Neil update

Here is the latest news about Neil with what looks like an excellent visiting plan. The journey only takes a couple of hours to a very pleasant modern hospital unit this side of Salisbury - the best place in the country for Neil's specific injury, Jodie says.

We have always said that we would be in touch whenever we had news about Neil and no news meant no change. Unfortunately poor Neil has been very unwell with an infection since Boxing Day and has not been allowed out of bed since then but he does finally seem to be recovering from it.

The big news is that earlier this week Neil had the tracheotomy reversed and he is delighted to be able to talk normally again. Also, he is now recommencing his rehab into a wheelchair. It is slow progress and he is only out of bed for 30 minutes a day but this will increase little by little. As a result of his illness he has lost even more weight and muscle but the good news is that having the trachy removed has really lifted his spirits. He still has limited movement in his hands and arms and no strength so can’t hold anything and is still totally reliant on people to care for him.

So many of you enquire about Mum so I wanted to let you know that she has been living at the hospital and caring for Neil ever since he relocated to Salisbury and has been doing an amazing job. Obviously this is no comparison to what Neil is going through but she is under nourished, exhausted and feeling very depressed and isolated – basically she needs a break (even though she may not see this herself right now). The hospital have said that they can no longer offer her accommodation more than three days a week and even this cannot be guaranteed. Mum is distraught about this as I can count on one hand the amount of times she has returned home as she feels that Neil must have someone to care for him.

I was chatting to Neil about this yesterday and he told me that Mum has been a great help to him but equally that even he can see how exhausted she is. I asked how he felt about spending a day or two on his own and of course he put on a brave face and said that he’d be fine but later admitted that he really does need someone with him as sometimes the nurses are so short-staffed that they often forget to give him a drink of water for example. He also said that the boredom is driving him mad and he finds it painful sitting in the chair and when he has friends and family to chat to it really does take his mind off things.

Therefore, I have volunteered to start a visitors booking in system!! Please don’t misunderstand me as it is not that Neil has many visitors but more that I want to try to organise for someone to be with him the days Mum is going to be away. The best days to visit are Friday, Saturday and Sunday but also Monday’s and Thursday’s are good as we need to have consecutive days for visitors enabling Mum to return home (if you want to see Mum too then Monday’s, Thursday’s and some Sunday’s are best). We’ve got this weekend covered but otherwise only have Zia visiting on 19 February. Therefore, if you are able to visit then please let me know what date works for you – you can book as far in advance as you like…in fact that’s a great help to Sharon, Tam and I who are going to between us cover whenever he has no one there so it will help us to plan things.

Jodie x

2 players needed for home match this wednesday

Message Posted On Behalf of Michael Cain (who is a naughty boy for posting this onto the wrong blog!)

Hi,

The Third team needs your help for a HOME game this Wednesday against Horsham in the second division.

So far I have Me, Dona and Felix playing but we need 2 more players.

If you can play, please phone Michael Cain on 07976 739911.

Many Thanks

Michael Cain

Table tennis room ours on Saturdays!

In our long-running negotiations with the Railway Club to regain our use of the table tennis room we have at last got permission to use it on Saturday afternoons! (We are still trying for Wednesday evenings.) It's not automatic - it has to be booked in advance - but this means we can start to organise the seminars and other events on Saturdays. Thank you for the feedback already supplied on this - we now have some idea of what you might prefer - and please continue to watch this space and take part in the discussion. This is a venture which can only succeed if enough members are interested in branching out from the usual pattern of Saturday afternoons.

Member of the Month: Grant Minshull

Grant Minshull has fixed our electric heaters so that the chess club can continue through the cold winter months - thanks Grant! If you ever want a Brighton & Hove Electrician - ask Grant.

chess.com

Just thought I'd mention chess.com . One of the prime uses for this site is to play 'correspondence' chess i.e. 3 days/move (I know some of you use the Facebook add-in, but the two systems don't seem to be connected as far as I can see) but another feature I like is the tactics trainer. The free membership gives you three tactics problems per day which are solved against a timer. You get a plus/minus rating score for each one, a graph displays your ratings history and your highest ever score. It adds a bit of spice having to solve against the clock and trying to bump your rating up. If you do register feel free to challenge me to a game!

Publicity Campaign

Two very nice guys from the cafe "Ikaya Craft Coffee Shop" have agreed to put up a poster advertising our club.

I return I said that I would say a bit about them.

They are a new cafe, situated near the bus stop for the "5" buses at Preston Circus. They have a wide variety of tea and coffee and they also do cakes and sandwiches.

They also hand-make a variety of crafted items such as bags and jewelery.

Best of all they have a chess set in the cafe that you are welcome to use!

Corus

Kramnik just took out Carlsen to cruise into joint first place, nice win!

6th Team. Match Postponed.

6th Team match at home against E. Grinstead 3 on Wednesday 27th January has been postponed.The E. Grinstead team cannot make this occasion. Our individual team members have been informed.

Safety

Hi all,

A quick note about being safe at the club (yaaaawn). Seriously though:-

1. Please do not set up kettles on the floor, this is an accident waiting to happen, this could result in a serious lawsuit against the club in the event of an accident.

2. Please be careful when setting up the electric fires. The legs on them have a habit of coming off. As you can see in the skittles room there are burn marks on the carpet where the fire has been placed directly on the floor in the past. I for one do not want a headline in The Argus saying "Brighton Chess Club decimated by fire". Please ensure that the legs are attached before turning them on.

Thanks for reading. I realise this is common sense to most members, so apologies to those I am lecturing needlessly.

Simon H

Club Librarian

Hmm, apologies to Simon for cancelling at such short notice for Tuesday. Nathan, I am expecting to be back in Brighton for Wednesday and our match.

Message for Simon Hayward & Nathan Gregg

There's a possibility that I won't make Tuesday's team game against Hastings (captained by Simon) or my match game on Wednesday (against Nathan). A close friend's Mother has just died and they're over in Portsmouth. I might go and help out. Should know later today. Will keep you posted as soon as I know.