Timetable for the week of 13 June
Copies of full timetable and the Town Hall timetable, the Zoom timetable, the revised list of Monday talks and the handbook are available in the Office, or you can look at our website
The Monday speaker is Robin Weiss with a look at the benefits and unintended consequences of the Silk Route: The Silk Roads: The flow of goods, knowledge, genes and disease.
The Common Room is now 1.28!
The Common Room is an important place for our members to socialise between classes. However, we probably over-estimated the number of people that would be using it and we are trying out a smaller room i.e. Room 1.28.
Therefore the classes that were moved out of Room 1.29 will be pleased to hear that they can now return. There will be a few changes to the timetable this week, so please look at it carefully – and we apologise in advance for any mistakes we may have made!
From Wally Howard
The four films being shown week commencing Monday 13th June, are all from India and as usual the classes will be held in room 22 at 2.00pm.
Monday 13 June – a double bill of award winning films directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani. The first is Kush,winner of Best Short Film at Venice 2013 amongst many other accolades. Inspired by a true story and set against the backdrop of the assassination of Indira Ghandi by two Sikh bodyguards which gave rise to anti-Sikh riots across the country, the film opens with a lone teacher returning from a field trip with her 10 year old pupils. Amongst the class members is one Sikh boy, Kush, who becomes the focus in the wake of the communal violence that has erupted and the teacher’s determination to protect the boy from harm.
The second film is Hotel Salvation, a subtle comedy-drama about the challenges of multi-generational living and family relationships. This affecting film is about an ageing father who following a prophetic dream, decides to travel to the holy city of Varanasi. His dutiful son goes with him and what follows is a delicate exploration of a father-son relationship told with gentle humour (BFI). On its release, Hotel Salvation was also a multi-award winner including a prize from UNESCO.
Wednesday 15 June – Deepa Mehta’s film Water is set in 1938 and explores the lives of widows at an ashram in Varanasi. It is the final part of Mehta’s Elements trilogy about marginalised women in Indian society: the first dealing with partition (Earth) and the second with lesbianism amongst traditional women (Fire). Kevin Thomas, writing in the Los Angeles Times described Water as a film of “extraordinary richness and complexity” whilst Jeanette Catsoulis in the NYT described it as “exquisite”. Water is an award winning film which should not be missed.
Thursday 16 June – Salaam Bombay! explores the lives of Indian street children in Mira Nair’s stunning directorial debut described by Roger Ebert as being a “film that has everyday, unforced reality of documentary, and yet the emotional power of great drama”. Its hero is a boy who, having been left behind by the circus, makes his way to the nearest city, Bombay, where he ekes out a living in the hope of earning enough to enable him to return to his village whilst being sustained by fragile friendships with members of the demi-monde. Alex Dudok de Wit in his review in Sight and Sound noted that “the characters are never reduced to archetypes – the performances are too nuanced, the script too sympathetic. Yet they come to embody the inescapable truths of the Bombay slums.” A rare and inspiring film.
Come on, Don’t be shy!
- Remembering Barry Rae
We would like to have a celebration of Barry’s time with us as part of the Summer Programme. If you would like to like to make any kind of contribution to the occasion, written or live, please let us know. - Our 40th Anniversary
We are very proud to be the only remaining U3A that was present from the very beginning. The movement now is 40 years old – and so are we. We are planning a celebration (details soon) and intend to produce a souvenir booklet. If you have any recollections of how you felt when you first joined us – or any other anecdote, poem or story we’d love to hear from you.
From Amalia
History of Astronomy. The next live talk will be on 14 June in Room 1.33 at 14.00.
From Michael Goodman
Cercle Français. The class on 14th June is cancelled. The next class will be on 28th June, run by Angela King and Michael will return on 5th July
From Moragh Ghee
Correction. “Sharing Stories” will resume on 30th June.
From Tony Mavropoullos
Please note that on Wednesday 15th June I have a hospital appointment in the afternoon so the next supervised session will be on 22nd June.
From Gerta – a call for help
We need a volunteer to join our team of office helpers on Tuesday mornings. No particular qualification required, just a willingness to be a “maid… (or indeed “man” – you would not be the only one) …of all work”. Give it a try.
Please get in touch with me for more information.
From Ken Baldry
European History on Wednesday 15th June at 11:40 in Room 2.21. This week, Iberia in the early 15thC with contemporary music. The Moors are in a box and the Portuguese go exploring by sea, with 90 slides.
From Nigel Hathway
LONDON VISITS is returning with a number of events during the summer, and then regularly once a month on Fridays thereafter. We kick off with a guided tour of Lincoln’s Inn on the afternoon of Monday 18th July (price = £15).
If you are interested in going, please contact Nigel Hathway.
Country Dancing
We will let you know when Rita will be resuming her class. A few people have come into the office to know when Country Dancing might start again and we explained that we did not know at present.
Stefanie Solomon
Those who knew her will be saddened to hear that she recently died. Any member wishing to attend the funeral on 14 June at 11.00 at Golders Green Crematorium will be most welcome
Stefanie said she really enjoyed and benefitted from her time as a member of our U3A and we are truly appreciative of the legacy she has left us.
New Classes coming next term. Any more offers?
(see below for details)
Spanish Conversation class (day and time to be confirmed)
Walking Group – this has already started!
Walking with Franklin Method
Spanish Absolute Beginners with Peggy Wylie on Thursdays at 14.00
Classical Guitar (day and time to be confirmed)
From Elisabeth Fantino
I would be happy to offer a Spanish Conversation class but would like to have an idea of the level of would-be participants (so that, say, beginners would not try to converse with reasonably fluent Spanish speakers or rather the other way round).
From Elana Gal-Edd
I’ve undertaken to try to organise a U3A walking group. With summer upon us, one idea I had was to walk the Thames Path in stages of 5-6 miles, starting from Putney Bridge westward. My preferred day would be Thursday.
From Caroline Chan
I would like to offer an additional Franklin Method session next term that will include a walk on Hampstead Heath, total time roughly 2 hours. Please contact me if you are interested.
From Rose Andresier
I am offering a Classical Guitar Class. All you need is a Classical Guitar (with 3 clear nylon strings and 3 metal-wound ones), one thick book (to rest your left foot on) and lots of enthusiasm. You might end up like Segovia but certainly not like Queen! I will teach you (if you don’t know already) how to read music, tune the guitar, play the instrument, and have fun. No Strummers please, this is classical!
Contact: roseandresier1@protonmail.com
To make you smile
(From Susan van Noorden)
- I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. I can’t put it down.
- The past, present and future all walk into a bar at the same time. It was tense.
- A neutron walks into a bar and orders a drink. When the barman gives it to him, he asks “How much?” The barman replies “For you-no charge.”
- I have a new theory on inertia, but it doesn’t seem to be gaining momentum.
- Argon walks into a bar. The bartender says, “We don’t serve noble gases here”. Argon doesn’t react.
- Two atoms are walking along. One of them says, “Oh no! I think I lost an electron.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m positive.”
- An infectious disease walks into a bar. The bartender says, “We don’t serve your type here” The disease replies, “Well, you’re not a very good host.”
- There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.
- A photon checks into a hotel. The bellhop asks if they can help with the luggage. The photon replies, “I don’t have any. I’m travelling light.”
- What does a subatomic duck say? “Quark.”
Best Wishes from Gilli and Amalia
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Gilli
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Amalia
