Win a GE E1450W
Digital Camera

Just look at the pictures below and tell us which one is the Odd One Out!

Spot the Odd One

Out Competition

  a) Romantic Chocolates
  b) Oven Gloves
  c) Red Rose
  d) Valentine's Card
 

The Prize for the Winner of the Celebrity the Odd One Out Competition

Win a GE E1450W
Digital Camera

Sixtyplusurfers is delighted to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a romantic GE E1450W Red Digital Camera, the perfect gift for Valentine's Day.

This stylish new camera packs high performance in an incredibly slim body. The camera is only 18.3mm thin allowing you to carry less and play more.

Take high resolution images with 14.1 megapixels, get closer with the 5X optical zoom, capture more with the 28mm lens and go wider with pancapture panorama. Record high definition movies at HD 720p and view your pictures with ease on a large 2.7 LCD.

Other features include image stabilisation which automatically corrects any unintentional camera movements to give you crisp, clear photos. Face auto exposure automatically enhances facial features detected by the camera for true subject highlighting.

Smile detection ensures the shutter automatically releases when your subject's smile appears and blink detection alerts you if your subject's eyes are closed when the photo was taken. High dynamic range is another in-camera feature which adjusts exposure for more detail in light and dark scenes.

This fantastic camera is ideal for taking family photographs, pictures of your loved ones, holidays, landscape and other high performance photography.

For more information on the GE E1450W Digital Camera click on www.ge.com/digitalcameras 

How to Enter the Competition

When you have decided which picture is the odd one out in our Spot the Odd One Out Competition  send in your answer, together with your full name, postal address and telephone number to the Sixtyplusurfers inbox at: sixtypluscomp@hotmail.co.uk

* Please use our NEW Email Address and label your entry, GE Digital Camera Competition

Note: You do not have to be aged over 60 to enter our competitions!

You can also go in for more than one competition on this page (but do make sure each one is clearly labelled).

We do not accept automated entries to Sixtyplusurfers Competitions

* This competition is open to our
UK readers only

Readers' Letters

Sixtyplusurfers Star Letter 

 

 
 

I must confess that I am a knitty Nora. Even when I was 10 I used to design and knit mittens for the school dinner ladies.

Now I spend most of my spare time knitting unusual items. Recently it has been to knit nativity sets.



Earlier in 2011, having a passion for collecting different chess sets, I decided to 'knit' an ancient medieval chess set, where the knights were armour cladded knights on horseback, the bishops were dressed like bishops etc and the finishing touch was a knitted chess board.

The project took me three months to complete with pleasing results. So much so that I decided to sell the set on eBay to make some money to help my daughter.



It sold and travelled to France where the buyer was very pleased.

Without including the cost of the wool, I made 49p per hour, so it wasn't really a profit making venture.

I then wished that I hadn't sold it, but couldn't face knitting another one! At least not for a little while............



The Royal Chess set you are giving as a prize is magnificent and I would love to own it.

I really look forward to Sixtyplusurfers every month, a great read.

Joyce Threadgill, Staines

Dear Joyce

Thank you for sending in your picture of the chess set and nativity set. You are very talented.

What a shame you sold the original chess set, but great that the money helped your daughter.

Congratulations we are delighted to tell you that you are the winner of the Star Letter competition. The prize is an HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Chess Set. We hope you will enjoy using it and perhaps it will inspire you to knit a royal chess set for the Jubilee.

Murray Jacobs, Editor
 

I don't know if I am allowed to write to you as I am only 11 and not 60 but I think I will anyway to tell you about my brilliant and fantastic holiday.

In 2010 me and my family went to Cornwall for our holiday. We went and stayed at an old cottage in Bodmin moor that used to be a pigsty but it's not anymore and it doesn't smell of pigs. It was really nice and looked very old.

Me and my sister Jasmine had such a fun time in Cornwall even though it was a bit windy and rained quite a bit. On a day trip to Lands End it was so windy it nearly blew us into the sea but it was very pretty to look at England at its tip.



One of the best days was going to a place called Bedruthan steps. It was a realllllly MASSIVVE beach with millions of steps to climb down to get to it. We had to be careful not to fall but we held on to the rails just in case! When we got to the bottom it was just excellent because there were dark caves to explore and miles of sandy beach.

I climbed lots of huge great rocks that were covered In these singing fossil type sea creatures. They made singing noises like they were alive. I climbed to the very top of these rocks and I felt very small next to such a ginormous rock!



My sister ran around madly on the big beach, she was very happy. My mum and dad just looked happy.

We went to Fowey on another day and we saw a shop that had Yummy fudge. We looked through the window and my dad made my mum buy lots and she had a go at him because she said it made her fat.



We caught crabs at another place called Padstow. We had our own bucket and we found a little place next to the boats and secretly caught some crabs. They were not very big but I felt proud.



My dad was really happy at Padstow because he bought us all Cornish pasties and we ate them on the harbour and he had lots of cider too. My mum and dad always drink cider in Cornwall. We just have apple juice.

Another brill place was Tintagle where we explored more dark caves that belonged to Merlin. It was REALLY windy at Tintagle and we had to make sure we didn't lose Jasmine because she is only 7 and not very big. There were a lot of steps to climb here too.

I loved this holiday a lot and I will never forget it.

Ashley Price, London

Dear Ashley

Thank you for telling us about how your holiday in Cornwall. I have also had many happy holidays there with my children when they were young (they are now 18) and we have many very wonderful memories.

Thank you also for sharing your excellent photos.

Jenny Itzcovitz, Features Editor
 

A Prize I recently won



This story follows up from my letter your printed last month. Just to recap, I met my other half in 1998, and only got chatting to him in a bar because my friend liked his friend. We went out a couple of times but were too young for anything serious and we went our separate ways.
 

But as we had the same circle of friends we still knew about what the other was up to. We continued to keep in touch but when he got married the contact stopped. However we only lived around the corner from one another so we used to bump into one another every now and then. I had other boyfriends in between but always used to think about Pete.
 

In 2008 unfortunately his marriage ended and he got in touch with me (as friends only) as we'd always been close and he needed a friend. Over time we became involved but took it slowly as neither of us wanted it to go wrong or to get hurt.

In 2010 we bought our first house together and got engaged and I started to plan my wedding. We knew we wanted to get married abroad and I'd already picked out the hotel in St Lucia prior to us getting engaged, so it was all systems go. However, due to all the work we had to do on the house and the increased costs on the holiday/wedding the St Lucia dream started slipping away.

In the midst of this I entered a random competition via Kuoni which asked the question 'Where would you go for the Big Bank Holiday weekend?' (Easter and the Royal Wedding.) This was my answer - My Kuoni BIG Bank Holiday Escape... would be anywhere in the world that is romantic. Myself and my fiancé are planning on getting married as soon as we have saved up and are going to go abroad just the two of us and have a quiet ceremony in the sunshine.

I have looked at lots of hotels and flit from one to another although I do keep returning to The Rendezvous in St Lucia - the hotel, grounds, atmosphere and people seem absolutely out of this world so what better place to get married. But to be honest if I won a holiday to anywhere sunny that would be fantastic; we would have the holiday and wedding of a lifetime. I have bought the dress, shoes and tiara all I need now is the main part - the aeroplane to be booked. Make my year Kuoni and grant my wish!!

As I say though the cost for St Lucia just became too much and on Sunday 3rd April we picked a different hotel and wedding package and had arranged to go and book it the following weekend.
 

On Monday 4 April I received an email from Kuoni telling me that I'd won the holiday and that if I still wanted to get married then they would also arrange, and pay for my wedding as well. I couldn't believe it. I rang my fiancé and tried to get him to guess what I had won - he was as shocked as me.

So, on 9 December we got married in St Lucia - and it was perfect. What a prize to win!
 
Cheryl Cunniff, Wigan

Dear Cheryl

What a lovely story. It looks like you had a fairytale wedding. And thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs.

Jenny Itzcovitz, Features Editor
 

How I Met My Partner



I met my partner Dave when we both went to a Halloween event in Glasgow with mutual friends. He said he liked me from the beginning which I found difficult to believe as I was dressed as a Corpse Bride and I looked... well...dead!

I had heard a lot about him from my friend as they went to college together and he seemed to be a really lovely guy. He had the same sense of humour as me and he loved to dance which I believe is not always the case with all men!

I remember he looked so funny that night, he was dressed as a Werewolf and glued hair all over himself (including part of a rug on his chest!). Every time someone walked by they would rip off a bit of his fur which was really amusing as every so often he would let out a yelp!



We had our first kiss that night and our relationship went from there. We moved in together after six months and in the first two years of our relationship we lived in three different flats. We bought our house three years ago and we're been living happily in it ever since.

We have two lovely cats and several guinea pigs which he loves just as much as me. When we were on holiday in Zante a year and a half ago (my anniversary gift to him) Dave proposed on the balcony of our room and I said yes!

We are getting married this May and we both can't wait! We love each other so much and I count my lucky stars that I met him. And our wedding cake will feature, guess what? A little icing corpse bride and werewolf. We've come full circle after all!
 
Carol Wright, Scotland

Dear Carol

Thank you for telling us about how you met your partner and for sending in your lovely photos.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. We'd love to see some photos after the big day.

Jenny Itzcovitz, Features Editor

 

 

My son and Daughter-in-law, Steve and Sheila, have always had rescue cats and never less than three. When Phoebe died recently they were devastated and her companions, Mortimer and Algernon searched every part of the house looking for her.

But Steve and Sheila were soon back to the rescue centre and they fell in love with twins. They brought them home and named them Heathcliffe and Cosette.

Here they are snuggled together in their igloo bed. Don't they look sweet?

There is also a visiting cat who turns up each mealtime but stands back knowing full well that the resident cats will always leave some food in the dishes for him to finish off.

Olive Hyett, Dudley

Dear Olive

Thank you for sending in your lovely picture of Heathcliffe and Cosette and telling us their story. They are adorable.

Melissa Braiden, Competitions & Admin
 

This is the first time I have found your website and thought I would try to offer a constructive “Readers letter”.

My husband died just over a year ago from dementia and I remember the feeling of dread and inadequacy when he was first diagnosed. I have therefore put together ten tips for dementia carers that may help people to adjust the way they look after a loved one with dementia. I hope it proves a useful aide.

10 Tips for Dementia Carers

1. Be patient and try not to patronise.

Remember people with dementia still have feelings and need to be treated with dignity and as individuals.

2. Don’t talk over them.

Include them in your conversation even if they appear not to comprehend what is being said. There is nothing worse than the often quoted, “Does he take sugar in his tea?”

3. Stick to a routine.

It is easier for people with dementia to follow a routine in their everyday lives which might lessen their confusion.
 

4. Don’t give more than one clear instruction at a time.

Confusion can arise where too many requests are made at once.

5. Be prepared for good and bad days.

No two dementia patients have the same prognosis whichever type of dementia they are suffering from. Take full advantage of the good days that will stand you in good stead for the stressful times.

6. Remember to try and stimulate where appropriate.

The use of photos and oral reminiscences of early years can often be helpful.
 

7. Seek as much help as you can.

Don’t try to go it alone. Call on help from Dementia UK (Admiral Nurses), the Alzheimer’s Association, Age UK and Social Services. Take full advantage of available benefits such as Attendance Allowance.
 

8. Take care of your own health.

If you do not stay in good health, you cannot give your full support to the person you are caring for. Remember respite care is there to give you a break and time to recharge your batteries.

9. Don’t feel guilty.

You can only do your best to help the one you care for then, if that has been achieved, there is no way you should feel guilty

10. Do as you would be done by.

Just remember: there but for the Grace of God go any of us.

Janet Daniels, Winscombe

Dear Janet

We are sorry to hear that you lost your husband a year ago as a result of dementia. But thank you very much for sharing your helpful tips.

Jenny Itzcovitz, Features Editor
 

 

 

One Winter not so long ago I was asked to think up an idea for 5mph signs for the Scarborough C&C club site that would be novel and eye catching, knowing that Scarborough loves the Yorkshire Regiment and invites them to parade through the town whenever possible.

My thoughts were of soldiers but today’s soldiers uniforms are not very eye catching for obvious reasons. I then found that the Army had had barracks’ over looking Scarborough’s North shore and had links back to the Duke of Wellington.



My thoughts raced back in time to the uniforms of Wellington’s armies. I searched the internet but found the uniforms although eye catching were too severe and would perhaps frighten the children.

I turned to my library of clip art and royalty free photos and found a photo of a toy town soldier. I adapted it and enlarged it to 4 feet tall by 18 inches wide.

With my very large paper full coloured soldier I took my idea to the office and the manager was delighted and asked me to make 20 soldiers in ply board and to put them back to back making 10 eye catching five mile an hour speed signs.



It took me 2 months to complete the job from beginning to end of cutting out and painting the soldiers. They are the most photographed signs in Scarborough as children love to have their photos taken standing beside the 4ft tall soldiers.

Alan Sutherland, Plymouth

Dear Alan

Thank you for telling us about how you designed your soldiers and for sharing your photographs. They are very eyecatching.

Jenny Itzcovitz, Features Editor

 

 
 

Here are some photographs of my lovely black and white border collie Rosie.



She is 6 years old now and is a rescue dog.


 

Joanna Moran, Dorset

Dear Joanna

Rosie is a beautiful dog. Thank you for sending in your excellent photographs.

Melissa Braiden, Competitions & Admin

When I was about 14 I entered a competition. It was probably a poetry competition, though the memory’s vague now – and was thrilled to find I’d won a wrist watch.

As I’d never owned a watch of any kind (being promised one when I passed my Eleven Plus and still waiting) it was the most thrilling event of my young life, and I bored everyone to death telling them about it.

Since then I must have entered dozens – hundreds perhaps – of competitions connected with writing and poetry in the hope of being proclaimed raconteur extraordinaire or the next Pam Ayres. Friends keep hoping I’ll write a novel, they send me clippings from newspapers asking for humorous entries to fill their columns, they request verses for birthday cards, suggest magazines in which I can shine.

Little do they realise how difficult it is to break through … nevertheless I remain optimistic, and some months ago I sent off a short travel article to a well-known forum for people “of a certain age” and promptly forgot all about it. I logged on one morning – and was astonished to see that I’d won a cruise! A cruise to the fjords! Up North!!

In the mature and laid back manner for which I’m famous, I immediately rang everyone I knew and even a few people I didn’t know and screamed the news down the phone. Wow! An actual cruise ship, captain’s table, posh frock, the lot. Not to mention thermal mittens, boots, balaclava …. chilblains, frostbite, hot water bottle.

I briefly considered taking along Bryan Ferry, Sting or that bloke who plays the drums in that group who was on the dancing show, but in the end I thought it only polite to invite my husband along. He’s already got one of those padded jackets so it was only right to ask.

It’s a few months away yet, but I’ve checked our cabin location, scoured the layout of the ship, followed the route, decided not to attempt Norwegian with the locals, oh and I’ve bought some troll repellent – just in case.

Wish me luck!

Carole Jones, Swindon

Dear Carole
 
We wish you all the best of luck. Let us know how things go with the cruise.
 
Kitty Jacobs, Letters & Admin
 

Dear Sixtyplusurfers  

I thought I would share this amusing tale of what happened to me and my husband in the sales. We were looking for a wall clock with large numbers on it as my husband has a job to see the time otherwise. We went into a jewellers shop and saw a selection at the right price.

I thought I would ask my husband if he could see what the time was on the one we had chosen (the time said 4.30pm). He said twenty five to six!! With that I said, "No it's not, so you obviously can't see it."

But the sales lady then said, "Well, I agree with your Husband", and then promptly moved the hands to twenty five to six!.

Needless to say, I said, "We'll go away and think about it."

Patricia Edwards, Cornwall

Dear Patricia
 
What a funny story. Have any other readers had amusing incidents while out shopping?
 
Melissa Braiden, Competitions & Admin