Across the Tamar - Stories from women in Cornwall

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td id="column1" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/sd.jpg alt="across the tamar:meet me by the lake"></img> </td> <td id="column2" width="60%" height="165" valign="top" align="left" style="color: #081c5a"> <h1>Across the Tamar</h1> The songs, poems and stories on this CD are unusual in that they originated from a scientific research project. Qualitative researchers Dr Kitrina Douglas and Dr David Carless conducted the original research to explore the physical activity experiences of older women living in Cornwall. Kitrina and David went on to craft songs, poems and stories which capture and communicate some of the emotion, fun and wisdom within these women's life stories. <OL> <LI> Prologue <LI> A woman of 83 <LI> We crossed the Tamar <LI> Sophia dancing <LI> Our dancing feat <LI> A trip to the gym <LI> The boring song <LI> Mary's dog <LI> My murderous face <LI> Meet me by the lake <LI> Pauline's bath <LI> One step at a time <LI> The fairground <LI> When your time comes <LI> Losing my aches and pains </OL> <p/> If you would like your own copy of this work please email us at <a href="mailto:info@clear-view.freeserve.co.uk">info@clear-view.freeserve.co.uk</a> and we will be delighted to provide you with further details. </td> <td id="column3" width="20%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/ed.jpg alt="across the tamar:mary's dog"></img> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td id="column1" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/ob.jpg alt="across the tamar cover: green bus"></img> </td> <td id="column2" width="60%" height="165" valign="top" align="left" style="color: #081c5a"> In October 2004 we were commissioned by The Women's Sports Foundation to explore older women's perceptions of physical activity. The project was set against a backdrop of a government which is attempting to reduce dependency on the state for healthcare in order to save money. Because existing research suggests that older people live sedentary lives and have expensive healthcare needs, reducing illness through the promotion of physical activity sounds like a plausible way of reducing healthcare expenditure. <p/> </td> <td id="column3" width="20%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"></img> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="column1" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"></td> <td id="column2" width="60%" height="165" valign="top" align="left" style="color: #081c5a"> Along with the Women's Sports Foundation, we questioned if, firstly, older women really were that inactive and, secondly, if so, were there important reasons for their inactivity? We believe these questions should be understood fully before the state starts prescribing sessions in the gym for inactive older women. <p/> </td> <td id="column3" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/bg.jpg alt="across the tamar cover: bowling green"></img> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="column1" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/pw.jpg alt="across the tamar cover: walkers"></img> </td> <td id="column2" width="60%" height="165" valign="top" align="left" style="color: #081c5a"> <b>Across the Tamar:</b>We hope that this recording provides some answers to these questions by opening a small window into the experiences of older women in Cornwall. It is only through understanding individual's experiences in a broad sense that we can appreciate the big issues which affect women's lives, relationships, health and, therefore, physical activity and inactivity. Of course, like any research project the information is partial and situated - we cannot tell all the stories nor cover all of the issues. However, we have attempted to give a flavour of some key issues - the pain and the joy, the complexity and the simplicity. Our aim is not to suggest we have all the answers, but rather to share our experiences of coming to know and understand these open and caring women who allowed us into their lives. <p/> </td> <td id="column3" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="column1" width="20%" valign="top" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"></img> </td> <td id="column2" width="60%" height="165" valign="top" align="left" style="color: #081c5a"> Because this recording is based on a scientific research project there are two issues we would also like to mention. <p/> Firstly, we believe it is important to consider the ethical implications of conducting research with humans and the importance of giving back to those who give to us. There have been many scientists over the years who have used and abused the subjects of their research - often resulting in unfair portrayals of these people. In an effort to provide an accurate, trustworthy and authentic account of women's lives, we have shared, reviewed and discussed our "data" with the research participants before making this recording. The overwhelming and positive feedback from these women has been part of our reason for wanting to make this CD. <p/> A second point, which we will mention here only briefly, is the contribution of this research to scientific knowledge. We hope that these stories, songs and poems allow fresh insights into older women's lives and values which provide an alternative to contemporary, western ideas of living and ageing. In a world that appears to be becoming more and more self-focussed, these women's stories were, for both of us, refreshingly uplifting. From their experiences we can see that it is still possible to be motivated to do something for others rather than for ourselves and that physical activity, and life in general, need not be confined to self-enhancement. </td> <td id="column3" width="20%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#f0f2f8"><img src=images/pb.jpg alt="across the tamar cover: post box"> </td> </tr> </table>