Covid pandemic vaccine head Patricia Donnelly: I'm naturally optimistic and always play the Glad Game

If it's a working day, I need at least an hour to wander about, but this time of year I try to eat breakfast outside. I live in the country now, having moved from Belfast to Lagan Valley during the pandemic - which was a challenge - and the sound of birdsong is a great start to the day.

Usually just a piece of toast – add a poached egg at the weekend.

I'm famous for rarely eating lunch, unless it's a special occasion.

We eat very differently at home now - very little red meat, a variety of fish and plenty of veg.

Absolutely – vitamin D all year round, as you can't really get enough sunlight. Vitamin B12 has also become important for me as I'm eating less animal protein, so it helps keep up energy levels.

I am one of the cautionary tales of people who have dieted since young adulthood with a diminishing return over time. I now know it's better to eat healthily and just enjoy food without being a slave to it.

Down to Fermanagh to the beautiful Lough Erne. No matter the weather, the spirit and body are uplifted by being out in the open and travelling over water. It can be more challenging in bad weather, but it never disappoints.

As I get older, things have changed greatly with maintaining fitness, especially during the pandemic when being desk-bound was a problem. I used to cycle, but now walking is easier. My mental health is very resilient as I'm naturally optimistic and always play the Glad Game. I am also very disciplined about worrying – once I've made a plan to deal with whatever is triggering the worry, I can put it completely out of my mind.

For those heading towards 70 like myself – little and often – as with everything. A bit of walking, a bit of activity that makes your heart race, doing everyday activities with energy. Those of us who worked long hours behind a desk during the pandemic have all noticed how much fitness has deteriorated and it was also harder to have a routine. Since stepping away from the vaccination programme, it's been a matter of getting back to basics with the prompting and support of my sister, Linda.

I went to Rathmore – an all-girls school at the time. My old school friends will tell you that few of us were keen on PE, but give us any competitive sport and we were fully engaged.

Definitely tipple – a nice glass of wine or one of the lovely speciality gins on occasion. Sparkling for special occasions.

A dodgy right knee (a garden fork went through it when I was seven) means the lift going up and stairs coming down.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – an intriguing story of isolation, resilience and survival of a young girl in North Carolina. I am a voracious reader and am never without a Kindle.

I totally loved Queen's Gambit about the young chess genius who takes on the establishment in the 1960s. It's based on the experience of several high performing women in the chess world, but brilliantly played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

That I am a Duracell bunny – I can just keep going, seven days week, working long hours, and still work well. I'm well known for being pretty unflappable, but it's also reassuring to know I can just keep on going when needed.

I love finding time for old hobbies – reading, sewing, crosswords, playing guitar – and being out on the Fermanagh lakes.

All of my hobbies play a part in different types of relaxation – so a few minutes to play guitar is very refreshing, a walk on the towpath can be soothing, a board game with my grandsons is hilarious and out in a kayak can be exhilarating.

There's almost too many to identify: more time with family, improve fitness, finish renovations on the house, develop the NI 10-year strategy for bereavement care in my role as chair of the NI Bereavement Network...

After 10pm on a working night – except for Sunday nights when it takes much longer to get to sleep with so much to think over before the start of another week. But I can still pull an all-nighter for work or pleasure if I need to.

Time passing too quickly as you get older. It always seems like you have to wait so long for special events when you're young, but now I can't believe how quickly my grandsons have grown up. I just want to slow up time now and enjoy it all.

Family has always been the priority, but it took a real backseat during the vaccination programme when my husband, Michael, spent most of the time alone. We've been together nearly 50 years, but our time during the pandemic was very precious. I missed my son, James, grandsons Oliver and Teddy, and daughter-in-law Ashley, when visiting was so restricted.

It's been a huge reminder that you can't take anything for granted – especially health. Every year is precious now and memories all too fleeting, so I'm trying to live every experience (good and bad) in 'slow' time.