Words
christabel smith
photograph
getty images
12
9
Singtotherooftopsyoudon’tneed
tobethenextKatherineJenkinsto
joina choir.checkoutyouroptions
at bbc.co.uk/sing/findachoir.shtmlorgo
fora tastersessionat rockchoir.
10
Channelyourteenspiritthink
backtowhatyoumostenjoyed
asa teenageranddoit,
whetherit’sclimbinga tree,slatheringon
facemaskswitha girlfriendorhavinga
lie-ineatingcrumpetsdrenchedin honey.
11
Goona treasurehuntgeocaching
is thegrown-upversionofa
treasurehunt,whereyouusegPs
tofindgeocaches(waterproofboxes
containingquirkytreasures,a logbook,
penandpaper)in locationsasnearor
farasyouwant.greatexerciseand good
old-fashionedfun(gagb.org.uk).
12
Setupa sofacomedynight
thinkofallthetimesyou’ve
laughedoutloudat thetelly,
makea list,thenindulgeyourselfin a
retrochucklefest,courtesyofiPlayerand
Netflix.FromfilmslikeRaisingArizona,
BridesmaidsandBestin Showtoclassic
serieslikeFawltyTowers,OnlyFoolsand
Horses,TheOfficeandAbFab, ortrya
newbie like bittersweetAfter Life. w&h
in your life
rediscoveryourinnerchildwith
adrenalinehighs,convivial get-
togethers and belly laughs...
1
Flipoutofyourcomfortzoneit’s
amazinghowliberatingit is totry
a newphysicalchallenge.Whether
it’sbungee-jumpingorzorbing(rolling
aroundin thehumanequivalentofa
hamsterball),allyouneedis theabilityto
laughat yourself!outdooractivities.co.uk
2
Trya progressivedinnerparty
enlisttwosetsoffriendswholive
closeby.Dresstoimpressfor
cocktailsandcanapésin onehouse,
thenuptailsfora maincoursein another
anddessertin thethird.arrivingat new
venuescreatesa senseofanticipation,
noonegetsboggeddowncooking
allday– andyou’llhavea hoot.
3
Traveltheworldfromhome
insteadofa traditionalbookclub,
picka country,reada novel/guide,
thencomparenotesoverthemedfood
anddrink(dressing-upoptional).
4
Trya school/collegereunion
connectingwitholdfriendsis easy,
thankstotheinternet.andyoujust
knowsharingschooldaymemorieswill
give you lots of chuckles and a warm glow.
5
Wigit!there’ssomething
irresistiblygiggle-inducing
aboutslippingona wig
that’stotallyunlikeyourownhair.
transformfroma brunetteintoa
pixie-cropblonde– andspring
a surpriseonyourpartneror
friends. Laughter guaranteed.
6
Pumpupthevolume!musictaps
intothesamepartofthebrain
asfoodandsex,andreleasesthe
feel-goodneurochemicaldopamine.
sostreamspotifyandgetdancing.
7
Teamupfora challengeyo u
onlyhavetowatchkidsdoingan
obstaclecoursetoremindyourself
howmuchfuntheyare.createyourown
in thegardenorgrouptogetherforanit’s
a Knockoutsession(we-are-a-knockout.
co.uk).Wanta cerebralchallenge?trythe
crystalmazeliveexperience(the-crystal-
maze.com)orchecktripadvisorfor
the best escape room near you.
8
gotothecoast.thesmellofthe
seasideis causedbydimethyl
sulphidegas –and gettinga
lungfulatthebeachwillboostyour
mood.that’sbecauseseaairis full
ofnegativehydrogenionsthatcan
balancelevelsofyourhappyhormone
serotonin. so run barefoot in the sand!
find your happy
80 woman&home it’s all about you!