PEOPLE TO M EET
PLACES TO GO
Di scover how to m ak e
an En gl i sh cr eam tea
Travel with us to the
South of England
Goi n g gr een w i th a
bam boo toothbr u sh
Exchanging a desk job for
lama farming
Lear n how to scr een
shar e w i th Sk ype
Meet the entrepreneur
in his 70s
3 Welcome
Peter Mangan, Founder and CEO of The Freebird Club
Welcome to the first edition of
The Freebird Times. This digital
magazine is our way of
engaging more fully with both
our members and those
interested in learning more
about The Freebird Club.
For the uninitiated, The
Freebird Club is a new
travel-based social network for
those over 50. It is a
membership-based club,
whereby members can travel
and stay with each other in the
context of a trusted social
community of peers.
It offers a whole new way of
travelling for mature adults, a
potential new source of income
for hosts and a fun and
accessible way to meet new
people and enjoy social and
cultural interaction in later life.
Our mission is to connect and
enrich the lives of older people
through meaningful travel and
to foster an age-friendly and
inclusive world in the process.
This Club is designed to be a fun
place to hang-out with
like-minded people who share
the view that life and the world
around us are to be embraced
and enjoyed regardless of age.
As you will see in our member
profiles, people share their
interests and passions on the
website so they can get to know
a little bit about each other in
advance of potential stays and
connect through commonalities
and shared interests. This Club
is about people, not just places
to go. We already have Freebird
members in 36 countries
worldwide and membership is
growing daily.
Here in our digital magazine,
you will find all kinds of
interesting articles chosen to
appeal to the more mature
Welcome 4
reader. As we are a travel-based
social club, there are great travel
features with tips on how to make
the most of your travel. There is
also advice about how to be a
great host if you are welcoming
people into your home.
In addition there are articles on
lifestyle, wellbeing, arts and
culture, food, and about
inspirational Freebirds who are
re-defining the traditional notion
of ageing. Don?t forget to come
and check out our website:
www.thefreebirdclub.com. There
you will find wonderful welcoming
hosts in amazing destinations
around the world. If you are not
yet a member we would love to
have you on board. Better still,
why not tell your friends and
family who are also over 50 about
us?
This Club is built around great
"
people enjoying the potential that
a longer life presents. The
Freebird Club is driven by its
members and we are open to
suggestions about what content
and features you would like to see
in future editions. Please feel free
to send us your ideas. We hope
you enjoy this first edition of The
Freebird Times ? and remember,
it?s never too late to have the time
of your life!
Happy Travelling.
Enjoy the issue!
Peter
"THIS CLUB IS ABOUT PEOPLE, NOT JUST PLACES TO GO. "
"
Peter Mangan with his father Owen Mangan
(C) 2017 Published by The Freebird Club. All rights reserved
5
Travel
GOING SOUTH
TFC volunteer Dave Ryan brings us on a journey through the South of England.
The counties of southern England
are recognised as a
mouth-watering combination of
rural tranquillity, coastal cliffs,
nestled coves, forests full of
intrigue, national parks and
desolate moorland ? all
complemented by a rich historical
and cultural heritage. If your
travels ever take you to the South
of England there is a wide variety
of things to do all fuelled by a
variety of gastronomic options
showcasing the best of English
food. A good meal is often followed,
of course, by a trip to one of the
many hundreds of lovingly
preserved versions of the
traditional English pub! They vary
greatly in style and character and
many serve local tipples, such as
the scrumpy (a type of cider) that
the county of Somerset in
particular is famous for.
There is also a wealth of regional
cultural festivals to enrich your
experience across many fields
including music, food, literature,
drama and the arts. In terms of
gathering information on the
options available, you?ll find that
each county/town has its own
official tourist information website
as do the events themselves. The
VisitEngland.com and
artsfestivals.co.uk websites are
also handy for information for your
trip. There are so many choices ?
but here are a few examples to
whet your appetite.
Minack Theatre
If you are spending time enjoying
the considerable charms of Devon
and Cornwall, look out for the
remarkable Minack Theatre hewn
out of the cliff-face above the
waters of Porthcuron Bay in the
1930s. It has seating for 750
people and presents plays, operas
5
View of Pulteney Bridge in Bath, England
Photo Above: Tintagel Village, Cornwall, England
Rainforest Biome, Eden Project, Cornwall,
and musicals during the Summer
months. Bring your own cushion
and a warm blanket would also be a
useful accessory.
Newquay is host to multiple
Summer /Autumn festivals
(literature and film, not just
surfing!) and the spectacular Eden
Project is not just a daytime
pleasure but also a location for
performances in Spring and
Summer held in a broad grassy
arena much admired for its
originality.
Padstow in Cornwall is famed for its
harbour and gastronomic charm ? a
destination for many given the fame
of local restauranteur and TV chef,
Rick Stein. It is also at the heart of
regional cultural tradition. One of
its variety of events is the famed
Obby Oss Festival which is
celebrated annually on May Day. It
is thought to be the oldest dance
festival in Britain involving troupes
of local dancers, a maypole,
costumes and general fun and
merriment.
The Hunting of the Earl of Rone
festival takes place in Combe
Martin, Devon, each year and
re-enacts a 400-year old manhunt
with full costumes and general
chasing around. A must for Agatha
Christie fans is the annual Festival
in mid-September (in Torquay) with
all manner of exhibitions, author
talks, murder mystery dinners and
jazz. Also of note is the literary
festival held each May held in
Fowey over three days with a
concentration on the works of
Daphne du Maurier.
Somerset
The county of Somerset has always
evoked England?s pastoral heritage
but the tranquillity is breached
every year or so (if the fields
recover in time!) by the
Glastonbury Festival. It has been in
existence on Worthy Farm since the
1970s. With its roots in flower
power, alternative lifestyles and of
course music, the festival has
evolved into much more than a rock
music festival with all types of
music catered for from classical,
jazz and blues to folk, rock, dance
and soul ? a veritable feast for the
senses. There are also many
themed areas covering food,
meditation, politics, comedy,
literature and arts & crafts. Bring
your wellies in case it rains and
leave the mudsliding to the youth!
Also, look out for music and
literature festivals in Bristol and
Bath ? notably Bath?s annual
Travel 6
International Music Festival in
May/June featuring jazz, classical
and world music; Bristol?s Upfest,
Europe?s largest street art and
graffiti festival and Bristol?s
Slapstick Festival celebration of
silent film and comedy held every
January.
The counties of Hampshire, Dorset
and Wiltshire overlap with the
ancient English kingdom of Wessex,
the location of Stonehenge and the
region where King Alfred saw off
the last of the Vikings.
The Isle of Wight, just off the coast,
is host to festivals throughout the
year ? especially literature and of
course sailing (Cowes Week in
August). Also in the locale, Longleat
House hosts not just the famous
safari park but also events/concerts
over the Spring/Summer months,
while near Winchester The
Watercress Line is one of the most
famous steam-powered railways in
England.
The rather odd Tichborne Dole
Festival takes place in the
eponymous town each March and
locals line up to be ?doled out? an
allowance of a gallon of flour in
ceremonies dating from the 12th
century. Recognised as the most
traditional event in England, the
England
Hills of South England, Hastings, England
7
Travel
Rainforest Biome, Eden Project, Cornwall, England. Dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World by some, the Eden Project is a dramatic global garden
housed in tropical biomes that nestle in a crater the size of 30 football pitches. See more at https://www.visitcornwall.com
annual Chippenham Folk Festival
Weekend (May) carries over 200
separate events celebrating
traditional English music,
storytelling and dance ? including
Morris dancing, ceilidh and
maypole ceremonies.
Sunny South East
The South-East comprising Surrey,
Sussex and Kent has by tradition,
been the holiday destination for
Londoners from Victorian times
with heritage coastal towns serving
the multitudes including Brighton,
Bognor, Margate, Ramsgate and
Tunbridge Wells. Brighton is
perhaps the best known
destination and hosts a diversity of
events throughout the year, the
most notable being the Brighton
Festival in May, now recognised as
the largest festival in England.
Also noteworthy is the annual
Burning the Clocks celebration at
the winter solstice.
Nearby, Broadstairs is famed for its
Folk Festival and Dickens Festival,
while Canterbury runs a two-week
Festival of Theatre and Music in
October. Not to be missed is the
annual Whitstable Oyster Festival
in July ? its oysters have been
famed since Roman times and the
festival incorporates parades,
performances, fireworks,
oyster-eating competitions and
The Landing of the Oyster
ceremony. If scallops are more
your thing, the ancient town of Rye,
overlooking Romney Marshes,
hosts Scallop Week in February
each year.
Kent is the centre of the
now-vibrant English wine industry
with multiple tasting/tour
opportunities in one of the 400+
vineyards producing more than
four million bottles of wine per
year. Hastings is not only the site
where King Alfred lost England to
the Normans, but also the location
for the annual Jack-in-the-Green
festival with three full days of
festivities that culminate in the
Release of the Spirit of Summer.
Founded in the 1930s the
Glyndebourne Opera Festival is
recognised as the spiritual home of
English Opera with a season
running from May to August. The
opera house sits amongst rolling
green hills surrounded by luscious
gardens and the season is at the
centre of the high society calendar
and an opportunity to dress up, mix
with the gentry, listen to wonderful
music and have a lavish picnic on
the lawn.
Happy holidays!
Go Go Dermo!
Travel 8
Dermot Higgins is aiming to become the fastest person over 50 to cycle around the globe and he
hopes to set a new Guinness World Record in the process.
Dermot?s Route
Start: Madrid
Route: Cycle across Europe, into
Asia via Russia, Kazakhstan and
China.
Progress along Australia?s
southern coast arriving in
Melbourne in time for Christmas.
Cycle the length of New Zealand.
Cross the United States.
Fly across the Atlantic to Portugal.
Finish: Madrid
it?s going to take him nine months.
He will spend an average of eight
hours a day in the saddle. He will
start his odyssey in Madrid, Spain, in
June 2017 and will hopefully end
there in one piece over 30,000km
later on Easter Sunday 2018. Most
of his sleeping will be under canvas,
he will have no back-up support and
he will need to cycle 160km six days
a week to meet his goal on time. Is
the man
completely mad?
?Well yes, I
suppose you do
have to have a
degree of
madness to take
on something like this,? he says. ?I
know there will be a lot of energy
and effort and probably pain
involved, but circumnavigating the
globe is something I?ve wanted to do
ever since I read Around the World
in 80 Days by the French author
Jules Vernes when I was a child.?
Dermot (55) leaves Ireland the day
after he retires as a teacher after 35
years. He is doing his trip on a
shoestring budget of ?20 a day with
a little bit of help from a small
number of sponsors including The
Freebird Club which will provide
him with a comfortable bed with a
Freebird host on his rest day each
week.
As a teacher and an active
environmentalist, Dermot is
passionate about educating people
about protecting the planet. He
plans to make stops along the way
to visit schools and environmental
projects to spread the message of
the UN?s Global Goals for
Sustainable Development, a series
of ambitious targets aimed at
ending extreme poverty, inequality
and tackling climate change.
Throughout his trip Dermot will be
working in partnership with the
Irish aid organisation, Trocaire, a
global charity which shares his
interests and ideals. He is hoping his
epic journey will raise ?20,000 for
the organisation through donations.
Dermot is no stranger to taking on
tough challenges as he has always
been involved in adventure sports.
He runs, cycles, hikes and kayaks
and says he has effectively been in
training for his world trip for most
of his life.
Asked what aspects of the trip
might test his
?Travelling around the globe , under my own
power will be my life?s ambition realised.?said
Dermot. ?Having the opportunity to promote the
Global Goals is the icing on the cake!?
resilience most
he says, ?being
wet, miserable
and
uncomfortable,
having an
accident, camping in the wild and
coping adverse weather conditions
such as headwinds.? But this
ironman is not dwelling on what
could go wrong. His focus is 100%
positive and he can?t wait to get
started. The Freebird Club proudly
salutes its adventurous ambassador
and adds its voice to his campaign?s
slogan: GoGoDermo!
9
Travel
May 2017
I arrived at Zurich Airport
yesterday and followed my host,
Luisa's, very clear instructions:
Take train S2 on Gleis (platform 1),
destination, Zieglebrucke. Go to
the last stop. Sit upstairs on the left
and you will get a view of Lake
Zurich as you travel along. She
wasn't wrong. It is a stunningly
beautiful train ride. Fast, punctual
and picturesque.
Luisa met me at the station and we
drove to her house along a scenic
route which is full of picture
postcard images. We arrived at
Diary of A Freebird
Freebird Club member Gaetano Forte visited hosts Luisa and Joseph Roesli at
their home overlooking Lake Zurich in Obstalden, Switzerland.
thehouse and were greeted by
Luisa's husband, Joseph. Over a
cool beer, we started chatting and
did not stop until well into the
evening.
They are a fascinating couple who
are so hospitable and warm, that I
immediately felt I had known them
for a very long time.
Sitting on the terrace, we had a
Raclette, a famous Swiss dish of
grilled cheese poured over
potatoes with pickles, chili and sun
dried tomatoes. Delicious. The rosé
wine was very slippery and I went
to bed in a mellow mood. I woke in
the night and looked out the
window at the stars. Because the
area is away from light pollution
they were spectacular. This is a
really magical place.
Day 2
Woke up to the sound of the birds
and the sun streaming in the
window of my loft room. Sat down
to a breakfast of farm fresh eggs,
ham, home-made bread and coffee.
Lots of chat around the table.
Really important decisions to be
made, like where should we go for
our picnic. Looking across the lake
to the imposing cliff with its
spectacular waterfall, we decide to
travel to the top, by car I hasten to
add, and look at the view from
there.
On arrival we make a short walk
along a road through farmland
populated by cows grazing
peacefully in the sunshine. The
land is fertile and pristine. The
smell of new mown grass is sweet
and sublime. At the top we stop at
the viewing platform and gaze at
the view which is really beautiful.
There are boats on the lake,
pleasure craft, water buses, kite
surfers, water skiers and
swimmers. Below us, an eagle soars
on the thermals. This is nature at
its best. Alongside the natural lake,
there is a canal, built to combat
flooding, which links to Lake
Zurich. The only sound is cowbells
and birdsong.
Back in the car for a short hop to
our picnic spot. We find a patch of
green and pull up some small logs
and spend an idyllic hour sharing
food and conversation surrounded
by wild flowers. It doesn't get
better than this. We visit a small
Travel 10
reservoir where there is a
hydroelectric power plant,
completely underground, which
generates electricity for the
surrounding area with no impact
on the environment whatsoever.
Then it's back to the house for a
well-earned beer and a lie down.
Enjoying yourself is very tiring, you
know! As we approach the house,
we see a neighbouring farmer,
stripped to the waist, cutting grass
with a scythe.
I'm pressed into service to help
with dinner. I have to do one of my
favourite things - make a fire! The
wood is carefully chosen from the
store room. Joseph has a wood
stack which is neat and tidy with all
logs of the same size. We take our
chosen specimens up to the top of
the garden and light the fire. Once
the embers are hot, we put the
sausages on to cook. There is
nothing like the taste of food
cooked over an open fire in the
company of friends. The piece de
resistance is Luisa's apple tart,
mmmmmmmm.We stay there
chatting until dark and then it's
time for bed. Another day in
paradise comes to an end. Night
night.
Day 3
Another great sleep and another
day in Paradise begins. This time it
was eggs sunny side up on
home-made brown bread. Luisa
makes marmalade like you have
never tasted it. Not the normal
English bitter stuff. This was fruity
and delicious. If you come here, and
I suggest you do, ask Joseph to tell
you the story of the marmalade. Be
prepared it has an unexpected
ending!
After some more lying around, it
was time for lunch. Here, Luisa's
Italian heritage came to the fore.
We had a plate of spaghetti,aglio
eolio with home-made chili oil. I
may have a seat to myself on the
plane home. I am now chilling on
the terrace in 25 degree heat
soaking up the last rays of sun.
I have been lucky with the weather.
I have been fortunate also with my
hosts. If you are looking for a place
where you can totally relax and do
as much or as little as you like, this
is it.
Luisa and Joseph have had guests
who prefer to keep to themselves
and this is fine. If, like me you enjoy
company this is also fine with them.
They are always there to make
your stay enjoyable and have an
extensive knowledge of the area
and what it can offer.
For someone travelling alone, it is
ideal. We had a guest staying who
was studying for an exam and
found the solitude he needed here.
But if you are alone for walking or
sightseeing it is nice to chat over
dinner about what you have done
that day.
If you would like to see different
parts of this wonderful country we
have hosts waiting to welcome you
to their homes. Between these
locations you could have a lovely
week in Switzerland experiencing
the different foods, wines and
geography of each region.
Check out our hosts on
thefreebirdclub.com
11
Travel
Explore the South of England
with The Freebird Club
From Devon to East Sussex our hosts are ready to lead you in one of the most attractive parts of England.
Read the suggestions from hosts Catherine and Sara, on local attractions and ?must sees?.
"The Gnome Reserve, West
Putford, Holsworthy. It?s
something completely
different! "
Catherine Scott , (East Sussex)
What are your top three
?must see? things?
Coastal Currents
(coastalcurrents.org.uk), is a
fantastic open arts exhibition which
takes place between the 2nd and
the 10th September in Saint
Leonard. It incorporates galleries,
studios, private houses and even
beach huts.
We have many different music
events over the summer months.
Our choirs come together for the
?concert in the park? event and in
Haldon, a small coastal village in
South Devon between Teignmouth
and Torquay, the 28th Classic Music
Festival takes place from 22nd to
25th June at St. Peter?s Church.
I suggest a visit to the Smugglers
Adventure in St Clements Caves. It
tells the story of smuggling in a very
interactive way. You can access this
attraction via the original West Hill
funicular railway which opened in
1891.
Where do you recommend for a
traditional English afternoon
tea?
Ashley Manor (outside Battle) is in a
wonderful setting with beautiful
grounds. The Orangery is the
perfect spot to enjoy a cream tea.
Tell us about something that?s
not on the usual tourist trail?
Hastings bonfire is a big winter
event which will take place on
Saturday 14th October 2017, with
parades, music and dancing in the
streets. The day ends with a
fantastic pyrotechnic display.
Burton St Leonard?s has wonderful
architecture and like all of Hastings
and St Leonard?s is steeped in
history.
Sara Lawes, (Devon)
What are your top three
?must see? things?
The coast, with its long sandy
beaches and great surfing.
Darlington Crystal at Great
Torrington.
Clovelly Court Gardens.
Where do you recommend for a
traditional English afternoon
tea?
The Hidder Treasure Tea Room in
Exeter, it offers delicious traditional
scones with homemade jam, to not
mention the fascinating location.
Tell us about something that?s
not on the usual tourist trail?
The Gnome Reserve, West Putford,
Holsworthy. It?s something
completely different!
Let's Cook 12
Tea Time Treat
Tea and scones with clotted cream is a quintessential part
of a traditional English afternoon tea.
The idea of breaking the fast
between lunch and dinner with a
selection of finger sandwiches,
scones, miniature cakes and a
refreshing cup of tea, came from
Anna, the seventh Duchess of
Bedford, in 1840.
It seems the Duchess tended to get a
little peckish around 4pm and as the
evening meal in her household wasn?t
served until 8pm, she created
afternoon tea to fill the gap.
Scones are an essential part of a
traditional English afternoon tea and
are typically served with butter, jam
and cream.
Anna,
Seventh Duchess of Bedford
English scones with jam and cream
13
Let's Cook
Plain scones
There are few things as delicious as a hot scone with jam and cream.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- 11/2 oz /40g butter at room temperature/ slightly soft
- 11/2 tablespoons caster/fine sugar
- 8oz/225g self-raising flour
- a pinch of salt
- ¼ pint/ 150ml milk (you may need a little extra)
- Extra flour for dusting worktop and rolling pin
- A rolling pin
- A flat baking sheet greased or lined with non-stick
baking parchment
- A circular pastry cutter roughly 2 inches/4 - 5cm
across.
- Set your oven to: 220o C, 425oF, gas mark 7
Let?s get started
Sieve the flour into a medium
sized bowl.
Add the butter and rub it into
the flour with your fingertips
until the mixtures looks like fine
breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar and salt.
Add one third of the milk and
stir it into the mixture using a
knife with a broad blade. Add
the remaining milk in two
batches. If the mixture is very
dry add a little more milk. The
mixture should be soft but not
sticky. When all of the milk is
incorporated, flour your hands
lightly and gently knead the
dough into a ball. Sprinkle some
flour on the worktop, tip the
dough out on top. Put some
flour on your rolling pin and roll
out the dough to a thickness of
not less than 1 inch/3cm. Cut
out rounds with the pastry
cutter and place on the baking
tray a few centimeters apart.
Remix the remaining dough and
repeat. Dust each scone lightly
with flour for a plain finish. If
you would like a shiny finish, mix
an egg with some milk until
combined. Then use a pastry
brush to paint the top of the
scones with the mixture. Bake
near the top of the oven for
12-15 minutes or until they are
risen and golden brown.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool
but eat them as soon as possible
as they go stale very quickly.
Serve with butter or clotted
cream and jam.
Tip: Do not roll the scone dough
any thinner than 1 inch/3cm or
they will not rise properly.
Tip: Freeze as soon as cool.
Re-heat on a low temperature
before serving warm.
9
Let's Cook 14
Clotted cream
Clotted Cream is a delicious complement to scones. It is mainly associated with
the south west of England and the counties of Cornwall and Devon in particular.
It enjoys protected food status once the product originates in Cornwall.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Preheat oven to 100C/200F
Let?s get started
Pour the cream into a heavy
bottomed over proof shallow
container.
Put it in the oven for 8-10 hours or
overnight. When ready, a thick
golden crust will have formed on top
of the cream.
Remove from the oven and allow to
stand in a cool place for 10-12 hours.
Remove the golden top part with a
slatted spoon and gently stir to create
clotted cream. Don?t agitate the
mixture or it will start recombining
with the liquid beneath.
Put it into a tightly sealed container
and place in the refrigerator to let it
settle for 2-3 hours.
Clotted cream will last for 3-4 days in
a refrigerator. You can use the left
over liquid to make bread or scones.
To serve
Clotted Cream is delicious when
served with warm scones and jam.
Doris Day was a celebrated
American-born actress, singer and animal
rights activist, who died in 1973. Her
talents stretched across musicals and
drama and she starred alongside film
legends such as James Cagney and James
Stewart. She had a wonderful singing
voice and here she sings of finding
happiness in spending time and drinking
tea with a loved one! For a bit of escapism,
check out her sparkling performance in
the movie, Calamity Jane!
Ask the expert?
I love making meringues but I
hate the way they weep when
baked. What causes this?
Meringues will weep for two main
reasons: you have added the sugar too
quickly or you have added too much
sugar in one go. Always add the sugar
gradually in small amounts and let it
mix through. 10
15
E-Learning
How to Read The Freebird Times
While most people know intuitively how
to turn pages in a printed publication,
the techniques for reading a digital
publication are a little bit different. We
want to make your read as easy as
possible and have made a short video to
help you navigate the magazine with a
few simple clicks.
If you still prefer to read a paper version,
you can simply download and print it.
9
The Freebird Club Comes of Age
NEWS 16
Nga-Hong Lau (CTO),Moira Allan,Paris (Founder Pass it on Network) & Peter Mangan (CEO)
The Freebird Club came of age on
April 5 th , 2017 with its official
launch in Dublin. Theevent, which
was hosted by Founder Peter
Mangan and CTO Nga-Hong Lau,
also celebrated the fact that the
organisation had already reached
the milestone mark of 1,000
members across 34 countries.
Numerous guests, including
Freebird Club members,
representatives of ageing
organizations, public institutions
and journalists were welcomed
by the start-up team in the
charming setting of Airfield
Estate.
Reflecting the international
nature of The Freebird Club, it
was appropriate that the launch
was attended by representatives
from abroad. These included
Moira Allan from France, the
international coordinator of the
Pass it On Network who also
coordinates the 2Young2Retire
network in Europe with its
French counterpart ? Le Cercle
des Seniors Actifs. Facilitated by
video link, Crispin Baynes, Aging
2.0 New York,
Merry Alexander, TFC area
champion in NYC and Doug
Flockhart, CEO Clubs
Queensland in Brisbane also sent
their best wishes.
Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise
and Innovation, Mary Mitchell
O?Connor also sent her
congratulations, stating: ?I?m not
the only one that thinks yours is a
very good idea?, pointing out the
numerous awards won by the
start-up already, including the
European Commission?s Social
Innovation Competition.
Speaking at the launch Founder
Peter Mangan said: ?We are a
real ?heart and soul?venture
which aims to connect older
adults in very real and valuable
ways. We seek to create an
international community which
provides opportunities to enjoy
the world around us regardless of
age?. He went on to say that as
awareness of our rapidly ageing
society grows, it is hard not to be
struck by the sheer numbers
involved. "Worldwide the
number of adults over 60 is
projected to soar; from 840
million in 2013 to around 2
billion by 2050,? he said. ?This
presents obvious societal
challenges, but also opportunities
for organisations such as The
Freebird Club to address this
growing market.?
17
Tech Savy
Staying In Touch
HEAD
LINE
by author
Skype is a great way of staying in touch with family and friends.
Finding ways to connect
meaningfully with friends and
family across the globe is always
a challenge. The telephone is
great, but there is no substitute
for seeing a loved one?s smiling
face or watching the fun of
grandchildren playing or
receiving a virtual hug from a
close friend.
Skype is a great way of staying
in touch with family and friends
very easily and at no cost. All
you need is a computer screen ?
on a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Skype uses your computer like a
telephone.
It allows both sides of the
conversation to see and speak
to each other ? regardless of the
physical distance between
them.
Skype is ideal for making a voice
or video call, but it has
additional interesting features
you can master to enrich your
engagement with your loved
ones.
One example is the screen
sharing option. This lets you
share live video of what's on
your computer screen. It is an
easy way to show another
person what you're working on
or get help from your service
provider with any technical
issues you may be having with
your computer.
Three Simple Steps to Screen Sharing
Tech Savy
18
When you are logged on to Skype you can share the screen anytime by following 3 simple steps
1
Click the + button in the lower
section of the Skype screen
2
Choose the option Share
screen in the pop up menu.
Your friend on the other side will be able to
see live video of your screen on his/her
computer.
3
To stop sharing your screen,
click the Stop sharing button.
Now, you can end the call by
clicking on the End Call button
when you're ready to hang up.
If you don?t have a Skype account yet, download Skype from https://www.skype.com/
19
Living & Lifestyle
Time to Become 'Virtuous' About Your
Toothbrush
Dublin-based Dylan Regan first
had the idea for the VirtueBrush
when he was running a blog
called greenliving.ie. ?I was
thinking about items in people?s
homes with ?green? potential and
the plastic toothbrush kept
jumping to the forefront of my
mind,? he says. ?Most plastic
toothbrush handles can?t be
recycled and this is very troubling
considering how many millions
are discarded each month. Plastic
toothbrushes ultimately end up
in landfill and clogging our seas
and waterways damaging
delicate aquatic ecosystems.?
Regan began looking into
alternatives to plastic handled
toothbrushes and quickly
discovered that toothbrushes
Dylan Regan, Inventor of VirtueBrush
made with Moso bamboo were
popular in countries like
Australia. ?I realised there must
be a gap in the market in Ireland
and many other countries for
them and I set up my company,
VirtueBrush, to introduce them
to Irish consumers,? he says..
?Moso bamboo has been
recognised as a ?plant of virtue?
for millennia. It?s a type of grass
with naturally antibacterial
qualities that grows up to three
feet per day and re-grows very
quickly after harvesting. It dries
out quickly and has a tensile
strength that rivals steel. I did a
lot of research and eventually
tracked 6 down a 200- year old
company in China that grows its
own bamboo. They are now
manufacturing the VirtueBrush
for me. I chose this name as I
believe customers appreciate
that sustainability is a virtue.
"Unlike plastic which is a danger
to our food chain, bamboo is an
environmentally strategic
material for the twenty first
century with over 1000
documented uses,? Regan adds.
?We have also started an
initiative with Trees for the
Future (who work around the
Equator) to plant three trees for
every brush we sell. We feel this
is a positive visual
representation of the good that
people do when they refuse
plastic and go with
biodegradable and sustainable
options instead.?
Dylan's Eco Tip
I really worry about the over use
of clingfilm. It is a very high use
item in most households and as it
usually ends up with food
particles on the surface, this
contaminates he whole recycling
bin. One alternative is to use
waxed cloths to cover food or
wrap your sandwiches in. Cloths
can be made to any size, washed
and reused. You can also make
them look good by choosing
fabrics (100% cotton) with a nice
pattern. It is possible to buy them
online or you can make them
yourself. To make your own
cloths see less-stuff.co.uk for
instructions.
Living & Lifestyle 20
Age No Barrier To Innovation
Joe O?Brien, 71, has
developed a portable blood
lab that could change the
world.
Joe O?Brien spent a large part of
his professional life in the UK
where he worked in the
engineering, petrochemical and
pharma industries. But work alone
was never enough to satisfy his
enquiring mind. His interests were
wide and he admits to having an
?obsessive interest? in science,
especially physics.
In 2012 the idea for what has now
become the award winning
Medimorpho Micro Blood Lab
was born. Joe then spent three
years refining the concept for his
compact, cloud-based,
GSM-enabled, portable blood cell
counter and measurement device.
Revolutionary Technology
Joe O?Brien won the top award at the recent digital health technology accelerator
run by the National Digital Research Centre in Dublin, Ireland
Joe?s technology has the
potential to revolutionise how
blood samples are taken and
analysed. At present samples are
sent to labs for processing and
little about this method has
changed in decades. If Joe gets
his way, however, every doctor?s
surgery in the world will have a
Medimorpho and routine blood
samples will be processed by the
GP in less than 10 minutes at a
fraction of the cost of using a lab.
?Blood analysis requiring the
transportation of samples to a
lab followed by a wait for results
was a problem begging for a
solution,? Joe explains. ?The
model currently in use is overly
centralised and 80 percent of
the analysis at the world?s
35,000 blood labs is completely
routine and could be done at
"What takes place is lively
and dynamic and life
enhancing."
healthcare facilities. Yes, there
were complex technical issues to
overcome with the development
of Medimorpho, but it was a
question of becoming immersed
and finding the solutions. The
machine itself is about the size of
a ladies?Hermes clutch bag, but
half the price.
?People talk abut putting an old
head on young shoulders.
While developing Medimorpho
I have had experience of the
inverse! I found myself working
with a team of young people
and it was exhilarating. What
takes place is
lively and dynamic and life
enhancing. But what about
respect for age? Well, it was
blended in equal measure with
forceful and irreverent push! I
am grateful for the experience -
one that cannot be potted or
preserved."
21
Living & Lifestyle
Banking On Alpaca Farming
Meet Joe Phelan one of the new breed of mature entrepreneurs
who is quitting his job as a banker after 37 year to follow his
dream of setting up his own business.
Photo by: Viktorija Lemtjugova
I am as excited today about the
future as I was when I started
working straight out of school. I?m
not the type of person who is
happy to sit back and spend my
retirement gardening, hiking,
enjoying good food and the odd
drink. With my kids through
college and independently on
their way, I?m suffering a bit from
empty nest syndrome. This got me
thinking about what I?d like to do
for myself.
My roots can be traced back 10
generations, almost 400 years, to
1650 to a family farm in
Kilcraggan, Co Kilkenny in Ireland,
about an hour and a half from
Dublin. The farm was a traditional
farm with milking cows, drystock,
pigs, horses and tillage. It was
famous for its butter. It was a
community then, but that kind of
farm life is long gone and the farm
is a shadow of its former self. It has
been rented out for the last 15
years.
While looking at the next chapter
in my life I started researching
how I could re-establish the family
farm. I found that traditional
farming activities required
significant capital investments
with returns that would be
questionable at best. Then
something a lot more unusual (in
an Irish farming context at least)
caught my attention - alpacas.
Why Alpacas?
Alpacas are easy to manage,
gentle on the land and you don?t
need a background in farming to
do well with them. They are mild
natured, intelligent and
inquisitive animals who have been
domesticated for over 6000 years.
Alpacas are of the camelid family
bred primarily for their wool and
They come in 22 natural colours.
The fibres?unique thermal
characteristics keep you cool in
summer and warm in winter. It is
lighter than sheep?s wool yet three
times warmer. It does not contain
lanolin and so is hypo-allergenic
and can be worn next to the skin.
It is highly water resistant and is
great at wicking moisture away.
Eco-friendly Alpaca
Alpaca offers a natural,
eco-friendly alternative fibre for
active wear clothing. It is a highly
versatile fibre and has a lower
tendency to shrink and pil (ball)
than wool and cashmere.
It is more flame resistant than
plant or synthetic fibres and in
case of fire it does not melt onto
the skin like synthetics do. Alpaca
jackets and coats are hardwearing
but keep their luxurious looks and
feel. They become heirlooms such
is their enduring nature.
For sheep and poultry farmers
Alpacas act as guards against
Alpaca Lama
foxes, They reduce losses to these
predators and increase the birth
rates amongst sheep. The Alpacas
will stand up to and trample any
foxes who might be looking for a
tasty lamb or chicken dinner.
Farmers have found that the
problem with foxes disappear
once Alpacas are run with their
flocks.
Mature Entrepreneur's
Bootcamp
To get things moving, I attended a
mature entrepreneurs business
start-up program to see if I could
convert my idea into a business.
Working for yourself is a lot
different than working for a large
multinational organisation and the
start-up course provided me with
a lot of knowledge and a great set
Alpaca fibre is called the 'Fibre of Gods.'
Living & Lifestyle 22
of business tools to move forward
with.
My plan is to breed Alpaca and sell
them to small farmers and land
owners as an alternative source of
income. I will be converting their
fibre into cash or into finished
products and will provide this as a
service to other alpaca farmers. I
am also involved in agri-tourism
through alpaca trekking and I
would like to invite Freebird Club
members to come and try out
what we have to offer in the
beautiful Wicklow countryside
including the beautiful
Powerscourt Gardens and
waterfall near the picturesque
village of Enniskerry.
For more information please email
info@alpacatrekking.ie
23
Living & Lifestyle
Soothing Skin the Natural Way
Having a family with sensitive skin inspired Dr. Maria McGee to set up Marble Hill Natural
Skincare in 2013.
Dr. McGee knows a thing or two
about problem skin from personal
experience. Her children suffered
from eczema when growing up and
her husband, who is a surgeon,
developed a problem with his skin
from constantly using heavy-duty
cleansers to scrub up.
?My interest was in finding a blend
of ingredients that worked with
the skin to sooth and moisturise
not against it to cause irritation,?
Maria says. ?This led me to some
very traditional ingredients such as
neem and argan oils and shea
butter. The reason we do not see
shea butter for sale is because it is
notoriously difficult to handle. It
took us a number of years to
develop a method of producing it
in a consistent, usable way.?
Maria began by making products
for her family and friends and the
business developed from there.
Marble Hill now has a range of
skincare products aimed at
bringing relief from conditions
such as eczema, acne, seborrhoeic
dermatitis and psoriasis. The
company is based in Northern
Ireland and sells its products all
over Europe and the US via the
Internet. The company?s range
includes cleansing and
moisturising creams as well as
conditioning oils, aromatherapy
products, soaps, lipsalve and
Euventol a motivation oil that
combines natural peppermint,
eucalyptus and rosemary oils to
decrease stress and fatigue and
improve alertness and mood.
The company?s flagship product is
Pedisalve a hypoallergenic foot
cream that is suitable for all skin
types but was specifically
developed by Maria for those with
diabetes. ?One of the
complications of diabetes can be
problems with the skin on the feet.
The nerves controlling the flow of
moisture get damaged and the feet
can become dry and cracked. This
can lead to potentially grave
consequences,? Maria explains.
?PediSalve is a 100% natural total
foot cream that moisturises,
conditions and improves
suppleness of the skin of the heels,
nails and joints of the foot. Since
launch it has become the most
popular natural foot cream for
diabetics on both Amazon.co.uk
and Amazon.de and is
recommended by diabetes.co.uk.
Maria points out that many of the
hand washes and shower products
on the market today can be very
hard on the skin. ?They contain
detergents, usually the same as
you find in washing up liquid,? she
Dr. Maria Mcgee
says. ?People often find this hard to
believe which I found strange as
dermatitis and dry, itchy skin are
now at epidemic levels and people
are using these products every day
without making the connection.?
Maria says the hardest part of
developing her business ?has been
the learning curve of going from a
professional medical background
to a commercial business. I was not
prepared for the challenge of
getting my message across even
though I knew what I had to offer
really was as good as I was telling
people it was!
?Have I ever thought about giving
up? Well sometimes running an
expanding business as well as
everything else can seem
overwhelming but I have a zeal for
this and as long as our products are
improving people's quality of life I
will try and make sure as many
people as possible have access to
them.?
Around the World 22
East meets West
in USA!
Welcome to Merry Alexander
from New York City and
Jessica Warren from Marin
County, San Francisco. Both
ladies recently joined the
Freebird Club administration
team as ?Country Champions?
who will actively promote and
support local members and
hosts. Merry and Jessica, who
are both experienced hosts,
enjoy welcoming guests to
their homes and share a
common interest in meeting
new people and making
meaningful connections.
I was so happy to discover
The Fr eebir d Club and am
thr illed to be a Countr y
Cham pion her e in M ar in
County, Califor nia. I look
for war d to hosting visitor s
H ello fr om your ?Fr eebir d
Club Cham pion? in New Yor k
City! W hat a pleasur e it is to
r epr esent The Fr eebir d Club
in the Big Apple! H aving the
oppor tunity to talk about the
pur pose and m ission gives m e
gr eat pleasur e, especially
when I see faces light up
k nowing that they can
Freebird up for
European award
The Freebird Club has been
selected as a finalist in the
European Investment Bank
Institute?s Social Innovation
Tournament, which takes place
in Riga, Latvia, in September
2017. The Social Innovation
Tournament recognises and
supports the best European
social entrepreneurs. It is
organised every year in a
different country to reward
and sponsor European
entrepreneurs whose primary
purpose is to generate a social,
ethical or environmental
impact.
to our ar ea and staying
with Fr eebir d Club
m em ber s when I tr avel to
other countr ies.
Jessica
becom e m em ber s of this
social tr avel club. The club
offer s new way of tr avelling
and a fun way to m eet new
people and enjoy social
inter action in later life. W hat
could be better than that? It is
exciting to be a par t of The
Fr eebir d Club.
M er r y
G?day Australia!
Exciting developments for The
Freebird Club, as they it joins
forces with Clubs Queensland
to launch its social travel and
homestay programme in
Australia. Planning is well
underway for the
Brisbane-based customer care
team to support Freebird Club
members with registration and
hosting queries.
?We are very excited about the
joint venture and can?t wait to
welcome The Freebird Club to
Australia in June, ? says Doug
Flockhart, what?s his title? , of
Clubs Queensland. Watch out
for special offers on new
memberships and discounted
travel promotions for booking
a trip with a Freebird host ?
worldwide!
USE PROMO CODE
And Join our Club for 5 Euros.
Enjoy an additional 20 Euro off your tavel
booking, if you travel between July 1st -
October 31st 2017
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