Keeping On - Summer 2023

Keeping On THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY Vol 120: November 2023

Page 7, Crown Lynn

Phone (03) 366-0903, Fax: (03) 365-0639, Email: team@ageconcerncan.org.nz, www.ageconcerncan.org.nz Charities Commission Number: CCC29446

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE This is the last Keeping On for this year and how the time has gone. Spring has been a mix of weather - hot and cold, so don’t put you warm clothes away yet. Show day is here and then before you blink it will be Christmas.

The All Blacks have just been beaten in the final of the world cup match, but the sun will come up again tomorrow.

At the end of the year, it is a good idea to have a look at your plans for the future. Look at your EPA (Enduring Power of Attorney). If you haven’t done one, maybe now it is time to put one in place. Check that your Will is still valid and update as necessary. Get all your information about bank accounts, insurance, personal, house, contents, and car, in one place so it is all easily accessible to your next of kin should they need it in an emergency.

I hope some of you went on a bus ride as I suggested in the last Keeping

On. Here is another adventure. Take a trip in the botanic gardens on the what is referred to as the “caterpillar”, that is the vehicle that travels around the gardens to show you the areas of interest without you having to walk. There is another ride around Hagley Park, the Peace Train, it runs on Sundays from 10.00am to 2.00pm and starts at the gates of the gardens. Get out and about, take a picnic with you and enjoy looking at a new place at least once a week, even if it is cold or raining. You can sit in your car and watch the birds or the sea or just people watch while you eat your lunch then perhaps have coffee in the local cafe if you haven’t taken a thermos with you.

With Christmas fast approaching, make plans for shopping and make lists so you do not exceed your budget. Look after your family and enjoy the time with them.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and if you are going away a very safe and enjoyable holiday.

Until next year, Trish Adams President

CONTENTS

Page 3, Alan Webster, a man of words and letters

Page 9, Papanui Bush - the oasis of Christchurch

“That’s just the way society is going” is a phrase I’ve recently heard more than once.

Too often, it’s in response to changes that impact us in a negative way, but that we feel powerless to change, as though society inevitably and relentlessly moves forward, leaving some of us behind.

I resist this increasingly pervasive idea that changes that exclude older people are an inevitable part of progress. Society is not independent of us; it is us.

I received a letter this week from a gentleman who had been informed by his power company that his power bill will no longer be delivered by post – in future, it will only be available by email. The problem? This gentleman has no email address, and never has had one. He doesn’t have a computer, and is not connected to the internet.

He’s not comfortable with the idea that his bill will go to a friend or family member, and, regardless, it seems that the general rule is only one bill can be sent to each email address, so even that may not be possible.

I have so many questions. What is this gentleman to do? Is the only option to arrange a direct debit from his bank, so he will never see the breakdown of the costs of his expenditure? Is a change made in the name of environmentalism really “green” if it prevents a large chunk of the population from being able to monitor their power usage? Has the power company really failed to consider those who have never used email, or who don’t own a computer?

I implore all power companies, all utilities, and goods and services providers of all kinds to consider the accessibility of their services as they make these kinds of changes. I know that many older people are tech wizards; some aren’t. Likewise, there are reasons younger people may not be regularly checking emails, or may not be computer-literate. Why exclude all these people?

In the meantime, at Age Concern Canterbury, we are working on some ways to help out those of our members who may need some assistance in this situation.

We’re working on a trial programme to provide an email address for people who don’t have one (a kind of virtual postbox) where we will receive bills and print and post them out to people. This will rely on the cooperation of the companies involved, but I’m hopeful that we will be able at the very least to draw their attention to this problem and encourage another solution to be found if they don’t like ours. If you’re interested, call and leave your name and phone number, and we’ll be in touch to let you know how we get on.

If you have an email address, cellphone or computer, and are having difficulties using them (to check your power bill, or for anything else) give us a call. Our team will arrange a time with you to get you sorted.

As always, if you’re having any kind of issue or problem, or you know someone who is, do consider getting in touch. We’re here to support and promote the wellbeing and dignity of older people in all aspects of life, and if we can’t help, we will know who can. Let’s work together to ensure that no one gets left behind!

Greta Bond Chief Executive

Keeping On OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY (INC)

Page 13, WACST turns 21

Pages 17, RIP Hazel Neave

Page 20, Cantabrainers Choir Christmas Concert Page 23, Trades Directory Page 25, Colouring for mindfulness Page 27, Ready Money, a nickname for wealth Page 28, 48 Hours in Geraldine Page 31, Real Intelligence v Artificial Intelligence Page 32, My two cents by June Peka

Keeping On is distributed by Age Concern Canterbury to Christchurch Malls, Senior Citizen Clubs and Groups, Libraries, Medical Centres, Rest Homes, Hospitals and Institutions, Housing Complexes and Agencies working with older people and individuals. Keeping On is published quarterly in February, May, August and November each year. Written contributions for consideration can be emailed to the Editor at dmcgrath@ageconcerncan.org.nz or contact Deirdre on (03)366-0903. The Keeping On Team: Deirdre McGrath - Editor, Mike Crean Journalist, June Peka - Journalist, Anna-Marie Hunter - Advertising Representative/ Desktop Publisher. Keeping On is printed by Inkwise, Rolleston.

Age Concern Canterbury is very grateful for the support we receive from our advertisers. Without advertisements this publication could not survive. Some of our advertisements are the traditional type and others include advertorial (an advertisement that’s written in the form of editorial content). To be transparent to our readers each of these advertorial pieces is labelled with the symbol A. Views and opinions expressed in Keeping On are not necessarily those of the Editor of Age Concern Canterbury. Neither does publication of an advertisement imply endorsement by Age Concern Canterbury.

Book your advertising for Keeping On February 2024. Deadline for ad bookings is Friday, 26th January 2024. Contact Anna-Marie on 331-7804.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

3

Alan Webster, a man of words and letters

by June Peka

Alan Webster is a man of words and letters. He’s particularly fond of capital As. You’ll find them large and smaller (but not very much), glittery and subdued, pastel and gaudy, penned, pencilled or painted, scattered liberally through the tottering stack of 51art journals he’s constructed, (literally) since 1985.

That was the year Alan, also a man of the cloth, found himself at a nineday retreat in a monastery centre where, for 23 hours of each day, he and fellow retreatants were bound to silence. To be quiet at meal times, which at home were noisy affairs where everyone shared thoughts and opinions, was particularly tough going for this gregariously extrovert man. The twenty-fourth hour of the monastery day was spent with a mentoring person who helped process the contemplation and feelings which enforced silence had brought to the fore.

“It just poured out of me. An hour wasn’t enough. After day one I took advantage of the pens and paper and art materials provided. At school I’d been a bit inhibited in art class. If you drew an elephant and it turned out to look more like a horse, you could be laughed at and made to feel a bit silly. But I enjoyed this freedom of creativity and expression, knowing it would only be seen by me. There were no critics to consider. I was prolific.”

Alan had with him a lap-top computer, and a “lovely old camera”.

He felt blessed, as though he had been given a “week long cuddle from God”, with all this time to rediscover the joys not only of quiet reading and walking, but of writing and drawing and painting creatively as well.

When the nine days were over, Alan quickly realised his silence-induced contemplations, prayers, “scribbles” and outpourings had been good for him in more ways than one, the most

Alan Webster, journaling enthusiast.

obvious being the way he coped with a mini crisis within his congregation on arrival home. Where just a few weeks earlier he “might’ve got upset” and the situation under his handling could have “simmered along” he found he handled it well, negotiating calmly.

“I was thrilled the problem was resolved with everyone remaining friends, with no residual issues at all. I felt like a new man. My wife complimented the new me. And in the physical sense too, I’d ended up with something very precious to me, too fragile to trust to the vagaries of memory, and to leave sitting about in a folder or drawer.”

So, collated within a self-made book, Alan’s musings and art, along with copies of the retreat’s orders of services, paintings and photographs of that special week became Art Journal No 1. Alan points out that it, and its 50 subsequent volumes, are not to be confused with diaries.

The dictionary describes a diary as a book used to record the times and dates of daily experiences and events as they happen. A journal is described as a personal intimate record of one’s thoughts, observations and feelings. An art

* Retirement villages * Asset protection * Wills & Trusts * Enduring powers of attorney * Property sales and purchases * Relationship property issues

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his best to explain this fascinating, and to me, airy-fairy and nebulous craft/pastime/hobby/way-of-life. He gives me a small booklet he’s written about art journaling.

Because I already do something very similar, but to which I’d never given a name, I’m hooked immediately and full of questions. Where does he begin?

How does he make it happen? By questioning himself and pondering quietly over the blank page he tells me. He might make mental notes for a day or two before coming back to put them into some sort of order, on the page. Sometimes the words just flow, almost unbidden. Other days he’ll write one word and wait to see where God will take him with it. Can I do this thing without God I ask? He reassures me I won’t be struck by a thunderbolt.

Alan’s constructions make an impressive pile. Some are portrait format, some landscape. Some are fatter than others. Pull-ups and flip-outs and pointy bits of capital letters spill from exquisite self-taught bindings of leather, cloth and card.

The complete craftsman, since 1985 he’s also dabbled capably in calligraphy, decorative headings, illumination, end papers and fancy scripts. Page papers vary in quality, latter journals reflecting his growing interest in water colours. Pens have got to be good ones. There’s a special red one for recounting dreams.

So what happens to an art journaler’s private collection when he shuffles off his mortal coil, I ask?

There are two beloved daughters, Alan explains. Perhaps one will get the even numbered chronicles, and the other the uneven numbered. At the moment one seems to be quite interested in the prospect, and the other is “ a bit ‘gee, thanks Dad’” he explains with an expressive eye roll.

I’d quite like to be a fly on the wall when the time comes.

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journal is something different again and is hard to describe because, as evidenced by Google, it has so many interpretations and usages.

Some adherents find art journaling a creative and playful exercise of mainly artwork with few words. Others use it solely to address their (usually mental) health and well-being. They might make sentence mandalas as a form of meditation. Some folk will write their thoughts and feelings with coloured pens, in swirling patterns over borrowed collage, others might express themselves via the use of stick figures, or serene water colour painting. Whichever, it is clear there is no right or wrong way, just as long as the journaller feels the exercise is good for him or her. If it doesn’t, Google, or Alan, can offer sessions in Art Journalling 101, for absolute beginners, or peers.

Alan aims to journal most days because he finds it a “useful work tool” .

“Journaling is a tool which underpins my life. It influences my way of thinking. There’s always inspiration and interest around me.

It’s huge, and it’s often raw. It’s as it comes. My journal is not made for anyone else. It’s private. Motivation comes with practice, to the point it happens naturally now. I can journal anywhere. Out walking, at the beach even. It’s a very portable form of therapy”, he tells me.

I’d spied Alan working on his journal over a cup of coffee in South City mall recently. Hunched over a small table strewn with an arsenal of pens and pencils, papers and books, and deep in contemplation, I hesitated to interrupt, but only for a moment. How often does one see such an intriguing sight? Besides, I’d spotted one of those in-your-face capital letters and my curiosity would not be quelled.

Over another coffee Alan does

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Keeping On

NOVEMBER 2023

Decision making for family Test your crossword skills members who have lost capacity (#231101 by RVT) Issues can arise when a person loses the capacity to manage their affairs. Organisations like banks or a rest-home may hesitate to engage with family members if an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is not already in place.

In these situations, an application under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (PPPRA) is necessary to appoint a property manager or welfare guardian for the person, known as the “Subject Person”. These roles are designed to ensure the proper management of the Subject Person’s affairs and serve as safeguards against financial exploitation and neglect. The PPPRA emphasises using the least restrictive measures and encouraging a Subject Person to exercise such capacity as they may have as much as possible.

A property manager can be appointed under the PPPRA when a person wholly or partly lacks the capacity to manage their property.

They act in the best interests of the Subject Person and can seek powers to manage their finances, including bank accounts and other financial responsibilities.

When a person cannot make decisions regarding their personal

care and well-being, such as living arrangements and healthcare, a welfare guardian can be appointed.

They have the authority to make decisions around medical care and living situations. They are also responsible for ensuring that the Subject Person’s daily needs are met.

A medical report assessing the Subject Person’s capacity to make decisions is necessary for an application under the PPPRA. Once the application is filed in the Family Court, the Court appoints a lawyer to meet with and act for the Subject Person to ensure that their wishes and best interests are represented. This lawyer must provide a report to the Court.

Typically, a Judge will decide an application without requiring the parties to appear in Court. However, a hearing may be necessary if affected parties, like other family members, oppose the application.

It can be stressful when a person loses capacity, so if you require assistance with an application appointing a property manager and welfare guardian, please contact the A team at Harmans.

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CLUES: (Legend: fl= combo due; * = cryptic due; §=sounds like; oo=anagram Across: 1. Spanish rests (9, 4). 8. Squeeze out (3). 9. Journeyman (or woman) (9). 10. Dim Views (8) oo. 11. Manoeuvre plane (4). 13. Wing-footed (6). 14. Discrete (6) or 14. *§ Ran after? (6). 16. 00 Gear (4) oo. 17. My nice no (8) oo or 17. Antibacteria drug (8). 20. Mouth instrument (9). 21.

Conclusion (3). 22. Behaviourists (13).

Down: 1. Mid-On (5), 2. Walk hesitantly (5, 8), 3. Regal attendant (8), 4. Spoke (6), 5. Carol (5), 6. Long term sweet § (3, 3, 7), 7. One left in a tin from normal discard *oo (7) or 7. Singular popular fish in a tin. 12. * Brief encounter with no thanks afterwards, 13. Sip hair (7) oo. 15. Replenish (6), 18. Points with zero amplitudes (5), 19. Ado without hesitation * (4), 19.

Include two (4).

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 20.

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

5

The point is Whanau - no man is an island

by Colin Smith

I got a letter from my 87-year-old aunt who is struggling with the idea of being alive at that age. “What’s the point?” she asked.

Given she’s not in pain and still has all the sheep in the top paddock I found her “what’s the point?” quite a challenge. Does life need a point, I wondered?

And then I remember my early teens when that same question bothered me a lot. I was raised in a stable, caring, safe environment, but there’s no way I could make this worrisome thing called life work for me. I floundered. I couldn’t find any point to it at all. Until the day I began work in a street where lurked the local brewery. Like all good breweries there was an open keg in the smoko shed. Whew! At long last the answer to my “what’s the point” came flowing like nectar from heaven, right out of that keg. Ah, John Barleycorn with his liquid charisma and the promise

of Utopia, became my all-embracing POINT for the next 20 years.

My insecurities were drowned in his promises of life on the bottle.

He began to work for me. Through the haze I was unable to see Mr B was indeed the devil. He lurked in the dregs for a while, biding his time, waiting to wreak havoc. It happened, big time. And then I washed up like

a piece of sozzled flotsam on the shores of Queen Mary rehab in Hanmer Springs 40 years ago.

Now I leap across those sober years to meeting a long-lost cousin - the family historian no less. How serendipitous is this, given how I feel the ungrounded flimsiness of the past was due in large part to not knowing any paternal whakapapa. “Empty life = full glass” we boozers learnt at QM. Everyone loved my dad, He was a good bloke, dark and swarthy with a ready smile. He was often taken for an Aboriginal or Maori, but unlike those cultures he wasn’t into storytelling, or even discussing family. Meeting the cuz has filled in the gaps. I find it ironic that our meeting happened within sight of Queen Mary at Hanmer, when we began a 70 year catch up. We whakapapa to the gum trees in Aussie, She has a thing about magpies. Billy tea is in our veins. The

meeting needed to be marked with a poem. Hers was from the ‘80s when she wrote about the roadside gum trees at Leithfield. Here’s mine:The tea pot and coffee was all that was needed To bring out the stories long gone unheeded A long-ago family came out of the fog and Queen Mary’s message said stay off that grog Those Smith family stories are varied and rich they’re of magpies and gum trees from over the ditch Now Queen Mary’s all gone but her message lives on “Stay sober my boy and you too will enrich Those Smith whanau tales from over the ditch.”

Aunty Rose, over there in Adelaide – the point is family. No man is an island, remember?

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Since opening 18 months ago, Bradi, our audiologist and owner, became so busy that we had to expand! We are now at our new address, 7/337 Harewood Road.

We are positioned in between Time Dental and The Beauty Club – just 20 metres across the carpark from our old clinic.

We thought this was a fantastic opportunity to introduce the two new members of our team and show you our brand new clinic.

If you have been in to see us since June, you may have already met Emma, our bubbly and wonderful Ear Nurse Hygienist. Emma is an experienced ear nurse and is seeing most of our earwax removal appointments. As of this month, Emma is also beginning her Diploma in Audiometry and will be able to help Bradi with basic audiology services

once she’s qualified.

This month we have also welcomed Jo, our fabulous administrator. Jo is still learning the ropes with hearing aids, and we’d love to welcome anyone with hearing aids to pop in for us to show Jo how to clean and check various styles of devices.

Jo is in the clinic from Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm, which means we are now open 7 days of the week! Bradi offers appointments on Saturdays and Emma works every Sunday – no need to take time off work to come and see us.

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Keeping On

NOVEMBER 2023

Empowering retirement village residents: The Retirement Village Residents’ Council In the heart of every retirement village, a vibrant community thrives, and your voice matters. We're excited to introduce the Retirement Village Residents’ Council, a beacon of hope for amplifying the collective voice of retirement village residents nationwide.

A New Voice for Retirement Village Residents We understand that there is already an association for retirement village residents, but many have expressed feeling under-represented or disconnected from it. We believe in inclusivity and diversity, and that's why we've established the Residents’ Council. Its purpose is clear: to facilitate communication, engagement, and collaboration among residents, management, the RVA, and other stakeholders.

The Council is here to advocate for the collective interests of retirement village residents. It's a platform where concerns find a home, opinions are valued, and ideas shape the future. More than just a council, it's a community where decisions are made to ensure that residents enjoy the full benefits of their chosen lifestyle.

Deborah Hart, an accomplished professional with a diverse background, leads the Council as its Independent Chair. With her extensive experience as a lawyer, director, and chief executive, she's well-equipped to guide this initiative.

Nominations for the Council were sought from retirement villages and their residents nationwide.

Council Members will ensure a

The Retirement Village Residents’ Council, a beacon of hope for the collective voice.

genuine interest in policy matters, a deep understanding regarding the retirement village sector, and impartial representation of residents' views. The Council aims to be a true reflection of the rich diversity found in retirement villages, emphasising differences in gender, age, ethnicity, disability, background, and geographic regions.

The Council’s independence is a defining characteristic. While the RVA funds logistical costs, the Council operates free from any external influence. This commitment to transparency and autonomy ensures that the needs of residents will always come first.

The Council is not just another advisory body; it's a dynamic platform for retirement village residents to share their thoughts and insights with stakeholders. It offers a unique opportunity for all stakeholders

to engage directly with residents, gaining valuable insights into their needs, desires, and vision for the future.

As the Retirement Village Residents’ Council takes its first steps, we invite you to join us in supporting this exciting initiative. Together, we can ensure that retirement village residents have the voice and representation they deserve.

In Deborah’s words: "I look forward to working with the Retirement Village Residents’ Council, and I encourage all stakeholders to get involved."

For more information and updates on the Council’s initiatives, email info@residentscouncil.org.nz. Let’s continue to build a bright future for retirement village residents together.

Your participation and support are invaluable as we work toward a more inclusive and empowered community for all.

You could get a rates reduction as part of the government's rate rebate scheme, which provides rates assistance to low-income earners.

In the 2023/2024, the government may pay up to $750 of your rates under the rebate scheme, depending on a combination of your income, the amount of rates you are charged, and the number of dependents you have.

Your income is based on the tax year preceding the current rating year. For the 2023 to 2024 rating year, the proceeding tax year is from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

It includes your spouse's income but does not include the following: * disability allowance * cash grants/capital payments * war widow’s or war disablement benefits * medal or honour payments * grants for funeral expenses * prizes and winnings * family support Rating years run from 1 July to the following 30 June each year.

You can apply for a rebate at any time during the rating year, but your rebate cannot be back-dated to previous years.

Contact your local council service centre for further information and an application form.

Resonate Health has arrived in the South Island

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Your Merivale team, Alison Feeney and Tracy Fraser, bring many years of hearing health experience.

Supporting hearing health in Christchurch for years, Ali is a nextlevel audiologist and a customer advocate. She consistently goes the extra mile to ensure her customers receive top-notch, personalised care and the best hearing health outcomes. Nothing is too much trouble for Ali, and we are so proud to have her in our team.

Joining Ali is Tracy Fraser, whose career in audiology management has been nothing short of remarkable.

Having worked for New Zealand’s largest audiology providers, Tracy has immense knowledge and experience in the hearing care industry. She is a rockstar and a true expert in her field!

Tracy joins us as a Navigator, drawn by the wave of positive change that Resonate is bringing to the audiology industry.

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

7

New Zealand’s ‘Tis the season own Crown Lynn

by June Peka

As with music and art, I knows what I like - especially in my crockery cupboard.

Doulton, Spode and Swinnertons are all very nice for some, but I’m in love with New Zealand’s own Crown Lynn.

I’ve collected hundreds of pieces of Fleurette, the brazen and gaudy knock-off of the equally colourful English, Italian-influenced Belle Fiore. Teetering stacks of handpainted floral images of purple, yellow, and orange (but with little resemblance to real flowers), almost edible leaves of bright green, and garlands of pale blue forget-me-nots make the heart sing with every opening of the cupboard door.

I often picture the hand-painting production line of six, all women, each applying a single colour, who turned out my pieces and thousands more, between the late 1950s and late 1970s. Fleurette was “by far the most popular of all the hand painted patterns” according to Val Ringer Monk’s Crown Lynn - A New Zealand Icon, and can still be found in op-shops on a lucky day.

I’ve read some super books about Crown Lynn and it’s history, and I’ve actually met Jackie, daughter of Sir Tom Clark, founder of Crown Lynn. I follow Facebook pages dedicated to this most prolific kiwi product too, so, I had thought until recently that I knew a bit about Crown Lynn. Hahahahaha!

Then in September, Ev Williams, administrator of the Facebook page Crown Lynn, Crockery of Distinction, came up with the idea to run a daily alphabetical post relating to all things to do with this New Zealand icon. Over the 26 days, many thousands of people contributed over 90,000 comments and images of Crown Lynn products I could never have even imagined, let alone identified.

Smart people had no bother at all illustrating X, Y and Z. They also knew that Sir Tom falsely labelled many early products British, to help them sell better in the snooty market of the time. I’m very much still in the primers by comparison.

Ev has been researching Crown Lynn for 15 years after 50 years as a potter herself, she

administrates around 10 pottery groups on Facebook and another on Instagram, and still throws her own pots occasionally. Her other hobby is photographing Crown Lynn. But she doesn’t see herself as an expert on the subject even now.

“I’ve used Crown Lynn every day of my life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Firstly I began a website to collect all the New Zealand pottery information I could, and there were so many mysteries about Crown Lynn in particular, I set about researching to find the facts.” There are now many records at Auckland Museum and at Te Toi Uku Museum in New Lynn.(Once Ev’s pottery).

“This hobby will keep me busy for the rest of my life. I’ve only scratched the surface. There’s a mountain I don’t know about yet.”

Ev doesn’t have an all-time favourite as I do, but is currently using Willow.

She says a Crown Lynn market day is an exciting event, and is pleased to advise that after seven such events in Auckland, we can now look forward to one happening on our own patch.

Crown Lynn collectors and sellers of high quality and quirky items will occupy about a dozen stalls as part of the Revamp/ Antique/Vintage Market at Wigram Airbase on Sunday 25 February, 2024, opening at 10am.

Organiser Christopher Barron advises an early start to avoid the queues which have been a feature of the previous markets he has experienced. I have everything crossed that I’ll find the dish which matches this cover, or next best, someone who can tell me what it was used for.

This is the season of family and love and most of all giving. We give gifts to our loved ones, friends and others to show appreciation for all they have done for us through out the year. It’s also a special time for us all at Driving Miss Daisy as we get into the spirit with our special festive Daisy Experiences.

There is fun and adventures to be had with your local Daisy. Call your Daisy to go and see the Christmas lights in your town, enjoy singing along at the Christmas Carols, or attend a special festive church service.

A Driving Miss Daisy Experience can be for one, or get a group together and share the costs and have your own festive get-together at your favourite café or simply a drive to stroll in the sunshine and enjoy an ice cream.

Aging experts agree that it’s good for you to keep active and importantly keep your social networks active. This

particularly helps with depression and whilst it is a festive time of year, it can be lonely for some, so do reach out and help each other. Talk to your Daisy, they will know the local activities that may be of interest to you and your friends.

Driving Miss Daisy can solve the Christmas dilemma of a gift to buy or receive. What better idea than a Driving Miss Daisy Experience gift voucher that can be bought directly from your local Daisy. This has traditionally been a wonderful gift that family can give you, so don’t forget to drop them a hint.

A Driving Miss Daisy gift voucher creates memories, which is something very special, and you can use anytime you wish throughout the year.

Remember, Driving Miss Daisy accepts the Total Mobility Scheme card providing driving discounts on trips.

Have a Wonderful Festive Season. A

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8

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

The legend First guest arrives at the newly opened Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch of Harry Ell

Harry Ell knew what he was doing, Back in nineteen hundred and three.

He started the ball rolling, As he could obviously foresee, That Kennedys Bush must be preserved For future generations, If it had not been for folk like him, There would have been total devastation.

The newly opened Canterbury Cancer Centre, the largest facility of its kind in the South Island and the first guest, Nick Farr.

The Canterbury Cancer Centre is thrilled to announce the arrival of our first guest, Nick Farr. Nick has travelled from his Tākaka home in the Nelson Tasman region to undertake his cancer treatment in Christchurch.

Nick previously stayed at Daffodil House and Daffodil Lodge when he first had a diagnosis and we have recently welcomed him back after he received a second diagnosis requiring treatment in Christchurch.

“For obvious reasons we don’t like seeing families having to return, but we are proud that we are here when they need us and that we can offer free services such as travel and accommodation to reduce the financial burden that comes with cancer,” says Nicola Coom, Chief Executive of the Canterbury, West Coast, Otago and Southland Cancer Society.

The Canterbury Cancer Centre signifies a new chapter in cancer

care for the South Island.

All services will be provided under one roof and families will have access to new services such as counselling, physiotherapy, nutrition, peer support and more. The Centre is the largest facility of its kind in the South Island and has been built by the community, for the community. “This was a huge community effort and we are grateful for the support of the businesses, trusts, individuals and community groups throughout the South Island who have generously supported our vision for this building. I think it’s a great representation of what we can achieve together when we combine our efforts.”

Coom says “While this a fabulous building, the Centre is way more than bricks and mortar; it is a symbol of hope, and it is our hope that it is utilised as a hub for everyone involved in cancer to collaborate and

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innovate together. We have a big challenge in front of us, the demand for cancer services is increasing and we can only respond to this together.”

"We are delighted to welcome Nick as our first guest at the Canterbury Cancer Centre, what makes it even more special is that Nick officially opened the Centre last week on behalf of all families impacted by cancer," says Nicola.

"We understand the challenges faced by families when a loved one needs to travel away from home for cancer treatment, and we are honoured to be able to offer guests like Nick a ‘home away from home’ where they can feel supported and cared for during what can be a challenging time of their life.”

The opening of the South Island’s Canterbury Cancer Centre represents, hope, healing, and innovation for generations to come. A

NAVIGATORS

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Sign of the Kiwi, the Packhorse, The Takahe, They were his ideas as well.

Rest huts for weary travellers, To view there for a spell.

They are built of local quarry stone, Carried up by horse and cart.

Built by Harry and the unemployed Back then the die was cast.

He had a toll-gate at the Kiwi, To help pay for the road.

As he said “the road is needed, But we must share the load.”

Many hassles with the council, They fair wore him down.

They called him “King of Cracroft Hill” A king without a crown….

Pauline Watson

TRANSITION

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Harry Ell he had a dream he did, A road around the hills.

He said “the hills are for the people To walk, ride, enjoy the view”.

And where they once were covered, With native bush for all to see.

Our great forest now has fallen, To the bushman’s axe: almost every tree.

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

9

Papanui Bush - the oasis of Christchurch

by Mike Crean

Papanui Bush is the “oasis of Christchurch”, says city resident Denis McMurtrie. Five hectares of swampy land that comprises the Bush area form a greenspace that contrasts with its surroundings.

Since the giant firm Firestone left, a newly constructed area of industrial, healthcare and retail buildings has surrounded the wet and partly sunken site.

The original Papanui Bush extended from a point near Harewood Road in the south to just past the intersection of Main North Road and Cranford Street. It was slightly larger than Riccarton Bush.

Healthcare institutions scattered around the southern edge of the Bush form a big part of the land use. This adds to the thought of the area being an oasis, Denis says.

He notes a large, new building for cancer patients and their parents, a day-centre for people with a range of disabilities, called Braintree, a bloodtesting clinic, a Social Welfare centre, and a branch of the child welfare department Oranga Tamariki.

Retired after teaching geography at Papanui High School for 42 years, Denis has committed himself to restoring the historic Bush area’s ecology. From the 1850s the Bush was “flattened” to provide timber for building the inner city. Trees were felled and logs were sawn at the mill that gave Sawyers Arms Hotel and Sawyers Arms Road their names.

Giant kahikatea, totara, rimu and other timbers were hauled by bullocks from there to the central city.

Denis is driven by the desire to plant native trees and shrubs that

A grief and palliative support service for anyone, anytime, whose life is touched by loss or death.

Christchurch resident, Denis McMurtrie, left, says “Papanui Bush is the oasis of Christchurch.”

will bring back the native birds that once flocked there. Take a short walk along one side of the area and you will see the birds are already whistling in trees that were planted only three years ago. But Denis is careful to say many other people helped. Members of Rotary Clubs, Christchurch City Council rangers, local school classes, conservation groups, Community Boards and people who just turn up – all have done a huge amount of work to build the dream. Some students advance their steps towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award as they work in the Bush.

Rotary and the council have extended large donations to the scheme. Mitre 10’s nearby store sends staff members to help. Bridgestone, the tyre firm that followed Firestone, donated the piece of the land that faces Langdons Road. This is now Bridgestone Park, a pleasant site

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connected to the Papanui Bush by an open gateway.

The council bought the land for $1, then followed with bridge building, tree planting and financing. Primary, intermediate and secondary schools run regular sessions of learning and helping.

Part of the dream is a wide, smooth path around the perimeter. About half of this is completed and Denis is planning the final stages. Along the path are solid bridges over the streams, tables and seats where visitors can rest a while, and an informal “school” where about 30 pupils can sit on logs and listen to their teacher. All these are designed to allow people in wheelchairs to participate fully.

One thrill for Denis is to find former students he taught coming to give a hand. As he walks around the pathway he often harks back to the

site’s history. He has read how Maori trekking south from Kaiapoi used to stop here to gather food before proceeding on their journey. The Maori used certain tall trees to guide them on their way. The next one past Papanui was at the present Burnside High School.

Denis manages to combine his passion for restoring Papanui Bush with playing bowls and following cricket. He was born in Oamaru and moved with his family to Mosgiel, near Dunedin. A scholarship enabled him to study at the University of Otago, firstly in physical education, and then in geography. As a student, he and a mate did holiday jobs in Central Otago, including picking fruit at Roxburgh and shooting pests in forests near Beaumont. Over the last half-century, Denis has become a true-blue Cantabrian.

10

Keeping On

NOVEMBER 2023

Calling on sewing machine donations

“My idea of Christmas, whether oldfashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.”

Bob Hope

I want to sack my Enduring Power of Attorney Getting an EPA in place is important – it’s up there, like having a current will. And keeping your EPA current is critical too. You don’t want someone managing your affairs later who has changed or who now has quite different ideas on how you should be looked after.

We get lots of enquiries from people who have done their EPAs, who want to change the attorney. Lots of reasons – no longer in contact, have fallen out with them, they have moved to another town. Most people do not want the expense and hassle of doing new EPAs again – for many, it was bad enough the first time. Luckily, it is possible to terminate the attorney, without redoing the whole document if you appointed a successor attorney in the first place, if not, then it is still

important to update your EPAs to make sure the right person is there to help you.

Wills and EPAs – great to have them in place, but they need to be current.

Worst of all is having no EPAs in place. This might mean a trip to the Family Court to get special orders, to do what the EPAs would have done. The orders are called Property Manager or Welfare Guardian. Our Life Law Team do plenty of these applications. It covers a gap quite well, but it is expensive (compared to EPAs) and generally short-lived (normally only three years before a renewal is needed). So, the focus must still be on having EPAs and A keeping them current.

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Howard Jamieson, Age Concern Canterbury Community Connector, has been running beginner sewing courses since September 2022. He learned pattern drafting and cutting from a friend, then continued to work with fabric and design over the decades. “I learned to sew because I couldn’t find the kinds of clothes I wanted to wear,” said Howard. “The 1970s and early ‘80s were hugely experimental in terms of fashion, and garments were either unavailable in this country or they were too costly.”

After running a pilot 10-week course in 2022 for Q+ Rainbow Charity, Moana Vā Charitable Trust, Howard has facilitated three more courses this year. “Covid lockdowns saw people looking for ways to be self-sufficient,” he said. “One of the ways people filled in time between waking, working or schooling without leaving the house, was by making, mending or embellishing clothes.”

This newfound interest in sewing was fed by online tutorials. However, after lockdowns eased and people gained confidence around being in groups, they looked for in-class learning opportunities.

The courses have reached more than 30 individuals on Tuesday evenings in blocks of 12 weeks.

Howard has helped people to become familiar with sewing machines, then started lessons with a simple pillow case or tote bag. For the main project, rather than everyone having to make a version of the same garment, students were invited to work with a shirt or blouse pattern of their choice.

The only proviso around fabric was that it had to be cotton.

Introducing people to the world of possibilities that comes from exploring fabric stores has been part of the joy of this course for Howard.

“Some of the students have returned for further lessons because they picked up many new techniques, and the social aspect of the group had been so enjoyable. I love seeing how they reinterpret patterns, and how their freestyle approach to mixing different fabric styles and textures enhances what they are working on.

It has been a lot of fun for all of us.”

Earlier in 2023, Keeping On ran an advertisement for sewing machine donations. “I thought, from my mum’s experience – where she no longer had the dexterity to make clothes – that people might have machines they can no longer use.

“After running the ad, I was amazed at how many people generously gave their precious sewing machines and equipment to the class.” Some of the machines were sadly not as reliable as they had once been and needed attention, but others were gratefully included in the classes as they arrived.

Howard is asking again if there are more pre-loved sewing machines in good order that people would like to donate to the course. Ideally, machines will be no older than 40 years and have been used within the last 5-10 years. Please contact Howard on (03) 331 7806 or 027 558 5555 to arrange pick-up.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 11

Remembering long-serving Age Concern Canterbury volunteer Hazel Neave

by Deirdre McGrath

We don’t often include obituaries in our magazine, but we would be very remiss if we did not note the passing of Hazel Neave, one of our long serving administration volunteers.

When I started at Age Concern Canterbury in 2016, Hazel was 89-years-old. Her energy, knowledge and enthusiasm put me to shame, and she epitomised the essence of someone living a “better later life”.

Hazel began volunteering at Age Concern Canterbury in 1996 as part of the Reception and Information Centre team in our Cashel Street building. She was also the first one to volunteer at the various events held at Café 64. From Friday afternoon talks and entertainment to backstage at an Edwardian Fashion Show, all was done with her legendary smile! After the 2011 earthquakes she moved with the rest of the team to Barrington

Hazel Neave with Spredyon-Heathcote Board Chair Phil Clearwater in 2013.

Street, and then continued volunteering when we moved to our current premises in Papanui.

Twice a week she would still drive across the city in her bright yellow Honda to her work at Age Concern Canterbury and it was only when she stopped driving in 2019, and her health began to fail, that she also stopped coming in so regularly.

Hazel was a favourite with staff and clients alike. She loved to be part of everything that was happening and was an active participant in both work and social activities. Her contributions to shared lunches and morning teas were so popular they were included in a recent Age Concern Canterbury cookbook.

Her way with words was legendary, she was a whiz at helping with the proof reading of Keeping On even when correcting your grammar or spelling, it was always done with the widest smile.

Although we hadn’t seen Hazel at Age Concern Canterbury for a few years, her legacy will live on.

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A standout feature is the SOS button, which underscores the commitment to user well-being. In times of emergency, whether medical

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12

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

Support Group for Significant Others A support group for people living with or supporting those who have issues with anger or who drink, gamble or struggle with an addiction. The aim is to provide information and support, some education and guidance. The group would be run by an experienced trained AOD (Alcohol and Drug) Clinician.

Tuesdays from 1.00 to 3.00pm Age Concern Canterbury, 24 Main North Road, Papanui. Christchurch.

Cost: Free and tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.

Please call Diane on 03 3317812 or 027 2486249 to enrol or talk to any of the staff at Age Concern Canterbury.

Clean Break takes the stress out of moving The later phases of life can be emotionally challenging for seniors, especially if they can’t get around by themselves. The concept of moving into a retirement village, nursing home or aged care facility can be a difficult one to digest.

If you’re helping a senior friend or family member move, an immense amount of emotional pressure is on you to help them through this lifestyle transition. Sorting and packing their things can be hard because you’re short of time and they don’t want to let go of anything. The move from their property can be a frustrating and stressful time for everyone.

However, when the time arrives and a move must be made, we’re here to help.

How We Work Every person’s home is unique, containing hundreds of items of emotional significance, that they have collected over time and are attached to. We know packing and moving from one location to another can be stressful.

Therefore, the process of helping the elderly move their belongings begins with a free no-obligation inspection of where they live. The inspection lets us customise our service and our assessment is completely free.

With careful planning, we make sure the move from A to B is a smooth one by planning well in advance of the big day. We treat the belongings as if they were our own, knowing that everyone’s belongings are of intense emotional significance.

This plan includes helping to pack and sort through belongings to determine what can be kept, what needs to be donated to any charity or what needs to be thrown away.

We can unpack at the new site and place everything where you want it and we take away all empty boxes.

Our aim is to take the stress out of your move. We are the removalists who actually care.

Most importantly your big move won’t break the bank and we’ll help you move at an affordable price. A

ADVERTISERS Book your advertising for the 2024 February, May, August and November issues of Keeping On. The deadline for ad bookings for our February 2024 issue is Friday, 26th January.

Contact Anna-Marie on 331-7804.

Bright-line triggers continue to confound Bright-line is a super complex tax on some residential property.

The constantly changing landscape of the bright-line rules and the many carve outs means people are increasingly needing to get specialist advice before they sell their property.

The rules are complicated and different sets of rules could apply depending on when you purchased.

General speaking, the triggers are based on when a property is purchased and when it is sold but under the test not all sales are treated the same.

The bright-line rules are strict. They don’t make any allowance for any unexpected changes in personal circumstances.

And the goal posts just keep moving.

Initially based on a two-year period when first established in 2015, the rules were changed again in 2018 to a five-year period, and then again in 2021 to a 10-year period, with most new-builds remaining at five years. If you sell during this period, you could be liable to pay tax on any capital gain.

As a New Zealand tax resident, bright-line also applies to any overseas property you own.

There are several exclusions to the bright-line test but the most common is where the property you are selling is your main home. This exclusion can become complicated though if you own multiple houses; if you

Steph Gifford, Director.

purchased the land and later built a home on it; or if your property is owned in a trust.

The main home exclusion cannot be used if you have already used the exemption twice or more in a two-year period; if there is a regular pattern of buying and selling your main home; or if you haven’t lived in the property for at least 50 percent of the time.

Based on National's pre-election policies, the bright-line period could be rolled back to 2 years as early as July 2024, although Act and NZ First may have some input. This means that any property acquired before July 2022 may no longer be caught by the bright-line tax rules.

Remember, the rules are super complex, so make sure you get expert advice before you put your A property on the market.

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 13

WACST @ Burwood turns 21 Earlier this year the Wainoni Avonside Community Services Trust (WACST) celebrated its 21st birthday.

Now called WACST@Burwood, the Trust began when the Wainoni Methodist Church applied to the Prince Albert College fund for money to trial a part time position for one year. Betty Chapman was the successful applicant and began the 15 hour per week temporary (1 year) role. Now 21 years later Betty is still at the helm, although many things have changed through those 21 years.

In the early 2000s, the Christchurch City Council carried out a survey to see what the community would like to happen in the eastern suburbs. Betty used the findings of that survey to set up the initial WACST programmes.

These programmes proved very popular and as the popularity grew, more funding was obtained from the council, which in turn bought other funding agencies on board. Through this funding the programmes and operating hours were able to grow.

However, the 2010/11 earthquakes hit the eastern suburbs hard and the role of WACST changed dramatically.

As well as trying to run all the existing programmes, Betty and the Trust also organised weekly speakers from earthquake support agencies to help the community. Visitors and

Mayor Phil Mauger, Betty Chapman (WACST), Hon. Margaret Austin and Mayoress Chrissy Mauger enjoyed celebrating the WACST Trust’s 21st anniversary earlier this year.

speakers included insurers, LINZ, EQC as well as the City Council. The Prime Minister at the time, John Key, also paid a visit to the trust.

Everyone had to negotiate months and even years of broken roads, detours, stop-go signs, Portaloos and endless reassessments of their properties.

Then came the red zoning decisions and the subsequent relocation of much of the community.

It was a trying and challenging time, as many people found themselves negotiating with EQC officials, insurance companies, and lawyers for the first time in their lives.

Yet throughout it all Betty and WACST remained a constant presence in many lives.

Betty explains how this was possible, “I just negotiated the roads and detours,

opened the doors of the building and people continued to come in so we kept going.” Relocation to other suburbs did not keep people from attending. Even today people come from Halswell, Belfast and Opawa to enjoy their favourite programmes and the companionship offered.

Nine years after the earthquakes WACST itself had to go through the turmoil of relocation, when the Methodist Church sold its Avonside Drive building and the Trust moved to a new rented location at the Legacy Church 58 Bassett Street, Burwood - hence the name change.

The new location has not impacted on the popularity of and support for the programmes run by WACST@ Burwood. There are still over 200 attendees on a weekly basis and

some of those have been attending for 21 years! Age Concern Canterbury has also worked closely with WACST over the past 21 years especially in the delivery of our Staying Safe with Age driving course.

The Trust and 120 supporters celebrated the 21st anniversary in late April. Guests included Christchurch Mayor and Mayoress, Phil and Chrissy Mauger, and Director of Senior Services, Dianne Turner, who was the Guest Speaker. In her speech Dianne commented that the Methodist Church was quite forward thinking as she could see the need for many more groups like WACST in the future.

Congratulations WACST on playing such an important role in the community.

Have you been thinking about selling your home?

Have you been thinking about selling your home? Do you have questions about the process and wonder what your property could be worth? A free no obligation chat with Cathy and Ian could be just what you need.

When it comes to selling your property you need agents working alongside you who can help you through all of the stages of selling

while getting you the best price for your home. With Cathy and Ian you will be with agents who really care about their clients and go above and beyond the sale process.

Downsizing is an area Cathy and Ian specialise in, they have helped many clients to prepare their homes for sale. Their help starts well before the property is on the market, they have contacts to collect furniture,

clear your section, donate to charities, etc.

Recently they sold two properties the owners had each lived in for over 40 years and raised their families! In both cases it was a very big decision to move with many memories in these lovely homes.

With guidance through every step both properties were sorted and listed and both owners sold within 4 weeks

of listing. They are now packing and super excited about the next chapter and absolutely delighted with the service Cathy and Ian provided.

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“From the first meeting to handing over of the keys, the process of selling was quick, painless and easy. Cathy and Ian’s knowledge of the industry and their friendly manner won us over from the start. Cathy totally understood my views on what I expected from the sale. We did not want to be coerced into something that didn’t feel comfortable.

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14

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

Real people to talk to at Citizens Advice Bureau George* is a rock ‘n roller from way back. Most days he’s happy pottering around his home making up new lyrics to Thorogood songs…

My baby left me and my knees got weak, lost my money in a phishing scam, family came by just the other day, wanna take the house that I live in away. I'm in so much muddle so much muddle so much muddle I'm about to lose my, um, what’s it called again.

Other days, he finds it tough to look after himself.

Part of him, the ex-party animal part, misses social connections that – ug! – residential care offers. The other part of him, the fiercely independent part, doesn’t want to admit he feels vulnerable, doesn’t want to admit he might need a bit of home support.

Inspiration comes, the day he phones Citizens Advice Bureau. The kind person listens. She empathises. She can’t help him find his glasses, but she does talk him through his rights and options, and arms him with personalised and nonjudgemental knowledge.

CAB helps him connect with a range of home support providers to help him manage at home, to stay safe and be as independent as possible.

Home support is available for things like bathing, getting dressed, taking medication, cleaning, meal preparation, as well as support for the family member caring for him.

They discuss the Age Concern Canterbury’s social outings and visiting service which could connect him with a volunteer who has a shared

interest and is good company. The possibility of talking with someone who would be interested in music and quirky lyrics was intriguing.

‘Come the day,’ she says, ‘another option is to move into a place which provides the support you need. People often need help understanding how the words they read in promotional material apply to their particular situation. We can help you with that.’

Muddled? If you are having difficulties, it’s

okay to ask for help. Whether you are young, old or ageless, it’s worth talking to Citizens Advice Bureau (www.cab.org.nz).

Get in touch on 0800 367 222 (0800 FOR CAB) to talk to a real person. It’s a free, confidential and impartial service. Or pop into a location across Christchurch and Selwyn: • in the Salvation Army Building, 250 Colombo St, Sydenham (03 366 6490) • Fendalton Library, 4 Jeffreys Road (03 351 7804) • Hornby Community Care Centre, Goulding Ave (03 349 5236) • upstairs in the library at The Loft, Eastgate Mall (Tuesdays, 11.00am to 2.00pm) • and new, at Te Ara Atea, Rolleston (Tuesdays 11.00am to 1.00pm) Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati, Ki te kapuia e kore e Whati Alone we can be broken. Standing together, we are invincible

The residential care subsidy up to date information If you, or someone you care about, has been assessed as requiring long-term residential care, they may be eligible for a Residential Care Subsidy.

The subsidy helps to pay the financial costs associated with your care if you are unable to pay those costs for yourself. The subsidy is not available to everyone. Every applicant must pass a financial means assessment (to confirm their financial circumstances) and an income test (to confirm what, if any, income they have to offset their care costs).

The asset threshold used in a means

assessment increases annually. As of 31 July 2023 the threshold for an individual, or a couple where both are in care, has increased to $273,628.

This asset threshold includes both real property (house and land) and personal property (cash and investments).

If, however, one of you is still living in the family home, you can choose to apply a lower threshold where the family home and one vehicle are exempt. In this situation, the assets you are allowed to keep are reduced to the lower threshold of $149,845.

If you pass the means assessment, your income will also be assessed.

Income from both your, and your spouse or partners, assets is included except for the first $1,188 for a single person, $2,376 for a couple, where both of you are in care or $3,564 for a couple where one person is in care and the other person continues to live in their own home.

If you have too many assets to qualify for a subsidy, you may be eligible for a Residential Care Loan, which is a loan agreement between you and the Crown. Loans are assessed on a case-by-case basis, are interest free and will be secured by a Caveat over the Title for your home. The Loan is repayable within 12 months of your

death or on the sale of your home, whichever happens sooner.

To be eligible you must have used all other resources available to you and have assets of less than $15,000 if you are single, or $30,000 if you have a spouse or partner.

If you’d like to make a time to talk to Fleur about the Subsidy or the Loan, please contact us at Fleur McDonald Legal on 03 365 1595 or office@fmlegal.co.nz to make an appointment. We can talk through your situation and support you to make the best choice for your A circumstances.

AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY IS LOOKING FOR

ENERGETIC AND RELIABLE GARDENERS TO MAINTAIN GARDENS Fit, keen, energetic, reliable, own lawn mower and a current drivers licence.

Needed in all areas.

Casual work only.

Payment is on an hourly rate.

An appropriate level of fitness is required.

For more information please phone Liz /Deb on 366-0903

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 15

Changing with our environment

by Harmony

There is a classic Chinese proverb: “Once the sweet orange in the south of Huai was moved to the north of Huai, they will become the bitter trifoliate orange.'' It means, the same orange seeds are planted in different soil, grow in different temperatures and environment, and the taste of the orange fruit will be completely different. Like orange trees, people do the same thing. People change with their environment.

After I moved to New Zealand, I discovered this proverb was true. I used to get lots of fruit from supermarkets that originally came from different countries in the world: Filipino bananas and pineapple, South American mango and papaya, American grapes, Chinese pears….

Their tastes were good, but all were different from those same fruits of my home country.

I was used to the sweet and juicy fruits in my home country before I moved to New Zealand. It took me about two years to adapt to the new tastes of New Zealand fruits which were sold in the supermarkets. And gradually I found out that many fruits, meats, seafood… in New Zealand are imported from other countries. They moved! And, not only food moves from other countries, but the people move, factories move, businesses move, - and restaurants? Yes, they move as well.

Recently I travelled to Sydney for several weeks. I was surprised that there were lots of Asian people, restaurants and shops in Sydney.

One night I went to a restaurant originally from Taiwan. I quite liked this restaurant when I was in Taiwan for its unforgettable tastes. It is a popular restaurant of good repute with lots of world-wide branches.

In the restaurant a robot shuttled back and forth serving food and greeting customers. I ordered from one of the electric pads on every table, but I found some of my favourite dishes were missing from the menu. I was disappointed, and asked the staff: “Do you have….?”

She was confused and did not even understand what I asked.

Then I reviewed the whole menu, and realised the list of dishes was tailored, some for Chinese, Asians and some for western people. No wonder I could not get a bowl of tomato and egg soup that I thought I should eat as a set. Although I was disappointed, I did not blame the restaurant. I thought I understood it. The dishes served in my home country don’t need to worry about the tastes of the people from other countries. But in Sydney, to adapt

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to the local market, the restaurants must change their menu by arranging the suitable dishes for the Sydney customers.

This phenomenon has happened to New Zealand as well. Even though there have been many Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants in Christchurch, it is always a sad journey for me to get used to the localised tastes of Asian food in the Asian restaurants. For several years I chased the authentic tastes by cooking them myself. Gradually I gave up. I told myself: the best policy is don’t take authentic tastes seriously. The restaurant moved.

And I moved as well. The restaurant menu has adapted. So, should I adapt as well?

The move starts from globalisation and ends with localization. Then it may move and change in a reversed way. My one Japanese friend told me that nowadays in Japan, there is one kind of sushi with hot-dog filling.

I burst out laughing, I knew it. I agree with my friend on her supposition: Sushi was introduced to the USA, and after localization, there should be many different westernised fillings in USA markets. Then the westernised sushi was moved back so now Japanese can eat western style sushi in Japan!

If you can eat the same style of sushi in both Japan and the USA, in the future, do you still have any opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity? I prefer the authentic tastes of my home country’s food, but for the Asian restaurants moving to other countries, localization is to survive in business. Maybe, in the not-too-distant future, I could accept the fact that there are three categories of Taiwanese food in the restaurants: the authentic one, the moved one and the reversed one!

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16

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

My Book Club recommends

Vapour Trail

Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner Reviewed by HAMIL 005 (a BDS Book Group based in Hamilton) This book is an account of the life of a woman of aristocratic birth who served as a lady-in-waiting at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and later as Princess Margaret’s lady-inwaiting for many years. Our group covers a wide range of views on the monarchy; those with a favourable view saw the book’s picture of royal and upper class life as intrinsically interesting simply because it’s the royals, while those with a negative view asked “why should we care?” and indeed the early part of the tale could be subtitled “Lifestyles of the Rich and Aimless.”

However, even those with a strong dislike of the monarchy found much to admire in the character and the authors’ achievements. She came from an aristocratic landed family who like many others of the British upper classes found themselves cash poor. So Anne Glenconner founded a pottery and by dint of persistent marketing and selling, made a great success of it. Perhaps driven - at least in part - by her family’s financial situation, she married an extremely wealthy lord, Colin Glenconner, who unfortunately turned out to be quite mad. Yet she stuck with him through a life that stretched from the frivolous and extravagant to family tragedies.

Despite our members’ divergent views on the value of the monarchy, we found common ground in our admiration for the way that Anne Glenconner dealt with the challenges of being a woman in a

Luminous sky, pristine, pale, Dash of white, a vapour trail.

Jet at a silent, icy height Secretes a silken strand of light That splits the troposphere in two A sterile slash, so sharp and true.

In ‘aristocratic’ mode - the book group has fun.

rigidly hierarchical and patriarchal setting; with the way she dealt with the tragedies that afflicted her sons (particularly the effort she put into rehabilitating the son who suffered a severe head injury); and the manner in which she turned away from the aristocracy’s traditional child rearing practices when she saw the impact on her sons, and how much more balanced and resilient her daughters were with her close involvement, love and support.

We thought the book was very well written, particularly considering her age when she took up the pen.

Her memory for detail is remarkable.

Her loyalty to Princess Margaret and perhaps to her late husband meant that she pulled a few punches, in this

book at least. Apparently her second volume of autobiography, “Whatever Next?” is much more frank.

In all, a surprisingly enjoyable read, even for the anti-monarchists among us!

And yes, we did enter into the spirit of the evening (see picture).

About Book Discussion Scheme Book Discussion Scheme (BDS) is non-profit, operating NZ-wide for 50 years. BDS provides enough copies for your club to read the same book at the same time, as well as professionally-prepared discussion notes, making running a book club easy and fun.

Find a group to join or start a new book group at www.bds.org.nz

The speeding jet soon shrinks from vision; Now its trail must reach a decision Will it faint, will it fail, will this be its finish?

Or will it linger a while and then diminish?

Its streamline wanes, it fades and spreads Like ashes cast on floral beds.

The trail at last dissolves in haze.

Awed spectators drop their gaze.

Wisps of filament shredded in cloud, Are unseen by the dispersing crowd.

Proud flags aloft fade, flop, worntorn, Refuting the glory of their dawn.

Conquerors aglow in any field Will brandish a medal, cup or shield.

But gold turns tan like Autumn sky, Marvels limp lame, admirers sigh.

Rapiered vapours too must die.

by Mike Crean

Mary Potter Community Centre, a peaceful venue to hire in a beautiful setting Is your group seeking to hire a peaceful venue in a beautiful setting?

The Mary Potter Community Centre is a Ministry of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. The Centre is ideally placed close to the “four avenues” of Christchurch, located at 442 Durham Street North, St Albans.

It is tucked behind the Southern Cross Hospital, hidden away from traffic noise and the busyness of life.

Off-street parking is available on-site.

The Community Centre and Italian Garden is available for hiring on an hourly or daily basis for groups whose purposes are in keeping

with the mission of Mary Potter, the Foundress of the Little Company of Mary.

The Centre has a capacity for up to 90 people with a light-filled main hall, a welcoming foyer, kitchen facilities and access to the beautiful garden.

To learn more about what the Mary

Come and enjoy social interaction with other seniors…

MONDAYS

THURSDAYS

9.00am Board Games 10.00am Morning Tea 10.30am Arts and Crafts 12.00noon BYO Lunch / Socialise 12.45pm Exercise Class 1.30pm Variety Hour 2.30pm Afternoon Tea

9.00am Board Games 9.30am Mass 10.00am Morning Tea 10.30am Board Games 12.00noon BYO Lunch / Socialise 12.30pm Housie (numbers limited) 2.15pm Afternoon Tea 3.00pm Exercise Class

Gold coin donation for non-residents

0DU\ 3RWWHU &RPPXQLW\ &HQWUH 442 Durham Street North, St Albans, Christchurch 8014 Telephone 372 9224 Website www.lcmchristchurch.org.nz Email nzadmin@lcm.org.au

Potter Community Centre offers and to view a virtual tour of the Centre and Italian Garden, please visit our website www.lcmchristchurch.org. nz and click on Community Centre BOOKING ENQUIRY, or contact us by emailing nzadmin@lcm.org.au A or phoning 03 372 9224.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 17

Memories “The richest bank of all is our memory bank. For years we deposited experiences there.

Now we can withdraw them. The interest accruing is our enjoyment.”

by Mike Crean

Legends are not Sound: this one is Doubtful My elder brother Terry died in England in 2020. He had lived there for 53 years. His daughter Rachel emailed me recently, asking about a badge which had been found amidst his belongings.

Her photo of the badge shows a coloured picture of the ship Wanganella, then moored at Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland.

Beneath the picture are the letters UWB. On the back are the words: “For 12 months service”. Terry had completed a year on the Manapouri hydro scheme.

Lacking money to attend university, Terry did a cadetship with the Ministry of Works, in Westport and Christchurch and completed a Certificate in Engineering. In 1965, he changed jobs and moved to Doubtful Sound to work as a draughtsman on the water tunnel to connect Deep

The ocean-going Wanganella had carried thousands of passengers between Wellington and Sydney, over many years.

Cove and Lake Manapouri. Water from the lake would spin the turbines on its way down, producing electricity for Southland’s aluminium factory and the hungry national grid.

Environmentalists protested rigorously against the Manapouri project in the early 1960s. They forced a compromise. The project progressed and, thanks to the

UPDATE FROM THE CLUBS Amberley Friendship Club Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month for interesting speakers and a good chat over a cuppa.

Coffee mornings are held monthly at local cafes and vineyards.

Most months a bus trip goes into Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Contact: Keith (President) 027 348 8611 or Sue (Secretary) 03 314 8659. All enquiries welcome.

Bishopdale Better Breathing Community Group. Come along and join us for light exercise and refreshments. Meets: at the Orauwhata Bishopdale Library and Community Centre on Tuesday mornings from 10.30am-11.30am.

Contact: Gary Syme (Group Leader) on phone 021 313903 or email garyhettysyme@xtra.co.nz.

Christchurch Red Hatters Club No set meetings but the Club has ‘gatherings’ which includes monthly events such as luncheons, dinners and an outing/activity. Contact: May Stuart on 027 4071909.

Christchurch Senior Citizens Club holds cards on Mondays from 12.30pm to 3.00pm and runs indoor bowls on Tuesdays from 12.45pm to 3.00pm. In addition the Activities Group has outings for meals, social days, visiting places of interest and bus trips throughout the year. Contact: Veronica on 383 4682 or 021 1187360 or Beth on 388 2375 or 027 2610493.

Lincoln Area Senior Citizens Club enjoyed or are looking forward to, the following: September - Grant Windsor spoke about entertaining children in Christchurch Hospital with the Radio Lollipop team.

October - A Travlon coach took us round the city to see the new sights, post-earthquake, followed by lunch in the Hoofbeats Restaurant at the Racecourse Hotel in Riccarton.

November - Our guest speaker was Pauline Noonan from Lincoln Community Care.

December - We will enjoy a Christmas lunch and entertainment at the Lincoln Bowling Club.

Meetings and outings are the 1st Tuesday of the month. Contact Evelyn 027 712 7195 or Gloria 027 434 6554.

Papanui Combined Probus Club Meet: 1st Tuesday of the month at 10.00am at the Papanui RSA, 1 Harewood Road. Good parking. Contact: Marie 03 3517708 or Sian 03 3590057.

Somerfield Garden Club Meet: Monday at 1.15pm at the Cashmere Club, South Colombo Street. Contact: Colleen Davis on 03 338 7117.

protestors, Lake Manapouri remained gorgeous.

The ocean-going Wanganella had carried thousands of passengers between Wellington and Sydney, over many years. In retirement it served as a hostel for workers on the Manapouri power scheme. Voluminous pay cheques enabled Terry to pay for his passage to England. Sea travel was declining. Flying was becoming cheaper, as larger and faster planes could carry more passengers. Terry went by ship.

Removing the Wanganella from Deep Cove when the project finished proved difficult. According to legend, the ship would not budge. Divers who went down found it stuck on a mountain of empty beer cans tossed overboard by the workers. Legends are not Sound; this one is Doubtful.

None So Blind There are two sides to every story Often no one more right than the other But the need for revenge, though acknowledged, Just tears apart brother from brother.

We may not comprehend what is happening As our safety is not compromised Yet the one thing we all see so clearly Is the terror and pain in their eyes.

We realise the grave situation And the need to take action in kind But responding by taking an eye for an eye Does nothing but make the world blind.

by Jan Beaumont

Social Connection Team – Age Concern Canterbury

Proof Read

Phone 366 0903 or www.ageconcerncan.org.nz For the Visiting Service ask for Rebecca Hopgood or Peter McGrath.

For Social Outings ask Hazel for Debbie Garraway or Robynn Walsh.

Deirdre Anna-Marie

18

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

Health promoter chit chat

by Anna Tillman, Health Promoter, Age Concern Canterbury.

In this summer edition of Keeping On, I thought I would have a brief chat around Falls Prevention. By joining in a suitable Falls Prevention class like our Steady As You Go classes, it will help you with your strength, balance and mobility (all the important aspects you need to work on to help prevent falls). It will also provide you with a wonderful supportive social network.

A fall can be described as an unexpected event in which an individual comes to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level and it has been found that in New Zealand

about 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 will have a fall every year. As we age various factors combine, like decreasing strength and balance alongside problems with our vision, possible nutritional deficiencies, environmental hazards and side effects from medication, which make us more likely to be at risk of a fall.

A focus on Falls Prevention can help to improve your safety and confidence and it is never too late, or early for that matter, to start working on your strength, balance and mobility so as you can aim to maintain your

independence and live your best life!

Here at Age Concern Canterbury, there are a number of Falls Prevention Steady As You Go classes running in the community and there just might be a class operating near you.

Participating in balance and strengthbuilding exercises can help prevent future falls. The Steady As You Go programme is a fun, weekly, and social exercise class for older people.

It helps to build strength and improve balance in a social environment.

A small cost of $2- $3 is involved to help with renting a space for the

Staying Safe Driving Courses play an important role

by Warren Campbell, NZ Police

You’re never too old to learn new things, as the saying goes.

I have been working with Wendy on the Staying Safe courses for around 3 years now and it is always a pleasure to see new people keen to enhance their skills and knowledge around driving.

Last year around 375 people were killed on New Zealand roads. Most of these deaths were preventable.

Education plays a big part in improving road safety and reducing the road toll. It is an honour to be able to play a small part in passing on some of what I know to course participants. They have likely been driving for 50 years or more, but if people can take away one or two new pieces of knowledge from the course which will help them be a better

We live in a fast-changing world and this includes our vehicles and our roading systems. We need to adapt with it to be able to survive.

We have an ambitious target of reducing the road toll by 30% by the year 2030. It is important that everyone plays their part in achieving that.

As 2023 draws closer to an end, I look forward to meeting lots more of you in 2024.

programme. If you are interested in joining a class and you are not sure where your nearest class is, have a look in this magazine for the Steady As You go class timetable or alternatively, please contact me and I can help you find it. Also, if you feel that there is a need in your community to set up a new class, I would love to hear from you as well.

As always, happy exercising, and I look forward to hearing from you with any queries, or suggestions. Phone: 03 331 7811 or email: anna.tillman@ ageconcerncan.co.nz

Steady As You Go Running is not for me, Nor is climbing a tree Light exercise is a start, Better than pulling a cart That's why SayGo is where I’ll be Written by Doreen from the Avonside/Linwood SAYGo group.

Steady As You Go (SAYGo) Falls Prevention – Exercise Classes in Canterbury (November 2023) A recent Staying Safe course held at ARVIDA in christchurch.

For more information about groups please phone Age Concern Canterbury 366 0903.

A koha of $2.00 is appreciated. Each class is a one - hour session.

CHRISTCHURCH CITY AND SOUTH Day /Time

driver then I feel like I have done a good job.

AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY FREE Staying Safe Refresher Driving Courses 10.00am to 2.00pm.

Light lunch provided (donation welcome) 2024 Tuesday, 30th January, Rolleston.

Wednesday, 14th February, Rangiora.

Friday, 23rd February, Ashburton.

Friday, 8th March, Age Concern Canterbury, Papanui.

Monday, 18th March, Burwood, Christchurch.

Tuesday, 19th March, Heathcote, Christchurch.

Course dates are continually being updated so please phone 03 366 0903 to register or to enquire about future courses.

AREA

Mon 10.00am St Albans Mon 10.00am Redcliffs Mon. 10.00am Redwood (19th Feb. ’24) Mon 10.30am Wainoni Mon 10.30am Hei Hei Mon.10.30am Parklands Mon 1.00pm Harewood (Waitlist) Mon 1.00pm Halswell Mon 2.00pm Harewood (Waitlist) Tues 9.30am Papanui (Waitlist) Tues. 10.00am South Brighton Tues. 10.00am St Albans (Waitlist) Tues. 10.00am Fendalton Tues. 10.00am Aranui (20th Feb. ’24) Tues 10.30am Bryndwr Tues. 1.00pm Burnside (Waitlist) Tues 1.30pm Hornby (Waitlist) Tues 2.00pm Waltham (Waitlist) Wed 11.00am Halswell (Waitlist) Wed 1.30pm Lincoln Wed. 2.00pm Papanui (Waitlist) Thurs 10.00am Heathcote Thurs 9.30am St Albans Thurs 10.30am Avonside/Linwood (Waitlist) Thurs. 11.00am Avonhead Fri 9.30am Hoon Hay (Waitlist) Fri 10.00am New Brighton (Waitlist) Fri 10.00am Opawa Fri. 11.00am Opawa NORTH CANTERBURY

Location of class

St Albans Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street.

Port Hills Uniting Church, Augusta St, Recliffs.

Redwood Library, 339 Main North Road, Redwood.

Celebration Centre, 81 Bickerton Street, Wainoni.

Wycola Ave Community Centre, Hei Hei, Christchurch.

Gym, Parklands Community Centre, 77 Queens Park Drive.

St James Church Hall, Harewood Road, airport end Te Hapua, Halswell Service Centre & Library, 341 Halswell Rd St James Church Hall, Harewood Rd, airport end Age Concern Canterbury, 24 Main North Road, Papanui.

South Brighton Community Centre, Beattie Street.

Lamb of God Community Centre, 21 Thames Street, St Albans.

St Barnabas Church Hall, Fendalton. Christchurch.

Salvation Army Centre, 32 Portsmouth Street, Aranui.

Bryndwr Chapel, 179 Idris Road, Bryndwr.

Wairakei Road Bible Church, 392 Wairakei Road, Burnside.

Community Care Centre, Goulding Avenue, Hornby.

Waltham Community Cottage, 201 Hastings St East.

Te Hapua, Halswell Service Centre & Library, 341 Halswell Rd. Lincoln Community Care, Lyttelton St, Lincoln.

Age Concern Canterbury, 24 Main North Road, Papanui.

Malt Works Villa Hall, Port Hills Rd, Heathcote.

St Albans Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, St Albans.

Holy Trinity Church, 168 Stanmore Road, Avonside/Linwood.

St Christophers Church, 244 Avonhead Road, Avonhead.

Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church Lounge, 5 Downing St. New Brighton Library – in the Pay and Display Room Opawa Community Church, cnr Opawa Rd and Aynsley Tce. Opawa Community Church, cnr Opawa Rd and Aynsley Tce.

Day time

AREA

Location of class

Tues 10.00am Tues. 11.00am Wed 10.00am Wed 11.00am Wed. 10.00am Thurs 10.30am Thurs 10.00am Thurs 1.30pm Thurs 1.30pm Thurs 2.00pm

Rangiora (Waitlist) Rangiora Rangiora Amberley Waikuku Beach (17th Jan. ’24) Rotherham Oxford Rangiora Pegasus Kaiapoi ($3.00)

RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora.

RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora.

Ballarat Retirement Village, 21 Ballarat Rd, Rangiora.

Amberley Library, RSA Room, Amberley.

Waikuku Beach Hall, 1 Bridge Street, Waikuku.

Rotherham Hotel, 42 George St, Rotherham.

Jaycee Hall, 56 Main Street. Oxford.

RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora.

Pegasus Community Centre, Cnr Pegasus Main and Tahuna St. Anglican Church, 23 Cass Street, Kaiapoi.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 19 New faces with recent staff changes at Age Concern Canterbury

In the past few months there have been some changes among the staff at Age Concern Canterbury.

In September we said goodbye to both Katie Faithful (Social Connections Service) and Liz

Barnard (Elder Abuse Response Service).

Katie was a popular co-ordinator of Host Outings for four and a half years, and greatly enjoyed her interaction with Age Concern

Canterbury clients and volunteers.

Liz contributed a great deal to Age Concern Canterbury in her two years here especially introducing a social group for our Rainbow community. We wish them both

Robynn Walsh Kia ora and hello everyone, My name is Robynn Walsh, and I am the new Social Connections Advisor for Host Outings. I have had a long and enjoyable career primarily in customer service roles in the private sector.

Over the last few years, with ageing relatives, my thoughts had turned more and more to a role where my efforts could make a positive difference to a life rather than a corporate bank account.

I am married to Paul and as a blended family we have two daughters and three sons, three granddaughters and two grandsons (alas three of them in the UK).

During our weekends we check in with my Mum (85) and Paul’s Great Aunt Trixie (99). We both enjoy watching sports - being very keen Warriors, Black Caps and Phoenix fans - oddly we’re not so much rugby fans (sorry).

I enjoy foreign films and a bit of

well in their new roles.

We have been very lucky to recruit two able replacements for Katie and Liz and Robynn and Stephanie introduce themselves below:

Stephanie Giles

Robynn Walsh, Social Connection Advisor, Host Outings.

writing when time and creative juices allow. I grew up in the countryside and we like to get out of town for walks and picnics during the summer.

Thanks for the great welcome and I am so looking forward to being a positive addition to this amazing team.

Hello everyone, I’m delighted to be working for Age Concern Canterbury, it’s such a reputable organisation and does some great things for our older population.

I’ve recently been employed as an Elder Abuse Response Clinician allowing me to utilise many years of experience as a registered nurse in mental health and older persons’ care.

I was born in Tokanui (Southland) and reared in Otago, living in Moeraki for most of my schooling years.

What a beautiful wee peninsula Moeraki was to grow up in. With the boulders a decent walk up the beach, the port with the rusty whaler’s wharf and safely anchored working fishing boats, the lighthouse with seals a plenty on the rocks and cavorting in the sea and penguins visible at dawn and dusk, two Kaik’s with gorgeous orange pebbles instead of sand, and the favoured domain that led to remnants of the man-made sea

Stephanie Giles, EARS Clinician, Age Concern Canterbury.

pools - it was a great place to induct and indulge the nomadic adventurer that I was.

Love and responsibility brought me back to Christchurch 3 years ago to support my ageing father. It’s such a privilege to be able to give back at this stage in life and the bonus - I get to spend time with my one and only offspring, my lovely adult son.

Get to know our volunteers: Elsie Walkinshaw You've heard it before: "The busier the person, the more they get done."

Well, that's certainly true for our amazing volunteers at Age Concern Canterbury. They are always on the go, helping us and other organisations with various activities and services. Trying to pin them down for a Keeping On profile always proves to be difficult.

So how do we get to know them better? By asking them some fun and fast questions, of course! This is a popular way to interview famous people, like movie stars, sports heroes, and politicians. But we think our volunteers are just as awesome and deserve some spotlight too. So let's get to know them better with some quick-fire questions.

Our first volunteer is Elsie Walkinshaw who volunteers as a visitor and helps with providing budget advice to some of our clients. Keeping On Editor, Deirdre McGrath, managed to catch Elsie for five minutes…

When did you begin volunteering for Age Concern Canterbury and why?

“WelI, I didn’t really come in to volunteer. The funny thing is I had just finished volunteering at Lifeline about three years ago and I was enquiring about social outings. Somehow Dianne and I were talking at cross purposes, and she was intrigued by

Elsie receives her QSM from Dame Patsy Reddy.

my life experience. I ended up being corralled into volunteering and I am so glad it worked out that way.”

If you could travel to any country in the world, where would you go and why?

“It may sound strange, but I am being deadly honest. I have been all around the world and I came to New Zealand in 1965 (from England) and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I am staying put.”

What is the best advice you ever received?

“Mind your own business – it’s not your problem. If people didn’t pick up others’ dirt, the world would be a better place.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“Reading in bed” If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and what would you talk about?

“Cliff Richard, Eric Morecombe an Ernie Wise.” Cliff Richard because he may be my cousin. He and my father and brother all share the same name, Harold Arthur Webb and it’s a family name, so he could be related, and I’d like to find out about that.

I once shared a train carriage with Eric Morecambe on a trip across Manchester and I have never laughed so much. He kept the whole carriage entertained. I think it would be a fun meal with the three of them.”

What is something you are proud of but never get to brag about?

“My QSM (Queens Service Medal) investiture four years ago. It was such a wonderful day. The whole experience of travelling to Wellington, having a private meeting with Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House and the formal investiture. It was very special.”

Tea or Coffee?

“Oh tea – I never drink coffee at all.”

What is something you wish you knew how to do but never learned?

“Mental arithmetic.

Although I have taught debt management and help with budget advice, I do all the mathematics with a calculator.

My mother died when I was two and I spent 6 years in a very cruel orphanage.

Each morning they would set a mental problem and if you didn’t get it right you would be beaten.”

Favourite movie, book, or song?

The Shawshank Redemption – its such a great movie.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Age Concern Canterbury?

“I love meeting people, allowing them to talk and listening to them. It is very special.”

Thank you so much Elsie for making time to answer these questions and thank you also for everything you do for Age Concern Canterbury.

20

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

Crossword Answers (#231101) CLUES: (Legend: fl= combo due; * = cryptic due; §=sounds like; oo=anagram Across: 1. Afternoon naps, 8. Eke, 9. Traveller, 10. Midwives, 11. Taxi, 13.

Aliped, 14. Chaste, 14. Chaste (chassed), 16. Rage, 17. Neomycin, 20.

Harmonica, 21. End, 22. Psychologists Down: 1. Abeam, 2. Tread Gingerly, 3. Retainer, 4. Orated, 5. Noel, 6. All Day Suckers, 7. Sardine, 12. Wham Bang, 13. Airship, 15. Refill, 18. Nodes, 19. Both (delete ‘er’ from bother), 19. Both

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Two Summer must-dos at Okains Bay Museum WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2023 10AM – 12PM Empower Church

140-146 Springfield Rd St Albans, Christchurch Tickets $10 + booking fee

Guest artists from CSO string quartet.

Ticket price includes morning tea.

Christmas at the Museum After a winter of upgrades, Okains Bay Museum will open its third annual Christmas at the Museum from 3 December to 13 January 2024. Visitors will be transported back to a Christmas night over 100 years ago, with uniquely designed trees decorated by talented groups and individual artists from throughout Canterbury. You can even vote for your favourite!

Waitangi Day Commemorations In partnership with Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata, the museum will cohost Waitangi Day Commemorations on Tuesday, 6 February 2024. This is the longest-running Waitangi Day commemoration in Te Waipounamu

and is an iconic event on the national calendar. In 2024, the day will be run as a free community event to ensure that everyone can participate.

Two perfect reasons to add Okains Bay to your family travel itinerary over summer!

Okains Bay Museum is located at 1146 Okains Bay Road, Banks Peninsula, 90 minutes from Christchurch and 25 minutes from Akaroa.

It is open Thursday to Monday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Free entry for children under 13 when accompanied by an adult. Adults $15.00. Student Card, Community Service Card and Hāpai Access Card holders $10.00.

Visit cantabrainerschoir.nz or our Facebook page

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR SOCIAL OUTINGS Hosts, drivers and drivers’ assistants needed for our well-loved Social Outings Service.

Drivers transport clients in our minivans to a morning or afternoon tea in and around Christchurch, supporting them to make new friends.

No special licence required. Casual basis.

Hosts provide a morning or afternoon tea on a monthly or casual basis to a group of 5-9 clients.

Drivers’ assistants support the drivers and help clients.

Please contact Debbie on 331 7814 for more information.

Email dgarraway@ageconcerncan.org.nz

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 21

Accessibility at Council Recreation and Sport Centres The new Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sport website has a page dedicated to letting customers know about the accessible features available within the centres.

The page outlines the number of accessible carparks, wheelchair access, accessible toilets and changing rooms. It also has helpful information for carers, travel information, temperatures of the pools, any specified quiet times, if there are hearing loops and what to do if you have special requirements.

Having good information before going on a visit to any centre can make a big difference to your experience. It can help you or your carer prepare and understand what equipment and assistance will be available to you when you arrive.

Each centre is a little different. As

new centres come on board, more accessible features are included into the build. For example, all the pool entrances at Graham Condon, Taiora QEII, Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool, and the upcoming Matatiki Hornby

Centre, have full ramp access.

This means there is no need to use a hoist to enter the pool - you can use one of the wet wheelchairs or you can walk into the pool with the help of a rail.

If you have any accessibility needs, you can phone Christchurch City Council on 03 941 8999 or look on the accessibility page on the website: recandsport.ccc.govt.nz/ accessibility

Vitamin D, a vital nutrient for bone health, helps prevent osteoporosis Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone health, as it helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from the food we eat. Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for building and maintaining strong bones. Without enough vitamin D, the bones can become weak, brittle, and prone to fractures. This condition is called osteoporosis, which means "porous bones".

Osteoporosis is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide, especially older adults and postmenopausal women. It can cause pain, disability, and increased risk of falls and fractures. Osteoporosis can also affect the quality of life and increase the mortality rate. Therefore, preventing and treating osteoporosis is important for bone health and overall well-being.

One of the ways to prevent osteoporosis is to ensure you have an adequate intake of vitamin D.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults up to age 70 is 600 international units (IU), and for people 71 and older, it is 800 IU. However, many people do not get enough vitamin D from their diet and exposure to sunlight. Some factors that can limit vitamin D production and absorption include: - Living in areas with less sunlight or wearing sunscreen or clothing that blocks the sun - Having dark skin, which reduces

VOLUNTEER VISITORS NEEDED Could you spare a little time to become a volunteer visitor?

Many older people in your community are lonely and isolated as they receive few or no regular visitors. Age Concern Canterbury’s Visiting Service helps reduce the loneliness by providing friendship and companionship through a volunteer visitor.

We provide full training and support and ask that you commit for at least 12 months, one hour per week.

If you’d like to make a real difference to an older person’s life please contact Rebecca or Peter at Age Concern Canterbury on 366 0903.

the amount of vitamin D the skin can make - Being older, which lowers the efficiency of the skin to produce vitamin D - Having certain medical conditions or taking certain medications that affect vitamin D metabolism - Eating a diet low in vitamin D-rich foods, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, cheese, and fortified foods To overcome these challenges, some people may need to take vitamin D supplements to meet their daily needs. Vitamin D supplements can be taken alone or in combination with calcium supplements, which can also help prevent osteoporosis. However, before taking any supplements, it is advisable to consult a doctor and check the blood levels of vitamin D. Taking too much vitamin D can be harmful and cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, kidney stones, and calcification of soft tissues. The

upper limit of vitamin D intake for adults is 4,000 IU per day.

In addition to vitamin D, other lifestyle factors can also help prevent osteoporosis, such as: - Eating a balanced diet rich in calcium, protein, and other nutrients - Doing regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises - Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption - Getting adequate sleep and managing stress - Following the treatment plan for osteoporosis, if diagnosed, which may include medications, hormone therapy, or other interventions Vitamin D is an important factor for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. By getting enough vitamin D from the sun, food, or supplements, we can help our bones stay strong and healthy throughout our lives.

Osteoporosis New Zealand Our vision is better bones and fewer fractures for New Zealanders.

Our mission is to make this happen by engagement with the public, health professionals, policymakers and the private sector, through programmes of awareness, advocacy and education, to prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis.

Phone 04 499 4862 or Email info@osteoporosis.org.nz Osteoporosis New Zealand, PO Box 688, Wellington 6140

22

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

To protect yourself appoint a person you trust to be your attorney At some stage in our lives, we will all be in the position of not being able to communicate decisions on our own behalf. It is crucial that we all give some thought to this scenario, even if we are currently upwardly mobile and have total capacity. The best way to protect yourself and your property is to appoint someone you trust to be your Attorney. The person or persons you appoint will have authority to look after your personal care and welfare and property affairs should you lose capacity to make or communicate decisions yourself.

One of the big questions is “Who do you choose to act on your behalf?”

Obviously you need to be confident that you can trust them completely, that they will act in your best interests and, most importantly, that they have the necessary skills for managing your affairs.

So who do you choose for the job?

A lot of couples firstly appoint each other as Attorney, as they trust their partner who is generally familiar

with how your affairs should be dealt with. However, what happens if your partner also loses capacity or they pass away ahead of you? That is when the appointment of a Successor Attorney comes into play.

For personal care and welfare, ideally you would want to choose someone who is close to you, who understands your day to day needs and someone you communicate with well and is compassionate to your needs and wellbeing. Preferably, someone who is familiar with your intentions should you need to go into care or become unwell.

For property, there are generally financial and property matters that will need to be handled so it is important that you chose someone familiar with, or capable of taking these matters on.

It may be that you have a very capable son or daughter who, for example, is an accountant, but they may have absolutely no idea or close connection with you in regards to

Needles

your day to day needs. However, they may make a wonderful Property Attorney!

Equally, you may have the most amazing daughter who visits you regularly and helps you with Doctors visits and other day to day personal tasks but they may in fact be hopeless with their own financial affairs. It really pays to think about this carefully and make sure that you “have your ducks lined up” and also make sure you check with the person or persons you want to appoint to ensure that they agree to their appointment!

At Pier Law we have a highly experienced elder law team so do not hesitate to contact us if you would A like to discuss your needs.

Gentle and effective exercise while sitting watching TV Used under feet and hands, the Aircycle exerciser is a simple way to relieve joint pain, increase circulation, reduce swollen ankles and cramps, help restless legs, strengthen muscles, and improve balance and mobility. It also aids in the prevention of blood clots when sitting for long periods.

Aircycle provides gentle exercise without weight-bearing or strenuous activity. It’s simple to use, soft on feet and hands and easily deflated for carrying in a pocket or purse.

Use it from the comfort of your chair while sitting – reading, having coffee, watching TV or travelling.

A woman from Te Horo invented this simple device to help relieve her husband’s severe arthritic pain and swollen ankles. His arthritis carers were so impressed with the relief and increased joint mobility he experienced they asked her to make more for other sufferers.

Gay from Rotorua says, "Aircycle is better than the information says.

The pain in my knees has gone and, although I use a walker, I don’t need it around the house anymore. I can move more freely and have much less pain in both my hands and feet.

My feet are warmer too and now I don’t need bed socks which I’ve worn for years."

Sam from Oraki wrote, “I’ve suffered for years with sciatica. It’s gone completely when I use the Aircycle.”

Mrs Cooksley from Wellington advised, “I’m diabetic and had an ulcer on my leg which wouldn’t heal.

After 7 weeks using my Aircycle it was gone! My Doctor is recommending it to other patients. The pumping motion is addictive and comforting. I use it while knitting.”

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Gentle exercise while watching TV or

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 23

Clichés are incredibly useful shorthand, says Pete Clichés are wrongly attacked, says Pete Wolstencroft. In fact, they're an incredibly useful shorthand Many years ago, when I was a rookie journalist, I sent a travel pitch to a major American newspaper.

The inevitable rejection came back dripping with contempt. The reason?

I had described my experience of visiting a remote Portuguese village using the phrase: “It was like going back in time 100 years.” Such clichés were not the stock in trade of that august publication.

Yet are clichés so bad? In the film industry we see them all the time.

That shaven-headed, muscular bloke with an impressive array of body art is never going to be a leading cardio-thoracic surgeon. We can often predict that the mousy librarian

You can lead a horse to water.

will take off her specs, let down her chignon and reveal her inner vamp.

These tropes are, if nothing else, concise.

The same thing applies to writing, but for some reason the reading community feels aggrieved when faced with one of these images.

If you fly into Madrid at the end of summer, the high Spanish meseta looks exactly like a patchwork quilt.

Wheat fields strewn with poppies,

Ali’s Home Health Care locally owned and operated Ali’s Home Health Care has been Canterbury-owned and operated for over 20 years.

In-home health care is more than just a job for us, we take time to match you and your family with our carers. We work with clients and their whānau to find out how we can best support that person to lead a fulfilling life.

Often, clients may not wish to enter residential living, so we ensure they can stay in their homes, retain their independence, and live the life they deserve. Clients’ whānau need to know their loved ones are safe, treated with respect, and looked after by people who genuinely care.

We communicate closely with our clients' whānau and are always available for a call if someone's family has questions, would like more information about our care, or just wants a quick and friendly chat.

We offer a full range of Personal Support, and our Services are designed to help with life’s enjoyment and daily tasks. Services are completely tailored to meet each client’s individual needs, they may

include the following: • Assistance with dressing and undressing • Assistance washing or drying hair or shaving • ‘Sleepover and wakeover’ night support • Medication oversight • Nursing cares • Meal preparation • Feeding • Assistance with showering, bathing and toileting We pride ourselves on helping people to live their best lives, whether that is a walk on the beach, a trip to the mall, or enjoying an ice-cream.

This is the foundation Ali’s has been built on and why our founder left mainstream home health care companies behind to create Ali’s Home Health Care. It is also why our founder employed staff whose main focus was on the person and their wellbeing, not just the task.

Our carers take the time to ensure you and your loved ones do not feel vulnerable or isolated, that they feel A safe and ARE safe.

“Let us help you live safely and independently in your own home.” Services include: * Showering * Dressing * Sleep Overs * Nursing Care * In-home respite care * Cleaning * Meal preparation * Laundry assistance * Shopping * Outings

Phone 03 379 3131 or email homehelp@aliscare.co.nz

olive groves and vineyards dot the landscape. The quilt analogy is perfect. Yet I can only imagine many editors come across that phrase and read no further.

In remote villages in Portugal and Greece, where the serious business of simply sitting in the main square may well take up an entire morning, it really is like going back in time 100 years. That permanent connectivity that some of us value so highly is noticeable only by its absence. The pace of life is much slower. Indeed, the very values that govern our lives seem to be entirely different.

A couple of years ago, I went back to that same remote village (Estoi for those who might be interested) and had a pleasant, wine-infused lunch in a stationery shop that doubled as a restaurant. I took my time and the meal lasted a good two hours. When I left, the same people who had been sipping their drinks when I arrived were still there. It was clear they were

under no pressure to vacate their places.

Clichés are a handy way of delivering precise imagery without being overly verbose. That is why they have survived. The perceived need to dispense with them creates writing that is convoluted and can be pretentious.

If a film introduces us to somebody with a haircut that is twenty years out of date, who wears thick, black framed glasses and whose romantic life is hopeless, we are free to assume that we are in the company of a geek and when that turns out to be true, we feel vindicated in our assumption.

So if you ever go to Greece and see a phalanx of women in widows’ weeds and old men nursing ouzo in the shade of a plane tree, can you deny the proposition that it is like going back in time 100 years? Maybe Sam Goldwyn was right when he said, “Let’s have some new clichés.”

(Source: www.theoldie.co.uk)

TRADES DIRECTORY Book your Trade size ad (40mm x 65mm, cost $51.00 + GST) in our February 2024 Keeping On. Contact Anna-Marie on 331 7804.

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Phone Theresa on 352 8208 or 027 2218616

24

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On

The dementia journey - thank you for being a friend Thank-you for Being a Friend is a 1970’s song written by Andrew Gold.

The sentiments behind the song are thanksgiving and gratitude for a true friend - one who intentionally chooses to stand by you and support you. The Dementia Journey can be very isolating, given that dementia is a progressive illness so a person with dementia‘s needs will change continually. At each stage along the dementia journey being a friend may look slightly different.

The diagnosis.

Hearing that you have a diagnosis of dementia can really “throw the cat amongst the pigeons.” Often the person with dementia - or those closest to them might have had an idea that something was amiss for a while – but hearing those words for the first time can really turn your world upside down. Having a friend is

Being a friend is important to those on a dementia journey.

of vital importance at this time. Here are some tips for being a good friend to a person with dementia at the time of their diagnosis.

1. Stay in touch.

Because communication may have

Mature Moves is about helping people If you are considering moving into a smaller home, perhaps a retirement village or residential care and you feel you could use some help Mature Moves could be your answer.

It is a Christchurch based company with local people helping older people to downsize and move when the need arises.

They understand that sometimes your family are not positioned to help as they might like to or have time restraints. True to their motto ‘to treat you like they treat their own families’, the team at Mature Moves can pack up, declutter and move all of your belongings and furniture to your new home.

Then they unpack and set up your new home to the very last detail, just the way you like it.

Decluttering can be a bit overwhelming. However, it is made much easier with some understanding help. Step-by-step you can have

things sorted and organised with minimal fuss and stress.

Along with this wonderful service, they can also organise selling things you no longer require, or if you desire gifting them to family or charities.

They can also clean homes inside and out, and complete the gardening to get houses ready for sale.

Mature Moves is about helping people. You let them know what help you need and they will set about showing you just what they can do to help you.

A visit and consultation is free of charge, with no obligation to use their services. However, if you feel they may be of assistance a quotation can be provided for your consideration.

You can phone Mature Moves on 0800 777 214 to talk about your move.

We are sure Mike and the team can help you to lighten the load and make your move a smooth transition. A

Are you thinking of moving?

Could you use some help?

We can help you ....

Downsize Declutter Pack Up Relocate Unpack Storage

Setting up your new home Preparing your house for sale Cleaning: inside & out Rubbish removal/gardening Selling & gifting items Estate Clearance

Phone Mike on

0800 777 214 Mobile 021 0837 8251

Email: info@maturemoves.co.nz www.maturemoves.co.nz

its challenges, people with dementia can quickly begin to feel isolated, especially if friends and family are weary about talking about it. You may need to make an intentional decision to keep engaging in conversation.

It is important to do this to help the person with dementia to still feel included and valued.

2. Educate yourself.

Knowledge is power! If you have an understanding of how dementia might affect your friend, you are more likely to respond to changes that might occur along the journey in an appropriate manner. Obtaining education at the beginning of this journey will stand you in good stead as it progresses. Check out the Dementia Canterbury website for education opportunities and resources.

3. Lend a listening ear.

People respond to change in different ways. Listening and validating their feelings are excellent things to do to help a person with dementia work through the issues facing them at the time of diagnosis.

Give them an opportunity to say what is on their mind and be patient and understanding if it takes time.

4. Don’t take things personally.

A person with dementia might make some mistakes when communicating or misunderstand what is being said. They may be more socially disinhibited or aggressive. This may be surprising and hurtful. Try not to take it personally, it is the disease talking.

5. Take each day as it comes.

Accept each day as it comes, we all have “off days”. Please don’t let that put you off. They may well just be responding to increased stress, tiredness, and confusion.

6. Support independence for as long as possible.

Help them to continue with the activities they enjoy. You may need to do the activity with them or prompt them, or it may be necessary to provide or arrange transport to and from the venue. The adage is true’ “use it or lose it” so keep encouraging them to “use it” for as long as possible.

In the middle of the journey 1. Continue with all the above!

2. Remain committed.

You may have been friends for a long time- Keep it up! If you maintain regular contact, it will help your friend with dementia maintain a sense of identity and self-esteem.

Continue to include them in social activities.

3. Reminisce Use photos, music, and old movies to reminisce and enjoy going over the old stories together. A person with dementia may struggle with short term memory – but can often remember things that happened years ago. Enjoy retelling those stories together.

4. Communicate clearly.

Its rude to talk over someone or talk about them as though they are not in the room! We would feel offended if it happened to us and so would a person with dementia. They may very well still be able to pick up and understand the feeling of the conversation, so it’s better not to assume they can’t.

Show acceptance instead.

5. Include the Care Partner Think about the person who is the main care partner for your friend.

Offer to spend time with your friend so that their care partner can go out for an hour or two of respite.

At the end of the journey.

1. Keep on keeping on!

If your friend has transferred to a care facility – keep visiting. It may be that they are feeling vulnerable and scared in a new environment and your presence - even if they can no longer remember your name or no longer recognise you, your presence may well be the calming balm that they need, especially if everything is new and different.

2. Continue to support their Care Partner.

This will still be a stressful time for them. Offering to spend time with your friend can give them some valuable time to recharge their batteries or to share their feelings regarding how the dementia journey impacts on them.

3. Pay close attention to their body language.

When verbal communication has declined, body language also gives clues as to how the person with dementia is feeling. Often body language is a giveaway when a person is experiencing pain or distress. Use your knowledge of your friend to identify any “signals.”

The dementia journey is one in which a person and their family will definitely need a friend, so thank you for putting yourself in that position for them. This Maori proverb says it how it is. “He waka eke noa.” We are all in this together.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 25

Colouring for mindfulness: how to relax and unleash your creativity

by Deirdre McGrath

Do you remember the joy of colouring as a child?

The feeling of being absorbed in a world of colours, shapes, and patterns, and letting your imagination run free? Well, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy colouring. In fact, colouring can be a great way to practice mindfulness, reduce stress, and improve your mental health.

Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to the present moment, without judgment or distraction.

It can help you cope with negative emotions, enhance your focus and concentration, and boost your happiness and well-being. Colouring is a simple and fun way to practice mindfulness, as it allows you to focus on the process of creating something beautiful, rather than the outcome or the worries of the day.

According to some studies, colouring can have similar effects to meditation, such as lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, and increasing alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation and creativity. Colouring can also stimulate the parts of the brain that control vision, motor skills, and co-ordination, and activate the reward system, which releases dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters that make us feel good.

There are many benefits of colouring for mindfulness, such as: - It can help you relax and unwind after a stressful day.

- It can improve your mood and self-esteem by giving you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

- It can spark your creativity and imagination by allowing you to experiment with different colours, patterns, and styles.

- It can enhance your memory and learning by stimulating the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is involved in forming and recalling memories.

- It can foster your social and emotional skills by sharing your colouring pages with others, giving and receiving feedback, and expressing your feelings and thoughts through art.

If you want to start colouring for mindfulness, you don't need any special equipment or skills. All you need is some paper, pencils, crayons, markers, or

whatever you prefer, and some colouring pages that appeal to you - you can even buy special adult colouring books.

The most important thing is to enjoy the process and have fun. Here are some tips to make the most of your colouring experience: - Choose a colouring page that suits your mood and interest. You can go for simple or complex designs, depending on your preference and level of challenge.

- Find a comfortable and quiet place to colour, where you won't be disturbed or distracted. You can also play some soothing music or nature sounds to enhance your relaxation.

- Set aside some time to colour, whether it's 10 minutes or an hour. Try to make it a regular habit, like a daily or weekly ritual.

- Breathe deeply and calmly, and pay attention to the sensations of colouring, such as the sound of the pencil on the paper, the feel of the colours, and the sight of the patterns.

- Don't worry about making mistakes or following the rules. There is no right or wrong way to colour.

You can use any colours you like, mix and match, or even leave some spaces blank. The point is to express yourself and have fun.

- Be kind and gentle with yourself. Don't judge or criticise your colouring. Appreciate your effort and your unique style. You can also compliment yourself on your progress and your achievements.

So grab your pencils and paper, and start colouring today! You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it and how good it makes you feel.

What is an Echo?

An Echocardiogram (Echo) is an ultrasound test that looks at the function of your heart. If your doctor hears a murmur, they may refer you for an Echo.

This is one of the best ways to find: The size and shape of your heart How your heart moves The heart’s pumping strength If the heart valves are working correctly If you need an Echo or are waiting for one, try our Echo finder at listentoyourheart.co.nz to find your nearest provider.

never miss a beat.

listentoyourheart.co.nz © 2023 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All Rights Reserved. NZ-2023-114

26

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY IS LOOKING FOR

ENERGETIC AND RELIABLE CLEANERS Energetic and reliable cleaners are required to clean houses for older adults living in the community.

Needed in all areas Casual work only. Payment is on an hourly rate.

Drivers licence and an appropriate level of fitness is required.

For more information please phone Liz /Deb on 366-0903

Keep fit with gardening Gardening helps keep us fit. It works and stretches our muscles. However, it can be hard on other parts of the body, especially our back and knees.

Don’t overdo it!!

Here is some advice from Therapy Professionals friendly physiotherapists on how to keep fit with gardening and avoid the physical drawbacks.

General advice: • start with short bursts of 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week. If you feel okay after this, gradually increase the time (don’t double it!), • change activities after 10 minutes, • keep a bottle of water with you and sip regularly (dehydration causes headaches and tiredness), • avoid gardening at the hottest time of the day in full sun, • remember your hat and sunscreen.

Advice to save your back and knees: • regularly stop and stretch (especially your back and knees), • kneel on a cushion, • kneel or get on your hands and knees while doing activities, rather than bend over, • kneel for maximum of 15 minutes, then change activity, • install raised beds, • if you have trouble getting up and down from the ground, use a ‘kneeler’ with handles, or a solid chair for

Meals on Wheels needs 80 more volunteer drivers in Christchurch support getting up and down – and for somewhere to sit.

• do all jobs as close to your body as possible e.g. weed with your hands close to you, don’t reach out, • carry all loads close to your body, • don’t overfill bags you have to carry, e.g. weeds, compost – use a wheelbarrow or sack barrow, • when raking or sweeping use your legs in a ‘lunge’ rocking movement– it’s easier on your back than stretching and bending, • for sore or disabled hands get gardening equipment to suit.

If you want more advice on gardening safely as you age, Therapy Professionals friendly physios and occupational therapists can help, contact us on; Phone: 377 5280.

Email: admin@tpl.nz www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz A

What is Meals on Wheels?

The Meals on Wheels service supports older adults and people with illness or disability who are living at home and struggle to provide healthy meals for themselves. The service provides a hot, nutritious midday meal on weekdays along with a friendly smile from a volunteer meal deliverer.

New Zealand Red Cross recruits, trains and supports the volunteer drivers who deliver Meals on Wheels in forty-two towns and cities across New Zealand, including Christchurch, Kaiapoi and Rangiora. Red Cross has a 70-year history with Meals on Wheels, and it is an important part of our work in New Zealand communities.

What would I do as a Meals on Wheels volunteer?

You start your shift between 10:30am and 11.00am by going to a meal pick-up point. There you pick up the meals for your delivery run and

deliver the meals, often having a brief chat with meal recipients at the door.

It generally takes 60-90 minutes to deliver all your meals.

Most of our drivers deliver meals once a fortnight on a regular day of their choice. There is flexibility however, so if you would like to deliver once a week, or once a month we can ensure your shifts suit your lifestyle. A petrol subsidy is provided.

What are the benefits of helping out?

Our volunteers are wonderful people who love their role in their local community. For some people, the only social connection they have each day is with the New Zealand Red Cross volunteer who delivers their meal. Our volunteers say they feel like they are making a difference every day.

How do I find out more or sign up?

Phone Janine on 027 200 1293 or e-mail CHCHMOW@redcross.org.nz A

IS AGEING, DISABILITY, INJURY OR ILLNESS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT?

Can you spare a couple of hours a week or fortnight to help people in your local community?

Therapy Professionals Ltd’s physio, speech language, music and occupational therapists and dietitians can make life easier.

New Zealand Red Cross needs volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers in Christchurch on weekdays around late morning/lunchƟme. Currently we urgently need drivers in the following suburbs: Edgeware, St Albans, Shirley, Parklands, Aranui, North Brighton, New Brighton, Southshore, Sumner, Redcliffs, Huntsbury, Opawa, St Mar ns, Woolston, Sydenham, Spreydon, Upper Riccarton, Riccarton and Papanui.

We can help.

We come to you.

Apply online: Redcross.org. nz/VolunteerMealsOnWheels.

Use the online filter to select “Canterbury” and then a meal pick up locaƟon near you.

For more information contact: Telephone: (03) 377 5280 Fax: (03) 377 5281 admin@tpl.nz www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

Volunteers needed For Meals on Wheels

Find out more or apply over the phone: Call Janine on 027 200 1293

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 27

Ready Money, a nickname indicating great wealth

by Mike Crean

The nickname “Ready Money” would surely indicate great wealth.

It applied to wealthy landowner William Robinson in the middle-tolate 1800s.

Ready Money Robinson was an exalted figure in Canterbury. Many people still recognise his nickname but perhaps few know how it came about. Christchurch historian Geoffrey Rice explains it in his book “Coward – Christchurch’s Controversial Coroner”. Englishborn John Coward was the Christchurch coroner from the 1860s to the 1880s.

Delving into Canterbury history, Rice uncovered the background to Robinson’s nickname. He writes: “Robinson gained his nickname

Ready Money Robinson.

in 1856 when he arrived in Nelson

Aspire Canterbury - inspiring independent living Aspire Canterbury has moved to a wellness centre supporting local people to live their best life.

This Centre is called the BrainTree Wellness Centre, 70 Langdons Road, Papanui, Christchurch.

Aspire supports a broad range of people with disabilities and impairments.

A charitable trust established in 1982, it assists children and adults living with neurological and/or physical disabilities and impairments. It provides the following services: • Disability Information Services: Connecting people to community services and navigation of disability and health care systems.

• Total Mobility Scheme: Discounted taxi fares for those eligible.

• Shop and hire of mobility equipment: Over 400+ mobility products to remove barriers for everyday living.

• Mobile Service: Taking services out to you in the community.

It makes a difference to the communities it serves in living a life full of purpose and meaning. Within the BrainTree Wellness Centre, you will also find Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson’s Canterbury, Dementia Canterbury, Stroke Foundation, and Southern Music Therapy.

The centre has a couple of seminar rooms, a studio, and a subsidised social area/whole food café allowing individuals to have an experience while they visit the charitable trust/s.

The centre is available for use by the wider local community groups, providing a ‘place-based’ approach focused on engagement to access services, benefiting the people it serves.

So, come along to BrainTree, we’ll A see you there!

inspiring independent living ASPIRE is a not-for-profit organisation, established over 40 years ago ASPIRE CANTERBURY CANTERBURY ŝƐ Ă ŶŽƚͲĨŽƌͲƉƌŽĮƚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ͕ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ ϯϬͲLJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ͘

ŝƐĂďŝůŝƚLJ /ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ Ͳ ƵŶďŝĂƐĞĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͕ QShop and hire of assistive technology. ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉ LJŽƵ͘ Total Mobility Scheme - 75% off Taxi’s up to a maximum QofDŽďŝůĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ Ͳ ŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘ $70 (terms and conditions apply) dŽƚĂů DŽďŝůŝƚLJ ^ĐŚĞŵĞ Ͳ ϱϬй Žī dĂdžŝΖƐ ƵƉ ƚŽ ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ Ψϯϱ QMobile Services - connecting with the community. ;dĞƌŵƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ĂƉƉůLJͿ͘ Information Service - unbiased ^ŚŽƉ ĂŶĚ ,ŝƌĞ ŽĨ ĂƐƐŝƐƟǀĞ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ͘ QDisability information, we are here to listen and help you.

tĞ ŶŽǁ ƐƚŽĐŬ ĐŽŶƟŶĞŶĐĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͊ Q džĐĞůůĞŶƚ ůĞĂŬĂŐĞ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐŬŝŶ ĚƌLJŶĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƵƐĞƌ͘ Q ŝƐĐƌĞĞƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ Q &ƌĞĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ͘

Contact us face to face or over the phone for a chat about your needs.

Ph: 03 366 6189.P FREEPHONE 347 242. Ph: (TOTAL > 03 366 6189 0800 • FREEPHONE 0800 347 242MOBILITY) 03 366 P > (TOTAL MOBILITY) 03 366 909370• Langdons 314 Worcester St,Papanui.

Linwood,Christchurch.

Christchurch 9093.

BrainTree Wellness Centre, Road,

E > admin@aspirecanterbury.org.nz • W > www.aspirecanterbury.org.nz www.aspirecanterbury.org.nz Email: admin@aspirecanterbury.org.nz

flush with funds from the sale of a large sheep station in Australia.”

Looking to buy land, Robinson set his sights on “the huge Cheviot Hills Station in North Canterbury,” Rice adds.

The station was owned by the Crown and leased by John Caverhill. Shrewdly, Robinson “deposited 10,000 pounds with the Commissioner for Crown Lands and was able to pull the rug from under Caverhill”, Rice says.

For Caverhill had failed to stock the land to the amount required by the lease arrangement. So, Caverhill had to leave. Robinson immediately stumped up with the money and Cheviot Hills became his.

It was not all harsh for Caverhill, though. Robinson already held the lease on the smaller Hawkswood Station. The two men swapped leases.

“This was the biggest land transaction in New Zealand to that

date, and people marvelled that Robinson had so much ‘ready’ cash,” Rice says.

Robinson freeholded Cheviot Hills within 20 years, for the grand sum of 31,455 pounds.

He expanded it to be the second largest run in Canterbury.

So wealthy was Robinson that he rented a mansion in Christchurch with “a large staff of servants”.

Rice continues: “Robinson lived in considerable style at his Cheviot Hills homestead and his rented town house in Christchurch.” He died in 1889, aged 75.

It was in his Christchurch mansion that one of Canterbury’s most famous murders was committed. Courage, the Coroner, led the inquest of the crime. But that’s another story!

(Professor Dr Geoffrey W Rice retired in 2012 as Head of History at the University of Canterbury.

He has written many books on Christchurch history.)

A family run ready meal service in Christchurch Kai 2 You is a family run Ready Meal business servicing the Christchurch area run by husband and wife team Adam and Jamie Pack.

Kai2You delivers Ready Made Meals fresh to your door twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays, or you’re welcome to pick up your meals from our shop at 86 Harris Crescent Papanui, (our menus change weekly). All meals cost $14 and $8 for our puddings. We also sell delicious gourmet handmade pies.

Both Adam and Jamie are passionate about delivering great

nutritious food and service to people who are unable to cook, are time poor, in need of a little extra help in the kitchen, or just want a night off cooking.

The best way to order is via our web site www.kai2you.co.nz Alternately you phone 0223891166 or email us at orders@kai2you. co.nz Our shop is located at 86 Harris Crescent in Papanui with plenty of parking out the front. We look A forward to hearing from you.

NOVEMBER 2023

28 Keeping On

48 hours in Geraldine

by June Peka

Check out our: • New Books purchased EVERY month • Huge range of Fiction and Non-fiction • Awesome selection of Children and Young Adult books • Room for Hire Open: Mon.to Fri. 10am-4pm, Sat. 10am-12:30pm, Sun. 2pm-4pm 91 Main Road, Redcliffs. Christchurch. www.redcliffspubliclib.wixsite. com/redcliffslibrary. Facebook.com/RedcliffsPublicLibraryInc

Your personal driving service for Christchurch and Selwyn Getting out and about and doing the things you have always done are important parts of keeping independent. Freedom Drivers offer a safe, trustworthy and caring service that is about much more than just transport.

While we are well-known in the North Island, we have expanded into the South Island. Dean Stewart has been very busy running the Christchurch North franchise for 3 years and Priya Arora has recently launched our Rolleston franchise servicing the Selwyn area.

They both provide a friendly, reliable service offering standard transport as well as Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles capable of transporting both manual and larger power wheelchairs.

“We love to support the local community and our service is designed to provide personalised transport and assistance to anyone needing a bit of extra help getting from A to B. We specialise in driving seniors and the trips cover a wide range of outings including the usual medical and business appointments as well as shopping or just a nice afternoon out with a friend or two.

Our wheelchair accessible vehicle

is a larger hoist model with plenty of headroom for taller passengers to travel in comfort,” says local owner Dean.

Priya says “Our Nissan Serena is fitted out to take both a manual and power wheelchair, and we ensure all your transport requirements are met”.

“Travelling with Freedom is like riding with trusted friends or family.

You can enjoy building a relationship with a very small team of drivers who you will get to know and trust,” adds Dean.

Freedom prices are competitive and comparable to other options or standard taxi services.

Our service is highly personalised to your needs with a convenient pick up and drop off at your front door. We always escort you to the car and to your destination and we always go ‘the extra mile’.

We take Total Mobility cards (TM) and we are ACC Registered Vendors.

All our drivers are fully licensed, have first aid certification and NZ Police checked for your protection.

Our service is pre-booked and prequoted. To find out more please give Dean a call on (03) 352-1599 or 027 364 6877, or Priya in Rolleston a call on (03) 341 5083 or 027 455 A 4660.

Transport you can trust - Christchurch

Do you need a reliable, friendly driver you can get to know? * Extra care for seniors * Medical appointments * Social and sightseeing * Shopping trips * Airport transfers * Business appointments * * Pets to the vet * School pick up and drop offs *

Call Dean Stewart on 03 352 1599 or 027 364 6877 or for Rolleston call Priya Arora on 03 341 5083 or 027 455 4660

The church of the Holy Innocents on the Geraldine-Rangitata Gorge Road.

Twice a year we head down to Geraldine for an overnight stay. We pootle south via the Chertsey Book Barn, Ashburton McDonald’s for double cheeseburgers and coffee, and then to the council’s recycling shop around the corner. I have my pockets full of coins but this time they don’t take cash.

We veer inland to Mayfield to rummage through Overflow. Jan and her staff are happy to take the janglers in exchange for four plastic Air NZ tikis, once given free to all passengers. I do love junk shops: it’s what I do.

So far I’ve spotted nine magpies (yes, another thing I do): four solos out foraging, one family of three, and two road-killed. This is a very low count, even allowing for those sitting on nests, so I hope there’s no pogrom in progress, as happens in the uncivilised north from time to time.

Oh, and I count yellow cars too (VWs earn five points each) but on this trip we see only buses and trucks (and they don’t count) until we reach Geraldine and come across, oh my, a jaunty Jowett Javelin and a Triumph Stag in the same street. 500 points in one go – whooppee!

We pick up a cooked chook and buns at Geraldine’s only supermarket, and pop in on friend Fay who’s made a banana jelly for dessert. She lets me have the parson’s nose and doesn’t suggest Scrabble because I’ve trounced her the last couple of visits.

With frost in the air we bunk up at the best little Top 10 in the South Island, not in our usual Cabin 1, but a new and slightly pricier version with just one bed, two of everything else, (except cushions – where DO you biff them all at night?), a shower big enough for a whole family and a kitchen sink for the twins. On tip-toes I can’t reach the wardrobe hangers, but my short legs won’t fit under the table if someone joins me. Who designs these places we wonder?

(Note to self, book ahead to get Cabin 1, next visit.)

Next day we meet three besties at Barkers for coffee and nibbles. We enjoy the hugs, and talk ourselves silly for a couple of hours before travelling home through the Carew -Maronan -Valetta district with it’s mountain views, mown long acres and tidy hedges, huge and gnarly, small and new. We are heartened to see newly planted shelter trees in open paddocks.

You must do this excursion at least once a year. Right now there can be no more beautiful town than Geraldine, with it’s thousands of large native and exotic trees. Myriad greens and rhododendrons and azaleas cross the colour spectrum. There’s a must-do walk along the clear and shallow Waihi River, with divergent creeks in many front and back yards.

Cheese-lovers will be lucky to get out of the Cheese Company shop with change from $50, even if you don’t buy deer milk harvati at $151 per kg.

Giant wheels of brie and camembert are yours for $30, sometimes even less. There’s always a dozen tasting saucers. Eateries abound, the museum is a delight for history buffs, and the scenery from up on the downs and within kilometres of the town is a photographer’s dream.

Go in December and treat yourself to a walk among giant Himalayan lilies surrounding the historic cemetery at the beautiful Church Of The Holy Innocents on the Geraldine-Rangitata Gorge Rd. Look for Dame Ngaio’s grave. This is private property so take your manners, and leave the dog at home.

Saturday morning’s craft market is small but exquisitely real, no plastic junk in sight. Allow an hour at least in Page and Post, the most interesting bookshop south of Christchurch.

Check out the stationery shelves for that perfect present.

And let me know the magpie count please.

NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 29

Tips for keeping cool this summer without creating a high power bill As summer approaches and the cold air becomes warm, a new set of challenges emerge. Hot, humid air can stick to you like glue, and it can be hard to find a cool spot.

Surprisingly, summertime can lead to a high power bill as we look to avoid rising temperatures. It’s important to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, without high power bills. If you’re worried about how you’re going to keep cool without running the air-conditioner all day and all night, we’ve put together some tips to help out.

Insulate your home Insulation is not just about keeping warm in winter, it also helps with keeping your house cooler in summer.

An insulated home is more energyefficient, meaning you won’t have to run the air-conditioner (as much) to reach your desired temperature.

CEA Charitable Trust has 80100% insulation subsidies available for homeowners with a Community Services Card (when you only have Superannuation you are likely to have or be eligible for a Community Services Card) or those living in lower income areas. Qualifying areas have recently been extended so if you didn’t qualify before, give us another call to check, as you may qualify now.

If you do not qualify for subsidies, summer is still a good time to get insulation as all non-subsidised insulation installed before 22 February will go into the draw to win the amount paid for insulation back.

And with two winners your chances are even better!

Set a consistent air conditioner temperature When you use your air conditioner, set it to a fixed temperature. It’s more energy-efficient to maintain a stable indoor temperature than to constantly adjust it.

Free curtains for seniors Visit our Curtain Bank www.cea.co.nz 0800 438 9276

Opawa Public Library Corner of Richardson Tce and Opawa Rd Check out our: * Adult books * Children’s books * DVDs * Quiet Reading Areas * Kid’s activities * Community room for hire

For open hours and more information visit www.opawapubliclibrary.co.nz or facebook.com/opawapubliclibrary Insulation from CEA can make your house more comfortable in summer.

For maximum efficiency, set your air conditioner between 20 and 22 degrees. Your home won’t cool down any quicker if you set the temperature lower, but your unit will work harder.

This means you’ll be using a lot more power!

Use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity During summer, the inside air can become hot and humid, making it harder to cool. Consider using a dehumidifier for around 30 minutes when you turn the air-con on. This removes the moisture from the air, helping it to cool down more quickly.

Close curtains and blinds Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day to block out direct sunlight. This helps to significantly reduce the heat entering your home.

Seal windows and doors Ensure that windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent warm air from entering and cool air from escaping.

Use natural ventilation Take advantage of the cooler evening and morning air. Open windows in the evening and early morning to let in cooler outdoor air and close them during the day to trap cool air inside.

Create cross-ventilation If you have fans, position them near open windows to create crossventilation. This allows hot air to escape and lets cooler air in, making your indoor environment more comfortable.

Talk to us for free energy advice Are you struggling to implement energy-efficient methods to cool your home? Get in touch for free energy advice. We can recommend costefficient methods that can create a comfortable home.

Get in touch: www.cea.co.nz or 0800 438 9276

North West branch of CWEA

Front: Elsie, Maureen, Noleen and Carol. Back row: Barbara and Andy.

I enjoyed visiting WEA’s North West branch recently, where I spoke with several volunteers who work behind the scenes. They are keen to share the benefits of their meetings with those available on Friday mornings.

Do you enjoy getting out of the house and meeting new people like Carol and Barbara do? Then come along and chat with others over a cuppa, develop friendships in addition to community connections.

Committee members think this is a vital service the group provides for those who live alone.

At their meetings you’ll be given a wholehearted welcome with a cuppa,

followed by an informative talk all for the low price of $5.

Noleen “enjoys learning what is going on in the community through the varied programme of speakers”.

While Andy likes “the opportunity to hear interesting speakers and the chance to help others.”

I highly recommend a visit. They meet every Friday in term time from 10.00am-11.30am at St Margaret’s Church, 92 Farrington Avenue, Bishopdale. It is close to bus routes and there is parking onsite. Some members can provide a ride to those in their neighbourhood. Contact Barbara on 355-2040 for information.

Friday 10am to 11.30am St Margaret’s Church, 92 Farrington Ave Do you enjoy getting out of the house and meeting new people?

Learn about great community groups making a difference Hear from interesting speakers on a diverse range of topics Call Barbara on 355-2040 to find out more or see www.cwea.org.nz

30

Keeping On

NOVEMBER 2023

Real Intelligence v Artificial Intelligence. Matthew Webster: Digital Life Hold onto your hats: the digital world is about to take a giant leap, courtesy of the much-discussed advent of artificial intelligence (AI).

We will see as much change in the next two years as we have seen in the last ten. I hope that I can keep up.

It’s about time we had a bit of progress. I realised that it is over 25 years since I bought my first internetconnected computer, when the worldwide web was fresh and young.

But if I look back, it’s hard to point to any really fundamental change in the underlying infrastructure, beyond its all becoming faster and more reliable.

You might say that websites like Facebook and Twitter, which allow us to interact online, were quite a change, but they’ve been around for over eight years. Or you might feel that the streaming services – iPlayer, Netflix, Spotify et al – were a significant development, and they were. But they really only reflected the increased availability of faster internet connections. They’ve been

churning stuff out since 2006 – so hardly the new kids on the block.

Grandpa Microsoft was formed in 1975, almost 50 years ago.

So we are due something new, and AI might be it. AI is, essentially, software that works on existing computers and can allow them to accumulate and remember almost limitless quantities of data, way beyond human capacity. It then identifies patterns in the data and uses them to make predictions, decisions, conclusions and recommendations based on questions it’s asked. Or

it even (and this is where it gets worrying) takes actions with little or no direct human intervention, such as on an aeroplane autopilot.

However, it’s impressive, even at a very basic level. Have a go at Google’s version called Bard (bard. google.com) and ask it a question.

Ask for something like a summary of the English county-cricket system, a limerick that starts ‘A magazine known as The Oldie’. You'll be surprised by the results. The syntax will be excellent and the structure pretty good. However, this masks the danger. Where is the information that it is so smoothly presented coming from, and is it accurate? It offers no citations.

Try asking it about something you really know about, and you may find some bizarre inaccuracies. I asked it about my father, and was surprised to learn that he was married to the late Countess of Longford (which he certainly wasn’t). But it was all written in such a confident and convincing

way that had he still been alive, I might have made enquiries.

As the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out. However good a computer is at processing data, if you give it rubbish to work with, rubbish is what it will deliver. Bard is (I assume) scraping all this stuff from websites it’s looked through, chewing it over and cobbling together some convincing words – but not carefully enough. No doubt it will become more sophisticated, but I’d be nervous about leaving it in charge of anything with a motor if it makes mistakes at this lowest level.

Nevertheless, this sort of mass data-sifting and analysis is entirely new, and change is coming, for good or ill – or perhaps for good and ill. It could certainly be useful for operating machines, but it could also be used to spread misinformation and propaganda. So it’s up to humans to ensure that proper ethics are observed. What could possibly go wrong? (Source: www.theoldie.co.uk)

Reading vs watching: which one is better?

by Deirdre McGrath

Recently friends recommended a television series that they believe I would enjoy... All the Light We Cannot See. “I can’t watch that...

I’ve read the book!” I told my friends.

They looked bemused as I explained that I avoid watching movies or series that are based on books I have read. I am always disappointed as the characters and storyline don’t match those of my imagination. I prefer reading books, but I know many others enjoy watching movies or television series.

While both are forms of entertainment...I find that when you read a book, you have to imagine the characters and the scenes in your

mind. You create your own version of the story, and fill in the gaps with your own details. Watching a movie, on the other hand, shows you everything on the screen, and leaves little room for your own interpretation.

My friends tell me that watching saves you time and effort. “Reading a book can take hours, days, or even weeks,” they say. Watching a movie, on the other hand, usually takes less than two hours, and you can sit back and relax while enjoying the show.

You don't have to strain your eyes or your brain, and you can easily follow the plot and the dialogue.”

Their arguments are valid but I believe that reading improves your

skills and knowledge. It exposes you to new words and concepts that can enrich your vocabulary, language, and general knowledge.

Watching a movie may not offer the same benefits, as you don’t learn much from the visuals or the script.

Watching a movie can also make you passive, lazy, and distracted, as you may not pay attention to the details, or the quality of the film.

Then again I suppose that watching offers more variety and excitement.

Watching a movie can provide you with a wide range of genres, styles, and formats to choose from. You can watch anything from comedy and romance to action and horror,

and from animation to documentary.

Watching a movie can also offer you more thrill and emotion, as you can see the actors' expressions, hear the music and the sound effects, and feel the tension and the atmosphere of the scenes.

So, which one is better: reading or watching? I guess it depends.

Sometimes, you may want to read a book, and immerse yourself in a world of words and imagination.

Other times, you may want to watch a movie, and enjoy a spectacle of images and sounds.

I started watching “All the light We Cannot See” on Netflix last night.. I’ll let you know what I think.

Work and Income expand funding to cover Securely Anywhere Alarms Up until recently, if you needed help with the ongoing costs of a medical alarm, only In-Home alarms were eligible for funding via the disability allowance from Work and Income.

In-Home alarms are great for those that spend much of their time in the comfort of their own home, but not for active Kiwis who enjoy getting out and about.

Work and Income has recently announced that it is expanding this funding to cover alarms used outside of the home as well. This is great news for New Zealand’s active elderly, who may be eligible to receive funding for an alarm that better suits their lifestyle.

SECURELY, one of New Zealand’s largest suppliers of medical alarms, has a range of Anywhere Alarms that offer wearers peace of mind. The distress alarms can be worn outside of the home and are equipped with cellular and GPS technology.

With the push of a button, the

Anywhere Alarm obtains your current location and sends this information to the SECURELY 24/7 Monitoring Centre. Once the Monitoring Centre has received your alert, an operator will speak with you via the in-built speaker and send emergency services to your location if required.

If you have pressed the SOS button but are unconscious or unable to communicate with the 24/7 Monitoring Centre, Emergency Services will be sent.

SECURELY’S General Manager, Stephen Frame was thrilled to hear of the recent expansion of funding and says this change will have a positive impact on SECURELY’s customers.

“This expansion in funding is warmly welcomed. We’re excited to be able to provide an Anywhere Alarm to Seniors, so they can continue to live their lives to the fullest, while feeling safe in the knowledge that help is there if needed.”

If you would like to learn more about

a SECURELY medical alarm, contact your local sales agent Jonathan

Sibbles on 021 438 067 or visit www.

A securely.nz

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NOVEMBER 2023

Keeping On 31

How Phar Lap’s skin, bones and heart became ‘holy relics’ in colonial Australia and New Zealand When the legendary Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in 1930, the big chestnut horse didn’t just live up to his Thai name, which means “lightning”.

He also brought together strands of colonial history and mythology that are only now properly visible.

Much worshipped in life and in death, Phar Lap has occupied a unique place in the story of Australia’s and New Zealand’s evolving national identities. The posthumous division and distribution of his corpse into “relics” – mounted hide, skeleton and heart – represented a form of what I call “new world worship”.

Old world religions were an important part of colonisation. But the early settler experience also saw the appearance of quasi-religious icons and symbols, one of which was the horse. Vital for settling, farming and policing the new land, they became more than mere beasts of burden.

Successful colonisation involved the breeding of introduced species – plants and animals, but also people.

Physical strength, egalitarianism, battling against the odds and “mateship” were characteristics of the new colonial societies on both sides of the Tasman. For a while, Phar Lap embodied them all.

Breeding good colonial stock The other thing Australia and New Zealand shared was a “cultural cringe” that expressed itself in a need to prove the new colonies could take on the world and win. National myths based on climate, soil, good pastures and practical skill took shape.

Whether it was soldiers, race horses or rugby players, the goal was to produce the best winning stock in the world. Breeding champion race horses from overseas bloodlines fitted the narrative perfectly.

By the time Phar Lap was born in Timaru in New Zealand’s South Island in 1926, horse racing was well established as an important industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Uniquely, it brought together the business of breeding and training with socialising, entertainment and gambling.

Antipodean racing culture mimicked British rituals and traditions, but involved a wider cross-section of society. Many factors made following the horses so appealing: genetics, condition and training, track conditions, riders and of course the field, all contributed to the interest and the odds.

A big race meeting became a kind of “holy day”. The fun, excitement, dressing up and partying while trying

one’s luck on the horses lives on today, nowhere more so than at the Melbourne Cup. Phar Lap’s famous win by three lengths in 1930 – having survived an assassination attempt shortly beforehand – became part of the legend. Against the grim backdrop of the Great Depression, he offered escapism and even a sense of confidence that things could be better.

When he won the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico it thrilled Australians and New Zealanders alike. And his death two weeks later saw shock and public mourning. The attendant conspiracy theories – killed by gangsters, toxic feed, too much arsenic in his tonic – are seemingly as immortal as Phar Lap’s memory.

Horse with a big heart Like holy relics, the horse’s hide, bones and heart were brought back from the United States and then shared between Australia and New Zealand for the faithful to witness.

Renowned New York taxidermists the Jonas brothers created the life-like mount that went to the National Museum of Victoria (later the Melbourne Museum). Phar Lap’s skeleton went to Wellington’s Dominion Museum (now Te Papa).

But it’s Phar Lap’s heart that has seen the most myth-making and mystery. Preserved and displayed at the National Institute of Anatomy in Canberra (later the Australian National Museum), it is extremely large, leading to various claims that it enabled Phar Lap’s success and that it can’t be authentic.

Nonetheless, the symbolism of a big heart can’t be denied. And while it evokes the preserved and sacred hearts of old-world saints, it suggests forms of new-world worship are evolving too. All three museums claim their Phar Lap relics are perennially popular.

Phar Lap’s skeleton and hide were temporarily reunited for a special exhibition at the Melbourne Museum to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup in 2011. But it’s ironic the remains of a horse that once united Australia and New Zealand should be so separated.

Then again, perhaps it’s a fitting metaphor after all, as the two former colonies find their separate way in the modern world, nearly a century on from Phar Lap’s brief but glorious reign.

(Source: www.theconversation.com)

The legendary Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in 1930.

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32

Keeping On

NOVEMBER 2023

My two cents

by June Peka

The Onceler I’m writing another book. I will borrow heavily from the Lorax and, like Magpie Mischief, it’ll be 99% true. I’ll send Greta Thunberg a copy because she’s still young enough to believe in fairy tales. My story will begin 40 years ago this month, when an empty-nesting couple, with soil in their veins, moved into a sweet old bungalow in a beautiful green and leafy suburb. Where they’d come from the soil was sandy, but their dad (co-star of Magpie Mischief) had cranked it up with all sorts of poos and compost to grow prize-sized vegies and native trees of great size and beauty. Sadly however, their patch was an oasis in a desert.

At the little old bungalow they established a no-dig, chemical-free garden with companion planting and a stink tank. (Also a co-star in Magpie Mischief). They moved in a beehive and chooks, contributed largely

to the greenscape, and settled in nicely, surrounded by lovely older neighbours with similar interests.

(Just picture the illustrations!)

After 37 years the couple was very sad to first lose their lovely old neighbours (L-O-Ns) who had become like family, and then the L-O-Ns cute and original villa, their giant ngaio tree, two splendid kowhai and the biggest parsnips in the

world. (Illustrations!!!) After months of vibrations, noisy machinery and lights, parking problems, rubbish blown in the wind, shouting workers and radios, it was all replaced with five small, black and white, pointytopped featureless dwellings with 16 windows looking over the hens and bees and everything else which had previously been private.

But still the couple was grateful, as was their nature. A few years earlier, close by, another young couple bought a similar bungalow and over 20 years smartened it up splendidly and planted a forest of every green imaginable. The trees grew quickly.

Birds nested and sung the dawn chorus. Bees gathered pollen.

Children paused to enjoy the shade on their way home from school.

And then, one dreadful weekend, our couple went off to visit friends in Geraldine. They arrived home to

behold a patch of bare earth where the bungalow had been on the corner.

Sadly it too had been sold to the small young man born with a silver spoon in his mouth, (I will help with this illustration) but aspiring to possess the whole canteen. His business is with these piles of same-same hutches. The bunnies who rent them (as most will) will pay $600-$700 a week. From their top tiny windows they’ll see other’s trees but they’ll never inhale the perfume of cabbage tree florets, or hear the birds and the bees. The small developer won’t live near them. Rumours said he became a millionaire in his teens, so he’ll likely live in a big house on a hill, from where he’ll suck up his fill of green and he’ll be so happy that he’s further multiplied his already substantial pile, he will buy another big car, and possibly a big boat and even more leafy sections to desecrate.

A rose by any other name For want of a better name, my dear chap has been known for 10 years as The Pyromaniac. I dubbed him that when I saw the manic gleam in his eyes as he first laid them on our postearthquake over-sized log burner.

The man in the shop asked the size of our house, entered some figures into his calculator, and said we needed the model two sizes down.

He doesn’t know how close he came to having his mouth washed out with soap, or worse.

Our lives changed dramatically from that day, which luckily closely coincided with my chap’s retirement from paid work. He energetically helped the house repairers/builders demolish the old crumbled fireplace and chimney to make way for the gleaming monster with mega wattage

and a voracious appetite.

We still pull the drapes at sundown as before, but now not so much to keep the cold out, as to allow us to swan about almost naked in the middle of winter, as the temperatures outside drop to below zero. My 50 – 60 houseplants love the tropical feel too; they soak up 12-15 litres of water each week but we no longer get condensation fogging up, or streaming down the windows. We have fanlights open when we’re home and haven’t used the clothes dryer for a decade. There’s a clever device attached to the flue of the monster, bought from the blacksmith in Tinwald over which we festoon the laundry, artfully hiding the undies behind the towels, in case of visitors.

In the summer, festooned with gaudy

baubles, that device becomes a Christmas tree.

The dear chap found a new interest in life, buying a truck, chainsaw(s), safety gear, in fact all the bells and whistles to help him fell, lift, split, chop and carry firewood, from a point 90kms south west, where he’s become mates with a farmer who struggles to keep fallen trees from his boundary fences. At least once a week he leaves home at the crack of dawn, not arriving back till eight, or even ten hours has passed. Our backyard has become a lumber yard, the hens go wild about the huhu grubs the master brings home, and I snaffle any sawdust and bark for paths and garden beds. The wood shed has grown three-fold with one wall taken up by bags of pine cones

and kindling.

But “pyromaniac”, with it’s negative, even criminal connotations didn’t really fit, so you can imagine how pleased I was to find a new “old” word in the UK’s “Country Life” magazine for such a person... one who “chops, gathers, stacks and tends to the hearths of country homes” is a focary, from the Latin focarius. It can also describe a kitchen boy or servant, but that doesn’t fit at all.

Now, when people ask what my dear chap does to keep himself busy, I will unashamedly tell them he’s a focary. And if anyone comes across a word for a person who leaves doors neither open nor closed, but dangerously ajar, please tell me; it’s got to be better than the one I currently use.

A good day in the garden “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

So said young Mary, in that lovely 1911 classic, ‘The Secret Garden’.

More than a century on, and with the bonus of the world wide web, I have to agree.

Hobbling inside on arthritic knees I wondered how many others around this little country alone would be packing up tools for the day and feeling just as satisfied with their efforts. Dinner could wait I decided, as I scrubbed the fingernails and plumped down to straighten my aching spine in the hard-backed chair in front of the computer. Magically almost, on my favourite gardening

page was a thread started by Debbie, just to answer my question.

Titled “You know you’ve had a good day in the garden when …….” Debbie began…

“You undress to shower.... and a lump of dirt falls out of your bra.

Anyone else care to share?”

“Yes, yes yes!” I say. “When it takes a half hour to pluck all those forget-me-not seeds from your pants, and hubby rolls his eyes when you effusively praise the rhodohypoxis bulbs for not sulking about being repotted in full flower.”

Soon others joined in.

“You get up from the loo and find grass clippings floating in the bowl

and strewn all round the little room,” Angie.

“You wake so energized the next morning that you're out there in your nightie just to make sure you really did do all that work,” Beth.

“Your knees have indentations with pieces of gravel stuck to them,” Mal. “You straighten up, come in from the garden and your wife says ‘I put a beer in the fridge for you,” Ian. “Hubby points out that much of the powdered sheep manure you spread in the wind is sticking to your sunblock, and the water in the base of the shower contains live bugs after you’ve washed your hair. And when Voltaren is your friend,” Johanna.

“You seriously consider checking when you last had a tetanus shot!”

Vivienne, Dunedin.

“You pop outside for some parsley and..... two hours later hubby comes home and has to put out the fire in the oven,” Laurell.

“Same thing happened to me. The corned beef was smoking out of the windows when hubby drove down the hill from work at 4.45pm and saw it. The pot did not survive,” Robyn.

Francis Hodgson Burnett would almost certainly have never written about bras and beer or toilet bowls, but I get the feeling she’d know what we 21st century gardeners are on about.