Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

Shared Moments: ‘Bluebells in Middleton Woods’ by Pauline Garner

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Dear all,
 
I was interested to read Oliver’s comments about the ‘medal’ to NHS staff who have worked so dedicatedly throughout the pandemic last week.  My daughter has been working tirelessly on her ward at a busy general hospital and, apart from the time when she had to stay home suffering from Covid herself, she is still there and never complains despite feeling exhausted.  She told me about the medal.
 
I received wonderful care during my time in hospital with Covid and certainly think that they deserve so much more but in this world of severe financial restraints I suppose anything should feel ‘better than nothing’.  We can only hope that the future is brighter for everyone.
On a more cheery note it was my 76th birthday (oh my goodness where does time go?) last week and after opening lots of cards and presents from my wonderful family and friends Bill and I set off to visit Middleton Woods in Ilkley to walk through the bluebells.  They were breathtaking and as Bill rightly said ‘who needs medicine when we have this?’ Food for the soul indeed.  We then went to Skipton and called at a little cafe, sat under parasols in a courtyard and ate the biggest ever fruit scone with jam and cream and shared a pot of Yorkshire tea.  A perfect day and a very happy birthday which was rounded off by our first fish and chips for over a year! So naughty but so nice!!
 
I’ve attached a photo but I’m glad to say I’ve had my hair cut since then! 
Hope you are all well and happy.  Keep safe.

Street Art, Stroll and a Cuppa….. Thursday 27th May 2021 @ 1.30pm

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Dear all,

Karen H and I wondered if anyone would like to join us to have a browse around the Hyde Park area to view the Street Art. Some of the pieces were added in 2019 through the Colour Hyde Park Project (CHP), sponsored by the University of Leeds. There is some debate if one of them is by Banksy?

If you wish to come along then let me know. We will stop at a cafe for a cuppa too. We will meet at 1.30pm, at a meeting point to be confirmed. I have ordered some warmer weather too (well fingers crossed), so who knows you might need to put some sunscreen on as well!

Email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk, or call 07436 530073 if you wish to come along.

May be an image of brick wall and outdoors

image sourced from headingleyleeds

Exercising Mind and Body this week: In person and Online

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Exercising mind and body this week: In person and Online

Some of our ‘Indoor Exercise Sessions’ re-commenced yesterday.

As yet we are not able to get back into Little London Community Centre but thanks to the support of Lovell Park Hub in Little London we were able to host three exercise sessions throughout the day yesterday in Little London. As we are only allowed 6 persons inside for each session for now, some members also joined us online.

Email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk, or call 07436 530073 if you wish to have a go either online or indoors and I can send you the zoom invite and timings.

These sessions will run each Tuesday for a further 5 weeks. You have three times to choose from. One in the morning, one just before lunch and one in the afternoon. Thanks to RJC Dance, Dom (Dominique) covers the first two and Julie, who we welcomed back after over a year, covers the last one.

As restrictions are now easing we will let you know of other dates and times of further exercise sessions in both Woodhouse and Little London once known. In the meantime we are still continuing to offer walks and other events/activities as well and will let you know about these nearer the time.

Caring Moments: Donations, Alterations and Potting….

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Our new space has had a splash of colour added. Myrna altered the batak, made by members, so we can eventually get it up on the wall. She also brought in some brightly coloured plant pots. It is lovely to see it slowly but surely coming to life.
 
 
We have also been donated some second hand books, CD’s, DVD’s and Hello magazines too. if you would like some call 07436 530073 or email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk

Today’s lockdown changes

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As everyone will be aware today marks some further easing of lockdown restrictions:

Lockdown rules graphic - What's changing in England from 17 May?

Meeting up

Social distancing guidance is also changing. Contact with close family and friends is described as a matter of personal judgement, but people are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging.

Leisure and entertainment

  • Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers indoors
  • Indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas can open
  • Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadiums can all reopen
  • Organised adult sports and exercise classes can restart indoors
  • Steam rooms and saunas may reopen
  • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen

Education

  • Face coverings no longer recommended for pupils in secondary schools
  • All remaining university students eligible to return to in-person teaching

Travel

Full details are on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

(Summary and image from BBC News)

Dying Matters Week 10-16 May 2021

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Dying Matters Leeds
This year the Dying Matters Awareness Week theme is focusing on the importance of being ‘in a good place to die‘. Where people die is changing. More people than ever are dying at home, and the pandemic has accelerated this trend. In 2020, 28% of people in the UK died at home.
With gaps in support structures for people when they die, and for those that are left behind, people are dying without being in the right place. Often, people don’t feel prepared and they haven’t fulfilled their wishes or communicated them to loved ones.
Dying Matters Leeds want to raise the profile of the care that does exist and the benefit that it gives to dying people and their families. And to raise our voices to highlight what needs to change for people at the end of life.

There are a number of events happening this week around the theme- see below, and there is always lots of advice information and sources of support on the Dying Matter Leeds website: http://dyingmattersleeds.org/

Leeds Bereavement Forum
Leeds Bereavement Forum is holding a virtual Death Café on Tuesday 11 May at 2pm. For more details please visit their website. http://lbforum.org.uk/…/leeds-bereavement-forum-dying…/
Full Circle Funerals
Tuesday 11 May at 11am and Thursday 13 May at 6.30pm

Full Circle Funerals is hosting two Facebook Live events called “Time to Remember and Light a Candle” – people can send in poems to be read, or simply join us at the time and ask for someone to be remembered – https://fb.me/e/6YtLN9omB

For further details, please visit their Facebook page
Friday 14 May at 11am.
“I am a mum of four, but only two walk beside me.”
Guest speaker – Natalie Dimelow – Natalie shares her personal experience of bereavement and how the work she is now doing to support others is part of her girls’ legacy. To join the webinar, please go to https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/learning-together/webinars/
Friday 14 May at 1pm
‘ Live instrumental “Golden Oldies” performance for people living with Dementia’ – details here https://www.facebook.com/events/352553276090768/ 
MESMAC
Thursday 20 May at 5.15pm and Sunday 20 June 11am
MESMAC are hosting a Death Café to encourage an open conversation about death. This is not a bereavement group, this group is to talk about death, anything from your experiences and thoughts on death to practical advice about death. There is no agenda and where the conversation goes is down to the participants. The link on the death café website for the first one is https://deathcafe.com/deathcafe/13293
Swan Song Project
Thursday 13 May at 7.30pm
The Swan Song Project invites you to join them for a Dying Matters special edition of their virtual singing group. The group meets virtually every Thursday evening on Zoom to share the joy of singing. All participants are muted (Due to time lagging issues with Zoom), the songs are taught using a vocal loop pedal meaning you can hear all of the harmonies and simply choose which one you would like to sing along with. As part of Dying Matters week their session on Thursday 13 May will be reflective in nature. Beautiful songs that can help us remember those we have lost and bring us closer to those with us.
The session is free to attend and you can register via eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/the-swan-song-project…
Leeds Museums and Galleries
Friday 14 May at 10am
“All that Remains: Death and Dying in the Museum” will go live on Leeds Museums and Galleries’ YouTube channel on Friday 14 May from 10am – link to be confirmed.