Romsey & District u3a Bulletin No16

ROMSEY and District

Low-down in the Lockdown Bulletin No.16 - 10 March 2021

Hoar frost - Mike Driscoll

It’s great to be able to bring you some GOOD NEWS in this edition. This Hamamelis mollis (Chinese Witch Hazel) was flowering in Michael Sleigh’s garden in early February. Now, as other blossoms are blooming and daffodils replace the snowdrops, so the days lengthen and we hope to start to seeing one another again quite soon. With a cautious note though, remember: Stay Safe, Keep Active & Keep Well.

General Meetings You should have received the Zoom link for the 17 March talk by Beatrice Von Preussen: a Science ship in the Arctic and Antarctic is not where you would usually expect to meet an artist so do join us. Ian Keable returns on 21 April to speak about ‘The Century of Deception’.

More information in the February newsletter or on our website .

MEMBERSHIP

A REALLY BIG THANK YOU!

Please remember to send your Membership Renewal Form back to Brenda. You will receive your 2021-22 Programme Card from the end of March.

We are now OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS.

Since these Bulletins started in April 2020 they have been emailed to you by Gill Hodge. Now, as she prepares to hand over to a new Treasurer, she is also stepping back from the Communications team. It has been an honour to work with her, and she always passed on your kind words. Thank you, Gill.

GOOD NEWS! We do have candidates for the roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and a number of people who have confirmed that they will stand as trustees at our AGM. Thank you for stepping up.

Trustees are the people who form the management committee of our Charity and make decisions on things such as membership subscriptions, our constitution and programme of events (monthly meetings etc). Committee meetings are lively, fun, learning opportunities. If you’d like to join us please call Dave Lovell on 07505 954556 or email vice.chair@romseyu3a.org.uk.

The agenda for the AGM was on page 5 of the newsletter he re . Please make sure any points you wish to raise under Matters Arising and A.O.B. are with the Secretary no later than Friday 19 MARCH 2021: AGM@romseyu3a.org.uk or 01794 517589.

Volunteering can be very therapeutic, rewarding and satisfying. There are more opportunities to help.

Why not have a no obligation discussion of your interests and our opportunities? Contact any of us listed at the end of this bulletin or through the website.

MOVING FORWARD Many of our Group Leaders met online to discuss their ambitions for resuming group activities in the real world and there is much to look forward to.

You will have read or heard the GOOD NEWS about the R oa dma p out of lockdown and I’m sure we all have our fingers crossed that there will be no delays. All groups will follow the roadmap for restarting group meetings, in venues in and around Romsey and for trips ‘out and about’.

Mindful March ‘Notice the joy to be found in the simple things of life.’ ACTION FOR HAPPINESS Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it.

CENSUS DAY Good news: completing it online on 21 March is the best way to do it if you can, using your household code that came by post. If you don’t feel confident doing it online yourself, why not ask a relative or good friend to help you? Or ring the Census helpline [FREE] 0800 141 2021. They can provide a paper form to complete and offer other help and advice.

“How many?” The Covid vaccination rollout is going well in Romsey and surrounding area. A total of 597,846 people have been vaccinated in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as of 4 March; an increase of 72,008 since last week.

Remember, YOU CAN STILL CATCH COVID but will be less severely affected and CAN STILL INFECT OTHERS. Keep your distance, keep washing hands for 20 seconds and still wear a mask when in enclosed spaces or close to other people. When we are able to meet with others indoors, or if people have to come into your home, e.g. to service your heating system, make sure the rooms you are using are well ventilated. Watch this video.

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Nostalgia This small, extremely lifelike, pottery shingleback bluetongued skink reminds me of many, warm, happy, sunny holidays staying with very dear friends in Perth, Western Australia. Commonly known as a bobtail, there is one just like this peaking out from under the flower pots outside their kitchen door – I always get excited when I see it as I think it is a live one! Wonderful memories of living in Australia and happy times with very special friends. Do you have a memory to share with us?

Janet Moody

INTEREST GROUP NEWS - LATEST A volunteer has come forward to run the Theatre Group. Julia Slade is a new member, with many interests including some great ideas on different theatres and venues which we could all benefit from, as soon as ‘normal’ life is resumed.

Her contact details will be on the website and in the May newsletter.

Several new groups have been proposed recently:  Climate Change  Playreading  Natural History  Model Railways  Wine Appreciation 2 Either Margaret (see below) or the person who advertised the group in the newsletter would like to hear from you if you are interested.

GARDENING CORNER   

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Things to do in the garden in March.

Deadhead daffodils but let stems die down naturally Prune back shrubs e.g. Spirea, Perovskia, Caryopteris Tidy up perennials left over winter for their seed heads Split up any which have become crowded e.g, asters (Michaelmas daisies), heleniums, rudbeckia Mulch flower borders with compost, leaf mould or similar to at least 3” / 7.5cms Finish pruning roses Move small evergreen shrubs in the wrong place Start weeding borders with a hoe Prepare vegetable beds: dig in compost, manure etc Sow seeds (vegetable, salad, flower) indoors in trays Clear debris from ponds; prevent algal growth by using barley straw Start mowing the lawn Last chance to prune fruit trees

Check for hedgehogs before digging or raking into a pile of leaves. Pip, the hedgehog lady at Wellow has received several hoglets that have been severely damaged by forks and rakes - all have had to be euthanized.

Thanks to the Horticulture group and also with reference to the RHS magazine ‘The Garden’.

Explore The Bayeux Tapestry

What has 70m of embroidered canvas; 58 scenes; 380 Latin words; 600 characters; 500 animals; 200 horses; 50 trees… ? For the first time, you can now freely explore Questers still need one more person to help the entire Bayeux Tapestry that tells the story of the continue the good work of the team who have conquest of England in 1066. The photographed provided an excellent service for many years. Do embroidery has been converted into a panoramic digital you have reasonable computer and organisational representation of high quality images and can be found skills and be prepared to deal with the financial side online here.

Thanks to Alan Fowler. of things? Please contact Liz 01794 514597 or Christine 01794 501558. You don’t need to be “It is during our darkest moments an existing member of Questers. that we must Interest Groups Coordinators: focus to see the Margaret Marchbank 01794 323345 light” - Aristotle Jo Morgan 01794 514134

UK PARLIAMENT have a series of free talks and virtual guided tours around the Palace of Westminster. In a 45-minute free online talk you are taken on a guided 360° virtual tour, with a detailed look inside several rooms including the Commons Chamber, Lords Chamber and Central Lobby with its magnificent octagonal ceiling. It includes some fascinating history of the building, and how each room is used today to support the work of UK Parliament. Also included is Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the building and the scene to many historic occasions including the trials of Guy Fawkes and King Charles I. Bulletin 17 is due out on 24 March. What can YOU contribute? We’re waiting to hear from you!

Contact Dave Lovell 01794 515316 news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk This Bulletin will also be on our website: romseyu3a.org.uk ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’: Glenda Taylor, Janet Moody, Margaret Marchbank & Dave Lovell.

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