Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

‘Monday Mind Workout’ – answers for Monday 18th January 2021

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Good morning everyone,
Yesterday’s Monday Mind Workout was over to you. I invited you to send me your findings to me on phrases that start with the letter K. See below your collective answers, many thanks everyone:
Kangaroo Court
Keep away
Keel Over
Keep at arms length
Keep at Bay
Keen as mustard
Keep a stiff upper lip
Keep a wide berth
Keep body and soul together
Keep it under your hat
Keep schtum
Keep the ball rolling
Keep up with the Joneses
Keep your chin up
Keep your hands clean
Keep your hat on
Keep your distance
Keep your nose clean
Keep your nose to the grindstone
Keep your pecker up
Keep your powder dry
Keeping up with the Joneses
Keepy-uppy
Kettle of fish
Khyber pass
Kick ass
Kick off
Kick the can
Kick the bucket
Kick your heels
Kind hearts are worth more than coronets
King’s ransom
Kismet
Kiss and tell
Kissing Cousins
(The whole) kit and caboodle
Kith and kin
Knee jerk reaction
Knick knack
Knife Edge
Knit together
Knight in shining armour
Knock back
Knock down
Knock into a cocked hat
Knock off
knock em dead
Knock on wood
Knocked for six
Knowledge is power
Know the ropes
Know your onions
Knock yourself out
Knock the wind out of your sails
Know which side your bread is buttered
Know which way the wind blows
Knuckle down
Knuckle under
Knuckle sandwich
Konk Out
Any more?

New nationwide ‘Better Health – Every Mind Matters’ Campaign launched today

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Half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than the one in March 2020.  However, at the same time 3 in 5 (60%) of those asked say they feel hopeful about the future. 

To support people during this time, PHE has launched a nationwide Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign to support people to take action to look after their mental health and wellbeing and help support others such as family and friends. The campaign encourages people to get a free NHS-approved Mind Plan from the Every Mind Matters website. By answering 5 simple questions, adults will get a personalised action plan with practical tips to help them deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control.

Find out more: gov.uk/government/new

Ministry of Food Leeds cookery course over zoom

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Ministry of Food Leeds are running a 6 week online cookery course over zoom from tomorrow. It will be hosted by cookery trainers Yvonne, Anthony and Neil. You are welcome to cook-along or just simply watch and ask questions! This is a FREE course – full of healthy recipes and batch-cooking solutions – plus you will even be sent a certificate on completion of the course! To enrol, contact Tricia using the leaflet below.

 

Image may contain: text that says "Jamie's MINISTRY OF LEEDS FOOD Online 6 week courses delivered over Zoom All Free! Tuesday 19th January 2pm Thursday 18th February 2pm Week Week Savoury Crepe and Poached egg Week Beef Stir fry and Egg Fried Rice Week BBQ Chicken and Wedges Pizza and Evolution Salad Week Humous Crudités and Indian Dal Flatbread Week 6 Simply Tomato Sauce with Pasta and Fish cake with Broccoli (Photos photographer) Please pop in or call 0113 242 5685 or email tricia.temperley@zestleeds.org.uk zest"

Alternatively, you can enrol by visiting https://try.oneyouleeds.co.uk/sign-up/
You MUST be a Leeds resident to enrol on this course.

Improving access to care for people with a Long term condition

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Survey from Healthwatch Leeds.

Healthwatch are working with Leeds City Council and the local NHS to improve the care, support and experience of people who live with a long-term condition.

Do you have a long term-condition or care for someone who has a long-term condition?

Please can you help improve local services by completing  this survey, which is your opportunity to say what works and what could be better https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ImproveAccess4People

 

 

Leeds City Council urging caution as case of new Covid variant are on the rise

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Leeds City Council issued a statement as more cases of the new Covid variant have been found in the city.

Residents are urged to stay home as much as possible and  take extra care to keep themselves safe and to help stop the spread.

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From Leeds City Council website:

The new UK COVID-19 variant is now believed to be responsible for around one in every five cases of the virus detected in Leeds, new figures have revealed.

Residents and communities across the city are being urged to stay home whenever possible and keep contact with others to an absolute minimum as instances of the highly contagious B117 variant increase.

The latest testing information also shows 344.2 cases per 100,000 people tested, with cases thought to be spreading at the fastest rate in the 20-35 age group.

Case numbers in Leeds have shown some slight fluctuations in the past few days, with more cases of the UK variant, thought to spread much more easily, being picked up during testing. Before Christmas, the variant was believed to be responsible for around just one in 20 local cases.

In light of this, the council is once again reminding everyone across the city to take every possible precaution to prevent the spread of the virus and keep the city safe.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We have reached a critical stage in our long fight against this dreadful virus, which we know has already taken such a devastating toll on our city and its communities.

“As the rollout of vaccines accelerates, there is at last a real, tangible hope that finally, we are nearing the end of the worst stages of this terrible pandemic and may be able to start thinking towards the future sooner rather than later.

“However, the appearance of this highly contagious new variant means that until that time comes, it is absolutely imperative that we do not become complacent and do all that we can to prevent the virus spreading and cases increasing to the point where our local NHS services become overwhelmed.

“Leeds has shown remarkable grit and resolve throughout the pandemic and as we enter the final stretch, we need to call on those reserves once more to keep our families, loved ones, friends and neighbours safe.”

The council is continuing to work closely with health partners on a major rollout of vaccinations, with vaccination sites being set up at venues across the city and tens of thousands of vulnerable residents and key workers in high priority groups already receiving their first jabs.

Local GPs are working to provide vaccinations to as many care home residents and patients aged 80 as possible. In the coming weeks, the first community pharmacies will be starting to offer vaccinations and four large vaccination centres are being set up in West Yorkshire, including Elland Road.

Across the city’s care home network, efforts to protect some of the city’s most vulnerable have also seen vaccines given to 889 residents and 1,626 staff.

Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Working alongside our partners in the NHS, we are making good progress in ensuring Leeds has a comprehensive and robust network of vaccine sites, equipped to cope with what will be one of the single greatest collective efforts the city and the country has ever seen.

“While it’s hugely encouraging to see vaccinations taking place, this new variant carries with it a real danger that cases could grow exponentially and our efforts to control the spread of the virus and protect local health services may consequently be placed in serious jeopardy.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel, but staying home, minimising contact with others and following the latest guidance around hygiene and social distancing must remain at the forefront of our minds over the coming months.”

Everyone in Leeds can do their bit to help fight the spread of COVID-19 by:

  • Staying home as much as you can and minimising contact with others when you do need to go out. Acting as though you have the virus is the best way to stay safe.
  • Regularly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Wearing a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • Staying two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible.
  • Ensuring work venues are as COVID secure as possible.
  • Remembering that if you’ve had your vaccination or previously tested positive for COVID-19, it’s important that everyone still follows the rules to keep us all safe.

More information and support for residents can be found here: www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus.

 

 

It’s Friday, it’s your tune!

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Dear all,

Dedication Friday is an invitation for you to send in your music dedications. The song you love and wish to share with others, a time to reminisce, to dedicate in memory of those we have lost, and a dedication to family and friends maybe. A wedding or divorce tune… Or just a little something for you!

My tune for today is below. It is sung by Yazz (originally sung by Otis Clay). This song is dedicated to my friend who celebrated her birthday alone yesterday due to the heavy snow and having to isolate. She looked like Yazz and even dyed her hair the same when younger. It definitely brings back some memories for me, we used to dance to this when out in the clubs. A distant memory now when going out was all the rage 🙂 And hopefully we will again soon, well maybe not to the clubs but a cafe or two will do. The lyrics are hopeful too…….. things maybe a little hard now but we’ll find a brighter day….hold on, the only way is up :).
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Is there a tune you wish to share with others?
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If yes, email me: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk or call me: 07436 530073  
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Click on the highlighted link below to listen:
ps. If it asks you to sign into Youtube, just click on ‘no thanks’ and then click on ‘I agree’, you may also have to watch the start of an advert first, you can skip ad once it shows bottom right – enjoy!
What happened to 'The Only Way is Up' singer Yazz? - Smooth
image sourced: smooth radio

Bingo anyone? Wednesday 20th January 2021@3pm

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Is anyone up for some online bingo Wednesday 20th January @3pm? If yes please get in touch before 1pm Tuesday 19th January and I will get some cards out to you on Wednesday morning. We can have a few games and there will be prizes – nothing too lavish of course but they will still be lovely and hopefully it will be a bit of fun too.
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Email me back or just call me on the details below if yes. If you or your family don’t have the internet or are not too good with zoom then this is ok you can use your phone to listen and hear the numbers being called if you wish. It just means you won’t be able to see anyone, which if you are ok with then let me know. I can go through all this with you.
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Lisa: Caring Together Mobile: 07436 530073
email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk

Snowy scene in Leeds this morning…….but where?

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Dear all, I have been sent someone’s view from their window this morning. Slightly obscured by the dense snow filled air with just the building in the forefront visible. Can anyone guess where this might be? And I am sure the snow is thicker on the ground by now.

Keep safe everyone.

Shared Moments: ‘Communication now’ by Oliver Cross

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I wish I wasn’t frightened of my own voice because then I could spend all day on social media talking to people I don’t know.

Which, at a time when old-fashioned personal contact is mostly outlawed, would mean I could make a contribution to combating the loneliness and anxiety which is supposed to be the main curse of the lock-down age, even more so than thousands of people dying prematurely, which we don’t like to think about.

My problem is that I don’t distinguish, in terms of difficulty, between talking, texting or ‘proper’ writing; any use of words is a serious business to me, so that I can take 20 minutes to fill in a birthday card. An internet conversation involving me would be made up mainly of long pauses and the only message people could take from it would be that my broadband needs fixing,

I’ve not been able to join in the great socially-distanced virtual hug we’re all supposed to be giving ourselves because, as well as my own voice, I’m frightened of strangers (plus, although it’s not immediately relevant, coat hangers, ironing boards and brassicas).

This is why I find it difficult to get involved in conversation with parcel deliveries, bus drivers, barbers, general practitioners or lost people desperately seeking directions. I know this is wrong but shyness is a terrible thing, not because it makes you unhappy, but because it makes you, in many situations, near-useless.

But although shyness is generally a bad thing, unrestrained self-confidence, as demonstrated all over the net and on radio phone-ins, can be equally problematic, by which I mean absolutely dreadful and isn’t it a pity that all the recent huge advances in popular communication have cumulated in Donald Trump?

This shouldn’t have happened because most of us have access to countless sources of information and opinion and, to quote Areopagitica,  John Milton’s great tract on freedom of speech, ‘Let Truth and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worst in a free and open encounter?’

Which might have been true when it was written in 1644 and when I studied it at A-level a few years later, but now Truth looks tattered and vulnerable; after taking a beating from 20th century totalitarians it’s had to deal with 21st century PR companies, sneaky politicians, conspiracy theorists and the incessant shouting of people who want to drown out every version of truth but their own.

Milton, thinking truth had a pure and unassailable quality, would have been quite floored by the discovery of Trump’s advisor, Kellyanne Conway, that there are such things as ‘alternative facts’, which mean the result of the US presidential election can be whatever you want it to be.

This makes things difficult because when Twitter bans Donald Trump from spreading lies and inciting violence, and  Donald Trump Jnr responds by tweeting that ‘free speech no longer exists in America’ I’m not sure where the very small Ariopagitica Support Group should stand.

But I’ve decided that Junior’s statement, published in every corner of America, should probably be dismissed as self-contradictory.

Thank you Oliver, until next time….