29th July 2009
 
Hello All
 
Just a very quick blog for you this one. On the 7th July a group of activeyes members went on a Narrow Boat trip from Castlecroft to Coven and ended up at the Fox and Anchor pub. A great time was had by all who went and even the weather was not that bad, but my two main memories of the day was watching blind people steering a great big Barge down the canal and watching the ducks swim for their lives, and the other thing I shall never forget is the pain after hitting my head on the roof for the six or seventh time which for some reason everyone apart from me found very funny.
I will Blog again as soon as I can, and until then take care.
Tim
 
8th April 2009
 
Hi all
 
Well since my last blog we have been quite busy with activeyes, Yesterday we had day at the Races at Dunstall Park there was a group of 15 of us. Not only did we get in free as it was enabled day we were also in the premier enclosure with all the owners and trainers so we were really living it up. After my horse failed so bad at the Grand National my hopes were not very high and after the first two races I feared the worse, but then out of the blue my next 4 horses all won WOW Barbados here I come ha ha ha. We also had a couple of guide dogs there for the day and they seemed to enjoy watching the horses as much as us. So a great day was had by all.
 
Today I have been rock climbing again with activeyes and I am really feeling it. But I have found a way to get someone up a wall quick tell them there's a pint in it, but seriously its great fun and a good way of burning calories and getting over a fear of heights, but as one member said it doesn't matter to her as she can't see how high she is anyway.
 
We held our first curry night on the 26th March at Cafe Champagne which was great. The food was yummy and the company wasn't bad either. The staff at Cafe Champagne were fantastic and nothing was to much trouble infact one member of the group who shall remain nameless was that eager for her curry she arrived at 5pm even though the meal was not until 7pm, but the staff made her a cup of tea and kept her company until we all arrived. We have booked our next curry night for the 7th May again at Cafe Champagne. BRING ON THE BALTI...
 
A small group of us have been creating a film for the Midland Disability Arts Festival. We are aiming to do a small 10 minute film about being blind. I will not say to much more as hopefully it will be on here when it is finished, but me and Liam are now the Spielberg and Lucas of the Beacon Centre you have been warned.
 
It has all been go down at the allotment for our gardening group, we have taken everyone down for their first look around which went very well, and I have been down to get everything ready such as clearing paths and painting the handles on the tools bright yellow. And Beacon Centre's Maintenance guy's have very kindly put in a ramp and hand rail to the shed for easy access. All we have to do now is get planting and I still DESPERATELY need a Volunteer.
 
Finally have a great Easter and not to many chocolate eggs or else you will have to join our activeyes swimming group every Monday night.
 
Take Care All 
 
Tim
 
13th February 2009
 
Hi all
 
We have had Christmas and New Year since my last Blog, which was quiet for the family and me, just how I like it.
 
Last week I was a year older, now 32 but no grey hairs yet still nice and ginger “red heads rule”.
The wife and me went to Lake Coniston for my birthday and stopped on a beautiful farm recommended by my boss Pat. On my birthday we woke up to a foot of snow and had to get towed on to the main road by the farmers tractor, which was good fun.
 
Last week Activeyes had a live comedy night at the Light House in Wolverhampton. All enjoyed the night but some of the language was a bit blue for my young innocent ears.
 
Tonight I am off swimming with our Activeyes group at Bilston Baths, with the current weather I am hoping I won’t have to break the ice before we get in.
 
Anyway I will Blog soon with some details about forthcoming Activeyes events including Rock Climbing, Day at the Races, Goalball, Walking and our usual activities.
 
Bye Bye
Tim 
 
3 December 2008
 
Hi all 
 
Just a quick Blog, I went on a tour of the new Beacon Centre site last week and I must say it is going to be fantastic, the Day Centre looks Great and the staff and service users will love it, and the flats are something else  I want one myself but would probably struggle to qualify with all my ASBOS ha ha ha.
 
We have sent out our activeyes newsletter, which I enjoyed putting together and I learned lots of new tricks on the computer (thanks Maureen).
 
We are having a Film & TV quiz at the Light House on December 8th, which should be fun, but one person did point out that we would be stuffed if there were a picture round.
 
The swimming at Bilston Baths is now up and running and I must say the staff have been Brill I just wish the water was a bit warmer like the Caribbean.
 
And finally one of our members of staff who has a visual impairment has started jogging with a volunteer on a Saturday morning, that volunteer is NOT ME.
 
Hope you all are enjoying the start of Christmas and all the joys that go with it (Merry Hill BOOO) see you all soon.
Tim
 
13 November 2008
 
Hi all 
I have been very busy since my last Blog as you can see from the picture I now have a wife (god help her) and we have been on our honeymoon. I wont make you jealous with the details, o yes I will we had a 7 night cruise around the Caribbean and then 3 Nights in New York City it was fantastic and then we arrived back in Bilston !!!!
Since returning to work I have been catching up with everything to do with activeyes and I am currently working on our first newsletter, We have also managed to get a plot at Boundary Allotments in Warstones to start a gardening group which is great news for all those with green fingers.
Finally I noticed Liam saying I would be jealous of his Blog with pictures and a video I have managed a picture so get ready for a video.
 
 
19 September 2008:
 

Hello everyone, we held our first ActivEyes event on the 18th September a group of 17 made their way to the Light House in Wolverhampton to watch an Audio Descript version of Mamma Mia! A great time was had by all with lots of foot tapping and a lot of dodgy singing (by me). The staff at the Light House were great guiding people in and out and showing them to their seats, fetching drinks, and making sure there were enough headsets to go around, we are all looking forward to doing it again soon.

 

 ActivEyes has its first Committee meeting on 25th September 7.30pm at the Holy Bush Pub, Penn. We are looking to start up an evening swimming group to enable people who are busy during the day the chance to swim safely, also on the agenda will be a support group, walking group and a Ten Pin bowling team.

 

On a personal note this will probably be my last Blog for a while as I soon have 3 weeks off due to the fact I am getting Married (help!) and then off on my honeymoon, so until I get back Bye Bye. 

 

Tim

 

 

28 August 2008:
 
Hello all, well ActivEyes had its forum on August 26th at the Beacon Centre and I was very happy with the amount of people who turned up approx 25 - 30. The night was very constructive with lots of ideas and suggestions from a wide range of people, we have formed a committee which will meet every couple of months in a different pub each time, we have also arranged our first activity, to meet up on September 18th   5.45pm at the Light House Cinema to watch Mamma Mia with audio description.
 
Whilst writing this I am thinking about tomorrow morning because I will be on Wolverhampton community radio to do an interview about ActivEyes (HELP).
 
Anyway I will Blog soon so until then BYE.
 
Tim Jukes
Community Support Officer
 
15 August 2008:
 
This is a very exciting time for me with the ActivEyes project starting to find its feet. We sent out 400 Questionnaires to VIPS in Wolverhampton and so far have received around 70 replies from people telling us what they would like to do, Some interesting ideas included Parachuting and Karaoke, not really for me as I don't like heights and I am tone deaf, but hey I will try anything once.  On the 26th of August we will be holding an ActivEyes forum at the centre 7.30pm which will be very constructive and hopefully will see ActivEyes gather even more pace.
 
Until I Blog again stay safe and enjoy the weather (ha ha).
 
Tim Jukes
Community Support Officer