IRIS VISION RESOURCE CENTRE

2008-03-19T13:52:00.003Z

Newsletter - Easter 2008

14 Chapel Street Crewe CW2 7DQ 01270 250316
info@iriscentre.org.uk www.iriscentre.org.uk

Message from the Chairman.

Welcome to the spring edition of the IRIS Newsletter.

Some good news at last regarding our attempts to get a presence at the eye clinic at Leighton: our furniture and equipment is arranged in the ‘conservatory’ next to the entrance to the clinic and we
currently have this staffed for the Monday clinics. So, if you attend on this day, why not take a look and have a chat with Wendy to see if she can do anything for you.

Some of the public areas of the centre have been redecorated recently and a new fire door has been fitted to the kitchen. Exterior signage has been improved. We have been helped to do this by a grant from Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council. The paintings of the new War Memorial in Crewe, kindly donated by the visually impaired artist and member of IRIS Tom Knight, are now on display in the front hall.

We recently held another successful fund raising event at the
Vagrants club where the Bryan Jones Big Band generously
donated their ‘performance’ money and, together with a raffle on the night, helped to raise £340: many thanks to everyone who
contributed and especially to Janice who organised the event.

Our low vision outreach service has now been extended to
Macclesfield where we are holding monthly sessions in conjunction with voluntary groups based there. If you know anyone in that area who could benefit from this service then get them to give us a call to find out more.

Don’t forget, if you have anything you wish to air in the Newsletter then don’t be shy, just send it in

Cheers, Bruce

Membership

Membership is due on the 1st April for the year April 08 – March 09. The cost remains at £5.00 for the year and covers such things as the loaning of library books, access to the social group, the right to vote and a copy of the newsletter as well as supporting the charity as a whole.

If you wish to become a member of IRIS please complete the registration form below, enclosing your £5.00 subscription for the year, and return it to us using the prepaid envelope. In return, we will issue you with a new membership card to cover the current year

Without your support IRIS would be unable to offer the services we currently provide. So we take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support.

Thank You

The IRIS Vision Resource Centre
Annual Subscription April 2008/2009

Membership Fee £5.00

Name……………………………………………………………………………

Address…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Post Code………………………………………………………………………

Telephone Number……………………………………………………………

(Please make cheques payable to The IRIS Centre)

Thank you, your support is very much appreciated

Fund Raising Activities - Money Raised

12/02/08 Brian Jones Big Band Night £340.00

23/02/08 Coffee Morning - Nantwich £250.00

Future Fund Raising Events

9th April Morrisons Supermarket

31st May Asda Supermarket

3rd July Coffee Morning - Nantwich

10th August Duck Race

11th November Coffee Morning - Nantwich

If any of our members or supporters would like to help with any of the above events please contact
IRIS Vision Resource Centre on 01270 250316

New Items in Stock

Lighted Swivel Handled Mirror including vanity stand 1x or10x magnification
Price £26.34

Thank You

In recent months we have been fortunate in that we have had donated to us a quantity of Large Print and Audio books bring our total library collection to 446 Talking Books and 181 in Large Print.

So thank you to our members/supporters for thinking of us.

For Sale

TV Magnifier Screen

A very large magnifying screen for a television measuring up to 33’’. This screen can be placed in front of your television to help you to see the picture more easily.

SW Retail RRP £119.99 Sale Price £60.00

If you are interested in the above please contact
Joyce, Steph or Wendy on 01270 250316 for more
Information.

Typographic Errors . . . .

Always a hoot since the days when he ‘ … drew his rusty sword . . and faced the enema.’ I can recall a Crewe Chronicle report in, I think, the late1940’s, which quoted a local worthy as saying that, “The Labour Party in Crewe will go forward with unfounded hope and optimism.” A typographic error or deliberate sabotage? One could only speculate.

The typographic error which topped the lot, though, was that which appeared in a local newspaper in the city in which the writer earned his living for some time. I should caution my readers at this point that a certain measure of broad-mindedness is called for. So, if you are fairly broad-minded, read on:

Applications are invited for the post of

FART-TIME LECTURER

in the

DEPARTMENT OF CREATIVE STUDIES

No, it was not an old and worn capital ‘P’; it was definitely an ’F’. This was deliberate sabotage. Among the small type of a normal paragraph, it might have been easily missed. In large capital letters in a framed advert on the front page. Those of us who knew the Head of Department in question were not surprised. The woman was pushy, self-serving and an
all-round, chateau bottled pain in the rear end. It was not hard to guess that she had seriously upset someone on the local rag, and that someone had taken his revenge.

Among the applications she received in the next day or so was the following

Gaffers’ Row,

- - - - - - - - - - -

Tel : - - - - - - - -

November 1st

The Head of the Department of Creative Studies,
- - - - - - - - College,
- - - - - - - .

Madam:

I wish to apply for the post of Fart-time Lecturer advertised in tonight’s edition of the (local newspaper).

I am more delighted than I can say to see that somewhere in this land of this long neglected art form is being taken seriously once again.

I am a practising petomane of long standing (and bending), recognised throughout the length and breadth of the local public house circuit, whose clientele I regularly entertain with my fellow artistes of the Amadeus Wind Quartet. We offer on a regular basis a varied repertoire, both of concert and solo pieces including some of the classics of the great shows, such as “Hand me down that can of Beans” from ‘Paint your Wagon.’

My own repertoire encompasses most of the classics, from the ‘Trump Voluntary’ (Blower, after Purcell), to ‘Air through a G String’ (Blower/Tchaikovsky) and ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ (Mascagni, orch. Blower).

Should you require further information or references, I can be found at the above address at most times of the day – ‘cept evenings, when me and the lads perform.

Yours faithfully, and in the name of (F) Art,

Bill Blower (Pardon!)

The resultant explosion was witnessed by the Principal’s Secretary, who advised me to keep my head down for a while. “Why me?” I asked with the most innocent look I could muster while trying not to laugh. I have been retired now for over twenty years, but the memory is still fresh. It is worthy

of a Chinese –type proverb: ‘He (or she) who gets up noses must expect to catch a cold now and then.’

© W.L.Wright
April 2006 550 words

Digital TV Switchover

Someone who is blind or partially sighted will not automatically be eligible for help from the Government Digital Switchover Scheme - they must be registered as such to qualify. Registration is voluntary of course so for anyone electing not to be registered, they or their partner will need to be either over 75 or in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, mobility supplement to qualify.
See http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/how/help-scheme.html for details of the Help Scheme.

For consumers who fall outside of the Help Scheme, three charities - Age Concern, Help the Aged and Community Service Volunteers - have got together to form a not-for-profit company, funded by Digital UK, called Digital Outreach. A website is under construction www.digitaloutreach.org.uk
More information will follow.

Large Print Books - new internet bookshop

Finding books in large print or in audio format should now be a whole lot easier with the launch of The Large Print Bookshop. Dedicated to serving the needs of people who, for whatever reason, cannot read conventional print books or who simply prefer to listen to books or read larger typeface, the Large Print bookshop sells only large print and audio books - both abridged and unabridged. The website has been designed for maximum accessibility and provides the largest database of what is available in large print in the
English language. With a suggested reading list taken from the BBC Big Read list (top 100), books recommended by the Richard and Judy Reading Club and large print and audio Best Sellers lists, plus Book of the Month and recommended reading. You can sign up to their email newsletter to be kept up to date on what is available.
http:/www.largeprintbookshop.co.uk

Visually Impaired People’s take up of DLA and AA

This report, from VICTAR (Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research) presents findings from Network 1000 Survey 2. The data was collected during interviews with 884 visually impaired people between November 2006 and January 2007. All the participants were registered as either blind or partially sighted and lived in Great Britain.

The findings presented in this report focus on the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. Key findings: DLA
· 85% of registered v.i. people aged between 18 and 64 currently claim Disability Living Allowance.
· An estimated 10,000 registered v.i. people are not receiving DLA but are eligible to apply.
· The mobility component of DLA is more commonly received than the care component. It is relatively rare for v.i. people to receive the higher rate within the mobility or care components.
· Over one quarter of v.i. people had to appeal before receiving their current rate of DLA

Key Findings: AA
· 64% of register v.i. people aged 65 or over currently receive Attendance Allowance.
· An estimated 73,000 registered v.i. are not receiving AA but are eligible to apply.
· The majority receive the lower rate of AA.
· Over 20% had to appeal before receiving their current rate of AA.

Full report available from the vision 2020UK website.

LOAN OF CCTV EQUIPMENT

From mid April IRIS is able to loan CCTV equipment free to full members of the organisation for an initial period of 3 months and thereafter on a continuing basis unless machines have to be recalled for distribution to other members., In this event, one month’s notice will be given for the equipment to be returned. IRIS requires a returnable deposit of £5.00 for all CCTV equipment loaned out.

IRIS will give initial training on the use of the equipment and will ensure that equipment released has been PET tested, but we cannot guarantee to repair machines if they break down. Liability for any damage, accidental or otherwise, will rest with IRIS unless claims can be made on members’ own household contents insurance.

Grand Draw Results

The winners of our yearly Grand Draw were:

Mr Caulton, Mrs Tilley, Mr Mastin, Mrs D Turner, D Holmes, R Davies and Mr A Newell.
Congratulations to you all and a big thank you to all who supported this event.

THANK YOU !

Malcolm's Muses

A Place for Everything….

Yes, we’ve all heard and no doubt said “There’s a place for everything and everything should be in its place.” And yes, how important that is when one’s sight is not what it used to be. If one lives alone then the problem should not exist - you put an item in a certain place, be it in a cupboard or on a work surface in the kitchen, and when you next come to use it, it’s where you left it - bingo, no problem. On the other hand, if you live with someone, husband, wife etc… then, unless the other person is very good then there can be a problem. Why? Because, and I know from experience
your idea of everything being in its place is not necessarily theirs!

Many years ago, some of you may remember, there used to be
corner shops, on almost every corner. When we had to call at the corner shop everything had its own place on the shelves and we knew where things were - the pattern never seemed to change - it made shopping a bit easier. Now we have supermarkets, we are lulled into thinking that the same patterns are
being maintained, but, hey - just when we get used to the layout, they change things around and we have to focus very hard to take it all in. With the burden of sight loss we struggle to maintain our independence, as far as is practical, and it is of high importance that we can lay our hands on the item required without the need to search high and low. It can be very frustrating when the item we need is not in its rightful place. When we have to ask for assistance what do we hear? “It’s there”. Yeah - we know it’s there, somewhere - aagh!!

So you see how important the saying is to anyone, (whether living alone or with a partner or within a family group) who is sight disabled in order to maintain a degree of independence.

However caring the people around you are, the golden rule must be laid down by you, and you must insist that it be maintained.

Now, where did I put that……..?

What is a Low Vision Assessment?

You may be aware that here at the IRIS Vision Resource Centre we offer a Low Vision Service. Most people who have a problem with their vision will have some useful sight which we can help them to make the most of.

During a Low Vision Assessment, one of our trained therapists will ascertain what type of aids may help you to see better to read, write, continue to do your favourite hobby, etc. This may be by using a magnifier or improving the lighting in your home.

The assessments, carried out on a Monday or Wednesday by appointment, last approximately one hour and are non-invasive (we do not examine the eye). You will need to have seen your optician/optometrist or been seen by someone at the eye clinic within the last year before we can carry out a
assessment.

If you fall within our funded area of Central Cheshire, the assessment will be free of charge and we can lend you up to two items. These may be include magnifier, a lamp or a pair of sunshields. These items are then yours for as long as they are useful to you. You will also be given a review appointment as part of the service.

The service is also available to people outside our funded area but at a charge of £40.00 for the consultation. Items of equipment have to be purchased.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this service, or you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at the IRIS Vision Resource Centre.

COMPUTER LESSONS

Just a reminder that we continue to hold computer lessons at the centre. You can choose to learn the GUIDE speech programme with Margaret in conjunction with Vision Support, or JAWS with Kay from IRIS, or the ZoomText magnification programme. Please contact the centre for more information.

Computer courses for vips are also available at South Cheshire College. Enquiries to Jonathan White on 01270 654654

A letter follows from a member written on her own computer after lessons with Margaret using Guide.

Iris Centre Mrs…………………………
14 Chapel Street …………………….......
Crewe ………………………...
Cheshire …………………………

01 March 2008

Hello to all Iris members hope you are all keeping well and happy well I would like to tell you about my computer lessons now I can write a letter on my own with out having to ask some one to write it for me, the joy I got from being able to do that made me feel as if I could see again.

May I thank all the people at the Iris Centre for writing the letters for all these years for me. The South Cheshire College for all the wonderful work they all do.

And to Vision Support in Chester and to Margaret who works there and who as been teaching me at the Iris Centre on a Wednesday.

Take Care

A & H

Go on do something just for yourself, learn to use a computer and your world will change!

PC - New Home Required
We have been asked if any of our members would be interested in a tower computer complete with 17” monitor, keyboard, printer and modem. The computer is free to anybody who would like it so if you are interested please contact the IRIS Vision Resource Centre for further information.

XMAS COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to Mrs P Hunton the winner of our Christmas Competition.
Below are the correct answers to the quiz.

Black Magic, Aero, Mars Bar, Polo, Opal Fruits, Treats, Milk Tray, Chocolate Buttons, All Gold, Smarties, Quality Street, Mint Imperial, Roses, Pear Drops, Milky Way.

Dry Skin Soother
Put some oats in a muslin bag (or a pop sock) and tie it under the hot tap when you run a bath - the water will look white and creamy. Soak in the water (don’t use soap). Your skin will be nourished and soothed. Great for Eczema

KEITH’S KORNER 10

One of our members came to see me the other day to discuss how he could change his gas supplier as the bills were getting rather heavy, and I mentioned that I had myself changed my supplier only a few months earlier by using one of the websites on the internet which helps you compare prices. The process was remarkably easy: you go onto the website – I was using www.uswitch.com – give your postcode, enter information about your last 12 months gas bills and at a press of a button, a list appears of what other gas suppliers would charge you if you switched to them. This was very helpful in getting a quick comparison – in my case it looked as if I could save over £300 – but what was more impressive was that the process of actually switching to another supplier was also easy, and was achieved at the press of another button. Various documents arrived through the post over the next few days and the whole transaction was completed in a matter of weeks. All done by using the internet.

All this was fresh in my mind when my youngest daughter Gabrielle – the one who is studying social policy at Leeds University – consulted me at the weekend about what topic she should write about for one of her assessed essays. This was more
difficult than may first appear, for there are many subjects in the field of social policy and disability which are worthy of study, but I was intrigued that one of her lecturers had suggested to her that maybe she should explore how the internet was increasingly being used by government and other bodies to inform people of their rights and help them claim services and benefits available to them. The particular issue which Gabrielle was being encouraged to investigate was what happened to those people who, for whatever reason, couldn’t use the internet: who were they, and were they becoming increasingly disadvantaged? I relayed to Gabrielle the story of my recent visitor to IRIS and suggested that if she undertook this study she was likely to find that older people – those who have not been used to using computers, let alone the internet – and visually disabled people – who often need special computer programmes to read computer screens – are likely to be amongst those most disadvantaged by this growing dependence on internet access. And that older visually disabled people were likely to be especially disadvantaged. It would be good, I said, if she could check this out more thoroughly, for it may mean that more energy needs to be put into training sessions for those groups not used to using computers, and other methods perhaps need to be found to communicate important information in ways which people can access. Gabrielle has agreed to consider these points. I gave her £20 to help her thought process, and promised more if she delivered the goods. Payment by results.

Now try this

Are you a gardener? Perhaps not, either because you haven’t got a garden or you haven’t ever succeeded in growing anything, or perhaps you feel you just don’t do that sort of thing any more.

Or are you a cook? Surely you sometimes make drinks and meals for yourself, and sometimes for other people.

So here’s an easy way to combine cooking and gardening. It’s followed by a simple recipe for you to try.

Your “garden” is either a vegetable dish or one of those plastic trays they sell mushrooms in. Or it can be a large jam or Kilner jar. The plants are sprouting seeds, which you can buy at Garden Centre or from catalogues (try Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds Kentford, Suffolk, CB8 7QB for a catalogue: postage is free on seeds). Sometimes you can get them at Supermarkets, I’ve found a good selection at B & Q too. The easiest ones are mustard and cress, best used in sandwiches and salads, and best grown on kitchen roll (see below). Use the more exciting seeds, such as alfalfa, fenugreek and mung beans, for the recipe given below.

There are two easy ways to grow your seeds:

1. If you use this method, soak larger seeds for two or three hours before you start. Then put several layers of kitchen roll paper in your dish or tray. Soak the paper thoroughly, then scatter a layer of seeds on to it. Repeat the soaking every day: the seeds must never dry out.

2. Or you can put the seeds (about two tablespoons) into a large jam or Kilner jar. Cover the jar with muslin or thin cotton material, keeping it in place with a rubber band. Cover the seeds with water. Then drain off any excess water so that the seeds are wet but not drowned. Repeat the watering and draining until the seeds are ready to harvest.

How do you know they are ready? The seeds start swelling very quickly and then start producing sprouts. When they are about 1 1/2 - 2 inches high they will be ready to harvest. Just take them off the paper or drain them when you take them out of the jar.

Now use these lovely tasty crunchy healthy sprouts in salads or sandwiches or in this easy supper dish:

Stir-fry chicken with sprouted seeds (Serves 1)

Ingredients

Small chicken joint, cooked and shredded
Clove of garlic, crushed (optional)
1/2 Onion, Chopped
1tsp Soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Method
Gently fry the onion and garlic. Add the chicken shreds and fry for a few more minutes. Add the sprouted seeds and toss until they are warm, adding the Soy sauce and seasonings at the same time. Serve with rice.

Help The Aged - Handy Van Practical Support

HandyVan provides and fits a range of safety and security products in clients’ homes. It is primarily aimed at older people who meet the Help he Aged criteria, and no charges are made for labour or the products installed. For anyone falling outside the criteria, chargeable options are available on request. The ranges of products installed include:
· Smoke alarms
· Door Chains
· Mortice locks
· Mortice bolts
· Window locks
· Door viewers
· Locks available for uPVC doors and windows
HandyVan fitters always carry photo identification cards and arrive by appointment.
REMEMBER to:
Always ask for identification;
Secure your door chain if you have one; and
Make sure you are happy that the caller is genuine before letting a stranger into your home.

To arrange an appointment with your local fitter or for more information, please
telephone 01255 473999 or email handyvan@hta.org.uk.

Quiz Corner

Complete the Nursery Rhymes and return to us together with your name, address and telephone number. The winner will receive a small prize. Closing date Monday 28th April 2008.

1 What are the names of the two little Dickie birds?
2 Where was the monkey in half a pound of tuppenny rice?
3 Who came to visit the little nut tree?
4 Where was little boy blue when he fell asleep?
5 What was Boy blue supposed to be doing?
6 Who marched 10,000 men to the top of the hill?
7 Who kissed the girls and made them cry?
8 Who wrote a letter and dropped it?
9 What are little boys made of?
10 What is the next line to: One two buckle my shoe?
11 What did the old woman who lived in a shoe; give to her children to eat?
12 How old was the Pease Pudding
13 In the rhyme Rub a dub dub, what were their jobs?
14 What rhyme can’t we do anymore, because parliament says so?
15 When we come home from market jigity jig, what have we bought?

My forgetter’s getting better
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I’m “here” I’m wondering if I really should be “there”
And, when I try to think it through
I haven’t got a prayer!
Oft times I walk into a room
Say “what am I here for?”
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say “Hi” and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, “who was that?”

Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And its driving me plumb crazy
And that isn’t any joke

Christmas Newsletter 2007

2007-12-12T12:47:00.000Z

IRIS Vision Resource Centre
14 Chapel Street
Crewe
Cheshire
CW2 7DQ
Email: info:iriscentre.org.uk www.iriscentre.org.uk

NEWSLETTER - Christmas 2007

Once again that time is here
A time of mirth, of laugher and cheer
A time of light, of sight and sound
A time for gifts that we can’t find
A time of taste and chocolate smell
A time to eat so much we swell
A time of tinsel and a glistening tree
A time to be with our family
A time of happiness all around
A time of smiles and fun about
A time to give, a time to receive
A time in life when we believe
A time to wish upon a star
A time to think of those afar
A time to sit and so reflect
A time to think what we expect
A time to think about our life
A time for fun and not of strife
But more important than all of these
A time to find someone to please
A time for us for cards to send
And none more special than to a friend.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Welcome to the Christmas edition of the IRIS Newsletter: yes I did say the Christmas edition although it does not seem possible that it is that time of year again.

If you shop on the internet you can help to raise money for IRIS by doing your shopping through a fund raising website: www.easyfundraising.org.uk All you need to do is to access the web site and to register with your chosen cause as ‘IRIS vision resource centre’ and then to follow the link to your shopping site: each time you make a purchase a donation will be made to IRIS. To find out more log on to the site and have a look for yourself.

You can read elsewhere in this newsletter about another fund raising event that we are holding in the New Year at the Crewe Vagrants Club. Please help to support this event by inviting friends and family along, so that we can make it as enjoyable and successful as the fashion show was earlier this year. I look forward to seeing you there.

Did you know that now you can buy a flat screen television with a built in ‘free view’ box capable of getting audio description? The ‘Integrated Digital Television’ is available from Sony and Panasonic: you can get further information from the RNIB on 0207391 2000 or email audiodescription@rnib.org.uk

Please remember that we are keen to include articles from you in the newsletter, sharing memories, tips, recommended pieces of equipment, queries etc. If you don’t feel like writing things yourself, ask Jane for assistance at the office.
Do your best to have an enjoyable Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Cheers, Bruce

New Items In Stock

Magnetic Labels

Pack of 5 A4 magnetic sheets, ideal for labelling items around the home in Braille or clear print. The labels have a smooth glossy white surface for writing on and a matt black magnetic coating on the reverse. A
variety of pens can be used on the paper, including biro, highlighters and marker pens, they are also suitable for use with a Perkins Brailler or a Braille frame. The sheets can be cut to create the label size you require and used on a number of metal surfaces such as fridges, dishwashers, food cans, medicine cabinets, filing cabinets, notice boards, etc.

Price £3.13 per pack of 5 A4 or alternatively 63p per sheet.

Merlin Plus CCTV

We are fortunate to have on loan, for a period of 3 months a Merlin Plus CCTV supplied by Enhanced Vision.

The Merlin is a computer compatible video magnifier that uses advanced
technology which allows viewing of computer fields and magnified images
simultaneously. The Merlin has auto focus for easy viewing, dial magnification 2.7x - 58x, four viewing modes and easy to use tactile controls.

Please feel free to call into to our Resource Room on a Tuesday or Thursday
between 10am and 3pm to have a demonstration of the Merlin or alternatively telephone 01270 250316 and speak to Joyce or Stephanie for more information.

Magi Plug - No more flooding - No more scalding
Magiplug is a bath and sink safety plug that works using a pressure
activated system. When an unattended bath reaches a certain depth the pressure plate opens and releases the excess water safely down the waste exit or plughole prior to flooding.

Price £12.97

Christmas Gifts

Do you require a Christmas gift for a family member or friend? We stock puzzle books, Scrabble, jigsaw puzzles, watches - even a talking microwave.

Call in to see the full range of products available.

Fund Raising Activities - Money Raised

9/6/07 Nantwich Street Collection £313.43

16/06/07 Wistaston Fete £74.00

23/06/07 Coffee Morning - Nantwich £220.00

27/06/07 Coffee Morning - Nantwich £145.50

29/06/07 Duck Race, Macon Meadow £146.00

11/08/07 Sainsbury's Supermarket Collection £370.04

23/08/07 Coffee Morning Nantwich £167.00

9/09/07 Swan Fayre £79.00

We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our local Probus Group who kindly raised £99.99 for us earlier this year. We omitted to say thank you to the people concerned in our last newsletter but we are very grateful for all your hard work on our behalf

Planned Future Fundraising Events

Brian Jones Big Band Night Tuesday, 12th February

Supermarket Collection at Tesco (date to be arranged)

Car Boot Sale (date to be arranged)

For Sale

17” Optelec Screen Reader. The unit was purchased in 2006 and is still under manufacturer’s warranty. Offers around £2,000

Hand Held Optelec Pocket Video Magnifier. The unit was purchased in August and is covered by the manufacturers warranty. Offers around £400.00
Contact Mr L Morren
Telephone: Home 01270 768500 Work 01270 668739

Malcolm's Muses

The Humble YO-YO…

Yes, you may smile but the YO-YO, the Children’s toy, has a long and quite colourful history. I could never master the art of Yo-Yo-ing but I daresay that you have observed and probably been mesmerized by some of the skills
demonstrated by some youngster and wondered how it was done.

Not only children were, and still are, attracted to the simple toy, but adults in the entertainment business have used it to augment their repertoire.

The Yo-Yo may have its origins deep in the past, when the wheel was invented, but, be that as it may, research indicates that the Greeks were among the early users as depicted on some ancient urns. Further research has revealed a portrait showing Napoleon holding a Yo-Yo and as legend states ‘he used it as a stress relieving device’. (Perhaps, being of a shorter stature he used one with a shorter string!) When it reached America the Yo-Yo was apparently seized upon as a potential money spinner and, with some changes to attract investors, was launched onto the market. But to return to the beginning: remember the wheel, groups of cave dwellers whose sole purpose was to survive, with the aid of the wheel etc. were able to interact with other groups - i.e. to move forward and then backward, to and fro… Yo-Yo-ing. An interesting concept...eh! Hence my thoughts and relating them to the everyday happenings in an otherwise stable way of life - no disrespect - the home, children, husband and wife.

The Yo-Yo effect or syndrome, call it what you will, when you think about it, is the way we are and is, if you like, the very essence of our existence. In most cases one movement forward is followed by another in the opposite direction. There are, of course, many exceptions, but, as the scientists say ‘every action has an equal and opposite re-action’ and they are never wrong!

Whichever way we look at it, even if the Yo-Yo (the toy) was done away with, the effect could never be removed from our lives. Wouldn’t our lives be wonderful if movement, especially around the home, was reduced by the person requesting the particular item(s) planning ahead? By so doing other members of the household would have more time to… When one is young and free from the rigours of whatever, the Yo-Yo effect does not have the same significance as it does in later years, but it’s there just the same, isn’t it?

Ever since the invention of the wheel, maybe, the Yo-Yo effect has influenced our way of life, and animals too, (although they don’t know it) and the worst thing about it is that we cannot escape from it.

Humble….I should er...yo-yo!!

“Drop Dead! . . . . Please!”

. . . by Warren L. Wright

It is a truism in my book that truth really is stranger than fiction. Scribblers like me do not invent - there is no need when life serves up enough material. All that the scribbler has to do is to observe accurately and then recount amusingly. Exposition, not invention is the watchword. An outstanding example of this provision of material, free for the taking, was The case of the Perpetual Pension.

We are familiar by now with the item known as FAQ’s - Frequently Asked
Questions. Well, I have invented another category: Damn’ Silly Questions. A short while ago, I was asked a DSQ by a certain pensioning authority in a page of the Newsletter entitled Frequently Asked Question:

‘What Benefits are payable if I die?’ (sic)

“IF I die?” I thought. “IF?” Have I been missing something all these years? I was under the distinct impression that there was no question about whether I die or not! So what if not? Does one become a new recruit to the Un-dead? A Zombie? A Ghoul? Does half-life after nightfall involve a proportionate reduction in pension?

It rather reminded me of the time when I was requested some time after retirement twenty-odd years ago, to have the enclosed form endorsed by a ‘Qualified Medical Practitioner’ to the effect that I was still alive. I had it signed by the Vet and endorsed ‘F.R.C.V.S.’ It was not questioned at the other end, and I have ever been asked again. I am now wondering whether to write and ask if there is a Statute of Limitations on the payment of pensions to those who do not die

W.L. Wright

My Childhood Memories

I remember in times gone by how we used to live, a lot more simply than we do today. The days seemed endless, not like today with all the pressures of money earning and work. The only obligations we had to fulfil was going to school, Sunday school and later on to work. Sunday was quite a ritual, our best clothes laid out for us, and our shoes, which father had, when needed, mended for us with some leather he bought from the barbers (and soaked it the night before to make it more pliable) and polished them for us. Sometimes, on a Sunday, he would prepare the vegetables for dinner, then take us out for a walk round the green, while mother cooked us a lovely Sunday dinner.

In later years our lives altered somewhat, as my father died, he was only 52 and life became a little harder for mother who had to go out to work and as I was the youngest of four children, I was only 12 then, I got most of the dirty jobs to do, scrubbing the floors and black leading the grate, chopping sticks and breaking the coal up which I enjoyed doing.

We had to get up in the morning, have a wash in freezing cold water and get
ourselves off to school and later work.

During the war years we had to carry a gasmask to school in a box, with a string to go over your shoulder, if there was an air raid at school, teacher told us to get under the desk, that is if it wasn't too severe, if it was we had to go to the shelter on the razza*. If we were at home we used our own shelter in the back garden (that is if it wasn't full of water), or we would sit under the stairs with a candle. There were some awful air raids there was one when it lasted nearly all night and we had to use the communal shelter in Earle Street, it was under Woodhouse’s Furniture shop we took blankets with us and it ended at 5 o’clock in the morning it was very frightening.

When I went to school at the age of 3 I remember the head teacher used to have us in her study and we would all sit on the floor and she would teach us to read and if you read well she would give you 3 little gem sweets of different colours, well I have been reading ever since and as a child I have always had a book in my hands I was quite content as long as I had a book to read.
Things in those days were simpler than today, no rushing about; everyone took their time about their business and more content than they are today.

*Razza - piece of rough ground behind Brierley Street School.

Would you like to share a memory with us ?

We welcome all contributions to your newsletter and would love to hear from you on any subject.

The Blind England Team

Blind football shouldn’t work, but it does. Internationals are played as five-a-side matches. The goalie is fully sighted, but not allowed to move off his line.

The four outfield players are blind, and they wear a blindfold to make sure there is no cheating. The ball is smaller than a normal football, and there is a pellet inside it that makes a rattling noise. The pitch is divided into three “coaching zones”, into which the coaches on the sidelines can shout directions. To avoid serious injuries, there is an international rule whereby a player will shout the word “voy” before he goes in for a tackle.

Football commentators often praise players for being able to “read” the game - blind footballers hear it. England captain Aj Ahmed, 26 holds a season ticket at Anfield. “People ask me why I waste all that money when I could just listen to the matches on the radio. But they have no idea what it feels like to hear the crowd roar.” When he plays, he says, it is similar: “You can imagine the flight of the ball from the reaction of the crowds.”

Those players who have been blind since birth tend to have better ball control. Karyn Seal, 25, went blind only two years ago: “I will still sometimes punt it forward and run after it.” Striker David Clarke on the other hand, knows how to keep the ball close to his body. His trademark move is a drag-back which ends with him flipping the ball over the defender’s' head - “when it’s in the air, the ball stops jingling and the opponent can’t hear where it is”. At 36, he has represented England at international level for 14 years, won the Golden Boot at three different tournaments, and scored 78 goals in 87 matches - Michael Owen’s record pales in comparison.

Was it love at first sight?

Talking to friends the other day the subject of how we met our ‘other halves’ came up. One lady had met her husband while on a trip to the skating rink in
Altringham and another when the dance here and a friend were going to was cancelled and instead she ended up at the local pub. As for me, well I met my future husband in a marquee in the middle of a field in Bromyard in Herefordshire at a weekend folk festival. He asked me to dance and I actually turned him down at first!

Its amazing really how fate can play a part in these matters; what could have been if that dance hadn’t been cancelled?

We’d like to hear from you about how you met the love of your life. Just jot it down or if you prefer record it on a tape and send it into us here at the IRIS Vision Resource Centre office and we’ll print it in the next newsletter..

Keith's Korner

Over these past few months IRIS has been
involved in some unusual discussions with doctors and managers from Leighton Hospital and the local health authority about how to ensure patients at the eye clinic can exercise choice about the treatment they receive. The treatment in question concerns some new drugs – so-called anti-VEGF drugs – which have been developed recently for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a particularly nasty eye disease which, unless treated quickly, can cause severe loss of vision. About 200 people in the local area are likely to get this disease every year, and their numbers will grow.

These new drugs, which are injected directly into the eye by an eye surgeon, have been shown to be very successful in stabilising (and in some cases reversing) the damage caused by wet AMD, but the issue of choice has emerged because there are two drugs currently being used. Lucentis has been properly tested and is now licensed with the authorities for the treatment of AMD; and Avastin, which works in similar ways to Lucentis and is produced by the same manufacturer, and has been found to be effective in treating AMD but it is actually licensed for use in the treatment of certain cancers. Although both drugs seem to have the same impressive track-record in treating AMD they have two differences: Avastin, in having slightly different biological properties, will generally require fewer injections in the eye than Lucentis – perhaps only 3 or 4 in the first year compared to a minimum of 8 for Lucentis; and Avastin comes much cheaper – about £2000 for a course of treatment, compared to about £21000 for Lucentis.

The reality for the NHS is that it could not afford to offer everybody
Lucentis without making serious cuts in other health services, which in practice would mean that the drug was rationed to only a proportion of those with wet AMD. This is why there has been such great interest shown in Avastin: using Avastin would mean that everybody could be treated, which is something IRIS, the medical profession and local health service managers would prefer.

Because of various medical conventions, Avastin cannot be used unless patients agree to it, and this choice has to be exercised freely and without pressure. IRIS has been involved in designing a leaflet which will be used at Leighton to explain all this, and which ensures a free but informed choice can be made. And we speak with some authority, because it has been our own trustees and members – who have a visual disability – who have approved and agreed the leaflet.

IRIS ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR 2006/7

Members who attended our AGM in September will recall that we could not produce a statement from Lee Jenkins, the person who independently inspects our accounts, because he had suffered a bereavement and could not
complete the task in time. I am no able to report that Lee has since confirmed that the accounts are in good order, and that he is happy to confirm that ‘no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause that in any material respect the requirements to keep proper accounting records, and to
prepare accounts in accordance with these records, has not been met’.
Copies of the annual report and accounts are available on request to any member.

Simple Christmas Recipes

Cherry and Mincemeat Flapjacks

410gr Traditional Mincemeat
200gr Glace Cherries roughly chopped
150gr Butter
6 Tblsp Golden Syrup
450gr Jumbo Oats

Preheat the oven to 180 gas mark 4. Place the mincemeat, cherries, butter and syrup in a pan and heat gently for 3-4 minutes or until the butter has melted.
Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the oats and mix thoroughly. Spoon the
mixture into a greased 18x 28cm rectangular tin and press down with back of
spoon .

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden. Mark into 18 squares and allow to cool completely in the tin. When the flapjacks are completely cold, cut into squares using a sharp knife and store in an airtight container.

The flapjacks will still be soft when they are cooked and come out of the oven. They become harder and crisper as they cool.

Turkey with Almonds and Cheese

750gr cooked turkey, diced 125gr grated Cheddar Cheese
50gr butter 25gr freshly grated parmesan
75gr whole blanched almonds 2 Tblsp freshly chopped parsley
40g plain flour 2 Tblsp lemon juice
750ml milk

Preheat the oven 190, 365, gas mark 5
Arrange turkey in a lightly buttered ovenproof dish
Melt 25gr butter in a pan and fry the almonds for 2/3 mins until golden.
Add to the turkey
Heat the remaining butter and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute
Add the lemon juice, seasoning and cheese, mix well.
Pour the sauce over the turkey and sprinkle with grated parmesan.
Place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the top is golden.

Qizz
Test Your Knowledge of Confectionary.
The answers to the questions below relate to the names of chocolate or sweets for
example: Teddy Bears Snack = Picnic.

Answers will be published in the next newsletter

1 Dark Cult ………………………………………..

2 Full of Bubbles ……………………………………….

3 Mothers Local ……………………………………….

4 Cool Sports For Princes ……………………………………….

5 Gem To Make Your Mouth Water ……………………………………….

6 Good Kids Get Them ……………………………………….

7 Dairy Holder ……………………………………….

8 Edible Fasteners ……………………………………….

9 100 % A.U. ……………………………………….

10 These Know The Answers ……………………………………….

11 High Class Residence ……………………………………….

12 Royal Herb ……………………………………….

13 Garden Flowers ……………………………………….

14 Fallen Fruit ……………………………………….

15 Dairy Route To The Stars ……………………………………….

How Times Have Changed

We were born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, plastic,
contact lenses, videos, fribees and the pill.
We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams, and ballpoint pens, before dishwashers, tumble dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip dry cloths and before men walked on the moon.
We got married first and then lived together.
We thought “fast Food” was what you ate in lent.
A “Big Mac” was an oversized raincoat, and a “Crumpet” we had for tea.
Meaningful relationships meant getting along with cousins, and “Sheltered
Accommodaton” was where you waited for the bus.
For us “Time sharing” meant togetherness.
A chip was a fried potato.
“Hardware” was nuts and bolt, and Software” wasn’t even a word!
“Grass” was mown.
“Coke” was burnt.
A “Joint” was a piece of meat that you had on Sunday.
“Pot” was something you cooked in.
A “Gay” person was the life and soul of the party.
How Times Have Changed

Newsletter Summer 2007

2007-06-20T14:28:00.000+01:00

14 Chapel Street
Crewe
Cheshire
CW2 7DQ

NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2007

Message from the Chairman.

Welcome to the summer edition of the newsletter. May seems to have made up for the very dry April, although we are promised another hot dry spell.

I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the Fashion Show such a great success: some of the ‘models’ were a bit more flamboyant than others, but I am sure we all enjoyed the experience!

We have a number of fund raising events coming up soon, starting with a street collection in Nantwich on 9 June. This will be followed by a number of Coffee Mornings. We would appreciate donations to the Tombola and bric-a-brac stalls, at these events.

Can I remind you that this year’s subs were due in April and that the current rate is £5.00.

We have, in the meeting room, a CCTV reader which members may use to enlarge letters, pictures etc, as demonstrated at the members’ meeting. So if you think that it may be of use to you why not drop in and give it a try; give Wendy a call first to make sure that the room is free and that you can be shown how to use it.

All the best.
Cheers,
Bruce
IRIS VISION RESOURCE ROOM

New Products

Magnifying Compact Mirrors
We now have two magnifying mirrors in stock; one magnifies by 5x and the other by 10x. They can help you to see better when applying make-up, eyebrow tweezing and other close up work. Both are made with distortion free glass and are small enough to carry in your handbag.
Prices are £9.85 for the 10x and £10.95 for the 5x

Micro Kettle
The micro kettle allows you to boil up to 500mls of water in your microwave. The lid is fitted with a special ‘Boil-Stick’ which detects when the water has reached boiling point, at which stage the kettle ‘whistles’. The kettle can also be used as a measuring jug and comes with a soft grip handle.
Price £10.94

Large Print Sudoku
Together with the large print crossword and word search books we now have a large print Sudoku book which has 25 puzzles (together with the answers).
Price £2.75

Radio Controlled Talking Watch
This watch has a white face with clear black numbers and a second hand. The watch is able to pick up radio signals in the UK, USA, Germany and Japan. It will automatically set itself and display and speak the local time. The watch can be set manually outside countries with a radio signal. The watch has a black moulded case and strap with a metal buckle. It features an alarm and hourly report function. It is battery operated.
Price £38.44

THE CASE OF THE VANISHING VOLKSWAGEN……

My wife and I were collared - if that is the word - by a policewoman in a little market town (for causing an obstruction with the car). I am only partially sighted, and we therefore carry a Blue Badge, which we use freely, life having few privileges, in all conscience. We had parked in a narrow one-way street, with plenty of room behind us for another car to park. When the driver of a huge lorry decided that there was room enough for his leviathan, (during our absence) and departed the scene for his lunch, chaos descended on that quiet street.

All was well until another lorry came down the street - and could not pass. By the time we returned to our car, the tailback was practically out of the county. It was at this point we were collared by the policewoman and accused of causing an obstruction. I pointed out that we were there first, using the time card we have to display, and that it was therefore the driver of the lorry who had caused the obstruction (“Fifteen Love, I thought”). Unable to dispute the evidence laid before her, she switched tactics by noticing that our Blue Badge was out of date.

“Cheque's in the post,” I said. “Sorry.” (’Thirty Love’)

By this time she was mining what she thought was a richer seam. Having phoned up the office on those radio things they carry, she asked, rather triumphantly, I thought, “Is this your car?” Memories of Max Wall’s interpretation of the same line had me choking to hold back a ripe chuckle that I knew would not help the
situation. I managed to keep a straight face, and assured her that it was indeed my car, though my wife had to do the driving.

“There’s no record of it on the PNC or at the DVLA,” she said, giving us the gist of her radio enquiries. “Are you sure it’s your car?”

“If it’s not on the PNC and it’s not in the DVLA records, we can neither of us be sure of that, can we?” (Forty Love’)

“But it does occur to me,” I continued, “to ask how a car that does not exist can cause an obstruction?”

She gave me a look that said, “Keep going, punk, and you’ll make my day!” (Dirty Harry in a bra.)

“I have owned this car for four years”, I continued hurriedly, sensing thin ice. “I can produce the Bill of Sale and whatever they call the Logbook these days.”

Not to be outdone, she pressed on: “Are those the original registration plates?” she asked.

“No” I said. “These are my own plates - they were swapped over by the garage when I bought the car.”

She disappeared into the depths of her radio again. “Seems your garage slipped up and never notified the DVLA of Change of Ownership. I’ll put the paperwork in hand when I get back to the Station. In the meantime, get that Blue Badge renewed before you use it again.”

She seemed genuinely glad to get out of a situation that gave every indication of spiralling out of control by its surrealistic complications, “Game, Set and Match”, I thought as she walked off.

Some time later, we were informed by the DVLA that as we had not submitted a Change of Owner form, we were liable to a fine of £20.00. Was this the Policewoman’s Revenge? I wondered. If it were, her triumph was short-lived. When I asked the wretches at the DVLA how they had managed to issue a valid Ownership document without any Paperwork (that magic word!), ear-splitting
silence descended for upwards of a month - while the culprit was hunted down, perhaps. Then came an abject apology, presumably from the perpetrator of the bloomer: it was entirely their fault, they were terribly sorry and they were taking steps to see that it never happened again. It made the score even better:
‘Game, Set, Match and Series’.

W.L. Wright April 2006

Fundraising

Thank you to all the people involved in raising money for the IRIS Centre – we can’t say often enough how important all our volunteers are to us!

Fashion Show
The fashion show in April turned out to be a really enjoyable night. The ‘models’ excelled themselves – by the end of the night anyone would have thought they were professionals! The Edinburgh Woollen Mill staff worked really hard too and the buffet at the end of the show went down very well. Together with the raffle held on the night we raised £457.50. Thank you again to everyone who supported us.

Morrison's Supermarket Collection
in March raised £301.40 – thanks to all our collectors.

Future Events

9th June Nantwich Street Collection

16th June Wistaston Fete

23rd June Coffee morning in Nantwich Church Hall

27th July Coffee morning in Nantwich Church Hall

29th July Duck race in Macon meadow at 2.30pm

11th August Sainsbury's Supermarket Collection

23rd August Coffee morning in Nantwich Church Hall

Donations
We have received a kind donation from Carillion Rail Projects of £1,000 for which we would like to say a big “thank you”.

We have also received a kind donation of about 30 Talking books (thank you to the lady concerned) which has increased our library to 463 books, They can now be borrowed by members of the IRIS Centre.

We also have two CCTVs, donated by a kind gentleman from Stoke-on-Trent, which will be available for loan once they have been PAT approved. We will update you on the situation in the next newsletter.

For Sale
If anyone out there is interested in an Enhanced Vision Max Colour mouse we have one for sale for £70 (second hand). The ‘mouse’ connects to the back of your TV, via a Scart socket, and when run across a book or newspaper magnifies the print onto the television, enabling you to see it more easily. If you would like further information please phone Wendy, Joyce or Steph on 250316.

MALCOLM’S MUSES

EMBARRASSED? WATER SURPRISE!

Most of us – that’s you and me – like to think that we can take anything that is thrown at us on the chin. What ever it is, we can deal with it – can’t we? Yes of course we can – until we have
an embarrassing moment – then all we can do is hide, get as far away from IT as possible . Yeah! The very idea of being the object of ridicule can cause a nervous tic, or the “sweats”, or the “shakes”. No-one wants to find themselves in an embarrassing situation.

In a well established hotel and restaurant, a party of some forty members of a social club were dining. Of course, during the proceedings numerous people had visited the “facilities” which were sited at the end of a big passage. The lady in question, having paid her visit had to walk through the entire tabled area to return to her seat. Unfortunately, she had tucked her skirt into the back of her underwear and all was exposed to view. It was some time before she felt able to talk about it or look anyone in the eye!

A group of friends, men, were out on a pub crawl and having had a few ended up at their last place of rest! One guy was suffering from an attack of wind as well as feeling rather drunk. However, the moment came when he just had to remove himself and visit the loo – sharpish! His walk was something to watch and it was accompanied by, no, not the Sound of Music, but yes, you’ve guessed it – Trumpet in-Voluntary! He did not re-appear in the bar, he had sneaked out through the back door, taken a taxi home and was not seen for some time by his mates.

And then there is my own moment of embarrassment. While on holiday in Boscombe my wife and I visited Beaulieu Motor Museum with a group from our hotel. Having visited and photographed everything in the museum we took a ride on the monorail to see the house and gardens. Feeling hungry we decided to find a quiet spot to eat our sandwiches and found an ideal spot with seats by a very ornate fountain. Duly fed I prepared to take photos of the fountain and using my new zoom lens I set about it. With specs hooked on my little finger and camera to my good eye, I focused and moved forward to obtain a well composed picture.
But, hey, the next thing I knew was that I fell into the goldfish pond beneath the fountain and came back up absolutely soaking wet – but, thankfully unhurt. Except for my pride of course! My wife could not believe her eyes as I stood there, camera and specs still in my hand – to this day I do not remember going down or coming back up – it all happened so quickly.

Travelling back on the monorail was the first hurdle - a mother and son could not disembark quick enough at the other end - I was dripping water from my trousers onto the compartment floor. Thankfully, there were not many people on the coach and I was able to sneak on board and conceal myself and remain hidden from view until we arrived back at our hotel - one ever knew - until now!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

IRIS Vision Resource Centre - Members Notice

The IRIS Annual General Meeting will be held at 1.00pm on Monday 24th September at the IRIS Centre. The meeting is open to all subscribing members of The IRIS Vision Resource Centre.

Talking Glucose Meter
The SensoCard Plus is the UK’s only talking glucose meter and is now available free of charge through BBI Healthcare to visually disabled diabetes patients in the UK. Usually priced between £50 and £70 this is the first time a talking meter has been given out free. To receive a free meter, the patient’s healthcare advisor should first contact BBI Healthcare to request a ‘Free Meter Voucher’. Once the voucher has been filled in and returned to BBI Healthcare, a SensoCard Plus meter kit will be sent out. If you would like further information please contact BBI Healthcare on 01792 229333 or email info@bbihealthcare.com .

Message in a Bottle
We now have the new ‘Message in a Bottle’ available. This is a voluntary scheme for anyone who might be assured to know that essential information would be readily available to the Emergency Services should they suffer an accident or sudden illness. Vital information is available to advise of relevant illnesses, allergies, medication and contact addresses. For further information contact Wendy, Joyce or Steph at the IRIS Centre on 250316.

Computer Lessons with Vision Support
We would like to remind members that we hold computer lessons in conjunction with Vision Support here at the centre. The lessons are held on a Wednesday using the Guide operating system. If you would like to surf the web, write letters or just get to grips with new technology contact Wendy, Steph or Joyce at the centre for further information.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs
We still have energy saving light bulbs to give away! There are 4 bulbs in a box: 2 x 100watt and 2 x 40watt. You can do your bit to help the environment and save yourself some money on your electricity bills at the same time!
Phone 250316 for further information.

Membership Fees
Just a little reminder to those of you who would like to be a member of the IRIS Vision Resource Centre that the fee of £5.00 is now due. Being a member entitles you to come along to the Monday Club and/or the Tuesday drop in session (both of which run from 11.00am to 2.30pm), to borrow Talking or Large Print books from our library of over 450 books, the right to vote at the AGM (which is coming up later this year), support from staff and volunteers if needed and to receive a copy of the Newsletter four times a year. Please send us your fee of £5.00, together with your name and address, and we will send you your Membership card for 2007/2008.

What is a Low Vision Assessment?

You may be aware that here at the IRIS Vision Resource Centre we offer a Low Vision Service. Most people who have a problem with their vision will have some useful sight which we can help them to make the most of. During a Low Vision Assessment one of our trained therapists, will ascertain what type of aids may help you to see better to read, write, continue to do your favourite hobby, etc. This may be by using a magnifier or improving the lighting in your home.

The assessments, carried out on a Monday or Wednesday by appointment, last approximately one hour and are non-invasive (we do not examine the eye). You will need to have seen your optician/optometrist or to have been seen by the consultant optometrist at the eye clinic within the last year before we can carry out an assessment.

If you fall within our funded area of Central Cheshire, the assessment will be free of charge and we can ‘lend’ you up to two items; this may be a magnifier, a lamp or a pair of sunshields. These items are then yours for as long as they are useful to you. You will also be given a review appointment as part of the service.

The service is also available to people outside our funded area but at a charge of £40.00 for the consultation and items of equipment have to be purchased.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this service, or you would like further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us at the IRIS Vision Resource Centre.

Cookery Corner
Easy Strawberry Fool
Serves 4
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 50mins

INGREDIENTS
1 Pack Strawberry Jelly
250g Strawberries, rinsed
75g Caster Sugar
500g Creamy Fromage Frais

METHOD
1. Cut the jelly into squares and place in a saucepan with 150ml water. gently heat until the jelly cubes have dissolved then remove from the heat to cool.

2. Remove the strawberry stems and hull (the green leafy bit and the part where it’s attached to the berry). Roughly chop the strawberries and put in the bowl with half the sugar.

3. Mash the mixture with a potato masher. Stir the jelly into the mashed strawberry mixture and put in the fridge. Leave until its cold and just starting to set about 2 to 3 hours

4. Stir the strawberry mixture well, and then fold in the formage frais and the remaining sugar.

5. Transfer the mixture to a clean serving dish and leave to set for about 2 hours.

Serve with shortbread biscuits if you wish.

KEITHS KORNER

My youngest daughter Gabrielle has just returned from the University of Leeds having completed the final examinations in her three year degree course studying Social Policy. By all accounts she’s enjoyed herself there, although she’s cost us a fortune, has developed a taste for fine lagers and has ended up with a student loan debt for herself of about £10,000 which she’ll be paying off once she starts earning. The Social Policy department at Leeds is famous for its work on disability studies, and I was especially pleased that one of Gabrielle’s final essays was on the subject of visual disability, an issue which otherwise seems to rarely feature in disability research. Her essay involved her
interviewing various members of IRIS about their experiences of work and employment, which she then used to illustrate how the policies and practices of government and other agencies helped or hindered disabled people to enter or remain in the workforce. She did very well and was awarded 76% for this essay, suggesting that she carries her father’s brains as well as his good looks – so thanks to all those at IRIS who helped!. What was interesting, however, was that the actual personal experiences of visually impaired people proved to be so central in the writing of this essay.

This was also the case with the work recently undertaken by two of our volunteers to interview and collect together the experiences of people who have age-related macular degeneration. This led to some very interesting horror stories of late diagnoses, treatment delays and sparse information being conveyed to patients at this most distressing of times which we have published – keeping all the names confidential of course - to show how health and social care services could and should be improved in the future. The moral of both these stories is that the actual experiences of visually disabled people can be important in informing opinion and changing practices, but they need to be collected, published and publicised. This suggests a new role for IRIS, especially important at a time when great changes are taking place in the way our public services are run and organised. So watch this space, and be ready to share your experiences and ideas……….

Audio Description Update Summer 2007

Introduction
Hello and welcome to the AD Summer 2007 Update.

In this issue you’ll find a list of all the DVDs that have been released with AD since the last Update in November 2006; some changes to TV License rulings affecting people who have sound-only TV; information about some brand new TVs with AD; details of how to get hold of more information about all aspects of digital TV; we need your help with a survey, and there’s some cricket news too – so read on!

All the RNIB contacts referred to in this issue appear at the end in a section entitled “contact details”.

If you have never experienced audio description and you have access to the internet, visit our web pages at www.rnib.org.uk/audiodescription where you can watch a short film clip with audio description. Alternatively, if you do not have
access to the internet, we can send you an audio described clip on CD or DVD; call Jill Whitehead on 020 7391 2398.

DVD News
The latest Bond movie available on DVD is the first ever Bond DVD to be released with audio description - so go out and buy Casino Royale and find out what all the fuss is about.

Dr Who Series Two Box Set with audio description and talking menus (audio navigation) won the British Video Association Award for the best authored DVD of 2006. Jane Eyre was released in February 2007 also with audio description and audio navigation – Watch this space, as we are asking for more titles to have talking menus!

New DVDs with AD from November 2006 to date
All the Kings Men, Ant Bully, Borat, Cars, Casino Royale, Christmas with the Cranks, Click, A Cock and Bull Story, Deep Water, The Devil Wears Prada, Dr Who Series Two Box Set - with audio description and audio menus, Eragon, Happy Feet, History Boys, Jane Eyre with audio navigation and description, John Tucker Must Die, Just My Luck, Lady in the Water, Little Man, Little Miss Sunshine, Marie Antoinette, Monster House, Must Love Dogs, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Night at the Museum, Open Season, Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest, The Prestige, The Queen, Red Road, A Scanner Darkly, Severance, The Sentinel, Stormbreaker, Stranger than Fiction, Superman Returns, Talladega Nights, Thank You for Smoking, Volver.
Please note: DVDs are not available from RNIB. As new DVDs are added to our list virtually every week now, if you have access to the internet it’s worth you having a look at the list now and again to keep yourself up-to-date. Here’s the link you need: www.rnib.org.uk/dvd. Alternatively you can always give Joan Greening a ring on 020 7391 2322.

News from TV Licensing
New regulations came into force on 1 April 2007 covering the administration of the Blind Concession Licence, which entitles people who are registered blind to a 50% reduction in their TV Licence.

The Government has decided that you will no longer need a TV Licence if you use a digital set top box to listen to digital television, as long as it is not connected to any TV receiving equipment. So if you connect your set top box to your hi-fi system, for example, you will no longer need a licence.

However if you do have a television and you are applying for your blind licence for the first time, please get in touch with TV Licensing on 0845 603 6999 when you receive your TV licence renewal notice. You will be asked to send a photocopy of your blind registration document from the local authority to TV Licensing, Blind Concession Group, Bristol BS98 1TL, which TV Licensing will validate. They will then send you a letter confirming the details and the payment amount, which you can then take to any PayPoint outlet to pay for your licence by cash or debit card.

You can also choose to pay in a number of other ways, including over the phone by debit or credit card, using the website at www.tvlicensing.co.uk or by Direct Debit.

If you are renewing your blind licence, you can choose to make your payment using any one of the methods outlined above.

If you experience any problems, contact Joan Greening on
020 7391 2322.

RNIB TV Survey: we need your help
RNIB is looking for blind and partially sighted people to participate in new research about how they want to navigate digital TV and plan their viewing. Although RNIB has a lot of anecdotal evidence that people with sight problems find it difficult to use digital TV because of the on-screen programme guide, there is no systematic research on this issue. RNIB needs research results that can be used in dealings with government and manufacturers to show that current on-screen programme guides and menus do not allow blind and partially sighted people to use digital TV effectively and easily. We also want to find out what precisely people expect from talking on-screen menus and a talking programme guide.

We are looking for blind and partially sighted people of all ages; people who have used digital TV as well as people who have not; people who watch TV a lot and people who only watch occasionally; people who are very familiar with technology as well as people who do not use technology very often. The questionnaire is currently being prepared and it will be possible to fill it in online or over the phone.
If you would like to help with this research, please e-mail us at
audiodescripion@rnib.org.uk or phone Jill Whitehead on 0207 391 2398, and we will contact you when the research starts. Alternatively, If you prefer to complete the survey online, please go to https://enterprise.rnib.org.uk/Questionnaire.aspx.

Audio description on digital TV
In this section you will find the latest information about how to get audio description on Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media. This information is correct at the time of going to press, but the situation is constantly changing, so if you’re in any doubt, please contact Jill Whitehead on 020 7391 2398.

Freeview
Integrated Digital Televisions With Audio Description
An Integrated Digital Television (known as an IDTV) is a TV with a Freeview set-top box built-in, so instead of having a TV and a set-top box with two remote controls, everything is in one unit with just one remote control.

Panasonic
Panasonic has now launched a range of IDTVs that can deliver audio description.
Below is the list of model numbers of Panasonic IDTVs with audio description.
Models beginning TH are Plasma screens and models starting TX are LCD models; the first two digits indicate the screen size in inches.

TH-65PZ700B TH-58PZ700B TH-50PZ70B TH-42PZ70B
TH-50PX700B TH-42PX700B TH-50PX70B TH-42PX70B
TH-37PX70B TH-50PX7B TH-42PX7B TH-37PX7B
TX-32LXD700 TX32LXD70 TX-26LXD70 TX-32LMD70
TX-26LMD70 TX-32LXD7 TX-26LXD7

Sony
Sony is also launching a range of IDTVs that will be able to deliver audio description. These will start appearing in shops from June 2007; the list of model numbers below also has the month in brackets when each model is expected to be in shops.
KDL-26S3000U (June) KDL-26S3010U (June)
KDL-32S3000U “ KDL-32S3010U “
KDL-40S3000U “ KDL40S3010U “
KDL-32D3000U “ KDL-40D3000U “
KDL-46S3000U “ KDL-46S3010U “
KDL-46D3000U “ DL-20S3000U (July)
KDL-20S3020U (July) KDL-32T3000U (September)
KDL-40T3000U (September) KDL-40HD1080 “
KDL-46T3000U “ KDL-46HD1080 “

Computer Adapter
Nebula Electronics has a computer adapter (both PCI and USB2.0 versions are available) called DigiTV for viewing television via your computer. It can be ordered directly from Nebula and costs under £100 including VAT and postage. For more information contact Nebula Electronics, telephone 01689 89 70 90 or www.nebula-electronics.com

Portset Devices
Portset Digital Media Centre is a stand-alone device for people who don’t mind not having a TV screen. It offers sound-only Freeview TV access with audio description; access to electronic programme guides; a daisy talking book player; and a recording function.

Portset has also now launched an accessible Freeview Receiver with Personal Video Recorder. For more information about either of these products contact Portset on 01489 893919, send an email to admin@portset.co.uk, or visit their website at ww.portset.co.uk

Sky
Whether you pay a monthly subscription for your Sky service, or use their Freesat (no subscription) service, any Sky customer can get AD by switching it on. Here’s how:

To activate the audio description service you will need to go into “services”, select “System Set-up” and then “Language and Subtitles”. Scroll to “Audio Description” and use the left and right arrow keys to turn description on. Scroll down to “Save new settings” and press “Select”. Now press the “Sky” button to exit the menus.

If you live outside the London area and want to receive audio description you will need to watch:
BBC1 on channel 974 ITV 1 on channel 993
ITV2 on channel 118 Channel 4 on channel 994

Five on channel 105

BBC2 description is available on channel 989 if you live outside England.
Channel 744 for Sky Box Office Movies with audio description.

To subscribe to Sky, call their Accessibility Helpline on 0870 566 3333 ; to get Freesat from Sky, call 0870 606 1111. To find out more about what Sky offers customers with sight problems – including statements in alternative formats and the monthly Sky magazine on CD - contact their Accessibility Helpline on 0870 566 3333 . You can also call this number to find out which programmes are being audio described. Alternatively you can find this information by logging onto Sky's accessibility website at www.sky.com/accessibility/audiodescription, then click on "TV Guide".

Cable: Virgin Media (Formerly NTL or Telewest)
Depending on where you live you may be able to receive your digital TV via cable now provided by Virgin Media. This was previously the service provided by one of the two cable TV companies NTL or Telewest.

To make things easier for customers Virgin Media shows AD on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five on separate AD channels:

BBC 1 - channel 851 BBC 2 - channel 852
ITV - channel 853
C4 - channel 854 Five - channel 855

There are some regional variations, so not everyone will get AD on the same channels. However once Virgin Media’s systems have been integrated (hopefully by the end of 2007) these variations will cease to exist and everyone will eventually be able to get AD on all channels on which the service is carried.

Do you need more information on Digital TV?

Ricability, an independent national research charity, has tested over 100 digital TV products to help consumers choose the easiest to use for the switch to digital television. The findings are published free on a fully accessible ‘AAA’ website at www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk and are also available on audio tape and CD.

Test reports are available on indoor aerials, set top boxes, PVRs and IDTVs and as well as recommending the easiest to use products, detailed useful information is given for people with sight problems on: ease of use of remote controls and on-screen guides, and audio description availability and access (within detailed test
reports).

Four audio-tape/CD reports are available:
1.Getting started: what to do about digital TV
2.Indoor TV aerials: consumer test report
3.Digital TV recorders and set top boxes: consumer test reports
4.Widescreen iDTVs: consumer test reports

To obtain copies please contact Ricability, 30 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT email mail@ricability.org.uk ; telephone 020 7427 2460

RNIB also has a fact sheet all about choosing digital TV equipment. If you’d like a copy, contact Jill Whitehead on 020 7391 2398 or go to our website at:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_audiodescription.hcsp#P46_2253.

Sports News
Ball by Ball – Cricket Commentary at Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
The “Ball by Ball” project is a new service which has been installed at Lord’s and the MCC. The provision of audio description is provided by a commentator specifically trained in describing events for those unable to see them clearly. This commentary is transmitted to a headset which can be worn by spectators in any area of the ground. It is provided by volunteer, BBC trained, commentators who have been recruited to
provide this service for all games.

Blind and partially sighted spectators are provided with small hand held receivers and headsets which allow them to receive the dedicated commentary throughout the match. The project is proving a huge success and there has been a very good take up of the headsets for every fixture.

RNIB has trained the stewards and officials on how to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, how to provide accessible information and how to guide a blind or partially sighted person.

RNIB is now looking to work with all county clubs and test match grounds to ensure that this service is available to all blind spectators across the country.

For more information about the Ball by Ball service provided by MCC contact them on 020 7616 8500 or visit www.mcc.org.uk

Contact Details in RNIB

Home Video Service: Customer Services, 0845 702 3153

DVDs with Audio Description: Joan Greening, 020 7391 2322

Audio Description in Cinema: Jill Whitehead, 020 7391 2398

Audio Description on Television: Jill Whitehead, 020 7391 2398

Audio Description in Theatre: Anna Jones, 020 7391 2150

Museums, Galleries and Heritage: www.rnib.org.uk/museum

Football, Rugby and Cricket AD: Eleanor Ellison, 01273 262221

General Enquiries: Media & Culture Team on 020 7388 1266

Email enquiries: audiodescription@rnib.org.uk

Email enquiries: audiodescription@rnib.org.uk

If you would like to comment on anything contained in this newsletter, change the format you receive it in, or to be removed from our mailing list, please contact Jill Whitehead or email audiodescription@rnib.org.uk.

Contact address:

Media & Culture Team
RNIB
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE

IRIS Vision Resource Centre - Newsletter Easter 2007

2007-04-18T12:01:00.000+01:00

14 Chapel Street
Crewe
Cheshire
CW2 7DQ

NEWSLETTER EASTER 2007

Message from the Chairman.

Welcome to the first edition of the newsletter for 2007:I hope that you got through Christmas without too many family disagreements and the New Year without too big a hangover and that you are keeping well.

I would like to thank those of you who part in the recent survey of AMD services, I am sure that these will prove very helpful to the review that is taking place and should come up with some recommendations later this year.

Don't forget the fashion show which is taking place on 19 April at the Vagrants sports club: contact the office for details. The tickets are £6 each which includes a buffet.

We would still like to see more of you volunteering to help with our various fund raising events. Contact the office to see what activities would most appeal to you.

Cheers
Bruce

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
FOR
APRIL 2007 TO MARCH 2008

If you are a member of the Iris Vision Resource Centre we would like to remind you that your membership fee is due for payment on the 1st April 2005. The cost remains at £5.00 for the year.

If you wish to continue with your membership would you please complete the registration form at the foot of this page and return it to the Iris Vision Resource Centre in the prepaid envelope together with your subscription fee of £5.00. In return we will issue you with a new membership card for the 2007/2008 year.

If you are not currently a member of Iris and would like to become a supporter please complete the registration form and return it to us. We will then enter your details on to our database. Iris Membership gives members the opportunity to attend the Monday group and the Tuesday drop in sessions, the loan of audio books from our library, a copy of the Iris Newsletter four times a year, the support of staff and volunteers if needed and the right to vote at general meetings.

The Iris Vision Resource Centre
Annual Subscription April 2007/2008

Membership Fee £5.00

Name………………………………...................................................................................

Address……………………..............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

Post Code…………………………………………………….

Tele No……..............................................................................

Please make cheques payable to The Iris Centre

Thank you, your support is very much appreciated.

IRIS Vision Resource Room

Product Updates

In the Christmas edition of the newsletter we gave information about the new Max Magnifier supplied by Enhanced Vision, giving the price of the magnifier as £176.00. A tracker stand cost £17.60 . The magnifier has been reduced to £119.90 for the black and white version or £229.90 for the colour option. The tracker has been reduced to £16.50. All prices include packaging and postage. Additional to the above we now stock the writing aid which allows you to use the magnifier for writing, which is then shown on the television screen. The cost of this item is £16.50 it can be demonstrated in our Resource Room. The black and white Max, tracker and writing aid are also sold as a complete package for £130.90, a saving of £22.00.

Tablet Dispenser
We now have in stock a 7 day tablet dispenser divided into individual compartments for morning, afternoon, evening and bed time tablets. An easier way of keeping track of medication. Fill the appropriately marked compartments and you can see at a glance if you have taken your medication at the right time of day. Each compartment has an individual snap closure to hold medication securely in place. Price £7.14.

Key Fob With LCD Light
Reasonably sized key fob for holding your household keys. This fob has a powerful LCD light to help you illuminate the lock area making it easier to open front doors or even car lock. Price £5.49.

Reading Aids
Pack of four reading aids in various sizes. These are black plastic with a cut out section allowing a single line to be shown at any one time. This makes reading printed material easier. Price £3.03.

Tactile Dice
Large dice white with black markings dice. Ideal for playing board games etc.
Price £1.65.

X Word Book
We have now added book four to our large print X word book collection A welcome addition to books one, two and three The cost of each book is £2.75 We also stock a large print wordsearch/quick crossword book also selling at £2.75.

Large Print Scrabble
This is now available after some delays and sells at £23.39.

Wheat Bag
Warm and comforting, these microwaveable wheat bags are a safe alternative to the more traditional hot water bottle. Price £16.50.

‘Give us a Break!’
by Warren L. Wright

It is not until one has cause to visit a Fracture Clinic that one realises how many clumsy beggars there are in the world. I have never seen such a collection of slings, crutches, bandages and pained expressions since seeing the painting of Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow. It was all there – except the snow.

It was my dear wife who introduced me to the world of bent bones and plaster of Paris. She had decided to enliven our mundane existence by taking a tumble in our kitchen, breaking her lower arm and head-butting the dishwasher in the process.

Until that moment, having never broken anything that could be called a bone worthy of the name in my life, that I realised how very painful the experience was. To judge by the hullabaloo coming from the kitchen as I dashed to the rescue, it must be on a par with childbirth. Fortunately, we have our own private branch of the N.H.S. in the shape of our R.G.N. daughter, who whisked the wounded heroine off to Casualty, and returned her mother to me well and truly plastered, as you might say.

Thus it was that we made acquaintance with the Fracture Clinic a week later. As I say, I had never laid eyes on such a collection of suffering humanity in my life. All were there: broken limbs, plaster casts, crutches, Zimmer frames – all siphoned in from the
Accident and Emergency Department to see the Broken Bone Specialists. I would have loved to hear the story every one of them had to tell, but time and natural reticence forbade. I find it difficult to just bowl up to perfect strangers and engage them in conversation. My wife, however, being a sociable soul, finds no difficulty in this direction, and she was soon chatting merrily to fellow casualties. So it was that we heard the stories of the young man and the middle-aged woman who sat near to us, whiling away the hours until their names were drawn out of the hat for treatment . . . . .

The young man in a shell suit and trainers with his arm in a sling was accompanied by, at a guess, his girl-friend. My wife smiled and nodded – her usual opening gambit, I have noticed.

“How did you break yours?” my wife asked. The girl friend answered, annoyance writ large on her face:
“Football,” she said. Her tone suggested that footie was a bone of contention between them.

“What happened?” asked my wife.

“He plays in goal,” said girl friend. “Only he could break his arm playing in goal!”

Then the story emerged. Our young friend, who spoke very little – he was either naturally reticent or had learned the hard way not to interrupt when the alpha-female was speaking – had spent all of one half and most of the second half leaning on the goal post, while it was all going on at the other end of the pitch. He had been
suddenly startled into wakefulness by the sight of a raiding party from the other team appearing right on his doorstep. Just in the nick of time, he launched himself at the scorcher of a ball that came whizzing toward the goalmouth. It was not until he was in mid-air that he realised that the threatening ball was heading straight for the left hand goal post – and so was he. The human body is not good at mid-air braking, and he made sharp and painful acquaintance with the goal post, breaking his arm.

His girl friend, having told the story, continued by telling him that his foot balling days were over, to which he at last spoke up in his own defence:

“I saved the goal, though,” he said.

“You were winning six-nil!” she exclaimed. “It was two minutes to full time. You shouldn’t have bothered!”

The middle-aged woman sitting with her somewhat morose husband across from us also responded to the wifely smile.

“Aren’t we a pair?” she said. My wife could not but agree, and they began exchanging Accident Reports. Gradually, my wife’s misfortune was being relegated to the realms of the banal. Colliding with a goal post made falling in the kitchen seem small beer well enough, but the manner of this woman’s accident topped the lot:

She and her husband were holidaying in Egypt when she fell and broke her upper arm and dislocated her shoulder. They had gone to Egypt in the hot season – cheap rates, I suppose – and all the excursions arranged by the holiday company were very early in the morning, so that the holidaymakers were back on the boat, cooled by the Nile, before the hottest part of the day. On this particular day, there had been some delay and the guide was chivvying everyone along to get round as quickly as possible. It does not, however, pay to try to hurry down the deep stone steps leading to the tomb of Tutankhamen. The poor woman had slipped and taken the express route down to the Pharaoh's last resting place..

I pointed out that the dear lady was in exalted company: the latest victim of King Tut’s Curse which had first done for Lord Caernarfon. She was philosophical.

“At least,” she said, “it was the last day of our holiday!”

My wife’s return to the bosom of the Local History Group which we attend coincided with that of another wounded hero with his arm in a sling.

“How did it happen?” he said, enquiring after my wife.

“She slipped on a mat in the kitchen,” I told him, hoping that at least this time she would not be upstaged by yet another bizarre way of breaking one’s arm. It was not to be. “I fell out of bed,” he said.

Funny how people unwittingly hand the poor scribbler an exit line that could not be bettered by invention.

EDINBURGH WOOLLEN MILL - Fashion Show
This event will be held on Thursday 19th April 2007. The
Show runs from 7 - 9pm and is followed by a buffet
supper. Tickets cost £6.00 including the buffet supper, and a
licensed bar will be available.

If you would like a ticket, contact the IRIS Vision Resource
Centre on 01270 250316
Please help us make this an enjoyable and successful
evening by showing us your support
ENERGY SAVING LIGHT BULBS
We still have some energy saving light bulbs in stock. The bulbs come in a box of four, containing two 100watt and two 40watt bulbs. The bulbs are free of charge, so if you would like to do your bit for the ozone layer please contact the IRIS
Vision Resource Centre on 01270 250316 and speak to Wendy, Steph or Joyce.

Minds Eye Movies
Minds Eye Movies offer audio described films on CD. Pardon? How can you have films on audio CD? Well, there aren’t any visuals on the CD but you still get the entire film soundtrack - music, sound effects and actors dialogue coupled with audio description. This clever idea allows audio described films (ADFs) on CD to be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere - on a computer, home hifi, personal CD player or even in the car! Varying subscription plans but can work out at £7.35 each and films are yours to keep. Have a look at the website for more details and you can listen to clips from the films. ADFs are also available in some libraries and you’ll find a list of which ones on the website.
Www.mindseyemovies

FUND RAISING EVENTS

Grand Draw
The Grand Draw raised £1,108.00 and the following are our lucky prize winners.
Mrs Thompson, K Hunt, Mrs M Fitzpatrick, F Summers,
F Swindells, N Rowe, Mrs Mellor, Ms Houlbrook, Ms McCluskey, B Boffey, E Cope, and A Meredith.

Thank you to everybody who supported us.

Coffee Morning 18th January 2007
The above event raised £150.00 despite the appalling weather that day. Thanks to our friends and volunteers who turned out regardless of the continuous downpour and gales.

Future Events

17th March collection at Morrisons Supermarket
between 10.00am and 4.00pm

5th May collection in Crewe town centre

26th May Asda supermarket collection

9th June Nantwich town centre collection

23rd June Coffee Morning at Nantwich Church Hall

27th July Coffee Morning at Nantwich Church Hall

39th July Duck Race 2.30pm to be held on Waldron Meadows

11th August Sainsburys Supermarket Collection

23rd August Coffee Morning at Nantwich Church Hall

If you could spare a couple of hours of your time to help at any of the above events we would be grateful. Please ring the IRIS Vision Resource Centre on 01270 250316 for further details of the above events

DIRECTORY ENQUIRY SERVICE
If you cannot read BTs Phone Book because of sight problems you can apply for a free directory enquiry service . For an application form or enquiries about the service telephone the free helpline on 0800 5870195. Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm

LARGE PRINT NEWS
We have been asked on a few occasions if large print newspapers are available. Large Print News is available from the Big Print, a national weekly newspaper. It contains national and international news in large print, book reviews, giant crossword, horoscopes, sports news and recipes plus a 40 page weekly TV and radio guide.
Produced by RNIB it is available at £15.75 per quarter, £29.50 per half year or £56.50 for a year. Orders can be placed on freephone 0800 124007.

Alternatively you can contact National Talking Newspapers and Magazines who provide national newspapers and magazines on audio tape, computer disc, e-mail, internet download and CD Rom. For further information telephone 01435 866102.

EASY 5 MOBILE TELEPHONE
This new, pay-as-you-go, mobile phone is easy-to-use and features five large speed-dial buttons, which can be programmed to dial your most important telephone numbers. The phone is supplied with a neck strap, earpiece, and mains charger and has a standby time of 60 to 100 hours and talk time of 2 to 3 hours. It is available in black and red. Contact the IRIS Vision Resource Centre for further information.

SALE ITEM
If anybody out there requires a computer desk, we know a person who would like to sell one. The desk is a large business type in light wood and is in excellent condition. The current owner is asking £15.00. If you are interested, please contact Wendy, Steph or Joyce at the centre for further information.

MALCOMS MUSES
REST, PEACE & QUIET

The consultant said “You have nothing to worry about. But I would suggest that you come into hospital and under my watchful eye spend a short time for a period of rest. I am sure that you will find an improvement that can be maintained”.

The nurse told me that a letter would follow advising me of the date for my admission.

Nothing to worry about - ha - those very words start one’s nerves jangling and now I had to wait for a letter ! My friend said, “ Don’t hold your breath.”

When the letter came I was on edge but gritting my gums - I’d forgotten to put my teeth in - I opened it. The date hit me between the eyes - the 27th, barely a week away. I was not prepared for such a quick appointment. What should I pack and for how long, where is my bag - hell, it’s been over twelve months since I last used it - heck, perhaps I’ll use a big carrier bag!

“You will be in a side room not in the main area. Your consultant said you needed peace and quiet and rest - no wandering about - you must stay on your bed. Here we are - OK. I’ll leave you to settle in”.

I may have been on my own , but peace and quiet - what a laugh. Every movement on the ward was, it seemed, directed to my room. Everything was moved around on trolleys with squeaks and noisy wobbles, the water system groaned and squirted and most conversation was heard plainly. Plus there was no T.V. or radio to compensate - rest! peace! quiet!!

It had occurred to me that maybe a stay in hospital for just bed rest, would be better than a week in a hotel - all meals prepared and NO washing up, bed made and changed, attention from a ward orderly at the touch of a button.

Well it was a nice thought but the bubble soon was burst. With not having a T.V or a radio and not being much of a reader the view of the plain white wall in front of me soon lost its appeal.

No complaints about the staff, though, and I suppose that when all is said and done the consultant was right. Rock on.

RECIPE CORNER

CANADIAN CHICKEN (Serves 2)
2 Chicken Breasts
Curry Powder
Small tin peach slices in juice
Tin of Campbells condensed cream of mushroom soup (or chicken if you prefer)

METHOD
Butter a casserole dish.
Sprinkle a pinch of curry powder over each of the chicken breasts.
Mix a little of the peach juice with the soup to thin it slightly
Pour over the chicken and cover.
Cook in the oven at 180 degrees C for around 30 minutes or until the meat is tender.
Add peaches to the casserole after about 15 minutes cooking time.

PARTNERS

I am hanging around, my back is to the wall
And gazing over the garden and along the street
My partner left when a man came to call
Gone, the best friend one could wish to meet.

Together we were great, always stood our ground
We were inseparable, my partner and me
A fancier pair there could not be found
Visitors came from everywhere, us to see.

A decision was made; we each needed a new coat
Then the man came and took my partner - not me
I was pushed aside, my protest stuck in my throat
And all I could do was to just wait and see.

Now I’m waiting for my partner to be returned
Getting more worried, my fears will not abate
If I’d been made dif’rent likely I’d feel spurned
But, sadly, I’m just an old iron garden gate!

KEITH’S KORNER
My dad spent most of his working life as a fireman in London, and I was therefore very interested and a little bit intrigued when IRIS received an invitation from the Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service to attend a workshop they were running in January. Two of our trustees – Kay Bailey and Janice Whitmore – attended the meeting, and reported back to us on a new service which the fire brigade started to provide from April last year. They are now willing to carry out free of charge a home safety assessment for all Cheshire residents – both for fire risks and other hazards - and will supply and fit free smoke alarms (and in some cases other equipment, like thermostatically controlled deep fat fryers to replace old chip pans) for those who need them. What’s more this is not an idle stop-gap measure but a major programme which has the ambition of visiting every house in Cheshire within the next 4 years. They are particularly keen to visit those who are not easily reached by other services, and especially keen to make sure that those with a disability take advantage of what is on offer.

Now, I don’t recall my dad doing any work like this when he drove off to complete his shift at the local fire station, but it does seem a really good idea, and is based on the sound principle that prevention is better than cure. And unlike most other things in life, it’s all absolutely free, with the work being undertaken by strapping young fire-fighters resplendent in their smart uniforms!

So, what are you waiting for? Either contact IRIS to arrange a visit for you, or ring the Fire & Rescue Service referrals helpline on 0800 3890053.
Be safe rather than sorry.