SUMMER 2008 NEWSLETTER

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

CHARD, ILMINSTER & DISTRICT             U3A

www.chardilminsteru3a.org.uk

Summer 2008 Newsletter                                                    Editors: Janet Brown & Martin Shirley

CHAIRMAN’S CHIT- CHAT

A year ago in these pages I told the story of the 85 year-old man who married a beautiful young woman. Since then I have had numerous requests (well, one actually) to say how the marriage worked out. So here is the sequel. 

After a few weeks the old gentleman was worried about keeping his wife happy, so he asked a friend for advice. His friend suggested that he take in a young lodger. Some months later the old fellow met his friend again.

“I’ve got good news,” he said. “My wife’s pregnant.”
“That’s brilliant,” said his friend, “and how’s the lodger?”
“Oh I nearly forgot,” replied the old man. “She’s pregnant too.” 

The moral of the story, of course, is that we mustn’t allow age to stop us springing a few surprises on our friends – though maybe not of the above kind! Before moving to Somerset nearly six years ago, Pamela and I rented a cottage for a few months in the lovely Dorset village of Stoke Abbot. Two celebrated residents were brothers in their late 90s who were full-time gardeners working for several households in the village. Last year it was reported that one of the brothers, Jim Webber, had decided to retire at the age of 104 – so that he could devote more time to his own garden! There are many stories of a similar nature. You may have read, for instance, about the lady who took up paragliding at the age of 100, and about several keen water-skiers who are well past that age.

Well, if these folk in their ‘fourth age’ can do such things, so can we. Retired people are taking up all manner of new pursuits, many of them highly active, and the U3A is proudly at the vanguard of this trend. Maybe we could all resolve to try something new in the next few months. Anyone care to join me in a U3A 5-a-side football team?

Alan Bamber

YOUR NEW COMMITTEE FOR 2007- 2008
 

PARIS, CHATEAU  VERSAILLES  &  MONET'S  GARDENS  2009. 

Tailored Travel will organise this tour of 5 days 4 nights, for at least 40 with Private Executive 49-seater Coach; Guide on days 2 -1/2 day, 3 & 4. Channel Crossing Dover-Calais.
Hotel: Paris area 3* Quality Rosny Sous Bois or similar www.rosnysousbois.quality-hotel.fr
The hotel features 97 air-conditioned rooms equipped with satellite TV, Pay TV system, mini-bar, bathroom and hairdryer. Half-board: continental breakfast, set menu for dinner.
Entrance fees are INCLUDED for Versailles & Monet’s Gardens.
Extras : Entrance fees to other places of interest 

COST : £329.00 pp doubles PLUS £89 single supplement, based on 40+ travelling. There are 21 doubles available and 9 singles but more can be offered on request. Local coach will pick up.
I have already collected 12 names for this trip and should the trip go ahead, I would suggest May 2009 as a suitable time to go. Any other suggestions?  

Should you be interested in adding your name to the list, please get in touch with me on 01460 65093 or contact me at the general meeting.

                                                                                                          Beth Toman

GROUP LEADERS' MEETING, DONYATT, 9TH MAY

The topics covered at this meeting included:

- venue charges for the hire of meeting halls for groups; coffee mornings for new members; group leaders' attendance at monthly general meetings; keeping group programmes up to date;
- resources available from the Resources Centre e.g. CDs, videos and audio tapes, and our own resources, which include yoga mats, guillotine, 35mm projector, OHP, flip charts and audio-visual equipment. We are encouraged to use them as often as possible.
- training for PowerPoint presentations etc (Alan explained the equipment available and offered to show groups and members how it can be used)
- information for newsletter (The newsletter editors would like to include items of interest, whether to boost groups' numbers or to report something that has been done.)
- Warmest thanks were offered to Beth Toman for organising and running the meeting, and to Margret Hall and her helpers for arranging the catering. 
 

LIST OF TRADESPEOPLE 

Mary Coller has kindly offered to set up a list of tradespeople recommended by members, and to bring it to general meetings. Please contact Mary on 01460 63461 with the following information :
Trade, Name Contact details (address, telephone, e-mail)
Brief reason for recommendation 

Naturally, neither U3A nor the recommending member will be able to guarantee good standards of work, and will not be held liable if the work is unsatisfactory. Good past experience is subjective and can only be taken as a guideline.

SIGNPOSTS

We have been asked to put the following information in our newsletter, please try them.
http://u3asignpost.pbwiki.comj - password is ssignpost
http://u3ahistorygroups.pbwiki.com - password is waterloo
http://u3aclimatestudy.pbwiki.com - password is cclimate

BEST FEET FORWARD 

“Imagine if a pharmaceutical company invented a new 'wonder drug' which, if taken by the whole population, would cut heart disease deaths by over a third. But imagine if that drug could also reduce cases of osteoarthritis by increasing people's bone density, reduce hip fractures by improving coordination, cut the rates of obesity and diabetes, reduce the incidence of cancer, reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, and cut the risk of strokes.
That drug already exists– it's called walking. If everyone did it, frequently and fast enough, people would live longer and happier lives. Walking is an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety, and to aid sleep.”                                                       (From the Ramblers' Association) 

'HARD WORK AND FREE THOUGHT'

Alan's chit-chat on p.1 puts me in mind of a man called Alfio whom I met in Sicily in February, and who describes himself on his card as "Industrioso e Libero Pensatore", a hard worker and a free thinker. His family now tell me that he is just back from Perth, where he won six medals in the world age group swimming championships ; he only says he is "a bit tired" after his trip to the other side of the world. Alfio is 80.

                                                                                                                                    Martin Shirley

PLANNING AHEAD

“Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with whom to share his fortune.
One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. 'I may look like just an ordinary man,' he said to her, 'but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million dollars.'
Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.
Women are so much better at estate planning than men!“ 

THEATRE GROUP OUTINGS TO BRISTOL HIPPODROME

To book, please contact  Mary Coller on  01460 63461 
 

'THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF ILMINSTER...' or CHARD or DONYATT…

How about composing a limerick on a Third Age theme? The best one submitted to the editors by September will be published in the next issue, and a modest prize may well be awarded. 
 

SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER   

Should any members reading this not have renewed their membership to cover the 2008-9 year, please make out a cheque for £12 (the rate has been held yet again) to Chard Ilminster and District U3A and send it to Sandra Kibble-White, 1 Brutton Way, Chard TA20 1 HB.

DATES FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS 2008   (Mondays at 2pm, Guildhall, Chard)

“ GROUP ETIQUETTE ”

Could we remind members always to let your group leader know if you are unable to go to a particular meeting? Our group leaders spend a lot of time and effort on our behalf preparing for meetings and it must be annoying for them when we simply fail to turn up. In some cases they need to know numbers in advance, such as when organising trips or printing hand-outs. Also, please do your best to arrive early for meetings. We realise this is sometimes difficult – for instance the bus timetable may not coincide with group meeting times or we may have a difficult family situation to cope with – but out of consideration for group leaders we’d suggest that it is better to be five minutes early than five minutes late.
Could we also remind members who are given lifts that offering a contribution towards the driver’s running costs would be much appreciated, especially now that fuel is so expensive?
 

?? NEW GROUPS ?? 

Marry Williamson intends to start a new book reading group in September, if you are interested please contact her on 01460 66637. Several members have asked whether we could start a Natural History Group. One member has asked for a Singles Group - not a dating group, but for those members who are on their own and would like company for socialising, especially at the weekends when lots of members are busy with their families. An offer has been made to start Flower Arranging and/or Sugarcraft. Anyone interested in these or who has suggestions for other groups should contact Beth Toman on 01460 65093.

Being a group leader is not difficult; there is a booklet to help you start as well as lists of resources from the Resource Centre and existing group leaders will also give advice if asked.

This is a new group which meets on Thursday evenings. It is a social and not too competitive group. If you are interested in joining, please contact Judith Minter on 01460 62468. 

NEWSLETTER  MATTERS

There are now some 18 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 - if you would like to receive the newsletter by e-mail in future, please let Martin Shirley know on martin@crich.eclipse.co.uk (Paper copies will still be made available at monthly and group meetings).

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