Issue 31
Autumn 2008
STRAY NEWS
Details of all Groups may be found in the Group Activities list 2008/9 issued to all members
Our first meeting back after the summer break proved a very lively affair. Under discussion was Tibet, a country of Temples, mountains and history. What became apparent was that the China problem had rumbled on for many, many years. The food sounded quite edible, though we could not imagine being able to buy a bottle of white vinegar in some of the remoter areas. In one tribe , the women, after braiding their hair, smear it with Yak butter every week. Dzi beads are carried as lucky charms, the Gods holding on to all the perfect ones, they are irregular in shape.
By contrast at our November meeting we visited Finland, a land of Golden Eagles, Brown Bears, wolves & wolverines, but only 17 inhabitants per square kilometre. We visited the sights of Helsinki and discovered the delights of the food. One of our members had made Finnish Apple cake and Korvapuusti cinnamon rolls for us to sample - they were quite delicious.
Barbara Peel
The Harrogate U3A AGM was a wonderful showcase for our group. It attracted a great deal of interest and has doubled our membership to 14. I have 2 groups meeting alternately, one for new starters and one for the more experienced . We are having a great deal of fun and are busy making cards for Christmas.
Betty Romaniak
Grateful thanks to those who have shown interest, but the group will not meet until we have at least one, preferably two, computer literate members complete with laptop (or desktop computer) who are familiar with DESKTOP PUBLISHING.
Jocelynne
The French for Fun group, unlike other language groups does not travel far afield. In the summer, four of us ventured as far as Ilkley, calling at Booths on the way. As one member said, “Eating at Booths is what we do at our age Jocelynne.” We can recommend it!
The Manor House was showing a special exhibition of Romans in Britain (Yorkshire). This museum, not well known, is a delightful place (free, plus car park; closed Mondays). Adjacent to the museum is the church with its mysterious Anglo Saxon crosses. They are simply huge. Knock on the back door if you want to see them and someone might let you in.
Another rainy day, and a planned walk, only two of us turned up and succeeded in penetrating a right of way that, as far as I know, has been blocked for nigh on forty years. Part of it crosses the now hidden Roman road that used to run from the A59 to Aldborough. (In crossing over a stone I nearly fell down a well) Why doesn’t someone start a Romans in Yorkshire group? And what about a group to rescue lost rights of way. Whose responsibility is it to maintain public rights of way? (North Yorkshire County Council has a section for footpaths – Editor) It’s no use putting up smart little wooden signs if they don’t lead anywhere.
Finally ‘French for Fun’ was full with ten members BUT there is now a vacancy as one member has left to take up grand parenting duties (we need a replacement, preferably male who must be a good to fluent French speaker). In addition to ten members, we also have three floaters who come occasionally as and when they can.
Jocelynne