Mmoments a D Your Monthly Mapperley and District U3A

December 2019 Issue No 44

MUSINGS FROM THE CHAIR

Despite several groups deciding not to meet in December, there is still a lot of U3A activity in Mapperley. Let’s Sing with Stephen and Gary, the new Crafts Group with Debbie and French with Annabell are just some of the groups making the most of the traditional festive theme. Geraldine and her team have organised a lovely party with lunch for 80 people at the Golf club on Thursday, 12th and once again we are having our Twixmas meeting on Friday, 27th. Are you one of those who likes to have a new year’s resolution? Is there something you have always wanted to learn or do? If so, you can talk to Val Wilkinson or any of the committee members to see if it’s something U3A can help you to do by starting a new group. It’s never as difficult as people think and it is always far more satisfying than they imagined. Give it a little thought and then remember that it’s good to talk and the support is there for you to make that resolution happen. Together with your MaD Committee, I’d like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and look forward to spending a busy and rewarding 2020 learning, laughing and living well with you all. Carolyn Luckhurst Chairman

MEETINGS November’s General Meeting David Moylan - a magician! An interlude of light entertainment and droll slapstick comedy. Two clever card tricks and entertainment of days gone by greeted us at the November meeting. David's style of euphemistic humour and audience participation was accompanied by communal singing. Flashes of the music hall comedy and a myriad of jokes were greeted spontaneously by the audience, with mixed reaction! The jokes presented on separate pieces of paper then transforming into a two page newspaper was extremely clever. David's presentation of linguistic gymnastics was extremely skilful and his ability to play the ukulele was impressive. Thank you to the brave volunteers from the audience. The gentleman on the front row was able to keep up the pace with rigour and brave Kate, who showed what a sport she was, added to the entertainment. Thank you to Heather for introducing a distinctly unique style of speaker today, encompassing a variety of genres. I hope you found some of it to your taste! Elaine Wyatt

Why is it get t ing so hard t o buy Adve nt calendars? The ir days are numbe re d December’s General Meeting - FRIDAY 27 December at 10:00 am Our post-Christmas meeting will be moved one day to Friday 27 December at 10:00. As in previous years this will be our ‘Twixmas’ social event for members to meet for a chat, take coffee or tea and a variety of sweet and savoury snacks, and for new members to get to know us all a little better. There will also be a fun quiz and a bit of a sing-song with the Let’s Sing group. This is another opportunity for us to swap some jigsaws so please do bring one or two that you have finished with and choose something to take home. So take this invitation from your Committee to come and join us for a pleasant social occasion in that “limbo” period between Christmas and the New Year. To cover costs there will be a small charge of £2.00 per person. Tickets can be paid for on the day, but it would help if you could contact Carolyn Luckhurst via this link in advance let us know if you are coming along so that we can order the food. Tickets, and also our lovely MaD 2020 Calendar, can also be obtained at the next New and Prospective Members Meeting at Tipsy T on Thursday 5 December.

WANTED - RAFFLE PRIZES If you would be kind enough to donate a prize for the raffle at the Twixmas meeting in December, please let Carolyn know (via the link above) - or you can just bring it along with you to the meeting on Friday 27 December. Many thanks.

Future General Meetings 2020 Thursday 23 January Russian Christmas Cathy McAteer Thursday 27 February Trade and Silk Routes Dr Javad Hashami Thursday 26 March My Life in Prison Geoff Parkinson Thursday 23 April Butler to the Royals William French Thursday 28 May John O’Groats to Landsend Marian Smith Thursday 25 June Bletchley Park John Chapman Thursday 23 July Modern cataract surgery Stephen Vernon Thursday 24 September Finds Beneath Nottm Tramway Laura Parker Thursday 26 November Master Magician and mind reader Duncan William

New and Prospective Members’ Meeting

On the Thursday following the main meeting, two committee members will be at Tipsy T, Woodborough Road, Mapperley from 10.30 to 11.30 am to talk on a one to one basis to people who have just joined or who are thinking about joining MaD U3A and want to know more about the groups and activities available. If you know of someone who may be interested, please bring them along or direct them to Tipsy T. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 5 December. You can buy your Calendar and tickets for the Twixmas meeting! The following meeting will be on Thursday 2 January 2020.

Who hide s in a bake ry at Christmas? A mince spy

What do you call an obnoxious re inde e r? R ude -olf Who delivers presents to cats? Santa Paws!

2 NOTICES and ITEMS OF INTEREST

CAN YOU HELP US TO HEAR AT OUR MEETINGS? We have some problems with the PA system at Mapperley Plains Social Club and some members have mentioned that they find it hard to hear announcements and/or speakers. Are there any members who could offer their expertise to improve our PA system? Any help would be very welcome! Please contact Richard Hill or Carolyn Luckhurst via this link if you think you may be able to help or advise. Also, it would be much appreciated if you could remember to switch your mobile phone off or to silent mode whilst at the main meetings, and try to keep background chatter to a minimum whilst the PA system is being used - it’s very distracting to others and not very friendly to our speakers. Thanks in advance …

SCARF SWAP Why does it seem to be that however many scarves we have there never seems to be quite the right one? At our January meeting we thought it would be fun to have a Scarf Swap. Just bring along any scarves which you no longer wear: ladies’, gents’, children's - all are welcome as long as they are in good condition and clean. Then you can choose a lovely new addition to your wardrobe!

CALLING RAILWAY ENTHUSIASTS Mike Johnson from the Carlton and Gedling U3A Railway Enthusiasts Group came along to our main meeting this month and invited those of our members who have an interest in railways to join them. Their group usually meets at 10:00 am on the first Tuesday of each month. You can get more information - via this link. If you think this might be for you please contact Mike on 07949 910241 or by email at [email protected] Victoria Station

LIP READING COURSE Lip reading is a vital skill for people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing The Nottinghamshire Deaf Society run Lipreading courses which are designed to give people the confidence and skills to positively tackle the isolation associated with hearing loss. Classes are informal and friendly with no assessments, and are taught by an experienced qualified teacher. The next 10 week course starts on 14 January 2020. There will be 3 classes, all on a Tuesday, at 10:30-12.00pm, 1:30-3.00pm and 6.00-7:30pm. The cost of the course is £35.00. To find out more, click on this link which will take you to the Nottinghamshire Deaf Society’s Lipreading page from where you can download a Registration Form.

Which TV Christmas spe cial is be ing filmed in Brussels t his ye ar? De al Or No De al!

3 DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Please contact Elaine Wyatt if you have any concerns, ideas, problems or appreciation of Mapperley and District U3A. Either speak to Elaine at one of our meetings, or email her on [email protected] and she will do her best to deal with your issue or pass along your comments.

NATIONAL U3A NEWSLETTER

If you’d like to read the National U3A Newsletter just click on this link and sign up to receive your copy - National Newsletter.

PLEASE REMEMBER to let the Membership Secretary know if your personal details change. If you don’t you may stop receiving Third Age Matters, email information and the Newsletter etc. The MaD Moments Newsletter is published monthly in digital format. Hard copies are available for members who do not have email. Please contact your Chairman Carolyn Luckhurst or speak to one of the Committee members. The Third Age Matters magazine is available in a text only format to make it readable with screen reader. (You will have to register with the Resources section. Let me know if you have any problems and I will send you a text file.) If your household receives two copies of the Third Age Matters monthly magazine it would be very helpful to us if you could bring your second copy to the next main meeting, so that new members can have a chance to browse this. With thanks Your Committee ______BEACON NEWSLETTER Beacon is the U3A’s integrated membership, groups, finance and mailing system. The aim of the Newsletter is to keep U3As informed of news about Beacon, to provide hints and tips, news about the Beacon Upgrade project and profile some of the people who work behind the scenes to make Beacon a success. To read the Beacon Newsletter please click here.

4 THE LITTLE MaD QUIZ

1. According to the song, what did my true love give to me on the seventh day of Christmas? 2. Which colourful and much sung-about Christmas character was invented by American ad writer Robert L. May in 1939? 3. What is the date of St Stephen’s day? 4. From which country is egg-nog said to have originated? 5. Which popular Christmas item gets its name from the old French word estincelle, which means "spark"? 6. What are the names of the Three Wise Men (also known as the Three Kings)? 7. What is the name of the Dr Seuss character who steals Christmas? 8. According to legend, London sweet shop owner Tom Smith was poking a fire when he got the inspiration to invent which traditional Christmas item? 9. What is the name of George Bailey's guardian angel in the film It's A Wonderful Life? 10. In Charles Dickens' A , which was the first ghost to visit Ebeneezer Scrooge? Answers at the end of the Newsleer

NEWS FROM INTEREST GROUPS

Challenging Photography This subject was designed to be tricky, but most of the group’s members rose to the challenge and there were some excellent photographs which conveyed kindness. In first place with an overwhelming score was Pauline Reed with a delightful study of a hedgehog feeding. In second place was Richard Lally and a Robin 'on the wing' feeding. In equal third place were Sue Cullen with four hands conveying a feeling of 'kindness and understanding' and David Smith with his grateful squirrel. Congratulations to all four and commiserations to the remainder who shared the remaining points between them.

Creative Crafting Hello, happy crafters At our November meeting we learnt how to make a hanging snowflake decoration and worked on making simple Christmas Cards. You can see some photos of our creations on the website. Next time we’ll be making a festive table decoration - a Log, (not the cake variety, but using wooden logs). Newcomers are welcome to join us. There should be enough for everyone but if you have ideas for a table decoration that you’d prefer to work on, please bring those along. There will be lots of greenery, both natural and artificial, ribbons, baubles and a few robins available, so let’s get creative! Thank you to everyone for their contributions of fabric, ribbon, artificial trimmings etc, not only group members but those of you from the wider MaD U3A.

5 Creative Crafting continued We are currently working on a program for the New Year and would like to hear from you if there is anything you’d really like to pursue. Also, if you have any particular skill you could demonstrate please let me know - you can send me an email via this link. Thank you Debbie Foreman

German Conversation & Culture The German Conversation & Culture Group is up and running. Our next meeting will be on Friday 13 December 2019 at 10.30 when we will be talking about all things Christmas from a German point of view. At present our Group is full but if you would like to join the Waiting List please contact Joy Brown via this link.

Let’s Sing Confusion Reigns There was some confusion about our November gathering. We originally planned not to meet as I was away, but then due to popular demand we decided to go ahead after all, with Gary bravely volunteering to host the event on his own. (Well done Gary!). We did announce that in last month’s Newsletter and via a Beacon email sent to all who have signed up to the group, but apparently there were still some people who didn’t get the message, and would have attended but didn’t. My apologies to all concerned. At the end of this article is a checklist which you may find helpful.

In The Deep Midwinter We meet again on Tuesday 3 December at Westdale Lane Community Centre. Doors open 2.00pm, singing commences 2.10pm. Free tea & coffee at half time. Finish 4.00pm. We will sing a programme of Christmas songs, carols and hymns. Bring your mince pies and and let’s start the festive season with a bang. Everybody is welcome - you do not need to be signed up to the group, just turn up and have a go. £2.00 per person. On Friday 27 December we will provide a short musical interlude at the Twixmas gathering. Watch out for further announcements. I will always put any updates in the Newsletter, and I can be contacted via this link. Happy ! Steve Degnan

What do you get if you cross Sant a w it h a de t e ct ive ? Sant a Clues!

6 Trips, Short Breaks and Events These are the trips and visits we are hoping will go ahead between now and the end of the year, and into 2020.

Fortnightly Friday Cryptic Crossword Group 2020 January Saturday 18-19 Bletchely Park & Imperial War Full £109 ss plus £29 Museum February Saturday 15 Day Trip to York 7 £19 inc meal £30 March Friday 13 Assay Office & Meadowhall 8 £30 Sheffield March Tuesday 31 Ideal Home Exhibition, London 13 £32 April Sat-Sun 25-26 Harrogate Flower Show & York 2 £109 ss plus £29 May TBA TBA Greenwich - Cutty Sark, 11 Approx £250 Observatory, Royal Palace, Maritime Museum June Tuesday 9 River Cruise & Lunch 19 £25 June Tuesday 16 Manchester Day Trip 13 £22 July Monday 6 Night at the Dogs 3 £24 July Friday 17 Renishaw Hall Chesterfield 7 £30 August Sunday 9 Crich WWII Homefront 11 £30 August Tuesday 11 Welbeck Full TBA September Friday 18 Leeds 11 Approx £20 w/o R/Card and £16 with R/Card

October Mon-Fri 5-10 Exploring Devon & Cornwall 14 £359 ss plus including The Eden Project £129 October Friday 16 National Arboretum 15 £22 November Monday 16 King Richard III Leicester 4 Approx £20 w/o R/Card and £16 with R/Card December TBA TBA Thursford Spectacular 14 TBA December Thursday 17 Christmas Meal TBA TBA

Further dates for 2020 will be announced from time to time - please check the website. Best wishes, Geraldine (Social Secretary) For further information Geraldine can be contacted via this link.

What do you call buying a piano for Christmas? Christmas Chopin! What w ould you call an e lf w ho just has w on t he lot t e ry? We lfy What is white and minty? A polo bear!

7 Wine Appreciation

A big crowd of wine lovers banished a grey day in November with a lovely selection of affordable fizz to try out ahead of Christmas. All of Sue’s choices came from Sainsbury’s and we had three delightful donations from members – many thanks to Joan and Linda. We started with an Italian Vignoletto spumante brut (£7.00) which was rather sharp and acidic with sour apples and little length – we won’t buy this one. Next up was Sainsbury’s own Cava with a citrus and toffee nose, a palate of tart apples and better length - good value at £6.00. Oyster Bay sparkling cuvée from had a peachy soft nose, smooth on the palate and good length and was very much liked by everyone although it was a bit pricier at £12.00. Maison du Cirque Blanc de Blancs came in a lovely bottle and was very enjoyable with a floral nose, a biscuity palate and good length with apples and citrus. Most people liked this one and while it is usually more expensive at £15.00, Sue got a bargain at £10.00. McGuigan Black Label Rosé from S.E. was a very pretty pale pink, a fruity palate with strawberries, sweet but not too sweet and would go well with afternoon tea in the summer or perhaps even sausages! Good value at £7.50. Joan’s Portuguese Raposeira 2010 was an attractive apricot coloured wine, a fruity palate with plums and minerals and good length. People varied on whether they liked it better than the previous wine, but it was quite different and enjoyed by all. For something very different, we then tried a McGuigan Black Label Shiraz, a lovely red with dark fruit (prunes, black cherries) on the palate and good length. Brilliant with and mince pies and a bargain at £7.50. We finished with two delightful Cremants de Bourgogne Victorine de Chastenay presented by Linda (and Paul), a blanc brut and a rosé. T he white had peach and vanilla on the nose and a taste of apricot and citrus. The rosé was a Pinot Noir and had summer fruits and raspberries, yet was not overly sweet. Both were absolutely lovely. A sparkling afternoon with a little naughtiness, just perfect to chase away the November gloom. Many thanks to Sue for a great selection and to Joan and Linda for donating such lovely wines to remind us of trips to sunnier climes. Cheers, Maggie

Writers’ Block Once upon a time there This month we have a couple of limericks for you to enjoy … was a

There was a young poet called Pound A foolish old biddy named Dottie Whose hair reached right down to the ground; Fell for Pedro whilst in Lanzarote It was sold for a fiver When he asked her for money To Lady Godiva - She said, “Listen, honey, Covered her, her horse and her hound! Did you think I was totally potty! David Millinship Fay Staton

8 INTERESTING ITEMS IN THE NEWS HEALTH RELATED …

CAN YOU SPOT THE HEART MYTHS? The media is awash with stories about heart and circulatory diseases, from nutritional advice to life- saving information. While some are true, it’s fair to say that many of them are simply a lot of hot air. Can you successfully sort the fact from the fiction? Click here to take the quiz.

EXPERIENCING HEART PALPITATIONS? WHAT IT COULD MEAN We're all familiar with the metaphor 'my heart skipped a beat' - used to describe a moment of shock or excitement. But what happens when our heart really does seem to miss a beat, flutter or change rate for a moment? Heart palpitations are more common than you might think. Click here to read more

CAN YOU REVERSE TYPE 2 DIABETES? Type 2 diabetes is a disease which can be carefully managed through diet and exercise but its risks have led researchers to explore ways to reduce the harm it causes. One method is putting diabetes into remission. To read more follow this link.

FIGURE OUT YOUR MIGRAINE TRIGGERS Migraine is a very common disorder. If you don’t get them yourself, chances are you know someone who does. According to The Migraine Trust, around one in seven of us get migraines, yet fewer than half of us who do are happy with our treatment. So, rather than trying to treat a migraine once it's started, wouldn't it be better to try to prevent attacks? Working out what triggers yours could give you a better chance of doing just that. To find out more click here to go to the Patient website.

DO YOU SUFFER WITH REYNAUD’S? Raynaud's phenomenon is a common condition in which the blood vessels in the extremities overreact to cold or stress. As the days get colder, how can Raynaud's sufferers manage their condition? Follow this link to go read the article on the Patient website.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN ALCOHOL? Most of us will be enjoying a glass or two of Christmas cheer this month, but do you know how many calories are in that glass? Click here to take this quiz from the Heart Matters website - but don’t let it spoil your celebrations!

Did R udolph go t o school? No, he w as e lf-t aught

9 12 HEALTHY CHRISTMAS FOOD SWAPS Trying to be healthy or watch your weight this festive season? That doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Check out this interactive tool on the Heart Matters website to swap Christmas treats for heart-healthy festive alternatives.

ON THE ROAD …

MOBILE PHONE DRIVING LAWS - WHAT IS AND ISN’T ILLEGAL? What are the mobile phone driving laws? Can I use a SatNav? Can I use why phone while driving if the vehicle isn’t moving? What are the penalties? Could I lose my licence?

The RAC have a very interesting article about this on their website - click here to read it.

BREATHALYSERS MUST BE AVAILABLE IN ALL NEW CARS from 2022 Breathalysers must be able to be fitted into all new cars from 2022 following a landmark decision by the European Council. The technology, that could prevent drink-drivers from starting their engines, was approved in March but has only just been rubber-stamped by European officials last week. The UK’s position is yet to be confirmed, but the current Government has previously said it will mirror European road safety rules post-Brexit. To read more about it, follow this link to go to the RAC website.

DRIVING LAW QUIZ Can you match these driving law changes to the year they came in? 1931, 1935, 1967, 1983 1991, 2000 • 4 star petrol withdrawn from sale, 8 years after the last cars using it were made • Highway code first issued • Wearing seatbelts in the front of a car became law • Wearing seatbelts in the back of a car became law • Breathalyser introduced for Drink Drive Testing • Speed limit in built up areas (street lighting) set at 30 mph

Answers at the end of the Newsleer

10 MONEY-SAVING TIPS …

10 SURPRISING DISCOUNTS UK SENIORS GET … If They Know! December is an expensive month, but an article in Money-Hero.org gives some ways to save money. There’s advice on how to get discounts on new windows, affordable funeral plans, dining discounts, advice on equity release and much more. Click here to read it.

FACEBOOK - are you a member of our group? There are lots of lovely photos on our Facebook site - Mapperley and District U3A. Do join the group and keep up to date with news, views and information regarding the MaD U3A. It’s a closed group, open only to members of MaD U3A (so not visible to anyone else) and it’s easy to join. Just log into your Facebook account, search in ‘Groups’ for ‘Mapperley and District U3A’ and send a request to join the group. If you don’t have an account you can easily create one by going to facebook.com.

INTEREST GROUPS Each group has its own page on the website giving details of the group’s activities Do please remember to let the convener or your group know if you won’t be able to make it to a meeting. They go to considerable time and effort, and sometimes expense, to get the group organised and running smoothly for you - please don’t let them down by just failing to attend. An email or phone call is all it takes. Occasionally meeng dates may be different from their norm Please check with your convener for confirmaon and meeng details Two free taster sessions are available to those who are not members of MaD U3A. To find out more please go to the website. Each group below has a link to the relevant page.

What goes "Oh, Oh, Oh"? Santa walking backwards!

Art History Convener : Julie Rigby Meet : 3rd Thursday from 10:00 - 12:00 am Venue : Mapperley Plains Sports and Social Club Next meeting : Thursday 19 December - The Northern Renaissance Visit : Thursday 5 December - visit to Nottingham Contemporary For more information, contact Julie Rigby at Art History convener

Book Club Convener: Martin Cooke Meet : 2nd Tuesday (mostly) at 10:30 am Venue : Members’ homes Next meeting : Tuesday 10 December - Book ‘Northern Lights’ by Philip Pullman The book club has a vacancy for one more member. To join, or for more information, please contact the Bookclub convener.

11 Challenging Photography Convener : Malcolm Darroch Meet : 4th Wednesday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Venue : Room 2 Arnold Library - £2 per head to cover room hire Next meeting : Wednesday 22 January 2020 - subject ‘Nottingham Pubs’ Contact Malcolm Darroch for more information.

Creative Crafts Convener : Debbie Foreman Meet : 2nd Monday from 10:00 am - 12:00 am Venue : St Jude’s Church Hall Next meeting : Monday 9 December - Christmas-themed table decorations For all ‘crafters’ and those who don’t think they are creative but would like to try new things. To join, or for more information please contact Debbie Foreman via this link

Creative Writing Convener : Carolyn Luckhurst Meet : 4th Thursday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm (latest). Venue : Convener’s home Next meeting : Thursday 23 January 2020- ‘Neglect’ This is a particularly interesting group with a variety of skill levels and a pure desire for enjoyment, friendship and fun. Please contact Carolyn for further information

Curry Club Convener : Sue Cullen Meet : 3rd Monday evening - mostly meeting at 18:30. Starting monthly in 2020 Venue : Various restaurants Next meeting : Monday 20 January 2020 - Saagar Tandoori Restaurant This group will meet monthly at local restaurants, all within easy access of public transport. For more details or to join the group please send an email to Sue via this link

Discussion Group Convener : Lynn Majewski Meet : 2nd Monday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Venue : Room 1 Arnold Library Next meeting : Monday 9 December Come and join the group in a friendly atmosphere, liberally laced with beverage, and, perhaps, make new friends in the process. If you wish to join please contact Lynn.

Family History Convener : Claire Wilkie Meet : 4th Monday at 2:00 pm Venue : Arnold Library Next meetings : Monday 23 December - Christmas Meal at Mapperley Golf Club If you want to comment or show more interest in this group, please send an email to the Family History convener

French Conversation and Culture Convener : Annabell Bell-Boulé Meet : 3rd Thursday from 3:30 - 5:00 pm Venue : Haywood Road Community Centre Next meeting : Thursday 19 December

If you want to comment or show more interest in this group, please contact Annabell via this link..

Games Convener : Marion Wright Meet : Wednesdays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Venue : The Punchbowl, Porchester Road, Nottingham We meet each Wednesday in an alcove at the back of the Punchbowl, or tucked away in a cosy corner of the bar. There is no room charge, but we pay £1.00 a head for tea and coffee, which is provided during the afternoon. Contact Marion via this link - Games convener

What has four w he e ls and flie s? A bin lorry

12 Gardening Convener : Chris Padgett Meet : 3rd Monday at 10:15 am - 12 noon Venue : Various Next meeting : Monday 16 December, venue to be decided We have 30 members - a friendly, cheerful group of enthusiastic people who share an interest in gardening. None of us are experts, but we all have willing hearts and hands, so why not join us? For more information, just send an email to the Gardening convener. Whatever your gardening interest, I look forward to hearing from you!

German Conversation and Culture Convener : Joy Brown Meet : 2nd Friday at 10:30 Venue : Convener’s home Next meeting : Friday 13 December At present our Group is full but if you would like to join the Waiting List please contact Joy Brown via this link.

Glamping Group FOR ALL MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN OWNERS - ACTUAL OR ASPIRING We meet occasionally, rather than on a fixed basis, and at various venues to be decided by the group themselves. It is envisaged that much of the activity will take place between meetings with tips and information being exchanged as required between members and by a variety of means. If you’re interested please contact Vic Blake for more information

Italian Speech Convener : Joice Hall Meet : Wednesdays from 11:45 - 1.15 pm (no meetings during the school holidays) Venue : Member’s homes Ciao. This beginners group meets every Wednesday except Bank holidays and during the summer. If you would like to know more about this group please contact Carol McLoughlin on 07753 230 339.

Let’s Sing Convener : Stephen Degnan Meet : 1st Tuesday from 2:00 pm Venue : Westdale Lane Community Centre Next meeting : Tuesday 3 December If you would like to know more about this group please contact Stephen Degnan via this link

Local History Conveners : Dorothy Ritchie and Michael Payne Meet : 1st Tuesday from 10:00 - 12:00 am Venue : Mapperley Social Club, Games Room Next meeting : Tuesday 3 December - Tour of the Magistrates Court If you would like to know more about this group please send an email to the Local History convener

Luncheon Club Conveners : Martin Davenport and Sheila Stacey Meet : 3rd Wednesday at 12:00 noon Venue : Various Next meeting : Wednesday 15 January 2020 - The Old Volunteer, Caythorpe Come along and enjoy good company and make new friends, whilst having a bite to eat. We dine every third Wednesday in the month choosing different venues, meeting at noon. Please contact Martin for details of future lunches .

Music Appreciation Convener : Joan Davis Meet : Usually 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 pm Venue : Members’ Home Next meeting : Monday 2 December - ‘Sparkling’ music The group is not able to take any new members at the moment, but please contact Joan Davis or Maggie Grimshaw if you want to put your name on the waiting list.

What goes "Oh, Oh, Oh"? Sant a w alking backw ards!

13 Philosophy Convener : Vic Blake Meet : 4th Tuesday from 10:30 - 12:30 pm Venue : Member’s home Next meeting : Tuesday 10 December at Convener’s home - meeting brought forward this month The group is currently full but if you want to comment or show more interest - or perhaps convene a second group, please send an email to the Philosophy group convener via the website.

Playhouse Theatre Group Convener : Judith Gamble Meet : Various Venue : Nottingham Playhouse Next Meeting : Thursday 2 January 2020 - ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Future Meetings : Friday 6 March - ‘Moonlight and Magnolias’ MaD members are now able to experience certain productions of great theatre at a special price (between £7.50 and £8.00 per ticket) and also a free programme. Tickets will be available at the monthly meetings, when you can sign up and pay. To book tickets, or for more information, please contact Judith via the website.

Play Reading Convener : Sue Cullen Meet : 1st Thursday from 1:30 - 4:30 pm Venue : Member’s Home Next meeting : Thursday 5 December - ‘Oliver’ by Charles Dickens (adapted by Jeremy Brook) This friendly, supportive and encouraging group meets for 3 hours which enables us to read a whole play in one afternoon. The group is now full, but if you’d like to put your name on the waiting list please send an email to Sue via website..

Trips, Short Breaks and Events Convener : Geraldine Chaffe Meet : Various Venue : Various There is a varied and ever-changing programme of trips, short visits and events. Please check the website for details of current and planned events or contact Geraldine for more information.

Walking Convener : Martin Davenport Meet : 3rd Friday at 10:15 am Venue : Various Next Meeting : Friday 20 December - Edwinstowe - 7 miles For details, please contact the walking group convener Walking Group convener

Walking - Shorter Walks Convener : Carolyn Luckhurst Meet : 2nd Friday Venue : Various The next walk : Friday 13 December @ 10:30 - Robin Hood Tour. Meet @ top of Chapel Bar The Short Walks group will be doing The Robin Hood Tour of Discovery in Nottingham City, organised by Cryptology. Two places have become free - if you would like to go please contact Carolyn.

This Group is designed for those of us who would like to walk between 3 and 5 miles using fairly local routes and just once a month. For further information please contact contact Carolyn via this link

Walking - Strollers Group Convener : Helen Smith Meet : 1st Friday Venue : Various Next walk : Friday 6 December at 10:45 - The Arboretum (Meet 10:30 Royal Centre tram stop) This Group is designed for those of us who would like walks at a more gentle pace. For further information please contact contact Helen via this link

Wine Appreciation Convener : Maggie Grimshaw Meet : 3rd Wednesday at 2:30 pm Venue : Member’s Home Next meeting : Wednesday 18 December - Food and Wine pairing This group is not taking new members at the moment, but we will keep the situation under review. Please contact me if you want me to put you on the waiting list.

14

IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER … we need your Are you reading it? Are you enjoying it? Is there something you’d like to add? This is YOUR Newsletter - if there is something you’d like to add, or remove, or if you would like to share with us an article you’ve seen, or a story or poem you’ve written - anything you feel would be of interest to the members of MaD U3A, please contact the Editor with your submission or suggestion for consideration. We would love to hear from you ……. but keep it polite!

Your Committee 2019-20

Carolyn Luckhurst Chair Elaine Wyatt Marketing & Liaison Sue Cullen Vice Chair & Newsletter Val Wilkinson Groups Convener ) Helen Fulton Business Secretary Maggie Grimshaw Groups Convener ) Anne Elliott Treasurer Vic Blake Committee Member Chris Padgett Membership Secretary Martin Cooke Committee Member Geraldine Chaffe Social Secretary Richard Hill Committee Member Heather Wheatley Speaker Seeker

THE LITTLE MaD QUIZ - ANSWERS 1. Seven swans a-swimming, 2. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, 3. 26th December, 4. England, 5. Tinsel, 6. Caspar, Melchior & Balthazar, 7. The , 8. The Christmas cracker, 9. Clarence, 10. Jacob Marley

DRIVING LAWS QUIZ - ANSWERS 1931 - Highway code first issued 1935 - Speed limit in built up areas (street lighting) set at 30 mph 1967 - Breathalyser introduced for Drink Drive Testing 1983 - Wearing seatbelts in the front of a car became law 1991 - Wearing seatbelts in the back of a car became law 2000 - 4 star petrol withdrawn from sale, 8 years after the last cars using it were made

And finally …… December 22nd - Bryan in Cornwall calls his son in Nottingham and says “Son, I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting divorced. 55 years is enough for anyone” “Pop, what are you talking about?” the son yells. “We’re sick of each other” says Bryan “and I’m not going to talk about this any more, so call your sister in Newcastle and let her know” and he hangs up. Frantic, the son calls his sister who explodes on the phone. “They’re not getting divorced if I have anything to do with it. Leave it to me” she shouts “I’ll take care of this”. She calls Cornwall immediately and screams at her father “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back to fix it, and both families will be there tomorrow.” And she hangs up. Bryan puts down the phone, turns to his wife and says “Okay, they’re coming for Christmas”.

15

Mapperley & District U3A Diary of Events – December 2019 Occasionally meeting dates may differ from the norm - Please check with your convener

Date Day Time Group Meet at Details Contact 2 Mon 19:00 Music Appreciation Member’s home ‘Sparkling’ music Joan Davies 3 Tue 09:30 and Festival Melton Mowbray Geraldine Chaffe 3 Tues 10:00 Local History Tour of Magistrates Court D Ritchie & M Payne 3 Tues 14:00 Let’s Sing Westdale Lane Com. Centre All are welcome Stephen Degnan 4 Wed 11:45 Italian Speech Members’ homes Joice Hall 4 Wed 14:00 Games Punchbowl, Porchester Rd Can bring own game Marion Wright 5 Thurs 10:30 New and Prospective Tipsy T, Mapperley Top Carolyn Luckhurst Members meeting & Chris Padgett 5 Thurs 13:30 Playreading Convener’s Home ‘Oliver ‘– Charles Dickens Sue Cullen

5 Thurs Art History Visit Nottingham Contemporary Julie Rigby 6 Fri 10:45 Strollers’ Group The Arboretum Meet Royal Centre tram Helen Smith stop 9 Mon 10:00 Creative Crafts St Jude’s Church Hall table decorations Debbie Foreman 9 Mon 14:00 Discussion Group Arnold Library, Room 1 Lynn Majewski 10 Tues 10:30 Book Club Members’ homes ‘Northern Lights’ by Martin Cooke Philip Pullman 10 Tues 10:30 Philosophy Convener’s home TO BE CONFIRMED Vic Blake 11 Wed 11:45 Italian Speech Members’ homes Joice Hall 11 Wed 14:00 Games Punchbowl, Porchester Rd Can bring own game Marion Wright 13 Fri 10:30 German Conversation Convener’s home German Christmas Joy Brown 13 Fri 10:30 Shorter Walks Robin Hood Tour of Meet top of Chapel Bar Carolyn Luckhurst Discovery 16 Mon 10:00 Gardening Venue to be announced Chris Padgett 18 Wed 11:45 Italian Speech Members’ homes Joice Hall 18 Wed 14:00 Games Punchbowl, Porchester Rd Can bring own game Marion Wright 18 Wed 14:30 Wine Appreciation Member’s home Food & wine pairing Maggie Grimshaw 19 Thurs 10:00 Art History Mapp. Plains Social Club Northern Renaissance Julie Rigby 19 Thurs 15:30 French Conversation & culture Haywood Rd Community Cntr Annabell Bell-Boulé 20 Fri 10:15 Walking Edwinstowe 7 Miles Martin Davenport 23 Mon 14:00 Family History Mapperley Golf Club Christmas meal Claire Wilkie 27 Wed 14:00 Challenging Photography Arnold library ‘Kindness’ Malcolm Darroch 28 Fri 10:00 General Meeting Mapp. Plains Social Club Twixmas

2020

Thursday 2 January New and Prospective Tipsy T, Mapperley Top Carolyn Luckhurst Members meeting & Chris Padgett Thursday 2 January Playhouse Theatre Group Playhouse @ 19:00 Panto – Sleeping Beauty Judith Gamble

Wed 15 January Luncheon Club The Old Volunteer Caythorpe Martin Davenport & Sheila Stacey Mon 20 January 2020 Curry Club Saagar Tandoori Restaurant Sue Cullen Wed 22 January 2020 Challenging Photography Nottingham Pubs Malcolm Darroch Thurs 23 January 2020 Creative Writing ‘Neglect’ Carolyn Luckhurst Various Glamping Venue to be decided Vic Blake

16