I had a few days off last week and, with time on my hands, I did something I’ve long threatened to do but always thought was a waste of time and money – I had my nails manicured for the first time in my life.

Now, I know there are plenty of women who wouldn’t be caught dead outside the door without their false sparkly nails, but I’ve never been one of them. However, when I see nail salons popping up all over the place, I reckon I’m very much in a minority.

Indeed, I’ve often looked at those nails and wondered if the women they belonged to had any work to do because, for the life of me, I don’t know how you’d garden or do the dinner with them.

I’m blessed with good strong nails that only ever need a clipping. I’d run a bit of clear varnish over them if I had somewhere special to go. I’ve tried painting them but, invariable, I make a bags of it.

The young woman at the nail salon couldn’t believe that I’d never had a manicure. Not even for my wedding or for my daughter’s, for that matter. So, she set out to make it a special experience. She started by clipping and filing and then buffing and yet more filing. Next, I steeped my hands in soapy water and after that she went at my cuticles and did more buffing. Then I had to select a nail colour. I thought the duck egg blue looked nice but it didn’t suit, so I went back to a shade of pink that complemented my skin tones. I couldn’t get over how rapidly and accurately the young woman painted my nails. She applied two coats of clear varnish, then three coats of varnish followed by another two coats of clear varnish. I wouldn’t have a hope of doing it.

Getting them dry was another matter entirely. As part of the process and to pass the time, she gave me a neck and shoulder massage – something I wasn’t expecting at all and it was just gorgeous.

Getting my nails painted isn’t something that I’ll be doing too often but, like having a blow-dry, you do get a bit of a boost from it and that’s something we can all do with from time to time.

RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards

Turning to more serious matters, this week we are delighted to launch the FBD National Farmyard Awards 2016. This competition is open to every farming family in the country. It aims to recognise and reward the effort and constant diligence that goes into making a farmyard a good and safe place in which to work.

As before, the categories cover livestock – beef and sheep; livestock – dairying; and other farm enterprises to include tillage, mushrooms, pigs and poultry. This year, we have two new categories – the equestrian enterprise of the year and the farm safety champion. Every year we receive entries from new families who are delighted to be shortlisted, not to mind being a prize winner. So, do give it some thought and we look forward to receiving your entry.

Finally, be sure to watch the first ever RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards, sponsored by the Irish Farmers Journal this Friday night on RTÉ One at 9.30pm. I will be presenting one of the awards and, whatever about the rest of me, the nails will be looking good anyway.

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