skye u3a news - u3asites.org.uk · around the island’s capital, portree, but has extended itself...

Contact details

ChairJoy Davies tel: 01470 511727;email: [email protected]

Vice ChairTony Liveseytel: 01470 511207; email: [email protected]

SecretaryJo-Ann Cherrytel: 01470 542777email: [email protected]

TreasurerChad Killington tel: 01470 582384email: [email protected]

Membership SecretariesBarbara Macdonaldtel: 01470 521576email: [email protected]

Peggy Huntertel: 01470 521324email: [email protected]

Group Co-ordinatorsPola and Tony Liveseytel: 01470 511207email: [email protected]

The Isle of Skye U3A has been in existence for over three years. It was originally based around the island’s capital, Portree, but has extended itself to include Broadford. These two centres are separated by 26 miles and many members are scattered in remote locations around the island. This presents special challenges but the Isle of Skye itself is a major compensation, offering rich sources of interest in areas such as archeology, geology, nature, and walking. Given the population of Skye we will never approach the size of city U3As but we are very much hoping to grow and new members are extremely welcome.

Skye U3A news is published irregularly. Copy date for the next issue is 1 March 2014. Send material for inclusion to Ian Burn ([email protected]).

Message from the (arm)chair

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying these newsletters as much as I am. Thanks to Ian Burn who is doing a brilliant job as editor. Talk about dedication – he was working on this one from Dubai on his way to see family in Australia!! I feel there is an article in there somewhere – I can think of at least two other sets of U3A grandparents who have recently visited the antipodes to visit children and grandchildren. It makes my 500 mile journey seem like a wee drive down the road. How about writing a few paragraphs about your trips and experiences as a long distant grandparent? The rest of us can be armchair travellers. I suspect these days grandparents all make use of Skype or FaceTime to keep in touch. The wonders of modern technology.

Thinking about computers, I recently got a poster in my post box (the one on my gate not on my computer) scaremongering about the demise of windows XP and encouraging people to quickly upgrade to windows 7 or 8, buy a new computer or seek the advice of a Microsoft engineer. All of which cost loads of money. Personally it doesn’t affect me – I have a PC running Vista and a laptop running Windows 7.

What happens if a) you don’t know what I am talking about or b) your computer is more than around seven years old? I am not a Microsoft certified engineer (as if you didn’t know that) nor can I claim to be a computer expert. I do know that if your computer

is more than six or seven years old, then you are probably using XP and this may affect you. I also know that you needn’t panic yet. Your computer will not stop working overnight, nor will you become totally vulnerable to virus attacks overnight. It is true that over time your computer will become less stable and your pc may become more prone to attacks. You certainly should ensure you have up to date anti-virus protection, but that is true for anyone who uses the internet. Beyond that, to get a true idea of the risks, 'Google' it. This website offers sensible advice:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/3501239/what-should-xp-users-do-when-microsoft-ends-support/

You could also ask knowledgeable family or friends for their advice, that is, the sort of people who don’t have a financial stake in forcing you to rush out and spend a lot of money.

Changing the subject, we have a published author in our midst. Welcome to new member Liz Shaw, who has just published her first book. More details overleaf. I rather think this is a subject which might appeal to quite a few of our members.

And finally, this is your newsletter so feel free to send in anything you would like to see included.

Best wishes, Joy

Iain Oughtred

U3A members who braved the January weather (cold, wet and windy – and that was just outside), enjoyed a very wide-ranging and interesting talk from Iain.

Mixing quotations from books and poems, songs where he accompanied himself with accordion and guitar, and traditional story-telling, he described the importance of the

sea on the lives of ordinary people of the outer islands.

U3A members wishing to learn more about seal-folk and Silkies, which Iain touched upon in his talk might find John MacAulay’s book ‘Seal-folk and Ocean Paddlers’ interesting.

For those wishing to know more about Iain's boatbuilding career there is an interesting

article in Afloat magazine: http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2011/february-2011/Iain_Oughtred_A_Life_in_a_Wooden_Boat#.UvHggHleMg9.

For a more comprehensive biography Nic Compton's fully illustrated book, 'Iain Oughtred – a Life in Wooden Boats', is recommended.

Skye U3A newsIssue #05 – February 2014 web: u3asites.org.uk/code/u3asite.php?site=325&page=0

Isle of Skye U3A programme 2014

Friday 31 January 2014

Seal-folk and Hungry Fishermen

Iain OughtredBroadford Village Hall, Broadford IV49 9AQ.

Friday 28 February 2014

Basket making

Louise KerrShinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG.

Friday 28 March 2014

Annual General Meeting

Membership due for renewal.Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG.

Friday 25 April 2014

Recording Skye Flora and Fauna

Steve Terry Broadford Village Hall, Broadford IV49 9AQ.

Friday 30 May 2014

Quilting

Jenny Lewis Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG.

Friday 27 June 2014

Skye archives

Anne MacLeodBroadford Village Hall, Broadford IV49 9AQ.

July 2014

Barbeque

Date and venue to be confirmed.

August 2014

No meeting

Friday 26 September 2014

Crofting: Braes in the 1890s and current legislation

Ian George Macdonald Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG.

Friday 31 October 2014

RSPB

Dr Alison MacLennan Broadford Village Hall, Broadford IV49 9AQ.

Friday 24 November 2014

Possibly special interest groups feed back Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG.

December 2014

Christmas lunch

Date and venue to be confirmed.

We meet at 2:00 pm on the last Friday of every month, with the venue alternating between the Portree Shinty clubhouse and the Broadford village hall.

On each occasion there is a guest speaker, but now and again we hold internal events – as quizzes, group presentations, etc.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits are always available.

Friday 28 February 2014 meeting

Basket making by Louise Kerr

Louise became interested in basket-making while creating garden willow structures as part of her work as a landscape designer.

Her talk will be about about willow, its history, growing it

on Skye and its uses .

Part talk, part demonstration, Louise hopes members of the audience will become involved and maybe even have a go themselves helping to make a basket.

Local author

'Love And Music Will Endure', a historical novel on the life of Màiri Mhòr nan Orain (Great Mary of the Songs) has recently been published by The Islands Book Trust.

It tells the story of the Skye poet and political campaigner, who was born into a crofting family in North Skye. Her

powerful voice was only unleashed in middle age after she was falsely accused of theft and imprisoned. She poured her rage and despair into songs about the plight of her fellow Highlanders who were being driven from their homes. Through force of character she overcame the barriers of background, class and gender to become their champion and inspiration.

She was a fascinating and complex personality. She was deeply rooted in her homeland and her songs are still very much in the musical repertoire today but her story also has a universal resonance. She was one of that indomitable collection of doughty Victorian women who refused to accept the constraints society imposed on women and forged a public role for themselves.

Liz Macrae Shaw

Meeting passed

Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #5 | February 2014

Find a U3AAn improved interactive map of U3As to help potential and existing members find individual U3A websites and telephone numbers. Other search options include postcodes.

U3A in actionNews from the 'Coast to Coast' section of Third Age Matters and a new feature allowing U3As to submit their own news and images.

Online coursesWhere you will be able to access untutored courses for free and tutored courses for a small administration fee.

This is U3AAn online version of the This is U3A information booklet.

Conference 2013Documents, photographs and audio from the 2013 national U3A conference.

www.u3a.org.uk – changes to the national U3A website

The U3A website offers members a wealth of information and resources.

With so much information 'on tap', negotiating one's way around the site and finding the right bit of information can sometimes be quite daunting.

Over the next few months we will explore the site, explaining how to get the best out it. Hopefully we can assist those who are not that confident with IT, increasing their confidence, whilst also maybe highlighting some

not so obvious aspects of the site to the more confident IT users.

We start this month with the website's 'homepage' which in the past few months has undergone a redesign aimed at simplifying navigation.

New menus help you to find what you are looking for. The five links at the top of the page are regularly updated to ensure you always have access to the most important information: 'Find a U3A', 'This is U3A', 'Conference

2013', 'U3A in action' and 'Online courses'.

More information on the five links is given below Take a few minutes to follow the links and get a feel for them.

Next month we will look at the 'Members' area.'

issue #5 – February 2014 | Isle of Skye U3A newsletter

U3A Skye interest groups’ programme

Walking groupTuesday 11 March 2014

Raasay – Dun Caan

Option to car to start or walk to start, or Hallaig Clearance Village.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/duncaan.shtml

Thursday 10 April 2014Gillen – Score Horan/Beinn an Sguirr cliffs.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/gillen.shtml

Friday 9 May 2014Ardintoul – Glen Elg Circuit

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/kintail/Ardintoul.shtml

Group co-ordinatorsDavid Hammond

email: [email protected]

Linda Shove

email: [email protected]

Geology groupThe Geology Group normally makes a field trip on the Isle of Skye once a month. We try to read up on an area as much as possible before a visit, and after, as some of us are complete beginners. As well as broadening our knowledge of geology in a

practical ‘eyes-on’ manner, the outings are also great fun and always involve a mini-picnic.

The latest U3A geology blog, for the January outing to Brothers' Point, is now available at http://u3askyegeology.blogspot.co.uk/

Tuesday 4 March 2014Outdoor: Glenbrittle to look at glaciations and Coire Lagen.

Indoor: work on glaciations. Any pictures etc would be useful.

Group co-ordinatorJo-Ann Cherry

tel: 01470 542777

Nature groupThe Nature Group has a field trip on the 23rd of each month to see what the Isle of Skye has to offer in the realm of nature (in summer we have two outings per month).

Sunday 23 February 2014Birdlife in Broadford Bay.

Sunday 23 March 2014Staffin Bay (with some reservations).

The U3A nature blog for January is now available at http://u3a-skye-nature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/isle-of-skye-january-2014-from.html.

Any nature observations or images for the months of September, October, November and December would be very welcome.

Group co-ordinatorJohn Kennedy

tel: 01470 532765

Forthcoming news and events

Do you want to improve your health, keep your mind active and have a good time? If you do, then why not take part in our YOU TIME activities? These are held in Portree Community Library, Fingal Centre & The Church of Scotland Hall (Portree). Booking is essential. For more information call the Fingal Centre on 01478 614819. Individually bookable activities cost £4.70; £2.35 for 60 years+, £0.50 budget High Life card holders or free for High Life Highland All Inclusive members.

Telling and Listening: our past in their future12/02/2014 Wednesday 14.00-15.30 Library




Start Writing—Session 112/03/2014 Wednesday 14.00-15.30 Library



Springtime Crafts02/04/2014 Wednesday 14.00-15.30 Library

World War I commemoration

To commemorate the centenary of World War I, the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre is planning an exhibition looking at the impact of the war on local communities. The Centre is getting in touch with local history societies, community councils and other groups to find out what else may be happening in the area so that they can link up if possible and avoid any duplication. They are already aware of some local projects underway; for example, Dunvegan Community Council are hoping to hold an event in August which the Centre is supporting by digitising material lent for display. The Centre would like to offer the same support to any other community intending a similar project and would be interested to hear from groups planning a local display or exhibition.

The Centre would also be grateful for our help in spreading the word about the appeal for potential exhibition content: documents, photographs, stories or artefacts relating to the involvement of people from Skye and Lochalsh in the 1914-1918 war, including material which sheds light on what was happening at home during this period. It has facilities to make digital copies of documents and photographs so that originals could be returned to the owner as quickly as possible. The ultimate intention is to create a legacy archive of World War I material, partly in digital form, which will be available to researchers at the Archive Centre beyond the life of the project. If people have any original artefacts which might be available for loan for the duration of the exhibition, It would make sure that these are displayed securely and returned.

The Centre intends that the final exhibition will be available for other community groups to borrow for local display, so it is important that the content represents as many different localities as possible. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Centre if you would like any more information or if you know of anyone who might be willing to lend material.

Anne MacLeod, Archivist, Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, High Life Highland, Elgin Hostel, Dunvegan Road, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EE [tel: 01478 614078; email [email protected]].

St Kilda trip

Hi everyone, I am still thinking about the St Kilda trip. My plan is simply to choose a suitable date, then let everyone book individually – that way there is no financial responsibility for me or for U3A.

By the same token, the trip doesn't have to be restricted to U3A members, so if any of you have friends or family who want to join in with us they simply book on same date.

The weather question is a difficult one, and in the May – August period there is no reliable answer as to when the best time to go might be. Between May – August, the bird life is best May – July, so if bird life interests you, that narrows it down a bit. Generally May has

been a superb month, and yet one year just a few years ago, May was appalling and there were only two days when boats landed on St Kilda!

The cost this year is £235 per person. If we book a group of 11, the 11th person is free. I am not sure how that will work out if we book individually but I can ask Derek Gordon once we have a definite idea of who wants to come.

I thought I'd chose the date based on what you all think. Once the date is chosen I will once again ask the membership if anyone else wants to join in. Please let me know which date suits you.

Joy

Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #5 | February 2014