Wardside Gazette No. 25
September 2012 · Editor: Resident Margery Neill and Resident Andrew Hodge
New Residents:
Once again, we had no new permanent residents joining us last month but Mrs. Aline Dunlop, who had been here two years ago for a short period of respite, came back again with the same intention. Unfortunately on the day of her arrival she was not feeling well and had to be taken to hospital where, rather sadly, she did not survive a necessary operation.
Good Wishes with many happy returns of the day go to Margaret Whiteside, Margery Neill and Isobel Martin, all of whom celebrated birthdays last month.
Staff News:
There have been no changes to report during last month.
The Craft Class and all residents are delighted that ‘Sir Christopher’ did ‘Go for gold’ and very successfully achieved another gold medal. Meantime it was back to work with Susie directing the making of Olympic torches and trinket boxes. This month the concentration will be on Blythswood Shoe Boxes.
The Quiz Night continues to be very popular. Susie seems to have volumes of varied questions that test the ‘little grey cells’. Everyone learns something they didn’t know before or can recall the answer immediately after it is revealed.
Special Entertainments last month.
Zoo Lab on Friday 17th August proved to be quite a success. It was presented by a young man who introduced himself simply as ‘Ross’ and then introduced, one by one, the eight ‘friends’ he had brought with him. The habits, diets and peculiarities of each was described and then taken around for everyone to have a close look and, for the brave, to handle or touch. The ‘friends’ included a Giant African Snail, an Indian Stick Insect (which gets a new skin and then eats the old one), a huge Cockroach that eats everything, a Tarantula Spider, a Millipede with 240 legs, a South American Boa Constrictor Snake (about 9 feet long) , a White Tree Frog and a Fat Dumble Rat (about a foot long not including it’s tail) all of whom he fed and kept at home in two of his spare bedrooms – so he said.
All Aboard on Monday 20th August was also very successful. Helena Fraser, accompanied by Bob Simans on the piano, presented in a most entertaining way well known songs from various musical shows including (to mention a few) ‘ My beloved father’, ‘Just you wait ‘enry ‘iggins, ‘I could have danced all night’ and, specially requested in memory of the late Bill Grant, ‘Jerusalem’. It was a huge success and enjoyed by everyone. We are most indebted to Mr and Mrs Sloan ( Dr Sloan’s son and the late Bill Grant’s daughter) for their kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity in making all arrangements.
Special Events this month
Church Service by Rev. W. Ross on Sunday 2nd September at2.30 pm.
Church Service by Rev. A. Barton on Friday 21st September at 11.00 am.
The Olympic Flame.
Here is an interesting and topical article, which appeared in a recent magazine.
“The Olympic Flame has become a symbol of the Games and represents a spirit of peace, friendship and unity. The practice of moving the flame from Greece to the host country stadium by relay is relatively modern, having been started at the controversial Berlin games in 1936. The idea however is steeped in history and its origins may be found in Ancient Greece.
It is said that during the original games at Olympia, a continuous fire burned at the alter of the goddess of Hera, wife of Zeus. For the Ancient Greeks, fire had divine connotations, as it was believed to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus.
For the modern Olympics, the flame is lit at a ceremony on the site of the Temple of Hera, by reflecting the rays of the sun using a parabolic mirror. After a short journey in Greece, it is handed over to the host nation and begins its journey to their Olympic stadium.”
And lastly:
The Price of Gas in France.
A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre. After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van. However, he was arrested only two blocks away when his van run out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied “Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings. I had no Monet to buy Degas to make my Van Gogh”.
An elderly man is stopped by the police around 1.00 am and is asked where he is going at this time of night. The man replies “ I am going to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body”. The officer then asks, “Really! and who is giving that sort of lecture at this time of night?” The man replies “That would be my wife”.
Wardside House, Muthill, Crieff, Perthshire PH5 2AS.Tele. No: 01764 681 275www.wardsidehouse.com