It’s Spring!
Bring on the hoops…..
The croquet season kicked off with glorious weather after a log lay off over the winter and wet Spring.
One of our players, Elaine, took this photograph of the players setting up for a game on the bowling green.
She said: “The bowling green and cricket field look magnificent. Work on the clubhouse roof was underway.
“Thanks to everyone who cares for the site with such commitment and to those who organise such a valued range of hugely enjoyable activities.”
Happy mallets!
AGM
It’s that time of year – our AGM.
This year there will be some new names on the nomination forms for your committee.
It would be lovely to see you all and if you have anything to say about your u3a please come along on Wednesday, May 13 at 10am at the club house.
The ‘eyes’ have it
Dr Stephen Doyle, who was due to give a talk in January, will talking “All about the Eye,” at the May Speaker meeting touching on topics that alter the function of the eye such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration alongside the history of refractive surgery.
He is a member of Mawdesley u3a where has given many talks on the human body, however his particular specialism is the eye.
So come along on Wednesday, May 6, at the clubhouse. If you can arrive around 10.15am for a prompt start at 10.30am that would be greatly appreciated. Entry is £2 which can be paid either by cash or by using the card machine.
Harsha is back!
Here’s her delicious recipe for tapioca pearl, sweet potato and peanut patties
She writes: “This is a very delicious Hindu fasting recipe. Fasting is observed during religious festivals and once every fortnight on the eleventh day of a lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar. (Ekadashi) .
“It is not very strict fasting and you can choose to make it as difficult or as easy as suits you. For example Hindus would completely abstain from anything other than liquids and fresh fruits all day starting from sunrise and not breaking the fast until sunrise the next day.
“I observe a fairly easy fast on every Ekadashi, abstaining from anything with grains but allowing myself water, milk, yogurt, fresh fruits and nuts and recipes such as this one.
“The foods used for fasting recipes usually consist of potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, green bananas, nuts and tapioca pearls. The only spices allowed are salt, pepper and fresh ginger and green chillies. A complete “no-no” are garlic or onions.
“The emphasis on the day is on prayers and simple food intake that should not take over mentally your thought process. I hope you try this – it’s very delicious and does not feel like fasting!”
Ingredients
1 medium potato – steamed and mashed
1 medium sweet potato – steamed and mashed
1 green bananas (you will find this in Indian groceries) also steamed and mashed – you can omit this if you can’t find it.
Half a cup of medium tapioca pearls
Finely chopped fresh ginger and green chillies to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
A good squeeze of lemon
A couple of tablespoons of corn flour
4 tablespoons of peanuts made into course powder
A handful of fresh coriander finely chopped.
Method
Soak the tapioca pearls for at least five hours. You should be able to completely mash one between your thumb and finger when you test whether they are properly soaked. If they are then strain off the water and spread them out on kitchen paper to completely dry them.
Take the mashed vegetables and add the fresh ginger, chillies, fresh coriander, salt and pepper, lemon juice and the peanut powder and mix well with your hand. Add a couple of tablespoons of corn flour. Now add the tapioca pearls gently mixing them. Form the mixture into golf ball shapes and deep fry them until golden brown. You can also gently press the mixture into patties and shallow fry them or air fry them.
These are lovely with a cucumber raita or just plain yogurt or even a cup of tea!
Shakespeare success
“Is this a dagger which I see before me”…… Shakespeare’s murderous Scottish play comes to Withnell Fold!
Twenty literature lovers started a six week course about the Bard’s dark drama under the excellent tuition of Moyra Summers who is the u3a adviser on Shakespeare – and a member of wpvu3a.
Each week the group studies one of the Acts from the play with the help of audio and film clips and then discuss the plot and the characters. The course will end with a showing of Macbeth.
Moyra is planning another course last in the year. Watch out for more details.
Mike’s moody masterpiece
This dramatic painting of a moody Chorley Town Hall was created by our talented artist Mike Parker.
And it has been chosen for inclusion in the national u3a Paint or Draw monthly challenge.
Mike’s work is an acrylic painting featuring the Town Hall on a November evening with a typically damp Lancashire atmosphere – well captured Mike.
If you want to submit your work Follow this link to submit your photos on our WuFoo form
A dry day out!
Our walkers headed further afield to Burrs country park and the River Irwell and it looked as though it stayed DRY!
Hello new members….
Our membership continues to grow and we love getting to know new members.
To say ‘hello’ there will be a New Members get together on May 20 at 7pm at the clubhouse.
Fancy a chat?
We all love a chat and our new group ShedChat is for anyone who likes to chew the cud and put the world to rights.
It will be on an ad hoc basis. Anything is up for discussion from engines, sport and fly fishing. Members will host and meetings can be held anywhere – in sheds, garages, gardens, allotments etc. There will be a nominal cost to cover refreshments. Anyone can suggest date and time by WhatsApp or email. More details to follow.
Walking football
Walking footie for men and women looks like it’s getting ready for a kick off.
But before it enters the Championship, it’s been decided it needs a trial, possible at the club.
There are two places where it can be played: South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre, Cuerden Way
Preston, behind Sainsbury’s. There’s and Astroturf pitch and available times at Thursday, 10am or 2pm.
Or Clayotn Green Sports Centre at Clayton le Woods which is indoor and is available from 2pm and 3pm.
There needs to be a minimum of ten players to make it viable. Please contact Mike Smith at Mike Smith
Get your u3a online
Interest Groups Online (IGO) is the u3a movement’s national online community — a virtual equivalent of a local u3a but entirely online. Like all u3a activities, IGO groups are member-led and member-run, offering a friendly, informal space to learn, share and socialise from the comfort of home.
- A wide range of interest groups, covering subjects such as languages, history, music, literature, science, creative writing, technology and much more. Many groups are interactive, and members are encouraged to take turns sharing skills, leading discussions or presenting topics that interest them. The ethos is informal learning for fun and shared fulfilment, not for qualifications or taught courses.
- IGO members also have access to u3a’s broader national online learning programme, which includes additional talks, workshops and competitions open to all u3a and IGO members. Annual fee £12 join. Go to https://www.u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning/interest-groups-online/how-to-join-igo for more information.
Don’t forget the drop in!
It’s a great way to meet old and new members. It is free as it is included in your membership fee. Come along for a proper brew – and biscuits! From 11 am until noon at the clubhouse at Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club on Wednesdays. Please check the online calendar.
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