Fauja fever breaks out for 100

Northern
Edition
Replacing Full House
Issue 01 Ÿ December 2011
lifestyle
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Ladies ...
5
Jill Shaw-Ruddock’s
book will change your
lives. Find out how.
4
Win!
11
A weekend break at a
luxury London hotel.
Sounding off!
Introducing new columns:
•Grumpy Old Men
•The Great Debate
– would you really
want to live with
your family?
13
Regional comings
and goings: local
news and views
7
Also inside:
Housing 21 news
2
Going places: travel
news and competition
11
Housing 21’s new
structure – how
it benefits you.
6
Bonding with grandchildren: have you managed it?
12
Ask the expert:
Stave off winter flu!
Money and finance
14
16
2
NEWS
Kickstarting
Older People’s
Day
Residents and staff at Attley
Court in Wellingborough
celebrated this year’s Older
People’s Day by holding a whole
week of different activities.
Older People’s Day is a national
celebration of the achievements
and contributions that older
people make to our society
and the economy, quashing
negative attitudes and outdated
stereotypes. The theme for Older
People’s Day this year was ‘getting
and staying active in later life’,
encouraging people to be active
and to raise awareness of the
benefits that physical, social and
mental activity brings.
Editor’s note
I am very excited to introduce
you to the first edition of My
Time, the new magazine for
Housing 21 customers (replacing
Full House).
My Time is the result of extensive
research. During the summer we
spoke to people at the resident
forums and distributed surveys
to find out what you want to
read about. A big thank you to
those who completed the survey.
Congratulations to prize draw
winner Mrs Pamela Devlin of
Carroll Gardens, Nottingham,
who wins a £50 M&S voucher.
You will see big changes in the
new magazine. My Time has gone
regional to fit in with our new
locality structure. Having three
versions, north, central and south
has allowed us to
make more of your
news and views. Not
only do we have a new style for My
Time, but some new columns such
as The Great Debate and Grumpy
Old Men, plus features such as an
interview with Jill Shaw Ruddock,
author of The Second Half of Your
Life. Visit our travel page to win a
free weekend in London and have
a go at our puzzle page.
We welcome your views on
My Time, love it or hate it!
Best wishes
Sandie Gordon, Editor
Contributions to Sandie Gordon,
Editor, Housing 21, Baring Road,
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2NA
sandie.gordon@housing21.co.uk
Changes to the Board
The celebrations kicked off on
Saturday with Whacky Races.
Electric scooters and zimmer
frames were used rather than
legs, and a potato-in-the-pot
instead of an egg and spoon.
Residents also held a special
‘hanging out the washing’ race.
Attley Court is one of many
Housing 21 schemes up and down
the country embracing Older
People’s Day and supporting
the launch of Housing 21’s own
‘Sports Day’ in association with our
Live Active initiative.
Martin Sawers, Court Manager at
Attley Court said: “This is a very
active court anyway but Older
People’s Day gives residents the
opportunity to really show what
an important contribution older
people can make to society.”
Attley Court’s impressive weeklong programme of activity won
them £100.
Housing 21 is
delighted to welcome
Lord Ben Stoneham as
our new Chair.
David Grayson retired officially from
the Board on 28th October, handing
over to Lord Stoneham (see page 3).
Lord Ben Stoneham is currently the
Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson on
pensions and specialist on regeneration,
housing and the economy.
He has spent much of his business
career in the newspaper industry,
Simon Fanshawe
Simon is a broadcaster, writer and
consultant in equality and diversity.
A co-founder of Stonewall, Simon
regularly commentates on social
policy, politics, the arts and equality.
He has a broad range of expertise
in governance and organisational
change, having worked in the public
and private sectors.
Jenny
Owen CBE
Jenny,
who is the
Deputy Chief
Executive and
Commissioner of
Adult Social Care at
Essex County Council, has 30 years’
experience in the social care sector.
working on both regional and
national newspapers.
Lord Stoneham brings a broad range
of experience to Housing 21 having
been Chair of Portsmouth Housing
Association, and having worked
on the Portsmouth Harbour
Renaissance project.
Lord Stoneham’s aspirations for
Housing 21 include:
• achieving top performance across
all our customer services
• developing our care support further.
Simon is currently
Chair of the
Brighton and
Hove Economic
Partnership and
Chair and Pro
Chancellor of the
University of Sussex.
Jenny believes good housing
and support are both critical in
promoting a good later life for
older people.
Jenny, who is also a non-executive
director at the Royal Free Hospital, has
a particular interest in dementia and is
looking forward to seeing some of our
ground-breaking work in this area.
NEWS
Kitchener Cup
winners for 2011
On a warm sunny day in August
residents, staff
and dignitaries
from the Royal
British Legion
attended an event
at Prail Court in
the beautiful Essex
village of Coggeshall,
in celebration of the
court winning the Housing
21 Kitchener Cup
competition for the
very first time.
To win the cup, Prail
Court raised over
£4,307.04 for the
Poppy Appeal after
the court adopted
the appeal as their
charity of the year. The court
has strong ties with the Legion,
with meetings being held regularly
on the recently refurbished court.
The money was raised through
various social events ranging from
lunches, raffles and community
quiz afternoons, as well as the
usual collecting tins. The youngest
collector Sam, age 12, took his into
school with him!
Mr Reg Welham, Chair of the Prail
Goodbye to
David Grayson!
David Grayson retired from the
Board on 28th October, handing
over to Lord Ben Stoneham.
David’s five years with Housing
21 were celebrated at an event
hosted by one of our liveliest
courts, Ebbage Court in Woking.
Lynda Crosby, Court Manager and
her team of enthusiastic residents
put on a fantastic buffet, with home
made biscuits and a good luck cake.
Residents, Housing 21 staff,
executive team and board
members mingled over lunch.
Chief Executive Pushpa Raguvaran
3
Age takes the Stage
Housing 21 teamed up with LinkAge
recently at a special Age takes the
Stage event in Bristol.
The fun-filled event was part of
Bristol’s Celebrating Age Festival,
included live entertainment and
taster sessions of activities such
as yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba and line
dancing as well as art and gentle
exercise.
Court Residents’ Association,
was presented with a replica
cup and cheque for £50
towards court funds by
guest of honour, Lord Henry
Kitchener. Lord Kitchener
was heard to comment
on what a delightful time
he had had staying at the
court and how welcoming
everyone was.
Dan Sansom, President of the Royal
British Legion Coggeshall branch,
thanked Court Manager Jenny Mole
and the residents for a lovely buffet
and for their help in fundraising.
Jenny was then presented with a
certificate as a mark of appreciation
for her outstanding support to the
Royal British Legion in Coggeshall
by Dan Sansom.
Well done from Housing 21 to
all involved!
thanked David for everything he’s
done for Housing 21, mentioning
what an inspirational chairman
he’s been and his passion and
commitment to enabling older
people to live a good later life.
She talked about his involvement
with many projects, such as Live
Active, our corporate values,
the Green Johannas project and
supporting our work on end of life
care and dementia. Bill Moore,
Housing Services Committee
member thanked David on behalf
of residents and Sarah Vallelly,
Intelligence Manager, presented
him with a photobook as a reminder
of his time with Housing 21.
David commented, “I could not
have asked for a nicer send off
from Housing 21 – celebrating
with residents, staff and board
colleagues that I’ve worked with
this last five years.
I look forward
to watching the
organisation
grow and
prosper.”
A range of local charities and
agencies manned information and
advice stalls, on housing, health,
finance, recreation, education,
employment, volunteering and
assistive technology.
Mike Higgs, Court Manager of
Jennings Court, Bristol said:
“Housing 21 is delighted to have
worked with LinkAge in staging this
event. It has been a very exciting
day and a wonderful opportunity for
local older people.
Ask Ken
In the summer edition
of Full House we
launched a new
feature, ‘Ask Ken’.
It’s great to know
that so many of
you have used this
opportunity to contact Ken
Jeffries, our Resident Board Member,
directly with your questions and issues.
It’s been working really well with lots
of feedback and Ken is happy to
be contacted about any matter, but
remember that specific complaints
should be fielded through the
formal channels. Here’s a reminder:
In the first instance, contact your
Court Manager.
Or call us on: 0303 123 1622 or
by post: Freepost suggestions,
comments and complaints
or email: scc@housing21.co.uk
We look forward to having some
interesting and challenging wider
issues and questions to report on
next time in 'Ask Ken'.
Contact: ken.jeffries@housing21.
co.uk or the Editor.
4
FEATURES
Try something new!
pHave you heard about the new kee
fit fad that is sweeping the UK?
It’s come straight from America
and is called ‘Mall walking’ or ‘
Mallercise’. (That’s walking
round a large shopping
complex to you and me!)
This fascinating new trend
blends shopping with a
gentle workout and is
attracting people right across the
age spectrum. Mall walkers meet
s,
up in their local shopping centre
the
take a 45-minute walk around
.
concourse and then go shopping
Advantages? No rain and a nice
cuppa and cake at the end!
Ask at the information booth in
your local shopping centre to
see if they have a mall-walking
programme.
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Fauja has also become something of a celebrity, appearing
in a high profile advertising campaign for PETA (People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the inspirational
‘Nothing Is Impossible’ adverts for sportswear firm Adidas.
The sprightly centenarian – who runs 10 miles every day and
is said to have the bones of a 35-year-old – took up running
when he was a farmer in the Punjab. But he really began
taking the sport seriously 11 years ago, after the death of
his wife and son. Fauja says running gives him peace and a
sense of purpose.
H
ow’s this for inspiration? 100-year-old Fauja Singh
ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in
October – making him the oldest person ever to run
a marathon. He even finished ahead of five other runners.
Fauja, who lives in Ilford, East London, shocked the world in
October by completing the gruelling 26-mile run in 8 hours,
25 minutes and 16 seconds – putting him in 3,850th place.
As he made his way along the route, event organisers
dismantled barricades and took down sponsors’ banners,
but people around the globe were gripped with ‘Fauja
Fever’ as they followed every step of his progress on the
Internet and Twitter. The next day, the world’s media was
full of headlines about his astonishing feat.
But that’s not his only sporting achievement. Days before
the marathon, Fauja chalked up eight world records for
100-year-old men during a 5,000 run at the Sikhs in the City
event in Scarborough.
He has also run in eight marathons since the age of 89 –
including the 2003 Toronto marathon, which he finished in
5 hours, 40 minutes and 1 second – and was a torchbearer
at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
So what is the secret of his sporting success? Apparently, it
is a vegetarian diet – especially ginger curry – lots of cups
of tea, avoiding smoking and drinking, being happy and
leading a stress-free life.
Fauja is reported as saying: “Be grateful for everything you
have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling
and keep running.”
So what’s next for Fauja? Not one to sit on his laurels, he
plans to run next year’s Edinburgh Marathon and is hoping
to take part in the 2012 London Games torch relay.
Fauja’s in good company
100-year-old Ruth Frith – a great
grandmother from
Brisbane – broke a shot put record
at the 2009 World
Masters Games in Australia and
won a gold medal.
100-year-old canadian Jaring Tim
merman broke a
world record in the 100-metre bac
kstroke at the
Canadian Masters Swimming Ch
ampionship in 2009.
Do you know anyone conn
ected to
Housing 21 who has done
anything
like this?
FEATURES
The second half
5
Buy Jill’s
book at
amazon.
co.uk
of your life
‘‘Y
ou know, menopause doesn’t signal the end.
On the contrary, with a few small changes,
it means you can finally be the person you
always wanted to be,” says Jill Shaw-Ruddock.
Jill is the author of a ground-breaking new book,
The Second Half of Your Life, and it’s changing the lives
of 50+ women across the globe. High-profile ladies such
as Sheila Hancock, Greta Scaachi and Ruby Wax are
publicly bubbling with enthusiasm for the revolutionary
self-help book and online bookstore, Amazon, was
deluged with 47 five-star reader reviews within an hour.
My Time catches up with 55-year-old American-born Jill
to find out more…
Did you feel it was high time post-menopausal woman
were viewed in a positive light?
Yes, and that it was high time a positive book was written
for them. When I went through the menopause at 48,
I realised the change wasn’t just physical but cerebral
as well. All you have to do is see women over 50, 60, 70
years old who are creating new purpose in their lives and
taking on new challenges, so I wondered if there could be
a physiological reason for this new zest. I began studying
the brain and talking to psychiatrists and doctors and
there’s a ton of research about why oestrogen makes us
act the way we do.
So what did you find out?
That without the fuel of oestrogen, our goals change and
we rediscover ourselves. And it basically changes the way
our brains work and how we see the world – you may even
want to change profession for example. It lets us get back
in touch with earlier dreams.
With less oestrogen, a woman naturally looks outside
the home to define who she is, so the post-menopausal
woman can become the woman she always thought she
could be. We transition from our reproductive years to
our self-productive years and we can now become a
loving parent to ourselves.
So oestrogen gives us a nurturing instinct for the first half
of our lives and we all know that script, but nobody tells
us what to expect from the second half of our lives.
So it’s not a book about menopause,
but life after it…
Absolutely. In my book, the menopause is the
marker and not the subject, so it’s a book about
successful ageing. Women are not the same only
older, women become more than the sum of
their parts.
What does your book advocate?
The first half of the book is based on my ‘five a
day’ prescription for living well: diet (the verb
not the noun), exercise, ‘staying connected’ with
family, friends and your community, passion and
purpose. The second part is about negotiating
obstacles that will inevitably strike us in later life.
The proc
Jill’s booeeds from
into her k go back
charity
centre
Do you think that society tends to write off older women?
I think western society doesn’t value age full stop. But
that’s going to change because the population is living
longer. 34% of all people are over the age of 50, and
that number is going to get closer to 40% over the years.
We’re not invisible and we’re not going anywhere.
Your Second Half of Your Life Foundation puts ‘five a
day’ into practice. Tell us more.
I wanted to bring the book to life so I have created the
first prototype drop-in centre in north Kensington, which
is due to open early next year. 100% of the royalties of
my book have gone into the foundation and I’m doing
some serious fundraising too. It will be a place for women
and men to find passion and process and offer everything
I believe will slow down the ageing purpose. If this centre
works, I want to open similar centres throughout the UK
and Ireland. The centres will be for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and are designed to combat
isolation – the biggest catalyst in the ageing process.
What will happen at the centres?
There will be three programmes: rediscover a passion,
whether that’s bridge, theatre, Italian – exercise such as
dance lessons or Tai Chi – and a lecture series teaching
everything from getting back to work to weight loss.
These are just examples. There’s really something for
everyone and I hope to see Housing 21 residents there
at some point.
Win!
away.
We have five copies of Jill’s book to give
stion:
To win, simply answer the following que
called:
The primary female hormone is
A) Esther B) Testosterone
C) Oestrogen
rdon,
Send your answers to Sandie Go
Housing 21, The Triangle, Baring
A
Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2N
.uk
.co
or sandie.gordon@housing21
6
HOUSING 21 NEWS
Delivering a local service:
A
s you may be aware, Housing
21 has been going through a
time of huge change as we review
the structure and focus of the
organisation to allow us to grow
and respond locally.
Why change?
Improving our
customer service
With over 35,000 customers and
18,000 properties, we are one of the
biggest housing organisations around.
However, because we operate on a
national basis, we have had challenges
in responding to the specific needs of
local communities because we cover
so many areas. Without a local focus,
we are facing increasing competition
from small, local providers, as
well as national providers who are
competitive on price.
So, we decided that we need to be
organised around our customers’
needs, in the 28 different areas we
operate in rather than around the
services we provide.
This makes it easier for you. For
example, previously, if someone
wanted to access our housing and
care services, they had to contact
two different departments. With
our new localities model, care and
housing services will join up, so that
customers have just one person to
contact for all their needs.
We have been busy appointing
people into the roles of regional
directors and locality managers.
In this first edition we would like
to introduce you to one of regional
directors for your region (see page 7).
A changing
marketplace
The marketplace in which we operate
is changing quickly. Many local
authorities and NHS commissioners
are changing the way they
commission services, with increasing
pressure on budgets. More and more
older people are now in a position
to buy in care and other services
themselves – either because they
have a personal budget (i.e council
funds that they can spend on their
care) or because they want to use
their own money to buy the
services that they want.
Customer engagement and
What is the new
structure?
From 1 October 2011, all our
services were organised under
28 localities, in six regions,
North West, North East, Central
West, Central East, South West
and South East.
area forums
We are currently consulting with residents
and the Housing Services Committee on
plans to work with customers to help improve
our services in future. This includes looking at
how we can best use the area forums. We will
keep you updated on how you can give us
your views on Housing 21 services and other
issues in future editions of My Time.
New publications coming soon…
On Target
Last year we published our service
offers for the very first time and
outlined our commitment to the
standards of service we want to
provide. These standards put our
customers at the centre of our
business and guide our work to
improve how we do things.
This year’s On Target focuses on how
we have performed in meeting these
service offers. This report is published
annually in line with the guidelines set
by our regulator, the Tenant Services
Authority and in full partnership with
our residents.
Live Active Guide
Launched for Older People’s Day, our
Live Active Guide to a Good Later Life
promotes activities on our courts and
provides hints and tips on how to get
started. It provides a useful tool for
anyone wishing to organise events and
comes full of useful ideas, case studies
and a guide to securing funding.
Making it personal
This leaflet is for anyone who already
receives, is thinking about, or wants
to find out more about personal
budgets, individual budgets or
direct payments. It contains an easy
reference guide to help make things
a bit clearer and explains some of
the choices you
can make.
Poster on
Keeping you safe
You should see posters going
up around our courts and office
called Keeping you safe. This is our
commitment to you that Housing 21
takes cases of abuse very seriously.
Everyone has the right to live their
lives free from fear, abuse and
neglect. This poster advises what to
do if either yourself or someone you
know is being abused.
all
You can also find
ur
these leaflets on o
e:
Housing 21 websit
o.uk.
www.housing21.c
NORTHERN ROUND-UP
Introducing
thing for me is to
ensure people have
a good quality of life.
I want to support
people in achieving
their ambitions,
whatever age they
are and whatever
their aspirations.”
Jane Hinde
J
ane Hinde, Regional Services
Director for the North West
Region, is a true people person, who
loves nothing better than seeing
people achieve their ambitions.
And her career more than bears that
out. She worked as an educational
welfare officer in Manchester –
helping children from disadvantaged
backgrounds get education and
support – was
housing services
manager at care
home provider
Anchor, and
joined Housing
21 more than
13 years ago.
Jane said: “The
most important
7
Jane Hind
e
Services D Regional
irector
Her vision for Housing
21 is to help customers
“achieve as much as
they possibly can, as
much as they want to
achieve and enable them
to be as independent as
possible.”
She’s also looking forward to motivating
her team, building relationships with
customers and commissioners, and
continually improving the service
Housing 21 provides.
“I get a real buzz out of achieving
things and making improvements –
whether it’s sorting out a major issue
or getting a working relationship
onto a more co-operative footing. I
just enjoy getting over each hurdle.”
There’s something else Jane enjoys
outside of work and that’s going to
pop concerts. She said: “I absolutely
love them. I love the music, the noise
and the atmosphere. I feel like I’m 20
again. My two daughters, who are both
in their twenties, also love coming to
the concerts. The only thing is, I think
I’ve got more stamina than them!”
Who’s who
in the new structure?
T
he list below sets out the regional directors, locality managers and property support managers for your
area. Please note the locality managers have now replaced your housing services managers and, of course,
your first point of contact is still via your court manager.
NORTH WEST REGION
Oldham and Rochdale
(North West 5)
Kath Miller, Locality Manager
Durham and North Yorks
(North East 2)
Ron Bainbridge, Locality Manager
West Lancs and East Lancs
(North West 2 and 3)*
Vivien Ziwocha, Locality Manager,
Lindsey Leach, Assistant Locality
Manager for East Lancs.
Cheshire, Merseyside, Flintshire
(North West 6)
Keith Barnett, Locality Manager
West Yorkshire (North East 3)
Craig McCall, Locality Manager
Gtr Manchester (North West 4)
Catherine Rycroft, Locality
Manager
NORTH EAST REGION
Victoria Barclay, Regional Services
Director
*There is no North West 1
Tyne and Wear (North East 1)
Claire Charlton, Locality Manager
Jane Hinde, Regional Services
Director
Property Support: Deborah Evans
Yorkshire and Humberside
(North East 4)
Donna Holmes, Locality Manager
South Yorkshire (North East 5)
Vacant, Craig McCall, interim
Locality Manager
Property Support: Talvinder Singh
8
NORTHERN ROUND-UP
Residents’ revolt sees
bus service reinstalled
R
esidents at Gill Court,
Blackpool have led the way
in getting a bus service, due
to be axed, reinstalled.
Blackpool Transport was looking to
close the route – which stops just
outside Gill Court – as part of a raft
of changes designed to make up a
£1.3 million budget shortfall.
But residents and other members of
the community said the loss of the
service would leave them feeling
isolated and cut off.
After learning that the service
would be reinstated, Anthony
Stridgeon, a Gill Court resident,
told the local newspaper The
Gazette that without the service
“Many elderly people had to walk
three quarters of a mile up a hill to
get to the next stop and many of
them really struggled.
Bramble Hollow
celebrates its
first year
for them which really affects their sense
of independence.”
Fellow resident Florence De-Nagy
added: “We’ll have a party when
the buses come back!
“It’s been so hard for people and
has made some feel like prisoners
because they couldn’t even get out
to the shop.”
To get their message across the
campaigning residents bombarded
Blackpool Transport with letters and
phone calls and attracted a lot of
publicity, gaining headlines including
‘Bus victory proves pensioner power’.
An American-themed evening
complete with burgers, hot dogs,
nachos, popcorn and ‘texas teadrops’ was held to celebrate
Bramble Hollow, County Durham’s
first birthday.
Plans to have a quiet celebration
for the residents leaked out, and
more than 70 people turned up
to the event.
Court Manager Lorraine Morrissey
said: “We’ve had many good nights
in our first year and quickly grew
out of our lounge because there
wasn’t enough room to conga!
“When the weather was bad, many
didn’t bother going out at all and had
to rely on other people to get things
“We now open the doors between
the restaurant and the next door
multi-room, to make the space
even bigger!”
es
Open day bak
in sunshine
The court is very much at the heart
of its community. “We have one
lady who visits us who lives a few
streets away. She told me she
hadn’t been out in the evening for
years, but she knows she can a get
a taxi here and back. She’s made
a lot of new friends and now looks
forward to her monthly do with us.
“We work very closely with
Sunderland Council, which provides
the on-site care, and everyone
works together as a team. The
atmosphere is fantastic,” she said.
Resident Ada Drewery, 92, officially
opened this year’s Henry Vernone
Court annual garden party – and
acted as queen for the day, sitting
on a throne to cast a watchful eye
over the day’s events.
Stalls featured designer clothing,
bric-a-brac, homemade jam, cakes,
books, sweets – and a raffle.
Bite
Size:
Entertainment came via the Hull
Samba Band, whose drummer Colin
Veitch acted as the party’s burger
king, firing up the gas rings!
Trips out to a summer fayre, a show called
‘That’s Amore’ – based on the songs of
Rat Pack stars including Dean Martin
and Frank Sinatra – and a forthcoming
visit from Elvis himself… are all events
residents from Minden Court in Doncaster
have taken part in since the launch of their
Residents’ Association earlier this year.
NORTHERN ROUND-UP
Community comes first
9
Lunch by
the sea
Oh we do like to be beside the
seaside…
So sang the residents of Brown
Court, Wigan, after a day at the
Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool.
A three-course lunch was followed
by a number of games including
Play Your Cards Right, Mr and Mrs
and a game of bingo.
R
esidents at John Kay Court in
Lancaster are set to be at the
heart of their local community
after securing a Lancashire Small
Sparks Grant.
The aim of the grant is to
help citizens make a positive
contribution to the local community
and improve the quality of life for
people living in the county.
Court Manager Sharon Peston
explains: “I heard about the grant
after visiting a Royal British Legion
event. We applied for it and were
awarded £275 which we’ve used to
buy some games from Galloways
Society for the Blind as we have two
registered blind residents, as well as
other games from Argos.”
The aim is to invite local school
children and other neighbours in to
play games – cementing John Kay
Court’s place at the heart of the
local community.
But, says Sharon, “The most successful
item the residents have bought so far
are some wooden planks!”
The hotel’s organist rounded off
the visit with a medley of tunes –
with some of the residents taking
to the dance floor!
And as they took the coach back
home, the residents were heard
thanking the Court Manager
Heather and her husband Lloyd
for arranging the trip – and said:
“Come on – let’s do it again!”
“One of the residents made us
some vegetable boxes, and another
bought some seeds. This year we’ve
grown onions, carrots, brussels,
cabbage, peas, runner beans, garlic,
tomatoes, salad leaves and herbs! We
even had enough money for some
compost,” says Sharon.
And the moral of the story? If you
hear about a grant you’re eligible
for, apply. You never know, you too
may have tonnes of fresh food to eat
next spring!
Bric-a-brac
Better late than never…Tommy Greenwood
from Barker Court, Bacup, is presented
with a medal to recognise his services
to his country when he was stationed on
Christmas Island in the 1960s.
Residents at Maurice Jones Court,
Wirrall, Merseyside, are gearing up for
this year’s visit by their local Beaver
group. The group visit the community-
Residents at Barnes Court in
Burnley have raised more than
£450 for the Pendleside Hospice.
Events included cream teas,
a bric-a-brac stall, a raffle and
competitions to guess the weight
of a cake as well as ‘find the key
that opens the box’.
spirited residents each December to
perform a seasonal concert for them.
The court runs regular bingo nights and
undertakes fundraising for local charities.
10
NORTHERN ROUND-UP
Putting pen
to paper
Everyone loves getting a letter and
Trudi Blackburn from Ward Court
in Brighouse, Yorkshire, wrote to us
to say…
his 92nd year but I am blessed
with three caring children, four
grandchildren and three great
grandchildren.
“I have lived at Ward Court for
28 years. I came with my husband
Wilfred, joining a youthful group of
newly retired residents. We found
a happy hiking group, the Tuesday
Brighouse Walkers, and kind
neighbours.
“Sadly my get up and go is going
fast, but on 1st November I was
95 years young – and count
my blessings everyday in this
warm, safe environment. Thanks
to Housing 21 and our caring
manager, Dawn.”
“We celebrated our golden and
diamond wedding anniversaries
here. Sadly, my husband died in
Trudi
Blackburn
Residents’ shop posts
first year
profits
Nearly £4,000 has been raised by
the joint venture Good As New
Shop, run by Oldham’s Trinity House
Social Club, and their partners, the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Club.
Launched a year ago, the shop took
£3,841.68, which has been split
equally between the two groups.
Hailed as a great success, the volunteers
from Trinity House and the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Club who run the shop,
were presented with flowers and cards
as a thank you for all their hard work.
Thanks to
Pa
Brooke fro mela
m
Court in W Mowat
est Yorksh
ire
who has w
ritten in w
ith
the followin
g poem:
In a close community
Friends and neighbours all
There’s always someone handy
there,
If we need to call.
Coffee mornings, games nights,
trips to local places
Pleases us, we enjoy,
You can tell it by our faces.
No more worries with hard work
Flats are easy run
Grass is cut, windows cleaned.
Whilst we’re out having fun.
A home for life is what it says,
A great relief for many
Maintenance is in the rent
It won’t cost us a penny.
All in all a good place
To spend retirement years,
Peace of mind, we’re not alone,
Eliminates all fears.
Marjorie
hits 100!
Marjorie Ricketts, from the
Charles Court extra care scheme
in Doncaster has celebrated her
100th birthday.
And to acknowledge the landmark,
the court held a party for her
family, friends, residents and staff. It
was also attended by the Mayor of
Doncaster and his wife.
Along with her telegram from the
Queen, Marjorie also received a
card from her MP, Rosie Winterton.
Gaynor Dickinson, Court Manager,
said: “We planted a tree for
Marjorie which she can see from
her window and which has a plaque
with her name and age on it.”
Hats off to Linda Metcalfe, a resident
at Avery Tulip Court, who braved the
elements to complete a sponsored
walk across Morecambe Bay. Linda,
Residents
raise £350 for
court funds
pictured in the red jacket, raised
£220 with £100 going to St John’s
Hospice and £120 to the Royal
National Lifeboat Institute.
Residents, their friends and family
members, joined forces at Robert
Allan Court, Newcastle, in August,
to hold a summer fayre.
And the evening after the party?
A tired Marjorie went through it
all over again with her friends who
turned up for a spot of bingo!
and sandwiches were served to
guests, with money raised going
towards the court’s funds.
Residents from nearby Lawrence Hill
Tombola, guess the number of
Court also took part – and donated
sweets in a jar, a cake stall, barbecue items to the bric-a-brac sale.
GOING PLACES
11
Win a one night festive city break next to
The River Thames with Guoman Hotels!!!
M
y Time has teamed up with luxury hotel
group, Guoman Hotels, to offer you
the chance to win a fabulously festive
one night bed and breakfast break for two at The
Tower Hotel in central London!
Ideally situated on the bank of The River Thames,
The four-star Tower Hotel boasts breath-taking views
of iconic Tower Bridge and St Katherine’s Dock from
almost every room and is within easy reach of the
city’s many restaurants, bars and visitor attractions.
If you are not the one lucky enough to
win this fantastic prize, weekend stays
at Guoman Hotels’ The Tower Hotel
start from just £109 bed and breakfast
per room per night (excluding VAT).
For further information or to book,
please visit www.guoman.com.
To win, just answer the
following question:
Head to the centre of London and indulge in some
Christmas shopping, see a show in Theatreland or take
in the famous Oxford Street Christmas lights. If that
all sounds a bit much, you can also enjoy some of the
most famous sights in London from the comfort of The
Tower Hotel’s stylish restaurants and bars without even
leaving your chair!
orld’s
What is the name of the w
oldest marathon runner?
Singh
a) Rauja Singe b) Fauja
c) Roger Singh
n, Editor, Housing 21,
Contributions to Sandie Gordo
HP9 2NA
Baring Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks
k
sandie.gordon@housing21.co.u
Terms and conditions
Closing date for entries, is Friday, 20th January 2012. Prize is valid until 28 April 2012 and only on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday nights. Prize is subject to availability and cannot be exchanged or refunded. Prize is valid
for two people sharing a standard double or twin bedroom and includes breakfast. No other meals, drinks or
travel activities are included in the prize. Any extras taken should be settled with the hotel on departure.
This competition is not open to Housing 21 staff.
Throwing caution to the wind
A survey by Gnu Insurance
discovered that 13 per cent of over50s now take part in dangerous
sports while holidaying abroad.
The most popular activities are
waterskiing, parasailing and scuba
diving, but windsurfing and surfing
also top the mature traveller’s list
of ‘things to do’ on holiday.
An impressive 8 per cent also go
rock climbing, 6 per cent bungee
jump and a brave 5 per cent have
a go at caving.
The survey also discovered that
13 per cent of over-50s would
also go on holiday without travel
insurance, with a third saying they
would be prepared to take a risk.
Gnu General Manager Paul
Thilo said: “Our research shows
that an increasing amount of
older travellers are throwing
caution to the wind while on
holiday and taking part in
activities that they’d never
even think of at home.”
Have YOU ever done
?
anything risky on holiday
Write in and let us know
Speaking
of risky
business
Gertie Painter of
Randall Scofield
Court in Crawley
is shown here
abseiling down an
80 ft cliff! This was
when she was 93!
Now 96, Gertie is planning another abseil in
December to raise money for Clic Sargent, a
cancer charity for children. In the next edition
of My Time we will be catching up with her
to see how she got on.
12
LIFE STYLE
Erm, do you sometimes dislike
your grandchildren?
B
eing a grandparent can be
even more rewarding than
being a parent. You get to
enjoy your grandchildren without
being responsible for their
upbringing. You’re older and
wiser, so know how to handle
their demands better. You even
become something of a VIP.
It can also be more challenging.
Offering advice can make you
seem interfering, buying your
grandchildren gifts is spoiling
them, and telling them off when
they’re naughty is almost a crime.
You may also be expected to put
your own life on hold to provide
childcare during the working day
or holidays.
But what if you haven’t even
bonded with or… and we’ll say
this very quietly… don’t like your
grandchildren?
It may seem terrible to admit
you don’t get on with your
grandchildren, but the bond
between grandparents and
grandchildren is not always
instantaneous – especially if you
don’t see them very often.
1. Establish some
ground rules
The parents set the rules for your
grandchildren so make sure you
know those rules and try to maintain
them when you are alone with your
grandchildren. This will prevent any
tensions between you and the parents
affecting your relationship with your
grandchildren. Don’t be afraid to set
some rules of your own, too. Do you
really want to baby-sit? If so, for how
long? And is it OK for your grandchildren
to call round unexpectedly?
2. Listen to your
grandchildren
Try to listen to your grandchildren and
encourage them to open up to you.
If they have questions, try answering
them as honestly as possible. After
talking to your grandchildren make a
note of their interests, books they’ve
been reading, friends at school
– and mention them in your next
conversation. It shows you’ve been
listening and are interested in what
they do.
Having a good relationship with
your grandchildren can take
hard work and just a little bit
of ingenuity.
With all that in mind and
Christmas approaching, which
usually means spending more
time with your grandchildren,
here are five top tips to help
you have a better relationship
with your little angels.
3. Turn
off the
television
Children spend so much
time in front of the
television, especially if their
parents are busy, that it’s
good to do something
completely different when
you’re alone with them. Play card
games or board games, read to
them, or take them for a walk in the
local park. All these activities will be
stimulating for your grandchildren
and help you develop a stronger
bond with them.
4. Share your interests
and hobbies
Spending a whole day with your
grandchildren can be – dare we say
it? – a little bit boring, especially if you
don’t have a great relationship with
them. So don’t be afraid to involve
them in the sort of activities you enjoy,
like gardening, cooking or knitting.
You might be surprised by how much
they enjoy it, too.
5. Create memories
Many of us have very fond memories
of our grandparents – whether it’s
stories they told us, cakes they baked
us, or the way they could wiggle their
earlobes! Create some memories for
your own grandchildren by telling
them tales of family life, taking
them to places that you, or their
parents, visited as a child, or
teaching them funny rhymes and
songs you learned at school.
Finding love on the Internet
Silver surfers are winning the online dating game, new
statistics reveal.
would make a good parent, they’re looking for a mate
who shares the same interests.
The number of over-55s finding romance on the
Internet has jumped a massive 39 per cent
in three years, and one company, Spark
Networks, has seen a 93 per cent increase
in just eight months.
The increase in the divorce rate in over-50s is also
boosting the number of older people dating online.
This success is being put down to
older people being more laidback
about finding a partner. Marriage
and children are not so important, so
instead of looking for someone who
the
Have YOU found love on
to?
Internet? Would you like
and
Write in and let us know,
me
you could feature in My Ti
next issue
rdon, Housing 21,
Send your thoughts to Sandie Go
sfield, Bucks HP9
The Triangle, Baring Road, Beacon
.co.uk
2NA or sandie.gordon@housing21
SOUNDING OFF
I
THE
?
13
n many places, such as Italy, the older person is the social nucleus
of the household – and everyone answers to them! But this isn’t
really the case in the UK. So we ask –
?
GREAT Would you really
DEBATE
?
Here’s what some of
you had to say:
My daughter lives away so I don't have
any close family nearby. I'm completely
on my own, which I'm perfectly used
to. I don't think I'd like to live with my
family because I wouldn't want to put
upon my daughter and she isn't well
enough for that at the moment anyway.
I like independent living and, when the
time comes, I'd be quite happy to be
looked after in my home here, rather
want to live with
your family?
?
I like my independence; I prefer
being on my own, you get used to
it and it means you can do what
you want, when you want and how
you want. I’ve got seven greatgrandchildren, and 14 grandchildren
so I’m not short of company – most
live around me here, so I get lots of
visits and I go to see them too. I’d
than moving into a nursing home.
But it's a question of what we all
have to deal with as we get older
– it's an unknown factor.
Of course, some lucky people
get to move in with their family
and live in a granny flat... that's
the ideal solution!
Shirley Sutcliffe,
Inglis Court, Cumbria
say around four times a week one of
the family comes to visit me.
My daughter is a mobile hairdresser,
and she comes to the court every
Thursday to do hairdressing for a lot
of residents, so she always pops in
to see me. She does my hair every
fortnight and I have a number 1!
Norman Church,
Everard Court, Grantham
I love my family to bits but I wouldn’t
want to live with them. I like to look
after myself and do my own thing.
I think people of my age are more
independent and don’t like to be a
burden to their family.
Myrna Byron,
Broughton Court, Nottingham
Next issue: Is the youth of today
misunderstood?
Send your thoughts to Sandie Gordon, Housing 21,
The Triangle, Baring Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks
HP9 2NA or sandie.gordon@housing21.co.uk
Verdict? No!
Thoughts on the motorist
Has it always been like this or am I
just getting old? Every day we see the
female of the species out there tearing
up the tarmac on our roads in their
great big 4x4s and people carriers,
phone in hand, nail polish on the
dashboard and trying to put on their
lipstick. Which school of motoring did
they go to? Avon, Rimmel, L'Oreal?
Wow they’re good. I bet if you take a
look inside, the curling tongs will be
plugged into the ciggie lighter.
Grumpy Old Men
Please note that these are personal views
and do not reflect wider Housing 21
policies or views.
How come they can do all this at 40
mph but cannot see the bollards in
front of them in Tesco’s car park? "It
wasn’t me dear honest …" Yeah yeah.
It seems to me that they have a
totally different idea about the finer
points of driving and a total disregard
of the Highway Code.
And then they have the nerve to fire
instructions from the passenger seat
to their far more competent male
chauffeurs ie ‘mind that cat’, ‘slow
down’, ‘watch your speed’. They
think they’re so good. Maybe there
could one day be a female F1 driver?
I don’t think so…
Yours, Mr Grump
Colin Veitch,
Henry Vernone Court, Hull
Ladies! Have you
got something to say
about this? Drop us
your thoughts on Mr
Grump’s rant!
14
BODY AND MIND
r
e
t
n
i
w
t
a
b
Com
u
fl
d
n
a
s
d
l
o
c
W
e’re all guilty of neglecting
essential vitamins and
minerals in our diets, but
they become even more important as
you age. Eating plenty of fresh fruits,
vegetables and salads packed full of
antioxidant vitamins and minerals,
is a superb way to strengthen your
immune system and ward off colds
and flu. And let’s face it, nothing
ruins the Eastenders Christmas
special more than a hacking cough!
So here’s my guide to immuneboosting goodies this winter. They’re
cheap, they’re cheerful, and they’re
readily available.
Vitamins A and C
Essential in the fight against flu! These
include carrots, broccoli, mustard
greens, red peppers, oranges and
blueberries. Vitamin C has antiviral
effects, whilst vitamin A supports the
lining of your lungs and helps prevent
germs from entering the body. The
antioxidant vitamin E is plentiful
in green leafy vegetables, olives,
sunflower seeds and almonds and
helps maintain the function of your
white blood cells, which are major
components of your immune systems.
Protein
Another secret weapon to send flu
packing. Protein is essential for the
rapid production of immune cells
that help fight infection, and while
excessive intake is not advised, many
older people don’t eat enough of it.
The secret is to have a little at every
mealtime. So get tucking into fish,
eggs, chicken, beans and nuts – all
great sources of protein.
Losing your
appetite?
If you find that your appetite
isn’t what it used to be, then try
brightening up your cereal with
berries and sprucing up your
plate with colourful carrots and
greens it will help to stimulate
your appetite and nutrient
intake, as well as increasing
resistance to infection.
The minerals selenium and zinc,
found in nuts, seeds, and mushrooms,
are also crucial to fighting off
winter colds and flu. Crush pumpkin
seeds to sprinkle on salads or into
sandwiches for a tasty immune
boosting lunch.
Terrible toxins
Eliminating toxins from your bodies
that could burden your immune
systems helps you stay healthy and
able to fight off infections effectively.
Eating fibre-rich whole-grains, beans
and vegetables, and drinking plenty
of water (about 6 - 8 glasses every
day) ensures toxins are eliminated.
Cut back on sugary foods and
caffeine. In excess, these foods
cause your blood sugar levels to
increase, which in turn depletes our
body of Vitamin C. Fruit is a healthier
alternative to cakes and biscuits. It
contains sugar in a natural, balanced
amount with other beneficial
nutrients. Alcohol also increases
susceptibility to infections, but there’s
no need to miss a post-Christmas
dinner sherry, just drink moderately.
Immune system MOT
Your immune systems’ response to
infection can become ‘sluggish’ and
less efficient after a high fat meal.
Choosing lean cuts, trimming visible
fats and switching to low-fat dairy will
help keep your fat intake in check. Also
avoid foods fried in oils and fats at a
high temperature since this can produce
chemicals that speed the ageing
process and harm your immune system.
Catching a cold or flu this winter is
not inevitable! But even if you do,
eating the immune-boosting foods
listed above may lessen the duration
and severity, producing fewer
unpleasant symptoms.
About the Author
Maria Zaretti BSc Hons DipION runs Nutritional
Therapy practices in Canterbury and Thanet, Kent.
If you like to ask Maria a question, email:
sandie.gordon@housing21.co.uk
How to make the perfect cuppa
The verdict’s finally in. The Royal
Society of Chemistry has cooked
up a conclusive formula for the
perfect cup of tea. And it’s controversial.
It involves microwaves and loose Assam
as opposed to a good old builder’s bag.
At least the age-old ‘milk in first’
issue has been resolved – according
to Dr Andrew Stapley, a chemical
engineer from Loughborough
University, the milk should definitely
go in first. All to do with denaturing
milk proteins apparently.
No doubt you have your own diehard method of making the perfect
cuppa, but for what it’s worth, here’s
what the chemists say…
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s
definitive recipe for the perfect
cup of tea
Ingredients: Loose leaf Assam tea, soft
water, fresh chilled milk, white sugar.
Implements: Kettle, ceramic teapot,
large ceramic mug, fine mesh tea
strainer, tea-spoon, microwave oven.
Method: Boil fresh soft water. While
waiting for the water to boil place
a tea pot containing a quarter of a
cup of water in a microwave oven
on full power for one minute.
Place one rounded teaspoon of tea
per cup into pot. Take the pot to
the kettle as it is boiling, pour on to
the leaves and stir. Leave to brew
for three minutes. Pour milk into
the cup first followed by the tea,
aiming to achieve a colour that is
rich and attractive.
BODY AND MIND
15
Leo the
Lionheart
O
ne morning last year, 69-yearold Leo David started to plan
a journey. He wanted to say
goodbye to a treasured friend he
met in March 1945, a GI who was
stationed in his hometown of Cardiff
and an acquaintance that formerpharmacist Leo had kept in touch
with for years.
The trip was ambitious. Leo’s friend
was based in America and Leo wanted
to throw all his savings at the trip to
make it as special as he could. But
how, as a Parkinson’s sufferer confined
to a wheelchair with very limited sight,
was he going to make it happen?
He initially asked his immediate care
team at Greenrod Place, Brentford,
whether someone could accompany
him to the States, and they passed
his request on to Housing 21’s Live-In
Support Services. They teamed him
up with carer, Carol.
As it so happened, Carol and Leo
were soulmates. From their initial
introduction, they got on extremely
well, sharing a wry sense of humour
and an established love of travel.
Feeling more confident about the
trip, Leo extended the scope to
include a Mediterranean cruise and
a variety of day trips along the way.
The planning, Leo says, was military:
“When you’re in a wheelchair, the
trick is to plan as much as you can from
Sudoku
the UK. Carol
informed
the airports,
planes, hotels,
cruise ship
and tourist
attractions that
we were coming so
they could provide
accessible routes.”
Leo and Carol
set sail on 4th
September and
visited Barcelona,
and Carol all
o
e
L
Naples, Rome and
dressed up aboard
Santorini before
flying to America.
the cruise ship
It was here that
Carol showed
exceptional strength and support for
The Carer – Carol
Leo, who had become very unwell in
“The trip with Leo was very hard work
New York. He says:
and a tremendous responsibility –
but the rewards were infinite. Leo is
“Carol is a truly lovely person. I was
a fantastic man and everywhere we
very ill in New York and after taking
me to the hospital, she stayed by my
went, people wanted to chat to him.
On a trip in America, it took Leo a very
bedside all night in case I needed
anything. I appreciated that so much. long time to board a boat and when he
finally made it, the whole boat cheered
She didn’t have to do that.”
and clapped. It was magical.
Made it to America!
When the duo finally reached Virginia,
they discovered that Leo’s friend had
sadly died. But with typical fortitude,
Leo was determined to make it to the
graveside to lay some flowers, despite
having to get out of his wheelchair.
Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column, “After travelling all that
and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
way, I wasn’t going to
let 25ft of grass stop me
Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row,
from saying goodbye.
each column, and each 3x3 square contains all
With Carol’s help, I made
the digits from 1 to 9.
it to his grave. It was a
deeply sad moment, but
one that I will treasure.
I miss my friend a lot.
SUDOKU
4 6
3
8
2 7
2 9
3
5
3
6 1
8 7 5
2 8 9
7 4
7
3
3 9
5 6 1
“Poor health shouldn’t
keep you from following
your ambitions.”
The best thing about the holiday for
me was seeing Leo’s face when he
entered the Sistine Chapel in Rome. It
was a very special trip for him. The last
time he was in Rome 40 years ago, the
Chapel was closed. Even though he is
partially sighted, I swear that for that
moment, he seemed to see everything.
If you’re thinking of accompanying
someone on a trip, do prepare
yourself to go that extra mile. Travel
brings the unknown with it and if
you’re not used to being a 24-hour
carer, you may struggle. Make sure
you’re organised and that you’ve
prepared everything up-front.
That said, enabling someone to
follow their dreams is one of the
greatest things you can do.”
Do you need support to go on holiday? This is
just one of the services offered by Housing 21’s
24-hour Live-in support care service.
We offer:
Respite – short term care for when a main carer needs a break
Care 365 – permanent ongoing care 365 days a year
Home from Hospital – short term care following a hospital stay
Fast Response – a temporary emergency care service
Help me Holiday – 24 hour care whilst on holiday
Call Janet Shead: 01386 848849, www.live-insupport.co.uk
16
MONEY MATTERS
Keeping you warm this winter
Did you know, the Winter Fuel Payment
(WFP) is a yearly tax-free payment to help
older people pay for their heating?
For the last three winters the WFP has been paid at a
higher level but it is now due to revert to the amounts
paid prior to 2008.
This means that people born before 6th January 1951 are
entitled to a WFP of £100, £150, £200 or £300 depending
on their age and circumstances. The amount you get
depends on your household situation.
If you live alone you will receive either £200 or £300
depending on your age. Those who were 80 on or
before 25th September this year will be entitled to the
higher amount.
If you live with another person who also qualifies the
amount you get may be split between you depending
on your personal situation.
What if I’m on benefits?
If, for instance, Pension Credit (or another low income
benefit like Jobseekers or Employment and Support
Allowances) is being paid, you and the other person will
each get the full WFP.
However, if you or the person you live with does not
get one of these benefits, then the payment will be
split between you, the amount you get will depend on
your ages.
The WFP will be paid between November and
December this year and notification letters will be sent
to everybody giving more individual information.
If you qualify for a payment but none is paid by January
2012 you will need to contact the DWP on 0845 60 60 265.
For more general information about Winter Fuel
Payments and eligibility criteria visit www.direct.gov.uk.
Direct Debits are on their way!
Housing 21 is currently testing a new housing
management system which will support the use of direct
debits for all of its residents. This is a big step forward and
something that has been requested for a long time. “It
should speed up the process for everyone and provide
much improved customer service” said Paul Richards,
Director of Property Management. The system will be
tested on new residents before Christmas, followed by a
Crossword
1
2
3
5
4
7
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
19
22
24
16
18
20
21
23
Across
7
Christmas bird (6)
8
Decoration that goes on a door at Christmas (6)
10
Leaping reindeer? (7)
11
Christmas song (5)
12
Consumes a Christmas meal (4)
13
Figure that goes on top of the Christmas tree (5)
17
Foxy reindeer? (5)
18
The Christmas festival (4)
22 Miss the Christmas rush (5)
23
Rudolph’s distinguishing feature (3,4)
24
‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ singer (6)
25
One of the Three Wise Men (6)
25
Answers to Full House summer quiz
trial for existing residents
in areas of the North East.
Whilst residents will still be
able to use other payment
methods, direct debit will
become the preferred
method during the spring
of next year for everyone.
1) The pope, 2) 24 June, 3) Mexico, 4) Soft fruit such
as raspberries/blackcurrants, 5) Queen of Hearts
made some tarts, 6) Melvyn Hayes, 7) Helsinki, 8) John
Travolta and Olivia Newton John, 9) Lazy Hazy Crazy
Days of Summer, 10) Bleak House
The four usual dates involving the number one are
1/1/11, 11/1/11, 1/11/11 and 11/11/11.
Winner: Vivien Weston, Auchinleck Court, Crawley Down
Runners up: Pat Warren, Patricia Gardens, Sutton,
June Cornwell, Chapman Court, Worthing
Answers in the
next issue of
My Time
Down
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
14
15
16
19
20
21
Wenceslas looked out on his feast-day (7)
Tender pieces of 7 Across (7)
See 14 Down
It’s pulled at Christmas dinner (7)
Another Christmas tree-topper (5)
‘Mary’s Boy ____’, a Christmas hit for Boney M (5)
Sauce served at Christmas dinner (9)
And 3 Down. Seasonal No.1 single for Paul McCartney in 1983 (5,2,5)
The top reindeer (7)
Christmas celebrations (7)
These jingle at Christmas (5)
Stephen or Nicholas, for example (5)
Thoughts for Christmas presents (5)
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