News

The latest news from our groups…..

Members are invited to participate in our “virtual group”. Below are the photos chosen for August. Others may be found in the newsletter.
Please email me ONE snapshot you have taken on your phone, or digital camera, sometime before a general meeting. I will compile an informal slideshow of the results and show them at the next general meeting. There are no themes, no prizes, no meetings, just a monthly picture gallery.
Select wisely, remember only ONE snapshot.
No people snaps! Not every one wants to be plastered all over the village hall screen and I would feel uncomfortable with personal data. So please stick to – animal (not human), vegetable and mineral please. Snaps will be deleted after 1 month, ready for the next gallery.
Let’s give it a go. What could possibly go wrong?
My special email “snapshot gallery” address is:
snapgallery21@gmail.com
Ian Hibbert

We weren’t singing for our supper we were queuing to order our lunch at The Sherwood in Rainworth!
Sixteen of us enjoyed the usual good quality of food and service from the staff, always friendly and welcoming.
On our list for another visit probably early New Year.

Jackie Massey

Book Group

To the Land of Long-Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith

Published in 2019, this was one of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  Set in Botswana, the novel follows Precious Ramotswe as she becomes involved in several mysteries while also dealing with the personal concerns of the people around her.

None of our group enjoyed the book which they found very difficult to read because of all the names and, although there were humorous parts, it was overall uninspiring. It was the 20^th book in the series so there must be people out there who do enjoy them!

Not one to recommend!

Betty Foster

Barging about in Newark!

How many people have driven over Newark’s Trent Bridge and missed a hidden gem?

Moored opposite the famous castle is the Leicester Trader museum barge. Its owner, Les Reid, arranged a special opening for us and told us all about it.

It is a dumb Trent barge – the last of its kind on the river – which Les has rescued and restored. The barge has to be the right size to fit into the Trent locks, hence ‘Trent’ barge. It also has no motor and has to be towed by tug, hence ‘dumb’.

The end cabin has been set up as if for a family of 2 adults and 4 children to live and sleep in, and was incredibly tiny, with the children sleeping in a kind of cupboard. The huge hold meanwhile would be filled to the top with cargo. The more you carried, the more you earned.

Les has amassed a great archive of barge memorabilia and photos on display in the hold. He is a fount of knowledge and answered all our questions from his experience of over 60 years working on these boats. He was ably assisted by volunteer Bex Barnes who many will remember from our u3a.

For our second barge experience we followed the old horse towpath under the bridge to the Castle Barge floating pub, where we enjoyed refreshments on board on the water.
We avoided the rain, no-one fell in, so we didn’t get wet!

Diane Hibbert

Our final outing of the year takes us closer to home, to the Mining Heritage Centre at Berry Hill. 25th September

Garden Visits

We meet on the 1st Thursday in the month and in August it was cloudy and cool but perhaps should be grateful it wasn’t the sweltering heat we have had. The visit was to Breezy Knees Gardens near York and as to be expected of this summer certainly brown grass but plenty of colour. There was plenty to see in the different gardens, White Rose Fountain Garden, Rock Garden, Lawned Garden a lake area and wooded part. Described by Monty Don as ‘a beautiful modern garden created on the grandest possible scale’ one of the largest in the North of England at over 20 acres. We had our exercise! Surprisingly there were plenty of flowers in bloom and all still delighted us. Some unusual plants and a delightful scented rose garden.
The many plants on sale saw the back of our bus fairly full!
Another most enjoyable day out.

Pam Berry

After the summer break our first event at the Odeon was to the Andre Rieu concert film from Maastricht. Amazing as always! It featured the large orchestra, soloists, local singers and a very large troupe of ballroom dancers. We were beguiled as usual. The music was varied and included modern as well as classical so something for everyone. A most enjoyable time and we all came away uplifted and happy. That’s what his concerts do !! Join us for the next concert of his at the Odeon on Sunday 6th December at 2.15pm.

The ballets and operas start end of October with Manon on Tuesday 27th October at 7.15. and Carmen on Tuesday 10th November. Will be booking both of these at our October main meeting

Pam Berry

Indoor Games

In a well-earned break between 12 spot dominoes and Korridor Kurling, Jim gets to grips with Shut the Box while Lynden enjoys a cuppa.

We all had a go with Shut the Box and Susan eventually succeeded, being determined not to give up.

With Kurling, we all seemed a bit rusty at first, but Reds surged ahead. Blues were in hot pursuit but fell 4 points short in a first- to -50 game.

Diane Hibbert

The Wine Appreciation group met recently.  Linda hosted the group this month, and we tasted 4 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc from Greece.  The wine was exceptionally good, and none of us had tasted Greek Sauvignon Blanc before, it was a pleasant surprise.  Linda provided a delicious supper and the evening ended around 9.15pm.  The most expensive bottle came second in our evaluation.  The most expensive seldom wins and we taste all the wines blind.

This month’s visit was to Moseley Old Hall.

The hall is near Wolverhampton and is famous as one of the hiding places of Charles II following his escape from the Parliamentarians to France after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

He hid in the priest hole for two days before moving on.

The beautiful gardens comprise a walled garden, orchard and a (recreated) knot garden.

Scorchio!!

Ann Mills

Ringtones

The Ringtones singing group is about having fun and performs at meetings and social events.
At our monthly rehearsals at the Methodist Church Hall in Rainworth, 10am-12pm, on the second Monday of each month, we plan for any future performances and enjoy a wide range of music. We have sung celebratory songs at our 10th anniversary celebrations, coffee mornings, Christmas parties, our AGM and  Garden Parties. New members are always welcome, no audition required!

Ian Hibbert

Strollers

Would you believe it? After we had to cancel the previous two months strolls due to the severely hot weather, on Monday 27th July we set off on our stroll with drizzly RAIN!! Leaving the car park at Pleasley Country Park we suddenly started donning our cagoules. Anyway it didn’t last for very long and before half way along the route we were taking them off and experiencing the heat again.
A few people and dogs were taking advantage of the cooler day, also there was plenty of fresh evidence that horses had preceded us. The flora and forna everywhere were looking extremely dry but some bushes had a plethora of berries, a few even looking like blueberries although we resisted the urge to pick them not knowing if they were poisonous or not.
The cafe provided us with the usual good quality refreshments in a newly arranged seating plan.

The next stroll will take place at Creswell Craggs on Monday 24th August (avoiding the August bank holiday weekend) meeting up in The Dukeries Garden Centre car park for leaving at 10.30am.

   Andrew and Susan Goodison 

Breakfast Group

A few of our members enjoyed a nice breakfast at the Bakers Shop cafe recently although not so many as usual due to it coinciding with the trip to Ely.

Gordon Brown

We were all so looking forward to our annual Crazy Golf and lunch day at Ramsdale Golf Club. Sadly the weather was awful so we all met up in the Clubhouse for coffee and a great social chat. It’s surprising how much you can learn of your fellow members previous employments, holidays, music tastes and shopping preferences over a cup of coffee. Lunch was served a bit earlier than booked and was well received, as usual the food was delicious and service spot on!!
In spite of the awful weather we all had an enjoyable day.

Jackie Massey

A U3A visit to Ely coincided with the Knife Angel  going to Ely from Newark.  This will be the last time it is on tour, and it will return to Liverpool after Ely, unless  another town or city requests it to be displayed

It is an astonishing sculpture made from knives that have been confiscated from yobs and criminals.  The beautiful face is one of compassion and sadness and the hands are begging.  The message is ‘do not carry a bladed item, ever’  So many young lives have ended due to stabbings.  It weighs 3 tons and has to have special transport to move it.

Jill Pullan

Canasta

Our Canasta group has also started and takes place in the Methodist Hall at the same time as Card Craft, Hobbies and Indoor Games, come along and join beginners at this card game with expert instruction from Enid. Three “newbies” had  mastered the rules by the end of the 1st session, another “learning curve” for our u3a!

Enid Thomas

Our numbers were a bit depleted at the last quiz night. As usual we did our best but didn’t win! If we look cold in the photo we were, the pub’s heating had broken down on the Monday, but hopefully will be fixed by the time we go again!

Jackie Massey

Hobbies

This group covers several hobbies at present but we are always on the lookout for more!
Please come along if you want to have a go at any hobby or craft. We meet on the 3rd Monday, 2-4pm at the Rainworth Methodist Church Hall.

We knit squares that are made into blankets and donated overseas, this is our latest contribution, three beautiful blankets crocheted by Linda and  squares by other members.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

An unlikely relationship develops between on-the-shelf Greek daughter, Toula and non-orthodox Chicago guy, Ian, much to the consternation of her huge Greek family.

In this feel-good family film, the couple overcome all difficulties, true love finds a way, and they live happily ever after.

The Greek celebrations and wedding ceremony were impressive, and the in-laws induction into the Greek way of life was funny, if overwhelming at first.

Lots of colour, lots of noise, lots of music, lots of fun.

Diane and Ian Hibbert

Armchair Film Club will be back in September after a Summer break.

Some of the beautiful cards being made recently at the Card Craft group.

Why not join us – all materials are provided to make the card.  We meet on the 3^rd Monday of the month at the Methodist Hall on Southwell Road, at 2.00pm.  Interested?  Contact Jill  07719165800

Thirty four members attended the Christmas lunch at the Hostess restaurant and enjoyed the usual high standard of food, entertainment and service.

Several took to the dance floor to burn off the calories.