GUISBOROUGH U3A NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2021 University of the Third Age Registered Charity No. 1125829

Hello everyone, this is your tenth Alternative Newsletter from the Committee, to keep in touch with you during the government’s continuing restrictions.

Chairman’s Blog March 21

I hope we all feel somewhat reassured after receiving the first jab although, as JVT said in the recent Downing St press conference, there are still about 40 million jabs to be given before the most vulnerable groups will have received their second dose. The restrictions continue for now.

As the sun currently shines through our windows however optimism is certainly creeping back in.

It is around now that we usually issue notices for the AGM which traditionally is held in May. The committee has decided not to attempt to hold this year’s AGM in May as restrictions will still be in place. Our constitution allows for a gap of up to 15months between AGMs. Last year we eventually managed to hold our AGM remotely in September so we plan to hold a normal AGM possibly in September when things should be back to normal.

One problem is that the position of Chair can only be held for 2 years and my time is up in May. The position of Vice Chair is also vacant as we were not able to fill it last year. I can carry on at least until the next AGM but we are in need of some new blood in our committee so please have a think about how you may be able to help.

In the meantime we can now look forward to meeting again in person as we work our way through the steady release of lockdown. John Wardill, Chair

If you’d like to raise any points for consideration by the Committee, please send them to the Secretary.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

March is a significant month in membership terms, as it marks the end of our membership year, the new one starting on 1st April. So, it is time to hunt for your membership cards, and blow the dust off them, to check your membership status. The colour is a clue - if it isn’t purple, you need to rejoin! To clarify the changes we made to accommodate the pandemic: If you rejoined (or joined, indeed) in the 2020 year, you will have an extended membership until April 2022, and do not need to do anything about your membership until then. If your membership runs from the 2019 year, it will expire at the end of March. For those who wish to avoid ‘relegation’, you can download a renewal form from the website, complete it, and return it to me with your fee, and an SAE, and I will process it forthwith. If anyone has any difficulty with this, please let me know, and I will do what I can to help. Also, good news for Saltburn joint members - Saltburn are offering the same reduced membership system, so it no longer matters which of us you join first! (They are aware that your 2020 issued membership cards are valid until 2022.)

We have done our best to keep in touch with members over these difficult times, mainly through the AltNews, which has been coming out on a monthly basis. I know how much this has been appreciated by members, as many of you get in touch to thank me. If you choose not to renew, this will be a benefit you will lose out on!

We have appreciated those who have continued to support us over the past year. Even though we might not have been having our regular meetings, or groups, the work behind the scenes has still been considerable. Not made easier by the on/off nature of lockdowns, and the need for constant covid safe assessments. Whilst it might feel that everything came to a juddering stop, we have been warmed and impressed by those who have risked engaging with unfamiliar technology to move interest groups on- line, with great success. If anyone would like to do the same, it would be so much appreciated, and there would be a good deal of support to help it happen.

It is also the time to turn our eyes to the AGM which, in normal times, would be due in May. We are still working on how best to do this, and will keep you posted. However, some of the current trustees are reaching their sell-by dates, and will be in need of replacement, and as membership secretary I am getting perilously close. New blood and new ideas are just what we need! We are always happy to talk with anyone who might have an interest in helping in any way - so please, think carefully when we get to the point of inviting nominations about how you might be able to support your u3a in a more active role. We can’t offer any free inducements, but you would be welcomed and supported! If anyone would like to contact any of us for an informal chat (without commitment) we would be delighted.

I look forward to seeing everyone again in safer times! Best wishes - Diana

British Red Cross First Aid Sessions - on Zoom

Are you interested in acquiring some basic First Aid Skills or brushing up on what you already know? Then this one-off workshop is for you. The session covers some basic skills on how to deal with various scenarios which participants may encounter, e.g. injuries from falls, accidents around the home to medical emergencies such as heart attack. Due to Covid-19 restrictions the sessions are being offered digitally.

Tuesday 9th March, 1.30-3.00pm Wednesday 17th March, 10.30am-12noon.

If you are interested, please choose a date and contact me, to secure a place, on the email address below. I will get back to you with the Zoom details for the session. We would like to stress that providing First Aid training would not put Members under any obligation, when involved in U3A Activities, to give any assistance that they do not feel totally happy and confident to give.

Not familiar with Zoom – You will need the Zoom App on the device you will be using. If you are unsure, please contact me, just to make sure we are all comfortable with Zoom.

Not able to take part in Zoom sessions, or would prefer face to face. We hope to offer this when we are able to.

Sandra Davies (Activities Coordinator)

”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””” BRITISH RED CROSS 150 YEARS

Our free digital classrooms are available for adults (19+) and young people (aged 10-19 years old) and are an opportunity to learn new skills and connect with others.

For all of our digital sessions, which are run via Zoom or Teams, the group can join with their devices individually or a Red Cross educator can present to an entire group if they are all in the same location.

If you have any questions please get in touch on please contact us on R [email protected] or 07545926568 / 07834529083

Digital classrooms for adults (19+).

A range of digital education session for adults, including a brand-new workshop, Adapt & recover from adversity.

Adapt & recover from adversity: reflect on how the Pandemic has impacted on you, and learn skills to help yourself and others adapt to returning to normality. First aid: learn essential, life-saving skills to help in an emergency. Tackling loneliness digitally: during this time, many more of us are feeling lonely and isolated. This workshop provides the opportunity to speak openly about how it might feel to be lonely or isolated and learn skills to help others who may be suffering. Tea, learn and connect: an informal session which takes place every Wednesday on Zoom. A safe space for adults to see familiar faces, chat with others and learn new things. Available for individual bookings only.

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Wellbeing and loneliness Vaccine voices

As the Pandemic continues, loneliness We've created a new area on our website affects more people. to build understanding of the Covid-19 vaccine. We've got a whole host of activities and information to help you develop new It includes information, facts and real skills, build confidence and make stories of people who have had their connections. Covid-19 vaccine. Find out about their experience and develop skills for managing worries and making decisions. > Find out more > Read more

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Spring is on it’s way and the following has been received from Maureen Kesteven, National Garden Scheme County Organiser, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. “I wondered if you could pass on the message below to U3A groups in the North East, as your groups have been visitors to our gardens in the past.

“You may be interested to know that the NGS NE booklet has just been printed. I am hopeful that by Easter movement will not be as restricted as at present, and the places in which we usually put them will be open. I shall then be able to get them out to people. I also hope that gardens will be open as usual, but at the moment all visits (some gardens in the south are open) are for local residents only and by pre-purchased ticket online, and the NGS is advising everyone to check the website, www.ngs.org.uk , before visiting to see if there are any changes.

So I am trying to get as many as possible distributed digitally. I have made a digital “flip book” - https://online.fliphtml5.com/itxdz/bkhr/ Could you please send this on to your members and ask them to send them on?

If anyone requires a hard copy of the booklet then please send me a stamped addressed envelope and I shall forward a copy to them. My address is 2 Holburn Lane Court, Ryton. NE40 3PN.

Best wishes, Maureen Kesteven, NGS County Organiser, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Regional Chairman, North of England Trustee [email protected]

NATURE NOTES – WINTER 2020-2021 27th November. Surprised to find three stonechats still up on the moor. 1st December. Lot of bird activity on Wilton Lane. Saw moorhen, bullfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, tree sparrows, willow tit and a group of redwing and fieldfare from Scandinavia for winter. A big bird, perched on a tree and silhouetted by the sun turned out to be a buzzard when it flew. Amazingly, on a waste tip off the track there were poppies and weld still flowering amongst other thriving outcasts. An absolutely glorious day for the first day of meteorological winter – though there was hoar frost on top of Eston Nab. 9th December. Coming down from Mountview, we had seen longtailed, blue, coal and great tits, goldfinch, treecreeper and kestrel, when we noticed some of the white, now becoming darker, fungus still there. We were told by a man driving down that they were “trooping funnel”. So, there’s one ticked off my long list of undetermined fungi! 28th December. On the railway line to Nunthorpe saw buzzard, tree sparrows, goldfinch and a flock of fieldfare and redwing seemed to have taken up residence. Frost and snow showers interspersed with heavy rain was the pattern for the next six weeks. 30th December. Walking by the beck near Bakehouse Square I disturbed a little egret. It flew up and perched on a wall, showing of its comical yellow feet on the end of black legs. As I watched it flew down to a weedy cress patch and slowly started walking. Each time the right foot went down it was wiggled. It seemed to work because it ate three morsels it had disturbed in a few minutes. 4th January. Went to look for egret again. Just giving up when a bright blue “bullet” went past – the kingfisher was back for another winter. Already feeling elated I went on and there it was, perched. I obviously disturbed it and it flew on to the little footbridge, stayed a few seconds, then flew up and round corner to Bow Street. I was blown away, twice! 5th January. Coming back into town along Whitby Road there was the bright blue flash again in the stream. When I got in sight of the traffic lights I saw it perched on the retaining wall of the corner house. I watched it for a minute or so then it flew onto the cables strung along the bridge wall before it flew off round the corner, without waiting for the traffic lights, towards Bakehouse Square. No sign of the kingfisher when I got there but the egret flew up and perched on a high roof for a few seconds. I risked life and limb on that icy path almost every day after that but didn’t see either of them there again, perhaps because the beck was muddy and not clear enough for fishing and the weed was under water most of the next month. 12th January. Saw two egrets on beck and pools near the bridge on Wilton Lane. This was the first of many sightings there. 18th January. Nuthatch – first heard the bubbling call then spotted it. 22nd January. The flood below Sainsbury’s had receded. Saw long tailed tits, bullfinch and grey wagtails down beck. Had 3 sightings of buzzard on Wilton Lane and saw two swans on one of the permanent ponds in the distance. 26th January. Coming down from Hanging Stone with blobs of snow all around when two of the white blobs seemed to be moving 30 yards ahead. It was a pair of roe deer. They crossed the track and went down the wood below. 29th January. Definite willow tit amongst other tits on feeder at Mount View. Just below the house a roe deer casually departed on seeing us. 30th January. A lot of activity on the Butt Lane feeders. 4 robins, usually territorial and aggressive, were feeding together amongst the other birds. A female greater spotted woodpecker landed on the bushes but unfortunately was quickly disturbed by a biker. Saw flock of long tailed tits and a treecreeper on way back through wood. 1st February. A grouse landed about 3 metres from me on the path up Little Roseberry. I don’t know who was more surprised. Large flock (60-100) of fieldfares and redwings in a field at Highcliff Farm. 5th February. At the gate from the woods on to Roseberry a weasel ran across the path just in front of us. It had something substantial in its mouth, obviously still finding a living up here is this cold spell. Heard the “yaffle” of a green woodpecker at the top of Lounsdale Plantation, then again as we were just above Hutton Village. 10th February. Fresh snow was lying on the railway track above Hutton Lane where I came across small dark bits strewn around. It was too regular, but sparse, for it to be bird seed someone had thrown out. I picked up a piece and found it was a tiny flower bud. When I looked up at the wych elms there I saw there were buds right up on the tops. Then I saw the culprits who had picked them – about 20 goldfinch and 4 bullfinch. The elms are always so early that I often miss the blossom until it is almost past so thanks to the finches and the snow for making it obvious. A buzzard was flying over Home Farm, then 2 greater spotted woodpeckers, 2 nuthatches, all the tit family and unusually these days – 5 greenfinch all seen on this beautiful day of sunshine and snow showers. 15th February. Found the plum tree by the beck had blown down in yesterday’s strong winds. No more delicious feeds for me. It is said that plants produce more flower and hence seed when they are near to death, so that’s perhaps why it was such a good crop last year. Up Wilton Lane, a huge flock of fieldfare and redwing were wheeling around and looking very uneasy. Perhaps they are preparing to fly back to Scandinavia with the warmer weather and strong southerly winds. 17th February. Saw a barn owl in the wood above Butt Lane. I’d heard of 3 sightings of day time flying over the past month or so and was very pleased to have seen one for myself. 19th February. The spurge laurel has just unfurled its first delicate lemon flowers. 20th February. An egret flew up from the beck near Wilson Street and landed on the grass. A grey wagtail flew along the beck and I spotted 3 celandines just appearing. 21st February. I heard, then saw one, then two, then four and finally seven buzzards circling above my garden. They were high up and there for ages. A lone honey bee had ventured out into the aconites and a drowsy ladybird was on the window sill on this very mild day. Let’s hope they aren’t out too early and that we have a good spring. Kath.

Like to try something else for a change? The Group Coordinators would be pleased to hear from you. You don’t have to be a Group member to try your hand at Flower Arranging, Creative Writing/Poetry, or Tai Chi online. No previous experience is necessary, and there’s no commitment to continue if you find you’ve too many other things to do when we start getting back to ‘normal’, hopefully in the Summer.  Flower Arranging Group . The Group has a different theme each month and for March, it’s “Spring”. We may use only flowers that would be flowering naturally in Spring, ie no roses, gerbera etc, because they wouldn’t naturally flower in a Spring garden in the UK.

Please consider joining us and enjoy creating an arrangement that will take your mind off other things for a while. As the Group can’t meet face to face at the moment, we create our arrangements at home, whenever it suits. If you’d like to attend the next Zoom meeting at 2pm on 9th March, you’d be very welcome (without commitment to joining the group). Please contact Pat for advice or to let her know what you’re doing. [Pam will help you practice using Zoom in advance.]

 Creative Writing/Poetry Groups . John Simmonds invites contributions on the following topic:

“Why should that glimpse of such a small bird have moved me so much?”

This is a very timely topic, given the imminent arrival of Spring. Entries may be in handwriting or typed in the style you prefer. Your Dep. Sub. Ed. (DsE) could collect and deliver as part of her daily exercise route.

 The Photography Group is very active (not face to face) with members taking photos when they’re out in their gardens or taking exercise. Margaret has given us monthly themes and new members would be welcome.

Please contact Margaret if you’d like to get involved. If you don’t wish to join the Group but would like to share a special photo(s), please send them in, so we can all enjoy them.

 Tai Chi. Dorothy and John, the Group Coordinators very generously provide three practice lessons a week. It’s uplifting to see them and others on the screen (your DsE makes sure only her head and shoulders show on the screen, not the fluffy slippers/paint splattered jeans!). Tai Chi and Qi Gong are calming, soothing, provide an excellent gentle workout, and promote good health in mind and body, physical flexibility and improve balance.

Classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11.30am - 12.10pm. They’re free and it’s not essential to attend every time.

The exercises involve bending, twisting, stretching, and balancing. It is a standing exercise and space restrictions at home limit us to taking 2 steps in each direction. Practicing in the home environment means that the exercises are simplified so they are suitable for beginners. The mind has to be present and cannot wander during practice so many people experience stress relief. If someone already practices a physical activity such Pilates, Yoga, dance, or are a member of one of the Walking groups, they should be good to go.

However, we all have to start somewhere and if you’d like to try Tai Chi, take more exercise this year and enjoy an activity that will take your mind off other things for a while, please contact Dorothy and John who will provide support and help you to decide if Tai Chi is for you. You don’t have to be a member of the group to try Tai Chi online, and there’s no waiting list to join Zoom classes. You do need to have a current membership of GU3A.

Please just get in touch with us and we will see if we can ‘get you up and running’. Dorothy and John Poole. In addition: Some of the walking groups are active when government and Third Age Trust guidance permit. Other active groups are: Ancient Greek, Latin for Fun, Res Classicae and Science.

TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO USE TECHNICAL THINGS 5 years ago, or so, at sundowner time, sitting conveniently close to the Saga lounge for the decent free wine, reading, listening to the birds chattering in a nearby tree, the Archers tune penetrated my subconscious mind. Looking round idly it dawned on me that it really was the Archers tune, coming from a thing being held by another holidaymaker. Wow, I thought, this is the life – a good book, decent free wine, warm evening, birds chattering and the Archers in Crete. Chatting to my neighbour, he explained his children had bought him a tablet from Tesco which did everything he wanted and more and recommended I get one. Three weeks later in Tesco, I took a deep breath, asked for advice and bought the same. I’ve never got the hang of it, use it only when I go away as it’s light to carry, pathetically hand it over to hotel reception staff asking them if they can make it work, please (which they do), just about get used to using it for emails (but still at a loss about most other things it can do), then pack it to go home, where the battery goes flat in time. Lockdown 1, March 2020. Determined to use the time profitably and expand my knowledge, I wrote “Learn about technical things” on my list. On 4 February 2021, I phoned Age Concern Digital Explorers (see February 2021 Newsletter). A very nice man called Neil is helping me to work through my substantial list of questions and I can now download podcasts, which is a real achievement! **********************************

Cleveland Connected, received 12 February 2021

We’re warning the public to be vigilant of unsolicited emails promoting cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) investment opportunities. We’ve received over 750 reports this week about Bitcoin-related phishing emails that use fake celebrity endorsements to try and lure victims into investment scams. The links in the emails lead to fraudulent websites that are designed to steal your money, as well as personal and financial information.

How you can protect yourself:

Investment opportunities: Don’t be rushed into making an investment. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into making a transaction on the spot. Seek advice first: Speak with a trusted friend or family members, and seek independent professional advice before making significant financial decisions. FCA register: Use the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn’t regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money. For more information about how to invest safely, please visit: https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart Report suspicious emails: If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, you can report it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding the email to – [email protected]

To see examples of the Bitcoin-related phishing emails that have been reported to us, follow Action Fraud on Twitter or Facebook. Message Sent By Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) <<<<<<>>>>>><<<<<<>>>>>>

Cleveland Connected, received 2 February 2021 We pleased to announce our February OUR NEWS newsletter can be read by clicking on this link. This monthly newsletter, created by Neighbourhood Watch Network (the umbrella organisation for Neighbourhood Watch across England and Wales), is for all supporters of Neighbourhood Watch, from households to volunteers, such as scheme Coordinators or Association Leads. Survey Launched to Capture Crime and Safety Concerns of Rural Residents N.B. The link above doesn’t work for the DsE, so you need to copy and paste it.

FRIENDS OF GUISBOROUGH LIBRARY NEWSLETTER

Hello everyone,

Lockdown continues with only the promise of a review in sight. But Spring is coming, the days are lengthening and daffodils are in the supermarkets. At least we should be able to get in our gardens soon and enjoy a walk in the warmer weather – maybe even a socially distanced coffee with a friend! How the little things have taken on so much more importance this last year.

Jigsaw Puzzles I am told that our Jigsaw Corner, set up about two years ago, has been a sanity saver for many people – so much so that the Library is now running out of them. Please, if you have any puzzles, preferably 1000 pieces but any at all, please take them to the Library and leave in the entrance when they are open – Monday to Friday 10am to 4 pm. They will be gratefully received and many thanks to the Library staff who are looking after them.

Book Reviews Here are two but as I am sure you have been reading a lot these long days please send me one for my next Newsletter. Thank you.

Stone Cold, by David Baldacci, available from Guisborough Library. Reviewed by Marie. I’ve thought for several years I ought to read a book by David Baldacci as he always seems well liked on TV shows etc and at last I have. The main characters in Stone Cold are friends belonging to the ‘Camel Club’ who have worked together before to rescue dire situations and save the day. The story is enlivened by Annabelle Conroy who has conned a casino king and vicious thug out of $40 million. Annabelle’s Dad, from whom she’s estranged, features increasingly. And an agent, Harry Finn, his family and his mother (who has to be safely concealed for her protection) weave in and out of the story.

So far so good. The author gives numerous chapters to the various characters which I found difficult to relate to events, despite re-reading the last page or two of the previous chapters and chiding myself for not paying proper attention. I persevered and around Chapter 70, page 362, finally began to feel interested in and connected to the plot. Another 29 chapters and 149 pages later I closed the covers for good, relieved to have reached the end.

The way in which Annabelle worked her lucrative con wasn’t explained, Harry’s Mum was eventually able to come out of hiding, his son was rescued and Annabelle was reconciled with her Dad but it certainly took a considerable number of words and pages to get there.

I have another of David Baldacci’s books but I shall treat it with caution and, if I can’t “get into it” fairly quickly, will close the covers and not bother again.

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith – reviewed by Kate This is the fourth book in the Strike detective series and by far the longest at over 900 pages. It is preferable to read them in sequence but not essential. The plot is involved and the characters generally well drawn. The actual detective agency staff and their relationships both private and with each other are intriguing.

The story takes place over one year and is basically trying to find out what happened to a lady who disappeared 40 years previously. There are stark contrasts with life now and in the 1970s, which are well written and interesting, particularly for the younger reader who does not envisage life without mobile phones and instant communication. A lot of their detective work is done on line and I was amazed how much can be found out about people via the internet. The ending is a surprise but all the clues are there. It is certainly a page turner and I hope it is made into another TV mini series (the previous books have been).

We are all so looking forward to being able to start our events again and I will let you know as soon as we are able to, but in the meantime stay safe and well.

Kate Smith, Membership Secretary

FRIENDS OF GUISOROUGH LIBRARY QUIZ 2 Kate has sent us another town based quiz, saying all the answers are shops / pubs / streets in Guisborough so it is a good excuse for a walk, but if you know the town well enough you can probably do it from the comfort of your armchair.

All the answers are within about a half mile radius of Sunnyfield House and are either shop or street names. Question Answer

1 You may be able to pawn your fish and chips here

2 Our local explorer Captain needed one of these to find Botany Bay 3 These are often seen in the desert by overheated travellers 4 These two compass point gates are crucial to enter our town 5 Cornish dancers and their male offspring go shopping here 6 This elephant left the circus to go for pancakes

7 Did Henry VIII compose for this shop ?

8 These wading birds often nest under bridges but have to go somewhere for food 9 Change a letter and you have the head of a 300 year old ruling dynasty’s hairdresser 10 Was this Roman Emperor having a break here while Rome burned ? 11 A crafty Scottish loch ?

12 Did Robert Peel’s runners have their hair cut here ?

13 Usually found in the gardens of great palaces such as Versailles but not in this Guisborough street 14 Lose one letter and if the painter of sunflowers had been treated here maybe he wouldn’t have lost an ear 15 This waterbird is commonly found in Western Australia but is very rare in this country, although one can be found in this Guisborough watering hole 16 This place of worship may have been mentioned in the Doomsday Book 17 It is often said that wisdom comes with this charity shop 18 It would be difficult to drink this many coffees in one go 19 This Guisborough landmark has given its’ name to several establishments in the town 20 We hope to be able to hold our local craft market here again soon

Morrisons Doorstep Delivery. This is a telephone service available to anyone self-isolating, including the elderly, vulnerable, isolating or shielding in the community. Please phone 0345 611 6111 and select option 5, 8am to 5pm. There is no spending limit. Delivery is free of charge in the afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday. If you have any questions, please phone Mandy Shutt, Morrisons Community Champion on 07811 715777. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Claire Bognar, Community Development Officer – Belmont, Guisborough, Hutton & Lockwood, Public Health South Tees Mob: 07990840857 E-mail Claire.bognar@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Free car parking. It’s true! Free parking in Guisborough’s council-run car parks from 1pm daily – but please check the yellow sticker on or near the ticket machines. The aim is to support shops, cafes and businesses in the town centre.

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I’m pleased to be able to bring you the following articles this month:

A life in the day of a retired occupational therapist: 11am By: Jennifer Creek

When I get home from the allotment, it is time for a cup of coffee and a chat with my best friend, Kit. She is American but has lived in Hong Kong for more than 50 years, and we talk via Skype. Hong Kong is seven or eight hours ahead of the UK so Kit has a glass of wine while I drink my coffee. We met in 1980, when I went to teach on the new occupational therapy programme at Hong Kong Polytechnic. Kit was married to a journalist and had already been living there for some years.

We were a small team of four Western and one Chinese occupational therapist. The World Health Organization provided a consultant from an Australian university to help us with curriculum design, and we hosted quite a few visiting lecturers from different countries. In the 1980s, everyone wanted to visit Hong Kong and China. The Polytechnic gave me a big flat overlooking the old Kai Tak airport, which was built out into the harbour. From my balcony, I could watch planes taking off and smell aviation fuel.

Hong Kong was a very exciting place to live but my ambition was to see China, which had only opened to foreigners very recently. By good fortune, I was quickly able to get a place on a medical study tour of China, when someone dropped out. As a group of academics, we spent several weeks travelling around northern China, including staying with nomads on the plains of Mongolia, visiting a steam train factory and eating dinner with families on communes. We also managed to fit in some of the tourist sights, especially in Beijing.

Over the next two decades, I had many other trips to China, including two with Kit. On the first one we took together, in 1982, we followed the Silk Road across the Gobi desert, seeing Buddhist paintings in the Mogau Caves and visiting Uygur markets in Urumqi. For the second one, in 1995, we travelled the Silk Road in the opposite direction, through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Szechuan, then by boat down the Yangtze River, shortly before the three gorges were flooded. En route to Hong Kong, we called in at Xian to see the terracotta warriors; an astonishing sight.

I left Hong Kong and returned to the UK in late 1983 but Kit and I remained friends, seeing each other whenever my daughter and I visited Hong Kong or meeting up in different countries. Kit became President of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists so she attended lots of international conferences, where I would often be presenting a paper. We found ourselves building reputations on an international stage; Kit as a professional leader and me as a scholar. When we both retired from full-time work, at around the same time, we were free to do more travelling together.

Those years in Hong Kong changed my life in many ways, personally and professionally. They left me with an abiding love of Chinese culture, as well as my passion for travelling. These days, especially since the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic, I am doing most of my international work and socialising online: thank goodness for the internet.

Next month Jennifer will start her day at 12 noon.

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Three months backpacking along Australia's East Coast - Part 2

Now for Sydney, the big, big city. It is October 27th having taken us since 18th September to travel the 2,600km from Cairns. Driving time is about 37 hours, suicidal. It took us 39 days, enjoying the immense variety as the coaches effortlessly took us south. By now the Greyhound was coming past later so it was 17.05 when it rolled in, arriving in Sydney at 01.00 in Kings Cross, the red light area. As we neared Sydney, a Danish girl sitting behind us was becoming very anxious. She had no booking and had the times wrong. So we shared a taxi with her and took her to our hostel, where they found her a bed for the night. Kings Cross can be a rough area at any time, scary at night. A note on photos and money. Everything was paid by credit card, then at the end of the month, I phoned UK (no mobiles then), found the balance and posted a cheque to cover it. This way, we paid our way as we went along. So in fact the whole trip was paid out of our UK pensions as we travelled. Each roll of film was D & P where we were staying at the time: they were then sorted and the best posted home to England. Undeveloped rolls of film decay in the heat and photos are too heavy to carry in a rucksack. (no digital then). Hostels varied from old houses to former hotels. Usually, you were given clean sheets on arrival, or they were waiting on the bed, freshly ironed. Some rooms were large, others were very small and needed the backpackers ritual. She stood at one side of the bed, he stood at the opposite side. The rucksacks were upended then you took out what you needed and put the rest back. After our late night in King's Cross, we were slow waking up in the hostel, so we took a harbour cruise from circular quay and then enjoyed a folk festival on the steps of the Opera House. Next day we walked over the Sydney Harbour bridge, built by Dorman Long, then climbed up one of the towers to see an exhibition about building the bridge. Lawrence Emms from Redcar was joint engineer. After that, we spent the days walking round Sydney, looking at the sights, including a tour of the Opera House.

Down to the Federal Path Walking in the Grampians

Then on the 2nd November, it was a bus and train to Katoomba for the Blue Mountains where we stayed in a hostel in an old corner house at $160 (about £75) for a 4 day stay in a double room. Next day walked to the start of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and the Three Sisters rocks. To reach the Blue Mountains, it necessitates walking down, in this case the Giant's Stairs of which there are about 1,000. These were built as a tourist attraction in late Victorian times. Half way down the cliff, these steps bring you to the Federal path which was built to transport coal. We walked along this to the Furber steps, this time, "only 841 steps up", said a young German lad staying in the hostel, who had counted them. But we had made a detour to a waterfall half way up so more steps for us. Despite a thunderstorm at night, the following day we took the train to the next village, Wentworth, and walked along the Charles Darwin path - he walked here in 1836. Then, as the weather cleared, we decided to walk down the National path, very steep and again lots of steps which were wet from the rain to the old railway track. Then there was a gruelling climb up again to the top of the cliff and the train back to Katoomba. It was a relief to be back in the hostel. There are 5 sets of steps down to the Federal path below so next day it was time to go down Golden Stairs, the 5th set of stairs. In the distance, one can see what they call "ruined castle" so we set off into the hills to see what it was, a wonderful walk, all on our own, through wild country, lots of flowers, a few lyre birds and great views. Note in 2021 it is a grade 4 trek, wherein you have to fill in an intention slip and carry all sorts of gear. We just went. In fact, ruined castle is an interesting sandstone rock formation. After the hard walk, a climb up yet more stairs was too much so we bought tickets for the funicular railway. and walked back to the hostel. The next day we caught the train back to Sydney, very tired after almost 5,000 steps and a hard walk in just over 3 days. Next day we left Sydney early in the morning to catch the Stray Cat minibus for a 3 day trip to Melbourne over the Snowy Mts. On the first day, we had lunch in Canberra, a tour of parliament and then watched the Melbourne Cup on TV. This seems to be the Derby, Grand National and St Leger all rolled into one. All of Australia stops for the Melbourne Cup. The following day there were several interesting stops. On one, we walked amongst many grey kangaroos in great scenery, keeping a watch for snakes which come up from the river. and then that night we slept in a motel. "Wow, beautiful white sheets!", said Jean, "Best bed yet", but only $32 (£14) per room. Anthony was a great driver. After each stop everyone had to change seats. On the previous trip, one girl sat in the front seat and read a book which was selfish. This trip we sat and talked to a different person after each stop as we all moved round the bus. I remember talking to a young Austrian girl whose trip began in North Sumatra, then through Java and the islands and eastern Australia. Some of her matter of fact details made my hair curl. One stop this day was Glenroyal, Ned Kelly's town. They have a huge replica statue of him in the centre. It was late when we approached Melbourne and the driver was tired, so he asked Jean to take the front seat. She talked to Anthony and kept him awake. Many of the youngsters were asleep before the bus reached town. It was November 10th when we arrived at Toad Hall, our hostel in Melbourne, which was next to the very large Vic Market. This was brilliant, selling a huge variety of goods, including a large range of food. A guy from the hostel went to the market early each morning to buy fresh fruit for our breakfast. Then we took advantage of the free tram ride round the centre of Melbourne to get our bearings. In Fitzroy Park there is an old cottage from Great Ayton, which is actually that of Captain Cook's uncle, even though it is labelled as that of Cook himself. We booked a hire car as it was the only way to see the Great Ocean Highway. It was great to walk around in warm sunshine after the cold weather. On Sundays, a fleet of buses is laid on down to St Kilda's Esplanade, a tourist village on the coast. As we walked down St Kilda's main street, suddenly it was closed to traffic; all the cafes put out tables in the street and it was fiesta time. The food was really good, especially the huge cakes. By the time the entertainment started, the street was too full to move easily.

Captain Cook's Cottage, Melbourne St Kilda on Sunday

Next day we collected our hire car for our drive, the highlight being a number of sea stacks called "The Twelve Apostles". As it was cold and windy, we drove as much as possible to see all the stacks but still walked down to the beach a few times. Later at Port Fairy, an hour's walk round Griffith's Island told us all about the Mutton Birds which came in to find their burrows at dusk in their thousands. But for us, waiting for dusk, there were no birds; at this time they spend a few days out at sea breeding. Turning inland we drove back through the Grampian mountains, visiting Tower Hill National Park. Here were emus, one with 8 chicks, many koalas with Joeys and large males growling at the base of the trees. Then we went on to the old mining town of Ballarat, now a city of 110,000 people. A little gold panning and Jean found a bit that you could see. Back in Melbourne we found out that my 87 yr old mother was ill so cut short our stay, changing our flights. We still had to stop in Bali, but just for one night in Kuta which is a frenetic tourist centre. The next day we took a flight to Singapore, with a 4 hour wait at midnight in Changi airport, which is wide awake all night. The sellers offered almost anything you could imagine, including prescription spectacles in 15minutes, computers and consumer goods. Then we finally were able to board the 747 and fly through the night to Heathrow arriving home on 22nd November.

Ned Kelly in Glenroyal

Tony & Jean Allsop [email protected] Do you have a story, an event, music or performance you’d like to share? If so please contact Pam so we can all enjoy it.

Do you have some spare time on your hands? Perhaps you are still on furlough. Well now that Lockdown restrictions are being eased why not have a go at something new? Gisborough Priory Project has a range of volunteering opportunities available, so why not give us a try?

Just some of the tasks carried out by our volunteers include:

Custodian Duties – Welcoming visitors and providing information on the Priory and Woodland Gardens

Working in the Woodland Gardens or Priory Borders – Assisting in maintaining and improving the Priory borders and Woodland Gardens. These tasks are many and varied and there is lots to do for volunteers of all abilities.

Helping with Open Days and Events – Assisting with children’s crafts, serving refreshments, providing baked goods or preserves, or setting up and taking down of marquees and other equipment on the day of the event. All funds raised at our events go towards the continuing restoration work in the woodland gardens and Priory borders.

Gisborough Priory Project provide all necessary training and resources.

Gisborough Priory Project is a volunteer-run registered charity working to restore the historic woodland gardens and maintain the borders on the Priory site.

If you would like more information about joining our team of volunteers please visit our website www.gisboroughprioryproject.org.uk or email us at [email protected]

All Volunteers choose their own “slots” and you may do one a month or a lot more, depending on what suits you. The Gardening Volunteers meet on Monday and Thursday from 10-12 noon. Custodians (meeters/greeters) work from 10am to 1pm, or 1pm to 4pm.

The photo below is of the Woodland Gardens during the February snow. The Snowdrops in the Woodland Gardens will be in full bloom when the Priory reopens as an exercise facility on 3 March. THE THIRD AGE TRUST U3A NEWSLETTER has lots of interesting items, as usual. Please consider subscribing if you haven’t already. It’s free and provides links to what’s happening around the rest of the country. In the case of the Third Age Trust Newsletter, and in many other cases, the word “subscribe” doesn’t mean paying a subscription to receive it, so please don’t be put off. If you’re asked to pay money on other websites and you don’t want to, don’t. Back out. DsE The February Newsletter contains information about: Your Stories A link to Radio podcasts Turner and Mythology with the National Gallery (fee to be paid) Maths on the back of an envelope A Live cookery demonstration A taste of Japan and its culture … and much more. A new “Member Link” has been created with the aim of pulling together all of the resources and support available to u3as at this time, including collective ideas, innovations, resources and experiences. To see the range of support, please visit www.u3a.org.uk/member-link

If you have noticed the new logo at the top of this Newsletter, it is the result of research undertaken by the Third Age Trust. It’s been adopted with a view to attracting new members, particularly those who are nearing retirement age, to support and develop the movement for the future. Further information is on the Third Age website.

Northumbria Region (of which Guisborough U3A is part) There is a national move to encourage members in different branches to join groups that have space via Zoom meetings. To that end, Northumbria Region writes: Have you seen all the Zoom Interest Groups people are sharing? Look for “List of Groups”– Northumbria Website – Groups. Another one to consider is Whickham u3a, who are happy for people to join in with their monthly meeting with a Speaker on the second Wednesday of each month at 2.00 pm contact [email protected]. Mo Brown, Regional Chair: Fancy writing a few lines of prose, a short story, a poem, memoirs? Let your imagination take over, feel the creative buzz of writing. Cecilia Coulson, Whickham u3a, is starting an Interest Group - Regional Creative Words.... (regional as it's not just for one u3a). 07881768301 [email protected] Yoga experience? The u3a movement has a growing partnership with Voice, a network based at Newcastle University and part of the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing, that encourages people like us to share our experiences, insights and vision to drive innovation for ageing and to improve health research. Right now they have an active project called Move, Breathe, Connect which is looking for people to take part in a programme of online yoga-based exercise and movement classes running from March to May 2021 to develop and investigate their impact on wellbeing. And there is something very rewarding in it for the participants, too. To find out more, take a look at https://voice- web.azurewebsites.net/public/opportunities/movebreathe-connect-an-online-wellbeing- programme/ and register to take part in the programme.

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF. 10 tips from Association of Chairs 1. Understand and recognise your limits. For some of us, it can be difficult to acknowledge our own needs. But it’s essential you do or your own ability to cope and be useful will reduce. Everyone has their limits. Recognise your own. Don’t be apologetic; you are modelling the behaviours your whole team need to be healthy. 2. Replenish. How you rest and recover will be unique to you. Notice what nourishes and energises you and make time for it. It may be reading, gardening, exercise, time with friends or family; or intentional activities like meditation or keeping a gratitude diary. Whatever it is, make time to do it regularly and include extended breaks such as a holiday. Guard against unhealthy ways of coping, such as alcohol or cutting back on sleep. 3. Seek social support. Volunteering can feel lonely sometimes. If you’re facing new challenges it can be reassuring to speak with others and hear about their experiences. 4. Be realistic. Expecting perfection is hard at the best of times and even more so now. Go with what’s possible. Some days are harder than others, and on these days, you may need to expect less of yourself. Learn to do a bad day well. And remember that there will be better days too. 5. Identify the key stressors. Be aware of what is causing you the most difficulty and identify what is and is not in your control. If you are having difficulties with colleagues don’t ignore it; take constructive action to address the issues, rather than letting them build up. 6. Ask colleagues for help. The load can be shared. You might want to set up a short term, tightly focused task group to solve particular challenges. 7. Identify sources of support for wider life challenges. Coronavirus is throwing up many challenges, for example, more people are needing advice on finance and debt, on housing and employment rights, mental health or help with bereavement. You may need such help yourself or find others turning to you and you may feel ill-equipped to help. There are many sources of advice, including Citizen Advice and Mind. 8. Accept that this is an unsettling time. This is a challenging time and your colleagues may be faced with uncertainty or difficult decisions. If your organisation is under increased pressure this is likely to have an impact on your colleagues’ emotions and behaviour. It helps to recognise that it’s not unusual to experience these feelings. 9. Find good sources of information to help you in your role. Reduce uncertainty and build your confidence by finding good sources of information to help you in your role. The Charity Commission has a page highlighting issues specific to the pandemic. 10. Celebrate success. Take time to thank yourself and your colleagues for their hard work and achievements. In challenging times, it can be easy to overlook this but it’s important to keep yourself and your colleagues motivated and feeling positive.

Northumbria Region GEOGRAPHY COMPETITION, 2021 1. Please could you try and provide a team from your U3A and a member willing to be the contact for the team. This competition has been held over many years, (except 2020), with various choices made from paragraph 3 below. 2. The competition is for teams of FOUR (with two reserves) and a limit of ONE team per U3A. The Format will consist of NINE rounds (plus a tie-break if necessary). Eight of the rounds are ‘team’ efforts while the remaining round is an individual one of TWO questions per team member on a country of their choice from the list of THREE in the Format. The full content will cover the British Isles; World Capitals; World rivers; World Waters, (ie. oceans, seas, bays, lakes); OS Maps; National flags; Photos, (industrial, agricultural, physical); Music,(with geographical connections); Artifacts and/or a Video. Two of the rounds contain General Geographical questions on population, selected countries and natural resources. A full description of these is in the Format, printed separately. In the First Round teams will be ‘paired’ with an adjacent team (as far as possible) to save costs of travel and time. The venue cost must be shared between the two teams with the competition lasting between oneand-a-half to two hours. This applies to all matches except for the Semi-Final and Final which will be FREE for the teams involved. 3. The cost to enter a team is £10.00, (cheques payable to me). The winners will have the choice of a free week’s holiday for four in Europe or £240.00 cash to be shared by the team or given to their U3A or given to a charity of the team’s choice. The deadline for entries is 27th September, 2021 and the competition will begin in mid October, 2021, with the Final in June, 2022. 4. Full details of the format will be sent out with the Application Form. These are available now for interested U3As (who may need the Format before committing a team to the competition). Each team should appoint a member to act as a contact with me. The event is meant to be FUN too!! so team members should just ‘take it in their stride’. I can be contacted on 018907 81400 or by email at [email protected] GO ON, GIVE IT A GO! I am sure you will all enjoy the experience ======

Derek Gillatt, Saltburn District U3A, offers the following DVDs free to a good home. If you’re interested in any of them, please contact Derek direct to arrange collection/delivery.

LIST OF DVDs

 MESSIAH – SERIES ONE TO FIVE (FIVE DISCS)  WAKING THE DEAD – (FIVE DISCS)  WIRE IN THE BLOOD – (NINE DISCS)  MORSE – SERIES ONE TO SEVEN (THIRTY TWO DISCS)  LEWIS – SERIES ONE TO SIX (SEVENTEEN DISCS)  SCOTT & BAILEY – SERIES ONE TO FOUR (EIGHT DISCS)  THE JURY – (TWO DISCS)

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Back to Guisborough and environs. Many Members are longing for life to return to ‘normal’. Hang on in there. With luck, we’ll be out and about again in summer. In the meantime, please don’t be lonely.

Lynda kindly says “If you ‘re feeling a bit lonely or bored and fancy a chat, please give me a ring. You may also get in touch with either Diana Wardill, our Membership Secretary or the temporary deputy sub ed.

FINALLY, A SELECTION OF PHOTOS DEMONSTRATING THE TALENT OF OUR MEMBERS:

Taken from the end of the path off to Home Farm, looking across to the field and trees opposite the path, taken on 7 January. It attracted me because a friend and I had just been walking a variety of snow-and-ice-covered paths and yet here was a scene that was positively springlike. Rod Cuff.

The Avenue and its pillar-box are just opposite our house -- they're always photogenic at various times of year and in various weathers, but the snowstorm was an added bonus. Rod Cuff. Frost patterns seen thorough our conservatory roof as the sun was coming up over the nearby hill. The patterns are real, but brought out by simple post-editing by exaggerating the blue light that is more obvious to the camera than to the eye. Rod Cuff.

The Flower Arranging Group’s theme for February was ‘3 Blooms’, of the same type. Here are some of their Floral Art creations:

Please be advised that, because the Newsletters are published on the GU3A website, their content may be seen by members of other U3As, as well as members of the general public. GU3A Alternative Newsletter Deputy Sub Editor (DsE) [temporary!] and Secretary.