My name is Ann Englert and I am 83 years young. One of my childhood memories from about the age of 6 was watching George Raft in the old fashioned films, he would be dancing the Tango to the musical song called Jealousy. I would stand there mesmerised, little did I know that one day I would be doing that exact dance at my 80th Birthday party.
As I grew older I learned that my father had Parkinson's and he endured this terrible disease for 17 and a half years. Life went on without much dancing until I reached the age of 79 but now I also had the challenge of managing this debilitating disease too. I had heard that dancing was a very good exercise for people with Parkinson’s, so I went ahead and asked Wes & Alex’s Dance Classes if they could teach me to Tango for my 80th Birthday party. I started my lessons in July 2016 and worked hard in preparation for my party. Four months later and I was all prepared for my big day. Wes came along and asked everyone to gather round. We had staged the scene where I  sat at a table and the music to Jealousy commenced. Wes walked towards me and took my hand and the Tango began. I came alive on the dance floor and my friends and family could not believe I had learned how to dance the Tango in only 4 months. As the dance finished the crowd erupted with applause. I have never felt so elated in all my life. Everyone was so proud of me for what I had achieved at my age & living with the challenges of this terrible disease.
My philosophy in life is to keep going in the face of adversity & to fulfil your dreams. Having a positive mindset has been my key driver and I will not let it beat me.
Dancing has become my passion and keeps me going and I hope my story will inspire more people to at least try it once.

After all the first round of education exams had taken place, the results of which would not be known until the new year.  The weapons and military proficiency tests were completed to the satisfaction of the house officers and staff. We were all feeling rather chuffed with ourselves, and quite rightly so we all thought. As the second week of December arrived, the barbarians from the outlying parts of Britain were called into the office by their localities, Channel Islands, northern isles and the end of the world (northern Scotland) and last but not least northern Ireland and the Republic. They all were given their travel itinerary, please remember this was at a time when to fly anywhere was exceptional, consequently these guys were allowed a longer travel time (4 days) to allow them time to take buses, trains and boats to their distant homes.

Friday morning arrived and all the barbarians gathered together on the edge of the barrack square to await transport to the station. We all bid them bon voyage in the appropriate manner and words, so of went de Gruchy, le Flem, le Sauxe, Forfauge, "Jock" McTieth, "Paddy" O'Shaughnesy and "Bangor" Truesdale, to the nether regions of our fair land.  Then on the next Monday morning the rest of us collected in the rest room in the block and one by one were called into the office and issued with our required paperwork. This consisted of travel itinerary, railway warrant (return), leave pass (for 25 days), ration monies (to cover your food expenses for leave), pay to cover same period and lastly any money from your savings requested. All in all in my case that came to a total sum of 68 pounds 8 shillings and 8 pence (this at a time when the average wage for a grown working man was around a fiver) to  someone who was only 16 and a half it was riches beyond belief. 

Now I must point out certain facts that pertaining to this time, when traveling on official duty (ie with a railway warrant) you had to wear uniform consequently you really stood out, so when we got to Euston there was about 8 of us traveling north and when I got to Northampton I was subjected to a barrage of ribald comments by the rest of the guys and being a rather demure type of person I didn't reply to this (not much anyway). So bundling myself onto a bus in the Drapery I made my way home, although I'd been home for a couple of weekends in the previous months this was my first long leave, I can imagine how my dad and my uncles had felt during the war. 

After mum had finished giving me the third degree I informed her that I was going to be paying my way and gave her my ration allowance. She said that she wouldn't take it but I insisted, with dad still in hospital then, she gave in (or so I thought). I found out later that she had put that ration money and subsequent ones in a post office savings account and I found out later on. I took my kid sister (she was 8 then) to the local shop and bought her some sweets, this was only so she could show me off to her friends, but such is the problems of being a big brother. 

Christmas and new year came and went, the visits to grandparents and uncles, aunts and the rest of which was a large extended family were duly completed. I found that I was starting to what all soldiers get, that is "itchy" feet, I think that subconsciously I had made my mind up and that this was what I wanted. 

So two days after Christmas I was all set to go back (no disrespect to my family) but I couldn't wait. But as I said to mother I would have extra leave to come in the coming months as I would joining the senior boys squad and that came with certain extras. Also I would be home on leave at Easter. We then went through what I later use describe as "the ritual" tears and farewell much to be repeated through the years to come. 

Favell Day Services is a registered charity which provides day care and support for adults with a range of physical and neurological conditions, including MS and Parkinson';s disease. Since the closure of the original 'Favell House' on the Kettering Road in 2013 the service now operates as a charity for two days a week on Monday’s and Fridays from Phab Centre, Sheraton Mews, Headlands, Northampton between 10am - 4pm and one day a week at St Luke's Centre, Main Road, Duston on a Wednesday between 10am - 4pm. The objective is to provide a safe meeting place for adults with physical disabilities to get together for mutual support and companionship. Activities are available to join in during the day, together with hot drinks, and a midday meal ( for a small charge) It gives carers some respite too, giving them the opportunity to have a few hours for themselves.

How the group is run is decided by the members who are asked for their ideas/ opinions so that they are very much involved in any planning. Activities include crafts, talks, cooking, quizzes, group crossword, meals out, trips, music etc. There is access to our own passive exercise bike which can be used from a chair or wheelchair and can be a valuable form of exercise. Research on the use of the  bike has been found to improve gait and balance, thereby reducing falls.
Our Facebook page ( Favell Day Services) shows some of the activities that we have provided in the past. Our website is www.fdsnorthants.org.uk
If you have any queries or would like a free taster session, please call Kate on 07519846972 Kate will arrange a home visit to assess your individual needs and will discuss costs involved and transport etc.

My wife Wendy had Parkinson’s for 15 years, she sadly died in August 2017. For most of those 15 years she carried on her life relatively as before, but there were various horrible milestones along the way. For example, having to surrender her driving licence, even though she hadn’t driven for several years, was a real blow.
The last few years were difficult and would have been worse had we not managed, after a long battle, to secure funding for carers, firstly from Adult Social Services and then from the NHS. We had made our Wills a long time ago and made choices about our funerals. We also took the important step of setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney; enabling me to manage Wendy’s affairs during the time Wendy spent in palliative care.
I have had a variety of different careers during my working life but have now joined a small but growing local company called Safeguarding Futures Ltd based in Northampton as an independent contractor. The company offers Will Writing, Estate Planning and a Care Costs Advisory Service, using the respective backgrounds of its directors, and now of its independent contractors.
We have all been struck time and again how much misinformation and wrong advice people were given when it came to making some of the most important decisions in their lives. Many people are completely unsure as to where to go, and who to trust, in securing their own and their family’s
future.
Understandably people find visiting a solicitor or dealing with a local authority a very difficult and daunting prospect. We at Safeguarding Futures endeavour to provide a friendly and personal service, which could ease the stress of making those important decisions. What can you expect when you contact us?

I remember when my wife was first diagnosed with Parkinson's the fact it was a reportable conditions was made clear by the Parkinson's nurse so when I received a pacemaker 2 years ago and no one mentioned that it was reportable I just carried on driving (after the surgery recovery period) 
 

Well thanks to The Basildon bla bla Echo I now know. I'm in breach of the law and could be liable to a £1000 fine.
 

So what did I do about It? well I first tried the DVLA's website to report it on line. I tried this several times and after proving to one of their 'partner' organisations that I was who my driving licence says I am, I filled in the form several times but alas the DVLA's website is made of sticks and a wolf had blown it down. It kept saying I was unauthorised.  Well that left me with option two, phone them.

Pirate Alert: I looked up the number on my mobile phone. the DVLA's number was about sixth on the list after several 'services' that would 'connect' you to the DVLA for wait for it... £3.60 per minute!   Do not be fooled the DVLA numbers all start with 0300  (standard rate applies)

After a 5 minute wait I got through to a nice lady who took my details and is now sending me a form to complete,  I told her about the website and she said 'pacemakers cannot be informed through the website so that's why you failed'  I didn't say what I thought, that the DVLA website was the point of failure. Why put someone through the ordeal of confirming their identity and filling in the webform if the process was doomed to failure anyway!

Any way, I'm  now, older, greyer and wiser,  but legal.

Lets get Quizzical
 

1)          What is the name of the musical film starring Howard Keel, which is based on the Rape of the Sabine Women?

2)          How are Conquest, War, Famine and Death collectively known?

3)         What is the name of the musical comedy starring Tommy Steele that was based on HG Wells' novel Kipps?

4)         What is the first name of Mr Darcy, hero of Pride and Prejudice?

5)         Which gardener’s item was invented by Edwin Beard Budding in 1830?

6)         What is the term used for a baby ferret?

7)         Who was sitting in a tin can far above the world in 1962?

8)         Born in Berlin he was best known for playing a Spaniard.

It was brilliant! I arrived at Northampton train station and went to the customer services desk as I had been instructed.They were expecting me. They took charge of me and my case getting both me and it to the correct platform and then helping me on the train and seated too!  I couldn’t believe how trouble free it was.

Then I noticed, when we made a few stops on the way to Birmingham, how quickly the doors open and closed on arrival at the platforms.  I thought, crikey I had better get my skates on when we pull into Birmingham New Street Station!  (starting to get anxious again) I was poised ready to stick my case between the doors to stop them closing!  Oh really I needn’t have got so worked up! The doors opened and a nice young man jumped on board, walked over and said ‘Mrs Nightingale?’  He took my case and guided me to the correct platform for connection to Cardiff where I was met by another customer services person.

I couldn’t understand how they knew which carriage and seat I was in so asked one of the guards.  He told me that at each station once the customer service person has got me seated they phoned on to the next station telling them where I was!   How good is that!

Needless to say I had a lovely time in Wales with my sister.  We spent a few hours in Cardiff city centre soaking up the wonderful atmosphere as it happened to be international rugby day between Wales and England---it was buzzing!  As you can see from the photo my sister and I enjoyed ourselves.

Who knows where I will go next.  I feel the Hogwarts Express beckoning me. Now where exactly is platform 9 ¾ ?   Or maybe I will travel on the Orient Express!

Readers might like to know that if you are flying anywhere you can also get assistance on and off the plane and most airlines will also take a small mobility scooter free of charge. 
Sylvia

When you are ready to complete your bread take the mixing spoon (handle end) and stir the mix gently. it should deflate as the gas escapes and the mix will be very elastic. 10 to 15 turns will do it.  Now using the spoon to roll the dough and sprinkle 2-3 dessert spoons of oats on and around the dough, if some mix in don't worry. Next lightly sprinkle some flour over and around.Take a lightly greased loaf tin and tip the dough in,  Cover loaf with tea towel to final proof for 30-45 minutes. Now turn the oven on and preheat to 200C Gas mark 6.

Yes the older generations have caught and overtaken the youngsters on the giant social media platform, Facebook.  In fact the youngsters are abandoning Facebook for platforms like Instagram, which is a photo oriented network. (Why type that your mate is a drunken idiot if you can post a picture of same)

This mass migration of age groups has prompted some analysts to suggest a name change to 'GranBook'  while some kinder folk are suggesting 'Boomerbook'

If you are on Facebook you can check out our page at https://www.facebook.com/northantsparkinsonspeople/  Please leave us a message, tell us what you think about the newsletters.

If you are worried for Mark Zuckerberg's future with the falling numbers of youngsters then worry no more. Facebook posted a $4.3 BILLION  profit for the final quarter of last year. Oh, and he owns Instagram as well, bless him.