All posts by K Bryan

Chat from Me – October 2020

From the Chair

No change from Phoenix at the moment, hope everyone’s keeping their chin up or in my case chins, are anyone else’s clothes shrinking in lockdown even the ones, not in the wash strange …. still the baking is coming on fine, although I baked (new hobby for me) a lovely Dorset apple and cinnamon cake yesterday but unfortunately had to throw it away today because when I opened the cake tin out flew a fly who looked like me if I’d been locked in a wine cellar all night hic.

At times like this, it reminds us how important friends and family are and if it’s difficult to see them at the moment try to keep in touch by phone or the Internet a good chat makes the world of difference. For those of you who are Internet savvy check out our         Facebook page…Rugeley Phoenix…we would love you to add pictures, jokes, poems, etc.—

Take care Elaine xx

 

The Isolator

Spotlight

The Isolator

In these changing times it’s lovely to say one thing hasn’t changed at all, in fact I think it’s become even more wondrous and that’s NATURE!
Thinking about it perhaps it hasn’t got better because it’s always been wonderful and amazing it’s just that I’m noticing it more.
During this time of not being in a hurry to get from A to B in a certain time frame, my pace of life has certainly slowed down.
Walking daily along the same route it is amazing to see the changes happening, my walking route takes in Power Station Road and the bypass perhaps not your first thought for a nature walk.
Along side the road flanked by industrial units there are beautiful wild rose bushes, an apple tree and even a bush that looks like it’s got pears on it ! (They may not be pears but they certainly look like it) grass was mown and bushes were pruned to within an inch of their lives but you’ve guessed it, out came the new growth within no time at all. The staff of one unit planted up baskets of flowers under their windows they obviously took really good care of them because they have come on so well and make a plain brick wall look so pretty. A huge fir tree outside JCB has produced the biggest cones I’ve ever seen, covering the ground below and most of their car park. The side of the bypass has been like a wildflower meadow, I’ve even heard there are som species of lilies to be found there. Over hanging branches have produced flowers and now berries, some of these branches have broken off with the weight of the flowers, you could say nature does her own pruning. There is an abundance of wild blackberry bushes that have produced so much fruit this year, much appreciated by the birds and insects and maybe a few passing walkers.
Thinking back to school days I remembered “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. W H Davies ( I will confess I had to google the name of the poet) it’s from the poem Leisure and well worth a read.
I certainly have the time to stand and stare and appreciate all around me and look forward like Nature to new life and new beginnings for all Phoenix members.
Love Sue X

Chat from Me—

From the Chair

Hope everyone is well, especially in these difficult times.

I have been contacted by several of the Phoenix members regarding the re-opening of some of the activities, after meeting with the officers of the committee, a letter had been sent out to the activity leaders requesting feedback and thoughts from our members. The outcome was a mixed bag some members wanting to return but others feeling it was too early. After reviewing the situation our main concern is the cleaning of Sheepfair not only the toilets and equipment used but the alarm, light switches, door handle, blind pulls etc which would all need to be cleaned after every activity. So, unfortunately, we will remain closed for the time being. We will review the situation in a few weeks when the schools are up and running.

Stay safe—Elaine

Announcement from Rob Cross

Newsletter

Good Morning,

I do hope you are well.

Phoenix member Rob Cross has asked me to pass on the very sad news that his wife of 55 years, Margaret, has passed away, suffering complications with her Motor Neurone disease.

The funeral takes place on Tuesday 1st September 2020. As a result of the restrictions at funerals at the moment, the funeral will be recorded and will be available live or soon afterwards for up to 28 days.

there is a link to this below and also to the donations page (MNDA) set up as a tribute to Margaret’s life.

Margaret requested no flowers and asked instead for donation to the Motor Neurone Association.

https://margaretcross.muchloved.com/

You can watch the funeral live starting at 2.55pm on Tuesday Sept 1st. In advance of the service please try the link below and sign in, as there is a test screen to make sure you can access the page correctly. If you cannot watch live, you can also watch the service later. It will be available using this link for 28 days after the service (please allow a couple of days after the service for the funeral to be available).
https://www.obitus.com/

Username: Yore6815
Password: 014193

Regards

Kath

Announcement from Rob Cross

News

Good Morning,

I do hope you are well.

Phoenix member Rob Cross has asked me to pass on the very sad news that his wife of 55 years, Margaret, has passed away, suffering complications with her Motor Neurone disease.

The funeral takes place on Tuesday 1st September 2020. As a result of the restrictions at funerals at the moment, the funeral will be recorded and will be available live or soon afterwards for up to 28 days.

there is a link to this below and also to the donations page (MNDA) set up as a tribute to Margaret’s life.

Margaret requested no flowers and asked instead for donation to the Motor Neurone Association.

https://margaretcross.muchloved.com/

You can watch the funeral live starting at 2.55pm on Tuesday Sept 1st. In advance of the service please try the link below and sign in, as there is a test screen to make sure you can access the page correctly. If you cannot watch live, you can also watch the service later. It will be available using this link for 28 days after the service (please allow a couple of days after the service for the funeral to be available).
https://www.obitus.com/

Username: Yore6815
Password: 014193

Regards

Kath

Confused Isolater – Aug 2020

Events

Apparently, I am in the 52% of people in the country that are confused about what we can do, can’t do, and must do. So good to hear I’m not on my own.
We all need to eat healthy  We can get up to 50% off when eating in fast-food
restaurants Eat out to help out. We need to get fit We may need to start a Phoenix cycling group
Think the doctor will give me a bike or am I confused about that.
We can perhaps call in KFC’s on the way back from our cycle ride.
If you nip into Greggs for a cheeky sausage roll, wear your mask
If you sit in to eat it, along with other diners, no mask required
Think I’ll do the mask if I eat in with my luck a Phoenix member will spot my guilty pleasure (Ha Ha)
I can have six people from different households in my garden observing social distancing for a catch-up.
I am very fortunate that I have more than six friends, so I can see them all down the pub Cheers!
I can have someone in to clean the house and fix that dripping tap. Just wondering which one of my friends has a mop and a Bob the builder toolkit.
I could go on and on about my confusions and I’m sure many of you are the same.
Perhaps we could do a Phoenix Quiz on the rules and regulations of what we can and can’t do, I know you won’t be rushing to have me on your team.
As the directives of what to do, what not to do and what you must do change
hourly and daily, the Phoenix quiz team will have to be on the ball.
To hug or not to hug that is the question, well it’s just one question.
A sign of the times is I’ve got mask envy! Have you noticed all the different types there are, some are very stylish even coordinated with what you wear.
Regardless of your style of mask they are necessary and we will wear them where we must. The sad thing for me is you can’t see people smile. In these troubled times, nothing lifts you like a smile. Keep smiling, even if no one can see it, remember smiles is the longest word in the world! There is mile between the first and last letter.
Love Sue AKA Confused Rugeley

Chat from Me – August 2020

From the Chair

Yet another month in lockdown, still chomping at the bit to get back. The
officers of the committee are meeting to look at which activities can start back at
Sheepfair, we will be contacting leaders for their feedback.
I am aware that as of today the government is saying, ‘put the brake pedal on’, and take
things slowly, so things may be different for a while. But fingers crossed we can start to
move forward for the sake of keeping us sane!
I hope everyone is well and hopefully see
you soon.

Elaine

Please see the ‘Spotlight’, section for the minutes from the above-mentioned meeting.