Keeping On THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY Vol 109: Autumn 2021 Keeping On wth Antonio Yuge, Page 3 Phone (03) 366-0903, Fax: (03) 365-0639, Email: [email protected], www.ageconcerncan.org.nz Charities Commission Number: CCC29446 2 KEEPING ON FEBRUARY 2021 FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to The end of 2020 saw Wendy Fox join Welcome to be clear of lockdown conditions this 2021 – and a very our team. Wendy will be delivering the another year of year. We all need to play our part Happy New Year NZTA-funded Staying Safer driving Keeping On. As in preventing spread of the Corona to you all. courses. I would strongly encourage I write this the virus by vigilantly recording where we I hope you had every person over the age of 65 to do weather is very have been either by phone or writing an enjoyable one of these courses. They are half a hot and we need on the paper forms that businesses Christmas season day, classroom based and will give a to be mindful of are displaying. with family and refresher on road rules, changes to how important friends. I certainly rules and information on how ageing We need to protect ourselves by it is to keep felt very lucky, aff ects driving. You have probably not regularly washing our hands and well hydrated and privileged, that we were able had any further upskilling from when with plenty of water to drink through drying them well, use hand gel where to socialise with others and have a you were 15! Its time you did (none of the day. If you are out in the sun it is provided. Combating the virus is ‘normal’ Christmas and New Year, us are as good drivers as we think we remember to slip on a hat, slop on our responsibility. after the year we had, and the issues are). Ring the offi ce and book in for Be careful when you go out that we saw on the news every night from the next course near you – they are some sun screen (uv can penetrate you lock your house, don’t leave around the world. running weekly. cloud cover and still cause sunburn) valuables in sight in your car and There are still a lot of unknowns Remember – we are here to help. and cover up. about 2021, so we must remain Some of the reasons to call might be Our gardens need water too, but keep you handbag and wallet close vigilant and follow the advice of related to loneliness, elder abuse, as the City Council reminds us, do at hand. health professionals. the need for a gardener, house not waste water. Use hand held Age Concern Canterbury’s offi ce in It may seem too early to mention cleaner or a trades or handy person, sprinklers or watering cans and train Papanui is now back to full staff and Flu vaccines - but by the time the next the need to attend one of our health the water on to the roots of your ready to answer all your questions Keeping On is to print the fl u season promotion activities (driving courses precious plants. Be very careful with and give help where needed. will nearly be upon us. As research or falls prevention classes) or it may sparks from lawn mowers and other Look out for each other and keep shows, having a Flu vaccine is a more garden equipment as fi res are so safe. important factor in living longer than be seeking some information related easily started in these dry conditions. Trish Adams exercise or being lean or overweight! to older people. Our Vision is to be We all hope that we are going to President (the most important factor being the lead organisation in Canterbury staying socially connected), and it that connects, supports, empowers, is even more important this year celebrates and respects all older because of Covid-19. people in an inclusive society – so AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY FUNDRAISER So I recommend that you all get the whatever your question or query vaccination as soon as it is available relates to – call us fi rst. – and talk to your family about being Ngā mihi nui vaccinated – to protect them - and Simon Templeton you also. Chief Executive CONTENTS Entertainment books available through Age Concern Canterbury. Page 3, Keeping On Page 9, Kilmarnock enabling Contact Peter Gwynne on 03 366 0903. with Antonio Yuge changes in life Keeping On OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY (INC) Keeping On is distributed by Age Concern Canterbury to Christchurch Malls, Senior Citizen Clubs and Groups, Libraries, Medical Centres, Rest Homes, Hospitals and Institutions, Housing Complexes and Agencies working with older Page 11, Page 28, Staying Safe people and individuals. Keeping On is published quarterly in February, May, Back country man - Mervyn Harris Driving Course August and November each year. Written contributions for consideration can be emailed to the Editor at [email protected] or contact Deirdre on Page 6, My Book Club recommends Ph: (03)366-0903 or Fax: (03)365-0639. Page 13, Waste not, want not The Keeping On Team: Deirdre McGrath - Editor, Mike Crean - Journalist, June Peka - Journalist, Page 18, Coping as a caregiver Anna-Marie Hunter - Advertising Representative/Desktop Publisher. Page 22, Hosts and drivers wanted for social outings Keeping On is printed by Inkwise, Rolleston. Page 27, Life saving bowel screening Views and opinions expressed in Keeping On are not necessarily those of the Editor or Age Concern Canterbury. Neither does publication of an Page 32, My two cents advertisement imply endorsement by Age Concern Canterbury. FEBRUARY 2021 KEEPING ON 3 Keeping on with Antonio Yuge by Roy Sinclair Antonio Yuge, at age 74, is a man children are especially so. Not for the of many hats. He wears them with fi rst time I reminisced about being style. Antonio is a dapper dresser. brought up anti-Japanese. I was born He is Japanese. But `Antonio’ as he soon before the conclusion of WWII. is known is curiously not a Japanese My parents expressed ill feelings name. towards Germans, and Japanese When he came, from Osaka, to in particular. Luckily times have live in New Zealand, 25 years ago changed. I ended up enthralled by he thought the locals would not cope Japanese people, their country and with his Japanese name, Ryozo. their culture. After some thought, and his interest In 2004 I was likely the fi rst Kiwi to in Spanish Flamenco art, he took on cycle the length of Japan. It was part `Antonio’ as a moniker he considered of a process to have a World Peace would be suitable in a Western- Bell gifted to New Zealand from style culture. It certainly caught on. Japan. As with many Japanese, he had a Recalling cycling the length yearning to live in a foreign country. of Japan had me thinking I had He had travelled widely with his achieved quite a lot during my almost family, preferring countries of cultural 77 years. If I had a regret, it is that I interest rather than well-trodden have not achieved anything musical. tourist spots. Antonion began piano lessons at 57 becoming an accomplished musician. I once mentioned as much to a He decided to leave Japan partly former newspaper colleague, Jenny I gave it up.’’ from South Africa. Antonio said he for the benefi t of his children’s higher Setchell. Her husband is a renowned In the meantime he had welcomed had likely had too much to drink and education. Japanese universities, concert organist. Jenny said, “don’t friends to okonomiyaki and fried casually said he would one day learn he says, are all about pressure of worry Roy that can be something for noodle parties at his home. He the piano. passing exams. another lifetime.’’ wanted to add more options. He thought that would be the last “It has little to do with what students I can delightfully ponder arriving at He set up his popular Osaka of it but a few days later when at really want to learn. I thought that a next lifetime Antonio’s music party restaurant in Christchurch which the petrol station, the music teacher was nonsense.’’ with a set of Sottish bagpipes. expanded to include Bar Antonio. coincidentally arrived in the next bay. But where to go? Several countries And what has Antonio got in mind Both closed following the Canterbury “Hi Antonio,’’ she said. ``What about appealed but New Zealand won out for his Keeping On? earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. those piano lessons?’’ owing to the adoption, in 1987, of a Much of the same adding in some He had an opportunity for a new Put on the spot, Antonio replied, strict anti-nuclear foreign policy. travel to visit friends in many countries. start with former interests. He had “how about next Thursday?’’ Christchurch and New Zealand He also dreams of opening a small been a supplier of snowboarding and And it all progressed brilliantly from certainly suited him. He became Japanese restaurant business using surfi ng gear in Japan, even becoming that brief meeting. a popular restaurateur and bar Spanish language, somewhere in a snowboarding instructor. I have attended several of Antonio’s proprietor. Christchurch was South America. “I wasn’t very good at instructing,’’ music parties. The most recent was convenient for his one-time passion, When aged 80, he plans to he laughs. “And it was a great in the spring of 2020. As always the snowboarding.