9 November 2020
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Charity Reg No 1178911 Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://u3asites.org.uk/buckhurst-hill Chair Kevin Lucas 020 8506 0206 / 07799 883100 [email protected] Vice Chair Hilary Wrightman 020 8559 2777 / 07836 671582 [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] Hall Hire Secretary Christine Slade 020 8505 1005 [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 Literary Supplement Page 16 Quizzes Page 25 Group Information Page 29 1 Welcome from the Chair Welcome to the November edition of the Buckhurst Hill U3A Newsletter. So, here we are at the start of “Lockdown 2”, although it does seem rather different this time. Walking around Buckhurst Hill and Woodford on 5th November (day 1) there seemed very little difference. Perhaps it is because the restrictions are different, perhaps it is because we were already in “Tier 2” or perhaps people are just a bit fed up with the whole situation. What was obvious was that the usual heavy traffic along Woodford High Road was still there! The timing of this latest lockdown is unfortunate. The Craft Group held its second meeting in October, the Photography Group managed a forest outing, and the Walking Group was gearing up to restart. November will see these activities put on hold once again but hopefully Craft will be able to meet in December. Photography and Walking are heavily weather dependant so it remains to be seen if they can manage an outing in December. As mentioned last month, our Honorary President, Anthony Young, has very kindly offered to run a quiz via Zoom on Saturday 14th November. This will be our second quiz of this sort and I hope as many of you as possible will register to take part. The quiz will start at 7.30pm and if you would like to take part please register your interest by emailing me at [email protected] before Thursday 12th November. Thank you to all members who have already registered. I will email joining instructions on Friday 13th (with apologies to any sufferers of Paraskevidekatriaphobia). We have not so far received a significant response from members to the idea of engaging speakers willing to deliver talks via Zoom. The deadline to register interest has been extended to Monday 30th November, so if you have not already done so but would be interested please email me at [email protected]. To continue producing a monthly Newsletter when all our usual activity is on hold means that we are reliant on you, the membership, to keep submitting interesting articles for inclusion. We are still receiving appreciative feedback so please keep them coming! In the meantime, take care and stay safe. * * * 2 BUCKHURST HILL U3A NEWS Art Practical Group (Angela Ross) Unfortunately, for various reasons the group has decided to close. However, if anyone wished to take over running the group it could certainly continue (once things are back to normal and we can meet face to face!). We normally meet twice a month at the Woollard Centre at 2 pm to 5 pm and have an enjoyable afternoon painting in the medium of our choice. We have no formal teacher, but group members are very happy to help if there are any new members who may not have painted before. We received a refund from Buckhurst Hill Parish Council for the cancellation of our hall hire due to the closure of all halls during the coronavirus pandemic. That sum, and a larger amount which was from individual payments made by members who joined the group occasionally, will be donated to Macmillan, as we were unable to hold our Coffee Morning this year. Craft Group (Fiona Lucas) This month, a small number of crafters gathered for the second time since last February to make some greetings cards. We made two different cards: one which opened to reveal a pop-up bouquet and the other was a waterfall card which, on pulling a tab, cascades a series of pictures and the greeting. We had fun cutting, colouring and sticking! It was also great for the second month in succession to feel ‘normal’ and get back to our group sessions. Below are some photos of our cards – I think you will agree that they are most attractive, although it is difficult to capture the action of a waterfall card! The Pop-up Bouquet Card 3 The Waterfall Card Unfortunately, with the second Lockdown now in force, we shall not be able to meet in November but, fingers crossed, we shall get together on 18th December for a lovely Christmas make. Usually, the Craft group meets on the third Friday morning of the month at the Roding Valley Hall. Our aim is to work at a variety of crafts, giving us all the opportunity to work with an assortment of materials using different skills. At each session, we tackle a different craft. Absolutely no artistic or special skills are required. Anyone can join us! No one is an expert, we just like having a go at making things, helping each other and having a chat and a laugh! The Craft Group page on the website has photos of all the projects we have undertaken so far. At the moment, there is a waiting list to join the group but because of the current uncertainty and the fact that our meeting numbers have had to be reduced because of the limited numbers of tables in the Hall, I have had to close the waiting list. To those of you who are on it, I am sorry, but I have no idea when I shall be able to invite you to join us. I am sure you understand that it might be a long wait! Now for some other Crafting News! Joan Brunt has sent me photos of her recent crochet projects – a ‘bobble’ jumper (which she is modelling in the picture!) and a scarf that she has completed for her niece. She has also begun working on another beautiful blanket from a pattern by Janie Crowe entitled ‘Fields of Gold’, which was inspired by fields of sunflowers in France. I’m sure that this blanket will turn into another triumph like the last one! I’m looking forward to seeing Joan’s monthly progress with the pattern which looks so complicated! 4 Joan has also crocheted a lop-eared rabbit for her niece, which just needs sewing together and some features added. The pumpkin was requested by Joan’s daughter. Joan’s hands must never be still with all this crocheting! Sue Palmer reports that she has been busy knitting hats to match gloves that she has bought throughout the year for Christmas Shoeboxes. Judith Wilson has been very busy baking cakes for a multitude of family birthdays. She is obviously a great cook – maybe the ‘Great British Bake-Off’ might beckon next year! 5 Judith has also spent a lot of time turning a spare bedroom into a dedicated Craft Room – oh, how I envy her! She even has a sink in the corner, so useful for cleaning up after those messy crafts – what luxury!! She has named it the Rainbow Room, inspired by Covid19 and the work of the NHS. Now that the weather has turned and we are locked down again, Judith will be spending a lot of time in her Rainbow Room, making ‘Hugs made with Love’ for a small charity she runs with a friend. We look forward to photos of those next month! Prolific crafter, Yvonne Hall has sent me photos of two Tote bags that she has made for a Hedgehog loving friend for Christmas and she has also made a pair of starry Christmas oven gloves! It has taken Cheryl Macnair approximately 15 years to complete this lovely tapestry! She started this project ages ago and she reports that it has lain dormant at the back of a wardrobe until she finished it during Lockdown. Cheryl decided to recover her piano stool using it and I think she can be justifiably thrilled with the end result. 6 Finally, Valerie Nettles has been experimenting with freehand embroidery with her sewing machine on dissolving fabric. She has created these lovely ‘wispy’ seed heads and (my personal favourite) autumn leaves, which look great arranged around the twig. Don’t forget to send me any photos of your creations – you do not have to be a member of the Craft Group – so that other people can also enjoy the fruits of your labour. And, you never know, it might give inspiration to others! Creative Writing (Jackie Jacques) If you remember, the task for last month was to write a story that included 8 words that other members of the group contributed. The words were: vertiginously, altogether, dance, discombobulated, intimidated, relation/ship, ambition and melody. A very different offering to last month is included using these words. History Group (Anthony Young) We are going to start our History Group again via Zoom. This will be from Tuesday 3rd November from 2.00pm to 2·40pm, and then every Tuesday.