Christmas is the most efficient way to discover where you stand in a family — especially a large one, with an overwhelming cast of what can feel like hundreds of relatives. At festive gatherings, people gravitate instinctively towards those they already know. Conversations from past get-togethers resume mid-sentence. Stories are retold without context. Jokes land without explanation. Everyone seems to […]
Wondermere Retirement Village billed itself as “active, vibrant and stimulating”, which technically covered bingo, aquarobics and an annual Elvis impersonator. Still. Long time resident, Mabel Quinn, realised Wondermere had become boring on the day she caught three neighbours standing around a rose bush arguing about whether a wriggly thing was a weevil or a grub. Nobody googled it. Nobody even […]
Now there’s finally a place for those of us who’ve spent our lives wandering the wilderness between Generation X and the Boomers, clutching a faded mixtape and a vague sense of being slightly misplaced. We are Generation Jones. The name is hardly evocative. It sounds less like a generation and more like a mid-level accountant who never returned your calls. […]
If you met Jo today — lively, articulate, and still turning heads at 70 — you’d never guess that at 17 she was downing Ford pills by the handful to look like Twiggy. Everyone wanted to be Twiggy then — all coltish limbs and hollow cheeks. Jo, a sensitive, clever girl from an unhappy home, thought she might find calm […]
Why language matters when it comes to ageing, work and relevance Once upon a time, “retirement” was a goal — a finish line crossed and applauded, complete with a gold watch, a farewell cake and an awkward speech about “well-deserved rest.” But these days, the R-word feels less like a reward and more like a punishment — followed by a […]
Amy had always been mindful of her health. She ate as well as she could, cut back on treats, made time for walks, and even tried to get to bed earlier. But no matter what she did, her weight wouldn’t budge. It was frustrating — especially because she was doing everything right. After reading about how some medications can contribute […]
“I thought it was just her depression coming back,” said Liz, whose partner has lived with bipolar disorder for more than 20 years. “She was sleeping all day, getting confused about her tablets, and sometimes accusing me of moving things. I kept thinking, it’s another episode. But when she started forgetting where we lived, the doctor said it could be […]
When you hear that a loved one has a life limiting illness, take the time to find out what palliative care can offer — including the different ways it can be delivered. Palliative care isn’t only about dying. It’s about living as well as possible for as long as possible, with care that focuses on comfort, dignity and connection. Palliative […]
Recently widowed, 75-year-old Angelina had lived peacefully in her building for five years. She had made it her home. She loved the familiar faces, quiet routines, and a sense of belonging. It was her safe place. Then, one day, three neighbours — people she’d always greeted politely — crossed a line. They turned up at her door uninvited, saying they […]
Marnie is 62, sharp as ever, and still working in a tech company. She told me recently: “It’s like I’ve disappeared. In meetings I share an idea, and five minutes later someone repeats it — and everyone nods. It’s not nasty, just as if I’m less visible than I used to be.” Marnie isn’t alone. Recent Australian research shows this […]
