West Wight Sports Centre to provide short break activities for families with disabled children

West Wight Sports Centre is offering weekly swimming sessions for families with disabled children throughout the school holidays.

Through a partnership with the Isle of Wight Council and NHS Isle of Wight they are providing a range of planned short breaks for disabled children, thanks to funding provided by the Aiming High for Disabled Children scheme.

Initially the project will allow families with disabled children to swim during a special session every Friday in the school holidays from 10 – 11am starting on July 23^rd. There are plans to extend this session to a weekly term time session and also to be able to provide better access to swimming lessons for disabled children either through additional support during mainstream lessons or through private one-to-one lessons. There will also be music-based sessions in the pool.

To support the project staff are being trained in the Halliwick method of swimming; a specialised method of teaching disabled people to enjoy and benefit from being in water as well as general disability awareness training being provided for all staff.

West Wight Sports Centre to provide short break activities for families with disabled children is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Dairy Deli Farm Shop is situated on the A3054 in Shalfleet. Only yards away from Shalfleet Creek this oasis of local produce offers visitors a real chance to taste, smell and enjoy the rich variety of food produced on the Isle of Wight.

The Farm Shop offers you, local meats fresh seasonal vegetables, fresh bread, Calbourne Classics Baked cakes and scones, clotted cream ice cream, milk, cream, Cheeses, jams, chutneys, juices and much more.

Currently the smell of freshly picked Asparagus greets you as you enter and with a background aroma of Isle of Wight Garlic this shop really tantalises the taste buds! The shop showcases the huge range of Award Winning produce produced by Calbourne Classics, owners of the shop, which is located on the farms boundary and if heading to Newport after your visit you will often see the herd of Calbourne Classics’ pedigree dairy cows grazing the pastures by the road side.

FISH (www.fishcowes.co.uk) also visit the farm shop every Friday and Saturday offering one of the few wet fish counters in the West Wight.

The produce extends to also incorporate local fare from the south of England.

Produce available; Calbourne Classics, Garlic Farm, Glebe Farm Jams & Chutneys, Stone Ground Flour & Pasta, Briddlesford Free Range Eggs, IW Pasta, FISH (Fri & Sat), Sharon Orchard Apple Juice & Jams etc, Rosemary Vineyard Juices, Tomato Stall Products, IW Lemon Curd, IW Fudge, Rew Valley Milk & Butter, IW Cheese, Hamiltons Meats, Island Lamb, Brownrigg Poultry, Briddlesford Free Range Eggs, Rosary Goats Cheese, Ben Browns Asparagus, and much more!

The Dairy Deli Farm Shop Shalfleet is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Go Wild in the Woods

Come and enjoy a fascinating day in the life of the woodland of Firestone Copse during the spring half-term holidays on Wednesday 2 June.

Set your alarm clocks early as the day begins at 5am with a dawn chorus walk followed by lots of other great wildlife activities throughout the day including pond dipping, woodland crafts, wildflower and butterfly walks, tree climbing, canoe safaris and outdoor art plus loads more, and will draw to a close with night time wildlife detecting at dusk.

We’ll also need your help with Island’s very first BioBlitz where you can get involved with recording all the species that we see on the day – so bring a camera!

Parking is limited at Firestone Copse, so please try and car share. A free hourly shuttle minibus will run from Station Road Steam Railway car park in Wootton.

For the latest event updates and activities timetable visit www.wildonwight.co.uk

Go Wild in the Woods is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Local and National businesses joined forces to create the Island’s best attended Food Theatre to date.

The Southern Co-operatives Local Flavours Marquee drew in unexpected crowds of hundreds of people. Chefs entertained and educated spectators about food seasonality, local fare and valuable cooking techniques. David Etchell Johnson, Head Chef at The Seaview staged a ‘culinary master class’ demonstrating a superb black bream speciality. Charlie Bartlett from The Garlic Farm also impressed the audience with easy to make, yet exquisite sausage rolls. Ben Brown also wowed the crowd showing three ways to cook his own grown asparagus. The marquee sent out aromas across the busy show field dragging people in to the smell of IW lamb cutlets sizzling with David Edgerton-Reed from Real Island Food and crispy crackling from IW pork also provided by Hamiltons and cooked by The head chef, Luke Hadden of The Albert Cottage. Taste buds were also sent a tingling with Jon Groom Head Chef at Sentry Mead who created a superb cheesecake.

The Island Inspirational Masterchef 2010, Sponsored by Southern Co-operatives and IW Country Press

The new competition launched this year at the Garden Show drew in unprecedented crowds of supportive public. Professionally Hosted by Michael Coombes of Isle of Wight Radio two nervous contestants, Rachel Brown and Lee-Emma Carter took centre stage and performed to their greatest ability with judges from Southern Co-operatives, The Seaview Hotel and also Geoff Hughes, the contestants fielded relentless questions and comments while they frantically cooked and created two dishes of an exceptional standard. However Lee-Emma’s cannon of IW lamb stole the show and David Etchell Johnson stated her use of local ingredients helped her secure her victory.

For more information about the Local Flavours marquee, please call Louise Hart on 07872 835353

Robin Hill Garden Show 2010 – Food is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

22nd – 28th Feb

A pamper afternoon to make you feel better and help others

National Student Volunteering Week 2010 takes place from 22 to 28 February, with events running nationwide across schools, colleges and universities. Isle of Wight College Students are getting on board at YMCA Isle of Wight Winchester House, putting their hair and beauty skills into practice at the Make-over for All’ charity fundraiser.

Students will be on hand at YMCA Winchester house from 1:30-4:30 on Wednesday 24 February, offering an afternoon of hair styling, make-up, nail art  and pampering for just £4, including refreshments.

YMCA Isle of Wight Volunteer Project Coordinator Kelly Matthews said “this event will give the college students a chance to show off their creative skills and bring members of society together in a common purpose.” The event is part of YMCA Fairthorne Group’s Vinvolved project, funded by Vinspired, an independent charity supporting volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds across England.

All proceeds will go towards Help2Grieve, a bereavement service for young people on the Isle of Wight. Money raised will help support one-to-one work and group sessions for children and young people coping with loss. Further details can be found at www,ymca-fg.org/help2grieve

If you are interested in attending this event, would like to volunteer or want  to support Help2Grieve please call or email…

• Please see www.ymca-fg.org for further details

01489 785228

YMCA CELEBRATES NATIONAL STUDENT VOLUNTEERING WEEK IN STYLE is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Island Health and Wellbeing Network is holding its first awareness event, ‘New Year, New You’ on Saturday, January 23^rd , to encourage Island people to make a healthy new year resolution – to consider healthier lifestyle choices and complementary therapies and pamper themselves out of the post Christmas blues.

The “New Year, New You” event being held at the Riverside Centre, Newport, between 1pm and 4pm, is free to the general public and will include lots of demonstrations, information, displays and product samples so that local people can find out more about how complementary therapies and a healthy lifestyle can help them.

The Health and Wellbeing Network, the first of its kind in the UK and established earlier this year, has a membership of therapists, practitioners and local service providers all committed to complementary therapies and healthy lifestyle products as a means of improving the Island’s health. Co-ordinated by Nova Lifestyles, the locally based company spearheading health and wellbeing issues on the Island, the New Year, New You event aims to be the first of many to be held throughout 2010.

‘A FREE half day pampering session with demonstrations, information, displays and a chance to find out more about how complementary therapies and a healthy lifestyle can help YOU!’ This is an Island Health and Wellbeing Network event, co-ordinated by Nova Lifestyles, the Island’s Health and Wellbeing company – a chance to meet practitioners and find out what they do. This event is FREE admission to ALL. Please note this is not just a Ladies Day… but open to everyone Could you place this event on your blog please. To find out more about this and all other services Nova Lifestyles offers, please call Sara on 07773 014438, email sara@novalifestyles.co.uk or visit the website at www.novalifestyles.co.uk

A happier, healthier New Year for Island people is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

There is much talk of “green” issues these days but it can all become very confusing and it is difficult to know who to believe.

Wikaniko (pronounced we-can-eco) is a company that helps everyone to “do their bit” . The company believes that people do care about the damage that is being done to the planet with plastic bags, harmful chemicals and other forms of pollution etc. Not only the planet, we could also cause serious health issues for  ourselves if we continue to put harmful products in and on our bodies.

There is a very easy solution. Wikaniko believe that people do care about the world they live in but that they are not sure how to make the right changes or where to source the right products to help with those changes. They produce booklets cataloguing a range of products to help us all make changes step by step. These products are sold at a reasonable cost . The way we are living is costing us our earth. Wikaniko believe that it shouldn’t cost you the earth to make the changes.

Wikaniko (pronounced we-can-eco) is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Isle of Wight branch of The National Autistic Society (NAS) has launched a new websiteto give help, advice and information to local families affected by autism.

Visitors to the new website can find information about autism and details of what help and support is available in the local area. The new site contains all the latest branch news with details of forthcoming events such as coffee mornings, support groups, fundraising events and autism-friendly cinema screenings around the Island. The site also features photo galleries and there are even pages for young people with autism and their siblings which will feature social stories and games.

NAS Isle of Wight Branch Web Team co-ordinator, Gillian Elsom said “We are really excited with the new website and we hope to keep our members updated and entertained with news stories and interactive features. Autism is much more common than most people think and it affects each person in a different way. Therefore, we have made the site accessible to as many people as possible by adding features such as the option for extra large text and the website is speech enabled meaning that it is read out loud to the user.”

The website is now live and can be accessed at www.autism.org.uk/isleofwight.

New autism website launched is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Rainbow Directory for Isle of Wight families offers you a quick and accessible reference guide to local information, services, products, ideas on what to do, where to go, all family related and child friendly, from babies to big kids. The directory is FREE and is distributed to nurseries, libraries shops, businesses, local attractions, and primary and middle schools.

If you don’t have the latest copy look at the pick up points across the Island www.therainbowdirectory.co.uk to get your copy or email polly@therainbowdirectory.co.uk for your free copy.

Get your copy now!The Rainbow Directory for Isle of Wight families is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The feeling of fear. What is it? Describe it?

When I ask this of myself and others, the replies are the thoughts people have about fear and not a description of the “feeling” of fear.

That is not unexpected, after all it is the left brain’s, rational/analytical job to put into words feelings that arise from somewhere in our bodies, the subconscious.

Instinct, intuition, imagination and everything else that’s in the right brain doesn’t generally speak to us.

The subconscious mind speaks and thinks in pictures, senses and sensations, urges, vibrations, waves, patterns, connections and possibly in other intangible ways.

So when we talk about fear we are actually talking about our thinking.  We are talking about the mind’s attempt to translate our physiological responses through thought & language and how it tries to make rational sense.

I believe our emotions are just that, authentic feelings being expressed in thought. And fear is just such an emotion.

That’s what’s making me think that fear doesn’t really exist in any other dimension of our being.  I believe it is possible that there is no such thing as fear outside of the subconscious mind. That fear is not real. The case has been made in the past that fear is necessary for self-preservation. But is it?

The fight or flight survival response is an occurrence that happens without thought. It really doesn’t have the time to be otherwise.

Look at something you are ‘scared of’, a spider, a bear, a clown. Do you feel fear or are you thinking fear?

If you were to walk around the corner and come face to face with a huge grizzly bear, you would definitely feel something right away. But is that feeling fear?

If you listen to people who have encountered survival situations, whether they be stopping someone falling off a cliff, ripping the door off a burning car, disarming a man with a knife, they will say their sense in that moment was not fear. They were too busy with their actions.

Fear after the act, yes.

We have all felt that thing that our mind has labelled fear. But is that what it really is?

I don’t think so.

FEAR =

False

Expectations

Appearing

Real

Think about the interview scenario:  You are sitting waiting to go into the room, you think ‘what if there are ten people on the panel’, ‘what if they ask me questions I can’t answer’, ‘what if they are all wearing suits’.

What are you actually afraid of?  You are not afraid of the panel, you are not afraid of the questions, you are not afraid of the suits.  You are not of the reality but the negative expectation, or thoughts, of what you imagine might happen next.

But if any of those things did really upset you that much, you would take flight and there really wouldn’t be any thought involved at all.  Your intuition and instinct rule your fight or flight response.  Trust in your intuition and don’t let false expectations drive your life.

Remember, what your subconscious mind believes, you will achieve.  Always and in all ways.

Maggie Currie

Creedence Training Academy & Consultancy

International Advanced Confidence Coach, Group Trainer, Personal Life Coach, NLP Practitioner, Corporate & Executive Coach, Mentor & Speaker.

Author of  ‘7 steps to rebuilding confidence in yourself’. And ‘What you believe creates your reality’.

Co-Author ‘One page wisdom’

As seen on Solent TV and heard on BBC Radio Solent &  Coach Erwin de Grave’s Radio Coaching.  Presenter of Teleseminars for Business for Coaches.

W:  http://www.creedencetraining.co.uk E:  info@creedencetraining.co.uk

T:  01983 759213

Is fear real? is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Renewable energy technologies could meet 40 per cent of global electricity demand by 2050, that’s the conclusion of new research from the Helsinki University of Technology, unveiled at the Climate Congress conference in Copenhagen earlier this year (2009).

The Footprint Trust’s annual Future Energy events on Wednesday 28^th October at the Riverside Centre in Newport and Friday 30 October at Shanklin Primary School Hall, will focus on solar technology and energy conservation. They will run from 11am to 4pm.

Ray Harrington-Vail of the Trust explains…

“Harvesting the sun’s power is not just about producing hot water from tubes on the roof. Air and ground-source heat pumps can be an alternative to oil and LPG heating systems. Generating electricity from solar panels and then selling the surplus into the grid is also an option.”

“Grants are available to households, businesses, community groups, schools and churches to install renewable technology…there are solar systems already up and running at Medina High School, Yarmouth Harbour offices and Brading Town Council and many private dwellings.”

“Renewable technology could give the UK greater fuel security in the future, leading to us depending less on imports of oil, coal and gas.”

project will be at the event to give  guidance on WarmFront and WarmOne grants, to help families upgrade heating systems and insulate homes.

For more details visit www.footprint-trust.co.uk or Tel 82-22-82

Event to help families help the planet… is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

With some areas of the country already in the grip of wintry conditions, here are a few natural remedies made from items that you may already have available; with the additional incentive that they will be free from the additives / colourings frequently contained in over the counter medication. But as with all health matters, common sense should prevail and medical advice sought if indicated.

Effective strategies for reducing discomfort and avoiding the spread of germs: * rest, to focus all available energy on mobilising the body’s immune defences * maintain a stable body temperature * drink plenty of fluids * take a few doses of Ferrum-phos at the first vague signs of being under par * limit the intake of dairy products, said to encourage the production of excess mucous * make a decongestant blend of essential oils (see below) *sleep propped up on pillows to avoid a build up of congestion overnight * use the steamy atmospheres of baths and showers to ease dry / tickly coughs

Traditional remedies include: (** check to ensure any used are suitable for the very young / frail, or for chronic conditions) · root ginger + lemon tea – warming and soothing. This mix promotes perspiration, reduces fever and relieves coughs /congestion by stimulating the lungs to expel phlegm. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to ease sore throats · garlic cold syrup – crush the cloves of 1 head of garlic and bring to the boil in 1 cup of water (8fl oz). Simmer for 10mins before adding the juice of ½ lemon and 2 tablespoons of honey. Allow to cool, then strain into a dark glass bottle. Take 2-3 tbs up to 3 times per day. Keeps in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. Its anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties place garlic centre-stage in treating many body systems, though it is best known for preventing / treating colds, flu and sore throats (quality, low odour garlic capsules may be prefered) · echinacea herbal tincture – optimises immune system functioning – take for a few weeks beforehand if you have a tendency to “collapse” as soon as you relax on holiday · ready-made combinations of tissue salts are available from chemists for a variety of minor but debilitating ailments from digestive upsets, circulatory disorders and nerve / muscular pains. Highly recommended at this time of the year are: combinations J (winter seasonal remedy); Q (catarrh / sinus disorders) and B (general debility, nervous exhaustion and during convalescence) · essential oils – tea tree can used in an diffuser to refresh rooms when family members are sneezing and coughing and as a “wet wipe” to disinfect keyboards and computer mice - lavender has almost universal application: antiseptic properties promote healing (apply to nostrils to prevent chafing); a few drops sprinkled on the pillow helps keep the patient’s sinus passages open over night; one of the few oils that can be massaged directly onto e.g. pulse spots to calm frayed nerves, relieve tension headaches and encourage sleep · flower essences: Bach Rescue Remedy is especially helpful for pre-Christmas performance anxieties and emotional upsets generally.

Natural Solutions for Winter Health is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Cowes Chiropractic Clinic

…helping your body to heal itself…

OPEN DAY SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER 10AM TO 2PM

83 Mill Hill Road Cowes PO31 7EQ 01983 282810

Call in and meet the Cowes Chiropractic Clinic Team Join Rebecca, Mandy and Esme for an informal talk on the benefits of McTimoney Chiropractic treatment for baby through to grandma and grandpa.

Catherine and Lara are available to discuss how Homeopathic remedies can aid health and wellbeing.

Martin will be on hand to talk on the benefits of 5 Elements Acupuncture.

Experience a head massage with Beth or chat about Remedial Massage, Indian Head Massage and Reflexology

Lucy, our Educational & Therapeutic Psychologist, will be available to chat about a range of issues related to anxiety and stress.

Cowes Chiropractic Clinic Open Day! is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

You can boost your self-esteem by just experiencing your feelings?

In NLP there is a saying “what you resist persists.”

Your subconscious brain is like a meadow where whichever seeds you sow, it takes over to make sure you have a good harvest. We are natural goal seekers. Your subconscious brain is powerful that whatever you choose to focus on is like giving your brain a command to go and make it happen.

For example if I told you to NOT think of an elephant, in order for you not to think about an elephant you would have to focus on the elephant to stop thinking about it. You with me….stop thinking about elephants now. Please!

Everything time you tell yourself not to worry about something, you are in fact doing the exact opposite. You are actually directing your focus towards that issue. You will probably get a low level adrenaline hit, forget to breathe and start to panic. All this because you are trying to resist the feeling.

So here is a new idea for you. When you get a feeling you may not like, I want you to try to just accept the feeling. Acknowledging it is there, but just accept that’s all it is, a feeling and not reality. Instead of trying to resist it, you are now dancing with it. It takes away the power from the feeling and keeps you in control.

Don’t believe me? Just try it…just stop thinking about elephants first.

Boost Your Self-Esteem by Experiencing Your Feelings is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Belief Becomes Reality

Whatever we believe becomes our reality. We often ignore information that we think is inconsistent with our reality. Successful people absolutely believe that they have the ability to succeed. They don’t think or talk about the possibilities of failing. They don’t even consider the possibility of failure.

We usually act in a manner consistent with our beliefs. The most important belief system we can build is one where we absolutely believe that we are going succeed. This is called positive thinking, confirming our reality that we absolutely know that, no matter what, we will be successful.

Often positive thinking is difficult because parents or guardians only gave love and approval to their children when they did something that they wanted them to do. If we grew up with this kind of conditional love we will inevitably tend to seek unconditional approval from others. When we become adults, this need for approval from the parent is transferred to the workplace and to our boss or workmates. We can become preoccupied with the opinion of the boss and some falsely perceived high standard.

If we can change the way we think about ourselves and our potential we can pen new doors to unlimited possibilities and point ourselves in the right direction to a better, more fulfilling professional and personal life. We should not think about what other people think of us, but we should concentrate on what we want and adjust our thinking so that we will achieve it.

One way to begin to change the way we think about ourselves is to stimulate our imaginations. This can be done by writing down a clear and detailed description of our ideal outcome. We must be absolutely clear about the outcome, but we must also be flexible about the process of achieving it.

There is a method you can use to see yourself having achieved your ideal outcome. It is called the ‘Hindsight Tool’. It works like this: Think about your ideal outcome, visualise yourself as having achieved it. Then use the ‘hindsight tool’ – In your mind imagine yourself in, say, five years time, picture yourself being the successful person you want to be. How would you look? What would you be wearing? What would you be saying or doing? Who would be around you, who wouldn’t be around you? Then, turn round and look back to the present and see what course and actions you took, what mistakes you may have made and how you corrected them.

It may be that the outcome you imagined is not exactly what you hoped for. So you can then change your desired outcome to suit.

I believe that our thoughts create our reality and have written a book on the subject. This is currently in the process of being published and will be on the bookshelves in mid 2010.

Maggie Currie Creedence Training Consultancy International Advanced Confidence Coach, Group Trainer, Personal Life Coach, NLP Practitioner, Corporate & Executive Coach, Mentor, Speaker & Author.

As seen on Solent TV and heard on BBC Radio Solent, Coach Erwin de Grave’s Radio Coaching and Business for Coaches Teleseminars

www.creedencetraining.co.uk

Belief Becomes Reality is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Open Day Saturday 19 September 2009 11am to 3pm for potential members, just call in with swimming costume and/or non marking court shoes to try out the facilities – towels provided at no charge.

Membership changes at the Isle of Wight Sports Club.

1. Membership Fees A new schedule of membership has now been established. The changes and new category of memberships are as follows:

The existing ‘Swim Only’ membership is replaced with an ‘Annual Swim Membership’. There is no restriction on hours of use of the facilities for this new category, therefore the pool, steam room and sauna is available to ‘Swim Members’ at all times, subject to classes being held in the swimming pool. Existing ‘Swim Only’ members may take advantage of the extended hours with immediate effect. In response to a number of requests it has been decided to offer participation in Yoga classes to Swim Members subject to payment of the fee due and class sizes.

A completely new category of membership is introduced from 1 September 2009, being ‘Annual Weekend Membership’. This membership provides full use of the facilities available at IWSC from 12 noon Friday until close of the club on Sunday.

An additional new category of membership is introduced from 1 September 2009, being ‘Annual Off Peak Membership’. This membership provides full use of the facilities available at IWSC from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. This category will require the members to vacate the Gym/Pool/Steam/Courts by 5pm weekdays.

The existing ‘Annual Family Membership’, currently two Adults and two Children (5-13years) is extended to two Adults and two Children/Juniors (5-17years). Existing memberships will automatically be amended at each individual family renewal date.

There will be two categories of Annual Adult Membership. The existing ‘Annual Student Membership’ is renamed and becomes ‘Annual Adult Membership – 18-20 years’. The existing ‘Annual Adult Membership 21 years and over’ remains unaltered.

Members who have attained the age of 65 years should ensure that Reception is made aware of this fact. Membership fees will be frozen at the annual fee payable by you at that young age. However, as membership of IWSC will almost certainly result in one looking years younger than one’s actual age, proof of age may be required!

IWSC

Ryde Road, Seaview – 01983 613108

www.iwsports.co.uk

IWSC Open Day 19th September. is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk