Keeping Pace Newsletter

We have some very sad news;

Austin Fitzpatrick (above) who was a very true and loyal friend and an active member of our group, died peacefully at Mountbatten House on June 21st 2010, after a short illness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sheila and daughter Catherine at this difficult time.

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By popular request, we welcomed back Fran Hodgson this month for more of her wonderful yoga teaching. This time she taught us various yoga techniques that we could use for balance and harmony. There were exercises that could calm and those that could uplift. Once again all the practices could be done according to each persons own capability and so accessible to all. Fran helpfully printed out a further instruction sheet which can be downloaded here.

Next month we have invited one of our members Malcolm Corbett to talk about his safari. This will be an illustrated talk as Malcolm is a keen photographer. We therefore hope to christen our new projector, purchased using the money raised on our behalf by Waitrose. This should be quite an informal afternoon, so if any other members wish to contribute with news or ideas, please come prepared to share them with us.

We were visited by representatives from Remploy, Enham and Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS) this month. They each gave presentations about the work carried out by these helpful organisations. Becky from SVS spoke about the numerous opportunities that can be enjoyed by getting involved with volunteer work in Southampton. She explained how volunteering can also be a useful way to rebuild confidence if someone is trying to return to work despite a chronic illness as it can provide experience, training and even references. For more
information, visit their web site http://www.southamptonvs.org.uk
Mike from Enham just oozed enthusiasm. He obviously loves his job. He gave us a brief and fascinating history of how Enham started around the time of World War One and how their mission is to make sure that disabled people are valued and allowed to reach their full potential.
They offer many services including help with accommodation and getting people into work by facilitating training, coaching in interview techniques and writing CVs. Their web site explains their full range of activities http://www.enham.org.uk Karen and Liz from Remploy were already known to the group but kindly reminded us of their role within the Pain Clinic in helping people with work issues resulting from health problems, with particular emphasis on retention.

This month's meeting was very relaxed and provided a lovely chance to socialise. Tracy Spice, supported by the beautiful Antonia, organised a chinese painting session and many displayed remarkable, previously hidden talents! The group sat around a communal table and had the opportunity to chat to members that they may not normally have sat next to before. A very enjoyable afternoon was had by all. We also met Liz and Karen from an oganisation called Remploy. They intend to return next month with representatives from Enham, SAFE - Southampton Action for Employment & Southampton Voluntary Services to inform the group about what help these various agencies can offer.

Emma (KPWP Honoury Pharmacist) gave birth to a daughter Awen, on March 25th 2010, in Adelaide, Australia.
Mother and baby doing well.

Sally Curtis from the University of Southampton Medical School was this month's speaker. She is one of our regular visitors, and a loyal supporter of our group, and so it was nice that she could be there to help us celebrate our fifth birthday. She shared with us one of her research interests which concerns the stages of grief and the possible similarities with these and the experiences of those who live with persistent pain. She was keen to hear the group's opinions and it certainly did stimulate a lively discussion. Sally is keen to meet with those wishing to continue to explore these ideas. If you are interested then please contact Kevin.

We welcomed our friend Rich Beale back to the group for a further
episode of his experiences during his work as a tour guide in China.
This time he shared his newly acquired love of Tibet. What always strikes me when I hear him talk is how he just loves getting to know and interacting with the locals wherever his travels take him. This is why he is so able to get across to his audience the nuances of life in
these far flung places and not just what tourist sights are on offer.
He showed us some lovely pictures of Tibet and the faces of some of the friends he had made, some of the art work that he had been given and even a mug that had survived being taken on "The Long March" and that he had felt honoured to have been given. Can't wait for the next
installment- where to now Rich?
Next month is our 5th birthday! Apparently the fifth anniversary should be celebrated with wood and so we have set a challenge to our members to bring along something wooden that is relevant to Keeping Pace. I have already thought of a 12 inch wooden ruler. (A foot! Get
it?) Oh, and a chocolate log birthday cake! So now it's your turn!

We are very grateful to Fran Hodgson who agreed to talk to the group at short notice as our planned speaker was unable to come. Fran has the most beautiful smile and managed to encourage us all to join in yoga exercises some of which involved making sounds and chanting. I don't think I ever thought I'd see the group so relaxed in each others company and so willing to participate in something a bit strange and new to many of them. She also took us through several exercises including meditation and relaxation. The movements were so accessible and adaptable that they are suitable for people to attempt even with pain or physical problems. Some of our members have told me that they have already gone on to use them. Fran has kindly written a sheet of instructions for those who were at the meeting to help remind them of what she covered. For those of you who were unable to attend, don't worry! Fran has kindly agreed to return later on this year for a further session.

The Christmas party was a very enjoyable event. Thanks to everyone who contributed food. It was a bountiful and delicious spread. The quiz went down well. This time it was done in teams around tables which I think made it more fun. It certainly helped to spread the pressure but I'm not sure that it improved the scores! We are grateful to both Jessica and Kevin for their hard work in compiling the questions and producing the quiz sheets! We rounded the afternoon off with a few carols accompanied by the skillful playing of Jim - thanks to Jim and Jessie for supplying the music and carol sheets once again.

Everyone sat spell bound whilst Dr Paul Schofield, medical director of NAPP, talked. His passion for educating the medical profession about effective pain treatments and giving patients informed choices as to what is available to them was so evident. He talked about the financial and political restrictions that pharmaceutical companies face when deciding to develop and bring to market new drugs. He explained that this is one of the reasons that much of the current focus is on improving existing medications in both their side effect profile and their delivery systems. For example, the use of patches as a method of administering drugs is increasingly popular but sometimes limited by patients becoming allergic to the glues and preservatives in the patches and so hypoallergenic versions are being sought. Nanotechnology is another exciting possibility, where the undersurface of the patches are covered in minute needles, smaller than the human hair, that push aside rather than pierce the skin cells to deliver the drug molecules. I know that Paul would not forgive me if I didn't mention bees. He even sent a photo for you all to see.

He is equally passionate about bee keeping and has two hives. When asked about the pain relieving properties of bee venom, he said he wasn't sure but could find out. I reckon that was an offer to return to talk again- don't you?

Next month is our Christmas party. Don't forget to come prepared with your wrapped Secret Santa gift to the value of £1, your contribution to the food and your brain cells tuned ready for:

We had an open meeting this month at which we invited members of the group to speak. Steve and Chris Beale kicked off with a fascinating and heart warming talk about hearing dogs for the deaf and what a life transforming effect Yogi has had on them. I had never fully appreciated quite what a special dog Yogi was. No wonder he was nominated for the rescue dog of the year award. We, of course, reckon he should have come first as he has certainly won the hearts of our Keeping Pace group. Kay then gave us a helpful talk about her experiences of traveling during her trip of a life time to Hawaii. The most important messages to take home were: how vital good planning is to the success of a trip when you have health issues to contend with and to take advantage of all the assistance offered, even if it involves swallowing a bit of pride to admit you need help. In November we have been fortunate to secure the time of Dr Paul Schofield to talk about advances in pharmacological approaches to pain management. It would be great if as many as possible attend for what is bound to be an interesting and relevant session.

This month at short notice, Emma, the support group’s resident pharmacist, took to the floor to face a Q & A session. Questions ranged from medication & time contingency, Paracetamol, Swine Flu to finally questions on the recent E coli outbreak! Emma took all these questions in her stride and then later was on hand to talk on a 1:1 with individuals regarding personal medication queries. Thanks Emma! Debbie Harrison has kindly rescheduled her relaxation session for the January 2010 meeting.
The September meeting also saw the inaugural outing of the “Megamouth” Microphone and speaker. Kevin had fun putting the microphone through it’s paces, with a compliment from Elizabeth that he sounded just like Richard Burton!!!
For the October meeting Chris and Steve will do a presentation on Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. We’ll also find out how Yogi fared in the Rescue Dog of the year competition.

Isn't it lovely that our group has now been meeting long enough to have established traditions such as the annual cream tea? We had a truly splendid afternoon, weather and company included. Practice must make perfect as our band of volunteer scone makers did us proud. I reckon they were better than those served at The Ritz (and I should know having experienced afternoon tea at said establishment just last Saturday! ) This year we had the additional treat of a musical accompaniment. We are very grateful to Dr Marilyn Monkhouse who played the piano for us whilst we chatted and ate. Thank you also to everyone who contributed with food, home made jam, oodles of clotted cream, drink making, dishwashing and so on. Can't wait for the Christmas party!!

Maintaining independence was the order of this month’s meeting. Our speakers were Heather and Terri from Wessex DriveAbility, whose ethos is to enable individuals to drive or to travel as a passenger in order to maintain an independent lifestyle. Services offered by Wessex DriveAbility include various assessments – Driving; Transfer; Adaptations & Drive from Wheelchair. The team is headed by a Specialist Occupational Therapist and Specialist Driving Instructors. They stressed the need to get in touch with them should you be thinking of any modifications to your car in order that you get what’s right for you , as an individual and then assist you in achieving this. Group members Mike and Beverley shared their recent experiences in getting new cars under the Motability scheme, with adaptations to suit their needs. Beverley also took advantage of driving lessons to help her adjust to the car adaptations. All this just added further credence to the subject. For further information on these services visit;

The August meeting heralds our annual cream teas afternoon. This year we have Marilyn Monkhouse coming along to play on the piano with some afternoon tea music, so if you are free, why not come along and meet us?

"Wellbeing" loaf which Mr Cotton sells in his shop. (Click here for information) It is full of healthy grains and seeds and is additive free.

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Keeping Pace With Pain

Southampton Based Chronic Pain Support Group