INDULGE IN THE CHOCOLATEY GOODNESS OF CHEF MATT CONQUEST’S HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES FOR WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY ON SUNDAY, 7 JULY. Chocolate’s four-thousand-year history began in ancient Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico) where the first cacao plants were found. In 16th Century Europe, chocolatiers added sugar to chocolate to make it the iconic sweet treat it is today. Royals and the upper classes consumed chocolate for its health benefits as well as its decadence. In 1828, the invention of the chocolate press revolutionised chocolate making. This innovative device could squeeze cocoa butter from roasted cacao beans, leaving a fine cocoa powder behind. The powder was then mixed with liquids and poured into a mould where it solidifies into an edible bar of chocolate. And just like that, the modern era of chocolate was born. Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles 20 TRUFFLES Method Set aside 20 hazelnuts. Chop the remaining nuts with a knife or wrap them in a cloth and crush them with a rolling pin. Put 150g of the chocolate...

Friendships play such an important role in our health and wellbeing, and even more so as we get older.   But what happens when you have reduced options to meet new people – particularly after the busy, socialising years of raising a family and being in the workforce are over? And once you’ve settled into a routine, it can be difficult to break out and make the move to expand your social circle. We share some great tips on how to make friends in retirement and increase your enjoyment at the same time. Top tips for making friends in retirement One in five older Australians are socially isolated. Social isolation can lead to increased risk of diseases including heart attacks and strokes as well as harming your mental health. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this feature we take a look at ways you can increase your enjoyment as well as the number of people you can call on as friends. 1. Foster existing connections When you’ve...

It’s not surprising that many people’s attention turns to taking a big, long holiday as soon as they make their retirement plans. After all, what could be better than travelling your way, taking months to explore your favourite destinations instead of a few scant weeks limited by your holiday leave entitlement? That’s the dream but what about the practicalities? Practical travel tips in retirement Many people plan their longest holidays early in their retirement with the United Kingdom, United States and Europe the most popular destinations on the retirement travel bucket list. Travel is still on the list for older retirees with two-thirds of people still intending to take a holiday in the next 12 months with the percentage jumping to 88 percent for those whose retirement income was more than $100,000. 1. Plan in advance of retirement Before you go running off to the nearest travel agent it’s important to do some planning a little closer to home. While not as fun as checking out destinations and...

Expert energy-saving tips From simple changes around the house to mindful energy consumption habits, there are a range of practices homeowners can adopt to reduce power bills and minimise the strain on the power grid. If you’re looking for some easy, practical tips to put into action straight away, take a look at these seven energy-saving strategies to help empower your household, plus do your bit for a more sustainable future.   Close blinds, curtains and doors during very hot or cold days Sunlight can significantly increase the temperature inside your home. Keep blinds and curtains closed during very hot days, especially during the hottest part of the day, to block out solar heat. The same is true for chilly days when you want to keep warm inside the house.   Use fans strategically Ceiling fans commonly consume less electricity than air-conditioning units and can be effective in cooling down rooms when used correctly during hot days. Ensure they are turned off in unoccupied rooms.   Set air conditioning efficiently If using...

Welcome to another edition of Resort Round-up which gives an insight into some of the fun and fabulous activities, events and special occasions enjoyed by homeowners within our Living Gems communities. Here are just a few: At Amber by Living Gems there were major celebrations held to welcome the opening of the over-50s lifestyle resort’s much awaited $10.5-million Country Club which is set to become the hub of the community. It will also be a wonderful venue for future entertainment and social events, many of which are already in the planning stages and no doubt will feature on these pages in coming months. Games, singing and dancing were enjoyed by more than 80 people attending a recent Saturday Night Live event held at Ruby by Living Gems. The night began with music while residents caught up with friends, neighbours and family. There were gifts for all the women and lucky prizes for different activities. The night’s compere, Michael, had everyone play a Pick-a-Box...

Enjoy a twist on tradition this Anzac Day Anzac Day is a special commemorative event with several traditions observed every year including dawn services, coffee and bundy, two-up and Anzac biscuits. This Anzac Day, Chef Matt Conquest shares some tips on how to make the humble Anzac biscuit even better. “It’s simple! Just by adding your favourite ice cream, like rum and raisin, you can make great little ice-cream sandwiches,” Matt said. “You can make a lovely homemade ice cream using the recipe at right or you can buy a good quality ice cream and get your favourite chocolate bar and crunch them up and fold it through your ice cream for added crunch, chew, and flavour and make ice-cream sangas with that.” Matt says making ice cream takes care and time to ensure a nice smooth texture that doesn’t become icy. “For a smooth and creamy finish, make an anglaise cream and then freeze it down in a beater bowl and stir it during the...

Welcome to another edition of our Resort Round-up which provides an insight into some of the fun and fabulous activities, events, and special occasions enjoyed by homeowners within our Living Gems communities. Here are just a few: Residents at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront enjoyed a Polynesian-themed night held in their beautiful Country Club. The songs of the islands inspired all to sing and dance along. While the men enjoyed learning the haka, the women were quick to pick up the hula. Entertainment coordinator Gayle Harris led the way and displayed her sunny personality, with sunflowers for all to see. It was a truly wonderful evening enjoyed by all. Sunday afternoons at Ruby by Living Gems is traditionally enjoyed with social drinks, nibblies and get-togethers at the Country Club. Recently, they stepped it up a notch by holding Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon with The Goggomobiles, their resident band, who kept everyone entertained for more than two hours with wonderful sixties and seventies...

Great ideas for activities with the grandkids One of the greatest pleasures in being a grandparent in retirement is having the time to enjoy spending with the grandchildren. Children share a special bond with their grandparents with studies showing that spending time with grandparents contributed positively to a child’s wellbeing by providing a listening ear and sage words of advice based on the experience of raising their own children. In the past few decades, due to both parents being in the work force, grandparents are playing an increasingly important role as active caregivers and many children are spending much more time with ‘nan and pop’ than ever before, said Living Gems CEO Adrian Puljich. “There are few things more precious than seeing the delight in the eyes of your grandchildren as they discover something for the first time,” he said. “And seeing life through a little one’s eyes is a sure way to feel younger yourself.” Here are some creative activities that you can do...