November 2016
This Is Me...
… is a Shine group for anyone between the ages of 11 and 18 who has Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus.
The Christmas Issue
Getting Ready for Christmas… We’re getting excited because Christmas is just around the corner! We have ideas for fun things to do and make in this issue of This Is Me. Whatever you do, have a great time! Here Robin Barnatt, Shine Health Development Officer, shares some tips at Christmastime... For many of us, Christmas is an exciting and busy time! There can be lots going on around us, which can be great fun. Sometimes the busyness can get a bit overwhelming, so if you get stressed by this sort of thing, try to find a quiet place (maybe your bedroom?) for a while until you feel a bit calmer. You know the people around you – in some cases you might like to tell them what you’re doing, other times, maybe not. It might be worth writing down your plans on a calendar, or in a diary or your phone. That way you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll be doing and there won’t be too many surprises (which can stress some people). On the other hand, if your Christmas is looking a bit quieter than you would have liked, there’ll be less chance of you forgetting an event, and you will have more time to try some of the ideas we have in This Is Me too! One handy service that could help make things straightforward is Shine Health Home Delivery, which delivers regular stoma and continence products and prescription medication directly to your home. It’s easy to join and a dedicated customer service advisor would call or e-mail you to arrange everything, so you need never run out of medication or equipment such as catheters – you can get handy all in one kits too, plus hand cleanser and wipes. If you want to be part of the scheme, let me know via Facebook or email robin.barnatt@shinecharity.org.uk or phone 01733 421355. Remember to discuss any arrangements with your parents / guardian and/or Your Shine Health Home Delivery advisers, your continence James and Mel, say ‘Hi’! nurse.
Your chance to Tell Shine what you think! Calling all TIMers! We are always looking at ways to do more and better things. If we could develop a new youth project for 11-17 year old members what would you want it to look like, include and why?
For example, • Local social meet ups? • Local events / outings? • A dedicated Shine youth information website? • Topical youth news? • Links to youth organisations? • All your other ideas.
We really need your thoughts and feelings on this no matter what they are. Just email angela.bailey@shinecharity.org.uk with any and all your ideas.
A day out with This Is Me! Hi, my name is Molly. I am 15 and now in my final year of GCSEs. My favourite subjects are Italian and RS (religious studies). I love to bake cakes and dance. I joined the This is Me group this year to meet young people who have the same medical condition as me - hydrocephalus - and to share experiences. I am on the T.I.M Facebook group and found out about the trip to Bird World in Farnham, Hampshire. I went along with my mum and brother. It was a lovely sunny day and we arrived early with our picnic ready to meet up with other Shine members. Naomi and Angela from Shine were very friendly and made me feel very special. We had a great day out. We watched feeding time with the Penguins and Pelicans, saw an amazing bird of prey display, and a stunning Peacock that spread its beautiful blue and emerald green feathers! At lunch we all met up for a picnic in the shade before an ice cream.
Kaela’s Make Up Tips! For my 14th birthday my mum bought me some make-up and a lesson on how to apply it and I am going to share with you what I learnt. 1. Always prepare your skin before applying make up. I use Micellar Water to clean and tone and then a moisturiser designed for young skin. I was recommended Celestial by Lush. 2. Foundation next – apply using a damp make-up sponge all over the face, blending into the neck line. 3. Concealer next – hide any blemishes or spots. 4. Eye shadow – use a paler colour or a shimmer on the lower lid and a darker colour above – blend well so no obvious crease lines. 5. Apply Mascara.
Angela tells me they are planning a bowling and dinner trip in London soon so please look out for that and do come along!
6. Eye brows can be combed and then run a pencil in small lines upwards through them and brush through.
Molly McCarthy
Kaela Moore
7. Lipstick – blot on the back of your hand. 8. Optional – blush – pull a pouty face and sweep up across cheekbones for definition. 9. Finally a good dusting of Matte powder to reduce shine.
Christmas Gingerbread
In the Spotlight
This makes a lovely homemade Christmas present! You will need: 350g plain flour, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 125g butter, 175g light soft brown sugar, 1 egg, 4 tablespoons golden syrup, writing icing, cake decorations and 2 baking trays 1. Sift the flour, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon into a food processor. Add the butter. Blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. (If you don’t have a food processor, “rub in” by hand.) Stir in the sugar. 2. Lightly beat the egg and the syrup together. Add to the food processor. Pulse until the mixture clumps (or mix together using a wooden spoon). Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in clingfilm and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. 3. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. 4. Roll the dough out (0.5cm thick) on a lightly floured surface. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread shapes and place on the baking trays, leaving a gap between each shape. 5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes, then on a wire rack to cool. Decorate with the icing and decorations. (You could always Shine-ify them with yellow icing buttons!)
Conor playing the steel drums a few years ago
Hello! My name is Conor Haswell and I’m 15 years old. I live in Bexleyheath with my mum, dad, Patrick (my brother) and Daisy the dog (below). I go to Trinity Academy in Belvedere, Kent where my favourite subjects are P.E and R.E. I am hoping to go to college next year. I am an Explorer Scout and help out at the local cub group – I am going to start my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award soon. I have been playing the steel pans for six years and have been on music trips to Paris and Durham. We also played at festivals held in the local parks. I like collecting Beano annuals, camper vans and Titanic memorabilia. I enjoy playing Pokemon on my 3DS and Minecraft on the XBox1. I like watching Doctor Who and Warehouse 13. In May I was admitted to hospital as my shunt suddenly blocked and it had to be revised - that is the third revision so far. Luckily, I was only in for three days and have been ok since.
Conor
Daisy the dog says Woof (Hello) to all TIMers!
These are easy to make and add a lovely personal touch to any present. You will need the following items (available from stationery or craft shops):
• Plain card tags • PVA glue • Scraps of ribbon, wrapping paper, felt, buttons or beads
• Colouring pens Plan out your design, and glue the material, buttons etc into place. You could use bright yellow buttons or ribbon to Shine-ify them!
Snow Globes Create your own wintery scene using an old jam jar!? Go on – have a go! The items are available from most craft shops or supermarkets. You need: a clean empty jar, white plasticine, model Christmas trees and figures (cake decorations work well), epoxy glue, water, 1 teaspoon of silver or white glitter, glycerine. Remove the lid from the jar. Make a snowy hill out of the plasticine in the centre of the lid. Arrange the model figures in the plasticine, high enough to see them over the edge of the lid. Fix in place with glue. Then glue the plasticine down into the lid. (Make sure you can still screw the lid on!) Dry for 10 minutes. Fill the jar with water. Add the glitter and two drops of glycerine (this stops the glitter settling too quickly). Stir until mixed. Put a small amount of glue around the inside edge of the jar rim. Then very carefully screw the lid with the snow scene back onto your jar to seal it.
Shine’s Snow-sonal Word Search Can you find the festive words in the puzzle below? (They can go up, down, backwards, forwards or diagonally.) T V Q E Q M A Q V P T B A S X E U Z
K O D Q D I F P Q W O T Q R J B Q Q
Z S J O F H T J T N E S E R P D T Y
H A W D S I L W B F A Y R G I V O A
I M X D K T U S A K Q I W B N H Q Q
J T K Q E A O Q Q A Y O H A T T K X
L S S R N H W C F T F K M W G Y Q C
U I P S V M E R K S J W Q D J W E Y
K R R V G E Y Q S I O W M E Z V W F
T H O W R K V O A N N Q K C I V F P
E C Z T Y R M K S K S G L O D I B K
E R K Q M U H Z D L U Y G R C N F C
STOCKING PRESENT FATHER CHRISTMAS CAKE SNOWMAN GINGERBREAD
S E E B G R E E D N I E R A L G A M
Z H E V T Z E B W F R G S T X K I I
X T D A E R B R E G N I G I E A A Q
N A M E Z V A L Z F S V Z O J K X N
Q F D Z P Y O Z L C F D U N D A J N
P X N Z W N S R U U Z E S S B V B L
Credit: Activity Village
Make Your Own Christmas Gift Tags!
REINDEER TREE DECORATIONS
Festive Fundraising ideas! We have some great FUNdraising ideas for you over Christmas and the New Year! To find out more go to www.shinecharity.org.uk/festive fun
This Is Me is your newsletter! We love to hear from you and thank you for sending your ideas for This Is Me! Keep them coming! Email angela.bailey@shinecharity.org.uk or share your ideas via your Facebook group www.facebook.com/ groups/Shine.ThisIsME
SHINE – Spina bifida • Hydrocephalus • Information • Networking • Equality – Shine, 42 Park Road, Peterborough, PE1 2UQ – www.shinecharity.org.uk • firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk • 01733 555988 Registered Charity No. 249338 • VAT number 135 6056 23