Tai Chi For Health & Fall Prevention Course – 2nd to 23rd September 2014

Some of the members of the Monday Club took part in four taster sessions of Tai Chi for Health and Fall Prevention at Penninghame Church Hall. The sessions were delivered by instructors Patsy Cullen and Lyn Irvine. The participants enjoyed the new activity and found that although the sessions encouraged gentle exercise, they were thoroughly relaxing!

At the end of each session, different  deep relaxation techniques were delivered and were found so beneficial to all... especially the instructors!! Everyone attending enjoyed them and became very involved in learning a new way of gentle exercise.

Everyone is now looking forward to January 2015 as we are pleased to announce a regular class will be starting on 13^th January, 2.30pm to 4pm at Penninghame Church Hall.  Watch out for posters nearer the time!

New Age Curling - Monday 22nd September 2014

A different taster session was delivered by Suzanne.  8 people took part and proved very competitive indeed!  This time, both teams won a game each and agreed to call it a draw!  

Monday Club – 15th September 2014

We had a smashing group gathering.... Great chat over tea and coffee, discussing our Christmas outing on Monday 15th December to Hetland Hall Garden Centre and Christmas Lunch.  The list is growing quickly and is open to anyone, so please feel free to bring along a friend or partner. Hetland Hall always puts on a fabulous show of lights and decorations.... It will really get us all into the festive spirit.

Sally sat making jewellery which members enjoyed watching and Ainslie and Esme had a close game of Scrabble ... Shhhh ...girl power to Esme winning by 10 points!!

The main feature of the morning was Liz MacLean, who introduced us to Yang style Tai Chi... Liz gave us a fantastic demonstration of the full form and it was beautifully performed ....everyone loved it.  We were able to follow Liz in practising moves and exercises to help increase muscle strength, agility and importantly help us to relax.  Thank you Liz for a great morning, everyone will look forward to you visiting us again in the future.
In view of the success of the morning perhaps a wee taster session by myself of Sun .. Pronounced "Soong" style Tai Chi might just need to be incorporated into our busy programme of events!

In view of the success of the morning, perhaps a wee taster session by myself of Sun..., pronounced "Soong" style Tai Chi, might just need to be incorporated into our busy programme of events!

Finally the general consensus was that we have a Christmas Fair or Fete on 17^th November to help raise funds for the Machars Area Partnership and the Monday Club.  This would be open to the public where arts and crafts, jewellery, pickles and preserves will be on sale. Coffee, Tea and biscuits will also be available at a small charge. Any contributions will be very welcome!!

Our next meeting will be on Monday 6^th October with a talk about Basic Food Banks followed by Exercise with Pam.

Boccia Taster Session – Monday 8th September 2014

On 8^th September, Lyn, BHC and Arthritis Care volunteer, delivered a Boccia taster session at Penninghame Church Hall.  Boccia is a Paralympic target ball sport belonging to the same family as petanque and bowls.

Lyn says:

“We had a perfect team of six people attending and what a competitive crew indeed.
The Red  team were way ahead after just three ends leading 6-NIL ... Then a certain ball boy joined the team! And rallied the troops!  So much so the Blue team brought the score to 9 ALL with 1 end to play! 
A certain young lady in fact the only lady playing... threw her final red bowl and knocked away a blue bowl and left her team with 3 bowls around the jack!!  Final score RED team 12, BLUE team 9.
Fantastic afternoon with tea and coffee thrown in!” 

Tai Chi Sessions

Boccia and Curling Sessions

Monday Club

What fun we had at the Monday Club  on 4th August..... Everyone enjoyed a new experience  of seated bowls or... Boccia... What a close game too, the winning team took the game by one shot right on the last end!   Watch out next time folks!

Monday 18th saw a wonderful collection of crafts that the members brought along as exhibits for us all to see.... A superb collection of dressed dolls all hand knitted... A beautiful  3 D country cottage In  tapestry work.... A rag rug depicting Peter rabbit with carrot in hand!    Also An amazing collection of watercolour paintings and a framed cross stitched crinoline lady showed off various talents of the members.

Tea coffee and a chat and planning our Christmas trip out was high on the agenda!  This was followed by our seated exercise to music with Pam .....a regular spot and such a fun way end to our mornings .... Come along and join us every 1st and 3rd Monday 10-12midday.

Monday September 1st is something different to look forward to ... Jewellery making.... with Sally..... New activities planned in September are extra sessions of Boccia and Tai Chi For Health and Fall Prevention. Please contact
Building Healthy Communities for further information.

By Lyn Irvine, Volunteer with Building Healthy Communities and Arthritis Care Scotland.

Monday Club Leaflet

Buddies

To view the Buddies PDF file please click here

Dumfries and Galloway Wellness & Recovery College

Dumfries and Galloway Wellness and Recovery College (Course Guide)

The Dumfries and Galloway Wellness and Recovery College, is a local initiative that delivers a range of wellness and recovery focussed learning and development opportunities. Courses will provide students with a range of learning opportunities, these may include: 

• Learning skills and strategies to cope with challenging times, for example in relation to change and loss
• Strengthening personal coping skills
• Developing and maintaining positive relationships
• Helping to understand personal responses to situations  

Courses vary in content and length. You may be interested in signing up for just one course or more.

To view the Course Guide please click here

To view the Courses available click click here

For more information please get in contact with the BHC office.

Monday Club

On 7^th July, the members once again, enjoyed gentle chair based exercise with Pamela Patterson.  They were also privileged to be entertained by Tom Dingwall who sang a wide variety of hits, from Elvis to Wet Wet Wet, bringing back memories from different decades. All members thoroughly enjoyed it.

Our next meeting will be on 21st July with a return visit from Creebridge Mill Pharmacy and more exercise with Pam.

For more information or a programme of activities, please contact building healthy communities on 01988 501111 or nguillaume@nhs.net. 

Health Walks in Newton Stewart

 

 The Galloway Strollers is a walking group for people who want to improve their health by taking part in gentle exercise with friendly company.

The length and pace of a health walk are adapted to suit the pace of the walkers so that walkers can walk at a level which suits them.

There will be a walk in Newton Stewart every Friday. Next walk, Friday 4^th July. Meet at

10.30am

Riverside Car Park

Newton Stewart.

  

Contact Jenny Macdonald, Health Improvement Officer, NHS for further details

Tel – 01776 707760/707753

e-mail – Jennifer.macdonald3@nhs.net

Monday Club

On 30^th June, the Monday Club visited the home and gardens of David & Anne Hirst in Port William. Tea on the lawn was followed by a guided tour, with hedges to break the wind and salt and the Gulf Stream less than 100 yards away, a number of tender plants are being cultivated.

The garden is divided into rooms, for over 20 herbs, soft fruit, a mini orchard, asparagus, and a whole array of vegetables all grown in raised beds made from recycled plastic fish boxes. Part of the garden is given over to 17 solar panels, providing renewable electricity for the house, and part to a wild flower meadow, carefully managed to provide the food plants for all 19 butterflies, identified by Butterfly Conservation as breeding in this area. Another wild flower area provides a long season of nectar plants for butterflies, bees and moths and many can be seen feeding there on a sunny day. At the bottom of the garden, and accessible to the public, is the skeleton of a 20 foot Minke Whale, washed up on the beach in 2008, and licensed by SNH as it is a European Protected Species.   

The greenhouse and cold frames provide 9 varieties of tomato, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, watercress, coriander, pak choi and 7 different kinds of lettuce and salad leaves. Figs are ripening in the garden and a row of grapevines are just beginning to fruit outdoors.  The whole garden is managed organically, with 8 large compost bins in constant use and has been designed for ease of working for someone who is less able to carry out all the tasks in a large garden. Assistance with the heavy work is provided by Andrew Wilson of Lowland Gardening.

 

Monday Club

On 30^th June, the Monday Club visited the home and gardens of David & Anne Hirst in Port William. Tea on the lawn was followed by a guided tour, with hedges to break the wind and salt and the Gulf Stream less than 100 yards away, a number of tender plants are being cultivated.

The garden is divided into rooms, for over 20 herbs, soft fruit, a mini orchard, asparagus, and a whole array of vegetables all grown in raised beds made from recycled plastic fish boxes. Part of the garden is given over to 17 solar panels, providing renewable electricity for the house, and part to a wild flower meadow, carefully managed to provide the food plants for all 19 butterflies, identified by Butterfly Conservation as breeding in this area. Another wild flower area provides a long season of nectar plants for butterflies, bees and moths and many can be seen feeding there on a sunny day. At the bottom of the garden, and accessible to the public, is the skeleton of a 20 foot Minke Whale, washed up on the beach in 2008, and licensed by SNH as it is a European Protected Species.   

The greenhouse and cold frames provide 9 varieties of tomato, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, watercress, coriander, pak choi and 7 different kinds of lettuce and salad leaves. Figs are ripening in the garden and a row of grapevines are just beginning to fruit outdoors.  The whole garden is managed organically, with 8 large compost bins in constant use and has been designed for ease of working for someone who is less able to carry out all the tasks in a large garden. Assistance with the heavy work is provided by Andrew Wilson of Lowland Gardening.