Walking Everyday For A Clean Bill Of Health

5 years ago I was struggling with my health and not sure if I would ever snap
out of the depression I had about myself. But after visiting the doctor again
waiting for my next prescription, I suddenly thought I had enough of all this.

From that day on I decided on a fitness programme without anyone's help.
I decided to start walking everyday, I struggled with walking for 10 minutes
to start with but I persevered. The result of that decision 5 years ago has
brought me up to date where I walk up to 15 miles a week and have a clean
bill of health.

I started a walking group where I take up to 20 people on walks, made lots

of new friends have helped all these people in one way or another.

I have never been happier.

So if this helps someone reading
this then TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. Please contact me if you wish.

By Margaret.

Financial Freedom For Seniors

According to the 2007 financial freedom senior sentiment survey, more seniors may seek to use their homes to finance retirement. This is the fourth annual survey from financial freedom, a subsidiary of indymac bank f.s.b. (indymac bank®), and the nation's largest originator of reverse mortgages. The study explores seniors' attitudes on a range of issues including retirement. Results show a significant drop in the number of seniors who indicated they planned to pass their homes on to their children and an increase in the number of those who would potentially use their home as part of their retirement funding strategy.

In the 2006 financial freedom senior sentiment survey, 42% of the seniors polled, selected the response; "leave it to my heirs." when asked about future plans for their homes. in this year's survey, only 25% indicated this option as "very likely" or "somewhat likely". In contrast, 54% of seniors responded that they would keep access to their homes as a retirement asset until they are forced to make a decision.

"When you realize that the home is most Americans' largest asset, it's impossible to ignore the power of the home to assist in funding retirement regardless of the strategy," said michelle minier, ceo of financial freedom. "Clearly, a growing number of seniors are beginning to consider retirement funding strategies that incorporate their home."

Depending on their future situations, selling the home is the most popular strategy, with 12% of seniors indicating they already plan to sell it and 38% of seniors indicating they will sell if they have limited financial choices. Fewer seniors would leverage their homes, with 13% of seniors indicating they would use a reverse mortgage, or other home equity loan to access the wealth tied up in their homes.

Confidence in retirement income

The majority of seniors (83%) indicated that they were confident, or at least somewhat confident in their retirement income. However, only 56% were confident when asked about their greatest concerns for retirement years, 83% said "remaining healthy" followed by 18% who said "having enough money."

Strategies for saving, funding retirement

Despite strong confidence, when asked to choose from a list of specific strategies they might employ to fund retirement, 37% of seniors said they would work either part time (33%) or full time (4%), 14% said they would sell their home and move into a smaller one, and 9% said they would sell their belongings. Taking out a reverse mortgage rounded out the top five answers, garnering 6% of the responses.

Debt in retirement

while seniors ranked avoiding debt as their top saving strategy during retirement, a surprising 27% expect to have debt in retirement and 40% expect to have mortgage debt. Seniors revealed some startling trends:

Non-mortgage debt

o 59% of seniors with debt have at least $15,000 and 12% have more than $100,000;
o 17% never expect to pay it off;
o health care expenses topped the list of sources of debt, followed by auto loans and home repairs;
o men tend to be more in debt than women.

Mortgage debt

o 63% owe at least $50,000;
o 31% owe more than $100,000;
o 56% expect it will take 10 years or more to pay it off;
o 11% never expect to pay it off.

The financial freedom senior sentiment survey measured the opinions of "young seniors" aged, 62-75 on a variety of topics from retirement planning to family affairs to general quality of life issues. For a copy of the complete study, please contact michael gelormino of river communications at mgelormino@riverinc.com or by calling 914-686-5599.

By Michael

The Silent Partners of Domestic Violence

The month of October has been designated “ Domestic Violence Awareness Month”. In the past the words ‘domestic violence’ normally conjured up visions of some irate husband coming home and, not finding his dinner on the table, beats his wife.

Not so today. Like everything else in life, domestic violence, has evolved to become a social disease that involves us all. It can take the form described above or it may be the reverse – a wife abusing a gentle husband. It also takes the form of one or more parents abusing the children in the family.

The abuse itself takes many forms. It can be physical, emotional or sexual. The media normally reports the statistics on a daily basis. A day does not pass by without some story of a spurned lover or husband beating, maiming or killing his lost love. Some wife, girlfriend or mother running away to escape abuse. Distraught fathers and mothers hurting and even killing their children.

Most of this abuse is re-active. It comes from within and feeds our flight or fight instincts. It is not necessarily unintentional – sometimes it is just a way of getting back at those who hurt us. Even in the instances when it is intentional – as in the case of most sexual abuse cases of children- it is the perpetrator’s way of getting back at some perceived wrong that has been done to them in the past. The manner in which these people choose to extract their vengeance is often a reflection of how out of control they are.

In the cases of husbands abusing their wives and even their children it may be their way of venting their feelings of being trapped in a marriage with family responsibilities for which they are ill-equipped. It may be that in their own childhood they have had no preparatory training for what is required to become a father and husband. Maybe the examples of their own parents leave very much to be desired.

Similarly, wives and mothers fail their families in much the same way. The feeling of being trapped in a loveless marriage or the overwhelming burden of raising children – many a time without the support of a loving husband- can be enough to send a woman close to the edge.

Many a time substance abuse plays a huge role in the life of an abuser. In an effort to numb whatever internal pain a person may be suffering, he/she resorts to alcohol and drugs. The result being of course that their judgment becomes impaired, leaving them with a warped sense of reality. Many a time the abuser is unaware of the severity of their actions and in the sober light of day, is remorseful. The harm is already done by that time of course and they may wake up to the fact that the have irrevocably damaged or killed one or more loved ones.

This is not to say that all abuse is unintentional. Sad to say that there are those among us who deliberately set out to harm others. But even in those cases, there is an ignorance of some sort at work. Maybe they just do not know any better. We all know that history repeats itself. A child reared in an abusive home without intervention, inevitably becomes an abuser in later life. It is the circle of life.

How then do we solve this human crisis. There is only one way that comes to mind. “Intervention”. It is the only answer. When you are trapped in quicksand, there is no way that you can pull yourself to safety unless someone passes by and extends a helping hand. In this same manner when you are in an abusive relationship or you yourself are an abuser, many a time you are unable to extract yourself from it. You remember the old adage of “not being able to see the tree for the forest?” Works the same way.

In an abusive situation you cannot think beyond the immediate moment. You are always on edge, wondering what the next moment will bring. Thoughts of escape leave you shaking with fright. I should know. I survived one for six long years. The intervention of my family saved me.

Many of us see the effects of abuse in our friends and neighbors. In this community of immigrants where life can be very hard at times, we see the evidence. What do we do? Do we continue to turn a blind eye and become silent partners to domestic violence? Or do stand up and say something.

I choose to be the one to say something. Never mind that in the process you may loose a friend or two, it is more than worth it if you can save at least one life. Especially if that life is a child’s.

By Ali

Time Weighing Heavy On My Hands

Following my retirement i found time weighing heavy on my hands. the garden and house are in fine fettle, not much more i can do there. i needed a new focus. after over forty years of working for a living, i decided to do what i do best----go into business.

Setting myself up in a 'home based' business earlier this year progress is on plan.
whilst the money is welcome, an equally important benefit is the mental and social stimulation.

Spending around 3 to 4 hours per day at my desk, i have quite a success on my hands.
as my business includes a travel/holiday service we are using this to take two long haul holidays this comming year. firstly to kenya where i was stationed in the raf, and then to austrailia and new zealand.

Traveling 'club class' on both trips will add to the pleasure of our experience's. i am able to afford this level of travel due to the discounts we offer our clients, and therefore ourselves.

I am certain setting up and running my business is proving a huge benefit in terms of my health, personal and financial. anyone can do something similar, if you want to ask me any questions in this regard please do so.

By Henry

Senior Volunteers Neeed

share your time, change your world.

yfu usa is seeking volunteers to work with exchange
students and host families in your area

if you enjoy working with young people and families and
want to make a difference in the world, volunteering at
youth for understanding (yfu) usa may be right for you.

as a yfu volunteer you'll get to know teenagers who are
adventurous, eager to learn and want to make a difference
in the future. you'll meet interesting people and enhance
your relationships with people in your community and
workplace. you'll provide support and guidance to students
and families, and learn more about family dynamics. most
of all, you'll be making a significant contribution to improving
cultural awareness and international understanding,
changing your world a little bit at a time.

yfu volunteer opportunities
yfu volunteers provide support to students, families,
programs, and other volunteers in a wide variety of ways.
from conducting student orientations to making classroom
presentations, problem solving with international students
and their host families to arranging social activities, there is
truly a place for everyone at yfu. whether you are a
returned exchange alumnus, a parent, a retired person, or a
college student, we welcome people of all backgrounds to
work with us. whatever your skills and interests are, there
is a volunteer opportunity to match them!
why volunteer?
in addition to supporting life-changing experiences for young
people from around the world, volunteering for yfu
provides you with significant benefits. volunteering will:
* enhance your leadership skills.
* improve your interpersonal skills, such as understanding
people better, motivating others, and dealing with difficult
situations.
* help you develop better communication and public
speaking skills.
* share us culture and provide the opportunity to learn
more about world cultures.



yfu volunteering is flexible and engaging
yfu volunteers can choose from a variety of positions to
suit their interests, needs and schedule. the hours are
flexible, and you can even be a virtual volunteer without
ever leaving your home! yfu also gives you the freedom to
promote programs in creative ways in your own
community. you can work as a team, individually, with a
friend or family member.

a wide range of program volunteer positions are available at
yfu, including american overseas volunteers, area
coordinators and representatives, international student
volunteers and trainers. yfu provides all the training and
tools you need, in both one-on-one and self-guided
formats.

yfu relies on the skills of volunteers to perform a wide
range of tasks, including:
* administrative activities that help yfu provide more
effective services to other volunteers, students, and families.
* interviewing prospective host families and/or teenagers
who want to study abroad.
* planning and conducting orientations for international
students, american overseas students, host families,
and/or natural families.
* delivering presentations about yfu programs to groups at
schools and community events.
* recruiting host families and/or american overseas
students for yfu programs.
* supporting international students and their host families
while on program, and pre-departure support to american
overseas students and their natural families.

how to volunteer
youth for understanding volunteers are vital to the success
of yfu programs around the world. if you have decided to
join our global family of volunteers, there are three ways to
get started:
1. call toll-free 1-866-4-yfu-usa (1-866-493-8872) and
speak to a yfu representative immediately.

2. submit your application online at our web site, www.yfu-usa.org. once your application has been submitted, you will
be contacted by a local volunteer or staff person.

3. download the volunteer application, print it out,
complete is and mail it to yfu headquarters. or you can fax
your application to 240-235-2104.

By YFU

Retired Teacher Trades In Chalk For Microphone

One year ago, 64 year old lee douglas began to translate
his love for the music of the 50's and 60's lovingly called
oldies, into a new medium, the pod cast.

Together with the folks at talkshoe.com, he began his venture into the new
medium. just retired from teaching he decided to turn in his
chalk for a microphone.

His new show, which he called "old time rock n roll,
would be different in the way it was presented. the usual
play lists that are the hallmark of the oldies am radio
stations were out the window.

His own collection of 20,000 songs would be digitized onto
his computer to lay the groundwork for the show. Instead
of playing those songs which the oldies lovers had grown
tired of, he opened his collection and played the songs
that haven't been heard for many years. Then he would have
a spotlight for each show, novelties on one, doo wops on
another, rockabilly on yet another. Each show replete with
a dose of rock history and reminiscences.

He researches each singer and each song to provide
background for each show. so in november 2006, he went
on the air on talkshoe.com. the first week he had 8
listeners. obviously his friends had at least listened.

By the third week he managed 80 listeners, still quite
a jump. however, he was unprepared for the next week when out
of nowhere 800 people listened in.

One month later the 800 listeners grew to 3,000 and by
january 2007 he had garnered a listener ship of 25,000.

His gateway site http://www.oldtimernr.com , is the host
to old time rock n roll.

He actually still takes requests and dedications just like in
the old days through his e mail address - oldtimernr@hotmail.com
where does he go from here? his plans are to as he puts
it, "take it the next level."

Douglas says he would like to garner an even larger
audience and eventually try his hand at bringing some live
oldies and doo wop shows around the country. but that is a
long way off.

His focus is to make old time rock n roll even bigger and
better with each passing week. with his success also
means success to his pod casting network, talkshoe.com.

Douglas predicts that talkshoe will be the biggest thing in
pod casting in 2007 and beyond.

Now douglas has added two new live shows to his
repertoire. he has a weekly live commentary show where
listeners can call in and add their comments called only one
manâ?Ts opinion. this show also can be accessed by a button
on his old time rock n roll web site.

In Lee's own words, "what a way to end 2007 with the most popular
new oldies program around." 25,000 listeners must agree.

By Lee

Drug Related Crimes Run Rampant In The United States

Drug related crimes run rampant in the United States and have not missed the very little corner of the world in which I live. In the past the crimes have always happened somewhere else to someone else. This all changed dramatically when I became property manager in a small, old apartment building in a nearby town.

The owner of the building had been a uninvolved landlord and had rented the apartments to anyone who showed up with cash. Both the apartments and the tenants were in poor shape. I had been hired to collect rent and not much more. Very quickly I learned that there were drug dealings going on along with a bit of very sleazy prostitution. I knew from the news and crime dramas that innocent people often are victims of these types of crimes and I was not about to be counted as such. Thus, my first call to the police.

The police were well aware of the illegal activity in the building but were never able to catch anyone in the act. I was asked to become their eyes and ears, in other words, a confidential informant. We had long discussions about my safety and my never having to be seen in contact with the police. There is a county-wide anti-drug force and the local police would use their resources to act on any information I had.

I agreed. My first task was to inform the owner that I wanted to rid the building of drug sales and have tenants that were without felony records. He agreed that he would stand with me. I gave notice to all tenants that as the new property manager I would not tolerate any late rent payments or illegal activities. That notice prompted the tenants to start "snitching" on each other. I would listen and forward the info to my police contact. The police have all types of legal tactics to approach suspects. In one instance I called in to tell of a domestic disturbance only a day after I had reported that one tenant was harboring a fugitive. They took the opportunity after investigating the disturbance to do a "knock and talk" with the other residents. The police always ask for i.d. and were able to catch the fugitive when they did a check of people in one apartment.

In all, I have helped in the arrest of three people selling drugs, one prostitute and a fugitive. I have also been able to evict the other tenants because of late payments. We now only have tenants without felony records and with good paying jobs. The apartments have been upgraded and the rent is on time. It is also safe.

I cannot tell anyone around me what I have done because there always can be some sort of revenge. I did not have to sneak around or listen through a glass against a wall. That type of work would not suit me at all. My crime-fighting days are over.

By Jeanne

Older Than Dirt By Rusty

Well, my granddaughter thinks I’m older than dirt, but while I have to grow old, I sure don't have to grow up.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a pity party for one - just grumblings about how when life throws you lemons and I happen to make really yummy marguerites!

Three years ago I was diagnosed with degenerative discs, that is to say - no discs at all at the bottom of my spine. I was active and fit right up until then. The only thing I didn't do was tennis, golf and running. now its yummy cortizone shots directly into the spine, my cane affectionately called 'Cinderelli' and my walker, called 'Sean' (as in Connery - I needed something strong and handsome to hold me - so indulge me a little).

My life has been totally turned around. I can't play with the grandkids the way I used to, which is really the worst possible thing for me. I can't walk any great distance without the help of 'Sean', so I do the best with what I have. I try really hard not to get depressed, my hubby passed away in 1989, I used to sail, show dogs, among other things, which I obviously don't do now. So I use the grandkids as my 'higher power' - if I feel myself getting down I just look at those cheruby faces and my face lights up.

sometimes its hard going places with the walker - like people who continually honk their horns as you try to cross a 6 lane road with the 'walk' light - I end up slowing down and giving them 'the glare', ticks the drivers off, but I walk away with the biggest grin. If a car pulls into the middle of the walk path as I cross said road - now I make sure my cane actually hits the front of their vehicle. Hey it’s not my fault I’m old and my cane sometimes slips and misses the road.....you can see where I’m going with this.

While I don't 'aim' for noisy rugrats in the mall, I sure do think about it - but their obnoxious parents are fair game - life is actually quite good.

A little incident a while ago involving the police - so I blogged it for my friends. It goes something like this: decided to go up to what I call 'the big mall' to finish off some shopping for my vacation to joisey. I have to cross two 6 lane main roads to get there - it’s only about 15 minutes for me if I didn't have to wait for freaking stoplights.

So - I left at 9:30 with my walker and get to my first stoplight pressed the 'walk' button so when the light turned green the walk signal comes on. With me so far? ok - light turns green and I proceed across the road and I’m almost at the 3rd lane at the centre of the intersection when this woman who was also waiting for a green to turn the corner put her foot on the gas and practically hits me as she makes her turn - I screamed at her and called her an 'ungranny-like' name and went across the last 3 lanes. Its not like I’m a teeny tiny human being - I’m a big woman pushing a walker!!

Ok so I say to myself - calm down - it’s not worth it and off I go towards the 2nd major intersection. I have the 'walk' light in my favour and off I go. Once I’m across the main road I then have to go over an 'island' and then across a turning lane where traffic must yield to pedestrians. yeah you guessed it - I’m just setting off and this stupid guy zooms past me and has the nerve to wave 'thank you' -I let out another zinger.....and I just said to myself - that's two!!!

Now I walked and walked in the mall and noticed I’d been walking 2 full hours without even sitting to go to the toidey and am quite proud of myself. I decided to come back another way and so I did - when I turned the corner towards another small intersection - there's a silver car parked directly in front of the ramp off the sidewalk - and I’m ready for it - I said to myself - I hope he doesn't move before I get there ....and it didn't.

You have to understand I’m now in a mood to run over anything in my way so this was my next victim. I got within 10 feet and yelled - your blocking the ramp. the door opened and the female cop says I’m sorry I shouldn't be in your way - she's in an unmarked cruiser....then she backs away and goes into a proper parking spot - I found myself walking with an exaggerated limp so she wouldn't think about arresting me for yelling and scampered away as quick as a disabled person can scamper.
I’m going for a granny nap now but just wanted to share my day - except for the police woman - sadly this is almost a normal type of occurrence for pedestrians! I have the notches on my cane and walker to prove it too!!

Well I just thought I’d give you an insight into the life of a partially disabled person - it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. And the good news is I have room for lots of notches yet on 'Cinderelli' and 'Sean'.

By Rusty

Back In The Day By Tony

Back in the day, toys were for rich kids we made our own games on cobbled streets that at night were lit by gas lamps. In fact our house was a two up to down with gas mantles for light, you had to be real careful when lighting them they were not cheap two for a penny at Mrs Clarks shop on the corner.

She would put Arkwright to shame, but the shop had everything he had and more. Once my granddad had a heavy cold, the cure a Penarth of whisky from Mrs M. Coming home from school on a Monday evening my grans bread made the mouth water, baked from the cellar kitchen range, you could smell the bread from the top of the street. Years later the Hovis commercials reminded me of my gran and granddad they raised me.

In summer we were aloud to play out till nine, we played hiddy{hide and seek}kick out can, tors{marbles}what seemed like 50 a side football matches played on the wreck at the top of our street.

I'm 60 now and can not remember in my adult life having friends like I had back in the day, I often wonder what became of them all, some died as kids George S, fell of a roof, Michael W killed in a hit and run, never did catch who did it. Mary C, TB. One gassed him self at 14. Some moved away as parents did better for themselves. I know times change; we used to leave doors open at night, we had a lady who knocked us up with a log stick.

I hated that sound on cold winter mornings from under the sheet with my granddads long army coat on top for added warmth, the sound meant two hours to getting up for me, but more importantly the coat would be on my granddad and not me. Summer mornings my gran would wash the flags and scour the steps, Friday was pay day, clean piny and head scarf on my gran, granddads wages, off to uncle Benny to retrieve the crystal fruit bowl we had to pawn if my granddad had lost a days pay for what ever reason.

The streets are all gone now torn down in the sixties for multi-storey cells in the sky, I wish the spirit of those days were still with us, but that’s not to be, those days are long gone, but the memories off back in the day will remain with me for the rest of my life.

By Tony

A Day In The Life Of Harry

I went to Manchester city centre using my free bus pass yesterday, I also went for the very first time on a Metrolink tram. although I’ve lived in the Manchester area all my life but it must be many years since I’d visited the city centre because I didn't recognise it and I was like a tourist taking photos.

With the help of some very nice ladies - one about 18 at the local bus stop, one really lovely, heavily-pregnant young woman, her child is due in early august. But she wore a very pretty smock-type top instead of these stupid crop tops that teenage mothers-to-be wear, and we had a lovely chat at the tram stop.

Then a very smart, more mature lady at the tram terminus who told me she grew up near where I lived as a youngster and we exchanged reminiscences of days gone by and where we used to play.

She, apparently, worked (before she retired) at the stock exchange in Manchester but wasn't allowed on the floor because she was female. What a great day of talking to people it was!

By Harry

Looking Back By Doug Thwaites

Having lived 90 years and still with an active mind, I can recall vividly, events of years ago. If I go back 70 years to when I was a young man of 20, living in a world entirely different to that of today, I remember that I was having just as much enjoyment as now, with much less worries.

Having plenty of time to think back over my long life I begin to wonder if we are better off today. If all the things we take for granted today are really necessary. Of course what you never had you never miss. At that prewar period, life was wonderful and full. No worry about locking up your house, or going on a diet. Petrol was just over a shilling (10 cents) a gallon.

Living wage was about three pounds a week. I was driving a Singer Le Mans car with twin carburetors, bonnet tied down with a leather strap. I used to wear a Teddy Bear overcoat as they were called, synthetic fur, tied with a belt. There were no fears in those days, we partied and partied. I worked long hours and earned about five pounds a week so I was well off.

Radio was still in its early days. Mainly used for the news at night. No Television thank goodness. So we entertained ourselves. We had the cinema with black & white movies. Silent of course, but there was always music. The big cinemas had an Organ, which played in the interval while we drank our tea. We ate what we wanted, fat and all. The main cause of death in those days, according to the records was by an infection.

When I was at high school, once I got home and had a quick snack, it was off to the woods to play, cops and robbers or some similar strenuous game. No sitting in front of the Box, nibbling and becoming obese.

Shopping was very different in those days. No supermarkets, just the local grocer. In between getting the local gossip, we would wait while our sugar, or rice etc., would be weighed up and packed in a paper bag. Cheeses were there, in halves or smaller pieces of the whole cheese, still with the cloth on the outside. We would taste a piece before buying.

We took our container to get milk, which was kept in a large china bowl inside a glass cabinet. It had to be stirred before being ladled out, as it was raw milk with all the cream on top. Now most produce is wrapped in plastic and of course we pay more, because we have to cover the cost of packing, and the package. The two giants, Coles and Woolworths, sell most of the groceries that we need. The supply of food is becoming almost a monopoly.

It is considered that today the house must contain at least two televisions, VCR, DVD player, fridge, freezer, microwave, vacuum cleaner, and of course that stereo sound system. There are many more things available, coffee maker, coffee bean grinder, sandwich maker, toaster, Mixmaster, bread maker, electric jug. I could find a few more too. With all these labour saving devices surely we have more spare time, but no, the wife has to go to work too, to help pay for all these things. So she will need a car, more to pay for! Cars in those far off days were simple, just a means of getting from one place to another. No air-conditioning, no heater, and definitely no CD player, to distract the driver.

On Sundays I would take my mother for a drive. We would drive slowly along the roads, looking at the places we were passing. Now and then my mother would want us to stop so she could get out and look at someone’s garden, she was keen on flower gardening. Now you cannot drive slowly along a road, someone would either run into you or the sounds of horns would deafen you. It is not a pleasure driving now; more like a case of ‘Dodgems’

Now the roads are crammed with cars, and there is constantly a need to upgrade them to cope, with the thousands more cars that are to come. The world’s population keeps expanding. In Australia, we import people, so that they will need cars and homes, and thus provide employment for thousands. We manufactured about 485,314 cars last year, plus the imports, and imported about 146,000 people.

As the population increases, more land is needed to build homes on, which means less to grow food on. A disaster looms as more people means more food needed, yet less land will be available. All these extra cars on the roads have made traveling by car a risky business as the road toll increases. All those extra exhausts mean more pollution of the air that we breathe. The day when petrol runs out, will get closer as all the extra fuel is used.

When that happens, our cars will run on fuel cells, using water, which is split into Hydrogen and Oxygen. The fuel cell makes electricity while converting the Hydrogen. The waste product is water. Why are they not being mass-produced now? Well we have to use up the petrol first. The world runs on profit not environment care. Now let us look at Television. When it first came here, it was meant to entertain and educate. It has certainly educated people about crime, murder and the use of drugs and firearms.

No longer do parents have to have a talk to their children about the birds and the bees; they see it all on the screen. I consider it is a drug. People have lost the art of communicating and entertaining themselves. I moved to South Australia in 1960, as Television was about to start there. I found people got together at the weekend, and even sang songs and played the piano.

A few months later those pianos were being traded in on televisions. In SE Queensland we have five TV stations broadcasting 24 hours of the day. To find material for all these hours, masses of rubbish is shown, most unfortunately from America. The ABC and SBS for those lucky enough to receive it, show wonderful material. Many of the documentaries do educate and inform.

Another new wonder is the computer; simply it is a brain, which is much larger and faster than ours. But we have to give it the information first. It cannot think for itself. It can then be shared with the rest of the world through another wonder, the Internet. Now sending messages by Email have taken over from the post office, now referred to as snail mail.

I have a nephew in Calgary, Alberta; letters to him took five days to get there and five days to get back. Because of the time difference he is asleep when I am awake. I can send him an Email and get a reply back the next morning. But I still enjoy writing long letters to people. Luckily for the post office we can now pay most of our bills through them. Now digital cameras have arrived. I have one and like every thing else in life it has its good points and bad ones.

Now instead of taking pictures and having to wait for the roll to fill up, and then wait while it was processed, I can take a picture and have a print in five minutes. So film is not being used, thousand will lose their jobs in Kodak, although they make the camera?

So that is the whole point now, considering the good points and the bad and weighing up is it worth doing or using.

I had an infection during the last war and was given a piece of jelly to eat. That was the first use of Penicillin. The over use of anti-biotics have produced germs that are resistant to some, so there is a constant hunt for different ones. Although they have good points they also have bad ones, side effects they are called. So do all medical drugs. I must admit here that I am only alive now because of drugs. Anti-biotics kill the bad bugs, but also the good ones, which mean that our digestive systems are put out of order, and doses of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium must be taken to restore it.

There is a good side to living this long, I have had some enjoyable extra years, but there is a downside. Although my brain is as good as ever, my body is beginning to deteriorate, and unlike a man made object I cannot buy spares, and am too old for transplants. I know like everyone does that I must die sometime. I have had two scares and beaten them. I can no longer do the physical things I want to do, I can no longer wander around Australia, so I am confined, and awaiting what next will come along and try and knock me off my perch.

I have been accused of being pessimistic; no I am just looking at the truth.
The question of whether we are better off, well that doesn’t matter, as we cannot go back.

By Doug Thwaites

Footprints In The Snow By Joan Brownlow

As someone new to the concept of "chat rooms" (I use the online scrabble site) I was pleased to find life over 50and intend to explore It's possibilities once I’ve mastered pressing the right what's its!

The reason I am inputting text (jargon my granddaughter introduced) is to ask if you are aware of the u3a (university of the third age)

They have a web site; national and local so details are there for a click of a thingamy!
My local group has some 200 members and although we meet only once a month for coffee and sharing group news, we meet in smaller groups for the activities. Scrabble, Bridge, Table Tennis, walking, gardening for the restless amounts us.

Creative groups such as poetry and writing; handicraft and painting, book club photography--well you get the idea.

I hope this will get an airing on our site as I believe the concept to be so similar and complimentary in aim. In that respect those of us involved in the u3a are in a very good situation to promote the life over 50 site.

I’ve been retired only seven years but to date have had nothing but pleasure from the freedom retirement offers.

If I may, I will end with a poem that I wrote as part of poetry activities.

Footprints In The Snow

Some yearn for footprints in the sand;
divine presence, secured hand;
when life is cold and spirits low,
I long for footprints in the snow.

Then yearn for sun to warm the day
to melt those telling marks away;
and yet to keep the quilted white
to hide the chaos from my sight.

As stronger sun warms life again,
snow and ice turn to rain-
the camouflage slips from the heath;
I have to face what lies beneath.

Now without a place to hide,
divine presence, constant guide,
give me confidence to grow;
with safer footsteps-should it snow.

That's it. I hope this over 50's site goes from strength to strength!
Are you about to contribute an article?

By Joan Brownlow

A Seniors Guide To Internet Dating By Sheila Bisset

Life after 50 takes many new twists and turns and as a relatively new single coming out of a long term marriage I thought I would turn my hand to internet dating.

You would imagine as a mature professional woman that this exercise would be relatively easy. I have to say these last two months have been a great learning curve.

I was taken unawares initially by a response I received from a site that I had visited but not joined as a member. I was very flattered that someone might find me interesting so I began to communicate through email, then phone calls and then the big day when we were to meet.

The date was set up for 2.30pm outside the local supermarket; well safety takes precedence over a romantic setting. We talked over a cup of tea and in honesty found that really we were not interested in each other so after 45 minutes said our goodbyes.

When I returned home I was not really surprised at this since I double checked his profile and found he wanted a black woman and I am blonde haired and fair skinned, not a combination for success.

I was not too despondent, onwards and upwards etc. based on my first experience I decided I would join a larger site to see what was on offer. After all I had survived my first encounter.

I decided I was going to do some of the searching and be more in control. I contacted a gentleman who lived locally but not too local, downside was that my date had no photograph and therefore it was a bit of a shot in the dark match wise. undeterred I pressed on and again we email, no phone calls and then arranged to meet at a local pub. The experience wasn’t too bad, we managed to talk for about two hours but it can be hard work talking to someone and seeming interested when really neither of us were genuinely interested in each other.

Since then I have had three more dates, one at a coffee shop again with a nice man who we both know that romantically we will go no further. However, will probably remain good friends ad infinitum and I’m happy with that. The last one was the best but still a learning experience. This was a lovely 60 year old who was very new to this game and more than I lacked confidence. We met and had a lovely day together shopping lunching and talking. we got on so well we met again two weeks later and had another very enjoyable day out, had lunch and both came to the conclusion that because of our differing needs and the distance we would not go any further.

So what have I learned in the last two months from my experiences, well here goes; you wear your heart on your sleeve and therefore have to be thick skinned to cope with rejection. You have to be very aware of what you want and especially if you just want a slow start with friendship leading to something more serious. Some people want only a serious relationship and therefore being like minded will help to make a successful match. I also have the gut feeling that sometimes money and assets can influence a successful relationship. I get a sense that there are some gold diggers out there. You have to be careful that you are not perceived as a gold digger and
that you are not dating a person who may see you as a meal ticket. I get a sense from what I have read on the male profiles that they are also vulnerable to young women who are young enough to be their daughters and are looking for `sugar daddies`.

it seems to me that would be good to write some internet dating rules, for example:

*if you want to take your relationship further what are the ground rules, do you text or talk everyday, every other day or once per week

* how do you strike the balance of being keen but not desperate

* how do you draw your relationship to a close if one of you is very keen and the other not without hurting feelings

* is it acceptable to give feedback to your date on their profile? I like feedback and have changed my profile based on this but some might find it a put down

*many of us feel that others are doing better than us at this game but in reality it seems that we all have many people who visit our site but don’t get in touch

these are all aspects of internet dating that we need to consider when embarking on what is for many of us a very unfamiliar exercise.

Finally there is the issue of intimacy, am area that I have not ventured into at the moment, that will wait until the right relationship comes along. We all need to be aware of sexually transmitted diseases (stis) and be prepared to take the precautions required to keep us health even though the threat of pregnancy has passed.

How do I conclude my internet dating experience, well I am still keen and enthusiastic, I have met some really nice people, made some new friends along the way and hope to make more in the future.

I would be really interested in hearing about other real life internet dating experiences so please get writing and lets all learn the rules together.

Find Love & Romance In Your Area Now

By Sheila Bisset

So You Want A Website Do Ya?

Not content with taking over the Internet, Seniors are now embarking on profiting from it too. More and more people over 50 are becoming Webmasters by learning HTML and publishing their very own websites.

One of the many questions we get asked here at Life Over 50, isn't surprisingly how to create a Website, it's actually how do I go about getting a better search engine rank. With this is mind we've created a new site specifically designed to show you exactly how to go about getting high rankings in the most popular search engines by using natural search engine optimization techniques and which search engine optimization tools you should consider using to make the job a little easier.

As we all know the secret to a profitable website no matter what the subject, is to achieve a better search engine placement than your competitors. If you can manage this then your website is unlikely to fail.

Unfortunately there is no such things as guaranteed search engine optimization, as search engines are continually evolving. That said, by implementing simple on page and off page optimization techniques you will be doing all you can to ensure your Website is highly ranked in the top search engines.

Remove Spyware Now Before It's Too Late!

It doesn't mater what age group you are, it's a known fact that spyware effects everybody who goes online. This is silent and often malicious form of software is often part of a program you download from the Internet. When you innocently install this program you also install the spyware without even realising it. Before you know it, you computer and especially your Internet connection will grind to a halt as your browser is hijacked sending you all over the planet, or worse yet, confidential information like bank or credit card details that you use for online shopping are covertly being sent to a third party, and all this without your knowledge or consent.

So what can be done? Well even if your computer is running fine you should still look for spyware removers to help clean up your system. You'll be amazed at just how much spyware this is on your hard drive. A decent spyware removal utility will do just that. It will detect spyware and generally fix spyware lurking on your machine. Although removing spyware is often thought to be a complicated process, with today’s dedicated spyware home pages and software the task of ridding this parasite is becoming a little easier.

Check out http://www.spyware-removers.co.uk for more information.

Seniors And Diabetes

Unfortunetly, and as you get older the chances of developing type 2 Diabetes dramatically increases. This is especially true if you are overweight and do little excercise in the first place. The good news though is that this condition can be treated.

If you think you have the symptoms of diabetes and would like more information relating to the condition including how to make delicious diabetic recipes snack bars or information on how to control diabetes during pregnancy make sure you visit:

http://www.symptomsofdiabetes.org.uk