It’s a new year, and its “in with the new and a fond farewell to the old”, but there are still some reliable constants that keep hanging in throughout the good times and the bad.

 

The Park Community Centre held their 1st Community Quiz of 2015 on Saturday January 17. Numbers may have been lower than previously experienced, but still a good 7 teams competed their wits and grey cells against each other and yet another contest ended up being closely fought, with “Val’s Team” being the winners, “The Eagles” runners up and “Last Minute” having the dubious honour of being the mystery prize winners. The Chairman has asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone who took part, and of course a couple of Johns who organised the evening and became Quiz Master.

The next quiz is on Saturday February 21, and as always doors open at 7pm, so why not clear out the dust and cobwebs that have been languishing in the corners and darkest recesses of your minds and come along, after all, where else can you get a delicious buffet, cash prizes and an entertaining evening all for £3.50!! It may be wise to pre-book your table, as in previous evenings; there have been too many brains for such a small event!

 

The Youth club (PDY) has been so popular and has now extended itself so much so that now there are 2 separate sessions, school years 6 – 7 meet from 5.30 until 7.30pm and school years 8 and upwards from 7.30 until 9.30, apparently the older members are enjoying their “chilling time”

The youth club really does has a lot to offer our younger community, in the past there have been “Gladiator Nights”, fund raising events, table tennis, special cookery events, outings, air hockey, there is so much that I will run out of space, but if you would like your child to experience a positive peer experience, bring him or her along to our Club Meets on Tuesday Nights.

Frugal Foods are still finding delicious ways to make nutritious one-pot meals, come along to cook or just eat… There is no charge but donations are always welcome, they couldn’t do it with your help after all.  Doors open from 10.30 until 12.30 with food being served at 12.00, Upcoming dates are, as always on a Friday, January 30, February 13 & February 27, March 13 & 27. If you want to know more have a look at the website  www.frugal-foods.org.uk

Grace Markwell has started up a new dance class for the younger age, Called G.well.C Dance, this takes place on Fridays from 4pm until 5pm the cost is £4.00 per class but it is recommended that you contact her to book your place, term starts from Friday January 16 onto Friday February 13, then there’s a half term break from February 16 until February 20. But do give Grace a ring or email her, full details are on the centre web site, but her phone number is 07837 831677, 01183 482977

She has been full CRB Check and also comes complete with a First Aid Certificate. (Just how dangerous is dancing!!)

Now you may not be aware but there is a Memory Café that takes place every other Tuesday from 2pm until 3.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall on Westham Road/Park Street Weymouth, and on the alternate weeks the “Singing for the Brain “ group takes over. This activity is concentrated on helping everyone to improve their memory as we age, by finding alternate ways of creating memory pathways through connecting activity with sounds, or to put it more simply, singing while carrying out actions!  I have found myself subconsciously doing this myself when I need to remember someone’s name, and I have been complimented several times already this year on my memory for this, (Something that in previous years I was conscious that I was sadly deficient in). These groups are both run by The Alzheimer’s Society, who also runs another group on Portland. They also offer support to all members of families where there may be someone who is experiencing a memory issue for whatever reason and whatever age, (after all you don’t have to be old to have these problems and sometimes other health issues can also create problems with our memory abilities). The Memory Café offers games, quizzes, group activities, tea and cake (or biscuits) and sometimes, more importantly, a shoulder to rest your worries on, or share your worries with. It is amazing how the same issues can affect us all, and how often we feel that we are the only ones dealing with this. It is a fact, that if we live long enough, this is an issue that will affect us all, so anything we can do to make our lives (and the lives of those around us) easier to bear, must be a good thing.

Speaking of which, don’t forget the Waterside Singers are still singing away every Monday from 2.15 until 3.30 at the Park Community Centre at Chelmsford Street Weymouth. Again you need no musical background or experience. There are no auditions, you don’t need to read music, and you aren’t made to stand in a corner if you sing a wrong note.

Need to take  up a new sport, or maybe just improve your existing skills? The Park Community Centre has Short Mat Bowls every Tuesday from 10:00 till 12:00, £2.00 entry fee, this include a drink and biscuits.

 The Park District Table Tennis Club meets at the Community Centre in Chelmsford Street on Thursdays from 12pm to 2pm.

We have 3 Tables with a ball delivery robot for training and fun. Ours is a mixed ability club, the equipment being used by disabled members of the community and the Youth Club. All equipment is supplied and we charge £1:50 per session and are hoping to start an evening session on Wednesday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Just come along on a Thursday for some fun and gentle exercise, but if interested in the evening session please contact Dave on 01305 784633

Not so sporty? Then how about Art? Fancy getting in touch with your creative juices? The Waterside Art group invites you to join their friendly group on Thursday mornings from 10am to 12pm . The cost is only £2 a session and equipment can be supplied. If you don’t think you are a good artist, we can help you. If you have a craft that you could share with us, perhaps you could help us. Either way you can expect to have fun. No booking, just turn up on the day and start learning a new hobby. An additional Arts & Crafts Group runs on every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. If you want more information on either group just ring the Park Community Centre on 01305 839579.

Ok so  your not sporty, and not arty, well what about Whist? Whist Drive Thursdays 2.30pm until 5pm cost £2.00.   Just want to be friendly? Then how about the Over 50’s Friendship Club, this runs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, they do all sorts, go out on trips, have speakers in to give talks on interesting topics, and generally it’s a good way to meet people in the area, especially if you are new to it.  Ok then, perhaps with all your New Years resolutions still going strong, you have limited time or funds perhaps and you fancy multi tasking… How about the Luncheon Club, meet people while eating out? This happens on the first Wednesday of each month, Locations vary, (obviously) so you will need to call the centre to find out where the next meet is.

And after all the eating perhaps you might consider one or both of the exercise classes held at the centre.  Stretch, Relax And Breathe, Mondays 9.45 until 11.15 (A course of gentle exercise and meditation run By Anna) or Exercise To Music For Over 50s on Tuesdays from 12.00 until 2pm. Winter 2015 Term started Tuesday 13th January 2015, but Elaine would still welcome you into her group.

There’s more, there always is… But for the moment, lets all try and remember this little lot.Until next time. Happy New Year to Everyone in the Park District Community.