Saturday with author Vicki Notaro: 'As I get older, I am realising the importance of balance'

Vicki Notaro is an Irish journalist, columnist and former magazine editor. Her first novel Reality Check is inspired by her love of reality television, social media and celebrity culture. Notaro lives in Dublin with her husband Joe and their terrier Jacko.

Sat, 18 May, 2024 - 16:59

Ruth O'Connor

8.00

I wake up between 8am and 9am — the same as during the week. I start most mornings slowly because I’m not really a morning person. I do puzzles on my phone to wake my brain up — Wordle, Connections and LetterBoxed on the New York Times app, and have a scroll on social media.

My husband Joe and dog Jacko wake up around the same time. Jacko is 13, he is spoilt rotten and sleeps in the bed with us. Joe makes coffee, and then we hit the gym together, or take Jacko on a long walk around Dublin 7. If we go on a walk, we stop halfway in Phibsborough for an almond croissant and cappuccino, then have brunch at home later on. If we’ve been to the gym, we normally cook something with potatoes, eggs and meat for breakfast. I’ve been getting really into exercise lately for the first time in years, I feel strange now if I don’t do some heavy lifting three or four times a week. I work from home and write full time for a living, but when I’m in the gym I completely switch off — no phone, nothing in my ears, just challenging myself.

The Phoenix Park became very important to me during lockdown. It’s a 15-minute walk from home so I like to get there often. I also love the Blessington Street Basin, it’s a little oasis in Dublin 7. I love the sea but I’m not a swimmer — I don’t like being unclothed in public! I prefer to drive to the coast for a dog walk or to people-watch in Sandymount, Clontarf or Dalkey.

11.00

We might head to Slice or Social Fabric in Stoneybatter for an iced coffee and a brekkie hash. They’re on the way home from the gym, and both very popular. I also love Urbanity in Smithfield. Their scrambled eggs are to die for... I don’t want to know how much butter and cream is in them.

13.00

If we’re at home for lunch, one of us will whip up a salad or sandwich. Joe makes a mean chicken Caesar, and I’m good at tuna melts. If we’re out and about, I love Balfes in The Westbury, and Hawksmoor does a great lunch if I’m feeling glam.

I like a nose around Oliver Bonas, Industry & Co and The Kitchen Whisk. My best friend, Aidan Corcoran, is the beauty personal shopper in Brown Thomas, so I often pop in for a chat and a nose at the latest beauty offerings. When I’m in BT, I have to swing by the sunglasses and bags — it’s the law! I visit the flower sellers on Grafton Street and peek into Weirs, Dubray Books and Marks & Spencer.

Sometimes I work at weekends if I have a deadline to meet or I’m feeling particularly inspired. Overall though, I try to keep Saturday and Sunday as proper days off. It allows me to focus fully on weekdays. I need downtime to charge up my batteries and stay on top of my game. Weekends are a balance of relaxing and doing the stuff that needs to be done.

15.00

My weekdays are plotted with military precision so I’m more laid back at the weekend. An ideal Saturday is a leisurely one, spent with the people (and animals) I love. We’ll visit our respective parents, do chores and grocery shopping. Maybe we’ll head to the cinema.

I like to keep my weekends quite open. In the past, we’d have headed out for dinner and drinks on Friday nights, but we’ve curtailed that lately in the name of better health. I’m 38 now, and more conscious of things like high blood pressure and interrupted sleep. I’m also suddenly allergic to hangovers. My social life is quieter these days, but that’s by choice. As I get older, I realise what’s important, and lately, that’s balance. I often go out midweek to a book or product launch, or to meet friends, so I never feel socially hard done by. Every now and then there’ll be a birthday or a do, and that makes it all the more special. I like to take my time getting ready — I find doing makeup very meditative.

19.00

Saturday night is the night of the week we’re least likely to cook. We might order in — amazing pizzas or wings from Vice in Phibsborough or a great Indian takeaway from Kerala Kitchen in Stoneybatter.

If we do go ‘out out’ it’s often in Stoneybatter. We love Walsh’s pub and A Fianco wine bar (get the Tiramisu and a Vermouth Tonic). We like Mandarin Castle in Castleknock for a Chinese meal.

22.00

One thing I do every Saturday is watch TV! I adore telly. On a Saturday morning we normally watch some home makeover shows on Discovery+. I always record Gogglebox and watch that at the weekend too. After consuming hundreds of hours of reality TV during the pandemic, I was inspired to write my debut novel, so I never think of watching television as wasted time. It’s probably my favourite hobby.