Sarah McDonnell, Editor

Watching … The new series of Killing Eve, Mondays, 10.15pm on RTE 2. Villanelle thinks Eve is dead but she’s not, just trying desperately to rebuild her life under the radar after being shot in Rome at the end of the second series. Villanelle meanwhile has moved onto a new “project”. (Disclosure: Eve’s rock-steady husband Niko is played by my cousin Owen McDonnell.) If you haven’t started the series, you are in for a treat, if the story of an assassin-for-hire could be thus described. Watch out for Vilanelle’s incredible wardrobe – in this season, she’s all power suits and 1970s glam, rocking a Comme Des Garçons slim-fit tuxedo, Simone Rocha mesh bustier, and Loewe brooch for her wedding in the very first episode.

Listening To … Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Having booked tickets for the May 9 concert at the 3Arena, now postponed to May 2021, we are making do with preparing and cooking to Stranger than Kindness, Into My Arms and so on. Cave’s wife Anita Lane is behind cult dress label The Vampire’s Wife (remember the green dress the Duchess of Cambridge wore on her trip to Ireland?) whose Villanelle Dress is available online now … there is such an imaginative quality to these beautifully constructed dresses – they are genuinely original and different and unusually, I feel covetous when I look at them. 

Preparing … Celeriac Remoulade – one small head of celeriac, grated or julienned – I had all the time in the world to meditatively chop and couldn’t be bothered taking out the mandoline and risk my knuckles – seven tablespoons of mayo, three tablespoons of Dijon mustard and the juice of half a lemon … mix and let it stand for a few hours before you eat so the fibres break down a bit and it becomes silky and piquant. It’s good for several days and delicious with cold roast beast or tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt. 

Síomha Connolly, Digital Editor

Reading … Exciting Times, a new novel by debut Irish author Naoise Dolan which I really enjoyed. Since the publication was announced Dolan’s writing has been compared to that of her contemporary, Sally Rooney, whose books have been some of my favourites over the past couple of years. It’s a fast-moving story that is easy to read. While essentially being a novel about modern love in all its guises, it is also a study of class and culture and a social commentary of current times all centred around the lives of three millennials living in Hong Kong. I’ve written a full review which you can read here:  https://glosslive.wpengine.com/the-irish-debut-novel-everyone-is-talking-about/

Packing up … the contents of my home as I say goodbye to my little one bedroom apartment where I’ve lived for the past two years. It’s not the best time to be making a move, but as the lease was up and after lots of planned life changes were put on hold, we’ve decided to move out as planned. We’ll be house sitting for a while which means most of my belongings will be sitting in storage boxes for the foreseeable, so having to choose what actually comes with me has been tough! I’ve been packing summer clothes and sandals with the hopes that the sun continues, I’m allowing myself a maximum of five hard copy books (ok, maybe eight, or ten …) which means I’ll be reading a lot on the Kindle over the next few months, and I am packing my sewing kit and knitting needles to continue with my new hobbies. 

Trying out … among the packing needs is a bathroom overflowing with beauty products that have been passed on to me by our beauty editor Sarah Halliwell. Some sit untouched, still waiting to be tried, but others I’ve noticed are nearing the end and there are a few standouts that I will definitely repurchase. The first is a clay mask by Image skincare which I use around once a week, next is a body butter by Kiehls which has the most delicious scent and lastly a ‘Very Gentle Restoring Oil‘ by Trilogy which does exactly what it says on the tin, I’ve been using it almost daily for the past few months.

Sarah Halliwell, Beauty Editor

Browsing… The postcard-sized artworks on www.incognito.ie being sold on April 24 in aid of the Jack & Hill Children’s Foundation, who provide home nursing care for very sick children at home. It’s a genius way of raising money for the cause – you bid €50 for a postcard, without knowing who it’s by. The artist’s name will be written on the back of each card, so you won’t find out until you receive your piece. Previous contributors have included Tracy Emin, Martin Mooney, Maser and Bono. Test your artistic eye and see if you can pick out the star purchases from over 2,500 original works.

Reading … I am re-reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt – I first read it on a Greek island in the early 1990s and I can remember just not being able to put it down, remaining on pebbly Paxos beaches long after the sun had faded to read on to the end. I can no longer remember why the story of a group of students in an elite Greek class was so entirely gripping, and I rarely re-read books, but I’m looking to escape. I also plan to re-read Normal People before it comes onto screens on April 28 (RTE1), directed by Lenny Abrahamson (and getting rave reviews).

Wearing … SPF. Even though we’re only getting out very rarely, for a short walk or run, we should still be wearing sun protection when we do so. For a good natural mineral sunscreen that’s still light to wear, Centella Sun Spray SPF30 (€28.50) is certified organic and vegan. Find it via Virginie Claire, who is a long-time advocate for natural and organic beauty; her salon, which has been in Harold’s Cross for 24 years, is a little haven of properly natural skin expertise. In the absence of being able to have a facial with Virginie and her team (consider buying a voucher for when this is over and your skin could do with a professional cleanse and boost), have a look at her online store – and if you have a skin issue or need advice she is happy to help. She also stocks Najel Aleppo soaps in solid or liquid form, and vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics by Couleur Caramel. www.vclairenaturalbeauty.ie

Penny McCormick, Deputy Editor

Watching … a lot of TV, specifically Twins, a Norwegian imposter drama on BBC Four, and repeats of Wolf Hall on BBC 2. Having missed this adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Tudor novels the first time around, it’s been the perfect prelude to The Mirror and The Light – the third and final part of her Thomas Cromwell trilogy, which has just been published. I was mesmerised by the adaptation’s subtle stillness and steely performances by Claire Foy, Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance. I’ve ordered the audio book read by Ben Miles, who played Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies and was personally cast by the Mantel.

Reading … Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, a novel I discovered when Kondo-ing my bookshelves. It’s a classic whodunnit and a multi-layered story of a murder trial. Shortly after WWII, fisherman Carl Heine is found dead in the waters off San Piedro, an island off the coast of Washington state. Accused of his murder is fellow fisherman Kabuo Miyomoto, a member one of the many Japanese families on the island. The poetic novel questions the nature of justice, reminisces about lost love and captures the painful legacy of war – when an entire community of Japanese was sent into exile while its neighbours watched.

Sorting … through photos which I have been wanting to put into albums I bought many years ago in Florence. It’s a work in progress and has led to the realisation I have so few hard copy images of family or friends from the last five years – they are only stored on my phone. As a result, I’ve dusted off my Nikon camera to document lockdown life.