Over The Hilda

A few weeks ago, at the beginning of November, we spent a lovely week with friends in Quinta Do Lago in the Portuguese Algarve.  Lisbon is the only other part of Portugal that we have visited and we absolutely loved the city. This time we were staying in the Fairways Four Seasons Resort just twenty

Bone Health has been in the news recently because of World Osteoporosis Day. I am aware of it for many reasons: 1 Following a diagnosis of osteopenia in 2016, I decided to do some research and educate myself. 2 I followed that up by writing a blog post about how to look after our bone

Skin Cancer, Spain and Fake Tan sound like odd bedfellows. Well, you are right. I just threw them together in a post. But there is a tenuous connection. Because I was going to Spain, I tried yet another false tan. And a few days after I returned, I was having my cancerous lesion removed. SPAIN

Well, the days are darker and temperatures have fallen, so it is time to get our cosy coats out. When socialising changed with the start of Covid, my friends and I met for coffee outside. We have continued to do that, so a warm puffa/padded coat is a necessity. Coats are my one weakness! Do

‘BOOKS GIVE A SOUL TO THE UNIVERSE, WINGS TO THE MIND, FLIGHT TO THE IMAGINATION AND LIFE TO EVERYTHING’ – PLATO Books have the power to take you to other worlds, other times.  Recently, I have been to the court of King Henry VIII, to Poland during World War 2 and to The Russian Court

Anna chose ‘Pretty in Pink’ as our Style Not Age theme this month and I struggled a little as I have very little pink in my wardrobe. I do love this pink coat that I have had for years. Is it powder pink or blush pink, or insipid pink? The label is Bastyan and I

I decided to do a more general chat this week, an ‘All Kinds of Everything’ kind of post. I tend to post on the blog once a week, but am more active on Instagram stories. So, I want to fill in my readers who are not on social media. Well, what have I been up

Some feeling of normality returned last week when I attended my first fashion show in nearly two years. Helen McAlinden’s collection was showcased beautifully in Harvey’s the restaurant in Harvey Nichols in Dundrum Town Centre. I had some photos on my Instagram stories last week. But one of my followers (whom I bumped into recently

Graham and I had a very pleasant visit to Baltinglass last month. Why go to Baltinglass you may well ask? What has Baltinglass to offer? Well, Jean Kelly Massage and Holistic Therapist offered Graham and me some complimentary treatments. Jean has joined other members of her family in offering holistic treatments. Her father and her

Hello everyone. It is all about statement sleeves with my friends at ‘Style Not Age’. I searched my wardrobe and found nothing of interest there. There were no statement sleeves that impressed me. So, I had to go shopping. And I found this lovely shirt from ‘Studio 124‘ in Malahide with fabulous full sleeves and

It is time to share some of the books I have read and loved recently.  In the last year I have become addicted to audible books. A really good narrator can make such a difference. Sometimes I listen when I am walking, other times when I am tidying up or cooking; tasks that do not

Hello everyone. In my post this week, I am delighted to be able to share with you that The Menopause Success Summit, in partnership with Cleanmarine will be taking place virtually on Saturday September 25th 2021. I first wrote about THE MENOPAUSE in the early days of the blog way back in 2016. It was

Nutrition therapist and  natural chef Nicky Halliday’s first book ‘A Practical Guide to Cooking for Health’ is more than a book full of delicious recipes. Yes, the recipes are delicious. And easy too. But let me start by telling you a little about the author. NICKY HALLIDAY Nicky has explored different careers. But her interest

July Jackets, chosen by Jacqui, makes for a good alliterative opening to this month’s ‘Style Not Age’ prompt. Is it because I am in my mid-sixties that I feel that time is flying by? Or is it because it feels we are stuck on PAUSE at the moment, waiting for life to get back to 

When Elaine at Bespoke Beauty offered me a complimentary Yumi  Lash Lift, I was a little unsure. I do not have great eyelashes I told her. They are not in great condition. In fact, I have some bald patches sometimes. Why do eyelashes fall from the same area at the same time? But I was

While staying at Dublin’s Merrion Hotel (by the way that special offer I mentioned in my post is now finished….sorry) Graham and I pretended we were tourists and enjoyed exploring Dublin. So here is a little snapshot of where we went and who we met. JAMES JOYCE It was Bloomsday when we were there and

GG and I spent a night in The Merrion a few weeks ago and it was heaven. We were actually supposed to go after Christmas, but then we had another lockdown! We have been starved of pampering because of Covid and at this stage of our lives we do enjoy a bit of luxury now

Hello, my friends. ‘Style Not Age’ is back with a picnic theme this month. What would you wear to a picnic? This prompt came from Gail of ‘Is this Mutton’. Do you go on picnics? I used to as a child. I would gather my sisters and take them off to a nearby field that

I have given in. Finally, I am taking Statins to help lower my cholesterol. Since menopause, my cholesterol has been elevated. But now it has gone through the roof! Fifteen years ago, my then doctor tried to put me on statins. I resisted. But since giving up tennis (because of back-related problems), it has risen

HOW THE SKY AND SEA INSPIRE ME When I think of the sky, I picture the colour blue. Some fluffy white clouds float by. Another favourite would be sunset or sunrise with yellow, red and orange colours dominating. Similarly with the sea, I prefer the blues of sunny days rather than the greys of stormy

Of course, I was aware of Kiehl’s Skincare products, but I never used any of them until a few months ago. I was sent some as part of a press drop.  And YES, I am impressed. HISTORY OF KIEHL’S SKINCARE Kiehl’s is an American skincare company which was created by an apothecary/pharmacist in 1851 in

I promised a follow-up post on my experience of having an episode of Transient Global Amnesia. Thank you to all those people who commented on the post and to the other twelve who sent me personal  emails. One of my readers also told me of a support group on Facebook so of course I asked

Another month nearly over. And we have the perfect prompt of ‘Spring Sweaters’ from Anna for our ‘Style Not Age’ feature this month. There may have been a lot of sunshine but there is still a chilly wind most days. While I have ditched the heavy winter coats, I still need to keep warm. No

A press drop of iconic Maybelline mascaras brightened up a blustery day in March. It is 50 years since the launch of Maybelline’s iconic Great Lash mascara. I am always on the hunt for an incredible mascara.  This is particularly difficult the older I get as the lashes become more brittle. Well everything does, I