PRICE INCREASE
In August this year we were forced to increase our
prices/minimum recommended donations by £1 and were delighted with the
positive response from our members to the new charges.
Unfortunately, the response to sign up for GIFT-AID was
not quite so positive.
To explain this scheme once more - if you are a basic-rate taxpayer, and
sign up for Gift-Aid this would increase every £1 you give to £1.28. A
signature on a form is all that is required – and this has absolutely no
implications to your status with the taxman! What happens is that you
pay your tax as normal and we can claim back from the taxman 28p for
every £1 you donate to the Centre. If you are not a taxpayer, then your
partner, spouse, friend or family member can sign a form on your behalf
and every time you make a donation we can claim back from the tax
already paid to the taxman by your partner, spouse, friend or family
member! Simple!
Ask Carole for the form, you have the potential to increase your donations by 28% and that is not to be sneezed at!!!
FIDDLE OR TWIST ?
If fastening a necklace is trying your patience then the clasps that twist may help. They are available from BETTERWARE in packs of 2 silver tone & 2 goldstone.
If you would like to see one please ask at unit. Alwyn (may draw the line at modelling a necklace) but can let you see the clasps.
RECIPE(S) FOR SUCCESS!
Pam Hynd, our resident advisor on diet has kindly supplied a number of healthy-eating recipes and using these we are compiling a Cook Book to be sold for funds. However, although we are in complete agreement that healthy eating is the best way to go, there are times when a little of what you fancy does you good…..so we are looking for healthy and downright wicked recipes and would love to hear from you!
QUIZ NIGHT
One of our members, Liz Innes, has arranged for us to take part in and benefit from a Quiz Night at the Fort bar in Broughty Ferry on Monday 21st November, 7 for 7.30pm. These nights are great fun and the venue is completely disabled friendly. Teams are normally restricted to four people maximum and mixing and matching is totally acceptable - if you are interested in participating please let Mary, Carole or Alwyn know to ensure spaces are available.
GRATEFUL THANKS
The Committee
would like to express its thanks to all volunteers, members and carers
for their incredible support in helping to provide our services,
generously making regular donations, assisting with fundraising and
generally contributing to the cheery, friendly atmosphere in the Centre.
On behalf of everyone who benefits from attending the Centre, thanks are
also due to the Committee for successfully overseeing all aspects of
running it.
BEGGING BOWL
We are keen to benefit from funding/donation programmes run by organisations such as The Rotary, Inner Wheel, Round table, Ladies Circle, Freemasons, Eastern Star etc. If anyone has any contacts, or knows where and when they meet (there are often plaques on hotel walls) we would be delighted to hear from you.
TAYSIDE M S THERAPY CENTRE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS
enquiries@mstherapytayside.plus.com
OR
nurse@mstherapytayside.plus.com
for confidential correspondence with Aileen.
There is now a scanner available for use at members
computer.
CINEMA EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION CONCESSION CARD
This card entitles the holder to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. To apply for the card, you will need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
Be in receipt of
disability living allowance
Be a registered blind person
Be a holder of a disabled person’s railcard
For further information and to request an application form, please contact The card Network on 0151 348 8020; minicom/textphone 0151 356 7113; or visit www.ceacard.co.uk
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WALKS IN SCOTLAND
Five years ago ‘Scottish Disabled Ramblers’ was set up by a group of disabled ramblers to help less mobile people visit the beautiful Scottish countryside. They began to collect information on paths and trails accessible by scooter and wheelchair in Scotland and a lady by the name of Eva McCracken is hoping to publish a book 50 Wheelchair Accessible Walks in Scotland – 2 to 12 miles. If you have visited somewhere which fits this criteria in the past two years Eva would love to hear from you. Also any group or Company which would like to advertise in this book. Contact Eva at mccracken@markinch.freeserve.co.uk
INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MS AND THEIR FAMILIES
If you have been having difficulty acquiring insurance telephone the M S Trust for a no obligation quote (Travel Insurance; Life Insurance; Household Insurance; Motor Insurance and Pet Insurance) on 01603 828 387.
SNOW FUN ANYMORE!
1st Snowman: ‘Why do you have a hot-water bottle on your head?
2nd Snowman: ‘I’m committing suicide!’
WHAT A BLOW!
Every night, in the middle of the night, Baby Blow-up Doll crept into bed beside Daddy Blow-up doll and Mummy Blow-up doll, until one night Daddy Blow-up doll decided this had to stop. ‘You are not to come into Mummy’s and Daddy’s bed again, you’re a big boy now and there isn’t room for you!’
Baby Blow-up doll woke up as usual the following night and felt very lonely as he remembered what Daddy Blow-up doll had told him. Then he had an idea! He crept through to Mummy’s and Daddy’s bed, tried to squeeze inn between Mummy and Daddy but right enough he just couldn’t fit in between them, so very gently he let some air out of Daddy Blow-up doll, then tip-toed round to the other side of the bed and let some air out of Mummy blow up doll then tried again.
It was still a wee bit of a squash so he let some air out of himself and snuggled down. When Daddy Blow-up doll woke up the next morning and discovered what had happened he was not at all pleased and said to Baby Blow-up doll ‘ I am so very disappointed in you, you have let your mother down, you have let me down and worst of all – you have let yourself down!’
CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION and TABLE SALE WEEKEND
The winner of our CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION was Heather Whammond, who produced the cute wee snowman and the humorous touch …came from a staff member. The winning cards were chosen by the committee who were unaware of the entrants and it has to be said it was not an easy decision, many thanks to all who entered , what a talented bunch you are!
We are to have both of these designs produced as Christmas Cards, ‘sold in aid of Tayside M S Therapy Centre’ which we hope to sell for £1.50 for 10 – or 15p each – both as a fundraiser and also to raise awareness. We look forward to you supporting this venture! The cards will be available to buy at the Centre and at our TABLE SALE WEEKEND on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October from 10am – 3pm. We are to have various tables of goods for sale – all donations welcome – and the usual raffle and tombola. There will be no entrance fee but a 50p charge for tea/coffee and biscuits. This will be a slight variation from our traditional Coffee Mornings, more in line with the ever-popular car-boot sales, but in the warmth and comfort of the Centre we are raising funds to keep!
IAN’S AND MARY’S ITALIAN JOB!
(the holiday they paid for with Ian’s retirement collection)
They flew to Naples and reckon the expression ‘see Naples and die’ is very apt as it is a noisy, dirty and dangerous place, although there was a church on every corner! They visited Herculaneum which is smaller than Pompeii but every bit as interesting. They then jumped on a train to Rome, which was both busy and beautiful. Lots to see with the favourite attractions being the Coliseum and the Corridor of Maps in the Vatican. Then it was off to Florence, where the statues in the square were magnificent and they were serenaded by a gipsy who played ‘Scotland the Brave’ in their honour! They climbed the Campanel 425 steps and the view from the top made the effort well worthwhile. They went on to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the cathedral area in Sienna. In Bologna their accommodation was in an old Monastery where the Nuns had bred silk worms and sold the silk and there was a wealth of original features to be seen along with 26km of medieval covered walkways – very welcoming in the heat of the day – and two towers, one of which leans. They had a superb holiday with great weather, good food and plentiful wine.
COMPUTER FOR LOAN………AND RETURN!
As we have now updated our computers, the original one, which was donated by Disability Scotland, is redundant. Although there is no printer with it, it could be useful for anyone wishing to start using a computer and we are only to happy to loan it out for such a purpose. The time it can be kept by any one individual may be dictated by uptake of this offer, but we would envisage months rather than weeks. If you are interested please let Carole or a Committee member know.
Handcuff !!!!
No,
it’s a bracelet gripper.
This piece of kit can be purchased from the Kleeneze catalogue which may be put through your letter box periodically.
LAPTRAY/BOOK HOLDER
This may be handy for use in the chamber! Scanned from ‘House of Bath’ catalogue, £14.99.
Ask Carole to see brochure for details.
RECALLING!!
Can whoever Aileen lent her ‘Best Bet Diet’ folder to, please return it as soon as possible…Aileen is quite lost without it.
CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS
In the main, people who have to cancel appointments are very good at giving as much notice as possible, however, there have been a couple of occasions recently when Liz Jenkins, our aromatherapist, has come into the Centre from her home in Alyth, to discover the expected client had telephoned the Centre to cancel an appointment but not Liz herself. Obviously, there may be times when this is unavoidable but if at all possible if everyone can let Liz know direct (01828 632141) then she has the opportunity to reorganise her schedule and avoid any unnecessary journeys. Likewise with Physiotherapy appointments, the earlier Linda is aware of a change to her schedule, the more opportunity she has to extend sessions before or after the cancellation.
Personal Email
If you would like to send and receive email this can be done on the member’s computer. Should you be familiar with the internet and using a ‘search engine’ e.g. (google) then just find YAHOO web site and follow instructions . If this would be a new experience for you then please ask a staff member and help will be arranged .
Scanner
A scanner has now been installed on member’s computer. If you are familiar with using a scanner, please make use of this facility. If you would like advice then again, please ask a staff member and arrangements can be made.
Bag a Bargain !
Are you aware of the member’s notice board situated outside Carole’s office? At present there are varying items for sale ranging from computer printer cartridges to a bath hoist and battery operated chair !
The notice board is for members to hopefully ‘bag a bargain’. Perhaps you don’t want to buy but sell? Please check it out.
Is it a bird, is it a plane…
No. it’s a video of Alwyn doing his sky dive to raise funds for the unit. (can be seen if you ask ) Grateful thanks to him and Derek for their ‘giant leap for mankind’ ok then, for us.
Well done lads, in fact well done to anyone who has raised funds for us however you did it. You’re all champions!
Wanted
The Newsletter still needs articles from members, e.g. handy household/ gardening tips ,have you read a good book, seen an interesting film, wined or dined somewhere that is disabled friendly, value for money likewise with a holiday or cruise. The list is endless. With 250 members someone is guaranteed to be interested in your article. Give it a go, hand contributions to Carole, next newsletter will be in the spring so you’ve plenty time.