Over 65s to be offered Covid Vaccine from today

From today, people aged between 65 and 70 and more of the clinically vulnerable will be offered the covid vaccine as the programme is expanded.

People in this age group will be receiving letters inviting them to book an appointment either through the online booking service http://www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119.  Those who receive a letter can choose from more than 100 large scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services.  However, if you would rather wait to be called by your GP you do not need to respond to the letter and your GP will be in touch – you may have to wait a bit longer though.

You don’t need to call your GP – they will be in touch with you in due course.

More details from the NHS here https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/02/nhs-offers-covid-jab-to-clinically-vulnerable-and-people-65-to-69/

Congratulations to the NHS on reaching the target in offering the vaccine to those in the first four priority groups.

If you are over 70, or extremely clinically vulnerable, and you haven’t received the vaccination please contact 119 or your GP.

Local elections this Spring – make sure you can vote

An envelope graphic that says 'Want to vote by post? Apply early.'

Local elections in Leeds are coming up on 6 May 2021.  Because of Covid-19 voting in polling stations is likely to be different.  Not all exisitng polling stations will be suitable for social distancing and so your polling station may be further away and there may be more queues.

Because of this Leeds City Council is asking residents to consider if postal voting may be the best choice for them.  Letters are being sent this month to all registered Leeds voters who do not already vote by post and this will include a personalised application form for a postal vote.  There is a pre-paid envelope to return this form or you can download a postal vote application form at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/postal-voting. The deadline to apply for a postal vote for elections is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April, but residents who choose to vote by post are being asked to apply as soon as possible to help manage increased demand.

If you are already registered to vote by post you do not need to do anything.

You can say on the form whether you want to vote by post in all future elections or just the upcoming May election.

If the elections are postponed all postal vote applications will be valid for the re-scheduled date.

If you are not registered to vote you can register online at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/register-to-vote

 

 

West Yorkshire Trading Standards Newsletter Scam Alert issue 22

Dear all,

Please see below the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Newsletter Scam Alert issue 22. This bi-monthly alert outlines trending fraud patterns during the current COVID-19 pandemic and what we can do to stay protected. There have been further reports of scams, doorstep Crime and business complaints all relating to the COVID-19 pandemic here in West Yorkshire. This news alert will give you an indication of the current situation here in West Yorkshire.

wyTSS covid news alert issue 22 12.02.2021

The story of Leeds Jazz – listen online

The Story of Leeds Jazz- Sam Rivers

The Story of Leeds Jazz is a six part podcast series that discovers how Leeds became a centre for UK Jazz and how it continues to have an exciting and thriving scene today. It shares the stories of often overlooked artists and influencers who have contributed so much to the scene and celebrates the music of Leeds Jazz from the 1950’s right through to today’s emerging artists. After the recent release of Episodes 1 to 3 with a special Hyde Park Book Club listening party, Episode 4 looks at the huge influence of the ‘DIG Family’ and their legendary nights at the Underground which played such a big part in shaping the Leeds Jazz scene. Featuring interviews with Corinne Bailey Rae, DJ Lubi, Gip Dammone, Eddie Roberts (New Mastersounds) and Malcolm Strachan (Haggis Horns) and a totally awesome playlist that will take you straight back to the 1990s downstairs at the Town and Country Club!

Listen to all episodes so far via Mixcloud here or via the website www.bettersongs.co.uk

The final episodes will also be available via these links as they are released

Dark Skies Festival – Online 12-28 February

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Park are celebrating the sixth Dark Skies Festival. It’s going online following the success of the virtual programme during the Fringe Festival in October. Yorkshire’s pristine dark skies will always exist and they want to share that with you, wherever you are in the country!

Milky Way and Perseid Meteor shower Sutton Bank (c) Russ Norman Photography

Bringing you interactive, inspiring and interstellar presentations across the two weeks, this year’s focus is on Nature at Night.  A particular highlight is the live wildlife cameras, including footage of owls, kestrels and even an ermine stoat.  Many of the events are free but there are some that incur a cost – it will tell you in the individual event details.

Head to the Dark Skies Festival website to see the full programme of events and get yourself involved.

WY Metro and help to travel to vaccination appointments

Rules around concessionary travel are being relaxed to help people travel to vaccination appointments.  Holders of free bus passes (issued to older and disabled people) will be able to travel free on public transport before 9.30am if they are going to or from a coronavirus vaccination appointment. Pass holders will be asked to show their appointment letters, texts or emails to the bus driver. 

There will also be additional and adapted services to the the mass vaccination centres such as Elland Road.

For more details https://wymetro.com/corporate/news/releases/west-yorkshire-combined-authority-announces-vaccination-transport-plan/ 

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Dedication Friday: ‘MMMBOP’ from Lesley Pearson

Dear all,

This week’s dedication is from Lesley

“Here is a nomination for the Friday song. It is a great song to bop around to whilst doing the dusting but be careful if you are doing the ironing – I burnt myself waving the iron about. No lasting damage – it was around the time the song came out in April 1997. Look at the words they are still relevant today (see below words)”

Great feel good song

MMMBOP by Hanson – a popular boy band at the time

 

Click on this link and press play:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=m+bop+hanson+you+tube&docid=608033478439208034&mid=C5263351A23C81D00D97C5263351A23C81D00D97&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

 

  1. Oh
    Oh, oh
    Oh, oh
    Oh, yeah

You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You go through all the pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they’re gone so fast
Ooh yeah
And they’re gone so fast, yeah

Oh, so hold on to the ones who really care
In the end they’ll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?
Oh, will care

Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop ba du
Yeah
Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba du dop, yeah
Said oh yeah
In an mmmbop they’re gone
Yeah, yeah

Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It’s a secret no one knows
It’s a secret no one knows
No one knows

Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop ba du
Yeah
Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop ba du
Yeah

In an mmmbop they’re gone
In an mmmbop they’re not there
In an mmmbop they’re gone
In an mmmbop they’re not there
Until you lose your hair, ooh
But you don’t care, yeah

Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop ba du, yeah
Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop ba du
Yeah

Can you tell me?

 

Best wishes

 

Lesley

Thank you Lesley for this uplifting tune 🙂