|
September
2003 Newsletter
Editorial
Welcome
back to all our members who have been away for a while on holidays
etc. We missed you all.
Congratulations to Ray who is reverting to his own job of Area Manager
following his year as Manager of Platinum Clubhouse. Best wishes
for the future Ray...
We've
Been On Holiday
This
is Des here. I have been away from the Clubhouse for a couple of
months. So nice to be back. Myself and Bridget went down to Tralee
on the 11th of July. We stayed for two days and off we went to Castlegregory
which is on the Dingle Peninsula. We spent a week there. I got a
bit of swimming in. Friends of ours had also taken a house there
so I had good fun with some of the children. From there we went
to my wife's sister Mary. They have a house in south Cork. It is
beside the sea, so I got a bit of swimming in. We have two children
& they have two children, so we played some games with them. Altogether
we were two weeks away. Then in August we went to Edinburgh. Linda
will be interested in this. We stayed in a hotel six miles from
the city. We went into the city every day. The city is very historical.
We visited where Mary Queen of Scots resided. Scottish history reminds
me of Irelands history, full of oppression from the British. We
did a tour of the city by bus and saw all the interesting places.
I would recommend Edinburgh to anyone. So that's all the news.
Des
Hi
folks, It is a while since I was on holidays but it was brilliant.
I went to Majorca with my better half at the end of May. The weather
was brilliant and of course the lovely blue skies were matched
by equally blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches are
so long and so clean. At approx one in the morning there was a
tractor driving up & down the seafront in front of our apartment
sweeping the beach. I had a great time and the nicest part of
all was the fact that it was a surprise. We only went to book
the holiday on the Wed. or Thurs. & flew out on Sunday. Best holiday
of my life…
Basic
Computer Skills
Tutor:
Fiona Conlan The six week, two hours a week course every Wednesday
in Newbridge library. First we joined the library, so we could
use the computers at a given time. The staff were very helpful
and welcoming. Course Details: First we used Word 2000 formatting
text– write letters, C.V. and saving on floppy disk. Then we
added graphics using clipart gallery. Windows Explorer is where
you use the Internet. We opened files and folders and created
new folder for our text, which we save on floppy disk. Excel
is like a calculator where we add, subtract, multiply and divide
on spread sheets. I am thinking of buying a computer, I think
it will help me in my studies to be a chef. Also I am a member
of the library where I can get tapes, CDs, videos and books.
Michael
My
Trip to Galway
On
Wednesday 6/8/03, I went on the Westport train to Galway
, with a two hour change over at Athlone. I was met at Galway
station by my cousin Kathleen and her two children, Aaron
and Alanna, who I was staying with. On Thursday I went to
Roundstone with Michael who sells vegetables at a market
there. I had great fun selling vegetables to all the housewives.
By the end of the day we had sold off all our stock of apples,
oranges , potatoes, lettuce etc. I have to say Roundstone
is one of the nicest places I have ever seen in my life.
On Friday, I did the market in Kinvara. On Saturday we went
on a tour of Clare and had a nice meal in a hotel in Ballyvaughan.
On Sunday I visited all my relations in Galway. That weekend
there was a festival in Kinvara and on Sunday night Kathleen
and myself went to see a Blues Band in Winkles pub, which
was very good. I enjoyed my few days in Galway and with
a sad heart I boarded the train home on Monday to Kildare.
Philip
Employment
Unit
As
it is September we are concentrating on Education. Some
members will begin an ECDL course in VTOS on Monday 15th
September. We would like to wish them all the best. We have
applied for an education grant to Kildare County Council
and we are awaiting a reply on this. Also we have a new
proposed work site and the employment team are working on
this. There will be a First Aid course starting this autumn
and some members will tackle this and to all who do, we
wish you all the best. Over all we are extremely busy in
this unit.
Carmel
My
Experience As A Special Olympic Volunteer Continued Part
2
Sat.
June 21st 2003 — The long wait was over, bearing in
mind all the instructions given us in advance. I enthusiastically
set out at 7 am for the Shelbourne Hotel, R.D.S, Dublin.
I felt a little bit anxious. What if I can’t manage the
task I’m assigned to. What If I can’t communicate with an
athlete due to a language barrier ? what if I’m late ? etc.
In hindsight that happened to be all unnecessary anxiety.
The motto of team 2003 was “One Team, One Goal, One Chance,
to show the World the best that can be.” We all did
our utmost to live up to that Goal. Everywhere was awash
with bright colours on arrival at the R.D.S., as there was
a variety of uniform colours. The Games Volunteers wore
Emerald Green, the Medical service team wore Red, the Event
services and Safety team wore Sunflower Yellow, officials
Black and White, and delegation assistants Sky-blue. With
those colours we were all asked to wear beige Skirts or
Trousers. We signed in giving our volunteer number and name.
Our accreditation cards were checked and we were given 3
food vouchers: morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.
Once
inside we made our way to the appointed location & very
soon our Team leader made announcements as to where and
with whom we would be working. Being a member of the Opening
Eyes Team, I was working with opticians. As soon as the
doors were opened the athletes started pouring in and no
time the place was a hive of activity - I’ve never seen
anything like it. So many people were so busy. What amazed
me most was how well organised everything was, firstly they
all got into queues to have their particulars written down.
From there on they moved through the various stages of eye
testing, each stage done by a different optician. I was
working almost at the end of the line where the final decisions
were made as to whether they needed glasses or not. Many
of them did need glasses and some with more serious eye
infections were also detected. At the very end of the line
there was a team making the glasses (If that’s the correct
expression). Which meant that when they left the building
they were wearing their glasses. They also got a complimentary
pair of designer sun-glasses donated by an Italian Company
called Safilo.
Speaking for myself, I can honestly say it was the most
rewarding weeks work I’ve done. Meeting all the athletes
was an unforgettable experience. We must have met someone
from nearly every country and island in the world, even
from those exotic places that we would love to go on holidays
to, but some of us can only dream about them. Conversing
with many of them didn’t turn out to be such a problem after
all, as a lot of their particulars were on their accreditation
which they wore around their necks. There were interpreters
also. As the week wore on many had won medals and even if
they didn’t speak English, they understood that their medals
were being admired and that they were being congratulated.
Pozdravlyau (Poz-Dra-Vla-u) how does my congratulations
in Russian sound? It would bring to tears to your eyes to
see the way their faces used to light up with happiness,
pride and joy with their win.
Eileen
D. to be continued...
Announcements
Get
Well wishes to:
All our members who are unwell.
Birthday
Wishes to: Eileen
M, Christopher, Seamus, George, Ray C, Robert, Paula, Aidan Mc
D, Michael Mc D.
Holidays
2003
I
left Ballyshannon for Kilflynn Co. Kerry, which is a small village
off the Listowel to Tralee Rd. I was in a self-catering house
for a week during which time I travelled around 1,000 miles.
I travelled to Ballybunion, Connors Pass, Listowel, Ring of Kerry,
Waterville, Killarney, Gap of Dunloe and Healy’s Pass.
I
left Kilflynn for Macroom on August 2nd. While there I travelled
to Gougane Barra, Glengariff, Bantry, Allahies, Mallow [races],
Clonakility, Skibireen, Dunmanway, Ring of Beara and Country Park,
Millstreet.
We arrived home on August 9th. We came home via Killarney as we
had time to spare. The following day we went to the races on the
Curragh. The final day we went up towards Wicklow. We finished
up in Glendalough.
Patricia
Q What happened when Croke Park was flooded?
A: They brought on a sub.
Q
How long should a person’s legs be?
A: Long enough to reach the floor.
Joe
was driving along the dual-Carriage-way. The guard stopped him
and told him he was doing 80 mph.
To which he replied I couldn’t be, sure I am only left home 20
minutes.
Q
What do you call a pup that lies too close to the fire?
A: Hot Dog
Q
What can speak every language and never went to school?
A: An echo.
Q
Why did the boy keep running around the bed?
A: He wanted to catch up on his sleep.
Q
Why did the onion cry?
A: Because he cut himself.
Q
What did the cat say when he was put in prison.
A: Let me meowt of here.
Patricia
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions and beliefs expressed in this newsletter are
not necessarily the views of Platinum Clubhouse.
Any articles, items or pictures in this newsletter may only be
reproduced following permission from Platinum Clubhouse.
Contributors:
Eileen D. Patricia, Philip, Des, Tom, Carmel, Michael
Editorial
Team:
Tom, Cathy, Caroline, Stephen D
|