Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.
Photography Group One 1st May 2024
Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.
Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.
Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.
The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.
The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.
All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.
Keep clicking.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
CHAIRMAN'S BLOG 17
by Richard Thomas - 11:13 on 16 August 2013
CHAIRMAN’S BLOG 17
16 AUGUST 2013
1. We have resumed the general meetings after the summer break and I hope that everyone who could get away had a good time which was matched by how well those who were here enjoyed the summer. It was good to see three new faces at the meeting – we can’t be far off achieving a hundred members which is very good news.
2. At yesterday’s general meeting we welcomed Mike and Rosey Whittles who came to talk about their work with ASHA in Bangla Desh. Mike and Rosey run the charity from Orkney which relies on donations and especially sales of the work done by the girls in Bangla Desh. It was quite timeous since we have all read about the very difficult conditions that many – perhaps most folk in that country have to work under and anything that alleviates that and pays the people fairly must be welcomed. We were also able to have a look at and buy some of the work done by ASHA.
3. ASHA is a small charity working in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, amongst the poorest people of the slums and busties, bringing hope into desperate lives. ASHA began by providing basic literacy training to street girls, offering them a first step on the ladder of self-respect and hope. Over the years more than 300 illiterate teenagers have received basic education that they would otherwise have been denied. Many of these girls have now gone on to receive work-training and experience in one of our Next Steps ASHA training centres. Here they learn practical skills and produce a variety of craft goods and hand-embroidered fashion accessories. We are completely dependent on the kind donations of our supporters and funds raised through the sale of Next Steps ASHA products. All the money received goes towards the cost of maintaining the education centres, paying wages to girls and staff and to the provision of medical help and support in cases of need. If you wish to find out more about ASHA you can visit the website on www.mhasha.org.uk.
4. The U3A nationally is expanding its education facilities and if anyone is interested, there are some new tutored online courses on:
Short stories
Just before Victoria (history)
Three Viking women
The First World War
Digital imaging
Introduction to Anglo-Saxon poetry
These can be accessed through the online courses menu on the U3A website. You might need to register yourself on the site if you are interested in pursuing the courses – if you do take anything up I would be interested to learn how you got on please. The site generally is very useful on U3A matters and in particular what facilities there are for obtaining information on areas of interest for study and what other U3as are doing which we might pick up at some stage.
5. We have now been accepted into VAO and if anyone acting within the U3A wishes to access the services for printing, meeting rooms and the like please contact Hilary Morrell who has the details of what is available.
6. We are planning a quiz afternoon on Thursday 5 December in the MacGillvray room as an extra social event to keep brains active before the Christmas break so watch this space for further details.
7. The next meeting is on WEDNESDAY 18 September at 2 o’clock in the MacGillvray room when Moira will be leading work on crafts.
Richard
16 August 2013
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