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BERWICK AREA HEART SUPPORT GROUP
June 2009 NEWSLETTER
Berwick Area Heart Support Groups next meeting is Wednesday June3rd2009 at the Day Hospital Berwick Infirmary from 7.00pm – 9.00pm, The speaker will be.Clinical Psychologist GraemeGilespie. There is time for tea and a chat, and newcomers are given a special welcome.
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Rehab
Terry and I followed up our recent visit with George to the sessionat Wooler Cardiac Rehab (morning Tuesdays) by calling in on a session (morning Thursdays) in Belford.
What an amazing Community Centre Belford has!
Super group – wonderful to see that ‘age’ is no barrier. We hope some will be reading this Newsletter. WELCOME
Chatting to people and the presiding nurse afterwards we listed some of the benefits of cardiac rehab that are becoming increasingly obvious as cardiac rehab is studied scientifically world wide. In no particular order:
1. Dietary advice can seriously reduce intake of saturated fat and salt.
2. Rehab helps control weight; if we are overweight, and reducing weight combines with other effects from the exercise and dietary advice to:
a. directly improve arterial performance
b. improve sugar control
c. lower blood pressure
3. Helps a person think about keeping taking their medicines and makes the medicines more effective.
4. Reduces risk of sudden events (stabilizes arteries)
5. Increases mobility and quality of life
Phil
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Addition to last month’s Newsletter
Last month we were going to add to Heart UK’s check list Healthy Eating on a Budget, but it somehow fell off the end.
Here is our missing addition: Check these ready-meals also for SALT, not just SATURATED FAT! If you know any gardeners – see Heart UK’s tip on growing and swapping - you will already know they are keen to swap seedlings, plants and produce and often have surplus they are happy to off-load on friends and neighbours. Crookham has a garden club and Berwick an allotment society (Lesley can give advice). Let us know any other local gardeners or groups who can provide fresh fruit and veg. and we will provide a LIST.Phil & Terry
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Meeting Report
Our speaker for May was Julie Holden of the Berwick Branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau. Julie first spoke to us in Feb. 2006.
Again, much of the evenings talk was a two way conversation, with members asking questions and Julie giving a reply, which often prompted (A) another question, or (B) Julie to explain something a little deeper. Whilst this makes for an interesting evening it makes it difficult to take notes and then to make some sort of sense of it for people that were not there.
The CAB as it is now affectionately known was set up in 1939, by the Government of the day. That’s a nice way of me saying that I don’t think Julie said which Party was in power, and I’m too young to know. But which ever party is was they saw the need for the general masses to have access to free advice on legal, housing, missing persons, money and work-related matters.
Initially there were 200 Bureaus set up throughout the Country, and although staffed by volunteers, funds for rent and electricity were initially supplied by the Government. By 1944 the number of Bureaus had risen to 1000, and in 1950 the Bureau became totally self sufficient because Government withdrew all its funding completely. Currently all CAB’s are independent of each other, and each branch has to cover its costs. Berwick’s branch ongoing costs are approximately £260,000 per year.
Even today the bulk of the work of the Bureau is still being done by volunteers, but there are some paid positions. This has happened because of the range of work now undertaken by the staff is far more complex, some of which requires legal qualifications, as Court and Tribunal appearances on behalf of clients have become quite commonplace.
Much of the Legal Aid work previously undertaken by Solicitors is now done by the Bureau. The Legal Services Commission who manages the fund for Legal Aid pays the Bureau for the cases they cover. Berwick branch has 13 staff, some of which are paid positions, but most are voluntary. Funding also includes monies for ancillary office equipment, desks, computers etc.
Training for volunteers can take up to 2 years for them to qualify, but when complete it is the equivalent to a MVQ at level 3 or equal to 6 months legal training. All training and subsequent advice to clients is to the ‘Quality Mark’.
The guideline/aim of the Bureau is to give free, confidential, fair and independent advice to its clients. The Bureau is used equally by Public Bodies and private individuals, with problems covering all manner of subjects. The ‘in-house’ computer is continually being updated with changes in the law so that it is kept up to date, and all information obtained from it is current.
Usual practice is clients are seen on a first come first seen basis. If two people are in dispute, but on different sides, for example husband and wife, only the first will be represented. Clients are seen, and details of their problem are obtained. Relevant information is researched, usually from the computer, and the client is advised accordingly. This may take two or more appointments, but before seeing another client each individual interview, or piece of advice given, or actions taken, are written up by the interviewer, so that each case is up to date before another client is taken on.
Because this is the practice for all enquires, telephone enquiries are not recommended, and because Scottish law differs from English law it is not always possible to give ‘on the spot’ advice when dealing with Scottish or cross border enquiries
Whilst telephone calls are not recommended, Berwick does offer a Bereavement Telephone Service. This includes a listening ear, and can advise on funerals, Wills and probate issues. Unfortunately this service may close soon due to an interruption of funding.
Another recent innovation is the self help kiosk in the main reception. This gives some access to the legal pages held elsewhere, and may help users cut waiting times.
Thank you Julie for this insight into the CAB.
Wally
PS A personal thanks from me to Julie Holden from CAB our speaker at the May meeting. I am perpetually astonished by the number of people that need CAB advice each year: Locally there were1830 new clients in the last year, which is huge when we think of the size of Berwick.
Phil
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Wally’s Yarn
The Irish Millionaire
Mick, from Dublin ,appeared on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and towards the end of the program had already won £500,000.
'You've done very well so far,' said, Chris Tarrant, the show's presenter,' but for a million pounds you've only got one life-line left - phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question...... will you go for it?'
'Sure,' said Mick,' I'll have a go!'Which of the following birds does not build its own nest? a) Sparrow, b) Thrush, c) Magpie, d)Cuckoo?'
'I haven't got a clue,' said Mick,'' so I'll use me last lifeline and phone me friend Paddy back home in Dublin .'
Mick called up his mate, and told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.
‘ Mick!' cried Paddy. 'Dat's simple......it's a cuckoo.'
'Are you sure?'
'I'm sure.'
Mick hung up the phone and told Chris,
'I'll go wit Cuckoo as me answer.'
'Is that your final answer?' asked Chris
'Dat it is, Sir.'
There was a long - long pause, and then the presenter screamed, 'Cuckoo is the correct answer!
Mick, you've won 1 million pounds!'
The next night, Mick invited Paddy to their local pub to buy him a drink.' Tell me, Paddy? How in Heaven's name did you know it was da Cuckoo that doesn't build its own nest?'
'Because he lives in a clock!'
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Cooks Recipe of the Month
Barbecue Oven Fries
4 Medium baking potatoes
2½ tablespoons tomato ketchup
4 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 425F. Coat a baking tray with cooking spray, or use non stick tray
Scrub potato and pat dry with kitchen paper
Cut potato into chips
In a large bowl combine tomato ketchup,oil,vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and salt, Add the potatoes and toss to coat.
Spread the potatoes on the baking tray. Bake for 20minutes, then turn and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender and golden. Test by sticking tip of sharp knife into the chip.
Cooks Top Tips
To get the most from the humble potato
The peel contains more nutrients usually than the starchy centre. Sometimes the peel can be bitter
Cook them carefully
Boiling is the most popular cooking method for potatoes, but is perhaps the worst method for preserving nutrients, since vitamin C and potassium are lost in the cooking water. Baking or steaming do a better job, but microwaving could be best.
Prepare them late
Leaving potatoes in cold water before they are cooked may keep them from becoming discoloured but you can lose nutrients as you do in boiling.
Old fashioned varieties of potatoes
Lots of the old varieties of potatoes are now available through Farmers Markets and some super markets.
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