Sandra and Graham are “exceptionally happy”
Sandra and Graham are “exceptionally happy” after settling into village life.
Sandra and Graham waited for the ‘right’ townhouse at Diana Isaac Retirement Village and when they were shown it, they knew they’d found their future home.
The Canterbury couple had lived in Avonhead and then Redwood, but with their three children, two living overseas, they started looking at their retirement village options. Sandra and Graham now have six grandchildren, and love to keep in touch with family. Sandra is a retired schoolteacher and Graham has worked in different professions including accounting and sharebroking.
The couple have continued to be active with their sporting and musical passions, Graham works part time for IGQ Golf Collage based at Coringa Golf Club and regularly plays the course as well. Sandra conducts the Diana Isaac Choir and the Canterbury Singers community Choir. There was a little downsizing needed when moving to their new home, Sandra parted ways with one of her two pianos, a German Lipp upright baby grand, but the other is in their home.
Sandra says they had regular contact with Diana Isaac Sales Advisor Adrienne Todd as part of the search for the right place. Graham says they’d been through five different homes at Diana Isaac before choosing a three-bedroom townhouse at the end of a row of homes and with plenty of access to the village’s open garden areas.
Both of their daughters helped with the decision when they visited and checked what the village could offer in terms of care support for the future.
“Also Adrienne really matched us (with the townhouse). She really listened to what we wanted,” Sandra says. “Graham got to the front door when we came in and said this is it!”
The couple moved to their new home in January, before COVID-19 hit New Zealand, and say that staff were amazing during the lockdown.
They were planning on meeting up with some of their family for a trip through Italy and the Algarve, but had to put their travels on hold given the impact of the coronavirus. Part of their reason for moving into Diana Isaac, is the option to ‘lockup and leave’ where they can leave their home for an extended period knowing that it will be looked after.
They both love the social side of the village, they’ve enjoyed getting to know new neighbours but still continue their weekly trips to the Rose & Thistle hotel. They say the village staff have been great.
“They’ve been very good actually,” Graham says.
“During lockdown they’ve been amazing, absolutely amazing” Sandra adds.
They like the community feel of Diana Isaac and that they can also have family come and holiday in their spacious home.
Sales Advisors Adrienne Todd and Chris Ashton say now is a great time to visit the village and have a look at the townhouses and apartments they have available.