Litter Picking Group

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It’s been rather a slack month litter picking with just five bags collected during November. However, that’s five bags of rubbish that would still be a blot on the landscape if it hadn’t been collected by members of our group.

We had been asked by Veolia if with some other organisations and schools we would help make a fun Christmas video by singing some amended words to the song We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Some of us were up for it but, unfortunately, Veolia had to cancel at the last minute. Perhaps they’d got wind of our singing ability – or lack thereof! Apologies to the litter pickers with tuneful voices!

All that remains is to wish all members of Hucknall & District u3a a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2023 and add that if anyone wishes to make a new year resolution to come and join our litter picking group, please feel free to do so. You will be made very welcome. Just contact me via telephone or email litter@hucknallu3a.org.uk

Val Gant

Science

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We had a very interesting session in November starting with a presentation from Terry Hill who told us about the Artemis I rocket which is off to the Moon. However, it will not land on the Moon and is currently in orbit nearby before returning to Earth after 26 days.

He then explained how this could be part of the plan to put humans on Mars. This led to speculation about how physical characteristics of humans living in reduced gravity might evolve in the future.

Bob McEwen followed with a very interesting look at how the eyes (and some other senses) of different animals and birds have evolved and adapted to suit their environment and lifestyles.

And finally, Christine Vincent showed a short video with soundtrack and fantastic images from space telescopes.

December Christmas Meeting – Friday, December 16th 2022, John Godber Centre, 10am to 11.45am
Christmas Science-based Quiz with quiz maestros David and Christine Vincent. A fun quiz with a team prize and festive light refreshments in the break.

We will spend the first 15 minutes for Bob to demonstrate a colour blind test to detect Red-green colour blindness which makes it difficult for someone to differentiate between red, green, and yellow.

David Rose

Short Walks

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Once again, persistent heavy rain led to the cancellation of our November walk.

We will be walking on Thursday 15th December whatever the weather. It is a local ‘Christmas heritage walk’ starting from outside Brooke Farm in Linby village. On this walk we will learn something about a Scottish entrepreneur called George Robinson who built six large cotton spinning mills along the River Leen.

The distance is about 3.7 miles, fairly flat with no stiles and with time to visit the Brooke Farm Cafe at the end of the walk.

I have arranged that we can park at the far end of their car park and reserved 2 tables for those wishing to enjoy a drink and snack after the walk. Their toasted teacakes and jacket potatoes are highly recommended.

Meet outside Brooke Farm at 9.45am for a 10.00am start. Parking is also available in the village car park in front of the pub.

David Rose

Pickleball

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Background
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. In 2022 it is widely played in the USA and Europe with increasing numbers in the UK. It is an indoor or outdoor racket/paddle sport where two players, or four players, hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a 36-inch-high net on basically a badminton court using solid-faced paddles (similar to outsized table tennis bats). Opponents on either side of the net hit the ball back and forth until one side commits an error.

Hucknall u3a Pickleball Group
We meet every Thursday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at the Hucknall Leisure Centre. We book four courts and have exclusive use of the main sports hall. New players are most welcome to join us and no previous experience is necessary.

On Friday November 25th Marilyn Moult organised an enjoyable group meal at the Arunothai restaurant. Thank you Marilyn and thanks to Terry Moult for his weekly organisation of players and finances.

David Rose

Real Ale

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Visit to The Pit, Micro Pub, Newstead – Thursday, 24th November, 2022.

Meeting at Hucknall Train Station at 6.30 pm, six of us purchased our tickets from the vending machine to travel to the distant lands of Newstead, one stop and all of a 5-minute journey, all in time to catch the 18.42 train. Just as the last ticket was purchased, and with two minutes to go, the timetable screen announces that our train had been cancelled.

As you can imagine widespread panic sets in until some wise old sage suggests that we go to The Station Hotel for a ‘quicky’ whilst waiting for the next train. This we proceeded to do and sampled one of Lincoln Green’s finest.

Doubling back to the station we caught the 19.42 and had a very (short) successful journey, alighting at Newstead and walking the 5 minutes to The Pit sampling of the three real ales on offer, ranging from 4.3% up to a heady 6.6%, all very nice.

Then someone looked at the EMR website and discovered that the returning 22.27 train was also cancelled. Whilst we had planned to return to Hucknall on the 22.27 train, we decided not to risk any further cancellations and caught the earlier 21.27 which was still running, feeling a little disappointed. Having no other choice, we had no option but to make our way to Wetherspoons on the high street for a last beverage.

Once again, a very enjoyable day, with pleasant company, thanks to all.