When Robertson Tait speaks, we should listen. Born 73 years ago on the banks of Loch Ness, Robertson, a proud Highlander, spent 25 years living and working in Victoria and Vancouver, and currently resides just north of Bordeaux, France with his wife, Barbara, and their two frisky felines.
His real name is Gordon Black, but he uses a nom de plume for book and song writing. “I chose Robertson Tait — being my brother’s middle name and my mother’s last name. So, if it’s books or music, I’m Robertson Tait.”
In addition to authoring novels and songs, Robertson is also a competitive swimmer and has been since age five. And his passions don’t stop there. Frankly, he is passionate about life, and living it to its fullest.
His novels are both humorous and romantic; after all, he calls himself “an unapologetic romantic.” Most of his novels are based on his extensive travels as a young international swimmer and his equestrian adventures, which, in addition to being an equestrian coach, include riding unruly former racehorses in show jumping and eventing, where rider and horse compete across the disciplines of dressage, cross-country racing and show jumping.
This multi-talented go-getter is also a singer and an actor, who now does voice-over work. Ex-pats may recognize Robertson from his appearances in several British television series and commercials.
He is not hesitant about sharing where his vitality comes from. Taking a short break from writing romantic fiction, last year, he penned What I Eat to Reach #1 in French Masters Swimming… and other thoughts on Ageing Fitness (available on amazon.ca and at Barnes & Noble). Making it clear he is not a doctor, dietician or even “a health guru,” Robertson shares several secrets of his exuberance in his book.
“I wrote this for anyone having doubts about their ability,” he says. “I was coming back to competitive swimming after not competing for four or five years. I wanted my book to be like I was sitting across a table having a coffee with the reader, just chatting, and giving some ‘must dos’ and exploding some myths. My purpose was to instil confidence in anyone questioning their ability or their place in competition.”
Robertson adds, “I’m hoping it is a book that a person can read in an hour or two and come away with the impetus and encouragement for their own plan of action on the nutrition front.” For Robertson, it’s all about balance. “You can offset what you may occasionally indulge in with the requisite amount of exercise to counter it.”
“Rather than being a book for aspiring competitors, it is more a ‘how to keep on, keeping on’ treatise,” he says. “I compete to ward off the aging threat. Through my diet and exercises, I have made a point of aging well.”
For Robertson, there are four main components to great health and a robust zest for life: water, sleep, exercise, and diet. He says, “sleep is a huge component in feeling good, being fit, and being ready to compete with the best.” The exercises of which he speaks need not be hours and hours in the gym or in the pool. “Moderate or mild exercise is perfectly fine and is actually to be preferred. It is the consistency of exercise that really matters.”
He makes a point of avoiding fast food and sugar whenever possible. But that doesn’t mean he has stopped eating dark chocolate and ice cream, two of his favourite treats. “I turn a blind eye to the sugar in those,” he says. “Having some treats is fine, even if it means an extra few minutes on your exercise bike or an extra mile added to your daily walk.” Robertson does not believe in counting calories.
“Exercising only has value if it is done regularly, and moderate exercise, particularly for seniors, is best,” he says. “Do a bit, and you’ve done more than if you had done nothing. More is not always better. You need to listen to your body and take the hint and not force yourself when it tells you not to.”
Robertson loves nature and the beauty of it in all its forms. “I am a big fan of nature – all the birds, animals and, of course, the bees.” In people, “I love to see kindness, caring and courtesy.”
His appreciation of the beauty of nature motivates him to do what he can to help reverse the damage humans have done to our environment. He is particularly interested in ridding the oceans of tons and tons of plastic. “Right now, I’m trying to only buy clothing, even swimsuits, made from plastic recycled from the ocean.”
As for aging, he says, “We really don’t have an option, do we? But as a wise man (my father) said to me many times, ‘don’t look back — something may be gaining on you.’”
Robertson knows only one direction – forward. He never looks back.
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