Author: the60life

The Challenge of Ageing and Embracing Life’s  Full Potential

Age is Just a number?

If ageing isn’t sometimes challenging enough age-related narratives can seriously inhibit older people from embracing life’s full potential.

We tend to count our birthdays like milestones set alongside the pathway of life.This linear progression is often associated with inevitable physical and mental limitations and decline.A negative view that encourages and sustains negative ageist views about older age.

Societal norms have developed the idea that age as measured in years lived dictate what can or can’t be done in your life.This perception of age supported, for instance, retirement from gainful employment. Often people of say age 65 in the UK were required to retire as being considered beyond having the ability to contribute anymore economically because of perceived reduced facilities.This was an abrupt change in lifestyle for many and paid no heed to actual physical or mental capacity, or the value of lifetime experience. Today, chronological age still sustains narrow norms for living and behaviour and takes no account of the fact that people age differently in terms of their abilities.There is ,however, a difference between chronological age and biological age, and biological age is not the same for everyone.

What if age is not that seemingly linear progression but is instead a mosaic? A vibrant collage of experiences, wisdom ,and potential, far higher and more dynamic than a single number can represent.

Smashing Ageist Stereotypes

In truth, ageing is a process.Although we inevitably lose cognitive ability as we become older studies ,including those made by the National Institute of Health Stern (2012), show that people, through their lifetime experiences, can develop a resistance to help protect them against cognitive losses from ageing and disease.

“As we age our memory declines.This an ingrained assumption for many of us,”writes Neuroscientist and clinical professor Richard Restak in his book,The Complete Guide to Memory: The Strengthening of the Mind. Regardless of what is generally believed, he explains why though memory gets worse with age decline isn’t inevitable.With training and practice your memory can be developed to “enhance attention, focus, abstraction, naming, spatial visualisation, verbal facility, language, and word acquisition.In a phrase ,memory is the key to brain enhancement.”

So forget the image of the forgetful grandparent struggling with technology, or failing to remember where he or she last left her keys.Consider,Harry Lorayne , who was an American magician and memory-training specialist renowned for his memory feats. He wrote numerous books on memory improvement.Two of his best selling books still in print are:How To Develop A Superpower Memory and The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work ,at School and at Play. The latter book he wrote with author Jerry Lucas. Lorayne was a popular guest on television shows, showcasing his remarkable ability to remember names, numbers, and other information. He died in 2023 at the age of 96.Maintaining his memory prowess, he had continued to perform and teach well into his older years,

There are countless older adults mastering new languages. Kato Lomb (1909–2003) was a Hungarian polyglot, translator, and interpreter who was renowned for her ability to learn and master new languages throughout her life. She spoke more than 16 languages fluently and continued to learn new ones well into her later years.

Our physical ability, can defy expectations. There are countless examples of people who have achieved incredible sporting accomplishments. Ernestine Shepherd, who at the age of 86 became the world’s oldest competitive bodybuilder and proved that physical peak performance can be achieved in later life.The human spirit’s enduring strength is exemplified by the runners, Fauja Singh tackling Marathon races at age 100, and 61 year old Steve Edwards who in 2024 completed his 1000th race and claimed a world breaking aggregate speed.

Contrary to age-old belief that entrepreneurship is a preserve of enterprising youth with its exuberance, the average age of successful startup founders is closer to 40 than 25.We should not forget the late Bloomers who find their voice or professional calling later in life. It seems the gentle hand of wisdom is an important factor and there are many notable examples of successful older entrepreneurs.

Ray Kroc was a multi-mixer milkshake machine salesman before he got involved with McDonald’s at age 52. He transformed the small fast-food chain into a global franchise, revolutionising the industry.Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses) began her career as a painter in her 70s after arthritis made embroidery difficult. She became a renowned American folk artist, with her paintings exhibited in major galleries. Although Reid Hoffman is known for his role in co-founding LinkedIn, his later success came as an angel investor and partner at Greylock Partners, a leading venture capital firm. Hoffman continued to find success in the tech industry after 50 through his work with numerous startups and his contributions to Silicon Valley’s growth.Another successful late-start entrepreneur was Bernard Marcus, Co-founder of The Home Depot, who started the company in his early 50s, after being fired from another home improvement retailer. The Home Depot grew to become one of the largest home improvement retailers in the world.

These entrepreneurs have shown that it’s never too late to start a successful business, and age can bring valuable experience and insight to the entrepreneurial journey.

Given that biological age ,and therefore cognitive and physical abilities, can vary a great deal from chronological age, restrictive ageist narratives can have a restrictive affect on aspiration and a serious risk to health.

Even happiness, that elusive butterfly, seems to take-off with age.One myth of older age is that to be old is to be depressed. This is debunked by many studies including those of the The National Academy of Sciences, a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organisation which reported higher levels of life satisfaction felt by people over 85 than their younger counterparts.This seems to indicate a greater understanding of what truly matters and an appreciation of living in the moment.It recognises that a 25-year-old can be a seasoned artist, a 60-year-old can still be an athlete, and an 80-year-old be a savvy entrepreneur.

The message is clear: potential knows no age.Limitations are often self imposed because of internalised negative ageist views. ‘The Age Is Just A Number’ mindset, however, provides a shift in perspective and will nurture  curiosity, through continuing life learning, and a spirit of adventure.In this view, age becomes a spectrum of opportunity to be embraced and not a rigid set of steps leading to limitation and decline.

Finally, though it can be intimidating to start adopting this mindset it can aid in your physical and mental health. While many of us may be told that we’re too old for certain things, the reality is that we only have one life to live, so why not actually try and live it? Embrace life’s full potential.

The art of accidental beekeeping sleep and other things to do in lockdown

Diagram of Resilience

On 23rd March ,when the UK entered into a form of suspended public life, in all homes across the land, millions of us pondered first to know how and then scrambled into actions designed to survive whatever the unseen threat of Covid-19 might throw at us.At the start, I took to heart some self care tips I discovered from busy Mum and not-for-profit entrepreneur Beth Kanter. For me, the key questions became: how to ensure a supply of vital food and paper products and, how to maintain at least our current level of physical fitness and mental health.How were we going to survive what for most of us looked like being an indefinite period of staying at home?It made us look at a significant adaptation of the way we were accustomed to live everyday.

Eat well.Exercise appropriately.Sleep well 

8 Tips for Nonprofits To Boost Resilience During A Pandemic

Many of us will have watched the daytime TV offerings with keep fit and cooking guru Mr Wicks, or perhaps preferred for those with longer memories ,the Green Goddess,Diana Moran.Perhaps then we turned to platforms like Zoom or Skype to keep in touch with loved ones from whom by edict we had been summarily parted.As the weeks went by, we may have looked to revive long abandoned hobbies – the long spell of warm dry weather has caused the bee populations to work the harder but more of that later- or brush up on old skills, or even taken-up new ones. Behind all of this we will have realised, I most certainly did, that a strong routine to back our resilience was essential.It became important to eat and sleep well, and to exercise appropriately.This still applies even as we face a slow return out of lockdown.We will all have learned more about ourselves and will be able to carry forward the positive aspects of our enforced isolation.

Resilience Pandemic or No

It occurred to me that for many of us over the last months life may not have changed all that much. In laterlife, often after retirement, adaptation to a different way of life has always been important health and wellbeing.It has often been thrust upon us and surprises us even when expecting it.With fewer family members, friends  or work colleagues around, a greater degree of self-sufficiency is required to manage a degree of isolation.Obviously some of us are better equipped to deal with these challenges than others.What has hit me forcefully is that resilience is therefore not only required for lockdown but for always.Many older people were challenged in life before the pandemic struck and will likely live with many of the same challenges later when hopefully it has passed.Maybe the takeaway is that what we have learned to cope with through the threat of covid-19 will stand us all in good stead in the future laterlife.

Disturbed Sleep

Some breaking news comes from Kings College London about the effects of lockdown on our sleeping habits.Researchers there report that we are all experiencing a worsening of our sleep patterns with one half of the people covered by the study saying that their sleep had been more disturbed than usual.

Good refreshing sleep is one of the three key essentials mentioned in my opening comments.Sleep isn’t just a way to refresh your body and mind and prepare for the next day. As something that takes up approximately one-third of your entire life, your body and mind both take advantage of this large amount of time to help repair and restore the body to its normal functioning. 

Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night is a solid start, but you also need to guarantee that the sleep you’re getting is of high quality. This will allow your brain to optimise the body’s condition to provide the greatest benefit in the long term. 

Here are some body processes that your brain can more effectively initiate when you’re getting enough sleep, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

  • ●  Removal of toxins from within the body
  • ●  Reduction in the development of chronic conditions (heart disease, diabetes, depression)
  • ●  Repair of cells in the brain and body
  • ●  Improvement in memory and brain functioning
  • ●  Energy production

When you lack the appropriate amount of sleep, you’re severely limiting what your body and mind are capable of doing. Unfortunately, the importance of sleep is often understated, and many fails to recognise just how much sleep can impact your health. 

Lack of restful and revitalising sleep is not a new phenomenon at any age as recent reports have pointed out.You can try some sleep tips and keep in mind my favourites:

  • keep a temperature you are comfortable with in your bedroom
  • settle down with the minimum of distractions. TV and other electronic devices should be switched-off
  • use bedding you feel most comfortable with 

The bees have it

Ah, yes the bees I mentioned earlier. A bunch of bees has taken over my bird box in the garden adding adding accidental beekeeper to my list of lockdown interests!

But finally…

…as we continue to abide by and make the best of lockdown I  leave you with a mantra which inextricably links the three key essentials to help keep you in best of health in  these and all times : 

eat well –  exercise appropriately  – sleep well.

Do tune in again next time.

5 Steps to Giving Your Spring Lawn the Care It Deserves

It is Springtime again and time to visit your garden! If you have a lawn you may find the Winter months have not been too kind and some care is needed.There maybe discolouration in parts or areas which look rather straw-like (like mine) rather than green and some indication of moss.

At this time in the UK , a first cutting will be important. The following are 5 steps to help you with that first post-winter cutting and to set you up for looking after your lawn to maintain a healthy and good-looking feature for your garden throughout the rest of the year.

Read more: 5 Steps to Giving Your Spring Lawn the Care It Deserves
How to give your spring lawn the care it deserves
  1. Remove thatch 

The first step that you have to take is to remove any lawn debris that has accumulated during the Winter.You can do this by raking. This also gets up any leaves that have fallen to the ground and died, but it also can help keep your lawn free of thatch in the coming months.

Thatch is made up of the stems and roots that didn’t complete a decomposition process. You’ll find thatch around the living grass at the top of the soil. For people who did a thorough raking job in the Autumn, the thatch buildup should not be as thick. 

If you leave thatch, it can create patchy areas in your lawn because the new grass can’t push through this to the surface. 

So, as soon as you see signs of new grass growth, you need to take a fan rake and remove all traces of dead grass and worm casts.

2. Set your lawn mower correctly

Your first cut should not be a close one. The blades should set so that about one third of the  height of the grass will be taken off the top.This will allow for a good cover overall and avoid scalping the lawn and so exposing soil and taking or dragging out grass at root level.

3.Choose a fine day 

You do not want to cut your lawn when the grass is wet. This will only damage areas where you tread heavily and the mower may tend to tear rather than cut the grass. The effect when the grass has dried out will not be tidy.So if your grass is showing growth choose a dry day particularly before you make your first cut. Also, mow at a steady pace.

4.Remove grass cuttings

Do not leave any grass cuttings on the lawn.Ideally remove these to compost. For maximum performance your mower should be cleaned after use and the blades lowered for next time, usually in about a week.

5.Re-cut the edge of the lawn

After the winter the edges of the lawn will show some damage and unwanted growth.Take a half-moon edger and use the edge of paving as a guide to redefine the area of grass or, if improving a flower border, use a plank on the edge of the lawn as a guide and to protect the grass.The edger is preferred at this time to using a strimmer. Maintenance of the edge can now easily be done with a pair of edging shears after each time the lawn is cut throughout the year.

Now you should be off to a fine start for the Spring!Please look out for further gardening tips as we go through the year.In these unprecedented times an interest in gardening however small will help both body and mind if you are careful.

Give Gardening a Go Now and Lose Stress

How to Draw Back the Curtains on Your Winter garden

In  February, first thing in a UK morning ,a peak out of the window often yields to the eye a rather grey, green and otherwise colourless vista.What to do, I ask myself, no lifelong gardener- the day is bright but frosty.This time of year is a great opportunity for prepping for spring and ridding the garden of perennial weeds ,and this work will also be good for me .A great amount of scientific research suggests that Gardening isn’t just about making your house look good, although even a little curb appeal never hurts. Caring for plants can also do wonders for your own wellbeing. Even some light work in your garden means you are interacting with nature whatever the season of the year. This is so beneficial to your mood and therefore your mental health.So resist returning to the warmth of the duvet.

Continue reading “Give Gardening a Go Now and Lose Stress”

The truth about stress in later life and how to deal with it

message from Nungwi beach in Zanzibar,Tanzania.This is paradise for no Stress!

“It has been verified through scientific exploration that more than 80 percent of all diseases are due to stress and strain that originate in the mind and reflect on the body.”

– American Medical Association

This stat looks bad.It must be said ,though, that not all stress is the same.We will all have benefited from positive stress at some time in our lives and also suffered to some degree from negative and corrosive stress.Working with the positive stress and binning the rest is good for your mental and physical wellbeing.We need to be mindful both of the dangers and of the solutions that are available to us.There are things we can do.

When we were younger the challenges in life tended to be far different from those which we experience in older age.As we age our bodies cannot deal with these as well as they once did. This change may also come at a time when we are least prepared for life challenges previously unfamiliar to us. 

Stress factors.According to the Harvard Health Watch team there are health factors which can reduce our mental ability to cope with stressful events. They report that stress may also be caused by different factors that could be more complicated than the issues you faced in your younger years. For example, losing family members, leaving a career, changing financial circumstances, or perhaps moving home, for example, may hasten on physical effects of which we are often not immediately aware. Some of these effects may include raised blood pressure, suppressed appetite, and increased and prolonged muscle tension. 

The researchers at Harvard say these problems can result in signs of stress which mimic symptoms of memory loss or dementia or include appetite changes, headaches, anxiety, irritability, or trouble concentrating. They suggest we can help manage stress by 

  • using relaxation techniques
  • getting involved in community activities
  • taking care of yourself
  • eating right and
  • getting enough sleep

Now for the good stress. At healthline, Clinical psychiatrist Dr. Michael Genovese refers to eustress which works as a positive force and is good stress causing a nerve response in our bodies from for instance the excitement of challenging and realistic goals.It gives a good feeling of wellbeing.

Some further articles on stress for information are to be found at

Stress management is more difficult as we age

Relieve stress anxiety

5 Ways older adults can reduce stress

16 Ways to relieve stress anxiety

Wishing you a good stress only day today!

8 Top Things to Do to Save on Motoring Costs

creative commons (Cco)

Even in these times of rising petrol prices,and often through slowness to act or not recognising an issue, many of us do not regularly review the recurring and the hidden costs in our household spending that could be substantially reduced. A significant part of that expenditure is on motoring which, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics show that in the US nearly 50% of household bills are for housing (33%)and transportation(17%) .

According to recent  figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK 65-to-74-year-old households spent nearly a fifth (18%) of total spending on recreation and culture, making this the top expenditure category for this age group.A significant portion of this spend is on motoring costs.  Continue reading “8 Top Things to Do to Save on Motoring Costs”

10 Things that can help towards a longer and happier life

Simple Life Reunion 2057
Gruhn creative commons

Hi Everyone!

Last time we looked at why sense of purpose in older age is so important. In today’s world, the pursuit of happiness is an ingrained concept. We’re often taught to expect our lives to be fairly happy, and we’re encouraged to do whatever it takes to achieve that. Also, we want to live long and well forever. I’m no exception. As we saw in the previous post the Okinawans know a thing or two about achieving satisfaction, happiness and meaning in life.As a people who live long, they would broadly recognise the following principles or beliefs.So without being ‘preachy’, this is my take from online sources on what we should be doing as we get older: Continue reading “10 Things that can help towards a longer and happier life”

Why sense of purpose in older age is seen as so important

life’s good?

The inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa have long been known for their healthy lifestyle and longevity.They live longer than any other people in the world.This is largely attributed to having a sense of purpose, and therefore a reason to live, which is focused on a concept the Japanese call Ikigai which they believe to be deep seated within everyone of us. The big secret is to find it and so  benefit from longer and better quality of life, by finding meaning to your life and happiness.

So do we all really have a sense of purpose in life?

Continue reading “Why sense of purpose in older age is seen as so important”

21 Things You Can Do To Look After Your Brain’s Health

the60life life skills

Hi Everyone!

It is well known that as we get older we are likely to lose some mental acuity.Also, it is common knowledge that changes in lifestyle can provide incremental benefits to both mind and body.Such lifestyle changes include: taking both regular physical and mental exercise and following a Mediterranean diet.

Perhaps you are older and you find you have more time now, with family or career commitments much reduced, and you are able to think more about yourself and your wellbeing. Although holding back the years is much like the task of the unfortunate Sisyphus of Greek mythology, who was destined to fail in keeping a stone he had to roll up a hill from rolling back down again, you can work at preventing cognitive decline. The following 21 suggestions of activities and interests may help you to look after your brain’s health. Continue reading “21 Things You Can Do To Look After Your Brain’s Health”

Why mushroom in your coffee is good for you

 

 

 

Hi All!

I have always enjoyed eating mushrooms. Usually, I have them gently fried with a little olive oil.So I am gratified to have further recent confirmation they are very good for you.Now this versatile edible fungus and beloved ingredient of the all-day breakfast, soup, and pizza has a coffee named after it.

Do you take mushroom in your coffee?

What I am surprised to learn is that many coffee shops in the UK are now feeding this rising trend: the mushroom latte. Continue reading “Why mushroom in your coffee is good for you”

How to keep your memory fit as you get older

 

How to keep your memory fit as you get older

Without taking appropriate action the avoidable debilitating effects of getting older may catch-up with the inevitable passage of time.We are often preoccupied with the physical decline in our bodies but what is possibly worse is when our mind begins to show signs of failing.Forgetfulness and becoming slower in our thinking can give rise to great upset and a feeling of isolation, even if the cause is not the result of any specific condition such as dementia. There is good news. According to The Harvard Medical School decades of research conclude that certain strategies will help protect and sharpen our brains.With some time and effort put in the brain can be strengthened by certain training just like a muscle, preventing some of age-related cognitive decline so as to keep your brain sharper.

Exercise

What is not often appreciated is that exercise can help strengthen your brain as well as keep your body strong and healthy.Short-term memory improvement is one of the main benefits noticeable in older people who have started an exercise regime and particularly one involving lots of cardiovascular work.

brain training

Use

Regular use of your brain in creative ways can avoid it deteriorating.The saying ‘use it or lose it’ applies here.

Experts at Harvard think that advanced education may help keep memory strong by getting a person into the habit of being mentally active. They say that challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them. Many people have jobs that keep them mentally active, but pursuing a hobby or learning a new skill can function the same way. Read; join a book group; play chess or bridge; write your life story; do crossword or jigsaw puzzles; take a class; pursue music or art; design a new garden layout.That said though, anything will help – even just reading occasionally.

Diet

Although healthy eating lowers your risk of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, it’s not yet clear if that’s true for Alzheimer’s disease as well. It’s not a lost cause though. Here are 9 foods that researchers think will keep your whole body, including your brain, healthy.

The right diet can do wonders for looking after your brain and helping to prevent the onset of various neurological diseases or general deterioration. Particularly useful are fatty acids such as omega 3 which you can get from fish and supplements, vitamins such as B9 (also known as folic acid) which can be found in fruits and veg and amino acids (proteins) which you can get from meat or from supplementation – from ‘Age Slower’ by David Jones

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle can also impact on your mental health. Your sleep regime and fresh air can affect your brain, and alcohol consumption can also have a big impact.

Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep

Staying Active

In Japan, particularly in Okinawa, always keeping busy is seen as giving a sense of purpose in life and supports a concept known as Ikigai. Having something to get up in the morning to do is central to their way of life and is credited with giving the Okinawans a long life expectancy such that they tend to live much longer than those in the rest of the world’s population.What is more they enjoy enviable levels of vitality and health unthinkable for people of advanced age almost any where else in the world.

“One surprising thing you notice,living in Japan, is how active people remain after they retire .In fact, many Japanese people never really retire – they keep doing what they love for as long as their health allows”

– Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

 

 

Is your holiday home prepared for Winter?

holiday home winterisation tips

Now is the Winter approaching.In the UK, we have had a severe foretaste of what is possibly to come. Without adequate protection and some simple precautions, cold, rain, ice and snow can cause damage to static caravans or chalets.For a checklist of things you can do to secure and protect your property both internally and externally… Continue reading “Is your holiday home prepared for Winter?”

How to get active in your 60s,70s and beyond

Introduction

The Daily Telegraph reports that new research concludes that sitting for hours a day speeds ageing. This shows how important it is, particularly as we become older,that we take regular periods of physical movement throughout the day, and not live a sedentary lifestyle so as,literally, to shorten our lives and reduce quality of life.

So let’s MOVE IT! 

This could be an intro for a book : SOD SITTING Get Moving! by authors Diana Moran and Muir Gray.

In order to do what is required for our good health a guide book is essential to ensure that we stick to our task.Well, we are in luck! Continue reading “How to get active in your 60s,70s and beyond”

Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep

Resting – (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)

 Ageing Can Make For Sleepless Nights You may find as you age that your ability to live longer is rewarded with insomnia. It does not seem fair that you worked so very hard to stay healthy and fit, and in return you are much more likely to suffer sleepless nights as you grow older. But when you look at it from a purely physical point of view, the ageing / insomnia relationship makes a lot of sense. Beginning at about 50 years of age, your body begins to grow weaker faster. Both inside and out, your body is simply not as healthy as when you were younger.

Continue reading “Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep”

What you need to know about tomatoes and lycopene

tomato motif
by courtesy of dollarphotoclub

 

In the Europe of the 1700’s “the golden apple”, so described by the herbalist, Pietro Andrea Matthiola ,about two hundred years before,was still often viewed with suspicion because it was closely related to certain plants like the poisonous nightshade vine.Happily, the much beloved fruit and now essential food survived being stigmatised for ever as the “poison apple”.Today,we know the health secret behind the shiny red skin of the large majority of the over 5,000 varieties of tomato that are grown worldwide.The truth about lycopene is now known.

Gina Crawford the well known and highly respected author of many books on cooking and eating healthily has recently written: 5 Things You Need to Know About Tomatoes and Lycopene.

Have you ever wondered where tomatoes get their lovely red colour?
The answer is lycopene, a powerful, naturally-occurring substance that does wonders for your health. Here’s what you need to know about it:

1. Lycopene is an antioxidant

This means that it fights against harmful free radicals, lowering the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and macular degenerative eye diseases.

2. Your body stores lycopene in its tissues to fight cancer

When you consume enough lycopene, your body stores it in your
liver, lungs, prostate gland, colon, blood, and skin. The higher these levels of lycopene are, the lower your risk of developing cancer in the prostate, digestive tract, upper respiratory tract, and lungs.

3. Cooked tomatoes are best

Unlike many other nutrients found in fruits and veggies, the
availability of lycopene is actually increased when tomatoes
are cooked. Good sources include tomato paste, tomato
sauce, tomato juice, and of course tomatoes that you’ve
cooked yourself.

4. You should aim for 30 mg per day

Eating 30 mg of lycopene per day can lower your risk of heart
disease and stroke. One raw tomato contains only 3 mg of
lycopene, but you can get all you need from half a can of
tomato paste, two glasses of tomato juice, or four tablespoons
of ketchup.One small can of tomato paste provides 62 mg of
lycopene. Two glasses of tomato juice, four tablespoons of
ketchup per day or a bowl of tomato soup provide an ample
amount of antioxidant protection for your body.

5. Lycopene is fat-soluble

Your body will absorb far more lycopene if you consume some
fat at the same time, so add a little extra virgin olive oil to your
tomato sauce!

6. Lycopene lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol levels

In doing so, it prevents the hardening of your arteries and lowers your risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

NOTE: The amount of lycopene varies in tomatoes. Tomatoes
allowed to ripen on the vine contain the most lycopene. The more brilliant red a tomato is, the more lycopene it contains.

  • Gina Crawford

Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)
Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)

There you have it.In summary,unlike other fruits and vegetables, where nutritional content such as vitamin C is diminished upon cooking, processing of tomatoes increases the concentration of bioavailable lycopene. Lycopene in tomato paste is four times more bioavailable than in fresh tomatoes. Thus processed tomato products such as tomato juice, soup, sauce, and ketchup contain the highest concentrations of bioavailable lycopene.

Tomatoes provide an essential ingredient in the Mediterranean Diet..Healthy,easy to grow and delicious, cooked or eaten raw in salads,it is little wonder they are one of the most popular of foods. See Mediterranean Diet for Beginners. for a quick start guide.

 

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Best fitness exercises can delay or prevent illness in later life

some people doing yoga exercise
An image of some people doing yoga exercises -dollarphotoclub credit

One of the abiding myths as we age is that illness and loss of physical ability are inevitable, and much reduced quality of life must follow.The good news is that this is simply not true.Although,when you grow older, keeping energy up, your independence intact and staying free of illnesses and pain does become more difficult.

According to the nihseniorhealth website – staying physically active and exercising regularly can produce long-term health benefits and even improve health for some abler people who already have diseases and disabilities.That’s why health experts say that older people should aim to be as active as possible
Continue reading “Best fitness exercises can delay or prevent illness in later life”

8 surprise health benefits of walking up and down stairs

What Are the Health Benefits of Walking Up Stairs …

Introducing this topic is “What Are the Health Benefits of Walking Up Stairs?” by Brenda Scottsdale. “Use the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator. … If you have health problems, …” Continue reading “8 surprise health benefits of walking up and down stairs”

Simple mindfulness fundamentals

 

Akuppa John Wigham creative commons
Akuppa John Wigham creative commons

If you have visited a good bookshop recently you will probably have noticed the groaning shelves straining to support the great number of books written about the simple meditative state of awareness which is called mindfulness.Largely unknown in the West until the 1970s, Asian religions have been been practising meditation techniques,including mindfulness, since around 5th and 6th BCE.

What is mindfulness? Continue reading “Simple mindfulness fundamentals”

Where you can in the UK make a difference as a volunteer

A helping hand via dollarphotoclub
A helping hand via dollarphotoclub

 

A recent  post on the60life introduced the benefits of volunteering. Following that theme, it is volunteers’ week in the UK. From 1st June until 12th June, the work of the many thousands of people who give freely of their time in the service of others in the community,througout the year, is being celebrated.Perhaps you may wish to join in as a volunteer but are not sure how. Continue reading “Where you can in the UK make a difference as a volunteer”

Simple daily habits to ignite your passion for writing

 

 

 

courtesy dollarphoroclub a good cup of morning coffee
courtesy dollarphoroclub
a good cup of morning coffee

As I sit writing this post early in the morning a question springs to mind : can you teach an old dog new tricks? Continue reading “Simple daily habits to ignite your passion for writing”

Why volunteering to serve others is good for you

www.volunteersweek.org 2016 logo
www.volunteersweek.org
2016 logo

Volunteers’ Week this year has been stretched to run from the 1st -12th June.It is held annually in celebration of the work that many thousands of people in the UK put in freely to help in their free time with tasks,projects for the benefit of others in their community or country.
Continue reading “Why volunteering to serve others is good for you”

The great myth of advancing years

 

fresh idea from dollarphotoclub
fresh idea from dollarphotoclub

If you are not ready to contemplate retirement having reached a certain age you’ll find the book “Smashing the Age Barrier: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Success and Happiness” a useful point of reference and the road map you may have been looking for to help further your aims.It may not have all the answers for you personally, but it has an abundance of strategies and resources to think about and act on. The author, clearly himself not ready to retire to the golf course, sets out to blow away the great myth about advancing years.If you do not wish to you do not have to retreat from life, change your lifestyle, slow down,and live out the rest of your life in slow motion. The purpose of his book is to provide a step by step guide to achieving your purpose,aims and ambitions in life, regardless of your age. Continue reading “The great myth of advancing years”

23 tips to reduce your osteoarthritis pain

 

oa-infographic

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the UK and is a condition in which the joints of the body become damaged, stop moving freely and become painful. – Arthritis Research UK

The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases from the late 40s.

Also according to arthritis research UK, 8.75 million people in the UK have sought treatment for osteoarthritis.This is how the figures stack-up: Continue reading “23 tips to reduce your osteoarthritis pain”

On the search for gravestones old and curious

Unknown

 

On retirement or throttling-back on work, many 60lifers look to spend more time on lifelong interests, or in pursuing new hobbies, like family history, visiting churches,or perhaps a more unusual hobby of visiting a ‘ collection ’ of many cemeteries and curiosities.The latter pastime is often in the cause of providing voluntary help necessary for the preservation and protection of gravestones; the study of people buried in a particular place;tombstone photography;tombstone rubbing and gravestone design, often used as an inspiration by artists,or it may just constitute a good day out in the fresh air walking.

Where have all the gravestones gone?  Continue reading “On the search for gravestones old and curious”

The Best of the60life in May

via dollarphotoclub - the good life
via dollarphotoclub – the good life

Nearing the end of a busy month. The following are the Best of the60life in May  which you may have missed: Continue reading “The Best of the60life in May”

5 easy tips on taking the first steps to trace your UK ancestors

The family tree of Ludwig Herzog von Wurtenberg Source : wikipedia
The family tree of Ludwig Herzog von Wurtenberg Source : wikipedia

You may now have more time to pursue hobbies like genealogy.It maybe something you have always had in mind to do given more time.You may also feel that as you grow older you perhaps owe it to those younger in the family to provide as much information as possible about the family’s history so that it can be passed down to future generations. Or you may simply have an inquisitive nature and have stumbled upon this absorbing hobby. Continue reading “5 easy tips on taking the first steps to trace your UK ancestors”

Why the way we breathe is so important to our health

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Who says so?

It seems a great many people do. A current google search using a keyword such as “breathing” will produce many tens of millions of references, many pointing to advice and information, much of which is clear It and helpful in our daily lives. It is clearly an important subject.So why add to the many millions of words already swirling around the internet, and elsewhere in books and magazines? Some messages are so important that they cannot be reinforced in the general population too often, one such is : Breath is Life. Continue reading “Why the way we breathe is so important to our health”

The short guide to dealing with stress in later life

Boredom in retirement -that'll be the day!
Boredom in retirement -that’ll be the day!

Of course stress has no respect for age.We know it’s part of life.Its destructive nature can affect anyone at any time, and the long term effects can creep up like a shadows in the night inflicting their damage to our health, catching us unawares.The natural ability to withstand the persistent onslaught of stress is much degraded,as we grow older, but succumbing to ravages to health is not inevitable. Continue reading “The short guide to dealing with stress in later life”

Why changing some habits can benefit you in older age

How's this for a good habit?
How’s this for a good habit?

Breaking old habits of a lifetime is just what the doctor ordered if,for your health’s sake,you take for inspiration that you’re never too old to adopt new healthful habits. The rewards: In the Johns Hopkins-led Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis,which tracked more than 6,000 people ages 44 to 84 for over seven years, those who made good-for-you changes like quitting smoking, following a Mediterranean diet, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight decreased their risk of death in the time period by 80 percent. The following changes not only keep you healthy, they can help slow down the ageing process, inside and out. Continue reading “Why changing some habits can benefit you in older age”

9 of the best websites for walking events in the UK for all ages

via dollarphotoclub
via dollarphotoclub

Regardless of the growing success of the month of May as National Walking Month, the appeal of gathering and walking in groups has risen apace in many other months of the year.This can only be to the general benefit of the now large number of people who look to walking in groups as a fun and healthy thing to do. Continue reading “9 of the best websites for walking events in the UK for all ages”

How to be physically flexible at any age

dollarphotoclub (c)
dollarphotoclub (c)

Flexibility is something we all need in our everyday lives in order to function properly and with relative ease.It provides a range of movement in a joint or joints, and muscles across joints.Without this ability, everyday activities, even simple personal ones, become more difficult to carry out. Also a person’s balance can be seriously affected leading perhaps to being prone to falls resulting in further injury.The problem is that as we age our flexibility tends to deteriorate,and also this resultant lack of function has often become worse over time because of a sedentary lifestyle.Many of us take take flexibility for granted until we begin to lose it. Part of the problem is therefore unconsciously self-inflicted.So what to do if afflicted, say, with back pain or loss of mobility? Continue reading “How to be physically flexible at any age”

5 mythbusting articles you may have missed at the60life blog about your health in later life

why1

There are many misconceptions about getting older.One of these is that older people inevitably will suffer from significant age-related decline in health.This is what many parents and grandparents of those now in their 60s and 70s were led to believe.With a lower life expectation they also seemed to be condemned to a short retirement in ill-health before death. Society and culture did not expect any more from older people. The stereotypes were out there with ‘pipe and slippers’ often the onlyreward at the end of a working life. Nowadays so much has changed and with good reason.Apart from people wanting more out of life the realisation has surfaced that in reality something can be done to prolong an active life.

Myth 1: Trying to improve fitness in older age is pointless Continue reading “5 mythbusting articles you may have missed at the60life blog about your health in later life”

The really simple way to walk for health in later life

Happy senior couple hiking in the park (dollarphotoclub)
Happy senior couple hiking in the park (dollarphotoclub)

 

INTRODUCTION

The problem for many of us today is that we just do not exercise enough. This can have dire consequences as we age.

According to the Lancet medical journal,about two thirds of the adult population in the UK does not take sufficient exercise and are endangering their health.The British Heart Foundation 2015 physical activity survey revealed that only 30% of over 75s meet a reasonable physical level of activity. These are astonishing statistics,and if we don’t use our physical ability to take reasonable levels of exercise we will eventually lose it.

In the UK and the US health authorities  tend to agree that we should strive to achieve 10,000 steps each day equivalent to about 5 miles.The average person in the UK reaches around 3000-4000 steps daily according to the NHS( in the US this figure is said to be around 5,200 -5,900)

There is a simple way we can individually deal with this problem of low activity, and that is by walking for health in later life. Continue reading “The really simple way to walk for health in later life”

Top March event Sport Relief 2016 discovered Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em still

Simple Life Reunion 2057
Gruhn creative commons

Sports Relief 2016 gave a platform for Michael Crawford to reprise his Frank Spencer character last played on TV 42 years ago.With an hilarious ten minute sketch Frank has several hair raising adventures on bicycle or roller skates in his typical physical comedy style.Although the sketch was widely acclaimed much comment has been made about the fact that Michael Crawford is 74 years old and, of course,considered to be a pensioner.What’s he doing all this for at his age? Many might say :Is he up to it?Wasn’t it all a long time ago when the series he starred in finished?

Apparently, this sketch was to be a ‘one-off’ in aid of charity.It took many weeks to bring to the screen.Michael might be a little stung by the age remarks.It seems he is not concerned.As in his earlier career, he did all his own stunts.Which brings us nicely to a wonderful web page featuring other senior people acting in most unexpected ways. Is it not time that the ‘old person’ stereotype was buried once and for all? Times they are a changing in our senior classes.Many people are not settling for retirement from life.They are embracing later life with both hands,working enthusiastically at remaining fitter for longer, and enjoying active and fulfilling lives.

So do spend a few moments here being entertained and amazed by a veritable ‘troupe’ of impressive people who are destroying age stereotypes.

Oh…and you can still donate to Sport Relief 2016 to support its work on projects for people in essential need in many places around the world.

 

 

 

5 Tips to Give You Time to Enjoy Your Healing garden

Over many centuries monasteries and hospitals have valued the restorative benefits of having a garden in close proximity to people who are suffering sickness. A garden setting provides calmness, a path to creativity and a new appreciation for everything that surrounds us. It transports us from the stress of the world to a place of peace and tranquility and restores our minds and bodies like nothing else can do.You can benefit from the healing properties of nature by planning your own healing garden. Continue reading “5 Tips to Give You Time to Enjoy Your Healing garden”

How to Lift Your Health, Balance and Strength Using Light Weights

 

TowerofWeights

As we age, most people notice a range of changes in their health. One change might not seem like such a big deal, but more than one can add up to poor health long-term. For example, we might notice we are not as strong as we once were. We might discover that our balance isn’t what it used to be. As a result we may be prone to losing our balance and injuring ourselves due to slips, trips and falls. Continue reading “How to Lift Your Health, Balance and Strength Using Light Weights”

The 17 health benefits you can hold onto in later life

why1

 

17 Health Plus Benefits

7 strength training benefits for older people

17 Health Benefits
Following an earlier article on the 60life.com, this article introduces a major series to be posted on this site about the numerous benefits of strength training at any age.

Until recently, loss of muscle was generally believed to be inevitable as we progress into later life.This discouraging belief has now been firmly dispelled by the findings of new scientific studies which show that an increase in frailty with age is not inevitable and can be controlled to a significant degree through lifestyle change, particularly through taking more exercise. Continue reading “The 17 health benefits you can hold onto in later life”

If you must spend time on the sofa do this for your health and wellbeing

 

sofa so good - @ dollarphotoclub
sofa so good – @ dollarphotoclub

This piece is about spending less of our waking day sitting down and using more time throughout the day improving your wellbeing and fitness. The importance of exercise at whatever age for longer life has been bandied about a lot in the media recently.It seems we are not listening.But scientists confirm exercise is the answer to keeping fit and well.
Continue reading “If you must spend time on the sofa do this for your health and wellbeing”

Youthful strategies for Boomers and beyond

youzign

As we age, changes occur in our bodies and minds, but there are certain ways you can resist the downside of ageing and take steps to prevent diseases which prey on older bodies. This report gives you guidance on steps to take to help you feel spry and live longer as the years pass.

No matter what your age or level of fitness, you can begin an exercise programme to help you overcome the many detrimental changes which make you look and feel old. For example, certain exercises can help your balance – so you don’t fall as easily and risk broken bones and a long term recovery period.< Continue reading “Youthful strategies for Boomers and beyond”

An 80th birthday celebration and family days out with food in North Wales

Landscape Views from the Great Orme Llandudno North Wales Uk -courtesy Gail Johnson @ dollar photo club
Landscape Views from
the Great Orme Llandudno
North Wales Uk -courtesy Gail Johnson @ dollar photo club

There is still life left in the Summer and I for one need little excuse to spend time in North Wales come rain or come shine.The following is a short round-up of news on family days out with food found this week on websites covering this wonderful region which is full of interest and contrast for the visitor. Continue reading “An 80th birthday celebration and family days out with food in North Wales”

Why you can profit from being over age 65 if you are older active enough?

Derrick Evans, better known as "Mr. Motivator” with aerobics team, Harry Nash, Nigel Iskander, Anthony Shorter, Hi Chu Yap, Judy Hill, Mangala Harris, Green Park, London
Derrick Evans, better known as “Mr. Motivator” with aerobics team, Harry Nash, Nigel Iskander, Anthony Shorter, Hi Chu Yap, Judy Hill, Mangala Harris, Green Park, London

 

 

 

Calling all you older actives who follow active lifestyles and love to keep fit!

If you are over 65 and think you are able and fit enough you can enter a national competition sponsored by Ateronon to find the 2015 Older Actives Champion.There will be prizes for the the winners of nine regional heats who will go on to the national final to be held later this year.Each of these winners will receive a medal together with £500 worth of Ateronon products and £100 of Marks and Spencer vouchers. In addition to the prizes won at regional level, the 2015 Champion will receive a trophy and £1,000 worth of UK holiday vouchers. Continue reading “Why you can profit from being over age 65 if you are older active enough?”

How to harness the vast health benefits of the tomato for later life

tomato motif
by courtesy of dollarphotoclub

Almost 200 years ago, the tomato as part of the nightshade family was considered  poisonous. It is therefore hard to believe that this fruit has been rehabilitated  as a wonder food. Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamins A and C and folic acid. They contain a wide array of beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, including alpha-lipoic acid, lycopene. The consumption of tomatoes has been credited with beneficial  health qualities including the prevention and alleviation of a number of serious health conditions including Continue reading “How to harness the vast health benefits of the tomato for later life”

How you can take charge and simply reverse ageing

Getting Older Doesn’t Mean You’re Finished!

Are you concerned with the quality of life as you age? Do any of the following resonate with your experiences?

  • The thought of sliding into infirmity leaves you frightened and depressed
  • On more than one occasion you struggled to find the words to complete a thought
  • You fear losing your independence and ability to take care of yourself
  • The thought of just fading away in loneliness and isolation is downright depressing
  • It seems that worrying about growing old is constantly nagging at you

You aren’t alone.

There are almost 40 million people over the age of 65 in the United States. That is nearly 13% of the population. By 2030 there will be more than 72 million older persons making up 19% of the population.

The trend is similar for European countries. It is estimated that during the period from 2013 to 2080 the percentage of the working age population will shrink, while people over 65 will account for an increasing share of the total population. Continue reading “How you can take charge and simply reverse ageing”

7 Easy Tips to help you sleep better at night

Resting - (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)
Resting – (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)

At any age lack of sleep is damaging to your health.Enjoying a restful night’s sleep is an essential prerequisite for preserving your health.If you are suffering from insomnia you are not alone. According to report of the World’s largest online sleep survey held in 2016 three quarters of people in the UK failed to wake-up refeshed.In an earlier national sleepio survey held, it was reported that almost one half of the over 60s will suffer insomnia sometime. The best way to make yourself sleep better is the natural way. Without drugs you can train yourself to sleep.Here are some quick tips for a more restful night. Continue reading “7 Easy Tips to help you sleep better at night”

Reverse the effects of inflammation in the arteries with the Mediterranean Diet

Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)
Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)

 

Enjoy the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.

You may worry about inflammatory disease such as arthritis or hardening of the arteries which can cause heart problems, many cancers and even Alzheimer’s disease. It’s very important that you discuss with your doctor any treatment that’s right for you. But, the good news is that you can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of these chronic diseases by adhering Continue reading “Reverse the effects of inflammation in the arteries with the Mediterranean Diet”

Why with exercise being over 60 does not mean over the hill

According to recent a medical research study at King’s College, London carried out to determine if there is a relationship between age and physiological function, we would be advised that appropriate regular exercise taken as we grow older is beneficial to Continue reading “Why with exercise being over 60 does not mean over the hill”

7 Helpful Tips for getting the best out of the Mediterranean diet

MediterraneanDietPyramid

 Generally, medical health experts agree the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle provide the best ways to living a healthy and happy life. As a lifestyle it can keep you healthy from a young age to a ripe old age and help you feel, look and think the best you can be.

For the best results,the Mediterranean diet Continue reading “7 Helpful Tips for getting the best out of the Mediterranean diet”

Why leaving your chair could add five years to your life

why1

It perhaps should no longer be necessary to remind people that physical activity is essential for health and longevity.Medical research into reducing the risk of heart disease,diabetes and cancer in older people continues to support this truth.The results of recent large studies by the Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, confirm a strong association between physical activity and Continue reading “Why leaving your chair could add five years to your life”

How to apply the 80/20 principle to gardening in a small space

vegetable garden Alix Marina @ dollarphotoclub
vegetable garden Alix Marina @ dollarphotoclub

No space for a garden?

Over thirty years ago, Mel Bartholemew devised a system of gardening which enabled him to yield over 80 percent of his crops of vegetables and flowers from 20 per cent of the area normally required for traditional gardening methods.This gardening example (loosely applied) of Pareto’s 80/20 principle,like so many things of genius, was derived from a simple concept.Mel has continued to experiment and improve his way of gardening in a limited space using small square foot plots to the present day.

Continue reading “How to apply the 80/20 principle to gardening in a small space”

How green spaces make you feel better

potted glory
(c)to35ke75@dollarphotoclub

Green spaces provide areas where you can relax and de-stress from the turbulence of modern living, and help your physical and mental health and wellbeing.They are also good for the environment.

You don’t need a large area in which to create your own green space at home.If you have recently downsized to an apartment, where space for a garden is severely restricted, this idea may particularly appeal to you.With a little thought, you can bring a sense of the country into your own living space with some oxygenating plants in containers,and perhaps a water feature.Even a balcony or patio can be transformed into a container garden easy on the eye and the ear.If space permits you may wish to extend it into an even more environmentally-friendly area.

Your green space can serve many functions.It can provide a buffer for noise,a refuge, or simply be a place in which you can be calm and relax.

A green space can have any function that you want it to have. They can be noise buffers, recreational, a refuge or simply to relax and calm you. No matter what size your garden space, you can incorporate elements that make it your very own green space. Continue reading “How green spaces make you feel better”

Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy Book Review

mediterranean diet for beginners

 

Introduction

The title of Gina Crawford’s most recent book says it all. For an introduction to an exciting new lifestyle you need an easy to read quick guide delivering “no fluff,no filler, and going straight to the point” as Mrs Crawford would put it. This book is just that.

Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy was released in January of 2015, and reveals the “healthiest, most well respected and scientifically documented diet in the world.” Continue reading “Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy Book Review”

What Food Choices Make up a Mediterranean Diet?

mediterranean diet
dollarphotoclub

 

When you think about Mediterranean food do you think of pitta, lasagna, plenty of white bread, lamb and pizza? If so, you are missing the point.

The Mediterranean Diet, proved time and again to lead to less disease, a healthier heart, better brain function and a multitude of other health benefits, has been misrepresented in recent years. A true healthy Mediterranean Diet is based on the eating habits of Greece, Crete and Southern Italy of around 1960.

That diet is based on whole foods, plants and vegetables. To these basic essentials small portions of lean, healthy meat can be added, as well as seafood 2 or 3 times a week. The idea is that good fats replace bad ones, and you should always eat a breakfast rich in high-fibre foods, fruits and whole grains.Though allowed,daily products, are used in limited amounts.

Below are a few popular food choices which make up a healthy Mediterranean-style diet.

Whole wheat, whole grains and oats
Good fats like extra-virgin olive oil, sunflower seeds, nuts and avocados
Fish like salmon and sardines, tuna and herring
Shellfish, such as clams, oysters and mussels
Herbs and natural spices
Fruits and vegetables of all kinds
Whole foods (foods that are as close to their natural state as possible)
Foods you should avoid or eat less

An understanding of your eating options also means knowing what foods you should avoid, or simply cut back on. If you limit your intake of the following food items and components, and you will be making smart Mediterranean food choices.

Fast food and fried food
Processed and red meat
Products made with white flour
Refined sugar
Bad fats like hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and trans fats
Butter, margarine and lard
Salt
Monosodium glutamate (MSG is found in up to 80% of all processed food)the
Isn’t this rather too strict a diet?

It doesn’t have to be.You can see the above are foods to avoid or eat less of and are not all strictly forbidden. Eating red meat a few times a month is considered alright. And sea salt can be used in limited quantities since it is not processed like table salt. Essentially, it is important to focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains, and less processed and refined food, salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.The wide variety of foods available and good for you means that the diet is not boring.

Gina Crawford has written a comprehensive guide to the real deal Mediterranean Diet with many delicious and easy to produce recipes.

Making smart food choices is the basis of the Mediterranean Diet. Before you prepare your next meal, be honest with yourself. Is your diet primarily whole food, plant and vegetable-based? Does it substitute healthy fats for bad fats? Will it ensure that you eat fish 2 or 3 times each week, and red meat no more than 2 or 3 times a month? If so, you are well on your way to choosing the foods found in a Mediterranean-style diet that lead to fewer diseases and better overall health.

 

Why this is no age to retire

 

dollarphotoclub
dollarphotoclub

Today, one in six of the UK population is aged 65 or over.

Until quite recently people of a certain age felt defined by what passed as appropriate for their parents, and their forebears. This earlier attitude, bringing with it all things ageism, was reinforced by a lower life expectancy, and by the many legal and social rules in our society which dictated what should or should not be done at certain times in life, particularly in later life. This was no less apparent than Continue reading “Why this is no age to retire”

On the Pilgrim’s Way for Helplink

 

Cathedral de Compostela by ramonespelt for dollarphotoclub
Cathedral de Compostela by ramonespelt for dollarphotoclub

As we head towards Easter, Ian Cochran is heading away from the Pyrenees and on towards Santiago de Compostela and the fifty odd miles beyond to Cape Finistere, having set out on his 571 mile walk for charity on 28th March. Self-funded,70 year-old Ian,who is a diabetic, intends to complete his walk in 58 days and to raise much needed money in sponsorship for Helplink Community Support based on the Wirral. This 20 year-old charity helps not only elderly but other needy,vulnerable and disabled Wirral residents. Practical assistance is at the heart of the charitable work which is carried out by an army of approximately 100 volunteers. Without further funding a service currently providing invaluable help to over 800 people is at risk.

The Pilgrim’s Way, also known as the Way of St James, is followed by pilgrims and tourists who use the ancient routes across Galicia in Northern Spain. The tomb of St James at Santiago is supposed to have been discovered in the 9th century and is known world-wide as a religious shrine of great importance.Ian will be looking to put in at least 5 hours walking per day. While the going under foot on the camino (“way”) is generally good walking, it is the amount of walking day after day for a period of over 50 days that is very demanding, and hard on the feet!

Good luck Ian! As I write he has 52 days left to go!

You can follow his progress at the Helplink website.If you wish to sponsor him during this valiant project you can do this at www.justgiving.com

 

Give us a Break! Warner’s will.

 


Warner Leisure’s 7 country hotels are open to welcome you this Spring. Take  an April or May Spring Break.

Some bookings are still available for Easter.

Explore the Jurassic Coast, Sherwood Forest or the Yorkshire Dales.

Get the sand between your feet on a stroll along the beaches at Hayling Island, Isle of Wight or the Suffolk Coast. Fresh air, great views.

In the mix is simply an unforgettable recipe for good food, entertainment, and relaxed surroundings.

Prices held until 2nd April, so book now!WarnersLeisure Hotels.

AND THERE IS MORE!

You can save up to £350 per room in 2015 with Warner, plus you’ll receive an extra £10 saving per person when you quote your Senior Railcard promo code ‘PHCSRC’.

And that’s not all, as a Railcard holder you’ll also benefit from:

Half price holiday protection plan
Deposit of only £65 per person*
No booking fees
No credit card charges

 

 

Ease into the Mediterranean diet today

cestino di pane con verdure - dollarphotoclub
cestino di pane con verdure – dollarphotoclub

 

Media headlines often tell it all:

Sensible diet cuts heart attack risk within weeks (The Times)

Obesity threatens chronic ill health in older age

Dire warning of [adult] obesity as [youngsters] pile on the pounds(The Daily Mail)

but many of us still don’t respond to the headlines, or even read the rest of the article,news item,or report we maybe reading.

Despite the sheer volume of scientific evidence written today about the likely consequences of poor diet Continue reading “Ease into the Mediterranean diet today”

Focus on the public face of dementia

iQoncept @dollar photo club
iQoncept @dollar photo club

 

Much has been said lately about the scourge of dementia in all its forms.And now,just a few days ago,Sir Terry Pratchett,author of the fantasy book series Discworld, and recently often considered a public face of dementia, passed away. He had been diagnosed in 2007 with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, an estimated 850,000 people currently suffer from dementia in the UK.The government is promising a new,long term strategy focused on boosting research,improving care and raising awareness of dementia. Not before time a deep searching light is to be shone on this growing mental disease which threatens to grow into a worldwide epidemic. Continue reading “Focus on the public face of dementia”

Are your hydrangeas ready for Spring?

 

Hydrangea set

Yesterday the sun was out and the sky was that wonderful blue you can experience in late winter before the spring. Stirred into action, I opened the tool shed for the secateurs and headed for the lacecap hydrangea bushes in my garden.The air was dry and cool, but not overly so, and frost was not expected overnight. Continue reading “Are your hydrangeas ready for Spring?”

5 or more things for baby boomers to consider when making travel plans

 

Have you got itchy feet? Raring to go on that holiday you’ve always promised yourself?Maybe you are a seasoned traveller, but are looking for fresh ideas to satisfy your wanderlust. Well you have come to the right place.Here are a few things to consider to help you make the right travel arrangements to suit you. Continue reading “5 or more things for baby boomers to consider when making travel plans”

Keeping purpose in your laterlife

Vector silhouettes of man.

A recent management magazine article inspired this post. The word purpose sprang out. So without entering into a sermon, what does it really mean – purpose? It could be said young people have by dint of youth purpose in their lives: to grow-up,expand their horizons,achieve ambitions, have families, help others, and so on. But what about older people in later life? Continue reading “Keeping purpose in your laterlife”

Great Life Expectancies

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Born 1902 in Russia, Max Lerner, American journalist,writer and educator contributed as a columnist for the Los Angeles Times over period of 20 years.

He is quoted as saying:  “I want to die young at an advanced age.”

I can relate to that.

He was known as a ‘possibilist’ , one who was considered neither an optimist nor a pessimist.

Max died in 1992 aged 89.

Wishing you all wherever you maybe a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas Eve – ‘visit from St Nicholas’ -Clement Clark Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,…

Happy Christmas to all,and to all goodnight!

 

UK Charities and regional press commemorate centenary of outbreak of WW1

 

havanna1234- dollarphotoclub
havanna1234- dollarphotoclub

Numerous events commemorating the start of WW1 have taken place so far this year,and many more are to come.Few,if any, business sectors have been more busy in supporting national and local charities than the regional press. Continue reading “UK Charities and regional press commemorate centenary of outbreak of WW1”

Standing-up for your health really works

dollar photo club
dollar photo club

Scary headlines jostle daily in the media to attract our attention.Many do not deliver on the message and become just so much unnecessary distraction in our everyday lives.Now, where our health maybe concerned most of us will always prick-up our ears and take notice for fear of missing something of importance. Standing-up for your health is a theme that has gained traction in the last few years, but does it work? Sitting is killing us? Continue reading “Standing-up for your health really works”

Lights out all over the world in commemoration of WWI centenary

lightsout_250x165 Today, throughout the UK and in many countries overseas, the start of the First World War is being commemorated.One hundred years ago, the deadliest of conflicts began.In many villages and towns, the sacrifice of families and loved ones made during a period of four years of war will be remembered at special services and ceremonies held in the UK and Belgium.In Glasgow, heads and representatives of Commonwealth countries, many of whom were last night celebrating the close of the successful Commonwealth Games, will attend a commemoration service in the City’s cathedral.

One such area that has been holding events leading upto today is North Devon. Over the weekend memorial services and exhibitions were held in Bideford,Berrynabor,Barnstaple and West Down. A flypast of Sea King aircraft and a wreath laying ceremony was arranged at Barnstaple.The annual flower show in West Down was WWI themed,and today in the hall at St Calixtus Church a special exhibition will be open from 10.a.m. and later, an open air service will be held in the church hall grounds, ahead of 11 p.m. and the marking of the time of the announcement of war a century ago.

LIGHTS OUT

If you wish to join in a special moment of remembrance the British Legion is inviting you to participate in a shared moment of reflection by turning off your lights from 10pm to 11pm, leaving on a single light or candle, to mark the 100th anniversary of when Great Britain entered the First World War.

UK Pensioners encouraged to stay in work to safeguard the economy

Seniors Point to Tablet PCGovernment adviser and pensions expert,Ros Altmann,has been given the brief to see what can be done to boost the number of older workers. She is suggesting the over 60s should be helped to retrain so that they can stay in the labour market. In a recent interview with The Times newspaper, she said one of the key employment issues for those in their sixties was lack of IT skills,and there should be an IT national training scheme open to pensioners. Over the next few years,there are expected to be significantly fewer younger people, 16 to 49,whereas those between the age of 50 and the state pension age are likely to surge by around 3.7 million. According to the August report from age.uk, over one-third of the population are over 50 years of age.Also, two-thirds of those aged between 65 and 74 still do not have broadband at home.These are many other figures which may be of particular interest on a wide number of areas including employment, relating to older people in the UK The benefits to the UK economy are clear and those able to take advantage of the opportunity of acquiring new work skills should benefit from a continuing sense of usefulness and social connectivity.Ms Altmann believes that this initiative could literally save lives by improving the wellness of groups of older people who could otherwise suffer from a lack ‘of sense of purpose’.

How to live comfortably and with independence in later life

sweet home

There has been much in the recent news about the growing belief that older people though finding themselves in inappropriate homes as some of their powers decline would far prefer to stay independent of a care home environment.

Perhaps not surprisingly a high number, 9 in 10 over 50s, according to the recent Daily Telegraph report of people surveyed about where they would prefer to live and be cared for, opted for staying put in their own homes. It seems though that most of us leave it far too late even to start any sort of conversation with anyone, including close family. We will discuss finance for older age, even funeral arrangements but not the long term living space we need or desire to maximise enjoyment of later life.

In the case of staying home and independent,planning for our living space in older age is of course not a new concept although there can be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to deal with the many requirements of individuals with different levels of health and abilities, as well as preferences for a particular lifestyle. There is a range of ‘fixes’ that can be considered to help maintain good quality of life, from small to medium ‘tweaks’ like adjusting the height of work surfaces ,installing better handle design for easier opening of doors and windows; also making more open living spaces for wheelchair access, for instance.At the other end of the range, there is the complete design-build always ‘fit for purpose’ living space. This looks to provide a living place in which to age, with practical comfort and aesthetics in mind.

Such a space should be able to function so as to enable both the able in mind and body and the disabled to co-habit in comfort and style.This latter of course is the holy grail,as it were, of planning for later life, and is often referred to as Universal (accessible )design which produces a broad range of practical ideas to incorporate in buildings and environments making them inherently accessible to people regardless of age. This helps at a social level so that the more elderly do not find themselves marginalised in their own homes and they can continue to enjoy the society of younger people.

Universal design was the brainchild of an architect who was himself confined to a wheelchair.His idea is a place to start a conversation about future living.It is a wide subject. You can start your own conversation with a quick start guide to learning how to live comfortably and with independence. Startling statistics from AgeUK tell us that the number of people over 65 in community-based care and support at home is falling rapidly in the UK. This is seen to be a trend working entirely against our wishes.It is time we all prepared better for our care in old age if we wish to  be where we want to be and not allow ourselves to end up in places not of our choosing. Aging in a Palace is a slim volume but a good read. It may be laced with many questions and few specific and detailed solutions, but it is thought provoking.

We should be all together now

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www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All together now!

It’s not what I expected to find on my recent visit to a local garden centre.It was not so much that I would not expect to see free newspapers or promotional material on a stand at the check-out point for passing customers to pick-up.No, my surprise was that I had not seen this publication before. I duly lifted a copy of All Together Now! returned to a seat in the coffee shop and read it from front to back.Having nursed a cup of coffee for as long as I felt was reasonable, I went home.

Now in its ninth year of publication

Chock-full of entertaining but above all informative articles and news items, All Together Now! is the messenger for a registered charity dedicated to providing a a top class news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability,long term health conditions or age. Now in the ninth year of publication, its area of coverage is the North West of England, although it now reaches a much wider audience with its digital newsletter offspring. The content is light in touch, bright, positive in tone, and above all likely to be very helpful for a range of age groups and disabilities.

In the June/July 2014 issue, features and news include:

-the creation of robots that enable people to walk again
-latest developments designed to make it easier for those with hearing or speech disability to make phone calls
-how yo obtain a downloadable easy read guide on using a mobile phone for people with learning difficulties
-news of improvements to be made in access at train stations for disabled people
-how to protect yourself from bogus callers at home
-recently announced changes in ISA rules
-views on the future of caring for older people
– a driving licence renewal reminder and tips for the over 70s,
and much, much more

I like its light, but not flippant, way of reporting serious issues affecting health and age challenged people particularly in the North West, and also elsewhere.

There is plenty of human interest and inspiring personal adventure stories galore,and hand in hand there is a wish to its readers to have fun and seek to be entertained.

I am signing-up for the digital fortnightly e-newsletter. This is a publication that deserves a much wider readership in the UK.

United in remembrance of the longest day

D-Day Remembered - Hermanville Normandy
D-Day Remembered – Hermanville Normandy

Yesterday, representatives of nearly 20 countries met to commemorate the 70th anniversary the D-Day landings, at one of the five sites in Normandy, Sword beach in Northern France, used by allied forces on 6th June 1944. The operation which began the liberation of France was conducted by the largest seaborne force ever assembled. Above is a tranquil picture of one of the military cemeteries where the graves of fallen soldiers are lovingly kept.

For information on the invaluable work done by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission  you can go to its official website.There is current news about cemeteries in its care, and also a search facility on the site if you are looking to find the cemetery where a soldier may be buried.

Could downsizing your property give you a new lease of life?

Chastleton House

At a time when much debate in the UK centres on insufficient housing to cater for the needs of a burgeoning population,encouraging downsizing by older people to make way for buyers of a younger generation is again being put forward as part of a solution.

Apparently,according to the Prudential, more than 2m homeowners over the age of 55 and over plan to downsize in the next few years.Another report suggests that downsizing could release upto £100,000 cash from the average property sale in the UK (in London this figure could be as much as £275,000).

So why and why now?

Homeowners have for many years felt trapped in the economic recession but they are now becoming more confident about the future and making a major lifestyle move. For many, the sale of a current property means:

-more appropriate living space as needs change in older age
-having more disposable cash perhaps to distribute to family
-help to ‘make ends meet’ in retirement,
-being able to spend on holidays and travel
-funds to secure long term care.

Most of those in the Prudential survey said that cash released by selling the equity in their property would be used to fund their later life.

Restricted physical mobility, high property maintenance and refurbishment costs,the ever increasing utility prices for gas,water and electricity are just some of the drivers for downsizing according to the website downsizingdirect .com

This trend to downsizing is is seen by many commentators as good for the general property market, freeing-up housing for those finding it difficult to step onto the property ownership ladder.Some feel it may also lead to the building of new developments to suit an ageing population where services and the benefits of community will provide greater fulfilment and quality of life.

The strong message seems to be for those looking to downsize is to seek appropriate professional financial advice. It is important to have a realistic expectation of what a sale will yield, and what will be left after all the costs of selling,buying a another home, and moving have been factored into the mix.

Have you had recent experience in this?Do let me know.

 

 

 

When are you too old to have ambition?

 

Tercera edad

Dame Joan Bakewell,the cultural broadcaster and writer once dubbed ‘the thinking man’s crumpet’ by the late Frank Muir, has suggested that elderly people would be far happier if they eschewed ambition,giving-up on ‘winning’, and lived more content with their lot. At a recent gathering at the Hay-on-Wye Festival, she also added, on the other hand, that a person in old age needed a sense of purpose when pursuing careers, caring for young family, and keeping one’s remaining friends, cease to play a crucial part in life.Old age she felt was like a ‘country’, where its inhabitants were generally excluded,depressed, and lonely.

The ‘country’ of old age

This for me this raises the age-old question : when does one reach the frontier of this awful country thus described? It is rather like measuring the proverbial piece of string.One arbitrary line, like the current official retirement age in the UK, for instance is not appropriate for the well being of all people reaching it, if strictly applied. Dame Joan believes that at the age of 81 she is reaching that frontier. For others of differing states of health, level of skills, including social, and lifestyle needs, the step into old age may be much nearer, or perhaps further away. I do like the idea, though, of conducting a later life that minimises anxiety so often the result of living with rivalry.

Where I have difficulty is defining ambition. One person’s ambition maybe to do more for others; another to write poetry or a novel, or perhaps simply just to do do something different, and have different interests from an earlier life.This kind of ambition is to be encouraged in my book.

Look for a sense of purpose

Whilst, the country of old age for many may seem a very bleak place, unless you can rest content on your laurels in the comfort of a life well lived, Dame Joan does see how this can change. Life can still be wonderful and fulfilling. With some adjustment of their goals, the elderly can still have a sense of purpose for the rest of their lives.

Old age is no longer a place of willing submissiveness

To help people with the necessary life changes, she advocates official help with the appointment of a ‘commissioner’ for the old, charged with looking after their special interests.The old now have significant political power, she says,’old age is no longer a place of willing submissiveness.’  People in later life now expect more from their later life.

What do you think?Your comments would be most welcome.

 

It’s never too late to be your own boss

Elderly couple business she looks shocked

There is a widely held view that older people lack the drive necessary to become successful entrepreneurs. Certainly in certain sectors, like technology, the perception is that to be successful you need to have achieved your business ambitions by the age of thirty-five years, otherwise in entrepreneurial terms you are deemed ‘over-the-hill.’ It is therefore refreshing to learn that figures from recent studies in the US and elsewhere suggest that older people do have the required business and technical skills, combined with experience, to start-up businesses, and become more successful on average than younger people.

Adeo Rossi,founder of the The Founder Institute, says age is only one factor among many to predict the success of an entrepreneur.The romanticised notion that it is the young college drop-out who will be the one to make good and become a millionaire is wide-off the mark, far from the norm.According to the Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation, business creation by older Americans grew by more than 60 per cent between 1996 and 2012, fuelled partly by ageing and the huge boomer generation. In the UK, the number of self-employed workers increased by 9.6 per cent in the four years between 2008 and 2012 to 4.176 million and older people made a significant contribution to this growth. Alastair Clegg of the Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) also adds,” that older people have a wealth of skills and experience that are not only beneficial to the economy but will help the next generation of workers.”He says that for older people struggling to find work, starting-up their own business is a viable route to a sustainable employment.

It is never too late to be your own boss as an entrepreneur.

At ageUK you can read about Geoff Gill,65 years of age,and recently retired, who decided to retire from his employment and turn a part time business interest into a full time one. He is one of many who has decided to continue to be gainfully employed but as his own boss.In this way he is able to use his skills and experience in a sustainable business.
There are many people out there like Geoff to inspire us.For useful information have a look, for example, at what PRIME has to offer.

 

Remembering The Great War

Flanders Field
Flanders Field

The annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show is almost upon us again. This year, amongst the beautiful gardens and splendid exhibits developed to amaze and entertain over 40,000 visitors daily over a four day period (20th to 23rd of May),there will be themes to remind us vividly that it is the centenary of the First World War.

The RHS says that the gardens laid-out around the Great Pavilion to mark the outbreak of war will bring a visual representation of life at that time, and how people were affected by events. For this section,exhibitors will include the Royal British Legion with its allotment garden,The ABF The Soldier’s charity with a garden styled as No Man’s Land, Help for Heroes will get its message across with its garden depicting the Victoria Cross,and called Hope on The Horizon.

Since 1913, the RHS has staged its show within the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, except for short periods during the two World Wars. If you are not lucky enough to be given or to buy tickets for this show there will be the usual extensive press coverage by the BBC and others.

Also, throughout this year there will other opportunities to reflect on this important time of reflection for an event in history which massively reshaped our World. Many charities and organisations will be marking this time with their own commemorations. We shall be looking out for these, and bringing to these pages dates of upcoming events large and small around the UK, together with available reports. By way of starting this project, we will be returning to the Royal British Legion and the Tower of London for their combined tribute, a sea of ceramic poppies covering the moat area;and the opening of the new galleries at the Imperial War Museum (from 19th July)

Online access boosted by the tablets

Smiling senior woman using digital tablet while lying at the parkRecent official statistics show a positive trend in the use of available online access by the over 65s. Over one third are using the internet regularly.The Office of National Statistics (ONS) says that for the first time, over half of those in the age range 65-74 now have access to the internet at home.

Although this is greatly encouraging,there is still a great number of people for whom the digital revolution has had little or no impact. It is reckoned that there are still 5 million people over the age of 65 who have never been online.

With this high number in mind, government and many charities are actively promoting the benefits and confidence that skills on the internet can bring to older people. Apart from the many ways to cut domestic bills and other spending by being online, many people find that they are less isolated by being more connected with family,friends and the world at large. Age UK, provides information about the value of these internet skills, together with details of suitably tailored courses.

Some further ONS stats are:

“While nine out of ten adults (90 per cent) aged 35-44 have the internet at home, this falls to just a quarter (26 per cent) of over 75s. And while virtually all (99 per cent) 25-34s own a mobile phone, only half (51 per cent) of over 75s own a mobile, with this age group more likely to have a landline (94 per cent) than 16-24s (67 per cent).” It is also interesting to note that when asked what media would be missed the most, people aged over 75 are also far more likely to miss their TVs the most (65 per cent), and then the radio (15 per cent).  Young adults aged 16-24,however, would miss their mobile phone the most(28 per cent), followed by the internet (26 per cent) and TV (23 per cent).”

The over 65s play catch-up

The ONS says there is evidence, however, that older age groups are getting to grips with technology.For the first time, over half (55 per cent) of those aged 65-74 have access to the internet at home while over three quarters (77 per cent) now have a mobile.

And the tablets?

Well, tablets like the iPad have grown dramatically in popularity being a handy mobile device of choice for would be silver surfers of the net.The tablet is seen as a driver in the surge of internet access by older people.

If you know of family or friends seeking or needing to join the digital revolution, why not help them look out for a course nearby on computers and the internet.Indeed,you may be interested in learning more of the wide range of the fascinating information you can ‘tap into’ on a daily basis. It is such a valuable facility that can enhance the quality of life. Another source of inspiration for you maybe silver surfers training. Please do let me know how you get on.Feedback may help me to find other resources that could be helpful. You can stay in touch by signing-up for my newsletter, which among other topical things will have some further information from time to time on joining the online community.

Have you voted for government to keep its hands-off your pensioner benefits?

Senior Couple Watching TV At Home

The Conservative party has pledged to consign the possible granting of state pension increases so small as to be meaningless ,to the political dustbin by confirming the retention of the ‘triple lock’ guarantee for state pension increases post-2015 ,if re-elected. No sooner had this political football been punctured than murmurings were to be heard from other political quarters threatening to remove the following pensioners’ non-means tested benefits :

– free tv licence fee for the over-75s

-winter fuel allowances

-bus passes

-free prescriptions and eye tests

It is true that there are some wealthy pensioners in the UK who could well fund these benefits for themselves. According to the Hands Off ! campaign, however,the high figures for usage point to a clear need for these benefits to be retained.It also says that the high level of unclaimed means tested benefits, for over 65s, clearly shows that means testing does not work.

“We have,for the first time,placed a value on the economic and social contribution that older people make to our society. In 2010,over 65s made an astonishing net contribution of £40 billion to the UK economy through,amongst other contributions,taxes, spending power,…” Lynne Berry, WRVS

Hands Off! also says,the recent period of austerity is seen as having hit hard the older as well as the younger generations in the nation.The risk of poverty in older people is said to be higher than for most other EU countries.

There have been a number of recent changes affecting pensioner benefits:

-the date for women’s pension retirement age brought forward

-state pensions linked to the lower measure of inflation (CPI)

-raised qualifying age for Winter fuel payments

-the freezing of personal allowances for over 4 million pensioners, expected to save the government £1bn by 2015.

“There are over 10 million people aged 65+ living in the UK. Two out of three believe that politicians see older people as a low priority. The ‘Hands Off’ campaign plans to change that.” Hands Off!”

An e-petition entitled ‘Hands off universal pensioner benefits’ has been created in order to influence government and parliament in the UK.

Sign-up today! The opportunity  to do so ends 10th May 2014

How to commemorate the centenary of the First World War

from Flanders field During this year many events will take place to commemorate the start in 1914 of the First World War. In the UK and in many countries across the world the War had a devastating impact claiming a total of over 16 million lives.

The centenary will be marked with a great number of public acts of remembrance from 2014 through to 2018. Many organisations have been preparing to play their part. English Heritage,responsible for over 400 historic sites, many of which played a part in events and people’s lives during the WW1 period, is one such intending to play host to members of the public and allowing them to participate in visits,events and projects. So if you are looking for a great day out with family, or you are up for more involvement, you should have a look at the calendar of things suggested at the English Heritage site.In partnership with the Council of British Archaeology, EH is looking at ‘lost’ sites of historical importance, including a WW1 training camp which has turned-up interesting finds connected to overseas soldiers who had trained at it. There maybe opportunities for you to join in and become ‘hands-on’. Of course to enjoy the full benefits of what EH has to offer, you will be required to take-out membership. There are,however, generous concessionary rates on offer, and children can often visit free at most properties. Membership apart, the EH site is well worth looking at for the wealth of information and photos it provides, including little known facts about the WW1 years and special images from its archives. Look for a World War 1 event at an English Heritage property near you this year which has been particularly dedicated to the horses and riders who played their part on all the battle fronts – there will be talks,music,and kid’s activities.You will also receive an insight into the lives of those who served on the Home Front. Of course, there there will many more ways through organisations to commemorate this most important historic time 100 years ago. They will range from local churches arranging remembrance services and fairs to commemoration arranged at a national level arranged perhaps to take place in London and other major cities in the UK.

Who will care for the carers in our society beyond 2017?

Geriatrics and elderly careWho will care for the carers ?

According to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), more of us are worrying about how we will be cared for when we are older. A growing number of us have taken on the  responsibility for the care of parents, but the IPPR sees a growing ‘family care gap’ developing as the number of older people in need of care  exceeds the number of family members able to provide it. This gap is expected to be apparent for the first time in 2017

The huge challenge is to meet the care needs of an ageing baby boomer generation.This could increasingly continue to fall on adult children and their partners, with women being seen as the main carers and most likely to have to give-up work to take on the care responsibilities. The IPPR draws out a number of key issues which demand a rethink of how we look after each other in later life. There is the refocusing of the respective roles of state and individuals, also the widening of the narrow  focus on physical and health needs to include those needs necessary  to lead a decent life in older age.
Whose responsibility is it anyway?
The state though holding a pivotal role has never been the main provider, in the post-war period, of care and support for the elderly. It is family support that has carried most of the weight for this, at an estimated annual value of £55billion.
As budgets for spending on elderly care continue to be severely constrained, a recent NHS survey reveals that few of us believe government has the right social care policies. Post-war society has changed rapidly as the baby boomer generation age. More people now live alone, and family members often live far apart for both social and economic reasons. Looking forward,the IPPR in its report, is seeking to highlight solutions that place greater value on mutual  support provided by resources working within families,neighbourhoods and community networks.
So finally what can be done?
In making its recommendations the IPPR,believes the post-war model of social care needs a fundamental rethink, as it does not meet the wants and needs of the elderly, nor does it it prepare society to deal with an ageing  population.
A core recommendation is
  • the building and development of new neighbourhood networks  designed to help older people stay active and healthy, and support families find the right work care life balance.

This would work with other recommendations for

  • better care-coordination and single point contact
  • giving power to older people, families and carers to buy services directly using a community based ‘shared budget’
  • stronger employment rights enabling carers to better able combine work and care.
You can read the full IPPR report here…

Budget 2014 gives pension savers from age 55 greater financial freedom.

7027606047_cac49c3b79_t21

Until now, successive governments had refused to deal with the unfairness of a regime of pension regulation which had resulted in many people having to settle for significantly reduced returns on their savings at retirement. The Budget of 2014 seeks to change all that.
Greater access to pension investment
Before the Budget changes, it was calculated that more than 100,000 pension savers retiring this year could lose out on £210 million from uncompetitive rates offered to holders of small retirement pots.Now,effective 27th March this year, small pots can now be cashed-in up to a value of £10,000,also the number of such pots held has been raised from two to three.
There are changes to the provisions relating to drawdown of your pension, both capped and flexible,increasing the amount of you can take out of these arrangements.
You can read here more about how this and other pension changes in the Budget may affect you.
400,000 people will have greater flexibility over their savings.From next year, 320,000 retirees with defined contribution pensions will benefit from greater choice over these plans.
Obtain good professional financial advice
In making the right decisions for you- an annuity may still be the best option for many – obtaining good financial advice is essential. The government has promised to help you obtain the guidance you need.

Are you still stepping-up your exercise in 2014?

So how is it going for you this year,so far? Did you start the year with a resolution to exercise more?Maybe you bought a pedometer, or some such aid, to help you set targets and measure your exercise levels.Just maybe, though,Fotosearch_k2347105 you will have followed the over 80% or so it is reckoned fall away from achieving their resolutions.

Well,I did make a resolution to achieve a daily average of 10,000 steps a day within the first three months of the year. I bought the pedometer and I have tried to build-up my daily step rate.At the moment I am achieving around 6,000 steps on average. So some days, I do more than 6,000, other days more around 5,500. My current rate is classed as just above a sedentary lifestyle, an improvement, but I must do much better in the coming weeks.

If you have never measured your walking steps, it does require some application to achieve the higher step rates for beneficial exercise. There is no doubt I feel much better for the challenge.

The thing about going for a good walking habit is that if you falter, you can quickly step it up again  without too much loss of benefit. I find now that I think about how to step-up my effort during the day.So,for example, instead of driving the car short distances, I will take that 10 minute walk.I will take the stairs in a public building rather than a lift.

Would you feel better for that extra exercise? Well,don’t just take my word for it: research studies in Brazil and the US have concluded that taking 6,000 or more steps daily can decrease the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.They found that typically an adult male walks 5,117 steps in a day, equivalent that is to a walk of about two and a half miles and, apparently  adding a further 1,000 steps to this tally may be just enough to lower this health risk by reducing abdominal obesity.

The research also indicates that your daily quota of steps does not have to be concentrated in an exercise programme.The health benefit can be gained if the physical activity is spread throughout the day.

Daily there is much talk about the growing levels of obesity throughout many parts of the world. You can help yourself by keeping to this simple daily exercise plan to walk more each day. Set yourself a reasonable and effective target.

 

Have you planned your New Year Resolutions?

merry-christmas

The old year has nearly gone

and many of us will go through that timeless ritual of seeing the New Year in with one or several resolutions. We will be in earnest.But how many of us will manage to keep any of those promises to ourselves or others?According to some estimate as few as 1 in 10 of us will manage to achieve this self inflicted goal.
So why do we fail? It seems straight forward enough when the idea of self improvement,or perhaps a worthy cause, is born on the wave of a rush of blood when the sentimentality of the waning year is upon us. Why don’t our resolutions work out?
These key questions, and others, are answered in an excellent book which also provides an easy to follow blueprint based on 12 good habit types…to read more

Top Retro Toys for Xmas 2013

Top Retro Toys for Christmas 2013!

 

Not sure where to look for toys for the grandkids? Not sure what they are into.

Top UK store Debenhamshas been shaking-out their archives and has discovered its top earning toys sold during the last 50 years. Should it be a surprise to discover,when children’s toys go in and out of fashion as quick as wink from one year to the next, that listed below are 10 retro toys still available with no, or some updating modification ,and are sought after,today? And they will be best sellers again this year.

1. Cabbage Patch Dolls

2. Rubiks Cube

3. Monopoly

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures

5. Buz Lightyear

6. Barbie Doll

7. Teletubbies

8. Furby

9. Sylvanian Families

10. Lego ( a large selection now available, including Star Wars figures and related toys)

So for these still must-have toys you should buy now to avoid any family disappointment!

Life is such a bore so pensioners say

Life is but a bore so pensioners say

Boredom in retirement -that'll be the day!
Boredom in retirement -that’ll be the day!

According to a recent survey carried out by the Skipton Building Society, one half of a group of retired people canvassed said that within ten months of retirement they were bored with life! Having spent most of their working lives dreaming, scheming and saving for a life in retirement they found the freedom to do whatever they wanted with their time had not given them the happiness they had hoped to have.
Retired people, it seems, feel there is a stigma attached to their new life, and they resent being termed ‘old’.
For some,the extra lie-ins and the opportunity of watching daytime television had quickly palled in appeal.No longer did they feel useful or able to rely on a structured work life to offer meaning to their everyday existence. Sometimes loneliness had replaced the comfort of camaraderie in the workplace. Also of course, for some, the cause of dissatisfaction was a shortage of disposable money to indulge themselves, or at best to maintain their standard of living on a reduced income.
Work to remove those retirement blues now
 
If you are like a rudderless ship, you should look to find a new structure for your life, and one which will utilise transferable skills employed prior to retirement. Of course your health may dictate what you can and cannot do but your future activities can be tailored to your abilities. There is an opportunity to learn new skills and acquire new interests.
Essentially, you need something to get out of bed for in the mornings.
I hope that you will regularly return to these pages where we will be offering solutions to help drive away the hopelessness many feel when faced with the challenges of a new life beyond work – work of another nature, paid or unpaid, may also,of course, be a part or the whole of the solution to this dilemma.
The opportunity for beneficial retirement covers a wide field…
… but offers one wherein everyone will find something that will help improve their lives. For now, I leave you with this thought : during a busy work life  the successful order of things rested heavily on acts of behaviour or routines very much driven by habit, like buying a newspaper on the way to the bus stop, or cutting-up for your lunch box,simple things which you did without much thought or extra learning, but if you missed out doing them it mattered to your general wellbeing. The number of these good daily habits was large, and probably ranged from the trivial to the vital,but all together played their part in keeping your life together and moving forward with some meaning.
Develop good daily habits
In retirement,or any new life, we need to develop a new set of good daily habits some of which we may or may not have incorporated in our previous life.It is a time to sort through and retain what is useful from the past for the future.
The good habits may help us in retirement to:
  • eat well and exercise for health;
  • likewise sleep better
  • take on new learning, doing something each day in which we excel utilising our experience or skill;
  • reduce stress;
  • socialise, or at least make yourself known;
  • do things that make you feel better, this might be for instance helping someone else through a problem;
  • have a routine when you first wake-up
Many of these interact,and there are many others, which will be covered in detail soon in future posts on this site, and in my newsletters.
 
Having a happy and fulfilling laterlife is the very essence of what this site is all about.
You can read a Skipton Building Society report on aspects and attitudes relating to retirement

UK helpline for lonesome older people launched

 

Believing that there is a serious need in the UK for a new service to help pensioners who suffer from loneliness, Esther Ranzten of  That’s Life! fame has recently launched Silver Line. In these days of potential information overload, help in making the right links to appropriate resources for a disadvantaged section of our society would seem to be great idea.
Silver Line with some founder sponsors and ongoing public donations has set itself-up to act as a ‘befriending’ organisation which those in need of its services can access by telephone 24/7. Trained advisors will be on hand to provide free and confidential advice, and of course a comforting word.
0800 4 70 80 90
 
Of course, many older people of pension age are not lonely, in the sense that living alone they are unhappy with that condition. But for others, there will be that constant debilitating feeling of being left adrift from mainstream society.This feeling of no longer having purpose in life with no tangible contact with other people may arise from from many causes. Perhaps the sudden lack of camaraderie provided by an active and busy workplace, little social interaction from enforced immobility from accident or illness, the lost contacts as family members move or pass away.
0800 4 70 80 90
 
The helpline advisers will help to point callers in the right direction for resources specific to a caller’s needs. That might be locating services in a local area provided by say, ageUK or the Royal Voluntary Service which can give further advice and offer companionship.
0800 4 70 80 90 
 
Many elderly people are not be prepared to admit they are lonely.They maybe too proud,or they may fear the prospect of inviting someone to ‘befriend’ them. Trained advisers will attempt to break down these issues,with security of the individual very much in mind.
The service of course requires public financial support, and there are opportunities to become a volunteer and an adviser to the cause. This may be just for you, if you now find  you have more time to spare and would like to help people in need.
0800 4 70 80 90
It these times, it seems to me that another such help link is to be welcomed. Some may feel they are being patronised. But from the TV and press coverage, and public reaction, to the announcement of the new service, it has been generally well received.
The founder,Esther Rantzen, was successful with the child line she set-up 27 years ago which now forms part of the NSPCC.
If you can bear the jingle when you go to the Silver Line website you will find the contact telephone details if you haven’t spotted them already in this post! Do let me have your views.
 
 

Short walk to a longer healthier life

Apparently, we in Britain are some of the most inactive people in the world. One third of us cannot manage even a 30 minute walk every week.Result: 37,000 lives are lost that might otherwise be saved from premature death. Many of us succumb to diabetes and heart disease, and assorted cancers. So what to do? We can schedule 20 minutes a day for a walk , and do it! Can’t we? A good walk of this short duration can boost our natural disease killer cells, help curb inflammation within our bodies,and privent damage to our ‘energy battery cells’. I’m in. Oh, and by the way, a good daily walk can actually be, well, fun relaxing and fun. If you are up for a healthier life-style do have a look at this recent report from the Daily Mail.

A short walk of just 20 minutes could be a life changer for you. Others who say so are:

Ramblers

MacMillan Cancer Support

Walking back to health and happiness

 

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Walking has been described as the most underrated of human activities, and yet, when I last searched on Google there were 499 million entries for this one word alone! Clearly there is a vast interest in walking but are we reaping the full benefit of this most natural of skills? In health matters and particularly in terms of preventable serious illness, it seems we are not. Insufficient physical activity and an overly high intake of calories in food and drink are causing widespread chronic diseases in the general population of many developed countries.

 

 

Should I do this?Will I benefit?

People of all ages can greatly benefit from walking for exercise. And the fantastic news is that it is never too late to start taking advantage. From the outset, you should listen to your body and only do what is comfortable for you. If you are not a walker for fitness you should build-up your level of activity introducing walking into your daily life until it becomes a habit you enjoy and don’t wish to lose. Importantly, it should become fun,and you should feel better for it.

The benefits of walking are :

– More active life

– Losing weight

– Having fun

– Gaining a purposeful habit

– Saving money

– Expanding social life

– Providing protection against serious illness

Many of us need help later in life to sustain the level of physical activity required to ensure we give ourselves the best chance of living long and healthy lives. Significant changes in our lifestyles can affect our attitude to exercise. Often,when we reach a certain age and move away from busy family and business schedules to finding more time on our hands, we can tend to slow down. The equation we need to guard against this:

High calorie Intake + Low Physical Activity = Obesity,diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

So what will help? A good habit of taking exercise regularly and within our individual ability can pay high health dividends. In order to acquire this habit most of us need to see the measurable results of our efforts indicating clearly our progress towards incremental and reasonable improvements in our fitness. We need targets to aim for and the ability to measure easily how we are doing. The answer is to use a physical activity monitoring device everyday.

Activity Measurement

I recently bought a pedometer. This I believe will help me to build-up my daily walking activity. Already I have noticed a significant change in my daily walking activity. I will let you know how I get on. Over the next few weeks, I would also like to bring you some tips and related information about the benefits of the free at the point of action gift of walking to help ourselves sustain or improve the quality of our lives.So, if you don’t want to miss out,you can sign-up for my regular newsletter, in the box at the right of this screen- no obligation, and certainly no danger that your details will ever be used elsewhere.

Continue reading for details about the Omron Premium Digital Pocket Pedometer…pedometer review

 

 

Five steps to boost retirement income from your pension pot

7027606047_cac49c3b79_t21Retirement annuities have been much in the news lately.

According to recent reports, many of the estimated 400,000 people per year in the UK who purchase annuities are not aware of the best deals available to them. Only a mere 13 % apparently realised they could possibly do better than their first offer from an insurance provider.This is not a new problem – see link below : the60life.com/enhanced-pension-annuities-in-uk-revealed-the-shocking-truth-that-over-50-still-miss-out-on-extra-income/

Thankfully, there is extensive information out there to help pensioners obtain the best rate of income for their needs in return for their hard saved pension pots. The industry watchdog, the Association of British Insurers,(the ABI), has recently highlighted the disparity between the best and the worst annuity providers by publishing a much acclaimed ‘name and shame’ list. Some rates were up to 46% better than the worst.Retirees can help themselves with possibly the most important financial decision of their lives, and significantly boost their income for life. Four tips to help boost your income from an annuity are:

1. Don’t accept the first quote you receive. This might be from the provider with whom you saved your pension pot,or perhaps a suggestion from an online brokerage. As with most important purchases today ,you need to shop around for the best deal to suit you.You may be considerably better off this way.

2. Be sure to ask for and receive a guaranteed quote from a provider and not merely an indicative one. The latter might be attractive to you but it could be more than the income amount you eventually receive. So avoid this disappointment.

3.Make sure all your personal details have been included when applying for an annuity. Always fully declare the full state of your health which, if poor,could entitle you to an enhanced income. In this case, where a person is not likely to live as long as would normally be expected statistically an insurer will often be prepared to raise the annual income payable under an annuity.

4. On taking appropriate professional advice: don’t pay over the top for advice. Advisers say around 1.5 % of the pension pot is about right, but up to 3%, often without real advice given, is probably not. You can try unbiased.co.uk , the financial adviser website as a place to start your search.

5. Finally, having taken advice, it may be that taking a full annuity does not best meet your needs. Instead you may consider drawing down the whole or part of your pension fund gives you more control over your income and future investment. Note there are some restrictions to this option under regulations which limit the amount you can withdraw in this way. Your adviser can help with this.

Other useful (and unaffiliated) links to go to for information are:

National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF)

Association of British Insurers (ABI)

Citizens Advice Bureaux(CAB)

the60life.com/enhanced-pension-annuities-in-uk-revealed-the-shocking-truth-that-over-50-still-miss-out-on-extra-income/

 

Green exercise from gardening is good for you

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Last post-up,you were promised a follow-up to cover the benefits to health of exercise from gardening.

Well, big in the news recently is the survey carried out for the BBC’s Gardner’s World Magazine. The results of the survey have certainly and rapidly circulated around the world. Many newspapers have carried the bloomin’ good message: gardening can make you happier and more satisfied with life.

The results of the survey of 1,500 people in the UK showed that 80% of gardeners in the sample were satisfied with their lot, whereas just 67% of non-gardeners felt the same way.Furthermore, 97% of those who gardened regularly believed the green exercise they enjoyed improved their mood.

Researchers at the University of Essex believe  gardening to be a great benefit in the battle against depression.Short term benefits can help over the longer term.

So there you have it. It seems that the simplicity and tranquility found in the garden,and the responsibility for care-giving to growing things that gardening engenders adds to a person’s general wellbeing.

Also remember, during a heatwave, to take it easy in the garden as little really needs to be done. Why not sit in the shade and enjoy looking at all your good work!

For two items of press coverage you can go here for blooming’ cheer and for benefits of green exercise here.

 

 

5 ways to harness the exercise habit for a better life

The exercise habit  can lead to a healthier life.

Keeping physically fit is universally acknowledged as a ‘no brainer’ so far as leading a healthier lifestyle is concerned. So why do so many of us not bother, or almost as bad, like a New Year resolution vow to exercise more and regularly but fall away after after a short time?

Let us take five affordable and effective ways to exercise, first. These are:

 

1. Running for your life and enjoyment

2.Walking  Even a mere 15 minute walk can be so beneficial

3. Swimming Acknowledged by medical people to provide excellent but not over taxing strength training

4. Cycling  Age is no bar for this activity

5. Gardening. Even gentle pottering around the garden has been shown to aid balance and make for greater flexibility

The benefits of regular exercise doing one or more of the above activities will reward you with greater :

  • flexibility
  • muscle strength
  • balance and co-ordination
  • stamina

Now, the above activities can be done in short programmes to suit yourself and your physical abilities. You can go to the above resource links against each activity ( gardening will be dealt with in a later post ) for further information to help you.

And there’s the rub. In our heads most of us know what is good for us, but many of us do not persist long enough to receive the sustainable rewards. So we fall down. This is where we all need some help. After  working out what we can and should do, we need to change our daily pattern of behaviour to include our chosen

activities – often, in order to receive the benefit, we may only perhaps need to exercise every other day. But it must become a regular feature in our lives. Yes, it should become a habit.

A habit has been described as: ” a regular tendency or practice.It’s something you do almost without thinking.In some cases,our habits even come to to define us as people.”  S.J. Scott –77 Good Habits To Live A Better Life 

Powerful stuff ! We need the habit to keep us exercising.

To acquire a good exercise habit  it helps to have the support of others. We can join  clubs and associations, or a group of like-minded friends. In this way we can encourage and be encouraged in what we are doing.

In a series of posts to follow, we’ll go in more depth into these activities to increase our fitness and wellness . Also we’ll look into how exercise can become an indispensable part of our lifestyle. Hope to see you next time.

 

 

 

 

7 strength training benefits for older people

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According to the authors of a report published in Mature Fitness for the American Senior Fitness Association adults of all ages can benefit safely and effectively from strength training activity. Here,though,I would always caution with the need to consult a medical practitioner before embarking on unaccustomed exercise.Not everyone at any particular age is of course capable of safely achieving, without detriment to health, the same levels of physical activity. The main benefits of a professionally supervised program of resistance training for senior fitness are claimed as :

 

  • an increase in muscle strength and size
  • reduction in resting blood pressure
  • enhancement in glucose utilization
  • easing of lower back pain
  • an increase in bone density
  • an easing of arthritic discomfort
  • the relief of depression

 

To read the full report on strength training 

 

Other related resources of interest  are eldergym and Huffington Post 50

 

How To Help Avoid Losing The Meaning Of Life Visit The Over 50s Show

Are you over 50 and at a loose end? Don’t know what to do next in your life? Well, the Over 50s Show could help you find your way.

Billed as the biggest show for active Over 50s, The 50+ Show hits town again for the seventh time with a three day event taking place in July at the Olympia’s Grand Hall in London.Following last year’s successful event, the organisers are determined to make this year’s show even better and expect 12,000 people to attend. As an added attraction this year, celebrities have been drafted-in to help the full and varied programme go with a swing.

On the main stage area during day two consumer champion, Esther Rantzen CBE,will be introducing her new charity The Silver Line. On the Saturday,day three, it will be the turn of journalist and TV broadcaster Angela Rippon, who will be giving ‘an audience’ and host a question and answer session.Opening the show on day one, Thursday, will be comedian and actor, Brian Conley, who will entertain with his particular style of stand-up comedy.

The main focus of the Show is ‘Making the Most of Life : Positively, Actively and Creatively.’

Sponsored by the Prudential, the show will have something of interest for most people covering a range of practical skills, including craft work, cookery, gardening, fashion, and keeping fit. Making the most of ourselves is what it will all be about as you visit the many exhibitor stands.

The 50+ show will be  joined by the 50+ Travel  and the Health Tourism Shows to provide a packed programme of activities including:

  • fitness sessions and a climbing wall
  • free health checks
  • cookery demonstrations – led by Beer Chef Richard Fox
  • wellness-based travel
  • holidays for mature travellers
  • fashion shows
  • flower arranging workshops – run by the national Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS)

If you would like further details you can visit the official 50+ Show website

If you can’t make the London venue don’t worry! There are other venue dates to choose from for later in the year at Birmingham,Manchester and Glasgow, and there maybe others.

 

 

 

 

Good habits can help in times of stress

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Research findings in the Psychology Department at the University of California suggest that our habits grow stronger under stress, whether they be good or bad.

 

The considered view is that when we are under stress ,this could be from a life event  bereavement or perhaps a personal illness, for example,our longer term decision making ability is much reduced and we tend to go for short term comforts. We may fall back on bad habits ,say, of eating.The guilty pleasure of fast food may  perhaps become our focus, once again; or we may default to an habitual behaviour of eating more healthily. When we are under stress we have less self- control, and we look for the ‘easy fix’ where longer term planning is not involved. If that is a good habit to fall back on, it will be reinforced.

 

Wendy Wood the research professor at the University of California says, ‘ getting enough exercise,eating right,getting enough sleep, not smoking, all of this should become an automatic part of your day.’ Enough said.

 

If you develop good habits now, you can rely on them to see you thorough the tough times – it is never too late for any of us.They will be part of an automatic response. You will benefit strongly in health terms, for instance, by eating sensibly,having good sleep patterns, and so on.

 

You can continue reading: stress can lead to good habits too,  here.

 

 

 

 

Don’t let your laterlife ruin your health

 

How's this for a good habit?
How’s this for a good habit?

 

Life expectancy is increasing significantly for many of us as a result of medical breakthroughs, and general improvements in living standards. Why then do many people over 60 feel they are entering an age of fear? Losing the meaning of life, they can succumb to a declining spiral resulting in greatly reduced physical and mental powers. While growing older does, of course, create challenges for us all, perhaps leading to loss of purpose and self-worth, it is not an inevitable part of the ageing process.

The seeds of a problem

These may have been sown much earlier in our lives, when our lifestyles were dictated by different pressures than now from work,family,personal ambition, fashion, or a more youthful culture. There are also poor habits and activities which we may have practised in our earlier daily lives that are inappropriate for sustaining the wellness we hope for as we grow older. Unfortunately, there are also arbitrary stages in our lives, retirement age being one of them, family leaving the home, when change is forced upon us which can affect our view of the future and ability to cope.

So what to do? 

There are steps we can easily take to make daily progress towards halting the degradation of our lives, and actually going some way to improving them, raising our enjoyment and enabling us to reach greater fulfilment.This in turn will make us feel better about ourselves and better able to take on new interests and challenges if we need them.

At the heart of a revitalising process for a better and less fearful life are what may be called good behavioural practices, or habits, in our daily lives. We can either do nothing and allow the spiral of decline to claim us,or we can take positive actions. According to writer and entrepreneur, Steve Scott, daily habits are what help define us as people. He has written a book called : 77 Good Habits To Live A Better Life. Although probably written more with younger people in mind, who wish to grow in their lives in terms of work, and success, many of the Habits covered apply to all generations. They are powerful and can significantly help 60lifers improve the quality of life, particularly, in the matter of health. Some habits are ones we may have lost over the years, or may never have had. This is knowledge many of us already have but often we never put it into practice. Just a few small and easy steps introduced as part of our every day lives can transform them.

One of Steve’s easy habits which can benefit the over 60s is : Eat within 30 minutes of waking. He says, even a very light breakfast of ,say, an English muffin  smeared with a little peanut butter is sufficiently nutritious to ‘kick-start’ your body for the day. A banana can also suffice. Another half-breakfast ,after an hour or so continues to give the right signals to our body’s metabolism.

If you like me, as a younger person, allowed little or no time for this habit to form because of a busy work life, you have absolutely no excuse in laterlife to find the time to keep this habit. It is never too late to improve your health, to help you reach your maximum potential.

It is not true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!

In future posts,I will cover more easy lifestyle habits to keep – so don’t miss anything.You can sign-up for my brief emails on this page.

As inspiration to us all, Sir Bruce Forsyth, the British entertainer, recently celebrated over 70 years in show business. By all accounts he is fit and well, and continuing his career.He has recently been a co-host for the highly popular British TV show: Strictly Come Dancing . In celebrity interviews, he puts down his longevity and physical flexibility – he can still show many young’uns how to dance- to daily exercise routines carried out as soon as he wakes in the morning, and before he rises, including body stretches,hand and finger exercises, and for toes and ankles. He is clearly a man of good habit.

 

Go Brucie! Wishing you many more years beyond your current 85 years of age.

 

Before I go please let me know your comments on not letting your laterlife spoil your health.Perhaps you also have some good habits to share.

 

 

 

Discover how strength training can help you easily regain your zest for life

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As we grow older, many of us begin to lose our ability to keep-up the lifestyle we once took for granted. For instance,we may not indulge as often as we did in certain sports and recreational activities that we previously enjoyed. Even normal everyday physical activities are perhaps becoming increasingly more difficult. If you fit into this category, or feel this could happen to you, then something I have been looking into for a while may be the most important thing for your wellbeing that you have read in a long while. Today, I am inviting you to join me in a journey to discover how strength training taken in easy steps could transform your life.This is the first of a Lifestyle and Your Health series of posts about easy exercise to grow stronger and live better as you get older. Here is an introduction to strengthening exercises.

Ways to reduce risk of falling prey to holiday home fraud

 

Many 60lifers are fortunate to be able to travel frequently at different times of the year and may wish to take a holiday rental.

If you are planning to rent a holiday home or villa, spare a thought for the man who was reported as having recently paid his deposit on the holiday home of his dreams in Spain discovered when arriving at the address he had been given that the villa did not exist. He had been well and truly conned, and there was no compensation available for his loss of around £1,000. Sad to say this is not an isolated case,and this type of  fraud has been going on for years. The widespread use of booking online has added to the risks.

The holiday scams can take many forms. For instance,the holiday property is non-existent, or the owner is not the person who advertised the property for rent.

What to Do?

There are several fairly easy things you can do to help minimise the risk of your own holiday rental horribilis , including :

  • If you use a travel company check that it is a member of a recognised travel association
  • if you use a website try to check-out owner details, and make contact with the owner other than over the internet for details of previous users of the property. Check-out published testimonials to validate owner claims.
  • A little online research with Google maps or street view may help confirm that the advertised property both exists and matches the details ‘on the ground.’
  • At the time of booking you should have a proper booking contract providing all basic terms of the rental
  • Pay by credit card or Paypal , or combine both these payment methods. In this way you should be able to recover monies paid if your rental is a scam

‘Buyer beware’, has never been more appropriate in these transactions. We often spend a great deal of planning in detail where we wish to stay on holiday. Loss may be difficult to completely eliminate from the acts of determined fraudsters, but being alert to the dangers and spending a little time in ownership research should prevent you from being one of their victims.

There are many excellent articles on travel and insurance websites. Here is one site concerned with the prevention of fraud in the holiday homes sector which may offer you some helpful advice.

 

Here’s wishing you a happy and carefree holiday!

 

 

The age of fear for the over 60s?

 

RenderedImageOne third of people in their 60s  experience a ‘later-life’ crisis 

 

The other day ,The Daily Mail reports, the Harrogate conference of the British Psychological Society heard from Dr Oliver Robinson, a lead researcher at The University of Greenwich, that in a survey of 282 people aged 60 or over, 32 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women said they had had a crisis since the age of 60.

 

At the centre of this later-life crisis for many over 60s is the big question : What is the meaning of life?

 

Why particularly at this time of life? Is it not stating the blindingly obvious, you may say, that as we become older we fear more, and feel more vulnerable? Illness and isolation become the enemies to be feared, and very often actually endured. There may be loss of family members and friends, or of gainful employment or occupation; physical or mental disability may restrict activity, and a break in connection with the world outside. This is said to be different from the ‘mid-life’ crisis of younger people.

 

The survey’s findings may perhaps not surprise. For some over 60, the figure of a third may seem rather low. What is there left to do, and where is it all going?

 

The questions are hugely important,so too is helping to find some answers. The experts conclude that unless the ‘triggers’ of a crisis, for example, bereavement or illness of a loved one, are properly addressed, then a spiral can often develop leading to and accelerating personal decline into physical and meant suffering.

 

It seems that two or more stressful life events, and the subsequent sense of loss, are likely to raise an acute awareness of mortality and frailty.

 

In Dr Robinson’s words: “It was important for people in their 60s to recognise the signs and for some to seek help.” It was not something to be ashamed about, either having these experiences or seeking help.”

 

And the Good News…Overcoming, the crisis can often make life seem even better than before.

Where to go to for help? Obvious immediate answers may be : your general medical practitioner, at first instance, or close family members and friends. In these pages ongoing, we will try to offer some regular and helpful information to help fill the knowledge gap, in what is a large and complex area to cover. If you see in the near future, on the side-bar of this page, an opportunity to sign-up for regular updates and news about what you have just been reading – Do sign-up! There is no cost, and no obligation, your details are treated as strictly confidential and will never be passed on elsewhere.

 

Health Disclaimer! The information provided on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this site. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

 

 

You may wish to follow full reports covered in this article and related articles:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2307843/One-60s-hit-later-life-crisis-meaning-life.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

One in three over-60s are hit by a ‘later life’ crisis about the meaning of life

Keep an eye also on updates to Your Health here>>

 

 

 

Now you are over 60 head for the open rails with a UK Senior Rail Card

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You are aged 60 or over. Time to to do those things you always promised you would when you reached a certain age and retired from full time employment. Travel widely.

If you hold a valid UK passport and driving licence, you can apply – no affiliate sale here – for a senior rail card. A whole new world of  travelling at markedly reduced prices will open up for you. A senior rail card will cost you a mere £28 per annum and currently will save you 1/3 on rail fares for journeys throughout Great Britain.

For instance, you can enjoy 2 for 1 value deals visiting London for days out.

Apply for a senior rail card and enjoy exploring the UK.

Why not too old to be Pope

In the same week that a 76 year old was elected the new Pope, an influential report- Ready for Ageing?- by a committee of the House of Lords in the UK was issued.The essence of the report was the revelation of growing numbers of older people in society ( not really news to many) and the worrying lack of preparation to cope with an ever ageing population.

Although to many approaching their later years this trend promises a gift of longer life, it is a challenge for government to deal with the special needs of older people, for example, home care,appropriate accommodation,and medical services.

How long should older people  be allowed or encouraged to work? When is a person to be deemed to be too old to hold down a particular job? What is beyond argument is the Committee’s finding that in the UK, by 2030, the number of over -65s will have increased by a third.Also, there will be twice as many people over the age of 85 than there were in 2010.Surely, this should be a cause for celebration.? If the ‘greying’ generation is staying fitter this should cheer us all. But the challenge above referred to needs to be prepared for now.The Lords report shows that the politicians are finally waking up to the issues. Welcoming the recommendations of the report, Caroline Abrahams of AgeUK says,” Government has no choice but to take -up this challenge.”

Far from being a drag on the economy, the over-65s have proved to be a valuable sector of the workforce through difficult economic times.Age should be counted an asset. We are now frequently told that with age comes wisdom. And ,that with age our brains make us less prone to sudden surges of emotion and, therefore, less impulsive. Perhaps, as more people work on past the traditional age of 65 years, the word and concept of retirement will slip away out of fashion.Apparently more than one million are still in employment up from around 500,000 ten years ago.

This growing number will want different services and products than their parents.This will offer a huge commercial opportunity.An ‘older’ population in a country can often indicate a settled and more prosperous,healthier, and longer living people. Britain’s oldies help keep the economy going.We are now surely in a time in which a Pope aged 76 can still offer great service to his church and to mankind, and one in which a Pope can live long enough to retire rather than die in harness.

I’ll leave you with a Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times columnist,  Bible quote:

“Is not wisdom found among the aged?Does not long life bring understanding? (Job 12:12)

 

Why a tomato pill could cut your risk of heart attack

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Following a study by experts from Cambridge University, claims by scientists have been recently reported that a single pill taken daily could quickly and dramatically reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

According to Ian Wilkinson, director of the University’s clinical trials unit ,  “these results [from the study]are good news and potentially very significant .” The “wonder pill”, a natural health remedy is packed full of bio-available lycopene obtained from the skin of tomatoes. Called Ateronon,this pill allows a modified  type of lycopene to be easily absorbed by the body in the blood stream. Normally lycopene from our diet , which is known to be beneficial in softening hardened and damaged arteries and aid blood flow, is not so easily taken into the blood stream.

Ateronon, being hailed by experts as “very exciting indeed” has been around for a while, and was seen primarily as an aid to improving arterial efficiency. Now, it is believed, the benefits of taking a single pill each day extend to significant reduction in the risks of heart attacks and strokes, and may even offer the potential to fight other major illnesses.

Now before we get ahead of ourselves, the exciting study was taken of a small group of people , average age 67 years , in certain at risk categories – some with pre-existing heart disease – and,it is acknowledged by the Cambridge experts that these are preliminary results and need to be backed by much longer and wider clinical trials, to confirm these early findings. Promising,though, and something to keep our eye on as further information from promised future trials comes through. To read further about this health product claimed to have captured the health secret of the Mediterranean diet… Also interesting to note that the health product has caught the attention of the American Heart Association’s Winter conference attended by 17,000 cardiologists and circulatory specialists.

 

Stand up for your health

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Over recent years,there have been academic studies which have concluded that sitting down too much during each day is bad for us, and may significantly reduce our lives, perhaps by several years.

 

Standing too much,too, may also not be good either. What seems to be important from all these studies is regular physical movement. So if you are inclined in the day to sit a great deal for whatever reason, it is beneficial to move about say every 20 minutes,or so. Why not programme into your day, if you are stuck at home for instance; a regular cup of tea(which you get up and make yourself), or make a bed ;or perhaps  potter in the garden if the weather permits; or do that small fixing job you’ve been meaning to do for a while.

Taking regular light exercise, whether at home or at work which breaks up otherwise lengthy sedentary periods during the day may help ward off long term health issues which can arise from excessive sitting. Now it is easy to read these academic reports and terrify ourselves with the long words and dire consequences described, the easy bit though seems to be  a truly simple solution – we just need to get off our butts more each day.

The sooner we start the better, but it is never too late too tweek our lifestyles a little – small adjustments make a big difference according to most of the studies on the dangers of excessive sitting.

How long do you sit down on average each day? Apparently, according to the Daily Telegraph some figures show some of us in the UK spending up to 14 hours per day sitting down!

So let’s MOVE IT!

Looking at the wider opportunities for  taking regular appropriate exercise, may I leave you today with a great link to exercise tips you can consider  building into your lifestyle practice. For those who don’t swim there is a great section on swimming. It is never too late to learn.Let me know how you get on.Maybe you have tips to benefit others.

 

Why insurance customers’ loyalty often does not pay

If you stick with one insurer for any type of cover,you may find  over time that you are paying many times more for the same product as a new customer. Fact.

Today,there are frequent reports of misplaced loyalty ,where  longstanding customers find themselves substantially out-of-pocket when compared with others who move their insurance business around. According to a recent BBC news report one such disadvantaged customer was a lady who had insured her house, a two-bedroom terrace house, and its contents with the NatWest for 38 years. Every year, it was reported, Alison Gann allowed her policy to be renewed when she received her annual renewal letter. Over the years the annual rate of premium just went up and up, until her latest premium rose above £1,000. Apparently, she had a good claims record with only two minor claims in the last 20 years. Her requirements had otherwise little changed.

Take action at annual renewal time

The key thing to do when you receive a letter inviting you to renew your policy is ACT ON IT! A large number of renewals go through ‘on the nod’, no action to see if what is being quoted is reasonable in line with the market.Alison didn’t act. She trusted her bank to do the right thing.Then,when she found out she was paying (and probably had been for a number of years) many times more than some  of her neighbours she was ,at first given the ‘brush-off’ being told she should have allowed the policy to lapse if she did not want to renew. Later, after some intervention from the BBC consumer affairs programme Moneybox offered a review to see how much she had overpaid.She did not accept a much reduced figure, deciding to go elsewhere for yet an even lower payment.Good on her!

Why is this happening?

It seems that the loyalty of longstanding customers has diminished in value in recent years, as comparison web sites have entered to influence the market. Customer loyalty is no longer seen to be something to be rewarded. This is the view of a money expert at Which?  The insurance provider’s view appears now to be : you have the opportunity at renewal to shop around to see if you can obtain a better deal.It is your responsibility to do so.

The view of the Financial Services Agency is that customers should be treated fairly.Until they are, you should look around for yourself every year at renewal time.It is worthwhile and there are significant savings to be had.

 

the60life salutes star of TV’s “The Good Life”

It is with great sadness that we read that Richard Briers,CBE, a star of the highly successful 1970’s TV sitcom series “The Good Life”, has passed away at the age of 79. He will for most people be strongly associated with his role as Tom Good who made them laugh uproariously with his antics during his chosen life of self-sufficiency in Surbiton. What may surprise many is that “The Good Life”  ran for only three years, and was but a minute part of his work in an acting career that spanned some fifty years. He was a highly regarded English actor whose career covered stage,film, TV, and radio.

The long list of acting credits to his name will be well covered by a great number of obituaries, and in interviews with friends and colleagues who knew him well and will testify to his genius. They will also talk of his great generosity shown to people he worked with. He was by all accounts in real life always a “thoroughly good and nice bloke.” What better thing can be said of anyone.

In his sixties and seventies, he worked mainly doing TV work, as in “Monarch of the Glen”, and eventually towards the end of his life happy only to do voice overs, but he was also acclaimed during these years for fine Shakespearean performances.

The writer for one will still enjoy immensely watching repeats of TV episodes of “The Good Life”,which was the work that made him a much loved household name.He apparently never tired of the attention received when recognised in public.

Revealed the 6 food types to cut your cholesterol


Fotosearch_k9216838The old cliche, you are in health what you eat is as true today as it has ever been,according to a recent report in the Daily Mail. There are ,for example,food types which can effect our health in a positive way by helping to lower high cholesterol levels. As high cholesterol is frequently blamed as a key factor in developing heart disease.To me, this is encouraging. Eat well, stay well.But how?

Information overload…?

…The information out there is confusing.There is a lot of it.The clear message coming through is that you can protect yourself with  simple changes in diet and lifestyle. So let’s take the diet and food angle. This alone can significantly reduce cholesterol levels. The trick seems to be to use specific types of cholesterol-busting foods in certain daily amounts. The Daily Mail features expert advice received , including guidelines on changing your  daily food diet, and recommended consumption of the following six foods to introduce into the diet mix:

1. Smart Foods

2.Fibre

3.Nuts

4.Soya

Also de-mystified,is the question: What is  good and bad cholesterol all about?

And before you go, there’s more useful information provided by the British Heart Foundation which is currently running its Love Your heart Campaign bringing tips and expert advice to change our lives. It’s never to late to benefit from simple changes to diet, and also give us further benefit from appropriate (for our time of life) exercise routines and lifestyle changes.

Austerity diet rules?

No.Not okay. This is not in the message. Lowering your cholesterol is also about working within a low-fat diet. In following a balanced heart healthy diet,total deprivation from all those things you love to eat like cheese and chocolate is not the name of the game. Eggs, too, are good for you.

 

 

 

 

 

2 Types of physical activity to help make the most of your laterlife

How is your year going ,so far? All those resolutions you made, a distant memory? Like I am going to get myself fitter this year to reap the benefits of  a fuller and more active lifestyle. I for one can confirm, it isn’t easy.But it is worthwhile.Even small, incremental, improvements to flexibility,balance and energy levels are within all our reach,and it is never too late to pick-up on what we need to do.So if, like me,you need a reminder every now and then,and some encouragement, this page is a good place to visit regularly.

There are two types of activity strongly recommended for older people: aerobic exercise, and exercise to strengthen muscles.Exercise routines using these two types of activity will help protect you in your current and laterlife.

Good aerobic exercises can be derived readily from walking,jogging and biking. Muscle strengthening exercises involve light weight resistance activity for muscles, in all areas of the body including the arms,legs,chest and abdomen. Both types should form part of a weekly quota exercising habit.It is important, however, to know your physical limitations ,and not overly sap your energy or overstrain. If you have not taken regular exercise of this nature for a while you should check out with your medical practitioner that your intended exercise plan is appropriate for you and your future health.

When starting any exercise, it is always important to gently warm-up your body with some light stretches and balance exercises, in comfortable loose clothing in a dry, warm, and ventilated room. The big question I hear you ask is: how much exercise should do? Some useful guidelines for taking aerobic and muscle strengthening exercise, depending on age and physical condition, are provided on the NHS website.  So let’s get that heart pumping a little more. More information coming here soon with tips and advice on looking after yourself.Do let me know how you’re getting on and what works for you.

 

 

 

 

Remembrance Day – 11 November 2012

For many reading this, Remembrance Day  11 November 2012 provides a time to pause for reflection and an ‘opportunity to honour those who gave their lives in the First World War. It is now a time to also to remember those who have died and suffered in more modern times – The National Archives newsletter’. The first Remembrance Day was held in 1919.

Recently, I decided to research some of my own family history. As it happens, I started to trace the details of my two military ancestors, two grandfathers who served in the British Army in the First World War. This interesting work turned up some fascinating insights into the lives of these two people who were never known to me.

Perhaps, you are interested also in finding out about a family member who served in the armed forces. The National Archives (TNA)in London holds collections comprising millions of documents, capturing more than a 1,000 years of British History, and including military service records. Many of these are available to view online as well as during a personal visit to TNA. Just some of the research material you can expect to find include:

  • medals and honours  – The First World War medal index is a valuable resource for tracing an individual military ancestor
  • First World War nurses’ services records
  • First World War service and pension records
Staff at TNA are producing a series of blogs, the first of which is at My Tommy’s War, which you can follow and learn how you can use their records to research your own ancestors. For those who love history,and want to find out more this is a must.

 

 

UK Gas and Electricity Price Increases: Which is Best Fixed or Variable Rates?

Now that British Gas has announced that it will be increasing energy price with effect from 16th November by an eye watering 6% on average, what are we to do? Just take it as inevitable? Not according to Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert.He is emphatic that something can still be done to protect ourselves from this enormous price hike.Appearing on the consumer ‘slot ‘on the ITV programme ‘This Morning’, he was advocating viewers agree with their provider to a fixed rate,locking-into a current price that will apply beyond the current spate of energy company price increases.The time to do this though,was now.Soon it will be too late as the current offers by some providers will be soon withdrawn from the market.The deals are not as good as they were a few weeks ago, but some savings are there to be made by acting now.

He also had a word for people who had a supply metered – this will always be the most expensive way to pay for energy.He also recommended looking at a number of providers’ tariffs on independent comparison websites, but he said it might not be wise simply to go to a single energy supplier for advice on the best rate to pay.

It seems that in the UK, consumers are faced with annual increase in prices for many years to come,of a similar size to those being currently announced. To read more of what Martin Lewis said…

5 easy ways to save on your annual motoring costs

Here’s something we can all do today.Here and now.Cut down on our motor fuel costs by driving more efficiently. The Energy Saving Trust has calculated that the average driver in the UK today can be better-off by adopting some easy changes in driving technique and care of the car.

We all have some aspect of our driving that we can improve, even after many years of holding a driving licence. The following are five easy ways we can save a significant amount of money, possibly as much as 270 pounds sterling per annum.There is no expense involved, just a little attention to what we do. Here goes, in no articular order of importance:

  1. Drive more smoothly – Avoid sudden acceleration and heavy braking ( unless in an emergency). Given the conditions on the road and the density of the traffic, the keeping of the proper distance between you and the car in front can be maintained by easing-off the accelerator in good time, rather than frequent braking abruptly keep your distance.
  2. Slow down – getting to your destination sooner does not always save you money.
  3. Switch-it off –  When it is appropriate and safe to do so switch-off your engine instead of allowing your engine to idle while stationary.With the weather becoming colder, it is unnecessary to warm-up your car before you set off on your journey. Modern cars don’t need to be warmed-up from cold.
  4. Switch to a higher gear as soon as you can – when it is safe and appropriate moved into a higher gear as soon as possible
  5. Close your car windows – the aerodynamics of a car are greatly changed if the windows (s) are open causing in inefficient ‘drag’ particularly at speeds of 60 mph or more.Also if using air conditioning, itself a high user of energy,it will be inefficient for the heat or coolth is allowed to merely ‘fly’ out of the windows.

Other things to watch are : keep weight down as much as possible by not carrying unnecessary items; make sure your tyres are regularly checked and pressures kept at the right level; and only use a car rack when one is needed.

For further information, you can go to The Energy Saving Trust website ,giving you more details of the above,and also other ways of saving energy,including in the home.

 

 

Where’s your money now?


"nest egg"

This question is prompted by the horrendous experience reported on the BBC programme Rip Off Britain today. Apparently a couple who thought they had a ‘nest egg’ to provide for a ‘rainy day’ found to their utter dismay when that rainy day arrived that their money had simply disappeared. A scam you say? Taken in by a rogue ‘cowboy’ firm? Oh,no. The BBC team report that 25,000 pounds (GBP) held for over ten years in a UK building society, during which time the society had been taken over by a high street bank,could not be traced.The couple’s passbook clearly shows an undrawn balance of the ‘missing’ amount. The bank claims not to have a record of the account in which the money is supposed to have been deposited.The story does not have a happy ending,at least thus far. A review by the Financial Ombudsman found in favour of the bank.

The names of the players are immaterial here. There is ,however, one good tip to take from this awful situation.If you tuck money away for a long period make sure you check regularly with the company or institution that everything is in order. At least once a year make sure you receive a communication from them. You can expect to receive a notification of interest or dividends earned, and often some form of annual report with business results. If you have not received anything you should contact them now! Finally, if you have changed your address recently do notify the company holding your money.

How to make money writing in retirement on HubPages

So you are retired ,and suddenly you have more time on your hands than before. You have had that well earned long holiday you promised yourself. Now what to do? As work commitments have receded, and the children  now fully grown have flown the nest, you may want to stay gainfully occupied both for profit and enjoyment. How about writing to earn some money? Well now you can.Please read on.

You may have hankered to join the internet revolution, and have your own website, but you have not been sure how to start, or know what  your site should be about. Oh,and time, of course has always been an issue before. By opening an account – free to join- at HubPages, you will have an opportunity to write short articles,and have a few,or even hundreds, of websites in your name. At no charge, and with minimal online experience ,you can quickly join a writing community. Your ‘mini-websites’ can earn an income for you. However, you have to know, this is no ‘get-rich-quick’ opportunity. Building-up to a significant regular income is a slow process that can take at the very least a few months to achieve, but many writers have been very successful.The details are at HubPages.

I am a ‘newbie’ with Hubpages. You can see my early efforts in the box over at the righthand side of this page. Do take a look.Each topic link will take you into the site.

Over the next few weeks, I shall be reporting on the60life website the progress I have made. Hopefully I can bring you the benefit of mistakes I have made , so you can avoid them,or insights gleaned,tips for maximising your earnings, on HubPages.

This is truly a great way to develop any writing skills you have, or would like, and write about subjects of particular interest to you.

If you do join HubPages – I do not gain any monetary payment if you do – please don’t forget to share your experiences with us by leaving your comments. We may learn from you! I do believe this is a real deal and must be of great interest for many readers of the60life

 

 

Towards a healthier later life : walk to live

By staying physically fit we can both extend our lifespan and age healthily.Fact. This message is the clear conclusion of an extensive study carried out by researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Cooper Institute.

Today, there is such overwhelming medical evidence out there from many of the best research centres in the world that we can greatly improve our chances of living not only much longer, but without many of the chronic diseases that often beset people in their later life. It has been long known that adjusting our lifestyle -even a little- can be good for our health. We are advised to  exercise more; reduce alcohol intake; stop smoking; and maintain a normal weight. We know it’s right. It’s just that we treat these lifestyle changes much like new Year resolutions, and frequently fail to act. What the above study report tells us is that even a little exercise – just 150 minutes a week – can make so much difference to our longevity and our quality of life.Even regular light walking as on a gentle stroll, is good.

It is never too late to improve for the long term our fitness and our lives. Although the Southwestern study reported on the beneficial effect of being physical fit in your 30s,40s,and50s when reaching 65 and over, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, as reported on the British Medical Journal website,has produced research results which point to a benefit of an extra 6 years in people over 75 who have reduced some or all of the above risk factors causing chronic ill health. Activities seen as particularly beneficial include walking and swimming.

 

 

Debate on Statins for all over 50

In these pages we shall inevitably cover ‘burning’ health issues of the day. One such is the taking of statins to help to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke and seems to flare-up occasionally in the press to rekindle a raging topic for debate. According recent reports in the Daily Telegraph and other newspapers, everyone over the age of 50 should be given statins because the “cholesterol-busting” drugs reduce the risk of a heart attack even in healthy people. This latest conclusion is based on studies by researchers from Oxford University and the University of Sydney, funded by several institutions including the Brotish Heart Foundation,the UK medical research Council, and cancer Research UK.

The use of the ‘bad cholesterol-busting (known as LDL cholesterol)’ properties of statin drugs is suggested by the research findings for the medication of all people over the age of 50 whether considered at risk from vascular problems or not. Currently,guidelines for prescribing statins are based on a number of risk factors including age, cholesterol levels,blood pressure, and lifestyle issues like smoking.The benefits of taking statins are seen as outweighing ‘any known hazards of taking statins.’ For a full and rounded report you can read the article published by the UK NHS website.The debate does seem set to continue to rage. One or two people have commented at the website on concerns that statins may impair cognitive ability in those with dementia.

The NHS site says,”There is good existing evidence that a healthy lifestyle (including regular exercise, stopping smoking and a healthy diet) is an important factor in cardiovascular health.” We are told that the guidelines on statin drugs will be considered again soon.All the available information needs to be carefully considered.

You can’t do that! You’re over 50, stupid!

How many of us of a certain age have had this sort of thing said to us; often by friends and relatives, or the media. How strange then that,in a world which seems to daily challenge long held rules and customs, older people are being constrained in their activities or in what they wear by some long held arbitrary boundaries. A letter writer to the Sunday Independent was recently sufficiently moved to have a ‘rant’ about this in response to an article in that paper (published August 5,2012). Eleanor Coggins in the article had asked the two questions: “Should I embrace my inner pensioner?” and “When do I let the hair grow 50 shades of grey,wear twinsets and flesh-coloured tights?”

The writer was robust in her response. She remembers rules and criticisms from parents,teachers and community as a 16 year-old. Her hair was too short, or it was too long … Boyfriend was too old, and her hot pants too hot! Although high-fashion magazines say that women over 50 should never do this or that, she is determinedly going to embrace absurdity (she has decided to buy a pair of shiny red platform sandals) with the same brazen attitude she showed when she wore her much maligned green plastic platform shoes so many years ago.

It is probably true that many people, men and women, of a certain age, wear a kind of uniform dress code which can tend to define their age group. But if they break-out , and  wear what they feel best in, should they not be encouraged? This should also apply to activities where, within the physical and mental capacity,they should sky-dive, skinny-dip in the ocean, travel the world, join an amateur dramatic society,go to pubs and clubs, and so on.

I’m with the writer of the letter to the Independent. These pages will frequently return to this theme, and to give current news and ideas for breaking the ‘mould’.

So,where are you on this? Let me know.I’d love to hear from you.

 

Working on in the UK after state retirement age

According to the The Office of National Statistics (ONS), older UK people in the labour market are working longer beyond state retirement age.

Statistics out last month show the following numbers:

  • 1.4 million  the number of people of state retirement age and above, or double the number 20 years ago in 1993 when the figure was 753,00
  • 32 per cent of older workers are likely to be self-employed,as compared with 13 per cent for younger people
  • 8-in-10 older workers have been with same employer for five or more years. Around two thirds of them are working part-time having gone on from full-time with the same employer
  • Men working later in life tend to stay on in higher skill roles while women tend to stay on in lower skill roles
  • Just over a half (51 per cent) of older workers are in small organisations of fewer than 25 employees

Some factors for these statistics are put down to:

  • the number of ‘baby boomers’ reaching state pension age has grown faster than the increase in the general population
  • improvements over the last two decades in health and well-being
  • financial pressures arising from higher ‘elderly’ inflation and the economic climate over recent years
  • mortality rates record that this group are living longer making it necessary to provide for a longer period of retirement
  • a general wish to remain active in society

For a fuller and official report from the ONS including  an interesting animated video  you can go to this link http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_267809.pdf

 

Enhanced pension annuities in UK: revealed the shocking truth that over 50% still miss-out on extra income

Around insurance and pensions circles,it has been well known for some time that the majority of people in the age group 55-64 years, with certain medical conditions, will not receive as much income in retirement as they should from their pension provider. And they are not losing out on ‘chicken feed’ either. According to MGM Advantage, a 65-year old with average health impairment could look to receive an extra 8,684 GBP during the first five years of drawing the annuity income. This extra requires the retiree to choose the right annuity. This may not be available from his current pension provider, and the prospective retiree should take advantage of what is called : the Open Market Option (OMO). Under the OMO, a person approaching retirement can shop around for the annuity that best fits his circumstances, even if that means transferring to another pension provider.

moneyfacts.co.uk says that qualifying conditions for an enhanced annuity include high blood pressure,high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes, while higher amounts can be paid-out to smokers as well. The issue is that people approaching retirement and due to arrange for their retirement annuity income to start are ignorant as to what is available to them. They may not know they can shop around for a better deal elsewhere.They may not even know what an annuity is, let alone the OMO.

The clear message seems to be : before signing-up for a particular annuity it pays to obtain quotes for comparison with those being offered by their current provider. In these times of austerity and low interest returns to savers, few can afford not to shop around. Not doing so can mean leaving large sums of money on the table, perhaps losing a benefit  of as much as 50% increase in income over the period of retirement, and not where it should be, in the pensioner’s pocket.

Nigel Barlow, head of retirement at Just Retirement said : “Many of these people might now qualify [for an enhanced annuity] if they only knew about it.” Other experts have also gone on record to implore those approaching the time to decide where to obtain their annuity income to take action and not allow themselves to “to slide passively into poor retirement arrangements which will actually condemn them to a lifetime of low retirement income.”(Eddie O’Gorman of  The WAY Group), and Ros Altmann,of Saga, says that it is a case of trawling the pension annuity market and being aware  that you do not have to take the annuity income offered by the company you have saved your pension with.

So if you feel you should take action, and need more information, why not Google the organisations named in bold above. Do take appropriate professional advice. The60life should be the time of your life – it does help to have the best financial base that you can obtain, and to which you are fully entitled.Good luck!

 

 

Satisfaction with Life: the keys to a fulfilling retirement

This post keeps on the theme of retirement. It is well known that life expectancy among those currently retiring in their sixties means they could have some 25-30 years more ahead for them.But what to do with all that time?That is the challenge.

We are accustomed to seeing emphasis placed on good financial planning for retirement. Although having a good income behind you when you finally give-up the 40-hour working week knocks away a high hurdle when contemplating a long period of retirement, this of itself does not guarantee a fulfilled and positive retirement.So if you have looked forward to no longer having to answer to your boss, or the demands of every day business, how can you give yourself the chance to enjoy your new found freedom?How do you find satisfaction in your and real quality of life?

Recently, the University of Greenwich in England, undertook a survey to try and find the answer to the above and other questions. This study in conjunction with Laterlife Learning,looked at the responses to an e-survey conducted for the period October 2008 and January 2010. This study found that the keys to a fulfilling retirement were:

1. Having  aspirational reasons for retiring

2.Going on a retirement course

3.Having an active social life

4.Having someone to share retirement with

5.Having at least three of the ‘the Big Five’ personality traits

6. Money matters:Having a lack of financial resources,though, was not an impediment to satisfaction in retirement, and access to enjoyable experiences.

Some help tips in the conclusions from the survey report briefly are:

  • aim to retire on your own terms
  • find a goal for retirement that excites you
  • have activities that go beyond job work and non-work activities and breach the transition into retirement
  • gain a positive effect by attending a retirement preparation course
  • find an active social circle in retirement doing things you enjoy
  • look on money as only part of the retirement satisfaction jigsaw

You can read the full brief report providing the findings for the keys to a fulfilling retirement by the University of Greenwich

And,if you would like to also see what the pre- and post- retirement counseling course team Laterlife can offer

 

 

 

Key Factors in Retirement Planning

From Tax Credits at http://www.flickr.com

 

In retirement planning, always a thorny question to deal with is : what level of  income will I require  in order to maintain my standard of living when I eventually decide to retire? Financial and pensions advisers  call this target income the replacement rate, which is expressed as a percentage  of income received immediately prior to retirement.

So won’t I need at least as much income in retirement as before? You can count yourself fortunate if you can retire without taking a drop in income. But that you can probably keep up your level of spending on consumption with less income has been put down to the following:

  • In retirement most people pay less tax
  • For many the cost of saving for retirement stops
  • Most households look to have no mortgage left to pay for, or not  for long after retirement

At the  RETIRE Project at Georgia State University  required replacement rates have been studied and calculated for decades. As at 2008, the project estimated that households with earnings of more than $50,000 needed about 80 percent of pre-retirement earnings to maintain the same level of consumption. The Boston College finds achieving this level of earnings depends on the following factors:

  • Level of government income support, if any – the higher any supplementary financial support received the lower the retirement income provided by savings needs to be
  • Rate of return on savings– the higher this is, the lower the amount needed to be put away as savings
  • Age when savings begin– the earlier the start,the less is required to be saved by way of regular contributions
  • Age of retirement – the longer this is delayed, the lower the required saving rate needs to be

You can see a summary of the Boston College paper here:  “How important is Asset Allocation to Financial Security in Retirement?”

Adjusting any of these factors can make a great deal of difference to the prospective retiree. Starting to save early, and/or delaying retirement can make a significant difference to the outcomes. When retirement planning appropriate professional advice should be taken.

Why are the over 50s targeted unfairly to pay more for goods and services?

http://hasslefreeclipart.com

A number of worrying headlines have appeared in UK daily newspapers recently supporting the often held view that people over the age of 50 are being targeted to receive less favourable treatment than everyone else when it comes to buying goods and services.

Now,according to the Daily Mail, often products aimed at a certain age group, saving accounts for the over 50s for example, do not compare favourably with accounts available to younger people. This age group is often picked-out to receive the worst of the savings deals, and says it found:

‘Overall,… the average interest rate offered by the top 20 financial providers for the over-50s is 2.23 per cent – but it is 3.17 per cent for accounts aimed at all age groups.’

It reported that researchers had looked at all the cash savings accounts available, including instant access accounts, notice accounts and fixed-rate products. Cash Isas were excluded.

This is an outrageous situation, financial experts warned, that older savers are being sold less attractive savings deals than other age groups. For a fuller report you can continue reading at over 50s being offered worst savings deals where you can see details of  several of the  financial giants currently providing an unfavourable offering based on age. It is important for savers to note the terms of the saving contract being offered, and to be particularly  aware of interest rates which hold good only for a short period e.g. 12 months, and then fall back to a very small return henceforward.

 

Over 40s can expect to live happier as they grow older


A never say die thirst for adventure

Are you time poor and in your 40s? Mortgage burden, job or career concerns,growing and demanding young family are draining your fount of well-being?

A recent Warwick University research report finds evidence to show that a typical individual’s well-being reaches its lowest ebb in middle age.From age 45 years,though,you should,all things being equal,expect to become happier as the years go by.The evidence shows this to apply to both males and females, and to populations on both sides of the Atlantic.How so?

An explanation it seems is that as we grow older our life experience tells us to count our blessings. When others of our peers are beginning to fail,ail or even die  this intensifies a need to make the most of our remaining years.This is my  interpretation of the view of Professor Andrew Oswald who was one of the leaders of the Warwick University research project. The research also found that older people sleep longer at night which may give them the edge over younger people who survive on less regular rest.

Christine Webber ,author of Too Young To Grow Old,found through a survey of 45 to 65 year olds that most respondents who felt happier now than when they were young claimed increasing age had given them a growing confidence.There are also clearly things we can do to help raise our happiness levels.

This time last year

We quoted  from a report from the Kansas City Star:

‘Apparently, men do not get meaner, irritable and more sarcastic as they get older. In fact, among the men participating in the Study of Adult Development — the longest longitudinal study of adult life ever conducted — men seem to get happier as they get older.The study has followed two groups of men for 68 years: 268 men who graduated from Harvard University and 456 men who grew up in the urban neighborhoods of Boston.

‘Depression in men, characterized by irritability and anger (and sarcasm is a form of anger) did not increase with age, according to the study ‘,carried out at the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard’s medical school.’

Reverting to the Warwick project, evidence is revealed of well-being following a U-shaped curve through the life cycle, the upward end of the happiness curve picking-up from around age 45 years.

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Life, it’s yours to decide how to live from now on

Quote for the Day:

Only a few of the many  famous quotes that have been recorded in any media can ,of course, ever get to be posted here.The following quote attributed to the great singer songwriter,Joan Baez, caught the eye as it has a certain resonance, as it inspires a theme – if it is given to  you to decide how to live the rest of your life – I  shall be following in an upcoming post in the very near future. Please do join me ,again,soon.

“You don’t get to decide how you’re going to die .Or when. But you can decide how you’re going to live now.”

This quote was spotted in Christine Webber’s inspirational book : “Too Young to Get Old”

 

How you can go to ‘pot’ and live more happily

Going to 'pot'

Gardening is good for you.Yes, its official! Go potting and help your wellness.Gardening could soon be prescribed by your doctor if you are feeling depressed and under the weather.

Potting plants rather than popping pills may soon be the order of the day to deal with depression and related illnesses, with consequential health benefits to the patient ,and significant financial benefit to the UK National Health Service budget.

Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and a long time  advocate of gardening as an important alternative therapeutic remedy for depression,has recently confirmed he is strongly in favour of gardening courses being used as an alternative to medicines in many cases. This was said by him recently in the context of greater choice likely to be made available under health reforms going through the UK Parliament.

Whether or not the NHS through the GPs support this development,  the message from many quarters – Alan Titchmarsh is reported very keen on this-is : gardening is good for you , and it is free! You can also catch a news report from last year on gardening courses to help beat depression  from the Daily Mirror.

 

 

 

 

An estimated 4.4m UK pensioners are to lose tax allowances

The Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday announced sweeping changes to the personal tax allowances given to pensioners over the age of 65.

This has caused great uproar in the media and across the UK that a benefit first introduced in the 1920s by Winston Churchill is to be frozen then phased out altogether. The change in age-related personal allowances – the amount of income that is tax-free – will save the government £1bn by 2015.

The BBC reports:

“To Chancellor George Osborne it is a simplification in a complex tax system. To its critics, it is a “granny tax”. But what exactly does the most controversial measure in Wednesday’s Budget mean for you?”

You can see for yourself how this may affect you personally here at the BBC website

The Chancellor is saying that no one will actually lose cash because of the changes. But many see that the changes will leave pensioners’ future incomes exposed to more tax in the coming years.Also it is argued the retirement tax planning of people not yet of retirement age will be affected.

How to stay alive and enjoy life more

This sound like something that would interest you? The benefits of keeping physically fit seem rather obvious at whatever age you are. So why is it that when we get older we feel the need to stop having an active life altogether? Rather than merely slowing down a little, but keeping body and mind in good running order commensurate with our age and taking into account our physical limitations, we settle for the ‘easy life.’The easy life begins to define the reality and limit of our abilities;it is not taxing, but comfortable. This can often result in a lethal spiral leading  to feelings of unhappiness and lack of self-worth. In a Daily Mail Online report the stark warning  to the over-70s from the medical experts  is : Don’t suffer death by Armchair.

It seems whatever your state of health, you can improve it and gain a noticeably more active and enjoyable life. If you are restricted by disability,you should consult your GP to discuss what you would like to achieve, and you will probably be most surprised at what is possible, to achieve safely and reliably.

A website focused on encouraging older people to adopt a keep-fit mindset is run by Gina Jones who herself fought a debilitating spinal injury. She acknowledges that though not easy, keeping fit when you get older is so worthwhile for wellness. You can begin to enjoy life more ,and with greater confidence. Take a big step and find out more. For a start, visit the Home Exercise & Rehabilitaion website here…

Another useful source of health information can be found at spirehealthcare.com

 

The most important meal of the day at any age? Yes, that’s breakfast.

Staying on top of your game whatever your age can very much depend on your diet. The most important meal of the day is breakfast.This appears to be the universal fact wherever you look given by reputable experts on nutrition and wellness. So,how important is breakfast?

Eating a meal within 60 minutes of waking in the morning,comprising essential nutrients from three out of four certain food groups can help to keep obesity,diabetes, and the risk of heart attacks, at bay.

There is a mindset about breakfast. Often we are just too lazy or feel too time poor to eat breakfast. But really eating a breakfast well balanced with a selection of certain food groups is an easy to set-up process and can take little time at all. Just how difficult is it to shake cereals into a bowl and add skimmed milk, or to boil an egg for three or four minutes to suit, and perhaps pop a slice of whole meal bread into the toaster?These foods will help boost your day at any age, and help pace your food intake for the rest of the day. A healthy breakfast should consist of a variety of foods, easily prepared. It should contain complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Protein can come from eggs, beans, or soy. Fibre and carbohydrates can be found in whole cereals, grains or in fruits. A good example of a healthy breakfast might be something like a boiled egg, an orange, and a bowl of whole grain cereal with skimmed milk.What constitute’s a healthy breakfast? Here.

Are you feeling guilty over a loved one in a care home?

 

You,like me,maybe looking forward to seeing a new exotic film set in India soon to be released in the UK. The idea behind The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I understand ,is that a group of pensioners unhappy with their immediate prospects of life as elderly people in the UK are attracted to an alternative  way of life in India.As a piece of light entertainment, this will most probably be a great success with the splendid cast assembled, and hugely enjoyable.

One of the stars, Dame Judi Dench, when recently promoting the film, took the opportunity of lambasting ‘inhumane’ care homes. Furthermore, she said families should take-in their elderly relatives when they can longer care for themselves, as she did. Well, maybe her circumstances were such that this well intentioned and loving action was a practical possibility. For many others, faced with the dilemma of how to provide the most appropriate care, a care home may be the only option.

Can we ever do enough for the elderly? Maybe we can all agree that spending ones final days in an old peoples’ home is not an ideal,much less preferred, option but it maybe the best available option.Although here,it must be said that many homes up and down the country do a wonderful job in difficult circumstances.

Many 60-lifers find themselves in the growing ‘the sandwich generation’, reasonably fit and at a time when they might expect to have some time to themselves they are having to consider both the the care and welfare of a parent or elder relative ,and the care of children and grandchildren.We will revisit this issue in future posts.

Circumstances may dictate the best course of care : state of physical and mental health, financial resources available,access to the services of family and friends. Unlike Dame Judi Dench, who took her parent(s) into her home when they were unable to care for themselves, many people may find this is just an impossibility.

As we do not fully know the circumstances in which Judi Dench was able to look after her parents and continue a very busy and successful acting career,  we do not know the range of the many and varied range of  circumstances in which people with relatives who need care find themselves.From my own experience, the brevity of a headline message to the effect : “look after your own”, is both hurtful and unhelpful, and only goes to reinforce the heavy guilt that many people already feel who want to do the very best by their relatives in need.

You can read a report from the Mail online relating to the above on ‘inhumane’ homes 

As a footnote ,and further thought for  today, according to age expert ,Ken Dytchwald:

Two-thirds of all men and women who have lived beyond the age of 65 in the entire history of the world are alive today.

This is a growing challenge for us all going forward.

 

 

How to raise the quality of childcare and eldercare

A new website has announced its aim to raise the quality of care in the UK , and to transform the way people choose care. It claims this aim is precisely what  the Government wants websites of  its kind to help achieve. So the Good Care Guide has been launched to fill a perceived gap in helping the cared-for and carers find the information they need to make well informed choices of providers for childcare or eldercare.  To read more…

Take the Good Food Guide for the 60 life


Canada Good Food Guide

Continuing our theme about vitamin sufficiency, we have been looking widely for a consensus view around the world. The clear simple general message is that you are what you eat; also, there are important requirements for people at different ages and stages in life.

Trawling the world for clear, impartial and comprehensive advice on eating well for the over 50s, we have the Canadian authorities sponsored Good Food Guide which is readily available as a download for all.This is a well written, easy to follow,nicely illustrated guide for all age ranges. It does however enable the special requirements for older people to be identified in clearly defined categories: food groups and and daily portion control are explained.

The issue of Vitamin D deficiency is fully covered. You can read more on the Canada Food Guide here>>

Should I be taking a Vitamin D supplement?


fish: a vital source of vitamin D

According to most good medical advice, a balanced diet should provide many of us with all the Vitamin D we need to sustain our general health and wellbeing. However, particularly in the UK where,for instance not all milk is fortified with vitamin D as in the US, the medical authorities identify certain groups who are at particular risk of suffering a deficiency of this vitamin. Our interest group includes those over the age of 65 ,who should check out with their GP to see if they should take a supplement to prevent  the risk of harbouring a calcium deficiency possibly leading to a weakening of the bones and osteoporosis.

In a addition to the benefits of bone-health, vitamin D is reported widely to reduce the risk of liver diseases, eyesight deterioration, and help prevent bowel disease – a benefit seen particularly for women by medics in the US where it is of course often very sunny! For a number of the most recent reports covering these and other health matters read more here at the Vitamin D Council dedicated to these issues, but please do come back!

In the UK, the health issue is currently being raised because it appears awareness of the need for action by or for members of certain risk groups is not considered sufficiently high. Indeed, generations have been brought up ignorant of the importance of Vitamin D intake, or with the concern that if this was too high it was was bad for their health. The NHS health websites in the UK are a wealth of knowledge in this area providing best current guidance and practice. If you are a 60-lifer, reading these reports is highly recommended, as is taking the advice of your usual medical practitioner. The time for action is now.

 

On remaining physically active as we age: 10 key benefits of swimming

10 benefits of swimming for older peopleThat we should be reminded of the great benefits to us all of regular safe leisure swimming exercise is important. Swimming is safe and easy on the body.It allows full movement of the body without bearing weight and ,therefore, there is far less stress placed on joints and bones while exercising. Consequently,aging does not need to mean substantially decreased mobility as swimming can lengthen the number of years we can pursue vibrant lives with enthusiasm.

The Centers for Disease and Prevention extolls the benefits of regular swimming exercise on mental and physical health.

Water-based exercise can help reduce stress,improve cardiovascular quality and posture,tone muscle,and help in weight and diet control. For a full list of the 10 main benefits of swimming read on..

 

 

 

 

 

How to obtain affordable,accurate and reliable answers to your legal questions

With regular reports of actual or anticipated closures of Citizens Advice Bureaux in the UK and law centres, and the reduction in the provision of legal aid, the reality and effects of Government cuts are becoming apparent. Whatever the economic and political arguments, there are inevitably people out there who are being marginalised by these developments. They include the  less well-off ,and those who find it difficult to travel further to larger centres of business where they can access legal service providers.

Now, I am pleased to say there is a proven web-based service which provides affordable,accurate and reliable answers to legal questions, Expert Answers.

You can obtain further details about Expert Answers here

 

Confirmation that Greater Wisdom does indeed come with age

The journal Cerebral Cortex reports that those clever people at the Institute of Geriatrics, University of Montreal,have produced compelling research that confirms what we older parents probably already suspected: the older you get the wiser you become. The Daily Mail reports on this finding: “The over 55s use their brains more efficiently than their younger counterparts, as they are much more likely to shrug off mistakes, say scientists.

“And while they may take more time to come to a decision, they are simply conserving their energy.”

Younger people, the report goes on,by contrast, give the impression of being sharper, simply coming-up with answers more quickly.The researchers say this maybe a sign of inexperience rather than wisdom. It seems “as the brain becomes older, it learns how to better allocate its resources.”

A group aged between 55 and 75, although they took longer to complete certain tasks, roughly matched the performance of a group aged 18 to 35, the journal Cerebral Cortx reported.

You can read a fuller report on the results of this research into greater wisdom comes with age

 

 

 

So what’s being done about soaring home energy costs in the UK?

A key part of our well being is to be able to afford the necessities of life, including energy to heat our homes. This is to state the obvious but as we begin again to look forward to the ever shortening days of sunlight and colder weather a key question is non the less : what is being done to curb the ever rising cost of gas and electricity in the UK? – up twice as much on average over five years ago, according to TV news coverage this morning.

According to an exclusive report on the moneysavingexpert.com website: “Politicians, consumer groups, the regulator and suppliers will attend a crunch energy summit to tackle soaring gas and electricity costs on Monday afternoon. Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured, right) and Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, who are both attending, write exclusively for MoneySavingExpert.com below outlining their plans…”

Well let’s hope that some positive action comes out of thes discussions. One of the key points seems to be to make it easier for the consumer to compare the tariffs of the top energy suppliers. By making their bills easier to understand and a clear comparison to be made, these companies will enable each and every one of us to more easily ‘shop around’ for the most appropriate deals.

UK government to make no concessions when axe on reduced bus fares for over 60s falls

 

 

All around the UK there is the buzz of concern and outrage at the recent announcement that the over 60s are to lose the concessionary rate bus fares which enable so many, who would otherwise find the cost prohibitive,to travel on journeys from within the UK .

You can read one full report here – threat to resort after concessions face axe

This is just one of many seaside resorts  and visitor attractions expecting  to be seriously affected by the withdrawal of the funding provided to bus operators to enable them to offer concessionary fares. The operators are faced with closing routes if they become unprofitable. It has been suggested that they should introduce schemes similar to the Rail Card currently available to the over 60s.

Tip: If you know you want to travel you can beat the deadline for the end of the specially reduced rates by planning and booking now. Tickets bought in this way will be honoured after the deadline.

 

 

 

Inability to pay the household bills – fear of the over-50s

Just when you reach that time of life, as a person in the UK  over the age of 50,you may find that instead of being able to look forward to a gentle ease into retirement looking to your own self needs and relaxation,you are facing the anxiety of having no other course but to sell your home to make ends meet. According to a SAGA report published recently, this frightening prospect is likely to be a reality for millions of over-50s. Inflation and the rock bottom savings interest rates are heavily to blame.

SAGA believe  that one in five worry that they will be forced  to ‘downsize’ by selling a family home to ensure enough cash is generated to pay soaring household bills. Furthermore, many over-50s are faced with trying to support their grown-up children, and their children, for example with help to pay mortgages, university fees,contribute  towards their children’s family holidays, and often basic weekly food bills. Non-essential expenditure is being reduced. Grandparents, it is said, are ‘going without’ because of  mounting pressure in these difficult economic times ‘ to support the younger generation.’

You can read more about the over-50s who are ‘sacrificing their own happiness’ in this  Daily Mail report

The gastric band question for the over 60s

Hi. In these times, we are everyday hearing of pioneering surgery and rapid developments in medicine ,unheard of even a decade ago.

If successful these are life-changing for the person whose wellness has been improved. But are these remarkable advances only for the relatively young, when factoring in the cost and the employment of scarce medical resources? Should a person over 60,for example, be given the chance to benefit? Is the risk worth taking, and should it be allowed? As food for thought and further discussion ,I give you today the link to a recent report posted at the timeswellness.com website:

‘Madeleine, who lives in Gosport, Hants, with husband, Bill, 68, is one of the [gastric band] procedure’s success stories. In the 14  months after her bypass she has gone on to lose an amazing 10 stone and is now a size 8/10 with a BMI of 24.9 (the ideal is 20-25).

She says,“I read the letter I wrote to my daughter recently and it was full of sadness and so far from the person I am now. I took great pleasure in ripping it up.

“The operation cost £12,000 and I had to take out a loan to pay for it but it has at last given me, albeit in my pension years, the life I’d dreamed of.”

But sadly, major weight-loss surgery doesn’t have such a happy ending for every older patient.’

For the full story you can go to:

Should-the-over-60s-be-banned-from-gastric-surgery?

 

As you grow older have you become invisible in your own community?

Have things changed significantly for you as you have grown older? Perhaps you have noticed how once when your hair was not so grey or white, or you walked with less of a limp, or without the the use of a walking stick, that people were more prepared to stop and take time to listen to you. They  would offer you the common curtesies of a valued member of society.

A recent report in the Daily mail says that: ‘The elderly believe they have become invisible in Britain’s youth-obsessed society with more than half feeling ignored, a survey revealed yesterday.

They fear being sidelined  despite embracing modern  technology such as surfing  the web and going on Facebook and Twitter.

Pensioners claim that their opinion is never solicited, nothing on TV  and radio is made for them and that they are written off by and ridiculed by society.

As the report says,although many people are living much longer and enjoying active and fulfilling lives as never before, there are many who still feel marginalised merely because they are stereotyped as older people and of low value.
So what do you think? I would like to hear from you. Maybe you feel angry about this; or you may feel of such low self esteem now that you appear not to have anything  more to contribute to society. Well, we’d like to prove to you that you are wrong to feel this way by sharing of a wide range of views. This can be of great benefit to many.

Retirement Jobs – Part-time or Contract?


For many retirees or for those about to retire, working after retirement is not just an option, it’s a mandatory survival requirement.  The trick is to find a way to enjoy retirement while continuing to generate income.  Many retirees are unsure of whether to take on a part-time retirement job or to start a retirement consulting job.  Both options have their pros and cons depending on what the individual is looking for and what are their specific goals and priorities.

 

Part-time jobs for seniors are the traditional route that many retirees take.  Part-time jobs offer workers the ability to have a steady income, have a set work schedule, and have enough time off to enjoy ongoing hobbies and activities.   Finding part-time employment for seniors is relatively easy as there is a growing trend to hire retirees for jobs that historically have been offered to the entry level work force.  These types of retirement jobs are usually found in the customer service sector of various industries.

 

But retiree jobs like this may not be for everyone.  Many retirees have spent 30+ years developing a set of advanced skills and experience.  Taking on a part-time job that has minimal requirements may not offer the challenge that is required to stay engaged and interested.  So a growing number of seniors are choosing to transition into a consulting job or a short term contract position.  Consulting jobs for retired workers are fast becoming the more popular option for workers who want to continue to utilize their years of knowledge and expertise.  Retirees considering a consulting job should ask themselves the following questions to determine if they have the right personality fit to become a consultant:  Are you able to work independently and be self-employed?  Are you comfortable working long hours and unconventional schedules? Do you have skills, knowledge and experience that companies will pay for?  Do you have the people skills to makes sales and manage clients?  Are you a risk taker?

 

Retirees need to weigh the pros and cons of both options to determine which one is the best path to reach their goals.   Once a decision is made, the good news is that there are more senior citizen job opportunities than ever before.  For more information about how to start a consulting business, landing consulting jobs and sourcing experienced consultants, go to www.retireandconsult.com.

Kellie Reamer has been an Executive Recruiter/Headhunter for 8 years. Her expertise is focused on sourcing, hiring and retaining employees as well as preparing, coaching and mentoring job seekers. The majority of her experience has been focused on senior level job opportunities for medium to large organizations.

 

The Right Retirement Planning Tools Help You Make Informed Retirement Decisions


Figuring out how much money you will need to carry you through your retirement years can seem like a complex undertaking. However, using the right retirement planning tools to plan for your retirement will make the task a lot simpler and complete. The right tools will help you see how much money you’ll need to put away to meet your projected retirement date, how much your retirement nest egg will be worth at retirement and beyond, and how much net income you will need to sustain the lifestyle you want through your retirement years, so that you can feel confident about the informed decisions you need to make.

The various retirement planning tools will take the guess work out of calculating the money you need for your retirement. Accuracy in planning your retirement needs is important for managing your money today. Not putting enough money aside for your retirement means not having enough money to provide that lifestyle you want during your retirement years; putting to much money aside will cause financial hardship and cause you to stay in the workforce more years than necessary.

Fortunately, there are plenty of internet how-to guides, retirement advice blogs and calculators available at your finger tips that you can use to help you get an accurate assessment of how much money you need for your retirement and can help you decide where to direct your retirement funds in the most profitable direction, so there will meet your retirement goals when its time for you to retire.

Online retirement calculators are some of the most handle retirement planning tools available. Most calculators are usually provided to you for free and without asking for any personal information about you. All you do is input the numbers and the calculators can help you project the cash flow you will need to maintain the lifestyle you want, when you need to start saving, how much you need to save and to save for retirement and how much money you need to retire with the plan of your dreams.

These online calculators will also provide important information about your 401K, IRA and Roth IRA plans, or other retirement savings plans.

There are a series of how-to guides that teach you how to plan a retirement savings plans portfolio to consider inflation and deflation of the market.

Other how-to guides such as how to avoid croaked or incompetent money managers and tips on how to know spot an honest financial planner from a fraudulent one are valuable tools for retirement planning tools that can make sure that your retirement portfolio is well funded when you reach your planned retirement date.

Some planning tools will allow you to do the calculations and save the information in a file so that you can go back to it from time to time and make any necessary adjustments to recalculate your projections. Many investment firms such as Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and Ameritrade provide online retirement planning tools to the general public. You don’t have to be a customer of the companies to use their planning tools.

There are many online retirement planning tools that require you to sign up as a member for free. But there are other tools that are only available to customers of the company offering the service.

With the right retirement planning tools you can make the right decisions today that will help you be happier and more financially secure when your retirement comes. It is important to remember to be flexible in your planning and make adjustments as circumstance in your life warrants.

Get the right tools to calculate how much money you need for retirement by visiting BestRetirementInvestmentPlan.com – a website that offers information on retirement planning including tips on setting retirement goals, do-it-yourself retirement planning software, and retirement planning tools to help you make the best of your financial planning for retirement.

 

The over 50s Insurance Market


Article by Iwan Williams

More than most age groups, the over 50s should shop around for their home, car and travel insurance. Often they have been with the same insurer for many years and have simply accepted the renewal deal on offer. Many will have bought their home insurance from a bank or building society when taking out a mortgage and need to be aware that there are better deals and big savings to be had.

Over 50s Should Shop Around for Insurance

It is also important for customers to remember that cheaper premiums do not have to mean less cover. A leading specialist and over 50s insurer, advises over 50s consumers planning to shop around for home, motor or travel insurance to be careful when taking out policies. Cheaper premiums are worth having only if the quality of the cover is not compromised. It is advised customers check the level of cover on policies and ensure that policy limits are suitable for the individual.

Why Over 50s Should Pay Lower Insurance Premiums

There are a variety of reasons why over 50s should expect to pay lower premiums for insurance such as car insurance and home content insurance. Primarily, they tend to have a low risk profile, which means insurers are able to offer cover at lower prices. In addition, the over 50s tend to make fewer claims and are less creative when making a claim, submitting lower value claims than the under 50s. Further savings can be also be made by using a specialist insurer for the over 50s. In fact, research conducted by a leading UK insurer shows over 50s can typically save up to 35% on home and contents insurance by using a specialist insurer.

A specialist insurer, in addition to offering potential savings, will also be able to provide tailored products for the over 50s. Examples include covering a home whilst the occupants are away for extended periods, garden cover, and home help benefit.

These savings are still available for the over 65s, particularly if they use a over 50s insurance specialist. However, travel insurance can attract higher premiums for older people as any claims made tend to be of a higher value. Also, some companies will not provide travel insurance at all to the over 65s.

Again, it is best to talk to a specialist over 50s insurer as they negotiate exclusive rates and cover with a panel of insurers and will be able to offer insurance for the over 65s.

About the Author

To find more information on over 50s insurance please visit http://www.rias.co.uk

 

 

Home Based Data Entry Jobs For Retired People


Are you a retired offer? Looking for some work to make money out of your spare time? Obviously you are not alone. There are thousands of retired people earning from home based data entry jobs and the interesting part is that they are making thousands of dollars per month. That is not a false or fake statement. According to an estimate of 2004 of Unites States Labor, approximately twenty million people were somehow associated with home based jobs. Most of these home based jobs are data entry jobs. You must have used computers and basic word processing software packages in your office life. Even if you haven’t used them ever, it is not a very big task to learn these software packages. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel along with a few other tools are mostly used in all type of data entry tasks. Therefore, if you are efficient with Excel micros, you can truly perform some hour’s job in few minutes.

Moreover, if you were somehow associated with an advertising or marketing career in your professional life, then it would not be a very big task for you to start your own business of data entry. This might be one of your dreams in whole of your life span, which you can make true now. You just need to have a good portfolio of employers and jobs so that new employers can get readily attracted by your services. Moreover, if you see you are unable to handle the workload, you can outsource the work to your juniors or your friends and can provide them with an earning opportunity. This will allow being a boss as well as giving a good amount of supplementary profit to your pocket every month.

Many data entry jobs require typing, proofreading, copying, pasting, sorting, aligning, highlighting, and classifying. These are those things which do not require any excessive skills. Hence, if you just spend few hours on internet at freelance websites and at classified websites, you can truly find some reputed and good paying employers. All you need to do is to determine the most reputed and reliable employer so that you can get ensured of the payment. Moreover, as soon you get reputed, you will be provided with some high class employers who not only pay high but also have regular and long term work. These employers can become a reason for your own business as well. If you see long term and regular work, there’s no reason you stop establishing your own business. You have a number of options when you go for hiring other people. Either you can locally find your fellows or juniors for the work or can advertise for your job on internet. You should go for the most convenient and best method so that you can get maximum profits and highest reliability. Moreover, if you are doing your business on internet, you should have a reliable and efficient payment processor as well in order to process the payments of your employers and employees.

My name is Kausar Khan and I run a very successful Internet business out of my home. I have been doing this business full time since 2003. Please do visit my websites http://ourdollars.com and http://ourdataentry.com for more information.

 

Even If You’re Over 50, Don’t Forget Your Insurance

Even If You’re Over 50, Don’t Forget Your Insurance

Article by Chelsi Woolz







Now, more than ever, insurance coverage is needed to protect yourself and your loved ones in case of an unfortunate accident. Insurance for people over 50 doesn’t end with life insurance. There are many other situations where it can be instrumental in keeping those golden years valuable.

Life insurance is what many people are thinking about. We want our spouses and children to be taken care of when we pass. In the past, the insurance game was such that life insurance was unavailable to pensioners, but now it is a simple matter to get a deferred term life insurance policy up to the age of 85.

Life and death are not the only matters of importance. Often, death is preceded by costly hospital or long-term care. Health insurance is needed to take care of these costs as they occur, because quite frankly sometimes a doctor knows what he’s doing and you end up living for ten to twenty more years in relative good health. You don’t want those years to be spent drowning in debt. Even if you already have a good health insurance policy, there may be holes in it. In such a case, a second, or gap insurance policy can help to close those gaps and provide true full coverage that includes all prescription medications.

Your car insurance should also not lapse. You have to be honest with yourself. Your senses are not going to be as sharp as they were when you were 20 years old. Accidents do happen and your vehicle should be protected at all times. You may not be planning a new car purchase, and if that is true, then your automobile must be covered for all situations and include rental car benefits in case of an accident.

Lastly, travel insurance for people over 50 is always a good idea. Many retired couples and singles alike spend some of their time travelling, seeing places they’ve always wanted to see and visiting far-away friends and relatives. Travel insurance makes sure that you are covered for medical emergencies even if you are in another country and it also protects your ticket investment should you have to cancel.

Insurance is important at all ages – please don’t let coverage lapse, thinking it doesn’t apply. Insurance can save you from embarrassment and protect your family. That’s really what’s important.




About the Author

People over 50 who are not working full-time should consider specialist insurance catering to their age group. Finding such policies for car insurance and travel insurance could make a real difference to your budget.

Financial Fears in retirement

Article by Cathy Severson

Retirement income security is the number one concern of new retirees. Increased retirement cost, anxiety about retirees’ health contributes to the unease. When talking about retirement and money, there’s more than meets the eye.

Will I have enough money to last the rest of my life? The number one fear facing retirees is whether they are going to have enough money in retirement. Ironically, that fear exists regardless of one’s actual worth. In fact, people who report assets of million are more concerned about having enough money than people who have 0 thousand in assets. In fact, it is only when people report having in excess of 0 million do they relax about their financial future.

How could that be? The easy answer is Americans of all income levels spend more than they make. As your wealth increase so does your expectation of your minimal standard of living. What’s the point of having million in the bank, you ask, if you can’t enjoy it?

To answer the question of whether or not you will have enough money to last the rest of your life, you need to explore where the fear comes from. Is the fear base on an assessment of your financial situation or is it a psychological issue?

In order to understand the fear of not having enough money, you need to look at two things. The first is to assess your actual financial situation. The second is to explore the fear itself for psychological concerns.

The best way to minimize your fear about not having enough money to last the rest of your life is to spend less than you make. If you are retired and have income from investments, are you able to live only off the interest? (Financial advisors recommend not taking more than five percent of you portfolio every year. It’s assumed that the bad years and the good years will balance out, at that rate of withdrawal and you’ll have enough to last through your lifetime.) Do you need to tap into the principle on a regular basis? Ideally, you want to leave the principle alone and have it grow some every year.

If you’re going into do debt to pay for the lifestyle you want now, you have some legitimate concerns. If you aren’t willing or can’t cut back on your expenses, explore ways you can increase your income, by either working or starting a business. You may and may find that working fills time you would have otherwise used spending money.

Compile a budget so you know how much is coming in every month and how much is going out. The most important aspect of the budget is to explore your fixed and discretionary expenses. Your fixed expenses are what you spend every month on housing and any outstanding loans. Most everything else is discretionary.

Review your discretionary spending. Look at how much you eat out and unnecessary shopping. Many people, especially women, shop when they are bored. If your are bored and shop to occupy your time, explore other activities that would engage your time. You might volunteer to shop for shut-ins. (Spend their money, not yours.)

Many financial concerns are based on paying for healthcare and other old expenditures in the future. Based on your income, you may want to purchase additional medical and long term care insurance. It’s important to find a financial professional who can advise you on your current and projected financial situation and the best way to plan for your future as you age.

If you have done everything you can do to prepare for your future by seeking professional advice, understanding your financial situation. Cutting expenses and/or increasing your income, and you still have anxiety about money, you may want to explore it from a psychological perspective. Psychological money issues mean you use money to fix emotional needs. Examine your beliefs about money and possessions. Are you concerned about maintaining a certain lifestyle to impress friends or family? Do you believe you need to give your children money when they ask for it? Do you believe you need to be able to buy what you want when you want to have a sense of self-worth? Do you use money worries as a way to manipulate your significant other?

Another challenge facing retired adults is learning to live without earning money by working. Remember when you were child and asked your parents to buy you a toy. They responded with, “If you want the yo-yo, you’re going to have to earn the money to buy it.” Much of the identity of Americans comes from us being earners and providers. This is especially true for men. “If I’m no longer a provider, what value do I have?” It’s a different mindset to let your money work for you.

The transition to not working is a huge shift. Understanding the varied dynamics of your relationship with money will help determine the peace of mind you have in your later years.

(This article is not intended to provide financial advice, but only offer information to help you explore your economic situation.)

About the Author

Cathy Severson, MS helps you make the most of your retirement. Baby boomers understand this isn’t your parents’ retirement. Find out how to make the rest of your life the best of your life with the complimentary e-book 7 Ingredients for a Satisfying Retirement at http://tinyurl.com/8moymb

What Are Your Retirement Planning Variables?


Article by Paul Sutherland

Having a secure, fulfilling retirement is a primary goal for most of us. At some point in the future we will no longer receive a “paycheck” from an employer and will instead rely on the income from assets we have accumulated and saved, plus income benefits from defined benefit pensions, Social Security benefits, distributions from retirement savings plans such as 401(k)s, deferred compensation, sale of our business and other investments. For most people, the overriding and often primary directive of financial planning is simply “retirement planning.” However, planning for retirement is not a particularly easy process.The retirement planning process involves using a retirement planning calculator and creating a road map toward your retirement goal and developing a plan to achieve that goal. The plan generally considers post-retirement budgeting, savings, tax management, debt management, pre-retirement budgeting and a host of other inputs all geared toward ensuring a quality retirement. However, planning for retirement takes time and judgment, because it involves many unknown variables. Among the top variables that may determine when retirement is feasible are lifestyle/family goals, longevity, future income tax rates, portfolio returns, the effect of inflation on expenses and future investment returns.Let’s review the basics of these variables as they relate to your retirement plan.

Lifestyle Goals Would you like to travel? Own one home or two? What is your retirement vision? These questions and others like them are necessary to help create a budget for your specific retirement needs.

Longevity Attempting to gauge how long we’re going to live in retirement is a task that’s becoming more and more difficult. Medical advances have led to increased life spans and continue to increase the mortality age. This is best illustrated by the Social Security system. In its original design, participants in Social Security were expected to live only a few years after they have begun receiving benefits. People live longer now, and life spans are increasing each year. We believe it is wise to project a retirement plan that assumes you’ll live to age 100.

Future Tax Rates Since we can only spend our “aftertax” income, it is imperative that we consider what tax rates our retirement income will be subject to. However, as government bodies at all levels change with each election, so do virtually all tax laws, including property tax, sales tax, state income tax and the granddaddy of them all, the federal income tax. Taxes such as property and sales taxes should be adjusted to account for cost of living increases. One thing is certain – taxes will exist in retirement.

Investment Returns How much you can withdraw from your “nest egg” each year is perhaps the most critical variable to retirement projections. Like the other retirement variables, the annual return on your nest egg will not be linear. As we know, the investments most suited for providing long-term income security into retirement are going to fluctuate. Financial markets can have long periods of up and down investment return cycles. We need continual income and that is the key. That’s why we work toward constructing portfolios that can provide lifetime income security for our clients. Many retirees get caught up in “short-termism” and use CDs, shortterm bonds and fixed annuities as core holdings in their retirement portfolio. But this investment strategy is very risky. While inflation causes things to cost more, deflation can keep interest rates low for many years, requiring the need for retirees to invade their principal savings to meet their budget needs.At FIM Group, we balance the long-term asset volatility with the more stable fixed investments to construct our clients’ portfolios. Our goal is to allow clients to live on the income generated from their diversified portfolio with a goal of providing income that can increase over time. That way clients won’t need to invade principal. Simply put, we call it living on the eggs (investment returns), not the chicken (principal).

Inflation Loss of purchasing power caused by rising prices must be included in any retirement plan. It is safe to say that one dollar will buy less in the future. As you progress into retirement, you should factor in giving yourself a raise periodically to offset cost of living increases.

Family Constraints Will you need to provide for or care for your parents and/or children in retirement? If so, how much will you help them? In summary, we are realistic about retirement planning and take retirement seriously. While the future is unknown, we do know that life will go on, some businesses will grow and pay great dividends, interest rates will fluctuate, politicians will fiddle with taxes, and inflation and deflation will fight it out. One thing, however, is certain: we will retire someday.

About the Author

The author has great knowledge about financial planning. He has offered financial planning to many people as well. He has written many articles on financial planning.

 

 

Baby Boomer Health – Advice About Baby Boomers And Retirement


The topic of baby boomer health is popular these days as more and more people from this age group are becoming senior citizens and approaching retirement age.  This age group is well known for being in denial about aging and financial planning,

However, reality has begun to show it’s face.  Thus, there are many issues that directly affect the baby boomer generation that need to be considered, especially with today’s economy being the way it is.

According to media RKR, which publishes a book about “Baby Boomers Health And Retirement” website — http://mediaRKR.com/baby-boomer-health/ — pointed out;

“..It has been often said that the mindset of a typical baby boomers is to avoid planning for their demise as well as long term financial planning.  However, this mindset is quickly changing, as managing aging and end of life issues are becoming center stage…”

“…With the baby boomers rapidly approaching retirement, here are the top factors that are of major concern:

– Understanding The Process Of Aging
– Avoiding Alzheimer’s Disease
– A Plan For Staying Physically Fit
– Planning A Proper Diet
– Keeping The Heart Healthy
– Vitamin And Mineral Supplements For Anti-Aging
– Reducing Sugar Intake To Avoid Contracting Diabetes
– Improving Time Management Skills
– Stress Management Techniques
– Financial Management Strategies
– Starting A Second Career

…if you are, or someone you know is a baby boomer, then now is the time to get your hands on information that offers tips and advice about how to enjoy your golden years, in good physical and financial health.” …

Further information about Baby Boomer Health and Baby Boomers Retirement can be found by visiting:
http://mediaRKR.com/baby-boomer-health/

Media RKR is your source for a wide variety of informative books, reports and guides to help improve your lifestyle.

 

Do I Still Need Insurance in Retirement?


Article by ric dalberri

We all know that we could during our lifetime, become cash poor and insurance rich. So, now, during the ‘golden years’ of retirement,do I still need insurance in retirement? The answer is basically, yes and no. What I mean is, which type of insurance do I still needin retirement. Here are different types of insurances that you usually have in your personal (not mentioning if you are self employed for business insurances) portfolio:

1) Life

2) Health, dental, vision

3) Automobile, R.V., motorcycle, boat, etc.

4) Homeowners, flood

5) Disability

6) Long term care

7) Pet

8) Travel

So, you should now understand why I said yes and no to needing insurance. Let’s start and go through the list.

1) Life insurance. The purpose of life insurance is to fill the gap of financial loss, hardship, pay some debt and burial funds for those left behind. If the answer is no to the purpose listed here then, you don’t need life insurance. You may, however, want a charity to benefit or help a family member in need. The amount of life insurance depends upon the amount of money the individuals you leave behind will need not to experience a financial loss. You have to calculate your liabilities. Consult with an insurance specialist as to the various insurance policies available to you. If you now own an insurance policy, you may consider having the cash value pay your premiums or sell the policy (called viaticles) and set aside some for burial and blow the rest.

2) Health, dental, vision insurance. Do I still need insurance in retirement? For this, yes. If you leave your employee, there may be an option to continue your health insurance. Many municipalities and unions will allow this. You may consider to continue with Cobra for 18 months until you decide what you will do until you go for Medicare. Remember, even if you don’t want Medicare at 65 yrs of age, you still need to inform them that you decline because of other coverage. If you don’t and at a later date, apply for Medicare, you will be penalized and pay a higher premium. You may also need a supplement to this.

3) Do I still need insurance in retirement for auto, R.V., motorcycle, boat? Only you can decide this. For the most part, if you own any of these in this category, the answer is yes. You decide how much.

4) Homeowners insurance is a must. Some policies will cover you away from the home. Even if you don’t live in a flood zone, you may want to consider flood insurance these days. Just watch the news and weather channel.

5) Disability insurance. You probably have had this at your work, even if you did clerical duties and not being a laborer. You probably don’t need his in retirement, unless you are very active. Only you can decide.

6) Do I still need insurance in retirement? Long term care should be a definite. The earlier you start (age wise) the less expensive your premium will be. Check out the cost of medical care in and away from the home. It could be a very expensive premium. Can you afford not to have this?

7) Pet insurance is a personal choice. If you own a pet, you know how expensive vet bills can be. Can you afford this in retirement?

8) Travel insurance. When you decide to travel, you can take travel insurance for the trip you are considering. It can be covered for different reasons from cancellation, weather, medical. Some foreign countries will not accept our (U.S.) medical coverage. This probably is a yes when traveling.

Do I Still Need Insurance In Retirement?

About the Author

Ric Dalberri is a graduate of Columbia State University & has been involved in his own business (sold) employing over 100 people. As well as being a top producer as a Financial Specialist for over a decade with one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., Ric has many years experience in sales and management. Ric was also a mentor in the financial arena as well as a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement.

 

 

Travel Insurance for Bank Holiday Breaks Won?t Break the Bank


With two Bank Holiday Mondays, and therefore two long weekends, May is the perfect chance for people to take a mini-break away to quench their holiday thirst until summer arrives. Thus, popular European countries are preparing for an influx of British tourists wishing to make the most of their extra long weekends.

 

Unsurprisingly, travel prices reflect this, and holidays over these three-day weekends are often more expensive than normal, as holiday companies cash in on what would perhaps otherwise be a lull in holiday sales. Although when you consider the limited amount of three-day weekends you get in a year, a slight increase in cost perhaps seems more tolerable.

 

Travelbite.co.uk have compiled a list their top destinations for the bank holiday weekend breaks. Their selections add a bit of variety to holiday, as they suggest more unusual places than holiday makers’ usual, more predictable choices. They reveal Croatian city Split as their top May bank holiday break destination, followed by Tunis in Tunisia and Manama, Bahrain. Berlin and (surprisingly) Washington DC make up the top 5.

 

Wherever the destination, travel insurance is just as important as ever, and May holiday makers booking last minute short breaks shouldn’t let it slip their minds. Unfortunately, unexpected things can go wrong on short breaks too, and having adequate travel insurance should be considered essential. Getting cover shouldn’t cost much either, as the price for single trip travel insurance is calculated depending on how long you are travelling for (as well as taking into account your destination, travel party size and ages). So, essentially, the shorter the trip, the cheaper the cover. For example, popular travel insurance provider Direct Travel Insurance’s comprehensive policies start from £5.50 for 5 days in Europe.

 

With the current weakness of the Euro against the British pound, trips abroad could, arguably, not be as good value as they have been, and UK trips may become more common for weekend breaks, especially in May. Seaside resorts such as Brighton and Blackpool are all expected to grow in popularity, as people from inner cities seek sun and sand without leaving the country. Even for weekend breaks within the UK, travel insurance could still be worthwhile. For example, cover for cancellation, money and personal belongings would be covered by most policies, and, with cover starting from £3.50 (based on a Direct Travel Insurance policy for one adult), getting covered for your Bank Holiday break won’t exactly break the bank.

 

Article Author – Rob James

Rob James is the Communications Coordinator for Direct Travel Insurance, providers of travel insurance.

 

Find out more about the Pros and Cons of Over 50 Life Insurance


Article by Soul Patel

Life insurance is often a difficult matter to handle as it may bring you to think about the practicalities of your own death which is not easy for anybody. It is also a comforting thought that the lump sum of cash left behind can clear any debts you may have, left to a grandchild, or cover the expense of a funeral. Most of the UK insurance providers do not require a medical checkup and for those aged 50 or older the good news is that the process is somewhat easier because of over 50s life insurance. It is also quite easy to set up an over 50 life insurance policy with the entire process able to be completed within only a few days. In the case of death, there is a lump sum of cash paid out, and this sum is paid out irrespective of the age at which death occurs.

However, there are of course disadvantages to these insurance policies. The first to know is that the monthly premium cost of the contract is relatively high compared to that of a standard life insurance policy. The closer you are to 50 years old, the lower the insurance premium will be. There is also an initial period, usually of two years, in which the policy will not pay out if you die, instead the premium costs paid over this time are often refunded. Lastly, unlike a standard life insurance policy, the level of pay out on death is significantly lower and is typically around £8,000. Having said this, and as stated above, this is a guaranteed sum.

In the UK, over 50 life insurance is a strongly growing market where many providers running extensive advertising programs. As such, there are many great deals to be found, as the competition is high. Excellent incentives are offered by some providers which include a high payout travel insurance policy where you can be paid three times the usual lump sum if a travel accident results in your death. Find a scheme appropriate for you by making sure you compare the benefits of each policy.

If you’re over 50 in looking into life insurance options, look for over 50s life insurance with provisions that enable you to extend the length of the term of the policy if you’re still alive at the end of the initial term. You should also be aware of return-of-premium term policies, which enable you to get back premiums that you paid into the policy. You might pay more for these provisions but they are worth it.

Interested in Over 50s Life Insurance? Click here

 

Mind the gap: over-50s have travel fever


Article by James Zhao

 

The general media picture is that the gap year is an entity for youngsters, university-goers and college kids. Bounds of paraphernalia speak of the brilliance of taking time out between studying and work, while the travel opportunities are endless and exciting. As the demands of education have spiralled, lifestyle choices have shifted to reflect this. Tourism operators have tapped into an all too wiling generation. Fresh-faced backpackers and rafters line the pages of brochures, screaming go abroad! There you can relax!

But it appears that there is another demographic gradually seeking out the positives such overseas jaunts can bring. Various parties have recently stated that the over-50s wish to fulfil unrealised foreign excursions, with the gap year taking centre stage. One such report came from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), which suggested the older generation are getting more adventurous in their travel choices. Whereas a quaint beach holiday or a ramble in the countryside may have once been paramount, over-50s now have greater goals in their sights.

An official at Abta stated that the senior gap year sector is now growing as the young-at-heart look to add a flourish to their lives. Press officer with the organisation Sean Tipton claimed “as part of this growing trend for more daring holidays for the over-50s, the market for senior gap years and career breaks is growing, with many people choosing to travel the world when they are older”.

He added that, because the over-50s have been on a vast number of more traditional holidays, since the vacation trend began in the 60s, they now want to branch out and seek other ways to view the planet.

Indeed, with these things in mind, the new travel savvy may want ensure that they are completely insured while away from home, to make the experience an even better one. There are number of travel insurance products available for this specific age group, which may offer vital support in some of the far-flung and exotic corners of the globe.

While all of these factors may all play a part in the growth of the niche market, another has been touched upon by the Emeritus professor at Cardiff University Phil Thomas, who said that lifestyle and working arrangements have led to more free time for potential travellers. He commented that people are now a lot healthier in general than they used to be, while they are also not working to such a late age – meaning that time is freed up to stretch their wings and embark on a thrilling journey to other climes. They want to explore avenues they perhaps missed out on at an earlier age, he stated.

So, all the evidence is there – travelling is great. Taking a year out abroad is fantastic. Pictures of unfathomably young models adorning the pages of travel books would appear to be myth. The options for the over-50s are boundless, whether it be backpacking, cruising, or even working while away, the ‘old’ are staying in touch with their fresh-faced peers. The travel insurance plan could just add a little bit of a safety net, to make sure the conscience is clear and the possibilities are truly endless.

About the Author

James Zhao is an e-marketer working with various industries including travel, insurance, ebusiness. For more information on travel insurance for over 50s, please visit castlecover.co.uk/travelinsurance

 

 

Travel Insurance for Saga Louts?


Article by Jean Andrews

Our older generations have been getting some negative press due to their alleged bad behaviour while on holiday abroad – earning them the unfortunate nickname ‘Saga Louts’. The same seniors don’t behave badly and earn themselves an ASBO at home. So what’s going on?

Fun and reckless behaviour is not exclusive to the young. It seems the people we used to look upon as role models are often the ones misbehaving these days. Apparently, the number of mature drinkers is rising while the number of teenage drinkers has dropped. Young people are worrying about their carbon footprints, growing their own vegetables, and spurning drink and drugs. Role reversal? It seems so.

Many older folks are ignoring their health problems and throwing old-fashioned caution to the wind. They are jetting off abroad, often without getting a health check from their GP – or taking out travel insurance! The Foreign Office has expressed concern about this new generation of retirees who are putting themselves at unnecessary risk.

Are these ageing rebels breaking the mold? What happened to our dear old grannies who spent their days baking cakes, knitting mysterious garments for us and trying their luck in the bingo halls? Where is the quiet grandpa who spent his days hiding in the potting shed with the newspaper and racing form? Perhaps they revert to a more staid persona at home, but once they have a taste for foreign travel and adventure there’s no stopping this new silver jet set!

Drinking, or rather binge drinking, is reported to be the cause of most of the problems. Their benders often result in these oldies-but-baddies ending up in jail, hospital or even the mortuary! Why shouldn’t they let their hair down (what’s left of it) or have a knees up (so what if they’re plastic). Many are wealthier than they used to be and feel they deserve to make up for all the years of sacrifice.

The over 55’s are reported to be among the largest group of people participating in dodgy activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and paragliding! These ‘denture venturers’ as they have been labelled, often outshine younger dare-devils. The young are becoming the new fuddy-duddies, tut-tut-ing the antics of their irresponsible elders!

There’s no question that obtaining affordable travel insurance can be difficult for the older traveller. Cover varies from company to company, so it’s best to shop around for the right policy. Many companies set age restrictions in the mid 60’s for annual multi-trip policies and travel to the USA and Canada – due to the high cost of medical care. The over 70’s may have difficulty finding an affordable policy, especially if they have a medical history which includes conditions like heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Fifty used to be old, but 50 is the new 40 as they say, 60 the new 50, and so on. After working hard all their lives and paying taxes, the over 50s may feel they have earned it. Many won’t get their state pension at 60 as they planned, but will have to work until they are 65, 70 or beyond because the government changed the rules. The retirement carrot is being dangled further down the road now. Who wouldn’t get an attitude! No wonder they’re buying Harley Davidson hogs and hitting the highways while they can!

Maybe older folks feel time is running out and it’s foolhardy to stock up the freezer. Perhaps they don’t care whether they make the return trip from their holiday. In a way you can’t blame them, but one major downside to their rash behaviour is the impact it can have on the holiday plans of others. Older travellers who don’t see their GP for a check-up may not be medically fit to fly. There are reports that in-flight medical emergencies are on the increase, causing distress and chaos and sometimes requiring the pilot to make an unscheduled landing.

So, are they wrong to enjoy their silver or golden years and kick up their heels as they burn up the inheritance money? We probably shouldn’t pass judgment. However, the family may not be amused if grandma has no travel insurance and breaks her neck jet skiing in Spain! Emergency medical treatment abroad can cost a small fortune and emergency repatriation (dead or alive) can be extremely expensive. The house and nest-egg they intended to leave to the kids could vanish as fast as a nice glass of bubbly if there’s no travel insurance to help cover the costs.

Should we reprimand our seniors and send them clucking back to the bingo halls? Whatever your views may be, it’s probably too late anyway. Like free-range hens, they’ve broken free of the coop, scratched some dirt, and had a taste of sunshine and freedom. Why not let them flap those bingo wings and fly while they can!

 

About the Author

Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for TIA Ltd who offer travel insurance at great prices online.

 

 

Health Perception


Health Perception

An important area to focus on as you transition towards retirement is in the area of Health Perception.

Health Perception measures how you see your health as being an important part of your retirement life. It reveals to you your own appraisal of your health. The retirement assessment can tell you if you have some health concerns (in your own opinion), that you do not believe you are in the state of health you would like to be in, or it can tell you that you believe you are in great health.

A low score in the area of health perception shows that you see this as less important for your overall retirement success, making your health an area of concern. What most people want in retirement living is dependent on health, so a low score automatically makes this become a critical area. The good news is that you now have this information at a time in your life when you can make some changes if you decide to.

Health can be affected by attitudes: by what we believe. Our belief about our physical state of health directly affects what we can do and how we feel. Our inner beliefs influences our body, these can’t be separated. This area of mindset is discussed more thoroughly in the The ‘Secrets to Retirement Success Home Study System™’, where an entire section is dedicated to Mindset.

A low score in the area of health perception indicates a strong concern about your health. Because health is such a critical item, this area needs to be considered carefully. If your scores do not meet with your identified plan then you need to consider changes in your life style and belief system. Your assessment will identify whether this is an area of concern for you or not.
Resolve to live a long and healthy life. If you aren’t already, become in tune with your lifestyle, making sure it includes healthy foods, exercise, and some form of relaxation and stress control. You need to be vigorous in finding better and healthier ways of staying fit and healthy! You have considerable control over your state of health by the health practices you engage in. Use these beliefs to motivate you to continue staying healthy.

When people believe they are healthy, they either continue working or move towards an active retirement lifestyle. When people believe they are ill, they want to retire as soon as they can so they can rest and remove themselves from an environment that seems stressful. Retirement becomes a solution to their condition. Often, you’ll hear phrases like, “getting out” or “needing some rest”. These are strong motivators that push individuals to retire early.

Seek an active retirement lifestyle or find a way to become involved again in a second career or job. Be prepared to be active and busy while enjoying the benefits of living a fun, healthy life! Your views and the actions you take are a part of the relationship you have with yourself. Life should be enjoyed!

Your Assignment:

What changes, if any, can you make to become more healthy? Do you engage in at least twenty minutes of vigorous exercise (such as fast walking, jogging, swimming) three or more times a week? Do you drink no more than one cup of coffee or tea or one can of caffeinated soda pop per day? Can you get seven to eight hours of sleep every night, eat meat or other fatty, high-cholesterol foods no more than once a day?

Each of these things you can do contribute to your health. Don’t feel that you have to start them all at once. Add in one new activity that you’re not already doing and do it consistently for a month before adding in a second area. Before you know it, your health will improve and your view of your retirement may change too.

Next week we’ll talk briefly about the area of Projected Financial Security and Planning
While you wait, if you’re looking for ways to figure out what your retirement will look like, and you know you definitely DON’T want to leave it to chance, contact me for a 30-minute ‘Get Acquainted Session’ to see if there are ways I can help you. Simply email me at [email protected] and we’ll set up a time to chat.

This information is based on the original work created by Richard P. Johnson, Ph.D. in his book The New Retirement and the training certification through the Retirement Success Profile (RSP).

Tracey Fieber is founder of “The Secrets to Retirement Success System™”, the most complete Retirement Transition program for executives and small business owners.

Using her own principles, Tracey went from a corporate executive to a retirement filled with adventure, passion and purpose, in less than 8 months!

Tracey is the celebrated author of the Retirement Success Home Study System™, and author of the upcoming book “How to Retire to a Life of Adventure, Passion and Purpose”. Get your free CD “7 Steps to Cracking the Retirement Code”, available on www.NewFaceOfRetirement.com.

 

Best Retirement Planning Websites


Article by liame haley

Retirement is inevitable in any field on endeavor one is engaged in. No one continues to work in a company or organization till age 80 or more. There’s always a time to retire from active service. Well, retiring from service is one thing, but maintaining your life during such a period is another ball game altogether. One needs proper retirement planning in order to keep body and soul together during the retirement period.

By way of definition, retirement planning refers to various strategies put in place to ensure a stress-free enjoyment season during the period of retirement. In the financial context, retirement planning is all about allocation of funds for your pleasurable retirement season. You have to set aside a particular percentage of your regular income while you’re still in active service. The money you save at that time will then serve you when you retire.

Oftentimes, many people fail to plain their retirement as it should be. Such people end up becoming great burdens to their families when they finally retire from active service. In order to help matters, there are many retirement planning agencies that run their websites online. They are available to assist you plan your retirement before it dawns on you.

There are so many aspects to consider when planning your retirement. Oftentimes, you may not be able to plan those aspects well. You may not even remember to do something about that. This is the reason why various agencies have been established to assist those who desire to enjoy life during retirement season.

One of the aspects usually considered in retirement planning is the location and building where you’ll stay for the season. One weighing retirement must consider the best retirement cities. Such cities are nice locations to stay if you truly want to enjoy life to the full. Oftentimes, it’s very difficult to locate pieces of information about the retirement cities. However, when you go on a well-designed retirement planning website, you’re sure to locate all the various pieces of information you need.

Retirement websites abound online today. You can find a list of some of the top ones at http://www.over50web.net/finance/retirement-finance/some-top-retirement-planning-websites They are vital portals you need to visit in order to learn everything you need about your retirement. When you succeed in locating a good site that can help, you’ll discover the right way to save for your future retirement. You’ll also discover how best to invest some cash in various projects in order to safeguard your future.

Simply put, you’re sure of a better retirement season when you succeed in locating a good retirement planning website that can furnish you with the best of information. Your retirement season is sure to be a glorious and enjoyable period when you take time to plan it well. Why not go online today to gather more pieces of information?

About the Author

Dave operates a blog devoted to tracking the best retirement cities free ebooks.

 

 

5 Great Work-at-Home Jobs for Parents


Article by Darrick Sherwin

The internet provides many great work-at-home jobs for parents. Let’s look at a few.

 

1. Call Center and Customer ServiceIndustries served within the United States and Canada include the following: Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, Financial Services, Retail, Travel and Transportation, and Utilities.Your individual skills, experience, and personality will be taken into consideration when you are assigned clients. A separate home office is frequently necessary in order to ensure a silent environment and security for confidentiality and data purposes. Internet connectivity and a dedicated telephone line are required.Flexible hours allow you the option of working for one or more employers and to choose your own hours. Working from your home office can give you the time to do the school run, fit in some time at the gym, and overall improve the balance between your home life and your work life.Competitive compensation, health and retirement, career advancement, and recognition and rewards are all part of the bonus of working in this type of work-at-home position.

2. Tutor

Qualified educators who are highly motivated, organized, and personable are sought for at-home tutor assignments for students in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Training new online tutors is also a possible work option.

Work is performed in your home office via your computer and the Internet. Typing and computer skills are required. Part-time and full-time positions are available for a variety of subjects. As an online tutor you can teach from the comfort of your own home office, teach as much as you want, and teach when you want.

3. Affiliate

Think of being an affiliate as a new career as well as an at-home job. An affiliate is basically an “ad typist” who works for companies that recruit people to help them find other people who are looking for a solution to a problem that the company can solve. Your job would be to connect the people searching for specific products, services or information to the websites of companies that you are affiliated with and have the solutions. the website, fill out a form on the website, or buy a product or service.

 

4. Graphic/Website Designer

At-home freelance positions for Graphic/Website Designers are available at various freelance websites. You will need an updated quality on-line portfolio of pieces you’ve designed for yourself or others. You will be showing these pieces to potential clients and it will be your job to convince them that you are the person for the job. Even after you have accepted your first professional assignment, continue learning and improving your skills and portfolio and success will be yours.

5. Medical Transcriptionist

In this at-home occupation, dictations by physicians and other healthcare professionals would be interpreted and transcribed by you regarding patient assessment, work-up, diagnosis, and prognosis in order to document patient care and facilitate delivery of healthcare services.

Excellent written and oral communication skills including English usage, grammar, punctuation, and style are required along with knowledge of anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. Proofreading and editing are also part of the process of medical transcription.

 

About the Author

Are you looking for more information regarding Work-at-Home ? Visit http://www.internetbusinessbuildingblocks.com

 

 

Take Action Now to Protect Your Health in Retirement – Six Action Items For Retirees


Article by Burton Widener

There is probably nothing more important to the enjoyment of the retired lifestyle than good health. Poor health limits your retirement options dramatically. It may restrict where you can live. Your willingness and ability to travel are both negatively affected by poor health. It’s hard to enjoy seeing new places if you can’t get around, or are tied to medical support facilities or special medical devices.

Assuming you are currently enjoying reasonably good health, take action to maintain your health now.

Here are a six tips for maintaining your health:

Select a doctor who has experience in treating older adults if you can. They are much more likely to understand the aging process. It takes some experience to determine if your symptoms are just part of the natural aging process, or signify something more. Get regular checkups. Most experts recommend twice a year physicals for anyone over 65. Follow your doctor’s advice. Why spend the time and effort to visit a doctor if you are not going to listen to him/her? If you don’t like the advice, get a second opinion. Find a way to insure you take any prescribed drugs in accordance with the required regime. If you find you are having difficulty remembering the correct times or dosages, find some kind of a routine to help you remember. Don’t be proud, after the age of 60 or so we all find our memories getting less and less reliable. Stay physically active. Most experts recommend at least 20-30 minutes of exercise three or four times a week as a minimum. The exercise does not need to be all that vigorous. Even walking for 30 minutes every other day can really improve your overall conditioning. Important; you should always consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise program. Don’t delay unpleasant or costly tests or procedures. Again, if you question the need for a particular test or procedure get a second opinion. Nobody likes six foot tubes being pushed into places where the sun never shines, but it may save your life some day, so grin and bear it (no pun intended). Both you and your spouse need to be realistic when looking ahead. If either of you have a chronic medical condition that is likely to result in long term health deterioration, plan for it now. Don’t put yourselves in a position that does not allow you to meet evolving health issues.Pick your retirement location carefully. Often it is prudent to be located near a medium or large metropolitan center. This will usually give you more options in terms of medical specialists or medical facilities. Your health may also determine the type of living accommodations you will select. For instance, restricted mobility may mean you are limited to single floor residences. The need for specialized care may dictate living in an assisted care facility.

Who Is Going To Pay? – Probably You

Health care costs are rising at an alarming rate, and senior citizens are feeling the pain. Only the lucky few have health care benefits that they are not paying for themselves. And even those that do can’t be sure their health care retirement benefits will continue. Ask a retired auto worker or airline flight attendant how precarious retirement benefits can be. Private, full coverage health plans are quickly becoming out of reach to most retired persons. Realistically, most retired persons are going to be dependent on Medicare for their health care coverage. You need to spend some time understanding what your options are. It’s more than likely you are going to want so called “gap” insurance to supplement the standard Medicare coverage. The rules for switching from private programs to Medicare are also important to understand, as a mistake can end up costing you some big penalties.

The latest drug care program is so complicated it’s almost impossible to figure out exactly what to do. Spend some time to read and understand all you can before making any decisions. A good place to start is at the official government website. You might want to consider getting some professional advice as well. Most medical insurance companies have people who understand the complexities of the issue, so they can be a source. Check your local business directory. In some areas, there are companies that specialize in helping you select the appropriate coverage. A word of advice here; prices for standard coverage are regulated, so the major task is selecting the plan that is best for you, and then deciding which insurance company you want to use.

Don’t risk having failing health shorten your enjoyment of your retirement life. Following these six simple tips can help insure you enjoy your retirement well into your senior years. That’s the whole idea isn’t it?

About the Author

About The Author: Burt Widener writes extensively on issues concerning retirement. His website at http://www.allthingsretired.com offers a range of articles and other resources to aid retired persons find answers to common questions regarding retirement. The site is updated frequently to keep the content current. You can contact Burt at: [email protected].

 

 

Are There Jobs For Retired People On The Internet?


The Internet is a vast place, and a mystery to many retired people. Oh, they use it all right, it is all just a mystery exactly how it works. You can find anything and everything on the Internet, and those looking for jobs for retired people it might be a rude awakening as to why anyone would want to read about this, or watch a You Tube Video about something else.

The question really should be about how do you find jobs for retired people online. Many retired people are only looking for part time jobs after retirement benefits kick in. Often what they really mean is are there part time work at home jobs, no scams for retired people. These are a little more focused and gets to the meat of the question. Can a person who needs to add income to their retirement income use the Internet? This becomes a particularly sticky issue during times when the jobless rate in the offline world is high.

You will use the Internet to find jobs for retired people in two ways:

One is with your basic job searches. You might look for reputable agencies, find classified ads in your area, use Craigs List and other job hunting services. This sort of search will send you in the right direction, give you leads etc. Along the same lines would be to use forums setup  to find jobs for retired people where people can share ideas, resources and hot tips with each other.

The other way is to actually find places online where you can do work and get paid. There are many legitimate work from home businesses and job opportunities, and there are many offers that are out to get you. Before you even touch one offer, you must take the time to educate yourself about this kind of thing. One rule of thumb, for the most part you do not pay people to give you work, that is where the disreputable people work. You pay for training, you pay start up costs for a home based business, you pay for supplies, but you do not fork over to let someone give you work that they supposedly will pay you to do.

One solution might be to learn how to earn commissions by sending customers to websites where they already want to buy the type of product being sold. This is called affiliate marketing. This is probably the most promising of the jobs for retired people, as you work from home on your computer. Once you learn the system, it gives you many directions to go. It will take some serious training, but once you have it, it might be just the ticket to bring in extra money. .

Sue Fegan stopped teaching after 34 years to move to the beach with her husband who is lucky enough to be fully retired. Sue has been studying ways to earn extra retirement income with various Internet marketing systems.

Read more about the benefits of affiliate marketing as great jobs for retired people on my Extra Retirement Income Solutions website

 

Get the Buzz.Follow the Over 50 seniors forum

Health and Fitness – Over 50 Seniors Forum

Following on from yesterday’s post topic:

I have discovered this great forum. Couldn’t wait to tell you. Try it see and what you think. At worst ,you can just turn it off. At the least it may provide you with regular and useful information over a wide rage of matters ,for example : Hobbies,Books,writing,jokes, getting older, and so on. There is Health and Fitness and other subjects which could be of concern to you. You may find this provides a community in which you can contribute with your information and views.

 

You can hook-up to the Buzz 50 Senior forum and chat rooms for the over 50s. Categories – Health and Fitness – Over 50 Seniors Forum.

l

 

If you must live longer for goodness sake stay fit and healthy

This seems like sound advice. It may seem rather obvious but as many of us are tending to live longer it is becoming more important for us to to take action to prevent the preventable things we become more susceptible to as we grow older.In this we should  also be striving to preserve quality of life.

According to the people at Health Fair Services ‘Americans are living longer, making it even more important for them to stay fit and healthy. HealthFair the nation’s leading provider of mobile health screening services, is celebrating National Senior Health and Fitness Day by reminding seniors that proper nutrition, physical activity and preventive health care services are the foundation for proper cardiovascular health. In addition, HealthFair is giving a free CD of their test results to any Seniors (those 65 or older) who mention Senior Health and Fitness Day when they schedule their appointment on May 25, 2011.

‘Doctors say diet, exercise and preventive health screenings can potentially provide the tri-fecta of senior health. “Proper diet and exercise can help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar), blood pressure and blood cholesterol in the recommended range, therefore lowering the risk of diabetes,” said HealthFair Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Oristaglio, D.O.

‘The American Diabetes Association states that there is a big link between diabetes, heart disease and stroke. In fact, the organization says, two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, also called cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one American will have a coronary event every 25 seconds. Although most cardiac conditions have risk factors, very few have outward signs or symptoms.’

Even if you don’t happen to be American, this advice is also probably good for you.

If you wish to read the whole of the Health Fair press release you can access it here

Now the choice is yours to work beyond 65 if you live in the UK

Many 60-lifers will welcome the change in the UK law which has just come into force.  According to the guardian.co.uk website :

‘The structure of your working life could change profoundly from next week, when the phasing out of the default retirement age (DRA) begins. From Wednesday 6 April employers will no longer be allowed to compel employees aged 65 or over to retire on grounds of age. The only employers exempted from this are those that have already given staff between six to 12 months’ notice of enforced retirement at a date beyond next week, but even that transitional arrangement runs out on 1 October’

The full article can be read at   guardian.co.uk/money

Want to become the next big author?

  • Want to become the next big author? Tips and Quips.

  • Could you write your autobiography?

  • Are health-related websites good for your health?

Three questions for you this week, with some more information I hope will be of interest to you.

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Want to become the next big author?

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From Laurie Pawlik-Tienlen, writer and blogger, who writes Tips and Quips for Successful Writers:

‘These writing tips from famous authors will help you learn how to become a writer. After all, the first step to becoming a writer – to calling yourself a “real” writer – is defining what “real writer” means to you. And that’s what these writing tips and quips from famous authors are all about!’

Catch these Tips and Quips at:

theadventurouswriter.com

She continues:

‘To get the ball rolling, here’s one of my favourite quips and tips:

“What I did have, which others perhaps didn’t, was a capacity for sticking at it, which really is the point, not the talent at all. You have to stick at it.” ~ Doris Lessing.

There will be more on becoming the next big author next time.

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Are health-related websites good for your health?

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Last time, I drew your attention to a number of websites which have been accredited with the Information Standard for reliable information on health matters. The internet is an amazing source of information on health related matters, but it is also a place of misleading and downright wrong information for the unwary.

In addition to the 10 sites I posted to the Your Health page at

http://www.the60life.com , here are two more which are certified members of the Information Standard:

1.    At the National Electronic Library for Medicines, you can find out more about a particular drug which may have been prescribed for you by your doctor.

http://www.nelm.nhs.uk

2.    The second site is BootsWebMD , where in addition to lots of health advice for both men and women, you can access a sophisticated symptom checker giving an A-Z of health conditions.

http://www.webmd.boots.com

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Could You Write Your Autobiography?

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In case you missed this last topic time, here’s a writing project with a difference. Could you write your own autobiography?

This report from the website,  laterlife.com:

“Now you can receive expert guidance from published author Jackie Sherman who has been running “Writing your Autobiography” courses since 2008 and for the first time is offering a home-based course for Laterlife visitors with personal feedback at the end of every module.

  • Do you regret not knowing more about your parents or grandparents and don’t want your descendants to feel the same way?
  • Do you have stories in your head that you really want to share?
  • Have you been asked by family or friends to write your memoirs but keep putting it off?
  • Do you want to be a writer but don’t know what to write about, or wonder if you will be good enough?

Or

  • Do you know someone else who is always talking about their life but needs encouragement to put their story down on paper?”

You can check-out the home-based course at

laterlife.com

’til next time.


UK Law maybe changed to give grandparents legal right access to their grandchildren

According to the Daily Mail , Grandparents are to be given legal rights of access to their grandchildren after a family breakdown or divorce:
‘A report will today set out radical proposals to enshrine in law greater rights for grandparents to stay in contact when couples split, Whitehall sources revealed.’ The Daily Mail article continues:
‘The review of the family justice system will also mean couples being pushed into mediation to sort out contact arrangements rather than resorting to the courts.’

Read more: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-Grandparents legal right access grandchildren on divorce

‘The Children Act 1989 gave step-parents who have lived as part of a family for three years the right to apply for contact, but did not extend the same right to grandparents.’
Read more: dailymail.co.uk/news/article Grandparents legal right access grandchildren on divorce

This thorny issue will doubtless run and run,with no easy options, and where the the best interests of the children must be paramount.

Here’s a classic retro recipe for Mother’s Day

This one may be for you whether you are cooking, or being cooked for on Mother’s Day.

Today, on the ITV Daybreak/Lorraine programme there was featured a delicious classic retro dish I will definitely try, and which even I should be able to do. It is a vegetarian version of the classic chilli retro dish ,served with grated cheese,sour cream, guacomole, and crushed tortilla chips sprinkled over the whole. This dish is eaten with easy homemade cornbread. The recipe for this is also provided.

You can watch this easy dish being prepared. A full recipe, including ingredients and the method of preparation is given.
itv.com/lorraine

Study shows men get happier as they grow older


So Victor Meldrew, beloved leading fictional character in a once long running  BBC TV sitcom series,’One Foot In The Grave’, should be looked on as much misunderstood.

According to a correspondent for the Kansas City Star newspaper : ‘the perception of the elderly as a bunch of wrinkled curmudgeons who mope around the house looking deflated and defeated is wrong. And that misperception has prevented many elderly from being diagnosed and treated for depression.

‘Apparently, men do not get meaner, irritable and more sarcastic as they get older. In fact, among the men participating in the Study of Adult Development — the longest longitudinal study of adult life ever conducted — men seem to get happier as they get older.The study has followed two groups of men for 68 years: 268 men who graduated from Harvard University and 456 men who grew up in the urban neighborhoods of Boston.

‘Depression in men, characterized by irritability and anger (and sarcasm is a form of anger) did not increase with age, according to the study ‘,carried out at the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard’s medical school.

Read more:  at kansascity.com -men get happier as they grow older

The UK Budget: So how was it for you?

The Chancellor, George Osborne, announced in his budget speech last Wednesday that the main personal tax allowance will go up to £8,105 from April 2012 .

The SAVVY Woman website notes : ‘This change follows the announcement in the emergency Budget in June last year that the personal allowance would rise by £1,000 to £7,475 from April 6th this year. While the main allowances are rising by more than inflation, the age-related allowances are not. If you’re aged 65-74, your personal allowance is currently £9,490, which will rise to £9,940 in April 2011. If you’re aged 75+ your personal allowance is £9,640, which will rise to £10,090 in April 11.’

The government has said it will consult on the options for merging tax and National Insurance. However, it’s not likely to be something that will be achieved quickly.

SavvyWoman.co.uk also reports that : “The Chancellor said that pensioners will not lose out in that they will not have to pay National Insurance beyond state pension age or on income such as savings, pension and dividend. However, as the state pension age is due to rise it does mean that people who work will pay National Insurance for longer. I’m often asked if you can stop paying NI once you’ve paid enough to qualify for a full basic state pension. The answer, sadly, is ‘no’.”

You can read the full report on Budget matters that maybe relevant to you at  savvywoman.co.uk

health talk online

It helps to talk, they say. When it comes to health matters, this is clearly true for so many  who find they need the support of other people’s true life experiences and knowledge. Recently, I posted a page on this site called Your health – this can be accessed via the button at the top of this page – listing responsible health websites which have been checked-out by The Information Standard as providing reliable information.

Shortly after posting this page, ITV’s This Morning programme with Dr Chris and Hugh Grant featured the  website healthtalkonline which is one of the sites on my list. Appearing on the show was the site’s founder Dr Ann McPherson. You can see more of this report here at

thismorning.itv.com/thismorning/health

Act now before the tax year ends to use or lose your ISA allowance

If you haven’t yet taken advantage of your entitlement this tax year (ends 5th April 2011) to a tax free allowance through an Individual Savings Account (ISA) , time is fast running-out.

ISAs are accounts which you hold within a ‘tax wrapper’.This means you do not have to declare any income from them.They are tax free, and you can save cash,or invest in stocks and shares.

There are rules of course. You should seek independent financial advice, but a good start is to go to an official website like for instance direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingMoney/SavingsAndInvestments for guidance.

On the direct.gov site , you will see that you can switch money out of a cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA without losing the tax-free benefit of the ‘wrapper’. So, if you , like me, have been suffering from the low,almost non-existant, interest returns offered by many banks and building societies who are  providers of financial products for ISAs, this option may be for you. But this is not to say this is right for your particular circumstances and, as I said above ,you need to take appropriate financial advice. Using stocks and shares ,as an alternative investment to increase return on investment ,should perhaps only be considered with the caveat that the value of these go up as well as down. It maybe advisable that you chose this option only if you are investing over a minimum period of (say ) 3 to 5 years. Check-out direct.gov now while there is still some time left. Of course, if you miss out this tax year, the allowance has gone for good. You will, however, be able to consider using the allowance for the new tax year from 6th April ( in 2011/2012)

What you may not know about your health


  • What you may not know about your health
  • How to avoid losing your garden plants to disease
  • Could you write your autobiography?

This week we look at websites providing information on health and related matters. Are they any good? Well, although not infallible, below are three tips on testing the quality of the sites you are accessing.

We also look at a potential problem in the garden. Yes, we are looking at the spectre of disease spreading to our plants this year. Good simple gardening habits may chase this one away.

Ever thought of writing your autobiography? Oh, I see, only the famous qualify for a worthwhile level of readership? Do read on.

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What you may not know about your health

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What you may not know about your health, you may not find out on the internet. The internet is an amazing source of information on health related matters, but it is a place of misleading and downright wrong information for the unwary.

Apart from the erroneous stuff there can be presentation of information that, taken out of context and interpreted by the medically untrained, is utterly scary. So to avoid undue anxiety, you should at least follow the following three search tips:

1.    To identify the seriously informed and balanced treatment of content from the purely frightening and the commercially exploitative, look out for domain names that include endings like .org, .gov ,.edu , or.ac. These names indicate that the site is an academic one, perhaps run by a charity; and is probably a not -for-profit operation.

2.    Search for appropriate websites using words which will bring you a result that is nearest to what you are looking for specifically. For improved relevancy enclose your search words in inverted commas, and be as specific as possible, e.g. “rheumatoid arthritis”, rather than “arthritis” which will throw-up many  more results than you  need.

3.    Lastly, when you access a site look for the Information Standard mark which certifies its reliability.http://www.theinformationstandard.org

For a list of 10 health sites certified by the Information Standard go to the new Your Health page athttp://www.the60life.com/?page_id=579

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How to avoid losing your garden plants to disease

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Here are three tips to help keep your plants healthy and free of disease:

1. Don’t water from the top of the plants. Fungus loves moisture. If
you wet your leaves and stems, you’re just encouraging fungal growth.
It’s better to use a soaker hose so your plants aren’t getting wet.

2. Don’t water at night, especially if it’s humid. Watering at night
keeps things moist for longer. This might be ok if you live in the
desert, but it’s a bad thing if you live where it’s humid. As such
water during the day to give your plant leaves and stems a chance
to dry out. Doing so helps prevent fungal disease.

3. Do clean your tools. Some plant diseases are catchy, like a virus.
You can prevent the spread of disease by frequently cleaning your
tools (and even your shoes) as you tend to your garden.

For a fre.e Organic Gardening Academy e-course go tohttp://www.growingorganicnow.com

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Could You Write Your Autobiography?

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Here’s a writing project with a difference. Could you write your own autobiography?

From laterlife.com:

“Now you can receive expert guidance from published author Jackie Sherman who has been running “Writing your Autobiography” courses since 2008 and for the first time is offering a home-based course for Laterlife visitors with personal feedback at the end of every module.

  • Do you regret not knowing more about your parents or grandparents and don’t want your descendants to feel the same way?
  • Do you have stories in your head that you really want to share?
  • Have you been asked by family or friends to write your memoirs but keep putting it off?
  • Do you want to be a writer but don’t know what to write about, or wonder if you will be good enough?

Or

  • Do you know someone else who is always talking about their life but needs encouragement to put their story down on paper?”

You can check-out the home-based course at

http://www.laterlife.com/laterlife-writing-your-autobiography.htm

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, grab that e-course from The Organic Garden Academy which is available to you now, without charge, athttp://www.growingorganicnow.com

Back soon…

Do remember you can pick-up more regular tips and news athttp://the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,

The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

How to plan a herb garden

Here are some herbs you may consider:
•Rosemary
•Basil
•Oregano
•Mint
•Chives
•Tarragon
•Sage
•Coriander
•Dill
•Borage
•Caraway
Actually, there’s a good chance that you don’t need an entire garden devoted to your herbs. If you’re companion planting (such as when you plant certain herbs to repel pests or attract beneficial insects), then plant your herbs among your vegetables or flowers.

Likewise, if you’re just planting a few herbs for kitchen use, you can mix them into your regular flower or vegetable gardens. Some people like to put their herbs on the borders of their gardens (so that they’re easily accessible).

Still other people prefer to create a small herb garden and/or just grow a few herbs in pots on the patios or window sills. Again, this works if you just need a few fresh herbs for kitchen use or decorative purposes. However, if you plan to freeze or dry herbs – or if you make potpourri, then you’ll want to carve out more space in your garden for more herbs.

Here are other factors to consider when you design your herb garden:

•Sunlight: Like many plants, most herbs prefer sunlight. Some herbs do ok in partial sun, though you may find that they grow more slowly under these conditions. Herbs don’t tend to do well in shaded areas, however, so don’t plant them under trees or other structures or under tall plants.
•Accessibility: If you plan to use fresh herbs in the kitchen, then be sure to plant them someplace where it’s easy to reach the plant and snip the leaves. You may also want to put them close to your kitchen.
•Aroma: Some herbs are very aromatic. If you enjoy these aromas, then be sure to plant your herbs in a place where you’re more likely to enjoy the scents, such as near your patio or deck.
•Annuals versus perennials: Know whether the herbs you’re planting or annuals or perennials. The perennials will come back year after year. And each year they’ll likely grow a little more (meaning they should have extra space in the beginning).
•Space requirements: Be sure to read the instructions and spacing requirements on the packaging of the herbs you’d like to plant. Certain herbs spread out quickly and thus need a lot of room.
•Know your herbs: Be sure to do research on your favorite herbs to find out which ones do not grow well together. If you’re planting your herbs among other flowers or vegetables, do note that some herbs don’t work well alongside other plants. For example, carrots and dill shouldn’t be planted near each other.
Again, research is key. Take time to learn about the herbs you intend to plant, plan your gardens ahead of time, and you’ll enjoy a great herb “harvest” this year!

Excerpt from The Organic Gardening Academy at growingorganicnow.com

Elderly failed by NHS.It’s official.

A damning report was issued this week by the UK health service ombudsman:the NHS “is failing to meet even the most basic standards of care,” it accuses.In the report, Ann Abrahams writes that “the reasonable expectation that an older person or their family may have of dignified,pain-free, end of life care,in clean surroundings in hospitals is not being fulfilled.” Apparently, many are the scandalous cases of basic neglect leading to serious stress for the elderly patient and sometimes premature death.

You can check out a report from the NHS website here also a Daily Telegraph report of what a daughter describes as a ‘disgraceful’ care case

How to stay young

1. Throw out non-essential numbers.This includes age ,weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about these. That is why you pay them.
2.Keep only cheerful friends.The grouches pull you down.
3.Keep learning.Learn more about the computer,crafts,gardening, whatever…Never let the brain idle.’An idle mind is the devil’s workshop’…
4.Enjoy the simple things in life.

George Carlin

Age discrimination in the workplace

Continuing the theme of the previous post, my accountants at Dufton Kellner report in their January newsletter:

“Ageism in the workplace is particularly topical this year, with the high profile case of Miriam O’Reilly highlighting some of the issues. In January 2011, Miriam O’Reilly successfully won an employment tribunal on the grounds of ageism after she was ‘axed’ from her job as a presenter on ‘Countryfile’, along with three other women, all over the age of 40.

“Commenting on the outcome of the case, Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

‘The outcome of this high profile case sends out a powerful signal that even in the youth-worshipping world of show business, age discrimination can be withstood. The idea that wrinkles or grey hair can sound the death knell for the careers of female TV presenters is beyond appalling, especially in a country where over a third of the population is aged 50 and over.’

Dufton Kellner : “To read relevant guidance for both employers and employees visit

Internet links: Age UK comment Acas website.“

When are you too old to do your job?

That ‘old’ age thing has been recently been rearing its weary head in the corridors of the BBC Centre. It is a change to hear that veteran news presenter, and 60-lifer, Julia Somerville, has been appointed to the team presenting the prime time late-evening news bulletin.
The last time she was seen on prime time BBC News was 1987, according to the Daily Mail. Congratulations,BBC! Why should this revelation be so remarkable, if she is well qualified,experienced,and has a great presence for the job. Shame on you! Did you just whisper her age: 63 years of age? If there is a turning tide against age discrimination, this looks to be a good example of where a person’s age was, rightly, considered irrelevant for a high-profile appointment. For a full report check-out here…

Why having a laugh can make you more creative

From Mike Paterson at The60LifeWeekly

15th January 2011

• Why having a laugh can make you more creative

• Where you can find much you need to know as a new or established writer

Hi,

I hope the New Year is going well with you.

As well as bringing to you a wide range of information covering many issues and content of particular, but not always exclusive, interest to the 60-lifer, I am reminded that writing, and learning more about writing, is important to you. This week, then I am looking at a handbook that should always be readily to hand on your bookshelf.

Another ready source of inspiration and guidance that we can access to follow our hobbies, sports, or business interests is the ubiquitous magazine or periodical. Yes, they do tend to be almost everywhere, in the library, newsagent, superstore, and doctor’s surgery for example, but do we actually read them critically as a source of valuable ideas and content? Many magazines have an online presence now which can give you a valuable insight into the printed publication, as well as good free information. More about my Magwatch coming soon in a later issue…

As for this week, let’s start with a laugh…

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Why having a laugh could make you more creative******************************************************************
As the old saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. Well now to the natural health benefits which can be attributed to a happy mood, we can add the benefit of greater creativity. Yes, it is now official: A Positive Mood Allows Your Brain to Think More Creatively.

Over the weekend, I caught a television programme in tribute to Ronnie Barker of the 70s/80s tv comedy show ” the two Ronnies.” The sketches – you can see the “Fork handles” sketch on youtube.com – were so funny and the word craft so skilful, I had to watch it all, and felt so much better for having done so. Apparently, watching funny films or video can create the right mood to enhance a person’s ability to be more creative. Ronnie Barker’s successful comedic career may prove the point. I believe he wrote most of the material used. His average working day, apart from being very productive, must have been a riot! He was very funny, and a very clever man.

“Generally, positive mood has been found to enhance creative problem solving and flexible yet careful thinking,” says Ruby Nadler, a graduate student at the University of Western Ontario. She and colleagues Rahel Rabi and John Paul Minda carried out a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. For this study, Nadler and her colleagues looked at a particular kind of learning that is improved by creative thinking.

a-positive-mood-allows-you-to-think-more-creatively

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Where you can find much you need to know as a writer
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For many years, I have bought the Writer’s Handbook published by Macmillan and edited by Barry Turner. This year is no exception. I am again the proud owner of a handy 786 pages just brimful of useful information; this 2011 edition includes articles on
• characterisation,
• writing children’s books,
• ghost writing,
• and what makes a successful writer, and much more…

There is something of interest for everyone. I also particularly like the access owning a copy of the Writer’s Handbook 2011 gives me to a dedicated website and searchable directory.
The Times rate this work: ’The book no writer should be without.’

Now, there are other excellent reference handbooks for writers, if you want to shop around. One such is the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2011

If you have been thank you for tuning-in! More soon…

Do remember you can pick-up more regular tips and news at http://the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly
[email protected]
If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at http://www.the60life.com.

Can you be too old to be a Girl Guide leader?

Apparently so, according to the Girl Guide organisation which has decided that a woman is too old at 65 to be a Guide leader.

The Daily Telegraph today reports that a Girl Guide leader has pledged to fight the organisation’s “insulting and outdated” rules “tooth and nail” after being forced to stand down from her post after being deemed too old at 65. What do you think?

Read more here…

50 Ways to kick-start your New Year

· 50 ways to kick-start your New Year

· Retirement? What is it? Who wants it?

· Why good financial planning can truly lead to golden years in retirement

Hi,

This week we stay on the essential topic of financial planning, having first considered the concept of retirement.
First up though, in this first issue for 2011, I give you an article full of information covering a wide range of activities and interests to give a huge boost to your New Year.

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50 Ways to kick-start your New Year
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We all need a boost from time to time. Often, New Year is as good a time as any to take stock, and as we try to shake-off the Winter blues we should be good to ourselves for the sake of our health. I was therefore impressed by the Daily Telegraph guide:
50 ways to feel good .It is an excellent piece, full of great ideas and resource links, with suggestions to suit most people. You can check it out at 50 ways to feel good this year

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Retirement: What is it? Who wants it?
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Two very good questions, to which there are many good answers. For many the concept of retirement is beyond contemplation. For others it is seen as fair reward for a lifetime of toil; or perhaps an opportunity to change direction, and take a new path in the journey of life.

Whatever your particular viewpoint, a little independent guidance as to what it may mean, and how best to handle it, could be both life changing and beneficial. There are many helpful courses for people at all stages of the retirement process. I am going to look at some over the next few weeks, and come back to you. Meanwhile, I leave you with this link to the retirement courses to be found at retirement courses run by the people at laterlife.com.

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Why good financial planning can truly lead to Golden years in retirement
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It is never too late to review your finances and plan for the future.
In a report in October last year, the this is money.com website gave a planning guide for action taking readers through the decades of life from the 20s upwards. For the60-lifers, Martin Bamford says:

‘Making choices at retirement is about so much more than simply choosing the most competitive annuity rate. It is becoming increasingly popular to use an Unsecured Pension to have greater control over income flexibility in retirement, often phasing the payment of tax-free cash over several years to reduce income tax bills. This is a more complicated strategy than buying an annuity but can really pay off over the longer term.’

Read more from the full report at pensions- tips and guides

WISHING YOU A HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Do stay tuned-in! More next week…

Do remember you can pick-up more regular tips and news here at http://the60life.com

Dressed to thrill!Todays lady 60-lifers are defiant

Women are refusing to dress their age until they hit 70 – defiantly ­stepping out in killer heels and trendy outfits.

Does this sound familiar? You may remember my earlier post before Xmas : Graceful women of sixty. A report on ladies’ views in 1891!

Helen Mirren leads the way, according to the Daily Mirror. A recent survey confirms that ladies are not only determined to be fashionable but to dress as they want to, and not according to previously accepted conventions.

For a stunning picture of Helen Mirren,the leading lady herself, and to
Read more:Helen Mirren leads the way

Make Yourself A Handsome New Year’s Cake 1891 Style

A treat for you for the New Year 2011: A handsome cake recipe from the Village Magazine of 1891:
“Rub half a pound of butter into half a pound of flour; add one cup of molasses and one of brown sugar, two pounds of chopped raisons, one pound of currants, and a quarter of a pound of chopped citron, four eggs and half a tablespoonful each of cinnamon, mace and nutmeg, and two wineglassfuls of brandy; mix all together and bake in jelly cake tins; keep the cake warm while you make, and bake in jelly tins of the same size, white cake made of half a pound of butter beaten to a cream,with half a pound of powdered sugar and five eggs,the whites beaten to a froth ; then add half a pound of flour, which should be dried by the fire and then sifted. The only wetting used is a wineglass of wine.
While the white cake is hot spread it lightly with jelly and pile it alternately with the black, having the white on the bottom and the black on the top. This cake will keep several months, but if to be eaten within a short time it may be frosted. Long keeping will darken the icing.”

Well,I’ve never made on of these! Some of the measurements though clear have not been tested by me; what of the wineglass of wine: red or white? Please if anyone does have a go at making this Handsome Cake, please let us know that we can all share your experience.
You can email me as usual at http://[email protected]

Graceful Women of Sixty

The following extract from the Pall Mall Gazette of circa.1890 gives us an interesting insight into the contemporary perception of the lady 60-lifer of those days:

“Old ladies in the ordinary sense of the word are getting remarkably scarce.I never came across old ladies’ bonnets,dresses,cloaks,or finery in any shape or form for old ladies at the shops. People tell me they don’t make such things. The fact is that women of 50 and 60 have ceased to make frights of themselves. They don’t wear their clothes (boots,bonnets, and gloves included) four time too big for them, like old ladies of past years used to. Less capacious garments are found to be just as comfortable.

“Women of sixty can and do dress gracefully nowadays. Those who have lost their own hair wear artificial ,and look all the better for doing so. With nice hair, whether real or otherwise,a woman of sixty can always put on a respectable looking bonnet. Ugly old ladies will have vanished altogether by the time the Princess of Wales is 60.”

Well, ladies, all I can say is thank goodness we are living in more enlightened times!

On becoming a published author…

. On becoming a published author Have you ever dreamed of holding your own book?
· Help yourself to a fr.ee instantly downloadable e-book about making money
· Season’s Greetings

Dear Reader,

As a regular reader of my weekly email service, you will know that I try to bring you useful information across a broad range in the health, and wealth categories, and in creative/business writing. This week, I have found a blog post by an internet marketer who is tickled pink and can’t resist telling you how easily you can get your writing project published and become, like him, a proud author.

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On becoming a published author

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Pat O’Bryan writes:

” Have you ever dreamed of holding your own book?

“I just published my fourth book, and let me tell you, the feeling you get from holding that book in your hands, seeing your name on the cover, and showing it to your family and friends…”

He explains how he got that book published, and how you can, too

Zip on over to: how to get your book published

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Help yourself to a fr.ee instantly downloadable e-book about making money

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Proud Pat O’Bryan (see above) has allowed me to let you have a copy of his book “Money from Anywhere”. This is a full-length book full of valuable knowledge and wisdom, which will soon cost $29 on Amazon.com to buy. He says, everyone likes gifts. This one is well worth taking by clicking the link below :

money from anywhere

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Season’s Greetings

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I am pleased to flag-up that I hope to launch the60life-talk forum early next year. This will be a place for you to join in discussions on a wide range of topics of interest and importance to 60-lifers.

So it now it just remains for me to thank you for your support for the 60lifeweekly which was only launched this year , and to wish you all the very best for a healthy and happy New Year

I look forward to you joining me throughout 2011 for an enjoyable , interesting ,and profitable year.

Do stay tuned-in! Above all stay warm!

Remember you can pick-up more tips and news at the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,

The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

Why you should not thow your apple peel away

From Mike Paterson at The60LifeWeekly

14th December 2010

• Why you should not throw your apple peel away
• Hints to Wives on the Way to Charm Their Husbands
Hi,

The other day, I was thumbing through a magazine dated January 1891 (as you do) when I came upon some interesting headlines, including:” Hints to Wives on the Way to Charm their Husbands”, of this more later; and “The Deadly Cold Bed”- a dire warning never to sleep in cold or damp beds, given by Good Housekeeping magazine, which I see also recommended at the time the use of soda under “Soda Will Save You Soap”. It is encouraging that the latter advice is still consistently promoted, for cleaning sinks and washing dishes, on the Good Housekeeping website today, more than a hundred years later.

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Hints to Wives on the Way to Charm Their Husbands****************************************************************
As an example of written material that can be sourced quite easily by the frequent writer of articles or short stories, the above may seem rather outdated by some stretch for today’s society, and perhaps hardly rates as a potential best seller ‘How to’ publication. There is however an immense amount of potentially useful content available in the public domain.

The magazine content from which I took this headline is not protected by copyright, and thus can be used freely. This maybe is a route for you to explore. Apart from being a fascinating study, the information is often available at a modest price, or for free – the subject matter can be as ‘fresh’ and as useful for today’s consumption as it was when written. Just because something was written, say, over a hundred years ago does not necessarily mean it does not have value, or is lacking in good advice or ideas.

If you are curious about knowing the” Hints To Wives…” you can go to my the60life.com where they will be posted very soon.
Or, perhaps you would like a recipe for Tipsy Pudding, or to find out about “The Modern Old Lady”! If you wish to find out more about the fascinating world of the public domain and how it could help you with research for your writing or to provide great ideas to profit from with your own information products let me introduce you to a leading expert in the use of Public Domain information, and someone whose products and resources I regularly refer to in my researches. He is Tony Laidig, the Public Domain Expert, and you can see an introduction to his Public Domain Toolbar , a remarkable research tool, at Public Domain Toolbar

Tony starts his introduction with an amazing statement about the Public Domain, in this way: “Most people do not realize it, but when the copyright or patent expires on a creative work (book, work of art, etc.), anyone may freely use that work LEGALLY in any manner they choose without the obligation of paying royalties to the creator of the work. This is HUGE…it’s like legalized stealing except that it IS legal.

“PICTURE THIS…Here is what is waiting for you RIGHT NOW in the Public Domain:

• Over 85 million books, many written by the greatest authors and thinkers to have ever walked the earth…

“…This is MASSIVE for anyone doing business online for one simple reason…

“It’s easier to create a product from something that already exists, rather than create it from scratch. You can read about this massive opportunity at Public Domain Toolbar

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Why you should not throw your apple peel away***********************************************************
If you are a regular follower of the 60life weekly, you will know that I occasionally’ throw-in’ a recent report on a health-related topic. Today’s Daily Mail has a short article about a report published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer that eating the peel of an apple can cut the risk of prostate and breast cancers. As one who has usually peeled his apple, and thrown away the peelings, I shall probably be eating the lot in future (well, maybe not the core!). If you want to read the article you can check it out at dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1284820/Apple-peel–secret-weapon-cancer

Do stay tuned-in! Above all stay warm!
Remember you can pick-up more tips and news at http://the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly
[email protected]
If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at this page

Hints to Wives on the Way to Charm Their Husbands

How things do change even in a hundred years! This extract was found in a magazine of 1891:

How many a family quarrel a button missing from my lord’s shirt has caused; how many a man has found a dainty, well cooked dinner,with which his wife has really taken pains, all distateful,because she did not remember that he did not like onions in the soup, or oil in the salad!Unreasonable?Yes,and a little thing to put him out ,but who, dear madam ,finds the grain of sand in the eye less irritating because of its minutenes, and have not you yourself have all your pleasure in your new bonnet destroyed because the ostrich plumes and the ribbon wre a little different in colour? It was so little that no one but yourself probably ever noticed it, but nevertheless you hated that bonnet and felt cross when you wore it.

Men are luxurious creatures, and the wife nearest her husband’s heart is she who studies his comfort.Men may be charmed,tantalized by, infatuated with the beautiful,the witty, the cocquettish for a time, but it is the woman who keeps his hose darned ,who lays his paper on his plate ,remembers the eaxact number of lumps of sugar ,and the quantity of cream in his coffee, who avoids the subject of Jone’s success in the very undertaking he himself failed in,because she knows it is not pleasant – this is the woman who takes permanent possession of his heart, rules it through never letting him suspect she is aught but his humble handmaid, and when she dies is mourned and missed sincerely
-from a correspondent at the St Louis Globe-Democrat 1891
Of such little things a marriage was made!

Where Does Santa Claus Live?

The following is a seasonal piece written sometime around 1890. Hope you enjoy it.

“I fink Santa Claus lives way up in the noon”
(That was Anna’s opinion- aged four).
“So far,I’m af’aid he can’t come pretty soon-
Don’t you wis’ he was staying next door?”

“Pshaw! He lives just back of the toy shop in town”
(So said Willie, and he had turned nine);
“I see him most every time I go down-
How the things in his windows do shine!”

But Ethel, tall Ethel, had grown overwise
(“Fourteen years” has no need of a nurse);
She said, with a twinkle of fun in her eyes,
“Santa lives in our dear papa’s purse!”

Wide Awake, 1891

Do you suffer from this frustrating problem?

– Do you suffer from this frustrating problem?
· – 20 Ways to make your Christmas easier
· – Try these amazing seasonal recipes for eating and drinking

Hi,

With clear evidence of Winter outside and Christmas not far away, this week we turn our thoughts to keeping warm and well fed, and preparing for the festive season. Also, we take a quick look at a frustrating problem many writers suffer, and we are introduced to a vast free source of material that can help us with ideas and content for our writing, whether fictional or non-fictional.

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Do you suffer this frustrating problem?
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Debra at publicdomaintreasurehunters.com asks these questions?

‘Are you an idea junkie? Do you have a notebook filled with great ideas? It’s a problem I fight every day.
‘Why is it a problem? It is because great ideas can lead to overwhelm.’

Many of us writing every day have too many ideas and often don’t know where to begin with a writing project. This effects many successful people, and Debra says,

‘Sometimes You Have To Put Things On Hold Even If They Are Good Ideas.’

To catch more on this issue, and to take some inspiration and comfort (and also a sneak peak into the world of the Public Domain), check-out more from Debra at Sometime you have to put things on hold

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20 Ways to make your Christmas easier

Good to Know have got 20 quick tips on how to make cooking for Christmas simple and stress-free, from cheat’s tricks to time-saving tips for classic Christmas recipes. So more time to sip sherry and open presents!

Go to the Good to Know site at

20 Way to make Christmas easier

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Try These Amazing Seasonal Recipes for Eating and Drinking
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Seasonal recipes for winter Eating and drinking hot seasonal food and drink can help to keep you healthy over winter. Most winter fruit and vegetables contain the nutrients you need for the season, and there are lots of great recipes to choose from. Guardian Lifestyle ,a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/food-and-drink”>Guardian Lifestyle

has some wonderful winter recipes from across the country. Good to know at Good to know-Winter recipes
has a wide choice of dishes from casseroles to delicious desserts. The ever-popular River Cottage is another good option. Go to : 20 Way to make your Christmas easier

And if you need a new cooker, slow cooker or microwave. Or intend to buy kitchen electricals as Christmas presents? Look out for the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo to save money on running costs.

Energy Saving Trust

As the first Christmas cards drop through the letterbox, I am reminded that perhaps it’s time I drew-up my list and addresses, and wrote my cards.

Do stay tuned-in! Above all stay warm!
Remember you can pick-up more tips and news at the60life.com

I do hope you will join me again next week for more build-up to the festive season. There will be more about the Public Domain, and opportunities it can provide to pick-up free ideas and content for use in your writing, whether fictional or non-fictional. Also here, and at the60life.com, I will also be taking you back to 1891 and give you a little insight into North American life at that time.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

Learn how to grab your ‘free lunch’

Learn how to grab your ‘ free lunch’
· How you can slash your UK phone bills and maybe save £100s

In a week when students in the UK took to the streets to protest about the proposed level of university tuition fees to be repaid by graduates, I looked to see if there are still any ‘free lunches’ to be had for the more mature seekers of learning…

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Why you can still lunch out for free and learn
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The old saying: there is no such thing as a free lunch, is tested a little this week.

My recent internet searches have confirmed there is a vast source of free learning to be had out there on almost every subject under the sun. Ever fancied learning another language, perhaps Chinese or Japanese? Perhaps you would like to strengthen your computer skills, or undertake an accredited course leading to a qualification in your chosen subject. All this is open to you.

For computer tutorials you can go to http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk ; and for some popular oriental languages online you should check-out: http://www.freejapaneselessons.com and http://www.chinese-tools.com .

You can also find some useful product links at http://www.click-in.co.uk

Yours magazine suggests obtaining the contact details for your local university at Citizen’s Advice Bureaux or through the UCAS website at http://www.ucas.ac.uk. and reports : ‘During term time, many universities hold lectures that are free to the public. They can cover anything from physiology to art history and you needn’t have a an in-depth knowledge of the subject.’

My final suggestion this week is:
Study for free with The Open University. The giddylimits.co.uk website explains:

‘The Open University (OU) is the only UK university to give free access to its educational resources through a publicly accessible website. OpenLearn – www.open.ac.uk/openlearn – provides access to hundreds of OU courses through a virtual learning environment that supports independent learners. Part of the OU’s mission to open access to education for all, OpenLearn provides free learning to anyone, anywhere in the world.

‘The website launched in October 2006 with 900 learning hours of materials. With new study units added every month, the LearningSpace area of the website now offers more than 3,700 hours of learning content. Taken from existing OU courses, study units range across 11 topics, from access to postgraduate level. Popular topics include Health and LifeStyle, Languages, Science and Nature and IT and Computing.’

You can check-out the full report at

giddylimits.co.uk

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How you can slash your UK phone bills and maybe save £100s
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According to the website, moneysavingexpert.com:
‘It’s possible to slash line rental down to £8/mth with free evening & weekend calls, daytimes for 5p/CALL and half price to mobiles, maybe saving £100s a year.

‘If you’re with BT, Virgin or TalkTalk’, moneysavingexpert.com says,’ you’re paying too much. No one phone provider is cheapest, so this straightforward guide shows you how to quickly ensure EVERY call you make’s at the lowest possible rate.’

For more information on how to save money on phone bills you should go to moneysavingexpert.com

Do stay tuned-in!
Remember you can pick-up tips and news at http://the60life.co.uk.

I do hope you will join me again next week.

[email protected]

Why it is even more important now to shop around for the best value on savings accounts, fuel deals and insurance

Hi,

This week, my broadcast to you is shorter than usual, but is no less important for that fact.
Good and reliable information can help us to manage our daily affairs better. So, when I saw the following topic discussed across the news last weekend, I felt it so important that I share it with you in case you missed it…

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Why it is even more important now to shop around for value on savings accounts, fuel deals and insurance

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In order to raise awareness, Age UK Enterprises, the commercial services arm of Age UK, has just published what it calls the ‘Silver RPI,’ which is a measure of how inflation affects people as they get older, and is to be issued quarterly.

This new index clearly indicates’ that people over 55 are being hit by much higher living costs’, says The Mail On Sunday. While the Bank of England’s latest headline inflation report was at 4.6 per cent in September, The Mail goes on to report:
‘According to the Silver RPI, the gap between real and headline inflation for the average 65 year-old, for example, is 3.3 per cent, or £710 a year. For those over 75 it is 4.1 per cent, or £440 a year.’

You can also check out a full Guardian report at inflation-highter-over-55s

Over the next few months, we’ll be looking at guidance from the internet on prices, and value, for those critical areas of cost where the lowering of spending is essential. Do stay tuned-in!
Remember you can pick-up tips and news at the60life.com

I do hope you will join me next week.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at http://www.the60life.com.

7 Tips to help keep you well this winter

11th November 2010

· 7 Tips to help keep you well this winter
· How to become a well paid writer with five minute writing
· Will you be ready when your energy bills hit the doormat early next year?

Hi,

How are we to face the shorter days of winter, the awful weather, and the inevitable colds and sniffles? A recent Daily Mail report looks at practical ways to help us stay well this winter.

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7 practical ways to help keep you well this winter
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· Your mother knew best how to keep the common cold at bay

· Beat the bug

· Don’t feel SAD. As the nights draw in, a fifth of us have the winter blues …advice from the SAD Association

· What you need to know about the flu jab

· Use a range of herbal remedies and plants as the best defence to colds

· Boost your immune system with the 10 foods that are so beneficial to your health they are known as ‘super foods’.

· Have a very healthy Christmas

Read more: daily mail/health/article

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How to become a well-paid writer

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Becoming a well paid writer could be a dream you’ve cherished for years but never quite got round to fulfilling. Five minute writing is a serious way to make money writing, as you can find out below…

FIVE MINUTES IS ALL IT TAKES…

…to phone a friend…peel potatoes for dinner…make a paper plane…perhaps collect the grandkids from school…or write a few words that could earn you anything from a plastic apron or ballpoint pen, to a dream house in the sun, a top of the range sports car, or a magnificent hoard of cash prizes and luxury goods!
You can easily enter the fascinating world of The Five Minute Writer where:

· Even if a few minutes a day is all you can spare, you can still be a well respected, and regularly published writer.

· No special skills are required, you definitely don’t need a computer or word processor, a desk or phone.

· You don’t have to spend years learning your craft.

· Five minute writers are in great demand all over the world.

Why is it so profitable? Why do so many people enjoy five minute writing?

You can find out the reasons why and, also why publishers (and other regular clients) need your work at the five minute writer

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Will you be ready to receive your energy bills when they hit the doormat next year?

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Winter draws on! It’s the big switch on: lights, fires, heaters, and electric blankets. Now is the time to benefit from a little forward planning in this burn-now-pay-later season.

According to The Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis:

“Many people on standard tariffs can currently save over £300 a year by switching to the cheapest online deals, plus get up to £30 cashback or a crate of wine for doing it.”

He says: “Switch NOW! Energy price HIKES are back – save £300…

And it’s no big deal: only price and customer service change; you get the same gas, electricity, pipes, meter & safety.”

He reports further that…”Scottish & Southern Energy (S&SE) has announced it’s hiking gas prices an average 9.4% on 1 Dec. Industry insiders now predict the other big six will follow soon, probably in the next few weeks if not by January at the latest…” Check the details out at the money saving expert

But do keep warm. Until next week.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

Will you be ready to receive your New Year energy bills?

Winter draws on! It’s the big switch on:lights,fires,heaters, and electric blankets. Now is the time to benefit from a little forward planning in this burn-now-pay-later season.

According to The Money Saving Expert:

“Many people on standard tariffs can currently save over £300 a year by switching to the cheapest online deals, plus get up to £30 cashback or a crate of wine for doing it.

And it’s no big deal: only price and customer service change; you get the same gas, electricity, pipes, meter & safety.”

He says: “Switch NOW! Energy price HIKES are back – save £300…”

and further reports that…”Scottish & Southern Energy (S&SE) has announced it’s hiking gas prices an average 9.4% on 1 Dec. Industry insiders now predict the other big six will follow soon, probably in the next few weeks if not by January at the latest…” Check the details out it at moneysavingexpert.com

Discover what you can profitably and easily write in just five minutes

3rd November 2010

DISCOVER WHAT YOU CAN WRITE IN JUST FIVE MINUTES

FIVE MINUTES IS ALL IT TAKES…

…to phone a friend…peel potatoes for dinner…make a paper plane…perhaps collect the grandkids from school…or write a few words that could earn you anything from a plastic apron or ballpoint pen, to a dream house in the sun, a top of the range sports car, or a magnificent hoard of cash prizes and luxury goods!

Hi,
Last week I introduced you to the exciting and potentially profitable world of ‘Five Minute Writing’. I am now able to bring you the full fantastic report that could see you becoming a well paid Five Minute Writer. I urge you to read on.

Quite obviously you want to write and you’d like to be paid for your efforts! Becoming a well paid writer could be a dream you’ve cherished for years but never quite got round to fulfilling. But you like writing. So why have you left it so long?

Maybe you don’t know where to start, even though having time to write may be less of a problem for you now.

Of course, you need time. And, as everyone knows you’ll only make real money as a novelist or a playwright, as a writer of children’s books, regular columns, or by syndicating dozens of articles to hundreds of editors and publishers worldwide. Isn’t that how full-time writers normally earn their living?

Well, actually the answer is ‘No’, at least not exclusively. There are in fact many other ways to earn your living as a writer, not all of which bring real fame and fortune, but provide a steady income nonetheless, and few of which are anywhere as time-consuming and stressful as those listed earlier.

You are about to enter the fascinating world of The Five Minute Writer where:

· Even if a few minutes a day is all you can spare, you can still be a well respected, and regularly published writer.

· No special skills are required, you definitely don’t need a computer or word processor, a desk or phone.

· You don’t have to spend years learning your craft.

· Five minute writers are in great demand all over the world.

It may all come as a big surprise to you, or maybe you’ve never considered five minute writing as a serious way to make money from writing.

Why is it so profitable? Why do so many people enjoy five minute writing?

You can find out the reasons why and, also why publishers (and other regular clients) need your work. the five minute writer

Days from now you could be starting your new life as a five minute writer…or still wondering why it took so long to achieve your dream of becoming a well-published, well- paid writer.

I urge you, again, to check-out the full report here

the five minute writer

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column here at www.the60life.com.

A story of a fern for your life and relationships

This story was brought to my attention recently by a successful internet marketer,Perry Marshall. It’s a good read, and ends as a kind of cautionary tale about not neglecting things like our relationships, which might otherwise wither like a plant that is deprived of attention. I thought I would share it with you today.

I have an asparagus fern named Lazarus, writes Tom Hoobyar

Why did I name him Lazarus? I’ll tell you why.

I named him Lazarus because when I first got him for my batchelor apartment I was sometimes a neglectful caretaker.

I got the plant so there would be something alive in my apartment besides me. It came in a small green plastic pot about the size of a coffee mug and cost two dollars. It was a little green living thing and it kept me a kind of quiet company… to read more

Are you taking enough interest on your savings?

From Mike Paterson at The60LifeWeekly

28th October 2010

· Are you taking enough interest on your savings?

· Introducing you to Five Minute Writing

· A stretching exercise by Dr Art Brownstein

Hi,

The above question, for many of us who may be on fixed or reduced incomes, could perhaps be better expressed as: Are you taking enough interest in your savings? It seems many of us are resigned to receiving little or no interest on our savings deposited with financial institutions; or perhaps we don’t spend even a little time regularly checking if we can do any better…

*****************************************************************
Are you taking enough interest on your savings?

*****************************************************************

According to Which? , the consumer watchdog organisation, the banks are being rather shy about the interest rates they are giving to savers. A common rate is as little as 0.1% per annum, equivalent to just £1 interest for every £1,000 saved. Many savings account higher rates are offered for a limited period only, and on expiry of the introductory offer, revert automatically to the lowest rate, often without informing the saver that a new rate is being used to calculate interest payments. There is a call for greater transparency, and regular information to be given on statements about current rates for savers.

A clear message to savers is: be vigilant about the amount of interest you are receiving and, if necessary, vote with your feet for a higher (and fairer) rate.

At the Which? web site, you can use a free calculator to determine the best rate for you, and calculate what money you may be losing by not shifting your savings to a better rate.

Check out what Which? is calling The Great British Savings Scandal at The Great British Savings Scandal

**************************************

Introducing you to Five Minute Writing

**************************************************
Five minutes is all it takes…to phone a friend…peel potatoes for dinner…pick the grandkids up from school…or write a few words that could earn you anything from a plastic apron or ballpoint pen ,to a dream house in the sun, a top-of-the-range car, or a magnificent hoard of cash prizes and luxury goods!

Becoming a well paid writer could be a dream you’ve cherished for years but never quite got round to fulfilling. So why have you left it so long to experience the thrill of being paid for something you really enjoy doing? Like writing!

So, do you only make money if you successfully write full length novels and plays? No, not exclusively ,there are in fact many other ways to earn your living as a writer, not all of which bring real fame and fortune, but provide a steady income nonetheless, and few of which are anywhere near as time-consuming and stressful as being a full-time novelist or playwright.

Five minute Writers are in great demand around the world, from paying clients, including editors and publishers,

Taking just minutes to produce, short written pieces can cover far more enjoyable and profitable writing projects than most people appreciate…projects covering everything from

· readers’ letters and fillers,
· mini-articles,
· puzzles and quizzes
· recipes and household hints
· photographs and cartoons
· greeting card verses
· competition slogans, and
· much, much more…

you can read more about five minute writing next week, and also at the60life.com

*************************************************
A stretching exercise by Dr Brownstein

*************************************************

On the NaturalNews website Dr. Art Brownstein writes: ” Back pain is twenty times more painful than other body pain, because these complex muscles are located so close to the spinal cord.” He reveals a natural exercise treatment you can try at home.

“1. Lie on your back. Very, very slowly bring your right knee in toward your chest, only as far as it feels comfortable.
2. With your hands on your shins, hold this position for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Slowly release and gently let your leg down to a slow count of 5.
4. Repeat with the other leg.

Do this exercise 5-6 times in the morning before getting out of bed and again at bedtime.

Dr. Art Brownstein is a physician and author of Healing Back Pain Naturally. You can check-out more at Healing Back Pain Exercise

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

More creative writing tips for you

From Mike Paterson at The60LifeWeekly

21st October 2010

· More creative writing tips for you

· Could you profit from writing and publishing an e-book?
· This one’s for the guys: this simple test could save your life

Hi,

This week, the news in the UK is full of the Government’s announced spending cuts, and their likely impact on services, benefits, and employment… but last week, there was news that could be very good soon for men of a certain age…check it out…

*****************************************************************
Check this out. A simple test may save a man’s life
*****************************************************************
Occasionally, we have to look at the hard stuff: According to a report on the saga.co.uk website, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK with new cases reported annually. Every year about 10,000 men die of the disease.

However, scientists may have found a way to create the first effective urine test for prostate cancer, reports the Nursing Times.

‘A protein called MSMB found in urine is present at a lower level in men who have the disease. Its level also seems to be influenced by how aggressive the cancer is.

‘Hayley Whitaker, from Cancer Research UK charity’s Cambridge Research Institute, where the study was carried out, said: “We looked in tissue and urine from over 350 men with and without prostate cancer to find out how much MSMB they had. We then looked to see who had the genetic change. It was really exciting to find out that the genetic change and the amount of protein were linked.’

“The protein is easy to detect because it is found in urine and would potentially be a very simple test to carry out on men to identify those most at risk of developing the disease.”

Look after yourselves. Check it out

prostate-cancer-urine-test

————————–Advert—————————————-

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Could you profit by writing and publishing an e-book?
******************************************************************

“How to write and publish your own OUTRAGEOUSLY Profitable eBook in as little as 7days- even if you can’t write, can’t type and failed school English class!”

If you want the financial independence and passive income stream from selling a popular ebook, the satisfaction and prestige that comes from being an author, and if you want to do it while you’re still young enough to enjoy it….then this might be the most important letter you’ll ever read. Click below now.

write and publish your own eBook
——————————-advert—————————————————-

********************************************
More creative writing tips for you

********************************************

Michele Roberts as the Writer-in-Residence at Bookbite has a new blog on its website, providing writing tips. She was born in 1949, and has published 20 books of fiction, poetry and essays. Her novel ‘Daughters of the House’ won the WH Smith Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

You can now follow her tips on her blog at

more writing tips for you

This week on her blog she’s looking at: re-writing, re-discovering and working with the negative

more writing tips for you

____________________________________________________

Did you know? Authors who started writing in their later years include Kenneth Grahame, who wrote’ The Wind in the Willows’ in his retirement, and Frank McCourt, who had ‘Angela’s Ashes’ published when he was 66.

____________________________________________________

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

http://[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Read this and discover the ‘snowflake’ method of writing

· Read this to discover the Snowflake writing method.
· Is the BBC’s First Click service to encourage more people to go online for you?
· Could you profit from writing and publishing an e-book?

Hi,

As you are reading this email, you are unlikely to be a complete novice in the use of the internet, and your computer. You may, however, have a member of the family who is, or perhaps you could use a refresher on a number of basic online skills to encourage you to use the internet more… the BBC is currently running an ad campaign to promote its First Click service.

Today, I am also bringing you a fascinating writing methodology by a renowned fiction writer…and a home business opportunity.

*****************************************************************
Read this to discover the Snowflake writing method
*****************************************************************
If you are looking for some forthright advice on writing fictional novels, then top US writer, Randy Ingermanson’s the person who can help. He says,’ Writing a novel is easy. Writing a good novel is hard. That’s just life. If it were easy, we’d all be writing best-selling, prize-winning fiction.

‘Frankly, there are a thousand different people out there who can tell you how to write a novel. There are a thousand different methods. The best one for you is the one that works for you.’

At his website, Randy invites you to share what works for him. He has had six novels published, and has won about a dozen awards for his writing. He teaches the craft of writing fiction all the time at writing conferences.’ One of my most popular lectures,’ he says, ‘is this one: How to write a novel using what I call the “Snowflake Method.”‘

You can check-out Randy ‘s ” Snowflake method” article, and many others on writing, at
advanced fiction.com>

**************************************************************************
Is the BBC’s First Click of service to you, your family, or friends?

**************************************************************************

This week, the BBC, in partnership with Race Online 2012, UK online centres, and the Post Office, launched an on-air marketing campaign in support of First Click -“a major new media literacy campaign aimed at encouraging more people to get online.”

The BBC reports that the purpose of the campaign is to engage with those who are not yet online and direct them to a dedicated freephone helpline to find a beginner’s computer course in their local area.

There is said to be an estimated 9.2 million people in the UK who have never used the internet.

For further information, and a great deal more go to:

BBC First Click>

————————–Advertisement—————————————-

******************************************************************
Could you profit by writing and publishing an e-book?
******************************************************************

“How to write and publish your own OUTRAGEOUSLY Profitable eBook in as little as 7days- even if you can’t write, can’t type and failed school English class!”

If you want the financial independence and passive income stream from selling a popular ebook, the satisfaction and prestige that comes from being an author, and if you want to do it while you’re still young enough to enjoy it….then this might be the most important letter you’ll ever read. Click below now.

Profitable eBook in 7 days>
———————————————————————————————————–

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at the 60life.com>

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Warning, how to avoid this online threat to your money

From : the60Life Weekly

7th October 2010

· Warning, how to avoid this online threat to your money
· Why we should get hot and sweaty in our 60s
· Tip of the Week: Shrug your shoulders!

Hi,

This week, let me share with you one of my daily concerns about the internet, security. The internet is a wonderful space, but for the unwary it has become a dangerous place. You may have heard recently of the couple who booked a holiday abroad only to find when they arrived at their destination that the accommodation they thought they had did not exist. Their money was lost. You can check out other similar stories below…

********************************************************************
Warning, how to avoid this online threat to your money
********************************************************************

The City of London Police has received dozens of reports of advertisements for non-existent villas and apartments since the establishment of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in June.

Villas in popular destinations, such as Cyprus, have been the target of fraudsters advertising non-existent holiday rentals

Det Supt Bob Wishart, from the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Department, advised travellers to take extra care when booking properties over the internet, and warned agents to be wary of which suppliers they work with.

“As a result of the work of the NFIB we are seeing for the first time substantial numbers of people reporting villa fraud,” said Mr Wishart . “We’d advise anyone looking to book a holiday online to use reputable websites, and look for agents who are ABTA and Atol affiliated.”

Research carried out by Get Safe Online, a government-backed initiative aimed at increasing awareness of internet scams, revealed that one in three internet users failed to check whether the company they booked with was a member of a recognised travel association.

For more on the stories of internet fraud and tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud you can check out the Daily Telegraph report at

Police-warning-over-fake-holiday-villas

The link for the Government backed Get Safe Online is

getsafeonline.org-for free advice

********************************************************
Why we should get hot and sweaty in our 60s

********************************************************

Bestselling novelist Rosie Thomas says exercise is vital as you get older. She takes some exercise for at least an hour a day.

Running a marathon in 2006 at the age of 59 showed her how vital exercise was to her. Although now ” a leisurely six miles is about my limit ” She strongly believes ” that as we hit our ‘free time’ in our 60s, instead of slacking off we should increase our activity levels – gently at first, if we’re not used to it, but deliberately – to the point of regularly becoming sweaty and breathless.” Her GP agrees.

You can read more of Rosie’s exploits and exercise regime in the Daily Mail report at

Rosie-Thomas-says-exercise-vital-older

I am looking to review Rosie’s latest novel which is available in bookshops now: “Lovers and Newcomers”( published by Harper)

**************************************************
Tip of the Week: Shrug your shoulders!
**************************************************
If you, like me, spend time at your computer, why not try this when next you feel tired, and your shoulders are stiff with tension. Step away from your computer and, while standing straight take a deep breath, raise your shoulders as though in an exaggerated shrug, and hold the position for several seconds. Then exhale and relax your shoulders.

I find if I do this gentle exercise two or three times, in quick succession, that much of the tiredness quickly goes out of my shoulders. Go on try it. It works for me. I try to remember to do this at the end of regular short periods at the keyboard, with beneficial effect.

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

For earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Today is the birthday of the British artist who put his stamp on the Post Office

In the excellent company of rock singer and campaigner,Bob Geldof, former England goalie,Ray Clemence, author and broadcaster,Robert Kee, and many,many others, Ronald Maddox, celebrates his birthday today. He is 80. President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, he is a renowned artist,illustrator and British Stamp designer.

postalheritage.org.uk (where you can see examples of his extraordinary work) writes:

“In the 70s and 80s artist Ronald Maddox travelled throughout the United Kingdom making drawings and paintings for the Post Office, Royal Mail and BT. The resulting images later appeared on stamps, first day covers, posters, aerogrammes, telephone directories and stamp books. In a talk given [here] in May, Ronald Maddox reflected on more than two decades of work. This talk is now available on our podcast.”

In the Times today he is quoted as saying:”I never think about getting older. I shall just carry on walking,cycling and drawing.”

We wish him a very Happy Birthday.

Why not take the garden tour next year?

The60LifeWeekly

30th September 2010

· Where to Profit from your unwanted collectables
· Why not take a garden tour next year?
· You, too, could have many holiday places of your own

Hi,

Remember last week we looked at finding cash in the attic. Well this week there is a little more on where to go for advice…Also, fancy a garden tour? …or perhaps an affordable holiday place of your own, in a sunny paradise…

**********************************************************

Where to profit from your unwanted collectables
**********************************************************

If you are fortunate to be in a position to bolster your cash with the sale of some antiques or collectables that are surplus to your requirements, then it pays to have a second opinion. In addition to last week’s online suggestions you could go to an antiques’ fair. At the least you can have a great day-out! Have a look at the Antiques Trade Gazette or antiquesguide.com for details.

For a guide price on your goods, it can repay you to visit the new website at millersantiquesguide.com. On site there are also many interesting articles – Mark Hill’s current piece on ‘writing collectables’ particularly caught my eye’, vintage propelling pencils, fountain pens, desk stands, all that. You may also be able to borrow a copy of Miller’s Antiques guide from your local library.

And, finally, don’t forget eBay, for a guide as to what your stuff is worth in the current marketplace; and also as a place to sell it online.

***************************************************
Why not take a garden tour next year?

***************************************************

Love gardens? Looking for something a little different for a holiday break next year? Well, you could visit and be inspired by the gardening masterpiece created by Peter Wolkonsky who, according to Financial Times columnist, Robin Lane Fox: “Aged 65,[he] took on a valley of 40 acres and turned it into a garden which still attracts 20,000 visitors a year from all over the world.”

The gardens at Kerdalo, 10 minutes away from Treguier situated on the north coast of Brittany, France, are” the creation of a family in direct descent from Tolstoy’s War and Peace .”

For further information you can check out

Kerdalo Gardens

Next year a tour of Kerdalo will be run in May, by French Gardens Today, with the help of Peter Wolkonsky’s daughter Isabelle. Further details at frenchgardenstoday.co.uk or contact [email protected]

************************************************************
You, too, could have many holiday places of your own
************************************************************
Hopefully, gone forever are the spivs who several years ago accosted holidaymakers in the Costas, and elsewhere, selling and scamming with timeshares, giving that industry a bad name. “26 years ago a more flexible alternative to timeshare emerged with the Holiday Property Bond which turned the traditional timeshare on its head,” say the Holiday property Bond people.
It offers its” investors a financial interest in an entire portfolio of villas, cottages and apartments. And enabling them to holiday at a choice of popular UK and European destinations rent free – at times to suit them.”

So (as they say) why settle for one place to own when you can choose from 1,300? You can check it out here at http://www.hpb.co.uk

I hope I have given you some food for thought when planning your holidays next year.

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at http://www.the60life.com.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Are all older men stupefyingly boring?

Of course I don’t think so. But one of the most eye-catching headlines I have seen in a while that made me chuckle appeared in the Daily Mail recently.It was:
“Why are all older men stupefyingly BORING?”
During an amusing piece Liz Hodgkinson wrote: “…Alas it is the same story at every social gathering of ‘oldies’ I attend -wedding anniversaries, birthday parties,or,yes,funerals.The women will be chatty, lively and animated while the men are in a corner,shaking a few sad,last,grey hairs and staring into the distance ,looking at their watches forlornly in the hope it’s timeto go home…”

But, hey, fellas, whaddya say…? If you want to check out this amusing (if, perhaps, slightly partial) article you can at Why-older-men-stupefyingly-BORING

Lads, you can visit: The Grumpy Club for grumpy old men

How you can find cash in the attic

.

The60LifeWeekly

23rd September 2010

– How you can find cash in the attic
– Revealed 36 writing competitions to enter in 2011
– Water: are you getting enough?

Hi,

An often overlooked way to raise much needed cash is to sell stuff
you have been hoarding, or have left in long forgotten places at
home. So, should you remember the silver print autographed by
Laurel and Hardy which Uncle Arthur left you a long time ago, or
your Grandma’s 1907 Steiff teddy bear once cherished but now
languishing in the attic, what do you do? Should you sell? How much
are they worth? For modestly valued items realising value would in
the past be by’ trial and error’, selling through traditional
outlets: auctions, car boot sales, and so on. Now there is a cheap
way to establish value before taking action to sell, without even
having to leave your house. More below…

**************************************************

How you can find your cash in the attic

***************************************************
…there is now an online service where you can have your art and
antique treasures large and small appraised by a team of experts
who will provide, for the modest fee of £3.89 per item, a full
valuation report within 48 hours. The service is quick and easy to
use, and you can load-up to the site an image of your little ‘gem’,
or whatever.

The site as featured in the BBC ‘Dragon’s Den’ tv series is at
valuemystuffnow.com>

All the experts have worked at leading auction houses, including
Christies and Sothebys.
This looks to be also a useful service if you are thinking of
buying something. You could obtain an appraisal to aid your
decision.

Another, similar site, an American “money making resource” charging
$19.95 per valuation is at worthpoint.com

*************************************************************
Revealed 36 writing competitions to enter in 2011
*************************************************************
I have just read my October issue of Writing Magazine. Apart from
being full, as usual, of great articles with writing tips and
insights, it also includes a programme of writing competitions for
2011. If you are planning to write and need a focus for your
talents, you should look at this programme covering the rest of
this year and next. Some people find it helpful to strive for a
target like a prize, just to spur them into action and completion
of a writing project.

Editor of Writing Magazine, Jonathan Telfer, says:” But whatever
stage your writing is at , and whatever your genre- from flash
fiction and haiku to SF novels and screenplays- you’ll find
something to interest and inspire you in this special supplement
[to the October issue of Writing Magazine]”

This supplement contains the full details of writing competitions
for you to enter, from October 2010 to December 2011, with over
£372,549 in prize money to be won.

You visit the Writing Magazine site at
writingmagazine.co.uk

****************************************

Water: are you getting enough?
****************************************
The following brief report will probably amaze and startle you.

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100%
of the dieters studied in a University study.

Lack of water is the No 1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day
could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of
sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory,
trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer
screen or

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon
cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%,
and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

over50s.com/health

If you have, thank you for reading this far.

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can
be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column
at http://www.the60life.com.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send
them to me at
[email protected] – be great to hear from you!

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact,
detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held
responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement
whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Over 50, finished and fearful

A pretty dismal headline for a Monday morning, you may think. But a reality check can help us all,and can provide a ‘problem shared ‘ experience. Today’s news theme,as it happens, follows my previous post- 3 myths about building a career after 50 – and covers a situation many currently face as a result of recession,or other reason for economic hardship. Today’s report is from the NewYork Times:

For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working AgainVASHON ISLAND, Wash. — ” Patricia Reid is not in her 70s, an age when many Americans continue to work. She is not even in her 60s. She is just 57.

But four years after losing her job she cannot, in her darkest moments, escape a nagging thought: she may never work again.

College educated, with a degree in business administration, she is experienced, having worked for two decades as an internal auditor and analyst at Boeing before losing that job.”

“Of the 14.9 million unemployed, more than 2.2 million are 55 or older. Nearly half of them have been unemployed six months or longer, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate in the group — 7.3 percent — is at a record, more than double what it was at the beginning of the latest recession. ”

To read more of Patricia Reid’s story from the New York Times go to : For the Unemployed Over 50

3 myths about building a career after 50

The60LifeWeekly

16th September 2010

• How to write a book and get it published
• 3 myths about building a career after 50
• Introducing over 5,000 tried and tested food recipes

Hi,

How the weeks fly by! This week, for those looking to write a book, I have found a source of interesting f.ree articles which you should find useful. And, continuing the theme from last time about starting a home business, I have also included below some tips from a general article on building a career after 50.

***************************************************

How to write a book and get it published

***************************************************
At writeandpublishyourbook.com the aim is to try to fulfil this ambitious title. You will find well written articles giving a wide range of tips and advice for writers – there is a review of a book: ‘HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL – 200 Classic mistakes and how to avoid them’!

http://www.writeandpublishyourbook.com

***************************************************
3 myths about building a career after 50
***************************************************
In an article at articlesnatch.com three common myths (or generalisations) about older employees are exposed. These are:
1. Older people have poor health
2. Older employees are ‘outdated’
3. Older people are way more expensive to employ
The article concludes :
‘There are simpler methods in starting new career after 50 where you don’t have to go through the agony of having to explain to a recruiter half your age how much you know, or convincing an employer that you are as fit as a pony. And that alternative would be to build your business from home. The best part is that you have all the ‘equipment’ you need to make a home based company work.’
The 3 truths given are:
‘1. You have the experience and the experience to make claims that you are an authority in the field, and that’s something that no amount of technological knowledge will ever replace as you are starting new career after 50.
2. You have been around long enough to know the terrain, and particularly how people in your field of specialty work and act. You also possibly know lots of resources or leads that others don’t. Add that to an already existing client or customer base from all of your years of tough work, and the sole hurdle left for you is to convert all of these potentials into something which will work for your benefit.
3. Web businesses are very inexpensive to start up, which make them ideal if you’re starting new career after 50. If you want to be a service supplier, all you want is an internet site or a blog page, or even just signing up with one of those online directories. If you are more of a product salesman, you can affiliate or partner up with a longtime business till you make enough cash to go on your own.’
To read more check out : http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Starting-New-Career-After-50–It-s-Never-Too-Late-/1428422#ixzz0ywjMULcs

***************************************************************

Introducing over 5,000 tried and tested food recipes
***************************************************************
It seems we can’t get enough of food recipes and cooking related information which together often pass for entertainment content: newspapers, magazines day and evening-time television programmes provide a constant diet.

But of course the utility of it all, if it feeds us, introduces us to a wide variety of foodstuffs and cooking styles and, with an eye to more healthy eating, enables us to be self sufficient in the kitchen, then good job done! So in this strongly represented area of our lives , I add, with only light apology, another source of easy research providing over 5,000 tried and tested recipes for you to research and try for yourself.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/searchAZ.do

I’m going to try the Mail’s recipe choice for yesterday: Chicken, potato and green bean curry – a mild, creamy curry, low in fat, and serves 4 people. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/search.do?keywords=chicken+potato+and+green+bean+curry&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&filterItem=&x=20&y=12

If you have, thank you for reading this far.

Don’t miss your next weekly issue!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly – these can be found by scrolling down the categories in the right hand column at http://www.the60life.com.

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at
[email protected] – be great to hear from you!

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Discover an ideal home business to finance your retirement plans

The60LifeWeekly

9th September 2010

· Do you want to keep working at your regular job for years, or would you like to retire tomorrow?
· Discover an ideal part-time business for folks with a few grey hairs
· How to start and run a successful Internet marketing business of your own

Hi,

In my continuing quest to bring you useful news, tips and other information, including word of business opportunities, I am particularly pleased to bring to you a report about Internet Marketing for over 50s.
If you are looking to be your own boss, and to be financially secure, this is for you. Please read on

Do you want to keep working at your regular job or do you want to retire tomorrow?

Bob Bly, author of Internet Marketing over 50, writes : · ‘If you are reading this page, chances are you -like me-are never going to see the sunny side of 50 again.

· It also means that you are thinking of doing the same thing I did when I turned 50- specifically, getting onto the web and starting an internet marketing business.

· Launching my own small internet marketing venture was, without question, the best business decision I ever made in my life- completely eliminating the need for me to work for a living less than 24 months after I launched my first product.

· Like you I started from scratch, with no prior experience: it was my first foray into making money online.

· My tiny internet marketing business, which takes me only a couple of hours a day to run, generates average income of over $7,000 a week.

Now, I don’t know about you, but $7,000 per week is more than enough money for my family and me to live quite comfortably on. Even, if you earn half that amount, it’s still a passive retirement income stream of $175,000 a year…a real financial cushion for added comfort in these uncertain economic times.

Check out more of this story:Internet marketing over 50 Please scroll down the list of e-books until you reach the link for Internet Marketing over 50 and click there for your report

Discover an ideal part-time business for folks with a few grey hairs

Let Bob continue his story:

· ‘My Internet Marketing business is a lot less work than my freelance writing business.
· It is an ideal part-time business
· And what I discovered is that starting and running a home-based internet marketing business fits the over-50 in me to a tee!’
Bob goes on to list the advantages of the internet marketing lifestyle:
· No boss
· Flexible hours
· Easy work
· Fun
· Passive income
When it’s your business, he says, you can do all the fun things yourself – and leave the boring stuff to others.
It’s all here at: Internet Marketingover 50

How to start and run a successful Internet Marketing business of your own
Internet Marketing over 50 is a complete, step-by-step blueprint for taking your years of accumulated knowledge and wisdom…packaging that expertise and experience into information products…selling them at ahuge profit margin over the internet.
You can get started right awayinternet marketing over 50
Please scroll down the list of e-books until you reach the link for Internet Marketing over 50 and click there for your report

About Bob Bly – he is a freelance copywriter and the author of 75 books including Persuasive Presentation for Business (Entrepreneur Press) and The Copywriter’s Handbook (Henry Holt). McGraw-Hill calls Bob “America’s top copywriter.” He was voted Copywriter of the Year in 2007 by AWAI.
This is a real business opportunity, an e-book written by someone who is really successful in his internet marketing business. I have several of his many books on copywriting and internet marketing, including Internet Marketing over 50 which I highly recommend.
Internet Marketing over 50
Please scroll down the list of e-books until you reach the link for Internet Marketing over 50 and click there for your report

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at
[email protected]

PPS:Next issue of the 60Life weekly out soon. If you want to catch back issues of the 60LifeWeekly go towww.the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Where to find advice worth far more than £1000 for nothing

The60LifeWeekly

2nd September 2010

· How to boost your energy levels naturally
· Discover 10 Top Tips for short story writing
· Where to find advice worth far more than £1000 for nothing

Hi,

This week, where I live, many parents and grandparents are seeing their kids into full time school for the very first time. We have one of our own, a grandson…but let’s get on with the topics for the week: a look at short story writing; keeping those energy levels up; and easy ways to save some cash…

*****************************************************
Discover 10 Top Tips for short story writing
*****************************************************
Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers (Kennedy and Jerz)
What is a Short Story?
‘A short story begins as close to the conclusion as possible, and grabs the reader from the very first line. It conserves character and scenes, typically focuses on just one problem, and drives towards a sudden, unexpected revelation.’ (Kathy Kennedy and Dennis G. Jerz)

1. Get Started: Emergency Tips
2. Write a Catchy First Paragraph
3. Develop Your Characters
4. Choose a Point of View
5. Write Meaningful Dialogue
6. Use Setting and Context
7. Set up the Plot
8. Create Conflict and Tension
9. Build to a Crisis or a Climax
10. Deliver a Resolution
These tips are expanded in a report at http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative/shortstory/

—————————————–Advertisement——————————————————

When improving your fitness by stretching need not over stretch your pocket
If you have been trying for years to overcome painful back and joints and have been doing the wrong back and joint strengthening exercises then you need to try the exercises in this ebook.
Pilates is not just for movie stars who want to keep their firm and toned figures.
Pilates is for people at every age who want to look and feel their best!
You are about to learn the exercises that the author has been experimenting and testing on her own clients for over 10 years.
These back and joint exercises have been found to be most beneficial in relieving back and joint pain from activities of daily living, or even from degenerative conditions in the spine and from arthritis.
The new revised edition offers you 30 more detailed pictures and modifications on the Classic Exercises along with Pilates Principles and Standing Posture and Balance Exercises.
The author wrote this ebook to help improve the lives of countless people who are suffering.
CLICK HERE NOW!

pilates-back-joint-exercise.com/pilates

————————————————————————————————

***************************************************
How to boost your energy levels naturally
***************************************************
Boost your energy with food by Lynn Grieger, R.D., C.D.E. If you can’t function in the morning without gallons of coffee and you run out of gas every afternoon, then this energy-boosting food plan is for you.

With this diet plan, instead of relying on caffeine or a trip to the vending machine for a fleeting burst of artificial energy, you choose healthy foods to rev up your engine. Here’s how the Energy Booster Diet will keep you energised all day long:

Breakfast
Option 1
Plain fat-free yoghurt with low-sugar muesli and mixed fresh berries
Small glass of orange juice

Option 2
2-egg omelette made with low-fat cheese, chopped veggies and low-fat ham or turkey
1 slice wholegrain toast topped with fruit spread
Small cup grapefruit juice

Option 3
Shredded wheat cereal with skimmed milk and a banana
1 slice wholewheat toast with peanut butter
Small glass tomato juice

Points to note for the rest of the day:

•’The right combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat eaten at regular intervals will help keep energy levels high. This diet includes balanced meals designed to boost your energy throughout the day
•Eating healthy snacks will help keep your blood-sugar levels even so that you don’t have energy ‘highs’ and ‘lows’. This meal plan includes tasty food suggestions to eat every three to four hours to keep your energy level from falling
•Not drinking enough liquids can cause you to feel fatigued due to dehydration. That’s why this diet includes fruit juices and skimmed milk with every meal choice, rather than ultra-sugary sodas or sweetened beverages that can cause energy lows
•Eating fried or fatty foods can make you feel sluggish. This food plan emphasises natural, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables that won’t slow you down. ‘

Read more: Boost your energy with food http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/hlive/eat/articles/0,,181039_532821,00.html#ixzz0yGd7pUFw

************************************************************************
Where to find advice worth far more than £1000 for nothing
************************************************************************

What does it take to waste £5,000 (say, $10,000) a year? Just £13.50 per day

The 5 Most Common Money Mistakes, according to goodhousekeeping.com are :

1.In rocky times, you can’t afford to play fast, loose, and clueless with your finances.
Minor money gaffes can add up to thousands of lost dollars (or pounds) over time. Avoid the five most common money mistakes, and you could add more than £5,000 to your savings this year.

It is not just the discretionary spending on the odd luxury- we do not intend in this service to be ‘killjoys’, there will be times for treating ourselves. Two-for-one deals, even in discount stores, and the occasional frapuccino can do real damage to your bottom line.

2. If you are still in employment and you are not taking advantage of your employer’s pension plan, you [could be] throwing money away.

3. Allowing your kids(or grandkids) their endless wish lists when you are out shopping. Adopt a ‘distract and delay’ tactic. This can mean fewer snacks, and less spend.

4. Spending and not saving every windfall: A tax rebate, birthday money present, an income raise.

5. You should not underestimate the contribution you or a partner make towards the household budget. It may pay to ensure that you are adequately (but not excessively) covered by appropriate insurance cover against those potentially costly events in life.

For the full information on the above check out
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/money/budget/common-money-mistakes-5

I do hope you find the above information useful. The final topic this week is not ‘rocket science’, but reminds me, for instance, how I can fritter away small amounts of cash on’ this and that’,when perhaps I could be saving an appreciable amount over, say, a year to put towards something substantially more beneficial.

Don’t miss your next issue on 9th September!

If you have missed earlier issues of The60Life Weekly, these can be found at www.the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at
[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding

Are you a dissectologist?

While trawling through some archive stuff on an old blog of mine, I recently came across the following short post I had written:

‘It was some chap called John Spilsbury in the late 18th century who devised the first ‘dissected puzzle’. Almost all the earliest such puzzles to become known and beloved as Jigsaw Puzzles were made out of wood,often of mahogany. They were also often map puzzles depicting the countries of the world, hand coloured , the pieces cut around the different countries.

If you can find one of the earliest puzzles with all pieces intact, you will be well rewarded. Apparently,several years ago a set of Spilsbury jigsaws would have fetched at auction in excess of £25,000. One Spilsbury jigsaw of the map of England, where each piece was allocated a county could set you back around £2,000.

Although you may not be able to get your hands on one of these rarest of puzzles, you may profit by visiting collectors weekly
But you may not be looking merely for profit, and as a collector you continue to research and hunt for choice specimens to add to your collection. These may include the most recent variety of mass produced puzzle punched out of cardboard. And yes, there is a name for such collectors: Dissectologists. For further research, you can go to The British Jigsaw Puzzle Library

I shall be developing a category here on the60life site devoted to collectibles and retro items.

Why creative writing is all about ideas

The60LifeWeekly

26th August 2010

• Creative writing is all about ideas
• The fruit that may act as your brain’s natural housekeeper
• Dealing with the silence of the autodialers in our homes

Hi,

Recent feedback tells me that 60lifers out there are interested in more information about writing: both fiction and non-fiction; health issues including nutrition and appropriate exercise; and money management and related issues. So, I shall be including over the next few weeks what I can find on creative and non-fictional writing, and the other topic categories.

Below, please find three more topics for the week…

**********************************************
Creative writing is all about ideas
**********************************************
According to UK writer, Nick Daws :
‘Being a creative writer is all about ideas. Readers and potential writers are always asking successful and creative authors the question, “Where do you get your ideas?” – to which the writers often stumble in reply, or have no real answer. It’s an unsatisfying transaction every time – so why is it that writers can’t say where they get their ideas from? I think it’s partly because they don’t really know, and partly because the way they collect ideas is individual to them, and so any answer they gave would be no use to the asker of the question…

… in one of [Terry Pratchett’s ] books I noticed he postulated the theory in an aside that ideas were like rain. Great thinkers and writers stood out in it and caught as many ideas as they could, while non-writers and non-thinkers sheltered from it. A lovely thought – simple, beautiful and very Terry.’

Check out more of this fascinating insight at mywritingblog.com
Nick Daws’ blog is worth a regular visit if you are truly interested in writing.

—————————————–Advertisement——————————————————
When improving your fitness by stretching need not over stretch your pocket
If you have been trying for years to overcome painful back and joints and have been doing the wrong back and joint strengthening exercises then you need to try the exercises in this ebook.
Pilates is not just for movie stars who want to keep their firm and toned figures.
Pilates is for people at every age who want to look and feel their best!
You are about to learn the exercises that the author has been experimenting and testing on her own clients for over 10 years.
These back and joint exercises have been found to be most beneficial in relieving back and joint pain from activities of daily living, or even from degenerative conditions in the spine and from arthritis.
The new revised edition offers you 30 more detailed pictures and modifications on the Classic Exercises along with Pilates Principles and Standing Posture and Balance Exercises.
The author wrote this ebook to help improve the lives of countless people who are suffering.
CLICK HERE NOW!
pilates-ebook

————————————————————————————————

************************************************************************
The fruit that may act as your brain’s natural housekeeper
************************************************************************
According to Medical News Today :
‘Scientists have reported the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study, presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), concluded that berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain’s natural “housekeeper” mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.

Shibu Poulose, Ph.D., who presented the report, said previous research suggested that one factor involved in aging is a steady decline in the body’s ability to protect itself against inflammation and oxidative damage.’

medical news today

********************************************************************
Dealing with the silence of the autodialers in our homes
********************************************************************
Britons receive six cold calls a month, finds Which? studyScams, sales pitches and ‘silence of the autodiallers’ all intimidate consumers
(1)Tweet this (22)Press Association
The Guardian, Thursday 26 August 2010 Article historyBritish consumers receive an average of six cold calls a month, a survey has found.

The study by Which? found that many of the calls are scams, but big industry is “just as guilty” of using the tactic.

A two-week diary kept by Which? members found British Gas, BT, EDF, E.ON, Homeserve, Sky and TalkTalk were among those who cold-called the most often.

The consumer group’s survey of 2,092 people found two thirds had received at least one cold call in the past three months, and the average was around six calls a month.

One in four people had found such calls intimidating and one in five had felt pressured to buy something.

The diary-keepers found that four in 10 calls were sales calls, which are legal if the householder has not taken action to prevent them.

Another 32% were silent calls, when “autodiallers” phone multiple numbers but do not have enough staff to speak to those who answer.

Among those surveyed, 75% wanted the calls banned and 60% said they immediately hung up on cold-callers.

guardian.co.uk/money/2010/aug/26/six-cold-calls-monthly-survey

I hope you find the above information useful. I’m going to follow Nick Daws’ blog .
Coming-up in the next issue will be three more items, giving news and tips about things that concern us.

Don’t miss your next issue on 2nd September!

Yours,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: Please, if you have your own stories, tips, or feedback send them to me at
[email protected]
PPS: If you have missed earlier issues of The 60Life Weekly these can be found in the archives at
the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Discover why creative writing is for everyone

The60LifeWeekly

19th August 2010

· The essential vitamin that can both prevent and cure cancer

· Discover why creative writing is for everyone

· Are you losing money to an unnoticed waster in your home?

Hi

This week, I was reminded of my childhood when I learned that the longest serving actor in the long running radio soap, ‘The Archers’, is June Spencer who has played Peggy Archer (later Woolley) for 60 years! I sneaked in a post about her this week at
www.the60life.com

Below, please find three more topics for the week…

******************************************************************
Are you losing money to an unnoticed waster in your home?
******************************************************************

Saving Money and Energy in the Home with Efficient Appliances
MoneyHighStreet Staff report that:
For too many homeowners today, inefficient appliances are robbing them of hard earned money while wasting valuable energy. Refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers account for the bulk of these energy costs, with fridges being the most prolific. A fridge freezer must work all day, every day and that can mean huge costs for those people who aren’t buying the right appliances or using those appliances correctly.
Are you leaving money in your fridge?
Is your fridge costing up to two-thirds more to run than it should?
You may find the answer here:
moneyhighstreet.com

—————————————–Advertisement——————————————————

When improving your fitness by stretching need not over stretch your pocket
If you have been trying for years to overcome painful back and joints and have been doing the wrong back and joint strengthening exercises then you need to try the exercises in this ebook.
Pilates is not just for movie stars who want to keep their firm and toned figures.
Pilates is for people at every age who want to look and feel their best!
You are about to learn the exercises that the author has been experimenting and testing on her own clients for over 10 years.
These back and joint exercises have been found to be most beneficial in relieving back and joint pain from activities of daily living, or even from degenerative conditions in the spine and from arthritis.
The new revised edition offers you 30 more detailed pictures and modifications on the Classic Exercises along with Pilates Principles and Standing Posture and Balance Exercises.

The author wrote this ebook to help improve the lives of countless people who are suffering.

CLICK HERE NOW! for pilates-ebook

————————————————————————————————

************************************************************************
The essential vitamin that can both prevent and cure cancer

************************************************************************
NaturalNews reports that:

‘half century ago, Linus Pauling began his pioneering research into how vitamin C impacts health (http://www.naturalnews.com/025802.html). Now, almost 25 years after Pauling’s death, a new study backs up his contention that vitamin C has remarkable healing and protective benefits. In fact, now scientists have discovered how vitamin C may put the brakes on the growth of cancer cells.

‘Margreet Vissers, associate professor at the University of Otago’s Free Radical Research Group in New Zealand, headed the study which was just published in the journal Cancer Research. “Our results offer a promising and simple intervention to help in our fight against cancer, at the level of both prevention and cure,” Dr.Vissers said in a statement to the press.”‘

Her research team’s findings suggested vitamin C can help in both the prevention and treatment of cancer, and it was of importance in keeping cells healthy. The research suggested that’ vitamin C might be able to limit diseases such as cancer that involve cells that go haywire. In the case of a malignancy, for example, cells have unregulated growth.’

www.naturalnews.com/029434_vitamin_C_cancer.html

*******************************************
Discover why creative writing is for everyone
*******************************************
This week I’ve found a real ‘gem’ of a site, chock-full of information and resources for the creative writer. The site introduces itself in this way:

‘There are literally millions of aspiring writers in every corner of the globe, all of whom are seeking to discover innovative ways to unlock their personal creativity and free the stories they yearn to pen. Yet so many of these would-be literary artists are stopped by overwhelming questions-How do I get started? Where can I find the inspiration? Am I really good enough to write?

‘At Scribblepad, our primary goal is to help adults (and older children and teens, too!) find and release their inner voices. From prose to poetry, Scribblepad’s expertly researched and authored features and articles give readers immediately implementable hints, practical advice and proven methods.’

www.scribblepad.co.uk

I hope you find the above full information useful.
Coming-up in the next issue will be three more items, giving more health and wealth related news and tips.

Don’t miss your next issue on 26th August!

Yours ,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send them to me at
[email protected]

PPS: If you have missed earlier issues of The 60Life Weekly these can be found in the archives at
http://www.the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

An every day story of June Spencer

Perhaps you, too, grew up with ‘The Archers’ playing on the radio in the background. For me it signalled the end of yet another day, and time to go to bed when the latest evening instalment finished. There is one of the original cast from those faraway days, who is still going strong…

The Daily Telegraph reports:

“June Spencer OBE, 90, has been the voice of Peggy Woolley (née Perkins, formerly Archer) in Radio 4’s The Archers for 60 years and is the only remaining member of the original cast. She will be granted the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall on June 4. She lives in Surrey and has a holiday house in Menorca.”

You can check her day out in a full report at
June Spencer on being Peggy Archer

Anyone for the next calendar,girls?

Alison Palmer for mirror.co.uk writes:

Esther Rantzen planned to celebrate her 70th by running round the garden naked while Helen Mirren still packs a punch in a bikini at 64, recently posing naked in a bath. And these three women [pictured in a recent article for mirror.co.uk -see below for link to this article] prove hitting your 60s doesn’t mean giving up on your body.

PA Catherine Taylor, 62 [pictured top left in news article] lives in London with her husband, Andrew, 59, who’s retired. They have two grown-up daughters.

“I like my body now more than I’ve ever liked it. It’s not perfect – it’s the body of a 62-year-old – but I’m comfortable in my skin and I don’t worry about it any more. As long as I have my health, that’s the main thing.

“It’s odd I like my body more now as it’s probably less toned and a little heavier than it has been for years. For 20 years I ran six miles three times a week and swam regularly. But that stopped at Christmas when I tore my cartilage.

“I have to have keyhole surgery in September but I’ve joined a gym so I can get back to it. I like exercise because it’s when I think and plan things but it’s not the only thing that maintains my figure. I’ve always eaten well – a Mediterranean diet with lean meat, pasta, vegetables, fruit and olive oil. I don’t like junk food, but I do enjoy a glass of white wine.

“I use £2 aqueous cream on my skin followed by Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect serum and a Clinique moisturiser I’ve used for years.

“I do spend a fortune on my hair. I used to have black hair but it’s …

You can read more at http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/real-life/2010/07/22/hitting-your-60s-doesn-t-mean-hiding-your-body-115875-22430319/#ixzz0wNvBPs8v

Why do optimistic people live longer?

The60LifeWeekly

12th August 2010

· Why do optimistic people tend to live longer?

· 8 ways to improve your finances in just a few minutes a week

· How to increase your chances of preventing cancer

Hi

This week we look at three more topics of interest to most of us.
At any age, our health is of paramount importance to us. Also, at any age, our wealth, or lack of it, is a frequent pre-occupation…

**********************************************************
Why do optimistic people tend to live longer?
**********************************************************
First up, though, a question: are you a glass half-full person, or does your glass tend usually to be half-empty?

According to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic optimistic people live longer lives, by almost 20%!!!

From a report written by Jonathan Wells – Advanced LifeSkills]:

‘Most of us enjoy being in the company of positive, optimistic people. Their sunny outlook on life is both refreshing and encouraging. It is easy to see the benefits that we gain from associating with those who are filled with optimism, but what about them?

Have you ever wondered whether or not there are any tangible, long term benefits associated with having a positive outlook? Does our attitude really affect our health as some have claimed, or is this just one of those scenarios that sound reasonable but can’t be proven.

Science meets the challenge

The BBC recently reported on a long term study conducted by the prestigious Mayo Clinic aimed at finding the answers to those very questions.

Between 1962 and 1965 they interviewed more than 1,100 patients and gave each of them an optimism ranking based on their perception of life. Then they tracked those people for the next 30 years to see if they could identify any noticeable differences.

For a full report, and tips for a longer happier life you can check-in at

familyhealthguide.co.uk/10-tips-for-a-longer-happier-life

********************************************
8 ways to improve your finances in just a few minutes a week

********************************************
So how much time does it take to turn-off unnecessary lights, switch-off the TV, and other appliances, when not in use? Hang out more clothes to dry on a line instead of using the tumble dryer. Money Mail reckons these few small steps alone can save the average family about £82 per annum. And there’s more…

1. Switch to paying your car insurance premiums annually
as many insurers charge interest of up to 15% if premiums are paid in monthly instalments.
2. Trace missing funds- a dormant account or a deferred/lost
pension . Start by going to www.unclaimedassets.co.uk to point you in the right direction.
3. Track down the cheapest motor fuel in your area by entering your postcode at www.petrolprices.com
4. Visit www.saynoto0870.com if you are calling 0845 or 0870 numbers to see if there is a local number you can call.
5. Search the internet for the latest offers and vouchers. Among the best sites is www.vouchercodes.com
6. Take-out for free that DVD or book that you are only ever likely to read but once from your local library (if you have one)
7. Obtain a railcard to save almost a third off your travel costs.
8. Check you are not paying too much income tax. A quick look at your coding notice should help. If you are in doubt check it out at the HMRC helpline on 0845 3000 627

And there’s more, another you can check out 42 more ways to make or save money at thisismoney.co.uk

*******************************************
How to increase your chances of preventing cancer

*******************************************
According to familyhealthguide.co.uk :

Diet and Lifestyle Tips to Help Prevent Cancer

[From a report by Millie Barrett BSc(Hons), mBANT]

There are more than 293,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, and more than 1 in 3 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. More than 1 in 3 people – that is a shocking figure.

According to Cancer Research UK, approximately half and probably more, of all cancers could be prevented by diet and lifestyle changes.

So we do have the power to act and reduce our personal risk of developing cancer – but how?

The following nine recommendations come from the World Cancer Research Fund Global Network (WCRFGN), which is made up of a panel of international experts working in the fields of cancer prevention, epidemiology, human nutrition, obesity and public health. Many of the recommendations are familiar public health goals based on maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.

The WCRFGN recommendations:

· Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight
· Be physically active as part of everyday life
· Limit consumption of energy-dense foods and avoid sugary drinks
· Eat mostly foods of plant origin
· Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat
· Limit alcoholic drinks
· Limit consumption of salt and avoid mouldy cereals or pulses
· Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone
· Mothers to breastfeed and children to be breastfed exclusively for six months and as complementary feeding thereafter

You can check out more at familyhealthguide.co.uk

I hope you find the above full information useful. Often a simple reminder of things we should do helps save cash in these times of ecomomic difficulty. Yes, I will switch-off that light next time when I leave an empty room!

Coming-up in the next issue will be three more items, giving health and wealth related news and tips. Debt relief tips, flagged last time, will be for another week.

Look out for your next issue on 19th August!

Yours ,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send them to me at

[email protected]

PPS: If you have missed earlier issues of The 60Life Weekly these can be found in the archives at

www.the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Are seniors well served by modern technology?

The challenge of technolgy for 60lifers today is well highlighted in the latest issue of the BBC >Click programme. The main conclusions to be drawn are that the technolgy industry is not doing enough to adapt devices to enable older people to use them adequately, and that they were frustrated by the sheer complexity of modern technology. If you would like to watch the >Click programme segment you can through the link below.

We see that even technology savvy Sir Stirling Moss, now 80 years of age,finds himself challenged by computing hardware and software, and finds it difficult to find his way around his mac laptop – me too! We are are not alone-it was reported that currently 8% of the world’s population is aged over 60 years. By 2050, this percentage is expected to double to 16% of the world population.

A lot of work seems to be needed to address the wants of this large and ever growing market for current technolgy products.

While older people may be visited by reduced physical ability and mental faculty, and the devices they are faced with using to remain actively involved in modern society need to be adapted to their use accordingly, the current ‘gap’ in ability to stay ‘connected’ can be reduced significantly by skills education and awareness. After all, older people have not been brought up with the applications of electronic technology which are second nature to the younger generations. This whole issue will be revisited here in future posts.

Checkout the >Click report here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/default.stm

5 moneymaking opportunities

The60LifeWeekly
5th August 2010

• 10 More good reasons to include regular cycling in your life
• 5 Moneymaking opportunities for that little bit extra to spend
• 4 easy ways to a richer life

Hi
I hope you are enjoying your summer.
One good reason for rising early each day is to enjoy the light
fresh mornings and the opportunity to take out your bike to a safe
place for a ‘spin’, while it is quiet and few people are about…
some more on cycling below…we also look at opportunities that can
offer a fulfilling interest and a little extra cash. This area,
particularly home based ‘biz opps’ and pursuits, will be regularly
revisited over the next few months to bring-out something for
everyone in due course…
**********************************************************
10 More Good Reasons to take-up Cycling
**********************************************************
According to cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog there are ten good reasons
to take-up cycling:
1. Freedom
2. Quicker Travelling
3. Save Money
4. Reduce Weight
5. Health Benefits
6. Relieve Stress
7. Reduce Global Warming
8. Less Accidents
9. It’s Fun!
For the fuller report and other cycling info go to
http://www.cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog
If you are not yet convinced :
“Because the bicycle supports your body, cycling isn’t necessarily
a weight-bearing exercise (although this depends on your
technique). This means it’s good for people with certain bone and
joint problems, but it may be less effective for protecting against
osteoporosis, although all exercise helps strengthen bones and
muscles to some degree.”
For more great information related to all things cycling check out

http://www.crank-it-up.org.uk/pages/cycling/older.html

********************************************
5 moneymaking opportunities
********************************************
Extra cash is always welcome. Here are five business or moneymaking
ideas from moneymagpie.com .Click on the link below for more
information:

• Use your life experience to your advantage
•
•
Make up to £20 an hour by joining a focus group

Housesit with your partner and make money together

• Cash in on your hobby

• How to make ultra easy money!
http://www.moneymagpie.com/article/919/money-making-ideas-for-the-over-60s-2
•
•

*******************************************
4 easy ways to a richer life
*******************************************
While cash and the material stuff are important in your life, you
might want to check this out for a richer life at any age:
“Life’s a zero-sum game, right? The more you strive to win in one
dimension (e.g., your work), the more the other three dimensions
(yourself, your home, and your community) must lose. Not according
to Stewart D. Friedman, a Professor of Management at the University
of Pennsylvania. You don’t have to make trade-offs among life’s
domains. Nor should you: trading-off can leave you feeling
exhausted, unfulfilled, or isolated. And it hurts the people you
care about most.”
Although, Friedman’s Idea was developed with leadership in mind, it
seeks to improve satisfaction and performance in all four
dimensions of life.
The four easy steps to a richer life are:
1. Reflect – on each of the four domains of your life -work (if you
still do), home, community, and yourself. How important is each to
you? How much time and energy are you devoting to each, and how
satisfied are you in each?
2. Brainstorm possibilities- develop a list of small things to do
that may help you to get greater satisfaction in all four (or
three) domains. For example, join a club to help forge closer
friendships, or exercise several times a week, which could give you
more energy.
3. Choose the three most promising from 2. above – these should:

• Improve your satisfaction and performance in all the dimensions
of your life

• Have effects viewed as positive by the people who matter to you
in every dimension of your life.

• Be the most costly–in regret and missed opportunities–if you
don’t do them.

• Position you to practice skills you most want to develop and do
more of what you want to be doing
4. Measure your progress – always important know whether what you
are doing is working in order to encourage you to continue with the
process.
If you feel, most, if not all, of this would be helpful in your
circumstances check-out the full report at
http://www.bnet.com/cp/be-a-better-leader-have-a-richer-life/197383
•

Coming-up in the next issue will be three more new items, giving news
and tips, including debt relief tips.

Look out for your next issue on 12th August!
Yours ,
Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send
them to me at
[email protected]
PPS: If you have missed earlier issues of The 60Life Weekly these
can be found in the archives at
http://www.the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact,
detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held
responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgement
whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

…and the good news is we’re all living longer

The Daily Telegraph reports that :
‘Under the last Labour government, plans were in place to increase the state pension age for women to 65 by 2020 and to 66 for both sexes by 2026. It was then due to rise in stages, reaching 68 for men and women in 2046. However, the new figures show that life expectancy is increasing so rapidly that a child born today will live two and a half years longer than one born when Labour drew up its plans in 2006’

For the full report you can go to :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7927391/Pension-age-of-66-within-five-years.html

This rapid change in life expectancy, which seems to continue to take the fiscal planners by surprise, means the inevitable acceleration in the raisng of the qualifying pension age to a level believed to be financially sustainable for the taxpayer. The challenge for us all now is to plan for this change, and to make the necessary social and financial adjustments necessary so as to maximise the benefits to be derived from this gift of extra time.

How to stretch your way to fitness

The60LifeWeekly

29th July 2010

• Save money with this summer holiday offer only open until the end
of August

• Discover a world of writing for pleasure and profit

• How you can stretch your way to fitness

Hi

I’m spending a wonderful few days break surrounded by the
spectacularly beautiful scenery of North Wales in the UK. So where
exactly am I? If you would like to you can check it out here at
http://www.porthtocynhotel.co.uk
For my headlined summer holiday offers find for this week, though,
please see below – I have absolutely no affiliation with
these holiday opportunities, or the one above, and therefore
receive no payment or commission of any kind.

**************************************************************************
Save money with late summer holiday offers
*************************************************************************
• You can access a number of exciting offers for a late summer
booking.
Last minute deals
Guardian.co.uk posts its editor’s picks:
“We trawl through hundreds of deals from tour operators and hotels
each day to bring you the pick of the best offers
around.Guardian.co.uk receives no payment or commission of any kind
from the operators listed”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/lateoffers
Or maybe you would particularly like to travel in Ireland :

From Discover Ireland:
“Here in Ireland we believe in rewarding maturity and experience so
we’ve worked hard to bring together amazing deals throughout the
island of Ireland so Silver Surfers can put together an ultimate
summer package that won’t break the bank. Even better – you don’t
need to travel with another person over the age of 66 to take
advantage. Our 2-for-1 and reduced rate accommodation offers
require only one Silver Surfer between two, and if you want to go
self-catering then you only need one pass for the whole property.
And this summer you can travel by rail in the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland for free if you are over 66 – it’s called the
Golden Trekker.

These super summer savings are only valid from 17th May to 31st
August, so don’t miss out! All you have to do is surf through our
offers, download your Silver Surfer Summer Savings Pass and, most
importantly, remember you’re never too old to have the experience
of your life!”

http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/campaigns/silver-surfers
.

****************************************************
Discover a world of writing for pleasure
and profit
****************************************************
For excellent writing resources, providing tips, guidance and
inspiration you can subscribe to leading magazines (or perhaps read
in a public library) like Writing Magazine or Writers Forum. The
latter publication welcomes readers to its site thus:
‘Each month Writers’ Forum helps thousands of new and aspiring
writers to achieve their dreams. It’s packed with up-to-date market
information, advice from experts in the publishing industry and
inspiring stories and tips from fellow authors and writers.
We also feature interactive reader workshops in fiction, poetry,
children’s books and self-publishing, so you can see at first -hand
how to improve and successfully target your own writing.’
http://www.writers-forum.com
There is a vast amount of information on this site as well as
http://www.writingmagazine.co.uk

********************************************************************
How you can stretch your way to fitness
********************************************************************

At the pilatesguide.co.uk a forum member asks:
‘Am I too old to do Pilates?
I am a 63 year old woman and want to start a Pilates class but I am
worried that I am too old and that I could injure myself
________________________________________
Answer from Brenda Phillips, Cheltenham:
You can never be too old to do Pilates. If you feel fit enough you
can do it at any age. The beauty of Pilates is that all the
exercises can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each
individual which means it can be tailored for you no matter what
age you are. Pilates can be adapted to make it less strenuous and
gentler so it will suit any ability. A lot of older people are
turning to Pilates to keep themselves suppler and fitter. Pilates
is known to help prevent age related conditions such as
osteoporosis.
http://www.pilatesguide.co.uk/answers/8.html
and for more health benefits check out:
http://www.naturalnews.com/pilates.html
Coming-up in the next issue, news and tips about:
• more good reasons if needed to include regular cycling in your
life
• looking at ‘home’ business opportunities (‘biz opps’)
• 4 easy steps to a richer life

and soon, we’re looking at personal computing: problems and remedies

Don’t miss your next issue by email on 5th August.

Yours ,

Mike Paterson,
The 60Life Weekly

PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send
them to me at
[email protected]
PPS: If you have missed earlier issues of The 60Life Weekly these
can be found in the archives at
http://www.the60life.com

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in
fact,detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held
responsible for any error in details ,accuracy or judgement
whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Food tastes of the 60s and 70s

In October 2007, I wrote the following post in an early blog of mine:

Eating-out in the 60s and 70s meant for many sampling the delights of that staple three course menu promoted by the Berni Inn restaurant chain:prawn cocktail for starters,then steak diane with chips and peas,finishing with black forest gateau and cream,and coffee. Wine if ordered would most likely be a bottle of the ubiquitous Mateus Rose or Blue Nun. So what was wrong with that, you may ask.

Tastes in food may have moved on but thirty-odd years ago there was not the variety and availability of food produce for the table, particularly for a popular and affordable establishment. Abundance of a kind required a very deep pocket from the diner at a top restaurant.

My attention was drawn recently,though,to the report by Frontier PR recently of the Porth Tocyn Country Hotel (above), on the Lleyn Peninsula near Abersoch ,which recently celebrated its appearance in the Good Food Guide for the 50th consecutive year. This still family-owned bastion of good food and service was first listed in the Guide in 1957. Owner Nick Fletcher-Brewer says that keeping high standards year-in-year-out has been the recipe for success – no dishes served in the beginning have survived,though. This is a pity. For those of you who would like to retickle your tastebuds with this retro fare, or experience what it was all about, you can see one revival recipe by clicking here for the prawn cocktail! http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/prawn-cocktail.html

…and the Blue Nun? Well, I am told more bottles per annum are currently consumed than in its supposed heyday in the mid-80s, but then we are consuming more of everything today.’

So why have I resurrected this piece? Well,perhaps only to add that since 2007 I have tasted for myself the culinary delights of the Porth Tocyn Hotel on several occasions while staying there for short breaks. As I write over looking a spectacular view of Cardigan Bay and the Snowdonia mountains beyond, here we are again! Last night’s menu? Oh, an excellent ham hock terrine, with a mouthwatering Welsh beef main course to follow; and all helped down with a glass or two of the house merlot.If you are interested in this “little gem” of a place check out the details at www.porthtocynhotel.co.uk

It’s not too late to think about your financial security

The60LifeWeekly

 

22nd July 2010

  • Is there a writing bug, and do you have it?

 

  • It’s never too late to think of financial security

 

  • Gas and electricity prices: who has the real deal?

 

Hi

This week, I have assumed that, as you clicked through to join the 60life weekly group, and also to obtain my free e-book, that one of our shared interests over time will be writing. Below is a very useful resource I have found for you…

**************************************************************************

 Is there a writing bug, and do you have it?

**************************************************************************

…Although I do not know your level of interest in, or experience of, writing, my intention in drawing your attention to the link below is to provide a link to an excellent new introductory resource which I hope many looking to take-up writing again, possibly for the very first time, (and an interest in books) will find very useful.

Booktrust  : ” Creative writing can be something very private. From jotting down your thoughts in a diary to composing a love letter, or writing something for the world to see: setting up a blog or even writing your own biography or novel.

All you need is a pen, some paper and a small bit of inspiration…

…Independent reading charity Booktrust [has launched] its first project aimed at engaging over 60s in reading and creative writing. Bookbite,[ launched on 8th February], is designed to “encourage those who rarely or never read books to engage more in reading and writing for pleasure, using the internet to access additional resources where and when possible”.

For some writing tips you should check this out:

http://www.bookbite.org.uk/writing/writingtips  Here you will find case studies, tips, resources, and great encouragement.

In later issues, I shall be looking at writing for both pleasure and profit.

****************************************************

 It’s never too late to think of financial security

 

****************************************************

Flexible funds to help weather the current economic storm.

 

At a time when a number of index-linked products have been withdrawn by National Savings and Investment

The Daily Telegraph reports that:

‘Stock markets are unpredictable at the best of times, but the economic turmoil of the past few years has left many fund managers wondering which way to turn…

“In my 20 years as a fund manager I’ve never had to work in such uncertain times,” said Ian Spreadbury, Fidelity’s strategic bond manager. “It isn’t clear whether we are heading into recovery or back into recession, whether this will herald an inflationary period or a prolonged deflationary one, or what will happen to interest rates.”

Cautious investors are hedging their bets by flocking to risk-averse funds that claim to offer flexibility to weather whatever storms lie ahead. Absolute return funds are top of the popularity tables, with cautious managed and strategic bond funds making up the remainder of the top 10.’

 

You can read the full report here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/7898286/Flexible-funds-to-keep-your-portfolio-in-the-pink.html

As promised, I am including Simple Financial Management in Retirement, a special free report prepared for you this week.

This is at  http://www.the60lifeweekly.com/FSIRSI.pdf

********************************************************************

Gas and electricity prices: who has the real deal?

********************************************************************

Now may be a good time to review what you are paying for domestic fuel.You have last winter’s bills by now, and with the lower demand

from customers in the warmer months suppliers may have a better deal for you. In any event, it is a good idea to check out regularly how your current charges compare with others.

This is not always an easy exercise but you could take some help from an independent online energy price comparison service. I can report that over50s.com has teamed up with ukpower.co.uk:

 

Ukpower.co.uk say: We compare gas and electricity suppliers and help people switch to the cheapest deal!

‘We compare the whole market so you won’t find any deal cheaper elsewhere, no other website, doorknocker or energy supplier can beat that!

It’s completely free, the service provided is paid by commission we receive from suppliers when you switch on our website.

We are completely impartial, we list all tariffs from all suppliers, including those suppliers who do not pay us commission. We are accredited by the consumer focus confidence code so you can be sure the website compares all tariffs in a fair and impartial way.

You can save up to £350 by taking just five minutes to switch your energy supplier.

Start your comparison by entering your postcode above, and see how much you can save!’

http://www.ukpower.co.uk

In the next issue, I’ve got for you news and tips about:

  • further developing your creative writing skills
  • a way to fitness at a stretch
  • saving money with a late summer travel offer

 

Look out for your next issue on 29th July.

Yours ,

Mike Paterson,

The 60Life Weekly

 PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact,detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details ,accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding.

Top Suspense writer horrified by pace of technological change

Speaking recently at the Telegraph Ways With Words festival in Dartington,Devon, Baroness James (i.e. P.D.James), one of the UK’s best selling crime writers, admitted that she is “frightened by the ‘horrifying’ pace of technological change brought about by the internet.” She raises a huge matter of concern to all those who have been unable to keep up with the rapid developments in personal computing computer and internet access.

Approaching 90 years of age, Baroness James looks by no means to be ready to hang-up her pen any time soon, but she is concerned that her generation, including herself ,are unable to do very little on the computer, except perhaps check for emails. She makes the valid point that many people who are not able to use the internet are being excluded by a society which insists that many personal transactions be conducted online, for example, booking a train ticket. This, she feels is beyond many, certainly the over 75s.

Well even at my age it is an issue for me. I have a powerful personal computer, and one of the latest mobile phones on the market. I do not profess to know a great deal of what it can do for me. The phone alone, I am told can deliver thousands of “apps”, or applications, to me providing such information as travel directions, where to eat out ,current share prices, weather forecasts, and much,much more. Clearly,I don’t need all this information, and certainly not all at once! I don’t lie awake at night worrying about what I am missing. However, I do need some basic functions out of my computing and electronic communication. All of us need to be able to recognize what it is we need out of the technological advances being made. We need to be able to be selective ,and perhaps concerned only with what helps each of us achieve at least a certain level of net benefit in our everyday lives: order groceries online, or book a ticket, write and receive emails, and so on. In this way we don’t become caught-up in the latest or ‘must have’ thing.

My great aunt was terrified of the telephone, and would avoid using it whenever she could. Unfortunately, like the telephone ,there are certain things that must become part of our lives, if we are to function at a reasonable level in society. The challenge for all of us is how best to deal with the rapid pace of  technological change threatening to frighten and engulf us. I hope that information posted here from time to time will help you if you need it to live to your potential. Until next then…

If you would like to check-out the full report of Baroness James’ speech ( which covered other interesting issues as well as personal computing) go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/ways-with-words/7884086/PD-James-frightened-by-pace-of-technological-change.html

5 reasons why cycling should be part of your fitness regime…

From :  The60LifeWeekly

  • 5 reasons why cycling should be part of your fitness regime

 

  • Why regular use of the internet could stave-off dementia

 

  • Is this the most dangerous business opportunity ever?

 

Hi

 My grandchildren take some keeping-up with. I love playing ball games in the park with them, but boy does it take some work! Great fun, though.

 That brings me nicely to one of this week’s key themes. Luckily, I have recently rediscovered the joy of cycling…

**************************************************************************

 5 reasons why cycling should be part of your fitness regime

**************************************************************************

 According to the website, over50s.com, cycling is one of the easiest and effective ways of keeping fit. The website reports:

Researchers have found that ” in England ,just 32% of men over 50 and 21% of women undertake the ’ recommended’ 30 minutes of daily exercise.”

The article goes onto say:  “Five reasons why cycling should be part of your exercise regime:

1. It keeps your knees and hips flexible.

2. It is an aerobic exercise and releases ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain.

3. People who regularly cycle have the fitness level and body of someone 10 years younger.

4. If you are overweight cycling is the perfect exercise because it doesn’t put any pressure on your joints.

5. As part of a healthy lifestyle, regular cycling can reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease by around 50 per cent.” 

Seems like a win/win situation to me. Before you embark on any unaccustomed exercise you should see your doctor first just to check-out that what you plan is appropriate for you. For more on this story, including the benefits of an electric bike, check this out:

http://www.over50s.com/health/power_assisted_cycling.aspx

****************************************************

 Why regular use of the internet could stave-off dementia

****************************************************

Natural News reports that” University of California at Los Angles (UCLA) scientists have found a way adults who are middle-aged and older can enhance brain function and thinking ability in just one week. This amazingly powerful prescription doesn’t involve a drug. Instead, it’s simply a matter of learning to surf the Web. 

Research presented October 10th at the 2009 meeting of the Society for Neuroscience held in Chicago suggests older people with little Internet experience can trigger key centres in the brain that control decision making and complex reasoning in about seven days after they are taught how to use the Internet. What’s the connection? Apparently, Internet training stimulates specific brain cell activity and could even potentially play a role in preventing dementia.”

You can read the full report here at

www.naturalnews.com/027369_internet_brain_the.html

********************************************************************

Is this the most dangerous business opportunity ever?

********************************************************************

I think not. This is not about putting your finances on the line

moneymagpie.com has a number of great ideas which you can put into practice now to improve your income. 

You can

•Use your life experience to your advantage

•Make up to £20 an hour by joining a focus group

•Housesit with your partner and make money together

•Cash in on your hobby

•How to make ultra easy money!

There are loads of fantastic and simple ways to make money on the side, and lots of them are tailor-made for people over the age of 60. We’ve put together a list of the best moneymaking ideas for seniors so take a look and see what suits you.

http://www.moneymagpie.com/article/1549/money-making-ideas-for-the-over-60s/ 

 The first tip above about cycling is definitely something I’ll be following through with now. Especially in preparation for when the grandkids visit. In the next issue, I’ve got news about developing your creative writing skills, getting the best price deal on gas and electricity, and a special report about financial security in retirement. Look out for your next issue on 22nd July 

 Yours

Mike Paterson,

The 60Life Weekly 

 PS: If you have your own stories, tips, or feedback please send them to me at

[email protected]

Disclaimer: It is always my intention to be as accurate in fact, detail and comment as possible. However, I cannot be held responsible for any error in details ,accuracy or judgement whatsoever. This e-letter is produced on this understanding. 

Want to write that book?

Now that you find you have more time, or wish to use your extra time in a more pleasurable, even perhaps more profitable way, you may hanker to write a book.  

Maybe you have always had in mind to write, if only you had more time. But you are held back on where and how to start? Perhaps you want to have a go at short story writing, or poetry. Many of us feel there is a non-fictional book inside us, which we could write about a special interest or some life experience. How about a play or a novel? Well my free report is full of advice for newbie and occasional writers alike. To claim your copy, simply follow this link www.the60lifeweekly.com.  You can immediately download Succeed As A Writer. It won’t cost you a penny.

Your first step is to take action. This is a good place to start. You can quickly establish the habit of writing a little every day . Here is your FREE copy of Succeed As A Writer to help point you in the right direction,  both in terms of application and what to write about . Check it out at at www.the60lifeweekly.com.

Pensioners a breed apart?

Today, I thought we should have a smile. Some of life’s irritations, I find  are best dismissed with a chuckle. So here is one of those public signs or notices that can make you laugh.

This was recently taken from an advertising feature in my local free newspaper about a new business coming into the town:

“We welcome, everyone here – women,men,children and pensioners”

Uhuh? You sort of know what they mean. ’til next time soon.

Super Sixty-somethings

Sticking to the celebration theme of last time, how about the cult of the super sixty-somethings? My attention was drawn to the fact that Sting (formerly of The Police rock band) is in his sixtieth year, and will celebrate his next birthday on 27th September. Encouraging, too, is that he looks in very good form, which I hear  he puts down mainly to having a ‘slim frame’,a  happy marriage, and pilates.

The Times at the weekend, too, was taken with the Super Sixties who were said to be having it all. A peaceful retirement was not in the mindset of  many in a report including a DJ,( 68); male model (67); magazine editor (60); and designer (63).  Emma Soames,(60), editor-at-large of Saga magazine,and looking good herself, reports on the changing lifestyle choices available and being taken by the baby-boomers now reaching pension age (that is,the age that  it is at the moment). Shorn of tying young family and financial commitments,  apparently, with health improvements from medical advances, and a life expectancy for a man likely to be to age 85 (in 1950 this was 67), the super sixty-somethings are making radical choices more in common with forty-somethings than 7o year-olds. Travel rather than ‘a slippers by the fire’ existance is becoming more the norm for a quality of life.

The pin-up of the piece goes to designer Diane von Furstenberg who adorned the Times weekend magazine cover. Her last birthday was reported here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/31/happy-birthday-diane-von_n_408547.html

An Age for Celebration

Today’s message is a hugely positive one. Many people want to actively embrace getting a little older.  

New research by Age UK‚ the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged‚ has revealed that 95% of people over 60 think getting older should be a time of enjoyment and celebration.

This is despite 78% of this age group feeling that older people are ignored by society. The polling for Age UK by YouGov also revealed that 82% of over-60s felt that older people’s voices were not heard as much as younger people’s. It also highlighted how work‚ not necessarily just age‚ may play a defining role in this with 64% saying they felt working people had a greater voice than those who were retired.

The same poll also found that when asked about what could be done locally to improve their lives‚ being treated with dignity and respect came top for the over-60s (46%). This was closely followed by 34% saying opportunities to learn new hobbies‚ and 32% citing that more frequent and accessible public transport would improve their lives.

Truly a  Time for celebration not wishful thinking. This is the essence of what we do: 34% would like to have the opportunity to learn new hobbies. Here one might read hobbies to include also, gainful occupations.

Plenty of work to do then. More to come on this.

For full report on the above go to:

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/archive/95-of-people-over-60-feel-ageing-should-be-a-time-of-celebration/

Computing for the over 60s

According to a recent BBC report, it is thought that 10million people in the UK ,or 21% of the population, are not online. Of those not on online, the majority are over the age of 60.

We must try to change this and bring the world of the internet to many more people for whom being connected maybe a lifesaver, a means of frequent social contact with others , and a regular vast source of information, much of it for free, on a wide range of subjects for a more active and fulfilling life.

I cannot imagine what it would be like not to be connected to the internet, or to have computing tools unavailable to me. Not that I am a whizz kid, or techie type. I came to computing later in life, and struggled for a while experiencing the frustrations while  learning necessary basic computing skills. Now regular use of my computer is such that, a bit like riding a bike, the basic skill stays with you. Sometimes, I do still lose my balance and fall off!

Sir Terry Wogan is an ambassador for literacy, and he is an advocate of computing for those currently missing out  on the wonderful world of personal computing.    You can see and hear Terry by clicking here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8679999.stm

This is such an important subject for us that I shall be returning to it often over the next few weeks.

If you are eager to start  learning  more about personal computing right away you could do worse than obtain a copy of the Which? step-by-step guide for those who want to understand their PC and use it on a daily basis. The guide is called : Computing for the over 50s . It is available online if you can manage it at http://www.which.co.uk or you can call the Which? people on 01903 828557

The world at your feet provided you get travel insurance

The world maybe your oyster, and all that. You’re able to travel, and you’ve planned your trip. So why is travel insurance difficult to obtain, or so darn expensive for older people? The people at moneymagpie.com put it this way:

‘It’s because you become more susceptible to medical conditions, many of which could make you a higher risk when travelling, and particularly flying.

Nevertheless you’ve got to have it, so you need to make sure you choose a policy best suited to your needs without having to pay too much for unnecessary extras.

Factors affecting travel insurance for the older generation

•The over 60s have more time and money to travel than ever before. Because you’re more active and living longer, travel insurance policies specifically designed for the older age groups are becoming increasingly popular. Of course this is good news; it means there is more competition, so better prices are available.
•When you’re travelling, insurers are aware that you’ll be taking far fewer risks than say, the backpacker who plans to jump out of an aeroplane! This acknowledgement should be reflected in your policy and hopefully help to decrease your costs.
So, how do you get the best deal?

Unfortunately, unlike life insurance, you have to fully declare any existing medical conditions for all travel insurance policies. However, there are some companies out there who won’t increase their premiums when you declare certain pre-existing medical conditions.

Once again, it’s essential to shop around for the best deal. Which? Money reliably informs us that buying your policy online is almost always cheaper, so get checking on our comparison pages.

With the help of some research carried out by our friends at Which?, we’ll now show you a few of the very best deals around. Just make sure you read all the terms and conditions carefully to check the level of cover you are getting with each policy. And bear in mind that these premiums may increase for anyone with pre-existing medical conditions.’

If you would like to see the full article why not go to:

http://www.moneymagpie.com/article/978/insurance-best-deals-for-the-over-60s-2/

Retirement changes give savers control

By Financial Times reporter Alice Ross

Published: June 25 2010 18:21

The government this week announced sweeping changes to retirement benefits, which consultants said should make saving into a pension more attractive. To read the whole of this article go to:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b7e50a4c-807d-11df-be5a-00144feabdc0.html

The article also emphasises a telling number for working people : 12%. This is the proportion of annual salary,according to Scottish Life, that needs to be saved in a pension in order to provide for a comfortable retirement.

Live longer and prosper

This may be likened to a familiar sci-fi homily, but it can be growing reality and life choice for many people in or approaching their 60s and 70s. Currently bombarded with a welter of figures from the Office of national Statistics, we are learning that  people are living longer [see earlier post]and also working longer than ever before.This maybe because of economic necessity, or a wish to remain active and involved, or both. A recent survey by Saga and the National Endowment for Science,technology and Arts (Nesta) has found that of 13,000 respondents nine out of ten older workers say retirement should be about ability to work,not merely age. So if you are able and want to work beyond a certain age, the statistics suggest that if the opportunities to work arise (and so often do, if we look in the right places) you will be around to do so.For more…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1289761/Nine-older-workers-say-retirement-ability-work-merely-age.html

Ken’s still flying high at 94!

When I saw a piece in the Daily Mail yesterday about Ken Wallis, it gave me a lift. Wing Commander Ken Wallis MBE ,94 years of age, really does epitomise our site strapline: [he is] defined less by age, more by attitude. This hero-adventurer-inventor is one to count age merely as a number. He has been a flyer since 1936,  was a WW11 hero ,and served in the RAF until 1964. Totally self taught in engineering he still makes and flies autogyros, those frail looking  flying bob sleigh-like constuctions with tubular frame attached and two propellers, one at the back, the other on top. At his home in Norfolk, he has a number of these flying machines which can comfortably fly at 120 mph.

Apparently,Ken who holds a number of flying records has his sights on exceeding his speed record of 129 mph, and achieving 140 to 150 mph. He is finding that while his abilities know no bounds the Civil Aviation Authority may ground in red tape his proposed attempts on his speed records- the CAA have slapped a legal 70 mph speed limit on autogyros. Ken is not impressed!

It was Ken who, in 1967, was asked to build and fly one of his gyrocopters for the film sequences in the the James Bond film :’You Only Live Twice’. It was he who in his flying machine dubbed ‘Little Nellie’ acted as stunt double for Sean Connery. Though he did not appear in the film credits, he did have a great time travelling around to different countries in film promotions. ‘Little Nellie’ has pride of place with Ken’s other machines which are  housed in his large hangar workshop at home. You can catch more about Ken and his achievements (including a great YouTube clip to watch) at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1289662/A-magnificent-man-DIY-flying-machine-Wing-Commander-94-trying-hit-130mph-shed-built-gyrocopter.html

Are you ready to live so much longer?

Source: Office of National Statistics

Live longer,live life given a longer life expectancy

This page usually tries, if anything, to be encouraging.For many people life at a certain age is an attitude of mind and not a number. We can live on hope and expectation, that we will be blessed with reasonable good health and the level of wealth to enjoy the later years. Occasionally , we have to look at the numbers so that things are left not completely to happenstance. Financial and other planning can help to provide a little more comfort.So there is a message for us in official statistics. According to the official ONS data for 2006-08, males at age 65 can expect to live an additional 17.4 years, the corresponding number for females at age 65 is 20 years. For more information behind these headline figures you can go to http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=168

The new UK government has decided that the previous government’s plans to raise the retirement age were not ambitious enough given the rising life expectancy and the huge current level of Government debt and future pension liability.So 10 years earlier than planned, it is now proposed from 2016 to raise the retirement age for receipt of state pension from age 65  to 66 (for females this is likely to be from 2020).For more on this…http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10375740.stm and according to a report in the Times website the plan is for the retirement will rise eventually to age 70.http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/ So with the encouraging news of possible longer life comes the challenge of having enough money to see out this extra time. The future aim of these pages, in addition to exploring areas for continuing life improvement generally, is to bring out information on how this challenge of financial security might be achieved. 

The hidden wealth threat in your computer

 

 

Internet commerce is fast,convenient and can be very exciting.More and more of us now use it to improve our standard of living. But as with the old-fashioned ways of doing business, it pays to take basic precautions. There is a threat lying in wait in your computer, seeking out the unwary.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC),set-up as an independent agency by the US Congress to provide stability to the banking and financial services industry in its FDIC Consumer News reports : 

‘Online banking, bill paying and shopping are conveniences that most people want to enjoy. And most of the time, high-tech transactions are completed quickly and without a glitch. However, just as with other transactions, in a small percentage of cases something goes wrong. That’s why you need to take precautions against theft and errors.

In particular, even as banks and merchants tighten up security, Internet thieves devise new, sophisticated ways to trick consumers into sending money or into revealing information that can be used to commit fraud.’

It goes on to provide on to provide 10 ways to protect your money. You can see this excellent and easy to follow advice at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rss/puboftheweek_051710.htm

Food Safety for Seniors

Today’s tips on food safety,you may think smack a little of ‘nannying’- well, you can pass over this if you wish. Otherwise, I make no apology for this piece which I came across the other day from The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA):

Older people need a healthy diet. It can help them avoid sickness. A healthy diet includes a range of foods. But raw foods are risky because they can have a lot of germs in them.

Why do seniors get sick from raw foods?

As we age, it can get harder and harder to fight off germs. As you age, it’s easier to get sick from germs in your food. Having diabetes, kidney disease,or some cancer treatments also may add to your risk.

What foods should I avoid?

* Rawfish

* Raw shellfish, such as oysters, clams, mussels,and scallops

* Raw meat or poultry

* Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheese

* Soft cheeses such as feta, brie, blue, and Mexican-style

* Raw or lightly cooked eggs or egg products, such as salad dressings, cookie dough, cake batter, sauces, and drinks such as eggnog

* Raw sprouts

* Unpasteurized or untreated juice from fruits and veggies

In the U.S., almost all juice is treated to kill germs. This makes it safe to drink. The FDA requires a warning label on all juices that have not been treated. The label says:

WARNING:

This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with a weak immune system.

In other countries, for example the UK, you should look out for similar warnings ,or absence of warnings, about sensible treatment of foodstuffs on the label.

Final Note: This is all about taking a common sense approach to staying in good health, and so enjoying the best quality of life that you can.

Is this the latest UK bank mis-selling scandal?

Loathe as I am to focus once again so soon on elderly people, as a vulnerable class, it seems justified by the latest data received by the Sunday Times from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which indicates growing evidence of inappropriate investment products being sold by banks to the over-65s.

The Sunday Times reports ‘ that previously unpublished data from the FOS shows that complaints from people over the age of 65 concerned with investment products sold by banks rose by 19% last year, from 1,495 to 1,777. Unit- linked bonds were the most common cause for complaint.’

At the root problem is the practice of paying levels of sales commission which delivers to front office sales staff higher commission than for other services. According to  The Sunday Times  there is a move from a cross-party commission to have such sales commissions banned. The Future of Banking Commission has today published a report setting out a number of banking reforms.

Whilst the report says  that a commission based system may not be responsible for all the complaints receieved, it is considered largely responsible, financial advice being skewed towards the higher commission earning products. Many over-65s are being recommended inappropriate investments for their age and needs. For example, a person aged 78 years should not be persuaded to put cash into long term bonds linked to equities on the  stock market. For him, or her, short term capital losses may not be recovered if the investment needs ‘to be cashed-in’ for unexpected outgoings. The message seems to be clear. Do not be so persuaded if you need,or may need, your money to hand for other purposes than investment, such as your own care, or maintenance. If in doubt,and in these times of low return on bank deposit money,you might consider an independent financial advisor who is not paid any commission, and who is prepared to advise you on the best place for you to put your money given your particular circumstances.

If you have been subject to what you feel is mis-selling of financial products, the Sunday Times would be pleased to hear from you at

[email protected]

So Where Were You When Martin Peters Scored?World Cup ’66 Remembered

So the waiting’s over and we are on the brink of another emotion fest of tears and joy, but inwhat measure for each? The World Cup of Soccer is with us again. If you are like me of a certain age, you may remember where you were when England lifted the Jules Rimet Cup. The picture above says it all.

But picture this.Cup Final day in 1966 and England are playing West Germany at Wembley. Where am I when Peters scored and a nation’s spirit soared? Why at  a wedding , of course, and not a black and white (no colour then) TV within miles. Good friends of ours had planned their wedding for many months, and had  managed to cover every detail, except one. Then,why could they have predicted that England would reach the World Cup Final, even if they had realised the significance of the date itself.

On the day, I did ask for forgiveness of the joy I expressed when, like the way  messages were carried in the trenches during the first World War, that never to be forgotten message arrived along the pews: ‘Peters has scored!’

When the wedding guests arrived at the reception, delayed because the photographer was being updated constantly by the driver of one of the wedding cars who was listening to the soccer commentary on a small transistor radio, they were somewhat distracted by a tiny TV broadcasting extra time being played! The sight of the new bride standing alone in one corner of the reception room with virtually everybody, guests and staff, struggling for a sight of the TV screen in another corner, is still clear in my memory.

And, what of my friends? They emigrated to Australia soon after, in 1967. Not, I might add, as a consequence of that great day. We are still close friends today.

Hope you enjoy World Cup 2010! C’mon England!

If you would like to relive the final minutes of the Cup Final of 1966, you can by going to this link at sporting memories network

 

Get on yer bike!

Last week, I became the proud owner of a flexible friend. No, not a money guzzling credit card,but a folding bike that will not bend my wallet to fuel it. This  purchase is in part a new regime of mine to become fitter, and also in part a drive to find and enjoy interesting and pleasant country areas, with good level tracks for ease of peddling. I hope to develop this healthy outdoor interest over the next few months and years. When walking becomes more difficult as one grows older, cycling can lift the restriction on distance covered. It is, of course, essential to check out any medical problems with a doctor before embarking on unaccustomed exercise like this. But having checked this out, I am now looking forward to broadening my horizons.

Unlike the urban or city commuter, I shall be avoiding the hurly burly and hazards of the main roadways. My conveyance will be travelling on the quieter routes.   I shall perhaps be coming back in the near future with news of my intrepid adventures on (smallish) wheels. Oh, I did not say what model I purchased.If you are interested, it is one of the Dahon range. You can find further information on dealers and available model range on a website at www.dahon.com . I have no specific information on other folding bikes, of which there are a few, so I cannot draw comparison, but you can try these names:

www.brompton.co.uk

www.my-mobiky.co.uk

What nobody is prepared to tell you about funding fees for the care of the elderly

 

Today,it is feasible that you maybe one of the many families struggling to ensure that, as you yourself enter retirement, your surviving parent or parents are able to obtain the kind of care they need.In many,many, cases throughout the UK, family homes are being sold and life savings used to fund professional care at home or in residential care homes. What you probably don’t know is that you may be eligible to claim for NHS funding to cover some or all of these costs.

This is what the This is Money website has to say about this serious state of affairs.

‘The key point about NHS funding is that it is not means-tested, so the amount of money the patient has is irrelevant. Also, it does not matter where the nursing care is received.

You can still apply for costs if the relative is being cared for at home or in a residential home.

Be prepared for a long, drawn-out battle as the health authority attempts to bury you in bureaucracy.’

There is much more to read at http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/pensions/tips-and-guides/article.html?in_advicepage_id=102&in_article_id=500519&in_page_id=53965

This is such an important topic, frequently going to the very heart of your family financial security in retirement. If you find yourself in this predicament, you will have to fight for your family’s rights, as it is most unlikely that anyone will offer the financial advice leading to  appropriate  funding voluntarily. So until next time,soon…

What does it take to waste £5,000 (say,$10,000) a year?Just £13.50 per day

The 5 Most Common Money Mistakes,according to goodhousekeeping.com:

1.In rocky times,you can’t afford to play fast,loose, and clueless with your finances.Minor money gaffes can add upto thousands of lost dollars (or pounds) over time. Avoidthe five most common money mistakes,and you could add more than £5,000 to your savings this year.

It is not just the discretionary spending on the odd luxury- we do not intend in this service to be ‘killjoys’,there will be times for treating ourselves.Two-for-one deals,even in discount stores,and the occasional frapuccino can do real damage to your bottom line.

2.If you are still in employment and you are not taking advantage of your employer’s pension plan,you are throwing money away.

3.Allowing your kid(or grandkids)their endless wish lists when you are out shopping. Adopt a ‘distract and delay’ tactic.This can mean fewer snacks,and less spend.

4.Spending and not saving every windfall. A tax rebate,birthday money present,an income raise may create a great temptation to spend rather than accumulate.

5.You should not underestimate the contribution you or a partner make towards the household budget.It may pay to ensure that you are adequately (but not excessively) covered by appropriate insurance cover against those potentially costly events in life.

For the full information on the above check out
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/money/budget/common-money-mistakes-5

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Money saving Tips to Beat Inflation

Money-saving tips to beat inflation. As UK  inflation hits 3.7% and salaries and savings interest struggle to keep pace, we offer tips on how to stretch your cash

1 Buy UK-produced fruit and vegetables
Apparently that unpronounceable Icelandic volcano is partly responsible for the price of produce going up: fruit and veg supplies are stuck in their land of origin, increasing the price of the produce that is in store over here. So instead of buying overpriced beans and berries, why not follow Nigel Slater’s lead and get stuck into home-grown asparagus and the season’s first broad beans.

2 Shop around for petrol
Asda has just cut its prices by 2p to 115.9p a litre, hopefully setting a trend that other petrol retailers will follow. Keep an eye on your local forecourts.

3 Invest in a National Savings & Investments (NS&I) inflation-linked savings certrificate
These are designed to give savers a guaranteed tax-free rate of return, higher than inflation measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI), if held for the full certificate term. They are currently available in three- and five-year terms and are sold in issues which allow savers to invest up to £15,000 in each.

4 Use discount vouchers
It’s almost impossible to visit certain restaurants nowadays without seeing whole forests of vouchers being waved at waiters, and the Guardian and Observer now have their own discount voucher site at www.guardianvouchercodes.co.uk. If you are based in London you could try a new one called Crowdity (www.crowdity.com). This enables you to get big discounts (such as a comedy evening with three-course dinner at Jongleurs for £5 instead of £40) – provided you can get enough friends to agree to take it up.

5 Ask for a pay rise
Okay, it is pretty unlikely in the current economic climate, but if you go about it the right way and you deserve one, you could surprise your employer into action. Gill Corkindale, writing in the Harvard Business Review, says it is important to identify whether or not your company is in a financial position to give you a rise – if the answer is yes, make sure that you are well known in your company (for the right reasons) and that your contributions are noted at appraisals. Then determine a realistic figure to aim for and pick the right time to ask. Above all, don’t become emotional about it.

6 Find ways to earn extra cash
If your boss says no, think of other ways to earn a bit of extra cash. We’re interested in (but have yet to try) the OnePoll iPhone app, which apparently allows you to earn money by completing surveys. The app is free and OnePoll pays between 10p and £5 for each survey of between 10 and 20 questions. Once users have reached £40 the cash is transferred directly to their PayPal or bank account.

7 Cycle to work
Halifax believes that taking to two wheels will increase in popularity this summer because of the high cost of petrol. The bank, rather cynically, is reminding cyclists to be aware of the increased risk of bike theft.

8 Forage
We’re coming to that time of year when food becomes widely available for free in the countryside. Currently gracing our grassy verges are nettles and wild garlic– good for soup or with rabbit, or as Skordalia, a garlicky Greek dip. And although they are a bit late this year, there will soon be enough elderflowers to make champagne.

9 Pay down your debts
While interest rates paid on savings accounts are pitiful, banks are still managing to charge huge amounts for borrowing – an average rate of 18.3% for credit cards and 12.4% for personal loans, according to comparison website Moneynet. If you already have savings to cover emergencies, use your spare cash to pay off credit.

10 Book your summer holiday in the eurozone
According to Duncan Higgins of foreign exchange company Caxton FX, sterling has slipped drastically against the US, New Zealand, Canadian and Australian dollars, but the euro is in an even more dire state than the pound, thanks to Greece’s difficulties.

Check out more of this report to be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/may/23/money-saving-tips-beat-inflation
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I spotted this useful reference source to help you to eat out at a sensible price

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/cheap-restaurant-deals

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Older people urged to fight ageism

Celebrate older age – and fight ageism!
on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 seniorsdiscounts.com reported:

Age Uk is the new Age Concern and Help the Aged – a combined force that diligently does its homework. New research, The polling for Age UK by YouGov has revealed that 95 per cent of people over 60 strongly believed that they should celebrate older age, but 78 per cent felt ignored and excluded from society. Additionally, 82 per cent felt that older people were not heeded as much as younger people – this is due partly to the fact that working people’s voices are heard more than those of the retired, as believed by 64 per cent of respondents. 46 per cent felt that it was most important to be treated with respect and dignity, 34 per cent prioritised opportunities to learn new hobbies and 32 per cent said the provision of frequent and accessible public transport would enhance their lives.

Charity Director for Age UK Michelle Mitchell said: “As a group within society, people in later life often feel ignored, and this research clearly demonstrates how this is a reality experienced by the majority. Ageing can present many challenges, particularly for those experiencing disadvantage. Age UK campaigns and provides services and solutions to help improve later life.”

Age UK is to launch a new television advertising campaign aimed at a wide audience to promote public awareness of how it can help, its services and products and how it can be contacted, together with this recent research on ageing. The organisation is calling upon older people all over the country to tell others about their own inspiring stories of achievement. This is part of the organisation’s mission to improve the quality of later life for everyone and the aim is to dispel and to challenge some of the myths and stereotypes about older age.

The campaign is led by Diana Moran the Green Goddess a 70-year-old model who said: “I am an extremely active 70-year-old and make a very valuable contribution to society. I am happy to help highlight the search to find stories of other people doing remarkable things and celebrating the joy of later life.”

Ms Mitchell emphasised the organisation’s beliefs that “an ageing society presents tremendous opportunities that should rightly be celebrated, and it is heartening to see that this is a belief held by such a high percentage of those polled.” Telling such inspiring stories is one means of celebrating later life and, she said, is a first step in making older people’s voices heard “loud and clear.” Stories can be sent to [email protected].

For further reports and articles on similar or related topics as the above you should go to seniorsdiscountsco.uk

Long Term Care:Will you be able to afford it?

Now that the battle lines have been drawn for the next UK General Election, the main political parties will be focusing their attention on attracting voters to their policies. High on the list will be the NHS, and what each will do for it given the power of government. Within the NHS there is the ticking time bomb that is the paying for Long Term Care for the Elderly.

We are already seeing something of the growing problem of caring for these folk. Many, today, can expect to live around 20 years beyond the current retirement age of 65. Most of them under the present rules have to sell their homes to cover the cost of residential and nursing care. Only when their assets have reduced to £23,000 will the local authorities provide any financial help.

The ‘would-be’ government representatives will, over the next few weeks at the hustings, be wooing the voters with their policies. The stark truth is that the problem of the growing number of people who will require help in their later years cannot now be ducked, as before. It now needs an early fix for the long term. So you will hear much talk of insurance schemes,death taxes and other means of contributing towards the care you may one day need. The debate will rage on.

For some more information on professional advice available on this and many related issues,you can go to the website  of Hillier Mckeown , Solicitors (please note – the 60 life has no business affiliation whatsoever with this firm , the link is intended as a helpful source of information).

In later posts we shall lift the mood a little!

Moving the chairs around on the deck of the old ship Britannia?

Now that the last Budget before the next UK General Election expected in May is stowed away, what do we make of it? Some commentators have been at best neutral about Chancellor Darling’s efforts to steady the ship, many others have looked on the Budget as very much a political one where the chairs on deck are being moved around  with money previously earmarked for schemes being switched into other more high profile and ‘deserving’ ones. Whether the effect of this financial engineering will help save the UK economy, in any way better than the moving of the furniture around the deck saved the RMS Titanic, is something we will not know until the passage of some time. Certainly,the result of this Labour will not become apparent until long after the imminent May General Election.

the 60life of work

Now to a specific Budget topic which is of interest to many in the 60-lifer group, who incidentally are a growing and therefore potentially more influential block of voters, spied in yesterday’s Financial Times under a sub-heading “Over-60s”.It was reported that the minimum number of work hours needed to be eligible for the working tax credit is to be reduced, so as to make it easier for the over-60s to receive the benefit. Furthermore , there is to be consideration of a reform of the employer’s right to enforce people to retire at the age of 65. This could result in the scrapping of a default age for retirement. Now that would be handy then, given that many people may soon find themselves having to carry on working nearly all of their lives, in order to have an income sufficient to keep body and soul together. He giveth with one hand only to take it away with the other?

You know all this talk about projections for growth , borrowing and spending into 2014-15 ,and beyond, leaves us perhaps feeling it is not our day. What happened to yesterday’s promises, for people living in England and Wales, on care for the elderly for instance; and no person will have to sell his/her home in order to have properly funded care services if needed  in later years? Here is a quote to leave you with today:

‘Freezing the inheritance tax threshold to pay for older people’s care adds up to a funding increase of £110m by 2012/13 – a drop in the ocean compared to the over £1.79bn needed over the next two years to plug the social care funding gap’-

Michelle Mitchell, Age Concern Communications Director

Well, never mind, then.  You can just try to stay healthy and carry on working until you drop.

’til next time.

Generation X, Y or Boomer?

So what’s in a name? It is a common practice to give things or people names. It’s a form of shorthand. Saves us having to spell out what we mean in full every time we want to refer to something in speech or writing. When we use one of these ‘shortcuts’ we expect our audience to know immediately what or who we are talking about. So it was with a newspaper article that caught my eye the other day when it covered a report from the Journal of Management on  Generation Y. Who?

Well, I did have a notion to what group of people the report referred , but it helped a little to be reminded that the so-called ‘Generation Y’ covered a three decade period and comprised those who were born in the late 1980s. The report according to the Daily Mail concluded that people born in this period were rather shy of hard work but believed they were deserving of big salaries,status and plenty of leisure time without putting in long hours to earn this reward. Then,there were the  Generation X citizens whose mantra was ‘work hard,play hard’,and they were born in the 1970s and were often dubbed ‘Thatcher’s children’. They lived through the times of the ‘womens’ lib’ movement, a fragile economy, and increasing divorce rates.

Where is this all leading, you may well ask? It leads to that category of people with whom I have a closer affinity, namely the baby boomers who were born in the early post-war  years, in the late 1940s and 1950s. This vast group, are said to represent the ‘work to live ‘ generation. But where are they now? What are their current aspirations and interests? Do they have any ambitions? For  travel,hobbies, self-determination, or what? This is the group, I hope to identify and engage with over the next five years. What are you doing now? What would you like to do given the chance? I would like to find out.

That the so-called boomers’ group is now so important in the UK is shown by figures from the Office of National Statistics which have been reported in the press.In a population at an all time high, people of pensionable age exceed the number of children under 16 years of age .

Stop by again soon. This theme is going somewhere.

So what’s this all about,then?

This blog is intended as the beginning of a journey of several years. I hope you can join me. You do not have to be of a certain age to appreciate what may follow in regular posts, but you will recognise content which should be of interest to you if you are.

Things will develop as we go. So what is this all about? Come back often to find out. See what is new.