Will your municipality be “young” or “old”? How to find a good contractor? A home of life rather than a rest home…

At the beginning of the week, a neighbor left, as he himself had decided. At 68… Life could no longer bring him anything, he said.

Very young, just after his studies, he had joined a large company, as an administrative employee. He worked tirelessly, devoting himself body and soul to this business which had become his only family. By dint of work, evening classes, various training, he climbed all the levels of the hierarchy until finding himself responsible for more than 300 people. For him, nothing else mattered but work. He hardly ever took sick leave. Every year, he gave up many days off and his favorite phrase was: when you do a job you love, you don’t really work. Except for philately, he had no passion, no leisure. Work, always work…

At 65, he was made to understand that he had to retire, to make room for young people. On the day of the reception organized to celebrate his departure, he took the first real bun in at least 40 years!

The next day, he settled into his favorite armchair, completely lost, not knowing what to do with his hours of freedom that he had never thought about. His life then unfolded, monotonous, without surprises, between television and passive observation of his neighborhood through the window. After almost three years of vegetating, he chose to leave.

Fortunately, this kind of character is quite rare. But despite everything, those who have nothing planned for after professional life are quite numerous. How many of them do not realize that the end of a working life is in fact only the beginning of a new one? The passage to the pension, it prepares. Long in advance. And above all, work is not just that in life! Think about it!

In the news

DEMOGRAPHY | Find out how “young” or “old” your municipality will be in 2035

According to the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Forecasting and Statistics, Walloon demography is likely to change a great deal over the next 15 years. With, for some municipalities, a real facelift announced. What about you?

ROAD TRAFFIC| Mandatory training for repeat carjackers?

The Walloon Region wants to reduce the risk of recidivism in terms of road crime. Objective: to change the behavior of “hijackers”. MP Sabine Roberty (PS) raises the question of compulsory training. Minister De Bue seems convinced. To read here

LITERATURE | Didier Van Cauwelaert: “All about my mother”

Didier Van Cauwelaert is releasing a novel which, under its wacky airs, tackles not-so-light themes, the better to laugh at them. Meet.

In practice

CONSTRUCTION| How to find a reliable contractor? Advice to follow before signing

Better not to engage with the first professional that comes along. Here are some tips from Test Achats to ensure its reliability.

BANKS | The Belfius application unusable from June if your Android smartphone is too old

The Belfius bank app cuts ties with an old version of Android. Several thousand users are invited to update their smartphone… or to change it. We tell you everything!

KITCHEN | The secrets of a good jam (video)

Artisanal jams produced in Belgium, without any additives and with original tastes, the successful bet of the creators of Célinette. Our article and the video is here!

Favorites

LITERATURE| At 97, Charlotte Polis publishes an eleventh novel, “Unforgettable Mina”, in a new genre

The Verviers writer Charlotte Polis pursues her passion, writing, and returns this year with “Unforgettable Mina”, a drama-thriller. We tell you about it.

TOURISM| Summer family bike rides

For the twelfth year, the Municipalities of Baelen, Dison, Limbourg, Jalhay, Herve, Olne, Pepinster and Verviers, as well as the Jalhay-Sart Tourist Office, the Pays de Herve Tourist Office and the Pays de Vesdre join forces to offer families a new cycle of summer bike rides.

PICTURE| “Look at me”: the photo to reveal itself

An exhibition project full of humanity brings together trainees from an ASBL and the Bilande Photo Studio in Philippeville.

SENIORS | A home of life rather than a rest home

Once received in a nursing home, it is still possible to… progress. This is what we think of the Ry du Chevreuil, with supporting achievements.