WITH THIS MONTH’S FOCUS ON FAMILY, HIGHFIELDS’ RESIDENTS MICK AND DI SMITH SHARE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE GRANDPARENTS AT A GEMLIFE RESORT.
Mick and Di have made a perfect home where they can participate in their favourite sports, enjoy the community spirit and, best of all, spend time with their daughters and grandchildren.
“When we first moved to the resort, the main thing that enticed us to Highfields was how family-friendly it was,” Mick tells us. “We have facilities on our doorstep that are second-to-none, plus the Country Club has terrific amenities, and it’s wonderful that grandparents can share them with their families because grandkids are not always welcome at some over-50s lifestyle resorts.
“I know we aren’t the only grandparents satisfied with how family friendly GemLife Highfields is. Over the school holidays, the place buzzes with grandchildren who are all so respectful of the resort rules and just love visiting.”
Diana agrees, saying there is never a dull moment when their grandchildren come over.
“We have three grandkids, Callan, 13; Mali, ten and little Meeka who just turned six,” Di says. “Our two daughters Natasha and Karen live very close by, so we have regular visits each week and they keep us on our toes, let me tell you.”
Both Mick and Di are avid sports enthusiasts. They play pickleball and tennis twice weekly, and table tennis Wednesday mornings, and their daughters are no different.
“Ball sports are big in our family. Karen is an Olympic hockey champion and Natasha almost turned pro too, so it’s great to see that the grandkids love sports as much as we all do,” says Di.
Mick also makes sure he has his regular swims with them in the Country Club pool.
“I swim with them every Sunday afternoon, because swimming in the heated pool is their favourite activity here,” he says.
“Not only that, Meeka does line dancing with me at the Country Club and even helps chase and pick up the balls at table tennis when we play, because we usually hit the balls anywhere else but the table,” she says, laughing. “She’s our regular ball girl.”
Like her nana, Meeka enjoys crafts and Di says Meeka plans to bring some of her crafty birthday presents over for the holidays.
“Meeka just had a birthday party, and everyone bought her arts and craft stuff, even a pottery wheel, can you believe that? But I think we will do pottery at her mum’s place, so my place stays clean,” she laughs.
And what about mealtimes with the grandkids? What does nana say about managing fussy eaters?
“I just finished baking Meeka’s birthday cake because the kids always get a cake made by me, which always goes down well,” she says. “As for proper food, I used to cook roasts for them but they’re not into that anymore.
“They’re picky these days and Kallan, being 13, prefers to make his own food, Mali is hard to cook for, so it’s a struggle but Meeka on the other hand is a pasta girl,” Di says.
“She would eat spaghetti bolognaise every day if you let her. No wonder she has so much energy to burn off in the pool!”