West Somerset
Disability Association

Hello everyone! Isn’t it nice to feel that winter is finishing and spring is here! I hope you all enjoy the warmer weather. The next meeting will be on Monday 31st March 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 with him. If you booked to come and you can’t make it, PLEASE RING HIM, 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 Gilbert01984 641197
Chairman:Gordon Wright01643 703970
Vice Chairman:Mary Court01643 702129
Secretary:Molly Newstead01984 634739
Treasurer:David Kendall01643 863505
Transport for the monthly WSDA meeting only:
David Willett01643 708592
Members’ Representatives:
(Minutes)Marlene Saunders01643 702972
(Welfare)Margaret Bruford01984 656367
Events Committee:
Peter Kilner01643 821464
Sylvia Griffiths01643 704637
IT Tutor Chris Brinkman01643 708025 Mobile 07971 285878
Seahorse CentreIT room01643 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.

President’s Report
Yes, I am here!!! Still working for you BUT not quite as busy! Everything is looking good and the new computers are very posh.
The new Service Level Agreement with the Seahorse Centre is complete and signed and delivered for another 3 years. Thanks to them, for their support. Had a very nice letter from Barrie Lanham saying he collected £46.81 at our last meeting. He was from the Lifeboat Association. Thanks to you all for his collection. We have had a lots of members poorly since Xmas, so please all of you take care.
We have Rita Cramp talking to us this month, she is Robin’s wife from Beaver Ford who now works on the St. John’s Ambulance. There is a Trustees’ meeting on March 19th at the Seahorse Centre, 10-30am – 12 noon in the Blue room. These are now being held at least three times a year. This meeting is just for the trustees.
Hope you are aware that there is a community meals service, serving hot meals within a 10 miles radius of Watchet. Lunch prices range from £3.85 to £5.00 for a main menu and sweets. Sandwiches and cake are £1.50. They can provide a meal on specific days or every day of the week. Delivery is between 12pm – 1.30pm. Tel: 01984 635114 or Neil Bliss on 0800 1386107 for further info. If you are poorly this is a good way to have food delivered to your door.
More news!! Those aged 75 and over and households receiving pension credit, Income Support or Income related Job Seekers Allowance qualify for assistance to help select and install digital TV equipment. Those who are eligible will be given equipment to convert one TV set. The equipment includes a Freeview Box or money off a subscription to cable, satellite or broadband TV. Ring for information on 0845 6505050.
Those of you wanting to go to the Low Vision Equipment Exhibition on June 13th at Yeovil please let me know, the coach is booked.
Bye from Jean

Treasurer’s Report
At the meeting we raised £26.77 by the raffle and also about £46 was promised to Peter for his sponsored walk next month.
The time is coming to renew your subscriptions to the Association. It now costs £10 for a year, which is still excellent value for money. You can do this at the March meeting or by sending me a check payable to WSDA (or the West Somerset Disability Association) to my home address at 5 Harepark, Allerford, Minehead, TA24 8HL.
Thank you
David Kendall

Events’ Committee Report
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.
Friday June 13th: another date for your diaries. The Low Vision Equipment exhibition will be taking place in Yeovil and we will be organisingbus to take interested members there. Contact Jean Gilbert if you are interested.

Poet’s Corner

Adlestrop

YES, I remember Adlestrop–
The name–because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop–only the name–

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry;
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Edward ThomasContributed by Chris Brinkman

Late-Flowering Lust

My heart is bald, my breath is bad
Unshaven is my chin,
I have not now the joys I had
When I was young in sin.

I run my fingers down your dress
With brandy-certain aim
And you respond to my caress
And maybe feel the same.

But I’ve a picture of my own
On this reunion night,
Wherein two skeletons are shewn
To hold each other tight;

Dark sockets look on emptiness
Which once was loving-eyed,
The mouth that opens for a kiss
Has got no tongue inside.

I cling to you inflamed with fear
As now you cling to me,
I feel how frail you are my dear
And wonder what will be -

A week? or twenty years remain?
And then-what kind of death?
A losing fight with frightful pain
Or a gasping fight for breath?

Too long we let our bodies cling,
We cannot hide disgust
At all thoughts that in us spring
From this late-flowering lust

By John Betjeman Copied by Stephen Brinkman

Articles, letters and e-mails
Steven Elliott wrote:
We had a very good lunch recently at The Old Station Hotel at Blackmoor Gate. The day started off very frosty but it soon cleared and we had a lovely sunny journey.
When we got to the hotel, we were greeted and given a very extensive menu. The food was excellent and the service good. All too soon it was time to come home. Another lovely sunny drive over Exmoor again.
All in all a lovely day. Many thanks to all those who made it such a success.
Steven.

For Sale
WSDA Computers
As you may know, we have replaced the computers in the IT suite with brand new machines. We have sold most of the old ones. There is still one with Windows 98 installed on it. There are also several printers, keyboards and computer mice available.
Prices
Windows98 computer with monitor, keyboard and mouse £40.00
Printers: From£30.00 to £50.00
Scanners:From£10.00 to £20.00
Epson Printer
One member is offering an Epson Stylus 350 Photoprinter for sale. It is six months old and the price is £50.00. If anyone is interested the phone number is 01643 709825.

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 31st March at 2.00 pm at The Seahorse Centre. I hope to see you there.