Poetry Corner: THE HILL WE CLIMB BY Amanda Gorman

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The below poem was sent by Pat Tempest. The poem is written by Amanda and was recited by herself at Joe Biden’s inauguration on 20th January 2021.
‘When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never ending shade?
The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.
We’ve braved the belly of the beast.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace
and the norms and notions of what ‘just is’
isn’t always justice.
And yet the dawn is ours before we know it.
Somehow we’ve done it.
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation
that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.’
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Pat notes, “this applies to us as we struggle to stay sane in the lockdown. I like the idea of ‘not broken…just unfinished.’
Thank you Pat for sending this to share, take care.
The Hill We Climb: Read Amanda Gorman's Poem And Be Inspired
picture sourced from elle com

Watch Leeds City Council Budget debate live on YouTube

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You can watch the full council debate on the 2021/22 budget on YouTube on Wednesday 24th February at 1pm, if you want to hear about the spending plans for the next year and how they are being decided.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Leedscouncil

There have been some tough financial decisions to be made as the council faced a huge deficit and there was a public consultation at the end of last year about what should be the priorities.  The budget then went to Executive Board before coming up for debate at full council tomorrow.  There is more background detail here: https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/council-presents-balanced-budget-despite-facing-substantial-deficit

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‘Monday Mind Workout’: answers for Monday 22nd February 2021

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Pancake Day is also called Shrove Tuesday, but what does ‘shrove’ mean?
The correct answer is Absolution of sins
‘Shrove’ is the past form of the verb ‘shrive’ which means receiving absolution for one’s sins after confession and penance
Absolution of sins
2.
Why were pancakes traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday?
To use up eggs and fat before Lent begins
Long ago, Christians fasted for 40 days during Lent. Valuable foods like fat and eggs were eaten before then to stop them from being wasted
3.
Pancake Day is known as Mardi Gras in French. What does Mardi Gras translate into English as?
Fat Tuesday
Mardi Gras is traditionally marked by carnivals and parades
4.
The largest pancake ever made had a diameter of how many metres?
15 m
It was created in Rochdale in 1994, and had the following dimensions: diameter 15.01 m, thickness 2.5 cm, and weight 3 tonnes! I don’t know if they managed to flip it!
5.
Which day follows Pancake Day?
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It gets its name from the practice of putting the ashes of palm leaves on the forehead as a form of repentance
6.
The record for the most pancake tosses in one minute is held by Australian Brad Jolly. How many pancake tosses did he manage in 60 seconds.
140
The celebrity chef achieved this remarkable feat in Sydney in 2012
7.
In Ashbourne, Derbyshire, which sport is traditionally played on Pancake Day?
Mob Football
The game has few rules and hundreds of players. It may seem like chaos to onlookers, but mob football is the origin of many sports, including football and rugby
8.
A ‘pancake landing’ is something you want to avoid, but what exactly is it?
When an aeroplane lands without its wheels
Pancake landings usually only happen from very low altitudes when an aeroplane stalls. Not too dangerous, but still best avoided!
9.
The very first pancake race (when runners must toss pancakes as they race) took place in the village of Olney, Buckinghamshire, in which year?
1445
Tradition has it that a housewife forgot the time because she was busy making pancakes. When she heard the church bells chime, she ran out of her house, still carrying her pan and pancake, in her rush to make it to mass
10.
As well as a pancake race, the seaside town of Scarborough celebrates Shrove Tuesday with which activity?
Rope skipping
I’m not sure about all that jumping after eating a plateful of pancakes!
sourced: educationquizzes com

‘Roadmap’ out of lockdown

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The Government has announced detailed plans for the unlocking of England amid the coronavirus vaccination programme. Here is the proposed timetable, in four stages, and other initiatives announced by Downing Street.

After the first step each following step could be subject to delay as they will continually review the data and the scientific advice

All the changes will be England-wide with no return to regional tiers. The only exception could be localised efforts if a new variant of the virus is detected, for example additional testing.

Step 1, part 1 – on 8 March

  • All pupils and college students return fully, with before- and after-school clubs opened. For a period, secondary school pupils and older will wear masks in classes.
  • People can meet one other person outside for, say, a coffee or picnic, not just for exercise. Children will still count towards this.
  • Care home residents can receive one regular, named visitor.
  • The “stay at home” order will otherwise stay in place.

Step 1, part 2 – on 29 March

  • Outdoor gatherings allowed of up to six people, or two households if this is larger, not just in parks but also gardens.
  • Outdoor sport for children and adults will be allowed including outdoor swimming pools.
  • The official stay at home order will end, but people will be encouraged to stay local – the definition of local will largely be left to people’s discretion.
  • People will still be asked to work from home where possible, with no overseas travel allowed beyond the current small number of exceptions.

Step 2 – no earlier than 12 April

  • Reopening of non-essential retail, hair and nail salons, and public buildings such as libraries and museums.
  • Most outdoor venues open, including pubs and restaurants but only for outdoor tables and beer gardens. Customers will have to be seated but there will be no need to have a meal with alcohol.
  • Also reopening will be settings such as zoos and theme parks. However, social contact rules will apply here, so no indoor mixing between households and limits on outdoor mixing.
  • Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and pools also open but again people can only go alone or with their own household.
  • Reopening of holiday lets with no shared facilities, but only for one household.
  • Funerals can have up to 30 attendees, while weddings, receptions and wakes can have 15.

Step 3 – no earlier than 17 May

  • Most mixing rules lifted outdoors, with a limit of 30 people meeting in parks or gardens.
  • Indoor mixing will be allowed, up to six people or, if it is more people, two households.
  • Indoor venues such as the inside of pubs and restaurants, hotels and B&Bs, play centres, cinemas and group exercise classes will reopen. The new indoor and outdoor mixing limits will remain for pubs and other hospitality venues.
  • This will be the earliest date at which international holidays could resume, subject to a review
  • For sport, indoor venues can have up to 1,000 spectators or half capacity, whichever is lower; outdoors the limit will be 4,000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower. Very large outdoor seated venues, such as big football stadiums, where crowds can be spread out, will have a limit of 10,000 people, or a quarter full, whichever is fewer.
  • Weddings will be allowed a limit of 30 people, with other events such as christenings and barmitzvahs also permitted.

Step 4 – no earlier than 21 June

  • All legal limits removed on mixing will be removed and the last sectors to remain closed, such as nightclubs, will reopen. Large events can take place.
  • There are likely to be changes to wider social distancing measures but this will be decided in a separate review

Thank you to The Guardian for this summary – their original article can be seen here https://www.theguardian.com/…/step-by-step-how-england…

Monday Mind Workout: Monday 22nd February 2021

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Pancake Day is also called Shrove Tuesday, but what does ‘shrove’ mean?
‘Fat’ in Old English
Careful or prudent
‘Batter’ in Old English
Absolution of sins
2.
Why were pancakes traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday?
Because Jesus ate pancakes before his fast
To use up eggs and fat before Lent begins
To ward off the devil before Lent begins
Because eggs are symbolic of Easter
3.
Pancake Day is known as Mardi Gras in French. What does Mardi Gras translate into English as?
Fasting Eve
Sullen Day
Fat Tuesday
Sulky Goose
4.
The largest pancake ever made had a diameter of how many metres?
1,500 m
150 m
15 m
1.5 m
5.
Which day follows Pancake Day?
Ash Wednesday
Palm Wednesday
Fat Wednesday
Holy Wednesday
6.
The record for the most pancake tosses in one minute is held by Australian Brad Jolly. How many pancake tosses did he manage in 60 seconds?
30
60
120
140
7.
In Ashbourne, Derbyshire, which sport is traditionally played on Pancake Day?
Cheese Tennis
Mob Football
Gang Rugby
Pancake Hockey
8.
A ‘pancake landing’ is something you want to avoid, but what exactly is it?
When a diver lands in water belly first
When a boat is tossed against the coast
When an aeroplane lands without its wheels
When an angler pulls a fish from the water with too much force
9.
The very first pancake race (when runners must toss pancakes as they race) took place in the village of Olney, Buckinghamshire, in which year?
1245
1445
1645
1845
10.
As well as a pancake race, the seaside town of Scarborough celebrates Shrove Tuesday with which activity?
Rope skipping
Donkey races
Stick of rock throwing
Swimming in the cold sea

Watch a live stream of service dog puppies 🐶🐾

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We found this on Money Saving Expert and thought we’d share it for this Sunday morning.  The bad dog jokes belong to MSE too 😊

“If you’ve been feeling a bit ruff, why not pup over to this paw-some live video stream of East Coast Assistance Dogs, where you can watch puppies playing, sleeping, eating and cuddling. It’s part of the Explore network, which is a site filled with live streams of animals, oceans and sanctuaries across the world for your mind to escape to. See more puppy love with its YouTube channel Explore Dogs… Go on, you mutt as well!”

Dedication Friday: ‘We’ll Meet Again’ from Sam Pemberton

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The below dedication is from PCSO Sam in memory of her grandfather.

“Can I share my story behind the song, We’ll Meet Again by Dame Vera Lynn.

My grandfather was away in the Navy during the second world war. He was engaged to be married to my grandmother and they would write to each other regularly. His letters were checked before they were posted to ensure that nothing they’d written could be used by the enemy. They weren’t to include any details of shore leave or home leave in case their post was intercepted. My grandfather got around this by adding, “We’ll meet again” to his letters when he would be coming home.

Both of my grandparents passed away over 20 years ago, but I still can’t hear that song without remembering them both and how their love blossomed even though they were apart.

“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when” seems so apt at this time.

Take great care of each other.

Sam Pemberton

PCSO

Oh Sam this is beautiful, thank you for sharing this special story with us, keep safe and hopefully we can all meet again soon.

Click on the link below
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!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsM_VmN6ytk

Vera Lynn - We'll Meet Again - YouTube

image sourced youtube

Covid 19 and your mental well-being

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Do you think Covid and lockdown has affected your mental health?

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Healthwatch Leeds are working with those who plan and run mental health services in Leeds to find out how it’s affecting you and how it has been to access services during this pandemic.

Your feedback will help improve services for us all. The survery will take 5-10 mins and can be found at https://surveymonkey.com/r/weeklycheckinmh21