Groot festival voor deur Europees Parlement op dag van de Europese instituties (en)

On May 12th at 5.30 pm, Luxembourg Square, on the doorstep of the European Parliament in Brussels, will turn into a giant outdoor disco.

For more than one hour, the most famous “grandma DJ”, Ruth Flowers - alias Mamy Rock, will play an exclusive set, as part of the Festival of Europe, the annual Open Day of the EU institutions in Brussels.

The organisers of the festival have published an interview with her, sharing her thoughts about Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, the themes of the European Year 2012. Here are some extracts:

What prompted you to accept this invitation to take part in the Festival of Europe 2012?

Ruth Flowers: The theme of this year’s gathering appeals to me. If I can help get the message across through music, helping people understand that just because we get older doesn’t mean we stop functioning, then I’ll be really happy knowing that I have helped bring the younger and older generations closer together. Maybe Europe can be an example to the world - let this be the start of something big.

What would you say to people who think that life ends at 60?

Ruth Flowers: I’d say, don't even give it a thought, eat well and exercise. Health and fitness are of course a factor in how much we enjoy our lives, take an interest in new ventures, even take up new studies, music for instance, a great way of taking on a challenge. Join a choir, another way of meeting new people and finding a new interest in one’s later years, or get involved in book clubs or poetry readings, all great ways of finding an interest. There is something out there for each one of us, so when you have time in your later years to indulge in a new adventure, go for it!

To read the whole interview with Mamy Rock, please visit the Festival of Europe webpage.