...“At least this Bugle’s in tune!”...

Edition 22

Spring2011

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY THE BETHANY PRES S TEAM

Spring is

here!

Page 1

Editors Note:

Dear readers,

Spring has sprung and our writers have responded with many different stories of re-newal and of triumph over adversity. This month’s inspiring articles on offer include dancing though disability, challenging an unfair legal system, a poetic reflection on the crocus and the true meaning of Easter. As you will see we have a huge range of articles on offer. If you have been touched by anything you read here please contact us, we would love to hear from you. Best Wishes JL& FF

An Angel

I feel like when I fall

That I know someone is there

At my side is an angel

Looking down from the sky

Children are the gift that make you look

happy

Each carries their own treasure and gifts

It helps you to carry on through life

Laughter and play, tears and laughter

Like little angels from above.

*Picture- RAFFAELLO Sanzio The

Sistine Madonna (angels) 1513-14

Suzy – Dunfermline Women’s Group

Bittersweet

Your face your smile

Light up my heart for a while

Your tender soft lips pressed against mine

Makes me go back in time to our first

kiss.

I get a text from you and without a doubt,

I get those tingles in my stomach.

Just thinking of what you put me

through.

I miss the kiss you give to make me bet-

ter

I really wish I could explain in a letter

How much I‘m in pain

Without being with you each day…

C McNally – Dunfermline Women’s Group

Page 2

You don’t need Your feet to

dance

My name is Jessie I am an advanced dancer.

I train at the national centre for dance in Edinburgh

My dance speciality is musical theatre.

Reading this you might be thinking anyone can dance, but I am confined to a wheelchair

I am a young Susan Boyle number two

People keep asking me how I dance. I say I don‘t give any secrets away, you will just have

to watch me and then I will wow you.

A couple of years ago I got on Sky.

They were looking for talent and I got on Soccer AM four days later.

Next week I have been chosen to do some training with the West End Stars in London, also

I will be performing a dance from the Lion King in front of 20000 people.

I will be reporting on this amazing event in the next issue.

Where I train, I'm the only dancer in a wheelchair. It‘s not wheelchair dancing, I'm a

dancer who happens to be in a wheelchair. It is not easy for people to understand this.

When I first went to the national dance centre, I could tell people thought I shouldn‘t be in

the advanced dancers group, the director watched me at the back when I danced and they

were amazed, I wowed them.

Last week, my chair broke down, what distressed me the most of all was that I couldn‘t get

to my dancing. Other dancers don‘t have this issue. But nothing stops me.

Jessie Csere

Clock watching/

clock stopping

Time Stopped in Leith

The council doesn‘t believe

The clocks should be fixed

But on the foot of the walk

It‘s time people should talk

Because they have been tricked

Douglas Forbes

Page 3

Mum

Mum you joined the house of the Lord with beauty, grace and peace. Your face and

body resting in tranquillity. With one hand on your cross you slid away with dignity.

Clive and I had time to tell you how wonderful a mother you were, how much we love

you and how you have shaped us as people. Lizzie, Spencer, Alexander, Christian and

Kimberly all sent love, as did family, friends and carers in those final weeks. To me you

were a mother I adored, I tried and tried to shock you but you were always forgiving.

Your wise words, always accompanied by a cuddle and a kiss, "nothing you can do can

shock me out of loving you" remain with me, having comforted and supported me. As

parents you and dad were blinding, inspiring, to a tee. thank you for your love, your

wisdom, your belief in goodness and in humans, you angel. Boo xxx -

Penny Walsh

These Purple Spots are Most

Welcome

The countryside carpet so long an unbroken white

Is at last showing spots of Crocus purple

And small though the spots may be

The humble crocus heralds thaws,

Spring is round the corner,

And the death of those wintry hardships.

Consider how hard has so tiny a flower struggled,

To bloom through inches deep ice and snow,

Flowering for little more than a single day.

Think how that effort remains unseen by so many.

The seeing few are inspired with the thought

Can Spring really be this close and winter almost over?

Be assured, these purple spots are most welcome.

Can we humans match the Crocus

Life for life; struggle for struggle

I think we fall a bit short

For the human works to be glorified

As the flower just blooms as it can.

Alex Anderson

Page 4

'Toast to the Laddies' Here's to the laddies we will try our best to be kind…

We‘ll have to think awfy hard mind!

You all act so strong and brave in front of your friends

Yet you‘re nowhere to be seen when its time to make amends

You say you can drive better and do the fastest lap

Yet you cannae find your way without us- even with the biggest map!

We don‘t mind taking care of you when you have man flu,

But we expect you to return the favour and look after us lots too!!

We don‘t want to mention how you can be lazy,

If we list all your faults we are sure to go crazy!

You don‘t like the housework- You think it‘s a big deal,

And why am I always the one to make the meal?

And you just don‘t want to listen- words you say are meaningless like you are desperate to fall….

When you moan I‘d rather throw the dog a bone,

At least it comes back wagging its tail.

Yet we thought really hard and managed to find

Just a few glimmers of hope amongst some of mankind

For sure there must be some handsome, caring guys

Who can dance and make jokes and don‘t tell you lies

Who can catch the big spider and fix up the house,

Open the jars and chase out the mouse,

We could do it ourselves in just a sec,

But WE LIKE TO BE TREATED WITH LOVE AND RESPECT!!

C McNally- Dunfermline Women’s group

What is a husband?

H usband

U nique

S trong and Sociable

B rave and Brainy

A ttitude (nice!)

N eat

D ancer and good Driver C McNally- Dunfermline Women’s group

Page 5

Sweet Mother of Mine

Johanna remembers an old favourite by singer Neil Reids. Songs can be really in-

spiring. Think of your favourite song- what are the lyrics and what do they mean to

you?

This one is for the Mums….HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Mother of mine you gave to me, all of my life to do as I please,

I owe everything I have to you,

Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother of mine when I was young

You showed me the right way things had to be done,

Without your arms where would I be,

Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother you gave me happiness, much more than

words can say,

I thank the Lord let me breathe with you, every night and every day.

Mother of mine now I am grown and I can walk straight all on my own,

I'd like to give you what you gave to me,

Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother of mine now I have children of my own,

You still love me and show my children the right way to walk, to talk and to love

I'd like to give you what you gave to me,

Mother sweet mother of mine.

Mother sweet mother of mine

Johanna- Toastie Club Dunfermline

Isa 18:4 For this is what the LORD has told me: "I will wait

and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the

sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest." [NET]

Page 6

Life

Times are tough- money is a big issue for millions

across the globe as the recession takes hold. Pro-

tests for the essentials like bread continue to take

place but we wonder if we should also be fighting

for the roses too…

Are you struggling with life? It is hell sometimes

and it hits you right between the eyes. Money is

great to pay the bills, buy food and buy clothes

and yet also for jewellery and nice things to fur-

bish the house. But it mostly gets food that is es-

sential for day to day living. If you take medica-

tion it helps you but it doesn‘t help you with the

day to day living. It‘s like a catch 22 all the time.

You have to pay your debts and your debt to soci-

ety. Life is what you make it so live to the full,

because everybody is in the same boat. Trying to

keep your head above water isn‘t easy. People of

society have to live by certain rules in and out of

the home. When they work or when you work it is

sometimes a struggle coping with loud music and

machinery going all the time.

I found it hard and hard to go to hospital because I

couldn‘t handle noise at work. But I‘m on the dole

but have been keeping active with doing certain

courses to keep my mind active. Do some hobbies

like painting, photography, knitting or cross-stitch

or playing or doing some sport to keep your mind

active and alert.

Remember life is what you make it. Its really sur-

vival of the fittest and so life is really trying to

exist to a right old age…

Johanna- Dunfermline Women’s Group

Bread and Roses

Protest song by women mill workers in Lawrence,

Massachusetts in 1912

As we go marching, marching in the beauty of the

day

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts

grey

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun

discloses

For the people hear us singing, bread and roses,

bread and roses.

As we come marching, marching, we battle to for

men,

For they are in the struggle and together we shall

win.

Our days shall not be sweated from birth until life

closes,

Hearts starve as well as bodies, give us bread, but

give us roses.

As we come marching, marching un-numbered

women dead,

Go crying through our singing their ancient call for

bread,

Small art and love and beauty their trudging sprits

knew,

Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.

As we go marching, marching we are standing proud

and tall,

The rising of the women means the rising of us all.

No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one

reposes,

But a sharing of life‟s glories, bread and roses, bread

and roses.

Page 7

MENS GROUP BURNS SUPPER Thursday 27th January 2011-02-09

As everybody entered the Acorn Centre we were welcomed at the front door by Tim playing the

bagpipes. All the tables were laid out in tartan.

The ―Address to the Haggis‖ was recited whilst plates of haggis were served by staff for about 55

men.

Ally Mitchell made the ―Address to the Lassies‖, and Kerry Reilly (Acorn Manager) in a broad

Scots accent replied with the ―Address to the Laddies‖. Bobby McLean, accompanied by Eddie

Klimek on guitar, sang a well-known Scottish song – ―Leezie Lindsay‖.

A small sing-song followed, led by Scott, Gica and Patrick from the Scottish Music Group. After-

wards the Monday Morning Music Group performed a few songs which they had been rehearsing

over the past few weeks.

The afternoon came to a close with some Scottish

country dancing performed by members of staff.

A lovely afternoon was had by all. A big ―thank

you‖ to all the staff!

In the picture - from left to right—Douglas, Pat-

rick, Ally, Benny, and Bobby.

By Bobby McLean

Intelligence Test

Eddie researched a little intelligence test for you - no cheating! Some of these questions are from an MBA entrance test. There are 10 questions.

1 Some months have 30 days, some have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?

2 If a doctor gives you 3 pills and tells you to take one pill every half hour, how long would it be before all the pills had been taken?

3 I went to bed at eight 8 'clock in the evening and wound up my clock and set the

alarm to sound at nine 9 'clock in the morning. How many hours sleep would I get before being awoken by the alarm?

4 Divide 30 by half and add ten. What do you get?

5 A farmer had 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many live sheep were left?

6 If you had only one match and entered a COLD and DARK room, where there was an

oil heater, an oil lamp and a candle, which would you light first?

7 A man builds a house with four sides of rectangular construction, each side having a southern exposure. A big bear comes along. What colour is the bear?

8 Take 2 apples from 3 apples. What do you have?

9 How many animals of each species did Moses take with him in the Ark?

10 If you drove a bus with 43 people on board from Edinburgh and stopped at Dundee to

pick up 7 more people and drop off 5 passengers and at Aberdeen to drop off 8 passengers and pick up 4 more and eventually arrive at John O‘ Groats 20 hours later, what's the name of the driver?

Answers on Page 21

A mAn’s best friend

There can‘t be many people in the Western World who haven‘t heard the statement, ―a

dog is a man‘s best friend‖. Most people believe this to be true, though when facts are

considered, the title should go to a different animal altogether. Dogs are helpful for

people, they can fetch and carry things, they can be excellent as animals that lead the

blind and are very accommodating, allowing people to feed and dress them. They al-

low people to rule them to a great extent, do tricks for people and run races for them,

drag sledges in snow bound places, be great companions and loving creatures. They

also guard, protect and rescue people, and hunt down criminals too.

Though there is another side to the goodness dogs show in their nature, dogs can be

nasty and dangerous, many breeds of dogs have been known commit injury to people

and even kill them. They get jealous when others show more affection to young chil-

dren than them, and will kill children from time to time because of this, Man‘s best

friend is also nasty to other animals, not just cats, and can also be nasty to other dogs.

When a person is bad to a dog, the dog hates all humans because of it.

Horses are better animals than dogs in many ways. If someone is bad to a horse, the

horse doesn‘t hate all people. Very seldom do we hear of horses being bad to people

either injuring or killing them. When they do it‘s not through malice but accidently.

They are not jealous creatures and are not nasty to other animals. They have also

helped people greatly through history in carrying heavy loads for them in carts and

wagons or pulling coaches or other carriages. Also taking people on bareback or in sad-

dle and running races for people. Horses do tricks too and work in circuses, perform in

show jumping and help to rescue people. They also guard at Buckingham Palace and

also carry mounted police for crowd control and have been used by a various posse of

men to track down criminals and are also great companions and loving creatures. They

fought with men in wars, leading them into battle, ahead of the chariots. Great in num-

ber are the wars men have fought with horses throughout history. Horses don‘t annoy

people as much as neighing as much as a dog with barking and a horse hardly gets itself

a bad name for anything. The horse is more gracious than the dog.

This is not to say that people should not love dogs because they should, it would cause

even more misery not to love them. Horses are also very accommodating to allow peo-

ple to dress and feed them and will also let people rule them to a great extent. Both of

these animals are friends of men, and the two of them get on very well with each other.

Though surely on balance the best friend of man is horse and not the dog.

Andrew Watt

Page 8

Page 9

Laughter Good afternoon gentlemen, Paul here. During your life you will have memories that

spring into your mind at the most inopportune moments. One for me was to win six

times at the Domino Table. I may be banned for life as a hustler, but boy I feel great.

I was fortunate enough to go to the Lothian Recovery Network Conference, which

discussed the journey of various people‘s Mental Health Recovery and the Big Plan

for the future. During the day there were a variety of 30 minute long workshops,

which individually discussed everything from Alcohol and Drug Addictions to Job

Rehabilitation, and finally an astounding workshop of 30 minutes of JUST LAUGH-

TER.

Few words were spoken, no props, no slide show but just

some loud music and laughter. This appeared to be uncom-

fortable to begin with and then infectious elation took over

and we laughed and laughed until our sides were sore, our

eyes streamed with laughter tears. Even our hearing became

more acute.

What an experience. This is something that will stay with me

for many years to come. Every time I feel a little low or sad,

life is just too difficult and temptations show themselves as

an easy escape – Paul

Garden Joke

Eddie found a joke to make you giggle!

An old man living by himself wanted to plant his garden. His son, who used to help him with such

difficult work, was in prison. The man wrote to his son, telling him about his predicament.

Dear Son,

It looks like I won‘t get to plant my garden this year. It‘s too hard for an old man like me to do all

that digging all by myself. It‘s too bad you got in trouble and can‘t help me this year.

Dad

Within a few days, the father got a reply from his son.

Dear Dad,

Whatever you do, don‘t dig up that garden. That‘s where I buried the bodies!

The police arrived soon after the letter, and spent hours digging up the garden without finding any-

thing. The next day, the father got another letter from his son.

Dad,

Now that the garden‘s all dug up, you can go ahead and plant everything. It‘s the best I could do un-

der the circumstances.

Page 10

Welcome To Sar'a

I would like to write about my father and mother‘s old village

(Sar‘a) lying on a hill on West Jerusalem. The village was oc-

cupied in mid July1948 by the Israeli forces. I was born in

Bethlehem and grew up in Dheisheh camp near Bethlehem. I

went to the village 45 years ago with my father and we only

found one Jewish family in the village. According to the Palestinian historian Walid

Khalidi, the remaining structures on the village land are: ―Stone rubble and iron girders

are strewn among the trees on the site.” “A flat stone, surrounded by debris and in-

scribed with Arabic verses from the Qur'an, bears the date A.H. 1355 (1936). On the

western edge of the site stands a shrine containing the tombs of two local religious

teachers. A valley to the northeast is covered with fig, almond, and cypress trees.‖

This is a piece written by a Bugle member who has gone back to Jerusalem.

Jamal Salah

Easter

Easter comes but once a year,

But when it comes, it is very dear.

For one and only one died there,

For you and for me on a tree,

But this was a tree of all trees, for you and me Christ gave himself,

A ransom from the grave

To teach us to behave, as I say it only comes but once a year,

Yes he died but he returned back to life

We remember yes his death for us, but also he rose again for us, to make it complete

that we might live,

To teach us to behave and to give.

Death could not hold him,

He rose victoriously from the grave,

And he is mighty to save.

Gordon Cameron

Page 11

In the spotlight - Susan Ross from Bethany Homemaker

Quick Questions.

Watch TV or go for a run? – watch TV

Veggie or normal haggis?– veggie haggis

Favourite takeaway? – Chinese

What do you do when get home? feed all my animals – 6 cats, 4 dogs, 7

rabbits

Favourite gizmo on desk? – things from Christmas crackers – countdown

tune in office

Country most like to visit? – Italy

Favourite food?– Italian food

Favourite hobby? – horse riding

Favourite TV show?– Coronation Street

What is your job? – I assist people to get furniture and get essential items for their home, essential items

that most of us take for granted. I write off to different charities to provide the money for these goods.

How long have you been at homemaker? 6 years

How many staff are there? 3 of us Do you have volunteers to help you?

Yes we have a girl who helps on reception and 3 guys who work cutting the carpets as well.

Is this service only for people supported by Bethany? It is for anybody that is on a low income or on

benefits, disability, illness or mitigating circumstances that have left them in a difficult situation.

How long has the project been established? 10 years

How many people do your team see roughly in year? 900 families per year, up to 20 new people in a week.

What does the service do for its new tenants who struggling to cope with the first few weeks? –

There are starter packs available from Bethany, essential items in first couple of weeks, something to sit

on, sleep on and eat from, so they don‘t quit. Our service - homemaker comes in after that, and try to pro-

vide them with other items, flooring, carpets, vinyl‘s, washing machine, fridge, freezer, sofa as it is costly.

A person can survive without these but having those means turning a house into a home and hopefully

staying there for a long time.

What is a starter pack?

Starter packs are donated by churches; cleaning materials, towels, duvets, pillows, toiletries, pots & pans.

They are free for people: essential items. People may have a tin of beans, but nothing to heat them in.

What is the actual process?

We take people‘s details by phone and put their details on the computer. We give an interview date for the

next week unless extremely busy. When the person comes in, we give a fairly quick informal interview to

try gather a lot of information without making them feel uncomfortable, then it‘s up to us to get the fund-

ing by writing off to specific charities explaining the personal circumstances. It‘s all confidential, and we

target each charity to the specific needs of the person we see. That‘s how it can take several weeks,

(usually no more than 6 weeks) as each charity has to meet and decide each case.

Once the money has come in, people can choose what to have in their homes up to the value of money

raised. Homemaker keeps the cost down so they can get the maximum amount of goods for the money.

If someone has managed to get a community care grant from the government they can use that, everyone

should apply for this grant if they are eligible to do so, but not everyone is eligible.

What kind charities do you write to?

There are thousands of charities out there, occupational charities, example if someone had worked in a

bank for 5 years before disaster struck, there are the bank benevolent funds. Part of reason why we ask

questions in the interview is so we can look for related charities: porter, cleaner, printer, hospitality ac-

tion, printers charity, milkman charity - many occupations have them and they are very generous. There

are also mental health charities and those for physical disabilities. Asking questions is not out of nosi-

ness! There are also general charities for those without an occupation.

We have a wide range of people, and make sure we keep our work professional. We keep a good rapport

with the funders, properly thanking them for their donations and telling them they have made a difference.

Obviously at times like at the end of the financial year charities may not be able to give us as much

money, which is harder for us.

Are there items that you cannot apply for?

You cannot apply for Hi Fi systems, dishwashers, flashy TV‘s etc. We provide the basics for the home,

although there would be scope for buying something like a dishwasher for someone with physical disabili-

ties, if we had the ability to source it, but we wouldn‘t have it readily available.

How do people get referred to homemaker?

By a support worker, doctor, nurse, minister, housing officer, anybody in a professional role.

Have you ever had to turn people down?

Very occasionally: we have well over 95% rate of success, but there are some people that may not fit into

any remit that we fundraise for. This would normally be a healthy young man, who chose to move out etc

- that would probably be the only time.

If a gay or lesbian turned up to be supported what do you do?

Yes we help them

In your job do you need a financial background?

I have a degree in business studies and prior to working in homemaker, I worked in the homeless unit in

Bethany, so I had an understanding in homelessness and also background in care.

Any examples of a brilliant week or a bad week? We had a gentlemen that had been through very trau-

matic time, and managed to get over £600 for him. I remember phoning him, and he was almost screech-

ing for joy, he was so excited. It made me very happy. He couldn‘t thank me enough as relief had taken

place in his life and he knew that when he came in he would get everything needed to make his home look

nice. It made my week. The bad bits are when people are ungrateful, moaning about it, being picky or the

help doesn‘t seem to make them happy.

Have you ever had cases that have broke your heart and how do you deal with it?

Very many, it makes me motivated to get as much funding as possible for the person as possible to make a

slight difference to their unhappiness, but we have some extremely sad cases.

Did the recession hit Homemaker hard?

During the recession we managed to hit our targets throughout the year which was amazing seeing as we

lost a big funder. We just had to work quicker and harder!

In five years time what do you think you will be doing or Bethany?

In five years time I would like Bethany Homemaker to still be around, and two more case workers there

and for it to grow. We are the only project around like that and it is essential to people in this economic

climate that we are in. I would like to see Homemaker run without such a loss.

Do you personally give to people on the street?

I buy the Big Issue and buy cup of tea, etc... rather than money.

Do you find the public give good items to charity?

Yes when they give stuff it is usually very good quality but do not think enough people respond.

Page 12

Page 13

The Homecoming Part two

Empowered by my ever increasing know how of how things had changed in my homeland,

I decided to make enquires as how to complain about the lawyer who dealt with my

father‘s will. My father made a new will after my mother‘s death, straightforward 50/50

split between his two children. There shouldn‘t have been any problem. However, on the

lawyer‘s advice my father was told not to make me executor. When the will was made I

lived in Spain. This took place 10 days after my mother‘s sudden and unexpected death

and we were all in a state of shock at losing my mother. I felt the lawyer took advantage of

the situation and named a partner in the firm as one of the executors.

When my father passed away I was back in the UK living at my father‘s flat. I

wasn‘t happy about the lawyer; he had taken ages over my mother‘s will and had

created stress and upset for my father. The reading of the will did not bode well, the part-

ner who had been named executor had retired but the lawyer again resisted that I came on

board as executor. I was aware that the other executor was suffering from mental health

problems. Things went from bad to worse, he wouldn‘t deal with me because I wasn‘t the

client and encouraged the now sole executor (which was in contrary to his previous advice

that it was better to have 2 executors) not to let me see their correspondence although he

was legally bound, as a residuary beneficiary, to keep me informed, which he did not.

I called the law society and they said I had grounds for complaint and they told me

to get in touch with the Scottish Legal Complaints Committee in Waterloo Place. There

began a fifteen-month correspondence of form filling minutiae detail of the complaints,

they in fact identified errors that I was not aware of. There are various stages to the com-

plaint the lawyer refused to attend arbitration (stage 4). I was then offered £100

compensation, which I felt to be a joke taking into account the abusive legal fees,

and went to the final board who agreed that the case had been dealt with slowly had they

had more evidence certain points could have been found failing but as the lawyer had

rectified etc, etc. but I received no compensation, in the end the establishment looks

after its own.

In hindsight I should have gone to an advice centre with a lawyer to complete the

form. What is the law and what is moral and ethical don‘t always coincide and fighting a

lawyer in their own territory is very risky.

Page 14

Do I regret making the complaint? No and would encourage others to do

so. If more people complained perhaps we would see some changes e.g. more

transparency, service and fees matching. I chose not to appeal via the Court of

Session because the depletion of time and energy it would have incurred wasn‘t

worth it and although I didn‘t ―win‖ in material terms I actually gained much more.

In the first instance the official nature of the complaint forced the legal firm to

withdraw their services. I achieved what I wanted, the firm who took over who came

on a personal recommendation was quite a different ball game. Secondly, though

frustrating at the time, the lengthy process created by the tardy sloppy work of the

first solicitor and then changing firms slowed things down, it gave me space and time

to reflect. When I returned home to look after my father I assumed that when he

passed away I would return to Spain. I had come back to the UK twice before and

with in less than a year on both occasions I had gone back. As time lingered I began

to settle back meeting new people, bumping into old friends, enjoying my teaching,

writing more and more I began to reconsider if going back was in my best interests.

The economic situation in Spain was even bleaker than here. However, the impor-

tant aspect was the reconnection with my roots, reconnecting with my home in a new

way. When the executry was finally complete leaving me more financially secure

than I had ever been I knew it made no sense to return. A decision I have never re-

gretted.

Julie Ann Thomason

Happiness A few months ago the women‘s group wrote about what makes them smile….

‗my children‟, „my nephew‟, „having a good laugh‟ „swallows, butterflies, nature,

„cuddles‟, „people smiling at me‟ „mum‟s hugs‟

What do you like doing best?

„waking up in the morning to my great kids‟, „reading‟, „watching TV‟, „music,

yoga‟, „writing poems‟, „nature, sunshine, walking by the sea‟, „coming to the

women‟s group‟

What is a wish for the future?

„to be happy‟, „to win the lottery‟, „to have good health‟, „to get back to work‟, „to

be happy and free from the prison I felt emotionally‟, „to have a career in writing‟,

„to have contentment and happiness‟

What would you answer to these questions?

Liz Whyte wrote about what she likes:

I went to the swimming baths with Emily today we swam in the pool back and for-

ward. It was good. Exercise is fun and I want to lose weight to be healthy.

Page 15

Thank you to our Soldiers We should take a little time to say a big thanks to all the soldiers who are risking their

lives and think of what they left behind.

THANKYOU! We should be shouting hurry home! Think of the families who are

loosing their soldiers with kids.

Think of what it would mean if they came home- We should be helping them to come

home. All the men we have lost, we need something that they can smile about and

know that we are here thinking of them,

Send them some beer and things so that they can unwind and have a laugh! What

have we done that makes these poor soldiers have to go to war.

We need to stand by one another and help.

*Picture -The Tartan

Army- Tour of Afghani-

stan

Sam- Dunfermline

Women‘s group

Being Left behind Saying goodbye to those we love is hard. A soldier says goodbye to his girlfriend be-

fore going back to Afghanistan, and a mother says goodbye to her son who is dying

from Leukaemia. People take their leave of us. Others leave a large absence. Nearly

all of us have had the experience of losing someone we love. When this happens we

are left with an empty feeling inside us. People keep telling us to get on with life, it‘s

hard without them, there is no one to lean on. Somehow our world is empty, a less

friendly place to be and a lot colder. You stand there looking up into the sky and asking

why. There is a lovely ancient Aztec prayer, which reflects on the fragile part of life.

Aztecs thank the creator for their life. They say their loved ones are only on loan for a

short time.

Aztec Prayer:

You never really leave a place

Or a person you love,

Part of them you take with you,

Leaving a part of yourself behind

Gerry McKenna

Page 16

Will the biter be bitten

Beware Mr. Fat Cat, you set the laws of the land, rules all must adhere to and for that

your wage is grand. But that is not enough for you, you want expenses as well.

Rule maker, you brokered jail sentencing for anyone doing undeclared work while

claiming Unemployment Benefit.‘

Now your own secret is known, we will remember you venomously spat, ―Send the

cheat to jail, despite the moan, ‗Poverty is the reason to try to earn cash, seeing as

I need more than you want to give me, If I‘m not to feel ‗white trash.‘‘

Where the poor cheat it is to earn small sums due to need. Now the ringing of the

alarm bell brings to light your duplicity for you steal large sums without need and so

your crime is greed. The poor steal from the public purse, by working when they

aught not to. You steal so much more from the same public purse by outrageous and

false claims so are you not equally guilty and deserving of the same sentencing?

You set the cost of being found to be a cheating scoundrel; you are guilty of cheating

so you should now be ready to pay the same price. Of course we, the poor hungry

masses, expect you to find a way to wriggle off that hook but don‘t expect us to like

you for it. Alex J. Anderson

You don‘t know how much it hurts when

you say those words to me- its like when

that last leaf falls from the autumn tree.

It falls so slow, peacefully

as the morning sunrise grows

its tender body swaying from side to side

as if you knew how fast it rides.

Each time I see you its thundering blue

the love I gave the love you took with just

a close of a book it was quick, real slick

You just went …. Click click click.

Falling to the ground without making a sound

the touch of an angel being able to breath

just makes it impossible to believe- believe

that im free.

By Katherine McNally Painting by Jessie Csere

Page 17

PICK UP THE GUN High noon. Bethanville, Arkansas. Not far from Dead Man‘s Crotch. Forgotten by time. Till Shiloh come..... It‘s scorching. Hot? Sun beats down relentlessly, the sweat runs down your legs. Humid? Your oxters are soggy and stink like a rottin‘ sock. Even the skunks keep their distance. Tumbleweed rolls over the sand. With a loud crash the Stranger kicks open the saloon doors. He walks in, a few steps, then stands still. He looks around slowly, arms akimbo; hands just inches away from the guns in new holsters. Poker-faced. Face like tanned hide. Weather beaten complexion of a mouldy pizza. Had there been traffic lights he‘d have brought them to a standstill. He raises one leg and breaks wind violently. ―Praise be!‖, he whispers. When this guy farted, the crack from his jeer could make prairie cactus wilt. Today is the day. The reckoning. Somebody gonna die.... The stranger casually picks his nose then wipes it on the nearest cowpoke‘s stetson. His horse stands no-bly outside, tied to the wooden rail. A black beauty which could pass for one of the horses of the Apoca-lypse. Lifting its tail, it delivers a pile o‘ shecht which would make the Mens Group kitchen proud. The sky eructs an ear-splitting peal of thunder which surprises the small town; a few residents glance heaven-ward and loose their fundament in dread and fearful anticipation. ―Mine bowels doth sing like an harp‖. A vulture, circling and wheeling in the thermal air, screeches then lands on a nearby carcass and picks away eyeball of a dead coyote. Wolverines from the nearby creek sniff the air, raise their heads skyward, and howl. This is the day. The reckoning. Somebody gonna die.........The Stranger walks slowly toward the bar, spurs jangling like the coppers in Eddie Klimek‘s purse. His movements are slow, measured, de-liberate, like a stalking lioness. Cougar on the prowl. No-one dares look up. There‘s no need. This is the day. The reckoning. Somebody gonna die. Anyone brave enough to do so would see a tall, thin, pencil-moustached figure, greying hair beneath the pink ten-gallon hat. Wearing a long greycoat, threadbare from too much time in the sun, wind and prairie rains. Eyes dead and black – like a shark‘s – breath as hot as kerosene. This is the day. He‘s come prepared. Bartender‘s scared, ashen-faced; tries to look busy while squeakily drying drinks glasses then cleaning the bartop with an old pair of Y-fronts. He‘s filled his boots. ―What kin ah git ye fur Mister?‖ barman trembles without looking up. ―Usual‖. Stranger‘s voice betrays a 40-a-day habit. This voice can etch glass. ―Sure, fella. Comin‘ right up!‖ ―No- hold it. Change that. Make it semi-skimmed this time – and pasteurised‖. ―Sure, friend. I done made sure the milk‘s chilled today‖. ―Sure appreciate it pardner. Give it me straight, no chaser.‖ The Stranger growls. ―You got it, Mister‖. People relax. The buzz of conversation picks up again. Relief – so far so good. The rednecks and cow-pokes resume their poker and hustling. Whores carry on flirtin‘. Hound dog lyin‘ on the floor opens one lazy eye, takes in the scene, lays his head back on his paws and goes back to sleep. Nobody‘s Bar, hazy with smoke. The crowd who‘d gathered outside the saloon doors knew different, however. This is the day. The reckoning. Somebody gonna die........ It was the tiny Mexican sheepherder who caused what followed. A wee figure at the end of the bar, wrapped in a poncho and wearing a sombrero. Born Alberto Velasquez Pinero Valescura da Gama de los Reyes, people just called him Obadiah Clegg. ―Barman! Oy, hombre! Caramba I Madre de Dios! I theenk I was feerst in the queue! Eh! Que passa, amigo?‖ Oh, ****. Air turns electric. Everyone freezes. A gasp rises from the saloon. ―Somebody‘s challenged the Stranger!‖, whispers the village idiot, running for the cludgie. The people outside, crowding round the saloon doors, shat themselves, and drew back in horror. ―What.. did.. you.. say?‖ hissed the Stranger. This is the day. The reckoning. Somebody gonna die.......

Page 18

The Mexican stammers ―Prego Meester, but I was here first to be served‖. ―W.e.e.e.el, you.. don‘t.. say‖, the Stranger growls; in a flash he whips out one of his guns and slides it across the bar, towards the sheepherder. ―Pick.. up.. the.. gun‖, the Stranger purred. ―Que? No entiende vos, hombre!‖ .... ―I no want no trouble......‖ ―Pick...up...the...gun‖, the Stranger drawls. A priest in white collar stands up from his card table. ―Listen son, let‘s have no trouble today – anyhows – it‘s the Sabbath‖. You could see the tears running down his legs. ―Butt out, Preach. First remove the plank from your own eye. Anyway, the Sabbath is on a Saturday!‖.

―My son, don‘t go doin‘ anything rash. You‘ll just regret it. Remember, the Lord made the world puufeck, he made eevveerryybbooddyy puffeck......‖ An old cripple, lame in both legs and dislocated shoulder, stood up:- ―Hey! Preach! What about me, huh? I done got two busted ligs an‘ I‘m a hunchback‖. ―See!! I tol‘ you – you is a PUFFECK hunchback!!‖, cried the priest. The Stranger shouted: ―Git thee behind me, Preach. You jes confuse the weak-willed, lost and bewildered. Why, when I was a kid I prayed and prayed for a teddy bear, but never got one. So I jes shot a guy and took his. Then I prayed forgiveness. Seemed the quickest route.‖. The Mexican‘s fingers twitch towards the gun. ―Pick...up...the...gun‖, the Stranger wheezed. ―Eh Meester. I no want no trouble – I jus come into town once a week to get candy for my bambinos, and some gingham for my wife. I don‘t even know what gingham is, but she goes through about 4 to 5 rolls a week. I don‘t want no trouble, meester. If I pick up de gun, you‘ll shoot me, mister.‖ ―Jes....pick....up....the....gun....‖ Sheepherder gulps loudly, sweating profusely, closes shaking fingers round the gun, and before he can raise it, two holes in his temple and his brains spatter the bar mirror. Stranger smiles wryly. ―You all saw him – he had a gun!‖. MORAL OF THE TALE: beware the smiling assassin. Whilst one hand embraces your back, the other hand plunges the knife into your ribs. Eddie Klimek

Page 19

A guide dog’s JourneY Gordon Innes went to do some research about guide dogs, and found a guide dogs life to be very interest-

ing, thank you to Margaret Morrison for helping him!

Guide dog puppies go through various stages before they are

ready to become fully trained working Guide Dogs. A puppy is

placed with a puppy walker at 6 ½ to 7 weeks old. The puppy

walker is an unpaid volunteer who will be responsible for the

house training, basic obedience and socialisation of the puppy

for the next year. They are supported by a puppy walking super-

visor who is there to check on the puppy‘s progress and advise

on any problems that may arise.

The puppy is assessed at various intervals to confirm that it is happy walking through revolving

doors, using a lift and stairs etc. He or she should be able to walk around shops without sniffing

and sit or lie quietly in a cafe or restaurant. They should be confident on all forms of public trans-

port.

At about 12-13months depending on the puppy‘ progress, they will go to the training centre at

Forfar. This is the difficult part for the puppy walker, having to say good bye to the puppy that

has been part of their life for at least a year! But another puppy is usually already there or on the

way. Ready to start again!

During the next stage the pup is placed with a designated trainer for more formal training. This

can take anything from 20- 26 weeks. Having passed successfully through this part of the training

the next stage is when the dog is placed with the Advanced Mobility Trainer who will work with

the dog for approximately a further 10-16 weeks during which time they will match the dog with

its potential blind owner. A slower dog will be matched

with a less active owner while a lively one will need a

more active partner.

It takes a lot of work and commitment to turn a cute

puppy into a working guide dog which will change the

life of its new owner. The blind owner pays 50p for their

dog while it remains the property of Guide Dogs through-

out its life. To train and maintain a dog throughout its life

will cost Guide Dogs around £48000.

Why do people get involved? Here is a comment from a guide dog owner. ―When I lost my sight

I felt I had no life. I could not go out alone and had to give up work. When I got my first guide

dog life began again for me. I went back to work and regained my independence. She became my

friend and companion and turned my life around.‖

If you would like more information about puppy walking or boarding, (boarders look after pup-

pies short term if the puppy walker is ill or on holiday) then please contact Guide Dogs. It is very

rewarding and great fun. To be a part of this process is a rewarding experience. Not to mention

the reward of a wagging tail to greet you!!

Page 20

Question Time

―Do you know

who your MP

is?‖

4/6 knew.

―Did you vote in

the last

election?‖

6/6 voted

How many have

gone to MP/MSP

surgery?

Issues that people are

concerned with?

Health, jobs, housing,

benefits.

Why don‘t people vote?

Disillusioned, can‘t be

bothered, are they going

Why should you vote?

You have a voice, you cannot

complain when you haven't

voted, it does affect your life.

If you ever want to go to see an MSP

or an MP, it‘s not that scary a thing,

go and tell them what‘s on your

mind, they are there to listen!!

Malcolm Chisholm MSP has his sur-

gery every Saturday at Leith Li-

brary, 9am to around 10am.

Wisdom

Wit is the salt of conversation, but not the food.

Sometimes the smallest things takes up the most room in your mind and heart.

It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.

The reason I have a thirst for knowledge is because I want to be a better man than I

was born to be.

By Gerry McKenna

A thoughtful discussion with six of the guys from the men‘s group, had some

interesting answers, these are the results.

Page 21

CHRISTMAS IN DUNFERMLINE

Christmas lights were switched on 15th or 16th

November on the High Street. The event was

well attended and an X-factor turned the lights

on. Dave Apollo was down on the stage with his

laddie doing the disco- there was a great atmos-

phere! A cheer because nothing blew up!! All the

girls and boys liked the visit from Santa Claus.

Christmas day meal took place in the Gillespie church. There was a great 3

course meal and a lovely turn out. There was trifle, turkey and all the trimmings

on the menu.

On New Years Eve there was some pubs and clubs open while others were

closed for the holidays. There was lots of people about ready to celebrate the

The bugle team sending off the Christmas edition

ANSWERS from the intelligence test page 7

1 All of them. Every month has at least 28 days.

2 1 hour. If you take a pill at 1 o'clock, then another at 1:30 and the last at 2 o'clock,

they will be taken in 1 hour.

3 1 hour. It is a wind up alarm clock which cannot discriminate between am and pm.

4 70. Dividing by half is the same as multiplying by 2.

5 9 live sheep.

6 The match.

7 White.

8 2 apples.

9 None. It was Noah, not Moses.

10 You are the driver.

Page 22

The Rejuvenation of Hearts

This is an continuation from an article which I did last year, ―Our Prodigal‘s Son is coming Home.‖

Jim Jeffries—One Year On

On the evening of 21st January, 2010 I received a phone call from my daughter around 5.30 pm—

Hearts had sacked their manager, Csaba Laszlo.

We both say together, ―Jim Jeffries is coming home again!‖ It was a new beginning .

It took Jim several games to find out what kind of squad he had. The first game to find out, he lost to

St Johnstone in Perth. His second, he lost to St Mirren in the semi-final of the CIS cup. His third

game was the most important as far as Hearts fans were concerned—beating Hibs in the Edinburgh

derby. Hearts supporters accepted the season would be transitional and this would give the manager

time to get players in and sell players on for the new season ahead.

The new season started slowly but at the end of autumn owner Vladimir Romanov pulled a rabbit out

of the hat by signing fans‘ favourite, Rudi Skacel. From autumn through to Christmas the club went

on an unbeaten run of six games but many games were cancelled because of

the bad weather. One game which was played was the derby on New Year‘s

Day when Hearts beat Hibs 1:0

The difference since Jim Jeffries came back is there for everybody to see.

This time last year the club were lying second bottom of the Premier

League. At the present moment they are lying third and, hopefully, will

finish the season second..

What a difference Jim Jeffries has made!

Local Hero

On a Saturday I go to the Hibs‘ games.

I sit in the new east stand it is crowded I feel good when I am there.

Some people I know go to the games. After the football game I go to the front of the stadium to see

the players and the football manger, to get my

programmes signed by all the players.

Last game I met the hibs manager, his name is

Colin Calderwood I got a photo taken with him

and Chris Hogg who used to be the hibs captain

he left hibs to go to Inverness his number is 28.

By Douglas Forbes, seen right with Chris Hogg.

Written & put together by the Bethany Press Team.

The Bethany Press Team puts together each edition of The Bugle magazine. We meet almost

every Wednesday from 1.30p.m.-3.pm at our Learning Centre at 65 Bonnington Road, Leith

What is the Bugle?

Well the dictionary says that it is a musical instrument like a small trumpet. Our Bugle is a quarterly

magazine.. As beginners we at The Bugle are first learning our trade as reporters , editors or just plain

gofers. In time we hope The Bugle will become a much read and much sought after local magazine that

people will enjoy and discuss until the next issue.

Where is The Bugle available?

From hostels, drop-ins, libraries, churches, doctor and dentist waiting rooms… look out for it!

Who are we looking for to write for The Bugle?

Anyone! But especially people who are or have been homeless. Most members of our Press Team

have been, or are currently homeless.

The views expressed in The Bugle are not necessarily those of Bethany Christian Trust. If you have any comments on The Bugle or would like to get involved give us a call or write to:

Felicity Fyall

Bethany Community Education

32 Jane Street

Edinburgh

EH6 5HD

felicityfyall@bethanychristiantrust.com

0131 625 5411

We are here!