Oh I am sooooooo excited as 
I have proof that at least a few of you actually read the newsletter! As a result of my pleas last month we have had some good results: we have some prospective holidays to tell you about, we have had several people want to join the committee (so I now have to look up the rules about voting and elections). The trip to the Globe theatre next week is now oversubscribed and the only disappointment is no one is prepared to step forward and help organise the visiting churches group. This is sad because it was a popular group and several attendees have informed me that they wish the group to continue. I have left the group on the list just in case one of its members wishes to step up to the mark and take on the non-onerous task of jointly arranging trips. But we do have another new group starting which I will tell you all about later. So to business:
Mandi
HOLIDAYS: I have been passed details of two holidays so far and I am aware that another member is trying to arrange a third option. The first one is: Warners Holiday Chalets – Gunton Hall Coastal Village. Nr. Lowestoft, Suffolk www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/gunton-hall-holiday-village 
Set in 50 acres of gardens and secluded woodland, complete with a fresh water fishing lake, this is the perfect backdrop to a late summer day. Stay in one of our new Garden Lodge Suites, perfect for overlooking the lake with your own private patio. Stroll around our landscaped gardens and watch the wildlife, or explore the wonderful East coast including Southwold and Somerleyton Hall. Included with your stay: Shuffleboard and table tennis, Air rifle shooting and archery, Pitch & putt and fun croquet, Indoor bowls, snooker and boules, Zumba Classes, Free WI-FI in public areas. Date 22nd Sept 2014 for 7 nights – half board – INCLUDING 3 OUTINGS. (Minimum of 20 people needed to run this holiday. Cost gets lower the more people come. TOTAL COST. £635 which includes coach travel to and from Weston Turville. There is an early discount of £30 per person if deposit £50 paid with booking before meeting on 27th MARCH. There are some single chalets – first come first served. Please contact Doreen Lister on 01296 612778 or email on doreenalister@tiscali.co.uk for info and reserving your place.
The second holiday is: a holiday in Hanover, Germany to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Hanoverian succession to the British Crown. Hanover on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Dates are 11th to 15th September, using British Airways, based in Hanover. To include accommodation, meals, tours appropriate to celebration etc. Cost approximately £600. Interested? Full details at The Five Bells, Monday 24th February at 10.30am. Ceinwyne Jones if you cannot attend the meeting but would like to now more then please contact Ceinwyne on 01296 613172.
CHRISTMAS 2014. I know you are only just recovering from Christmas 2013 but we have to book well in advance to get good locations! We have listened to your feedback and concluded that the idea of a lunch is preferred and somewhere warmer would be good. It was also suggested we go somewhere a bit posher…so Carol Theobald has done some work and come up with this proposal: We have made enquiries at RAF Halton for having this years in the Salon of Halton House! 
It would be a three course meal, including a carvery and pre-meal drink. Included is an optional guided tour of the house. It would be at lunchtime on Saturday 6th December. It is a beautiful setting and everyone will be able to dress up if they feel inclined! The bar prices are reasonably priced (e.g Wine x Bottle £5.80. Glass of wine £1. Beer £1.29) We have to have 96 people wishing to attend this brilliant day to make it viable and if we get this amount of people the cost will be £40 each. So please call, e mail or let me know at this months (February) meeting so I can ascertain interest levels. 01296 614186. carolwtu3a@hotmail.co.uk.
Carol Theobald
HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Two more visits for the historic buildings group. The first is a guided walking tour of Kings Cross and St Pancras station on Monday 7th April and the second is a backstage tour of Covent Garden Opera House on Friday 9th May. Please note that the price of the Kings Cross walking tour is dependent on numbers attending but there are limited numbers on the backstage tour of Covent Garden Opera House. Ceinwyne and Eileen will be taking names for the visits at the monthly U3A meeting later this month.
NATTERING NEEDLES: Nattering Needles is a social group which will meet once or twice a month. The idea of the group will be to bring along a piece of work of your own choosing e.g. knitting, crochet, sewing, crafting etc. and just work alongside a group of like-minded people. If you are interested, but currently have no projects on the go, then we will be able to suggest alternatives for you to try, as we often knit, crochet or sew projects for charity. It is hoped that we will be able to share our expertise, gather ideas from one another and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and a chat. We will meet initially on the fourth Monday of each month, but may arrange other meetings. We will meet at the Chapel Hall Weston Turville, 2-4pm contact Pat Housego on 01296 613876 or pat.housego@tiscali.co.uk
STOP PRESS The first meeting is this Monday 24th February. Just bring along something that you have been working on. If you don’t have anything started you can still come along – many of the group make articles for the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and we can set you off with materials or wool and some ideas! Of course you can also turn up to take part in the “nattering” – no special equipment needed! Refreshments provided.
THE GREAT WAR REMEMBERED: As part of The Weston Turville Village Fete on 21st June 2014 we plan to include an exhibition of The Great War (WW1) memorabilia hosted by the Historical Society and the U3A Local History Group. This will be held in the Committee Room at the Village Hall. We are looking for suitable exhibits from U3A members and residents (not necessarily related to Weston Turville) with a special emphasis on items that may be of interest to people of all ages. As well as militaria we would like to show how the war affected the lives of the residents of Weston Turville. This was a time of social turmoil and significant changes in people working lives in the UK. We are looking for any Medals, Ration books, Postcards, Family History etc. that reflect and bring to life this period of British history. As an example we already have a British Flying Corps log book which features instructions on how to bomb enemy lines and also gives details of sorties.
Donated exhibits will be returned at the end of the day. If you have any suitable items, please contact Chris Gill secretary@WTHSoc.org.uk or Glynn White secretary@wtu3a.org.uk.
EXTREME VISITS: 13th May 2014 Clay Pigeon Shooting; Have a go – £39.00. Includes 25 shots friendly professional instruction, all insurance and equipment, tea/coffee. Names and payment now being taken.
By June it should be safe for an Outdoor event – an opportunity for a boat trip on the Thames and a unique view of London, a walk over the O2. 
The O2 doesn’t accept cheques and Group bookings actually carry a premium – not a discount, so this is more a case of co-ordinated bookings than group bookings. Tickets for 9th June have now been released – so book ASAP in order for us to have a tight set of ascent times (rather like a group booking). If you are interested in participating:- Read the faqs – at www.theo2.co.uk/up-at-the-o2-faqs.htmlBook a “Combination” ticket at https://booking.upattheo2.co.uk/book 9th June 2014 “Up at The O2 Off Peak Climb + Adult Thames Clipper Roamer:” Nearest time you can book to 13:30 email me your ascent time and if you are interested being part of a “2 Pay 4 Travel” group for travel into London. If you are interested in a trip to the O2, without walking over it email me, and let me know if you are interested being part of a “2 Pay 4 Travel” group for travel into London. (Thames Clipper Roamer tickets for 9th June are not available yet.) Go on….you know you want to…… Adrian Randall contact
Adrian@Randall.org.uk or Tel 0777 150 6055
LEGAL ADVICE: Some time ago I mentioned that as U3A members we were eligible for some free legal advice via the National Office. To remind you of the details: Ring First Assist – 01455 251500, quote 3rd Age Trust and quote a reference number (available from any committee member and on notice board at monthly meeting). You will be called back within half an hour and given the advice. We have been told it is a good service.