When I was in Baucau in Timor-Leste the other week I had breakfast every morning at the Pousada Hotel … and after a few days I realised that the ‘marmalade’ I was putting on my bread was actually pumpkin jam. Having never had pumpkin jam before I looked it up online to discover that it is a traditional Brazilian jam … (also another Portuguese colony) and … I can highly recommend it.

So … this week we made some at Preserves Group. It has pretty simple ingredients: pumpkin, lemon and orange, with a hint of cinnamon. And some sugar (of course). Perfect on a fluffy white Portuguese bread roll (traditional breakfast fare in Timor-Leste).

So we’ve now got some for sale in the foyer, along with a new batch of cucumber pickles. You can pop past and buy some if you like. Only $7. Our jams and preserves make a lovely small gift for someone … and the proceeds support us to run our disability programs.

Win=Win.

Anyway, thanks to everyone that came along to our short courses this week. it is super to get back into the swing of things!

Now the weather is improving you might like to start your day in a mindful way - why not check out John’s Breathwork sessions which you can book on a weekly basis or for the term.

And …

We’ve also had a refresh of our op shop this week - so come and have a look for a bargain if your wardrobe also needs a refresh.

This week we’ve got Embracing Life and Death coming up on Thursday from 1-2:30pm. This month the focus is on bereavement and living with grief and loss. The sessions are free, but booking is essential via eoldoulasinmelb@gmail.com.

We have 3 spots remaining for Community Yoga this term if anyone is keen to join Rosie from 5:30-6:30pm on Wednesdays. It’s just $22 for 3 classes over the next few weeks. Book in here if you’re interested.

As always, we’ve got all of our regular programs and short courses continuing this week so we hope to see you all soon.

Cheers Leanne

John from the men’s shed and Diarmaid have another shadow work workshop coming up soon here at ACC on Saturday the 24th of October.

See the details below for anyone interested in trying shadow work!

An Introduction to Shadow Work

Saturday 24th October
The Alphington Community Centre

Free Event

10.00am -1.00pm

Facilitators:

Diarmaid Fitzpatrick: Certified Shadow Work Group Facilitator 

John Byrne:  Certified Core Clearing Breath Work Practitioner

Dear Friends

You Can’t Step into the Same River Twice

The river has changed.
And so have you.

Our first Introduction to Shadow Work  in September was an opportunity to explore the different parts of ourselves that influence how we think, feel and respond to life.

But Shadow Work has many layers.

The Sovereign, Lover, Warrior and Magician are more than four boxes. Each has different expressions and strengths — and each can become inflated or deflated when we lose connection with ourselves.

This free workshop offers a chance to revisit some familiar territory and perhaps see it differently.

If you came to the first workshop, come back with fresh eyes.
If you didn’t, you’re very welcome.

You might discover something about your Inner Critic, Risk Manager, Inflated or Deflated Self — or something entirely unexpected.

No previous experience needed. Just bring your curiosity.

Because when we return to the river, we never quite enter as the same person.

To Book your place email:  Diarmaid Fitzpatrick  d.fitzpatrick@awarenessbd.com or  John Byrne  coachinglifeworks@gmail.com

We look forward to welcoming you

best wishes

Diarmaid and John

Welcome back to Term 4. I had a great break and I hope you did too.

A quick summary from my end - I went down to Anglesea and caught up with my sisters, held my baby Scarlett’s 18th birthday party at our house (and survived the 100 guests - no it was actually super and they were very well behaved … lots of lovely kids live in our neighbourhood right! All buckling down for year 12 exams now). And I booked one of Darebin Council’s hard rubbish collections and did a big clean out of our tools and garden stuff - how did I accumulate so many rusty things? Also I pulled up some weeds and planted some tomatoes and capsicum … just before the rain of the last few days - so I hope they are settling in well.

Anyway, now I am back to all things ACC and look forward to the last quarter of the year!

And we’ve got lots coming up …

• Money Matters: AI and Scams (talk) - on Wednesday 14 October. Join us for this free lunch and talk. Advertised as part of Seniors Month (but open to all).

• Heart Centred Breathwork (short course) - starts up on Tuesday 20 October for the early risers (at 7.30am). John is running this course and it will be a super way to start the day!

• Money Matters: Managing on a Limited Budget (talk) - on Wednesday 21 October. Join us for this free lunch and talk. We are running it as part of Seniors Month - but we’re not ageist - anyone can attend!!!

• Community Yoga (short course) with Rosie starts on Wednesday 21 October at 5.30pm. Always lovely.

• Cook by the Book (short course) - on Thursdays from 11.30am, starting on 22 October, for 6 weeks. This term we’ll be cooking from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Simple cook book. I think he is my favourite contemporary chef with lots of fresh and delicious recipes that are often vego or vegan … and this book also at the back suggests some recipe combos that would go well together, or some ‘feasts’ … so the plan will be to dive in and try to make them together. YUM!

• CRUNCH (short course) - also starting Thursday 22 October, from 12.30pm (6 weeks). After sharing lunch with the Cook by the Book crew (looking forward to their Ottolenghi feasts) we’ll be doing weaving this term - basket weaving with rope and raffia, and perhaps with natural materials too. Join us to build up some skills as we work together (and maybe most importantly enjoy great conversations) and create some wonderful pieces (that could be super for Christmas presents I imagine).

• Uke Singalong (event) - Sunday 25 October, in the afternoon (details to be confirmed!). The Flukes (our uke group) are once again going to host a singalong on a Sunday afternoon. How fun! They have been practising some new tunes especially for the occasion. Last time was super, and it should be lovely again.

• Resuscitate a Mate (workshop) - 10 November at 10am-11.30am. Life Saving Victoria is running this short refresher course - aimed at older folk (you can identify with that any way you like) - but essentially building community skills around DRSABCD … including confidence to use a defibrillator. It’s not an accredited course, but a great opportunity to learn what to do (or get a practical reminder).

• Alphington Open Studios (event) - the last two weekends in November. We love having our space available and part of this suburb wide event. This year we will be hosting 4 or 5 artists in our space (how super).

And then it is Christmas - the Christmas Market on 21 November, Christmas Lunch on Friday 11 December, Christmas Carols (at the Bowls Club) on Sunday 20 December …

And of course all the other stuff - Playgroups on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Toy Library, Line Dancing at the Scout Hall on Wednesday mornings, Alphingtones Choir at St Andrews Church, CWA meeting on the first Monday of the month in the Parklands, U3A Armchair Theatre (playreading) every Wednesday afternoon … and Book Clubs (currently finalising their book choices for next year).

And our Community Morning each Friday - art and craft, chats and gardening from 10.30am … Community Lunch at 12pm. AAA Arts at 1pm.

Also …. if you are feeling creative this Thursday (or next) Lee and I will be working on finishing off our new mosaic project for the very front garden bed- we’ll be on the job from 10.30am-12pm. And Clare will be working on it at the same time on Fridays. Come along and join us if you would like to contribute. We’ll be chatting (a lot I imagine) and cutting tiles, and gluing and grouting … the project is looking just beautiful and it is always nice to think you were part of something creative that jazzes up the neighbourhood right?

If you are inspired by our program you can book into all our things here. Hope to see you at ACC soon!

Cheers Leanne

Congratulations Corrado (Adopted Crupi) for winning our footy tipping competition this year, and also a big congratulations to Thomas (Soarin’) for being our runner up.

Thanks Corrin, for making our new perpetual trophies. We had a special ceremony at community lunch on Friday with Alex (who has come along each week to update the ladder on the wall) awarding the trophies.

Fabulous!

Do you know what to do in an emergency?

We are super excited to be able to be offering a free CPR workshop with Life Saving Victoria later on this year! The workshop is called ‘Resuscitate a Mate’ and is targeted at older adults and seniors to teach them skills to be able to deal with an emergency situation. It will include hands on CPR practice, as well as instructions on how to use a defibrillator safely and effectively.

The workshop will be on Tuesday the 10th of November from 10-11:30am. If anyone is interested in learning these super important skills, please register for the workshop here. This workshop is subsidised by Yarra City Council.