Born in Sydney - retired in Mountain View Murwillumbah, after teaching Special Education for more years than I can remember in NSW and Qld. My goal is to figure out the finer points of putting together a functional website and to write blogs that people want to read. Oh, and to travel the world, and share the beauty of the beautiful place I now call home.
Aim: To nurture and inspire the writer in each of us
Objectives:
To:
Write, Edit, Publish
Listen
Encourage
Share information
Give positive feedback
Structure:
There is no leader
We may appoint – or self-nominate – as facilitators, but not one of us owns the group
Decisions will be made by the group for the benefit of all
We will not criticise – EVER!
We will offer feedback if asked, but we will be gentle and remember that behind each written word is a beating heart of the human variety
Remember the general guidelines for feedback:
give feedback in the manner you would like others to give you feedback
give feedback on the writing – not the person
offer a positive comment – what you liked about the writing
follow with a suggestion of something that could be tweaked or changed or isn’t working (in your opinion – and it is only your opinion. Others might not agree)
finish with a positive comment
each one of us is brave enough to put our writing out there to be scrutinised – Always Be Gentle!
Toastmasters has trained millions of people to speak confidently in public. This is how they suggest feedback should be given: And since writing is a form of communication, the guidelines apply to both.
If you Google ‘how to build a website’, you’ll find a lot of information, and courses, both online and face-to-face. The cost ranges from free to very expensive.
I didn’t Google ‘how to build a website’ – and I didn’t race off to my nearest college to learn how.
I just did it!
And if I can do it, you can do it.
When I closed the door of my classroom for the last time in April 2016, I was sixty-six years old and had chalked up over thirty years of teaching.
You can’t work fifteen hours a day, five days a week – to suddenly sit on your touché and do nothing. When I first thought about retirement, I thought about what I could learn once I didn’t have to go to work each day.
It’s all in the name
Building a website was on my list of things to do in retirement, so I bought a couple of domain names, just in case. It seemed everyone had a blog and I wanted one too, even though I wasn’t quite sure what a blog was.
The first time I raised the question of my pending website with my web-developer son, the response was “Go to WordPress.com – it’s so easy anyone can do it. You’ll be right”.
I can’t say that I wasn’t tech savvy at the time, but loading a few Apps onto an iPad and reviewing them in the school newsletter, isn’t exactly high tech.
The gauntlet was down – the challenge was on.
Once I’d retired from teaching, I had all the time in the world to learn. So I logged onto www.WordPress.com, rolled up my sleeves, and got stuck into it.
It was flabbergastingly easy! Oh, and perhaps I should mention my learning style…
‘if all else fails, read the instructions’ .
Through trial and error and a few Google searches, I figured it out.
I remember the first time I typed in www.havandra.wordpress.com, and my new website stared back at me. It was an amazing feeling! I’ve kept that old site as a reminder of how far I’ve come. Maybe one day I’ll find time to fix that old site up a bit – now that I know more about building websites. Having said that, it still works just fine the way it is.
I was proud of my first attempt, but I look back now and cringe, given what I have learned since then. I used a lot of text, rarely any headings or sub-headings, not nearly enough white-space, and very few photos.
And before the website police start jumping up and down, I know it isn’t perfect. But I built it myself! And I haven’t had any formal training in how to build a website.
The buzz I got from seeing my first WordPress website up and running (the .com version) inspired me to take the next step. I had bought a few GoDaddy domain names before I retired, including MaureenDurney.com, so now I was ready to build a couple of .org websites.
WordPress.com is a F-R-E-E version of the popular website-platform. You can build and maintain a website without any cost (apart from your ridiculously inexpensive Domain Name).
Racking it up a notch
With a little help from my son for the hosting part, I built a website and started my blog.
WordPress.org gives you more flexibility to customise your website, but you will need to pay to have it hosted. And you will need a Domain Name.
Hosting is the part that gives your website its ‘street address’ out there in cyberspace. Because there’s no point in building a website if nobody can see it. Until you get the hosting part sorted, the only place you’ll see your website is on your computer, or whatever device you use to build it.
When I Googled ‘how to write a blog’, there were heaps of options! But nearly all started with:
Choose a descriptive name…
Well – I’d blown that one before I’d even started.
Your Domain Name is the name of your website. If you think of websites you’ve probably visited, you’ll see how the name of the website describes what they do or who they are.
That doesn’t exactly tell you a lot, unless you are a member of my family or a friend who Googles my name to see what comes up.
GoDaddy is a popular site for finding the right Domain Name.
As soon as I signed the contract to buy a unit in a Retirement Village (even though I wasn’t retired at the time), I bought the domain name ‘MountainView-Living.com’. I had no idea what I would do with it, but figured I could write a blog about what it was like to live there.
Out of the four websites I’ve built, that’s the one domain name I got right. It at least features the name of the village I live in, so you’d expect the blog to have something to do with the place.
Get Hosting ✓
My son helped me with the hosting. He had the option of including the hosting of my site alongside sites that he had built. GoDaddy has a package plan where you can host multiple sites under the one plan – and that’s what my son had.
There are a lot of Hosting companies out there and WordPress has a list of companies that are very WordPress friendly, including many of the companies that sponsor WordPress WordCamps around the world.
I’ve since upgraded one of my sites to WPEngine hosting. They are one of the world leaders in web-hosting and are also a major sponsor of WordPress WordCamps and Meetups.
Customise your site ✓
WordPress has this part covered. And this really is the fun part.
I started by choosing a WordPress theme. WordPress provides heaps of themes that are free to use. And you can test-drive them to see how it will look on your site before locking it in.
Themes have a lot of built-in features to make your life easier. At the start of my website journey, I left it all up to the theme. I chose the theme, installed and activated it, and that was it. Done!
I’ve since learned how to tweak the theme a little, but I mostly stick to the already installed features of the themes I use.
Wendy and I have started a closed FB Group for all residents and staff at Mountain View.
Just search Facebook for Mountain View Murwillumbah, and you’ll find us.
You have to apply to become a member and answer three simple questions – then an Administrator will approve your request – depending on your answers…
You’ll then be part of our very own Facebook community.
Don’t forget to read and agree to our guidelines. We have a three-strike policy – three inappropriate posts – and you’ll be out. Oh, and the inappropriate posts will be deleted.
Our focus is on community and support. No bullying or derogatory comments, and no spamming. We’re all here to live a peaceful life and enjoy our retirement.
Most of us up here on the hill have been around the block a couple of times (or more!). Some have lived our lives on the edge while others have taken a more conservative, back-seat position. But regardless of what course our lives took, looking at life in the rear-view mirror certainly puts a different perspective on it.
The ordinary experiences of aging alter and clarify your view of past, present and future.
Edith Pearlman
Do you remember how you felt as your twenty-first birthday drew near? For Baby Boomers, twenty-one years of existence signalled the dawn of adulthood. It was the magic number that entitled us to sign contracts and enter into legal agreements (like marriage…) without the written consent, or approval, of our parents.
The world was ours, to do with as we pleased.
And we embraced it with both hands, and wide-eyed wonder. Some of us were invincible and hurtled into life at full-throttle – others moved slowly through the gears (and years). Either way, we explored, experimented, made decisions and settled into an existence that would (hopefully) sustain us into our mature years.
We pursued goals, both career and personal, and raised families. Through lean years and good, we managed to get by. And no matter what life threw at us, we survived.
We were resilient.
The years came and went. Our once busy households were now relatively empty. The children we raised had left to raise their own family. Society even came up with a name for us – we became the ‘Empty Nesters’.
And the Empty Nesters took flight – albeit – on wheels. And another new phrase was coined, as the ‘Grey Nomads’ circled the nation (and the globe). Caravans dotted the highways in no particular hurry to arrive, to the annoyance of the younger generation who lined up on the highway behind us.
Long lines at check-in counters of airports were over-populated by travelling seniors with passports in hand, as they jetted off to another long-awaited destination. The travel bucket-list growing smaller with every return journey.
The SKI Club – Spending Kid’s Inheritance
Back in the day, our parents lived frugally and saved hard – safe in the knowledge they would be leaving a sound financial legacy for their surviving children. And the children lived safe in the knowledge their inheritance would be forthcoming on the demise of their loving parents.
But somewhere along the way, the lines blurred. The borders of the world merged. Inventions like television, and then the Internet, gave us a glimpse of another world. There was more to life than the little patch of ground we called home, and we wanted to experience it – all of it!
Education was the norm for our generation, not the exception. And University became accessible and affordable for more than just the children of the elite.
Our children were not only better educated, but earned more than we ever did.
It no longer made sense to go without – just to leave an inheritance to children who didn’t need it.
And that’s when the SKI Club was born. The grey (or – nearly grey) nomads disposed of the family home and moved into a more mobile abode. One that would deliver them to the far corners of the country, as they ambled along the highways and bush roads of this vast land.
The dawn of a new era
Eventually the nomads wearied of their transitory lifestyle. They had explored the length and breadth of the country – and the gypsy-lifestyle no longer served them. They longed for a little cottage with enough garden to keep them occupied without over-taxing their waning energy and creaking bones.
As they reminisced about the places they had seen, one or two little towns or cities dominated their thoughts. And that’s where they gravitated to. It’s where they would settle down to enjoy their more senior years.
When it’s time to view life in the rear-view mirror, what will you see?
With the big-wheels sold to the next generation of nomads, our grey-nomads bought into a new lifestyle. A place where everyone has a story to tell and no-one is in a hurry to go anywhere. Where folks enjoy a cuppa and a chat to share their travel-tales.
And when darkness falls, you can hear a pin drop.
The forwarding address for all their mail is to a Retirement Village in that quaint little town they found all those years ago – the one they kept going back to – the one they talked about the most.
Travel now is in the luxury of a cruise ship – where someone else charts the course and does the driving.
Life in the rear-view mirror looks good, framed by the memories made in the journey from the beginning of adulthood to the final phase of our existence.
Mine was one of the generations raised with the gender defining notion that boy babies wore blue booties, and girl babies wore pink booties.
Fast forward to 2019 – those boy babies are now in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and blue has been ditched in favour of pink.
For seniors who attended the recent Project Pink function at Mountain View Retirement Village, the room was a sea of pink. Our now more senior boy babies wore pink shirts, pink ties, pink braces, and pink hats.
There was not a blue bootie to be seen… anywhere.
Pink bras were strung high and wide, along with the usual bunting and balloons.
So why would these trend-setters of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s don their finest pink outfits, and assemble in the Community Centre on a fine day in October?
Because….
Mountain View Retirement Village puts on an annual event to raise money for the PA‘ s research into Breast Cancer.
Project Pink – Mountain View Style
Project Pink is our way of raising money for a great cause, and residents came out in full force to support it.
Food was plentiful and the drinks flowed.
Each attendee paid a nominal fee to attend, and then untied the purse-strings to buy heaps of raffle tickets.
You could be forgiven for thinking the cost of admission wouldn’t even cover the cost of lunch, let alone drinks and raffle prizes.
And it didn’t. We had some serious help with the funding.
Aveo supports Project Pink events in its communities across the country, with an aim to raise one million dollars for the cause.
Businesses in Murwillumbah donated generously to make sure there were enough raffle prizes.
And the staff and residents of Mountain View worked tirelessly on the day.
David, Dave and John flipped burgers and sausages on the BBQ.
Shanneen, Ellen and Kerrie took care of everything inside.
And Ray, one of the boy babies adorned in pink, greeted guests and helped sell raffle tickets.
Residents ate, drank and were merry – their participation making a difference to the families who have or will be affected by Breast Cancer in their lifetime.
Have you heard me say Murwillumbah is the best place to live?
Here’s why…
Resident volunteers took to the streets of Murwillumbah a few weeks before the event and ‘door-knocked’ businesses. I visited five places who all generously donated gifts or services, and the other volunteers had similar results.
There was no shortage of fabulous prizes donated by the generous businesses within the Murwillumbah community.
The table and notice board overflowed with the generous donations from Murwillumbah businesses.
You could have heard a pin drop when David started calling out the raffle winners. Eyes focussed on lucky (or not..) tickets, as each attendee waited with much anticipation to hear their lucky number called out.
There may have even been a bit of skullduggery going on between winners because I’m sure I noticed a couple of deals going down.
I know Wendy and Ray came to some kind of arrangement.
“Love your new haircut, Ray”.
“Nice new pot-plant, Wendy!”.
Those who didn’t win were grateful that the purchase of their tickets helped raise much needed funds for research into Breast Cancer.
We raised a little over $1500.00!
That’s a mammoth effort for the little community up on the hill.
And we could not have done it without the support of Aveo, and our Murwillumbah community.
A Huge Thank You To:
The amazing Aveo Mountain View management team for their dedication and energy in organising the event, food, drinks and BBQ.
Shanneen, for orchestrating the event from beginning to end.
The residents of Mountain View Retirement Village who:
helped cook the great BBQ lunch
attended the function
bought heaps of raffle tickets
Thank you to all who attended and made the day a huge success, and most importantly, those who delved deep into their wardrobes to find something pink to wear.
And an even bigger Thank You! to these amazingly-generous Murwillumbah businesses for opening their hearts (and wallets) to donate the amazing prizes that helped us raise a whole lot of money.
Your generous donations have made a big difference and we thank you, sincerely.
Australia Post
B Spoilt Hair Salon
Balcony Restaurant
Beverley’s on Main Street
Bottle-O Bray Park
Bi-Rite Electrical
Bray Park Butchery
Cafe 81
Chantilly Boutique
Country Style Barber
Con Varella Pharmacy
Dinki Di Discounts
JH Williams
Juju’s Cafe
Katrina Hair Salon
Keith’s Cafe
Lavender Blue
Mapp & Hession Pharmacy
Mother Js Nursery
Murwillumbah Cellars
Murwillumbah Golf Club
Murwillumbah RSL Club
New Leaf Cafe
Office Choice
Opal Nails
Outdoorism
Priceline
Rumour Has It
Soul Pattinson Pharmacy
Sports World
Sutto’s Floor Coverings
Sunnyside Meats
Take a Break Cafe
The Foundry
The Style Shop
Tweed Fruit Exchange
And at the end of the day, our boy babies…..
….. hung up their pink shirts, dusted off their pink hats, and folded their pink ties and braces. Will the pink gear be kept in a dark cupboard until next year’s Project Pink, or will our boy babies show up in their finest pink garb at other events?
That is the burning question that only time will tell.
Come back and visit this page often, and if you can support any of these local businesses, it would be a great way to thank them for donating to the PA’s Research into Breast Cancer, through Mountain View’s Project Pink function.
Did we miss knocking on your door this year?
If you would like to support Mountain View’s Project Pink next year by donating goods or services, make sure you leave a comment on this page, or contact the office at Mountain View Retirement Village to have your name added to the list for 2020.
Wrap your laughing gear around this, and let’s dissect this whole ‘ageing and happiness’ business.
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old; you grow old when you stop laughing”
George Bernard Shaw
Wrap your laughing gear around this… image from Pixabay
Who Wants To Grow Old Before Their Time!?
Retiring from a long, stressful career in Education has given me the freedom to kick back and enjoy life. And one of the best decisions I made before hanging up the chalk for the last time, was to buy a unit at Aveo Mountain View Retirement Village.
Living in Paradise!
I meet people every day who have ‘happiness’ written all over their face. Their smile brightens even the dreariest winter’s day. Life, love and laughter emanate from their every word and motion. Even those who have the least to smile about, find something in their day to be happy about.
Spreading the cheer at Christmas in July
A couple of Santa’s Happy Elves
A welcome coffee-stop on the way to Tenterfield
Learning to love the cold in Tenterfield on a cold day in May
Okay – the wine might have helped – a little…
Well – at least the wine warmed us up…
Those who have mobility challenges, or are wracked with pain, still smile. Perhaps they are thankful for waking up each day to the beautiful sounds of nature that abound in our twenty-eight acres of Paradise.
You can spend the whole day crying about it, or you can learn to love the cold…
I recently read an interesting story about a father and son in Norway. When the boy was about four years old, the father took him ice-fishing. The son was not happy because ice-fishing means standing around on a big block of ice for a very long time, and it was seriouslycold. He soon made his feelings known in no uncertain terms, as a four year old would, and he cried.
The response from his father gave the son a life-lesson that he never forgot.
“Look, you’re here now. You can either spend the whole day crying about it, or you can learn to love the cold. You’ve got a choice. You can either choose to be miserable, or choose to love the cold.’ And so that’s what we did. We just learned to love the cold.”
We can either cry about a situation, or learn to love it. The choice is ours.
That doesn’t mean we have to blindly accept every situation we find ourselves in. It means we have the choice to accept the situation or change it. If we can’t change it, then accepting it – learning to love it – is the best option.
Changing the weather in a cold Norwegian winter isn’t an option. The father’s advice to learn to love the cold made a life-long difference to the way his son viewed life.
If you can’t change a situation, then embrace it and learn to love it.
If you can change it – change it.
You even have a choice in how you change a situation.
You can:
Grumble about it and make everyone else miserable as well
Rant and rave and get people offside – often it’s the people you need to have on-side that you upset the most
Blame everyone else for the situation – when often the challenging situation reflects a choice you have made and now regret
Hold on to a grudge – some people seem to like being unhappy
Ignore genuine help to solve a problem – as above, some people don’t really want a solution, even if it is handed to them on a silver platter – they seem to prefer to grumble and complain
Acknowledge those who offer solutions – and work with them to bring about the change you want to make
And that’s what puts the smile on the faces of the people I meet every day.
They are happy to work with those who are striving for positive changes in their own life, and the lives of others.
And if it can’t be changed?
By learning to accept situations – learning to love the ‘cold’, we become, or remain, happier people.
Getting back to the wisdom of George Bernard Shaw – we grow old when we stop laughing.
And Who Wants To Grow Old Before Their Time?
Not Me!
… and obviously not the majority of people who live in Mountain View Retirement Village.
As for the few unhappy people in the village – who knows? Maybe the infectious laughter of the rest of us will show them that growing old (and grumpy) is a choice.
So wrap your laughing gear around all the fun things on offer in the Village, and stay as young as you are!
Life can be tough – but how you handle it is your choice. You can laugh or you can cry. Both probably take the same amount of effort – so why not laugh?
And It beats the heck out of being old – and grumpy!
Disclaimer: This post does not intend to diminish Mental Health issues, especially Anxiety and/or Depression. The post simply aims to highlight the choice for individuals to focus on happiness rather than sadness. Unless otherwise stated, all information contained herein is the opinion of the author. The post does not constitute a diagnosis or specific treatment of any physiological or mental disorder. If this post has raised questions concerning long-term anxiety, sadness or depression, please seek advice from a professional.
The advantages of having Christmas in July are many and varied. Some would argue that it isn’t right – from a Spiritual perspective – and I respect that. But here in Australia we do a lot of things differently. Perhaps it comes from being ‘Down Under’ – or upside down, as our Northern Hemisphere friends would have us believe. Having Christmas in July means we get to eat a traditional hot Christmas lunch. Some Aussies might sit down to a hot Christmas lunch in December, but I guarantee it will be with the unwelcome addition of flies, sweat and searing temperatures.
It’s also about economics…
How much do you spend at Christmas? Do you spend a big chunk of the next year clearing the Credit Card debt acquired in the lead up to December?
Christmas in July gives us all the trimmings, without the expense. We might add a few more luxury items to the lunch menu than we would usually, but nothing like what happens at Christmas in December.
We drag out the box of Christmas decorations from last year and throw a bit of tinsel around, but there’s no need (or opportunity) to go out and buy more. The doors on the pop-up Christmas stores remain closed, at least for a few more months.
Last year’s Christmas Tree might make its way to the corner of the room, but it doesn’t get the attention it demands in December.
Yep – we even had a Christmas Tree – well, sort of….
The December Christmas Tree might look a bit more elaborate…
But the most appreciative person on the scene in July is good-old Santa! For once he gets to don his red suit without being trapped in a walking-Sauna-suit. In fact, the fur-lined suit provides a safe haven from the chilly July air, which is what Northern Hemisphere Santas enjoy in December.
And not a drop of sweat on good-old Santa – No flies, either….
And nobody expects presents!
When you have Christmas in July, the Credit Card stays safely stowed in your back pocket, at least for a few more months.
Up here on the hill on the twenty-first day of July, we put on our best Christmas colours and enjoyed a hot Christmas lunch.
A fantastic fun day was had by almost one-hundred festive Christmas-ers who came out to celebrate our Christmas in July.
Chris Harvie provided non-stop, feet-tapping, sing-along entertainment. If you haven’t heard Chris sing – you should. He has an amazing voice and just the right personality to have everyone singing along, or at least tapping their feet.
I guess we forgot to tell Santa’s helpers – ‘No Presents!’
And The Hot Christmas Lunch?
Like any hot Christmas lunch, ours was Delicious!! Washed down with home-made Sangria, ensured a lively and energetic crowd on the dance-floor. The most lively dancer had his ninety-eighth Birthday the week before, which proves you are never too old to get out and enjoy yourself.
She might not have been up dancing, but our one-hundred-year-plus (101 year old) visitor certainly enjoyed the event as much as the rest of us.
So with Christmas in July over and done, there are less than six months before we do it all again, albeit minus a hot Christmas lunch.
Up here on the hill, we don’t do things in half measures. When we decided to host a Welcome to Winter lunch, volunteers got busy planning, shopping, cooking and decorating.
And this is the result.
What do you think?
The tables are set, the food is prepared (as much as it can be), and the Community Centre is decorated and looking good.
For those who thought living in a Retirement Village would be boring, think again. Up here on the hill our Welcome to Winter lunch is going to be amazing!
At the end of Day Two, fifteen weary but happy travellers were delivered safely back to our beautiful village. So with Part One of the Tenterfield Trip done and dusted, here is a pictorial account of Day Two.
Day Two
On Wednesday morning we woke to a beautiful crisp Autumn morning in Tenterfield (that’s code for FFFFF – Freezing Cold!). The sun was shining in a clear blue sky and all was right with our world.
Our Home-Away-From-Home…. for one fantastic night…
Breakfast was cooking at the School of Arts Cafe and the fabulous team of Marion and Amanda were waiting to greet us. Marion and Amanda had started work early so that we could eat and be on our way. We still had some sightseeing to take care of – oh – and maybe just a little bit more shopping.
Marion and Amanda got up extra early to accommodate us, and still had a welcome smile for us when we arrived. What an awesome team!
Breakfast!
Who wouldn’t want to go back for more, once they have eaten at the School of Arts Cafe at Tenterfield? That’s how it happened for us… lunch one day – breakfast the next. These girls, (and the lovely Kylie), made sure our dining experiences were met with a smile, and every detail attended to. Thank you, Amanda, Marion and Kylie for contributing to our first overnight bus trip.
Make sure you stop in and say Hi! to these lovely ladies next time you are in Tenterfield.
And leave enough time to read the walls leading through to the cafe. You’ll come away with a deeper knowledge of our Prime Ministerial History. And yes, they have had to add a bit more wall space to accommodate our revolving-door Prime Ministership of recent years.
Photos from the early years to…..…what the heck!Funny how we were more subdued over breakfast than we were at pre-dinner drinks the day before…
With breakfast done and dusted, the early birds opted for a walk while waiting for others to finish, before meeting back at the bus.
Joan, Elizabeth and I opted for a quick dash to the Haberdashery store we had spotted the previous afternoon. What an experience that was!!! It was like finding Aladdin’s Cave unlocked, and with the lights on.
We each settled on our own version of obsession – mine was more wool for yet another scarf, as well as some awesome quilting fabric for yet another cushion (I don’t have the skill or patience for a big project yet).
In real friendly Tenterfield style, the saleslady approached us, started a conversation about our warm headgear and scarves, and immediately put us at ease. She showed us different wools and what they would look like as a finished product. To say we were impressed would be an understatement! And the best news? You can phone Country Curtains and they will post items to you.
Apparently, they are very used to hearing visitors say ‘we don’t have a haberdashery store in our town’.
Joan found a great souvenir for a friend, and the last we saw of Elizabeth, she was immersed in a mass of colourful wool and fabric. She eventually caught up to us – looking as happy as we felt.
Meanwhile, back at the bus…
Bags were loaded and travellers resumed their seats for the next leg of the journey.
First stop: The Tenterfield Saddler House
Don’t ever go to Tenterfield without visiting the home of the Tenterfield Saddler. But don’t expect to only see saddles and whips. This tiny cottage is overflowing with history.
Just love this door!
Yes, youngsters, this is a telephone!
Recognise the remake of the old string bag?
There’s nothing like wearing a hand-crafted belt
Yep… this is a saddle
I was fascinated to see the handwritten note from Hugh Jackman, thanking the Saddlery for the whip he used in the film about Peter Allen. But you will have to make the trip to Tenterfield if you want to see it.
I dare say Keith, the amazing volunteer on duty that day, was sick of hearing ‘Oh Wow!’, every time I turned around and discovered another memory from the past.
We owe a huge thank you to the unsung heroes who keep the history alive for those who lived through it and those born too late to be part of it. To the Volunteers who keep the Tenterfield Saddler Museum running – Thank You. You are all Legends.
Back to the bus…
The next ‘must-see’ item on our itinerary was the Cork Tree.
Not bad, considering the cork tree came to Australia in a jam tin in 1861…
The Cork Tree is reported to have magical powers if you walk around it three times while reciting a special chant. If you make a wish while chanting, it is supposed to come true. If only we could have walked around it!
And finally, the Railway Museum
Old trains and railway stations conjure up images and memories of the past. And the Tenterfield Railway Museum provided a nostalgic snapshot of how travel used to be.
They just don’t make buildings like this anymore…Part of the happy-travellers group
Murwillumbah Calls….
Ted navigated us back to the highway and we were homeward bound. But not without thoughts of lunch. We had our sights set on a Pie Shop we had seen advertised on the highway the day before. But to quote a famous line from Robert Burns – To A Mouse, “The best laid schemes of mice and men….”. Our pie-shop plans went sadly ‘awry’!
A short detour from the highway should have delivered us to the door of the pie-shop. Instead, we stared blankly at a door that was closed, despite a sign at the front and on the side wall blatantly advertising the promise of a cafe inside.
Doubling back we headed for a hotel we had passed moments earlier. A reconnaissance team was dispatched to see if the hotel could feed fifteen hungry travellers, but returned with ‘mmm – we might keep going…’. They also reported that the cafe down the road had been closed for about ten years.
The final leg of the journey continued.
Yes, we all had a fantastic time away – but there was something magic in seeing Mt Warning in the distance on the homeward-stretch.
We were almost home!
Casino – Next Stop
It was just before 2.00 pm by the time we pulled up in front of the Commercial Hotel in Casino. Google assured us the Commercial Hotel was the place for lunch. Except – lunch has prescribed times at the Commercial Hotel – and 2pm isn’t one of them. We were politely directed to a coffee shop at the end of the building, so coffee and cake would have to do. Surprisingly, there was more on offer than just coffee-shop fare, and fifteen hungry travellers were fed.
The best part of our impromptu change of plans was the garden seating – as long as you could find a seat in the sun.
Some of us even found time for a short walk before regaining our rightful places on the bus.
The sun was setting on Day Two…
Desley’s calculation that the sun would be setting as we came over the Burringbar Range was spot-on. The sun-visors did little to deflect the blinding light of the sun as the earth began its journey towards darkness.
The sight of the Tweed Regional Art Gallery signalled our return to Murwillumbah. Back to familiarity – back to routines.
At 4.48pm, the bus stopped at the first drop-off point.
We were home!
One-by-one, well-worn travellers retrieved their luggage and said their goodbyes.
As Day Two closed around them, the fifteen adventurers probably relived the highlights of their two-day trip to Tenterfield. They may have had a few chuckles at the memorable moments – like – trying to count the votes for where to have breakfast (after a few drinks), finding the cafe that had closed ten years earlier, and meeting the most colourful character of Tenterfield.
And sleep found them all, probably a little earlier than usual that night.
We would like to thank the following people for making our first overnight trip to Tenterfield so memorable:
Desley, our fabulous bus-driver
Ted, our brilliant navigator
Alan from No Bull Vintage and Collectables Kyogle
Shelley and Staff at The Sugarbowl – Kyogle
Luke – the perfect host – Peter Allen Motor Inn Tenterfield
Marion & Amanda – School of Arts Cafe Tenterfield
And the fantastic team of travellers! Let’s do it again – soon!!
Synchronised alarm clocks started ringing around the village bright and early on Tuesday morning. It was the day for the Tenterfield trip – the bus was leaving at 8.00am – and fifteen of us planned to be on it.
Weeks of planning and anticipation were about to come crashing in on each one of us. With last minute almost-forgotten items shoved into our packing, we hauled our bags out to the street to wait for the bus. By 8.30 we were all aboard and on our way.
The Journey Begins…
Murwillumbah cows…
Not sure what this is, but it was impressive
That’s a lot of wood
A new bridge is under construction
By the time we arrived at Kyogle, it was time for a cuppa and brunch. And The Sugar Bowl was the perfect place.
And guess where this sign was?
Catching up on the news…
Oh, and maybe just a little bit of shopping. There’s nothing like supporting a local business.
No Bull!! Vintage and Collectables Extraordinaire…The Welcoming CommitteeThere are so many bargains lurking here..Alan offered to make us a cuppa. Thanks for the hospitality Alan, but we’ll pass…
I’m sure glad there was room on the bus to accommodate all our bargain shopping.
If you are in Kyogle, don’t forget to call in to ‘No Bull Vintage and Collectables’. If you are really lucky, Alan will put the big authentic Chinese Kettle on. I reckon that would quench anyone’s thirst.
On the road again, and on to Tenterfield!
Are We There Yet?
Each traveller had a handout that included the itinerary, historical facts about Tenterfield, Sudokus, a Crossword and a WordSearch. But that didn’t stem the steady flow of conversation. We managed to solve a lot of the problems of the nation as well as slipping in the odd joke or two. We shared reviews of favourite movies, books and authors. But above all we found out a little more about each other. And that was the real bonus of the trip – getting to know the people who make Mountain View a great place to live. And I only heard ‘Are we there yet?’ once.
Anticipation started to build when we saw the sign that welcomed us to the Tenterfield Shire.
And then we were there!
The School of Arts Cafe was expecting us at 1.30pm and we arrived with a few minutes to spare. When the bus stopped in the carpark at the back, we eagerly disembarked. There, right beside us on our right, was the Hotel we would be having dinner at that evening. And on our left, the motel we would be staying at. Can you believe it? Considering the bookings were made over the phone and via email, I couldn’t believe how convenient it all turned out to be.
The School of Arts Cafe – the perfect place for lunch
After lunch we unpacked the bus, walked through the carpark to the Peter Allen Motor Inn next door, collected our keys, and headed for our rooms. We had decided to make our own plans for the afternoon. Most of us chose to take a walk through town. What a fantastic place! Joan and I met a very friendly character who owned a number of businesses in town.
It just proved what I had always thought – Tenterfield is a very friendly place!
Back to our rooms for some downtime before dinner – NOT! I heard a voice outside my room calling my name, and I opened the door to an invitation to drinks at the front of the Motel.
By the time I had put on a few extra layers and made my way to the designated area, the pre-dinner drinks were in full swing.
Unfortunately, the discussion and subsequent vote for where to have breakfast the next morning, occurred later in the session rather than earlier. After a few drinks, three confused votes, and numerous attempts to count the votes, we apparently agreed we would return to the School of Arts Cafe. I say ‘apparently’ because with all the laughter and banter, I was flat out working out what had just happened. I certainly haven’t laughed that much in a long time. And I wasn’t even drinking!!
Dinner? What Dinner??
Yes, we had dinner at the Telegraph Hotel – but I realized when we got back to the motel that I hadn’t taken any photos.
How did that happen?
The food was fantastic, even though some of us had to wait a while – I mean a l-o-n-g while for our meal. But the staff were very apologetic, and besides, they weren’t used to having fifteen extra people for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was a great place to eat, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
I think the batteries need replacing in the clock – oh well, it will be right twice every twenty-four hours…
Saying it was a bit cold as we walked back to the motel is probably a bit of an understatement. It was seriously cold! Thank goodness our beds had electric blankets and there was a reverse-cycle air-conditioner in our rooms. Sleep came easily for us all.
And sleep heralded the end of the first day of our Tenterfield Trip.
Here at Mountain View we are always thinking of: new things to do; places to go; people to meet. Our Social Committee organises most activities, but residents come up with ideas as well. That’s how the upcoming road trip to Tenterfield came about.
Load that bus!! We’re going to Tenterfield!
Lock in the 28th May, Eddie!
A couple of months ago, Wendy and I started tossing ideas around for an overnight trip for Mountain View residents. And since Tenterfield had been on my mind for a while, it seemed like a good a place for our inaugural overnight-er.
Dulcie, on behalf of the Social Committee, joined us in the planning. And with seemingly little effort, we are all set to take off on the 28th May.
the bus is available
we have enough willing travellers to (almost) fill the bus
Desley has volunteered to drive
accommodation is booked
meals are sorted
and we are working on the itinerary
Tenterfield – here we come!
Tenterfield, besides being a beautiful place to visit, is a significant part of our Australian history. On the 24th October 1889, Sir Henry Parkes delivered the Federation Speech, (Tenterfield Oration) right there in Tenterfield.
I believe that the time has come, and if two Governments set an example, the others must soon of necessity follow. There will be an uprising in this fair land of a goodly fabric of free Government, and all great national questions of magnitude affecting the welfare of the colonies will be disposed of by a fully authorised constitutional authority. This means a distinct executive and a distinct parliamentary power for the whole of Australia, and it means a Parliament of two Houses, a House of Commons and a Senate, which will legislate on these great subjects.
Sir Henry Parkes (Federation Speech 1889)
So, the Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts Cafe will be our first port of call. Having lunch in the building in which the Father of Federation once stood, will be a great introduction to Tenterfield.
Our Federated Nation started right here in Tenterfield
In a more modern context, Tenterfield was showcased to the world in the words of Peter Allen’s song – ‘The Tenterfield Saddler’. Peter’s Grandfather, George Woolnough, once plied his trade in the building that had housed many Saddlers before him. A visit to the old Saddlery will feature prominently on our itinerary.
On the subject of Peter Allen, where better to stay in Tenterfield than the Peter Allen Motor Inn. A few emails and a phone call to Luke, and our accommodation was in the bag. Luke was so accommodating that he even helped us decide on the best place for dinner.
The History Trail on our Road Trip to Tenterfield
Some of our travellers are keen gardeners, so a visit to Tenterfield wouldn’t be complete without seeing the old Cork Tree. The seeds for the cork tree came to Australia in a jam tin, in the very early days of our settlement (1861). The seeds grew and the tree is reportedly one of the largest cork trees in the country. Who would have thought that cork grows on trees? And it is still growing, Just as well we didn’t have Border Force back then, or Edward Parker would have been paying a hefty fine for bringing in plant material. Next time you pop the cork of your favourite bubbly, spare a thought for the cork tree, from whence the stopper comes.
We’ll be visiting Stannum House – or at least looking at it from the outside. The spiral staircase might be a bit daunting for some of our travellers. Built more than three-hundred years ago, the beautiful Stannum House still stands tall and proud. Past visitors of Stannum House include: Banjo Paterson; Dame Nellie Melba; and of course, Sir Henry Parkes. Their spirits live on. There is a lot of history wrapped up in the New England city of Tenterfield.
…. Australia has now a population of three and a half millions, and the American people numbered only between three and four millions when they formed the great Commonwealth of the United States. The numbers are about the same. Surely what the Americans have done by war, Australians can bring about in peace.
Sir Henry Parkes (from the Tenterfield Oration 1889)
The Post Office building in Tenterfield
From historical buildings to beautiful scenery, Tenterfield has it all.
Our road trip to Tenterfield is quickly moving from the planning stage to the ‘Are we there yet?’.
When I retired in April 2016, I made a commitment to keep learning – to keep the old brain-cogs turning. As the old adage goes “If you don’t use it, you’ll lost it!”. And there is enough research to suggest there’s a lot of truth in that saying. So why am I excited about WordCamp?
What is WordCamp?
WordCamp is a weekend of learning – about all things WordPress and websites.
WordCamp Brisbane is an event I start looking forward to, the day after the previous one ends.
Maureen Durney
Towards the end of 2015, in preparation for retirement, I decided to build a website. My son, who is a busy website developer, assured me it was so easy anyone could do it.
He was right!
I wanted a blog website – before I even knew what a blog was. Everyone was talking about blogs – and it seemed that everyone had a blog. I wanted one, too.
It was so easy!
WordPress guides you every step of the way.
Will that be .com or .org?
My first website is Havandra.wordpress.com, and it was built on the WordPress.com platform. This is where I recommend any new website builder should start. The .com version of WordPress allows you to build a site without putting your hand in your pocket – ever! That’s what I love about WordPress!
Havandra.wordpress.com
Trust me, I had no idea what I was doing when I started the site, but it was so easy. I made up the name ‘Havandra’, but I’ve since found out it is a Malagasy word meaning ‘hail’ – as in the weather phenomenon – ‘hail’. Perhaps I should have Googled it first… but I still like the name.
The big difference between the two sites is in the address of your website. The .com (free) version adds .wordpress.com to the name of your site -(havandra.wordpress.com).
The .org version gives you an easier address (MountainView-Living.com or MaureenDurney.com), but you need to buy your domain name and pay for hosting. Hosting is the part that puts your site on the Internet so people can find it. There are inexpensive ways of covering these, but I still think the free version is the best way to get started.
A WordPress.org site
Why am I excited about WordCamp Brisbane 2019?
Because the post-career, retirement learning phase of my life kicks into high gear after two days of WordCamp, learning about WordPress. The rooms are buzzing with enthusiastic website owners and those aspiring to be. The talks cater for beginners and the experienced, and sponsors are standing by to answer questions.
Some of the sponsors from WordCamp Brisbane 2018
There are plenty of opportunities to network with others, make friends for life, and catch up with old friends. Oh, and there’s lots of swag. That’s tech-talk for freebies.
And lots of real Coffee!
So, what does WordCamp 2019 have to do with Mountain View?
Everything!
Pretty soon we’ll have the Community Centre set up with WiFi and computers. You can have technology lessons, access the Internet, and check your emails. Then we can get you started on building your own website. And by the time WordCamp Brisbane 2020 is announced, you’ll be excited too.
So, what are you waiting for?
If I can figure out how to build a website with WordPress, so can you!
How does a family of more than two-hundred members live harmoniously in close proximity? Stick around and I’ll talk you through the harmony in the village I live in.
Like any family of more than two members (should that be, more than one member?), there are bound to be problems. Is that how it is in Mountain View Retirement Village?
Put more than two hundred seniors together – and personalities will overlap, overtake and sometimes erupt. We have residents from a wide range of careers, ethnicity, life-experiences and personalities. What levels the playing field is that we are (mostly) all retired.
In the world of retirement, we are all equal. There is no boss – we are Retired.
Some retire better than others.
Because some of us have been defined by our career, we sometimes carry our career position over into our post-career retirement lives. This can be problematic if two (or more) supervisor/authoritarian types clash over a leadership role. Luckily this is rare in the village, and it usually settles down, reasonably well.
If we think about the average family, we see the intermingling of personalities, the clashes and the celebrations. When we look at life here in the village – we see it all. The personalities, the celebrations and the clashes. Our extended family is no different to yours.
We don’t need a formal definition of each of the personality types that make up our community. We see them in action every day.
The Workers are in the kitchen before every function – baking and cooking. They are there again at the end of the function – washing, drying and sweeping. And they keep the craft shop supplied with home-baked biscuits, slices and saleable items. They voluntarily give their time freely.
The Carers are taking their neighbours to medical appointments, or are shopping for them. They check in on an older neighbour to make sure they are okay. And they invite new neighbours to functions and make them feel welcome.
The Decision-makers are on committees. They attend meetings, make and communicate decisions – all in a voluntary capacity.
The Supporters attend functions and meetings, and read all communications from the committees.
The Supervisors are the ones who haven’t adjusted as well to retirement, or possibly even life. They usually don’t get involved, but are happy to tell those who do, how they should do it. And they’re even more willing to criticise any attempts by anyone else to make our village a better place to live. Fortunately, we don’t have many Supervisors in our village, so they tend to just lurk, grumblingly, in the background. And life goes on.
This is what our family looks like.
We have our differences, and like any family, those differences sometimes clash and erupt. It happens – but it is the exception, not the rule.
When we walk around the village, we see happy retirees. There will always be someone sitting on their front porch to say “Hi!”, as we walk by.
We can sit in the library, or by the pool, and chat to a friend or a stranger. Or we can sit in the Community Centre and put a few more pieces in the communal jigsaw puzzle, read a book, or enjoy a coffee – or two.
We can get active in Tai-Chi, Bowls or walk around the lake to keep fit.
Quilting lesson in progress…
Boredom is a word we don’t hear in the village. If we are not into the physical exercise routines of Aquarobics, Line-Dancing or Tai-Chi, we can learn quilting or take an Art class. And Trivia on Monday nights keeps the brain-cogs turning.
Kerrie Will Do It!
Like any family, we have our ups and down. But we are there for each other when it matters most. Many of us don’t have family close by, so if something goes wrong, it’s nice to know we are not alone. As long as we reach out and get involved, there will always be someone looking out for us. And if we don’t reach out – Kerrie will.
I reckon our beautiful Kerrie knows everyone in the village, so you can expect a knock on the door if she knows you’re not well. And she will be there to arrange available services to make sure you get through the tough times. Kerrie isn’t shy about calling an ambulance if you need it, but most of the time, her bubbly, caring personality and quick-wit are enough to make you feel better.
Our Village Manager is there for the tougher situations. David oozes Calm and Serenity, and is the best person to be in the middle of tough personalities when they (rarely) overlap and erupt. Remember, just like your family, we have our sibling rivalry and family disputes. It’s called L-I-F-E! But David helps us weather the occasional family storms.
And that’s what keeps the harmony in the village, and makes Mountain View Retirement Village a great place to live.
Up here on the hill, life goes on
And there is harmony in the village… most of the time.
Why don’t you come and see for yourself? We’d love to see you.
Drop us a line in the comments section, and we’ll make sure the kettle is on when you get here.
There is nothing like the first few bars of a favourite song to rekindle memories. When that music is Rock ‘n Roll – well, two decades come flooding back. The ‘50’s and ‘60’s is where it all happened.
From the hard times of the Thirties and Forties, the Fifties brought change:
From Bill Haley and the Comets to Australia’s own Col Joye, music inspired us. Full skirts and stiffened petticoats swirled to the beat. Men in slim-fitting suits and skinny ties, filled the dance halls. And patent-leather pointy-toed shoes jived the night away.
The Fifties were a time when music healed the scars of the Second World War and refilled the depleted banks of our emotions.
There was renewed hope.
If the Fifties renewed our hope – the Sixties liberated our senses.
The magic of television had arrived, and the world was open for viewing.
Free-love and Peace were the mantras of our youth, inspired by the hippie movement of Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco. Our own Northern Rivers town of Mullumbimby became home to hordes of city drop-outs.
But the peace of the Fifties was short-lived in the lead-up to the Vietnam War. Anti-war demonstrations were the voice of Sixties youth.
Anti-war sentiments poured out in the lyrics of Bob Dylan.
The first few bars of a song from the Fifties and Sixties takes us back to a time when age was on our side. When we stood on the brink of adulthood and the world was ours.
The youth of the Fifties and Sixties now do a different shuffle, creaking as they move. Health issues plague them and bones ache.
Being in his nineties doesn’t keep this young man from the dance floor.
Some may not remember what they had for breakfast, but the words of the old songs come flooding back. Their feet find their way to the dance floor and they forget their aches and pains, at least for a while.
The Rockin Bodgies belt out the songs of the Fifties and Sixties.
For two hours, flared skirts and bobby-socks find their rhythm. Slower now, but no less able. For two hours the years melt away and they are young again.
Happy Days is remembered fondly as the Fonz rides back into their lives.
And the world is once again as it should be, care and pain-free.
The Aveo Freedom Aged Care facility at Tweed Heads South turned on the charm for Aveo Rocks on Friday 22nd March. Terryll provided guided tours of the facility – there were a lot of Wow!’s at the end of each tour! Food and drinks were plentiful, and the staff were amazing.
So dust off your pointy-toed shoes and starch up your petticoats. There’s an Aveo Rocks coming to a village near you – and you won’t want to miss it.
Families have been gathering around the dining room table to answer silly questions since 1981. It was back then that a group of Canadian men decided to launch the new game they had developed. The game, Trivial Pursuit was born, and families have been addicted to answering silly questions about trivia, ever since.
Image from Pixabay
But like most good things, the game spilled out of our homes and into pubs, club-houses, libraries, and anywhere else that would adequately house teams of avid trivia-ites.
A group of like-minded people at Mountain View have banded together to present Trivia every Monday at 6.30pm. There are about an hour’s worth of questions for the teams that opt-in. You don’t have to have a team to play, just come to the Community Centre and join one of the groups that have a spare chair at their table. There are a couple of specific groups, but most of us just turn up for a bit of a laugh and an opportunity to socialise. And just for the record – the exclusive groups don’t necessarily win – sometimes it’s the just-for-the-night group that hardly know each other that take away the winning honour.
Prizes?
Did I mention the prize for winning? No? That’s good – because there isn’t one. There is a lucky door prize (for those who enjoy a drop or two), and players enjoy an ice-cream at the end of the game.
Image from Pixabay
So if you are hoping to win a sheep-station – don’t come to our game – you’ll be disappointed.
If you are keen to exercise your brain and hone your team skills – then run – don’t walk – to the Community Centre on Monday night at 6.30. Bring a $2 coin with you, and you are good to go. And if you are so inclined, you can bring a drop of something good to drink – otherwise the coffee machine is on ($2 a cup), and the water bottle is full.
Oh, and feel free to bring a couple of neighbours with you – they’ll enjoy the night as well, and you can either walk up and back together, or car-pool. At least when you get home at 7.30-8.00 – still laughing at some of the funny things that happened, you won’t disturb them.
Is it just for fun?
According to healthline.com, playing trivia is good for our mental health. Terms like – Frontal cortex; hoarding circuits; and addictive circuits are mentioned – but we’ll focus on the positive. Bruce and Mark will encourage you to ‘surf’ the Internet for trivia questions and answers, without becoming obsessive about hoarding facts. They will encourage teams to play to win, but not become addicted to winning.
One of the features of playing Trivia games in teams is the opportunity to meet and interact with others. This should remain one of the focal points of the game. Yes, winning is fun, and we all want to win, but it isn’t the most important thing. Widening our circle of friends has to be a major component.
And a flow on from the above is the challenge of working collaboratively in a team. Yes, that is T-E-A-M. There is no I in team.
Image from Pixabay
We might be convinced our answer is the right one, but so is the person opposing our suggestion. Working out how to accommodate different opinions is a skill, and one that can be developed and enhanced by playing Trivia games in a team.
Use it or lose it
Another compelling element of Trivia games is the workout for our brains. Not only do we have to delve into the deep, dark corners to find the answers, but we have to meet the timelines imposed by the presenter. Learning to think faster is like taking a brisk walk as opposed to a slow saunter. The brisk walk will work our cardio system for a better overall benefit, just as thinking faster will work our brains harder. The old saying ‘if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it’, couldn’t be more true – especially for our brains.
As we age, we lose physical strength – our bodies just don’t bounce back as easily as they used to. We are constantly being reminded of the need to be active.
Image from Pixabay
But what about our brains?
The old picture of retirees typically showed seniors in a sedentary lifestyle. But not now! The latest research shows us that we need to stay physically, and mentally fit. Learning a new language is one of the best ways to stay mentally alert as we age, and so is playing Trivia games.
So, are you going to sit back and wait for dementia to kick in, or are you going to make a stand against it?
Great Choice
See you at the Community Centre on Monday night – at 6.30!
Use the comments section below if you have any questions…
Staging a Seniors Expo as part of the NSW Seniors Festival, demands a reasonable amount of time and brain-power – especially the brain-power. But – by putting our collective heads and shoulders together, we did it. Today was the day we opened our doors and our hearts, to show off where we live, and what we do. Was it worth it?
You had better believe it!
Hours before the official start time, the room was buzzing with presenters and talented residents, setting up their displays.
I don’t think I was the only one who was a little nervous at the start of the day. Would anyone show up – would it all work – would it be worth it?
Severe weather warnings of Cyclone Oma looming over the coast, didn’t help.
By noon, the answer was crystal clear.
Not only was it worth it, but it exceeded most expectations. Due to start at 11.30, people congregated around tables long before then. Once their table was set up, presenters circled the room, greeted other presenters, and exchanged comments and information.
The buzz got louder…
Visitors mingled, and presenters talked about the services they could offer seniors. Talented residents and friends proudly showed off their labours of love. It was a great feeling to sit back and watch the success of the Seniors Expo, as it happened around us.
Christine’s fantastic bookmarks and cards, made with flowers that grow here in our beautiful gardens. Tapestries; card-making; technology displays; quilts; knitting; wood-carving; paintings; clocks; jewellery – all made by our talented residents. All we need to do now is convince these talented people to teach the rest of us.
(Photos courtesy of W. Powell)
So, what else happened today?
The creative talent was phenomenal, but what impressed me the most, was the level of support the residents of Mountain View offered those who were visiting. Nothing was too much trouble to ensure questions were answered, and appropriate connections and introductions were made.
Tireless workers provided food to sustain visitors, residents and presenters. Liquid refreshments rehydrated them. Nobody seemed flustered or bothered by the amount of work that goes into preparing enough food to sustain hungry crowds. It just happened, seemingly effortlessly.
The chefs who demonstrated how quickly and easily you can create a nutritious meal, had a captive audience – and the food smelled divine.
It made me even more proud to be part of Mountain View – my retirement community. Not that you have to be retired to live here – you don’t. As long as you have celebrated fifty-five years of life – you qualify to be part of this great community.
Oh, and you don’t need any special talent to live here. We have plenty of teachers who can take you from ‘I’d love to be able to do that’, to ‘Wow, look what I’ve created!’. Trust me, I know. I signed up for Julia’s quilting class and after just one lesson, my new quilt is only weeks, and a lot of stitches away.
It’s the sense of belonging to a supportive extended family that makes living at Mountain View so special. And it is the combined effort of everyone that made the difference.
Thank you to everyone who visited and/or presented at the Aveo Mountain View Seniors Expo.
The countdown is over! Today is Friday and it is the twenty-second day of February, which means the Seniors Expo is happening today at Mountain View, Murwillumbah
The Gold Coast is copping high winds, but up here on the hill at Mountain View, there’s just a nice breeze. There are dark clouds in the sky, and there was rain through the night, but right now, no rain.
Mountain View Murwillumbah
For anyone who can get here safely, we’ll see you at 11.30, when the first tour of the village begins.
Bring an umbrella (just in case) and make your way to –
Mountain View Retirement Village
1 Ingram Place (off Byangum Road) Murwillumbah
02-6672-4800
Phone us for directions or any questions about the Seniors Expo that is happening today.
We’ll have the kettle on and there’s always coffee brewing in the coffee machine.
The countdown is on! Only four days until Aveo Mountain View’s Seniors Expo. That’s just four sleeps and a wakey – until Friday the 22nd February. We’ll put the coffee machine in overdrive, crank up the kettle, and make sure the biscuit tin is full. So take a drive up Byangum Road (from Murwillumbah), turn left into Ingram Place – we are at the end of Ingram Place (1 Ingram Place). Let us know you are coming so we can put enough beans in the coffee machine.
We are really excited about showing you our place.
You’ll see:
inside one of our fabulous units
the lake
the Bowling Green
our community centre – the Hub for most of our activities
bin chickensibis (sorry – couldn’t put them in the beautiful birds category)
water dragons
happy retirees enjoying life
presentations from outside agencies – providing information about all things ‘ageing’
presentations from residents – to show what we do all day
If retirement is on your horizon, or the horizon of someone you know, come and talk to us. We’ve (nearly) all hit the retirement button – some of us are new at it – others are old-hands – but we can show you some of the options available. Even if your retirement plans feature foreign shores, you might pick up some valuable tips from someone who has been there and done that. Some of our residents split their retirement time between Aveo Mountain View and a resort on a tropical island. Can it get any better than that?
Come and see Julia’s beautiful quilts
Click here to see the Timetable for the day. Come for the full day (11.30 – 3.00) or just an hour or two. Oh, and don’t forget the cooking demonstration at 2.00pm. You won’t want to miss it!
Just remember though, the roads throughout Mountain View Village are shared roads. That means, we share the road with cars, trucks, seniors (some of us don’t move as fast as we used to) and our wildlife.
Our speed limit is 15 km/h!
Please slow down while in the village.
Our beautiful lake…
Well, what are you waiting for?
Pick up the phone and call the office to let us know you are coming.
The phone number is: 02-6672-4800 (Office Hours)
Or you can email me: retired@mountainview-living.com
Or, fill out the RSVP at the bottom of this page
Remember, there’s only four days until the Aveo Mountain View Seniors Expo – so….
If you are as old as me, you’ll remember the old days of running home from school to listen to your favourite radio show. We’ve come a long way since then. Today’s ten-year-old is likely to have an iPhone or iPad, so there’s no need to hurry home. Favourite programs can be accessed any time there is a connection to the Internet, which seems to be all the time. So why am I talking about memories of radio?
Image from Pixabay
Because now we have Podcasts, and Podcasts might be the link we’ve been looking for to the radio serials of our past.
podcast
[pod-kast, ‐kahst]
Noun – a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer:
Download or subscribe to daily, one-hour podcasts of our radio show.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/podcast
Verb – to record or upload as a podcast:
He podcasts once a week on various topics.
She podcasts her lectures.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/podcast
Podcasts first showed up in the eighties but didn’t gain popularity until late 2004. In the last few years, Podcasts have had a serious revival. In fact, a couple of friends of mine are creating Podcasts.
Breanda Cross, a Crime Writer, is turning her writing into Podcasts.
With only a week before Aveo Mountain View’s Big Day on the 22ndFebruary, the timetable for the Seniors Expo is ready to go. Displays are being finalised and external agencies are lining up to attend.
You will find us at 1 Ingram Place, Murwillumbah (off Byangum Road) and you can phone us on 02-6672-4800 (Office Hours) for more information and to RSVP.
It’s all happening!
The first tour of the village will kick off at 11.30am, so make sure you add your name to the RSVP at the bottom of the page.
Why are we getting excited about the Seniors Expo at Mountain View Murwillumbah? Because we get to show off where we live!
Timetable
11.30 – Tour of the Village
12.30 – Official Welcome and Opening of the Expo
12.40 – Tour of the Village
1.30 – Tour of the Village
2.00 – Cooking Demonstration
Our beautiful Mountain View Lake
Between the tours, there will be displays in the Community Centre of current and proposed activities, as well as presentations by:
Hearing Connect
Aveo Sales
HearingLife
Funeral Director and Celebrant
Mobile Rehab
Community Transport
Aveo Connect
UPA – United Protestant Association
Nutrition Select
Aveo Benefits
U3A – University of the 3rd Age
Local Artists
Technology Display
Freedom Sales
Aveo Care at Home
Neighbourhood Watch
Nature at it’s Best!
When you read the sales pitch about twenty-eight acres of bushland, you’d better believe it! Trees and wildlife abound here at Mountain View. We’ve got plenty of trees and plenty of birds. And the beautiful lake attracts turtles, ducks and lots of water dragons.
Each morning we have wake-up calls from:
Magpies – have you heard the magic of an early morning magpie?
They’re happy to sit on the railing – just waiting for a friendly smile.
Slow Down!
The speed limit throughout the village is 15 km/h
We want to protect our residents and our native wildlife, so please drive slowly when you come to visit. Our water dragons and brushturkeys roam free because this is their home too – so watch out for them on the road.
RSVP
Let us know you’re coming so we know how many cups to put out for a cuppa!
