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September 2011

 

Poetry Group (July meeting)

The July topic was children and there was a selection of poems by children, about

children and some written for them. They included The Pied Piper of Hamelin by

Robert Browning, The Lion and Albert by Marriott Edgar and poems from authors

such as Spike Milligan, Hilaire Belloc, John Hegley, Allan Ahlberg and Pam Ayres.

Also included was a very profound and moving poem by 16 year old Lee Botham

written about apartheid when Nelson Mandela was freed at the beginning of 1990s.

Other poems were read too, 3 of which had been written for one of the members

and her brother by their mother in the 1950s.

 Lively Discussion group

What makes a celebrity?

We had 2 different dictionary definitions of celebrity one from 2001 and the other

from the 1600s.  They were remarkably similar - in the 1600s ‘a person much

spoken about’ and now ‘a famous person’ were the definitions. Everyone felt that

today’s manufactured celebrities who became known to many through publicists and

gossip magazines where ‘air heads and bimbos’. True celebrities are those who

have contributed something to society. Historic examples included Emmeline and

Sylvia Pankhurst, Dr Christian Barnard, Ghandi, Marie Curie, Dr Johnson, Samuel

Pepys, Brunel, Sir Isaac Newton and Alexander the Great. More up-to-date famous

people thought to be celebrities are Elvis, Stirling Moss, David Beckham, Archbishop

Desmond Tutu, Sir David Attenborough, Bill Gates, Aung San Suu Kyi, Alice Hawkins

(Leicester suffragette) and Sir Bob Geldof.

Leadership, sporting prowess, artistic and musical skill, worthiness and

achievement were felt to be essential to true celebrity. The present culture

undermines the term and cheapens it. Today’s celebrities are famous for being

famous and don’t seem to have any obvious talent. The group members had been

given extracts from celebrity magazines and found that they didn’t know many of

those featured. Is it immaturity which makes people want to find out what others

are doing? ‘The Only Way is Essex’ and ‘Made in Chelsea’ are TV examples of this

lack of substance. It is very much hoped that this phenomenon which has been

apparent for about a decade will pass. However the industry which has grown up

around it featuring Max Clifford, Simon Cowell and others, and many magazines

make this unlikely since it’s such a lucrative source of income for all concerned. It

remains to be seen whether the phone hacking scandal will have any lasting effect.

We’ve all heard of Corrie and now we know that TOWIE is the ‘Essex’ programme –

so unexpectedly we did learnt something

Scrabble

Another lovely morning with one player missing a 7 letter word which would have

earned her 50 points. If it’s any consolation I’d have missed it too! Where are the

male players that we really need?

Canasta 1

This group has decided that they’d like to try a different Canasta so I have arranged

to play Brazilian Canasta on the third Wednesday in the month 10 am – Noon.  The

Wednesday group will be known as Canasta 3 and will start on 19th October.  The

Camasta 1 group will continue to play on the 1st Friday 10 am – Noon.

         

1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP

5th October 2011 - Walk Organiser Reg Tattersall

Tel: 01455 209126

Meeting Point and Time: -Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.25am to

leave at 9.30am.

Directions to the Starting Point: From Lutterworth to Gilmorton, then right at The

Crown, first left and to Peatling Parva.  In Peatling turn left and then immediately

right up the hill to The Shires pub which is on the right hand side. Park at the far

end of the car park.

Route and distance: The walk starts at 10:00 am, is approx. 5.7 miles, on a

mixture of field paths, farm lanes, roads and bridle ways and includes a small part

of the Leicestershire Round. The walk goes from the Shires to Bruntingthorpe and

then towards Arnesby, Peatling Magna and returning on a circular route back to The

Shires for lunch, where a wide variety of meals at a range of prices are available.

August Walk

  

25 members set off from Dadlington and walked through Stoke Golding and on

across open fields offering good views.  We returned along the Ashby Canal

towpath.  It was a hot day and we were glad to see the Dog and Hedgehog Inn at

the end of our walk where we could quench our thirst.  We had a good quality meal

spoiled only by a rather long wait to be served.

George Robertson.

Tuesday Walk

Date of walk: Tuesday 20th September 2011.

Walk Organiser: Graham Morgan

Meeting Point: Meet at the Coventry Road car park by the Leisure Centre.

Meeting Time: Meet by 9.25 to leave at 9.30.

Route and distance:  About 6 miles of field paths and track. 

Directions to the Starting Point: Lutterworth to the A5 northwest and about a mile

after High Cross take the B4114 right to Sharnford.  The Countryman pub is in the

village centre on the right and the car park is across the road.

Lunch: Lunch will be at the Countryman.

Return Journey from Lutterworth Mileage: 9 miles

SEPTEMBER JOINT GOLF DAY   

URGENT :- CHANGE OF DATE :- PLEASE NOTE ! ! ! ! 

The next Golf Day will be at Lutterworth Golf Club on Monday 26th September 2011,

NOT 5th SEPTEMBER  as previously arranged.

Usual format.

New players welcome including Ladies.At least 1 Lady Golfer would help as 1 other

Lady Golfer wishes to play.

To book your place or for further datails, please contact Peter Moore.

Tel :- 01455 552594 or e-mail :- peter79moore@gmail.com

JOINT GOLF DAY -  U3A Lutterworth and Wycliffe 

Date :- Friday 4th November 2011.

U3A  Golf. End of Season Away Day.

Venue :- Sandwell Park Golf Club

West Bromwich. B71 4JJ.

Magnificent,Top Quality Championship Course.

Bacon roll/coffee/tea upon arrival.

18 Holes Golf

Hot Lunch.(Puddings £2.50 extra)

Prizes :- 1st, 2nd and 3rd and Nearest the Pin.

Total cost :- £34.00p per person all inclusive.

Please invite Guests,they will be most welcome and will thank you.

The full itinerary and application form are now available.For details 

Tel :- 01455 552594 or e-mail :- peter79moore@gmail.com 

or collect forms at Lutterworth Golf Club on 26th September.

Forms must be completed as Full Payment is required when booking.

Please note I am away from October 1st and return on October 15th.

Bridge

This month we have had two good sessions.  In one, a slam was made but not bid,

we seem to still be falling into this trap.  At our last session, we had five players so

we all enjoyed the musical chairs, but without the musical accompaniment.

Quiz Group

We had a small but select band of eleven members for our meeting this month.

The question setters were Christine and Dot. As ever the questions stretched our

brains and taught us something new.

Worryingly some of the questions were on the highway code. We were all rather

glad we do not have to do the written exam as they do today to pass the driving

test!

FOURTH  WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP

WEDNESDAY 28th September 2011

Walk Organisers Christine Sidey Tel:  282907 & Paula Erett Tel: 550413

Meeting Point and Time: -Lutterworth Recreation Ground Car Park at 9.25am to

leave at 9.30am

Directions to the Start: -Towards Blaby on A426 to Dunton Bassett crossroads

(traffic lights).  Turn left to Broughton Astley and follow road into Broughton. Turn

left at lights on Station Road. Just before church turn left into White Horse (2 for 1)

Car Park. Please park on far side nearest the church. Toilets available. Order lunch,

2 main course meals for price of one.

The walk is approx 6 miles along fields, foot paths, bridleways and some road

walking.  There are a few stiles at the beginning of the walk.

August Walk

18 walkers and 4 dogs strode off from the Blue Bell Inn, Stoney Stanton, on a fine

sunny morning for a walk which provided a mixture of residential, industrial and

rural vistas. A break was taken looking over the spectacularly deep workings of

Croft Quarry. Shortly after the break the main group had to wait whilst a small

rearguard group, who had managed to go astray, were rounded up. On the return to

the pub the group enjoyed a pleasant lunch.

Sue and Peter Creeden

Our August outing was a most interesting one.  On a beautiful sunny morning we

met up with experts from Stanford Ringing Group at Stanford reservoir.  What

followed was both fascinating and informative as small birds caught in nets that

morning were ringed by Mick and John who have such a wealth of knowledge that

they are able to determine the age, sex and other interesting information from

their anatomy.  We were all invited to handle the birds before letting them fly back

into the wild and once we were shown the correct way to hold a bird, it was a

thrilling experience to take part in this, especially as we handled quite a few

different birds, including whitethroats, a lesser whitethroat, and warblers.  We shall

definitely be arranging another session with the ringing group in the near future.

Our September outing will be on Friday, when we hope to visit Whisby Nature Park

   

Members of the Bird Watching Group at their visit to Stanford

Reservoir where they helped with ringing birds

A picture of a White throat being ringed

French

This month Christine kindly provided us with several sets of quiz questions and word

searches.  These proved to be instructive and entertaining and we all learned some

new words and expressions.

The next meeting is on 22 September when we plan to watch ”Jean de Florette” –

another film by Marcel Pagnol – at Pearl and Tony’s house.

Book Chat

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield was a novel read with enthusiasm by some of

the group, whilst others felt it was too long and lacked continuity. It was said to be

based on Laura Bush, her early life and her elevation to First Lady as the wife of

President George W Bush.It was written from the standpoint of Alice who marries

Charlie Blackwell who ends up being elected President of the USA. It was difficult to

know what was real and what was fiction. So was it recent history or just a very

long disjointed novel? Whatever it was one sentence stuck in my mind, this was a

thought expressed by Alice (Laura ?) whilst travelling in a motorcade passing

pedestrians in the street. " All I did was marry him. You are the ones who gave him

the power" I wonder if all First Ladies think that?

Photography

The next meeting will be September 23rd when our subject will be Flowers.

Card/Board Games

Owing to the majority of our group going away on holiday during September, we

have cancelled all sessions until Monday October 3rd when we will meet at Cynthia’s

house.

August Monthly Meeting

Pub Lunches

October pub lunches are on 4th and 5th at Ullesthorpe Court – a new venue for us to

explore. 12 for 12.30

Poetry Group

Angela is out of hospital, but Stuart feels that they’re not ready to host the group in

September, so the next meeting at 2.30pm on 22nd September will be at Dot’s

house, 3 Mount View, Dunton Bassett (opposite the school). The topic is places.

Poetry Group August 25th 2011

Our subject was animals and it was surprising how many poets have written about

them. Humorous poems by John Betjeman and Pam Ayres and others were much

enjoyed. ‘The Mongrel’ by Roger McGough, one of the Liverpool poets usually

associated with amusing poetry, was uncharacteristically sad. Poems from childhood

and teaching experience were heard with nostalgia. Several group members have a

copy of ‘Best-Loved Poems’ Edited by Neil Philip and, as with other topics, this

book proved very useful. ‘Swallows’ by Owen Sheers, a poet new to the group, was

enjoyed by all. Owen Sheers presented A Poet’s Guide to Britain on BBC4 on Bank

Holiday Monday.

Monthly report

For the August Wycliffe U3A monthly meeting, Steven George told us about his

flying career.  It all started when he was 17 and progressed from there to flying

with the RAF all around the world including a helicopter rescue training exercise in

Holyhead harbour.  What Steven thought was rain was in fact the sea itself as he

was too close to the surface.  From there, he flew in Aden, the East German border

and Northern Ireland where he had a specific request from none other than Margaret

Thatcher to fly Willie Whitelaw.  From there to an instructor at Cranwell before

leaving the RAF to become a commercial pilot, again flying all over the world as you

can well imagine.  I addition to flying commercial planes, Steven also volunteered

to do some exciting flying in Zaire among the cannibal tribal areas.

All together, an interesting and amusing recollection.

Pause for thought….            Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your trouble,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any  time,

If you can take the criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without alcohol,

If you can  sleep without the aid of drugs….

Then you are probably the family dog!!

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