ST. DAVID'S DAY

St. DAVIDS DAY LUNCH
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!).

After the Panto

A bit of an anti-climax after the revelry of last weeks panto but the show goes on.

TAI CHI
Following the Wednesday lecture on The Pubs of Mumbles the audience were obviously elated in spite of the fact that Brian Davies had no free samples, just his best selling book to nourish us.

I say that because there was an unprecedented rush to sign lists and I now have the names of no less than 30 members interested in Tai Chi. Chairman Bob (following Chairman Mao) has decided we are going on this Long March, and will therefore thrash out some of the details with coach Mike Hart. Expect more news at Wednesday's lecture.

I am sorry that some of you thought I was being sexist from my initial headline question in Mandarin 'Women you Tai Chi ma' and its answer 'you'. I had thought I had given enough clues to allow the sentence in Mandarin to be deciphered, the five words translated in the order they appear are 'We have Tai Chi?' and the answer is 'have' implying yes. You may think that Chinese is written in strange characters, not our alphabet, and you would be right, but they also use our phonetics to write their language.This phonetic version of Mandarin is called Pinyin. It is used not just by foreigners learning the language but increasingly as a way of teaching their schoolchildren their own language and as a jumping off point for learning English and other languages using largely the same alphabet.

LITERATURE
As promised I attended this group last Tuesday pm and was duly amazed. There were eight of us and we each took a part and read through the last act of An Inspector Calls. At the end of the meeting I was duly chastised for my Wednesday slide saying the group needed someone to read for them, when what they really wanted was a new leader. In spite of the fact that one of the number has Macular Degeneration of her eyes and another has reached the fine age of 90 they all read fluently and expressively to rub in my transgression. I cannot overemphasise how enjoyable this reading was. I have heard the play many times and forgotten it soon afterwards, but this time the plot and the fine characterisation has really sunk in.

However insensitive the Wednesday Slide worked, and Lawmary Champion, our actor, offered to help out and is now enthusiastically running the group. She did not herself read a part but underlined the positions taken by the characters involved. I think the group devoted four meetings (two months) to this play, one preliminary discussion and then to read the three acts of the play.

The next book selected is Mary Webb's 'Gone to Earth', but thereafter Lawmary will be directing them towards more modern choices and obviously hopes the subsequent book will be 'St. Agnes Stand' by American author Thomas Eidson, or Paul Ferris's book 'Infidelity' about a real murder not a million miles from here. Later reverting to more traditional works like Ibsen's play 'A Dolls House', and novels by Trollope, 'The Warden' and Thackeray, 'Vanity Fair'.

From the outset in this groups' coordinator role I had a gut feeling that this group had an important place in the U3A, and this single meeting confirmed it. They need an increase in numbers and in Lawmary, Collette Robinson and Jenny Levin they have a nucleus to give this group expansion and a new lease of life. I can't be the only one who wants something beyond Richard and Judy.

MOTO (Members On Their Own)
Gerwyn is obviously doing a good job of running this group. At Jive last Wednesday he told me that 16 of them were going out for dinner in the Pump House, and another who shall be nameless said she shouldn't really be going as she had a husband at home!

A few days later Rosemary Brangwyn told me she had had an excellent evening, though she didn't normally go out at night - perhaps even that is a question of regaining confidence. She was full of praise for Gerwyn's approach which separated the men and enforced changing seats to ensure everyone had the chance of speaking to all the others. A technique he practices also at the jive lessons.

TASTE OF CELTIC
Haggis, kipper pate and whisky from Scotland to celebrate Burn's Night, colcannon from Ireland, laverbread from you know where (England), Breton fish soup from Brittany and mulled wine from the Elisabethans. You name it Lyn Holt cooks it and I nearly cooked my goose for drinking whisky like wine! Good job Joan can and will drive!
Fifty tickets sold, the most successful event yet. Watch out for touts selling on tickets for the next event, Asian food. If anyone has photos please email them to me for this blog.

CONCERT GOERS
Their first meeting this year is at the Civic Centre at 2.30 pm on 2 February. The topic is the Elgar Violin Concerto which is to be performed in the Brangwyn Hall by NOW on Thursday 5 February. Buy tickets yourselves for the actual concert. I know Cecily Hughes 363875 is hoping for a large audience for her new speaker, Dr Bernard Kane, who is coming from Cardiff.

COMPUTERS
Don Foster emailed me to say he had just saved his computer from a fate worse than death by using a clean up and repair tool called 'Advanced System Care', this program can be downloaded free from the site http://www.iobit.com though it will take a while to download if you haven't got broadband.

I was nervous about passing this news on untried. So I tried it out first on this computer which seemed reasonably healthy but it claimed to have fixed many problems not least with the program Registry. It has made some noticeable little improvements like eliminating a couple of error messages which pop up from time to time to warn for instance that .dll files are missing. The important thing was it did no harm .

So I tried it out on the U3A laptop which was showing considerable sign of trouble, for instance the Internet browser Microsoft Explorer would no longer run. Luckily I had previously downloaded another free alternative browser Mozilla Firefox so I could still surf the Net and download Advanced System Care. Running this tool in fact got rid of all but one of the the errors and I can now once more surf the Web using either Explorer or Firefox. That demonstrated that it can be very useful to cure a computer in trouble and I would recommend that you download Advanced System Care immediately for use when you do run into trouble. Now I have only to reload a copy of PowerPoint which can crash the entire computer so that it has to be switched off directly at the mains

OTHER DOWNLOADS
There are many other very useful FREE software downloads available from the Internet , including

'Mozilla Firefox', which many of us prefer in use to MS Explorer and is less prone to letting in virus problems

'AVG' an excellent anti-virus which automatically updates as new virus threats are discovered and takes corrective action against those discovered.

'Zone Alarm' which is a good firewall, though is probably confusing for beginners as its alarm messages will stop other programs running until the alarm is acknowledged. When downloading this do watch carefully to ensure you are asking for the free version rather than a short free trial of their saleable version, they deliberately don't make the free one easy to find.

'Adobe Acrobat Reader' which is essential for reading documents, eg insurance policies.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM OF FAVORITE SITES
I have advised many to store the blog Internet address on Favorites (Bookmarks, if using Firefox) so it is easy to access. I do carry out minor mods between notifying the posting of updates and the next major update, often to correct errors in the original posting, eg an incorrect date. But everyone's Favorites should include

http://muses-of-an-ageing-groupie.blogspot.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.skyscanner.net/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/242450
http://www.moneysupermarket.com
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/
http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/
http://www.energylinx.co.uk/
http://www.theaa.co.uk/
http://info.cwlfly.com/en/
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
http://www.nationalexpress.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.wotif.com/
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Google to find other Internet addresses such as, your bank, your favorite stores, and in general store the address (http://www......) of each sites 'Home' page because from here you should be able to easily jump (link) around the whole of their website.

That's enough to be going on with. Happy Surfing. I adjudge last last Monday afternoon at my house a success and am inviting a few others this Monday for a single 'get you started session'. These sessions are not for those who already feel confident with the basics. From that point on you're better to prod, experiment and try. No need to be nervous until your asked for your credit card number - after that its serious business you're doing.

JAZZLANDS
On Wednesday 28 January at Jazzlands(originally the Liberal Club) in St James Crescent, an extremely good group will be performing at 8.30pm. They have recently toured most of the top venues in England. Jim Mullen and Stan Sulzmann are amongst the very best UK musicians on guitar and saxophone respectively and this group includes the organ of Mike Gorman with Matt Skelton on drums, which should set the joint jumping. The admission is £12, but only £8 for members and you can join at the door.
Jazzland claims with good reason to be 'The Premier Jazz Club' in Wales. It deserves to be , and usually is, well supported.

PANTOMIME and other news

HONEY BUN'S PANTOMAGORIA (otherwise known as CINDERELLA)


If you attended the Dolphin 14 Jan you had the dubious pleasure of seeing me dance in a grass skirt whilst petite Lyn Evans dressed as an American Sailor sang,' One Hundred and One Pounds of Fun, that's my little Honey Bun' (that's me folks).

After the show I was distressed to be told I was the least feminine cross dresser ever. Contrast Gerwyn, who lead the Jive troupe as the Dancing Queen, dressed in a transparent black dress and made up to kill, false eye lashes and all. He was so ambiguous that he made me wonder if he really was a lady-boy from Thailand. Well it was South Pacific.

That's only the second time in my life that I have tread the boards, and both times I have been a prancing dumb mute. Fifty years ago or so a pretty young girl decided to perform the dance of the seven veils surrounded by the whole 1st fifteen pack virtually naked as Red Indians waving axes. Now that really was worth the ride.

I would not like to distract from many other fine performances. For instance take that cat Marilyn prancing evocatively around in a skimpy dress and a big red scarf miming Big Spender as though the Credit Crunch had never happened. Or Rosemary dressed as Santa Claus and behaving like a Court Jester, something she would never dare to do in our French Group. Or Lawmary, our one paid up member of Equity, confidently over acting as one the Ugly Sisters, whilst whilst the other was so much more subtle. Malcolm Broome the leader of our Singing for Pleasure Group took a solo, a cut above the rest of us in his suit and white bow tie.

I am almost forgetting the elegant impersonation of the Prince, in jack boots, trying to outdo our Gerwyn in the opposite direction, if you see what I mean.They should get together, they would make a lovely couple!




I simply couldn't believe the sudden change from Mrs. Mop to attractive Cinderella, it's amazing what a few pins can do! Then there was Lynn a Yankee from the American Civil War complete with flag and long white hair tied back like some later-day preacher, or a hippy, trying to flag the play together. Not to forget Roly with the music. Did he deliberately fail to switch off the music so the jive ended with actors and audience drawn in until the stage was positively writhing with ancient bodies?




The trouble with tackling such a theme in my blog is that I have forgotten so many other fine performers who all contributed to a joyous afternoon. Gersom, for instance who sportingly made up the numbers in the jive group at the very last second without the opportunity to rehearse a single step.


Thanks above all to Jill Govier, leader of the Creative Writing Groups responsible for the gags, and our talented iron-fisted producer. It's difficult to over state our thanks for the effort she had put into the production. I am sure she feels it was worth while.



Oh and there was a fine cream tea produced by the Dolphin, so there was something substantial for the £5 ticket as well as humorous relief from the winter blues.

Thanks too to Mary Roberts and Marilyn Croft for the photos.











U3A SUMMER SCHOOLS
I have just learned that although I recently published details I did tell how to make enquiries. You have to approach the U3A National Office in Bromley (The Third Age Trust) by either phone or you can download full details of courses including

Application Forms by Internet.
PHONE 020 8466 6139. If you do so on Tuesday or Thursday ask for Philipa who is the administrator of the Summer School.

INTERNET click on
http:// www.u3a.org.uk
Sign in
Click 'Events' on right hand list
Click 'Summer Schools to get summary page
Click link at bottom of page to either 'Harper Adams' or Royal Agricultural College' to get full syllabus and the opportunity to click on links providing download of Application Forms or Full Details of the syllabus.
.......
( If you haven't done so already you will need to 'Register' with the u3a web site before being able to Sign In. Registering is simply a case of giving them a 'User Name' and a 'Password' and then activating your account by clicking on the link they give in their return email. Signing in opens up the full facilities of the u3a web site. If you want to download the forms you will need to install on your computer the Adobe Reader program for reading documents, this essential program is available via a free download. Simply Google for Adobe Reader, select a site offering downloads and clink and then follow the instructions for a free download.)

POSTING 1 JAN 2009
I realized when preparing this posting that the 1 Jan 09 posting was missing, having been taken off-line for editing and not restored. There were significant additions after the initial posting which are now visible.

CHESS
This group runs at Hazel Court on the 1st and 3rd Monday mornings of the month, it is meeting this Monday 19 January at 10.00am. The regulars cover the entire spectrum from absolute beginners, through people like Joan and I who last played at school to our coach who coaches schools and plays competitively.

We need more members to provide variation. I must say that Joan and I have found it a surprisingly pleasant way to keep the brain active, perhaps it is thanks to the U3A attitude to challenges. It is a board game where the sole chance assist is to win the right to first move, but every game soon takes a different path which ensures continuing interest.

LEARN ITALIAN
This course operates at Hazel Court at 10.00am EVERY MONDAY (including 19 Jan), hence sharing the room charges with Chess and the new Reading Group 4. As with Chess, French, Caligraphy and Jive these new groups are very lucky to have experienced leaders, who are prepared to work for free. Carolina taught adult (DACE) classes at Swansea University for years and makes the her lessons interesting as well as instructive.

Nick Hill, our Treasurer, joined last week and he advises me to also publicise the BBC language practice sites. They offer help with French, German, Spanish and Italian. I know several people who follow the Spanish program in addition to going to Night School. For Italian he likes the feel of their offering called Italian Steps

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian

Again we would like more members. When we find good leaders they deserve support. Without it the Swansea U3A will ossify, the tutors and I will be discouraged.

INTERNET
The hoped for facility for accessing the Internet in the Craft Room at Hazel Court has not so far materialised. However I am inviting to my home at short notice people who expressed an interest but, when signing the form, had no Internet access at their own home. The idea is to show how powerful and simple it is to get really significant benefits from this new technology with the objective of helping them to decide whether to buy a computer and get broadband service.

Obviously this exploratory meeting is not for readers of this blog, but if you know another member who would be interested get them to phone me on 424702. The first meeting, and perhaps the only one of its type, will be at my home in Mayals 2pm this Monday 19 January, where I have Wireless Internet.

CALIGRAPHY
The four week beginners class starts at 10.00am on Tuesday 20 January at Hazel Court. The four week Improvers class starts at 1.30pm on Thursday 22 January. Both classes run for just four successive weeks.

I am very pleased to say both classes are fully subscribed. They will be expertly led by Maureen Thomas who did the much praised Caligraphy on display in Dylan Thomas's house.

LITERATURE
On Tuesday 20 January at 2.00pm this group meets for the first time this year in St Mary's Church Priory, at which Lawmary will complete a reading of 'The Inspector Calls by J B Priestly. I shall be attending as part of my intention to visit groups to better understand how they operate and how they could be supported. If interested come along and help shape this years program.

JIVE
This group meets weekly on Wednesdays at 10am upstairs in the Monkey Cafe. Many have a simple lunch there before proceeding to the University for the afternoon lecture. Come along and try.

TAI CHI, Wednesday Lecture and Climate Change
Mike Hart will talk briefly about his proposals for this class at 2.15pm in the university's Grove theatre before the Wednesday lecture which is The Pubs of Mumbles by Brian Davies. After the lecture the Climate Change group will be meeting to discuss Energy The Way Forward - see also the article by Mike Wiseman in your U3A magazine Sources.

FRENCH CONVERSATION
This group meets every Thursday at 10am in Hazel Court. If interested phone Jan Phillips on 411476.

TASTE OF - CELTIC FRINGE
The first of Lyn Holt's 'Taste-Of' evening meals is at 6.30pm on Friday 23 January. Entry is by ticket only and all have been sold for this month's event. If you want a ticket for next month to sample his cooking and enjoy a social evening then phone Angela Holt on 403238.

Groups and National Courses

LEARN ITALIAN
Another class is out of the blocks, seven members made the inaugural meeting. The majority who turned up wanted to learn the language from the beginning, but all seemed keen and able students. Carolina spoke in short expressions in Italian from the outset and concentrated in this first lesson on the correct pronunciation of, the pure vowel sounds of Italian, which give the language such a unique musical sound, the pronunciations of 'c', and way of emphasising double consonants. She used a large but simple map of Italy to introduce the seas, regions and major cities. Then onto the subject pronouns and the verb essere. Quite sufficient to maintain the interest of the few who studied and forgot Italian years ago.

The group decided they were on the whole happy with weekly classes at 10.00 until 11.30am, the same as for French, and with Monday mornings, the attraction of this slot being the sharing of room hire costs with other small groups. The room dividers were used to separate the room into two parts, and although I was initially concerned in reality once both groups settled down there was absolutely no interference. The next class was set for 10am on Monday 12 January 2009 and should be weekly thereafter.

Several others expressed interest in Italian on my lists and it is hoped that some will join in the New Year, because just a few more would be desirable and secure the future of another group.

READING 4
On this occasion they shared the Craft Room with Italian for a very successful second meeting. They attracted a few new faces, including our first Hazel Court resident U3A member Betty Leigh. I was delighted to see her there because she had earlier tried out the French class but found the level too high. ( I tried to convince her that Italian would suit her down to the ground!!). It seems as with Jive, French and MOTO that pleasant enthusiastic groups grow organically as the news spreads. For the next meeting on Monday 12 January it was agreed that every member come prepared to talk about their own choice of detective novel.

CHESS
A picture is worth a thousand words, but both are mine!

The next meeting of this group will be 10am Monday 15 December, Ken Huntley has agreed to attend and teach. I would like to record the flair shown by Maxy in organising this group and how enjoyable, instructive and challenging he made the sessions for a large ability range, from complete beginners to good club players. Spoilt unfortunately by one outburst when we went overtime on our room hire. For reasons not related to the Chess Group, or this incident, he has been suspended from membership of Swansea U3A.

LITERATURE
I intend to sit in on their class next Tuesday 16 December at 2pm which is very conveniently sited in the city centre at St Mary's Vestry. Lawmary Champion will be conducting the final reading of An Inspector Calls by J B Priestly. Why don't a few others come along and give this once failing class a new look and boost, and join in the choice of next years books.

LEARN JIVE
This group will start again at 10.30 on Wednesday 14 January 2009 at the Monkey Cafe, (Pantomagoria in the afternoon). I appointed or is it anointed Gerwyn The Group Leader of the Year for making such a success of the group we thought was beyond the agility of our members.

MOTO
Following their latest meeting at the Brunswick they have identified several events of probable interest to members including film shows of
Brideshead Revisited at the Vue at 11.00 for 11.30 on 11 December
Bad Santa in the Civic Centre Library at 6.00 on 12 December
Boy in Striped Pyjamas at the Vue 11.00 for 11.30 on 18 December
Gerwyn will contact members before making a block booking for 'Curry and Carols' at the King Arthur Reynolston at 6.00 on 21 December

MONTHLY SOCIAL
Audrey Standish is suggesting an afternoon Tea Dance (my phrase). Those interested should in the first place contact her at 297358. The Community Hall at Hazel Court is a possible venue but the group would have to cover a hire charge for the room of £25.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Mike Wiseman sent me a note saying that no less than the UN had requested that the U3A (which is of course an international organisation started in France) get involved in promoting the discussion of the issues of Climate Change and Sustainability.

Wales U3As are taking a lead and have already formed several groups to look at the problems facing the planet. He identifies Fuel and Fresh Water as being the two most pressing issues for us by 2012 (frighteningly close). The next meeting of the Swansea Group will therefore consider the problems of ENERGY - THE WAY FORWARD at their next meeting. All are welcome at that meeting which will be held following the Wednesday Lecture on 21 January 2009.

At 11.00 on 12 January 2009 the Geology Network have a lecture by Dr Danny McCarroll in the Joint Lecture Theatre of the Natural History Building (more or less opposite the Grove) and it is entitled Climate Change:Using the Past to Predict the Future

NATIONAL COURSES
We are doing well at setting up new groups requiring tutors, French, Italian, Jive and Chess all fall into that category, but always the restriction is to find people in Swansea U3A with the skill, confidence and enthusiasm to take the lead. We are fortunate to have been able to make so many departures in a single half year, to add to existing Groups with similar requirements like Digital Media, Literature and Bridge.

I have just started to look more carefully at the list of U3A Summer Schools which are operated at Cirencester and Telford, and must say I am tempted to sign on for Cuentos en espanol (Spanish Stories) at Cirencester. Every member will have received notification of these courses in the issue of Sources which accompanied the last U3A Magazine, but, like me, I guess many didn't pay much them much attention at the time. I am also told that the few people from Swansea who have attended such events found the experience really enjoyable. You only have to glance quickly at the course titles to realise that such events are a real strength of the national organisation and would be difficult to organise at the local level. In addition full-board with 3 nights accommodation and tuition at £299 looks good value.

Harper Adams University College Summer School Newport. Telford

Monday 20 July to Thursday 23 July 2009.

COURSES

Architecture – Old Town, New Town. Tutor: Wilson Briscoe

Art History - Five artists to make a point. Tutor: Philip Hutton

Crime & Punishment. Tutor: Ursula Steiger

Digital image editing. Tutor: Chris Powell

France – la belle France. Tutor: Joyce Gibson

Garden History – near & far. Tutor: Jillian Wallace

Geology – the geology of south Shropshire. Tutor: Isabel Markham

Industrial Heritage – water, wind & the industrial revolution. Tutor: Colin Mitchell

Literature – ways of telling a story: Great Expectation & Mr Pip. Tutor: Mary MacGregor

Philosophy – introduction to philosophy. Tutor: Meg Shaw

Writing – the play’s the thing. Tutor: Maggie Smith

The Royal Agricultural College Summer School Cirencester

Monday 24 to Thursday 27 August 2009

COURSES

Architecture & Topography living on stone – the Cotswold inheritance. Tutor: James Thompson

Art History – 20^th century art, part 4 1975-2000. Tutor: Audrey Loraine

Christianity in England: From Roman times to the Viking invasions. Tutor: Bette Butler

Cinema History – a brief history of British film. Tutor: Alan Coulson

History – Jesus: From Jewish teacher to Christian divinity. Tutor: Ralph Blumenau

Literature – poets with many voices – Dramatic monologues from Browning to Eliot. Tutor: Michael Goldman

Music Appreciation – the music of Bela Bartok. Tutor: John Busbridge

Painting & Drawing. Tutor: Michael Gardner

Shakespeare: on the page and in performance. Tutor: Jonathan Rogers

Spanish – short stories in Spanish (Cuentos en espanol). Tutor: Silvia Sussman

New Members Coffee Morning

Thank Heaven for New Members
St David's Priory was buzzing on Friday 14 November, well that was my clear impression. Maybe that's my reward for being personally involved this year now world travelling has had to be postponed, but I suspect an independent observer would have had a similar impression. It is heartening to feel the vitality and energy that is flowing out of our age group in the U3A. We are truly part of the Jive Generation, it's rumoured that Gerwyn is swatting up on jitterbug for next year!

Members are showing lots of interest in joining group activities and Hazel Court is well liked by those who have been to classes there. We hope to get sufficient support for Chess to continue on the 1st and 3rd Monday Mornings of a month. The principles of successful competition in a multiple ability group on a handicapping basis were tried today and looked promising. Tuition is available for those wanting to learn, and Maxy played four of us at once to point the way ahead.

Reading Group 4 already looks well supported and therefore safe for the 2nd Monday morning. French Conversation is showing signs of nearing the point where a second group will be needed to complement that on Every Thursday Morning from October to Easter.

Perhaps the most satisfying thing of all was the suggestion of new group topics, first
Italian. Quite by accident I bumped into my old Italian teacher from decades ago at DACE. Carolina Rosati-Jones had not heard of the U3A but is now joining. She has already joined the French course because her son lives in France, and as a successful competition writer wants to join a Creative Writing Group. But from the outset she offered to teach an Italian Group. So for the first time I publicised Italian at the coffee morning and ended up with four signatures - very encouraging. Already enough to pass on to Carolina, but given a few more we could begin to think of a new group at Hazel Court, a venue which would suit her well since she lives nearby.

Then Lawrence Hopes, ( tel 362113 hopes123@tiscali.co.uk )who runs the DVD cinema shows in Ostreme Hall Mumbles, suggested no less than three appealing topics non of which he felt competent to run but offered to assist in each case. Please contact Lawrence to record your potential interest.
1. Cycling needs little explanation but has an obvious attraction similar to walking, but a far more efficient use of energy. Wasn't the wheel one of the great inventions of antiquity! Lawrence foresaw off the road activity, meeting at say Afan Argoed for say an 8-10 mile ride.
2. Playing Guitar (his special interest is in classical guitar, though he also plays electric guitar) He said a simple £25 acoustic guitar is adequate for starters - though he was hoping that we have a more accomplished musician prepared to lead a new group. Keith Roberts plays in the Mumbles Concert Band. There are musicians about perhaps we can find the right mix to form a new group, it doesn't have to be recorders.
3. Photography. Again a widespread interest. I can't help but recall that only last week Mike Wiseman revealed his hand whilst introducing the speaker at the Wednesday lecture. I too must admit to having documented my travels with photographs which now clothe my walls and never fail to bring back wonderful memories, so I confess to an interest in a journalistic style of photography. That's three already and there must be others.


Transport. Keith Roberts (205678 keith.roberts3@sky.com ) spent a lifetime in the electric vehicle industry. He has also rebuilt many vehicles (World War 2 vintage as a hobby. Are there other like minded members out there?

Literature
A very pleasant surprise at last Wednesday's lecture was Equity Card Carrying Lawmary Champion who said she would be delighted to read to the Literature Group. Not as delighted as they will be, at a new injection of life! Why don't the rest of you also help to revitalise what seems to me to be a very worthwhile group? Their new book is 'The Inspector Calls' by J B Priestly. It seems nicely differentiated from the other reading groups. Are George and Judith Davies and Collette Robinson who expressed interest on Open Day going to give it a go?

Finally along comes Lawmary again saying she would like to organise a group playing Cards for Pleasure. She was advocating a game I had never heard of called Hearts Contract, which is a game of skill rather than luck. Quite a small group would be viable if run in the other half of the Craft Room coincident with say Chess. She, like me, hates the thought of serious card games like Bridge. My dislike goes back to 1956 when in order to save £10 on the cost of crossing the Atlantic (which then was usually done by Blue Riband liners). I paid up for a ten day crossing on the Arosa Kulm, a corpse carrier from North Africa in the 39-45 war.(Several years later Joan paid the full £60 and crossed in five days of luxury with Cunard.) I found I was the fourth English speaking graduate on that boat, the other three were bridge fanatics and there was nothing else to do so we played non-stop. I had never played before (nor have I played since!!). So there I was marooned, the indispensable football vital to complete the quartet. My pair always lost and I was always at fault. Psychologically scarred for life I would have liked nothing more than to have to have met them again on the Rugby field and see how they would stand up, tackling was always the bit I liked best. Even now the thought makes me salivate.

DIY Lunch Parties - cook food, bring recipes, and share skills.
Val Lawton suggested that about twenty people could meet in her home. She is stuck between wanting desperately to get started and the knowledge that she will have time out for a hip operation in the early spring. If however there is sufficient interest and if there was someone keen enough to take over whilst she is hors de combat then there could be sense in an imminent start. There would seem to be no start up costs and therefore few obstacles.

Internet Skills
I now have twelve names on my list expressing interest in the Internet. Very early on in trying to popularise my blogging I realised that many people with new computers were having great difficulty in doing the simple tasks associated with productive use of the Internet. Nothing technical is planned, although the history of the Internet might well make an interesting topic for a later session. As with Digital Media for Fun it would be a question of 'tell us what you want to do and we will show you how to we would go about it'. A series of tasks might include email, searching for appropriate web sites via a search engine like Google, the Internet as an encyclopedia, as a newspaper, for shopping, for advice on health matters; to compare suppliers of fuel, savings, mortgages, cars, cameras; to find what have houses sold for in your neighbourhood, to use for Internet banking, share dealing, research into family history. The possibilities are endless, but the Internet skills required are similar hence a few weeks should suffice to get people up and running. Above all it's a case of building up the self confidence to experiment and hence start self learning.

There is already sufficient demand so we shall be looking to start something early in the new year at Hazel Court, where unlike the Vivian Hall in Blackpill we can have Internet access. It will be ideal for those who have recently got home Internet because consolidating lessons by experimentation on your own is the best way to build up your skills. And even better for those who have laptops with wireless Internet because they will be able to bring them to Hazel Court.

WEDNESDAY LECTURES and Interest Lists
I get members to sign lists before leaving the Grove Theatre, and this is where ideas for new groups germinate. If you don't go to the Grove but do receive this blog the you can email me or the preferably to the individuals named in these blogs.

Promotions
In a recent posting I promoted the Jazz Concert by Gwilym Simcock, Stan Sulzman and Jim Hart 7.30 next Sunday 23 November at the Taliesin, but without making it clear that tickets would have to be purchased from the Taliesin Booking Office. Cecily Hughes is promoting good classical music concerts, (the tickets for which also have to be purchased independently) with her Concert Goers group.
Keith Roberts ( tel 204678, keith.roberts3@sky.com ) tells me that the Swansea Concert Band with guests P A Big Band are giving their annual concert at the Taliesin at 7.30 on Friday 12th December, tickets at £5 for OAP's can be purchased through him.

If one of us is enthusiastic about a forthcoming public local event then the probability is that it will appeal to others. So let's share our passions.
I also intend to get details of the Mumbles Movies Film shows from Lawrence Hopes. He is also suggesting that the U3A could consider its own cinema club with costs of around £65/film for a 10 film year, probably mainly winter afternoons. plus hire of a suitable room.

OPEN DAY AT DOLPHIN HOTEL, 8 October 2008

GUIDE TO USE OF INTERNET and BLOG and Having Fun

Chairman Bob it was who persuaded me to use the prominent About Me section on the first page to give some instructions instead. Sorry about the layout but Google only provide a single linear paragraph - hence all the ....... You got here so now jump on the ARCHIVE link to INTRODUCTION - START HERE and as a reward you will get a Noddy but more complete guide - with the instructions in some sort of background context.

OPEN DAY

As usual it was a great success. Pat tells me we signed up 45 new members. But as always it's quality not size that matters. As Group Coordinator I felt a bit of a supernumerary so I decided to act as convener for two groups with problems, Recorders and French, as well as to try and publicise this blog.

FRENCH
Steve Johnson and his wife were my very first contacts, they were standing back glancing at the laptops of me and Anthony Hughes (Digital Media for Fun) so I went over.

'Do you know anything about NTL?
'Well it so happens that as one of their early customers I do.'

In return I enticed Steve to view the blog and asked if they played Recorders (No) or were interested in the French Group. He speaks good French whispered his wife. It turned out he had lived in Paris for 30 years. 'Would you be interested in leading our French group?' A smile and firm handshake later and he was deep in conversation with Jan Phillips.

Several others expressed an interest in French including an old dinghy sailing friend from Mumbles Yacht Club, Eddie Ramsden, who was awarded the MBE for his work as Swansea's Environment Officer. He is still heavily into sailing with the RYA and has good friends in France and so wants to improve his fluency in the language. So do I, for my eldest son married a Mademoiselle and lives in France - we really shouldn't be content to converse entirely in English. Years ago we spoke English to their kids and they responded in French (as every baby, and no secondary school kid, knows listening comes before talking). Now it's so easy since they all are fully bilingual. Jim passed all his 'O' levels except French. Now he's fluent - makes you sick, doesn't it. Steve had a word for it which I have forgotten - something to do with dormir; I got the drift.

RECORDERS
I made no progress on Recorders. Does no one want to start learning an instrument?

eMAILS
In between time I made my way around the Group Conveners whenever their tables were free. By subterfuge I got their email addresses, thus disproving the theory that they would not release them. Only a few don't have access to a computer with the Internet, though it's available to all in for example the library.

As I explained to Majorie Vanston I won't join the modern world either. For instance I stubbornly refuse to have a mobile phone. As one who tried hard to avoid being contactable outside working hours, carrying a phone wherever you go seems crass. But deny yourself access to the Internet and you are turning your back on probably the most powerful resource invented in our lifetime. After all without it you won't be able to read my blog!

MODERN JIVE/SALSA
Practically the last person I met was Gerwyn Thomas. I asked him the usual questions about French and Recorders and he volunteered

'But I AM a teacher of modern jive and salsa'.

Back in the 50's I (Mr Bloggie) used to jive at 100 Oxford Street (London) to the music of Humphrey Lyttleton, Ken Collier, and others. Not too long ago we helped make the floor vibrate and break all the valuable crockery at a Christmas Party in the Glynn Vivian, well it sounded like it! Salsa is wonderful, Latin music and nightly dancing in the streets is one of the things which continually draws me to Latin America. I like doing many activities in company with young people (eg learning Spanish or Mandarin), but a more restrained form of dancing could be interesting, not to say vital given the present state of our creaky joints. 'KEEP FIT FOR FUN WITH SALSA', sounds OK to me? Any Other Takers?

MOTO
But Gerwyn had an even more interesting idea.
'I would like to start an OTO group like they have in Aylesbury'.
'What's that?'.
'I often don't go simply because I dislike going places on my own.'
'Ah, like the MOTO Group in Wokingham' (Members on Their Own). How does it work?'
'Essentially it's a network of people with the same problem.'So MOTO it is (my choice of acronym). I will be amazed if it doesn't fly.


READING GROUP 4?
Elsewhere in the hall a lot more people expressed interest in reading than could be accommodated in the present groups. In addition there are probably still people from last year waiting. So I am thinking about a new group, bigger than can be accommodated in peoples homes. Hazel Court is due to open early November and they have offered us a whole range of rooms at reasonable prices. It sounds like an ideal venue for larger new groups like French and Reading.

DIGITAL MEDIA for FUN
Sharing a table with Anthony Hughes I noted the enthusiastic reception he was getting. He is prepared to run a second class in the afternoon every other Thursday.

I must say, as someone who is horrified at the laborious way computers are taught to adults, that it is invigorating to see someone who approaches it from -
'Tell me what you want to do and I will show you how.'

For decades now the buzzword in designing software is Make its Use INTUITIVE. Grasp that and you can teach yourself merely by prodding around, try this way and that, and, learn by experience - the only way for many of us?. But first you have to get the feel of the way your computer software operates. A Windows PC has a different regime to an Apple but they are both logical. ( I say that arrogantly without the slightest experience with an Apple, but acknowledge that decades ago Macintosh (Apple) showed Microsoft the way with its wonderfully intuitive operating system Lisa).

A typical class on say word processing is so boring, so stereotyped, and so avoids the self learning process. If schools approach learning by teaching just what you need to know to pass the exam and ignoring the context, then that explains some of the problems with our education system. I seem to remember the kids saying in effect, 'dad, cut the crap and for god's sake give us the answer'.

Anthony's idea is to point you in the right direction and free you to experiment. I picked up quite a lot in a few minutes at the end of the last session as four of us put our heads together. He will notice I'm picking up on his phrase 'For Fun' - that is what our U3A is all about. I still think learning is fun, which squares the University of the Third Age (U3A) circle.

LITERATURE for FUN

A few signed to indicate interest even though there was no-one promoting this group. It has apparently separated the roles of leader (expert) from telephone contact (usually the convener does both). With all the interest in the Reading Groups I do wonder if there is not a latent interest in a group reading, but perhaps not studying in so much detail, classic literature (though my reading group and Barbara Ellis's cover a bit of both).

CHESS

I had a good chat to 'I'm Maxie' who was sitting in front of his chess set offering to play passers-by. He was pleased with the response, and, seeking a central venue was another waiting for Hazel Court to open.

CALIGRAPHY

Maureen Thomas is trying to revive this group and looking for support. My wife Joan was a member of the earlier group which had good numeric support but rather lost its way when the leader was away for a few months; Joan wanting more than a social morning lost interest and stopped going. I am sure Maureen will put it on an a more interesting footing. She is starting a trial by meeting in Mumbles for all four weeks in February 2009.

DISCUSSION

In search of emails I stopped by with Roly Govier. I was quite taken by surprise at the group he was running. I had thought it would be esoteric discussions of a philosophic nature, but no it was very down to earth. He is delighted when someone new gets confident enough to take the lead. Each month someone volunteers to lead the discusion at the following meeting, next month it could well be proposed to discuss savings given the Credit Crunch or finding the best supplier of Gas/Electricity (ideas off the top of my head). I almost volunteered to slag off British Gas but Roly said touche, they are entirely banned from his house.

APOLOGIES

If I haven't mentioned your group it's probably because it looked too successful to benefit from my intervention last Wednesday.