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.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
by Tim Wright - 18:33 on 17 December 2015
Dear U3A members ,
Today ,40 plus members sat down to an excellent Christmas Lunch at the Kirkwall Hotel.It was a lovely get together of all the groups, just before many people head off on their Christmas and New Year in pastures near and far .The furthest traveled that I heard was to South Korea but others, like my wife and I ,will be by our own fireside. Many thanks are due to Fiona for the huge task of coordinating all the food and personal requirements ,passing them on to the Kirkwall and then collecting all the money.After numerous recounts ,I can reveal that the Orkney U3A paid their way with no deductions from the reserves ! The books balanced, so eat your heart out George Osbourne !
The next meeting will be Thursday 21 st January at 2pm when Athole Thomson and Marleen Mainland will talk to us about St Nicholas Church in Holm (The one on the shore beyond the farm at Hurtiso )
The following meeting will be Tuesday (note the change of day )16 th Feburary at 2pm when Tom Muir will talk to us about Orkney Customs associated with Birth ,Death and Marriage.
In the meantime ,could I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year .
See you all again in 2016,
Tim Wright
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