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.
TIM'S BLOG
by Tim Wright - 20:11 on 28 October 2014
A Committee meeting was held today at Lindean ,Dounby.
1. Sally reported that we have a healthy bank balance and 96 members.
2 .Kate Barrett has given up the role of Publicity Officer after doing a great job for us .Thank you very much Kate, as I am sure a lot of the increase in membership is down to your efforts on our behalf .Fiona Knox has agreed to take on the task, so, if you need to publicize any U3A event please get in touch with her .
3. Sally ,Hilary and myself are going to Inverness to the All Scotland U3A meeting to represent Orkney U3A.This is on 11th November .We will report back on what happens but we are hoping to see the other Regional members who attended in Orkney in June to further ties with them.
4. Sanday Afternoon Club are keen for groups going out to Sanday to make use of their Mini Bus. They will provide a driver and the charge is very reasonable .It can take 14 but 10 is much more comfortable .More details from Hilary.
5. We are in the process of trying to collate a programme of speakers for the General Meetings next year. We are very happy to have suggestions or volunteers from the membership. Please pass them on to myself or Hilary in the near future .
6. A couple of groups have gone into abeyance for now due to other commitments of the current leaders .These are Art and Archaeology .If anyone in those groups could come forward and take on a coordinating role it would be much appreciated .
7. Some groups have space for extra members ,namely The Botany Group (leader Caroline Melody),Photography Group 2 (leader John Graham) and the Play reading Group ( current coordinator John Graham ) and the Scrabble group (Leader Alan Way).Please approach the leaders directly or ask Hilary for contact details.
8. We are always interested in people starting new groups and will help in any way required .Two suggestions were put forward for new groups to be developed from previous groups. Firstly, a second Bird walking group as the current one is full ,and secondly a Walking Group as opposed to an Ambling group. Of course, this could be combined into just a Bird Walking group but some prefer to stride out while others prefer to look down telescopes and binoculars more ,so, perhaps two defined groups would be better. Please come forward with ideas and volunteer as your Committee are looking for new leaders to keep the Orkney U3A moving forward .
9. Please make sure to get your Christmas Meal requests in to Hilary in good time as it is a very big job getting 40 or more peoples individual requests coordinated .Nothing is worse than late requests that have to be put in at or after the last moment .
See you at the next meeting on 20th November when the Craft Group will show off their work and give a demonstration of some of their techniques .
Tim Wright
Chairman Orkney U3A
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