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Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Club Anniversary Lunch - arrangement alteration

Members please note:

Our Annual Club Lunch will take place one day early, on Wednesday 3rd February at the same time & venue (12 midday at the Mill Farm)... don't forget, you've already paid!

Look forward to seeing many of you there next week.

Saturday, 16 January 2016

6 Nations fixtures 2016

Here comes the world's greatest annual rugby tournament...


Saturday 6th February:     2.25pm  France v Italy     4.50pm  Scotland v England

Sunday 7th:     3.00pm  Ireland v Wales


Saturday 13th:     2.25pm  France v Ireland     4.50pm  Wales v Scotland

Sunday 14th:     2.00pm  Italy v England


Friday 26th:     8.05pm  Wales v France

Saturday 27th:     2.25  Italy v Scotland     4.50pm  England v Ireland     


Saturday 12th March:     1.30pm  Ireland v Italy     4.00pm  England v France

Sunday 13th:     3.00pm  Scotland v France


Saturday 19th:     2.30pm  Wales v Italy     5.00pm  Ireland v Scotland     8.00pm  France v England


... come on you egg chasers!

Thursday, 14 January 2016

BDBC New Year Walk

A dull, damp, chill morning greets as we muster for our first stroll of 2016.  10.00 a.m. in the warmth of Cannock Leisure Centre, a 2 hour slog through the mire & slough of Shoal Hill Common & the surrounding woods beckons.  10.15 outside into a gusting wind; scything with a freezing-edge on the exposed higher spots of the walk.

Cannock Golf Course empty of folk but a maudlin dog-walker trudging a down-at-heel spaniel, yet magpie, squirrel, blackbird, & starling active, obvious.

Into the squish & splish of forest track.  Deciduous whipcrack, the soughing of pine.  Outstep the treeline to a ninja panorama - shock of the sudden!  Across pool to the Berwyns, the Wrekin, the Mynd & the Edge; cloud-topped & distant giants, policing an ordered manscape.

A breath in the teeth of the gale & the group turns for the warmth once more... but not before he takes an old-fashioned selfie... 'cos he's all alone!

I promise I will drag you stop-ins over this ground before very much longer, & you will enjoy it!  And I'll bet you'll all be at the annual club lunch next month - I do hope so!  Still, I did have a very pleasant walk though.

See you all next club afternoon.



Monday, 4 January 2016

Cannock Chase Council: free Christmas tree chipping

Cannock, Hednesford, & Ravenhill Parks play host to Cannock Chase Council personnel & their big chippers between 9.00am - 3.00pm from Tuesday 5th to Sunday 24th January (including weekends), & get your undecorated Christmas tree shredded for free.  

Cannock:  Leisure Centre car park
Hednesford:  bottom end of park (by contractors units)
Ravenhill:  corner of car park (by recycling bins)

Take a bag if you want your chippings; chippings will be made generally available to residents later: Cannock 11th, 18th, 25th; Hednesford 15th, 22nd, 25/26th; Ravenhill 13th, 20th, 25th.

It's a great idea: it encourages recycling; bought woodbark is expensive; the shreddings have a range of uses in the garden... use the service!

Monday, 28 December 2015

New Year Club Events

Hi everyone, here's hoping your Christmas suited you - quiet or hectic, celebrated or survived.

Please note: Club afternoons will take place as usual into the New Year, with the only likely impact being finishing 30 minutes early this week.  Come along for a game or two, if only for a change of scenery (there'll probably be no subs to pay this week...)

A few events for your diary:

Thursday 14th January - 10.00am at the Leisure Centre for a couple of hours wander over Shoal Hill.  We intend to be back by midday at the very latest.  Given the way the weather's been this last 25 years (however long it's been raining...), boots or wellies are the best option; trainers at your own risk.

Thursday 4th February - Badly Dressed Badminton Club Annual Members Lunch, 12 midday at Mill Farm, Cannock.  Our first 'annual general meeting' that'll be worth coming to, if for no other reason than the carvery you've already paid for through your weekly subs.  There'll be a few formal bits & pieces to chat about, but it'll mainly be about mates & grub & something different...

Thursday 10th March - All England Open Badminton Championships (see earlier post).  Please see Neil or Terry (or email the Club) if you wish to attend so we can buy pre-match tickets before the end of January.  Your ticket will be secured by £10.50 up front deposit from you.

Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Koping with Kristmas

Some folk find the festive season far from fun &, in these days of financial squeeze for many, the difficulties are likely to feel even worse.  Many will be looking forward to a break from work & responsibility, spending quality family time, or just having a quiet relax.  Others however, will experience Christmas as increased stress, family tensions, & alcohol misuse.  Some will be weighed down by loneliness & isolation, loss & sadness.

Christmas can be stressful, producing, amongst others, symptoms of anxiety, irritability, & sleep difficulty.  Exercising a bit & using relaxation &/or breathing techniques will help reduce symptoms of stress & enable a bit more control coping with difficult situations.


Keep active:  don't make Christmas the be-all-&-end-all.  Do things you actually enjoy - walking, going to the cinema.  Arrange to meet someone for a coffee; drop in to the Club's badminton afternoon, be creative.


Get some exercise:  it reduces stress & the serotonin it triggers will give your mood a boost.  As simple as taking a walk!


Watch your input:  too much eating & drinking makes us lethargic; but you are going to binge a bit (you know you are) so take a couple of simple steps to promote your festive wellbeing: eat plenty of fruit & veg, it'll help you feel more energetic; keep an eye on alcohol, it's a depressant & can lead to low mood, irritability, & anger.


Stay in touch:  talk to folk who care.  Even if you can't be with them, phone, chat online, drop 'em a line.  Christmas can be a great excuse to get back in touch with someone.


Do some good:  there's a huge feeling of satisfaction to be had from helping; many charities & community groups need help; simply picking up a little shopping for a neighbour will be good for both of you.


Sleep:  patterns are easily disturbed; there is evidence of a link between sleep & wellbeing.  There are steps you can take for a better nights sleep: stick to your usual routine; drink less alcohol; some exercise; manage stress... in fact, all the tips laid out above!


Look after yourself & you'll have a good Christmas...


Big World Mental Health Day Thanks

... to all Club members, family, friends, & supporters who rallied around our walk over Cannock Chase for WMHD & allowed us to boost our funds to the tune of £405.50p.

In all honesty, it was more important to members the Club actually did something to mark WMHD 2016; 'chancing our arm' in seeking sponsorship was very much a last minute idea, & more about providing structure as we moved toward the walk.  So it was with much pleasant surprise we realised we had received very significant support for our Badminton Club & 'friendship activities'.  In an area being slowly but surely deprived of more formal social support opportunities small, local groups like ours are critical in ensuring folk with mental health concerns can be included, supported, befriended.



Again, a massive Thank You to everyone who pulled on walking boots or stuck their hands in their pockets... didn't we do well?  It was a lovely walk as well...