Henry talks with Dorothy Nicol about her vintage dresses and gowns.
Dorothy is 87 years old. She has lived her entire life in the small town of Lismore which is located in Victoria Australia. She absolutely loves her hometown and she wanted to do something to help the town and the community when she retired.
Dorothy says her hobby is living in the 20th century
Dorothy has an amazing collection which includes thousands of 20th-century vintage dresses and gowns. She began collection many years ago and the collection grew so much, she needed more space! Henry and Dorothy talk about how she purchased a property she had cherished since she was a young girl, and turned it into a small tourist attraction. Sometimes Dorothy feels like she is unorganized because she has so many items! She admits she isn't like a boutique shop, she prefers the quaint, charming feeling of her store. She likes for people to come into her shop and be able to look around and touch the items. Touching most often is not allowed with vintage garments.
There are a lot of fascinating stories that go along with vintage dresses and gowns
Dorothy is very sentimental. You can hear her well up with emotion as she talks about these stores and the wonderful people she has met throughout the years.
Henry also takes a walk down memory lane with Dorothy as she reminisces about growing up in the town she loves so much. She began working at the age of 16 as a telephonist which was a manual switchboard Operator. She held that same job until she married in 1950 and never worked anywhere else. If you have seen old movies where the operators are pulling plus, that is what Dorothy did!.
She has never learned to use the computer and is full of nostalgia. She prefers a time when lives were a lot more uncomplicated and there was more of a community feeling.
Henry interviews Di Lockwood on her passion for art.
Before retiring at the age of 54, Di was a teacher for about 37 years. She always has a strong love for art and she knew once she retired she was going to pursue her passion for art. She even planned and prepared for it before she retired by studying and taking courses. When she did retire, she took up visual arts and decided she like printmaking the most. Di created an art gallery in her home. It is a not for profit gallery and she only charged a small amount just to help pay for the insurance she has to have.
Di doesn't do what she does for the money (she doesn't really make money) she truly loves what she does and has a true passion for art.
Henry sat down with her and talked about her passion. Di talked about her experience teaching art. She told us a story of a young man from Afghanistan who she said, was extremely talented. He had never painted once in his life until he was in the Darwin Detention Center. (Which is an Australian Immigration detention facility)
Henry and Di also talk about:
How she made a studio in her home (wouldn't that be lovely!)
Her idea to set up a not for profit art gallery for emerging artists
How she was able to provide a space where refugee women could gather and she helped them establish themselves in the community
Thank YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes.
Henry interviews Di and Ross Lawrence who run a business selling deer antler velvet in their retirement.
Before Di and Ross retired, they ran a deer farm. Di worked part-time as a bookkeeper and Ross ran the farm. As they got older, they knew they would have to leave their farm as it became too much work for them to maintain. Ross even got pretty seriously injured. In 2014, they decided it was time to sell.
Henry talks with them about the transition from farm life to life in the suburbs. It was an easy transition for them. They bought their home before they sold their farm. Ross and Di downsized their belongings. They were prepared for it. It was, however, difficult for Ross to leaving the animals he had taken care of for so long.
Ross knew he wanted to stay in touch with the deer industry after he retired. He already had a small online business selling deer antler velvet products and he decided he would continue that business in his retirement.
What is Deer Antler Velvet?
Deer antler velvet is the entire immature antler. It is harvested before it calcified to its normal state. Once they remove the antlers they do grow back each year. It has been used for thousands of years as a food product. It is also used in Chinese medicine to promote good health and is used as a natural remedy for a wide variety of things. Henry talks with Di and Ross about their business and the various uses for their product.
Di and Ross haven't only been “working” in their retirement. Di has been enjoying getting her new home together. She has been able to catch up on sewing, reading, and she has been able to start doing more walking. Ross has plans to start golfing and they have been doing some traveling. All of those things we don't usually have time to do before we retire.
If you would like to contact the Lawrence’s, you can email them at ross@deerfarm.com.au. Find them on the internet at www.deerfarm.com.au. You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deervelvetantler
In this episode, Henry speaks with Judith French. Judy was in nursing before she retired. She has also been married for 54 years! She was looking forward to her retirement so she would have more time to do things such as gardening and reading.
Judith truly loves breeding dogs. She spends a lot of her free time doing this and she loves her dogs. Judith began breeding animals even before she retired. In fact. she grew up in a family which bred and showed animals, so she is no stranger to the show arena.
Judith initially started with cats, but then switched to breeding dogs. She and Henry discuss the many breeds she has raised and loved throughout the years.
*Please note: We realize that dog breeding is a sensitive subject for some of our listeners and readers. The Rock Your Retirement show does not endorse… nor does it condemn breeding dogs. Kathe currently enjoys two rescue dogs and a bird. She believes that pets can keep you healthy and help you live longer. Each person must decide on his or her own whether to get a pedigreed dog, show dog, or a rescue dog.
Have a comment? Post it below. And if you've been listening to our retirement lifestyle show, reviewing the show oniTunes really helps others find us.
David Mickle has had a passion for steam trains for 50 years.
Before David he retired at the young age of 70, he worked as an electrician. He looked forward to retiring so he would have more time to pursue his passion for steam trains.
When David was a young child he was fascinated with steam trains. His passion for steam trains only grew as he got older.
Henry and David discuss his volunteer work on the on the Puffing Billy which is a voluntary Railway group that operates a steam train in Australia. David was a volunteer laborer and helped to restore the cars and railways after a landslide.
They also discuss David's involvement with the Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club.
David was one of the very first members of this club and was also involved in the club for over 50 years.
Dave also restored a steam engine with the help of his friend. It was manufactured by the Yorkshire Steam Wagon Company and has a horizontal boiler on the front with Ackermann steering. There is nothing automatic about this steam wagon either. You have to stop to change gears. Henry and Dave talk about the restoration process and it really is amazing.
In listening to Henry's interview David, you can really tell how important this hobby is to David. He is a man with some fascinating stories who is more than happy to share them. There is some amazing history and heritage behind steam trains.
Do you have a passion for steam trains?
You don't have to actually own a steam train if you are interested in them. There are steam engine organizations where you can volunteer doing things such as working on the trains or driving the trains.
What is David advice for retirees? Find a hobby and keep your body active and your mind active. Sounds like great advice!
Have you ever ridden on a steam train? Leave a comment below to tell us about your experience.
Special Thanks to:
Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!
Les Briney, my husband, who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific
Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays
YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes
Henry interviews me and we talk about how money isn't everything.
I actually was hesitant to release this episode since it seems a little self-serving, but my “deal” with Henry was to release his episodes one at a time so that they would live on in the Rock Your Retirement feed.
So here goes….
We started off the interview talking about my treadmill desk. You may have heard me talk about my treadmill desk on other episodes. I love my treadmill desk! If you haven't seen it, join my private Facebook group so you can see a picture of it. It's a great tool for staying healthy.
Henry and I also discussed my previous career as a Financial Advisor and how and why I walked away from most of my business. We also talked about why I began selling Medicare Supplement Insurance.
However, the main focus of the interview, and why Henry invited me on his show was to talk about the Rock Your Retirement show and how money isn't everything. This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart.
I started this show with a set of certain topics I would be discussing with people. Those were:
Social and Family
Adventure and Travel
Volunteer and Philanthropy
Spiritual/Soul
Sex
Helping your parents/sandwich generation issues
Over time, that list of topics has grown and I have learned a lot!
We also talked about all of the mechanics of starting and maintaining a podcast such as
Technical
Equipment
hosting
questions for guests
editing
I had no experience in podcasting when I began, and it has been a wonderful learning experience. I am also so grateful for my “tech guru”, my husband, Les.
Henry and I also talked about a retirement community Les and I were considering in Buckeye, AZ but we decided the extremely hot temps were not for us! So it's still sunny (and cooler) San Diego for us right now.
I had a great time talking with Henry Shapiro and I hope you enjoy listening!
Special Thanks to:
Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!
Les Briney, my husband, who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific
Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays
YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes
Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!
Les Briney, my husband, who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific.
Sharon Drury, who volunteers her time to work on transcription for us.
YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes
Henry talks with Dorothy Nicol about her vintage dresses and gowns.
Henry talks with Dorothy Nicol about her vintage dresses and gowns.
Henry interviews Di Lockwood on her passion for art.
Henry interviews Di and Ross Lawrence who run a business selling deer antler velvet in their retirement.
Judith French is breeding dogs in her retirement.
David Mickle has had a passion for steam trains for 50 years.
Henry interviews me and we talk about how money isn't everything.