Welcome to edition 18 of “Out of Sight” the newsletter produced by Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People.

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Live a healthier life with Spices, as they can add real zest to winter dishes and how they can be very good for you.

Did you know that turmeric known as Indian Gold is noted for its anti-inflammatory properties? A study by the Columbia University Medical Centre found that as inflammation is involved in early onset diabetes as well as early onset obesity, turmeric could prevent both conditions. It has also been linked with halting Alzheimer’s. Also it was discovered that turmeric’s active compound curcumin inhibited hormones thought to trigger prostate cancer. Combine cauliflower and turmeric together and it is even more effective - but what a weird combination!

OUT OF SIGHTIssue 18: February 2009

Spice Up Your Life!

ContentsPage: 1 - 2 Spice up your life

Page: 3 Editors Notes

Page: 4 Everything Changes

Page: 5 Linda’s Page

Page: 6 Debbie’s News

Page: 7 - 9 Benefits Update & Pensioner Pulls Rank on the Bank.

Page: 10- 12 Quiz Time & The Heat is On! & Never Work with children & animals

Page: 12 The Pilot’s Buddy

Page: 13 – 15 Book Club

Page: 15 - 16 Look This Way

Page: 16- 18 Time for a Laugh

Adding a stick of cinnamon to your mulled wine may be beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes. Recent studies suggest it improves blood glucose levels and blood fats. However the Charity Diabetes UK says more research is needed.

Now cumin is often found in curries and perhaps it’s me being cynical here but this study comes from the Cancer Institute in Madras who discovered that cumin blocked 83 per cent of the chromosome damage created by cancer causing chemicals. They also advise that as well as having curries put cumin in tea.

Got a headache? Its obvious reach for paprika spice - I only thought there were Posh, Ginger, Baby, Sporty and Scary. Anyway paprika spice is a rich source of

salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. Nor do these spices contain any of the side effects associated

with long term aspirin use. Paprika can also help normalise blood pressure and improve circulation.

Now Ginger spice was as effective as over-the-counter drugs in dealing with motion sickness. Taking it 20 minutes before a car or boat trip should provide about four hours of relief.

And finally cloves, these are great for toothache. Eugenol, the main component of clove oil, is used as a local anaesthetic by dentists and a disinfectant. Cloves’ antibacterial qualities make hem effective against the bug that can cause pneumonia. They are also good for bronchial infections and have a powerful effect on stomach ulcers.

So no need to go to the doctors and the pharmacist just call in at your local supermarket!!

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Happy New Year to you from all of us here at the Society. Let’s hope it’s a good one! (And) thank you for the lovely Christmas cards you sent and the gifts of chocolates and biscuits - you know what they say - one moment in the mouth and one month around the waist!! Needless to say staff are now on diets!!

Global warming my ….foot! For the last three months my fingers, toes and nose haven’t believed in global warming one jot!! However I am going to make a prediction and that is that we will have a good summer. For the last couple of years winters have been mild and summers have been non descript, so on my reckoning after such a harsh winter I can feel a good old traditional summer coming on! Watch this space.

Apparently there is no credit crunch where flannelette sheets are concerned! They are going off the shelves quicker than staff can stock them. What ever happened to the good old fashioned way of keeping warm in bed … A mug of cocoa I mean!

I do hope that during this cold snap none of you needed to be taken to A&E with broken bones due to falls etc and that you have stayed clear of all the viruses and infections that have been doing the rounds.

So here’s hoping that you are keeping well and if you are feeling a little under the weather then our newsletter will pick you up.

So what do we have in store for Edition 18…

We report on the changes to Incapacity Benefit; how certain foods can keep you healthy; lots of information from the Society; our usual quiz; advice from the Low

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Editor’s Notes

Vision Aid Clinic; how one 98 year old took on her bank and plenty of laughter.

There are staff changes at Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People. We are sorry that Alan Warburton has left us and we thank him for his input at the Centre. A new person is on board called Jacqui Armstrong and she wishes us to pass on a little bit about herself to you.

I am Jacqui Armstrong and am seconded from Adult Services Department for a short time to the Society as Chief Executive. 

I have worked with people with visual impairment for about 30 years; I started my career in Bury initially as a Mobility officer in the days before Rehabilitation Workers then as a Social Worker. I then left to manage the Sensory Impairment Team in Oldham, and then moved to Tameside to manage their Sensory Team before returning here to Bury in 2005 to again manage the Sensory Team.

The job has grown somewhat and I now manage the fieldwork teams dealing with people under 65 who have a disability. It is a busy department and involves social workers, occupational therapist and rehabilitation staff. I feel very lucky that throughout my career I have been able to do a job I loved and can say I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else. Much of my spare time is spent with my dogs (2 Labradors rescued through Labrador Rescue) and cats. During the summer I am often to be found at horse driving trials stewarding obstacles but I no longer drive as I do not now have horses. Too old and tired to muck out when I get home from work!! 

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Everything Changes!

I am enjoying being at the Society and look forward to helping the Board of Directors to improve the services we offer and to hopefully see the Society grow.

Here is the news from the Society’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, Linda Holland and our Fundraising Co-ordinator Debbie Gregory. We will start with Linda’s page first.

We hope that all our members who attended the Christmas parties at Bury College and at Walshaw Sports Club enjoyed the occasion and likewise we hope that all our volunteers who attended the volunteers’ thank you party in January at the Masonic Hall enjoyed the evening.

The Christmas Luxury Gift Wrapping Service was a great success due to the hard work, creative talents, and patience and support from volunteers and of course the generous donations from the people of Bury. The final total received was £3,361.08 so a big thank you to all involved and well done!

It maybe a little too late but we would be grateful for any baubles, wrapping paper, old buttons, ribbons, tree decorations or other decorations that we could use for the gift-wrapping service next year. Please can you leave any donations at the shop on Bolton Street or if you have packed items away please bear us in mind when you (dare I say it set up the tree for 2009).

If you are a volunteer as well as a client then you are invited to a get together at the Resource Centre on 26th February from 2.00 pm to 4.00pm for afternoon tea to share ideas and experiences. If you wish to attend can you please confirm, as refreshments will be provided.

Admin volunteer We require a volunteer to help organise monthly socials, summer outings, Christmas parties, etc. No qualifications required as full training will be given, but must be able to commit approximately 10 hours per

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Society News

Linda’s Volunteer’s Page

week Monday to Friday. Good communication and listening skills, patience, tact, diplomacy and empathy are all required as the role involves dealing with elderly and vulnerable people. An enhanced CRB check will be undertaken and any out of pocket expenses can be recovered.

Now for news from Debbie regarding our fundraising activities.As mentioned in the volunteer section we raised a record amount for the gift-wrapping service, this was an excellent achievement and a tribute to the gallant effort from every one concerned. If you would like to join us for this year’s ‘wrapping’ please let the Society know and we will add you to the list of ‘wrappers’.

Collections The collections raised £4227.53 last year. This is about £300 more than the year before. Alan and I have sent out letters and have received some dates back for this coming year’s collections. Our weather-beaten and sturdy stalwarts have surpassed themselves again. If you would like to join us collecting for the Society please let me Debbie Gregory know on 0161 763 7014

Choral Concert We are having a Choral Concert at Bury Parish Church, on Wednesday evening 11th March by the Rossendale Ladies Choir. Tickets and the evening’s programme will be forthcoming shortly. These will be available from the Society’s shop on Bolton Street.

Morecambe Bay Walk After the superb success of last years Morecambe Bay Walk I have spoken to Cedric Robinson to arrange another walk in the summer, I will be contacting him again at the end of the month to arrange dates. So let’s make it even more successful than last year! It’s a great day out and an excellent walk!

Race Night The Race Night has had to be rescheduled as Walshaw has double booked us. This is now hopefully going to be the beginning of April - more information and tickets will be available from the Society.

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Debbie’s Fundraising Page!

Fundraising Committee Members We have had a very successful year, keeping the Society moving forward, continually raising funds. To maintain our services we require active fundraisers whether it is as a gift wrapper, collector or even as a fundraising committee member, all new ideas are welcome. So contact

the Society on 0161 763 7014 to find out when the next meeting is.

Talking about changes - changes to the benefit system have already been set in motion. Some of you may be affected by the recent changes to Incapacity Benefit (formerly called Invalidity benefit). This benefit is now called Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and for new claimants came into being on 27 October 2008. It will only affect current Incapacity Benefit claimants from April 2010 where, over a three year period, they will aim to migrate these people over to ESA using the new Work Capability Assessment.

ESA has two components: Support Component and Work Related Activity Component.

The Support Component is for people who are judged too disabled or unwell to engage in work related activity. No conditions are attached to receiving this benefit and the amount is similar to the present amount paid to claimants on Incapacity benefit.

The Work Related Activity Component benefit is for people who are assessed as being able to take part in work-related activity, which is defined very broadly, including training, rehabilitation, education or medical intervention. Receipt of the benefit is conditional upon the claimant carrying out the work-related activities they have agreed with their personal adviser, which are logged in their action plan. Failure to comply may lead to benefits being gradually withdrawn.

There is concern from many disability organisations because the new Work Capability Assessment is tougher and it is likely that many thousands of current IB claimants will fail the new assessment, meaning

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BENEFITS UPDATE

they may be moved on to Jobseekers Allowance, which is paid at a much lower rate than IB.

I shall try and keep you informed if I hear of any further information on this benefit and if I hear whether visually impaired people will have to go through with the Capability Assessment or whether they may be exempt.

Continuing with the theme of benefits... From October 2008 when customers apply for Pension Credit over the phone and, at the same time, for Housing and Council Tax benefit they will not need to complete another claim form, or provide a signature, or send the form as the Pension Service will automatically send their claim information to the appropriate local authority. For those pensioners who are lucky enough to spend time abroad you are now able to spend up to 13 weeks out of the country and still retain entitlement to Pension Credit This is up from 4 weeks and brings it in line with Housing and Council tax benefit.

It used to be that Pension Credit could be backdated up to twelve months however from October 08 claims will be limited to a three month backdate bringing it in line with other benefits.

Now on a lighter note and talking about pensioners here is a superb letter written by a 98 year old lady to her bank and her bank manager was so impressed by it that he had it published in the press.

Dear SirI am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three ‘nanoseconds’ must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only 38 years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and

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Pensioner Pulls Rank on the Bank.

also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on, I, like you choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter be no longer automatic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate. Be aware that it is an offence under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete.

I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote when dealing with me.I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

1 - To make an appointment to see me.2 - To query a missing payment.3 - To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.4 - To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.5 - To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.6 - To transfer the call to my mobile if I am not at home

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7 - To leave me a message on my computer (a password to access my computer is required. A password will be communicated to the Authorised Contact at a later date).8 - To return to the main menu and listen to options 1-8.9 - To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

While this may, on occasion involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music, will play for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement. May I wish you a happy, if so slightly less prosperous, New Year.

Your Humble Client.

Wow! That 98 year old lady socked it to them. Doesn’t she make you feel proud!!?

A big Congratulations to Olga who won Wilkinsons vouchers to the value of £20 in our last quiz. The prize for this competition is a Boots voucher to the value of £10, so why not have a go!

It’s our usual format - you take the first letter of your answer to each question and rearrange the letters to form a word. This time the answer is a television programme.

Are you ready?

1 The South African civil rights leader ---------- Mandela?2 A fruit that is the same colour as its name?3 The opposite of to ‘close’?4 You put one of these up when it rains?5 Alan -------------- famous for his gardening tips and make over’s?6 The surname of two American sisters who have both won

Wimbledon Singles titles?7 A county next to Cornwall famous for its cream teas?8 A part of the body between our head and shoulders?

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Quiz Time

9 Novel by Alexandre Dumas - ‘The -------- of Monte Cristo?

Easy peasy lemon squeezy. There is even a clue in the last answer to the question. The closing date is Friday 20th March. Remember to call after 5pm leaving your answer, name and telephone number on our answer machine and the number to call is 0161 763 7014. Good luck.

At present people need as much help as possible to heat their homes. The RNIB has received continued funding from British gas for the ‘here to Help’ project, the award-winning energy efficiency programme launched in 2002. Now even more people can apply for the scheme, which offers free home insulation, worth around £500, and free RNIB products and services for people with sight problems.

Until now ‘Here to Help’ was restricted to people who get certain benefits. Now anyone over 70 who owns their home or rents it from a private landlord can apply to have their home insulated free of charge regardless of their income or energy supplier. People under 70 who receive certain benefits, such as Attendance Allowance. Disability Living Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit can also apply. British gas will send a surveyor to check whether the home of a person with sight loss needs extra loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, and will pay for this to be installed. It is not necessary to be a British gas customer to take up the offer. I realise though that for many elderly people the disruption of having maintenance work done is something that they can do without, but once it is done, according to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall and full loft insulation will save an average of £200 a year on heating bills and obviously keep you warmer.

In addition, all energy providers have to offer social tariffs to help their most vulnerable customers cope with the high costs of gas and electricity. And according to new Ofgem rules, all social tariffs must equal the supplier’s cheapest deals.

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THE HEAT IS

Suppliers also agreed to increase their collective spend on social tariffs by £225 million between 2008 and 2011, so why not phone your provider and see if you can be moved to a cheaper tariff?

Here are some children’s science exam answers. I can hear you laughing before I’ve said anything…Q. Name the four seasons.A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegarQ. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to adultery.Q. What is the fibula?A. A small lie.Q. What does the word ‘benign’ mean?A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight.And my favourite which I think is quite sweet

Q. How is dew formed?A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspireWell there’s no chance of that happening at present!

Now this is a true story.

A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant

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Never Work With Children or Animals!

The Pilot’s Buddy

explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would reboard in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind who had her guide dog lying quietly underneath the seat.

The woman was a regular on this flight and the pilot knew her by name and said,

“Kathy we are in Sacramento for nearly an hour. Would you not like to get off and stretch your legs?”

Kathy replied, “No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs.”

Picture this:

All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a guide dog! And what’s more the pilot was even wearing dark glasses. There was a race for people to not only change planes but airlines!!

This is a real picture of the Pilot and Buddy the Guide dog.

Moving on to library news and Anne Elton who is based at the Visual Impairment Unit in Whitefield and Bury libraries has done a brief description of new audio books that they have recently acquired. The first 4 books are in stock in Bury so let’s see if any of these capture your interest.

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Book Club

Dangerous Shores by Jessica BlairWhen John Mitchell and his family inherit a large estate in Cornwall, they move in from their comfortable living in Whitby. But whilst Cornwall presents an idyllic life, there is opposition in the form of the powerful Gainsford family - and the union of Abigail Mitchell and Luke Gainsford does little to quell the warring factions.

Other People's Husbands by Judy AstleyConrad has decided that it would be good to die before he gets seriously old and so spends his time sorting out his chaotic life. Sue finds that she has plenty of male company - other people's husbands, ones she tells Conrad all about, who are just good friends to her. But there's one she, somehow, doesn't get round to mentioning!

The Aviary Gate by Katie HickmanElizabeth sits in the Bodlean library with trembling hands. Before her is a piece of parchment which provides the clue she has been looking for to a story that has been untold for 400 years: a tale of intrigue, forbidden love & dangerous secrets.

The Dirty Secrets club by Meg Gardiner Meet Jo Beckett, 'deadshrinker' - a forensic psychiatrist who profiles victims' lives to help solve their deaths. On a San Francisco street, Jo confronts a scene of pure carnage: four dead and five injured after a high speed

pursuit.A Second Spring by Connie Monk

In the final months of 1945, victory ceases to be a distant dream for Rhoda Harding and many others, a feeling of hope is in the air. Rhoda is hoping for a

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change. Married to Alec for more than 25 years, she now finds herself reluctant to settle into premature middle-age.In stock at Ramsbottom

The Roar of the Butterflies by Reginald Hill Luton in the grip of a sweltering summer is a pretty sedentary place - which is bad news for the private detective business. Thieves, fraudsters and philanderers take the month off and the only swingers in town are the

ones to be found on the 19th hole of the Royal Hoo Golf Course. The civilized reputation of the 'Hoo' is in trouble, however. In stock at Prestwich

The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff Devastated and pregnant after her soldier boyfriend's plane crashes, Holocaust survivor Marta marries a caring British Diplomat. Soon, however, she learns of a communist spy in British intelligence, and the one person who can expose the traitor is connected to her past.Is available at Unsworth library

Time To Say Hello by Katherine Jenkins (autobiography)From singing for Tony Blair to entertaining the troops, Katherine is much loved. Now, she opens her heart to reveal how she made her

dream a reality as she went from trainee teacher to one of the most famous classical singers in the

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world.In stock at Whitefield

And finally…

Dead Watch by John Sandford Early morning, Virginia, and a woman is on the run. Her husband, a former US senator, has been missing for days. Kidnapped? Murdered? She doesn't know, but she thinks she knows who's involved, and why. And she thinks that she's next.In stock at Tottington

All of the books listed can be reserved and collected at the library of your choice.

Anne also asked me to pass on information about the Hard of Hearing Drop - In Information Session. This session is aimed at people who are hard of hearing aged between 40 and 60 years and are in employment or are about to start employment. Professionals from organisations and services involved in providing information to people who are hard of hearing will be present to answer any questions you may have on how to make your work environment more accessible for you.   Light refreshments will be provided. The Drop-In Information Session will take place at theMosses Centre, Cecil Street, Bury On the 3rd March at 12.00pm - 2.00pm For further information please contact Lenke at the Hearing Impairment Unit, Bury Library. Telephone: 0161 253 5874

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Look This Way!

Are you struggling to see print due to your eye condition? Well it could be that you need a low vision assessment. The purpose of a low vision assessment is to find the best way of using the vision of someone whose sight cannot be improved by medical treatment or ordinary glasses. This is often achieved by the use of magnifying aids of some kind, by the use of lighting or eliminating the effects of glare. In order to get an appointment you can contact the LVA Clinic directly yourself or you can be referred by a member of staff at the Eye Clinic at Fairfield Hospital, or you can be referred by staff at Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People. A Low Vision Therapist will assess you and discuss the implications of your poor sight with you. After testing your vision they will suggest ways to try and improve your ability to read, write and undertake other activities that you may be having difficulty with e.g. labels, prices etc.

If magnifying devices are helpful, you will be shown the best way to use them and then they will be loaned to you for use at home. After your assessment you will be given your Low Vision Therapist’s name and contact number for future reference. The

clinics are held in the orthoptic departments at the following places with their respective telephone numbers…

Fairfield General Hospital - Eye Clinic 0161 778 2857 Or

T ottington Health Centre - 01204 885113 Or

Prestwich Walk-in Centre - 0161 766 9911 Or

Peel Health Centre, Bury - 0161 764 0315

The staff there will be glad to help you out.

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Time for a Laugh!

I read recently in the paper that you can prolong your life by laughing so hopefully these few jokes to finish off with will put a few more years on the clock!

An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.

The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.”

The gentleman replied, “Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times! ”

How about this one:

A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things.

During a check up, the doctor tells them that they’re physically ok, but they might want to write things down to help them remember.

Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair.

“Want anything while I’m in the kitchen?” he asks.

“Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?”

“Sure.”

“Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?” she asks.

“No, I can remember it.”

“Well I’d like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down so’s not to forget it?”

He says, “I can remember that you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.”

“I’d also like whipped cream. I’m certain you’ll forget that write it down?” she asks.

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Irritated he says, “I don’t need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it for goodness sake!”

Then he toddles off into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.

She stares at the plate for a moment “Where’s my toast?”

Cringe! Cringe! They say leave the best to last so here’s one more

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple’s house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, “Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly.”

The other man said, “What is the name of the restaurant?”

The first man thought and thought and finally said, “What is the name of that flower that you give to someone you love? You know… The one that’s red and has thorns.”

“Do you mean a rose?”

“Yes, that’s the one,” replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, “Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to last night?”

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Well that’s all for now folks.If you decide that you no longer wish to receive the newsletter then please give the society a call on 0161 763 7014 or email us at buryblindsociety@buryblindsociety.orgTake care until next time.