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Cicada Bowls Day. 2010
“Another great day; lots of fun and opportunity to chat and a well attended event much enjoyed by the Members” I think everyone agreed with Jim that we did have a good day in spite of the weather which was rather cloudy and a bit cool. The green at St Werbugh’s Social Club in
Chester was in perfect condition and the rain kept away. In fact the sun came out later so we got this great photo with lots of smiling faces.
We enjoyed a very good lunch, plenty of tea and coffee and very reasonably priced drinks from the bar.
The same again next year we hope, with better weather and we will ask for those sausage rolls to be warmed up! Cicada Christmas Lunch 2009
Thirty members and friends enjoyed a very friendly social occasion for the Christmas lunch at the Woodthorpe Hotel in Prestwich on December 5th. Photos follow:
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Cicada Walk 2009
FROM OVER HADDON VIA YOULGRAVE & ALPORT, BACK TO OVER HADDON IN TIME FOR LUNCH ON SUNDAY THE 28TH JUNE 2009. Six of us met on time as arranged, outside the pub and began the actual walk from the car park at 10.30am on the dot. Up to this time we hoped that more walkers would be joining us, however, Jonathan texted me to say that Hedy had had to pull out at the last moment. Members present were: Alan Corcoran, Jim Rylance, Angharad Hayes, Bill Allen and his wife Suzanne, and Peter Allison.
The weather was perfect, lovely and sunny with a cooling breeze. We descended the steep winding road down to the river, proceeded up through the woods along a winding track, the winding of which kept the gradient fairly gentle. Even for CI wearers the woodland birds were very vocal & audible though it was often difficult to identify birds from their songs, exceptions being the Blackbird and Chaffinch with their very distinctive songs. Eventually we reached the top and came out into an open field with the path running down towards a farm which we had to pass through and proceed to climb gently up the other side.
Passing through these fields some of us heard the Skylark with its piercing song high above, though I completely failed to spot where it was hovering despite being able to hear it. Eventually we reached a road, crossed the road and continued down the path into some woods, then reached another road, turned right and followed it until we reached another uneven path that descended down through some more woods towards the river at the bottom. We crossed the river, with Peter relieved he didn’t have to swim across.
From here on the walk was along a very well used path beside the river, where we caught sight of water birds and wild orchids and enjoyed the sounds of the river and woodland to our sides. We passed Youlgrave and Alport before crossing the river and then undertaking quite a steep, short climb to the top where we overlooked the river below with picnickers at its side.
The walk itself had taken almost exactly 3 hours by the time we had reached the pub. A good choice of menu was available for Sunday lunch. Some of us who were going out for a meal later on restricted ourselves to a light salad & pork pie lunch. Having eaten our food, we ordered drinks and stayed chatting for about another hour exchanging stories & jokes before going our separate ways.
Quite frankly the day couldn’t have been more perfect, except to have more members sharing all this with us. I wonder if people realise that Cicada was originally set up at the instigation of Professor Richard Ramsden, with the idea in mind that the incredible surgery, and the support given to us by the Manchester CI team, in themselves were not the end of the story. He wanted to provide social opportunities for Cicada members to participate in by using their cochlear implants, and to reverse the old fears of social situations some of us may have had before receiving our cochlear implants.
Indeed, some of you might wish you could participate but are restricted, through no fault of your own – possibly for health or transport reasons. If we know what the problem is: transport for example – tell Jonathan, and may be we can help you out with a lift if that is what is needed.
Thank you, and I hope your summer is as nice as the weather we had on our walk!
Bill Allen – July 2009.
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Cicada Bowls 2009
16 May 2009
The Cicada Bowls Day St Werburgh’s Social Club was very successful this year. The worry that the wet weather right up until Friday would spoil the day proved unnecessary and we were blessed with a lovely sunny day. Only one person took the advice to use the Park and Ride, others came by train and others did eventually find the car park. Play got under way and the green, as promised, was in excellent condition. The competition was a bit disorganised due to the Chairman’s inexperience with running a bowls event. The club provided five sets of bowls and two people brought their own but David had to go home and fetch another set so two matches could be played at the same time. The eventual winners were Peter and Jeff but everyone enjoyed a game and Beryl and Alison certainly proved a good test for the winners. Beryl and Irene’s sister, visiting from Australia, had also recently had a Cochlear Implant and enjoyed meeting Manchester CI users too. Interesting to know of three members of a family having a CI – now known as “the Bionic sisters”! The club manager did us proud, providing tea/coffee and sandwiches on arrival and later a lovely lunch with soup, salad and apple pie and cream to follow. A really worthwhile day out with sunshine, fresh air and lots of chat with friends.
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AGM and Conference 2009
Our AGM and Conference on 21 March was held at Manchester Metropolitan University and went very well. At the AGM, all the committee were re-elected plus new member Hedy Williams who is taking over as editor of ReSound. Kevin Williams also attended our committee meeting on April 19th. Kevin will be working with Geoff Brown on keeping our web site up-to-date. There was a discussion at the AGM on future events and members were given the chance to give their views. Some plans were made, which the Committee is now working on.
The AGM was preceded in the morning by two talks, the first from Ross Trotter on digital TV
AGM and Conference 2008
The Annual Meeting and Conference held at Manchester Metropolitan University on Saturday March 15th 2008 and attended by eighteen members was a great success.
The morning session comprised a presentation and talks given by Tracey Adams, clinical specialist from Cochlear Company, and Tony Murphy from Phonak. Tracey, whom we know from her time as part of the Manchester CI team, gave the latest news about Cochlear’s upgrades and research and then talked about using a T switch and loop systems. She first explained what an induction loop is and how it works. She said we are very lucky in the UK as we have more loop systems installed here than any other country. These are fitted at great expense and we should make sure that we make use of them.
Tony then told us about the systems and microphones and receivers that Phonak has developed in co-operation with all the implant and hearing aid manufacturers. There are FM (wireless) systems suitable for all makes. We were able to look at the different devices and try some out. Cochlear and Phonak provided catalogues and leaflets describing all the different programmes and devices available to us now, and some that will be available in the future.
A finger buffet lunch was held in a separate room with plenty of space to sit and talk to old friends and make new ones. Tracey and Tony both stayed and gave their time to talk to individual members.
The AGM was held after lunch and went smoothly with all the present committee being re-elected. Thanks were recorded to Tracey and Tony and to Anita Clokie for her help in obtaining the venue. Future plans were discussed and there was also some discussion on how we might encourage more people to become members. Barbara and Malcolm Vose, parents of Fleur, said they were surprised that other parents do not join as they have always found the meetings very helpful. We hope to produce a questionnaire to find out what parents and adult implant users would like us to provide.
Thanks also to Olive Pilkington who brought a huge box of Thornton’s chocolates to be raffled. This was won by the Chairman’s husband. The Chairman may now expect to have a much-increased waistline by the time of the next meeting!
A final thank you to our Palantypist, Francis Barrett, who recorded on the screen every word spoken during the presentations and meeting so that everyone was able to follow at all times.
Norah Clewes.
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Barbecue 2008
The Barbecue on July 26th was a great success. In contrast to the last occasion, the weather was perfect so we were able to enjoy the scenic views and fresh air of the Welsh countryside plus lots of good food. Denis took a group of us on a tour of the land which he and Heather took over when they moved to their present location twenty-six years ago.
As well as setting up and running his laboratories Denis and Heather have planted thousands of trees in place of the grass which had been used for gazing a few sheep. Denis pointed out all the different species of trees used and how the environment benefits from them. He said trees are their crop and they grow enough now to be self-sufficient in fuel to heat their home and laboratories. The woods also sustain a much more varied wild life than the grassland and many animals and birds are now found there.
This last year they have also formed small ponds in the woods so that birds and animals are attracted deeper into the woods. The ponds have been allowed to develop naturally and an environmentalist is continuously recording the pond life. This was a really fascinating and educational tour and we were very grateful to Denis and Heather for the chance to share their interests for the day.
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