Hello everyone. Here is the June newsletter. The next newsletter will be published at the end of July. I hope to see you all at the next meeting at 2.00pm on Monday 31st July at the Seahorse Centre, Minehead.
At the meeting everybody must sign in, in the attendance book provided and if you visit the Seahorse Centre at other times sign in at Reception and wear a visitor badge. There is no smoking allowed inside or at the front of the building. You can smoke at the back of the building.
The address of the Seahorse Centre is: Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EB
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Transport
If you booked to come by taxi to the monthly WSDA meeting and you can’t make it, can you PLEASE RING DAVE WILLETT, who organises this transport, to cancel it. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU!!! Transport queries about outings should be addressed to the Events Committee.
Useful Telephone Numbers
West Somerset Disability Association Committee Members
President:  Jean Gilbert   01984 641197
Chairman:  Dorothy Lloyd  01984 639636
Vice Chairman: Mary Court   01643 702129
Secretary:  Molly Newstead  01984 634739
Treasurer:  David Kendall  01643 863505
Transport for the monthly WSDA meeting only:
   David Willett  01643 708592
Members’ Representative:
   Marlene Saunders  01643 702972
Events Organisers: Margaret Bruford  01984 656367
   Sylvia Griffiths  01643 704637
IT Tutor   Chris Brinkman  01643 708025 Mobile 07971 285878
Seahorse Centre IT room   01643 702021 or 07971 285878
   Messages (Reception) 01643 705000
E-mail: wsomersetdisability@tiscali.co.uk
Web Site: www.westsomersetdisability.org.ukÂ
Computers
Our new website is up and running now. You can see the newsletter there as well as photos of our activities and news of forthcoming events. Please give us your e-mail address if you have one, as it costs us nothing to send you your newsletter by E-mail but we have to pay to post them. Please help us to help you!
If you would like to do some computer training please let one of the committee members know or talk to Chris our IT instructor. You must be a member of our association (£6.00 per annum) before you can have lessons, which cost £2.00 per hour. If anyone has a problem with their computer at home and would like help from Chris he will then advise the committee as to the problem and the committee will then decide what to do.
Disability Advocate
The service is provided by A4e and the telephone number is 0800 288 8712. They are based at A4e, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3JZ. The A4e website is www.a4e.gov.uk. The service will offer help if you need assistance with care arrangements, equipment, housing, blue badges, etc.Â
President’s Report
June report
Hello everybody, it’s been a very busy month, so here goes will tell you what has been going on. The Sight Village is on the 18th 19th and 20th July at the Clarendon Suite, Hagley Road, Birmingham. There is a coach going from Minehead but as yet have not got any information, so please if you want to go, let me know and I will find out further details.Â
In our last newsletter there was information that British Gas were helping people with disabilities or on pension credit and some of us who are with this company, have applied and been confirmed by letter. So we do give you information that is correct!!
We had an excellent morning at the Hobbs Stables, and both Philip and Sarah were extremely attentive to us all, and they took some good photos. Other members have written about this outing so will let them tell you all about the stables.
The 1p and 2p bottle raised about £36 so we thank Terry and Rita for collecting this amount in such a short space of time. It’s amazing how many coins we carry around with us. These two members have now resigned and we thank them for their input into the association.
There is a well-appointed, two-bedroom apartment with good size balcony overlooking shared pool. Situated in Los Gigantes, Tenerife in a quiet friendly neighbourhood within easy reach of all amenities. Private parking. £250 per week. Tel.01984 632515 or 01984 632410.
The old E111 is now called EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and you can obtain this by simply ringing 0845 606 2030 quoting your National Insurance Number. Easy peasy!!
The Blue Badge Scheme is now being issued by Care Direct on 0845 345 0133. There have been a few hick-ups and I have spoken to the Supervisor and asked if possible, if her staff can be a little more compassionate with people. Watch this space!!
We now have our own carrier bags, which are excellent and very strong.
Thanks to every one that helped on the last coffee morning. It was brilliant and made such a difference. Thanks also to Terry Venner, one of our Trustees, for helping put up the tables and the sign at the end of Banks Street.
There is a three wheeled modern golf buggy for sale, complete with bags for clubs, (or this can be taken off). It’s a mover!! price £150. Please call 01643 706163.
Have had a very nice letter of thanks from County Hall from someone I have been helping with the letters that are given to patients when they come out of hospital. These are now easier to understand and come in Braille or on cassette, and in large print. Brilliant.
It was my birthday last week, and the celebrations have lasted all week!! It’s been great.
Bye for now.
Jean
Chairman’s Report
Dorothy has been ill for the last month and so the vice-chairman has taken over for the moment. She would like to thank everyone who sent their good wishes for her recovery.Â
Vice Chairman’s Report
Hi Mary here, again
The meeting this month went very well considering there were a lot of members being away on holiday and some away due to illness.
Maggie who is our main contact with the Somerset Association for the Blind has informed us that she is retiring soon. We shall miss her, as she has been a pleasure to talk to at our meetings. Good luck in your retirement.
Dorothy is still unwell and we wish her all the best in her recovery and hope she will be able to join us again very soon. We would also like to send best wishes from us all to Les Pike and Clarice Brinkman who are also under the weather at the moment. We all wish you a very speedy recovery.Â
Treasurer’s Report
Altogether we raised £23.00 from the raffle and £10.27 for the Almoner’s Fund at the monthly meeting.
Events’ Committee Report
On Monday June 12th we went to the garden centre, but we had a change of plan we went Willowbrook instead of Blackdown, the food was good but you had to wait for it to be cooked. Several of the group bought plants, it was an enjoyable day.
Our Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy on June 17th was very good. We made £80.16 after expenses, we also had a draw which made a further £40. I would like to thank David and Mary Court who donated a wooden dumper truck, which was won by Richard Charity, and Donald and Pat Parsons for the box of fruit, which was won by Mary Court. Thank you very much to all our helpers it was very much appreciated, and of course to all our supporters.
Our next event is a Quiz Night on Friday July 14th at 7.30pm it is being arranged by Marlene. It is to be held at the Minehead and District Social Club, North Road Minehead. Each team consists of 6 people the cost is £2.50 per person, all will be very welcome, there will also be a bar and a raffle.
Our next Coffee Morning and Bring and buy is on July 29th, please do come along. We do need your support.
On August 10th we have been invited to have lunch at Oake Village Hall, the cost is £8.50 for a 2 course lunch with coffee or tea, I would like names as soon as possible please as we do need to have at least 20 in our group.
Margaret
15th July Sports Relief Day at Blenheim Gardens.Â
The cost to take part will be £5.00 per person, you will be given a red sock at the beginning of the course which is three times round the gardens, wheelchairs accepted and another red sock and party bag on completion. Forms to take part can be obtained from Liz Stewart or Matt on 01984 635330.
Articles, letters and e-mails
From Jude O’Brien
Once Charlotte and I had decided on a change of destination, we enjoyed a leisurely drive back through Austria in brilliant sunshine, the heated seats and luxurious comfort of the Landrover were an added bonus to the beautiful scenery and excellent road systems of that Country. I do hope they won’t pick on me for not paying their taxes, should I ever drive there again that is! In my humble opinion, they don’t have to pay extra when they come here so it should be a quid pro quo situation; we are supposed to be all Europeans after all.
By tea time we had crossed the border into the Czech Republic and stopped in a beautiful lodge next to this massive Casino, with a 12 year old as my companion I had to put 007 off on this Royal visit!!  We contented ourselves with partaking of the local cuisine although Charlotte was none too impressed with the breakfast Bratwurst, she took two thinking they looked nice, and I ended up hiding pieces under my toast crusts (I knew I didn’t like hotdogs so hadn’t taken any, and my dentist would kill me if I cracked another crown on anything crunchy!!) We did manage to keep the waiters up whilst we played Poo Head in the restaurant, going to bed with Charlotte 3 - 0 up!!Â
After the breakfast episode we loaded the car, fuelled the tank getting a really poor exchange rate on the euros, and set off on the next leg of our journey to Prague, waiting for our friend there to return our call for hospitality. The weather had turned grey, cold and wet, not good news for my old arthritic bones!!   We did manage to spot some herds of deer, passed beautiful lakes and spotted old buildings at the top of very high mountains, a real labour of love. We reached Prague around lunchtime and Charlotte spotted a McDonalds (my heart sank!) In we went and feasted on their delicacies, I think mine was chicken coated in batter with some ranchy BBQ sauce and Charlotte had nuggets of the same white meat with MSG fries and lashings of tomato sauce!
Our communication problems continued and we were unable to find our friends, so we continued on our journey towards Dresden, where we had another address of some Internet contacts. It was snowing now and bitterly cold as we climbed up in to the hills, our ears were popping and visibility became quite difficult as we approached the border controls, there were six feet snow drifts on either side of the well salted road and every so often we passed little wooden huts that we thought must be used in the summer for refreshment stops! Their use became clear on rounding the next bend when a young lady waved at us! Charlotte begged me to stop as she thought she wanted a lift and I had to explain that she wasn’t waiting for a bus but the long queue of trucks we found waiting the other side of the border! Another sad sign of our times and the clear evidence of the profit made in human traffic.
Once into Germany we stopped at a small bed and breakfast, still in the mountains. The Hostess gave us our best meal of the whole trip, mine was perfectly hung venison, which just melted on the tongue and Charlotte enjoyed a real piece of chicken done in breadcrumbs. That evening I got my own back at Poo Head and Charlotte retired to bed in a huff, trying to change the rules because she was losing, not at all willing to listen when I tried to explain that I hadn’t got upset the previous night so why was she?? Not speaking much German and very little English being spoken, I amused myself with a game of Patience before joining her in our very comfortable room where we both had a good night’s sleep.Â
We awoke refreshed and Charlotte climbed out of the window to play snowballs on the porch roof, paying no attention to my cautionary advice as usual! We then had a lovely breakfast and were advised directions for the next leg of our journey, which was some distance from the postal address of Dresden, so I was glad I had asked! We were out of luck there too! It appeared that the House was closed for the Holiday season so we snacked at a service station and decided we were both home sick and plotted our route back to Calais on the car’s Sat Nav, where we found a ferry home to Good Old Blighty. THE END.
Just another quick update, thank you all those who sponsored Charlotte on her walk for the WWF, she raised £48.00 for her adopted Orang-utan Etta, unfortunately we mislaid the sponsor form. I have her certificate, which I will bring to the next group meeting. Anyone who sponsored, who didn’t pay on the day and can remember how much it was for, please let me know. Many thanks for your support. She enjoyed the walk very much with lots of other like minded people.
Kind regards to you all.
Judith O’Brien
A (B)RACING DAY.
I was sitting in Jean’s car, between 2 Eunices, (a thorn between 2 roses?). We were going to Philip Hobbs`s racing stables where 17 members were meeting for a morning visit. (Tuesday 30th May)
We went into the farmhouse and while Mrs Hobbs gave us coffee and biscuits, Philip told us about the organisation.
In the steeplechase season, October to May, he has over 100 horses kept there.
When we were there, there were 35 horses. These are owned by various people, some outright, some by syndicates.
He explained that each stablehand looks after 4 horses and he also has 2 girls who check all the horses for damage or other problems.
When we went outside, into the bracing wind, the horses were paraded for us and Philip gave us a commentary about each one.
Then we went to see them gallop on the track.
Finally we were taken to see them having a swim. The pool is quite large and the stablehand guides round on a rope. The hand is on a path round the outside, not in the water!
Philip told us that it was very important that they were very well dried to prevent them from getting colic, which is very serious.
Before we went to see the swimming, we were allowed to stroke one of the horses, which stood very quietly while we stroked him. I was amazed how velvety his coat was. We were told that he had won a race the week before.
So ended an extremely interesting visit. We came away knowing a little bit about the problems involved in the racing world.
Our thanks to all involved to make this an unforgettable visit. Thank you.
Steven Elliott
Visit to Sandhill Stables
We had a lovely day out on Tuesday May 20th. At 10.15 am we were all gathered at Sandhill Racing Stables, Bilbrook, the home of Mr and Mrs Hobbs, a name well known in the horse world.
We learnt a tiny bit about the hard work and dedication, which goes on behind the scenes to turn a horse into a winner.
On a walk around the stables we met many of the winning horses that have made Mr Hobbs a household name in racing circles, and we also met many potential winners still being brought on by a team of dedicated staff.
We were able to see horses being exercised on the gallops track. They walked down to the start then they were off galloping flat out up the hill. It looked very impressive.
The equine swimming pool was next on the agenda and various horses gave us a demonstration of their swimming ability. They all seemed to enjoy it…
We were accompanied on our tour by a very friendly little terrier dog.
We went back to the house for coffee and Mr and Mrs Hobbs answered questions that we put to them.
Thank you for a lovely interesting day and may you go from strength to strength…
Yvonne Moore  May 31st 2006
Birthday Celebration
What a weekend for the Brinkman family! We celebrated Stephen’s 50th Birthday at the Northfield Hotel with a family lunch. All six children joined their mother, Clarice, together with three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and various wives, husbands and partners.
It isn’t very easy to have a family gathering now they are so widespread, but they all came, from Suffolk, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Birmingham, and Minehead and over the moor from North Molton.
The weather was beautiful and after lunch we had coffee on the Terrace while the more active played mini-golf on the lawn below us.
Clarice Brinkman
FOR SALE
Mayfair Electric Buggy (red) with front basket and an attachment at the back for crutches, walking stick, etc. 25 miles range maximum. A battery charger is included in the price. Please ring Mrs. Mason, 01643 821241. £600.00
A gate-leg table and four chairs are offered for sale. Clare is selling them but please phone Jean at 01984 641197 for further details.
There is a three wheeled modern golf buggy for sale, complete with bags for clubs, (or this can be taken off). It’s a mover!! price £150. Please call 01643 706163.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Monday 31st July at 2.00pm at the Seahorse Centre. I hope to see you there.
