How pets communicate. Although dogs and cats can’t physically speak the English language, they may be saying more than you realise. Understanding a pet's body language is key to understanding your furry friend and what he or she wants to tell you. Here’s a list of signs to watch out for and what they mean.   Tail wagging Tail wagging doesn’t just mean a dog is happy, it also communicates interest in his or her current surroundings. Keep a close eye on your pet when around other dogs, in case this interest turns into something more dangerous.   Eye contact Dogs look deeply at you to determine how you are feeling or are looking for reassurance. Keep an eye out for ‘whale eye’ (seeing the whites of their eyes) as it’s a sign of stress and anxiety. For example, they may show the whites of their eyes when they need forgiveness for a misdeed.   Yawning Although your dog might be tired, yawns can occur in times...

How pets communicate.Although dogs and cats can’t physically speak the English language, they may be saying more than you realise. Understanding a pet’s body language is key to understanding your furry friend and what he or she wants to tell you. Here’s a list of signs to watch out for and what they mean.    The cat's meow According to animal behaviouralists, kittens will meow to signal to their mothers while adult cats only meow for their owners.A short meow is a call for attention. A series of them is an adamant demand! A long meow indicates worry, while chirruping sounds are made to encourage you or other pets to play. Cats also ‘chatter’ when they’re on the hunt and use a hiss as a warning to you and others.The sound we love most is the purr. The deep-throated rumbling indicates contentment.    The eyes have it Bond with your cat by taking long, slow blinks. When they reciprocate, it is a sign your...

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)! As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living GemsFacebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] August Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winners, Robert and Sharon Druery from Opal by Living Gems for their stunning photo submission called ‘Ceduna Jetty in South...

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living Gems Facebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] July Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Diane Ramsey from Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront for her stunning photo entry of the Kookaburra.Submission GuidelinesPhotos must be:...

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living Gems Facebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] June Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Isabel Clarke, from Living Gems Toowoomba for her stunning photo entry of majestic clouds over an ocean landscape.Submission...

Residents invited to explore woodworking talents The establishment of a residents’ workshop at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront was planned as early as 2017 before it eventually opened in January 2019.Today it boasts a membership of 84, and secretary Graham Saunders, who was there from the start, couldn't be happier with the workshop's progress and popularity."This is something that resort residents really wanted and, with the help of a $20,000 grant from Ruby Developments and donations of tools from generous homeowners, we were able to make it a reality," said Graham, who moved into the resort with wife Sally in 2017.With a committee of eight, as well as two people volunteering to be in the workshop each day to ensure it can stay open for residents who want to exercise their woodworking skills on individual projects, the workshop has become a hive of activity.Many of its members combine their talents to voluntarily undertake resident requests for everything from ramps or steps to...

Living Gems wedding albums reveal enduring love.“Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage” sang Frank Sinatra, and homeowners at Living Gems resorts across Queensland are proof of that! They graciously opened their wedding albums to take us on a trip down memory lane for Valentine’s Day.Barry and Fran McWaters - Opal by Living Gems Fran clearly recalls the day she met her future husband, Barry. It was in May 1951 at Wynnum Central State School when the headmaster announced the arrival of two new students who had come all the way from Victoria.“Barry and his younger brother were a curiosity because they wore shoes to school,” said Fran. “Very few kids who attended the school wore shoes in those days. It turned out they also lived three doors from our house.”But it wasn’t always love especially when they were young.“We had a falling out over a jumper mum knitted for me,” laughed Fran. “I loved it, but Barry...

Julie and Mark Lister started their new roles as Living Gems Toowoomba's Resort Managers just before Christmas last year and have already fallen in love with the lifechanging lifestyle.The power couple may be new to Living Gems but they are experienced in the ins and outs of over-50s living.“We moved from Gold Coast to Eagleby two years ago where we worked at another over-50s lifestyle resort company before coming here,” said Julie.“But Living Gems resorts are so much nicer!”Set near the magnificent Darling Downs, Living Gems Toowoomba is close to the city which has retained its quaint country charm, natural beauty and cultural atmosphere.The duo is ecstatic with their decision to move to Toowoomba and have already settled down into their new home.“The location is beautiful and all the residents we have met are lovely and welcoming,” said Julie.“Mark and I are really enjoying ourselves – it’s been great!”

Teen attraction blossoms into a lifetime love.For some couples, it’s ‘opposites attract’ and for others, like Jim and Lillian Staal, it was an instant connection that goes back more than 65 years.A partnership in love and life was forged the moment Jim and Lillian met as teenagers in their farming community of Greenwood in 1957.“We met at a meeting of Queensland Junior Farmers,” said Jim.The organisation was founded in 1946 to help young people living in rural areas to connect with one another and to foster better farming practices. Today’s Young Farmers Connect provides similar opportunities.Jim and Lillian, Living Gems Toowoomba homeowners, met at one of the monthly meetings and soon Lillian was appointed secretary of their local chapter. One year later, Jim was elected president.“We got on well straight away, but I was only 16 at the time and my parents wouldn’t let me date until I was 17,” Lillian recalls.But the attraction was already there, and it blossomed...

What to do when looking for love in later life.It’s never too late to consider love and romance, according to Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia.However, there are things that have changed since the first flush of youth that you may want to consider – especially if you’re looking for a new relationship after divorce or being widowed.“Starting a new relationship in your 50s is a different proposition than when you’re younger, especially if you’ve had long-term relationships in the past,” said Elisabeth.“In the end, you need to be able to answer the question, ‘am I ready for this?’.”Elisabeth recommends doing a life ‘stocktake’ before diving into the dating market. One part of this process is to do an honest evaluation of previous relationships – looking at what worked and what didn’t.“Are there any unresolved issues?” she asks. “Do you need to work on your self-esteem? Have you reached a point where you’re comparatively at peace with your past? Have...

There is an easy familiarity between Laura and David Tester from Amber at Living Gems that demonstrates the friendship their relationship is founded on.A second marriage for both, the couple married in 1984 and have enjoyed a life of adventure and exploration in the years since.“We were friends before we got together,” said Laura. “We were part of a badminton club in Victoria and we played regularly both at B-grade and A-grade levels.“Unfortunately for me, I was in a car accident overseas and injured my shoulder, so I went from playing three times a week to nothing. It was very frustrating sitting on the sidelines watching David play when I couldn’t.”“We had wanted to go to Egypt and China before COVID, but I think we’ll be staying local,” said Laura.Those local travels have taken them to Uluru as well as destinations closer to home, some of them via motorbike. David still gets out on the open road on his Kawasaki.“I...