the Hospice of Palm Beach County, California, on June 23rd, 2013.
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Edited by Conor O’Hagan
Walking
From City to Sky Conor O’Hagan guides you over The Dublin Mountains Way which offers superb hill walking within sight of our Capital
With the opening of the Dublin Mountains Way in 2010, the capital finally acquired a walking route worthy of its privileged position adjacent to the gorgeous Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. A more digestible complement to the 131km Wicklow Way, with which it shares part of its route, The Dublin Mountain Way is the work of The Dublin Mountains Partnership and climbs from the old village of Shankill in South County Dublin into the Dublin Mountains, with stunning views of Dublin City and the Irish Sea and the mountains of Mourne and of Snowdonia clearly visible on a fine day. The Way takes in 43km of trail and road with an additional 11km loop to explore the Hellfire Club and Massy’s Wood. Along its route is a variety of terrain ranging from forests, lakes and the upland heath and rocky outcrops of the Dublin Mountains before descending to the fleshpots of Tallaght
The DMW can be walked in one go or in sections of 6-10 km. To walk the complete Way would take a strong walker a full day of 9/10 hours - a formidable challenge that should only be attempted in good weather and ideally in the long daylight hours of summer. A less rigorous (but still challenging) alternative is to walk the trail in two days, giving the hiker a pleasant challenge and affording the walker time to enjoy the many sights on the route.
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There are limited facilities on the route, so make sure you carry food and water for your walk. You’ll need good footwear, rainproof clothing and a warm fleece or sweater. You should ideally carry a map and compass and if walking in winter, a torch. As always, advise someone of your route and expected return time.
Walking
The Scalp, Kilternan looking south
Walking the DMW Shankill and Rathmichael Heading east to west, the DMW starts in the village of Shankill at Brady’s pub. The trailhead is marked by a mapboard erected by the Dublin Mountains Partnership. Throughout, the Way is marked with the familiar yellow “walking man” symbol used throughout Ireland.
The trail follows a series of lanes behind the pub, crossing the M11 via a pedestrian bridge, following the line of an old mass path to Rathmichael, then follows Lordello Road onto Ferndale Road where it soon turns onto a lane leading into Rathmichael Wood. Along this lane is a twelfth century cross set in a granite boulder base, one of a series known as the Fassaroe Crosses – all of which are believed to be the work of the same craftsman. The cross is unusual in that there is a crucifixion scene
Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 49
on both faces. Competing theories for the purpose of the cross are that it marked a route between the churches at Rathmichael and Kiltuck or that it marked the site of another church, now long gone. Local folklore tells a tale of a series of misfortunes that once befell a group of men sent to take the cross at the behest of a local collector of antiquities. The trail passes through Rathmichael Wood and emerges onto Puck’s Castle Lane. Carrickgollogan and Barnaslingan From Puck’s Castle Lane, the trail enters Carrickgollogan Wood. These woods consist of 210 acres of mixed woodland including Lodgepole pine, Noble fir, Japanese larch, Lawson cypress, Scots pine, birch and beech. The ruin of the flue chimney of the former Ballycorus Leadmines, with its distinctive external spiral staircase becomes visible as the trail climbs the hillside. The route passes close to but does not ascend the summit of Carrickgollogan Hill (276 m or 906 ft), which can be reached by a short detour along the waymarked Lead Mines Way. The trail emerges from Carrickgollogan onto Murphy’s Lane and thence to Barnaslingan Lane where it enters Barnaslingan Wood. The trail passes through dense pine woods as it ascends the summit of Barnaslingan Hill (238 metres (781 feet)). The summit looks over The Scalp, a narrow glacial valley created during the last Ice Age. This slender channel was gouged out by escaping meltwater draining from a glacial lake. These glacial origins are evident from the granite outcrops and boulders that litter the hillside. The Scalp is an important example of a glacial lake outflow and is listed as an Area of Scientific Interest. The trail descends through the woods and emerges onto the Enniskerry Road. Kilternan and Glencullen The trail follows the R117 road to the village of Kilternan. Along the way, it passes the partially completed Kilternan Golf and Country Club, built around a nineteenth-century house called Springfield which was once the home of the poet and mathematician George Darley. Reaching Kilternan village, the route turns onto the R116 road at the Church of Our Lady of the Wayside, a distinctive wooden structure built in 1929. From Kilternan, the Way follows the R116 road to Glencullen, built on the crossroads where the R116 meets the Ballyedmonduff Road. The Glencullen area has long been a centre for granite quarrying and stonecutting and stone from here has been used in many notable Dublin buildings such as the G. P. O. and the Industry and Commerce Building on Kildare Street. Passing through the village, the route takes in the ruins of the old church, built in 1824; the Carnegie library, built in 1907; and the new church, built in 1909, all of which were built with support from the O’Connell-Fitzsimon family who owned the lands around Glencullen for many years. The focal point of the village is Johnnie Fox’s pub which was established in 1798. Three Rock and Two Rock Mountains Leaving Glencullen, the Way enters forestry at Ballyedmonduff, passing the site of Ballyedmonduff wedge tomb. This Bronze Age wedgeshaped gallery grave consists of three chambers surrounded by a horseshoe arrangement of stones. It was excavated in 1945 and sherds of Beaker pottery, a polished hammer, a possible polishing stone and a flint scraper were found. The trail ascends through the spruce, larch and pine woods of Ticknock forest to reach the summit of Three Rock (449 m or 1,473 ft). This area is dominated by the masts used by RTÉ and other broadcasters for the transmission of radio and television services. The mountain takes its name from the three groups of rocks visible from much of Dublin city and suburbs. It was once believed that these features were man made: for example, in 1780 Gabriel Beranger speculated that they were altars on which sacrifices were offered. In fact, the rocks are granite tors formed naturally over many years by the process of weathering. The middle tor contains a series of bowl-shaped depressions known as bullauns which were used for grinding in early Christian times.
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Fairy Castle
From Three Rock, the trail ascends to the summit of Two Rock Mountain, the “Fairy Castle”, at 536m the highest point on the DMW. The summit is marked by a cairn and a trig pillar. These two features lie upon a raised mound, approximately 25 metres across and 2 metres high and covered in turf and heather; the remains of a passage tomb. Tibradden Mountain and Cruagh Wood From Fairy Castle, the Way follows a ridge to the summit of Tibradden. The geology of the mountain is granite and the southern slopes of the site are strewn with granite boulders. Close to the summit lies the remains of a prehistoric site excavated in 1849. The burial urn within the monument was removed and now resides at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. The trail descends through the Pine Forest, a mixed woodland area. Crossing the R116 road and the Owendoher River, it enters Cruagh Wood. The route crosses the wood along the northern slopes of Cruagh Mountain (520 m or 1,710 ft) but does not ascend to the summit. As the trail exits Cruagh Wood it passes a stone memorial to the botanist H. C. Hart who, in 1886, made, and won, a bet that he could walk from Terenure in Dublin to the summit of Lugnaquilla in Wicklow in 24 hours. Leaving Cruagh Wood, you have the choice of either following a circular spur route via Massy’s Estate and the Hell Fire Club or to continue direct to Glenasmole via the Featherbed Forest. Glenasmole and Tallaght Emerging from Cruagh Wood, the way follows the R116 to the junction with the R115 known as the Viewing Point. From there it briefly follows the R115 before entering Featherbed Forest, emerging onto the Piperstown Road in front of Piperstown Hill. The Way follows a series of minor roads, descending into the Glenasmole Valley, a gorge carved out by the River Dodder. The valley is a habitat for four endangered floral species: Green-winged Orchid, Small-white Orchid, Yellow Archangel and Yellow Bird’s-nest. The trail follows the road to Castlekelly Bridge after which it enters the Bohernabreena Waterworks. The waterworks were constructed between 1883 and 1887 to provide the townland of Rathmines with drinking water and to supply water for the mills along the Dodder. An iron bridge connects the dam to a valve house which controls the flow of water from the reservoir into the water supply pipes. The Lower Reservoir collects the peaty water from the bogland around the valley. It was originally built to provide water for the mills along the Dodder but is now used to assist in controlling flooding on the river. From the waterworks, the trail follows the Dodder through Kiltipper Park and then, after skirting past the housing estates at Ellensborough and Marlfield, enters Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght where the Way finishes at a mapboard with a stone marking the opening of the Tallaght section of the Way on 31 October 2010. For more information: https://www.dublinmountains.ie/
Legacies
CFI supports numerous older peoples activities and charities
Senior Times is now partnering with The Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI) to introduce the Older Persons’ Fund to our readers.
Peace of mind for your will CFI is a philanthropy organisation - but not the Bill Gates billionaire type foundation. Put simply, it was established in 2000 to promote philanthropy in Ireland and to facilitate those who want to give well. Since its founding, over €35m has been given to charities and community groups throughout Ireland and beyond by The Community Foundation for Ireland and its donors. The Community Foundation for Ireland gives money to charities strategically. It set up the Older Persons’ Fund in 2012 on foot of significant demand for grant aid. Atlantic Philanthropies provided the seed funding for what is now a €3m endowment (permanent fund from which grants are made from earnings). The fund gives out about €200,000 annually but the demand is significantly higher. This fund is now open for applications and no doubt some of our readers are involved in groups who have applied for help.
included updating his will. He has included The Community Foundation for Ireland in his will. ‘Donating to CFI after my death will allow me to provide long-term support for tackling pressing social issues throughout Ireland - issues such as mental health, youth unemployment and building a sense of community within neighbourhoods. With its total commitment to accountability, transparency and strong governance, I know that I can rely on CFI to never waver from its policies of prudent investing and effective spending.’
In 2018 the two categories being funded are: • Inclusion of older people in active citizenship roles • Supporting older peoples’ voices at local and national level • Grants of up to €7,500 will be awarded to groups working in this space There are many other areas The Community Foundation for Ireland would like to support but it does not yet have sufficient funding to do so. As the population ages, it is becoming ever more important to build this fund hence its call to the people of Ireland to support Ireland and its people – via The Older Persons’ Fund at CFI. As well as supporting the community broadly, The Community Foundation for Ireland is a community vehicle for people who donate to help make a difference in their communities and beyond. Some do so by setting up a Donor Advised Fund (a charitable fund from which to make grants) under the umbrella of CFI, others may choose to leave something in their will.
Seán Mac Gráinne, centre, contacted CFI some years back. A single man, he had retired from teaching and was putting his affairs in order. This included updating his will. He has included The Community Foundation for Ireland in his will
For many the inclusion of a charity in one’s will might be done later in life when a will is amended or a new will prepared. Making a will is something that people can put off doing, but it is a hugely important document.
If you would like to do something special in your will, and have peace of mind in doing so; the Older Person’s Fund can be a great option for people to consider. It can lead to such a wonderful variety of impacts. Several grants made from the fund in recent times are highlighted below. Some are hard hitting, some are great fun, some are seeking to make changes to impact generations to come, all make a real difference.
Some key aspects typically are:
Some of the groups and charities the CFI has supported:
• Ensuring loved ones are looked after • Peace of mind and certainty – for you – and your loved ones If you would like to include a charity in your will, it is great to support one you already know well. Some people find it difficult to decide who to support. Where do you start, the choice is endless? Seán Mac Gráinne contacted CFI some years back. A single man, he had retired from teaching and was putting his affairs in order. This
Active Senior IT Society, Dublin 6: Support for the ‘If I knew then...’ project which included a calendar project and a short documentary. Amount funded €2,000. An Cosán, Dublin 24: Support for project to enable active citizenship amongst older people through a paired reading scheme in local early years services and national schools. Amount funded €7,500 Barnardos, Co Dublin: Support for Wizards of Words (WoW), a paired literacy improvement programme for primary school children, involving older volunteers in 15 Dublin schools. Amount funded €7,500 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 51
Clare Older People’s Council, Co Clare: To engage with over 55s in rurally deprived areas by holding a series of roadshows to inform people about the Older People’s Forum and the Age Friendly Strategy. Amount funded €4,000
The CFI supports older peoples’ voices at local and national level
CRAOL: Nationwide Network-wide radio training and programme making initiative to support older people’s voices at a local and national level and their capacity to engage. Amount funded €93,500 Galway Simon Community: Co Galway Project engaging older clients in the maintenance and upkeep of the Simon Community Client Graves in Galway. Amount funded €2,600 IRD Duhallow, Co Cork: Delivery of an 8 week course to older people in the community with the skills to use facebook and social media and to create a ‘Duhallow Seniors Group’ through Facebook. Amount funded €1,000 National Women’s Council of Ireland, Co Dublin: To actively engage older women to ensure their experiences are an integral part of future NWCI lobbying for equality for older women. Amount funded €5,000 Most people reading this article won’t have heard of The Community Foundation for Ireland before but you may be interested to know that CFI will be attending the upcoming 50plus expos as a guest exhibitor.
their will. CFI can help implement their charitable wishes. Equally, for those who want to do something charitable, but aren’t sure what, CFI can offer a number of interesting options to ensure that, no matter what, monies will be well used to address the key future issues in society– whatever they may be.’ Susan O’Connell, Founder, and Partner, O’Connell Brennan Solicitors
‘Great governance and knowing that an organisation will be in place for the long term are increasingly important issues when deciding what charity to support in your will. I am the legal counsel / adviser for The Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI). As a result, I know the organisation well and have seen over the years how it makes exceptional use of all funding received. CFI is a very real philanthropic option for people who have a definite idea about what they would like to achieve through
To find out more, call Niall on 01 874 7354 / 086 048 8726, E: nosullivan@foundation.ie or go to http://www.communityfoundation.ie/impacts/older-people Other funds at CFI supported by wills also include the arts, environment, womens’ and LGBT+ funds.
When you write a will, you can look after your family and loved ones even after you’re gone. And if you also include The Irish Hospice Foundation, you can reach out to another family you’ve never met too. Help us realise our vision that no-one will face death or bereavement without the care and support they need.
: Contact Clare Martin at 01 679 3188 or clare.martin@hospicefoundation.ie www.hospicefoundation.ie
52 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
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Help us to Help You – Senior Times Readers Survey In order for us to learn more about our readers and to improve Senior Times we would appreciate it if you could complete this questionnaire by circling the appropriate answers and returning to us at the address below. We can accept photocopies or you can email your answers to info@slp.ie (Pease omit answers to questions which you feel are intrusive).
All completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win a trip to Sunset Beach Club, a wonderful hotel on the Costa Del Sol . The prize offer is a 3 night Winter Stay for 2 persons B&B (to be taken between November 2018 and February 2019) and Senior Times will pay 200 Euros towards the costs of the flights to the winner!
Congratulations to Rose McEvoy from Carlow who’s won the Mid week break on our last readers survey, the winner for this issues prize will be announced in September. The more entries we get, the more we can improve SeniorTimes.
1. What would be your most pertinent suggestions as to how we can improve Senior Times magazine
9. How often do you change your car?
Please specify:
Every two years
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Every five years
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Every ten years or more.
2. Are you Married
Single
Widowed
Separated/Divorced
?
3. Which age group are you? (please circle) 45-54
55-64
65-74
75+
4. Are you retired or still working? .......................................................................................... 5. What are your main leisure interests or activities? Sport
Travel
Creative writing Reading
Music
DIY
Bridge
Theatre/Cinema
Walking
Cooking
Art
Gym/yoga/exercise
No
7. Do you own investment property or overseas property? No
8. Do you own a car? Yes
Bank of Ireland
KBC
Permanent TSB
Ulster Bank
Other
11. Are you a member of a credit union? .......................................................................... 12. Do you have health insurance? ...........................................................................................
Genealogy
If yes, is it with a mortgage or do you own it outright?
Yes
AIB
Gardening
6. Do you own your own property? Yes
10. With which banks or financial institutions do you have accounts?
No
If yes, which model and year? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
13. What is your preferred medium to find out general news and what’s on? Irish Independent
Irish Times
Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Examiner
RTE Television
RTE Radio 1
Other (please specify below) .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14. Do you own a Smart Phone? Yes
No
Your home from home on the Costa del Sol 15. Do you own a laptop computer or tablet?
19. Where do you do your grocery shopping?
hether you are looking for a and daily cleaning service, with the LUXURY OPTIONS Yes sunshineNobreak, or an Dunnes Storessuites relaxing conveniences of self-catering For Tesco a more luxurious option, why extended holiday, Sunset Beach Club & apartments. Outstanding facilities not Supervalu treat yourself to a stay in one of Marks and Spencer If you are online, who isby yourFBD Internet provider? 4* hotel16.apartments, owned include an on-site supermarket, fitness Sunset Lidl Aldi Beach Club’s open-plan Deluxe Hotels & Resorts, provide the perfect centre & indoor pool (discounted Junior Suites, with kingsize bed (can be Other solution. entrance fee for hotel guests from separated to twin on request), stunning ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5€ per day), recently refurbished sea bathroom with 20. Which of these stores doviews, you buyrenovated clothes: Panorama Bar with spectacular sea walk-in shower, and little extras Are you satisfied/dissatisified with this provider? Dunnes Stores & Spencer pool towels, and views and daily Happy Hour, Oasis suchMarks as bathrobes, If dissatisfied, explain why briefly: Arnottsvanity pack. Restaurant with EarlyShaws Bird offers and welcome an extensive à la carte menu to suit Brown Thomas ................................................................................................................................................................................................. Littlewoods every taste. Also open-plan design are the brand Pamela Scott Other new Garden Suites located on the ................................................................................................................................................................................................. ground floor. Available from 21. On average how much would you spend on clothes in a March 2018, they boast generous dimensions, year? ................................................................................................................................................................................................. luxury bathroom and pool views. This room type can also be adapted for 17. Which of these type of breaks would you typically take FABULOUSinLOCATION & FACILITIES wheelchair request. 22. If you are female, on average howusers much on would you a year: Firstly, the fabulous seafront location spend on cosmetic/beauty products/hair and skin products in a year? is hard to and within easy break reachin Ireland Midbeat, week/weekend or longer as there are several daily flights direct ................................................................................................................................................................................................. from Dublin to Malaga City break in Europeall year round. Depending on the season, there are 23. Name your favourite brands? Sun holiday Europeregional Irish also flights from inother COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION airports to Malaga, so make sure to The accommodation itself provides ................................................................................................................................................................................................. holiday in Europe or beyond look for Winter thosesun also. From the airport a everything you need for a comfortable 15-20 minutes taxi ride will take you to stay. Our standard one bedroom Long haul break (e.g. Florida, Australia, South Africa) Sunset Beach Club. apartments have a ................................................................................................................................................................................................. double or twin bedroom separated from the lounge Other (please specify) by sliding doors, Name: fully ............................................................................................................................................................................ equipped HOTEL ACTIVITIES kitchenette, lounge/dining area with So once you have settled in, why not Address: .................................................................................................................................................................... sofa bed for two, bathroom with join in one the free daily activities ................................................................................................................................................................................................. hairdryer, individually controlled air- organized by the hotel’s entertainment ................................................................................................................................................................................................. conditioning/heating, and terrace with team, which include stretching classes, ................................................................................................................................................................................................. table & chairs. They also have free cookery lessons, darts & French boules, Telephone: .............................................................................................................................................................. wifi, and TV with Irish & international amongst many more! Alternatively, you 18. On average how much would you spend on breaks in a channels. Exterior apartments have could wander to the guest library and E Mail: ............................................................................................................................................................................ year? mountain or sea views, and Prime sea help yourself to a book for a relaxing The resort itself combines the services view apartments have a guaranteed read on your terrace or by the pool. ................................................................................................................................................................................................. Senior Times, 15 Oxford Lane Ranelagh, Dublin 6 of a 4* hotel, such as 24 hour reception sea view. Sunset Beach Club
Western Ways Welcome to George Keegan’s occasional column featuring updates on ‘happenings’ along the Western Seaboard in travel, arts, food and entertainment.
The iconic photo of Monsignor Horan on the opening day of the airport. (Inset: The Terminal Building)
Sky’s the limit at Ireland West The Western Seaboard is buzzing. The number of tourists and visitors is steadily increasing year on year due in no small part to the introduction of two of the most important tourism initiatives in many a decade - The Wild Atlantic Way (stretching from Donegal to West Cork (2,500 Km) and before that in 2011 The Western Greenway in Mayo (44km of beautiful countryside) for cyclists and walkers following the old railway line between Westport and Achill l Island. Other important developments from a business and tourism prospective have been the improvements in road structures and the roles played by Ireland West airport at Knock and Shannon airport in County Clare. In the past month the Department of Transport Tourism & Sport announced €2.3m in funding for critical safety and security projects
to Ireland West Airport under the Regional Airports Programme 2015-19. This will assist in the rehabilitation and complete overlay of the main runway, an upgrading of Hold Baggage Screening equipment and some critical air traffic control upgrades. Last year was the busiest year on record for Ireland West with passenger numbers reaching 750,000. It now serves 23 International destinations with three of Europe’s major airlines, Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair. The UK business for the year was also up Mr Joe Gilmore. MD of the airport points out highlighting the importance of the airport from a regional perspective in providing essential connectivity for leisure, tourism and business passengers. Routes European destinations include, Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Lanzarote, Milan, Tenerife
56 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
plus a Costa Dorado service with TUI Holidays. Ireland West currently serves nine UK airports representing the biggest selection of UK services to and from the West and North West of Ireland. Summer 2018 is looking strong too with a new service to Palma Majorca (TUI Holidays), extra seating capacity by Flybe to Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester and a 35% increase (3,500 seats) by Ryanair to Milan. The busy Ryanair summer service to Bristol has now been changed to year round (3 weekly) and a new service has started to Girona (twice weekly). Ryanair Shannon Airport summer schedule New routes announced by Ryanair from Shannon include Bristol (twice weekly), Liverpool (3 weekly) and Reus (twice weekly).
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Dingle, Co. Kerry T: +353 (0) 66 915 0200 E:reservations@dingleskellig.com www.dingleskellig.com
Western Ways
Multi-million Euro development at Westport House and Hotel Westport Last year the very successful and highly respected Hughes family from Westport owners of several retail businesses around town including Hotel Westport acquired the adjoining historical Westport House. This famous house has a very chequered history and was the home for a time of Grace O’Malley Pirate Queen of Connaught, known as Granuaile. Originally a castle in the 1500s it was re-built as the house we see now in the 18th century. Westport House will always be associated with the Browne family whose descendants lived there right up to 2016. The house and extensive grounds are a popular attraction for visitors and locals (tours of both are available). On the 380 acres of parkland and gardens there is a Pirate Adventure Park, swan shaped pedalo boats for rides on the lake and the colourful Westport train tour starts from here. There is also Gracy’s café bar and Pizzeria in an old farmyard building run by Alannah Browne. Recently it was announced that the new owners intend to spend €50m for medium to long term development of both hotel and the stately home creating around 200 local jobs. In January of this year Tim Husbands MBE was appointed chief executive of the project.
Westport House: Originally a castle in the 1500s it was re-built as the house we see now in the 18th century. Tim had been living in Belfast for 23 years and has a great track record when it comes to setting up large projects. He worked on Belfast Waterfront, the re-furbishment of the stunning Ulster Hall and in recent years setting up Titanic Belfast. In his office high up in the hotel with a table covered in large scale plans and drawings Tim told me the development including hotel, the house and the grounds is expected to take several years to complete.
Hotel Westport additional rooms Hotel Westport is spending over 30 Million Euro to add 80 new bedrooms.
‘I see these changes and developments as a ten to fifteen year vision. The plans for Westport House include landscaping and upgrading a walled garden to bring it back to its former glory, work to be carried on an old Coach house which is a protected building and the introduction of wildlife walking trails’. Tim emphasises that the sole aim will always be to protect while at the same time maximising the natural environment around the estate.
SUMMER FESTIVALS IN THE WEST Willie Clancy Summer School Miltown Malbay, Clare (7th-15th July) Salmon Fishing Festival Ballina, Mayo (8th – 15th July) Foynes Air Show Foynes Limerick (Saturday 28th July) Rose of Tralee International Festival Tralee, Kerry (17th- 21st August)
Some €35m of the total spend will be used to add 80 new bedrooms to the hotel plus a new rooftop restaurant. The excellent 4* Hotel Westport which includes leisure, Senses Spa and conference areas goes from strength to strength picking up many prestigious awards along the way. These include AA Rosette Culinary Excellence for 7 consecutive years and awards for Courtesy and Care plus Family Friendly Hotel of the Year. According to General Manager Declan Heneghan, who has worked here for 20 years, he and the rest of the hotel staff are very excited about the
new plans. ‘The hotel has always been forward thinking and was one of the first in the country to provide holiday breaks for those in the 50s plus bracket and active retirement groups’. Coming up are Family Fun summer packages during July and August with a Panda Club for small children. Throughout the year the hotel also organises many special offer breaks to suit all tastes including the very popular ‘Spirit & Soul of Mayo’ (October) and ‘Extravaganza Week’ (November), plus Bridge, Walking, Golf and Wellness weeks.
58 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival Lisdoonvarna, Clare (31st August-30th September) Fact Box www.destinationwestport.com www.hotelwestport.ie www.discoverireland.ie www.irelandwestairport.com www.shannonairport.ie
On the Vales trails
Cycling on the Waterford Greenway
Travel
John Low visited some of the attractions of Munster Vales, Ireland’s newest inland tourism region
We’ve got the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands..and now Munster Vales the newest inland tourism destination which takes in the counties of Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Waterford, embracing the Comeraghs, Knockmealdowns, Galtees, Ballyhouras and Nagles mountain ranges.
probably being Carrolls Loop which is around 5km and suitable for most; it can be comfortably tackled in under two hours. After a few hours, the rain stopped and the sun decided to come out. It was now perfect walking weather but I had a date on the Waterford Greenway and it was time to head for Dungarven.
I recently embarked on a mini tour of some of the MV attractions, starting out from Dublin and making my way to Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Kilmallock has an illustrious medieval history and deserves to be better known to tourists. I met Trevor McCarthy who has bravely given up his job to take on the role, almost single handedly, of promoting the town’s history. (087 3952829).
I checked into the Dungarven Park Hotel and made my way to meet ‘The Greenway Man’ Garvan Cummins. Garvan co-founded the Deise Greenway group which led to the opening of the Greenway which runs along the former Waterford to Dungarven railway line. As I was most certainly not in condition to attempt the 42km route of the Greenway. Garvan suggested we hitch our bikes to his trailer and motor to his base at Durrow about 8km away before returning at a leisurely pace to Dungarven. Garvan runs history tours and a bike hire business beside O’Mahony’s pub in Durrow which has become a popular pit stop for cyclists and walkers. ‘My market is for everyone, from young families to older people and I can organ ise tours to suit all ages and abilities, whether they want to park at Durrow and just do a short walk or bike ride along the most spectacular stretch of the greenway’, he says.
The town’s most important historic sites are the 13th century Collegiate Parish Church and the Dominican Priory. The town also has a significant section of its medieval town wall remaining and the set piece in the centre of Kilmallock is the town gate, the 15th century King’s Castle standing astride the main street and 16th century houses. If history is not your thing, Kilmallock is well situated to exploit the activities of the Ballyhoura Region; it is only 10km from the Ballyhoura Mountain Biking and is also a hub of a series of cycle loops. South of Kilmallock is Doneraile Park which has rightly been described as North Cork’s hidden gem. Well worth a visit. This recently restored, huge park, comprises approximately 166 hectares and is in the 18th century style which is characteristic of many UK estates open to the public, with groves of trees, several restored water features and a number of deer herds can be viewed along the many pathways within the park. The pathways are generally accessible for people with special needs. Doneraile Court, the former residence of the St. Leger family, is situated within the park and is open to the public. After an interesting day exploring South Co Limerick and North Co Cork it was back to Kilmallock and the friendly Deebert House Hotel for a splendid dinner. The next morning it was time to head to the Glen of Aherlow, one of my favourite areas of Ireland. I had planned a walk but the weather was appalling— heavy mist, driving rain and an uncomfortable chill in the air. There was nothing for it but to enjoy coffee and scones in the comfortable surroundings of the stunningly situated Aherlow House Hotel. The Glen has a variety of mapped walking routes, the most popular
Highlights of Cummins’s history tour include the history of the railway and the tunnel, the ruins of the old Durrow station, and the Ballyvoyle viaduct, which was blown up in the 1922 civil war. Other points of interest for history buffs include the Waterford and Suir Valley railway at Kilmeaden, and the Kilmacthomas workhouse and viaduct. In Dungarvan, there’s King John’s Castle, the Augustinian church overlooking the sea at Abbeyside and Walton Park, named after Ernest Walton, the physicist who split the atom. I was exhilarated but relieved to make to make it back to Dungarven, after braving biting, head-on winds for the last few kilometres. If like myself you have not cycled for about 100 years – take it easy! If you are in a group, don’t try to keep up with show-offs. If you are alone, pace yourself. Don’t try to fight winds and tough gradients – get off and walk until you feel comfortable to remount. Day three started with a journey to Cashel to meet Bernard Minogue who runs the fascinating Cashel Folk village in the centre of town, almost under the celebrated Rock. Cashel Folk Village, was founded as a museum in 1984 by Martin O’Dwyer Bob, one of the foremost historians in County Tipperary. Martin was Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 59
Kilmallock Dominican Priory
Cashel Folk Park
the chairman and co-founder of The Cashel Historical Society and was the Author of 8 books on Irish/Tipperary history. Bernard’s family background offers a unique historical l ink to the Rock of Cashel: his father, grandfather, granduncle, and great grandfather were the caretakers of he Rock. When you are visiting the Rock of Cashel, directly under The Rock is an old stone house which was built in the 19th century. This house has been home to the Minogue Family, as Caretakers of The Rock, since the 19th century. Bernard Minogue not alone lives inside in the house, but was actually born in it. This tiny museum is packed with interest and features original Irish shop fronts, a famine museum, garden of remembrance, penal memorabilia and much more.
After a visit to the Rock it was time to grab a bite of lunch before heading home. I chose Mikey Ryans in the main street– which is part of the refurbished Cashel Palace Hotel – and was not disappointed. Highly recommended. www.munstervales.com www.thegreenwayman.com www.deisegreenway.com www.flynnhotels.com www.donarailewildlifepark.ie www.kilmallock.ie. www.mikeyryans.ie www.aherlowhousehotel.ie
Complaints improve public services says Ombudsman Tyndall Ombudsman Peter Tyndall wants to see more people complain about services provided by public bodies such as government departments, local authorities and the HSE. The Ombudsman says that complaints can be used to improve the delivery of public services. “In most cases the delivery of public services goes well. However, if people don’t complain when things go wrong then people will experience the same problems over and over again. When people complain it gives service providers an opportunity to put things right and to stop the same mistakes happening again.” If you are unhappy with the response you receive from your complaint then you can contact the Ombudsman. What does the Ombudsman do? I investigate complaints from members of the public who feel they have been unfairly treated by certain providers of public services such as: • Government Departments and Offices • The Health Service Executive (HSE) • Nursing Homes (including private nursing homes)
• Public hospitals and health agencies providing services on behalf of the HSE • Local Authorities • Third-level education bodies, such as Universities and Institutes of Technology The Ombudsman is impartial, independent and free to use. However before we can examine your complaint you must have tried to resolve your complaint with the service provider. In addition you must have tried to resolve your complaint with the service provider before contacting the Ombudsman. How do I make a complaint? You can complain to tmy Office: • In writing/in person: Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. • By E mail: ombudsman@ombudsman.ie • Online: www.ombudsman.ie • By telephone: 01 639 5600 • By talking to Ombudsman staff at our monthly visits to Citizen Information Centres in Cork, Limerick and Galway (see www.ombudsman.ie for dates and times).
60 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
The Ombudsman cannot take complaints about private bodies such as banks, insurance companies, private pension schemes, An Garda Síochána, An Post, the Labour Court, Bord Gáis or the ESB.
Cosmetics and Grooming
Make up tips for a younger you! Do you want to look ten years younger? Mairead Robinson tells you how.
Some of your ‘ammunition’..
As we age, the changes in our skin means that we need to take a fresh approach to make-up, and what suited us a few decades ago will not work best for us now. But the good news, as I regularly point out, is that today’s cosmetics can work wonders – from giving you dewy, fresh skin to concealing dark circles and blurring away lines. With the right products and make-up tricks, you can knock years off your face. So let’s look at some simple tips for improving the appearance of the face that looks back at you from the dressing-table mirror!
Even your skin tone: Sun damage and hormonal changes can upset the evenness of your skin tone. Thankfully there is an array of corrector and primer products to use after moisturising and before layering on a light foundation. If you are suffering ruddy pigmentation, avoid red tones in your make-up. So step one – use a primer. Find the one that suits you best; there are primers for pore refining, anti-redness, mattifying and many other conditions. The right primer will ensure that your foundation goes on smoothly and gives the best effect. Plump up your cheeks: As we age, the
youthful apples of our cheeks tend to slide downwards. Give your face an instant lift by applying a hint of blush onto your cheeks – the spot that plumps up when you smile. Opt for a cream blusher in a rose shade to recreate your natural, youthful rosiness. Remember – don’t overdo the blusher, a subtle amount works best. Make lines disappear: Try one of the new magic line-smoother products. These generally include silicones and optical pigments that sit on the skin’s surface and help blur the edges of your lines and wrinkles. Some products also include anti-ageing ingredients. Use these products sparingly, and apply to the area where they are needed; for example around the mouth and at the sides of the eyes.
Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 61
Cosmetics and Grooming
Brighten your eyes: It is a fact that our eyes become smaller as we age and so to brighten them, apply a light-reflecting concealer in the hollows under your eyes. Use a highlighter under your brows to add lift. If your eyelids are drooping, avoid blending deep shades into the sockets. Instead, start with a primer and apply a neutral shade to lighten and even your skin tone. Finish with eyeliner and mascara for definition, but remember, less is more when it comes to eye make-up, so don’t overdo it. Concealer: Probably the most important tool in your make-up armoury is the stick of concealer. This should be used gently under the eyes to get rid of dark circles, and also can be run down the rim of your nose to lighten and brighten your face. It is used as both a highlighter and concealer, and is perfect for minimising dark spots and blemishes. Remember your eyebrows: Give yourself an eyebrow facelift by tweezing your brows into shape to add definition to your face. If you don’t have enough brows to work with, then consider getting them tattooed on. You local salon will advise you on this. This permanent make-up works much better than drawing on the eyebrows each morning with a pencil. Uneven brows and lines that are too thin will only age your face further. Plump your lips: Like every part of the body, your lips loose tone over time and become thinner. Use a lip liner pencil to add definition and prevent colour bleed then use a lipstick shade that suits your skin tone. Shy away from matte lip colours, which can age you. Instead,
opt for a light-reflective gloss to create the illusion of fullness. Don’t be tempted to go for the bright reds which look stunning on a young face, but as with dramatic eye make up, too much colour will age your face, and go for the subtle and soft shades instead. Be sensible in the sun: We all feel better when the sun comes out, but as it’s the leading cause of premature ageing, it is important to always protect yourself. Choose a high factor sunscreen for all the body, and apply generously and regularly when out in the sun. You should use an SPF every day on your face even on dull and cloudy days, so check that your make up contains an SPF of at least 15. Use a higher screen on your face during the summer days. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your hands also, and your hands are a real age give-away! Keep your face ’fit’: Did you know that a facial fitness routine can get your complexion in shape? You might work at the Yoga and
62 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Pilates, walking, Swimming and even Aqua Aerobics – but do you also work out with facial exercise? Just as your body’s muscles lose tone with age and under use, so it is with the muscles in your face. Facial exercise improves circulation to the skin, bringing more oxygen and nutrients. Here are a few exercises to get your started: 1/ Hold your eyebrows up with your fingers on the browbone, then blink six times. 2/ Place your index fingers along the length of your brows, then move against the resistance of your fingers by lifting your forehead without raising your eyebrows. 3/ With your index fingers and thumbs, told the top rim of your ears and pull up. Massage the area moving down to the lobe and back up again. Finally remember when applying your moisturiser each morning, use light pinching all over your face to get the blood flowing and to feed your skin cells with nutrients. And don’t spend too much time in front of a computer screen as this can give you premature lines and wrinkles! And of course the best face-lift ever is to smile – so be happy, and get plenty of beauty sleep.
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GOVERNMENT GRANTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED
It is good to know that in these days of cuts the Government remains committed to providing important health related grants. This includes the special grant that brings digital hearing devices within the reach of thousands of people who need help with their hearing. At present, a Government grant worth up to €1,000 is available to most working, selfemployed and retired people who are hard of hearing. ACT NOW to avoid the risk of missing
this special initiative and take advantage of the Government’s PRSI scheme before it’s too late. Hearing loss is experienced by many people and some do not realise where to turn for help and advice. Your Hearing Aid Audiologist can explain your grant entitlement plus our unique 4 year guarantee with free batteries for life. This will also be an opportunity to try the very latest technology, much of which is exclusive to Hidden Hearing.
Just complete and return the coupon today, or call us on our freephone number 1800 882 884 to arrange your free appointment. Please post me free & without obligation free information pack and full branch/clinic listing. Tick if pensioner. Mr/Mrs/Miss Name__________________________ Address ____________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Tel No _____________________________________ Email ______________________________________ D.O.B. _____/_____/19______ NO STAMP REQUIRED. Simply address your envelope to: Hidden Hearing Ltd., 3030 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, FREEPOST F1570, Dublin 24 OR PHONE FREE 1800 882 884 www.hiddenhearing.ie GGTB9001
Coping with the effects of crime Being a victim of any type of crime is upsetting. Most of us do not often directly experience crime and when we do, it can be a shocking experience. Many people feel a sense of disbelief that such an incident could happen to them. There is often a feeling of unreality, as if you might wake up and find it has all been a bad dream. When other feelings arise they can be experienced as overwhelming – feelings of sadness, grief, anger, fear, anxiety, confusion, and many others. Whether you were directly involved in the event or not, your reaction will be personal and individual to you. You may immediately feel strongly affected by what has happened. Or you may feel initially that you are coping fine, and it may be some time before you notice any of these effects. Everyone is different and there are no rules about what you ‘should’ feel and how you ‘should’ cope. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Remember you have experienced a stressful, or traumatic, event. It is important to recognise that painful feelings and emotions are a normal consequence of being a victim of crime. Be patient with yourself, and allow yourself to feel upset. Usually these feelings do not last. People are very resilient, and can cope with and recover from the effects of even the most serious crimes. • Give yourself time to recover and be good to yourself. • Spend time with friends/family, and to do things that you enjoy. 64 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
• Take time out to relax, to slow down, to bring a sense of calm to your life. • Talk about your feelings with someone you can trust. • Sometimes it may be helpful to talk to someone who is completely outside the situation. • Find out what supports and services are there for you. • Avoid doing anything that places more stress on you at this time. • Avoid making any major life decisions immediately after the crime. • If you are feeling very upset and unable to concentrate or sleep, it may be helpful to talk to a GP. • Take some exercise. It can help to bring down stress levels. • Consider safety measures that you can take to minimise the risk of something like this happening again. If you, or a friend or family member, have been a victim of crime, you can ring the Crime Victims Helpline for support and information. The Crime Victims Helpline 116 006 is a free and confidential service that provides emotional support and information to victims of crime. Our hours are:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10.00 am to 17.00 Tuesday and Thursday: 9.30 to 18.30 Saturday and Bank Holidays: 14.00 to 16.00 Sunday: Closed
Further information can also be found on our website at www.crimevictimshelpline.ie
Summer Competition
Senior Times have teamed up with the Hilton Garden Inn Accommodation and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum tovoucher offer a nights stay with breakfast for 2 people and 2 tickets to the Epic Complimentary 1 night stay Museum nearby (subject to availability) at
Garden Inn Dublin Custom House Four runners up prizes Hilton of two tickets to Epic are also being given away
To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question. In which year was Mary Robinson inaugurated as the first female President of Ireland? 1976 1990 1997
EPIC The Emigration Museum is located on Custom House Quay in Dublin’s Docklands, a place that has played an important role in Ireland’s history. EPIC tells the story of the Irish people who left their homeland, the challenges they faced and what they achieved.
You can enter the competition by:
The Hilton Garden Inn is a stunning Dublin city center hotel with To make a booking10 please contact : Keith walk Yeates/ Sales Manager unparalleled River Liffey views, minutes from the city E-mail: keith.yeates@hilton.com or phone 01 854 1500 center near to Dublin’s 3 Arena, Bord Gais theatre, EPIC Ireland This voucher includes: 1 night accommodation with breakfast for 2 persons Travelto is not included in the prize and bookings are subject to availability and a five-minute walk the shopping district
Be sure to include to include your telephone and email when entering.
• •
Emailing your answer to john@slp.ie Posting to: Senior Times 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
The closing date is the 17th August 2018
Valid until: 28 June 2019 Voucher Reference: 201855 Hilton Garden Inn Dublin Custom House Custom House Quay, Dublin 1
Terms & Conditions 1. Prize includes the following: One overnight stay for two people in the Hilton Garden Inn, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. Subject to availability. Inclusive of bed & breakfast. Plus two tickets to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, The chq Building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. Subject to availability. Four Runners up prizes of two tickets to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, The chq Building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. Subject to availability. Offer duration: 6 months from time of issue. 2. Competition Mechanic: To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question.
In which year was Mary Robinson inaugurated as the first female President of Ireland? 1976 1990 1997 3. Competition Terms: • Competition entrants must be age 18 years or over. Winners may be asked for proof of age. • Employees of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, CHQ Dublin, Dogpatch Labs or the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, the media publication, their agents, families or anyone professionally connected with the promotion are excluded from the competition. • The prize does not have a retail value and cannot be resold.
• The prize cannot be exchanged and no cash alternatives will be provided. • A winner will be chosen at random. • The decision of the judges in choosing the winners is final and no correspondence will be entered into. • Any personal data supplied to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum or the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel will not be used for any marketing purposes in the future. • The closing date for receipt of entries is 17.08.2018 • The winner will be notified by email within 7 days of the draw taking place. • Winners will be confirmed by email or telephone. • EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel reserve the right to alter, amend or end this competition.
• This Competition is in no way sponsored by the media publication. • The prize winner and all entrants agree to the use of their names, images and photographs for publicity and promotional purposes, without compensation, and agree that EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel will own the copyright of any such images and photographs and associated media. • By entering the competition winners agree to accept these terms and conditions. • Entries that do not comply in full with these rules will be disqualified.
Visitor Attractions
KYLEMORE ABBEY & VICTORIAN WALLED GARDEN Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden is just one hour from Galway city and one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Situated in the heart of beautiful Connemara Kylemore Abbey is rightly known as one of Irelands best loved- and most iconic country estates. Built in 1868 as an elaborate gift for Margaret the wife of the fabulously wealthy Mitchell Henry, Kylemore has had a rich and varied history. Kylemore’s story encompasses romance, politics, tragedy, and excess but also spirituality education and innovation. Owned by the Benedictine order of nuns since 1920, over the years Kylemore has evolved into a place of welcome
and hospitality. Experience woodland and lake shore walks, magnificent buildings and Ireland’s largest Walled Garden! Enjoy wholesome food and delicious home-baking in our Café or Garden Tea House. History talks take place three times a day in the Abbey and tours of the Walled Garden take place throughout the summer. Browse our Craft and Design Shop for unique gifts including Kylemore Abbey Pottery and award winning chocolate handmade by the Benedictine nuns .The estate is open all year and great value accommodation is available locally,
choose from luxurious hotels, gracious guest houses and cosy B+Bs. Other nearby visitor attractions include Connemara National Park, the Derrygimlagh Alcock and Brown landing site and the endless beauty of Connemara’s’ lakes, mountains and beaches. Make Kylemore Abbey a part of your Connemara Experience! Senior rates available for over 65s. To find our more visit: www.kylemoreabbey.com or call 095 52001
KYLEMORE ABBEY
& VICTORIAN WA L L E D G A R D E N
KYLEMORE ABBEY
& VICTORIAN WA L L E D G A R D E N
Visit beautiful Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara, home to the Benedictine community since 1920. History, nature, exploration, relaxation, shopping and dining combine to create the perfect day out at any time of year.
66 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
+353 (0) 95 52001 info@kylemoreabbey.com www.kylemoreabbey.com /KylemoreAbbeyandGarden /Kylemoretoday @Kylemoreabbey
Visitor Attractions
‘Lough Derg is about relationships’ For the past 16 years husband and wife, Denis and Norma, have made the annual pilgrimage on Lough Derg. This place is special to them as it is to so many others who travel individually, with family or with a group. For Norma and Denis there is something that keeps calling them back year after year. “For me it’s about a few days space to develop and deepen my relationship with God. I love coming here, I don’t necessarily look forward to it yet I end up here” comments Denis. Norma speaks about the pilgrimage as the place to fill-up, “It’s about filling up for the timeahead, whatever that may bring this place is a place of sustenance. The wonderful thing about doing this pilgrimage is that it continues to give, even when you are far away, in the months ahead. When here you are carried along by the pilgrims even if you come alone, you are lifted up we are all on a journey together and Lough Derg represents this journey. You might struggle to find your footing on the prayer beds when a hand stretches out to steady you,
someone smiles at you in the Basilica when you need it and it keeps you going, reminding you that others are here with you and for you. Yet the family community of Lough Derg extends beyond the Island, I often meet people I’ve met here when on our travels. Family connections are a part of many a pilgrim story and Denis shares his; “My mother was the inspiration, I heard about Lough Derg from I was very young and at 86 years she still comes to Lough Derg on the Day Retreats.
She introduced all of the family to Lough Derg and it’s important for me to keep the connection going.” Each pilgrimage season there are a number of retreat and pilgrimage events inviting people to experience the Island in new ways. To find out more about the Three Day Pilgrimage, One Day Retreats which recommence on 18th August and the Special Day Retreats in September contact Lough Derg on +353 (0) 71 9861518 or info@loughderg.org www.loughderg.org
SUMMER ON LOUGH DERG A place of pilgrimage and renewal
Pilgrims today talk about the sense of peace that pervades the Island and the store that they put on getting away from it all. Many people also value the deep sense of connection they experience here with family members of past generations especially as they walk the same ground walked by faithful people who went before them. The summer and early autumn programme includes:
THREE DAY PILGRIMAGE Until Wedneday 15th August 2018
Boat times: Daily between 10.30am – 3pm. Admission €75, concessions for seniors and groups.
ONE DAY RETREATS AUGUST - Sat 18th, Sun 19th, Mon 20th, Mon 27th, Tues 28th, Wed 29th SEPT: Sat 1st, Sun 2nd, Tues 4th, Wed 5th, Sat 8th, Mon 10th, Tues 11th, Sat 15th, Sun 16th, Sat 22nd, Sun 23rd, Sun 30th The Retreat programme runs from 10.00am-4.30pm. Welcome refreshments and light lunch served. The day retreat is open to adults and not suited to children. (Fasting and walking barefooted is not required) Booking is essential. €45. Boat times: from 9.15am and return from 4.15pm.
To find out more information on any of the above events please contact us on T. 071 9861518 E. info@loughderg.org
www.loughderg.org
SPECIAL DAYS
FAMILY DAY Friday 17th August Parents, children, guardians, grandparents and relations come together to celebrate the family relationship with God. QUIET DAY Monday 3rd September A self-guided day at your own pace. FINDING GOD IN THE MESS Thursday 20th September A new Day Retreat with guest facilitators Jim Deeds and Brendan McManus SJ both authors of the new book ‘Finding God in the Mess’. LIVING WITH SUICIDE DAY RETREAT Saturday 29th September A special retreat day to support people who have been affected by suicide either through personal loss, those who minister to the suicide bereaved or work in support services.
Visitor Attractions
Capturing the Capital Since 1832, more than 1.5 million people have been interred in Glasnevin. Glasnevin Cemetery covers 124 acres of glorious parkland with plenty to appreciate – perfect for those interested in exploring the legacies of Ireland’s heroes. A hauntingly gorgeous Victorian Garden cemetery each guide is passionate about sharing their love of heritage and history, telling the stories of Ireland’s complex and fascinating history through daily walking tours turning a learning experience into a period of magic with a careful balance of passion, sensitivity and even fun. Be prepared to enjoy yourself! Introducing the O’Connell Tower 198 steps, comprised of a wrought iron spiral staircase followed by hand carved wooden steps, 6 landing platforms, exhibits, and four windows at the top affording breath taking views of Dublin, its surrounding counties and the Irish Sea. The Tower is open to visitors daily and bookings can be made online. The Restoration Project Visitors to Glasnevin Cemetery can now climb the iconic O’Connell Tower for the first time in almost 50 years. In 1971 a disaster struck when a large bomb exploded at the base of the tower. In 2016 work began with the reinstatement of the staircase that once graced the tower. Its completion was an achievement in its own right using the original plans and traditional methods employed by the carpenters and skilled tradesmen who first constructed it.
• General History Tour: visiting the graves of Ireland’s heroes, this is a Who’s who of Irish History • Dead Interesting Tour: hear the quirky stories of Dublin’s lesser known personalities • O’Connell Tower: 198 steps to breathtaking views of Dublin, climb the 180ft (55m) tower, the largest in Ireland. • Self-Guide App - 21 most popular graves, English, French, German, Spanish audio. • Genealogy – trace your ancestry, all records digitized For more information call 00353 01 882 6550 or email museum@glasnevintrust.ie
GLASNEVIN CEMETERY MUSEUM & GUIDED TOURS
Ireland’s history carved in stone TOURS • RE-ENACTMENTS • GENEALOGY Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Finglas Road, Dublin 11.
T: 353 18826550 | E: museum@glasnevintrust.ie
More Information is available on the world wide web
68 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
www.glasnevinmuseum.ie
Supporting Healthy Ageing We are all living longer and with more and more of us getting older there is a growing need to promote healthy ageing in our communities. So, what is healthy ageing? It is optimising opportunities for physical, social and mental health. In other words, taking an active part in our communities, maintaining independence and enjoying a good quality of life. We know people do better at home, near friends and family and access to the social activities they have always enjoyed. The question is how can we support this and provide older people and their families with the reassurance they need to feel safe and supported at home and in the community? Motech (an Irish company) is helping families to ensure their more senior members stay safe and well at home while also leading a very active life. Motech has now partnered with Tunstall Emergency Services and Boots Ireland to deliver Boots Home Assist service. This service is delivered 24/7 via the Motech CareClip and features live location monitoring, automated fall detection, panic button and the ability to nominate safe zones (a way to be aware if someone has wandered out of a known area). The Clip has 2 way communications so in the event of an alert the user will receive a call. In parallel family members and carers will be able to see activity and any alerts real time via the App (IOS and Android). For more information log onto www.boots.ie/home-assist or call us on 1800 827 400.
Home Assist at � 24/7 response centre
� Mobile app for family and carers � Fall detection
� Location awareness and safe zones
Help at the touch of a button
� Independence and reassurance
Giving you reassurance that someone is always there to help you, when you need it.
The CareClipTM will provide that level of reassurance anywhere you go, with the support of a 24/7 response centre, ensuring you are completely unrestricted to live your life, your way. How do I find out more? For more information visit www.boots.ie/homeassist or call us on 1800 827 400* *Lines open Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm; Terms and conditions apply.
Powered by
Volunteering
“We are always the same age inside”. Gertrude Stein
Pauline Moran of Give Ireland with Alice Badjan and Edward Gibba
Comhlámh, the standards organisation which facilitates international volunteer placements argues that age is not a factor Comhlámh attends volunteering fairs throughout the year and one of the most common questions people ask us is “am I too old to go volunteering overseas?” Our reply to this question is always “absolutely not”, because age is not an important factor when it comes to volunteering overseas. Comhlámh is the Irish association of volunteers and development workers, which has a network of more than 40 volunteer sending agencies that send approximately 2,000 volunteers overseas every year. Some of the volunteer sending agencies actively recruit older volunteers, because they recognise and value the wealth of a volunteer who has a lot of work and life experience. Lou Talbot Beirne from VMM International tries to explain when she says “while we enjoy working with younger volunteers for all that they bring to our projects, working with older and more mature volunteers brings about its own rewards. We find that volunteers with more life experience and work experience settle into the new host communities quickly, are able to cope with difficulties more easily and can bring a wealth of wisdom to the work that we couldn’t have imagined in the planning stages”. A few years ago, Sara McMurray decided to volunteer shortly after retiring from her career as a physics lecturer in TCD. She travelled to Rajastan in India with EIL International to teach children and she described her experience as follows “I had always loved to travel, but had not expected, after retirement, to be able to set out on such a great adventure as volunteering offered. I felt that, as a retired person, my experience of life was important and useful in the work I did”. On return, Sarah stayed involved with Comhlámh and attended a number of creative writing workshops delivered by Monica Corish, for returned volunteer development workers. Sara has since written a book about
Linda Talbot, Teacher Training volunteer with VMM International in Uganda, introduces students to Harry Potter
her volunteering experiences in India, and is hoping to publish this work soon. Colette Rooney from Viatores Christi, meanwhile says “older people are always more than welcome to apply for placements with VC as we really value the life and work experience that they bring to the projects. At the moment we have 5 people over 55 preparing for their projects overseas, and one has just left Ireland for Haiti”. Meanwhile, Mary Anne Stokes from VLM says that the benefit of working with more mature volunteers is “that they can take on more responsibilities in the field and are used to and thrive on making decisions with colleagues”. Annette O’Sullivan from VSO Ireland echoes this when she says “one of the many benefits of working with older volunteers is their capacity to work with challenges in country”. Many other volunteer sending agencies recognise and honour the experiences older volunteers can bring to projects, to the team, and to the host community. Give Ireland for example, works with experienced and retired teachers and goes to the republic of the Gambia once a year. Pauline Moran from GIVE has just returned from a month long placement with a group of teachers who shared their time and skills with Gambian teachers, principles, students and pupils. Pauline says “the model of working with experienced teachers works well for GIVE as we know we can rely on the knowledge of people who have spent many years in the classroom and in education and who can then pass on their pedagogical skills effectively”. If you would like to know more about these volunteer sending agencies, or about membership groups in Ireland and our other events, get in touch with Comhlámh today. Project Officer, Ruth Powell of Comhlámh ruth@comhlamh.org
70 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Sara McMurray taking time out in between lectures
Volunteering
Ethical Volunteering with VMM International
VMM International are a registered charity who have sent thousands of volunteers over the past 50 years all over Africa. We have received our comprehensive compliance award for the Comhlámh Code of Good Practice and are proud members of Keeping Children Safe. “I have been volunteering with VMM in Uganda for the past six years as a teacher trainer in schools and universities on child rights and educating children on their rights. I wanted to share my teaching skills not just teach. I wouldn’t keep going back if I didn’t think I was making an impact and the support from VMM has been fantastic throughout.” Linda Talbot • Short term volunteer placements from four weeks up to six months available in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi for professionals and retirees.
Eilis McDonald, positive discipline mentor, Fiona Duignan, Manager Short term volunteer programme, Sandra Villages, long term volunteer and Tim Flynn, Africa Manager in Nkokonjeru, Uganda
Tony Woods, a long term VMM volunteer at the blessing of his retirement home in June, built by the school for him in honour of his 30 years as headmaster in St Charles Lwanga Secondary school in Kitui, Kenya
• Programmes include: human rights, social care, podiatry, research, child rights, criminology, teaching and teaching assistants, agriculture, special needs assistants, physiotherapists and more. • All placements are tailor made, matching your skills to meet the greatest need of our partners and their community.
Volunteer Jerry Kinane in Kenya 2017 on an agricultural placement
View our short term volunteer brochure on www.vmminternational.org For further information on how to secure a short term volunteer placement to see how you could help, please contact Fiona on: fiona@vmminternational.org or 00353 (0) 892523285
Competition winners from last issue
Crossword – four copies of Spuds and the Spider Jack Johnston, Clogher, Co Tyrone Elizabeth Keely, Dublin 6 Mary Lynch, Youghal, Co Cork Keith Fawcett, Limerick Two night break at Maryborough Hotel, Cork Jo Butler, Kerry Glendalough Gin Michael O’Callaghan, Kildare Guessed the year? – It was 1965
I worked in hospitality for years, now I'm using my skills to serve my local community!
Do you want to meet new people and give back to your community? Your life experience, commitment and skills are highly valued by charities and community organisations. From befriending and caring roles, practical and DIY projects, driving, teaching, administration, charity shops and many more, you can find a volunteering role to suit your lifestyle and availability! If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering, get in touch with your local volunteer centre (you can find more info on www.volunteer.ie) If you live in Dublin City, please contact James at Dublin City Volunteer Centre on 01 473 7482 or email info@volunteerdublincity.ie www.volunteerdublincity.ie
EX OVE HI R BIT 50 OR S
FREE ADMISSION
...comes to the West!
You don’t have to be over 50 – all ages welcome... 50% Off Daily Parking Rates in Q Park Railway/Radisson Car Park for all visitors
GOODY BAG FOR ALL VISITORS!
Be Inspired in your Retirement!
Organised by S&L Promotions Ltd. T: (01) 496 9028 E: info@slp.ie
Galway 50 Plus Expo: Galmont Hotel (formerly the Radisson) Tue 4th & Wed 5th September, 10.30am - 4.30pm Daily
Consumer Rights with Sinead Ryan RTÉ’s My Money & Me
Cooking Demonstrations
Free Health Checks & Talks (see seniortimes.ie for details)
Mary Byrne Live Performances
Plus Government & Statutory Information, Recruitment, Senior Care, Valuations of Notes, Coins & Stamps, Home & Abroad Holidays, Arts & Crafts, Fashion Retailing & More...
Northern
By Debbie Orme
Notes
Game of Thrones boosts Northern Ireland economy
The stunning setting of the Ballygally Castle Hotel
The worldwide success of HBO’s Game of Thrones television series has had a surprising knock-on effect on Northern Ireland’s economy! Not only has the series managed to showcase some of the province’s breath-taking scenery, but, in 2016, a report by NI Screen, which helps to fund the series, estimated that the series had brought almost £150m into the local economy. The series, which is currently being filmed at various locations throughout Northern Ireland, has now produced more than 30 Game of Thrones tours, and this number is expected to rise. It would appear that, while people come to Northern Ireland for Game of Thrones, they are discovering that the province has much more to offer: a win-win situation for everyone. Norman McBride, General Manager at Ballygally Castle Hotel, has witnessed the fact that the series has brought both visitors and business to Northern Ireland. ‘Many of the scenes from the series have been filmed in the local areas surrounding the hotel,’ he told Northern Notes, ‘and, indeed, both cast
and crew from the series are frequently found relaxing at the Castle. ‘People, who live in the province, have always known about the stunning scenery, but, thanks to Game of Thrones, that scenery is now being beamed worldwide. The stunning scenery within the Causeway Coast and Glens has been used to represent everything from Winterfell to the King’s Road, The Iron Islands to Stormlands. We run our own, very successful Game of Thrones tours and you can just see how excited visitors are when they discover that they can stand on the spot where Lannisters schemed, stroll in the footsteps of the Starks, or gaze on the grasslands, which were crossed by the Dothraki horde!
74 Senior Times July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
‘I can fully understand why the tours have become so popular. Our visitors return from the tour totally blown away by the fact that the tour has not only brought the drama of the series to life, but has also provided a front row seat at locations, which are steeped in local myth and legend! While those, who are attracted to Northern Ireland because of the Game of Thrones series, are able to indulge their fascination for the series, Northern Ireland in general – and hotels like ours in particular, are able to reap the benefits in that we can showcase to our visitors what the Antrim Causeway Coast and Glens have to offer, and can take the opportunity to show everyone the sort of hospitality for which this small corner of the globe is famed.’
Northern Notes
Corinna works for the community! With constant media focus on the heavy – and increasing – workload of GPs, Northern Ireland healthcare has an untapped wealth of potential in the form of its 500-odd community pharmacies. One great example is Lisbellaw Medical Hall in Enniskillen, which is totally focussed on providing a wide range of services to its local community. Northern Notes spoke to pharmacist, Corinna Collum, about the pharmacy’s role as the ‘go to place’ for healthcare in the area. ‘We’re Fermanagh’s second biggest village,’ says Corinna, ‘and we’ve been servicing the needs of this community for eight years now. Our local population is very diverse in terms of age. There’s always been quite a large elderly population, but now we’re seeing more young families moving into the area as a result of the new homes that are both being built and planned for the future. Factor in the high number of tourists who visit the area each year thanks to attractions ranging from Belle Isle to Lough Erne and you can see why my team and I have to be on our toes to meet the many and varied needs of our patients! ‘We’re particularly affected by the fact that, despite the fact that the pharmacy has a high number of elderly patients – particularly in the 80s and 90s age group - this area has no care home and so all of the patients are all looked after in their own homes. That means that the pharmacy is responsible for between 50 and 60 deliveries per week, so we have to look after them, as well as those, who can make it into the pharmacy each week. ‘At the other end of the age spectrum are the high numbers of young mothers with babies – many of whom also find it difficult to leave the house and so I always try to ensure that deliveries to these patients are also readily available. ‘I think one of the main strengths of the pharmacy is my team. Every member of staff is known to all of the patients: a factor, which is extremely important in a ‘close-knit’ area such as Lisbellaw.’ One of the main strengths of Corinna’s pharmacy is that she and her team are not just involved in work within the pharmacy. They’re also very involved in outreach work into the community. Over the last year, for example, the team have sponsored the under-11 Lisbellaw Football Club with a new kit and provided ten coaches with coats; held a Christmas party for local kids, which raised money for the charity, TinyLife; and fundraised for the local Riyal National Lifeboat Institution. Perhaps one of the major contributions that Lisbellaw Medical Hall made, however, was the delivery of a Building Community Pharmacy Partnership project, which worked with local people to provide a range of information and advice on issues, such as sleep, minor health checks and herbal alternatives. ‘Our project involved myself and my team training a group of over-65 year olds in first aid, including resuscitation. This project was inspired by the fact that we all wanted to ‘give back’ to the community. I’d noticed
very often that the local elderly people often couldn’t deal with the death of their spouse and I wanted to provide support for these people through outreach. ‘Every member of my team is fully aware of the fact that, very often, pharmacy staff are often the only people that patients will speak to all day and so we want to not only be able to provide excellent service in terms of explaining medication and discussing any queries that patients may have, but also to be able to have a chat with patients about any concerns they may have or to assess their mental health.’ Twice in the last couple of years, Corinna and her team have been involved in emergency situations which required a defibrillator – one in the pharmacy and one at a local sporting event. As a result, Corinna now carries a defibrillator in the van at all times to pre-empt any further situations. The pharmacy also funded a box to house a defibrillator worth £450 in the local Tamlaght community and this was advertised in the local newspaper the following week to bring it to the attention of the village residents. Every community pharmacy in Northern Ireland provides a dispensing and retail offering to its community. Lisbellaw Medical Hall clearly shows how the promotion of health services – either in terms of practical support such as a defibrillator, or in health promotion in general – can bring immense benefits to its local patients. Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 75
Evocative Somme exhibition coming to Belfast An evocative exhibition, remembering the thousands of servicemen who died in the Battle of The Somme but who have no known graves, is to be held in Belfast at the end of the summer.
with no known grave and whose names are on the Thiepval Memorial. In November, all 72,396 shrouds will be laid out, shoulder to shoulder, in hundreds of rows at Queen Elizabeth Park on Armistice Day.
The Shrouds Of The Somme project is a powerful piece of commemorative art which marks the centenary of the end of the First World War by remembering more than 72,000 Commonwealth servicemen who were killed at the Somme who have no known grave, many of whose bodies were never recovered and whose names are engraved on the Thiepval Memorial.
Similar shrouds have already been displayed in Exeter and Bristol, and attracted more than 145,000 visitors.
For the artwork, artist Rob Heard has hand stitched and bound 72,396 figures, one for each fatality: the shrouds depict a human form, individually shaped, shrouded and made to a name. From 23 August – 16 September, 3,762 of the miniature shrouded figures will be laid out in the Garden of Remembrance at Belfast City Hall, representing those from the Ulster and Irish regiments, or from Belfast,
As a lasting legacy of the project, relatives of those who lost their lives are being asked to share photos and stories of the men, telling who they were, where they were from and what they did. The aim of the project is that, by bringing the individual to the forefront of these unimaginable numbers will help the nation to truly understand the scale of the loss of those who gave their all. Memories, stories and photographs are being collected through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission digital archive: blog.cwgc.org/thiepval-stories/ For more information on the project, visit shroudsofthesomme.com/.
Former Mayor ‘proud and humbled’ by MBE award Former Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor, Billy Ashe, has told of his surprise and pride at being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The veteran politician, who represents the Carrick Castle ward, has had the prestigious accolade bestowed on him for services to local government in Northern Ireland. ‘I am proud and humbled by this award,’ Councillor Ashe said. ‘It came as a complete shock but a lovely surprise. I accept the MBE on behalf of all of our remarkable citizens and groups throughout Carrickfergus, and Mid
and East Antrim. This was a real team effort and my thanks go everybody at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council led up by Chief Executive Anne Donaghy. It is every Ulsterman and woman’s dream to be acknowledged by Her Majesty The Queen.’ ‘It is a privilege to serve and represent our people on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and I thank them for their continued support and look forward to continuing to work for the betterment of all in our area and across Northern Ireland.’
76 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Billy Ashe: ‘A shock but a lovely surprise’
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Wine World
Try terrific Tuscans for summer
Mairead Robinson recommends some great wines from this celebrated wine producing region of Italy. Tuscany has been described as the epitome of perfect wine country, producing some of Italy’s most famous appellations. Wine tourism is highly recommended, as both the countryside and the wines you taste when travelling the region, are sure to seriously impress even the most jaded palate or traveller. Nowhere is more evocative of Italy than Tuscany and a fundamental part of that magical landscape is the vine. Most famously, in the hills around Firenze and Siena are the vineyards that produce Chianti. Given the enormous volume that is produced, it is very hard to generalise about Chianti. It can vary from thin and weak to rich and concentrated, with a large variation in price. The Sangiovese grape forms the backbone of the
The Castelgiondo vineyards of the Frescobali family which produces excellent chianti wines
Chianti blend with contributions from Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia. Cabernet Sauvignon is now allowed in the blend as well.
78 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Nipozzano is a historic wine produced at Castello Nipozzano, which is about 35 km northeast of Florence.
Wine World
A sub district of the region, Chianti Rufina is producing some excellent wines also and it is to Nipozzano, a timeless corner of Tuscany that we find wines made by the Frescobaldis. For over one hundred years they have been producing exceptionally aromatic wine with superb longevity and a faithful expression of the unique soils of their singular estates. With estates throughout Tuscany, the Frescobali family have captured the diversity of Tuscan wines from across the region. This Nipozzano is one of my favourites. It is a historic wine that they produce at Castello Nipozzano, which is about 35 km northeast of Florence. It is a symbol of Tuscany’s winemaking traditions due to its complexity and strong ties to its terroir. The 2014 vintage is drinking very well now, with positive weather conditions resulting in an excellent vintage. The wine is a brilliant scarlet red, it is warm and soft and very elegant making it a great partner for special barbeques this summer. It is available in Ireland now and costing €28 to €30 a bottle. Moving south to the estate of Brunello di Montalcino we find a perfect expression of the spirit of the Montalcino terroir from a careful selection of Sangiovese grapes from a high altitude of sunny slopes with well drained soils. The resulting wine has a powerful personality and excellent ageing potential. This is an aromatic wine with notes of spice and red and black fruits. This is another wonderful wine to enjoy with rich meat stews and strong cheeses. It also has spent two years in oak and six
months in bottle, and is also available in Ireland costing €28 to €30 a bottle. Moving on to the whites, Frescobaldi produce two gems are particularly worth mentioning. Remole, from the heart of Tuscany has seven hundred years of wine history. This fresh refreshing white wine is perfect for summer days and enjoyed with a lunch, fish dishes or a light aperitif. Meanwhile Pomino from the Alpine uplands is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, resulting in a superbly elegant and stylish wine. It comes from one of Tuscany’s greatest white-wine growing areas, grown in vineyards at elevations as high as 700 metres. These wines are perfect for sunny summer lunches and will bring you to thoughts of the lush Tuscan countryside. They are also very well priced for the quality they provide with the Remole costing between €17 and €18 a bottle, while the Pomino costs between €22 and €24.
The Pomino vineyards in the Alpine uplands which produce a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, resulting in a superbly elegant and stylish wine
The Language Of Wine A recent paper titled ‘The Power of Wine Language – Critics, Labels and Sexism’ by PHD student Diarmuid Cawley on the language of wine and how wine description styles have changed over the years reminded me of a wine that I mentioned in this column some months ago. Zin Phomaniac from Lodi in California harps back totally unapologetically to that macho language and semi-naked females on the label. The wine description is worthy of a paper in it’s own right! If you missed that column, it reads:-
“The scantily clad bottle tempts you, its secrets yet to be revealed. You remove the cork carefully, slowly, your desire building with every twist. Steady now. You’ve the realm of Zin-phomania. Where nothing gets in the way of your passion and craving for that most hedonistic of wines: Zinfandel. Sure its from Lodi. Yes its from old vines. But Zin-phomaniac is more than that. Arousing aromas. Rich, spicy flavours. A bold and voluptuous mouth feel. A long, satisfying climax. Try it. Your taste buds will be eternally grateful”. After that, I think a glass of cool water would be recommended!
And finally, for all you gin lovers out there, the lucky winner of the Glendalough Gin was Michael O’Callaghan from Kildare. Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 79
Travel
As the 3 1/2 hour operation proceeded she could hear every tap of the hammer, every stroke of the saw, every clink of the scalpels and every hand-sewn suture being inserted, accompanied by the banter of the operating team as they went about their work.
Cartoons by Paul Steele
Majorcan misadventure
Paul Kavanagh recounts how his wife’s accident signalled an enforced stay in The Balearics.. It started well – a pleasant flight from Dublin to the welcoming heat of a Majorcan sun. On arrival, the transfer coach to the resort did its best to hide among the vast fleet at Palma airport, but we had played that game before and we soon winkled out the correct coach, albeit without the assistance of a no-show company representative. The hotel was large and white and did justice to the brochure illustration ... Reception bombarded us in Spanglish with a litany of instructions re: amenities – the charge for the room safe, directions to the three restaurants, the schedule for the courtesy bus and the deposit required for the hire of beach towels – all of which we had forgotten before we unpacked. The next day we sat by the pool and watched the comings and goings in and out of the water of those fit and mobile enough to enjoy it. My wife set off for reception to hire two of the aforementioned beach towels. The first I knew there was anything amiss was the sight of two lifeguards sprinting from their posts to a spot just outside the surrounds of the pool. A small group of holidaymakers were looking intently down at the pathway 80 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
bordering the pool. More alarming was to hear my name being called out by a member of the hotel staff. “Husband Paul, husband Paul” had an ominous ring to it. I followed her to the area of interest to the onlookers. There lay my wife, her head propped up by the beach towels she had volunteered to collect. She was perfectly still and showed no signs of pain or discomfort, whether she was drawing on her considerable reserves of Belfast stoicism or suffering post-traumatic shock after the fall, I couldn’t tell. But believing and hoping that her injuries would amount to nothing more than a bruised backside I said “There you are – the centre of attention as usual.” Some concerned English women at the scene took exception to the flippancy of the remark but it was made in the hope that she would be as right as rain as soon as she was helped to her feet. What worried me was that she showed no inclination to regain her standing. A doctor was by her side within twenty minutes of the accident happening. He asked her which side was giving her trouble. He then asked her to perform certain movements with that side and after what seemed to me a cursory examination, said bluntly “You have broken your hip and shoulder
Travel on the left side.” The skies over Majorca seemed to darken visibly and a chilly air replaced the morning heat. Instead of enjoying an idle week in the Majorcan sun we were faced with an indefinite stay in a Palma hospital. My wife, swaddled in a sausage-like contraption to prevent movement, was taken by ambulance on the eighty minute drive to Palma. The doctors’ poolside verdict didn’t seem to affect her disposition one way or another.
comfortably. Had I wished to avail of the second bed I could have spent the fourteen nights that followed, beside the beloved. We agreed however that for both of us to be confined to a hospital room for that length of time would have been a bridge too far for temperaments that were already beginning to fray at the edges. To put it more prosaically I was free to go on the lash after 6p.m. each day.
Once she knew she was on her way where there was expert help available, she remained remarkably rational. Two days later she was given a new hip under partial anaesthetic. As the 3 1/2 hour operation proceeded she could hear every tap of the hammer, every stroke of the saw, every clink of the scalpels and every hand-sewn suture being inserted, accompanied by the banter of the operating team as they went about their work. The operation was a complete success, and the treatment that followed was first class. The staff were pleasant, efficient and very attentive regardless of how often they were called on as they went about their business in uniforms of detergent-ad-white. It was decided after many scans and x-rays to allow the fractured shoulder to mend without medical intervention apart from a small sling.
The role of the husband of an incapacitated wife in a foreign clime could usefully form the basis of a social science module. As there is no template for such a husband’s role I felt free to let my instincts take me where they might.
The following two weeks gave the two of us an insight into Majorcan health care, the plusses and minuses of travel insurance and the vagaries of Irish hospital and nursing home regimes. The town of Palma had morphed from a carefree holiday destination into a labyrinthine warren of small streets many of which I became familiar with as I foraged the many items without which women don’t think life is worth living. I realise that to list in detail those hitherto arcane accessories would be to invite undeserved and unsought-for sympathy on my part. Suffice to say that had she asked for 3 ply loo paper with a herbaceous border or a fragrance called Neroti Blossom and Lavender or even that rarity among toilet waters – eau de Ballybough, I would have left no Palma terracotta tile unturned to find them. As it was, her daily list of requirements was relatively undemanding. I say relatively because trying to explain to a non-English speaking shop assistant that what I needed was a hand-held battery operated face fan to counter the humidity of a hospital ward was both a challenge and the scene of my greatest triumph. I left the shop clutching the prize as though it was the Ryder Cup. Compared to that, shopping for nightwear, underwear, cosmetics and the various oils and unctions that gobble up space in bathrooms from here to Tokyo and of whose very existence most men are blissfully unaware, was child’s play. As a result of these expeditions I now know what a nail buffer looks like and what it does. Eye masks on the other hand proved to be more elusive. At home in Dublin she has more eye masks than the lone ranger but that was of little help to me. As the temperature in Palma rose I proved on several trips how mistaken Noel Coward was when he contended that only mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun. Meanwhile back at the hospital she of the interminable shopping lists was adjusting to life in a foreign medical facility which was similar in many ways to the routine we have at home. The exception being that Spanish consultants don’t visit the wards to check up on their handiwork. Instead, a houseman calls with an interpreter in tow. Any queries the patient has are channelled through the interpreter to the MD, and the reply is in turn relayed to the patient who lies passively in bed, fervently hoping that nothing has been lost in translation.The hospital rooms were large enough to fit two single beds
I don’t believe that music should ever be used as a form of opiate but it has the power to replace feelings of hypertension with an inner calm that I had need of from time to time during our stay on the island. Any work of Mozart’s can make the everyday seem tawdry and can make our petty anxieties seem just that. But for anyone in real need of a sublime musical nerve-soother, nothing compares to the slow movement of Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto. Was ever a more celestial melody written by a mere human. As I have been a jazz fan since my early teens I made a beeline for Palma’s only jazz club – an intimate venue tucked away in the town’s main restaurant district. It was the ideal place to put the catastrophic sequence of events into some sort of perspective while listening to the local heads, and drinking beer at inflated prices. To be able to discuss the relative merits of Ellington, Basie, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson etc. all of whom I had seen in concert over the years, with fellow enthusiasts from Sweden. Norway, visitors from Granada, and British fans from London, Manchester and from Dudley in the black country, was the ideal antidote to a day’s foraging for nail buffers and eye masks etc, etc. among the mean streets of Palma. A nightdress I presented to HRH was a natty blue pinstriped number with an embroidered crest on the left breast. I thought it looked fine but she said it made her look as if she was about to line out for Atlético Madrid in an away game. The offending garment was stowed away never to be seen again. If our misfortune in Majorca proved anything to me it was that men know nothing about women’s clothes, especially those wispy, silky, slippy flyaway pieces that spill through your fingers like a handful of quicksilver. Not only are we totally in the dark about their clothes, we don’t even know where they are stored. We have only the vaguest idea of what those drawers on her side of the bed contain. If a woman asks her partner to “bring me down that pink pashmina I bought in Lanzarote last year,” she might just as well ask him about the geological make-up of the Urals. I spent All-Ireland Sunday in the sparsely populated Shamrock Irish bar near the harbour in Palma with one other Dublin supporter and a handful of Mayo fans. We had the place to ourselves until a contingent of well-steamed middle-aged Dutchmen arrived who had been on the tear since mid-morning. I explained to one of their number the reason I was flying solo and the news soon spread to his colleagues who were effusive in their sympathy for our plight. It transpires that the man I spoke to first, was an ex-pat Dutch dairy farmer who moved to Portugal where he now owns a herd of 800 dairy cows. He insisted with all the fervour of a loquacious drunk that we visit his spread in Portugal as soon as my wife was fit to travel. So that’s next year’s holiday plans settled! With all this Dutch induced hubbub, I missed the winning point of the game. Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 81
Travel
Meanwhile back at the hospital she of the interminable shopping lists was adjusting to life in a foreign medical facility which was similar in many ways to the routine we have at home.
Irish recipients of new hips will wonder why our stay in the Palma hospital extended to two weeks since Irish patients are climbing the Sugar Loaf after a few days. Part of the first week and all of the second was spent in threeway negotiations between the Dutch branch of our insurance company, the hospital in Palma and various hospitals and nursing homes in Dublin, in an effort to find somewhere my wife’s rehabilitation, physiotherapy etc could continue at home. We drew more blanks than a spaghetti western. Every institution had a reason why it would be impossible to accommodate her. As the days passed our frustration grew. From the very start we had insisted on an air ambulance for the flight home, which, along with medical expenses was covered by our policy. This was met with strong resistance from the company on various grounds, mainly I suspect because of the cost. While we waited for a decision we bade farewell to an English couple we got to know. The husband broke his arm after a slip on slimy rock and his insurance company had an air ambulance at his disposal within days. As you can imagine our sojourn in Majorca wasn’t all sweetness and light. We uncovered aspects of our personalities that had remained hidden for more than 40 years. To have your shortcoming brought into uncomfortably sharp focus can lead to all manner of verbal sword-play. Self-recrimination on her part and the temptation to assume the role of the martyred gofer on mine, sometimes soured the relationship. We realised we had shorter fuses 82 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
than we were aware of – fuses that could ignite when the right buttons were pressed. We saw how easily love could fly out the window if tempers were not kept in check. Thankfully the relationship emerged unscathed apart from a few minor dents. We were seriously considering applying for Spanish citizenship when we were informed by a member of staff that an air ambulance had been arranged for the coming Monday and a place in a Dublin nursing home had been secured. Our relief was such that we didn’t bother checking the mechanisms of the details as to who, how and why these facilities had been magicked out of nowhere. All that mattered was that the end was in sight. The prospect of being plucked from the void of no-man’s land, banished whatever residue of depression we both had experienced, with the result that we were able to joke about the entire experience albeit with more than a hint of black humour. The flight to Dublin was professional, comfortable and geared exclusively to the needs of the patient. We transferred at Dublin airport to the nursing home where a dedicated multi-national staff gave unstinting service to my wife for the following four weeks. The patient today continues to progress. Future trips? The Bray (Wicklow) jazz festival is looking more attractive with each passing day!!
Meeting Place DUBLIN BUSINESSMAN, SEMI-RETIRED, LATE 60s. NS, tall, medium build, kind, considerate, good manner, good appearance, many interests. Would like to invite into my life a special, kind, interesting, romantic, affectionate, mature woman who like me is fed up with airports and would be available for trips and short breaks exploring places of interest in Ireland. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B1 YOUNG LOOKING DUBLIN WOMAN, 60, looking for a kind and honest 60-65 man to enjoy the simple things of life with. Interests include dining out, cinema and walking. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B2 DUBLIN MAN, YOUNG 72, likes the simple things in life, a joke and the craic. Seeks a similar broadminded woman to spend time with and see how it goes. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B3 KERRY LADY, 50, TALL, SLIM, well-travelled and sincere, no children. Interests include walking, reading, theatre, concerts, museums, history, pets, gardening, Sunday drives and lazy coffee mornings. NS, SD, GSOH. WLTM kind hearted, warm, sincere gentleman to share and enjoy life with. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B4 SEPARATED CO LOUTH LADY, 61, WLTM men or women for social friendship, cinema, meals out, concerts etc. Age group 68-65. NS. Interested in those from Louth, Monaghan and Dublin. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B5 CO DUBLIN KIWI/IRISH LADY, late 50s. NS, GSOH, positive outlook, kind, trustworthy. Enjoys walking, travelling, rugby. WLTM a gentleman for friendship, possible serious long term serious relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B6 NORTH DUBLIN MALE, 80, looks years younger. Widower, no ties, NS, medium height. WLTM lady for friendship/relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B7 MEATH WOMAN, 50s, recently divorced, good looking, glamorous, vivacious, works in Dublin, no ties, travel a lot. WLTM educated, genuine, attractive male, 50s, for chat, friendship, possible travel companion. Loves outdoors, fine wine, weekends at home and away. Online not for me. Independent males only! REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B8 RETIRED MIDLANDS GENTLEMAN WLTM interesting lady for friendship and travel. Likes travel, fishing, gardening, current affairs, politics and sports. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B9 LATIN CO CLARE LADY, 65, WLTM my other half. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B10
WEST MEATH BASED ENGLISHMAN, 79, WEST widower, NS, SD. Interests include driving, reading, pets, sport, all types of music. Keen sense of humour, WLTM a lady of similar age and interests for friendship and companionship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A5
KIND DUBLIN MAN, 60s, never married. WLTM lady for permanent romance. Country origins, house, car, active, respectful, cheerful, artistic, cultured, positive, supportive, inspirational. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B11 MATURE, CHEERFUL, UNASSUMING compassionate, personable, warm lady, retired professional. WLTM educated, refined gent. 75 plus, for friendship and companionship, preferably from Midlands. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B12 WEXFORD MAN, LATE 60s. Interests include reading, walking, cooking, current affairs and gardening. WLTM lady for friendship/ relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B13 ATTRACTIVE RETIRED CO LIMERICK WOMAN, 60s, WLTM cheerful, friendly, commonsense male companion to share leisurely walking, holidays, laughter etc. NS. Based on Kerry border. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B14
ACTIVE, RETIRED CO LIMERICK WOMAN, CHEERFUL and chatty seeks friendly male companion to share days out, holidays and enjoy life. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A6 SOUTH DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL GENT, late 60s, NS, 5ft 11in, medium build, kind, considerate, private, good appearance, good manners and respectful, easy going. Interests include the arts, cinema, music, reading. Would like to invite into my life a special, kind, thoughtful, funny and true, romantic, affectionate mature woman who is available for trips and short breaks to explore places of interest in our beautiful country. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A7 MUNSTER LADY, QUIET, HONEST, kind, sincere, semi-retired. WLTM single, caring, trustworthy gentleman. Ideally GSOH, modest drinker with a healthy lifestyle to share happy times and, initially, friendship. Age range 60-65. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A8
KIND AND GENEROUS CO KERRY MAN. Interests include dancing, music, gardening, animals, travel etc. WLTM lady with similar interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B15 NORTHSIDE DUBLIN MAN, romantic, discreet, broadminded WLTM lady 50s to 60s. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B16 TALL, SLIM, ATTRACTIVE CORK FEMALE, friendly Leo, 50s, WLTM Mr. Motivator, someone who wants to start to live and enjoy life again. Interests include eating out, social drinks, music, concerts, theatre, travel, walking and much more. Must be loving and kind. GSOH essential, with positive outlook and a nice smile. Can’t wait! REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A1 DUBLIN MALE, 69, loves a non-hurried pace of life, WLTM a loving, caring female to share and enjoy retirement years. Looking for my soul mate and soul mates don’t have to live together. Ideally age range 65-75. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A2
SINGLE MIDLANDS LADY, no ties, working, many interests. WLTM retired, single gent or widower for theatre, concerts, walks, etc. Midlands or Dublin area. Age range 65-75. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A9 MEATH WOMAN , 50’s , recently divorced, good looking , glamorous, vivacious , works in Dublin, no ties, travels a lot, WLTM educated, genuine , attractive male , 50’s for chat, friendship, possible travel companion. Loves indoors, fine wine, weekends at home and away. Independent males only! REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A10 EDUCATED LADY, RETURNED EMIGRANT, late 60s, WLTM a companion of similar age, either male or female for European holidays. A sense of humour and adventure essential. Non-smoker preferred. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A11
HAPPY DUBLIN GENT, 60s, NEVER MARRIED, seeking cheerful lady, Dublin area. Country origins but now residing North Dublin. House, car, positive, sincere, respectful, romantic, artistic, tolerant, cultured. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A3
DUBLIN-BASED FEMALE LATE 60s, NS, slim, young in outlook. Likes walking, trips away, reading, dining out, conversion etc. Seeks refined, kind, slim gent 60s-70s, with GSOH to spend time with and see how It goes. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A12
ATTRACTIVE, TALL, MEATH LADY, 62, educated, kind and caring. Interests include walking, theatre, eating out, current affairs, music and travel. WLTM a loving, caring, genuine gent to share interests and good times together. Preferable age range 50s to 60s. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A4
NORTH DUBLIN MAN, 61, SINGLE, romantic, broadminded, discreet. WLTM lady 59-62 age group from Dublin of from up to two hours away. NS, ND. Love weekends away, eating out, cinema, walking, Elvis, C&W, folk, brass bands. Want to meet me? REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W2
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KERRY LADY, TALL, SLIM, 50, no children. Interests include walking, reading, theatre, concerts, museums, history, pets, gardening, Sunday drives and lazy coffee, mornings. NS, ND, GSOH. WLTM kind hearted, warm, sincere gentleman to share and enjoy life with. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W3
GALWAY FEMALE EARLY 60s loves a non-hurried pace of life, lives mindfully and spiritually. Likes walking, golf, cinema, theatre, good food and dance. WLTM my female soul mate that I have searched for all my life. Where are you? I’m honest, kind, sincere and loyal. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T5
ATTRACTIVE LEINSTER LADY YOUNG 60s WLTM man of similar vintage who can enjoy the elements, have a laugh, dance to Van, curl up with a film or dine out on words that say we’re on the same page. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W4
ROMANTIC DUBLIN GENT, 69, separated ND, light smoker, medium height and build. Enjoy reading, cinema, reading, music. WLTM female Dublin area with a view to a relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T6
CORK MAN EARLY 60s, 5ft 11in, active lifestyle. Interests include walking, dining out, cinema, concerts and travelling abroad and sampling other cultures. I would make a wonderful partner for a relaxed, happy woman over 5ft 5in who wants to share my life and interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W5 TALL MIDLANDS, PROFESSIONAL LADY, 61, considered attractive, long time divorced. WLTM gentleman 55-65 to have a laugh and share my interests in travel, walking, dancing, rugby, athletics, culture, good food and wine and more. Bucket list includes frequent trips around Europe in a camper van with the off five-star hotel thrown in, and walking the Camino. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W6 NORTHSIDE DUBLIN MALE, young 72, 6ft tall, average build. Like the simple things n life, a joke and the craic. Seeks a similar broadminded woman to spend time with and see how it goes. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W7 BLONDE KILDARE LADY, 50, SINGLE, no children, never married, GSOH, NS, SD, kind, caring, medium build. Interests include meals in/out, romance, music, travel. Seeking large build, solvent, refined professional gent for friendship and possible relationship. Must be NS. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T1 LATE 60s DUBLIN WIDOWER, kind and caring, good listener and GSOH. Enjoys walking, music, bridge, reading, cinema and theatre. WLTM lady for friendship/relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T2 KERRY LADY, 50, TALL, SLIM, no children, travelled and sincere. Interests include walking, reading, theatre, concerts, museums, history, pets, gardening, Sunday drives and lazy coffee mornings. GSOH. WLTM kind-hearted, warm, sincere gentleman to share and enjoy life with. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T3 CO DUBLIN MALE, EARLY 60s, outgoing personality, good appearance, NS, SD, enjoys reading, walking, travelling, theatre dining out, current affairs, WLTM lady for friendship/relationship.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T4
ATTRACTIVE, LIVELY, style conscious Galway lady, interested in walking, dancing, bridge and a bit of golf. WLTM gent with some of these interests and others. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T14 TRAVEL BUDDIES: Interested in travel at home and abroad? Let’s create a group of solo travelers (with or without supplement). Ideally Munster or South Connacht based for ease of contact. Time to socialise and explore? REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T15
ATTRACTIVE YOUNG 60s LEINSTER LADY, unattached, WLTM a man to have a laugh, dance to Van, curl up with a film or dine on words that say we are on the same page. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T7
MUNSTER LADY, retired professional, widowed, sincere, outgoing, emphatic with positive outlooks. GSOH and varied interests. WLTM a NS personable, caring, interesting gent in late 60s with GSOH. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T16
FORE! LADY GOLFER, 60 Dublin area, seeking gentleman course companion 55-65. Other interests include walking, theatre, cinema, meals out and travelling. NS, SD, GSOH. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T8
TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT If you are interested in meeting someone of the opposite or same sex, send your advertisement, with four stamps (which is the average reply rate) enclosed in the envelope, to:
SOUTH DUBLIN WOMAN, WIDOW, late 60s, WLTM interesting, well-travelled man with broad outlook on life for conversation one day a week in a city centre coffee shop. No meetings in pubs please. No baggage. Interests include reading, theatre, classical music, walking and general socializing. Sense of humour essential. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T9
Meeting Place, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
KILDARE WOMAN, SINGLE 50s, looking to meet nice people of either sex for occasional socializing. NS, SD. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T10
If you are replying to the advertisement via
RETIRED PROFESSIONAL WOMAN, widow, 60s, NS, WLTM classy, caring gentleman for friendship. Interests include walking, reading, gardening, meditation, cinema etc. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T11 DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL MALE, LATE 60s, divorced, NS, semi-retired. Easy going, considerate. Interests include cinema, the arts, weekends away, and sport. WLTM affectionate, genuine, young at heart, positive, kind, experienced woman who wants to live life to the fullest. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T12 SINGLE PROFESSIONAL SOUTH DUBLIN LADY, late 50s, 160cm, good looking, enthusiastic, caring university degree, interested in walking, ballroom dancing, ballet, theatre, yoga, healthy lifestyle, music. WLTM single, professional caring man with similar interests, ideally a ballroom partner advanced level 55-65. NS, SD, GSOH. For companionship leading to possible relationship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER T13
84 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Or email: john@slp.ie IMPORTANT Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live, noting your interests. The advertisement should not be more than 60 words. Senior Time’s email, ensure you include your postal address for those not on the Net. (Only Senior Times will have these details). Deadline for receipt of advertisements for the next issue is August 20th 2018. TO REPLY TO AN ADVERTISEMENT Each reply to an advertisement should be enclosed in a plain, stamped envelope, with the box number marked in pencil so that it can be erased before being forwarded to the advertiser. Send these envelopes in a covering envelope to the address , above, so that we can forward them to the advertiser. There is no limit to the amount of advertisements to which you can reply, provided each one is contained in a plain, stamped envelope. Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live. For those submitting their advertisements by email ensure that you also supply Senior Times with your postal address so that we can post replies from those who have replied by post. (Only Senior Times will have your postal address).
Why not take out a gift subscription to Ireland’s publication for people who don’t act their age?
It’s the ideal Birthday, Christmas, Retirement or Thank you gift. €40 for 8 issues, published every two months. The first issue will be sent with a card and personalised message. Just complete the form below and send to: Senior Times Magazine, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 or you can call us on 01-496 90 28
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Issue 87
May/June
2017
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Proud to ? be grey out a Rooting a dilemm
Expiry Date: ________________________________________ Name: _____________________________________________ uire Neven Mag ics from Two class b and fish recipes
Your Tel. no: _______________________________________
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dawn Pistols at duelling A history of
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The other
Crossword Crossword Number 94 by Zoë Devlin
ACROSS
DOWN
1 4 8 11 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 28 29 31 32 36 38 39 40 45 46 47 48 50 52 54 55 56 57 60 62 66 67 68 70 72 74 75 76 79 81 82 83 89 90 92 93 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 24 25 26 27 30 33 34 35 36 37 41 42 43 44 49 51 53 56 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 69 71 73 77 78 80 84 85 86 87 88 91 94 95 96
Small cave often connected to a religious ikon (6) Very young child (6) Palindromic Co Meath town (5) Ticket to ride for seniors? (3,4) Tallinn is the capital of this Baltic State (7) Circular building or Dublin hospital? (7) Hardy cereal grass, widely cultivated (3) Staying power (7) Peninsula & lighthouse in Co Wexford (4) Large black bird found in Dunraven? (5) Is there a vet near this old hand? (7) ___ is where the heart is! (4) Venetian traveller of 13th century (5,4) Tumult .. defeat .. or some bed lace? (7) Lyric poem (3) Sweet potato eaten in May? (3) Catchword .. motto (6) Small rodoent one could love! (4) Tailless breed of cat from the Isle of Man? (4) Would a hog dread this Co Louth town? (8) Month between March and May (5) Say sorry .. (9) Kind of male deer that tags along! (4) Defy .. hold out .. withstand (6) Vegetable plant with white bulb and green leaves (4) State capital of S. Australia (8) Male horse (8) Kerry competition, the ___ of Tralee (4) Regulation or convention (4) Type of vinegar (8) Highest in quality or British currency (8) Gusto ... relish (4) Foodstuff such as corn, oats or rice (6) Glorify .. praise (4) Copiousness .. plenty .. profusion (9) Venomous snake (5) Playwright, Richard Brinsley ___ (8) Very large (4) Horse with brownish coat sprinkled with grey (4) Pamper or supper dish known as Dublin ___ (6) Tax or large open vessel for liquids (3) Pen for keeping pigs (3) Contagious disease with red spots (7) Is there an arty piper in this Munster county? (9) Late Late host, ___ Tubridy (4) Chapel ..... or a Tory? (7) Workplaces for raising chickens, stock, sheep (5) Shoe made of wood (4) Waterfall on border of Canada & USA (7) Make an addition to .. append (3) Ethanol or town in Co Westmeath? (7) Flat highland or terrace (7) Type of short-haired blue-eyed cat (7) Parsley, sage, rosemary and ___ (5) Underground passageway (6) Six people considered as a unit (6)
86 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Hotel in Dublin’s O’Connell Street (7) Alfresco to do our thing? (7) Melody or air (4) One relating a story (8) Song of loyalty or devotion (6) Large metallic vessel for holding gas or liquid (4) County town of Kildare (4) Poetry found in reverse or inverse form? (5) Daughters of your brother or sister (6) Non-participating spectator, innocent or otherwise (9) Stately white aquatic bird (4) Grand Canyon State in southwestern US (7) Very, very wet (6) Droop .. slump (3) Completely, entirely, wholly (7) Adult female who lives in an 81 Across? (3) A fine tree on the largest of the Canary islands (8) Innocent .. not capable of causing hurt (8) Painting depicting an expanse of scenery (9) A bit of an up and down toy! (2-2) Novel by Anne Brontë, ___ Grey (5) Large building such as Blarney ___ (6) Slow-moving gastropod .. has no nails? (5) Implement used to propel a boat (3) Section of a drama or serial (7) Relating to the heart (7) Game played using balls or small pond (4) Architectural partition (4) Give advice or guidance (7) Make bigger - in general (7) Prompt .. straightaway .. at once (9) Small niche or location in Connemara? (6) Injure with a knife (4) Chasten .. correct .. castigate (8) Arboreal rodent, Grey or Red ___ (8) Short-tailed wildcat with tufted ears (4) Engage in selling or buying (5) Small room on ship for sleeping (5) Half a year away from 45 Across (7) Is the bard dull and lacking in liveliness? (4) Unopened flower (3) Every second one of a series .. (9) Headlong rush of people or animals (8) Health resort near a spring (3) One of the US Confederate states (7) I lament a persistent bodily disorder (7) Dairy product make from cultured milk (7) Tricks .. antics .. jokes (6) Narrow channel of sea joining 2 larger bodies of water (6) Dark purplish-red colour for a moron? (6) Writer ___ Doyle of ‘The Commitments’ (5) College or type of lock? (4) Save for this jar for holding flowers (4) Close (4)
Four copies of The Ascent to be won! This book tells the definitive account of how a generation of Irish cyclists took on the world and won. For most of the twentieth century, professional cycling was dominated by riders from the traditional heartlands of France, Italy, Belgium and Spain, but in the 1980s two young men from Ireland, a cycling backwater, emerged from obscure beginnings to dominate the sport: Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. Here, and on the thirtieth anniversary of Stephen Roche’s golden year, in which he won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championship, journalist Barry Ryan investigates how and why the nation was gripped with the cycling bug at this particular time. He lays bare the remarkable story of Roche and Kelly’s ascent. Senior Times, in association with the publishers, Gill Books, are offering four copies of The Ascent by Barry Ryan as prizes in this issue’s crossword.
Name: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Phone: ................................................................................................................................................................................................ Email:......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Send your entries to: Crossword Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. The first four correct entries drawn at the winners. Deadline for receipt of entries is 15th August 2018.
Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 87
Crafts Inspiring forget-menots Connie McEvoy shows you how to make a writing set
Having spent quite a few nocturnal hours during the past winter enjoyably reuniting myself with old greeting cards, my heart skipped a beat as the first one that came to hand was really special. So special was this card that it was used as inspiration when I was commissioned to design, work and provide step by step instructions for a writing set project (mid 1990s) for a now obsolete craft magazine. This is actually a card that seems to be intended for the New Year as the greeting reads as follows-Guid New Year to you and underneath in smaller print- Bannocks are better than nae kind o’ breid. I love this simple pretty little flower the forget-me-not and although it never blooms in my garden until May and June I will always admire the beauty of the cascading way in which the little bunch on the card is displayed. The writing set consists of a simple cover for a writing pad with a pocked that envelopes, stamps, and a personal address book can be slipped into, plus a ribbon stay that a pen can be secured on. There are some single forget –me – not motifs that have been worked in relief on a wee lace cushion and then detached before being applied as adornment to a sheet of note paper with prittstick or other adhesive products positioned where desired. A tiny pot- pourri sachet has been worked, filled with dried lavender that was picked from my own garden and fixed in this cover above the ribbon that keeps a pen in place so as the note paper will be delicately perfumed. Both covers of this writing set were constructed from blue silk dupion and the embroidered motifs were worked on fine white Irish linen, some blue and pink gathered lace was stitched onto the finished button-hole edging that was worked on both motifs. The gold ribbon used for the pen stay came off a chocolate box and all threads and needles used came from my hoard boxes & baskets that have never let me down. These motifs are worked in 3 dimentional fashion so as to achieve a textured effect and the stitches used are-backstitch, lazy daisy stitch and French knots, fishbone stitch, stem stitch and buttonhole loops. 88 Senior Times l July - August 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie
Designing and working this project in my mind’s eye as I drifted off to sleep on the night that I first noticed this pretty simply attractive little card gave me great satisfaction, in fact it really could have been described as a labour of love.
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