U3A Report for February 2020 Foss FocusThe speaker at the January meeting was Dave Bussey from Radio Lincolnshire with his presentation ‘A Day in the Life of a Radio Presenter’Dave, born in Norfolk, joined the Royal Navy aged 15 years, trained as an Electrician, served on the Ark Royal and eventually on Polaris submarines in the 1970’s.After leaving the Navy he began working on Sottish local radio before moving South to work with BBC Radio 2 and Radio Cambridgeshire before joining Radio Lincolnshire in 1986.Dave gave us an insight into the day of a Radio Lincolnshire presenter, which consists of a lot more than just a few hours live on air. Dave’s typical day would begin hours before his show with checking the running order and content of the show, checking and choosing, letters, Emails and Texts for possible inclusion in the show.Doing research into topics for the show and for any current affairs to be discussed is vital to enable the presenter to engage with his/her interviewees and listeners. Dave entertained us with stories, jokes, and many anecdotes from the hundreds of people he has interviewed from his many years’ experience on the airwaves. The one thing that did resonate with the audience was the fact that what he could say and do in his early years of broadcasting are no longer perceived to be politically correct now and great care must be taken.An enjoyable presentation!

The speaker for the February meeting on Thursday 20th will be Gill Stonham with her presentation ‘The History of the London Underground’. Gill will explain how the origins of the World’s first underground railway, funded by America but with much artistic heritage sourced in Lincolnshire. She’ll explain how the London Underground has been a technological achievement, a place of safety and a factory. Today over 1.34 billion passengers use the Underground annually sharing the tunnels with over 500,000 rodents!Wine Appreciation GroupThe Group met for their first meeting of 2020 and had a wonderful evening pairing seven wines with food. The group was divided into pairs and each couple chose a wine and cooked food to complement it. The evening kicked off with a superb Champagne provided by June and finished with a lovely port, intermingled with a red Sicilian wine paired with a Lasagne, another two reds from California served with a hearty beef curry and wonderful pork pie, cold meats and cheeses. The white wines, one from again Sicily paired with Chinese duck pancakes, chilli salmon tartlets and avocado. The second white of the night was from Germany paired with a cheese board. A fun, sociable evening was enjoyed by all, with special thanks given to leader, Chris Stubbs and a special mention also to the washer uppers Iain and Trevor.

The Wine Appreciation group enjoying their wine and food pairings evening

Poetry GroupAn Acrostic poem is one where certain letters in each line spell out a word or phrase, they can appear anywhere: it does not need to rhyme.Winter by Dick Appleyard

Winds that are coldIcy conditionsNights that are longerTemperatures that are very lowExtremely coldRime covered scenery on frosty days

Boules GroupThe Boule members are a hardy group playing on alternate Wednesdays throughout the year come rain or shine (well nearly). Very little what the English weather throws at us deters our enthusiasm. With twenty or more players there is always a lot of friendly rivalry and banter. A superb way to get out in the fresh

air, get some gentle exercise, socialise and make new friends.If you’re a U3A member and interested in joining us the next meeting will be on Wednesday 19th February at 2pm on the Boule court at the back of the Anglers. Just come along and be assured you will have a friendly welcme.

The Boule group members enjoying a game

Edwina taking her turn watched by Gill, Peter, John. Dave and Brenda

Deep deliberation by Jack, Roger and Robert

Bird Watching Group

The birdwatching group visited Whisby Nature Reserve in January hoping to see a starling murmuration – an amazing spectacle where flocks of birds’ whirl trough the sky creating fantastic patterns prior to roosting for the night. Sadly, we only managed to see around fifty birds performing the spectacle. However, we did spot several Shoveler Ducks, Tufted Ducks, Gadwell Ducks, Swans, Long Tailed Tits as well as the usual Blue Tits and Robins. The highlight was spotting the Golden Eye Ducks – well worth the trip.

Future birdwatching visits will take us to Welney Marshes, Sherwood Forest, Bempton Cliffs, Chambers Wood, Frampton, Gibraltar Point, Anderby Creek, Carsington and Langford Lowfields.

Are you finding you have too much time on your hands? Feeling a little lonely and need a new interest in your life? Then visitors and new members are always very welcome in Saxilby U3A where our motto is ‘LEARN, LAUGH and LIVE’

We have a very enjoyable time learning new skills and developing ones long forgotten. We have plenty of activities for our members to enjoy and many of us are in several different groups. If you would like to learn more about the U3A you are welcome to come along to one of our monthly meetings held in Saxilby Village Hall on the third Thursday of the month from 10am.

There is a small charge for visitors, but you do have light refreshments and plenty of time to chat to Group Leaders and members about the different groups you can join from birdwatching to art, from the Sew ‘n’ So Group to the Lunch Group, from the Quiz Group to the Theatre Group, not forgetting, Dominoes, Discussion, Scrabble, Board Games and Photography. Too many to mention!!

The meeting continues with a speaker, who gives a presentation on their given specialist topic. The meeting usually lasts until about 11.30am.

But perhaps you’re not happy coming to the meeting alone! No problem! Contact Ann on 01522 704449 or Krissie on 01427 718187 and we ensure you have someone to come along with you.