WHAT fruit or vegetable is a rich source of lycopene and was brought to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors? Guess the names of UK cities or towns – Cook’s Meadow, Bing’s Town, Ding Dong Quickly. For answers consult the PAL Gazette.
At a time when newspapers are facing many challenges, and some unfortunately have had to close their doors, suddenly a new young publication has hit the headlines.
The PAL Gazette has a ready market in Northern Ireland and already the take-up has been impressive. Who makes up the readership? The clue comes with the name of the publisher, Engage with Age, a charity that is imaginative and hard working, and this gazette will bring items of interest to many people who are trapped in their homes during this coronavirus tragedy.
PAL is a new fortnightly initiative from the charity and it has taken off; it’s full of news for older people and contains contributions from many readers, like Betty Drysdale, who admits she’s been indoors for weeks.
“I’m walking up and down the garden every day to get my exercise. The lockdown reminds me of the curfews during the war. We all had to be inside with lights out soon after teatime. We used to listen to the radio to Valentine Dyall ‘The Man in Black’ and his stories of ghost trains." The BBC radio horror series Appointment with Fear was a great distraction from the actual fear of invasion.
Still a happy birthday
Margaret Galbraith is 73 and for the first time this year she wasn’t able to spend the day with her twin brother which must have been very hard. But her neighbours presented her with a birthday cake and cards and pictures from the children sitting on her doorstep that morning.
“I’d only previously waved at my neighbours from a distance and their thoughtfulness really made my day.”
Making lists is the answer to this social isolation, according to Mervyn Cleland: “Every night I make a list of four or five jobs to do next day. When I complete a job I feel a sense of achievement and it’s good for my motivation. Making a list helps me see that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
There are quick-fire phone competitions, help with getting online and taking the mystery out of Facetime, Zoom and WhatsApp so to connect with family. A member of the Shankill Seniors Forum tried video calling for the first time and within one day Hazel was participating in the Chocolate Bingo game, carried out using a Zoom video call, and she won one of the chocolate prizes!
There’s even a Spot the Ball competition. Only those of us of a certain age will remember the newspapers running the picture of footballers in mid flight but no ball to be seen. If you placed it properly within the grid you won a prize – in this case, a £10 Sainsbury’s voucher.
I am going to tackle Marianne Woodcock’s recipe for Belfast Bread and Butter Pudding and already I’ve taken the advice given on Ways to Make Staying at Home more Manageable – stick to a routine and arrange delivery services which should be easier now with the priority online food delivery.
The NI Direct link for the vulnerable housebound for 12 weeks to get priority delivery from Asda, Tesco, Iceland and Sainsbury’s is https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/register-priority-online-food-delivery.
Here’s hoping!
It’s a hefty form to fill in but nothing frightening – just doctors' details, your details and your social care number. At the every end of the procedure, guess what? "The stores will make every effort to offer you an online delivery slot, but it is dependent on demand and cannot be guaranteed." Sort of defeats the object.
Then there’s the PAL Pyramid. Simple, just call two people every week perhaps friends who you already know but have lost touch with. To sign up for details from Martin Towers on 0785 6926 412.
One of the most important items in the Gazette comes under ‘In a Lock Down Rut?’ If you are feeling a bit stuck with the coronavirus crisis and not sure what you can do to make things feel a bit better during lockdown, then the invitation is there to call Martin Towers and chat it out.
Information, advice, humour, history of pubs and people’s own stories... for a black and white newspaper it’s full of colour.
One of the most important articles concerns the very effective Older People’s Forum across Belfast, providing a voice for men and women from various organisations, members who have something to say and wish to lobby on important community issues working with Belfast City Council, the Consumer Council, PSNI, the health trusts, and Translink amongst others.
More at engagewithage.org.uk or phone Eamon Quinn on 0771 0993 036
Have you seen that girl?
LINDSAY Robinson is the founder of this organisation dedicated to raising awareness of maternal and parental mental health and advising mothers especially to find help, and support, all based on her own practical knowledge.
Lindsay suffered postnatal depression after having her son Reuben and has shared her experiences in a bid to help other women and at this especially difficult time she has created a video called Message to Mum.
“With Covid-19, I was determined we reach out to mums in some way. Many are online all the time now, at home, so I thought this could be a simple and effective way. It's been getting great response since released last week."
Almost 30 mothers from all over Northern Ireland have taken part to share wisdom, hope and encouragement, using simple and direct words – ‘make time for you’, ‘OK to ask for help’, ‘You are not alone’ and ‘Free yourself of guilt, give it a day off’.
More at https://www.facebook.com/haveyouseenthatgirl/videos/267879427590497/ or you can contact Lindsay on email haveyouseenthatgirl@outlook.com
