Fund Spending Report

As I write this I am looking forward to our August meeting, a BBQ at John Salmon’s.

Our future program has been roughly planned so I will tell you what is likely to be on offer. Remember, all our events are subject to change but members are notified at the beginning of each month of the exact details of that months’ event.

September 17th it is anticipated will be an evening of table tennis so we can check on your fitness.

October 15th will be a visit to Titanic brewery.

November 19th should see us taking part in a quiz.

December 3rd, we are sure of, will be our Christmas meal.

I will confirm what is happening month by month but if you are in any doubt, please ring me on 01782 523028 and I will be pleased to help.

Message from our Chairman

Since I wrote my last report we have had an evening playing pool in April. In May the meeting happened to fall on my Birthday and the Musketeers had arranged a lovely Buffet at the George and Dragon at Meaford, complete with Birthday cake and flowers, which were a big surprise. Many Thanks!

June saw us at Kinsley Moor Shooting ground and July we were walking at Barlaston, then Sunday 27th July we had our annual event with partners.
This year we arranged for Sunday Lunch at the Borough Arms, Newcastle. It was a lovely day the sun was shining, it was well attended including several new members. The meal was very good and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Talking to people afterward it seems that everyone had enjoyed the event.

We look forward to seeing more people at future events.

Chairman’s Birthday

At a Buffet held at The George and Dragon, our chairman celebrated her??? Birthday.

This picture was taken of her receiving a bouquet of flowers from Peter Addison, Secretary.

Below, her birthday cake, made by

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying... It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

"Miss Whack, I'd like to get a £3,000 loan to take a holiday."

Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.

Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.

The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed.

Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.

She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow £3,000, and he wants to use this as collateral."

She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?"

(you're gonna love this)(its a real treat) (a masterpiece)(wait for it)

The bank manager looks back at her and says...

"It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."

(You're singing it, aren't you? Yeah, I know you are........)

Never take life too seriously! Come on now, you grinned, I know you did!!!

Have a lovely day

Carer’s Commandments

1. Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people

2 Thou shalt not be perfect, or even try

3 Thou shalt leave things undone that ought to be done

4 Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin

5 Thou shalt learn to say no

6 Thou shalt schedule time for thyself and thy supportive network

7 Thou shalt switch off and do nothing regularly

8 Thou shalt be boring, inelegant, untidy and unattractive at times

9 Thou shalt not feel guilty

The Clay Pigeon shooting night was supported by a merry band of Musketeers. Yet again a very good evening was had by all, and this time I think some of us actually hit a few clays.

A new website and forum has been developed for Carers, whose domestic situation can often be isolating and those who work in the Care Sector for whom unsociable hours and stressful situations may well affect their social life. By sharing experiences with others who understand, we hope to lighten the load and have some fun, an ingredient often missing when undertaking a caring role.

Full Membership of our site which includes access to the forums, live online chat, and private messaging is FREE.

MS Society Carers Emergency Card

Do you ever worry what you would do if you had an accident or emergency while away from home, and were unable to get back to the person you care for? If so, you aren’t alone. Many carers say that they become so anxious about being away from home that they don’t bother going out. Some have given up work; others no longer socialise or take part in away from home activities at all.

Many carers now use a ‘carers emergency card’ when away from home, giving them much needed peace of mind that alternative care arrangements will be put in place in the event of an accident or emergency.

For more information about the carers emergency card Free phone 0800 0858344

Londoners

A Londoner parks his brand new Porsche in front of the office to show it off to his colleagues. As he's getting out of the car, a lorry comes speeding along too close to the kerb and takes off the door before zooming off.

More than a little distraught, the Londoner grabs his mobile and calls the police. Five minutes later, the police arrive. Before the policeman has a chance to ask any questions, the man starts screaming hysterically:
"My Porsche, my beautiful silver Porsche is ruined.
No matter how long at the panel beaters it'll simply never be the same again!"
After the man finally finishes his rant, the policeman shakes his head in disbelief:
"I can't believe how materialistic you Londoners are," he says. "You are so focused on your possessions that you don't notice anything else in your life."
"How can you say such a thing at a time like this?"
snaps the Porsche owner.
The policeman replies, "Didn't you realise that your right arm was torn off when the truck hit you."
The Londoner looks down in absolute horror

He screams

The Government’s directory of information for carers