Charles Handy, management philosopher and author of The Empty Raincoat and Beyond Certainty, will explore the changes in the workplace wrought by technology and economics, and discuss how we should respond, in "An Evening With Charles Handy" on Thursday at 5.30 p.m. in the RDS Concert Hail, Dublin 4.
Prof Handy now rarely speaks publicly, but comes to Ireland to mark a change of name from the Marriage Counselling Service: Marriage And Relationship Counselling Services; the management thinker's visit is organised by MRCS in conjunction with the Institute of Personnel And Development. Cost is £30. Telephone 8720341 for details.
The authors of When Food Becomes Your Enemy have moved their sights to the relationship between a person's attitude to life and their ill health with When Ill Health Becomes Your Enemy, published by Mercier Press, price £6.99. Consultant psychologist Gillian Moore Groark and journalist Sylvia Thompson illustrate with case histories the benefits of holistic treatment in dealing with illness. The book offers simple suggestions on how to look after your health and play a part in your healing.
Among the courses to be run at Well Woman centres through the winter months are two for women in middle age. "Feeling Fit Over Forty" deals with how the body and mind change as we get older; "The Fabulous Fifties" aims "to equip women with the self awareness and the positive attitudes that will transform this mid life period into a woman's prime of life". Details from Margaret Riordan at the Leeson Street Well Woman Centre, tel 661 0083.
The Adoptive Parents Association of Ireland is having an open meeting for anyone with an interest in adoption at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, on the Roscommon Road, on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. Guest speakers include Helen Dolan of the Irish Foreign Adoption Group and Marie Cregan of the Aurelia Trust and the meeting will discuss subjects including Irish adoption, foreign adoption and long term fostering.
Saturday, World Vegetarian Day, will see a celebration of vegetarianism at St Andrew's Resource Centre on Pearse Street, 10 a.m.5p.m. Vegetarian restaurants and caterers will be present with food stands; talks will include "A Vegetarian Baby" and "A Teenage Vegetarian In The Family"; the Dublin Food Co Op will host its weekly market; and lots more.
Next week is National Eye Week, and local independent opticians throughout Ireland will be offering free "career vision screening" - an eye check, colour vision screening and muscle balance - to students, graduates and anyone considering a career change which could be affected by problems detected by these checks.
The biggest danger to asthmatic women who become pregnant is that they may mistakenly stop taking their asthma medicines, fearing they will harm the baby, according to the Asthma Society. Asthma And Pregnancy, a new leaflet, is available free of charge from the Asthma Society of Ireland, Eden House, 15-17 Eden Quay, Dublin 1. It explains that when properly managed, almost all asthmatic women go through pregnancy and labour without difficulty. Enclose 50p for postage. The asthma information line is on 1800-44-54-64.
Raynauds, a painful condition which interrupts the blood supply, particularly to the hands and feet, affects some 350,000 people in Ireland. If you wish to find out more about the condition, send a large stamped self-addressed envelope to the Irish Raynaud's and Scleroderma Society, PO box 2958, Foxrock, Dublin 18.
A course on positive thinking comprising six three hour sessions begins next Monday and continues on Monday mornings, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Stable Gallery, Ayesha Castle, Victoria Road, Killiney, Dublin. Course director is psychologist Domhnall Casey. Telephone 01-282 2310 for brochure and bookings.