‘CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR’
On Thursday 2nd December, Christmas came to Neurosupport, At least our Christmas lunch did and a few other things as well. Secret Santa again proved a success as did Irish bingo, but the ordinary bingo session seemed to take forever, “The balls keep getting stuck” said Thomas “The” Jones, our bingo caller for the afternoon, (was it really only an afternoon!) I think my beard could have matched Santa’s and more by the time that game finished. The table quiz taxed our brains, and those who had tasted the vino, claimed it helped them win…I won’t go into the seven dwarfs tie breaker, but will just say that I heard it took nearly as long as the bingo to get the correct answer!! It was good to catch up with the old and new faces who came along and enjoyed the afternoon, though I had to go early to take my great-nephew to see his own Santa. Rapid Hardware did a great job of keeping Lewis’s grotto alive and Santa did look like Santa, although there were several rooms in which to visit him, which one was the real one who knows! but I think we all need a little bit of Christmas magic now and again. It was encouraging to see Wendy looking well after her back op, but I think it may take a little longer before she is able to return to volunteering. The other reason I had to go early, was because I was giving Wendy and Kevin (aka Herbert) Franey a lift home. Herbert? Why Herbert? I hear you ask, I don't think Wendy would forgive me if I went into all the details, but enough to say that Kevin (aka Herbert) had been helping Wendy with her hair. She shared the full story with us, along with tea cakes and lots of laughter, when we went to visit Phil (Ameena’s husband) after he had just spent 2 weeks in hospital. Wishing you all the very best for 2011.
Alan Clark ( More pictures on our blog)
One of life's coincidences? Around December 2009, Sally and I went to the Echo Arena to see Andrea Bocelli, a great start to that Christmas, whilst there we bought tickets for his 2010 concert to be held at MEN Manchester. Last November, when talking to Gordon at the volunteer’s meeting, he told me they were looking forward to a surprise trip his daughter had arranged for them. On our arrival at the MEN, who did we see sitting 2 rows directly in front of us, Yes! only Gordon and Brenda. It transpired that Gordon, like ourselves is a big fan of Bocelli and the surprise was tickets to the same Bocelli concert. Spooky or what! It is nearly 2 years since Gordon and I sat in reception at Neurosupport and spoke about him wanting to leave something behind, but here are his words about that journey. Alan Clark
POETRY & A GREAT ADVENTURE
It’s just over 12 months since my poetry book was published. This project came about whilst I was speaking to Alan, and wondering about leaving something behind when my days were up, to which he replied “your poetry”. So that was the start of a great adventure, with neither of us knowing the first thing about publishing or what it would entail. After a lot of phone calls and e-mails we found a printer who would do the printing of the books, but where would we get the cash? The sponsored walk through the Mersey tunnel by Neurosupport Volunteers helped a lot. So we asked Neurosupport, the Walton Centre and my local Parkinson’s group to provide us with the initial cash to get things rolling and all proceeds would go to the charities involved.
On the 14th of October 2009 the book, titled ‘Days of Hope’, was launched. A very busy time in my life followed, with my going to places to promote the book, as it was appearing in the press. We had agreed to price the book at £3 a copy, as it may not sell if priced any higher. Without the help of Alan none of this would have gotten off the ground, his enthusiasm and tireless phone calls to people, asking questions about something we had not done before. I thanked Alan then for his encouragement to me, as I had said I didn’t think I would have the energy to do it later, (something he remarked about at that time). ‘He is a man with vision and understanding’.
We ordered 1,000 copies, with 300 copies for each venue, (plus 100 for myself), to sell. The money raised was sent to Ray Kennedy’s charity and the Walton Centre Rehab unit for the patient’s recreation. We have sold over 750 copies and still selling. It is a limited edition which means no more will be printed. So do not miss out, if you have not got a copy, get one now.
To all who helped with this book I am eternally grateful.
Gordon W Milward
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover– a lesson learnt!!
On hearing about ‘Days of Hope’, my first impulse was just to buy a copy to support the ‘Neurosupport’ person who had written it. It probably wouldn’t be any good, would it? Isn’t the world full of people who think they are authors, the next Tennyson or suchlike? After forgetting many times, I finally got hold of my copy during last Summer, however I did not plan to read it, having done my duty in buying it (well! you don’t do you?). It wasn’t until Alan asked would I do a piece about the book, that I gave it any thought, but where had I put it? (panic stations). On sitting down, having found it amongst stuff, to flip through ‘Days of Hope’, a well presented book, I realised what a mistake I had made!
This was not a book to be pitied. The poems flowed off the pages, I tried to read them all at once, quickly going from one to another, scanning the words in order to catch the essence of them. Reader, that is another mistake I made. These poems have to be (no! demand to be) savoured, read for what they are. A portion of a man’s life in words.
To put into text, the effect and emotions, Gordon’s poems had on me is quite difficult. Perhaps it is because I know a little about him and his circumstances, perhaps it was his obvious understanding of how his condition had effected his wife, or how his gratitude and love for her came through in his writings. Whatever it was, I can only say I found each poem a gem, each one to be enjoyed for it’s own content, emotional or other- wise. To stand, (literary speaking), in a persons’ shoes and feel some of what they were experiencing at such a time of their lives, I found quite moving. That is not to say these poems are full of “why me” moans, they aren’t, they are literally what is said on the cover “poems written from the heart of my thoughts whilst coming to terms with Parkinson’s”
Whilst believing that poetry is a personal choice, and though my knowledge is limited, never being a great fan of the genre, (even though I can recall, as a youngster, listening enraptured as my father read Longfellow’s ‘The Song of Hiawatha’ to us). I would encourage you to beg, steal (well, perhaps not steal) or borrow a copy of ’Days of Hope’, and sit down (with a cuppa or such like) and enjoy many a quiet time with Gordon’s thoughts. I do not think you will be disappointed. Sitting here, writing this I find myself re-reading the poems and I know this book will become a favourite of mine.
Thank you Gordon, for teaching me a lesson. Susan Brooks
MEET THE WALTON CENTRE GOVERNORS - 17TH MARCH 2011
2.00PM –6.00PM IN AINTREE CLINICAL SCIENCE BUILDING
Just a quick invite to all, as with the previous open day we will be having charity and health information stands on the day. Dr Andy Nicholson will be giving a presentation about epilepsy, Emily Gerrans, a physiotherapist, will be talking about her work. Patients and carers will also be telling their stories about the Walton Centre. The presentations will take place in the lecture theatre, in the Aintree Clinical Science building, along side the hospital. For further details contact Sara Vinas on 0151 529 6622, go to www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or check the posters in Neurosupport nearer the time.
A Volunteers Story
As I passed the first anniversary of my volunteering at Neurosupport in the Autumn, my thoughts turned to writing an article for this newsletter. Being part of a team of volunteers, all working different days, I still felt as if I didn't know some people and I wanted people to know why I came to join the volunteering team.
As an English student at the University of Liverpool over the last three years, I was a volunteer with the Get Into Reading project (http://thereader.org.uk). They run reading groups across Liverpool and other parts of the UK, which aim to share reading and make it enjoyable, accessible and improve people's wellbeing through the power of words. The project which interested me in particular was the group at the neurology ward and the residential care home, which was investigating the link between rhyme and dementia. It was fascinating that the words which came most easily to the tongues of the men and women were “Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall” or “Mary had a little lamb”, nursery rhymes which had been learned in childhood. The key to unlocking more speech, memory and confidence could be found in reading rhymes, lyrics and poetry aloud together through the projects. The reading groups ran for all ages and it was fantastic to know that at the same time as these groups were being held, there were young people learning about fairy tales and nursery rhymes in a new generation too.
I completed training to be a reading group facilitator, whilst continuing my studies but unfortunately my timetable as a student clashed with the reading group times for another year. At the end of 2009, I came to Neurosupport to find an alternative time to continue reading. It was sad to leave the Reader Organisation (who run the groups) but thanks to Maureen and Lorna, a group was funded through Neurolife and started at Neurosupport. This was exciting, because now the love of reading could be extended and explored to people with all kinds of neurological conditions outside of dementia! But it was not to be, my university timetable clashed again with the time of the reading group at Neurosupport. It was very frustrating but I used the opportunity to be a volunteer at Neurosupport to learn more about the conditions and the remarkable people who live with them daily. Volunteering in admin for Neurolife, the Working Life Project and the library has really taught me how many different services Neurosupport provides. The library in particular is like a sweet shop to me, as a book lover! In addition to being a student and a Neurosupport volunteer, I have also been tutoring in one-on-one sessions with literacy; some are autistic, some dyslexic, It is challenging and fun to learn with reading, writing and verbal expression.
In the future I look forward to combining further studies into the benefits of reading aloud with individual sessions as well as groups. This means going back to university and being a student again! Liverpool, is the perfect environment for this because there is such positivity and encouragement from the staff and the participants of reading schemes across the city. Neurosupport superbly reflects this attitude and I hope that I have future anniversaries as a volunteer with you all. Verity Bradley
HOW COULD I MISS THOMAS THE JONES OUR VERY OWN BINGO CALLER
IT ALL SEEMS SOO LONG AGO NOW AND I HAVE ONLY JUST GOTTEN AROUND TO ADDING CHRISTMAS PICTURES TO THE BLOG IN NEED TO GET MORE ORGANISED DID WE ALL ENJOY OUR VERY OWN CHRISTMAS AROUND THE FIRE AND WITH ALL THAT SNOW AND ICE I THINK THAT WAS THE BEST PLACE TO SAY ROASTING ROASTING YOUR VERY OWN HOT CHESTNUTS COULDN'T RESIST. KEN DODD IS ALIVE AND WELL .THEN AGAIN I HAVE BEEN WATCHING HIM AND HIS CRAFT OF JOKES AND VERY OWN BRAND OF HUMOUR SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND THAT'S A LONG TIME .
