Monday Morning Talk and the Timetable
The full timetable for this week, the list of Monday morning talks, the Zoom classes and the short summary timetable (showing the classes which are taking place in the Town Hall) are all on the website. The newest versions incorporate the latest changes and you can also pick up copies in the Office.
The latest version of the Handbook is also on the website.
From Naomi
Returning to the wearing of lanyards. The initial reason why we have had to do this is because the Department of Education has designated the Town Hall as a building where the education of children takes place. As part of the safeguarding of the children, it has introduced the rule of the wearing of a recognisable lanyard as a means of identification for all regular users of the building. Therefore, we have issued our own recognisable lanyard.
This means that even if Covid had never existed, we would still have had to wear our own identifiable lanyard. The compulsory instructions that we have received means that, if members don’t wear the lanyard we have issued, they may well find themselves being asked to leave the building. Those that do not conform to this requirement are in breach of our code of conduct.
This is not something I or any of us want to enforce, but as Trustees of U3A we have to uphold the law.
I hope you understand now why we are adamant on this point.
Best wishes, Naomi
From Amalia
Changes to note:
- Stanley Volk’s Zoom Singalong on Thursdays at 11.40 is cancelled. His Singing For Pleasure in Room 2.21 on Wednesdays at 15.10 can, however, be accessed on Zoom.
- Advanced German conversation starts on 23 November at 12.50 in room 2.26.
- Barbara Alden’s Qi Gong Zoom class on Thursdays at 1.10pm will end on Thursday 25th November for this term.
- Paul Lewis’s Historic singers on Shellac has finished for this term.
- Yarn Craft workshop (on Mondays in Room 1.33). The first hour, starting at 12.50 is only for pre-arranged private advice. The actual class starts at 14.00.
- Japanese: Second Year. This Zoom class with Nobuko Leslie on Wednesday at 12 .50 is cancelled for the rest of this term.
- Greek Modern Conversation. This is on Zoom until 1 December. From 8th December and beyond it will return to the Town Hall on Wednesdays at 12.50 – 13.50 in Room 1.28.
…and from last week… - Meditation:. The Town Hall class will be suspended from 15 Nov until 5th Jan 2022. A Zoom meeting is available on Tuesdays at 5.00pm.
- Stories behind the Headlines on Mondays in Room 1.29 at 15.10 is cancelled for the rest of this term.
- Gnosticism: Fridays at 12.00 on Zoom, starts on 3 December.
- Chair Pilates is now in Room 2.21, Tuesdays at 12.50 and Medical Humanities is now in Room 1.29, fortnightly on Tuesdays at 12.50.
- History: Jews of Spain and Portugal (Wednesdays at 15.10 Room 2.26) is cancelled for the rest of this term and will re-start next term.
Heartfelt Pleas – Repeat
a) Zoom classes: Site blocking: Please keep obeying the Zoom Rules published last week,
b) Town Hall classes: Plugs pulled out of sockets: It’s still happening! One of the mice in Room 1.22 had strayed and was taken back home again!
From Wally
Another three films this week, all at 14.00 in Room 1.22.
On Monday 22nd November I will be showing the highly acclaimed Girlfriends, directed by Claudia Weill. A little indie gem and stylish movie about whose emotional force catches you glancingly“. The film stars Melanie Mayron as Susan Weinblatt, a Jewish photographer who experiences loneliness once her roommate moves out of their apartment in New York City. The film also stars Eli Wallach as Rabbi Aaron Gold (a tender performance), perhaps the most important man in Suzie’s life. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Wednesday 24th’s offering is Claude Berri’s The Two of Us, with its famous opening line “I was 8 years old and already a jew”. The story is loosely inspired by Berri’s own life experiences when his parents sent him away from occupied Paris to live with gentiles, who would protect him from deportation and death. In order to do this, the young Claude was taught the Lord’s Prayer, given a new last name and sent to live with an old couple on a farm outside Grenoble. This is the set up for this heart-warming movie which showcases one of the last performances of the great Michel Simon.
I am sure that the film on Thursday 25th November needs no introduction. Sunset Boulevard turns the spotlight on Hollywood in Billy Wilder’s “powerful story of the ambitions and frustrations that combine to make life in the cardboard city so fascinating to the outside world.” Further in its review the New York Times continues “Sunset Boulevard is that rare blend of pungent writing, expert acting, masterly direction and unobtrusively artistic photography which quickly casts a spell over an audience and holds it enthralled to a shattering climax“. I hope you are prepared to be bewitched!
From David Castle
The Chess Club for both good players and learners is re-starting on Friday 26th November at 10-30 am. and fortnightly thereafter. Do join us!
From Pauline Malpas
The Friday chat group meets every 3 or 4 weeks in person. We are meeting on Friday 26th November at 11:30am at a cafe in West Hampstead. We would welcome other members. If anyone is interested, they could contact me and then I would let them have details of the venue. My hope is that eventually we could change the day we meet and transfer our custom to the U3A cafe.
U3A London History Walks
Join us next week for the final production in the U3A history walks series. Come on this virtual tour on Tuesday 30th November 2.00pm for a fresh take on some of the glories of the British Museum, picking up on the history of the place on the way.
We are expecting a lot of participants. We suggest you try logging on any time from 1.45 on the day. No need to book in advance
Advanced German Conversation Class
The new German advanced conversation class starts on 23 November at 12.50 in room 2.26 and is for fluent German speakers.
We still need a class for beginners.
From Jo Rapkin – Christmas lunch in the cafeteria
On Thursday 2nd December, instead of our regular lunch, we’ll be serving Christmas lunch only. There will be nibbles to start, then traditional turkey meal with lovely vegetables and roast potatoes and we’ll finish with a pudding. There will, of course, be a vegetarian option, for those who’d prefer it.
I’ll be taking bookings for it from this Monday- groups or individuals can enquire directly with me when they come in for classes.
I will print out the menu and leaflets to give out, too.
The price for the meal is £16.00 per person. The seats are limited, so please book earl
From Maxine Jason
Maxine thanks members who have brought in Art, Photographic or Fashion magazines for the collage Art class. Please leave them in the Office for her to collect – and keep ‘em coming!
From Pam Royston
Dear Naomi,
Can I please submit a plea for the continuing real, live, in person classes at the Town Hall?
I do appreciate that the arrival of zoom is invaluable for those with disabilities or during periods of lockdown/up but there is no substitute for live action. I do hope that zoom won’t kill off the irreplaceable social intercourse that U3A provides. I know that new friendships were formed between people actually meeting each other.
I used to teach languages 3 times a week at our U3A over a period of 5 years. It was difficult enough dealing with adults at different levels of knowledge, but it would have been infinitely more difficult on zoom
Long live the U3A!!!!!!
Best wishes, Pamela
From Moragh Ghee – a reminder
The Hampstead Players are putting on “The Importance of Being Earnest” in the Parish Church in Church Row, Hampstead NW3. The performances are at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th November. There’s also a matinee performance on the 27th at 2.30pm.
Tickets online at: hampsteadplayers.org.uk and enquiries at: 020 7794 5808
Best wishes from Moragh
P.S. By the way, I’ve been cast as Lady Bracknell.
Exam Invigilators Still Needed
The Examinations Officer at South Hampstead High School, NW3. South Hampstead (an all-girls’ school in NW London located near Swiss Cottage/Finchley Road) says they have vacancies for exam invigilators. She wonders if any members would be interested. The work is seasonal (typically two weeks in early January, ten days in February, ten days in April, all of May and June and occasionally other odd days throughout the year) and of course full training will be given.
To make you smile
A girl in her teens, wanting to earn some extra money for the summer, decided to hire herself out as a “handywoman” and started canvassing houses in a nearby well-to-do area in the town. She went to the front door of an expensive looking house and asked the owner if he had any odd jobs for her.
“Well, I expect you could paint the porch,” he said. “How much will you charge?” Delighted, the girl quickly responded, “How about £50?”
The man agreed and told her that the paint, brushes and everything she would need were in the garage.
The man’s wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, “Does she realise that our porch goes ALL the way around the house?” “Well, I didn’t actually say so” he responded. The wife replied, “You’re right. I’m starting to believe all those remarks about today’s careless young people.
After an hour or so the girl came to the door to collect her money. “You’re finished already??” the startled husband asked. “Yes,” she replied, “and I even had paint left over so I gave it two coats”.
Impressed, the man reached into his wallet for the £50 and handed it to her along with a £10 tip.
“Thank you,” the girl said, “And, by the way, it’s not a Porch…it’s an Audi.”
Best Wishes from the Team
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Naomi
-
Gilli
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Herbie
-
Amalia
