Malahide Estuary

Goodbye to 2020 and Look Forward

Goodbye 2020 I believe that most of us (probably everyone) are happy to see the back end of 2020. Personally, it has not been all bad as we welcomed our third grandson on my birthday on December 9th. And we managed to get through the various restrictions including the FIRST LOCKDOWN without too much difficulty.
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Primark green coat

Out and About with Style Not Age

Our ‘Style Not Age’ collective shows what we wear when we are ‘out and about’. In my case, I have been living in casual clothes. I presume most of you have too.  In Dublin (Ireland), we have been in and out of various levels of restrictions since last March. We had a brief reprieve for
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10 reasons why you should take Vitamin C

Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that we have strong immune systems. There has been plenty of evidence to suggest that supplementation with Vitamin C and Vitamin D has an impact on keeping us healthy and in fighting Covid-19.  Regular readers know that I have been championing Vitamin D for years. Check
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The importance of Vitamin D – don’t be left in the dark.

This post was first published in 2017 and again last year,but there has been a lot of discussion about Vitamin D and the role it could play in helping fight the Covid-19 virus recently, so I have decided to give it another airing. I have provided more up-to-date links. In researching this post, I have
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Gothic Romance for Halloween Week with ‘Style Not Age’

GOTHIC ROMANCE Emma’s theme of Gothic Romance is perfect for Halloween Week. I am more of a Romantic than a Goth in my style but I did enjoy the challenge. It certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone. I chose a local graveyard for my backdrop, within my 5k radius in a really beautiful
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Malahide Castle

Malahide Castle and Gardens is one of North County Dublin’s Top Attractions

I feel blessed to live in Malahide with its abundance of natural amenities, one of the most outstanding being Malahide Castle and Gardens. I tend to walk along the coast most days or around Paddy’s Hill if I want a climb. But I always head to the ‘Castle’ when the coast is too raw and
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Test-driving the New Renault Zoe

ZOE AND ME Last week, I had the opportunity to test-drive the all-electric New Renault Zoe. I know I am no Rosemary Smith (one of the brand ambassadors) so I was pretty chuffed when Renault asked me if I would like to put it through its paces. Those who know me know that I prefer
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Castleknock Hotel Highly Recommended for Covid Times and Any Time

GG and I spent a night recently (gifted) at Castleknock Hotel in Porterstown, near Castleknock, Dublin. WELCOME A few days before our visit we received an email in which the procedures/guidelines in place for safety were explained and laid out. From the moment we entered the large and airy foyer at Castleknock Hotel, we felt
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 Ella & Jo Cosmetics – Affordable and Effective Irish Products

ELLA & JO ‘LIMITED EDITION’ ORANGE BLOSSOM HYALURONIC  SKIN MIST Do you use a facial mist? It has been a necessary addition to my beauty routine for years, particularly so as my skin ages.  I use it to prep before make-up and to refresh my skin.  When I was sent a bottle of Ella &
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How to Fix Broken, Chipped, Worn Teeth and Improve your Smile

‘Teeth are always in style’. Dr. Seuss I have been smiling without showing my teeth recently (see below) because I have not been particularly happy with their condition. My top front teeth had become weakened and worn down, the edges were rough and the enamel was damaged. They had also lost length. Seemingly, this is
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Golf break at Tulfarris Hotel, Wicklow Ireland

Golf with my friends has kept me sane during these turbulent times. I play regularly in my club at Malahide in Dublin. Though I took up the game in my late 50s, I can play to a level where I enjoy it without getting too frustrated now. I wrote about my initial struggles in a
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Our Signature Colour is ‘Style Not Age’ July’s Theme

This month, I have asked my ‘Style Not Age’ friends to each choose their Signature Colour. This is their ‘go to’ colour, the colour that they are drawn to when they open their wardrobe or go into a shop.  I head straight for red, orange and yellow (more mustard really) as I am obsessed with
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Zara check trousers

Check Me Out With Style Not Age

This month, my friends and I in ‘Style Not Age’ are featuring anything and everything check. I love check and have featured many looks over the past few years. You may remember these trousers from Punt Roma, exclusive to Shaws Department Stores. They have got a lot of wear because they are so comfortable.  The
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Books to Enthral, Delight and Educate

I am sharing with you my favourite books that I have read so far this year. When it comes to books, I read pretty much anything except Science Fiction. And I don’t really like anything too violent. I am the same when it comes to the telly. (I started ‘Gangs of London’ but could not
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‘Style Not Age’ roar Welcome to The Jungle

Our Style Not Age ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ prompt for May comes from Emma (Style Splash) and gave us plenty of scope. If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know that I am addicted to animal print. The leopard, cheetah, tiger and even zebra prints are prominent in my wardrobe.
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Hilda upstyled Zara combo

Upstyling or Revamping your Wardrobe With The Zip Yard

Upstyling is the buzz word of the moment, as is sustainable fashion. They go hand in hand, I suppose. Some people are very good at upstyling. I was not one of them, but I have been converted. The stylist daughter Courtney (you can follow her on Instagram @courtneysmithstyle) is an avid upstyler. From a young
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Unbelieva Brow

My Brows are Back with ‘Unbelieva Brow’ by L’Oreal

My Brows are Back with ‘Unbelieva Brow’  by L’Oreal (well temporarily back). Lockdown has played havoc with my brows. Usually I get them dyed and then all I have to fill them in with a pencil. And my go-to pencil is Charlotte Tilbury. I like many of Charlotte’s products. But they have been gradually disappearing in
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Comfy Casuals for Staying Home with ‘Style Not Age’

Since I retired from teaching, I have more comfy casuals in my wardrobe than ever before. In winter, it means jeans and a top/jumper worn with boots. In summer, it is more likely to be a top and light trousers or skirt. VERY CASUAL EVERYDAY LOOK DURING LOCKDOWN For the first few weeks of lockdown,
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Call the Midwife

Must Watch Series on Netflix During Covid 19

Now is the time while in isolation/cocooning/quarantine/lockdown to watch some excellent series on Netflix that you might have missed in the past.  If you are not into watching telly, I posted plenty of other recommendations LAST WEEK.  But if you feel like some escapism through the box, read on. And  check out some other recommendations
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How to Survive while Self-Isolating or in Lockdown during Covoid 19

When we look back on 2020 (the year of the coronavirus now known as Covoid 19), the words of the year will be self-isolating, physical distancing and lockdown. In Ireland, our Taoiseach (that’s Prime Minister for non-Irish readers!) Leo Varadkar refuses to call our restrictions ‘lockdown’. Instead, he uses the softer, more caring term: COCOONING.
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Denim Directions with ‘Style Not Age’

My friends from ‘Style Not Age’ and I are bringing you denim this month.  We decided we need to bring you some normality. In Ireland, Graham and I have been in self-isolation for two weeks. We have seen our family from a distance. More restriction came in two days ago and now we can only
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Doonagore Castle Co Clare

Exploring County Clare and The Wild Atlantic Way

County Clare was practically unknown to me. Though I had passed through it, I had never been to The Cliffs of Moher, for instance, or driven along The Wild Atlantic Way, so Graham and I decided to take a break there in mid-January and call into Gort to see some friends on the way home.
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A Fascinating Tour Of 14 Henrietta Street Dublin

14 Henrietta Street tells the story of 300 years of life within the walls of one Georgian house in Dublin city. Built over five floors, with a basement, it is located on one of the most beautiful, still intact, Georgian streets I have seen. On the day I visited with some friends we had a
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Kilkea Castle the perfect luxury hotel

Kilkea Castle is only a stone’s throw from Dublin (about an hour’s drive). GG and I arrived as Storm Dennis was in full swing. The 12th century castle stands proudly over 180 acres of woodland, golf course and gardens. I had spent an afternoon there last year at the opening of the Spa, but it
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