Carlisle U3A MattersA Newsletter for Carlisle and

District U3AWinter 2015/16 Dec.,Jan.,Feb.

Carlisle and District U3A is a Registered charity No 1073444www.u3asites.org.uk/carlisle

A New Member's Pack may be obtained from the Membership SecretaryPrinted by Opening Doors, Carlisle, info@openingdoorscumbria.org

Phil Little conducts the Oot­n­Aboot choir atAshness Bridge

Photograph David Gibson

From the Chairman

As you read the latest edition of the Newsletter, Christmas isapproaching fast and time is lessening to prepare for the comingcelebrations.

Carlisle & District U3A Committee have been thinking about ourown celebration, that of our anniversary. At our recent GroupLeaders’ Meeting we discussed the date when Carlisle & DistrictU3A was formed – 1995, which makes this year the 20th.anniversary, so maybe we should look to 2016 for what will be our21st Birthday.

The idea put forward would be to ‘Showcase’ our U3A to Carlisle inthe form of music, song, dance and various displays of our talent.The date for this would be in July 2016.What do members think about this idea and would you be preparedto offer your time and skills to help with the planning? Please let usknow by

email to anniversary@carlisleu3a.org.uktelephone/text 07932895677or via the Website www.u3asites.org.uk/carlisle

David Stevens ChairmanHilary Farrer Vice ChairmanJanet Dutton Secretary

Third Thursday of the Month Meetings

All meetings take place in the new Harraby Community Campus,the same area but a little further down Edgehill Road, CA1 3PP.

Start time is 2.00pm. Entry is free.

Thursday 17th. DecemberNo Meeting ­ giving you time to do your Christmas Shopping

Thursday 21st. JanuaryOxfam ­ talk on the work of the Charity and Organisation presentedby Lynne Hutchinson ­ Manager Oxfam Bookshop Carlisle

Thursday 18th. FebruaryFriends of the Lake District ­ Director Douglas Chalmers will speakabout the only membership organisation dedicated to protectingand enhancing Cumbria’s landscapes

Thursday 17th. MarchThis month sees the return of Wild Life Photographers Gill & BrianFullerNot to be missed!

Sue and David Stevens

Remember

If you are having problems with laptops, tablets, telephones, orcameras, bring them along to a coffee morning on the first Mondayof each month. We may be able to help. In fact why not come tothe coffee mornings anyway?

Cumbria University Active Ageing Research Group

At the monthly meeting in October 2015 we were visited by Theoand Susan from The University of Cumbria Active Ageing ResearchGroup. They explained that the group is committed to helpingolder individuals maintain independence and quality of life throughscientific research which can be readily used and translated intopractical applications. The research ideas are developed aroundwhat people identify as problems. Looking at issues of fallsthrough loss of balance, examples include looking into the benefitsof Scottish Country Dancing; carrying shopping bags;distinguishing changes in walking surfaces, identifying obstaclesahead when walking etc.

As we get older our main senses deteriorate, sight, hearing,slowing down nerve messages and our muscles weaken, this is allnatural – our brain reacts to movement, sending messages to themuscle, so if we are falling over we need the muscles to react but ifthey are not strong enough they cannot respond and so we fallover. One PhD study on vision looked into why the brain doesn’tprocess fast enough when our eyes see a hazard e.g. a kerb.

Outcomes of the research have shown that carrying shopping bagscan help improve balance and Scottish Country Dancers did notshow the same natural decline as non­dancers, confirming that theright activities can delay decline.

The good news is the decline can be reversed. We discussedrunning a programme in Carlisle, assessing individuals anddeveloping a tailor made programme. The outcome being toprevent falls and address the fear of falling.

They are sending me a sheet of simple exercises to improvebalance which I can circulate to anyone who is interested.

If you want to be kept informed of or take part in studies contact

(cont.)

(cont.)

activeageing@cumbria.ac.ukwww.cumbria.ac.uk/activeageingOrUniversity of Cumbria, Bowerham Road, Lancaster LA1 3JDTel:01524590839

giving preferred means of contact e.g. phone number, emailaddress, postal address.

Janet Dutton jedutton@gmail.com Tel 01228 542338

Sunday Lunches

6th. DecemberHeather Glen Country Hotel,Ainstable, CA4 9QQ

JanuaryNo Lunch

7th. FebruaryThe Crown and Mitre HotelEnglish Street,Carlisle, CA3 8HZ

Please contact me by thepreceding Wednesday to bookyour place:

Doreen Colley 01228 710912

Monthly Coffee Mornings

Are held at The Crown andMitre Hotel in the centre ofCarlisle on the first Monday ofeach month (including BankHolidays) from 10.30 am. until12.30pm. Why not drop in on

7th Dec, 4th Jan, 1st Feb,7th Mar, etc.

U3a Groups Update

This is a lists of groups members have requested in September2015. It isn’t always necessary for the group ‘leader’ to be an‘expert’ or indeed a ‘teacher’, but just willing to facilitate the group.Groups can be held weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly, andcan meet in homes or larger premises. If you would like tovolunteer to coordinate starting one of these groups please contact

Gillian Bamford 016977 41803bamfordgillian@yahoo.co.uk

Groups wanted and not available

Flower arrangingWine appreciationWine tastingBeginners RussianTai ChiDram Yoga / Lucid DreamingDrawing, painting (in Carlisle)Advanced German conversationGolfItalian (8 people) possibility of using CD availableBible related groupApple imac computingMusic TheoryGerman / German ConversationUnderstanding smart phonesUpholsteryLocal History, history of towns, politics, railway historyUpcyclingJapanese

New Cycling Group

A new Cycling group has very recently been started. They hadtheir first group ride at the end of October. Those interested injoining the group please contact

Barry Henderson 01228 543795 bazzdot@talktalk.net

U3a Groups Update 2

Topics offered for which there is a leader

Digital Photography (need about 4/5 people)Social Bridge (someone available to teach )Map readingViola Orchestral & QuartetsCaravanning, European Travel Writing

If you are interested in joining one of these group contact

Gillian Bamford 016977 41803 bamfordgillian@yahoo.co.uk

Country Dance Group

The group is having a Tea Dance on New Year's Eve from 1.30 to4.30pm. The venue is Wigton Road Methodist Church, Carlisle.Bring and share tea. Everyone is welcome including those whojust want to watch. Contact

Shirley 016973 44987shirleyleighton@gmail.com

Photography Groups Notice

Will members of both groups note that meetings will notrecommence until at least the New Year 2016. Chris Rowley willnotify Janet Dutton of the start dates and she will email them tomembers. They will also be put on the Carlisle U3A website.

Family History Group

The next meeting of the above group will be on Tuesday 19th.January 2016 to be held at the Fire Station on Eastern Way from1.30pm to 3.00pm. The subject for this meeting is “Cemeteriesand Gravestones” ….have you found them useful or useless?

Maurice Dutton maurice.dutton@gmail.com

Memory Course

Shirley Leighton is running another U3A Memory Course in thenew year. The course is designed to prevent and manageeveryday memory problems which most of us experience as weget older and was developed by medically trained members ofOrmskirk U3A. It is now used by many of the U3A groups on atwice­yearly basis.

The course dates are Monday Jan 11th. and then Fridays Jan15th., 22nd. and 29th. at Wigton Road Methodist Church, Carlisle.If you are interested contact

Shirley 016973 44987shirleyleighton@gmail.com

Our Website

Do you ever visit the Carlisle & District U3A website (www.u3asites.org.uk/carlisle)? I suspect one of the features that is off­puttingabout our site is that it seems stagnant as the Home Page oftenremains unchanged for far too long. Our biggest problem is findingsuitable photographs/news to put on this page. So, if your grouphas something to share with the world in general we would love toknow about it. Photographs of members should have theirpermission before sending them to us, this is advice given to usfrom our regional advisor. Any photographs with supportinginformation should be emailed to

webmaster@carlisleu3a.org.uk

We also encourage Group Leaders to keep their own pages up­to­date, so that members/potential members of the group have thatinformation to hand. To help with this both myself and Bob Reedare willing to host a website training session for those GroupLeaders or nominated page editors to learn more about editing theirgroup's page. Please contact

Hilary Farrer, tel no. 01228 599742or email webmaster@carlisleu3a.org.uk

if you wish to take up this offer.

Finally, if you haven't looked at the website recently, do have a lookto see what our Secretary was up to earlier in the year.

Hilary Farrer

New Railway Studies Group

Carlisle is the meeting point of seven Victorian railway companies.By co­incidence two members now feel that it is reasonable weshould form a group here.

David Gibson is a 0 gauge modeller, photographer, member ofCumbrian Railways Assoc. and has an interest in Heritagerailways, research and travel at home and abroad. He's a broadchurch man.

Ken Parkes is a member of the 16mm Narrow Gauge Assoc.,prefers reading a railway history to a newspaper, likes to spendtime playing trains at the bottom of the garden, has becomefascinated by historic railway operations, especially narrow gaugeones, and is convinced the old newspapers of Carlisle are a mineof railway gossip.

We both see a self­help group with the swapping of informationboth informally and perhaps by short talks, meeting say twice amonth on differing days to maximise attendance, with oudtdoorevents in the summer.

If any of this makes you want to leave the armchair please contactone of us and we will organise a meeting somewhere in Carlislewhere we can all talk about our interests and put together a planfor running the group which suits everyone.

David Gibson 01228 561087 dgibson7@btinternet.comKen Parkes 016973 42335 ken_11@btinternet.com

U3A Interest Break 2016

By request, we return to our 'Hotel by the Sea'. The University ofStAndrews offers superior accommodation at Agnes Blackadder Hall(formerly New Hall) with double beds for all, en suite shower room,telephone, TV, tea/coffee making facilities and Wi­Fi. There isundercover access to both Dining Hall and Bar, and space forinformal gatherings.

Provisional dates are between the first two weeks of August andwillcoincide with the delightful Pittenweem Arts Festival.

St Andrews has proved to be a popular destination as both acentre for relaxation and base from which to explore itssurroundings. Many are already looking forward! If you, too, haveinterest in joining this break, please contact

Rhona 01768 891830 for further information

BBC Baking ContestThis might appeal to some of our members. The Great British BakeOff is returning in 2016 and the production team are looking for thenext batch of great home bakers to take part. So who’s the bestbaker in our U3A? If you, or someone you know, can turn out aterrific tart, produce a perfect pie or serve up a sublime sponge,then please get in touch now. For more information or anapplication form, go to:

www.thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.ukor email baking@loveproductions.co.uk

Your group could be here too! Or instead of.

Mostly on the Level went for a cruise on Derwentwater­ can't get more level than that. Photo Andrew Ralley

And drawn as ever to water they crossed a ragingtorrent at Kershope Photo Andrew Ralley

Creative Gardening

Please note new venue ­ Harraby Community Campus, EdgehillRoad, Carlisle, meeting in the Theatre.Meetings begin at 1.30pm. Cost £2.50.

No meeting in December.

Monday 18 January.

Return visit of Helen Shipton­Smith.The Versatility of Herbs – Growing and Cooking.With tastings! Based at Cleator Moor, Helen's Herbs are wellknown both at local farmers markets and nationally. Herbs forsale, and her book (£3.50).

Monday 15 February.

Geoff Coe and Tim Booth, members of our gardening group, willpresent slides of familiar and unfamiliar gardens.

Contact Rhona 01768 891830

Play the ukuleleThere are a few places free on the Carlisle U3A Ukulele Group. Soif you have a desire to learn to play this delightful little instrument,come along and join us. No musical skills or knowledge arerequired and you don't need a uke (one will be provided). If you'renot sure just turn up and sit and listen, you will certainly enjoy themusic.Belah Community Centre, 1st & 3rd Tuesday, monthly at 10 am.Tony Thornton 01228 670403 or tonyuke@btinternet.com

Diary Dates

Third Thursday of theMonth Meetings

Thursday Dec 17th.No meeting

Thursday Jan 21st.The Work of OxfamLynne Hutchinson

Thursday Feb 18th.Friends of the Lake DistrictDouglas Chalmers

Thursday Mar 17th.Wild Life PhotographyGill and Brian Fuller

Creative Gardening

No meeting in December

Monday 18th JanuaryThe Versatility of HerbsHelen Shipton­Smith

Monday 15th FebruaryFamiliar and UnfamiliarGardensGeoff Coe and Tim Booth

Monthly Coffee Mornings

The Crown and Mitre, Carlisle, at10.30am.in the bar on the right

December 7th., January 4th.,February 1st., March 7th.

Sunday Lunches

6th DecemberHeather Glen Country HotelAinstable

JanuaryNo Lunch

7th FebruaryThe Crown and Mitre HotelEnglish StreetCarlisle

Executive Committee 2015 – 2016

Officers

Dave Stevens Chairman 01228 515865Hilary Farrer Vice Chairman 01228 599742Janet Dutton Secretary 01228 542338Beth Banks Treasurer 01228 561189

Committee Members

Elspeth Cooke Culture 01228 319152Ena Hutchinson Coffee Mornings 07732 970009Hilary Farrer I.T. Co­ordinator 01228 599742Bob Reed I.T. Co­ordinator 01228 561681Gillian Bamford Groups Co­ordinator 016977 41803Irene Roberts­Green Marketing & Publicity 01228 541635Ken Parkes Editor Newsletter 016973 42335Janet & Maurice Membership & 01228 542338Dutton Gift Aid Secretaries

Items for Next Newsletter

The closing date will be Monday Feb 8th. Please forward anyitems you would like to have included to Ken Parkes at

newsletter@carlisleu3a.org.uk,or 016973 42335,or Rose Cottage, Gamelsby, WIGTON, CA7 0NX

New Member Enquiries

Anyone requiring information about joining please contact theMembership Secretaries, Janet or Maurice,

01228 542338,or membership@carlisleu3a.org.uk

to request a New Member's Pack delivered by post or email.

Another aspect of CreativeGardening in a Morecambe

garden