May 2016 The Village Voice Issue 85 The Early Bird……… Photo taken by Mr M. Thomas North Lodge In this issue News from Lesley McNeill Page 2 Auchlochan Men’s Social Group Page 10 News from David McGrane Page 2-3 News from A.C.E. Page 11 Update from Clark Contracts Page 3 Film Afternoon Page 11 News from Customer Services Page 4-5 The Notice Board Page 12-19 News from Homecare Page 6 Bistro Theme Night Menu Page 20 News from Bankhouse Page 7-8 Independent Living Outings Page 21 News from Lower Johnshill Page 8 Interest Groups & Events Calendars Page 22 Chaplaincy Chatter Page 9 Chaplaincy Events Calendar Page 23 Communion Service Dates Page 9 Beauty & Wellbeing Page 24 Page | 1 News from May. Should you wish to meet with Justin in relation to Attendance Allowance (which is a Lesley McNeill non means tested benefit) or other benefits, please contact Cathy Johnston on 01555 896800. Well I am eating my words from last month when I advised Spring had definitely arrived. I am now Kind Regards unsure as the recent episodes of snow showers Lesley have certainly given us something to think about! News from As always we welcome all new residents to the village and hope you enjoy village life with David McGrane us. Our thoughts and prayers are with those residents who are unwell or have been in South Lanarkshire Council have advised of yet hospital over the past month. another impending “Road Closure Notice” which will affect the Road beside the Estate from Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of beyond our Entrance/Exit at Lower Johnshill past Frieda Wallace who passed away last the rear of The Cottages as far as the cross roads, month. Frieda will certainly be missed by all who (affecting the back road to Coalburn). The knew her. previous works on this stretch of roadway installed the ducting required to support the new I can confirm that the handover of the show flats Electricity Cables for Galawhistle Windfarm. at Nethanvale is due to be completed at the Their subcontractor will now be pulling the beginning of this month and arrangements are cables through these ducts. In addition to the underway for our Residents & Staff Open Day on above road closure, the contractor has advised the 26th May. The Open Day will be between that they will be closing one side of the road 11am and 3pm and all residents and staff are between our two exits.... i.e. between Lower most welcome to attend. Going forward the Johnshill/The Cottages and our Main Exit at show flats will be open Monday – Saturday by “Swan Lake”. Traffic lights will be in operation appointment only and we have a new Sales however the road will remain open throughout Advisor joining the team. Amanda Wright will be the works, but will be reduced to a single lane. working alongside Cathy Johnston during the sale These works are scheduled to commence as of of Nethanvale flats and I am sure residents and 30th May. staff will make her most welcome. I have had a number of Residents approach me On the subject of new appointments, I would like this month with regard to the cutting of Daffodils to advise you of a change in my role here at on the bank opposite the car port side of the Auchlochan. I will now be overseeing a couple of Retirement Apartments. Speaking to Chris our schemes South of the border and to assist me to Head Gardener, for an explanation he has undertake this role, I am in the process of provided the following statement; “the daffodils recruiting a General Manager for Retirement that have been cut down were non flowering Living at Auchlochan. The successful candidate ones with green growth only, after a period of will oversee the day to day running of the village time they lose their vigour and stop flowering which will allow me more time to take a and need to be replenished every year with new helicopter view of the village and assist in more bulbs to keep the display good. Some of the strategic matters. I will however still be based at bulbs rot off in the winter with the heavy rainfall Auchlochan. I will hopefully be able to advise and saturated ground. I shall be planting some you in next month’s edition of the name of the new bulbs later this year, and should any of the successful candidate. residents wish they could donate some new bulbs to be planted during the Autumn. These Justin Glass from Glasgow Older People’s will be added to the flower beds rather than the Welfare Association will be on site on the 11th grass areas. This would add some welcome Page | 2 colour to the flower beds which they lack in the most advanced of the floors apart from the show spring time. Now I hand you back to David”. I flats. We are at a stage on level 2 where all shall ensure some new fresh bulbs are planted plumbing and electrical infrastructure has been opposite the Retirements Apartments. installed and taping/plaster and cornice works are being carried out ready for door kit and Chris has been busy in the greenhouse this kitchen installation. This will then progress to month planting up the hanging baskets, getting the decoration stage. Level 1 and the ground them established and ready for displaying out in floor are also well advanced with electrical and the summer (last week of May or first week in plumbing works at various stages and wall June weather dependent). The tubs will go out boarding being installed ready for and be planted up with some colour at this time taping/plastering. also. Externally, all the new balcony balustrading has Grass cutting season has started also and the been installed with glazing panels now being gardening team will be busy with this throughout attached. the Summer season. The grass has been fed..... although as we all know the moss has been even worse this year due to the very wet winter. Our flower beds have also been turned over to give them a boost for the coming months. Once again we have “Tree Surgeons” on site to make safe the trees which are “past their best”, and trim others which have become unruly. I have met with the Chief Fire Officer for the area, who is concerned about the large number of call outs to Auchlochan. As we all know the sound of the Fire Brigade arriving only to well, “usually as the result of burnt toast”, we all really need to help the Fire Services by staying vigilant and mindful of the fact that when we have a “call out” we are leaving the Fire Service short of an engine somewhere else. We are working closely with the Fire Services, in identifying some The temporary road and car parking for the possible solutions to reduce our false calls. Show Flats are being formed ready for use for Please help anywhere you can. the sales team, the ground floor Show Flats are Regards due for completion early May and are on programme to achieve this. Doors and David McGrane kitchens are all installed and finishing works Estate & Amenities Support Manager are being carried out, electrical finishes are complete and tiling and decoration works are ongoing. We have had figures back from our Your monthly update from waste removal contractor and in February we recycled 76% of our waste and 70% for March which is in line with the recycling targets set for the project. Construction works on the overall project is Kind Regards progressing well and on programme. Internally over 3 floors, all flats have been formed and are Lindsey McIlwraith in various stages of construction. Level 2 is the Marketing Co-ordinator Page | 3 Thanks also to Maureen Douglas and Marion News from Customer Services Swindell who helped dress the ladies and made Brooks Fashion Show sure they all looked fabulous for their catwalk debuts. On Monday 4th April, brother and sister duo, Alastair & Gill of ‘Brooks of Lanark’ came to the Douglas Suite to show off their latest Spring/Summer clothing collections. Cathy Johnston opened the event before handing over to Alastair and Gill who kicked off the show, presenting our very own models from Auchlochan. Go on Maureen, treat yourself. A lady can never have enough handbags! Brooks will return later in the year to hold a clothing sale in the Village Centre. In the meantime, do visit their Menswear, Ladieswear and Shoe shops which are all located on Lanark Our Auchlochan Super Models High Street. Mrs Neilson, Mrs Pegram, Miss Mathewson, Miss Markham, Mrs Groom, Mrs Gorrie, Mrs Skinner, Mrs Morrow Our models for the day wore a selection of fantastic clothing from the Brooks new season collection; eight ladies and two men strutted their stuff on the catwalk to the admiration of the crowd who came along to see the show. Mr Lutus, Mr Calder Huge thanks go to Brooks of Lanark and to all the ‘volunteer models’ for a most enjoyable afternoon. Page | 4 Woodland Trust Talk Bridge Club Thank you to those of you who attended the If you would like to join our Bridge Club please Woodland Trust talk on Friday 22nd April. register your interest with Customer Services. Volunteer, Jim Christie gave an interesting insight into the vital work carried out by the Trust in Croquet Scotland. Many of you kindly made a donation With the summer weather just around the corner towards the Trust and I am pleased to report that a (we can but hope!), weekly Croquet games will total of £65.55 will be forwarded on to the Charity.