March 2019

Keeping In Touch

The Newsletter of Heart to Herts Cardiac Support Group

This is Daisy, a Medical Detection Dog trained to detect cancer.

You can learn how she and other wonderful canines are trained to use this amazing skill, come to our April monthly

meeting. See page 4 for details.

There will be no Puffers Walk in April 2019

News from Ginny and Norman and the Puffers’

Walking Group

The next Puffers’ Walk will be in May. Please look out in the next Keeping In Touch Newsletter for details of the walk.

Puffers warmly welcome Heart to Herts Members and their friends/partners. There are lots of walking groups in the area, but we think we have something different to offer for those who would like to walk 5 to 6 miles in the company of other heart patients and friends. If you are trying to build up your confidence after diagnosis or surgery, if you’d like the chance to chat things over or just some company to get out into the countryside, you will be very welcome.

Any queries to Ginny or Norman Blayney on 01727 855392 or ginnormous@aol.com

Country Walk April 2019

When: Wednesday 17th April at 11.00 am.

Meet:- Adrian Greenlees at George V Playing Field, George V Way, Sarratt, WD3 6DN

How to get there: From Chipperfield crossroads (KIA garage) drive along Dunny Lane until Plough PH on right and continue up hill until reaching Sarratt Green. Pass Boot PH on left and at bot-tom of green turn left onto George V Way (opposite Cricketers PH and Church Lane) The playing field parking is straight ahead.

The Walk: A mainly level walk of approximately 1 hour around the village, woods and fields of Sarratt.

Optional lunch:- After the walk, lunch will be in one of the Sarratt pubs. Please let Adrian know on arrival if you wish to stay for lunch.

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The Clock Room, Berkhamsted Town Hall 196 High Street, HP4 3AP

Supervised Aerobic Exercise Sessions

Mondays at 2.00 pm and 3.20 pm

The session charge is £6.00

For information telephone Eleanor on 07580 246238

Exercise Sessions

Heart to Herts Supervised Aerobic Exercise Sessions

at Hobbs Hill Wood Primary School, Peascroft Road,

Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8ER.

Tuesdays and Fridays 6.00 to 7.00 pm & 7.20 to 8.20 pm

(except the first Tuesday in each month when there is only the 1st session)

Session charge £3.50

Everyone Active, Hemel Hempstead

Park Road, HP1 1JS

Supervised Aerobic Exercise 11.30 am Mondays and Wednesdays

Session charges: Monday £4.00, a group exercise class. Wednesday £5.00. This class includes the provision of a personalised exercise

regime and the use of extensive gymnasium equipment

Supervised Health Ride

An indoor cycling class. 10:30 am Thursdays, Session charge: £6.70

For further information on any of the above please telephone 01442 507 100 and ask to speak to Janet Burgess

The FitHut, Unit 18, Binghams Park Farm

Pottenend Hill, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3NB

Supervised Pilates Sessions

Thursday 09.45 & 11.00 am. The session charge is £7:00

For information please contact Joanna Regardsoe 07786156653, email jregardsoe@hotmail.com

Leverstock Green Village Hall, HP3 8QG

St Mary & St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Boxmoor, HP1 1NR

Chair-based Exercise & Relaxation Classes

Wednesdays 1-2pm at Leverstock Green & Wednesdays 3-4pm at Boxmoor The cost per session is £5

For further information please contact Marta Hall ,Tel 07983 808 801

email eagleyogamassage@gmail.com

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April Monthly Meeting, on Tuesday 2nd April 2019 at 7.30 pm in Leverstock

Green Village Hall.

An illustrated talk by Ian Grant from Medical Detection Dogs.

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to detect the odour from

human disease. It is at the forefront of research into the fight against cancer and their Bio-detection Dogs are trained to find the odour of disease in samples such as urine, breath and swabs. Their Medical Alert Assistance Dogs help people with life-threatening diseases and are trained to detect minute changes in an individual’s personal odour triggered by their disease, and alert them to an impending medical event. Ian’s talk will give us an insight into how the charity started, its current work and future ambitions.

If you would like to see more great pictures of these wonderful dogs just go to Google Images “Medical Detection Dogs”.

After a break for refreshments and chat we will have the draws for the monthly 100 Club and Raffle.

Annual Membership Renewal – a reminder If you have not already renewed your membership, or you have joined The Group since 1st January2019 your membership of Heart to Herts runs out

on 31st March 2019.

You should have received a renewal form with last month’s newsletter. Please send it to Membership Secretary Mike Bean with your subscription of £10 made payable to Heart to Herts. If you do not have the form please contact Mike on 01442 259927 or email membership@heart2herts.org.

Members are reminded that each applicant and their spouse, partner or carer are equal members of Heart to Herts and as such are eligible to participate in walks, meetings, outings, exercise sessions and be an officer or committee member.

Mike Bean, Membership Secretary.

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Heart to Herts Group Visit to The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew on Thursday 13

th June 2019 departing Gadebridge

Park and Ride at 09.00 am

2019 is rushing by and we are already looking forward to our June outing to The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Kew is London’s larg-est UNESCO World Heritage site offering unique landscapes and iconic architecture from every stage of the Gardens’ history. We are told that June is one of the best times to visit the gardens. With global warming it is very difficult to predict what may or not be in bloom; but the Great Border will be coming into its own and there may still be bluebells round Queen Charlotte’s cottage! Also, the Temperate House, home to an internationally important collection of temperate zone plants; The Hive, a unique multi-sensory experi-ence designed to highlight the extraordinary life of bees; the Princess of Wales Conservatory which explores plants from ten different cli-mate zones including cacti, orchids, carnivorous plants and the re-markable Titan Arum and the Palm House with its rainforest climate supporting a unique collection of tropical plants from some of the most threatened environments on Earth. Also, while we are there in June Kew is staging an exhibition of the contemporary glass artist, Dale Chihuly. There is a very good restaurant for refreshments and lunch and a very well stocked shop. There is plenty of seating as you walk around.

This outing is open to the member and up to three guests.

Denny 01582 460565

The cost of this outing is £30 to include entrance to Kew, a day ticket on the hop on/hop off land train, coach and driver’s gratuity.

The deadline for applications for this outing is 30th April 2019

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*STOP PRESS*

TUTANKHAMUN

This is early notice of an exciting outing to a Tutankhamun exhibition, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the boy king’s tomb. I have managed to secure tickets for Wednesday 1st April 2020. No it is not an April Fool!! The exhibition is visiting London from November 2019 to May 2020. It will be the very last opportunity to see a Tutankhamun exhibition outside of Cairo. We will start the day at the National Army Museum in Chelsea where we can have

refreshments before hearing the amazing story of adventurers and chancers scrabbling for treasure in the desert against the backdrop of Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign. Thus began the story of archaeology which would lead to the discovery of the world of a young boy king who lived more than 3,000 years ago. We will then drive through Chelsea and turn the clocks back to the Roaring Twenties. We will see where Howard Carter was born and where he died. Discover how the fashion for Tutankhamun and Ancient Egypt influenced everything from art and architecture to shopping. We will stop for lunch or retail therapy on the Kings Road before arriving on foot at the Saatchi Art Gallery for our timed entry to the exhibition. We will not be taking bookings for this outing until the end of 2019/beginning of 2020; but, in the meantime make a note of the date in your diary. I anticipate that this will be a very popular outing.

Denny

Memories of the past by Anna Delaney

A time when everyone knew their neighbour’s name, share a laugh or two, help in troubled times, talk to people on the streets or at a bus stop

A “chip” was a piece of wood or fried potato. “Hardware” meant nuts and bolts; “software” wasn’t a word. “Grass” was mowed; “coke” was kept in the coal house; a “joint” was a lump of meat we had on Sundays; and “pot” was what we cooked in.

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Annual General Meeting THE 23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of Heart to Herts Cardiac Support Group will be held on the 7th May at Leverstock Green Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. It will include the election of the Officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer), and three committee members for the coming year, all as required by our Constitution. This is a major event and deserves serious consideration and involvement from all members. CLIVE WATERS and REX RUSSELL have indicated that they are willing to continue for another year as Chairman and Treasurer respectively, but that does not preclude others from being nominated, with their prior agreement. We have been without a Group Secretary since last year’s AGM, which has been a significant disadvantage, and one it is hoped can be rectified at the coming meeting. MIKE BEAN, BRIAN SMEDLEY and CYRIL TURBUTT are standing down as required by the Constitution. All three are willing to be re-elected for a further term, but again this does not prevent others from being nominated with their prior agreement. The remaining members of the committee, JOHN CHESTNUTT, MARY GOMME, KATH REEVE, ANGELA THORNLEY and SANDIE RUSSELL, do not need re-election or nomination. Nominations for the Officers and committee members should be made on the enclosed Nomination Form and returned by the date shown on the form.

Exercise at Hobbs Hill School Please note, there will be no exercise classes at Hobbs Hill School on Friday 26th April, Tuesday 30th April and Friday 3rd May. Classes resume on Tuesday 7th May

Beauty Advice from Anna Delaney

FOR BEAUTIFUL EYES - look for the good in others FOR BEAUTIFUL LIPS– speak only words of kindness

FOR POISE - walk with knowledge that you are never alone

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Outing Report - February 2019

“Milestones”, Hampshire’s Living History Museum

Welcome travelling members commencing yet another year of venues revealing wonderful memories, new experiences, interesting walkabouts, highlighting street scenes, canals, bridges, viaducts and tunnels, all with character despite the passage of time. This time, after leaving today’s motorways we passed through surrounding woodlands on roads of a bygone era, used I’m sure for historic horse-drawn carriages. Eventually we arrived, not knowing what to expect. This outing’s main attraction was situated in the beautiful county of Hampshire and to our surprise it is housed in a structure in the shape of a half sphere. This contained not only cobbled streets, vintage two-storey buildings, views of factory floors, a blacksmith’s forge, coal merchant’s yard, steam engines, vehicles all from 1935 – 1940s. Naturally, members’ first location was the Café and restaurant for refreshments before venturing into the labyrinth below, consisting

of approximately 50 work areas intermingled with shops, and a public house. I must not forget the unlimited old fairground penny-machines ending with “What the butler saw” and “Bathing Beauties”; an extravaganza to behold, and only a penny. Coin exchange machines, well situated, “must have a go”, bringing back memories and childhood experiences with exciting anticipation I can tell you!

Walking round one views something different, lifelike waxworks of workmen and ladies dressed complimentary to this particular period of time and their respective occupations including:

Construction information of the Woodham – Basingstoke canal (1788 – 1794), showing “legging” of barges through the Greywell Tunnel.

Special shops, far too many to list, but one cannot pass the well-stocked “sweet shop”.- a penny for these or ½d for those. Childhood bliss!

Continued on next page

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“Milestones” Continued from previous page Proceeding along cobbled stone roads with tram lines still visible we came to “discover brewing in Hampshire”, and what better place to sample same at “THE THREE BROOMSTICKS” public house. I feel this next paragraph should be dedicated to the ladies, especially those with inquisitive minds who must see what lays behind closed doors. Yes, I’m referring to “TOILETS”. Surprise! Surprise! When opening same, red faces, shock of seeing is believing. No names mentioned and what, but the “ladies” in question know who they are and what they saw?!! Lunch over, more viewing, ending with a quick walk around the museum shop then back to the coach for departure home. A really great day of nostalgic memories. Many thanks to Denny for organising this venue, which I can recommend requires another visit to see all on show; but hey, all your outings to these wonderful places are a MUST, so don’t hesitate, get your seat booked quickly for future outings and avoid disappointment.

Your Roving Reporter. Brian Smedley

Our Glasses need a new home. Heart to Herts are proud owners of 3 boxes of glasses, which come out of hiding on special occasions. We do not have enough storage space at the Village Hall for them and they are

currently in the garage at Kath and Mick Reeve’s home, but this space is now required to store family items. Have you some spare space in a room, loft, garage or shed? It needs to be waterproof but not necessarily heated. Please help us out if you can and phone Mick or Kath on 01442 259573.

Thanks

Contributions to Keeping In Touch

The closing date for receipt of items for next month’s edition is

Thursday 4th April, Please send contributions to Cyril Turbutt at

215 Northridge Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2AU., or email to

kit@heart2herts,org Thanks.

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Sound Support

If you attend our monthly meetings you will know that for the past year Mick Reeve has set up and operated the sound system which is so necessary for those of us who don’t have good hearing to enjoy those of our speakers who don’t have strong voices. It requires a certain amount of physical effort which has caused Mick to struggle since suffering a cardiac event last year, and he regretfully finds it necessary to give up this activity. As a Group we are truly grateful for what Mick has done for us; and indeed he continues to do with Kath to provide the monthly raffle which is a major contribution to Group funds. Now we need someone to take over the sound system. Ideally, we need a couple of people so that the service can continue when one is not present.

Heart to Herts has been authorised by the LGVH to use the hall’s sound system, which means that it is not necessary to bring our sound mixer and speakers from the basement store cupboard, but simply to connect the LGVH sound amplifier to the mains electricity supply and switch on the two wireless microphones. Mick will provide training in the connection and use of the system if required.

This is an example of what our Chairman recently referred to as “resourcing our activities”. So please let us have one or more volunteers to help continue this essential part of our monthly meetings. Let Mick, or any of the committee know who you are. Thanks.

Something for pun-lovers!

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

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What has exercise ever done for me? By Cyril Turbutt

Like many of my generation (born in the 1930s), regular exercise stopped when leaving school; with for some a break when doing National Service. The demands of further education, job and family left little time (or money) for seeking out a gym or sports club, and hey, I got all the exercise I needed just doing those things. Who needs “structured exercise”?

Again like many of my contemporaries, it took a life-changing event to force a second thought. After the heart attack Cardiac Rehabilitation was offered and accepted, and as we in Heart to Herts know well, that includes specially designed Aerobic exercise , and that’s where the picture changes! Those 7 weeks at “Rehab” didn’t just assist the physical recovery, they gave a confidence in my own ability and not feel like an invalid. And the lecture sessions explaining the physiological and mental benefits, (all those lovely endorphins) helped the realisation that normal life could be resumed. Joining Heart to Herts and attending their regular exercise classes was the natural next step, and a good one.

Sadly, progressing arthritis put a stop to aerobics some years ago , but joining a Pilates Class is now restoring some of the lost mobility and strength. A fellow H2H member told me how Pilates has enabled him to drive safer by being able to look over his shoulder at road junctions. I have found that putting hearing aids in, reaching down to electrical sockets and weeding and sowing the garden are all now possible.

And what does the future hold? Is Wheelchair-based Exercise the next step? Who knows, but it’s good to know that through Heart to Herts, all these are available.

What has Structured Exercise done for me? Well I’m still here, still active and grateful to those who make it possible. If you haven’t tried it, or perhaps you did but no longer go, I suggest you give it a try. Details of the various exercise sessions are shown on Page 3,and if you would like to know more the phone numbers of those who can tell you are there.

Go for it! CyrilCyrilCyrilCyril

Heart to Herts

Cardiac Support Group

Contact us

Chairman, Clive Waters: chairman@heart2herts.org Secretary, VACANT

Treasurer, Rex Russell: treasurer@heart2herts.org Membership Sec., Mike Bean: membership@heart2herts.org

Newsletter, Cyril Turbutt: kit@heart2herts.org

Helpline 0787 108 7040 http://www.heart2herts.org

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This edition was edited by Cyril Turbutt and printed by “Cyril’s Inky Fingers Printing Corporation”

Our monthly meetings are held at Leverstock Green Community Centre Village Hall, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8QG. You will find us there on the first Tuesday of each month; meetings start at 7.30 pm, and we try to arrange a variety of interesting speakers to entertain and sometimes educate us. Visitors are always welcome.

Our exercise activities, are confined to Registered Members of Heart to Herts, for insurance reasons. Outings are not confined to Registered Members.