Life, well lived
Feel connected to the McCarthy Stone retirement community through our inspirational homeowner stories. And get motivated with our unique recipes, health and wellbeing tips, hobby ideas and help with creative ways to stay in touch.
Retirement living story - Dot Connolley
Read the story of Dot, a former TV script supervisor who lives at Riverwood, a McCarthy Stone Retirement Living development near Glasgow
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Autumn reading list 2021
Our autumn reading list 2021 celebrates authors who have broken through against the odds and made wonderful contributions to the literary world with amazing debut novels.
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Apple and Cinnamon Cake Recipe
Use up the gorgeous glut of autumn apples with this delicious traditional teatime treat - it can also be made to be gluten and dairy free.
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Pet photography competition
We love well-behaved pets at McCarthy Stone. See photos from homeowners and employees of their amazing animal friends.
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Buy or rent - an expert interview
McCarthy Stone offers a number of flexible rental and purchase options. Our expert explains.
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Red cabbage sauerkraut recipe
Enjoy the health benefits of homemade sauerkraut with Dr. Caroline Gilmartin’s simple how to guide.
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Lemonade scone recipe
Derina from Caen Stone Court retirement development, Arundel, West Sussex, gave us this wonderful simple summer scone recipe.
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Top 10 Best British Towns to Enjoy the Expat Life without Leaving the UK
If you want to get a taste of the expat life without leaving the UK, you could take a trip to the places around our country which offer a similar lifestyle and setting to popular global expat destinations.
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Summer holiday activities guide
Looking for things to do in the summer school holidays? We've got the best advice from grandparents in our developments.
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Top 10 summer cocktails to make at home
From easy summer champagne cocktails to tropical rum punch these simple and delicious summer cocktail recipes from McCarthy Stone will go down a treat.
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British expats returning to the UK advice and tips
If you’re a retired expat returning to the UK, we’ve put this useful advice hub together to help make the process as simple and as stress-free as possible.
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Traditional summer pudding recipe
This perfect summer pudding is jam-packed with beautiful seasonal produce. Make our easy summer pudding in just four steps
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Best summer picnic recipes
This is our pick of the best picnic recipes from our chef’s and homeowners. Just add sunshine, friends/family and a beauty spot.
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Top gardening tips for June
If you’ve questions about what to do in a garden in June and how to maintain your garden in summer, we’ve got the answers.
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Gluten free blueberry loaf recipe
Almost a health food, this blueberry loaf cake recipe from McCarthy Stone is gluten free, dairy free and low in sugar.
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Roast tomatoes with anchovy and basil recipe
A brilliant fresh tomato recipe to use up a glut of tomatoes.
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Publishing her first novel in her 70s
Retirement stories: publishing your first fiction novel as a 72 year-old grandmother of three is quite a coup
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Photography Competition
We’re asking the photographers among our homeowners and teams to send us their unusual angles for our summer competition.
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Triple choc brownies recipe
These triple choc brownies are the ultimate gooey chocolate brownies in our opinion.
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May gardening tips
Wondering what to do in your garden in May? Read up on the top May garden tasks from McCarthy Stone and your garden will soon be blooming lovely.
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Meadow Mojito cocktail recipe
Celebrate with this refreshing spring/summer cocktail of gin, lime and mint.
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Has the pandemic made Brits’ relationships with their neighbours stronger?
In such a turbulent period of history, small sparks of hope, optimism and faith in the human race have begun to shine through
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How to become a good neighbour
Read our ‘how to be a good neighbour guide’ and turn your neighbours into good friends.
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The McCarthy Stone Spring Poetry Book
Spring themed poems from our wonderful homeowners and teams.
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Lemon and thyme pear tart with apricot glaze recipe
Delicate, fragrant, flavourful and very pretty to look at, this pear tart recipe is perfect for parties and picnics.
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Homeowner advocate programme
Our homeowners are in the know, and what’s better, they’re just a call away.
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Wild swimming
Swimming in wild waters has seen a surge in popularity in a year when many of us have reconnected with nature.
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Our experts’ guide to stress-free moving
Our removal partner Bishop's Move give their 10 golden rules to make moving house easier.
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Chipotle chicken grilled cheese sandwich recipe
Gooey, tangy, spicy and tongue-tinglingly delicious this decadent chicken and cheese toastie is just the ticket for an indulgent lunch for two.
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Five top gardening jobs for April
April is a busy month for gardeners with ideal conditions for planting flower and vegetable seeds.
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Our top five UK National Parks
We explore some of our favourite national parks. Perfect for picnics, long rambles and wildlife spotting.
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The McCarthy Stone Bread Book
Download these free bread recipes made with love by our McCarthy Stone homeowners and teams
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Expat experience: a place in the sun and back again
We spoke to Lesley Jones, who with her husband Paul, moved into a McCarthy Stone retirement apartment after 18 years as expats in Cyprus.
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Lancaster Estates Manager Pulls Retirement Community Together
Estate Manager, Andrea, shares experience of lockdown in her development.
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The Close Welcomes its First Homeowners
Retirees in Nuneaton are celebrating six months in their new homes at The Close.
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Celebrating International Women's Day
We mark International Women’s Day with five remarkable women
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Honey Bee Biscuits
Soft, sweet and simple to make this recipe for delicate honey shortbread biscuits is perfect for spring.
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World Book Day
Homeowner enters short story competition for World Book Day and captures the humorous side of her time as a young chambermaid in the early 1960s.
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Share the love
House Manager Jacqui was on BBC Radio Solent to speak about sharing the love at her development in Lymington.
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Jobs for life
Here’s a round-up of some of our remarkable homeowners who have enjoyed extraordinary careers.
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Herby Spring Chicken Pie
Spring is in the air! And this recipe for zesty Herby Spring Chicken Pie is perfect right now. Quick, easy, light and delicious
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Random Acts of Kindness
We've put together a few of our wonderful development managers who have carried out an act of kindness.
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Sharing The Untold Story Of Her Husband’s War
A Retired Lady From South Shields Shares The Untold Story Of Her Husband’s War
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Evelyn's Scottish Shortbread
Homeowner Evelyn Currie from Cartwright Court, Malvern shared this melt-in-the-mouth recipe for traditional shortbread, made with plenty of butter.
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Finding Love in Later Life
Valentine special: David and Ellen met and fell in love at their McCarthy Stone development.
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A match made in McCarthy Stone
Valentine special. This couple found true love in later life after meeting at McCarthy Stone
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Valentine's Day Red Velvet Cupcakes
Give in to temptation with this decadent recipe for Valentine’s Day Red Velvet cupcakes.
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House manager keeps retirees safe and happy through challenging times
What has life been like for a House Manager of a retirement community for the over-60s during a global pandemic?
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Pulling the community together in tough times
A day in the life of an Estate Manager during the tough times of a global pandemic
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Moving to a new home during lockdown
Local homeowners made the decision to downsize during lockdown to a new McCarthy Stone development in Salisbury.
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Moving couldn't be simpler
Moving into a McCarthy Stone retirement property couldn't be simpler, here's why.
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Community at our heart
Life changed for us all in March, and for homeowners at Hillier Court in Romsey it was no different.
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A candid Q & A with Gransnet
Gransnet sent our Senior Divisional Sales Marketing Director their top questions, take a look here.
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Thinking about getting a dog in retirement?
Our handy guide will help you consider the pros and cons of dog ownership and picks out some of the best breeds for retirement living.
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An Award Winning Year
We are delighted to announce we have received the Housebuilder Special Recognition Award!
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Everyone has a story
Retirement living story: Homeowner Wyllie Longmore travelled 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to pursue his dream acting career.
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Introducing the new McCarthy Stone Foundation!
The Foundation aims to increase the wellbeing of older people while bridging the gap between generations.
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Moving into their dream home
Dr and Mrs Learner did not expect to be thrown into the middle of a global pandemic 24 hours before their moving-in date.
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Living Life To The Full During Lockdown
Homeowners of McCarthy Stone’s Clarendon House found new ways to continue to live life to the full
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Chana Masala Curry
This vegan curry dish of aromatically spiced chickpeas is super tasty and packed with essential nutrients
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Helping others, helps ourselves
Being a Buddy brought unexpectedly heartwarming benefits to our volunteers
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Nuneaton Is Officially Opened
There was cause for celebration last week as Mr Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton, paid a visit to officially open The Close
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Appeal Launched By Poundbury Retirees To Complete Their Community
Residents at Bowes Lyon Court are looking for the missing piece of their puzzle to join their community.
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Volunteer Buddy Meets Self-Isolators in Ilkley for the First Time
Aleks discovered a new-found purpose in supporting the residents and staff at Priestley Court
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Lockdown Diary
What did a day in the life of a House Manager of a retirement community of over-60s look like, and how are things now?
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A Day in the Life of an Estate Manager
What did a day in the life of an Estate Manager for a community of over-60s look like in lockdown — and how are things now?
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Why Retire to a Bungalow House
A bungalow house could be a great choice as a retirement accommodation option, find out more about the benefits here.
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5 Great British Towns to Retire to
The UK has some of the best places to retire to, here’s our selection of five towns around the country you might want to consider.
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Rent for Retirement The Future is Flexible
If you’re looking to maintain flexibility throughout your retirement years, then renting is the perfect solution.
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