FOCUS

Summer 2012Dundee Blind and Partially Sighted Society

Thomas Herd House10-12 Ward RoadDundee DD1 1LX

Telephone: 01382 227101E-mail: office@dbpss.org.uk

Website: www.dundeeblindsociety.org.uk

Hello Sandra here againHi everybody

Hope you are all enjoying the summer despite the poor weather we have been having. I had my summer holiday early this year and am happy to say that we had really nice weather.

We recently celebrated my grand-daughter Gracie’s third birthday; it just seems like yesterday that she was born. She is becoming quite a character and a little bossyboots, but she does make me laugh when she puts her hands up to her face and says o’ my god when something is not to her liking! Scott is staying at nursery for another year as he won’t be 5 until December.

We recently had some excitement at home when my friends’ daughter Lisa visited me from Bedford for a few days in June. During her stay her boyfriend proposed during dinner at my house and Lisa said yes. I hope they will have a long and happy life together.

Well that is enough of my news, on with the society information.

Well the politicians are at it again trying to make it into the history books by bringing in new laws. Some of the changes that politicians are consulting on at the moment include changing Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment, PIP for short.

If you receive DLA and are between the ages of 16 and 64 on 8th April 2012 then you will be invited to claim the new Personal Independence Payment. If you claim PIP you will be reassessed for the new benefit.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have identified two categories for reassessment:

1. Natural reassessment, which is when there is a change in circumstances or you have reached the end of a fixed term award.

2. Managed reassessment, will be when the Government use a computer to randomly pick DLA recipients in order to reassess them.

From October 2013 onwards if there is any change to your circumstances, or the end of the fixed term is due before March 2014, then you will be reassessed.

Between October and December 2013 the Government estimates that 30,000 will be reassessed. From January 2014 reassessment will then begin for everyone, with around 30,000 per month.

Everyone currently receiving DLA will be reassessed for PIP by March 2016.

The DWP will provide information about what will happen and when you can expect to be invited to reassessment.

You will be told, by letter, that you have been selected for reassessment. You will then have 4 weeks in which to claim for PIP, after this time your DLA payments will end.

They are also bringing in the Self Directed Support Bill. This is about services being provided from the bottom up and people having services which do meet their needs. For example: if someone needs tucked in instead of them being told what time they will be tucked in at they will be able to say what time it will be.

There will be other changes with NHS and Local Authorities working and sharing finances to eliminate debates about who pays for care.

It all sounds quite exciting but with all these things I think you need to wait and see how it all evolves to truly see if it is better or worse than what went before. Also all of these changes are about saving money and some may not happen so please don’t panic.

It was mentioned in the previous newsletter that it had been brought to my attention that the passport forms were very difficult to complete for visually impaired people. I did receive a reply from their Customer Services

Manager who informed me that they cannot change the form. This unfortunately means that if you need to complete a passport form you may need to get help. The information leaflet is however available in large print.

Love Sandra

Editor’s BitWhat changeable weather we have had over the last few months, just typical Dundee weather I suppose.

Did you enjoy the last newsletter and the Jubilee quiz, I am sure you all did well on it. Please remember you can receive the newsletter in any of the following formats: as a paper copy, cd copy, in braille or sent by e-mail as a word document or as a pdf. Just let me know if you wish to change the format you receive it in.

I have been asked to mention to you that Dundee Railway station doesn’t have a direct line anymore and all calls should go through National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.

As college has finished for the summer my daughter Natalie has returned to volunteer dog walking at Brown Street kennels. She came home on Monday full of excitement as two of the dogs she walked that day were puppies. So you can imagine what her topics of conversation have been about. Let’s hope the puppies are adopted soon otherwise it will be a long summer for me this year!

Do you remember in the last issue I told you that my cousin Karen Graham was nominated for The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2012? Well, she has gone one better than that and been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to nursing and to the community in Tripoli. We were so proud of her with her first award but this is just amazing. It is going to be a busy year for her as she is also getting married later in the year.

Chat to you soon

Diane

SONATA PLUS+ INTERNET AUDIO PLAYERThe Sonata plus+, the new version of the very popular Sonata Internet Audio Player, is easy to use via a single volume dial and five buttons.

Listening choices are made by following the audible programme guide and pressing OK to select. Once set up, the unit can be operated by remote control and, because it is also wireless, it can be used anywhere around the home.

Please note: A broadband internet connection is required.

The Sonata plus+ looks the same feels the same and sounds the same and still gives access to a whole host of content from worldwide radio stations to newspapers, magazines, podcasts and books. Inside the box, however, the electronics and wireless are totally different.

The requirement to have a sighted helper to set up the wireless connection is now gone. The new unit has an inbuilt speech chip,

meaning that the internal menu structure is now accessible by audio programming. Not only can a visually impaired person set up their own wireless connection, but it can be done in many locations because the Sonata plus+ now has the ability to store many different wireless passkeys.

To keep in line with currently available text to speech software Sonata plus+ also now has the facility to change the speed and pitch of speech playback. Users will now be able to choose from various settings.

To keep in line with health and safety the Sonata plus+ also now uses a power reducing adapter, instead of a direct 240 volt lead, from which the unit receives and operates with only 5 volts.

Finally the biggest change of all is the facility to play from both USB stick and SD card. Sonata Plus+ has two USB and one SD sockets from which the user can play from up to 32 gigabyte sticks or SD cards and can also use USB devices to playback from.

To find out more please call John or Luke on 01622 754757.

Living Paintings LibraryHave you heard about an exciting new initiative from the Living Paintings Library for blind and partially sighted children and adults?  They have developed a brand new range of materials designed specifically for use in a group setting called Touch to See Book Club titles.

Each title contains 2 or 3 tactile images with 10 copies of each, an accompanying audio description, colour images and a set of guidance notes to provide ideas on how the pack can be incorporated into a Touch to See Book Club session.

The titles currently available to borrow are:Shakespeare’s Kings & HeroinesHunting by NightA Great CatchWhistle-Stop ScotlandTown and CountryMysterious WomenWhat’s Cooking?

If you are not already a library member and would be interested in borrowing these resources please get in touch either by phone on 01635 299771 or by email sarahz@livingpaintings.org

Alternatively if you know someone who may like to start a group or would like more information on starting one then please pass on this message to them.

And finally, if you would simply like to find out more about Touch to See Books clubs please visit their website www.livingpaintings.org/what-we-do-for-you/working-with-groups

Would you like to read to babies or children in your family and cannot find the format you want to use? Do you know children that want their books in giant print or braille? Access2books produce these books in dual format giant print (75 point) and braille in softback.

They have the top 30 books in the UK, such as TV classics The Gruffalo, and Little Princess - Don’t Want to Go to Bed.

The project came from Eileen Finch, a grandmother who uses 75 point print who wanted children’s books not only to read but to look and feel as good as all the other children’s books.

The books are designed so the braille reader does not obscure the child’s view of the pictures or text. They understand your access needs may be quite individual and will accommodate any specific access requests they can.

The books cost £23.99 (plus any p&p) and are handmade on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis.

If this project proves of interest, they will consider hardbacks in the future.

Here are the ways you can contact them to find out more:

Internet: www.access2books.org

Email: efinch@access2books.org

Telephone: 07976 666958

Write to: Access2books, 7a Waterloo Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. LU7 2NR.

Macular Disease Society The Macular Disease Society visits the society on the last Monday of each month at 1:30pm.

They support and advise people living with Macular Disease. They provide up to date information, campaign for better services and support over 200 local volunteer groups. They also fund research to find a cure for this life-changing condition.

Most of their help and advice is free. Their helpline, counselling, low vision and information services help thousands of people each year.

Why not come along and join in.

Royal Mail scheme for customers on low incomesRoyal Mail will be launching a Christmas scheme for people on low incomes to buy up to a total of 36 1st or 2nd Class Stamps in one purchase at 2011 prices which was 46p for 1st Class and 36p for 2nd Class.

The scheme will launch on 6 November 2012 and will be in place until the last posting date before Christmas for 1st Class stamps.

People on pension credit and employment and support allowance (or incapacity benefit) are eligible for participation in the scheme. 

Eligible customers will need to provide evidence that they are in receipt of benefits, (e.g. the Annual Uprating letter or the Award Notice letter from the DWP). Stamps will be available for purchase from any of the 11,801 Post Office branches.  Royal Mail will write to every UK household later in the year explaining the scheme and how it works.

Activity TimetableThere have been no changes to our activities but please have a look and let us know if you would like to come along and join in.

There is transport available most days and costs only £1 in each direction.

This timetable is subject to change but you will be notified of any changes through this quarterly newsletter.

Monday Walking Group (Fortnightly during summer months)

No Transport from home and back 10am 3pm

Bring Lunch

Summer Outings for the elderly (Fortnightly during summer months)

Transport Available10am 5pm

£10 cost

Tuesday

ManicureNo Transport

10:45am 1pm£5 cost

BingoTransport available

1:30pm 3:15pm£3 per card (24 games)

Wednesday

Reminiscence Group

No Transport10:30am 12 noon

Free

Lunch ClubTransport Available

12 noon 1:30pm£3 for lunch

AromatherapyNo Transport

1:30pm 3pmFree

Ladies’ ClubTransport Home

1:45pm 3:15pm50p

Thursday

HairdressingNo Transport

10am 1pmCosts Vary

Craft GroupNo Transport

10:30am 12:30pmFree

Deal or No DealTransport Available

1:30pm 3:15pm£2.50

FridayTea and Chat Group

Transport Available1:30pm 3:15pm

£1

Walking Group

Doreen here

Just to remind all of our fit and able clients our summer walking group is now up and running and proving to be very popular.

So far this year we have visited both Monikie and Crombie Country Parks and enjoyed the walks around the water and pathways in both these areas. The parks are very beautiful at this time of year with flowering shrubs and bushes helping to make our time there a bit more special.

We’ve also walked the river shoreline path between the Tay Road Bridge and Newport Harbour where we enjoyed a picnic lunch before returning to the minibus.

It’s a fun and healthy group and we have a great time out and about as long as the weather is kind and not too wet. If you would like to join us and feel you could walk approximately 3 – 4 miles then why not give us a call to find out some more about this group.

The most important thing is to bring a snack/packed lunch with a drink in a light-weight back-pack, dress in wind-proof clothing, warm headgear and gloves and sensible shoes with good gripping soles (sometimes it can be a little wet or muddy so white trainers are not ideal) it may be colder than you expect that day. If you are not sure what to bring, ask Marion for advice a few days before.

The minibus always leaves on time at 10am, so if you are unexpectedly delayed please give us a call so you are not left behind.

Hope you can join us

Doreen

Monday OutingsHello again, Marion here with just a few words about our summer outings. They are going great with visits to Abernyte, St. Andrews, Arbroath, Forfar and Perth with everyone having a fantastic time; the food as usual has been wonderful.

On the 18th June we went to Peggy Scott’s for coffee, Pictavia which tells the story of the Picts in Angus then to the Park Hotel for lunch although the weather wasn’t very kind to us that day.

The next trip on 2nd July is to Killin where we will have a picnic, if the weather is nice for us, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Why not come and join us on some of our trips where you can meet new friends and have a good old blether. Just give me a phone at the society on 227101 and I will add your name to the list although places can be limited so book early.

The trip costs only £10 and for that we will stop for ‘elevenses’, have a nice cup of tea or coffee then go on somewhere nice for a two or three course lunch.

Here is a list of the dates of our remaining trips and where we will be visiting.

2nd July Killin

16th July Cupar and Anstruther

30th July Loch Lomond

13th August Perth

27th August Stirling

10th September Arbroath

24th September Train trip to Aberdeen

I look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now, Marion.

Lunch Club

Have you tried our Lunch Club on a Wednesday yet it is a great way to meet people? It starts at 12 noon where you will be served a tasty two course meal for only £3.00. One week there will be soup and a main meal and the following week it will be a main meal then a pudding; there will also be tea and coffee available.

We can also pick you up and take you home again in our minibus for only £1.00 each way.

Some of the food we have served has been Lentil Soup, Scotch Broth, Shepherds Pie, Fish & Chips, Eton Mess and Apple Pie and custard.

If you would like to join us for lunch and a chat please let the reception staff know by Monday lunchtime as we need to make sure we have enough food.

Puzzle Pages - CrosswordHow did you get on with the word search puzzle in the last issue? I find them much easier than crosswords but I thought you might like a change this time so here is a crossword for you.1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10 11

12 13 14

15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22

23 24

Here are the clues for the crossword, good luck.

Across8 Without tenants (5)9 ...are not the only fruit, J

Winterson novel (7)10 Records of Christ’s life in the

bible (7)11 Defence alleging a suspect

was elsewhere (5)12 Fossilises (9)14 Pouch (3)15 Dejected (3)16 Departed (4, 1, 4)19 Ancient Italian (5)21 Culpable (2, 5)23 Twirls (7)24 Feature (5)

Down1 Broke off communications (4,

2)2 Concealed (8)3 Inflames eyelid (4)4 Dwarf tree grown in a pot (6)5 Country which has two states

on the Island of Borneo (8)6 Cross between a Grapefruit

and a Tangerine (4)7 Making enquires (6)13 Lack of susceptibility (8)14 Cheerfulness (8)15 Raise the shoulders to show

indifference (6)17 Hate (6)18 Things will occur (6)20 ... Wilson, founding member of

the Supremes (4)22 Yellowish-brown (4)

SudokuHow did you get on with the Sudoku puzzle in the last newsletter? I have been told that many of are enjoying it so I have added another one this time. It requires no calculation or arithmetic skills. It is a game of placing numbers in squares, using very simple rules of logic and deduction. It can be played by children and adults and the rules are simple to learn.

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple rules to follow.

Every row must include all digits 1 to 9 in any order.

Every column must include all digits 1 to 9 in any order.

Every 3 by 3 subsection of the puzzle must include all digits 1 to 9.

Once you get the hang of it I think you will enjoy Sudoku.

I am sure you will manage this puzzle. As always the answer is at the end of the newsletter.

6 43 4 1 9 5 2

8 6 357 5 1 41 3

4 7 55 3 4 1

1 6 2

Quiz PageI would like to thank James Simpson who is the husband of one of our clients Mary Simpson for donating a Scottish Quiz book.

I hope you like this quiz it is all about the Romans in Scotland.

1. In which century was the Antonine Wall built?

2. Which two rivers are connected by the Antonine Wall?

3. Which Roman emperor ordered the first invasion of Scotland?

4. When did the Romans return to the fort at Newstead after abandoning it around AD100?

5. What was the Roman name for Scotland?

6. Before the Antonine Wall was built, what construction marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, keeping out the marauding northern tribes?

7. Where was an exciting Roman find made in 1998 by a ferryman?

8. Where is the Roman fort of Rough Castle?

9. Which modern road follows the track of Dere Street?

10.When did the Romans first invade the north of Scotland?

11.Where was the Roman fortress that was built near Dunblane?

12.What is the name of the Roman road that was built between Jedburgh and Dalkeith?

13.When did Argicola return to Rome from Scotland?

14.Which Roman emperor was the last to mount an offensive against the people of Scotland?

15.Who was the last Roman emperor to try to subdue the people of Scotland?

JokesWe have Gordon, our Handyman/Driver, to thank for these terrible jokes.

My aunt died, God bless her, at a ripe old age of 104.We called her Aunt Tique.

An elderly patient gets hearing aids from a doctor. After a short time, he meets the doctor again.Doctor, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased.”Patient, “Oh, I am in a funny situation now. I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit and listen to their conversations. In a month, I’ve changed my will three times!”

When Bill Gates was a young lad he had a pet crow. He tried teaching the bird to speak, introducing a new word each day. To his disappointment his feathered friend would not utter a sound, until finally one day the bird jumped on his perch and blurted “Bill Gates,

you will be the richest man in the world some day!” Bill was totally astonished. He needed to hear more, but the bird would not say another word. Bill decided to seek professional help. He went to see a Gypsy tea reader.The old lady looked into the tea leaves and exclaimed, “Yes Bill Gates you will be the richest man in the world if you do this one simple thing!”Bill could hardly contain himself as he ran home. The next morning as Bill’s mother came down for breakfast she found Bill cooking something on the stove. “What are you doing, young man?” she asked. “Well mother, remember what Blackie told me the other day?” “Yes Bill, but what are you cooking?” “Well,” said Bill, “I went to see the Gypsy tea reader and she confirmed what the bird told me!” “Wow, that’s great!” said his mother, “But what is in the pot?”“Well, the gypsy lady told me that I needed to do one small thing to get my wealth!” “Yes Bill but why are you cooking?” “Well.... She told me I had to make MY CROW SOFT!!!!!”

Dates for your DiaryThe Rotary Club of Dundee will be holding its Charity Gala Day on Saturday 25th August 2012 in the City Square.

There is a programme of entertainment organised which runs from 11am to approximately 4pm.

The stalls will be staffed from 10am to 4pm and many of Dundee’s charities will be represented.We have booked a place and hope to see you there along with the sunshine!

The society is holding its Annual Open Day on Monday 10th September 2012.

Doreen has arranged for a variety of suppliers to attend and demonstrate their aids and appliances. There will also be a representative from Dundee City Council here to advise on health and safety issues and Lush (the shop in the Overgate that sells

soaps and other lovely smelly things) will be here as well offering you the chance to have a hand massage on the day.

We do hope that you will come and join us, you are more than welcome to bring along family and friends.

Here are the dates when the society will be closed for holidays during the second half of the year.

Monday 1st October to Friday 5th October, re-opening on Monday 8th October 2012

and

Monday 24th December to Friday 4th January 2013, re-opening on Monday 7th January 2013

If you have an emergency when the society is closed you can contact the Social Work Out of Hours Team on 01382 432270.

Happy BirthdayWe have only one special birthday being celebrated this issue.

James Blyth will be 101 in August.

Congratulations and many happy returns from everyone at the society.

How did you get on with the crossword? Here are the answers for you to check. If you would like a larger print copy of the answers please let me know.1 2 3 4 5 6 7

H C S B M U A8

N L E T9

N G E SU O R AN O Y N L L K10

O S L S11

L I B IG P E AU E A Y N12

E R13

F E S14

AP T I I B GT M I U

15

A D16

A17

E M O V18

S M D A EH U E Y V19

O20

A N21

O22

L M ER M T B AU A I E U N N23

Y R A T E24

A C E TG S FS Y Y T F Y S

Did you manage the Sudoku puzzle? This one was a bit easier that the last one. Here is the finished puzzle for you to check.

5 2 1 8 3 7 6 9 43 4 7 1 9 6 5 2 89 8 6 2 4 5 7 3 14 5 3 6 8 9 2 1 76 7 8 5 2 1 3 4 92 1 9 4 7 3 8 6 58 3 4 7 1 2 9 5 67 9 5 3 6 4 1 8 21 6 2 9 5 8 4 7 3

Quiz AnswersHere are the answers, how did you get on?

1. The second century AD

2. The Forth and The Clyde

3. Vespasian

4. Around AD140

5. Caledonia

6. Hadrian’s Wall

7. Cramond, Edinburgh

8. Near Falkirk

9. The A68

10.Around AD80

11.Ardoch

12.Dere Street

13.AD84

14.Constantius

15.Constantine