Last July two intrepid women, Michelle Cornell and Hannah Shapiro, set off to 'test drive' France's waterways in a canal boat for Mature Times readers. They wanted to find out whether it was physically possible for older people to cope with the so-called 'easy-to manage locks' - which, unlike the UK, are either electronic or attended by a keeper.
Michelle told us what happened ...

In response to the HMRC’s substantial and important changes to the self-assessment system , TaxCalc.com, the UK’s leading provider of tax software solutions  has launched the TaxCalc 2008 range of Personal Tax Products . 

Lehár’s touching tale of the recently widowed, extremely rich and very glamorous Hanna Glawari is one of the world’s best-loved operettas. Director John Copley’s major new production for ENO promises to revive all the laughter, glamour and romance of the classic Hollywood films inspired by the story, with a glittering cast and sumptuous sets and costumes.

Short of time this Christmas? - why not take a look at Mo Smith's "Lazy Cook's Christmas" for ideas to make the season stress free.

Often quiet, assuming, but utterly professional, hospice workers are our midwives from this life into whatever lies beyond. Now at last, someone has written a book encapsulating the work of hospices - as seen through the eyes of the people who work in them. Written by Ann Richardson, an Independent writer and researcher, 'Life In A Hospice' provides vivid, real-life accounts of hospice life .

The Blonde Bombshells, the most glamorous all-girl swing band in the North, loses members every time it plays a GI camp. Now there’s an important BBC job in the offing and Betty needs to find new musicians – fast.
Alan Plater’s award winning show Blonde Bombshells of 1943 is a warm, witty musical play filled with glorious, live swing band performances. It begins a major UK tour on 30th January and MT readers can enjoy discounted prices for the show.

The ‘commonplace book’ emerged in the early Renaissance, usually in the form of a writer’s notebook in which quotations from other writers were recorded, resulting in a book that was a unique reflection of the compiler’s thoughts and mind.