The Lowdown on Taking Probiotic Supplements

WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS? They are live cultures of “good bacteria” that benefit our digestive systems and boost our immune systems. ‘Probiotics are micro-organisms (microflora) that reside in our intestine. They are good bacteria that keep pathogens (harmful micro-organisms or bacteria) in check, aid proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function. Probiotics have
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Water Filtration is Vital for Better Health

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”, Coleridge wrote in ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. We all know that water is essential for good health.  In fact, it is the single most important substance in relation to our health. Sixty percent of the human body is made up of water, depending on how hydrated
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Purple Reigns and Rains in ‘Style Not Age’

‘When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.’ Written by poet Jenny Joseph at the age of 29 in 1961, the poem ‘Warning’ went on to spawn ‘The Red Hat Society’, an organisation where women over 50 have fun and which now
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The Quantum Health Analyser – Science or Science Fiction?

The Quantum Health Analyser sounds like something from a Science Fiction movie or TV series.  In fact, it sounds pretty scary. And when my physical therapist Andrew Smith of The Willows Clinic offered me a free analysis, I was unsure at first. You will have read about Andrew in my previous post on STRESS! I
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How Work Stress made me Sick and Complementary Medicine Helped me Recover

Stress is one of the biggest problems in today’s world. Of course, we all have to deal with stressful situations at various times in our lives, but continuous stress can impact hugely on our health, as I found out to my cost in 2010. BACKGROUND I taught English very happily for 34 years and even
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group Stylish Mondays

Maxi Madness with my ‘Stylish Mondays’ friends

I join with some stylish sisters in showcasing our love of the maxi. Those of you who know me well, or who have followed my blog for some time, know that there is one item of clothing that I wear more than any other and that is the maxi dress. I have about a dozen
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Where to stay and what to do in Portaferry, Co. Down

It seems as if we have been in Northern Ireland quite a lot over the past year. First was a wonderful stay at the Galgorm Resort & Spa near Ballymena and a tour of the north Antrim coast. Then last April, I wrote about our stay in The Cairn Bay Lodge in Bangor and a
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Shopping for the Real You

Good morning. My last blog post is all about looking the best you can for your age. It is about taking care of your skin, boosting collagen and elastin with customised treatments and products. I make no apology for trying to look good for my age.  I have written plenty about how I take care
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Endymed – The Non-Surgical Facelift with Jeanne Brophy
Is it possible to tighten the jawline and have some of the effects of a facelift without having surgery?  The answer is Yes.  I have been lucky enough to have been gifted some treatments at Jeanne Brophy’s salon in Clontarf and I am delighted with the results. You may have read my post on the
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Bewley’s Cafe Tour – a trip down Memory Lane

Bewley’s was the place where I spent quite a lot of time in my student days back in the ’70s. I studied English in TCD, which meant only a few hours of lectures and lots of time for reading. Of course, I could have studied in the College Library, but my friends and I preferred
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Flaming June Fashion with ‘Style not Age’

‘Flaming June’ may be something of a misnomer as it is very likely that June 2019 might be our wettest June on record.  I can tell you that the two most used items in my wardrobe this June are my raincoat and my umbrella. But I am ever the optimist and hope that there is
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Ageism is Never in Style and Brands should Take Note

Within the next two years, for the first time in human history, there will be more people worldwide over 65 than under five.  That should be a wake-up-call to BRANDS that they should be more inclusive when it comes to promoting their products. Older people can be more discerning (in many instances) and have a
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Health Checks for Women Over 50

Most of us tend to avoid doctors and health checks in our younger years unless there is some specific reason to book an appointment. But when we reach 50 or so (and have been lucky enough to stay healthy) it is definitely time to schedule some health checks. Much as we hate to admit it
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Stylish Mondays Summer Whites Collaboration

Stylish Mondays feature Summer Whites this month. I actually do not have a lot of white in my wardrobe and the whites I have tend to be soft not bright. In fact, I am not even sure that these jeans, which I have for years, are even white. They are more off-white or even cream,
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recycled fashion

Recycled fashion challenge with Style-Not-Age

  The word ‘recycled’ has become very fashionable again in today’s more environmentally conscious climate and Anna (Annasislandstyle) chose it as the theme for this month’s Style-Not-Age challenge. The idea is that we put together an outfit by borrowing or buying second-hand and shopping our own wardrobe. I used to be an avid second-hand shopper.
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‘How to Live Better for Longer’

Tonight I will be making my television debut on ‘How to Live Better for Longer’ on RTE1 at 9.35pm! Having told everyone who listened that I probably would end up on the cutting room floor, I saw and heard myself on the preview, so I know I will feature, however briefly. Below you can see
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 Fried Halloumi in The Cairn Bay Lodge Starfish Cafe

When in Bangor, County Down recently, GG and I stayed in The Cairn Bay Lodge, the most amazing B&B or guest house we’ve ever experienced. Friends of ours were putting on a play in a local theatre, so we hopped up the road, merely a two-hour drive from Dublin. A dormitory town for Belfast, Bangor
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Serious Readers’ Alex Light Review

I can see clearly now…. I am actually talking about my vision, but it is also a bit of a ‘light-bulb’ moment. You see, I took delivery a few weeks ago of my Serious Readers’ lamp. And wow has it changed how I see things. Let me explain. MY EYESIGHT HISTORY 30 years ago, I
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Pastel dress

Pastels as worn by our ‘Style Not Age’ group

Wearing Pastels is our ‘Style not Age’ challenge this month and that is, indeed, a challenge for me, because regular readers know that I do not have many pastels in my wardrobe. However, I do like pastel colours when I think of decor and houses. I normally associate pastels with babies (think baby blue and
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TGA and the brain

Top Tips to help improve your Memory

There has been a lot written about memory recently and what we can do to help prevent dementia and maybe even Alzheimer’s so I thought I would re-post this. I waited until after Easter to post because it has been suggested that high sugar diets (as well as being detrimental to overall health) can also
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view of Lisbon

Top Tips for Visiting Lisbon

Lisbon is one European city we have been eager to visit and we were not disappointed. 1. CLEANLINESS Graham and I were astounded, because Lisbon was so clean and we hardly ever saw litter on the streets and there was absolutely no dog dirt fouling the pavements, unlike one particular European city. Yes, Paris, I
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Review of ‘The Middle Place’ by Kealan Ryan

What an incredible first novel. No, what a brilliant novel. Full Stop.   I was an English teacher in a former life and I know the narrator of The Middle Place. I taught him. I taught plenty like him and they were great ‘craic’. Cheeky, chirpy, funny, confident. You had to like them. But you
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Hilda and instagram husband

Beside the Hilda – confessions of an Instagram Husband!

This post – confessions of an Instagram Husband – first appeared two years ago and I thought it time to give it a second airing. I asked Graham if he had any changes to make to the original. You can read his answer at the end of this post.   My husband Graham (a.k.a. GG)
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crannog in National Heritage Park

Irish National Heritage Park is highlight of Wexford visit

A visit to the Irish National Heritage Park, less than a mile from The Ferrycarrig Hotel, was one of the highlights of our brief stay in Wexford. I had heard great reports of the park from hordes of pupils and teachers who had visited it, so was delighted to finally see it for myself. We
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