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A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

'You'll wonder where the yellow went' is a line I suspect most of us will remember from an old toothpaste commercial. Now the yellow has gone from all U3A material, including Chit-Chat, following a rebranding decision by the Third Age Trust. On the Trust's website you can see the Brand Style Guide which, curiously, still has quite a lot of yellow in it.

WHO'S THIS?

Thanks to his contribution to our AGM a lot more members will now recognise Ukulele Group

facilitator John Rankin. Find out what that contribution was in The Buzz.

WHAT'S THIS?

Strange as it may seem, this is a close-up view of a familiar object, one of ten that can be seen in

Fun and Games. Can you identify it, and the others?

WHERE'S THAT?

Where might this exotic structure be found? You can find out in Picture Gallery, and it's not that far away.

TALKING THE TALK

Ritchie Adam has lined up some guest speakers for the forthcoming virtual meetings in September, October and November. Find out more in the restored Events feature.

CHAT LINE

Chit-Chat needs readers to keep sending in pictures, anecdotes, funny stuff etc. You can send it to me via the message bird.

MAKE CONTACT

Use the link incorporated in the Chit-Chat heading to access our website, and the various message birds to contact group facilitators, as well as the Chairman, Secretary, Groups Coordinator - and me. Safe links to other websites may also appear.

Jim Hamilton

FEATURES

THE BIZ 2

THE BUZZ 2

GROUPS 3

DID YOU KNOW ...? 9

FUN AND GAMES 10

WHIMSY 13

PICTURE GALLERY 15

EVENTS 23

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS 24

CONTACTS 25

CHIT-CHAT

THE NEWSLETTER OF

EAST RENFREWSHIRE U3A

SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SCO44004

No. 86 August 2020

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THE BIZ

MONTHLY MEETING

Our next meeting on Zoom will be on Wednesday 16th September. Guest speaker Philip Caine's talk is entitled From Barrow to Baghdad.

As is becoming usual, members will be asked to register their intention to take part. Further information on speakers for future monthly meetings will be issued in due course.

THE BUZZ

AGM

Pictured above are some of the attendees at our first ever virtual AGM on 19th August. Douglas Yates began the proceedings by talking about the U3A's guiding principles and it's embrace of technology in a multifunctional approach to development. He acknowledged that the constraints imposed by Covid-19 had led to the appearance of new groups such as Nature Watch, and talked briefly about

the increase in subscriptions that had become necessary to meet rising costs.

Douglas thanked the committee members, facilitators, newsletter editor and catering volunteers for their efforts during the year. He highlighted the essential administrative roles performed by Rosalind Holmes, Brenda Mason and June Weston.

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He went on to announce that Bridie Stevenson, Anne Sykes, Catriona Matheson and Denis Mason are standing down from the committee, while Teri McCormack Isabella Monk have been nominated to serve.

Graham Greenhalgh talked about the accounts for 2019/20, highlighting the £2,121 deficit that arose largely due to increases in hire charges for halls and rooms, the capitation fee and fees for the use of the Beacon System.

Responding to questions from Maureen Campbell and Janice Galloway, Graham confirmed that delivery of the monthly Third Age Matters magazine costs each member £2.90 and that, under the Holiday Affinity scheme, Riviera Travel donates to the U3A 10% of the cost of holidays booked by members.

Robert Corbett asked why it is necessary to pay £480 per annum for Beacon. Graham assured him that the system eases communication with the membership and ensures only blind

copies are generated. Rosalind Holmes added that by using the system it is possible to see whether or not emails have been delivered and opened.

Attendees voted overwhelmingly to approve the minutes of the 2019 AGM, the accounts for 2019/20, the appointment of David Miller as independent examiner for the accounts and election of the nominees for Committee membership.

The entertainment was provided by John Rankin, or at least a facsimile of him posted on YouTube. Once more, or for the first time, you can see John singing Covid-19 Blues, Bad Moon Rising, Runaway, Knights in White Satin, Going up the Country and Fulsom Prison Blues at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcenFo7FS9Q&feature=youtu.be.

GROUPS

CREATIVE WRITING

Our writers have been continuing to produce monthly contributions and some post their pieces on the East Renfrewshire U3A Creative Writing page on Facebook. Two members have gone a bit further, by having their work published.

As mentioned in last month's Chit-Chat, Ian Macpherson's A Scotsman's Odyssey is

currently available on Amazon. This riveting account reveals Ian's love of sailing that has taken him to places as diverse as the sub-arctic Faroe Islands and the Barrier Reef islands in tropical Australia.

Carol Habrovitsky’s No Highway (available in Waterstones) is the story of the dreams, aspirations and disappointments shared by Joan and Michael after they meet in a Glasgow

hospital.

CYCLING

Before our cyclists started out on their first post lockdown outing, facilitator Alan Melville quoted the U3A risk assessment. With social distancing properly

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maintained, they rode from Pollok Park to Lochwinnoch, following National Cycle Route 7, which includes part of the former Glasgow to Carlisle railway line, converted to a cycle track by Sustrans. The track follows lovely countryside, and goes along the length of Castle Semple Loch. It also goes along Platform 2 of Paisley Canal Station, requiring the cyclists to dodge passengers waiting for the 12.05 from Glasgow Central.

En route, our cyclists met a Sustrans volunteer with a quaint purpose-built tricycle that carried tools for gathering rubbish and tidying the verge.

Some cycled the entire 36 mile route there and back. By joining at Paisley, one shortened the ride to 22 miles, while another cycled 18 miles out and returned by train.

A small diversion at Milliken Park brought them to an impressive circle of around ten seven-foot tall stones with a large flat (sacrificial?) central stone. The stones had been discovered deep underground by road-builders digging a

cutting for a nearby bypass and relocated to the present site.

After resting and enjoying some outdoor sustenance from village cafes, the group got back in the saddle for the return, in sunshine and light winds.

ENJOY THE ARTS

Still keeping us up-to-date, Lilias Dunlop has produced another list of events screening or opening. Click on the links to find out more.

The Glasgow Art Club Members' Summer Exhibition can now be viewed online and the Club itself is due to re-open on Tuesday 1st September.

The Royal Opera House Shop has re-opened. Summer screenings will be shown at drive-in venues such as Blenheim Palace and a number of other iconic locations, none of which are in Scotland.

Edinburgh International Festival has gone on screen under the heading My Light Shines On.

Glasgow Concert Halls are continuing to reschedule shows for 2021 across Glasgow at the Royal Concert Hall, City Halls, and the Fruit Market.

National Galleries of Scotland re-opened on 17th August and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art re-opened on 24th August. Further opening dates will be announced later.

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Exhibition on Screen has a number of films available starting with Leonardo: The Works. This and other films are also available for a reasonable price at www.seventh-art.com/shop.

National Trust for Scotland has a range of interesting articles etc, with opening dates for places to visit.

Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival 2020 continues until 27th September.

ACCORD Hospice Annual Art Exhibition 2020 is open 16th - 21st September - Weekdays 10.00 am - 8pm, Weekends Midday - 4pm. Around 60 artists will be showing at this free event in Accord Hospice Resource Centre, 7 Morton Avenue Paisley PA2 7BW; phone 0141 581 2000.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is now open but visits must be pre-booked in advance.

Necessary steps will be taken to ensure visitor safety at all open venues. Lilias also advises checking that booking systems are in place.

HANDS-ON GARDENING

As featured in the August issue of the U3A National Newsletter our hands-on gardeners are back in the garden. Given the new Covid normality, this required familiarity with our Covid Risk Assessment, having temperatures taken by a non contact infra red thermometer and recorded and each member bringing his/her own hand tools, gloves and tea/coffee. The gardeners split into several socially distanced groups, only coming together for a choreographed mid morning break. The garden is a typical example of a walled fruit and vegetable garden, created around 1800 by the owner of Barshaw

House, Robert Smith. The wall, to keep out rabbits, deer and thieves, was constructed of good quality bricks, which retain heat better than stone, which was then cheaper. The garden, measuring 210 feet East to West and 150 feet North to South, was bought by the council in 1911 and opened as a public park in 1912 when it became a flower garden. In 1986 - UN Year of Peace - it was dedicated as a Peace Garden, and opened by Msgr. Bruce Kent and is a venue for an inter faith gathering for peace on Armistice Day each November.

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KNITTING AND CROCHET

This month some of our knitters met in a member's garden on a gloriously sunny day. As the photos confirm, social distancing was observed.

They also enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea, courtesy of Diane Cameron and Carole Buchanan.

NATURE WATCH

The August theme - Wild and Wonderful - allowed members to depart from the cultivated and domesticated, and take a walk on the wild side.

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This tiny froglet was rescued from the middle of a path by Brenda and Denis Mason

READING

Mearns 1 again recommended A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles' story of a Russian aristocrat held in a luxury hotel by the Soviet regime.

Mearns 2’s choice for this month was The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christie Lefteri. This story of a family fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in Britain is well worth a read.

Mearns 3's choice, The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal, divided opinion within the group. Some loved the authentic story of Victorian Britain and the atmosphere evoked by London's Great Exhibition in 1851.

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Others found the macabre vibe, eccentricity and the grime of period less appealing.

Mearns 4 read Spanish Lavender by Joan Fallon and had the pleasure of welcoming the author, who is a friend of group facilitator Janice Galloway, to join the discussion on Zoom.

The group thoroughly enjoyed meeting the author and asking her how she planned and wrote her novels.

In its first Zoom meeting the Spoken Word Group reviewed Educated by Tara Westover. This highly acclaimed memoir and winner of several literary awards generated some lively discussion. The readers were shocked by the abuse described in this compelling and disturbing book, and humbled by the courage shown by the writer as she overcame her traumatic upbringing.

SATURDAYS

Eight members of the Saturdays Group met in Rouken Glen Park in glorious sunshine for its first post lockdown meeting. Two groups of four, suitably distanced like the four corners of a two metre square, went on different walks. One group went to the orchard and were pleasantly surprised to find many of the young apple trees bearing fruit.

Then everyone masked-up for a well organised lunch at the garden centre cafe's outdoor area. They all agreed it was lovely to see each other for real and have a good chat.

The group plans to meet again on the first Saturday in September.

WALKING

On 20th August, after a five-month break nine walkers, grouped in two 'bubbles', enjoyed their first walk as a group in five months, in fine weather.

From Calderglen in East Kilbride the linear walk followed the River Calder and finished on the boardwalk at Langlands Moss Nature Trail. The group brought picnic lunches which they were able to eat whist maintaining social distance.

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For the second walk, on the 27th, the weather was less kind, but that didn't keep the smiles off the walkers' faces.

DID YOU KNOW …?

TAX TIP

Tax Help for Older People's tip for August is about the end of year tax check. Most people will hear nothing from HMRC after their tax records for 2019/20 have been reconciled, but some will receive either a refund or a request for payment of additional tax. The calculations on either a P800 or a PA302 Simple Assessment need to be checked carefully. If tax is deducted at source your employer 2019/20 P60 shortly after a tax year ends, showing the amount of pay or pension you received and tax deducted.

When you leave employment or empty a pension pot and receive a lump sum payment your employer or pension administrator will send you a P45, showing total taxable income and tax deducted.

If you are an employee receiving non cash benefits (e.g. a company car or paid membership of a private medical scheme) your employer should give you a P11D form, showing their taxable value.

Bank statements will show the amount of State Pension and other taxable benefit payments made in a tax year. There are 13 State Pension payments per year (other than those paid weekly or fortnightly).

Savings interest received can be checked on statements, passbooks or savings certificates. Detailed checking is particularly important if you receive untaxed interest greater than £1,000 a year (or £500 if you are a higher rate taxpayer).

Dividend income from shares may result in a tax liability. Anything above the 2019/20 dividend allowance of £2,000 must be declared to HMRC.

Don’t forget to check that you have all the allowances to which you are entitled, such as Marriage Allowance transfer, Married Couples Allowance or Blind Persons allowance. Notes explaining any ‘adjustments’ for tax owing for an earlier year need to be checked as well. It may be that the amount shown has already been paid or a payment plan agreed.

If you are happy with the tax calculation you will need to either request the refund or pay the liability. You will be asked to request any refund due via your online Personal Tax Account, or wait 60 days for a cheque to be sent. If you do not have online access and do not want to wait for 60 days then you can call HMRC on 0300 200 3300 and ask for the refund to be sent straight away.

If you owe tax then you can pay online via your Personal Tax Account. If you do

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not have online access then it is possible to pay by cheque. Remember to include your National Insurance Number on the back of the cheque, and, if you have a Simple Assessment calculation, put the charge reference on the front of your cheque. If you cannot afford to pay the amount in full, ring HMRC’s Payment Support Service on 0300 200 3835. They may be able to set up a time to pay arrangement or advise you to pay what you can, when you can. If you think the calculation is wrong contact HMRC on

0300 200 3300 or Tax Help for Older People.

This article is by Tax Help for Older People (Scottish charity No. SC045819), which offers free tax advice to older people on low incomes who cannot afford professional help. Their helpline number is 01308 488066. The full article can be accessed at August Tax Tips in Word , August Tax Tips in pdf or via the charity's website (www.taxvol.org.uk/faq-category/taxtips/).

TURNING THE SCREW

The now familiar Better Living Through Science by Mark Frary includes a chapter explaining various scientific ways to get the lid off a jar, which can be difficult due to the partial vacuum that forms when food cools inside it.

In the water method, hot water run over a jar causes the metal lid to expand slightly faster than the glass, eventually enabling it to be removed easily. This method also loosens food congealed in the thread of the lid.

The tapping method involves using a stout knife to tap the lid at several points. This will deform it slightly or weaken the seal enough to let in more air.

For the friction method non-slip material is used to increase the friction between hand and lid. Suggestions are rubber gloves, placing a wide rubber band around the edge of the lid or using a rough tea towel.

The wait-a-while method involves simply waiting until later in the day, given that our muscles are weaker when we first get up in the morning.

Using the dramatically-named fluid hammer method you hold the jar in the hand you don’t write with while slapping its base with the other hand. The fluid hammer effect causes food to slide up against the lid, allowing a little air to enter.

FUN AND GAMES

RIDDLE

Marbe McNeil passed on this riddle devised by a member of the Film Appreciation Group, which currently meets regularly via Zoom. The answer is a 1940s film of a well-known book of the same title.

My first is in Cornwall but never in Devon,

My second is in paradise and also in heaven,

My third is in husband but never in wife,

My fourth is in trouble and also in strife,

My fifth is in coffee but never in tea,

My sixth is in ocean but never in sea,

My last is in flatter and also in boast -

My whole is the name of a dead wife’s ghost.

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NAME THE ISLANDS Marbe also challenges us to complete these Scottish island names, which have had their vowels removed.

RRN

GGH

GG

BNBCL

TR

MCKLFLGG

BRR

N

JR

STKLD

GRTCMBR

RNSY

WHAT AND WHERE? Yet another contribution from Marbe is this group of rather fuzzy pictures. Can you name or locate these landmarks?

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SPOT THE TUNE

Alison Kershaw posted this in the ERU3A Facebook page. She assures us there are

60 song titles illustrated here. How many can you find?

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PICTURE PUZZLE Brenda Mason sent in these close-ups. Can you identify them all?

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WHIMSY

COVID BLUES

Marbe McNeill sent us these gems.

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Ann Scott posted this hilarious collection.

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Rosalind Holmes posted these two rib-ticklers.

PICTURE GALLERY

AN AYRSHIRE GEM Willie Dyer posted these impressive pictures taken in the gardens of Dumfries House.

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CRUISING Elinor Watson sent in this photo of a distant Waverley seen from Arran.

EVENTS

DAY DATE EVENT

Wednesday 16th September

Monthly Meeting Philip Caine - From Barrow to Baghdad

Wednesday 21st October

Monthly Meeting Vicky Blackmore - Dogs for Good

Wednesday 18th November

Monthly Meeting Dr Tom Preston - Great Lancashire Comedians

For information on regular group meetings see the Groups feature.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

RIDDLE

Rebecca - Book by Daphne du Maurier and film starring Lawrence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

ARRAN

GIGHA

EIGG

BENBECULA

TIREE

MUCKLE FLUGGA

BARRA

IONA

JURA

ST KILDA

GREAT CUMBRAE

ORONSAY

LANDMARK QUIZ

1. Houses of Parliament, London 2. The CN Tower, Toronto 3. Hamely’s London 4. Italy – The Coliseum 5. Loch Ness 6. Red Square, Moscow

7. The Sears Tower, Chicago (now The Hancock Building)

8. The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City 9. India – Taj Mahal 10. The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 11. The Statue of Liberty, New York 12. St Paul’s Cathedral, London

SPOT THE TUNE

No list of answers was provided, but here are some members' suggestions. Some

clues have produced more than one answer, and not all answers are guaranteed to be correct.

Stairway to Heaven

Sun Arise

Heartbeat

Fly me to the Moon

Climb every Mountain

Crocodile Rock

Yellow Submarine

House of the Rising Sun

Knocking on Heaven's Door

Bat Out of Hell

Devil Woman

Devil in a Red Dress

Paint it Black

Candle in the Wind

Another brick in the wall

Message in a bottle

Big yellow taxi

Running up That Hill

Blackbird

Question

Sitting on top of the world

Free Bird

Ace of Spades

Man in the Mirror

Helter Skelter

Ring of Fire

Albatross

Hound Dog

Cherry Pie

Cherry Bomb

American Pie

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Oh Christmas Tree.

We had Fake Plastic Trees

Blue Suede Shoes

As Time Goes By

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Little Apples

Purple haze

Life on Mars

Monkey Wrench

Morning has Broken

Champagne Showers

Champagne Supernova

Where the Streets Have No Name

I Fought the Law

The Joker

Bright Side of the Road

Burning Down the House

PICTURE PUZZLE

1. Cigarette lighter

2. Paper clip

3. Toothbrush

4. Grand piano

5. Book

6. Computer mouse

7. Apple stalk

8. Corkscrew on a Swiss Army knife

9. Speaker

10. Pencil

CONTACTS

Mobile enquires call/text 07758 344 252 www.u3asites.org.uk/eastrenfrewshire Chairman: Douglas Yates Vice Chair: Marbe McNeill Group Secretary: June Weston Treasurer: Graham Greenhalgh Membership Secretary: Brenda Mason Groups Co-ordinator: Rosalind Holmes Webmaster: Rosalind Holmes