Senior Living Magazine Island Edition October 2010

OCTOBER 2010

Vancouver Island’s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

TM

Fall Fashionsblend classic lines with fun details

Mystery Writer Nicola Furlong

What Do Women Want?Designer Simon Chang knows!

Steal Away to Salt Spring!Lovespoon Carver David Western

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PREPARED FOR: PENINSULA NORGARDENPUBLICATION: SENIOR LIVING

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2 SENIOR LIVING

DEPARTMENTS42 Classifieds46 BBB Scam Alert

COLUMNS 3 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

30 Bygone Treasures by Michael Rice

40 Victoria’s Past Revisited by Norman K. Archer

43 Ask Goldie by Goldie Carlow

47 Outrageous & Courageous by Pat Nichol

48 Reflections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Cover Photo: Retired nurse turned Victoria model Lynda Cox. Story page 4. Photo: Veronique de Silva

OCTOBER 2010

(Vancouver Island) is published by Stratis Publishing.

Publisher Barbara RistoEditor Bobbie Jo Reid [email protected] Norman K. Archer, Carole Blake, Goldie Carlow, Jane Cassie, Veronique de Silva, Judee Fong, Gipp Forster, John W. Heintz, Shei-la Martindale, Pat Nichol, Bonnie Pollard, Bob-bie Jo Reid, Michael Rice, Rosalind Scott, Carol Sheehan, Vernice Shostal, Barbara Small, Alixe WallisCopy Editor Allyson MantleAdvertising ManagerBarry Risto 250-479-4705For advertising information, call [email protected] Sales Staff Ann Lester 250-390-1805Mathieu Powell 250-589-7801Barry Risto 250-479-4705Contact Information – Head OfficeSenior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1Phone 250-479-4705Toll-free 1-877-479-4705Fax 250-479-4808E-mail [email protected] www.seniorlivingmag.comSubscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only.No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an inde-pendent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to [email protected] Senior Living Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (12 issues per year) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (12 issues per year). ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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FEATURES 4 A Nice SurpriseA retired nurse tries her hand at modelling.

6 What Women WantDesigner Simon Chang’s tips for staying stylish.

12 Colour SignsCan your astrological sign help you select the colours that suit you best?

14 Timeless BeautyMakeup tools and tips for mature women.

18 Looking FabulousFall 2010 mixes classic lines with fun details.

22 The Art of RecyclingReduce, reuse, recycle is not a new concept.

24 Chocolate, Murder and MayhemMystery writer Nicola Furlong took a part-time passion and turned it into a full-time vocation.

28 Carving MemoriesLovespoon carver David Western connects to the heritage and romance of his art.

32 Sister Time on Salt SpringSisters hop the ferry for a weekend getaway.

36 Passion, Purpose and MeaningAuthor and stroke survivor Patricia Pitcher embraced a challenge that restored her health.

44 Signed by a Souper PresidentIn a chance of a lifetime, a Victoria bridge group visits the White House.

OCTOBER 2010 3

caregivers. A province-wide list is avail-able at the Family Caregivers’ Network Society at 250-384-0408 or on their web-site at www.familycaregiversnetwork.orgCondition-Specific Organizations

Community agencies, such as the Mul-tiple Sclerosis Society or Alzheimer’s Re-source Centre, offer services for family caregivers that are unique to those specific circumstances and can provide informa-tion about the progress of that disease so you can be better prepared for the future.Volunteer Agencies

Volunteers are available to assist, in-cluding driving to medical appointments, visiting, reassurance calls, assistance with gardening and other services.

Next month: Legal Considerations for Caregivers

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

ARE YOU NEW TO CAREGIVING?

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BY BARBARA SMALL

Barbara Small is the Program Develop-ment Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

Do you find yourself pro-viding more assistance to a relative or friend who is elderly or in declining

health? Have circumstances changed suddenly in your family due to an ac-cident or sudden illness?

Over one million people in B.C. find themselves in these circumstances as they take on the role of caregiver to a family member or friend. More time and energy will be used up navigating the health-care system, finding resources or figuring out how to meet someone else’s personal and medical needs.

Being a caregiver brings many new demands and responsibilities as well as a multitude of emotions. Feeling over-whelmed, guilty, resentful, anxious or even angry in response to the stress of the new situation, worry around your family member’s health or fear about how everyone’s life is going to change is natural.

You don’t have to take this journey alone. In fact, it is essential you ask for help and support from the beginning so you don’t burn out. Also, it is important to find ways to maintain your own interests, activities and social support so you don’t lose yourself completely while taking care of someone else.

Many organizations and services are available to help. These include:

Home Support ServicesDesigned to help people remain in-

dependent and in their own homes as long as possible, home support includes personal assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and light household tasks. If the care recipi-ent meets the eligibility criteria through the local health authority, he or she can receive subsidized home support. Other-wise, home support is available for a fee through private home support agencies.Respite Services

Respite can provide family caregivers with a physical and emotional break from the demands of caregiving. Respite can be for a couple hours or a couple weeks. It can take place in the care recipient’s home, in a residential care facility or the care re-cipient can attend an adult day centre.Other Community Health Services

Various other forms of assistance – physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nutritional advice – are available through the Home and Community Care depart-ment of your local health authority or through private businesses.Family Caregiver Support Organizations

Several non-profit agencies have been established solely to provide information, education and support for family caregiv-ers. These organizations offer newsletters, support groups, educational workshops and resources about issues of concern to

4 SENIOR LIVING

Fashion & Beauty

Retired nurse and current model Lynda Cox was reading an issue of Ca-nadian Living magazine

when she spotted an interesting ad by clothing chain Tabi. The clothier was looking for a model over age 40, and promised the top four contestants a four-day stay in Toronto complete with a makeover and photo shoot.

Lynda answered the ad and, to her surprise, was one of the lucky finalists. Although she didn’t win the overall prize, Lynda enjoyed her experience in Toronto. Wondering how she could take advantage of her new-found knowl-edge, she contacted Barbara Coultish Talent and Model Management in Vic-toria and landed a job as one of their older models.

“It has been a great experience and I am fortunate that I can do this for fun,” says Lynda. “One of the challenges of being an older model is that there is a limit to the amount of work available.”

Though Vancouver or one of the other larger Canadian cities would

A Nice Surprise

BY VERNICE SHOSTAL Retired nurse turned fashion model

Lynda Cox answered a casting call advertisement

on a whim.Ph

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OCTOBER 2010 5

airlines and, perhaps, if she’d not met her husband, may have stayed with Air Canada. Living in Invermere, her husband’s hometown, however, was not conducive to an airline job, so she returned to nursing.

Later, the couple moved to Port Al-berni on Vancouver Island and then to their current home in Cowichan Bay.

Lynda takes advantage of every available opportunity to try new things.

“I didn’t plan on becoming a model and certainly didn’t expect to win a place in the Tabi contest,” she says, “so it has all been a very nice surprise and makes life interesting.”

In addition to her modelling, Lyn-da enjoys biking, hiking, and taking courses offered at ElderCollege and Vancouver Island University. Current-ly, she is interested in improving her French and continuing her genealogi-cal research.

“It’s nice to be at the age of life where I can learn just for my own interest.”

provide more opportunities for Lyn-da, she’s happy living and working on the Island.

“I am a lover of fashion, probably because I always had to wear a uniform to work. It just made clothing more im-portant during my time off,” she says.

Lynda follows fashion magazines for inspiration. Fashion shows are also a good place to see current trends and suitable outfits for a more mature person.

Another reliable source of informa-tion are her daughters, who are knowl-edgeable about contemporary fashion and give tips on what styles comple-ment her and how to wear new items.

“There are clothes made now for ev-ery body type and beauty products for all types of skin,” Lynda says. “It takes a little time to find the right choices, but it feels good to get it right and so worth the effort.”

Lynda grew up in Calgary. With-out the financial resources for a post-secondary education, Lynda chose to train as a nurse where she was able to get her training while she worked in the hospital.

“Luckily, I loved it,” she says. “Calgary General was a great place to train.”

After her training, Lynda followed some friends to Hawaii where she worked at Queens Medical Centre in Honolulu for two years during the Vietnam War, a time when Hawaii was a preferred R & R spot for the Ameri-can troops, “so it was a pretty lively place to be.”

After a while, Lynda yearned for the changing seasons and returned to Canada where she got a job at Burna-by General Hospital. Three years later,

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she sought out another adventure. Lynda accepted a flight attendant

position with Air Canada and, after a short training course in Montreal, moved to Toronto where her flights originated. Later, she was transferred to Vancouver.

Most of Lynda’s flights were over-seas and many took her to London. During those years, the IRA was pretty active, says Lynda, and all luggage and handbags had to be checked for bombs whenever they went to the theatre or any gathering place in London. “A little scary and it really made me ap-preciate home.”

Lynda enjoyed her career with the

“I didn’t plan on becoming a model and certainly didn’t expect to win

a place in the Tabi contest.”

Fashion & Beauty

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6 SENIOR LIVING

Fashion & Beauty

When it comes to looking stylish, renowned fashion designer and Vancouver native Si-mon Chang knows what women want.

Boomers and seniors today are differ-ent from previous generations. Women now are fit, body-

aware and stay in shape longer. And they are looking for comfortable, casual clothes that fit their active and adven-turous lifestyles.

“Older women today are younger,” says Simon.In an industry that idolizes youth, Simon is one designer

WHAT WOMEN WANTMember of the Order of Canada and Canadian fashion icon Simon Chang

offers tips and tricks for finding a woman’s signature style

BY BOBBIE JO REID

OCTOBER 2010 7»

who explores options for women’s changing fashion needs through all stages of their lives. Sixty-somethings don’t want to wear what 20-somethings wear, and vice versa. The solution is a designer who talks to and, more importantly, listens to his clients. The result is wearable, washable, work-able pieces that women can easily put together to develop their own signature style.

“I try to adapt my collection and it makes total sense,” says Simon, who launched Simon Chang Concepts Inc., based in Montreal, in 1983. “As a designer, you have to be out there talking to people.” And being in the world, not tucked behind a desk, is why the women who wear his clothes love this successful yet affable designer.

“I like the idea of knowing more about people who have something to say. Women won’t buy clothes that aren’t wearable,” says Simon. “Women are very vocal, especially mature women.”

Because of the youthfulness of this generation, it’s easy to turn current fashion into more flattering fits – for those armed with the right knowledge. And the most important knowledge: every woman should know her own body. Since women’s bodies change as they age, even if they remain slim, knowing what to enhance and what to downplay can make all the difference. (See tips and tricks sidebar)

Simon’s older clientele have told him they feel invisible as they age – they feel ignored. “As you get older, you have to make a statement,” he says.

To achieve a signature look, go for a fabulous accessory like glasses, jewelry, shoes, handbags or scarves. “You can’t be invisible!”

“I love older women in colour,” says the designer. “With colour, women display a confidence and it rejuvenates the look of the outfit. Women project a happy mood when they wear a beautiful colour.”

Focus on ageless pieces, like colourful scarves and ac-cessories. “You don’t want to dress like your granddaugh-ter, but grandma can still be hip.” People are not slotted into age categories as much as they used to be. “We don’t have to be slotted,” says Simon. “Marketers try to group us, but it’s just marketing dialogue. It’s not real.”

“In the fashion industry, boomers are almost the visible minority that nobody wants to talk about, except they are

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the majority. They still ap-preciate arts and culture and music and movies (which they pay full price for instead of downloading free on-line),” says Simon. But the shift hasn’t happened in the marketplace. “We need a new mar-keting company to address this de-mographic, which is hip, cool, active, in fabulous shape, look great and are not dead!”

Simon believes de-partment stores don’t understand their cli-ents. They carry too many products and don’t listen to the needs of their shoppers. Con-sumers are lost because nothing fits properly. “It’s frustrating for a lot of women,” he says.

Women who want to look professional, so-phisticated and well put together need to go for quality.

Specialty stores and boutiques carry clothing that is ex-pertly made and conformed to the needs of their clients. Si-mon suggests buying good quality clothes and making them work. For the budget conscious, stretch dollars by buying separates, perhaps five easy pieces and develop several sea-sonless outfits. A great look can be achieved without spend-ing a lot of money. Accessories are perfect!

Boomers and seniors have to find fashion lines they iden-tify with. Some lines fit too small; they are for young girls.

“Women in this age group have experimented with style all their lives. They understand themselves more, so they know what flatters,” says Simon. “Don’t follow trends. Wear things that look good on you.”

For example, skinny jeans are very current, but they don’t look good on everyone. So, women need to make ad-justments and modifications to work with their body types and style. Heel heights can also be adjusted to be more com-fortable and practical to suit one’s lifestyle.

“Be memorable,” says Simon. Recycle pieces from for-

�� Enjoy the contents of both the Vancouver and Vancouver Island

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mer decades. “There’s a lot to play with in [vintage].” Styles repeat them-selves and come back in slightly dif-ferent forms. “It’s about finding your true self.”

And all women want that.

Simon’s Tips and Tricks:Neck – With sun damage, crêpe-

like skin and creases, many women are conscious of this area of their bod-ies. They don’t want to be totally cov-ered up with tight-fitting turtlenecks, so softer, breathable fabrics that hang beautifully in this area can address those concerns.

10 SENIOR LIVING

Fashion & Beauty

Arms – Even while women can maintain a youthful appearance in their faces, parts of their bodies may have sagging skin (raise your arms if this applies to you). Many women don’t want to expose their arms, but in warmer weather, it’s hard to stay covered up. Simon suggests avoid-ing sleeveless options, but going for a slightly longer sleeve in a lightweight fabric. Or pairing a cover-up to an out-fit that emphasizes bare arms.

Waist – Some women experience a thickening of their waistlines as they age. If that is the case, clothes should not be too tight-fitting. Go for a re-laxed rather than cinched shape around the waist. Instead of the chunky tight

helping women of any age feel more confident and less inhibited by little rolls. Simon recommends them for all women.

Fabrics – When it comes to fab-rics, Simon can’t say enough about jer-sey. It is appropriate for older women because it’s comfortable, flattering, ca-sual, travels well and isn’t fussy. Look for no-nonsense, easy-care fabrics that better suit your lifestyle.

Simon looks for seasonless fabrica-tion. With travel, climate fluctuations and indoor heating and cooling sys-tems, Simon tries to design adaptable clothes. Layers are the way to do this.

“I love stuff you can wear year-round and add to,” he says. “It’s great to have things that you love to wear.

belts that you may have worn in your youth, a relaxed chain belt might be more flattering.

Knees – Even thin legs can re-veal a woman’s age. Gravity works on the skin on the knees, dragging the whole leg down and making skirt length more important. But even if you want to wear a shorter skirt, it’s pos-sible to still look fabulous if you pair it with leggings. Leggings help to flatter a woman’s body, so short skirts or long tunics can keep you looking current and fashionable.

Jeans – Women of all ages love jeans and want to wear them. Options like control-top jeans are flattering, comfortable, and offer a smoother look.

Under-garments – Under-garments like Shapers smooth lines

OCTOBER 2010 11

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Seasons don’t exist anymore, especially for people who travel globally.” Layering is a more sensible way to dress. Lighter weight fabrics accommodate the climate and are adaptable to the environment.

Details – Most women don’t like pulling tight cloth-ing over their heads. Tiny buttons aren’t practical. Some people have difficulty lifting their arms into tight turtle-necks: they find them suffocating. Even arm holes have to be cut precisely and more generously. Beautiful sleeves that are not too short – sometimes three-quarter length – are the way to go. “I don’t design garments that need an instruction pamphlet to put the outfit together,” says Simon.

Beautiful draping can hide a tummy. Garments have to be cut properly so they hang right and cling in the right places. Women like their bottoms covered, so tops are de-signed a little longer to make women feel comfortable and confident.

Find Simon Chang online at www.simonchang.comPhotos and designs courtesy of Simon Chang Concepts Inc.

12 SENIOR LIVING

a great leap of faith to speculate our largely liquid bodies are equally affect-ed. Add the pull of Uranus the planet of surprises, expansive Jupiter, intense Mars, strong Saturn, turbulent Pluto, emotional Neptune, plus Mercury, the planet of the intellect, together with the refinement of Venus and you can’t deny there’s a lot of cosmic energy at work. Plus, the planets are always moving!

Astrological signs predict our per-sonality traits and foretell our emo-tions. Colour creates moods and elicits emotional responses. Combining both should lead straight to your best colour.

For me, the stars were in perfect alignment because everything fell nice-ly into place and the book Colour Signs was born. I wrote and designed it with its own colour wheel, to give a quick and easy reference to each sign’s best shades and tones.

When holding seminars on the sub-ject, it was gratifying when people shared stories of how the colour-wheel helped them. My little book made its way to the U.K., as well as Australia and can now be found on Senior Liv-ing’s online bookstore.

So, if you’re curious to see whether you’re a Leo dressing in Taurus tones or, better still, to confirm you’ve in-stinctively been wearing the right shade all along, Colour Signs can be your guide. It’s sure to colour your fashion spectrum with new possibilities.

For a copy of Alixe’s book, visit Se-nior Living magazine’s online bookstore at www.seniorlivingmag.com/bookstore

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Fashion & Beauty

As a model, I learned that being tall and skinny was a definite plus, but the true pros in the business knew

what they were there for – to make each outfit look irresistible. The clothes were the real stars.

During the fifties, every self-respect-ing department store in Toronto held their fashion shows during the spring and fall while, during the off-season, one could be a house model in the gar-ment district on Spadina Avenue.

“Oh, she’s bustless, hipless and hope-less” was the favourite lament of a won-derful designer friend of mine – or if you were unfortunate enough to have an inch or two extra on the derriere “She’s got duck’s disease” was the verdict.

I modelled outfits from their birth in the cutting room through the process of pinning and basting, followed by hand finishing and finally being photographed in the sample.

I learned that only a good designer could deal with all height, weight and proportion issues. And some years later, returning to the fashion world and co-ordinating shows in B.C., I learned that putting fashion presentations together is an art form in itself.

However, following some of these fashion shows, I noticed customers stand-ing in complete bewilderment in front of

a dress display, seemingly not knowing where to begin in their quest for that special outfit. The question arose in my mind, “Where does one begin in the search for a look that truly spells you?”

While style, fit and proportion do have an important place, I wondered what would be a key factor in bringing out one’s own individuality. My attempt to find answers began with colour.

Colour is personal, and so much a part of our lives, we take it for granted. We say, “What a colourful person” to describe someone bright and energetic. “She looks at the world through rose-coloured glasses” brings into focus a positive and happy person. Being “green with envy” is another old expression, while the term, a “scarlet woman” was never intended as a compliment.

Faber Birren was way ahead of me. He has devoted over 30 years to the study of colour, researching and writ-ing several books explaining how co-lour communicates and elicits emotion-al responses. Birren’s work confirmed my ideas, but there was still an element missing. The last piece to fit the puzzle came while reading my horoscope.

“When crazy things happen in the emergency room you can bet there’s a full moon out,” says a medical friend of mine. Because the tides are so in-fluenced by the moon, it doesn’t take

Colour Signs

BY ALIXE WALLIS

OCTOBER 2010 13

14 SENIOR LIVING

Fashion & Beauty

Let’s face it (no pun intend-ed), we’re all getting older. But that doesn’t mean we have to give in to the tiny

assaults that time plays with the face and body. In fact, there are a few tricks you can tuck up your sleeve to keep you looking current – and minimize the signs of aging.

To start, use sunscreen or sunblock (even in the winter and on overcast days) as part of your daily makeup ritual to avoid skin damage. Put it on your face and let it absorb for a couple minutes before applying the rest of your makeup.

The first item to consider is foun-dation. Foundations, if not chosen and applied carefully, can make you look older and emphasize lines and wrinkles. Many think that the older you get, the more foundation you need to wear. On the contrary, heavy makeup can make you look older, filling in creases and large pores, making wrinkles and blem-ishes more obvious.

A tinted moisturizer works best. It helps conceal, evens your skin tone and

provides moisture at the same time. A number of cosmetic companies offer tinted moisturizers, including non-hy-poallergenic brands for those with sen-sitive skin or skin prone to blemishes. Many of these moisturizers also include a sunscreen of at least SPF 15.

Lighter shades tend to show wrin-kles more than darker shades, so pick a shade slightly darker than your normal skin and only use it on those parts of your face that have blemishes to hide or discolouration evened out.

Should you add powder on top of

your foundation? Yes, but only lightly. It shouldn’t look caked on; just enough to slightly soften the shine left by a tinted moisturizer. Better yet, only use it on your nose and/or forehead, where oil tends to gather.

Powder, if not used sparingly, can highlight wrinkles. Avoid using it around your eyes as it can settle in fine lines making them more prominent.

A little concealer under the eyes can help cover up dark circles, but too much can make you look like a raccoon. Apply a few light dabs and carefully pat it with your ring finger to smooth it out for an even result. If you are using a foundation, put the concealer on first and gently pat the foundation on top to blend it in with-out disturbing the concealer.

Make your eyes the focus of your face. Attractive, well made-up eyes can draw the emphasis away from imperfec-tions in your skin. But don’t overdue it. Heavy makeup, applied anywhere on the face, can add years to your appearance. Black eyeliner and dark eyeshadow can look appealing on someone younger,

Timeless Beauty Makeup Tools and Tips

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usually because they want to look older, and that’s exactly what it will do to you – make you look older.

Mascara can help the appearance of sagging eyelids if you use it on the top eyelashes only. Apply a couple coats. Curling your lashes helps open your eyes and make them “pop” even more. If you want to try false eyelashes, ap-ply them to the top lid only and use individual lashes, not whole lashes for a more natural

look.

Three eyeshadow colours can give you a polished look. Blend the light-est colour over your brow bone. Put a medium shade on your lid, and a darker shade just in the crease. Blend

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all three well so that you don’t leave obvious lines where one stops and the other starts. Avoid bright, loud colours. Popular shades are earthy and more natural looking.

Instead of liquid eyeliner, which can look harsh, apply a dark eyeshadow as your eyeliner. Use a wet thin brush to dab the eyeshadow into the upper lashes and the outer one-third of the lower lashes. Or use a soft eyeliner pencil and smudge it.

Frame your eyes with well-groomed eyebrows. Don’t over-pluck your eyebrows. Leave them as natural looking as possible, and never substitute eyebrow pencil for the real thing.

Over-plucking eyebrows or colouring in an eyebrow with heavy pencil dates your look. If you have sparse brows, you can learn to add a little more fullness with some soft strokes of an eyebrow pencil, but be sure you don’t go too dark or heavy.

Thicker eyebrows can look great on someone like Brooke Shields, but when it is done artificially, it looks artificial.

When applying blush, sweep it across the whole cheek-bone, not just on the apple of the cheek. Concentrating blush in too small an area can give a clownish appearance.

Use a large fluffy brush that helps spread the powder. A creamy blush can work well too. Just make sure you blend it out over the whole cheekbone. And don’t try to go too dark – keep it subtle for a natural look.

Avoid the shimmer. It’s fun for young people, but on an older person’s skin, it tends to highlight every line, wrinkle and pore.

Lips tend to get thinner as we grow older. We moisturize the rest of our face but often forget our lips. Find a lip balm or lipstick that adds moisture. This will help plump up the lips. Look for one that has a built-in sun-screen. Your lips can suffer the same damage from the sun as the rest of your face.

Picking a colour that is a couple shades darker than your natural lip colour works well. Professional makeup artists often use three colours on the lips. The darkest shade outlines the lips; the next darkest shade starts to fill in the lip but doesn’t go all the way across the whole lip (blend so there’s no harsh line between the two). Apply

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OCTOBER 2010 17

Port Coquitlam ~ Amica at Mayfair ~ 604.552.5552Kerrisdale ~ Amica at Arbutus Manor ~ 604.736.8936West Vancouver ~ Amica at West Vancouver ~ 604.921.9181Burnaby ~ Amica at Rideau Manor ~ 604.291.1792Victoria ~ Amica at Douglas House ~ 250.383.6258Victoria ~ Amica at Somerset House ~ 250.380.9121Sidney ~ Amica at Beechwood Village ~ 250.655.0849

10-1334

An Invitation to all Seniors to

Come and enjoy all the things you love about Fall … thecrispness in the air, a bountiful harvest and the wonderfularomas and tastes of the season. We invite you to join us aswe host a complimentary afternoon to celebrate some ofFall’s favourite activities, tastes, sights and traditions.

Let this season of colourful changes inspire you to visit your neighbourhood Amica retirement residence and experience our active lifestyle first hand. There’s no bettertime than now, to Fall in Love with Amica!

For more information, visit www.amica.ca

Thursday, October 7th, 2010 ~ 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

the lightest shade to the centre of the bottom lip and the crown on the upper lip – plumper lips with a few strokes. Applying a little lip gloss can also help create the illusion of fuller lips. Even a bit of Vaseline will do the trick.

If you have sagging skin under your jawline, take the emphasis away from it by wearing attractive earrings or a pretty necklace that falls below the collarbone. But wearing both together can sometimes cause the opposite ef-fect because the observing eye can get trapped between the earlobes and the chest, drawing attention to the neck area – the opposite of what you set out to accomplish.

Deep lines or crepe-like patterning on your neck can be disguised with haircuts that fall just below the chin or slightly lower. For a great example of this, find some pictures of actress Helen Mirren. She has some great cuts and styles that flatter her face, suit her age and give great style.

Long narrow scarves, especially those that have a linen or raw silk look to them are among the favoured accent accessories of today’s youth and have a European appeal. Wrapping it casually several times around the neck is a stylish way to cover up unattractive necklines.

A little knowledge on how to update your appearance can take years off your looks. Experiment until you find the colours, products and techniques that work best for you; have fun with it! SL

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18 SENIOR LIVING »

Looking Fabulous in Fall 2010

blazer layers or dressed down with draped sweater layers. Choose dark wash denim for increased versatility.

• Stretch is the best choice for styles that flatter body pro-portions.

BLAZER / CROP JACKETS – including Boyfriend blazers / Leather bomber jackets / Military inspired jackets / Tweed blazers / Crop waist-length jackets / Plaid wool blazers

• Choose textured or patterned jackets that have fun ac-cent detailing and in various style lengths to suit body type.

Fashion & Beauty

BY BONNIE POLLARDMAYFAIR FASHION STYLIST

Cropped Knit Jacket – Jackie O inspired

– Bellissima

This season’s trends are easy to love: bringing comfort and classic lines with fun and interest-ing details. There are lots of mix and match sepa-rates, layers, textures and accent details to give

everyone plenty of options to customize wardrobes to be both flattering to body proportions and lifestyles. Create fashion-able flair with playful trend details, by layering textures with classic lines.

Choose asymmetrical lines, cowl and shawl collars, boat and draped necklines in a variety of style lengths and voilà, a fabulous look in fall trends!

Working with layers is the key for fall 2010.This season, the primary neutrals for key wardrobe pieces

are black, grey and denim, teamed with shades of teal, purple and plum.

Fall weather also inspires a secondary colour palette of rich browns, beige, olive greens, creams and reds.

Women’s Must Have Fall Trends:Denim jeans (dark denim wash)Blazer / Crop jacketsSweater coatsVestsSlim cut pantRuffl esTexture and patterns – tweeds, herringbone, corduroy or plaidsAccessories - scarves and beltsBoots

Tips on how to best wear Fall Trends:DENIM JEANS – the No. 1 Essential Piece

• Great to wear dressed up with heeled boots and crop

Floral Cardigan and Ruffl e Blouse

– Talbots

OCTOBER 2010 19

Looking Fabulous in Fall 2010

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Learn more about an exceptional life at Carlton House. All-inclusive suites are available from $2495 a month. Call Seona Stephen today at 250-595-1914 www.carltonhouse.ca

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Women’s Must Have Fall Trends:

Denim jeans (dark den-im wash)Blazer / Crop jacketsSweater coatsVestsSlim cut pantRuffl esTexture and patterns – tweeds, herringbone, corduroy or plaidsAccessories – scarves and beltsBoots

20 SENIOR LIVING

Plaid Ruffle collar Blazer

& Ruffle Scarf – Talbots

Cropped Jacket in Golf Green – Talbots

Fashion & Beauty

Mix and match dressy with casual: for example, jeans with a boyfriend blazer or a pencil skirt with military jacket.

SWEATER COATS – Sweater vests / Car-digans

• These vary from waist crop to car coat lengths.

• Long drape collars / Flared hemlines / Shawl collars / Scarf drape collars

• Carefully consider the best length and weight of knit to best suit body pro-portions. For example, petites best suit waist crop to thigh length in light to me-dium weight knits.

• Many of the drape collar sweaters are designed to wear in multiple ways: tunics, wrapped, twisted, belted or one side drawn across to shoulder like a scarf.

• Some longer styled sweaters are also worn as tunics or dresses with leg-gings and boots or slim-cut pants.

VESTS – Tuxedo / Quilted / Knit

• Sleeveless or short-sleeve styles – all create excellent layering looks.

• Fitted knit or tuxedo styles should be in darker neutral colours.

• Quilted or corduroy vests can be neutral or accent colours.

SLIM CUT PANTS (in black) • No. 1 priority is choosing a style

best for body type. • Leggings, skinny or tapered leg

styles DO NOT suit everyone!• Slim cut, stovepipe or straight cut

styles are more flattering and give the same fashion look.

• Stretch fabric is the best choice.

RUFFLES – add a little or a lot.• Try a ruffled scarf, ruffled collar de-

tails on sweaters and jackets or pintuck ruffled tops and camisoles.

TEXTURE AND PATTERNS – tweeds, herringbone, corduroy or plaids

• The key is to mix and match. Take casual chunky textured knits or rough wool blends and mix them with smooth

silks and cottons.• Accents of suede, leather or faux fur

are just as popular as ruffles and pleats detailing.

ACCESSORIES • Pull it all together with great layers

of accent details!• Scarves – multi-coloured, ruffles,

floral, plaid.• Belts – choose thin belts in same

or blended colour tones (wide belts are best on very petite waists).

BOOTS - tall or short, heeled or flat, black or brown; this season, consumers can’t go wrong.

• Wear them with everything – the sky’s the limit!

• Necklaces – bold and chunky – col-larbone or longer pendant lengths.

20 SENIOR LIVING

Portrait Collar Long

Length Sweater

Coat– Bellissima

OCTOBER 2010 21

With over 20 years experience in the fash-ion and beauty industries, Bonnie Pollard is the host of weekly “fashion feature” on CHEK TV and fashion stylist for magazines, news-papers and television, as well as a local VIP Image Trainer, Public Speaker, Fashion Event Co-ordinator and Mayfair Shopping Centre’s Fashion Stylist.

Fashion & Beauty

SL

Grey Leather Bomber Jacket – Bellissima

Angled Knit Blazer

– Bellissima

Men’s Must Have Fall Trends:

Denim jeans (dark denim wash)Blazer / Crop jacketsZip track jacketsPlaid shirts (layer with plain coloured T-shirts)Vests (knit or suit styled - black or dark grey)Slim cut pant (black or dark grey)Texture and patterns – tweeds, corduroy or plaidsButton-up shirts in purple, teal or plumSelection of plaid or patterned ties, plus a great belt and pair of boots

For everyone, layering and mixing it all together is truly the secret to this season’s fashion looks.

Choose a few good quality and well-fitted essential pieces in classic lines and neutral colours. Add layered pieces that are fun and trendy by choosing a variety of tops, shirts and turtlenecks in colours, neutrals, patterns and textures.

Above all, have fun playing with fall fashions!

Shawl Collar Sweater Vest– Bellissima

22 SENIOR LIVING

Grandmas always want to help out, and spoiling the grandkids is one of the perks of the job. Howev-er, since my adult children waited an inordinately long time before starting their own families, I am

a bit longer in the tooth than I might have been had the process begun earlier. Hence, getting on the floor and playing with tod-dlers is not an option, nor is carrying them for long distances or up and down stairs.

So, aside from engaging the little ones in more sedentary ways, I try to assist with certain household tasks. Sewing is one of these or, to be more accurate, mending. It is an art not much practised these days, and certainly, a low task on most busy families’ to-do lists. But this grandma is always standing (or perhaps sitting) by with a needle and thread at hand, waiting to put certain items of clothing back into circulation rather than leave them lying around in an un-usable condition, or worse, thrown into the trash.

I was recently reviewing such a pile with my daughter-in-law, and chanced upon a beautiful sweater currently unworn because of a number of missing buttons. To her astonishment, I produced from my grab bag a collection of buttons of all shapes, sizes and colours, proceeded to pick out appropriate-looking ones and finally came up with the required number of matching items to repair the garment in question. In about 20 minutes, the job was done and the sweater looked as good as new.

I suppose to anyone unable to remember the Second World War, such ancient methods of recycling must appear to date from the time of the Ark, but I’m sure I am not alone among seniors

The Art of Recycling

BY SHEILA MARTINDALE

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OCTOBER 2010 23

essary but since we did the laundry in a galvanized tub in the backyard it seems logical we would have used the water that was right there, and saved on our water tax.

“Mend and make do” was one of our mottos, born out of necessity dur-ing times of extreme scarcity. No scrap of clothing or linen was ever discarded. When clothes could no longer be passed down from one sibling to another, they became rags for washcloths, dishcloths, floor cloths or dusters – everything was good for something.

Shirts had their collars and cuffs re-moved, turned around and re-sewn so the frayed parts would not show. Sheets, which had worn down to nothing in the centre, were ripped apart and sewn to-gether with the outsides in – a measure that lengthened the life of the bed linen, but was not particularly conducive to a good night’s sleep.

And we darned socks, a practice that later carried me over the long years of my three boys’ adolescence and partici-pation in team sports. After I had spent a couple of hours one evening mending a pair of athletic socks, my eldest son said “Gee, Mom, my locker partner is going to be pleased – those are his socks!

I no longer reverse shirt parts or re-make sheets but, of course, there still remains the inevitable and ubiquitous button box, which brings me back to my recent successful reintroduction of the sweater to my daughter-in-law’s ward-robe. I do believe that some of the but-tons in my collection actually came over with me from England 44 years ago.

Think what a saving to the environ-ment has been made over the years by my putting these relatively indestruc-tible items back into circulation.

In many parts of the world, grand-mothers are fighting for women’s equality, fighting against AIDS that or-phans their grandchildren, fighting for girls’ education or for improvement to their economies. In Canada, we grand-mothers can fight against landfill pollu-tion and we can fight for the survival of this fragile planet. Let us just remember how it used to be done! SL

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who still practise these outmoded habits of conservation.

When I was growing up, in an England desperately struggling to recover from six years of bitter warfare, recycling was a way of life, decades before it ever became an official policy. Each commodity had to last a long time, since we could not simply throw something out and go buy another. And nothing was discarded that could pos-sibly be used for some other purpose.

Thus, the daily newspaper was used to make “fire starters” for fireplaces, which were the only source of heat for our houses and our water. It was also used for lining shelves and drawers – an inadequate cov-ering, which unfortunately left newsprint on whatever touched it. Naturally, no out-house was complete without the same ma-terial, cut into appropriately sized squares. I suppose I was about 10 before I saw my first toilet roll.

Ashes from fireplaces were stored and used on walkways to make icy or muddy surfaces fit for walking on. Envelopes were used repeatedly as part of the war ef-fort to save paper. The government issued sticky labels, which folded over the top of a slit envelope and provided space for a new address.

When so many labels had been mount-ed atop each other that the original paper was disintegrating, the envelope was then turned inside out and used as scrap paper for shopping lists and the like. I still save paper, reusing paper bags, never getting rid of unwanted documents until both sides have been written on, and opening gifts carefully so the paper and ribbon might be used again.

Long before the blue box became part of every household, I kept my glass jars and plastic tubs for leftover food or to re-package food, which came in less sturdy wrapping, and I have never discontinued doing this. Tin cans were wrapped in left-over wallpaper and used as storage for a variety of odds and ends that would come in handy again someday.

I remember the rain barrel that sat un-derneath the eavestrough downspout to catch the runoff from the roof. Looking back on a climate famous for its rainfall, I can’t recall why this might have been nec-

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24 SENIOR LIVING

An avid hockey player, chocolate lover, enthusias-tic gardener and mystery writer, Nicola Furlong admits she is also the sixth of eight brothers and sisters, who stay closely connected. “There are

eight furlongs in a mile, and I like telling people I’m from a mile of Furlongs!”

Books played a large role in the Furlong family. “My father was a voracious reader and a great mystery

fan who started all of his kids on John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh, Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner,” says Nicola. “It’s probably a bygone era now, but we found the books quite exciting. Before these writers, I would read my broth-ers’ Hardy Boys series and ignored the Nancy Drew books that were too fluffy.”

Working as a consultant on environmental issues, a policy writer for the federal government and writing grant proposals for others, Nicola began using her spare time to write a suc-cessful series of six books, recently re-released in large print, called The Church Choir mysteries, featuring Gracie Parks.

“It was my divine gig, and I really enjoyed writing them! I thought at the time this may be a niche for me to get into – lighthearted, interesting, fast-paced, an easy read,” she says.

Instead, Nicola wrote more intense murder mysteries such as Teed-Off, A Hemorrhaging of Souls and Thy Will Be Done.

Story ideas can come from anywhere – newspapers, televi-sion news or everyday life.

“What works for me is either an image or an emotion. The seed of an idea starts germinating while I’m biking or garden-ing. If someone is experiencing a death or a tragic accident, I do the old ‘what if’ thing and how it affects that person. There’s a lot of stuff that grabs your attention, but whether or not it has the legs to become a novel, you have to work your way through it to find out,” she says.

In each of her books, Nicola has fun researching activities that may involve her characters. For instance, in her psycho-logical thriller of murder and mayhem, A Hemorrhaging of Souls, she says,

“I took music lessons and found I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but my protagonist Tempest Ivory studies to become an aspiring opera singer! I wanted her to have another life

that’s totally different from solving murders.” Nicola feels one of the perks of researching is discover-

ing new people such as her recent conversation with an eth-nobiologist who spoke about 1,000-year-old bones or read-ing about Wendy Morton, the P.I. Poet featured in Senior Living magazine.

Conversely, she believes the “downside” of research is that it can easily distract a writer and lead to information overload. So, Nicola adheres to a strict schedule of writing three hours a day before fleeing to her garden, biking through her neigh-

CHOCOLATE, MURDER AND MAYHEM

BY JUDEE FONG

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Author Profile

OCTOBER 2010 25

»

bourhood or searching for chocolate, preferably fudge.A departure from her murder mysteries, Nicola’s next

book, Sisterhood of Shepherds, will be a heartwarming and inspirational journey of discovery, heartache, humour and redemption revolving around three sisters, Faith, Hope and Charly Shepherd.

“It’s been an interesting challenge to modify my writing and to try a different genre,” says Nicola.

One of Nicola’s non-writing passions is ice hockey. “I absolutely adore it! I’m in a fortunate position where I get to play three times a week with an all-men’s team. They’re all retired, in their 60s and annually compete in ‘Old-timers Hockey.’ I dedicate my fall/winter to playing ice hockey. I’m too young to play in their tournaments, but I get to play with them all the other times.”

Pondering the possibility of a hockey playing protagonist or a hockey mystery, Nicola decides the story will “have to be something different with a new twist.”

Flying off the online bookshelves, Nicola’s Youdunit Who-dunit: How to Write Mysteries is a fascinating, easy-to-digest primer written for any writer, regardless of genre because the tips given are usable for any form of fiction writing. Her latest online primer is called Self Publish Your eBook in Minutes.

Through Camosun College, Nicola teaches mystery writing and offers a popular ePublishing workshop. Her entertaining website/blog, www.epubbing.com is filled with tips, excerpts and timely interviews with current Canadian mystery writers. And, somewhere in her busy schedule, she self-promotes and markets her cleverly crafted murder mysteries.

“I’m not a gregarious, outgoing, shake-your-hand kind of

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“There’s a lot of stuff that grabs your attention, but whether or not it has the

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26 SENIOR LIVING

person,” says Nicola. “I’ve had to push myself to do it. I’ve never walked into a room without thinking about what I’ll say and what I’m likely to be asked.” She adds, “It’s like the ‘elevator pitch.’ When you see an editor in the elevator with you, you want to be ready with the three-minute pitch for your book.”

For the 21st century, Nicola believes the trend will move to online books, read on electronic read-ers rather than paper books.

“Because there are more inexpen-sive electronic readers available, people buying them are committed to reading ebooks, creating a definite demand and market for them. Enhanced books like my multimedia Quillr created for my website two years ago was really ahead of the times,” she says.

“Publishers are slowly producing books with multimedia capabilities and

that will be the next wave of books in demand.”

Fueled by chocolate and whipped into shape by cycling, walking, hockey and growing poppies, Nic-ola creates satisfying mys-teries that are thoroughly researched and carefully plotted to delight armchair detectives everywhere.

Nicola Furlong’s books can be pur-chased on online bookstores or by emailing her at [email protected]

An excerpt from Sisterhood of Shep-herds can be viewed on Nicola’s blog/website at www.epubbing.com where she scopes out the crime scenes, scoops interviews on mystery writers and of-fers tips on writing that great Canadian murder mystery.

The Juan de Fuca 55+ Ac-tivity Centre and West

Shore Parks & Recreation Soci-ety are thrilled to announce the new addition to the 55+ Activity Centre, located next to the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood, B.C.

For the last 10 years, a dedi-cated group of seniors has fund-raised to help build the expansion. The additional facility space will address the growing membership of approximately 1,200 seniors.

Operating in partnership with West Shore Parks & Recreation Society, the new building will provide space for seniors’ pro-grams and other members of the community.

The expansion has added three additional multi-purpose spaces and a much-needed elevator to access the lower level. Rooms will be used for a variety of ac-tivities for all ages.

President of the 55+ Activity Centre Ruth Reynolds says, “It is so exciting for us! This new space will provide our member-ship with many more opportuni-ties for programs.”

For more information, call 250-474-8618.

Juan de Fuca 55+ Activity Centre

Expands

News Brief

SL

Author Profile

SL

OCTOBER 2010 27

Leave your worries behind.Can you afford the cost of an accident or illness while travelling?

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When a young 17th century Welsh peasant wanted to show affection for his “lady love,” he carved her a wooden spoon and gave the handle a simple design, which showed his

skills with an axe and a knife. Hand-carved lovespoons still exist in the 21st century. British Columbia’s David Western is an innovative, artistic carver, whose customized lovespoons are treasured by owners around the world.

“Lovespoons were meant to be admired and displayed,” says David. “My family is Welsh and whenever we visited my grandparents and aunts, there were always lovespoons and other carvings mounted on the wall. I began research-ing the history and started making a few spoons while I was working as a cabinetmaker. The spoons represent a connec-tion to my roots; it’s part of my Welsh heritage.”

Wales is not the only country that has lovespoons, but is still a country that embraces the tradition.

“In Sweden, a young man would carve a simple spoon first,” says David. “Over the winter, he may have carved half a dozen or more of these and would pass them out to whom-ever caught his eye. If he got a response, then he would carve a more detailed spoon to show off his skills.”

“In Norway, the spoons weren’t carved at the start of a relationship, but it appeared on the wedding day as a symbol of unity. This would be a wooden spoon at each end of a long wooden chain, all carved from one piece of wood.

“The couple would drape the chain around their shoulders and eat their first meal together using the spoons at either end of the chain. This has also been seen in Africa when some of the tribal customs were being observed and documented.”

The original lovespoons were carved from local woods. David uses woods grown in British Columbia such as west-

ern maple, yellow cedar, poplar, alder and yew. In many of David’s spoons, Celtic knot work plays a large part. The clas-sic Celtic knot work is created from one piece of wood and is considered one of David’s artistic specialties.

Today, lovespoons sold as souvenirs in Wales and else-where keep this art in the public eye. Tourists purchase their machine-made souvenirs forgetting the true meaning behind them. Lovespoons are traditionally handmade with love from a single piece of wood.

Each of David’s spoons has a story behind them. “For me, this is a wonderful job because people allow

you into their lives to share their special memories,” he says. “Quirky things come out sometimes that become favourite features. I was asked to carve a spoon for an older woman whose kids wanted the spoon to tell her story. We had things that represented the kids, her husband, things she had done during the war. Twenty years ago, she had bought a pair of tiny frog earrings, which became her favourite piece of jew-

CARVING MEMORIESBY JUDEE FONG

Arts & Entertainment

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OCTOBER 2010 29

I know my wife suffers a bit when I can’t get away from my workshop while I work my way through an intricate design or have an idea I must try out to see if it works.”

Musing, David adds, “The nicest thing about a lovespoon is you don’t have to be Welsh or any particular ethnic back-ground to enjoy one. You just need a sense of the romantic to treasure your own unique spoon.”

For more information on lovespoons, visit www.davidwest-ernlovespoons.com or email David at [email protected]

David’s book, The Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons is available at Bolen Books, Chapters, Munroe Books and Lee Valley Tools.

Photos:

SL

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WARRANTY

Hot Health Systems Ltd. warranty the Whole Body Vibration Trainer for 3 (three) years for parts, service and labour within

a radius of 250 km from the home office of Lethbridge, AB.

Parts are warranted beyond that distance for 3 (three) years with manuals and/or DVD videos available for self-service of

parts replacement.

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We are so confident that you will love your Vibration Trainer that we are pleased

to offer a 15-day money-back guarantee PROVIDED THAT all packaging materials

are retained and the Trainer is returned in ALL of its original packaging and in its

original condition by means of the original shipper. Money will be returned as soon as the Trainer is received by Hot Health

Systems Ltd.

MEDICAL RESEARCH��

University of Technology, Sydney, Australia - Postural steadiness improved significantly after 8 weeks of training and was most significant in those with the most diminished postural control.

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School of Rehabilitation, Medical Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran. - Whole body vibration training improved proprioception and balance in athletes with reconstructed ACL.

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Sports Sciences Resident, Graduate Education * Research, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College - Many studies have reported an increase in muscle performance after whole-body vibration, but none have evaluated the possibility of vibration application as therapy for functional restoration after injury. The results of this case study imply that vibration therapy has the potential to aid in the management of acute soft tissue injury and the sequel of disuse and immobilization.

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Department of Exercise Physiology, Katholieke Universiteit, Belgium - Knee extensor strength increased significantly after 24 weeks of training. It has the potential to induce strength gain to the same extent as resistance training at moderate intensity.

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Faculty of Health and Welfare, St. Catherine University, Matsuyama, Japan - Background: Increased arterial stiffness (hardening of the arteries) is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor. WBV mechanically stimulates abdominal and leg arteries and may decrease arterial stiffness. WBV is feasible in vulnerable and immobilized humans. These results suggest that WBV acutely decreases arterial stiffness.

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Katholieke Universiteit, Belgium - After 24 weeks vibration training significantly increased bone mass density of the hip and might be useful in the prevention of osteoporosis. No vibration side effects were observed. This may be an effective way to modify well-recognized risk factors for falls and fractures in older women.

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Sports Medicine Laboratory, University of Rome, Italy - Whole-body vibration is a suitable training method to improve knee extension maximal strength, counter-movement jump, and flexibility in a young female athlete. Flexibility is important not only for performance but also for the prevention of muscle-tendon injury.

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University of Liege, Belgium - After 6 weeks of performing 4 one-minute sessions, 3 times a week the participants experienced:• 143% improvement in physical function• 77% improvement in equilibrium• 60% improvement in vitality• 57% improvement in quality of walking• 41% reduction in pain• 23% improvement in general health

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Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. John Hospital, Budapest, Hungary

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Medical University of Vienna, Austria - This pilot study indicated that whole-body vibration may positively influence the postural control and mobility in MS patients.

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HOT HEALTHSYSTEMS LTD.Health for Lifewww.hothealth.ca

��ASK A ��seniorlivingmag.com

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“We are so confident that you will love your Vibration Trainer that we offer a money-back guarantee.” —��

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elry. When she examined her spoon, she immediately spotted the tiny frog carved into the handle.”

David tells of a recent Chinese client in London who is married to a Welshman. They commissioned a spoon for her brother who is getting married in Hong Kong. “What they wanted was a spoon combining the Celtic and Chinese mix. I designed the handle showing the lucky Ming dynasty knot with a Chinese dragon coming around one side and the Celtic knot with the Welsh dragon coming the other way ending with two bowls – one at each end of the Chinese and Welsh dragon’s tails. Then I got some red shoe polish, the lucky red, and buffed it until it looked like an antique. I was really happy with the results.”

Despite his full-time customized lovespoon business, David finds time to make a few special spoons for the lady who captured his heart. In the palm of his hand nestles a tiny wooden spoon carved from a small piece of olive tree.

“This is the first spoon I carved for my wife,” he says. “We had been travelling in Europe and staying with some friends in Italy. The fellow next door was clearing his olive grove and thinning out some trees. I went out with an old kitchen knife and a brick so I could hack off a few pieces of the wood. I carried this piece of wood all over Europe. Using only my penknife, I carved it into this simple spoon and gave it to my wife when we got engaged.”

No longer a male-dominated craft, more women are find-ing this form of carving an absorbing and fascinating art form. In his Camosun College carving classes, David finds that women tend to be better than men. “I think women are less inhibited in drafting their designs; their artistic minds are freer; they have more patience, so technically they’re better.”

Over the past 20 years, David’s enthusiasm for his Welsh lovespoons has never diminished. “I love it,” he says. “It’s the one job in my life where I wake up and can’t wait to get at it.

CARVING MEMORIESRight, Carver David Western. Note the yellow cedar spoon (at the

forefront of the photo) with the three balls and the chain links, which is a “wedding” spoon. The chain links are a symbol for loyalty and faithful-

ness, while the three tiny balls indicate the number of children in the fu-ture. The entire spoon is carved from one continuous piece of wood and

often amazes amateur carvers. Left, samples of David’s lovespoons.

30 SENIOR LIVING

bottle caps can bring a dollar or two at collectibles shows.

If you have an old Coke vending machine hiding in your basement, blow the dust off, as many models sell for thousands.

The food shelves were filled with peanut butter jars, cereal boxes and rows of those Empress Golden Syrup tins that you dunked bread in when no one was looking. I

recently bought a peanut but-ter jar full of coins where the jar was worth more than the coins.

Some years ago, there was a magazine called Flake for collectors of cereal boxes. Possibly the title came from what folks called the publisher when he told them he collected cereal boxes. Looking at some recent eBay results, I note that a Kellogg’s Sugar Pops box

with cowboy actor Andy Devine on the front sold for $165, while a Quaker Quangaroos box brought more than $200. For these prices, the buyers got empty boxes, as some kid with sticky fingers ate the cereal a long time ago.

If you shopped at a Red and White or a United Purity Store, you’ll recall the signs that advertised the week’s spe-cials and what they gave away to encourage you to return.

While large chain stores now have little plastic cards that rack up points, way back there were savings stamps award-ed based on how much you spent. One dutifully licked the awful tasting gum on the back and plastered them in sav-ings books. Once a couple of books were filled, you could exchange them for a marvellous packet of hairnets!

The grocery stores of our childhood with their wooden plank floors and the bell that tinkled over the door won’t come around again, but there are things you can still en-joy. I’m positive that the four food groups are candy, pop, bread and syrup.

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BERRO_6033_BERRO083.indd 1 5/20/10 11:01:23 AM

View of Roatan from Valor

BY MICHAEL RICE

BYGONEBYGONEBYGONETreasuresDown at the Corner Store

Comments and suggestions for future columns are wel-come and can be sent to Michael Rice PO Box 86 Saanichton BC V8M 2C3 or via email to [email protected]

SL

I’m amazed at the store sizes in Victoria’s new shop-ping centre, remembering, at 14, watching the old one being built that’s now torn down. The employ-ees of one chain outlet now need ropes and grappling

hooks to reach some of their stock, and would have to rent Ireland to hold a staff meeting.

This, of course, brings me to the subject of the corner store. Near our home in Saanich, there were three small grocers, two of which were side by side – a sort of Norman Rock-well image of a strip mall. Each had food out front, a space out back where the owner lived, and sundry neighbourhood small animals that seemed to roam at will, knocking things over and taking naps on top of the fresh bread display.

Candy was a big attraction. Most of the stuff came two or three for a penny, and if I were to find a nickel on the road, I became an instant math whiz, calculating how many I could cram in a bag giving careful thought to smaller and sweeter versus larger and longer lasting.

The bins they came in were open to the air, sticky fin-gers and occasional bugs, so it was possible to take a quick nibble on something (purely for the sake of scientific ex-periment, you’ll understand) and if it failed to meet the taste test, back it went into the bin.

The fun’s gone, as any group of three candies now comes hermetically sealed in a bubble pack that costs $3.98 to buy in the first place and power tools to crack the packaging.

Outside the store was the pop machine where you dragged a bottle through a bath of icy water and up through a pair of mechanical jaws that you just knew were preset to shorten the fingers of anyone who tried to fool the machine by drop-ping electrical box slugs in the coin slot.

The best part was that after you drank the pop, you could take it inside and get two cents back for another run at the candy bins! Whatever happened to 2-Way, Stubby, Kik Cola and Mandalay Grape Punch?

The empty bottles from these fetch $5 each and just the

If you have an old Coke vending machine hiding in your basement, blow the dust off, as many models

sell for thousands.

OCTOBER 2010 31

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32 SENIOR LIVING

Travel & Adventure

“Pinch on a monkey tree,” I chant, while gently tweaking my sister’s arm. This kid-like prank immediately conjures up warm and fuzzy memories. It also re-

minds me of the saying, “when you have a sister, you have a piece of your childhood.”

We see the prickly Monkey Puzzle tree when we’re parked in the ferry lineup at Crofton; a quaint community nestled in Osborne Bay on Vancouver Island. And over the next two days, while on Salt Spring Island, we escape our citified pace, and rejuvenate our inner child.

The Pajama Party at Hastings House provides us with the perfect opportunity. Eiderdown duvets, soaker tubs, and pri-vate fireside dining – what more could two ladies on the loose ask for? Top it off with a massage, infused with the essence of lemon grass and you’ll find two silky-smooth sis-ters who smell better than mom’s meringue-topped pie.

The 22-acre property overlooks scenic Ganges Harbour, and taking centre stage is a Sussex-style manor, built in 1939 by the founder, Warren Hastings. “It was fashioned after his family’s 11th century home in England,” the res-ident manager, explains. “The hinges for the doors and windows were made by a local blacksmith,” she informs, “the fireplace stone was quarried from the surrounding land, and planks that line the floors were secured together

Sister Time On Salt Spring

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JANE CASSIE

with black boat nails.” We enter the living room, where burnished fir gleams

beneath scattered Persian carpets. Just beyond, is an upscale dining room that has magnetic powers every mealtime.

Although we both qualify as true-blue foodies, the last things we need are extra Rubenesque pounds on our aging rumps. You’d think with so many activities at our fingertips, there’d be no need to worry. We could cycle sun-dappled roads that bisect pastoral meadows, paddle rugged shorelines

to check out teary-eyed seals or dive beneath the deep. As well as being B.C.’s most southern Gulf Island, Salt Spring is a sprawling 29 kilo-metres in length, and is chock full of ad-venturous options.

Hordes of hik-ers and picnick-ers are lured every year to the summit of Mount Max-well, also known as Baynes Peak. While en route, they’re canopied by old growth Douglas fir and often share the trail with black-

tailed deer and feral sheep. Once they reach the island’s pin-nacle, the rewards are panoramic – the vista encompasses everything from Vancouver Island to the Mainland.

But instead of putting our well-padded duffs into ac-tion, we rev up our comfy sedan. Even though the walk from Hastings House to Ganges town centre is a breeze, we don’t want to miss a moment. It’s market day, and the heart of Centennial Park is pulsating!

OCTOBER 2010 33»

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Every Saturday morning, from April to October, over 100 artisans and farmers congregate to sell their goods. Tables, shaded by colourful umbrellas, border the parkway and host everything from bead work to bok choy. We sample sensu-ously sweet fudge, savour locally made goat cheese, and get personally pampered with a lavender scrub.

“All you have to do is rub and rinse,” we’re told by the Soap Works owner, as he massages the heady gran-ules onto one of my sister’s hands. The instant transforma-tion is quite miraculous, as her dry scaly limb turns satin. My sister quickly purchases a packet of the product – I’m sure, with the intention of scrubbing more than just her other hand.

The string of bargains and vendor stalls carry on after we leave the marketplace. Roadside stands dot the hill-sides on our island drive and brim over with everything from bright floral bouquets to the garden’s daily pick. Most are unstaffed, and are operated by a trustworthy

honour system. What a refreshing change from our com-mercialized big box stores!

While cruising along the country roads that are fringed by farmlands, we giggle and gab and discuss everything from people to politics. We stop to check out schooners that bob in Burgoyne Bay and retrace the steps of time while peering into St. Paul’s Church. This place of wor-ship was constructed out of salvaged material; shipped from Vancouver by Aboriginal war canoes, back in 1885.

The 1906 Ruckle farmhouse is another heritage site that we happen upon, and just beyond is a park bench that overlooks Swanson Channel. From this ringside seat, we enjoy an awesome Salt Spring show. It’s not a film that’s staged or rehearsed, nor a play that uses any props. But it does feature a cast of first-rate performers. Long-legged herons and sun-basking cormorants poise stoically on the

34 SENIOR LIVING

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craggy shore. Excited gulls squawk overhead, and then dive-bomb toward their prey. And two curious seal pups pop up from the deep to take a big bow.

But the height of excitement comes when the first sig-nature dorsal fin slices through the sun-glinted waves. It’s followed by another, and then another. And directly within our view, the orcas crest above the water’s surface, then dip beneath, and all with divine synchronicity. The splendour activates my digital camera. It creates a sense of awe.

And as we relax in silence side by side, in the comfort of each other’s company, I reflect on the great weekend we’ve had together and another familiar saying comes to mind. “Although we were born sisters, we’ve grown up to be friends.”

BC Ferries 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) from anywhere in North America or from your cellphone on Rogers or Telus Mobility Networks dial *BCF (*223). Online, visit www.bcferries.com

Page 32, The author (right) and her sister Katherine Surridge Page 33, Sisters ride the ferry to Salt Spring Island.

Below, top, Katherine shopping at the open-air market.Below, bottom, The sisters enjoy a peaceful moment.

OCTOBER 2010 35

If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to dimin-ishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you.A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best option. This 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

Published by Senior LivingJanuary 2009�ONLY $9.95

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options To Move or Not to Move?

Books may be also purchased at these Island locations:

(Please call first to confirm availability) • Falconer Books, Nanaimo (250-754-6111) • Home Instead, Victoria (250-382-6565)

• Medichair, Victoria (250-384-8000) • Medichair, Nanaimo (250-756-9875) • Medichair, Duncan (250-709-9939) • Munro’s Books, Victoria (250-382-2464)

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• Crown Publications (250)386-4636

BC

EDITION

___ Cheque (payable to Senior Living) ___ CREDIT CARD # _________________________________ Expiry ___________

Name on Card ____________________________________Mail to: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

ORDER FORM - “To Move”Name______________________________Address _______________________________ City______________ Prov ___ Postal Code____________Phone ____________________

___ BOOKS @ $14.60 each (includes $3.95 S&H plus 5% GST) = TOTAL $____________

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36 SENIOR LIVING

Health & Wellness

As a survivor of an ischemic stroke, Pa-tricia Pitcher found a passion for writing, a

purpose in sharing her experience of “stroking” and new meaning in a life restored to mental, physical and spiritual health.

An aneurysm blocked her verte-bral artery and caused an ischemic event – an interruption of blood supply to her brain. Fortunately, the aneurysm did not completely rupture and, against steep odds, Pat survived. Her body, however, was badly damaged.

After leaving intensive care, Pat still suffered limited mobil-ity, extreme pain in her neck and a body that refused to connect with her brain’s signals to make even the simplest movements. Her book, Beyond Stroke: A Jour-ney of Hope, not only chronicles the events around her stroke and recovery, it was, remarkably, the very instrument that focused her efforts to heal her brain and body.

Writing is a singular activity that requires not only time and concentration, but also courage. Penning a book is difficult for even the most experienced writer. In Pat’s case, she was only home for a week from the hospital, learn-ing all over again how to speak, walk and think, when her well-in-tentioned, determined mentor told her to write a book.

Passion, Purpose and Meaning: A Stroke Survivor’s Journey

BY CAROL SHEEHAN

Pho

to: J

ohn

W. H

eint

z

OCTOBER 2010 37»

“I have my very own Dr. Phil,” she smiles, “Dr. Phil Winkelmans. He provided the challenge that restored me to health.”

Dr. Winkelmans’ challenge surprised Pat: “Everything that happened to you up until today is about the first chapter of your life. And now that chapter is over, finished, kaput. From this day forth, and for the next 20 or 30 years, your life is about your next chapter. How do you want it to read?”

“From the beginning,” she says, “Dr. Phil never called it anything but ‘a book.’ It wasn’t a ‘journal’ or a ‘diary’, but simply ‘a book.’ At the time, I thought he must be crazy.

“I could barely hold a pencil. I signed my name with an X and still had blurred vision. Even after intensive reha-bilitation, the stroke left me with extreme fatigue, a heavy feeling in half my body, no lid reflex in my right eye, and no hearing in my right ear.

“Dr. Phil just announced on his first visit that he wanted me to write a chapter outline by the following week, and that he’d follow up every week with a visit to push the as-signment forward. I was astonished, doubtful – and then determined to do it.”

Dr. Winkelmans (author of The Art of Purposeful Being: Your Destiny Project) was aware of developments in neural sciences regarding brain damage. He believed new neural pathways could be created in Pat’s injured brain. The book would require focus, and refocusing; it would involve a re-petitive constellation of activities that would build new neu-ral pathways in Pat’s brain and promote her healing.

What better way, he reasoned, for this seasoned RN, who had the educational background, training and experience of taking care of stroke survivors – and who had herself recently suffered and survived a massive stroke – to offer both educational and experiential perspective to others.

Pat rose to the challenge. She knew through retraining her brain, she could make physical and mental advances. She also realized, contrary to her previous training, not all stroke survivors suffered depression, and her attitude re-mained optimistic about her chances for recovery.

With generous help from others on her personal health “team,” she kept positive as she sought to regain the neces-

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38 SENIOR LIVING

aside the stroke or ignored it, I wasn’t going to win. I knew I had to fight to regain an independent life, but more importantly, I knew I had to be at peace and accept that what had happened to me was now a part of me.”

Acceptance, too, came from her caregivers. “They never once referred to my deficits; they treated me like a person and looked after me with a positive attitude. They accepted me wherever I was from week to week.”

Her caregivers brought encouragement to attempt what, at times, seemed impossible, celebration for each achieve-ment, and a willingness to push when necessary. They stood alongside her as she strove to overcome the next road-block.

Pat accepted her own new limits. “I learned to stay in the present, accept that stress is something to be avoided, and not to invite irritants into my life. When a nursing colleague admonished me to get plenty of sleep and rest, she gave me permission not to feel guilty about taking care of myself.”

In her book, Pat offers hope from a deep reservoir of ex-perience. Rather than being a “victim” of stroke – a phrase she rejects – she offers stroke survivors, and their caregiv-ers, insights into recovery.

To avoid the risk for stroke, she maintains that people should keep stress, blood pressure and cholesterol levels down, refrain from smoking, keep fit, exercise regularly, attend to good nutrition and have a relationship with some-one they trust. And she credits her advocate with her own recovery.

Now, as she moves forward in the next season of her life, she finds new meanings. She addresses audiences about stroke and recovery, shares her experiences with other sur-vivors and helps doctors, nurses, therapists, families, spous-es and other caregivers learn more about what it means to survive a stroke and how they can help.

Today, Pat lives one-day-at-a-time, enjoying an active physical, spiritual and intellectual life to the fullest as she finds joy in sharing her story, appreciating her family and friends, and living life to the fullest.

Beyond Stroke: A Journey of Hope is available from Mulberry Books in Qualicum and Parksville, at some health food stores, Nanaimo Hospital Gift Shop and from the au-thor at [email protected].

Health & Wellness

sary mobility and strength to restore many of the abilities and skills that had been stricken from her life in one cata-strophic moment.

Trying to focus a tired and foggy brain to work with a damaged and easily fatigued physical body required hard work and repetitive exercises. Through a certain amount of pushing herself and being pushed by her many caregivers, Pat made progress.

“The book was a burden and I really didn’t want to do it at first,” she says. “It seemed impossible. I needed lined paper to write, like a school kid, and a board that would sit on my lap as I reclined in a chair. At first, it was a minute-to-minute slog, not an hour-to-hour or even day-to-day effort.

“My body felt so heavy all the time and I was always tired. I threw away a ton of paper. But, something, I’m not sure what, propelled me on. I kept practising moving a pen-cil, putting together letters, then words, forming longer sen-tences – pushing my brain to operate even though I felt like I was thinking in a thick fog. My lucid pathways were short at first, but they got longer. I wanted to push the envelope. Dr. Phil continued to guide me and urge me forward every

time I thought I’d reached my limits. Every week, he zeroed in on my feelings. The book work became mental, emo-tional and physical therapy.”

Eventually, with dogged determination and a tough-minded approach, Pat kept writing, and kept improving as she continued her fight for personal mountaintops. And they came. Some came with perseverance: rehabilitation at the gym for physical and occupational therapy, establishing new nutritional habits, learning again to read and write, to use a computer, even to drive a car.

Some came with medical interventions: surgeries to cor-rect her eyelid droop and hearing loss, new vitamin and min-eral supplement regimens, and chelation therapy to remove heavy metals from her body. She is quick to acknowledge that most mountaintops were achieved through the help and assistance of many understanding friends.

More than any single factor, Pat’s recovery journey has been characterized by an attitude of acceptance.

“After the stroke, my mind, body and spirit changed,” she says. “I knew that who I was before the stroke I would never be again. So, I got on with life. I knew if I pushed

“I knew I had to be at peace and accept that what had happened to me was now a part of me.”

SL

OCTOBER 2010 39

AUGUST 2010 VANCOUVER ISLANDHousing Guide for Seniors

TO ORDER a copy...Please mail a cheque for $5.25 ($5 plus GST), along with your name, phone number and address, to Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1. We will mail you a copy of this resourceful hous-ing guide upon receipt of payment.

Up-to-date listings of senior housing facilities throughout Vancouver Island, including Independent/Supportive Living,

Assisted Living and Complex Care.

Listings include addresses and contact information, housing costs, number of units in the housing complex, hospitality services, optional home care services, amenities and security features.

This guide is an indispensable resource to: • seniors looking for alternative housing • seniors moving to Vancouver Island from other parts of BC or out of province • children of seniors who are assisting their parent to select a housing option • professionals who work with seniors or their families • businesses that provide services to seniors

Purchase a Subscription for $32 and never miss an issue!

SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM

Vancouver Island Edition 12 issues for $32 (includes HST)

Mail cheque to: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

Name ________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City __________________________________________________

Province ____________ Postal Code _________________

I got a weird compliment the other day. I was playing tennis in my Tennis League, where I don’t know most of the women, and my doubles partner for the day said to me, “You know, you really look very young,

(pause), from the back! My problem was: do I thank her, or do I smack her? Compliments like that I can do without!

Another one happened on a different tennis court, this time in 90-degree weather. After just winning a tough match, my partner and I were sweating, exhausted and thrilled. When we went to shake hands with our opponents, one of them said, “You girls were so lucky! I was really off today!” Does that mean that all those good shots we made would have meant nothing if she were on? Give me a break!

Here’s another: I was meeting a good friend, and a couple of minutes after we said our hellos, she said, “You know, you are much too skinny!” Well, I happen to be thin, but I eat plen-ty. I imagine it has something to do with my metabolism.

I then asked her, “If you thought I was heavy, would you say, ‘you are much too fat?’” She had to admit that she would not.

I decided to check it out with my Webster’s Dictionary, and here’s what I found under “compliment”: 1) an expres-sion of praise, admiration or congratulation. 2) a formal act of civility, courtesy or respect. And then it defined “back-handed compliment” as an oblique or roundabout compli-ment (Could it also be called backhanded because it hap-pened to me so often on the tennis court? Nah!).

I even looked up “white lie,” which they describe as “a trivial, harmless or well-intentioned untruth.” There’s an old expression that goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”

Anyway, the point is, if you’re going to compliment someone, make it a good one! And so, my friends, if you happen to see me enter the room backwards, you’ll under-stand. It’s my best look!

Young, From the BackBY CAROLE BLAKE

SL

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1.800.409.1711 merit.ca

40 SENIOR LIVING

THE MURDERVictoria’s PastRevisited

...continued from the September issue.

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In spite of their 30-year difference in age, Alma Pakenham and Fran-cis Rattenbury were well-suited. Both believed their celebrity status

gave them the right to flaunt public mo-rality. Both craved the limelight. Both felt they were possessed by genius and woe-betide anyone who failed to recognize it. Francis doted on the new love in his life and looked upon his sick and dowdy wife of 30 years, Florrie, as an encumbrance that should be hastily dispatched.

But it was not as easy as he thought. In desperation, he ordered a moving com-pany to clear their Oak Bay House of all her furniture. But Florrie was not to be de-terred. As the furniture was carried out the front door, Florrie and her Chinese servant promptly carried it all back through a side door. Cruel harassment followed, Florrie eventually surrendered and the couple di-vorced in 1925.

But public sympathy was now with Florrie and the woman whom society had shunned for so many years was seen as the unfortunate victim. In turn, Francis, hitherto the darling of Victoria’s elite, was ostracized.

Francis and Alma were married qui-etly in Bellingham, Washington, but were shunned by Victoria society. There were

no more recitals for Alma or contracts for Francis. He may have been the genius behind the Legislative Buildings, the Em-press Hotel and some 40 other significant structures throughout the city, but people had grown tired of his bad behaviour.

Their only son, John, was born on De-cember 27, 1928, and society didn’t care. Rumours began to spread that Alma was a cocaine addict, a consequence of her ser-vice in a field hospital during World War One. People were convinced that Alma had entrapped Francis into the same de-pendency. This, said the public, explained his increasingly erratic and cantankerous behaviour.

Francis changed his will. Frank and Mary, his first two children, were cut out and everything was left to his new wife, her son Christopher and their baby John. Ironically, the only person to wave them goodbye as they sailed away from Victo-ria was his club-footed son, Frank.

The family’s return to England in 1929 did little to improve their fortunes. Alma would have preferred the bright lights of London to the sedate seaside town of Bournemouth, but Francis liked it because it reminded him of Victoria. When antici-pated contracts did not roll in, Francis re-treated into an alcohol-soaked gloom and the effervescent Alma sought greener pas-tures. Under the pseudonym, “Lozanne,”

she published sentimental ballads record-ed by the celebrated English tenor, Frank Titterton, with Alma on piano.

Since Francis no longer showed any interest in her, Alma developed a warm relationship with Irene Riggs who soon became her companion and loyal confi-dant. To complete her intimate circle, she hired the services of a short, stocky, bow-legged youth named George Percy Stoner as her chauffeur.

George had grown up as a solitary, friendless child and his grandmother de-scribed him as being “very, very back-ward.” Nevertheless, this shy, gullible 17-year-old was soon permanently housed in the guest bedroom and became Alma’s lover-in-residence.

But the slow-witted George became so infatuated with Alma that any atten-tion, however small, that Francis showed his wife, drove the simple-minded young man to distraction. On that fateful Sunday, March 24, 1935, Alma had tried to com-fort the agitated George, assured him of her undying love and declared she had no longer any interest in her husband.

George seemed to calm down and left to visit his grandmother. Alma and Fran-cis played cards until 9:30 p.m., when she went upstairs to pack for a visit they planned to make the next day to Bridport.

Later that evening, Stoner crept into

OCTOBER 2010 41

what she knew. Stoner was arrested for murder as he stepped off the train in Lon-don. “I understand,” was his simple reply to the charge.

Alma’s testimony before the Court was a masterpiece, calculated to win sympathy and impress the jury. Her blithe innocence of expression, her low, steady voice - even the evident absurdities and contradic-tions in her statements all convinced the jury that she had neither the wit nor the temperament to commit murder. She was released. Stoner’s confused testimony, on the other hand, resulted in a quick and de-cisive guilty verdict.

It may have been remorse or self-pity or perhaps a desire that she would ring down the curtain with a dramatic flourish that prompted her to commit suicide by the River Avon with a knife thrust through the heart, but whatever the motive, it drew a crowd of over 3,000 to her funeral. The whole affair was a bonanza for the na-tional press and the woman who craved publicity all her life had more than her fair share of it at her death.

in desperation she tried to bribe the police to keep quiet about it!

To compound the bizarre nature of the incident, she put on a recording of one of her love songs, which inspired her to try another tactic – to attempt to seduce the constable with her feminine charms.

Dr. O’Donnell, who had accompanied Rattenbury to the hospital, returned to what had all the appearances of a madhouse. He found the intoxicated Alma, staggering from one policeman to the next, flinging her arms around them and cooing to them over the noise of the record blaring at full volume, and with Stoner, in his pyjamas blissfully sleeping in the car outside. Sud-denly, Alma had another inspiration – “I know who did it! It was his son!” Then she realized the son was still in Canada.

The next morning, Stoner denied all knowledge of the attack, a now sober Alma confessed and was arrested for at-tempted murder and taken to London to face trial. But Irene Riggs was not con-vinced and finally elicited the truth from Stoner – in a fit of jealous rage, he had bludgeoned the dozing Rattenbury with a heavy wooden mallet he had borrowed from his grandmother earlier that day. Irene said nothing at the time.

Alma wrote to Stoner to ask him to visit her. When Irene was informed that Rattenbury had died, she told the police

BY NORMAN K. ARCHER

The Tale of Alma Rattenbury Part II

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Norman Archer is an historical city tour guide in Victoria and the author of Tales of Old Victoria. Contact him at 250-655-1594 or [email protected]

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Alma’s room and joined her in bed. A loud groan from below sent Alma flying down-stairs to find her husband lying in a pool of blood, his skull smashed. She gulped the whisky from the glass that Francis had been holding, replaced the dentures that had flown from his mouth, then, re-alized the foolishness of her actions and screamed for Irene.

With Stoner’s help, the three of them carried the unconscious man to his bed and Stoner was sent to fetch the doctor. Alma continued to drink steadily.

Dr. O’Donnell arrived about midnight, realized the seriousness of his patient’s condition, and sent for a surgeon, Dr. Rooke. The doctors thought Francis must have fallen, but Alma’s incoherent state-ments that someone must have attacked him aroused their suspicions of foul play.

Sensing her danger, Alma then tried lamely to say Francis must have tried to commit suicide but the nature of the wounds made such a suggestion ludi-crous.

Rooke had no doubt that the three blows to the head indicated attempted murder, and the police were called. Alma contin-ued drinking and made a series of contra-dictory statements to the police – first, she said a burglar must have come in through the open French doors, then she confessed that she did it, then that Stoner did it, then

42 SENIOR LIVING

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SAANICH VOLUNTEER SERVICES hopes you’ll consider volunteering this fall – drive, visit, garden, home repairs and more. Call 250-595-8008 for info.

SENIOR CONCIERGE SERVICES Marvel-ous companionship with personalized services. Grocery shoppping, errands, and memorable outings. Call Agnes Campbell 250-588-5509. www.catch-the-moments.com

COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cam-eras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: [email protected]

COMPUTER ASSISTANCE: I provide computer assistance with a focus on training, trouble-shooting and improving computer performance. Contact Sandy in Victoria at: 778-433-5049 or [email protected].

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU of Vancouver Island is located at 220-1175 Cook St., Vic-toria BC V8V 4A1. Toll-free phone line for Up-Island 1-877-826-4222 (South Island dial 250-386-6348). www.bbbvanisland.org E-mail: [email protected]

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE - Ask us about our new concierge services. We provide a little as-sistance when you need it. Do you need meal prep-aration, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, ap-pointments, or respite? We are also hiring seniors. Call 250-382-6565.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. BW only. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Add BW Logo - $25. Red spot color 10% extra. Plus tax. All Classified ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque / Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

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RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certified Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082.

MUSIC LESSONS at the Peninsula Acad-emy of Music Arts, 1662 Mills Road, North Saanich 778-426-1800. All instruments. www.PeninsulaAcademy.ca

WRITTEN A BOOK? Aldridge Street Editing can get your manuscript print-ready. Transcription - Editing - Cover Design - Book Layout. www.aldridgestreet.com Call 250-595-2376.

COMPUTER BASICS IN YOUR HOME. Patient senior computer lady to show you e-mail, surfing. Hourly fee. Connect with your world. 250-516-5980.

MOBILE FOOT CARE NURSE home visits in greater Nanaimo, Cedar to Parksville. John Patterson LPN, qual-ified nursing foot care for toenails, corns and calluses. 250-390-9266.

DRIVING MISS DAISY® Why be lazy? Become our Daisy! You won’t be sorry to see autumn’s glory. 250-588-4638 (Victoria) 250-507-2336 (Sidney)

GOLDEN GROVE CARE FACILITY, newest, most personable facility with 24hr care in Wil-low Point, Campbell River for single or married couples,also offering respite accomodations. Please call 250-923-7049.

FOOT CARE IN YOUR HOME Victoria Region By Marcia Goodwin R.N.,B.Sc.N. Foot Care Specialist / Foot Nurse. Call (778) 426-0387.

HOME AGAIN SENIORS TRANSITION SERVICES: Downsize and move with ease. We offer a caring hand. Call (250)984-4044 or visit www.seniorshomeagain.ca

PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE, EFFICIENT HOUSE CLEANER Victoria & Surrounding area. $18/hour. Can use eco-friendly products. Please call Nicole 250-686-0603.

SEMI-WATERFRONT SELF-CONTAINTED CONDO-MINIUM. Quaint town north of Puerto Vallarta. Beautiful pool and garden. Short / Long term. 250-756-0437 or 250-758-5995.

WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumu-lations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email [email protected]

PERSONALS:

LADY, 74 (straight). Seeking lady to share 2 bedroom condo January (South). Also meet for luncheons Victoria & Duncan. 250-715-3744.

OCTOBER 2010 43

My problem is that I am now selling my house and plan to go into an apartment in town. The dog has been used to a big garden to play in here, and I’m not sure if she will be happy being shut in so much in my

new home.I am in my 70s, but I am in good

health and keep very active. Your ad-vice will be most appreciated. –W.J.

Dear W.J.:Well, you are fortunate to have such

a good companion.No doubt, you and your dog have

missed your husband greatly. However, you are still in good health, so your dai-ly life does not have to change too much when you move. Animals do adjust to apartment living as long as they con-tinue to have exercise. You seem to be active still and can continue daily walks with her. The exercise and fresh air is beneficial to both of you.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRESVictoria 250-382-4331Duncan 250-748-2133Nanaimo 250-754-3331Sidney 250-656-5537Courtenay/Comox 250-334-9917Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607Port Hardy 250-949-5110

Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer.

ASKGoldieBY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.EDPh

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Dear Goldie:My husband passed away three

months ago after a long illness. He had suffered so long we both felt relief that he was leaving. While we could accept his death, it seems that some of our friends cannot. They continue to grieve openly and are forever offering condo-lences.

Can you suggest anything to stop this? –R.G.

Dear R.G.:I am sorry you are being subjected

to this behaviour after the loss of your husband.

Your friends probably mean well, but are just not realistic about the situation. Death is never easy but, in your hus-band’s case, they must have been aware of his pain and of your acceptance of the impending loss.

Perhaps the easiest way to stop their actions is to speak to your friends in a group explaining that his death was a relief to his suffering and to your con-stant care. Sometimes, situations like this have to be discussed openly for full comprehension.

I hope this will relieve your problem and allow you to move on.

Dear Goldie:You will probably think I am a silly

old lady fretting about my pet. I wish it were that simple.

Several years ago, our children gave us a wonderful dog, a small black and white mixed breed. She has been a great companion and loved her daily walks with us. Unfortunately, my husband passed away last year and both the dog and I miss him terribly. However, we still get out for our walks and keep each other company.

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44 SENIOR LIVING

Community

On the second and fourth Friday every month, a group of 12 Victoria women gather to play bridge and catch up on stories. In 2006, one such story came from Liz Beatty whose son

Marvin Nicholson was asked by a man named Barack Obama to assist him in running as a Democratic candidate in the pres-idential election.

Lorna Elder, another bridge player, facetiously said, “When Barack Obama becomes presi-dent, we should play bridge in the White House!”

In 2009, history was made when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. In addi-tion to his friendship with the new president, Marv became co-ordinator of the minute-by-minute movements of Air Force One.

And with that, Lorna’s tongue-in-cheek comment was sud-

Signed by a Souper President

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“When Barack Obama becomes president, we should play bridge

in the White House!”

Souper Bowls of Hope is an annual local fundraiser that supports the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society (YES). YES provides many services including emergen-cy shelter, health care, education and training to some of the most vulnerable people in the city – underprivileged and at-risk youth.

On October 14, local celebrities will be ladling soup at the Fairmont Empress Hotel from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and those attending will choose a handcrafted bowl made by South Vancouver Island Potters Guild members and by school students and take the bowl home! In addition, there will be auction items – including the apron signed by President Barack Obama (pictured above).

Tickets can be purchased at The Bay Centre’s Guest Services, Ivy’s Book Shop on Oak Bay Avenue, Tanner’s Books on Beacon Avenue, by calling 250-383-3514 or at the door.

For more information, visit www.souperbowls.com

denly on its way to becoming a reality.In April this year, the bridge club members boarded a

plane for Washington, D.C. Tucked in Lorna’s luggage was a waterproof pen and an apron complete with the Souper Bowls of Hope logo.

The women received a warm welcome from Marv Nichol-son and the apron was given to him to be taken to the president for his signature.

As the awestruck Canadi-ans ascended the steps of the White House, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton greeted them. Marv introduced them

to President Obama’s staff, including Reggie Love, the pres-ident’s personal bodyguard. After a tour of the White House, including the East Wing (Michelle’s side), the women were thrilled to see the president as he boarded Air Force One, and waved at them before his departure.

Souper Bowls of Hope

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OCTOBER 2010 45

One gift. Unlimited possibilities.Imagine the seed a conversation can plant. New ways of fighting disease. A work of art that moves generations. A business that creates thousands of jobs. And the University of Victoria students behind these achievements will have you to thank for making it possible. Your gift. Your legacy.

A planned gift to UVic can blossom into anything. Contact Natasha to start the conversation about creating a lasting legacy in your will or estate plan.

Natasha Benn | 250-721-6001 | [email protected] Bridge Players (left to right): Betty Ann Aigers, Wendy Sul-livan, Sheila Osborne, René Hallott, Liz Beattie, Connie Carter, Peggy Pitfield, Lorna Elder and Lynda Strong in the Gold Room

at the White House, Washington D.C.

Only by special invitation (one day in April and one day in October), visitors can view the expansive White House gardens, where commemorative plantings repre-sent each president while in office. They even met Bo, the presidential dog!

With all the sightseeing, shopping and touring the nooks and crannies of the White House, the women still had time to play bridge! SL

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46 SENIOR LIVING

If you believe you have been the tar-get of a scam, call the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island at 250-386-6348 in Greater Victoria or at 1-877-826-4222 elsewhere on the Island, so others can benefit from your experience. E-mail [email protected]

BY ROSALIND SCOTT

SCAMALERT

Seniors Targeted by High-Pressure Sales

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The Better Business Bureau has received numerous com-plaints recently regarding unscrupulous salespeople

targeting seniors and using high-pres-sure door-to-door sales tactics.

Consumers are alleging that travelling alarm sales reps, claiming to be affiliat-ed with a well-known security systems company, have been using aggressive sales tactics and deceptive practices to bully them into purchasing a new, over-priced alarm system and signing a long-term contract.

According to the RCMP, consumers are being offered time-sensitive deals and promises that their security system will be linked directly to local RCMP and ambulance services, which is not possible in British Columbia.

It is not the first time BBB has re-ceived reports on this issue. Similar

complaints were received during the summer of 2009 from people in com-munities across the province. This time, however, seniors (particularly women) appear to be the main targets.

BBB advises consumers to use due diligence prior to making any decisions on home security systems:

Be aware of pressure sales tactics: Some unscrupulous door-to-door sell-ers will put pressure on you to close the deal at that moment, and even make special offers to entice you. Listen to their tone. Are they increasing in vol-ume as they speak to you? Are they ig-noring you despite saying you are not interested? Find a way to end the con-versation quickly to avoid long, drawn-out pressure sales pitches.

Stand strong: Do not invite unso-licited salespeople into your home. If you do allow a salesperson inside and decide during the presentation that you are not interested in making a purchase, simply ask him or her to leave. If the salesperson refuses to leave, threaten to call the police, and follow through if they don’t leave immediately.

Verify the individual: If you are in-terested in buying from a door-to-door seller, get everything in writing includ-ing price, warranty and all conditions. Tell the salesperson you will check it

out and get back to him or her. Ask for a business card and contact informa-tion. Look the company up yourself and check to verify this person is an em-ployee. Also, take the time to check out the company’s BBB Reliability Report at vi.bbb.org

Ask for their license: The B.C. Min-istry of Public Safety and Solicitor Gen-eral licenses security systems sellers. Sellers are required to provide proof to you that they are licensed.

Know your rights: Door-to-door salespeople are required to provide cus-tomers with a “Buyer’s Remorse Pe-riod.” During this specified number of days, clients can change their minds and cancel a contract at no additional cost. In most circumstances, you will need to provide a written request to cancel the contract. To find out more about your rights as a consumer visit the Consumer Protection BC website at consumerpro-tectionbc.ca

For more information on scams and consumer tips visit vi.bbb.org

46 SENIOR LIVING

Every effort is made to ensure our CUSTOMER SATISFACTION,

but most importantly, AFTER the sale.

www.car-corral.com

1658 Island Highway, Victoria 250-478-1128

Shop at Victoria’s Most Trusted

Independent Auto Dealer.

2009 BBB Torch Award Winner

OCTOBER 2010 47

away for those dark days when you need gems to brighten your life.

Determine what ideas, thoughts and sadness can be plowed back into the soil to fertilize the future. Hopefully, these lessons help you grow.

As we move through this tun-nel, this time of transition, each of us will have a different story.

If October could tell a story, what kind of story would it tell – gratitude and gathering or bitterness?

When you gather around the table this Thanksgiving, ask your friends and family this question, “What is your October story?”

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Courageous

Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. www.patnichol.com

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AUTUMN BY PAT NICHOL

When I was a child, my mother spent most of summer and early autumn preserving

the fruits of the harvest. All of the jars of fruit and vegetables were stored in the cool room in the basement.

During winter months, when we went into the room to get something for a meal and the light was turned on, the shelves gleamed with the gem-like colours of raspberries, peaches and beans; the co-lours of summer to lighten the darkest days of winter.

To those of you who still do this, I salute you and give thanks for you.

October starts the final quarter of the year. The autumn equinox is a time of harvest and gathering. In most of our lives today, this no longer has the same meaning as it might have in past years. This is a time of transition, a tunnel from the light of summer to the dark of winter: a sense of moving from youth to maturity.

As you move through this tunnel, think about what gems you can carry with you to lighten up the darkness of winter nights. What ideas, thoughts, plans do you have this harvest season?

Reflect on those accomplishments achieved during this past year and decide what can be saved and stored

Next Month in Senior Living...

PlannedGiving

Private citizens’ contributions (time and money) are keeping the doors of many charities open, and ensuring important causes continue to move forward.

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Contact the program nearest you:Victoria Lifeline • 1-888-832-6073

Eldersafe Support Services • 1-866-457-8987South Vancouver Island and Ladysmith

Nanaimo Lifeline Program • 250-739-5770or 250-947-8213

Mid Island, Cassidy to BowserComox Valley Lifeline Society • 1-866-205-6160

North Island, Cowichan Valleyand Chemainus/Crofton

Live Safelyand Independentlyin Your Own Home

www.bclifeline.com

...the shelves gleamed with gem-like colours...

48 SENIOR LIVING

course, there’s the glovebox. I’ve met some people who keep their glovebox immaculately clean with just their car registration resting comfortably there. I try to stay away from such people: they frighten me.

The automobile has come a long, long, long way since Henry Ford’s Model-T. They are so sophisticated now that you almost have to be a rock-et scientist to figure them out: comput-er this and computer that. Some even talk. They make me so nervous with all their bells and whistles that I feel like I should carry a gun to protect myself. But then again, the cars might shoot back. They might have their own gun hidden in the glovebox!

Surely, with all of man’s ingenuity, the space the glovebox takes up in a car could be exchanged for something else like a Pez dispenser, a miniature piano or a pop machine.

But if the auto manufacturer is go-ing to insist on still putting a glovebox in 21st century cars, let us at least de-mand that each car comes equipped with a new pair of gloves! SL

Refl ections THEN & NOW

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THE GLOVEBOXBY GIPP FORSTER

Reflections,Reflections,��

and Other Breakfast Foods

A Collection of Published & Unpublished Writings by Senior Living Columnist Gipp ForsterMAGAZINE

Limited Edition

128 pages REDUCED PRICE

$10.00

Name_____________________________________Address___________________________________City______________________________ Prov ____ Postal Code____________ Ph _________________ ____ BOOKS @ $14.92 each = $_______ (incl. $3.95 shipping & taxes)

“Reflections” MAIL-IN ORDER FORMReflections, Rejections, and Other Breakfast Foods

by Gipp Forster

Please allow two weeks for shipping.

Make cheque payable to Senior Living MAIL TO: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

A collection of Gipp’s humorous and nostalgic columns. A wonder-ful read for yourself, and a thoughtful gift for friends and family members.

Every car I have ever owned or seen has always had a glovebox, often called a “glove compart-

ment.” And yet, I’ve never put a pair of gloves in any one of them.

Its original intent, I am sure, was to supply a place for driving gloves, often used in the beginning of the 20th cen-tury. However, I think a name change is in order! I don’t know what to change it to, but I believe a change is impera-tive. I am always nervous of the glove-box (for lack of a better name) in my car. It is a mysterious place, best kept at a distance. Every two years or so, I gather up the courage to go through it, inspect it, even clean it, and each time I shake with trepidation. And I am amazed at some of the contents.

I once found an apple core – snuck in there, I guess, by one of my kids. It had become fossilized (I was tempted to have it bronzed). There was an old stick of gum that disintegrated as I un-wrapped it; three screws, one washer, a ballpoint pen without a point, a neat-ly folded candy wrapper, four books of matches, two receipts with faded dates, an unravelled eight-track tape,

a lint-covered Life Saver and a broken pencil. There were other odds and ends as well, but they were just junk. And not one pair of gloves!

Cars once had running boards but the automakers re-alized their folly, when it was pointed out that you couldn’t run on them; you could only stand on them, so they stopped put-ting them on cars. But the glovebox is still there, taunting people to discover its hidden treasures.

We misname many things. There is no egg in eggplant, no pine or apple in pineapple. Quicksand takes one down slowly and boxing rings are square. People recite in a play, but play at a recital. We park in drive-ways and drive on parkways. We say a house is burning up when it is actu-ally burning down. We fill in a form by filling it out. When stars are out they are visible, when lights are out they are invisible. Rush hour is when most traffic is at a standstill.

Running shoes are worn by many who don’t run and loafers worn by many who don’t loaf. And then, of

Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs.

Over 500 senior residences and housing communities throughout BC are listed in this comprehensive directory. Compare services, amenities, and prices. Sort your selection by region, or type of care.

This directory is published by Senior Living, a monthly magazine distrib-uted to approximately 850 locations across BC.

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Senior Living’s online searchable senior housing directory is a perfect complement to its semi-annual senior housing special editions in February and August. Senior Living also publishes a 128 page book called “To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Resi-dential Options.” We have sold over 3,000 copies of this book. No other magazine we know of has such a comprehensive, interconnected group of housing resources. For more information about any of these products or services, call (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Or email [email protected]

Coming soon: residential listings for Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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Documents

Senior Living Magazine Island Edition October 2010