The sporting event of the summer!
Forget about the World Cup.
Wimbledon…..old hat!
The big sporting event of the summer was………the WPVu3a croquet tournament.
Twenty members of the croquet group met for the battle of the mallets, each playing three games with a partner.
The needle match was organised by Maria who turned into a mathematical genius with what looked like an incomprehensible score sheet. Each player played three hoops and three games with a different partner – are you keeping up? I certainly wasn’t!
In between games, there was cake and mint cordial – very Famous Five.
It was a great afternoon with players taking advantage of the gorgeous sunny weather and enjoying the delightful sounds of the thwack of mallets on balls.
Of course there had to be a winner and guess who – our chairman Ann with a perfect score of 9. A huge thanks to Maria for organising the afternoon.
There was one player who didn’t score one point, but I am not at liberty to divulge who!
Are Elaine’s dancing days over?
It was Ceilidh time again at the club to raise money for the kitchen renovation, however one of our members got a little bit too involved.
Elaine ended up sprawled on the floor and went home with a bump on her head – actually she was taken home by a concerned Jackie who feared Elaine might be concussed.
Elaine explained that her trainer ‘stuck to the floor’ and she carried on dancing….. “Everybody heard the bang. I had a lump as big as a golf ball,” said Elaine.
Jackie added: “You could call it a Ceilidh melee, I landed on top of her!”
Elaine made a full recovery but her Strictly days are over.
Brian’s back with his customs tales
Some of you will remember the fascinating talk about the work of customs officers by Brian Topping.
Well he’s back as our August Speaker on Wednesday, August 5, with Part Two: “A World of Mules and Minders”. So come along and listen.
It starts at 10.20 and admission is £2, cash or card. Get there early for a prompt start and enjoy a brew.
Thank you to your convenors
It was time to say a big thanks you to our hard working convenors – the people who organise all our amazing groups.
They enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea at the clubhouse and it was a chance for a get together to swap notes.
The sky’s the limit for STEM
The STEM Group took off on a mission to the Spitfire Experience at Blackpool Airport.
About 20 of them assembled at Hanger 42 at H-Hour for a briefing by the Flight Controller about how the Battle of Britain was managed using the very early radar, observers and the network of control rooms around the country.
Then it was off to the NAAFI for a cuppa, after which, the group was free to cruise around the many exhibits at their own speed.
Some members had a go at a virtual reality sortie in a bomber, while others had a try at levering themselves into a Spitfire cockpit.
One scary fact learned was that during the Battle of Britain, a Spitfire had just 15 seconds of ammunition. We all made it back to base and landed safely ( I counted them out and …..)
Historic Bank Hall
The Social Group spread their wings again – this time to historic Bank Hall, Bretherton.
The Hall was first completed at the start of the seventeenth century but sadly over latter years became derelict.
Group leader Elaine said: “Funnily enough I can remember passing the imposing ramshackle building as a child.”
Now, with the help of the North West Heritage Trust and Lottery funding the Hall is slowly starting to be restored.
Whilst some members ambled around the grounds, others ascended all 76 steps of the Prospect Tower to view the Museum exhibition on the history and rescue of the Hall.
(And Elaine escaped unscathed!)
Did they like it? Yes they did!
Weeks of glorious sunshine, long balmy nights.
Shame it all came to a wet end at Hoghton Tower.
Lots of u3a members swapped T shirts and shorts for anoraks and rain hats for a Saturday night Shakespeare fest when the Handlebards players performed Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
The cast of just four played a multitude of parts and it was a rip roaring interpretation with laughs all the way.
The weather did not deter our brave audience who went equipped with chairs, waterproofs, plenty of food – and lots of wine.
A great night out.
Wigan Walk
The Walking Group took advantage of the glorious weather and headed to Wigan and a walk along the canal to Haigh Hall.
And the Art Group also took advantage of the sunshine and headed outside
Harsha’s recipe
Baingan Bharta – roasted aubergine curry
This is very popular dish which goes particularly well with Thepla, spicy flatbread and is a dish we have at least once a week in our household.
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 large auberginnes
I onion finely chopped
One tablespoon each of fresh garlic and fresh ginger paste
One teaspoon (or to taste) of fresh green chillies finely chopped
One teaspoon red chilli powder
Half teaspoon turmeric powder
One teaspoon cumin and coriander powder, black mustard seeds and cumin seeds and aesofatida for tempering.
Two fresh tomatoes finely chopped or about half a tin of tinned tomatoes
Oil for tempering
Fresh coriander leaves finely chopped for garnish
Method
Pierce the aubergines in a few places for air to escape and place them on an open fire after lightly brushing with oil. Keep turning them until the skin is charred and the aubergines collapse. This will take around 15 minutes. Once cool enough to handle peel the skin off the aubergines and mash with a fork and set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium pan and once hot add the mustard seeds and once these crackle add the cumin and aesofatida. Add the chopped onions and allow to cook until soft but not browned. Now add the tomatoes and ginger garlic and chilli paste and allow to cook for 4-5 minutes until the raw smell goes away.
Add salt to taste and turmeric and chilli powder and allow to cook for a further couple of minutes. Now add the aubergine pulp and allow to cook for a further 4-5 minutes until everything comes together. Add the cumin and coriander powder and mix well. Take off the heat, sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve with thepla, chappaties, naan bread or crispened thepla which you can dip in the aubergine.
You can roast the aubergines in your oven except that this way they will not have the chatted smoky flavour but will still be delicious! Goes very well with last month’s recipe of flatbread. Enjoy.
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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