End of Days...

At the weekend I was at the Hay Festival, and attended the "Letters of Note" event on Saturday, where some of our finest actors and actresses read letters pulled from history, old and contemporary, often very funny or incredibly poignant. One of the stand-outs was Benedict Cumberbatch reading the letter that the palliative care doctor, Dr Mark Taubert, wrote on learning of the death of David Bowie. It is both a private discourse, but also one with a wider wiser insight into how we can, if possible, approach death.

http://blogs.bmj.com/spcare/2016/01/15/a-thank-you-letter-to-david-bowie-from-a-palliative-care-doctor/

                                           Eat Well!

The BBC has just published this from The Eatwell Guide.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36357232
It's caused lots of brouhaha, especially over the "low fat" debate. On the radio last night, there was also discussion that the most important thing of all is to avoid all processed food. Amid all the noise and clamour from the calorie counters and the big marketeers, I think the seven wise words from food writer Michael Pollan should always be our touchstone: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants".

                                  Underfall Yard

I learn so many lovely things, chatting to patients from my receptionists chair. This is what I've just discovered, that there's a new tiny little local eatery, set withing the new Underfall Yard Visitors Centre. Underfall Yard is a true treasure of Bristol, a traditional working boat builders in Hotwells, and with even more of a reason to visit it now that there's good quality food to be had. Enjoy!

http://www.bristol247.com/channel/food-drink/news/new-openings/pickle-opens-at-underfall-yard-bristol

Dementia Awareness Week  Sun 15th May - Sat 21st May 2016

Dementia Awareness Week encourages anyone who is worried about dementia to confront their concerns and get in touch with Alzheimer's Society. Hundreds of thousands of families are touched by dementia every year and many people don't know where to turn. Dementia can be scary but you don’t have to face it alone. 

• If you're worried that you, or someone close to you, might have dementia, call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or email helpline@alzheimers.org.uk for advice and support.

"The sun is out, the sky is blue!"

Time to start making some excellent Vitamin D again....

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Summerhealth/Pages/vitamin-D-sunlight.aspx

                                 FREEWHEELERS

Often, when patients arrive early and osteos run late, it's a good opportunity to get chatting to patients and discover all sorts of fascinating things you knew nothing of before! So today, when a patient arrived in full "Emergency" biker wear, I initially mistook him for a policeman, but was soon put right that he was actually a volunteer courier for delivering blood between Southmead hospital and wherever it's needed, be that road traffic accidents, air ambulance, or to other hospitals. Across the whole country there are 125 bloodbikers who support the NHS in this way, and in our own area (Bristol Bath Taunton) we have four. They each carry 5 units of blood (an air ambulance carries just 2) and between them they will usually cover 410 miles each day, that's the same distance as Bristol to Paris! The bikes are police spec BMW's which cost £18,000 each. The charity costs £100,000 a year to run and is manned entirely by volunteers, be they bikers, fund-raisers, telephone operators or administrators. I'm sure I have seen Blood bikes out and about, but never given them much thought before. Next time I will certainly give them a respectful nod. I am also going to see if I can volunteer my telephone skills!

For far more information than what I've learnt in the Chandos Clinic reception area this morning, please visit:
http://www.freewheelers.org.uk/

                                       Save the date!

Mark your diaries for the next
Chandos Rd Street Party on Sunday Sept 25th 2016.
More details as I get them, but it's always a lovely event, and an opportunity to enjoy all that our wonderful road has to offer.