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

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

Vaccines for those aged 60 and over

As the vaccination programme continues to move down through the priority groups, anyone aged 60 and over who has not been vaccinated is now being urged to respond to their recent invite to get their vaccine. You can book your appointment through the national booking system website.  Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.Should anybody aged 60 and over want to wait to be called by their local GP vaccination service they are still able to do so. However, the NHS strongly urge you not to contact your GP practice, you must wait for the GP vaccination service to get in touch with you.

Two centres in Leeds that are currently on the national booking system are:

  • Superdrug in the Merrion Centre, Leeds
  • Pharmacy2U at the Village Hotel, Leeds

In addition, two other centres in West Yorkshire are

  • Pharmacy2U at Morrisons, Dewsbury Road, Wakefield.
  • Boots pharmacy in Halifax

The nearest of the four large scale vaccination centres is Elland Road Football Stadium, Leeds

The others in West Yorkshire are:

  • Navigation Walk, Wakefield
  • The John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
  • Jacob’s Well, Bradford

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

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

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)

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

Dedication Friday

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

Work starting on The Hyde Park Picture House

Lovely to see that work is starting on the 104 year old cinema to both preserve this piece of Leeds history and also to make it into a community space and accessible to all.
3D render of exterior during daytime
The Picture House say:
“After a difficult year of disruption and uncertainty, we’re delighted to announce that work on The Picture House Project is set to begin from this April, following a Capital Kickstart Fund award from
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

🥳

As many of you know, work on the scheme had been due to start this time last year. Sadly though, covid-19 represented a huge challenge for the project and meant we had to hit pause last spring. But thanks to this new funding support – and an excellent team lead by Page\Park, Buro Happold, Gardiner & Theobald and Avison Young – we’ve been able to find a way through and proceed with the project as planned.
The events of the past 12 months have shown us that investing in our future has never been more essential than it is today. Not only will this project safeguard our incredible building and the important history within, but it’ll allow the cinema to reopen next year stronger, more resilient and able to support our wonderful community like never before.
We just can’t wait to get started and we look forward to sharing this exciting journey with you every step of the way.
For more about The Picture House Project, visit:

Shared Moments: ‘Homewares’ by Maureen Kershaw

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….

Poetry Corner: THE HILL WE CLIMB BY Amanda Gorman

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.’
——————————————————————————-
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

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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