Life's What You Make it

Looking back and looking forward: Trish tells us what she did at solstice and Val recalls a trip to Greece, memories spurred on by a discussion about planning for your retirement - practically, emotionally and financially!

Trish pays a visit to the Lighthouse Cinema and is inspired by Irish farmers while Val shares the joy of sport and seizing the moment.

A graveyard with a view - Valerie and Trish talk about the inevitable, planning for death by talking about where they'd like to lie when they die. Or be scattered if cremated and the options are many. And they have some great recommendations on books to read and places to go this summer.

Valerie and Trish have been on holidays and talk about the joys of travel, whether it be to Namibia or Glasnevin Cemetery. AI is here whether we like it or not and awareness is everything in how we use it, and above all their recommendation is to stay curious.

We value our friends but staying in touch isn't always easier. Valerie and Trish talk about making the effort to stay in touch and how to mange obsession with phones and social media, especially when it comes to grandparents and children.

Do you ever get distracted on the phone and end up on the road to Cork, when you should be heading to Limerick? Trish and Valerie do and take comfort in the their shared memory lapses. They remind each other to seize adventure and talk about the trials of nylon sheets, poached eggs and learning the cúpla focal (few words) in Irish.

Trish tell Valerie all about her post-retirement plans and they agree that space to dream - to look out the window - is key. Drinking milk reverently comes up while they agree that we all need space for sweet moments in life, whether you're traveling or having a stay at home holiday this year!

Water into wine? Valerie tells Trish all about her travels and travails walking through the Rioja region as a Camino pilgrim including a water fountain that dispenses wine. They discuss at what age do we stop looking at ourselves critically in pictures and agree that we need to look at the bigger picture.

You may have heard about downsizing as you get older but with more of our adult children living at home, what about upsizing? Is it even a thing? Trish and Val discuss the challenges and pitfalls of empty-nesters and children returning as adults. And they discover they both both had relations who worked in Guinness brewery in Dublin.

Val and Trish take a visit to Tuamgraney, Co Clare for a spot on Scariff Bay community radio and are inspired by the volunteers and the owner of McKernan Woollen Mills. Trish accidently takes a phone leading to a discussion about how to deal with occasional forgetfulness and and the freedom to try things out that getting older enables.

Val and Trish talk about the preserving memories from letter writing to Facebook posts and they share some tips on walking the Camino and why it's best not to be a hero.

Seizing the moment Trish recalls a memorable college performance with Brendan Gleeson while Val relives her recent amateur drama debut. They both go the birds - eagles, cormorants and egrets to be precise - as they discuss the joys of nature and share a tale of the singing telegram to the customer is king himself, Fergal Qunn.

It was used as a poison in ancient Rome but the nightshade family also includes potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes, and they could be making your arthritis worse! Trish and Val discuss how one small change made all the difference, wishing upon a falling star and the joys of travel.

Val and Trish talk about their rainy day funds, money in the mattress, rugby players' haircuts, star-gazing and the joy of travelling and helping fellow travellers - whether they want your helpful singing or not.

This week Valerie and Trish talk about the importance of trying things out and the joy of creativity from amateur drama and painting to rap and power of Denise Chaiula as a performer. Best jobs ever, getting out of a rut and watching rugby are also on the menu, and they discover a shared love of a good raffle!

In their opening conversation, Trish and Valerie chat about spider bites, taking control of your own health, woodpeckers and ice-swimming, and using anger to drive positive change in your life.