Senior Times Magazine Jan 2015

The magazine for people who don’t act their age IIssue Is sue 73 January 2015 €3.95 (£3.20)

www.seniortimes.ie

Rock of ages Shay Healy meets Dickie Rock

J K Rowling’s Edinburgh

A new year, a new partner?

Joining ‘the dating game’ ‘Future proofing’ your home Make it more efficient, user-friendly

News Review l Creative Writing l Travel l Health Fashion & Beauty l Profiles l Competitions and much more!

Contents

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7

January 2015

News review:

Chasing the Scottish sorcery trail:

Continuing her series of literary-themed travels in Ireland the UK, Lorna Potter books whose readers ages range from 8 to 90!

ARI News:

12

‘Future proofing’ your house:

14

Rock of ages:

21

Opinion:

26

What’s been happening in Active Ireland branches around the country

Making your house more efficient and secure

Jim Collier bemoans the state of our health services, deplores ‘cronyism’

and despairs of the Irish Water ‘fiasco’ A haven in the Sunny South East:

32

Visitor attractions:

35

A new year, a new partner?:

42

Luxury for less:

49

Featuring some of Co Carlow’s many attractions

Suggestions for group or individual days out Aine O’Connor has been looking at ‘the dating game’

Staying in a top class hotel may not be as expensive as you think, as Lorna Hogg discovered

21

Fashion:

50

Wine World:

55

52

Cosmetics:

Ask the vet:

The Senior Times vet deals with your pet queries

57

Low-cost, wide ranging health treatments in Poland:

59

Creative Writing:

62

Crossword:

Finance: Be centsable with your cash: John Lowe, The Money Doctor, advises Northern Notes:

Motoring:

Celerio joins the Suzuki ‘compact’ line

Know your rights: Crafts:

Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan Editorial Director: John Low Editor At Large: Shay Healy Consultant Editor: Jim Collier Advertising: Willie Fallon Design: www.cornerhouse.ie Contributors: Shay Healy, Lorna Hogg, Dermot Gilleece, Matthew Hughes, Maretta Dillon, Jim Collier, Mairead Robinson, Eileen Casey,

60 68 70 74

Meeting place:

50

7

Hogg visits Edinburgh, a city with a huge influence on the JK Rowling Harry

Shay Healy catches up with his old chum, the tireless Dickie Rock

14

2

77 80

Senior Times wishes all its readers and ad tisers a happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year Debbie Orme, Connie McEvoy Published by S& L Promotions Ltd., Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: +353 (01) 4969028. Fax: +353 (01) 4068229 Editorial: John@slp.ie Advertising: brian@slp.ie Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

News...

New falls prevention service launched in Ireland

Fiona Thornton new Chairman at Retirement Planning Council

Spectrum Health, Ireland’s largest allied health services provider, and Kinesis Health Technologies, a University College Dublin (UCD) medical campus company, have announced a new partnership to deliver Falls Action, a comprehensive falls prevention service in Ireland.

Falls Action (www.falls.ie) will take a stepby-step proactive approach to identify individuals at risk of falling and facilitate early and targeted intervention though exercise and chartered physiotherapy which have been shown to reduce falls in older people by up to 40%.

Falls in older adults are a major problem in Ireland, with an estimated 30% of adults over 65 falling each year. Incidence rates in hospitals are higher, and in long-term care settings approximately 30–50% of residents fall each year. In Ireland alone it is estimated that the annual healthcare costs associated with falls is €500 million.

Using Kinesis’ breakthrough technology Kinesis, which has been shown to be more accurate than traditional methods in assessing risk of falls, Falls Action will offer a falls screening service. Falls Screen will provide an exact and quantitative evaluation of the many dimensions that make up a person’s propensity to trip and fall and will identify those at risk of falling.

Fiona Thornton has been elected Chairman of the Retirement Planning Council at its recently held Annual General Meeting. Ms Thornton, who has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Retirement Planning Council since December 2006, takes over from Paul King who stepped down as Chairman at the AGM, having served three years in the role.

These results will provide Falls Action’s specialised chartered physiotherapists with a detailed assessment of what elements should be addressed for individuals through physiotherapy and exercise.For those individuals classified in a risk category, Falls Action’s next step will be to provide a series of interventions, which may include exercise and physiotherapy, to reduce the individual’s risk and minimise falls.

For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications Manager (Innovation), University College Dublin.

Email:miceal.whelan@ucd.ie Tel: (01) 716 3712.

Or Falls Action general enquiries.

Email: hello@falls.ie

New treatment for chronic subjective tinnitus patients

Irish general practitioners, audiologists and patients will soon have access to a new treatment option for chronic subjective tinnitus patients, in the form of ‘mutebutton’. A new non-surgical treatment from Irish medical devices company Neuromod Devices Ltd, the mutebutton treatment has secured a medical device CE Mark and will shortly be released. The mutebutton system has been shown to gradually reduce the illusory sounds of tinnitus in independent clinic studies conducted by NUI Maynooth and the Hermitage Medical Centre in Lucan, Co Dublin. Over the course of 10 weeks of treatment, the participants’ mean minimum masking levels were reduced by 8.6dB (42% decrease in masking amplitude). Tinnitus affects 10% of the population, according to the British

Page 2 Senior Times January 2015

Established in 1974,the Retirement Planning Council is a not-for-profit organisation with corporate members comprising private organisations and semi-state bodies throughout Ireland.

The Retirement Planning Council offers practical retirement planning courses to employees in over 400 businesses and organisations in both the public and private sector.

New Meath older peoples housing project

The housing association Fold Ireland has announced the purchase of 13 apartments in Dunboyne, Co Meath, which represents their first social housing development project outside of Dublin to date. The apartments will provide housing for older people, and the development is a result of Fold Ireland’s work with Meath County Council.

Tinnitus Association. At present, there are limited avenues of treatment for subjective tinnitus.

Once the product has launched, patients will be able to purchase the device through the website www.mutebutton.ie and attend one of the partnering clinical centres

The accommodation is made up of 7 onebedroom and 6 two-bedroom apartments.

The apartments are all finished to a high standard, with fully fitted kitchens.

The properties, which will be managed by Fold Ireland, are located in Dunboyne, an established rural area conveniently located north of Blanchardstown. The village offers a good variety of retail, leisure and community facilities including a church, schools, a college and excellent transport routes including bus and rail links.

For more information, visit www.foldireland.ie

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News

Alzheimer Café concept expands and grows in popularity

At the launch of the café from left: Rose Henderson (Val from Fair City) Sr Edel Murphy OP and Sinead Grennan Chief Executive of Sonas aPc.

The Alzheimer Café concept continues to grow in popularity in Ireland with the recent launch of a new cafe in Dublin.

This brings to approximately 13, the number of café’s across Ireland. The new café is being provided by the Dominican Sisters Cabra at the Dominican Campus on

the Navan Road and will run on the first Thursday of every month. The Alzheimer Café is a concept that was originally developed in the Netherlands as a monthly support group in a café like setting for people with dementia and their carers.

It’s an unusual type of support group, combining information and support with an opportunity to socialise in an informal café environment. It enables families who are experiencing dementia to receive valuable information and stay connected.

The Alzheimer Cafés are also attended by healthcare professionals and are combined with a presentation on an issue relating to dementia. The model encourages other interested groups to set up an Alzheimer Café in their area, according to the criteria of the original model. There are an estimated 48,000 people with dementia in Ireland.

There are now 13 such Cafés in Ireland in the areas of Dublin (4), Kildare, Sligo, Wexford, Tipperary, Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, Meath and Wicklow. The Alzheimer Café is free of charge and depends on volunteers who run the evenings.

Shannon, world’s first ‘duty free’, celebrates 70 years

Shannon duty free in the 1960’s with some very familiar brands being sold.

Established 70 years ago began it began as a small kiosk in the terminal building where a Ms Kitty Downes sold souvenirs, Irish linen goods and locally produced goods. Shannon is now one of the biggest and best stocked duty free services in the world. It is open 24 hours a day, with products up to 20 per cent below downtown prices. Shannon Duty Free now offers 60 brands, including top brands such as Chanel, Gucci, YSL, Armani, Versace, Clarins, Lancombe and Marc Jacobs. Local Irish drink and food brands stocked include Knappogue whiskey, Bunrattry Meade and poitin from County Clare. Locally produced Irish smoked salmon and Irish confectionaries are also popular with duty free shoppers.

‘Befriending directory’ for Older People in Ireland ALONE, the independent charity that works with older people who are in need of assistance, has launched their National Befriending Directory, along with presenting the first draft of their Befriending Services Coordination Guidebook.

The Befriending Directory lists all the

Page 4 Senior Times January 2015

befriending services for older people in the country and will be a valuable resource to anyone working with vulnerable older people. The draft Befriending Services Coordination Guidebook was also presented at the launch today as a support to organisations who currently run a Befriending Service or those hoping to set one up. ALONE have requested feedback and suggestions from other organisations to ensure a fully compre-

National Library of Ireland’s ‘significant’ genealogy project

The National Library of Ireland (NLI) has introduced details of its ‘most ambitious digitisation project to date’. The project will see the library’s entire collection of catholic parish register microfilms made available online – for free – by summer 2015.

The records are considered the single most important source of information on Irish family history prior to the 1901 Census. Dating from the 1740s to the 1880s, they cover 1,091 parishes throughout the island of Ireland, and consist primarily of baptismal and marriage records.

Commenting today, Colette O’Flaherty, Head of Special Collections at the NLI, said: “This is the most ambitious digitisation project in the history of the NLI, and our most significant ever genealogy project. We believe it will be of huge assistance to those who wish to research their family history. At this stage, we have converted the microfilm reels on which the registers are recorded into approximately 390,000 digital images. We will be making all these images available, for free, on a dedicated website, which will be launched in summer 2015’.

The 390,000 digital images due to be published by the NLI will be searchable by parish location only. They will not be transcribed or indexed by the NLI, and the images will be of the microfilms of the original registers, which – in some cases – were in poor condition when the microfilming took place. The images will be in black and white.

Further details of this digitisation project will be announced by the NLI in the coming months.

hensive guidebook on service provision in this area can be produced. The draft guidebook presented today highlights how befriending is a health intervention and therefore needs to be structured and consistent, ensuring protection for older people who avail of such services and volunteers who provide them.

For more information about ALONE’s befriending service visit:www.alone.ie or call 01 679 1032

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Dublin City Council launch ‘age friendly strategy’

Dublin City Council and Age Friendly Ireland have launch the Dublin City Age Friendly Strategy. The move is the latest step in making Ireland one of the first age-friendly countries in the world, where older people are valued and their needs are considered. The Dublin strategy represents a framework for multi-agency partnership aimed at making Dublin city a great place in which to grow old and ensuring that all Dubliners are respected and valued, regardless of age.

The document targets 9 key domains including safety, health, outdoor space, buildings and transport, and sets out action points which include: Appointing a dedicated Garda with responsibility for older people in every Garda station in Dublin Introducing high-visibility, targeted area Garda patrolling in neighbourhoods with a high density of older people Rolling out a cross-agency partnership programme designed to support older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible Establishing a network of age-friendly GP practices in Dublin Creating the country’s first age-friendly hospital at Beaumont Hospital Providing learning opportunities for older people Hosting the world’s first international age friendly universities conference in 2015 Creating guidelines to promote age friendly workplaces

Dublin City Council is one of 26 local authorities throughout the country who have signed up to the Age Friendly Cities and Counties programme, a World Health Organisation initiative which is being spearheaded here by Age Friendly Ireland.

It is expected that the remaining 6 local authorities will have launched or committed to launch an age friendly strategy by mid-2015, making Ireland one of the first age-friendly countries in the world.

The Irish Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme is based on the World Health Organisation model which encourages communities to support and enable people to age actively by developing policies, services and structures which recognise that older people have a wide range of capabilities and resources. The programme defines an age-friendly city as one which anticipates and responds to the needs and preferences of older people, respects their decision, protects the most vulnerable and promotes inclusion. The initiative is being spearheaded in Ireland

by Age Friendly Ireland, a non-profit organisation funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and hosted by Dublin City Council.

The programme commenced in Ireland in 2009, with Louth becoming the country’s first age-friendly county. To date, 26 local authorities have signed up to the initiative and it is expected that by mid-2015 all 31 local authorities will have launched or committed to launch an age friendly strategy, making Ireland one of the first age friendly countries in the world.

Page 6 Senior Times January 2015

DCU’s ‘innovate role’ in engaging older people in education

Since 2008, an innovative approach to engaging older adults in university has been building momentum in DCU which became the first third-level institution to adopt the concept and principles of an Age-Friendly University in 2012.

DCU has committed to lead and highlight the role that universities can play in responding to challenges and opportunities associated with the ageing demographic of the 21st century. The university’s recently-appointed Age Friendly Coordinator will drive the university’s goal to be recognised internationally as a leader of age-friendly initiatives in education, research and innovation which will promote a greater, more connected and productive quality of life for older adults.

It is not unusual to see many older people on campus in DCU. The Intergenerational Learning Project offers a selection of dedicated modules designed with the older learner in mind. This wide range of short, competitively priced courses on offer, delivered by DCU lecturers, provides opportunities to study subjects ranging from psychology to everyday science to genealogy. A unique and innovative approach to technology courses which uses an intergenerational model with the help of volunteer student mentors, has brought more than 600 older adults on campus and engaged 300 DCU students in teaching and volunteering.

Another element to the Age Friendly Initiative is the MedEx (Medical Exercise), a unique chronic illness rehabilitation service which has grown dramatically over the past six years in DCU to become one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe. It delivers exercise-based programmes, with parallel educational and related supports, to individuals with diverse chronic illnesses. Hosting over 500 visits per week, the MedEx programmes transform the lives of participants and their families.

Whilst over at DCU’s School of Nursing, the Memory Works screening clinic is available to anyone over 40 who feels they are developing memory problems. The clinic operates on a self-referral or GP referral basis aimed at identifying people with a pathological reason for their memory problems. The service aims to fill a gap in the existing health service.

For more information on courses and further information contact: Christine O’Kelly, Age Friendly Coordinator, Dublin City University Tel 01700 8933.

Christine.okelly@dcu.ie

Older people urged to have a carbon monoxide alarm

Age Action is urging all older people to ensure they have a working carbon monoxide alarm fitted in their home, in the wake of a recent serious incident in Cork .“Carbon monoxide alarms can, and do, save lives,” Age Action spokesperson Eamon Timmins said. He was commenting in the wake of an incident when two sisters (aged 92 and 84) were found unconscious in their home, in a case of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. The alarm was raised by a neighbour who called to their home as part of a regular visit.

“Thankfully both ladies were found in time,” Mr Timmins said. “But the incident must act as a wake up call to everyone who use coal, gas or oil to heat their homes. We would urge people to ensure their central heating systems are serviced regularly and that their carbon monoxide alarms are working.”

Age Action’s Care and Repair programme volunteers can help older people fit carbon monoxide alarms in their homes.

The programme is provided by Age Action in Dublin, Cork, Galway and by its community partners in 33 other locations across Ireland. For more details contact 01-4756989.

‘Spectacular’ Christmas schedule on Irish TV

Irish TV, Ireland’s only international TV channel broadcasting on Sky 191 has planned a wonderful Christmas schedule which will include some of the best programming available on any network over the festive season.

The programmes will include a special concert by Phil Coulter which includes performances by Clannad and The Chieftains as well as poetry from the late, great Seamus Heaney.

Irish TV will also look after all your Christmas cooking needs with renowned Kerry chef Paul Treyvaud dishing up some simple recipes as well as the Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

Country singing sensation Lisa McHugh looks back at her series which went down a treat this year.

As well as that we have top quality programming for those interested in the classical music genre with renowned soprano Helen Hutchinson taking a look back at some of her musical highlights on Irish TV in 2014.

All of these programmes and much, much more can be viewed on Irish TV Sky channel 191, Freesat 400, free to air boxes, eircom’s eVision and online at Irishtv.ie

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Travel

Chasing the Scottish sorcery trail J K Rowlings’ handprints can be seen in front of City Chambers, following her 2008 Edinburgh Award.

Continuing her series of literary-themed travels in Ireland and the UK, Lorna Hogg visits Edinburgh, a city with a huge influence on the J K Rowling Harry Potter books whose readers ages range from 9 to 90!

Joanne ‘Jo’ Rowling, creator of Harry Potter and inspiration to worldwide aspiring writers, was born in England’s West Country, in Yate, Somerset, on July 31st, 1965. Although the Harry Potter books were conceived for younger readers, there is also a massive interest from the older generation, and the ‘Harry Potter’ tours around the city often feature followers aged from 9 to 90! And even if you do not have any interests in the books yourself, you may wish to c onsider treating one or more of your grandchildren to an unforgettable trip around an interest-filled city. www.seniortimes.ie

Joanne read French and Classics at Exeter University.

Although her parents had scientific backgrounds - her father was an aircraft engineer, and her mother a science technician, the young Joanne was more interested in fantasy, and from an early age. The C.S. Lewis tale, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a childhood

favourite, and she often wrote fantasies, which she read to her younger sister, Di. Joanne later admitted that her young life was sometimes stressful, and that Harry’s Potter friend, Hermione Granger was based on her eleven year old self.

Joanne read French and Classics at Exeter University. However, having graduated, what would prove more influential was an idea, developed whilst travelling on a train, for a book on a boy attending a school for wizardry.

She worked as a researcher for Amnesty International, and then moved to

Senior Times January 2015 Page 7

‘Edinburgh is very much home to me, and is the place where Harry Potter evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafes’ J K Rowling

Portugal to teach English. Whilst there, she met and married Portuguese journalist Jorge Arantes, and her daughter Jessica was born in 1993.

By December, the marriage was over, and Joanne moved to Edinburgh, to live in her sister’s flat. She was now in the midst of a ‘traumatic’ seven years. Her mother had died in 1990, and Joanne felt her loss keenly. She had become homeless, poor and a single mother struggling to support herself and her daughter. Divorced in 1994, unsurprisingly, she admits that at this time she suffered from depression – the Harry Potter books’ creations The Dementors were inspired by this time.

However, Harry Potter was at hand to conjure up some wizardry. As the author later said, ‘Edinburgh is very much home to me, and is the place where Harry Potter evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafes’. They paid off. Before that, her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosophers’ Stone in true bestseller fashion, met an initial list of publishers’ rejections. Eventually, Bloomsbury Publishing took it on. Joanne took advice to use the initials J.K., as a female name might not work in her favour for the intended audience.

The book’s popularity and that of her

Page 8 Senior Times January 2015

Edinburgh Castle, a huge source of inspiration for J K Rowling

One of the city’s top hotels, The Balmoral is said to have a bust inscribed by Joanne in the room in which stayed when she finished the final book.

Greyfriars Kirkyard, one of the oldest and best preserved city churchyards, where Potter fans can visit the grave of a Thomas Riddell, who died in 1802 – and two centuries later, is said to have inspired Harry’s arch enemy, the evil Lord Voldemort.

later Potter adventures, was swift to follow, as were as awards and record breaking literary achievements. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sold 6.9 million copies in just twenty four hours, and whilst in 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows became the fastest selling book of all time. Overall, the stories sold some 400 million books. Her readership was widespread. When Prince Charles presented Joanne with her OBE in 2001, he admitted that he was Harry Potter fan.

When filming of the books started in

1997, Joanne proved to be not only a talented author, but also an able businesswoman, who protected her books. She retained some creative control, with script approval. She also insisted that the series of books be filmed in the United Kingdom, with a British cast. With the producers and directors, she won an Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2011 BAFTA Awards.

In 2007, Time Magazine named her

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The Elephant Café, on George IV Bridge, is where J.K. Rowling gazed over to the Castle as she looked for inspiration, whilst her daughter Jessica slept beside her.

J K Rowling: Interests in fantasy from an early age

runner up to the Person of the Year Award, whilst Forbes Magazine noted that she was the first person to become a dollar billionaire from writing books, and one the five female self made billionaires. Not bad for an author who was once told that she wouldn’t make a living from writing children’s books!

Personal happiness came in 2001 when she married Scottish anaesthetist Doctor Neil Murray, and Jessica was later joined by brother David, and sister Mackenzie.

Whilst she has said that further Harry Potter books are unlikely, Joanne has since published some adult fiction, including The Casual Vacancy. Mysteries are her next venture, and she has a new non de plume, Robert Galbraith. With a lifestyle including an Edinburgh house, and London town house and a Scottish mansion, she is wary of the press and its fascination with her life. Joanne is, however, generous with her time and charitable interests. A Labour Party supporter, she is a friend of Sarah Brown, wife of former UK Prime Minster Gordon Brown, and last summer, during the Scottish referendum debate, came out in Page 10 Senior Times January 2015

favour of retaining the Scotland/UK link.

Hogwarts’ inspiration was the George Heriot School, a top independent school, at Lauriston Place.

Harry Potter’s Edinburgh The city is rich with Harry Potter inspired sites, and it is easy to see how and why. The imposing Castle, medieval street plan with enclosed courtyards or Closes, Reformation buildings and cobbled streets, are atmospheric enough at dusk, and even become faintly menacing when the haar, or sea mist rolls in. There is a variety of tours for the dedicated Potter fans, but you can easily and enjoyably and see most of the chief sites yourself.

Kirkyard, one of the oldest and best preserved city churchyards . Here Potter fans can visit the grave of a Thomas Riddell, who died in 1802 – and two centuries later, is said to have inspired Harry’s arch enemy, the evil Lord Voldemort. A nearby grave belongs to William McGonagall, a possible inspiration for Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffinder House at Hogwarts.

Hogwarts’ inspiration was the George Heriot School, a top independent school, at Lauriston Place. The Renaissance architecture dates from the 1630s, and it was originally a hospital or charity school.

The area also contains Greyfriars

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The Elephant Café, on George IV Bridge, is where J.K. Rowling gazed over to the Castle as she looked for inspiration, whilst her daughter Jessica slept beside her. She also visited the nearby Nicolson Café, at 6a Nicolson Street nearby. Now, it’s Buffet King Restaurant. Diagon Alley was inspired by the sloping and cobbled Victoria Street, with its high round arched windows.

Finally, crossing to Waterloo Place, and one of the city’s top hotels, The Balmoral is said to have a bust inscribed

by Joanne in the room in which stayed when she finished the final book. The city has acknowledged her success – her handprints can be seen in front of City Chambers, High Street, following her 2008 Edinburgh Award.

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Active Retirement Ireland

A Festive, and frugal, Christmas!

With Christmas just around the corner and everyone feeling the pinch, Active Retirement Ireland have gathered some tips on how to have a festive and frugal holiday season.

Water charges, property tax, fuel increases; it seems every day when you pick up the paper, there’s another bill heading your way. With Christmas weighing heavily on everyone’s mind, we asked around for some festive money-saving tips.

1. A Culinary Creation for your Friends and Family

“One year, I decided to create a booklet of all my recipes, including the ones my mother, mother-in-law and aunt taught me. I tested them all during the months leading up to Christmas. Every time my daughters came over I’d cook one of the recipes, but they had no idea why I was cooking all my old favourites for them. They didn’t complain, though, when I served them up Bread & Butter Pudding, Beef Casserole, Ham & Cabbage and more!

“I needed a little help to get the recipes into a nice booklet. My granddaughter is not only fantastic at computers; she can also keep a secret! When my daughters

Page 12 Senior Times January 2015

opened their packages over Christmas to find a collection of twenty of their favourite recipes, they were over the moon. It was worth all the secrecy!”

Mary-Anne, Co. Meath “I make jams and sauces all year long, so I give them to my friends and family at Christmas time. Most of my friends love a jar of homemade jam. For my son, who loves to cook, I make a little gift basket. Last year I used a cheap colander as a basket, and threw in a jar of my tomato sauce, some very nice pasta and a wooden spoon from the supermarket. Hey presto! An Italian gift basket for him.”

Ena, Co. Dublin

2. Put Your Skills to Use

“I am a retired baker, so every year I build my grandson a gingerbread house for Christmas. He really loves it, especially since he loves the stories I read him at bedtime whenever he stays with us. He always saves the roof for when we call over to visit them. He knows I like the icing too!”

John, Co. Cavan “I’ve always been handy with a needle and thread, so I usually make homemade gifts for my grandchildren.

Last year I stitched together the pockets of some old pairs of denim jeans into a very unusual and cool quilt for my granddaughter. She loved it.”

Anna, Co. Tipperary www.seniortimes.ie

“I have been writing poems and stories for a very long time, but I never thought of sending them as a gift before. One year, when I had to repair my roof in November and I wasn’t too flush with cash, I wrote my daughter a poem about how much her mother and I love her. She adored it, and she told me she never wanted me to buy her a present again. Last year, I wrote a short story for my first granddaughter, starring her as the heroine. She’s too young to read it now, but I know she’ll treasure it when she’s older.”

Peter, Co. Galway

3. A Little Research Goes a Long Way “The local library is a great resource to have at your disposal. I wanted to get my best friend from my Active Retirement group a little something for Christmas, as she’s always been very kind to me. With a little help from the librarian, I found the Irish Press from the day she was born, printed it and put it in an old frame I had around the house.

My friend was delighted!”

Síle, Co. Sligo “My husband has always been into

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genealogy, and I recently got involved in his hobby. It’s very interesting. This Christmas, we plan to give our children framed copies of their family tree. It took a lot of research, but all the tools to make a family tree are available online through the sites my husband subscribed to anyway.”

Maura, Co. Louth

4. It’s the Thought that Counts “People are very understanding. They appreciate a handwritten card or letter as much as an expensive gift. Being able to write a heartfelt note to my son that tells him how proud I am of him allows me to save my money to buy a nicer present for my granddaughter.”

Tom, Co. Kerry “I gave my friends photographs of moments we’d shared together. I framed them in some cheap frames I bought in what we used to call a pound shop, a Euro shop or what have you. They were over the

moon. It brought back memories of trips and days out we’d had.”

Trudy, Co. Waterford

“My best friends wondered why I had turned the conversation to literature so often in the months before last Christmas, but when I gave them both copies of their favourite books from childhood, they understood. I scoured second-hand bookshops for copies of 1984 and Treasure Island that looked old enough to resemble the ones they read.

They were very impressed with the effort I put into getting them their gifts.

Little do they know it only cost me a few Euros.”

Ben, Co. Westmeath Whatever you decide to do for Christmas, remember that the most important thing is to spend time with the people you love most, and to spare a thought for those less fortunate than you.

Getting some of your Christmas presents in charity shops is not only a frugal option, but it also helps the needy and poor at home and abroad.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 13

Homes and gardens

As safe, and efficient, as houses?

Lorna Hogg looks at some of the systems and equipment available to make your home more energy efficient, user-friendly and secure

Winter is the time when we start to think about the costs of home heating and lighting – and now, the new water charges. What better way to limit the worry of rising prices than with a home`energy audit?’ It’s also an ideal time to look at future-proofing your home - planning for any intended decorations or improvements to match your changing needs.

Ramp up your energy savings, and check any available grants on the www.seai.ie website. Start with the basics first - has your attic insulation `drifted,’ i.e. shifted position, meaning it isn’t doing as good a job as possible? Is your immersion heater jacket functioning fully? Do you have adjustable controls on radiators in all rooms? If you’re replacing your boiler – is it time to go for a high efficiency model? However, get good advice first. Expensive mistakes can be made under sales pressure, and it is quite possible that your best investment might require just a combination of basic changes. Would a heated blanket, throw or cushion help to save on electricity running costs?

It’s also a good idea to check your energy usage and there are plenty of gizmos and gadgets available on the market to help you. You might be surprised by the results, and potential savings. However, one good electricity usage test is online and free. Visit www.electricireland.ie. Go to ‘energy services’, and then ‘residential’. Refer to the list on the left side for Appliance Calculators. Go to Web Calculator, and then to Start Calculator. Before you start however, over a week or fortnight note down your average usage. How long and how often do you use the cooker, washing machine, immersion heater, dishwasher and heating? How many lights are switched on and for

Page 14 Senior Times January 2015

Experts in gas boilers and gas boiler replacement Electric Ireland offer a range of expert services to a keep a gas boiler operating safely and efficiently so it won’t let you down. So, when you need to talk about servicing, repairing or replacing your gas boiler always talk to the at Electric Ireland.

Experts in gas boiler servicing Having your boiler serviced annually is a great way to keep your central heating running safely and efficiently. It’s also a great way to ensure it won’t break down at the worst possible time. In fact, servicing your boiler annually can save you up to €150 a year on your heating costs.*

Another 26 reasons to choose us Electric Ireland When it comes to inspecting and servicing your gas boiler, Electric Ireland experts offer the most comprehensive service around. The service includes 26 checks as standard.

how long? Which equipment is left unplugged at night? How often do you re-charge mobiles or iPhones? Armed with information, you can then take the test, which is clearly laid out and easy to use. Bord Gais also has an energy usage guide to help you calculate costs.

Look ahead. You may be mobile now, but if you plan to carry on living in your own home over the foreseeable future, then it makes sense to fit possible future needs into any replacements www.seniortimes.ie

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Smarter Living

or changes. To-day’s mobility aids cover a wide range of items.

You can make home life safer and simpler, with devices and gadgets ranging from easier utensil openers, cooker alarms and long handled garden shears to jug tippers and amplified phones.

The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. One UK survey estimated that 80% of home accidents happen there. If you’re changing your bathroom, think ahead.

Is your shower large enough to take a seat? If replacing your bath/sink fittings or taps, then modern inbuilt bath grab rails or lever style tap controls can be both stylish and useful. It’s also a good idea to look at walk-in showers and wet-rooms.

Specialists in adjustable beds and recliners

Care To Comfort are a new company and specialise in adjustable high/low beds and recliner chairs and are based in Sandyford, Dublin 18. Martin and Yvonne have many years in the service industry and bring a personal touch to the business. ‘Our ethos is respect, reliability and service.

Our promise is we will provide a bed within 48hrs of your placing an order’.

Care to Comfort offer a choice of beds, the standard hospital type and several other designs of beds, including wooden, leather, divan etc. They do not look like hospital beds therefore they fit in more comfortably in your home and are less clinical. All the company’s beds are adjustable at the head and the feet and have the option of a high low mechanism (vertical lift), another option is a built in massage. Most of Care to Comfort’s our beds have a guarantee on the mechanism of five years.

The company’s range of chairs vary from manual recliners to lift and tilt electric chairs. They are available in fabrics and colours of your choice.

Care to Comfort’s beds and chairs can be made to suit all sizes, tall, small large and petite. ‘We treat our clients as a customer and not as a patient. Our aim is to find them the most suitable bed or chair for their particular needs’.

Contact Care to Comfort at their showroom, Unit 3 St Kierans Enterprise Centre, Furze Road, Sandyford Dublin 18.

Telephone: (01) 2959000 Visit the company’s website www.caretocomfort.ie www.laybrook.ie Page 16 Senior Times January 2015

Even if only re-tiling, could you include access for future addition of grab rails in any new designs? Low level threshold entry or slip resistant flooring, plus anti-scald, thermostatic controls are also good safety precautions.

If necessary, could you live downstairs in your home, or fit in a stair lift if necessary? Modern designs are quiet and sleek and cause minimum disruption. These days, there are several design options, helping differing medical conditions.

Apparently half of the over-60s have difficulties in achieving a good night’s sleep. Is this the time to consider sound-proofing, with top of the range double glazing? If your bed has aged along with you, this could be the time for a new one. To-day’s models include adjustable styles, which help with pressure points and muscle pain. Models with inbuilt riser controls can be helpful with a variety of medical conditions, from arthritis to swollen ankles. Finally, could your home fit a mobility scooter? Have you space for a lightweight ramp to the garden garage or drive? Is there somewhere it could easily be stored and accessed downstairs?

Helping people to live an independent life.

Phelans Pharmacy specialises in mobility and homecare products and has a full time occupational therapist in store to ensure all patients needs are catered for in a professional manner. At Phelans you’ll discover one of the most comprehensive ranges of mobility aids and healthcare products In Dublin.

Whether you are a professional healthcare worker, have a relative or friend who uses disability aids or you are looking for something for yourself, we have hundreds of products for you to choose from. From kitchen gadgets to bath aids, walking sticks to Zimmer frames and hoists or wheelchairs, our in store occupational therapist will help you select the mobility aid for your needs. Not to forget Phelans low cost prescriptions.

So why not drop in or call us on (01) 2122662 to see what you could save on your prescription costs.

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As issues around sustainability and affordability continue to gain importance among households across Ireland, a locally-based manufacturer remains one of the most popular choices among families wanting to heat their homes for less. Grant Engineering has been keeping Irish families warm for over 35 years, developing and manufacturing sustainable, reliable and efficient heating solutions and working with a network of certified installers across the country to ensure that the Grant name remains the most trusted name in home heating.

As we grow older, home security becomes increasingly important. One thing you might want to consider is wireless security. There are good deals available with Phonewatch packages. Several specialist sites offer a variety of alarm facilities, wireless and wired, with help summons facility, or neck chain alert for falls.

Hedging your bets can be a useful if unusual, way to protect your home, via the garden. Some police services have produced recommended lists of burglar-deterring plants. First step, however, is to look at hedge heights. Three feet is ideal, as this means that there can be no hiding place for intending burglars from the road or neighbours. When it comes to planting protective shrubbery, prickly barrier hedges are the ideal, especially around windows. Carefully trimmed, they should not cause any damage to the gardener! Holly, juniper, blackthorn, bramble, hawthorn and some pyracantha varieties are good possibilities. Spruce and pine trees are also good protectors, and rose growers will be delighted to hear that shrub roses don’t merely look beautiful – well sited, they can help to protect your home.

www.seai.ie www.assistireland.ie www.phonewatch.ie www.electricireland.ie www.bordgaisenergy.ie www.homecaretechnologies.ie www.dreamlanduk.co.uk Page 18 Senior Times January 2015

FACT BOX

Good security repels burglars, who like signs of easy access. No obvious clean modern alarm, clearly visible family silver, high tech gadgetry or its discarded container, all mark attractive burglary prospects. Putting keys under the mat or under obvious looking garden ornaments (still a common mistake) and over filled letterboxes are obvious give-aways.

Unknown to us, intending burglars may check beforehand.

However, not all security has to be expensive. For example, many people worry about access from sliding doors, even when locked. Give them some extra protection by simply dropping in a slightly shorter steel or strong wooden dowel into the back slider tread. This means that even if the lock is picked, the door will not open wide enough for admission.

Whether you’re planning a new build or looking to make upgrades to a dated pre-existing system, the Grant range of heating products offers a cost-effective, reliable and efficient solution for every household, whether you’re hoping to get more out of oil or introduce renewable technologies into your home. Grant is at the forefront of the heating industry, continually innovating to ensure that their boilers deliver for their customers’ needs. Driven by the knowledge that most homes not connected to the natural gas grid will continue to be heated by oil, Grant has worked hard to develop sophisticated high efficiency condensing technologies that minimise the use or make the most of fossil fuels.

Grant vortex condensing oil-fired boilers

According to Sutherland, it is cheaper to heat your home with oil than LPG and the pioneering range of superefficient Grant Vortex Condensing Oil boilers will ensure you use less oil during operation, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and can help you save money on your heating bills.

The Grant Vortex Condensing Oil Boiler is available in 12kW up to 70kW heat outputs with super high efficiency levels. The patented condensing feature developed by Grant Engineering ensures high performance from your boiler and a lower cost to run than a standard oil-fired boiler. These boilers can help achieve savings of up to 30%* on your oil bill per annum in comparison to noncondensing oil boilers running at 70%* and less efficiency.

By upgrading to a Grant Vortex Condensing oil boiler, households can save up to 30%* on home heating bills if the boiler is over 10 years old, depending on the age and efficiency of the oil boiler. Irish homeowners can also avail of the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme (HRI) which enables the recipient to claim back VAT, subject to terms and conditions. When thinking boilers, think Grant for reliable, efficient and home heating technologies.

*depending on age and efficiency of the boiler

All Grant products are readily available from leading building merchants and hardware suppliers.

Visit www.grantengineering.ie for more information, or contact the Grant Engineering team on 057 9120089.

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RESPECT RELIABILITY AND SERVICE

We are different because we care!

Care to Comfort is a new company, which supply products to assist in a good, and healthy nights sleep. We are specialists in Luxury Electric Adjustable Beds.

We are one of the few companies in Ireland that can supply a Luxury Electric Adjustable Bed with the option of a High-Low mechanism required for a Carer to assist.

Owners Martin Deasy and Yvonne Cassidy are passionate about their products and place the welfare of their customers at the heart of all they do. We can even supply a bed in less than 48 hrs if needed urgently, while the customers own bed is being made to order.

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Entertainment

Rock of Ages Shay Healy catches up with his old chum, the tireless Dickie Rock

Dickie recently appeared on the Gay Byrne RTE TV programme For One Night Only

The catch-cry “Spit on me Dickie” has ensured that Dickie Rock’s name will be forever enshrined as one of the legends of the show band era, when he fronted the fabulous Miami Show band and later in his life as a solo performer.

With his cheeky-monkey face and a cocky smile, Dickie excited the fans beyond anything we had ever seen before.

His friend and competitor Brendan Bowyer was a star, in his role of front man with The Royal Show band from Waterford, but Dickie was different. He stirred the air wherever he walked. I remember looking out the first floor window of Eamon Andrews Studios down on to Henry Street to see a huge throng blocking the streets as they flocked around Dickie, who was trying to fight his way to the studio.

Now seventy five years old, Dickie doesn’t look much different. He retains his slender figure and he has a permanent healthy tan from spending half his time in his second home in Spain. Nor has age daunted Dickie’s spirit and he still conjures up a show that is buzzing with energy and fun. He relishes the fact that he is still an important player in Irish showbiz and being seventy five hasn’t taken a feather out of him.

“It is absolutely fantastic to be seventy five and still singing… to use that old cliché I feel privileged that in my own country I’ve been to able to sing since the late fifties with The Dickie Rock band, then with The Melochords and The Miami Show www.seniortimes.ie

Dickie in his Miami Show Band days. He had moved on from The Miami on the terrible night when the band was ambushed and murdered by a loyalist gang

band.” It could all have passed Dickie by. He was an apprentice welder and thoughts of being a professional never crossed his mind.

“I never set out to be a singer. My mother pushed me to play piano and clarinet. She was very enthusiastic, but I never

Senior Times January 2015 Page 21

“I got an offer from Mick Quinn, when I was with was with the Miami..and I didn’t think I was getting enough, after coming 4th in the Eurovision with “Come Back To Stay.” I went in and I said, I think I should get more money than the rest.”

Dickie, with the cast of Grease The Musical at The Gaiety Theatre and as he rehearses for his role as Teen Angel.

never set out to be a singer. I joined the choir and then somebody paid me, ten shillings for singing and I said to myself, “you get paid for something you like doing. I was an apprentice welder at that time but I swear, I never went after it --it came to me and all through the late Fifties and the early Sixties, all through that time I was playing places like The Ritz in Ballyfermot and The Olympic and that was the beginning of the adulation . I couldn’t understand it, so I’d go and look in the mirror and all I could see was this not-very-good-looking skinny kid from West Cabra staring back at me. I couldn’t understand it, until a friend of mine, Mick Quinn, said to me. ‘when you go on stage Richard you change.. you become somebody else.’ And that’s it. I metamorphose on stage from being an ordinary person to someone who loves being on stage.”

Tales of Dickie’s prowess and popularity began to trickle through to the show band world and his exorable rise continued.

“I went to see Tom Doherty to see would he manage my rock’ n roll group….I was the original rock ‘n roll kid… and he made me an offer to join The Miami as singer, as the vocalist was leaving. Tom asked me would I would I like to take his place.”

Dickie Rock and The Miami went hand in glove, a perfect fit and before long The Miami were in the upper echelons of the greats, alongside The Clipper Carlton, Butch Moore and The Capitol, The Freshmen, Sean Fagan and The Pacific and The Dixielanders from Cork. But things took a another giant leap forward, when Dickie represented Ireland in the 1966 Eurovision and came a creditable fourth, singing Roland Soper’s song, “Come Back To Stay.’ He might as well have won the Eurovision, because from the moment he landed at the airport, there was pandemonium wherever he went and crowds were turned away from full dancehalls, as Dickie brought excitement as his sidekick, to dancehalls all over Ireland. Dickie wasn’t blind, so his next move was also very logical.

Page 22 Senior Times January 2015

“I got an offer from Mick Quinn, when I was with was with the Miami..and I didn’t think I was getting enough, after coming 4th in the Eurovision with “Come Back To Stay.” I went in and I said, I think I should get more money than the rest…you can replace any of them, but you can’t replace me..and I got more money..but then one person stirred it up..I went to Poland with RTE producer Kevin Roche and we won first place in a huge radio competition. When we came home I was met at the airport to be told..the boys in the band have resigned.”

Dickie had moved on from The Miami on the terrible night when the band was ambushed by a loyalist gang, who made them line up along the road before shooting them.

“I was staying in the Galway Bay Hotel and loud knocking on my door woke me to tell me about the lads been killed. That was such an awful thing for those lads. It was a couple of days later I got a bit of a shock when I was told that as they lined up the lads, one of the killers said ‘where’s Dickie Rock.’ I reckon I was lucky.”

The Miami massacre put a damper on the whole country and soon it became apparent that most show bands weren’t going North anymore.

“It was devastating, the greatest tragedy in Irish show business and it did create the beginning of the end of the trips to the North, which used to be so good”. Fine crooner that he is, I have always been curious as to why Dickie never had a shot at America, where his style would have found an eager audience.

“We did the London Palladium in 1978 and this agent wanted me to go to America. He told me to think about it and I went away and thought about it and I told him I wouldn’t do it. He asked me why not and I said, because I’m a man. What do you mean because you’re a man? I said I’d be away from home and my family and if you were away and lonely you could find

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temptation. I love my wife and my family so I said, no”.

I love it. I’ll worry when it stops.”

There are no regrets for Dickie who is still drawing huge amount of punters here at home.

His audience may be advancing in age, but that suits Dickie fine. ‘I love older people. I’m one of them. We have chats about old times and I love singing to them. I was singing at the Over 50s Show in the RDS and the place was packed.. I said “there’s a lot of grey hair here …mine’s never going to go grey!”

I’m going down to Whites Hotel in Wexford for two nights and its already sold out. People say to me, you must be sick of The Candy Store and I say, I’m glad to have it to sing. When people spend their money and women get dressed up for the night, whatever it takes, whatever the punters want, I’ll do it. I’ll sing whatever they want.”

“After 50 years am’nt I so lucky? I’ve got ten years older, now, I’m 75…when I was 65, I used to think how could this be kept going and here I am at 75 still doing it. I feel fantastic. I’ve stopped thinking about how I can still run up fairways and climb hills. It’s fantastic to be able to have my grandson come and see me sing in Dublin and that’s what’s fantastic”.

Dickie owes his svelte figure to sensible eating and none of the hard stuff. And when it comes to his fans in Spain, he is always available.

“I never drank. When I go to Spain I might have a jug of sangria with a meal but I don’t like beer, though I have been known to take a glass of Guinness”.

Dickie adores Spain and his wife Judy, who he met when she was 17 gets great relief from sore bones in the Spanish sun. As for Dickie, a walk on the beach is guaranteed to attract a few Irish punters.“I don’t mind. There are loads of Irish people on the beach. They say things like ‘I hope were not spoiling your enjoyment’. It could be your daughter or it might be your son.

Page 24 Senior Times January 2015

Making fun of himself is not a bother to Dickie. He’s a showman when the spotlight hits him. Being a star is second nature to Dickie now and as they both got older himself and Joe Dolan, one of his great rivals, became friends, even though Dickie conceded that Joe had earned bigger money than him.

“Joe was huge. Made more money than I ever did.”

The last time they played golf together Joe was ailing and Dickie was quick to show a sensitive side to his nature.

“People have an opinion of people in the public eye. Joe and me became closer. He had a different voice to mine so you couldn’t compare them. We played golf when Joe’s health was getting worse and he couldn’t hit the ball out of his way.”

Dickie stepped in and said all bets were off, that this was unfair. Dickie didn’t drink so he left early and Joe said to singer George Hunter, ‘y’know I saw a different side to Dickie Rock today’… and George said that’s how he is all the time.”

Dickie, is appearing in Grease The Musical at The Gaiety Theatre and as he rehearses for his role as Teen Angel, he says there’s not a bother on him for the simplest of reasons.

“I inherited good genes and I don’t have to take anything for anything.”

Lucky him. www.seniortimes.ie

Smile, you never get a second chance to make a first impression It’s never too late to invest in yourself; in your quality of life and your confidence. One of your greatest assets is your smile, yet many Irish people over the age of 50 are reliant on dentures; a legacy of the years when dentists yanked out teeth at the slightest provocation.

The trouble with dentures When you lose a tooth, the gum in the area immediately begins to recede.

Dentures may fit well enough initially, but as the gum continues to shrink where teeth are missing, all dentures become loose and begin to move around in the mouth.

Earlier, dentures were normally held in with hope and inadequate fixative. They just got looser and more unpredictable.

Apples became your enemy; a juicy steak a fond memory. Dentures impede your ability to speak clearly, and the fear of them slipping out unexpectedly becomes an ever-present worry. You become a slave to your dentures.

Dental implants are the answer for people tired of wearing ill-fitting dentures or hiding their smile because of damaged or unsightly teeth.

The Dental Specialists

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Dental implants can change your life Oral Surgeon Specialist Dr. Kadar, of Smile Store – The Dental Specialists in Cork, explains “A dental implant is a little titanium post that is painlessly placed directly into the jaw. It acts like an artificial tooth root, and we can then place a restoration on it – crowns, bridges or dentures. As the implant fuses with your jawbone to provide a stable anchor for replacement teeth, they look feel and function exactly like natural teeth.”

It would seem like an obvious choice to make for denture wearers – but many people are told elsewhere they simply do not have enough bone left in their jaw to be a candidate for dental implants.

Advanced technology helps people who have been turned away elsewhere Smile Store - The Dental Specialists have helped thousands of people in Ireland achieve their bite again. They are one of the few dental practices in Ireland to own an iCat Cone Beam CT scanner, a highly advanced machine that allows the surgeon a 3-D view of the interior jaw structures.

This enables him to perform a bone augmentation procedure, which involves grafting (adding) bone or bonelike materials to the jaw, so dental implants can be placed. Dr. Kadar can help those with very flat or diminished bone, giving new hope to people who have been turned away elsewhere.

Once the dental implants are in place, they will take about six months to fuse with your jaw in a process known as osseointegration, after which time your new customised restoration can be affixed atop the now solidly anchored implants.

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Their standards conform to and often exceed all the most stringent of EU regulations and requirements and aftercare is always available to patients and your health and wellbeing are paramount.

Give yourself the gift of a comfortable smile and you can enjoy meals out with family, unlimited food choices and smile without ever having to worry about your dentures again. Live your life to the full – you deserve it.

Call Smile Store – The Dental Specialists on 021 432 0004 or see smilestore.ie for reviews and testimonials!

Senior Times January 2015 Page 25

Opinion

Sounding off

Jim Collier bemoans the state of our health services, deplores ‘cronyism’ and despairs of the Irish Water ‘fiasco’

There is considerable fear among older people at present that they may have to go to hospital and be subjected to the reduced staffing and other services that they will be confronted with. While great credit has to be given to the medical staff who endeavour to carry out their duties to the highest standards, these are faced with insurmountable problems due to staffing shortages arising from budget restrictions. The biggest fear however for older people, relates to using the emergency services. Many are actually refusing to avail of these services because of their dread of waiting on trolleys for hours, firstly to be attended to and subsequently to be provided with a bed if their situation requires it.

The constant demand on cutbacks to meet restrictive budgets is contrary to good health practices and there is a need for special circumstances to be taken in to account. There is no greater demand for adequate budget expenditure than in the health services, irrespective of the demands for other services such as education, job creation, housing etc.. The health of people young and old is of paramount importance; deterioration of services due to lack of finance should no longer be tolerated.

The huge reduction of full medical cards to doctor only cards has had a massive Page 26 Senior Times January 2015

impact among the older community, with many now reaching the maximum payment of €140 per month. Ireland has one of the largest population of chronic sufferers for such ailments as asthma, with certain inhalers costing almost €100, these same inhalers can be purchased for less than €10 in places such as Portugal. Why is this so?.

Nominations to the Senate

conundrum, there is no evidence of any reform, furthermore it has become blatantly clear that the Senate has become more of a job for the boys, cronies, and failed party hacks. “Jobs for the Boys” has become the byword for certain parties when recommended female candidates have been ignored.

When I left school at the age of 18 back in the 50’s we were used to the expression ‘you will only get a job if you know a politician’ Subsequently I with 50 of my peers from a 20 house council housing estate in County Limerick had to emigrate in our teens --nothing much has changed in 60 years.

It is also disgraceful that so many ‘retired’ civil servants, council staff, politicians etc. walk into perk jobs, quangos, etc. as soon as they go on extraordinary pensions, instead of moving existing civil servants into these jobs and filling the vacancies by recruitment from the live register.

The recent furore concerning nominations to the Senate was not surprising especially after the botched referendum to abolish the Senate when voters did not realise that voting ‘Yes’ could actually mean ‘No’. The follow up was supposed to lead to reform of the Senate! What has actually happened is a

Is it any wonder that the Council of Europe has called for a radical reform of Ireland’s parliamentary system in order to prevent ‘corruption, and misconduct’ by members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. It also notes that there is ‘growing concern’ about corruption in Ireland ! They are not alone. (Irish Times November 20th) www.seniortimes.ie

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Sounding off Sounding off Sounding off

The Irish Water fiasco

€60,000,000 on ‘consultants’ who certainly did not get it right, and this information had to be dragged out of them. When I say ‘them’ I mean Minister Hogan, who has now departed to a better place , and his colleagues in the Coalition. Then there were numerous delays in getting answers to question on charges, allowances etc.

What now needs to be seriously asked is what exactly did the consultants do and still get it wrong? We need to get the facts and figures

The fiasco , known as Irish Water was rushed into existence with obscene haste and massive budget provision which could have been used for more essential services such as the health service. It also came to light that huge bonuses had been paid to staff of its regulator CER under a ‘performance related remuneration scheme’, while at the same time CER has been losing money. It beggars belief that a performance related remuneration scheme could generate bonuses for staff in a loss making situation. Was there no benchmarking in place, if there was, then it surely demonstrates how inadequate the benchmarking system is.

It is amazing how quickly an about face has occurred since the last public protest about the water charges, and the threat of another shortly. How on earth did they get it so wrong? They first of all put the cart before the horse, instead of ensuring that the quality of our water system was brought up to the proper standards, and repairing the massive leaks, they launched Irish Water. They then spent almost Page 28 Senior Times January 2015

Even now there is confusion and massive resistance. Those who will pay the highest standing charges per capita are couples. What they might have done to make it more equitable, was to charge the first and second resident the same amount, children free, and other employed adults in the same household, half the single persons charge. This whole saga has undermined the political structure in the country ,with lack of goodwill and bitter infighting between the parties, and scepticism among the public towards them all.

Budget 2015

disregard advocating any benefits for the older population. These are the people who have suffered most from the severe austerity measures ad there was scarcely any mention of their plight or any political party advocating , that the immense cuts they had endured, would be restored in full. Those who have suffered most are older people living on their own, with a basic pension, which was reduced, their income has been gradually eroded directly and indirectly by punitive measures. They had no increases to look forward to, as they say ‘when they’re gone they are definitely gone’.

These include telephone rental allowance, fuel allowance, medical cards, they have been hit with property tax (totally out of proportion to their dwellings,) and will be further penalised by the water charges. Taking into account the basic income that they have to live on after all deductions, it is no wonder that many are on the poverty line. It is putting so much pressure on them in the twilight of their lives, these stressful measures are already putting their lives at risk. Many groups have suffered from reductions in income, but there is no group with lower net incomes than these.

Compare these miserly incomes after all deductions etc. with the net incomes of our public representatives whose expenses alone often exceed these, where is the fairness? where is the Justice? In our society? Will it take an election to put things right?

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Senior Times.

There was much speculation in advance of the recent 2015 Budget, with particular emphasis on reducing taxation of the higher earners, and almost a total

Do you want to comment on any aspect of public life? If so, email your contribution -- up to 1200 words on one or more subjects – to john@slp.ie Regretfully we cannot accept handwritten or ‘hard copy’ contributions.

www.seniortimes.ie

Health

Vaccination is the only protection

Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Most people recover from flu in 2-7 days. This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Some people may need hospital treatment and a number of people die from flu each winter.

Flu is spread by coughing and sneezing. Anyone with flu can be infectious from 1 day before to 3-5 days after onset of symptoms. This means that you can pass on flu or the flu virus to somebody even before you know that you are sick.

Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains. The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year. This year’s flu vaccine contains the Swine Flu strain which is likely to be one of the common strains causing flu this winter.

The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all those 65 years of age and over those with long term medical conditions e.g. heart or lung disease all frontline healthcare workers including carers Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in late September or October each year. Flu vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe. Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu. The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available GP, Public Health Nurse or pharmacist. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.

Page 30 Senior Times January 2015

Pneumococcal vaccine

If you are over 65 or have a long term medical condition you should also ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia, if you have not previously received it. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for those aged 65 years and older and those over 2 years with long term medical conditions. This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease.

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection. The bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease live in the nose and throat.

A person who carries the bacteria can spread the disease by coughing, sneezing or even breathing.

Pneumococcal disease can cause serious illness including Pneumonia, Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) or Septicaemia (blood poisoning).

You only need to get pneumococcal vaccine ONCE after you reach 65. If you received your first dose of this vaccine before you reached 65 years of age you should receive a second dose at least 5 years after the first dose.

If you are under 65 you may need a second dose if

You have no spleen or your spleen is not working properly, You have a medical condition causing a weakened immune system.

You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine as it does not contain live bacteria.

You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’. GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available from your GP or Public Health Nurse.

www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have. www.seniortimes.ie

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Travel

A hidden gem in the sunny south east

Delta Sensory Gardens: a unique attraction

County Carlow is a hidden gem in Irelands sunny south east.

Set against a beautiful landscape visitors to Carlow will uncover a great holiday experience, exhilarating outdoor adventure, traditional rural life, charming villages, vibrant shopping, superb golfing and a rich cultural heritage.

Carlow boasts a celebrated arts, crafts and cultural community. A short walk away guests can visit Carlow County Museum, a wonderful snapshot of the area’s history and heritage. Carlow Visual Arts centre is host to many prestigious Art exhibitions and exhilarating shows. Also popular with visitors is the unmistakable Dolmen at Brownshill monument renowned for being the largest of its kind in Europe.

Visitors with a taste for the outdoors will appreciate the superb range of activities including the South Leinster Way long distance walking route, shorter walks along the beautiful River Barrow, Kilbrannish Forest and Blackstairs Mountains.

For the green fingered visitor Carlow is synonymous for its many outstanding gardens and award-winning Garden and lifestyle centres. Carlow annually host its prestigious Garden Festival featuring many famous gardening personalities visiting gardens and garden centres in Carlow to depart their knowledge and expertise.

With Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford all just a short drive away, visitors can take in day trips to the historic Kilkenny Castle, the fascinating Dunbrody Famine Ship and the renowned Waterford Crystal Visitor centre. The Seven Oaks dedicated staff would be delighted to help organise your itinerary and make your stay in the South East a truly memorable and enjoyable experience.

Proposal to develop Barrow ‘Blueway’ Waterways Ireland in partnership with Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare and Laois County Councils and Leader companies is proposing to develop a Barrow Blueway, a 112km long shareduse trail for local people and visitors to enjoy along the route of the Barrow Way-Marked Way.

Following on from a number of studies and reports commissioned by various authorities including Waterways Ireland, the local authorities, Leader Partnership companies and Fáilte Ireland a series of interventions and programmes have been agreed and are being implemented by the agencies both collectively and individually. One such initiative is ther development of the Barrow ‘Blueway’.

The Barrow River and Barrow Line of the Grand Canal are waterway corridors of National and International importance and spectacular recreation and leisure amenities. Both the river and canal support a myriad of sustainable activities and sustain a rich and diverse built and natural heritage. It is the intention of Waterways Ireland to develop the existing trackway along the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal and Barrow River as a 112km Blueway. The Blueway would support a myriad of recreation activities, help grow and develop business along the length of the Barrow Blueway. The proposal entails the upgrading of the existing trackway to allow a multi use shared leisure route connecting Lowtown in Co. Kildare to St. Mullins in Co. Carlow, travelling through Lowtown, Rathangan, Monasterevin, Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, Goresbridge, Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins.

Page 32 Senior Times January 2015

Delta Centre was established 1990 from humble beginnings as an adult centre for people with intellectual disabilities. The centre is now a major employer in Carlow town and caters for about 120 adults with disabilities.

The Sensory Gardens which were officially opened in 2007 were the first of their kind in Ireland. Set up as a therapeutic focus and benefit for the centres own people with disabilities and local/national groups. Set on 2.5 acres it is now a major attraction in Carlow for local, national and international visitors. These beautiful gardens have come about with help and dedication of well renowned and some award winning designers, such as Gordon Ledbetter, Mary Reynolds, Rachel Doyle, Elma Fenton and Paul Martin.

The theme for each of the 20 gardens celebrates the use of natural elements such as stone, water and wonderful foliage and plants. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to rest and indulge their senses of touch, taste, swell, hearing and visual delight. The feedback and comments from visitors speaks for itself.

‘An absolute delight to experience such variety, a trill to all the senses, peace tranquillity and inspiration.’

‘Delighted to see all the various elements of nature made so accessible for people of all abilities’ ‘Tour guide brought garden alive by her simple explanations, her enthusiasm, knowledge and love of horticulture, botany and wild life’

Delta Centre and Gardens host many events thought the year, some are well established and very successful over many years. The main events are listed below, but further details can be obtained from our main web site at: www.deltacentre.ie or www.deltasensorygardens.com

• Daffodil Week in March • Summer Sale and Family Fun Day in May • Garden Festival at end of July • Halloween Festival in November • Craft Fair and Lights Display in December.

A new Coffee Shop/Craft Area and Garden Display area in Spring 2015.

For more information, contact: Delta Centre, Strawhall, Carlow, County Carlow, Ireland Tel: +353(0)59 9143527. Email: info@ deltacentre.org www.deltacentre.ie www.seniortimes.ie

We Treasure Your Leisure

Unbeatable Active Retired Midweek Specials Relax, Unwind & Enjoy a Luxurious Escape:

· Award Winning Spa with Sabia Med Sun Therapy Room · 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr · Sumptuous surroundings of the Aaron Lounge · Extensive Leisure Club

· 2 Nights in a Deluxe Room · Full Irish Breakfast · Homemade Scones, Clotted Cream, Tea on arrival · 2 Course Dinner with Tea & Coffee in the Aaron Lounge on 2 Evenings · 35% off Spa Treatments booked to the value of € 50.00 and over · 35% off a round of Golf

Special Offer Price

· 3 Nights in a Deluxe Room · Full Irish Breakfast · Homemade Scones, Clotted Cream, Tea on arrival · 2 Course Dinner with Tea & Coffee in the Aaron Lounge on 2 Evenings · 35% off Spa Treatments booked to the value of € 50.00 and over · 35% off a round of Golf

€ 109.00

Special Offer Price

(€ 218.00 in Total)

(€ 290.00 in Total)

per person sharing

€ 145.00 per person sharing

Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Tullow, Co Carlow Contact: Reservations 059 9180100 l www.mountwolseley.ie

Travel

Prepare to be pampered, re-awaken your senses, free yourself from the pressures of life and experience the Wolseley Spa, illuminated only by candlelight.

Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort is perfectly located for that well deserved break. From the grand staircase, sparkling chandeliers and glistening Italian marble floors, this magnificent Resort was designed for luxury.

Reinvigorate your spirit in the Wolseley Spa, test your skills on the championship golf course or simply spend a leisurely afternoon curled up with a good book in your spacious bedroom.

The deluxe bedrooms and suites at Mount Wolseley are spacious, airy and well appointed offering views over the countryside. Prepare to be pampered, re-awaken your senses, free yourself from the pressures of life and experience the Wolseley Spa, illuminated only by candlelight. Calming music and the worlds finest Elemis Beauty products await you.

Mount Wolseley golf course designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr. features 18 tree lined holes with large landing areas suitable for all standards of golf with water in play on 11 holes. The relaxing environment coupled with the extensive luxurious facilities enable this regal property to offer the complete experience to its guests.

See fantastic offers available to Active Retired in this feature.

Contact: Reservations Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort Tullow, Co Carlow Tel: 059 9180100 www.mountwolseley.ie

Page 34 Senior Times January 2015

The extremely comfortable and well-appointed lounge at Mount Wolseley

www.seniortimes.ie

Days out

Mixing history with chocolates and mines

Four alternative days out are featured here: The Hunt Museum, Limerick, The Butlers Chocolate Experience, Russborough House, and Arigna Mines.

One of Ireland’s finest art and antiques collections

The Hunt Museum, Limerick

The Hunt Museum is home to one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and antiquities, all housed in the elegant 18th Century Palladian style Custom House overlooking the majestic River Shannon. This diverse collection of art and antiquities was acquired by John and Gertrude Hunt over their lifetimes and dates from Stone Age to modern times. The purpose built Exhibition gallery, exhibits a diverse range of important temporary exhibitions from public institutions to private collections. Guided tours of the permanent collection and/or temporary exhibitions are available all year round at no extra cost.

There is a lot more to see and do at The Hunt Museum with exciting year-round programs for adults with diverse interests, needs, and learning styles. A visit to the Hunt Museum Gift Shop offers an interesting and delightful range of high quality gifts, including jewellery, books, greeting cards, silk scarves and ties, gemstones, ceramics, prints, and historical reproductions. Whilst the riverside restaurant, which features a terrace overlooking the beautiful Shannon River and Curragower Falls, provides the perfect location for a leisurely lunch or quick refreshment.

Opening Times: Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm; Sunday 2pm-5pm.

Closed New Year’s Day. Admission free.

What’s on at the Hunt Museum in January and February 2015.

Exhibition: Limerick My City My Home. Monday 24th November - Thursday 12th February.

The Hunt Museum invites you to explore the rich history of our city this winter. A display of historic maps and paintings that depict the wealth of history in our city will be on view in the gallery. The paintings and map will guide you through time from the 17th century right up to the modern city as we know it. Admission free

The T he Hunt Hunt Museum Museum A diverse diverse heritage. heritage. Something Something for for everyone ever yone

Opening T imes: Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 2pm–5pm Times: The Hunt Museum, The Custom House, Limerick T el: 353 61 312833 Web Web : www.huntmuseum.com www.huntmuseum.com Tel: Email: info@huntmuseum.com

www.seniortimes.ie

Exhibition: National Self Portrait Collection. 9 OctoberMonday 15th February 2015 The Hunt Museum will be exhibiting key works from the National Self-Portrait collection until 15th February 2015. The National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland is housed at the University of Limerick. It consists of over 450 works, mostly two dimensional, but the more recent additions have been influenced by multi-media and new technology. Since its foundation in 1983 it has established itself as a major national collection.

The Hunt Museum, The Custom House, Limerick.

Tel: 061 312833. www.huntmuseum.com Keep up to date with the Hunt Museum’s programme of events on their website www.huntmuseum.com

Enjoy the taste of the chocolate tour

The Butlers Chocolate Experience

At Butlers, we have been providing little moments of happiness through chocolate to devoted fans since 1932. Now, you too can visit the home of Butlers Chocolates and discover the magic and verve of a real-life chocolate factory. The Butlers Chocolate Experience is a vibrant tour; packed with nuggets of knowledge and insider secrets.

A real treat for budding chocolatiers or chocolate enthusiasts, a visit to the Butlers Chocolates is an experience for all ages, one that everyone in the family can savour and enjoy. The tour caters for a maximum of 50 participants per session, so there’s plenty of room for everyone to get involved.

Perfect for the young, and young at heart, the Butlers Chocolate Experience is a feast of enjoyment – a golden chance to immerse yourself in our world!

• Watch the chocolate movie • Learn about the origins of chocolate and its history through the ages • See our chocolate artefacts • Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the factory • See how Butlers fudge, toffee, chocolate bars and assortments are produced • Learn the techniques of chocolate decoration • Decorate their own chocolate novelty and bring it home as a treasured souvenir • Taste our delicious chocolate along the way • Afterwards why not enjoy a delicious hot beverage in the onsite Butlers Chocolate Café Find us: We're located in Clonshaugh Business Park, Oscar Traynor Rd, Dublin 17, five minutes from the junction of the M1 & M50.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 35

Russborough House

Opening Hours: Tours (1.5 hours approx.) run at 10.0am, 12.0pm and 3.30pm Monday to Saturday and Bank holidays.

Admission prices: €13.50 per person, €50 for family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). All tours must be booked in advance.

Senior Citizens can avail of a 10% discount or a 5% discount by booking online at www.butlerschocolates.com/book

Russborough House, a ‘must see’ attraction

With award winning guided house tours, an engaging 3D interactive basement exhibition, gorgeous award winning tea rooms, historic horse and carriage rides, stunning handmade artisan crafts, an old forge, cultural sheepdog demonstrations, an 18th walled garden currently in restoration, award winning West Wing accommodated shortlisted for an RIAI Conservation Award in 2014 and a playground and a maze, Russborough House is a ‘must see attraction’ that appeals to families and art and culture lovers alike.

Sheepdog demos Situated just a stones throw from the city centre, our sheepdog demonstrations at Russborough tell the unique story of rural life in Ireland. Come and learn about the intelligence of the border collies as they follow the command of a whistle in varied pitches to lead the sheep around the fields of Russborough. Over looking the stunning views of the Wicklow mountains, the demonstrations will teach you about the culture and life in Ireland in fun, lighthearted ways. Learn about the various sheep, some that date back to pre-christian times, in Ireland. Our host, Michael Crowe has the unique gift of making you laugh while you learn a little more about rural life. These sheepdog demos are ideal for international guests, hen parties or local families on a fun day out in Ireland! They are available daily at 11.30am and 3pm and are priced at only €5 per person.

Horse and carriage rides Walk back in time with us to the beautiful, romantic feeling of wandering through the fields and pathways of this gorgeous parkland on an ancient, historic horse and carriage. You can learn about the history of Russborough as you sit back over lr are hosted by Michael Crowe a local farmer who will make your trip a moment to remember! They are available daily from €20.

Dining The Tea Rooms at Russborough have a wonderful selection of salads, warm food, quiches and soups to award winning coffees or herbal teas. Enjoy a slice of chocolate gateau as

Page 36 Senior Times January 2015

Arigna Mining Experience

your children wind their way through the maze at Russborough. Or if the sun is shining why not treat yourself to one of the many flavours of ice-cream we have on offer! Come and enjoy the tasty flavours of the tea rooms at Russborough.

Musical events Russborough House hosted a number of musical events this year in its series of ‘harmony under the stars’ One of the highlights in August was the appearance of the Celtic Tenors. Visit russborough.ie for the 2015 programme.

The coal tunnel which is part of the ‘experience’ Welcome to the Arigna Mining Experience Arigna Mining Experience centre was developed to preserve the energy heritage of the Arigna Valley and to ensure that Arigna maintains its link with energy themes: past, present and future.

This Energy Centre provides visitors with a unique insight into what coal mining life was like in the Arigna Valley, since its beginning in the 1700's until closure in 1990.

Underground Experience During the underground tour, visitors will experience what it was like to work in some of the narrowest coal seams in the western world. The tour which will last 45 minutes brings visitors to the coal face of the mine, where the methods used to extract coal are demonstrated. Lighting and sound effects in the mine, add to the authenticity of the underground experience.

Exhibition Space Local geology and the formation of coal deposits are explained in our exhibition area, as is the history of energy production.

The exhibition also explains the concepts and operation of different renewable energy systems. Some of these systems can then be viewed in operation in the Energy Centre Building and on the nearby wind farms.

A history tour presents the origins and history of the Arigna coal mines. It explores its impact on the local community, through a photo gallery & displays. The Renewable Energy Demonstrations can be viewed on site in the Centre.

Arigna Mines, Derreenavoggy, Arigna, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon. Tel: 071 9646466. www.arignaminingexperience.ie www.seniortimes.ie

+ Award Winning Guided House Tours | Award Winning Tea Rooms + Historic 3D Exhibition + Parkland Tours | + Horse & Carriage Rides + Sheepdog Demonstrations + Stunning Gardens & Grounds + Handmade Artisan Gifts Let us help you get back on your bike and become more independent

t: + 353 (0)45 865 239 | info@russborough.ie

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Culture

Seasonal cheer and lots for the New Year

Marty Rea and Carolyn Morahan in the Abbey Theatre production of She Stoops To Conquer

Trio con Brio Copenhagen

Maretta Dillon looks at what’s on in the arts over the next few months

Get yourself in the seasonal mood by checking out Vladimir’s Viennese Christmas at an arts centre near you. The Slovak violin sensation will be performing a brand new Christmas programme including pieces from his new album. Also performing on stage will be special guest stars, soprano Claudia Boyle, tenor Sean Costello as well as eight members of Vladimir’s musically gifted family. With celebration music from the Strauss Family, Franz Lehar, Sergei Prokofiev, Christmas songs and carols, you can be guaranteed to exit with that warm fuzzy feeling.

Renowned Irish thespian Barry McGovern joins Trio con Brio Copenhagen for a very special performance of The Seafarer Trio on December 10 in Smock Alley, Dublin 2. Written in 2000 for piano trio and narrator and based on the 10th century Anglo Saxon poem The Seafarer, it depicts a metaphorical sea voyage with sounds of crashing waves, soaring birds and icy landscapes signified by the four performers. This is the final concert from Music Network in 2014 and tickets include a festive reception (musicnetwork.ie).

If panto is not your thing then the Abbey Theatre offers a suitable alternative with Oliver’s Goldsmith’s delightful comedy of deception and seduction, She Stoops to Conquer.

We are promised frocks, wigs and misunderstandings galore.

Until January 31.

The New Year is always a good time for film and 2015 looks set to go. If you’ve already checked out The Imitation Game and you’re still interested in scientists, then The Theory of Everything or more specifically physicist Stephen Hawking is one to watch on January 1. And then there’s Whiplash on

Page 38 Senior Times January 2015

The Hothouse Flowers

January 16. A gifted young drummer at a prestigious music conservatory comes head to head with an inspiring teacher in a drama about power and manipulation. Whiplash is a revelation, a film about music played as a thriller. If you want to see something really satisfying that literally hits all the right notes, look out for this one. Highly recommended.

Whiplash

The Theory Of Everything

The Gleeson family – that’s Brendan, Brian and Domhnall - are out in force in a new version of Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce, one of the first and most anticipated events for 2015.

Playing at The Olympia Theatre from January 10.

Temple Bar Trad Festival takes its now usual place at the end of January with a mixed and various line-up of artists and performers. Celebrating its tenth year, there’s everyone from Donovan, that folk-rock-pop troubadour, local legends Hot House Flowers, the DeBARRA clan from Co. Cork and Sweeney’s Men back again after 50 years in the business. One of the highlights should be Liam O'Flynn, Mícheal Ó Súilleabháin, Paddy Glackin & Neil Martin at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on January 31. See from templebartrad.com for all the details.wintry season.

Events around the Country December 2014 / January 2015

VLADIMIR’S VIENNESE CHRISTMAS Arts Centres Nationwide A musical celebration of the Christmas season from violinist and musical adventurer Vladimir takes to the road.

From Dec 8 Information: facebook.com/VladViolin

TROVE Irish Museum of Modern Art Artist Dorothy Cross selects from the National Collections showcasing the extraordinary treasures within.

Until March 8 Information: imam.ie

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER The Abbey Theatre A new version of Oliver Goldsmith’s perennial sparkling comedy. Until Jan 31 Booking: (01) 87 87 222 / abbeytheatre.ie/booking

QUANTUM FOAM Galway Arts Centre A touring exhibition of work by UK artist Mel Brimfield, who works at the intersection of live art, theatre and film.

Dec 6-Jan 17 Information: galwayartscentre.ie

TRIO CON BRIO COPENHAGEN Smock Alley Theatre Dublin 2 The Seafarer Trio, performed by Trio con Brio Copenhagen with narration by actor Barry McGovern.

Dec 10 Booking: smockalley.com

Quantum Foam

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Film The true story of Jane Wilde and her husband the physicist Stephen Hawking.

Opens Jan 1 nationwide Visit the official site: focusfeatures.com/the_theory_of_everything FOXCATCHER Film Steve Carell is almost unrecognisable in this much praised film about obsession, money and loneliness.

Opens Jan 9 nationwide

WHIPLASH Film Aspiring musician meets ambitious teacher – watch what happens next. Opens Jan 16 nationwide SOUNDTRACKS FOR SUPERPOWERS Town Hall Theatre, Galway Midwinter Festival: Soundtracks for Superpowers – Haydn:Shostakovich Jan 16-18 Booking: (091)705962/ musicforgalway.ie

THE WALWORTH FARCE The Olympia Theatre The family Gleeson feature in Enda Walsh’s absurd comedy.

From Jan 10 Information: 0818 719 330/ ticketmaster.ie

THE MERRY WIDOW Classical Arts Ireland The great Renée Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale who captivates all Paris in Lehár’s enchanting operetta.

Jan 17 Information: various cinema venues / classicalartsireland.com RIVERRUN Project Arts Centre, Dublin A powerful new adaptation by actor Olwen Fouéré of Joyce’s famous ‘book of the night’ Finnegan’s Wake.

Jan 27-31 Information: projectartscentre.ie TEMPLE BAR TRADFEST Dublin Showcasing the full spectrum of traditional and folk music in some of Dublin City's most unique venues.

Jan 28-Feb 1 2015 Information and booking: templebartrad.com

Finally, if you’d like your event to feature in our list of What’s On please email: events.country@gmail.com

Sponsored Competition

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Sudoku

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Three Green Angel Facial Gift Sets To Be Won With This Months Sudoku!

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SUDOKU PUZZLE RULES Solving a sudoku puzzle can be rather tricky, but the rules of the game are quite simple.

A sudoku puzzle is a grid of nine by nine squares or cells, that has been subdivided into nine subgrids or "regions" of three by three cells. See the following diagram:

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The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell, in such a way that: Each horizontal row (shown in pink) contains each digit exactly once Each vertical column (shown in yellow) contains each digit exactly once Each subgrid or region (shown in green) contains each digit exactly once

This explains the name of the game; in Japanese, sudoku means something like "numbers singly".

Solving a sudoku puzzle does not require knowledge of mathematics; simple logic suffices. (Instead of digits, other symbols can be used, e.g. letters, as long as there are nine different symbols.)

In each sudoku puzzle, several digits have already been entered (the "givens"); these may not be changed.

The puzzler's job is to fill the remainder of the grid with digits – respecting, of course, the three constraints mentioned earlier.

A "good" sudoku puzzle has only one solution.

Sudoku winners from last issue.

Padhraic Faherty Barna Tom Shorthall Ashbourne Margaret Nolan Newbridge

Co. Galway Co. Meath Co Kildare.

Deadline for this issue entries 21st November 2014.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 41

Relationships

A New Year, A New Partner?

New Year's resolutions that need a purpose to keep you on track, such as getting fitter, getting out and about more, or attending challenging courses or lectures you've not managed to complete before often need a powerful goal to keep you motivated. And why not try to find a new partner?

Aine O’Connor has been looking at ‘the dating game’.

Two of my immediate friends were recovering from cancer, one is in treatment and another died two months ago, having just met the love of his life. It could make you wonder why so many people over 50 subscribe to Groucho Marx’s maxim of second marriages (hope over experience).

Maybe because at our age it’s easy to forget why you gave up on finding romance last time. But when you get back the usual spring in your step and find yourself humming. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think!). It could be time to look for a new, upbeat and lively-looking forum.

‘You have to get into the right frame of mind,’ says Kevin*, 52 from Dublin, adding that it can take time. ‘January last year we split up after 28 years together, so I was going through different emotions like “what did I do wrong here” .

“It takes a while before you get over the whole breakdown,” he tells Senior Times. "We’re lucky in that we have oldish kids in their 20s; but the relationship became stagnant and, me being a typical bloke, plodded along with ‘we’ll be grand’ so she left.

"We’ve been talking since; for a while I was livid, didn’t want anything to do with her; but because of the kids you’re better off forming some sort of relationship where you can talk. I’ve a load of brothers so I got good family support and over time you accept it; you still have to get up in the mornings, there are still two kids living in the house, but now the youngest is talking about going to London," he says of the intervening year.

Page 42 Senior Times anuary 2015

www.seniortimes.ie

Using a social media site for the first time for romance sets its own challenges from not being familiar with the technology to being too available to those you don't like.“I know I’m no George Clooney; but some approaches are from people who wouldn’t get a kick in a stampede. Others are very nice."

Many websites sends someone an icebreaker such as‘ what do you like to do on a Saturday night?’ "But then I found I got loads of replies from people I hadn’t contacted. Looking for someone around the same age as myself I still got replies from much older women; I’m aiming for someone my own age to have something in common with them,” he says.

Beyond that, as a man newly returned to the tender mercies of unfamiliar women, what are your expectations: “Someone who looks good, who takes care of themselves, you can have a decent conversation with."

He says you quickly master the technical skills needed to diplomatically deal with keeping whoever you'd prefer to keep at arms length, and it can help to have platonic online chats while you emotionally adjust to the other relationships affected by your loss.

“I think my profile pic helps, it’s of me and the dog with a stupid hat on; it’s a good starting point for the ‘nice dog’ conversation,” he says of starting chats online, and when you've progressed to an actual date and the etiquette of money he says: “I’ll usually be a gentleman and pay for the dates, McDonald’s isn’t that expensive,” at which point happily, he grins. “No, you still have to do the gentlemanly thing, but you’ve to arrange a week when you have a few bob.”

On the less obvious things you’re taking on the date along with a carefully considered aftershave, he says: “I don’t want any more kids, that’s part of a relationship I don’t really want.

And although you wouldn’t be throwing yourself in there on the first date, the ‘tell me a bit about yourself’ would have the ‘no kids’ thing repeated fairly often during the first few conversations and dates.”

He says he is, and yet isn’t, looking forward to the rest of the conversations implied in his new life: “All my friends were my ex-wife’s friends too; so in terms of taking a new woman out with them, or bringing her back to the house, the kids would have a problem with it. If you get to the stage where you really like each other, there are now all these little scenarios that this time last year I didn’t think I’d be in.”

arranged for the cinema or something in town (about 20 miles away so they both have to drive home) that’s one issue, but getting your point across that money’s tight that week by being begrudging on the night out is quite another. “I did date for a while after my marriage broke up, but that ended very badly, so it put me off for a long time,” she says.

Even though she decided on online dating to avoid some of the pitfalls (such as they’re actually still married so any new relationship is on the QT and the skids from the start), the lack of cop on from apparently sane, well-adjusted, adult men temporarily put paid to any suspension of disbelief.

“I still like to know that I like someone on sight, that it’s easy to talk to them over the course of a date, that there’s something in the eyes that gives it a bit of a spark,” she says.

Finding all of that can be rare enough and if they ruin it all with ridiculous texting about how they’re naked right now, or that the flagstaff needs burnishing, means that the poker joker gets blocked or defriended on the spot. “They can ruin something in seconds that had been promising up till then.”

By contrast, Ciara*, (mid 40s, Dublin and looking for someone in their 50s) pictures someone whose family and work commitments include school-going kids.

Finding the right balance between asking them to arrive on the first date with their bank statements, divorce papers, and references from their employers all in a folder and just accepting every positive thing at a time can be wearing, she says, but still is confident that sooner or later she’s going to find the right person for her.

“I initially got fed up with online dating as one was a good deal older in person than his profile pic suggested and arranged to meet another guy in a local pub and he was awkward, firstly asking me if I wanted a drink – we were in a pub, what else would I want in the public lounge? – and then he started foostering with his wallet making it a big deal that he was buying the drinks.”

“It's quite difficult,” she tells Senior Times. “Social groups at my age are mainly women, and a lot of men openly wonder if you're gay now if you seem happy on your own. I’m so busy [not just with Nude Food, but also with Dungarven’s Food Festival committees and other business community promotions] that I haven’t had time to devote to it.

“I’ve been on my own eight years now and you get used to it.

But I wouldn’t mind meeting someone who’s busy at weekends too, we could go for a few drinks or to the cinema midweek.”

It’s the lack of cop on that’s stopped any relationship developing recently, she says, adding that if the date is

Page 44 Senior Times January 2015

Louise Clark of Nude Food, Dungarvan, agrees that your expectations change in your 50s. She runs a successful restaurant and catering business, and like Ciara, has put dating for its own sake on the back burner.

“There’s a great singles group in Dungarven, I do know of a couple who met through online dating and are still together. In www.seniortimes.ie

THE SCIENCE OF STRONG BONES

www w.osteocar .

The Ost available

Ireland people want to know your history. Here there's more of a networking of family or friends, ‘oh you know so and so’, I don't have that here, which is great because I stand on my own.”

She says that the bold ones always come forward, but: “they're the ones you don't necessarily want. Ten years ago when I worked for other people, I knew a lot of professionals, but I was hindered by the fact that I was working for someone, the professionals’ social groups were established – it's a bit like not going to university, you miss that social streaming.

Win a midweek break for two at the Quality Hotel Clonakilty, Co. Cork

“But when you're lucky enough to have lived a life, you’re not looking for a ‘date’ nor a sexual partner. It’s more about having fun and enjoying company. I’m not sure I want to be tied down to someone waiting with my slippers.

“I certainly don't want someone who’s walking around being old; I met someone who described himself as nearly 60; but in your 50s you don't think of yourself like that; in London you have to be in your late 80s before someone starts calling you old.

“For now I am happy being me myself, I think I became happy when I recognized that I was halfway through my life; it made the second half worthwhile knowing it was going to be better.” * Both names have been changed.

Don’t forget to look at the Senior Times Meeting Place in this and every issue.

OlderDatingAgency-Ireland.com - the online dating site where genuine singles meet and form relationships.

OlderDatingAgency-Ireland.com is the leading dating agency in Ireland for the over 40s, with over 70,000 members. It’s getting bigger too, with thousands of new people joining every month.

Wherever you are in Ireland, with so many members, there will be someone close by. In fact,if you want to find your nearest matches, you can easily search for people by postcode.

The majority of our members are between 40 and 60, and with such a large number of people registered, it’s the main senior site in Ireland to find a partner or just make new friends.

If you want to register on OlderDatingAgency-Ireland.com, it’s free. This means you can upload your profile and photo, send winks, and browse other member’s profiles without having to pay anything at all.

The hotel is located in the heart of Clonakilty

The town of Clonakilty is one of the most attractive in the region

On offer for the prize is two nights bed and breakfast with one evening meal for two adults. You can stay anytime midweek from Sept – June. The prize includes full access to the Leisure Club, and there is also a number of treatment rooms for a little bit of extra indulgence.

The Quality Hotel is located in the heart of Clonakilty. It is an ideal base for touring the West Cork region which is blessed with some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery. Just a 45 minute drive from Cork city, it is also a place where guests can relax and slow down.

The hotel has a large number of en-suite, spacious rooms on the ground floor, all with flat screen TV/DVD player, mini fridges, and tea/coffee making facilities and free WiFi. Guests can enjoy both traditional and innovative cuisine in Lannigan’s Restaurant or Oscar’s Bar. Regular evening entertainment is also provided in the hotel. A three screen cinema and extensive free car parking completes the complex.

Throughout the year we offer special deals and programs for Over 50’s. We also provide packages to Active Retirement groups, which can be tailored to meet your specific group requirements.

Please contact us directly on 023 88 36400 or visit the website www.qualityclonakiltyhotel.com/grouptours for further information and special offers.

OlderDatingAgency-Ireland.com operates a two-tier membership system. Those who pay for a membership upgrade receive a number of different and unique features.

To enter the competition, simply answer the following question: The Clonakilty region is the birthplace of:

OlderDatingAgency–Ireland.com is confidential and secure, free to join and with so many success stories you too could find that special someone.

Send your entries to Quality Hotel competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email john@slp.ie Deadline for receipt of entries is January 20th 2015. First correct entry drawn is the winner.

These enhanced features include chatting online with instant messenger, sending and receiving private messages, being able to view who’s looked at your profile to see who’s interested in you, adding a number of photos, and the ability to chat via video and creating and watching video profiles.

Page 46 Senior Times January 2015

Michael Collins Enda Kenny Daniel O’Donnell

www.seniortimes.ie

An Idyllic Retreat

A converted farmhouse and coach house in Blackrock makes the ideal environment for your group Claire Roche can remember growing up in Woodford House in Blackrock when all around her was rolling fields and hills and you can still clearly make out the original farmhouse and coach house as you enter off Booterstown Avenue.

‘Over the years the house was renovated and extended by my father and brother to what it is now, but now that they and I have all moved out I wondered what I could do with all these rooms and this unique atmosphere’ commented Claire.

So Claire decided to start promoting Woodford House as an ideal venue to host activities and events, everything from recitals, poetry readings to meditation weekends. She even now hosts day workshops on Yoga, Aura Soma, Art and Book Clubs.

‘The beauty of Woodford is that we can take up to 24 people at any time and I can leave them to have their meetings without any distractions, even the kitchen/dining is large enough to host this amount and we have planning and public liability insurance’. ‘Guests can bring their own caterers in and sit out in our secluded garden if they wish’.

Claire is also a singer/Harpist and has hosted recitals in the specially designed music room adding to the tranquillity of Woodford (she even has a performance in the National Concert Hall on March 13th next) For more information about booking your holistic, creative workshop, recital or just a simple get together please contact Claire Roche at

Woodford House, Booterstown Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin (01) 283 5135 087 289 5525 www.aboutwoodford.com

Also restored

Claire and her family have also restored Carrowcrory Cottage in Co. Sligo, where John Willmott aka ‘Woodland Bard’ has grown a 300 Tree Labyrinth and hosts small groups who walk the labyrinth and are treated to storytelling, music and song. www.carrowcory.com Page 48 Senior Times January 2015

www.seniortimes.ie

Luxury for less

Travel

Nothing beats a top hotel for comfort, service and peace. You do indeed get what you pay for, whether it’s a group trip, short break or on a shopping or spa treat. The good news is, that if you know how, when and what to book, then luxury can be affordable. And even better news – the over 50s are in an excellent position to enjoy luxury for less, as they can holiday off-peak, off season and book well in advance.

Comfort and the city..

If you’re planning a city break, are flexible over dates, and not commuting or working in the city centre all day, then why not consider staying in a top chain hotel – on the city outskirts? The Hilton Airport Hotel, at Northern Cross, is just 20 minutes from Dublin city centre, with very good bus routes. Ideal for a comfortable city break, if you’re flying, you could also add on a short Dublin break before or after your trip,

The hotel is well appointed, and upgrades can get you even more luxury. With an excellent restaurant, The Burnell Bar and Grill, (where BBQ Spare Ribs and the Hilton Burger are favourites!) there is regular live music, an extensive room service menu and an evening shuttle bus runs to nearby Malahide. Further afield, you can visit Ardgillan House and its gardens, Newbridge House and in Howth, as well as great views and seafood.

Enthusiasts will enjoy the Transport Museum.

At the time of going to press, the hotel was offering a wide variety of online deals.

Country house luxury Most people’s idea of luxury includes location, comfort, peace, food, service and plenty to see and do. The recently re-opened The Lodge at Ashford Castle more than meets all requirements. It has the views, the comfort, relaxed luxurious style, superb food and something for everyone to enjoy, plus the range of attractions that Connemara has to offer. It also has the added bonus in that the hotel positively welcomes over 50s guests – and their pets!

Staying in a top class hotel may not be as expensive as you think, as Lorna Hogg discovers

The Lodge itself, now owned by the international Red Carnation Group, has retained its Victorian design, but its bedrooms are modern, based around a courtyard. Food is superb, with fresh, local ingredients, some even foraged, and cooked to order. It is served in the relaxed Quay Bar, or award winning Wilde’s at the Lodge Restaurant. Another must- eat spot is nearby Cullen’s at The Castle.

Guests eventually have to get some exercise after all that eating, and one of The Lodge’s major advantages is that that they can enjoy activities on the Ashford Castle Estate. If you want to try your hand at fishing, take a lesson. Golf, archery, clay pigeon shooting, bike riding, and river cruises are all on offer. One of the most unusual activities, however, is hawking.

The Irish School of Falconry is sited here, and the grounds are an ideal place to try your hand, or rather, your suitably gauntleted fist as a bird perch during a walk. Activities range from around €45 up to €70 for individual hawk walks.

A` Young at Heart’ package, for 2 people sharing, includes 2 nights full B&B, a welcome drink on arrival and a screening of The Quiet Man, dinner on one night in Wilde’s Restaurant, a Quiet Man Tour with a local guide, focusing on Cong, where the story was filmed. Deals start from €329, with 3 night packages from €414. The Lodge also has a variety of other deals. www.hilton.com/wintersale www.thelodgeac.com

Remember..

Book in advance – and the further ahead, the better the deal. Look out for all inclusive deals, with meals, choice of activities. They can offer the best value.

Get better value with a longer break. If you have to travel a distance, then think about staying for three nights, instead of two, and using your hotel as a base for regional sightseeing.

The stunning view from the window of the Award-winning Wilde’s restaurant at the Lodge at Ashford Castle

Look for off-peak deals. Early spring, school holidays, winter months are ideal, especially if your hotel or chosen area has plenty of non weather dependent activities.

Consider upgrading your usual room choice. If you’re going off-peak, then why not consider treating yourself to a De-Luxe room, or even a suite? You could be more likely to get a really quiet room that way.

Check websites for top hotels, for good value, as well as cheaper alternatives. You might be surprised at some deals on offer.

Look out for over-50s deals.

New hotels, especially the luxury variety, often have very good deals, to create interest.

Become a regular. As well as discounts, points schemes, (which may come from on-line bookings), when you become a hotel regular, you become a valued customer, with access to special offers and deals.

The recently re-opened The Lodge at Ashford Castle more than meets all requirements. It has the views, the comfort, relaxed luxurious style, superb food and something for everyone to enjoy.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 49

Berry stylish seasonal colours

Fashion

Mairead Robinson shares some style tips for this season.

Dark berry colours are the favourite shades on the catwalk for winter 2014.

Think fruit of the forest, mulled spice wine, blueberry, blackberry and a touch of red current. These shades are a welcome break from the floral and mono-chrome look of the past summer.

They are warmer and more suitable for the winter months and of course when coupled with the right cut they are also generally more flattering for the fuller figure.

While red and black are perennially popular for the Christmas season, these warm berry colours have a place in your wardrobe also.

If you have not invested in a new winter coat or jacket yet, you might notice that these colours dominate in new season collections.

Capes have made a big comeback this winter, and this is great news on so many levels. They are so easy to wear, and be thrown over a dress with boots, a trouser suit, and both formal and casual attire to add warmth, style and colour to any outfit.

When you couple a cape with good leather gloves and handbag, you have a seriously stylish winter outfit that can take you anywhere.

Dubarry Inverin coat from Arnotts

Page 50 Senior Times January 2015

A cape will also hide all the bumps and bulges and can be worn by almost any shape and age, from petite to pregnant, skinny to statuesque.

Of course now that we are into the party season, we want to have several outfits that will bring us to lunches, dinners, cocktail parties and family get-togethers. What to wear under that cape this season? Well while separates now form the backbone of most modern wardrobes, I am a great fan of www.seniortimes.ie

the dress. A great dress can make you look polished and stylish in an instant. One piece dressing just needs shoes and some good jewellery to finish it off. The right dress can add height, broaden your shoulders, and skim your hips. You can vamp it up, play it down, or simply enjoy the pure feminine pleasure in a swish of fabric or a nipped-in-waist. If you need to cover up, consider a cardigan for a softer option to a jacket, and keep the buttons discreet- small pearl buttons are always great.

Dubarry Swift coat from Arnotts

The little black dress For evening wear, the little black dress is most women’s favourite choice. When you need to make an impression, nothing disguises pounds or adds height and general allure like the little black dress. However it is not the only option as dark colours are just as versatile as black and often more flattering, particularly to vary pale or freckly skins with light hair colour. Remember what we said about this seasons’ warm berry colours and check out plum, midnight blues, garnet reds and chocolate browns. Smoky greys, metallics and pinks also deliver glamour in the evenings because they make a strong statement.

A few tips when choosing a dress to suit your body shape:• • • • •

A lines are the best hip minimisers.

A curvy figure looks best in fabrics that drape rather than cling.

Heavy arms can be disguised by slim (not tight) threequarter length sleeves.

The best necklines for big bosoms are V-neck, boat-neck or square. Avoid round-necks, high necks and turtle-necks.

An all-over print keeps the eye moving and disguises a multitude of figure faults!

Besides the party season social activity that goes with this time of year, many of us like to get out and get walking and enjoying the bracing winter countryside. Walking is of course the best way to get rid of those extra pounds that we seem to pile on during the winter months and particularly during the Christmas season. Investing in good outerwear, warm and comfortable jackets, scarves and boots is a great way to tempt yourself out of doors on dry days for a good walk.

Stylish jackets are not so easily found, but I was interested to see that the renowned Dubarry range have now come to Arnotts stores. Inspired by their home in the west of Ireland, Dubarry have created a unique range of clothing and accessories to equip you for any outdoor activity. Dubarry as a brand have a strong heritage, love of fine craftsmanship and dedication to customer service. Checkout their current Winter collection at Arnotts where each piece is designed for style, practicality and comfort with prices starting at €175

Peter O’Brien oversized felt hat from Arnotts

When the party season comes to an end, and you want to get out and about in the brighter January days, a good jacket will be all you need to get you out the door!

And don’t forget to invest in a comfortable pair of walking shoes or boots. In the next issue we will be looking at what is new for Spring/Summer 2015, and what to wear for the new year’s weddings.

Peter O’Brien pleat gloves from Arnotts

Senior Times January 2015 Page 51

Cosmetics and Beauty

Looking your best in the worst weather Pantene have produced a new Breakage Defence range of shampoo, conditioner, tonic and intensive conditioner which are scientifically designed to protect the hair from root to tip.

Mairead Robinson has some tips and gift ideas for the party season

While the Christmas and New Year period is usually a very pleasant time to spend with family and friends, the winter months can be hard on our skin and hair, making looking glamorous that much more difficult. The first thing to remember is to moisturise well morning and night, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to use lotion or oil on the body after the shower. Locking in moisture to the skin is essential to avoid skin becoming dry and flaky, and of course drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Most people now will moisturise their face and body, although generally not as much as they should do however how many think about their hair? Wind and rain - on top of colouring and hairdryers - plays havoc with our hair often leaving it dry and brittle, especially as we get older. Frazzled lengths and ends can lead to tired-looking broken hair and seeing a tangle of broken hair left in your brush is depressing. Pantene have Page 52 Senior Times January 2015

La Roche-Posay is a real leader in products for sensitive skin and one of their latest products â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Redermic AntiAgeing creams combine science with sensitivity.

produced a new Breakage Defence range of shampoo, conditioner, tonic and intensive conditioner which are scientifically designed to protect the hair from root to tip. The result is strong, shiny hair with more fullness to brave those winter elements.

So many people are now finding that they have sensitive skin, and a lot of products just do not work for them as they have a bad reaction such a rash, when they use them. La Roche-Posay is a real leader in products for sensitive skin and one of their latest products â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Redermic Anti-Ageing creams combine science with sensitivity. They use a unique combination of pure Retinol with an exclusive Retinol booster complex to enhance efficacy of the formula, while maintaining suitable tolerance on the skin. The face and eye creams tackle all the problems we associate with ageing skin, wrinkles, irregular skin tone, premature age spots and dark circles. This is great news for people with sensitive

skin, finding a product that really works, and does not cause an adverse reaction on their skin.

Those who visited the Over 50s show at the RDS in Dublin last October might have come across a stand promoting a new anti-ageing cream called Renu 28.

This is causing quite a storm in the cosmetic world as it guarantees to provide dramatic anti-ageing results in 28 days. I know many people purchased the cream at the show and I would be very interested to hear how you got on. I am giving it a trial myself over the month, and I will share my experience of it with you in the next issue.

We should all be looking fabulous and much younger by the New Year if it proves to deliver on the promises.

So, do email me at mairead.seniorbeauty@gmail.com if you are using this and let me know how you found the results.

www.seniortimes.ie

And so to Christmas itself, and while we can prepare ourselves for an enjoyable social whirl, we do need to think about gifts for friends and family. There are so many really attractive gift-sets of cosmetics and beauty products on the market this year, that you could solve nearly all your present buying choices in this department alone! The great thing about the gift-sets is that they generally represent excellent value for money; as the products combined generally work out costing substantially less than they would if you bought them individually.

Some brands also offer a small bag of samples or miniature size products when you buy a large gift set, so you get a little pressie for yourself too!

Steam Cream

Don’t forget the men in your life when looking a cosmetic gift packs too – there are some excellent “manly” packs available with shaving products and skin care that most men like to use these days.

And if you, or somebody in your family likes the glamorous look, there are some fabulous products from NYX available including eye shadow and lip colour kits, complete with mirror and applicator.

These sets are really popular at the moment and are available for a limited time only. I love the Smokey Eyes kit which is available at just €12.99 and makes a really acceptable gift.

Nivea Men Routine If you, or somebody in your family likes the glamorous look, there are some fabulous products from NYX available including eye shadow and lip colour kits, complete with mirror and applicator

Of course you should not forget to treat yourself as well as buying for family and friends and as soon as the New Year celebrations are over, it is time to think about pampering and spoiling yourself a little. If you are off to the sun, or braving the Irish winter, you will need to care for your skin. While selecting gifts for others, why not pick up a vanity bag from Nivea containing shower gel, deodorant and moisturising cream? This will take good care of you wherever you are spending the next few weeks! This is perfect to bring with you if you plan a short trip away. Nivea has lots of other lovely stocking fillers for both the men and women in your life, as well as for yourself this season, so check out their attractive and affordable gift packs.

A very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year to all our readers, and I look forward to sharing beauty and pampering ideas with you throughout 2015.

www.seniortimes.ie

Senior Times January 2015 Page 53

Travel

Attractive Costa del Sol apartment available for summer and winter renting

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located in a mature area of El Pilar Residencial near El Paraiso /Bena Vista on Costa del Sol, 6 miles from the interesting resort of Estepona and 4 miles from San Pedro. Average temperatures in the area for January, February and March are a pleasant 15degs, but it is not uncommon for them to reach the early twenties.

There are numerous amenities , restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance and the public bus stops nearby, to Estepona or Marbella , removing the necessity to hire a car. If you wish to have a car there is ample secure parking in the gated complex. A lift services the two upper floors, and the apartment is on the first floor up and suitable for infirm if needed.

Shared enclosed pool at ground level, with sun beds and showers the apartment is comfortable and clean, and the complex is fully occupied, mostly by young families who are locally employed.

Specifications: There are two double bedrooms, each has new king size beds with memory foam/sprung mattresses. Duvets are supplied for winter lettings, linen and blankets all year round. The lounge has two new sofas, one of which is also a double sofa bed, only for occasional guest use. A dining table and 6 chairs, plus occasional tables and lamps are also located in this room, which opens onto an East facing terrace.

Page 54 Senior Times January 2015

The sun shines onto the terrace until 1pm daily, and onto the pool area then until sundown.

Two full bathrooms, with power showers, one bathroom has walk in shower, other has shower over bath.

Modern kitchen fully equipped for cooking, dishwasher & washing machine, fridge freezer, microwave.

Air conditioning throughout living room and bedrooms - hot and cold.

Wi-Fi and landline can be used by renters, (landline for local outgoing calls only please) Remember you can receive unlimited incoming calls during your stay from family and friends globally. You can also book restaurants locally without need for roaming costs.

All UK and Irish TV channels are all inclusive in your rental price, plus Sky Sports and movies as is free WIFI, and landline for local calls.

A charger/speaker unit is supplied for iphone4 and iPhone 5 Extras by arrangement: Airport pick up and drop Fridge stocked to your requirements Day trips to main cities Golf bookings & recommendations.

Rates The Cork based owner is willing to negotiate favourable rates for anyone interested in renting for a few months at a time. Weekly rates are €400 – €550

depending on season.

For enquiries: Mob 086 2552445 Email: marian@rose-property.com

Getting there If you are hiring a car, Bena Vista is about a one hour journey along the continuous 340 motorway which is picked up soon after leaving the airport.

Alternatively you can take the express bus from outside the airport terminal to Marbella bus station costing €7.15, and take taxi or Estepona bus from there, which stops at El Pilar. Last bus leave airport 22.30 for Marbella Bus Station.

Another option is to take the train from the airport to Fuengirola, then take the 220 bus, from the station across the road, to Marbella. Taxi, car hire or owner may be able to arrange private collection for €85 and delivery to apartment front door.

The local bus is then quite reliable and convenient for Estepona, San Pedro, Puerto Banus and Marbella for daily trips.

The mature area of El Paraiso /Bena Vista is well known and liked by Irish families since the 1970’s for golfing and sun holidays, due to the abundance of cafes, shops, restaurants & golf all within easy reach. The area is now circled with 5* hotels such as Senator Banus (directly opposite), Villa Padierna, Kempinski, Guadalmina and Las Dunas.

This apartment is in El Pilar Residencial, on Calle Sabinnillas, directly behind the large Golfriends, and near El Paraiso Hotel. www.seniortimes.ie

Remember: the glass is as important as its contents

WineWorld

Mairead Robinson suggests some wines for the festive season.

Go for a red wine glass with a good wide base tapering in towards the top to accentuate the wines’ bouquet. White wine glasses should be slimmer, but also tapering in at the top.

One time of year when we all like to raise a glass or two of bubbles, is certainly around Christmas and New Year. Champagne is usually the number one choice, but increasingly good sparkling wines such as Cava and Prosecco and my current favourite, Cremant De Loire, are being enjoyed as much for taste as for cost. But whatever your preferred sparkling wine, do you pay much attention to the glass you are drinking it out of?

I was fascinated by an article I read recently which told how the first champagne glasses were produced in France in the 18th century and were modelled on Marie Antionette’s breasts!

These small flat bowl-shaped glasses did little to enhance the reputation of the Queen of France’s figure, and did even less to enhance the drinking of champagne. The problem with these shallow coupes of course is that they don’t retain the bubbles or the aroma.

Nowadays the tall narrow flute is favoured for this purpose, and the best flutes will taper in like a tulip towards

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the top of the glass to keep the sparkle and aroma right under your nose. Why pay for good sparkling wine only to see it go flat and loose those delicious “buttery notes” before you have had a chance to finish the glass? And of course you must make certain that your glasses are sparkling clean and dry because the bubbles will disappear if they are dirty or wet.

And so, what to put in your flutes this celebratory season? As I mentioned Cremant has been enjoyed in France long before the rise of Champagne, and Cremant de Loire is a fine, crisp, elegant Sparkling wine with a soft delicate mousse. It is made using the traditional method in the beautiful Loire Valley. And I found some in my local Aldi priced under €11, and picked up a number of bottles as I feared by the time Christmas arrived and word spread, this would rapidly disappear off the shelves!

So as to what wines to enjoy both with food and as an aperitif over the party

season, I am sticking with the Old World this year and returning to Spain for my favourite white wine, a Verdejo from Valdimojenes. Priced at just €15.99 this wine is an excellent example of a great Verdejo from 60 year old vines planted in clay soil in the heart of Rueda.

The grapes are macerated for 5 hours in the press and aged for three months and resulted in a creamy light straw colour with tropical fruit aromas and a very pleasant aftertaste. For red wine I recommend their Tempranillo from Senior Times January 2015 Page 55

Rubero del Duero, also priced at €15.99 which is an intense silky wine, a great foil for the traditional Christmas lunch, full bodied and powerful.

If you are a fan of good Bordeaux, you will be pleasantly surprised with the quality of Chateau Timberlay Superior Bordeaux, a soft and full-bodied wine of great structure with a complex nose of soft fruit. Oak aged with blend of Merlot(70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). This wine represents very good value at €19.99 – a real Christmas treat. For white Bordeaux lovers, the 50% Sauvignon, 50% Semillon, is an elegant, peachy floral wine of depth and character. Once again, there

Page 56 Senior Times January 2015

is great value for the quality of the wine, with the white Bordeaux priced at just €15.00

The history of Chateau Timberlay is in itself fascinating as the Origin goes back to the 14th century to the 100Years War when Aquitaine was under English domination. The Chateau was destroyed during the French Revolution, later rebuilt, and has been completely renovated since the second World War. Returning to the subject of wine glasses, having good glasses will certainly enhance your enjoyment of your favourite wine. You could think of buying a set of good glasses as a very

acceptable Christmas or birthday gift, so drop hints in plenty of time! Remember to go for a red wine glass with a good wide base tapering in towards the top to accentuate the wines’ bouquet. White wine glasses should be slimmer, but also tapering in at the top. And remember never to fill your glass past the widest part of the glass to allow the wine to open and to breath. Filling a wine glass to the brim is a real waste, no matter how thirsty you feel. You can always come back for a second glass if you feel it is not enough.

Enjoy your wines this festive season, and have a very healthy and happy New Year.

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Pets

Ask the vet

I have a young golden Labrador bitch called Sam. She is 6 months old, very friendly and loves people. The problem is that when anyone comes to the door she is very excitable and runs around, jumps on them and the family, and also she loses control of her bladder, and leaves dribbles of pee all over the floor and on whoever she jumps up on. I’ve heard you can get tablets for bitches who have a problem with incontinence. Someone told me I should have her neutered. In other circumstances when everything is quiet her house-training is good and she rarely has accidents.

It’s unlikely that tablets will help in your case. What Sam probably needs most is time and training. She sounds emotionally immature and the odds are that while she hasn’t yet gained full control of her bladder. That’s why under conditions of excitement she may, as my granny used to say, ‘forget herself”. I’d suggest you seek the services of a dog trainer who can give you time and understanding and assess your particular problem. Maybe the doorbell upsets her, maybe she needs more exercise, or more time. Maybe she needs to be socialised more. A good trainer should call to the house and give you guidance. www.seniortimes.ie

There are conditions which cause incontinence in bitch pups but they are quite rare in young, unneutered bitches.

Incontinence which responds to tablets usually due to an hormonal imbalance, and is most common in speyed bitches.

My opinion is that she’ll grow out of it, but if she doesn’t appear to be doing so in the next few months in spite of help from professional dog-trainers, then it’s time to go to your vet and have her checked. I also would suggest you check with your vet before speying Sam. He or she might prefer to wait until she’s more mature and this problem has been fixed.

I have a dog that is constantly itchy and I don’t know why. I hate seeing him like this. He’s very uncomfortable, scratching a lot, rubbing his back and sides along the couch. He’s had it on and off for a year or two. It can go on for weeks and is worse in the summer. I buy washes from the supermarket but they don’t seem to do much good. I haven’t seen any fleas but something is making him scratch. Can you help?

First of all, if I or any of my colleagues could diagnose and cure many of the difficult skin conditions commonly encountered in dogs and cats we would probably be given a Nobel prize.

Elizabeth McCollum-Ryan MVB MRCVS answers your pet questions

With all skin conditions we start at base and work in a logical sequence from there.

The most common cause of itching in dogs and cats are ectoparasites, that is, parasites that live on the body. Fleas, lice and ticks all fall into this category.

The important thing to do is deflea (the word commonly used to describe getting rid of all ectoparasites) the pet. Use a good product – where some of the shop ones fall down is that they don’t work on the environment as well as on the body of the animal. They just don’t last. That means that eggs and larvae might not be killed by the product and go on to produce more adult fleas. You are better off to buy all de-fleaing and deworming products at your vet clinic.

Once the dog has been de-wormed and we can eliminate that as a source of itchiness, it is time to take further steps. We could be looking at a very resistant mange, or skin infection by yeast, moulds or bacteria. If there is hair loss, depending on its range and location, your vet might be able to diagnose the cause. Skin scrapings and hair follicle samples will probably be taken. If nothing is found on these then an allergy, or atopic dermatitis will be considered.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 57

It is nearly impossible to find out exactly what causes many allergies, and they can be a combination of environment, food, or hypersensitivity to insect bites.

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At this stage we would normally prescribe a bland eating regime, such as lamb and rice to start with and add other foods in gradually if there is an improvement. It is interesting to note that there is no veterinary basis for using lamb/ chicken/rice dishes to reduce allergic effects, but they have been used, and with a lot of success by vets down the years.

We would also reduce to a minimum possible allergenic compounds in your pet’s environment, though this is very much trial and error.

Your vet will treat your pet based on the evidence he/she has collected. There are drugs which are excellent in dealing with itch and hair loss, but they must be used strictly under veterinary supervision as they are powerful drugs and affect other organs of the body. Your pet’s progress will be monitored, and some of these drugs slowly withdrawn over a period of time. Some pets may have to take these drugs several times over their life to control their skin condition.

The bottom line is that itchiness is one of the most distressing conditions of dogs and cats, and if your animal is affected and a simple de-fleaing treatment does not help, make an appointment with your vet sooner rather than later.

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My cat was killed recently by a car, and I am very lonely without her. I’d love to get another one but hate the idea that she might get killed as well. I live in a small house on a busy road in the city and someone suggested that I get a cat that lives full-time in the house. This seems very unnatural to me and I can’t imagine a cat would be happy living under those circumstances. What do you think?

A few years ago I would have agreed with you, and essentially it is more natural for a cat to live outside part of the time.

However I have come across many cats in the last few years that are what we call “apartment cats”. They live fulltime in the house and have little knowledge of the outside world. I can see no evidence that they suffer in any way from this.

They seem to form a close bond with their owners, and be happy to play, eat, use their litter tray and do all the usual things cats do within the four walls!

I have noticed that many of these cats seem to live in pairs, and perhaps it would be a good idea if you got two cats rather than one in this situation. I will say more on caring for apartment cats in a future article.

If you would like Elizabeth McCollum-Ryan to answer a question about your pet, send it to Senior Times at: The Vet, Unit 1, Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email: john@slp.ie Questions for the next issue must be received by January 20th 2015 Page 58 Senior Times January 2015

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Health

Low cost, wide ranging treatments at Medical Poland

at Poland’s best hospitals, like the Hospital Eskulap in Bydgoszcz. Boasting the most up-to-date diagnostic and implementation tools -and a medical team trained worldwide - Hospital Eskulap is a centre renowned for its heart and vascular disease treatment.

Depending on the client’s availability, the hospital can typically complete its consultation, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare within a month of first contact.

Medical Poland offers treatment at their newly-opened Dental Art Centre, where patients have access to a stateof-the-art dental surgery and dental laboratory all under one roof, producing outstanding prosthetic work to the highest standards of aesthetic finish and comfort.

Fancy being treated to five-star medical care, recuperating at a beautiful wellness centre and visiting some of Poland’s top tourist attractions into the bargain? Well then a trip to Medical Poland might just be the answer.

Medical Poland - a new initiative by Poland’s healthcare community - has recently opened offices in Dublin to promote their country as the destination of choice for overseas medical care. The agency offers the highest-quality services to private patients, promising world-class treatment, a quick turnaround in medical procedures, the opportunity to recuperate in a beautiful wellness centre and the benefit of significant savings compared with treatments in Ireland – and all in a convenient holiday package.

And that’s not all: Medical Poland also represents two state-of-the-art dental clinics located in Bydgoszcz, just two hours’ flight from Dublin Airport. An initial dental consultation can be arranged at their brand-new dental surgery in Dublin, where a dental plan

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outlining the procedures you require will be drawn up - including implants, bone grafts, sinus lifts, crowns, bridges and veneers - before flying to Poland, offering savings of up to 70%!

For those who prefer to have their dental care arranged in Dublin, Medical Poland offers treatment at their newly-opened Dental Art Centre, where patients have access to a state-of-theart dental surgery and dental laboratory all under one roof, producing outstanding prosthetic work to the highest standards of aesthetic finish and comfort. Providing crowns with 3D effect, bio-functional dentures, mouth guards, a while-u-wait dental repair service and much more, their prices are very competitive too, with porcelain crowns, for example, starting from just €350!

While the term ‘medical tourism’ may sound new, the idea of visiting overseas sanatoria has been a European tradition for centuries. In more recent decades many Western Europeans have been travelling East to avail of lower-cost dental and orthodontic procedures.

Medical Poland’s departure is to combine your treatment of choice with recuperation at beautiful health resorts in a tailor-made holiday designed around you.

With many such excellent centres under its remit, Medical Poland can facilitate clients’ arrangements for a wide range of interventions including plastic surgery/aesthetic medicine, ENT, general and vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, laser eye surgery, urology, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, gynecology and infertility treatment.

Moreover they also offer clients the opportunity to visit exceptional Polish wellness centres, the magical Wieliczka Salt Mine health resort being just one example. This mine’s unique microenvironment and extraordinary subterranean architecture allow specialised treatment for asthma, COPD, pollen allergies and sinusitis while also providing unparalleled relaxation and beautification treatments for the day or overnight visitor.

Last year alone witnessed 1.2 million medical tourists to Poland - mainly from Germany - for whom plastic surgery and dentistry were among the most popular treatments. As there are regular flights to Bydgoszcz/Poland from Dublin, why not let Medical Poland look after your travel and accommodation arrangements and take the opportunity to enjoy the sites of beautiful Poland!

Their surgery is located at 66 Lower Gardiner street, Dublin 1 - only a few minutes’ walk from the Spire or Connolly station! For further details please phone 01 430 30 70 or visit www.medicalpoland.ie.

Every consultation is entered into a free prize draw for a holiday in Poland!

Medical Poland arranges your treatment

Senior Times January 2015 Page 59

Bumper Crossword (No.68) Crossword

by Zoë Devlin

ACROSS

1 4 8 11 17

18 19 20 21 22 27 28 29 30 35 36 37 40 41 42 45 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 62 63 64 68 69 70 74 75 76 77 82 83 84 85 90 91 92 93 94 95

Ulster town & county - maybe Graham lives there? (6) Kilkenny is also known as ‘The ___ City’ (6) Type of hat or Central American republic? (6) Travelling company of entertainers (6) Jerome K Jerome’s book about a holiday on the water (5,3,2,1,4) Entrance to backstage area of theatre (5-4) Semi-hard cheese originally made in Netherlands (4) Could an elk rest near this small bird of prey? (7) They have alive TV in this Israeli city (3,4) Eternal European city found in a promenade? (4) Pairs often visit this French city (5) RTE drama series about Dublin’s criminal underworld (4/4) Slender vegetable & a national emblem of Wales (4) It’s plain - either Tea Party’s Sarah or TV’s Michael (5) Scotland’s ‘Granite City’ (8) Falling apart into fragments (9) Capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina (8) Memorial in a cemetery (10) Beverage made from pressed apples (5) Chinese leader of ‘Little Red Book’ fame (3,3-4) No Whigs on this Co Donegal island ! (4) Most virtuous Knight of the Round Table, Sir ___ (7) French painter, Henri de Toulouse ___ (7) Lazy or not working (4) Waterford-born singer, ___ Doonican (3) Young girl (4) Could be Justin or Ronan? (7) Capital of Malta (7) Gusto .. joie de vivre .. relish (4) Sporty, Scary, Ginger, Baby & Posh, the ___ ___ (5,5) Young eel (5) In a dilapidated condition (10) German-born physicist of ‘Theory of Relativity’ fame (8) Objects kept as reminders (9) Someone who tells a story (8) Bannister, Moore or the Jolly ___? (5) Herb whose aroma lasts for ages (4) Welsh island connected by Menai bridge (8) ___ Mooney, Jacobi or Bell (5) Measure of 5 fluid ounces (4) You’d get a nil loan for this wool fat! (7) Islamic fast from sunrise to sunset (7) St Columba’s Scottish isle (4) Intimate conversation between two French people? (4-1-4) First Czar of Russia (4,3,8) List of matters to be taken up at meeting (6) Worship this American rider (6) Raised by apes, he was a jungle hero (6) Comedian, Buster ___or actress, Diane ___? (6)

Page 60 Senior Times January 2015

DOWN

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 23 24 25 26 31 32 33 34 38 39 43 44 46 48 49 53 57 58 59 60 61 65 66 67 71 72 73 78 79 80 81 86 87 88 89

Founding member of Fianna Fail, Frank ___ (6) Breakfast preserve (9) Narrow valley (4) Art of operating aircraft (8) Epic historical drama starring Mel Gibson (10) Greek god of love (4) English statesman - Younger or Elder? (4) S.Pacific country of sheep & great scenery (3,7) Dry white wine from the Loire valley (8) Thought or notion (4) Australian outback comedy about an uncoiled decoder? (9,6) US film actress, Meryl ___ (6) Precious stone (5) Leinster county formerly Queen’s County (5) Tiny child or minute fish (7) Post sent by an admirer (3,4) Co Fermanagh village, famous for parian china (7) Would a bare cat enjoy this in a night club? (7) English ballerina, ___ Fonteyn (6) Stooped .. unerect (4) The most offensive or unpleasant (8) Widely used search engine (6) Lacking in maturity .. childish (9) There’s a car stable in this Co Mayo town (9) English actor of ‘Alfie’ fame, Michael ___ (5) French autor of ‘Bonjour Tristesse’, Francoise ___ (5) Can a lustrous trainee play this deadly game? (7,8) Alcoholic beverage taken before meal (8) Sound made by a crow (3) Retired English jockey, ___ Piggott (6) Hypothesis or belief that can guide behaviour (6) Plant found on the mountains (7) Prohibited by law (7) Dizziness or reeling sensation (7) Irish film actress of ‘The Quiet Man’, ___ O’Hara (7) He and Ollie made some very funny films (4) Persistent or continual (10) He or she helps people or institutions financially (10) English fantasy novel by J R R Tolkien (3,6) Puccini’s opera set in 27 Across (2,6) Former Fianna Fail Taoiseach, Eamon __ ____ (2,6) Creator of Hercule Poirot, ___ Christie (6) Tower of ___, with confusion of voices (5) Bet or stake on outcome of an issue (5) Large cave or chamber (6) Lacking hair (4) World’s longest river & site of first civilisation (4) US cartoonist, ___ Disney or poet, ___ Whitman (4) Mild, soft, creamy, white cheese (4) www.seniortimes.ie

Win a copy of Haunted Ireland in this issue’s crossword competition

Senior Times, in association with the publishers, The Collins Press, are offering a copy of the hugely praised Haunted Ireland by Tarquinn Blake as the prize in this issue’s competition. (‘Elegiac and beautiful book’ – The Irish Times; ‘Handsome Volume’ – The Times).

Send your completed crossword to: Crossword Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Deadline for receipt of entries is 20th January 2015..

Name:......................................................... Address:.........................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ..........................................................Email: ..........................................................................

Creative writing

A caring haven for sick children

Eileen Casey reviews a fascinating history of Temple Street Hospital

Nurse and Santa with patient early 1960s

Dr Barry Kennerk, author of this handsome historical volume, is resident historian and archivist at Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Interestingly enough, he began his connection with the Hospital via the patient route - being rushed through the doors as a toddler in the late 1970’s. An accident with a burning log necessitated the visit which left Kennerk with an initial impression of ‘hard tiles, nurses and lights’. His next encounter was as a kitchen porter in the mid 1990’s but over the intervening years he has filled many roles. Also, as father to two girls, he’s also seen the hospital through the prism of anxious parenthood.

Temple Street Children’s Hospital, An Illustrated History, Dr Barry Dennerk (New Island)

Page 62 Senior Times January 2015

In his introduction, Kennerk admits that because life at Temple Street is so multi-layered, (each day this building playing ‘mute witness to the miraculous and the tragic’), the task of a comprehensive overview is almost impossible.

However, over two years and many interviews later, what Kennerk does achieve is a book which provides a colourful record, imbued with intriguing insight into an institution founded in 1872 and which is now regarded as one of Ireland’s best children’s hospitals.

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Temple Street, a Dublin institution

The contents page offers an immediate entrance to what this treasure chest of social and historical profile contains. Beginning with an empathetic foreword by Cecelia Ahern, the spine of this building’s story is clearly evident. Kennerk takes the reader on a chronological journey, beginning with the story of Buckingham Street Infirmary (1872 -1879) via the hospital’s involvement with the convent community, fundraising, events of 1916 and the Emergency years. He also shifts perspective with the inclusion of ‘through the eyes of a child,’ and ‘Christmas at Temple Street,’ which focuses on childhood experience within the building’s austere walls. In an attractive hardback format, the publication includes b/w photographs from The National Photographic Archive and Irish Architectural Archive, among other sources. Temple Street Hospital itself contributes images from its archive, images which lend atmosphere and clarity to the text.

House to modern hospital The charting of this house to modern hospital starts when the ‘Big House’ began as St Joseph’s Infirmary at No. 9 Upper Buckingham Street. Built by Irish statesman John Beresford, it’s aim at the outset was to provide medical care for poor children in their own environment. Disease and malnutrition were commonplace in the surrounding tenements. The committee established to set up the project was headed by Ellen Woodlock, a widow from Cork and Sarah Atkinson, from Roscommon. A generous patron at the time was Mr Bianconi, proprietor of the famous coach company. Only patients under the age of ten were admitted, the first child (suffering from a spinal disease) was known to all as ‘Willie’. In keeping with the Catholic ethos of the hospital, a large statue of the Sacred Heart stood in the main ward. The beds had white coverlets, each trimmed with a strip of red.

Kennerk’s account of the early beginnings of Temple Street Children’s Hospital is full of colourful social history details of the times. For example, healthy children of the middle classes were encouraged to visit the hospital on Sundays. These children were mostly members of ‘The Busy Bee Brigade’ and they arrived at the hospital with barrel-shaped money boxes full of pennies for the sick patients. Fundraising was an integral element in the success of Buckingham Street.

Advertisements appeared regularly in the Freeman’s Journal and The Irish Times. In 1876 however, Buckingham Street Infirmary became the nineteenth house of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity. When the lease expired in 1879, the sisters identified a suitable home for their work, No. 15 Upper Temple Street, a redbrick Georgian house, the former mansion

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Nurse washing a baby, early 1930s

of the Earl of Bellomont. City Analyst Charles Cameron wrote of the surrounding laneways where hundreds of tenement dwellers courted the spectres of malnutrition and sickness: ‘No bed; sacks thrown on floor...diet of bread and tea, no butter, bacon occasionally and cabbage Sundays.’ To counter the horrors of these kind of harsh facts, local author Patrick Ryan recounts his childhood in the 1960’s and which included stopping at the forge in the lane to watch the horses being shod;

‘It was a magical sight to see the red roaring fire, the hammer striking the red-hot shoe, the sparks flying. It was mesmerising and we were in awe until someone shouted...and the little bald blacksmith would come charging out like a mad bull out of the fires of hell! There was a mad scatter and we would be falling over each other trying to get away.’

Temple Street soon developed a reputation for leading the way in medical advancement. When children were admitted, they were issued with a new set of clothes and regardless of gender, their hair was cropped short to limit the spread of lice. The children were usually put to sleep at six o’clock each evening. Mary Banim, the daughter of a novelist, wrote of a visit she made in 1892 where she described ‘rows of snug cribs ranged around the walls.’ She described a particular favourite of hers, a five year old named Lily, whose spinal deformity was being treated by her having to be strapped day and night in bed, with heavy weights attached to her legs. Many of the doctors who practised at Temple Street had learned their trade during an era in which ‘Heroic Medicine’ predominated.

This included practices such as intestinal purging (with calomel), bloodletting , vomiting (tartar emetic),profuse sweating (diaphoretics) and blistering. Although such methods were beginning to fall out of favour by the 1880’s, a number of them continued to prevail. Until the early 1990’s, for example, the hospital continued to buy large quantities of

Senior Times January 2015 Page 63

leeches for bloodletting. Four illnesses flaired up with such frequency in overcrowded wards that they were known collectively as ‘hospital disease’ – erysipelas, septicaemia, pyaemia and acute gangrene. Post operatively, patients were treated with a regimen of beef tea and aromatic sulphuric acid for shock – a mixture of ginger, oil of cinnamon and alcohol. Grains of opium were administered to alleviate pain or, in the case of babies, judicious spoonfuls of laudanum – a brandy based tincture.

Sale of work December 1961 Resourcefulness was a key element in The Emergency Years (1939 – 1945). While continuing to benefit from medical advances (antibiotics such as penicillin were beginning to feature strongly in the war against infection), the sick had no immunisation against bacterial infections such as diphtheria. The Emergency Years brought their own challenges. The Superioress at the time, Mother Camillus O’Donoghue, began to stockpile food and clothing which included necessaries such as drugs, chemicals, dressings, x-ray films, soap and coal. The hospital garden was turned into an allotment for growing potatoes and cabbages. The hospital paid £684.4.6 on air-raid precautions; after the war it was able to recoup some of this money from Dublin Corporation and the Department of Defence. When retired hospital porter Gerry Dudley started work at the hospital in 1945, the windows along the A&E laneway still had sandbags in them. By 1944, the war had become so serious that none of the sisters who were living in Dublin went home to the country at Christmas. However, staff kept up morale, one of the memorable events being a visit by Vera Lynn, the English singer who sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ for the troops during the war. Ms Lynn is recalled by William Sheridan (eighty-nine) from St Anthony’s Place as being “a big tall woman and there was a maypole that we all danced around.”

The section in the book entitled ‘The hospital through the Eyes of a Child’ is particularly poignant. When Declan Dunne from Timolin, County Wicklow took ill as a baby in 1959, he was rushed to Temple Street where he recalled:

“They done an operation where they split all me fingers and toes to try and drain the poison out of the bloodstream; they told me mother and father that as far as they were concerned there was no hope. I don’t know what fancy instruments they had but then I started up again. I had died for five minutes but the body had come back. That was a great story with my mother and father all through my childhood years.”

A large number of children were admitted with chest conditions – a common result of damp, foggy conditions in the city’s tenements. Among them was author Brendan Behan, who took ill after standing at a rainy football match in Croke Park on 23rd September, 1934: “I could have changed my clothes and got into bed only half Page 64 Senior Times January 2015

Ireland seemed to have got themselves into our street, looking for shelter...in our house we had a hooley, and the measure of our accommodation was not such that we could have a hooley and get into bed at the same time. My father played the fiddle, amiable as always, anything from ‘The Blackbird’ to ‘The Lady in Red’ and we danced and sang the night away, till in very short order I got pneumonia and found myself in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.”

What’s really lovely about this book is that while having a comprehensive bibliography/source record (the hallmarks of academic study), the closing chapters are devoted to giving voice to ordinary people closely connected with the hospital. This broad range covers, for example, Porter and Emergency Consultant, Nurse and Maintenance Manager. There’s a case history or two also, which allows for the personal narratives of people like Isabelle Melia, née Goulding (sixty-nine). Isabelle was admitted to Temple Street shortly after the war. Aged four at the time, her admittance came after a visit to the Theatre Royal in Hawkins Street. She remembers Tommy Dando and how his organ used to ‘come up out of the floor and there used to be a little screen with all the words of the song he was playing on it. A little ball used to hop along from word to word and the whole audience would be singing along – ‘Keep your Sunny Side up, up, up, up.’ In the event, Isabelle felt very ill when she got home afterwards and subsequently brought to Temple Street where she was diagnosed with a severe case of meningitis. She remains grateful to the doctors and nurses who saved her life.

Today, Temple Street has an international reputation. Celebrities such as Brian O’Driscoll and Miriam O’Callaghan are only too willing to lend support to fund raising campaigns and hospital visitations to brighten up the lives of the children. At the end of 2014, as outpatients celebrates a centenary of service, approximately 68,000 children will have attended clinics, 6,000 operations will have been performed and a further 12,000 admitted. Wards and offices now tower over the A&E laneway. Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan (who trained as a nurse in Temple Street) talks about the future, at the heart of which “social justice; getting fairness for children.” Currently, the new children’s hospital is under construction. It will bring together the three existing children’s hospitals: Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght Hospital. It will be tri-located on one campus with St James’s Hospital and a planned maternity hospital. This merging of the three hospitals under one roof will mean that all the paediatric specialists will be available to sick children who can be treated without having to go to different facilities.

Temple Street Children’s Hospital An Illustrated History by Dr Barry Kennerk With a Foreward by Cecelia Ahern is available from bookstores or directly from New Island (www.newisland.ie).

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Overcoming the booking dilemma Cruising

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Cruise lines would love to tempt more customers to book direct as it would save millions of euro's in commission payments to travel agencies. But they are realistic and accept that good travel agents who know their product inside and out have their part to play in working with clients.

The cruise industry is unusual in this day and age as one of the few holiday types where most sales are still through travel agents - generally more than 90 percent. That used to be the case for all travel, but it's easy to whizz off to Barcelona for a weekend now! However, cruise bosses feel the higher complexity and cost of cruise holidays makes them more of an emotional purchase for customers with more at stake if things go wrong.

They claim it's not the same as buying a straightforward flight or hotel stay "off the peg". However, one factor is inescapable: potential cruisers are increasingly doing their own research before picking up the phone or going face to face to make their booking.

"With cruising people still appear to prefer the face to face transaction" said Jo Ryzmowska now head of Celebrity Cruise's.

What are the benefits of online versus agents? Booking directly with the cruise line doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the cheapest price, nor indeed suiting you the best ship! One portion of the whole process by using a cruise specialist is - they not only know the cruise lines themselves, but the individual ships. So tailoring your cruise to you! I would argue that the key difference between ourselves and a cruise line is that we give independent, client led advice, not commission led advice. All the ships are different, and if you are spending €1000 or €4000 Euro per couple you need advice and someone to talk it through with you. If we put people on the wrong ship, we are creating problems for us and problems for them.

It would appear at the moment, travel agents offer the most effective route to reach the general public, and a vital way for cruise companies to continue growing their ever more interesting and innovative form of holiday.

For further information, contact:

Marble City Travel, James’s Street, New Ross, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny.

Tel: (056) 7770900 www.marblecitytravel.ie

Page 66 Senior Times January 2015

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Tom Britton of Marble City Travel advises

For some cruise clients, it's the big dilemma: Is it better and cheaper to book direct with a cruise line or through a travel agent? Unfortunately there is no easy answer. It comes down to the type of cruise holiday you want and where you would like to go.

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Finance

Enjoy Christmas: be merry, but be centsable!

John Lowe, ‘The Money Doctor’ Advises Bernard Manning the comedian once quipped I bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying “toys not included” …While we still need our sense of humour, these are challenging economic times and especially at Christmas time, where every cent counts. Planning is everything.

Christmas spending is usually never budgeted for and so the credit card or short term loan invariably comes to the rescue.

Please be sensible this Christmas and plan what you are going to spend and importantly, where the money is coming from to fund that spend. So here a few tips to help you both through and after this great season of goodwill and good cheer : Here’s what to do

Make a list and after setting a spending limit, work out the cost of-

Presents ( covering family, friends and bursaries – binmen, postmen, your work colleagues etc ) Additional Christmas costs ( cards, decorations, tree/s, holly and wreaths ) Food and drink for the festive period ( you usually overstock so check the food and drinks shopping tips below ) Entertainment ( Funderland, cinema, pantomime, zoo etc You know you are not going to sit in front of the television for the entire 12 day season and any excursions outside the home usually means spending money…so budget for this) Total all these costs - you are going to have to pay for them through either your own savings, an overdraft, loan or a credit card. The ideal of course is to fund from your savings and in particular where you have actually earmarked the current year’s savings for this precise purpose – the Christmas spend.

If you have to borrow, try and ensure these borrowings whether a loan or credit card debt are repaid before next Christmas.

Page 68 Senior Times January 2015

Savings - the best course to take for your Christmas costs is to start saving the previous January – Regular Saver, a Goose Club or Stamp Saving Scheme – and put what you can afford away each month on a regular basis for 11 months – standing order or direct debit. This should be part of your monthly budget plan. Therefore the total amount of your Christmas bill should be divided by 11 to ascertain what that monthly saving amount should be. If you have not saved, you will need to borrow for the coming Christmas - but you then should plan to save DOUBLE from next January so as to pay for both this Christmas and the next. I would also suggest you encourage your children to save – they should be saving a third of their pocket money every week, that’s if they receive pocket money. Check out Regular Saver accounts – minimum € 100 per month, maximum € 1000 for 12 months attracting up to 4% interest rate – are best for adults. Children will not, in the normal course of events, be able to save this minimum amount for their regular saver accounts but they can open bank, building society, An Post or credit union deposit accounts even for as little as one euro. They need to save as much as their parents need to save and have the saving ethos ingrained into them.

Borrowing - interest rates from your local credit union or your own bank tend to be among the cheapest options when it comes to short term finance ( e.g. € 2000 loan over 3 years at 12% will cost € 66.43 per month … but better to pay over 12 months – this would cost € 177.70 per month at the same rate – as Christmas comes around every 12 months ) Avoid moneylenders (authorised and unauthorised alike) at all costs.

Overdraft interest rates range from 14% PLUS you can pay up to an additional 12% surcharge if you exceed your overdraft limit without permission. If you have to use an overdraft, ensure you do not exceed the limit therefore and if you must, always call your bank branch and look for that permission for the increase. Credit card rates vary from c. 9% to 24%+ ( the latter for certain store cards ) and virtually ALL the credit card companies charge well over 20% when you withdraw cash on a www.seniortimes.ie

credit card from the date of withdrawal. You might consider transferring your balance to another credit card company IF they allow you and offer low rates for the first 6 months or so in January and if your credit record is good and you have a plan to reduce or pay off entirely within a certain time frame.

You might be even able to save additionally during this period for next Christmas.

The Christmas aftermath - even the piper has to be paid and putting your head in the sand when the bills finally come through the door in January is not going to solve your problems if you have been a little heavy on the spending sauce. If you are in a hole, the first thing you have to do is stop digging. Communication is key and if you simply cannot afford the required repayments, negotiate and pay what you can afford. You will need a plan of when the debt will be regularised. Theoretically, you should n’t spend what you don’t have BUT we are all human and sometimes sense goes out the window. Perhaps that should be cents. Obtain professional help if you have to but do not ignore. Finally, don’t forget, Christmas comes around every year, so plan to save in January for next Christmas !

Assuming your funding is sorted, here are some additional tips on the Christmas spending

If you have a large family, consider Kris Kringle – it can be fun too as you may not know or want to know who gave you your present. It is also cheaper as you can set limits on the present to be bought.

Food and drink at Christmas time Have a pre-written shopping list – even Santa has one ( ♫ he’s making a list, and checking it twice ♫ ) and never shop on an empty stomach !

Don’t buy on the double – you may already have the item in your cupboard so always check what you have in stock before making your list www.seniortimes.ie

Look for discounts and special in-store offers Use vouchers and coupons – it is no shame to bring them into shops and supermarkets and save money. Saving money is good practice.

Consider supermarket own brand generic products rather than the more expensive brand name products especially for household utilities.

Buy in bulk – you may be able to avail of economies (buy 1 get 1 free) with bulk buying – it’s cheaper - you can always keep a few boxes of chocolate or bottles of wine for those last minute callers whom you have forgotten to buy a present.

Presents do not always have to be of the pecuniary kind.. you could give one hour of your time to a favourite aunt or uncle to clean their car, cut their grass or simply visit. You could also offer your time to charitable works and causes – do a mini-marathon for charity and get fit at the same time !

Christmas presents can also be bought all year round – once you have identified the person you should carefully choose the present and prepared to buy same off-season – it can save you money and time.

Gift tokens are always acceptable – a €1 money voucher to open a deposit account might be the very incentive for a loved one to start them saving. Another might be a book token for the Money Doctor 2015 to help them better manage their money Above all, have a Happy Christmas and a peaceful, healthy and prosperous New Year.

John Lowe, Personal Insolvency Practitioner & Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is managing director of Providence Finance Services Ltd trading as Money Doctor and based in Stillorgan Co Dublin. He is author of The Money Doctor 2015 (from Gill & Macmillan) tel +353 1 278 5555, email consultation@moneydoctor.ie for seminars or consultations. www.moneydoctor.ie – Twitter (@the moneydoc) Facebook & Linkedin Senior Times January 2015 Page 69

Northern Notes

By Debbie Orme

Doreen takes back her life Doreen Greer: ‘I first noticed the symptoms of what turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when I walked about two miles one day and felt as if I had stones in my shoes.'

As the number of arthritis sufferers in NI continues to increase, self-management courses are allowing many people to take back control of their condition and improve their quality of life.

The consequences of a long-term condition, particularly one which causes restricted movement, are life changing. In addition to the pain caused by the initial condition, the inability to walk, the increased isolation and the stress can all take a further toll.

While medication has always been the first – and often only – port of call, the increasing use of self management is proving to have many benefits for sufferers.

One woman whose quality of life has been greatly improved is seventy-four year-old Doreen Greer, who was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her early forties.

‘I first noticed the symptoms of what turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when I walked about two miles one day and felt as if I had stones in my shoes,' Doreen told Senior Times. 'It developed so quickly over a period of time that very soon I couldn’t even get out of bed. At the time I had two kids under the age of ten and obviously I had to keep going for them, but basically I was simply functioning rather than living.’

Doreen’s RA progressed steadily and, over the years, her RA came to dominate her life. At one point she had to get an infusion of Remicade into her arm, and the medication began to rot her teeth so much that she had to have them removed. By now - very understandably - Doreen had begun to suffer from depression: a situation exacerbated by the fact that, just after her husband died two years ago, she then suffered a fracture in her back, followed by a very bad dose of flu and the development of ulcers in her legs.

While Doreen knew that she was at a really low ebb - a state of mind that wasn’t helped by the fact that she was living alone in a Fold, unable to go out by herself and staring at four walls all day long - she could basically see no way out of this situation. At this point fate intervened, however, when Doreen's daughter found out about Arthritis Care NI’s Staying Connected programme and referred her mum. Within a short period of time, Debbie Mairs, an

Page 70 Senior Times January 2015

Kate Fleck, Director Arthritis Care NI: ‘While Doreen has benefited greatly from the Staying Connected programme, others will benefit from the workshops and courses that are running across Northern Ireland’.

Arthritis Care volunteer, was calling to see Doreen on a weekly basis.

‘There was no doubt that Doreen was depressed,’ said Debbie.

‘It’s hardly surprising considering she had little mobility and, as such, was unable to attend any of Arthritis Care’s workshops, where she would have enjoyed social interaction and learnt coping techniques for her pain. The Staying Connected programme was perfect for her.’

Debbie began to visit Doreen once a week for an hour, delivering the same type of materials that she would have had access to at a workshop.

‘Basically we teach people like Doreen how to manage their pain and depression, which is often brought on by the isolation through positive thinking, diet, exercise and communication,’ Debbie continued. ‘Over the first couple of visits we talked about what Doreen ideally wanted to do and it quickly became clear that she wanted to go out. Luckily we found out that Disability Action offer a service for people like Doreen and so they would call and take her to the local shopping centres. For Doreen, this was a major achievement and her mood definitely began to lift. Although Doreen isn’t able to exercise much, I showed her some chair-based exercises and discussed her diet with her.

‘We then moved on to techniques such as visualisation. If Doreen felt that she wasn’t coping particularly well, she would visualise being in the garden and feeling the sun on her face, that type of thing. We also talked about her bag of ‘tools’ into which she could reach and pull out something that would help her at a particular time, whether visualisation, a little exercise, that type of thing.

Staying Connected is all about goal setting so it’s down to the individual what that goal is. We then help them with problem solving and showing them how to get to their goals. With this programme we aim to reintroduce the person to the community in some way. For some people that may mean going to a daytime club five times a week, but for Doreen it was simply to get out once a week. She’s also now able to join in with the Friday morning coffee mornings at the Fold.

‘One of Doreen’s problems was that she felt that she couldn’t communicate with her consultants and tell them how she felt.

She’s definitely now going to be much more assertive with GPs

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Debbie Meers: ‘Basically we teach people like Doreen how to manage their pain and depression, which is often brought on by the isolation through positive thinking, diet, exercise and communication’.

Equity release provides financial boost for over 55s

and has even contacted occupational therapists by herself.

‘The difference in Doreen has been amazing and she’s a perfect example of someone whose life has become so much better not as a result of medication but simply as a result of self management and taking control of her condition.’

‘While Doreen has benefited greatly from the Staying Connected programme,’ said Kate Fleck, Director Arthritis Care NI, ‘others will benefit from the workshops and courses that are running across Northern Ireland.

‘The main aim of a self-management course is to enable people to take back control of their condition and make small but significant improvements in their quality of life. By attending the sessions they learn how to manage their symptoms on a day-to-day basis and regain more independence.

‘In terms of pain management, for example, we look at ways of coping with pain and practise a number of specific techniques. With medication we go through how to evaluate whether a treatment or alternative therapy is working for a person, and where they can go for help and advice. We explore how they can communicate with their healthcare team, family and friends to explain their feelings and needs, and we also look at the difficult emotions that inevitably come with having arthritis and how to deal with them. As Doreen has shown, the benefits of such programmes can often exceed all expectations.’

For more information visit www.arthritiscare.org.uk

The art of superstition

Older homeowners in Northern Ireland are using equity release to give them a financial boost worth 16 months of retirement income, according to the latest Equity Release Market Report from the Equity Release Council.

The Autumn 2014 edition shows new equity release customers in the region are unlocking an initial £33,025 on average from the value of their homes: either as a lump sum or the first instalment of a plan allowing regular drawdowns to top up their retirement income.

In comparison, data from the Office of National Statistics shows the average retiree couple in the region has an income of £25,428 after tax from benefits, occupational and personal pensions, investments and earnings. The average net tax income for single pensioners in Northern Ireland is £12,688.

Taking out an equity release plan is therefore giving retired homeowners in Northern Ireland an extra 1 year and 4 months of retirement income to boost their finances. For single pensioners, the boost is even greater: equivalent to two years and seven months’ worth of income.

An eerie new exhibition which opened on Thursday 11 December is set to frighten, challenge, and amuse visitors to Ards Arts Centre this month. In a world surrounded by superstitions, where one person’s religion is another person’s myth, and one person’s fear is another’s amusement, Illustrators Ireland Guild present a wonderful new group exhibition examining the world of irrational beliefs

Featuring works from 40 leading Illustrators, including PJ Lynch, Steve Simpson and Children’s Laureate Niamh Sharkey, the show will also feature work from emerging illustrators, showcasing finalists from an accompanying open submission competition.

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Emily Crawford, Arts Officer for Ards Borough Council, is looking forward to the show: ‘The Art of Superstition’ promises to be an evocative and though provoking display of high quality illustrations,' she told Senior Times, 'and I would encourage visitors to take time to view this latest showcase. A print from the make an ideal, unique Christmas present for a superstitious loved one.'

The exhibition opens in the Georgian Gallery, Ards Arts Centre with a special preview and wine reception on 11th from 7pm and continues until 23rd January 2014.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 71

“All I want for Christmas is a new pair of feet”

flexibility means that they exercise the muscle groups of the foot, thereby strengthening the overall structure whilst re-aligning the overall posture at the same time.

The old song goes “All I want for Christmas is me two front teeth” but nowadays we hear a different refrain … now it’s…

“All I want for Christmas is a new pair of feet” Step Forward Orthotics can offer the next best thing …

Many people wear Orthotics …. Arch supporting insoles, which fit into your shoes. Our Orthotics The “ Soft Step” are the most advanced design of orthotics available on the planet and so, are much more effective than the more traditional style.

Our orthotics are NOT made the same shape as your foot ….

“What would be the point of that?” If the shape of your foot is your problem, then, it stands to reason that you don’t want to match or mimic that shape, because, if you do, you are only matching the imbalance.

The “Soft Step” Orthotics are manufactured in the U.S.A. and the design has not been changed for over 40 years. No need to change the design as they work so effectively. Hundred of thousands of people just like you have been fitted and have felt enormous improvements in their pain levels and discomforts.

Coming in at a cost of €350 per pair most people tell us that it’s the best money they have ever spent. This outlay is minimised when you count up the amount of money people spend on shoes or treatments, looking to relieve pain and gain comfort. The shoes are not the problem; usually it’s the feet! So, for an initial outlay of less than €1 a day for one year you can achieve this with ease.

The “Soft Step” Orthotics have a very long lifespan, so will last for a number of years, often up to 10 years or more. They can be worn in almost any type of footwear, heels up to 2-3", sports shoes, work wear, sandals etc. And we include two free check-ups at our Clontarf facility.

We want the “imbalanced” foot to conform to the shape of our “Soft Step” Orthotic, which it does with relative ease. The foot can change. If it can get worse, then, it can also get better with the right guidance.

The “Soft Step” Orthotics are particularly good to give relief from directly related foot issues such as Heel Spurs, Plantar Fasciitis, Callouses, Hammer Toes (Hammer toes won’t rectify 100% but will relieve discomfort), Pronation which is a “leaning in” and puts pressure on the ankle and Supination (leaning out), High Arches and of course Fallen Arches.

Built into the design of our arches is support for the 3 arches, yes, 3 weight bearing arches and as the name suggests they are ‘soft’, in that they are flexible, so they move with the foot. The

Cut out this article in case your family or friends miss it.

Our “Soft Step” Insole Orthotics are formed in the shape of a healthy foot structure, and as so, they are a replica of how the bone structure of the human foot should lie.There is no further improvement on design possible as they are the ultimately the anatomical shape of a healthy human foot. People often say “But aren’t everyone’s feet different”? All our feet should look basically the same; it’s actually when the structure has gone out of alignment that the problems arise.

They also go a long way towards reducing pains in the feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, neck & shoulders, because, when the foot structure is re-aligned, the bodies weight is much more evenly distributed over the arches of the feet, which has a knock-on effect on the overall posture. Take a “Step in the Right Direction” today and make an appointment to call Step Forward Ireland.com, Regular clinics in Glasnevin and Clontarf in Dublin also Roscommon and Naas. See website for details of where you can see us. Tel: 086-8309392 or 086-8308757 … you and your feet should feel the benefits in a very short time.

COMPETITION WINNERS FROM LAST ISSUE DINNER FOR TWO AT MARCO PIERRE WHITE RESTAURANT

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Three copies of Neven Maguire’s lastest cook book ‘Fast’.

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CROSSWORD COMPETITION

Four copies of The Wildflowers of Ireland by Zoe Devlin Eithne Lee, Arklow, Co Wicklow Michael Lucas, Shankill, Co Dublin Margaret Woods, Drogheda, Co Louth Noel Foley, Limerick Page 72 Senior Times January 2015

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Meeting Place

DUBLIN GENTLEMAN, 60s, WLTM lady for friendship/companionship. Interests include golf, bridge, dancing and reading. ALA REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y1

WICKLOW-BASED LADY, 60s, returned emigrant, would like to hear from emigrants of similar age, with a view to friendship or perhaps forming a Returned Emigrants Association? REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y2

SOUTH DUBLIN LADY, attractive, with outgoing personality, likes outdoors, walking, theatre, travel, dining out, WLTM sincere, active, unattached man in his 60s for companionship and perhaps deep friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y3 SINCERE CAVAN WIDOWER, young 67, NS, ND, presentable, kind and caring. Seeks gentle, caring lady soul mate with no ties.

Interests include country life, walking, nature, reading, dining out, weekends away etc. Photo appreciated and exchanged.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y4 WIDOWED DUBLIN LADY, 60s, NS, no ties, would enjoy company of man of similar age or older. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y5

ATTRACTIVE CORK LADY, 64, semi-retired WLTM kind sincere gentleman with common interests for friendship, travel and the simple things in life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y6

NORTH WICKOW WIDOW, 64, interested in travel, walking, eating out, cinema, gardening etc. WLTM gentleman of similar age with similar interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y7

SOUTH EAST FEMALE (60) with an outgoing, positive personality. NS, SD with many interest including walking, travel, dining out and bridge. WLTM genuine gent for friendship and possible relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER Y8 PROFESSIONAL GALWAY LADY seeks honest and caring male companion (single or widower) fifties or early sixties for friendship. Interests include reading, walking, some gardening, cinema, travel etc. NS, SD, GSOH. WLTM man in Galway area of similar age and interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X1

60 YEARS YOUNG DUBLIN WOMAN seeks male ballroom dance partner to attend social dances in Dublin area. Having attained bronze level in both international standard and Latin dances. I seek a partner who leads well; a plus if you also dance the Hustle REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X2

ATTRACTIVE, EDUCATED WIDOW, 65, interested in gardening, music, reading, arts, animals, nature etc., would like to find a pen friend or/and a friend to enjoy good things in life.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X3 LONELY REFINED EDUCATED 65 year old man seeks female soul mate anywhere in Ireland. Love theatre, literature, cinema, Page 74 Senior Times January 2015

walking. Tall, grey, handsome with GSOH. NS. Like a glass of wine. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X4

ROMANTIC LADY. Kind and caring, divorced, no ties. Enjoys walking and socialising, travel, cinema, theatre and bridge. I am NS, SD and WLTM a gentleman Late 60’s with similar interests for friendship and companionship in the Dublin area.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X5

SOUTH SIDE DUBLIN MALE, 61, NS, SD, slim; dress well; have GSOH; very active.

Like classic/traditional music, hiking to country side; travelling; dining out in decent restaurants. Would like to meet lady with good dress sense who can hold a decent conversation and has GSOH. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X6 MIDLANDS WIDOWER, 60’s, non-smoker, social drinker, sincere with GSOH, interests include music, cinema, par-3 golf and gardening, would like to meet attractive petite lady for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X7

FEMININE, ATTRACTIVE SOUTH DUBLIN,47 year old female looking to meet a kind caring man in late 40’s to 60’s. I am well educated and a good conversationalist. I enjoy travel, art, swimming, having fun, eating out and lots of laughter. Looking to meet someone well educated and cultured who values someone special in their life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X8 PERFECT GENTLEMAN 67, Dublin, digital, active, cheerful, sharing, caring, positive, respectful, vibrant, house, car, fully single, full of life, love and laughter. Seeking similar lady, to share the joyful wonder of life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X9 ATTRACTIVE 51 YEAR OLD professional woman in County Louth, NS, GSOH, interested in life and all it has to offer! Enjoys music, literature, cooking, theatre, driving to name but a few. WLTM a gentleman in the same age group with similar interests, a GSOH and a positive outlook on life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X10 DUBLIN WIDOW, recently retired, professional, varied interests, films, music, outdoor life and travel. WLTM sincere gent and hopefully end up as Soul mates!

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X11

WILD ATLANTIC WAY MAN seeks lady for weekends away, theatre, cinema, country walks, eating out and frequent travel to the West from anywhere in Ireland. Refined, educated and house trained 64 year old. Tall, grey and handsome with GSOH. ALA. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X12

SINGLE LADY 58 from East Europe, attractive, warm personality, many interests. WLTM honest caring gentleman 58-68 for genuine lasting relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X13 69 YEAR OLD IRISHMAN just back from

working abroad, seeks female partner 63 to 73 for company, perhaps romance. Loves theatre, cinema, walking and talking.

Friendly and easy-going.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X14 HI I’M A 52 year old woman who would like to meet men in the Dublin area aged 50-55 for friendship, my interests are reading, music and dining out.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X15

GALWAY MAN LATE FIFTIES. Interests include walking, reading, farming, travelling and gardening. WLTM woman of similar age and interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X16

DUBLIN SOUTHSIDE FEMALE aged 52 WLTM males or females for friendship, companionship or socialising. My hobbies are walking, gardening, swimming, travelling and dancing.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X17 NORTHSIDE DUBLIN MALE VEGETARIAN, 63, interested in meditation, walking, nature etc. NS, ND, WLTM similar males and females for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X 18

DUBLIN WOMAN, 50, INTERESTED IN WALKING, travelling, cinema, cooking and meeting new friends.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X19 ATTRACTIVE NORTH CO DUBLIN LADY, (60) with outgoing personality, NS, SD with many and varied interests WLTM respectable gent who would appreciate and treat her nicely.

Age range 50s to early 70s REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W1

MATURE LADY (60) WITH OUTGOING PERSONALITY would like to match up with lady or gent with a view to spending the coming winter (long term) in the Canary Islands to escape the unpleasant Irish winter.

Would suit someone interested in peace, relaxation and friendship. Age 55 or over. NS, SD preferred.REPLY YO BOX NUMBER W2 WEST OF IRELAND MAN EARLY 60s WLTM sincere lady for friendship/relationship. I am genuine, honest, caring. I like music, walking, DIY, sport, animals and country life.

ALA. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W3

GAY FEMALE NS, LATE 50s, Munster area WLTM same for friendship/companionship.

NS only REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W4

www.seniortimes.ie

DUBLIN NORTHSIDE WIDOWER, 65, many and varied interests, seeks lively Dublinbased lady for dining out, travel, cinema, walking etc., and of course for friendship and possible relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W5

ATTRACTIVE, ARTICULATE NEW YORK WOMAN EDUCATIONIST, early 60s, within Dublin catchment area WLTM a cultured, refined man with no ties. My interests are wide and varied and include a love of life, good conversation, comedy, theatre, travel, reading and the arts. My life is a tapestry of colours and sharing experiences makes it more enriched. Are you the complimentary other half? REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W6 LATE 60s CO GALWAY WIDOW. Interests include walking, cycling, country driving, gardening and travel. WLTM a late 60s widow.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W7

WEST OF IRELAND PROFESSIONAL LADY, semi-retired, single, NS, SD. Enjoys walking, travel, cinema, theatre, golf, weekends away, dining out, WLTM refined gentleman for friendship and companionship from any part of the country.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W8

RESPECTABLE SOUTH DUBLIN GENTLEMAN, 70, generous and interesting, WLTM lady for shared mutual enjoyment. Discretion assured and expected. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W9 SOUTH CITY DUBLIN MAN, LATE 50s, MANY INTERESTS, including travel, cinema, reading, cycling, dining out WLTM lady with similar interests for friendship and perhaps more. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W10

NORTHSIDE DUBLIN LADY, EARLY 60s, NO TIES, has GSOH, WLTM single, refined, caring gentleman. NS, SD, loves country life, nature, and the simple pleasures of life.

Interests include hill-walking, classical music, art and reading. I have some hearing difficulties. Perhaps if you are reading this and you are also in a similar situation you might like to get in touch.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W11

INTERESTED?

If you are interested in meeting someone of the opposite or same sexsend your advertisement to: Meeting Place, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email:john@slp.ie IMPORTANT Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live. Also ensure you include your postal address for those not on the Net. Deadline for receipt of advertisements for the next issue is 25th January 2015 PLEASE NOTE Each reply to an advertisement must also be accompanied by a plain, stamped envelope so that we can insert your reply and forward to the advertiser. Ensure that the individual box numbers are discreetly marked in pencil on the envelope.

Correspondents submitting advertisements, or replying to advertisements by email MUST also include their postal address for those not on the Net

SOUTH DUBLIN WOMAN WLTM professional gentleman, 70 plus, widower, separated, divorced, single. Like all the finer things in life as well as antiques, fishing, beach combing, weekends away etc. TV addicts and smokers need not apply.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W12

SEMI RETIRED TIPP LADY, well travelled, no ties, very sincere, kind and caring. WLTM a gent of around 60 who is active, fit and has sound family values to share interest in the arts, keeping fit, good conversation.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B1

MIDLANDS GENT, GSOH, SD, NS, no ties, 65.

Interests include walking, reading, DIY, gardening and travel. WLTM a lady, 55-65, with similar interests, for relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B2 RETIRED DUBLIN LEGAL SECRETARY, 72, 3rd level education, art qualification, many interests, WLTM educated gentleman for outings, companionship and friendship REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B3

SLIGO SINGLE WOMAN dancing enthusiast, mid 60s, WLTM male dancing partner to attend sequence, ceili, old-time, social dancing classes and events in the North West and surrounding areas.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B4 DUBLIN GENT, NS, ND, 60s, educated and refined, seeks sincere lady for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B5

PETITE, SINGLE DUBLIN LADY, retired professional, late 60s, WLTM kind, sincere, respectable gent, NS, ND, for friendship, companionship. Interests include dancing, walking and cinema.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B6

SPANISH LADY, DUBLIN BASED, warm, kind and caring WLTM a respectable, educated gentleman, late 50s, early 60s for friendship and companionship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B7 DUBLIN/LEINSTER MAN, 58, good communicator, caring, reasonably good appearance, likes music, reading, good conversation, travel, eating out, WLTM lady with similar interests for friendship/ romance.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B9

RETIRED CORK MAN, MANY INTERESTS, seeks to meet a sincere lady to enjoy Golden Years. Interests include foreign holidays, current affairs and the simple things in life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B13 PROFESSIONAL FEMALE, NS, SD, 60, divorced, own business. Like reading, exercise and watching sport. WLTM a gent in similar circumstances.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B14

NORTH DUBLIN WIDOW, sincere, tall, intelligent, good appearance and personality. Likes literature, outdoors, theatre, travel, interesting conversation, etc. WLTM kind, outgoing, unattached man, 75+, for companionship and, perhaps, deep friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B15

SOUTH EAST WIDOWER businessman, 64.

Interests include walking, good books, travel, food and wine, music, WLTM since lady for long term relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B16

RETIRED DUBLIN-BASED MALE DOCTOR, 61, widower, no ties, GSOH, WLTM independent woman with no ties. Interests include golf, current affairs, and travel.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S1 TALL DIVORCED 48 YEAR OLD MIDLANDS LADY, seeks tall, single professional gentleman, mid-50s with no ties, who is honest, generous and caring. Interests include travel, dancing, concerts, cinema, boating and sport.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S2

DUBLIN-BASED RETIRED MALE TEACHER, widower, no ties, WLTM educated lady for friendship and to share interests in the arts, walking and music.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S3

CORK WOMAN, 52, DIVORCED, would like to correspond with fun loving people who have a varied interest in life. Interested in travelling, holidays, walking, nature, dancing, music, cinema. Great listener. Would like to hear from people from all over the country.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B10

PROFESSIONAL FEMALE, 60, AVERAGE HEIGHT, NS, SD. Separated and run own business. Interests include reading and exercise and watching sport. Looking to meet gent in similar circumstances.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S4

SEMI-RETIRED DUBLIN MAN, various interests, seeks interesting lady for friendship and perhaps more.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B12

DIVORCED WICKLOW LADY, 50S, NS, interested in travelling, walking, cinema, music, reading and eating out. WLTM gent with similar interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S6

CLASSY LADY, DUBLIN-BASED, EARLY 60s recently returned to Ireland after living abroad for many years. Engaging, fit, attractive with outgoing personality seeks shy, sophisticated gentleman who is active, fit and has sound family values.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B11

CORK CITY RETIRED MAN WLTM sincere lady to enjoy Golden Years with. Interest include foreign holidays, current affairs and the simple things in life NS preferred. Genuine replies only. ALA REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S5

Motoring

Celerio joins the Suzuki ‘compact’ line

The new Suzuki Celerio has just gone on sale, just eight months after it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

It retains the trademark compact car drivability, while providing an interior space that surpasses that of conventional A-segment cars as well as a class-leading luggage capacity of 254L. It also boasts a new engine and new transmissions and offers best-in-class low CO2 emissions, low fuel consumption and lively drive. All these elements have been packed into a dynamically-styled vehicle with a unique colour line-up.

Internal space Despite the compact body with an easy-tomanoeuvre total length of 3,600mm, it balances best-in-class*1 interior space and a luggage capacity of 254 litres*3.

Class-leading low CO2 emissions In addition to adopting a new power train, Suzuki has pursued considerable weight reductions and aerodynamic performance in order to achieve a class-leading*1 low CO2 emissions of 84g/km*2 without compromising performance.

Exterior design A sharp front quarter with continuous headlamps and grille; a flowing press line running from front to rear; the body silhouette conveying the impression of comfortable cabin space and rear-end aerodynamics, enhanced by edge treatment. All design elements ensure its great look.

Page 76 Senior Times January 2015

Interior design The CELERIO development team aimed for a simple, ever-fresh, easy-to-use interior by providing a symmetrical design built around the centre panel. They have also successfully achieved a sense of roominess which exceeds the actual size by using a keynote outward-facing form and making the top of the dashboard panel flat.

Engines The Celerio will be available with a choice of two engine types, including the new K10C.

K10C Engine The newly developed 1.0-litre K10C petrol engine features major advances in thermal efficiency resulting from the improved compression ratio, the adoption of a dualinjection system, and friction reduction, and achieves a high-level balance between dynamic performance and fuel efficiency.

K10B Engine In conjunction with the development of the new CELERIO, Suzuki has implemented various improvements, such as weight and friction reductions in the highly reliable K10B engine.

Model

Engine

CO2 / Road Tax

Celerio GL K10B 99g/km - €180 Celerio GLX K10B 99g/km - €180 Celerio GL K10C Dual jet 84g/km - €180

Newly developed 5-speed manual transmission To boost efficiency, torque loss has been reduced by 40% by the reduction of oil volume and the installation of low-loss bearings. Increased synchro capacity and an improved lever ratio ensure more accurate and slicker gearshifts while driving.

Additional to the 5-speed manual transmission is "Auto Gear Shift", Suzuki’s newly developed automated manual transmission featuring the "Intelligent Shift Control Actuator", which is an electronic hydraulic actuator that operates the shift and clutch automatically.

Safety features The new Celerio features Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT).

High-tensile steel, along with features such as crumple zones, a frame structure that effectively disperses impact load, and a high-strength cabin structure that protects occupants.

Combined, they result in a lightweight body with outstanding impact-absorbing performance.

Combined Fuel Consumption Price 4.3 L/100kms 4.3 L/100kms 3.6 L/100kms

€11,995 €12,995 €12,995

Advice

Know Your Rights Advice from the Citizens Information Service

holiday. (Your employer can decide whether to give you time off or pay.)

Part-time workers must have worked for the employer for at least 40 hours in the previous five-week period to have a public holiday entitlement.

If you work part-time and the public holiday falls on a day that you usually work you are entitled to a day’s pay or a paid day off for the public holiday. Part-time workers who are not to work on a public holiday are still entitled to be paid or to paid time off for the public holiday. Part-time workers get one-fifth of their normal pay for the week as compensation for the holiday.

I work part-time from Monday to Wednesday. This year Christmas falls on a Thursday. Will I get paid for Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, even though I don’t work on those days? What about New Year’s Day which falls on the following Thursday?

Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day are public holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not. All workers are entitled either to paid time off or pay for a public www.seniortimes.ie

If you are required to work on a public holiday you are entitled to be paid at your usual rate and you are also entitled to either an additional day’s pay or a paid day off.

In your case you should receive one-fifth of your normal weekly pay for each of the three public holidays, Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day. So you should get the additional pay or the equivalent amount of time off.

Your employer can decide which option to give you.

You can get detailed information on employment rights on the website workplacerelations.ie.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 77

I am about to retire from work. I will get a State Pension (Contributory) and a small occupational pension. Are these pensions taxed?

If you have a State pension and another source of income, you may have to pay tax on your combined income. Some social welfare payments are not taxable, but most long-term payments, including the State Pension (Contributory) are. Your State pension and Occupational Pension are added together and your tax liability is calculated on the total amount.

There is no mechanism for taxing your social welfare pension at source (before it is paid to you). Your other income determines how tax due is paid. There are increased tax exemption limits for people aged over 65. If you are aged 65 or over and your total income is less than €18,000 a year (if you are single) or if your joint income is less than €36,000 (if you are married or in a civil partnership) you are exempt from income tax.

In your case, you will be getting a State Pension (Contributory) and an occupational pension. Your occupational pension is taxed through the PAYE system in the same way as a wage or salary. This means that you get your tax credits or tax exemption in the normal way. Revenue collects tax on your State Pension by reducing your annual tax credits on your occupational pension. You then effectively pay tax on both the pensions, but it is collected from the occupational pension.

For higher incomes, the standard rate cut-off point, the amount of income at which the higher rate of tax starts to apply, will also be reduced. The technical term for this is coding-in of credits.

If the tax exemption thresholds do not apply to you, then you are entitled to a personal tax credit, PAYE tax credit and age tax credit (which applies to people over 65). You do not pay the Universal Social Charge (USC) on the State Pension, but you may have to pay USC on your occupational pension.

People aged over 65 do not pay PRSI. Page 78 Senior Times January 2015

I’ve been on Jobseeker’s Allowance for a while and there’s nothing available in my old trade. I’d like to retrain, get some work experience and maybe even set up a business. Where can I find out about my options?

Gettingbacktowork.ie, a new website from the Citizens Information Board, has a broad range of information aimed specifically at people in your situation.

It answers many questions that you may have on returning to work and provides information that will be useful if you plan to start a business.

It includes a ‘My situation’ section which covers the path back to work for a specific situation such as an early school leaver, a recently unemployed person and a jobseeker who wishes to retrain, as well as someone who wants to set up a business.

Topics include: • Payments for jobseekers – the main income supports and extra benefits • The way back to work – employment schemes to help you back to work • Education and training to improve your chances of finding a job • Benefits and work – supports for people in work and the benefits you can keep when you get a job • Starting a job – types of employment, finding a job, contracts of employment, signing off social welfare • Your rights in work – employment rights and equality at work • Setting up a business – information sources, legal structures, tax and income supports • Money matters – tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and more Gettingbacktowork.ie uses selected content from

www.seniortimes.ie

citizensinformation.ie. This new website has been designed to adapt to different devices like tablets and smartphones, as well as laptops, so you can access it from anywhere and get the information you need.

I paid the Local Property Tax by credit card this time last year. Is it the same amount for 2015 and how do I pay?

We borrowed a lot to pay for our children’s college fees and weddings, when we both had good incomes. We now earn less than before and find it very hard to cover our debts. We’re afraid to open letters or answer the phone in case it’s another demand for payment. Is there any help for people like us?

You are clearly in financial difficulty and struggling with your debts. There are many people in a similar situation.

Your Local Property Tax (LPT) is based on the valuation of your property on 1 May 2013. However, the rate you pay for 2015 may vary from the 2014 rate, following the introduction of the local adjustment factor. This means that the basic LPT rates can be adjusted up or down by up to15% in different local authority areas.

Fourteen local authorities have reduced 2015 LPT rates in their areas by up to 15%. You can use Revenue's online calculator to check how much LPT is payable in different local authority areas.

As you paid your LPT for 2014 in one lump sum, you will get a letter from Revenue (or an email if you are a ROS customer) telling you whether your local authority changed the rate for 2015 and confirming the amount of LPT due. If you own more than one property, the letter will confirm the total amount due for all your properties. It will include your Property ID and PIN. When you get this letter you must confirm how you want to pay your 2015 LPT to Revenue. You can choose to continue to pay your LPT in the way you paid it in 2014 or you can change your payment method. You will recall from last year that, if you pay by credit card, the deduction will be made on the day that the transaction is completed online.

You must have contacted Revenue by 25 November 2014 if you want to switch to a phased payment method or by 7 January 2015 if you want to pay in full in one lump sum. The easiest way to do this is to use the LPT online system. If you need help with the online system you can call the LPT helpline on 1890 200 255.

People who didn’t pay their 2014 LPT in a lump sum do not get a letter from Revenue and they do not need to do anything unless they want to change their payment method. Revenue will apply any rate reductions automatically.

Three debt solutions have been set up to help people with serious debt problems to sort out their situation and get protection from their creditors. They are the Debt Relief Notice (DRN), Debt Settlement Arrangement (DSA) and Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA).

The appropriate solution for you depends on the size of your debts and whether or not you have a mortgage. You apply through an Approved Intermediary for a DRN and through a Personal Insolvency Practitioner for a DSA or PIA. These qualified insolvency professionals are supervised by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). When the solution has been put in place, your creditors cannot contact you while you stick to the agreed arrangements. Depending on your situation, some or all of your debt can be written off.

Many Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) companies have been authorised as Approved Intermediaries to help people on low incomes, with debts under €20,000, through the Debt Relief Notice (DRN) process. For a DSA or PIA, which generally cover larger debts, your creditors must agree to the solution proposed by your Personal Insolvency Practitioner. If they don’t agree, you then have the option of bankruptcy.

You can get further information from MABS on 0761 07 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm), from mabs.ie, from the ISI’s helpline 0761 06 4200 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm) and from isi.gov.ie.

The ISI also has a new website backontrack.ie for people who are struggling with debt.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by the Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

Senior Times January 2015 Page 79

Star of the tree Crafts

Connie McEvoy shows you how to make an attractive Christmas tree decoration

Expertise: skilled.

Time: about 10 hours.

You will need a piece of red cotton fabric 13 x 26 cms which allows a 1 cm seam allowance, a piece of white fabric [silk was used in this project] 9 x16 cms and a piece of iron on vilene 22 x 42 cms.

1 spool of Tootal gold Lurex thread 1 spool of machine cotton thread no 40 red, 1 spool of machine cotton thread no 40 white[for outlining of motifs and oval shapes].

Anchor stranded cotton 1 skein each of red no 11 for the poinsettia, pink no 050 large candle, mauve no 090 small candle, green no 269 holly leaf left green no 0281 holly leaf right, green no 268 Christmas tree, green no 0257 poinsettia.

Multis embellishment yarn colour holiday.

Crewel embroidery needle [fine] tapestry needle, bodkin, pins, greaseproof paper, black pencil and some cotton wool for padding, an embroidery scissors.

Trimits rocailles about 8 red, 5 beer brown and 3 yellow for Christmas tree and holly berries.

Embroidery key 2 strands used throughout except for Lurex and multis embellishment yarn Large candle-pink no 050 padded satin stitch, small candle-mauve no 090 padded satin stitch, holly on left-green no 269 fishbone stitch, holly on rightgreen no 0281 fishbone stitch, poinsettia-green no 0257 needle weaving and French knots in centre, poinsettia-red no 11 needle weaving, Christmas tree-green no 268 stem stitch, fly stitch and straight stitches. Candle flames[backstitch] buttonhole fringe and beads all stitched in Tootal Lurex thread. The edge of finished star decoration is outlined by couching a strand of Multis embellishment yarn over seam and forming a tassel at bottom point.

Page 80 Senior Times January 2015

Work the two embroidered motifs first as follows, cut the white fabric in half, and cut two equally sized pieces of iron on Vilene which can now be ironed to back of each piece, draw both oval motifs onto greaseproof paper using black pencil, pin one motif securely and centrally to the front of each of the two pieces of white fabric and backstitch entire design through greaseproof paper using white machine cotton. When satisfied that all outlines have been clearly transferred onto white fabric the greaseproof paper can be stretched and pulled away from the backstitched outline, embroidery can now commence over the backstitched outlines which will act as padding for the candles and buttonholed oval shapes. If any of the backstitching shows after the motif is complete it can be safely snipped at the back of work and removed.

A line of chain stitch was used to pad each candle before finishing in satin stitch and a bodkin was held in the left hand against the edge of the oval outline as the buttonhole edge was worked, the thread was wound once around the bodkin after each stitch was worked in order to form the fringe, it will be necessary to release most of the loops at intervals as work progresses around the oval. Stitch the holly berries in place using the red cotton thread no 40 and red beads, use the gold Lurex thread

when attaching the other beads which are intended as decorations on the tree.

Carefully cut excess fabric around the buttonhole fringed edge of oval shaped motifs avoiding stitches and loops, press each motif on several layers of towel.

Star shape Cut the red cotton fabric in half also the remainder of the iron on Vilene; iron the Vilene to the wrong side of each piece.

Draw the star motif onto Vilene using black pencil and cut out allowing 1 cm all round for seams, trim Vilene to motif outline and turn seam allowance neatly to back of star shape carefully snipping and folding where necessary for neat fit.

Carefully stitch an embroidered motif to centre of each star shape front using white cotton thread, pin both shapes together right sides out. Using red cotton thread neatly top stitch both shapes together along outer edge finishing at the tip of last two points, use the cotton wool to stuff the star at this stage and continue stitching the edges, finish off neatly.

Stitch the Multis Embellishment Yarn in place along the finished seam, starting at the bottom point and leaving 3 cms to hang loose [for tassel] continue on to top point where a loop is formed and back to bottom point where some more loops are formed to complete the tassel when cut and tied. www.seniortimes.ie

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