Yes, the Christmas decorations are brightening our local shops, but we’ve already had storms Bertie and Conall, snow, and several heavy frosts to remind us that the next few months bring challenges as well as enjoyment.
Those of a certain age might well recall laughing at “A Song of the Weather” written and performed by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann in the 1950s – one verse of which went:
“…..Dark November brings the fog
Should not do it to a dog
Freezing wet December then
Blinking January again….”
West Bridgford u3a has lots to get you through the dark days of winter and to put a bit of brightness, good cheer and good company into your life, not just for Christmas but for the coming year.
The 700 or so local folk – people like you – who are already members can’t all be wrong!
They’re already making the most of life by taking advantage of what’s on offer on our doorstep. For an annual fee of £15.00 and sometimes a small attendance fee of £1–£2 per session, you can access over 60 weekly and monthly activities, from Bird Watching to Scrabble, Cycling to Photography, or Art to Zumba – and many others in between! If you want to find out more, visit the WBu3a website https://westbridgford.u3asite.uk/ or contact 0115 871 1810.
To give a taste of the opportunities available, 46 members of the Local History Group recently enjoyed a guided tour of St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham.
They were thrilled to see the architecture and decoration of this marvellous building and to gain a grasp of the plans to restore parts of it to its original splendour.
If history and architecture aren’t your things, you might want to join one of the several card and board game groups that are available: cards, Bridge, Rummikub, Scrabble, Mah Jong…there’s something for everyone.
A couple of hours of good company, a cup of tea and some light-hearted fun playing your favourite game.
Or, if you want to pit your wits against others, why not enjoy the Quiz Group, which meets monthly in the Test Match pub with a break for liquid refreshments!
So, if your general knowledge is such that you might know which London station has 9¾ platforms, how many gold medals were won by Mo Farah, or which five UK cities, apart from London, have a single-letter postcode, then this could be for you!
Film buffs might be interested in the Film Discussion Group, which meets monthly on Zoom. Each film is chosen by the members and is usually available on iPlayer or Netflix. Everyone has different preferences and enjoys different types of film, so the group members watch films that they might not otherwise have seen.
For those looking for some gentle physical activity, there’s a weekly Tai Chi class for beginners and two classes for improvers.
The instructor is a qualified instructor in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Osteoporosis. If it’s hands (literally) on music you’re after, then there’s a warm welcome awaiting you at the Guitar Strummers group.
This thriving and long-established group welcomes members of mixed playing and technical abilities to join them in sharing the common aim of playing guitar together for fun.
They play a wide range of songs and tunes from the 50s to the present day and encompass a wide playing proficiency from “beginner” to “intermediate.” Finally, if you’re just looking for a bit of company, an opportunity to perhaps meet a new friend or enjoy a meal with other like-minded people, you’ll find that too. West Bridgford u3a has a regular social programme for members to enjoy. For example, there’s a Sunday carvery lunch at Welbeck Hall (next to the Suspension Bridge) in January – so there’s no need to sit indoors feeling blue in what Michael Flanders and Donald Swann reminded us was “Blinking January again!”
u3a is a UK-wide movement of locally-run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun. Members explore new ideas, skills and activities together.
There are over 1000 u3as with around 400,000 members; membership costs less than £20 on average per year and is open to everyone who’s not working full-time.
u3a has members who draw upon their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other but there are no qualifications to pass – it is just for pleasure. Learning is its own reward.
It’s all voluntary; a typical u3a will be home to many activity groups covering hundreds of different subjects – from art to zoology and everything in between.
