13th January, 2000
The Noticeboard

Cork Embroidery Guild

Cork Embroidery Guild will hold their first meeting on Wednesday 19th January at 8.30pm in Shandon Court Hotel. All enthusiastic embroiderers welcome.

GRANGE SWIMMERS & FRIENDS

Would appreciate if all those still holding sponsorship cards for the Christmas Day swim in aid of the Children's Leukaemia Ward Mercy Hospital would please return them as soon as possible.

Thank you
Michael Higgins

VERY S.A.D.?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is said to affect about 5% of the population, it causes people to get depressed, have food cravings, and feel sluggish and disinterested. It's all to do with the amount of daylight our body's' require and the amount we get, particularly at this time of year. Jet lag without the jet. Naturally employers don't like it as it slows down their workforce, especially when added to the seasonal late night parties, new year resolutions (if you are thinking of giving up smoking why not contact the Apex Clinic) and hangovers. Now somebody has come up with an answer. The trick is to use a light source so powerful it convinces the brain it is sunlight. The unit is appropriately called "The Bright Spark", and once you get used to it's brilliance which is about five times stronger than normal office lighting, you'll find that after one or two hours you do get to feel more energised.

WINTER DRIVING

The first rule for safe driving in winter is to keep your car in good order. You should have checked the antifreeze in the cooling system already this winter, if not, it could be too late. Your car's handbook should show the exact amount required.
A de-icer in the windscreen washer fluid is helpful on frosty mornings and a plastic scraper is a good way to clear a frosted window. Never use boiling water on the windscreen.
You can defrost locks that have frozen using a spray but a cigarette lighter probably does a good job. Don't use warm or hot water because it just freezes over again.
The car battery gets a lot of use in the winter. Check it regularly and keep it topped up with distilled water if necessary.
Tiredness
In the dark mornings and evenings of mid-winter it is easy to nod off at the wheel. To share long journeys with another driver, particularly if you feel tired. Take a flask of coffee, tea or soup with you on a long journey. Don't drive after a heavy meal and remember how sleepy you can get if you have a glass of wine with your meal. The safest policy is never drink and drive.

Bad Conditions
In winter road hazards are exaggerated. A light mist, for instance, can reduce visibility considerably. Put on you sidelights on a dark day. Even the low early morning sun can reduce your visibility so you must always exercise caution. In poor driving conditions slow down. Allow extra time for each journey you make and, if it is particularly bad, avoid driving at all.
Always signal before you manoeuvre, never tailgate and don't speed.
Keep an eye out for dark shiny patches (black ice) on the road, particularly in shaded areas.
In icy conditions drive slowly but keep in as high gear as possible and steer delicately.
Check tyres for pressure and tread.
In snow or slush take your time driving around bends.
In heavy rain, fog and snow showers, use dipped headlights.
Switch on your fog light in very heavy fog.
Avoid driving in floodwater, but if you have to, test your brakes when you emerge.
To avoid aquaplaning reduce your speed in wet weather, particularly after a dry spell. Aquaplaning is when a film of water becomes trapped between the road and the tyre so the car is not in full contact with the surface.

Cllr. DIERDRE FORDE

Cllr Deirdre Forde has highlighted the infrastructural shortcomings within Douglas Village and its environs. In particular, the major deterioration of the roads over the Christmas and the New Year period.
The bad weather compounded the problem she said, but experience has shown that this was bound to happen. Emergency crews should be on call during periods like this, and in these days of modern communications, a senior council official should always be on standby and available to address emergencies. The present system is one where the Gardai call the Fire Brigade and the Fire Brigade in turn calls the Engineer. However, these personnel may be unavailable for one reason or another. Very many representations were made to me in relation to the unacceptable conditions of the roads and footpaths in Douglas Village and its environs Cllr. Forde said.
She states she will be calling for additional funding to bring forward road resurfacing of all areas this year. The multi-annual road restoration program for 2000-2004 for the Carrigaline area is £2,983640Out of this paltry sum of approximately £550,000 is to be spent in the immediate Douglas area. This programme was decided before the new council came into office. In effect, I wasn't given the opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents in this matter. This is an injustice to all those who voted for me and the people I represent she said Commercial rates revenue from the area is almost 3m which is an unacceptable deficit in favour of the Council and against Douglas.
It is incumbent on me as one of the elected representatives of the area to notify the County Council of the depth of anger felt by residents/motorists/taxpayers who have to use roads on a daily basis. It is simply unacceptable that the standard of our roads and footpaths in the area falls so far short of modern urban requirements.
By far the largest Population flows and numbers of vehicles in the County use these roads and immediate action is warranted to rectify the problems. There are many Estates that have numerous potholes and indeed the roads around Douglas Village Centerior in very bad condition. I fail to understand why we should have to put up with appalling road surface conditions while a developer finishes a development.
Douglas requires its own Area Office and I am awaiting a response from the County manager in relation to specific proposals I made for such an office in Douglas. I hope, for the sake of the people and businesses in the area that we receive a positive response. Such an area office would give focus to Douglas and the wider district and serve the people well. It would enable problems such as arose over the holiday period to be addressed more quickly and efficiently. In effect, Local Government would be just that, local. The Area Engineer based in the Carrigaline office does his best but it is far too large an area for one office to cover adequately have placed a motion before the next Council meeting formally inviting the County Manager, County secretary and County Engineer to personally visit Douglas and view the situation at first hand,
“I will not be fobbed off by rhetoric,” she said, “and will continue to voice the views and concerns of the people of the area until we get action.”

GARDENING - HOUSE PLANTS

One look out at the weather this time of year, and who'd blame you for thinking of house plants. After all houseplants perform important air filtering functions and they also help brighten up the dullest house or apartment. But sometimes growing them in the home can be difficult because the conditions that suit us humans are not always suitable for plants; often the air is too dry or too warm. However rather than venture outdoors lets take a look at some of the benefits of a bit of household gardening. First of all houseplants complement décor and interior design, but apart from their visual attributes they also benefit the house by cleaning up air pollution. Plants absorb fumes through their leaf pores and fix noxious gases inside their tissues. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata "Bostoniensis"), Chrysanthemum Morifolium and Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii) are known to remove Formaldehyde, traces of which are sometimes found in new carpets and glues.
Lady palms and Yuccas can rid the bathroom of smells because they are efficient at removing ammonia. The waxy covering on plant leaves also absorbs dust and germs from the air.
So we'll start with the hall. You can impress your visitors with healthy foliage plants. A large plant can make a small hall seem even smaller and small plants in a large hall can look fussy. A combination of plants grouped together may work better depending on the décor and space available. However compared with the living room or kitchen, where every corner is taken up with shelves or storage or ornaments, the hall could be the best place to grow a large plant because it tends to be less cramped. Perhaps you could try a specimen plant that acts as a focal point when you come in through the front door. In poor light try Dracaena Marginata or Fatsia Japonica (False Castor Oil Plant). These plants both like a summer break outdoors in a cool shady position.
Other plants that could do well and have been firm favourites for many years are the Ficus species. The Weeping Fig, Ficus Benjamina, is a popular indoor tree and the Rubber Plant, Ficus Elastica, is one of the most durable houseplants. Smaller 20cm to 30cm, Ficus plants are the most economical buys but they need to be potted every spring into a larger container, ending up in a small tub of around 30cm in diameter. Although figs tolerate dry air they do best where the atmosphere is a little humid. They can also withstand places where there is little natural light.
Also for a dark hallway, try Aspidistra, an old favourite that requires very little maintenance. Combine it in a potted arrangement with Asparagus Densiflorus Sprengeri.
More next week

STILL MORE BEAUTY SECRETS

Concealers and Camouflage Make - Up
Concealers easily work to camouflage under-eye circles, blemishes, skin discoloration's e.g. birthmarks and minor facial scars.
Benefits
O Corrects imperfections
O Decongests and tones epidermis.
O Protects against air pollution.
To Erase Dark Circles
Apply with light patting movements, using the ring finger, starting from the inner corner of the eye and working outwards.
To Reduce Puffiness
Apply just below the puffy areas, they will become less apparent.
Camouflage make up by Artdeco is water proof so it can be used, when swimming or perspiring, on birthmarks, blemishes and tattoo's
Translucent Powders
Apply over foundation with a large powder brush. Always apply in a downward direction.
Benefits
O Ideal to touch up make up
O Preserves matt finish
O Sets make up to enable it to last longer.
O Does not accentuate fine lines and wrinkles
Bronzing Powder
O for a subtle natural tanned look in just a few seconds.
Benefits
O Promotes a natural tanned look
O Provides a golden colour
O Intensifies a natural tan
O Contours and highlights
O Semi-matt texture
O Variable intensity of shade
Application of Bronzing Powder
O Apply all over face with a big blusher. Brush for an all over tanned look.
O For contouring, shaping and highlighting the bronzer can also be applied to forehead, chin, and jawbone.
More next week from Charlotte Lennon
(Cleopartra's Beauty Saloon) 021 975475

IT'S EURO TIME

As you know the euro is the new single currency for eleven EU Member States, including Ireland. It came into being in cashless form on the 1st January 1999, when these Member States formed an Economic and Monetary Union and permanently locked the exchange rates of their currencies against the euro. The euro can now be used for cashless transactions like cheques, direct debits and credit card transfers, but you can still use Irish currency up until 1st January 2002. Cash transactions will continue in Irish pounds until the same date.

1 Euro = £0.787564 or to put it another way £1 = E1.27

To convert an Irish pound amount to a euro amount, divide the Irish pound amount by 0.787564.
Round the resulting euro amount to two decimal places,
i.e. to cent.

It gets a little tricky when you get to the pennies to cents part. 1p = 1 cent fair enough, but 2p = 3cents and 5p = 6cents, 10p = 13cents, 20p = 25cents and 50p = 63cents. Confusing? Not really. Look at it this way; you go into a pub and order two half-pints which of course is a pint but it costs more than a pint. It makes being European a bit Irish - if you get my drift.

SAD ROISÍN

C

The years passed slowly and the wind did sing
Songs of Paddy and Roisín
Who left their families and their homes
To catch elusive dreams.

Trees have whispered,
Stones have washed
Their secrets into open hearts.
Roisín’s smile will soon delight
And fill our world with grace.

The wind now blowing from the west
Says she is fair of face.
And, Paddy, you’re the only one
Could play Mozart with a shovel.
But come home soon, we miss ya.
And your Mother’s going grey.
She never was herself again,
Since the day you went away.

WATCH THIS SPACE

The first major astronomical event of this, the 3rd millennium, will be the total lunar eclipse on January 21st. The Moon is the earth's partner on our journey around the Sun. The Moon is the most observed object in the sky and the only other place man has walked, driven or played golf. The first person to step on the Moon was Neil Armstrong on July 20th 1969 and the last Apollo mission to the Moon was in December 11th 1975.
Anybody who has ever looked at the Moon will have noticed the circular disc shape. After a few nights it will gradually have got smaller, until finally it becomes a thin crescent and the disc shape starts to grow again. The reason behind this is, the only face of the Moon we can see is the side that is reflecting the sunlight. The full cycle from full Moon to full Moon takes around 29 days.
The surface of the Moon is barren, rocky and dusty, it has little or no atmosphere. As there are no winds Armstrong's first footprints are visible now and still will be in 100s of years to come.
When you look at the Moon with the naked eye you will notice it's shaded areas. If you look at these same areas through binoculars or a telescope you will see that they are craters. These craters can vary in size from large potholes to 2 or 3 miles or even as big as 100 miles in diameter. The reason for this is the Moon has been battered by asteroids and comets over millions of years. The Earth has had much the same battering but not to the same extent but unlike the Moon the Earth has an atmosphere that over time has hidden all traces. Even though some of the larger ones can be found because of all the observations these craters and valleys on the Moon have been given names, for example Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity), Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) and Mare Imbrium (Sea of Showers). When you start to look at the Moon on a constant basis you will realise that it is the same. For many years it was believed that the Moon was a flat disc because of this. The real reason is that it takes the Moon one complete orbit of the Earth to make one rotation on its axis, so therefore we only see the same side of it in sunlight. When the dark side is facing us it is in total darkness and we can not see it at all.

Eugene and Valda Furlong

To be continued ...