supporting sight loss
November 2011 Newsletter
PAVIS
NEWSLETTER 21
NOVEMBER 2011
CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT BRADBURY HOUSE
DIARIES AND CALENDARS FOR 2012
SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2011 – THIRD PRIZE WINNING ENTRY
EDITORIAL
It’s that time of year again! The clocks have gone back so it must be time to start thinking about ordering your diaries and calendars for next year, writing a short story for our competition in the dark winter evenings, and then planning your holiday for next summer. Luckily, you will find information about all of the above and more in the following pages!
Last year many of our members left Christmas cards at our Centre in Basildon to be passed on to other members when they called in. Unfortunately, there was a lot of nasty weather around at the time and people were not always able to get in to see us. Therefore, if you are planning on doing the same with your cards this year, please let us have them as soon as you can so that we can, hopefully, pass them on before Christmas!
Kate Jones
SAD NEWS
We are very sorry to announce the death of PAVIS member, Bob Percival. Bob was a very active member of PAVIS, both as a committee member and as a participant in several of our groups. A very popular man who was always keen to help anyone if he could and never missed an opportunity to sing the praises of both PAVIS and St Dunstan’s who had also helped Bob following his sight loss. He will be very sadly missed.
Because of Bob’s involvement, his family have kindly suggested that any memorial donations be made to PAVIS.
WALKING GROUP
Now that Autumn/Winter has arrived, the walking group has gone into hibernation until next spring. Next year, starting in April, walks will be on the 4th Thursday afternoon of each month. More details will follow in the next newsletter but please contact us to register your interest.
THURROCK
At long last, and by popular demand, PAVIS is opening in Thurrock. A mince pie and coffee morning is being held at Thurrock Carers Centre, Cromwell Road, Grays on Tuesday 13th December from 10am to 12 noon. We will also have a display of small equipment suitable for people with sight loss so, if you live in the area please drop-in and see us and let us know which of our services you would like us to provide for the people of Thurrock.
PAVIS AGM
You should already have received notification of our AGM on Wednesday 14th December at Priority House, Wickford starting at 2pm. Please let Jane know if you will be attending.
FEEDBACK FORMS
A big thank you to all who sent in their feedback forms that went out with the last newsletter. It has proved to be a very useful exercise as it shows so much, including how people get to know about PAVIS and what other areas of activity people are keen to do. It is certainly a very useful tool to have when looking for funding! So thank you again.
If you have yet to complete your form then it is not too late, just put it into the envelope provided, no stamp needed. Or call us and we can complete the form over the telephone.
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT BRADBURY HOUSE
Another change starting in the New Year will be concerning the Creative Hobbies sessions which currently take place between 9.30 and 12.30 (depending on the subject). With effect from Wednesday 4th January, the session will be split into two parts. From 9.30 to 11.00 will be creative time and from 11.00 to 12 noon people will be able to drop in for a coffee or tea and a chat. The first creative session of each month will be Camera Club and, during spring/summer/autumn, the third session will be gardening related. Although there will be no charge for the “drop in” we would ask people to give a donation towards the refreshments. There will be no change to the charge of the creative sessions which is currently £2.50. Contact Kate for further information.
DIARIES AND CALENDARS FOR 2012
Just a quick reminder for those of you who would like to order a diary or calendar – or both, Jane is still taking orders. The prices are set out below:
Item Price
A6 Pocket Diary (with yellow plastic cover) 3.95
A6 Pocket Diary insert (without cover) 3.40
A5 Midi Diary 5.65
A4 Desk Diary 6.80
A3 Calendar 3.65
RESOURCE CENTRE
New items in our resource centre this month include the RNIB Daisy Player and a Kindle eReader. If you would like to try any of the equipment in the resource centre, please call first to make sure there are no classes in progress at the time of your visit.
NEW COURSES 2012
My apologies for the lack of courses lately due entirely to my own house move – the details of which I won’t go into here – suffice to say that it’s not something I hope to repeat any time soon! Anyway, new courses I hope to start in the New Year will be Word 2007/2010 and Guide for beginners. Please let me know if you would like to go on the list for either of these courses. (Kate)
LEISURE Weekly Timetable
Activity Day Time Venue
Tennis Monday 11.00am- 1pm Fryerns Baptist Church, Basildon
Keep Fit Tuesday 10.00am-11.00am
Followed by refreshments – non Keep Fitters welcome
11.00am – 12 noon Reading Rooms, Billericay
Creative hobbies Wednesday 9.30am – 11.00am Bradbury House,
Coffee and Chat Drop-in (from Jan 2012)
Wednesday 11.00am – 12 noon Bradbury House
Wickford support group with occasional speakers
Wednesday 1.30pm – 3.30pm Priority House, Wickford
Book Group 2nd Thursday 1.30pm- 3.30pm Bradbury House
Ten Pin Bowling Friday 10.00am – 12.00noon Basildon Bowl
We ask that you give a donation of £2 per session (£2.50 for Creative Hobbies and £3.50 for keep fit).
If you would like to go on the waiting list for one of our computer courses, which run for 10 weeks, we ask that you pay for the whole course in advance to show your commitment. Additionally, you may incur extra costs if you attend the family history sessions as there is sometimes a charge for the information available on the internet.
Short Story Competition 2012
There is still plenty of time to enter our short story competition. Entries need to be in by 31st January 2012. The winners will be announced at the beginning of March 2012. Your story must contain:
A picnic as the location, threat as the theme and a shed as an object that plays a part in the story.
Your story should be no more than 2000 words long.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Kate for Rules of Entry and application form. The competition is open to anyone in Essex who is sight impaired.
ZODIAC WORD SEARCH
S R E B M E T P E S E P T O
K C S R E B M E V O N A A U
R E O C T O B E R R U G U P
A O G R I V I V S R G H D B
S L I R P A R E U E V J E N
R E L I B I I S W C N K W R
E X U J J R O B F N D U S O
B A Q U A R I U S A S R J C
M R E L M A P I S C E S A I
E K E Y I A O B V J E F N R
C O C F E B R U A R Y I U P
E C B E R E R C X S M I A A
D A T S U G U A H E R A R C
S U I R A T T I G A S P Y S
APRIL
AQUARIUS
ARIES
AUGUST
CANCER
CAPRICORN
DECEMBER
FEBRUARY
GEMINI JANUARY
JULY
JUNE
LEO
LIBRA
MARCH
MAY
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER PISCES
SAGITTARIUS
SCORPIO
SEPTEMBER
TAURUS
VIRGO
SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2011 – THIRD PRIZE WINNING ENTRY
BY NICOLA BEARD
NO ORDINARY DAY
It was never going to be an ordinary day, I knew, when I woke and found I was nearly nine months pregnant. Now, you may think, is she stupid? How can you not know that you're pregnant, but anyone who's been pregnant will tell you that one minute it's all wonderful and exciting and then, before you know it, it's panicking about how will I cope with this tiny pink wiggly screaming pooping machine.
"Joe" I screamed.
"What is this? Look at me. What's happened? How'd I get like this?
Joe rolled over in bed and gazed at me,
"I told you not to have that extra slice of pizza", he said and a smile crept around the corners of his mouth.
"I can't go to mums for the holidays like this" I moaned, and flopped back down onto my pillow in a sulk.
"Maz, hun come on. It'll be o.k. We're all packed and she's expecting us, everything's gonna be fine".
I lay back and thought about the tiny baby boy inside me while my hands gently circled my bump. Perhaps it would be o.k. to travel. I turned to Joe
"O.k. babe, you're right. I know I'm panicking. Let's get going.
One hour later we were on our way. Mum lived way our in the country and it would take us some hours to get there, but Joe enjoyed driving, which always surprised me as he worked with his hands and was a carpenter by trade. As we travelled the temperature started to drop and tiny snow flakes started to fall.
"Oh God, Joe, I can't believe this. Look at the bloody snow. We'll never get there if this keeps up", I grumbled.
"Calm down, hun, it's only a flurry. Don't get yourself so upset."
We stopped at a service station, ate a dry sandwich and drank a lukewarm cup of overpriced coffee and started to make our way back to the car. After a while I started to feel very uncomfortable.
"Joe, I don't feel so great" I said.
"Probably that sandwich. You never know with tuna mayo, babe"
"No Joe, I don't think so I think I'm starting to get some labour pains"
Joe glanced across at me and caught his breath.
"But it can't be. Not yet, it's not time and we are nowhere near a hospital".
When the pain subsided I rummaged in my bag for my mobile, but as usual out in the wilds of England there was no signal. The pain came again.
"Oooh Joe, they're getting stronger"
"Don't worry, hun, I'm sure there is a pub along this road somewhere. We'll stop and see if we can get you in the warm and they can call for an ambulance."
We drove on for what seemed ages, the snow falling.
"There babe, I can see it" Joe yelled. "Look, The Star."
We pulled into the empty car park.
"It doesn't look very busy Joe, where is everyone?"
"Hang on, hun, I'll just pop and see if anyone's about."
Joe's footprints were deep as he walked. Suddenly he threw his arms in the air. I wound down the window.
"Joe! What's happened?"
"The bloody place is shut babe, poxy credit crunch" he moaned.
A sign on the door read;
Due to the recent
downturn in the
economy, The Star
public house will be
closed until furher
notice.
Joe trudged back to the car and slumped inside.
"What now Joe?"
"Well we just carry on 'til we hit some civilisation and hope we get there in time, hun"
Joe started the engine and reversed, the wheels spun slightly on the fresh snow but we were soon out onto the road. I checked my mobile again but still no signal.
Suddenly without warning I felt a hot wet rush.
"No!" I screamed, "Joe my waters have broken!"
"What! Shit no, this is not happening babe, not now, not here." But it was happening, here and now.
We drove on alone, nothing and no one in sight. Then Joe let out a cry,
"Look hun, a barn"
"Thank God" I moaned.
Joe turned down the rutted track and bumped the car towards the barn. We pulled up and Joe was opening my car door and helping me to my feet.
"Look babe there's plenty if straw bales to prop you up on, you've just got to share with a few cows that's all."
I took a deep breath grabbed his arm and followed him into the barn.
Joe got me settled on some straw while the cows looked on. He took his mobile and dialled. A broad grin covered his face.
"What are you smiling about you bloody idiot, I'm in agony here and you're looking like you just won the lottery!"
"I got through hun, I got a signal, can you believe it? The ambulance is on it's way!"
"That's great babe, but I don't think they're gonna be in time" I wailed.
Joe knelt down beside me as I started to pant, the cows looked on unamused.
"I can see the head hun, keep panting" Joe gasped as he pulled his jumper off and placed it under my head.
"Joe what's that noise?"
"O.K. hun push now!" Joe shouted.
"I think its sirens Joe"
"Push now hun come on push, push Maz push."
Now people that know me will tell you that I'm not the best at doing as I'm told especially if I'm being shouted at, but for once I listened and forgot all about sirens, snow, straw and cows and just pushed for all I was worth.
"It's coming hun, pant now pant, pant good girl pant, pant"
As the barn door flew open and the paramedics ran in I pushed for one last time, the baby slithered out into Joe's waiting arms
"Maz hun, oh Maz the docs got it wrong!"
"What! What do you mean Joe?"
Joe looked me in the eye and said
"Jesus! It's a girl!"