Skye U3A news Issue #18 – January 2016 web: u3asites.org.uk/code/u3asite.php?site=325&page=0 Contact details Chair Tony Livesey ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] Vice Chair Vacancy Secretary Judy Atherton ✆ 01470 521815 8 [email protected] Treasurer Chad Killington ✆ 01470 582384 8 [email protected] Membership Secretaries Barbara Macdonald ✆ 01470 521576 8 [email protected] Message from the (arm)chair Peggy Hunter ✆ 01470 521324 There have been some considerable changes for and passionate voluntary worker in Slatina, 8 [email protected] the Skye U3A in recent times, not least of which Romania. You will struggle to comprehend the Group Co-ordinators is that Judy Atherton has become our secretary, circumstances in which she helps and supports Pola and Tony Livesey following on from all the good work done by orphaned and abandoned young people in ✆ 01470 511207 Jo-Ann Cherry, for which we owe a great debt Romania. 21st century Europe, but not as we 8 [email protected] of thanks. know it. The Isle of Skye U3A has We have also changed our Portree meeting Friday 26 February 2016 been in existence for over place, and for the future meetings in Portree West Highland College, Struan Road, Portree four years. It was originally we will enjoy the superb facilities of the West (2.00 - 4.00 pm). A social/catch-up with all the based around the island’s Highland College UHI, Struan Road, Portree, events and possibilities available through Skye capital, Portree, but has Isle of Skye, IV51 9EG. This building may be U3A, including new directions we might pursue. extended itself to include known to some of you as an art gallery, some Friday 25 March 2016 Broadford. These two time ago, and is situated across the road from West Highland College, Struan Road, Portree centres are separated the Shinty Hall. (2.00 - 4.00 pm). Our AGM. More details nearer by 26 miles and many I must also let you know that the Archaeology the time, but it is never boring nor tedious, members are scattered in Group has been reformed and will be led by Joy and if you don’t come, you might find yourself remote locations around Davies (tel: 01470 511727; email: joydavies@ 'volunteered' in your absence (joke). the island. This presents btinternet.com), so let her know if you would Finally I cannot close without mention of the special challenges but want to join the group. (See page three for current situation facing us. Being a very small the Isle of Skye itself is further information on the group's activities.) group, yet covering a vast area, we are faced a major compensation, The immediate dates for your diary include: with issues quite different from those faced offering rich sources of interest in areas such as Friday 15 January, Edinbane Hall by U3A groups in large conurbations. Our archaeology, geology, (1.00 - 4.00 pm). Our traditional Christmas income is small, and yet our costs are not. So nature, and walking. Given get-together – otherwise known and our we desperately need more members if we are the population of Skye we 'shared table'. We have booked Edinbane to remain financially viable. Please consider how will never approach the size Community Hall between 13.00 and 16.00. we might aid recruitment, and how we might of city U3As but we hope to on Friday 15 January. Between 1.00 – 2.00 pm develop to remain relevant and attractive to a grow and new members are we will be setting things up (tables, food etc) larger membership. extremely welcome. and between 2.00 – 4.00 pm we will have our Wishing you all a peaceful, and joyous 'shared table'. It is an ideal way to start the New New Year. Skye U3A news is published irregularly. Copy date for the Year, catching-up with fellow U3A members. Tony Livesey next issue is 10 February 2016. Friday 29 January, Breakish Hall Send material for inclusion to (2.00 - 4.00 pm). Gael Dunan, ex Head of the Ian Burn [8 [email protected]]. Maths Department at Portree High School, Isle of Skye U3A 2015 programme Friday 27 November 2015 meeting The Isle of Man and the Isle of Skye by Phil Walker On Friday, 27 November we down to the Isle of Man had our last monthly meeting were once part of the Norse for this year at our new Kingdom of the Isles. It is Portree venue – West Highland generally believed that the College, Struan Road (on the Macleods are descended from opposite side of road from the the kings of Man and Phil Shinty Hall). pointed out that well known The symbol of speaker the Isle of was Phil Man, the Walker, 'three legs originally of man' from occurs the Isle twice in of Man the coat of but now arms of the living in Macleods. Kildonan Phil is a with speaker his wife of Manx Norma. Gaelic and Norma’s currently family are all originally from studying Scottish Gaelic. From Skye and Norma has close the examples he showed us, connections with Glendale. it seems that written Manx Phil explained to us the long is much, much easier than connections between the Isles written Scottish Gaelic. of Skye and Man. Many of us will be aware that all the islands from the Hebridies The Three Legs – Yn Tree Cassyn The Isle of Man Coat of Arms The MacLeod Coat of Arms We meet at 2.00 pm on the last Friday of every month, with the venue alternating between the West Highland College in Portree and Breakish Hall. At most meetings there is a guest speaker, but now and again we hold internal events such as quizzes, group presentations, etc. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available at all meetings. Velyn Gaelg ayd? – Do you speak Manx? Moghrey Mie = Good morning Friday 15 January 2016 Fastyr mie = Good afternoon Christmas shared table lunch Oie vie = Goodnight Christmas/New Year 'Lunch', or rather shared table. Bring Kys t'ou? = How are you? food, eat everyone else’s food, and catch up with folk you Feer vie = Very well might not have seen in ages. 1.00 pm set up, 2.00 pm for the main event. Mie dy liooar = Well enough West Highland College UHI, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG. Goll as gaccan = Going and grumbling! As oo hene? = And yourself? Friday 29 January 2016 Gura mie ayd = Thank you Gael Dunan, ex Head of the Maths Department at Portree High School, and passionate voluntary worker in Slane lhiat = Goodbye Slatina, Roumania. Hee'm ou = I'll see you Breakish Hall, Breakish. Isle of Man map by Eric Gaba – Wikimedia Commons user: Sting. Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #18 | January 2016 Isle of Skye U3A interest groups Walking group folders all gone soggy. In any out some strange curried spicy at the base could be 15 – 20 The Walking Group presently case, as it was high tide there snacks, which Linda refused m and the thickness of those organizes one walk each were very few birds around on the grounds that if they walls up to 4m at the base. month, on the 16th (date and we had even resorted to were procured on the internet The cavity walls contained altered if it coincides with the counting hooded crows and they might be all virused up, staircases and galleries and weekend), though in summer blackbirds. before falling to the ground the height of the structure two walks are held each As soon as the rain eased and struggling to get up again could have been 13m or month. Short walks alternate off we were away up the (Linda always entertains us more. Mousa on Shetland is with longer walks and track (what used to be the with a fall or two, though this the only one anywhere near locations alternate between Dunvegan Road many moons time she failed to break any its original height and that the north and south of Skye. ago) and on to the Skeabost bones or coat herself in mud stands at 13m. and slime). Tuesday 15 December Cemetery where we could look out over the River Snizort as Yes, a somwehat uneventful The last of the year, the it meandered in large loops day but it was actually quite group had a really good walk towards the loch. And we saw enjoyable and we did finish today through the forest and – a raven and a mallard. up on a natury note, with an then a short walk up to the identification by Steve of a trig point at Ghlinne Bhig. In what was turning out to be Porcelain fungus, which was Clear skies and an easy walk. a very unnatury nature trip we another first for the nature Then the intrepid explorers thought it best to switch to a group. tried to find Loch a Ghlinne bit of archaeology and crossed Curiously, brochs are only Bhig, which is located deep in the foot bridge to the tiny St. found in a very limited area: the unexplored forest. Failed Columba’s Isle. Back in the in what is today the area on that one! Then down to good old days this used to be of the Highland Council, in the Skye Bakery in Portree for the site of Snizort Cathedral, the Western Isles, in Orkney a warming hot winter spiced which was founded within the and in Shetland. A few chocolate (scrumptious). Archdiocese of Trondheim, Norway, and a monastery, scattered examples elsewhere near to a rock on which St.