InterestGroups

cycling

August 2023

U3A Cycling August
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. New members are always welcome.
This month our 2 rides were in the same week, so it was decided to do the same ride both days.
Altogether 12 cyclists came along. We started at the Liffey Springs Reserve, Lincoln and rode on the Little River Rail Trail to Motukarara through wetland areas. It was a lovely ride and after a look around Motukarara it was back to Lincoln for coffee and lunch

cycling

July 2023

U3A Cycling June
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
On Monday 17 July five of us rode from Hagley Park to Northlands on the Northern Line Cycleway then onto The Papanui Parallel Cycleway to Meshinos for coffee. We enjoyed a coffee and a chat in the sun then we returned the same way back to Hagley Park.
On Friday 28 July we met in CBD and biked to the Tannery on the Heathcote Expressway. It was very stop start with all the lights but on a separate cycleway which was great. We had coffee at The Brewery Café which was lovely and warm as the morning was drizzly and cool! We then cycled along the river to PMH and onto the Quarryman’s Trail back to Halswell. There were 7 of us on this ride. Next month our 2 rides are in the same week so we will organise the Monday ride with the Friday as back up if weather is poor. We are cycling from Lincoln to Motukarara.
Mary

June 2023

U3A Cycling June

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.

This month we only managed one ride due to weather conditions.
On Friday 30 June we rode into the Boatshed Café via the Quarryman’s, Nor’West Arc and Uni-Cycle trails. On the way home we rode the South Express, Nor’West Arc, Southern Motorway trails and then back through Nga Puna Wai to Halswell. There were 8 of us and for some we rode through new areas which is always enjoyable. The sun was out for most of the ride which was great after the many grey days we have had.

cycling

May 2023

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
This month we only had one ride as we had to cancel the other ride due to wet weather.
On Friday 26 May ten of us rode from Halswell to Lincoln on the Little River Rail Trail. It was a beautiful morning with a tail wind to Lincoln which was great. We had an enjoyable chat over coffee at The Lincoln Pantry then back to Halswell. Fortunately, the head wind wasn’t too strong on the way home!
Our first ride next month will be from Lincoln to Motukarara also on the Little River Rail trail. Mary

April 2023

Cycle Group
Our ride on Monday 17 April was a local loop. Seven of us started in Halswell and cycled on the Southern Motorway Trail towards Middleton then joined the Nor’West Arc Cycleway towards Pioneer Centre then onto Worsleys Rd and up to the Adventure Park for coffee.
We had a strong NE wind to contend with on the way but the sun was out and we enjoyed our outing. We headed back to Halswell on the Quarryman’s Trail.

Our ride on Friday 28 April was from Ferrymead Park to Sumner. It was a beautiful morning when 8 of us set out towards Sumner along the Coastal Pathway. We encountered roadworks along the way but otherwise it was a good ride. Scarborough Fare café was a good spot to enjoy a chat and a nice coffee before heading back.

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. New members are always welcome.
Mary

cycling

March 2023

Cycling Group March Report

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. 
The ride on Monday 20th started at Kaiapoi. We rode on the Pegasus Trail to Woodend and then on the Tutaepatu Trail to Pegasus. It was a lovely day with very little wind. There were 5 of us. 
The ride on Friday 31st started on Stanmore Rd/Swans Rd corner and we rode through the red zone along the Te Ara Otakaro Avon River Trail to New Brighton crossing the river several times on the beautiful new foot bridges. It was a chilly but fine morning and the 6 of us enjoyed coffee and chat at the Hot Pools Café.

February 2023

Book Group

This month’s book is ‘The Widows of Malabar Hill’ a Mystery of 1920s India. Inspired in part by the woman who made history as India’s first female attorney.  This is a richly wrought story of multicultural, 1920s Bombay, as well as the debut of a sharp and promising new sleuth.
We meet on the 2nd Monday of the month.  April is the start of a new year’s subscription to the Book Discussion Scheme.  We are a great group with lots of discussion about the books and would welcome one more member if interested. Ros 

History Group

We have had our first meeting to discuss the Introduction to China in Translation.  This course is about China’s slow but relentless transition from sleep at the end of thousands of years of dynastic rule in the early 1900s into one of the most powerful economic, and military, players in world affairs today.   Promises to be a very interesting course.  Currently 14 members so a very tight squeeze in my home. Ros  

cycling

October 2022

U3A Cycling October

We meet on the last Friday of the month and ride on dedicated cycleways as much as possible. New members are always welcome.We had a coffee catch-up again this month as the forecast was for rain.
We are going to trial cycling twice a month from November so hoping for more settled weather. Mary

Book Discussion Scheme

September 2022

Book Discussion Group

We are currently reading This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman.
Set in 1950’s New Zealand it is reminiscent of that time of major social change when capital punishment was the law and youth sub-culture were pushing the boundaries.  Remember bodgies and widgies?  Ros

Report from History

As our course has now finished, we have decided to share some historical novels and non-fiction that we have enjoyed for our next session.  The following month to be decided.

U3A Cycling September

We meet on the last Friday of the month and ride on dedicated cycleways as much as possible. New members are always welcome.
We had a coffee catch-up this month as the forecast was for rain.
We are hoping that the weather will be better next month.  Mary

Family History Group

We met on Tuesday 4th October spending our time reporting on the progress of each member in their research or writing up of their research. We had a brief look at an article explaining the varying types of graveyard memorials as well as the differing types of Irish buildings and the terminology used. A lively discussion followed before the meeting finished.
When do we meet?  The first Tuesday of each month.
Time?  1.30 pm.
Contacts: Carole  or Julia

History Group

As our course has now finished, we have decided to share some historical novels and non-fiction that we have enjoyed for our next session.  The following months topic is to be decided. Ros

U3A Quarry Group

The next session at the Halswell Quarry will be on Thursday 3rd of November at 10.00 am. We hope for fine weather! Lynne

Theatre Appreciation Group

Last meeting, we introduced the 2023 season for The Court Theatre, a most interesting array of plays. For our October meeting (Thursday 27th at 1.15) we will be taking a look at some interesting aspects of Shakespeare. Also reviewing the Elmwood Players’ production of ‘Ladies Day’ which a group of our members are attending together.

Isaac Theatre Royal

August 2022

Book Discussion Group

11 members meet on the second Monday each month at 10.00am at Ros’s place.
This month’s book is ‘Bad Blood – Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup’ The writer John Carreyrou investigates Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her startup which promised to revolutionize the medical industry and proved to be one of the biggest corporate frauds since Enron. Ros

Cycling August ride

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our ride this month due to the weather. Instead, we met up for coffee at Suburban Rascals which was lovely.
We were sad to lose one of our members to cancer this month, Alison Gallant. Alison loved being part of our cycling group and we will miss her.
Next month we hope for better weather and plan to cycle to Lincoln.
We meet on the last Friday of the month and new members are always welcome.
Mary

Family History Group

We meet on the first Tuesday of the month in the afternoon.  This month, as well as discussing  progress being made in research or documentation of indings as well as individuals’ life stories. We also had fun working out the various levels of cousins in a family. First cousin once removed, or second cousin 8 times removed??  It now has become a little clearer as we gained greater understanding of these terms. If you are interested in further information about this group, please contact Carole or Julia

History Group

We have finished the current course and next meeting we will discuss our own perspectives of the current climate for Women’s struggle for Equality. 
Group will decide on what course to do next year.
12 members
Meet on 3rd Thursday at 10.00 am

Theatre Appreciation Group

Our next get-together will be on Thursday 22nd September at 1.15pm at 45 Muir Ave. All welcome and enquiries to David.

Urban Explorers

New ideas on interesting walks/leadership offers would be gratefully received. Ngaire