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…

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Where to profit from your unwanted collectables
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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.

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Why not take a garden tour next year?

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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]

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You, too, could have many holiday places of your own
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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.

How you can find cash in the attic

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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…

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How you can find your cash in the attic

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…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

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Revealed 36 writing competitions to enter in 2011
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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

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Water: are you getting enough?
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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.