1. Who am I

This site is run by Helena Dines, creator of GrandmaZeal, a personal blog focused on midlife lifestyle, recipes, travel, mindset, fitness, and food. Everything here is created with intention, and your privacy is important to me.

---

2. What Personal Data I Collect and Why

When you visit or interact with this website, I may collect the following:

• Your name and email address – when you sign up for the newsletter via ConvertKit (Kit)
• Comment details – when you leave a comment on a blog post, WordPress stores your name, email, IP address, and message
• Analytics data – anonymous information about how you use the site, like which pages you visit and how long you stay

This data is collected to:

• Send newsletters if you subscribe
• Improve content and site experience
• Maintain a safe, spam-free comment section

I do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for marketing.

---

3. Cookies

This site uses cookies to enhance your experience and track anonymous usage data. Cookies help remember your preferences and provide insights into how visitors use the site. For full details on the types of cookies used and how to manage them, please see the Cookie Policy.

---

4. Legal Basis for Processing (for EU Visitors)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), your personal information is processed under the following legal bases:

• Your consent (e.g. when subscribing)
• The performance of a contract (e.g. delivering a free resource you requested)
• Compliance with legal obligations
• My legitimate interests in operating and improving the website

---

5. Third-Party Services

I work with a few trusted services that may process your data on my behalf:

• ConvertKit (Kit) – used to collect and manage email subscribers
• Rank Math SEO – used for search engine optimisation; does not collect personal data
• Google Analytics (or similar) – to track anonymous usage of the site
• WordPress Comments – to allow you to leave feedback on blog posts

Each third-party service has its own privacy policy and complies with relevant data protection laws and security standards.

---

6. How Long Will I Keep Your Data

• Email addresses are stored until you unsubscribe
• Comments remain visible on the site unless deleted by you or by request
• Analytics data is stored based on the tool’s retention policy (e.g., Google Analytics = 26 months)

I periodically review data and remove anything that is no longer needed.

---

7. How I Protect Your Data

This website uses secure connections (SSL/HTTPS), trusted platforms, and up-to-date software to protect your personal information. While no method is 100% secure, I take reasonable technical and organisational steps to safeguard your data from misuse or unauthorised access.

---

8. Your Rights (Under GDPR and Similar Laws)

If you are located in the EU, UK, or any region with data rights laws, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal data I hold about you
• Ask for it to be corrected or deleted
• Withdraw consent or unsubscribe at any time

To do any of the above, don’t hesitate to contact me via the Contact Page.

---

9. Affiliate Links

Some pages may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools or products I use and believe in.

---

10. Updates to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated occasionally to reflect changes in regulations or the way I operate this website. All updates will be posted on this page with the date of change.

---

11. Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions about how your data is handled or want to access or delete your personal information, please contact me here.