Category Archives: Events & Activities

Dedication Friday: ‘Wake Me Up’

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Today’s dedication is by Aloe Bacc and is called ‘Wake Me Up’
Such a lovely tune.
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!
Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Official) - YouTube

Census 2021

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Dear all,

The Census letters have been sent out. If you are needing any support or guidance you can call the free phone Contact Centre:- 0800 1412021.

You will hear an automated call at first with the following options:-

Option 1 – Would you like a paper questionnaire?
Instruction – please enter your 10 digit code at the top RH corner of the form.
A paper census will then be posted to them once the address is confirmed.

Option 2 – Would you like to hear frequently asked questions?

Option 3 – Would you like to speak to an Adviser?
This person will help them to fill in their Census over the phone if they would like to.

The 5 frequently asked questions are:-
1) Why have I received this? (explanation given)
2) This is not a residential property, what do I do? (Just ignore it)
3) Nobody lives here. (fill in household section only)
4) Confidentiality. (explained)
5) Can friends and family help you? (yes)

If you don’t feel happy to phone the Contact Centre we can help you if you wish. Just give us a call.

Census 2021
https://census.gov.uk/

May be an image of text that says "census 2021"

Shared Moments: ‘Worried?’ by Oliver Cross

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We have a way of arranging our words which dictates that when we want to express the importance of any event, we do it through the word ‘since’, so, by some accounts, we’re going through the worst health crisis since the flu pandemic of 1918, the worst economic downturn since the great depression of the 1930s and the worst of everything else since the Second World War.

Which I think generally does history a disservice by simplifying it into a series of league tables. The 17th century Great Plague may have been the most terrifying event since the 14th century Black Death and we’ll have to wait a while before we can make a comparative assessment of the Covid 19 pandemic, although in every case the victims were more concerned with their rapidly failing bodily organs than their place in history.

The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Adrian James,  has concluded that the present plague constitutes the greatest threat to mental health since the Second World War, which is probably true, although if you take into account the mental health effects of the Holocaust, civilian bombings, widespread famines and the numbers killed in fighting (probably 42 million in the USSR alone), the comparisons with life under Covid19 seems, to at the very least, very tame indeed.

I know, from my childhood, a tiny bit about the connection between mental health and war  because where I was brought up in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, there was big Victorian institutional building, maybe a former workhouse, which seemed to specialise in looking after people irreparably damaged by the First World War.

They are all long-dead now but in the 1950s and 60s they were relatively young old men by today’s standards. Some, the legless ones, would get around in contraptions called invalid carriages, which were large, clumsy tricycles driven by hand, electric locomotion being a lifetime away.

There were also, to frighten and fascinate children like me, a number of old men who would walk the streets mumbling or sometimes shouting into nowhere.

I could see they were terribly distressed but the adults reassured me that this was just shell shock (now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), so I forgot about them until Dr James brought up the connection between wars and mental health,

This made me wonder whether the heightened anxiety and feelings of boredom and depression which some of us may presently feel should be lumped together with the sheer terror of total war, or with the immediate suffering and trauma which has resulted from every single one of the thousands and thousands of Covid deaths so far.

I know that some of the illnesses which fall under Dr James’s remit can be ruinous and crippling, but feeling uncomfortable during difficult times is not generally a psychiatric condition, it’s a human one.

And if you think you are suffering as much as someone with a regular physical disease, I can only remind you that symptoms such as  disturbed sleeping patterns are nothing compared to diphtheria.

So heartfelt Oliver, thank you once again for sharing with us, until next time…..

Poetry Corner: ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ by William Wordsworth

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I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
sourced: poetryfoundation org

‘Monday Mind Workout’ answers for Monday 1st March 2021

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Yesterday’s Monday Mind Workout was around British Phrases. How did you do?

1. A little bird told me
2. A turn up for the books
3. A fly in the ointment
4. A legend in one’s own lifetime
5. A nod is as good as a wink
6. How do you do?
7. A sight for sore eyes
8. For all intents and purposes
9. Spend a penny
10. As keen as mustard
11. A fish out of water
12. Eat humble pie
13.Pardon my French
14 Storm in a teacup
15 Fell off the back of a lorry
16. Flogging a dead horse
17.I’ll go to the foot of our stairs
18. Gone for a burton
19. Hanky Panky
20.See a man about a dog
sourced britainandbritishness

‘Monday Mind Workout’ – Monday 1st March 2021

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Today’s Monday Mind Workout is around British Phrases. Good luck!

1. A …….. bird told me
2. A………up for the books
3. A ………in the ointment
4. A……….in one’s own lifetime
5. A……….is as good as a wink
6. How…..you do?
7. A……….for sore eyes
8. For…….intents and purposes
9…………. a penny
10. As……as mustard
11. A……..of water
12. Eat ….pie
13…………my French
14…………in a teacup
15 ………..off the back of a lorry
16. ………. a dead horse
17.I’ll go to the ……of our stairs
18. Gone for a ……….
19. ………..Panky
20.See a …… about a dog

Leeds Lit Fest – Tuesday 2nd – Sunday 7th March (Online)

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This will be the 3rd festival delivered by a partnership of 10 Leeds-based creative arts and literature-based organisations committed to celebrating and championing literature and writing in Leeds.  Celebrating the vibrant and thriving literature scene that exists in Leeds with local writers and performers showcasing their talents along with an exciting programme of author talks, workshops, panels, poetry, performances, spoken word events and Leeds Lit Fest’s first ever quiz night!
This year the festival will take place online and almost all the events are free/pay as you feel (you do need to book in advance to be sent the joining instructions)
26 events featuring more than 50 writers and performers including international best-selling crime fiction writer Peter James, award winning journalist Saima Mir and the UK’s leading spoken word record label Nymphs & Thugs to name a few. There’s also something for children including a big wiggly book gobbling adventure with Harry Heape and a draw along session with children’s book illustrator Liz Million.  The full programme can be seen here

For further information on all the events and how to book:  http://orlo.uk/1yNyY

Your Place Comedy – Sunday at 8pm

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Get your comedy fix from the socially distanced comfort of your living room and support small, independent venues across the north of England. The second Your Place Comedy live streamed show of 2021 takes place on Sunday 28 February and features television regular Hal Cruttenden and star of Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats, Rosie Jones. Hosted once again by resident compere Tim FitzHigham, the event will be free to watch on the Your Place Comedy website but there will be an option to donate if you have enjoyed the broadcast, with all money raised being distributed equally among the participating venues.

May contain adult themes and language. 18+

Sunday 28 February | 8pm

More info »

Dedication Friday

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Dedication Friday: ‘Shang a Lang’ by the Bay City Rollers
Today’s dedication is a belated birthday shout out to Karen and is by Bay City Rollers …..doo wop be dooby do ay
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!
Bay City Rollers - Shang a Lang

Shared Moments: ‘Homewares’ by Maureen Kershaw

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A bit of excitement recently involved the sourcing of a new ironing board cover! Due to only essential shops being open and this clearly being an essential item, they have been somewhat conspicuous by their absence. The sizing often poses a problem as ironing boards these days seem to be much bigger – but not necessarily better – but if you own one dating back many years, as in my case, then the covers can be difficult to find. I do wish that measurements of the said covers were in inches! I dislike metric and still haven’t quite adapted. Whether the elasticated version or the basic tie-style, I have learnt not to be so choosy – “any Port in a storm” and all that. In the past I’ve converted a basic cover by threading the hem with tubular elastic and a safety pin – tailor made and an excellent fit. Finding narrow elastic at all over the last year has been difficult though, due to supplies have been snapped up for mask making.

The very word ‘elastic’ reminds me of a story my Mum told me about her first job in 1930. A drapery establishment on North Lane, Headingley where a very snooty Lady requested a yard of elastic, only to return the next day, extremely annoyed at the short piece in the paper bag. Yes, Mum had stretched the elastic to the required length which had then shrunk back – not fit for purpose! I eventually found the answer to my dreams, a new cover, on those magical middle aisles of Aldi and as I unwrapped and fitted it, to my delight – rather like Cinderella’s glass slipper – it fit! It now awaits my next ironing session. The anticipation is intense….!

Have you ever made a purchase which you wish you’d taken the plunge with much earlier? Well I have, with a new washing up bowl! My previous one was purchased at Aldi (yes I am a regular) and this item being from their Chapel Allerton store, I felt assured it would be a cut above. However when the novelty wore off, I began to curse its existence with some regularity. Too heavy, why did it need a deep rim to it and worst of all –  dinner plates would not lie flat. I’ve considered whether this was the way the process of washing up was heading, probably to entice one into buying a dishwasher. When it all came to a head, in seeking its replacement I was unprepared for a shortage! Did they appear on Christmas ‘wish lists’? Or are they stuck in Containers at Dover or Felixstowe Docks? Home Bargains saved the day with only two left, including a grey one to match my kitchen. It has no deep rim, making it easier to reach over to retrieve an errant spoon. The overall factor is that dinner plates now lie flat! I’ve now been examining the “seen better days” bread bin which has a couple of dents in it and as I don’t wish to visit a Panel Beater for repair, my searching may start all over again……

Thank you Maureen, until next time….