Wedded Bliss – a male perspective

Some weeks ago, I wrote a blog post with some hints for a happy marriage. Now, in his second ‘Beside the Hilda’ contribution to overthehilda, GG has offered to put a male slant on the married union! Not sure I agree with everything he wrote, but I have let him have his say without amendment!!!  When
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Ladies’ Day at the RDS Horse Show – a memorable experience!

It is not often I get a chance to wear a hat, so when I was invited toDundrum Town Centre Ladies’ Day at the RDS Dublin Horse Show last week by Qatar Airways (the main airline sponsor) I jumped at the chance. See what I did there! The day began with brunch at The Intercontinental
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Jewellery fit for a Queen

Not many people know this but the Queen of England, the 24th President of America and I have something in common – we each have gifts of custom-made jewellery crafted by Irish goldsmith and jewellery designer Declan Killen. Declan was first commissioned to create a brooch for Queen Elizabeth for her State Visit here in
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Stripes…the love affair continues.

Last summer, I wrote a blog post about my obsession with stripes – you can read the post here. The love affair with stripes has continued this year! What is it about me that when I go into a shop I am immediately drawn to them? Neither the colour nor the direction of the stripes matter;
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wedding vow on tray

Marriage is not for the faint-hearted- How to Stay Married for 35 Years and Not Kill your Husband

 MARRIAGE VOWS Disclosure! I have not kept all my marriage vows. Those who know me well will not be surprised and probably know which one I have broken already. In my defence, I tried my best to get out of it the night before the wedding, but our minister said it would require a special
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New Affordable Skin Products You Will Want to Buy

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Taking Risks with an Asymmetrical, Deconstructed Cold Shoulder!

I have been a fan of the cold shoulder for 18 months, ever since I bought a lovely grey sweater which I have worn almost to death. I fancied myself as quite daring; I certainly hadn’t seen anyone over 50 of my acquaintance sporting one. And it got the seal of approval from the stylist
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Cancer survivor donates book proceeds to Irish Cancer Society

I would probably have urged you to buy Des Allen’s book ‘Wanderings & Ponderings’ because the proceeds are going to benefit the Irish Cancer Society. Having read the contents, I can also recommend that you buy it because Des is a fine writer and his collection of writings – recollections, musings and even some stories
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4 Rules to Break after 50 by guest blogger Nina Bandoni

This week, I am delighted to introduce you to my friend, the beautiful and fashionable Nina Bandoni from Florida. Nina and I were both part of the Fierce 50 Revolution launch way back in February and I have enjoyed getting to know her through her very interesting blog ‘Sharing a Journey’.  Nina is guest blogging
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Chez Sara – charming wine bar in the heart of Malahide

GG and I are regulars at the quaint little restaurant and wine bar Chez Sara on Old Street in Malahide. It is important to book, particularly at the weekends, but sometimes we pop in around 6 o’clock on the off-chance that we might get a seat at the counter, where we can watch the chefs
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Frayed Jeans Trend – Do I dare?

I am not trend driven at all. Well, I probably was when I was young, but certainly not now. I wear what I like and what I think suits me. Obviously, I get some help from the stylist daughter. Or rather she critiques and says yea or nay. Sometimes she says maybe. I love to
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Unique hand-crafted jewellery you will not be able to resist

This week I want to introduce you to another creative: Mary Drea. Maybe you have already read about her. Image Magazine recently named her as a jewellery designer to follow (she trades under addiebeads at the moment) or maybe you discovered her in one of the craft fairs or pop-up shops where she was selling
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Diffusing online shopping with Diffusion

I first met Kate Gleeson when the stylist daughter and I were shopping for her Debs’ dress in Kate’s shop “Diffusion”, in Clontarf in Dublin. We bought the most beautiful dress there by an up-and-coming designer. Kate stocked some of the top designers such as Dolce and Gabbana and catered for an affluent clientele. It
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Rock ‘n’ Roll is alive and KICKING

It was Marilyn Monroe who said “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world”. I reckon she meant boots because the stylist daughter Courtney has again collaborated with Shoe Lab with a second boot collection that is already conquering the world just 24 hours after the launch, with online sales as
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Allicano – no longer a secret

Shsh! I am going to tell you a secret. Why? Because I am a sharing kind of person. Maybe some of you already know about this little gem, this wonderful little boutique called Allicano. It’s a little off the beaten track in Johnson Place at the top of South William Street near the Stephen’s Green
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Avoiding ‘the morning-after-the-night-before’!

The older I get, the less I am able to drink and the less I want to drink. Now, I am no saint and I have to say I am rather partial to a gin and tonic (Hendricks preferably) and I love bubbly and I enjoy a few glasses of red wine with a meal.
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‘Selected’ stylishly Scandinavian

Have you heard about the Danish label Selected Femme/Homme? I have only recently discovered it since it arrived at the end of last year in my local shopping centre Swords Pavilions, but you can also find the label in stores like Arnotts or if you are so inclined you can shop online at www.selected.ie Why
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Pretty Provence, Peter Mayle and me

Having just returned from a break visiting friends in Provence, it is easy to see why Peter Mayle, the British author of ‘A Year in Provence’, fell in love with the area about thirty years ago. We were also blessed with sunny days and temperatures in the mid-twenties in March when we were there and
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Monart Spa Mid-Week Break to Remember

The 2017 Jaguar sports coupe purred up the drive just in front of us as we arrived for our mid-week break at Monart Spa near Enniscorthy. One of the valets on duty took out the Louis Vuitton cases, and the elegant couple, bedecked in their designer gear, entered the building. We never saw them again.
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Introducing an unsung creative writer

In a departure from my usual post, I’d like to use the platform of my blog to introduce you to an inspiring woman I encountered recently – another ‘Fierce 50’ woman. Deborah Blacoe, however, is not a blogger but rather a writer who until now has only shared her musings and jottings with her friends.
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The Sleep Obsession

Apparently, we sleep for about one-third of our lives, or we spend it in bed trying to sleep. We are obsessed with sleep and how well we sleep. When my children were small, I never got enough of it; my first-born was not a sleeper and GG and I took it in turns to get
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Staying fierce with the Fierce 50 Movement

  Following on from the Fierce 50 Campaign launched by a group of bloggers (including overthehilda) worldwide on February 20th – the 50th day of the year – I am delighted to announce that the Campaign has now become a Movement. We are calling on all women all over the world to join and support
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50 fierce over-50 women collaborate to launch global campaign

Today, February 19th, I am honoured to be part of a movement with over 50 “over-50 bloggers” around the world to launch the first Fierce Over-50 Campaign on the 50th day of the year. Brainchild of the beautiful Catherine  McCormick (catherinegraceo.com), we want  to begin shifting a worldwide perception of this demographic in today’s world. A
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Valentine’s Day…what we do for love!

History lesson. Where did Valentine’s Day originate? Who was this St. Valentine fellow? Seemingly, Emperor Claudius made it illegal for young Roman men to marry, because he felt that single men made better soldiers. But a priest named Valentine continued to secretly marry young lovers. Of course, he was found out and sentenced to death.
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