Lynn Enright, Writer and editor, former features editor, THE GLOSS

Watching … The Sopranos, available on Now TV. Yes, I am a full two decades behind on this one but I’ve been waiting for years to find the spare 80+ hours I would need to watch The Sopranos in its entirety – and now that time is here. It’s still relevant, entertaining and genuinely shocking in places – so if there’s anyone else out there who hasn’t yet got around to it, do start now. The characters are brilliantly drawn – including the women: who doesn’t love Carmela? It’s hilarious and clever and it makes all the other TV look a little lily-livered by comparison.

Reading … My concentration is not at its best right now so I am reading more slowly than usual. At night, I read around ten pages of An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: the Women’s Prize-winning novel is a moving and poetic portrayal of a marriage that’s upended when the husband – a black man living in the South in the US – is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. By day, I listen to an audiobook as I attempt to get my 10k steps. Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by the therapist and journalist Lori Gottlieb is perfect listening: smart, witty and – crucially for an audiobook – easy to follow. 

Eating … A lot. The preparation of food has been such a comfort during the last few weeks. I find it takes just the right amount of focus to distract from the news, whenever a distraction is needed. I’ve been cooking intricate dishes from the Dishoom and Zaitoun cookbooks as well as more soothing and straightforward meals like roast chicken and tacos. I’ve never been a big baker but I’ve been making cakes recently, too. The beetroot, ginger and soured cream cake in Ottolenghi’s Sweet is very special and the summer spelt almond cake from Claire Ptak’s Violet Bakery Cookbook is delicious, as well. If you can get your hands on some flour, I’d start with those. 

Penny McCormick, Deputy Editor

Making … treats for my cocooners. I have been enjoying Irish food writer Clodagh McKenna’s daily Instagram demos from her flower-filled kitchen in Highclere, Hampshire (as well as her playlist of background dance tracks). This week I made her delicious retro cheesecake – substituting the lemons for limes. The hardest part of this quick and easy recipe was not eating it in one sitting! The recipe is available on @clodagh_mckenna. I’m debating whether her Chocolate Biscuit Cake is too calorific or just right for my next no-bake bake-in. 

Reading … outside as much as possible to top up my vitamin D levels. After some breaks in concentration in the last few weeks, I’ve powered through a trio of titles. My review of Alexandra Shulman’s new memoir is here, and I also finished Maggie O’Farrell’s moving historical novel Hamnet, which took me back to studying and later teaching Hamlet many years ago. As a complete antidote to these titles, is the debut psychological thriller A Good Father by Irish writer Catherine Talbot. The former Trinity College Dublin alumna, hailed by author John Banville as “one to watch”, has created a decidedly deceptive, dislikable character in Des – a mild-mannered man who runs a weekly football club for children. His frustration at work manifests as jealous, controlling and abusive behaviour at home. While I wanted to throw away the book on several occasions, I felt compelled to reach the final inexorable conclusion. Given the number of domestic abuse cases reported during lockdown, this is a timely if uncomfortable read. A Good Father, Catherine Talbot is published today by Penguin Ireland, €15.99. www.easons.com

Spritzing … One of the symptoms of Covid-19 is a loss of the sense of smell, or post-viral anosmia accounting for up to 40% of cases apparently. I’ve been pondering this (alarming stat) and while not as debilitating as the loss of sight or sound, one from which I would feel bereft. I love scents – both natural, bottled or brewed (imagine coffee without it?). I’ve noticed how my choice of perfume has changed over the last six weeks from heavier oriental chypres (Across Sands by Replica Maison Margiela is a favourite) to lighter colognes which could be seasonal or symbolic. I’m currently spritzing Roger&Gallet’s Fleur d’Osmanthus Eau Fraiche, a woody citrus gifted to me by my colleague Tracy. Coincidentally, osmanthus is one of the defining ingredients in Chinnery Dublin Dry Gin, my tipple of choice just now. I’m also eking out Stories No 1 another woody floral with notes of grapefruit and orange blossom with sandalwood and cedar wood. It’s an award-winning fragrance created by Tonya Kidd Beggs from Northern Ireland, who was inspired by her grandfather’s garden and tried to bottle the scent memory. www.storiesparfum.com

Siomha Connolly, Digital Editor

Watching …The Last Post on Netflix, a six-part drama set in Aden (now capital of Yemen) in the Middle East during the 1960s starring Irish actress Jessie Buckley. It follows a group of British soldiers and their wives as they live in the colonised territory, battling a war (that is not disclosed as such) with a nationalist liberation group that resulted in the end of British occupancy in 1967. I enjoyed sitting down to an episode each night, if you’ve exhausted all your options and are looking for a new show on Netflix I’d recommend this!  

Walking … along the beach. I’ve always lived near the coast and have found I have a need for the sea as a comfort during difficult times – there is no little niggling worry in your mind that a long beach walk can’t solve. My new 2km radius allows me to walk to Sandymount strand which has been such a treat compared to my previous city centre location. We’re lucky to have so many beautiful beaches and coastlines in Dublin!   

Cooking … chestnut mushroom risotto. Risotto is a dish that needs both time and attention, two things that I don’t usually have when it comes to cooking – I tend to go for the easiest/quickest option available, especially midweek. But last night on examining the remnants of the fridge and cupboards it seemed that mushroom risotto was the only thing on the menu. While it does take patience and constant observation it actually requires surprisingly little effort and let’s face it, if there’s ever a time to make a time-consuming dish it’s during lockdown. I spent almost an hour standing over the pan, slowly stirring until the rice had absorbed all the liquid. It turned out to be the perfect wind down after the working day as I turned on some music in the background and just let the time pass. 

I chose a playlist my younger sister compiled for my mam when she joined Spotify. This playlist acts like a portal to my childhood, containing all of the music my parents used to listen to in the house as I grew up. Namely Leonard Cohen, Van Morrisson, Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones … Having not seen my family in over a month now, listening to it last night seemed to ease the distance between us. No matter where I am in the world I can press play on that playlist and feel instantly connected. It’s quite a special feeling. And the risotto was a delicious success! A lockdown staple I think … 

Sarah Halliwell, Beauty Editor

Watching … Mary Greenwell’s beauty videos on Instagram @marygreenwell – I’m not a big beauty video watcher usually, but you have to see the legendary Greenwell in action. The make-up artist who’s worked on every magazine cover, made up Princess Diana for some of her most iconic photo shoots, and is the artist of choice for the always incandescent Cate Blanchett, Greenwell is an absolute force in the beauty world. Yet she is incredibly down to earth, real and unflouncy when it comes to skincare and beauty. Sit back and watch an expert make up her own face – how refreshing to see someone who’s not a teenager, and has a world of experience, show us how it’s done.   

The Dying of the Light, an oil on canvas painting by one of the artists involved in the #artistsupportpledge initiative, Alison Critchlow

Viewing… You may not have been quick enough to snap up a €50 art postcard from the annual Incognito sale in support of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation this morning – they sold out within 15 minutes – but there is still scope to support artists, and perhaps pick up a bargain at the same time. I love the graphic images that will go on sale shortly to support the @creativesagainstcovid19 campaign. The charity will sell prints by a variety creative talents for €40; each is inspired by the theme “Soon” and the money raised will go to support women and children suffering from domestic abuse. A brilliant idea. The prints are due to go on sale shortly via www.creativesagainstcovid19.com.  

Another bright idea is the #artistsupportpledge, a concept designed by artist Matthew Burrows to support artists and makers around the world: artists sell a piece of work for £200stg plus shipping and when they reach £1,000 in sales they buy another artist’s work. See www.matthewburrows.org and @artistsupportpledge on Instagram.  

Supporting … the small Irish companies hard working to make a difference: Nicola Connolly is using the manufacturing facility for her Nunaïa brand to produce hand sanitiser (formulated with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol to effectively disinfect and sanitise hands according to WHO guidelines). This way they can continue to support their community of growers in South America, and also support healthcare workers: “For every bottle of hand sanitiser we sell, we will donate an additional 50% to healthcare providers. So if you buy a 50ml bottle we will donate 25ml; if you buy 500ml we will donate 250ml,” says Connolly. Find the lavender and tea tree blend from €6.95 for 50ml, at www.nunaia.com (free delivery over €50). See also Galway’s Cloon Keen Hand Sanitiser, with 85 per cent ethanol (www.cloonkeen.com, €12 for 250ml). Waters + Wild perfumery in West Cork have created an organic rinse-free hand sanitiser with rosemary, aloe vera and seaweed, from €20 for 60ml, www.watersandwild.com 

And three cheers also to L’Oreal Ireland, who have donated hygiene products and hand sanitisers to frontline healthcare workers, as well as 27,000 hand sanitisers to pharmacy staff around Ireland.