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Newsletter No. 016
We hope you are all well and adjusting
to what looks like the new normal.
Covid-19 doesn't look as if it's going
away soon and we have to maintain our
mental and physical strength in these
challenging times. I feel heartened by
the efforts my social groups have put
in to help. Neighbours have become
more neighbourly, various groups have
phoned and relieved the tedious days
of lockdown with a chat which I know
has helped my wife particularly. I get
out to shop and walk the dog but it's
still nice to hear that phone ring.
What about you? Are you feeling
isolated? If so please join in
with our zoom sessions. If you have
the internet it is really easy to get
zoom onto your tablet, laptop or phone
– you just follow the invite link and
it asks you a few questions – and
bingo – a whole new world awaits you.
We run FitnFab sessions twice a week
which have an element of social time
and exercise. We are now having a quiz
every first Saturday of the month. It
occurs to me that any suggestions you
have could be coordinated and maybe
something could be arranged. so let
your eyes wander down this newsletter
a little and find our contact details.
let us know your thoughts and
ideas, please.
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 Stay tuned. With a little luck
and a following wind we should
have a little surprise in next
months issue.
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We now have a new help line
number it is:
01327 612333
Leave a message with your number
and we will call you back.
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Telephone support and practical
assistance
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So If you need to talk, or need some
practical assistance please get in
touch. Our little band of volunteers are
all on call
Help line number is:
01327 612333
leave a message with your number and
we will call you back.
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Information
Document
PIP Assessments, an
update
By Phil
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Face-to-face assessments have
not resumed and Covid-19
precautions have limited the
Work & Pensions
Departments ability to
medically assess claimants.
DWP says the position is under
regular review. Below we
have summarised the latest
notices on PIP and DLA.
If you want help with any of
these benefits and would like
to discuss your options call
our helpline on 01327 612333
or email [email protected]
Phil
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If people experience a change in
their needs they are encouraged to
contact DWP to ensure they get the
correct level of support.
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Where awards are due to expire, DWD
will be extending end dates so that
claimants continue to receive
financial support at their current
rate during this period.
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Applications for benefits can still
be made and Jobcentres will remain
open to support people who cannot
get online or use the phone.
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Face to face assessments for all
sickness and disability benefits
will be slowly reintroduced over
time, in line with public health
advice.
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No further action is required by any
claimant. you will be contacted with
advice on next steps.
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DWP continues to accept new claims
for all benefits.
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Anyone already receiving PIP,
Employment and Support
Allowance(ESA), Universal Credit or
Industrial Injuries Disability
Benefit, will continue to receive
their current payments as normal
until arrangements are put in place
to review or reassess their claim.
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If you are still receiving
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Until DWP invites you to apply for
PIP you need not do anything until
DWP contacts you, unless your
circumstances change.
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COVID 19 Virtual
FitnFab
Angela is still running Virtual Fit n'
Fab sessions twice a week via
'ZOOM' conferencing app. The app is
available for PC, laptop, smartphone
and Tablets
Angela will send you a link if you
want to join in, It's free but as
Angela has paid to have an
uninterrupted professional conference
session a small donation would be
gratefully received (a post-emergency
bucket will be available after the
emergency!)
Currently two sessions a week Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 10:30 am A mix
of social and light exercise.
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As you will be exercising at
home we strongly suggest you
remain seated during the
exercises. Obviously you will
not have the same people at
hand and we do not want any
accidents. So please stay safe
and use a stable solid chair
without wheels such as a
dining chair.
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COVID 19 Virtual Quiz
You should have received an invite to
our virtual quiz which is now being
offered once per month. If you did not
please email…
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Information
Document
What is a Lasting Power
of Attorney (LPA)?
By Angela Jeffery
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If someone has difficulties that mean
they can’t make decisions anymore,
they will need help managing their
finances. A Lasting Power of Attorney
(LPA) is a legal document where
someone (while they have mental
capacity) nominates a trusted friend
or relative to look after their
affairs IF they were
to lose capacity.
It is important to
remember…
You will not be suddenly giving up
your control. You can choose whether
the LPA can be used either before,
or only when you lose mental
capacity (Obviously if that happens,
which it may not!!).
Your representative should only make a
choice for you if you are unable to
make that specific decision at the
time it needs to be made. For example,
if you fall into a coma, your
representative would start looking
after your affairs. Yet if you wake
from the coma, you should be able to
make your decisions yourself again.
There are two types LPA
The Health and Welfare Lasting
Power of Attorney
allows a nominated individual to make
decisions over day to day healthcare
and medical treatments, as well as
deal with any health and social care
staff. This LPA can only be used after
a person loses capacity, not
before.
The two LPA’s are two separate
legal procedures that are
independent of one another. Just
because you have given a trusted
person power of attorney over your
health, that doesn’t mean they
automatically gain control over your
financial affairs and vice versa.
Property and Finance Lasting Power
of Attorney
allows a nominated individual to
make decisions about your finances to
include buying or selling property,
bank, building society and other
financial accounts. Welfare benefits
etc. Thinking about and talking about
these things is difficult but
unexpected situations can occur and if
you do not have an LPA your loved ones
will have to apply through the courts
to become a ‘deputy’ which can be a
long and expensive process.
You can only set up an LPA when you
have mental capacity. If you lose
Mental Capacity it is too late. I know
this is pretty depressing but the
common conditions which could affect
us all are: stroke, coma, delirium,
concussion, severe mental
health problems,
neuro-disabilities/brain injury,
alcohol and drug misuse, Alzheimer’s
and other dementia’s.
How to Make a Lasting Power of
Attorney
Firstly, it is very important that the
person making the LPA knows what the
form is about and understands the
process. The person must also be
completely confident and trusting of
the person or people they nominate,
(you can have more than one attorney)
and it is a good idea to include all
the family and/or most trusted friends
in the process.
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Decide if you need to use a
solicitor – you do not have to, but
it may be easier if you have complex
assets such as businesses or
overseas property.
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Do it Yourself – it is much easier
than it used to be, everything you
need is online.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-lasting-power-of-attorney.
You can fill the forms online
and will then need to print them
out and sign them. Or fill them
out by hand after printing them. You
can get help from the Office of the
Public Guardian: 0300 456 0300. Post
them off and they can be used as
soon as they are registered.
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Registering the LPA. The whole
process can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
Each LPA costs £ 82 to register in
England, so if you do both that will
be £164.00. If you earn less than
£12000 per year and can provide
evidence this is the case the fee is £
41 each.
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I hope this has been
interesting and informative,
If you need any help with an
issue you may be having we
will try to help, call the
helpline on 01327 612333
Since we’ve had the helpline
Angela has helped two people
get the highest rate
attendance allowance. She has
also filled out a housing
application for a client,
written evidence for a PIP
appeal and helped get a blue
badge for someone who had
previously been turned down.
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Well, the cheek, this month
Sylvia's gardening tips also
includes several recipes this
month, what to do with the
homegrown produce.
I might as well have a little
glass of wine and put my feet
up this month.
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Which country is Santiago the
capital of?
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In 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' where did
the little boy live?
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What is the maximum weight for a
flyweight boxer?
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What is the name of the afternoon
nap traditionally taken in hot
countries?
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What is the emblem of Ireland?
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What are you wearing if you are in
your birthday suit?
- Where is the ocean of storms?
- What turns blue cheese blue?
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What kind of animal is Beatrix
Potter's character Mrs Tiggywinkle?
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What was the world's highest
mountain before Everest was
discovered?
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Our
First Holiday
After leaving the Army I
settled down with my wife and
family and after setting up
house etc. We decided to take
our tribe on holiday as it was
a first so something simple
would suffice, we thought. We
selected a caravan park at
Caister on Sea as the
recipient of our
largesse. So, in the July
of '75, we descended on the
California Cliffs caravan park
at Caister. Arriving
around midday.
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After checking in, Tina and I decided
she and Carolyn (daughter) would check
out the amusements, food outlets etc
whilst I took the boys (Bob, Mick and
Rich) to explore the beach and rock
pools. Saturday passed by pleasantly
ending with a visit to the club for a
taste of the local beverage and ending
with a fish supper.
Sunday arrived and I took the kids on
a little ramble along the beach then
went back to the caravan. On arrival,
Tina says, "let's go the club for a
drink then see what we all want to
do". Of course, I'd already been
informed that what she wanted to do
was watch the wrestling that was on
during the lunch hour. As was the
thing at that time, 'All-In' wrestling
was a favourite of most of the
housewife's, my wife included.
The bout began, as usual, a 'goodie'
and a 'baddie' both in turn getting
the upper hand. The second, third
rounds came and went with the crowd
getting very vocal, my good lady
included. I decided as the fourth
round started to go to the bar for a
refill taking Bob and Mick with me. As
I waited at the bar all hell let loose
by the ring. I didn't take much
notice, but then young Rich run to me
and says "Dad, come 'n see.... mums
hitting one of the men" So
without more ado, myself and the boys
went to find her. To my
surprise, she had indeed hit one of
the wrestlers (the baddie of course)
as they had fallen out of the ring, as
they do. The little woman (bless her)
had got carried away.
By now the show had finished and I
went and retrieved my drink. Then the
club manager asked if Tina and I
would come and see him at the bar
asap. This petrified Tina as she was
convinced we were going to be thrown
off the site. The manager
(a nice chap) along with the two
wrestlers gave Tina a bouquet and a
box of chocs for her giving such a
spirited show, it had been the best
lunchtime show they had all season and
the manager also gave her vouchers to
use on the stalls which came in
handy.
As always never a dull moment in our
family and there is more to come.
Goodnight all and the best of
British
DOUG
Wrestler refusing to leave the ring
until Doug took Tina Home
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Sylvia's Gardening
Tips
THIS MONTH’S
GARDENING
Deadhead, weed and Friday
feed is my mantra in the
garden at the moment.
Everything is growing
at such a fast pace.
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Tomatoes, French beans, runner beans are
producing more than ever. Even the plums
are starting to ripen. So, this time. I
thought it a good idea to concentrate on
what to do with our gluts of homegrown
produce.
I have to say that tomatoes are my
all-time favourite for turning into
tasty dishes for use in the winter.
That’s providing I don’t eat them
all!
Tomato soup has got to be the easiest
way of making a tasty meal in super
quick time which freezes really well for
the whole winter. In fact, a few weeks
ago, I had the last portion of tomato
soup I made and froze last September and
it was delicious. The recipe is so
simple and here is a quick reminder:
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Ingredients
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1 to 1 and quarter kgs ripe tomatoes
- 1 medium onion
- medium carrot
- 1 celery stick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons tomato purée
- Good pinch sugar
- 2 bay leaves
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2 pints vegetable stock ( made from
stock cubes)
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2 garlic cloves chopped (optional)
- Good handful fresh basil
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1 small red chilli or a good pinch
dried chilli flakes (optional)
- Black pepper to taste
Method
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Wash tomatoes and cut into
quarters...cut out the hard stalk
bits. Roughly chop onion, carrot,
celery and chilli
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Put olive oil in large pan and heat
over low heat. When hot add chopped
veg and stir with a wooden spoon.
Cook gently until soft
and faintly coloured. Approx
ten minutes. Stir often to
prevent sticking.
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Add tomato purée and stir until veg
looks a bit red. Throw the
tomatoes in with sugar and black
pepper. Tear two bay leaves
roughly and put in the pan.
Stir everything together then put
lid on the pan. Stew
the mixture gently for ten minutes
stirring occasionally. Slowly
pour in the hot vegetable stock.
Then turn up the heat until
everything is bubbling then turn
heat to low and put the lid back on
the pan.
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Cook for 25 minutes on low stirring
a couple of times.
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Remove the pan from the heat, stand
back and take the lid off the
saucepan. Fish out the bay leaves
and throw them away.
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Now you can either pour the mixture
into a blender or, as I do, use a
stick mixer and blitz until smooth
while still in the saucepan. This
soup can be frozen for 4-5 months.
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I usually make double the quantity
and freeze it to eat in the
winter. It can be eaten
warmed up or chilled with a swirl of
cream on the top
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Another really good recipe for
conserving tomatoes is
Autumn chutney.
Ingredients
1 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped,(
drop tomatoes carefully into a bowl of
boiled water-leave
for ten seconds then fish out with a
spoon and the skins will peel off
easily)
750g cooking apples, peeled, cored and
chopped
375g light muscovado sugar/ 250g chopped
onion/ 250g raisins or sultanas
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground ginger
350ml cider vinegar
Method
Put all the ingredients into a large
pan and bring to the boil over medium
heat. Stir occasionally until the
sugar has dissolved. Simmer the
mixture uncovered for 45-50 minutes
until the fruit is tender and
thickened. Cool and transfer the
mixture into sterilised jars and seal.
(To sterilise jars, wash in hot soapy
water, rinse, then dry in an oven at
150c for ten minutes.
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Plum Jam
Plums are beginning to turn colour now
so get set for making plum jam
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Plums
- 1.5 Kgs suger
- 100ml water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Method
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Put all the ingredients into a large
pan and bring to the boil over
medium heat. Stir occasionally until
the sugar has dissolved.
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Simmer the mixture uncovered for
45-50 minutes until the fruit is
tender and thickened.
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Cool and transfer the mixture into
sterilised jars and seal.
(To sterilise jars, wash in hot soapy
water, rinse, then dry in an oven at
150c for ten minutes.
if you haven’t time to make the jam
just stone and stew the fruit and
freeze until you do have time.
Alternatively, you can stew the plums
with the sugar and then freeze ready
to make plum crumble in the winter.
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Plum Gin or Plum Vodka
To make some plum gin ready for tasting
at Christmas, It is really easy. You
will need:
- 800g ripe plums
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200g sugar (use less sugar if you
don’t like it too sweet)
- 70cl gin or vodka
Wash and pierce the plums with a fork.
put into a large sterilised Kilner jar
with the sugar then pour over the gin or
vodka. Seal the jar and shake it. Leave
in a cool dark place for 3 days, shaking
every day until sugar has dissolved. Now
leave it to stand for 3 months without
disturbing then strain through a fine
muslin cloth. Pour into a clean
sterilised bottle and enjoy!
Don’t throw the plums away, they make
an excellent plum crumble with added
flavour
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Don’t waste your chillies. You can dry
them on a warm window sill and then
flake them but it’s a lot easier and
quicker to freeze them whole. I put them
on a small plate a few at a time and
then just store in a container so they
don’t stick together.
One more thing! The fence is painted!
Yeh! Got some paint left so I am going
to paint the wooden raised veg
bed! Check out the Gargantuan
Tomatoes, I have to support them from
the roof of the greenhouse!
One more thing after the last thing.
This year is a bumper year for
blackberries. Great in a crumble with
apple. Makes a wonderful chunky jam. and
freezes well.
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We aim to
be...
an inclusive group so if
you have an idea for an
article that you think would
be of interest then get in
touch with us.
You don't have to be a
journalist, and if you find
trouble getting your idea
onto paper or email we'll
give you a helping
hand.
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- Chile
- Down the lane
- 8 stone
- Siesta
- Shamrock
- Nothing!
- On the moon
- Mold
- A hedgehog
- Everest!
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And Finally...
Occasionally one insignificant thing
can lead me to dig and dig until I get
an answer. Last week I went shopping
at my local Tesco. Then it
happened, Dishwasher Tablets! I
was scanning the shelves and found one
brand had 4 different sizes for sale.
25 tablets, 44 tablets, 65 tablets
and 68 tablets
Then I noticed the labels on the
shelves. One pack was labelled
with a price per tablet. the others in
price per kilo. Ok at first glance I
thought the largest pack would be the
most cost-effective, er... nope. Ok,
it got a little complicated. Out came
the calculator. Well, the 44
tablets were the cheapest at 13p per
tablet. the 25 tablets were the most
expensive at 40p per tablet.
A MASSIVE 207% price
difference. The largest pack size was 22p
per tablet
81% more expensive
It's not the 1st time dodgy pricing
tactics have been used. its been
complained about for years and goes
against the letter of the law. The
problem is there is no specific
law, just guidelines. The
unscrupulousness knows no boundaries.
I noticed Tesco had priced their value
brand cheese at a higher price than
their standard range recently. I
performed a miracle and found a
manager and took him to task. All
apologies and we will do better. I
just imagined a harassed mum on
universal credit trying to get the
shopping on a tight budget and going
for the value brand only to be ripped
off.
If you try to report this to trading
standards, they have offloaded all
complaints to the citizens' advice
bureau who will tell you in a
'computer says no' tone that a price
displayed is 'an invitation to
treat' (basically, push off we
aren't interested) the Competition and
markets authority (who do not even
have a complaints procedure about
dodgy trading) said 2 years ago that
have put the supermarkets on notice
they will be prosecuted for misleading
the public on pricing. are all at home
sitting out Covid-19.
I don't know why this kind of thing
gets me so wound up. I can calculate
the best price and work out unit
prices from per kilo. But it really
does.
Please Do Not Let Them Rip You
Off, It upsets me! I have to
lie down
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