They say friendships should last a lifetime. In this case, it has lasted 50 years, crossed borders and ended up at the same retirement village.<\/p>\n
It can be quite the rarity these days to have such strong bonds, particularly as younger generations tend to move location regularly. But Mollie Lufkin and Frances El-Housami weren\u2019t going to let distance get in the way.<\/p>\n
The pair are both British born, but it was actually in Geneva, Switzerland, where their friendship was forged.<\/p>\n
Mollie moved to Geneva in 1969 with her husband Frank and their three children. While Frances had moved to the city for a three-month temporary job, only to end up staying for 43 years after meeting her husband Riad whom she had a son with.<\/p>\n
Friendship travels a long way<\/strong><\/h4>\nAfter her husband passed away, Mollie decided the time was right to move back to the UK.<\/p>\n
She eventually opted for a Retirement Villages property in Charters Village<\/a>, West Sussex, which shocked her family at first.<\/p>\n\u201cThey were horrified. They said I was too young to move to a retirement village and that I would get old. Without exception, though, they\u2019ve all changed their minds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frances also lost her husband in Switzerland, and soon decided to follow Mollie back to the UK, but was keen to move back to her birthplace of Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really missed my son but I also wanted to make the move so as I could remain independent. I wanted an easy to manage property that was in a peaceful location and secure. Likewise I wanted an opportunity to make new friends and not be reliant on friends and family in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things didn\u2019t work out for Frances in Scotland and she was soon on her way to Charters Village to be reunited with Mollie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found what I thought was the perfect apartment in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, quickly after moving in, I realised I had made the wrong decision. My son realised I was unhappy and called Charters to ask if they had any available properties.<\/p>\n
\u201cMolly spoke very highly of the village and I could see she was so very happy here so it was an easy move for me to make the second time around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Don\u2019t wait<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Medway-House.jpg\")
<\/a>There are number of brand new and pre-owned properties available at Charters Village. Pictured here, Medway House.<\/p><\/div>\n
Now the pair enjoy the best of both worlds, together. Charters Village means there is always plenty to do; Frances regularly holds dinner parties and visits her son in London.<\/p>\n
Soon after moving in, Mollie decided the best way to settle was to meet as many people as possible, particularly as many of her friends were still abroad:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I had lived outside the UK for so long, the risk was I would be lonely if I didn\u2019t have a community around me, but that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019ve got here.<\/p>\n
“I can easily pop down to the clubhouse for a cup of tea and meet people, I\u2019m part of the local golf club and local ramblers.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m also on the residents\u2019 association committee, helping with events and so on \u2013 it\u2019s the best way to do it and there\u2019s always something going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mollie insists that a retirement village has very little to do with your age.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a question of getting old here \u2013 it\u2019s just such fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frances believes the only influence age should have is to encourage you to move to a retirement village sooner:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main advice to anyone considering a move to a retirement village is to make a conscious decision to do it early in your retirement, I live such an active lifestyle here but without the stress or worries of everyday life. There is a wonderful community feel here, it is peaceful and secure and if you need help, it is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find out more about what our vibrant villages have to offer by visiting <\/strong>www.retirementvillages.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> or telephone 01372 383950.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThey were horrified. They said I was too young to move to a retirement village and that I would get old. Without exception, though, they\u2019ve all changed their minds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frances also lost her husband in Switzerland, and soon decided to follow Mollie back to the UK, but was keen to move back to her birthplace of Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really missed my son but I also wanted to make the move so as I could remain independent. I wanted an easy to manage property that was in a peaceful location and secure. Likewise I wanted an opportunity to make new friends and not be reliant on friends and family in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things didn\u2019t work out for Frances in Scotland and she was soon on her way to Charters Village to be reunited with Mollie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found what I thought was the perfect apartment in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, quickly after moving in, I realised I had made the wrong decision. My son realised I was unhappy and called Charters to ask if they had any available properties.<\/p>\n
\u201cMolly spoke very highly of the village and I could see she was so very happy here so it was an easy move for me to make the second time around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Don\u2019t wait<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/a>There are number of brand new and pre-owned properties available at Charters Village. Pictured here, Medway House.<\/p><\/div>\n
Now the pair enjoy the best of both worlds, together. Charters Village means there is always plenty to do; Frances regularly holds dinner parties and visits her son in London.<\/p>\n
Soon after moving in, Mollie decided the best way to settle was to meet as many people as possible, particularly as many of her friends were still abroad:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I had lived outside the UK for so long, the risk was I would be lonely if I didn\u2019t have a community around me, but that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019ve got here.<\/p>\n
“I can easily pop down to the clubhouse for a cup of tea and meet people, I\u2019m part of the local golf club and local ramblers.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m also on the residents\u2019 association committee, helping with events and so on \u2013 it\u2019s the best way to do it and there\u2019s always something going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mollie insists that a retirement village has very little to do with your age.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a question of getting old here \u2013 it\u2019s just such fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frances believes the only influence age should have is to encourage you to move to a retirement village sooner:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main advice to anyone considering a move to a retirement village is to make a conscious decision to do it early in your retirement, I live such an active lifestyle here but without the stress or worries of everyday life. There is a wonderful community feel here, it is peaceful and secure and if you need help, it is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find out more about what our vibrant villages have to offer by visiting <\/strong>www.retirementvillages.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> or telephone 01372 383950.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/a>There are number of brand new and pre-owned properties available at Charters Village. Pictured here, Medway House.<\/p><\/div>\n
Now the pair enjoy the best of both worlds, together. Charters Village means there is always plenty to do; Frances regularly holds dinner parties and visits her son in London.<\/p>\n
Soon after moving in, Mollie decided the best way to settle was to meet as many people as possible, particularly as many of her friends were still abroad:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I had lived outside the UK for so long, the risk was I would be lonely if I didn\u2019t have a community around me, but that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019ve got here.<\/p>\n
“I can easily pop down to the clubhouse for a cup of tea and meet people, I\u2019m part of the local golf club and local ramblers.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m also on the residents\u2019 association committee, helping with events and so on \u2013 it\u2019s the best way to do it and there\u2019s always something going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mollie insists that a retirement village has very little to do with your age.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a question of getting old here \u2013 it\u2019s just such fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frances believes the only influence age should have is to encourage you to move to a retirement village sooner:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main advice to anyone considering a move to a retirement village is to make a conscious decision to do it early in your retirement, I live such an active lifestyle here but without the stress or worries of everyday life. There is a wonderful community feel here, it is peaceful and secure and if you need help, it is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find out more about what our vibrant villages have to offer by visiting <\/strong>www.retirementvillages.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> or telephone 01372 383950.<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/RV-Tree-Logo-FULL-COLOUR-no-trade-mark-2.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/charters-gallery-lavender-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n