Latest news with #Millie
The Spinoff
a day ago
- General
- The Spinoff
The Third Age: ‘I think I've got the balance right – it's good for me to keep busy'
The Third Age shines a light on interesting folks over 65. Today, 78-year-old volunteer extraordinaire Garry Wolfgram. Many years ago, teachers had to lock their classroom doors because there was one 'little fella' who wanted to escape back to the farm. The young Garry Wolfgram preferred spending his days in paddocks. Garry went on to become a teacher for 'years and years', then a principal, before eventually working for the Ministry of Education. He's retired now, though his daughter says his volunteering duties are like having three part-time jobs. Just over a year ago he moved with his wife Lana from their house in Whangārei to Summerset Milldale. Their brand new home with windows overlooking Waterloo Creek is where I met them. After a long, warm conversation over coffee, Garry zoomed me around the streets of their retirement village in Millie, the golf cart. Why did you move from Whangārei? I must admit, I was reluctant. I had a lot going for me up north. We were going to buy a house down here, and then thought, well, we're going to end up in a retirement village sooner or later, so we decided to go for it. It's been a great decision because it's a lot easier for us to support my daughter, who is a high-flyer, see the other kids and do what we can down here. We have 15 grandchildren between us, many around Auckland, and we wanted to see them as much as possible. What did you have going on up north? I was a volunteer for the hospice for five years with a wonderful, very good friend of mine, Maurice. We delivered hospital beds throughout the north – from Kaiwaka to Whangārei. What do you mean by 'delivering beds'? Maurice and I would take the big medical beds, break them into parts, put them into a van, then put them in their home. We delivered beds to all sorts of different people – some young, some old. The patients' families were always very grateful for the service provided. I learned a heck of a lot from that. We went in at what I call 'the hard end'. It was difficult at times. Maurice and I would travel around in the van and solve the problems of the world [laughs]. It was good to have two of us, because, well, it's quite a confronting experience. Due to the fact that there was a bit of heavy lifting, both of us decided to stop. What did you do next? I was a handyman for the Pacific Support Group in Whangārei. Lana was the principal at a school, they offered me a job, but I preferred to volunteer. So I coached rugby, touch rugby and supported school activities like sports days, camps and field trips. Eventually I saw that St Johns was looking for volunteers in the emergency department at Whangārei hospital. So I thought I'll try that. I learned what it's like to be in an accident and emergency department and help people. Your task is to engage with people appropriately – not everyone wants to hear a joke. I did that for three years, and then the team leader left, so I picked up the leadership. What volunteering are you doing now? Now I'm a member of the St John Hibiscus Coast and have taken on a property manager type role. I look after the maintenance of the hall and the ambulance station. If there's a problem, I organise the repair. I'm also a Caring Caller for St John. I've been allocated two clients, who I've been calling for just over a year. I don't know their second names and they don't know my number. I just ring up, say hello. It takes time and patience and at first people can be really shy. They can't see your face and sometimes you can tell by their voices that they're a bit nervous. As the relationship formed, my clients now yak away about everything, and I enjoy that. It makes me feel good at the end of it. I call them about once a week, or sometimes more if something is going on. I am also involved with Community Patrol. It is a volunteer service that involves working with the Police, patrolling the streets and sharing safety in the community and reaching out to Police when required. It seems like you're very busy. I think I've got the balance right. It's good for me to keep busy and occupied, keeping my mind active and alert and learning new things. My grandson, Josh, loves cars. I send him photos of my models, and he just loves it. With all I do, I love to engage with many age groups and cover many topics. Is there anything that's surprised you about living here? One of the things we like about living at Summerset is that we have retained our independence. The village is supportive of us enjoying what we love to do – for me, family and volunteering is very important. The people here make it easy and enjoyable. They encourage you and ask how you're doing. It gives you opportunities for doing stuff when you're a tired old devil [laughs]. You know, I like my freedom, and when we got here, we were able to just be us. What surprised me too was meeting the people in the village. A lot of them have got a lot of different skills, they've got a lot of different things they can talk about. They have a bit of what I call depth, they're real and they're friendly. If I'm walking around with a plaster on they'll say, 'Oh Garry! What have you got yourself into this time?' What do you think is a big change that's happened in New Zealand since you were young? I was born in 1946 which meant I was a kid through the 50s. When we were kids, everybody was pretty much the same after the war – everybody was struggling. They didn't have a lot of money and most people were pretty much on the same level. I think the big thing that's changed is you've got all these people that are gathering all the money and other people are struggling to get it. It is real, there's a lot of stats to tell you about it. That's the biggest thing I think has changed since I was a kid. Is there something that has surprised you as you've gotten older? I'm surprised at how well I am and how my mind's still ticking over. Lana tells me not to be competitive, but sometimes I reckon I've got as much going for me as a lot of young people! It surprised me to get to this age and be like I am – a lot of my mates have gone, or started to go, some earlier, some later. Being retired provides opportunities to strengthen parts of yourself – to get better at things and learn new things. I like to always try and improve. Not in big bites, but in little steps.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Peter Andre and wife Emily 'struggling' as daughter Millie reaches huge milestone
It's been a big week for Peter and his wife Emily. Peter Andre and his wife Dr Emily MacDonagh have opened up on how they are coping with their daughter Millie reaching a huge milestone in her life. The couple, who are parents to Amelia, Theo, and Arabella, with Emily also being stepmum to Peter's older children, Princess and Junior, have shared their feelings on the matter, writes The Mirror. Writing in his New! magazine column, the father of six said that it's been a big week for the family. He penned: "It's been a bittersweet time recently – Emily and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this month, but it was also Millie's last week of primary school before she heads off to secondary school in September." This comes after Emily recently revealed on Giovanna Fletcher's podcast, Happy Mum Happy Baby, that the couple don't plan on having any more children, as she also opened up about her difficult third pregnancy. Asked if there's a chance of them having more kids, she said: "It's absolutely cemented now but we always said it would be the last anyway. We don't have anymore bedrooms for starters so that's a good enough reason. "The car is full. We don't even have a seven-seater anymore because Junior and Princess can drive." Discussing the family dynamic, she said: "They have a lovely relationship together. Even though the older two have their own lives, so they're busy and doing their own thing, when they see the younger kids, they're so sweet and they get the biggest hugs. "The age gap is so big that it makes it easier because they're not in competition with each other. Like the younger ones understand that there's a different set of rules for the older ones because they're grown-ups." Elsewhere in the podcast, Emily spoke about her relationship with Princess and Junior and how important that is to her. "I always feel lucky that they've kind of accepted me into their family. And I think then, when we had Millie and Theo - and Belle as well - it kind of cements you even more as a family. But I always feel like, you know, I'm not their mum, and that's something I always have to make sure I tread carefully with. I always see it, I think I would see it a bit more like being a big sister," she said. "Which, I don't know if that's the right way to look at it, but I think, you know, I always try and give them guidance, but I wouldn't overstep that. Like, I obviously try and support them like I would do with my own kids. I always try and be the same. I'm quite strict though, on my kids. That's what I would say to the older kids - it's lucky there's an age gap, you know?" She added: "Because then you guys don't need to worry about, like, silly rules I have. I'm like, you guys can be exempt because you're older. The age gap is enough that my kids don't question why they're allowed to have the screens." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Peter Andre 'sad' and Emily struggling as daughter Millie reaches major milestone
EXCLUSIVE: Singer Peter Andre has opened up about a 'bittersweet time' for him and his wife Dr Emily MacDonagh, as they prepare to see their youngest daughter Millie, reach a major milestone Peter Andre and his wife, Dr Emily MacDonagh, have candidly shared their emotional journey as they navigate a significant family milestone with their youngest daughter. The couple, who are parents to Amelia, Theo, and Arabella, with Emily also being stepmum to Peter's older children, Princess and Junior, have opened up about their mixed feelings. Writing in his New! magazine column, the father of six expressed the melancholy they've felt amidst celebration, revealing, "It's been a bittersweet time recently – Emily and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this month, but it was also Millie's last week of primary school before she heads off to secondary school in September," Peter shared. He continued, "It's been quite sad to see her prepare to say goodbye to the school she's attended since she was little. I try to look at it like they're growing up and it's great, but Emily has found it tough. Millie is her firstborn so I totally understand why she feels so emotional about it." This comes after Emily revealed the pair do not plan to have any more children. Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher 's podcast, Happy Mum Happy Baby, she opened up about her difficult third pregnancy and birth and said there was no chance of her and Peter having any more children. Asked if there's a chance of them having anymore kids, she said: "It's absolutely cemented now but we always said it would be the last anyway. We don't have anymore bedrooms for starters so that's a good enough reason. "The car is full. We don't even have a seven-seater anymore because Junior and Princess can drive." Discussing the family dynamic, she said: "They have a lovely relationship together. Even though the older two have their own lives, so they're busy and doing their own thing, when they see the younger kids, they're so sweet and they get the biggest hugs. "The age gap is so big that it makes it easier because they're not in competition with each other. Like the younger ones understand that there's a different set of rules for the older ones because they're grown-ups." Elsewhere, Emily opened up about her bond with Princess and Junior and how important that is to her. "I always feel lucky that they've kind of accepted me into their family. And I think then, when we had Millie and Theo - and Belle as well - it kind of cements you even more as a family. But I always feel like, you know, I'm not their mum, and that's something I always have to make sure I tread carefully with. I always see it, I think I would see it a bit more like being a big sister," she said. "Which, I don't know if that's the right way to look at it, but I think, you know, I always try and give them guidance, but I wouldn't overstep that. Like, I obviously try and support them like I would do with my own kids. I always try and be the same. I'm quite strict though, on my kids. That's what I would say to the older kids - it's lucky there's an age gap, you know?" She added: "Because then you guys don't need to worry about, like, silly rules I have. I'm like, you guys can be exempt because you're older. The age gap is enough that my kids don't ask the question, 'Why are they allowed to have the screens?'"
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
My Life: When I became pregnant we set up a circus to support our family
With a three-foot-high tightrope and miniature performance ring, my fiancé and I might just own the tiniest circus in Ireland. Luckily, it's still going strong more than two decades later. I was 24 when I fell pregnant with our oldest daughter Millie and we needed to find a means to support our family. The thought of conforming to a 'nine to five' existence motivated us to set up our circus with a difference. Paul and I have always been a double act, both in life and in the ring. We have on occasion hired supporting performers, but it is, for the most part, just the two of us. The Wobbly Circus had been our dream for as long as we can remember. All these years later, as proud parents to Millie (24), Aaron (21) and Misha (15), we find that much of our juggling is done outside of the ring. Usually, it's the parents clearing up after the kids, but our home was the opposite. The house was always a riot of colour with costumes and circus props strewn across the sitting room. I'm not sure how they put up with us at times. While Paul and I settled down and started a family just over two decades ago, our love story dates back a lot further. They say that you can't buy happiness, but you can marry a clown and that's kind of the same thing. Although Paul and I haven't got around to tying the knot yet, I definitely believe this rings true. It was 1997 when I first met him at a house party in West Cork. I was performing with a fire staff, which is a cylindrical object with Kevlar wicks attached to both ends. I hadn't been performing circus professionally at that stage. Claire Keaty from the Wobbly Circus entertaining children at an event. This was really just a party trick which I had learned from a friend. Meanwhile, Paul was demonstrating the fire wheel. He had travelled around the UK with a group of jugglers called Cosmos and even performed at Glastonbury. We got chatting, but I think Paul was oblivious to how much I liked him. Both of us went our separate ways until, six months later, he found me hitchhiking close to Limerick Junction. Paul pulled up in his van which he had been living in at the time as he travelled around Ireland with another group of jugglers. He drove me to Tipperary town where I was staying with my parents. After dropping me off he found it difficult to think about anyone else. Mobile phones weren't a thing at the time and he didn't have my address. All he knew was that I was living in Cork. When he was unable to find my details, he decided to travel there in what was the most wonderful twist of fate you could possibly imagine. He hitchhiked his way to Cork in the hope that he might find me. The driver thought he had lost his mind, travelling all this way to find a girl he knew nothing about. That was until he uttered those awe-inspiring words 'Stop the car, I think I've found her.' I was ambling down the road, minding my own business. The way he found me was quite fitting. He stumbled on me just like a circus clown. From that day on, we were inseparable. We travelled to France with friends, where we busked around the towns there doing circus performances. I'm a gypsy at heart so I've always loved moving around. Claire Keaty from the Wobbly Circus stilt walking. She started the circus with her husband Paul as a means to support their family. Picture: Chani Anderson A few years later when I was home and pregnant with Millie we decided to set up the Wobbly Circus where we performed in festivals, schools and events across the country. We got some help from friends along the way. I asked a friend of ours named Bill Faulkner if he could make me a pair of stilts to perform with. He was a boat builder and the nicest man you could ever meet. He fashioned the most incredible pair of stilts for me using some wood. I trained myself to walk in them and the older generation in particular adored the act. People in their seventies and eighties said their fathers had built them stilts when they were children, so I reminded them of their childhoods. In terms of setting up the circus, what I'm most grateful for is the encouragement we received from friends and family. Circus isn't something that runs through my blood. My mother worked in a boutique, and my father drove a JCB. However, it was the stability they provided that afforded me the creative freedom to be who I am today. Of course, there are difficult days. Being an artist is tough because it's always a feast or a famine. I sometimes wonder if I should have worked harder in school. There are times when I ask myself whether it might be easier to have an ordinary job, but I know in my heart that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to run away with the circus. I'm just glad I got to do it with the person I love.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Millie Mackintosh's ‘very comfortable' Nobody's Child midi dress is one of her ‘summer staples'
Millie Mackintosh shared her wardrobe summer staples with fans including a chic black broderie midi dress which has sold out – but her Nobody's Child alternative is still available Sometimes the best summer staples are those that are effortless and easy to style, and can be worn in multiple ways. That's why when Millie Mackintosh shared that she had just three wardrobe essentials to get her through summer, fans were quick to beg for details on her looks. One of her standout pieces was a black broderie midi dress, which hails from LoveShackFancy for £446 – but it's now completely sold out everywhere. However Millie offered up several alternative options on her LTK page which help you get the look for considerably less, including the Black Tiered Lia Midi Dress from Nobody's Child that was our personal favourite. Just like her designer version, the Nobody's Child dress has puff sleeves and a subtle V-neckline which bares some skin whilst still being modest enough to wear anywhere from the office to a wedding. The V-neck features a feminine bow detail at the bottom, with a fitted waist that helps accentuate your shape. Although Millie's LoveShackFancy dress has a more streamlined midi skirt, the Nobody's Child Lia Midi Dress has a tiered design, which gives it some extra volume and movement, making it extra flattering and adding a subtle touch of drama. It's also much more affordably priced at £69, saving you almost £400. The main difference between the two, however, is that the Nobody's Child dress is missing the broderie details of her designer one. If you do want these extra details, we found some other great options like the Cutwork Detail Midi Dress from Boden, which retails for £130. Boden's midi dress has broderie-style cut out details along the hemline and neckline, and fastens with a tie belt around the waist. We also love the Black Broderie Midi Tea Dress which also hails from Boden, but is now on sale at Next down from £155 to £75. Other great options include the Mango Broderie Gathered Cinch Waist A-Line Dress, which you can pick up for £79.99 at ASOS and has a more tailored, fitted silhouette with a flaring A-line skirt. We also spotted another Nobody's Child option, with the £85 Black Broderie Anglaise Sophia Midi Dress having a comfortable shirred bodice, puff sleeves and broderie details throughout. However the Black Tiered Lia Midi Dress from Nobody's Child that Millie suggested also comes in three other colours; red, butter yellow and a ditsy floral pattern, all of which are perfect for summer. It's also available in sizes four to 18. It currently only has one review, which is a five star rating saying: 'Lovely dress very comfortable.'
