LIFESTYLE Q & A: Senator David Norris
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
Yes, but in moderation. I believe in the old Latin tag, Mens sana in corpore sano – a sound mind in a healthy body. I try to keep healthy because I think it’s the best way to enjoy life.
How often do you exercise?
I exercise most days, particularly since the presidential campaign began. I have an exercise bike and that keeps me trim. The other thing is I have 10 half-flights of stairs to go up to bed. I’ve done the marathon three times – I didn’t do any glorious times, but I finished it and I enjoyed it.
Do you get your five a day?
Yes I do. On Gardiner Street they have absolutely lovely pears and I buy them 10 at a time. I’ve been going around the country now and I love to visit farmers’ markets – I have real honey and marmalade, sometimes a little fortified. I’ve two in the fridge, one is whiskey marmalade and the other says “poitín”.
Do you worry?
A little niggling thing in the back of your head that says, I should have done that or I forgot to do this – that’s the kind of thing I worry about. But apart from that, I’m not a worrier. I believe the kind of worry that alerts you to a problem also gives you the opportunity to solve it.
What do you do to relax?
I’m a great reader. I’ve the guts of 10,000 books in this house and I’ve read most of them. At the moment I’m reading two books about Daniel O’Connell, who is such a fascinating man. I listen to Lyric FM, I’m a news addict and I also play the piano.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
I really relish food and like the unhealthiest things – the crispy skin of a duck and wonderful potatoes roasted in goose fat. And then pud – my kingdom for a meringue! With the campaign, it means sometimes doing 20-hour days, but it’s great because I get the energy from the people.
In conversation with JOANNE HUNT