Romsey & District u3a Bulletin No19

ROMSEY and District

Low-down in the Lockdown Bulletin No.19 - 28 April 2021

photo: Ian Nicolls

Did you know that ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’ is ONE year old?

Stay Safe, Keep Active & Keep Well.

Keeping you informed From 29 April 2020, your news bulletin has been issued twice a month since the first lockdown began.

We’ve really enjoyed producing it and have been pleased that so many members have found it interesting. With summer upon us and lockdown easing, from June onwards we will publish only one bulletin in each month that we don’t publish a newsletter. Hopefully by then, the title will no longer be relevant, so we’d love to hear your suggestion of a NEW TITLE for our future monthly bulletin.

u3a day : 2 June 2021

MAY MEETING After the AGM you are in for a real treat, as Marion and Jan take us on one of their foreign travels.

Journey along the ancient Silk Road to fabled Samarkand, via the UNESCO world heritage mudwalled cities of Khiva and Bukhara to legendary Tashkent. Gaze at the architecture and the blue and turquoise tiles on the beautiful Mosques, Madrassas, Mausoleums, and Minarets. Admire the beautiful carpets, silk, embroidery and pottery. Visit the markets, meet the warm, friendly people and ride a 220km/hr bullet train.

Welcome to UZBEKISTAN!

Could you help to knit or crochet a bollard cover in blue and yellow, or perhaps you have acrylic yarn you would be happy to donate? In either case contact Kay here ASAP!

If you could help by handing out leaflets in the Cornmarket, by Bradbeers entrance, for maybe 30 minutes on the day, please email Bob here.

Latest scam update from Which?

A pre-recorded message or phone call from the National Crime Agency or National Office for Serious Crimes, may claim your National Insurance number has been compromised. Do not call them back or give any personal details.

Here’s how fraudsters may pressure you

Covid The number of cases is dropping, the number of vaccinations is increasing but you can still catch or pass on Covid-19.

All across Great Britain, u3as are busy planning events and activities to raise awareness of the u3a movement. We are working with Romsey Archway to bring the u3a colours to the centre of Romsey and provide people with information about the movement.

Would you like to help?

Please remember!

Table Tennis Intermediate Group This group is looking for new members for when it resumes playing in a couple of months’ time. They used to meet on a Monday pm every week, but this might change in the future, depending on availability of a venue.

Email Margaret if you think you would like to join them.

Snappers held their first Zoom earlier this month.

Their photos have appeared regularly in Bulletins and Newsletters, but they will soon have a special video of their winter project ‘The Black and White Medium’.

5 things to say to Doorstep Scammers ‘Doorsteppers’ are masters at separating you from your hard earned cash and particularly target older people and those who live alone. Make sure you have these five quick phrases to hand next time someone suspicious comes a-knocking: 1: "I can't come to the door right now" 2: "Can I see some ID please?"

3: "Let me talk to a friend about it" 4: "I'd rather not tell you that" 5: "Thanks but no thanks" Watch the short ‘Which? video highlighted above, and do share these tips with any loved ones you think might be vulnerable.

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BABY BIRD BOOM

GARDENING CORNER

A few familiar garden species, like blackbirds, may well be feeding chicks at the moment, and house sparrows could be sitting on eggs. It’s so important to avoid cutting back your hedges, trees and shrubs from now until autumn to avoid disturbing birds.

Things to do in the garden in MAY.

Many of the smaller birds can look or sound almost the same, so remember your binoculars if you’re out for a walk. If you see or hear a bird that you don’t recognise, use a website or phone app to identify it.

You may have already seen a swallow flying high, and house martins are arriving now.

This What’s that Warbler? video from the RSPB includes chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap, and the Cetti’s warbler which is currently being seen and heard in Fishlake Meadows. Ten warblers in total.

Here is a list of the 23 RSPB Notes on Nature videos if you would like to watch some more.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust are asking for your help to identify unused land that could be used to help nature. There is a short online form to complete if you can.

Laughter is the best medicine!

Hear about the new restaurant called Karma?

There’s no menu - you get what you deserve.

Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know and don't really care.

Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I could do it with my eyes closed.

I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

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LIVE Safaris from wildlife hotspots across Africa... where anxiety and stress melt away.

Did you see the SUPERMOON this week? An April full moon is often called a PINK MOON.

Only if we understand, will we care.

Only if we care, will we help.

Only if we help shall all be saved. ~Jane Goodall Real-time internet or TV 04:30 - 07:30 13:30 - 17.30

Nature Poetry Project - ‘Spring, An Inventory’

Sudoku Special — Answer

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 Cut back penstemons, caryopteris, fuchsias after frosts  Lift & divide clumps of daffodils and other spring bulbs  Take softwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs such as forsythia, philadelphus, hydrangea  Put in plant supports before plants grow too large  Prune chaenomeles, choisya, ribes after flowering  Tie in rambling and climbing roses to horizontal position  Plant out bedding plants late May after all frosts  Watch out for blackspot on roses and treat  Get rid of lily beetles and their grubs by squashing them  Prune back pyracantha & viburnum tinus  Keep on top of weeds by hoeing  Clip evergreen hedges but check for nests first Thanks to Margaret Marchbank and RHS ‘The Garden’.

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The National Trust asked for observations of wildlife, the weather and what Spring means to them. The replies via social media of 400 people on 20-21 March, were woven into a new poem by writer Elizabeth-Jane Burnett. The numbers refer to the frequency of words from the submissions; here is the first verse: Fifty-four hopes in the hardwood held, slow, the hour brightens through damp roots and fused shoots the pressure wells, fifty-one blossoms on the cherry swell, tiny beech leaves ripen.

Fifty-four hopes in the hardwood held slow, the hour brightens.

You can read more and download the poem here.

The May Newsletter will be with you from 17 May; Bulletin 20 is due out on 16 June.

Contact Dave Lovell 01794 515316 news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk All of our publications are on our website: romseyu3a.org.uk ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’: Glenda Taylor, Janet Moody, Margaret Marchbank & Dave Lovell.

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