June 2026
BOOK GROUP
This month we are reading ”As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow” by Outta Katich.
This ‘ love letter to Syria’ is a unique novel, blending beauty, horror and a defiant sense of hope.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
The Current Affairs group usually meets on the 3rd Wednesday each month at 10.00am -in the Mohoao Room at Te Hapua -Halswell Library/Service Centre. We usually have about 25 members attending and we discuss or learn about a wide range of current/emerging topics and issues.
Our July meeting will be “UNDERSTANDING AI -what is it, how may it change the way we work and live, what are the major trends and what are the upsides and downsides”. If you are not a regular member of this group -but may wish to join this presentation/discussion -just email Graeme McNally
CYCLING GROUP JUNE REPORT
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways around Christchurch and further afield. The rides usually have 2 start points to accommodate distance and speed preferences of the members. Most members have e-bikes. New members are always welcome.
On Monday 15 June we had to cancel the ride due to rain.
On Friday 26 June, 7 of us braved the chilly conditions and cycled from Halswell into Hagley Park and onto Mona Vale where we joined the Northern Line Cycleway, riding beside the railway line, to Northwood where we stopped for a coffee. On the way back we cycled on the Uni-Cycle, Nor’West Arc and Quarryman’s trail to Halswell.
FAMILY HISTORY
The topic for our June meeting was looking back at the schools we had attended, highlights of our teen years and what entertainment we had available to us. Schools were very different from those of today as was the entertainment available during our teen years.
At our next meeting, on 21st July starting at 1.30pm, we will be discussing the perceived catalyst that led to our ancestors’ decisions to emigrate.
We have room for more members so if this interests you, please contact either Carole or Julia
HISTORY GROUP
The next unit in the current course explores the immense change and development of Australia in the fifty years between 1851 and 1900. The Impact of gold discovery had far-reaching effects”.
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
At our June meeting we followed on looking at patterns and colours of autumn. We shared recent photos each had taken including Carolyn’s delightful wild animal shots taken recently in Africa. We then discussed what form fasciation in plants can take looking at some local examples before each photographed one. Fasciation we learnt, is the relatively rare condition of abnormal growth where the growing tips or flowers produce flattened contorted tissue or doubled elongated blooms.
Our July meeting will be on Friday 17 June at 10am at Eric and Judy’s when we will look at the challenges poised when photographing in frost and other winter conditions. All welcome.
SINGING GROUP
Our Singing group has now met for several sessions, so for those of you who haven’t made it there so far (do come, we would love to see you), what is it all about?
Do we gather to sing loved and well-known songs from our younger days?
Yes, we sure do! But also, some songs from further back and some from more recent times. Most, but not all, are ‘popular’ songs and just to stretch us a little we are learning new songs from across a range of genres as well.
Also, some song rounds, just for fun!
Last session we sang what I call a ‘rollicking good’ song from way back. ‘There is a Tavern in the Town’ , composed in 1883 by William Hills, and published in his songbook, “Student Songs”, a book for students at Harvard and Yale. The song was later revived in 1933 and there have since been many recordings by other artists. Most surprisingly, the tune is quite familiar to us in the children’s song ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” We sang it with gusto, even if we neglected to stamp our feet!
” There never was a better thing to do than sing”
(That probably sounds like a famous quote from someone, but actually, I just invented it). But I’m sure, in these chaotic times, it’s very true.
Singing, especially with others, brings real joy and raises our spirits high.
So, keep singing (yes, aloud!),
Keep warm and see you at our next session.
We meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at the Halswell Hall at 2.00 pm. New members are welcome.
Bronwen
URBAN EXPLORERS
Our next gathering will be Tuesday 7th July at Oderings Cafe, Cashmere Rd at 1.30 pm for a winter catchup. Nothing scheduled for August though.
Please text me if you are coming (see the newsletter for Marilyn’s phone number)
Many thanks, Marilyn.