News - U3A South Africa

U3A Plettenberg Bay Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2015
A warm welcome to our 2015 U3A year – and belated compliments of the Season. My most grateful thanks
to our extremely able Secretary, Michael Lond, for producing our newsletter for the second half of 2014. I
am more than delighted to say I’m recovering well and, as Gene Autry once sang , “ back in the saddle
again, yippee hi-yi-yo!”
We have a really great programme lined up for the forthcoming year. Several shorter series than those we
featured last year as well as outstanding documentaries. And the Downton Abbey fans (of which there are
many!) may be delighted to know we’re kicking off the year with two solid months of Monday viewing of
the latest Series 5.
The Annual General Meeting of U3A Plett is scheduled for mid-month (see attachment) with outstanding
guest speakers, Nature Conservators Daniel and Chrissie Cloete . Michelle Williams, a Professional
Organiser (puzzled? Read below) speaks to us towards the end of the month. Brilliant art critic, Waldemar
Januszczak, looks at the art of the Dark Ages; monthly film, The Book Thief, is positively a must-see.
Angela Embleton
083 297 6393
[email protected]
DOWNTON ABBEY: Series 5
Why do we unashamedly show this series? Does it fit in with our U3A philosophy that our presentations
have a learning curve and are not just for entertainment? Does Downton Abbey fit the bill? Well, the
series is meticulous in portraying the period between the two World Wars and historical details are
completely accurate, be it costumes being coherent with the time of day or what the servants should be
carrying. Thus it becomes a history lesson, embracing the society, politics and indeed the whole hierarchy
of life in the 1920s. A most important member of the film crew is historical advisor Alastair Bruce.
Renowned for his vast knowledge, he was adviser for The Young Victoria (also scripted by Julian Fellowes)
as well as the Imperial War Museum. Alastair’s eagle eye is constantly monitoring every period detail,
from military decorations to table manners.
Monday
2
10:00
FGV
Issue 113
Episode 1
Dressing for Dinner
It is early 1924 and a Labour Government is in power. Dinners features largely, with the
women beautifully gowned and jewelled and the men resplendent in white (early on) not
black tie. The Earl and Countess of Grantham host a large party for their 34th wedding
anniversary. Abbey dinners are usually served on a traditional Spode dinner service,
bought by the prop department. Alastair Bruce makes sure classic manners are observed.
“ Food comes in - and is taken away – from the left and wine from the right. The menu
card is removed after the main course and before the pudding and the footmen serve with
a seat between them to avoid jostling.”
Page 1
Monday
9
10:00
FGV
Monday
16
10:00
FGV
Monday
23
10:00
FGV
Episode 2
The Perfect English Village
Robert, Earl of Grantham, and faithful, traditionalist butler, Carson, are at odds regarding
the war memorial and it is obvious that each man is uncomfortable opposing the other.
Much to Robert’s horror, Carson wants a full garden of remembrance on the cricket pitch
while Robert is convinced a simple cross on the village green would be appropriately
tasteful. The village of Downton is, in fact, Bampton, a picturesque Oxfordshire village 30
miles away. Dating back to Roman times, the stone of the buildings is similar to those of
Downton Abbey and the lovely old houses surround a beautiful village green and church.
Episode 3
The Dower House
There’s emphasis on crime in this episode – but contrasted with scenes shot at the home
of Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, especially when Violet has a “suitor-admirer”
enter her life in the personality of Prince Kuragin, an extremely aristocratic émigré who left
Russia because of the Revolution. The calm green interior of the Dower House harks back
to an Eastern-inspired, 18th century look, with the antiques including a beautiful papiermâché sewing table. The props department have gone the extra mile to suit Violet’s
personality. After all, she can be a bit 18th century herself, at times.
Episode 4
Navigating Through the Shifting Sands of the Future
Fornerly chauffeur to the Crawleys, Tom Branson is now accepted as their son-in-law. He,
Lady Mary and the Earl are embroiled in discussions regarding a future housing
development. But although Branson is playing a more crucial role at Downton than ever
before, he can’t help questioning his place in the world. Lady Mary is coming to accept
that she would like to marry again – but will she ever find the same happiness that she had
with Matthew? Lord Merton wants to marry Isobel Crawley, Matthew’s mother, but she is
taken aback and needs time to think. And poor Lady Edith is suffering dreadfully from the
burden of her terrible secret.
Film Club
The Book Thief
Monday
23
18:15
FGV
Issue 113
This is the story of a young girl who transforms the lives of those around her during WWII
in Germany. Sophie Nelisse,13, plays Liesel with great talent, matching up well against
Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech) and Oscar nominee Emily Watson. The
story focusses on a small German town but, although the harsh realities of life and the
dark events of the time are there, we see how the villagers helped each other, sheltering
communist daughter Liesel whilst Geoffrey Rush walks a fine line by hiding a Jew whose
father saved his life in WWI. The movie asks you to consider the effect an extraordinary
war had on ordinary people and how it impacted on love, friendship and family. Brilliantly
executed with spectacular performances. At times it is like reading poetry.
Page 2
Wednesday U3A PLETTENBERG BAY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
12
NB: 09:00
For 09:30
Please see the formal notice of the meeting which is attached
Following the meeting, Daniël and Chrissie Cloete will speak on
Our Peru Experience: Living and Travelling Through the South
Both qualified Nature Conservators, Daniël and Chrissie have worked with various
conservation and environmental initiatives in Plettenberg Bay since 2008. On completion
in June 2013 of Daniël’s MSc in Conservation Biology at the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of
African Ornithology, they left South Africa to pursue a lifelong dream not just to visit but to
live for a time in the Amazonian rainforest. For five months they worked as Resident
Naturalists at a lodge and research station in the SE rainforest of Peru, monitoring Giant
River Otters, Black and Spectacled Caimans, Parrots and Macaws. They spent the last
month in Peru travelling to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon and hiking in the
Cordillera Blanca Mountain Range.
They returned in January 2014. Daniel is currently working towards a PhD on Fynbos bird
pollination systems, whilst Chrissie is combining her interests of conservation and
illustration to produce environmental awareness materials and books.
Rearrange Your Space – Rearrange Yourself
Wednesday
25
10:00
FGV
Michelle Williams, of Sorted Solutions, says “after 12 years of being a Professional
Organiser/Speaker and Designer, I’ve seen the huge difference a great Sorted Solution can
make to people’s lives. Everyone thinks their ‘mess’ is the worst. I smile at this because
one doesn’t always realise how similar are lifestyles and challenges. People move on,
homes and businesses relocate and resize; life is full of transitions. Often the chaos from
past phases of life carry over to the next until one finds oneself in crowded confusion.”
(Indeed, Michelle. And that’s when one cries help!)
THE DARK AGES: AN AGE OF LIGHT
Wednesday
4
10:00
FGV
Wednesday
18
10:00
FGV
Issue 113
Early Christianity (Part 1 of 4)
Waldemar Januszczak, art critic for The Guardian and The (London) Sunday Times, has
produced yet another great documentary about an artistic era that (he says) never gets
the respect it deserves. The Dark Ages were a time of great artistic achievement, with
fresh ideas and religions provoking new artistic adventures. In the First Episode we learn
how Christianity emerged into the Roman Empire as an artistic force in the third and
fourth centuries. And how Christian artists drew on images of ancient gods for inspiration
and developed new forms of architecture to contain their art.
The Barbarians (Part 2 of 4)
The very name is misleading. Today it generally means uncultured or brutish. In fact, it
was an onomatopoeic Greek word for anyone who spoke a funny foreign language. In the
Second Episode the focus is on the Huns, the Vandals and the Goths. Asks Januszczak :
“what did they do for us?” And the answer is plenty. As each tribe journeyed across
Europe they produced the most incredible art. No, silly. Of course they didn’t stop and
paint. Their art lay in gold fashioned into objects of stunning beauty.
Page 3
Special Interest Group Meetings
The French Conversation Group meets each Friday at 10:00. For further information, please
contact Merle Decot (044 533 5879).
The Italian Conversation Group meets each Tuesday at 09:45 at 12 Challenge Drive, the home of
Brenda Hardy (044 533 5489).
The Mah Jong group founded by Amelia White now has a core of enthusiastic players and would
welcome more members to learn and play this ancient game. The group meets every Friday in the
small dining room at FGV. For more information contact Amelia (044 533 0113).
Issue 113
Page 4

Download Report