In March, twenty of our group had a very enjoyable day out in Nottingham. We met at Lost City in the Cornerhouse for a round of Crazy Golf. It was great value as well – just £7 for 18 holes and it included a free hot drink!
Our overall winner was Lynda Jackson, with a score of 44.
We then walked around the corner to Bella Italia for our well-deserved meal!
A good day altogether.
Sue Tedstone
Our Medium Length walk on 19th February was a 7.23 mile walk which started at Aslockton and took in the River Smite. The weather stayed fine and mild for us, but there was a lot of standing water and of course a lot of mud, coming towards the end of a very wet winter.
What should have been a 6.5 mile walk turned out to be slightly longer because of diversions around standing water, which sometimes resembled ponds or even lakes.
We were all in a jovial mood despite the conditions and we managed to find some benches for our lunch break.
We walked through the picturesque villages of Thoroton and Orston, along a route that followed the River Smite in parts.
We did spot a Red Kite at quite close quarters, not something we often see around the Nottingham area.
All in all, this was an enjoyable walk, if slightly challenging at times! Everyone, though, was pleased to slip out of their muddy clothing and have a well earned drink in the Cranmer Arms.
Well here we are in March, the weather folk tell us that February has been the hottest on record, I know it must have been one of the wettest, taking the dogs for their walks has meant that we have often had to abandon the woods and walk them on the pavement. They are not as happy as there are no squirrels to chase and yes they have been known to catch them, not sure who was the most surprised the squirrels or the dog.
On the subject of animals, we have spent the past two days watching a male blackbird trying to drive away an interloper on his territory, don’t know how long it will take him to realise it is his own reflection in a mirror.
Some of us are off to Kendal shortly on a short holiday the Long Walk leader has organised for the Walking and the National Trust groups, plus a few others of us. It sounds good with a good programme of walks and NT visits, we will let you know how we fair afterwards. Here’s hoping for good weather and good food!
Sunday 10th March is of course Mothering Sunday and I hope all of you mothers get a card and a few flowers as thanks for all your hard work throughout the year. Not sure how many of us still have our own mothers with us, if you are fortunate to be one of the few, I’m sure you will spoil your mother on this day.
On the 17th March it is of course St Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s patron saint and a good excuse for all of us that enjoy an occasional pint of Guinness. St Patrick was a 5th century Roman-British Christian Missionary. It is traditional to wear something green if celebrating his saint’s day.
Another date to remember is Saturday 30th March and remember to put your clocks forward before you go to bed. I’m not sure if anyone actually sits up until 2am on Sunday morning the official time to do so. Always amusing at church on a Sunday morning to see those who have forgotten, arriving an hour late.
Finally but by no means least we have Good Friday on 29th and Easter Sunday on the 30th March. Obviously a traditional time for children to receive Easter eggs, however, for the Christians among us this is the most important date of the year, celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection. A very busy month indeed.
I am pleased to announce that we have managed to fill all of the committee roles to replace those that are retiring and hopefully they will all be voted into office at our AGM in April.
Look forward to seeing you at our next monthly meeting on 13th March and would encourage you to look to see if there are any other interest groups that you would like to join.
God Bless
Melvyn Francis
The History Group always welcomes all u3a members – especially new ones. Our indoor meetings take place at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street – Time 2pm – 4pm. It is always on the third Wednesday of the month, in March it is 20th.
Last month we had one of our regular speakers Stephen Flinders with the topic ‘Stanton at War’. He showed an original film taken in wartime at the Stanton works located just ‘ovver t’ brook’ (the river Erewash) near Ilkeston. It seemed most of the people at the works were young women who could easily have been our mothers or grandmothers doing heavy work using cranes and making bombs which were taken over targets in Germany by Lancaster aeroplanes. Some Italian prisoners of war also worked there. Stephen is such good value as a speaker we will look forward to seeing him again.
Our speaker in March is Andy McKinnon who is going to tell us about ‘The History of Bestwood’. Andy is another of our favourite speakers and I’m sure some of you will remember when he came to John Godber Hall to tell us about the Hucknall people who served in the Great War.
There might still be seats available for our visit to Pleasley Pit; please ask Kathy or Sue for details.
Maureen Newton
In February we had an exhilarating walk around Gedling Country Park.
It was a dry breezy day and from the viewing platforms it was possible to identify some of the landmarks and features towards Newark and Lincoln.
At the end of the walk we enjoyed a well deserved drink in the café.
Smiling walkers standing near the miners memorial
And now for something a little bit different. Our next walk on Thursday March 21st will be led by Liz and Phil Attenborough. It includes a tram ride and an interesting urban walk from the Nottingham Midland Station tram stop.
We will meet at Hucknall Tram station to catch the first tram after 9.30, for those wishing to use other means of transport meet at Midland Station tram stop at 10.15. The walk is along the canal and down to the river, taking in the Memorial Gardens on the way. The distance is about four and a half generally flat miles.
David Rose
