5 MINUTES WITH - EMMA PORTER

Emma Porter lives in Desertagney with her parents Joe and Betty. Emma has run her company, Vivid Performances School of Speech and Drama for nine years and runs very popular classes all over Inishowen including Buncrana, Muff, Burnfoot and Letterkenny. Her classes cater for both adults and children building communication skills, self-confidence and self-esteem. Emma has just finished a very busy time where she was performing in the hugely successful Sound of the Musicals stage musical in Buncrana, directed by Donall Henderson of Greasepaint Productions.

You can still join Emma’s classes that are running at the moment and enrolment has also started for the new courses in September. Contact her on 086 360 1537

What music are you listening to at the moment?
BelX1. They released a new album in February of this year called Blue Lights on a Runway, which is very good. Damien Rice used to be the lead singer before he went solo. I am still listening to music from Joseph, Mama Mia, Les Miserables, Chicago, The Sound of Music and Wicked, all of the songs that were in The Sound of the Musicals.

What book are you reading?
I spend time reading scripts. We are putting on the Wizard of Oz soon so I will be rehearsing for that after a couple of weeks off. The last book I read was by Banana Yoshimoto called Kitchen. I really like her work; it’s real and touches people’s lives.

What was your favourite childhood game?
I was a bit of a tomboy and loved climbing trees and going really fast on my BMX bike, it didn’t have any brakes but that didn’t seem to matter.

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I have been at the cinema at St Mary’s hall for the last month….It’s a great place and also does bingo, is a community centre and a playschool.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I read the front-page headlines first to see what’s going on.

What would you never throw away?
Things of sentimental value from my childhood and from family and friends. I have a few things belonging to my grandma that I got after her death that I wouldn’t part with. A scarf and some ornaments

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
I am constantly putting my foot in it. I ask questions like “When is it due?” to people who are not pregnant.

Favourite TV programme?
Shameless. It has new writers and is still very fresh. It covers real, gritty issues.


Favourite meal?
Anything with seafood in it, especially when I am on holiday. I like the Surf and Turf at the Laurentic in the parish too… fillet steak and sea bass….yummy.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be an actress. I idolised some of the great screen stars, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Vivienne Leigh. I had my first chance of acting when Patricia Tinney asked me if I wanted to take part in a play called That’s all for now by the Clann le Cheile group, which was about the big band era in the 1950’s that played in the Plaza. We went on to do a short play about the famine, which was so popular that we toured New York and Boston. It was very exciting for a young girl.

Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
Seven of us girls, and one fella (Matthew, my cousin) went to Gran Canaria. We all loved it…Sun, sea and clubbing….

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Steven Speilberg, he’s a fantastic director. I could grill him for directing tips. Brad Pitt could come to wear the marigolds and the apron.

What do you do for a special treat?
I go to Michelle’s Beauty and Injury Clinic in Buncrana for a facial and back massage every six weeks. I am always on the go so it’s lovely to relax and chill out for an hour or two.

Favourite animal?
I love dogs. We have always had one. We have a border collie crossed with a lab at the moment…. He’s huge, up to my waist…. and spoiled.

Biggest thrill?
Doing a bungee jump six years ago in Cyprus. We went into the sea after dropping 400 feet. We bobbed in and out of the water for ages until we were pulled ashore…once was enough.

Biggest Challenge?
Playing Nancy in Oliver last year. I hadn’t sung for ten years so I had lessons for four months to build up to the character.

What was the best present you ever got?
My accordion. When I was eight my parents took me to Henderson’s in Derry and bought me it. I played in the Buncrana marching band for 8 years with it.

What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
A bottle of perfume called Ghost.

What charity would you support?
Bridgeen Harkin is a local woman who raises money for Africa by putting on trips. The last one was to the bowling alley.

The world’s most irritating/most useful invention?
The mobile phone for both….

Favourite past-time?
Taking part in plays and musicals. My full time job of teaching drama is also my favourite past time.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
The swinging 60’s. It looked like mad fun and anything goes. You probably had to be in a big city to get the clothes and music.

What do you have for breakfast?
A cup of coffee, toast and butter and a vitamin C tablet to keep the immune system up.

Do you have a favourite cartoon character?
Danger Mouse. Every week was a new adventure and I loved his sidekick Penfold.

What was your first paid job?
Babysitting for my cousin Elizabeth. She was busy starting out the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Buncrana.

Best/worst household task?
Doing the dishes. Thankfully we have a dishwasher. I love clearing out wardrobes and drawers though to get them organised. Some might say it’s a bit obsessive but if your drawers are organised, so is your life.

What is the best/worst piece of advice you have been given?
Someone once said that my hair would suit me short. I was 11 years old and looked like a boy. I was devastated and cried for a month.

Personal philosophy?
Do whatever makes you happy in life…..

5 MINUTES WITH - FRANKIE VELDMAN

Frankie Veldman is originally from Letterkenny and has spent the last 14 years offshore working on Oilrigs. He started at the bottom as a labourer and moved up to the pipe deck before trying a hand at the drill floor. Frankie then studied Health and Safety in his time off and completed a Health and Safety Course in Aberdeen University. After stints working as a Safety Coach and advisor for a drilling company Frankie was offered a contract offshore on a fleet of Offshore Flotels (accommodation Barges), where he was responsible for the health and safety of 580 staff. Frankie has worked out of Ireland, UK, Holland, Denmark, and Norway and was onboard the Sedco 711 when they first discovered gas in the Corrib field back in 1999. In June last year Frankie came home full-time and set up a training centre to cater for personnel wishing to seek employment in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. With all the doom and gloom in the country at the moment Frankie feels that the best way forward is training and has opened up the Feidhm Mara Teoranta Training Centre. The future plans for the centre will be to run more and more offshore courses so personnel will not have to leave the country to do these. Frankie feels, that this will benefit the county as a whole and put Donegal firmly on the map up there along with Aberdeen, Huston, and Dubai.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
I am not listening to anything as the phones are constantly ringing….I like most kinds of music and I suppose in my younger days I liked AC/DC a lot. I would loved to have gotten tickets for the concert this year in Ireland but unfortunately they sold out very quickly.

What book are you reading?
I don’t really have much time on my hands these days to read books. I can tell you the last book I read was Roy Keane’s. I read it 3 times, I enjoyed it that much. It’s the first thing I pack in my suitcase before I go on holiday.

What was your favourite childhood game?
If you are talking about board games then it would have to be Escape from Colditz. I remember my mum bought it at the market in Strabane many years ago for a pound. Ours disappeared and I remember looking for it in many game shops over the years and could never find it. Then one day offshore in the games room and snooker hall I spotted a familiar box….You now know what I was playing for the rest of my offshore hitch.

Have you been to the cinema recently?
Yes. The last film I saw was James Bond Quantum of Solace. I suppose it was fine. I would like to have seen more of the Aston Martin DB9 though.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
It has got to be the sports pages first.

What would you never throw away?
The telephone numbers of good-looking girls. (Laughing).

Most embarrassing moment.
Getting off on the wrong oil-rig. I had to listen to that for years from the crews I work with.

Favourite TV programme?
I like comedy on TV and my favourite is Father Ted. I have the DVD box collection and my favourite two favourite episodes are a Song for Europe where they sing about My Lovely Horse. (I am humming it to myself just now LOL) and the book signing episode where Mrs Doyle swears a lot at Father Ted. Brilliant

What job did I want to do when I was a child?
Well my father spent 25 years of his life Offshore and I always wanted to be a sailor, just like my Dad. I got my childhood wish 15 years ago but on an oil rig and not a supply boat. So in a way I have followed my father’s footsteps.

What was my best holiday and what made it special?
My best holiday was in 2002 where I went to the World Cup in Japan and Korea. I travelled with my younger brother Dennis and Brendan Dunnion from Letterkenny. Things that made it special for me was sitting next to Packie Bonner all night in the team’s hotel. I was starving, as I am a very fussy eater and said this to Packie. He popped up to his room and landed back with a box of Tayto Cheese and Onion crisps. No doubt Dennis, Brendan, and I ate most of them. Later in the night he gave me his Irish training jersey.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Firstly I would have invite Jamie Oliver. He would do the cooking. If Pope John Paul were still alive he would be top of the guest list as he could say the grace and have good stories to tell. I think there might be a seat for JR Ewing (Larry Hagman, Dallas) just for a few pointers. Shaun Gallagher would also be there I think he is doing a brilliant job rallying all over the world and putting Donegal on the Map. It would be good to have chat with him. Elvis would be there for a few tunes and I suppose one of the Pussycat Dolls for dessert….. I would have an Irish polititan to do the cleaning up but I’m not certain who would be the best person for the job….

What do you do for a special treat?
Well, with working offshore I have plenty of time off, so treats are always on the menu. I like going to the Indian restaurants and other activities include swimming with sharks and rally school. For a special treat I like going to the hairdressers…….

Favourite animal
Dog.

Biggest Thrill?
Being on an oil rig on a little ledge throwing in drill pipe to the travelling blocks. This means that you are standing 90 feet up in the air on a bit of metal, throwing things.

Biggest Challenge?
That would have to be getting the training centre up and running. Our backs were put to the walls more times than enough but we have come through. I have been working solidly on this project for the last 10 months. (It has not been easy)

What was the best present you ever got?
My dad is a dab hand at the carpentry work and one time he made me a 3 foot model of an oil rig. I still remember to this day pushing toys around the decks of it. I don’t think it was a present for a special occasion though.

What was the last thing you bought yourself?
I honestly can’t remember it’s been that long since I treated myself to a new pair of jeans or trainers. If it’s any item, then that would have to be a litre of milk.

What charities do you support?
I sponsor Whales and Dolphins and receive an update on my Dolphin in the Moray Firth Scotland.

The world’s most Irritating Invention/Most useful Invention?
Most irritating would have to be the mobile phone especially if you are sitting on a train and you want some chill time.
The most useful invention would have to be the Iron Roughneck. The Iron Roughneck is a robot, which is used for making up drill pipe on the rig floor. When it breaks down you know you are in for a hard shift ahead. It’s a Roughneck’s best friend and it is always the first piece of machinery you should check before your shift.

Favourite pastime?
I used to swim a lot but have not had the chance recently.

What do you have for breakfast?
That depends, mostly 2 cups of coffee. When I get up in the morning the last thing on my mind is breakfast and it is about lunchtime before I even think about food. Maybe once a month I might have a big fry.

What was your first job?
My first job was selling the Donegal Democrat on a Thursday afternoon after school. I would get 1p per paper I sold. I usually ended up selling 40 of them. I would normally pocket a pound for the evening’s work that is including tips.

Best/Worst household chore?
I do not really mind any chores about the house. I live alone and am quite a tidy person so there are not many chores to be done.

What is the best advice you have been given?
My dad told me before I went offshore for the first time that, any job I do make sure you do it to a standard you would expect if you were inspecting the job yourself. I have never had anyone over the past 14 offshore years complain about my work.

Personal Philosophy?
I suppose it would be Live Life to The Pepsi Max. That reminded me of a storm we had on a rig west of Shetland back in 1999 or 1998 Hurricane Mitch. They asked for volunteers to go down to the spider deck to unlatch the Blow-Out Preventer as the weather was seriously rough. My pal Craig from Aberdeen and I headed down. We were frightened as there were big waves hitting the underside of the rig. It was the time the Pepsi Max ads were on telly and we just kept say Pepsi Max to each other

TOPTIPS - FENG SHUI

TOP TIPS FROM THE WORLD OF FENG SHUI

Play loud music once a week.
This might not go down too well with the neighbours so make sure they are out first if your house is attached. In China the lunar New Year was celebrated loudly with drums, cymbals and firecrackers to wash away old energies and welcome in the new. Play loud, happy music. Ten minutes will be enough!

Never hang your washing out overnight.
Night energy is very Yin so leave your washing in the basket if it’s getting dark outside. The washing would soak up yin energy and upset your feng shui, and as we all know, that’s not a good thing to do!

Pointing the finger.
Pointing your finger at someone gives them negative energy, likewise if someone points a finger at you. Try not to point fingers at one another, or anything else sharp like scissors for that matter!

Household.

HOUSEHOLD TOP TIPS

FRIDGE SMELLS
To get rid of unpleasant smells in the fridge, put a saucerful of charcoal left over from the barbeque onto a shelf overnight. The small will be gone in the morning

STOCK CUBES
Store stock cubes in the fridge and they will be far easier to crumble.

Household

TOP TIPS

PAINTING PROBLEMS
Prevent paintbrushes from drying out by wrapping up in cling film.

To prevent newly painted doors from sticking when you close them, spray both surfaces with wax polish.

ONE GOOD APPLE
Put an apple in a sack of potatoes. This will keep the spuds from growing roots for longer.

When measuring treacle, dip the spoon in flour first and the treacle won’t stick.

When buttering crackers, put them on a slice of bread. They do not break as easily.

If you catch the Swilly bus on a wet day, put a pair of old gloves in your bag. You can use these to wipe the condensation from the window.

Use cod liver oil on wood scratches. Leave for twenty-four hours then rub off. The scratch will be gone. (Disclaimer….. don’t blame me if it hasn’t!)

Sooth a mouth ulcer by gargling with chamomile tea.

FABRIC SOFTENER
I was given quite a few tips about things to do with fabric softener. I found them quite scary I must say. One suggestion was to save money on plug in air fresheners by putting some softener into a pan of water and then boiling up. This made a beautiful smell throughout the house….I think it would be a more sensible idea to open a window!





Household.

TOP TIPS

I turned into one of those people that you cross the road to avoid last week. I wanted to get some ideas for cleaning tips so members of the public have been stopped in the street to see if they have any ideas that we haven’t heard. I had a list of some that were totally unsuitable for printing but I think some of them are worth mentioning, so here goes.

NEW TOP TIP IDEAS

If you don’t have a paper shredder to get rid of your private papers here is a tip. Fill a bowl with warm soapy water and soak the documents for an hour. Press the paper into a brick shape or a ball. They will not be able to pull apart and cannot be read. If you want to take it a stage further then put the bricks or balls somewhere where they can dry out. They can be used as fuel on the open fire.

Clean gold rings. Put some lipstick on a cloth and rub for a sparkling shine. Do not use on rings with crevices though or you will have difficulty getting it off.

Stale crusts of bread cut into cubes then baked make great dog biscuits.

Small burn marks on the carpet can be removed by rubbing the area with a slice of raw potato.

Keep an old toothbrush near the sink for cleaning graters, blenders and whisks etc.

COOKING TIP
Grate courgettes and carrots into your spaghetti bolognaise sauces. They add flavour and your kids will never tell the difference.

Soak smelly feet in a bowl of green tea or tomato juice for ten minutes. The pong will disappear.

Household.

TOP TIPS

LOST
If you loose something small like jewellery or earrings on the floor don’t panic. Put an old pair of tights over the end of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. Gently go over the area with the nozzle and when you find the item it will not get sucked up into the machine but will be the on the tights for you to pick off.

NICE RICE
Save energy when you are cooking rice. Put a cupful into a flask and very carefully fill with boiling water Leave this for an hour and when you take the top off the rice will be perfectly cooked. The rice might have formed a bit of a blockage at the top. In which case you could tap the flask gently to remove the blockage. If this fails a teaspoon will do the trick.

Update: A reader tried this and had a real job getting the rice out of the flask. We advise that if you do try it, to use a flask with a wide neck and don't leave it in too long!

Household.

HOME AND OFFICE CLEANING TIPS

Your computer and keyboard are like magnets to dust in the home. There are some solvent based cleaners on the market but if you want a cheap and natural solution to the grime that collects on the machine then look no further than the kitchen cupboard. Have you guessed what it is… yes it’s that wonderful liquid again… vinegar!

Cleaning your computer mouse

Before I start though you must be very careful when using liquids near electrical devices. If you are in any doubt then leave well alone!Green Cleaning tips..

When your computer mouse gets dirty and picks up dust, it becomes hard to manipulate.

Vinegar comes to the rescue yet again.


Simply mix half vinegar and half water and use that. Remove the ball and wipe clean with the solution. Dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free towel. Dip a cotton swab into the solution, squeeze until nearly dry and wipe the inside the mouse, removing dust or dirt particles. Use a wrung out cloth to wash the outside of the mouse.

Clean home equipment
Dip a cloth into a mixture of ½ vinegar and ½ water and wring out. Wash down the outside of your computer, printer and other pieces of equipment. Never use a spray bottle for this job. Use a nearly dry cotton swab dipped in the mixture to clean the keyboard.

Clean scissors
Wipe the blades of your scissors down frequently with a cloth dipped in full strength vinegar to keep them clean and glue free.

Thin glue
Add a drop or two of vinegar to the old bottle of glue and shake. Keeping adding vinegar drop by drop until the glue returns to the proper consistency.

Discover the tips to get your office sparkling...

Household.

TOP TIPS

Potato cleaner: Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.


COBS
When boiling corn on the cob, some people add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. Do not feel that you have to do this but definitely don’t put salt in the water. This will dull the sweetness. If you accidentally over-salt any dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant “fix me up.”

Household.

PAMPERED PETS

We’ve been experimenting on animals this week at the Clean and Green testing centre (Not on rabbits you will be pleased to know). We have been looking at the problem of smelly pets, especially dogs. I’m sure we are not alone in the fact that we have a trusty hound that manages to find something dead to roll around in. Whether it is on the beach, in the park or at the bottom of the garden, the head goes down and the feet come up and whatever unpleasant matter was on the floor is now stuck to the dogs neck. I usually make out that I’ve no sense of smell and wait for another member of staff to sort the problem out, but this week I will try and tackle the problem as part of the team. Someone we know accidentally did one method, (which we wouldn’t recommend). Their kitten was fast asleep in the washing machine on top of the dirty clothes when the machine was switched on. The kitten came out shining but unfortunately wasn’t alive to appreciate its glossy new coat!

Pampered pets.

Check the diet of your dog; some food might make them smellier than others.

If your dog comes in smelly then they might need a bath. We found that our dog doesn’t mind the shower too much, there’s no way you could ever get him in a bath. Either way will be effective if you can get the fur wet with soap and rinse thoroughly. Vinegar added to the final rinse will help get rid of lingering odours and bring out the shine. Try to keep the suds out of the dogs eyes. Some people put Vaseline around the eyes to make the water run to the sides of the eyes but we found this to be unnecessary. A drop or two of tea tree oil in the wash will also help to repel fleas. If you keep the dog in the bath for twenty minutes pouring suds on continuously, this will kill the fleas that are on the animal. All we can say about that idea is good luck! Garlic powder in their dinner is said to repel the fleas before they make up home in the fur.

Here’s one that we haven’t tried but was recommended to us by a (rather strange) friend.
Giving a dog a bone seems to clean the animals teeth, more so than biscuits anyway. But to get the dogs teeth shiny you can buy special doggy toothbrushes and special toothpaste that comes in yummy meat flavoured varieties. This friend of ours would clean the dogs teeth at least once a day to keep them trouble free, they were still in perfect condition the day the poor thing ran out in front of a car and got killed!

Take the dog for a walk before you bath them, they might catch a chill otherwise.

Don’t wash the dog too often, as this will take away the natural oils on the hair.

Other pet tips.

Dogs and cats are starting to shed their coats now and the hairs can be a real pain. Try wetting a rubber glove and brushing the animal, a lot of the loose hair will collect on it. Rubbing with a rubber glove also picks up hairs from furniture and carpets.

Because cats have a strong sense of smell you can use citrus oil on areas you don’t want the cats to scratch. Some people use chilli powder or pepper, but we think that’s a bit harsh.

Environmental.

Household.

FREEZING TIPS

I was talking to a woman at the Summer Gathering who made freezing things an art form. Here are some of the things she did. (I think she also has shares in polythene manufacturing companies!)

FISHY TALE
Empty wax fruit juice cartons can be used for freezing fish in. Rinse thoroughly, add the fish, fill up with water and staple shut. Be careful that the carton is upright when it isn’t frozen ion the freezer compartment or you will get a smelly surprise.

FRUIT
Acid fruit and vegetables such as apples rhubarb and tomatoes should be wrapped in polythene for freezing and not foil. The acid in them will tarnish the foil and taint the produce.

SAUSAGES
When open freezing sausages, line the tray with a sheet of polythene to stop the sausages sticking

FREEZING SOUP
Line plastic boxes with polythene bags to freeze soups. When the soup has frozen solid, the bag can be lifted out and put directly into the freezer. To freeze stock or smaller quantities, use milk or fruit juice cartons and line those with a plastic bag.


OTHER IDEAS
The woman’s skills didn’t end with freezing either; she also was a dab hand with tins too. These are the sorts of life changing tips that you can pick up when you are sitting in a field in the summer sunshine!

TINNED FOOD
If you only use a part of a tin of food, especially something that is acidic, like tomatoes or apple puree, do not leave in the tin or it will deteriorate. Put it in a ceramic container with a lid and put it in the fridge.

TINNED MEAT
If you put your tin of meat in the fridge for a few minutes before opening it will be easier to slice.

Household.

TOP TIPS

I was using public transport recently and I got into a conversation with a fellow traveller about Top Tips in the home (like you do). It culminated in a group of people brainstorming and coming up with these gems (again try them at your peril!!)

String: Don’t get into a tangle with a ball of string. Simply put it in a dry teapot and pull the end out of the spout.

Eggs: If you spill an egg on the floor cover it with salt and leave for a while. The egg becomes hard and is easier to clean up.

Plants: Hang wet clothes over your plants to water them.

CD’s: Use old CD’s as drinks mats (I think they would be too slippery) Maybe a better use would be to hang them outside to scare off the birds from the veggie patch.

Cakes: When you put a cake into the cake tin, put it on the lid. This will make it far easier to get out when you want a slice.

Remote control: This is the daftest one yet. If you are worried about spilling a drink on your remote control, cover it in cling film, you can still press the buttons but it won’t get wet. (Why don’t you cover the furniture in plastic too whilst you are at it!)

Household.

SPILLED MILK

Ian.
I have spilled milk onto a click together wooden floor. Some of it has soaked into the cracks and I am a bit worried that it will start to smell when the weather warms up. Have you any suggestions how to avoid this? M C. Carndonagh

Reply.

Complications arise when milk is spilt in confined areas such as cars and in your case, underneath something. I have a few ideas for clearing up the mess if it is only on a surface that you can get to, such as on a carpet. These would be white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. To use this in the cracks in the floorboards might be a bit difficult, as it can’t be rinsed off. If you can’t take up the floorboards to wipe the underneath then you could try wetting the area with an enzyme cleaner. These products are usually sold in pet shops to get rid of urine smells. Be very careful not to get the click flooring too wet though. If it is made from chipboard the whole lot might lift up and disintegrate! If anyone else has found a solution to this problem, please let me know.More Green tips in the E- Green Clean book

Household.

TOP HOUSEHOLD TIPS

TOP TIPS
I took to the streets last week and asked members of the public if they had any top tips for the home. The response again was very uplifting and goes to show what a wealth of information we carry about in our heads!

HOLD ONTO YOUR MOBILE
One tip that someone recommended was about getting more life out of your mobile phone battery. I recently had to buy a new phone because after four years my battery gave up in my own phone. It got to the stage where I had to keep it connected to the mains permanently if I wanted to make a call. I was told to put the batteries (not the whole phone) in the freezer overnight. In the morning get them out and defrost them slowly before charging up. I did this to my old batteries and they have improved dramatically! I would not say that they are as good as new but the charge lasts about four days without being attached to the plug socket.

This handy tip not only saves on batteries, it will also mean that you can hold on for a while before buying a new phone. Unless of course you are a techno head and simply have to go for the latest models regardless of the batteries working or not!

Update: The batteries were as useless as before after a day. They ended up being takes to the recycling centre.

COOL DOWN
On these muggy nights when you get too restless in bed, try filling a water bottle with cold water. This will cool you down a treat.

CUT ABOVE THE REST
Instead of normal sandwiches for the kids, try cutting them into fun shapes with a cookie cutter. You will be surprised what the kids will eat when the sandwiches look like their favourite animals.

SINKING CURRANTS
When mixing the ingredients for a cake, dust the dried fruit with flour before putting them into the mix. This will stop all of the fruit from sinking to the bottom whilst being cooked.

HAIR SPRAY
Make your own simple hair spray by boiling up a cup lemon in two cups of water. It works as well at the stuff you buy in the canisters.

Household.

WINDOW CLEANING

Most of the products on the market for cleaning windows are very powerful, considering the simplicity of the job, to get the glass clean. You might like to know that when you buy the products, the spray ones in particular, they contain mostly water. A vast majority of products contain large amounts of water, as it is a cheap bulking agent. (Bulking agents are found in other products too, especially the food industry -salt and sugar being the favourites, -think how your rasher of bacon shrinks when you fry it up). Back to windows, the spray type containers, whether they are aerosol or pump action are used at very close range to the face, inevitably you inhale a small proportion the contents. Some of the ingredients can be very irritating to the lungs. Apart from harsh solvents there is a chemical called ammonia that will irritate people with asthma. Don’t spray them near children, people or the elderly as they will be more sensitive the irritations.

If you have no choice but to use these products then choose the pump action ones in preference to the aerosol ones. The aerosol ones contain propellants that are highly flammable, damaging to the environment as well as your health.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
Consumer research has found that water is the beat cleaner for windows. The statistics found that it was better at getting the grime off the glass than 60 per cent of the glass cleaning products on the market. Home made concoctions also came higher in the list and of course they are a fraction of the cost of the commercial brands.

Get the right tools for the job before you start cleaning. I usually use a lint free cloth, or muslin squares. We have the liners left from when nappies were used in the house, they are very good for the windows. This material is effective to get a shine after cleaning. Newspaper is another alternative for getting a shine; try not to use paper towels, as they are an expensive, wasteful method of cleaning.

GLASS CLEANER METHOD 1
Get hold of some plain club soda from the shop and put it into a spray bottle. People swear by this method and it appears to work because it contains a product called sodium citrate, which acts like a water softener and helps in the cleaning process. It is good for lightly soiled glass. The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t dry as fast as the shop bought products so you can go and put the kettle on and have a brew whilst it dries a bit.

GLASS CLEANING METHOD 2
Mix equal amounts of water and distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. Not only does the vinegar cut through the grease of fingerprints, it also acts as a room deodoriser.

GLASS CLEANING METHOD 3
If you would like a cleaner that foams to show where you have been on the window then here is a simple recipe.
½ teaspoon full of liquid soap
3 tablespoons full of white vinegar
2 cups of water

Put the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well. This mixture will clean the dirtiest windows and it can also be used as a light, all-purpose cleaner for around the house.

More natural cleaning tips....

WINDSCREENS
It is very important that the glass in a car windscreen is kept clean at all times. Some of the additives that can be added to the water to clean the windows can be very harmful to health and the environment. A lot of them contain solvents such as ethylene glycol, which can cause blindness and damage to internal organs. Try to choose the ones that are detergent based. Treat them carefully as you would any poisonous substance.

Household.

HARDWOOD FLOOR CARE

Dear clean and Green.
I have recently invested in a hardwood floor. I have opted for a solid wood type as opposed to the veneer ones and have invested a lot of money in it. Could you give me some tips how to look after it as I would like it to look good for many years to come.
Thanks S. J.

REPLY-With a little care of your new investment you should get a lifetime of value. The initial investment in a good hardwood floor is daunting but you wont have to pull it up and change it after a few years like you do a carpet. Some people like to age the wood naturally and leave the floor to it’s own devices, this is all right but it is a good idea to take a few steps to keep it looking fresh.( If you are in any doubt about these tips, consult the company that fitted the floor.)

PROTECTING YOUR SOLID INVESTMENT
The wood will need to be protected from dirt, grit and sand as much as possible, which is easier said than done around here. These are the wood’s worst enemies as they act like sandpaper, causing scratches dents and dulling on the surface.

Water and other spills- Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Wipe away spills as they happen.

Hard cleaners; Avoid oil soaps. These can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a coat of varnish on the floor. Use neutral pH cleaners made for wooden floors. (I’ll think up a recipe for you to use in a week or two)

Furniture; Lift the furniture to move it. Avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches.

Dents; Vacuum with a brush attachment and don’t use vacuums with beater bars, they could make marks in the grain.

Sun; Direct sun can discolour the hardwood floor. Close the curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect the floor from the strong summer rays.

REGULAR CARE

Sweep; Brushes with fine nylon ends trap the dust and grit effectively although the natural brush is as good if you get a very soft one.

Vacuum; Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment and don’t clean in a hurry with the wrong fitting, you will scratch the finish.

Cotton mop; Use a good cotton mop with a full head. Some mops are so thin that the metal attachment that holds the cotton string can scratch the floor.

Check with the manufacturer; You didn’t tell me what wood the floor is. There will be certain treatments for different types of wood. Check with the manufacturer to see if there are any specific things you should be doing to keep the investment in tip top condition.

Household.

TOP (AND NOT SO TOP) TIPS

We have been building up a selection of some rather strange suggestions for cleaning and handy tips. Most of them seem so unusual that the chances are you might never ever have to use them. We thought that they needed a mention though. Some of them probably haven’t stood the test of time though, such as putting your cucumber in a glass of water with a lump of charcoal in it. If the water is changed daily it will stay fresh for ages. Thank heavens fridges were invented!

SOME USEFUL IDEAS
There are some ideas that might be useful though, like the tip about a wobbly table leg (thank you E. from Illies). If your table legs wobble then get some wood glue and sawdust. Mix them together and put it on a piece of paper. Push this under the leg that wobbles and press down until it is firm. When the mixture has dried the table won’t need the old beer mat underneath the leg any more.

BATTERIES
If you find that your batteries are fading fast ant the shop is shut then try warming them up. This will help you get the last bit of energy out. (This idea reminds me of the story I once heard about the woman who took three-foot strides to save shoe leather! But thanks anyway Mr D. from Burt).

DRIPLESS DRIPS
Put a slightly damp cloth on a tray when you are serving your friends drinks. This stops the glasses from moving around and soaks up the spills.

SOME LESS THAN USEFUL IDEAS
Where do some people get their ideas? Some of these ideas are pretty wacky, even dangerous. I haven’t printed the one about the best way to siphon petrol from a car, as I don’t think that it is a very good idea Mr. B. from Carndonagh (I don’t want to be putting suggestions into people’s minds -especially when it’s your neighbours car)!

BOILING MILK
One tip was to put a teaspoon in a pan of milk to stop it boiling over. This idea does NOT work and it took me an hour to clean the cooker top! Neither does brushing around the top of the pan with glycerine Ms R. from Clonbeg.

FLEAS
Someone stopped me in the street the other day and said that applying paraffin, or paraffin and milk to a dog’s coat got will get rid of fleas. This might be the case, but it will probably get rid of the dog too! Paraffin is poisonous to animals and should never be used on them.

BUTTER
Here’s one you will never do. It was said that if you wanted to refresh rancid butter then add sweet milk, this will make the butter sweet again…. it doesn’t, anyway, what is rancid butter? All I can say to that one Shaun from Malin is put your butter in the fridge!

AN APPLE AS A TOOTHBRUSH?
We had a suggestion that eating an apple last thing at night before bedtime cleans the teeth. We hate to contradict but it does exactly the opposite. It leaves the teeth bathing in acid all night, which eats into the enamel of the teeth. It might keep the doctor away but it will mean more work for the dentists.

WHISKEY
It has been said that the darker the whiskey, the stronger it is. After much experimenting…hic…I can tell you it isn’t true. The darker the colour just means that more caramel has been added to colour the drink.

That’s about all from the world of useless ideas. There are a lot of old ideas floating around that can be dangerous or just plain daft. If you have any more of them please let me know!

Household.

IONISERS FOR THE HOME

Ian. I was told of a device called an Ioniser that can be used in the home. What are they and what benefits do they bring? Regards B. L. By e-mail.

Reply. An Ioniser, or a negative ion generator, is a device that emits a stream of negative ions into the air. The result is a cleaner fresher air due to the electrostatic settling of dust and the supposedly invigorating effect of breathing negative ions. These ions are apparently found in abundance in the vicinity of waterfalls and mountain tops. In addition an ioniser can reduce airborne odours. I remember my cigarette-smoking parents had one of these machines in the 70’s and over the years it collected vast quantities of cigarette residue and dust from the air, so they definitely attract some things. Eventually there was a metre square of the wall behind the machine a nicotine yellow colour!

The principle of ion generation is fiendishly simple, (if you know anything about electrical charges). The charge on an object is greatest at the sharpest point, so if a high negative voltage is applied to a sharp needle then the charge at the tip is so high that ions are literally thrown off and then repelled by the negative field on the needle. This results in a physical draught and a slight hissing noise. In a very dark room you will also see a faint purple corona glow on the needle tips. The amount of electricity they use is very small. Most technical wisdom suggests that while negative ions make you feel good, positive ions can cause headaches and nausea.

Electrical appliances pump positive ions into the atmosphere and these positive ions, are said not to be good for your health Think about your home and how many electrical appliances are working right now - TV, computer, stereo, fridge, toaster. If you have an ioniser next to your electrical equipment it is said that the negative effects are greatly reduced.

Household,environmental.

ANNOUNCING NEW BLOGSPOT IN THE INISH TIMES

ENVIRONMENTAL AND GARDENING BLOG SPOT (APRIL 07)

I succumbed to a cold a couple of weeks ago. I have been very lucky recently and have avoided having a bout for a year. Some wise salts say that a cold is nature’s way of clearing out the system, a bit like an oil change. Being laid up with a runny nose and not being physically motivated, I decided to sit at the computer and delve into the world of Web Logs, or blogs as they are more commonly known.

Blogs are very popular at the moment and puts a new slant on keeping a diary. I thought that putting one together for myself would be a good use of my time whilst I was laid up. I gave my Blog site the name of Inishindie, for no other reason than it wasn’t a real word and I could keep a track of it on the search engines. The next thing to do after picking a name was to start to download my ramblings. I thought it would be fitting to start off with putting on my old articles. What a job!! My gardening articles alone have been running for seven years so there is plenty of material to look through. I got completely carried away and spent the best part of two weeks trawling through old files and digging out not only a load of gardening stuff but the Clean and Green articles too. Up to yet I have put over 300 articles on and the list is growing everyday as I neglect all the other aspects of my life putting this together, but I am having a fabulous time! It makes me realise just how much the articles have relied on support and comments from readers over the years.

The Blog will rely on interactive comments and questions so I would be delighted if you checked out www.inishindie.blogspot.com and added to it in some way with a bit of gardening wisdom or any questions or problems anyone could help with. If you have an environmental issue concerning Inishowen then you could add that anonymously if you like and of course don’t forget that we still need more household tips to help us work without the use of chemicals.

TOP TIPS

Again, I have not tried these so be wary!

SAY CHEESE

If you have a lump of cheese that has gone all dry and crusty then fear not. Simply sprinkle sugar on it overnight and in the morning it will be all moist again.

ROSEMARY DRIVE TIME

Putting a sprig of rosemary on your dashboard helps to keep you alert when you are driving at night. (Note: Do not drive if you are tired!)

Household.