Fabafterfifty:
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Article by Fabafterfifty The Age of Romance. When it comes to dating and romance have our ‘on screen’ role models helped us to be more romantic that our younger counterparts? Perhaps the younger generation are missing out in the romance stakes as the bid to be equal in all areas of life may lead to a less chivalrous attitude to dating and relationships. An interesting find in the recent LoveGeist report is that, in general, the older a dater, the more romantic they are – the data points to a strong upwards curve in scores. We would argue that this is down, at least in part, to the upbringing of older daters, who would have been taught, by their own parents, by films and TV, perhaps even by social pressure, that romance and chivalrous gestures are a vital part of a relationship. Mary Clegg, relationship expert, agrees: “ had...
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How Easy is it to become a Stepmother in your 50s
Article by Sue Atkins Becoming a stepmother in your 50s to teenage children can be fraught with difficulties. We asked parenting expert Sue Atkins of Positive Parents what advice she could offer on a problem which seems to be a common concern for many Fabafterfifty readers who find themselves becoming stepmothers mid-life. How do you cope with teenage stepchildren? We had a set of questions posed by one reader which I’m sure many of us can relate to! “ I am not sure if I can suggest something for Fab At Fifty, but if I don’t ask, I wont know! I am interested to hear other women of 50plus who haven’t had children, for one reason or another, but who are married or have a partner who has teenage children from another relationship, and how they cope and how it affects them. My husband has 2 children from his first... -
Loved Ones Who Are ‘Missing’ at Christmas
Article by Fabafterfifty With Christmas seen as the season for spending time with family and friends, it is easy to forget those who spend Christmas without the company of loved ones. Not only those who have suffered relationship breakdown or bereavement, but those whose family members are registered as ‘missing’, with no closure, and the hope that this Christmas may be the day when they receive that much longed for phone call to say’ Mum, it’s me and I’m safe’. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) defines a missing person as: “anyone whose whereabouts is unknown whatever the circumstances of disappearance. They will be considered missing until located and their well-being or otherwise established”. (ACPO, 2005: 8). Of the approximately 200,000 missing persons reported in the UK each year, 99% of cases are resolved within one year. A large majority of missing person cases are resolved very quickly, and... -
What did you Want to be When You Grew Up?
Article by Fabaferfifty A guest post from Jane C Woods on midlife career change seemed to strike a chord with many people, particularly the line ‘What did you want to be when you grew up?’ Comments from readers suggested that few had actually become what they wanted to be in terms of career- one person wanted to become a dentist but became a teacher, another had three different ideas for a career – ballet dancer, nun or policewoman! . Some said they had no intention of ‘growing up’ at all! It did make me think that with life expectancy increasing and working lives becoming longer, we really do have the options to be more than ‘one thing’ when we grow up. In my own case I wanted to be a school teacher (I was discouraged by a careers advisor and persuaded to go into accountancy!). Hating it I drifted for... -
What is Botox? The Truth about Botox
Article by Dr Michel Lauzel We are frequently asked this question, so put our questions about anti-wrinkle injections to medical aesthetics practitioner Dr Michel Lauzel What is ‘Botox?’ There is a great deal of confusion around Botox and although it is quite often used to describe all injectable treatments, it is actually a brand name (like Apple & Hoover) and a registered trademark of Allergan. Not a generic term for other botulinum toxins. Botulinum toxin type A is a naturally occurring protein produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Brands of this type of botulinum toxin commercially available in the UK are Botox®/ Vistabel® (for cosmetic use) Xeomin®, Bocouture®, Dysport® recently approved for cosmetic use as Azzalure®. How safe is BOTOX®/VISTABEL®? Allergan’s Botox/Vistabel has been used in the medical field since the 1960s to treat conditions such as excessive blinking, excessive sweating, and cerebral palsy. Allergan, the manufacturers of Botox®, gained... -
Thank you for Giving me my Waist back! Review of ‘Fat around the Middle’
Article by Fabafterfifty I was a fat baby, chubby teenager, relatively slim adult. Over the past few years it seemed that I have been sliding back in the direction of chubbiness in mid-life. My mother even said ‘I suppose it’s good that you’re content rather than slim like you used to be’. Thanks Mum!! (I had recently remarried). In truth, I had no idea why my weight was creeping up, or why in particular it was all settling round my middle- I could only put in down to the inevitable ‘middle aged spread’ I’d heard so much about. Looking at my older female relatives they did all seem to be the same shape (my OH with his warped sense of humour calls them the ‘cubes’), and as much as I tried to resist, I had resigned myself to the same fate. I was exercising more, eating less and less but...
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Student Fees How They Affect Your Family
Article by Fabafaterfifty With the increase in student fees coming at a time when many midlife women are looking at their own financial future with more concern than they had anticipated, what do all the changes mean, and what help will your child be eligible for? Families reviewing plans for their child’s university education With record numbers of students applying to start university courses in September 2011 ahead of the increased tuition fees coming into effect in 2012, many families are having to review their plans for university education for their children. The current system sets a cap of £3290 for tuition fees for English universities (free for Scottish students in Scotland, but new legislation will allow universities to charge up to £6,000 and in exceptional cases up to £9000 from September 2012. When living costs are also taken into account, students will leave university with debts on average of... -
Interview Grant Shapps on Government Policy and effect on Women over 50
We put your questions on issues affecting women over 50 including raising the retirement age, jobs for older workers, age discrimination and care home fees to Grant Shapps, Minister for Housing and Local Government . How refreshing to meet a politician who was approachable and has lived and worked in the real world! Many thanks to Grant Shapps MP for taking the time to talk to Fabafterfifty to address some of the concerns of women over 50 Related articles: 10 reasons women over 50 make great employees Resources available when setting up a business in your 50s -
Tips for Empty Nesters and their Finances
Article by by Sarah Pennells of SavvyWoman So, the children have finally left home and the house feels a bit empty. It will probably take some getting used to, but it can be a great time to invest in yourself. You may be still supporting your children financially – especially if they’re at university – but that doesn’t mean you can’t prioritise your own finances. Maybe you’re able to free up some cash to invest in your retirement or perhaps you want to pay off your mortgage as quickly as you can. Do your own financial MOT once the children leave home Before you can work out what your options are, find out how much money you have to spare and the effect – on your finances – of your children moving out. 1. Go through three months worth of bank and credit card statements. Choose a ‘typical’ period and not... -
Downsizing after the Children leave home
Article by James Butler The move from Freehold to Leasehold Property. When the children leave home, or as we near retirement, frequently the decision is made to downsize. Often the move is made from freehold house to leaseshold apartment. We asked a leading leasehold consultancy to talk us through the leasehold maze. 10 TOP TIPS FOR RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDERS 1. What is a Leasehold Property? Typically a Leasehold property is a Flat or part of a larger property or estate. When purchasing a Leasehold property you must be very aware that you are essentially purchasing a right of occupation and the associated protections only. In most cases you do not actually own the structural elements of the property, only those elements “demised” (allocated) to you and only for the residual period of time left on the lease. 2. Lease Length Check how long is left on the lease, the “Residual...
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