Dear Reader We have published this Spring edition early so that we can

get it to you with the quarterly posting which as you read on you will

gather is being sent in February because of the revised date for our Annual

General Meeting

The AGM is normally held in March each year but as the Council Chamber

and committee rooms will be unavailable due to refurbishment works which

will starting in March it was necessary for us to hold the meeting sooner

than we had planned So the new date is Wednesday 2 6th February 2014

in the Council Chamber 1300 for 1330 start

Please do support us and come to this important meeting The agenda

includes election of your Committee and Officers review of the year past

and financial report along with two interesting guest speakers We will

hear from a representative of Southend Councils Highways team about the

potholes and highway maintenance programme I am sure many of us have

concerns about the state of the roads - this is your opportunity to speak out

about these issues Matthew Mint and Jo Dickinson from Social Care will be

joining us to update the assembly on the new draft Older Peoples Strategy

and how we all can be involved in the consultation and shaping of our

Social Care services Please see the enclosed agenda for more details

The OPA needs your support we have vacancies for committee members and

help is needed with other tasks so if you would like to be more involved andor join our committee

and would like more information please contact our Chairman Derek Iles at

southendopayahoocouk or to request an application form you can also call us on 07570

414867 or you can download the form from our website wwwsouthendopaorguk

Its difficult to realise with the recent ongoing rainfall and damp dark days that Spring is only

a matter of weeks away but 20th March is indeed fast approaching so dear readers its time to

shake off those winter blues and get ready to spring into spring - well not literally but it is

time for us to look forward and maybe think about a new hobby enjoying the outdoors as it

springs back into green growth getting involved in the community and dare I mention spring

cleaning Well what ever you decide remember to include time to relax with this Spring edition

of the Assembly Times - happy reading

We welcome articles from our readers and are eager to start a lsquoletters to the editor lsquo section so

please have your say express your views and maybe share some helpful information with our

membership Send your items to us at southendopayahoocouk or telephone 07570 414867

for details of our postal address

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E

Hobby Time

Page 2

Dementia Fiends Page 3

Hearing Loss Page 4

Protecting Clause 48 Page 5

Library Update Page 6

Saving on Heating

Oil Costs Page 7

New Feature -

Book Review Page 9

Cooks Corner

Page

10

Michaels Keep Safe

Email Scams Page

11

Established 2007

Issue 19 Spring 2014

The Assembly Times

Newsletter of the Older Peoplersquos Assembly

The fourth of our new Hobbies features is from David Stansfield and he writes

Country Wine Making

If you like wine but donrsquot like the price making your own is the answer

Once you have invested in the apparatus you can produce it for around

pound1 a bottle and I think it is every bit as good as commercial varieties It

is also a myth that country wines will knock your head off They obey

the same limitation of alcohol concentration as do grape varieties

Country wine is made from anything other than grapes Examples are

nettles dandilions mahonia elder red and blackcurrant blackberries

rhubarb apples plums strawberries and rapberries If these are not to

your taste then from grapes is equally possible but rather than treading

them down to get the juice Irsquod suggest ready made grape juice In fact

the practice is to mimic production from grapes This is done simply by

putting in the acids that are naturally present in grapes

The steps involved are ferment the mix of ingredients This will take

the most time rack (remove the lees) so you finish with clear liquid in

the bottle

With everything in place I can start a wine batch in 10 minutes rack it

in 5 minutes and bottle it in 20 minutes So it only takes 40 minutes to

make 6 bottles However the total time span is 2-3 months

To give you a flavour content of the starting mix is sugar yeast and

booster acids (citric malic and tartaric) country wine liquid ingredient

and water to top up

My earlier version of this article turned out to be too long and technical

as it explained everything in detail A case of ldquoeasier done than saidrdquo

However if you have a serious interest I can supply those details and

back up advice

Everything you need by way of equipment and chemicals is available at

500 London Road Westcliff

JDS4214

Remember drink in moderation and follow the recommended unit consumption for healthy living - for more

information wwwdrinkawarecouk

P a g e 2 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

I am a nobody nobody is perfect therefore I am perfect

If practice makes perfect and nobodys perfect why practice

The fourth of our new Hobbies features is from David Stansfield and he writes

Country Wine Making

If you like wine but donrsquot like the price making your own is the answer

Once you have invested in the apparatus you can produce it for around

pound1 a bottle and I think it is every bit as good as commercial varieties It

is also a myth that country wines will knock your head off They obey

the same limitation of alcohol concentration as do grape varieties

Country wine is made from anything other than grapes Examples are

nettles dandilions mahonia elder red and blackcurrant blackberries

rhubarb apples plums strawberries and rapberries If these are not to

your taste then from grapes is equally possible but rather than treading

them down to get the juice Irsquod suggest ready made grape juice In fact

the practice is to mimic production from grapes This is done simply by

putting in the acids that are naturally present in grapes

The steps involved are ferment the mix of ingredients This will take

the most time rack (remove the lees) so you finish with clear liquid in

the bottle

With everything in place I can start a wine batch in 10 minutes rack it

in 5 minutes and bottle it in 20 minutes So it only takes 40 minutes to

make 6 bottles However the total time span is 2-3 months

To give you a flavour content of the starting mix is sugar yeast and

booster acids (citric malic and tartaric) country wine liquid ingredient

and water to top up

My earlier version of this article turned out to be too long and technical

as it explained everything in detail A case of ldquoeasier done than saidrdquo

However if you have a serious interest I can supply those details and

back up advice

Everything you need by way of equipment and chemicals is available at

500 London Road Westcliff

JDS4214

Remember drink in moderation and follow the recommended unit consumption for healthy living - for more

information wwwdrinkawarecouk

P a g e 2 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

I am a nobody nobody is perfect therefore I am perfect

If practice makes perfect and nobodys perfect why practice

T h e a s s e m b l y t i m e s P a g e 3

Once you reach the age of 70 your driving licence expires ndash but this doesnrsquot automatically

mean you have to stop driving You just need to renew your driving licence if you want to

continue driving and then every 3 years afterwards The DVLA will send you a D46P

application form 90 days before your 70th birthday Renewal is free of charge You can

renew your licence online subject to certain criteria at wwwgovuk

A message to us all from Cathy MacBride of the Alzheimers Society

The Dementia Friend scheme is led by the Alzheimerrsquos Society and aims to make

everyday life better for people with dementia by changing the way people think

talk and act It is about giving more people an understanding of dementia and the

small things that could make a difference to people living with dementia in the

community It makes such a huge difference to people with dementia if those

around them know what dementia is and how it might affect them

A Dementia Friend will learn a little bit more about what its like to live with

dementia and then turns that understanding into action People with dementia

sometimes need a helping hand to go about their daily lives and feel included in

their local community Dementia Friends is giving people an understanding of

dementia and the small things they can do that can make a difference to people

living with dementia - This one thing can be to be more patient in the shops if

there is a customer with dementia that is taking longer than others might like or

lsquohelping someone find the right busrsquo through to helping to spread the word about

dementia

As part of Southendrsquos Dementia Awareness campaign there are a series of local

sessions that people can attend Sessions are free informal last an hour and are

being held at various locations across the town on a variety of days and times All

ages are welcome If you are interested you can book via the internet

wwweventbritecoukosouthend-on-sea-borough-council-5296051659

or contact Caroline Foley on 01702 215008 ext 5316

or email dementiasupportsouthendgovuk More information about dementia

friends can be found at wwwdementiafriendsorguk

The Older Peoples Assembly applauds this initiative and would encourage its

members to find out more and perhaps attend one of the information sessions and

consider becoming a dementia friend We have published session dates venues and

times on page 8 of this edition of the Assembly Times

Are YOU willing to become a Dementia Friend

P a g e 4 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

I S M Y H E A R I N G G E T T I N G W O R S E

Itrsquos easy to take good hearing for granted You probably know what itrsquos

like to have lsquoblockedrsquo ears with a bad cold ndash everything sounds muffled

and you may have to ask people to repeat things Fortunately hearing

will usually return to normal after a cold

But like many people you might find it harder to hear as you get older

Gradual hearing loss is a natural part of ageing although you may not

notice it until you are in your 60s or 70s More than half of people

over the age of 60 have some sort of hearing loss But surprisingly many

people who could benefit from a hearing aid donrsquot have one

Hearing loss its not something you should ignore - there are some simple

things you can do to ensure your hearing stays as good as it can Here is a

checklist to help you decide If you answer lsquoyesrsquo to any of the following

questions you may have a hearing loss

Hearing checklist ≫ Do you have to turn up the television or radio more than you used to or does your family

complain that the sound is too loud

≫ Does it seem like people are mumbling rather than speaking clearly

≫ Do you often find yourself asking people to repeat things

≫ Do you find it difficult to hear at social gatherings in places of worship or when there is

some background noise even though other people manage to have conversations

≫ Do you ever have difficulty hearing the doorbell or telephone ring or hearing people on the

telephone

≫ Do you ever miss your name being called for example at the doctorrsquos surgery

W H O TO C O N TA C T

If yoursquore concerned about your hearing your GP can check to see whether there is a medical reason

for your problem If necessary they can refer you for a hearing test Speak to your GP if you are

concerned about your hearing You could also check your hearing using lsquoAction on Hearing Lossrsquo

telephone hearing check by calling 0844 800 3838 Action on Hearing Loss is the new name of RNID

You can also contact Action on Hearing Loss for information amp advice about hearing loss

wwwactiononhearlossorguk Article Content AGEUK

YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT RNIB IS IN DESPERATE

NEED OF USED POSTAGE STAMPS TO RAISE MONEY FOR

THE VERY VALUABLE WORK THAT THEY DO SEND TO

RNIB PO BOX 6198 LEIGHTON BUZZARD LU7 9XT PLEASE CLIP THEM FROM THE ENVELOPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 1 CM ENVELOPE SURROUNDING THE BORDER STAMPS WITH THE PERFORATIONS CUT OFF ARE OF NO USE TO THE RNIB

Do you throw away the postage stamps from your correspondence

T h e A s s e m b l y t i m e s

I

Its an important issue that many of us may not be aware of or fully understand the implications of

clause 48 for some older people So it seems appropriate to provide a brief summary of what its all

about and let you know that Age UK is currently petitioning the government on this subject

Imagine two older people who live next to each other in a care home ndash one pays for their own care

the otherrsquos is arranged by their council Did you know that there is a loophole in the Human Rights

Act that means that only one of these people has full protection of the law from abuse and neglect

In the current situation the Human Rights Act only applies to those people who have their care

arranged by a public body (eg Social Care) Anyone who pays for their own care in a residential

setting or receives care in their own home is not directly covered by the Human Rights Act That

means that if anyone who pays for these services experiences abuse or neglect they have fewer

protection rights Age UK believe this is wrong as do many fair and right minded people and your

OPA supports this view

One of the most important things that happened when the House of Lords debated the Care Bill was

that the Lords recommended an amendment that sought to close this loophole It was voting through

by the House of Lords defeating the Government This amendment became Clause 48 of the Care

Bill giving equal protection under human rights law to everyone receiving care But now the

Government is seeking to scrap Clause 48 in the House of Commons The government is saying that

they believe it to be unnecessary and confusing even though several leading lawyers disagree

On Tuesday 21 January the committee of MPs scrutinising the Care Bill narrowly voted to remove

Clause 48 from the Care Bill While this was disappointing it was not entirely unexpected and there

is still time as the whole House of Commons has the opportunity to look at the Care Bill during its

Report Stage in mid to late February This provides another opportunity to use the Care Bill to ensure

that all older people receiving care services have equal protection under human rights law

The House of Lords made the right decision to amend the Care Bill to close this loophole once and

for all Clause 48 provides equal protection for all older and disabled people receiving care

Everyone who receives care services should be protected from abuses of their rights regardless of

how that care was arranged Age UK is asking that if you support the inclusion of Clause 48 in the

Care Bill that firstly you sign their on-line petition and then continue to speak up about the

unfairness that would result if Clause 48 was removed Age UK say

ldquoThe more signatures we can gather the more public pressure we

can put on Parliament to vote to close this loophole in Februaryrdquo

To sign the petition or to find out more wwwageukorguk

If you have an issue thats relevant to the OPA amp over 55rsquos that you want raised at one of our public

meetings but donrsquot wish to speak yourself forward the details and we will present it on your behalf

The problem of loneliness in later life Loneliness is a massive issue for people in later life in the UK Half

of all people aged 75 and over live alone and 1 in 10 people aged 65 or over say they are always or often

feel lonely ndash thatrsquos just over a million people Shockingly half of all older people consider the television

their main form of company Can you help - Age UK Volunteers Befriending Scheme call 0800 169 29 39

Page 5

Its official ndash the library review outcome was formally agreed by our councillors in December Did they

listen ndashdo we have a service to meet the future needs of the town Well maybe but itrsquos not going to be

plain sailing as so much will depend on volunteers coming forward to support the two west hub libraries

of Leigh and Kent Elms and community groups tendering to run the Southchurch and Westcliff

branches as Community run libraries A summary of the councils press release is reproduced here so

that you can judge for yourself - did they listen

ldquoSouthend-on-Sea councillors formally agreed at their meeting on 12th December 2013 the structure of the

Southend-on-Sea Library Service until 2028

As well as continuing with Council funding for much of the service the structure will see an enhanced

place for volunteers Volunteers are being sought following the yearlong review of the Southend-on-Sea

Library Service Anyone who would like to become a Southend Libraries volunteer is urged to

emaillibraryvolunteerssouthendgovuk or write to the Southend-on-Sea Library Service Civic Centre

Victoria Avenue Southend SS2 6ER As the implementation of the proposals takes place the opportunities

to volunteer will be advertised All volunteers will be given appropriate training and support and will be

able to choose the location and times that suit their lifestyles and commitments

The Southend-on-Sea Library Service will now be structured as follows-

The main Library provision will be delivered from The Forum Southend - this new central library

provision is open 7 days a week has longer opening hours Wi-Fi and more stock than previously

existed in the old central library

The creation of hub libraries in the east and west of the borough staffed and managed by Southend-on-

Sea Borough Council

The East Hub library will be an amalgamation of Thorpedene and Friars libraries on a new site in

Delaware Rd

Both Kent Elms and Leigh Libraries will become Hub locations in the West of the Borough Each of

these 2 branches will share the paid staff resource allocated for a single hub library in the west The

Council will work with the local community to provide volunteer support to sustain the service

Leigh Library will remain in its current location for the foreseeable future

The remaining branch libraries (Southchurch amp Westcliff) will be offered to Community Groups to

run as Community Managed Libraries supported by the Council in terms of the provision of materials

access to relevant parts of the Library Computer system amp professional support and advice These will

operate under a Service Level Agreement within a framework of policies set by the Council

The delivery of the new National Offers around Reading Health Information and Digital

The development of a Virtual Library providing 24 hour access to information and resources and to

support both the Community Libraries and enable Library Users to access the service at times

convenient to them

Changes to the operation of the mobile service and Home Library Service to ensure these are bringing

maximum benefit to their users

In the Medium Term to long term the Council will look at a replacement building for Southchurch

Library introducing Wi-Fi into all of the branches improving IT provision and an e-book lending

service as it becomes available

To support these changes funding to progress the installation of Wi-Fi across the entire branch network

(including any branches that eventually become community managed libraries) has been approved

The Councils Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism Councillor Derek Jarvis said Southend

Libraries make a huge contribution to our residents and visitors so our challenge has been to work out how

best to secure their future with less and less money available to pay for themWe are very grateful to

everyone who took part in the review and gave us their views We listened carefully and took these on board

when developing and amending our final proposalsIt was very clear from the amount and strength of the

responses we received that people massively support our libraries Many have already come forward and

offered their services as future library volunteersThis is tremendous We invite them and anyone else who

would like to volunteer in our libraries in any capacity to contact us as soon as possiblerdquo

P a g e 6 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

T h e A s s e m b l y t i m e s

Heating oil prices have rocketed in the last few years making it far more expensive than gas Yet millions are dependent upon it ndash many are older

people living in rural communities struggling to afford to heat AND eat The following

information about Senior Buying Power was taken from a recent article in Future East

and seems to offer those of us who use oil rather than gas to heat our homes an

opportunity to make some savings on the cost of fuel The OPA cannot verify the accuracy

of the information but Future East is a regional representative organisation for Older

People and thus we assume a trustworthy source

Senior Buying Power state SeniorBuyingPower has been set up by Tony Watts who has been a writer and campaigner on older

peoplersquos issues for over 25 years Formerly the editor of Mature Times he is now Chairman of the

South West Forum on Ageing and a member of the Partnership Development Group of the Age

Action Alliance The site is in response to the inexorable rise in energy costs over recent years

leaving many with the choice of heatinghellip or eating The aim is to put spending power back into the

hands of ordinary people reduce energy costs and help lower the appalling number of ldquoexcess

winter deathsrdquo we see every year in our country By harnessing the buying power of the nationrsquos

older generation we have negotiated competitive heating oil and LPG prices for anyone ordering

their fuel through us And that typically means between 8 and 15 savings on the cost of heating

oil The more people that order through us the cheaper the heating oil ndash itrsquos that simple

Oil is delivered through a recognised and reputable supplier who will charge for what is purchased

You simply pay a small annual membership fee (which is how we cover our administration costs)

and that fee is discounted by pound6 for anyone aged 60

How it works To take advantage of the prices we negotiate for our group members get in touch

on 01993 224 111 Once we have details we can add the order to the most convenient group order

in the locality to get the very best deal possible We make contact to confirm what the price will be

and when the next delivery is planned If the delivery date is inconvenient then another is agreed

or if oil has already been purchased elsewhere no order is placed

Wersquoll simply need to know roughly how much oil is used each year how much might be needed next time and approximate delivery timescale The more flexibility with delivery dates the better price we can achieve All the leads generated through the Senior Buying Power website are handled by Community

Buying Unlimited established in 2009 the largest community oil buying organisation in the

country Anyone of any age can buy through this site but a membership

discount of pound6 for seniors has been negotiated which is passed on directly to

all over 60s buying oil or other products through SeniorBuyingPower

For more information about Senior Buying Power and to check full terms

and conditions wwwseniorbuyingpowercouk or 01993 224 111

Alternatively contact Future East wwwfutureeastorguk

Page 7

P a g e 8 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Many of us will now be thinking of our holidays and may need to renew our passports - so a word of warning

If you are going to lsquodo it on linersquo then make sure you only use the official site on the internet which will contain

govcom and avoid all the other ones like Passport-UK or PassportUK

I was caught out by the first of these on a Friday evening and submitted an application Realising my mistake I

went back almost immediately (the same evening) politely asking that you do not process my application and

I requested a refund of the pound69 I was unable to speak with anyone as office hours were Monday to Friday only

Since then they have ignored my request and merely pointing to their T amp Cs a refund is not given where our

services have commenced before a refund request is received My first contacts were late on a Friday evening

when no persons were on duty and thus no processing would have been taking place until the Monday morning

and hence no service could have commenced On this basis I consider they are morally wrong but so far despite

my urging no refund of an unnecessary charge has been made - what most of us would call a scam

My advice is to go to a main Post Office and renew your passport the old fashioned way

P Scally Mature Times Friday 10 January 2014

Did you know that STROKE sufferers have access to better support to adapt to life at home thanks to a new scheme introduced several months ago SEPT (South Essex Partnership Trust ) latest newsletter reports that A team of health workers has been set up to reassure and support patients and get them back to normal life more quickly after leaving Southend Hospital

The team ndash which includes a consultant nurse occupational therapist physiotherapist

speech and language therapist with access to a psychologist ndash provides a two-week service

for those with slight to moderate difficulties following their stroke

Within 24 hours of leaving hospital suitable patients will be visited at home by a qualified

therapist and a rehabilitation plan put in place

Patients will receive up to 45 minutes of therapy each week day If additional support is then

still needed they will be referred to the community therapy service

The project is a joint venture by South Essex Partnership Trust Southend Hospital and the

GP-led clinical commissioning groups in Castle Point Rochford and Southend

Southend consultant Dr Tony OrsquoBrien the East of England stroke lead said ldquoStroke patients

want to get out of hospital as soon as possible Providing rehabilitation care in their homes is

better psychologically and reduces disability The recently established early supported

discharge service can only improve stroke services locally even more We are delighted our

patients will benefit from this professional help in their own homes and are sure it will be highly

valued and very effective in the past stroke patients could stay in hospital for up to three

months Southend has already reduced its length of stay to 12 days and the disability rate for

patients has also decreased dramatically The number of patients who now walk out of

hospital following a stroke has risen from 33 per cent to 60 per cent now they will be further

helped in their rehabilitationrdquo This is due to improvements which include A seven-day stroke

service with input from specialist doctors radiographers amp occupational therapists as well as

superb support from vascular surgeons plus a seven-day transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or

lsquomini strokersquo service for patients suffering stroke symptoms In line with these improvements this community based service managed by SEPT will continue to enhance local stroke services

For more information contact 01702 606954 or the stroke co-ordinator on 07949 505944

P a g e 8 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Many of us will now be thinking of our holidays and may need to renew our passports - so a word of warning

If you are going to lsquodo it on linersquo then make sure you only use the official site on the internet which will contain

govcom and avoid all the other ones like Passport-UK or PassportUK

I was caught out by the first of these on a Friday evening and submitted an application Realising my mistake I

went back almost immediately (the same evening) politely asking that you do not process my application and

I requested a refund of the pound69 I was unable to speak with anyone as office hours were Monday to Friday only

Since then they have ignored my request and merely pointing to their T amp Cs a refund is not given where our

services have commenced before a refund request is received My first contacts were late on a Friday evening

when no persons were on duty and thus no processing would have been taking place until the Monday morning

and hence no service could have commenced On this basis I consider they are morally wrong but so far despite

my urging no refund of an unnecessary charge has been made - what most of us would call a scam

My advice is to go to a main Post Office and renew your passport the old fashioned way

P Scally Mature Times Friday 10 January 2014

Did you know that STROKE sufferers have access to better support to adapt to life at home thanks to a new scheme introduced several months ago SEPT (South Essex Partnership Trust ) latest newsletter reports that A team of health workers has been set up to reassure and support patients and get them back to normal life more quickly after leaving Southend Hospital

The team ndash which includes a consultant nurse occupational therapist physiotherapist

speech and language therapist with access to a psychologist ndash provides a two-week service

for those with slight to moderate difficulties following their stroke

Within 24 hours of leaving hospital suitable patients will be visited at home by a qualified

therapist and a rehabilitation plan put in place

Patients will receive up to 45 minutes of therapy each week day If additional support is then

still needed they will be referred to the community therapy service

The project is a joint venture by South Essex Partnership Trust Southend Hospital and the

GP-led clinical commissioning groups in Castle Point Rochford and Southend

Southend consultant Dr Tony OrsquoBrien the East of England stroke lead said ldquoStroke patients

want to get out of hospital as soon as possible Providing rehabilitation care in their homes is

better psychologically and reduces disability The recently established early supported

discharge service can only improve stroke services locally even more We are delighted our

patients will benefit from this professional help in their own homes and are sure it will be highly

valued and very effective in the past stroke patients could stay in hospital for up to three

months Southend has already reduced its length of stay to 12 days and the disability rate for

patients has also decreased dramatically The number of patients who now walk out of

hospital following a stroke has risen from 33 per cent to 60 per cent now they will be further

helped in their rehabilitationrdquo This is due to improvements which include A seven-day stroke

service with input from specialist doctors radiographers amp occupational therapists as well as

superb support from vascular surgeons plus a seven-day transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or

lsquomini strokersquo service for patients suffering stroke symptoms In line with these improvements this community based service managed by SEPT will continue to enhance local stroke services

For more information contact 01702 606954 or the stroke co-ordinator on 07949 505944

T h e A s s e m b l y t i m e s

At a recent committee meeting the matter of articles for the magazine was discussed and I

happened to mentioned to our chairman that I enjoyed reading as a hobby I was immediately

pounced upon by Derek to write a book review Me write a review Who at the age of twelve in a

class at school and in answer to a question said ldquoRichmal Crompton He writes good booksrdquo with

that my classmates laughed and the teacher grinned whilst correcting me

I mostly read fiction and at a fast rate which in my late teens brought about my decision to save

money on buying books and rely on the public library instead

Most books in the library have been reviewed by literary writers working for the Tabloids but here

goes with my amateur version

I am currently reading novels by an American writer David Baldacci He writes in the modern

trend and limits the number of mild expletives None of his characters are the foul mouthed type

The murders are gruesome and the subsequent autopsies explicit

His prolific introduction and use of abbreviations throughout a novel can be annoying

His books are as many American books broken down into numerous chapters with each chapter

introducing a small twist to the story which when I put the book down for a nights sleep causes

me to have to flick back through preceding chapters to pick up the theme I should perhaps heed

the words of one tabloid reviewer and not put the book down until finished

His books are written in series and the series I am reading at present has two main characters

former secret service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell who met and joined forces in a

previous novel to form a detective agency

He brings skills from his time in the secret service and afterwards as a

prosecuting lawyer- she from her time in a police force and from the secret

service with a proficiency in martial arts

They invariably manage to upset the FBI the CIA and every other

abbreviated American institution along with the local sheriff coroner and

morgue attendant

The book title is lsquoThe Hour Gamersquo The plot is of a serial killer who is

committing copycat killings after the style of murders in the San Francisco

area where a watch was placed on each victim

Enough said You have the author you have a title and have the plot

In modern parlance-Enjoy Brian Dillon Feb 2014

If you have recently read a book that you think other readers might like please let us know - send your review to

us at southendopayahoocouk

SAVS GP HELPLINE Last October saw the launch of a GP helpline service to help doctors direct

patients in towards other support services Southend Association of Voluntary Services operate the

private line for GPs Doctors can now call with patientsrsquo permission to seek help from voluntary

bodies The service is being run on a trial basis for a year and will be open between 9am and 4pm

daily though this may be changed

Dr Paul Husselbee from Southend Clinical Commissioning Group which oversees local GP

practices said ldquoAnything which can take the pressure off primary and acute services

is welcomerdquo SAVS say the hours are restricted to reduce costs but can be looked at

againldquoWe want this to workrdquo

Page 9

Health and Social Care Watchdog in Southend

Have you heard Healthwatch Southend is our local health and social care consumer champion it

was launched on 1 April 2013 as part of the changes to the way health and social care services are

delivered nationally and locally Healthwatch Southend is completely independent and designed to

work for the public It will help people and their families get the best out of local health and social

care services offer advice on navigating the system and advocacy support to people who wish to

complain about health services they have received Our health and social care system is going through

massive changes including cuts to spending and services Healthwatch is an opportunity for adults

children and young people to have real influence and bring about a better health and social care system

for all of us Healthwatch Southend will make health and care providers answerable to the people who

use their services Every voice counts

Jonathan Keay Healthwatch Southend manager said ldquoThis really is a special opportunity There have

been many efforts made to engage with the public about health and social care issues previously but

never before has it been done with the powers that Healthwatch has locally and nationally If yoursquove

got something to shout about wersquoll make sure the right people hear yourdquo

To receive regular information about the work of Healthwatch Southend you can become a

Healthwatch Southend supporter call 01702 220104 or email infohealthwatchsouthendcouk

P a g e 1 0 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Maureenrsquos Minestrone Soup

An Italian favourite that is only 180 calories per serving This is a basic minestrone recipe

You can ring the changes by adding potatoes or bacon and of course you can also add

pasta ndash either one of the small varieties available in most supermarkets or use spaghetti

broken into short lengths (add it for the last 30 minutes of simmering)

Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil 1large tin cannellini beans drained amp rinsed 1 onion chopped 1 tbsp basil 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped Freshly ground black pepper 2 carrots peeled and diced frac14 green cabbage chopped 2 stalks celery diced 1 large tin chopped tomatoes 2 medium courgettes diced 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat Add the chopped onion and garlic and fry gently without browning for 2 ndash 3 minutes Add the carrots celery and courgettes and cook for a further 4 ndash 5 minutes Stir in the tomatoes Fill the empty tomato can with water twice and mix into the vegetables along with the chopped basil Season with black pepper and allow the soup to simmer gently for 30 minutes Add the drained cannellini beans and the chopped cabbage and simmer gently for a further 30 minutes Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving Serves 4 Enjoy with some crusty bread or a warm roll

Health and Social Care Watchdog in Southend

Have you heard Healthwatch Southend is our local health and social care consumer champion it

was launched on 1 April 2013 as part of the changes to the way health and social care services are

delivered nationally and locally Healthwatch Southend is completely independent and designed to

work for the public It will help people and their families get the best out of local health and social

care services offer advice on navigating the system and advocacy support to people who wish to

complain about health services they have received Our health and social care system is going through

massive changes including cuts to spending and services Healthwatch is an opportunity for adults

children and young people to have real influence and bring about a better health and social care system

for all of us Healthwatch Southend will make health and care providers answerable to the people who

use their services Every voice counts

Jonathan Keay Healthwatch Southend manager said ldquoThis really is a special opportunity There have

been many efforts made to engage with the public about health and social care issues previously but

never before has it been done with the powers that Healthwatch has locally and nationally If yoursquove

got something to shout about wersquoll make sure the right people hear yourdquo

To receive regular information about the work of Healthwatch Southend you can become a

Healthwatch Southend supporter call 01702 220104 or email infohealthwatchsouthendcouk

P a g e 1 0 I s s u e 1 9 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Maureenrsquos Minestrone Soup

An Italian favourite that is only 180 calories per serving This is a basic minestrone recipe

You can ring the changes by adding potatoes or bacon and of course you can also add

pasta ndash either one of the small varieties available in most supermarkets or use spaghetti

broken into short lengths (add it for the last 30 minutes of simmering)

Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil 1large tin cannellini beans drained amp rinsed 1 onion chopped 1 tbsp basil 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped Freshly ground black pepper 2 carrots peeled and diced frac14 green cabbage chopped 2 stalks celery diced 1 large tin chopped tomatoes 2 medium courgettes diced 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat Add the chopped onion and garlic and fry gently without browning for 2 ndash 3 minutes Add the carrots celery and courgettes and cook for a further 4 ndash 5 minutes Stir in the tomatoes Fill the empty tomato can with water twice and mix into the vegetables along with the chopped basil Season with black pepper and allow the soup to simmer gently for 30 minutes Add the drained cannellini beans and the chopped cabbage and simmer gently for a further 30 minutes Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving Serves 4 Enjoy with some crusty bread or a warm roll

t h e a s s e m b l y t i m e s p a g e 1 1

Michael Armstrong Crime Reduction amp Architectural Liaison Officer Southend Police

District writes As promised in my previous articles I am continuing on the subject of Scams

and how to protect ourself from falling victim to these awful crimes

EMAIL offers a cheap way of reaching large numbers of people for very little cost so

itrsquos popular for both honest and dishonest purposes Unsolicited emails ndash generally known as

SPAM ndash can usually be spotted because you have not requested or agreed to the contact These

types of emails are likely to contain spelling or grammatical errors in the subject box to get around

the spam filters that email providers set up to block them Donrsquot open email attachments from

people you donrsquot know or click on links within the email as these will often carry a virus and can

infect your computer(A computer virus is a program or piece of code that enters a computer

usually without your knowledge and runs against your wishes All computer viruses are manmade

some are mild and may only cause messages to appear on the screen but others are destructive

and can wipe out the computers memory or cause more severe damage)

Never reply to scam emails even to say lsquonorsquo as it will let the sender know that your email

address is active and this is likely to encourage them to send more emails

A common scam is for a fraudster to send an email claiming to be from your bank or another trusted

organisation which then directs you to a fake website where it asks you to enter your account

details The website will often be cleverly designed to look like the organisationrsquos real website

Ignore these types of emails that ask for your details as they are never genuine

Scam emails can be used by fraudsters to attract victims One well-known type of email scam is

called lsquoadvance feersquo fraud This takes different forms but commonly the initial email explains that

the sender has money or something valuable and needs help to move it ndash often from one country to

another In return they promise the donor (YOU) a reward Once involved victims are persuaded

to make a payment to help the transaction along And of course the promised reward never appears

Most email accounts can be set to block spam so check your settings You can visit the lsquoHelprsquo

pages of your email account provider for information about how to deal with scam emails

Get more advice on how to avoid being targeted by scammers from wwwgetsafeonlineorg

Remember if you do receive emails or telephone calls claiming to be from your bank or another

financial institution asking you to confirm your account details or other personal information these

are always fake and if you disclose the information it may be used to raid your accounts So if

yoursquore asked for your details by email do not reply or click on the link given in the email This type

of scam is referred to as lsquoidentity theftrsquo Banks and institutions such as the tax authorities will never

ask you for your PIN (Personal Identification Number) password or other security information in

full

If you are concerned about emails or calls claiming to be from your bank contact your bank direct

and tell them but make sure that you use the contact details on

your bank statement or an official letter sent to you personally

from the bank

Another common scam associated with computers involves a

caller claiming to be from a reputable IT company saying that

they need access to your computer to get rid of a virus If they

do gain access then any personal details you have stored on

your computer will be available to them as they will upload

software called spyware You should not give these people on

line access to your computer as they are not genuine

Always refer any problems with your computer to a reputable

IT specialist or if you suspect a virus and you have anti virus

software on your computer most providers offer support Remember Be Wise be Scam Smart

P a g e 1 2 t h e a s s e m b l y t i m e s

Visit our Website wwwsouthendopaorguk

OLDER PEOPLES ASSEMBLY MEETING DATES 2014 Come and join us at Civic Centre Council Chamber 100pm registration for 130pm start

WEDNESDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2014

WEDNESDAY 4TH JUNE 2014 (venue to be confirmed )

WEDNESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2014

WEDNESDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2014

If you are interested in supporting the OPA would like to be more involved and perhaps join our

committee please contact our Chairman Derek Iles on 07570 414867 or email us at

southendopayahoocouk for more information

Wednesday 26th February 2014

The Annual General Meeting agenda includes a review of the year election of committee and officers financial report plus guest speakers amp question time

Come along and support the work of your OPA Council Chamber Civic Centre at 1330 PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY NOW

Healthy Living Fair Monday 10th March 2014 10am for 1030am ndash 2pm

The Plaza Centre 600 Southchurch Road Southend-on-Sea SS1 2PT Topics include ndash Stroke Diabetes and Mental Health All welcome

Dementia Friend Information Sessions (See Main Article on page 3 for full details)

14th February 1300 - 1400 19th February 1400 - 1500 Kent Elms Library SS9 5UU Leigh Community Centre SS9 1SP mdashmdashmdash- mdashmdashmdash 25th February 1230 - 1330 7th March 1230 - 1330 Shoebury Youth Centre SS3 9NS Salvation Army Centre SS1 2PP

Members have asked us to publish telephone numbers to use to contact the bus companies operating

in this area if there is a problem on a bus journey or there is a need to comment about a service

Arriva 0871 200 22 33 First Buses 08456 020 121

Regal Busways 01245 249001 Stephensons Buses 01702 541511