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Please note that the appearance of the newsletter differs a little from the printed version

CHAIRMAN’S CHIT- CHAT

Computer databases have had a bad press lately, what with those government CDs going missing, and widespread objections to a national ID scheme. The plus side, though, is that they are a great source of information, providing instant answers to complicated questions. Recently the library service took only a few seconds to give me statistics showing that women constitute just under 55% of the population of South Somerset above the age of 60. Why did I want to know this? All will shortly become clear.

At our committee meeting last November, our membership secretary Sandra informed us that we had at last passed the milestone of 200 members. This was good to hear, but I couldn’t help wondering why it took us so long! I also wondered why our women members outnumber the men. Sandra deduced from our records that over 75% of our members are women – a far higher percentage than the general South Somerset figure for senior citizens mentioned above, thus proving that the U3A appeals much more to women than to men.

At the group level the discrepancy is even more marked. Group leaders aside, at the Spanish group I am the only male among six members; at the History group I am one of three men in a total of fifteen or so; at Art Appreciation there are only two of us among a similar number; and at Religion & Philosophy the group leader and I are the only males regularly attending among more than 20 members! Now it’s very nice to be surrounded by such delightful ladies, but I wonder why more men don’t avail themselves of the same pleasure. After all, Spanish, Religion, Art and History can hardly be considered specifically ‘feminine’ interests! Surely those missing men can’t all be putting up shelves or slouching at home watching ghastly day-time TV, can they? And if gardening is their thing, why are they outnumbered by women in the Gardening Group? Whatever the reason, it would be nice to find a way to persuade more of those reluctant men to join the U3A and its groups.

YOUR COMMITTEE FOR 2007- 2008

MUSICAL SOIREES

Are there any members who have, or who have had, an electric organ and who would like to get together for enjoyable musical soirees? If you would, please contact Joyce Purdy on 01460 221318.

When you read this it will seem that it happened a long time ago but l can assure you that it is still in minds of the group.

The history stalwarts embarked on their 6^th annual outing last October. We ventured into Cornwall, the land of pixies and highwaymen. Well, we didn't come across any of them but we had a lovely time.

9 of us plus 2 dogs stayed in a very good B & B ( £40 b & b plus evening meal p.p.p.n. The place was spotless and meals exceptional. (ask Norma for the address). During the day we separated and went to various 'historical' places. Among our visits were tin mines, Pendennis Castle, St Ives, Truro and the weather was wonderful, lovely and warm, no wind, even on the towers of the castle. The sea was within easy walking distance of the hotel so we were able stroll there in the early evening

After our evening meal we sat in the lounge and amid lots of laughter, relaxed with a drink and a quiz.

JAZZ IN FRANCE

Amongst the head office info there was the perfect holiday organised by the Jazz Coordinator to be based in Perpignan with visits to famous places in the Languedoc area (that Iris had been studying) staying at an acceptable hotel and able to organise one’s own meals. We could also choose what jazz we wanted to hear. Wonderful freedom. We decided to go.

We started off at 5am for the train to Waterloo, where we had time for a coffee before meeting the group of 40, whom we soon realised were not to become our friends. The Eurostar turnstiles broke down and Iris was put through several machines before a full body search. At last we were on the move jumping from one train to the next and arriving in Perpignan at 10pm. We rushed to the hotel to drop off our cases and then to a restaurant where a disgusting meal awaited.

We spent long hours on a coach:- to have lunch by candlelight in a vast dark cave, bizarre; to get to Carcassonne- a horrid tourist place with too little time to properly explore; to visit Narbonne and Beziers and only saw the Midi canal.

A day to do what we want. We got lost in a wonderful art shop full of goodies. We made a picnic lunch, took a book and sat by a tree in a lovely park. Sadly spoilt by a thief stealing a girl’s bag, full of all her money, clothes, etc. Iris saw the whole thing but could not believe what she was seeing. She called the park warden who called the police but nothing could be done. The bast… had got away. At least her bag was found but all the money and valuables had gone

We had several most delicious meals, returning to one restaurant for the chef’s speciality in a failed attempt to obtain the recipe

We listened to jazz on the roof terrace of Galerie Lafayette in the early evenings – interesting and very French. We listened to more jazz in the grounds of a crumbled old chateau under blue,blue skies at a concert which should have started at 11am and in true French fashion began at 3pm. Iris fell in love with a beautiful man with beautiful eyes and beautiful bones, and Janet fell for his music.

We caught the return train with five minutes to spare which summed up a week of too much travelling and too many people. The upsides were the food, wine, jazz and weather.

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there for as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax.

Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-pound potato sacks, then use 50-pound potato sacks, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand and hold your arms out straight for more than a full minute.

“For thousands of years, cultivation of the vine has accompanied human evolution, providing a drink that nourishes both body and soul and is the most pleasant and affordable 'elixir of life' we can ever desire. Three years research by an Italian-French team now gives added credence to the claims for wine's health-giving properties. Having identified the DNA of the Pinot-Nero vine, they have discovered an abundance of molecules of resveratrol, the antioxidant substance released during winemaking, which, when drunk in the right quantity, is believed to decrease the effects of ageing and increase longevity. Great news for wine lovers, so let's raise our glasses in toast to our good health, or as we say in Italy – Salute !”

PERKS OF BEING OVER 50

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

FREE ENTRY TO ENGLISH HERITAGE SITES

Entrance for U3A groups is free to all English Heritage sites, provided that it is booked in advance and that the visit is led by a course tutor, not an outside provider.You can book a visit either by calling the English Heritage regional office for the South West (0117 9750720 or 9750688) or online at www.english-heritage.org.uk/onlinebooking or by submitting a postal application.
Once your booking is received, you will be sent a permit, either by post or email, whichever is most convenient for you, which will allow free entrance to the site.
So – how about organising a visit to Sherborne Castle, to link with the talk on May 19^th – or to Muchelney Abbey or Fiddleford Manor (Martin Shirley has the postal booking form)

The Shiatsu group will be re-starting at Chaffcombe Village Hall from 2 to 4pm on Weds 20^th February and continuing on alternate Wednesdays; all welcome, please contact Clive Pembury for further details on 01935 822093 or clive@pembury.f9.co.uk

This year's summer schools will be held at Telford from 28^th to 31^st July and at Cirencester from 11^th to 14^th August. At Telford the subjects include Crime and Punishment, Digital Photography, and The Philosopher/Novelist; at Cirencester they include China, Life and Language, Music Appreciation, Benjamin Britten and English Poetry, and Wordsworth and Coleridge in the West Country.

The costs are £290 full board residential and £110 for non-residential day delegates; for full details and application forms please contact Gill Tayler on 01460 238567.

There are now 5 people who have responded to our offer to distribute the newsletter by e-mail, thus saving on paper and printing, as a modest environmentally friendly initiative. So - we are still not sure whether the paper version is genuinely popular, or hardly anyone reads the newsletter to the end! If you would like to receive the newsletter by e-mail in future, please let Martin Shirley know on martin@eclipse.co.uk (Paper copies will still be made available at monthly and group meetings).

The next newsletter will be due in June, so may we ask for any contributions (interesting and/or entertaining) to reach either of the Editors by mid- May. Please contact Martin on 01460 62608 or Janet on 01460 66462. Comments and suggestions for improving the newsletter will be welcome at any time