‘I love a proper Uster fry, that’s one for my treat days’
over it and that sweetness offsets the bitterness of the dark chocolate. The other thing is I love is a fry and I mean a proper Ulster fry with potato bread, mushrooms, bacon and everything else. It all has to be fried — nothing from under the grill will do. That’s one for my treat days.
Do you smoke and/or drink — if so, how much?
I never smoked — again, because I was a nurse for 32 years I know how bad it is. I don’t really drink, but occasionally I’ll have something like a Jawbox Gin and ginger or a cocktail. I don’t like wine or beer. It’s just to have something to drink other that water, which is what I normally go for.
Do you take health supplements?
A multivitamin every day.
How do you take time out?
Once a month I take myself off to Bliss in Dromore and have a session of reflexology done. Again it’s to do with my bad back — someone told me to try reflexology as well as physio. My therapist Michelle is brilliant and for two hours does reflexology and a bit of massage on my head —
and it’s pure heaven.
How well do you sleep?
Not too bad. The two of us get up at about 5am so bedtime is around 9pm. Because I’m having lots of hot flushes I will wake up with one at some point, deal with that and then go back to sleep — I don’t get the full eight hours in a row.
Do you worry about getting old?
Yes — I suppose everybody does don’t they? Going through the menopause is something of a watershed — not that I was going to have any more children — I do find thinking it’s strange that I definitely won’t have any more children. It’s been taken away from me now.
What is your go-to product or habit that keeps you feeling healthy?
I drink water with all my meals. I also wear a fitness tracker. At work I will usually get my 10,000 steps a day but it’s still good to go out for that extra walk and get even more.
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INTERVIEW BY KERRY McKITTRICK