ROMSEY and District
Low-down in the Lockdown Bulletin No.12 - 9 December 2020 Your Bulletin is back! We’ll be keeping in touch with you this way for a few more months yet, so do send us anything that we can share with other members. Be sure you continue to stay Safe, keep Active & keep Well.
PUT IT IN YOUR DIARY! Friday 11 December at 10.30 will be our next members’ ‘Coffee and Catch-up’. This will feature, perhaps for the first time ever in any u3a, a 'story-telling chain'. Join us for some FUN and add a sentence to a collective piece of creative story-writing. SAVE the DATE - more details will be sent by email. Wednesday 16 December is our next monthly meeting; join at 10.15. You’ll want to grab a seat in the front row for this presentation by Michael Brown of ‘A Medieval Christmas’, celebrating medieval Christmas music which will be played on replica instruments. (Provide your own Christmas jumper, hat and drink please!) On Friday 18 December at 10.30 we’ll have something special for you! MMM............... a ‘Mulled Wine and Mince pie Morning’. Please send YOUR photos of celebrating or spending Christmas somewhere else in the world with a short description of where, when and who with, to news.copy@romseyu3.org.uk and we’ll include them in a presentation of ‘Christmas around the World’. And then put your feet up or find other ways to relax and enjoy Christmas and the end of 2020. We’ll be back in the New Year to help you to Learn, Laugh and Live!
NO LONGER A TELEPHONE BOX?
NOVEMBER MEETING Our speaker in November was Ian Keable who both entertained us and educated us in his lively illustrated talk, the ‘History of Cartoons: from William Hogarth to Private Eye’.
Do you know of any more local telephone boxes or other unusual buildings that are helpful to the communities around us, but also make amusing studies for an artist like Wendy Jelbert, one of our members?
If you missed it - Hogarth, who died 323 years ago, was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic, and editorial cartoonist.
The villagers of Braishfield have turned their lovely, local telephone box into a © Wendy Jelbert well-used library: an ideal subject for firstly Wendy’s diary, then one of her paintings, and now printed as a card. Wendy’s next study is the telephone box in Up Somborne. And then… ?
If you’ve never looked at Private Eye, click on https://private-eye.co.uk/ to take a look.
Please contact Wendy at : art@wendyjelbert.co.uk
WINE APPRECIATION
MUSIC Did you read Mike Tudball’s story in the Nov. newsletter, about his Welsh paternal grandfather, who although a miner was also a musician and composer? If you haven’t already listened to the YouTube links of Mike’s transcribed digital copies, please DO. The Waltz: ‘I Thought the World of You’ has been listened to 45 times and the March: ‘On Parade’ 52 times. Not bad for 100yrs old!
Mike Phillips one of our members took a screenshot of our November Zoom meeting where we had an amazing 18 members from our 27 membership. A blind tasting was planned but due to lockdown, a wine related quiz was quickly arranged, and a lot of learning was achieved. We are at full capacity as a wine group but if there is anyone wanting to start a new group, we are willing to help setting up. Derek Morley See your November Newsletter for contact details.
CREATIVE WRITING Our Creative Writing group is active again; why not join it? Have you ever had that urge to write your memoirs for your grandchildren or maybe there is a story in your head that is struggling to emerge? Perhaps there is a poem waiting to be written, or you are a complete beginner and want to come along and try us out. Whatever your motivation please contact the new leader: Jennifer Wineberg at jennifer@wineberg.co.uk Jennifer is an author and has published two books. Page 1 of 2
Rupert the Bear
Illust: John Harrold — the 3rd official Rupert Bear artist.
It’s 100 years since Rupert first appeared in the Daily Express. Learn the bear facts with expert Howard Smith at the Art Society. Royal Mail has also issued commemorative stamps. Thanks to Cecily Tilley.
Pa$$W0rD protection 1 in 5 of us will be victims of cybercrime. 1. Create a separate password for your email account 2. Use 3 random words 3. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) See how with the Neighbourhood Watch network. *** Now share these 3 steps with 3 friends. ***
Buy with Confidence Be alert to cold callers at the door this Winter. Obtain at least 3 written quotes from reputable businesses or traders, either members of the Buy with Confidence scheme or a recognised trade association.
ISLANDS OF BRITAIN A Quiz (part 1) © Madeley & District U3A Fill in the missing vowels to discover these islands. Answers next time.
1.
LNDSFRN
11. LSCRG
2.
BRR
12. CLFFMN
3.
LDRNY
13. LWS
4.
NGLSY
14. STKLD
5.
SLY
15. SLFWHTHRN
6.
SLFPRBCK
16. SLFDGS
7.
PRTLNDSLND
17. RHM
8.
STGNES
18. SKMR
9.
SLFWLNY
19. BRDSY
10. HLYSLND
20. JRSY
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Beware the Scams ...Parking penalty charge; fake sellers online; HMRC Brexit scam; HMRC tax return scam; Covid-19 vitamin pill cold calls; rogue roofers… *** KEEP SAFE ***
Which? Consumer Rights has a new home for scam news . Winter Solstice 2020
A few more jokes to make you smile... The older I get, the earlier it gets late. She had a photographic memory but never developed it. I tried to sue the airline for losing my luggage. I lost my case. What do you call a super articulate dinosaur? A Thesaurus. UK TOWN ANAGRAMS - part 3 ANSWERS © Madeley & District U3A
41. LANCASTER
46. TOWCESTER
42. MORPETH
47. LOWESTOFT
43. BALLYMENA
48. CHICHESTER
44. DORCHESTER
49. WORTHING
45. ATHERSTONE
50. EVESHAM
SUNRISE will be live streamed from
Stonehenge on the morning of 21 December.
u3a Winter Watch With the colder weather setting in, ‘u3a learning’ are asking members to share images of their local, personal wintery views and experiences. This is a visual record of the season at this unprecedented time including artwork, drawings, paintings, photos or any visual representation of your winter. Submit your photos on the Winter Watch page to be included in a Winter themed gallery.
u3a : Paint or Draw : theme to 5 January is Lights.
If you are feeling lonely or isolated at any time, help is near:
Did you notice the
The Samaritans OR just call 116 123 free
u3a logo is changing?
ManGang (It’s not weak to speak) OR call 07881 109716 Mind (Solent) (for better Mental Health) OR call 023 8017 9049
NHS call 111 and select the Mental Health option. Bulletin 13 is due out on 23 December - why not send us your favourite cracker joke to go in it? *** Thank you for getting in touch — it’s lovely to hear from you! *** Contact Gill Hodge 01794 511529 treasurer@romseyu3a.org.uk This Bulletin will also be on our website: romseyu3a.org.uk ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’ team: Gill Hodge, Glenda Taylor, Janet Moody, Margaret Marchbank, Dave Lovell. Do you want to join us? We’re just an email away: news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk Page 2 of 2