Handwritten Letters – So Much More Than Just Words

Posted on by rosie

Looking back, I remember how I’d huff and puff when my Mum asked me to send handwritten thank you letters to any relative who had been kind enough to send me a birthday card, containing money, or a book token.

Indeed any gift at all required a huge degree of graciousness, wrapped in a laboriously handwritten, missive.  To make the task less painful I was sometimes allowed to choose the notelet as if I actually cared!

hand written letters

Fast forward a few years, and obviously before the invention of email and texting, but after the invention of the package holiday to sunny climes, I made new holiday friends, and we exchanged addresses because the only way to keep in touch was to become pen pals with them.  I remember how exciting it was to get a letter, read it over and over again, then reply with indecent haste.  Especially if it was from a gawky teenage boy!

But now I’m MUCH older and arguably wiser, and I think it’s sad that the sending and receiving of handwritten letters and notes have all but vanished.

In fact, it seems we now need help to write a business letter, and the internet is full of ‘how to’ information to show us… well, the right way to write various communications such as handwritten real estate letters

There’s so much more to getting a handwritten letter than just reading it. Initially, there’s the surprise factor of it dropping through the letter box in the first place. Then, unless you recognise the writing, the ‘wondering’, who it’s from.  The slicing open of the envelope and the gentle retrieval of the paper.

Do you look at the last page first to see who it’s from, or the address if there is one?  Then you might scan up and down to see how many pages there are before making a comforting drink to enjoy, whilst you settle down to read your letter.

A handwritten letter requires thought, planning, time, and effort.  The writer is letting you into a little part of their world, telling you important news or perhaps inviting you to a celebration, or simply just including you in what’s happening in their life.

Yes of course, sometimes handwritten letters do contain bad news, but I think it softens the blow a bit by reaching you more personally, than an electronic email or text.

hand written letters

Let’s face it, the world would be a poorer place if the Bronte sisters hadn’t received and written so many missives in the Parsonage at Haworth.  Their books revolved around waiting for ‘news’ of one dashing suitor or another, via a handwritten note. Invitations to take tea with their neighbours, or to join a soiree, all delivered in flowery handwriting and received with such excitement!

For sure, emails and texts are a huge step forward in communication, and today’s young generation doesn’t know of any other way to get in touch with each other. But whilst it favours the young, it precludes the elderly and those who don’t own or want to own a mobile phone or computer.

Do they still receive those thank you letters and notes for birthday money and gifts they have sent to their families, which I was encouraged to write all those years ago, or are they still a thing of the past too?

 

How Your Children Can Learn From Online Games

Posted on by rosie

As Grandparents, we are in the enviable position of being able to spend time with our Grandchildren doing nice, enjoyable things like playing games.  We can leave the ‘parenting’ stuff to their parents!

My Grandsons were at their most interesting when they were sucking up knowledge like a sponge. Asking question after question, who, why, what, when, and although it drove me bonkers, I enjoyed combining fun times, with a touch of education too.

As soon as they were old enough, car journeys were always spent spotting specific colours and animals, then counting cars and singing songs, and of course, good old I-Spy, always a winner, and always good for lots of laughs when the youngest ones couldn’t spell and chose completely the wrong initial for the thing they had ‘spied’.

For the older ones it was always very competitive and usually accompanied by lots of groans when the object was, shall we say, a little bit debatable.

When my Grandsons got older and were able to grasp the concept of board games, I spent time teaching them the good old-fashioned favourites that have stood the test of time, such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, and Guess Who.

Naturally, back in the day, we played them on a cardboard ‘board’ that folded in half and came out of a box, along with all the necessary bits and bobs, like dice and brightly coloured counters.

But now you can play these games online with your children or Grandchildren, or, they can play by themselves.  Obviously, children always prefer to have company and to play their games with someone, rather than alone.  But the option is there.

I think we automatically assume that anything that children are viewing on their handheld devices such as iPhones, or iPads is not going to be very educational, and indeed, many people feel that it’s lazy parenting to simply let their children get so absorbed in their technology.

But that isn’t always the case; online games for children can be entertaining AND educational at the same time.

Online Math Calculators

As well as classic board games, and classics like chess and draughts, there are now a lot of educational online games available that can really help children with their maths, algebra, and geometry.

There are also a host of word games to help with spelling and reading, the difficulty levels range from pre-school to harder levels such as crosswords, and even multilingual word search!

If a child is struggling a bit with their lessons, it’s so much easier to persuade them to play a few educational online games, than it is to sit and study books for hours on end around the kitchen table.

Whilst this shouldn’t be used as the only form of a teaching tool, it certainly can be seen as a valuable form of support, and shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.

I’m really pleased that such progress has been made that enables children to enjoy their screen time, but also to learn at the same time as playing.

And at least with online Snakes and Ladders, there’s no risk of losing the dice, and that must be a good thing!

 

 

 

 

How To Find Financial Freedom In Your Golden Years

Posted on by rosie

The journey of achieving financial independence will help you to find your passion in life and what you want to do with your life.

The first step towards achieving financial independence is to figure out what kind of lifestyle you want to live. Once you have figured this out, then it’s time to start saving money for the future. This will require working hard on reducing expenses, saving more money in a bank account, and investing the saved amount wisely.

What is Financial Freedom and How to Achieve it?

Financial freedom is the ability to be financially independent and free from financial constraints. It is the freedom to do what you want with your life and money. Financial freedom can be achieved in different ways, but it usually involves saving a significant amount of money for retirement, early childhood education, or buying a house. If you want to retire at a certain age, you need to start saving money now.

How to Reduce Your Expenses Now so You Can Retire Early

To retire early, it’s important to make sure that you’re thinking about it and taking action today. The first step to reducing your expenses is to take a look at what you’re spending. You might be surprised by how much you’re spending when it comes to things like food, entertainment, and other lifestyle expenses. You should also consider making a budget for yourself and sticking to it religiously. This will help you avoid the temptation of splurging on something unnecessary or going over budget in the future.

How to Build a Side Income By Investing in Real Estate or Starting a Business

It’s also a great idea to have an additional income or replace your career with a business. This could be something like Franchise Direct or even building up a property portfolio. Investing in real estate or starting a business is not the only way to build an income for yourself. You can also invest in stocks and other investments that can provide you with passive income.

The key to building your portfolio for future income is to diversify it. This means that you should have funds in different types of investments like real estate property investments, stocks, and bonds.

If you are unsure about which investment to put your money into, start small and experiment with different strategies until you find one that works for you.

The Retirement Planning Tools You Need

Planning for retirement is a big decision and it can be overwhelming. There are so many tools to choose from and it can be difficult to find the one that will suit you best. Here are two to help you.

Retirement calculators: They offer a variety of different features, such as the ability to calculate your monthly spending, what you need to save up for, as well as how much time you have left before reaching certain milestones.

Retirement planning software: It helps people manage their investments and see how much they have saved over time.

Things That Men Do Not Need To Hear

Posted on by rosie

One of TV’s most cringy moments was, in my view when lightweight Kendra Wilkinson offered up far too much information on live television during I’m A Celebrity Get me Out of Here. After a dismal performance, she blamed her lack of stars on the fact that ‘she was on her period’.

I recall Ant, poor lad, turning away in embarrassment, whilst cheeky chappie Dec, bravely glossed over the statement and battled on regardless.

Of course ‘boys’ these days, are taught about these mysterious ‘girl’ things at around 11 years old, and as my own Grandson reliably informed me, even during THE lesson many of them were hiding behind their hands, sniggering in the back of the classroom, and have probably been going ‘yuk’ ever since.

Personally, I’d far rather ‘Miss’ had banged on to the boys a bit more about treating girls with kindness and respect, which will stand them in more good stead than knowing how a tampon expands in a glass of water!

So even though mature men know all about the inner workings of the female body, I think most of them just want to leave it there, no further informative updates are required, thanks very much.

And I agree with them.  I think girls today share far too many intimate details about their bodies with their partners, and indeed in Kendra’s case, millions of strangers.

I mean seriously, of all the inappropriate things to say, in the jungle in front of Ant and Dec on live television, ‘I’m on my period’, must get TV’s embarrassing moment of the year award!

She was almost loud and proud; BUT in reality, ‘I really look forward to my period’, said NO woman EVER!

Let’s be honest, it’s a messy and sometimes painful old business, and unless you are some tree-hugging, Mother Earth, nut job, who loves to embrace her inner woman, it just interferes with our lives and we hate it.

Men generally want their women to be a vision of loveliness at all times.  Yes of course they ‘know’ that periods happen, but don’t really want it spelled out to them that it is actually happening, like today, right here,  right now!

I’d love to see girls going back to being a little more mysterious and discreet, ‘I’m not feeling too good today’ can be far more effective than a full-on period alert, and who is really interested anyway.

Yes, when it comes to men and the monthlies, NOT sharing, IS more caring!

How do you feel about it? In this day and age, should girls ‘share’ or do you think some things should remain personal.

How Debt Consolidation Can Help You In Later Life

Posted on by rosie

 

No matter which way you look at it, the word debt seems to strike fear in the hearts of many people, and none more so than children of the 60’s.

For some reason, the older generation sees being in debt as a tad shameful and something to be avoided at all costs.  As if to give themselves some moral high ground, I’ve often heard mature people proclaim ‘I don’t owe anybody anything’.

But is that something to be proud of, or, could it indicate that you’ve denied yourself some luxuries, or not enjoyed your life as much as you might have otherwise if you’d taken out a loan, however large or small to live more comfortably or to help your family perhaps.

But despite your best intentions, what happens if, in later life, you do find yourself with a few different loans which are all incurring interest, and are in fact causing you some worries.

Most Important – Don’t Worry!

If you are living life to the full it’s likely you may have invested in a motorhome, or a new car to enjoy during your retirement. You may have kindly helped your children with a deposit for a house or supported a Grandchild or two through University. You may have enjoyed some long-haul holidays courtesy of your credit card, or revamped your home or garden.  All these things cost money and are things over and above the cost of day-to-day living.

Sometimes all of a sudden you decide to take a look at your finances and realise that you have 3 or 4 outstanding loans which are all incurring interest at an alarming rate.

To alleviate some of your concerns, it could be time to consider if debt consolidation might help you.

How does Debt Consolidation work

Quite simply, you replace all of your outstanding loans, such as credit cards, car finance, house improvements, with just one loan, and one interest rate. Very often this can be at a lower interest rate than the ones you are already paying. It tidies up your outgoings and is more manageable than having your money going out to so many different organisations.

Secured or Unsecured Terms

There are two types of consolidation loans, secured and unsecured.  If you choose secured, the loan will be offset against your home and will take into account the amount of equity you have in it.  The interest rate for this type of loan can be lower as the lender knows it is exactly that – secured.  But don’t forget any loan secured against your property immediately puts your home at risk, you must be sure you can meet the monthly payments for the length of the loan term.

An unsecured loan is riskier for the finance company as the security is merely backed by your promise to repay it, thus the interest rate could be higher.  Things to consider here are that if you fail to pay back the loan or miss a monthly payment, your credit score will be affected.  Before taking out an unsecured loan make sure it works for you.

When Debt Consolidation is NOT the right choice

If you are already having difficulty meeting the monthly payments of your outstanding loans, having them all under one roof, so to speak, really won’t make much difference unless you manage to fix a considerably lower interest rate. You will still owe the money, and you will still have to pay it back, but just to one lender, instead of maybe 3 or 4, and let’s face it, in later life the opportunities to earn extra money diminish by the year!

No matter how old you are, if you are already struggling, then you need to seek a different kind of solution and talk to a debt counsellor, or your local Citizens Advice office.

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Single and Ready to Mingle?

Posted on by rosie

When I mentioned my latest crazy ideas to an (available) male friend, I was met with derision wrapped in a pastry case of pitfalls.

And of course, in many ways, he was right, HOWEVER, in the same vein, let’s acknowledge how many times ‘some’ great manuscripts have been rejected before they are critically acclaimed and become bestsellers.

Yes, some crazy ideas just need a little bit of spit and a polish with a Granny’s lacy hanky, and they are good to go. Unlike my friend, let’s not be too quick to judge.  It may be a YES from you dear reader…..

I was pondering the dilemma probably all of us face at one time or another, when you spot an attractive man, or woman, in the supermarket. Maybe you lock eyes and do that thing where you hold their gaze for a couple of seconds longer than necessary, or even, do a double-take. Obviously, that’s reserved for very attractive shoppers only.

If you are really a smitten kitten, you might even casually follow the attractive shopper around the store to judge by the contents of their basket, if they are shopping for a meal deal for one….. or two.

And of course, we mustn’t forget that in these modern times, depending on the contents of your pants and persuasion, do their 10 items or less, indicate the contents of their own pants and persuasion, and basically, are you likely to be compatible. It’s a minefield of genders out there, one cannot be too careful.

But you can follow the attractive person all around the store, via home cooking, and artisan bread and cakes, and sadly it will all still be futile if they are not actually available.  But how will you know….and here’s where my crazy idea came in…..

If there was some visible indicator of a person’s availability status, or their willingness to be approached for a quick chat, and possible exchange of numbers, then things would be a lot simpler.

Picture the scene.  You spot someone at the checkout. You lock eyes more than once, you are checking each other out.  But their queue is moving quicker than yours, and they are heading off far too soon out into the car park, whilst you are still trying to find your loyalty card.  Within seconds, they are lost forever. AND yes, possibly going home to their significant other. But possibly not.

So if you did happen to know that they were free and single, you could abandon your shopping for one, and follow in hot pursuit, ready to strike up a car park conversation.  And who knows what could happen.

I stand by my original idea, that all free and single, and happy to mingle with people, (note my nod to gender fluidness) should have a badge of availability honour.  Like those old Rotarians, but far less classy.

That way, you could be sure you weren’t approaching a man living with a coach load of children, or a lady living with a man. No woman would live with a coach load of men. It would be just plain silly. One is more than enough.

Armed with all this knowledge, you could bag yourself a mini Supermarket Speed date in Sainsbury’s, a Micro Date in Morrisons, or a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner in Waitrose.

The possibilities are endless.  So whose up for an availability badge, I’m ordering some sticky back plastic as soon as possible.

 

 

Wedding Anniversaries – Perfect Stones for Every Milestone!

Posted on by rosie

 

Some may say, that by the age of 60+ you have probably got all the jewellery you are ever going to need/want.  But can you ever have too much?

As Valentines Day approaches and ‘much younger’ people turn to the internet to order huge, overpriced bouquet’s, and book vastly expensive restaurant tables, in an attempt to impress their loved ones, what is it that floats the boat of the mature, been together years and still loved up, market?  Is it confined to 14th February? What about those other all-important relationship milestones, such as wedding anniversaries.

Personally, I love the idea of marking a special date with a romantic gesture, such as gifting your loved one with a new necklace or earrings to recognise the importance of a milestone wedding anniversary.

Yes I know, Bernard, c1950 will look pretty daft in a matching set, but you know what I mean. Us women love all things sparkly and there’s a stone for all occasions!

Recently, I was lucky enough to be gifted THE most gorgeous sparkly bracelet for my birthday.  It was such a lovely surprise, and all the more appreciated because it was totally unexpected.  My wrists are fairly small, and my gift was very fine and delicate and is absolutely perfect for me.  It arrived unannounced in a lovely presentation box from CARAT  and is one of the nicest presents I have ever received.

RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The ruby traditionally marks 40 years of married life and is possibly one of the richest coloured stones for those couples married in their 20’s, and about to celebrate this milestone in their 60’s.

Let’s be honest, reaching the all-important 25 year Silver anniversary is a drop in the ocean of relationships, compared to this one.

There are lots of lovely ruby collections to mark this achievement from CARAT of London which will melt your good lady’s heart, and ladies, it’s definitely one to have on your wishlist.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Now we are talking big figures, 50 years of wedded bliss. Time to really push the boat out and buy something beautiful for your partner.  Many women find chunky bracelets a bit annoying and restricting, so a fine, elegant yet stunningly pretty bracelet will be the perfect answer.  This one will work daytime through to the evening, and will also be the perfect accessory for special occasions.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Well, you’ve well and truly nailed the marriage lark, congratulations!  60 years is a wonderful achievement, and this wedding anniversary should be marked by something special – and I feel that nothing less than a matching set of jewellery will do.  Yes, this milestone calls for something fabulous, such as earrings, a necklace, and bracelet. Especially if you are going to celebrate with a luxury cruise or trip of a lifetime.  What better time to show off your new jewellery collection.

Even if you don’t normally wear many accessories, it’s still nice to have a few little bits tucked away in your drawer to bring out on special occasions.  And for those who really love to rock some stones, these gems really will have you smiling!

 

 

 

Coping With The Loss Of Your Four Legged Friend.

Posted on by rosie

As strange as it might sound, even for those of us that have had children and grandchildren, becoming a “puppy mummy” can be life-changing. There are no creatures that are as loyal and dependent, and as genuine in their affection as dogs. As such, when you lose your four-legged friend, it can knock you for six. The grief that hits can be a lot more potent than you might expect. As such, here are some tips that can help you deal with the unexpected impact of losing a dog.

Source – Pixabay License

Let yourself grieve

It’s a callous person that would say that you don’t have to grieve or feel loss over the death of a beloved pet. They are members of our family, after all. However, when you lose a pet, it can feel like there is that pressure to simply “get over it.” Bottling up your emotions is not healthy, nor is wallowing in despair. It can help to talk to professionals like Pet Eden, which can help you process your emotions healthily, while still giving yourself room to grieve over your beloved pet. You deserve the freedom and space to feel what you’re feeling without judgement from others or from yourself.

Take the time to say goodbye

Once you’ve given yourself the room that you need to grieve and really feel the loss of your pet, then you need to think about how you’re going to say goodbye to them. For a lot of us, finding some way of giving them a formal farewell can really help in expressing our love and our loss. There are services like Paws To Heaven that can help you take care of all the practical aspects of them, like what happens to their physical remains, allowing you to focus more on remembering them. To that end, you might want to consider what kind of memorial you can set up for them, even if it’s something as simple as a photo gallery on your wall.

Thinking about the future

A lot of us who have lost a pet might feel a new hole open in our life after losing a dog that we have been especially fond of. Some people think to “fill” that hole by getting another dog and, indeed, that might be the way to go after some time. However, getting a new dog too quickly can invite some unpleasant feelings, such as a feeling that your new dog doesn’t compare to the one that you lost, or that you can’t cope with looking after them while still feeling sad about the loss. As such, it’s important to give yourself time. When the time does come, consider looking at adopting from shelters like PetRescue instead of buying a new dog.

Saying goodbye to your dog, finding a way to remember them, and giving yourself some room to feel the loss and cope with it is important. You have to allow yourself to go through the grieving stage or else those emotions can bottle up in an unhealthy way.

Creative Ways To Make Money With Your House.

Posted on by rosie

Image Credit: Edvaldocostacordeiro from Pixabay.

If you’re anything like me, then you could use a little bit of extra money every once in a while. I say that as if it’s easy to do. It could be complicated, especially if you can’t work extra hours.

You could make money with your house. You could be as surprised as I was to find out that there are multiple ways of doing so. You might’ve thought that the only methods of making money from your home are by renting or selling it.

There are more ways to do it. I’ve found that there are a few that could be much easier than others. You’ll have to put in some effort, but that shouldn’t be off-putting.

If you’re on the verge of buying a house, then you could end up paying off your home repayments with this, depending on what mortgage quotes you get. That could make them more than appealing.

Make Money With Your House Quickly & Easily

Grow A Garden

Most people grow a garden because of how nice it looks. I know I certainly do. You could make money with this too, too. If you grow food, for example, you could sell any extra produce.

Then there are the seeds, among other things. The possibilities are almost endless here. Alongside the financial aspect, I like this because of how nice it can make your garden. While you’ll have to get your hands dirty, I don’t see a reason not to consider this.

Host Events

If you’re lucky enough to own a large property, then you can make money with your house in many more ways. One of the largest is by hosting events. While this will be more of an option if you have gardens and other outdoor spaces, it’s still worth looking at if you don’t.

I like this approach because it involves relatively little effort on your end. Instead, you should only need to advertise what events you’ll host and then interact with anyone that’s interested. 

Share Your Parking Space

I’ve seen quite a few people deciding to rent out their parking spaces over the past few years. In many business hubs, and some nearby areas that are densely populated, it could be quite profitable.

If you have a parking space, then you could put it to work. You can even do this if you already use it. There might be certain parts of the day or week where your space isn’t being used.

Renting it out during these times could be more profitable than you’d think. I know I was surprised. You can use multiple apps and platforms to do this, which takes away almost all of the hassle.

Wrapping Up

I’ve found that trying to make money with your house shouldn’t be too difficult. You can take advantage of quite a few methods and strategies. If you already work from home, the above could be ways to boost your revenue stream.

It could even help you make your dream home a reality. If you’re like me, then that should be more than welcome. Who’d argue with extra money with relatively little effort?

Online Games – Not Just For Your Grandchildren!

Posted on by rosie

If like me, you are really fed up with the gloom and doom of evening TV news, and need a little distraction, then why not dip your toes into the world of online gaming.

By this, I do NOT of course mean, the ones that (sadly) today’s younger generation seem glued to.  Which let’s be honest, seem to be extremely violent, both in noise, and image.  I expect like me, it can seem a bit worrying when you overhear them on their various gadgets, and see the concentration involved.

But online gaming can encompass many things; word games, mahjong, card games and so on.

One I’ve found that might appeal to you is  called hidden objects. 

 

It’s really easy to follow, and the object of the game is to find the hidden objects in various settings, such as a garden, a castle, a kitchen, and so on.  This one is accompanied by plinkety plonk music, not gunfire and screams!

The setting comes up on the screen, with the hidden objects shown beneath, and then you have to click on the corresponding things, as you find them in the settings.  There is a timer, and you are playing against yourself, but trying to beat your own times, and levels.

At first, you whizz through, and there’s a nice little ping, as you kind of tick them off, but, as always, it gets harder as you go along and the objects become increasingly more difficult to find.

This does require a degree of concentration, but at the same time, its really absorbing, and challenging.

The settings are interesting, and well put together, I particularly liked the garden one, as it was full of weird and wonderful objects, but the colours are nice and bright and it’s uplifting.

The kitchen setting was quite involved, so many spoons, and utensils, and obviously the pre-requisite toasters, kettles and food mixers, that you might find in any kitchen in your home.

Most of us now have either a phone, iPad, or laptop to access these games, and when you get fed up with the newspapers, word search, or Sudoku, and need something to occupy yourself, I think these are a really good idea.

There’s lots to choose from.  Nostalgic card games, like Gin Rummy, Black Jack, Crazy Eights,  and if Word Search is your thing, then there is something there for you too.

These little online games can be helpful to calm your mind, or maybe even help you sleep if your brain decides to get busy in the middle of the night.

Good also for long journeys, by train or plane, ( probably best avoided if you are actually driving!).  And for those tedious times in waiting rooms, you can just get down with the youngsters and whip out your phone, and do some online gaming.

One things for sure, at least it won’t be noisy, or aggressive, unless of course you can’t find one of the hidden objects, then you might just use some colourful language yourself, out of frustration.

Try it out, I guarantee you’ll be hooked!

If like me, you are really fed up with the gloom and doom of evening TV news, and need a easy little distraction, then why not dip your toes into the world of online gaming.