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Jazz
Listening
We
have had another
interesting mix of topics at our group this year, including sharing
our CDs of female vocalists, watching DVD clips, and listening to
various jazz artists.
Bob
Ward, always a fountain of knowledge and raconteur of humorous and
fascinating stories about the artists, in March and April, took a
look at “Significant Jazz Trumpet Players of the 20th Century”.
We listened to some rare and historic recordings from as far back as
1900, to the present day. It was also an interesting overview of the
technological development in the recording industry, from early
gramophone recordings to the CDs of today.
In
June, we learned about Brazilian music and musicians, the development
of Bossa Nova, and how it influenced the Jazz Scene in North America
and the rest of the world.
July
saw us having our own mid-winter gathering with drinks and nibbles,
while we listened to the sound of the Rodney Jazz Revival, (all but
one, members of our group), as they played a selection of Jazz
Standards. Who says learning can’t be fun?
Val
Couling
History
Our
group is no longer confined to the Medieval era for our monthly
gatherings. We are free to research and write on a subject that
really interests us personally. The result has been that we all
enjoy preparing our readings as never before.
In
May Nigel Swaffield spoke on tradition being false. . . . for
instance Scots’ kilts and clans were not to be revered as ages old,
but of the Victorian era! This led, as you can imagine, to heated
discussion. The April talk was on Robert the Bruce, very thoroughly
researched by Linda Moore, and extremely interesting. In May the
group were all asked to bring Trivia. . . . this proved to be so
trivial that none of the six people present can remember what they
themselves spoke about . In June I researched and wrote on the
Highland Clearances which resulted in the Gaelic-speaking Sutherland
Scots emigrating here to Waipu.
Our
group are first class listeners and speakers, thoroughly enjoying
each other’s’ company.
Anne
Todd
Local
History
Last year we
spent three
months on the history of Matakana Village so this year we extended
our studies to the outlying areas of Big Omaha Valley; the "gum
flats" ( i.e. Omaha Flats and Point Wells ); Takatu and
Tawharanui; Glen Eden River and Lower Matakana (Sandspit). Invited
speakers were Carol Ramage who told us of the farming activities of
the Meiklejohn family, and Bob Bell spoke of the establishment of
Lemora Wine by the Migounoff family. Members have otherwise done the
research and presented the results to the group.In June
we
had our first
session on the history of Kawau Island and this will probably be
completed in July and then suggested topics are boatbuilding in the
local area and the industries of Warkworth.Some of
our members helped with the recording of items brought to the
Matakana Heritage Day on June 19th. It was a highly successful event
and the help was greatly appreciated. The variety of historical
documents and photographs and family stories was fascinating.
Anthea
McKergow
NEW
GROUPS
Attention
Shakespeare Lovers
Valma
Gidman would like to start a monthly Shakespeare study group, to
study the plays and sonnets. Acting skills are not required but you
should have your own Shakespeare copies. If you are interested
please contact Valma on 425 9869 or vegidman@clear.net.nz
Petanque
Anyone
interested?, Anyone got a petanque
court? (For that
matter, does anyone know the rules?)
Maybe
this could be a summer activity. (I note that Ponsonby U3A play one
morning and one evening a week – just whoever turns up apparently.)
Contact
Iris Mee 4257934 or irismee@clear.net.nz
Starting a new
Group
Did you know that any member can start a new Study
Group. If you have, or would like to explore a special area of
interest, why not start a new group?
The sky is the limit!
Contact the Groups Director (Chris Hoogerwerf,
425-5022),
or any committee member for more information on how to make it happen.
Book
Review
Case
Histories by Kate Atkinson
is a combination of crime, mystery and humour, and tells the story of
three crimes that took place in or around Cambridge (England) between
the 1970’s and 1990’s and of how they all come to the attention
of private investigator, Jackson Brodie in 2004.
The
three cases involve a child who disappears when sleeping outside in a
tent with her sister; a young woman who is stabbed to death whilst
working temporarily for her father’s law firm and an 18 year old
mother who cannot cope with an unhappy marriage and the overwhelming
feeling of being trapped.
These
are not stories involving descriptions of violence, forensic
evidence, police procedure, etc, but of the people involved and how
events affected them. It is a very ‘character driven’ book.
Jackson
Brodie is an ex-policeman, divorced with an eight year old daughter
that he sees on weekends. Like so many detectives in popular
novels, he is a bit world-weary, gets too involved with the
characters and has not been too successful as a private investigator.
One of the ‘laugh out loud’ moments in the book is when Jackson
is asked by an elderly South African woman to find her lost cat. The
only problem is that her cat is called ‘Nigger’ and she
cannot understand why the idea of Jackson walking around the
neighbourhood shouting “Nigger’ might be difficult.
By
the end of the book, a fine thread connecting the three cases is
revealed, but you have to read the book to find out how the pieces of
the puzzle fall together.
Case
Histories was so successful
that it was followed up by two more Jackson Brodie books: One
Good Turn and When
Will There Be Good News. All
three have been made into a TV series by the BBC.
Sylvia
Diprose
