We’re delighted to welcome Julia Richards as a creative contributor for Viva70.  Recently, I spent a lovely weekend with Julia in Yorkshire where she lives with her family. She moved there nearly 20 years ago from Sydney, Australia. With views of the green rolling hills of Yorkshire, over dinner and…

What? It’s true! Pavegen has invented ” smart” paving steps that create energy when you step on them. I heard about this idea in London and the more I  researched what this company is doing the more I liked it. See what you think….. Pavegen is a company created in…

In the hotel in which I’m staying the Scottish artists Dalziel and Scullion have created a series of photographic images about travel.  They write “Travelling offers time for a different type of awareness to form- of being with the self. There are opportunities to both take the long look and…

On Sunday I walked past a very colourful shop with three cats sitting in the window staring at the long queue of people gathered behind the rope outside. A concierge/ bouncer was keeping the crowd orderly although there was great excitement in the air.  The crowd was long and I…

On October 24th 1975, 90% of Icelandic women didn’t show up for work that day in protest against sexism and inequality. Also in 1970’s Mothers against the Vietnam War were out en masse at every anti-Vietnam demonstration. Some of us were active unionists. Others committed feminists. We fought our way…

At times life can wear us out even when it’s just the day to day hum of caring for others, getting things done, staying connected and existing in a complex world. Time – out and renewal come in many forms and we’ll be looking at this idea over the next…

Have you ever thought of owning that little corner café? Or what about the bookshop you’ve always dreamed of? Or perhaps a gardening franchise? For many of us retirement only takes place when ill health or carer responsibilities mean we can no longer work. The trend is for retirees to…

“Grant unto me the seeing eye  that I may see beauty in common things….that I may know that each age from first to last is good in itself and may be lived, not only well but happily.” Edmund Sandford Psychologists have told us for years that how we see things…

Isn’t it ironic that when we retire we have the time, but not the money to travel and play? Or at least we are more money conscious. “Money is not the only answer but it makes a difference.” Barack Obama There are many ways to travel cheaply- house sitting, hostels,…