The Oxford Phab web site is now available over a secure (encrypted) connection at https://oxford-phab.paladyn.org
As the pages are public this is mostly a building block to allow for improved privacy and security should this be required for future developments.
Thanks to the Let’s Encrypt project for the SSL Certificate.
Pantomime – Aladdin
We kicked off 2016 in style by going to see Aladdin at the Oxford Playhouse.
George, in particular, enjoyed the sing-along !
Happy Christmas 2015 from Oxford Phab
We would like to thank everybody who has supported us through the year, and look forward to a busy and exciting 2016
Christmas Bingo 2015
Members bring chocolates for prizes and we play Bingo to redistribute them.
Everyone was looking very Christmassy for our bingo evening.
Our caller – using our Bingo machine – you can see the prizes on the table to the right.
We also celebrated a couple of birthdays !
Christmas Dinner 2015
Lots of us gathered at The White Horse in Headington for our Christmas Dinner.
The Christmas Jumper season has started.
Helen made place cards with our orders on.
Traditional Turkey
The Christmas pudding is Hot !
Overall a good evening with chances to chat as well as eat.
Zumba December 2015
Once again George Martini came and did a Zumba session with us.
A great session as always
Even on a cold December evening we felt full of energy.
AGM and Art and Crafts Night
We decorated cards and bags with a Christmas theme. .
More craft activities – powered by chocolates, which were the prize for our Team Building entry on the Phab South East Weekend.
Treasurer’s report at the AGM
Lee receiving The Roy Lewis Award. for all the discos he has run for us.
Dot was unable to attend but wss awarded the Roy Lewis Award in absentia, for organising transport for many years.
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Sunday
After breakfast and an optional, but well attended and inspiring Morning Worship session, we went into a Team Building activity.
We worked in teams, Oxford Phab had the assistance of the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association, and given supplies of cake, swiss roll, chocolate buttons, fondant icing, icing sugar and similar ingredients and told to construct something related to a season.
So what can you make from cake ?
This is not a snowman – once coloured in this will be a maypole dancer !
Here is the final result – there is a maypole, complete with dancers – one in a wheelchair, a cake stall and a coconut shy – for added realism the coconuts are glued to the stands !
Other groups made a bonfire, a snowman, a ski scene and other seasonal themes, but after much deliberation ours was declared the best !!!
For added realism our spring fête ended in a washout !
We finished the event with presentations and lunch, and then went home on the minibus.
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Saturday
After breakfast and an introduction session we split into groups. I went for Food !
Morning Workshop – Cookery
Paul taught us to cook a range of tasty dishes, using simple ingredients and – for the cooked dishes – a single ring portable gas cooker.
Simple deserts – cheesecake and banoffi pie
Paul also cooked Chicken in mushroom sauce, a Paella, and a Chorizo, New potato and Haddock One Pot – all within 2 hours on a single ring, from scratch.
Unfortunately I had eaten most of the One Pot (and all of the Paella and Chicken), before I remembered to take a picture !
This was followed by a buffet lunch – people who had other sessions were probably hungrier than I was.
 Afternoon Workshop – Amazing Animals
The guy from Amazing Animals brought a range of animals for us to see, or – in some cases – touch.
Anyone who wanted to could hold a Hissing Cockroach
This is a giant stick insect
This is a Cane Toad – which we were not allowed to handle, as it secretes a toxic fluid.
And this a giant bullfrog.
Here is a friendly Boa Constrictor
and a very friendly parrot !
There were also hedgehogs, a tortoise and a giant rabbit.
Wine tasting
As well as the Cookery demonstration Paul ran a most informative wine tasting session – he took us through six wines from a light fruity white to a full bodied red, and we were all surprised at what good value his choices were.
Evening Dinner
Our evening meal was accompanied by a raffle, party poppers, gift bags and balloon rockets – most of which were aimed at our good natured entertainer, who encouraged the various tables to take their best shot.
There was also wheelchair dancing and a disco.
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Friday
Off in our minibus to Chichester for a Phab South East Fun Weekend
Going round Oxford and Abingdon, loading
Lunch at MacDonalds
We checked in to the hotel, and unpacked in our rooms, and then it was time for the ice breaker activity.
Mingling in the bar, trying to find people Chelsea supporters and people who are allergic to cats. A good icebreaker as there are people from all over the South East here.
During the meal we were entertained by an excellent singer.
The meals at the hotel were good – here we have reached the coffee stage, still enjoying the entertainment.
This was followed by more chatting and entertainment until people drifted off to bed.