JOB
HUNTING
As
I roam around from town to town
Just for somewhere to earn a pound
But this job hunting is getting me down
Day and night I just want
To feel alright.
For all my job hunting seems in vain
Now in body, mind and soul
There is lots of pain
For now I wonder
If there's a job out there for me
Now I'm just sitting here counting the trees.
Martin
Catering
News
The
catering unit is always very busy. Many members help out in
this unit, but more help is needed. Philip is a new member to
Platinum and is very good at working in the catering unit. As
usual, however, the 'Poachers' were busy in the employment unit
and have him gone out on a T.E. job. Well done to Philip, I
hope he does well.
RECIPE
OF THE MONTH
Chicken
and Pasta Salad
Serves:
4-5 people
Cooking
time: Approx. 30 mins.
Ingredients:
500g Egg Tagliattelle (or spaghetti)
500g chicken breast
Lemon
Pepper
Garlic
120g grated Parmesan cheese
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
Italian dressing (sun dried tomatoes)
Method:
Cook pasta in a large pot with boiling salted water until 'al
dente' (smooth with a firm texture). Meanwhile, season chicken
strips with lemon, pepper and garlic.
Bake in an oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until juices run clear.
Cool chicken and cut into bite size pieces. In a large bowl,
mix together the cooked pasta, chicken, chopped tomatoes and
cheese. Serve with Italian dressing poured over the top of the
pasta.
The
Glen O' The Downs
The
Glen o' the Downs is Ireland's first nature reserve, it is a
large glacial, forest covered valley, which consists of predominantly
Oak (approx. 60%), Ash, Birch, Rowan, and a number of other
native Irish trees. It also holds a large number of wildlife
species including wild Deer, Badger, Long-eared Owl, Fox, Wood
Warbler, Blackcap, Woodcock, Grey Wagtail, and Dippers. A wide
range of fungi grow on the forest floor, dead branches and bark
of the trees. Ferns, Bramble, Wild Garlic, and Coltsfoot cover
the forest floor as well. There is a river running through the
centre of the valley, which is rich in wildlife.
In
1997 the road through the middle of Glen o' the Downs was planned
to be widened to allow the flow of traffic to run through it
faster. However, this would mean the destruction of over 2000
trees, resulting in the loss of important wildlife from a large
area in the centre of the glen.
A
number of protesters set up camp in an area under threat of
destruction. They built defences, such as tree-houses, tunnels,
and lock-ons, all over the area under threat. The protest attracted
a large number of people from all over the planet coming to
protect it. Wicklow County Council were brought to court by
the protesters to prevent this destruction. Even though the
protesters won the court case the Judge still granted permission
for the road to go ahead. The road is at present under construction,
a number of protesters were imprisoned for trying peacefully
to stop trees from being destroyed, but in the end a very important
part of Ireland's heritage has disappeared forever.
Dara
Racing
News
The
flat racing season started in the Curragh on March 24. The main
race of the day was 'The Betdag', Irish Lincolnshire, which
was worth €100,000. 'Atlantic Rhapsody' who is trained
by Ted Walsh had odds of 6-1 in betting. It was ridden by Michael
Kinane.
The
top prize was €65,000, second €20,000, third €10,000
and fourth €4,000. There were 23 runners. This was the
first of 18 meetings in this season.
Patricia
Finding
Hope
Feeling
down is a natural reaction to life's hurts, stresses, changes
and disappointments. The road to taking action and feeling well
again begins with self-awareness: understanding depression and
realizing just where you are.
Depression
is an illness of the body, mind and spirit. To treat it, you
must pay attention to all of you. Where are you hurting? Ask
yourself how you can bring healing to that part of your life.
Most
of life is neither perfect nor terrible, totally black nor totally
white. Expect constant change in your life and occasional chaos.
Expect that life, while not fair, can still be good.
If
you are always pushing towards greater success, achievement,
control, perfection or efficiency you are overrating greatness
as well as your own human capacities. You are great because
of who you are not because of what you can do.
Feelings
of hopelessness can come from feeling overwhelmed, as if you're
buried under an avalanche. You can't push all the rubble away
at once. You need to remove the rocks one at a time (and maybe
with the help of someone else).
Picture
yourself as a happy person, filled with grace and love. Regardless
of who you are, or what you have or haven't done, you can work
at being a calm and gentle spirit living in inner peace.
If
you feel like you need a miracle in your life, you probably
do. Ask for one, but remember that miracles can be small. Sometimes
you just need to notice those that God has put right in front
of you.
Don't
underestimate the power of creativity to lift you out of the
fog. Sing a song, bake a cake, paint a picture, compose a poem
or build a birdhouse.
Look
toward the future - especially during the holidays, when people
are often trying to recapture that perfect past of the good
old days. Better yet, take satisfaction in who you are, where
you are, what you are doing right now!
Sometimes
you can't climb up from depression all by yourself. There are
people who are glad to throw you a rope, give you a needed boost,
pick you up and carry you to a better place. Let them.
Listen
to the wisdom of the wounded. Their pain may no longer be as
intense as yours, but the perspective they bring can lessen
your feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Don't
get discouraged if you don't feel better immediately, you may
be improving even though you don't yet feel it. The main thing
is to continue to take steps toward healing and to reject negative
thinking.
God
has promised us peace and fullness of life. We can help God
to help us to climb up from depression by accepting as our motto:
TREAT
IT AND DEFEAT IT
Admin
Unit
As
usual the admin unit has been a hive of activity. As our membership
grows it seems so does our paper work. A lot of members participate
in the work ordered day within this unit and all the help is
much appreciated.
A
great deal of out-reach has been done over the last two months
to any members who have been absent for a while or off sick.
If
you would like to read any of Platinum's old newsletters you
can look them up on our website at the address below.
Website:
www.kildare.ie/platinum
Pippa
The Cat
Pippa
is so beautiful she is my little cat. Sometimes I call her Pip
and she knows both names. She is grey and cream in colour. She
loves me to give her a kiss on the nose. Last spring she was
run over but thankfully she recovered after an operation and
she also had a pin put in her little leg. She was a long time
in the vets. Sometimes she runs to me holding her leg up. I
always say she's looking for tea and sympathy. She loves me
and I love her very much.
Eileen
Employment
Unit
We
would like to welcome our new members on board and thank them
for the advice and experience on employment issues. Congratulations
to Philip who started his new job and we wish him the 'Best
of Luck'.
A lunch will take place on Friday 10th of May to wish Des and
Karin luck in their new job.
Platinum employment team will provide on the job support to
all our members out working all they need do is call.
Also good luck to Declan in his setting up of his own woodwork
shop.
'Keep in contact'.
Fun
Page
