arrears on utility bills

Question: I have a huge electricity bill after the last cold snap. I'm worried about getting into arrears with my bills. What are my options?
Answer: If you don't pay your gas or electricity bills your supply may be cut off. However most utility companies will only cut off supply as a last resort when all other arrangements with you have failed.

• You should contact your supplier as soon as possible. They can agree a plan for you to repay your bill that will take into account your income and personal or family situation. Your supplier's contact number is printed on your bill.

• Don't make arrangements to repay amounts that you know you cannot afford. That may only make your situation more difficult.

• Make sure that your bill is based on a current meter reading and not an estimated one. ...
Read More »

Earth Hour
10:10 is a climate change campaign that aims to cut our carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. The theme for March is lighting. Every person is being encouraged to find out more about how you can reduce the cost and impact of your lighting.

This month also ends with Earth Hour, a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world which takes place on Saturday March 27 at 8.30 p.m.

It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in...
Read More »

Dear Editor,

The Irish Heart Foundation has launched a campaign to secure better services for the 10,000 people who have a stroke in this country each year.

Although stroke is Ireland's third biggest killer and our biggest cause of acquired disability, services in most places are grossly inadequate. The result is that hundreds of people are dying each year when their lives could be saved and thousands more are living with an avoidable or unduly prolonged disability.

In a health system where the ability to shout the loudest is often more important than greatest need, stroke patients have been left at the back of the queue. We want them to have a voice so the unnecessary death and suffering caused by years of under-investment in stroke services can be ended.

But we can't change the system on our own. We are calling on stroke survivors, friends and family members of anyone who has had a...
Read More »

with John D Owens M.V.B. veterinary surgeon.

Riverstown Business Park, Tramore Ph 051 393630
Email: anipetsvetclinicatgmail.com

What are ear mites and how can they be prevented?
Ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of the cat and dog. They are estimated to be the cause of over 50% of cases of otitis (inflammation of the ear) in cats. Kittens are especially sensitive to ear mite infestation, and will usually scratch the ears vigorously and shake their heads repeatedly. This can eventually lead to the cat injuring the external ear, which can in turn lead to the formation of abscesses or haematoma (blood filled blisters).

Affected animals usually have a buildup of dark brown or blac...
Read More »

Aries: March 21 – April 20
Expect to both be the giver and the recipient of several acts of kindness this week. You, and others may realise that even in these challenging times, the world and its inhabitants are not quite as bad as the media would have us believe. Time could be a little more pressing than usual, and you might be pushed to get everything done – perhaps allow a few extra hours to accommodate unexpected complications.

Taurus: April 21 – May 21
You might find yourself caught up in a tide of events that leave you powerless to resist the onward flow. It is suggested that rather than fight, you should relax and go with the flow. Without you necessarily realising it, it is taking you inexorably onward to your goal. Family matters should not be ignored in this busy time, remember that spouses and children and siblings also have issues that are equally important. <...
Read More »

Waterford News March 1944

Playing games in the street
Charges of ball-playing and card-playing in the streets, and larcenies of fruit from local gardens, constituted the majority of cases at the Waterford Children's Court on Saturday last, and nominal fines were imposed in each case.

Three city boys were charged with stealing apples from the garden of Mr. Morrissey, and Supt., Walsh, prosecuting said, that the defendants entered the orchard together and were caught by Mr. Morrissey. They had about 60 apples wrapped up in a pull-over which was concealed in the garden. Supt. Walsh added that this type of offence was very common at the present time, and apart from these larcenies considerable damage was caused to fruit trees.

Imposing a fine of 2/6 in each case, the Justice said many people like the defendants thought this was some kind of joke, but there was no joke about it. ...
Read More »

Take that look off your face

The above line is borrowed from a well known song indicating that without saying a word messages can be conveyed to those around us that expresses a thousand words. With this in mind if you looked in the mirror today, what message are you sending out to those around you? All of us from time to time have seen our reflection in shop windows and wondered - do we really look like that? While such images may distort how we look it does have an underlying grain of truth. Think about the following, - do you walk along with your head down or is your mind in a far away place concerned  aboutsomething in particular? Does your expression say that you are indifferent to those around you or do you make a real effort for positive eye contact?

While acknowledging that our outside image may only portray a small percentage of how we feel (...
Read More »

• HSE could save up to €80million on home care services, allowing 16,500 more seniors to avail of quality home care
• Private sector is higher quality and 29% less expensive
• No regulation of home care services for 60,000 seniors

A major new report into Ireland's home care market has found that the current service provided by the HSE for the care of Ireland's elderly population, suffers from large scale inefficiencies and a complete absence of regulation. This first independent analysis of the Irish home care services found that an additional 16,500 seniors could be cared for using the €80 million that can be saved if the findings of the report were implemented.

Conducted by PA Consulting on behalf of the Irish Private Home Care Association (IPHCA), the report reveals that the HSE spends €340.27 million on the provision of home care services. Of this entire...
Read More »

Lorraine Keane and Baz Ashwamy go back to school for The Meningitis Trust Teachers Handbook Campaign

Together Lorraine Keane and Baz Ashwamy, helped launch the Meningitis Trust Teachers Handbook campaign along with children Philip O'Connell (5), Neamh Le Blanc (6), Kevin Le Blanc (11), Daire O'Connell (10) and Claire Nealon (17) in Dublin Zoo.

'Meningitis For All' will be available for teachers to download from www.meningitis-trust.ie/Resources

Recognising that children and teenagers are at most risk of contracting meningitis, the Meningitis-Trust has developed a Teachers Handbook- "Meningitis Education for All", designed specifically for people working in a school setting. It contains all...
Read More »

Why forgive?

On a regular basis in my clinics, I meet people who are holding on to ill-effects from anger, hurt, disappointment or being put down. Some are aware and some are unaware of the harm that this holding on can cause to the body. For some people, it can be vertigo, for others, high blood pressure or headaches. In chronic cases, it can be even turn into to arthritis, from unresolved pain in the joints.

Whether we like it or not, we are emotional beings with feelings! When we honour our feelings, express them and love them, we are then in tune with ourselves. Body cells that are loved by our loving thoughts - both inwardly to ourselves and outwardly to others - are healthy tissue. People who carry negative anger or fear within themselves may not realise it, but this negativity can have a hugely detrimental effect on their health and wel...
Read More »

A familiar face to Coronation Street fans, Sean Wilson has launched his very own artisan cheese in Superquinn stores. Better known as Martin Platt from the popular TV soap, Sean is visiting Superquinn stores this week in his new role as an accomplished artisan cheesemaker, to launch 'Smelly Apeth', a delicious medium soft blue veined cheese made by Sean and his team at the Saddleworth Cheese Company in Lancashire (www.saddleworthcheese.co.uk

Superquinn is the first Irish multiple to list the product, a fantastic addition to its already extensive Cheese Market. Bruce Langlands, Head of New Product Development at Superquinn says, "We're delighted to launch Sean's 'Smelly Apeth' cheese. It would make a fine addition to a cheeseboard, and a full bodied ...
Read More »

Over 200 catering students from nine Institute of Technology Colleges nationwide participated in training days which recently took place in Athlone IT, Bord Bia's Foodcentre, Dublin and IT Tralee. Neven Maguire, renowned chef and owner of McNean Restaurant & Townhouse, Blacklion, Co Cavan was on hand to demonstrate the versatility, value and quality of Irish pork. The 'Pork Experience – from Farm to Fork' affords a valuable opportunity to those entering the catering and hospitality sectors to demonstrate the well-earned reputation of a safe and succulent Irish product.

Organised and sponsored by Bord Bia in conjunction with the IFA, the IAPP and Panel of Chefs of Ireland, the programme is run to further educate catering st...
Read More »

A local woman is bringing the exuberance and Essex charm of popular TV chef, Jamie Oliver, to homes throughout the South East. Jamie at Home is Oliver's latest venture with the aim of bringing his high quality kitchenware range to homes in the UK and Ireland while having a bit of fun at the same time. Siobhan Smyth is a Jamie at Home consultant from Dundalk but based now in Waterford. Women of all ages are hosting house-warming parties, coffee mornings or just nights in with friends and inviting Siobhan along to add an extra dimension to proceedings.

During the course of the event, Siobhan pops in a DVD and Mr. Oliver takes over, addressing the audience as if he's known them all his life. Party games and fun follow before Jamie starts to show off his products. "The pieces are really well made, look gorgeous and are completely exclusive," Siobhan told Waterford Today. They also represent excellent value. The majority of...
Read More »

Irish Hypnosis group is the largest group in Ireland of clinical hypnotists and is recognised worldwide as leading the way in research, development and application of hypnosis. Irish Hypnosis was started thirteen years ago and has developed proven programmes to help people with panic attacks, fears, IBS and depression. They have very successful programmes in what most people traditionally used hypnosis for which is stopping smoking and losing weight. They have 14 clinics located throughout Ireland from Dingle in Co. Kerry to Dundalk in Co. Louth.

Originally from Blessington, Co. Wicklow, Luke Martin runs the Waterford branch of Irish Hypnosis. Luke has an advanced diploma in clinical hypnosis awarded by The Irish Clinical Hypnosis Association www.ClinicalHypnosis.ie.

Luke became interested in hypnosis from a very early age after watching some hypnosis stage shows. It was not the control by the hypnotist (wh...
Read More »