It will soon be October, which is the second autumn month. It is the time for the countryside to start its annual hibernation, when English apples are abundant, the weather turns a bit iffy and the nights draw in. You depressed yet? Well, how about if I tell you the shops are putting their Christmas displays out, there are only 94 days (at the time of writing) to the big event….and you will have to listen to festive carols for most of them! The good news is that there are still things going on between now and Christmas and adventures for you to have…so please do not slit your throats just yet. Maybe you can join one of the U3A activities you have not yet experienced and meet new friends, laugh, and enjoy the distraction form the ‘festive’ hype all around. Of course you can sing carols before 1st December if you insist, but be prepared to be ejected forcibly by me!
Mandi Simons
CHRISTMAS DINNER: The Christmas lunch at Quainton Railway Centre on Tuesday 17th December, 12-5pm, list is fast filling up. There will be a lunch which includes a turkey dinner, or several roasts or salmon and a choice of puds. The cost will be in the region of £30 each which is inclusive of food and entertainment. Sign up very soon if you wish to join us!! Let Carol Theobald know by email or telephone.
Carol Theobald
MONEY MATTERS: Meetings for the next few months are: October 3rd What Partnership – Investments for income; November 7th Absolute Insurance – Bespoke service v Internet comparison sites; December 5th Faulkners Lettings – Buy to Let – bet you think it’s not for you! All meetings at 2.30pm in The Chapel, W. Turville on the first Thursday of the month.
Carol Johnson
HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Visit to KENSINGTON PALACE: October 21st. Cost: £12.00. The Coach Fare to be paid at September Meeting. Departures: The Chandos at 9.15am, and The Shops at 9.20am. Return; Depart Kensington Palace at 4.00pm. Contact Ceinwyne Jones or Eileen Langford for detail.
Ceinwyne Jones
ANTIQUES: Antiques & Collectables have organised a trip to ‘Alfie’s Antique Centre’ in Paddington on Tuesday 15th October. We have a few seats left on the coach, if you are interested in joining us for this trip please contact Carol Theobald on 01296 614186
WINE APPRECIATION: The Wine Appreciation Group are going from strength to strength but we would like to attract some more members! We explore many different wines in different ways. We do tastings, talks and trips. We meet on the third Friday Evening of each month at 7.15 in The Chapel Hall, Weston Turville. Please contact Carol Theobald on 01296 614186 for more information.
Carol Theobald
EXTREME VISITS:
Totally unnecessary Crazy Bear Tea Party: Lively Afternoon Tea for 26! Everyone found the Crazy Bear and somewhere to park, a major accomplishment in itself. Plenty of doggie bags were seen leaving the building. Many of the photos from the event are now on the website. The ones that look even better than the brochure….are Mike’s.
Street Art: 30 Sept – Event full, more detailed travel arrangements will be sent out next week.
Skid Pan: 6 November – Goodwood. 3 driver and 2 spectator seats still available. Any more drivers getting anxious about the onset of winter? Bring a friend/relative. Details Let Adrian know ASAP if you are interested. £60 drivers, £15 spectators, payment by general meeting on 26 September.
il arrivera: le 21 novembre – At Twist in Wendover. Frivolous study of rapidly fermented Gamay grapes that have been raced to England the in the morning, together with food from Beaujolais. Travel can also be arranged (add your postcode to the signup form). Not for Wine snobs. Plenty of space still available. £20/head, payment by general meeting on 26 September. Details
Lock Picking: 4 December. Space still available. Details
Sushi Making: 14 January – Event already fully booked!
Note: There are enough requested topics for an exotic food & drink track if anyone is interested in taking it on.
Adrian Randall
FLOWER ARRANGING: I have arranged a Christmas meeting for the flower arranging group to be held at Waddesdon Manor Plant Center on Friday 22nd November 2013. The start time for the demonstration will be 2pm we need to arrive at 1.45pm approx. it will be for one hour.
We will be shown how to make three arrangements a Christmas planted arrangement, Christmas candle arrangement and a Christmas wreath for the door. They really do make beautiful displays and it will make a lovely afternoon finished with cake and a drink and Christmas shopping!
The cost will be £10 a head I am looking to have a minimum of 10 ladies [** Sexist! ** WebEd] for this demo, as I need to give numbers for the catering arrangements before the day. We can car share so transport will not be a problem anyone willing to be a driver will be appreciated. I think a departure time would be roughly about 4pm.
Gaynor Edwards
U3A DIARIES: Please collect your pre-ordered diary from Glynn White at the monthly meeting.
QUILTING AND PATCHWORK: Bringing Colour to the Cottage
The Patchwork and Quilting Group left their sewing machines behind on a visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum in August, where they spent the day helping to make a traditional patchwork quilt for the Museum’s newly rebuilt Haddenham Croft Cottage.
The quilt is being made for one of the three bedrooms which are being furnished to represent different periods in the history of the cottage, from the 1830s through to the 1970s. Group Leader Maureen Reeves said “When I heard that the Museum was looking for quilting groups to help with this project I thought this would be a great opportunity for us to learn more about the skills used in the past to make patchwork quilts. We have been hand sewing with paper templates which was how quilts were made in the early 19th century and through research have found materials to use which represent the colours and patterns of this time.”
“We were able to help in the design of the quilt and have completed the central section and have now passed it on to the Rickmansworth U3A who will be adding to it and over the coming months other groups will also help. We look forward to seeing the completed quilt in situ and to know we have helped bring some colour and warmth to this lovely traditional building.”
OVERSEAS NEWS:
MID BUCKS U3A have vacancies on the Play Reading Group and Members of other U3As are invited to come along. We have a fun 2 hours reading a light-hearted play with a minimum cast of 6. If any of your Members are interested to learn more about the Group. Please ask them to contact Jackie Ainsworth (01296 486692)
jackieainsworth@hotmail.com
My name is Sarah Lawrence and I am Deaf. Every quarter I write and publish a deaf friendly lifestyle and culture magazine. The Magazine is free and is full of information, advice and deaf friendly articles that are aimed at people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and speak British Sign Language. The magazine can be viewed on-line.
Whilst the magazine itself is free, if you did want printed copies, all I ask is that people cover the cost of postage and packing, as the costs of printing itself are prohibitive for a one woman band like mine.
Sarah Lawrence.
Director and Editor. SL First Magazine.
(Providing advice, information and an entertaining read for our deaf readership)
NEW FRIENDS?
Rearrange the letters to spell out an important part of the human body which is even more useful when erect. P N E S I
People who wrote SPINE became doctors… The rest are my friends…
Mandi Simons