In this update:
- Notices/announcements
- September monthly meeting
- Wakehurst Gardens visit report
- October monthly meeting
- News from the groups
- Waterlooville annual lecture
- A winters tale
- Have you heard of Aphasis?
- Feedback
Notices/announcements
Newsletter editor - following the AGM, we do not have anyone assigned to write the monthly and bi-annual newsletters. If you are interested in helping me then please let me know.
Volunteers required - we are always looking for volunteers to help run our various activities. Currently we need:
- additional tea monitors for making the tea/coffee at the monthly meetings. We run a rota so that you would only have to cover once or twice a year;
- audio/visual helper/s for the monthly meetings. Instructions will be given if necessary;
- people to shadow current committee members to help with their duties.
Food donations required - we collect tins and dried foodstuffs for both "Hayling Holiday Lunches" and "Community Pantry" food banks. The collection occurs at each Hayling u3a monthly meeting (put food donations on the stage). In addition, a collection bucket will be available at the meeting if you prefer to give a cash donation. Please ensure that any food products you donate are within the sell-by date.
Membership - as of 19th September 2024, we had 573 members.
Dorothy Pullen - we have been notified that Dorothy died on Monday 16th September 2024, at the age of 103. If we have more details regarding her funeral, I will let you know.
Pen pals required - the Hayling youth group would like to set up a pen pal scheme between local school children and older Hayling residents. The scheme will strengthen the children’s’ literacy skills and allow them to get a better understanding of what life is like outside of their family unit. I have investigated potential safeguarding issues with them and I have been reassured that all ‘letters’ written to and from the children will be monitored by the youth group. If you are interested in joining the ‘writers’, please let me know.
18th October Community Fair - we will be having a stand at the Community Fair at HICCA. Come and join us to promote our u3a.
September monthly meeting
AGM and ukuleles extravaganza - following our AGM, we were entertained by many of our ukulele players joining forces to provide us with over 30 minutes of different well-known songs. The words of the songs were projected onto a screen for us all to join in singing and it was great fun.
Wakehurst Gardens visit report
The last wet day of this very wet September saw 24 brave souls join the coach to Wakehurst.
Because we realised in August that we would not be able to fill our usual 57-seater coach, we ordered a 29-seater coach from Starline in Chichester. Mark, our driver, soon proved that he knew his way round Hayling and looked after us well.
We arrived at Wakehurst just before 11am with the rain – which had been forecast to stop at 10.30 – still falling. Most of us lingered in the coffee shop at the entrance and (with the rain still falling), many of us then ventured outside just long enough to reach fresh shelter in the Millennium Seed Bank.
The rain finally stopped after one o’clock, and we were then able to walk outside in more comfort and admire the mature trees and horticultural displays in the Wakehurst grounds. However, the sun failed to appear, and a gusty wind got up, making the indoor delights of lunch, afternoon tea and shopping for plants and gardening implements appear a more attractive proposition for many of us.The Visits team is now looking forward to planning for 2025, with the next excursion pencilled in for March/April 2025.
October monthly meeting
Water, slaughter and trade - Thursday October 17th at 2pm.
Andrew Negus will present the second part of his talk about the history of Southampton.
News from the groups
New Groups
Fives and Threes dominoes - a new group is being set up to play Fives and Threes dominoes one evening a week (probably 7pm Tuesday) at the Newtown House hotel.
The game played by 4 players (two teams of two) is very easy to pick up and equipment will be available. Teams will be arranged on the evening. Looking to start the group with at least 12 members to make it viable. Please contact group leader, John Cushion for full details.
Chess - Norman Payne is launching a chess group. If you are interested please contact Norman.
Philosophy – a third philosophy group has now been set up, so if you are interested please express an interest in joining.
Thursday singles lunch group - will start in February 25.
Photography
The photography group would welcome new members. If you are interested, please come along to one of our meetings to get a feel of what we do. Mobile phones now have sophisticated cameras so don’t be put off if this is all that you use.
We have a set subject to photograph every month and either a practical session or talk in relation to photography.
We meet the last Wednesday of every month at Hayling Golf Club, 10 - 12 in the Sinah room.
Please join us. Contact group leader: Sue Wakley.
Visits
Sue Vincent has agreed to join the existing team of Jan and Richard North. We will meet next in November 2024, to start work on a schedule for 2025. If there is a venue you would like us to visit, do let us know!
Waterlooville annual lecture
Beyond beliefs by Sohail Husain - 20th November 2024, 2pm.
Come and hear Sohail’s story of his parents incredible story. The lecture will be held at Cosham Baptist Church. This is a ‘free’ ticketed event. To book contact Linda at lindazika84@hotmail.com.
A winters tale
The wave hit him full on with the force of the gale, and he staggered back from the dock side where he had been standing, almost losing his balance. He managed to remain upright however, and shook the water from his face and hair, showering droplets all around.
He was dressed for the weather, in a sturdy green Barbour jacket and waterproof trousers, over fisherman style wellington boots, but he still felt underdressed.
The reason he was risking a soaking was that he was looking for the boat which had set out earlier that morning. The storm had blown up from nowhere, reaching a force 7 within minutes and was now nearly a force 9. The weather forecast had said a brisk breeze would be arriving about 4pm, not 10am, and the cargo that the boat had gone for would have been safely home had the forecast been correct. Now, things were looking decidedly tricky. The boat was not very big and had the potential to be smashed onto the rocks just below the dock. There was also a large outflow pipe, pouring storm water into the area as well, so manoeuvring alongside had to be done carefully, especially with the cargo aboard.
He could hardly see the island now through the spray that was being thrown at him and he wiped his face again, clearing his vision for a minute or two. Was that a boat he could see? There was something struggling out there that looked likely. He fished around in his pocket and his hand found an old cheroot which he threw away in disgust, watching the wind take it over the side wall and out to sea, to be devoured by fishes. He would have really liked to just sit back with a fresh one and relax, knowing that the precious cargo was safe and sound, but this was not to be, well not yet anyway. Perhaps later, when they could light the fire and sit under the lamplight, laughing at their fears of drowning, and listening to the gale outside. He strained his eyes to look again. There was definitely something there, yes, it was his boat, rocking and rolling as it struggled through the waves and rain. He could see the helmsman now and he waved his arms wildly above his head. It was going to be all right, it really was going to make it home for a hot bath and coffee with breakfast attached.
He looked again. It wasn’t there! The boat had disappeared in the melee of waves and spray. Panic set in. it had been there a minute ago, it must be there. The swell parted and the boat appeared briefly, only to disappear again as a huge wave towered over it before smashing down behind, throwing the whole structure forward with massive momentum, which actually brought it quite close to the dockside, but the wrong side of the treacherous rocks. The helmsman managed to turn away from getting smashed to firewood by the smallest of margins and with a cheery wave, came into the harbour safely.
Wow, Jake, that was close. Did you get her?” Shouted the man on the dockside as he swiftly tied the boat to a nearby bollard.
Jake was very casual in his reply. Yes, he had picked up the cargo from the island, and stowed it safely. Tying it to a table leg so it didn’t get damaged by being thrown about.
“A table leg? You tied my daughter to a table leg?”
“Yea, she wasn’t too thrilled about it, but I couldn’t risk her getting injured and falling overboard could I?”
There was a shout from inside the cabin. “Are you ever going to let me out of here? I can’t stay here for ever. Come on, Dad, tell him to untie me.”
“Only if you promise, never again to go camping on the island without telling me.” Her father replied. “Come on then, let’s get you home, your mother’s worried sick with this weather, And thank your Uncle Jake for risking his life and boat for you. Mind you, if he had known the weather was going to turn like this, he might have just left you there”
Fiona Bartlett
Have you heard of Aphasis?
The Say Aphasia charity provides support groups across the UK for people with aphasia; a language and communication disability caused by a brain injury like a stroke. Aphasia affects over 350,000 people in the UK but is little understood or known about by the public. It is the only aphasia charity set up by people with aphasia for people with aphasia; helping them to adapt to their new way of life and regain their independence and confidence.
There is a brilliant group in Chichester. The group runs every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12.30pm at St Paul's Church, Churchside, Chichester, PO19 6FT.
However, the charity would like to set up a new group on Hayling Island, but they need volunteers to help.
Volunteering for the charity is very rewarding. The training and support ensures that the volunteers learn and enjoy their time with the charity. By giving your time to people with aphasia, you will be improving their quality of life. Many of the members attending the groups live alone, or have minimal social interactions. Having a regular drop-in group to meet others with similar experiences of living with aphasia, vastly improves their mental health and well-being. As a volunteer, you can help the members to communicate with each other, help to organise activities, or help with teas and coffees. Say Aphasia offers a warm welcome to volunteers.
To be part of the team, contact hello@sayaphasia.org or fill in the application form here.
Feedback
Any comments would be welcome. Please send any feedback to chair@haylingu3a.org.
Julie Taylor