Hi,
Happy New Year!
What an amazing winter – ! We went walking around north Wales coast at New Year in 14 degrees Centigrade in warm sunshine and balmy winds and found Snowdrops in flower (earliest I have ever seen!!!!) – but also – an quite remarkable really – lots of Daisies flowering on sheltered grassy slopes and some very insipid looking dandelions with bright yellow heads nodding heavily upon rather emaciated looking stalks and leaves - who knows what Feb will bring weather wise – but if you can get out of these window-pressing and rain laden gales and find some shelter, then this winter has been really remarkably mild thus far– more like mid-march than early January – if things don’t change dramatically then we might have some very early re-arrivals – birds wise – by late Feb or early March! I think that we will have some really great walking and running weather in the next couple of months to chivvy us into spring-a-proper! (maybe Feb might have a weathery surprise or two in store as air pressure-begins to rise?)
Swimming.
I have been asked by several folk about the swimming and when it starts again?
I need a commitment from 12 folk and to be paid up front (or by some prior arrangement with Sarah).
This time we need to be more tight on prior payment – because I am having to still chase up some folks payments – apart from the embarrassment of having to ask – I am too busy to chase around after folk and the course will only break even if we have this commitment and prior arrangements in place.
So the starting price per session is £6.50 per adult Swimmer , £5.50 per child swimmer 12 week course starting next week 11th January and finishing 28th March. Venue – Birkenhead school – 7.40 – 8.40pm. Considering pool/changing room hire and quality coaching this is as inexpensive as we can make it without losing money.
I will be able to adjust the costings based upon the number of folk who “sign-up”
We will be planning an event later in the summer – maybe the Great North Swim?
I will need to know by Sunday night please so I can book the pool again!
Anyone wanting to train for the Great North Swim on the 1st of July 2012 – please can you book on line (below) and then let us know and we will planning the training accordingly!!
http://www.greatswim.org/Events/British-Gas-Great-North-Swim/
Cheers
Chris
Ring APEx at Advocacy in Wirral on 0151 650 1530 or email Apex@aiw.org.uk
Phoenix is the editor of this site and was diagnosed with bipolar twenty years ago. In between 8 periods of illness and hospitalisation she trained as a garden designer and was a awarded an RHS Diploma, gained a first class degree in Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Education that enables her to lecture in Recovery in Mental Health to psychiatric nurse students and mental health professionals at universities.
Phoenix leads a diverse life which she attributes to Wellness Recovery Action Planning and all aspects of Recovery. In the last 2 years she performed stand up comedy. Laughter truly is the best medicine! Now she is concentrating on being involved in improving conditions for inpatients and service receivers trustwide. And training in WRAP, Recovery Star and the new Advanced Statement and some gardening for health. Also with some great new art projects. 
