The Phoenix Garden

Wednesday 22nd July 2020 – Day One Hundred & Twenty

Good morning all, Amber here.

First off, welcome to my first newsletter. John has trusted me with this important task and I hope to match his level of exceptional quality with my delivery. As I am new to this, I will have a slight learning curve. I apologize in advance for any hiccups I may have along the way.

Thank you for the warm welcome so far. I hope that my posts are just as captivating and applicable to you all as John’s are. I am excited to start this journey with you!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with suggestions, feedback, links, upcoming events, and anything else that comes to mind. I would love to hear from you!

My email is Amber@DragonHall.org.uk If you need to reach John, he is still around via email and phone.


  What can I share with you today?  


 

FOOD / SHOPPING

Thank you to everyone who has forwarded their wonderful support and comments to me regarding the Food Bank Project organised by Covent Garden Community Centre / 7 Dials Club. It is really gratifying to hear that so many people are benefiting from the service: Foodbank – We are flexible with regards to who we can help. If you fit the following criteria, please register.

  • Self Isolation due to symptoms
  • Isolation due to vulnerable or shielded status
  • Income reduction because of lockdown & crisis measures
  • Income reduction while waiting for benefits to arrive
  • Homeless

Go to Registration Form

 


 

Just a reminder. If you (or know of anyone) who cannot go out because they are vulnerable, self isolating or for any other reason and need help with food etc. Assistance can be found on the government web page. The form is rather long, but is fairly straightforward. If you (or know of anyone who needs support) please let us know.

Here is the link:

 


 

UPDATE ON THE CHANGES TO THE ENTITLEMENT TO FREE TV LICENSES

In light of the change to the entitlement to free TV licenses, Sue Johnson from the Greater London Authority has sent this message out.

Hi all,

You may have received this from other channels. If so, please excuse the duplication.

Please find (linked below) a joint letter from the Mayor, Age UK London and PAiL encouraging eligible older Londoners to claim Pension Credit in the light of the change to the entitlement to free TV licences. Please do disseminate it far and wide!

One is addressed to ‘Dear resident’, the other ‘Dear recipient’.

Use whichever is appropriate.

Obviously, with a lot of older people being off-line, we are looking to send out paper copies. Do you know of any channels (other than the community hubs and food parcel routes) or bodies which could or would like to send out printed copies? If so, it would good to know who they are, how many they want and where to send them, as soon as possible.

You are receiving this email because you are an important older Londoner stakeholder. Please let me know if you no longer want us to contact you. Very best wishes,

=====================

Sue
Sue Johnson
Senior Policy Officer, Equality and Fairness Team
GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY
City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA
020 7983 4032
07704 305628
london.gov.uk
sue.johnson@london.gov.uk

====================

I work part-time, working Tuesdays to Fridays.

The letter has important information regarding the deadline to secure your free TV license. From the 1 of August the free TV licence for people over 75 will only be available for those who claim Pension Credit.

I have linked the letter addressed to “dear recipient” she is referring to in her message here:

See Letter Here

 


 

ZOOM SESSION

From Sarah (Royal Collection Trust):

Royal Collection Trust Logo

Reading Paintings in the Royal Collection
Thursday July 23rd at 2pm

This week we will looking in depth at The Family of Henry VIII, a painting we touched on briefly last week when focussing on gardens. We will discuss some of the characters and in particular the KIng’s Court Jester’s or Fools – Will Sommers and Jane Fool.

Then, Dawn will introduce the theme ‘Holidays’, which will start with an introduction to the Grand Tour of the 17th and 18th centuries. Dawn hopes to develop this in the subsequent weeks and look at Royal Holidays.

Here is the document with all the photos you will be looking at:

Please email me for the Zoom link

 


 

ART & CULTURE

From Chris B:

London’s best rooftops + Buck Street Market offer, pop-ups rounded up, Test Drives & more…

The Editor’s Letter from the webzine HOT DINNERS: Having spent months holed up in our homes, there’s something particularly enticing at the prospect of heading up to one of London’s newly reopened rooftop bars and restaurants. Where better to feel the summer breeze, order a cold drink and look out over this great city we live in? Well, that’s what we thought anyway, which is why we’ve just launched our 2020 guide to London’s best rooftop spots. – Catherine Hanly – Editor, Hot Dinners.

Here is the full newsletter!

 


 

POETRY CORNER

Don Pepper Poetry

Congratulations to Don’s new YOUTUBE channel. Please support Don’s poems. Follow the link and click ‘like’. (Please note that Don sometimes uses strong language!) Today’s poem is hot off the press! It was uploaded mere hours ago (well that’s when I checked it…)! Today’s Poem: Senior – Funny poem about a mishap on one of my trips abroad

 

Today’s Poem:

Old Age – Funny Poem about getting old


 

INFORMATION

From Leah (The Phoenix Garden) July 2020 Newsletter

tomatoes

The Phoenix Garden’s July newsletter is out!

This month covers The Great Tomato Race, ‘In the Spotlight’- where we highlight Phoenix Garden’s favourite dwellings (for this month’s plant in focus, we’ve chosen the Brugmansia (also known as ‘Angel’s Trumpet’), gardening tips for the month of July, and wildlife at The Phoenix Garden. If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see happening at the garden please let us know, we’d love to hear your feedback. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with what’s going on through our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @thephoenixgarden and twitter @phnxgdn.

Read the full Newsletter

 


 

From Cindy H:

Westminster Council.

Here is an overall view of current West End matters, reported by the excellent Marylebone Association. https://mcusercontent.com/1a0f723f44e064d0230ca7746/files/29f695c5-a5bd-4588-a1d4-59890aac4e0c/Marylebone_Newsletter.pdf


 

From Gerald P:

I’ve shared ‘Oxford coronavirus vaccine is safe and induces immune response, study finds’ with you from Metro. Here is the full story  


 

LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

From Jerry (Quote for the day): ?

“Be patient. Your skin took a while to deteriorate. Give it some time to reflect a calmer inner state. As one of my friends states on his Facebook profile: “The true Losers in Life, are not those who Try and Fail, but those who Fail to Try.” ― Jess C. Scott

From Jerry (Aging Fun!):

A man was telling his neighbour, ‘I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it’s state of the art. It’s perfect.’

Really,’ answered the neighbour. ‘What kind is it?’

Twelve thirty,’ he replied.

Moon

From Me: I saw this meme and couldn’t resist sharing, haha!  

 

Amber

* I don’t have a Chibi character of me, so here is a picture of me with my family at the top of a hike we did last weekend. I am on the far right with my hands up.

 

 


  That’s all for now! You can contact me on 07759 646507 in case of an emergency Be safe John