GOLDCOAST Seniors OntheNet

NEWSLETTER

FROM THE EDITORS DESK

      Well we are a little late with the newsletter being posted to the web mainly due to the A.G.M. falling after the normal planned time for the newsletter posting and chaos in the editors household.   It is very pleasing to see the interest the newsletter is generating.    When we first started we were scratching for articles  of interest.   Keep them coming.

      We have a delightful short story in this issue written by one of our members, please send in your articles asap because as soon as this newsletter is posted to the web we start on the next one.

      If anyone has any suggestions for articles / information they would like published in the newsletter please email me at  -     ditozer1947@hotmail.com

Regards,   Di.

PRESIDENTS REPORT

Hi from your new President! 

      Hazel has done a terrific job in piloting this wonderful organisation through our tremendous growth period and now she has decided to take a rest, only from the position and not from SOTN as she continues to Tutor and also to manage the SOTN Northern Gold Coast Area. Perhaps ‘a rest’ is the wrong phrase as she never stops bustling around with her garden, her laughter club and the other organisations in which she is involved. She is a true ‘Community’ star. 

      And while mentioning ‘stars’, I am proud to be associated with so many truly generous people who voluntarily give up their time to ensure that SOTN runs like clockwork and provides such wonderful training and support. So ‘well done’ if your are a tutor, an admin helper, a coffee maker, a helper on the email list or whatever you do to help others….we certainly would not be such a successful organisation without all of your contributions. 

      Without detracting from all of the above, I would like to make a special mention of Glenys Mandarano our Office Manager, Email List Moderator, Database maintainer, and now Assistant Treasurer who spends at least five days a week at SOTN and then goes home to make changes to our membership, monitor the List etc. No wonder that she and Fred are selling their house and downsizing to a newer and more manageable property…Fred is getting tired of all the cooking and housework!! Thanks Glenys for all your time and thanks Fred for putting up with an absent wife. 

      As most of you know, I have been the Technical Officer and committee member since the start of SOTN and so my views and plans for the future are ‘steady as she goes’ with no plans for change. We will continue to keep our computer equipment up to the latest levels and try to offer lessons on the type of equipment and software that a newcomer to computing will be buying today. Also we will try to obtain and teach on the latest technology items for our more experienced users ( this year we have bought a digital camera, several cd burners, a DVD burner, and several LCD monitors). We will try to keep our members advised of virus threats, operating system issues, new free software to aid the computing experience etc etc. Hopefully ‘more of the same’  

      So to our existing members, ‘welcome to a new year at SOTN’, and to new members ‘welcome to the world of computers’. We hope to make it an easier ride for all of you.

GENERAL TIPS

      To clean spots & stains from carpets, use plain, tepid water.  Don’t use a detergent as this will hold residue and attract further soiling.  Soak up the moisture with an old bath towel by placing it over the treated spot and then standing on it.  Repeating this procedure will cut the stain right back.

Cleaning jewelry.                     

      To clean, shine and remove soap from your jewelry, squeeze a little toothpaste on a discarded toothbrush and clean in warm water.

Microwave easy clean                 

      Put a small bowl of water in the microwave and set the timer for about 6 minutes on “High”.  When it stops, leave the bowl to stand in the microwave for about 5 minutes.  The condensation in the oven softens the messy residue.  Now you can wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Freshen a garbage-disposal unit

      Throw in some pieces of used orange, lime or lemons and the citrus smell will purify the disposer that sometimes holds the odour of other foods.

                                 Cleaning silk flowers         

      Place silk flowers arrangements in a brown paper bag with coarse salt.  Shake it around in the bag and pull it out.  The salt will remove the dust and dirt from your arrangement.

   Chrome cleaner               

 To clean chrome tabs and fixtures try using toothpaste - it works well.  Rub and wipe

     Best glass cleaner             

      Combine 2 cups of water, 1 cup of alcohol and 2 tablespoons of ammonia.  Makes the best window and glass cleaner you have ever used.

     Downsizing a screw hole                          

       For an over-sized screw hole, put a couple of toothpicks in the hole before inserting the screw.

     Doors that won't stay open…               

       Do you have a door that tends to close on its own when you want it to stay open?  Remove one of the hinge pins and lay it on a concrete surface.  Strike the centre of pin with a moderate hammer blow to bend the pin.  This will make for a tight fit when you tap it back in place.  Your door will now stay open at any position.

Submitted by Barbara Conradsen.    

A GOOD HEALTH TIP.

SENIORS NEED TO DRINK LOTS OF WATER

       In a moderate climate, human beings can survive for approximately five weeks without food but only about five days without water.   A lack of water causes contraction of the cells causing them to shrink, muscles will cramp and joint pain may increase due to dehydration.  Pain is a result of dehydration.  Non-infectious, recurring chronic pain is often an indicator that the body is thirsty.  A rheumatoid joint is a thirst signal of the body.

Do NOT drink water with or just after a meal, it will dilute the digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus affecting the breakdown of food, especially protein.  

THE BEST TIMES TO DRINK WATER ARE;

one glass = half an hour before each meal

one glass = two hours after each meal

and one glass = before going to bed….

Your very good health and cheers! 

 Submitted by Barbara Conradsen.                                                                          

"AS TIME GOES BY"

            It didn’t come as a complete surprise.  The fuzzy edges that had framed her vision for a month or more had alerted her. 

            “I’m sorry, Madam,” the driving inspector’s voice registered sympathy.  “It really would be better if you didn’t drive.” 

            “That’s a terrible birthday present,” she said wryly.  She had dressed with so much care that morning, aiming to assure the inspector that all was well.  She had had him three years in a row and it was a case of third time unlucky. 

            Lucy drove home carefully, calling in at the shopping centre, savouring the freedom the car had given her all these years.  It was going to be different now.  Her daughter, Susan, would be pleased 

            “I am never happy to hear you have been driving around at night, Mother.”  Susan’s voice always seemed high-pitched, particularly when she was giving advice which was often.  “Just think how mortified all the family would be if you were stopped 0.05.”  Her shoulders had shuddered with distaste. 

            “Not half as mortified as I would be,” Lucy muttered.  “I can’t stand people that can’t hold their drinks.” 

            Her social lunches and night concerts would certainly be affected.  She loved picking up her friends who didn’t drive.  She had chosen a bad trolley for her shopping.  One of those that ran straight until you dropped half a dozen items in, then it developed a clubbed wheel.  Oh yes, Susan would take her shopping.  She would fit her into her programmed day between her grandchildren, her committees and her husband. 

            Her daughter’s voice echoed on in her mind.  “We’ll trip plan, Mother.  I’ll pick you up on the way to the dentist; you can do your banking and go to the post office.  On the way home we’ll do the shopping.  It will all be organised.  No wasted time.” 

            It will be horrible Lucy decided.  No more popping into the local shop to choose a personal birthday card.  [I’ll get you a pack from Woolies, Mother.   Just think of all the money you’ll save.]  Lucy loved choosing cards and presents; it gave her as much pleasure giving as receiving them. 

            She went next to the library and asked for a book that she had seen reviewed in the newspaper.  The assistant was terse and busy.  “If you would just look it up on the computer it would save us both time.” 

            “I’m not very good with computers,” Lucy gave her a friendly smile.  It didn’t work. 

            “They’re very simple even the little kids can work them,” snapped the librarian.  “Come over here and I’ll show you.”  [I’ll choose your books for you, Mother.  I know what you like.  “I’ll take the grandchildren with me.  It will be good for them to be using the computer.”] 

            Lucy’s spirits were getting lower and lower.  She decided to call in on her friend, Lenore, to cheer her up.  Lenore and she had had neighbouring boutiques after the war and both had been part of a lively new breed of women.  Lenore’s face brightened as she opened the door. 

        “Come in.  I’ve just put a bottle on ice hoping someone would call in.”  She took two cold flutes out of the fridge.  She had the cork out of the champagne bottle in a flash and the two old friends settled down for a chat, clinking glasses to the good old days. 

            Lucy told Lenore her news and her fears of restraint from Susan. 

            Lenore nodded sagely, “Well, you’ve had a good run really.  How old are you now, eighty-eight?  We haven’t missed out on much have we?  I am sure Susan won’t be as bad as all that.” 

            “She’ll be worse,” said Lucy.  “I sometimes wonder how I managed to have a daughter like Susan.  Her daughter, Sara, is far more like me and we get on famously and her children are a joy, but Susan – all charity and no imagination.” 

            “I never regretted not having any children,” said Lenore.  They always seem such a nuisance at times.  But your little great-grandson – he’s a treasure though isn’t he?” 

            “Oh, Rick’s a gem.  But let’s forget about my problems and enjoy the champagne.  It may be a while before I have the opportunity to do this again.  She left her old friend in better spirits, stopping only at the store to query a bill.  They told her to come back tomorrow as the computer was ‘down’. 

            “I suppose computers have got feelings too,” she remarked acidly to the girl who was idly picking her fingernails at the desk.  She arrive home muttering, “Computers, computers, cars – what’s the world coming to?  It’s getting obvious to me that I have outlived my time.” 

            The garden gate banged.  “Hi, Greatgran, got anything to eat?’  Rick’s cheery voice floated through the back door, his eleven year old eyes bright and bursting with unconsumed energy.  “I wrote a poem about you at school today,” he said, munching happily on the slice of cake he had known would be in the tin waiting for him. 

            “Show it to me,” she demanded.  His cheerful grin made up for all the unpleasantness’ of the day.  Here was someone who loved her for what she was.

 He didn’t want to change or improve her and he didn’t give a damn that she didn’t want to understand a computer. 

            He proudly produced an illustrated sheet of paper.  A crinolined lady with an elaborate Victorian hairstyle was drawn  in one corner.  He read: – 

                                    I have a lovely Greatgran

                                    Her hair is white and fine

                                    She really is so beautiful

                                    I love her all the time. 

                                    She wears such pretty dresses

                                    She never makes a fuss

                                    She serves us milk and biscuits

                                    And takes good care of us.”

            “It’s lovely, darling.”  She was perplexed.  “Is that how you think of me?  All pretty dresses and that, it’s not really like me at all.” 

            “I know Greatgran, but it’s hard to write a poem about a greatgran who goes fishing with you in the middle of the night, who still goes out drinking with her mates and who drives a turbo Car!

              Elisabeth M. Cowlishaw ©