WELCOME TO WIDOWED WORLD

4 July 2009

Greetings on yet another gloriously sunshiny day and long may summer continue!

I love this warm weather but sometimes it’s a relief to come into the cool of the house and sit at the computer keyboard gently composing articles and the like.

During the last couple of weeks much has been going on relating to the website and we’re really pleased to have now included the first of our profiles on volunteering opportunities – see Menu>New Beginnings>PAWS Sanctuary.  Anthony, who features in the article and who is also a regular member of one of the Sunday Scene Social Clubs has found working with animals and other sanctuary volunteers a real help in coming to terms with his bereavement and recommends it to anyone who loves animals.  A short film is currently in the editing stage of production and will soon be available to view.

Also about to be launched this month is the first of our Widowed World Newsletters. I pick up lots of bits of information and the newsletter format seems the best way to pass them all on. Keep a look out for a Blog to tell you when it goes live and you’ll find it under Menu>Publications>WW Newsletters.

Our two MA university students, who are carrying out unique research into the effects of specific aspects of widowhood, are now at the statistical analysis stage and will soon be preparing their draft thesis. Later on we’ll be able to publish their findings on Widowed World.

I’m also privileged to have been selected along with two other widowed ladies, to take part in a Radio 4 broadcast about widowhood.  This has involved many hours of interviews with the delightful researcher/programme writer which caused me to dig deep into memory and emotions to give her the material she needed to make the programme. Details of the actual broadcast will soon be available and I’ll put a reminder on the Blog nearer the time in case you’d like to tune in. I hope those of you who do listen will find it inspiring.

Some may think I’m mad but this week I attended the first of a series of beginner classes for Street Dancing! The advert said it was for all ages and on arrival at the venue I was confidently told by the trainer that they have people up to as old as forty!!! As I’m just a couple of years off a pretty significant big ‘0’ I found this very amusing and a bit scary. Anyway – we were gently led through the first part of the routine before the music blasted out and we got up to speed. There followed about four more sequences which were gradually bolted together and the last ten minutes were spent in a hilarious, rip roaring attempt to remember everything we’d learned, make sure we were facing the right direction, maintain balance and look the biz.  I chose this class because although I love walking and cycling, both can be pretty solitary and street dance offered a combination of dance (no need for a partner) a good workout and companionship.  Asked if we’d be back next week – every one of us, most many years younger than I, raised our hands in the affirmative. Someone suggested to me today that I’ve lost weight but I think it will take a good few more classes before I regain anything like my former trim figure.

Let the sunshine wrap you up and comfort you in its warmth.

Jacquie