Category Archives: U3A Activity reports
U3A Horticultural Show
For what seemed to be weeks, members of the Gardening Group have been complaining about the weather conditions: wind and rain and heat. The latter two great for growing but the wind can lead to disaster!
As I walked through the door leading into the hall at the NAC I was faced with many empty tables. What could I expect, in the way of entries? Not very much if I was to believe the cry of “I won’t have anything for the show”. I think they were misleading me; the hall was full to capacity. Three or four times I needed to plead for extra tables, two even came from the red room!
The Flower Section
There was such an array of beautiful flowers, scrumptious looking vegetables and very appetising fruit scones and preserves. Fantastic, why did I doubt? It was delightful to receive entries from ‘first timers’. I hope they catch the bug. Returning to the hall after judging had taken place to find you have a certificate against your entry is just the best feeling, especially when it was unexpected. There were fifty entries more this year than last, so my powers of persuasion worked.Our overall winner with the most number of points was, for the third year in succession, Pam Steer, with Ifor Swales a close second. Best exhibit in the flower section with her amazing vase of flowers was Ruth Poole. In the preserve section Viv Scale was awarded Best Exhibit for her delicious mango chutney and with some modesty I have to reveal I had the best exhibit in the vegetable and fruit section for my runner beans!
When the show opened at 2.00pm there was a goodly flow of visitors (thank you for your support) who enjoyed a good look at the exhibits, a cup of tea and in some cases a piece of cake or a biscuit, with much chatter. With a sigh of relief we shall now start planning for next year!
It’s been a long day!
Monday Walkers Christmas Lunch 2015
Monday Walkers Christmas Lunch 2015 (SLIDE SHOW)
Monday 14th December 2015
Helen Lewis John hosted a Christmas Lunch at the Glen Hotel, where over fifty walkers and guests gathered to plan the 2016 programme, and then enjoy their Christmas lunch. Wendy Proctor thanks Helen on behalf of the walking group for her continued efforts as Group Coordinator.
Photo: Colin Hankinson & Geoff Winterman
Gardening Group visit the National Botanical Garden
Gardening Group
On the morning of 10 September 40 members of the group to include 3 from Narberth U3A boarded a coach bound for The National Botanical Gardens of Wales, the last time we undertook such a trip was in January 2014. It was decided to make this trip following a talk given by the curator Mr Simon Goodenough who indicated September was his favourite time in the garden and we could certainly see why.
Immediately, we were struck by the changes that had been made particularly to the long boarder leading up to the dome, rather than the random herbaceous plants with a multitude of colours this has now been replaced by a softer colour planting ranging from the soft pinks of the geraniums and phlox to lavender, and on to the deeper shades of the many asters (we tend to call Michaelmas daisies) and finally tall purple verbena the feature of many dried flower arrangements a plant that appears frequently in the areas leading up to the dome. A pathway has been laid adjacent to the boarder which takes the visitor to the rear of the plants an excellent addition.
The dome, of course, is amazing and one wonders at the feat of engineering in the construction in addition to the variety of plant is houses which we could not see unless we travelled to the far corners of the world,
The vegetable garden was spectacular with red and yellow stemmed chard, rows of runner beans, the unmistakeable tops of beetroot, turnips, swedes, wonderful red cabbages to name but a few. Another new addition is a potager plot which combines both flowers and vegetables my particular favourite.
The sun shone all day and as we left the garden it was agreed it had been a fantastic trip
Penny Thomas 10 September 2015
South of the County U3A – Pembroke Meeting 11th May
Start Up Meeting for U3A Activities South of the Haven.
Thirty U3A members and friends attended the Monday morning meeting on 11th May in Foundry House, Pembroke, and made a very positive contribution to this venture. Several members proposed groups and offered their services to act as leaders to initiate a variety of activities.
The aim is to provide activities based south of the Haven so that they are nearer southerner’s homes. They will still participate in activities north of the Haven as they wish and northerners can cross the bridge to join in the southern activities. It benefits all by providing a wider programme.
The following activity groups are being set up and several members have expressed an interest and signed up to participate in them. They include Computing, Craft, Folk Dancing, Gardening, History, Indoor Games, Poetry, Reading, Table Tennis and Walking ( up to 4 miles). Music and Singing were also offered as possible group activities. Details of the venues, dates and times and leader contacts will be published in the next Newsletter (July & August).
Two groups will start up earlier. John Roberts entitles his Gardening group ‘A little bit of Gardening to enable us, and possibly those we care for, to enjoy gardening into old age. Meeting, monthly or once a season, will enable us to share our gardening experiences, ideas and techniques e.g. pruning, propagation, weeding, coping strategies as we age, exchange plants/seeds, etc.’ First meeting will be on Friday 5th June, 10am –noon and 2-4pm. Contact John – mobile 07970930476, email abletogrow03@gmail.com
Mavis Roberts is offering a taster session for U3A members to the proposed South Pembroke Folk Dancing Group which will aim to provide an understanding of the history of Welsh Folk Dances and hopefully enable members to learn the dances. The first session will be on Tuesday morning 1st July. Contact Mavis for details – mobile 07970930476, email abletogrow03@gmail.com
Graham Goodeve 17th May 2015.