A Leaf From Sycamore-November 2004

e-mail address sycamore@daycentre.wanadoo.co.uk or e-mail angela@kershaw.org
Web address www.sycamoreclose.com
Mobile 079198 24402 Wednesday and Friday 10 am - 3.30pm

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Sycamore Day Centre
  3. NOTICE:
  4. New Members
  5. STAVELEY COURT
  6. Sycamore Close
  7. Sycamore Close Residents
  8. News from High Hall
  9. Friends of High Hall
  10. This Months Recipes
  11. Letter from Lucy
  12. Tips of the Month
  13. Strange but true
  14. Jokes
  15. Discoveries along the way.

Editorial

Up and running. Our new website sycamoreclose.com

The website is a new project by Sycamore Close Day Centre to keep people in touch with all the exciting new developments that are happening at Sycamore Close. Re: The extra care housing scheme at Bainbridge.

We should also be able (computer permitting!! ) to publish our newsletter, and many other bits of information about ourselves to keep our friends and family etc. around the country and the world tongue in cheek) informed about what we are getting up to here at Sycamore Close and High Hall. Fingers crossed and watch this space! Jim Waterworth has agreed to assist us with some of the text entries.

The newspapers are proving very popular, especially the tup sale results as there are several members wanting photo copies to take home and digest.

Lawrence Thwaites We were deeply saddened by the sudden death of Lawrence. He was a great character and a good and helpful friend. He will be greatly missed by us all.
Angela Kershaw


Sycamore Day Centre

Jack and Jim have finished painting the Lewis chess set. For photos look under Activities on web site. Christmas hyacinths have been potted up again this year by our members and hopefully they will be ready by Christmas.

Liz is still plodding on with our marmalade production but for a change we made some lemon marmalade. I only managed to lick the testing plate as it sold out instantly but it tasted good.

We are having a health promotion day before the Christmas festivities with posters, leaflets, handouts and some goody bags of freebies. We shall be talking about the 5 a day rule and have a demonstration on ways to meet our targets. We will also do a couple of health related quizzes. (Scales will be around but optional).


We had a chocolate tasting after-noon with chocs from the Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn. We started with the history of choco-late, then how it was cultivated. (How big do you think a choc pod is? Well we can tell you. They can grow as big as a foot long, 30cm) Next we learned about the aphrodisiac!! effects of chocolate and how to temper and store it at the correct temp. AND FINALLY, we got to try it. Delicious!


We have had an 80th Birthday this month Edgar Dakin. Happy Birthday Edgar.

We had a nice tea made by Liz with sandwiches, crisps, buns and lashings of jelly. Lynne at High Hall Residential Home made the cake and Liz iced it. Her cake decorating skills are growing with every cake she ices.

Finished off the afternoon with some card bingo.


Laundry 1910-1960.

A talk about how we used to do our washing and ironing, with hand out photographs, memorabilia and a quiz. (What were these objects used for?) An entertaining afternoon but what I would like to know is, where is all that time we have saved by using automatic washing machines and tumble driers?

You Will Never Be Old

You will never be old with a twinkle in your eye,
With the Springtime in your heart as you watch the Winter fly.
You will never be old while you’ve got a smile to share,
While you wonder at mankind and you have the time to care.
While there’s magic in your world and a special dream to hold,
While you still can laugh at life you will never be old.
Author Iris Hesselden
Brought in by Mary Johnson.

Outing to Gunnerside

A bit spur of the moment but worth it. Another lovely sunny day! Travelled up to Hawes and went up and over the Buttertubs and past Usher gap. Mosied on down to Muker village but it was quite busy so we didn’t stop. Then past Oxnop and Crowtrees farms. Then we journeyed on past Satron and down into Gunnerside, in Swaledale. Swaledale is Spenks old stamping ground. (Born and bred) He farmed there all his life until his retirement.

When we got off the bus and were walking over the stone bridge to the tea-room Spenk checked to see if his initials were still visible in the stone where he had carved them as a young lad. They were!! S.T. He also told us that someone had actually carved an aeroplane into the stone. (Whoever it was must have had a lot of time on their hands). Liz had a look and found it. It looked like a spitfire? and in very good nick.

We timed the visit to the tearoom (Ghyllfoot) just right, nice and quiet. Mary and Spenk were delighted to see and chat with the owner Mrs. J. Calvert (nee Waggitt)

Mary had not seen Mrs. Calvert since they were at a wedding breakfast together at the Kearton Guest House, so they did a bit of catching up. Spenk also met up with another old acquaintance Mrs. M. Batty. They had a good chat about old times. The coffee and the food were excellent but when I came to pay for the tea a certain someone had decided it would be good fun to hide my purse. They did not let me spend too long looking for it. (Good job too you know who!). Back into the bus and on through Low Row to Reeth. It was market day and quite busy so we did not stop. Then over Reeth moor road and down into Redmire, then back up to Carperby for our normal drop-offs.

NOTICE:

By popular request Allan Chandler the piano accordianist will be here at Sycamore Close Day Centre on Wednesday afternoon 22nd December at 1.30pm. Open to everyone so come along and join in. The more the merrier.


New Members

We would like to welcome Ken Lawson from Hawes. Appologies to Jack Kirkbride for spelling his name wrong in our last issue.

Yorkshire Dialect with Eleanor Scarr

Eleanor popped in again to amuse us this month.

We had a very entertaining afternoon (as it always is). We went farming and The Vicar!!! Came to call.

We had a run in with an angel and a yorkshire pudding!!!!!!!

I called in at the Wensleydale press to get some card for making christmas cards and I spied this printed verse that you could buy for a charity. I though it would be good for reading out at Eleanors’ poetry afternoon.
We read it out and found it quite funny.
Then Eleanor showed us her book. The first three verses and the last three verses that she had in her book were not on our sheet. (Not a mistake just an abridged version). When you put all the verses in, it’s hilarious but maybe a bit long.

Homemade scones and tea to finish.

Many thanks Eleanor.


Visit to Extra Care Housing Scheme Keighley

STAVELEY COURT

We all arrived bright and early at Sycamore Close paid our dues had a nice hot cup of coffee and then set off in cars and the mini-bus to go and get an idea of what our extra care housing scheme might be like. We went to Keighley via Settle as the road is far less winding. The sun kept up with us all the way to Staveley Court with the rain just ahead. It started to rain very heavily just as we were getting off the bus. Staveley Court has a canopy at the front of the building with seating so you can enjoy the gardens and views without getting wet. We sheltered there until we were ushered inside.

Stephanie Harrison the Court Manager invited us to have a good look around. The hairdressers were exceptionally busy. Everybody seemed pleasantly surprised at the layout of the building, the furnishings space etc, with special comments about having your very own shower in your flat instead of a communal one.

We would like to give our greatest thanks to a lovely couple, Mr and Mrs Leach who despite causing them quite a considerable disturbance allowed 19 strangers to wander freely and unhindered around their flat. (See photos)

After the tour we settled down in the very stylish dining room to an excellent buffet with as much as we could possibly eat, (fantastic selection) and then finished off with a freshly ground cup of coffee and all for only a fiver.

We chatted to some of the people who lived there and they seemed very content with the scheme. We thanked everybody for a nice day and then all piled back into the bus and set off for home, I think feeling much more reassured about the changes that are going to happen at Sycamore Close.

On the way back the weather was glorious (and very warm) so we stopped at a shop and got choc ices and pop for all. The scenery on the way back was spectacular. We arrived back in Wensleydale tired but very happy.

Angela Kershaw


Sycamore Close

Yore Club


Last Thursday in the month at 2pm 25th November
The Joys and Sorrows of a bed and breakfast. A talk by Julie Clarke
Saturday 4th December
Christmas tea at 3pm in the lounge.

Sycamore Close Residents

On Thursday 28th October the residents were entertained by the Marsett Minstrels, a delightful musical group.

Many of the old time musical songs were sung. A special request was made to sing some popular hymns. Afterwards a lovely tea was provided by the residents. A very enjoyable afternoon.

Sycamore close residents Christmas dinner will be at Street Head Newbiggin on Monday 20th December 2004


News from High Hall

Sunday 26th September Friends of High Hall gave a harvest supper for the residents.

There was a health promotion day at Askrigg which was very well attended. Lots of flue jabs, blood pressure checks and tea and biscuits given. The nurses were also on hand to give advice. Several service users from High Hall Residential Home attended. John our bus driver ferried the people back and forth from around the Dales. It was a very successful venture. Let’s hope it will be an annual event.

On Halloween we had a visit from some local children and everyone was pleased to see them. They had made a real effort with their cos-tumes but they didn’t scare us. Mary took control of the treats and handed them out to the children.

On 5th November we had a bonfire tea and firework display for the residents, with hot dogs, pie and peas, parkin, and lashings of fudge and treacle toffee.

Sue has been out and about again. Trips included The tea Pot Factory in Leyburn, The chocolate factory and Shopping to Morrisons in Kendal.

Friends of High Hall

Christmas tea will be on the 5th of December 2004
On December 6th there will be a Christmas Whist drive and Grand Raffle Draw.


From an old Dalesman.

What a nerve racking business haymaking is! You work away at a field of hay, with your eyes constantly scanning the horizon. Your face lifted to the wind for the first spits of rain.

The hay is almost right for baling, but not quite. There are some green damp spots in the middle of the swathe. No matter which way you go with the turner you cannot get them out. Only a good wind will help you now. You can’t decide whether to get on with the baling or to take a risk with the weather.

You take a chance on the weather and then by late afternoon when you start to bale there comes a few spots of rain in the wind. Your heart sinks! There’s a hundred pounds worth of hay in that field and it looks like you’re going to lose the lot.

Sometimes you do, but today, you’re lucky. The skies clear again, and the bit of rain blows over. By early evening you are baling in far better weather than you had ever dared to hope. The wind keeps the dew away, and at around ten o’clock as you lift the last bale onto the sledge, there is a glorious sunset behind the sycamore tree at the far side of the field. (Farming over 40 years ago)


This Months Recipes


Letter from Lucy

Hello! I am now one. I had a little party on October the 4th (my official birthday). But I am like the queen and I have two birthdays. So on Saturday I had another one. We had sandwiches and jelly and cake. My Grandma bought me a farm and I got lots of other lovely presents.

On November the 4th, (I heard mummy telling somebody that I wouldn’t understand what mischief night was ha! Ha! ), mummy me and Flossie (that’s my dog you know) auntie Marnie and her dog Tess walked on the Leyburn Shawl. It was lovely and we saw lots of cows. They followed us for a while. Then we went to Sam’s Bistro and I had chicken and chips.

On bonfire night uncle Bryan, auntie Marnie and uncle Mac came and we had lots of sausages and fireworks (oooooh!) Uncle Mac made some parkin and it was yummy. Mummy made bonfire toffee but I didn’t get any.
That’s all for now.

Love Lucy

P.S. I’ve got 3 more teeth.


Tips of the Month

For well risen, light, yorkshire puddings, use half milk and half water instead of all milk.

Put left over orange peel in the oven and leave until crisp. Crush and store in a jar. Add small amounts to your sponge cakes to give a lovely flavour.

A bowl of water put in an electric oven when baking a rich fruit cake will help to keep it moist.


Strange but true

Charles Domery was one of nine brothers. They were all massive eaters.
Not satisfied with double rations while he served in the army, Domery used to supplement his diet with several pounds of grass. Domery spent a brief time in hospital and became very popular with the other patients because he would take their medicine for them.

On September 17th, 1799, in the presence of witnesses, Domery ate 10 pounds of raw beef, 4 pounds of raw cows’ udder and 2 pounds of tallow candles. He said that he could have eaten some more if he had been able to do some exercises.;

The Senility Prayer

God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.


Jokes

What’s the penalty for bigamy?
Two mothers-in-law.

Barry (flying for the first time asks:) ‘Do these planes often crash?’
Air Hostess replies: ‘Only once’.


Discoveries along the way.

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

My wild oats have turned into mueselli and All Bran.

When you finally get your head together your body falls apart.

If all is not lost where is it?

It is easier to get older than to get wiser.

The only time the world beats a path to my door is when I’m in the bathroom.

If god had wanted us to touch our toes, he would have put them on our knees.

It isn’t hard to meet expenses, they’re everywhere.

But truly all is not lost when you consider this lovely piece of prose.

Jenny Joseph (1932-)

A Warning

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings
To make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week.
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

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