From our Correspondent – Overseas News

Wendover U3A have invited WTU3A members to join them on a “Milton Keynes Discovery Day” on Monday 30th January 2017.

There will be a coach from Wendover to the Milton Keynes Discovery Centre followed by a guided coach tour about the heritage, and urban planning of Milton Keynes City which is celebrating 50 years in January 2017.

After a carvery lunch in Shenley, there will be a tour of The Church of the Cornerstone in central Milton Keynes. This tour will last about an hour and a half. Tea will be available afterwards.

Cost £27.00 to include lunch and cup of tea.

Pick up times: Please wait at the bus stop: Opposite the George 9.00 am, Opposite Ashbrook 9.05 am, Bedgrove Sainsbury 9.15 am – Depart 4.15 pm

Please contact Belinda- wend.U3a.webmaster@gmail.com or through the Wendover U3A website, Travel Team page.

Garden Group visit to Old Church Cottage

The Garden Group, for their first visit of 2017, are going to the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) opening of  Old Church Cottage  garden at nearby Long Marston (HP23 4QT). This will be on Saturday 25th February in the morning, the gardens opening at 11.30am.

It is a small garden around a 400yr old thatched cottage adjoining a disused churchyard with ancient yews and a Norman tower being the remnant of a Chapel of Ease.  The garden laid out with raised beds containing many species and varieties of snowdrops together with cyclamen, crocuses, irises and other early spring bulbs. The garden is at the end of a very narrow country lane so visitors are requested to park at the Village Hall.

Old Church Cottage is an ancient listed buildings in a conservation zone  … read on NGS Gardens

Travel will be by car-share leaving the Five Bells at 11am (please note the parking limitations in Long Marston) Admission is £5.00. Light refreshments, Mulled wine and muffins included in admission. Pay on the day. New visitors are welcome to come along but do need to ‘sign up’ – please contact Gaynor Edwards in good time before this, and other events (gardens@wtu3a.org.uk)

A Little Book of BIG SCAMS

Things get a bit hectic in the run-up to Christmas especially when we’ve left too little time to get presents for family and friends. 

This is just the time when the bad guys set numerous traps for us and, sadly, thousands of buyers, especially when buying on-line, are either charged over the odds with confusing sales pitches, gulled of the ‘purchase price’ for items that never get delivered or inadvertently give access to credit card or bank account details enough for them to be emptied without trace. 

This .PDF file , THE LITTLE BOOK of BIG SCAMS from Thames Valley Police, is not new but its warnings and advice remain valid.

It is an easy read which describes numerous areas we can be at risk and simple things we can do to go a long way towards protecting ourselves from loss – give it a read, it might just save you getting caught out.

Extreme Visits – Will this drive you up the wall?

Here’s another opportunity, emphasises Adrian Randall, to wear a crash helmet … I worry about him at times.
Anyway, the visit is to the Big Rock Climbing Centre in Milton Keynes on the 9th February 2017.
No experience is necessary and all climbers are instructed and supervised at all times and we get to climb up varied and well maintained surfaces using automatic belay systems.

Read all about it and book quickly to avoid disappointment.

Play Reading – Unleash your inner thesp!

OK, this is not a new group. We’ve been playing characters in comedies, tragedies and not-sure-what’s for months. It’s great fun and reading out loud in a role allows you to try characterisation and improve presentation.

Anyway, this note is to say that the December meeting is cancelled and we will not be play reading any more at the Chandos Arms pub … but in January we restart in the Chapel Hall, Worlds End Lane from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on the 3rd Monday of each month!

The change of day may make it easier to take part in this activity so give it a thought and contact Helen McCaskie (playreading@wtu3a.org.uk) for more details.

Extreme Visits – Done and To Do

Extreme Done – Slotcar Racing; 4^th November

An unusual day all round, to start with, most of us arrived at Northwood Hills by public transport!  The venue, should you recognise it was a re-purposed S&M dungeon and we are all in favour of recycling.

The track was 41 metres long and there was a sophisticated race control system. There were many heats to ensure everyone had raced on each of the 8 lanes and took an equal share of the marshalling (basically putting cars that had spun off back on the track).

The final race of the day Grand Prix was won by read more …

Food Appreciation – Beaujolais Nouveau

Thursday 17th November! We know its short notice but, yes its that time of year again. 

This year we have arranged to enjoy our glass of Beaujolais Nouveau over a meal at The Chequers Inn in Weston Turville, we have also decided to change the time from lunch to dinner – please see attached detail sheet.

As it is so near can you let us know as soon as possible if you would like to come.

Many thanks

Pam & Rosemary

Extreme Visits – FlowBoarding/Indoor Surfing

This is not as Extreme as it sounds!

On 20th January, in the bleak mid-winter it’s a chance for a Flowboarding (surfing / wakeboarding) experience in the warm, no expensive plane tickets required!
You don’t even need to be able to swim. You are riding 2 inches of water above a soft membrane similar to a bouncy castle.

See Adrian’s description for all the details.