Keeping On - Spring 2023

We are nearly at the end of a very wet, cold, damp and cloudy winter with little sunshine and not many frosts.

Frosts are a cold start to the day, but we are rewarded with sunshine which makes us all feel better. Spring must be coming as the spring flowers are starting to appear in the garden. Our world is changing and more of our life is conducted electronically. There are some difficulties with this for those with hearing loss and poor sight. The rise in popularity of touch screen EFTPOS machines is leaving some blind low-vision New Zealanders with no option but to share their private details with strangers. Touch screen terminals are one of the newer rollouts in a decade of transition towards buttonless self-checkout. The advancement in technology, however, means those who are vision impaired can no longer put in their pin-code if paywave is not an option. There is also a verbal option available, but

the spoken word is very quiet and those who have hearing loss may have problems hearing what is said. If it was made louder there is a risk that all those nearby can hear your personal details and pin-code. Here is an idea for an adventure for you or a school holiday activity if you are looking after your grandchildren - Bus Bingo. Pick a number and go into the bus station and get on the bus with that number (no changing your mind when you see where it is going). You can choose where you get off, could be a mall, the beach, the airport or with the children an ice-cream shop. There are all sorts of possibilities, go with your partner, husband, or friend. The bus is free for gold card holders. Here is another idea, get on the Orbiter bus and do the round trip, you can get off for a coffee on the way if you want and carry on back to where you started. Keep warm and well-nourished with delicious soups and casseroles - good winter food. Warmer days are on the way. Remember to drink water as well as your usual tea and coffee. Take care

Trish Adams President

CONTENTS

Page 20, Test your Crossword skills

Page 23, Choosing our own timing was our way

Page 26, A letter to the bank from an older lady

Page 27, 50s Up Brass Band celebrates 30 years

Page 29, Rekindling the art of conversation

Page 31, From Here to There, Joe Bennett

Page 32, My two cents by June Peka

Kia

ora koutou.

It certainly feels like we’re in the deep midwinter right now, but the days are gradually getting longer and the sun is shining, even if there is snow on the Port Hills still.

I’m hearing more and more that many people are struggling with the increasing cost-of-living and what feels like a very long winter. This can be particularly fraught if you’re living on a fixed income (for example, National Superannuation). If you’re having difficulties, it might be worth talking to one of our Community Connectors (Trudy, Robyn, or Howard) who, amongst many other things, can offer assistance to people who are finding it hard to deal with agencies like MSD, Kāinga Ora (for housing) or Te Whatu Ora Waitaha (formerly the CDHB). Our Community Connectors are lovely people – no problem is too big or too small, and they’re here to help.

It’s worth remembering that if you’re a pensioner who’s married, in a civil union, or living with a partner, and together you’re earning under $53,821 annually (including national super), you are most likely eligible for a Community Services Card (or CSC). If you’re single and living alone, that earnings limit is under $35,861. The CSC can help with

the cost of medical care, including GP visits, fees for after-hours health services, and even emergency dental care if you need it. WINZ can provide the application form, and they can also help with proof-of-income and copying your ID. If you run into trouble, our Community Connectors can help with that as well.

If you’re eligible for home-based support services (for example, from Nurse Maude) and need some help with cleaning, your CSC might mean you can get some house-cleaning help alongside your other services. If you’re not eligible, but your house cleaning and gardening is getting on top of you (I can relate to this problem!) give our Home Support Services a call – our providers keep costs low, and they’re all policechecked and interviewed by our coordinator, Liz.

I think one of the best ways to get through these chilly days of winter is to make time for social connections. The smiling face of a friend is guaranteed to warm you up! If you’re feeling lonely, give us a call, or drop by the office – our Social Connection team has a variety of activities and meet-ups planned, as well as linking people up through the visitor service.

No one should be sad or lonely, just because it’s freezing outside. If you’re feeling a bit blue (or you know someone who is) for whatever reason, do give us a call – we’ll make it through this cold weather together.

Greta Bond Chief Executive

of Age Concern Canterbury. Neither does publication of an advertisement imply endorsement by Age Concern Canterbury.

More to Max than art and literature

by Mike Crean

Art and literature are the love of Max Broadbent’s life. Paintings and books line his classy Papanui apartment. But there is more to Max.

The hearty character revels in political debate. He expresses views ranging from anti-Putin (“Putin’s gotta be destroyed”) to pro-airport for Tarras (“New Zealand needs the revenue it will generate”). He is a member of the Labour Party but reckons National folk are generally more likeable.

As for religion, Max is an active and fervent Christian, though he argues strongly with some tenets of the Catholic Church. That is his Church, which he served as a sacristan through the frightening earthquake years.

The Christchurch-born 77-year-old was a bright scholar. After gaining his Master’s degree in History, at the University of Canterbury, he worked in Wellington and Dunedin. He returned to Canterbury University as Head of its Macmillan-Brown Library. This “Learned Library” is a bank of multilingual archives and information on every topic, accessible to university teaching and research staff

A love of books began early with Max. By his teenage years he was determined to become a librarian. The only obstacle was his father who opposed a career in library work and prescribed lifetime employment in Government services.

Perhaps this was the one argument Max lost. He dutifully applied for a job with the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was interviewed by a highranking official and quickly found himself involved in a fiery dispute of opinions. “I couldn’t shut up,” he says.

Assuming this performance must have ruined his chance of a job in Foreign Affairs, he applied to the Department of Industry and Commerce and was accepted. He learned later that the official at Foreign Affairs always sparked debate as a

tactic to see if the job applicant could stand up for himself. He learned also that he had been on top of the list for the Foreign Affairs position.

So, Max joined Industry and Commerce. Very soon he did not merely dislike his job – he “loathed it”, and he resigned. Librarianship was still his ambition and he took a library diploma course in which he succeeded comfortably. In 1971 he shifted to Dunedin to work in the University of Otago Library. He moved up in the ranks there.

Max loved Dunedin. “I got to know many very interesting people, including (writer) Charles Brasch,” he says. They became friends. He observed Dunedin society as a web of wealthy and influential people who did much for their city.

Ambition showed in his eagerness to gain the top position in the library. First, though, he and Coral, whom he had married in 1968, planned to travel overseas. However, he was denied the six-months leave that he required. Meanwhile, the chief position at the Macmillan-Brown

Library became vacant and Max was offered it. He agreed to accept if he could have that leave. He got it.

The young couple enjoyed their overseas experience. Back in Christchurch, Max set about developing Canterbury’s “Learned Library”. He enlarged its scope with new ideas and features. “We were rolling like a juggernaut,” he says. He expanded the library with a wider range of archives and manuscripts, and increased staff numbers. He retired in 2008.

After 27 years of marriage, Max and Coral separated. Max speaks openly about being gay and is happy that they have remained good friends. He lived with a good male friend for many years.

In some circles religion and politics are forbidden topics. Not so with Max. It is probably no wonder that he is always ready to differ with others’ opinions, and has tackled several

Catholic priests and at least one bishop over the Church’s stance on sex issues. His profound knowledge of The Bible (Old and New Testaments) and ecclesiastical history makes him a forbidding debater.

In politics, Max supports the social conscience of the Labour Party and approves of the leader, Chris Hipkins. But he is bemused and annoyed by some of the mistakes its MPs make. He notes a double paradox in Labour’s efforts for the common people over the last 50 years. He says National Party Prime Minister Rob Muldoon did Labour a great favour. Muldoon acted as a socialist in some of his financial measures, which many National people deplored. When Labour overtook National at the polls, they were able to build on some of Muldoon’s efforts.

Secondly, Max applauds Labour’s unpopular Finance Minister, Roger Douglas as the saviour of Labour. Douglas’s right-wing economic measures, including privatisation of government departments, riled many Labour people. Those measures brought New Zealand into the modern world, Max says. “It was Labour’s redemption.” Without it, “we were heading to East Guyana and Albania.”

Labour politicians can be unpleasant to meet, Max says. He attributes this to their engrossment in issues. National types, on the other hand, are mostly agreeable. They are naturally conservative people who speak about relationships. They have solid values and are trusted in business. However, they lack vision beyond their two main planks – stressing efficiency and reducing bureaucracy. Max stands as a liberal, a Christian, a Labourite. And as one always prepared to argue.

Art and literature are the love of Max Broadbent’s life.

The Eldernet Group welcome changes to the Carer Support Subsidy

The Eldernet Group were pleased to see the government recently announce changes to the Carer Support Subsidy.

The subsidy is a payment designed to allow full-time carers to take a break. (A full-time carer is defined as someone who provides more than four hours of unpaid care per day).

Previously 14 of the 20 districts paid $64.50 as the daily support rate. Under the new changes, the daily rate of the Carer Support Subsidy has been set at a minimum of $80 per day nationwide.

The subsidy can be used to pay for, or contribute to the cost of, formal care, such as home support provided by a registered agency or a contracted day programme. It can also be used to pay for informal care by a family/whānau member, friend or other support person (which now includes people living in the same household as the person being cared for).

Changes to the subsidy also allow carers to claim for multiple days’ worth at once, whereas previously, carers could only claim one day’s

Keep limber in body and brain at CWEA with classes and talks

Peter attended CWEA as a Trade Union delegate in the ‘80s. He is a quirky, intelligent man who appreciates the social connection and sense of community at WEA as he lives alone.

When he found difficulty tying his shoelaces and struggled with flexibility as he matured, a WEA yoga class solved this issue. Jennifer’s “go at your own pace style” suited him well. He recommends this class to everyone as they age to prevent falls and injuries with its emphasis on balance and gentle pace. The relaxation phase is second to none!

Trial this yoga class during Term 3 as a casual attendee any Tuesday until 12th September. Cost is $11 per class and runs from 11.15am -12.45pm. at our Gloucester Street venue. Wear comfortable loose clothes and bring a couple of towels for back support. No mat or previous experience required. Seated options may also be adopted. Come 10 minutes beforehand to register and pay. If you prefer our Yoga Nidra in New Brighton on a Thursday morning phone us to make a booking on 03366-0285.

Linda Hart’s Art History talks are

another favourite after a friend introduced him to those. As he says “it exercises a different part of the brain and her notes are excellent. I’m part of her fan club!”

For details and to book other courses for Term 3 visit our website on www.cwea.org.nz/courses or visit our office at 59 Gloucester Street between 9.30am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

Other Sneak Peeks:

Friday, 1st September from 1.00-2.30pm: Meet Green Party Candidate and Ecologist Lan Phan over afternoon tea. She says that “we can organise, mobilise and decide to create a better Aotearoa at this critical point in time.” Bookings essential, entry by koha.

Friday, 18th August from 1.00-2.15pm: Ben & bEartha –Documentary from Happen Films. Meet Ben – compost nerd, educator, instigator of his local Compost Club, and creator of bEartha; a machine that’s about to revolutionise regional composting. Follow the highs and lows for Ben and his team as they develop and install bEartha, the machine that they hope will provide a replicable model for communities. A

worth of their annual allocation of the subsidy at a time.

Carers will also be able to use their allocation to purchase products and equipment. This might include a weighted blanket for someone living with anxiety or home monitoring device to support the care of someone living with dementia.

The range of changes marks a move away from the inconsistency of multiple different rates across the country, correcting inconsistencies in funding between Te Whatu Ora and other agencies, including Whaikaha

– the Ministry of Disabled People. For more information about the Carer Support Subsidy, call the Carer Support Line on freephone 0800 855 066. People can access more information about looking after carers, as well as a range of other topics related to getting older, on Eldernet’s Knowledge Lab website for free.

You can also order your free copy of The Eldernet Group’s Where from here He ara whakamua handbook by calling 0800 162 706.

Tips on burning ‘warmer and cheaper’ this winter

When you use your wood burner efficiently, you can:

• stay warm,

• spend less money on wood, and

• produce less smoke.

For tips on how to burn smoke free, visit www.warmercheaper.co.nz

Smoke-free burning

To achieve a smoke-free fire, you’ll need good dry wood, better burning techniques, and a well-maintained wood burner.

Good wood

To find good firewood near you, check out the list of Trusted Good Wood Merchants at warmercheaper. co.nz. We audit these businesses regularly to ensure their wood is dry.

Avoiding wet wood

Firewood from roadside sellers is often too wet to burn efficiently. Test your firewood’s moisture content using a moisture meter available from home improvement shops.

Better burning techniques

The upside-down fire-building method burns for longer without needing to be topped up. See a step-by-step guide and videos at warmercheaper.co.nz

A well-maintained wood burner

Keep your burner in good condition so it can burn efficiently. If smoke is coming into the room or your wood burner isn’t burning as hot as usual, it’s time to check your burner and chimney.

Financial help

EECA provides grants for up to 80 per cent of the cost of insulation and new heating appliances.

Visit WarmerKiwiHomes.govt.nz to check your eligibility.

If you live in a Clean Air Zone and have a Community Services Card, you may also be eligible for Environment Canterbury’s home heating subsidy.

If you live in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, or Ashburton, call Brightr (0800 888 766) for more information.

If you live in Timaru, Waimate, or Geraldine, call EnergySmart (0800 777 111) for more information.

Most banks offer low-interest loans to cover the cost of a new heating appliance and/or insulation. Some retailers offer payment terms so you can pay off your new heat pump or ultra-low emission wood burner over time.

A grand tour of my cousin’s house and garden

by Colin Smith

I got the grand tour of my cousin’s house and garden recently. It’s an amazing affair from 1919, with its bay windows, stained glass, axminster rugs, rimu beams and panelling with dadoes. It’s a treasure trove of our whanau memorabilia - fading photographs, books, interesting stories (some sad), lots of hospitality and cups of tea. At 75 I’m still learning the stories of my family’s journey to Aotearoa, so this is my jam.

I was spurred to write when my cousin introduced me to the overgrown but organised chaos of her backyard. Actually she took me to inspect her bloke’s firewood stockpile. I’ve always judged folk by the contents of their bookshelves and the state of their wood heaps and I was most impressed. As well, I found chooks and bees, fruit trees, and green vegetables. But the greatest discovery of all on this suburban patch, was the wharepaku - the outside dunny with its pictures of dogs on the pink walls, slivers of Sunlight soap in the mini - basin, and a view to the mulberry bush.

What a find in these times of press button convenience, for this boy who grew up in the days of the outback dunny – often just a long-drop some distance from the back door. Even the word “dunny”, obsolete surely, is interesting. It has Scottish origins from dungeon times, but as with Phar Lap, pavlova and manuka, the

Aussies pinched it. And it wasn’t always polite lingo. I remember my mum threatening to wash out my mouth with soap when I said it. She said it was the lavvy, the little house, or the outhouse. I think it moved indoors and became “the toilet” in the fifties, at which time Aotearoa lost an important part of our cultural heritage,

in my opinion.

Inside now, there’s no pull chain, or solid, pull-across cover. We can’t take to the walls with a carpenter’s pencil, and there are no newspaper squares on a nail. It’s all silent and sanitised push-button, as it is with life these days. Most of all though I miss the smell of the gum leaves, which Mum would burn to disguise the piro of the dunny. We don’t need them any more either sadly, because we now deal to the whole ‘hole’ thing with wipes, deep cleansers, sprays and even “scented bathroom tissue” for the pong! My cousin espouses the open-door principle.

Just as plentiful as the odoureliminators are the euphemisms for the toilet - loo, WC, dike, privy, and now, for goodness sake, the bathroom. This is all junk. We’re filling our lives with junk food, junk TV shows, junk toys and junk drugs, and now we’re sanitising our korero with junk.

I say very firmly: the first person to use my bathroom as a toilet will be in the tutae, big time.

“The dunny, the lavvy or the outside toilet.”

You’re the best!

by Liz Sugrue, Age Concern Canterbury

I started writing these notes with an old fountain pen that I received as a gift on my 21st birthday. I haven’t used it for years. Now it gives me so much joy. I knew that it was a precious thing when I received it and maybe I was worried that I would break it or lose it (I have a bad track record of losing valuable things.) Anyway, now many years later I’m a bit sad that I have not enjoyed using it for the last few decades. It got me thinking about other little pleasures we are missing out on in life just because there is a cheaper, easier, or less fraught option. A plastic ballpoint pen is an efficient way of writing, but it is a soulless exercise. Sliding the lid off my pen and admiring its gold nib and, hearing the scratch on the paper and seeing the black ink glisten is a joy. The smudged ink on my fingers doesn’t bother me at all.

I recently inherited a large amount of china from my mother. It includes a lovely tea set. My daughter has discovered the joy of making tea in a

teapot from loose leaf tea. It becomes more of a ritual and demands that you be more present in the moment. Naturally if you are going to do that you will be using a cup and saucer. Don’t keep all that lovely old china for “good”. If you don’t deserve to enjoy it then who does? Possibly it’s taken a bit longer than chucking a teabag into a mug but it’s so much more enjoyable.

This brings me to all the other things we “keep for best”. Use the

best towels, eat off the inherited wedding crockery, go and cut some flowers out of the garden and bung them into the heirloom crystal vase. Use the special hand towels every day. Wear your favourite dress just because it makes you feel pretty. Or open that expensive bottle of something that you are saving for a special occasion. Savour it now. Guess what? If a special occasion comes up, you can buy something else with which to celebrate. Or celebrate with something home baked or cooked from scratch. You know it will be so much nicer than anything shop bought. The mindfulness involved with making something with your hands is undeniably therapeutic. Knitting a gift or mending something worth keeping has got to be better for everyone instead of buying cheaply made clothing or meaningless plastic tat that clutters up your home. I remember going on long car trips with my grandparents. The highlight

was stopping along the way for lunch. Gran would always have packed a picnic, we would never ever have stopped at a roadside café or bought food from a petrol station. Grandpa would put out some chairs and we would have tea from a thermos flask and whatever treats Gran had packed. Often it was bits of cold roast chicken, wrapped in foil or sandwiches filled with cheese, crunchy lettuce, and homemade relish. Sweet juicy little mandarins, a handful of nuts or some potato chips. And then the old, dented round cake tin would be opened and we could choose a piece of slightly battered home baking. All the while enjoying a view and an experience better than any overpriced roadside place selling yucky pies and mediocre coffee.

Treat yourself to the best or even just a little bit better when you can, small moments that make you pause, and smile are good for you. After all, how you spend your days is how you live your life.

Jointly owned or Tenants in Common? The effects of property ownership

For many homeowners, the property they reside in will be the biggest asset they own, often shared with a partner or friend. Because the value of property in today’s market is so significant, a lot of thought needs to go into how a property should be owned when first buying a property, and, if one owner dies, what should happen to their share of the property.

Most people we encounter at Pier Law own their property jointly. This is where both parties are registered on the title together, with no reference to any shares held. These properties are usually held by people in a civil union or de facto relationship, and will always pass to the surviving owner, regardless of how the deceased’s will distributes their shares of the property. Any mortgage will also pass on to the survivor, and it becomes their responsibility to service any debt still owed on the property.

The second type of ownership in property is Tenants in Common. This type of ownership is more common when property owners are friends, or if the owners are entering into secondary romantic relationships with children from previous relationships. With Tenants in Common, owners hold their shares independent of each other (often if there are two parties, each party will own a 1/2 share of the title, although ¾ and ¼ shares are common as well), so if an owner was to die, their Will (or the

Administration Act, if they have no Will) will apply to their share of the property, meaning the other owner will not receive the deceased’s share of the property automatically. The administrators of the estate will be responsible for the deceased’s share once they pass away and transferring the deceased’s share of the property onto the beneficiaries of the Will. This may mean the executors having to transfer mortgage documentation into the estate’s name if mortgage obligations still exist, and ensuring this remains paid. Life interest clauses need to be implemented into Wills to allow for the survivor to keep residing in the property until such time as they pass away, although this may mean beneficiaries are waiting years before the estate can be wound up. These two types of ownerships can lead to very different outcomes, so it is important to consider what type of ownership would be best in the circumstances you are purchasing and ensuring that your Wills reflect the correct ownership you have chosen. The costs, both emotionally and financially, can be significant if you have not planned your estate, accordingly, meaning one of the most important assets you own may not be distributed in the manner you desired.

If you wish to find out more information or book a time to discuss visit www.pierlaw.co.nz. A

Karamea at the top of the Coast

by Mike Crean

What’s that you say? Never been to Karamea? Maybe it’s time you took that trip.

You can drive from Westport to Karamea and return easily in one day. Or you can stay there for a night or two. That would allow you to explore the varied settlements along the way and the natural wonders in bush-clad hills beyond the town. They are all interesting; and so is Karamea.

The town of about 400 residents sits at the edge of a dairy farming delta between the Tasman Sea and bush-clad hills. It is near the top of the West Coast, slightly further north than Nelson and Wellington. Oh, the word “rain” comes to mind does it? Well, here’s another word – “warm”. Try that after a Christchurch winter.

You can drive further, past Oparara, but I must confess to not having done that. After all, who wants to be mistaken as one of those athletic types emerging from their trek on the famous Heaphy Track, all smiles and smelling sweaty.

Karamean pioneers used to send their milk, flax, timber and gold (yes, GOLD!), to Westport. There was a port here 150 years ago, until the 1920s. Well, you know what earthquakes and West Coast weather can do. All this, and other history themes are explained in the town’s museum. It’s worth a visit.

Driving up from Westport you can see the effects of ravenous storms on the coastline, not just nibbling, but gorging on tasty rocks, with sand for dessert. People stand at the water’s edge and watch the sun take its daily ocean dip in glorious colours. But locals wonder how long they can stay in their coastal homes before rising sea levels rob them of their land. It is heartbreaking but you will be travelling 50 metres above all this. So, relax and enjoy the ride.

This part of Buller was renowned for

the high-quality coal from its mines. A railway ran along the narrow ledge in front of the hills to bring the coal to boats moored at the Buller River wharf in Westport.

As you pass through Waimangaroa, spare a thought for the early immigrants who rode in terror to their new home up a steep climb to the clouds of Denniston. So fearful were they, that some never came down again. You can drive up if you want to (the road is decent now) and see relicts of the coal days at the top. The views over land and sea are remarkable.

Carrying on towards Karamea you may spot a sign pointing to the coal town of Millerton. Remains of the old coal industry can be seen here. What you won’t see is a soccer team at practice. And yet, a team from here once reached the grand final of New Zealand’s soccer crown – the Chatham Cup. They were ex-Cornish miners who had become Kiwis and Coasters. Blackened each day by the coal they dug, these hard men named their team “All Blacks”.

Behind Millerton is the huge coalfield of Stockton. A coal town once stood here. Its men trudged to and from the mine. That town has gone. In its place is New Zealand’s largest opencast coalmine. Watch that your little Toyota doesn’t get squashed by a leviathan coal carrier on which each tyre is bigger than your car. Such large-scale mining

is the rave today, though not for conservationists.

Down by the sea are the towns of Granity, Ngakawau and Hector, so close together they could be seen as one. Or, perhaps, three suburbs without a CBD. This is where you will find the best evidence of rising sea levels.

Where the main road bends inland, at Mokihinui, you are halfway to Karamea. Just past the bend, a side road leads to Seddonville. This is another old coal town. It was the terminal of the railway that linked the series of coal towns to Westport. Not only did trains carry coal to the port, they carted kids to secondary school in Westport.

As the coal industry modernised, a local told me, many people left here and some bad types moved in. You recognise coal smoke; they preferred another sort of smoke. Anyway, I was assured it has improved since then, helped by the numbers of trekkers on the popular Charming Creek Walkway and Old Ghost Road trail.

The next part of your drive is winding, hilly and beautiful. The pristine Mokihinui River, loved by environmentalists and water sportspeople, welcomes travellers to this 15-minute stretch of the main road. At Little Wanganui the road returns to the seashore. An almost straight run then finishes at Karamea.

My recommendation? “Don’t tarry. Just get going.”

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) has been celebrated in Aotearoa since 1975. This special week is an opportunity for the concentrated celebration and promotion of te reo Māori, helping to secure its future as a living, dynamic and rich language.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori happens from 11-17 Hepetema (September) 2023. The theme this year is Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori – making the language stronger.

‘Kia kaha’ is well understood in New Zealand English with its meaning of ‘be strong’. We often talk about languages as if they are people – especially when we are talking about a language’s health, strength and revitalisation.

So when we say ‘Kia kaha te reo Māori’ we’re saying - ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'.

“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. Absolutely recommend them” Giovanna

0800

Karamea Nikau on the beach.

Banjo Patterson - the AI version

by June Peka

In the land down under where wild dreams ignite, Where the sun’s golden glow kisses the rugged height, There roams a poet with a spirit untamed, A wordsmith name Banjo, his verses acclaimed.

With pen and with paper, his soul takes to fight, He weaves tales of courage, of honour, and might, In the spirit of mateship, he finds his refrain, Where the bush holds its secrets, a poet’s domain.

Oh, the Man from Snowy River, a legend so grand, Riding swift through the ranges, a lone figure he’d stand, With steely resolve, he faced danger’s embrace, For he knew in his heart, his freedom to chase.

In Clancy of the Overflow, a tale of the land, A drover’s weary soul and poet’s hand, Together they paint a vivid picture of yore, Of the beauty and struggle that the bush had in store. (Created by AI)

Times change - maybe your Trust should too

Keeping your car in safe working condition requires regular care and attention. Regular services and the occasional tweak can help you avoid a major break-down. Much in the same way, regular servicing of your assets can mitigate the risk of a break-down in asset protection later on in life.

An annual WOF and registration are costs set aside by most, but can the same be said for regular updates to your family trust?

It’s not new information that a family trust can provide valuable protection and management of your assets. Setting up a trust is one thing, but to ensure it continues to offer protection, you need to keep it updated.

The rules around family trusts are always evolving. With statute updates and administration requirements evolving, it can be difficult to keep on top of your trust obligations. This is where a specialist comes in. Specialists are informed of the rules

that come from statute like the new Trusts Act or the Tax Acts. They can undertake what is thought of as “best practice” by people who work with trusts all the time. The same way you take your car to the mechanic for a service, a lawyer or an accountant –a specialised professional can step in and inform you of exactly what tweaking is needed – if any!

You may try to make minor changes yourself and by all means, DIY. But keeping up with all the changes in these areas is difficult – and that’s why it is important to use a professional skilled in this area. You would bring your car to a professional to change your brakes, and you should bring your trust to a lawyer to make the same type of substantial changes.

Think of Godfreys Law as your Family Trust’s mechanic. We can offer you regular servicing to ensure your Trust is up to date and mitigate the risk of needing a full engine replacement later down the track.

Our Timaru pals Diane and Ian King, being 20 years younger, keep us on our toes.

Everyone our age should have besties like them. They say we’re good for them, but I’m sure we‘ve got the shiny end of the stick. Over coffee at The Good Habit recently, talk turned to this new-fangled AI (Artificial Intelligence). Now, if we can’t get our heads around something, it’s been our M.O. to simply ignore it. If we haven’t needed something for 70+ years, why should we bother now? But this pair don’t let us away with such lazy thinking.

“Who’s your favourite poet?” asked

Ian, to which I confessed a penchant for AB (Banjo Patterson). I know, I know, we have many good rhymsters in NZ, but I cut my teeth on The Gumnut Babies and The Man From Snowy River, thanks to my Ozzie grandfather.

Two slurps into our delicious cappuccinos he handed me his phone - “have you read this one then?”

They both reckon the look on our faces was worth bottling, when we saw our first example of this new faceless, whizz-bang chicanery which could change the world.

I couldn’t wait to show my colleague Mike Crean, himself a budding poet. Did I know, he asked, that this very same Banjo Patterson supplied World War 1 news to our own Christchurch paper, The Press, then based in Lyttelton? Suddenly I feel quite the babe in arms.

A new way to honour the life of a loved one

When a loved one passes away it is a very busy and emotional time for families. While flowers are a lovely gesture, often families would like to give those who knew their loved one the opportunity to donate to a cause that was important to the person who passed away.

These days with it becoming less common for people to carry cash, an online donation option is a great idea.

With cancer affecting one in three people during their lifetime it is a cause close to many people’s hearts. The Cancer Society has recently launched a new In-Memory website to make it easier for families to facilitate donations online.

However, the In-Memory website is so much more than a donation website. In-Memory is a place where you can create a personalised tribute page for your loved one to help keep their memory alive.

This is a space where you can continue your loved one’s story for years to come by sharing special memories, photographs and stories. You might choose to mark significant dates or special occasions with friends and family, and it can bring family members of all ages together to grieve and remember special times with their loved one, no matter where they are in New Zealand or the world. Friends, family members and your wider network can support your tribute page by making donations whenever they like. These gifts will help provide vital support for families going through cancer and fund lifesaving cancer research.

It is quick and easy to set up an In-Memory page for your loved one and if you are not digitally savvy this could be a job for a younger family member who would like to help. Visit inmemory.org.nz to learn more.

Nostalgic Moon

by Harmony

For an immigrant who left her hometown 20 years ago, the MidAutumn/Moon Festival on 29th September is a time of homesickness.

I remember the time when TV had not yet come to our family’s living room. On the night of the Festival, after dinner, my parents, brothers and sister are sitting on a mattress outside our home. My mother has prepared some mooncakes, pomelos and drinks. My father starts his storytelling. He asks us: “Can you see the shadows on the moon?” My older brother says: “Yes!” My younger sister asks: “Where?” Then my father says, “it’s a long story…..”

My father tells us the story about how the spotted shadow on the moon is actually a Jade Rabbit pounded in a mortar. The rabbit had accompanied the Moon Goddess Chang’e after she was sent to the moon. The Goddess lived in a magnificent building called the Spacious Cold Palace…. We children look up enjoying the romance of the moon story, and the food. Then it’s getting cold. And we are getting tired and falling asleep…

The Moon Festival is one of three main traditional festivals in my home country Taiwan. Most Kiwis know about Chinese New Year but not the Dragon Boat Festival (22nd June this year). The 29th September 2023 is the fifteenth day of the Chinese eighth lunar month, a full moon.

After a few Moon Festivals, we all knew and could recite the story. Naturally, we gradually lost interest in being out with my dad on the night of the Festival. TV programmes - so colourful and noisy - attracted us more than my father’s old stories. And of course, after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969, we never believed the moon legends

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The moon landing may have killed our romantic imagination of the moon, and my poor father lost our trust in his story - but the tradition, the festival and the atmosphere have always been there and continue on. They never change.

However, we have changed the way we celebrate our cultural festival. Now the people in my hometown prefer a barbeque at an open space on the night of the festival. Families gather and friends talk. The funny thing is, like Father Christmas in the west, this particular celebration style started from an advertising campaign. It was for a barbeque sauce, not Coca Cola. It used this festival, in reality. But people did not care.

Traditionally, each of the festivals originated from its own legend and was celebrated by specific food. For the Dragon Boat Festival: rice dumplings. For the Moon Festival: round mooncakes. Even after 20 years in New Zealand, I still make Taiwanese style mooncakes before the day of the festival. Shelled green beans are the main ingredient of

mooncakes. After several processes of wrapping and baking, the crisp, sweet and soft mooncakes appeal to almost everyone’s taste buds. Some advanced level mooncake makers even put a salted egg yolk into the filling because it looks like the moon!

Nowadays, young people may not know the festival legends, but are always impressed by the food. To get the atmosphere of the festival requires eating the specific food around the day of festivals. Otherwise, it’s like losing our precious childhood and cultural memories.

And there is another side to the Festivals. Taiwanese company bosses normally give money or gifts to staff to celebrate the Moon and Dragon Boat Festivals. And at the end of the lunar year, staff get their annual bonus. People compare which boss is more generous or which company made more money in the past year.

So for most traditional Chinese, the moon signifies homesickness and missing friends… The moon, especially the big, round full moon easily makes me nostalgic. I learnt and recited lots of Chinese classic poems when young. And these ancient poets write about missing their family members or friends when the moon is high above in the dark sky. Lots of poems relate their feelings to the moon. Moon, wine and nostalgic feelings are unleashed on the paper in Chinese classic poems all the time. Only one moon in the world, my dear friend, are you looking at the same moon even though we are in different places at the moment?

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2023

Wednesday, 6th September, Akaroa.

Tuesday, 12th September, Mairehau, Christchurch.

Wednesday, 20th September, Aidanfield.

Tuesday, 26th September, Hokitika.

Wednesday, 27th September, Westport.

Monday, 2nd October, Burwood, Christchurch. Thursday, 12th October, Addington, Christchurch. Friday, 13th October, Ashburton.

Monday, 16th October, Age Concern Canterbury, 24 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch.

Tuesday, 28th November, Darfield. Wednesday, 29th November, Addington, Christchurch.

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

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together.

After 32 years in New Zealand Harmony still makes Taiwanese Moon cakes.

Time capsule to reflect lives and the world in 2023

It might be 30 years or more before the fruits of their labour are realized, but for a group of residents at Elmswood Retirement Village on Wairakei Road, Christchurch, the effort is worth it. This group and others within the village are putting together a time capsule that will be buried within the walls of the apartments where alterations are currently underway.

The idea for the time capsule came from Diversional Therapist, Trina Cox. Trina remembered her father finding a cigarette tin in the wall of her family home when she was a child. The tin, which had been left by a previous builder had always piqued her interest and this memory and the alterations at Elmswood prompted the idea of a time capsule.

The contents of the capsule have been chosen to reflect the lives of not only those living at Elmswood but also a reflection of how the world is in 2023. They include letters to the future from residents where they offer wisdom for future readers like “smiles are contagious, kindness is free” and “do as your mother tells you”.

There is also information about the Covid 19 pandemic including information about the lockdowns and

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a Rapid antigen test (RATs), local newspapers, information about what we are eating in 2023, a copy of the Anzac Service held by the village in April, copies of the Elmswood Village News, popular culture and news references that includes details about the coronation of King Charles III, a photo of the President of the USA and even information about the Barbie movie!

Hopefully there will also be a copy of this edition of Keeping On that

documents the story of the time capsule.

The contents will be sealed inside a plastic container and placed in a spot inside a wall that builders on the site have identified. The placement spot will not be marked, and Trina and the contributors hope that it will be a surprise discovery when the building is being renovated or demolished sometime in the future.

Those that find the capsule are in for a rare treat.

SWELL, bringing older residents together

Held annually in October, SWELL aims to bring older residents together through organisations and activities which support wellbeing and inclusion within the community.

Held on Monday 16 October from 9am until 2pm, our SWELL Senior’s Lifestyle Expo is free to attend with over 100 exhibitors.

On the day you will learn which social activities and community groups in Selwyn to join, and everything you need to know about healthcare, life planning, volunteering and travel. Plus, this year we have some carefully selected market vendors, so you may get a spot of early Christmas shopping in. Bring your family or friends along, as there will be live entertainment, guest speakers, coffee, food and market stalls to enjoy.

Following the expo, there is a two-week activity series with 19 events on offer. Build digital knowledge through a computer basics course, enjoy a live reading of classic and witty poems, try your luck at bingo (with some great prizes up for grabs!), learn everything you’ve always wanted to know about recycling, try a low intensity aqua fitness, group exercise or dance class, or enjoy a guided walk around Ahuriri Lagoon in Greenpark – rich with fascinating flora, fauna and native birdlife. There’s something to suit everyone!

To find out more and book yourself in, pick up a copy of the What’s on in Selwyn brochure from your local library or Council Community Centre see ad on next page or go to: selwyn.govt.nz/swell

Elmswood Village Residents, Hazel Kerr, Ann Procter, Nola Bowron and Frances Neate, displaying some of the contents of their time capsule.

Monday 16 October 2023, 9am–2pm Lincoln Event Centre

Celebrating the wellbeing and inclusion of Selwyn’s older residents.

Pop along to the SWELL Expo and connect with over 100 community clubs, organisations and wellbeing providers. Enjoy live entertainment, guest speakers, activities, food vendors, and market stalls at this free entry event.

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Plus, don’t miss our two-week activity series around Selwyn — computer courses, fitness classes, poetry readings, bingo, walks and more.

Pick up a copy of the What’s on in Selwyn brochure from your local library or Council Community Centre to find out more.

selwyn.govt.nz/swell

Tips for keeping your home warmer and drier in the colder months

As the temperatures drop, and the colder months start to set in, many of us are looking for ways to stay warm and cosy at home without breaking the bank. Fortunately, you can take several easy steps to keep your home warmer and drier during the colder months.

Here are some tips from Christchurch Charitable Trust Community Energy Action (CEA) to help you get started:

Use good quality curtains

One of the easiest ways to get free heat is by opening your curtains in the morning to let the sun in and closing them at dusk to trap the heat in. This helps regulate your home's temperature and reduce your heating bill.

You can visit CEA’s Curtain Bank for free thermal-lined recycled curtains. Curtains can be made to your specific measurements and there are no qualifying criteria. For more information, visit www.cea. co.nz/curtains/

Try not to dry your clothes inside

Drying your clothes in poorly ventilated rooms during winter could make your house damp and lead to mould growth.

If possible, use a dryer or hang clothes outside on a day when it isn't raining. If this isn’t possible, try to keep a window open or use a dehumidifier.

Keep an eye on condensation that may develop on windows.

Wipe condensation

Moisture can build up on your windows, and as the day heats up, this moisture will evaporate into your house and lead to dampness, making it harder to heat your home. To prevent this, wipe condensation off your windows every morning, and invest in a squeegee or a "Scoopy" to catch it. You can purchase a Scoopy at www.cea.co.nz/shop/

Ventilate your home

It is essential to ventilate your home daily, even in winter. Open windows on opposite sides of your house for at least 10 minutes each day to allow fresh air to circulate.

Use your heat pump wisely

If you’re using a heat pump to heat your home this winter, be mindful of

how long you have it on and at what temperature.

It is recommended that during the colder months, you set your heat pump to around 18-22 degrees, and only use it in the rooms that need heating. Although this seems low, having it on a higher setting won’t actually heat up your room any faster.

It's not wise to leave your heat pump on all day either. If you can, schedule your heat pump to activate 15 minutes before you get home.

Assess your heating

Depending on your home's layout and insulation, radiant heat (bar heaters, log burners) may be more efficient than convection heat (fan heater, oil column heater).

Contact CEA heating experts for advice on how to best heat your home with the resources you have.

Use dry firewood

If you're using a log burner, only use dry firewood to prevent excess moisture build-up.

Use cold water for washing

Hot water can account for up to 30% of your power bill. Try to use more cold water to wash clothes and dishes and take shorter showers in winter.

Keep furniture away from external walls

To prevent mould from growing, keep a gap between your furniture

and external walls.

Use a double-door sausage

Use a double-door sausage that moves with the door to prevent drafts between heated and unheated parts of your home. You can purchase one at www.cea.co.nz/shop/

Keep doors closed

Keep the doors to your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry shut to reduce condensation and dampness in these areas.

Avoid using unflued gas heaters

These heaters can emit up to 1 litre of moisture every hour, leading to dampness in your home. They are also expensive to run and can release dangerous gases, so always use them with a window open and preferably only use them in emergencies.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your home warm and dry during the colder months while saving money on your heating bills.

You may be eligible for 80-100% subsidised insulation

As a charitable trust, CEA can provide subsidised funding to eligible homes with assistance from the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. Get in contact with them for more information and to check your eligibility.

www.cea.co.nz or 0800 438 9276.

Challenging wills - the Family Protection Act

Family relationships are becoming more complex. Accordingly, challenges to Wills are becoming more common. One way of challenging a Will is under the Family Protection Act 1955. A spouse, de facto partner, child or grandchild of a deceased person is entitled to claim provision from an estate if adequate provision has not been made for their proper maintenance and support. In rare circumstances, a stepchild or parent may also make a claim.

automatically disqualify a child from making a claim.

Grandchildren are not usually considered by the Court as qualifying for an award unless there are special circumstances such as their own parent dying before the deceased grandparent.

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Claims are often made by adult children on the grounds of a breach of moral duty. This is judged by the standards of a wise and just deceased at the time of death. The Courts adopt a broad approach and each case is decided on its own facts. Financial need and the health of the child are often the most important factors. However even if the child is in good health and in a good financial position they may still have a valid claim, based on belonging to the family and having been an important part in the life of the deceased person. The fact that a child was estranged from their deceased parent does not

The Court is not restricted to particular considerations and must be aware of changing social attitudes over time. As a result, there are no firm percentages for claims by surviving children. Where there is a large estate the Court is more likely to make a larger award. However where a child is well off and in good health awards are typically modest.

Claims under the Family Protection Act are one way to challenge a will. There are also a number of other ways in which spouses, children and non-family members can challenge wills.

Advice from a lawyer and a carefully crafted Will by a lawyer can minimise the risks of a challenge. Give our Seniors law team a call on 03 379 7835 to arrange an appointment to discuss your situation.

Contact CEA heating experts for advice on how to best heat your home with the resources you have.

My Book Club recommends

Forty Autumns by Nina Willner

Reviewed by Renee Blackburn

happiness in the smallest things: They are thankful for their homegrown food, time spent together in trustworthy company, and for any news from Hanna that would sporadically make its way past the wall in the form of postcards, packages and phone calls.

The personal struggles of the family are woven together with lots of historically interesting details: The success of East German Olympians, the creativity of some of the escapees, the politics and propaganda of the GDR, and the jubilant celebrations at The Berlin Wall in 1989 — I learned so much from reading this account, and so did my book group.

In the wake of WWII, when Germany is divided into East and West, friends and families are separated almost overnight. One young woman, Hanna, decides to flee East Germany early in the regime, but it means leaving behind everyone she knows and loves. Forty Autumns is the story of what it was like for Hanna and her family, told from both inside and outside “The Iron Curtain”.

Published in 2016 and told by Hanna’s daughter, Nina, this book will be great for those with an interest in history, politics and family sagas. The narrative style of this non-fiction book makes it an easy, but compelling and informative read. Nina manages to craft the story with such detail and intimacy it is as though she were there, witnessing events before she was even born.

From the first page I was drawn deeply into Hanna and her family’s world - I felt their initial relief with the American (rather than Russian) occupation in the immediate aftermath of the war, and struggled with them through the increasingly suffocating years that followed under the strict communist regime.

I marvelled at the resilience of the family - Oma (Hanna’s mother) and Heidi (Hanna’s younger sister) in particular. Oma put up her own metaphorical “family wall” to provide a small but significant haven during a time when one in six members of the community were spying for the Stasi. She kept the family united through incredibly difficult circumstances, including her husband (Opa’s) mental breakdowns. Heidi held tight to the memory of a single visit to the West, never joined the Communist Party despite the disadvantages to her and her children, and eventually built a bucolic retreat with her husband where they could relax and unwind most weekends.

Overall, the family learns to find

The only parts of the book that I found less compelling were those focused on the author’s time working for US intelligence. While she does visit East Berlin during The Cold War, her experiences don’t strongly relate to the core narrative and, while interesting, I found them somewhat distracting and almost unnecessary.

Here’s some of what came up during our book club discussion:

How glad we were to live in New Zealand in 2023! We noted how content one could be with simple pleasures — and how this was the one thing some people actually missed about the GDR after the wall came down.

We could only imagine what it must have felt like for those born and raised in the GDR when the wall came down. They’d never known anything different. The descriptions of people hesitating to leave (in case this was an elaborate trick on the part of the government) was heartbreaking.

We loved the image of young East Germans secretly picking up TV and radio signals from the West, becoming politically aware as they sought out entertainment and amusement. It was fascinating the role technology ultimately played in the fall of the regime.

About my book group

I read Forty Autumns as part of a second book group I joined a few months ago. We meet in the Parklands Library in Christchurch on the first Monday evening of every month. A librarian leads our group (and opens the library after hours for us!) We are currently all women, with a large age range from 30s-70s and tend to discuss the book in detail as well as sharing anything else we may have read that month. My first book group is more social in nature, which I also love, but it’s great to have in-depth discussions and read books that are different from what my other group might choose!

With spring fast approaching, once again the Hurunui region is preparing for the Hurunui Garden Festival. Who wouldn’t enjoy a beautiful spring day spent outdoors, exploring some of the most inspirational private gardens New Zealand has to offer? Now in its sixth year, this popular festival has become the region's premier event, attracting thousands of visitors. It showcases 18 stunning North Canterbury gardens, from the intimate and whimsical, to the grand and formal, with beautiful herbaceous borders, native plantings, grand avenues, and cosy seating areas … There is something to inspire every gardener.

The gardens are all an easy drive from Christchurch, arranged in geographical clusters, and range from Amberley in the south, through the Waipara Gorge with its striking limestone formations, to the beautiful rolling hills and productive farm land of Hawarden, Waikari and Cheviot. And finally to Hanmer Springs, with cafes, shops, and river and mountain views.

At each property, the owners will be on hand to tell stories and share their advice and knowledge. Many gardens offer refreshments, plant and produce stalls, gardening workshops, art exhibitions and live entertainment.

There is even a private museum and car collection. Details of all these attractions are on the easy to use website www.hurunuigardenfestival. com and also in the handy Festival Guide available in shops and cafes all over the region. The website and guide include detailed maps, and information about wheelchair access and restrooms in the gardens, plus public toilets, accommodation, petrol and diesel stations and food outlets. A special feature of this festival is that it is self-drive, giving you the freedom to plan your itinerary, and enjoy some of the delights of the region. The festival began in 2018 to help rebuild the area devastated after the Kaikoura earthquakes. This small beginning has since grown to be a celebration of everything Canterbury… the gardens, the sunny climate, fabulous food, wineries, historic homes, local art and artisans, and warm hospitality.

Dates: Thursday, October 27th to Sunday, October 30th, 2023. $10.00 per adult per garden. Buy online before the end of August to get the early-bird special of 12 tickets for the price of 10. Otherwise tickets can be purchased on the day, gates open from 9.00am to 5.00pm each day. www.hurunuigardenfestival.com

18 stunning North Canterbur y gardens, eachasdiverseastheirownersJoin

Saddlewood Garden

The Whitelock Legacy: George, Sam and Luke

by Mike Crean

Canterbury rugby fans rate Sam Whitelock as the greatest lock of all time. I agree with them.

Sure, Colin Meads was the best in his time. But Sam has played longer, confronted tougher opposition and never played “dirty”.

Some North Islanders claim Sam as one of theirs, as he was born and raised in Manawatu. But he has made Canterbury his home. Turning the argument around, some North Islanders claim Brodie Retallick as one of theirs. But Brodie, another great lock, was born and raised in Canterbury.

Sam is one of a rare breed, a trio of All Black brothers. His family is a constellation of rugby stars. His

Trust housekeeping

Disclosure requirements recently introduced by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for domestic trusts will almost certainly affect all family trusts as these apply to all domestic trusts with assessable income over $200.

There is a silver lining, though. If your trust is considered to be ‘passive’ – one that earns an income of $200 or less in a financial year - it does not have to meet the new disclosure requirements, provided, a non-active declaration is made for the trust. Your accountant will need to fill this in and file it with the IRD.

Trusts can be used to protect assets from being at risk because of debts, business liabilities, relationship breakdowns, and to help arrange the distribution of assets to younger family members in the future – but these days, administering a trust is a complicated business.

The law is constantly changing

and eroding some of the protection that a trust has traditionally afforded, so it’s important to regularly review the purpose of your trust and ask yourself if it is still relevant for today and carries out the purpose it was intended for.

Divesting your assets to a trust means those assets are no longer yours and cannot just be given away under your will. They can only be distributed by the trustees, according to the terms in the trust deed.

To work well, a trust should be backed up by a will. Your will should be written to complement the trust and a memorandum of wishes should accompany both the trust and the will. That way, the entire package is wrapped up tight so that you get the outcome you want.

Trust Management Services can help you manage your trust. Our online Trustee Management Selfassessment Tool at aspiringlaw. co.nz/TMSA can also help you evaluate how well you’re doing when it comes to administering your trust.

grandfather, Nelson Dalzell, was a powerful All Black lock in the 1950s. Nelson was a farmer at Culverden, in North Canterbury. His daughter, Caroline, married Braeden Whitelock, a Manawatu farmer. Braeden played rugby for Manawatu and the Junior All Blacks.

Braeden and Caroline had four sons: George, Sam, Adam and Luke. All moved to Canterbury to study at Lincoln University. All played for Canterbury and the Crusaders. George, Sam and Luke became All Blacks. Sam and Luke captained the All Blacks. George captained Canterbury. Adam missed All Blacks selection (narrowly) but represented

New Zealand in Rugby Sevens. And don’t forget lively Canterbury and Crusaders hooker Ben Funnell, a cousin of the Whitelock brothers.

I can think of only one other trio of All Black brothers in my 75 years: Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett. Their father, Kevin, played for Taranaki. Scott has been a longtime Crusader and Jordie played for Canterbury before returning to the North Island.

Such trios are rare but pairs of brother All Blacks are relatively common. Think of Robbie and Bruce Deans, Ben and Owen Franks, Colin and Stan Meads, Ian and Don Clarke…

You are not alone

You are not alone! These are uncertain and unsettling times for all of us.

A listening ear - if you are stressed, worried or uncertain about your future, it can be very helpful to discuss the challenges you face with someone who listens well for understanding first of all, with no assumptions or judgements. Someone who will work in partnership with you to create solutions that are individually tailored, and a framework and plan for the future that you can imagine. Small steps moving forward at your pace lead to positive and beneficial changes and the creation of new healthy habits and lifestyle.

Dr Murray Cameron, Counsellor, is a Gold Card holder and senior, who works with people of all ages to create the future that they want to have. Developing individual plans and goals, encompassing all of the important aspects of a healthy, happy and positive life including physical,

mental, family, spiritual, financial, work, leisure and pleasure aspects, leads to a happy and fulfilling future.

This can be particularly important when contemplating retirement or realising that your retirement is unsatisfying making you unhappy and disappointed. One definition of retirement is “to withdraw from life, withdraw from view”.

It might be more useful and satisfying for your health and wellbeing to redefine your place and role as a positive and contributing member of society and your community, including part-time work and volunteering if desired. This benefits both you and the community, contributing your skills, talents, knowledge and wisdom in new ways that also provide personal meaning and purpose in this next stage of your life.

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Do you have problems, worries, challenges as an older person, that you would like to talk about confidentially?

Are you feeling stressed, anxious or depressed and would like to work together with a trained, professional counsellor towards a positive future? Would you like to plan for a happy, healthy, fulfilling retirement/new phase of life?

I work with kindness, care and compassion and can come and meet with you where you live if necessary. My fees are negotiable and affordable and related to your financial situation.

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If this sounds interesting and useful, please contact me. My details are in the advertisement below.

Canterbury rugby fans rate Sam Whitelock the greatest lock of all time.

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Combining both traditional and modern library services

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Arthritis pain relief that works in minutes

Florentine Gold All Natural Harmony Body and Joint Rub (topical lotion) is an amazing product with so many uses and benefits. You can purchase this online by visiting our website www.florentinegold.co.nz or email us at info@florentinegold.co.nz

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The All Natural Harmony Body and Joint Rub is wonderful for all types of pain relief including peripheral neuropathy sensory ataxia, gout, neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, headaches, migraines, pulled and strained muscles and tennis elbow and much, much, more. Also gives relief to some skin conditions including acne, eczema and psoriasis. It is excellent for sore throats and toothache (for external

use only), speedy recovery from migraine headaches, for the relief of sunburn and takes the itch from mosquito bites.

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The All Natural Harmony Body & Joint Rub would make a wonderful present for family and friends.

The Christchurch City Libraries Outreach and Learning team have been working hard to combine both traditional and modern services to offer a taster of what you can expect in the 21st century library out in the community to older adults that have difficulties accessing a library.

Tokona te Kaika: Homelink is a service supporting people who are housebound, either temporarily or permanently through a major illness, disability or advancement of years; and have no ready access to transport or person to collect their books/ items from a library. A friendly librarian will come out to your home to discuss what your library requirements are, either books, DVD’s, audiobooks or magazines. They will then choose 10 items every four weeks and deliver them to your home at a time to suit you. In addition to physical items, you are also entitled to one Book a Librarian session in your own home to help you access our digital library. If you would like to receive this service or know someone who would please contact our call centre on 03 941 7923 to discuss suitability.

”It’s just like Christmas,” one Tokona te Kaika; Homelink customer said to Toni, the librarian, when she delivered her books.

The Outreach and Learning team are delighted to be offering experiential services into Aged Care facilities by offering a free VR experience in partnership with Blake. The Sir Peter Blake Trust (BLAKE) was established in 2004 and is dedicated to continuing his environmental leadership legacy. Christchurch City Libraries have partnered with BLAKE to support them to inspire and prepare people to lead a sustainable future for Aotearoa. Through virtual reality

(VR) technology, NZ-VR allows participants to experience a number of underwater virtual reality experiences that compare and contrast pristine marine environments with degraded ones. You learn about what causes the damage, as well as what actions can show kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and protect the marine environment. This was the first time the outreach team have offered this kind of emerging technology to this demographic and are pleased to consider it an astounding success.

“The residents were really engaged for the hour chatting to each other and gasping at what they could see under the sea and on the seashore around New Zealand,” Susan from the Outreach team, commented.

There have already been enquiries from other Aged Care Villas and Rest homes for the programme to visit their residents, which is exciting!

Each year Christchurch City Libraries runs a Photo Hunt to gather photographs from across the community, along with the unique stories of their creators. This year the theme is Our Stories of Living and Learning.

Here in Ōtautahi-Christchurch and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū-Banks Peninsula we have many stories, from Ngāi Tahu and other iwi, European settlers, Pacific Islanders, and people of many other ethnic and cultural backgrounds who have made this place home.

Share your photographs and stories to highlight the key moments in our city’s history. Find out more about how to enter Photo Hunt 2023 at https://my.christchurchcitylibraries. com/photo-hunt/, ring our Fingertip Library on 941-7923, or ask at your local library.

“I want to air a well kept secret that Keeping On, The Official Voice of Age Concern Canterbury is the only one issued in New Zealand. A mine of information and selected reading on many topics. Look for it in hard copy or ask a friendly Librarian at your local library. I am looking forward to the August copy!”

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

The residential care subsidy

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.

Steady As You Go (SAYGo)

Falls Prevention – Exercise Classes in Canterbury (August 2023)

Tues. 10.00am St Albans (Waitlist) Lamb of God Community Centre, 21 Thames Street, St Albans

Tues. 10.00am Fendalton St Barnabas Church Hall, Fendalton. Christchurch.

Tues 10.30am Bryndwr Bryndwr Chapel, 179 Idris Road

Tues. 1.00pm Burnside Wairakei Road Bible Church, 392 Wairakei Road, Burnside

Tues 1.30pm Hornby (Waitlist) Community Care Centre, Goulding Avenue

Tues 2.00pm Waltham (Waitlist) Waltham Community Cottage, 201 Hastings St East

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 circumstances. A

Wed 11.00am Halswell Te Hapua, Halswell Service Centre and Library, 341 Halswell Rd

Wed 1.30pm Lincoln Lincoln Community Care, Lyttelton St,

Wed. 2.00pm Papanui Age Concern Canterbury, 24 Main North Road, Papanui.

Thurs 10.00am Heathcote Malt Works Villa Hall, Port Hills Rd

Thurs 9.30am St Albans St Albans Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street

Thurs 10.30am Avonside/Linwood Holy Trinity Church, 168 Stanmore Road

Thurs. 11.00am Avonhead St Christophers Church, 244 Avonhead Road, Avonhead

Fri 9.30am Hoon Hay (Waitlist) Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church Lounge, 5 Downing St

Fri 10.00am New Brighton (Waitlist) New Brighton Library – in the Pay and Display Room

Fri 10.00am Opawa Opawa Community Church, cnr Opawa Rd and Aynsley Tce

Fri. 11.00am Opawa Opawa Community Church, cnr Opawa Rd and Aynsley Tce

NORTH CANTERBURY

Day time AREA Location of class

Tues 10.00am Rangiora (Waitlist) RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora

Tues. 11.00am Rangiora RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora

Wed 10.00am Rangiora Ballarat Retirement Village, 21 Ballarat Rd

Wed 11.00am Amberley Amberley Library, RSA Room

Thurs 10.30am Rotherham Rotherham Hotel, 42 George St

Thurs 10.00am Oxford Jaycee Hall, 56 Main Street. Oxford.

Thurs 1.30pm Rangiora RSA Hall, Victoria Street, Rangiora

Thurs

Health promoter chit chat

Its now been over a year since I joined the wonderful team at Age Concern Canterbury. It has been quite busy and a wonderful year of connection with the established Steady As You Go classes, our important Falls Prevention community based exercise classes. These classes are a great way of maintaining strength, balance and mobility while exercising in a group and strengthening social connections. I have met so many amazing people through these classes and continue to receive lots of enquiries about joining a class but also from groups wanting to start up a new class in their community. I have set up new classes in and around Christchurch. I have 3 new classes starting at the end of August. Keep an eye on our website for updates on our class lists or phone me on 331 7811.

Remember that as we all age, maintaining good fitness, muscle strength and length and working on balance should be something that we all embrace, and not leave it. If you begin to decrease your activity your strength and balance can be affected. Stay active but also stay safe.

So, for those of you who are thinking about starting a bit of exercise, here

by Anna Tillman, Health Promoter, Age Concern Canterbury.

is a recap of the exercises I have suggested over the last year, giving most of your body a wee workout! Start with trying to do some exercises 2 or 3 times a week and gradually build up the number of times each week. Any pain, just stop. It’s not the right exercise for you. Sit in a comfortable chair with a straight back (kitchen chair) with your feet flat on the floor. With control lift your leg and tap your heel on the ground as far away from you as possible then with control lift your leg back again to the start position. Repeat each leg 5-10 times initially and increase as able.

Sit in a comfortable chair with a straight back (kitchen chair) with your feet flat on the floor. Lean forwards slightly and working your legs and pushing your feet hard down into the floor move up into standing, trying to keep your knees apart as you stand. If you need to use your hands, make sure you have started the movement with the push up through your feet first, then help with your arms. Stand tall with control, sit back down into the chair. Repeat 5-10 times initially and increase as able. If you are a little wobbly on your feet, do this exercise next to a solid table to help

steady you if necessary. Remember to always stay safe while exercising. Either in sitting or standing: Have arms hanging straight down by your sides, elbows straight. Swing your arms forward and back from your shoulders (no higher than about 45 degrees) in a reciprocal rhythm with purpose for about 30 seconds then stop. Bend your elbows (running arms)and repeat the movement for another 30 seconds. Stop, take a couple of deep breaths then repeat the whole exercise.

Sit in a chair with arms, with your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on the arm of the chair and keeping your feet on the floor, but not using your legs, try to lift your bottom off the chair(or make it lighter on the chair) then slowly lower it. Repeat this exercise 5-10 times initially and increase as able. If it causes you any pain, then stop.

In sitting or standing. Fold your arms across your chest or hold them comfortably out in front of you. Slowly rotate your shoulders/arms and upper body around to one side, come back to the middle, then rotate slowly around to the other side, come back to the middle. Repeat slowly 5-10 times.

In sitting or standing. Hold one arm straight up above your head. Keeping your arm as straight as possible slowly lower your arm across your body to touch your opposite knee or ankle, then slowly move back to the start position again. Repeat 5 times then change arms.

Heel Toe stand: Standing, holding onto a support with one hand. Place one foot in front of the other, with the heel of one foot touching the toe of the other. Hold for a count of 10. Repeat twice each side. To increase the challenge, use your hands less and/or hold for a count of 15.

Inside walking: If you are able to, you could try going to your local mall and walking around the interior. If you don’t have a mall handy, try walking inside your house in a circuit, being aware of lifting your feet, adding in marching steps with an arm swing, taking higher steps and taking longer steps. If you are unable to walk freely inside then do the same in sitting, marching and running your legs, adding in purposeful arm swings. Happy exercising, and I look forward to hearing from you with any questions, queries or suggestions. Email anna.tillman@ageconcerncan. org.nz or phone 03 3317811.

Stories of Friendships from the Visiting Service

Earlier this year, the Canterbury Age Concern Visiting Service published a collection of stories about friendships that have developed over the years among visiting service clients and their volunteer visitors.

The idea was driven by former Visiting Service Coordinator, Emma Parker, who felt privileged to be a witness to the connections and friendships made during her eight years with the visiting service.

Emma, and current Visiting Service Coordinators, Rebecca Hopgood and Peter McGrath, wanted to share

some of the special connections they have seen develop in the service over recent years.

One of the favourite quotes in the Visiting Service is, ‘No one has made it through life without someone else’s help’ (Heather French Henry). As human beings we are made to connect with others and our survival is very much dependent on the relationships we have with those around us.

As we age many of these relationships are lost and it becomes increasingly difficult to form new

Stories of Friendship

Collected and written by E. Parker, R. Hopgood and P. McGrath

connections. Research tells us that loneliness can have an impact not only on an individual’s mental wellbeing but also carries serious health implications. In fact, research shows that having weak social connections carries a similar health risk to being an alcoholic or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Research has also shown older people who are lonely and lack positive social interactions are more likely to go into rest home care. (Age Concern Visiting Service Resource).

The research is heart-breaking but there is something we can do

to safeguard older people from experiencing loneliness. Familiarising yourself with older people in your local community and reaching out is the first step. You may have an older neighbour living next door or an older person has reached out to say ‘hello’ at the local supermarket. The greatest gift you can give is your time.

As many of our visitors will tell us, the connections they have formed through the Visiting Service have led to lifelong friendships. Within this book are just some of these stories.

Henrica and Rae - a special friendship story

Henrica says her visitor Rae is often the only person she opens the door to all week. Their friendship has been going strong for 10 years now. Henrica has some hearing loss and can struggle to hear in busy environments which makes it difficult for her to participate in group situations. Rae struggles at times with her mobility and Henrica, who is 12 years older, will be the one to help her over uneven ground when they are out together which they like to do when they can. Trips out often include a visit to the movies, coffee or just a nice drive. Both tell me their lives are better for knowing one another.

Six years ago, Rae underwent hip surgery and Henrica took it upon herself to visit Rae every week and carefully monitored her recovery. It was at this point Rae came to the realisation that what started as a volunteer opportunity has turned into a very special friendship. “Not only am I doing something for Age Concern Canterbury, but for us both. For me it has been much more than I would have ever realised before this started. Henrica is a real honey.”

Both Henrica and Rae speak so fondly of one another and what a ‘gift’ their friendship has been. Rae loves

that Henrica, at the age of 95, is still so interested in the world and anything that may arise. Rae’s continued friendship supported Henrica over the last few years during the pandemic. There were months where they could not see one another which would have been even more isolating for Henrica. Rae rang Henrica every other day to check in and catch up. Our volunteers went above and beyond during the pandemic. Our volunteers can see first-hand how damaging isolation can be for older people and the pandemic intensified this.

Rae’s mobility has continued to decline but it hasn’t stopped their trips out and Henrica will help Rae get her walker in and out of the car if needed. Rae tells me the years have flown by with Henrica but neither of them tire of the other’s company and every year their bond grows stronger. When a volunteer enquires about the service we always tell them it is mutually beneficial. Henrica and Rae are testament to this and how the power of friendship can help to overcome life’s challenges. They are still helping one another over uneven ground.

Age Concern Canterbury honours volunteers

Age Concern Canterbury relies on the contributions made by nearly 400 volunteers which helps us to deliver our services to the Canterbury community. We value this contribution every day, but once a year we like to make a special time to acknowledge this. National Volunteer Week (held in June) is the ideal opportunity to do this, as it is a special week set aside to recognise the collective energies and mana of volunteers in Aotearoa. This year's theme was 'Time to Shine – He wā pīataata.’ Age Concern Canterbury gave their volunteers “time to shine” at a lunch in their honour at Addington Raceway. Around 200 volunteers attended the lunch and were joined by Age Concern Canterbury staff and board members. Presentations were made to long-serving volunteers from all areas of our services including drivers, assistants, visitors, hosts, and those who contribute to the production of this magazine.

The annual lunch is a highlight of the year for staff and volunteers, and we are already looking forward to the 2024 event.

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Companion Walking Service

July 2023

Glenice Giles, Visiting Service visitor.

August 2023

June Peka, Writer for Keeping On.

September 2023

Rowena Hobbs, Steady As You Go (SAYGO) Class Leader

VOLUNTEER VISITORS NEEDED

Could you spare a little time to become a volunteer visitor?

Would you like to become a Companion Walking

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

From left: A group of volunteer drivers at the Volunteer Week event. Lynda Gowers received a special award for being a volunteer visitor for 25 years and Hans, Jill, Jurgen and Georgie are all volunteers who enjoyed the National Volunteer Week lunch.

Arthritis aid and circulation booster

Exercise while sitting watching TV or reading. Affordable, effective and so easy.

Twelve years ago when a lady from Te Horo devised a means of relieving her husband’s severe arthritic pain, stiff joints and swollen ankles, she didn’t anticipate the demand for her Aircycle.

The inflatable cushion, shaped like a pair of feet, allowed her husband to exercise his ankle, knee and hip joints, lower back, wrists, fingers, arms and shoulders while sitting.

It was so effective an arthritis educator requested more be made for other sufferers. Word spread and now it’s used by thousands of people here and overseas.

The gentle exercises not only help aching joints but hugely improve circulation in legs, feet and hands. Users report swollen ankles, night cramps and restless legs greatly improved. Diabetes related problems are eased. Leg muscles are strengthened and balance improved helping users to walk further with

greater confidence.

Those who derive the greatest benefit from the Aircycle use it several times a day.

"Aircycle is even 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," Gay, Rotorua.

“After using for only four days my Uncle’s swollen ankles disappeared before his eyes,” Susan, Cambridge.

Aircycle is made in NZ, registered with Medsafe and has a lifetime warranty.

Visit www.aircycle.co.nz to see it demonstrated and read testimonials from health professionals and people whose lives have been changed as a result of regular use.

See below ad and order on line or call Sue in Levin on 0800 141415. A

CLUES: (Legend: fl= combo due; * =optional cryptic due; §=sounds like; oo=anagram

Across:

1. Ideal (7), 5. Tested (5), 7. Sauteed, 8. Men to me (7)oo, 9. Age (3), 10. Horse (7), 12. Rung (5), 14. Pass over (5), 17. Stingy (7), 20. One (3)oo, 20. Describes singular revival if reordered (3}* , 21. Praise (7), 22. Taste (5)oo, 22. Tell its character (5)* , 23.& 24 Cook tiny fish (5,7),i, 23. BBQ(5), 24. Describes a Phillipine goby (7)

Down:

2. Enhance (6), 3. Conclusion (6), 4. Mess with (6), 5. Art of picking the right moment (6)*, 5. Synchronizing (6), 6. Lengthen (6), 11 Eliminate (3), 13. How to chase after caviar? (3)§, 13. Aquatic eggs (3), 15. Used to scale (6), 16. Hook up (6), 17. Point in time (6), 18 Felt (6), 19. Permitted a modest desire to be fired up (6)oo*, 19 Diminutive (6)

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

Memories

by Mike Crean

Brother-in-law, Clarry, King Coal

One day, 65 years ago, I was King Coal. It was late-winter and Hawarden’s coal supplies were running low. To the rescue came my brother-in-law, Clarry, a driver with the local carrying company. His job that day was to bring a truckload of coal from the West Coast. It was the August school holidays. Just 10 years-old, I begged to go with him. He agreed. I felt like a king.

The company’s newest and biggest truck, a Commer diesel, was prepared, with sides and a tail gate fitted. Up at 5.30am, bacon and eggs downed by 5.45am, gone by 6.00am. Through the dark and quiet we roared towards the Lewis Pass. As dawn broke, the rain started. Then the snow.

We continued as the snow thickened. Then we reached a steep incline. Clarry put his foot down and the truck tackled the climb easily – too easily. As we neared the top, another company’s truck loomed out of the maze. It was bogged in the snow. “That b….. driver should have gone faster,” Clarry muttered. We could not pass the other truck but, fortunately, a grader arrived and towed both trucks up and over the top. Then we were away again. But more trouble lay ahead. A car travelling in the opposite direction skewed towards us in the icy snow. Clarry made a defensive swerve. Our left wheels sank in roadside slush. Another grader got us back on the road, undamaged.

Slight flurries of snow drifted as we passed the summit. At Springs Junction the sun came out. The Rahu Saddle was clear. Reefton’s sky promised a lovely day.

Our destination was the Heaphy coalmine, near Inangahua Junction. There Clarry parked under a hopper and tons of coal poured onto the deck.

The return trip was slow. We made one stop, beside a workman’s hut in the Lewis Pass. Clarry shovelled some coal into a sack and stood it by the hut door. I asked him why and he said the roadman living there deserved it.

We arrived home just before 5.00pm. A thought occurred – I was not King Coal. Clarry was.

Good footwear is important for comfortable feet

Here at Therapy Professionals, we know the value of comfortable feet. Poor footwear can cause foot, back and knee pain, and discomfort from corns, calluses, and fungal infections. High heels and sloppy fitting shoes can affect our balance and walking, making us prone to falls. Falls or fear of falling can make us less inclined to walk affecting our health, wellbeing, and independence.

To avoid pain, discomfort and potential falls caused by poor shoes and to maintain your fitness and independence as long as possible, follow our friendly physiotherapist’s advice on choosing shoes.

Essential components of good shoes are they:

• fit well - not too tight or too loose, (feet change shape and become larger with age, it’s important to resize your feet when buying new shoes),

• help us stand, move comfortably and safely,

• maximise stability,

• protect the feet keeping them

warm without overheating,

• are easy to get on and off, fasten and unfasten,

• lightweight and supportive,

• suit the person’s lifestyle.

The shoe

• fastenings must hold the foot well back in the shoe, (velcro fastening is better for disabled people),

•laces are long enough to accommodate different shaped feet,

•vamp openings provide easy access for the feet,

•soles should have some grip, (Parkinson’s patients may find leather permits slippage facilitating movement),

• sole needs some bounce,

• insoles need to be well padded

to cushion and reduce the strain on arthritic joints especially knees,

• soles need to bend at the ball of the foot not the arch,

• upper fabric needs to be soft and washable for hygiene especially with incontinence,

• heels need to be flat (high heels can be dangerous).

If you need advice on the best type of footwear for you,

Therapy Professionals friendly physiotherapists can help, just contact us:

Phone: (03) 377 5280,

Email: admin@tpl.nz

Website:

www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

“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.”

Crianlarich in the Scottish highlands - a travel yarn

by Mike Crean

Glendochart is a farm, near Hawarden, in North Canterbury. I lived there as a youngster. Later in life I wondered where the name had come from. No one around Hawarden could tell me. No atlas indexes listed the name.

So, when Margaret and I set off on our belated Overseas Experience in 2005, I wondered if I might find the place. One clue – Glendochart seemed a Scottish name; I would seek it in Scotland.

We hired a car in Edinburgh and headed into the Highlands, through Pitlochry to Aviemore, where we stayed the night, and on to Inverness. It was late-spring but freezing cold with snow on the hills. Next we drove beside Loch Ness (missing the Monster) and eventually reached Oban. Then we headed inland. We came to tiny village named Crianlarich and spotted an attractive B&B.

I went in to ask if we could

have a room for the night. The proprietor, Ernie, was a big man in a wheelchair. He asked where I was from.

“New Zealand,” I replied.

“Do you know Todd Blackadder?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, “I have met him a couple of times.”

That was true. The ex-All Blacks

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.

captain had become coach of the Scotland rugby team. So, Ernie and I hit it off. We could have talked rugby all night but Margaret was waiting in the car. We moved our stuff in and then I asked Ernie: “Have you heard of a place called Glendochart?”

Ernie looked at me strangely and said: “You’re here. Out the back is the Dochart River. It flows out of Loch Dochart. The road runs up the Glen. Go a mile up and you will see a large sign marking the Glen Dochart Motor Camp.”

Daylight would last, so Margaret and I drove up the glen. We passed the motor camp and carried on to the town of Killin, where an attractive waterfall tumbled out of the loch and into the river.

I thought of my Dad, long dead by then. He had worked as a farm labourer on New Zealand’s Glendochart. I had found the source of the name.

Crossword Answers

(#20230801)

CLUES: (Legend: fl= combo due; * =optional cryptic due; §=sounds like; oo=anagram

Across: 1. Perfect (7), 5. Tried (5), 7. Fried (5), 8. Memento (7) oo, 9. Eon (3), 10. Charger (7), 12. Grade (5), 14 Elide (5), 17. Miserly (7), 20. Neo (3) oo, 20. Neo (3)* , 21. Adulate (7), 22 State (5)oo, 22. State (5)* , 23. & 24 Grill Tiddler (5, 7),i 23. Grill (5), 24 Tiddler (7)

Down:

2. Enrich (6), 3. Ending (6), 4. Tamper (6), 5. Timing (6)*, 5. Timing (6), 7. Extend (6), 11. Rid (3), 13. Roe (3)§ (‘Row’), 13. Roe (3), 15. Ladder (6), 16. Entail (6), 17. Moment (6), 18. Sensed (6), 19. Little (6)oo* Let lit, 19. Little (6)

My Dad had worked as a farm labourer on NZ’s Glendochart Farm.

Choosing our own timing was our way

First published in Tui Motu Interislands, May 2022. Reprinted here with the author’s permission.

Trish McBride became one of Bupa Crofton Downs’ Foundation residents, moving from her home in Broadmeadows, Wellington, in 2022 to a new life in the village. The RVA is delighted that Trish has agreed to allow us to reprint her story here

I’ve loved this house passionately for 21 years. And here I am choosing to leave it. It started six months ago. I sorted through a couple of boxes of papers (life was lived on paper till the late ‘90s), then the thought: Anyone would think I was going somewhere. Followed immediately by – ‘Do it now!’ Really? Thinking it through. At almost 80, I am tired of climbing stairs and maintaining a house and garden. Offspring are mostly not geographically accessible and hugely busy. There’s a brand-new retirement village 5k down the road – life needn’t change that much. Isn’t it better to make this decision for myself rather than wait till someone has to make it for me? Sorting my belongings myself, not leaving it to others. Praying through all this. Discovering close friends are going there too. Eventual ongoing care would be available. The company’s a good philosophical match –no shareholders, an excellent reputation as an employer, sustainable materials and methodology in the build. Signing up.

Then the distilling of my life treasures and memories to fit into half the space I now have. Actively choosing to let things go as part of the spiritual and material preparation for my next lifephase. Wondering deeply about good homes for special things.

Three of those choices will remain as satisfactions. Antiquities collected by my father on wartime service in Palestine have gone to the Classics Department Museum at Victoria University where I studied. Three bits of terracotta, one with hieroglyphic writing, assessed as from 2000 BC, are from Ur where Abraham was born about that time. Such a powerful connection with my faith roots!

Two of my art works about healing have gone

to Women’s Refuge. A circle of little clay women that had been broken, carefully mended and were ‘Dancing Anyway’. The other, a painting called Becoming Whyse on the many ‘Whys’ of grief.

Then there’s the local kindergarten who delightedly receive all sorts of things – scrap paper, ice-cream containers, craft stuff that I might have used but didn’t, a shell collection and much more.

A wonderful symbiosis!

And of course, lots to family, including family history and treasures, now passed on to the next generation. All an acknowledgement of the reality of death, not discernably imminent, but inevitable.

I’ve been drawing on the lilies of the field and the

birds of the air, and on Buddhist wisdom for easier aging: Don’t cling – to possessions, opinions, selfimage and more. Sadness at realising that the wedding era oak bedroom suite can’t be fitted in to the apartment. Don’t cling! Actively detaching from my beautiful home with the colours I chose still singing to me, all day sun, the stunning view of harbour, mountains and Cook Strait. Choosing to believe it is time for someone else to have these joys. Don’t cling!

Discovering three people from church are going there too, one of whom will be my next-door neighbour. With the friends, a good basis for a new community. Then the panic about all the things that won’t work for me. The horrible grey carpet – I commented on this to a wise son. His reply: ‘It is a very first-world problem, isn’t it?’ Of course! Don’t cling! The prospect of early morning truck noise from the next-door supermarket. Replace horror with ‘These guys have driven all night so we can have food.’ A real urge to pull out. Prayer for wisdom. The response: ‘That’s where I want you’. Acceptance and peace.

My beloved long-dead mother-in-law has been a role model in this, as in so much else. She was a dedicated Franciscan tertiary. I, as her main carer, was off overseas for two months, and expressed concern for her well-being. ‘Oh’, she said, ‘I’d better go into care. Pass me the phone book’. I spluttered ‘But, but..’ It happened quickly. She loved it. I overheard a conversation between her and another new resident: ‘Columba, don’t you miss your house? I miss mine dreadfully’. Response: ‘No - I’m a Catholic.’ I knew exactly what she meant, but laughed as I imagined the poor questioner’s bafflement.

Choosing our own timing was our way – others make their choices differently and must do what’s right for them.

Trish is the author of three books:

Faith Evolving, A Patchwork Journey (2005), Exploring the Presence, More Faith Patches (2011) and A Love Quilt, Later Faith Patches (2020) © Trish McBride 2022

Want to meet friendly people and learn at the same time? U3A Okeover is the place to be

Want to meet friendly people and learn at the same time? U3A Okeover is the place to be! No tests, but you may want to take notes.

We strongly believe education should continue in the years of retirement - the Third Age. From their origin in France there are about 3500

University of the Third Age U3A Okeover

The Age of Active Retirement

We offer stimulating talks on a variety of topics by invited experts and members

The Chapel Street Centre, 68 Harewood Road, Papanui. Christchurch.

Thursdays with Tea and Coffee from 9.45am.

Presentations from 10.30am - 11.30am for four terms.

Membership only $25.00 per annum.

Visit www.u3a-okeover.org.nz or contact Howard Harvey, Chairman, on (03) 342 9377 or 021 1363043

University of the Third Age groups on five continents. All are voluntary, self-managed organisations looking to their own members to provide presentations, but also drawing on experts in the community. Our name derives from Okeover, the Continuing Education Centre, UC, where we first met. For almost 30 years U3A Okeover has offered wide-ranging courses such as Vikings, Scandinavia and the Founding of Russia; Opawaho/Heathcote River, from Source to Estuary; Music Through the Ages; The Thirst for Water in Canterbury; Remembering Nelson Mandela; Family Law: Epidemics and Pandemics; delivered both by members of the group and by invited experts. To view a detailed list of earlier courses go to http://www.u3aokeover.org.nz/earlier-courses/.

U3A Okeover runs three terms of ten weeks with two week recesses between terms. There is a final fourth term of three or four single theme

sessions. A course is presented in five sessions, normally exploring several aspects of a common theme. The fee for a five-session course is currently $20.00 and annual membership costs only $25.00. We meet weekly on a Thursday morning from March to November in the Chapel Street Centre, 68 Harewood Place (Cnr of Harewood Road and Chapel Street), Papanui. It is a warm, modern auditorium with comfortable seating where excellent AV equipment projects large slideshows with great sound quality. We provide tea and coffee from 9.45am before presentations commence at 10.30am. These run until 11.30am including question time.

Need more information? Current 2023 courses, timetable, annual fee form, course enrolment form and who to contact are all available from www.u3a-okeover.org.nz.

Trish McBride

Crime and lawlessness: watching out for ourselves and others

by June Peka

It can feel that crime and lawlessness are all around us, and the police aren’t on top of it. There’s certainly more anti-social behaviour in our communities than when we were growing up, and the police are now having to deal with ‘drug-related’ crime, ‘youth crime; and ‘mental health-related’ crime. We’re feeling increasingly vulnerable, as we read and hear the daily news. Where there was once an inherent respect for the elderly, who were seen to have

earned their stripes, now it seems that children aren’t even taught how to give way to a walking stick. We never heard of courier-theft (nor even couriers for that matter), or mailbox theft, let alone that a

pair of boots over the power lines can indicate a tinny house and it’s associated undesirables. We could leave our doors and windows open when we went to town. It would never have crossed our minds if we’d seen a blue adhesive dot on our letterbox, that very shortly we might be robbed. A person with a mobility aid needed it, and not to stash the spoils in. We almost never got boned for cash, unless it was by someone in the family.

So we have to face it, fellow oldies. We need to up our game. We need to beef up security, to put the chain on even when we’re home, and have eyes in the backs of our heads. Remember Sergeant Esterhazy from Hill Street Blues, at start of shift?

“Let’s get out there guys, and do it to them before they do it to us”. Well maybe not quite, but let’s watch out for ourselves and each other, every day.

Graeme Stark, appalled by lawlessness and anti-social behaviour

Graeme Stark is a big chap. He’s rubbed shoulders with all sorts in his 69 years, on building sites through to the mental health sector. Until now he’s had no fears for his personal safety or that of his family. That changed one afternoon when he heard raised voices near his home in Shirley. “We’re used to hearing yelling and shouting and aggressive language so I didn’t take a lot of notice to begin with. But it sounded like a domestic and I’ve called the police before when I’ve heard both female and male voices because I worry about the safety of the women involved. Things quietened down and I went to check my birds in the aviary out back, when there was a helluva bang and our gate was shattered. A stocky fellow about 20-30 burst onto our property and started yelling at me and kicking stuff about. Next thing I knew he’d king-hit me. Instinct made me stay on my feet. I knew if I fell to the ground I’d be at a disadvantage. I didn’t know if he had a weapon but I did know that anyone who could whack a person like that with no warning, would also be capable of putting the boot in. So I stood my

ground and launched at him, and I feel pretty sure saved myself further injury. He probably ended up with a bit more damage than I got because we tumbled over the fence, onto the berm, and onto the road before neighbours came to help.”

By the time Graeme got to the phone to call police, they were almost on his doorstep, called by another concerned neighbour. He was pleased his 4-year-old granddaughter wasn’t home, because she’s already a little anxious, easily upset by loud noises, revving cars and anti-social behaviour. She did arrive shortly after and rather than worry her further, Graeme and his partner told her he’d had an accident with the aviary door,

to explain the blood. He’s had to think on his feet since to keep up the charade, because he feels like he’s “had the guts kicked out of him.”

“To be honest I couldn’t leave the house for more than a week. And even now I feel like I’m having to watch my back every moment. I was concussed and confused. I haven’t yet got the confidence to drive. My partner is driving me about. I’ve never felt this loss of confidence. My blood pressure, which is normally well under control, hit 200 over 100 and took some days to come right.”

Like many older people, Graeme is appalled by the lawlessness and anti-social behaviours which appear to dog his neighbourhood, He hasn’t any answers. He remembers his own years of growing up when people of authority and age were respected. He and a couple of early teenage mates were apprehended by a policeman after they stole a flagon of beer. After they’d been confined to a cell and hosed down, their parents were phoned. His mother made a batch of scones for the police officers before the boys were released. “That did us a lot more good than harm, I tell you.

We didn’t do that again. This thing has changed the way I think and feel about personal safety. I feel I have to be around another 20 years to look after my granddaughter.”

Mary had groceries stolen in a second

Mary shopped for groceries, calling in to her pharmacist on the way home. She parked for a moment at her front door to unload her bags onto the step before putting the car in the garage. In those few moments her groceries and prescriptions disappeared.

“I thought I was going silly, it was so quick. I couldn’t believe it. I went to the garage to look in the car even, before I realised that someone had stolen everything in a matter of seconds and I hadn’t seen a thing. I felt as though I had been inches away from danger, on my own property, so now I’m very very alert. I worried that my personal details were on my prescription, but so far nothing else has happened, and the police didn’t get any leads.”

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

Peace of mind in your pocket

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 have recently announced that they are 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. securely.nz

Graeme Stark.

Patrick Boland, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator in a time when crime and lawlessness seem to be increasing

Patrick Boland is a Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator in the area where four of the five featured people live. He believes a safer neighbourhood is not entirely the responsibilty of the police, but can also be addressed in a number of ways, by residents.

“To feel safer and more secure, we all need be part of our neighbourhood and be observant and get to know our neighbours. We need to create a reliable network where we can quickly communicate with each other. This could be online, through Facebook, Messenger or by creating phone/text pyramids. This is great for people who might be alone and lonely and just like a chat too. Those of us who can, need to get off our couches and walk around the neighbourhood at random times. That helps us get

an idea of what's going on, what's normal, what's a little bit out there. When I go for a walk, I say hello to everyone. If I see someone acting suspiciously, I’ll say hello. It’s non-threatening but they know that they’ve been observed. Sometimes I’ll casually advise them to be alert as we’ve had criminal activity in the area and as a result we have a lot of cameras installed. I’ll tell them we have an effective Neighbourhood Watch group and that’s why I’m out here. I might ask them to let me know if they see anything suspicious happening. So there's that engagement. If my hunch is not right, I’ll at least have met a new neighbour. I aim to always be conciliatory, friendly and open until it becomes necessary to do otherwise. There's no point doing vigilante stuff,

Syd Matehe still doesn’t feel safe

Syd has lived in his tidy older-style Kainga Ora house for many years. He stayed on in the 3 bedroom home after his partner died, but often has family to stay for short periods, helping out with lawns and other small jobs. Syd still likes to do a bit of part time work for company and a few extra dollars.

Syd knows most of his neighbours quite well. Many pop in for a cuppa and a chat, others for advice. He was taking a shower recently, when one of those neighbours popped in to use the phone. Syd was not impressed to find his caller had left a trail of cat faeces, obviously from his shoes, through the house.

“I was a bit angry when I went to his door to ask him to come and clean it up, but not up for a fight. So I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t see it coming.”

From behind his back, Syd’s former friend suddenly picked up what Syd has since discovered was a weapon fashioned from an aluminium walking crutch. With the lower joint removed, and replaced with a sharpened length of metal, this lethal piece was aimed forcefully, with two hands, at Syd’s face. Struck very close to his right eye, he reeled backwards down the concrete step before staggering home in a bloody haze.

The police attended immediately, calling the ambulance service. It soon became apparent that a very serious 40-year old injury to his lower leg had been stirred up too. He had faced amputation before, and now it was a possibility again. The bang on his head from hitting the concrete has caused double vision, headaches, and “floaters” in one eye, leaving him unable to drive at night. All this has meant “running around big time” for Syd and his family.

“I’ve had scans and Xrays and

MRIs and all sorts of tests all over the place, all over the city. I’ve been to parts of the main hospital I didn’t even know existed.”

Still not back to his usual self, Syd says he’s had the best of care from whanau and friends, and is very grateful to the police. He says “they’ve been amazing from day one. They’ve done everything. Kept in touch. Kept me up with what’s happening”.

At this point in time it seems to Syd that his assailant will go to court, and will quite probably be found guilty, but is unlikely to be jailed. He will most likely serve any sentence from his home, 25 metres from Syd’s, where he has been bailed since the attack. It seems likely he won’t be in a position to make a monetary contribution towards Syd’s considerable expenses which cannot be claimed from ACC until the case has been heard. ACC has already declined any claim relating to Syd’s old leg injury.

Life has changed for Syd. He‘s grateful for the grandchildren’s visits, and their installation of cameras and alarms. He no longer leaves the fanlights open for ventilation and snibs the doors day and night.

the police are way more responsive now than they used to be. They are always there within minutes.

If you don't feel safe to approach, take note of clothing, build, hair colour, height, mode and direction of travel, what they were doing and when, and call 111. I've never had the police not thank me for doing that and you know they'll decide whether they're going to respond or not.

If I see if someone riding aimless circles on a bike or wandering up and down not going directly anywhere, I just hang back a little and the moment that they go up more than one driveway, I call 111.

We can help by making our neighbourhood appear well looked after too. Staying on top of tagging and rubbish, is a good start. Get it

reported straight away so that it’s removed. Signs of neglect signal to people that nobody cares and that they're more likely to get away with stuff

The best you can do to reduce antisocial behaviour is to be visible and show you care about your area and your neighbours. We have started a community garden, and a stream-care group, It’s called The Confluence. We want to engage with people, existing neighbours, but also people who just shifted into new private or Kainga Ora higher density developments to get them involved with that space so that people do have a feeling of connectedness and are keen to rebuild the community we once had.”

Jo has a sign on her door

Jo (not her real name) has a sign on her door which reads “If I don’t call the cops my neighbours will.”

The live-alone superannuitant has a big pair of mens’ boots on the step too, and would like security cameras as well, but knows many have been stolen in her neighbourhood and she needs to spends wisely. In recent times she’s lost two cars and a bike to theft, and admits to a “siege mentality” when it comes to security. On her wish list is an old-fashioned electronic, movement-activated barking dog, like her mother once had in the garden. Jo has been threatened with violence by beggars in her neighbourhood. Others who take in her smart appearance, assume she thinks herself above them and abuse her for that. She was recently accosted walking out of a pharmacy, by someone wanting to know the nature of her illness and details of her medications.

“There is a ‘them and us’ mentality, which is very hard to live with at my age. I grew up in a big house in Lyttelton where we hardly bothered

to close the doors and windows, let alone lock them. Now, I’m in a constant state of vigilance, with everything shut and locked even when I’m home in the day time. This is because there’s so much anti-social activity locally. Because I live in a back property some people seem to think it’s fair game to wander around and not be seen from the road. I’ve often heard and seen people in my private space, day and night. I suppose some might see me as neurotic and hyper-vigilant because I’m constantly checking my security and looking out the windows when I hear the slightest noise. I’m no longer happy living alone, and really only sleep properly when I have family staying. I visualise my exit plan, regularly. ”

Jo has noticed an obvious lack of respect not only for those in authority, but for different cultures and ethnicities, and for the elderly. Having recently undergone surgery, she’s been on crutches, and now a walking stick, and says she could have been knocked over a number of times had she not been alert.

Dulcie has updated her locks

Dulcie fell asleep on the couch listening to the radio one evening recently. She woke at 1.00am to see a torch-light flickering around her front door. Dialling her nephew who lives two doors way, she got a good view of a tall man in a hoody wielding the torch. Her nephew arrived within two minutes and apprehended the man walking out of her driveway.

“He didn’t put up a fight. He turned his pockets out on request and apart from the torch had almost nothing on him except quite a few cigarette butts in one pocket and quite a few keys in another. He told us that’s

all he did – poked around outdoor seats and tables at night, looking for butts. He managed to run off when we were both distracted and before the police could get here. We’ve since heard that other people in the neighbourhood have been frightened by him. I’m so pleased I had the door snibbed that night before I dropped off. He wasn’t carrying those keys for nothing, I’m sure. I don’t feel safe anymore. I’m nervous sleeping in my bedroom, where I can’t see either door, even though we’ve updated locks and stays. I’m thinking more about a retirement village now. ”

Life has changed for Syd.

A letter to the bank from an older lady ... priceless!

Shown below is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman. The Bank Manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

“Dear Sir, I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30.00 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I notice that whereas I personally answer your telephone

calls and letters - when trying to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, prerecorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.

My mortgage and loan repayments will, therefore and hereafter, no longer be automatic but will arrive at your bank, by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an OFFENCE under the Postal Act for any person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contract which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs into eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.

Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/ her financial situation (income,

debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further ...When you call me, press buttons as follows ...IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALLING PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH.

#1 To make an appointment to see me.

#2 To query a missing payment.

#3 To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.

#5 To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6 To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.

#7 To leave a message on my

computer, a password to access my computer is required.

Password to be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorised Contact mentioned earlier.

#8 To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 10.

#9 To make a general complaint or inquiry.

The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10 This is a second reminder to press * for English.

While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly, less prosperous New Year?

Your humble client

And remember: Don’t make old people mad, we don’t like being old in the first place so it doesn’t take much to piss us off.”

A family run ready meal service in Christchurch

Kai 2 You is a family run Ready Meal business servicing Christchurch area run by husband and wife team Adam and Jamie Pack.

Kai 2 you deliver 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

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

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

Alternatively 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 forward to hearing from you.

50s Up Brass celebrate 30 year anniversary

Every week 40 members of 50’s Up Brass come together to practise their repertoire and to socialise. The Brass band was formed in 1993 and will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on the 25th October with a Luncheon at Armadillos in Beckenham. Many past members of the band will attend and many memories of days and gigs gone by will surface.

Life member Bob Kayes would tell you that the style of music 50s Up plays is mainly middle of the road, nothing too classical. The 86-year-old Tuba player said there's no strict requirement to be aged over 50 to join in, but he reckons it helps. At this time

Meals on Wheels needs 80 more volunteer drivers in Christchurch

Meals on Wheels needs 80 more volunteer drivers in Christchurch

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

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

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

Apply online: online: Redcross.org. nz/VolunteerMealsOnWheels. Use the online filter to select to “Canterbury ” “Canterbury” and then a meal a pick up loca on near you up loca on near you.

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

players and a Drummer. The band plays on average two gigs per month at local clubs, public events and retirement villages and last year playe a major concert in the Isaac Theatre Royal.

New players are always coming through and most of these are retirees wanting something to do with the extra time on their hands.

If you are a past member and interested in attending the anniversary luncheon or if you are interested in joining the band please ring Noeleen on 03 384 3953 or 027 2284 191. You can also email Noeleen on pencar100@ gmail.com

Aspire Canterbury - inspiring independent living

Aspire Canterbury 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 see you there!

living

50’s Up Brass are seeking Cornet

Members of the 50’s Up Brass practise their repertoire and socialise every week.

UPDATE FROM THE CLUBS

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 10.30am11.30am. 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 looking forward to, the following:

May: A speaker from the Army bomb disposal unit .

June: The Selwyn Lions prepared, our birthday lunch at Lincoln Event Centre.

July: Sue Jenkins from Selwyn Gets Ready advised us for a future crisis.

August: Coach trip to Rangiora with lunch at the RSA Spitfire restaurant.

September: A speaker from Radio Lollipop who entertain children at Christchurch Hospital

October: City Sights coach trip and lunch at Hoofbeats restaurant.

Meet: 1st Tuesday of the month at 1.30pm at the Lincoln Event Centre. Contact: Gloria on 027 434 6554 or email Claire on nzelford@gmail.com.

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.

Sumner Senior Citizens Club Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1.30pm, Sumner Surf Club. Contact: Lola Bouckoms on 384 9889.

Family friendly restaurant

“The Canteen” at the Papanui RSA is a family friendly restaurant option, offering a value for money menu packed with tasty classics and Kiwi favourites.

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, including a special children’s corner, along with unbeatable dining deals and super lunch specials. Takeaway meals are also available at very reasonable prices.

You don’t have to be a current club member to dine at the Canteen.

Osteoporosis - not just a woman’s disease

'Only women get osteoporosis, right?' Not quite.

At least one in five Kiwi men will break a bone because of osteoporosis and when men get a hip fracture, they're more likely to require care in a long-term facility. Even worse, 37% of men who get a hip fracture will die within a year after the accident. It shouldn't be this way.

away a nice cushion to minimize the impact of a fall. So make sure you eat a balanced nutritional diet, and maintain a healthy body weight.

2. Quit Smoking

Smoking slows down the cells in your body that build bone health. If you are a smoker, try to decrease how much you smoke, or quit entirely so that your bones can stay healthy.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the hospitality although you will need to be signed in by a current member if you want to purchase alcohol.

The Canteen is open for lunch from 12.00 midday to 2.00pm on Tuesday and Friday and for evening meals from 5.00pm to 8.00pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Bookings are required for larger groups and events but are not required for casual dining.

(See advertisement below)

Gold Card Lunch Special $15.50

One of the biggest issues is that people simply don't know that men are also at risk of this disease. In fact, men are less likely to be assessed or receive treatment for osteoporosis after they've broken a bone. It's incredibly important that men know they're at risk of this disease.

The good news is, it's never too late to start taking action for your bones. Here are three ways men (and women) can help minimise the risk of osteoporosis:

1. Maintain a healthy body weight

If you have lower body weight, you're more likely to have less bone issues.

Also, if you're older, having low body weight will mean you have less fat padding around the hips, taking

3. Don't drink as much alcohol. This is also a tough habit to break. But alcohol affects the cells that build and break down bone. Too much alcohol can also make you unsteady on your feet, making you more likely to trip, fall and break a bone. Try to decrease your alcohol intake. Seriously, your bones will love you for it.

4. Exercise

Most importantly if you or the men in your life have broken a bone following a simple trip or fall since you turned 50, you are twice as likely to break another bone in the future. And, if you would like to learn more about how to improve your bone health, please visit the website www. knowyourbones.org.nz

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

Rekindling the art of conversation and social connection

To many, the art of conversation seems like an effortless pastime, but in reality it involves a complex combination of skills such as focus, memory, thinking, speech and social awareness to converse well and make social connections possible.

We know that effective communication can be affected by cognitive decline and that a disease such as dementia can cause memory loss, personality change and impaired communication, which can all increase the risk of social withdrawal. We also know that social isolation may also be one of the causes of cognitive decline. This became apparent during the social isolation that came about during the lockdown associated with COVID-19.

Let’s look at how many people are affected by loss of social connection and what that might look like for them. Please beware: the following figures are shocking…

“Age UK estimates that more than 1 million older people in the UK can go for over one month without chatting to a friend, neighbour, or family member. This can leave them vulnerable and alone, but often the have too much pride to admit the problem or ask for help.” *

The Aging Well National Science Challenge study led by New Zealand researcher Dr Hamish Jamieson, published recently in The Journal of American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA), found:

People who said they were lonely (11,000 of 54,000 people) were almost 20 per cent more likely than others to go into a rest-home, even when physically well.

Those living alone (27,000 people) were 43% more likely to enter care.

Those with stressed carers (16,000) were 28% more likely than others to enter care.

Those lacking in positive social interactions (5,000) were 22% more likely to enter care. This includes elderly experiencing conflict with friends or family.

“In New Zealand, approximately 10% of people over the age of 65 are

2,200

lonely all or most of the time, and this rises to 50% over the age of 80.” **

Dr Jamieson says “This study shows the importance of social factors in driving elderly into residential care, including people whose health is good for their age. Previous research found urinary incontinence increased rest-home entry by 11% and faecal incontinence by 7%. This compares with loneliness increasing the risk of going into a rest-home by almost 20 per cent.’’

Loneliness has a major impact on our overall health and wellbeing including an increased risk of cognitive decline and likelihood of developing dementia.

In a study led by Ruixue Zhaoyang, Assistant research professor at Penn State University, researchers found that when adults between the ages of 70-90 reported more enjoyable social interactions, their cognitive performance was improved on that day and the next 2 days. Zhaoyang said that while the study suggests that a lack of socialising can have effects on cognition, it also shows an opportunity for future interventions.

"Our findings suggest that the lack of positive social interactions in daily life could be a critical risk factor for declining cognitive function later in life," Zhaoyang said. "Older adults who are relatively more deprived in certain social interaction experiences could potentially benefit the most from interventions that help to 'boost' their usual levels of social interactions in daily life."***

The benefits of social connection

It lowers stress levels: Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands in times of stress. It can harm the way our brains work- including learning, decision making and planning, memory, and perception. Social interactions can help to lower our stress levels, therefore minimising the negative effects that cortisol may inflict on our brains.

It exposes us to new ideas and stimulates the brain. Being exposed to people with different ideas helps to

keep our brain stimulated as we mull over what has been said. It helps to build knowledge as well as helping us to understand different concepts and ways of thinking. It increases conversation and helps to minimise the risk of memory loss.

It encourages higher self-esteem and builds empathy. Sharing our stories with each other helps to affirm who we are and enables us to better understand how it might feel to “walk in another’s shoes.”

It works to lower anxiety and depression levels and build better emotional regulation skills. Being socially connected can lighten mood and help with a happier outlook to help fight against any feelings of loneliness and isolation. It provides a sense of safety, belonging, security and a sense of purpose. It also helps to build trust in others and helps them build trust in you, all good things to build emotional regulation skills that help to create a sense of wellbeing. Making social connection happen Introduce yourself to your neighbours. It would be good to identify a person you trust who can visit you or make a video call to you regularly and be an emergency contact.

Spend time with family and friends. Intergenerational interaction is valuable, as are opportunities to reminisce. It may be necessary to schedule this time to ensure it happens. It may occur face to face or maybe using modern technology such as video calls, social media, or emails.

Speak to your doctor. He/she will be able to refer you to any existing community-based support services that could be of help.

Talk with others who share common interests. Join a group and restart an old hobby or join a class to learn something new.

Spend time with others enjoying nature. If mobility is a problem, a visit to the botanical gardens where there are alternative means to get around may be helpful.

Express gratitude.Thinking about

and being thankful for all the good things you do have is helpful in maintaining emotional wellbeing. Become a Volunteer. Volunteering time and energy to help others provides perspective.

Armed with all this information, it stands to reason we should be counting the benefits and working towards making social connections happen both for ourselves and for those we know who may need a helping hand to keep conversing. May your efforts be rewarded with a plentiful harvest.

References and useful Links

*Myhometouch.com/articles/social interaction & brain health

**How isolation and loneliness are putting older New Zealanders at risk. Ageing well challenge.co.nz/ research/social isolation)

Loneliness and Isolation are pushing healthy elderly into aged care 15 May 2019 study led by Dr Hamish Jameson, University of Canterbury

The Aging Well National Challenge study data was gathered during Ministry of Health InterRAI assessments done prior to 2015. These comprehensive assessments are done routinely for elderly people in the community or in aged care facilities to determine what support they may need. The assessments typically take two hours and assess myriad factors such as their health and well-being.

***Ruixue Zhaoyang, Stacey B. Scott, Lynn M. Martire, Martin J. Sliwinski. Daily social interactions related to daily performance on mobile cognitive tests among older adults. PLOS ONE, 2021; 16 (8): e0256583 DOI: 10.1371/journal. pone.0256583

****https://order.nia.nih.gov/sites/ default/files/2021-01/understandloneliness-and-social-isolation.pdf

Useful phone numbers if you have concerns about loneliness/lack of social connection:

Phone Age Concern Canterbury on 03 366 0903 or Phone Dementia Canterbury on 0800444776.

Tanya Gold’s guests from hell

When Tanya Gold moved to Cornwall, she invited lots of friends to stay – she won’t be asking them back

I didn’t know, when I moved to Newlyn, Cornwall, that there is an art to having house guests. My godmother says they go off like fish in two days and are to be avoided.

But my husband and I were thrilled with our five bedrooms – we left a small Camden flat. So, with a mixture of grandiosity and insecurity, we invited everyone we knew. Winters are wet and long here; no one comes. Let the world come to us in summer – and they did.

They won’t be coming back

The problem is no two households are the same. We all have our peculiar rhythms, systems and habits. It’s hard to present guests with a list of laminated rules that must not be broken. I know someone who does this, and he’s a pleased host. So here is my list of rules for the perfect guests.

I’m not tidy but I dislike squalor

I can’t believe some people put used nappies in the kitchen bin or leave them on the floor of the bathroom; or leave puppy pads in the wastepaper basket in the study. I can’t believe they over-fill the bin, so that I’ll have the joy of wrestling with it later; or that they leave recycling by the kitchen door, so I can pick it up.

Be helpful to the host

My childhood was, among other things, a directive to tidy the sofa cushions. When I stay at people’s houses, I cook meals, wipe worktops, stack dishwashers and sweep floors. My friend’s mother in Ireland calls me ‘the maid’.

Hotels exist to infantilise – but I am not a hotel. Most guests don’t understand this. They let dirt settle – what’s it got to do with them? – and appear in the kitchen only for meals.

My favourite guest was a mother of five, who washed the kitchen floor and cooked her own meals. She can come every year.

My least favourite was an old university friend,

a mother of four, who let her children draw on the walls, flood the bathroom (at 6.30am) - ‘Get a wet room,’ she suggested when I complained - and pull up my husband’s seedlings.

She didn’t clean the house - but she did walk on my mopped floor and let her dog excrete all over the place. When I pointed this out, she said, ‘You told me to bring him.’

Have similar parenting styles

With one guest’s family, from Somerset, I wanted the children to watch The Railway Children. The mother suggested Jaws 2, where many children are eaten.

I like my son to have sugar once or twice a week. The Somerset mother fed her children sugar from breakfast to midnight. I found her three-year-old on his back on the kitchen floor, sucking chocolate milk out of a bottle.

So my son had the same diet – injustice trumps obesity avoidance. By the end of the week, his clothes did not fit him. When they left, he begged for vegetables, which I think surprised him.

We are not babysitters

Another guest, from Kent, went to the beach with

my husband and three of the children.

She disappeared for almost an hour, meaning that my husband had to prevent the younger children from knocking over other children’s sandcastles, and the older children from going nearer the surging, Storm Ellen-powered sea. She returned with a new wetsuit, and the phone number of the shop owner.

I suggested it might not be a good idea to meet random people during a pandemic. She suggested a compromise: she would shag him on the beach (or, if wet, in a car park), while her most touching child sat on the end of our bed, spraying himself in his mother’s perfume and asking us if we loved him.

Treat our neighbours with respect

Cornwall isn’t London and infractions will be remembered for generations.

The manager of the local pizza restaurant said one of our guests, from Sussex, had left, saying to the waitress, ‘Here’s something for you.’ He handed her what turned out to be not a tip but just a scrap of paper. My husband had to pay the tip to preserve his honour.

On another occasion, the astonished fish merchant knocked on our door at breakfast to ask, ‘Was the car parked in the clearly marked LOADING ONLY bay anything to do with us? It’s stopping our lorries getting fish on board.’

Of course, it was our Sussex guest: he thought his disabled parking permit was a licence to park in the middle of the road.

Leave only worthwhile presents

The Sussex man did leave us a parting gift – an evil glass fish which, one of his children said, his ex-wife had given him. I am, then, landfill, too. I wanted to throw it out, but my husband said no.

It lives on his mantelpiece – a reminder of the terror of guests from hell.

(Source: www.theolide.co.uk)

Your personal driving service for Christchurch

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 and Dean Stewart

Transport you can trust - Christchurch

has been very busy running the Christchurch North franchise for 3 years now.

He provides a friendly, reliable service offering standard transport as well as a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle capable of transporting both manual and larger power wheelchairs.

He also employs 2 drivers who are much loved by our customers and are always a pleasure to be with.

“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.

Call

We specialise in driving seniors and 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.

“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, and often less than, 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 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.

From Here to There

by Mike Crean

The giggling and guffawing you hear on a Wednesday is probably from people reading Joe Bennett’s column in The Press.

So, you might think a whole book of Joe’s antics would leave you with aching sides of fractured rib-cage scale. But it’s not always like that. His latest book, which he calls his memoir, is sad in places.

Lashings of laughter give way to sobs of sorrow, if you are of lachrymose tendency.

The book’s title, “From There to Here”, is arrestingly demonstrated on the front and back covers. First is the portrait of grumpy, bolshy teenaged Julian (his original first name) Bennett. On the back is the grimly, grouchy look of the pensioned pedant. From there to here is a short ride indeed.

It is not a short book, though. Joe refuses to toss out his sordid memories – not that they are all that wicked. His is a life story worth telling. Brought up near Brighton, England, he had a normal childhood, playing cricket and football with elan (and later rugby), sweeping through school classes with ease though feeling uneasy, describing himself as a ravenous critic might.

He doesn’t let sex dominate the story. He just mentions,

Hearing, 100% locally owned

Welcome to Bishopdale Hearing! We are your 100% locally owned comprehensive audiology clinic.

My name is Bradi Martin-Downes, and I'm Bishopdale Hearing's sole director and audiologist.

I grew up in Bishopdale and love the community we have here. Since gaining my Bachelor of Science and Master of Audiology from Canterbury University, I have thrived in helping all my clients improve their hearing health and regain social confidence. I strive to give every client individualised care and independent advice.

In my 8 years clinical experience, I have worked for three different audiology clinics across Christchurch, Auckland and Central Otago, before moving back home with my husband and two dogs.

I started Bishopdale Hearing with the goal of being a truly patientcentred audiologist and ensuring my

practice matches my personal ethics. As a full member of the New Zealand Audiological Society, I am able to apply for and claim any Ministry of Health, ACC, or Veterans Affairs funding you may be eligible for.

At Bishopdale Hearing, you will feel comfortable that you are getting the best independent service with competitive and ethical pricing, all while supporting a truly local business. You can trust that you'll have access to the FULL range of hearing devices available from all leading manufacturers, with only the most suitable treatment being recommended for you.

We offer great Gold Card discounts (our $50 ear wax removals are very popular) and we have disability parking right outside, plus a portable wheelchair ramp for those who may require it.

I look forward to meeting you. A

several times, his preference for gazing at beautiful males. We should leave it at that. He does.

The main theme seems to be his feeling of loss. He lost his father at an early age, his older brothers moved away, he failed to connect with his mother. He was at a loss, not sure where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do. His guiding lights were writers, from Waugh to Wodehouse. He wanted to write too but he felt he couldn’t.

So he became a teacher, a wandering wild spark who could enflame ashen students, in England, Canada, Spain, New Zealand.

He had no money. He dossed down on fleabag floors, hitched rides in places where armies wouldn’t tread, received kindnesses from unlikely sources.

Joe’s big ambition was to see Australia and there watch a cricket test. Instead, he landed a teaching position at our own Christ’s College, promising himself he would drive his ancient car onto the ferry and pop over to Sydney. There’s more, of course, so grab a copy. I recommend it.

(From There to Here is published by Harper Collins.)

My two cents

by June Peka

"Someone asked me for a copy of a story I'd written in the days before computers and storage in the cloud. The task of diving to the bottom of an 80 litre container took me two whole (wet) days, during which I kept finding memory - gems like this one, printed in the Star's Community papers 40 years ago."

Easy-Peasy Banoffee Pie

Ingredients:

1 packet plain biscuits

2-3 bananas

1 tin of caramel condensed milk

1 tspn coffee

1 small bottle of cream

Butter

Method:

Crush biscuits in a plastic bag until fine, toss into a serving dish. Melt enough butter to cover the crushed biscuits, mix through and then firmly mould into shape of dish. Refrigerate.

When the base is quite firm, cover with caramel condensed milk and slice bananas on top. Cover with whipped cream and sprinkled coffee.

Fiddle muff creations

Liz Austin learned to knit at her grandmother’s knee. It’s been a skill which came in handy when her own children were youngsters and again when grandchildren came along. She crocheted too and could be called on to support fundraising stalls. Over the years Liz has accumulated odds and ends of wool, and likes to pick up similar scraps from op-shops and friends. Like a magpie, she‘s also drawn to buttons and other bits and bobs such as those in her grandmother’s sewing box.

In recent times Liz has enjoyed making doll clothes for preschoolers, and also tiny garments for Angel Babies (previously known as stillborns). This year she saw a group of young children picking up litter in the neighbourhood, so very quickly whipped up a box of beanies to take to their school. Then, watching TV3’s The Project not long ago, Liz spotted another perfect use for her colouful and quirky collection.

“The presenters were making fiddlemuffs for people in rest homes and hospitals. They said they are calming for people with dementia, who are anxious or restless. They’re an easyknit and don’t need any special wool or needles. You can use all plies, and even if you didn’t sew your ends in, that wouldn’t really matter. It’s important to sew the baubles on well though, because they’re likely to get well-used.”

Liz models her creations around a pattern she found online. This calls for casting on 40 stitches (2 x 8-ply or chunky) and working eleven inches in plain stocking stitch. The next 11 inches are a glorious mish-mash of colours, textures, plys and patterns, worked on a variety of needles to suit. She then fastens on an array

of buttons, buckles, crochet flowers, pompons,cotton reels, bows, felt cutouts, beads, tiny wooden pegs (from the $2 shop), knitted butterflies, kilt pins, keys, knobs and chains, feathers, etc etc, before stitching the sides together and inverting the muff at half way. Thus, the plain knitting becomes the inner liner, which can also be decorated if desired, and the outer ‘skin’ is wildly and gaudily attractive.

Another easy construction method is to rib 4 inches, change to larger needles, work approximately 10-12 inches in a medley of colours and stitches, finishing with another 4 inches of rib on the smaller needles. Sew sides together and adorn as previously described. This style mitt is also used as a canula protector. Liz has recently experimented with fiddlemats too - lap blankets of about 30 cm square, with the same attachments. Children love these as dolls’ blankets as well, she says.

A colourful fiddle-muff