Sunday, 25 October 2009

GROUPS GROUPED

Armed with the results of the Convenor's Questionaire I am tempted to undertake a review of our group activities, but this one is off the top of my head - as usual. What are the priorities for a meaningful life in retirement - well health as always is the only essential in life. When younger we didn't realise its key importance, some of us Rugby players thought we were indestructible! But now face to face with its loss we are all too aware that health is becoming an issue non of can avoid facing for much longer. 

Of my first two categories which is more important, a no brainer really - a healthy mind is by far the most vital. I say this as someone who watched his mother die at 97 but after several years in which life had no meaning that I could perceive. Without memory you can only live in the present, unable even to make or develop friendships. Unaware even of whether you had a husband or children, recognising nothing, linking nothing.

Can you do anything to delay the onset of dementia? Which I guess is a question more of losing the ability to make connections, linkage, rather than pure memory loss. My own developing weakness is with recall of names and especially linkage of Christian Names with Surnames.

I have heard more arguments denying any benefits of keeping the mind active than for it - yet for my own part I still hold a positive view. I know that throughout life my thought processes were developed by mother, school, university and above all in a life of work, that they were always from a combination of discussion, solo thought, and observation or feedback. Maybe I can't avoid memory loss, but at least I can make the most of my brain in the meantime and maybe that will delay, if nothing else, the onset of problems.


HAZEL COURT

So for my priority group classification I choose:-

MIND GAMES

Bridge, the most mentally demanding of card games

Cards for Fun, far simpler than Bridge, more welcome

Chess for Fun, think ahead logic and spacial awareness. Its the Hun in the sun that gets you



Digital Media, for the present anything goes except Internet - scanning slides/transparencies, image improvement via Photoshop Elements, Picasa, video, music and maybe MS and Open Offices.
Internet (coming soon?)


Scrabble, vocabulary, spelling and logic (selecting best option)

Research, Projects to study/analyse sections of the history archives in the original Swansea Museum.



BODY SHOPPING
There is never any doubt that exercise and training keep the body in better trim. Joan though would argue that I brought on my own heart problems by training too hard immediately after retirement and maybe she's right - who knows?

I mentioned recently a newspaper article which argued that certain physical activities also exercised the mind - particularly those involving memorising and implementing complex sequences, eg Jive, Pantomime and Tai Chi



Bowls, indoor short mat

Gardening, a physical activity for those who still can, a continuing delight for those who can't

Jive, perhaps the most successful of last years groups, continual change of partners during sessions - ideally needs as many men as women. Great starting point for getting to know other U3A members.

Pantomime, all our own work coordinated by Jill Govier, highlight of the year with a strawberry and cream tea for audience and cast

Tai Chi, control of movement, breathing, posture and balance



Walking, enjoy the Gower, summer or winter, with a good pub lunch




STUDY
ARTS

French, a vibrant group

Italian, short of support but with an excellent Italian born tutor

Welsh, bigger than I thought, will have to go and get the flavour



SCIENCES
Astronomy, will change under Roly, may even go to Australia

Climate Change (for the moment sadly defunct)
Geology, mostly site visits to some of the most beautiful parts of South Wales and the Malverns. Variable amount of walking scrambling and picnicing. Run by South Wales U3A network, not Swansea U3A directly


SELF EXPRESSION

Beginners Watercolour - new group(s) needed - watch this space
Art/Painting, well supported group still with room for a couple more

Painting for Pleasure, full 

Singing for Pleasure, more male voices needed - I always observed that all Welshmen thought they could play Rugby and all thought they could sing. Now's your chance

Writing, more recruits welcome



INTERESTS
Art Appreciation, very successful lectured group

Bookreading 1-5, latest group starts 10.30am Tuesday 1 December at Hazel Court

History, bigger than I expected, but more members welcome

Literature, resurgent

Local History, more popular than I realised

Pre-concert talks, unique in having the old West Glamorgan Council Chamber, what a prestigious venue!, and excellent speakers. Space for many more.  
Travel (Armchair), presentations by members, popular but room for many more

Music Appreciation, old established home based group


DISCUSSION
Discussion Rob James has taken over as convenor, can expand

Politics and Citizenship Marian and Marjorie new joint convenors, excellent well mannered civilised political debates for grown-ups



OUTRIGHT SOCIAL
Members On Their Own, formed less than a year ago tremendous demand, should split into cooperating sub groups, socials, nights out, weekend trips, endless possibilities. Sub Group Leaders needed, work through Gerwyn Thomas 817229 

Outings, last year included day visits by coach Tintern Abbey, Wells, and Bath, increasingly more outings organised by groups, eg 10 day trip next year to Holland via Art Appreciation.



Quiz - not exactly University Challenge but not so easy either

Sunday Luncheon, 3rd Sunday of month selected venues in Swansea or Gower

Wine Appreciation, Saturday, what a nice way to end the week


GROUP NEWS

RESEARCH GROUP

Just before last Wednesday's lecture I ran into a Margaret Hammond delighted with progress. The group now have a couple of younger members to balance the octogenarians, with two more probables, so at last she can see the group continuing in a new generation. 


She had just returned from a meeting with the museum staff to select projects for the year ahead. One in particular excited her. The museum have been just been given the varied output of a photographer working in Morriston, with shots dating from the early 1900's. The group will now work in two groups of 4, but hope to make them groups of 6 (the maximum that can be accommodated).


More volunteers please to help in this valuable work into local history. Please contact Margaret Hammond on 883680


TAI CHI
From next Friday 30 October there will be 3 hourly groups starting at 9, 10.30, and 12 midday. Contact Sue Hutson 391058


LITERATURE
A dicky bird tells me that there were 12 at the last meeting which completed the reading of The Doll's House by Ibsen. Next a Trollope novel. A far cry from the 5 octogenarians last autumn (not true, one was 90 and still bright as a button). Contact Lawmary 299828


ITALIAN
Your chance to learn to speak Italian with a native speaker. Needs far more support. Just turn up or contact Brian Corbett 424702



HISTORY
Next meeting on Friday 30 October at 2.30 pm in Dolphin, by Alan Standish of the Norton Portable Antiquity Search Team. Not as usual on 4th Friday of month.


10 DAY TRIP to HOLLAND
See previous posting for details

Still just time to book via Mo Ellard 363465
or Margaret Winter 771725




MY MUSES

PORGY & BESS and All That Jazz
Beautiful music which I had always thought of as a 'musical' but after this weeks performance at Cardiff Milennium Centre I now realise is the full blown modern opera that Gershwins claimed they had written. It was impossible for us not to get emotionally involved in a wonderful score and a poignant story.

This was Porgy and Bess with a twist for it was given by the Cape Town Opera on its tenth anniversary, cast in a township featuring black African poverty and white police during the Apartheid era. 
A fabulous performance though only three of the roles were sung with sufficient power in such a large auditorium Porgy (Ntobeko Rwanqa before the interval and then Xolela Sixaba, Bess (Kearstin Brown) and Maria (Miranda Tini). The start was slow and both Joan and I initially thought we were going to be disappointed, (perhaps the orchestra were too loud) - but the with the advent of Porgy and Bess it really took off.

It's not so long from the revolution which brought Nelson Mandela to power, but already South Africa are becoming a real power on the world arts stage. Perhaps you remember me blogging about the absolutely sublime production of The Tempest at Bath by a South African Theatre Company in collaboration with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company.


Anyone with a wish to hear some high quality 'modern jazz' should listen to saxophonist Joe Henderson's septet playing his version of 'Porgy and Bess' on Verve as recorded in 1997. That with Miles Davis & John Coltrane's chart topping 'Kind of Blue' on Columbia recorded in 1959 represent the very best in good, easy, jazz. 

Speaking of good jazz please note that Pete King is playing at JAZZLANDS, St. James Cresent, Uplands, this Wednesday 28 October at 8 pm for £8.
Pete King is one of the best ever British alto saxophonists, respected on both sides of the Atlantic, who played regularly with Ronnie Scott amongst many others. You don't often get the chance to hear world class performers in Swansea in any genre, so come along. 




QUESTION TIME
Before anyone gets the wrong impression let me affirm that I have no truck whatever with the BNP. It's hard to think of a political party more directly opposed to my views, especially as regards racial tolerance. 

So now for my own Question Time

Should the BNP have been invited to debate on Question Time?
Yes, their votes have earned them the right to be heard



Is Question Time a good forum for political views?
Usually


Was last weeks Question time such a programme?

No, questions, audience, panel, and chairman were all targeted at demonising the BNP


Was Nicky Griffin mugged by the establishment?
Yes



Was he exposed for what he is?
Probably. But would the others happily defended their past political records? - No, they also would have claimed to have moved on



So does it matter?
Yes, it will back-fire. Watch the polls and watch their share of vote at the next few elections, especially if we go into a prolonged recession



Would it have mattered given the usual wide range of questions?
No, we might have learned something useful, maybe the guy has something interesting to say

What did they say to win two seats in the European parliament?
Still haven't a clue


How many watched Question Time last week?
8 million


How many watch normally
2.5 million



Were the extra drawn from the lovers of reality TV?
It seems doubtful that they were drawn from the politically aware


What started the BNP surge in the polls?
The May European elections, exactly as I blogged back in May 2009



Why did they do well?
Because the country was angry with politicians of all three mainstream parties over expenses. Anyway only the Greens, the Liberal Party and the BNP take these European elections seriously.


Why didn't the Liberals clean up?
Search me - because Vince Cable happens to agree with Gordon Brown on the big economic issues of the day?


How are the Tories aligned in the European Parliament?
If you don't know Google it


Does it matter?
Ask Barack Obama. Since John Kennedy in 1960 the USA has wanted to see Britain at the heart of European politics with mainstream France and Germany.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another great read, Brian!
Well done - a thoughtful piece which reflects a recent conversation i had with a few other U3A people. As Chair, I was worried that we might be "dumbing down", but they - and you - have persuaded me otherwise....

Re "Porgy and Bess" Cecily H and Pat H went and thought it a marvellous show. I'm sorry I missed it now - too busy with U3A stuff - a Website meeting! Another member told me recently I was looking stressed. Probably true, even though I enjoy U3A (most of the time!)Still,I find it difficult to leave jobs undone.
More Committee members and a Vice Chair are urgently needed, because
half the Officers and half the Committee stand down, after long service, at the AGM in June 2010, only 8 months away.
Over to other, younger, people.
But we need you now, so there is time to learn the ropes before June.
Bob Hughes

Anonymous said...

After a second read through this item, I realized it was not just another attack but slightly more understanding of a different point of view.
On the day BNP were due on bbc, Sky news "flogged the issue to death" however they did transmit one good point, coming from of all places Tony Benn. He made the point that only by exposing (these)
view(s) to daylight could we better understand them.For good or bad. And act accordingly.
For myself, having spent the "experienced" half of my working life as a Working British Expat under various types of governance and legal systems, I've drawn a couple of conclusions.
A) If after obtaining all the necessary consents and with a couple of friends along as "lookouts", you tootle off to a straight piece of railway line and stand with one rail on your left and one on your right you will see in the distance that "Extremes Meet". No where better shown than when Hitler and Stalin agreed to carve up Poland, before the Second World War started.
Next, I have come back to the country of my birth, firmly convinced that if, "The price of Democracy is eternal vigilance", then we now need to add another line.
"Compulsory" voting of all the electors. Whether people wish to put in Blank or Void papers would of course be up to them, it would even be fodder for the analysts!
Using postal votes cannot but make it easier.
Finally, although I have entered this debate, I thought I had read somewhere that the U3A is
non-political?
Lawrence of Arabia II....