Move over Saga - 50 is the new 30! Getting older or retiring from full-time employment doesn’t mean that you have to lurk around the house watching day time TV all day.  There are plenty of opportunities and adventures available to over 50s, both in the UK and abroad.  Although most of us dread Monday mornings, and you may have been looking forward to retiring for many years, often the reality of a lack of structure in your days and less social interaction can be depressing... [read more]

Haunted houses are a $300 million a year business, with more than 3,000 throughout North America. Some of the most-visited places are: 1) Whaley House in San Diego, California; 2) Madison’s Haunted Inn in Kincardine, Ottawa; 3) Oppertsauer House in Stony Plain, Edmonton. Alberta; 4) The ghost town of Jerome, Arizona; 5) The town of Fergus, Ontario; 6) The battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; 7) The site of the witch hunts, Salem, Massachusetts; These... [read more]

A young man was helping his elderly mother move into a new apartment building. He was sensitive to the fact that his mother had always been quite active, both in her job and in her volunteer work after retirement. But he was concerned that she’d have trouble taking care of herself. So, as he was unpacking boxes, he casually asked her, “Mom, have you ever considered Meals on Wheels?” The mother sighed sadly. “I have, but you know, I just don’t think I have the... [read more]

The next time you get a shot or have to pull off a sticky bandage, try the “cough trick” to reduce the pain. In a recent study, doctors at Ernst Moritz Arndt University in Greifswald, Germany, drew blood from volunteers. When subjects used the cough trick, a single cough at the time of the needle puncture, they felt less pain than when they did not cough. Researchers are confident the cough trick is an effective way to reduce pain during peripheral venipuncture (drawing blood from... [read more]

Fall is the perfect time to take care of the little things that can make a big difference for you and your home. Most of the tasks listed below are well with- in the average person’s ability. But even if you choose to have a professional handle them, it’s worth the expense. You’ll save money – and maybe even your life. Get your mind in the gutters. Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts. Button up your overcoat. Seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors... [read more]