Newsletter, Autumn 2005

Autumn 2005 Newsletter                                        Editors: Janet Brown & Martin Shirley

CHAIRMAN’S  CHUNTERINGS

In the end it turned out to be a really good summer; I writhed in agony over the Test matches, swam in the sea at Charmouth, picked fruit galore and made friends with a young wild rabbit, well, not exactly friends, but he was lost and seemed happy in the garden and for us to approach very close before hopping away a few yards.  Having decided we could accommodate his limited diet of grass, fallen apples and the flowers of dwarf antirrhinum plants, our friendship blossomed. During the last 3 months he has ignored the rich pickings in the vegetable garden - a sensible move on his part - and, provided he abstains from tunnelling or rabbit-courting, gets a permit to stay around for the winter. More news promised later.

Meanwhile, it is time to turn attention to the beginning of our new term. We know that most people make resolutions for the start of each New Year but, did you know that 3rd Agers make resolutions at the start of the September term?  So how about trying some of these? Come to some of our new-look monthly meetings; Visit another group;   Start a new group yourself ; Think up a short term activity ; Try a U3A holiday.  The years are ticking by – don’t miss out on the wealth of exciting opportunities offered by the U3A – try something different!   

Brian Harper

A Travel Writer reflects:             

"What all older people know, what had taken me almost sixty years to learn, is that an aged face is misleading. I did not want to be the classic bore, the reminiscing geezer, yet I now knew: the old are not as frail as you think, they are insulted to be regarded as feeble. They are full of ideas, hidden powers, even sexual energy. Don't be fooled by the thin hair and battered features and the scepticism. The older traveller knows it best: in our hearts we are youthful and we are insulted to be treated as old men and burdens, for we have come to know that the years have made us more powerful and certainly streetwise. Years are not an affliction - old age is strength. "

from 'Dark Star Safari'  by Paul Theroux

RARE MOMENTS WITH THE U3A BIRD WATCHING GROUP

Our birdwatching group has been out and about quite a lot since Christmas, perhaps you’d like to share some of our best moments.  Like the time when, coming back from Slapton Leys, south Devon, along the A38 just past Trago Mills, our RSPB guide was able to take us to where he knew there were some Waxwings.  A winter visitor from the far north of Europe and Russia they sometimes invade Britain in large numbers, while other years there are almost none.  Waxwings are completely addicted to red berries so when their own supply is limited they come over to Britain and are to be found, especially around car parks, supermarkets, or petrol stations.  Can you imagine in some desolate, wintry town in Scandinavia where all the bushes are bare, a flock of Waxwings get together and say, “Come on let’s nip over to England and get some berries from that Tescos car park”.  What a beautiful sight they were too, about the same size as a Starling their pinkish-brown plumage, crest and waxy red and yellow tipped wings are unique. 

We had a particularly good day at Budleigh Salterton recently where we actually saw the elusive water rail.  It looked a bit like a juvenile Moorhen, but smaller with a long thin red beak and a turned up white tail.  He was running alongside the bank of the River Otter for quite a long time, we couldn’t believe how lucky we were as it is normally a very secretive bird.  Even Bill Oddie has yet to see one (or so he says in my book).

We decided to go to Portland Bill at the beginning of April as this is where you may get to see the first of the summer visitors stopping off for a feed and a rest.  We were rewarded as there, picking around the rocks, was a Grasshopper Warbler, only one but nevertheless a lovely sight and amazingly looking very much like a grasshopper.  It’s nice to think that we probably saw the first of the Wheatears, Linnets, Swallows and Willow Warblers arriving.  We also spotted at least five Guillemots nesting in a crevice on the cliff near the lighthouse.  Just for a moment I felt like I was looking at one of those nature programmes, especially when one of them decided to dive into the sea, presumably for food.

We have been especially lucky so far this year but most times we enjoy just observing the birds and getting familiar with their behaviour and habitat.  We also take an interest in other wildlife, flowers, butterflies, and insects.  There was an article in my Sunday paper saying that the RSPB have carried out a survey which seems to indicate that more and more aged 50+ women are taking up country pursuits, especially birdwatching.  It says that in four years, the number of people watching wildlife has increased by 26% meaning three million enjoy looking at birds, almost half of them women.   The RSPB’s Graham Madge said: “The countryside may be diminishing but it is still a wonderful place to find peace and quiet, to relax and forget the pressures of modern life; it also provides a great sense of well-being.” 

Pauline Weston

WRITING FOR FUN

This is the new name for the Writing for Pleasure group, and its new leader, Marry Williamson, would welcome new members. For more information call 01460 66637.

POLITE  EDITORS’  REQUEST

Did any members receive useful money-saving and/or planet-saving advice – or even a grant – following our meeting on domestic energy in July? If so, please could you help us with an article for our next newsletter in February? Any other contributions or suggestions will be welcome by mid-January; please contact Martin on 01460 62608 or Janet on 01460 66462.

LA BELLA ITALIA

In September 14 members and friends of the U3A Italian group spent a week staying in two houses in the little village of Vezzanello, in Northern Tuscany. We enjoyed excellent weather most of the time, superb views of the Appuan Alps (we were not far from Carrara, where the marble is quarried) and wonderful food and drink, both in local restaurants and as prepared ‘at home’ by our roster of talented cooks and willing bottle-washers.

Among the highlights of the trip were :

-         the drive from Pisa to the village, which prompted some uncomplimentary comments about Italian map-makers

-         everyone managing to catch the train at 7.53am for a day out in the handsome city of Lucca

-         proving that it is possible to playing Scrabble in Italian while imbibing Sambuca

-         an impromptu lift from a charming teacher of English, who turned out to be the grand-daughter of the previous owners of one of the houses we were staying in.

We all came away feeling that we had deepened our affection for Italy, its language and its people, while strengthening our friendship as a group. Without being involved in U3A, we would not have had this memorable experience to look back on.

                                                                                                                      Martin Shirley

“POET TREE WITH MIST ACHES”

This ditty on spellchecking is for the consolation of those of us who use a computer, and the relief of those who do not !

I have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea,
It plainly marks for my revue
Miss steaks eye cannot sea.

When eye strike a quay,
Right a word, I weight four it to say
Weather eye am wrong oar wright;
It shows me strait away.

As soon as a mist ache is maid,
It nose before too late,
And eye can put the error rite,
Its rarely, rarely grate.

I’ve run this poem threw it,
I’m shore your pleased to no,
Its letter perfect in its weigh;
My chequer tolled me so.

(Sauce unknown)

YOUR COMMITTEE FOR 2005-2006

DISCUSSION AND NEWS AND VIEWS GROUPS

Do you enjoy exchanging points of view? If you do, one or both of these groups could be of interest.

NEWS AND VIEWS discusses topical news reports. Each member in turn introduces a news item of their own choice for discussion by the group. The topics may be about eccentric, puzzling, amusing, thought-provoking or irritating aspects of human nature but result in lively, good-humoured discussions.

The DISCUSSION GROUP usually deals with one topic per meeting. Topics (selected by the group) are introduced by one member and then opened to a general discussion. Forthcoming topics include: Is “not in my backyard” selfish and anti-social?, and Is “political correctness” incorrect?

Dates and times: News and Views:- monthly, 3^rd Wednesday, 10.15.

Discussion:- monthly. 1^st Monday, 2.15. Average attendance is 8 members.

You are welcome to come and sample the groups.

For details ring Don Macdonald on 64687.

"NEW ORLEANS AND CLASSICS” – JAZZ  ASCONA

From the U3A Jazz Appreciation Network : “Join our escorted jazz trip from 24^th June – 2^nd  July 2006 and experience a musical holiday in a Mediterranean-style climate and Alpine setting. Ascona and Locarno nestle side by side on the shores of Lake Maggiore just inside the Swiss border. The festival attracts musicians and fans from all over the world.”

For further details – and/or if you would like to see a jazz appreciation group set up in our U3A – please contact Martin Shirley on 01460 62608.

DATES FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS 2005-6   (at 2pm, Guildhall, Chard)

17^th     October          Dolls Houses and Miniatures - Mrs A Spiller
14^th     November      Barrington Court - Mrs C Brain
19^th       December      Christmas Lunch at 12 noon
16^th     January           The Cutting Edge – Roy Cooney
20^th     February         A Romanian Story – Brian Turner
20^th     March             A.G.M.
10^th     April               Organic Food – Sue Alexander
15^th     May                A Choice of Words – Anna Sutherland

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