A change is as good as a rest - and this year THE RiNG Christmas Lunch took place in the Ellingham Suite at Park Farm, where a good time was had by all. We appreciated having a lovely room to ourselves, the excellent food, charming staff and being waited on rather than collecting our food from the buffet.

 As usual, everyone dressed up in their best and looked wonderful as you can see from the customary photo collection.

We also thought the circular tables - five of them seating eight apiece - worked well and were more conducive to conversation. 

Many of you received a link to all Robert Scarfe's photos of our Christmas party via the Picasa website. That still works but we are hoping to be able to access all Robert's photos via a special gallery on this website shortly. It's a work in progress in the capable hands of the wonderful Mike Jones from Paston Chase who built our website. We'd better be nice to him because then he will expedite the process! Meanwhile, take a look at a few of the other pictures which I have inserted below.

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Cromer?

It was the perfect day out. Everything ran like clockwork and Val Thornhill, who organised the event, had even booked glorious sunshine, warmth and a gentle sea breeze. Lunch at The Tides Restaurant on the pier was prompt, service was friendly and efficient and they got 20 orders spot on in a very short time as we had to get off to the Show.

Jenny Smith and Ann Grady enjoyed a nice little stroll round the pier en route. There was much to see, including the RNLI Lifeboat Station where a very nice lifeboat man told us all about the history of the building, which was constructed some 13 years ago. Don't we just love men in uniform?

Cromer is apparently the very last End of the Pier Show in Britain, and the talented cast included a ventriloquist, a stand-up comic and a unicyclist on steroids whose antics included jumping his bike over a rather well-endowed lady without injury. Good thing that 'Elf and Safety had taken the afternoon off.  

Viv, Jane, Elaine and Bridget got together for tea and an ice cream in the interval. Unfortunately Bridget really wanted tea - she'd been in the loo at the crucial time so couldn't be asked - and then it was Curtain Up in two minutes but never mind. Ice cream was good though.

All too soon it was back on the Spratts coach driven by the delightful Chris and THE RiNG summer outing was all over for another year. Whatever shall we come up with for 2012?

It was a packed house for the latest meeting of THE RiNG to find out more about Hotter Shoes - which have recently opened a store on Norwich's Gentleman's Walk.

Claire Kett and Helena Hopkins from Hotter told us all about their shoes, which are 95% manufactured at their factory in Lancashire, which turned out 1.3 million pairs of shoes last year.

Other interesting fact were that all shoes have removable soles which can be hand-washed to freshen them up and that they are specially designed to allow wriggle-room for toes.

There was a raffle to win a free pair of shoes - scooped by Julie Parling.

The next meeting of THE RiNG on Wednesday 7th September at 2pm  - which also includes the group's AGM - will be on coping with the psychological pressures of a long-term health condition.

Another Saturday night, another Gala Quiz at the Afternoon Bridge Club HQ in The Costessey Centre - and THE RiNG team had a great night even if we didn't win. Alright, even if we were nowhere near winning. OK, seventh out of 10 if you insist!

But it was tightly packed at the top and our 85 points put us only five behind winners The Magnificent Seven with 90. Perhaps it was fortunate that one of their team members dropped out as The Magnificent Eight doesn't have quite the same ring, does it? And THE RiNG supporter Hao Clayton was on the winning team with her husband Les, so we felt vindicated.

THE RiNG team of Steve and Jayne Ranns, Chris and Helen Preston, Viv Hawes and Jane Scarfe was greatly supported by the addition of Charles Rabbidge and his mother Win - the only nonagenarian in the competition. And, would you believe, the definition of the term came up as a quiz question - and Win wasn't familiar with that term for a 90-year-old, though she was well informed on world leaders immediately after the Second World War. Well she would be, wouldn't she?

THE RiNG is now working with Rheumatology Consultant Dr Chetan Mukhtyar and his colleagues at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital to establish a Buddy Scheme, where newly diagnosed patients will be given our contact details and encouraged to get in touch with us.

The idea is that those who like the idea should be allocated a Buddy - similar where possible in age, gender and disposition - to support them through their first weeks living with Rheumatoid or another inflammatory Arthritis.

We hope to offer one-to-one personal support and practical advice to complement the medical input from the hospital. There is worthwhile and enjoyable life after a diagnosis of RA, and we are living proof of that. Furthermore, the vast range of new drugs now available means that the prognosis for newly diagnosed patients is usually much better than it was even 10 years ago.  

This is an exciting new development in the life of THE RiNG and we hope to make a difference to new RA patients - including younger ones.

Meet the team who worked hard on behalf of THE RiNG on Bank Holiday Monday 30th May 2011.

Left-to-right Hao Clayton, THE RiNG vice chair Viv Hawes and secretary Elaine Bounds and committee members Steve Ranns and Chris Preston. You'll have to imagine Val Thornhill who had just wandered off for a cup of tea when the photo was taken! Come to think of it, she was probably with Jennie Newby who isn't on the picture either ..........

We had information about inflammatory arthritis to hand out to all comers, plus our friend Hao had made toy clowns and Washi eggs - an ancient Japanese craft - which were also on sale at the Fete.

THE RiNG committee member Chris Preston organised a bric-a-brac stand and Sue Burrows from the NNUH Rheumatology Department and her husband Robin displayed their Titanic models and gave us half the proceeds from a tombola.

All in all we raised just under £100 which, although no fortune, was a great achievement in these recession-hit times and every penny will be going towards benefits for our members. We are paying for the coach for our Summer Outing to the End of the Pier Show in Cromer so that will be a great contribution.

There was encouragement and reassurance, particularly for newly-diagnosed RA patients, when the N&N's newest Rheumatology Consultant was guest speaker at THE RiNG birthday party in April.

Dr Chulanie De Silva presented a positive picture of how far RA treatments have progressed in recent years - and stressed her determination and that of her colleagues to get the best possible treatment for Norfolk patients under their care. New biologic treatments are coming on line and the future looks bright.

It was a welcome first opportunity for some members of THE RiNG to meet her - or get to know her a little better - as she has been taking over many of Prof David Scott's patients as he moves towards his full retirement from the NHS in July. Others will be cared for by Dr Chetan Mukhtyar, who also gave an excellent talk to THE RiNG recently.

The cakes on offer were even more delectable than usual, since it was our birthday, and special thanks go to Val Radley for the amazing Black Forest Gateau and Whisky Fruit Cake - both highly alcoholic - and to Jennie Newby for her equally popular Coffee Cake.

If you'd like to talk to us do call our friendly reception service on 0800 055 3637. It is staffed in office hours or you can leave a message during evenings and weekends.

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We are proud to announce that the National Lottery has awarded us £6224 to promote, expand and develop our work supporting Norfolk people who have Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

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