TS Cafe - putting the 'T' into, er, tea

Starbucks may be losing megabucks, but TS Cafe, on the high street in Shirehampton, just opposite the bus stop on the triangle was crammed full when I went in for a sneaky cup of tea before a SCAF meeting today.

And little wonder. The cafe offers a wide range of food from proper hot dinners to breakfasts and salads in a clean and friendly environment at really reasonable prices.

Shirehampton has been stripped of so many community facilities in recent years - and shutters are going up on so many of the stores in the high street - including of course, Woolworths. It is hugely encouraging to see a business like TS Cafe doing so well, and justifiably so.

Keep it up, TS Cafe team!

From Girders to .... this!

Remember those girders I showed you back in July?

This is what they turned into - an almost completed brand new boxing gym.

But as with all things, it didn't happen by magic. It happened through the grit and determination of the National Smelting Boxing Club and Garry Cave, its coach.

There's still a few things to d0 - and Garry needs about £6000 to finish it all off... so if there's anyone out there reading this who's not been crunched by the credit crisis and has a few grand they can spare... get in touch with Garry today! This isn't just about building a gym, if the boxing I've seen at the club is anything to go by, this gym will help change lives.

Smelters' new boxing club on the brink of completion

The National Smelting Boxing Club's new gym is on the brink of completion. The club has raised over £60,000 for the new gym, so that it can offer boxing to the ever growing number of young men ( and women!) who want to take up the sport.

On Thursday night, as President of the Club, I went to the Smelting Club's big amateur boxing tournament which the club put on to raise the final few thousand left to complete their new gym.

It was a brilliant evening - everything was superbly organised and the evening was a real success. Pictured, is Tom Connors from the National Smelting Club taking on Dean Dodge from Yeovil. At half time, we were treated to a very professional performance from a local dance group. There was something for everyone.

We're yet to hear what was raised, but it's another step towards completion of a building that will not only house a sport, but will help build young people's lives.

Emmanuel Chapel - aka Tardis

Emmanuel Chapel is a sort of cross between the Tardis ( small and not particularly noticeable on the outside - enormous and doing masses of stuff on the inside) and that story of the loaves and fishes. For anyone rusty on their Bible, it goes a bit like this:

Jesus has been teaching and everyone's been out on the mountain listening all day - 5000 odd have turned up. Sermon over, everyone realises they're a bit hungry, but not a bite to eat in sight. Except for one lad who's had the foresight to bring a picnic - not a lot, a couple of loaves and a few fishes. Jesus asks his disciples to collect up all the food there is amongst everyone and they come up with this paltry sum. Disciples are unimpressed and worried because everyone's really quite peckish now. " Don't worry" says Christ. "That'll be fine". He divides the loaves and fishes up, and hey-presto, everyone - all 5000 of them - have enough to eat. And there's even some left over.

With the limited source of funding that they appear to have, Emmanuel Chapel do a huge amount of work and manage to make it go a very long way. They are not only a church, but also a place for young people in the area to come in the evenings and meet friends, chat and get vital adult support and input in a relaxed environment. And, almost loaves and fishes like, they say they still manage to set aside some money to give to charities. Amazing. Just imagine what they could do with more...!


Photo shows Henbury Council Candidate, Chris Windows, me, and Nikky Furst who helps run Emmanuel Chapel.

The Brailsford Brothers light up Christmas

......I confess, I hate taking down the Christmas decorations and have been known to be a bit of a misery about it.

So I was given a salutary lesson when I came across Lee and Paul Brailsford, (pictured) taking down their monumental and epic Christmas lights display in Oakbourne Road, Brentry, today. (For more - and better - photos, go to their website.)

They were cheerily dismantling their awesome Christmas display on a freezing cold day, and I was stunned when they told me how long it would take to get it all down ( quite some time) - and how long it took to put it all up ( they started in baking heat in October).

Their community spirit is inspiring. They pay for all the electric ( between £80-£100 per week) out of their own pockets, and out of their own expenses put on an opening display before Christmas, with mulled wine and snow machine, which attracts literally hundreds of people.

They told how it all started small, a few bits here and there for their mum, and then for the benefit of neighbours, and how it just grew and grew. Today, they are raising over £1,500 for charity. Here are two young men who grew up in the area, who, with a bit of imagination and a lot of dedication and generosity have contributed so much more than the £1,500 they raise for charity, simply bringing light and lights to their neighbourhood.

The brothers are looking for sponsorship for next year's display. If you can help, contact them on the number and email below: It'll be the best New Year's resolution you make.

L&P BRAILSFORD

CARPENTRY. BUILDING. MAINTENANCE

Tel 07967534135 infobrailsford@hotmail.co.uk