Edition 19 Monday 10th August 2020 Welcome to the Nineteenth Edition of our Newsletter Well, it’s been two weeks since our last newsletter and I have to admit I have really taken advantage of having much more free time to get on with some sewing and other crafty projects. Thankfully our lives are now returning to some kind of normality and it is great to meet up with friends and family we haven’t seen for quite a while. You can imagine how much work goes into the newsletter and our regular contributors (including myself) will have a little less time to work on articles as life gradually returns to normal. You may see that some regular items aren’t featured in every edition but I really hope that members keep sending in items of interest, short stories, poems, puzzles, recipes, jokes – anything that you think other members may enjoy. Please remember this newsletter is for the members by the members so we do need contributions in order for the newsletter to continue. Please send any contributions to Karen: [email protected] 1 Music in Our Time This is a regular item so if you have a relevant piece of music which reflects either the season, an event or our wonderful land, please email [email protected] Music Inspired By Berries by Alan Malloy I don’t know about your garden, but the woods and hedgerows around us are full of either bushes in berry (Blaeberries, raspberries, strawberries) or are flowering in preparation to fruit (Brambles, etc). What else could thus inspire me? Please note. You need to click on the pictures to hear these songs ‘Blackberry Way’ The Move Written by the multi-talented Roy Wood and released in 1968, this song became the group’s most successful record. Roy Wood always seemed to be an ‘exotic’ character: long hair, face paint, zany clothes, yet behind his startling appearance was a talented musician who could play a diverse range of instruments including, guitar, sitar, French horn, keyboards and, bagpipes. Wood left The Move and went on to establish two other successful groups: The Electric Light Orchestra and ‘Wizzard’ . ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ The Beatles This song was written by John Lennon, based on his childhood memories of playing in the garden of the Strawberry Fields children’s home in Liverpool. It says much that Lennon viewed this song as his finest work with the Beatles. The song was written in a difficult period of Lennon’s life and perhaps the psychedelic nature of the song reflects his turmoil. ‘More Ruddier than the Cherry’ G F Handel This song comes from Handel’s opera ‘Acis and Galetea’. This was one of Handel’s most popular operas. It is a tribute to its success that W A Mozart adapted it. As with many operas, the plot is complex, having been adapted from the Greek writer Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’. This excellent recording is taken from a live production. The singer is Andreas Wolf, a wonderful bass! 2 ‘More Ruddier than the Cherry’ G F Handel Karen’s Crafty Corner Please remember to send in your craft ideas!! As some of you may know I have been trying out lots of different facemask ideas, not just to see which are easiest to make but more importantly to find one that fits! I was getting very frustrated with my last ‘make’ which slid down my nose every time I spoke. This week I have tried the ‘dinner plate’ face mask and I have to say it fits perfectly and is comfortable to wear. Although I machine stitched mine, this would work just as well being sewn by hand. ‘Dinner Plate’ Face Mask All you need to make this face mask A dinner plate – mine was 27cm diameter A piece of fabric just slightly larger than your dinner plate Sewing machine or needle and thread Elastic Step 1 Place the dinner plate facedown onto the fabric and draw around the plate. Step 2 Cut out the circle 3 Step 3 Fold the circle in half and cut along the halfway line. Step 4 Sew along the curved edge leaving a gap of about 1” towards one end. Step 5 Open out and press the seam open. Put the seams together and stitch along the bottom edge 1 1 Step 6 Turn in the right way, through the gap that was left open and press well. Step 7 With the gap towards you, turn in the pointed corners half an inch and then again, another half an inch – if you wish to insert a filter then leave the gap open – otherwise stitch up the gap. Step 8 Stitch the ends (I have used white cotton so you can see the stitches). 4 Step 9 Thread the elastic through the turned in ends using a safety pin Step 10 Cut the elastic to the required length and tie the ends together. Pull the elastic through so the knot is hidden. 5 WHEN PEOPLE NEED YOUR TIME….. by Linda Jane McLean It started with a question. I was living in Edinburgh, when concern was raised that there were going to be a lot of elderly people alone in the Community. Many were going to be alone at Christmas. With their families far away, many could not make the journey. Feedback came from various sources about the amount of dread surrounding the loneliness that Christmas would bring. So we asked: “Could anything be done?” The obvious place to go for advice was the Church. The Minister heard the plan, and agreed to ask the Kirk Session for their backing. The proposal was that after the Christmas Service, they stay on, and the whole Session give of their time to serve a Christmas lunch, provided by the Church, to those who wanted company on Christmas Day. There was 100% support. Who would cook? We had an excellent cook in the congregation, and she offered to give up her Christmas day to assist. Who would pay? Funds were put aside to facilitate the event in the run up to the big day. Crackers could be donated, along with items such as napkins, or disposable tablecloths. A nominal charge would be made, it was decided. It was publicly announced in November, to ensure that this would be a proposition which would be welcomed, and if so, for an estimate of numbers. Around fifty people were expected. But, as the news of the event grew, and the final total was over 150. People rolled up their sleeves, and started to prepare seriously for the big event. Everyone worked together: tasks were allocated: from table setting to preparing vegetables, to cooking the turkey. And so, on Christmas day, the Church was very full. As one of the members of the Session, it was my privilege to help to serve the food afterwards. What a party we had! What happiness was shared – and all loneliness was banished. From 1 – 3p.m. we served, chatted, helped to wash up, and generally assisted. We laughed, joked, sang, and experienced great pleasure in giving these two hours of our time to alleviate loneliness on this special day. Words cannot describe how good it was to give on this special day. It was truly amazing. Everyone who had been involved declared it their best Christmas ever: yet it cost nothing but time and a little effort. The warm glow, as we departed for our own meals at home, was unforgettable. We had alleviated some loneliness, brought some joy and company, and it had only taken a few hours of our time. It mightily enforced the realisation of how self-indulgent Christmas has become. © Linda Jane McLean 6 Anne Fenech sent in these funny signs for us to enjoy! 8 7 From Alan Malloy Survey of ERAS U3A Members’ Future Use of IT Thanks to those members who have so far replied to the questions sent out a couple of weeks ago. There have been 48 responses up to now and if you haven’t already replied and would like to do so, then please email Alan Malloy (email address below). It is really helpful to know your views, as our ability to meet physically in groups inside may be restricted for some time to come. The Key Question: ‘Would you be happy to meet other members using the internet?’ Of those who replied, just under 3/4 (34 people) said ‘yes’ to this. Some members expressed reservations about using the internet for group ‘meetings’ and there’s absolutely no obligation for you to do so. The survey is written to assess your interest. Please send your answers (or request the questions again) to: [email protected] I love this little poem which was sent in by Sandra Richards. I may be too old to go out for a jog But at least I'm still able to walk the dog. It beats doing quizzes or watching the box. So get your lead Towser, let's go chase a fox. Out in the fields, just you and me where for a while we can both be free. 8 Please email your 8 record choices and your book and luxury item you would take to your desert island to Karen [email protected] Poets Page Please send us your poems, either ones you have written yourself or let us know of a special favourite which we can publish I related this rather embarrassing How Hard Can It Be? By Rhoda Malloy incident to Franca in an email and she said it would definitely make an amusing article for the newsletter.