templetonnewsletterdec2012

“Dedicated to Excellence” Vol. 13, Issue 153 December 2012

www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

Inside this issue:

December 2012 Volume 13, Issue 153

Page 2

RECIPE: Beef and Vegetable Stew

LIFE

1. The best is yet to

come.

2. No matter how you

feel, get up, dress up and

show up.

3. Forgiveness heals everything.

4. When you awake alive in the

morning, don’t take it for

granted —embrace life.

5. Do the right thing.

6. Spend time with people over

the age of 70 and under the age

of 6.

7. What other people think of you

is none of your business.

8. Try to make at least three peo-

ple smile each day.

9. Get rid of anything that isn’t

useful, beautiful or joyful.

10. However good or bad a situa-

tion is, it will change.

—submitted by Loy Lai

Templeton Branch-SRABC

When you have it, grab it.

There are second chances,

but there are no

REWINDS.

Don’t waste your second chance...

ENCOURAGEMENTS

Ingredients: 1 lb ................. Beef stew meat, cubed 1 tbsp ............. Vegetable oil 1 ..................... Onion, thinly sliced 1 can (6 oz) ... Tomato paste 1 can (14.5 oz) Low fat, low sodium beef broth 3 ..................... Potatoes, cubed 1 sprig ............ Fresh rosemary 1 tsp ............... Dried thyme 1 ..................... Bay leaf 1/4 tsp ........... Red pepper flakes, crushed 10 oz .............. Button mushrooms, quar-tered 1 (10 oz) package, Frozen green peas, thawed Directions: 1.Remove any bits of fat from the meat.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Saute the meat in the oil for 10 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Remove meat and set aside.

2.Add onion and tomato paste to the pot and sauté over medium heat, 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stir-ring often. Return the meat to the skillet along with the beef broth, com-bining with the onion and tomato paste mixture. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until meat is tender.

3.Add carrots, potatoes, rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, & crushed red pepper flakes & simmer, covered, for another 45 minutes. (Note: It may be necessary to

add some water if the stew seems too thick) 4.Finally, add the mushroom and the

green peas and allow stew to heat through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf and rosemary sprig before serving.

“There’s life after stroke”

Templeton Newsletter

Mailing Address:

204– 2929 Nootka Street,

Vancouver, BC V5M 4K4 Canada

Published every month, if possible. Contributions are always welcome. The articles should be in, not later than day 25th day of every month.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Stroke Recoverer’s Review newsletter: articles, submissions and spotlights are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Templeton Branch-SRABC or the editor of Stroke Recoverer’s Review. Editor reserves the right at any time to make changes as it deems necessary. It is the purpose of this periodical to share a variety of viewpoints mostly from stroke

survivors.

December 2012 Contributors: Loy Lai

Ollie Stogrin

Deb Chow Carol Roycroft Jim Walmsley Werner Stephan Jose Suganob

Production of SRR:

Jose Suganob

Email: [email protected]

Printing Pick-up Person:

Ollie Stogrin

Recipe...Beef & Vegetables Stew 2

Encouragements 2

Last Month’s Happening 3

BLAST...Jim Ijoke... 4

Jose Notes...And, God created... 5

Winter Reflections... 6

QUOTE

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had

a nice break from

your weekly stroke

recovery meetings.

I’m sure our Templeton mem-

bers had a busy family time or

time with friends.

It is the year 2013, it’s

Templeton’s 18th year. We

started out being called

‘Britannia Stroke Recovery.’ We

were at Britannia Community

Center, we were there for a year,

then we moved to Templeton

Park Pool which had a larger

space and we have been there

ever since. Templeton staff are

great. Many of our members

enjoy the pool, which is so

handy we have enough so all is

well here. We closed Dec. 20

and we start the new year on

Jan. 10, 2013. So many places

are closed between Christmas

and new year and as we forever

short of volunteers. We need to

‘rewind’ as Key and I have 18

years behind us, and neither are

18 years younger but 18 years

older…

When we started at Britannia,

we had to have 10 members to

start a stroke recovery group?

Excuse me??? I had a husband

that had stroke and Key had a



LAST MONTH’S HAPPENING —by Ollie Stogrin, Templeton Stroke Recovery

mother that had a stroke and we

were not qualified? We were more

qualified, then the provincial staff

was telling us that were not quali-

fied. It sounds like a story? Well,

we are still trying to qualify. Ahh,

funny and 18 years, we are still

here!! Along with some of our

first members, like Jose Suganob

(everyone knows Jose) who

publishes our newsletter and does

a great job! Then, there’s Debbie

Chow, who, along with 2 other

stroke survivors have revived

Easter Camp (BLAST) into its 3rd

year. Key Akeroyd still Treasurer;

Loy Lai who always says so many

nice things about us and helps for

our Xmas dinner. John Boynton,

who had done so much in volun-

teering as a stroke survivor in

stroke research. These are our

long-term members with us from

the start. So, many have moved

from Vancouver area

We have connected with so many

nice Stroke Recovery Groups

through Internet because of

Jose’s “Stroke Recoverer’s Review”

newsletter before, he mailed the

newsletter all over BC. Thank

heavens for e-mail and now, they

can read the monthly newsletter.

Now, I think our members are

connecting on Skype and now on

“Face time,” maybe for some it’s

Facebook? For me, on Apple, it’s

‘face time’ Times have changed

since we started.

We can connect with more

people in a short time. We do so

many more things with our mem-

bers and with various Stroke

Recovery Groups by e-mail. We

have our yearly picnic at Trout

Lake, a couple of bus trips a year.

We go to Coquitlam Branch

annual Luncheon. Our Xmas

Dinner. ‘Strides for Stroke’ at

Templeton (first in 2012),

another idea of Debbie, which

went so well. Naramata has

vanished! Retreat for the Interior

Groups is gone...and some where

down the road, I’m sure this will

happen, no stroke, no groups…

In the mean time, we have to

keep doing our best, with what

we have. Let’s hope 2013 will be a

good year for all our stroke survi-

vors and volunteers. Who are out

there, helping all of our members

Without volunteers there’s no

such a company called “Stroke

Recovery,” eh? Next month, it’s

Key’s turn to fill my spot! She

doesn’t know it yet!

— by Ollie Stogrin

Templeton Branch-SRABC

“There’s life after stroke” Page 3

HAPPY NEW YEAR—

Another year has passed

and we’re all a little older.

Last summer felt hotter

and winter seems much

colder.

I rack my brain for happy thoughts,

to put down on my I-pad. But, lots

of things that come to mind just

make me kind of sad.

There was a time not long ago

when life was quite a blast. Now,

I fully understand about living in

the past.

We used to go to weddings, football

games and lunches. Now, we go to

funeral homes, and after funeral

brunches.

We used to have hangovers from

parties that were gay. Now, we suf-

fer body aches and while the night


Page 4



away.

We used to travel often to places

near and far. Now, we get sore

bottoms from riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping for

new clothing at the mall. But,

now we never bother...all the sizes

are too small.

We used to go to night clubs and

drink a little booze. Now, we stay

at home at night and watch the

evening news.

That’s, my friend, is how is and

now, my tale is told.

So, enjoy each day and live it

up...before you’re too darned old!

—i-joke submitted by Jim Walmsley

Delta Branch-SRABC

JIMY I-JOKES... BLAST - Easter Long Weekend 2013

BLAST

(Building Life After Stroke Together)

March 29 to April 1, 2013 Good Friday to Easter Monday - 3 nights/4 days

All inclusive. Charter pick up from

Lower Mainland including ferry terminals

Only $225

Give the gift of BLISS (Better Life In Stroke Survival)

Gift Certificates are available or maybe some-

one will give it to you.

For more information:

Please go to website: TurtleTalk.ca

85 days to go!!! And 40 people registered...

Easter 2013 will be a

BLAST!!!

HandyDART

VANCOUVER’S TRAIN TUNNEL

Prior to the early ‘30s, traffic in

downtown Vancouver would come

to a stand still every time a CPR

train would go from Waterfront

Station to the False Creek Rail

Yards. A 1,396 meter long ‘S’ curve

tunnel was the solution. It was

completed in July 1933 and was

used by rail trains until 1982. Its

transformation into the Skytrain

tunnel that it is today. Because the

tunnel is only wide enough to

accommodate a single track but

with sufficiently high clearance, a

superstructure was built was built

inside the tunnel to carry the

westbound Skytrain track above

the eastbound track. This results

in the two stations within the

tunnel having a Split Platform

configuration.

VANCOUVER’S TRAIN TUNNEL



Art Therapy—Nov/Dec 2012

Charlotte and Rebecca are

students at the Vancouver Art

Therapy Institute (Granville Is-

land).

Charlotte is originally

from England and has

been in Canada since

the age of 9.

Rebecca is

originally from

Vernon, BC.

They have enjoyed

their time working

wi th the members

of the Templeton Stroke

Recovery group! (Nov/Dec 2012)

FEEL YOUNG & ENERGETIC—

in 10 minutes or less. Here’s

how:

CHEW GUM. The scent of

peppermint incites the

trigeminal nerve, which helps

cue arousal and alertness, says

Alan Hirsch, MD, a neurolo-

gist and founder of the Smell

and Taste Treatment and

Research Foundation.

SNIFF THE HYDRANGEAS. Stopping

to smell—or even just look

at—the flowers (any flowers)

can help reduce anxiety and

make you feel happier.

AND, GOD CREATED...Submitted by Carol Roycroft, Burnaby Branch-SRABC JOSE’s NOTES

“There’s life after stroke” Page 5

On the first day, God created the

dog and said, “Sit all day by the

door of your house and bark at

anyone who comes in or walks

past. For this, I will give you a life

span of twenty years.”

The dog said, “That’s a long time

to be barking. How about only ten

years and I’ll give you back the

other ten?” And, God saw that it

was good.

On the second day, God created

the monkey and said, “Entertain

people, do tricks, and make them

laugh. For this, I’ll give you a

twenty year life span.”

The monkey said, “Monkey tricks

for twenty years? That’s a pretty

long time to perform. How about

I give you back ten like the dog

did?” And, God, again, saw that it

was good.

On the third day, God created the

cow and said, “You must go into

the field with the farmer all day

long and suffer under the sun,

have calves and give milk to sup-

port the farmer family. For this,

I will give you a life span of sixty

years.”

The cow said, “That’s kind of a

tough life you want me to live for

sixty years. How about twenty and

I’ll give back the other forty?”

And, God agreed it was good.

On the fourth day, God created

humans and said, “Eat, sleep,

play, marry and enjoy your life.

For this, I’ll give you twenty

years.”

But, the human said, “Only

twenty years? Could you possibly

give me my twenty, the forty the

cow gave back, the ten the mon-

key gave back, and the ten the

dog gave back? Then, I could

live until I was around

eighty...would that be okay?”

“Okay,” said God. “You asked

for it.”

So, that is why for our first

twenty years; we eat, sleep, play

and enjoy ourselves. For the next

forty years, we slave in the sun to

support our family. For the next

ten years, we do monkey-like

tricks to entertain the grand-

children. And, for the last ten

years, we sit on the front porch

and ‘bark’ at everyone.

Life has now been explained to

you. There is no need to thank

me for this valuable information.

I’m doing it as a public service.

If you are looking for me, I will

be, as usual, out on the front

porch.

—submitted by Carol Roycroft

Burnaby Branch-SRABC

WINTER REFLECTIONS and SNOWBIRDS—Werner Stephan, North Shore Stroke Recovery Center - West Vancouver Group


Page 6



Winter is not quite

here yet (or maybe

by the time you read

this, it has arrived).

Christmas is safely

behind us, but not some bills

for presents. It is possible to

have a lot of snow this winter,

if you want to believe the me-

teorologists.

The picture below shows what

can happen. It can scare me

and quite likely you as well.

(This is not me, or my driveway or my street).

Some time ago, there was an

article in ‘Newsweek,’ showing

three seniors, each with an

oxygen mask, dancing at a beach in

Florida. Far from being uplifted, I

thought: is what I am supposed to

look forward to in my ‘Golden

Years’? Oxygen masks? Serious

disabilities? An advertisement,

showing a fancy motor home,

caught my eye and I mused: ‘that

is more like it.’

Each winter, when the snow is

flying and the side walk and drive-

way needs shoveling, I reflect

what it would be like to be a

‘snowbird.’ No more winter depres-

sions, excessive heating bills, sweat-

ers, snow tires for the car, just

relaxing somewhere on a warm

beach in swim trunks. Dream on I

say, is that do-able?

The parents of friends spend each

year in the sun and so do thousands

of other Canadians. So obviously,

it must be possible, or is it? Most

seniors go to the same resort

every year, meet the same long-

time friends and live the lifestyle

they are comfortable with. It must

be boring but I decided to look

into this alternative more closely.

Superficially looking at it, this life-

style should almost every senior.

What did I overlook? Let’s see:

maintenance and security of the

house or apartment? Sell it and

buy a holiday condo! Tax implica-

tions? Maybe let the tax planner

worry about that. Live abroad?

Health care? Taxation? Cost of

living? All of that can be solved,

but it might cost a pretty penny,

with tax consultants, real-estate

brokers and other consultant fees.

Who cares? Think of: beach, sun-

shine, escape the winter. Let’s

hope that money does not matter,

but snow and ice do. That should

greatly simplify the matter.

Many websites give advice on

‘safe snow shoveling.’ One site

even tries to cheer you up by tell-

ing you that you loose 408 calories

every hour by shoveling snow by

hand, rather than using a snow-

blower. Many other sites for snow

birds stress the need for having

valid health insurance, analyze tax

regulations, credit card issues,

investment traps and many other

potential problems. One site in-

vites viewers to tell them why

they hate, rather than love, snow-

birds. In all fairness, there is also a

site to list all the reasons why

viewers should love snowbirds.

I have heard several times already

the opinion that ‘Last Minute

Cruises’ are preferred. Sure, if

you have the money!

I think that the cheapest solution

for me is a shrink’s couch, and

listening to: ‘Forget about Winter,

Summer is Coming!’

—by Werner Stephan

West Vancouver Group North Shore Stroke Recovery Center

templetonnewsletterdec2012

Documents

beef stew meat

heat oil

beef vegetables stew

medium heat

vegetable stew life

bay leaf

low sodium beef broth

medium high heat