BUCKHURST HILL U3A Charity Reg No 1178911

Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://u3asites.org.uk/buckhurst-hill

NEWSLETTER 6 APRIL 2020

BH U3A COMMITTEE / CONTACTS

Chair Kevin Lucas 020 8506 0206 / 07799 883100 [email protected] Vice Chair Christine Slade 020 8505 1005 [email protected] Treasurer Sue Bird 020 3894 3694 [email protected] Business Secretary Cathy Tredgett 020 8506 0762 / 07961 614566 [email protected] Accessibility Officer Hilary Wrightman 020 8559 2777 / 07836 671582 [email protected] Group Co-ordinator Sue Meredith 020 8504 3181 / 07866 957538 [email protected] Membership Secretary Christine Slade 020 8505 1005 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Christine Slade 020 8505 1005 [email protected] Social Secretary Mary Nathan 020 8506 2203 [email protected] Speaker Secretary Pat Hallard 020 8504 1812 [email protected] Committee Member Ann Denwood 020 8551 0313 [email protected] Honorary President Anthony Young 07743 097973 [email protected]

Contents Newsletter Page 1 Craft Page 12 Culture Page 14 Literary Supplement Page 17 Quiz Page 21 Group Information Page 23

1

Welcome from the Chair Welcome to the April edition of the Buckhurst Hill U3A Newsletter. When I wrote my welcome a month ago, we had no plans to suspend our activities but oh dear, how fast things have changed. We are now living in very strange times, through an experience none of us could ever have considered. We will try to continue publishing our Newsletter so that we can remain in contact with our members, hopefully increasing the frequency to around a three-weekly basis. Our members have responded magnificently and are providing a steady stream of articles, stories, poems, quizzes etc to keep us all interested and amused. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far and please keep your contributions coming. Unusual situations always lead to a plethora of funny photos, cartoons etc which circulate and can bring a smile to your face in difficult times … I hope the following amuse you!

On the U3A admin front, in the current circumstances we have decided not to circulate our AGM paperwork until we have a clearer idea on the likely date that we can hold this meeting. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the collection for Janice Rana. Through your generosity we were able to donate £200 to The Stroke Association in her memory. Over the coming weeks we will be looking at additional ways that we can keep in touch with our members, if you have any good ideas please let us know. In the meantime, please take care and stay safe.

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BUCKHURST HILL U3A NEWS

Recipe Book (Mary Nathan) Hi Everyone, In case you are thinking “what shall I do today”, here are two ideas. • You might have thought about it, so now is the time to do it. You can sort out that cupboard and put to one side items for the “Bring & Buy” stall and/or the Tombola, ready for the Macmillan Coffee Morning at the end of September. • Also, after all that work, have a cuppa and a sit/walk round the garden before sorting out a recipe to go in my book. I want Starters, Main, Desserts, Cakes and Chutney recipes and you can send me more than one recipe if you wish. You don’t need to put your name, it’s up to you. Thanks to the members who have already sent in their recipes. Keep safe, keep well and keep smiling, and see you soon.

2 From our Australian Correspondents (Valerie and David Thame)

Before we left to visit our relations in Australia people were asking us ‘what about the bush fires?’ We said we would take our chances as Melbourne and Sydney weren’t too badly affected. By the time we arrived in early February there had been a lot of rain and most of the fires had been put out, only a few isolated pockets remained. We thought our troubles were over and would be spending the next 8 weeks enjoying our families and grandchildren. The first 4 weeks in Melbourne were happily spent with our son Russell taking our grandchildren to school and entering into everyday life. We visited the beaches, went on an historic train ride ‘Puffing Billy’ and stayed in an old gold mining village dating from the 1860s. Unfortunately, there’s no gold left in ‘them thar hills’! On 6th March we left Melbourne for Sydney to stay with our other son Simon and his family. Whilst we were here our daughter-in-law Jane took the opportunity to return to the UK to visit her family who she hadn’t see for over a year. A few days after she arrived in the UK the virus crisis began. At first, we thought everything would be OK but as the situation deteriorated it became difficult for her to return to Australia. The Government here were only allowing citizens and permanent residents, of which she is neither, to enter Australia. Our son managed, with a lot of hard work, to get the authorities to allow her in under ‘exceptional circumstances’. She arrived back a few days ago, much to our relief, and is now in self isolation for 14 days. For ourselves, our flights have been cancelled so we have no idea when we will return. We have registered with the British High Commission for repatriation and now wait for them to make arrangements. In the meantime, life goes on: shopping, housework and entertaining the grandchildren as schools are now closed. They will be having home-schooling but keeping them at the computers may be a problem as they will get fed up and want to go out and play. The restrictions here are much the same as the UK but the hairdressers are open! At least we will not look like tramps! Winter is on the way and not thinking we would still be here we haven’t brought any warm clothes with us! Red Cross parcels will be gratefully received! To be continued ….

New Sashes for U3A Events (Sue Meredith) Earlier this year (in the days before the pandemic hit us) the Committee decided that BH-U3A would participate in the first National U3A day in June. Along with many things that were planned, it was decided to invest in some BH-U3A sashes for Committee members and anyone else that helping out at the event to wear, so we could be readily identified by others. The sashes could then be re-used at future events as needed. There seemed to be nowhere to purchase any sashes at a reasonable price, so Sue Bird and myself decided to make our own. What better thing to do in isolation! Sue Bird made the yellow sashes and I have used iron-on vinyl to create the lettering. It just remains for Sue Bird to add a button to each to complete them, when I can get them to her. Here I am modelling one of the new sashes, so you can all see them.

3

Our Chairman Kevin is very happy that we have been able to make a sash for him, and we know he can’t wait to wear it. As with everything, the National U3A day has been postponed until later in the year. I hope you are all staying well in your enforced isolation, if there is anything you are struggling with that you think the Committee may be able to help you with – please let us know.

INTERESTS

The A-Z of Today (Sue Bird) A - is for Abstention, we can’t do what we want. B - is for Bread, called the staff of life. C - is for Corona, a drink delivered when we were young. D - is for Doorstep, restricted to when we can cross. E - is for Excel, where help and kindness will be. F - is for Fresh air, thank goodness something is free! G - is for Groceries which recently are H - Hard to find. I - is for Isolation, what we all need to do! J - is Joy, when all this is through. K - is for Kettle, always on the go. L - is for Life, which has been so interrupted. M - is for Media, the news constantly updated. N - is for Neighbours, sometimes underrated. O - is for Opportunities, to learn something new. P - is for Patience, what we all need now. Q - is for Queues, wherever you go. R - is for Reading, always a pleasure. S - is for Standing, Sitting and Sleeping. T - is for Treatment for those that need it. U - U take care! V - is for Virus, a new swear word! W - is for Washing hands - all the time ... X - is for Exiled, that’s what it feels like. Y - is for Yellow, the sun and flowers cheer us up. Z - is for Zoflora, a hard thing to find.

4 Craft Group (Fiona Lucas) Well, we are living in strange times! The poor Craft Group didn’t get to meet for the March session when we were meant to have enjoyed our favourite stress-free activity: silk painting. Still, as soon as we are given the all-clear to meet again, it will the first thing on our agenda! I was asked to find a little craft activity for the newsletter that anyone could tackle. That was quite a difficult challenge as it had to be an activity that required nothing but the most basic of materials, as all the shops are shut! I have tweaked someone else’s idea for making a cover for those little packets of tissues that you put in your handbag or pocket. The instructions are attached at Page 12 of this Newsletter. I’m sorry that when I was taking photos for the instructions, the sun was shining in and I couldn’t block it. So, some of the photos have funny streaks across them but I hope the instructions are still clear. I was very pleased with the finished result.

Please do have a go. All you need is a couple of fabric scraps, some thread, a needle and two buttons. It will fill an hour of your time – and then email me a photo of your finished cover, so it can be included in the next Newsletter for everyone to enjoy! I shall now start to think about ‘Little Crafting Project Number 2’!

History – Memorable Prime Ministers (Peter Spencer)

Harold Macmillan (1884-1986), Earl of Stockton 1982 After the Suez debacle of 1956 and a series of scandals including the Profumo affair Harold Macmillan became leader of a demoralized Conservative party and Prime Minister in 1957 following the resignation of Sir Anthony Eden. He was born to an English father and American mother in 1894 and educated at Eton and Oxford University. He fought in both world wars and was wounded five times in the first. Although a Conservative MP, he opposed the party’s appeasement policy and sat on the back benches to highlight the plight of the unemployed in the 1930s. When Churchill formed his government in 1940 he appointed him as Minister of Supply. He was posted to North Africa and when the allies invaded Sicily and Southern Italy he became British High Commissioner to the advisory council of Italy and helped broker the armistice deal with Italy on the 8th September 1943 and persuaded King Emmanuelle III to abdicate with the aim of establishing a new anti-fascist and democratic government in Southern Italy. As prime minister he was praised by President Kennedy and Krushchev after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 for his patience and diplomacy in negotiating the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. At home he was determined to avoid the mass unemployment of the 1930s by championing economic planning. His reputation for infectious enthusiasm, pragmatism, wit and unflappability earned him the epithet of ‘supermac’. He spoke about the wind of change, distanced the UK from apartheid and helped speed up the process of decolonization. Within a few years as living standards rose he was able to claim that the people had never had it so good.

5 Household Tips (Hilary Wrightman) One Good Thing by Jillee [email protected]. I use this website quite a lot, it is full of good ideas. It’s free of charge and you can get it automatically sent to your email. I’ve tried lots of the things, and they work.

Lunch at The Clink (Hilary Wrightman) The first and, it would appear, the last outing for a long time in 2020, took place in early March to The Clink Restaurant inside Brixton Prison. After vigorous security checks in the weeks preceding our visit, the day finally arrived for our most unusual lunch outing. Our party was supposed to be 34 people but, owing to ill health and the growing concern about the Coronavirus, we actually ended up with 27 members and their guests.

On arrival at the prison, we had to show our photographic ID and surrendered our driving licences etc. We had to leave everything we had taken with us excluding our coats, with completely empty pockets. We were not even allowed to take in a tissue and had to put all our things in lockers. We were taken en masse to the internal gate of the prison and held in an inner courtyard. The gate closed behind us, which was quite unnerving, and we were all hand searched. Once the search was complete, another gate opened, and we were inside!! We actually got taken in the same way the prisoners go, which was quite thought provoking and a bit disconcerting. Once inside the Prison Governor’s house, which has been converted to a restaurant, we were seated by the waiters, all of whom are prisoners who are on a hospitality course. We had a really lovely lunch which we had pre-selected and had been cooked and then served to us by the prisoners themselves. The cutlery was heavy plastic, but everything else appeared quite normal. We were able to chat to the prisoners and they all appeared to be as happy as they could be in the circumstances and were enjoying the course. There is a lot of competition to join this course which is only open to certain categories of prison inmates, normally those due for release within 18 months, and no one who'd been convicted of sexual offences, or grievous bodily harm were permitted. We were told that the national rate for prisoners who re-offend in their first year after release is 45%, whereas the re offending rate drops to 8% for those on the course. It was a very interesting and memorable experience and, although we paid for and had an enjoyable meal, it also left us with a sense of perhaps helping in their rehabilitation. All in all a memorable visit.

6 My Favourite Outings (Anthony Young) In these strange days, I have been thinking back to nicer times and decided to write about my time as the Outings organiser. We have visited iconic places: the BBC, Houses of Parliament and St Paul's; Stately Homes such as Chartwell, Kenwood and Eltham Palace; seen the Royal Albert Hall, the Thames Barrier and Kew Gardens. I have 3 favourites that aren't on this list, all for a variety of reasons. So, in reverse order.

3. Steampunk at Eastbourne We went twice, both times with hot sunny weather, not knowing what to expect added to the pleasure. We arrived to walk along the prom, surrounded by ladies and gentlemen done up to the nines in amazing Victorian costumes, music playing, stalls awash with goods.

Lunch was of course for our group fish and chips in Harry Ramsdens, followed by a stroll along the pier, which was so clean and bright.

We then paraded up and down the promenade, taking in the sights and sitting down for the obligatory ice cream before catching the coach home.

7 2. The Dedham Vale Vineyard and Tiptree Jam Museum Again, it was a hot sunny day. Eventually, after our coach driver finally managed to find the vineyard, we arrived. The setting was perfect, a vineyard with its own lake. After learning how they produce the wine, we sat down for a magnificently prepared lunch with wine tasting and, judging by the amount of bottles people took away with them, fine wine indeed.

We then set off for Tiptree, and learnt about the history of the site, but the icing on the cake was the indulgent cream teas and fresh fruit we had in abundance.

It was a very quiet coach on the way home!!!

This is chosen for very different reasons!!!!

1. Our Trip to St Albans Christmas Market We set off on a grey cold wet day. Arriving at St Albans we set out in the pouring rain to find the market. The only one we found was a normal market they have every week, no matter how many people I asked, no one had heard of the Christmas Market. After taking shelter in a café for lunch we set out again in the teeming rain, and decided to take shelter in the Cathedral, and to my surprise we found signs for the market, only to realise that there were only 3 stalls open, all selling food!!! We had a tour of the Cathedral where most of our group had arrived. It was with some trepidation that I boarded the coach to come home, expecting people to be upset that the trip wasn't exactly what I had said. But to my surprise I was met by laughter and smiles, possibly because a lot of you had been in the pub all day. We set off for home, and our curse duly hit. Just outside Enfield we sat in traffic for 3 hours. Wet, tired, and still thankfully laughing, we eventually arrived back. I need to thank Christine Slade for her help with forms and help coordinating the trips and Sylvia Medhurst who attended every outing. Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who came along, and I hope that it won't be long until we are able to resume our days out. Keep Safe.

8 Pandemic Top Hits? (Hilary Wrightman) 1 Don’t stand so close to me 2 From a distance 3 Fever 4 Eve of destruction 5 I would walk 500 miles 6 Staying alive 7 You can’t touch this 8 Lonely boy 9 I want to break free 10 Walking in Memphis 11 Mr Lonely 12 Runaway 13 Only the Lonely 14 Walk away Renée 15 Fings Ain't What They Used To Be 16 Walk Don't Run 17 Perfect Day 18 Is this the way to Amarillo? 19 Walk like a Man 20 Step inside Love 21 Walk on by

Members might want to send in their pandemic song suggestions to be published in following newsletters.

Quizzes (Hilary Wrightman) I’m thinking of doing a daily quiz by email. If you would like to participate, please send your email address to Hilary Wrightman and I can add them to my daily mailing list.

Valediction (Jean Hefford & Yvonne Harding) As all the regular walkers are aware, after four years of leading the Forest Walks Group, we are stepping down and are so grateful to John Harris who has very kindly agreed to take over as leader. Although this year the walks have been thwarted by the poor weather, we have both enjoyed the company of lots of nice people and the lovely surroundings of Epping Forest. We will of course still continue walking with the Group with the luxury of having John lead the way.

A Writing Project (Jackie Jacques) Calling all members. Digging in your garden/allotment you come across an ancient artefact eg: a clay pipe, a small glass bottle, a piece of pottery, a spoon, or something more valuable, a ring or a coin, maybe. Using your imagination (you may not even have a garden) write a story, with a beginning, middle and end, explaining how the object came to be where you found it. Some of your stories can be published in the coming months.

9 STANDING NOTICES

Membership Renewals (Christine Slade) Our new membership year started on 1 April 2020. The cost is £20.00 per member per year, but an extra £12.00 per year if a paper copy of communications such as the newsletter and event calendar is required. Payment by cheque only to Buckhurst Hill U3A. Membership cards will be issued as soon as possible on receipt of the forms. One form per person, please. When filling in your contact details, please write clearly – they are our only means of getting in touch! The membership ‘year’ will run for fifteen months from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2021. If the period of suspension goes on for longer, we will increase the membership ‘year’ correspondingly.

Newsletter Inputs (Christine Slade) All members are welcome to provide inputs for newsletters. This is especially important as we in a period of shut-down. Articles should be sent to my account: [email protected] or hard copy can be sent to: Miss C Slade 18 Scotland Road Buckhurst Hill IG9 5NR The closing date for inputs for our next newsletter is Friday 24th April.

COMMUNITY

Apposite? (sourced by Jackie Jacques)

Buckhurst Hill Before Our Recorded History Began (Peter Spencer) Millions of years ago the area was under the sea. A thick band of chalk containing the compressed remnants of billions of sea creatures exists between 400’ and 1000’ below the ground. Nearer the surface is a band of stiff blue clay turning to yellow brown ‘London basin’ clay as the iron in it rusts on contact with the air. Sheets of moving ice in past ages carried pebbles and boulders south to Epping Forest and Buckhurst Hill. The river Roding flood plain is half a mile wide and the river is 45’ above sea level. The eastern side of the valley rises towards Chigwell which overlooks the Thames valley towards Kent. The western side of the valley rises to 270’ above sea level on the High Road before the ground falls away again into the Lea Valley.

10 Evidence has been found of inhabitants in the area before the Norman Conquest such as the Roman well lined with oak timbers about 9’’ thick and the remains of a farm surrounded by a moat at the bottom of the hill. However very few people lived in the area until comparatively recent times and the only sounds a stranger would have heard would have been that of bird song, the lowing of cattle on the scattered farms and the streams, whistles and grunts of deer in the forest.

Fraudsters Preying on Elderly, Vulnerable People in Coronavirus Pandemic – Advice from EFDC

Fraudsters are using the Coronavirus Pandemic to target elderly, vulnerable people already worried about their health and future. The latest scam reported by Essex Police involves people impersonating Trading Standards Officers. They appear to be targeting those who have already fallen victim to rogue traders so these may be follow up attempts to obtain even more money from vulnerable customers. Trading Standards Officers always carry identification and can be verified by calling the national consumer helpline on 03454 040506. Elsewhere there are reports of fraudsters posing as NHS doctors to gain entry to peoples’ homes; offering to do shopping for those who cannot get out, and disappearing with the money; emailing victims claiming to be able to provide a list of coronavirus infected people in their area and when they click on a link it leads to a malicious website. “At a time when our communities are pulling together to look out for our elderly population, these despicable people are preying on their anxieties,” said Cllr Nigel Bedford, Cabinet Member for Community and Partnerships. “Our advice is to be mindful of clicking on links in emails, paying for items online from companies you have not researched, and giving people money or your bank details if they knock on your door and offer to do some shopping on your behalf if you are unable to get out. “Also please remember if you receive an unsolicited phone call about your bank account just hang up and if the phone rings again do not answer it. “If any of this has happened to you, please report to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040. If a suspect is at your address or you believe yourself to be at risk of harm, please dial 999.”

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11 LITTLE CRAFTING PROJECT NUMBER 1

HOW TO MAKE A TISSUE COVER FOR A HANDBAG PACK OF TISSUES, USING FABRIC SCRAPS. 1. Cut two 18cm x 18cm fabric squares. Iron them flat.

2. Pin the fabrics on top of each other, right sides together. Using double thread, backstitch all around the edge, leaving a gap of about 7cm in the middle of one side for turning the square out. Your seam should only be about 1cm – it might help to draw this in pencil around the edge before you begin sewing.

7cm gap for turning

Fabrics pinned together Fabrics sewn together, and a 1cm seam marked 7cm gap left in the middle around the edge. of one side.

3. Before turning the fabric right side out, trim the corners off to ensure a sharp finish.

4. Turn the fabric square inside out and press flat if required. Sew the little opening shut.

5. Fold two opposite corners over, measuring 5cm from the point on either side. Stitch the points down at the tip only.

5cm 5cm

5cm 5cm

12 6. Turn the fabric over and fold it so the two triangles meet. I pinned mine to make sure the triangles lined up correctly.

7. Stitch the ends of the triangles, catching them together. Do not sew through all layers of the fabric!

Catch the ends of the triangles with a few stitches.

8. Turning the fabric over, sew a button onto either end of the remaining points. The button slips into the gap you have created in the middle to secure it.

9. Slip your packet of tissues into the holder. If you have the style of packet which opens in the middle, then you can pull the tissues out through the centre slit. If your tissues open at the end, cut the plastic off the end of the packet first and then cut a V-shaped slit through the middle of the packet (see photo) before inserting into the holder. Voila!

(With thanks to Carole Johnstone for the idea)

13 CULTURE (Redbridge U3A)

Itching to go to the theatre or to a concert? Fortunately, you can still do that - without leaving your home. Theatres all over the world are streaming plays, operas and ballets on the internet, and many concerts are online as well. We have collected some links and other useful information for your enjoyment.

• Drama

Every Thursday at 7.00pm The National Theatre will be streaming a performance online. The show will be available for one week. The coming weeks' plays are: 2nd - 8th April: One Man, Two Guvnors Featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden as Francis Henshall in this hilarious West End and Broadway hit. 9th - 15th April: Jane Eyre This bold and innovative reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms. 16th - 22nd April: Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in this thrilling stage adaptation. Featuring Arthur Darvill as Long John Silver. 23th - 29th April: Twelfth Night Where music is the food of love, and nobody is quite what they seem, anything proves possible in Shakespeare's classic comedy. Featuring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia. More information on https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home To watch the performances, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/ntdiscovertheatre

Hampstead Theatre is also streaming performances. They go online on Mondays at 10.00am and are available until the following Sunday at 10.00pm. The programme so far is: 5th April: Mike Bartlett’s Wild. This darkly comic play explores the unexpected, bewildering, and life-changing consequences of challenging the status quo at a global level. Watch it now on https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/hampstead-theatre-at-home/wild 6th - 12th April: Beth Steel’s Wonderland. An epic and witty drama which takes a look at the clashing ideologies during the UK’s Miners' Strike of 1984–85 and presents the full sweep of the turbulent events that transformed the country. 13th - 19th April: Howard Brenton’s Drawing the Line. This play tells the story of the chaotic partitioning of India in 1947 whilst celebrating the strength of humanity. More information on https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/

• Opera

The Royal Opera House will be streaming a ballet or opera performance every Friday at 7.00pm but it is uncertain if or for how long it will be available afterwards. The operas scheduled at the moment are: 3rd April: Acis and Galatea by Georg Frideric Händel 10th April: Cosi Fan Tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart More information and how to watch on https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalOperaHouse

The Metropolitan Opera in New York offers a nightly opera stream which will be available for 23 hours from 12.30 am (7.30pm in New York). The nightly opera can be watched at https://www.metopera.org/nightly-opera-stream/

14 A string of operas is collected by the website Operavision: https://operavision.eu/en/library/Óperas and available on YouTube. Some theatres upload selected productions themselves. Beneath is a list of opera links to enjoy: Aïda by Giuseppe Verdi (starring Luciano Pavarotti), from San Francisco Opera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8rsOzPzYr8 Carmen by Georges Bizet, from Paris-Bastille Opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTDMvyj4TFg Carmen by Georges Bizet, from National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xa-oC71yqM Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, from Teatro Municipale Valli di Reggio Emilia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaAJLY0i23o Cinderella by Gioachino Rossini, from Irish National Opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbvgLNYxiGI Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from Teatro dell’Opera di Roma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGHTSzcTim0 Ermione by Gioachino Rossini, from Teatro di San Carlo, Naples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WpQlr5ne4 La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, from Teatro Comunale Modena Luciano Pavarotti, Modena: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3IEr3SQPx0 Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, from Royal Swedish Opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfhWTMjKQk Rusalka by Antonin Dvorak, from Opera Ballet Vlaanderen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqawjufy_g The Abduction from the Seraglio by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from Glyndebourne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5lLp4KdDzs The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, from Teatro Municipal de Santiago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrPHHPdBQiY The Bartered Bride by Bedrich Smetana, from Garsington Opera at Wormsley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBHSzJoDNC4 The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from Garsington Opera at Wormsley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNKrxniH_Qo The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, from Opera North: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHANx0Ue08 Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, from Polish National Opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G341HC0hp8 Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, from Teatro Regio, Parma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OYHQRGjjqw

• Ballet The Royal Opera House will be streaming a ballet or opera performance every Friday at 7.00pm but it is uncertain if or for how long it will be available afterwards. The ballets scheduled at the moment are: Already available: Peter and the Wolf, music by Sergei Prokofiev. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF8iuOW7BwA&t=9s

15 17th April: The Metamorphosis, based on Franz Kafka's novella, music by Frank Moon and choreography by Arthur Pita. More information and how to watch on https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalOperaHouse

The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow is also streaming ballet performances but again it is uncertain if or for how long they will be available after the initial streaming. Already available: Swan Lake, music by Piotr Tchaikovsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVueGN7aLRc (Act 1) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpHvQlCAZPg (Act 2) Scheduled with performance starting at 6.00pm: 10th April: The Nutcracker, music by Piotr Tchaikovsky. No direct link available yet, but check on https://www.youtube.com/user/bolshoi

• Concerts A very large number of concerts are being streamed on the internet and Classic FM has compiled an extensive list on their website. You can find it here: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/live-streamed-classical-music-concerts-coronavirus/ All links are accessible on computers and smartphones. If you have a Smart TV, you may even be able to enjoy the performances on that. That's it. If you enjoy theatre and music, this might keep you busy for a day or two.

16 LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

SOOTY - A Confession by Jackie Jacques I’d always thought Labradors were sensible, biddable creatures, helping blind people and customs officers with traffic of one sort or another, so it must have been the anonymous sire that had the dotty streak. For Sooty was a buffoon, an exhibitionist. Like an old queen he would treat any stranger that came to the house to a shameless embrace and then herd them to the nearest chair so he might sit on their lap and smother them with kisses. (We hoped that this nauseating experience would be as off-putting to any would-be intruder as it was to the rest of us.) He was on a continual 'high' and his roistering tail would scatter board games, clear tea trays and sever cigarettes with a showman's flourish. Toddlers, in danger of decapitation, quickly reverted to all fours. Our daughter was very late with her first steps. We took him with us one summer on our first-ever camping trip. It was late afternoon when we arrived at the popular Welsh resort and every site was full. We panicked. Sleeping in the car with a flatulent dog was not a pleasant prospect. Thankfully, a kindly farmer took pity on us and moved his cows so that we might put up in his field. We should have suspected his motives when he hung around to watch the entertainment. It took us an hour to fathom the tent-frame, which had come, from a dubious hire company, minus instructions. Most of the poles were loose and apparently surplus to our over-all design. Nor were we au fait with the camel-loading principle, that you put the creature on its knees before attempting to fit anything to its back. As we heaved the canvas up and hopefully, over, so the construction would scuttle sideways, like a giant crab. Rain clouds were gathering but the air was blue. Meanwhile Sooty was in the grips of his own erection. The children had ejected him from the car in disgust and in his lonely wanderings he had come across treasure. Cowpats! He sniffed, he tasted, and then, abandoning caution, flung himself full-length into the flyblown flop, rolling and squirming and yelping in ecstasy. Then he came to tell us about it. We shot over the fence, all but colliding with the farmer, who, when he could wheeze out the words between snorts of laughter, suggested that we might like to wash the dog at the standpipe in his yard. Sooty didn’t take kindly to being tied to a post to dry and voiced his resentment long and loud. But at least we were able to corner the tent-frame against the fence and, by climbing up, to throw the canvas over our skeletal steer and tether it to a comparatively flop-free patch of field. By the time we had hung the inner bedrooms and inflated the mattresses we were all exhausted and it had begun to rain. We brought the dog in for his tea and he rushed around, knocking children and folding-furniture flat and lashing his tail in delight. We were only groggily conscious of the storm that night but as we surfaced from sleep, became aware of bobbing gently against the wall of the tent. It took some while to realise that we were floating on our airbeds in a lagoon contained by the P.V.C. flooring of our inner room. Our sleeping babes were adrift like pixies on lily pads and the dog was doing his best to drink the evidence. Water was still dripping through at tail-level all round the walls. It is, as we had discovered, fatal to touch the taut material during a rainstorm. We packed up the sodden canvas and went home. But Sooty had acquired a taste for the great out-doors and, refusing to waste his talents on a family of four in affordable housing or cooped up in their garden the size of a tablecloth, would squeeze through the slightest crack, even through an upstairs window onto the porch roof and, gates and fences notwithstanding, would scramble his way to freedom. If he found himself trapped inside, his tragic howling would rouse shift-workers from their slumbers and their wives to violence and so, for a quiet life, we let him roam the estate and call through the letterbox to be let in, just as the children did. Everyone knew him and would save him bones from Sunday roasts, which he would bury as trophies in our garden, preferring the rush matting in the lounge as a main dish. He would saunter along behind the home-beat policeman or the post-man, smiling at his own temerity; he followed the children into school and "Sooty's Mummy" would be summoned to fetch him home. Old men, dozing

17 on a bench with his head in their laps, would fondle his silky ears and dream of sex, and sweet old ladies would rummage in their shopping for a ju-jube or a choccie treat. He certainly knew how to win hearts, both human and canine, as became evident from the growing number of black Labrador-type puppies being born on the estate. One day he made a real spectacle of himself. There he was out on the green, giving a public performance with a very pretty border collie. The problem was that he was such a big boy that he could not now free himself and so the pair continued to be locked in a loving tableau long after the main event, end to end like a Push-me- pull-you, surrounded by an appreciative crowd of children. I blushed as I explained the situation, over the telephone, to a vet, who advised me, with an undisguised snigger, to leave them to cool off. Buckets of water were not a good idea: a sudden shock could have very nasty repercussions. So we left them in flagrante while the curtains twitched, and we went and had our tea. I refused to speak to him when eventually he came home, sorer but certainly no wiser. Such a charisma was bound to attract enemies - other ‘top dogs’, as well as rivals in love and, when challenged, he became a hellhound. His smile curled into a savage snarl and, as his rage roared in his throat and dripped from terrible teeth, his eyes flashing red fury. Generally, the contenders sorted out the hierarchy between them. No rules, no controls. The fittest survived the brawl; the underdog ran away, to lick his wounds in private. Number one on his 'hit list' was a fat little Jack Russell that had nothing to do all day but scamper madly up and down a skid-track, yap-yap-yapping at anything that dared to pass his fence. The terrier's continual raving was clearly rattling our Sooty. He would growl abuse through the fence and cock his leg rudely, but the poor demented beast continued back and forth, squealing its outrage. No one liked the terrier nor his master, a brutish beer-gut of a man, who, we all believed, beat his wife. One sleepy Sunday afternoon there was a knock at the door and when my husband went to answer it, a sledgehammer fist slammed into his face. "That's for you," snarled Beer-gut, "and that's ..."(a left to the stomach) "for your bleeding dog!" I found my husband in the hallway, stunned and retching, his eye already swelling. Pushing me away, he staggered after the man and spun him round, "What the hell are you playing at, pal?’ And to me he yelled, ‘Phone the police!’ "Wanna take it up wiv Old Bill, do yer?" sneered Beer-gut. "You’re the one they’ll do, mate. That dog o’ yourn’s a killer!" It appeared that Sooty had gone too far; he had jumped the fence and savaged the stir-crazy terrier. An ear had been torn off in the fray. "Your dog's the menace!" I raged. "Killing it would be a kindness." My husband shushed me. Surely I hadn't said that! I would never say that, not with half a dozen neighbours out on their steps, raising their eyebrows knowingly. That night Sooty came home to a dreadful silence as Beer-gut’s words preyed on our nerves, fuelling horrible thoughts. A killer? Was he? That soppy creature presently being dressed up by the kids, like some darling old ‘Nana’? Was it just a matter of time before he did something dreadful, something outrageous, something we’d be responsible for? How could we prevent it happening? We couldn’t keep him indoors or tie him up - the neighbours would complain about the racket. A new home? Who would want a delinquent dog? Next day I took him to the vet. This time he didn’t laugh. He told me that dogs don’t kill their own kind, unlike people. Still, it was my choice. I thought of the neighbours and their judgemental looks, thought of Beer-gut and his sledgehammer fist, thought about a quiet life. Looked into my dog’s loving eyes and knew myself for a coward. We told the children Sooty had gone to help the police catch criminals. They’d never have understood the truth. I never forgave myself.

18 A DAY TO REMEMBER by Jan Benson Before The Spencer Mansion gleamed in the sun, its whitewashed walls and Doric columns gleaming with a tinge of gold. The newly washed windows, polished with newspaper and vinegar had the glint of diamonds, causing dazzled eyes to look away. The formal gardens surrounding the house were in full bloom, opulent cabbage and floribunda roses raised their heads to the sun, the pelargoniums and Petunias, red, purple, pink a colourful celebration of summer. A heady scent hung in the air, Lavender overlaying all else. The lawns were a symphony of greens stretching down to the lake. Clipped close and watered by the Under Gardeners, no burnt patches allowed to spoil the verdant carpet. Across the Ha-ha, the fat sheep and cattle grazed on the fertile pastures. Fields of plentiful, ripening crops swayed in the gentle breeze The banqueting hall had never looked better in all its 200 years. Wood Parquet flooring with a beautiful inset floral parquetry design, bees-waxed to a honey glow at 5am that morning by young maids skating across it with dusters tied to their feet. An endless table laid with acres of White Irish linen, Ironed perfectly, no crease daring to appear. Gilt chairs with deep crimson seat cushions ready for the aristocratic bottoms of the guests. Portraits of long dead bejewelled ancestors stared down at the opulent scene. Between the five windows alcoves stood gilt tables, with mirrors and candle sconces above, reflecting the table laid with all the best silver, polished and buffed with the secret formula known only to the butler. Two Waterford Chandeliers dripped their fiery raindrops of pure lead crystals, sending a hundred rainbows onto the cream and green papered walls, each droplet had been dipped into another secret mixture to ensure its clarity. The baroque engraved Venetian drinking goblets and glasses were arranged at every setting, reflecting more light from the flower adorned gilt epergnes and candelabras set along the middle of the white napery. In the kitchens a feast to rival a celebration at Hampton Court had been prepared, enough food to feed the county for a year. The house was ready, prepared for the wedding today of Elizabeth, Lord Spencer’s only daughter, more precious to him than any fortune he had made. Her fiancé Sebastian, a handsome, dashing, young Captain of Hussars. The elder son of their neighbour, Sir John Grey. Childhood sweethearts, at last to be joined forever.

After The massive oak Entrance door to the Mansion hung drunkenly on broken hinges, great gashes in its panels made by a scythe and adze, the acrid smell of gunpowder hung on the air causing a slight fog, the tablecloth sullied by pools of red wine and blood. The fine glittering windows polished by 10 maids lying in shards on the floor. The mirrors were smeared with grease. The crimson seats covered in filth. The candlesticks and epergnes gone, into the sacks of the rioting peasants. The glasses overturned, many missing, also in the pockets and sacks of the starving plunderers. The silver cutlery had been used to eat the feast and then also disappeared with the desperate populace. One chandelier was still hanging in place by a single chain, the other a crumpled heap on the floor, or what was left of it, glittering droplets scattered like ice across the stained scratched wooden floor. One of the under gardeners crept back to remove the tablecloth, the linen could make shirts for thirty men. The taxes imposed on the starving peasants had finally broken the donkey's back. The replete peasants trudged off across the lawns and flower beds taking anything worth a coin or two, trampling the rest to mud. The Spencer and Grey families had narrowly escaped with their lives, their servants had allowed them 1 hour, they sped across the countryside to Dover to try to get onto a clipper to France, the Hanoverian King had fled. The New English Revolution had started.

19 SMALL KINDNESSES by Danusha Laméris

I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs to let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you” when someone sneezes, a leftover from the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying. And sometimes, when you spill lemons from your grocery bag, someone else will help you pick them up. Mostly, we don’t want to harm each other. We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot, and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smile at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder, and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass. We have so little of each other, now. So far from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange. What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here, have my seat,” “Go ahead - you first,” “I like your hat.”

SONNET FOR A JUNE BRIDE by Pam Eaves She sang and danced upon her little stage so light of heart, dreaming of joys to come, and read, devouring fondly every page of love. Poor handsome heroes stricken dumb

by beauteous damsels clothed in father’s wealth. No revelation of their love is dared, but in the end, by fairer means or stealth, all is revealed and true love is declared.

Heart throbbing and her fair face wreathed in smiles, our maiden’s feet tread lightly to the church; confetti lying thick in vivid piles. Alas our bride has not done her research.

Poor dreamy girl, she never stopped to think she’d end up shackled to a kitchen sink.

20 QUIZ

BH-U3A – The ‘No Googling Film Code Breaker (Sue Meredith) 1st Prize – A virtual trophy 2nd Prize – A virtual silver medal

Instructions - each code is a well-known film – crack the code and identify the film. For example the code 101 D is 101 Dalmations

Instruction for submission of your completed quiz by email or post is given at the end. Answers will be given, and prize winners announced in the next newsletter. I hope you all give it a try. ENJOY!

1. 7 B for 7 B 2. 2001 A S O 3. The W 9 Y 4. 3 M and a B 5. O 11 6. C 22 7. 1 F O the C N 8. L, S and 2 S B 9. 50 S of G 10. G in 60 S 11. The F 4 12. The 7 Y I 13. 12 A M 14. A on P 13 15. A 13 16. 28 D L 17. M on 34th S 18. The 40 Y O V 19. A the W in 80 D 20. 127 H 21. 20,000 L U the S 22. C E of the 3rd K 23. 12 Y a S 24. 47 R 25. The 39 S 26. 7 S

21 27. 10 T I H A Y 28. S 17 29. U 93 30. 3 K

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