Indoor Activities
Summer arts course
If you fancy exploring your artistic side this summer, why not think about taking a short course. The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) has just released its Summer Short Course brochure.
Maybe drama is your passion, you fancy yourself more behind the camera or animation is more your thing. The VCA have many courses on offer, for all levels, taught by leading artists in their given fields. If attending a class during the day isn’t possible, then maybe VCA art Afterhours will suit you better. You can try your hand at ceramics, drawing, digital art and sculpture workshops and are suitable for artists of any level of experience.
For more information on what the VCA has to offer, download their Summer Short Course brochure.
Wrapping paper
If you’re not particularly handy when it comes to crafts, but have over zealous grandchildren, then making your own wrapping paper is a great way of saving money and keeping them busy!
No special tools are required, just some old brown paper, coloured texters or pencils, and a child’s imagination. Let them loose, sit back and relax, as they create masterpieces that will delight friends and family as much as the gift that it covers.
If you’re stuck for ideas or feel like getting a little more creative, then check out
Creativity Portal.
Teppanyaki tricks
One of the best things about eating teppanyaki, is the show out on by the talented Japanese chefs. Now you can learn some of the tricks of the trade from the best in the business.
The award winning Benihana Japanese Steakhouse, within the Surfers Paradise Marriot Resort and Spa, is the location for a special, live demonstration of this healthy Japanese style of cooking. Previous classes have been so popular, that a further class will be held on Saturday 22 November, from 11am to 2pm
Tickets to this event are strictly limited and at $95 per head, they are not cheap but do include the demonstration, lunch and wine to compliment the dishes. Coupled with the chance to enjoy seeing the craftsmanship and showmanship of these master chefs close-up, it is an experience not to be missed for lovers of Japanese food.
For more information and bookings, contact the Surfers Paradise Marriot Resort & Spa on 07 5592 9800.
Obama or McCain
Choosing the next president of one of the world’s most powerful nations is not something that should be taken lightly. If you could have your say, which way would you vote?
Albania and Macedonia, of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, would buck the trend set by the rest of the world and vote for McCain, should we be relieved they don’t have their say? If you want to register which way you would vote, visit If the world could vote.
Online activities
Sometime getting up and about is just too much effort but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on some of your favourite activities.
Getting along to your local library can be a hassle, maybe having to catch and infrequent bus service or the weather is just too horrible to go outside. And then when you do get there, the book you want hasn’t been returned on time! Project Gutenberg offers over 25,000 free books to download and over 100,000 in total, some of which you need to pay for.
You can search recent books downloaded, the top 100 books downloaded, or simply by author or title. This site is based in the USA, where the copyright on the material has expired. If you plan to use is for anything other than personal reading, you should check the copyright laws before doing so. For those that find reading difficult, there is also a selection of audio books that can be downloaded.
For more details or to see which books are available, visit Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg
If reading is not your thing but you still like to keep active then why not try cross stitch? Maybe you enjoy doing cross stitch but find the cost of the patterns prohibitive.
Crossstitch.com offers links to free patterns, charts, advice, free tutorials and magazines. To view all on offer, visit www.crossstitch.com
If you want to make some personalised gifts for family and friends then Celtic Xstitch can provide kits for you to buy or you can created your own chart, using the online celtic alphabet chart generator. This site also offers online tutorials, a bulletin board where you can try and source that special pattern and an online store. Why not try your hand at Celtic X Stitch?
Cooking classes
There are those that are blessed with a natural understanding of how food works and can rustle up fabulous meals in minutes. Then there are those who are culinary challenged who need a recipe to boil an egg.
Whichever side of the divide your cooking skills lie, a cooking class is a great way to learn the basics, progress your natural cooking ability, or try a new or exotic means of cooking. There are many outlets for cooking classes that don’t need to cost the earth, try your local TAFE for a list of classes on offer.
There are also plenty of websites that offer a comprehensive range of cooking classes that can take you from beginner to cordon bleu chef if you have the time, patience and willingness to give it a go. The social side of such classes is an added bonus, with most people in the class at the same level of ability as you are. To find out what classes are available in your area, visit
Cook and Stay.
Mind exercises
In our newsletter, we asked AboutSeniors subscribers to tell us their tips for keeping a healthy and active mind, and these were some of the great responses we received including the 4 winners who receive a copy of the book, The Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription.
Winners
I bought a self-teaching course on DVD to learn French and do 15 minutes a day on the computer. Learning a new language challenges the brain and as a side benefit, I might actually learn enough to converse in another language.
- Nancy
Cryptic crosswords and Sudoku are two favourites, but also I think that trying to memorise clues from the crossword to take in your mind to bed, these are sometimes able to be solved in the middle of the night when sleep won’t come, or early in the morning when waking! In addition, teaching yourself to perform actions that are challenging such as, cleaning teeth with your left hand (if you are right handed), closing your eyes and trying to balance on one foot, walking backwards, all these are considered to be good ways to open up new neural pathways!
Any cardio-vascular exercise such as fast walking (if that is still possible), weights etc, all increase oxygenation to the brain which surely must be a good thing.
- Julie
I decided at age 80 to stop adding to my own life story, which essentially I finished writing at age 70.
I then decided to buy a computer, and by joining various committees, putting my new found ‘talents’ to good use in executive positions.
More recently, having often wished that I could be a writer, I decided to ‘give it a go’.
I call my story ‘Looking Back’. It is essentially a story about my forebears, starting of course with my Father, who was a career service man having served in both world wars. All my characters are fictitious, but I am using, as a basis the considerable amount of factual information that I have about him.
This will take some time, but when this is done. I shall start on my Grandfather about whom I have numerous newspaper cuttings, his Father, and then his Grandfather whose diary I possess.
I haven’t got time for television, and I hope that I will be spared the time to get most of it done, I’m certainly keeping myself busy, and hopefully keeping Alzheimer’s at bay.
- Philip
I love to do puzzles and these on line sites offer free puzzles, new ones each day
Jigsaw puzzles, free at: http://www.jigzone.com/
Logic problems, free at: http://www.griddlers.net/
- Jane
Other great entry ideas
I love doing sudoku and crosswords - exercises the numbers and the words parts of the brains.
- Karen
Favorite mind exercises include watching programs like The Einstein Factor, to see if I can how many of the questions I can answer; reading books with fairly complex plot-lines which force me to concentrate in order to follow them; doing at least one Sudoku puzzle each day, of all except the easiest levels; participating in trivia quizzes whenever the opportunity presents; roaming the Internet; cryptic crosswords; spending time with grandchildren and having discussions with them about all kinds of topics; getting out and about with other people; playing tennis which requires strategy rather than physical strength and agility as one gets older. There are many other stimulating activities for the mind, but these would be my favorites.
- Jenny
Whenever we travel by car, I try to make words out of the registration numbers of other cars around us by adding vowels to the consonants in the order that they appear on the plate. I rarely fail to make a word and it makes the time pass on long journeys whilst keeping my brain active!
- Marita
I swim regularly and use my ‘lap time’ as a mind exercising activity, as follows:
Laps 1 & 2: Negotiating how I can best use the time I have left to make the world a better place
Laps 3 & 4: Organizing my activities for the next few days ahead
Laps 5 & 6: Detailing an upcoming event
Laps 7 & 8: Estimating the contents of my larder and working out my next shopping list
Laps 9 & 10: Meditating
Laps 11 & 12: Establishing my thoughts about current relationships with family/friend
Laps 13 & 14: Noting my outstanding mail and likely responses
Laps 15 & 16: Trying to concentrate on my swim stroke
Laps 17 & 18: Imagining appropriate gifts for pending birthdays/other occasions
Laps 19 & 20: Analyzing cost cutting measures
The end result: No Dementia
- Sue
When out driving my husband and I have a competition to see who can make the most four letter words out of the letters on a number plate, taking it in turns to select the number plate. The loser buys the next coffee.
- Maureen
I complete two to three word search puzzles each day. The books can be bought cheaply from $2 shops, and usually have up to 100 word searches in each book. It forces you to think, to use rapid eye movement, all of which are good exercises for the mind and eyes.
- Lyn
Fun for all
These days you don’t have to leave your home to have fun with puzzles, meet new friends, get recipe ideas, or comment on a matter close to you, you can do it all on AboutSeniors.
AboutSeniors is more than just a hub of information; we want you to have fun while you’re on our website. The more fun you have, the more fun we have putting it all together. Our website is constantly changing and growing as we add all the little extras that make us stand out from the others.
Meet new people by joining our online community at The Meeting Place. Here you can post an ad for new friends, share your views on what’s happening in your life or the world at large, and find out what’s getting other people all hot and bothered. If you have a question you want answered, send it to us and we’ll do our best to respond ASAP, pass it on to the experts, or post it on The Meeting Place to get other people’s views.
If puzzles are more your thing, then you’ll love our daily Sudoku and two crossword puzzles, one Australian and one for those who speak “American”. Have a giggle at our Word of the Day, or try your luck on our Competitions page.
When you have discovered the fun to be had on AboutSeniors and enjoyed the other, informative stuff, why not recommend us to a friend for the chance to win one of four complimentary subscriptions to YOURLifeChoices magazine each month.
Handy home tips
We all know how annoying those little jobs are around the home that just never seem to get done. If all you need is a little know-how, then grab your tool box.
Bunnings offer a range of free adult D.I.Y. workshops on topics from how to replace damaged floorboards and measure, cut & fit skirting boards to how to repair & prepare walls ready for painting and how to lay ceramic tiles. These workshops are usually held on a Saturday and Sunday throughout the month and best of all, they’re free! There are also ladies D.I.Y. nights, that will help you get started with all those little odd jobs, without relying on a man to help you.
To find out what’s on and when at your local store, or to register for a workshop, visit Bunnings.
Cultural diversity
Australia welcomes 14,000 refugees of war, famine and political unrest each year. Your skills and friendship can help make life better for them.
Imagine being driven from your home and arriving in a strange country, knowing no-one and not being able to communicate due to language barriers. This is only the start of the difficulties experienced by the vast majority of people seeking refuge in Australia. Programs such as Given the Chance in Victoria and the Refugee Mentoring Program in NSW, try to match refugees with members of the local community, who can in the main, assist them with finding a job, either through contacts they have, or offering practical support in the way of resume writing or interview skills.
This kind of support is invaluable to those enrolled on these programs and is vital to their success, and will also help alleviate the current skills shortage there is in Australia. For those involved in the mentoring program, they get to utilise the many skills they have gained, understand better the hardships and trials faced by refugees and learn about different cultures. Maybe the best part is they get to meet new friends, enjoy a wide social circle and really make a difference to peoples’ lives.
For more information on these programs or how you can give your time to similar programs, click on the links below.
Given the chance
Refugee Mentoring Program
Mentoring Australia
To read Your Life article, Given the Chance, click here.
Local history
A great way of meeting people is by having something in common and you can also benefit from experiences they’ve had and are willing to share. Why not try your local genealogy society?
With Australia having a history of people emigrating from other countries and travelling around to follow work in industries such as mining, many of us don’t have instant access to our family backgrounds. Genealogy societies are a useful starting point if you’re looking for information on how to trace your family history or trying to find out what databases are useful for tracking down individuals. As the common goal of all members is to trace their family history, there’s a wealth of knowledge to tap into.
For details of Family History and Historical Societies in your area, click here.
Art gallery online guide
With the click of a mouse, you can now find out what’s on at art galleries all across Australia.
An online version of the art magazine Art Gallery Guide Australia allows you to see over 200 images reproduced from exhibitions. The website is easy to navigate, with up-to-date listings of the what, when and where of Australian visual art. It also features previews of exhibitions, an artist’s index, links to gallery websites and articles of interest. Or browse the calendar for each state – either daily or weekly – then check out the location using the online maps. All that’s left for you then is to enjoy a stimulating visit to the gallery of your choice.
All that jazz
Eight active retirees have come together to perform old time happy jazz in the Okeh Jazz Band. The band’s unusual name comes from the American record company Okeh, which recorded most of the jazz classics from the 1920s and 30s.
The band members have a wide range of musical experience, having played in show, dance, concert and brass bands as well as traditional jazz over the years. The men and women of the band perform popular songs (both instrumental and with a vocalist) of the 1920s and ‘30s at private functions, senior citizens and service clubs, and nursing homes and retirement villages in and around Melbourne. To find out more about the band or book them for your function, call Keith on (03) 9807 9155.
Will I lose TV channels?
Q. Is it true that if you subscribe to SelecTV you will not be able to view the ‘free to air’ channels?
A. Rest assured that no, you will definitely not lose free-to-air channels by signing up with SelecTV – they wouldn’t sell much Pay television if subscribers had to lose channels 2, 7, 9 and 10 to get it.
Bonzer!
A free, monthly online magazine encourages seniors to write fiction and non-fiction stories or articles. Bonzer website has readers and writers from across the world. So get those fingers tapping!
People tend to enjoy shorter stories if reading them on a screen, therefore Bonzer has kept their word limit to 750 words per piece. Ideally, your contribution should reach the editor by the 15th of each month, giving you the best chance to be published in the following month. Bonzer also has a sister publication called Bonzer Plus – a blog site where people can write longer stories, poetry or comment on other articles in Bonzer.
The editors and proofreaders at Bonzer are all voluntary, so no one, including the writers, get paid. But the fun and stimulation of composing, submitting and having your work published is reward in itself. To go to the Bonzer website now click here
Old Dudes rock
Looking for the perfect gift for the favourite Old Dudes in your life? Then newly-hatched entrepreneur Bob Carey has something for you. A youthful 64, Bob has just launched Old Dudes Pty Ltd, a company that promotes his philosophy that age is just a matter of attitude and that Old Dudes are not only not done yet, they rock!
His first products are a range of stylish black men’s t-shirts with a logo featuring a stylised kangaroo, a sun that’s still at least half-up (which is how Bob see Old Dudes’ stage in life) and, in most cases, figurehead Old Dude, Max. Messages include the generic ‘Old Dudes with Attitude’ and ‘Old Dudes Rock’, plus salutes to Old Dudes Still Fishin’, Still Golfin’ and Still Rockin’. Polo shirts are already on the production line and a women’s range and other products – including Old Dude events – are planned for down the track.
Bob began his business life working for General Motors Holden for 42 years, at times moonlighting with a business partner as a restaurateur. He’s also a long-time muso who’s backed acts including Normie Rowe and The Platters. Read more about Bob in the September issue of Your Life magazine; for a taste of his story and to order Old Dude products, click here
Telecommunications museum
There’s a new website to show off the work of a dedicated group of volunteers in Queensland who has preserved Postal-Telecommunication artifacts, photographs, records and equipment.
Their collection includes pictures and information on everything from Semaphores and Morse Code to Exchanges and Teleprinters. Visitors to the museum are welcome, and groups or school groups should book ahead to get the most out of the experience. To take a look at some of the old photographs and to find out more about the museum, call (07) 3862 2958. Click here now
Cyber Strorytelling
@bout Seniors was delighted to hear from Eddy J in Western Australia, who writes stories online with his grandchildren.
Here’s how it works. The children select the subject. The only stipulation from Eddy is that homework comes first and that the spelling and punctuation be checked. Eddy writes the first chapter and finishes off in the middle of a sentence. He then emails it to his grandchild, who continues the story and sends it back to him. Eddy says his last attempt with granddaughter Stephanie, aged 12, covered 16 chapters. Sometimes the children also design a cover.
Eddy says he finds it thought provoking and educational for both child and adult – and great fun. It’s a brilliant idea, which he says other grandparents may enjoy doing.
Calligraphy
- Australian Society of Calligraphers Incorporated. Aims to perpetuate an interest in calligraphy in Australia and to encourage the appreciation and use of traditional and contemporary calligraphy. Links to Australian and international sites.
Go there
- Cynscribe's Calligraphy Compilation. Over 1000 links.
Go there
Art and Craft
- Australian Photographic Society Inc. (APS) - Sections on activities and exhibitions, improve your photography, APS information and galleries, links to Australian Camera Clubs in each State/Territory, plus links to many other photo sites. Divisions include Nature, Print, Slide, Contemporary , Digital Imaging (DIG) and Audio Visual (AV).
Go there
- Digital Photography Review is an online independent resource dedicated to the provision of news, reviews and information about digital photography and digital imaging. This large and popular site includes a vast digital camera database, timeline, forums, galleries a glossary and learn section. Of course, the core of the site are the all-day news updates and regular in-depth digital camera product reviews.
Go there
- New York Institute of Photography Digital Photography Tips has four instalments:
- Tip for Beginning Photographers: Take Control of Your Flash
- Tip for Advanced Photographers: Testing Your Digital Camera's Time Delay
- Digital Camera Buying Guide: What Features Do You Need?
- What is the Digital Revolution?
Go there
- "Taking Great Pictures" page from Kodak and particularly the "Guide to Better Pictures" could well make the difference to your photos. There are also online tutorials on light, composition and darkroom techniques. While on the site, go to "service & support" (on the navigation bar) for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) covering a vast range.
Go there
- Scanning Tips - Some scanning tips and hints, help with fundamentals and other basic scanning information to help you get the most from your scanner.
Go there
- About Folk Art. Find out about folk art basics, learn from tutorials and projects, many patterns and folk art clip art, all free.
Go there
- All Crafts. Projects and patterns for many crafts, with many links - plenty of free stuff. It's a US site so it's not so good for suppliers to Australia.
Go there
- Craftbits.com. An Australian site providing resources for teachers, therapists, and craft enthusiasts. Plenty of projects. You have to become a member (no charge) to access most of the site.
Go there
- All-About-Fabrics.com. This is a free site to help find fabric. Whether you need fabrics for fashion, furnishings, or industrial use, we'll try to help you find the best supplier. Also contains a fabric dictionary, wanted notice board, details of clearance sales, and more.
Go there
- Downunder Quilts - All you ever wanted to know about Australian quiltmaking, with links to other Australian and overseas sites.
Go there
- Scrapbooking is a creative hobby which safely preserves photos and memorabilia. It is more than a photo album; it is a store of journal notes, memorabilia and personal items which tells a story about your life and those around you. One of the best sites to get you started is Scrapbooking 101.
Go there
Model Making
- Australian Plastic Modellers Association (APMA) - Catering to modellers of all ages and skill levels. Many links to modelling clubs and other sites of interest.
Go there
- Meccano
- Meccano Modellers' Association, in Australia. Collection of Meccano related information, plus a link to Meccano Web Ring offering another 40 sites.
Go there
- Melbourne Meccano Club Inc has members in all states. It meets six times a year and has a bi-monthly newsletter, and an annual exhibition.
Go there
- Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA). The site has details of competitions and records, links to state associations and other aeromodelling pages, plus rules, regulations and model competition classes.
Go there
- Newcastle Marine Modellers. An informal organisation of scale ship modellers.
Go there
- TrainLink Web Site. Everything to do with model railways, with links to other sites.
Go there
Movies
The Internet Movie Database is a huge database of films and DVDs. The site's search engine quickly brings up the movie with credits, story line, reviews, ratings and comment. Plus theres news and updates on the latest in cinema.
Go there
Music and Radio
- ABC Streaming Radio. Audio and video from the Australian leader in streaming media, with live and recorded programs from many of the ABC websites.
Go there
- Amateur Radio. The Wireless Institute of Australia - describes the activities of the WIA supporting the interests of Australian Radio Amateurs. You'll also find information here about becoming an Amateur Radio operator (or "radio ham"), and about enjoying the hobby of Amateur Radio in Australia.
Go there
- Australian Music Centre. Online resources including composer biographies, searchable database of scores, books and recordings, the Australian Music Calendar Online, links and more.
Go there
- Golden Days Radio - Popular Golden Days musical selections form the basis of the programming of this Melbourne FM station but it also features specialised information and entertainment segments.
Go there
- Halcyon Days Music. Halcyon Days Music web site contains an ever growing collection of MIDI music files of American songs from the early 1900s through the 1920s and 1930s. Each song is accompanied with its lyrics and a scan of the sheet music cover.
Go there
- mymusicindex.com. A comprehensive, quick-reference, informational music resource, with many links.
Go there
- Radio-Locator. This US resource allows you to find a radio station by type of music, by country or for US by station call letters, city or state. Over 250 Australian stations are listed. You can select from some 50 different types of music and news.
Go there
- Radio Yesteryear aims to provide well known artists and songs from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Go there
Philately
Australian Philatelic Society (APS) - dedicated to the research, study, publication and display of all aspects of philately and postal history, both of Australia and its States, and worldwide. Many useful links.
Go there
Reference
- Australian Museum Online. The Australian Museum has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions. The site is packed with information.
Go there
- Maps. EmbassyWorld.com has, or links to, a wide variety of maps of Australia and comprehensive data. From this site you can also access maps and facts for many other countries.
Go there
- WorldAtlas. Covers anything to do with geography including maps, landforms, political boundaries, flags, climate, facts and figures about countries, and a good deal more.
Go there
- Virtual Library. The General Reference section offers encyclopaedias, dictionaries, biographical sources, geographical sources, statistics, almanacs and yearbooks, and directories and indexes.
Go there
Woodworking
- Woodlink. The Victorian Woodworkers' Association website.
Go there
- Woodworkers' Association of NSW Inc. Check the section on Tools and Techniques:
Go there
Writing
Have a story you want to tell about seniors? Or maybe you're a senior, or senior-to-be, and have a poignant life episode you'd like to tell others about. You can have it published in our Senior Stories page
Check the Education section above for dictionaries, thesaurus, rhymes and other guides to writing.
For a list of writers' organisations, start here.
Go there
Here are some sites to get you in the mood:
- Bikwil. Bikwil is published bi-monthly and most contributors are over 50, so be in it!
Go there
- Bonzer! - a free, monthly on-line journal by, for and about seniors. Written and read by seniors from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the UK and USA.
Go there
- Funny Poets. Whether you're a poet or not, submit your funny poem or read poems from 50 categories - twisted romantic love poems, silly birthday, wedding or adults only poems
Go there
- International Penfriends (IPF). This Australian club is the world's largest penfriend club. The main objective of the club is to keep the art of letter writing alive and to use this form of communication to encourage worldwide friendship.
Go there
