ADLINGTON LIFE
Celebrate the season of precious time and togetherness
Discover winter traditions from around the globe
How retirement living can be a gift that keeps giving
Meet the new personalities enjoying life with Adlington
Welcome
As the year draws to a close, there’s something comforting about the familiar rhythm of the festive season.
At Adlington, we see this time of year not only as a celebration of traditions, but as a chance to embrace connection, reflection and a little light-hearted joy.
In this issue, you’ll hear from homeowners who’ve made uplifting lifestyle changes, we'll revisit simple pleasures like party games and festive markets, and be reminded of the power of community as something that feels especially meaningful during the winter months.
Whatever your plans, I hope they bring you happiness, good health and a sense of togetherness.
Contents
06
Meet our new homeowners enjoying a lifestyle packed with personality.
Present pairing for the personalities in your life.
Revisit classic party games that still bring laughter to the table.
Christmas markets worth wrapping up for.
Winter traditions around the world. Travel the globe from the comfort of your armchair with these seasonal customs.
Dr Ed Gladman, Chief Executive Officer
The gift that keeps giving. Discover how moving to a retirement community offers more than just a new address.
Now's the time
Find out how you can enjoy a lifestyle with more time for you and fewer worries.
Events News
Golden Grooves
Homeowners and guests across our communities have been stepping back in time recently as singer Jane Francis performed Golden Grooves, bringing the spirit of the 1960s and 70s to life.
The lively afternoons featured well-loved hits from both decades, including music from Abba, Sam Cooke, and Showaddywaddy along with afternoon tea.
Jane told us: “I love hearing laughter when people recognise a song that takes them back to a happy memory."
Maura, a homeowner said: “If you’re looking for friendship, it’s sociable and welcoming. We get along with everybody.”
If you would like to find out more about enjoying one of our events, please get in touch with the sales teams on the numbers to
Coffee and cake
The Sidings, Lytham Wednesday 3rd December, 10:30am
The Spindles, Menston Tuesday 2nd December, 2pm
Brookfields House, Newcastle-under-Lyme Wednesday 10th December, 10:30am
Broadleaf House, Wylde Green Friday 12th December, 2pm
The Newells, Kempston Thursday 11th December, 10:30am
Winter Warmers Event
Radford House, Exeter Thursday 4th December, 1pm
RSVP to book your place
Lytham
01524 917888 Menston 01943 660530
Newcastle-under-Lyme 01782 958850 Wylde Green 0121 817 8680 Kempston 01234 988200 Exeter 01392 341515
Knaresborough 01423 222478
Riverside Gardens, Knaresborough and Radford House, Exeter are now fully open. Book a tour to experience these new communities for yourself.
Retirement Reimagined and it's
PACKED WITH PERSONALITY
Forget any preconceptions of retirement living as quiet corridors, closed doors and days that all feel the same. When you step inside an Adlington Retirement Living community you’ll find something far more vibrant.
In our communities creativity thrives, conversations flow over coffee, and every day offers a new reason to smile. Individuality is celebrated, and life feels full of colour, warmth and purpose.
Meet some of the people who make our communities so special.
Since settling in, Frank has thrown himself into life at Brookfields House. He enjoys the book club, goes to a local gym every week, bakes cakes in his kitchen and treats himself to meals in the on-site restaurant. He has even rekindled his passion for travel. “I went back to India in November 2024, and I’ve just returned from my seventh visit to Nepal.
“The greatest benefit has been the improvement to my well-being. Humans need community. I’d say give it consideration and come and have a look around.”
Tony – the navigator
Frank – the adventurer
When Frank moved to Brookfields House in Newcastle-under-Lyme in September 2024, it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Tony has seen the world from many perspectives. He began as a young cadet crossing the North Atlantic, became a chartered surveyor travelling the world, and built a family home with his late wife Sheila.
Now he enjoys lunches with neighbour Rob, cinema trips, exercise classes and outings. “Here I have friends on tap if I want them, privacy when I don’t, staff who genuinely care, and no gardening or home maintenance.” For Tony, Broadleaf House has become a safe harbour.
From building a successful ceramic tile business to travelling the world, Rob’s working life was driven by creativity, hard work and curiosity. When he passed the company on to his son, he began looking for something new. He wanted to find a sense of connection, purpose and a change from the solitude of a big house.
Broadleaf House offered all of that and more. Six months after moving in, Rob’s diary is full, with Mondays for bridge, Thursdays for exercise, and Fridays for walking groups followed by coffee on the terrace. He has even launched “Bobby’s Bingo”, which has quickly become a cheerful feature of community life.
Rob – the entrepreneur
His dog Toby is part of the story too. Together they visit a nearby care home to bring smiles to residents’ faces, while closer to home Toby has become a favourite among neighbours at Broadleaf House.
“I settled in quicker than I ever thought. Loneliness has gone. I see more people now than in the previous twenty years. You keep your independence, you gain companionship, and you shrug off the worry.”
Bernadette –the socialite
Bernadette has already built a busy social life.
Before moving Bernadette often found herself spending days without face-to-face contact. Now her calendar is filled with film nights, walking groups and community celebrations.
“I try to join as many events as I can. The staff make a real effort and everyone here is really nice. It makes a difference having lovely people around.”
She has begun planning new holidays with her niece and is considering taking up golf again. With her energy and sociable nature, Bernadette has embraced retirement living as a chance to connect, relax and enjoy the company of others.
Maura and David –the companions
Gloria And peterthe partnership
Gloria and Peter first met at a ballroom dancing class as teenagers and were married in 1966. After raising their family and spending nearly half a century in their fourbedroom bungalow, they decided it was time for a new chapter.
Now they are settled in a bright three-bedroom apartment, enjoying a full calendar of activities.
Together they have discovered a supportive community, more time for family and an active lifestyle that they both enjoy. “We like it here, we wouldn’t go back,” says Peter.
Maura and David began their relationship as pen pals in 1959, have now been married 61 years and spent four decades in their Leighton Buzzard home.
Now they enjoy Sunday lunches with neighbours, themed events, talks, trips and new activities such as armchair yoga. “If you’re looking for friendship, it’s sociable and welcoming. We get along with everybody. Almost everyone meets for Sunday lunch in the restaurant, then into the lounge for a chat.”
For Maura and David, the move has given them both independence with support, and the chance to keep enjoying life together.
NEW FRIENDS ENJOYING A TAPAS THEMED EVENING
Margaret –the enthusiast
Margaret is proof that life in later years can be as busy and rewarding as ever. She thrives on being part of things, whether running her local pétanque club, joining U3A talks, keeping up her French in a reading group or heading out on walking trips with friends.
In addition she still finds time to meet neighbours for themed restaurant evenings and garden parties. Her grandchildren often visit, and she relishes the balance between family life, her own interests and the new friendships formed. Margaret says she probably has a more active social life now than she did before, and she has been struck by the warmth of both staff and neighbours. “I keep telling people, when they ask how I am doing, ‘I am in awe of it all.’ I have never had an experience like this before. Everybody is just so lovely, I cannot get over it.”
For Margaret, being part of a retirement community has not meant slowing down. It has meant finding the freedom and support to keep saying yes to life, and to enjoy every opportunity with enthusiasm.
WHY COMMUNITY LIVING MATTERS
The Campaign to End Loneliness has shown that regular, meaningful connections do more than lift the spirits: they can strengthen the immune system, ease the risk of depression and even contribute to living longer.
• Positive social interaction is linked with improved cognitive health and can help reduce the risk of memory related illnesses.
• Sharing enjoyable activities lowers stress levels and supports a healthier heart, and being active together, whether in a gentle exercise class, a gardening group or a walking club, keeps the body moving without it feeling like a chore.
• Emotional strength grows too. Scientists know that fun and companionship stimulate the body’s natural mood enhancers, which build resilience and help people cope better with life’s challenges.
FIND YOUR PERSONALITY, FIND YOUR PLACE
From entrepreneurs to adventurers, Adlington Retirement Living is home to every kind of personality. The common thread is freedom from worry and a life made richer by friendship, activity and joy.
PERFECT FORPRESENTS THE PERSONALITIES IN YOUR LIFE
If you’re the one who has friends and family who are impossible to buy for, the trick might be thinking about their lifestyle habits. From bookworms to busy bees, here’s a guide to matching gifts with the personality traits that make your loved ones… well, them.
Loves a deep conversation rather than a loud party
• Magazine subscription (New Scientist, The Week, The Idler, The Simple Things)
• Noise-cancelling headphones or a weighted blanket
• A guided journal or poetry anthology
Always planning the next get-together
• A Mystery Guide adventure to host
• Theatre or gig gift voucher
• A stylish drinks trolley accessory or game night set
03 THE NATURE NURTURER
Finds peace outdoors and joy in green things
• National Trust or RHS membership
• Seasonal flower subscription (Bloom & Wild, Freddie’s Flowers)
• A handmade wooden bird feeder or foraging kit
Always sketching, baking, snapping or making
• Pottery class voucher or creative workshop
• Personalised apron or recipe journal
• Art prints from independent makers
They love a list, a label, and a new notebook
• Personalised stationery or premium planner (Papier, Moleskine)
• Label maker (trust us they’ll love it)
• An annual wall planner with fun stickers
Home is their haven, and hygge is their vibe
• Cashmere socks or a plush hot water bottle
• Aromatherapy diffuser or candle set
• Monthly selfcare box (like Mindful Souls)
Asks big questions, loves documentaries, and drops facts at dinner
• Museum or gallery membership
• Curated book box (Rare Birds Book Club or Heywood Hill)
• Puzzle book for grown-ups (The GCHQ Puzzle Book)
Prefers less stuff, but values what lasts
• A donation to a charity in their name
• One perfect, high-quality item (cashmere, leather, artisan glass)
• Digital app gift (Spotify, meditation, online yoga, check if they already have one)
Emotionally intelligent, deeply nostalgic, loves a moment
• Personalised memory box or family recipe book
• Bespoke photo calendar, keep sake frame or digital frame (Project Montessori)
• “Letters to My Future Self” journal set (Amazon)
Hard-working, high-functioning, hard to slow down
• Subscription to MasterClass or Audible
• A desk-friendly plant or motivational desk art
• Stylish travel tech organiser pouch (Bellroy.com)
Party games from the past that still bring joy
There’s something timeless about party games.
Here are a few golden oldies that remain go-to favourites, perfect for festive get-togethers, family visits, or rainy-day afternoons.
What's in the Bag?
Find an old pillowcase and fill it with assorted items (a teaspoon, a sock, a rubber band, etc.). Players feel inside the bag without looking and guess what’s in there purely by touch. It’s like a lucky dip for the senses that you make as easy or mind-bending as you like.
The Scent Test
Who’s going to sniff this one out? Fill small containers with smellable things like cinnamon sticks, coffee grounds, mint leaves or orange peel. Ask players to identify the scents with eyes closed. Bonus points for creatively wrong answers.
The Hat Game
Write down famous names on slips of paper and pop them in a hat. Players take turns pulling a name and describing it to their team (Round 1: use words; Round 2: one word only; Round 3: mime). It’s fast, funny and surprisingly revealing.
Pass the Story
One person starts a story with a sentence (“It was a cold, windy evening in December…”) and the next person adds another line. It can be festive, funny or completely surreal just don’t be surprised when it ends with aliens in the biscuit tin.
Crazy Characters
Put a more visual twist on the story game with wildly drawn imaginations. One person starts by drawing a body and head shape on a piece of paper (the crazier the better), then in turn, everyone else adds one feature or accessory. End the game by hilariously naming it, with each participant offering one descriptive word toward the final name.
Keeping it simple
So, next time the weather turns or the conversation dips, rouse the crowd and alight the party with old favourites.
origami star
Easy-to-make origami stars are perfect for decorations
Folding a few sheets of paper into beautiful origami stars is a simple and fun holiday craft. They make lovely tree ornaments, window hangings, or table décor, and you can customize them with sparkly paper, glitter, or festive colours to match your Christmas theme. It’s a creative, budget-friendly way to bring extra holiday magic into your home.
Scan the QR code to watch how to make an origami star here.
SNOWMAN HOT CHOColate
Make hot chocolate and pour into a mug.
Stack 3 marshmallows on a skewer for a snowman.
Add chocolate chip eyes, buttons, a candy nose, and pretzel arms.
Place on top of the drink and enjoy!
OUR PICK OF Christmas Markets
As the festive season sparkles to life, the UK’s Christmas markets transform city centres into winter wonderlands filled with twinkling lights, mulled wine, and merry cheer. Here are five of the best to explore this year:
Oxford
Held on the historic Broad Street, Oxford’s market combines festive charm with academic elegance. Wooden chalets line the cobbled streets, offering artisan gifts, local produce, and the sweet sound of choirs singing carols against the backdrop of the city’s dreaming spires.
Bath
Set against the stunning backdrop of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, this elegant market features over 150 chalets selling locally crafted goods. Perfect for artisan shopping and festive photo ops.
Chester
Nestled around the city’s Town Hall and Cathedral, Chester’s market offers a cosy, traditional atmosphere. Expect rows of wooden huts selling handmade gifts, festive food, and locally brewed ales, all within the city’s historic Roman walls.
Birmingham
The largest authentic German market outside Germany and Austria, Birmingham’s event is packed with Bavarian food, festive beers, and live music. Expect the scent of roasted almonds and pretzels at every corner.
Winchester Cathedral
Famed for its charming wooden chalets and dramatic setting beside the cathedral, this market has a cosy, traditional feel. The open-air ice rink adds an extra dash of Christmas magic.
Whether you’re browsing for handcrafted gifts, sipping mulled wine beneath twinkling lights, or simply soaking up the festive spirit, the UK’s Christmas markets offer
A World of Winter Wonder
December is a month wrapped in nostalgia, celebration and connection but the ways people mark the end of the year vary beautifully. Here's how people around the world find warmth and wonder in winter.
Lighting up the darkness
the streets, parks, and even the Falls themselves.
In Sweden, the long winter nights are brightened by Lucia Day celebrations, often secular in tone. While the original festival has Christian origins, many Swedes now celebrate it as a symbol of light overcoming darkness. Children wear white robes and crown themselves with candles, or LEDs, and sing songs as part of parades and school events.
In Japan, December brings Ōmisoka, a deeply cultural tradition where families clean their homes top to bottom to symbolise a fresh start. Bells ring 108 times in temples at midnight to clear away the 108 worldly desires in Buddhism — a practice often seen as philosophical rather than religious — followed by slurping long noodles to usher in a long life.
Meanwhile, in Canada, entire towns and cities light up for the Winter Festival of Lights, a tradition particularly popular in Niagara Falls where over three million lights decorate
Feasts, fires and family traditions
December is food season in almost every culture and often, it’s the heart of the celebration. In Italy, La Festa dei Sette Pesci (Feast of the Seven Fishes) brings families together for seafood, laughter and long dinners. In Iceland, there’s the Þorláksmessa tradition on 23rd December, where people eat fermented skate, a delicacy with a powerful smell that’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.
In Estonia and Latvia, people celebrate the season with sauna rituals and family feasts rooted in centuries of tradition. And in the Czech Republic, fortune-telling customs like floating walnut shells in water to predict next year’s direction make for cosy nights by the fire.
Cool customs
Across northern Europe and parts of North America, winter swims have become a badge of honour. In Finland and
Estonia, icy dips in frozen lakes, often followed by hot saunas, are seen as invigorating ways to boost circulation and cleanse the body before the New Year.
In the UK, December pantomimes, office parties, and advent calendars are widely embraced and full of playful tradition. In Wales, there’s the surreal but beloved tradition of Mari Lwyd, where a replica horse's skull is mounted on a pole and paraded around homes in a battle of rhyming insults. It’s theatrical and wonderfully Welsh.
Finding meaning, your way
While the festive season is sometimes framed through a religious lens, it’s also a time of human connection, creativity and cultural heritage. Whether you're lighting lanterns, sipping something bubbly, pulling crackers or sharing stories by candlelight, the heart of December traditions is universal: a celebration of light, togetherness, and hope for the year ahead. And that’s something everyone can embrace.
01 Which band had a UK Christmas Number One in 1973 with “Merry Xmas Everybody”?
02 Which woodland animal hibernates during winter and can slow its heartbeat to just twenty beats per minute?
03 What famous diary-writer wrote, “I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields… it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt”?
04 Which historical figure delivered the famous “A date which will live in infamy” speech in early December 1941?
05 Which famous British explorer was born in December 1872 and died on an Antarctic expedition?
06 Which annual meteor shower peaks in mid-November?
07 What name is given to the optical illusion sometimes seen on cold, sunny winter days that makes it look as if there are extra suns in the sky?
08 Which female singer made “Santa Baby” famous in 1953?
09 Finish the lyric: “Rockin’ around the Christmas tree at the…”
10. What is the name of the British horse race traditionally held in late November?
ANSWERS ON PAGE 15
DID YOU KNOW
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (1984)
Despite being one of the most popular seasonal songs, it never reached #1 on the UK charts until 2021, 37 years after its release.
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Mariah wrote her iconic Christmas hit in just 15 minutes.
“Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving song Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, the song was meant for Thanksgiving celebrations, not Christmas.
Move over “flock”
When turkeys gather, they form a raffle! Perfect trivia for the dinner table.
FESTIVE Word search
SNOWFLAKES, SNOW, BELLS, HOLLY, CHRISTMAS, PRESENTS, TREE, LIGHTS, SANTA, WREATH, DEER, GINGERBREAD, SNOWMAN, WINTER, SLEIGH
Charities That Cherish Your Support This Winter
As winter draws in and festive lights begin to twinkle, many people start to reflect on the true meaning of giving.
Across the UK, there are countless charities and grassroots projects that deeply value even a few minutes of kindness, especially at this time of year.
Re-engage Call Companions
The Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child
Age UK – Befriending and Letter Writing
Volunteers across the UK fill shoeboxes with small gifts for vulnerable children living in war-torn or poverty-stricken areas across the world. Enjoy packing one with toys, toiletries and school supplies. Drop-off points open each November. samaritans-purse.org.uk
Tackling loneliness among older people their Call Companions programme pairs volunteers with older people for a friendly 30-minute call each week. Just sign up to make calls from the comfort of your own home and become the highlight of someone’s week. reengage.org.uk
Wrap Up UK Winter Coat Appeals
These winter warriors collect unwanted coats to distribute to people experiencing hardship or homelessness during the coldest months of the year. Simply donate a warm coat you no longer need at one of their regional drop-off points in November. wrapupuk.org
The Trussell Trust Foodbanks
Operating over 1,300 foodbanks nationwide, the Trussell Trust supports individuals and families in crisis. Donate tins, packets or household items at local collection points or volunteer packing and sorting. trusselltrust.org
Crisis at Christmas
Day centres open during the festive season offering hot food, medical care, haircuts, and companionship to people experiencing homelessness. They welcome volunteers over Christmas, or you can donate to fund places at the centres. crisis.org.uk
Local schemes to help older people feel more connected including befriending, pen pal schemes and festive well-being calls. Contact your local Age UK branch to join their Christmas call team or write a letter to brighten someone’s day. ageuk.org.uk
The Cinnamon Trust Pet Support
They support older people who need help looking after their beloved pets from dog walking to vet trips, especially in winter when mobility is harder for some. They make it easy to become a volunteer dog walker, driver or pet-sitter in your area.
cinnamon.org.uk
Every Gesture Counts
For someone feeling forgotten, cold or alone this winter, your kindness could be the moment that lifts their whole season.
So, if you’re looking to give a different kind of gift this year, start with one of the simplest and most generous of all, time.
Keeping time
How railways help us appreciate every minute
As we approach the next New Year, we often think of time as a steady pulse that carries us forward, yet the story of how Britain came to share a single ‘standard time’ is anything but simple.
Railways, time trouble & the birth of “railway time”
Before steam, every town in Britain kept its own local time and noon meant when the sun was highest above you, but as railways stretched across county lines, this approach began to buckle. A train leaving Bristol at 12:20 local time might arrive in Bath some minutes ahead and confuse everyone. Schedules collided, people missed trains and accidents happened.
In response, the Great Western Railway (GWR) adopted ‘London time’ for its timetable in November 1840 (now called Greenwich Mean Time) that was a radical step toward synchronisation. Within years, other rail companies followed and by 1847, the Railway Clearing House recommended that all stations adopt GMT, so by 1848, many had.
Still, progress wasn’t smooth. Some provincial towns refused to realign their civic clocks and Exeter, host to our new community Radford House,
was one such holdout. While the rail companies switched, Exeter’s cathedral clock and main public timepieces ran on local time and the city’s was reluctant to concede to the railway’s demands
Time that travelshow provinces yielded
Over decades, railway time gradually overlaid local times, telegraph networks carried Greenwich signals from the Royal Observatory to stations and in 1852, hourly signals were transmitted across railway lines so station clocks could sync with Greenwich. By 1855, many public authorities, churches and town halls had adopted “railway time.”
Still, full legal adoption had to wait, and it wasn’t until the Statutes (Definition of Time) Act in 1880 that GMT became legally defined as the official time across Great Britain.
Even after 1880, some clocks in smaller towns maintained dual minute hands: one for local time, one for GMT. Schedules, postal services, newspapers, government, commerce all anchored to standard time and the patchwork of local times, once taken for granted, faded into history.
Living in time’s gift
Railways asked towns to yield their clocks but identity remained.
Nowadays the lesson is clear: reclaiming time for yourself isn’t just metaphorical it’s transactional. Let the costs of upkeep, the friction of isolation, the drift of old schedules be replaced by a new rhythm of ease, connection, and intention. Time isn’t waiting, it never does, so let’s live its gift mindfully, together and with purpose.
“The staff are all so lovely and they make you feel happy. It makes life worth living, being here.”
Homeowner Dr Cath
Retirement living An on-going flurry of joy
The gift that keeps giving is an attractive phrase where every day brings something exciting, every moment a reminder that this chapter isn't just well earned, it’s well lived. Over and over, homeowners rejoice with us what retirement living truly offers them: it’s not simply a place to live, it’s a place to flourish all year round.
Some of them find relief from isolation, others rediscover spontaneity in small gatherings across social spaces, many appreciate the thoughtful touches, beautiful gardens, supportive staff, with everything adding up to happiness. Every moment becomes a gift not received once but continually appreciated, and personal to each and every homeowner, and their families.
Rediscovering life anew
Margaret, homeowner at Brookfields House recounts the enjoyment of gatherings, the laughter, the pulse of conversation that feels like life in technicolour. It’s not about erasing the past, it’s about stepping back into the present.
“My new neighbours are wonderful. We meet up in the restaurant or the coffee lounge. Just last night, I was at the quiz. There are so many things happening, I’m so busy. The only problem is fitting it all in – but that’s a nice problem to have!
“We also have buffet evenings with entertainment. We had a garden party with a barbecue organised by the local butchers who supply the
restaurant. The food was amazing, there was live music, and glorious weather. It was idyllic. Afterwards, we piled into a neighbour’s apartment to watch the Wimbledon final together. It was such a lovely day; we didn’t want it to end.”
Peace of mind in everyday choices
Homeowners, Joan and Bill’s sentiment captures something subtle yet profound, that whether they seek solitude or company, independence or assistance, the choice belongs to them.
“The best bits about living here are you’ve got people on hand. You can have your privacy. You can stay in your own apartment whenever you want to, but you also have the alternative. I think having that choice is such a big thing and you can have one choice one day and the other choice the next day. It’s a perfect situation.”
Space for what truly matters
Time is an irreplaceable gift, whether that means time spent with books, on walks, pursuing hobbies, or cherishing afternoons with friends, what might have felt like a luxury before now becomes an easy choice.
“We have much more time available to do the things that we want to do because we no longer have to worry about the upkeep of a big house and garden.” Explains Margaret, homeowner at The Folds
Settling in, thriving quickly
As a homeowner at The Sidings, Dr Cath’s experience speaks to the nurturing fabric of our communities, the invisible cushions of support that turn a building into a place to thrive.
“It all seemed to just work from the moment I moved in. The staff are all so lovely and they make you feel happy. It makes life worth living, being here.”
A life with the best of both worlds
Lying in the alchemy of retirement living is the security, autonomy, connection, and privacy, coexisting beautifully, which homeowner Anne at
The Sidings describes as a big thing for her:
“Many of the worries are taken off your shoulders about the maintenance of the building or looking after the garden. It’s the best of both worlds - you have your own home and independence, but you’ve got an added sense of security and you’re not alone.”
Family, friendship, and new roots
And then there’s the gift of belonging and the friendships that grow in a shared space.
“I didn’t expect the community of friends I’ve made here to make such a positive difference.” Sue, homeowner at The Woodlands
From isolation to joy
Retirement communities rekindle a lust for life and laughter, even if it had been long dimmed.
“I’m more socially active here than I have been for a long time. I’d become totally isolated and an old curmudgeon! I remember my sister saying to me when I’d only been here for two or three weeks, she said: ‘you’re a totally different person’ and my daughter said the same. I am so, so pleased I came.”
Dr Trevor, homeowner at The Sidings.
Gardening enjoyment without the toil
Homeowners Bill & Joan also appreciate life’s simpler luxuries:
“We have an apartment with a lovely garden in front of it which the gardener comes and manages and we go around deadheading, but you can back off if you don’t feel like it today, you haven’t got to do it and that’s lovely.”
Books, clubs, belonging
Bess, a retired police officer, finds happiness in pages and conversation at The Woodlands:
“I’m in the book club. We meet once a month and there’s 15 of us, it’s lovely. An author came to give a talk who was so interesting. He’d written a book about somebody in the Airforce in the war and at the end of it, he gave us all a signed copy of his book, Airborne.”
The gift that keeps on giving
So, all in all, retirement living isn’t just a decision, a new place to call home, a new chapter, it’s a real gift to yourself and one that keeps giving, all year round.
QUIZ ANSWERS - 01 Slade | 02 The hedgehog | 03 Lewis Carroll 04 Franklin D. Roosevelt | 05 Robert Falcon Scott | 06 The Leonids 07 Sun dogs (or parhelia) | 08 Eartha Kitt | 09 “…Christmas party hop.” 10 The Ladbrokes (formerly Hennessy) Gold Cup.
