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Iquestionable) attitude that life is too short to waste a lot of it sleeping.

There’s plenty of time for that later. Many years ago, I interviewed a remarkable man who functioned perfectly well on only three hours a night, 11pm-2am. He said he had “trained” himself not to need sleep.

I was impressed enough to give it a go. It didn’t work. The best I could get down to was five hours. Anything less and I was a zombie the next day.

It was worth a shot though as it meant I could safely abandon the notion that it had to be eight hours.

Since then, I have found five or six hours works just fine, although no doubt, there will be plenty of experts

ready to tell me I have got it all wrong.

Julie Lake this month investigates the issue of sleep or, more to the point, sleeplessness, which has become a curse of the generation, whether it’s snoring (you, partner, both), apnoea or anxiety.

For me, the worst is waking up at some ungodly hour of the morning carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I still don’t understand how things that pose no problem at 9am or 10pm can grow to enormous, proportions in the hours before dawn.

There have been plenty of times when I have had the debate with myself — do I close my eyes and hang in there, pick up a book, or give up and get up? None of them are attractive options.

I certainly sympathise with those who find their brain refusing to shut down and give the relief of sleep.

Julie also offers some tips from the experts, but as we are all different, there’s really no “one size fits all” solution for those with sleep problems.

Hopefully you’ll find the report helpful, so as we head into Seniors Month, here’s to a good night’s sleep!

Contents

Wake up to the value of a good sleep

saturated fat content. He walks every day and plays tennis twice a week. He rarely drinks alcohol and prefers tea (three or four cups a day) to coffee.

He has his main meal in the evening and says it’s substantial because he has a good appetite.

Because he finds it difficult to get to sleep and usually only does so for a couple of hours before waking again, he usually gets up and has a hot drink and a snack around midnight. “And then I lie awake for hours, or watch TV, before dozing a bit before getting up at about 8.30am.”

Some causes of sleeplessness in older people are obvious: pain caused by arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, medications that cause wakefulness, frequent urination, restless leg syndrome and sleep apnoea.

All of these can be treated medically but most drugs become ineffective after a while or cause undesirable side effects that affect quality of life.

nameless anxiety, closely linked to its nasty cousin, depression.

One woman interviewed (name withheld on request) says that in the last few years she wakes at night worrying about things that seem unimportant in the morning. Or worrying about nothing that she could name.

“This went on so long it was affecting my heart,” she says. “I’d had my share of grief and loss, which happens to us all at this age, but I thought I was handling it well and had no idea I was clinically depressed until it was diagnosed.”

As she points out, old age is tough and we have a lot to be anxious about.

Craig Skelton, 67, says he is lucky to get four hours good sleep a night and always feels sluggish and bad-tempered when he wakes up. He finds himself falling asleep when he sits down in the daytime and nearly always has a nap in his chair in front of the TV early in the evening.

He is sadly typical of many people in the over 60s demographic.

The problem of getting a good night’s sleep is not to be dismissed lightly because a whopping 50 per cent of people over 55 complain that it is a

contributing factor to their diminished health and thus adversely affects their quality of life.

Medical experts agree with them, and thus chronic sleeplessness is now recognised as a major issue.

There is no shortage of advice on sleep problems, not just on the internet but in books especially written on the subject, but much of it is trite, telling us what we already know.

Craig Skelton says he leads a healthy life and is careful about his diet. He tries not to eat food with high acid or

In an extreme example, a drug that controls the levels of dopamine in the brain has also been known to cause impulse control disorders – one patient suddenly developed a gambling habit and lost his home before his doctors realised what had caused this disastrous change in behaviour.

Ask any group of older folk what most disturbs their sleep and, even if they don’t suffer from any of the foregoing problems, they will answer “anxiety”.

Anxiety is experienced by younger people too, but usually the cause is particular and readily identifiable, while as we age, we often suffer from a

“Our children, grandchildren, partner if we still have one, our health, not having enough money, being alone, the fear of becoming helpless and dependent, dying” … she has jotted all these worries and more in a notebook to show the psychiatrist who is trying to treat her underlying depression.

Every source consulted for this article agrees that chronic sleeplessness, whatever the cause, can only be effectively treated by a sleep specialist and today there are many of these available.

One of them, Australian psychologist and author Olivia Arezzolo, has devoted her career to it and uses a range of treatments, including behavioural and psychological strategies.

“As we get older, sleep-promoting hormones decline in the body,” she says.

“Those hormones include melatonin, the hormone that causes us to feel sleepy, as well as testosterone,

Some say older people need less sleep and others say they need more, but either way, chronic sleeplessness is a very real problem for many over 55s. JULIE LAKE investigates the factors affecting the elusive good night’s sleep.

progesterone and estrogen. Their decline compromises the quality of our sleep, making it harder to get enough deep sleep – the sleep stage that promotes mental and physical restoration.

“That’s the reason why even if you spend the same number of hours in bed as you did in your 20s or 30s, you’re probably not going to wake up feeling as well-rested.”

Another factor, Arezzolo says, is that as we age our brains can build up a neurotoxin called beta-amyloid, which interferes with sleep and affects our brain health.

The less we sleep, the more betaamyloid builds up, and the more beta-amyloid we have in our brain, the harder it becomes to sleep – it’s a vicious cycle.

Every older person, it seems, has a theory about how to deal with this all-too-common problem. Some swear by natural remedies such as a hot milky drink or chamomile tea before bed. Others recommend meditation. Soothing music is a common prescription.

There are apps, now, created to help us sleep.

But none of these remedies have proved to be totally effective for those who lie awake night after night, tortured by the inability to switch their brains over to sleep mode.

Much research today focuses on the changes in “sleep architecture” that particularly affect us as we age. Our sleep patterns shift, and we tend to experience a decrease in deep, or “slow wave” sleep and an increase in lighter sleep stages, thus fragmenting our sleep pattern and making us feel less rested on waking.

This has a lot to do with the alteration to our circadian rhythms which are a sort of body-clock that

regulates the sleep-wake cycle. If you fall asleep in front of the TV early in the evening and then can’t get to sleep later, or wake too early, it’s an age thing!

As yet, there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for good sleep.

People develop very different sleeping patterns during their lives, due mostly to childhood training and lifestyle. Some describe themselves as morning people, others as night-owls. And that can be a problem for us as we age. We may be locked into a pattern that is no longer working for us, in which case a lifestyle change is indicated.

Research being undertaken by major health organisations such as the Mayo Clinic in the US and the Australian Sleep Health Foundation tells us that whatever our particular problems, it’s of paramount importance to develop good habits.

Keeping regular hours is important. Go to bed and get up at the same time

each day. Don’t try and sleep in if you’ve had a bad night but try and take a nap in the middle of the day (but not in the evening). The best sleep pattern is said to be from 10pm until 6am.

Exercise during the day, every day, so that your body is tired and needing rest.

Meditation before bed might calm you down but even if this is not for you, watch or read something relaxing and not too stimulating. Or disturbing. Many people read themselves to sleep but the use of backlit digital “blue light” screens such as iPads can cause sleep disruption.

Don’t eat for at least three hours before going to bed; acid reflux is one of the most common disturbers of good sleep. A warm, non-stimulating drink will soothe your nerves and provide nourishment during the night.

Taking a bath or shower just before going to bed is relaxing.

Make sure you have a comfortable,

quiet sleep environment with as little light as possible (darkness stimulates the release of melatonin in the brain).

Sleep on your left side; this is the natural position of the stomach and helps coordinate your digestive system while lying down.

Sleep alone. This may be controversial, but research shows that many people find deep, continuous sleep difficult because their partners, rather than themselves, have developed problems – excessive snoring, sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome and other health issues that impact on the sleeping comfort of both.

One woman expressed this problem in typical terms: “My husband and I shared a bed for half a century, but he now has a couple of health conditions that mean he is very restless in bed, getting up several times and wanting to put the light on to read. I am his carer, so I need my sleep and have had to move into the spare bedroom or I’ll go mad.”

Routine becomes very important as we age and that is particularly true of good sleeping habits. We need to “tell” our brains that this is when and how we do certain things and the brain responds by remembering.

If you are in the habit of going to sleep at 10pm and waking at 6am your brain will record it and stick to that pattern. How many times have you woken in the night and known exactly what the time is, or set an alarm clock and found yourself awake just before it rings?

Sleep is a mysterious thing, and we still have much to learn about how it works and why.

What we do know is that every sentient creature on Earth needs sleep because it has a profound effect on our health and wellbeing. That’s why we wish people a “good night”!

Some lie awake night after night, unable to swtich the brain to sleep mode.

by Mocco Wollert

will have to make that decision.

I still drive, the same old car I have had for the last 10 years, a Hyundai I30. Mind you, it only has 35,000 on the clock. I don’t travel far anymore.

Instead of giving up my car, I have restricted my driving. I never drive in the dark and I only drive to three shopping centres and the gym. All these facilities are within 10 minutes of actual driving including the red lights on the way.

I think my car should by now find its own way to these places without me touching the steering wheel. I considered buying a smaller car but I don’t think it is worth it as my driving days definitely are coming to an end.

There is plenty of advice from the family. They are all for me stopping soon. I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a grandchild out there who needs a car.

licence as long as possible: “Do not give up your car, I so regret giving up my car when I did, I sort of became marooned in my house.”

There’ll be no more quick daily visits to the coffee shop or the shopping centre to check out the latest fashions or discounts. Even visiting people in your own neighbourhood might be difficult if you live on a hill.

I consider myself still competent to drive even though I am 89. My speed is never over 60kmh and I am watching myself, paying special attention to how I handle the traffic and pedestrian crossings.

by Cheryl Lockwood

TO

BE

or

not to be – to give up

or not – that is the question!

your car

Shakespeare could have not imagined in his wildest dreams that his words would be so significant in today’s world. It is a very important, it is a life-changing question.

You can get lots of advice from family and friends and the advice varies vastly.

But no matter what, one day we all

There are friends who were adamant about giving up their car when they turned 85. They bought mobility scooters instead.

Good solution? I have heard that mobility scooters can be tricky in heavy rain. They can also be scary when coming down down steep roads. Maybe it’s not so good a solution but definitely better than walking.

On the other hand, there are plenty of “oldies” who tell me to keep my

I ignore the small scratches and dents on the car. Honestly, I have no idea how they got there. It couldn’t have been when I scraped a post in the car park. I did not hear any scraping noises, but maybe I wasn’t wearing my hearing aids that day?

Somebody once suggested to have a large “S” sign affixed to the back window of seniors’ cars, along the lines of “P” signs for provisional drivers.

It might result in extra courtesy from other drivers. After all, it could be their grandmother behind the wheel.

May you be able to stay mobile and avoid mishaps.

IT’S Seniors Month and on the 29th, we celebrate a particular group of seniors for Grandparent’s Day.

It’s official. I am smitten by my grandchildren and am content to spend hours playing on the floor with them.

Interestingly, Seniors Month actually started off as Old People’s Week back in 1960. Despite feeling like an old person at times, the new name does sound a bit nicer.

After all, the month is about respecting and acknowledging the contribution of those who have had a lifetime of experience. We’re not just old!

While babysitting little Miss Almost Two, I picked her up for a cuddle. Normally a cheery, chatty child, she seemed a bit

reserved. She usually has the energy of a mini-cyclone and is too busy for hugs.

My cuddle was rewarded with a copious amount of vomit. Only the closeness of my body stopped it being projectile. My shirt took the first hit as a torrent poured forth and oozed down my body to the floor. I was speechless.

She had become a spew machine and I was left deciding between a dash to the sink or waiting it out. Miss Almost Two looked as shocked as me, perhaps also wondering how that much vomit could fit inside a tiny person.

As the warmth soaked in, we shuffled to the sink for the clean-up and she happily played with the water, seemingly fully recovered. I left my son’s place wearing one of his old shirts.

Several days later, confident that her tummy bug had passed, I took her shopping for a babyccino. Afterwards, she played happily at the playground.

Suddenly, she stopped and announced the Swedish word for poo. She is already bilingual and I’ve learnt a few useful words regarding toilet visits. I suggested we go to the centre’s family room, and patiently explained that we should do so quickly.

A minor discussion ensued as she made it clear that she wanted her Mamma to change her. I made it clear that Mamma was not there and that I had prior nappychanging experience. Thankfully, she didn’t ask to see my resume and with child

firmly on my hip, we made a beeline for the nearest toilet.

On arrival, it was apparent that the tummy bug may still be having an effect, but from the other end. Without going into gory detail, let’s just say the mess was as impressive as her vomit display which, as much as I tried, I had not forgotten.

Only now, it was all over her rather than me. The sink was used as a makeshift bath as I washed her from waist to feet. The shoes were rinsed, the dress changed and, I kid you not, the floor wiped too.

Before we left, I found the evidence of nappy seepage on my own shirt and shorts. I washed myself off and accidentally set off the hand dryer with my elbow. This frightened us both and frantic tears followed. (I’m not saying from who.)

Using that other upside of grandparenting, I returned her to her parents, who for the second time in a week, offered me a clean shirt.

Little Miss Almost Two’s parents were most apologetic for their daughter’s treatment of her beloved Farmor (father’s mother). “That’s ok, she is forgiven.”

I meant it too and am happy to babysit again. This old person will still look forward to a Grandparent’s Day hug, although I might be careful not to squeeze too tight.

May you celebrate all your senior moments this month.

Visit lockwoodfreelance.com

Queensland delivers black gold and a cup of tea

In the early 1960s when motorists were grumbling about high petrol prices, they were paying the equivalent of 8 cents a litre. This, writes LYNDA

meant it was a big day when oil was discovered in Queensland.

There was great excitement when Union Oil discovered “black gold” at Moonie, west of Toowoomba in 1961. It marked a major milestone.

Australia was to have its first commercial oilfield, and would no longer rely on imported fuel.

In June 1963 an American company began laying the 190-mile (305km) pipeline to transport the oil efficiently to Brisbane from Moonie in the Surat Basin west of Toowoomba.

It would be the first major oil or gas pipeline to be built in Australia and was given Queensland pipeline licence No. 1.

Scores of cars lined the Warwick road and onlookers watched in amazement as an 80ft (25m) section was expertly placed under the road.

An excellent account in The Australian Pipeliner newsletter revealed: Such was the interest that one worker commented that he didn’t mind them looking, but sometimes they got in the way.

“We’d like them to stand back and give us plenty of elbow room,” he requested.

The work was tough and the terrain unforgiving.

Key construction crews came from the

Proudly Australian owned

since

SCOTT,

US and Australians were hired to do the grunt work starting as “shovel hands and water carriers”.

But the Aussies proved more than capable, adapted quickly to the new technology, and were soon promoted into more senior positions.

In turn, the Aussies were happy with

residential & respite care, nestled in a bushland setting with landscaped gardens. Depending on your need we offer quality and security with 24/7 Registered Nurses on-site.

We offer Residential Care and Respite Care

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“Everyonehasbeenverypoliteandextremely helpful,especiallyaswewereunawareofwhat todo.Mumisveryhappywithhertreatment.” Resident’s

their American bosses. The Pipeliner quoted a welding hand as saying: “The Yanks are good to work for. There’s plenty of money in this and the work is fairly easy. Some of the Australians are making up to £50 ($100) a week including overtime.”

Even the Aussie farmers, whose land the pipeline crossed, received praise from the Americans.

“They’re better here than back home. Some of them there have been known to bar the way armed with a loaded shotgun. Here they’re more likely to be armed with a cup of tea.”

In October 1963, the pipeline was completed, two months ahead of schedule, with the official opening to follow six months later.

That year Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque in the reclaimed mangrove swamps of Bulwer Island to commemorate the important discovery and the building of the pipeline.

The inscription reads: “Her Majesty Queensland Elizabeth II unveiled this stone to commemorate the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Australia and the construction of a pipeline from the

Moonie field to the port of Brisbane, 6th March, 1963.”

Her over-optimistic speech revealed she’d been told that the oil discovery was “more important to the nation than the goldrush decade of the 1880s.”

There was such excitement at the time that a 14-year-old Sydney schoolgirl was captured in a Royal Historical Society of Queensland archival photograph gazing at oil flowing into a barrel.

The first discovery well at Moonie flowed at a daily rate of 1765 barrels in December 1961 and the “big oil companies of the world have moved in from USA, Canada, Germany, France and the UK.”

Despite the hype, Moonie oil prices were just too high and world oversupply of crude oil meant Middle East imports were far cheaper.

Moonie oil production reached its peak in 1966, then declined.

The pipeline was shut down in 2007 following two major oil leaks and operator Santos said it would cost too much to reopen.

Lynda Scott is a volunteer at the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Visit queenslandhistory.org

It was a big day when the oil began flowing.

SENIORS REVEAL GROWING FEAR OF OUTLIVING SAVINGS

NEW research by National Seniors Australia and Challenger reveals the majority of older Australians are increasingly concerned about rising costs of living, with four in five reporting it had negatively impacted their lifestyle and wellbeing.

The National Seniors social survey of almost 6000 people aged 50 and over looked at how cost of living pressures are affecting lifestyle, retirement finances, wellbeing, and the financial security of older Australians.

The research revealed 53 per cent are worried about outliving their savings, with those concerned about long-term cost of living struggles five times more likely to be concerned about longevity risk – the risk of running out of money late in life.

National Seniors Australia chief operating officer Chris Grice said older people were thought to be protected from the more severe impacts of increasing living costs because they usually own their own home but that this was simply not the case.

“The findings show the impact of increasing costs of living on financial wellbeing varies for people aged 50-plus,” he said. “The impact on older people’s financial security and quality of life varies depending on age, gender, partner status, health, wealth, home ownership and sources of income.

“The results are clear, increases in cost of living impact older people’s financial wellbeing when it comes to meeting expenses, being in control of finances, and feeling financially secure.”

Younger respondents, women and those in poor health are among those more likely to hold long-term concerns about the rising cost of living.

For most, managing their financial situation meant cutting back. Almost two thirds of respondents chose this as an option they could use to adjust to increasing cost of living pressures.

Being able to afford essentials was the greatest cause for concern, with health, energy, and grocery expenses the top three pain points.

Challenger head of retirement income research, Aaron Minney, said cutting spending was not a sustainable long-term strategy for older Australians to manage rising costs of living, with the impact of the issue set to be long-lasting.

“An important factor for retirement wellbeing is having the financial capacity to maintain living standards that were enjoyed before retirement,” he said.

“In general, older people’s sense of financial resilience and financial security have fallen since the start of the pandemic and the increasing cost of living has further undermined long-term planning and financial goal setting of seniors.”

Bouncing into a new era of life, retiree GARRY REYNOLDS shares his thoughts on the world around us.

NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD?

PEOPLE complaining about the struggles of surviving with cost-of-living pressures, often forget the plight of previous generations who had to meet similar challenges in their era.

My Baby Boomer generation appears to be a frequent target for ageist comment.

Worryingly, the Human Rights Commission says that ageism is the most accepted form of prejudice.

Tarring everyone of a similar age with the same brush can lead to prejudice in how we’re treated in daily life. Every generation has opportunities and challenges associated with events in their life and times, but lumping them together as a cohort, implying the same experiences, support, and ambitions, feeds prejudice.

A false focus on differences between

generations can disguise differences based on gender, race, disability, housing tenure and class.

Criticising previous generations has been a stable ploy of those who are not willing to understand the inequalities within different generations.

The different challenges and opportunities that were available then, are available now, and will be available in the future. It is a lazy way to address issues.

How often do we hear the lament that the needy older generation is a burden on the tax-paying younger generation?

Pardon us for living.

A frequent whine I hear is, “We can’t even think about buying a house for another 10 years. This is something that no other generation has faced.”

A quick chat with their grandparents would reveal that during the Great Depression many were unable to buy houses – often families had their houses taken from them and they could not afford rent as unemployment was over 30 per cent (today it is about 4 per cent).

The current generation is not being conscripted to fight in Vietnam and women don’t have to leave the workforce when they marry. Pitting groups against each other doesn’t help.

Perhaps we should look to generate a greater awareness of our history and share the experiences to shrink generation gaps and ageist commentary.

WHAT WAS THAT?

THINKING I needed to turn the television up a bit louder more often, set me off for a hearing test.

Yes, my hearing has deteriorated with age but not alarmingly so for the comfortable conduct of daily life.

Along the way, I learned that for some seniors, hearing loss is linked to increased anxiety and relationship issues. These can cause unfortunate misunderstandings arising from halfheard communications with loved ones risking frustration all round and at worst, social isolation.

At times in seniors’ groups, I have struggled to remember which is the “good side” of a friend or acquaintance. They may even enter my private space to chat

SUPERCENTENARIANS

FEW Australians are making it past 110 – the mark of supercentenarians. Many of us may not aspire to that age but simply treasure a good innings.

The good news is that on average we are living longer.

Over the past five decades, life expectancy for Australian men has improved by 13.7 years to 81.3 and for women by 11.2 years to 85.4.

Of course, there is quality of life to consider in those extra years, especially the supercentenarians.

full front on so they can lip read. But there is hope.

Experts report that after treatment or rehabilitation, patients find it a lot easier to get along with other people.

They no longer suffer the frustration of having to guess so much and are more confident in their communications.

The clear message for gaining increased clarity and confidence is to act early.

Audiologists caution that waiting too long can cause a disconnect between the brain and the ear.

Those who delay getting help have poorer outcomes than those who seek treatment at the earliest signs of impaired clarity.

There is also ongoing debate about whether there is a biological limit to the human life span.

Surprisingly, some experts reckon it is unlimited.

Globally, 10 per cent of supercentenarians survive until the last three months without major age-related diseases. The oldest person is believed to be Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment who died in 1997, aged 122 years.

In Australia, the oldest living person is believed to have died at 114.

Every breath you take ...

Whether carrying grandkids, doing push-ups or climbing a steep hill, how you breathe will make your actions easier or harder, writes TRISTAN HALL.

Breathing is about taking in oxygen, the fuel for your muscles. The more energetic the activity, the more oxygen you will need.

There are two ways to take in oxygen – breathing through the mouth or nose. Many runners choose to breathe through the mouth, whether consciously or not.

Patrick McKeown, an international breathing specialist and author of The Oxygen Advantage, argues that mouth breathing is inefficient. It does not give more oxygen to the lungs or muscle cells.

It’s common to start exercises with nasal breathing and switch to mouth breathing when the going gets tough, when the hill is steep or your 12th push up is just too much.

McKeown’s advice is to slow down

your activity so you can switch back to nasal breathing. One study found people who used nasal breathing for six months had more carbon dioxide in their blood after exercise. Carbon dioxide is considered a waste gas that we expel. However, it is much more. It’s the catalyst that makes the red blood cells release oxygen to power the body’s cells. More carbon dioxide is more available oxygen.

With nasal breathing, you breath deeper using more of your lungs’ capacity. It is calming and can help lower blood pressure. The air gets filtered, moistened and adjusted to your body temperature.

Nasal breathing activates your diaphragm. Besides being a breathing muscle, your diaphragm keeps your core stable, supports your spine and aids your

FIT HAPPENS With Tom Law

IT IS an age-old debate that exercise is better for you in the morning rather than at other times of the day.

Perhaps it is true that exercising first up in the morning sets you up for the day. But what if there’s no opportunity?

You may be a shift worker or waiting on a call. It is not always convenient or practical to exercise in the morning.

I prefer morning activity for a number of reasons, but mainly so that I can get on with my day knowing that I have completed my daily dose of exercise.

Over the years, I have worked for companies as an exercise professional on employee exercise programs.

The company will pay for a day or two a week when I would come in and arrange exercise at the end of the working day. One company had a substantial gym where I would meet the team for their workout.

Sometimes we used the green space available outside the workspace.

Often the programs would start out very positive and with full attendances, but without fail, numbers would drop and enthusiasm falter.

I believe the reason for this included that working out in their own time was not all that attractive as often the employee had a long drive home, or at close of business would still be finishing off their work and miss the start of the exercise program.

What started as a good idea with plenty of energy became harder to attend.  Of course, some employees turned up on time every session. They found a way to work exercise into their day and make it a priority. My experience is that companypaid exercise conducted after hours is not a raging success.

Numerous studies have shown that it does not really matter when you exercise. If it suits you and you can fit an exercise program in on a regular basis, then good for you.

Regardless of where you get your exercise be it formal, programmed or incidental, we all know the important thing is to be consistent and make exercise a part of your lifestyle.

Tom Law is the author of Tom’s Law Fit Happens. Visit tomslaw.com.au

balance. All this adds up to fewer injuries and easier exercise.

On the other hand, mouth breathing supplies you with less oxygen. It leads to fast upper chest breaths which can trigger a fight or flight response and create anxiety. Mouth breathing is very drying and uncomfortable.

If you are used to mouth breathing during exercise and switch to nasal breathing, you will experience more air hunger at first. That’s because the nose is

a smaller entry than the mouth.

Hang in there. In a few months, your body will adapt, and you won’t need as much air for your exercise routine.

So, next time you go cycling or walk up that steep hill slow down, be aware and let your amazing breathing apparatus support you.

Tristan Hall is an exercise physiologist with Full Circle Wellness. Call 0431 192 284 or visit fullcirclewellness.com.au

Tight knit community

Did you know?

It might seem safe to assume that the Canary Islands were named after canary birds. However, the location was actually named for a different animal. Although it’s off the coast of Northwestern Africa, the archipelago is actually part of Spain. In Spanish, the area’s name is Islas Canarias, which comes from the Latin phrase Canariae Insulae, which means “island of dogs”.

Do you remember?

Santa Cruz del Islote off the coast of Colombia may only be about the size of two soccer fields, but the artificial island reportedly has four main streets and 10 neighbourhoods. The island’s population is widely debated with figures ranging from 500 to 1200. Regardless, there are only around 115 homes to house the residents, and it is still considered one of the most densely populated islands in the world.

Quote of the month.

Community owned

Boronia Cottage

“Your Home Away from Home”

By the numbers.

In a world of smartphones, these old-fashioned mobile phones basically did nothing but call, send text messages and perhaps, if you were lucky, allow you to play a cheeky game of Snake. They are now thoroughly antiquated and more or less obsolete. The precursor to the modern mobile, they were extremely useful in their time and could happily run for days without charge –something which is sorely missed.

This month in history

1616: Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog is the first European explorer to reach Western Australia.

1886: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated in New York Harbor.

1908: Henry Ford’s Model T, a “universal car” designed for the masses, goes on sale for the first time.

On average, 100 people die each year from choking on ball point pens.

70 per cent of all birthmarks will eventually fade away over someone’s life.

1921: The first group of Barnardo’s Boys arrives in Sydney.

1923: Sydney-Brisbane telephone link officially opens

1938: The War of the Worlds radio broadcast panics millions of Americans when actor Orson Welles and the Mercury Players dramatise the H.G. Wells story.

1958: Paddington Bear makes his debut in English author Michael Bond’s illustrated book, A Bear Called Paddington.

1970: Part of Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge collapses, killing 35.

It takes 492 seconds for sunlight to reach earth.

1979: After 70 years of American control, the Panama Canal Zone is formally handed over to Panama.

“Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it.”

– Aubrey de Grey, author

A lifestyle streets ahead

Welcome to Halcyon Promenade

Artist’s impression only.

Designed

for over

Artist’s impression only.

*All photographs, illustrations, statements and information in this advertisement, are for illustrative purposes only and are based on information available to and the intention of Stockland at the time of creation May 2023 and are subject to change without notice. No diagram, photograph, illustration, statement or information amounts to a legally binding obligation on or warranty by Stockland and Stockland accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person who relies on them either wholly or in part. Indications of location, distance or size are approximate and for indicative purposes only. Subject to change.

Cruise the Thomson River at sunset

The Outback Pioneers Starlight’s Cruise Experience features on many people’s bucket-list and is just one of the incredible things you can enjoy in Longreach, either as part of an Outback Pioneers holiday or as an independent experience. It’s an evening rich in sights, sounds and stories. Find out more and book on our website.

BRENDALE Evening View Club invites women who would like to make a change to a child’s life, give back to the community and improve their social life, to the next dinner meeting on October 17.

Guest speaker will be Kristen Moore from Heart for Hearing, who has a mobile audiology practice.

Dinner meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at Aspley Hornets Football Club, 50 Graham Rd, Carseldine, 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Visitors always welcome but please book. Call president Helen 0407 003 229 or email brendale. view@gmail.com

Members are informed on how sponsored children are progressing in their studies. Fundraising efforts support their educational needs.

At the same time, they are having fun, meeting new friends, enjoying a meal, listening to an informative guest speaker, and attending additional social activities.

Coffee and Chat mornings are on the first Saturday of the month, 10am, at White’s Coffee Co., Bracken Ridge Tavern, 153 Barrett St, Bracken Ridge.

View (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) is the largest community sponsor of The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, which provides long-term education support for children and young people in need.

ARANA View Club sponsors 14 Smith Family Learning for Life students and is actively involved in fundraising activities to raise donations for The Smith Family.

Lunch meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Guest speaker at the November meeting will be female aviator Janet Marshall.

There will also be a cent auction as well as the usual lucky door prize and raffles.

This month, Phil Adams spoke about a history of Brisbane gardens and there was a fashion parade from U&I Clothing, with members on the catwalk.

Fundraisers include a Bunnings barbecue, Grow and Bake, cent auction and a book club.

There are also monthly outings.

Meetings are at the Arana Leagues Club,247 Dawson Pde, Keperra, 10.30am for 11am. Cost of lunch with tea and coffee is $30. Call Carol 3355 5349 by noon Thursday the week before the meeting. New members are always welcome.

Help preserve the Pride of the Murray

Arana View club members.

Digging up the past to consider future possibilities

Pesticides do their job killing pests but are they affecting the food we eat? KAILAS ROBERTS discusses links between organic produce and brain health

My father, until very recently, lived in a far-flung archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland, specifically the Orkney Islands. These may not be as familiar as their slightly northern cousins, the Shetlands, but they are just as bleak and beautiful.

He was not born there and was (still is) the epitome of middle-class Englishness. There was therefore some adjustment for him as he tried to eke out a living in what was a notoriously parochial part of the world. His reasons for migration from his mother country were multiple but in large part were driven by disillusionment with the mainstream approach to life – that which embraced consumerism and signalled a fracturing of our closeness to the earth.

His idea was to move somewhere with affordable land where he could subsist and avoid reliance on others whose opinions he did not share.

For 30 years, he lived and worked on his farm, growing organic vegetables, and making cheese from the handful of sheep and cows that grazed the fields. It was impossible to be entirely independent, but he did a pretty good job of it.

I spent much of my childhood with him

and was the beneficiary of his healthful approach to eating but, of course, I took it for granted.

Later in life, I have oscillated in my thoughts about organic foods and whether they are truly worth the extra expense. I have no time – nor inclination if I’m honest – to grow my own, and so have to consider the premium you pay for such things.

The more I read about the health effects of pesticides, however, the more I recognise my father’s wisdom.

There is no doubt that the chemicals we put on our fruit and vegetables are toxic – that’s the whole point of them: to

extinguish life of organisms that might otherwise reduce the yield of crops.

When it comes to the brain, there are concerns about their ability to increase neuroinflammation, perhaps in part because of a negative effect on our microbiome – the bugs in our gut.

There is also evidence that the blood brain barrier, a critical structure that serves to protect the brain from harmful molecules travelling in the blood, is compromised when exposed to pesticides. Disruption of this barrier is associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

In rodents at least, there are also studies that suggest that pesticide exposure can lead to increased amyloid and tau deposition in the brain – two proteins intimately linked to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

These are only some of the potential mechanisms of harm. Overall, there is ample evidence to support a link between pesticides and poor brain health in general.

The big unanswered question, however, is whether we, as consumers, ingest enough pesticides for this to be a clinical concern.

Toxicity is one concern, but we also know that plants treated with pesticides

are often less nutritious than organic ones. This is partly because these chemicals kill off microbes that allow plants to absorb nutrients.

Certain plants are more problematic when it comes to pesticide ingestion. If you’re interested to know more about this, Google “the dirty dozen and clean fifteen”, nicely named lists of high and low risk ones. Now, I might be accused of fearmongering, and should stress again that we cannot say at this stage that it is critical for your brain to eat organic, but if you can afford to, I would certainly encourage it.

Whether they grow underground, on the surface, or even on trees, eating vegetables and their sweeter cousins without pesticides is low-hanging fruit when it comes to promoting brain health!

Kailas Roberts is a psychogeriatrician and author of Mind your brain

The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia now available at all good bookstores and online. Visit yourbraininmind.com or uqp.com.au

The day after retirement

Meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen the day you clock off. CHARLIE GRIFFITHS discusses the importance of making plans long before the big day comes.

What are you going to put in it? Where’s your plan man?

Retirement, meaningful retirement, is a process that begins years out and involves planning on all levels – financial, health, social, relationships, purpose, identity and aspirations.

the prospective retiree can visualise likely outcomes and make rational choices.

It’s hard to believe, but I met a school teacher who had retired six months earlier and struggled with the concept of a retirement coach.

recorded and access them regularly to maintain momentum. Don’t just observe social media, be a pest!

Let the world know how cool your new life is and when someone comes up with a good idea, steal it.

Tuesday, 4.55pm: A reminder pops up on your computer screen that this is your final day at work. You save your work and shut down your computer.

At 4.59pm you hand in your laptop and mobile phone to reception, sign off and walk out at 5pm.

It’s a normal Tuesday evening watching television, and then bed at 9pm.

On Wednesday the 7am alarm doesn’t ring, because you handed in your phone the

previous afternoon.

If Peggy Lee could witness this she might say, “If that’s all there is my friend then let’s keep dancing.”

At what point does it become apparent that your life will change after you stop working? What are you going to do all day, and how are you going to keep track?

The first thing you do is head to the nearest Telco shop to buy the latest and greatest mobile phone with a cool calendar app.

The moment you quit your job or sell your business, practice or farm, is the trigger to start putting your plans into action.

Goals don’t just happen. They need to be actioned and adjusted frequently before enjoying your achievements.

Like a productive vege garden, there are goals in progress at all stages, so you have a continuous bountiful harvest.

As a rule, wise decisions require a reasonable ratio of information, commonsense and imagination.

Under the guidance of a professional advisor or coach,

He said: “I thought all you did is retire and start having fun.”

In the next breath he declared, “I should get a parttime job to support my new lifestyle, but I’m too busy.”

Ten years ago, my best mate finally sold his business and the first thing he did when he got home was take off his watch and throw it in the bin.

I’m pretty sure his mobile phone followed it in because he hasn’t called me since that day.

Keep your phone in your pocket, always charged.

Make sure your calendar is busy and your contacts list is comprehensive and current.

Have your personal goals

It’s the right thing to do because you’ll make it better. Don’t worry if someone steals your idea. As soon as they’ve improved it, steal it back! Have fun with your new freedom.

You probably were a rebel back in the day, now let everyone know.

If this resonates, post a comment at RunawayRetiree.com

Pink October Exclusive Lingerie from Tracey G

Now stocking Australia's largest range of post mastectomy lingerie

Tracey G Prosthetics and Lingerie are Australia's largest Amoena stockist and located right here in Brisbane which is great news for women who struggle to find a great fitting bra. Visit Tracey G this Pink October and try on our exclusive Ivy mastectomy bra in sparkly rouge or browse the many new styles from the Amoena Summer 2023 range.

For every Amoena bra sold this October, Tracey G will donate $1 to the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Program.

Supporting Sunshine Coast individuals and families affected by breast cancer

Charlie Griffiths is a certified life coach at Runaway Retiree Retirement Coaching

Detecting the hidden signs of reflux with bulk billed & non-invasive medical imaging technique

G

astroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition. Silent reflux affects approximately 40 to 50% of patients who have GORD. It is referred to as ‘silent reflux’ because it does not present with the classic symptoms of reflux such as: heartburn; lump in the throat and regurgitation. Symptoms of silent reflux range from chronic cough, recurrent sore throats, loss of voice, persistent throat clearing, chest pain, choking, wheezing and shortness of breath.

In recent years, CitiScan Radiology & Lime Radiology partnered with Professor Hans Van der Wall and introduced the Gastroesophageal Reflux Test to Brisbane and the Redcliffe Peninsula.

The first of its kind, this patented nuclear medicine imaging technique precisely identifies reflux fluid contamination throughout the head, throat, and chest. “Many patients do not present with classic symptoms of GORD but are suffering from typical upper respiratory tract symptoms such as chronic cough, dysphonia and globus. This is due to reflux fluid contaminating the maxillary sinuses, throat, middle ears and laryngopharynx. It may also contaminate the airways and lungs causing asthmalike symptoms, breathing difficulties, chronic cough and recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia. We frequently see

patients with a diagnosis of “atypical asthma”, which often turns out to be GORD with entry of reflux into the airways”, says Professor Van der Wall. Historically, GORD has been diagnosed using pH monitoring, fluoroscopy, or endoscopy. So how does the Gastroesophageal Reflux Test differ to these tests?

When diagnosis and treatment are delayed, chronic GORD can increase the risk for serious health complications.Although PH Monitoring is 50-80% sensitive and 77–100% specific in the presence of heartburn & regurgitation, it is limited to oesophageal disease only, particularly the lower oesophagus. Endoscopy is effective as an anatomical diagnostic tool but has a poor sensitivity for GORD (less than 30%) and is limited to detecting reflux disease that is severe enough to damage the oesophagus.

Fluoroscopy or Barium Swallow is insensitive and has a

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high radiation burden and only demonstrates oesophageal disease.

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Test is 90% sensitive and provides an effective, inexpensive, simple, and noninvasive screening tool for reflux and lung aspiration, detecting contamination throughout the maxillary sinuses, throat, middle ears, laryngopharynx, airways and lungs. If you suspect the symptoms you are suffering from correspond with reflux, you might benefit from undergoing a Gastroesophageal Reflux Test. Ask your GP for a referral to CitiScan Radiology or Lime Radiology at your next visit.

Sometimes,theconsequencesofgastricrefluxaremoreseriousthanheartburnor regurgitation,andcouldbecausing,orcontributingtomoresignificanthealthconditions.

Gastricrefluxcontaminationmayoccurthroughouttheheadandneckandcanbethecauseofearandsinusinfections, sorethroat,andadifficultyinswallowing.Refluxcanalsoirritatetheairwaysandbeaspiratedintothelungscausing chroniccough,constantthroatclearing,breathingdifficulties,recurringchestinfections,bronchitis,orpneumonia.

Availableattwoconvenientlocations,ourpatented&exclusiveGastroesophagealRefluxTestaccurately detectsthepresenceanddeterminestheextentandseverityofgastroesophagealrefluxdisease.

Thefirstofitskind,thisnon-invasivenuclearmedicineimagingtechniqueaccuratelyidentifiesgastric fluidcontaminationthroughoutthemaxillarysinuses,throat,middleears,laryngopharynx,airwaysand lungs.

See what’s truly possible with our vast collection. Your home is your unique space. It should be a welcoming source of relaxation and inspiration. While many modern interiors opt for the bare minimum look, we believe a home isn’t quite the same without and original handmade rug.

Our collection is the largest and finest in Australia. So, what does this mean for you? It means we have sourced authentic and unique works of art from each major rug destination around the globe, ready to enliven your home. We have handpicked our pieces straight from the origins, from the tribal towns in Turkey to the master weavers of Qum. We can help you select something worthy of your home, a thing of sincere beauty, value and timelessness.

Take pressure off stress-free cruising

With the weather warming up, BRUCE McMAHON suggests it’s time to head back to cruising, with care, along Queensland’s golden sands.

Beaches, from Stradbroke Island to the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach and through to Cape York, provide some of this state’s best fourwheel drive outings, fishing and camping. And beaches are where extra care should be taken with both vehicle and driving habits.

Note that not all Sports Utility Vehicles are created equal – good ground clearance and a two-range transfer case are important. It’s easy to run down hardpacked sand, but not so easy to fight back through loose sand to escape an incoming tide.

The most important four-wheel drive tool when heading to the beach? Arguably it’s the humble tyre gauge.

Australian drivers, and four-wheel drivers in particular, ask a great deal from tyres.

Those four corners of rubber need to ride nice in the dry, hang on in the wet and corner at speedway speeds – then head off into the backblocks and clamber over ragged rocks and push on through hot sands.

Or plough through a snow drift and up a mud-soaked slope.

In many off-road situations it’s tyre

pressures which can make the difference between looking like a hero or looking like a dunce.

Over-inflation is often the problem, whether running over Flinders Range gibbers or charging up the sands of Fraser Island.

Over sharp gravel, too much air can lead to tread damage; too much air pressure when beach driving will make for hard going and bogging.

(While some argue more air means

better fuel economy and premium load-carrying, it’s best to start by sticking with the manufacturer’s recommendations, usually found on a placard inside the vehicle’s door. After all, the manufacturer worked out the rest of the engineering parameters.)

The better tyres for sand work are bog-standard highway terrain or all terrain tyres. The first are widespread on today’s SUVs.

All terrain tyres are a touch more

aggressive and adventurous in tread patterns. Those more agro mud terrain tyres, with lumps and chunks in all directions, are better suited to mud and rocks.

And the better tyre pressures for sand? Most like to go for 18psi or about 1.24bar. This means there’s still scope for driving at posted speed limits on the beach while being able to deal with softer patches of sand.

The good thing is that it’s always possible to go lower if the going becomes extra difficult, down to say 15psi.

Still in trouble and now bogged to the axle? Take a little more air out but be extra careful once down around 12psi (or lower) and back on the hard stuff. It may not take too much of a hard turn to pop a tyre off the rim.

The effect of lowering tyre pressures isn’t to balloon out the tyre, rather it’s about lengthening the tread – the bit that does all the work that interfaces directly with the road and track conditions – for more contact with the surface.

Best to add a snatch strap, shovel and maybe a set of traction mats such as Queensland’s own MaxTrax for stress-free beach drives.

Back up and stay ahead of the scammers

The most precious thing a scammer can take is your files. EDIN READ advises that backing up is one of the most important security measures to be taken.

Imagine if your wallet was stolen. Sure, it’s frustrating to have to replace your cards, get a new wallet, and you might lose $50, but what about the only copy of that photo of a loved one you’ve carried in there for 30 years? That one receipt from your first date? A picture your grandchild has drawn for you?

There’s no way of retrieving them. No bank has a copy and there’s no 1800 number to call to get a new one printed.

On the computer, photos, typed letters

and your digital life record (if you have written one) are the equivalent of such pieces in your wallet.

Scammers know this. They can hold your files hostage if you have somehow granted them physical or remote access to your computer. They will ask for a large sum to release them, and there is no guarantee they will be returned even if you do pay.

There’s not a lot the ACCC can do!

But what if there was a way to alleviate

this risk of destruction altogether?

Thankfully, some smart cookie invented the art of backing up. It can save the stress and you can keep files comfortably, knowing that if you get scammed, you have a fresh copy ready to set up again. No red faces here.

Back in the day, you’d have a hard drive and you would manually copy your files across to it. This is still a viable option if you’re not quite sure what to do.

Simply copy your home file and paste it across to your external drive. Make sure your key files have been copied.

Now, most modern computers have the option of an easy back-up.

Apple Macs have TimeMachine which keeps a constant backup of your computer and can be configured to backup even every hour.

Windows computers have File History which takes regular backups of your computer. These take the guess work out of it and mean that you can roll back your computer to a previous time.

It’s a good idea to back up regularly. Personally, I back up daily, but weekly or monthly may suit your needs.

Hard drives used to be the best external drive to copy across to. We all know how unreliable they have been, and how long the process takes. Plus, they are bulky.

Current technology is Solid State Drives (SSD). On the surface, they function like a hard drive – they store files.

Technically speaking, they are far more reliable as they don’t have moving components like a hard drive.

While SSDs are not 100 per cent reliable, they are significantly better and much more advanced than hard drives.

It’s recommended to plug them in at least every six months to keep them working.

You might have heard of the Cloud. This scary place is just another word for the internet. Think of it like a secure website that only you have access to – for example, OneDrive, iCloud and DropBox.

It is great in theory for personal backups, but if you have access to it on your computer, if under attack, so will your scammer. This means that it is not a viable option for a security back up.

Although it can be convenient to keep your external drive always plugged into your computer, this is not recommended, because if under attack, they might be able to take it over as well.

Only plug it in when you want to back up, and then unplug. If under attack and it’s plugged in, unplug it immediately.

I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping a regular back-up of your files.

It is such a small step to take every now and again to save you an immense amount of frustration, anger, and sadness in the future.

Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology Tech Support for Seniors. Visit greyology.com.au

Ingoing, ongoing and outgoing – the cost of retirement

The move to a retirement village is more about choosing a community than being a financial investment. DON MACPHERSON explains the various options

always ongoing fees while in the village.

There are usually significant fees payable at the end of the ownership period – called various names including exit fees, or deferred management fees. Exit fee percentages vary across the industry, and can be based on the incoming payment, or the resale figure.

Other exit payments, such as renovation costs, reinstatement costs, costs of sale, legal costs, and valuation fees vary from contract to contract, and

operator to operator. Some allow for capital gain (and loss) and some do not.

Retirement village contracts are always long and complex (often running to more than 100 pages).

Specialist advice should be sought before entering into a contract for any type of retirement village arrangement.

Don Macpherson is an expert in all forms of retirement village contracts at Brisbane Elder Law. Call 1800 328 952 or visit brisbaneelderlaw.com.au

People do, and should, have lifestyle as a major consideration when buying into a retirement village. It’s a choice for companionship, community involvement, and security.

Covid caused many to re-think their lives, when they could see others enjoying the wellbeing effects of community living in a retirement village.

However, as with any significant transaction, remember “buyer be aware”.

When buying into a retirement village understand that the transaction is very different to buying and selling a house in the way that has become the standard throughout life.

Different retirement villages provide different ways of creating rights to reside in their property.

In essence, you buy a right to reside for an indefinite period.

There are four main ways that retirement villages offer residence to an incoming resident:

1. LEASEHOLD

This is the most common way for retirement villages to offer their property to incoming residents.  The lease contract creates a right to reside for an extended period (usually 99 years, although we are yet to see someone outlive their lease).

A lease is registered in the Titles Office. There is no stamp duty.  Sometimes there is capital gain, but not usually. General services fees apply. Normally there are exit fees.

2. LICENCE

Less common than leasehold (at least in Queensland) a licence creates a right to reside but is not registered against the title deed.  However, there are additional protections provided under the Retirement Villages Act.

Usually there is no capital gain.  There is no stamp duty. General Services fees apply. Normally there are exit fees.

3. MANUFACTURED/RELOCATABLE HOMES/OVER 50S RESORTS

This model involves owning the house, but not the land. Because you own the home there is usually a modest capital gain possible. There is no stamp duty. The owner pays a site rental to have a house on the land owned by the operator. There are no exit fees.

4. FREEHOLD

This is the way that we are used to owning property.  We buy the property (like buying a house) and can sell it at the end.  We pay stamp duty, get any capital gain (and bear any loss) and the title is registered in the Titles Office.

It is more like buying a unit in an apartment building and is subject to a body corporate structure. Body corporate fees, rates and water charges apply. It is, however, rare in the retirement village space.

Whatever the ownership model, all retirement village contracts provide extensive rules in relation to occupation of the home in which you live. There are

Documenting Your Life Story

Get ready to celebrate your time

Now in its 63rd year, Queensland Seniors Month, will be celebrated from October 1-31, and continue to bring people of all ages, cultures, and abilities together within their community, uniting them through shared interests and passions.

It also provides a great opportunity to discover new programs and activities, supports and services. Simply put, it’s going to be a connection fest!

Social connectedness is one of the most important factors in creating strong resilient communities.

It allows us to build relationships with people we might not otherwise meet, share common values and experiences, and help us become more aware and engaged in our local environment.

“It is also an important factor in our lives, as it can have an impact on

HOMES STARTING FROM $190,000

our mental and physical health, as well as on our social relationships. Studies have shown that individuals who are socially connected are more likely to report higher levels of happiness, better physical and mental health, and increased life satisfaction,” says Lisa Hodgkinson, senior project officer at Council on the Ageing Queensland.

“Humans are social creatures, and have a fundamental need to connect and interact with one another.

“We know it has been a challenging time over the past few years for some older Queenslanders, and we are again so excited to be coming back together through a great line-up of events and activities.

"Much like previous years, the events on offer are as diverse as the people attending them.”

To find other events and activities visit qldseniorsmonth.org.au

All activities are free unless otherwise noted.

South East Queensland Seniors Forum: livestream

Live Stream, Online

Thursday, October 5, 9.30am to 4pm

As part of Queensland Seniors Month, the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services in partnership with the  Council on the Ageing (COTA)

Queensland is hosting a South East Queensland Seniors Forum.

You’ll hear from leaders in the community, and government and industry experts about supports and services available and discuss what matters to older people in Queensland.

The forum will be opened by Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services Minister Craig Crawford, and will feature demographer Bernard Salt providing an exclusive update on the key demographic changes affecting older people in Queensland.

Don’t miss out and register today at seqsf.eventbrite.com.au

Please note that the content will not be shared after the event.

Online Events

In2Travel

Tuesdays 9.30-11am and Wednesdays 11.30am-12.30pm

Let Inclusee whisk you away on virtual adventures around the world. Each week, we travel to amazing places around the globe, from ancient wonders, cityscape’s and tropical locations, to breathtaking landscapes.

Bookings call 1800 287 687.

Calendar of events

Seniors Month Morning Tea

Tuesday, October 3, 10am-11am

Join Inclusee as it celebrates the start of October Seniors Month events.  Bring a cuppa and snack for a relaxing morning chatting with our kindness crew and staff.

Find out more about our services and come and celebrate being amazing. Bookings call 1800 287 687.

In2Games

Wednesday, October 4, 3pm-4pm

Join in as we play old favourites such as Bingo, Boggle, and Jeopardy, as well as trying new games suggested by the group. For devoted Bingo fans, this game will be held on the second week of each month. Come see how fun it is to play some classic games as a group online. Bookings call 1800 287 687.

Happy Hour & Pub Trivia

Friday, October 6, 2pm-4.30pm

Join us for our Friday Happy Hour! Bring a drink of your choice and have a friendly chat with our connecting community. This is an opportunity to join

in on a casual, social environment providing fun, friendship, and connection. During Seniors Month we will be running Pub Trivia come along and have a laugh and meet new friends. Bookings call 1800 287 687.

Synapse Reconnections for Family, Friends, Carers (online) QLD

Thursday, October 19, 5.30pm-6.30pm

An online group for Queensland carers and family of people living with brain injury.

Reconnections groups provide those impacted by brain injury an opportunity to chat, provide support, play games and share some of your challenges, victories, tips and tricks.

Come and learn from other people’s stories and hear about different experiences of brain injury and issues that are important to you.

You will be in a supportive space with people who understand.

Book online at synapse.org.au/event/ synapse-reconnections-for-familyfriends-carers-online-qld-october

Lord Mayor's Seniors Cabaret Showcase 'Dream, Believe, Achieve' Brisbane City Hall, Main Auditorium

Tuesday 10 October, 12-1pm

This concert will demonstrate that it is never too late to find the performer that is within us all. Special guest Gregory Moore, along with community choirs and dancers will entertain you with a fabulous celebration of the performing Arts. Come and be part of the fun as the audience joins in song with some iconic popular songs that will have you singing for the rest of the day. Some of Brisbane’s most talented seniors will also be dancing, singing, and setting the stage alight showcasing their spectacular performing talents. This Lord Mayor's City Hall Concert is produced by Viva La Musica, in collaboration with Epiphany Productions.

LORD MAYOR'S CITY HALL CONCERTS:

A Tribute to Bublé, Broadway and Beyond

Brisbane City Hall, Main Auditorium

CHANGE YOUR LIFE

at

Tuesday, October 24, 12-1pm

International vocalist, award-winning director, and theatre performer Thomas Armstrong-Robley proudly presents a unique musical celebration highlighting some of the Canadian King of Swing's greatest covers, as well as iconic show tunes and more.

Australian Army Band Brisbane

Brisbane City Hall, Main Auditorium

Tuesday, October 31, 12-1pm

Since its formation in 1949, the Australian Army Band Brisbane has enjoyed a reputation throughout Queensland for its musical excellence and impressive military appearance.

The Army Band is a hard swinging, exciting ensemble consisting of the traditional lineup from the glorious swing era of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm, complemented with male and female vocals. Their repertoire ranges from traditional Big Band sounds to funky arrangements of rock hits and Australian music.

MUSIC FUN DANCE, FITNESS

&

We offer unique Cleveland based programs for men and women aged from 40 to 70+ in Singing, Tap and Jazz Dancing, Djembe Drumming and Buff Bones®. Along with specialised programs for people living with a disability – Dancercise, Drumming/percussion & Art. Whether reviving old hobbies or learning new skills, we have something for you.

So come along and help us celebrate life while having fun and making new friends.

www.herestolife.org.au

Enquire now on 0407154993

Celebrating Seniors Month 2023

Journey Through Ellington and Strayhorn

Brisbane City Hall, Main Auditorium

Tuesday, October 10, 12-1pm

Be transformed into the world of the most prolific composer of the 20th century in an hour-long journey through the world of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

Dominic Brennan and his trio will lead you through a range of Ellington’s classics, with a fresh new take that draws inspiration from the Duke’s pioneering ability, while staying true to the character of his music.

Joined by Joel von Treifeldt on double bass and Christopher Evans on the drums, Dominic will play a program of new arrangements of Ellington’s compositions as well as some of his own originals.

Percussimo Strikes Again

Brisbane City Hall, Main Auditorium

Tuesday, October 17, 12-1pm

Come on a musical adventure with Percussimo, a spectacular and captivating

extravaganza showcasing the depth and multiple dimensions of the percussive arts.

Featuring an expansive collection of repertoire from classical to contemporary pop songs all creatively re-imagined for percussion ensemble, it strikes the perfect balance between exhilarating energy and musical sensitivity.

Gwen in Purgatory

Ron Hurley Theatre, Seven Hills

Friday, October 6 – Sunday, October 8, 7.30pm-9pm

Saturday and Sunday Matinee 2pm3.30pm

A one-act play by Tommy Murphy. Gwen is 90. She woke up this morning to discover that purgatory is sitting alone in a new house in a new subdivision on the edge of town, trying to work out if the remote in her hand operates the TV, the air-con or the fanforced oven. But the kids are coming round and Father Ezekiel is on his way to bless the house, so the beginning of the end is looking up. A "warm, yet stinging portrait of contemporary family dynamics."

Paint and Chat

Burnie Brae Centre, Chermside

Thursday, October 7, 1pm-4pm

Bookings essential 3624 211, cost $6

Join a fun morning of art. As a group we will paint a dimensional artwork with colours of your choice. You can take home your artwork and recreate it using newly learnt techniques. No experience necessary.

Care Kits for Kids Qld Come and Try Day

Care Kits for Kids, Camp Hill

Saturday, October 9, 9am-1pm

Visit our crafting/sewing and packing sheds at 147 Samuel St, Camp Hill, to experience some of the many activities volunteers do to help create care kits for Queensland children in need.

Centenary Volunteers in Policing –Over 50s Expo

Riverlife Baptist Church, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Wednesday, October 11, 8:30am1.30pm

Bookings required by October 5, on 3737 6811. Over 50s Health and Safety

Your Time

Expo featuring four guest speakers and more than 50 Government Departments.

Latin American Seniors Cabaret by LACA QLD 2023

Queensland Russian Community Centre

Saturday, October 14, 2pm-6pm

Bookings essential 0434 9861 359, cost $10

LACA QLD and the Spanish-speaking seniors will offer an afternoon of Latin American cabaret. The event is the perfect platform to connect a group of seniors who share not only the same language but similar values and culture and to the wider Spanish speaking community. It is one more opportunity to strengthen the existing networks in the community and developing new ones.

Singing Together, Bringing Together

Berlasco Court Caring Centre

Monday, October 16, 10am-11.30am

Seniors and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds will come together from the community and Diversicare’s respite centre to join residents of Berlasco Court Caring Centre in a singalong, meet

and greet, and sharing of refreshments. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures through music, singing and snacks.

High SocieTea Songs & Soiree

Sandgate Town Hall

Monday, October 23, 1.30am-1.30pm

Bookings essential 0414 725 097

Cost $35-$40

With a smorgasbord of light opera, operetta, chanson and classical film presented by Vavachi's magnificent performers, the audience will also be served an elegant high tea offered by volunteers from the Sandbag Inc. Waiters will dress in white shirts and bow ties and the tables dressed for platters of hot and cold nibbles, sandwiches, dips. china tea and coffee cups and saucers.

See it, Feel it, Know it, Create it Sherwood Neighbourhood Centre:

Tuesday 24 October, 10am-12pm Bookings essential 3379 6963. Discover simple bilateral body movements & strokes to help you get in

the flow and bring new perspective, joy, ease to drawing and painting.

Singing for fun

Bracken Ridge Hall

Wednesday, October 25, 9.30-11am.

Bookings essential, 0422 323 242 Participants come to enjoy singing popular songs as a group.

Kayak Explore

Nudgee Beach Reserve and Simpsons

Playground, Graceville

Sunday, October 29, 9am-12pm. Cost $6. Bookings essential 0414 960 728 Splash out and have some fun. A great opportunity to enjoy family time paddling with the grandkids while exploring Brisbane’s waterways. All equipment and instruction is provided. Perfect for beginners or those with experience.

Seniors Month: Scam Awareness

Mount Ommaney Library: Tuesday, October 17, 1pm-2pm

Holland Park Library: Thursday, October 19, 1.30pm-2:30pm

Coopers Plains Library:

Tuesday, October 31, 10.30am-11.30am

Scams are getting more sophisticated and frequent. Learn more about the latest scams, who to contact if you are targeted and how to protect yourself online. Presented by the Office of Fair Trading.

October 28, 10am-12pm

Runcorn Pool: Runcorn, Mondays and Thursdays, 1pm-2pm

Chair Yoga

Bracken Ridge Hall: Saturdays, 9.30am-10.30am

Bracken Ridge Hall: Wednesdays 1-2pm

St Lucia Community Hall: Wednesdays 8.15am-9.15am

The Community Place, Kalinga: Mondays, 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Booking essential 3857 1152

Wittonga Park, The Gap: Fridays 9-10am

Wynnum Municipal Hall: Mondays 9-10am

Yoga

Aqua Aerobics

Experience an excellent, low-impact cross-training workout in the water. Feel the benefits of exercise. Bookings are not required and the cost to attend is the pool entry fee.

Ithaca Pool: Paddington, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9.30am-10.30am

Orleigh Park: West End, Saturday,

A.R.C. Hill Park, Virginia: Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am

Biami Yumba Park, Fig Tree Pocket: Thursdays 9.30-10.30am

Boyd Park, Nundah: Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am

Boyd Terrace Park, Brookfield: Fridays 9.15-10.15am

Celebrating Seniors Month 2023

Calamvale District Park:

Mondays 9.30-10.30am

Cannon Hill Community Centre:

Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am

Drevesen Park, Manly: Fridays 9.30-10.30am

Elorac Place Community Centre:

Wednesdays 10.30-11.30am

Forest Lake Community Hall: Tuesdays 9-10am

Mt Gravatt PCYC: Tuesdays 8.30-930am

Sunnybank Community Centre: Mondays 2-3pm

The Community PlaceStafford: Fridays 1-2pm

Lawn Bowls

Beginning Lawn Bowls: Graceville Bowls Club, Sundays 3-4.30pm.

Bookings essential 0407 894 727. Lawn Bowls for the young and young at heart: Graceville Bowls Club Sunday, October 29, 3-4.30pm. Bookings essential 0419 457 763.

Introduction to lawn bowls: Gaythorne Bowls Club, Tuesdays 6-8pm. Bookings essential 3855 2725.

Come & Try Lawn Bowls: St Lucia Bowls Club, Sundays 12.30-2pm. Bookings essential 0407 894 727.

9:30am. Bookings essential jen51@hotmail.com cost $6

Burnie Brae Park, Chermside: Fridays 7.30-8.30am

C.B. Mott Park, Holland Park: Wednesdays 7-8am

Downfall Creek Bushland Centre: Fridays 9-10am

Fletcher Parade Park (nos.161-231), Bardon: Thursdays 8.30-9.30am

Guyatt Park, St Lucia: Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am

Hawthorne Park: Fridays 9.30-10.30am

Huxtable Park, Chermside West: Tuesdays 8.30-9.30am, cost $6

John Walker Place, Yeronga: Wednesdays 8.30-9.30am

Keating Park, Indooroopilly: Mondays 9.30-10.30am

Tai Chi and Qigong Akuna Street Park, Kenmore: Wednesdays 9-10am

Anstead Bushland Reserve: Wednesdays 9-10am

Aspley Rest Park, Carseldine: Thursdays 8.30-9.30am

Brisbane City Hall: Wednesdays 8.30-

Keong Park, Stafford: Thursdays, 9.30-10.30am

Kookaburra Park - West, Karana: Mondays 9.30-10.30am

Moora Park, Shorncliffe: Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am

Newstead Park: Fridays 8.30-9.30am

Old Friary, Kenmore Hills: Mondays 7.45-8.45am

Robinson Park: Fairfield, Sundays 8-9am

Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks: Thursdays 9-10am

Seville Park, Holland Park: Mondays 8-9am

St David's Neighbourhood Centre, Coopers Plains: Fridays 10-11am

Teralba Park, Everton Park: Tuesdays 8.30-9.30am, cost $6

The Lake Parklands, Forest Lake: Tuesdays 7-8am

Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap: Mondays 9.30-10.30am

Wilson Park, Norman Park: Tuesdays 8-9am

Woolcock Park, Red Hill: Sunday 8-9am

Wynnum Wading Pool Park: Wednesdays 8.30-9.30am

Pilates

Standing Pilates for core and balance: Burnie Brae Centre, Chermside, Mondays 1-2pm. Bookings essential 3624 2110.

Low Impact Fitness & Pilates: Essex Road

SPLENDOURS OF EGYPT & THE NILE

12 Days | Cairo to Cairo

Various departure dates available

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS:

JORDAN PRE-CRUISE EXTENSION

THE RED SEA POST-CRUISE EXTENSION

JERUSALEM POST-CRUISE EXTENSION

FARES FROM $7,599pp *

2024 The Choice Is Yours” 20% discount requires payment in full within seven days of booking and is valid for new, individual bookings on select 2024 itineraries and departure dates only, except Rivers of the World 2024. Alternatively, a discount of 10% is available for new, individual bookings, only a deposit payment applies at time of booking. Bookings must be made by 31 October 2023. Offer applies to full-fare bookings only. All fares and savings listed are in Australian dollars. Rates and savings vary by itinerary and departure date. Discount applies to all categories of suites and staterooms. Discounted savings amounts are based on the cruise-tour portion of bookings (including category upgrades and single supplements), after other applicable discounts are applied and do not apply to the purchase of air tickets, optional pre and post extensions, or Uniworld Gold Seal Protection. All applicable discounts are applied sequentially; fixed savings amounts are deducted prior to applying any percentage-based discounts. Offer is capacity controlled and may be modified or withdrawn at any time. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires 31 October 2023.

Calendar of events

Shorncliffe, Mondays 6.30-7.30am cost $6

Pilates in the Park: Nudgee Beach Reserve, Nudgee Beach Thursdays 6.30-7.30am

Fitness

Chair Fitness: Indooroopilly Activity Hub, Thursdays 1-2pm. Bookings essential 0488 008 555.

Chair Fitness: Toowong Meeting Place, Wednesdays 11.30am-12.30pm

Fitness 4 Seniors: Jindalee Boat Ramp Park, Jindalee Mondays 10.30-11.30am

Functional Fitness: Drevesen Park, Manly, Wednesdays 8-9am

MoveFit: Coorparoo School of Arts Hall, Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am.

Bookings essential 0405 652 109.

MoveFit: Upper Mt Gravatt Progress Hall, Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am.

Bookings essential 0405 652 109.

MoveFit: Wynnum Municipal Hall, Thursdays 9.30-10.30am.

Bookings essential 0405 652 109.

ZUMBA

Acacia Ridge Hall: Acacia Ridge, Fridays 9.30-10.30am. Bookings essential 0405 652 109 cost $6.

City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City: Mondays 12.30-1:30pm

Elorac Place Community Centre: Thursdays 11.30am-12.30pm

Greenways Esplanade Park:

Parkinson, Fridays 8.30-9.30am

Lota Camping Reserve: Tuesdays 8-9am

O'Callaghan Park, Zillmere: Wednesdays 8.30-9.30am.

Bookings essential 0418 855 946.

Preston Road Park, Carindale: Mondays, 9-10am

Park, Indooroopilly, Thursdays 9.3010.30am

Swiss Ball Pilates: Indooroopilly Uniting Church, Mondays 9.30-10.30am.

Bookings essential 0410 010 316.

Pilates in the Park: J.C. Slaughter Falls, Mt Coot-tha Reserve, Thursdays 10.3011.30am. Bookings essential christine@ fitnesswithatwist.com.au

Pilates in the Park: Kalinga Park, Kalinga, Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am

Pilates in the Park: Moora Park,

Functional Fitness: Wakerley Park, Wakerley, Tuesdays 8-9am

Functional Fitness: Our Place Hall, Inala, Tuesdays 9-10am

Gentle Fitness: The Community Place, Stafford, Wednesdays 11.30am-12.30pm

Gentle Fitness & Tai-Chair: Mt Gravatt

PCYC, Upper Mount Gravatt, Thursdays 11.30am-12.30pm and 1-2pm

MoveFit: Acacia Ridge Hall, Fridays 10.35-11.35am. Bookings essential 0405 652 109.

Arthur Davis Park, Sandgate: Wednesdays 4.30-5.30pm

Banyo Memorial Park, Banyo: Thursdays 10.30-11.30am

C.J. Greenfield Community Hall: Wednesdays 11.30am-12.30pm.

Bookings essential 0414 348 111.

Calamvale District Park: Calamvale, Fridays 10-11am

Captain Burke Park, Kangaroo Point: Mondays 9.30-10.30am

Carindale Recreation Reserve: Carindale, Tuesdays 10-11am

The Community Place, Stafford: Thursdays 9-10am

Bookings essential 3857 1152

Upper Mt Gravatt Progress Hall: Wednesdays 11.15am-12.15pm.

Bookings essential 0405 652 109 cost $6.

Wynnum Municipal Hall: Thursdays 8-9am.

Bookings essential 0428 419 157.

* Event listings supplied to COTA Queensland and Your Time Magazine were correct at time of printing. For updated event information please visit qldseniorsmonth.org.au

PERUVIAN AMAZON & MACHU PICCHU EXPLORATION

16 Days | Lima to Lima

Various departure dates available

Uniworld are excited to announce a brand-new extension to Peruvian itineraries for 2024! As a pre-tour extension to your time in Peru, we’ll add two new countries to our South American adventure: Brazil and Argentina!

CONTACT SARAH WEBSTER

FOR A QUOTE OR TO SECURE YOUR SUITE sarah@wayfindertravel.com.au | 0411 184 784

FARES FROM $16,399pp *

NEW PRE-TOUR EXTENSION Rio de Janeiro & Iguazu Falls

We begin in the famed city of Rio de Janeiro, staying at none other than the Belmond Copacabana Palace, then move on to Iguazu Falls to view the largest system of waterfalls in the world. For our time here, we’ve booked a stellar stay at another Belmond property, the charmingly pink Hotel das Cataratas. It’s the only hotel actually inside the park and offers a remarkable view of the falls.

35 luxury homes set in a forest backdrop.

At Greenwood Forest Glen, our vision was to create a revolutionary nature-inspired over-50s living community, one where residents can connect with nature and each other; combined with low-maintenance homes and village-style convenience.

It’s a concept that has proven a huge success. Now we are proud to announce the second release of the popular ‘Heights Precinct’, featuring 35 single and double-storey homes to be offered off the plan.

In every way, these homes reflect the Greenwood philosophy that living in harmony with nature is intimately linked to health and vitality, and it flows through everything from the connected native gardens to the expansive community orchard and vegetable plots.

SINGLE & DOUBLE STOREY RESIDENCES FROM $862,000

What residents love about living at Greenwood Forest Glen

• Club Eden. Think of it as your own private country club with its 25-metre swimming pool, event space, tennis, bowls green, games room, bar and dining area.

• Residents-only conservation reserve. Enjoy the peace and serenity of 5 hectares of rainforest reserve with its interconnected walking trails.

• Community garden. Extensive vegetable garden and orchard with dedicated event space.

• Neighbourhood shopping. Take a short stroll across the road to experience the brand-new Forest Glen Village Shopping Centre featuring a Super IGA supermarket, takeaway, medical and dental facilities, chemist and more.

BEESWAX AND TALL TALES: MEMORIES OF AN AUSSIE ANTIQUE DEALER

By Jane Crowley and Athol Salter – Biography

Reviewed by Jan Kent

I HAVE not given much thought to things old and worn, until this book alerted me to the fact that such items embody lives that have been long, varied and could tell enthralling tales if they could.

Each chapter in this well-written and intriguing book focuses on just one much-loved object, its colourful past and often eccentric owner.

Antique dealer Athol shares the highs and lows of finding and trading treasured belongings with his daughter Jane, and this collaborated work is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Crowley uses some poetic phrasing in her writing, which at times I found just a little too verbose, but it did not detract from a memoir filled with experience and passion gathered through 60 years of immersion in the world of antiques.

The reader is led to nostalgia, a time when furniture was created and crafted by hand to last for the next generation. The tall tales last as well.

THE HERON’S CRY

By Ann Cleeves

Crime fiction

Reviewed

Jo Bourke

by

ANN Cleeves is a prolific crime writer whose more than 40 novels have been made into TV series Vera, Shetland and The Long Hall (Matthew Venn series).

I have just read my first Ann Cleeves novel The Heron’s Cry (published 2021) and was hooked within a few pages. Who else could describe the “soon to be murder victim” as middle aged, small, sturdy, like a troll from a fairy story with square head and short legs and a wide smile!

The imagery continues throughout this enticing story, with diverse characters and challenges – gay marriage, single mum with two teenagers, grieving artistic daughter whose huge glass creations are found broken and the shards used as murder weapons.

There are plenty of red herrings to confuse us and make it difficult to deduce the murderer but just like Vera on TV, everything comes together in the end.

ORDINARY GODS AND MONSTERS

By Chris Womersley – Crime/mystery fiction

Reviewed by Annie Grossman

I AM a big fan of Chris Womersley’s writing.  I find his stories authentic and compelling, and his characters beautifully drawn.  This new book is a true page turner, and a terrific read. The main character is a teenage boy named Nick Wheatley who lives in suburban Melbourne.

Nick is finishing school, his home life is confusing, and his only true friend is his neighbour Marion whose father has been killed in a hit and run. The police have no suspects and no leads, but Nick and Marion have some theories which they plan to test (after a séance with the local drug dealer).  Their detective work finds them in an nightmarish situation with a dark network of unsavoury characters.  Within this fast-paced story, I was pleased to find some literary gems –beautifully written moments or observations – and even a little humour.

VELOCITY

By Steve Worland Action thriller

Reviewed by John Kleinschmidt

OCCASIONALLY I like to read something from the escapist action genre and on this occasion, I found a debut novel by Australian TV scriptwriter Steve Worland. Velocity is about a space shuttle hijacked in America and flown to central Australia for preparation to attack and irradiate Manhattan. The main character is Judd, an astronaut who has lost his mojo, and the love of his life Rhonda. With the help of Corey, an outback helicopter pilot, and his dog Spike, Judd sets out to find and destroy the hijacked space shuttle and win his lady back.

Worland’s attention to detail, eccentric and brilliant characters moving at a heart-stopping pace provide explosive action. Worland compares very favourably with Matthew Reilly, so it’s entertaining reading even if a tad unbelievable.

THE COLLECTOR

By Daniel Silva – Action thriller

Reviewed by Lea Dodd

THIS is Daniel Silva’s 23rd Gabriel Allon novel, and they just keep getting bigger and better. This time, the search begins for a painting that has been missing for decades, which continues as clues to its whereabouts surface.

Silva cleverly weaves a fictional page-turner around a real event – the theft

KURINJI FLOWERS

By Clare Flynn

Historical fiction

Reviewed by Allison White

ALTHOUGH this book has been around for a while – it was first published in 2014 – it proved to be my lucky day when I stumbled across it. At first I was sceptical, fearing it might be just another romance, but it is so much more.

In 1936, debutante Ginny Dunbar is publicly disgraced after an abusive relationship with a predatory older man. Her mother’s hopes for a society wedding are dashed and Ginny is quickly married off to a tea planter from southern India.

The descriptions of life in colonial, pre-separation India are wonderful, the history fascinating, and the story itself gripping with interesting well-rounded and believable characters.

I enjoyed every page and felt quite bereft when it ended.

of Vermeer’s painting The Concert, stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This is the catalyst that leads Gabriel down a trail of international espionage, taking readers with him on a heart-pounding journey from the canals of Venice to the coast of Denmark, then into Russia and Finland as he uncovers a criminal known as The Collector, and a secret plan that could lead to a nuclear Armageddon.

In true Silva style, The Collector will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

See your way clear

Live your best life with clear vision. Cataract surgery can be personalised for your lifestyle. MADELEINE ADAMS explains developments in cataract surgery and what it means.

Acataract is the natural lens inside your eye that has become cloudy or hazy. Cataracts form with normal ageing but can occur earlier in some people who have a family history or certain conditions.

As they grow slowly, cataracts can creep up on you. Many people are surprised by how much brighter and clearer life is after they are removed.

Modern cataract surgery is quick, low stress and minimally invasive so there’s a speedy return to normal activities.

Surgery is performed under a twilight anaesthetic, with no injections around the eye.

Simply put, the natural lens which has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial, Intraocular Lens (IOL).

The choice of IOL is dependent on eye health, as well as visual needs based on individual lifestyle.

Technology progresses quickly, so cataract surgery has changed in the last decade.

The most exciting development is the huge increase in choice in IOLs.

New IOL technologies provide an extended range of vision, reducing the need for spectacles and avoiding the undesirable side effects of older technology IOLs.

It is rewarding to hear from patients overjoyed with the freedom and improved lifestyle their new vision affords them.

Cataracts cannot grow back.

The natural membrane will become a little cloudy over time, due to a build-up of proteins and cells but this is easily and quickly fixed with a painless laser treatment, a YAG capsulotomy which is conducted in rooms. This will ensure vision remains crystal-clear.

If you think you might have a cataract make an appointment with the local optometrist who can assess eyes and check there is no other cause for the symptoms.

The optometrist will then refer on to a cataract surgeon for further assessment and treatment.

Dr Madeleine Adams is an ophthalmologist at Insight Eye Surgery in Taringa, call 3154 1515 or visit insighteyesurgery.com.au

BREAST Cancer Trials has announced its next free online Q&A, which will be based around triple negative breast cancer.

Moderated by author and journalist Annabel Crabb, the Q&A will see women with a history of this type of cancer join world-leading researchers on the latest research and clinical trials to improve treatments and patient outcomes.

Triple negative breast cancer accounts for about 15 per cent of all breast cancers.

It is a more aggressive type of tumour, with a faster growth rate, a higher risk of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasis) and of recurrence either in the breast or elsewhere.

Because it does not have any of the more common receptors that can be

THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENCE

AN independent hearing centre offers specialised care focused only on each person’s unique hearing.

Trained clinical staff offer a range of services from ear wax management and diagnostic hearing tests to hearing aid dispensing and tinnitus treatments. Demonstrating a commitment to overall hearing wellness, they also specialise in noise protection products.

targeted by medications, such as hormone and HER2-blocking drugs, there are fewer treatment options available.

The expert panel includes Professor Sunil Lakhani, executive director of research at Pathology Queensland; and medical oncologist Professor Sherene Loi, who specialises in breast cancer treatment as well as a clinician scientist with expertise in genomics, immunology and drug development; and Melbourne breast surgeon Dr Jocelyn Lippey. Diane Baker, and Karen Alexander, who were diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer will talk about their experience.

The online Q&A will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 4.30pm-6pm. Register at breastcancertrials.org.au

Rather than prioritising the sale of hearing aids over other services and products, an independent hearing centre ensures it’s not about names on a computer system – if you come in for replacement batteries, you and your specific hearing device will likely be remembered, and quick repairs can be offered on the spot.

Visit totalhearingandhealth.com.au

STOP SNORING. START LIVING.

NOMORE UNCOMFORTABLE NOISYCPAP MACHINES

Custom designed & fitted uniquely to your mouth, our range of Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) anti-snoring solutions deliver superior, reliable results. The Snorex Guard is moulded from your unique dental print and is fitted and fabricated in our own dental laboratory by specialists, to ensure it stays in place throughout the night and provides maximum comfort and reliable results

“My life has been changed, by your Snorex guard, in so many ways. I had been using my CPAP machine for over 7 years and even though it did the job, it was not the most comfortable thing to use. Now, after using the Snorex guard for a number of months, we have both noticed a huge difference in our quality of sleep. It is far more comfortable to wear, I definitely recommend the Snorex to everyone, it works.”

James, Kallangur

WHEN SNORING BECOMES JUST TOO MUCH

SLEEP apnoea can have serious health ramifications for those who choose to ignore it.

An estimated one in four Australians suffer some form of apnoea and most remain undiagnosed.

Untreated, it can lead to a much higher risk of stroke, heart attack, dementia, diabetes and inability to control obesity.

Sleep apnoea occurs when we stop breathing in our sleep, usually for more than 10 seconds.

When awake, the brain keeps the muscles around the throat engaged and airway open but when sleeping, these muscles disengage, and the airway starts to narrow, which can result in loud snoring.

When the airway closes over completely, the body is starved of oxygen and after a while, the brain pulls us out of the deeper stages of sleep to an almost awakened state where we are able to take a large breath or snort (some bed partners refer to this as a choking sound).

Most of the time we don’t consciously wake up, but we are

constantly being pulled out of the restorative stages of sleep just to take a breath. Then we go deeper into sleep only to be pulled back out again over and over all night.

(No wonder you’re still tired after all this carry on all night!)

Apart from waking up with bruised ribs Inflicted by a sleep deprived partner attempting to stop your snoring with a swift elbow to the mid-section, common symptoms include:

•   Snoring or choking

•   Always tired regardless of how long you sleep

•   The ability to go to sleep any time anywhere

•   Poor concentration

•   Short term memory loss (keys, wallet etc.)

•   Frequent bathroom visits

•   Restless legs

Bryce Perron, managing director of CPAP Direct said in-home sleep studies diagnosed sleep apnoea and gave a clear picture of sleep quality.

A CPAP Direct sleep study is simple.Visit cpap.com.au to take a free online sleep assessment and find out the likelihood of sleep apnoea. Then obtain a

referral for a non-invasive sleep study either through your GP or telehealth appointment.

The sleep study involves having an in-home sleep diagnostic device fitted, going to bed as normal, and returning it the next day for the data to be scored, and sent to the respiratory specialist physician for review and recommendations.

If the diagnosis comes back positive for sleep apnoea, the gold standard of treatment is CPAP therapy which stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure.

The CPAP device includes the machine, a humidifier, a mask, and the hose that connects them together.

“The patient wears the mask, and the machine automatically adjusts the air pressure for each breath,” Mr Perron said. “It works by using positive air pressure to hold the airway open. For most, this may mean no more snoring and most importantly, a decent quality of sleep with fewer interruptions.” Visit cpap.com.au or call 1300 133 298.

THE FABULOUS FACET JOINTS WHEN it comes to anatomical terms, there’s a good chance you won’t have heard of facet joints event though there are 24 pairs of them – four on each vertebra.

Facet joints are an important part of the spine, providing stability and also enabling the spine to bend forward, backward and twist. You might say they are quite fabulous.

As we age, we can suffer from a degenerative arthritislike condition called facet joint syndrome. It occurs in both men and women and is most common between the ages of 40 and 70.

Between each vertebra is a rubbery disc that acts as a shock absorber and contributes to movement. However, these discs shrink as we get older, reducing the cushioning effect and increasing pressure through the facet joints.

This can lead to pain particularly through the lower or lumbar area of the back. Pain may also be felt through the arms and legs while movement may be restricted.

Some suffer from chronic pain while others deal with

periodic flare-ups.

Facet joint syndrome is diagnosed by a thorough examination which includes taking a medical history and physical exam.

Imaging, including X-ray, CT or MRI, may also be conducted to help confirm the diagnosis and to check for other conditions that also cause spinal pain.

Often, a diagnostic facet joint injection will be performed to confirm the source of the pain.

Treatment for facet joint syndrome includes lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, medications or steroid injections. In severe cases, spinal surgery may be recommended.

Visit Briz Brain and Spine at brizbrain.com.au

best life with clear vision

Dr Madeleine

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY READY TO CHANGE FUTURE

In an Australian-first, leading in-home care provider Silverchain, has teamed up with one of the world’s first virtual hospitals in Israel, Sheba Beyond, to offer advanced telemedicine services.

The partnership, which was recently cemented as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), is expected to deliver a pioneering new model of home care, which harness digital technologies.

According to its website, Sheba Beyond doctors virtually “visit” their patients to deliver treatment, which the ground-breaking medical provider claims is “real and tangible”.

It’s a game-changer for the growing number of ageing Australians embracing home care. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, over the 10 years from 2012, the number of people using home care increased almost four-fold. In June 2022, about 216,000 Australians were using home care.

A statement from Sheba’s website claims: “Thanks to advanced technology that performs constant monitoring, virtual technology preserves treatment continuity, ensuring that each patient will receive the most appropriate treatment for them – often even before the patient is aware of the need for it.

Thus, we are able not only to treat the condition, but prevent its deterioration.

“The innovative technologies provide doctors and patients with the ability to control and supervise, thereby reducing the intensity of the illness/condition and providing the means to alert in the event of deterioration or complications.

“This amounts to a vastly improved treatment, while circumventing the need to seek treatment at the health clinic or hospital.”

Fuelled by the success of Sheba’s extensive clinical expertise and technological innovation, Silverchain is set to ramp up the calibre of medical in-home care it provides to more than 115,000 Australians each year.

Sheba would also benefit from Silverchain’s applied research expertise, which focuses on enhancing and the safety and accessibility of in-home care, especially in the areas of mental health, palliative care, cardiology, rehabilitation and acute health care.

Silverchain’s chief executive Dale Fisher said it was the first time a Silverchain MoU in Australia had involved Sheba Beyond.

“We are inspired to be part of such a high-calibre collaboration,” he said.

HEALTH CARE IN THE HOME MAKES SENSE by Jake Jackson

THE pandemic revealed the importance of healthcare systems around the world.

As hospitals and healthcare facilities became overwhelmed with patients, it became clear there was a need for alternative ways of providing healthcare services.

One potential solution is integrating healthcare with home care — providing healthcare services to patients in their homes.

This includes a range of services, such as medication management, wound care, and physical therapy.

Integrating home care with healthcare services could improve patient outcomes while reducing the burden on hospitals and healthcare facilities. It also has the potential to help patients receive more personalised care.

When patients receive care in their homes, they have access to a team of healthcare professionals who tailor treatment plans to individual needs.

This leads to better outcomes and a higher quality of life for patients.

Additionally, integrating healthcare with home care could help reduce healthcare costs.

By providing care in the home, healthcare facilities can reduce the need for expensive hospital stays and procedures. This can also help reduce the strain on healthcare systems,

particularly during times of crisis. However, integrating healthcare with home care does present challenges.

One of the biggest is ensuring that patients receive the same level of care as they would in a hospital or healthcare facility. This requires a team of healthcare professionals who are trained to provide care in the home setting.

Another challenge is ensuring that patients have access to the resources they need to receive care at home, such as medications, medical equipment, and trained caregivers.

To address these challenges, healthcare systems will need to work closely with patients and their families to develop personalised care plans that meet their specific needs.

With the right resources and support, integrating healthcare with home care could become an essential component of healthcare systems around the world.

Mark and Sylvie’s Home Care, an approved provider of government funded home care packages, offers a range of services including skilled nursing, personal care, cleaning, cooking, gardening and companion services, catering to a variety of needs.

Call 1300 888 256 or visit msmhomecare.com.au

pioneering telemedicine model is about to give new meaning to home care. LUCINDA DEAN explains it will be a game-changer for thousands.

“They look after you

-Joan

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE WITH HELP FROM THE JUBILEE CARE TEAM

DO you need some help in the home or support to continue doing activities that are important to you as you get older?

Jubilee Community Care can help.

Established in 1989, it is one of Queensland’s oldest not-for-profit community service providers.

The team supports clients so that they can continue to live independently in their own home with flexible, friendly

Jubilee is committed to enriching the lives of older people and their families around Brisbane’s northern and western suburbs, by providing personalised

The care coordinators and support

workers who come to your home can provide care that is tailored to individual lifestyles and support needs through the government-subsidised Home Care Package.

Clients can be confident support workers are fully trained to provide the highest quality of care.

They all have national police checks, first aid and CPR certificates, and undergo annual mandatory training in key areas of care.

Jubilee is currently recruiting more support workers, expanding its team of friendly, passionate and skilled staff who help clients to be safe, happy and healthy in their own home for longer.

If you would like to find out more about Jubilee, need some assistance navigating the My Aged Care portal, or know someone who would like to seek employment as a support worker, call Jubilee Community Care 3871 3220.

Personal care

Food preparation

Medication assistance

Online and community activities

Clinical care and allied health services

Light domestics and home maintenance

Transport for appointments / social activities

Shopping assistance, companionship and respite

OLD FRIENDS AND NEW SETTLE IN COMMUNITY

MALCOLM and Deidre Johnson are preparing to pack up a quarter of a century of memories to move to Stockland’s Halcyon Promenade.

When the couple prepared to downsize, they considered moving into a unit close to their Aspley home, but couldn’t find anything to suit their needs. Then they foundHalcyon Promenade a little further up the highway at Burpengary East, and a short drive inland from Moreton Bay.

“We had been thinking about moving for years, but we kept procrastinating,” says Deidre. “Malcolm had a fall on the stairs last year and broke his arm. Our children stepped in and encouraged us to find something single-level.”

Halcyon Promenade offers a great alternative to a unit with low-set homes and a low-maintenance lifestyle.

With their move-in date scheduled for 2024, Malcolm and Deidre are enjoying getting to know their future neighbours at

DOWNSIZE TO UPSIZE

RETIREMENT is the time to focus on yourself with a meaningful lowmaintenance lifestyle surrounded by friends, in a convenient location.

Spend your days doing the things you love the most, whether that’s joining social clubs or taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing. In a retirement village, the choice is yours.

From the city to the beach, and the bush to the rainforest, Keyton operates 13 villages around Queensland in enviable locations.

There’s a wide range of home types and layouts, serviced apartments, and semi-detached residences. Choose to have a garden or a balcony.

Comfortable, low-maintenance homes are set in a community of friendly neighbours with amenities that enrich wellbeing.

Two upcoming Keyton Open Days are a chance to discover if the vibrancy and warmth of two beautiful villages on the

onsite gatherings organised by the Halcyon Communities team.

From morning teas to happy hours, future residents get together for meet-andgreets to begin building connections before they officially become home owners.

For Malcolm and Deidre, some new neighbours won’t be complete strangers.

They have already discovered that people they worked with years earlier are also moving in.

Avid travellers, Malcolm and Deidre are planning more adventures.

“Being able to lock up and leave knowing everything is secure makes it nice and easy,” says Deidre.

Visit stockland.com.au/halcyoncommunities/halcyon-promenade

LOVE OF CREATIVITY LEAPS OVER LIFE’S HURDLES

COLLEEN Ryan homed in on her artistic talents at a jazz festival in 1988.

“I spotted an elderly gentleman with the most interesting profile, and I knew I wanted to draw him,” she says.

With drawing pad, pencil and eraser in hand, Colleen surreptitiously drew the profile and spent the next two weeks perfecting the image. From then on, she would spend hours drawing faces that attracted her attention.

Later, while holidaying at Thursday Island, she was encouraged to try her hand at painting. Soon she was designing cards, sarongs and other materials.

When Colleen retired, she joined her sister in a ragdoll-making class, which led to enamelling classes and a genuine interest in all things creative.

“Getting older, my hands started shaking and macular degeneration in my left eye affected my vision in a great capacity. But I didn’t let that get me down and started painting with watercolours,” she says.

“Then along came Covid and many people felt so isolated so I compiled some of my watercolours into booklets and painted each cover individually for my close friends. I also included some messages in the books and it really helped to keep us connected.”

Colleen’s eyesight is failing steadily but she continues to do what she loves, proof that curveballs in life don’t have to mean the end of enjoyment.

Colleen accesses the services of Suncare, supporting her to live at home safely and comfortably.

Call 1800 786 227 or suncare.org.au

STAY AT HOME AND IN CHARGE

GETTING help with the routines of daily life doesn’t mean handing over independence – in fact it can often protect it.

By self-managing your Home Care Package, you can stay in the driver’s seat of your own life.

Sunshine Coast are the retirement living choice for you.

There will be light refreshments, live music, and village tours, and the village team will be available to answer questions.

Hibiscus Noosa Outlook Open Day is on Thursday, November 9, 10.30am12.30pm at 71 St Andrews Drive, Tewantin. For details visit keyton.com.au/ home/events/open-day-hibiscus-noosaoutlook

Allora Gardens Open Day is on Friday, November 10, 10.30am-12.30pm at 22 Allora Drive, Maroochydore. For details visit keyton.com.au/home/ events/open-day-allora-gardens

Self-management keeps control over how a Home Care Package is spent. It doesn’t mean you have to go it alone, but offers the flexibility to get help with as much or as little of the process as you choose.

That might include support to design your care plan and budget; gain more control over how funds are spent; choose your own support workers and when you want them; find services at rates that are acceptable to you; ensure services are paid on time with daily payment runs; and increase your care hours with lower hourly rates

One of the main reasons to choose to self-manage is because it gives absolute

control over who provides your care and services.

You can ensure you’re surrounded by the best people and receiving exactly the service you want, how and when you need it.

Self-management also cuts out the agency “middle-man”, allowing for rate negotiation directly with service providers so you can get the most out of your budget.

Visit trilogycare.com.au or call 1300 459 190.

UNLOCKING THE ART OF RETIREMENT VILLAGE LIFE

Retirement is not just a phase of life; it’s a new beginning. JULES MARIE writes that retirement village living and residential aged care is about fostering an inclusive community.

NESTLED in Bethania is a 26ha canvas of landscaped gardens and parklands that’s more than just a place to reside – it’s a welcoming community.

According to McCrindle Australia, when considering retirement in general, the top three reasons new residents chose to leave their previous home (the Push Factors) were to downsize while they still could; their home was becoming too big to manage or they were concerned about their future health.

Imagine a place where residents gather to create memories, share stories, and simply enjoy life. For this community, retirement isn’t about slowing down, it’s about living life to the fullest. Daily leisure options abound, including serene TaiChi sessions amid lush gardens, indoor bowls for friendly competition, and a golf net to practice the swing.

One of the unique aspects of this community is its rich cultural diversity.

Residents come together to celebrate a tapestry of traditions and festivities, from the vibrant colours of Chinese New Year to the patriotic spirit of Australia Day. Homes within this tranquil community are carefully designed, reflecting the wisdom of Eastern philosophies and oriental heritage. Living spaces range from studio apartments to spacious three-

bedroom villas, and are created with comfort, practicality, affordability, and security in mind.

As residential aged care providers we play a pivotal role in ensuring that our older generations can enjoy their retirement years with dignity, comfort, and the necessary support.

Thanks to focused training and ongoing support from Queensland Health our home specialises in end of life, palliative and dementia care to provide tranquillity and peace of mind within our aged care home and not at hospital.

Cultural safety is enhanced by multi-lingual staff with specialisation in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Multiple allied health services include a GP, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, dietitian, speech pathologist, physiotherapist, and an occupational therapist who are also multi-lingual.

The journey of retirement village living, and residential aged care is an art, and the commitment to creating a harmonious, inclusive, and secure environment ensures that this chapter of life is filled with comfort, affordability, and above all, a profound sense of community.

Jules Marie is the retirement village manager at Jeta Gardens. Visit jetagardens.com

OF THE MONTH

THE benefits of pet ownership are well recognised and there are pets who need owners too. RSPCA Queensland has more than 47,000 animals arrive each year – strays, surrenders, rescues, or victims of cruelty. Meet:

SCOUT is a male Australian cattle dog cross kelpie who is four years and 11 months old.

Super smart, active and affectionate, he likes to lean in for pats and reassurance and enjoys spending time indoors, and outdoors playing fetch with balls.

While Scout is dog social and is happy walking with companions, he would prefer to be the one and only canine in a feline-free household.

Adoption price $245 includes a bag of Royal Canin food.

BRIAN is a male domestic medium hair aged five years and six months.

He came to the RSPCA after he couldn’t match with the previous owner’s new dog. He’s now looking for a new family where he is the only four-legged companion.

Brian has a luxurious mane so will need a brush every now and then. While he may seem a bit reserved at first, he is an affectionate feline once he gets to know you.

Adoption price $185 includes a bag of Royal Canin food and a bag of Catmate litter.

Both are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, worm and flea treated.

To adopt visit rspcaqld.org.au/adopt or call the RSPCA adoption line 1300 364 443

QUILT AND CRAFT FAIR RETURNS

BE HANDS on and explore crafty passions when the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair returns this month with inspirational displays, more than 600 quilts, and hands-on workshops.

Visitors can attend free seminars, demonstrations, try Make & Take classes, test drive the latest sewing, embroidery, overlocking, cutting and quilting machines – and see the latest innovations and technology.

Craft communities include the Queensland Quilters and guilds for textile artists, embroiderers, bookbinders, lace makers, decorative painters and even wood turners.

There will be short classes covering embroidery, macrame, painting cardmaking and mixed media and extended workshops for resin pouring, making a fascinator, tufting, embroidery, polymer bead making and rag rug making.

The Queensland Quilt Show is a display of pictorial, modern, art, traditional, innovative and applique quilts, including junior entries. Also, showcasing the

exceptional craft talents from around Queensland will be the Gold Coast Woodturners who will attend for the first time. There will be craft displays throughout the show, including the Australian Quilt Show, the colourful AQC Challenge quilts, the theme of which was In Full Bloom, One Red Thread Display textile art, and for more hands-on participation, the Community Art Wall and the Knit Cycle, which will raise money for Lifeline.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank Wednesday to Saturday, October 11-14, 10am-4pm. Tickets, one-day pass $25, concessions $20

Visit craftfair.com.au

THEATRE EXPERIENCE TO SHARE WITH GRANDKIDS

TREAT the grandchildren to a theatrical experience with the Brisbane Arts Theatre production of Hansel and Gretel

In a world filled with stories that span generations, few tales hold the enduring charm and lessons of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale which has captivated hearts and imaginations for centuries.

Hansel and Gretel is a reminder of the timeless qualities of love, bravery, and triumph of good over evil.

Brisbane Arts Theatre’s production brings the story to life in an engaging way, from colourful set design to enchanting music.

Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Tce (near Roma St Station). October 7 to November 25, Saturdays 2pm, some Sundays 2pm. Tickets $25, groups three-plus $20

Visit: artstheatre.com.au/ productions/hansel-gretel or call 3369 2344

ENTER PRATCHETT’S FANTASTICAL WORLD

SIR Terry Pratchett’s witty and insightful Monstrous Regiment is a whimsical tale that deftly blends fantasy, satire, and humour while exploring profound themes.

Set in the war-torn Borogravia, the story revolves around Polly Perks, a courageous young woman who disguises herself as a man to locate her missing brother amid the chaos of war.

Polly’s audacious act sparks a remarkable journey, uniting an unlikely band of misfits who challenge societal norms and prejudices.

Pratchett’s storytelling skilfully uses humour to dissect complex issues, particularly those related to gender, identity, and conformity.

Monstrous Regiment stands out for its sharp social commentary, revealing that courage transcends gender roles.

Characters are a captivating array of oddballs, including a coffee-loving vampire and a knitting troll, testament to Pratchett’s boundless

imagination. Beneath the humour and absurdity lies a profound exploration of the human spirit, resilience, and hope.

It underscores the idea that heroes come in diverse forms and reminds us that bravery manifests in a myriad of ways.

Pratchett’s narrative will have you effortlessly shifting between laughter and introspection.

In a world that often stifles individuality, this production encourages us to march to our own beat, just like its endearing characters.

Whether a seasoned Discworld enthusiast or a newcomer to this fantastical realm, M onstrous Regiment is sure to please.

Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Tce (close to Roma St Station). October 14 to November 25, Fridays 8pm, Saturdays 7pm, some Sundays 5pm. Tickets $36, concessions $29, groups six-plus $29

Visit artstheatre.com.au/ productions/monstrousregiment or call 3369 2344.

THERE GOES THE BRIDE

CHAOS and laughter are on the menu for Theatre Redlands’ November production of There Goes the Bride at Redland Museum.

The cleverly-scripted take on a society wedding that dissolves into confusion, turmoil and borderline anarchy is a comedy classic that promises audiences a good dose of laughter.

The bride’s father falls in love with an invisible dancer, the bride’s grandfather is in his own realities, the groom’s father becomes convinced that his son has fallen in with the lunatic fringe and the bride? She just wants to get married.

A comedy of mistaken identities, outrageous situations, and a freakishly clever farce, There Goes the Bride is an affordable and entertaining way to spend an evening or afternoon.

Redland Museum, 60 Smith St, Cleveland. Saturday, November 11 to Sunday, November 19, 7.30pm or 12.30pm. Tickets from $22.50 Bookings redlandmuseum.org.au/ whats-on/events

IT’S A GRAVE OPPORTUNITY

FRIENDS of South Brisbane Cemetery run not-for-profit history tours on Fridays and other selected days and also at other south-east cemeteries such as Toowong, Mount Gravatt and Ipswich.

Tours coming up at South Brisbane Cemetery, 185 Annerley Rd, Dutton Park: Gruesome Graveyards, Friday, October 13, 7.30pm-9.45pm: Remarkably macabre cemetery facts and stories of grave robbing, floods, the disposal of hanged prisoners, and superstitions.

Folklore, Myth and Magic, Friday, October 27, 7.30pm-9.45pm: Explores the world of historical folklore, superstitions, magick spells, and ancient symbolism associated with death and cemeteries.

Ghost Stories of South Brisbane Cemetery, Sunday, October 29, 7.15pm-9.30pm: Hear fascinating tales of the supernatural in this exploration of the folklore (and fakelore) of cemetery ghost stories.

Bookings $20, concessions $15, groups four or more $15 and can be made via bank transfer.

Tours are run by the Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery  in a community partnership with the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society. There are also monthly Guardian Angels community days, when volunteers get together to help clean and tidy the old graves

Visit fosbc.com, email info@fosbc.com or follow fosbc on Facebook

*PrebookedDevonshireTeaavailable

A GREAT COMEDY, RELATIVELY SPEAKING

ACT 1’s next production  Relatively Speaking was the first London West End hit for writer Alan Ayckbourn.

It is set in 1965 at the flat of Greg and Ginny, a young co-habiting couple.

Greg finds a strange pair of slippers under the bed and is too besotted to believe they might have been left by another man (which would also explain the bunches of flowers and boxes of sweets filling Ginny’s apartment).

Ginny goes off for a day in the country, supposedly to visit her parents

but actually to break things off with her older married lover, Philip. Greg decides to follow her and wrongly assumes that they are her parents.

The situation becomes increasingly complicated and hilarious. Although a comedy of misunderstandings and mistaken identity, as far as plays of this genre go it has a well-constructed plot.

Act 1 has a fully licensed bar.

Act1 Theatre, (Pine Shire Hall) 238 Gympie Rd, Strathpine

November 10-25, Friday-Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday matinees 2pm. Tickets $20, concessions $15. Bookings

Trybooking.com/CGOZL

BRISBANE Excelsior Brass Band presents an evening of classic anthems and English standards from Britain’s glory days in its debut performance at the Redland Performing Arts Centre.

One of Australia’s premier brass ensembles, it will perform renowned compositions such as Pomp and Circumstance, God Save the King, Nimrod, and the Dam Busters,

As an A Grade Queensland band, the Brisbane Excelsior Band has achieved remarkable success. They are the only brass band to have won four consecutive

Australian national championship titles and two New Zealand championships. Dressed in traditional red livery, an ensemble of more than 30 brass players will give a spirited Best of British performance at RPAC.

They will be joined by Irish dancers from Watkins Academy of Irish Dance, for a magnificent grand finale to the 2023 Seniors Month celebrations.

Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland. Friday, October 27, 7.30pm Tickets from $20. Bookings Call RPAC Box Office 3829 8131 or visit rpac.com.au

THE Here’s to Life 22nd annual variety charity concert was a huge success.

As well as performances by the various H2L class groups – singers, drummers, jazz dancers and tappers –there were also performances by local vocal group Momentum, soloist and MC Graham Colenutt, and the Redland City Show Band under the baton of Jake Cavanough. But as always, it was the Dancercise, Drumbeatz and Art with Heart performers who stole the show.

Here’s to Life is a not-for-profit organisation that runs programs in dance, singing, bone health and drumming for men and women over 40; and programs in dance, percussion and art for those

living with a disability. Professional instructors tailor each class to differing levels of ability within each group, beginner to advanced.

The concert has become the organisation’s main fundraising activity.

To learn more about programs, class times, and volunteering call Sue 0407 154 993 or email admin@herestolife.org.au

Written by Alan Ayckbourn

The WORLD in Your Hands Travel in Your Time

Solomon Islands ready to bid you “welkum frens”

It’s close. It’s beautiful. The air is perfumed. The food is fresh. PAULINE CLAYTON finds nature at its tropical best in the Solomon Islands.

Then there’s Fatboys on Mbambanga Island, a short canoe ride from Ghizo airport. Here the onshore leaf bungalows are simple, comfortable and quite beautiful. No cars, only canoes.

The same tropical island paradise adjectives apply to this unique bar and lounge built out over the water of the Vella Lagoon. Fresh everything sitting over a tropical aquarium.

TIPS

• Exchange currency for SI dollars at airport on arrival.

• Use mossie repellent dawn and dusk.

• Pack lightly – it is hot and humid all year.

• Coconuts fall from the trees so don’t stand under one. Pineapples are picked fresh and the juice is bright yellow. Do eat one.

Solomon Islands is an archipelago of 922 quintessential palm and sand fringed islands. Forget Honiara on the main island of Guadalcanal. Like all capitals, it’s busy, crowded at times, and hot and dusty most times.

The knowing SI visitor pauses on landing at Honiara international airport to catch a domestic flight to any one of the many island groups, then checks in to a leaf hut and dines on a reef fish caught maybe an hour earlier.

The difficulty is choosing just which island to plop on.

Most are uninhabited and perfect for a picnic away from the sights and sounds of modern life. Transport around these islands is by canoe, some are motorised, but most have been carved from the trunk of a tall tree.

There are many choices for the nature-loving traveller.

In the Western Province, a popular guided hike is up Kolambangara, a stratovolcano island, noted by Bird Life International as Important Bird Area (IBA) because of the range of rare species.

Here and at neighbouring Ghizo Island you can wander through the jungle guided by a knowing local, to seek out rare birds, butterflies and plants with medicinal use.

There are western-style hotels on the major islands, along with traditional guest

houses, most of them built the way of generations past in this subsistence farming Melanesian/Polynesian culture.

It’s not often you can watch a roof being replaced by the cutting and weaving of palm fronds.

Not too many places in the world can offer fresh crab, reef fish (sweet lip, trevally, mia-mia, mackerel) straight from canoe to kitchen, for the price of a club sandwich. Or drink fresh bush lime, a chilled Sol Brew or a Chardonnay while watching the sun set over a shimmering tropical lagoon. There’s not a car, street or traffic light within cooee.

This traveler has made many a canoe ride and slept in many a leaf hut. One of my favourites is Zipola Habu Resort on Lola Island in the Vona Vona Lagoon, Western Province.

Lola is a typical SI palm-fringed island floating in a lagoon of crystal-clear turquoise water (suitably warm at around 28C), with white sandy beaches and wild orchids hanging from the trees.

Hardly necessary are the hot water showers Joe and Lisa Entrikin, the family owners of this island and resort, have installed in their guest leaf cottages.

Zipola is popular with fisherfolk, but also those who like to dine on fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables, and enjoy fresh water and air.

Enchanting Beaches and Safari Adventures + Winelands

Here you occasionally you see travellers from a “White Boat”, a super yacht most likely from a European or North American port. It’s large, silent, luxurious, and cruising these waters because the owners seek privacy. No paparazzi here.

Manager Manoj has only one golden rule – Fatboys is always open.

Then there’s Uepi Island and Morova Lagoon which, decades ago, was described by author James Michener as the eighth wonder of the world.

And for good reason. Marovo Lagoon is the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, and is protected by the world’s largest double barrier reef system.

Here floats Uepi Island. The waters are rich in coral and marine life.

One can sit on the jetty looking down on the giant clams and endless flow of fish – and a sea snake or two.

The water is so clear as you peer through the mangrove roots in the

• Forget a schedule. Solomon Island time can be any time.

shallows it is easy to follow the activities of the octopus, sea horse, cuttlefish, squid, the velvet skinned moray eel, and tropical fish that make this their home.

While a classic raised barrier reef island covered in impressive rainforest and outlined by fringing reef and sandy beach, Uepi is unique in that it is washed by warm lagoon waters on one side and oceanic depths on the other.

Just 2.5km long with beautiful gardens and coconut palms around the guest cottages, the rest is pure rainforest rich in flora and fauna.

Ask about the rare tree-climbing crabs only spotted by torch at night.

Many visitors are drawn to the World War II history, most famously former President John F Kennedy, who was marooned on what is now Kennedy Island. While slowly being covered by jungle growth many items have been salvaged and are displayed in the Vilu War Museum in Honiara and the Peter Joseph museum in Munda.

Scuba divers come from around the world to explore the famous war-time sunken wrecks. And there are still many more islands to consider.

International flights now also land at Munda in the Western Province, the gateway to Ghizo and Kennedy Island. Average flight time from Brisbane to Honiara is three hours and 15 minutes.

EMBARK ON AN

Kennedy Island where JFK was marooned when his patrol boat was sunk by enemy fire.

PREPARE TO MAKE YOUR OWN GREEK ODYSSEY

IT’S easy to see how the Greek landscape – bright blue seas and mountainous terrain – inspired great poets such as Ovid and Homer to create the heroes, gods and monsters in epic adventures in Iliad,Odyssey and Metamorphoses

Think Perseus or Theseus; Jason and the Argonauts; Odysseus and Achilles –for thousands of years, Greece has been known as the land of heroes. To inspire an epic adventure of your own, here are some tips for visiting Greece.

Be sure to bring your appetite to savour the Mediterranean cuisine. It’s not only delicious, but also incredibly filling.

You’ll be encouraged to try an horiatiki or village salad as an appetiser and then dine on freshly caught fish, squid and beans as a main course. You may also want to try a roast leg of lamb with a side of homemade tzatziki.

Make sure to save room for dessert! The sweet aroma of freshly made baklava or loukoumades, a delightful Greek fried dough, might tempt your taste buds.

Dress to impress. Combine chic with comfortable and you’ll be ready for exploring ancient ruins and vibrant markets by day and lively seaside evenings. If you’re travelling in summer, especially to the Greek Islands, be sure to dress in light, cool clothing. A cloudless sky is beautiful but it does make it

intensely hot. Mediterranean nights tend to be a bit cooler, so bring an extra layer for when the sun goes down.

Do your homework. The more you delve into the history and significance of each site, the deeper your appreciation of the places you’ll visit. Greece has a rich and vibrant history, so read the classics to have a solid base of knowledge for the ancient sights you’ll get to see.

A great read is D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths which is a beautifully illustrated collection of the Greek myths.

Join a Collette small group tour for a holiday to soak up your surroundings. Book with your local ATAS-accredited Traveller’s Choice agent by October 21, and save 10 per cent on select itineraries. Visit travellerschoice.com.au/ find-an-agent

TOUR PACKS IN THE TOP SIGHTS OF THE SOUTH

COMBINE the history and culture of Melbourne with the scenic beauty of the Great Ocean Road on a 13-day coach trip. The Coastal Variety Tours trip to the International Flower and Garden Show departs March 16 and heads down the Pacific Highway to Coffs Harbour and Sydney, then Albury to arrive in Melbourne for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticultural event. Visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Victoria Markets and travel the Great Ocean Road.

In the famous gold mining region of Ballarat, visit the Botanic Gardens Begonia Conservatory and Tram Museum before arriving at the historic town of Daylesford.

Take a paddlesteamer cruise down the mighty Murray River from Echuca and then visit the Riverina and Hunter Valley on the way home.

The tour includes home pickup and return.

Visit coastalvarietytours.com.au for a full Itinerary or call 5530 2363.

TOURS A PERFECT GIFT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING

IF FAMILY is starting to ask for Christmas gift ideas and the prospect of more “stuff” after decluttering is looming, then a travel experience could be the answer.

Get the kids to chip in or treat yourself to four days at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland. Taste the wine at Canungra Valley Vineyards, then spend three nights in luxury accommodation while enjoying gourmet dining, from February 6.

Rise to morning bird walks and explore World-Heritage-listed Lamington National Park and the famous Tree Top Walk among the 160km of nature trails.

For eight days from March 19, discover beautiful Norfolk Island or explore the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians and the Victorian goldfields over 11 days from April 6.

Paul Brockhurst of CT Travel also has a few surprise, one-day tours on the way

for December and January.

“A travel experience is the best Christmas gift for those who have everything,” he says. “Sit back in a luxury coach and enjoy the view.”

Visit cttravel.com.au for full itineraries.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE SECURITY

TRUST, convenience and competitive rates are paramount when exchanging currency.

Crown Currency Exchange is a trusted expert and has more than 80 currencies in a full range of denominations – small for local markets and taxis and large for hotels – in store.

By consistently monitoring the currency markets, Crown Currency

Exchange ensures value for all currency exchange.

Security is a top priority and by working to strict industry standards to safeguard transactions and personal information, it ensures peace of mind.

It is entirely Australian-owned and operated.

Visit crowncurrency.com.au

Retreat to Lamington National Park

MUSEUM MOTORS AHEAD

YOU don’t have to be mad about cars to visit the Brisbane Motor Museum where two new displays will appeal to anyone who appreciates the elegance and engineering of British vehicles, or who has a leaning towards speed.

Two new displays – Vehicles of Speed and 99 Years of British – represent a selection of the beautiful, quirky and interesting.

The 99 Years of British exhibit is a broad brush, ranging from the first registered Rolls Royce, which this month celebrates its 105th birthday to a selection of Triumph, MG, and Jaguar.

Cars worthy of note include a six-wheeler Austin light lorry, SS (Swallow Sidecar) Jaguar, Daimler DB18, Series 1 Land Rover, Austin Gypsy, MG M-Type, Velocette, Aston Martin Lagonda and a Rover Mini.

Vehicles of Speed is also a broad theme that encompasses a number of speedbased categories. Largest is the tarmac category with modern cars such a Nissan GTR Nur M spec and modified Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 5, both beasts of cars begging to be driven.

On the Rally side, there’s Queensland’s most historic motor car, a 1904 Rambler Model G, famous for the London to Brighton Rally and one of the first five of the new “horseless carriages” to drive through Brisbane city.

See a world rally-campaigned Alfa Romeo, a Road Boss rally beast called the Daimover – part Daimler and part Range Rover – a Redex Traction Avant, Ampol Rally Citroen DS21 and an Around Australia rally FJ.

Closer to home is a selection of vehicles that were pivotal starting points in Queensland’s Motorsport.

Those who attended Lakeside in its glory days may recall the Centaur GT being raced by John French. Also on display are cars that raced at the Strathpine Airfield, Lowood, Goodman Airfield and the Burleigh Hill Climb. These include “The Flying W” Wolseley Special, and Tony Slattery’s MG M-Type, thought to be the first MG raced in Queensland. It also raced on the little known 1936 Woody Point circuit).

There are many other vehicles on display at 959 Nudgee Rd, Banyo.

Visit brisbanemotormuseum.com.au

SAIL AWAY TO SEE JAPAN IN BLOOM

JAPAN, where tradition meets modernity for a perfect blend of culture, natural beauty, and vibrant city life, is in bloom.

A 12-night cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Explorer will be sailing right on time to see Japan’s cherry blossoms in full bloom, the delicate pink petals painting the country’s landscape.

There’s an additional three-night land program in Tokyo, a city that balances its ultra-modern skyline with ancient temples and traditions.

The stay in Tokyo is at a luxury hotel that defines elegance and comfort with everything covered – tours, sumptuous breakfasts, and transfers.

The journey is designed to offer an

AHOY, IT’S CRUISE MONTH

THE Cruise Lines International Association this month has its annual celebration of all things cruising.

Registered CLIA cruise specialists around Australia will highlight river, ocean, expedition, and luxury cruises.

Take advantage of expert knowledge, ships, ports of call, and various itineraries.

Cruise specialists offer a tailor-made experience with advice on what cruise line or ship suits best, destinations to visit, and newly-emerging destinations.

To find your local cruise expert, see Travel Agent Finder, which lists more

unparalleled fusion of Japanese culture, scenery, and opulent living.

Onboard, Explorer offers an intimate and immersive experience as there are just 740 guests.

Enjoy valet laundry service, unlimited Wi-Fi, premium beverages, prepaid gratuities, unlimited shore excursions and access to all specialty restaurants – eight dining rooms cover a variety of cuisine from around the world.

With a total of 15 nights, Japan in Bloom with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Explorer is an opportunity to delve deep into the heart of Japan.

Call Helloworld Travel, Spring Hill, Eatons Hill or Kenmore.

than 200 cruise specialists around Australia. Start searching by choosing “Travel Type”, then select a preference, such as River Cruise, Expedition Cruise, Small Ship Cruising, and Cruise Holidays or filter by destination.

Compare the relevant expertise of cruise specialists, read reviews from other travellers and select your best match knowing your chosen cruise specialist will create the best holiday. Call Sarah at Wayfinder Travel and Cruise 0411 184 784, email sarah@ wayfindertravel.au or visit travelagentfinder.com.au

Roundtrip Tokyo

12 Night Cruise

Japan in Bloom

INCLUSIONS:

• 3-Night land programme*

• Unlimited shore excursions

• Premium beverages*

• Pre-paid gratuities

• Speciality restaurants

Book with us at Helloworld Travel Eatons Hill 3264 6222. eatonshill@helloworld.com.au

Spring Hill 3832 0833. springhill@helloworld.com.au

Kenmore 3378 8555. kenmore@helloworld.com.au

• Valet laundry service*

• Unlimited wifi*

• 1-Night pre-cruise hotel package in concierge suites & higher*

EXCLUSIVEHELLOWORLDTRAVEL BONUS US$400SHIPBOARDCREDITPERSUITE*

Seven Seas Explorer® Up To 44 Included Shore Excursions

Immerse yourself in the multifaceted culture of Japan with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ newly released itinerary. Setting sail from Tokyo, explore some of Japan’s most iconic ports including Kobe, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Marvel at the incredible Osaka temple, tour the tranquil Shinto shrines and feast on fresh delicate sashimi masterfully prepared before your eyes. Captivate all your senses with this fantastic itinerary, together with the comfort and luxury of the perfect sailing companion, Seven Seas Explorer®.

DEPARTS 19TH MARCH 2025

Deluxe Veranda Suite (G2)

FROM $13,990 pp*

Upgrade to a Superior Suite (F2) for only an additional $680 pp*

Guests in all suite categories can enjoy an included 3-NIGHT VIBRANT TOKYO PRE-CRUISE or an included 3-NIGHT AN EDO EXPERIENCE POSTCRUISE LAND PROGRAMME.

FULLY ESCORTED BY A HELLOWORLD TRAVEL MANAGER

With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

1. Which airline is known as “the flying kangaroo”?

2. In the Australian sitcom Kath and Kim, what is the relationship between the two main characters?

3. How many minutes in one day?

4. Mad cow disease mainly affects what part of the cow?

5. What colour is the confectionery called musk sticks?

6. What is the name of the girl in the song, Ob-La-Di, Ob-LaDa?

7. The suburb Point Cook is part of what Australian capital?

8. In motoring, what does mpg stand for?

9. What is not part of the human eye: tarsus, cornea, sclera?

10. What port was the destination of the Titanic before it sank?

11. In the Christian Bible, who built the ark?

12. The rugby league team called the Kumuls represents what country?

13. Pyromania is the compulsion to do what?

14. On what date are April fool’s jokes typically played?

15. Who was US president immediately before Donald Trump?

16. Which of these countries is the largest exporter of bananas: Indonesia, Ecuador, China?

17. What gem is produced by a living organism?

18. On the stock market, what does a bull market indicate?

19. What is a medical term for a burn involving the top layer of skin?

20. What tiles in Scrabble are worth zero points?

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW PLUS GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Tour Highlights: Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, International Flower & Garden Show, MCG tour, Ballarat Botanical Garden – Bergonia display at the Conservatory, Marble statues, Tram Museum and train ride, Echuca Murray River Paddlesteamer morning tea cruise.

FARE INCLUSIONS:

• Motel Accommodation

• All Breakfast and Dinners

• All Admissions & Touring HOME PICKUP AND RETURN: Brisbane, Redcliffe, Redlands, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island, Caboolture. 13 DAY TOUR:

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

dinner, dire, dirge, dreg, engird, ginner, gird, grid, grin, grind, grinned, heir, heiring, herd, herding, hider, hinder, HINDERING, hire, hired, hiring, inhering, indri, inner, nerd, nigher, niner, reign, rein, reining, rend, rending, renin, ride, ridge, riding, rigid, rind, ring, ringed, ringie

dehiring, diner, dinger, dingier,

2024 TOURS COMING YOUR WAY

MUDGEE LIGHTNING RIDGE

ADELAIDE EXPLORER

HERVEY BAY WHALE WATCHING

TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS

CANBERRA FLORIADE

GRAFTON JACARANDA AND HUNTER VALLEY

1. Qantas; 2. Kath is the mother of Kim; 3. 1440; 4. Central nervous system – brain and spinal cord; 5. Pink;

6. Molly Jones; 7. Melbourne; 8. Miles per gallon; 9. Tarsus; 10. New York; 11. Noah; 12. Papua New Guinea;

13. Start fires; 14. April 1; 15. Barack Obama; 16. Ecuador; 17. Pearl; 18. Growth; 19. First degree or superficial; 20. Blanks.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Down

1 Street cars people spotted on the footpath!(9)

2 Last bit of appetiser, served in feast, spoiled last course(6)

3 Expenses divided up by mum in misguided socialist group(10)

4 Area of church collapsed partly(4)

5 A third-rate coach given a guernsey in club game(8)

6 A number of kangaroos trashed a henhouse(5)

7 American dupe, given a

8 Check on one accommodated

13 Adjustment changed late on allowance(10)

16 Designated clubs provided one in haste(9)

Across

1 Arbitrary tribunal’s pompous formality, a member presented without me(4,7)

9 A trust converted millions for a level of society(7)

10 Sugar, as such, largely increased in price(7)

11 Ecstasy one consumed in alcohol behind food store(8)

12 Obstruct a heavyweight Prime Minister?(6)

14 ‘Heart of God’ penned by favourite writer of verse(4)

15 Resolve shaped aims with respect to an Australian playwright(10)

18 A clause – it’s especially designed for accident victims(10)

19 Fruit and vegetable grower’s back(4)

22 Agents of CIA somehow returned an artistic work in pieces(6)

24 Page placed in front of diagram distorted pattern(8)

26 Learner behind the times is hard, ill-mannered and coarse(7)

27 Corrupt politician giving

28 CIA agent hid reappointed instructor’s tool(8,3)

17 Roman building the Italian featured in simple article(8)

18 Go along with outlet free of complexity(6)

20 Discover the truth about

21 Savage overturned thin plate(6)

23 Check the progress of a dangerous trick(5)

25 Middle Eastern ruler has renovated hospital(4)

WORDFIND

QUICK CROSSWORD

9-LETTER WORD

I R

Today’s Aim:

H G I N E

26 words: Good

34 words: Very good

41+ words: Excellent N D

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

WORD STEP

14 Messages sent on holiday (9)

15 Accept reluctantly (9)

16 Levied (8)

18 Yearly payment (7)

20 Island in the North Atlantic (7)

21 Support (4,2)

23 Being from 20-down (5)

24 Strong wind blasts (5)

No. 075

Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. One possible answer shown below.

BELLY HAIRS

Every row, column and 3x3 outlined square must contain the numbers 1 to 9 once each.