What's been happening (and is going to happen) in
our Interest Groups? read on ...
News from the interest groups
The Group Leaders listed below will be very pleased to give new and existing Exe Valley members more details about their friendly and lively groups. Please see them at our Monthly Meeting.
Arts Appreciation David Fogg
Thank you to everyone who came along and made OurTreasures afternoon in December so enjoyable. On January 19 we meet at the fabulously refurbished Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, at the old Queen Street entrance at 11am. The Into the LightImpressionist exhibition there is superb. Our planning meeting is at 2pm on Thursday January 26, and the Great Art course continues withIllusionandTime and Motionon Thursday, February 2 at 10.30am and 2pm. The next talk is on the Pre-Raphaelites, Burne-Jones and Rossetti, on Thursday,February 16.
John
Massey
Boules Sue Dark
No meetings this month.
Bridge York and Sarabella Dawson
We meet weekly in members' homes and continue to learn and above all have an
enjoyable evening.
Bus Riders Bob Holdman
No meeting this month.
Crafts Jean Tennant
Suggestions for this year's activities. A draft programme is now in
hand, ready for final tweaks at our next meeting on Monday, February 13, at
Jean's house as usual. Bring anything along you're working on, especially if
you need any help, and we can finalise the programme for 2012.
Country Dancing Sara Warren
Wednesday, January 11 saw a very good number of dancers who came to enjoy the dancing and music of the live band Friendly Folk - not to mention the lovely home-made cakes!
Our next session is Wednesday, January 25 at Halberton Village Hall, 2.30-4.30p.m.
Debating LynneFerguson
This month's subject was whether superstition has any place in modern life. David opened with a marathon 12 minute proposal, which led on to further discussions, the outcome of which,as usual, was that 'it all depends.'
Next month's meeting -
Friday, February 10. Subject: Technology has changed for the worse the way we
socialise.
Discussion David Fogg
December's meeting started warmly with a glass of mulled wine and many thanks to
prose, poetry or music which held a particular personal resonance.The Young Visitersby Daisy Ashford,written in 1890 when she was nine, proved to be a gem, and was much enjoyed by
all.
Education was the topic for our first meeting of 2012 - a huge
subject and discussed with animation. Members' own educational backgrounds
were wide ranging, with 'then' and 'now' comparisons being inevitable and,
naturally, as members of the U3A, all believed that you're never too old to
learn!
The next meeting will be held at 5 Angel Terrace on Friday,
February 10, when Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares, Ghosts et al will be under
discussion. Sara Warren
French
Conversation Annie Saunter
The French group met at Annie's house for the first meeting of the New Year, using
the subject of Christmas as the opening gambit, which provoked some interesting
responses! We all had different attitudes to the subject, and tried to put it
all into French, not always an easy thing to do... (would they say that, or
not???)
The next meeting is on Friday, January 27 at Joan's abode, subject to be advised by
group email.
Gardening Joan Kelly Jo Jeffrey , Carol Powney
Members
enjoyed a post Christmas lunch at the Ruffwell Inn for the January meeting.
Our next meeting is on Monday, February 20, and this will be a Planning
Meeting, to plan our events and outings for 2012. Please do try to come along
with your ideas - we really need members to help with this. Please come to 30
Branscombe Road at 2.30pm, and let Joan or Carol know whether or not you are
coming, so that we have an idea of numbers.
Knit
2, Chat 2 together Marian Murrell
Busy,busy needles, catch up chat,
Judi Dench, ham and eggs on Christmas Day -Really,really good, more should try it.
Many fields awash, so much rain and wind,
And all to the sound of music and tapping toes.
The next meeting is on Thursday, February 2 at 2pm.
Local History Bob Holdman
Ten members of the group attended the next part in the saga ofThe Dog with Two Tails. As usual George was amusing with what could have been very serious, his usual statement being, 'It all turns out all right.' Next year should see them back in Exeter.
Our next event is on February 9 and is by J Stuart, titledClapper Bridges of
Dartmoor. See you there.
Local Theatre Joan Kelly
Our next outing is to the Junior Operatic Club's productionGodspellon Thursday, February 16 at 7.30 pm. The Juniors always put on a show well worth seeing. Tickets are £7.50. The money is needed for this today, please, if you have your name down, but it is not too late to add your name to the list. Tickets forPhantom of the Operaare available for collection today. Joan will be at the table at the back of the room for payments and collections.
Luncheon Club Brian and Liz West
The post-Christmas lunch at the Tiverton Hotel on Wednesday, January 4 was attended by 33 members. It was an enjoyable occasion, but some aspects of the meal were disappointing. Anyone with ideas for next Christmas!?
Next month we are returning
to the Three Tuns at Silverton, where you can expect a normal pub lunch menu,
plus a £6.00 two course special. This will be on Thursday, February 16, and we
will be meeting in the bar from 12.15 for a 1.00 pm lunch.
Please, if you have any ideas for further venues orif you can organize a lunch yourself- any help is welcome - contact Brian or Liz West: or Jane E-C:
Mah Jong Bunty Coffin
Another pleasurable and rewarding month. Next meetings - January 20 and February 3. Bunty will be back soon from her snowy slopes.
Lynne Ferguson
Music Ian Houseman
Eleven members enjoyed an interesting meeting with the subject the composer, Mahler - his life and music. The next meeting is on Thursday, February 9. Subject - the singer and songwriter, Neil Sedaka.
Quiz Margaret Jenkins
Sixteen members met for another good evening, with questions put to us by Vicki. This time we mixed up the teams by drawing numbers.Our next meeting is on Monday, February 6 at 7pm.
Rambling
The next ramble will be on Thursday, January 26 and we will meet as usual at the
Homebase car park at 9.30am. The walk will be a circular one from Brampford
Speke to Upton Pyne and Langford, covering about 4.75 miles and taking us about
2hrs 15 minutes. The route is mostly fields and tracks and is muddy, but there
are only 2 stiles and the only uphill short stretches are on quiet country
lanes for about 35 minutes in total. See you then. Keith Dawson
Reading Ro Darlington
Our next meeting is on Monday, January 30, 2pm at Elspeth's home.
Scrabble 1 Pam Hilton
We got off to a good start for the new year. The venue for our next meeting on
Monday, February 13 is to be arranged.
Scrabble2 Margaret Wallwork
We didn't meet in January. Our next meeting is on Monday, February 6 at
Margaret Wallwork's house.
Singing for Fun Maggie Rice Pauline Burden
We start again on Wednesday, January 25 and may just have to re-visit a few of our
Scottish songs in celebration of Burn's birthday! We may move out to songs
from 'Around the World.'
New members are welcome - just drop in and meet the group. We had a wonderful
Christmas meal in the Cellar: we took over the premises and enjoyed an evening
of song, good food and company.
Dates
: February 29, March 28, 7- 9pm at Tiverton Rugby Club.
Social Bridge Group York and Sarabella Dawson
We play every fortnight in members' homes in a friendly but non competitive
atmosphere. The next meeting is on Tuesday, February 7.