It comes after reports that the Prince of Wales wants Harry “harshly dealt with.”

For many of us, a garden is like our own personal sanctuary. A place we can relax, reflect and reminisce. Pottering around in the garden not only aids our mental health, but our physical health, too. However, there may come a time when taking care of a garden can become more of a burden than a joy. Taking steps to future proof our garden can ensure it provides us with pleasure and happiness for many years to come.

Things to Consider

All of our gardens are different but being able to safely access areas as we age is important. Think about steps, paths, outside lighting, trip hazards, storage. Consider ways to reduce the amount of physical work that needs to be done. If your garden is too large, think about setting a portion aside for ‘wilding’. This will not only reduce the amount of work that needs doing, but could also provide the perfect habitat for wildlife such as butterflies and bees.

What Do You Want Your Garden to Be Used for? 

If you enjoy using your garden all year, consider an outside shelter or building, perhaps a gazebo or summerhouse. If you like your garden to produce food, perhaps you might like to have some raised beds for easy planting or harvesting. These can be built in wood or bought from garden centres. To me, there is nothing more rewarding than eating a meal you have grown yourself.

Perhaps you enjoy outside eating… I know I do! Think about where you want to sit, what shade you would need, if you would like to cook outside. Instead of having a large BBQ, I have two small portable ones, so I can use one if I am eating on my own, but have extra space to cook if I have guests.

Green walls, planters, pots and hanging baskets are excellent ways of producing plants without the need to dig or kneel. Trellis can also provide excellent opportunities for colour and fragrance around seated areas. You can still have all the beauty of your favourite flowers without too much physical exertion.

Making Things Easy

There are many things you can do to ease the workload, for example no-dig gardening, paving, mulch, or buying tools that will lighten the load. Consider a watering system; it can make life so much simpler, especially if you live in a very dry climate. Think about the type of plants you choose and how easy they are to care for. 

Making things accessible can save you a huge amount of time and effort, so consider your storage carefully. You may also like to invest in a lightweight wheelbarrow or trug trolley for moving things around the garden.

The Sound of Water

After many years of having large ponds, I have decided to use small water features that run on solar power. They sprinkle little shoots of water that splash down into bird baths or shallow basins. This encourages wildlife as well as being pleasant to watch and listen to. Although nothing in my garden is more than an inch or two deep, I am always aware of safety, both for tiny animals or small children.

Create Your Future Proof Paradise

So take a piece of paper and sketch out how your future garden could look. Begin with the basics, always keeping in mind that you want to enjoy it as you age. Consider your safety and the amount of work the garden will need as you age. What equipment could you get that lightens the load? 

Design your garden with your preferred colour scheme, Write down the things that make you happy or smile. This is your own little piece of paradise, designing it well will ensure it remains so. Picture yourself, years, maybe decades from now.

Benefits of Gardening

Gardening has many benefits, especially as we age. It keeps us active and forward thinking, we need to remember when to plant/sow/water. It provides an opportunity to increase vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. It can improve sleep, lower anxiety and reduce stress. Our gardens can produce nutritious, delicious food. Gardening can also provide a purpose; it needs to be tended and cared for. Most of all, it is a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy, what more could you want? 🙂

Conversation Questions:

Have you future proofed your garden? What is the one thing that makes gardening easier for you? Has your garden improved your life?

Hungary’s Budapest is known for its architecture, thermal baths, and hearty cuisine. Think deep-fried dough, goulash, and chimney cakes. The question is, how can you sample local specialties without weighing yourself down? The good news is, planning and a few simple strategies can mean the difference between saving and sinking your diet plan.

Budapest has healthy options to keep visitors satisfied as they see the sights. Health-conscious cafes offer lighter fare like smoothies, avocado toast, and oatmeal. You can opt for seasonal, locally-sourced produce and support farmers. Check out breakfast buffets to find fresh fruit, plain yogurt, eggs, and whole-grain bread.

Explore Budapest’s Markets

Budapest has some memorable markets, like the iconic Great Market Hall, famous for its paprika and sausages, but it also offers lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Carry healthy snacks to prevent rash choices made when you are hungry.

Pro tip: Look out for seasonal specialties like fresh berries in the summer – they’re a refreshing and hydrating snack for those sunny Budapest afternoons.

Mindful Dining in Restaurants

Hungarian food is often filling, with dishes like goulash (a meat and potato stew) and paprikás csirke (chicken paprikash). Portion control is key. Split a dish or dessert with your travel partner or order smaller (or children’s) portions, if possible. You can always order more food later if you are still hungry.

I avoid bringing doggy bags back to my hotel, as I usually forget the food is in the fridge. Another trick I try is to order one course at a time. That way, if I fill up on appetizers, I don’t have an entire entree waiting staring at me. You’ll also find salads, grilled fish, and roasted vegetables on menus.

Pro tip: Don’t wait until you are famished to find a restaurant.

Hydration Is Key

With all the walking, sightseeing, and a soak in a thermal bath, staying hydrated in Budapest is essential. Instead of sugary sodas, opt for mineral water or herbal teas. If you’re in the mood for a small indulgence, try a glass of fröccs, a spritzer made with wine and sparkling water – it’s a popular, lower-calorie drink among locals.

Pro tip: Keep water with you at all times.

Treat Yourself, But Carefully

What’s a trip to Budapest without indulging in some traditional sweets? While chimney cakes (kürtőskalács) and strudels are tempting, balance is key. Share your treat with a friend, or savor some artisanal dark chocolate.

For a healthier dessert option, look for turó rudi, a Hungarian snack made of sweetened cottage cheese covered in a thin layer of chocolate. It’s a lighter way to satisfy your sweet tooth without going overboard.

Pro tip: Divide treats into small portions, and eat one at a time.

Walk It Off

Budapest is a walkable city. You’ll burn plenty of calories wandering through Buda Castle, strolling along the Danube, or hiking up Gellért Hill for panoramic views. You can stave off guilt by pairing physical activity with smart eating, and you’ll be able to enjoy a glass of Hungarian Tokaji wine guilt-free.

Pro Tip: Count your steps to know how many calories you’ve burned.

Embrace Balance

Part of an enjoyable vacation is trying new foods. By mixing lighter meals with traditional Hungarian flavors, stocking up on fresh snacks, and staying active, you can leave Budapest feeling just as great as when you arrived.

Pro tip: I usually eat well at breakfast and save the calories for lunch and dinner.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What tricks have you tried to manage your calories on vacation? Does it help to book accommodation with a kitchen? Which country has your biggest ‘no-no’ foods? How can you bring home treats for friends and family and not devour them yourself? All suggestions are welcome.

The B in Michael B. Jordan stands for Bakari but also bank.

The relationship between a child and a person living with dementia can be very enriching for both. I interviewed Kathryn Harrison who has a unique window into the relationship between her own kids and her mother who had early-onset dementia.

Kathryn’s book, Weeds In Nana’s Garden, mimics real life, portraying a young girl who discovers her beloved Nana has Alzheimer’s Disease. The girl accepts the difficult changes with love, learning to take over as the garden’s caregiver.

To further promote understanding of dementia
among children, Kathryn found through experience that when her kids did things together
with Nana, it made it better for Nana. Her kids grew up with a different kind
of sensitivity and respect for older people.

As you read on, look at these activities through a different lens. Think of doing them virtually via Facetime or similar technology, particularly if a loved one is in the early stages, has a person living with them, or a caretaker comes in to help.

Singing

Singing is a natural place to start. Most
older folks like when I come and sing for them, but they LOVE when children
come and sing. And, as Kathryn noted, a young child does not care if you’re
singing “Frosty the Snowman” in July. Neither did her mother.

Dance and a Show

Well, of course, if you’re going to sing you
have to dance. Kathryn’s mother loved R&B so if she was in a grocery store
and heard it, she would start grooving! Her grandchildren wanted in on the
action.

Something that may have been embarrassing
between daughter and mother became a beautiful thing when shared with
grandchildren.

If you’re going to dance, might as well make it into a show. Boy, can I relate to this one. Years ago, when we visited our granddaughters, there was a show every night, and of course we were part of it, making use of silly clothes as costumes.  

Blowing Bubbles

Kathryn made an accidental discovery when her
kids were blowing bubbles in Nana’s garden. As her mom was sitting in the
garden, she suddenly stood up and started chasing the bubbles around. They
played with those bubbles for a long time. And even later, as the disease
progressed, they brought those bubbles out and her mom lit up.

Coloring

While there are many adult coloring books now,
coloring for adults is still a relatively new thing. One day when Kathryn’s
kids were coloring, her mom wandered over, and they colored for three hours
straight.

Kathryn bought her mom an electric pencil sharpener, and the older women sharpened those pencils and filled 12 coloring books. Kathryn actually did an Art Exhibit of her mom’s colorings because they were just so beautiful and so full of expressiveness. Coloring was a life saver, especially when the disease started taking away her speech.

Decorating

As dementia took over, Kathryn’s mom was
having trouble with being able to follow recipes, but she could throw as many
sprinkles on cookies as anyone.

While making a gingerbread house for Christmas,
Kathryn was exacting as to what went where. Mom just took the candy and dumped
it all over the roof. That dumping progressed to Christmas trees and other
things and became a family tradition of sorts.

Fun with Clay

Just like with the bubbles, taking molding
clay and just sitting outside and playing with that clay with no particular
purpose or no particular outcome was fun and cathartic. Everybody takes a ball
of clay to squish around, and it becomes something to do together.

Reading Books Together

It gets hard for folks with dementia to read
books, and that can be a point of frustration. But what Kathryn found was that
her mom had a lot of classic picture books memorized.

Nana would sit with her grandkids and “read”
the book, but she wasn’t really reading. She knew the story, and she knew what
the pages were going to say, and she would sit and read with the grandkids
using those familiar stories. Touch and feel books are also very useful.

Looking at Photos

It was also effective for Kathryn’s mom to
look at photos of their lives and just listen to everyone talk about what was
going on through photos.

Go for Walks Together

Throughout the progression of the disease,
Kathryn and her kids would take long walks with Nana. They would go down to the
lake at her mom’s community and Nana could watch the kids run around. It had
the feel of being at a park.

Picking Flowers

Kathryn’s mom believed you always needed a bouquet
of flowers in your house. If you have them outside, you should bring them
inside. In the past, when they walked in the woods, she would always gather up
big bouquets.

As the disease progressed, Kathryn’s kids
would pick the flowers for their Nana and bring them to her – in her house or,
later, to the care facility. They could be weeds but it did not matter.

Kathryn’s kids gained self-confidence by being
with Nana throughout. They became an inseparable part of the caregiver team.
They commanded a presence and a lot of the care home residents were happier
when the children visited.

In a time when It’s harder than ever to come
up with ways for young people and old to connect, it is refreshing to see just
how many things you can do together, even in a virtual setting.

Kathryn has taken that idea and gone into
schools to talk to kids. She says, “They’re just so into it. They’re just so
full of questions and so full of wanting to play a part and understand more and
help.”

Yeah, we could use a little more of that and learn
from people like Kathryn.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What activities can you do with your grandchildren? Are you using a virtual connection to be in touch? How does this help you? Have you tried connecting virtually with a loved one living with dementia? Please share in the comments below.