Bearsden and

Monthly Newsletter https://u3asites.org.uk/bam February 2021

Photo by Photo Group 3

Monthly Meetings

The next Monthly Meeting reverts back to our usual day – Tuesday 16th February at 11.00 am. We will hear about the University of ’s Special Collection and Treasures from Siobhan Convery, Assistant Director, Collections Strategy and Keeper of the Hunterian Books and Manuscripts.

Here is the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96258988595?pwd=eE1qTko2TFNKL0VsMmdHdS9Ob0R4Zz09

Meeting ID: 962 5898 8595

Passcode: 068727

1

Feedback on January Meeting

In January we were treated to an excellent talk given by Professor Bruce Peter on “Interiors of Clyde-built passenger ships”. He curated the ‘Ocean Liners: Speed and Style’ the main exhibition on the opening of the V & A museum in Dundee.

His beautifully illustrated presentation gave us a glimpse into the extraordinary output of Clyde built ships and the lavish bespoke interiors of the liners that sailed the world.

He gave us personal recollections and humorous accounts of his own experiences on remodelled liners. Sadly, most of these beautiful ships are no longer in use and many have ended up being destroyed in breakers yards in India.

It is hoped that Professor Peter will provide another presentation later in the year on another of his passions, Glasgow’s Cinemas.

Are you able to help Prof Peter in his research?

James Patrick McBride (born 1895) was an eminent designer of the post – war merchant fleet and lived in a bungalow in Drive , unfortunately little more is known of him.

Does anyone have any information, particularly any members living in that road or with friends there who may have heard of him or seen his name on title deeds? We’ll pass on your message to a very grateful Professor.

An urgent request for help from members!!

The website is not only a source of information for members, it also acts as our ‘advert ‘for prospective members. After 8 years of editing, Val Perman, has reluctantly decided to retire and pass on the baton to someone new. This role needs no previous experience in website management as it has a ready-made facility for editing and uploading news and articles. You can do it at your convenience and requires just a few hours occasional work. The rewards are seen instantly and you will be keeping our image fresh and updated.

The committee past and present are most grateful to Val and she deserves her step backwards. We need members to seriously consider offering to help as success of the branch is a reflection of input from members.

Any initial questions please contact [email protected]

2

Group News

Thursday Art Group

We continue to meet using WhatsApp and although naturally miss getting together, we’ve found that having this set time has helped to motivate us. Sharing our creations and comments has provided encouragement & inspiration.

3

At a recent meeting, twelve of us met and enjoyed being creative using colour and collage as our inspiration. The idea was to experiment with the effects of using different media, perhaps focusing too on shades of a single colour. This provided a sense of freedom and pleasure in the process, as opposed to trying too hard to plan a particular outcome. On a grey and damp day, lovely vibrant colours appeared in the various contributions. Helen Paisley

Cinema Group – looking forward?

At the start of lockdown 1 we had 22 members and attended most films for Seniors at the cinema. It may be quite some time before we are able to return but when we do, there will be so many new films to enjoy with our free coffee and biscuits. This photo is a small part of the cinema group, taken back in February 2020. Remember those so carefree days? Debbie Bland

Science Group

This month we look forward to hearing about “The State of Nature in ” when we are visited (virtually!) by Dr Sheena Wurthmann, ecologist and retired senior lecturer. Bearing in mind that The State of Nature report 2020 reported an average 68% decrease in population sizes of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish between 1970 and 2016, we're hoping she can bring us some good news as well as the not so good. Zoom links will be sent out prior to the meeting - Tuesday 9th Feb at 2pm. Jim and Mae Thomson

Outdoor Sketchers

Outdoor Sketchers are continuing this year over the winter with monthly Zoom meetings. They have sent us this image of Cochno. The group have been having fun keeping up their sketching skills playing Pictionary. Ann Nevitt

Bookworms

Our January choice, “Summerwater “by Sarah Moss, provoked lively discussion. Most of us could identify with the frustrations of the holidaymakers holed up in their lodges on a miserable afternoon and some found the atmosphere oppressive. The characters, love them

4 or loathe them, were well drawn and the stream of consciousness approach worked well in revealing the tensions among them.

And now for something completely different. In February we’re off to Nigeria with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her Women’s Prize for Fiction Winner of Winners “Half of a Yellow Sun”. Morag Johnson

Membership Renewals

It is that time of the year for renewing membership, you will be able to carry this out safely either by internet bank transfer or cheque. Please look out for an email later in February giving further details, it will have 2 attachments each one relevant to the method you prefer to use.

How much is my subscription for 2021 – 22?

The past number of years it has remained at £10 for an individual and £8 for each additional person living at the same address. There is no change for the coming year.

How is my subscription spent? The Committee aims to be prudent with your subscription.

Very little stays within the branch, almost £7 is paid to the Central and Scottish organisation.

Much of the remainder is used for IT licences and stationery & postage. The only saving this past year has been on hall lets for the monthly meetings.

Want to get in touch with u3a members across the country?

Remember there is a Facebook group set up to connect members across the movement aimed at support and sharing ideas during these difficult months. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1377425147699

Do you have PR or Marketing experience?

There is a role with job description available to help raise the u3a profile. The National office is recruiting PR Advisers across the regions. This is a role you can shape and develop locally working with the u3as in your area, the other PR Advisors across the country and your Regional Trustee. If you would like to find out more about the role, please get in touch with Margaret Fiddes

New to Zoom?

We have some members who are willing to offer tuition in the use of Zoom, which is provided online on a one-one basis. Would anyone who wants to take up this offer please contact Peter James via [email protected]

5

Scottish Water Report

In 2020 we were invited by Scottish Water to reply to a consultation seeking information on how visitors use the green spaces and reservoirs in Milngavie. The summary report has recently been published and viewed on their website www.scottishwater.co.uk/milngavie

Gardening in February-looking forward to Spring

So much advice is meant for gardeners further south with different growing conditions. If you have tips on any gardening topic please pass them on to [email protected]

A member sent in this advice for dealing with Slugs and Snails. A tip she uses for newly planted seedlings is to cut the base from a 4pt milk carton and bury it about 3 to 4 cm deep to protect the plant. Leave the lid off and it is like a mini greenhouse. Rain or water can get in through the lid opening. It was great for her courgettes last year, until they outgrew them. A mixture of coffee grounds and crushed washed egg shells is also a deterrent but you will need a lot of these. Many thanks for your contribution!

This month's garden jobs are mostly about preparing things ready for the spring. But if the weather allows there are also some early sowing and growing tasks.

Dig up perennial weeds in your beds and garden.

Prune summer-flowering clematis towards the end of the month, before active growth begins.

Start chitting early potatoes- stand them on end in a module tray or egg box and place them in a bright, cool, frost-free place.

Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering and

cut back hardy ever green hedges

Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over the winter.

Sow early seeds under glass and plant summer flowering bulbs.

Pardon the Pun

Don’t interrupt someone working intently on a puzzle. Chances are you’ll hear cross words.

6

Photo Puzzles

Where Was I? Photo Group 2 What Am I? Photo Group 1

Last month was Glasgow University Last Month it was a Stapler

Crypto Puzzles

Below is a well-known saying, which has been encrypted by substituting a number in the range 1–26 for each letter. To help you get started, one of the letter substitutions is shown in the following grid. Use the grid to record the other letter substitutions as you discover them.

David Watt

Crypto-Puzzle 26A

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A

3 25 20 17 9 13 13 20 17 3 2 8 8 19 17 2 15 1 15 23 A 3 25 20 11 20 21 15 8 19 3 2 15 1 9 11 14 2 17 3 25 9 3 A A 11 20 21 15 8 19 3 2 15 1 2 3 17 20 8 23 18 2 8 8

3 11 9 1 17 23 15 11 12 3 25 20 1 9 3 19 11 20 15 23 A A 25 19 12 9 1 5 20 2 1 10 17 . A

7

Crypto-Puzzle 26B

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 M

6 14 6 12 22 1 7 6 22 4 5 23 3 10 17 10 15 21 22

6 4 5 22 2 22 4 5 22 4 16 9 6 4 5 23 11 22 20 15 13 23 22 M 16 10 22 8 9 15 12 22 8 17 13 23 22 22 2 7 17 11 14 22 9 23 M M 1 7 17 9 15 14 14 15 4 18 14 22 23 . M

Solution to Crypto-Puzzle 25A

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. ‒ Mark Twain

Solution to Crypto-Puzzle 25B

I have always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific. ‒ Lily Tomlin

8