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We've been delighted by the outstanding photos members have submitted into u3a eye recently, including this by John of Shepton Mallet u3a.
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Dear <<First Name>>
I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful day. Whatever you are doing, whether you are celebrating with family and friends, taking a moment to spend some time on your own, or spending time supporting others, I hope the day is all you want it to be.
This Christmas Day newsletter gives us the opportunity to take a step back and think of our membership across the movement, each member offering their skills and time for the benefit of others around them. This spirit of partnership, friendship and community makes the u3a what it is, and gives it strength and resilience in good times and challenging times.
No u3a member is ever alone, you are always in the thoughts of others.
As we look back on this momentous year, our 40th anniversary, our celebrations locally, regionally and nationally, we can see the thread of community weaving through each moment.
I would like to thank each one of you for what you have contributed to the u3a this year, whether in your interest group, your committee, your network, region or across the movement as friends and colleagues. I would also like to pay tribute to the 300 Trust volunteers and our tireless Trustees and TATTL Board, and our dedicated staff team. Together we have achieved so much.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas Day.
very best
Sam Mauger,
Chief Executive
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Your Festive Stories
I have two sons. Simon and his wife, Alex, have two teenage daughters. Paul and his wife, Helen, have two younger sons. My wife died with a fast-growing brain tumour over twenty years ago and, since then, both families and me have all been together on Christmas Day. After so many years, I felt that my sons’ in-laws and their daughters deserved Christmas Day together. It was no surprise that both in-laws invited me to join them!
However, following the sale of my Storm Arwen wrecked apartment on the Northumberland coast, I have moved to live in Keswick. From sea views to mountain views.
For the first time, I am spending the five days over Christmas ‘alone’ in a rather luxurious hotel on the shores of Grasmere. Not a hotel with ‘paper hats and enforced Christmas jollity’ but one which provides an idyllic setting, excellent food and a totally relaxing atmosphere. Great.
Kelvin, Wooler u3a and Skiddaw u3a
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Looking Back at Our 40th Anniversary
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Thank you for making our 40th year fantastic
Our 40th year saw us celebrate by planting trees, holding picnics, battling robots, holding open days - and much more. Thank you for everything you did to make 2022 such a landmark year for u3a.
Board member Michaela Moody who led our 40th Anniversary says, "Now as the year is drawing to a close, I’d like to send a huge vote of thanks to every u3a member whose contribution really helped to put u3a on the map in 2022 and a special mention to Julie Travers, Special Projects Officer who helped bring it all together.
"The 40th was an opportunity for us all to showcase the amazing things the u3a movement does and to create a lasting legacy for 2023."
Read our 40th Anniversary blog for stories of how you made this year so special.
Photos: Gilwern u3a planting the 40th Anniversary woodland; Sam Mauger with the 40th Anniversary Quilt; Southport u3a's show garden at Southport Flower Show; Derbyshire u3a Beacon relay; Worksop u3a's Steel Band at the Nottinghamshire u3a Network event. |
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Yoga with Nancy and Liz
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If you are looking for a relaxing way to start your morning, a recorded u3a session of Yoga with members Nancy and Liz has just gone live on our YouTube channel - for you to take part in whenever you may need a moment for yourself to unwind.
And if you like it - there are two more sessions coming in January 2023. Book your place on the u3a events page.
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Your Festive Stories
Christmas always makes me think of when we lived in Germany and our son was little. It all started on 6 December with the visit from St Nicholas putting small presents in the children’s shoes (in Kindergarten the children had cleaned their shoes and left them overnight). A week or two later a visit to one of the many places where Christmas trees were viewed and one of the right type and size chosen to take home for decoration on Christmas Eve.
In our home we celebrated on Christmas Day, but our German friends and neighbours followed the custom of attending a carol service, eating together and sharing presents on Christmas Eve. These days we borrow from both traditions in our Christmas Day – and depending on what our son is doing – it is often a very quiet affair – but definitely no u3a work of any sort!
Liz Thackray, Chair of the Third Age Trust
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We have loved hearing how your u3a is marking the end of the year and this holiday period. This newsletter thrives because of you sharing your stories with us so thank you. Please keep telling us all the wonderful ways you are learning and having fun in 2023. You can get in touch with us by emailing communications@u3a.org.uk
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u3a Christmas Tree Festivals
u3as across the movement have been using local Christmas Tree festivals to promote their u3a using beautifully decorated trees - like the above from Ilkley, Bristol and Sherburn & Village u3as.
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Making Committee Work Fun
Milford On Sea u3a's committee tried something different for their Christmas Party with a scripted comedy sketch, "The Dibley on Sea Committee Meeting”. Committee member Jenny says, "We kept it very hush hush, so it came as a complete surprise to the members. The whole committee were involved either on or off stage. I don’t know who laughed more, the committee or the audience!
"Whenever we try to recruit new committee members we stress that the committee is just like any other group and that it can be fun. Our members clearly loved seeing us all making fools of ourselves, and as a bonus we have recruited some new committee members. I would recommend it to other u3as."
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Brightening Hospitals with u3a sound
Broxbourne u3a's music bands have been playing at Chase Farm Hospital in order to brighten the atmosphere and change the mood for patients and visitors. u3a members will be continuing to play at the hospital in the new year.
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Garden Lovers at Christmas
Christmas came early for u3a Great Yarmouth. The newly formed Garden Lovers Group, established in July this year, gathered together to make festive arrangements. After the meeting, the members assembled for a yuletide photograph for the December page of their 2023 calendar - the rest of which will be filled with plant pictures taken by members.
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Glass Decorations
Sherburn & Villages u3a's Serendipity group had a workshop where they learnt to create glass decorations - a few of which you can see above.
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Belfast u3a's Mince Pie Party
For the first time since 2019, Belfast u3a came together in person to celebrate the holiday season. Despite the cold weather outside, Chair Pauline describes the atmosphere as “warm and happy.” The entertainment was organised by Group Coordinator Caroline and included festive poetry performed by the drama group, jazz music and carols, and an ode to a turkey, performed by members Joan and John, pictured - this photo was taken by photography group member William.
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Tap Dancing at Bridlington u3a
A postponed 15th anniversary celebration coincided with the festive season at Bridlington u3a and to mark the occasion, there was tap dancing (pictured), line dancing and music from their u3a orchestra.
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Wellington Shropshire u3a's Cocktail Group had a celebratory lunch
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Coventry u3a Christmas Party
Coventry Spires, Coventry Sherborne, Balsall Common u3as all came together to celebrate the festive period with a party hosted by Coventry u3a and featuring music from Balsall Common u3a's Big Swing Band.
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Your Festive Stories
It’s been our tradition to have our main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve. This goes back to when our two children would each invite a friend and we’d play ‘Hunt the Present’ before dinner. We would hide small gifts for each child to find and give hints where needed, although we’d sometimes struggle to remember where everything was secreted, not helped no doubt by us having a glass or two of festive cheer. And this is a tradition we still enjoy today – our totally grown-up ‘kids-at-heart’ and their partners still humouring us by taking part. We love ‘em to bits!
And what will 2023 bring for us? Well, more fun and adventures, obviously. 2022 saw us enjoying all sorts of stuff from canoeing to climbing and quad biking to line dancing. In the spirit of our interest group, every one can adventure. We’re expecting 2023 to be equally thrilling.
Miggie and Dave, Dawlish u3a
Miggie and Dave, along with their u3a adventure group, took part in our Do Something Brilliant Today films, one of the highlights of 2022. Watch the films on our YouTube channel.
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"Twirling Christmas Lights" by Marion of Newquay u3a, which she submitted into the latest u3a eye gallery 'Movement'.
What's the best photo you've taken over the festive period? The current u3a eye theme is 'Festive' and submissions are open until 29 December 2022 - enter your photos on the u3a eye learning pages.
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u3a office celebrated the season with a party in its workplace kitchen. Each team – Internal Services, Member Services and Communications – organised entertainment, which included a festive quiz, pass the parcel and Pictionary.
There were festive songs, competitive spirit and, crucially, mince pies.
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Your Festive Stories
My friends and family are spread out all over the country, so for me the Christmas break usually involves a lot of travelling.
My festive week begins with my dad and sister coming over for the first of many Christmas dinners. We’ll swap presents, eat some food and watch some festive films together. My partner and I will be spending Christmas Eve and Day with his family, and we’ll visit some of his extended family whilst we’re in the area. On Boxing Day, I’ll be travelling to my mum’s and spending a few days with her, visiting some more family, and eating some more food. It’s also my birthday during the Christmas period, which means even more food and more presents.
It might not be the most relaxing way to spend holidays, but I really enjoy having the opportunity to see everyone I might not get to see throughout the year (and not having to cook for two weeks.)
Aishah, Advice and Information Manager at u3a office
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A Picture of Festive Spirit
u3a Paint or Draw is an online initiative that celebrates the artistic talent of u3a members. The latest gallery is full of wintery pictures, like the above of snowy Pendle by Diane of Clitheroe u3a. See the full gallery on the learning pages. |
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Listen to our December episode of u3a radio - looking back at the highlights of the last year
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A Christmas Cake Challenge
Our local store sells circular Christmas cakes of two sizes. The cakes are of equal height, and each is usually priced in proportion to the area of its top.
The smaller cake has a diameter of 10" and sells for £15. A discount is currently being offered on the larger, 15" cake however, which is now priced at £27. What is the percentage discount?
This is one of the weekly maths challenge questions, put together by Maths Subject Adviser David. Try the latest on the u3a website, where you can also find the solutions. |
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Your Festive Stories
I contracted Scarlet Fever in the November of 1955… After the first spell, my parents moved my bed downstairs into the sitting room where they lit a second coal fire for me. It snowed one day and my mother brought some inside in a bucket for me to sample.
Our doctor only ‘signed me off’ on Christmas Eve. My parents sent a telegram to my maternal grandparents to say ‘the coast was clear’ and they travelled by bus and train (and on foot) on Christmas Day to arrive finally at our house in Wath-Upon-Dearne near Rotherham, a journey, as the crow flies, of 35 miles. My mother had saved them some Christmas Dinner (tasty turkey from a farmer and his daughter), but we had already had ours.
Christine, Sheffield u3a
Members have been sharing their memories of the 1950s and '60s as part of the All Our Yesterdays initiatives. Read more on the learning pages.
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Washington Village u3a's painting and drawing group collated their festive pictures to create a card to send to members.
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As we're coming up to a new year, we want to know; what do you want to learn in 2023? Let us know by emailing communications@u3a.org.uk and we'll share your responses in the January newsletter.
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This is an easy way to share the newsletter. Click this link and copy and paste the URL to share on other platforms, including Beacon.
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