Thread: Stables and coffee in Lisburn

Thanks to all for reply to allowances topic. Here's another one.

Mrs 11D doesn't own a horse, but enjoys horse riding and has made good use of stables at current place. Just wondering if there are any service stables/riding clubs on Thiepval or surrounding garrison????

Also where is the best place for Mrs 11D to take herself for coffee whem I am at work for a cuppa and a chinwag and meet other wives in the garrison??

Thanks

11D

I know there's a stables on camp there. Lots of dependents use it (or so I was told when I last visited) and it sounded as though it was a busy one.

Not sure about the coffee though. It seemed like quite a friendly patch so I'm sure there'll be a wives club doing the rounds! Get her to pop into the HIVE which is just by the NAAFI or drop them an email. They'll tell you everything that's going off.

cheers bodger. I'll let her know. Was thinking HIVE, but wondered if there was anything else.

Obviously dont want to advertise my address on here, but needless to say we will only be a short trip away from camp. I am guessing that what with all the Unit moves lately, the garrison has a healthy 'Wives Club'?

I returned from Lisburn in June this year, there is a cafe next door to the Spar on't camp.
Stables are at the bottom of camp behind the med centre. All the civvy stablehands were made redundant in October 2007 and the place was run by one young lad who was advertising the place to death to mantain an interest otherwise the riding stables were going to close.

Never heard or saw a "wives club" as such all the time I was at Lisburn but as you say lots of new units are arriving so hopefully a social life will too!

Great stuff. Thanks. I shall info Mrs 11D accordingly!

Only a few weeks to go now. Both looking forward to getting over there.

I'm working in Welfare at the mo ( in England, not NI) looking after the families of guys deployed in Afghanistan. When we started, we were told not to expect too much. Put on the trips and dos but don't get down hearted if no-one turns up.

Well, any of you who know me will know that I wasn't going to let that get me down. We've persevered, trying to get everyone involved,giving out newsletters, putting on the trips that people had asked for and making things as interesting as possible. I am glad to say that now our wee group is thriving because people know we look after them and that they get out as much as they put in .

Now, the guys will be returning in a couple of months and we're being warned again that people will start dropping out now their OHs are back. But what we've been hearing from the girls is that they want to carry on. They've enjoyed themselves that much, they don't want it to end. Because of the welfare grant our trips are subsidised and I have warned them about this but they say they are willing to pay to go. If you go as a group you can use a group rate.

What I'm telling you all this for is that if there isn't a wives club, try and create one! Contact your unit's welfare office and see if they have anything of the sort. If they don't try and get their help to get one! It doesn't have to be the entire garrison, you can do it within your own unit. Start with a couple of you and try and spread the word. Ours has worked well because we have clubbed together with a couple of other units. We are some of the smallest ones here and we've utilised all of our resources available. It has also had the added benefit of wives from different units getting to know one another instead of just sticking to their own. All their kids have got to know each other too and have great fun playing together.

We started with our coffee morning. It started with only a couple of people but word has quickly spread and not the biggest numbers but we get a nice wee crowd now turning up every week at the community centre. Then you can stick your heads together to see what you would like to do. Try and get some toys to keep the kids occupied while you have a good natter.

Get to know the AWS and the HIVE staff and they should be able to give you a few pointers. There's lots to see and do in NI and as they say, lifes what you make it.

Have a go and if you want any pointers, send me a PM and I will see what I can suggest.

All the best