ARE YOU READY FOR THE DIGITAL SWITCHOVER?


THE Digital Switchover is coming to Kent and Surrey in 2012 are you ready? Are you affected? If you receive your TV signals from an aerial then the Switchover will affect you. If you receive your signals from a cable company or from a satellite dish you are not affected.


If you are only receiving BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and possibly Channel 5 then you will need to upgrade to a set top box or a new digital television. The analogue signals for these channels will be switched off and after Switchover you will only be able to receive them on a digital receiver. The Switchover will be in 2 steps, first BBC 2 will switch over to digital giving time for TV sets to be retuned. Then two weeks later all other channels will switch requiring another auto retune, after which time all of the channels will be received in the new digital signals. So for those receiving their TV signals from an arial the next step is to decide which transmitter you are receiving your TV signals from and when your TV will be affected. If you receive London programs the first step of the changeover will be on 4th April with the second step on 18th April. Meridian TV has different dates. Tunbridge Wells and Heathfield have a first step on 30th May and the second step on 13th June. For other dates visit digitalUk.co.uk or phone 08456 50 50 50. On the day that your signal changes you will need to Autotune your TV to the new signals. Preparation now will save you time on the day so dig out your TV manual and find the Auto Tune


Sue Clark talks about art and ceramics


AS the owner of an art gallery and ceramics studio I truly appreciate how important it is to take the opportunity of starting a new hobby, especially at a time in life when many people may think new ventures are just not available to them. The benefits of joining a new small group of people to be creative are enormous. Being creative with clay in a ceramics class, or learning to paint with water colours can have many positive results. The majority of people who join such classes find a creative environment can relieve stress, lift feelings of depression and be so very relaxing. For 2 or so hours a week one can forget the stresses and strains of living in the 21st century and let the mind be creative with some spectacular results.


Uplifting


instructions. Do a practice Autotune before the day of Switchover and you will then be ready and practiced for the day. If you have a good signal now the new signal should be even better. If you have a poor signal now you may have difficulty and you might need a new ariel. If you have a set top box it is the set top box that will need to be retuned not your TV.


If you cannot find the autotuning instructions for your set don’t worry most sets auto tune in a similar way. First select menu, then installation or setup, Then if a code is required try 0000 or 1234. Select Full retune or first time installation or factory reset. Press OK if your set says delete all channels. New Channels will be automatically installed. For more information go to www.digital uk.co.uk or phone 08456 50 50 50


It is also an ideal way to meet a new group of people, all of whom have the same aim. Quite simply it adds up to a truly uplifting experience. Many people often say to me that they are not creative, they can’t draw or were always ‘useless at art’. However without the pressure of being ’top of the class’ or being criticised for not getting it right, I have yet to meet any one who couldn’t be creative with clay with a little help from an experienced tutor. My belief is that everyone has a creative ability, even if its currently hidden, it just needs to be accessed and nurtured. Some years ago a tutor of mine said he believed the reason why people of all ages can engage successfully with clay is that we all have an ‘ancient collective memory’ that enables us to work with it easily in a creative environment and find it a really relaxing experience. So whatever your age or perceived ability, join a group, take up a new hobby and after a few weeks you will probably ask yourself why you didn’t do it before.


Sue Clark Ceramics


AT GALLERY SEVENTEEN


Beckenham’s Art Centre


New Year, New Hobby? Join our 8 week ‘Absolute Beginners’ course starting 10th January 2012. Play with clay and learn to make your own unique pieces. Tuesdays 10am-12noon/7.30pm-9.30pm £130 per 8 week course (all materials included)


Ceramic Classes & Courses


Evening and day classes or weekend courses. Beginners welcome. See our website for details.


Watercolour Classes Evening and weekends, have fun and learn to paint.


Contemporary Art Original Oils and water colours, etchings and prints. Over 1000 pieces to choose from.


Picture Framers Our fully equipped framing workshop offers expert service and great ideas.


Wallhangings & Bronzes Wallhangings from Rajasthan and Limited Edition Bronzes by UK Artists.


www.galleryseventeen.co.uk 20 High Street (opp St.George’s Green), Beckenham


Tel: 020 8658 1788 info@galleryseventeen.co.uk 4


Small classes of 8 with lots of 1 to 1 tuition Enrolling NOW for 10th January start.


New Year


Hobby New


If you wish to advertise in or contribute to the next Care in the Community magazine, call us on 01959 564766.


Mobility scooters and the law


The Highway Code and the law cover mobility scooters and there use on pavements and on public roads. The Highway Code recognises 3 classes of mobility scooter. Class one is a manual wheel chair, class two is a powered wheelchair or mobility scooter limited to a top speed of 4mph. Class one and two are suitable for use on pavements only and should only be used on the road when there is no pavement available. Class three mobility scooters are those equipped for the road with an upper speed limit of 8mph they should be equipped with lights and indicators.


When on the road it is important to follow the same rules about using lights, indicators and horns as for other road vehicles, if your vehicle is fitted with them. At night, lights MUST be used. Make sure you see and can be seen other road users may not see you and you should make yourself more visible - even in the daytime and also at dusk - by, for instance, wearing a reflective jacket or reflective strips on the back of the vehicle. When travelling on the road a motor scooter should be on the same side as other traffic and travel


Care in the Community ~ Autumn 2011


in the direction of other traffic Parking restrictions apply to mobility scooter. If parking in a bay or single yellow lines and you have a current Blue badge it will need to be displayed as required by the current Blue badge concessions. Your vehicle should not be left unattended if it causes an obstruction to other pedestrians or other scooter or wheelchair users.


For more information see your highway code or visit


http://www.direct.gov.uk and search on highway code.


Ideas


Gift


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