404 days ago

Downsize to a Richer, Happier Life

Ernest Rutherford Retirement Village

What do you want to do with your life? Would you like to travel, downsize, have more money and more free time? Do you ever feel like your stuff holds you back, but the thought of decluttering just seems too hard? If so, you’re not alone.

This is the first of a series of articles dedicated to helping you to downsize, declutter and rightsize your life, brought to you by Ryman Healthcare in conjunction with decluttering expert Peter Walsh.

When helping people to declutter, Peter never starts by focusing on the stuff itself. Every item in your home has a story, so the first step is to think about what that story is.

Maybe you’re thinking about downsizing as you approach retirement but still have all the artwork and toys and books that belonged to your now adult children, and don’t know what to do with them. Perhaps letting go of that old sports equipment means letting go of a vision you had of yourself that no longer fits who you are. Maybe you’re holding onto heirlooms you have no use for because you want to keep the memory of the person alive.

No matter what your situation is, it’s easier to declutter and downsize if you start by identifying the feelings that underlie your attachment to your stuff before tackling the stuff itself.

Click to read more.

Image
More messages from your neighbours
17 days ago

⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️

The Team from SPCA New Zealand

It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:

👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️

Image
1 day ago

Fair play

Resene

Whether it’s a playhouse, she shed or teenager’s sleepout, a stencil-painted floor in Resene Clockwork Orange will elevate it from meh to wow. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions. Find out more

Image
5 days ago

Suellen’s sweet Christmas tradition

Charles Upham Retirement Village

The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.

For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.

What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive dessert - a holiday highlight they all treasure.

Click read more for the recipe.

Image