Hi,
Here is the information on classes, courses and activities happening in the next few weeks.(I hope I haven’t missed anything out but if I have I’ll send out a wee catch up on Monday or Tuesday.)Have a great weekend!
Fireside Quiz
All the correct answer sheets for the Fireside Quiz were put in a hat and first and second place were drawn out.Esther Loughlin won first place and Benedicta Gilmore won second place.Congratulations to both of them and huge thanks to Jim Moore for setting the Quiz.We raised over £300 for U3A Funds too so many thanks to all who purchased a Quiz Sheet.
New Singing Lessons & Guitar Lessons
Eleanor Lamberton will be offering Singing Lessons and Guitar Lessons on Thursday mornings for now (maybe Monday too if there is the interest in future).Cost for one-to-one lessons will be £15 per half hour.Eleanor holds a Diploma from London College of Music in Musical Theatre (voice).We have two slots taken already for next Thursday 9th Feb 2023.You are more than welcome to try it out for one session – no obligation to continue if you don’t want to.
Bag Making Class
There are still some spaces on the Bag Making class starting on Wednesday 8th February 2023 starting at 1.15pm.Cost for the 6 week course will be £25.We have material and sewing machines here but you can bring your own if you wish to.
Derry Ladies Bridge
There will NOT be a session of the Derry Ladies Bridge next Monday 6th February as there will be a FREE lunch in the Waterfoot Hotel at 1pm instead. This is a chance for all ladies to come together, discuss the club, current setup and way forward. All members past and present are invited to come along and have some input and a lovely lunch!Please email Kerrie on kezab4ever@yahoo.co.uk so she has an idea on numbers.
Gardeners Meeting
The next Gardeners Group meeting will be on Tuesday 7th February at 2.30pm. The Discussion topic this month will be planning guest speakers/ talks/ visits for the coming months.On Tuesday 21st February @ 2.30pm, the Group will meet at the Walled Garden at St Columb’s Park House. Liam, the Gardener at St Columb’s Park House, will meet us and guide us in some volunteering (appropriate for age and ability). As discussed at our meeting last Tuesday we are hoping that this could become a monthly affair – taking place on the third Tuesday of each month. It should be a great learning opportunity as Liam is a font of gardening knowledge.
Financial Workshop on Residential Care Costs
Martin McDaid will present a free Financial Workshop on Residential Care Costs at 2pm on Thursday 9th February.If interested in attending please email Martin directly on martinmcdaid@hotmail.com to confirm your place.
One Pot Cooking
On Thursday 9th February at 11.15am we will be running a One Pot Cookery Demo Session.There are limited spaces so please register your interest in the front office.Thanks to some funding from the Community Foundation we will be running a series of these FREE sessions which will advise you on how to batch cook, freeze food safely and make meals which are nutritious and cost effective. You will get a small taster of the goods. Come in, keep warm, join the very informal sessions, have a cuppa, watch the cooking and have a wee taste.We will give out the recipes too so you can try again at home.There is an Interest sheet in the office as we need names & numbers for catering purposes.
Versus ArthritisWe had a lower turnout than I was expecting for the introductory meeting by Versus Arthritis but it was very useful and we have had a number of people signed up for the upcoming 6-week course on Living with a long term illness.You do not need to have Arthritis to do this course – it is for anyone living with long term illness or pain.Get in touch with the office if you want to get signed up for the course.It will run on Monday mornings from 10.30-12.30 starting Monday 13th February in the Art Room.
Book Club 3Book Club 3 will meet on Tuesday 7th February in the Board Room at 11.15am.
Talking Newspaper UpdateThere will be a Zoom Call about the Talking Newspaper for anyone who is still interested in volunteering some of their time to record the news.We will have a link set up here in the building but if you prefer to do it at home yourself I can send you a link.All are welcome to join us in U3A or to get the link.
Local History – Date in March 2023 for your diary!The Local History for March will be a field trip!We are on tour up to the First Presbyterian Church on Magazine Street to get a tour of the church and the Blue Coat Visitor Centre.Meet at the Church on Wednesday 1st March at 11am.
Podiatry AppointmentsNext week’s clinic is now full up but there are spaces on the next available date – Wednesday 1st March.Call the office to book a slot.
Circus Skills – WEDNESDAY HUB SESSIONKate from In your Space Circus School will be in U3A Foyle on Wednesday 8th February at 11am to meet anyone who is interested in seeing what the Circus Skills programme is about. She will be able to answer any questions that you might have about a potential upcoming programme here in U3A Foyle.I’d love to get a good turnout for her! If you think you might have any interest – if even for bragging rights that you’ve attended Circus School – please do come along and meet Kate.Please be assured that no one will have to do anything dangerous ever in the course of this programme!A member is doing a similar programme in Eglinton at the minute and told me it is excellent – very good for building your core, helping with balance and hand-to-eye coordination.The British Science Foundation has funded the ‘In your Space’ group in the city to deliver Circus Skills to some groups and we have been picked as a potential partner if we have enough interest in running a class in circus skills.Kate from In Your Space will be coming down to the building soon to get a chat with anyone interested and give a demonstration of what the group can expect from the programme.
If you would be interested in attending please let me know!There will be a huge skillset to pick from including juggling, balance acts, unicycling and who knows what else?
U3A Social Lunch – February Outing
February’s Social Lunch will take place on Wednesday 15th February at 1.30pm in The Exchange. (NOTE the change of time to 1.30pm this month!)Numbers have already been confirmed with the restaurant as this session is completely booked up!
A play in the Balor Theatre, Ballybofey
One of our Members is in a play in Ballybofey at the Balor Theatre, Ballybofey at 8.00pm on Sunday 5th February.
For the first time ever the award-winning Lifford Players are presenting a play especially written for them as their all-Ireland Festival Circuit entry for 2023.
Edward Flanagan’s play ‘When Elephants Collide’ is a tale of inheritance – a family in crisis headed by a father who doesn’t know which child to trust with his legacy.
This fast paced play is interwoven with sibling rivalry, jealousy and greed!
Set in a 21st Century Ireland still anchored to 19th Century traditions, you are promised a good story…an entertaining and intriguing story….a great night of live theatre!
And a World Premiere too!!! Admission 15 euros and 12 euros for concession.
For tickets contact balorartscentre.ticketsolve.com or call 00353749131840
Later Life Planning – date for the Diary
Compassionate Communities will be in the building on Wednesday 22nd February at 11am.They will be talking about how we take practical steps to planning ahead.This links into our Later Life Planning Programme we had started to run just before Covid hit.This will be a good informative workshop to get us thinking about practical steps we can take to help our families in the future.Please put your name down on the Interest sheet if you would like to attend.
New Friday Short Walk
The Friday short walk will begin on Friday 10th March at 10am. The Meeting place will be near the Emigration statues at Sainsbury’s. All are welcome.
Obelisk workshop – Date for the diary
Fiona Doney will be here in March to lead a Willow Making Workshop – making an Obelisk for your garden – something for the Sweet Pea plants to grow up!The workshop is planned for Thursday 16th March from 1-4pm.
Placesare filling up so if you want to attend please call in and pay for your place at the front desk to secure your place.Cost for the Workshop is £40 and all materials are supplied.
LMS Show in the Millennium
The LMS are back with a new show in March.9 to 5…what a way to make a livin’ will be running in the Millennium and we have block booked a number of tickets for the show on Friday 31st March at 8pm.Tickets are priced at £22.50 and you can book and pay for tickets in the front office – tickets must be paid for before 16th March.
Resumption of Hearing Aid Support Service
RNID is resuming its free drop-in support session for hearing aid users in Old Bridge House (the old Waterside Health Centre), Glendermott Road.
The socially distanced drop-off and pick-up service provides new batteries, cleaning and retubing of ear moulds for NHS hearing aids.
The sessions are run by trained volunteers and funded by the Health & Social Care Board.
For more information visit www.rnid.org.uk or contact Mary Cruickshank; email mary.cruickshank@rnid.org.uk or call 07918 767640.
‘Tell me another one’An Introduction to Storytelling.
This relaxed workshop is designed to make people more comfortable at sharing stories. Get practical tips on choosing stories that tell well as well as advice on preparing stories and use of voice.Wednesday 22nd February from 2.30-5.30pm in Dungiven Library. Book by calling 02877741475.
Council’s Cost of Living Link
Please note that the Cost of Living Link has been updated (see below) on the Council’s website.
www.derrystrabane.com/helpwithcostofliving
Songs of Praise
There are still some tickets available for Tuesday night’s recording of Songs of Praise in the Guildhall. You must email yourself to the following email address SOPcongregations@afantimedia.tv requesting the tickets.
Helping with a PhD Research Study
Danielle Guy, a Psychology PhD student at Bournemouth University is currently running a research study for her PhD which is exploring public perceptions and understanding of different dietary patterns around the UK. The study involves completing an online survey which takes around 15-20 minutes to complete.She is hoping that you can help her as she is in need of older participants (men and women, aged 50+). She would be very grateful if you could complete her online survey: https://bournemouthpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25EYD9zAN2q3yt0
Danielle Guy, BSc(Hons), MSc, MBPsS Postgraduate Researcher, Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University
Flybe – Advice for Consumers
Flybe confirmed on 28 January that it has entered administration meaning that all flights were cancelled with immediate effect. If you have been impacted by this, it is important that you are aware of your consumer rights as you may be entitled to compensation and assistance.
If you booked directly with Flybe:
Flights over £100 bought with a personal credit card – you may be able to claim your money back from your credit card provider
Flights under £100 or you used a debit card – you may be able to use the ‘Chargeback’ scheme that the card issuer is signed up to.
If you have your own travel insurance, check if it contains a Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance clause. If it does you can make a claim to get your money back.
If you bought your flights as part of a package with an ATOL travel firm and received an ATOL certificate: You should be ATOL protected. Contact your travel firm for more information.
If you booked through an airline ticket agent: You should speak to the agent in the first instance as they may have provided travel insurance that includes Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance.
As there are no more Flybe flights, customers will need to search for alternative flights with other airlines.
Ryanair – 2018 Strike Action
Were your flights impacted by strike action taken by Ryanair pilots in 2018?
An enforcement case has now concluded with Ryanair deciding not to appeal and to provide compensation to passengers who were disrupted in line with their entitlements under UK (EC) Regulation 261/2004
If your flight was cancelled or delayed 3 hours or more (on arrival) and is caused by a reason within the control of Ryanair, you may be entitled to compensation.
Mellon Centre for Migration Studies – This free event will be delivered on-site and also via Zoom
A reminder that the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies will host the 21st Annual Migration Studies Lecture on Sat 11 Feb 2023 at 11am.
Records and Roots: People and the Land in North-west Ulster – Guest Speaker: Dr William Roulston.
Although there have been significant social and economic changes in more recent times, the people of Ireland are still generally thought of in terms of their historic relationship with the land. In this talk, Dr William Roulston will draw on the experiences of his own farming ancestors in north-west Ulster over the last four centuries in exploring such themes as the relationship between landlord and tenant, land reform and migration. In doing so, he will highlight the wealth of documentation available, both in public archives and in private possession.
Booking is essential.
This presentation will be delivered in person in the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies and virtually via Zoom. To watch William’s presentation via Zoom for free – Register now by visiting:https://bit.ly/LNIMCMS01
