AofA's Hot To Trot Talking Points
Every Friday
Suzanne Noble and I are delighted to announce our first Advantages of Age conference on Oct 10th at the brilliant Cecil Sharp House in Camden. It’s called Rebel Later Life: the ideas party because that’s what it is - the opportunity to inspire and support each other into leading the lives we want to lead as we get older as well as the funerals. This is a day event with loads of exciting panel discussions and talks - from Pensioners? Ageism and Words, a panel hosted by Cathi Rae with Justine Gaubert and Louise Chunn on the panel to Eve Tibber talking about what it's like to live in a co-housing community, to How to Have a Funky Funeral with the two Kates from Match and Despatch hosting and Victoria Keen , Jane Duncan Rogers on the panel, to a Flamboyant Forever photo booth with fantastic photographer, Peter Wallis. Lunch is included in these tickets and the option to stay for a special networking event. Thanks to PensionBee for your support so far. There will also be 20 exhibitor stands/tables available so do get in touch if you'd like one with suzanne@advantagesofage.com. And so much more. It's going to be an amazing day. Tix for sale here. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../rebel-later-life-the...
There has been opposition apparently to Eastbourne’s new flower beds - more sustainable planting, less gaudy planting of annuals that require a lot of water - but we think it’s a good idea to change them. It’s happened in my local park and I think the beds look better.
This sounds so good. A day of The Dances of Universal Peace on September 12th. This is what the member who is organising it says - ‘I am in the midst of organising a whole day of the Dances of Universal Peace in London this September 12th. We will have some great dance leaders and some excellent musicians there. If you already love the dances, or if you wonder what on earth they might be, this is your opportunity to come along and sample what I think is the most amazing spiritual practice. Think embodied kirtan, or state change without the psychedelics, or just a wonderful day spent with lovely people trying something new, simple and very satisfying on all levels! No previous experience is necessary. The booking link is in the comments, get in touch with me if you're curious or unsure..and hopefully see you there!’
4. We loved this story in the Newcastle Chronicle of the couple who started Barter Books in Alnwick station, Northumberland. ‘Meet Mary and Stuart Manley (pictured 35 years apart) they set up a beloved train station bookshop 35 years ago - and today it brings visitors in from around the world
The husband and wife duo set up Barter Books in one room of the former Alnwick Railway Station in June 1991, and in that time it’s grown into an iconic Northumberland institution
They say they had “no idea” it would become as popular as it has.
The couple recreated a picture from the opening day this week to celebrate the milestone, but for a place that seems like it’s always been there, its inception was not what most would have imagined.
Stuart says the origin of Barter Books came from a need to keep his model factory afloat, which operated in the station.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, he explains: “We had a heavy overdraft, we had to do something! I had a model factory there which was struggling.
“Mary came up with the bookshop to help with overheads, the idea was it would help in the summer when there were more visitors.
“Memorably during our first week, I remember one of the people coming up and saying ‘I give it a year’. That’s Alnwick wisdom for you!”
And how wrong they were!
The couple couldn’t have predicted that by 2022, Barter Books would have expanded into the majority of the station; pulling in around 350,000 visitors a year
In recent years, it’s been named as one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe and even the world
And if you’re passing through, it’s well worth a visit
5. The folding fan or a new fangled electrical one? Well the consensus went to the former but I have a feeling that quite a few of us have both!!!
And finally to knee painting and the lost art of it. Several members were keen but not on flowers. Skulls was suggested…