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Computing

The Computer Group as such is currently dormant but see Reg's Group, Digital Images.

Having said that, there will be some drop-in sessions in March 2007 to expand on the recent course of Autumn 2006.
See the Newsletter for details.

• Courses Courses are held from time to time, as and when there is sufficient demand. One has just taken place, in the Autumn, 2006.

  News of the more recent Courses:

• Computer Forum
• This ran for ten weeks from Friday 1^st October to Friday 3^rd December 2004 in the Computer Suite at the Ambleside Library.
  Members' problems and difficulties with their PCs and software were addressed and it is believed that all those attending learned and exchanged some useful hints.
  What next?
• Beginners Courses
• The seventh 10-week Beginners Computer Course at the end of 2006 proved to be a good interactive opportunity, with many helpers on hand. It was the first one since 2003 and we have now introduced some 83 members to personal computing. There may be another course when there are sufficient new members who wish to participate in this basic introduction to computing.
• Other Courses
• Bit more advanced.....a ten week course on Microsoft Access, Excel and Publisher took place in early 2004. Our thanks to John O'Hara for such a well-run, well-explained course.
• Outside Courses
• A few members attended a Microsoft 'PowerPoint' course at the Ambleside Library at the end of 2003. This enabled us to produce 'professional' slides/illustrations for use at the Beginners Course. Whow!
  Contacts and further information are in the Newsletter.

Digital Images

• The Digital Images Group meets once a fortnight at 7.30pm in the Lecture Room at Ambleside Library.

  In addition to discussing digital photography and manipulation of images we try to offer help and advice on any computing problem.

  If you need any assistance, please call in on a Tuesday evening. See the Diary Pages and/or the Newsletter for dates.

• There are also some very good outside courses on Digital Imaging, some of which are in Ambleside. Why not try them and come back to teach us!

Cruising

• If you have access to a sailing boat and would like to sail in company on Windermere, this is an informal group which meets at short notice, subject to weather conditions.
  See the Newsletter for the latest details as this group develops.

Science

• Meetings of the newly formed Science Group will start in September. They will be held in the meeting room at Ambleside Library, on the first Monday of each month starting at 7.30pm.
  It is planned, initially, to have a talk of about 30 minutes on a variety of subjects presented by members of the U3A with the appropriate knowledge. This will be followed by a discussion stimulated by the introduction.
  Several subjects are under consideration and the programme will be announced in the July Newsletter.
  So please mark these Monday evenings in your diaries so you can come along and join in.

Gardening

• Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Monday at 2.30pm unless Diary Pages indicate otherwise. Generally, meetings will be indoors between October and March and outside visits between April and September (Venues and Days will vary, see Diary Pages).

• Meetings are open to all Members of our U3A.

Travel

This group organises occasional excursions and short holidays from time to time.
Details of these will appear in the appropriate Newsletter.

Travel Group News

Recent Travel Group outings are as follows:
• Outing to the Solway Coast
• Following our very successful tour to the Eden Valley last summer, Malcolm Saunders (Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and U3A member) organised another interesting day out, on April 7th. 2005.
  This time we explored another less visited area of the county, the Solway Coast, with its fascinating and very different scenery. The day offered an interesting mix of architecture, arts and crafts, history, seascapes and landscapes with plenty of stops, plus some surprises!
• We stopped at the Roman Museum and the Aquarium in Maryport and also found time to visit the Maritime Museum before travelling to Holm Cultram Abbey in Abbeytown where we were treated to a very interesting talk on the Abbey followed by a superb afternoon tea prepared by the WI.
  Our thanks to Malcolm for organising such a varied trip for us.
• The Settle to Carlisle Railway
• Under the auspices of the Travel Group a coach party of 47 U3A members were taken on a most illuminating tour of the line by professional guide David Alison on 21st September 2004. There were many pauses en route for informative revelations about the construction of the railway.
  The coach followed the line from Settle to the Ribblehead Viaduct and on to the Navvies Church at Chapel-le-Dale.
  Lunch was at Hawes and the journey continued via Garsdale Head, Aisgill Summit, Pendragon Castle and Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where the group caught a train which took them over the most spectacular part of the line, back to Settle.
  This was a wonderful day out and a chance for us to appreciate the work that had gone into the day. We are fortunate to have Group Co-ordinators willing to give up their time and use their talents on our behalf.
• Know your Cumbria
• On 1st July 2004 a full coach of Travel Group Members had an enjoyable day out on a Heritage Tour around Cumbria.
  The Group were taken over the Kirkstone Pass, over Pooley Bridge and then visited Barton Church, with its Wordsworth connections, before stopping for a coffee break at Brougham Hall. Lunch was taken at Wetheriggs Pottery and tea at Kennedy's Chocolate Tea Shop at Orton after viewing one of Andy Goldsworthy's stone creations at Maulds Meaburn. Then home for supper via the Lune Gorge. Our thanks to Malcolm Saunders for arranging the tour and escorting us with a comprehensive commentary.