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
In this week’s Monday Talk at 10.30 Mike Schraer talks on ‘The death of tolerance in medieval Spain’ Mike enjoyed a career as an economist and strategy director. On retiring, he studied for a PhD at Cambridge on the economic lives of the Jews of medieval Aragon and Catalonia. He teaches at City Lit on all aspects of Spanish history.
Next week 15 March: Sees a welcome return of Nicholas Henderson with ‘Great Mysteries and Conspiracy Theories’. The Reverend Dr Nicholas Henderson is a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge and trained for the Anglican ministry at Ripon Hall, Oxford. Formerly bishop-elect for the Diocese of Lake Malawi in Central Africa, he has lectured widely and has a particular interest in relating history to the present time. He assists as a priest in the Diocese of London.
Other events this week:
From Shafeeq Siddiqui
Monday 8 March 3pm. Stories Behind the Headlines’ subject this week. ‘Global Computer Chip Shortage’ (With a link to archived talks in the timetable)
From Jim Eardley
10 March 11.40am Exploring Ideas
This week: Amber Gold
From Richard Arthur
10 March 3.30pm.Aspects of Japan
Guest Speaker Uchida Keiko
Tea Ceremony and demonstration
From Stanley Volk
Thursday 4 March 12 noon.Singing Workshop for all levels. This will include 10 minutes’ fun warm-up exercises, singing in harmony etc, to be followed by a Sing-Along with Music from Oklahoma
Come along to sing or just listen.
For the fans of Wally Howard
Wally has recorded three talks, links below: Memories at 95 – Part 31; Reflections on Israel; and a new topic in the miscarriages of justice series – The Case of Stefan Kiszko -Part One.
From Amalia
We need more contributions from you and I’ve had an idea. You may have noticed that I’ve started putting a seasonal picture at the top of the Update – this week it’s crocuses. But GiIli and I thought we’d much rather have a picture that one of you sent to us. She’s particularly keen to start a bird-watching group so if any of you spot a bird in your garden and manage to take a picture of it, please send it to me.
It doesn’t have to be a bird – a lovely sunset, a rainbow – even a squirrel – anything you’d like to share to raise our spirits would be lovely. Anyone seen a black fox lately? And it doesn’t have to be a picture either. If you have had an experience you would like to share, please tell me about it.
On another matter, my Zoom has had sound problems which have gradually got worse and people have said that lately it has been a strain to hear what I say in my talks. I am pleased to report that after a Zoom session with Herbie, the problem appears to have been resolved. Apologies to all those who (hopefully) won’t have to strain any more. Thank you, Herbie!
Duplicate Bridge
Alan Unerman ran his very first session last Friday and is to be congratulated – there were few hiccups and Alan dealt with them with his usual patience. To join the group, email Alan.
If you have a regular partner it would help if you both log in at the same time – the tables should be open from 1.45 to start at 2.00. There is a registration fee of £5 (this covers all sessions until the Summer term ends in mid-July). If you wish to pay by bank transfer, Alan will send you his bank details. If you would rather pay by cheque, ask him to send you his postal address. Please make the cheque payable to Alan and note that this sum covers the nominal amount charged by Real Bridge and that Alan, in the spirit of our U3A, is providing his services free of charge.Alan, you are a star!
But be warned! If you have an old computer, tablet or smartphone and your broadband is slow, you will be pushing your luck and it will slow the whole movement down. If you are in this position and cannot upgrade, let Alan know and he will refund the £5.
From Diana King
Hello Alan,
I was annoyed to read that some of the players complained about the duplicate yesterday. How dare they! You took so much time and trouble and showed enormous patience in giving it a try that you deserve nothing but praise. I hope you will ignore these inconsiderate comments and carry on with the class. Do these people not realise that you are doing it all out of the kindness of your heart? Thank you so much for all your efforts. Stay well, Diana.
Sad News – Valerie Reuben
It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing of Valerie after a short illness (not Covid related). She was a stalwart of our U3A, organiser of our Summer coach outings and also the coordinator of the recorder group for many years. She was a personal friend of many of us and will be greatly missed.Valerie”s funeral has been arranged for Monday 8th March at Golders Green Crematorium at midday, but only on Zoom. There will also be a Zoomed tribute to Valerie at 8.00pm.
Also – from Helen Walker
Margaret Woodford sadly passed away, very suddenly and peacefully, ten days after she moved to a nursing home. There is to be no arranged funeral because of Covid-19, but it is hoped that her ashes will be placed in Hampstead Cemetery. just across the road from where she lived so happily for many years.
I am going to produce a small booklet, with tributes and photographs, as a memorial and invite people who want to contribute their memories of Margaret to get in touch with the Office. Thank you.
More Wonderful Pictures from Maureen Betts’ Thursday Art Group
From Avril 
Collage from Shirley 
From Jean 
From Heather 
From Wendy
To make you smile
Lockdown advice to lighten your day! (From the Royston U3A Newsletter)
Everyone please be careful because people are going crazy from being locked down at home! I was just talking about this with the microwave and the toaster while drinking my tea, and we all agreed that things are getting bad. I didn’t mention any of this to the washing machine because she puts a different spin on everything! I certainly couldn’t share with the fridge, because he’s been acting cold and distant! In the end, the iron straightened me out! She said the situation isn’t all that pressing and all the wrinkles will soon get ironed out! The vacuum, however, was very unsympathetic… told me to just suck it up! But the fan was very optimistic and gave me hope that it will all blow over soon! The toilet looked a bit flushed but didn’t say anything when I asked its opinion. But the front door said I was becoming unhinged and the doorknob told me to get a grip!! You can just about guess what the curtains told me: they told me to ‘pull myself together!’ WE WILL SURVIVE !!
Included – an astronomical cartoon of the recent mars landing
Lexophilia is a love for words, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish”, or “to write with a broken pencil is pointless.”
.. When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
.. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
.. When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.
.. The batteries were given out free of charge.
.. A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.
.. A will is a dead giveaway.
.. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
.. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
.. When you’ve seen one shopping centre you’ve seen a mall.
.. Police were summoned to a daycare centre where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
.. Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He’s all right now.
.. A bicycle can’t stand alone; it’s just two tired.
.. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
.. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
.. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
.. When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she’d dye.
.. Vaccination is a jab well done. That’s the point of it.
Wonderfully British
In a train from London to Manchester, an American was berating the Englishman sitting across from him in the compartment.
“The trouble with you English is that you are too stuffy. You set yourselves apart too much. You think your stiff upper lip makes you better than the rest of us.Look at me… I’m me! I have a little Italian in me, a bit of Greek blood, a little Irish and some Spanish blood. What do you say to that?”
The Englishman lowered his newspaper, looked over his glasses and replied, “How very sporting of your mother”.
Friends of Belsize Library
There is a talk on 18 March about the Blitz
Best Wishes from the Team
Naomi 
Gilli 
Herbie 
Amalia