Blog 3 July 15 YES THERE WAS A MONKEY ON MY BALCONY AND I WAS STILL IN DISTRICT 1120

 MID SUMMER MADNESS 

MAIDSTONE RIVERSIDE ARE WELL NAMED July 25

 Riverside BBQ and Canoeing in the Medway 

Another really hot afternoon and  Rotarians were once more busy setting up gazebos  ready to serve Young Carers with gourmet delights and drinks after an afternoon on the Medway. (Thank you Medway Canoe Club and Rotarians and family members of Maidstone Riverside Club) 

What a memorable start to the summer holidays for these young people and me. Everyone  really had fun, some getting MUCH wetter than others, swimming rather than canoeing! We played games  in the canoes and paddled vigorously. It was a privilege to join them  on the water even though I disappointed Colin Norgate by not falling in. He was posed waiting for the moment to catch me falling in !!!

OVER THE DOME  FOR POLIO MEETING July 27 

 Thanks to Mike Martineau  (Beckenham RC) and Christine Atkinson  (West WickhamRC)  who have  now  finalised the  Over the Dome event for District. Details have been sent out  to all clubs and  Mike will be available at  Engage for more sign ups. It would be good to have reps from all clubs to take part. If however you cannot find a willing climber perhaps your club would sponsor my climb and put the funds raised in your own Club's Polio pot! (Let me know if you do )

BBQ and SINGING  with STROOD RC July 28  

Another lovely afternoon and evening  chatting with Strood Club and  their wider Rotary family. I really felt  I was in Kent  and not in the London suburbs as I travelled through apple orchards. 

Thanks to Kevin and his wife for  shopping and cooking and to the club for inviting Jim and I.  A really great afternoon. Thanks for the invitation President Rachel.

 Followed by a SING ALONG MAMA MIA 

REALLY FUN 

 CANTERBURY FOREST OF BLEAN  Club meeting  July 30 

Really interesting speaker 

Kerry Waite from Hope for Tomorrow. 

Hope for Tomorrow brings cancer care closer to home

In 2013, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust partnered with national cancer charity, Hope for Tomorrow and launched a Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU) to bring cancer care closer to patients’ homes. 

In a unique partnership the MCU is developed, built, owned and maintained by Hope for Tomorrow and operated by highly trained NHS staff. These well-equipped MCUs allow cancer patients to receive treatment in a restful environment closer to home, saving stressful long distance travel and minimising waiting times, allowing them to spend more time with their loved ones. 

In addition to the MCU, Hope for Tomorrow provide the Trust with a Nurses Support Vehicle to allow the nurses to travel to and from the daily treatment locations along with any additional supplies or equipment that's required.

The MCU has historically visited the locations below to give treatments (subject to change):

Cheriton 

Dover

Herne Bay

The MCU can visit up to five locations each week to give treatments, with up to 15 patients benefiting each day. These treatment locations are carefully chosen by the NHS Trust, based on where they can treat the most patients at any given point, hence being subject to change.

For more information about Hope for Tomorrow please click here: www.hopefortomorrow.org.uk 

WHY NOT ASK KERRY TO SPEAK TO YOUR CLUB?

A LONG DRIVE TODAY BUT VERY MUCH WORTH IT Aug 11
MINSTER BEER FESTIVAL 

My journey to the 'Land of Sheppey' was fast, so arrived in time for a big breakfast at Morrisons before joining the Minster team, setting up their Beer Festival at 9.45. SO the apprenticeship continues. I should be much improved by the time I get to Kings Hill and Langley Park for their festivals !! A wonderful event and so much fun with the Rotarians of Minster and friends from as far away as Illinois!

Good to see Eco friendly transport and advertising Rotary

Rotary friends from Illinois

Ray gives me a lesson !

Now allowed to  work  at  low level

Yes and on tip toes  have graduated to high level work !! Getting there.

A Fab morning 

OFF TO  BEACHY HEAD after a scenic drive across Kent 

 to join EASTBOURNE AM CLUB Rotarians supported by other local Rotarians for  the Round the lighthouse walk for 1200  walkers  along the cliffs , beach and around the lighthouse. Just great. Weather just right and I was able to thank nearly all the helpers, rotarians, uniformed organisations, Life Boat, First Aiders and Rotary Friends.

A BIG  THANK YOU TO ALL Another  tremendous event.  Glad you  had good Press coverage. Well done  for funds raised and pleasure given.  190 miles driven that day and quite a few miles walked  !!!!

I was pleased that the tide went out . The lighthouse seems a long way away and I have already climbed the Downs and scrambled over the rocks! 

 A helping Hand

 Deep in thought

MADE IT  -  THERE AND BACK!

OFF TO DEVON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO SEE MUM IN PLYMOUTH. NO ROTARY VISITS BUT THE E MAILS KEEP COMING .............

Wembury just outside Plymouth August 15 

MEDWAY SUNRISE RC  VISIT  Aug 16 

Left at 6.15 am for this visit.

Another very energetic  Club.  At 7.15 am Grace and  Paul were busy in the kitchen sorting breakfast and drinks  before the meeting.   We had a really interesting talk from  one of the members, Nora, who  is from Kenya and has been doing a PhD project. The project is linked to a District Grant, in which  the club   has provided a supply of sanitary towels, underwear and hygiene advice for one year to 200 girls in schools in the Matinyani area of Kitui County in South-Eastern Kenya. The girls otherwise  would end up missing up to 40 days of school a year with a measured detrimental effect on their studies and their future employment.

Why not contact Nora and ask her to tell you more?

Grace and Paul busy in the kitchen.

A  dementia friend  was with us too. It is on offer through Rotary. See  the last magazine

It purrs, meows and rolls over . (Not Bill nor I - the cat!)

AUGUST 17  

DELIVERED PICTURES TO THE GLADES SHOPPING CENTRE FOR SHOW IN AN EMPTY SHOP. IF YOU ARE AROUND  IN BROMLEY on THURSDAY AUGUST 23,  YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE   PRIVATE VIEW. Downstairs in the Glades Shopping Centre at the back of      M and S. 

(There is a little life outside Rotary )

EASTBOURNE CLUBS WORKING TOGETHER AT AIRBOURNE  AUGUST 18 AND 19 

All the clubs were out in partnership helping to  organise collections, parking or Shelter Box. A huge Rotary commitment. Well done everyone. 

What a super poster! (Sorry I cut off the  name of Rotary Club - I won't win the Young Photographer competition)

Ray thought it was hot,  while the rest of us were set for the wind and rain !!

 No need to go to the gym if you are a Rotarian collecting on this pebbly beach. I was really tired after  collecting across a  section of the beach and I needed to be rewarded with an ice cream.  Later in the evening a number of us shared  a social supper with Ray and Jenny Dixon. Really lovely!
Next morning, I helped with the parking at St Andrew's School.

GOODBYE FOR NOW.  I WILL WRITE AGAIN SOON
DG BRENDA