Vol 9.3   

April - May 2006  

Dear Friends ,

A little boy came home from school one day with homework to make up five sentences about the various signs of spring. The homework had of course a dual purpose which was to encourage the art of sentence making and to foster a greater appreciation of the environment in which we live and move and have our being (though I guess the teacher wouldn’t have quite put it in those terms!) We hear lots from sociologists and others about how important the learning environment is and that includes the physical as well as the social. Housing is important too. A good home environment, physical and social, makes for happier more contented and rounded persons. Our churches and church halls, leisure centres etc can all have an effect on us spiritually in the widest sense. Any environment also reflects on those who own or inhabit it and sends out messages to others about those same people.

Very recently I attended a short course on spiritual direction and counselling. It was an initiative which those of us present hoped would soon spawn wider interest in the diocese. At it the speaker talked about four key areas in spiritual direction: intra-personal, inter-personal, social and environmental. How these areas interact on our own being and spirituality is considered key to appreciating and understanding the whole nature of how we function as persons with a view I expect, to achieving contented and fulfilled people on the pilgrim path. I wonder how often have we reflected on the fourth of these areas – the wonder of creation and the environment around us, how we are a part of it and how important it is to us. Moreover, with (1) the days lengthening, (2) buds bursting, (3) birds nesting, (4) flowers blooming, and (5) the weather warming (slightly), I hope this will be an encouragement to us all to get out and about and rise from the winter sluggishness that comes to us every year and enjoy the beauty of the earth, the created order, in all its diversity whilst we are able. May Easter this year truly be a reawakening of us, to all that is good and life-giving in our lives.

Parish Visitors Team
As part of the ongoing commitment to the Building For Generations programme in the diocese various training opportunities have presented themselves to clergy and lay people alike. Some of our parishioners have attended these courses and found them very beneficial and enlightening. One such course was the Pastoral Care course run by the Church Army which three of our number completed. They are Mrs Daphne Lucas, Mrs Molly Finlay and Mrs Margaret Walbridge. The course was designed to provide training in pastoral visiting. I am very pleased that they undertook the course which I’m glad to say they very much enjoyed.

I have previously written about collaborative ministry increasingly involving lay people in the diocese in their own parishes and this is an extension of that. I will be involving the three people mentioned above in pastoral visiting in the parish and would ask for your support, encouragement and prayers as this new initiative is implemented.

First of all Daphne, Margaret and Molly will be commissioned in the parish for their pastoral work at a morning service in St Patrick’s during May. Their task will involve consulting with myself, undertaking primarily to visit the elderly in the parish from time to time as agreed with the Rector and all that this may involve, and abiding by the rules of confidentiality as agreed with the Rector.

I trust you will welcome them warmly as representatives of your parish and the wider church community when they may come to visit you in your home. They are familiar faces about the parish and without doubt will carry out their task with humility and friendship. I commend them to your prayers.

I would be more than glad to hear from anyone who is interested in offering themselves for this kind of work and who would be prepared to undergo and complete the necessary training. If indeed you feel someone would be a suitable person to undertake this work I would be interested to hear your suggestion.

I do believe that we need men in the parish who would seriously consider this as part of their Christian vocation. Contact me if you’d like to learn more about what it entails and how to become involved.

Exhibition
The Art and Needle-Craft exhibition organised by Mrs Ann Jones (President) and the members of the Ladies Fellowship will take place during May. Please refer to the accompanying leaflet with this magazine. We wish them every success in this endeavour and furthermore congratulate them on the milestone of twenty years since the organisation’s foundation.

 

Rural Deanery
Once again this year saw a good level of support for the Lenten services evidenced by the congregations at six of the parish churches. The next time we meet in such a way will be at a contemporary Youth Worship service in St Patrick’s, Templepatrick at 6.30pm on Sunday 14 May 2006. All are welcome and I hope as many as possible can come along.

After ten years in the parish of Muckamore the Rev. Brian Cadden will be leaving the rural deanery for the diocese of Down as he and his family move to the parish of Castlewellan and Kilcoo. We wish them well as they prepare to move home and parish. We will be sorry to see Brian go from the Deanery for what is Connor’s loss is Down’s gain.

Student Reader
 We have had Mr Adrian McLaughlin assisting the parish for the last 8 weeks at services in Templepatrick and Donegore churches. We thank him for his work here and hope he has gained something from his brief spell among us. We wish him well as he continues his studies in Dublin at the Theological College. Adrian’s last Sunday with us is April 2nd.

Parish Magazine
The magazine comes to you five times a year through the efforts of Mrs Gail McCoy, Mr Alan Walbridge and myself and of course the contributors who send in articles and information for editing.

It is delivered free of charge to every household in the parish and is a very useful tool in communicating what has and will be happening in the parish.

Whilst the good services of volunteers are free, unfortunately the printing is not! So I am appealing on the Select Vestry’s behalf for you to consider putting something in the envelope with this magazine and either passing it on to the treasurer, Mr Norman Shirley or Mrs Isobel McCollam or putting it on the collection plate on a Sunday. It has been well over a year since we last asked you. As a guide, to print a run of 210 magazines costs us £120, so over the course of a year we are spending £600. That works out about 57 pence an issue… if that helps!

Thank you for any contribution you may make. Magazine articles from our organisations would be most welcome – it makes for a more readable and informative end product and is at the end of the day there to serve the parish as a whole. Do make use of this channel of communication.

 

Easter Vestry
 This year the AGM will be held in the Minor Hall on Monday 24 th April 2006 at 7.30pm and will be followed by some light refreshments and then by a meeting of the newly constituted Select Vestry.

If you are a registered vestrymember (only they can vote or be elected onto the Select Vestry- see list on church notice board) or indeed if you are just interested at what happens at this significant moment in the yearly life of the parish come along and by your presence support the ongoing work of your Rector and Select Vestry. You’d be very welcome. More details will be available about the meeting on a notice sheet pinned to the main entrance door of each of the church buildings.

Yours in Christ

Stephen Fielding

Bowling Club
bowler.gif (1418 bytes)

The bowling club continues to meet on Friday evening from 7.30 pm until 10.30 pm and Monday evening (practice night) from 8.00 pm until 9.30 pm. New members will be made most welcome.

We had a visit to the Rock bowling club on Thursday 9 March 2006, with a very good turn out of members.

We also had our second visit of the season to the Baker Stadium on Wednesday 29 March 2006. Once again we had a good turn out of members, bowling for 2 hours with a meal and refreshments afterwards and prizes for the winners on the night.

Our Country & Western concert was held on Thursday 30 March 2006, our thanks to everyone who supported us in any way.

We look forward to our Easter Egg competition on Friday 7 April 2006.

The AGM of the bowling club will be held on Friday 5 May 2006 in the Minor Hall at 7.30 pm, followed by the presentation of prizes.

Isobel McCollam (Hon. Sec.)

Communion Rota for St John'scommunion.gif (2023 bytes)


St John's
April Mr & Mrs Bradley
May 
 Mr & Mrs Lundy

Kitchen Fund / Parish Hall

The Kitchen fund account is now on going. All contributions would be most welcome.

Anyone wishing to contribute please contact Isobel McCollam or the Hon Treasurer Norman Shirley.

The fund now stands at £7,533.00

 

Table Quiz

A table quiz has been arranged for Thursday 8 June
in the Baker Stadium at 7.30 pm .

Proceeds from the table quiz are going towards the kitchen fund in the Parish Hall.

We are once again hoping for good support.

Anyone who has previously attended can vouch for a good evening of fun.

Admission £5.00 per head, including supper.

Isobel McCollam

 

Organising your wedding

Weddings are very special occasions in the life of any family and in the life of the church. When considering getting married please check possible dates with the Rector before confirming arrangements.

It is expected that couples will make a regular commitment to the life of the church in preparation for marriage.

An annual Rural Deanery marriage preparation course takes place every year in February which 'intending' couples area asked to atttend.

This year Christian Aid Week collections will take place during the week commencing Sunday 14 May to Saturday 20 May 2006.

If anyone would be willing to give a couple of hours of their time during this week, to help with our collection in Templepatrick, please contact myself.

Many thanks to all the regulars who have helped in the past.

Leah Lynas

 

  

Junior Sunday School


CMS Ireland Project

Our CMS project this year is called The Broken Butterfly tools of faith based in Northern Zambia. Zambia is a very poor, landlocked country in Southern Africa, with a population of 11 million people. It is surrounded by 8 other countries and has one of the lowest population to land ratios in Africa, with the majority of the people found living in the larger towns of Lusaka, Kitwe and Livingstone.

80% of the Zambian population live below the poverty line and the poor continue to lack access to basic necessities of life – adequate food, health and education facilities, safe water, clothing and shelter; added to this is the impact of HIV/AIDS, 1.2 million live with Aids and there are almost 600,000 Aids orphans.

The project hopes to focus on 4 key areas: pre-school education, training in modern agricultural methods and micro-credit schemes, unemployment in youth and Evangelism in the surrounding villages.

The project will help the local church fulfil its part in God’s mission by empowering and equipping its people with practical and spiritual tools for life, dealing with real issues that are important for the people in Zambia. It is CMSI’s hope to raise £30,000 for this very important project.

I’m sure you will agree – a very worthwhile cause!

Could we please ask the children to return their collection boxes by Sunday 30th April 2006.

Some useful dates for your diary:-

April
9 Palm Sunday
16 & 23  No Sunday School
30 Sunday School Resumes – collection boxes returned

May
7 All Age Worship

June
11 All Age Worship and Prize Giving
18 Junior Activities



Gail

Rotas for St. Patrick's

communion.gif (2023 bytes)Intercessor Rota for Parish Eucharist

St Patrick's
April M Walbridge
May W Brolly

communion.gif (2023 bytes)Communion Rota

St Patrick's
April Mr T & Mrs M Montgomery
May Mr S & Mrs J McCollam

Cleaning Rota

St Patrick's
April A Montgomery, I Shields, A Millar
May Mr & Mrs Walbridge, A Kerr, N Clendenning

Flower Rota

St Patrick's
Apr. 2
 Lent
9
 Lent
16
 Church Choir
23
 Church Choir
30
 A Millar
May 7
 A Millar
14
 I McCollam
21
 G Hamill
28
 V Brady

Pretty good for 10p

One Easter, a family (Mum, Dad, boy age 9) that seldom went to church, decided to go. After church the Mum said, "I thought the choir was a little off key." The Dad said, "Well, the preacher's message was bland, too." Whereupon the boy said, "I thought they put on a pretty good show for the 10p you put in the collection plate."

Safeguarding Trust

In accordance with the recommendations in 'Safeguarding Trust - The Church of Ireland Code of Good Practice for Ministry with Children', a Parish Panel has been appointed (operating since June 1998) to implement some of the responsibilities identified in the Code.

The Panels responsibilities include:

  • interviewing persons willing to serve as workers in the parish
  • advising workers on their responsibilities in respect of the Code

 

  

  • advising the Select Vestry in respect of its responsibilities
  • being an immediate contact point for workers when a suspicion, complaint or allegation of child abuse is made about a worker or on parish premises in accord with the procedures set out in these guidelines.

The Parish Panel Members are:-

The Rev. S A Fielding, Templepatrick
Mrs M Bell, Glengormley
Mr S Clendinning, Templepatrick
Mr M Cooke, Dunadry

Saints of the Church

Mark the Evangelist
25 April -- Festival -- Evangelist -- Red
John Mark was a Jew and, according to Paul's letter to the Colossians, was cousin to Barnabas. He accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. Afterwards, he went to Cyprus with Barnabas and to Rome with first Paul and then Peter. Mark's gospel is generally regarded as the earliest and was most likely written whilst he was in Rome. It was probably based as much on Peter's preaching of the good news as on Mark's own memory. Mark's gospel has a sharpness and an immediacy about it and he does not spare the apostles in noting their weaknesses and lack of understanding that Jesus the Christ would suffer for the world's redemption. Sharing in the glory of the resurrection means sharing in the giving of self, both in body and spirit, even to death; sharing the gospel was, for all, in essence both excessively generous and ultimately sacrificial.

Philip & James, Apostles
1 May -- Festival -- Apostles -- Red
Philip and James appear in the list of the twelve apostles in the first three gospels but are frequently confused with other early saints who share their names. In John's gospel, Philip has a more prominent rôle, being the third of the apostles to be called by Jesus and then himself bringing his friend Nathanael to the Lord. Philip is the spokesman for the other apostles who are questioning the capacity for feeding the five thousand and, at the Last Supper, enters into a sort of dialogue with Jesus which leads to the Farewell Discourses of our Lord.

James is said to be the son of Alphæus and is often known as 'James the Less' to distinguish him. He may also be the 'James the Younger' who, in Mark's gospel, is a witness at the Crucifixion.

They are celebrated on the same day because the church in Rome, where their relics rest, was dedicated on this day in the year 560.

Comgall of Bangor, abbot. Down diocese. 602
10 May
Comgall was the founder and first abbot of Bangor Abbey, said to have been the largest monastery in Ireland, with as many as three thousand in the community at one period. Comgall visited Columba in Iona and worked closely with him in spreading the Gospel. Columbanus was trained at Bangor before setting out on his missionary journeys to Europe. There was a strong family-spirit in the community life at Bangor. Counselling, as well as instruction, was an important part of the training. To Comgall is attributed the saying, "A man without a soul-friend is a body without a head."

Matthias the Apostle
14 May -- Festival -- Apostle -- Red
After the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, the apostles brought their number back to twelve by choosing Matthias to replace him. He was chosen by lot from amongst the disciples. The author of the Acts of the Apostles sees apostleship differently from Paul's interpretation of the rôle and seems to reflect the understanding of the gospel of Luke. The number had to be restored so that they might "sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel". It was conditional that they had to have been with Jesus during his earthly ministry and witnesses to the resurrection. The point of being chosen by lot, rather than by some democratic method, indicated the election or choosing by God, rather than by mortals.

 

 

  

 

The Visit of the Blessèd Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
31 May -- Festival -- of the BVM -- White
The church today recalls the visit of Elizabeth to her cousin Mary, as recorded in Luke's gospel. The celebration of the feast first occurred at a Franciscan Order General Chapter in 1263 but quickly spread throughout Europe. Since it is a celebration clearly described in the gospel, the churches of the Reformation were less inclined to proscribe it as they were other Marian feasts, particularly as it was the occasion for Mary to sing her great hymn of praise in honour of her Lord and God. Just as Luke sees John the Baptist as the last of the prophets of the old covenant, he uses John's leaping in Elizabeth's womb as the first time John bears witness to Christ as the promised Messiah. Thereby he links the old covenant with the new. He seems to be saying that just as the old covenant clearly points to Jesus, so does its last prophet, yet to be born.

Ladies Fellowship

To mark the 20 th anniversary of the Ladies Fellowship, members, some with their spouse and friends shared a meal at the Templeton Hotel before travelling to the Waterfront Hall to see the show “Hello Dolly” performed by the Fortwilliam Musical Society. This was an extremely enjoyable evening.

In early March the Women’s World Day of Prayer service was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. This was disappointing to all who had helped organise this event which, held annually, rotates through a number of 8 churches in the Templepatrick area.

The Bishops’ Appeal - Soup and Cheese Lenten Lunch organised using the well tried system was a time of warm fellowship on a crisp cold day.

On Tuesday, 21 March a meeting will be held in the Parish hall. This was our visitor’s evening when, Mrs Hughes from Montgomery’s Ballymena, gave a demonstration on “Oils and Vinegars”.

Other dates to note:

Tuesday 25 April - Annual General Meeting and light supper provided by the committee.

Thursday18 – Saturday 20 May - Art and Needlecraft Exhibition and Sale of Paintings in Parish Hall.

Tuesday 23 May - Summer Outing. This event is still in the planning stage and details will be notified when finalised. This will be the last event of the current programme.

As always new members are welcome at any or all of our meetings.

Ann Kerr (Hon.Sec.)

 

Parish Directory

Rector

The Rev. Stephen A Fielding B.Sc., B.Th., M.A.

The Vicarage, 926 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, Co.Antrim,

BT39 0AT

(028 9443 2300    E-mail: templepatrick@connor.anglican.org

CHURCH OFFICE BEARERS

Rector's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mrs M. Walbridge, Templepatrick

People's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mr B McMeekin, Antrim

Rector's Churchwarden:(St.John's)
Miss Y.Hutchinson, Doagh

People's Churchwarden:(St.John's)
Mrs M Bell, N'abbey

Rector's Glebewarden:Mr R Barnes, Dunadry

People's Glebewarden:
Mr M Cooke, Dunadry

Supplemental Glebewarden:
Mr S Clendinning, Templepatrick

Select Vestry: (Meets 2nd Monday in month at 8.00 pm)
Mr R.Barnes, Mrs M Bell, Mr H Cinnamon, Mr S Clendinning,
Mrs M Coe, Mr M Cooke, Mrs Y Hutchinson, Mr J Jones,
Mr C Lundy, Mr D Mawhinney, Mr T Michael, Mrs I McCollam,
Mr S McCollam, Mr R Montgomery, Mr N Shirley, Mr A Walbridge, Mrs M Walbridge

Parish Diocesan Synodsmen:
Mr E Cinnamon, Mr J Sheldon

Diocesan Synodsmen:
Mrs M Bell, Mr R Montgomery

Honorary Secretary:
Mrs M Bell, Newtownabbey

Honorary Treasurer:
Mr N Shirley, Templepatrick

Honorary F.W.O. Recorder and Envelope Secretary:
Mrs I McCollam, Templepatrick

Covenant Secretary:
Mrs P. MacKean, Loughanmore

PARISH PANEL:-
The Rector; Mrs M Bell; Mr S Clendinning; Mr M Cooke

Parish Organisations and their Leaders:-

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm.

St Patrick's Organist and Choirmistress Mrs D.Martin, Parkgate

Sunday School Coordinators: Mrs G McCoy, Mr B McMeekin. Leaders: Mrs V Brady, Mrs D Gaffney, Miss C Lucas, Miss S McCollam.

Crèche (Sundays) Mrs Judith Collister, Mrs Julie-Ann Logan

Youth Group Mrs Valerie Brady

 

 

Hall Secretary Mrs I McCollam

Sacristan: Mrs R Barnes

CofI Gazette Secretary Mrs M McConnell

Bible Study Notes Secretary Mrs D Lucas

Christian Aid Secretary Mrs L Lynas

Parish Webmaster Mr Alan Walbridge

Magazine Producer Mrs Gail McCoy

 

Youth Organisations

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm

Rainbow Guides (4-7 years): Tuesday 2.15-3.15pm
Mrs D Reid

Brownies (7-10 years): Wednesdays 6.00-7.30pm
Mrs Elaine Lamont, Mrs A Millar

Guides (10-14 years): Wednesdays 7.30-9.00pm
Mrs Ann Forsythe

Squirrels (4-6 years): Thursdays 4-5pm
Mrs C Michael

Beavers (6-8 years): Mondays 6.30-7.30pm
Mrs K Shirley

Cub Scouts (8-10years): Tuesdays 6.45-8.00 pm
Mr Alan Martin

Scouts (10+ years): Tuesdays 8.00-9.30 pm
Mrs Kim Gleave

Parents and Toddlers Group Wednesdays 10.30am-12pm Mrs Hayley Cunningham

Adult Organisations

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm

Indoor Bowling Club : Fridays 7.30pm
Secretary: Mrs I McCollam

Ladies Fellowship 3rd Tuesday in the month, 8pm. Secretary:Mrs A Kerr

Parish Ramblers meet occasionally

Services

April - May 2006
2 Apr.
Sunday
 Lent 5
 
8.30 am
 Holy Communion
 
11.30 am

All Age Worship

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Jeremiah 31: 31-34
51: 1-12
Hebrews 5: 5-10
John 12: 20-33
9 Apr.
Sunday
 Palm Sunday
 
10.00 am
 Parish Eucharist - St. John's
 
11.30 am
 Matins (with procession of palms
and dramatic reading of the Passion)

RCL
Full texts
available

Liturgy of the Palms

Gospel
Psalm
Mark 11: 1-11
118: 1-2, 19-29

RCL
Full texts
available

Liturgy of the Passion

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Isaiah 50: 4-9a
31: 9-16
Phil 2:5-11
Mark 14: 1-15, 47 or 15:1-39 (40-47)
Holy Week
10 Apr.
Monday
 
10.00 am
 Holy Communion

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Isaiah 42: 1-9
36: 5-11
Hebrews 9: 11-15
John 12: 1-11
11 Apr.
Tuesday
 
10.00 am
 Holy Communion

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Isaiah 49: 1-7
71: 1-14
1 Corinthians 1: 18-31
John 12: 20-36
12 Apr.
Wednesday
 
10.00 am
 Holy Communion

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Isaiah 50: 4-9a
70
Hebrews 12: 1-3
John 13: 21-32
13 Apr.
Thursday
 Maundy Thursday
 
7.30 pm
 Holy Eucharist &
Stripping of the Altar

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Exodus 12: 1-4, (5-10), 11-14
116: 11-18
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
14 Apr.
Friday
 Good Friday
 
2.00 - 3.00pm
 An hour at the Cross
 
7.30 pm
 Evening Service

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12
22: 1-11
Hebrews 10: 16-25 or 4: 14-16, 5: 7-9
John 18:1 -19:42
16 Apr.
Sunday
 Easter Day
 
10.00 am
 Holy Eucharist - St. John's
 
11.30 am
 Parish Eucharist

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 10: 34-43
118: 1-2, 14-24 or Easter Anthems
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
John 20: 1-18 or Mark 16: 1-8
23 Apr.
Sunday
 Easter 2 (Low Sunday)
 
10.00 am
 Morning Prayer - St. John's
 
 11.30 am
 Morning Prayer

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 4: 32-35
133
1 John 1:1 - 2:2
John 20: 19-31
30 Apr.
Sunday
 Easter 3
 
11.30 am
 United Parish Eucharist

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 4: 32-35
4
1 John 3: 1-7
Luke 24: 36b-48
7 May
Sunday
 Easter 4
 
8.30 am
 Holy Communion
 
11.30 am
 All Age Worship

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 4: 5-12
23
1 John 3: 16-24
John 10: 11-18
14 May
Sunday
 Easter 5
 
10.00 am
 Parish Eucharist - St. John's
 
11.30 am
 Matins
 
6.30 pm
Rural Deanery Youth Praise

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 8: 26-40
22: 25-31
1 John 4: 7-21
John 15: 1-8
21 May
Sunday
 Easter 6
 
10.00 am
 Matins - St. John's
 
11.30 am
 Matins

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 10: 44-48
98
1 John 5: 1-6
John 15: 9-17
25 May
Thursday
 The Ascension Day
 
10.00 am
 Holy Communion

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Ephesians 1: 15-23 or Daniel 7: 9-14
47 or 49
Acts 1: 1-11
Luke 24: 44-53
28 May
Sunday
 Easter 7
 
10.00 am
 Matins - St. John's
 
11.30 am
 Matins

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

 Acts 1: 15-17
1
1John 5: 9-13
John 17: 6-19

Wednesday morning Communions with prayer for the sick are at 10am followed by coffee in the Church Rooms. Saints Days are as announced in church.

Technology - Spring cleaning

Even though the weather is presently atrocious, spring began on March 20 th this year. Not only the house and garden need sorting out, there is also your computer.

There are three aspects to this.

  • The physical cleaning of your external equipment.
  • The layout of your desktop for effective working.
  • Tidying up the disk storage inside of your computer – housekeeping as it is usually called.

First unplug the keyboard remembering which socket it went into, usually the purple one. Hold it upside down to release any debris from in between the keys (pressing the keys is a good way to release it). Then blow away any debris from around and under the keys with a vacuum cleaner or pump. If you want to clean the keys then put the solvent on a cloth or cotton bud, never directly on the keyboard. The solvent should be isopropyl alcohol, but as a substitute try some cheap after-shave on a corner first.

Care needs to be taken with monitor screens, especially LCD ones. Using a paper towel or dirty cloth can scratch these screens and many cleaning agents can damage the screen. Glass fronted CRT screens are less of a problem. Rather than buy special wipes, which dry out anyhow, I find that a damp micro fibre cloth works as well as anything. For the ultimate way of cleaning your screen go to 60gp.ovh.net/~cleanyou/

If your mouse uses a ball then give it a clean. Turn the mouse cover anti-clockwise to release the ball, remove the cover and take the ball out. Use the soft tissue to clean the mouse ball, be sure to remove all dust/hair/debris. However it is the 3 rollers within the mouse casing that really need to be cleaned. The rollers could be coated with rings of grease and dust that has to be removed. Pick the grime away with either a toothpick or fingernail. Finally put the ball back in, replace the cover turning clockwise to lock it in place and plug it back in your computer (green socket).

In an office the state of a person’s desk can say a lot. Some are tidy with a few documents on show; others are completely covered with material. The same goes for the Widows desktop. I am amazed how some people can find anything as there could easily be over 50 icons sitting on the desktop. Every program ever installed is represented. It is not just inefficient in the time taken to find anything, but it gives the operating system unnecessary work.

How many icons you really need depends on your use, but 6 is more than enough for anyone. Remember that icons can be folders so if you have 20 games create a folder on your desktop called Games and put them all there. A much tidier desktop results and any game is easier to find. Another folder called Office could hold your word processors, spreadsheets and the like. A Graphics folder could hold all your digital camera programs, drawing programs and anything similar. Perhaps one is needed for Music containing all relevant programs. To complete the desktop I have one for Housekeeping. This contains the largest number of programs such as disk defragmenters, partitioning software, virus checkers and adware checkers.

 

 

But what about those programs that you want to be able to launch with one click instead of two? The number of these if you are honest is remarkably small, and a modern keyboard will have keys that directly launch the common ones such as email, media player, calculator and an Internet browser. For others that you need instant access to there is no need for them to clutter up the desktop. Just drag the icon down to the left hand side of the bar at the bottom. Hopefully you now have an uncluttered desktop. This is especially helpful if you use Firefox as your browser since by default it saves downloads to the desktop. You will now be able to see them.

The final part of the spring clean is to do some housekeeping on your hard disk. Although everything can be done manually it is well worth finding suitable programs to do the tidying up for you. This is not only quicker but also much safer.

First of all make sure that your virus definition file is up to date and run your virus checker. Also go to http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/ and ensure that you have installed all the Windows updates available.

But there could also be programs on your computer that you know nothing about. These go by the names of spyware and adware. Although they are different we can treat them together as a general term for software that performs certain behaviours such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. A well-known free program for finding and removing these is Spybot, http://www.spybot.info/, but you get what you pay for. You could use Spyware Doctor, http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor/ to analyse your machine for free, but it will not remove all that needs removing without being registered. Do not be surprised if it finds perhaps hundreds that Spybot missed.

If you browse the web you soon gather up lots of unnecessary files. These are temporarily stored on your machine so that if you revisit a site you already have the files, such a pictures, which are needed. You can remove these files using the browser or use a free program such as CCleaner that can be downloaded from http://www.ccleaner.com/

Finally we come to the Registry. This is where the settings for everything on your machine are stored. Anything you change here is changed instantly; there is no Undo available. I would suggest that you don’t go into it, I won’t even tell you how to. Instead let software do the tidying up for you. CCleaner will do some tidying up, but Registry Mechanic, http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/, will tell you which problems remain. Again do not worry if it finds hundreds of things that can be removed.

The above are just some of the available programs that can help you spring clean. I have more than one of each, as none of them find everything.

If all has gone well you now have a clean, lean, fast machine. Of course this is not something that only needs to be done once a year, but hopefully the change in performance will encourage you to regularly maintain your computer.

Now you can start on the house and garden!

 

Alan

Puzzle

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Notes for the next issue of the Magazine are due on:
Wednesday 10th May 2006.
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