December 2014- Issue 21 Home Matters Supporting People Ltd Welcome to our Christmas Newsletter, What a year it’s been, it already seems like ages ago that we spent a lovely day beside the seaside at Weston Super Mare. It’s hard to believe how beautiful the weather was when we are all wrapped up and preparing for Christmas. Let’s hope 2015 will bring lots of opportunities to share some lovely days out and more importantly the opportunity to develop new friendships. There have been so many exciting developments this year, lots of them thanks to your suggestions. We are looking forward to recommencing our walking group in the New Year when the weather improves. We are hoping to find some pastures new to explore. Our ladies group is going strong, new members are always welcome. In the New Year we are starting a men’s group, more information is available within this newsletter and we have also included information regarding the ever successful cinema group. For all of you who make a new years resolution to lose weight, eat more healthily, stop smoking, cut down on the drinking, exercise more, learn to cook or would simply like to feel motivated and enjoy the company, see details about our ‘Being Healthy Group’! Gregg and I would like to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a healthy and happy new year. P.S. Don’t forget to defrost your turkey, hang up your stocking, And leave a carrot for Santa and a mince pie for his Reindeer!! Have a good one Jane and Gregg! Over 15,000 children in the Dudley Borough are currently living below the poverty line. Thousands of children in the borough will have no presents to open on Christmas morning this year. Dudley Volunteer Centre runs an annual toy appeal and it’s been bringing smiles to the faces of local disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas time for years. The operation Santa 2013 appeal reached over 5430 children. Not only were toys, gifts and Christmas food provided, some of the money was used to pay for local Christmas parties at local community groups. This year they are doing the same again and as ever, have no funds so are relying entirely on donations from the public. Make a difference to a Childs Christmas by donating money to the appeal on https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/operationsanta or by donating NEW items which you can bring into the Office to be distributed across the Dudley Borough. The Operation Santa 2014 Wish list (NEW ITEMS ONLY PLEASE) Toys and gifts (BRAND NEW) Wrapping paper, books, games, toys, colouring books, felt tip pens, crayons, paints, card, colouring books, toiletry sets. School equipment (BRAND NEW) Pencil cases, pens, highlighters, pencils, rubbers, rulers, geometry sets, calculators, school bags, lunch boxes. Clothing (BRAND NEW) Pants, socks, vests, pyjamas Christmas treats for the whole family (NO Christmas puddings) Stuffing, gravy, chocolates, sweets, mince pies, chocolate logs, crackers, wrapping paper, labels, trees, lights, decorations. The food bank is not only used during Christmas time it is used all year round. Essentials would be much appreciated, please check sell- by or best before dates on all perishables. Milk (UHT or powder, pref semi skimmed), cereals, tinned soup, long life fruit juice, squash, pasta and cooking sauces, tinned beans and spaghetti, tinned rice and sponge puddings, tinned tomatoes, pasta, rice, tinned veg and fruit, tea bags, coffee, dried fruits, biscuits, crackers, tinned meat and fish, kitchen utensils, bowls, mugs, soaps, show gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, nappies, baby wipes, toilet rolls. For more info on The Black Country Food Bank or Operation Santa, contact Dudley Council Voluntary Service on 01384 573381 or email [email protected] You can keep up to date via the operation Santa blog www.operationsanta.wordpress.com or find out more information about the food bank on http://www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk/ Cinema Group The cinema club is going well... however, the more the merrier so please join us! Clients to travel independently there and back, meeting at Merry Hill Odeon Cinema, film to be decided on arrival. Standard prices are listed below (however, the price is higher for 3D films and new releases) Wednesday before 5pm= £7 Wednesday after 5pm= £8.70 Tuesday all day= £5.50 2015 Confirmed Dates Wednesday 28th January, Tuesday 24th February, Tuesday 24th March Women’s Group Our ladies group have met three time so far, once at the office and twice at Druckers Cafe in Merry Hill, we decide at each meeting where to meet next. We’ve met as Druckers as we enjoy the nice food and pleasant environment. So far I have met some nice people and friendships have been formed within the group. We are also meeting up outside of the group socially. We are meeting at Druckers next time, so please come along for st lunch and a chat. We usually meet on the 1 Wednesday of every month at 1pm. The next few dates we are meeting are; 7th Jan, 4th Feb,4th March, 1st April, 6th May and 3rd June. New members are very welcome. By Joy Haddin Men’s Group And Men you will be pleased to know, New Year, New Group! At the start of 2015 Home Matters are launching a monthly Men’s Social Group. Here’s what is happening in the first few months! th Saturday 17 January 11am– Breakfast Sarnies and Quiz @ The Barn, (£3 per person suggested donation) Saturday 28th February 12pm- Pool Afternoon @ Halesowen Sports Club, B633HN (cost to be confirmed) st Saturday 21 March- Breakfast and Bingo @ The Barn, (£3 suggested donation) Please let Dave know if you are coming on 07552219518 or for more details Pantomime For everybody who likes a good laugh, Dick Whittington is at the Brierley Hill Civic Hall on Friday 16th January at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10.00 per person, upstairs or downstairs seating will need to be stated when booking rd tickets. Please confirm places and pay ticket prices with staff by Tuesday 23 December so the tickets can be booked. Being Healthy Event Due to the group being so popular, so many clients and staff doing fantastically well last year. We are starting th the group again on the 28 January. So if you are looking to lose some festive weight, quit smoking or just hoping to lead a healthier lifestyle, come along to the Office 1pm-3pm and have a chat with the Health Trainers from Dudley Health Exchange. 1. When did Good King Wenceslas look out? …………………………………………………………………………. 2. Which Christmas song is; “He’s making a list and he’s checking it twice. He’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice.” Taken from? ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Which carol includes “All seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around”? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Name the Angel that brought the news that Jesus was to be born to Mary? …………………………………………….. 5. What did your true love give you on the 7th day of Christmas? …............................................................................. 6. Which carol includes the lyrics 'While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy'? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Who had a Christmas number one with "Merry Xmas Everybody" in 1973? ………………………………………………… 8. In the UK 'Pigs in a blanket' refers to small sausages wrapped in what? …………………………………………………….. 9. 'And all the bells on earth shall ring, on Christmas day in the morning...' is taken from which Christmas carol? .................................................................................................................. 10. In the 1971 novelty Christmas song, 'Ernie' was the fastest what in the west? ………………………………………………. 11. In The Carol Hark the Herald Angels sing, who are reconciled? …………………………………………………………………… 12. Where did Chris Rea sing that he was driving for Christmas ............................................................................................. 13. In the carol ‘O little town of Bethlehem’, the hopes and fears of .............................................................................. Are met in thee tonight? 14. What did the angel say in the first Nowell? ............................................................................................................................ 15. Name the original eighth reindeer from the 'Twas the night Before Christmas' poem?................................................................................................................... 16. In the Carol in the Bleak midwinter; what did the earth and water stand like? …………………………………………………….. Ca n you guess the Christmas songs and Carols from the pictures? A Christmas 2013! B C D E F I G H J K L M I S T L E T O E H Q W C Y G F G H A S E I L P J T H R T I N S E L B B P E F D R E U M D B V A T N A S C P I E R I A S U G C A R O L S S D K N E B F M D R Z J U S T N E C L W Y L H P A X Y E M I Y E K N O D T C U C I V A E A P D G J G A L R X K L S R X I X A Y U E G X C D E T N C E N R V I R G I N M A R Y F A U X L N W O X P F P E L M U L L E D W I N E C I J A Words to find Mistletoe Mulled wine Bauble Turkey Joy Joseph Cracker Wreath Donkey Tinsel Elves Christmas tree Carols Gold Mince Pie Virgin Mary Reindeer Santa Feed the world, let them know it’s Christmas time again... Band Aid 30 is the 2014 incarnation of the charity super group Band Aid.