otw.20

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OTheWall

No.20Winter 2010/

2011

in this issue...

W m?All change at DHI / Bcc World

tm O: Book, Flm, Pom & Wb /W O Dhi

I n f o r m a t I v e l

s u p p o r t I v e l

c r e a t I v e

INSIDE!your guIDEto

whatSoNatDhIBath& NorthEaStSomErSEtSouthgloucEStErShIrE

SwINDoN

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The DHI AllotmentAs a service user of DHI inBath I was told of a gardeningproject on their allotment in

Victoria Park and being a fan

of anything natural I thoughtId give it a shot.

I was introduced to Louis Wearing and hisenthusiasm or all things green was veryencouraging. I started coming on a regularbasis and there was always a lot to do,rom planting veggies to hard lanscaping tojust chilling out and relaxing by the pond,eeding the goldfsh.

I can highly recommend getting involvedi you are in need o some meaningul

occupation, and getting back on track, Imhoping to get into a gardening career and setup a little business selling veggies to peopleon low incomes.

I you want to get involved contact us on [email protected]

MidsomerNorton RuralRecovery Hub

New free and condential Multi-Agency Drugand Alcohol Service for Midsomer Norton,

incorporating employment and housing

information and support

l

How to fnd us

Address: The Cottage, High Street

Midsomer Norton BA3 2DP

(behind the Midsomer Norton Sainsburys store)

l

Opening Times: Tuesdays from 10am-7pm,and Fridays from 10am-5pm

l

For further information contact:

Liz Craig on 07789 984 819

or Sam on 07791 124 063

W lk wd ig y!

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Paton Midge Ure Off The Wall Editoial Team Feature writers: Jim Timoney, Alan Cupit, Steve Wood and Sean Kehoe.Jokes & Window on the web: Steve; Books & Poetry editor: Jim; Recipes: Justin & Rachel ContibutosAlan Cupit, Phil Johnson-

Smith, Rebecca Warner, Rosie Phillips, Julie Hughes, Rachel England, Douglas Wright, Vegee Streve and thanks to Jess or the pics!

Adetising Sean Kehoe ([email protected]) Chec us out online: www.dhi-online.org.uk/o_the_wall

Get in touch! Off The Wall Magazine 15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DE Tel 01225 329411

Email [email protected]. Copyright 2010 DHI. All rights reserved. The Group o Seven assist with production.

Wl...... to the winter edition o O The Wall. We hope

you like the new ormat we seem to be runningout quicker than ever, so it seems plenty o you

are picking it up! Weve managed to get out just

in time or Christmas, which can be a difcult

time or a lot o us. Read Doug and Jims take on

the estive season on pages eight and nine and

let us know i you share their views. And keep the

contributions coming our next issue should be

out at the end o February 2011.

cWhats in a name 4

Pictue Galley 5

10 Questions 6

My fiend Solo 7

The season of chee? 8

Beccas Wold 10

I still miss John Lennon 11

Hep C: an update 12

Time Out: Film & Boos 13

Time Out: Poems 16

Time Out: Window on the Web 17

Whats On at DHI: B&NES 18Whats On at DHI: Swindon 20

Whats On at DHI: South Glos. 21

Poblem Page 22

Useful Info 23

The Bac Page 24

3Off The Wall No.20, Winter 2010/11

Clockwise rom above: Bah Humbug!Is Christmas the season o cheer or

everyone? See pages 8 and 9; AlanCupit remembers his beloved Solo;Becca Warner trekking in the Andes;Michael Caines 92 biography gets

the Timoney treatment

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sWaDs wll b p ll wk swdo

ow c, dk clclo, d

d o w o lcool d

ow o m dk.

In the current economic downturnand recent sweeping cuts toGovernment services one Bathbased charity, DHI, is successfully

working hard to tackle socialexclusion and to support some of

the most vulnerable members ofour community to access support,decent housing and enter training,education and employment.

The Drugs and Homeless Initiativeare changing their name to DevelopingHealth and Independence; to reectthe growth and development of thecharity which has been supportingindividuals and families in Bath andacross the west country for over a

decade.At the DHI Annual Review on

Wednesday 24th November 2010Chief Executive Ofcer, RosiePhilips and Chairman of Trustees,Martin Sandbrook will announce theorganisations name change.

The new name; DevelopingHealth and Independence reectsthe ethos and energy behind thecharity and encapsulates DHIs

mission to challenge social exclusionby supporting people to achievetheir potential and contribute tothe richness and wellbeing of theircommunity.

In 1996 DHI started out as asupported housing project for singlemen and women wishing to maintainabstinence from drugs and alcohol.Since then DHI has progressed andexpanded to work with a wide range

of socially excluded and vulnerablepeople including those with physicaland learning disabilities, mental illhealth, housing problems and thevulnerable elderly. As a result staffand service users at DHI felt that the

previous name did not reect workof the charity. The name also actedas a barrier for people who wantedto access support but felt that theywere not homeless or in need of drugtreatment.

Rosie Phillips, Chief ExecutiveOfcer of DHI, said DevelopingHealth and Independence focuseson solutions and the positive workthat we do. DHI has always workedto enable excluded people to reachtheir full potential and our new namedemonstrates that for everyone.

Martin Sandbrook, Chairman ofDHIs Board said The new name tripspositively off the tongue. It tells its

own story about the purpose of DHIand encompasses the broad rangeof people we work with and servicesthat we offer. We hope people likeit. DHIs Board certainly do, and sofar, whenever we have used the newname, especially at the InformationTakeaway, it has proved refreshinglyeffective.

Developing Health andIndependence offer a wide range

of services in Bath and North EastSomerset. This December the Charityare hoping to raise money througha Big Give appeal to develop thesuccessful Allotment project intoa small business providing workopportunities and training for someof the most vulnerable people in Bathand North East Somerset. If youwould like to support DHI by makinga donation to this project please go

to: http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/dhi

If you would like to volunteerwith DHI please contact us at [email protected] requesting anapplication form.

4 Off The Wall No.20, Winter 2010/11

Whatsinaname?Developing Health & Independence: New namethat focuses on solutions and not problems

F iomo:

Developing Health and

Independence (DHI) is

a local charity that aims

to assist people who

are socially excluded to

achieve their potentialand contribute to the

richness and wellbeing

o their community.

DHI is fexible, creative

and person centred in

its approach, valuing

each individual and their

circumstances as unique.

Further inormation

on DHI is available

on our website:

www.dhi-online.org.uk

Head Oce Address:

DHI, 15-16 Milsom Street,

Bath, BA1 1DE

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amazINgphotographSthanksoJessforhesesunningpics

Dn miss!B Cc o Op Cm - Cm

D lc d oo m. Dcmb 25,

Kdow scool, Ldow, B. Call Ivor or Sheila

on 01225 316256 by 16th December or a FREE ticket.

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how d w dd o o po

o c d w dd o w o

o p o wok f plc?

I passionately believe that withawareness, knowledge andunderstanding people can become

empowered to improve their lives andI wanted to helop them achieve that.To full this ambition I went backto university to gain a BSC (hons) inPsychology, Post Grad Certicate intherapeutic counselling and Post Graddiploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

W do o fd mo wd

bo o job?

Having the opportunity to help clients

realise their potential to make positivechanges in their life.

W do o fd mo dfcl

bo o job?

Not enough time to do it all!

i o zomb poclp

w p wold o k o

o l?

Lead a group of survivors on a boat

journey to a desertes tropical islandand set up a new Utopian society!

W o c d l ol?

To develop a program to teach childrenpsychological techniques and strategiesthat will help more effectively deal

with the challenges of life.

W o o book, flm,

lbm d pl o ood?

Book: The Outsiders by susanHinton. Film: The Shawshank

Redemption. Album: too manyto choose from! But my favouritesong is Strawberry Fields Foreverby the Beatles.

i wy word dcrb yor

prc g o?

A relaxed evening of good food,conversation and laughter at acosy restaurant with my partnerand close friends.

i yo wr PM w lw wold

yo rodc or cg?

Any that would make society a fairerand more compassionate place for usall to live in.

Wo wold b yor prc dr

pry g?

Assuming they had to be living?Stephen Fry, Sir RichardAttenborough, Nelson Mandela,Richard Dawkins, David Bowie andStephen Hawking.

W w o cldood po

d wc o o lflld?

To be happy (most of the time!)To help others be happy (hopefullysometimes!) otw

OTW rEGULAr

20 QuestionsO The Wall speaks to Pl Joo sm, Alcohol

Counsellor (Choosing Health) about being happy, helping

clients and the Beatles.


Pictured clockwise

rom above: Phil; Phils

avourite lm and

David Bowie - avoured

dinner party guest.

I10

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Solo was eighteen months old

when I rst had him. A beautifulGerman Sheppard whos owners

wanted him out of their lives.At the time I was homeless but wasfortunate enough to have a job drivinga mini-bus so for a few weeks before

being re-homed. I took him to myheart and we slept at night on the bus.

In the day he would stay at my sistersor my mothers while I worked. I keptthe bus with me at all times so my

boss never realised I was using it as abedroom but he often wondered wherethe dog hairs came from.

I often took Solo on some of my mini-bus journeys picking up fare payingpassengers, everyone loved him and heloved them back until one fateful daythings changed. I had to stop and pick

up none other than my bosss wife! Forsome reason Solo took an instant disliketo her, perhaps it was the strong smellof her perfume which was very strongadmittedly. He barked uncontrollably ather while I cringed with embarrassmentand she just sat there with a worried lookon her face. The only passenger he didnttake to after weeks coming with me.

After that, things changed. I was toldby my boss to keep that b****y dog off

the bus!. Luckily I was re-homed bythen so it didnt pose a problem. Theonly thing was that Solo hated where

we lived now and I went throughfour three piece suits, a music stereoand hundreds of music tapes that hetotally destroyed until he settled in,

bless him!When he was around three years old

we met my then wife to be who adoredeach other.

He became a very well behaved dogwith a wonderful temperament butgrew to the size of a small donkey. He

would sleep with us in bed at nightcausing us to often sleep with our legsout of the bed because he was so big.

When we got married he was guestof honour at our wedding and wore a

velvet, bow tie. He loved everyone.He was also a sensitive soul and

would look very sheepish whenever helet wind.

We would spend hours chasing sticksthe bigger the better as far as he was

concerned, Big, wooden fence postswere his favourite.

He slowed down a little as he got olderand when he was roughly fourteen hedeveloped liver and kidney problemsand trouble with his back legs. He verysadly had to be put out of misery by the

vet many years ago.I have another dog now (and a parrot)

but I still miss Solo so much and thinkabout him most days. R.I.P Solo, my old

friend.

FEATUrE

My Old Fiend, Solo

al Cp remembers his best riend.

Pictured clockwise rom

let: Alan and Solo; Solo

gets riendly with Alans

budgie; Solo kicks back

with his mates.

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JingleBells?H

olidays can be as much asource of stress as they are arelief, none more so than theChristmas holiday period. I

would rather not focus on the silly

season,the temporary abandonmentof normal social rules arounddrinking and excess, the heavingand swaying pubs and clubs andamateurs in scouser wigs, but rathershare some ideas around change, thepressures of expectations, swirlingmemories and associated emotionalups and downs. In writing this, Iam grateful for the ideas of the DHIabstinence group who are the real

authors of this piece.If we think about Xmas we are

ooded by a slightly sickly arrayof images of glitter and tinsel,sophisticated parties, fresh faced andexcited hearty looking children, happyfamilies, grandparents to young infantsgathering around the hearth or arounda beautifully laid table. The likelihood ishalfway through this list you started tothink about the ip side, the arguments,

conicts, some of which continue tocause embarrassment and pain (wakingup in the dark, alone on the table

with congealed gravy and indentedvegetables is my personal favourite -you can almost hear the plate as it slidoff the cheek).

Our reality is often far away from theperfection of the greeting cards andthe consumption agenda, an awkward14 year old sulking and moping, the

cook stressed and anxious, the in-laws(or is it outlaws?) that you would reallyrather not spend a minute of time

with, but you have promised to be onyour best behaviour, committed towearing a facade.

For many of us we will be remindedof something we have lost (we will never

be as excited as we were when we werechildren) and something we may neverrecover; equally we may be remindedof some ideal life we never had. Loss isa key theme through the festive season,

we will remember those people we havelost, those who are no longer alive andthose who are no longer with us.

The Xmas period is also one whenwe may have early experiences andexperiments with drugs and alcohol,positive experiences which have beentouched up over the years and mayappear in technicolour.

For everyone, particularly those inrecovery, there is a rich combinationof emotionally potent and challengingsituations to successfully navigate, a time

when people will put themselves in morerisky situations than usual (meetingold friends, parties etc,). There is alsothe more subtle danger of isolation andresentment. I am reminded of someone

whose plans for the period involvedgetting a stack of dvds, closing the

shutters and pretending it was just anaverage day. I wondered aloud whetherthis was what he did on a typical day!

A time of maximum personalvulnerability coinciding with minimumprofessional support was how it wassummed up in Addiction Today in2002. So how come so many peoplemanage this period successfully? Afterall, over 5 years I can remember onlyone member of the abstinence group at

DHI in Bath lapsing or relapsing duringthis period. I think the answer lies in theresourcefulness, skills and strengths ofhuman beings, there is something abouta serious challenge that can help us allto focus on what is most important to


Pictured above:

Douglas Wright.

Opposite: Jim Timoney

FEATUrE

Doug Wight talks about the challenges that the estive

season can present to service users

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Let me stress rom the outset that this

is not an anti-Christmas rant or a bah,

humbug article. I simply want to share

with you an alternative Christmas I gave

mysel about fve years ago and which I

plan to repeat this year.

Having no immediate amily nearby

and no children or grandchildren, as

well as not eeling religious about it

despite my Quaker afliations, Christmas

lost its magic ater childhood. For manyyears, it was no more than an excuse

or justifcation (as i I needed one) to

get as drunk as everyone else all the

amateur drinkers I never saw during my

all-year-round Christmas.

In the year in question, I decided

to opt out o Christmas as such and I

spent it as ollows, almost entirely and

blissully alone. Apart rom a Quaker

meeting (it was on a Sunday, otherwise it

wouldnt have been held; Quakers donttreat certain days as special, except

outside the Society, i they so wish), and

an AA meeting, I enjoyed only my own

company. AA, Im pleased to say, hold

their usual meeting on Christmas day;

in act, Ive even known there to be an

extra one in the morning sometimes or

those who eel the need.

The rest o my day was spent in

splendid isolation, watching a careully

chosen bit o TV, going or a canal-side

walk and enjoying a delicious three-

course meal. Although no longer

vegetarian by then, I chose to eschew

the traditional Christmas are and opted

or a soup course (I orget which kind),ollowed by a vegetarian chili (yes, that

is the correct Spanish spelling) or, as

I call it, chili sin carne (sin = without;

con = with - Spanish lessons come at

no extra charge!) and fnishing with a

dessert, which Ive also orgotten. All

washed down with a fne vintage o red

grape juice.

I plan to repeat Christmas my way

this year, as I remember it as my best

one since childhood. I youre at aloss about the estive season, why

not try something similar? I, however,

youre quite content with a more usual

Christmas, let me wish you, in advance,

a very happy one.


us. There are a range of strategies andtechniques from the last minute phonea friend and delaying decisions, toidentifying personal values and beingprepared to live by these despite the

obstacles, changing cues for drug useand negative emotions into cues to calmdown and make rational decisions, andultimately towards the more globalconcept of lifestyle balance (observingand adjusting our lifestyles to balanceobligations/shoulds withwants).

At this time of year, a balance betweensocial activity and being able to sit with

yourself becomes even more important.Best wishes to all readers, wherever

you are, and if I havent come acrossyou yet, I hope to see you next year. Inthe meantime, try to have some fun,it may even be the most importantquality of recovery!

Chistmas... My WayJim Timoneychannels Frank Sinatra....

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OTW:Who are you and where areyou from?RW:Berkhamstead. Its GrahameGreenes home and mentioned it ina few of his books (he hated it, butI quite like it). I went to universityin Durham I wanted to be an

Academic. I studied Anthropology

and Pscyhology. I fancied being a bitlike Bruce Parry. I got a degree andgot a research grant to South Africa

working with sufferers of HIV andAids. After that I wanted to moveinto social work, wanted to get backto reality and out of my ivory tower.I was interested in substance misusein different cultures, and I startedto volunteer with asylum seekersand sex workers. I did a social work

course in Bristol, working with youngoffenders, and started specialising inthat area. Then I started travellingagain Cuba, Peru, Bolivia andthen accepted a job in child protectionin London. I got a bit desperate as Icouldnt nd a job. But I realised I

didnt really like London and childprotection is not really for me and Isaw an opportunity at DHI. It seemeda more creative choice and I missedBristol. The job was similar to the

work I had been doing previously withyoung offenders.

OTW:So, what makes you tick?RW:Travelling. Im always planningmy next trip. Probably visiting somegorillas in Rwanda or trekkingKilamanjaro but its there are toomany celebrities doing it for my liking maybe scuba diving or kayaking.Denitely not in the UK its nothot enough. Oh, and knitting Ilove crafts. Im a great believer inhome-made stuff for Christmas and

presents. cushions. otw

OTW INTErvIEW

Beccas WoldWe speak to globetrotting Bcc W, A recent recruit

to DHI and now part o the O The Wall editorial team...

10 Off The Wall No.20, Winter 2010/11

Pictured clockwise

rom above: Becca in

Argentina; Becca in Peru;

Becca hang-gliding in

Rio de Janiero; Becca

caving in Bolivia. Phew!

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FEATUrE

I still miss John LennonWith The Beatles back in the news (and charts) as all their

songs are made available via the internet, Jim Timoney

recalls the night he was shot, and how it still resonates

with him to this day.

Dcmb 9 1980: 7m gMt

Iam woken by the phone. My bestfriend tells me he cant let me hear

what happened last night in New

York City from any other source. Ilisten to him and say I cant think ofany response. I hang up, go back to

bed and cry in disbelief. Later, I readall the newspapers, as if expecting adifferent outcome from one of them. Itis only too true, though John Lennonis dead...

I became a devotee of the Beatlesfrom the age of twelve. I stillremember the sheer thrill of seeing

them on stage when I was onlythirteen. (Yes, I could hear what they

were singing just!). You had to bethere to understand how big they really

were bigger than Jesus, as Johnnotoriously claimed in 1966. I forone could only agree with him. If theBeatles were big, then John was for methe biggest of the four the wittiest,the most outspoken, the most talented.

As John grew away from the Beatles

in the late Sixties, many fans becamebemused by his increasingly eccentricantics the Plastic Ono Band, BedPeace, a nude album cover and, ofcourse, Yoko. I was all for it. If John

was into courting such publicity andloved Yoko as he obviously did, that

was ne by me. Although he agreedto keep it under wraps until the time

was right to tell the world, John quitthe Beatles in 1969, only for Paul to

steal his thunder the following year, byannouncing he was leaving the band.

John spent his last ve years asa house husband, enjoying raisinghis new son, Sean, born on Johns

birthday. Just before his death, John

was back in the limelight and thecharts. Ive always been pleased that it

was not his death which occasioned theacclaim and success he received for hiscomeback album and single. On thecontrary, it was his return to the publiceye which led to his assassination by

Mark David Chapman. John is stillremembered for his espousal of manycauses, from race relations to womensemancipation and, of course, worldpeace. Above all, he will be loved andremembered for his incredible outputas a singer, musician and songwriter.

Although I never met John Lennon,when he died I felt like I had lost afriend. He would have been seventythis year. His killer has served nearly

thirty years behind bars and is stillbeing refused parole. I dont knowwhere I stand on that issue, Im afraid.I do know that I hear Johns music

with a sad gratitude for such a legacyand that I still miss John Lennon.


Pictured above: John in

a pensive mood.

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C Change

C Change is a group run for and by people that have experience

of Hep C. It explores health, coping with symptoms and options

for treatment in an informal setting. Group runs every 1st and 3rd

Tuesday of each month at 31 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2UK

OTW:When did the course nish?SW: Three months ago

OTW:What did you expect?SW: Immediate recovery

OTW:Do you think it was worthgoing through the treatment?SW:Yes. But if I was married and hada family I would seriously considerother options it changes yourlifestyle completely and the sideeffects are horric!

OTW:How did you handle theside-effects?SW: I had to lock myself in my room.Id watch stuff on the internet YouTube was my saviour! My concentration

was so limited I couldnt watch alm. Couldnt really enjoy anything. Iwas constantly frustrated I had Riba(Ribaviron) Rage - felt intolerant andimpatient with everyone and everything.I would use anti-depressants at thebeginning alongside other drugs, butnothing seemed to ease my anxieties.

OTW:Do you still feel theres astigma attached to it?

SW: I feel more comfortable nowthat its gone

OTW:What advice would you giveto anyone thinking of starting thetheatment?SW: Go through it. But be prepared.

OTW:What plans do you have nowyoure practically back to normal?SW: Im starting some free course

in journalism. Doing some radiocourses and learning the ropes ingraphic design working on OffThe Wall is helping. Im startingto understand how such a thingis put together. otw

Hep C: an updateWe interviewed Steve Wood - a service user who

had been diagnosed with HCV back in the summer.Here, we talk to him again, now his course is over, to

see if he would have dome anything differently

an OtW intervieW

Steve Wood was

interviewed by the O

The Wall editorial team.


s o DdSteve has always been a

big an o zombie flms

and here he shares his

passion with us...

s op f zomb flm

1. Zombieland (2009)

2. Sean o the Dead (2004)

3. Dawn o the Dead (2004)

4. 28 Days Later (2002)

5. Braindead (1993)

Steves top three ingredients

or a great zombie move:

hot chicks, big guns and

American muscle cars.

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tio: fil

Film: Fogotten ClassicsJim Timoneyre-discovers some golden oldies.the MagniFiCent seven

starring Eli Wallach, Yul Brynner et al

lIn general, I am not a keen fan ofWesterns but there are some classicexceptions and this is one of them.For a start, what a cast! In addition

to the above, it features the likes ofJames Coburn, Charles Bronson,Robert Vaughn, Steve McQueenand Horst Buchholz.

Inspired by theSeven SamuraiOf Japan, the location has beenmoved to Mexico, where a villageis being terrorised by a group of

bandidos into parting with mostof their harvest every year, thus

being kept in abject fear and

poverty. The villagers, havingdecided the time has come to ght

back, set off to buy guns at the USborder. They end up, however,with a much better deterrent inthe shape of seven gunmen whoagree to ride with them and sortout the bandidos.

Against overwhelming odds,the bad guys are defeated butfewer than seven saviours ride

off into the sunset. As well as theaction, featuring an impressivecast, there are potent messagesfrom the Seven about who is really

brave - the man with the gun or theone who stands up to injustice nomatter what. The Seven are trulyquite magnicent!

OnCe uPOn a tiMe in the West

starring Henry Fonda, Claudia

Cardinale

lThis was director Sergio Leonesfourth spaghetti Western; it wasalso the rst not featuring ClintEastwood and it shows. The ne

cast just couldnt quite pullit off for me, despite Fondassuperb and unusual (for him)portrayal of the villain.

The over-long plot is thatFrank, played by Fonda, wipesout an entire family but someone

else is accused of the dire deed.Stir in a man whose brother wastortured to death by Frank andadd Claudia Cardinale as thelove interest and you have thefull picture. The music of EnnioMorricone is as distinctive as ever.

I felt sure I must have seen thislm at some time in its forty-yearhistory but was surprised to ndI hadnt. I was disappointed by

it, as I enjoyed the rst three somuch. I found it had a very slowstart and went on for too long. In

between, it was rather boring andslow moving. By the end, I had

virtually lost interest in the notvery exciting plot.

Perhaps I expected too muchfrom this follow-up to Leonesprevious work. I know it is a muchacclaimed lm but I found myself

asking - why?

a harD Days night

starring The Beatles

lIm sure there are those who willdispute that this is a classic but I

beg to differ. This was The Beatlesrst and, in my opinion, best lm,released when Beatlemania wasat its height, to the delight of their

millions of adoring fans. It wasmade on a low budget in black and

white, because it was not knownhow well it would be received. Icould have told them that!

The plot is quite straightforward

and somewhat innocent, simplyportraying the daily life of the band,as they travel around, rehearsing,having fun and nishing with aTV appearance. Wilfrid Brambelladds a special touch of humour andlight-hearted wickedness as Paulsmythical Irish grandfather.

The Beatles were the rst toadmit that they were not actors, so

the script was kept simple, feedingthem the sort of lines they mightspeak in real life. Obviously, thisscreen portrayal is sanitised andmade humorous, but it all makesfor a fun lm of its (or, I feel, anyother) time. John, in particular,shows his own special brand ofcaustic and sometimes obscurehumour - notice the scene in thetrain where hes seen snifng

from a Coke bottle.It was Ringo, though, who won

the most acclaim as far as actingwent, especially for his lonely guyscene by the canal (lmed straightafter an all-night visit to a nightclub, apparently!). George, ever thecautious Beatle, remained laid back

but still an essential part of thepicture, with his own scene at justthe right moment.

Naturally, the main ingredientof the lm was the music, in my

view some of the nest they everproduced - basic, entertaining mid-Sixties pop, with The Beatles ownunmistakable stamp. Sheer magic!

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Off The Wall No.20, Winter 2010/1114

tio: Bk

Whats it aLL aBOut?

By Michael Caine

(CENTURY, 1992)

When I came to read theBook Clubs choice forNovember, I at rstthought it was Michael

Caines latest autobiography, TheElephant To Hollywood. It soonbecame apparent, however, that thiswas a reissue of a book originallypublished in 1992 and not evenupdated in this new edition. OnceI got over this disappointment, I

found I could enjoy what I considersomething of a masterpiece amongautobiographies. Although thisopinion was not shared by all theBook Club members, I think it is anexcellent piece of writing, up therewith the marvellous autobiographiesof the late David Niven.

The book is very well written,easy to read, neither intellectualnor semi-literate. I found it very

frank, as far as I can judge withoutknowing the author, often wittyand self-mocking, interesting and ajoy to read.

Now aged seventy-seven, withover a hundred lms to his credit,Caine has a lot of ground to cover,even though this account endseighteen years ago. He rst takes usthrough his impoverished childhood,without playing for sympathy; his

descriptions of such things asschool and wartime evacuationrange from the poignant to thedownright amusing.

We read of Caines poorbackground, his army days as a

National Serviceman and his earlytimes struggling to make it as anactor. Living on a shoestring, onhis uppers in London and Paris,his struggles to get bit parts onthe stage or on TV its all there.In order to increase his chancesin the acting world, the formerMaurice Micklewhite changed,rst to Michael Scott; then, whenhe couldnt join Equity, the actorsunion, because someone else had thesame name, he plumped for MichaelCaine, after seeing a poster for thelm, The Caine Mutiny.

Finally, his big break came witha part in the lm,Zulu, in 1964.During the Sixties, his career reallytook off. In 1966,Alfe establishedhim as a star and from then his lifechanged. The Sixties, he writes,were an exciting decade for him,as he began to mix with celebritiesand enjoy the trappings of fame andfortune. He could do things liketake care of the needs of his mother,

daughter and other family andfriends who had stuck by him on hisway to stardom.

The new Michael Cainebegan to spend money likemad, compensating for his poorbackground and years of struggle,buying luxury goods for his newhome and anything else he neededor wanted. Here was fame at last,leading to trips to places hed only

dreamt about before the USA, theCannes lm festival, etc.

The next big step was to fall headover heels in love with a womanin a coffee ad! Thats where herst saw his future wife, Shakira,

Whats it all about?Jim Timoneyreviews flm star MichaelCaines 1992 autobiography - an

oldie, but a goodie?

NEw At DHI

FILMNIGHtEvery secndmnday inhe mnh5.45pm 7.30pm

Nex shingMnday

13 December 2010(Film to beannounced)

See Julian in DayCare fr furherinfrmain.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

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PAST BOOk rEvIEWS

The Lia

by Stephen Fry

(OTW19)

A unny and moving

frst novel by one o

our most talented

and intelligent writers,

actors and presenters.

Defnitely semi-

autobiographical in

parts.

Angels And Demons

by Dan Brown (OTW18)

A worthy ollow-up

to The Da Vinci Code.

Centred around the

Catholic Church and

set in Rome and the

Vatican, this action

packed novel is hard

to put down until its

nail-biting conclusion.Highly recommended.

One Shot

by Lee Child (OTW15)

As always, Lee Child

uses Jack Reacher as

his main character.

Neither cop nor PI,

Jack is a lone wol who

makes it his business to

sort out the bad guys.

The Fist Chonicles Of

Duss The Legend

by David Gemmell

(OTW12)

A gripping and

entertaining novel,

part o a series o

Druss adventures, this

is a must or all lovers

o the antasy fctiongenre. Perhaps too

violent or some but

it is ater all set in a

antasy world and a

work o fction.

DHI Book Club meets on the rst Monday o each month to discuss a book read during

the preceding month. In this section, Jim Timoneyaims to present a brie review o

some recent Book Club titles, as well as others, thus giving a wider perspective.

who he managed to trace and getto know. His telling of the wholeprocess is romantic, charming anda pleasure to read. Similarly withthe moving account of the birth oftheir daughter, Natasha, and thesubsequent scare over her collapsedlung, from which she thankfullyrecovered.

After a number of successfullms and a shedload of earnings,Caine, like so many others at thetime, regretfully decided to leave

England, to avoid the cripplingtaxes. He took to the States andits different lifestyle but he alwaysfelt a degree of homesickness andeventually decided to move backhome (especially when the tax ratestarted falling!)

One thing I did nd a bit off-putting was the way he seemed tohave become too Americanised.The book is littered with words like

movies, parking lot and closet;he also keeps banging on about hisliking of the way they make lmsover there and continually praisesvarious aspects of their culture atthe expense of his native Britain. Ibegan to wonder why he botheredto come home but I suppose thatsjust it in spite of everything, thisis his home.

Despite that small reservation,

I still regard Michael Caine as oneof the foremost actors of the lastfty years. I also admire the way hepulled himself up by his bootstrapsand never lost sight of his goal, in theface of years of poverty and struggle.That, in fact, is the thread of hisstory, one of a journey from povertyin the Elephant and Castle to itsantithesis of stardom in Hollywoodand elsewhere. I found it a

fascinating read, but then Ive always

admired Michael Caine, anyway; Ilook forward to reading his recentautobiography in the near future.

On a nal poignant note, thebook closes with an account of theauthors surprise when his motherdied and revealed that she had givenbirth to an illegitimate, epilepticson in the days when the illness wasnot very treatable. Michael had

had a half brother, David, all thoseyears, without knowing anythingabout him, as he had been lookedafter in a care home, under the eyeof his mother. David died a coupleof years later, during which timeMichael made up for lost time, bytaking care of all his needs andvisiting him as often as possible,along with his brother, Stanley. Anemotional end, indeed, to a very

enjoyable read. otw

8/4/2019 OTW.20

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tio: p

tryby Vegee Steve

Eat this, drink this;

I put my shades on and go or a stroll.

I see a big blue whale,

Shining white light o pure love deep

into my soul

Mazed;Tears.

Eat this, drink this;

Lying back on a grassy knoll at dusk,

I gaze up at a ull moon

And see my ace in profle

Upon the golden disc.

A deep, warm eeling,

I want to laugh...

I smoke a glass pipe at dawn

On a rosty morning at the base o

Silbury Hill;

I meet the spirits o the ancestors.

Well done, they say. Glad you

made it.

Well pleased.

Now I understand or sure thatreincarnation

Is a reality.

Maybe in the ocean,

Maybe in the sky;

All lie is on a wheel

Which goes around and around and

around.

As the Dalai Lama has always said,Show the world compassion

And I say the world will show you

precious things in return.

srwbrryfld

(or Cherry)

by Vegee Steve

Its given us all a real scary time;

Going up, you elt like you were dying

But to the world it was such a big thrill

To be able to include you in all that

was going on.

I sit beside you,

Your ace is ghostly white and you

have

An aura around your head,

And we walk down, drawn by the

meadows lush call.

Birdsong echoes all around;

We sit and listen to the cattle chanting

Their loving mantra,

As they chomp on the grass.

I light a cigarette and Lord Shiva

enters my soul;

Breath in, breath out

And the cosmos is ormed.

And you are on your knees, praying to

God

And I am startled and run o...

And I learnt love and compassion

For all lie,

A precious git,

A sacrament,Forever.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

17/24


tio: Wd widw h wb

afrIcaNroaDSIgNSHonestyisthebestpolicy...

8/4/2019 OTW.20

18/24


Whats on at DHIBh & ne s siDhi B 15-16 Milsom Street, Bath

DHI Bath 15-16 Milsom Street, Bath. Telephone: 01225 329411, Fax: 01225 334734, [email protected]

DHI Inormation Taeaway31 Monmouth St, Bath BA1 2AN. Tel: 01225 334185 (Counselling Service: 01225

422156), ax: 01225 465774, [email protected]

Wddy

12.00 - 1.00 DHI adio Bath

12.00 - 2.00 Gadening goup

2.30-4.00 Lifestyle woshops: managing

emotions; becoming assertive;

managing stress; developing sel

esteem

trdy

11.00-12.30pm Chance to Change

2.30-4.00pm Positie Change Goup

2.00-4,00pm radio DHI Midsome Noton

1.00-5.00pm Aomotheapy Massage

(Monmouth St)

6.00 - 7.00pm rP Abstinence suppot goupAlcohol detox clinic (last thursday o each month)

Fd

10.30-11.30am Dramatherapy

10.00am-1.00pm Homeopathy(Monmouth Street)

12.00-1.00pm O the Wall magazine group

1.00pm Housing Drop in Midsomer Norton

5.00 - 6.00pm BAAD auricular acupuncture.

New Highway(ormerly Badas)32/33 Broad Street Bath BA1 5LP 01225 469479 www.newhighway.org.uk

MondaySeice uses beafast Drop in or hot drinks and toast,

diary planning session to explore what the week holds plus much more.

9am-12.30pm

TuesdayAuicula acupunctue 11am

FidayShiatsu massageA clothed massage ocussing on the whole body,helpul or relieving anxiety, stress as well as a number o everyday disorders.

Auricular acupuncture at 11am. 10am-12.30pm

SatudayDop in or weekend breakast with hot drinks and toast, advice and

support, assessments, reerral to other agencies and needle exchange. 10am-12pm

For inormation on the Genesis Trust contact Carey

or Denise on 01225 463549

Mody

10.30-11.30am Mindulness meditation group

10.00am-1.00pm Housing Drop in

6.15pm Football club

(at Percy community centre)

5.30-7.30pm Monday unday(1st monday -

Book club, 2nd monday - lm club,

3rd monday games club, 4th

monday electronic games club)

tdy

11.00-12.30pm Chance to Change,

preparation or change

12.30-2.00pm Womens Group

2.30-4.00pm Positive change group

3.00-4.00pm Battle against tranquilisers

support group

6.00pm-7.00pm Maintaining Change group

6.00pm Managing Change and Moving

On Group Midsomer Norton a

solution ocused group to support

positive change in substance use.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

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Groups & Services

a Cc to C

What Pleasures Does Your Drug

Use Bring You?

What Difculties Does It Take Away ?

What Problems Does It Add To

Your Lie?

What Good Things Does It Take

Away?

This group aims to assist people

to make their own choices about

what, i anything, they wish to

change about their substance use.

This is a rolling group which takes

new clients on a weekly basis.

Po C

How Can I Manage Cravings?

How Can I Manage Tempting

Thoughts?

How Can I Develop My

Condence And Coping Skills?

What Might Get In The Way?

What Else Might Help You Achieve

This?

How Will I Keep This Going?

This oers clients the opportunity todevelop and manage their plans or

change, overcoming obstacles and

developing commitment.

This group takes new clients every

six weeks.

Wokop @ Dhi

Series O Three Sessions Focusing

On Topics That Interact With

Changes Around Substance Use.

Topics Are: Becoming Assertive;Improving Sel-esteem; Managing

Emotions; Managing Stress

Wom gop

Drop-In Womens Support Group

abc

What Is The Next Step?

How Can I Increase Importance

Without Adding Stress?

How Can I Build A Lifestyle ToSupport My Recovery?

What Are My Triggers And How Can

I Manage These?

How Can I Prevent Lapses

Becoming Relapses?

This group aims to support people

who have identifed abstinence as

a goal. This group takes new clients

every six weeks.

rlp Po sppo gop

Drop In Talking Support Group For

Abstinent Clients.

B 1-1 Coll

An Opportunity To Explore Drug Or

Alcohol Use 1-1 With A Counsellor,

Either To Help You Arrive At Your

Decision Or To Maintain Progress.

This service is available most days

and some Evenings.

hog srvc

DHI oers a range o housing

support services including:

Specialist housing support or ex-

oenders and those with substance

misuse issues; supported housing

or those wishing to be abstinent

rom drugs and/or alcohol; support

or those wishing to access the

private rented sector and in need

o an interest ree loan; andMailcoach as secure PO Box

acility oir the homeless.

Activities

gm Cd We have 3 gym cards

available or use at the local YMCA

health suite with excellent tness,

weightliting and sauna acilities.

The cards are available or useevery day and can be booked at

reception.

O Wll This a magazine

published by service users or service

users. We meet every Tuesday rom

12pm - 2pm at the Inormation

Takeaway. We welcome any service

user to contribute poems, lie stories,

artwork, recipes, or just come

along and help put the magazine

together.allomWe have an allotment

nearby which is very popular with

service users. Many fowers, plants

and vegetables are grown and in

2009 our plot won Gold in the Bath

Allotment Awards. We meet every

Wednesday rom 12pm - 2pm.

Book Clb Do you like reading?

- This is a riendly client led book

club meeting on the rst Monday o

each month usually rom 5.30pm -

6.30pm in the Computer Room.

F Clb We meet approx

once a month to sh on one o the

many stretches o canal or river

throughout Bath.

acpc Hugely popular -

Available every Friday at the DHI

rom 5pm - 5.30pm.

M Relax and enjoy a

massage, totally ree rom our

Monmouth Street oce Thursdays

between 1pm and 6pm. You will

need to book this in advance.

a Back by popular demand we will

be running Art classes or all abilities

every Monday between 10am and

12pm.

Comp Clb A riendly group

or beginners every Tuesday at

12.00pm.

Foobll Have a riendly kick about

every Monday evening rom approx6pm at the Percy Centre, New

Kings Street - All standard o players

welcome.

homopHomeopathy treats

the person rather than the named

disease so potentially it can

help patients with a wide range o

conditions. Illnesses commonly seen

by homeopaths in the clinic include

recurrent inections (such as colds,

tonsillitis, cystitis), skin conditions,menstrual and menopausal problems,

chronic atigue, migraine, and stress

related symptoms such as anxiety and

insomnia. Fridays 10am to 1pm.

MdoA new activity created

because o interest rom service

users, running every Tuesday

evening 6pm - 7pm.

Mxm Oering 1-1 support to

provide personal development

and access to relevant educationand training courses, with the

goal o nding sustainable, long-

term employment leading to

sel-empowerment, achievement,

happiness and sel pride.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

20/24

20Off The Wall No.18, July/August 2010

Towe road Noth Warmley

DHI South Gloucesteshie

South Gloucestershire Drug & Alcohol Service,

130 Tower Road North, Warmley BS30 8XN.

Freephone: 0800 0733011,

Inormation & Brokerage: 0800 1955784,

tel: 01454 868750, ax: 01454 868755,

[email protected]

Mody

9.30am-1.00pm At Couse

1.00-2.30pm Open Goup

6.30-7.30pm Pee Suppot Goup

tdy

10.00am-12pm Housing Clinic

11.15am-12.30pm Music fo Fun1.00-3.00pm Alcohol Couse

2.00-4.00pm Bie Maintenence

6.00-7.30pm relapse Peention

Wddy

11.30-12.30pm Acupunctue

1.00-2.30pm Into Action Goup

Each week either at 10.00am or 3.00pm there will be

an activity

trdy

10.00am-12.00pm BAT Dop in

11.30am-1.30pm ACE Goup

12.00-2.00pm Caft Woshop

2.00-4.00pm Maximus (eey 2 wees)

7.00-9.00pm Family Goup

Frdy

10.00-11.30am Teatment Induction Couse11.30am-12.30pm Acupunctue

1.00-2.00pm Meditation

2.00pm Healthy Lunch Club

2.30-4.00pm Stimulant Goup

Whats on at DHIsh Gl. si

The BungalowYate

Yate Teatment Cente

The Bungalow, 24a North Road, Yate BS37 7PA.

Tel: 01454 273643, [email protected]

Mody

12.00-1.00pm Meditation

10.00am-12.00pm Acupunctue

1.00-5.00pm ThoughCae Dop-in

Open until 5pm

tdy


1.00-2.00pm Open Goup

2.00-4.00pm ACE Goup

7.00-9.00pm Family Goup

Wddy

11.00am-1.00pm Gandpaents Goup

1.00-2.30pm sml

3.00-4.30pm Teatment Induction Couse


6.00-7.00pm BAT dop in

trdy

1.30-2.30pm Healthy Lunch Club3.00-4.30pm Into Action Goup

5.00-6.00pm Acupunctue

6.00-7.15pm relapse Peention Goup

7.00-8.00pm Pee suppot goup

Frdy

10.00am-12.00pm Housing Clinic

11.00am-12.30pm Alcohol Couse

Closed rom 1.00pm

8/4/2019 OTW.20

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The Old School House Swindon

DHI Swindon

The Old School House, Maxwell St, Swindon SN1 5DR.

Freephone: 0800 9704830, tel: 01793 617177,

ax: 01793 486591, [email protected]

Mody

10.00am-2.00pm 1:1 Session

11.00-2.00pm Tiage

11.30am Stimulant Goup

1.00pm Acupunctue

tdy

10.00-2.00pm 1:1 Session

11.00-2.00pm Dop-in

11.00-2.00pm Tiage

11.30-1.00pm Thought Into Action1.00pm Acupunctue

Wddy

10.00-2.00pm 1:1 Session

11.00-2.00pm Dop-in

11.00-2.00pm Tiage

11.30-1.00pm relapse Peention

12.30pm Progress to wor

1.00pm Acupunctue

trdy

10.00-2.00pm 1:1 Session (women only)

11.00-2.00pm Dop-in (women only)

11.00-2.00pm Tiage (women only)

Frdy

10.00-2.00pm 1:1 Session

11.00-2.00pm Dop-in

11.00-2.00pm Tiage

Whats on at DHIswid si

The Boxing Gym

There is access to the boxing gym above the Old

School House. Contact us or more inormation.

1:1 Sessions

Other appointments outside o these times are

available to you at a place o your convenience.

Triage

An initial assessment can be completed over the

phone Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5pm. Call us on

0800 970 4830. This number is ree rom call boxes

and landlines.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

22/24

Dr OtW

For years now, as time has gone on,I have tried for so long to cut downmy alcohol intake. For the most partI was successful up to a point. Notso long ago I felt I was getting incontrol.

I tried to break away from my usual

haunts and it worked for a relativelyshort time but I very soon started toslip back to my old habits.

For a short time I was able to drinkless but things kind of took over meand I gradually slipped back intothis lifestyle of drinking most daysbut at least this time I know what ishappening to me. I didnt go out thepubs so much but would generallycover the cost of drinks at home with

my friends who I didnt like to resistas they were drinkers like me andwere the only people I knew.

I now stand before you what I canonly think to myself as a failure but Istill have hope.

What I would like to know is doI have to give up my old friends ?Which I think I may have to anddont want to do but I desperatelyneed a contact with someone who

could perhaps advise me with certainthings to help me in my dilemma.I look forward to hearing someanswers please.Anonymous

Dr OtW

I have recently stopped drinking andtaking drugs. Im 3 months cleanand sober , but am nding life veryboring. I am needing something to

ll my time, but dont know what?A lot of my friends drink, and i feel

worried that I may relapse if I dontnd something to replace the old lifeI had.Jen

Dr OtW

Can any body tell me what hashappened to the acupuncture groups,That are advertised in this mag?

Many times I have turned up tond NO group on?

I am hoping they have not beenstopped,as they were a massive partin my recovery.

Thanks, Rachael Heagney

Dr OtW

I have smoked cannabis for almost22 years, but at the age of 41 I am veryconscious of my health. I need to giveup smoking but not wanting to stopmy cannabis use, as it helps me withpain relief and enables me to destress,I really need to quit the nicotine.

I have tried eating cannabis in

cookies, but nd it to strong this wayand the effect lasts to long, as to theshort term buzz of a spliff!

Are there any other ways I can takecannabis?Anonymous


Got a poblem?

Get in touch!

Off The Wall Magazine

15/16 Milsom Street,

Bath BA1 1DE

T 01225 329411

E [email protected].

OTW rEGULAr

Poblem page

Time to get it o your chest?

Each issue we will

be printing readers

problems and letters,

and rather that giving

our response we want

our readers to oertheir

advice. So i you can

help this issues readers,

please write in...

And dont orget, theres

a crisp tenner or the best

response each issue.

8/4/2019 OTW.20

23/24

l bChec outwww.dhi-online.og.ufo moe useful infomation

National contacts

Alcohol concen 0207 9287377

Alliance, the (methadone) 02083 744395

Cannabis Hemp Infomation Club 0145 8835769

Cocaine www.cocaine.org

Date rape Dugswww.roole.com

Dugscope www.drugscope.org.uk

Dug Education Taining 0117 99415810Ecstasy.Og www.ecstasy.org

Eowid www.erwid.org

Good Dugs Guide www.thegooddrugsguide.com

Geen Paty Dugs Goup 0171 7370100

Hemp UK 0186 5311151

Hitwww.Hit.org.uk

Howad league Fo Penal refom 0171 2817722

Justice Fo Woman 0181 3403699

Lifeline www.lieline.org.uk

Mainlines 0201 5825434

Medical Maijuana Foundation 0157 9346592National Alcohol Helpline 0345 320202

National Dugs Helpline 0800 776600

National Sexual Health/HIv0800 5671123

Oxfodshie Use Team 0800 0320829

Poject LSD 0171 2881500

release www.release.org.uk/bust.html

re-Solwww.re-solv.org

Taffasi 02085 339563

Tansfom Box 59, 82 Colston Street, Bristol. BS1

Local contacts

DHI Head Ofce and Bath Area Ofce

15-16 Milsom Street

Bath BA1 1DE

tel 01225 329411

ax 01225 334734

email [email protected]

DHI Inormation Taeaway

31 Monmouth St

Bath BA1 2AN

tel: 01225 334185

(Counselling Service: 01225 422156)

ax: 01225 465774

email: [email protected]

DHI South Gloucestershire

South Glos. Drug & Alcohol Service

130 Tower Road North

Warmley BS30 8XNFreephone: 0800 0733011

Inormation & Brokerage: 0800 1955784

tel 01454 868750

ax 01454 868755


DHI Swindon

The Old School House

Maxwell St

Swindon SN1 5DR

Freephone: 0800 9704830tel 01793 617177

ax 01793 486591


DHI kingswood

Ofce 10

Kingswood Foundation

Bristol, BS15 8BD

Yate Treatment Centre

The Bungalow24a North Road

Yate

BS37 7PA

Tel: 01454 273643

Email: [email protected]

8/4/2019 OTW.20

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otw.20

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