A walk in the Tunnel

A walk in the tunnel and a ride back on the ferry is being organised so that we can raise some funds for Neurosupport.

The event will be happening on Sunday19th July and we are hoping to have at least 10 people walking and raising money through sponsorship forms that we will giving out as soon as possible.we are trying to make the walk as regards time to be 12.00p.m so that we can all have a good breakfast before the walk starts I have a feeling we will need it.

As the walk is fully accessible and also the ferry ride back, it is hoped that some with wheelchairs and their support workers or carers will be able to come along as well.

Their is a cost for each walker of £5.00 which will needed so that we can apply before the actual date

So if you feel like this is something that you might enjoy as well as raising awareness for Neurosupport get in contact with Carolyn as she will be taking names for people who wish to walk and also she will be handing out forms for those who just wish to raise money.

We are hoping that some publicity in the form of photographs so remember your best lycra, headbands and shorts.

New Neuro News April/May and John Fox

Just a catch up on our latest Neuro News with all the goings on at the last volunteer meeting 27/04/09 Hope you all enjoyed the meeting

I think the canal boat might look good for "OUR DAY OUT" I will keep you informed as to how it all ends up

Just a quick catch up on people sorry to see John Fox move on and soon we will have a replacement interviews later this month and also 2 new posts aswell so lots of new faces to remember Also Ameena has not been too well and myself and all other volunteers wish her well to a speady recovery

Jessie on the right of the picture who I feature in this months newsletter has received our card and some flowers for all her hard work we all wish her well in the future

NEURO NEWS
A NEWSLETTER FOR
VOLUNTEERS OF
NEUROSUPPORT

Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are personal and do not reflect the opinions of Neurosupport

Issue 9 April/May 2009

It with some sadness that I write this today as I want to tell you about Jessie who has left the centre to go on to do different things.
As we were sending out the latest Neuro News to everyone Jessie was telling me that she was leaving, I know she talked about it before Christmas but in the new year she came and went as we all do working to help others but it must of been at the back of her mind all along to leave.
Jessie and I started on the same day were we attended that same course that will now be taking place for some new volunteers and if you see them introduce yourself, we were all new once. 10+ years have passed by for me and Jessie and last year we received our 10 years of service to the centre at the AGM in October 2008. Where have all those years gone since we both stepped through those doors?
The course went well for both of us and we decided to stick with Tuesday as our day to volunteer and over the years I have known Jessie I have always enjoyed her company with lots of laughs along the way some tears as well but mostly laughs, she will be sadly missed by us all.
Jessie on the right of the picture with Mary on the left at the 2007 AGM.

I thought I might include a poem from your friend and mine Gordon Milward.

An Ode to a ParkinsonionI am a Parkinsonion I jump about you see

It’s not that I’m trying to dance it’s the tremor in my knee

I shuffle about like Fred Astaire my feet are out of control

I’d be a night club dancer if I could climb the pole

I go from bad to worse my feet stick to the ground

People think I’m acting or I am messing around

I stand and stare into space hoping for a cure

But when I try to walk I can’t get through the door

My head is starting to shake into the cupboard I bump

I try to get into my pocket to find the Apo-go pump

To reach it can be a struggle my hands they go all tight

Especially if I’m tired and it’s the middle of the night

Trying to talk is a problem the words I can’t get out

I stutter dribble and get annoyed then begin to shout

The wife she says “don’t worry” but sometimes I’ve had my fill

I often sound like Ronnie Barker try to open his till

I suppose I should be grateful no use having a moan

And that’s another problem trying to answer the phone

The wife asks “Did you get that message who was it do you know”?

I say “No I’ve forgotten” she says “you silly so and so”

Life becomes a daily struggle you take the pills on time

That’s if you remember when the memories in decline

The Apo-go pump stops working didn’t you hear the bleep

No I was sitting at the computer I must have fallen asleep

Well life’s so topsy turvy we will never work it out

Our loved ones try to do their best of that there is no doubt

If it wasn’t for their caring ways in helping us to cope

And thank goodness for the medical staff who always give us hope.

But I’ve still got my sense of humour it helps me through the day

To all my fellow strugglers to give up there is no way

We may not win the war but we will battle on

We are from Parkinson’s Central Branch Liverpool’s number one.

G.W.Milward March 2009

Volunteer Meeting 27th April 09

Welcome and introductions.
Maureen welcomed and thanked those present for coming.
Those present introduced themselves and their role.
Volunteer Week.
Maureen asked the volunteers to consider activities for Volunteer week in June.
Lunch or Tea Coffee morning was mentioned, possible invite chair of Trustee’s.
Display up for the week surrounding volunteering
Danny has secured 6 tickets for Lost Monsters at the Everyman, he is trying to get a meal thrown in as well.
Group discussed other possibilities, Chester Zoo, Canal Boat ride, and Stapley Water Gardens, some have been done previously. Canal boat to be checked out

DAD event is also on for 12th July and a minibus will be going from centre at 9am volunteers welcome.
Directions and Map to be given to volunteers. Check list will also be posted out with all options to get opinions from all volunteers.
Some details on the event

An Independent Living Exhibition with a Difference

“Absolutely inspirational” that’s was the expression used by one visitor to last years Northwest Disability Awareness Day (DAD). Many of the record number of exhibitors and 22,000 visitors travelled from across the Northwest and UK.

DAD 2009 will be supported by a week of complimentary events leading up to the exhibition on Sunday 12th July. The events will be held in a tented village located in the picturesque setting of Walton Hall Gardens situated off the A56 in Warrington Cheshire.

Eighteen years of experience goes into producing an event that boasts something for everyone, with over 300 exhibition stands promoting independent living, with areas dedicated to Arts, Sports and family entertainments.

DAD covers all disabilities, ages, carers and families, and if you work in the field of health, social care or disability there will be plenty to interest you.

DAD offers a free and accessible park & ride service, free admission and programme.

For more information visit http://www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk/ or telephone Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064.
Carers Week
Maureen gave information on event, which Neurosupport have a stall, at St George’s Hall for carers’ week on Tuesday 8th June.
Idea will be to hold a coffee morning on Wednesday 10th June.
We have already secured some vouchers for cakes, supplies etc
Poster need to be done and all invited

Training
Several courses were discussed and volunteers wishing to attend should complete checklist to be circulated with minutes.
Possible courses discussed are Food Hygiene, Telephone training, Health and Safety, First Aid.
Cultural Awareness, Disability Awareness and Deaf & Awareness (basic signing) were requested by volunteers to be added to programme.
Once numbers for courses are know a programme will be devised and delivered.

Friends of Neurosupport
Maureen gave an overview of the thought behind the Friends for those people unable to fully volunteer and who may be willing to become a friend and contribute via a membership and other skills.
It is thought we may launch this at the DAD event in Warrington
Handbook
New Issue
Carolyn circulated a revised handbook for volunteers (those not at the meeting should call up to see Carolyn for a copy). Any comments additions or other submissions for the next review of the content should be given to Carolyn

Conditions
Maureen discussed the format of this old information which gives basic information on a wide range of conditions. Kathryn and the Library are looking at the content and if volunteers will find it useful it will be updated.
This should not be used as a basis for volunteers to advise callers about symptoms etc it is purely for volunteer knowledge.

Visitors Sign In
Carolyn informed the group of the revised information for visitors to the centre. The Visitor book was proving too costly. Therefore a standard form is completed and a general ‘visitor badge is circulated’
Marketing

Maureen asked if volunteers would be willing to put up posters to advertise events or the centre’s services in locations near to their homes e.g. doctors surgeries, libraries community centre’s etc.

Events Sub Group
Maureen informed the group that some staff were forming and events sub group, which will come up with ideas for events throughout the year, they will meet occasionally to discuss and plan such events. Volunteers wishing to join should speak to Maureen.

Any Other Business.
Tom asked if anything more has been planned about the cooler for the kitchen. Maureen informed him this is in progress and electrical work will be carried out to install.
Maureen gave the volunteers information about the 3 jobs advertised, one of which being John Fox’s who is leaving on 8th May. Other two posts are to be based in Working Life Service.
Alan Clark gave an update on Foundation trust status for Walton Centre. There are currently 6300 Members signed up, anyone who wants to become a member can contact Alan. The latest business plan has just gone off to Monitor the government regulator for Foundation Trust last week and in the very near future another inspection to follow and hopefully by July The Walton Centre will obtain the license to become a Foundation Trust. It has also just won an award were it was named as one of the 40 leading hospitals by independent health information provider CHKS. Mel Pickup, chief executive of the Walton Centre said:” That we are delighted that the quality of services provided at the Walton Centre has been recognised in this way”
Check “Liverpool Echo” 01/05/09 for full article

Maureen gave volunteers an update the additional staff and new faces about the building.
Maureen informed the group about the £2000.00 raised by West Derby Golf course for the centre.
John Evans gave the group some information on the funding secured to put up a small memorial plaque for Dr Hart from the Walton centre that sadly died suddenly age 50. It was agreed this could be included in the Glance.
Date and Time of the Next Meeting.
Tuesday 21st July 2009 11am-1pm
Everyone may have noticed that on the whiteboard on reception that news of our coming meeting in July is very visible to all, so we should not forget.
Just a reminder for everyone if you have any news, views or anything that you might think that could be included in our newsletter and I am also looking for someone who doesn’t mind talking about themselves to be featured in the “Neuro News” as a volunteer feature and don’t forget our very own Blog: www.neuronewsletterspart1.blogspot.com were from time to time I will include things of interest that might not be in our “Neuro News”

STOP PRESS

As at writing this on Bank Holiday Monday, yes I have no life I have just remembered a conversation I had with Maureen on Friday last and the cooler has been ordered and an electrician is coming to look at the power point for the new cooler, who says our meetings don’t bring change.

Another date for your diary is 14th October for the AGM for Neurosupport time to be confirmed watch this space as they say.

Meeting at Neurosupport 27/04/09 12-2.30pm

Don't forget the next volunteers meeting at the centre on Monday 27th April

Starting with lunch at 12 noon and the meeting to start at 12.30pm all being well and finish by 2.30pm

Their are 10 items on the agenda but if you don't make it look out for "The Neuro News" with all the minutes and discussion about the meeting and of course I will put the "News" in this Blog

Hope to see you all on the day Ta for now

Alan

5 seconds more

In some ways writing as I do sometimes thinking of what to write sometimes that just comes out in how things happen
This weekend gone Sally and me went on a weekend break one of those deals that you see in the weekend papers and a good deal it was, staying at Wetherby, not far from York and Harrogate so Betty's Teashop is always on the agenda NOT too much money to spend on a cup of tea and cakes although last year we did succumb to Betty's finest and fine they were but for a very large hole at the end of the tea in my wallet, but I am losing the thread of what I wanted to say.
The weekend was looked forward to for some time and the prospect of good weather can always be left to chance at this time of year but the forecast was good all we had to do is turn up and go driving was not a problem as York is only about 100 miles away not too long for the old man (that's me) to drive.

However things did not go to plan, we did have our weekend away but not as we thought Sally was not well and a visit to the doctor confirmed what we all know now as a virus infection congestion in the lungs the antibiotics should work in time well maybe not they only had 2 days to work on a course of 5 days although the coughing was not that bad was it?
We did make the weekend but not doing as much as we would normally do.

Well the gods on that Sunday 19th April were looking after us both on our way back we would go via Skipton and then on to Colne Boundary Mill for that last pair of shoes/dress/coat/hat you name it they have got it that we must buy. Should only take us an hour after breakfast were my words ,however I do have a nickname "Biggles" which involves a broken car/a semi-final and getting lost on the way home maybe more of that story another time it's a great one to tell over a few pints, and yes we did take a wrong turning somewhere which leads me to a crossroads in a major road at lights waiting for them to change and on a hill, I was going straight across but out the corner of my eye I saw another car as my lights changed green going very fast and heading for the junction I was crossing, I was able to stop as I was only going slow as the other car went through the red light and collided with a car that was going in the opposite direction to me.

So 5 seconds more would have been a different story as the car would surely have collided with the passenger side of our car and I may have not been writing this blog now. Luckily no one was hurt although both cars will need a bit more than a day getting repaired.

Things like that leave you wondering about life and things

Are we getting old ?

As my brother Jeff embarks at last on his journey that started sometime ago his move to live in Spain with his wife Lydia who is Spanish, his journey has been a long and difficult one.

Growing up as we did when we were young in the shadow that is Anfield for me 10 years for him only 6 years and then like all who lived in the terrace house with an outside toilet and no hot water or central heating we moved to a place that we did not know about, Kirkby( I have spelt it the way it was when we first moved and how my mum would always say that we we came from Kirkby not Kirby) a land of high rise flats and lots of green spaces and also lots of us, that is under 16years of age and living in Kirkby, at one time if I remember correctly the biggest population of under 16years old in Europe, some year in the early sixties I'm not sure what year or if that information is right or is it just an urban myth that grew up around where we lived.

In those days it always had a bad press(you had to pay the taxi driver first before he would set off to take you hometo Kirkby)and in later years as well I remember an incident when by now I was working at running pubs, a new manager from the brewery who I was talking to at a conference mentioned that he had been round Kirkby and likened it to Beruit with all the bars on windows and barbed wire on the pubs he had visited , a look of despair,I had to remind him that lots of good people lived in Kirkby and especially 3, my mum, dad and brother: he walked away muttering to himself about me, but for my brother you see unlike myself who has moved around this city,7 times since leaving Kirkby in the early seventies, he has never left his home where we first went to all those years ago.

Now for him and myself 50 years have passed and as I visited the house maybe for the last time with my wife yesterday to go out for a meal with my brother and his wife, I look around the house filled with boxes and memories of happy and some sad,times when we lived there together with my mum and dad,who are both no longer with us, so Are we getting old ? I think so but as my brother and his wife embark on a new chapter in ther lives our home will now fill with other peoples new memories of hopes and dreams maybe similar to those of my mum and dad when we first went there all those years ago in 1958.

So now I wish my brother and his wife well in their new start in Spain and maybe in the future you will see pictures of us all together enjoying the sun in Spain.

let us remember them

I thought that this was a timely reminder to us all of that fateful now 20 years ago
i pinched this off Gordon's webpage I don't think he will mind

LET US REMEMBER THEM
On that fateful day15th April 1989
With banners waving the weather was fine
Liverpool fans set off to catch a bus
To beat Nottingham Forest was a must
They travelled to Hillsborough which was the venue
Staunch Liverpudlians through and through
Football would never be the same
Their tickets were marked west stand Leppings Lane
Let’s get to the front and get a good speck
Before too long they were on the deck
The crowd were pushing they could not breathe
It was then a mate grabbed hold of his sleeve
The crowd were shouting “Get us out of here”
People were choking you could smell the fear
Six minutes past three the game was stopped
His mate let go and the young fan dropped
People crying for help they needed first aid
It was then his life began to fade
He only went to support his team
That day was to be the end of his dream
He lay there dying his face turned grey
96 fans died on that terrible day
Some papers said they had all been drinking
What lies were told what were they thinking
20years to the day still no justice for them all
How could this happen watching a game of football
On the15th April 1989 96 fans would meet their fate
They would still be alive if the bus had been late
G.W.MilwardMarch 2009
Posted by compo at 11:37

things that I have missed

In the last Neuro News their were somethings that didn't make the last one so here are all John's things that get you mad complete and also Keith and the recipes that I keep on forgetting to include although with all things it's all about how much space we have and cost of course that's my excuse and I am sticking to it.
The other news at the moment is Ameena is back in hospital and we all wish her a speedy recovery
recipes from Keith

Pakora
l2Sg (4 oz) gram flour* 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon chili powder* about 150 ml (1/4 pint) water 2green chilies*, finely chopped 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander* 1 teaspoon melted butter or ghee* 2 onions, cut into rings oil for deep-frying 8 small fresh spinach leaves 2-3 potatoes, parboiled and sliced
Sift the flour, salt and chili powder into a bowl. Stir in sufficient water to make a thick batter and beat well until smooth. Leave to stand for 30 minutes. Stir the chilies and coriander into the batter, then add the melted butter or ghee. Drop in the onion rings to coat thickly with batter. Heat the oil in a deep pan, drop in the onion rings and deep-fry until crisp and golden. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper and keep warm. Dip the spinach leaves into the batter and deep—fry in the same way, adding more oil to the pan if necessary. Finally, repeat the process with the potato slices. Serve hot. . Serves 4
Chicken Tikka
l5Og (5.2 oz) natural yogurt I table spoon grated ginger* 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon chili powder* I table spoon ground coriander seeds* 1/2 teaspoon salt juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons oil 750 (11/2 Ib) chicken breasts, skinned and boned TO GARNISH: 1 onion, sliced 2 tomatoes, quartered 4 lemon twists
Mix together in a bowl all the ingredients except the chicken. Cut the chicken into cubes and drop into the marinade. Cover and leave in the refrigerator overnight. Thread the chicken on to 4 skewers and cook under a prehe.3ted hot grill for 5 to 6 minutes, turning frequently. Remove the chicken from the skewers and arrange on individual serving plates. Garnish with onion, tomato and lemon to serve. Serves 4





Stir-Fried Pork and Mange-Tout
350g (12 oz) lean pork, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons dry sherry 4 dried Chinese mushro6ms* 1 tablespoon oil 25Og (8 oz) mange-tout 4
1 kg (2 lb) lean spare ribs
Salt

Put the .pork in a bowl with the soy sauce and sherry. Mix well to coat, then leave to marinate for 15 minutes. Soak the dried mushrooms in warm ‘.rater for,5 minutes. Squeeze dry and discard the hard stalks, then slice the mushroom caps. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan, add the meat and marinade. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the mange-tout and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Spoon the mixture onto a warmed serving dish and serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6


"Things that get you mad"by John Evans

Things that get you mad

1. People who say “I will ring you back”, and don’t.
2. You plan to mow your lawn after a few days, or a week or so, of nice weather, and it rains!
3. You arrange with a company to have repairs or modifications carried out on your home, and nobody turns up on the scheduled day. They don’t even contact you to let you know.
4. You are waiting patiently to move into a parking space that a driver is vacating, when suddenly someone unseen by you races in first.
5. You are a good way through writing a letter to a relative or friend, when suddenly the ink in your pen runs out. You don’t have a black or a blue pen to match.
6. You are out shopping with your wife (or husband), and you decide to go your separate ways for a while. You arrange to meet up later by using your mobile phones to contact each other. Alas, someone has a flat battery.
7. You place an on-line order through a web-site. After patiently filling in all the necessary details you press, submit, and nothing happens.
8. You phone for a taxi, are informed by the radio operator “ It will be with you shortly” and have to re-dial half an hour later to confirm (or complain)
9. (For the ladies) After spending quite some time preparing and styling your hair for an evening out, you step outside out of the house, and there is a gale blowing!!!