Although not present and thus unable to give my own impression of the St David's Day Lunch, the feedback I have heard is that the switch to Pennard Golf Club was a big success. I have Chairman Bob to thank for a fine selection of pictures, some of which are included here.
TAI CHI
This new group continues to flourish having completed four weeks with a turnout between 22 and 29. The higher number is certainly at the limit of capacity for this room at Hazel Court. If demand grows there will be a clear case for running two groups probably in succession on Friday morning with a 30 minute interval and thus avoiding the choice between Digital Media and Tai Chi for those who want to attend both groups.
LITERATURE
I went to last week's meeting for the first session on the new book 'Gone to Earth' by Mary Webb to see how Lawmary Champion would tackle a novel. You may remember I previously attended the reading of the last act of the play 'An Inspector Calls'. She had prepared information sheets on the background to the book (Mary Webb apparently owes her success to the advocacy of Prime Minister Baldwin) but we moved on rapidly to a group reading of the first few chapters, each being discussed in turn. A technique which involves everyone in the group and I found stimulating. The group were full of praise for the way Lawmary is re-directing this group. All nine members were there, a considerable advance on the uncertain start at the beginning of the U3A year when it faced collapse. Members are now expected to read the next few chapters and discuss them next time before progressing with the group reading.
They tell me that in their heyday there were 20 members of this group. I would certainly advise you to join, you will be welcome and I expect like me you will find the session pleasant and informative. They meet in the vestry of St. Mary's Church at 2pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, a very convenient location close to the Quadrant bus station.
CONCERT GOERS
Joan attended last Monday's talk by Clive John on Dvorak's 8th symphony, although as you will see later we were unable to attend the concert in the Brangwyn Hall. She returned full of praise for the lecturer.
THE WEEK AHEAD for this year's new groups.
MONDAY 9 March
ITALIAN at 10am in Hazel Court at which new members are welcome. A few more would be highly desirable.
READING GROUP 4 sharing the Craft Room is now full and anyone wanting a reading group should contact Cecily Hughes on 363875.
GETTING STARTED with INTERNET, I will have another session for a few at home in the afternoon. I have now offered help to all those who signed the lists, albeit at a shorter and more basic level than originally envisaged.
TUESDAY
CARDS FOR PLEASURE, another venture by Lawmary will meet in the Taliesin Bar Restaurant at 11 am. They meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, thus dovetailing with her Literature group.
WEDNESDAY'S LECTURE in the Faraday Theatre on the ground floor of the Engineering building looks fascinating. Elizabeth Walker, Archeology Curator at the National Museum in Cardiff will talk on 'The Red Lady of Paviland and The Early History of Gower'.
Before that the JIVE GROUP will meet in the Monkey Cafe at 10.30. It's the one U3A Group which attracts as many men as women and is always good exercise and fun. Welcome back to Julia Huntley now thankfully recovered from vertigo - not caused by Jive I assure you!! John and Val Day, who run the Art/Painting group in Fforestfach, came for the first time last Wednesday. Before them it was new U3A member Mike Lewis who has led walks for the Gower Society for years. They are already dancing like us group veterans and illustrate how easily new members can be taught and integrated. Gerwyn's cry of 'Round One Lady' ensures that every one gets to know the others quickly. We are not short of members but there is room on the dance floor for more. It is also the place where a hardcore of the MOTO group go to plot future activities.
MOTO
Anyone interested in the 6 June cruise from Stockholm to St. Petersberg should scroll back to last week's posting, because the entry has been changed significantly.
THURSDAY
The French Conversation Group meet at 10 am, when those who have done their homework will talk, in French, of their feelings about Winter and the advent of Spring.
FRIDAY
TAI CHI in ground floor room at Hazel Court at 10.30 under the excellent direction of Mike Hart.
NATIONAL U3A The Third Age Trust
FIRST ASSIST provides free legal advice to members who phone 01455 251 500. You apparently need a Code Number from our Swansea Committee (news to us!) in order to access a service available 24 hours a day. When I have additional information I will clarify this entry on the blog, so watch this space.
2009 U3A PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
We are being reminded that the theme is 'Eccentric Britain' and that the closing date for entries is 5 May 2009. A quirky humorous look at British Society is required with suggested topics being Places, People, Pets and even the Weather.
A good colour print minimum size 7" by 5" is required with each entry for judging purposes even though the source may be a digital camera. I take it the 300 dots per inch resolution asked for on the print implies a resolution of at least 2100 x 1500 pixels, which is less than 4 mega pixels. The prints are not returned and up to three different pictures may be submitted in a single entry.
This is merely a reminder, full details will be found in your U3A magazine.
EVERYMAN OUTDOOR THEATRE at St. FAGANS
Marjorie Vanston 296375 is organising her usual coach trips to St Fagans to see:-
The Gondoliers on 11 July
King Lear on 1 August
The price will be £11 per ticket plus a share of the cost of the coach. She is asking for Names of those wanting to go by this Wednesday, but money later once the cost of the coach has been determined.
JULIUS CAESAR
(SHAKESPEARE AT THE TOBACCO FACTORY or SATTF)
Joan and I went to the matinee yesterday in Bristol and enjoyed it so much that we are booking for the second half of their Theatre in the Round Shakespeare season, which will be the better play Antony and Cleopatra. We can also recommend the rustic cafe in the same building for Tapas, light lunches or meals. It passed my criterion for finding good restaurants across the world, that is to be obviously popular with locals and free of large parties, it passed with flying colours and from our experience trying only one plate of tapas each the reputation was well deserved.
We rate last year's performance of Hamlet directed by Jonathan Miller as the finest theatrical experience we have ever had. Julius Caesar needed to be good or it would have suffered dismally by comparison. If not in the same class it was still a very enjoyable performance.
Both Joan and I had studied Julius Caesar for 'O' levels so the numerous long speeches were very familiar. Almost the whole cast had trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, a number many years ago. Brutus (Leo Wringer, an outsider who has often performed with the RSC) and Cassius (Clive Haywood) were excellent and the play came to life for me with a stunning short intervention by Brutus's wife Portia (Dani McCullum), pleading to be told what they were plotting. Dani last year won a prize at the school and represented them with the BBC. Alun Raglan was ill and so script in hand Peter Clifford played the role of Mark Antony, though he interpreted the role exceptionally well and never had to refer to the script in sight of the audience. (Just as well since by the end his script was covered in blood, and he just shook hands with the murderers!).
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