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We aim to bring you interesting and helpful information about osteopathy and complementary medicine within Bristol and beyond.......

Thursday 20 December 2018

Christmas Holiday Openings, and Practitioner Updates.


The Chandos Clinic before will close for the Christmas holidays on Friday 21st Dec, re-opening on Weds 2nd Jan.
Although there will be no osteopathic cover, Deb & Pat will be coming in regularly throughout the holidays to check phone messages, emails, and return calls. So please get in touch and your enquiry will be dealt with swiftly and efficiently!

Davina will be away the whole of January, returning to work Tuesday 5th Feb. While she is away, we will have her wonderful locum Kerry, who will have access to Davina's notes and so there will complete continuity of care. Kerry and Davina trained together so their skill-sets and approach compliment each other well.

We are pleased to announce that Violette, who covered Giles's sabbatical, is staying on with us permanently after the new year. Her working days, currently Mondays and Fridays, will be Tuesdays and Thursdays, with extended hours.

Giles will be returning to us from mid January, Tuesdays only for the time being. He is taking on new patients again.

Also in the new year we can offer massage treatments, holistic, sports and remedial, with our new practitioner, Maria. She will work here on Fridays, and as an introductory offer, her prices are discounted until March 1st. Ring Deb or Pat on reception (0117 9745084) for availability and prices.

Gosia continues to work here, primarily on Thursday afternoons, offering kinesiology and homeopathy.

From Jan 1st, any prices that were . 50p will be rounded up to the nearest pound.

Thank you to all our wonderful patients who have given or sent us Christmas cards; the reception area looks especially festive and we have been very touched by your thoughtfulness.

All of us here would like to wish you a warm, healthy and peace-filled Christmas time, and we look forward to welcoming you through our door in 2019.

Happy Christmas All!

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Recycling your packaging!

Back when I was a child, there was a short lived fad of baking empty crisp packets in the oven, where they shrunk to the size of dolls house furniture!
Much more useful is the new scheme from Walkers where they've teamed up with TerraCycle, so you can now recycle their crisps packets, making the end product a useful viable building material.
I've looked up the Bristol drop-off centre and it's 36 Birch Rd, Bedminster BS3 1PF.
All this information and more is available on the links below.

https://www.walkers.co.uk/recycle
https://www.terracycle.co.uk/en-GB/

Tuesday 23 October 2018


The Reader. Bringing People Together and Books to Life.


Once again, chatting with a patient waiting in our reception area, has helped me discover another Bristol gem which I knew nothing about. "Shared Reading" is different from a normal book group, enabling those who are more isolated in our communities and over 50 to come together. Bristol has 30 groups in various venues, including most of our libraries. The organisations Well Aware and Bristol Ageing Better both have excellent information pages, below.

https://www.wellaware.org.uk/organisation/bristol-shared-reading/

http://bristolageingbetter.org.uk/shared-reading-groups/

Monday 17 September 2018

Chandos Road Festival 2018.
Just one week to go before this year's Chandos Road Festival! (Check out our Facebook Page for up to date information Chandos Road Festival 2018). This year we have full line-ups of music and spoken word on 3 stages. We have 16 market stalls selling lovely hand-made crafts, vintage clothing, hats, collectables and soft furnishings. An early start to the Christmas shopping maybe? There will also be local information stalls, yoga and great children's entertainments, our brilliant face-painters and the ice-cream caravan. Our cafes and bars will be serving up delicious food and drinks all along the road. So pass the word on to friends and family, come and enjoy all the fun of the Festival between 12 and 6 this Sunday, 23rd September. 

Tuesday 11 September 2018

Life Drawing!

Many of you have noticed my picture on the "Join the RWA Friends" flyer, as I always try and put the latest art brochures by the door. When I'm not wearing my clinic receptionist's hat, I work as a life model, and have been doing this for 22+ years.
Bristol is rich with life drawing classes and you would be hard pressed not to find a class at any time, on any day, in most BS postcodes!
This fascinating article from yesterday's "iNews" (which a patient left on a chair) takes a different and revealing (no pun intended) look at the benefits of life drawing on our mental health; most especially for young people who may be struggling with complicated body image issues.
If you ever want to find out where the best life drawing sessions are in the area, be they courses, workshops, or drop-in classes, do just ask me when you're next at the clinic.

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/wellbeing/worried-about-your-appearance-then-take-up-life-drawing/

In the words of Anthony Gormley "A day without drawing, is a day lost!"

Tuesday 14 August 2018

COURSE
YOUR WAY TO WELL-BEING LEVEL 1
BEGIN TO LIVE WITH GREATER EASE, LESS EFFORT AND MORE JOY
Using Alexander Technique
learn the tools to help manage the stresses and strains of life and improve your well-being
Where: Redland, Bristol
When: 5 week course - Monday 5 November to 3 December

7.00 – 8.30 pm
Cost: Course fee - £60 for the course

Tutors: Jane Morris MSTAT & Belinda May MSTAT
To book or for more information 
www.alexandertechniquesomerset.co.uk or Contact: Jane: jane@freedomandease.co.uk or 07775430877
Belinda : belinda.e.may@gmail.com or 01761 463 385

Nowadays, living our busy lives, we can feel overwhelmed and stressed. It seems thatwe don’t have enough time. We cannot easily make choices in our lives and can neglect ourselves and our well-being.
Belinda May and Jane Morris, both Alexander Technique teachers, have teamed up to offer a course that explores the tools for you to find a way to tackle these challenges.
This 5 week course, Your Way to Well Being, puts you on the road to manage the stresses of life and so begin to live with ease, less effort and more joy.
Using the principles of the Alexander Technique, we will explore how to:
  •   Become aware of yourself and gain more balance
  •   Connect with your support
  •   Learn more about your habits and responses
  •   Take these learnings into activity
  •   Give yourself the gift of ease, choice and time

Cyclescheme

Tomorrow, Weds 15th August, is Cycle to Work Day.  https://www.cycletoworkday.org

We live in such a hilly city that electric bikes are now a common site and electric bike shops plentiful. One of our practitioners recently tried one out and is now seriously considering getting one. They're quite an expense but Cyclescheme allows you to purchase one (or indeed any bicycle, and / or accessories) at a significant reduction through your place of work. You can find all about how the scheme works here:

https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/?utm_source=cycletoworkday&utm_medium=website-link&utm_campaign=cycle-to-work-day-What-Is-CTWD-Section







Tuesday 24 July 2018


A patient was kind enough to share this recipe with us. Enjoy!


Vegan Chocolate Tart
For the pastry
·      75g coconut oil
·      55g golden syrup
·      75g ground linseeds
·      185g ground almonds
·      15g coco powder
Melt the coconut oil and golden syrup, add the dry ingredients mix thoroughly  and press into 20 cm tart case, freeze until solid.
For the filling
·      80g coconut oil
·      500g dark chocolate
·      200g almond milk 

Melt chocolate and coconut oil together, heat up the almond milk and pour over the chocolate and mix, pour into tart case, refridgerate.

Wednesday 18 July 2018

NEW MASSAGE THERAPIST JOINS CHANDOS CLINIC 

We would like to welcome new massage practitioner Debbie Parsons to our team here at Chandos Clinic. With more than 12 years experience, using a variety of massage techniques, Debbie is fully equipped to help with a specific injury or chronic ache. She is qualified in sports and remedial massage, and also offers reflexology. 
As an introductory offer, Debbie is offering a 40% discount off her treatments until the end of Sept 2018.
Please ring Pat or Deb on reception for further details of her times and prices, and they will happily book you in to see her.





Violette Aubry
and
Giles’ Sabbatical 


Dear Patients! 
From 3rd. September 2018 Violette Aubry will be returning to the Chandos Clinic.

She will be acting as Giles’ locum until the end of December 2018 while he is on sabbatical.


Violette trained at the same school as Giles: The European School of Osteopathy. She qualified in 1995 and worked at Chandos Clinic from 2008 to 2013. We are delighted that she has time to re-join us this autumn. She is a French national, resident in the UK and has bilingual skills. 

She has a special interest in children and is completing a diploma with The Sutherland Cranial Osteopathic Collage in Paediatric Osteopathy.

She has similar skills and training to Giles, which is why she has been asked to come and cover for him. 

Monday 25 June 2018



                    PLAYING OUT!

I have written about "Playing Out" in the past. If you are the perfect fit for them, or know anyone else who might be, please contact them. They are an amazing organisation who do so much for the physical and emotional well-being of our young folk, near and far.


Dear friends

Please help us find the perfect (or close to perfect) Company Administrator for Playing Out. 

This is a great part-time job for someone highly organised, who loves facilitating others to do things as well as possible. It is a really crucial role for Playing Out going forward, as things are starting to take off in a big way across the UK (and beyond!) and we need this ‘rock’ at the middle of it all to keep us grounded, effective and enable us to make a massive impact. It would be a really big help if you could share this with your networks and in particular anyone you think would fit the bill.

Deadline is 9th July.

The full job ad and application information is here:

http://playingout.net/job-opportunity/

You can also share it on Facebook from here: https://www.facebook.com/PlayingOut


Thank you!!



Alice Ferguson
Director, Playing Out CIC 

BankSpace, 145-147 East Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EJ 
Tel: 0117 953 7167
Mobile: 07896 957141
http://www.playingout.net
Twitter: @aliceplayingout

I normally work Monday-Thursday

Playing Out CIC is registered in England and Wales. Company Number 07694294

Monday 11 June 2018

'Tis the season to be sneezy.

So many of you have been coming in to the Chandos Clinic with eyes and nose streaming. The pollen count has been unbearably high these last few days. Here are some very useful pointers from the BBC. Anyone who suffers from hay fever, myself included, know we can't ever completely eliminate it, but there are some tips here that will certainly help dampen it down.

And we always have tissues in reception!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44381799

As an unrelated aside, I have just read that we should all be washing our hands for 20 seconds, which is how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice!

Monday 21 May 2018

Chandos Clinic.... a few changes!


The Chandos Clinic door is wide open so a sunny hello to all our patients.
There are a few changes coming up, so if any of you have not been to see us recently, here is an update of what's happening at Chandos.

We are saying a fond farewell to our wonderful osteopath Xavier, who is returning to live full-time in France. Xavier is recommending his existing patients see Davina, so rest assured you will remain in her very accomplished and capable hands. Both Davina, and Barbara especially, are very experienced with babies and children.

Likewise Anne Brunton, our long-standing reflexologist, will be leaving us at the end of this month. We will still be able to offer reflexology at the clinic, with both Gosia and Emilie.

We wish Xavier and Anne our very best wishes for their futures.

Giles has slightly reduced his hours so please be aware that appointments with him will require a slightly longer wait than usual, although we are always happy to put you on his cancellation list. Otherwise, Barbara, Mala, and Davina, will always be happy to see you. Until further notice, Giles is no longer taking on new patients.

Thank you to everyone who has signed our data protection update. The form is on the reception desk and Deb or Pat will advise you if you still need to do it.

Our fees will go up on July 1st. This is the first increase since January 2017.

Giles will increase from £67 to £70.50 for existing adults and children.

Existing adults for Barbara, Mala and Davina will go up from £48 to £50.50
New adults for Barbara, Mala and Davina will go from £53 to £56 (first appointment only)

Existing children for Barbara and Davina will go up from £44 to £46.50
New children for Barbara and Davina will go up from £49 to £52 (first appointment only)

Until you come to see us next, we wish everyone good health and happy days in the sun!





Wednesday 2 May 2018

Two rather wonderful Bristol women!

Last night I met Caroline Gilmartin, who is "everything good". She runs fermentation workshops in Cliftonwood, teaching how to make sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir. She has an amazing website which is well worth meandering http://everygoodthing.co.uk

Then Andrea, who told me about "91 Ways", (named after the 91 different languages spoken in Bristol) which has another splendid website. http://91ways.org

Even though I've lived in Bristol for over 20 years, organisations like this continue to surprise and gladden me. Respect and admiration for all involved.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Donating your air-miles to charity.

Yesterday I donated 6000 about-to-expire Finnair points to Unicef. I had no idea this was a thing until the good people at Finnair alerted me to the fact that I could. Now I can see that most airlines are affiliated to charities and you can donate your unwanted air-miles to them. It's so easy, so why not do same. Read more...

https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/how-to-donate-unused-frequent-flyer-miles-to-charity/

Earth Hour.

From 8.30 to 9.30pm local time tonight, 24/03/2018, across the globe, millions of buildings will actively be going dark. Let's join them and switch off the lights...

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-world-is-turning-off-its-lights-for-an-hour-2016-3?r=US&IR=T



Friday 16 March 2018


Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer has been much in the news recently. Most of us will know someone whose lives have been affected by it. Here is an article from George Monbiot of The Guardian, measured, insightful and with gentle humour. I hope you will find it helpful.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/13/prostate-cancer-happy-diagnosis-operation

Monday 26 February 2018

Hygiene Poverty. From food banks to beauty banks.


When I watched the film "I, Daniel Blake",  I thought one of the most harrowing parts was when the young mother went to the food bank and quietly asked if they had any sanitary products. They did not. Now, there is a new enterprise, Beauty Banks, which makes this possible, and not just for sanitary products but all the essential toiletries that most of us take for granted such as soap and toothpaste. You can read the full article from The Independent below. Donations can either be posted to a central London hub, or for ease, shop online and get them posted direct to Beauty Banks, c/o Jo Jones, The Communications Store, 2 Kensington Square, London W8 5EP

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/beauty-banks-sali-hughes-jo-jones-donate-products-hygiene-poverty-a8223496.html

Tuesday 20 February 2018

A "Woohoo!" from the WHO. 

A landmark achievement for world osteopathy.


Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO), which exists to direct and coordinate international health as an agency of the United Nations, voted to admit the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) into 'official relations' status. This is a privilege which it grant to bodies that make a significant contribution to the advancement of public health and support the spirit, purposes and principles of the WHO's Constitution. This is something that the IOA has been working towards since it's inception and which will help elevate the global osteopathic profession.

To find out more about the IOA, visit www.ioalliance.org

Wednesday 31 January 2018


Fine Radio!

Listening to "Inside Health" on radio 4 last night, there were 2 fascinating, accessible and highly informative articles on DVT's in hospital, and the optimum dosage when taking iron supplements.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ply54

Following immediately on from there was "The Life Scientific" on the flu virus. If you've managed to dodge that this winter, hat's off to you!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09plntp

Saturday 27 January 2018

Dementia Friendly Cinema

As a committed cinema goer, I am also slowly making my way through the wonderfully informative Kermode and Mayo podcasts. I cannot imagine a world where cinema is not accessible to me, and it was here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj/episodes/downloads catching up with a podcast from last Sept, that I became alerted to the concept of dementia-friendly cinema, with reduced volume and slightly brighter lighting, amongst other things. Bristol's own wonderful Watershed has a link to it:
https://www.watershed.co.uk/filmhub/dementia-friendly-screenings-a-guide-for-cinemas

On The Alzheimer's Society website there are more dementia-friendly listings for other art related things:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20116/making_organisations_more_dementia-friendly/358/making_arts_organisations_dementia_friendly/2

Now in it's 7th year, September is World Alzheimer's Month, with Sept 21st being World Alzheimer's Day. If the life of someone close to you is affected by this condition, may I suggest that you mark your dance-card now.
https://www.alz.co.uk/world-alzheimers-month

Monday 15 January 2018

Radio Menopause

Barbara has flagged up that Woman's Hour at 10am on Radio 4 every day this week is doing a feature on the menopause. If you would like to hear it, here's the link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09lw30r

Tuesday 9 January 2018

Welcome 2018


Dear Friends of The Chandos Clinic, Old and New.

Firstly everyone here, osteopaths, complimentary therapists and receptionists, would like to wish you a very happy healthy new 2018. We hope the festive holidays treated you gently and warmly, and that everyone was with someone cherished. If you have made a resolution this year, we hope it brings you happiness and fulfilment rather than disgruntlement!

We are running a full ship now the holidays are over, and again able to offer osteopathic treatment on alternate Saturday mornings, which I know suits many of you whose work schedules preclude our weekday hours of opening.

We no longer run the Monday Children's Clinic, but of course countless babies and children come to see us, Barbara and Xavier especially. We will always have a changing mat, a supportive place to nurse, and usually a quiet spare room to settle and soothe.

A reminder that parking in Chandos Rd is metered Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm, £1 per hour. The nearest meters are diagonally opposite us. Usually you can park close to the clinic. You can get a half hour free ticket, though please be aware that we cannot guarantee our practitioners run to strict time and traffic wardens around here are vigilant. For those not driving, buses come to nearby Whiteladies Rd, Redland & Clifton train stations are close, and we also have a bike lock on the premises. We are still hoping the council will provide some bike racks, but for the time being, the best place is probably the church railings a few doors down. Please don't prop your bike up against our very large plate glass windows!

If you have any queries, Pat and Deb are always ready and happy to assist; in addition our website is comprehensive and updated regularly.

                                                **********************

Initially recommended by Davina, some of us have attended gong meditation in Long Ashton run by the extraordinarily gifted Monika of Rainbow Vibrations. She runs many different classes and workshops and her website is detailed and easy to navigate. Do have a look: http://www.rainbowvibrations.com/events.html

At the end of each session she reads a poem, and on Sunday she chose this one. I'd never heard it before, and was very surprised that it was actually written by Charlie Chaplin. Here it is, wise words I think for a new year. Happy 2018!

http://www.loveyourselfproject.org/PDF/charliechaplinpoem.pdf