West Somerset
Disability Association

Hello everyone!  Happy New Year to everybody!  The next meeting will be on Monday 25th February at 2.00 pm.  As usual, sign the attendance book 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 in the vicinity of the building. 
Our address: The Seahorse Centre, Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EB

West Somerset Disability Association Trustees
Martin Greenwood; Peter and Heidi Morse; Sue Horne; Tim Poat; Terry Venner; Una Wright.

Transport
Dave Willett organises a taxi for partially-sighted people to come to the Monthly meetings.  This must be booked. If you booked to come and you can’t make it, PLEASE RING DAVE WILLETT, to cancel it. 
If you cannot access other transport you can register with Atwest community transport 01643 707090 and use the SLINKY bus to come to meetings.  You must have a bus pass.
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:  Gordon Wright  01643 703970
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’ Representatives:
 (Minutes) Marlene Saunders 01643 702972
(Welfare) Margaret Bruford  01984 656367
Events Committee:
   Peter Kilner  01643 821464
   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.uk 

Computers
The newsletter is also on our website with news of our activities and forthcoming events.  Please tell us your e-mail if you have one, as an e-mailed newsletter is free but we must pay to post them.  Help us to help you!
If you would like computer training, please us know or talk to Chris our IT instructor.  You must be a member of our association (£10.00 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 tell the committee of the problem and they will then decide what to do.

Disability Advocate
The service is provided by A4e (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. 

Vice Chairman’s Report
Hello Mary here again,
I wish you all a belated Christmas and New Year,
We had a small gathering at our January meeting and it was a nice pleasant meeting, we had a gentleman from the Lifeboat called Barry Langham giving us a very interesting talk and for once we heard what he had to say as most people were very quiet.  Our chairman was away on holiday so I chaired the meeting and we had some new Members which was nice to see some new faces.
We are having a Sponsored Fancy dress walk on the 22cnd March from the Foresters Arms at Dunster to Butlins, Minehead. If you are interested in joining in please let us know as soon as possible. Thank You.
It was nice to see Pat Graddon has come back after a long spell away.
At the next meeting Rita Cramp, from St John Ambulance will be coming along to give us a talk about falls, sprains and how to avoid them and first aid in case of accidents.
The Chairman is away in New Zealand for a long Holiday and he will be back in March. I too will be away for the next meeting as I am going on a cruise to Mexico and the Caribbean for two weeks or so, as it is my Ruby wedding.
Mary Court

Treasurer’s Report
The treasurer is away in Australia at the moment, so this is a very brief message on his behalf.  At the meeting the raffle raised £39.00.

Events’ Committee Report
There will be a Coffee Morning on Friday 8th February at 10am at Carantoc Place in Carantoc and Millets Social Club.  Also you can get to it from Millets Close.  I hope you all come and give your support and help. It will happen every second Saturday in the month from March – Saturday March 10th, Saturday April 14th etc.
On Tuesday 12th February we are going to Blackmoor Gate for a meal.  This will be a set meal; anyone who would like to come please phone Peter or Sylvia.  (01643 704637 or 01643 821464.)  We have to have £5 deposit.  We leave the Seahorse Centre at 10.30am.
On Saturday 22nd March, Peter will be doing a fancy dress walk from the Foresters’ Arms in Dunster, to end at Butlins and anyone who would like to join me please let us know before the day as we are raising money for West Somerset Disability Association.  You will be very welcome.  Anyone who has not got any fancy dress gear, I have some I can lend you.
There will be some trips this year: to Bicton Gardens, Taunton Flower Show, Dunster show, and a nice day at Longleat.
I will not be doing the lotto any more, as there are so few other people involved.  So I will think of other ideas to raise money.
Peter Kilner

Friday June 13th: another date for your diaries.  The Low Vision Equipment exhibition will be taking place in Yeovil and we will be organising a bus to take interested members there.  There will be further details nearer the date.

Poets’ Corner
Just Like New

A dear old lady’s budgerigar
was such a treasured pet.
When sadly it went off its food
she took it to the vet.

The vet said ‘Leave your pet with me.’
He knew it would soon die
but didn’t have the heart to say
and watch the dear soul cry.

So he went and bought a bird
that matched in every way
and gave it to her with a smile
when she came in next day.

A week went by and then she called
to praise him for his skill.
‘He’s been quite perky ever since.
To think he was so ill!’

‘It’s such a miracle you know
and it’s all thanks to you.
He never used to speak, but now
he talks the whole day through!’

………………………………John Christopher.

Submitted by Len Cross.

Articles, letters and e-mails

My Holiday
I took the opportunity to take a short break in Poland just after the New Year.  I was away for a long weekend, going on Saturday and returning on Tuesday.  I went to Silesia, which is near the Czech border in the southwest corner of the country.  It is industrial, with many coalmines and factories.  The industrial landscape is similar to that of the north of England, when we still had mines.
It is not all grim, however.  I saw several wooden churches, which are traditional in the mountains of Poland.  I went into the mountains and up a chair lift to a mountaintop.  It was cold (-6 degrees C) and there was a lot of snow.  The coniferous trees everywhere had snow-laden branches.  They were beautiful.
This was a very good short break, flying by Ryanair from Bristol to Katowice.  It was quite cheap, as well!!
Chris Brinkman

For Sale
Computers
As you know, we have replaced the computers in the IT suite with brand new machines. As a result we want to sell the old ones. There are three computers with Windows XP and one with Windows 98. There are also several printers, keyboards and computer mice available.
Prices
XP computer with monitor, keyboard and mouse  £75.00.
XP complete computer system, with printer   £100.00
Windows98 computer with monitor, keyboard and mouse  £40.00
Printers:        From  £30.00 to £50.00
Scanners:       From  £10.00 to £20.00

Handy Numbers
Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050 www.arthritiscare.org.uk
A Taste of Exmoor: Home cooked food delivered to your door! 01643 709856 or 07919 816197
AT West Community Transport  01643 709701
Blue Badge (Disabled Parking Scheme) 0845 3459133 or 01823 335285
Breast Cancer Care 0808 800 6000 www.breastcancercare.org.uk
CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) Minehead  01643 707484
Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 167 1677 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Depression Alliance 0845 123 2320 www.depressionalliance.org
Diabetes UK 0845 120 2960 www.diabetes.org.uk
Help the Aged 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk
Hospital Transport 01278 727444
NHS Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
PALS (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service) Ruby Haq 01278 437013 www.somerset.nhs.uk/pals
Piper Lifeline (Cynthia Lewis) 01643 709234
Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975 www.prestigemobility.com
Samaritans 08457 09090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.sab-fund.org.uk
Stroke Association 0845 303 3100 www.stroke.org.uk
Talking Newspapers 01984 640 471
Winter Warmth Helpline 0800 085 700 www.dh.gov.uk 

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Monday 25th February at 2.00 pm at The Seahorse Centre. I hope to see you there.