Your kind of place.

Mel is one of our newest residents, having moved to Epsom Village in March 2021. When she visited the village, she instantly liked the size (around 90 residents) and the boutique feeling of it. Her decision to try the retirement lifestyle was mainly a practical one. “It was very affordable. I loved the fact that I could leave behind the maintenance worries. On top of that you have the security and the feeling of community.”

Mel works full-time as a Practice Manager for a very busy Orthopaedics surgery. Her career of more than 40 years has mostly been in Medical Administration, starting with her first job at the former children’s hospital, Princess Mary Hospital. Even with a full-time job, Mel makes the most of the retirement lifestyle that you can enjoy at Real Living villages. She loves spending time with her neighbours and tries to participate in the fun social events such as Happy Hours and costume parties.

Mel has always tried to maintain a good level of fitness with Dance lessons and Pilates. That’s why the Village Manager asked her to lead the Boogie classes that were organised at the Epsom Village during the 2021 lockdown. Mel picked the music herself and encouraged the residents with active but gentle dance moves.

Diana Burslem picked Epsom Village because of the location and proximity to her friends and also because it’s independent living: “You can join into everything, or you can be completely apart. There’s happiness amongst the people and friendliness, and a lot of people who had interesting lives.”

Diana is one of the most active, social and friendly members of our community, and she volunteers her help every time she can.

Diana worked as a teacher for more than 40 years. Around 2004 her sister set up a company to publish Readers, the books that junior school children use to learn how to read. For Diana it was a “natural progression” to get involved in her sister’s company and start writing books for children. “I love my job, I don’t get enough of it, it’s a passion!”

Diana is another of our busy and happy villagers, who likes to live life to the fullest.

John Xanthopol moved to Epsom Village exactly 3 years ago, mainly because of its location. He quickly fell in love with the village’s atmosphere: “It’s got a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone gets on well and we don’t have any problems. I can do my own thing, or I can join in, it suits me very well."

John’s worked most of his life in Sales and Marketing management, including his role in a big German pharmaceutical company. He worked for a few years as a Real Estate agent in Whangamata until 2014 when he totally changed his career: “Now I’m making cookies!”, he says bursting into laughter. Alongside his son-in-law and his daughter, John bought Kea Cookies, a company that manufactures great tasting gluten, wheat, dairy and egg free cookies.

When he’s not busy at the village or with Kea Cookies, John devotes his energy to his close-knit family and keeps in contact with his grandchildren… eleven of them! We’re pretty sure that he’s quite a popular grandparent with all the cookies he may bring with him every time he visits!

Elaine and Ivan believe that retirement must be enjoyed to the fullest. Their recipe for happiness is to lead a creative and active lifestyle, spend time with friends and family, and to always keep a positive attitude. They have been living at Epsom Village for more than 12 years and their cheeky sense of humour made them loved from the get-go. “The first time we visited the Lounge, we ended up convincing all the residents to go outside and dance the conga!”, confesses Ivan with his contagious laugh.

Elaine and Ivan decided to move to Epsom Village because of its location. The village is close to the heart of Auckland City and just down the road from fashionable shopping in Newmarket, leafy Cornwall Park and the Auckland Domain. They instantly fell in love with the friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to participate in so many social events, including the weekly village’s trip to the countryside.

Elaine was a very shy person until the couple moved to Epsom Village and Ivan encouraged her to be more sociable and start mixing with people. “Now he wishes he could get me to stop talking!”, she says with a cheeky smile, immediately reflected by her husband. The couple certainly add spice to our retirement village and they’re always keen in participating in dressing up events. Their costumes are sure to provoke admiration and laughter among all the other residents!

Rosemary Dempsey has devoted all her life to food. She invented Kiwi Onion Dip when she was working as a Home Economist for Nestle. She was in charge of the test kitchen. When she left her job at Nestle, she became the first food editor for the New Zealand Herald. She was also a radio and TV broadcaster and a food photographer.

Rosemary moved to Epsom Village eight years ago, because she liked its central location, its elegant gardens, its privacy and its size: “I like that it’s small. I saw some of the larger villages and I said no, I couldn’t cope with that, too many people”. She still loves cooking and creating new recipes and she shares this passion with her two children and five grandchildren.

Rosemary has never been bored and she has no intention of starting now: her 90th birthday celebrations lasted a full month and included many friends and, of course, lots of delicious lunches at her favourite restaurants.

I thought Epsom Village deserved a poetic description:

I came on board as the renovator / builder in house

Since, I’ve been here, I’ve developed into something else

A friend to many of the people who happily reside

With stories to tell as they stand by my side

My friends include home bakers and lovers of pets

Parents, teachers and military vets.

Accountants, council members and the odd government employee

A favourite kiwi dip maker who became a seven sharp celebrity

Woodturners who make beautiful bowls

Navy boys who’ve become charitable souls

Pilots, chefs and dancers galore

Doctors & nurses, bricklayers and more.

I’m partial to something sweet with my cuppa tea

To accompany my chit chat in the library

The kitchen staff know me well

Oh the stories they could tell

My Friday weigh ins are curiously rising

Which to some probably isn’t surprising

I’ve had many other roles while here at Epsom

I’ve led the champs for some JUMP JAM

Dancing and laughing on the run

We really had some lockdown fun

Poked my nose into singing harmonies

Happy to add my own to the list of melodies

“I can see clearly now the rain has gone”

Was a golden oldie favourite one

Co- workers help make this place a gem

I look forward to spending the day with them

We give the lovely ladies strife

The boys add humour to daily life

As you can tell I love my “job” here

Because of everyone so dear

As yet I haven’t found a better place to be

So it seems like… You’re stuck with me!

With an eye to the future I tentatively contemplated living in a retirement complex, but on a first somewhat apprehensive visit to Epsom Village, there was my corner second floor unit waiting for me. It was love at first sight, with its two panoramic walls of windows looking over treetops to the distant Rangitoto. A private balcony overlooks Reception, and comings and goings from the outside world. How could I wish for more?

This ‘small town’ has less than a hundred apartments of pleasingly varied shape and size, and occupants to match. It is nestled in a garden suburb with mature trees beloved by tuis, and individual private gardens in abundance. Showgrounds, a working farm, library, cinema and several shopping hubs are all within half an hour by foot, or ten minutes by bus. What more could I want?

Although independent, we Villagers have the reassurance of help at the press of a button. The hermits among us can hibernate in our she-caves and man-caves at will, but we can emerge to join congenial neighbours in the common lounge to catch up on news, laugh, grumble, cry or perhaps fit a piece into the community jigsaw.

So, though I have caring family nearby and abroad, fellow villagers and staff have merged into my perception of family, and after an outing I say I am going ‘HOME’.