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Blog 37
My Happy Life in 1500 words! By Sue Gil
I think that I have been extremely lucky in my life and have enjoyed mainly good health and
the company of so many family and friends plus many interesting and challenging career
opportunities. Every coin has two sides.
Like many of you, I was born during the Second World War. Both my parents were born in
this country but their ancestors came from Lithuania or Latvia. Dad was a nuclear physicist
whose father died at an early during the depression. Dad and his five siblings were raised
with very little money but somehow three of them became university lecturers and one was
a founder member of an Israeli kibbutz. My ancestors on both sides were rabbis and, during
lockdown, I have become very involved in tracing my family tree.
We moved a lot during my childhood whilst Dad was working in radar and
top-secret work in the USA. Early memories are of a great closeness to my
mother and very loving
grandparents but a largely absent father. I do remember when Dad came
home and took me for walks around the beautiful countryside near
Cambridge, where we lived for three years and accompanying him into the
Cavendish Research Labs and being overawed by the huge linear accelerator
machines.
When I was nine, we moved to Golders Green and I was the youngest girl in the prep
department of Camden School for Girls and took my eleven plus a year early. In fact, we
were all pushed to achieve academically, all went to very good schools. The advantage was I
have a very wide knowledge, useful in quizzes but, our constantly moving around, meant I
went to nine different schools and girls tended to have best friends and it was not easy to
adapt to so many changes. In the long term this has made me very sociable and to value
friendships greatly, but as a child I was quite insecure. My next sister was nearly six years
younger than me, then I had sister nine years younger (who now lives in California) and
lastly, a sister who is nineteen years younger than me, who was brought up in the USA.
When I was 14, we moved to Manchester but one continuity throughout my teenage years
was Habonim. I loved going to the camps, dancing and hiking and this love for social groups,
country walks and dancing has persisted throughout my life. When we moved to Manches-
ter, my father became chairman of the university physics department and insisted I studied
science in the sixth form. I had not even taken O level physics so had to study at the week-
ends and began to hate school. People who know me well, know that I am not mathemati-
cally gifted by any stretch of the imagination.
So, my teenage weekends were spent mostly studying and I got accepted to go to Keele University to study biology and chemistry. That year, my father went on a sabbatical to do research at Columbia University in New York. I really thought he was just going for a year but after a year, he decided to stay and my mother became pregnant with my youngest sister - who is totally American. But every coin has two sides. I was able to switch my degree subjects to History (which I love) and biology. I enjoyed studying at Keele as we lived on a campus in the middle of the countryside and I made many friends who are still dear to me today. After my post grad di- ploma at London University, I decided to get to know my youngest sister and got a job in a private school in the USA - you guessed it - teaching science. but as every coin has two sides, I got my pupils to make up the experiments and we had great fun launching rockets and learning from the student’s handouts! I then taught for a year at a Hebrew school on the lower East side of New York. One of my pupils bought me a ring from Woolworths and proposed marriage to me! He was at least twelve years younger than me. He went on to become a Hollywood actor and starred in a US sit com with Helen Hunt. What if …….? After those two years in USA, I went to live on a kibbutz in Israel and was living there during the six days war. I nearly settled out there but decided to come back to London and had some of my grandmother’s chicken soup. I was undecided what to do so tossed a coin. This helped me decide to set- tle back here and I have lived in London ever since. After part time work with Jewish Care and working as a teacher social worker in an Education priority school in Archway, I had a steady job teaching English as a foreign language at an FE college in the heart of Soho. I taught students from all over the world and became a senior Lecturer. I or- ganised trips for our students and set up a new internationally recognised course for Stu- dents in the Tourism Industry. One thing I learnt is that who the person is, is far more important than their nationality and I made lasting friends from all over the world in the 25 years I spent in that job. (to be continued)
Start
Day Date
Next 16 days of u3a Zoom meetings Time
Please contact the group leader via the website for Zoom links
Full List under Blogs/Zoom tab on the website
Film & TV Appreciation Thu 04/02/2021 10:00
Gardening Group (Vivienne Churchill) Thu 04/02/2021 14:00
Russian Thu 04/02/2021 16:15
Social Zoom Room Thu 04/02/2021 20:00
Pilates Fri 05/02/2021 10:30
Wellbeing & Relaxation Mon 08/02/2021 10:00
Remarkable Women Mon 08/02/2021 15:00
French Tue 09/02/2021 09:15
Robert Voss - The role of the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire -
Tue 09/02/2021 11:00
Please do not join before 10:45 to avoid disrupting French
Spanish Tue 09/02/2021 15:00
Singing Group Tue 09/02/2021 16:00
Tai Chi lesson with Elliot Wed 10/02/2021 11:00
Discovering Shakespeare 1 Wed 10/02/2021 14:30
Evening Book Club Wed 10/02/2021 20:00
American Studies Thu 11/02/2021 10:30
Heart of Herts - Local History Thu 11/02/2021 14:00
Russian Thu 11/02/2021 16:15
Social Zoom Room Thu 11/02/2021 20:00
Pilates Fri 12/02/2021 10:30
Science and Technology - Sewerage & flood risk management - Mon 15/02/2021 10:00
Andy Palmer
Music Appreciation Mon 15/02/2021 14:30
French Tue 16/02/2021 09:15
In the style of Desert Island Discs Tue 16/02/2021 11:00
Singing Group Tue 16/02/2021 16:00
Tai Chi lesson with Elliot Wed 17/02/2021 11:00
Discovering Shakespeare 1 Wed 17/02/2021 14:30
Money Group Thu 18/02/2021 10:00
Current Affairs (Sally Benson) Thu 18/02/2021 14:00
Russian Thu 18/02/2021 16:15
Pilates Fri 19/02/2021 10:30
Book Group - Morning Fri 19/02/2021 12:00
PLEASE, PLEASE ONLY UNMUTE WHEN YOU NEED TO TALK
AND, AFTER TALKING, MUTE AGAIN IMMEDIATELY. IT IS BEST
THAT WE DON’T HEAR YOUR DOG BARKING, PHONE RINGING,
DOORBELL GOING, THE SOUND OF YOUR RADIO, OR YOUR
PARTNER ASKING IF YOU WANT A COFFEE!!
IF YOU REQUIRE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE GROUP ZOOM MEETINGS PLEASE
CONTACT THE GROUP LEADER, VIA THE WEBSITE, WHO WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU
“A Re-Introduction to American Politics 2021 “
Dr John Matlin has kindly agreed to give a course of 6 lectures which will be on 2nd and 4th
Thursdays of each month commencing on 11th February.
The full dates are: 11th & 25th February
11th & 25th March
8th & 22nd April
The talks will commence at 10.30 am. John will speak for 20 to 30
minutes, and then will answer questions and if there is sufficient
time there will be an open forum. The talks will last about 90 minutes altogether.
The subjects to be covered will include: American Constitution, the Presidency, US Congress,
the Senate and House of Representatives, Supreme Court, the Biden Presidency and topics
the class may wish to discuss.
Any further information please contact Norman Marks: normanmarks143@gmail.com
Amazon Fulfilment Centre Virtual Tour
As last year so many members expressed an interest in visiting an Amazon Warehouse and,
unfortunately, these visits were cancelled. I am pleased to let you know that they are now
organising virtual tours. Please see below the details received from Amazon and if you are
interested you may book your tour direct with them using the link as shown.
Vivien Summers
Hello from the Amazon Fulfilment Centre Tours team,
We will be hosting live virtual tours starting January 12, 2021. View available dates and book your
place using the registration link below. Dates are currently available through February 25, 2021 but
check back monthly as we continue to extend our tour availability. We’re still working on
relaunching in-person tours and when it is safe to do so we will be sure to contact you again for that
experience.
REGISTER HERE:
https://www.amazonfctours.com/virtualtours
When you register, please note:
Each attendee is required to register individually and will receive a unique login link.
We look forward to seeing you on a virtual tour soon! If you have any questions, please reach out to
virtualtours@amazon.com
Covid 19 link
If you want to book, manage or cancel a Covid-19 vaccination appointment, use this link
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-
vaccination/
ESSEX AND HERTS AIR AMBULANCE TEAM I would like to take this opportunity to invite you and all of the members of Radlett and District U3A to a special webinar event that EHAAT is organizing. Entitled ‘Behind the Scenes’, on Wednesday 10th March at 10.30am, this online event is open to groups and societies in the area that have been supporting the charity or would like further insight into our work. During the session you will hear from our Chief Exec, have a tour of our airbase and hear first-hand from one our patients how vital our work is. After the session you and your members are invited to ask any questions that you might have for our Exec Team. If you are interested in attending please do save the date and email me at annie.pitcher@ehaat.org so that I can book you in.
Explore the world without leaving your home This last week I have been busy taking real live guided tours of cities around the world, all without needing a passport, visa, getting on a plane or a bus or staying in a foreign hotel, and all the time staying warm and dry whatever the weather was in those cities. I came across a website that arranges virtual live tours by real local tour guides. The tours are totally free but you are invited to leave a tip if you want. The website address is https://www.virtualtrips.io The tours are in real time, each lasting around 40 minutes, and you can chat to the guide or ask questions whilst on the tour. It really feels like you are there, because in fact you are, sort of! The bite sized city tours are amazing - A few days ago at 5pm I was on a tour of Red Square in Moscow (it was snowing) - brilliant and I took some great pictures. Previously I did a night tour around the Eiffel Tower, a day tour of Buenos Aires and of Tel Aviv’s "Trail of Independence" and yesterday a trip to Montmartre. I have at least another six other trips booked, ranging from Amsterdam and New York to Berlin and Budapest. During this time of lockdown and travel restrictions, these tours are the perfect antidote for those of us who miss travel or at least getting out and about. Virtualtrips started as a way for co-founders John and Liam to keep exploring new places. As avid travellers themselves, they wanted to help people stay connected with the world and for those in the travel industry to continue doing what they love. So that’s why they created Virtualtrips - a travel specific live-streaming platform. One that would allow local guides to share the places they know best with the hope that it can bring people around the world closer together. Here are some photos I took on my tours of Moscow and Paris. Hope to see you on some of my booked trips. Jerry P
***The next zoom meeting will take place on****
Tuesday 9th February at 11.00am when Robert Voss will talk about
‘The Role of the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire’
As long as he does not have to take part in any Royal duties which require his presence else-
where, we are pleased to confirm that Robert Voss the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire will be
presenting a talk for us on 9 February. Robert was appointed the official representative of HM
the Queen for the County on 4 August 2017. He will talk about the history this office, which
dates back to 1547 when the military functions of the Sheriff were transferred to the Lieuten-
ancy, the role and what his largely ceremonial day to day duties are in support of the local
community as well as the civic business and cultural life of the county. He was also talk about
his own family history.
The links for accessing this zoom talk are as follows:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9238501234?pwd=KzdVSno2VkZXM2Q4SGUzaVI3cVl5Zz09
Meeting ID: 923 850 1234 Password: 9238501234
****The following zoom meeting will take place on****
Tuesday 23rd February at 11.00am when Patricia Gentry will talk about
‘A Walk through Kew Gardens’
*****IN THE STYLE OF DESERT ISLAND DISCS *****
OUR THIRD MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2021 AT 11.00 AM
WHEN ALISON SINCLAIR WILL BE TALKING TO STEPHEN GOLD ABOUT HER LIFE AND
MUSIC
ZOOM MEETING ID: 923 850 1234 PASSWORD: 9238501234
When the white missionaries came to Africa
they had the Bible and we had the land.
They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes.
When we opened them, we had the Bible
and they had the land. - Desmond Tutu
Knock knock
Who's there? Knock knock
Emma Who's there?
Emma who? Cash
Emma gonna have trouble with you! Cash who?
Sorry, I'm
allergic to nuts.
The only reason they say
'Women and children first'
is to test the strength of the
lifeboats. -Jean Kerr
Since the current passage of time is blurred and one can never be
quite sure exactly what day it is, I propose renaming the days of
the week: Kay B
• Someday
• Noneday
• Choseday
• Blendsday
• Blursday
• Whyday
• Doesitmatterday
We are not lovers of turkey and being on our own decided that for
Christmas lunch we would share a Chateaubriand. We enjoyed our
traditional smoked salmon and Champaign breakfast. Sometime
afterwards my dearest wife adjourned to the kitchen to prepare the lunch.
There were expressions of exasperation and dismay as she realised that
the meat in the packet was diced steak as she had taken the wrong one
from the freezer.
Our Christmas lunch was a somewhat gloomy substitute. The Chateaubriand was
a wonderful start to 2021. Ron W
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
February 5th 1924 The Greenwich Time Signal is broadcast for the first time. The "BBC
pips" are 5 short and one long tone that are broadcast by many BBC radio stations to mark
the precise start of the hour.
February 6th 1952 King George V1 of England died. Upon his death, his daughter,
Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth 11, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland. Her actual coronation took place on June 2nd, 1953.
February 4th 1985 Twenty countries in the United Nations signed a document
entitled "Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment"
February 11th 1990 In South Africa, Nelson Mandela , at age 71, was released
from prison after serving 27 years of a life sentence on charges of attempting to overthrow
the apartheid government. In April 1994, he was elected president in the first all-race
elections.
February 9th 1996 The Irish paramilitary organisation - IRA - ends an 18-month ceasefire
by exploding a large bomb in London. The explosion, in London's Canary Wharf, left two
people dead and 39 injured.
February 7th 2005 Ellen MacArthur breaks the speed record for sailing
solo around the world. The journey took her 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes
and 13 seconds.
Lockdown 1: Yet, noticed.
Deeply.
A novelty. Not long to go,
A petrifying, glorious sun-drenched novelty. We can do this.
A chance to slam on the breaks. Just a few weeks,
Slowing down this fast-pace lives of ours Just a few weeks,
Giving nature the chance to breathe At the end of it,
A sigh of well-earned relief, Christmas glistens like a beacon
Healing. We can do this.
Giving ourselves the chance to breathe. Christmas is our goal.
Breathe, just breathe. Precious time with loved ones,
Time and love, those two unworldly things.
Tentatively, yet comfortably, For them, we can do this.
Getting used to this “new normal,” But then, even that is taken.
It won’t be for long, Hearts broken, yet worrying minds relieved.
Will it? Stay positive.
We can do this. We can do this.
Stay positive. Clap for the NHS.
Rainbows in windows.
Lockdown 3:
New hobbies,
Like a biting, black mist,
Baking, painting and new languages.
Such richness in such poor times. It hits us.
Just a few months, we can do this. Hope dissolves.
Weather miserable.
Slowly, like animals in pens, Sombre skies glare despairingly down.
We are released Sad, salty rain tumbles from skies and eyes.
Back into the almost-forgotten wild
To enjoy our lives again, Each day a draining drone of sameness
Told to enjoy ourselves Grey. Black. Sometimes just emptiness.
From a distance. Just want to see my family,
Just want to see my friends.
To socialise
Will my body remember how to hug them?
From a distance.
Is this the end? Have we won? Will it ever feel the sunny embrace of family
Distance. again?
It’s been so long.
Lockdown 2:
It feels a long way off.
The wild animals are herded Yet, we can see the end.
Back into their all too familiar pens. It’s in sight, as if through a telescope
Each one separated. Looking at the brightest star
Stay here, they are told. Hope.
Settled into this repetitive routine, Floating, teasingly, Light years away.
We know what to do now. We can see it, the end, but is it near?
Heads down yet chins up, Just
This is the last stretch. Keep
It almost passes us by, Going.
Unnoticed We can do this.
By Shelley – Granddaughter of Marion &
Frank BFROM PHIL JOINER – EDITOR OF WANSTEAD & WOODFORD U3A
STOP PRESS: Editor: We have our Sainsbury’s food order delivered and sometimes there
are understandable substitutions.
However, this one amused, confused and annoyed –
Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter 250g, substituted with Mumtaz Halal Chicken Korma & Rice
400g (Serves 1)
If anyone can explain the correlation between Butter and Chicken Korma please let me
know.
David, a senior citizen was driving along the M25 towards Edgeware,
when his mobile phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice
urgently warning him, “David, I just heard on the news that there's a car
going the wrong way down the M25 So please be careful”.
“Hell” said David. “It's not just one, there are dozens of them!”Confusions & Vagaries of the English Language Five great confusions still unresolved 1. At a movie theatre, which arm rest is yours? 2. In the word scent, is "S" silent or "C"? 3. If people evolve from monkeys, why are monkeys still around? 4. Why is there a 'D' in fridge, but not in refrigerator? 5. Who knew what time it was when the first clock was made? Vagaries of English Language! Enjoy!!! - Wonder why the word funeral starts with FUN? -Why isn't a Fireman called a Water-man? - How come Lipstick doesn't do what it says? - If money doesn't grow on trees, how come Banks have Branches? - If a Vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a Humanitarian eat? - How do you get off a non-stop Flight? - Why are goods sent by ship called CARGO and those sent by truck SHIPMENT? - Why do we put cups in the dishwasher and the dishes in the Cupboard? - Why do doctors 'practice' medicine? Are they having practice at the cost of the patients? - Why is it called 'Rush Hour' when traffic moves at its slowest then? - How come Noses run and Feet smell? - Why do they call it a TV 'set' when there is only one? - What are you vacating when you go on a vacation? We can never find the answers, can we? So just enjoy the pun and fun of the English language!!
BRIAN LIPMAN’S ‘STARS OF THE SILVER SCREEN’
Sir John Mills, one of the most popular and beloved English actors, was born Lewis
Ernest Watts Mills on February 22, 1908, at the Watts Naval Training College in
North Elmham, Norfolk. After graduating from the Norwich Grammar School for
Boys, Mills rejected his father's academic career for the performing arts. After
brief employment as a clerk in a grain merchant's office, he moved to London
and enrolled at Zelia Raye's Dancing School. After training as a dancer, he
started his professional career in the music hall, appearing as a chorus boy at
the princely sum of four pounds sterling a week in "The Five O'Clock Revue" at
the London Hippodrome, in 1929. to sign a contract and stayed in England. Mills' first
professional appearance was as a chorus boy in a Hippodrome show "The Five O'Clock
Revue" with Ernest Truex in 1927.
Throughout his film career Mills played a wide variety of military characters, por-
traying the quintessential English hero – in films such as Dunkirk and Ice Cold in
Alex. He later tackled more complex characterizations, such as the emotionally trou-
bled commander in Tunes of Glory. He also played Field Marshal Haig in the sat-
ire Oh! What a Lovely War that mocked the entire genre. However, it was in his
World War II films, which included We Dive at Dawn, Waterloo Road and The Way to
the Stars, that Mills established himself as an innovative English film star.
Almost 40 years after his film debut, Mills won the Best Supporting Actor Academy
Award for playing the mute village idiot in Lean's Ryan's Daughter, an uncharacteristic
part. In addition to "In Which We Serve" and "Ryan's Daughter," Lean had also directed
Mills in memorable performances in This Happy Breed and "Hobson's Choice".
He gave one of his finest turns as Pip in Lean's masterpiece "Great Expecta-
tions", in which Mills' performance was central to the success of the picture.
After divorcing Aileen Raymond, whom he had married at the age of 19, Mills
married playwright Mary Hayley Bell on January 16, 1941. Since he was serving
in the army, they could not have a church service, and they renewed their vows
at St. Mary's Church, next to their home, Hills House, in Denham, England, in
2001.
Mills has worked as both producer and director: in 1966, he directed daughter
Hayley in Sky West and Crooked (a.k.a. "Gypsy Girl), from a script written by his wife.
He produced "The Rocking Horse Winner" and The History of Mr. Polly, the latter film
featuring his older daughter Juliet Mills as a child. Whistle Down the Wind in which Hay-
ley's character mistakes a runaway convict played by Alan Bates for Jesus Christ, was
based on a novel written by Mary.
Living in Hollywood during the 1960s where his daughter Hayley enjoyed her own Oscar-
winning career as a child star, Mills and his wife became very popular with members of
the movie colony. After Hayley grew out of her child actress roles, Mills returned to
England, where he continued his film work. He became a council member of the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Art and a life patron of the Variety Club of Great Britain.
According to his list of films in his autobiography 'Up In the Clouds Gentlemen
Please' he was asked to make 3 film documentaries for the British Government at
Ealing Studios in 1949. These were 'Big Blockade', 'All Hands 'and 'Careless Talk'.
Sir John Mills Died 23rd April 2005.Following a stroke he was 97Here we are at the end of January - it seems a lifetime away from Christmas and the New
Year! Where has it gone? What have I been doing? Indeed, I know - enjoying various Zoom
sessions (meticulously organised) and appreciating all your blogs, where it seems there is something
for everyone. You and Elaine work so hard on these and I think the regularity of them has a very
stabilizing influence on u3a members (although I feel sure it puts a lot of pressure on both you and
Elaine, not forgetting other regular contributors of course). Then there is the work that Oliver Cahn
is called upon to do, also Gary - it must be never-ending. Thank you all so much.
We know life will never be the same again - and not all for the bad of course. Our u3a has taken on
another dimension - in some ways more personal. I read today that the Radlett Museum is joining a
project to inform future generations about people's lives during the pandemic; and accolades will pour
in about the work you are all doing, in addition to many other local volunteers. Anne V
A birthday card from a son to his Mum….
CLEVER ANAGRAMS
ASTRONOMER: = MOON STARER PRESBYTERIAN: = BEST IN PRAYER
THE EYES: = THEY SEE DESPERATION: = A ROPE ENDS IT
GEORGE BUSH:= HE BUGS GORE DORMITORY : = DIRTY ROOM
THE MORSE CODE: = HERE COME DOTS SLOT MACHINES: = CASH LOST IN ME
ANIMOSITY: = IS NO AMITY A DECIMAL POINT: = I'M A DOT IN PLACE
ELECTION RESULTS: LIES = LET'S RECOUNT MOTHER-IN-LAW: = WOMAN HITLER
SNOOZE ALARMS: = ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S ELEVEN PLUS TWO: = TWELVE PLUS ONETV REVIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS BY STEPHEN GOLD
Last summer I wrote in the Blog about how difficult it was going to be to find good productions over
the following months due to actors having to keep social distancing. I was wrong? Most of what’s
coming on stream now is really very good. I’m pleased so many of you are emailing me with some
really great films and series that I’m having trouble keeping up. Over the last few days, we’ve
watched Remember, It’s A Sin, The Dig and still watching Prison Break- all being superb. Have a
read at the following emails from members, some nice ideas’
Hi Stephen. Can I recommend "I am Woman" (Netflix) film about the life of Helen Reddy. I stopped
watching The Serpent - too scary! Although I did read an article in the Telegraph magazine about
the Dutch diplomat's investigation of the case, not giving up on it until the guy was caught eventu-
ally. Interesting. I'm still waiting for another series of "When calls the Heart" - always cheered me
up. Keep up the good work. Regards. Jill R Hi Jill I will look out for I Am Woman. I agree The Serpent
is but it's very much a true story. I've never heard of When Calls The Heart but will certainly look out
for it. Stephen
Hi, I came across All is Well on Netflix about a part of Shakespeare's life. Some things seemed ra-
ther forced into an otherwise good script. The diction wasn't the best and the beginning was a bit
slow, but I was pleased that I stayed with it. I note the comment about The Serpent. Although I
found it horrifying - I fast forwarded the obvious parts - I feel it was a most extraordinary story and
gave testament to the courage of one person who pursued justice against the odds. Best wishes.
Laura Y. Hi Laura, Thanks for your suggestion. Regards, Stephen
Hi Stephen, I am into the 7th series of Heartland and so far there are 218 episodes! I didn’t men-
tion it to you because I didn’t know whether it would have enough appeal to the general popula-
tion as one of its main themes is centred around equestrianism and ranching as well as being a
family saga. This is one of the closest dramas to real life that I have ever seen and has not been
Disneyfied. Breath-taking scenery. I hope that everyone who watches it enjoys it as much as I do.
Hi Elaine, thank you so much for your suggestions. Keep them coming. Love, Stephen
Call my Agent is soooooo funny (Netflix). Maureen Lipman was superb in Rose (Sky Arts last
Wednesday) John T.
Stephen, I recommend a new Netflix film - The White Tiger. A rags to riches story with the hero as
narrator and has echoes of Slumdog Millionaire and demonstrates the psychology of servitude
that grips India’s caste system. Also, another Netflix new release “The Dig”. A true story - beauti-
fully acted, wonderful photography and makes you want to visit the British Museum to see the
treasures. Marion Thanks Marion for suggesting this. I agree, we loved it. Stephen
For your tv blog - highly recommend “The Dig” on Netflix - superb! Sandra C
IT’S A SIN – 2021 Drama Series - Channel 4 – Available on Demand
This is a British television 5-part miniseries set from 1981 in London, brilliantly acted and a
cast including Olly Alexander, Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Tracy-Ann Oberman and many
more. It’s powerful and certainly sad during a time when too little was known about aids.
Please don’t watch if you think you might find the sex scenes offensive!
LUPIN – 2021 Mistery/Thriller - Series – Netflix- Available now
This smash-hit French series is about the retelling of the classic story about Arsene Lupin, the
world-famous gentleman thief and master of disguise. This 1st season has 5 episodes. I ha-
ven’t yet watched this but many of our members have said it’s very good.
THE DIG – 2021 Drama/History –Film - Netflix- Available now
This is the wonderful, moving dramatization of the 1939 dig at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk that un-
earthed an Anglo-Saxon ship burial and a hoard of buried treasure. Starring Ralph Fiennes,
Carey Mulligan and Lily James. A really lovely film to watch.
SORRY, ONCE AGAIN NO ROOM FOR SKY ARTS SUGGESTIONS THIS TIME
Please let me know if you agree or disagree with these suggestions sgoldprop@aol.comChairman’s corner……………………
How are you all spending your time? Are you out walking? – are you binge watching TV? –
are you trying new recipes? – have you given any thought to starting a new u3a group?
– are you doing any exercise? (Joe Wicks on You tube does senior workouts) - is Zoom-
ing still good or are you fed up with it ???? There are so many interesting websites
for you to visit. I am going all round the cities of the world with new virtual tours and
it is great. (see Jerry’s article)
Let us have a few sentences for the next blog with some answers to the questions. Lots of
people say – “I have nothing to write about” or “No-one is interested in my story’ – but that
is not true. If you think back to our 37 Blogs, we have had some great stories, lovely
comments and there must be plenty more that are hidden in you. Let them
out for us all to read about (be anonymous if you wish).
We haven’t had any recipes for a while – how about get motivated and try something new
and let us have the result, be it success or failure.
Vivien and I attended a Herts Network meeting on Zoom this week to see what we could
learn for you. The title was “Making your mind up quickly” and I thought that would be good
for me as I sometimes make rash decisions. However, it turned out to be extremely scien-
tific and biologically orientated about how the brain works, so I slightly lost the plot and
did not glean a great deal. We tried !!!
I listen to Elaine Paige on Sunday (my sort of music) and this week they celebrated
musicals, coming up with listeners’ top ten of all time. Do you agree with them?
If not, let us hear what you think they have missed out.
10. America (West side story). 9. Somewhere (West side story). 8.
Don’t Cry for me Argentina. 7. Circle of Life (The Lion King). 6. Singing in
the Rain. 5. Over the Rainbow. 4. This Is me (The Greatest Showman).
3. Defying gravity (Wicked). 2. Bring Him Home (Les Mis). 1. One day more (Les Mis)
Stay safe and well AdrienneOUT OF THE MOUTHS OF - PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN!
1) This is a picture of an Octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly age 6)
2) Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jamie age 6)
3) If you are surrounded by sea you are an Island. If you don't have sea all round you, you are
Incontinent. (Wayne age 7)
4) Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend no
more. (Kylie age 6)
5) A dolphin breathes through an arsehole on the top of its head. (Billy age 7)
6) My dad goes out in his boat, and comes back with crabs. (Emily age 5)
7) When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes, when the
wind didn't blow, the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would be
better off eating beans. (William age 7)
8) I like mermaids. They are beautiful, and I like their shiny tails. How do mermaids get pregnant?
(Helen age 6)
9) I'm not going to write about the sea. My baby brother is always screaming and being sick, my
Dad keeps shouting at my Mum, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to
write. (Amy age 6)
10) Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live
in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers. (Christopher age 7)
11) When you go swimming in the sea, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin age 6)
12) Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Two divers can't go down alone, so they
have to go down on each other. (Becky age 8)
ANSWERS FOR DINGBATS
1. No idea 2. Sex before marriage 3. Room for one at the 4. United States of
top America
5. Missing in action 6. That’s beside the 7. Man in the middle 8. Merry go round
point
9. Rush hour/running 10. Bob up and down 11. Seal of approval 12. Swanning about
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