Blind and Partially Sighted Club, Hay on Wye.

4:53pm Friday 28th November 2008

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ONCE again the canine report is good and it is Quella who wishes to woof lots of “thank you’s” this time as on October 31, she celebrated her 17th birthday! She received cards, pressies and treats of chews and ice-cream shared of course with companion Fay. Bless her she is wonderful.

Again quiz’s and exercises have been enjoyed and Dulcie and Roly have celebrated birthdays with the usual cake, card and singing.

Members were able to join in with Val Whiston and Janet Playford when they played piano, clarinet also the flute. After many items the afternoon closed with Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat. Most enjoyable.

The new senior rehabilitation officer for Powys, Alun Roberts, very kindly popped in and introduced himself recently and we are looking forward to meeting him again soon when he will explain his ‘post’ to us all, and for his advice.

Betty Jones, chairman, shared with us her trip with husband Islwyn-Ishy as we all know him to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary by visiting son Mark in Palm Springs. They left on Thursday, September 25, to fly to Los Angeles and after lost luggage was found, a 25 minute flight was taken to Palm Springs where Mark met them and took them to their hotel which was wonderful and was welcomed very warmly. Hiring a car they travelled many miles taking in all the lovely scenery and experiencing very hot sun 105 degrees every day! They travelled up mountains by car, log cabins, supped ale, dancing, cable car which she declined a ride in! Travelled 99 miles to a place called Big Bear used as a ski resort in the winter. It had log cabins in the woods and a huge lake also a cafe was found and Ishy really licked his lips after thoroughly enjoying a steak and with pictures of Marilyn Monroe surrounding him what more did he want! A concert in a park with Scottish music guitars, fiddles and bag pipes everyone sitting, singing and with their lanterns finishing with a picnic. What lovely memories of a most wonderful holiday. They are no doubt planning the next visit.

Alene Dixon has also shared a visit to New York where with her sister celebrated her 70th birthday. She flew from Bristol to her destination over Cornwall and Lands End across the sea into Nova Scotia which is north of the city. Lots of woodland the Hudson River and a lake was observed. Immigration cards had to be filled in carefully and in security important details eg not crossing the red line views immigration and passport also two fingers prepared for their prints which were not a success and then taking off her glasses for the camera were given without the hint of a smile and of course tipping is very important there. The large hotel was black and grey marble with chandeliers with porters in uniforms of navy and red also big hat outside. Security guards were everywhere as a very important lady was also staying being Sarah Kennedy a candidate in the election. Shopping was not on the list but visits to the art galleries, the Empire State Building and the United Nations Building too. Her helicopter ride was her surprise present around the city over Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty which when the sun shone upon it was absolutely lovely. Because of the big annual conference, police etc were everywhere owing to all the heads of state being there at that time which made the visit to the UN building very limited but they were allowed into an area where there was a memorial to the people who worked for the UN who unfortunately lost their lives in Iraq, a book could be signed and stalls and a shop down stairs looked after by the UN Women’s Guild. Running Children’s Charities a verse on a tea cloth was particularly lovely. She went to Ellis Island by ferry and yes she actually saw Tyrrels Crisps! She then presented to the club a tea cloth which will be used often and to buy even a post card it carried 8.7 per cent New York tax.

Both ladies gave such detailed reports and I am so sorry that I cannot report on everything we were told but a big ‘thank you’ girls.

Eileen, Fay and Quella.