http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/environment/environment/bee-aware

http://www.machaven.co.uk/birdingu3a

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/shipping_forecast.html#All~All

http://briandettmer.com/

http://www.hostuk.org.uk/

www.choisser.com/faceblind/

Test at www.prosopagnosiaresearch.org

Website: www.sunderlandu3a.co.uk

EDITORS

Elsie Denham Dorothy Scott

The magazine is published quarterly. Copy deadline for the next magazine is the first of the month of publication

1st March

1st June

1st September

1st December

SUNDERLAND U3A

SEPTEMBER 2011 No: 26

Photo by Carol Holliday

Sunderland University of the Third Age:

A member of the Third Age Trust

Sunderland U3A

Fulwell Methodist

Dovedale Road

Sunderland

MEETING:

3rd

Wednesday of each month at 1.30 for 2.00pm

MEMBERSHIP: 0191 549 0984

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SEPTEMBER 2011

CONTENTS

From the Editorial Team 2

From the Chair 3

Future speakers 3

Groups’ News 4

Travel Group Visit to Bletchley Park & Cotswolds 8

The Tree Circus 10

Bird Watching 11

An Inviting Opportuinty from HOST 11

Saxon Britain 11

Norfolk Delights 12

Fascinating Words 13

Public Sculpture: The Brothers 14

Any Old Books? 15

Literary Quiz 16

The Shipping Forecast 16

Prosopagnosia – Face Blindness 17

Zoo Animals React to Eathquake 18

Big Bang 19

The Plight of the Humble Bee 19

Good Food to Help with Your Digestion 21

Recipes 22

Anniversaries 23

Dates for Your Diary 23

Interesting People: Hild of Whitby 25

Regional & National News 26

Answers to Quiz 27

Groups at a Glance 28

Contact Us 29

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PHOTO COMPETITION

U3A members and friends are invited to submit entries to our summer competition on the theme of ‘Out and About’. Photos can be any size, in colour or black and white, digital or hard copy (which will be scanned and returned). Photos will be published in the magazine (in black and white) and on the website. – and there will be prizes! Send your photos to the editor

Winner to be announced at the Christmas Social Closing date: 30 November

FROM THE EDITORS

In this issue you will find reports on various U3A (and outside) activities which have taken place over the summer. You will find that there is a wide variety of events – local, regional and national – and we hope you will see what you are missing and feel encouraged to participate in future. None of these events happen without a great deal of work from the organisers, but they need people to attend and support. With everyone out and about over the summer, many groups have suspended activities but September will see things starting up again so do make an effort to try something new.

And don’t forget the photo competition! How many of you have been out and about over the summer? How many of you have a camera? How many have sent in a photo to the magazine? We confidently await a flood of entries.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue. Articles and snippets of interest are always welcome.

Elsie & Dorothy

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FROM THE CHAIR

I must start by saying how lovely it is to be back with you all. I received so many good wishes and a lovely welcome. I looked at Judith’s last letter from the chair and I see she hoped I would be back for the June meeting. In the event I have been staying with my son and family in the south until last week. It took me much longer than I expected to completely recover. Now I am feeling almost recovered and I hope I will be a good chairperson for you. My memory is hopeless but as it wasn’t too good before the stroke maybe it has nothing to do with that event. Be assured I will do my best at the job but Judith will be a hard act to follow and I am sure you will join me in thanking her for her hard and efficient work over the last three years.

I would also like to thank Susan Quayle for her work as speaker secretary. On a few occasions recently the speaker has let us down and Susan has found a new speaker at short notice. Our excellent speaker in August was filling in for the original speaker. I thoroughly enjoyed his talk on Penshaw Monument and realised to my horror I was confidently telling the tale that a subscription was raised by grateful tenants whose rents were subsequently put up by the duke who thought that they must have too much money. As Bernard our speaker said “you learn something every day”

Well it has been a poor summer so far so it would be nice if we had a good finish to it. I hope you enjoy life before winter sets in.

Regards,

Ann Aldridge

FUTURE SPEAKERS

19 October Lance Slawther: Strange Tales out of Schools

16 November Stuart Miller: Street Names in Sunderland

14 December Christmas Party

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GROUPS’ NEWS

AMATEUR ARTISTS

Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, at 10.15 at Monkwearmouth Railway Museum.

We are a small friendly group who like to dabble in a variety of styles and media. Mostly we just like to have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously so if you fancy it do come along and join us – we can make room for one or two more at present.. You don’t need any materials to begin with – just come and try before splashing out.

Marion Miller 0191 548 1009 Josie Thompson 0191 534 2702

CARD MAKING

We are a small friendly group who meet on the 4th Monday of each

month at the leader’s house.

Pat Devenport 0191 536 2365

CINEMA

Lunchtime Liaisons at the Customs House, South Shields - specially selected films which vary from period dramas to the biggest blockbusters. You can also join us for lunch prior to the film. Details at general meeting.

Norma Robins 0191 416 4498

COMPUTER & DIGITAL SUPPORT

The Sunderland and Wearside computing groups merged some time ago. The resulting group works mostly on Digital Imaging, but other forms of computer use are supported. So if you have a problem, come and see if we can solve it.

Meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the computer room at Amble Tower, Lakeside, Gilley Law.

No meetings in September – resume 4 October

Alan Denham 0191 521 2760

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GEOLOGY

The geology group meets on the third Friday each month. In summer we try to have as many outings to places of geological and natural interest as possible and from September on we meet in the Bangladeshi Centre at 2 p.m.

The programme for the next few months is provisional, but in September it will be a look back at the summer outings, and an attempt to extract copper from the samples of copper ore we picked up at Raisby cutting. Then from October to December there will be a series of talks on the Cambrian Big Bang when life exploded on Earth. This will include a look at Trilobites, with hands on examination of some of them.

John Baty 0191 522 6462

HISTORY

Meet on the 2nd

Thursday of the month at 11am at Fulwell Methodist Church

Linda Thompson 0191 549 5693

KEEP MOBILE

New members are most welcome and no experience is necessary. No special footwear or clothing is required. We meet every Friday (except 3

rd Friday) at 10.45

am at Fulwell Methodist Church

Linda Thompson 0191 549 5693

LOOKING @ ART

In May the Group went by coach to Sledmere House in Yorkshire to view the Triton Gallery which was formerly the stables, where we saw artists working and displaying their finished works. We also enjoyed a tour of the house by very enthusiastic local guides and can recommend the tearoom.

In June we gathered at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens to be guided by a staff member around a photographic exhibition with the title “Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2010” which came from the National Portrait Gallery.

We did not meet in July and August; the next visit is on Thursday 15th September to the Great North Museum (Hancock) in Newcastle to look at Pharaoh: King of Egypt, on tour from the British Museum. We hope to have a guide and are waiting for confirmation.

Sheila Humby 0191 548 2259 Rose Marshall 0191 528 1468

LUNCH

On the 2nd

Wednesday of the month, at different venues.

Norma Robins 0191 416 4498

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MUSIC APPRECIATION

Each month we look forward to listening to a varied programme of music, selected by our own members. The room is comfortable and the staff are welcoming. In recent sessions we have shared favourite pieces of music, explored the work of Gershwin and been introduced to a wide range of music from Africa. You don't need to know anything about music so come along and relax. Meet at 10 am for coffee/ tea at Dock St Tower Block for a 10.15 start.

23 Sep Foreign Royalty 28 Oct Contrasting interpretations 25 Nov Christmas social – share your favourite Christmas music

Joyce Hoseason 0191 548 6041

POETRY APPRECIATION

An enthusiastic group who find some varied poems on a chosen topic to stimulate reminiscences, discussion and some laughs. Everyone chooses two poems on a previously chosen topic. These are read and discussed. Everyone seems to enjoy looking through books for something appropriate. One regular attendee just came along to see what the group was about, admitting to never having opened a poetry book since school days. Meetings are held at Monkwearmouth Station on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10.15 am.

Elizabeth Robson 0191 567 1421

READING GROUP

At our last meeting in June we discussed” The Help” by Kathrynn Stockett, the story was set in the south of America and told of the lives of the local coloured ladies. This has been filmed and should be in our local cinemas soon.

We had a summer break and now our next book “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen is ready to be collected from the Central Library from 25th August and we meet there at 2pm on Thursday22nd September for our discussion.

Rose Marshall 0191 528 1468

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Science group has been studying the weather, what makes it work and how to try to predict it (and why prediction goes wrong). We had no meeting in September due to holidays and our next meeting will be on Monday 3 October when we will play with rubber geometry and some interesting shapes and puzzles.

Alan Denham 0191 521 2760

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SCRABBLE

The Scrabble group welcomes new members. We meet on the second Friday of each month, at the home of the organiser.

Penny Parker

TAI CHI

The Tai Chi group meets every Tuesday afternoon from 2.00pm to 3.00pm at Fulwell Methodist Church. Tai Chi involves gentle exercise under the guidance of our excellent tutor Michael. Classes are geared to suit all levels of ability and all are welcome.

The cost is £3 per session. No special clothing or equipment is needed - you just need comfortable clothing and footwear. Come and chill!.

Dorothy Scott 0191 5652108

TEN PIN BOWLING

This group meets at 10.15 am on the 4th Wednesday each month at the Bowling Centre in Newcastle Road, near the Wheatsheaf.

Martin & Primrose Walker 0191 567 8920

TRAVEL GROUP

I am pleased to report from comments received from the 32 members who went on the 5 day holiday in July that it was an outstanding success. The weather was kind to us and the visits to Bletchley Park, Barnsdale Gardens and the Cotswold villages of Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold were a nice variety which catered for everyone’s interests. We also had interesting stops at Royal Leamington Spa on the way down and Stamford on the return journey.

On Wednesday, 24th July, 39 travel group members enjoyed a day trip to Carlisle. We stopped for coffee at Gilsland Spa Hotel before arriving in Carlisle. After time at leisure in Carlisle we met up again for afternoon tea at the Hallmark Hotel before returning home.

On 2nd September 13 members are going to London (Friday to Monday) to visit Buckingham Palace where they will have a guided tour to see the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and a Faberge Exhibition. The itinerary also includes a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament and a flight on the London Eye. Henley on Thames and Windsor will also be visited.

On 1st December 38 members of the Travel Group are booked for a return visit to the Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie, Scotland for a pre-Christmas break of 5 days.

The travel group meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Monkwearmouth Station Museum and our next meeting will be on Thursday, 22nd September, at 10.15 a.m. for a 10.30 a.m. start. Why not come and see what we get up to?. Bob Younger 0191 549 0984

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WALKING

There have been few walks since my last report because of holiday commitments and inclement weather. We did enjoy a good walk in June around Cleadon Hills where the views were stunning, finishing with our customary pub lunch at Whitburn and by the time you read this, we will have done a walk around Herrington Country Park.

Our walks are approximately 4 miles and we try to keep to good paths. We walk on the second Wednesday of each month. If you are interested look out for the sheet at the monthly meeting. Why not give it a go?

Bob Younger 0191 549 0984

POETRY GROUP

Several ladies of culture and wit Meet monthly on Tuesdays, their thoughts to submit … Their notions, emotions, ideas ... some profound, On poems by Shelley and one ... Ezra Pound, Shakespeare, Motion and Louis MacNiece. The topics they cover … love, war and peace, Flora and fauna earth sea and sky, The present, the future and days long gone by.

I like the kind which stir my soul … Of the Welsh hill farmers and the hewers of coal Or the funnies like Geordie the Backworth pit 'lad' With his cap and his whippet and the pals that he had.

But best of all is our coming together, All smiles & enthusiasm whatever the weather... (OK poetic licence.....it's allowed now and then) I'm finished, I need coffee so I'll put down my pen.

Joan Walton Written between 5.30 and 7.30 am. Tuesday December 12th 2010

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TRAVEL GROUP VISIT TO BLETCHLEY PARK AND THE COTSWOLDS

Our first day was mostly travel with a couple of hours at Leamington Spa before continuing to our hotel at Daventry where we were impressed by the comfort available at such a reasonable price.

Next day was Bletchley Park. Everyone should have heard of it by now, though it was a well-kept secret through to the late 1970s. Bletchley Park was Station X, the interception and codebreaking centre for Allied Forces throughout WWII. If Adolf had known about it, it would have received more bombs than London. This was the place where

Around us, in us, Anything and everything, Life is poetry. Gwendolynn’s blog

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Enigma messages were decoded, the place where the great Alan Turing (among others, also talented but not so famous) worked. It was also, surprisingly, the place where nearly 10,000 other people worked - but even with those numbers, the secret was kept. Churchill called the codebreakers "The geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled" and said that the information they provided had certainly saved countless lives, and shortened the war by a couple of years - and without them there might even have been a different outcome!

It can also claim to be the place where the computer was born. In the huts around the main house information processing moved from purely mechanical calculating machinery to electromechanical devices called 'bombes' and on to purely electronic digital machinery. At the end of the war the machinery was destroyed (national security!) and a serious attempt was even made to destroy the plans from which the world's first computer had been built. Fortunately enough was missed that a group of enthusiasts have spent the last twenty years or so rebuilding some bombes and a Colossus (the first computer) and they can now be seen running most days.

We had an enjoyable and very informative day. Sadly, we were just three days early and missed seeing the Queen unveiling a new memorial to the codebreakers.

We started the next day was at Barnsdale Gardens, created by Geoff Hamilton for BBC Gardeners' World and then moved on to Oakham for the afternoon. Apparently any Peer of the Realm who sets foot in the town of Oakham has to present the castle with a horseshoe. How this tradition began is somewhat obscure, but the castle has an impressive display of horseshoes - though none of them ever fitted a horse! The oldest and largest (about four feet tall!) is from Edward IV, and dated 1470. They also display horseshoes from the Queen and members of the current royal family.

The final day was spent on Cotswold Villages - Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. Stow was a pleasant place to wander around, and Bourton had lots of attractions, including a model village of the actual village, which contains a model of the model. There was also Birdland, with penguins, flamingos, owls, parrots, pelicans, many varieties of pheasant, etc, etc.

Our last day was 'travelling home'. Even this had its interesting points, particularly when the driver got lost and took the coach down some lanes only a few inches wider than it was - and then through some roadworks with turns so tight we had to turn the wrong way and detour back through the roadworks from a different direction. Finally we stopped for a while in Stamford - an opportunity to look round several very old churches and the market and cafes etc.

Thanks both to National Holidays and to Bob Younger for organising this enjoyable visit.

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THE TREE CIRCUS

Axel Erlandson (1884-1964) was a Swedish-American farmer whose hobby was shaping trees – he pruned, bent, and grafted trees into fantastic shapes and opened them to the public in 1947 as The Tree Circus. To make this Basket Tree arborsculpture, Erlandson planted six sycamore trees in a circle and then grafted them together to form the diamond patterns.

A tree is a wonderful living organism which gives shelter, food, warmth and protection to all living things. It even gives shade to those who wield an axe to cut it down. - Buddha

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BIRD WATCHING …

If you’ve been feeding the birds in your garden and struggled to identify some of your visitors, try the Teesdale U3A Birding website at http://www.machaven.co.uk/birdingu3a/. It is packed with information to help the non-expert. Lots of pictures, films and recordings of bird song, sorted by where you might find them (sea birds, gardens, moors etc).. All the film clips have been recorded in gardens or at permitted sites within our local area.

AN INVITING OPPORTUNITY FROM HOST

HOST is a voluntary network of people across the UK who enjoy occasionally welcoming international students at UK universities to their homes. U3A members are just the kind of interesting and interested people students love to meet, to gain an insight into the real life of this country away from the campus, and to share their own culture with their hosts. You can get to know what makes a country tick by chatting to the natives, cooking and eating with them, asking their views, and seeing their views when they take you to their favourite local places. And in sharing their own culture with their hosts, students can make their countries come alive too. Hosting a student for one weekend, or at Christmas, or just for a day, makes a personal and meaningful contribution to international understanding and goodwill. U3A members make ideal hosts! If you would like to know more, please visit www.hostuk.org, or call HOST’s local organiser Kerrie Jopling on 01697 324473.

HOST is a national charity founded in 1987 by the British Council, the Victoria League and the Foreign Office. Hosting students is a voluntary activity.

SAXON BRITAIN: A LOOK AT EVENTS OUTSIDE U3A

The Centre for Lifelong Learning at Newcastle (actually run by Sunderland University, but that is another story) have been running a course on Celtic Crosses, taught by Colm O’Brien. He invited the Friends of Bede’s World to join his class on a field trip and so on a rather cool draughty Saturday morning in July a group gathered at Bede’s World Car Park (now there’s an anachronistic concept to play with!) and eventually boarded a coach to go first to Newcastle for a second pickup and then on to Birdoswald.

The Roman site at Birdoswald has been through several stages of use – initially as a fort on the wall, with the usual barracks and granaries, then after the Roman Empire withdrew the buildings continued in use, with some rebuilding – but in Celtic style.

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Stone walls were taken down (or fell down, or lost their roofs) and were replaced with wooden buildings – still on quite a substantial scale, but as a Feasting Hall of a local chieftain instead of their earlier use. Sadly, the people of that era (Late 4th to mid 6th centuries) left very little evidence from which we could learn about them. We know virtually nothing except that they built in wood rather than stone, and the political power structure was mostly based on local chieftains rather than a powerful military organisation such as the Roman Empire had been.

After an interesting lecture from Colm we had a look around the ruins, watched a group of children having an interactive day - dressing up as 4th Century warriors and getting some training, then working over a mockup of an archaeological dig - then we had a look around the coffee shop, and it was time to move on.

The second visit was to Bewcastle Cross. This is a stone pillar that used to have a cross on top. One side is carved with three figures in a style that will be familiar to anyone who has been round Bede's World, the others are decorated with bird, animal and plant forms reminiscent of the decorative borders to things like the Book of Kells. There are two substantial runic inscriptions that can only be partly translated, so the reason why the cross was erected in the first place remains open to conjecture. A memorial to a local chieftain, a marker for a battle site, and a monastic site have all been proposed.

By the time we had finished here it was mid afternoon and the distinct chill of early morning had long gone. We moved on to the Heritage Centre at Once Brewed for refreshments and loos, before the journey home.

An interesting and educational day had had been enjoyed by all.

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NORFOLK DELIGHTS

Sitting as it does at the eastern extremity of the British Isles, facing the often harsh elements of the North Sea, Norfolk is an often missed treasure on the tourist trail. It is perhaps because of its lack of motorways that it has maintained its quaintness and a different sense of time, but it has much to offer the visitor, whatever their taste may be.

From the historic town of Kings Lynn in the west the coastline arches northwards and takes the traveller to some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in the UK – the world renowned expanse of Holkham Beach, the bustle of the harbour town of Wells-Next-The-Sea and the wild beauty of Blakeney Point, with its bird sanctuary. Travelling further east brings you to the seaside resorts of Cromer and Sherringham, the former with its impressive pier and the latter a charming example of the ‘kiss me quick

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‘resort. The coast then becomes a long sandy expanse where seals come ashore to pup in the winter. The pups can be viewed at close quarters on the dunes and beaches but the adult seals tend to stick to the shore, where noisy fights are not uncommon. Eventually, as you head south, the resort of Great Yarmouth brings you almost to the southern limit of the county.

To the north west of Great Yarmouth lies what is perhaps the most famous attraction of all – The Norfolk Broads. This area of shallow lakes is not, in fact, a natural feature, but is the result of peat digging carried out by monks in medieval times. It is now a national park and Britain’s third largest inland waterway. A protected wetland, it is home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the UK, as well as a feast of waterfowl. It is also, however, a haven for the holiday-maker, whether it be those enjoying a sailing or cruising holiday, or those seeking out the quaint villages and historic sites. The area is noted for its big skies, punctuated by fields with livestock, the occasional windmill, and yacht sails apparently gliding through the fields themselves.

Norfolk also has its fair share of historic houses and estates, notably Sandringham and Blickling Hall, and the capital city of Norwich is also full of sites of interest, from the grandeur of the Cathedral to the novelty of the Coleman’s mustard shop. Norwich is a bustling city with smart shops and a good market.

There are other numerous attractions dotted around the county – zoos, museums, potteries, quaint little villages and market towns – and some notable gardens. In fact there is something for everyone here, including a milder climate than we ‘enjoy’ in the North East! All in all a spot worth the journey – as you may already know.

ARTS AND LITERATURE

FASCINATING WORDS

Colophon: A publisher's emblem or inscription, usually found at the beginning of a book (nowadays normally on the reverse of the title page). They once were very elaborate but have been downplayed by modern publishers. The colophon of a book also used to list the author's name and the date and place of publication. (Greek kolophon, summit, finishing touch)

Vignette: a small illustration (such as those of Thomas Bewick) placed at the beginning or end of a book or chapter. (French, vigne = vine; because of vine motif often used in embellishments to a text)

Bondmaid, an archaic term to describe young female slaves, was the only word lost by James Murray during the 70 years it took him to complete the First Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. It had appeared in Samuel Johnson’s dictionary in the 1750s, but Murray mislaid it among the millions of slips of paper that filled a crowded study he called his

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‘Scriptorium’. The oversight wasn’t noticed until after the volume Battentlie – Bozzom had been published, and bondmaid had to wait decades until the rest of the dictionary was completed before editors could find a spot for it. The word finally appeared in the OED’s first supplement, printed in 1933.

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PUBLIC SCULPTURE: THE BROTHERS

Sculptor: Brian Brown (Manufactured by Dyer Engineering Limited)

Where: South Crescent, Seaham (close to old railway track)

Cost: £30,000

Date: July 2011

Three miners standing at the ptihead, ready to “gan down”, depicted in recycled metals

In addition to honouring the efforts of those who worked at the town’s three collieries, the piece is also a memorial for those who died in mining accidents and disasters. The sculpture was commissioned by Seaham Council and unveiled during the summer carnival in July 2011. It was created by Sunderland-born artist Brian Brown who is known for his work on the industry, including a sculpture – The Putter - in the garden at the Durham Miners’ Association headquarters at Redhills.

==============================

You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get

people to stop reading them. (Ray Bradbury)

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ANY OLD BOOKS?

Brian Dettmer is a contemporary artist, born in 1974 in Chicago, where he studied at Columbia College. He is one of a growing number of artists using discarded books to create new artwork.

He begins by sealing the edges of the book, then cuts into the surface and dissects it from the front using a range of tools that includes knives, tweezers and surgical tools until it becomes a new work of art – a miniature landscape, or complex patterns. There's no rushing it though – each page is painstakingly sculpted one at a time. And he never adds anything to the books, but only takes away

British artist Sue Blackwell, born in Sheffield in 1975, also uses books, cutting-out images from them to create three-dimensional sculptures, often based on fairy tales and folk lore.

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LITERARY QUIZ

Here’s a quiz we enjoyed at the regional Literary Lunch. The answers are all well-known books (bonus points for knowing the authors!)

1. Caribbean pub 2. The dental factory 3. Departed with the air stream 4. Negative medic 5. The stint of the prison guard 6. Neither east nor west 7. Minute maidens 8. Huge hopes 9. Three baker’s dozens and a set of ladders 10. Well known quintet (series)

SCIENCE

THE SHIPPING FORECAST

In the UK, the Met Office prepares forecasts which are broadcast four times a day. It goes out on Radio 4 because it uses longwave as well as FM and the longwave signal can be received clearly at sea around the British Isles. The distinctive sound of these broadcasts, together with the theme tune of the 00:48 bulletin, “Sailing By”, has led to their attracting a much wider audience than those directly affected by weather conditions at sea.

The forecast has a limit of 370 words within a very strict format.

The seas around the British Isles are divided into named regions (… “Dogger, Fisher, Humber, German Bight” …) which have been largely unchanged since 1949.

The forecast starts with any gale wamings, then a general synopsis

General Synopsis Low, Rockall, 987, deepening rapidly, expected Fair Isle 964 by 0700 tomorrow

Low pressure system (pressure 987) in Rockall, rapidly getting lower and moving NE towards Fair Isle

Then come the forecasts for individual areas, named in a roughly clockwise direction, starting at Viking.

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Lundy Variable 4 becoming west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.

Wind strength & direction

Slight or moderate. Sea State Showers.. Weather Moderate or good Visibility Moderate icing Icing – given in winter

The shipping forecast has a devoted fan club and has inspired many authors, poets and song writers – and even bell ringers: Sam Austin composed a three-bell change ringing method called "Shipping Forecast Singles". And in 2008, the shipping forecast was read out at the Beijing Olympics in a piece composed by Philip Sheppard as part of the handing over ceremony to London. Carol Ann Duffy’s poem "Prayer" finishes: "Darkness outside. Inside, the radio's prayer — Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre."

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PROSOPAGNOSIA - OR PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE!

Everyone has occasional difficulty recognising people, but those with prosopagnosia (face blindness) may have difficulty recognising those they know very well. People who are "colour blind" can see things that are in colour; they just can't tell colours apart. Similarly, people with face blindness can see faces; they just can't tell them apart.

When you close your eyes you can probably summon up a mental picture of someone you know well, whereas most people with face blindness could not. Depending on its severity, those who suffer from it may have difficulty recognising family members, close

friends, and even themselves. One extreme sufferer says when she's standing in front of a mirror in a crowded Ladies, she makes a funny face so that, as she puts it, "I can tell which one is me." Not surprisingly, it can create social problems when you walk past someone you were happily chatting to the previous day. Earlier this year, Dragon’s Den businessman Duncan Bannatyne revealed he was a sufferer. “'I can have a two-hour meeting with someone and then not recognise them at dinner four hours later”, he told a Guardian interviewer. Name badges are a wondrous invention!

We therefore invent coping strategies to recognise people – clothes, hair style, posture, voice - not as effective as recognition of the face, especially when affected by the vagaries of fashion. (At university I once sat next to a stranger in the library, who seemed vaguely familiar. It was only when she tapped me on the shoulder and spoke that I realised it was one of my close friends: she’d just had her long hair cut into a bob.)

Once … I met my mother on the sidewalk and did not recognize her. We walked towards each other, and passed within two feet of each other, on a not-too-busy sidewalk in a neighborhood shopping district. The only way I know about this is because she told me about it that night. She was not amused at all by this incident, and she has never forgiven me for it.

Bill Choisser

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And following a TV drama can be mystifying when many of the characters look vaguely similar: the dialogue goes something like “Wasn’t she murdered at the beginning?” “No, that was her sister” “So she’s the nurse” “No, that’s someone else”. The acting world is largely populated by identikit blondes and cloned smooth faced males.

It is frequently associated with “place blindness” – the inability to recognise and remember places. Virtually wherever we go, my first question is “Have we been here before?” And a substantial proportion of prosopagnosics report difficulties in navigation.

There are two main types of face blindness. One caused by brain injury, such as a stroke, when the change in ability is obvious. More difficult to spot is that which is there from childhood, probably genetic. Commonly such people don’t realise they have a problem. People usually don’t discuss how they recognise someone - it's something taken for granted - and so people with face blindness presume that others are also struggling. My eureka moment came a few years ago when I was listening to a Radio 4 interview and realised “That’s me!”.

The condition was once thought to be fairly rare, but there has been a recent surge of interest, partly because of researchers and sufferers linking up on the internet. A recent study found that it is highly heritable and surprisingly common, afflicting, in some form, an estimated 2% of population - thousands of people in the UK alone. One theory is that it may be caused by a defect in a single, dominant gene, so that if one parent has it, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it.

Recently an Ayrshire optician has claimed some success in treating face blindness using tailor-made coloured lenses. “I know people joke about the world looking better through rose-tinted spectacles, but it's actually kind of true” said one patient.

So the next time someone you know walks straight past you, don’t assume they are being rude – perhaps they really don’t recognise you.

Read Bill Choisser’s account of his experiences in his online book Face Blind! at www.choisser.com/faceblind/ Test yourself for face-blindness at www.prosopagnosiaresearch.org

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ZOO ANIMALS REACT TO EARTHQUATE

Following August’s earthquake on the eastern cost of America, the National Zoo in Washington issued a report on how its inhabitants reacted to the event. Some seemed unmoved whilst others were jittery – some requiring a human to calm them down. • About five to ten seconds before the quake, many of the

apes abandoned their food and climbed to the top of the tree-like structure in the exhibit. Iris (an orangutan) began “belch vocalizing”—an unhappy/upset noise normally reserved for extreme irritation—before the quake and continued this vocalization following the quake.

• The red ruffed lemurs sounded an alarm call about 15 minutes before the quake and then again just after it occurred.

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• All the snakes began writhing during the quake. Normally, they remain inactive during the day.

• Just before the quake, the flamingos rushed about and grouped themselves together. They remained huddled during the quake.

On the other hand, according to keepers, the giant pandas did not appear to respond to the earthquake and the Prezwalski’s horses and scimitar-horned oryx “hardly noticed, although those that were inside did amble outside eventually”.

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GARDENING

THE PLIGHT OF THE HUMBLE BEE

When it comes to the job of pollinating our food we owe a huge debt to bees. In general plants can be pollinated by insects, wind, birds and even bats, but about a third of all the plants we eat will have been pollinated by bees.

Bumble bees live in small nests and are generally less aggressive than honey bees, which live in much larger colonies. Only the female bees have a sting and bumble bees do not lose their sting and die if they use it, unlike the honey bee. Bumble bees only produce a small amount of honey, sufficient only to feed their young – it is the honey bee which produces it in sufficient quantities to enable us to benefit from its efforts. Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including water, and to make one pound of honey the bees in the colony must visit 2

BIG BANG!

This is what a black hole looks like, or technically – this is a photograph of a simulated black hole event from the ATLAS project in the Large Hadron Collider’ at CERN.

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million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles and it will be the lifetime work of approximately 300 bees. Interestingly, bees have a very strong sense of smell, so much so that they are even being used to sniff out explosives etc.

The contribution made by bees to our human existence is enormous, so it is of great concern that their numbers are in decline. The number of honeybees in the UK halved between 1985 and 2005 and butterflies and moths have fared little better. There have been numerous reasons put forward for this but it would seem that the disappearance of wildflowers due to chemical use and loss of hedgerows is a major factor. So why not try giving nature a helping hand by providing plants to attract bees? You don’t even need a garden – a pot or window box can do the job too.

So what sort of flowers should you plant? Bees need nectar and pollen but many popular bedding plants such as pelargoniums, begonias and busy lizzies have no nectar in the flowers so are of no use to bees and other insects. Similarly, bees find it difficult to get at the nectar and pollen in double flowers. Bumble bees need a supply of nectar rich plants from spring until late summer (March to September) and honey bees remain active throughout the winter, so there is still time to do some immediate planting, or you can use the following list when doing any autumn planting for next year.

In the spring plants such as bluebells, daffodils and hellebores are beneficial, together with crab apple, flowering cherry and currant, forget-me-not, bugle, heather, pulmonaria, pussy willow, hawthorn, rhododendron, viburnum and thrift.

Early summer flowers include aquilegia, astilbe, campanula, everlasting sweet pea, foxglove, geranium, poppies, potentilla, geranium, single roses, alliums and so on.

In late summer try any of angelica, aster, buddleia, cornflower, single flowered dahlia, delphinium, fuchsia, penstemon, scabious, sedum, sea holly and sunflowers.

In addition, a selection of herbs throughout the year will be most welcome – rosemary, fennel, thyme, chives, sage, lavender, borage, marjoram, mint and so on.

These lists are not exhaustive but should give a big enough selection to keep the bees buzzing throughout the season.

Happy planting!

Some good news: there are an increasing number of bee colonies in the cities – on rooftops, allotments, school gardens and backyards. Some of our most famous buildings host hives: Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, Covent Garden, Fenwicks.

Fenwicks? Yes – Newcastle has been dubbed “UK’s most bee friendly city”, with a planned Bee Strategy and a dedicated website – Bee Aware (http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/bees) which offers lots of useful tips. As part of this, Fenwicks has 5 hives on the roof and sells the honey in its food department.

And it’s not just the UK: bees have been kept on the roof of the Paris Opera for 20 years; in Australia the Melbourne beekeepers’ association has a waiting list and in New York more than 100 people have established hives after a ban was lifted in 2010.

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FOOD

GOOD FOOD TO HELP YOUR DIGESTION

The occasional indulgence is unlikely to give you anything more than a short-lived stomach upset. But overindulge too often and you could be storing up trouble for yourself. Below is advice from the NHS on how to help your digestion.

Fill up on fibre. It’s a good idea to try and eat more fibre or 'roughage' as most people in the UK don't get enough and a diet rich in fibre can help digestion and prevent constipation. For a healthy bowel, you need a variety of fibre such as wholemeal bread, brown rice, fruit and veg, beans and oats. Some people find that cereals and grains bring on bloating and irritable bowel syndrome. If that’s the case, get your fibre from fruit and vegetables instead.

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. It encourages the passage of waste through your digestive system. Fibre acts like a sponge, absorbing water, and without fluid the fibre can’t do its job and you’ll get constipation.

Cut down on fat. Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cutting back on greasy, fried foods eases your stomach’s workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and grill rather than fry foods.

Go easy on the spice. Many people love spicy food and it doesn’t bother their digestive system. Others find their tummy is upset when they have spicy food. It’s not just scorching hot foods like chillies that trigger heartburn. Milder but flavourful foods like garlic and onion can also bring it on. If you already have a problem like heartburn or an irritable bowel, avoid them completely.

Beware triggers. Some people find that particular foods cause problems. Acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks can trigger heartburn; wheat and onions may cause irritable bowel syndrome and if you cannot digest lactose (the sugar in milk) you’ll develop wind and diarrhoea after drinking milk or eating dairy products, including cream, cheese, yoghurt and chocolate.

Choose the right drinks. Drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, colas, tea and some fizzy drinks, boost acid in the stomach leading to heartburn in some people. To make digestive problems less likely, choose drinks that aren’t fizzy and don’t contain caffeine, such as herbal teas, milk and plain water. If you can’t do without your coffee or builder’s tea, limit your intake to one or two cups a day.

Tummy-friendly yoghurt. Probiotics are so-called 'friendly bacteria' that also occur naturally in the gut and which have been linked to all sorts of health benefits. You can take probiotics as supplements (available from health food shops) or as live yoghurt, which is a good, natural source. You'll need to take them every day for at least four weeks to see any beneficial effect.

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Simple diet is best - for many dishes bring many diseases; and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other. Pliny

RECIPES

HONEY AND LEMON CHEESECAKE

Crust 3 oz melted butter 6 oz crushed digestive biscuits

Pour butter into crushed biscuits and line a dish

Filling 1 cup powered milk ⅓ cup clear honey 2 oz melted butter 2 lemons 8 oz cottage or cream cheese boiling water

Put milk, honey, melted butter, and the rind and juice of both lemons in a liquidiser and blend. Add cheese and a little boiling water and blend again. Pour into prepared crust and leave to chill in the fridge for at least two hours.

Flavours can be added as desired.

HONEY TEA BREAD

225g (8oz) raisins 75g (3oz) set honey 2 eggs, size 3, lightly beaten 275g (10oz) whole-wheat flour 2.5ml (½tsp)ground mixed spice 15ml (1tbsp) baking powder 300ml (½pt) freshly made strong tea

Place the raisins in a bowl. Stir the honey into the tea and pour this over raisins. Leave to soak for 2 hours. Stir the eggs into the raisin mixture.

Pre-heat oven to 180C, Gas Mark 4. Mix the flour with the spice and baking powder then mix these dry ingredients into the raisin mixture.

Transfer to a greased 900g (2lb) loaf tin and bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Cook on a wire rack and serve sliced and buttered.

Kissing don't last: cookery do. - George Meredith

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ANNIVERSARIES

200 years ago: Birth of Franz Liszt, Hungarian piano virtuoso and composer (22 Oct 1811)

100 years ago: The first escalator on the London Underground began operating at Earl’s Court station (4 Oct 1911)

100 years ago: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team became first people to reach the South Pole. (14 Dec 1911)

75 years ago: The Jarrow March.200 men set off from Jarrow to Westminster to publicise the severe unemployment and poverty in the NE. (5 – 31 Oct 1936)

40 years ago Greenpeace, the international environmental group, was founded in Vancouver, Canada (15 Sep 1971)

30 years ago: First report of AIDS - 5 men in Los Angeles were suffering from a rare form of pneumonia found in patients with weakened immune systems. (5 Jun 1981)

25 years ago: The M25 motorway around Greater London, UK was officially opened by Margaret Thatcher (29 Oct 1986)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

15-18 Sept Beamish Museum Agricultural Show

16-25 Sept North of England Art Club Annual Exhibition, Holy Biscuit, 1 Clarence Street, Newcastle NE2, 10am – 5pm

17 Sept Steam and diesel shuttles between Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon and the National Railway Museum, York on 17, 18, 24 and 25; tel 01388 777999 for details

25 Sept Apple & Pear Day; Crook Hall, Durham; £6; free fruit!

20-23 Oct Durham City Food Festival

22 Oct Herbs for Healing; Jill Snabel, day course at HOPS, Roker Park Road, £35; book at 07714 373521

27 Oct Halloween Fun at Sunderland Museum; free

31 Oct Children’s Hallow’s Eve Extravaganza, Bede’s World; 5pm; Family ticket, (2 adults and up to 3 children) £20.

19 Nov-2 Jan Christmas at Beamish

20 Nov Seaton Sluice Art Exhibition; 11am – 6pm; free; Community Centre, Albert Road

26-27 Nov Christmas Craft Fair; Souter Lighthouse, 10am -5pm

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2-4 Dec Durham Christmas Festival

3 & 10 Dec Christmas at Crook Hall; 4-6pm, Carols, mulled wine, mince pies and all things Christmassy; £9.50 pre-book

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REGULAR MEETINGS:

FOSUMS (Friends of Sunderland Museums) Meetings at Sunderland Museum, third Thursday of each month 7- 9pm; £1 entry fee Membership enquiries to: David Owens on 07949 613 363

20 Oct Gill Cookson: Sunderland’s Landscape – Medieval to Modern 24 Nov Geoff Hughes: Cragside, Upstairs, Downstairs 15 Dec Christmas Social Evening

WEARSIDE FIELD CLUB Meets at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of the month at Fulwell Community Centre, Chapman Street (£1 entry) plus one Saturday walk/excursion per month (coach fare for out of area walks). Details from Elsie Denham on 0191 521 2760

Tues 11 Oct Eric Fletcher: Prehistoric Monuments Sat 15 Oct Walk: Chester le Street to No Place Tues 8 Nov Peter Talbot: An Expedition to Greenland Sat 29 Nov Visit to Carlisle Tues 13 Dec Christmas Social

SUNDERLAND COMMUNITY LECTURES Tom Cowie Theatre, Sunderland University at 2.30pm; free

Wed 1 Sep Dave Sanders: Madness: history and future Sat 8 Oct Andrew Birley: Vindolandia

MONDAY STROLLERS Walking group meeting locally every other Monday for short gentle walks. For details contact Margaret Ridley on 0191 581 7235 or email mary@prharris.co.uk

TUNSTALL HILLS PROTECTION GROUP Series of gentle guided walks on Sunday afternoons. Meet at 2pm at changing room car park on the hill (opposite Hollymere pub). Free. Details from 0191 528 4659 or www.tunstallhills.org.uk

Sat 15 Oct Fungal foray start at 11 am

BEDE’S WORLD LECTURES IN ENGLISH LITERATURE Thursdays, 5.30 – 7pm; in conjunction with the Department of English Literature at Durham University; free 22 Sept: The Gentle Art of Advertising: Ulysses and the Material of Modernity (Matthew 29 Sept: In Memoriam: The Death of Elegy (Naomi Banks-Marklew) 6 Oct: The Knight and the Witch: Powers of Disguise in the Medieval World (Jamie McKinstry)

BEDE LECTURE SERIES Saturdays, 12 – 1pm at Bede’s World; museum admission charge 29 Oct Poetry and Song in Anglo-Saxon England, .Dr. Carl Phelpstead 26 Nov Imagining the Music of Merrie England, Dr. Lisa Colton

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INTERESTING PEOPLE

HILD OF WHITBY (614 – 680)

All who knew her called her mother because of her outstanding devotion and grace (Bede)

Hild was born into the Deiran royal family around 614; her father was the nephew of King Edwin. As a young girl she was baptised along with King Edwin by the missionary Paulinus but she led a secular life until she was 33, when she entered monastic life. She was about to leave for a convent in Gaul when Aidan of Lindisfarne persuaded her to form a monastery "on the north side of the River Wear". Nothing remains of this foundation and its exact location is unknown, though some have suggested it was on the site which later became St Peter’s.

After a year, she was sent to become abbess of Hartlepool. Nothing remains of this abbey, though the cemetery has been found, close to the present St Hilda's Church on the Headland.

In 657 she left to become founding abbess of the new monastery at Whitby (then known as Streonshalh) where she remained until her death in 680. This was a double monastery, for men and women, which followed the Irish traditions. Whitby was a seat of learning, and five of its

early students became bishops. Bede describes her as a skilled administrator and a person of great wisdom who wielded such great influence in the church as a teacher that kings and church leaders travelled to Whitby to consult her. This is probably the reason why King Oswiu chose Whitby as the venue for the momentous Synod of Whitby in 664. After debate headed by Colman (for Lindisfarne) and Wilfrid (for Rome), the king decided in favour of the Roman tradition and from this time the influence of Lindisfarne and Iona waned as mainstream Christianity in England followed the rule of Rome .

Hild encouraged Caedmon, often called the first English poet, a worker on the estate at Whitby who was inspired to sing verses in praise of God . His work was in English rather than Latin and at a time when the local pagan people could not read, his verses were a crucial tool in missionary work. Only one of his verses has survived – the hymn of creation.

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REGIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

BOOKING NOW . . . BOOKING NOW

Northumbria Region Mini Medical School Thursday November 3rd 2011. Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne. From 9.30am to 4.30pm Cost is £13 per person which includes a buffet lunch and tea and coffee

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Hexham U3A Annual Public Lecture Friday 4 November

Guest Speaker: Gail-Nina Anderson: Shakespeare in Art Contact Jenny Lewis Hexham U3A 01434 608257; carstone@waitrose.co.uk

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Pantomime at the Georgian Theatre, Richmond

Thursday 8th December, starting at 7pm Jenny and Peter Lewis have booked the entire theatre for 210 U3A members; Price £12. To book contact Peter Lewis carstone@waitrose.com

DARLINGTON LITERARY LUNCH

On 26 July 80 people from U3As throughout the North East gathered at Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington for the first regional Literary Lunch. After a pleasant meal we were entertained by author Mike Pannett, whose first book Now Then Lad: tales of a country bobby was a best seller. Mike served 20 years in the police, starting in the London Met, before returning to Ryedale where he served as a rural beat officer for 10 years. In 2005 he starred in the BBC's Country Cops and was inspired to write about his adventures in the North Yorks force.

It was an enjoyable event, with a chance to socialise with people from other U3A branches, as well as an opportunity to buy signed copies of Mike’s books – and we all left clutching a free gift of a pack of Yorkshire Tea! Watch out for similar events in the future.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NETWORK ANNUAL SEMINAR

Abergavenny is the venue of the annual science network seminar and U3A members from all round the country gathered in August for a packed programme of lectures, visits and socialising. Starting off with Icelandic geology, we progressed through fractal art, glassmaking and digital photography, pausing only to land the jumbo jet we learned how to get airborne last year, and have a brief look at quantum theory and the mathematics behind music.

Our visit to the National History Museum of Wales - an open-air museum like Beamish - gave us an afternoon to explore the various buildings, whilst the next day’s visit to Bristol saw lots of adults elbowing children off the interactive science displays.

On Wednesday the evening was enlivened by practical plane building (paper, balsa wood, plastic, polystyrene ...) with projectiles zooming across the room, before we settled into the relative calm of handling fossils and then enjoying an impromptu magic display when it was discovered one of our number was a magician. All this plus good food and company - well recommended.

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ANSWERS TO QUIZ

1. Jamaica Inn (D du Maurier) 2. The Mill on the Floss (G Eliot) 3. Gone with the Wind (M Mitchell) 4. Dr No (I Fleming) 5. The Turn of the Screw (H James) 6. North and South (E Gaskell) 7. Little Women (L Alcott) 8. Great Expectations (C Dickens) 9. Thirty-nine Steps (J Buchan) 10. Famous Five (E Blyton)

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GROUPS AT A GLANCE

MONDAY (Not Bank Holidays or some school holidays – see notices & web site)

1 Science Monkwearmouth Railway Museum 2pm 2 Amateur Artists Monkwearmouth Railway Museum 10.15am 3 --- 4 Card Making Leader’s home 10.00am 4 Amateur Artists Monkwearmouth Railway Museum 10.15am

TUESDAY

1 Computer Support Amble Tower, Lakeside Village 10.30am 1 Tai Chi Fulwell Methodist 2.00 pm 2 Poetry Appreciation Monkwearmouth Railway Museum 10.15am 2 Tai Chi Fulwell Methodist 2.00 pm 3 Computer Support Amble Tower, Lakeside Village 10.30am 3 Tai Chi Fulwell Methodist 2.00 pm 4 Tai Chi Fulwell Methodist 2.00 pm

WEDNESDAY

1 ---------------- 2 Lunch TBA each month 2 Walking TBA each month Morning 3 MONTHLY MEETING Fulwell Methodist, Dovedale Rd 1.30 for 2pm 4 Ten Pin Bowling Bowling Alley, Wheatsheaf 10.15

THURSDAY

2 History Fulwell Methodist 11.00am 3 Looking at Art Various venues 10.30am 4 Reading 2

nd Floor, Central Library 2.00 pm

4 Travel Monkwearmouth Railway Museum 10.30am

FRIDAY

1 Keep Mobile Fulwell Methodist 11.00 am 2 Scrabble Organiser’s home 2.00 pm 3 Geology Bangladeshi Centre 2.00pm 3 Keep Mobile Fulwell Methodist 11.00 am 4 Keep Mobile Fulwell Methodist 11.00 am 4 Music Appreciation Dock Street 10.00am

CINEMA – this group happens on an ad hoc basis –details at monthly meeting COFFEE MORNING: held at Fulwell Methodist Church, at 10 for 10.30 am, whenever there is a fifth Wednesday in the month.

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CONTACT US

Chair: Ann Aldridge

3 Rockville, Seaburn, SR6 9EL; 0191 548 1878

Vice-Chair: Judith Ayles 18 Hunter Close, East Boldon, NE36 0TB; 07985 317 478 judithbldn @ btinternet.com

Secretary: Betty Lenier

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Treasurer: Martin Walker

85 Ryhope Rd., Sunderland, SR2 7SZ; 0191 567 8920

Groups Secretary: Sheila Humby

07890 982 569 shumby @ talktalk.net

Membership: Lilian Younger

103 Dovedale Rd. Sunderland, SR6 8LS; 0191 549 0984

Speakers Sec: Susan Quayle

53 Ambleside Tce., Sunderland, SR6 8NP; 0191 548 8139

Mag Rep: Dorothy Scott 4 Kenton Grove, Sunderland, SR6 0HH; 0191 565 2108 dorothy.mse @ btinternet.com

Committee Members:

Minnie Cochrane 0191 522 0937 Alan Denham 0191 521 2760 Joan Walton Jim Wilson

Editor: Elsie Denham 61 Orkney Drive, Sunderland SR2 0TB; 0191 521 2760 elsie.denham @ googlemail.com

Sunderland U3A email address: sunderlandu3a @ gmail.com

Website: sunderlandu3a.co.uk