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Littleborough
Mid - July Update 2020
Hello everyone,
In this update:
1. Serious stuff
2. News from the groups
3. Virtual Quiz feedback
4. Barrie’s photo challenge
5. Contributions from members
6. COMPETITION TIME!
7. Dingbat Quiz Answers
8. Perverbs
9. National & Regional U3A
10. And finally…
1. Serious stuff
Littleborough U3A AGM – Sandra sent this email about the AGM to
everyone
on the 4th July with 4 attachments:
Hi everyone.
As you are aware, due to the present circumstances, we did not
hold the AGM for
Littleborough U3A on June 8th. We have scheduled September 28th
as the new date. It
is likely that we will have to conduct the meeting via Zoom, a
video- conferencing
facility. We realise that this will not be accessible to all of
you, and we will be putting
things in place for you to be able to participate and vote on
the various items which we
need to cover in an AGM.
For the moment we are sending out to all members the following
documents
• An invite with the agenda
• Nomination form for the new Committee
• Motion form for all members
• Minutes of the AGM held on June 10th
These will be attached to your email or included in the
post.
If you are unable to access them please contact me on 07828
297991, via this email, or
[email protected] or the website.
Please follow the instructions contained on the documents
regarding nominations and
motions.
This year we are going to have 2 vice chairs as both Anne and I
will be ending our terms
of office next year.
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After August 21st, we will contact you again about the voting
procedure and how to
access the Zoom meeting, if you wish.
So please check your in-boxes for the documents she
attached.
2. News from the groups
Choir – Martin Luke reports that the Choir is still keeping in
touch personally and through the fortnightly quiz, and the
committee have a Whatsapp group which was set up to exchange news
and views, but regularly bursts into a flurry of random
shenanigans. Reconvening seems very unlikely in the short to medium
term and members have been canvassed as to their intentions. The
Italian Groups – Jo Wiggans reports that the Italian groups are
doing their
best for international relations by zooming or whatsapping,
reading
Montalbano stories (what’s not to like!) and, in our case,
sometimes linking
with an Italian friend in Brescia in northern Italy to hear
encouraging news
about coming out of Covid fear. He says ‘give it 2 weeks and it
will be
better. You are just a bit behind us’. I used to feel sorry for
the Italians
because they had such a terrible government ...
3. Virtual Quiz Feedback
Congratulations to the winners of the seventh quiz held on
Thursday 2nd July which was set by Lynn.
Team Pickstone We had 21 teams comprising 48 people taking part.
(after late results) Make a date in your diary for the next two
quizzes on 16th July and 30th July all starting at 1:00pm. It will
be the same format as before. The questions will be emailed at
1:00pm with the answers following at around 3:30pm. Entry is open
to all U3A members and their households. and now extended to
Bubbles.
The fortnightly quiz has been a very successful and welcome
diversion from all that is going on at the moment. Our grateful
thanks to Lynn for keeping us in touch with each other whilst
scratching our heads every other Thursday afternoon! I’ll be there
again tomorrow!
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4. Barrie’s Photo Challenge
ANSWER to Photo Challenge 5
Photo Challenge 5 solution
Original Image – Judging by the response, this photo site was
easy to identify, although not as easy
to get in the same position as the original photographer.
Alan Longley
David Cannon
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raecnd
John Cannell
Ruth Philpott
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Photo Challenge 6
Try placing one of these. - if you can recognise them. Both are
prominent
buildings in Littleborough.
Please send your photographs and/or answers to Barrie at
[email protected]
***
Who said “I never drink coffee at lunch, it keeps me awake for
the afternoon.” Answer: Ronald Regan
mailto:[email protected]
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5. Contributions from members
Two lovely photographs sent in by Alison Gavagan:
Poppies in her Littleborough allotment & Cow’s mouth quarry
on the Pennine Way
***
You may recall Chris Thornton explaining that she ‘didn’t knit a
garden shed’
during Lockdown. This month things have taken a new turn for
her….
Snip, snip, snip with the scissors…..
(To be sung to the tune of The Trolley Song – sort of - and with
profuse apologies to Judy Garland
fans and all real wordsmiths….)
With my COVID face mask and my hat pulled low, And my hair
tucked deftly out of view, I slunk down to the village And crept
into the salon, To have my highlights done anew. With her shiny
visor and her plastic gown, She was quite the cleverest of girls
For my fringe, I’d mimed, ‘I’m sorry’ She just shrugged and said,
‘Don’t worry, I can soon cut off those curls.’ Splish, splash,
splosh at the backwash, Rinse, rinse, rinse out the foam, Rub, rub,
rub with the towel, Flick, flick, flick with the comb.
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Snip, snip, snip with the scissors, Swish, swish, swish with the
brush, ‘How’s that look?’ in the mirror, In and out in a rush……
With my hair now shiny and my head held high, I was fit to meet the
passers-by. As I stepped out of the salon, With no need to have a
hat on, I felt smug, I cannot tell a lie…. Splish, splash, splosh
at the backwash, Rinse, rinse, rinse out the foam, Rub, rub, rub
with the towel, Flick, flick, flick with the comb. Snip, snip, snip
with the scissors, Swish, swish, swish with the brush, ‘How’s that
look?’ in the mirror, In and out in a rush…… And then, with her
new-found freedom off she went to the Lake District and took this
picture of Castlerigg Stone Circle
Ellen Cruise found this piece when clearing out bits of paper on
her desk:
In Life
In life you will realize that there is a purpose for everyone
you meet. Some will test you; some will use you and some will teach
you. Most important are the ones who bring out the best in you,
respect you and accept you for who you are. Those are ones worth
keeping around.
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John Cannell is puzzled. Can anyone help?
A Mystery Light on Blackstone Edge.
From the landing window I can see Blackstone Edge. The view is a
little restricted by the adjacent
property, with the White House on the extreme left. On my way to
bed, I glance out of the window as
I pass.
A few weeks ago, about the 7th of June, I noticed what I thought
was a star or a planet, on the horizon,
about half a mile to the south of the White House. The next
night it was still there, in exactly the same
position. On the third
night, I went back
downstairs to get my
binoculars for a closer
look. It certainly wasn’t
any celestial body, as it
was an overcast day and
evening. It was just
below the hill top from
where I was looking. It
seemed to be on all
night. (We of a certain
age need to get up
occasionally at night !)
The next few days and nights were wet with poor visibility, and
even the lights at the White House
were not visible. Then the weather picked up, and I decided a
bit of walking was needed. On the 15th
of June I drove up to the White House and crossed the road to
the Pennine Way. I followed it round
to the ‘Roman Road’, and could see nothing unusual. The next day
I went beyond the reservoir and
approached the ‘Roman Road’ from the other side, in order to
eliminate the remote possibility of
there being something just the other side of the hill.
Definitely nothing that could be seen from there.
I decided to take some pictures to try and pinpoint just exactly
where this mysterious light was located.
The pictures showed the location to be well away from any form
of building – indeed from anything
apart from open moorland and a small disused quarry. I looked
carefully at my pictures and Google
maps satellite view, and worked out the OS grid reference,
(about SD971 172) with a view to having
another trip up there. The next few days were just too hot for
walking for me, but I decided to drive
up one evening to where the ‘Roman Road’ starts and see if I
could see anything from there. This I did
on the 23rd of June, but couldn’t see anything. When I looked
out of my window a bit later on there
was no sign of it.
haven’t seen it since. I have had various
suggestions as to what it might have been,
from Druids wandering about welcoming
the summer solstice, to people walking the
Pennine way at night. Well I don’t know
much about Pagans, but as far as I know,
there’s not much up there of significance
apart from the Aiggin stone. And since the
light didn’t move, it wasn’t walkers. A
lonely camper, perhaps? Possibly. My
hypothesis is that it might have been to
monitor visibility, which is particularly good
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at the moment, with airborne pollution being much reduced, but I
can’t, so far, find anything about
such an exercise.
So it remains a mystery so far, unless you know what it was?
***
So, we now all know what keeps John awake at night, here is what
Jo Wiggans
gets up to(!)...
What do you do when you can’t sleep at night?
What do you do when you can’t sleep at night When you are
settled in bed and you’ve turned off the light You’ve stretched out
your legs and tucked yourself in You are very tired but your heads
in a spin... I should have washed the kitchen floor, i even got the
mop bucket ready I must do it first thing tomorrow The pile of
ironing is like an installation Perhaps it could be submitted for a
Turner prize But Tracy Emin got there first And anyway the Turner
prize is cancelled this year Like so many things Really it is time
to sleep now Time to just start counting sheep now... Breathe in
for four, breathe out for four 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3 I hope my
daughter is coping I know she worries about me and I wish she
wouldn’t but I can’t See a way to help her at the moment Just
buying bread is difficult I miss the children and I’ve got all the
bears lined up To show them something fun on FaceTime Trains in the
other room They are getting bored with the Wonky Donkey book
Although Tala still says Eee ore every time I turn the page It
really is time to sleep now Time to try counting sheep now....
Count back in sevens starting at 100 93. 86. 79. 72. 65. 58. 51. 44
I should not have let the tomatoes grow so many side shoots Or
allowed the birds to eat the red currants Though, to be honest,
I’ve got plenty in the freezer already I must deadhead that rose
bush I hope my friend will be okay, it’s not a good time to be
starting chemo therapy Maybe I should not have eaten that curry
tonight Come on now try to sleep What can you do that’s not
counting sheep Find a 9 letter word and make words of 4 letters or
more
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Turquoise. That’s a good one Quest, quiet, quite, quit, stir,
quote, ruse ... I should have rung my brother tonight Very stupid –
I meant to do it And thank him for the book he sent And I need to
make another birthday card I should really make a batch because it
might be a while before I buy any And order presents for that
friend and that child Enough! Tomorrow is another day You’re
dwelling on trivia, there’s nothing to say You will feel stronger
if you just get some rest Just listen to the night, I think that
will be best. So what do you do when you can’t sleep at night?
***
6. Don’t forget Littleborough U3A Photo Competition.
Members of LU3A are invited to submit photos taken during our
social isolation, in one or more of the following categories. 1.
FLOWERS 2. PORTRAIT 3. TRANSPORT 4. HIDDEN LITTLEBOROUGH It would
be helpful to give your entry a title and indicate which
category(s) you are entering. Please also include your name and/or
membership number. Please only submit photos taken after the date
you receive this article – no stock photos. Entries will be judged
by Committee and selected attendees at our first proper meeting
when social distancing is no longer necessary – so you probably
have a bit of time to think about it. The winner will receive a £25
gift voucher and a framed certificate. Submit entries to Barrie
Whitehead initially by email for electronic submissions, or to
receive contact address for developed items
([email protected])
7. Quiz ANSWERS TV Programmes Dingbats
Starsky & Hutch; Crossroads; Angels; Blue Peter; Tomorrow
People; Countdown; Mr Benn; Play School; Brothers; Masterchef; Z
Cars; Bagpuss
8. Perverbs from Martin Luke
These are well known sayings and proverbs that have been
disrupted, switched around, merged and otherwise mangled for comic
effect.
▪ A fool and his money is a friend indeed. ▪ Early to bed, early
to rise, makes a man come home to roost.
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▪ Every dog has a silver lining. ▪ If you can’t beat them, speak
louder than words. ▪ It takes all sorts to tango. ▪ Absence makes
the heart go wander. ▪ When in Rome, do it yourself. ▪ You can lead
a horse to water but don’t put the cart before it. ▪ Too many cooks
make the most noise. ▪ You can’t make a silk purse out of a gift
horse. ▪ We can burn that bridge when we come to it. ▪ The way to a
man’s heart is paved with good intentions.
Can you come up with any other ‘creations’?? Let me know!
***
9. The National U3A website https://www.u3a.org.uk/ & the
North West Regional Website https://u3asites.org.uk/north-west/home
are always worth a look.
10. And finally…
A member got in touch this week to tell me about a brand of beer
that had
donated its profits to the NHS on Fathers’ Day. The U3A is not
permitted to
advertise products or promote other charities, however I felt it
worth
mentioning that from supermarkets to small fashion brands,
companies across
the UK are rallying to support Covid-19 relief efforts, with
some introducing
special products and others donating a percentage of overall
profits.They may
be worth looking out for as we shop.
Before signing off, I would just like to thank Jo Wiggans for
her kind words which she emailed to me today:
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the members of
the U3A Committee for the work they have done to keep us all in
touch during this really difficult time. The newsletters, the
quizzes, the Facebook page, the online groups, have been a really
valuable link with the hope of coming together again and with the
community of friends that the U3A has created. Thank you.
So, until August, keep well, stay safe and keep smiling….and
sending in your items!
Sue
([email protected])
https://www.u3a.org.uk/https://u3asites.org.uk/north-west/home
