Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Bring me Sunshine on March 18, 2018, 05:03:04 PM
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Hi I mentioned on "what have you done today" that I was arranging a menopause cafe and it was suggested to start a new thread for this topic, so here it is....
Here is a little history behind it.......
Rachel Weiss had the idea for Menopause Cafe in 2017, inspired by Kirsty Wark's BBC programme “Menopause and Me†and the Death Cafe model she had already been part of. Rachel, Gail Jack and Lorna Fotheringham held the world's first Menopause Cafe in Perth, Scotland that June 2017. They didn't know whether it would just be the three of them talking to each other, or if other people would join them. About 30 people turned up and talked, and asked for more Menopause Cafes.
There have been more in Scotland, Manchester, Sheffield and London. Their website is www.menopausecafe.net
I thought it sounded like a good idea, approached a local community cafe, and they were really keen for one to be held there. So all I need to do is let the menopause cafe people know so they can put it on their facebook, twitter page once a date has been sorted out. I was only going to test the water by doing it for an hour on a wed or thu afternoon (cafe's quiet time) to see if any one turned up. The cafe have their own facebook page too and a local radio station are interested in publicising it.
If any one is interested and is in the Buckinghamshire area (Aylesbury is the town) then I will happily provide more details once the date is known but it will be sooner rather than later. There is no agenda its just for anybody interested in sharing their stories, experiences and questions about menopause. All genders and all ages. Men and women and inbetween. Old and young and inbetween.to increase awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, their friends, colleagues and families, so that we can make conscious choices about this third stage of life.
A Menopause Cafe is a group directed discussion of menopause with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a support or counselling session. It is really what we are all doing on here but its local to where you live and face to face really.
I thought after the horrible last year 2017 I had to try and make something positive come out of all that suffering. It may take off it may not but its worth a try and the founders are great to talk to about it all. They wont be there it will just be me and hopefully another person or two!
Its worth having a look at their website www.menopausecafe.net
Finally has anyone ever been to one?
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Thanks for the info BmS great idea I'll go if it can work in for around my holiday dates.im not a Facebook user so can you post the date on here when you decide please.well done xx
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Thanks Daisydot that's encouraging to hear, thinking it may just be me in the corner! I am not a facebook user either so I certainly will post date here if that's okay.
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Brilliant let's hope some other ladies are able to make it xx
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:medal:
Make use of your local library, GP Surgeries, Vet. Surgeries, Hairdressing Salons, Church Groups, Pet Shops; anywhere that ladies visit often. WI? Gardening Club? Local Garden Centres have notice boards too ..........
Your local Waitrose may have a token system to raise monies if it's required. We get a green token to put into local charities and they match the amounts. Clear as mud :-\ .........
GOOD LUCK!
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Thanks CKLD some good advice there, blimey it could be packed!
its non profit making but its a nice system they operate in Waitrose.
Thanks again!
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Great advice ;D
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:thankyou: if I didn't have anxiety .......... :-\
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We can all be anxious together CLKD.Be fun to put faces to names.i feel a new thread coming on lol.using your forum name what do I think you look like :rofl: xx
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Grabs Brown Paper Bag :lol:
I think we have that thread somewhere here .........
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Event
The Menopause Café
Where?
More+ (Café in Aylesbury, England) at 36 Parton Rd, Aylesbury, HP20 1NG
When?
Wednesday 18 April 2018 (1.30 pm to 2.30 pm)
A little of the background
Rachel Weiss started the first Menopause Cafe in Perth, Scotland in June 2017.
In Rachel's words, “The Menopause Café is aimed at women and men of all ages who would like to come along and talk about the menopause, to share their stories, experiences and questions. Unfortunately, many women feel that they should just ‘get on with' the Menopause, with some never talking to their friends of family about it, but the reality is that it affects all women eventually, not forgetting those who live and spend time with them. People can come along and just listen, or join in on the discussionsâ€.
The Menopause Café
I came across this story and really liked the idea. I felt like I wanted to share the story of my own
(on-going) battle with the menopause. I approached the More+ Café (a successful community-run café in Aylesbury) who were more than happy for their café to be used as a venue.
This will be the first ‘menopause café' in this area and there will be refreshments and cake to purchase on the day.
I hope that you can join me on 18th April 2018 at 1.30pm. And hopefully this could be the first ‘menopause' event of many.
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Well done I'll see you there xx
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Fantastic but please dont worry if on the day you cant make it. But would be lovely to see you!
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If I have to crawl there I will 😂 only joking but I'll do my best I do appreciate your efforts to arrange it and it would be lovely to meet some of our lovely ladies from here who can make it.aylesburys a nice town I've only ever been to the hospital there but it's not that far from me and worth it.xx
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Good Luck!
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Not long to go now ladies so I thought this deserved a wee bump for any new ladies who may have missed it.big thank you again to Bring me Sunshine your a star xx
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Hi ladies and bms.my hubby took me out to Aylesbury today on a trial run to find it so I wouldn't be so stressed driving on the day and it was a disaster,I can't do the drive my anxiety levels shot up it's a good 45 mins away so as he's not available on the day I can't risk it I don't want to say I'll be there and then be frantic with anxiety for the next few days leading up to it so my apologies.maybe next time or maybe if it's somewhere a bit closer.xx I hope it goes well for you all xx
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How did it go today ladies at the meno cafe,I hope it went well for you it was certainly lovely weather for it.x
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DD - I'm OK doing spontaneous, if I have to plan untying anxiety takes over ....... bugga !
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Hi Daisy Dot sorry for the late reply I was away over Easter and been sooooo busy.
The menopause cafe went really well. I had 10 altogether some friends of mine and some ladies I didnt know, no one from this forum but we are all scattered all over the place. i am so sorry that your anxiety stopped you from coming what a shame. If ever you want me to come over to your way I am more than happy to do it. I drive all over particularly up to the North East so 45 mins is nothing to me. Feel free to personal message me anytime. One lady had to be brought by a friend because of her anxiety and siad at the end she felt so much better and it was worthwhile. So that was good to hear if it helps just one person then it was worth it. The consensus is they want to meet regularly once a month/6 weeks so I shall arrange another soon.
They were all happy to talk about their personal experiences and a lady even turned up who was 74 and just wanted to say that things do get so much better.
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Hi BMS lovely to hear from you and I'm so pleased for you i was really worried that you'd be upset,it was really the last bit of the journey that freaked me out I think ,from the Barrett estate 🏡 nwards it seemed to get more and more difficult and I knew I'd never have done it if hubby hadn't been driving.Thats so kind of you to offer that but hopefully next time I can get hubby to drive me,it's a really nice little venue isn't it.Im really pleased that it's something your going to do again and as you say it's so worth it just to even help one person it could turn out to be a huge success and an ongoing thing that would be marvellous so anyway a huge well done to you for going to all that effort and I'm so sorry again to have let you down but I will try again I'm dying to celebrate with you now . Well done :bighug:
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Well done , Bring Me Sunshine x
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Congratulations
Lanzalover x
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Another cafe event in Aylesbury (the 2nd one) I have no idea how to paste the actual poster so here are the words less the colours.
Menopause Cafe www.menopausecafe.net
Join us for tea, cake and
talking about the menopause at the more+ café
36 Parton Road, Aylesbury HP20 1NG
On Thursday 21 June 2018
From 1pm to 3pm
Rachel Weiss of Rowan Consultancy founded the World's first Menopause Café in Perth, Scotland in July 2017. Following this, Menopause Cafés have been organised throughout the UK (even in Toronto) and in some workplaces. “The Menopause Cafe is aimed at women and men of all ages who would like to come along and talk about the menopause, to share their stories, experiences and questions.†All made that little bit easier with tea and cake which you can purchase at the café.
My name is Julie and this is the 2nd Menopause Café held in Aylesbury. I set it up to share my story and to raise awareness.
*more+ cafe website: www.broughtonchurch.org
*more+ is a community cafe operated by Broughton Community Action. It is staffed mainly by volunteers and runs on a not for profit basis.
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Well Done U! Maybe put a note in your GP and Dental Waiting Rooms and perhaps your Vet and Library notice boards?
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Well done again BmS I hope it goes well for you all xx
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Good idea CLKD how ever the doctors told a friend the other day that the menopause is a natural thing for women and HE dosent know what all the fuss is about, women didnt complain years ago. So that's what we are up against and that's doctors saying that!
Thanks Daisy dot xx
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Keep up the good work.
I think I had better keep my opion of that doctor to myself :o
Lanzalover x
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That Doctor will be old and a man then! Print off the list of menopause symptoms from here as well as 'hints for husbands' and take along ;)
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:bouncing:
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Bumped for new members 😘
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Hope alls going well BMS? 😘/Jeanie
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:thankyou: meant to do the same but kept forgetting :-\
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The university hosting 'menopause cafes'
A university has begun hosting "menopause cafes" every month - an informal, social meeting where women of all ages can discuss the menopause over a drink.
Participants at the University of Leicester are handed "menus", where food and drink options are replaced by topics of discussion related to the menopause.
02 Aug 2018
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:bouncing: