BOOK IT: If you've been wondering when you last read a certain book, or trying to remember what you were reading during a particular summer holiday, you might benefit from documenting your literary habits in a book journal. While people have been making a note of their reading habits in plain old notebooks for centuries, book lovers can now buy journals devoted purely to literature.
Most include templates in which you can list your latest read, quote your favourite passages, and even file reviews. Book journals are also a way of keeping track of your wandering volumes. Many journals include little "library cards" - once filled out, one half can be placed into books you lend, while the other part stays in the journal, so you know who has borrowed what. Book journals are available at good bookshops or stationery shops. Anna Carey
TALL STORY: Waterford will be the starting point for one of the most impressive sailing events this summer - the Tall Ships Race - and half the crew berths on the ships are reserved for 15- to 25-year-olds. This is the first year that race is starting in Ireland: the fleet will race to Cherbourg in France, then up the French coast to Newcastle, and will finish in Fredrikstad in Norway. The organisers are expecting more than 100 boats, from ports in Indonesia, the US and Russia. Landlubbers are welcome, as these boats are completely unique - teenage Mirror expertise won't do you much good. You do, however, need to be prepared for hoisting the sails, keeping watch, scrubbing the decks, and not much in the way of hot showers. It will be a serious adventure. No need to feel, ahem, rudderless during summer holidays this year. For information see www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie, or phone 051-309915. Nicoline Greer
PUKKA MEDICINES: Westerners have embraced Chinese traditional medicine, but now it may be India's turn. Ayurveda - the science of life and longevity - is India's ancient system of medicine. Pukka Herbs is a new company which follows the Ayurvedic principles of balancing body and mind while maintaining a harmonious environment. Try chywanaprash for energy; peppermint and pippali for hayfever and brahmi for mental clarity. Pukka Herbs are organic, fair-traded and sustainably harvested. From Nourish health food stores or www.pukkaherbs.com. Sarah Marriott
BOX OF TRICKS: A sewing survival kit is the latest cool idea from Hickeys Fabrics. The Haby Workbox is a clear plastic sewing box split into three tiers. The first holds necessities such as scissors, measuring tapes and pins. The second is about glamour, with coloured threads, glitter, adhesive diamante, iron-on designs, name tags and Velcro. Tier three contains the fun stuff - iron-on patches, coloured feathers and felts, animal print fabrics and brooches. The full box, with more than 30 items in it comes to €163, but beginners can start with just the workbox (€15) and fill it up gradually. It's a great present for little girls of all ages. Hickeys Fabrics is in Henry Street and St Stephen's Green Centre in Dublin; Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin; Cork, Galway and Limerick. Deirdre McQuillan
FLYNNER'S DINNERS: Just when all seems lost to Dungarvan, following the closure of the Waterford Glass plant, along comes the happier news that uber chef Paul Flynn of The Tannery is opening a guesthouse beside his celebrated restaurant to lure diners into staying overnight in the town. "We wanted to offer rooms so people can make a great night of it and not worry about driving," he says. We can heartily recommend making a night of it at The Tannery.
Each of the eight rooms is completely different. Breakfast is left discreetly on a tray outside your door, so no need to tell your life story to a nosy parker in the breakfast room. The design is by Denis Looby of Sheehan Barry Architects, whose ethos is pared-down style with the focus on luxury fabrics and furnishings. Prices range from €50-€70 per person sharing.
The Tannery Townhouse is on Church Street, Dungarvan. Book on 058-45420, or e-mail tannery@cablesurf.com.
ON YOUR WAVELENGTH: Fancy yourself as a surfer dude or dudette? Rather than thrashing about in the waves in an undignified manner, get some lessons. The Donegal Surfing School in Bundoran offers individual lessons, surf weekends and teenage summer surfing camps. They are taught by an Irish Surfing Association instructor, who is also a qualified beach lifeguard. Pupils are taught on big foam boards - "the size of your office desk", says manager Niamh Hamill, that are easy to stand up on, and won't hurt if they biff your head as you inevitably tumble into the water. And, she says, we should be grateful for our predictably unpredictable weather. Despite Ireland's world-class waves, the water is unlikely to get crowded and is still among the cleanest in Europe. For details contact the Donegal Adventure Centre and Surf School, 071-719842418, www.donegal-holidays.com. Nicoline Greer
THE YEAR OF THE COW: When Jason McGabhann goes selling, he carries stag antlers on his back and people look at him askance. They're actually display props for his collection of silver jewellery and he's just one of the 22 stallholders in the Saturday morning Cows Lane Market in Dublin, an enterprise whose wings, let alone antlers, are growing apace. There has been a market here since summer 2003, and a browse through the stalls on a recent sunny Saturday unveiled myriad treasures such as delicate, featherlight earrings in pastel colours imported from Chile and made from fish scales; alluring woven wristlets in zany patterns from Guatemala; cobweb-like handloomed scarves in Russian cashmere and zany little starprint cotton minis freshly cut and sewn by Chupi Sweetman. It is a fashion bazaar, with lots of jewellery and inexpensive, youthful creations. Open from 10am to 5.30pm, the market brings a lively buzz to the west end of Temple Bar. Some of the vendors also have stalls in Dublin's IFSC on Thursdays. Deirdre McQuillan