Message in a Bottle (8)

Message in a Bottle (8)

Welcome to Message in a Bottle (8), the a store for the material in the eighth Flotsam and Jetsam e-Newsletter from Farnham U3A.

It doesn’t matter if you deleted the e-Newsletter – the important bits are here!

From your editors:

I’ll miss the pink tie!

For three months many of us tuned in to the daily Government briefings. We got to know Chris Whitty, Patrick Vallance and their teams, calmly telling us about the situation. Some also marvelled at Matt Hancock’s never-ending supply of pink ties – or maybe he only has one.

We’re now able to have more contact, and can soon visit a pub. On 6th July Farnham Library re-opens. Whether borrowing a book or shopping in Farnham we can remain ‘socially distanced’ using the newly widened pavements. Their introduction means that HGVs can’t take a short cut through the town centre and has jump started the proposals to reduce the town’s pollution problem. Let’s hope it’s a success and continues after the trial period.

Life in Lockdown – how is it for you

It has been a long and winding road since the 23rd March – lockdown has given new meaning to the good, the bad and the ugly.  This is your chance to join the Farnham U3Aers who’ve participated in our quick survey of how you’ve fared in lockdown.  It’s simple and anonymous – click here now .  The survey results will be published in the summer.

Groups on the go:

U3A groups around the country have maintained their activities online – from Ballroom dancing to sign language and everything in between – pour yourself a cuppa or a cool drink and take a U3A tour around the country here

Wine For Fun

Wine For Fun 2’s enthusiastic leader Jane Moberly has produced another set of Sips & Tips for all those who enjoy an occasional glass of the fermented grape juice. You can find the full write up here. If you missed English Wine Week last week you can probably still find many of the wines mentioned. If you are not a member of the group and want to receive future Sips & Tips just email Jane at janemoberly@gmail.com

World History Group

The group is continuing its programme of fortnightly talks on Zoom. Currently on Mondays at 10 am the programme runs to Christmas. The length of the talks varies but are usually about an hour plus some time for discussion.  The exact title of some talks may change and if a speaker is unable to give the talk, we will do our best to find a substitute.  You can view our programme to Christmas 2020 by clicking here. If you are not a member but are interested in joining us on Zoom please email themrtstudio@outlook.com for details.

Group Leaders

Please keep us updated about your socially distanced programme so we can give you a plug here.

Armchair Culture

The National Gallery

You don’t need to take a train to Waterloo and the tube to Charing Cross as you can visit the gallery from the comfort of your chair. They suggest that if you bring the tea they’ll provide the art take a look at.

Maybe you prefer the Tate

Follow this link and find out what’s on offer. You can use the Artists A-Z to find pictures by artists you like, use Play, Make, Explore for activities in Tate Kids, take a virtual Walk through British Art or, maybe, go Into the Studio to investigate the processes artists use to make artworks.

Take the opportunity to delve into 78,000 artworks, 4,000 artists and 22,000 archive items.

The Imperial War Museum

Although the museum is closed at the moment you can still visit the collections. There are thousands of photographs and other items from 1914 to the present day. Find out more at.

The London Transport Museum

Joe loves to visit this museum in Covent Garden. If you click here you’ll find out how to make you own moquette (that’s the name for the covering used on bus and tube seats) or make your own Routemaster or tube train or taxi ……….

Activities to keep both you and the younger generations entertained and busy.

The National Theatre

The National Theatre has extended its season of streamed performances again, each one is only available for seven days. You can see:

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream – an immersive production of Shakespeare’s comedy is available until Thursday 2nd July at 6.59 p.m.
  • Les Blancs, the final play by Lorraine Hansberry premiers on Thursday 2nd July at 7 p.m.
  • Terrence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea premieres at 7 p.m. on Thursday 9th
  • From 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 16th July you’ll be able to see the National Theatre production of Amadeus.

The link to the National Theatre at Home is here.

Talking Heads by Alan Bennett

The BBC have updated this series of monologues and you can catch up with them on the BBC’s iPlayer.

Sport

Live Football has returned to our screens and no doubt some of us are looking forward to socially distanced Croquet.

Sadly, whilst some of the summer favourites have been cancelled, Wimbledon has some videos at  and BBC Sport has over 50 hours of programmes over the 2 week Wimbledon period including an Andy Murray’s Greatest Hits weekend on 4th (1.15 pm) and 5th (2.00 pm) July.

For those of you who love Cricket the BBC will have coverage of the England – West Indies matches from 8th July.

Helping children to read out loud:

Here’s something we think might interest those of you who like to listen to a story. Its also a way that you can help children improve their reading skills.

The concept – to bring children and listeners together. Using technology and a little organisation, Story Buddies Online is doing this. It can help sustain reading in schools whilst reaping huge mental health and wellness benefits for all involved.

It needs people to make it happen.  To help organise, to promote its activities and to listen to children read and help them to become better readers.

To find out more about the Scheme and how a Story Buddy could help children improve their reading skills from the comfort of their home, please contact us by clicking here. They’d love to hear from you.

Want to venture out?

Face Masks
In our last issue we told you about Face Masks and they may be now “a thing” for shopping. Remember, they are now compulsory both on all types of Public Transport and in Hospitals. If you didn’t see the details in the last issue for making your own, we’re giving them again – see:
  • Make your own – there are various websites that give all the information that you need, the BBC website has clear instructions or the UK Government website has details here.
  • Support a local – and gave you information about local sources such as Natty Tailoring in South Street, Farnham.
RHS Wisley

RHS Wisley

The gardens have reopened to visitors. You need to book your slot here as entry is only by pre-booking. Joe visited last week, his first outing since March, and had a really great time. Some of the vegetables seem to have suffered and none of the glasshouses were open but everyone was enjoying themselves.

On a lighter note

Musical Interludes

Doodle Chaos has set some amazing graphics to music. Just see how the animated tobogganers, apparently called ‘line riders’, react to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony here. It took the creator over 3 months to get the synchronisation right.

Doodle Chaos has also synchronised Les Toreadors from Bizet’s Carmen here.

The Phoenix Chamber Choir from Vancouver have put together this virtual rendition of Billy Joel’s For the longest time. Watch it here.

Watch out – there’s a scam about

I’ve heard that people are getting phone calls from someone saying that they have traced through the NHS Track and Trace service as they’ve been in contact with someone with Covid 19.  The caller then asks for your bank details so that they can collect a £50 fee to cover the testing.

  • The Amazon Prime renewal scam is also back, some are receiving multiple calls a day. Find out more here.
  • Then there are the doorstep scams, follow this link to find out more about the activities of Rogue Traders, learn the truth about Hard Luck Stories, study the ID of Bogus Officials and send the Nottingham Knockers packing.
Friends Against Scams

You can become more aware and help others who’ve suffered by logging in to a short training course that is part of the National Trading Standards Scams Team’s Friends Against Scams initiative. The link is here.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is – report anything that looks like a fraud or a scam to Action Fraud online or phone 0300 123 2040

If you need help with anything contact those you can trust or the Farnham & Villages Coronavirus Helpline on 01252 745446 (Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm) or email to help@farnhammaltings.com

And finally, before you go

Don’t forget to do the survey, it really will help us understand how you’ve fared over the past few months.  It’s simple and anonymous – click here now.   

And a big thank-you from Flo and Joe

Resources

We’re all having to learn new skills with technology, hopefully we can help. Please don’t let it get to you like it got to Joe!

Surrey County libraries – as mentioned earlier the Farnham Library re-opens on 6th July. Details of the safety and social distancing measures can be found here.

If you’re after the collection of e-books and e-audiobooks. Available to all Surrey library members – more here

The Zoom Guide below has helped members connect. Feel free to read it and circulate it to others. The guide was updated on 28th May 2020.

Zoom instructions 20200528

Tip for joining an online meeting: please sort out the software and your computer / tablet / ‘phone before the meeting. This is because the meeting host can’t tutor you during the meeting!

Community Tips

The Town Council, along with the Maltings and the Farnham Herald, has produced a useful fact-sheet full of help and advice for residents of Farnham and villages which is worth printing.  Click here.

About this post:

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Please use this material to help you through the lock-down.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for Farnham U3A – 2020

Sleepwalking into World War 1

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 06 – Sleepwalking into World War 1

Lorna Thomas tells us the fascinating story about the nations Sleepwalking into World War 1. She starts by telling us about the protagonists.

A time of great Empires, Empires with ambitions to expand. At the same time, some Empires were weakening with states seeking  independence. Because of these factors it was a time of stress, particularly in Europe.

A World War:

Soldiers came from across the Empires of the belligerents. The British forces had soldiers from Canada, India, the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to name a few. The French and German armies were similar.

The Catalyst:

Lorna discusses the issues in the Austro Hungarian Empire and the support it was receiving from Germany.

We hear about Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand’s visit to Sarajevo and are introduced to the principal players. Lorna tells us about the demands made on Serbia following the assassination.

The Alliances:

The key alliances were:

  • The Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, and
  • The Triple Entente – France, Great Britain and Russia. In addition Serbia and Montenegro were allies of Russia.
Overconfidence in the outcome?

Franz Joseph was 83 at the time of Sarajevo. One of his key advisers believed in ‘war, war, war’. In addition Kaiser Wilhelm’s advisers had planned for war in Europe for many years.

Russia had a vast army and promised support to Serbia and Montenegro.

The launching of HMS Dreadnought made many of the world’s navies obsolete.

France had lost territory to Germany in the war of 1870 and resented the defeat.

Germany believed that they would win because if the Triple Entente fought they’d be defeated and if they didn’t, the alliance would collapse.

Fallout in the family?

Queen Victoria, the Grand-mamma of Europe, might have had an influence if she’d been alive because Kaiser Wilhelm, Tsar Nicholas and King George were all close relatives.

Listen to the podcast to find out more!

View the slides that accompany this talk:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

About this podcast:

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

This podcast is also available through the Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify and Stitcher ‘apps’.

AKM Music has licensed Media Magazine for use as the title music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham U3A World History Group 2020

The Sunset Limited (1)

The Sunset Limited (1) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 12

At the station:

The Sunset Limited (1) begins when I arrive at the station in New Orleans, its quite early in the morning and I need breakfast. I’m able to get something to eat and drink in the Magnolia Room. The Magnolia Room is the Amtrak equivalent of an airport lounge.

The Union Station retains the style of the 1950s, it opened in 1954 .

Our train:

Our boarding call is in good time for a prompt departure. I have the time to take a few photographs and spend a little time talking to the station staff.

The carriage where my Roomette is located is the newest I’ve travelled in. No signs of wear! I put my things in the Roomette and walk down to the Observation car where I will spend much of the journey.

We’re off:

We pass through the Amtrak service yards shortly after leaving the station. Carriages and locomotives are being prepared for their next journeys.

We soon cross the Mississippi on the Huey P Long bridge. It opened in 1935. The bridge, and approach viaducts, are some 4.5 miles long. The bridge was named after a Louisiana State Governor and Senator. He was assassinated a couple of months before the bridge opened.

Into the Bayous:

Our journey takes us into the Bayou country. Here we see swamps, forests and slow moving water. If we are lucky we might see an alligator – sadly not this time.

We travel through some small communities. This really is a beautiful part of the world.

Agriculture:

I learn that one of the major crops in this part of the world is rice. Rice farming is big business here. We pass the ‘paddy’ fields where the rice is grown as we travel onward.

The photographs that accompany the podcast:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

Next up:

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this podcast. Please join me in two weeks for the next episode where I continue my journey on the Sunset Limited  along the southern border of the United States towards Los Angeles.

Links:

To visit the Amtrak website please follow this link.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify and Stitcher.

Music:

AKM Music has licensed the theme, Steam Railway, for use in this podcast.

Audioblocks has licensed Swamp Blues Stinger by Bobby Cole, New Orleans Jazz Band – Drums and Tuba by Michael Nickolas and Down in New Orleans by Ron Komie for use as incidental music in this episode.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019 – 2020

Message in a Bottle (7)

Message in a Bottle (7)

Welcome to Message in a Bottle (7), the a store for the material in the sixth Flotsam and Jetsam e-Newsletter from Farnham U3A.

It doesn’t matter if you deleted the e-Newsletter – the important bits are here!

From your editors:

Bubbles

Some of us will have been celebrating with our ‘support bubble’ over the past few days. Those living alone may have felt lockdown most keenly so to see, and be close to others we love is very welcome.

With all shops reopening, what we used to consider ‘retail therapy’ for us, is now greatly needed for the retailer as well. Local shops in particular will appreciate your support. Places of worship also reopened this week, again under new conditions, but we are gradually decompressing which is a great relief.

Whatever our interests, we’ll all find pleasure in a return to the freedom we used to take for granted.

Notices:

Committee Volunteers

To keep Farnham U3A viable and operating successfully, I need again to ask for your help as several Committee members will be moving on in the coming months.

As shown during lockdown, we are fortunate to have experienced and enthusiastic Group Leaders and Secretaries to deliver our diverse programme. They are supported by a small but committed management team (your Committee) to ensure that we continue to flourish and develop.

I am sure that many of you have skills and experience to enhance the efforts of the Committee, especially if you are comfortable using email, word documents, spreadsheets etc. and enjoy working within a small friendly team. If interested, click here to contact me.

Mike Love, Chair.

Groups on the go:

Painting

A picture paints a thousand words and there is still time to visit the two Art Exhibitions staged by our Painting groups; the links are below:

Wanted – Zoom Hosts

Many of us didn’t even know about Zoom when lock-down began. Now, three months later, have developed our ‘Zoom Skills’ and use it regularly.

Some groups, however,  would like to adopt it but don’t have the skills and need help.  Could you schedule, host and control a Zoom meetings for another group? You’d share material on the screen whilst leaving the Group Leader free to focus on the content and agenda.  If so, please contact Malcolm Ellis.

Groups survey request – Group Leaders and Secretaries

A MASSIVE THANK-YOU to those who responded to my recent survey request and also for your efforts to keep Farnham U3A active. Your survey response was exceptional with 82% of groups replying, this information is invaluable as we begin to plan the autumn term. Of the groups who responded 46% are continuing to hold their meetings using Zoom and of the remainder, many are using other means to keep their groups active, learning and socialising.

It’s still impossible to accurately predict what September will bring, but as lock-down measures continue to ease, I’m hopeful of putting some positive plans in place in the next month or so. Be assured, your committee is determined to keep Farnham U3A thriving.

Best wishes and keep safe – Malcolm Ellis (Groups Coordinator)

Cabin Fever?

When the Tales of Our Lives group discussed lockdown life via Zoom last week, travel was identified first as what they would have been doing were it not for Covid-19. The loss of family time and freedom of choice were the two great challenges for most group members.

They said lockdown positives were more exercise, improved IT, DIY and gardening skills, plus the slower pace of life and the simple joy of nature.  As restrictions ease the group hoped society would emerge as more caring with a greater appreciation of essential workers over celebrity.

A fruitful and thought provoking discussion. How have you fared in lockdown? Please follow this link to tell us. 

Armchair Culture

Watts Gallery Artists’ Village

This local Gallery has recently launched a brand new programme called ‘Watts at Home’. You can go on virtual tours of the exhibitions, learn about the collections and participate in tutorials. There will be activities for the whole family to take part in, so it’s time to get creative. For more information visit the Watts Gallery here.

Live from the British Museum

Follow this link to the British Museum and find 11 ways to visit the British Museum from Home. You might be interested in Vikings Live or making a virtual visit to London Landmarks You can explore the collection, see Objects in 3D and, possibly the most popular item, you can watch the film and take a special tour of the 2013 exhibition ‘Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum’.

Curious Minds from the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford

Give your brain a workout, visit the world’s museums, libraries, language centres and more – all from home. The material will change regularly with the featured Tutor Takeover being updated every other day. You can also signup for a newsletter to keep you updated about new material. Find out more at Curious Minds.

The National Theatre

The National Theatre has extended its season of streamed performances, each one is only available for seven days. You can see:

  • The Madness of George III – the story of the King’s increasing eccentricity and how ambitious people threatened to undermine the Crown. Premiered on Thursday 11th June and is available until 18th June – so you’ll need to hurry to catch it!
  • Small Island – based on Andrea Levy’s novel tracing the history between Jamaica and the UK through the Second World War to 1948. This premiere’s at 7 p.m. on 18th June.
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream – an immersive production of Shakespeare’s comedy. This premiere’s at 7 p.m. on 25th June.

The link to the National Theatre at Home is here.

Armchair Travel:

Travel Insurance Advice

If you are worried about your travel insurance, maybe worrying about Coronavirus cover or you’re trying to get a refund for a cancelled holiday, follow this link to the Money Saving Expert website where they have put together a guide to the many questions that they’ve been asked.

Virtual tours

What happens to a travel company when you can’t travel? Well if you are Flight Centre you keep your customers dreaming.  How about a visit New Zealand although the borders are closed? Fancy seeing Uluru in Australia? Feel like going on Safari in Kenya? Do it all in the comfort of your own home – no flights, no passport, no inoculations – and its free! Follow this link to travel.

A couple of things to do in the family bubble

Now that some of us can be with our grandchildren, here are some things that might interest them.

Queen Mary’s Dolls House Even though the physical site is closed at Windsor Castle you can find out a great deal about this amazing dolls house here. Maybe an opportunity for some research to prepare yourselves for when things open up.

What about a spot of cooking? We return to the Tiny Kitchen for more bite sized cooking.

Note: lasagne or lasagna? In America they’re interchangeable but in Italy a single sheet is ‘lasagna’ whereas the dish is ‘lasagne’ because that’s the plural and a dish is made up of many sheets of pasta.

Fed up with the Armchair and ready to venture out?

Face Masks
Face masks are now ‘a thing’ for shopping or on Public Transport – now a must ton Tubes, trains and other shared-use transport, plus taxis and private hire vehicles. Whether you want a sober fabric or more of a fashion statement someone, still needs to make them.
  • Make your own – there are various websites that give all the information that you need, the BBC website has clear instructions or the UK Government website has details here.
  • Support a local – when two former refugees sought a new life in the UK, little did they realise they’d form part of Farnham’s post lockdown strategy.  Afghani Baz and Syrian Zam earlier this year merged their tailoring skills at Natty Tailoring in South Street, Farnham. and started their business earlier this year. If you can’t sew, this is a handy and worthy option and we’ve tried them.
Wearing and washing your mask – it should cover your mouth and nose allowing you to breathe easily and you should wash your cloth mask after every use. It can go with your other laundry using your normal detergent.

The scammers are hard at work!

This time we’re looking at information from the Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards who’ve seen a 40% rise in Coronavirus related scams. Some examples include:

  • Fake NHS and care provider lanyards – bought online so that fraudsters can gain access.
  • COVID-19 – voucher scams, phishing HMRC emails and texts offering a tax refund to help during the virus, or a fine for you leaving the house
  • Unsolicited phone calls insisting you buy a face mask because ‘the Government says so’
  • Fake charity collectors (yes, really!)
  • Social media quizzes – cyber criminals use your answers and personal data to hack your accounts
  • Fake healthcare workers offering ‘home-testing’ for Coronavirus
  • Thieves offering to shop for the elderly but really, keeping the money
  • Covid 19 Test and Trace scams.

So, what do I do?

  • Be sceptical. Don’t be afraid to hang up, bin it, delete it or shut the door.
  • Take your time. Don’t be rushed.
  • Know who you’re dealing with. If you need help talk to someone you know or get in touch with Trading Standards.
  • If you are online, be aware of fake news and use trusted sources such as gov.uk or nhs.uk
  • Be aware of advice online – only seek medical advice from qualified doctors.
  • Protect your financial information, especially from people you don’t know.
  • Do not give money, your bank card or PIN to a stranger.
  • Never engage with someone or let anyone you’re not expecting or don’t recognise, into your home, unless you are able to verify their authenticity and who they are.

You can get more information here.

For further consumer advice, to report a scam to trading standards or request a scam pack or No Cold Calling pack, please email trading.standards@surreycc.gov.uk or call 01296 388788.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is – report anything that looks like a fraud or a scam to Action Fraud online or phone 0300 123 2040

If you need help with anything contact those you can trust or the Farnham & Villages Coronavirus Helpline on 01252 745446 (Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm) or email to help@farnhammaltings.com

Resources

We’re all having to learn new skills with technology, hopefully we can help. Please don’t let it get to you like it got to Joe!

Surrey County libraries have extended their collection of e-books and e-audiobooks. Available to all Surrey library members – more here

The Zoom Guide below has helped members connect. Feel free to read it and circulate it to others. The guide was updated on 28th May 2020.

Zoom instructions 20200528

Tip for joining an online meeting: please sort out the software and your computer / tablet / ‘phone before the meeting. This is because the meeting host can’t tutor you during the meeting!

Community Tips

The Town Council, along with the Maltings and the Farnham Herald, has produced a useful fact-sheet full of help and advice for residents of Farnham and villages which is worth printing.  Click here.

About this post:

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Please use this material to help you through the lock-down.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for Farnham U3A – 2020

A day in New Orleans


A day in New Orleans – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 11

To the hotel:

A day in New Orleans begins with our late arrival at the station, a taxi ride to our hotel and a good night’s sleep at the French Market Inn. Get more details here.

Morning:

I woke refreshed, dressed and went to reception to meet my friends. We decided to go across the road to Cafe Beignet on Decatur Street. You can find out more about the restaurant here.

We then went through Jackson Square and the Colonnade Market to the hop on, hop off bus stop. The route that the bus takes is here. We got off when the bus reached Basin Street Station as there is a small museum there.

We then got on the next bus and travelled through the Garden District, past some of the famed above ground cemeteries and into the City Centre.

On foot:

We then walked back to the Garden District and stopped for a reviving cup of coffee. Our route then took  us towards one of the famous cemeteries. We spent an hour or so looking round. They’re like towns of small houses arranged on streets. The same families have occupied some of the mausoleums for hundreds of years.

After we left the cemetery we went in search of a streetcar. Some of the New Orleans street cars date from the 1920s. The Charles line first opened in 1835 and is the oldest streetcar route in the world. When you board a streetcar you are ‘boarding a piece of movable New Orleans history’. Find out more about the New Orleans streetcars and other public transport here.

Afternoon:

The streetcar took us into the main ‘Downtown’ area. We decided to get off and look for a late lunch.

After lunch we returned to the hotel to rest our weary feet, and in some cases, take a ‘Zizzzzzz’.

Refreshed by our rest we met up in reception and went out for an aperitif and dinner.

Evening:

We first went to the river to marvel at the majesty of the Mississippi as it makes its way to the sea.

After crossing the road back into the French Quarter our walk took us through streets of houses with amazing ironwork, past a jazz band playing on a street corner and some strange sights. We found a lovely bar, the Pirates Alley Cafe, for a relaxing drink.

Refreshed we walked back towards our hotel for the last part of ‘a day in New Orleans’. We were had an excellent dinner at Tujague’s restaurant. This is a traditional restaurant that opened in 1856. You can find out all about it here.

The photographs that accompany the podcast:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

Next up:

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this podcast. Please join me in two weeks for the next episode where I board the Sunset Limited for the start of my journey along the southern border of the United States towards Los Angeles.

Links:

To visit the Amtrak website please follow this link.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify and Stitcher.

Music:

AKM Music has licensed the theme, Steam Railway, for use in this podcast.

Audioblocks has licensed Taste of the French Quarter and Tasty Louisiana Barbecue by Bob Khurana, New Orleans Jazz sting by Michael Nicholas and Down in New Orleans by Ron Komie for use as incidental music in this episode.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019 – 2020

Message in a Bottle (6)

Message in a Bottle (6)

Welcome to Message in a Bottle (6), the a store for the material in the sixth Flotsam and Jetsam e-Newsletter from Farnham U3A.

It doesn’t matter if you deleted the e-Newsletter – the important bits are here!

From your editors:

Out of hibernation

Life in lockdown has enabled us to enjoy this marvellous spring and watch the beauty of flora and fauna. The slower of life means we’ve seen and heard the marvels of nature more clearly than for many years and appreciate our friends and family more dearly.

Now we are allowed to make tentative steps to return from our enforced hibernation. Some competitive sport will restart and, importantly we can see friends and family. The joy of meeting up with young grandchildren is one many will relish, but it is now a global minefield as reported by The Independent.

Stay safe, keep well.

Reminders:

Your U3A membership fees

Until we know when the Maltings might fully re-open, your 2019-2020 U3A membership is being extended so please do not pay any membership fees now.

Group Leaders Survey

While we’ve not heard from all leaders/secretaries we have had a great response from the many who’ve responded.  The headlines are ‘many groups have adapted to lockdown and being proactive about how they “meet” and are prepared to continue doing so for as long as it takes’.  The survey is still open so if you’ve not responded please do so because your opinion matters.

Groups on the go:

Painting

Even lockdown hasn’t killed the creative juices – paint brushes have been busy again and there is a second exhibition of paintings online.

  • If you haven’t seen the first exhibition click here.
  • See their second Exhibition here.
Play Reading

Possibly first ‘cab off the rank’ following lockdown was The Play Reading group which ran its first Zoom session on 26th March, reading Harold Brighouse’s ‘Hobson’s Choice’. They were very surprised how quickly members took to Zoom and now have over twenty members and friends on-line each week.

They ‘read’ for about an hour, so it takes one or two weeks to read a complete play. Wycherley’s bawdy restoration comedy ‘The Country Wife’ took three weeks. Other plays have included Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’, Synge’s ‘Playboy of the Western World’, Bennett’s ‘Question of Attribution’ and Tennessee Williams’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’. One week, five read / performed a ‘Round the Horne’ script, first aired in 1965.
Once lockdown is over, they plan to continue the weekly on-line Zoom sessions, with two hour physical group meetings once a month at the Maltings.

World History

The group is flourishing and is meeting on Zoom fortnightly. The current programme will continue to early October. They’ve covered a variety of topics including Spanish history and the Alhambra, Old fashioned remedies and British politics after 1945 in the four Zoom meetings held so far.

Coming up are ‘The history of the perception of colour’, the ‘End of World War 1’ and the ‘Treaty of Versailles’ plus a Quiz. The format is simple – they start with ‘this day in history’ (an old tradition of the group), a talk and then questions and a lively discussion.

It’s working really well. Over 40 baby Zoomers have attended on each occasion, with 48 at the last one. It would take a lot more than Covid 19 to stop this group enjoying themselves. You can find podcasts of previous talks here.

Armchair Culture

Until Theatres and concert halls reopen we’ve had to go online to enjoy a good play or concert. Here are some new offerings:

The National Theatre
  • This House – a funny insight into the workings of British politics in the 1970s. Premiered on Thursday 28th May and is available until 4th June – you’ll need to hurry to catch it!
  • Coriolanus – Shakespeare’s political revenge tragedy. This premiere’s at 7 p.m. on 4th June.

Watch here.

Missing Music Concerts

Many famous organisations have made their concert archives available or have live streaming events. Here are a few:

  • The Metropolitan Opera – ‘Nightly Met Opera Streams’ are available for 24 hours here
  • Berlin Philharmonic – ‘Digital Concert Hall’ is available here.
  • Royal Albert Hall – ‘Royal Albert Home’ has a varied mix of music styles here.
  • Royal Scottish National Orchestra – ‘Friday Night Club’ – a new concert each Friday and a back catalogue.
  • London Symphony Orchestra – ‘Always Playing’ and ‘LSO Play’. 
  • Living Room Live – ‘Live music streamed from musicians’ living rooms to yours’. Visit here.

Armchair Travel:

Forget the passport and fastening your seat belt, sit back and enjoy these attractions from around the world.

In search of the Northern Lights is a Rough Guide podcast you might like to listen to here.

Or you can visit the top 10 attractions at Kew Gardens here.

The National Trust has some virtual tours of Hidcote available on line by clicking here.

You can see the garden that Monet loved at Giverny here.

This one’s much closer to home. See Wisley from the Sky here.

And then to the south of Guildford there is the stunning Chilworth Manor.

Looking to dine alone? Try this Swedish Restaurant where you’ll eat at a table for one.Here are some more clips from around the world.

There are a lot of scams out there

In this issue we’re looking at Bank scams which come in many guises.

  • Phone scams, also called Vishing, are where the target receives a call from a fraudster pretending to be a member of the target’s bank staff. They’ll try to get financial details or they try to get the target to transfer money to a ‘safe’ account or hand cash to a courier.
  • Email scams are from fraudsters who send convincing emails pretending to be from your bank or a trusted organisation such as HMRC or the Financial Conduct Authority.
  • Postal scams offer something that sounds attractive; however, it doesn’t exist. The catch? You’ll have to pay upfront to receive this once in a lifetime offer.

Click here for more information on these scams.

What to do if you’re worried

If you think you’ve given a fraudster your bank details, contact your bank immediately.

Remember – if someone you don’t know contacts you don’t be panicked into doing something. Sit back and think about it rationally and carefully check your records

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is – report anything that looks like a fraud or a scam to Action Fraud online or phone 0300 123 2040

If you need help with anything contact those you can trust or the Farnham & Villages Coronavirus Helpline on 01252 745446 (Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm) or email to help@farnhammaltings.como help@farnhammaltings.com

Resources

We’re all having to learn new skills with technology, hopefully we can help. Please don’t let it get to you like it got to Joe!

Surrey County libraries have extended their collection of e-books and e-audiobooks. Available to all Surrey library members – more here

The Zoom Guide below has helped members connect. Feel free to read it and circulate it to others. The guide was updated on 28th May 2020.

Zoom instructions 20200528

Tip for joining an online meeting: please sort out the software and your computer / tablet / ‘phone before the meeting. This is because the meeting host can’t tutor you during the meeting!

Community Tips

The Town Council, along with the Maltings and the Farnham Herald, has produced a useful fact-sheet full of help and advice for residents of Farnham and villages which is worth printing.  Click here.

About this post:

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Please use this material to help you through the lock-down.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for Farnham U3A – 2020

Exhibition of Paintings (2)

Exhibition of Paintings (2)

Welcome to the Farnham U3A Painting Groups Exhibition of Paintings (2).

This is the second online Exhibition by the members of these three groups. The Artists hope that you enjoy the pictures that they have painted. They’ve painted many of these during lockdown. You’ll find different styles and techniques with watercolours, acrylics and even water soluble colour pencils.

The Farnham U3A has three painting groups. These groups are self led and members have a variety of skills and in many cases benefit from the skills of each other.

You can find full details and contact information for the groups on the Farnham U3A website:

  • You’ll find details for the Painting 1 group here.
  • The Painting 2 group can be found here.
  • And the Painting 3 group is here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the art gallery:

About this post:

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for Farnham U3A

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham U3A Painting Groups – 2020