Yes, but what do we actually do at Meetings?
For the benefit of members who cannot attend
every group, we have had an intrepid fly which did the rounds of most of them.
After the demise of the Fly, we have to rely on various reports to give you a cross-section of our activities.
Please keep sending in all these reports! The first few are below, in reverse order, and they are followed by the Fly's reports.
11/07
Theatre and Concert Group
South Pacific - Grand Theatre, Blackpool
The prospect of seeing this well known musical, followed by fish and chips AND the illuminations was more than enough for me to put my name down on the list way back in the Spring.
I like to arrive at the theatre in time to buy my programme, read it and watch people arriving and hear the orchestra tuning up. It’s theatre time and the show is about to start!
On this occasion, our driver decided to leave the motorway at Lancaster and take the scenic route. Unfortunately he did not know the scenic route too well and after driving twice round Poulton-le-Fylde, he stopped to ask a policeman to tell us the way to Blackpool.
The next challenge was to find the theatre! Eventually we were
deposited a couple of hundred yards from the Grand. My watch said that it was after 2.30. The gods must have been on our side because the
curtain had not gone up - great relief all round.
The show was really enjoyable with lovely singing from Helena Blackman as Nellie Forbush, the heroine and Ian McLarnon as the young lieutenant. Helena was the runner up to Connie Fisher in the ‘How do you solve a problem like Maria’ programme last year. Highlight of the show was Bloody Mary played by Filipino actress, Sheila Francisco.
There are so many well known songs, you cannot help but come out of the theatre singing.
In Harry Ramsden’s some of the group were tempted by the special offer ‘Senior Choice’ which was Fish and chips, tea bread and butter followed by Bread and Butter pudding and custard. Doesn’t sound very healthy, does it? But be assured that the pudding was so good that Reg Curphey gave it a score of 12 out of 10.
And then the illuminations --- we were able to admire Lawrence
Llewellyn-Bowen’s showgirls as well as all the traditional tableaux.
And then back to the Lakes........... It was an excellent day out.
Oh, by the way, our driver did not get lost on the way back
11/07
Strictly Folk Dancing
Reg and I recently attended a U3A Folk Dancing Holiday, run by the
National Organiser Roy Philips, at Halsway Manor in Somerset I thought some might be interested in the enjoyable time we had.
The activities
provided included dance workshops, band practices for aspiring
musicians, short and longer guided walks, sight seeing and cream teas, various table games and croquet.
A dance was held each evening with live and recorded music and callers from various backgrounds.
The food was excellent and the location, in the shadow of the Quantock Hills, most tranquil.
We would recommend this holiday to dance enthusiasts of all kinds.
Details are available for Spring and Autumn next year.
Joan Curphey
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
In all, the Fly found it's way to the following, in reverse order of timing:
Farewell to the Fly on the Wall
[08/07]
This session I have concentrated on several days offered by individual members as ‘specials’ and which don’t fit into any of our usual groups.
I buzzed along to the Geology day led by John and Philippa Tindal and had a wonderful time searching for fossils along the Walna Scar road and its surroundings. It was all very informative and no previous knowledge was necessary.
Then, having heard rumours of the wonderful tea, I flew in to the Croquet Day organised by Kathleen Johnson. I was not disappointed. The group was split into two, depending on whether you were an absolute beginner or not, and we had a couple of hours enjoying the very well maintained lawns at Crake Valley Croquet club. Some members of the club had come along to help with our instruction and to give us a real taste of the game and the tea was once again memorable.
I was also going to settle down at Mini Glyndebourne but sadly the weather has caused that evening to be postponed and it will take place too late for this newsletter.
I now feel that the time has come for your fly to retire from active flight into meetings and would like to thank all those groups who have made me welcome over the last few years.
I haven’t been able to get round to you all for one reason or the other but ALL the groups that I tried were well worth attending and deserve your support.
Do give some thought and thanks to all your coordinators and to those who offer a one-off event. Without its members the Ambleside and District U3A wouldn’t be what it is, and I think it’s very good indeed.
Farewell, Fly.
Natural History [03/07]
I have just got back from a two day trip, with the Natural History Group, to Scotland.
Ten of us met up at the RSPB site at Merse Head on the Solway coast on the Monday, where we had some wonderful views of many shore and woodland birds.
This was followed by a night at our various B & B establishments and a visit the following day to the Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetland Trust site.
Thirteen enthusiastic group members met for the feeding of the Whooper Swans and also a sight of a rare visiting American Smew.
We saw thousands of Barnacle Geese which are a feature of the reserve plus a good variety of other birds from the many hides around the site.
The weather was kind and we all thought that it was well worth the drive north.
Keep an eye on the Natural History Groups forthcoming programme as they are re-visiting some old favourites as well as including some new ventures. The organiser of the outing, as shown in the Newsletter, should be able to give you guidance if you are not sure that you are up to the walking that is sometimes involved.
Film, Television & Radio. [01/07]
Little Fly, little Fly where have you been?
I went to a meeting to talk of The Queen!
The film ‘The Queen’ was the subject of the Film, TV and Radio Group’s discussion last November, and a very lively afternoon it was too.
Barbara Cunliffe hosted the proceedings very capably and ensured that everyone had a turn to give their impression of the film before opening the subject for general discussion. In fact, this particular topic led us into the Monarchy and Politics along with family values, traditions and much more. All this, without any arguments, made for a very interesting meeting and I am sure that newcomers would be made as welcome as I was.
The tea…….do I go anywhere without one…….was excellent and it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Social Walking. [11/06]
This session I decided to have a bit of exercise with the B Social Walking Group and really stretched my wings on the walk up Wetherlam.
Amazingly over 30 people turned up for the combined B and C Walks with 17 people setting off behind Bryan Knutton for the summit of Wetherlam.
Fortunately the weather was clear and we did stop for coffee on the way up to admire the views and to catch our breath before the last haul up to the summit where we stopped again for lunch.
Despite being marginally more challenging than their usual walks everyone agreed that the extra height was well worth the effort and that they would all be very happy to do something like it again.
Our descent was much gentler and we reached the bottom to find that the C walkers, led by Trish Knutton had completed their walk already and gone off to the nearest tea shop.
Mah-Jong. [11/06]
‘Beginners welcome’ it said in the Newsletter, so I took the plunge and flitted into the Mahjong group knowing next to nothing about the game.
From the outset it was clear that the Co-ordinator was having no nonsense as she divided us up into one table of ‘players’ and another with two experienced twitterers (yes, I learnt that!) and two beginners.
The complicated rules and objectives of the game became clearer by playing and we certainly had fun! Just as my fly brain felt it could cope with no more we stopped for a welcome refreshment break – is there ANY group that doesn’t have these?
After the break we drew for tables making sure there was a novice on each table and had some jolly good games. I could certainly get hooked on this.
So, if you have never played before and would like to give it a try, do go along and exercise your brains and spend a very pleasant evening, you will indeed be made welcome.
Various. [07/06]
This session has been a particularly busy and enjoyable one for your fly. I attended a regular group meeting of the Natural History Group to Sandscale Haws, which was well supported and where we searched for and found the rare Coralroot Orchid, Round Leaved Wintergreen and dozens of other locally specific Wild Flowers; we also found numerous Butterflies and Moths, Birds and Toadlets and all in perfect weather.
I had also dropped in on the Coach Holiday to Paignton; this was very well organised by Sally Horler and the group enjoyed a varied and interesting programme of day trips including the Eden Project and The Dart Valley Railway.
Next month it was off to play croquet for the afternoon at Greenodd. I had heard that there was to be a ‘Tea’ and Kathleen Johnson had done us proud. The croquet was great fun and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, Kathleen had co-opted some members of the Club to oversee us novices, many of whom would willingly put ourselves ‘through the hoop’ again.
Those who organise these ‘one-offs’ really do deserve our thanks and support as much as our regular co-ordinators as they all put in a lot of work for our benefit.
Various. [04/06]
I have had a wonderful time this session visiting two more groups.
Firstly I flew along to the newly-formed Natural History Group's outing to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve where 28 of us split into three groups and went round the hides in rotation. Each group managed a sighting of the Bitterns which along with Water Rails, Peregrine and Whooper Swans were among the highlights of the afternoon.
The new coordinator took over in March and all the signs are good so do let Peggy have your ideas for future meetings. Next I homed in on the Scrabble group which is now meeting at a home in Ambleside. I was given an extremely warm welcome and a delicious selection of tea time refreshments ( I am a fly).
The group could do with a few more members, so if you fancy a sociable game of Scrabble then please do give them a go. Games can be serious or informal, either way it is definitely worth a try. Thanks to the hosts for giving this group a comfortable home.
Various. [12/05]
This has been a very busy pre-Christmas period for your Fly. As well as walking with the Walking Group, reading with the Reading Group and attending a very packed meeting of the Music Group, I attended the Theatre and Concert Group's productions of ‘George’, the ‘Mellow Drama’ and the singing. A full report appears elsewhere, so I will just say that the food was delicious!! Well done ladies.
All these groups appear to be flourishing. Being a Fly I do like food so I also flitted along to the Cruising Group's Laying-Up Supper. This group hopes to do a bit more next year so, if you have access to a boat, do think about joining in.
A new Group is about to be formed and that is the Natural History Group. The inaugural meeting took it to South Walney Nature Reserve where, after a brief talk from the Warden we divided into two parties and went birdwatching from the various hides and along the shores.
Many species of birds were sighted and also seals; several people seemed keen for this group to grow, so if you want this to happen please support it.
I certainly hope to be present at their next meeting at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve at the end of January 2006.
Coffee Mornings. [09/05] - 1
Your fly had a really busy day today! Having buzzed around the coffee and cakes at South Lakes U3A’s coffee morning in Kendal and been made very welcome I was interested to see how their groups related to our own.
They seem to have most of the groups we have and a few more besides although no Mah-Jong, Digital Imaging or Cruising.
Perhaps Co-ordinators could consider a little interaction between the two groups sometimes – Bridge or Scrabble matches perhaps?
Reading. [09/05] - 2
After lunch I flew along to the Reading Group as I had actually read the Book under discussion ['English Passengers', by Matthew Kneale] and enjoyed it.
Jenny Dawson gave an admirable presentation which was followed by a very thoughtful and orderly discussion with everyone getting a chance to put their points and listening to what others had to say.
Although the group was not always in agreement about certain points this just stimulated more talk and opened up another topic for debate.
By the time refreshments arrived I felt that we could easily have gone on longer without exhausting the subject. If all the sessions are as stimulating as this I could well flit my way through another book.
Women still outnumber men in this group so come on all you chaps and add to the male viewpoint at these enjoyable afternoons.
Music. [07/05]
Your fly has been long overdue for a visit to the very successful Music Group, so was very pleased to find a programme on the Clarinet offered in May.
Peter Jackson gave a very informative presentation and managed to include a couple of my personal favourites. In fact it would have been hard not to
find something to like as the afternoon offered pieces from Mozart to Gershwin and the style ranged from Classical to Jazz. I noticed a lot of feet
tapping in time to the music and hope to flit along again to this friendly group.
The session was rounded off with tea and biscuits - a very good
afternoon's entertainment and all for 50 pence!
Travel. [07/05]
The Travel group is desperately in need of a co-ordinator to succeed Audrey Whittle and Ann Court.
This group should not be allowed to fold as your very busy fly has buzzed along to several of their meetings and found the programmes
varied and informative.
In fact I tagged along on the trip to Wales which was a whale of a success. With all members doing their own thing during the day we came together in the evening for a very jolly meal followed by various entertainments, some of which even involved the new U3A laptop and projector.
Do try to save this group if you can.
Various. [04/05]
As there had not been room for my report in the last Newsletter, I have been really busy and flown
into a lot of groups for a second look.
Gardening and Travel presented some really interesting programmes, Bridge got
my little grey cells going and
Social Walking exercised my legs and lungs.
We had a really good General Meeting on the Eden Valley and
if you haven’t been to one of these monthly meetings before then it is about time you came along and met
the rest of us.
I also attended all three of Prudence Bliss’s Art Lectures and found them to be not only of a
very high professional standard, but amusing and inspiring. As well as admiring some wonderful works by
Mantegna, Bellini and Giorgione, we learned an awful lot about the background to these artists and something
of the times in which they lived. It is to be hoped that Prudence can be persuaded to present another series
of talks as they are a great treat.
Thanks very much Prudence and thanks to all the support teams who back
up our co-ordinators and prepare the rooms and provide refreshments, please support them all.
Bridge. [09/04]
The Bridge Group attracted your fly this time…….and not just the cake, which I had heard was a feature.
The Bridge was of a good standard and very well organised by Shelley and David Donnison to provide an
ongoing measure of competition.
I was made very
welcome in this friendly group and understand that the format alternates from week to week between playing
with your own partner
and drawing for partners, so it is wise to ring the organisers before going along so that David can try to
arrange a partner for you.
Bridge is Chicago style, which encourages players to bid to the full value of their hand and help is
available if you haven’t played
this way before.
There were four full tables on the afternoon that I attended and the cards were played in a very friendly
fashion.
If you have been thinking about this group do give them a try. I certainly hope to fly in again sometime
as I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon.
Social Walking. [06/04]
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning so your fly decided to go for a walk with the Social Walking Group.
This was a very good decision as we set off up Sour Milk Ghyll for Easedale Tarn in warm sunny weather, the
more intrepid B walkers having set off for Helm Crag.
Who says our U3A is not educational enough? Shirley, who led the walk, asked us to look out for the
carnivorous plants
– Butterwort and Sundew, also for any Wild Orchids.
It was while we were botanising that we were greeted and passed – at great speed –
by a very large party from Carlisle and District U3A. Needless to say we never saw them again !!
We found all the plants we were looking for, despite our social chat, before turning our attention to
a raven’s nest high on a crag overlooking Easedale Tarn. We added to our ornithological observations;
Skylarks, Pipits and Wheatears and a delightful row of baby swallows being fed, on a branch, by a parent.
We then had cause to regret that a member of the Classics Club (*) had gone off with the B Group as
Shirley led us past a Latin inscription telling of Dorothy and William Wordsworth’s liking for this
spot and of his speaking his poetry aloud.
We ended up at Shirley’s house with the locally famous barn and staircase for a bit of real life local
history
before she entertained us to tea and yummy cake in her very welcome cool lounge where we were joined by the
B’s who had had an equally interesting
excursion.
Well done, Shirley, for a lovely day and a very good advertisement for this social and educational group.
(*) dominus texturae: "nimis benignus es!"
Gardening. [03/04]
The smell of flowers and the buzz of conversation tempted your fly into the Kelsick Centre this month for a
demonstration of Flower Arranging.
The re-vamped Gardening Group was my target and I reaped my reward.
Joan Bentley produced five magnificent arrangements from several large boxes of flower materials, both home
grown (in the case of foliage)
and shop bought. These were then raffled and several lucky ladies had the enviable task of trying to get home
with staggering 2ft. arrangements.
Not that it was exclusively ladies……there were several gentlemen there too, picking up tips on table
decorations as well as how to condition and
care for flowers.
When the forthcoming programme was announced there seemed to be something for everyone, so if you have
been undecided,
ponder no longer but get along to the Gardening Group and get dug in!
Theatre & Concert Planning Group. [03/04]
Although your fly has been to several enjoyable outings with the Theatre & Concert Group, I had not until recently attended one of their regular planning meetings.
It was most interesting to see that the choices of venues for all aspects of this group are left to a
relatively small proportion of its members. Should anyone have any quarrel with the programmes offered I can
only say that the remedy is in their hands and I am sure that this small but dedicated band of programme setters would welcome more input.
The lengths to which the organisers go to find different and attractive performances for us all to enjoy
are amazing and this
group owes a real debt of gratitude to them.
Concerts, plays, ballets etc. are put to the group for consideration, with attention
being given, wherever possible to avoid conflicting dates with other U3A activities.
If you want your views to be heard or would
just like to say thank you to those beavering away on our behalf then I can certainly recommend the Monthly
Planning Meetings of this Group to you.
Local History. [10/03]
This time your intrepid fly flew into a very crowded room indeed. I joined the very popular
Local History Group to hear group member John Keen give a talk on one of our most colourful
local residents ‘Josefina de Vasconcellas’. It certainly made your fly want to find out more about
this very interesting lady who has just turned 99! I understand that this group is well attended
and by the sound of the forthcoming programme (on notable offcomers ) enjoyably interactive.
If you haven’t given ‘Local History’ a try it would be well worth a visit. I was made very
welcome and will drop in again.
Reading. [10/03]
This time our fearless spy (sic) infiltrated the Reading Group which (appropriately) was discussing
"Spies" by Michael Frayn.
The Group members had all enjoyed the book enormously and gradually, in the ensuing discussion, many
strands emerged.
Many members empathised with the wartime suburban setting, the childhood attitudes and the different
families.
The psychology and interaction of the characters was debated and admiration was expressed for the masterly
way in which the story was developed with many twists and turns.
All eleven present contributed to the relaxed discussion and certainly your correspondent's
enjoyment of this wonderful book was much enhanced.
Film, Television and Radio.
In autumn 2002, our intrepid spy infiltrated this group, perhaps a little unfairly as it was in its infancy!
However the programme was very well
thought out and after a short piece of video film the Co-ordinator encouraged us to share our thoughts about
it or to sit and listen if we were feeling shy.
(Not a lot of that - this was the U3A!). We were made to feel very welcome and the afternoon ended with tea
and biscuits and more discussion.
I hope people will come forward to lead the topics or just to join in; latest reports say the group is
doing well. I look forward to maybe
sneaking into this group again.
High Fells. [09/02]
‘Superstars’:
'Turn Mountains into Molehills’ could well be the motto of a small elite band of super-heroes who are part of our U3A Group.
The very stuff of legend, the exploits of the High Fells Walking Group are whispered about by other walkers.
Who has not heard tales of whole mountain ranges conquered in a couple of hours, amazing mileages covered in a flash
and all without ever stopping for a drink or food. In the interests of discovering the truth, our intrepid reporter infiltrated the
High Fells Walking Group and accompanied them on a recent expedition to bring you the facts behind the rumours.
Wisely he chose a not too challenging peak in excellent conditions. On the day in question, departure from the appointed
starting place was delayed because the highly acclaimed and experienced leader had difficulty in finding his way to the car park
at Tilberthwaite. However, with this hurdle overcome the small and select group set off at a good pace towards its goal
(Wetherlam Summit). After only 45 minutes a coffee halt was made, which put paid to one rumour, and the party then
moved on again.
Arriving at the summit after only brief excursions from the path on Wetherlam Edge to enjoy a little mild scrambling,
the group sat down for lunch. As sandwiches were unwrapped, it was discovered that the time was only 11 o'clock
so the break was declared merely a second coffee stop. A lunch stop was finally made on the descent to the valley
path, after which a rapid stroll, with a stop to examine some old mine workings, brought the party back to their cars.
As it was only shortly after 1 pm the group moved on to a nearby hostelry for refreshments and discussions about
future ambitious adventures. At this point our reporter made his excuses and left.
The facts gleaned from this outing were that the High Fells Walking Group are very fit, very keen, excellent company
and on the lookout for fit keen walkers to join them. If you would like to explore the high fells in experienced company this is
the way to do it. Although they move at a smart pace, they do stop occasionally. Venues for walks are set at short notice,
according to conditions and do not necessarily agree with those shown in the Newsletter. Please phone the group leader for details.
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