Weekly Online Timetable
As usual, we have sent you the timetable as a separate document so that you may access it more easily. You may also see it if you click here.
The Monday Talks
This week’s Monday Talk at 10.30 is ‘Monarchy on Screen’. Using film clips, Richard Henderson looks at how the royal family has been depicted in films over the years. Richard is a royal commentator, film critic and public relations consultant. He often features on TV and radio around the world.
Next week: Anna Byrne and Alexandra Wood come to talk to us from the ‘Memory Unit’ at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Their special interest area is dementia – and they will speak on the trials and tribulations of clinical research.
Other events this week:
Aspects of Japan This week Tom Harris is giving the guest lecture ‘Why the Koreans dislike the Japanese so much’.
Wine tasting. 3rd February 6pm. Contact Martin Rayboulds for more details.
From Naomi
Coronavirus has taken a terrible overall toll on U3A membership all around the country. We have been luckier than many U3As, who have had to close since last March because they have not been able to offer online classes. That does not mean that we have not been affected.
I was not alone in not looking forward to facing reality and seeing how many members had not renewed by the end of December. I was already aware that many could not access Zoom or only had poor reception from it. Also, some did not like classes delivered in that way. They did not regard these classes merely as a poor substitute for being present but no substitute at all. I expected a fall in membership, but the extent of the fall has hurt. It really is like losing a part of our family.
Each year there is a turnover of membership and normally we gain about the same number as we lose. This cannot be the case this year. Before the cut-off date for renewal, we had 1759 members – and we lost more than 700, or about 40% of our membership.
Some have belatedly realised since then that their membership had been ceased and therefore they could no longer take part in any of our activities. A few of them have been renewing since then. Others who have not renewed have made it clear they will be happy do so when we return to Belsize Park, and we will make a determined effort to encourage them to do so. However, the only way we can try to increase membership at present is by our own efforts; we know that word of mouth is the most effective method of achieving this. Some of you already have introduced friends and family to us and our numbers are slowly increasing. We are now asking all of you to try to lobby your family and friends and to add one more member each. If you all did this, we would replace our losses. Have you thought of giving membership as a birthday present? Some of our members have and both the new members and our U3A has benefitted.
Stay well and positive
Naomi
For the fans of Wally Howard
Here are the links to Wally’s talks for next week. They are: “Memories at 95 – Part 26” on Vimeo:
And the Second part of Joe Hill in his miscarriages of justice series
NEW!
A French Corner
Here’s a new idea from Muriel Hirsch
Would you like to improve your French and have some fun at the same time?
Muriel has forwarded the first of what she promises to be many contributions.
From Pieta Ruck Keene
Your homework is to shrink your pain every time you feel a twinge; to use your words and images to create “glimmers” not “triggers”; And to take three deep breaths and say to yourself “relax now” to feel calm, to feel good and to allow your body to drift in healing relaxation.
See you next week for neuro-plasticity
Best wishes, Pieta
From Stanley Volk
The meeting on 4th February at 12.00 will be a “Singing Workshop for all levels”. It will include 10 minutes fun warm-up exercises, singing in Harmony etc. to be followed by a good old sing-along, including The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel, Come along to sing or just listen.
From Linda Shannon
Fans of The Archers may be interested to know that Andrew Wincott, who has played Adam Macy in the long-running radio programme for nearly 20 years, will be in conversation with Rose Volunteer Linda Shannon in a Zoom webinar on Tuesday 2nd February at 7 pm.[book by 6 pm]. Tickets are £5 and can be booked on The Rose’s website: www.roseplayhouse.org.uk.
From Catherine Osborn
I’ve just had published with Troubador a book of light verse `Sweet and Sour’ In this current crisis it’s a tough time to market a book. It’s priced at £7.99 and can be ordered on-line from Amazon or Waterstones or direct from the publisher (0116 279 2299). There are fifty poems, divided into themes or topics such as animals; old age; social and political issues and so on. My verses on the U3A are included. There are some nice little reviews about the collection on Amazon – one by Ralph Blumenau. I’ve attached the cover which I illustrated myself. I could also send some sample poems, if you wish.
About David Castle
Our David is the U3A Subject Advisor for Chess and is calling all enthusiasts to join a Zoom discussion on 3 February at 10 – 11 – or just join his class next Friday.
From Maureen Betts’ Thursday Art Class
From Avril 
From Wendy 
From Manny 
From Shirley 
From Rosa
Answer to Last Week’s ‘Puzzle for Today’
What common English word is 9 letters long and each time you remove one letter you are still left with a complete English word right down to the very last letter?
The word is ‘startling’
Start by removing the middle ‘t’ – you get ‘staring’, then the ’a’, then the ‘t’ – you can do the rest.
To Make you smile
Did I read that sign right?
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW.
In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT.
In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS…
In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN.
In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.
Outside a second-hand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING – BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS…
Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.
Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN’T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR.
Notice in a farmer’s field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.
Message on a leaflet: IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS.
On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR – THE BELL DOESN’T WORK.)