Latest MAD KIT News - 3KEEPING IN TOUCH (KIT)

If you are restricting your travel, social distancing or even self-isolating you may be wondering what social contact there will be with the Mansfield & District U3A (MAD).

The Committee is trying to maintain some contact by producing an occasional update which will be emailed to you. We hope this helps us all to connect, cheers you up, maybe teaches you something and makes you laugh. We would like to include your tips, ideas, stories, jokes as well as facts and useful information. We can only make this work if you send us your contributions and make this your update.

Members Meetings we will not be held for the foreseeable future and we will let you know when the Team from the Stags get in touch to say they are open for business again.

Useful Websites

For the latest updates in Mansfield click on the link below

https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Mansfield+Coronavirus&qpvt=mansfield+coronavirus&FORM=EWRE

For those of you who cannot get out to buy the Mansfield Chad then please click on the link below

https://www.chad.co.uk/

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Stockpile beautiful moments Write them down, keep a photo, keep a record in your computer. Then recall these moments often, reflecting on them, taking pleasure in them, integrating them into your day-to-day routine and outlook.

Have little successesThere’s nothing like a degree of success to help you become relaxed. Even if it’s only with the most trivial activities (cleaning out that troublesome cupboard perhaps), make room for yourself to succeed from time to time.

Pretend you believe Regardless of what you know, by pretending to be absolutely calm and relaxed, you will fool your subconscious into believing you are calm and relaxed.

These Lyrics written by Freddie Mercury & Brian May, really bring it home with the current crisis.

“Is This The World We Created?"

Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feedTake a look at all the suffering we breedSo many lonely faces scattered all aroundSearching for what they need.

Is this the world we created?What did we do it for?Is this the world we invadedAgainst the law?So it seems in the end.Is this what we're all living for today?The world that we created.

You know that everyday a helpless child is bornWho needs some loving care inside a happy homeSomewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throneWaiting for life to go by.Is this the world we created?

We made it on our own.Is this the world we devastatedRight to the bone?If there's a God in the sky looking down,

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What can he think of what we've doneTo the world that He created?

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Receive Updates

Scam alerts Coronavirus specialNottinghamshire County Council sent this bulletin at 01-04-2020 05:20 PM BST

Scam Alerts

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Scams hope to take advantage of the most vulnerable in our communities and can be difficult to spot. Often, criminals link their scams to topical events, and the coronavirus pandemic is no exception.

We have put together advice below on spotting and preventing scams during this time as well as tips on how to spot if a relative has been a victim of a scam. Please remember that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 

How can I spot a coronavirus scam?

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Go

To help you spot a scam, our Trading Standards Team has put together some examples of scams which are operating across Nottinghamshire. 

Unwanted callers asking for donations to help those in need during this time

Calls and emails offering miracle cures

Individuals offering to do shopping and not returning with the bank card and the groceries

Emails claiming to be from HMRC offering a tax rebate due to the coronavirus

See more examples of coronavirus scams

How can I prevent a scam?

Scams are not always easy to spot, and anyone can fall victim to them. With this in mind, consider the following if you're not sure of something or someone. Remember, don't be afraid to hang up, bin it, delete it or shut the door if you're not sure! 

Always ask for ID from those who turn up out of the blue at your property, and if in doubt call the organisation directly to verify 

Be suspicious of requests for money up front and never feel pressured into handing any over

Check with family and friends before accepting offers of help and support. Those who are genuine will be happy to wait for your response

Legitimate organisations will not contact you out of the blue to ask for payment. Make sure to remember this if you are contacted.

Find out more about how to prevent scams

 

Signs someone may have been scammed

If you are a carer or have an older relative, please be on the lookout for any signs that they have been scammed. Each situation is different but typical signs could include:  

Receiving lots of unwanted calls

Unusual transactions on bank statements

Becoming unwilling to go out (just in case they miss the next phone call telling them what they have won)

No money to buy food / pay bills

Lots of mail 

Unwilling to throw any old post away

If you do spot any of the above signs, it is important to report scam activity to us so that we can inform communities to make them aware! 

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Report a scam here

T 0300 500 8080      E enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk    W nottinghamshire.gov.uk

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Please see the scam alert sent to us by Ken White

Mansfield & District U3A Wildlife Group (also provided by Ken White)

Birds of Britain

The Skylark

Here is a bird you will hear frequently at the moment if you walk close to fields, although

seeing it is another matter, The bird will be high up in the sky and sometimes difficult to spot.

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Click here to listen to the Skylark song: >>>  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyo66_EyOtI

10 Facts about the Skylark

1. Only the nightingale rivals the skylark’s reputation as one of the finest songsters in the

bird world.

2. The skylark’s song is fast, complex and highly variable, but (unlike the nightingale’s) it is

delivered within a narrow frequency range.

3. There can be anything from 160 to over 460 syllables in the song.

4. While the Victorians estimated the height of the male skylark’s song flight at around

600m (2,000ft), most birds sing from around 50m and few ever go beyond 200m.

5. The average length of a song flight is just over two minutes, but 30-minute performances

have been recorded.

6. Skylarks invariable start singing before dawn, so their voice is the first to be heard in the

dawn chorus.

7. Song can be heard throughout the year, though it is least frequent between mid-

November and late-January.

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8. It is thought that more poems have been written about the skylark’s song than that of any

other bird.

9. Despite the lark’s popularity as a songbird, it has long been regarded as a delicacy on

the plate, and the price of skylarks has been recorded since the reign of Edward I.

10.The skylark is one of the most widely distributed of all British birds, found from coastal

dunes to the tops of the Cairngorms.

Virtual Days Out

Plan a virtual day out, get out your old photos, look at points of interest round about, different ways of getting to it – perhaps using the scenic route and not the motorway. If it’s the seaside, plan to have a fish and chip lunch. If it’s a garden centre you are planning to visit virtually or a National Trust type property, make yourself an Afternoon Tea. Its not the same, but better than nothing.

Also use this time to plan future days out for when things get back to normal!!!! Look at where you want to go, plan the route, look for places of interest roundabout. Check out the cafes for the tea and cake.

Keep Smiling

Conversation between and child and their Grandad in 2095 …

Child – How old are you Grandad?Grandad – I’m 81 kid.

Child – So does that mean you were alive during the Corona Virus?Grandad – Yes kid I was.

Child – WOW. That must have been horrible Grandad. We were learning about that at school this week.

They told us about how all the schools had closed. Mums and Dads could not go to work so did not have as much money to do nice things. They said that you were not allowed to go out and visit your family and friends and could not go out anywhere. They told us that the shops ran out of lots of thing so you did not have much bread, and flour, and toilet rolls’ – child giggles.

They said that summer holidays were cancelled. They told us about all of those thousands of people who got very poorly and died. They explained about the NHS and how hard all the doctors and nurses and all NHS workers worked. Lots of them died too.

That must have been so horrible Grandad.

Grandad – Well kid, that is all correct. I know that because I read about it when I was older. But to tell you the truth I remember it differently…

I remember playing in the garden for hours with Mum and Dad and having picnics outside and lots of BBQs. I remember making things with my Dad and baking with my Mum. I remember making dens with my little brother, teaching him how to do handstands and backflips. I

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remember having quality time with my family. I remember Mums favourite words becoming ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea ……’ rather than ‘ Maybe later or tomorrow as I’m a bit busy’. I remember making our own bread and pastry. I remember having film night three or four times a week instead of just one.

It was a horrible time for lots of people, you were right. But I remember it differently.

Remember how our children will remember these times. Be in control of the memories they are creating right now, so that throughout all the awful headlines and emotional stories for so many that they will come to read in future years, they can remember the happy times.

Mansfield & District U3A

Our schooling years were full of joyThe weeks lasted foreverWe had respect for those who teachAnd the storms we had to weather.

We coped so admirably, the pressures of workAs we ate, we rested and playedAt times we wished to be back at school With all the friends we made.

But soon those years have passed us byAs they say in the blink of an eyeRetirement is soon upon usSo that time has just flown by.

We must not feel it’s overBecause we’re getting oldWe have a wealth of knowledgeIn all that we have been told.

Our Group Leaders do an amazing jobIn all the Groups they leadWith activities there for everyoneTo suit your very need.

So don’t let those years pass you byUse that knowledge to have your sayAge is nothing but a numberTo us in the U3A.

You don’t stop doing things because you get oldYou get old because you stop doing thing.

STAY SAFE.

Bill Harrison

Best wishes and keep well and stay safe

From Your CommitteePage 10 of 10