October 2006
Against the odds - Veteran Sailor defies age and nature
Imagine standing in front of a fire hose; ice cold, relentless spray, sharp as nails, unable to feel your hands and feet, enduring hour after hour of relentless pounding as your boat slams off roller coaster sized waves, watching for icebergs in the sheer blackness.
Now imagine doing it on your own and at the age of 67! That is the goal that veteran sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has set himself to prove that age is no barrier...
Sir Robin is defying the years and the elements to race his boat, Saga Insurance, single handedly through some of the world's most dangerous oceans in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, it is the oldest and most established ocean yacht race. Competitors race from Europe to Australia and via the Antarctic ocean to the US before the final leg to Europe. Competitors face huge storms, 25 metre waves, sleep deprivation and extreme isolation.
In 1969 Sir Robin became the first person to sail non-stop around the planet taking almost a year to do it. Today the record is over 200 days shorter.
Listen to Sir Robin as he talks about his fresh adventure at <http://www.podmaster.co.uk/podcast.php?ID=36>
October 2006
Baby Boomers high on the political agenda - official
Following some initial opening skirmishes, it is now fair to say that the issues surrounding the 50plus generation are now at the forefront of political thinking and posturing. Having toyed with the younger generation through notions of "Cool Britannia" and the plight of "hoodies", the scene is shifting to the vast older generation and the impact they may have on any future general elections, particularly as they are more likely to vote than any other age group. in my prime welcomes this although the rhetoric is rather blurred at the moment, lumping together the needs of "baby boomers", the "active elderly" and the care needs of the really old and infirm into some sweeping generalisations. Nevertheless, we welcome the attention and the realisation of the need for "cultural shift" that David Cameron is calling for in his much publicised speech in east London. in my prime has no political affiliations and so we look forward to the various debates over pensions, health care, residential care, inheritance tax and the huge potential economic contribution (estimated at £30 billion) of an ageing workforce continuing to work on.
A couple of sound bites from David:
"You work at full pelt right up to the wire - then you stop altogether. It doesn't make sense any more."
"We need to see retirement as a process, not an event - a slope, not a cliff - then we will realise the potential of older people."
Watch this space!
September 2006
Steady as she goes! Balance Training for all.
"Old accountants never die, they just lose their balance." Boom boom! Unfortunately, it is not just accountants who lose their balance as they get older, potentially it is all of us. Sam Nyman of Southampton University is carrying out research in this area and has set up a website BalanceTraining to advise people on what they can do to retain their ability in this important function. The site also includes a questionnaire to assist in his research and he would be grateful if you could devote a few minutes to it.
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