Thought for the month: Once a new technology rolls over you, if you re not part of the steamroller, you re part of the road.

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February 201 2014 www.paignton-u3a.co.uk Chairman Sue Lewton Tel: 01803557040 Email: suelew@btconnect.com Vice-Chair Barbara Collins Tel: 01803669238 Email: barbara@bes1.co.uk Treasurer Colin Gee Tel: 01803552055 Email: colandmo@btinternet.

1 February Chairman Sue Lewton Tel: Vice-Chair Barbara Collins Tel: Treasurer Colin Gee Tel: Secretary Connie Powell Tel: Membership Secretary Cindy Ball Tel: Groups Co-ordinator Carole Giffen Tel: E mail:carolegif@yahoo.co.uk President Sally Grafton Newsletter Editor Kate Parsons Tel: kate@computerhotline.co.uk Thought for the month: Once a new technology rolls over you, if you re not part of the steamroller, you re part of the road. A Message from your Chairman Hello Everyone, I wish I could say Good Morning, what a lovely day but it seems as if we are destined to walk with our heads down battling against the wind and rain. Maybe we are a month too early with February coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. For the first time since the dog walking group was formed in January 2008 we had to cancel this week s walk. This month s speaker Lindy Hingley from Brixham Sea Watch is very topical and I am sure Lindy will include the devastation the bad weather has had on the wild life in our waters. We look forward to a brighter future not only with the weather but throughout Paignton U3A. Now is your chance to add to the firm ground already established in the work of the current committee by adding your support and becoming a committee member. Two of us are retiring so that leaves a possible seven members available for re-election plus an additional three places as the new constitution allows for a minimum of nine or a maximum of twelve elected members. NOMINATION FORMS NEED TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECRETARY, CONNIE POWELL BY TUESDAY 11 TH MARCH Having looked to the future I now go back to the sad announcement of the very unexpected death of Keith Thompson who was a stalwart and key member of the Music Group. Keith s Memorial Service was held on Friday 31 st January and I believe some 500 people attended as Keith was well known as a true gentleman in so many circles. The Music Group has been suspended for February and discussion will take place regarding its future as some changes may need to take place. Keith s love of music will certainly be carried on but the format and possibly the venue may differ. Our thoughts go to Keith s family and friends, 1

2 The Social Group had its first meeting which was not very well supported. However those who did attend felt that a Wednesday afternoon may prove to more acceptable to members. Therefore we have booked a room at Jasmyn House Midvale Road for Wednesday 19 th February 2pm-4pm. Carole Giffen has prepared material to start us thinking about the very topical subject World War 1. So come and join us as this will be a major theme this year not only in our organisation but also for many others. Best wishes Sue Trips & Outings Vue Cinema s forthcoming programme includes 8 Feb Rusalka from The Met Opera 12 Feb Live Don Giovanni from Royal Opera House 27 Feb Live War Horse from National Theatre Continuing with last year's successful initiative Come And Join - Us, on Wednesday 12 th February, some members are taking the opportunity to view at the Vue, the live relay from ROH of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. The wicked Don G., a womaniser and murderer, gets his comeuppance from a walking statue! Interested? See you in the foyer at 6:30. Freda, Rita and Sue. The Vue cinema is showing a live performance of Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday 19th March which should be wonderful. If you would like tickets please let Barbara know. There are quite a few going so come along. A few members have us suggested a holiday in Ireland. I will leave some brochures with the notice boards at the general meeting on Tuesday. Please contact Barbara Collins at the meeting or barbara@bes1.co.uk or telephone TRANSPORT SAVINGS, when the trains start again! To help save on travel expenses, a Devon & Cornwall Railcard discount ticket allows you to get 1/3 rd off most Standard offpeak train fares and costs 10 for the year, and a National Senior Railcard costs 30 pa. Forthcoming General Meetings General Meetings 2 nd Tuesday monthly a.m. at the Palace Hotel, Esplanade Road, Paignton TQ4 6BJ. Entrance 1.50 with coffee available prior in the lounge for If any members wish on stay on for lunch, will they please book with the hotel in advance? 11 th February Brixham Sea Watch A talk about the conservation and care of dolphins and whales in the south coast waters by Lindy Hingley 11 th March Devon Freewheelers Les May 2

The AGM will be held at the Redcliffe Hotel on Tuesday 8 th April at 11am with coffee from 10.30am. If you are interested in serving on the committee please contact Sue to find out what is involved.

3 The AGM will be held at the Redcliffe Hotel on Tuesday 8 th April at 11am with coffee from 10.30am. If you are interested in serving on the committee please contact Sue to find out what is involved. Calling all Bridge players, would you like to play a friendly game of bridge with other U3As from the area on Wednesday 26 th March at the Palace Hotel Paignton arriving at 1.30 pm to start playing around 2.00pm? Please come with a partner, the cost is 7.00 per person which includes a delicious cream tea. Cheques made payable to Paignton U3A. Contact Barbara Collins on or barbara@bes1.co.uk Paignton are hosting an area Link meeting on Tuesday 29 th April at Jasmyn House, Midvale Rd. from 10am. Torbay U3A are organising a Singing Together Event on Wednesday 18 th June with a War Theme. TWO UNDESIRABLES GATECRASH BURNS NIGHT PARTY- John Battison A party held by a U3A member to celebrate Burns Night was infiltrated by a couple of disreputable looking characters. After refusing to be thrown out they revealed themselves as bona-fide guests Brian Tucker and Bob Spurlock. As the saying goes, a good time was had by all. Urgent help needed by U3A member I need help in recruiting volunteers for my anti slug army. Can anyone supply me with some TOAD spawn? Must be toads as they are less reliant on water and I only have a small pond. Once mature I can, however, provide them with an unending supply of food!! Ken Faulkner ( ). 3

4 Groups News Is anyone interested in starting a TRIONIMOES GROUP? We have the equipment and just need interested persons. If so, contact Carole Giffen on BADMINTON GROUP continues apace, attracting at least one new member each month. It s a fantastic way to shed a couple of winter ounces and is suitable for players of all abilities, particularly beginners. So, should you wish to leap about like a demented kangaroo or just pit-a-pat in gentle exercise, we can accommodate you. Equipment required: just a pair of trainers or soft shoes. Bring a racket if you have one, or can borrow one. If not we can probably lend you one. Come and give it a try! Next meeting 2pm on 27th February at St. Andrews Church Hall, Sands Road. Plenty of parking. For more information please call Sue Lewton ( ) or Ken Faulkner ( ). At the recent BOOK GROUP meeting we discussed And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. Most of us enjoyed reading the latest novel from the author of The Kite Runner and we all agreed that it is very different from his more famous work. We liked the way in which he uses various narrators to tell the story which gives it a breadth of vision and becomes, in Marian s words, like a jigsaw with each part eventually slotting into its rightful place. It scored 9/10. Our next book is a debut novel Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. The next CHEW AND CHAT is on Friday 28 th February at 7pm. Help yourself to Roasts and Casseroles. Anyone on their own very welcome for a 3 courses plus cheese and coffee. Book with Sarah on and she will give you directions to her home in Paignton. NEEDLES AND PINS will now be meeting at Jasmyn House, Midvale Road on the first and third Monday of the month from 10.30am 12.30pm starting on Monday 3rd February. The group is open to anyone who enjoys any kind of handicraft, knitting, sewing, cross stitch, patchwork, crochet, embroidery, whatever you enjoy making. During the next few weeks some of the girls will be making patchwork bags, which will be fun, so it you would like to have a go then come along to one of our meetings. Help is on hand if you would like to start any kind of new project and need some guidance. We are a very relaxed, friendly group and enjoy outings as well as a pot luck lunch and afternoon tea outdoors during the summer. After a month s break due to Christmas and the U3A lunch the PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP resumed its meetings at Barbara and Ron s house. The group judged the entries for the Winter in Torbay competition. The clear winner was Brian Tucker s shot of a winter scene featuring a snow covered church taken in Babbacombe Model Village, Mary Ward s 4

5 photograph of a snow laden road was voted second; it was taken through a car windscreen, safety first this time as the road was extremely slippery. We had a conundrum for the third place as three photographs had equal points so we had an extra vote and Bob Tame s landscape study taken very near his home was voted into third place. The group then discussed the merits of all the pictures submitted. This was followed by a short presentation on creating panoramas using Adobe Elements software. The theme for the March contest will be pre 20th Century Architecture. We will have a post 19th century one later. The theme for the February meeting will be glass. 5

6 QUIZ GROUP will meet on Friday 21 st February, starting at 2.00pm in Room 12, Paignton Library. More information, for this month only, telephone Rosemary Roach TRAIN GROUP The next 2 meetings have changed. Friday 21 st February will now be a visit to the Trago Narrow Gauge Steam Trains and Model Railway. The bus leaves Paignton at 9.30am. The second meeting will now be on Saturday 22 nd February to Buckfastleigh SDR for their Winter Steam Gala, the bus leaves Paignton at 9.15am. Would members kindly confirm with me by Friday 14 th February, if you are either travelling by bus from Paignton, or using your car for each of these venues please? David H. tel: WALKING GROUP will meet at Occombe Farm at 10am on Wednesday 19 th February to car share for a 6 mile level walk around Exeter Canal Double Locks. Bring a picnic or eat at the pub. Norma Ellis Faulkner s February Funnies We got married for better or worse. He couldn t do better, I couldn t do any worse. Ham & eggs? A day s work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance A hangover is the wrath of grapes. A picture is worth a 1000 words, but it uses up 3000 times the memory. Wrinkled, was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up. It s scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson. I ve still got it; but nobody wants to see it. Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference. Keep your computer safe Several U3A members seem to have some sort of malware or virus attack on their computers. Please keep your anti-virus software up to date. If you receive any s asking you to click on a link and the subject matter seems unlikely to have been sent from a U3A member then do not click on the link and just delete the . 6

7 PAIGNTON U3A DETAILS OF GROUPS Days and times are subject to change so please check with Group Leader. Day Activity Venue Time Contact Tel 1 st Monday LOCAL HISTORY Various 10.30am to 12 noon Diana Holdsworth st Monday NEEDLES & PINS Jasmyn Ho, Midvale Rd am to 12 noon Pam McLaughlin st Tuesday TABLE TENNIS Preston Cons Club 2.00 to 4.00pm Eugene Cox st Tuesday Intermediate BRIDGE Paignton Club 7.30 to 9.30pm Mary Ward st Wednesday DOG WALKING 10am to 12.30pm Sue Lewton st Wednesday GENEALOGY 10am to 12noon Carole Giffen st Wednesday DRESSMAKING NEW! 7 to 9pm Pam Bushby st Thursday BOOK CLUB 10.30am to 12 noon Marion Whiter st Thursday Beginners & Improvers Paignton Club, 2.30 to 4.pm Jeanette Taylor BRIDGE The Esplanade 1 st Friday BALLET Torbay School of Dance 10am to 11am Jo Hall Totnes Rd 1 st Friday KEEP ON SINGING St Andrews Centre, 2.00pm to 3.30pm Rita Wood Sands Rd 1 st Friday WINE TASTING Various 8 to 10pm Marie Handyside nd Monday GARDENING Various 10.15am to 12.15pm Barbara Collins nd Monday RUMMICUB to 4.00pm Gill Bowie nd Tuesday GENERAL MEETING Palace Hotel 11am 2 nd Tuesday Intermediate BRIDGE Paignton Club, 7.30 to 9.30pm Mary Ward nd Wednesday DOG WALKING 10am to 12.30pm Sue Lewton nd Wednesday SCRABBLE 2.00 to 4.30pm Elizabeth Mills nd Thursday ART Jasmyn Ho, Midvale Rd 2.00 to 4.00pm Wendy Leishman nd Thursday Beginners & Improvers Paignton Club, 2.30 to 4.30pm Jeanette Taylor BRIDGE The Esplanade 2 nd Thursday WORLD HISTORY 6 week course 6.15pm Diana Holdsworth nd Friday BALLET Torbay School of Dance 10am to 11am Jo Hall Totnes Rd 3 rd Monday CREATIVE WRITING 10am to 12 noon Carole Giffen rd Monday NEEDLES & PINS Jasmyn Ho, Midvale Rd 10.30am to 12.30pm Pam McLaughlin rd Monday RUMMICUB to 4.00pm Gill Bowie rd Tuesday PHOTOGRAPHY 10.am to 12 noon Ron Collins rd Tuesday Intermediate BRIDGE Paignton Club, 7.30 to 9.30pm Mary Ward rd Tuesday MAH JONGG Member s home Preston 7.30 to 9.30pm John Battison rd Wednesday DOG WALKING 10am to 12.30pm Sue Lewton rd Wednesday WALKING GROUP Various am Norma Ellis rd Wednesday SOCIAL GROUP NEW! Jasmyn Ho Midvale Rd 2pm Sue Lewton rd Wednesday RUMMICUB to 9.00pm Sheila Biggs rd Wednesday DRESSMAKING NEW! Member s home Preston 7 to 9pm Pam Bushby rd Thursday MUSIC- temporarily stopped Jo Innes-Lumsden rd Thursday Beginners & Improvers BRIDGE Paignton Club, The Esplanade 2.30 to 4.30pm Jeanette Taylor rd Thursday CARDS & BOARD GAMES Pebble Court, off Penwill Way 7.00 to 9.00pm Judy Punshon rd t Friday BALLET Torbay School of Dance 10am to 11am Jo Hall Totnes Rd 3 rd Friday TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS Various 10am to12 noon David Hudson rd Friday QUIZ Paignton Library 2.00 to 4.00pm Sue Allen th Monday SIGNING GROUP 10am to12 noon Martyn Poiwell th Monday COFFEE MORNING Redcliffe Hotel, to 12 noon Judy Punshon Marine Drive 4 th Monday DISCUSSION GROUP 1 Member s home 2pm to 4pm Audrey Kibby th Monday DISCUSSION GROUP to 4.15pm Colin Porter th Tuesday CYCLING Various Connie Powell th Tuesday PATCHWORK 10am to 12 noon Norma Cox th Tuesday Intermediate BRIDGE Paignton Club, 7.30 to 9.30pm Mary Ward th Wednesday DOG WALKING 10am to 12.30pm Sue Lewton th Wednesday KNIT & NATTER NEW! Jasmyn Ho, Midvale Rd 2.00 to 4.00pm Brenda Russell th Thursday BADMINTON St Andrews Centre, 2.00 to 3.00pm Sue Lewton Sands Rd 4 th Thursday Beginners & Improvers Paignton Club, 2.30 to 4.30pm Jeanette Taylor BRIDGE The Esplanade 4 th Thursday HISTORY GROUP Member s home 11am Diana Holdsworth

8 Last Thursday DINING OUT GROUP Various Jeanette Taylor th Friday PLAYREADING NEW! 2 to 4pm Wendy Penning th & 5 th Friday BALLET Torbay School of Dance 10am to 11am Jo Hall Totnes Rd 4 th Friday CHEW & CHAT Member s home 7pm Sarah Malcolm Ad hoc SPANISH CONVERSATION 6/8 WEEK COURSE Carole Giffen If you are a member of a group and cannot attend, will you please let the group leader know? 8

Thought for the month It is not always about knowing the correct answer but asking the right question.

May 201 2014 www.paignton-u3a.co.uk Thought for the month It is not always about knowing the correct answer but asking the right question. A Message from your Chairman Dear Members Firstly as you new chairman