Malahide Castle

Happy New Year and Hello 2023

  Happy New Year, my friends.  I am a little late coming to the party, but I decided to take a break from the blog and social media. Life has been busy.  I know that we are a little worried by what 2023 may bring. Certainly, the last three years have been challenging. However, we
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Graham and Hilda 1994

Love is not only for Valentine’s Day

THE BEGINNING Graham and I started our journey in love on Valentine’s Day 40 years ago. It all began on a hockey tour with our club Lorraine H.C. which was based in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Both of us were single since the previous December and we had already been flirting a bit in the clubhouse
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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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‘Go Red for Women’ and look after your Heart Health

I am going RED for Women this February.  The Irish Heart Foundation launched its Go Red for Women national fundraising campaign which aims to empower Irish women to look after their heart health while also raising vital funds. So get ready for a deluge of red outfits throughout this post! According to the Irish Heart Foundation,
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The Elephant in the Room – The Menopause

I will be attending a MENOPAUSE conference – ‘The M Word’ – on Friday 11th October in The Radisson Blu St. Helen’s, Stillorgan,  Dublin. This will be a chance for women to listen, chat and get advice on how to deal with the myriad of problems that most of us experience in peri-menopause and menopause.
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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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‘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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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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‘Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home’ 

Home is where the heart is, they say, and I’m certainly very happy with the home I’ve shared with GG for over 30 years. But I’m also fascinated by what other people have done with their homes. So I am always drawn to television programmes on houses, home make-overs and properties under the hammer. Homes on
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‘Style Not Age’ Sequins Challenge

I have only one item with sequins in my wardrobe, a top I bought in Oasis years ago but have never worn. I love sequins on others; they are sparkly, they shine and catch the light, so why don’t I wear them? I consider myself a sparkly fun-loving person, so surely it should be reflected
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A Novel for Midlifers; ‘It’s Who We Are’

Those of you who are regular readers will know that I love a good book and now and again I write reviews. These are not always fiction; in fact, my most recent review was ‘The Secret Lives of Adults’, written by psychologist Allison Keating. This book, ‘It’s Who We Are’, is fiction and is written
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Fun With Fur Style Challenge in ‘Style not Age’

You may recall that as a part of a blogger group called ‘5 over-50’, I participated in a series of style challenges where we took it in turn to create a theme. Only recently, two of our group, Gail and Laurie, left because of other commitments, so we are now joined by young Emma and
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5 Irish Women share what it means to be Fierce in Midlife

A year ago, I was one of fifty over-50 bloggers (and the only Irish one) to launch The Fierce 50 Movement worldwide. This has now evolved into Forever Fierce: The Midlife Revolution, embracing all women at that empowering stage of their lives and has now grown to almost 5,000 members around the globe. I’m delighted that
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An angry, fierce and heartbroken Jennifer Halliday speaks out

 Jennifer Halliday is fierce. Jennifer is angry. Last week, I shared Marie Carberry’s story HERE; this week, you can read how the disease Alzheimer’s impacts family members, but Jennifer is angry about more than that. I dare you not to be moved by what she has to say and if you feel strongly about it,
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2017 Best of Rants and Random Thoughts

Some of my most popular posts last year were in the category ‘Rants and Random Thoughts’! Many of you sympathised with me when I wrote about how to stay married for 35 years without killing your husband. I told you what worked for us (well, for me) and I was delighted with the response. You
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Maia Dunphy’s ‘The M Word’ Hits the Shelves

I first met Maia Dunphy a few weeks ago, at an event where ‘Today’s Mum’ was celebrated and I was taken by her wit, charm and general loveliness. Of course I knew her from the telly. Many of you probably saw her ‘What Women Want’ and ‘The Truth About’ series. Married to actor and comedian Johnny
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Millennial bridges Gap with midlifer Mum

Today marks the launch of an unprecedented campaign called ‘Bridging the Gap’ where 100 Millennials and 100 Midlifers are coming together to blur boundaries and put an end to stereotypes.  This campaign is inclusive as we  believe we are stronger together and divisions such as Age are unimportant. I did not travel far to find
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Bridging the gap – Millennials and Midlifers in unique campaign

Bridging the GAP…What am I on about? What gap? The aim of this unique campaign is to bridge the gap between ‘old’ midlifers like me and millennials (young people in the prime of their lives) and in doing so to learn from each other. Today, 100 midlifers and 100 millennials are posting on the same
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Today’s Mum-Happier than Yesterday’s Mum?

I could not believe my ears. Nothing had changed in the 33 years since I had my firstborn. In a survey entitled ‘Today’s Mum’, sponsored by iconic Irish brand Sudocrem (who have just launched a new barrier ointment called ‘Care and Protect’) I learned that only 14% of partners share the housework equally and 19%
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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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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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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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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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