Author: gosforthcentralwi

It’s February 2nd and Groundhog Day in the USA…..and, to me, it feels like it here in Newcastle too 🙂 . This year, Groundhog Day isn’t just a great movie with Bill Murray & Andie MacDowell (though it is a great movie!) but a reality that most of us are experiencing.

Another day, another Zoom meeting, another walk, …..and another opportunity to do what my grandmother always said and count my blessings!

Spring is on its way, the days are getting longer and the vaccines are being rolled out. Blessings indeed – Yay!!

And talking of blessings, we were reminded of travel opportunities and the beauty of our world at our January meeting. Our speaker, Eric Valentine (Civil Engineer, retired academic & visiting professor at Newcastle & Darwin Universities) talked with us about Australia’s Northern Territory. It was fascinating, so educational and with stunning photographs. It really whet some travel appetites!

While we’re waiting for travel opportunities to return, let’s think nearer to home and think, for a moment, about BEES. Yes, not just because they say “summer” for many of us but because they are in crisis.

In a new study from the University of Ottawa, the researchers discovered that bumble bees are disappearing at rates “consistent with a mass extinction.”

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-bumble-bees-extinct-climate-chaos.html

It’s clear that we need to do something and, at our February Meeting (on the 11th at 7pm) we’ll hear from a member of a Bee keeping Association on not just the joys & challenges but, hopefully, on the part we can all play to stop this. It is a MUST!

See you then x

Well, it may not feel like it but, yes, Christmas is coming and the geese are….presumably doing what geese do?

Less than 4 weeks to go and I hope that, whatever your plans are, you find joy in both the run up to the event and the event itself.

We’ll do our best to get into the spirit by having a virtual get together and a (not to be taken too seriously) Christmas quiz on Thursday 10 December at 7pm.

If I was to wish for a prize for the Quiz, it would be one of the handbags we saw during our last Zoom meeting. Yes, of course, I’d wish for much more important things too (who doesn’t want a vaccine, world peace, end to poverty?) but, indulge me here,….If you were on that meeting, you’ll know what I mean! Susan showed us some of her collection of over 250 vintage bags and they were gorgeous.

If you couldn’t attend, no worries. When things get back to normal (???), we’ll happily have a repeat of “The History of Handbags” so we can get a chance to see & drool over the bags in person. Better not mention “drool” to Susan…

For now, enjoy Tier 3 and Hopefully see you on the 10th 🙂

that there’s light at the end of the tunnel!

As I’m writing this, the news is reporting the first effective coronavirus vaccine…..”a great day for science and humanity” according to the developers Pfizer and BioNTech.

What great news!

I know we will have to continue to be careful and cautious for a long time yet but now there’s reason to be optimistic. How good is that! Let’s look forward to the possibility of meeting face to face again in 2021 🙂

In the meantime, we continue to meet by Zoom and our November speaker is Susan Howard on “The History of Handbags”.

The dictionary definition of a handbag is “a small bag used by a woman to carry everyday personal items”. Well, they obviously haven’t seen mine! Who else carries an oversize bag and when on earth did that start to be a “thing”?

Look through my bag and you’ll find shopping bags, shopping lists, plastic bags, make up, sanitiser, rubber gloves (!), paper tissues, wipes, diary, notebook, pens, umbrella, and phone (of course)….. Not to mention the out of date chewing gum.

It can’t just be me – go on, have a sort through yours and see what you find! Maybe listening to Susan will inspire us to go back to basics.

Or is simply that our definition of what constitutes an “every day personal item” has changed? After all, a year ago, who would have thought we’d be carrying hand sanitiser??

Take care and keep smiling.

Liz

Freda Thompson entertained us yet again. This time, she took us back to the 1960s – a decade that saw so much change in Newcastle, the building of “Pavements in the sky”, a Christmas Zoo at the old Civic Centre and The Beatles live on stage at City Hall (I wonder if anyone actually heard them singing above the teenage screams?).

In these weird times, it was great to both reminisce and rediscover Newcastle. I certainly learned a lot and will now be looking upwards when I’m next in the City Centre – (…you had to be there!). We all had a laugh – partly at the image of Freda in a black n white dress, with contrasting tights and “pop it” beads ( 🙂 we’ve all been there!)

Thanks to Freda and everyone that joined in to make it a fun hour.

So – were you a Mod or a Rocker, or were you still into Teddy Boys (we know where Freda’s loyalty lies!)

“Anne of Green Gables” author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, is quoted as saying “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”.

Whilst we may not have all the splendid colours of her Canadian Falls, we have pretty spectacular ones and I just adore those cold, sunny days when the light is gorgeous and then you curl up at the end of the day with the curtains drawn.

If you’re like me, savour these days because then it turns into November! Need I say more?

And, with current restrictions, this could feel like a long autumn / winter….but we’ll continue to keep our meetings going and support each other in the best ways we can.

Of course, it will have to be on line rather than face to face. Some of our speakers are becoming very adept at Zoom (other on line platforms are available!) and October is no exception. We welcome back Freda Thompson who will talk about Newcastle in the 1960s.

Whether you went through the 60s as “twinkle in the eye” or a baby, a girl, a teenager, or a young woman, join in, learn and/or reminisce. Dig out your capri pants or bell bottoms, put on your old music and enjoy 🙂

All members will be emailed a link to the meeting. If you’re reading this but you’re not a member, no worries, just contact me through this website and I’ll email you the link.

Liz