Newsletter 5 January
A very happy New Year to you all from everyone at GNHQ!
Coming up
We already have some great webchats lined up for 2012. And we're kicking off with two next week: first up on Tuesday 10 January we've got Isuzu boss Nikki King OBE who's joining us to talk about women and work, combining career with children (and grandchildren) and how it's never too late to follow your dream. Find out more and add your questions on the forums.
On Wednesday 11 January we'll be welcoming cookery writer (& gran) Linda Doeser to GNHQ to discuss food for keeping well and looking good. At a time of year when many of us *guilty cough* are regretting the excesses of the festive period it's the perfect opportunity to discover what we should be eating to look and feel better. We're guessing that it's probably not chocolate *hides stash*. You can add your questions for Linda here.
Both webchats are live between 1 and 2pm.
Competitions
If, like us, you've overdone it on the mince pies, this is the competition for you: three gransnetters can each win a copy of Jane Fonda's latest fitness DVD along with £30 SheActive vouchers by adding a product review to our reviews section (using this link or the one on the competition page).
Also new - the chance to win some fantastic bath products for kids from Halos N Horns - all you have to do to enter is answer one simple question.
There's still time to win a minibreak in Cumbria's Overwater Hall. One lucky gransnetter will bag two nights' double bed and breakfast in the glorious Northern Lake District, overlooked by Skiddaw and the Uldale fells, staying in an award-winning 18th-century hall in 18 acres of grounds. All you have to do is join the Gransnet panel or, if you already have, add a recipe (use those links or the ones on the competition page to enter).
We also have a selection of eight Pixi story books for three to six year-olds, plus an XBox 360 Sesame Street game, Once Upon A Monster to give away. To enter just answer a simple question.
There's the new Strictly Come Dancing: Dance School DVD, plus a St Tropez Luminous Tan gift set for the full Strictly experience on offer too. To enter, just add a recipe to Gransnet (use that link or the one on the competition page to enter).
On the forums
The serious subject of smear tests took a distinctly unserious turn when crimson almost confused a speculum for a plectrum in a post about her own experiences. What kind of tune would the doctor have played had it actually been a plectrum, wondered JessM and the suggestions came pouring in. "The Only Way is Up" decided crimson, although Elegran figured, "Is This The Way To Amarillo?" would have fitted the bill perfectly (before getting slightly carried away with a chorus of "Pollywollydoodle").
There was also much discussion of when "young" becomes "old". Dorsetpennt was put out that "at 67 years old I consider myself middle aged but my son and his wife say I'm elderly and treat me as if I'm a doddering old fool". And Greenmossgiel was in full agreement. "The other day, I grabbed at the side of my chest just as I was walking over to the cooker. My son gasped, "Mum, are you alright?" He thought I was having a heart attack, I think....but it was actually a little skin-tag that had caught on my bra!"
In the news
Dobson and Norris found guilty of Stephen Lawrence murder - Guardian | Join the discussion on the forums
Social care leaving elderly to suffer "terrible abuse," says expert coalition - Guardian
"Strong case" for assisted dying, says new report - BBC | Join the discussion on the forums
David Cameron: UK will get up to strength in 2012 - BBC | Join the discussion on the forums
Britain's oldest couple (100 & 99) celebrate 75 years of marriage - Mail
And finally...
"I must be more careful about the words I use - I told a friend whom I had not seen for some time, that I now walked with two sticks. She replied that she was terribly sorry that I had been so disabled by arthritis. I was able to explain that the two 'sticks' were Nordic walking poles!" Greatnan (who uses them to stride up mountains for two to three hours a day!)
Until next week, don't forget to follow us on facebook and twitter and tell your friends about Gransnet.
Cari
Community Manager
Gransnet
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