NEWSLETTER Address: Osborne Road, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 6EA Telephones: Reception 01425 610495; Office 01425 620987
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New Milton & District Community Association NEWSLETTER Address: Osborne Road, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 6EA Telephones: Reception 01425 610495; Office 01425 620987 Art Art Registered charity No. 301897 SEPTEMBER, 2021 BallroomBowls Dancing BeadingBridge Board Games FROM THE EDITOR Canasta I trust you have all managed to make the most of our summer months as Book Club Chess well as the pleasures of this area in which we are so fortunate to live. Bowls Perhaps you have also taken the opportunity to explore other parts of Come Dancing Bridge the UK by way of a staycation - so many beautiful places, even if you Craft have to play safe and take an umbrella! Hopefully some more pleasant Canasta Cribbage days to come before we see evenings darkening a bit earlier and have to Chess think about checking our winter wardrobe. Darts Come Dancing Discussion Group Final Reminder: Our AGM will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Craft Holidays 15th September. Members plus one person from each affiliate can Cribbage attend and vote. As we will still be taking some Covid precautions Jubilee Singers Darts seating will be 1m apart and anyone wishing to be present needs to Language Classes Discussion Group book a seat because numbers will necessarily be limited. A register will Line Dancing be held in Reception and you can either book in person or by phone. Film Show We have to advise that Glen Kennedy has decided to resign as Local History Jigsaws/Colouring Chairman, so grateful thanks must certainly go to him for heading Mah Jong Jubilee Singers up the Executive Committee through an unexpectedly difficult, unpredictable time. With things now approaching “near normal”, if any Men’s Get LanguagesTogether member feels that he or she might be interested in stepping into the Line Dancing Modern Ballroom Chairman’s role, will they please contact Bob Stevens, as Secretary. LiteratureDancing The Committee does need some “fresh faces” with new ideas, challenges, and vision for the Centre’s progress. LunchMonthly Club Luncheon Mah Jong Fans of the Jubilee Singers will be sorry to learn that Choir Conductor MensNew GetForest Together Walks Janet Trow’s husband passed away last month. Our sincere PianistsPianists Section condolences go to her at what will be a very sad, difficult time. Poetry Group Something rather appropriate comes to mind. Do any of you remember Poetry a well-known actress/singer/comedienne called Joyce Grenfell? She RefreshmentsRummikub often played the rather goofy “jolly hockey stick” teacher in the St. RoundScrabble Dancing Trinian’s films. When, many years ago, she realised her days were Scrabble numbered she left this message for her friends: “When I am gone, don’t Sequence Dancing speak of me in a hushed, solemn voice but in the way you have always SocialSequence Sequence done. Weep if you must, for parting is hell - but life goes on, so sing DancingDancing as well.” TableTable Tennis Tennis Whist Website: https://www.newmiltoncommunity.org.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nmdca/ Email: [email protected] 1 We have also just learned with much sorrow of the sudden death, in her sleep, of Jean Gales. She was a stalwart, keen supporter of the Centre, having run the Lunch Club for many years as well as being a volunteer in the kitchen and in Reception. Our condolences go to all who knew her. Following up on a sad subject, last month was an unhappy one for me having learnt, a week before my birthday, that my sister had died. Not entirely unexpected but still a shock when it happened. Unable to make the journey to Essex for her funeral, I had to view the proceedings online and now try to console myself by remembering companionable days when (both widowed within three weeks of each other) we would meet up as often as possible to recall good times gone by, share lots of laughs and rather risqué stories. A reminder that we should cherish our family members while they are with us. By the time you read this we may know if M&S really is coming to town, with the aim of opening by the year-end or early January. There are already a few mutterings that it’s too expensive for food shopping but devotees insist it would offer wider, slightly different choices. If it happens we should feel fortunate that such a store is confident enough to be opening up here when businesses, in general, are going through a tough time, and it would certainly give Station Road a much-needed lift. And now it seems we may have KFC taking a chance on us and moving into the old Natwest building. Again, perhaps not everyone will welcome it and would much prefer a more up-market restaurant where family and friends can be pleasantly entertained. Whatever the outcome, we need something which will show that the town doesn’t completely die after 5 o’clock! What, if anything do you know about Morris Dancing? We see them at local events and displays - sometimes the subject of good-natured amusement at their ancient costumes, bells, and waving handkerchiefs. Interesting to learn that we have a Morris “activity” almost on our doorstep but, due to the pandemic and other issues, they are currently seeking new recruits and supporters so that they can continue to entertain and ensure their age-old activity continues to thrive. Read all about them on page 5. So we came away from the Olympic Games with lots of of medals, and congratulations go to all the athletes for their efforts and dedication to their chosen sports. What leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth, however, is to learn of the ungracious, petulant behaviour of some of them who had to “make do” with a silver or bronze. Little team spirit, no good-natured hand-shakes with the winners - just whingeing and crying like thwarted babies because they didn’t achieve gold. A culture spreading through to the young that you’ve got to win and nothing else will do. Sportsmanship seems to be a largely forgotten word. It was reported that, even when England lost to Italy recently our team threw their toys out of the pram and metaphorically chucked their medals in the bin because they weren’t gold! Many years ago, when music exams and auditioning became a part of my young life, my very wise Father said “Just do your best, accept any failure or rejection with good grace and be generous in defeat, because nobody likes a bad loser”. A lesson well-learnt and taken to heart. Perhaps today’s parents should tell this to their children - that it’s not the end of the world to lose - it’s the having a go, testing yourself and working with others that counts. Last month the media reported that a man was accused of sexist behaviour because he told a woman she looked pretty! Since then a ruling has come out that wolf-whistling is banned! This confirms to me yet again that the world has gone mad and, in particular, this country has lost its once-innate humour and sense of the ridiculous. Courtship is an old-fashioned word but what, I ask myself, does a man do these days when, attracted to a woman or for any other reason, he wishes to pay her a compliment? A sue-able minefield! 2 Strange as it may seem, in my younger days I did attract the occasional wolf-whistle and usually took it in good part. If not, they got a Cockney comment to the effect that they should depart forthwith! No harm done - it didn’t upset me, make me cry, or seek counselling! Recently, I read in my daily paper a columnist’s article on this subject, which included a half-page of a famous comedian’s old scripts. Completely non-PC and he’d have probably ended up behind bars if he were to say all those things in today’s humourless environment. Yes, of course I agree wholeheartedly that we shouldn’t be encouraged to laugh at someone else’s expense, especially if it involves a disability, but everything needs to be taken in context and if comedy is delivered in sympathy, “with a twinkle”, then surely it shouldn’t be regarded as deliberately offensive? In these rather depressing times we all need to laugh and see the funny side of life instead of taking things so seriously and looking for something to complain about. Think we need to lighten-up! Thought for the Month: In the 60s people took LSD to experience a weird world. Now the world IS weird so people take Prozac to make it seem normal. Phyllis Inglis FROM THE CHAIRMAN Lockdown relaxation gave us the chance to open up the Centre. The feeling of normality soon started to show, with members pleased to be able to once again socialise and attend our activities. More sections are returning - Bowls came back three mornings a week last month and Fabric Craft, Extend and the choir have all booked to return this month. It is anticipated that still more will follow soon, including the wide range of language classes. Hirers are also back including I Talk, Line Dancing and Marshal Arts. We are doing all we can to encourage further attendance. The first Coffee Morning was well supported, with catering volunteers busy selling drinks and donuts. Thanks to those who arranged this event, and we may consider holding a Coffee Morning on a regular basis each month, so watch this space.