Reviews
Where There's a Will There's a Way!
When award winning solicitor, Fiona Dodd, spoke to a packed meeting, it wasn't just about wills but also Power of Attorney. She held everyone's attention, gave space to questions and concluded with three choices: to do nothing (while knowing the risks of that), to do it oneself (often not as difficult as feared) and to know when or if to consult a professional.
The meeting was organised by our Future Lives group, sharing information to help older people maintain independence and quality of life for as long as possible. The group is still new but has already had lively discussions on issues such as downsizing, living alone and making safe our environment both within and outside the home. The success of the January meeting will encourage the group to continue developing ideas committed to the concept of 'ageing better'. The group welcomes new members from existing or not yet members of the u3a.
Hurst, Hassocks & Ditchling u3a Photography Group 1 visit Herstmonceux Castle and Observatory.
This was a very social occasion because husbands and wives came along too! A beautiful September day and an absolute feast of photographic opportunities was enjoyed by members. Our group leader is Mike - and Penny is location manager. This outing was very carefully planned by Penny who did a ‘recce’ in advance to make sure we all knew where to go and what we could choose to see. Everything went smoothly. After a very enjoyable group sit-down for coffee and a snack, some members went off to see the Observatory. Those visiting the Castle were able to walk across the drawbridge, through the courtyard and out into the ornamental gardens, woodland trails, meadows and lakes. We visited the derelict but charming folly, built in Georgian style, complete with walled garden by the lake.
Originally built in the mid-1400s, the Castle became part of the Canadian university campus of Queen’s University, Bader College in 1994. It hosts primarily undergraduate students studying arts, science, or commerce through the Canadian University Study Abroad Program (CUSAP), as well as graduate students studying Public International Law or International Business Law.
The Board Games Group
A recently formed u3a group, Board Games, meets once a month. The group leader has a good selection of board games and is happy to teach people how to play. Those attending do a lot of laughing! One of these is Camel Up, a racing game. Basically there are seven camels on the board. Each camel has a different colour and is stackable, so if your throw of the dice means you have to move to a spot already occupied, your camel has to sit on top! This can lead to multiple stacked camels…I’m sure you’d love to know more! These are not children’s games, and they can require a surprising amount of brain racking! The group meets at The Purple Carrot café on Station Approach East, Hassocks, on the first Thursday of the month at 2.00pm. If you would like to come and join in, contact the Group Leader via the Groups page.