Not So Grumpy Old Men

In July, a small very select group of the ‘not so grumpies’ visited the Ten Pin Bowling Alley in Nottingham. Despite several attempts to handicap him, our winner was our very own Mr John Saunders, seen here about to be crowned with his trophy.

Regrettably he moved just before it contacted, so there is a good chance that he will go on to win again at our next competitive activity. We moved on to have a buffet lunch at the Chinese restaurant May Sum on parliament Street. Never knew so few men could eat so much, definitely need to exercise after.

In August a dozen of us visited The Southwell Workhouse for some cultural education, very interesting and amazing that the workhouse operated so recently. The lives of the inmates were extremely hard, families being split into separate dormitories, for men, women and children. Everyone having to work 12 hours a day carrying out very boring and monotonously repetitive tasks. Very basic food being available which was the same every mealtime. If you visit, note there are lots of steep, stone stairs. However, well worth a visit.

Surprisingly, after the workhouse we ended up at The White Post Inn for our lunch on the A614, before finding our way home for a well earned rest!!

In September, we are hoping to visit the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, but more about that next month.

GOD group

Ladies from the Growing Old Disgracefully (GOD) group shake their stuff on Friday 2nd September, 2022 – the Belly dancing session was enjoyed by all participants.

Pub Quiz

The August Pub Quiz was attended by 21 members. The next Pub Quiz will be on Monday, 12th September at The Nabb Inn at 12 noon. All welcome – we can always add another person to a team if you would like to attend but haven’t got a team of your own.

Here are the answers to the August newsletter quiz
1. The title of which popular 1898 Italian song, often played by ice cream vans, means “my sunshine” when translated? Sole mio
2. Animals that are classified as arboreal have adapted to life in which environment? In trees
3. Translated, which Japanese martial art means “sword path” or “way of the sword”? Kendo
4. The following is the opening line from which 1991 Hollywood film? “Three billion human lives ended on August 29, 1997.” Terminator Judgment Day
5. Which small shark with an unusual bite is named after a baking implement? Cookie cutter
6. In 2006, who became the first player ever to be sent off in a UEFA Champions League final? Jens Lehmann
7. With 85 m, the world’s shortest land border is shared between the Spanish territory Penon de Velez de la Gomera and which other country? Morocco
8. The name of which famous automobile manufacturer means ‘blacksmith’ when translated? Ferrari
9. Which European country abolished its monarchy on June 1, 1973? a. Albania b. Italy c. Greece d. Portugal Answer c. Greece
10. Constantinople and Moscow excluded, what were the five most populated European cities in the year 1700? One point for each correct answer. Five answers. In order; London, Paris, Naples, Lisbon and Amsterdam.
11. What is the commonly used French word for scampi? Langoustine
12. Which company, headquartered in The Hague, is usually found in the worldwide top 10 in terms of revenue? Royal Dutch Shell
13. In biology, which taxonomic category lies between Kingdom and Class? Phylum
14. What was the first song by The Beatles to use backwards vocals? (One word) Rain
15. Name the film in which Dustin Hoffmann plays a character married to a character played by Meryl Streep? Kramer v Kramer
16. What is the name of the whale with the distinctive unicorn like spiral tusk? Narwhal
17. Gregor Samsa does not recognise himself in which famous novella? The Metamorphosis
18. Located in Chile and Peru, what is the name of the desert which is considered to be the driest place on Earth? Atacama desert

And the September quiz is as follows
1 A large, powerful horse used to pull heavy loads.
2 Source of a dark blue dye from a tropical plant of the pea family
3 2,025.37183 yds in what?
4 Another name for dyspepsia
5 Fourth largest planet in the Solar System.
6 A type of rich, strong-flavoured Italian cheese with bluish-green veins.
7 A plant of the figwort family, with showy two-lipped flowers.
8 Former province of South Africa.
9 What is a testudo graeca?
10 One of the principal characters of the Italian commedia dell’arte
11 Mountain conquered on May 29, 1953
12 Yellow-flowered plant of the daisy family that is a common weed of grazing land.
13 Charles Dickens’s second novel
14 A British singer regarded as a household name in late-1950s
15 Another name for Granny’s Bonnet plant
16 Another name for the Mona Lisa
17 Where is The Bodleian Library?
18 In which country is the monument Cristo de las Sierras?
19 The largest and most popular city of Pakistan

Reading Group

The set book for August discussion was “Dissolution” by C.J.Sansom which was a murder mystery set in the times of the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. It really brought the sights, sounds and smells of the times to mind!

In September we shall be discussing a book set in modern Glasgow “Shuggie Bain” by Douglas Stuart.

Weekenders

The Weekenders’ September Newsletter was sent out on 27th August. Once again, many thanks to Margaret Whilde & Lindsay Smith for printing off copies for those members not on email and for delivering them on their morning walks.

Our outing was on 4th August to Boundary Mills at Rotherham, followed by an excellent lunch at Whitby’s Fish Restaurant. We then had a very successful Garden Meet up at Siobhan Lee’s home (many thanks to her) on the 18th August and our August Coffee Club on 27th had us discussing the current national financial situation but followed up with funny reminiscences about “the most embarrassing thing which happened to you”.

Some of us visited “The Arc” Cinema on 28th August to see an Andre Rieu concert. We made plans for a birthday lunch on 2nd September, a social afternoon at Lindsay Smith’s home on 16th September, discussed future possible outings and planned a Coffee Club session for 24th September.