December
An amazing 2023...
Well, 2023 is almost over. But there has been lots of celebrating before we get there.
First, here’s a message from our chair, Ann.
“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. It doesn’t seem two minutes since I was writing a similar message last year but here we are again!
Another successful year for our u3a thanks to you – I am always amazed at the energy and enthusiasm shown by you – long may this continue so our u3a can grow from strength to strength. We certainly live up to our mantra – Learn (sometimes!) Laugh (a lot!) Live (definitely!)
Check with your groups to see if they are having a break over the Christmas period and return with renewed vigour (maybe even join another group) in the New Year.”
So what have we all been up to this month?……
It’s been a busy month, kicking off with an outing to York Christmas Markets.
Despite the freezing conditions – and that was just on the train – it was a festive treat with everyone left to their own devices, some went shopping, some to see the sights, some to the pub!
At least the train home was a little warmer! Thanks to Ann for organising.
Beatlemania!
Who would have though our crafty Pat Holt was such a cool chick in her youth!
Pat, who runs the Craft group, donned her mini dress, dark glasses, amazing yellow tights as well as long locks to impress at the Beatlemania lunch at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel.
Beatlemania followed on from the successful Abba mania last December and this year our u3a had three tables, with several members, besides Pat, donning some Sergeant Pepper outfits.
There was a Beatles quiz, a delicious three course lunch and of course……dancing. It always seems strange getting on the dance floor at 11.30am!
A great time was had by all.
No more boring sausage rolls
What to serve to all those guests that might descend on you next week – there were some delicious ideas at a cookery demo.
Sarah from Bees Kitchen in Chorley, demonstrated three easy dishes that members might want to try out on friends and family .
The first was sausage meat and onion jam in a puff pastry lattice.
There was also a wonderful cured salmon dish. The salmon is cured in salt sugar and gin. Served with a lemon creme fraiche it’s a winner.
For dessert there was an easy mincemeat Chorley cake.
Sarah tries to use local products as well as those she makes herself like the onion jam and mincemeat.
The Quiz of the Year!
One of our biggest and most popular events of the year is the Christmas Quiz, and this year you turned out in your best outfits for a hard-fought contest.
Fired up with plenty of mince pies, stollen and festive biscuits, it was a fierce battle with some contested answers – needless to say the quizmaster Graham had none of it!
The worthy winners were Jump us into Christmas – the clue was in their name, their festive jumpers! Wooden spoons went to Four of a Kind – those u3a pens and pencils will be worth a fortune on eBay!
And of course there had to be prizes for the best Christmas outfit.
It was such a close call between Elf Pat and Snowwoman Celine that it was declared a tie and both were worthy winners.
Thanks to Jayne for setting the questions.
Ding-a-ling!
Some of the Bells and Chimes group managed to get in some valuable rehearsal time when they went carolling at Chorley’s Inspire.
Five of us got in the festive mood and practised our musical talents, albeit to a limited audience, however it put us in good stead for the Withnell Fold Village carol service when we will join the ukulele group playing a the clubhouse next Friday evening.
We have mentioned our partnership with Chorley Youth Zone a couple of times, working with them to develop the Inspire Invites Hub following our U3A visit there earlier this year. The initiative is all about helping socially isolated adults in and around Chorley come together, do fun activities and make friends. It’s been a really positive partnership, linking up like minded community groups around Chorley to bring our skills and experience to the table to help others. It has also given us the opportunity to raise our profile.
It’s great that Inspire Invites is now going from strength to strength, and will be increasing opportunities for more people to get involved with a wider range of activities in the new year. So WPVU3A will be gracefully bowing out at this point to focus on our other activities and partnerships. We wish the Inspire Team all the success for the future.
Christmas crafters
Crafters went Christmas crackers with their colourful creations and enjoyed their own festive party. This little chap will be adorning someone’s tree.
It wasn’t all chat and craft, the members had a delicious buffet and some fizz – non alcoholic of course! – to celebrate a successful year as a group. Well done ladies.
Super Geoff……
To finish the croquet year on a high, Geoff Green pulled of a cracking jump shot.
For non-players, the aim is to get the ball through the hoop, however if there is a ball blocking, a player can try a jump shot which literally jumps over the ball and through the hoop. Geoff went one better and jumped over two balls to win a point. Well done Geoff!
And here’s some of 2023’s highlights….
As I said it’s been an eventful year. Here’s a quick catch up.
We started several new groups from Pickleball to Tai Chi, and the Soss strollers to the STEM group.
We went on outings to the theatre – to see Brief Encounters, Spring and Port Wine as well as a behind the scenes tour at the Palace Theatre in Manchester – to RHS Bidgewater and the Castlefield Viaduct garden for a boozy night out at Cuckoo Gin, to the more refined afternoon tea at the Midland in Morecambe.
We had excellent speakers including Karen and Stephen Brooke who undertook the 800 kilometres of the famous Camino de Santiago, and two young people from Dance Syndrome – one of whom David is the son of one of our members Jenni – who showed off their amazing dancing. We got into the Power of the Mind sessions and also established the link with Inspire at Chorley.
We had a couple of milestones, our fourth anniversary party, our 200th member, new signs and we moved into the technological age – with a card machine! Phew!
Don’t struggle
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National news
Don’t forget your can get all the national u3a news as well as lots of info about different courses etc at the national u3a website.
We hope you have enjoyed this month’s newsletter. If you have any contributions please contact Lynn using the form below.
That’s it for 2023, all that’s left to say is have a Happy Christmas and New Year, see you all in 2024!