Your kind of place.

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 90^th birthday celebrations lasted a full month and included many friends and, of course, lots of delicious lunches at her favourite restaurants.

It is a compact site so close to frequent public transport; I’ve found visits to either Auckland Hospital or Greenlane Day clinics are a breeze. While further afield, Newmarket, Britomart, Wynyard Quarter or the Auckland Museum are just as easy to reach using public transport.

For more flexibility and longer journeys, the village have provided an electric car for us to use – free of any charges. A simple booking system is in place.

Another aspect of village life I’ve enjoyed is the inherent feeling of security. Going away on holiday is a simple matter of locking up the front door, making sure enough windows are open for adequate ventilation and advising the office of the anticipated nights I’ll be away. Even my mail continues uninterrupted.

I have a long affinity with Epsom. When I decided I wanted to return to Auckland from Hawkes Bay to live, I thought, where else but Epsom?

It took one phone call, a visit from trusted friends to the Village and an overnight flight from Hawke's Bay and a deal was done. The apartment I was interested in had two bedrooms, a large courtyard garden and a cat flap for my two cats.

I have been very happy at Epsom Village. The gardens are one of the features I particularly like. Also the central location, the pool and aqua classes. And the tough mahjong competition!

I have joined tai chi classes, had grandchildren come to stay and hosted friends and other apartment neighbours often. I have found the staff particularly caring and helpful and I have made many new friends.

Like many other couples & single people, we visited and did internet research on many retirement villages around the Auckland area when contemplating moving.

The village that ticked all the boxes for us was Epsom Village with only 70+ apartments. We were greeted in a warm and friendly manner and this is the way that we still meet and greet any potential new residents. The number of residents is such that we know everyone's name.

A few years ago, I was approached by the manager, “How would you like to have a blokes workshop?” I answered without hesitation, “Yes please.” Within three weeks I had the designated area converted to a workshop. It is a place where I can restore and make things for myself, other residents and the Village. It’s a place that brings great pleasure to both myself and to the people that have their items returned in better condition than when I received them.

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’.

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!

When my late wife and I made the decision to relocate to a retirement village just over five years ago, the location and being able to bring our two cats were the two most important issues. Epsom ticked all the boxes. And as a smaller village it appealed as well.

As my work slowed down, I started to use the village pool. After being noticed by one of the village ladies, her partner talked me into joining him for swimming at the nearby Onehunga pool. I’ve since been introduced to the swim squad coach, joined up, and gone on to win my age group in the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series and Kohimarama beach swim events.

The decision to move into real Living certainly changed my life around.