Issue 28
Winter 2007/8
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STRAY NEWS
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Group News
The first meeting of the New Year found the ATs ‘in’ Bolivia.
Interesting fact! There are 250 varieties of potato in Bolivia!
Our conclusion was that people visit Bolivia for the wealth of flora & fauna, a frog measuring up to 1 foot in length is said to inhabit the shallows of Lake Titicaca.
The wildlife is very diverse, from the llama, alpaca, jaguars, pumas, anteaters & the cui(a guinea pig bred for meat) to armadillo, caiman, parrots, toucans and species too numerous to mention. In one National Park alone there were 139 mammal species, 74 reptiles, 62 different amphibians and 254 types of fish. Along the waterways 1/10 of the world’s population of giant otters live along side capybaras, pink river dolphins and both black and spectacled caimans. Among the park’s 620 species of birds are 20 types of parrots. Along with the wildlife there are numerous flowers, bushes and trees.
A wonderful destination for naturalists and ornithologists .
Our February meeting finds us ‘in’ Hawaii.
Barbara Peel
The U3A Bridge Group has settled well into the new but “temporary?” venue of the Bilton Cricket Club.
The move had advantages for those members of the group that lived on the western side of Harrogate but not for those on the south and eastern sides. There is also a matter of the environmentally friendly “dim” lighting.
Though we all like to do our bit it is not clear how many good calls have been missed because of visual problems caused by it: but into each life a little rain must fall - so they say.
The present membership figure stands at 42 with a waiting list of 16 giving a potential membership of 58, which is a pretty high figure. There is one thing to be said about it though which is that the list moves albeit slowly.
Finally in 2008 can I say a big thank you to all my close helpers i.e. Brian Hudson and Pat and also Heather, Beatrice and Caroline McBrinn. Their help is essential in servicing the Group as is that of the other members. May we all have many “two clubs” in this New Year!
All enquiries should be made to Jack Duckworthor Brian Hudson via email.
Jack Duckworth
See separate announcement about Friday bridge tournaments under Group Notices.
The next two meetings arranged are:
March 7 – the NHS: present situation & future prospects. Dr Albert Day
April 4 – How can biotechnology’s misuse be prevented? Prof. Malcolm Dando
No longer active. Anyone interested in teaching or learning French should contact Janet Coatman by email
See separate announcement under Group Notices.
We ended our year with a light hearted afternoon. A cryptic quiz was followed by competitions all with a plant theme. Pot plants were prizes for the winners. Richard had made a dozen table decorations complete with candles which remained unlit and were taken home by those whose raffle ticket came out of the draw. The hall looked most attractive and quite festive. Members brought food for a buffet meal.
There is an interesting and varied programme for 2008. We made an excellent start with a full turn out, including several new members, to hear about “Gardening for Wildlife”. The untidy, chaotic gardeners could feel self satisfied. Those with more manicured plots have to be less tidy! We all have to be more innovative with our planting.
Barbara has taken the trouble to organise our first coach trip outing. We will have a full day out at Alnwick Castle Garden in July. This is truly an event to look forward to at this time of year.
Margaret Douglas
REVISED PROGRAMME 2008
THE RENAISSANCE
2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 2 p.m. St Robert’s Centre, Harrogate
13th Feb …….The influence of Northern Artists
27th Feb ……..Leonardo da Vinci
12th March …..Michelangelo
26th March …. Raphael
9th April ………Giorgione & Titian
Brian Souter