World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The United Nations has had its eye on the problem of our ageing population for many years now.  They predict that "by 2050 more than 20 per cent of the world’s population will be 60 years old or older" and that "the increase in the number of older people will be greatest and most rapid …

A Little Out of Whack

A good few years back my step-mum gave me a Zygocactus. It's supposed to bloom on my birthday, which is still a month away. I read today that Zygocactus "flower in response to shortening daylength (actually lengthening nights)". Four floors below us, a neighbour has the same plant on the identical balcony, but positioned slightly …

A Jolly Ride for Mr Toad

Last week my cousin had the privilege of riding in an Austin 7 race-car and he sent me a couple of photos. Said he, "felt like Mr Toad in Toad Hall", a reference to our childhood favourite book The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. For anyone familiar with Mr Toad and his fascination with …