March2018

PRESIDENT Nicki Quayle

SECRETARY Mike McNally

THEBORDERER

March 2018

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It was disappointing that the Beast from the East meant we had to cancel our February evening meeting when Michael Cowen was due to speak.  Luckily this has been re-arranged for the evening of 28th March and we look forward to hearing his talk on The Yellow Earl of Lonsdale.

Five members of our Club attended the District 1190 Annual Conference on Saturday 17^th March at Penrith.  I have to say it was a very good day with interesting and inspiring speakers covering many topics from Polio eradication, The World’s Greatest Meal, a Peace Scholar, the Royal British Legion and Social Media.  The last being really rather scary in terms of how out of touch much  the older generation is with the Z generation and the amount of information gleaned about us when we use the various platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp etc.   Nick’s report on the conference will be published in next month’s edition and I would urge you in particular to watch the video link contained therein.

We have had an active month with the Snooker Competition and Curling and we are looking forward to the Spring walk.  Let’s hope the weather improves particularly because it must be getting close to potato planting time?

You might recall the photo in last month’s Borderer  of myself in a ‘Stig’ outfit – sadly I didn’t get the job for the new series of Top Gear but I did pass my Pesticides course for handheld sprayers  at Newton Rigg college.  So why would you be interested in that? Well the course co-ordinator was  none other than the daughter of Kevin Walsh and my examiner a Rotarian from Appleby. There seems to be no escape for me from Rotary this year!

NICKI QUAYLE

PRESIDENT

Name Badges

At the last meeting of Club Council there was a discussion on the wearing, or not, of name badges.  Secretary Mike was seeking guidance from Council members before purchasing, at some expense, name badges for new members. Whilst some members always wear their badge, others do not and the question was raised as to whether or not badges are redundant.

 After some discussion it was generally agreed that badges serve a useful purpose and that all members should be encouraged to wear them. The secretary will therefore organise badges for those members who do not have one.

SNOOKER EVENING

We were well received at the Portland Snooker Club, provided with good playing facilities (3 tables ) and adequate refreshments.

The six participants (Ellis,Tom,Hugh,Trevor,Joe and Peter ) played a round robin series of five frames. Twenty five minutes being allowed for each frame. After three frames we took an interval for refreshments.

At the conclusion of play the scores were totted up and that resulted in Tom and Peter each taking a bottle of wine home.

We are not very good at it but I think we all enjoyed ourselves.

PETER YATES

ASPATRIA VISIT

On February 19^th ten of us visited Aspatria Creamery, where we were met and

hosted by Charlie Kennedy the Managing Director.

In his very full and informative presentation he explained that the creamery is

now known as The Lake District Cheese Company, and is owned by First Milk,

the UK's largest farmer-owned dairy business. Its members' farms stretch from

Central Scotland to the South of England, and from West Wales to East Anglia.

The 2600 farmers supply 2 billion litres of milk to 4 creameries across the UK,

including 250 producers in Cumbria. The business has been reshaped over the  years from a complex loss-making business into a simple, focused & stable business and is well placed to take advantage of opportunities in the changing industry.

Charlie went on to explain that from milk, other than the milk going into bottles and cartons, it is manufactured into either cheese, butter, whey, cream and milkpowder. Aspatria concentrates however only on cheese production and the resulting whey which comes from that manufacturing process. I can remember the days, yes I am that old, when the whey was either fed to pigs or indeed spread on the land. In modern times that has changed and through various processes

the whey is now used in a host of food products other than animal feed, for example ready meals, cereal bars, chocolate, bakery, milk drinks & ice cream.

Whey surplus to requirements is diverted to a new Anaerobic Digester, the

largest plant in European Dairy Sector, to provide by a complex system all

the heat & electricity for the factory, with some of the electricity going into

the National Grid.

The milk for cheese manufacture is pasteurised, to destroy any pathogenic

bacteria present, then pumped in to cheese vats where starter bacteria and

rennet are added, then into block forming towers which press the cheese down

and ultimately into plastic wrapping and cardboard boxes ready for maturing.

Cheddar is a hard pressed cheese that can be produced across a full range of flavours, profiles and functionality ranging from young curd at a few weeks of age, through to vintage Cheddar at 2 years plus, and is available in both coloured and white. The maturing time can range from 3-5 weeks for value mild to 18-24 months for vintage cheese. There is a move however through various changes in the manufacturing process to reduce the overall maturing time. The reason being that the tons of cheese in store is not earning any income until of course it is sold!

We did not see a lot of the manufacturing because as you can imagine it is all

enclosed in stainless steel these days, but all was not lost as we were given a choice of cheeses to sample after the grading steps were explained to us, you look at the sample, you smell it, you touch it, you taste it and it was wonderful.

A splendid conclusion to an enjoyable afternoon.

IAN WATSON

WILD ORCHIDS IN CUMBRIA AND NEARBY.

The presentation began by giving a brief description of an orchid. Orchids (family Orchidacae) are among the most diverse group of plants with over 25,000 species. It is the most evolved family of flowering plants. It derives its name from the greek ‘orchis’ meaning testicle, a reference to the shape and appearance of underground tubers. The term was used by Theophrastus (370-285BC) in his book “The  natural history of plants”. He was a student of Aristotle, the father of botany.

Most people recognise an orchid seeing them in super markets and elsewhere, but precise definition is more problematic. European orchids ( example lady slipper orchid)all share the following features:

1. They are perennial

2. Leaves are simple and not divided

3. Leaves are attached to the stem and arranged alternately

4. Flowers are carried on a single spike at the tip of the stem

5. Male and female parts are fused together to form a column at the centre of the flower

6. Flower is made up of 3 sepals and 3 petals, but one of petals  forms lip often brightly coloured and shaped)

7. The lip is usually the uppermost petal and lies at the bottom of the flower.

There then followed a presentation of various species of orchid  found in Cumbria with a focus on their method of  insect pollination, Deception,Entrapment,Mimicry of female insect,Violence and Bribery. The presentation began with pink flowered orchids, followed by green and white orchids and finally by orchids using insect mimicry. The time of flowering and location of the plant was also described.

This was followed by a brief showing of Helleborines to be found locally and nearby (Durham and Hexham) Dark red hellborine,Marsh helleborine,Narrow bladed helleborine,Broad leaved Helleborine and Green Flowered Helleborine.

JULIAN VENABLES

JOE WATT’S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

Joe has been going to Australia to see his daughter Rachel and family for some years but he had mostly stayed with his family in Perth and had not been able to see the rest of the country.

He started with the Northern Territory – in our winter, which happened to be the rainy season there! They stayed in Yulara and were privileged to see the Queen’s baton as it passed through the town on its way to the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast. While there he discovered that the 9ft long instrument is not a didgery doo, but a Udaki and it is played…

They visited the Kata Tjuta 300Km south west of Alice Springs which, at a height of 1,000 metres is higher that Uluru, Ayres rock. The Aboriginal locals want to close the Ayres Rock to the general public as they regard it as a spiritual place so as a mark of respect the public are only allowed access between 6am to 8am.

They then took the GAN train from Alice Springs north to Darwin and visited the Kakadu National Park where they viewed crocodiles some 4-5 meters long in the swamps.

Not content with that they went to a Crock park in Darwin where 30 ft long crocodiles are trained to jump in the air. Joe photographed his granddaughter holding a baby crocodile which for good reason had its jaws taped up!

Joe finished by reminding us that the Final Test match was played in temperatures of 42 in the shade and 52-57 in the middle of the pitch

DAVID MORTON

A NIGHT ON THE ICE

CURLING at LOCKERBIE - 14^th March 2018

A warm welcome greeted nine Rotarians to the Lockerbie Ice Rink for the annual match between ‘carefully’ selected teams of Brian Edmundson, President Nicki, David Morton and Tom versus The MacLeods, Joe and Malcolm .  All with great enthusiasm ready to emulate the UK curlers at the recent Winter Olympics.

Most had played before so they soon recalled the knack of curling the stones and most importantly sweeping at the right time, under strict instruction from their skip !

The real professionals were Jenny and Robin who play regularly for the South Scotland team of Eskdale and were going to take some beating. However the team led by Brian, retired skip from the Aspatria Club, were not down hearted and fought hard to avoid disgrace.

In the end, the MacLeod team were the victors but all enjoyed their game (it’s the taking part that matters!) together with the supper thereafter .

The evening concluded with the trophy presentation but in three pieces as a little accident had occurred in transit !! Hopefully super glue will do the trick !!

NICK UTTING

YOUTH SPEAKS

WINNING TRINITY TEAM

Unfortunately the Trinity Team are unable to take part in the Regional round of the Competition on Sunday, 18 March, in Frodsham, Cheshire.                                                     

THE YELLOW EARL

It was most unlucky that the heavy snowfall on 28^th February caused the postponement of Michael Cowen’s talk on The 5^th Earl of Lonsdale. It has been rearranged for the evening of 28^th March.

THEBORDERER

David Morton -

“The Borderer hasn’t a cat’s chance of winning the District Newsletter Competition – we don’t follow the Rotary’s design criteria or use the right Fonts”

Malcolm Metcalfe -

“Well you should be ashamed, as the son of a clergyman, you ought to know a bit about Fonts!”

PAIRS

Secretary Mike raised the subject of ‘pairs’ (see the Club directory) the idea is that a member who has a duty he or she is unable to undertake should in the first instance arrange for their pair to take over. Pairs should also be prepared to give a vote of thanks if the pair is the speaker for that day.

Council agreed that this was a good arrangement and should continue. Anyone who has difficulty with these arrangements should speak to Secretary Mike in good time before the event

KEN DODD

We cannot allow the comedian to pass without quoting some of his sayings:

 "My act is very educational. I heard a man leaving the other night, saying: 'Well, that taught me a lesson.'"

"I haven't spoken to my mother-in-law for 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her."

"Do I believe in safe sex? Of course I do. I have a handrail around the bed."

"I do all the exercises every morning in front of the television - up, down, up, down, up, down. Then the other eyelid."

"I wanted to take the dog to obedience class but it wouldn't go."

"Did you hear about the shrimp that went to the prawn's cocktail party? He pulled a mussel."

With thanks to MICHAEL PEARSON

THE CHOIR IS COMING TO TOWN!

To support my chosen Charities in the next Rotary year, Meningitis Now & Eden Valley Hospice, I am aiming, with your help Fellow Rotarians, to organise a fund raising concert.

I have an agreement with The Farmers & Farmers Wives Choir to come to Carlisle on Sunday January 27^th 2019. The choir, as you would expect, is made up of farmers, and comes from Scotland, mainly the south west and has been performing at various fund raising events over the past few years, but never South of the Border.

Barbara & I saw their show recently in Troon and they were excellent, they can be viewed on You-tube.

The Choir will perform for free, but we then share the proceeds with them 50/50 for their charities, Macmillan Nurses & MND. Together with the Chairmen of our Club Committees we are currently looking for sponsorship to help cover the costs of the evening, which, depending where we hold the event may well be in the region of Three Thousand Pounds!

If you have any personal contacts with local businesses who you think may be interested in supporting us please have a chat with me. It is important however we try to avoid those who already support other Club events, e.g. our golf day.

I believe together we can make this an enjoyable, and profitable, fund raising evening if together we give it 'our all'.

Ian Watson

POETS’     CORNER

Spring in the Bronx .

Spring is sprung ,

Duh grass is riz

I wonder where dem boidies is.

Duh little boids is on duh wing-

But dat's absoid :

Duh little wing is on duh boid.                           ANON

A LAWYER’S REVENGE.

Following on from last month’s Borderer and in order to redress the balance we print statements relating to other professionals;

A woman went to the doctor who told her she only had 6 months to live.
“Oh my God!” said the woman. “What shall I do?”

“Marry an accountant,” suggested the doctor.
“Why?” asked the woman. “Will that make me live longer?”
“No,” replied the doctor. “But it will SEEM longer.”

Pharmacists deserve a more intellectual joke!

Two pharmacists go into a bar. The first one says “I think I’ll have an H2O”.

The second one says “I think I’ll have an H20 too"

ELLIS AMOS

PICTURE QUIZ

THE ANSWER

It is President Nicki who has now passed her Pesticides course for handheld sprayers  at Newton Rigg college

Vice President Ian Watson submitted the nearest correct answer by saying that it was ‘President Nicki, about to clean her holiday cottage!!

But he doesn’t win the valuable prize because he was disrespectful in saying the President’s holiday cottage was infested with pests.

WISHING WELL

We raised £250 for the Carlisle Food Bank and the current charity is Hospice at Home.

Future charities are:

4 April 2018  - Blood Bikes

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH..

 “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet”

Stephen Hawking  1942-2018

Man is a complex being:  he makes deserts bloom – and lakes die

Gil Scott-Heron

 “The World is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good.”

Napoleon

Round the tables

Potatoes growing anxiety

The discussion surrounding the growing of seed potatoes, when and where to sow them, is gathering momentum.

 Several varieties have now become firm favourites with Pentland Javelin leading by a short head from Accent, Arran Pilot, Sharps Express, and Swift. With the chitting (the production of growing shoots) process now underway the question has been raised by some the purists as to which is the correct way to grow the potatoes, the “down to earth” method or the “in the bag” technique?

There is a feeling that competition entries from each method should be judged separately.

Before a final decision is reached a lengthy consultation process will take place.

ROTARY WEBPAGES

Rotary Magazine – current & previous editions

https://issuu.com/rotaryingbi/docs 

EDITOR’S NOTE – The Borderer uses the free version of the same ‘issuu’ website!

Rotary Policies

Rotary GB&I Compliance Statement – 2017/18

Our Club President or Secretary have been asked to confirm that our Club has read and adopted the following Rotary GB&I documents:

 Rotary GB&I Equality and Diversity Policy

 Rotary GB&I Health and Safety Policy

 Rotary GB&I Safeguarding (Children) Policy

 Rotary GB&I Safeguarding (Vulnerable Adults) Policy

 Rotary GB&I Data Protection Policy Statement  

With grateful thanks to the Rotary Club of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire (a long way from the Brecon Beacons - according to our Welsh Correspondent!)

Rotary Central

https://my.rotary.org/en

To delve into the detailed Rotary statistics you may need a username and password

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

SPRING WALK and LUNCH.

22^nd April

 (Contact Bob Mather)

A light walk in the Bassenthwaite area followed by lunch at The Castle Inn at a cost of £20pp for two courses and coffee/tea. 

Further details including timing and parking arrangements will be circulated in the ‘Blue Book’.

With good weather organised can there be any better way to put all that recent snow behind us and blow away the winter blues!

CHARITY GOLF DAY

18^th May

(Contact Robin MacLeod)

Our main fund raising event of the year at Eden Golf Club. Rotary Clubs in North Cumbria and local Golf Clubs are being circulated with details and we are expecting a full card of teams on the day.

It is now up to us all to maximise funds for our chosen charities.

As usual we are asking everyone to approach business contacts for sponsorship (with golf included if required), raffle prizes or simply a donation.

Help will be needed on the day and with good food available at the clubhouse why not come along anyway and have a meal with friends.

SUNDAY 1^st July

PRESIDENT’S BARBECUE at Moordyke

President Nicki is holding her President’s Lunch at Moordyke.

More details in due course.

And for further Summer enjoyment dates are still to be finalised for our Bowls Evening at Wetheral, return of the Treasure Hunt which has been absent without leave for a couple of years, and perhaps even another Funky Golf Evening. Watch this space.

AND EVEN FURTHER AHEAD….…

96^TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY DINNER

FRIDAY 23^rd November

We return to our traditional Friday evening for the Club’s main formal occasion.   

RECEPTION DESK FOR CLUB MEETINGS

March        21             DH and Hugh Nicholson Walker

                28             David Hoggard & Nick Utting

April          4              JV and Nicki Quayle

                11             JV and John Harris

                18             JV and

                25             ?

May           5              ?

Club Council Meetings

Club Meetings Programme