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Packing Tips for a Week-Long Holiday Abroad
Sunday, 14 April 2024
by Hilda
I love going on holiday but I dislike airports. Remember when travel used to be fun, but now airports are so stressful, particularly until you get through security. And then there is the packing. I nearly always get it wrong, returning home with half of the clothes never seeing the light of day. But last
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Health and Holidays in 2023
Sunday, 14 January 2024
by Hilda
Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of 2024. A special welcome to new subscribers; I hope you will find something of interest in my posts. So here is my review of 2023, loosely titled ‘Health and Holidays’. Well, they begin with the same letter and it is important for your health that
- Published in Health & Wellbeing, Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Miami and Key West: A Wonderful Holiday
Sunday, 10 December 2023
by Hilda
Florida USA was our destination for a long-awaited holiday in November with good friends…four of us flew out for three days in Miami South Beach before linking up with two other friends in Key West for another ten. MIAMI SOUTH BEACH After a 3-hour delay leaving Dublin Airport, we endured another 2 hours waiting for
- Published in Friends and Family, Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Magical Stay in Finn Lough Forest Bubble
Saturday, 04 November 2023
by Hilda
Finn Lough is a luxury, magical hideaway on Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, half an hour’s drive beyond Enniskillen. And if there is a more relaxing place on earth, I have not found it, yet. From the moment you arrive in Finn Lough, you feel you are in another world. Firstly, the welcome is
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Slovenia and the Coast of Trieste with Travel Department
Saturday, 21 October 2023
by Hilda
Before we went there with Travel Department, I knew very little about Slovenia except that it was part of the former Yugoslavia (it was one of the first to declare independence 32 years ago). Yes, I had heard it was a beautiful country and was fast becoming a popular holiday destination. It lived up to
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Dubrovnik Perfect for a Wedding and a Holiday
Saturday, 29 July 2023
by Hilda
There are many reasons to visit Dubrovnik in Croatia, one of which is that it is a very beautiful wedding destination. We spent a week in Dubrovnik recently. Alison and Ian’s wedding gave us a good excuse to visit the city where we had spent a half day while on a cruise many moons ago. The
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Berlin is the Perfect City for a City Break
Sunday, 02 April 2023
by Hilda
If you have not been to Berlin, put it on your list. GG and I had a wonderful three days there in March with Travel Department. We left a wet and damp Ireland behind for a cold, but sunny German capital. Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android Berlin
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Top Tips for Visiting Lisbon
Monday, 13 March 2023
by Hilda
Heading off to Berlin soon with Travel Department so republishing our visit to Lisbon pre Covid. If you are thinking of a city break, can really recommend Lisbon. Also loved Porto and you can listen to my podcast with Senior Times (interviewed by Gary Cooke) where I talk about city breaks HERE 1. CLEANLINESS Graham
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Tagged under:
city break, guided travel, Lisbon, Lisbon review, Portugal, Travel Department, what to do in Lisbon, where to eat in Lisbon
My Podcast with ‘Senior Times’
Monday, 06 February 2023
by Hilda
I have just recorded my very first podcast – and it was with ‘Senior Times’. What is ‘Senior Times’? It’s a magazine and website for older people who don’t act their age. Well, many people would say that is me. And I bet it is you too. It is Ireland’s only dedicated and nationally distributed
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Tagged under:
Gary Cooke, Long Haul Holidays, Podcast, Senior Times, Senior Times Podcast, Travel Department
Killarney Royal Hotel Gets Top Marks
Sunday, 06 November 2022
by Hilda
Our night away began as soon as we stepped on the train at Dublin’s Heuston Station. We were off to stay at the Killarney Royal Hotel. We left a stormy, wet and wild capital behind with relief. And sat back and enjoyed the journey. There are still no catering facilities on Irish Rail (since Covid)
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
How to Visit 7 European Destinations in 7 Days without Unpacking
Sunday, 02 October 2022
by Hilda
Yes, we visited 7 different places in 7 days and we did not unpack! How? We went on a River Cruise. Our River Cruise with Travel Department on board M/S Amadeus Silver III was three months ago. But we love looking back on the photos and re-living our experiences. That is one of the reasons
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Wonderful Holiday with Travel Department on a Danube Cruise
Thursday, 28 July 2022
by Hilda
Thank goodness we were travelling with Travel Department on our Danube Cruise. As we approached D-Day (Departure Day), and flights were being cancelled left, right and centre, we sat back and waited. We knew that we would be informed if there was a problem and that the company would do everything possible to get
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Porto with Travel Department
Thursday, 26 May 2022
by Hilda
Porto is the perfect city for a short break. We travelled with Travel Department in mid-May and it proved to be the perfect time to visit. I was delighted to accept Travel Department’s offer of a press trip. And, of course, GG (Gorgeous Graham) had to come too. Travel Department Regular readers know that I
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
A New Grandchild and Planning Holidays Make Me Happy
Sunday, 17 April 2022
by Hilda
Hello, my friends. I am feeling positive as we enjoy the holiday weekend. And I hope you are too. I have lots of happy news to share with you. We need to celebrate when we can, don’t we? And count our blessings. GRANDDAUGHTER As many of you know, we have three wonderful grandsons – Logan
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
3 Must Visit Attractions in Seville Spain
Tuesday, 08 February 2022
by Hilda
Visiting Seville, while we were staying in The Algarve in Portugal, was surprisingly easy…just a two and a half hour drive from Faro and we didn’t even use the motorway. We arrived in time to check into our hotel and grab a quick lunch before we met our guide for the afternoon. As you can
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Exploring Dublin and Meeting some of its Literary Giants
Monday, 12 July 2021
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Tagged under:
exploring Dublin, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Patrick Kavanagh, The Grand Canal, The Merrion Hotel
The Merrion Hotel Dublin A Review
Monday, 05 July 2021
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Tagged under:
Best Dublin Hotels, Best Irish Hotels, Irish 5 star hotels, midweek break, The Merrion Hotel
Malahide Castle and Gardens is one of North County Dublin’s Top Attractions
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Friends and Family, Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Test-driving the New Renault Zoe
Sunday, 04 October 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Castleknock Hotel Highly Recommended for Covid Times and Any Time
Thursday, 17 September 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Golf break at Tulfarris Hotel, Wicklow Ireland
Tuesday, 18 August 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Exploring County Clare and The Wild Atlantic Way
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
by Hilda
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.
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
A Fascinating Tour Of 14 Henrietta Street Dublin
Monday, 16 March 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
Kilkea Castle the perfect luxury hotel
Monday, 02 March 2020
by Hilda
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
- Published in Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News, Travel
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