INDOOR GROUPS & ACTIVITIES:

Antiques Group:

Coordinated by Tony Herring, we had twenty five of our members attending our second meeting of this new group at 10.30am on Thursday, 19th January at the Royal British Legion in Truro. Eric Raybould gave us an interesting talk, explaining how he started acquiring antiques and showing us some of his collection. These included some silver, a Japanese bowl, two small tables and a magnificent pair of bellows.

The Antiques Group met again at the British Legion on February 16th. Some of the group had brought along interesting items and we discussed these over coffee. We then started looking at an interesting DVD with Henry Sandon telling the story of the Worcester porcelain factories. Unfortunately half way through the film the machine broke down, so we will have to see the rest of it another time!

We need an expert to come along to these meetings to talk about antiques and perhaps value some of our items. Can any of our members help out? We plan to carry on at 10.30 am on the third Thursday of the month at the Legion, perhaps using more films from the Resource Centre in London if we are short of speakers.

Badminton 1:

Held weekly at Perranwell Village Hall, Truro, this well-supported group, run by Rosalind Smith operates every Thursday moring from 9.30am. New members welcomed - please call Rosalind for details (01872) 865767.

Badminton 2:

Meeting on Wednesday mornings, except for the first Wednesday of the month, this group also meets at Perranwell Village Hall, where sessions are led by Les Moulson. Further information on (01209) 822074. Sessions start at 9.30am.

Bridge, Beginners:

Led by Malcom Parker, weekly sessions for beginners' are held at the Leader's home, weekly on Thursday evenings between 7.00pm and 10.00pm. Contact Malcolm for further information on timings (01872) 863170.

Bridge, Duplicate:

Graham Lawson has recently taken over Duplicate Bridge at Hendra Sports Hall, Truro each Thursday, starting at 6.30pm. This is an ideal step for Improvers, who are just finishing their course. If you don't have a partner, we will match you up! All members are welcome. (01872) 575299.

Bridge, Improvers':

Improvers' sessions are run by Philip de la Haye every Thursday at Gyllingvase Hotel, Falmouth, between 7.00 - 9.00pm. Classes are are presently fully subscribed; new members should call or e-mail Philip before a first visit. Dates: Last in 2011 is December 15th and the new season commences after Christmas with January 05, 12, 19 & 26th; February 02, 09 and 23rd; March 01, 08, 15, and 29th; April 12 and 19th; May 03, 10, 17, 24 and 31st. Check the Google Calendar for further confirmation of sessions.

For any additiional information, call Philip on (01326) 218431.

Bridge, Online:

Here's a new group for U3A Carrick, guided by John Dearman:

WHY PLAY ONLINE ?

It's handy when it's wet or cold or dark and you have no transport! It's fun to see almost at once how you got on, compared with others who held the same cards. Afterwards, you can look at how you bid and played any hand in detail and how other tables coped. That's if you want to.

As dummy, you can see your partner's hand and watch them play it. Or make tea. You can't revoke, or bid or play out of turn, or lead from the wrong hand when declarer. You can decide to play a few hands on the spur of the moment. It's all free!

HOW IT WORKS

It's rather like arranging a four at anyone's home. You fix a time to play with your favourite partner, then e-mail the rest of the group to try and make up a table. Go online at the pre-arranged time. If other U3A members are not available, you and your partner can make up a four with two players from around the world by clicking on "Help me find a game" and then on "I have a partner. Take us to a table."

If you don't have a partner available, you still e-mail members of the group with the times you are available to play.

GETTING STARTED

Simply think up a user name (already taken are:- bobbyu3a, daveu3a, ray usa and john u3a), then e-mail me with your phone number. You will be guided through the straightforward set-up procedure and can play a few hands with the group leader against whoever happens to be online. You will be given the user names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of other group members, and become "friends" with them. That means that whenever you log on at www.bridgebase.com your screen will display the names of all those of your "friends" who are already logged on to the bridgebase website.

Q Can I chat to others at the table? A Yes, through your keyboard (wpp means well played partner). Q If no-one from U3A is available, can I play with someone else? A Yes, typically there are over ten thousand players online, plenty without a partner. Q Supposing an opponent or partner is impolite, can I leave the table and find another? A Yes, within seconds, though normally you would finish the hand first. Q If I mis-click -- making a bid, or playing a cards, that I didn't mean to -- can I correct it? A Yes, click on "UNDO", Your opponents will usually agree.

Bridge, Rubber:

Rubber Bridge continues every Monday morning between 10.00 and 12.00 noon at Royal British Legion, Truro, presently under the watchful eye of Graham Lawson (01872) 575299.

Carpet Bowls:

Carpet Bowls has been a successful recent introduction to U3A Carrick and presently takes place during term-time at Richard Lander School every Monday afternoon in the Main Hall between 4.00 - 6.00pm. Through the Cornwall Sports Partnership, the group has been offered a second carpet bowls mat, which was much appreciated by members, since it will help when meetings get busy! Group Leader is Bryan Poole (01326) 218544.

Chess:

Chess meetings in February will be at Tony's in Penwethers Lane, Truro throughout February.
Tony's place

Discussion Group 1:

Coordinated by Pat Crowle, this group, presently indicated as 'full' meets monthly on the first Sunday of the month at 12.00 noon.

Discussion Group 2:

This group is focussed around Falmouth. The group is open to new members. Initially, it was just a guess  how often members would come along, so numbers invited were limited to a dozen. That was, and still is, the most that can really participate ---any more and getting a word in edgeways would become difficult. But it’s now clear that holidays, indisposition, the demands of grandchildren and the like mean that not many more than half of those invited actually make it on a given day.  If  the nominal membership of the group reaches 20 or so, there is the risk that occasionally nearly all of them will be  able to come along.  But it will not be a great catastrophe if that does happen. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 10.00am. Please phone me if you have not been before and would like to try us out

John Dearman (013260 318630

Mahjong:

The Mahjong group, guided by leader John Dearman, welcomes new members. Generally, members have picked up he game quite quickly, though few had ever played before. For many people, much of the attraction of the game lies in its use of bamboo-backed tiles. The tiles really obscure the fact that it is basically a card game (of the set-making type) whose "pack" consists of 34 different designs, four of each. The three suits are circles, characters and bamboo, plus honour tiles of winds and dragons.

We meet on the second and fourth Fridays from 2.00pm in Budock Church Vestry. There is no need to to contact anyone before turning up and you will get plenty of friendly help in learning the game. Unlike Bridge, you play Mahjong on your own (no partner to criticise you) and you don't need a good memory!

Origami:

There is clearly interest in the fascinating tasks of turning and folding a flat piece of paper into a flower, an animal, a bird, an aeroplane, or even a (working) Jack-In-The-Box! This classic Japanese skill is almost on your doorstep, here in Truro, where Roy Coglan has set up a members' group, to study and practise this ancient art of Origami.

Meeting at the Leader's home, this new group will commence monthly meetings in Truro on the fourth Wednesday each month, commencing on February 22nd. The group plan to meet from 10.30am to 12 noon. Would interested members call (01872) 274328, or e-mail Roy to add their name to his present group of some ten members.

Poker:

Our Christmas tournament was won by Rona Holman. For many nail-biting minutes, the first prize (a signed copy of Victoria Coren’s book) seemed to be creeping Dave Crawford’s way, but in the end he got only the second prize, a chocolate reindeer. Still, he received further consolation in the January competition, when he convincingly carried off the only prize on offer, a set of chattering teeth.

We have switched to having just one tournament a month; that’s on the second Thursday afternoon, in Falmouth. If you would like to find out whether poker is the kind of game at which you might enjoy pitting your wits against the likes of Rona and Dave, give me a call and we can arrange a learning session. John Dearman (01326) 318630.

Quiz Sessions:

Quiz sessions have generally taken place during half-term breaks at Richard Lander School, when we have access to their Main Hall and grand piano, allowing us to extend regular invitations to our local U3A neighbours of Kerrier, Roseland, Helston and Newquay.

February 16th:

We had our "half term quiz" in the main Hall at Richard Lander School on Thursday February 16th. It was well attended with over 40 people there, including visitors from Kerrier North and Helston. We had questions from Liz Grant, Roy Fisher, Bill Dodge, Bill Brown and Arnie Lambe. Mollie Potter was unable to come and we missed her musical quiz on the piano. We did have some old music hall songs for people to identify on a tape, and these went down well. Roy Fisher (01872) 270528, announced that he was hoping to start a monthly quiz shortly. probably on Thursday afternoons at the Victoria Inn at Threemilestone. Watch the Google Calendar for advice of the opening dates! (Tony Herring).

Scrabble:

Despite the closure of our Falmouth Scrabble group last autumn, this classic game continues to operate weekly at the Royal British Legion, Truro every Tuesday at 10.00am. This active group has been led up to now by Pauline Folland, but she will be handing over the leadership from the beginning of the New Year to Bobbie Browning. For further information on the group or for directions, call Bobbie on (01872) 261417.

Short Tennis:

Meeting at 2.00pm on the first, second and third Tuesdays each month at Feock Church Hall. Please contact Gillian Davies prior to your first visit, to ensure there is sufficient equipment to hand! (01326) 318514.

Table Tennis:

As Richard Lander School find it necessary to charge for the use of their premises during scholl half-terms and holidays, our times for Table Tennis will change to 3.00 - 5.00pm on Thursdays when the school is not in teaching mode during holidays. Thereafter, our regular sessions resume at 4.00pm on both Mondays and Thursdays, until the Christmas break. Leaders are David Walton and Tony Herring.

Whist:

Whist continues weekly at the Royal British Legion, Lemon Street, Truro every Friday afternoon at 2.00pm. Presently up to six tables are in play, but there's plenty of space for new members! Call Enid Body for further information (01872) 278020.

 

For all activities, please check our Google Calendar to confirm dates, times and locations

Groups Coordinator - Duncan Tribute or (01872) 260792