General Information Pages
Social Groups for the older generation
There are a few groups catering for the 'older' generation, one being the U3A, and they are about lifelong learning for older people, people no longer in gainful employment and who want to learn new things.
You can find out more about what they are all about on their Web pages and also find your local Tamworth branch.
Around the country groups of people organise themselves for the purpose of learning. To quote one of the founders of the movement, Peter Laslett,
"Those who teach shall also learn and those who learn shall also teach".
The subjects tackled vary with each U3A and the number offered will depend on the size and enthusiasm of the group so visit their site for information for your area.
Both these organisations offer various activities for the older generations, over 50's generally, from recreational through to learning new languages and skills and social groups.
Crown Green Bowling as a recreational sport
Last September, with less than 2 months left in the season, we joined our local Bowling Club. We dropped in one afternoon and we were greeted by a number of the members and invited to join them for tea and a chat, and during this chat invited back to play at a day of our choosing. The only condition put on us was that we had to be there for 2:15pm in order that our names could be placed in the hat for the draw of who plays in which teams. This we did and returned as guest players this week.
We were made to feel welcome and we soon settled down and enjoyed the game. Little did we realise the muscles that were then exercised during the game and it was not until after we arrived back home and started to climb the stairs that we found out! We than missed the next day and went back for more torture on Friday 1st September, having decided to join, so paid our fees and played again. This time the pain for me moved from my hip into the top of my right leg! My problem now though is getting the bowls to travel the right length. Most were either too long or too short with a few being fairly well on line and the right length! Maybe our own woods will help! Time will tell!
Have you not thought of joining a sporting or recreational activity? Age is no excuse as we have discovered? So get out there today and have a go!
Recycle and Help a Charity at the same time
With people getting into the swing of recycling these days, then why not help a worthwhile charity like the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People whilst doing it?
The charity is collecting used postage stamps along with picture postcards and further information can be found on their web site.
The charity relies totally on the generosity of individuals and organisations to continue transforming the lives of deaf people and unwanted puppies.
Nearly nine million of the UK population experience some degree of hearing loss. That's one person in every seven. Over 650,000 of these people are severely or profoundly deaf and could benefit from a hearing dog.
Hearing dogs change lives. They alert their deaf owners to sounds we take for granted, providing greater independence, confidence and security. Most are selected from rescue centres or donated as unwanted pets.
Scottish Whisky
This article, written by Geoff Slack, originally appeared in a Winter 1990 copy of The Gazette, an In-house publication at Lucas Aerospace, York Rd., of which I was the editor. I hope you enjoy the read!
Geoff went on to make several major contributions and did a splendid article on The Birmingham Ballet, which we may reproduce here at some time in the future if we get any requests.
click «here» to read the article on Whiskies!
Register with the Telephone and Mail Preference Services to avoid unsolicited calls and mail.
Do you suffer with annoying telephone calls with people trying to sell you something or maybe when you get to the phone there's no one there? The latter is usually a company ringing you anyway but their automatic dialling software cuts out when the first person they rang answers, hence you hear nothing when you pick it up.
The only real way to avoid these unwelcome telephone calls is to register via the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which you can do very simply by either calling 0845 070 0707, via their web site, or email: tps@dma.org.uk. Whilst this won't stop ALL calls it will dramatically reduce them!
There is a similar service for junk mail via the Mailing Preference Service, and they can be contacted via telephone 020 7291 3310; the web site; or e-mail: mps@dma.org.uk.
Tea and biscuits anyone?
A rather nice little site if you like afternoon tea and biscuits is NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown.com. Visit it and you'll see what I mean !! Nice and relaxing after the stress of the current occasion! There's some lovely biscuits on there ranging from Iced Gems (sweet tooth breakers as I remember them) through to some really mouthwatering chocolate orange coated ones; to ginger crinkles and so on. The sight of them makes you feel hungry! They go on to talk about other things like Scones and jam with clotted cream to Strawberry Newton's - look like fig biscuits but with a strawberry filling!! Oh, I can't go on - you'll have to look at their site!! Just click on the link above!
Theft of mobile phones?
Theft of mobile phones accounts for half of all street crimes in Britain. Many of those thefts are in the London area, where organised gangs are believed to be working, to send the handsets to Africa and Asia. But now the police and phone companies are to take action: from this morning, a new police unit will deal specifically with mobile phone theft.
The phone industry forum's Jack Wraith told us about its new initiative, which means that you can report your stolen mobile to a phone-line which will immediately disable it.
The help line for stolen mobiles is 08701 123 123
The new police unit which is being launched today will be known as the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, and security staff from the mobile companies will be seconded to the unit. Home Office minister Hazel Blears, Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin from the Metropolitan Police and Jack Wraith from MICAF will unveil the new unit today.
It will examine ways of dealing with the initial crime, the handling and re-programming. Assistant Commander Tim Godwin said he wanted to see all the organisations involved in the issue working side by side: "I am extremely pleased to have been part of setting up this new Unit and look forward to seeing the results further down the line. The industry has played a full part in this process and I thank them for their continued support."
MICAF - the industry body which looks at mobile crime welcomed the establishment of the new unit saying it was an example of the industry working on new initiatives to combat the problem.
If your mobile is stolen, you can now make sure that no-one else can use it on any network, call 08701 123 123 to disable it!
Telephone Scams
Telephone scams can be reported to ICSTIS, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone
Information Services, which is the industry-funded regulatory body
for all premium rate charged telecommunications services.
ICSTIS can also be reached on the telephone - 0800 500 212 or 020 7940
7474; email: secretariat@icstis.org.uk;
or via their web address http://www.icstis.org.uk
Internet Banking
I would guess a number of readers of this page are Internet Bankers and enjoy the flexibility and convenience this brings.
You may have read recent press reports about email scams targeting
customers who manage their accounts online. Typically these emails
attempt to gain access to customers passwords by encouraging them to
enter their Security Details on a fraudulent website. I believe
it is important to bring it to your attention, and to remind you of
some of the things you can and must do to ensure you stay safe on the web.
Know who you are dealing with -
don't follow any published links in any email asking you to login
to your account online. If you are going to login to your account,
either type in the full address of the website or use a link you
have previously set up. If you are unsure if an email you receive
about your account has genuinely come from your bank then contact
them and inform them accordingly.
Never type your Security Details in an email. Your bank will never email you asking for your Security Details, and will never normally ask for your full password over the telephone.
Keep your PC secure - use a personal firewall and anti-virus software (links to these can be found in the section Useful Links) and if your computer uses a Microsoft Windows operating system that you keep it updated using the Microsoft website.
You must take extra care if you are using a computer over which you have no control, for example if you login at an internet café.
Your Bank will re-assure you that they take the security of your accounts online very seriously and they will ask you to call them immediately if you have any concerns or you believe you may have divulged your Security Details.
For other Frauds & Scams see the Action Fraud Website.
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Interested in a Broadband Connection? Or maybe a new ISP?
Plusnet tends to regularly win awards for its Customer Service.
Why not take a look at their Home Phone Packages too? You might be pleasantly surprised!
