OH We Do Learn....

So much for taking the Michael out of Steve, Mike and me!

Poor Steve is having a enforced stay in Nevill Hall...or maybe it is his way of getting out of the P60's and end of year government forms too.or was it just too much Rotary input on the weekend.......anyway my free time is now in Abergavenny with my poorly hubbie...get well soon darling, xxxx

Good news maybe that he looses a trouser size..bad news I hate clothes shopping!

Forced Homeleave!

Now did I tell you I am a workaholic as well as a chocoholic!....now I know why I enjoy being busy...Day 2 at home done lots of Internet and Computer Rotary yesterday as Steve is really feeling rough...

Today however I am waiting for the Doctor and am feeling stir crazy!!!!! I think I am going to blame me as I was poorly last week and I think he has caught it ten times worse...or blame Mike Parry.he was with him on the weekend too......

I think he can have the blame ....thats a better idea ....well lets see what the Dr says when he gets here...me or Mike? shame he doesn't know Mike isn't it?.....ahhhh...even more so...Poor Steve....xxxxx

RIBI ASSEMBLY

The Annual Training of District Officers throughout RIBI..Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland...a shorter programme than normal, but with as much fellowship and fun and of course we did learn a lot as well....Our District has a name for enjoying ourselves alongside the Irish Normally, we had a change this year and I think the Districts we shared with may well try to avoid us next year!

President of Rotary International Ray came along on his official tour visit...but came back a second time, so must ahve enjoyed our comapny me thinks! or did he see the young girls that decided our group was good fun....Our team on the whole thought so too...

But now is the time to get on with the planning and working with the goals that have been set..and to have a year that is Fun, but also a year that gets lots done...

Thanks to a great team we think we should enjoy and 'do' the service that Rotary is known for as well as raising funds as needed, particularly for the Eradicate Polio Now Programme...we owe it to the mothers of the world to fulfl our promise to rid the World of this terrible disease...and we will....

23RD MARCH 2010 YOUNG MUSICIAN ZONE 7 FINAL

A great evening of entertainment and competition at Brynmawr School, hosted by my club the RC Of Brynmawr.

The winner was a young man, who was also sponsored by us and who now goes forward tothe District final..

DOTS 1

Okay you might think I am Dotty normally but today I was with some others!!!

DOTS is District Officer Training Seminar...and we held the first of the two today..

7 of the 9 AG's met with JC, Mike, David and myself before lunch and had a good seminar where we interacted well. After lunch other officers and new to District came along and we looked at the Theme and the emphases of the year ahead and we discussed how we to progress the theme to clubs and others to ensure we have a productive year where we Build Communities and Bridge Continents..

Thank you to you all for giving up a Sunday which you would otherwise have spent undertaking the family duties, gardening car washing or just watching the match...your commitment is greatly appreciated.

St Patrick Day

I will be on the look for Leprachauns....work for an hour and off to the Hospital! think I better take my little laptop and do some work there as its a probable wait! never mind at least we are fortunate that we have the NHS here in GB..

Off for a meal tonight at the Cripple Creek, so that should be nice and a surprise for Gwyneth to celebrate her being in remission now... 

Official District Visit of David Fowler Tuesday 16th March

Went to my own club for lunch today. lots of catching up and good progress on projects we are involved in..
Tonight I went with Steve , Stephanie and Luara to the Greenmeadow Golf Club hosted by the RC of Pontypool, for a meal and to listen to David RIBI President..good company and food and David was a very good speaker commending what was going on in our District.

Kilamanajo climb by my son Lee Jan 2011

http://www.justgiving.com/leewallbank

My wonderful eldest child, Lee, is climbing Mount Kilamanajaro in January 2011 to raise money for Valindre...which if your not in Wales is our wonderful cancer hospital...if you want to help his fund raising go to the link and give please...and this way your donation gets gift aid...some tax back from the Government...Thanks..

About the charity

Velindre Cancer Centre is the largest non - surgical cancer Hospital in Wales providing Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and other specialised anti-cancer treatments for over half the people of Wales. We have been providing care and support to cancer patients and their families in Wales for over 50 years.

Every year we provide care, treatment and support for over 100,000 people. Due to early detection and improved treatments the number of people in Wales living with cancer is increasing daily. It is estimated that by 2015 there will be a 30% increase in the most common forms of cancer. We are determined to raise the money necessary to enable us to meet these new challenges.

Tuesday March 16th

Okay lets get ready for a busy day..work, calls Rotary at lunch time and then Dinner tonight at Greenmeadows Golf Club where the RIBI President is talking to us ..Steve and I are going, but also Stephanie our daughter and Laura a work colleague as they are both interested in Rotary and what we do...might even become members of my club...that will bring the average age down!

PLYMOUTH VISIT FOR CONFERENCE 2010.

What a day! 7.30am start heading for Plymouth First meeting at 11am with Goosewell Primary School..what a wonderful school and premise it is, The school are excited about being part of Conference on the Sunday morning and so are we; and to make it more real...on the wall of the school waiting area was a two board display of Egyptian bits that the children had made...they must have known I was coming and we are walking like Egyptians on the Friday night...

Next was the food tasting at the Pavillions we are nearly there, just a few small changes and we should be happy...someone might think its just so we get to try it again mind!

Next school was Lipsome Vale and what a great welcome we had there too...so they are opening Conference with some great ideas...I am so delighted that its all taking shape..

we had left Christine at the Copthorne paying in cheques and booking rooms..good news is that unless someone cancels theres no rooms left...a deal or two more sorted on wine and beer and I was a happy baby...only downside was the three hour drive back home...but hey what a day!

Thanks Howard, Chris, Alan and Bill for all your efforts today. xxx

Youth Speaks District Final

A wonderful evening of proff that the future of our country is safe in the hands of the young people of this world.amazing speakers and topics..well done to you all.

4th March 2010- Young Interviewer

4th March 2010- Young Interviewer
what a wonderful event yet again  Well Done Hugh.

The Young Interviewer District Final was again organised by Hugh and the Rotary Club of Caerleon.

This year we saw Five contestants interviewing Bishop John, who after making his statement answered their questions with great integrity.

This years winner was from Howell's School. Sidi Bai, who we have seen win Youth speaks competitions in the District in previous years as well as the RIBI Final a few years ago...another example of how old we are getting so quickly as Sidi was in the intermediate team then for Howells. Well Done Sidi 

quite a few busy days

Quite a few busy days.... Tuesday saw me having a day off, not a good day so to speak as I attended a Rotary colleagues Mums funeral, which was a very touching affair..I was reminded once again of a verse I found when I lost Dad,

Always remember to forget the things that made you sad, but never forget to remember all the things that made you glad...

Following that I went to see my mum in Birmingham...problem was I had got lost in my own growing up areas! how sad...so only got to see Mum for and Hour and a half as I had to return for a important meeting I was chairing with the Town Business Forum, the Elected members and planning control officers about a planning application which could have an even more devasting effect on us than Asda already has had!

Today I am told I chaired that meeting well...so theres hope for me at my first District Council meeting  then! anyway we have to save Brynmawr Town Centre before I tackle the Rotarians of 1150 at Council! ANYONE SEEN MY SUPERMAN OUTFIT!

Tonight I had a meeting with Howard my conference chairman and it seems we now have a full house of speakers...we now need to get the delegates there to enjoy them,,so now for the next task...okay the Superman costume can be used at other times too! just need to find it.

Saturday Feb 27th- Collection at Tescos by the club

Who lost the tabbards? okay they were hiding..but the club members eventually took hold of them thanks to Kim Hall my sister in law who ran over with them to Ebbw Vale Tescos...well done Guys...TFL will have a little bit more in the pot thanks to the generosity of the general public..

I then went on Saturday evening to the RC Ebbw Vales annual St Davids Concert which was wonderful as always...Thankyou again for putting this annual event together, Beaufort Male Voice Choir, Beaufort Hill School and Rachel Tilley were all absolutely amazing...

St Davids Day

An early start for the Big Breakfast with Cardiff Breakfast RC..great start to a day...but early!

It was wonderful to talk to friends who I had not seen since coming back from the RI assembly, and it was awesome to share a 40 year celebration to the commitment of Rotary by Trevor Reynolds...great things today..

Had a conference meeting this afternoon with Christine and was over the moon as we only have 15 empty rooms available...200 people already...so I am delighted with the teams efforts, just need to get this last speaker booked and we are well  on our way...thanks guys..xx

Off to Birmingham tomorrow for another early start...unfortunately going to a colleagues mums funeral, but will carry on afterwards to see my mum for an hour or two...then a meeting with the Local councillors about this ill thought out development which could kill our little town even more if we don't get it stopped..so an early night me thinks...xxxx