A Quick Hello from Frodsham

Hi its Paul from Frodsham. I am going to enjoy my long weekend this weekend. I'm going for a drink with my Dad at the Boars Head and I'm going to visit my gran on Saturday afternoon. I'm also watching the Superleague on Sky tomorrow, Leeds are playing Hull.

Have a good weekend everyone :)

We will put photos up soon!

Sporting Success!

We've had lots of people from the Old Fire Station winnning medals recently- here are just some of them...

Emma Calvert is pictured here with Sue Wilkinson, her keyworker with just some of her recent medals. She got 3 gold medals at the Winsford swimming gala on the 2nd of April, for 200m, 100m and 25m breast stroke.

And at the swimming gala in Sunderland she did really well too - gold in 100m breast stroke, gold in the medal relay and in the freestyle relay, silver in the 200m breast stroke and in the 50m freestyle.

Sean Daniels did well too with 5 medals in backstroke, freestyle and men's relay. The Penguins swimming club that Emma and Sean both belong to won all the relays - what a team!

Emma also proved she's a good all rounder at all sports as she won 3 silver medals at table tennis at Crewe - for individual, double and mixed double. Pete Edwards, Kathryn Hodkinson and Sean Daniels all did well there too, thanks to Ann Calvert for the news.

Jodie Bowyer is pictured here with 6 medals as well! 3 are for table tennis at Crewe Leisure Centre on 16th & 17th April. She got 1 silver for singles, and 2 bronzes for ladies doubles and mixed doubles. Jodie said it was the first time she'd ever played - she thought she was going to watch when she went with Ann Calvert and her group, including Emma and Sean. She ended up playing and really enjoyed it though she said it was frustrating when she couldn't hit the ball properly! Her other 3 medals are 2 gold and 1 silver for swimming in the Winsford gala. The golds were for 25m and 50 m freestyle and the silver was for 50m backstroke. Jodie says: "I love swimming, that's were I met my fiance Richard. Its a stress reliever too for me and calms me down and it helps me get over things. I take my mood out on the water and I feel a lot better after. I go faster when I'm in a mood!"

Neil Dyson recommends....

Neil Dyson, who D.J.s at the Gateway Club and knows everything there is to know about music, would like to recommend Mamma Mia the musical, which is showing at the Palace Theatre in Manchester from 26th April (yesterday) to Saturday 18th June - he reckons the music is fantastic and the show will be a good one!

Belated News - Charity Collections

We're a bit late posting this news but better late than never!

On 18th March which was Red Nose Day, Tim Hughes from Firdale helped raise money when he busked in Morthwich outside Quality Save . Local Band the Weavils are old friends of Tim's and were delighted to see him in the audience. They invited Tim to play percussion with them for a couple of numbers. Tim was keen to do so and was able to showcase his natural sense of rhythm. The crowds in town showed their appreciation and a total of £342.22 was raised. The Weavils often appear at Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival More information on them can be found at www.weavils.com. If you get the chance to hear them play, don't miss it! Thanks to Maureen from Firdale for the news.

Also on 18th March Karen Morrey, Sarah Clarke and Patsy Scott from the Old Fire Station went out with collecting boxes and very fetching daffodil costumes to collect for Marie Curie cancer care. They stood outside H Samuels jewellers and collected two full boxes from generous passers by. Karen says: "it was a lovely sunny day and it was nice to help the charity. We might do it again too, I'd like to."

http://www.btinternet.com/~sarah.j.mckenzie/weavils/weavils-about-us.htm

Cinema Success!

Today was the first Big Screen Tuesday at Weaverham Community Centre Cinema, arranged by Gill from Firdale. There was a grand turn out of over 20 from Dane Walk, Firdale and the Old Fire Station and we all had a fantastic time - thanks Gill!

The film today was Toy Story3 and here's what our guys had to say:

Annie says: "it was a nice film actually, I liked the bit where they put the toys in the box!"

Phillip says: "It was alright, it was nice relaxing watching a film."

Pete says: "it was good watching the film, my favourite bit was when they escaped."

Kurt says: "I liked the escape too, it was good."

Sue says: "I give it 9 out of 10, it was good."

Ricky says: "I give it 10 out of 10, I enjoyed it."

Ian says: "I really enjoyed the film, the best bit was where all the toys fell into the crusher."

Derek says: "It was good today, I liked the bit when they all got in the box."

Kevin says: "I've not been in the community centre before, I've only walked past, I liked it."

Karen says: "Today was alright. My favourite film to see would be Dracula!"

Next week's film is Madagascar - arrive at 10.30 for a 10.45 showing if you want to enjoy the film, you can even take a packed lunch for after too. Hope to see you there...

Easter at Meadowbank Lodge!

Yesterday at Meadowbank Lodge everyone came together to celebrate Easter. Clifford is pictured in his bright yellow t shirt looking ready for spring in his Easter straw hat that his mum made for him - it has chicks on and a big duckling and we think he looks fantastic. Clifford said his favourite part of the day was having his photograph taken. He's busy looking up trains now in the IT session.

Also pictured above are David, Janice, Lee and Christian. Christian won the Easter hat competition and looks really good in his red t shirt and his fantastic hat. He's in the IT session with us today and has helped us with all the photos.

We have another David, David Nielson with us in the IT session too today. He says: "Did we have a good time with the easter hats and cornflakes we enjoyed it we did and the chickens and the crow and the easter eggs it was good. When we used to break up at easter later after just at the weekend at time. "

Martin is in the IT session with us as well and has found this fantastic car picture to share with us. He says: "It's my favourite car, I'm into cars, I'm car crazy. I collect log books and car things. I've got all my car things in my bedroom at my new house, it's good living there. I'd like to thank Alan for helping me to move house. I live with Matthew, David and Jason."

Stacey is with us too in IT today, and Stacey says: "This morning I had nice relaxing morning in the reminiscence room looking at pictures from the 90's with Adele, Gill, Carol and Joss. My favourite bit was looking at the pictures of Princess Di, I'm looking forward to the Royal Wedding. This afternoon in IT as well as helping with the Blog, I'm looking up JLS. I love the songs and what they say, it makes me laugh."

Hamish is with us today as well, he has been really busy colouring some amazing pictures and this one is his favourite.

Hello from Meadowbank Lodge!

We're in the IT session this afternoon at Meadowbank Lodge.

First it's hello from Stacey who says: "This photo was taken in the woods at Whitegate Way. It's nice there, I like being out and about and meeting new people, I'm very very friendly to people."

Martin Pendlebury says: "I've just moved into a new house, I've got my own room and I'm sharing with three of my friends. My bedroom has got cars in one corner and it's nice and clean and tidy and it's perfect. I'm loving being there."

Clifford Torvell says: "I love being at Meadowbank Lodge and today is day 449. I'm looking at all sorts on the computer today and having fun. I'm looking up trains at the moment."

Christian is being very helpful today fetching and tidying and passing things over. He's sat next to Stacey and has been looking up Kylie on Youtube today.

David Nielson is watching a Carry On Film, he's very good at working the DVD for us. David says: "We like Frank Spencer. He was dancing himself in the show at Pontins and the ladies were sitting down on the chairs were they then. Wonderful is it."

Hamish is very busy writing at the moment, he is doing a fantastic job, and says he's had a good afternoon.

Bye from Meadowbank Lodge for now!

HAPPY 40Th BIRTHDAY Congratualtions to Michelle Sayle who will be celebrating her 40th birthday on Sunday. Lots of love from all your Friends at Dane Walk!! x x x x

Graham Dutton is all prepared for the Easter Bonnet parade at the Drop in with his fantastic yellow cowboy bonnet!!

Thunder Sprint News!

We're very excited here about the Thunder Sprint coming up on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May. We're going to be opening up the Old Fire Station to any bikers who'd like to leave their helmets, leathers, parcels etc - in return for a small donation towards our comforts fund. We're right in the centre of town so we're well placed. We'll also be selling refreshments, hot and cold drinks and some snacks - more details soon, so watch this space or call 01606 49276.

Ian Billington is our bike expert and picks his favourite bike for each issue of our newsletter. Ian says: "I'm looking forward to it a lot - I like Hondas and old bikes. I like seeing and hearing them all in town."

Rae, Pete and Neil's post

Rae says: "I went to the gym today and yesterday I went to Warrington and I bought myself a Radio Times and the Sun and I had a meal in the market cafe with Chris, egg and two rounds of toast. My niece lives in Warrington but she's moving soon. I got a cd too."

Pete Edwards has joined us too, after being busy at the gym all

morning. Pete says; " I think we should call the Blog the dual

carriageway as is has traffic moving on it. I enjoyed aquafit yesterday, I liked the exercise and the music, I was singing along to Baby you can drive my car by the Beatles. I like Kingston Town too."

Neil Price has also been working hard at the gym today; Neil says:"I've been on the weights, thats my favourite at the gym. I like them all and I did some sit ups too." Supervisor Nicky has just been in and told us how good Neil is on the treadmill aswell, she used to struggle to keep up with him!

Richards s post

in a fortnight the blog group will be taking over a bigger room at firdale away from interruptions! we get to pick our name and decorate the room and i'm pleased about it

More news - Barry and Karen's post

First off Barry and Karen would like to say well done Jill on your first post, you did a really good job! Karen says: "I went to see Patsy Scott at work in the Salvation Army today and she served me a cup of tea from the kitchen. She did an excellent job and worked really hard, well done Patsy!" Barry says: "I watched Ice Road Truckers on Channel 5 at the weekend and it was really good. I defeintely do recommend it. A week on Saturday I'm going to Sandbach to a transport festival and I'm going to buy a new ERF lorry. I've got family links with ERF too aswell as Fodens."

Jills First Day doing the blog

Hi and good morning to every one and welcome to the blog teams news.

Anne Hodkinson would like to tell every one about her tuesdays when she goes out and about in winsford.

she enjoys her lunch at the dingle centre and says its good value for money and looks forward to her outing.

Veras brother came to pick her up early so that they could visit her mothers grave and put some flowers on for mothers day .

They went out for tea at the salt cellar and she recommends the food which they enjoyed.

Anthony had to have a second breakfast as his black dog ate his first he thinks that he fancied a bacon butty more than his dog food.

Derek went out the maypole at acton bridge for a meal and he enjoyed the food he says it was all fresh veg and tasty meat and enjoyed good company.

Nicola's News

Nicola Daffern and her mum recently gave us an update on their busy social life so here's all their news:

They took Nicola's nieces Daisy (who's 4) and Georgia (who's 3) to see Disney on Ice in Liverpool on Sunday 6th March at the Echo Arena which they all loved.

Then a few days later they saw We will Rock You at the theatre in Manchester. Nicola loved all the Queen songs including We are the Champions and once again they had a great time.

This year Nicola is going away for the first time with Holidays with Help in May so she's really looking forward to that as well.

Nicola and her mum always stay over at Nicola's brother Tim's house near Bolton on Saturday nights. Tim and Amanda are Daisy and Georgia's mum and dad and they all have a lovely meal together on Saturday night and then Nicola and her mum look after the girls on the Sunday morning while Amanda goes for a long run and Tim goes to Church at Great Budworth. The family have hens, ducks, bantams, guninea fowl and quails. Nicola was a bit wary at first but now helps collect the eggs and gets on well with all their feathered friends.

And lastly, Happy Birthday to Nicola for last week as she was 53 - she celebrated with her mum by having a lovely Italian meal.

The Alternative March - Saturday 26th March

Lots of staff from our day centres and the network went down to London on Saturday 26th March to join in with the Alternative March. Over half a million people walked round London that day to bring attention to the cause. The march was mainly peaceful, with only a small group of people, unconnected with the main march that caused any trouble. It was to draw attention to the fact that we think there is an alternative to the proposed government cuts. We don't want any of the services we provide to be cut to the extent that the people we support suffer. Hopefully the people who make the decisions will take note and make the cuts in different ways.