Another “quiet” Christmas

A very special Christmas greeting to all our members.

Once again we are trying to be festive under a cloud of worry and confusion. Many of us will be waiting to see if family members will be able to join us. It is difficult to remain optimistic with the case numbers rising and no real end in sight.

However, we are in a better place than we were this time last year. We are vaccinated and boosted and that should keep us out of hospital if not entirely Covid free.

Once again we were unable to host our AGM and our Christmas lunch. This was a great disappointment to us all as we had everything organised and were looking forward to meeting you all.

Even though we could not hold a normal AGM we are still obliged to hold a meeting to pass the accounts and elect officers. As we did last year, we held out AGM by Zoom with the committee members online. The accounts were scrutinised and passed and the members of the committee and officers agreed to remain in place until we can have a proper, in person, AGM.

A donation of 300 euro was made to the local St. Vincent de Paul and a donation of 300 euro will be made to provide vaccinations in countries where health services are poorly developed.

We do hope that 2022 will be a big improvement on 2021. Everyone is looking forward to the coffee mornings and other activities we are planning.

We wish all our members a safe and enjoyable Christmas and a much more agreeable New Year.

Vaccines are us

Hello to all our members, most of you will be vaccinated by now, or well on the way. While you are waiting for your vaccine dividend to kick in have a look at this year’s Bealtaine Festival. Everything you ever wanted to do, including Sean-Nos dancing. Kick up your heels while you’re waiting to kick up your heels.

If everything goes well, and we all pray it does, we will be able to begin meeting in person fairly soon. The end is in sight, Thank God. In the meantime take care until we meet again.

Care and Connect – Light and Shade;

A Dhaoine Uaisle

It was a real setback when the 3^rd lockdown came. Many of you have become anxious, fearful, enduring mood swings and depression, which is understandable. It is important to acknowledge our worries and to talk about them and at the same time not to dwell on them too long. We must try to have courage and hope going forward. Let us not lose heart now.

            Amanda Gorman in her inspiring poem, “The Hill we Climb” which she eloquently recited at President Joe Biden’s inauguration posed the question, “Can we find light in this ever-ending shade?” At present we are experiencing the shade in every aspect of everyday living. But can we find the light in this ever-ending shade? Is féidir linn.

            Hope and love becomes our inspiration. We are not on our own. In the midst of darkness, the Lord is with us. Let us care and connect and move forward together with a spring in our step, joy in our hearts and embrace the new world we find ourselves in. We will find the light in the shade. Cling to what is good and true. We need courage and strength for what lies ahead. The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

  Keep active. Keep steady. Keep strong. Indoors and out. The more you move the better the mood.

            What should I do if I am having a bad day you might ask? Frances Weir, Occupational Therapist says: “Keep your daily routine, stay active, mind your mood, switch off and stay connected are all great strategies to keep well during this difficult time.”

Maybe it is better to look at life in phases, each with something new to offer, so that we are always looking forward to future possibilities rather than looking back to the last memory. Let us practise gratitude for the good things that happen each day. Write them down if it helps. Gratitude is a remedy for anger. Don’t strive for perfection, be patient and kind to yourself. Don’t lean too heavily into the future as we can overlook the joy of today. All life is precious. You can remember someone when you don’t have the strength to help them in another way, ciallmhar i gconaí maidir leis an mbealach is fearr le tú féin a choinneáil sábháilte, is cuma cá bhfuil tú, ceard atá ar siúl agat nó cé atá in éineacht leat. As the late Seamus Heaney said: “If we winter this out, we can summer anywhere.” Sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold, an ear to listen and a heart to understand. When you feel low do something to lift your spirits.

Let us care and connect through acts of kindness and compassion.

Bí

Beannachtaí  Dé libh go léir.

Mary Kyne, RTAI President

February 2021

Death of Esteemed Members

We have been informed of the death of Mrs. Maureen Kelly nee Power. She taught in St. Savious’s NS for many years. To her family and friends we offer our deepest condolences’. She will be fondly remembered by her family, her former pupils and colleagues and her many friends in the Waterford branch of the RTAI. Suaimhneas siorai da hanam.

It is with deep regret that we learn of the death of May McCarthy, “Rosemount” Cork Road, Waterford. May had a long and inspirational career teaching in Mount Sion and St.Paul’s NS, Lisduggan. She will be remembered for her warmth, humour and her abilities as a classroom teacher and a principal. We offer our sympathy to her family at this difficult time. Ar dheis De go raibh si.

Welcome to our page.

Welcome to the blog page of the Waterford and Dungarvan Branch of the Retired Teachers Association of Ireland. This page will keep you up-to date with the activities of our members and keep you informed of happenings in our area. We hope you will find it helpful and easy to use.

 

Vaccines are us

Hello to all our members. Most of you will be vaccinated by now or well on the way. While you’re waiting for your vaccine dividend to kick it have a look at this years Bealtaine Programme. Everything you ever wanted to do including Sean -Nos dancing. So kick up your heels while you are waiting to kick up your heels.

If everything goes well, we should soon to able to think about meeting in person. In the meantime take care of yourself and have a good May Day.

Its been a long hard Winter for most of our members. We have been kept isolated and away from those we love by an unseen enemy. Some have been lost in this battle. But at last Spring is here. Some of you will already have your vaccines and soon we hope, we will all be protected. It is difficult to contain ourselves now that we can scent freedom in the air. But we need to make a last effort and hold off on the celebrations for a little while. We are looking forward to meeting face to face and won’t that first coffee morning be wonderful.

The RTAI is holding an online AGM to pass the audited accounts and Waterford will be by represented three delegates.

Have a safe, socially distanced and Happy Easter.

The Household Benefits Package is available to everyone over 70 and to some who are under 70. It is not means tested. You get a free TV licence and a fuel allowance of approx. 35 euro a month. It will not come automatically, you must apply. Look up Household Benefits Package on gov.ie where there is a form you can print and send to

Household Benefits ,Social Welfare Services Office, College Road , Sligo F91T384

If you need help phone 1890 500 000 or 071 9157100

It is with deep regret that we learn of the death of May McCarthy, “Rosemount” Cork Road, Waterford. May had a long and inspirational career teaching in Mount Sion and St.Paul’s NS, Lisduggan. She will be remembered for her warmth, humour and her abilities as a classroom teacher and a principal. We offer our sympathy to her family at this difficult time. Ar dheis De go raibh si.

So its Christmas 2020 and we’re still wearing masks, still meeting by Zoom instead of in person. Its been a difficult year and looks like it will reach well into 2021. We have had very little contact with our members and we really miss the coffee mornings, walks, book club and our Christmas Lunch. However, we never died a Winter yet. The vaccine is on the horizon and the good times will roll once again. Until then keep yourselves safe, wear the mask, avoid crowds, even small crowds and sanitise, sanitise.

Let us know how you’re doing. Has anyone taken up a new hobby, resurrected an abandoned activity? Are you learning a language or running miles? Share it with us and inspire us all.

We wish you all a very safe Christmas and here’s hoping that 2021 will be a big improvement on 2020. That won’t be difficult.

Nollaig Shona Dibh go leir agus ath bhliain faoi mhaise.

Hello members, We are very sorry for the mix up with the Comhnasc labels yesterday. I hope it has not inconvenienced you too much. If anyone has returned their mislabelled copy and needs a replacement please text me.

We hope you all survived the storm with minimal damage. Some kind weather would be nice. It looks like we are being asked to go back into isolation again. Please keep up your contacts. Human contact is vital to our wellbeing and texts are better than sitting alone. Set up a Covid group and swap silly pictures. I am determined to take more exercise as I’ve got very lazy. I do hope this weird life will end soon and we will all be able to meet for coffee and a chat. In the meantime stay safe.

We hope you are all keeping well in these strange times. Life is VERY predictable but at least the weather is great. Now that we are able to venture a little further I hope you will all be able to take lots of exercise. We will be the fittest group of retirees on the planet. The way things are looking we will not be able to plan any activities until September, at the earliest. But hopefully, by then things will have returned to some kind of normal. Do check out the RTAI website. They have some useful articles to help us through these tough times.

We hope you had a pleasant St. Patrick’s Day. Things are very quiet for most of our members but we do hope you are all keeping well and keeping boredom at bay. Please do try to keep in touch with friends. If any member needs assistance with collecting food or medicine please contact us and we will try to arrange someone to help.

Hello all the shut-ins, As we begin our social isolation do try to keep in touch. We are sorry we had to cancel our afternoon tea but we will make up for lost time when we are finally released. How are you all planning to spend your time at home? Do get in touch and share. I’m starting a WhatsApp group to help us while away the time and cheer each other up. If you would like to be part of it text me 0872394749

Busy day Thursday 5th March.

Walk at 11.30 am. Meet in Woodies Car Park.

Two films to see —-1917 at 2.40 and Dark Waters at 2.10 in the Odeon.                              Text Katherine Grant if you would like to go…….0861954616

For all our Golfing Members, Here’s a date for you’re diary………

 R.T.A.I. NATIONAL GOLF COMPETITION

                 Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Club

Monday 15th June 2020

4 – Person Champagne Scramble

   Shotgun start at 12 a.m

Tea/coffee and scones on arrival

Dinner and Presentation of prizes             7.30 p.m.

B.B., Gala Dinner(incl. wine) and Golf        €80

Dinner and Golf      €60

Fantastic prizes and Goodie Bags

First come first served as places are limited

 All inquiries to Mary McCarthy  mcartr3@yahoo.

The next Book Club Meeting is on Thursday 12th March at 11.00 in the Teachers’ Centre. The book to be discussed is  Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Come even if you haven’t read it. We never stick to the topic.

We enjoyed a lovely outing to the Bord Gais Theatre  to see The Sound of Music. The show was very enjoyable with wonderful singing and acting and a beautiful set. We must do it again soon.

 

Looking for a New Year activity. Now you can have fun and do  a good deed at the same time.

Fighting  Words is a programme to develop creative writing skills in primary school

children.  In Waterford it is being organised by  Ms.Janet Twigg. Volunteers are

needed. Training will be given towards the end of January and the program will be

delivered in February and March in the local libraries.

Contact Janet Twigg direct on 087 6390641

See website; fightingword

 

Any member staying overnight in Dublin can avail of a special rate in The Castle Hotel, Gardiner Row. It is very centrally situated in Parnell Square and members can avail of a special rate of €69 per room, subject to availability. Just mention the RTAI when booking.