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EmeraldU3AWinterNewsletter2020

APandemicEditionWithinthesepagesyouwilldiscoverthestories,

thoughtsandfeelingsofmanyinourU3Acommunity.Youwilllearnhowtheyaredealingwithhitherto

unknownsocialisolationBereadytobeinspired,encouraged,amusedandeducatedbygenerousmemberswhosharetheir

thoughtswithcandourandlove

July

PaintingbyKayCraig

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ThoughtsfromourPresident

IcouldspendalotoftimeachingforthingsthatIcan’thave.Somearelonglostinthepast.Othersaretantalisinglyjustoutofmyreach.Afewaresignificant,mostaretrivial.Thereisnoshortageofthem.IcouldlookatthislockdownasatimewhenIamdeprivedofmyfreedomandconfinedtomyhome.Icouldeasilyseeitasadenialofmyrights,anunfairimposition.Icouldslowlybecomegrumpierandhardertolivewithaseachweekpasses.Ihavedecidedtotryandthinkofmyselfasbeing‘tuckedupsafe’ratherthan‘lockeddown’.That’sgoingtobebetterformymentalhealth,formydispositionandforthosewhoarelivingwithme.I’mnotassumingitwillbeeasy,butIwilldomylevelbesttoadjustmyattitudewhenIfeelmyselfdriftingintodissatisfactionandannoyance.Iwilltryandactivatethe‘intentionaloptimist’residingsomewherewithinmypsyche.Whenlifeiseasyandfullofpleasuresandsatisfactionsmyintentionaloptimistbecomesabitredundant.Itneedstowakeupagainandhelpmethroughthistoughtime.

Lookingatcloudshelps.Ihaveachairinmylivingroomthatfacesalineoffloortoceilingwindows.IcanseeacrossthetreesandasfarastheWarburtonRanges.ThatviewissomethingthatIDOhave.Abovethelineofthehillsisaconstantprocessionofcloudsondayswhenthereisabitofbreezeabout.Imarvelattheirshapesandthesubtlewaystheycanchange.

IhavealsodevelopedanewappreciationoflightasIsitandlookoutmywindows.Afterrainthetreeslookasthoughsomeonehasextravagantlythrownhandfulsofdiamondsabout.Intheeveningstherearelongstripsofshadowandbrilliantgreenacrosswhatpassesformybacklawn.Iliketopaintandthistuckedupsafetimehasgivenmeplentyofopportunities.Mymostrecenttwohavebeenallaboutthelight.

PatBuoncristiani

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TipsforFilmBuffs

Lockdowninwinterisaperfecttimeforindoorpastimesincludingfilmviewing.

Asaformerteacherandmakeroffilms,Iwatchmany,especiallydocumentaries.Viewingoptionsathomeareexpanding,withmanyfilmfestivals(MelbourneInternationalisupnext,from8thAugust),IView,SBSOnDemand,Kanopy(freewithlibrarymembership)andonlinestreamingplatformsgaloretochoosefrom.

Ifyou’relookingforsomethinginterestingtowatch,Icanrecommendafewplacestolookandfilmsthatwereinspiring,enlightening,movingorenjoyableforme.Oryoucanjustbrowsetheircollectionsandfindmanyothers.

• AtHomehttps://athome.classiccinemas.com.au/page/what-is-at-home/AnewVideoonDemandplatformrunbytheClassic,LidoandCameoCinemasinMelbourne.Individualfilmsareavailabletorent.Recommended:Drama-SorryWeMissedYou(KenLoach,UK),Capernaum(NadineLabaki,Lebanon).Documentary-NamatjiraProject,Gurrumul,Honeyland,FacesPlaces,RBG,TheBiggestLittleFarm,IAmNotYourNegro,OntheBanksoftheTigris(afilmImadethatwasrecentlyaddedtothisplatformandisalsoonDocplayandRonin).

• Docplayhttps://www.docplay.com/homeThisonlineplatformisdevotedsolelytodocumentaries.Asubscriptionallowsyouto‘streamover700oftheworld'sbestdocumentariesfromAustralia&aroundtheglobe.’Theyofferafree30-daytrial,then$6.95/monthor$69.50/year.Recommendedtitlesinclude:HipHoperation,Quest,BaulkhamHillsAfricanLadiesTroupe,Cameraperson,TheCatsofMirikitani.

• RoninFilmshttps://www.roninfilms.com.au/Thislongrunningeducationalfilmdistributioncompanyhasacataloguewithover600titlesforsaleonDVDandthroughVimeoonDemandforwatchingonline.

MarshaEmerman

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CyclingmywaythroughtheConstraintsoftheCovid19Crisis

Havingriddenapushbikeformanydecades,Iwasdelightedtoreceiveasurprisegiftofane-bikeforasignificantbirthdaylastSeptember.LittledidIthenrealise,howimportantapartitwouldcometoplayinmyabilitytonavigatethroughthechallengesthatthe2020pandemichasthrownusall.

Inthepast4monthsIhavesailedmywayon‘TheWhiteCloud’enjoyingwelloverathousandkilometresoflocalexploration.

Berwickstillhassomelovelypocketsoflandthathaven’tbeenlosttodevelopment.JustnorthofthevillageisaroadthatresemblesanEnglishcountrylane,ifnotquitetheDevonIremember.

ItwasgloriousinautumnandIlookforwardtoenjoyingwhatitoffersinspring,butnowinthedeadofwinterthestarkbranchesofhugeoldoaksandelmssilhouettetheintensegreenoftherollingpaddocks.OnacleardaythereareviewsacrosstoWesternPortBay.

IlovetoridetoUpperBeaconsfieldviaPayneorO’NeilRoadsanddownLlRoad(whatastrangename!)toBrown’sRoad,Officer.TheRusso'sOrchard,justalongabit,hasawelcomingstorewithfreshproduceandofcoursethedeliciousAppleCiderthattheyproduce.

Thereisanexcellentwoodfiredpizzafortake-awayfromD’Angelo’sEstatenearby.Youwon’tfindanythingbetterthissideofNapoli.

AtripupHesselRoadinNarreWarrenleadstotheoldHarkawayCemetery,whichstillhasanancientwoodenbelltower(thoughitmayhavebeenafirebell,Idon’tknowthehistory).Fromthisvantagepointunderthepowerlinesthereisaviewallthewaytothecity.Harkawaytoo,isalovelyplacetoridewithlongdirtroadsandsomelargepropertieswithimposingentrances,whichI’mtemptedtoenter.

OverthesepastmonthsIhaveexploredinalldirectionsofthecompassfromcentralBerwickanddiscoveredmanylovelyareasforcycling.Iamimpressedbytheplanningofnewestatesthathasensuredmanywalking/cyclingpathsandlinksbetweenculdesacs.Thereisafeatureinmanyofthesehousingestatesofwaterways,pondingandretardingbasins,andasystemofpathsandbridgeswhichaddawonderfulplaceforpassiveandactiverecreation,aswellasbirdlifeandnativevegetation.

InthewordsofMulgaBill,(ABPaterson)‘…ridingismyspecialgift,mychiefestsouldelight’.ItissomethingIlookforwardtoalmosteveryday,weatherpermitting,andhashelpedmethroughtheseCOVIDtimes.

ItgivesmethefreedomtotravelwhereIwish,unimpededbythelatestGovernmentlockdownrules,providesexercise,freshair,anopportunitytomarvelatthebeautyaroundandrejuvenatesmewhenIfeeldownaboutthecurrentstateofourworld.

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Whatalife-saverthatsurprisebirthdaypresenthasbeen!

MargaretEdwards

AndtoAnneTaylorwhosentinthesebelowandseveralscatteredthroughthenewsletter

ThankstoPeterWeatherhead…

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LockdownTravel

I’mnotsurehowothersgotthroughlockdownlasttimearound,sohere’swhatwedid.

LastyearHelenandIspent6weeksinEurope,travellingeverywherebytrainbeginningwithItaly(Rome,Florence,Naples,Milan).FromthereintoSwitzerland(BerninaRailway,Lucerne)andthenintoFrance(Lyon,Toulouse,Bordeaux,Paris)andontoBelgium,for3nightsinGhent,beforeheadingtoGermany(Cologne,Bremen,Berlin)finishingupatFrankfurtbeforeflyinghomeviaVietnam.Generally,westayed3nightsorlongerineachofthemaincitiesandthendiddaytripsbytraintoplacesofinterest.

Wehadsuchawonderfultimelastyearwethought‘forget(Helenusesadifferent‘f’word)aboutthemoney,wecouldbedeadtomorrow–haha’,anddecidedtogoagain.ThisyearweweresupposedtodepartforEuropeagainonApril16thandreturnhomeonJune6th.–youcanguesstherest–wehadtocancelduetoCorona.

Lasttripwedidalltheplanningandbookingourselvesandhaddonethesameforourproposedtripthisyear,intendingtospend2weeksinSpainandrevisitotherregionsofItaly,France,GermanyandBelgiumandalsotakeinViennaandPrague.

Ofcourse,weweredisappointednottobegoing,soduringthelockdownweamusedourselveswithcountryoforigindinnersathome.Checkingouritinerary,pretendingwewerearrivinginanewcountryorcity,we’deataccordinglythatnight.Researchingrecipeswasalotoffunandalsohelpedpassthetimenicely.AttimeswehadtobeabitinventiveasHelenisaPescatarian,sooccasionallywecookedtwomeals–justfineforme.

WhenweshouldhavebeeninSpain(Madrid,Seville,Cordoba,Barcelona)weboughtabottleofSpanishwine–ortwo–hahaandcookedSpanishinfluencedmeals–apaellarecipewechoseturnedouttobereallydelicious.

WeloveItalianfoodsohaveanumberofgotorecipiesbuttokeepthethemegoingwetriedafewnewones,includinganeggplantparmigiana–deliizioso.Achiantiandproseccowentdownwell–didn’tfinishbothonthenight–haha).AnotherwasaScicilianfishstew–cosi,cosi(so,so)nowherenearLabouillabaisse(seebelow)–possiblyc’estmoi,lechef?

MindtravellingthroughFrance(Strasbourg,Tours-LoireValley,Paris)–wines,aFrenchSauvignonBlancandared,notFrenchwinebutaFrenchvariety,anAustraliangrownPetitVerdot,whichwasreallyenjoyable.Wecookedupseveraldishes.Bouillabaissewascomplicatedandlengthy,notMichelinclassnorEur50eachbutworththeeffortandaninterestinglearningcurveaswell.

ItgottrickytryingtofindCoOinspiredrecipesforVienna,Prague,BerlinandBruges(notthatvegofriendly)andwedidn’tbotherwiththedesertsashopingtomildlydrink,ratherthaneatourwayoutofISO.

Anyway,wewereunrestrictedbycountryborderclosures,wedidn’tgetstrandedorlockedawayanywhere,wedidn’tcatchanything,thefoodandwinewerejustgreatandthepricewasonlyafractionoftheoriginal.

Allthebest–staysafe.

MikeandHelenMcGrath

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U3ALineDancing…….orshouldwesaydis-dancing

Linedancingcanbeaddictive.Anyonewhotriesitwilltellyoujustthat.Tothinkthatcoronaviruswouldstopourlinedancerswouldbefoolish.Everyweeksinceourclassstopped,Ihavebeensendingbyemailadanceforeveryonetolearn,togetherwithalinktothemusic,stepsheets,andvideoswhichdemonstrateandteachthedance.Manyofourlinedancershavebeenpractisingintheirkitchens,loungerooms,outsidedeckareas,gardensandwherevertheycan.

BUTassoonasgroupswereallowedtoexerciseagainoutside,firstlyingroupsof10andtheningroupsof20,wefoundplacestodanceEmerald’sHeritagePark,bythetracksatPuffingBillyStation,thePackingShedandontheoldbasketballcourtsnexttothelibrary."Wherethere’sawill,there’saway”-thisproverbdescribesourlinedancersbecausewhenthey’redeterminedtodance,theywillfindawayregardlessofobstacles.Andwe'vehadalotoffunintheprocess.

WehadplannedtoreturntoTheHub,startingTuesday14thJulywithsmallclassesofjust10dancersandtheabilitytoconcentrateonDIS-DANCINGwithouttoomucheffort.However,hereweareonlockdownagainfrommidnight,8thJuly.OurCOVIDWorldhasshrunkagainforthenextsixweekssowewillhavetowaitalittlelongertoresumedancingtogetheratTheHub.

Thankyou.Amazing,isn’tit,howquicklythingscanchange!Bestwishes.

Hopeyouenjoysomeofthephotosfromourdancingescapadesoutside.Staysafeeveryone.

KathySmith

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Ozzieoptimism!

What'shappeningnowwillsurelypasslikeothershavebeforethencountedinwithothertrialswe'lladdthemtoourscore

we'llfindourselvesalittlelostwithhowthingshavebeengoingbutsoonenoughforgetthecostonce'otherthings'areflowing

soonenoughthey'llsaycomeouttoplaywe'llopenupthedoorandcontemplatetomeetamatetochataboutthescore

Andlookaroundwithwordsprofoundforthemostappealingfixturewithadjectives,superlatives'no,nottheonesinscripture

soifyouspendapatientdaystressless,justheedthewarningsbecausenomatterhowwepraythesunwillgetupinthemorning

YorseflatAlanBeckwith

NeedleworkGroup

TheNeedleworkGroupstartedinthenewHubinthefirstweekofMarch.TherewasagoodturnupofmembersforourfirstmeetingintheHub.Thespacewasideal,thelightingwasexcellent,thecompanywasterrificandeveryonewaskeentodotheirprojects.Howshortlivedthatwas!

COVID19STRUCKandISOLATIONIMPOSED

Sonowafter4months,hopefullywemaybeabletorestartinAugust.

OnthefollowingpagearesomeoftheprojectsdonebyNeedleworkGroupmembersinlockdown,whilstathome.

On the lastdaybefore this second lockdown, Iwentto visit my sister in law who is recovering from astroke. I gave her somewater paints, art paper andbrushes and introduced her to Art as part of hertherapy.Tomysurprise she respondedsowell and Isuggested she sendsme a photo of her paintings toencourageher to keep going and stay positive. Ontheway home, I felt tired but happy and emotionalwithmyvisit.OnthewayIhadtostopandgetsomegrocerysuppliesformyfamilyofthreeadults.IwenttoAldiStoreasitwastheclosest.WhenIwaswaitingatthecheck-outregister,thisyounggirl(shewaswithhermum) approachedme and said I can be servedbeforethem.Ithankedherandmovedinfrontofhermother’s trolley. To my surprise, the young girloffered to unload the trolley forme. I was touchedand Iacceptedherofferwhichshedidinaveryneatandcaringway.BythatstageIhadtearsnmyeyesasthis has never happened before. On top of this sheofferedtoloadthetrolleyformeontheotherend.Imust admit she was a lot faster than I could havedone itand Ididnot feel tiredat theendof loadingthe trolley like I usually do. I was so grateful and Ithanked theyoung girl for being so helpful. I turnedaround and thanked hermother and told her howlucky she is to be blessed with such a beautifuldaughter.IwassoemotionalthatIcouldnotpackthegroceriesat the store butwalked straightout tomycarandpacked every inmy car boot. Itwas such abeautifulandemotionalgesturethatIwanttoshareitwithyou.

ConnieMusfit

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PepePugh

Haiku

AtraditionalJapanesehaikuisathree-linepoemwrittenin5/7/5syllablecount.Oftenfocusingonimagesfromnatureitemphasizessimplicity,intensityanddirectnessof

expression.

MOLLYSoftebonysilk

Earsofvelvet,gentleeyesWhiteblaze,snowtippedtoes.

Earsalert,eyesfixedRigidbody,statuestillRabbitorkangaroo?

SilentlysleepingSuddentwitching,shortsharpbark

Yesterdaydreaming.

BlanketingdarknessWarmlyenfolding,wetnoseTouching,breakfasttime

HelenWaring

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Bloomsday,16June2020,Emerald,underCOVID-19

DearanddeariesYou3Ayers(Ulurusnow).

Mae(Westy)in-tensionistoad/orun/dressewesonthisauspiciousoccasionwhilstwandering'Howareyou?'dealingwiththedreadedLIVID-19andtheISISlation.Iffyindeedyeare.It'steedious(nogolf!),buteiffel(noo/stravel!)thatwemitebeseein'theendoftheISO'septinforourownCardedShirehotspot-notG-notMC/Geither(nofootball!-orfootballcrudes).Anywaythat'sPackinghamandTennysonsmate,notEmcockavonsleeatooorMingsCreek.

I'vebinareadin',ariting,notsomucharhythm-sticking(tripleRs,music?fortheyoungstirs)ands'poseU'vetoo,tho'sumoftheMoorgreen-fingeredofUwill'vebinguardening(yoursanityincluded!).AlsoTV,YouTube,ITube,wealltubetogether.Whateverkeepsyoualive/alithe/alit.Yes,grogisup,aswasoriginalshitsofdunnypaper(pantickbuying).

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Stayathome

Andsitonyourbum,StayinsideAndtwiddleyourthumbs.

WatchthegrassgrowOrhowlatthemoon,GowiththeflowOrfalldowninaswoon.

Itreallywon'tmatterCosI'mswingingwildAndgivingfullreigntomyBadinnerchild.

She'sflingingherclothesoff,Scoopinghandsfullofmud,AndchuckingthemcarefreeWatchingthemthud.

Graspingatstarlight,Andhowlingastorm,Mychild'sinafrenzyFromeveningtodawn.

She'slovingeachmoment,Andstompingherfeet,InspiralsofmovementThatplummetandstreak.

Mychildisaglory,Awondertosee.IwakeeverymorningToseewhoshe'llbe.

PatBuoncristiani

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Patchwork

Well,wewerefinallybacktoclassandveryclassyitwasatTheHub.After2yearsatmyhomeitwaslovelytospreadoutinsuchluxury.IwassoexcitedtobethereIcompletelyforgottotakesomephotos.Ithinkwewillbeveryhappyinournewhome.Theladieshavebeenbusyinlockdowndoingallsortsofprojectsanditwasgreattoseetheirefforts.

Forourfirstlessonbackwedidalittleexerciseincolourtheory.Ispreadoutarolloffabricsandaskedeveryonetoputtheminpilesoflight,mediumanddark,thentheyallhadaturnlookingthrougharedlensthatshowsonlyvalue.Itwasasurprisetothemalltoseehowvaluablethislittletoolcanbe.

IbroughtalongsomeofthequiltsthatIhavefinishedduringthislockdownperiod,includingtheU3ARaffleQuiltthatwasstartedatthebeginningoftheyearbytheladies.SeveralblocksweresentbacktomeandwithafewmoreIcompletedthetopandquilteditaspartofmyCovid19Collection.HopefullywecanraffleitatourOpenDaylaterintheyear.ItiscalledFiestaandlet’shopewecanhaveonesoon.

KarenBlack

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CycleoftheIsolationist

Igetoutofbedroundhalfnineorten.IsitWednesdayorFriday?No,it’sMondayagain.StretchingandyawningIfacethenewdayAndwonderwhatthrillswillbecomingmyway.

Cleaningthebathroom,nowthatwillbefun-ThenasarewardIcanhavethatcreambun.Andmaybeaweedropofwinetogowithit

‘Cosit’saftereleven-canyoubelieveit?

I’lltakeashortrestnow-Mustnotoverdothings.I’mflatonmyback,whenofcourseThephonerings.Whocanitbe?I’mupforachat.Butno-justasurveycallSoI’mdealingwiththat.

Timetogetupandorganiselunch.IforgottohavebreakfastSolet’scallitbrunch.Ilookinthefridge-there’snotmuchtosee,Someleftoverstodgeandahalfeatenbrie.I’vegotlotstodo,Imustn’twastetimeSoI’llgivebrunchtheflickAndjustfinishthewine.

Imightputmyfeetup-they’refeelingquitesoreAndwatchsomethingsoothing-MaybeFoyle’sWar.

Oops!Musthavedozedoff-it’saquarterpastsix!

Timeforadrink-justaquickfix.ThenI’dbettergetdinner-somesoupwillsuffice,Andthere’sstillsomeshirazleftSothatwillbenice.

Welleighto’clock’shereandI’mofftobedWornoutbythearduousdayIhaveled.Buttomorrow’sanewdayAndIcan’tcomplain‘CosI’lljustdothesamethingsalloveragain. KayCraig

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ContractBridgeisanoddsortofcardgame

Itcanbechallenging,stimulating,entertaining,sociallyengagingandinteractive,frustrating,memoryandlogicbuilding,hilariouslyfunny,marriagebreakingandawonderfulpastime.Allinthespaceofacoupleofhours.

AttheEmeraldU3ABridgegroupwetendtofocusonthestimulating,sociallyengaging,memorybuildingandhilariouspastimeaspectsofthegame.OnformationinMarchthisyearwehadonlyonemeetinginthemarvellousnewHubcentrebeforetheCOVIDcrisis.Sincethen,undeterred,someofuscontinuedtheactiononline.WeweresoonjoinedonlinebyotherBridgeplayerstakingrefugefromclosequartersplayinclubrooms.Ithappensthattherearemanyadvantagestoplayingthegameonline.Thecomfortofhome.Sippingthebeverageofchoice.Chatteringonwiththeplayersatyourownvirtualtablewithoutdisturbingtheothertables.Notravelcomplications.PlayoniPadorlaptopisuserfriendlyandfree.Someoneelsedoesalloftheorganizing.

InearlyJunetheCOVIDstatsweresuchthatplanswerebeingmadeforre-entrytotheHub.Therecentreversalofprogressinde-isolationmeansthatwewilltocontinueonlineuntilthingsimprove.Thereisspacenexttermatthevirtualtablesforlessons,supervisedplayandregularplay.

LongagoinKansasCity,America,BridgewasplayedmuchmoreseriouslythanourlaconicAussiestyle.OntheeveningofSunday,September29,1929,theBennettswerelosingtotheHoffmanslateintheevening.ThebreakingpointoccurredwhenJohndeclared4Spadesandfailedbytwotricks.Myrtlechastisedherhusbandforbeinga‘bumbridgeplayer’.JohnrespondedbyslappingMyrtlewhograbbedhis.32Coltautomaticfromabedroomdresserandfiringfourtimes,shothimdown.Dead.ThesubsequenttrialmadenationalheadlineswhenthejuryfoundthetearfulMyrtleinnocentofmurder.Myrtlethereafterqualifiedfora$30,000lifeinsurancepayout,doublethenormalcoverbecausethecoronerfoundJohn’sdeathhadbeenbyaccident.Shedidnotallowherbridgetogrowrusty,eventhoughshehadaninexplicabledifficultyinfindingapartner.Eventually,shehadthegoodfortunetohaveasapartneranewlyarrivedstrangertothetown.Shechidedhim‘Whydidn’tyoubidupto4Spades?’Unawareofherhistory,Heisbelievedtohavesaid‘Iwasafraidyou’dhaveshotmeforthat.’MrsBennett,itissaid,hadthegoodgracetofaint.Truestory.WouldyouhaveacquittedtheglamorousMrsBennettpicturedhere?

Beassuredthat,shouldyoujoinourgroupandhavethecourageorfollytobid4Spadesandfailby2tricks,theresponsefromyourpartnerisboundtobe‘Goodtry’or‘Badluckwiththefinesse’.Afterall,weareinthesereneDandenongs,notthewildwest.

Refertothewebsitefornextterm’sbridgeprogram.QuestionstoRobKnighton(0438981464).

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ZoominginthetimeofCOVID

WhenArchimedesfinallydiscoveredtheprincipleofbuoyancybysittinginhisbath,herannakedthroughthetownyelling‘eureka!’Muchbetterthantheonomatopoeicutterancesofcomputergeekswhendiscovering‘Yahoo!’and‘Zoom!’

DidEricYuan,thecreatorofZoom,sitinhisbathtubonenightafterafulldayofcomputergeekinganduponhearinghischildrenscreechingdownstairsthink‘IwishIhadamutebuttonforthosekids’.Andperhaps,justlikethat,hethoughtofawayforustoresembletelevision’sBradyBunch.JustlikeArchimedes,perhapsEricleaptoutofthetubandzoomeddowntohiswifetotellall.“AndIshallcallitZoom!”hedeclared.Today,thatcomputergeekwhodrippedalloverhisplushcarpetisworthover11Billiondollars.That’sbillionwithaB.

DuringthistimeofCOVID-19weshouldbegratefultoEricforhisbathtubrevelation.Nowteacherscanteachafullclassroomofkidswithouteverchangingoutoftheirpyjamas.Companiesinlockdowncanstillholdboardmeetings,thechairmanneverknowingthatthecoffeecuponyourdeskisfullofredwineandnotcoffee.At9.10am.BookClubscannowgovirtual,noneedforacoffeecuptohidethefactthatfinechampagnebeautifullyaccompaniesawell-writtenbook.Evenabadlywrittenbook.

Forthepasttenweeks,IhavebeenZoomingeverydaywithgroupsofstudentsfromacoachingschool.Oneandahalfhourstotwohourseachsession,includingSundaymorning.AstheweeksgoonIdon’tparticularlycarethateveryoneinZoomlandcanseemyrubberduckiepyjamasbulgingfromtheincreasinglytighteningactivewear.

AndthenthereistheMUTEBUTTON.

ThankstoEric,teachersnowhaveawaytoquieteneventherowdiestofdiscussions.Withjustaflickofthemousethescreenissilent.

Butyouknowwhat?Imissthenoise.

Ibegintoexplainhowwewillnowfollowthemythologicalhero’sjourneyandIrealisethatsomethingismissing.TheonlyvoiceIhearismyown.Gonearetheastonishedgaspsofkidsrealisingthatworkneedstobedone.NolongerdoIhear‘but,but,but….Idon’tgetit’.Orworsestill,Inolongerhearthepenniesdrop.

Irarelyusethemutebuttonnow.Ineedtohearthekidsarguing,laughing,understanding.

Earlierthisyear,ifanyonesaidtheyweregoingtoZoomme,Iwouldhavecorrectedtheirpunctuationandtoldthemnottoberude.It’sadifferentworldnow.Wehaveoldwordswithnewmeanings.Whatnewdiscoverywillbemadebysomefuturecomputergeek?Willwe‘Gosh’inthefuture?Orperhapswe’remorelikelyto‘Whoosh’or‘Whizz’.Whateverwedo,IsurehopeIcanstillwearmypyjamaswhilstdoingit.

HeatherZubek

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Limerick

TherewasayoungwomancalledKayWhotookaclasseveryMonday

SomewordsinKallistaShesaidinawhisper

Andothersshereadinaplay.

ThisyoungwomanKayWhotaughtonMonday

Hadaclassthatwasoutofcontrol.Allwomenofstyle

WhospokewithasmileAndoneevenhadasmallfoal.

ThefoalitwastetheredItsjacketwasfeatheredForchillyKallistaiscold.TheclassfeditgumballsAndstickysweetrumballs

Untilitwaswrinkledandold.

ThisclassinKallistaWasnotalwayswhispers

AsMistersandsistersdidshoutSoKayrangabell

AndcursedthemlikehellAndthensentthenaughtyfolkout.

AndwhentheycameinKayforgaveeachsin

Andpattedeachlittlegreyhead.ShethenwhippedthemsoundlyAndgavethemsomebrandy

Andtuckedthemuptightlyinbed.

---TherewasayoungwomancalledKay

WhotookaclasseveryMondayYetnowwiththisCovidOurclasshasexploded

Andwe’reallathomemakinghay.

NoraSumberg

ThankstoDaleAllenwhoprintsadozencopiestodistributetoourmemberswhodonothavecomputers.

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WaterColourClass

WeweredelightedthatwewereabletoresumetheArtofWaterColourClasseswitheightornineofusparticipatingattheHubagain.Alas,historynow(Editor)

WeweresetthesubjectofMyBackGardentopaintduringlockdownasrequestedbyTedHorton.Ournewclassmember,Conniecameupwithafinepictureofherdaughter’sbackgarden.Connieisdeterminedtocometogripswithhernewcreativehobbyofart.Wearealltheretohelpherandadmireherkeenspirit.

Thingshavenotaltogethergroundtoahaltduringtherecent‘lockdown‘.ClassleaderTedhasbeenbusydesigningandpaintingamakeoverontheoldshippingcontainerthatmanyhaveseenasweparkedourcarsintheStJoseph’sChurchcarpark-whenweusedtoparktherepriortousingtheHub.

TedHorton

T’WASADARKANDSTORMYNIGHTCreativeWritingClass

IhadlaidinbedawhileyetIwasstillunabletosleep.Turningfromsidetosidemylegsandfeetweretwitchinginavainattempttogettosleepthatnight.Ieventuallydozedoffanddidn’texpecttoseelightofdayforsomewhile.HowwrongwasI?Distantrumblingrudelywokemeasastormapproachedoutside.Thunderclappingandcumulusgrumpuscloudsgrumbledaboveastheearthseeminglyshookinnervousanticipation.Heavyrainturnedtosleetandhailonourtiledroof.Thesiltfilledguttersoverflowedwateroutsidethebathroomwindow.Thewatertankcouldtakenomore.Theheavydelugemadeexcesswaterspurtoutthetoplikesomeonehadjustturnedafountainon.Ametronomesoundingdrip…..drip……drip‘noisetappedonourplasterceilinginsideaboveourdoublebedasaconstantreminderformetophonetheroofplumber.Stronggaleforcewindswererippingsmallbranchesoffgumtreesoutside.Unabletosleepagain,Icreptoutofthebedroomtothekitchentomakeawarmmilkandhoneydrinkinthemicrowaveonlytositinthechairunderthekitchenskylight.Thattoo,wasleakingrightwhereIsat.Backinbedshortlyafter,Ilaystilldespitethecacophonyofnoisefromthestormoutside.Ithenexperiencedsomeonetappingandscratchingatmyleftarmpyjamasleeveontheedgeofbed.OpeningmywearyeyesoncemoreIsawVonnieour6KgssilverminiSchnauzerbouncingupanddownlikeshewasonatrampolinenexttome.Shewassodesperatetojumpontoourbedbutherlittlelegscouldnotpropelherrightup.InsympathyandwithhumankindnessIpickedherup.ShewasshiveringwithfrightsoIgentlylayherdownontopofthedoonacover.

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MomentslaterVonniehadsliddownrightintoourbedandlaytherewithherwoollybeardedheadrestingagainstmyunshavenfaceatthesametimenervouslysnortingintomyrightear.Ithenheardahugecrackandthudtothegroundclosebyoutside.Thatominoussoundwasabiggumfalling,probablystruckbylightning.ApossiblewidowmakerIreckoned.Wewereimmediatelyrenderedpowerlessevenwithoutelectricbedsidealarmclocktorecordthetime.HowweandourtwodogseversurvivedthatnightI’llneverknow.ThecoldshowerthatIsteppedintothatmorningremindedmehowvulnerablewearetothevagariesofwildweather.HoweverthepowersoonturnedbackonagainasIscrambledtoeatbreakfast.IthensteppedouttodrivetoIGAsupermarketformorecerealandjuice.TherewasnosignofourSubaruForestercarinourdrivewaywhereIleftitlastnight.Thescene,however,wasoneofdevastation.Ahugeleafygumtreebranchhadfallentotallyconcealingourcarunderneath.ItwasnolongeraForesterbutbetterrenamedaForesTEDafterthatdarkandstormynight.

TedHorton

TwovacanciesexistatpresentintheCreativeWritingClass.

19

Ishouldstartwiththeundressing…

Iwakeuplatewithbreakfastinbedmostdays.Thankstothewonderfulhusband.Idon’tbothertodresstillalmostmid-day.Iwalkaroundthehouseinmydressinggownornightiesensareggiseno.It’ssoliberating.Noneedtohurryforanythingoranyone.AldoandItrytofitinthreedaysofwalkingaweekbutunfortunatelyorfortunatelywhenit'sextremelycoldordrizzlingwearebothmorethanhappytoforgetit.Wehavealsobeencookingupastorminthekitchen.Cookingenoughforanextratwomealswhichwefreezeforthosedarkdayswhencookingtogethercancauseastormaboutatrivialmatter.Andwhilewehavesharedmanyadeliciousmealbetweenusandthechildren,IamnowcravingthetimewhenIcandressupandgotoarestaurant.IlovedressingupforZoom.Iputonmylipstick,makeup,mybestclothesandofcoursemyreggiseno.WehavedonealotofzoomingsincetheendofFebruary.There’shardlyamonththatgoesbyinourfamilywhenthereisn’tabirthday.Weare21whenwe'realltogether.CouplewithfriendsandItalianrelativesandit’sattheveryleastamonthlyoccasion.Weputonmasks,wetalkovereachother,weeattogether,welaughandwesingmostlyHappyBirthdayinbothEnglishandItalian.

HereisanItaliandishformyItalianstudentsandforthosewhoalwaysaskmeformyrecipe:

RisottoconfunghiIngredientiper4persone:350gdiriso;15gdifunghisecchi;40gdiburro;50gdiformaggiogranagrattugiato;1/2cipollaaffettatasottilmente;1,5ldibrodobollentemoltosaporito,megliosedimanzo;pepeappenamacinato.

Lavateconcuraifunghisecchiinacquacorrente,metteteliinunaciotola,copriteliafiloconacquatiepidaelasciatevelipeun’oracirca.Sciogliete30grammidiburroinuntegamefatevirosolarelacipollaeuniteilriso.Rigirateincontinuazioneaggiungendoamanoamanounmestolodibrodobollentepervolta.Ameta`cotturastrizzateifunghisecchi,tenendonel’acquadiammollo,eaggiungetelialrisocontinuandoarimestarefinoacotturaultimata.Aggiungeteinfinel’acquadeifunghi,10grammidiburro,ilformaggiograttugiato,pepeappenamacinato,rigiratemoltobeneeservitesubitointavola,conaltrogranagrattugiatoaparte.

Beginnerscanwritethewordstheydon’tknowintoanexercisebookandthenlookuptheEnglishtranslationfromtheirItaliandictionary.

AbbracciatuttiDolores

20

ForU3AHowaboutU4A?

Yes,wedohaveaFourthAge

WhenyourchildrenareoldenoughtojoinU3Ayourealisehowlifehaschanged.Backintheyear2000weheldtheclass"InRetrospect"writingabout"ThedayIstartedinschool","Duringthewar","favouritemeals","Holidays"-storiesthatsurprised.Nowwehearthatchildrenfeeldeprivedbecausetheycannotflytodistantbeachesoreatexoticfoods.

Mac'sphotosof"Mudlark"remindedmeofsailing-boatrides.FishermenintheThamesestuarychargedholidaymakers6dforatriponthewater.Thejoystayswithme,keepingourbalancewhenwehitwaves,leavingEssexbehindandnearingtheKentcoastwasarareexperience.

Day-tripfaresenticedfamiliestoLeigh-on-seaandWestcliff-on-seawherethestationswereclosetothebeach.‘Onsea’wasalwaysajokebuttousthatwastheseaside.Loadedwithpacketsoffoodanddrinksandatowelmotherswerecontenttohireadeck-chairfor2danhourandsettleonthestonybeachwhile,withdressestuckedintoourknickers,wepaddledlookingforlittlecrabsamongtherocks.

Boysallworeshortssowadedoutbravely,sleevesrolleduphigh.Alongthebeachwouldcomecockle-sellersofferinglittledishesoffreshlycaughtcocklesdousedinvinegar.Themencarriedtheirloadsplusabowltowashthedishesforamilealongthebeach,climbingoverthegroynes,callingtheirwares,givingchildrentimetopersuadeparentstofindanother3d.Latercamethepine-applemanofferingbigchunks,fromcans,ontooth-picks,butoncethedaywarmedupthewaspsarrived,bythehundreds,sohefled.Carefullydustingoffeve.

Brushinggrainsofsandfromourfeet,wesadlydonnedshoesandsocksstoppingatthecockleshedsforabagwhichdrippedvinegarfromtheluggagerackaswechuggedhome,strainingforalastlookfromthewindowaswesaidgood-byetothesea.

Inonelifetime,fourages,somanychanges,manyimprovements,neverbeingsatisfiedandwantingmore,wenowhavetimetorememberandbegrateful.

BerylBartacek

21

TutorsandZoom

IhavebeenconductingmythreeU3AgroupsonZoomforthelastfewmonths.Itiscertainlyarealchallengemasteringthetechnologyandtakingtheprogramatthesametime.

Lecturestylesessionsareeasier.Copingwithmorethat9people(only9canfitonthescreen)hasbeenarealchallenge.Allowingeveryonetoparticipatewhenyoucan'tactuallyseetheirfacesisdifficulttomanage.Thezoomsessionshaveprovidedopportunitiesforeveryonetokeepintouch.GiventhecurrentsituationwewillcontinuewithZoomandendeavourtomakethesessionsaseffectiveaspossible.ThankstoBruceRichardson,EllenPrior,MalBowmakerandTonyForsterwhohavebeenhelpingmewiththetechnology.

IthoughtImightlistsomebooksandarticlesthatyoumightfindinterestingduringthecurrentlockdown.Thesearemyrecommendedreadings:

• TheDarkEmuBrucePascoe.Thebookisstillverypopular(150,000copiessold)Itisabookthathaschangedpeople'sattitudes.

• DeepTimeDreamingBillyGriffiths.AgreatfollowuptotheDarkEmu.• TheCoalCurseJudithBrett.

ThisisthecurrentQuarterlyEssay.DoesnotlooktooexcitingbutitwillgiveyouagreatinsightintohowAustraliadevelopedeconomicallyandthedilemmathatweareconfrontedwithtoday.TheBOOKISSUESgrouparecurrentlyreadingthisandthediscussionwillbeonMondayJuly19that9.00.Youaremostwelcometojoinin.

• TheIslandbyTimWinton.Thisisanautobiographyofthatgreatwriter.MichelleBowmakerhighlyrecommendedthisbooktomeanditwasindeedapleasuretoread.

• TheAustraliansVol.2TomKeneally.TheAustralianHistorygroupiscurrentlyusingthisasthetextforourprogram.

• TheLongShadowDavidReynolds.HeexplainsmanyofthemajorsocialandpoliticalconsequencesoftheGreatWar.

• WhyWeren'tWeTold?HenryReynolds-norelationtoDavid!ExploreshowsomuchofourIndigenoushistoryhasbeenhidden.

• TheMeaningofThingsA.C.Grayling• Agreatjourneyintothinkingaboutmanyissues.

WHOWROTETHESEWORDS?

Thepleasuresoftheworkingclasseshadchangedintheformbutnotincontent.Inmorebarbaroustimestheyhadsuppliedthesoundandthefuryatbull-baiting,cock-fightingandbareknucklefightsbetweenmen.ThatfiercethirstforbloodwhichtheyhadinheritedfromtheirancestorswasnowsatisfiedbythegameofAustralianfootball…Thespectatorsfoundbothentertainmentandfulfilmentoftheirwildlustforviolence…Theypollutedtheairwiththeiroaths,theirobscenitiesandtheirgiftforanatomicalwit.

DickBartley

22

Heritage,ArtsandTourism

Overthepastfewmonths,discussionsessionsintheHeritage,ArtsandTourismprogramhavecontinuedmore-or-lessuninterruptedonZoom,withmostoftheenrolledparticipantscontributing.Thesessionshavebeenshorterbutmoreinteractiveandalwaysenjoyable.Unsurprisingly,thediscussionshavegravitatedtowardstheimpactsontourismoftheGlobalPandemic-local,internationalandregional.

Whenconsideringthelocaltourismscene,specificallyEmeraldLakeside,theimpactsofthePandemicarestark.Thetouristrailwayhasceasedtooperate,anditisanyone’sguesswhenlargenumbersoftouristswillbeseenthereagain,possiblynever.ItseemshighlyunlikelythattouristsfromChinaorotherpartsofAsiawillreturnanytimesoon.Theimmediatefutureofthe$20mLakesideVisitorCentre(PuffingBillyDiscoveryCentre)underconstructionisuncertain.

LakesideStationinearly2020priortothePandemic.(D.Ellsmorephoto).

Furtherafield,thefutureoftourismoccupiesthemindsofthosewhoparticipateddirectlyinthedeliveryoftourismproductsandthosewhohadgrowingfearsabouttheimpactsofover-tourismonhostdestinationsandhostcommunities.Veniceisoneoftheplacesmostcriticallyaffected.TherearefewplacesasattractiveasVeniceandnonesocompromisedbylimitationsoncapacityandthefrequenthighwatersthatcauseinconvenienceandseveredamage.OpinionsaredividedaboutwhetherVenicecanorshouldreturntothesituationpriortotheGlobalPandemic.VeniceisbeingcloselyobservedtoseehowVenetiansandtouristsrespondnowthatthecityisagainopenfortourism.

23

CafesinVenice’sPiazzaSanMarcoremainedclosedbeyondtheendofMay,2020,eventhoughtheywereallowedtoreopenasItalianauthoritieseasedcoronaviruslockdownrestrictions.(JannaBrancoliniphoto/forTheTimes)

TheimpactsoftheCoronavirushaveseverelyimpactedVictorianRegionaldestinations.So,astutorandhostoftheZoomdiscussionsItooktheopportunitylastmonthtovisitVictoria’sfastestgrowingandmostsuccessful(beforeCovid-19)tourismarea–TheMurray.IwentwithmypartnerCheryltoEchucaandhostedtheZoomsessionfromthere.

Localsobservingsocialdistancing,unconcernedabouttouristsinEchuca.(D.Ellsmorephoto2020).

24

ThevisittoEchucacoincidedwiththeinitialre-openingastheVictorianGovernmenteasedrestrictionsandImustsaythatitwasverypleasanttobeinanaroundEchucawithsofewtouristsandwidelyobservedadherencetosocialdistancing.Therewerenoqueuesandplentyofspace.

PaddlesteamercarryingreducednumbersoftouristsatEchucainLateJune2020.(D.Ellsmorephoto).

PriortovisitingEchuca,IlookedattheVictorianTourismIndustryCouncildatainthe2019RegionalTourismReview.ItwasasurprisetolearnthatthetotaltourismspendfortheyearendingMarch2019wasupforTheMurrayby15%to$1.5Billion,aheadofTheGreatOceanRoad.BycomparisontheYarraValleyandDandenongRangeswasupbyonly0.7%to$756Million.ThesefiguresconfirmthattourismisamajorearnerforregionalVictorians.However,itdoesnotrequiremuchimaginationtorealisethattheregionaltourismlandscapewillbeverydifferentuntiltouristshavethemeanstoagainenjoyRegionalVictoria.ThecurrentspikeinCovid-19infectionsandlockdownofMelburniansuntiltheendofAugustwilldevastatesometourism-reliantcommunities.

WhenthesessionsinHeritage,ArtsandTourismresumeinlateJulythefocuswillreturntoheritageandthearts,awayfromtherecentimpactsontourism.Itislikelytobealongtimebeforethesubjectofovertourismre-emergesasapressingissue.

DonaldEllsmore

25

OurCalligraphyClass

… hasbeenbubblingalongnicely,duringtheperiodofisolation.

NolaBiancohasbeenbusykeepingourgroupkeenon,andinterestedin,improvingourskills.IparticularlylovethepointedGothicscript,whichisaverydecorativetypeofscript.Shehasmadevideosforus,givenuslotsofideasforhowtopracticallyuseourcalligraphyandgenerallyencouragedustokeepgoingwithiteventhoughwearenotabletomeetatTheHub.WehavehadseveralZoommeetings,whichareagreatwayofkeepingintouchwitheveryoneinourverysupportivegroup.ThanksNola,forallyourwork.

Quiteafewpeopleinourgrouphavereadthewonderfulbook,recommendedbyKayCraig,BookofColoursbyRobynCadwallader.Thisisanovel,whichIrecallwassetinaboutthe13thCentury,anditfocusesontherolethatcalligraphyplayedinthelivesofpeoplethen.Ithassomeveryinterestingtechnicalinformationinitabouttheartofcalligraphy,and,aswell,itisagreatstory…itisanexcellentreadandveryrelevantforthoseofuswhoareinterestedinthisancientart.

KayWharton

26

PunssubmittedbyHilaryThomas

ASIGNINASHOEREPAIRSTOREINVANCOUVERREADS:WewillheelyouWewillsaveyoursoleWewillevendyeforyou.

ASIGNONABLINDSANDCURTAINTRUCK:“Blindmandriving.”

SignoveraGynaecologist’sOffice:"Dr.Jones,atyourcervix.”

InaPodiatrist'soffice:"Timewoundsallheels.”

OnaSepticTankTruck:Yesterday'sMealsonWheels

AtanOptometrist'sOffice:"Ifyoudon'tseewhatyou'relookingfor,you'vecometotherightplace.”

OnaPlumber'struck:"Werepairwhatyourhusbandfixed.”

OnanotherPlumber'struck:"Don'tsleepwithadrip.Callyourplumber.”

AtaTireShopinMilwaukee:"Inviteustoyournextblow-out.”

OnanElectrician'struck:"Letusremoveyourshorts.”

InaNon-smokingArea:"Ifweseesmoke,wewillassumeyouareonfireandwilltakeappropriateaction.”

OnaMaternityRoomdoor:"Push.Push.Push.”

AtaCarDealership:"Thebestwaytogetbackonyourfeet-missacarpayment.”

OutsideaMufflerShop:"Noappointmentnecessary.Wehearyoucoming.”

27

InaVeterinarian'swaitingroom:"Bebackin5minutes.Sit!Stay!”

AttheElectricCompany:"Wewouldbedelightedifyousendinyourpaymentontime.However,ifyoudon't,YOUwillbede-lighted.”

InaRestaurantwindow:"Don'tstandthereandbehungry;comeoninandgetfedup.”

InthefrontyardofaFuneralHome:"Drivecarefully.We'llwait.”

AtaPropaneFillingStation:"ThankHeavenforlittlegrills.”

InaChicagoRadiatorShop:"Bestplaceintowntotakealeak.”

Andthebestoneforlast...;SignonthebackofanotherSepticTankTruck:“Caution-ThisTruckisfullofPoliticalPromises”

CinemaClassicsinLockdown

ToparaphraseMichaelCorleonefromTheGodfathermovies:“Justwhenyouthinkyou’refree,theypullyoubackin.”That’showIfeelastheconvenorofU3AEmerald’sCinemaClassicsgroup.PartwaythroughtheproceduresnecessarytorecommenceourregularthirdMondaymovieafternoons,cametheannouncementofthere-introductionofstage3lockdownandtheclosureoftheatres,publicmeetingplaces,restaurantsetal.

MyfirstactiononthelastdayoffreedomwastoracedowntotheCameoCinemainBelgraveandgetmylast‘silverscreen’fixforatleasttwomonths.WhatdidIsee?‘Bellbird’:aquiet,contemplativemoviefromNewZealandexploringgriefandlossonasmalldairyfarm.Nothingmuchhappens,butithappenswithsuchgraceandskillthatitfinishesbeforeyouareready.

Aquickbreakandthenintosee‘ThePersonalHistoryofDavidCopperfield’:askilfuladaptationofCharlesDickensworktheuseofamulti-racialcastquicklydisappearsinthemind,replacedinsteadbytheintricaciesofDickensnarrative.

28

Whattheheck,goforawalkandthenreturnforasessiontosee‘TheTaverna’:alocalfilmsetinaGreekRestaurantfeaturingbellydancing,possums,obnoxiouspatronsandplentyoffun.

HopefullytheywillallbeonwhentheCameonextopensandyouhaveachancetoenjoythemyourselves.Butwhattodountilthen?WellforthoseofyouwithsmartTVsyoucoulddoalotworsethanloggingontothe‘SBSOnDemand’appandcatchingoneofthemanyEuropeanTVseriesavailable.Ihavejustfinishedwatchingthecomplete5seriesoftheFrenchspythriller‘TheBureau’.Thefirstepisodeisalittleslow,settingthingsup,butafterthatyouwillbeenthralled.

NotintoeuroTV?HowaboutsomewildNZblackcomedy?FreshEggsisa6partseriesaboutacouplemovingfromAucklandtoasmallruraltownfortheirowntreechangeonlytocreatechaosandmayhemalongthewaytoasatisfyingconclusion–don’tswitchoffasthecreditsrollattheendofthelastepisode,thereisafunfinalpostscript.

NotintoTVinabigwayandwantsomegoodmeatymovies?TheCaseyCardiniaLibrarieshaveanarrangementwiththestreamingserviceKanopy,whichwillallowyoutowatchupto10moviesamonthatnocharge.Therearethousandsofmoviesavailable,manyofwhicharequiterecent.LogontotheCaseyCardiniawebsitetoobtaindetailsofhowtoactivatethisoffer.

Howaboutsomelivetheatre?Wellnotreallysit-in-the-front-row-and-look-up-their-noses-livebutthenextbestthing.LogontoYouTube,searchforNTLiveorNTatHomeandyouwillfindliveplayswhichhavebeenfilmedforbroadcastingtoCinemasaroundtheworld.NormallyyouwouldhavetopaytoseetheseattheCinemaatacostof$29to$25perhead.DuetotheCovid19lockdownintheUKTheNationalTheatrehavebeenmakingavailablesomeoftheirplaysonYouTubeatnocharge.Unfortunately,eachplayisonlyonforaweeksoyoudohavetobequicktocatchaparticularplaybuttheeffortiswellworthwhileandif,bythetimeyoureadthistheNThavestoppeddoingthisfearnot,aquicksearchwillrevealanumberofothersuchfilmedplaysavailablesomeofwhichwillsurelytickleyoufancy.

Filmedplaystoohighbrowforyou?Don’tworry,sometimesI’mnotinthemoodeither.WhilstyouareonYouTubeenter‘PublicDomainMovies’inthesearchboxandyouwillcomeuponwithahugerangeofoldermovies,somewell-known,somequiteobscurebutsomewhereinthereyouareboundtofindsomethingthatreallydoestickleyourfancy.Thegoodthingaboutthisapproachis,thatbythetimeyouhavefinishedsearchingandfollowinglinksandflittingfromonesuggestiontothenextsomeonewilltapyouontheshoulderorgiveyouacallandsayLockdownhasbeenoverforthreeweekscomeandhaveacoffeeatTheLaughingFox.

Happywatching.

DaleAllen–CinemaClassics

29

ScienceandEnvironmentClassesin2020

Whatayearit’sbeen!WestartedourScienceandCivilisationcourseinouroldenvironmentatStJoseph’s,beginningwithatopicclosetomyheart-alookatthehistoryofMicrobiology.Wemeanderedthroughtheearlymissteps,ontothefoundationworkofRobertKochandLouisPasteur,andthroughthehistoryofvaccination.

Howrelevantthiswastobewouldberevealedwhen,afterjustourfirstsessioninthenewHillsHub,wewerelockeddownbyaviralpandemic.So,whatmoretopicalthanalookatthehistoryofantibioticsfollowedbyahistoryofVirology!

Bythistime,classeswerebeingrunfromourlivingroomthroughthemagicofZoom.WhoknewEmeraldU3Awouldbecomearemotelearningfacility?Asrestrictionseased,wetentativelyreturnedtotheHubin‘hybrid’mode–asmallliveaudience,and‘athome’attendeesviaZoom.

Duringthistime,welookedatthehistoryofGenetics,followedbyanexaminationofgeneticengineeringanditsimplications.Wehadjuststartedthefirstoftwosessionson‘TheEvolutionists’,whennewsbrokeofthenewCOVID-19lockdowninVictoria.

Sonow,it’sbacktothelivingroomforournextsessioncenteringonthosewell-knownVictoriannaturalists,DarwinandWallace!

ScienceandCivilisationwasscheduledtofinishthismonth,andundernormalcircumstanceswouldhavebeenfollowedbyanotherbrand-newcourseentitledTowardsaSustainableWorld,co-hostedbyMartinBuoncristianiandmyself.IndiscussionswithMartin,wehavedecidedtosuspendthatcoursefor2020,andIwillcontinuetopresentScienceandCivilisationthroughouttheremainderofthisyear.There’sabonushere–MartinispreparingacoupleoftalksfortheextendedScienceandCivilisationseasonaswell.So,therestofyouryearinSciencepromisesmuch,muchmore!

IlookforwardtoseeingyouallonZoom(atleastforthenext6weeks).

BruceRichardson

30

TheGreatestArtTheftinHistory:CommencingAugust2020

IfyouhavetravelledinEuropeandvisitedmonuments,artgalleriesandmuseums,haveyoueverwonderedhowsomanyofthesetreasuressurvivedtheravagesofWorldWar2?Thefilm‘TheMonumentsMen’,basedonthebookbyRobertEdsel,examinestheestablishmentofthisgroupandfollowstheirtravelsbehindtheAlliedarmiesasEuropewasrescuedfromtheNaziwarmachine.

ThiscourselooksatthethinkingbehindthesystematiclootingofartworksthroughoutEurope,andwhatHitlerhopedtoachieve.Wealsolookatwhathashappenedsincetheendofthewar,includingrestitutionoftheartworkstotheiroriginalowners.Thistaskcontinuesthroughtotodaywhereweseemanygalleriesandmuseumsunlockingtheprovenanceofmanyoftheworksintheirarchivesandondisplay.

ThisisarepeatofthecourseIranlastyear;however,asIhavecontinuedtoreadaroundthistopic,Ihaveaddedarangeofnewmaterial.WemightevengetintoJapanandIraqtoseewhatoccurredthere.

Youcanenrolinthiscourse,whichcommencesThursday13thAugust,bygoingonlinetoourU3Awebsite.IwillrunthiscourseviaZoom.Ifyouarenewtothistechnology,letmeknowandIwilltalkyouthroughtheprocessofbecomingaZoommember.Thisisnotasscaryasitmightsoundevenifyouarenotcomfortablewithtechnology.

AnneRichardsonEmail:c.anne.richardson@gmail.com

31

BookGroup

Wellherewearebackinlockdownagainandonethingthismayallowustodoisfindmoretimetocurlupwithabookwhilekeepingwarmduringsomeofthecold,wetdaysofWinter.Amsurealotofushaveanunreadbooksomewhereontheshelfwehavealwaysmeanttoreadoramuchlovedonewewouldliketohavethechancetoenjoyagain.

ThelibraryhasbeenreallygoodinmakingitpossibleforourgrouptocontinueduringthesedaysofCOVID-19bypostingoutacopyoftheallocatedbooktoeachmember.WecatchuponZoomeachmonthforachatanddiscussionofthebookalthoughunfortunatelynotallmembersareabletojoinin.Emailhelpsustokeepintouchaswell.

SincethelastNewsletterwehavereadthreenovels.Thefirst,DearMrs.BirdadebutnovelbyA.J.Pearceisalightheartedreadbutwithsomesadandmovingthemesaswell.SetinLondonduringthehorrorsofWorldWar2,itisthestoryofayoungwoman,Emmy,whowantstobeaWarCorrespondentbut,asassistanttoMrsBird,inadvertentlybecomesasecretAdviceCorrespondent.Writteninold-fashionedlanguageofthetimeswhen‘keepingoneschinup’isimportanttobuildupresiliencetothehorrorsaround(shadesoftoday),Emmyhelpsmanywomenlivingthroughdifficult,emotionaltimes.Showingthestrengthofwomenandtheimportanceoffriendship,thishistoricalnovelisanenjoyableread.

OursecondandthirdbooksarebothbyAmericanauthorsbutverydifferent.Thefirstofthese,ASparkofLightcomesfromprolificwriterJodiPicoult,whointhiscasetakesontherelevant,controversialissueofabortionwhileremainingneutral.Whilenotforeveryonethesubjectisexaminedthroughtheeyesofthecharactersinthestory,bothpro-choiceandpro-lifeprotagonists.Writteninanunusualstyleitbeginsattheendofthestorywithagunmaninanabortionclinichavingkilledandinjuredpeoplewhoweretherewhenheenteredthebuilding.Thenarrativegoesbackintimetoexplainthecharactersandwhytheyarethere.Itisaninterestingwell-writtenandresearchedbook.

OurlastbookWheretheCrawdadsSingisthefirstnovelbynaturewriterDeliaOwens.IttoppedtheNewYorkTimesbestsellerlistof2019and2020foracombinedthirtyweeks.Abeautifulbook,itissetinthemysteriousandremotemarshesalongthecoastofNorthCarolina.Itconsistsoftwotimelines,thefirstbeingtheadventuresofayounggirlKayaasshegrowsuponherownafterhermotherleftherwhenshewassixyearsold.Withwonderfuldetailofthenaturalworldandwildlifeinthedesolatemarshlandsthecharactersandsettingslowlydevelopsinamovingandbeautifulway.ThesecondstrandofthestoryisamurderinvestigationofthesomewhatunfathomabledeathofChaseAndrews,alocalcelebrityofthefictionaltownofBarkleyCove.Thisisfollowedbyatrialthenarealtwistattheendofthestory.Althoughwehaven’tdiscussedthisbookasagroup,Ifeelitmaybeoneoftheraretimesweallagreethatitisoneweallenjoyedandrecommendasagoodread.

JillLightfoot

32

BUSHWALKINGIN2020

OuryearstartedoffwellwithagreatturnoutofwalkersfortheweeksinFebruary.OurwalkcoveredsomeofourfavouritespotslikeGrantsReserveandBirdland.SeveralpartsoftheSassafrasTrackwerealsocovered.LysterfieldLakeParkwasalsoontheprogrambutalas…

Frommid-Marchtillmid-Mayeveryonedidtheirownexercisingwalks.Iwassurprisedhowmanypeoplesuddenlyappearedoutthere.Walkingwithandwithoutdogs.Thelocaltrackswereverypopularwithpeoplefromnearandfar.Thelocalcoffeeshopswerewellpatronised.ThereweretimesIcountedadozenpeopleinthequeuewaitingfortheirfix.

Whenrestrictionswererelaxed,IconsultedPataboutwalkingingroupsoften.ThatwasapprovedofandIsentoutemailsandwehad12peopleturnupthefirstweekback.ChristookhalfthegroupononesideofthestreetandIfollowedontheotherwiththerest.

ThefollowingsixweekswedidalllocalwalksindifferentdirectionsoutofEmerald.

SomepeoplesawplacestheyhadnotbeenawareofbeforeliketheBuddhistTempleuponthehillaboveBeaconsfieldRoad.Aswewerestickynosingatthegateakindlymonkcameandinvitedustowalkaroundthegrounds.Thestatutoryandthevegie-gardenswereasurprisetomostofus.

Iincludeapictureofawalkfromwhenpeoplecouldstillfraternise.Hopefullytherestrictionswilleaseagainsoonandwewillbeabletoresumeatleastwithlocalwalks.

StaySafe

CheersfromDot

33

A Book a Day for May

Lockdown!

Youcan’tgoanywhere,wellnowhereinteresting,sowhatdoyoudo?Cooking,theneating,gardening,Zoommeetingswithfamilyandfriends,reading,playingcards,computergames,handquiltinganddiarywriting!

However,thereneedstobemore.SoIdecidedtochallengemyself.Whatdoyoudotochallengeyourself?Theanswertothatcouldbeendlessaseveryonehasdifferentlimitations,skillsandopportunitytodocertainactivities.ThechallengethatIsetmyselfwastomake‘AbookadayinMay’andifpossiblethetextwouldbea‘haiku’poemthatIhadwritten.

Forthosewhoarenotfamiliarwith‘haiku’poetry,haikupoemsconsistofthreelineswithtotalof17syllables(5,7,5)andgivelittleglimpsesintotheworldaroundyou.Mypoemsvaryslightlyfromthisforminthenumberofsyllablesused.Haikuareusuallyaboutnature.ThemonthofMayisagoodmonthfornature–it’sautumnwithautumnalcolouredleaves,fungieverywhere,stillsomerosesonthebushes,magpiesstillfeedingbabies,andsoon.Haveagoatwritingsome,it’sfun!

So,May1stcamealong,andwithitthedecisionastowhattypeofbookIwouldmake.Willitbebig,orlittle,whatwillthetextbe,willtherebeillustrations,whatmaterialswillbeused,etc.Startingwithasquareshapedconcertina/accordionbookwaseasy.Mypersimmontree(abirthdaypresentsomeyearsago)lookedmagnificentatthistimesomyhaikupoemreflectedthisspectacle–‘Clothedinabeautifulgown/fashionedinautumnalcolours/mypersimmontree’.Orangewritingonapieceofmarbledpaperwithblackcoversandasashofmarbledpapertokeepthebookclosed.

Onedownandthirtytogo!

Foldedbookformssuchastheconcertinabooklendthemselvestobeusedindifferentorientationsandthesecondbookinthechallengewasalsoaconcertinabutithadawiderpieceofpaperfoldedhorizontally.Thetextwasahaikupoemaboutaminiaturegingkotreethatisinourgarden,andtheillustrationsweretinypressedgingkoleavesfromlastseason.

EachdaybroughtanewchallengeasIdecidedtoexperimentwithdifferentfoldedforms,differenttypesofcalligraphyanddifferenttypesofillustration.SomedayswhenIneededinspirationIlookedthroughthebookmakingbooksthatIhaveinmycollectionandfounddifferenttypesoffoldedformstoexperimentwith.

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TheformthatIlovedmakingmostwasthecircular/triangularfoldedstyleofbookthatImade.Ilovetheshapeandtheeffectthatwasachievedbydoingit‘intheround’.IgavetheinstructionstomakethistotheCalligraphyZoomMeetingparticipantsandhaveseenonemadebyKayWharton.Itlooksgreat.

Soifyouareboredoverthenextsixweeksoflockdownwhynottrytochallengeyourselftosomethinglikethis.Takeaphotoaday,writeapoemaday,drawordiarisesomethingeachdayinajournal.Thelistisendless,abitlikethislockdown!

NolaBiancoCalligraphytutor

Flowers for the Home and GiftsInthesechallengingtimeswiththefeelingofbeingcutofffromotherssomethingIwillshareisanactivityIwillcallnature’s medicine for the soul.Inourgroupwehavesharedphotosofourfirst‘gardenwindow’anactivitysomeothermembersmightliketodotoo.Withlittlefloweringatthistimeofyear,therearestill‘treasures’outthere.ThisactivityresemblesthephilosophybehindIkebanabutnotthedesigns.

Someofyoumighthaveatableinfrontofawindowandifsothiswouldprovideanevenlargerareatodisplaysomesinglestemsintallbottleswithflowerssuchasredhotpokersorcamellias(withallleavesremoved)forexample.Itisimportantinthesearrangementstoremembertheelementsofdesign,thinkingaboutthematerialsbeingusedasweaimforanarrangementwhichhighlightseachfloweraswellasthesizeandshapeofcontainerandwhereitwillbeplaced.

KarenBlack

Elaine Hahn

RobynJans

ElaineHahn–Tutor,FlowersfortheHomeandGifts

ElaineHahn

RobynJans

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VirtualSailing

Afewyearsago,whilerecoveringfromoneofmyspinalsurgeries,apilotfriendintroducedmetovirtualflying.SinceIcouldn’tflywithhiminhisCirrusSR22,virtualflyingbecamemynextbestoption.

MicrosoftFlightSimulator,apersonalcomputerprogram,isusedbytraineepilotsandexperiencedpilotstopractisetheirskillswhenphysicalflyingisnotonthehorizon,sotospeak.

It’saningeniousprogramthatteachesyoutoflyoveradozentypesofaircraftfromthegoodoldTigerMoth(anamazinglyaerobaticmachine)fromfloatplanestotheAirbus380.

LandingoneofthoseplanesatHeathrowAirportisanervewrackingexperienceguaranteedtohaveyoubreakingoutinacoldsweat.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc793SLIm6E

NowthatIamnolongerfitenoughtosailmyyacht,Ihavediscoveredanewvirtualsailingprogramthatisalmostasbrilliantinitsdesignasthatflightsimulator.Fromthekeyboardyoucontroltheaftandforwardwinches,thejammers,furlers,backstay,outhaul,mainhalyard,mainsheetandjibsheets-allofwhichneedtobeinsynctoachieveyourmostefficientsailing.Whenthetelltales,thewooltuftsonthesailstreamhorizontally,youthenknow

you’regettingthemostoutofyouryacht.Andyourspeedlogis,ofcourse,thefinalproofthatyouaredoingthebestyoucanintheprevailingwindandwaveconditions.https://www.esailyachtsimulator.com

Perhaps,ifIputafanonmydeskanduseaspraybottleofwaternowandthen,ImightbelieveI'mstilloutatsea.Anyway,it'skeepingmeoffthestreetsandoutofharm’swayinthislongperiodofisolation.Enjoythisone-minutespoofofvirtualsailingandifyouwanttoknowmorepleasegivemeacall.Icantalktoyouaboutitaboutitforhours.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12F60bPkquY

CockpitoftheCirrus

CirrusSR22

Myvirtualyacht

MacCraig

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