It’s never too soon……
…………………….To mention the C word.
We like to publicise the Christmas Quiz early so you can all get your grey matter ready for the big event.
It’s always good fun – and don’t forget your festive outfit, the more Christmassy the better and there are prizes! There will be mince pies too of course plus some entertainment!
The date for your diary is Wednesday, December 2.
More details to follow next month.
We’ve had a busy month, again…..
There’s been some rubbish, some beer and some walking. And there’s more to come.
Let’s start with …
What a lot of interesting rubbish
Ever wondered what happens to your rubbish and recycling after the bin men have emptied your bins?
Well, the STEM group paid a visit to Eco Town at the Farrington Waste Recovery Park to find out.
During the excellent guided visit (available to groups and individuals) members had a comprehensive tour of the site via a network of sealed viewing platforms and walkways (keeping us both safe and odour-free).
Because Lancashire no longer sends any household waste to landfill, the recovery centre is a very busy place. It uses lasers to sort the different plastics, magnets to grab the ferrous metals and eddy current sorters for the non-ferrous- and four brave individuals who grab the weird stuff from the conveyor belt as it whizzes past – on one occasion this was a 10 foot long python!
And did you know the Lancashire site, including one at Thornton site deals with waste from 700,000 homes across Lancashire, and they work 365 days a year across 24 hours a day processing more than 5,000 tonnes of residual waste every week.
The end goal of all this activity is to convert our waste into something that is useful – plastics to make park benches, aluminium and steel to make more cans, glass to make more bottles, gas to make electricity and residual waste to make compost.
It is safe to say this had to be one of the most interesting and informative visits for the STEM group.
And for the next STEM group meeting – bomb making!
How to build your very own Atomic Bomb (Materials not provided – some assembly required) will be on Wednesday, November 18 at 10am at WFSSC
With the help of a table, some gold foil, various fruit, a gun barrel, some lenses and some lead lined ladies’ nether garments, the STEM group will undertake a physics-lite review of what took us to the nuclear events of July/August 1945. Sounds explosive!
Anyone for a pint?
Why is Mike Smith looking so perplexed?
It could be the beer!
Twelve members enjoyed a very successful inaugural trip of the Heritage Pub Society to Bowland Brewery in Clitheroe, with good company and a great time had by all.
One of the discoveries of the day was the “Flight of Ale” – a clever idea where you get to sample three different ales, each served in a third-of-a-pint glass. A brilliant way to explore the brewery’s offerings without committing to a full pint of each!
Mike certainly took his research seriously, as our photo shows!
The next outing will definitely be around Chorley in December, with the possibility of squeezing in another trip in November.
If you haven’t already done so, please click on this link to register on the U3A website to keep up to date with our future outings.
New members are always welcome!
Anyone for a jam session?
Mel Latham will be giving us a chutney and cheer and possibly even a jam making demonstration at the next speaker meeting on Wednesday, November 4.
Along with the usual ingredients she’ll be throwing in a dose of anecdotes as well. Don’t forget that Mel will be selling her chutneys for £3 should you wish to buy a jar or two (50p of which she donates to The Stroke Society).
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.
Level access to the clubhouse is available, just let me know if you need assistance. If a car park space needs to be reserved for you next to the venue please let me know. There is no parking on the field over winter so please park near the gate or on the road.
*We will be a bit shorthanded in the kitchen for the meeting, so if anyone can lend a hand making brews and washing up it will be gratefully appreciated. Send a message at the bottom of the newsletter and I’ll pass it one.
Get the picture
One of our members, Nigel, would like to share his knowledge and enjoyment of photography with members, with a view to WPVu3a starting a Photography group (should we have any budding Hamza Yassins amongst us).
Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced photographer, the group is for everyone who would like to learn more about using their camera (including phone cameras) and learning what the various knobs, dials and modes are for.
To start, we aim to run two 90-minute introductory sessions at Withnell Fold clubhouse – the dates will be confirmed if we have enough interest.
The first session will include a short presentation and focus on learning about your camera and how the different modes affect your photographs. The rest of the time will be spent helping you find the settings on your own camera. We then intend moving outside to try a few shots to practise.
Session 2 will go over what we covered in session 1, with an opportunity to ask any questions. We will then use a tripod and one of the modes learnt in session 1 to have a go at ‘light painting’.
If you are interested in photography and would like to join in these introductory sessions, please send an email to Nigel at nigel.austin@westpenninevillages.org.uk
Happy walkers
It was a local walk for the walking group when they enjoyed a trek around Roddlesworth.
Next month’s will be along the Ribble to the Tramway at Preston. Check out the group on the website.
Autumn’s here, time for games and films
It’s autumn so what better way to spend an afternoon than enjoying some board games
The Canasta, Bridge and Scrabble Group has restarted and meets from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday – see the website for more details.
And if games aren’t your thing, the Film Club has also restarted – every fourth Thursday – to take you through those cold afternoons with some great lesser known and often British films. Again, see the website for more details.
On yer bike
Rain and holidays may have stopped the wheels turning but the cycling group is gearing up to start again in March, with a few short rides along the way. Check out the group on the website.
Harsha’s Recipe
Tarka Daal
I’m sure most of you have come across this in a restaurant menu and also possibly make it yourselves.
It is a very warming dish fit for autumnal weather and also nutritious. Here’s my version.
Ingredients – serves two
1 cup split lentils – the orange coloured ones available in all supermarkets.
1 cup split moong Dal – this is yellow in colour and now also available in the World Food section of supermarkets
I medium onion
1 tablespoon garlic and ginger paste- I used fresh but the bottled version is fine
One green chilli finely chopped
Two ripe fresh tomatoes de-seeded and finely chopped or a quarter of a can of tomatoes
One teaspoon turmeric powder
One teaspoon garam masala
One teaspoon of jaggery or normal sugar
Salt to taste
A couple of whole cloves and a small piece of cinnamon
5 or 6 curry leaves
One teaspoon each of black mustard seeds and whole cumin seeds
1 tablespoon of cooking oil
A handful of fresh coriander
Method
Firstly wash the lentils and soak for a couple of hours. Then boil them in a large pan until tender – about 10 to 12 minutes or pressure cook them. In another pan add a tablespoon of cooking oil and carry out a tempering using the cloves, cinnamon, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add the onions and garlic/ginger paste, curry leaves and green chilli. Allow the onions to brown and add the tomatoes and the dry spices. After a couple of minutes add the boiled lentils and two cups of water allow, the daal to boil. Once thick and creamy it is ready so add to serving bowl and top with the coriander. It is usually eaten with rice accompanied by roti/naan bread and poppadoms.
You can make it even healthier by adding a handful of frozen peas and small diced carrots and even courgettes but if you do then add more water to allow the daal to boil for longer until the veg is cooked.
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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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