Mataffin Macadamia Lifestyle and Assisted Living Village

12/01/2026

IF NUMBERS ARE NOT YOUR THING, THIS IS GOOD NEWS!

The world is divided into those who gobble up numbers and love Sudoko and those who run away as fast as their legs will carry them when confronted with multiplication, addition, subtraction and heaven help us, long division!

It has long been thought that Sudoko is the thing to keep senior brains firing on all cylinders. Not great news if looking at numbers brings you out in a sweat.

But never fear, research has shown that the good old crossword is key to mental agility and emotional balance.

"Researchers now talk about “cognitive reserve”: the brain’s spare capacity built up through education, complex work and mentally demanding hobbies. Crosswords feed that reserve little by little. They push the brain to create and strengthen networks involved in attention, language and problem‑solving.

Work from the University of California, Berkeley, has linked cognitively demanding leisure activities, including crosswords, with lower levels of beta‑amyloid deposits in the brain. This protein relates to Alzheimer’s disease. No hobby offers full protection, but mentally active seniors in these studies tend to show slower decline and better performance in everyday tasks."

Read more here:
https://www.roundhillsbarbershop.net/14-164079-over60-hobby-brain-benefits/

Yet few talk about the most underrated tool on the kitchen table. While gym memberships and brain‑training apps get the headlines, a quiet, old‑school

31/12/2025

18/12/2025

ANYONE FOR A BOWL OF CHRISTMAS PUNCH?
Natalie Botha Pieters's post on the 'A South African Christmas' page caught our eye - they sound like the perfect Christmas drinks to share with family and friends. And being non-alcoholic, even the little ones can join in!

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1GTzfpHPYq/

15/12/2025

COME IN, WE'RE OPEN!
Our showhouse is open to view during most of December (by appointment only), so if you are passing Mbombela or spending your summer holiday in the area, why not seize the opportunity to view our gorgeous Senior Lifestyle showhouse?

Call Sam 083 675 8272 to make an appointment for an obligation-free tour of Mataffin Macadamia Village in Bugsy, our adorable golf cart.

Even Santa's elves need a rest, so we are closed 20/12/25 - 5/1/26.

11/12/2025

A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU FANCY DOES YOU GOOD!
Go on, it's Christmas time and you have every right to enjoy a little overindulgence over the festive season.

Can we tempt you to have a bash at making this decadent Christmas fudge? Feel free to swop out M & M's for sweeties of your choice.

Remember, a LITTLE of what you fancy - no scoffing the entire batch because you'll send your blood sugar spiralling into deep outer space, and be in a very miserable place come January when those zips don't close!

This delicious, and easy to make, Christmas fudge, filled with M & M's, is a lovely treat that will be enjoyed by all.

08/12/2025

VILLAGE VIBES!
Community, joy and excitement wrapped up in what has become a favourite on the village calendar - a gathering on the green, delish eats, refreshing drinks, tree-lighting, music, kids entertainment and oh, yes, Santa Claus dropped in to stroll our village green, trailing eager youngsters keen to see what was in his sack!

Events like this don't just happen, they involve many helping hands, long days, lots of running about and hard work. Well done and thank you to the entertainment committee who yet again pulled off a wonderful evening of friendship and family.

The spirit of Christmas has arrived in Mataffin Macadamia Lifestyle and Assisted Living Village and we're loving it!

04/12/2025

FESTIVE SEASON RECYCLING TIPS
When it comes to creating waste, Christmas ranks highly. Packing on all those purchases, for a start. Then on the day, metres of gift wrap lying ankle deep on your living room floor. Reducing, reusing or recycling Christmas packaging can make an enormous difference to the environment.

According to the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), one tonne of recycled paper can save up to three cubic metres of landfill space. In 2021, 1.15 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging was recycled. This represents a paper recovery rate of just over 61%, which was subsequently converted into new paper products. That volume of paper would have taken up 3.6 million cubic metres of landfill space, or 1,435 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Read on for great tips on how to reduce the impact of your Christmas giving on our landfill:
https://mpactrecycling.co.za/media-library/blogs/247-green-up-your-festive-season-holiday-gifting-with-less-waste

Many of us are looking forward to the festive season for well-deserved downtime and family time. h4 h5 Yet happy festivities can lead to over-consumption, from the meals to the gifting, ultimately

01/12/2025

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU RETIRE TO ENJOY LIFE
This article on Moneyweb asks "How much time are you spending living at work, and how much time are you spending on working at living?"

Marius Fenwick unpicks our ideas of working flat out through our productive years with the view of living life to the full when we retire, and has some useful ideas to help find the balance we need.

https://www.moneyweb.co.za/financial-advisor-views/retirement-is-when-you-stop-living-at-work-and-start-working-at-living/

Enjoying life also does not mean it must cost you a fortune to pluck the fruits of enjoyment from the tree of life.

27/11/2025

DO YOU HAVE AN ALAN IN YOUR LIFE?
Or perhaps your name is Alan / Allan / Allen? If so, tomorrow is your day!

The name 'Alan' means handsome, cheerful, harmony, and noble, and was apparently brought to England during the 11th century by the people of Brittany, France. In fact, Alan is said to date back to the 6th century in Brittany among its people.

Famous Alan's include:
- Alan Turing (1912-1954), a British mathematician and computer scientist. Turning is widely known as a code breaker during WWII for creating and implementing the first encryption program to decipher messages from the Germans. He is also considered to be the founder of modern Artificial Intelligence.

- Alan Shepard (1923-1998) was the first American in space and the fifth man to walk on the moon. In 1971, Shepard was in command for the Apollo 14 mission. Known as the Mercury Seven, he was one of seven astronauts during this mission. The Apollo 14 mission was the first time images would be taken of space and the moon in color. While on the moon, Shepard hit 2 golf balls into space, never seeing where they would land.

- Alan Rickman (1946-2016), an English actor and director whose distinct voice became a trademark for the characters he played, with acting credits in Truly, Madly, Deeply, Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, and the Harry Potter series (Professor Snape).

- Alan White (1949-2022) is the former drummer for the English rock band YES. White was with the band for almost 50 years.

Spend tomorrow with the Alan / Allan / Allen in your life!

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-alan-day-november-28

NATIONAL ALAN DAY Today is November 28 on the National Day Calendar and we are celebrating the name Alan and the remarkable meaning behind the name. Get ready