Dates for your diary

Wednesday 19^th March Walford Hall closes

Friday 11^th April Walford Hall opens

Wednesday 23^rd July Walford Hall closes

Thursday 24^th July Summer Outing

Tuesday 9^th September Walford Hall opens

Summer Outing

This year we shall be going to Milestones near Basingstoke. This is a living history museum in the form of a town with shops, a village green, vintage vehicles and a working pub. They provide free audio guides and everything is under cover so the weather will not matter. Some of the streets are cobbled but there are no stairs to climb. If you use a wheelchair, please arrange for someone to push you and be sure to include their name on your booking form. There is a café, where we shall have lunch, which provides meals such as casseroles, pies and pasta dishes and there is a souvenir shop for any gifts you may want to take home. Everyone will be given £5 to spend on their lunch (or as you wish) from the £15.00 booking fee, which includes transport from your home and the admission fee. Please be sure to complete the booking form and return it to Walford Hall before 18^th April.

Out & About

On Thursday 3^rd April a group will be going to the REME Museum at Arborfield, followed by tea at Henry Street Garden Centre. We do not yet know the price of this outing but anyone interested in going should get in touch with Alan Futter on 0118 954 3266.

Alan is also the person to talk to if you would like to go to Waterperry Gardens on Thursday 8^th May. As well as the 8 acres of gardens which include the saxifrage collection, there is a Saxon church with an original Saxon chancel arch, a museum, a plant centre, a garden shop and long barn and a craft gallery. The price of £16.45 includes transport, the admission fee and a two-course lunch. Please ring Alan on 0118 954 3266 if you would like to take part.

Reading Library Book Group

For some time now, Reading Library has been running a book group for visually impaired people and it has proved so popular that a second group has now been formed. A different ‘book’ is supplied each month on cassette or MP3 disc by Calibre. It is discussed at the meeting held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Holybrook Room at Reading Central Library. Meetings start at 2.30pm and last for about an hour. Just turn up if you would like to join the group.

Audio Description on Television

Audio Description has recently been introduced to television programmes to help visually impaired people gain full enjoyment from them. It provides a narrative to let you know what the characters’ expressions and movements are and how they add to the story. There is no charge for the service which can be accessed via www.audiodescription.org.uk or by calling 08456 01 01 81.

Free blood glucose meter for diabetics

If you are diabetic you may like to know about a talking blood glucose meter which is free of charge. It is called the SensoCard Plus and needs to be obtained by your health care advisor. If you would like to know more about it, either visit www.sensocardplus.com or ring 01792 229333.

Now an Easter poem from our favourite poet, Nigel Smith.

Shell Shocked

We counted all our money, (that’s my brother James and me)

We checked it twice, but sadly, all we had was 90p.

We wanted Mum and Dad to have an egg on Easter Day,

But the one we really wanted was too much for us to pay.

We toured the local market, where the prices weren’t so steep.

I laughed when James asked someone if his Easter chicks go ‘cheap’!

We spent all day just looking, there was nothing on the shelves,

Then James said, “Wait a minute, we can make an egg ourselves!”

He rushed off with our money, to a shop where chocolate’s sold,

While I went home and wondered where we’d find a decent mould.

I searched the kitchen cupboards, I just didn’t have a clue,

When suddenly I ‘cracked’ it…yes!…a coconut would do!

We waited for the moment, when our Mum and Dad were out,

Then dropped the bits of chocolate in the saucepan with a spout.

We stood it on the cooker, ‘til it bubbled, like a stew,

Then James, with Dad’s best hacksaw, cut the coconut in two.

We opened all the windows, (burning chocolate really smells!)

Then swilled the dark brown liquid round the inside of the shells.

We let them dry and harden, then we tipped them on the ground,

Then we glued the halves together, and we wrapped a ribbon round.

We woke on Easter Sunday and we gave our ‘egg’ with pride.

Our Dad was really gob-smacked and our Mum, with joy, just cried!

Dad broke it into quarters, Mum agreed, “It’s only fair.”

But James and I refused it, saying “No…it’s yours to share!”

We didn’t see our Mum and Dad again ‘til Monday night.

I wish I’d bought the ‘chocolate’, James just never gets it right.

He’d bought a pound of ‘Ex-Lax’, he just hasn’t got a clue.

Our Mum and Dad spent Easter locked together, in the loo!

We’ll buy a proper egg next year, I don’t care if we’re broke.

Young James just thinks it’s funny, but our Dad can’t see the ‘yoke’!

Mum says that she forgives us, and she reckons that we’re great,

Most people end up fatter…but she’s lost 2 stone in weight!

We all hope that you have a pleasant Easter break and that the weather will be kind to us. Remember to send in your booking form in good time if you would like to join the outing. Goodbye for now.