U3A East London

Dear Members,

Monday 15th September at 09h45. Memorable Musicals at Parklands Oak Room – Dave Donkin will be showing “Guys and Dolls” a 1950 sensation. Starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. There are familiar songs like “there’s a whole lot of lovin’ going on” and “Luck be a Lady tonight”.

Contact Dave Donkin

Wednesday 17th September at 10h00 Music Appreciation at Parklands Oak Room Jeff Sadler will be presenting “From Russia with Love”. Music by Tchaikovsky

Contact Jeff Sadler

Thursday 185h September at 10h00. Financial matters with John Pearson in the Indaba room at The Valley.

To be discussed

1 Sanlam results and them going into the Indian markets in a big way

2 McDonalds of India getting involved in the Protein craze sweeping the country pushing up sales

3 China’s robotic industry leading the world and Unitree’s proposed listing.

4 Online gambling legal and illegal and its effects on casinos and the public

News and views on local and offshore business and investments that can influence our pensions in our fast changing world

Friday 19th September Mahjongh 09h20 to12h00 Oak Room Closed Course

Contact Gill Ansell

A reminder to you all - subs for the year July 2025 - June 2026 are due. R50.00 for the year, payable at the door, or by EFT.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Janet Ross-Thompson (Secretary)

The Writing Group meets on the 4th Friday of the month at 13:30 in the Oak Room at Parklands. All writers and guests are welcome to join us. We write for enjoyment and to learn from each other.

Our meetings cover some of the principles of creative writing:

a) Understanding Plot, Character, Conflict and Setting

b) Developing characters and their motivations

c) Establishing believable characters and conflict within stories or poems

d) Crafting an effective plot structure

e) Working in different genres

f) Editing and refining pieces to create an effective narrative

g) How to write a gripping story

We also focus on crafting and refining our writing through techniques such as dialogue, description, imagery, metaphor, etc.

Writers are able to share emotions and ideas through their work. We all have an opportunity to read our work aloud and comment on each other's stories. We celebrate our accomplishments through publishing our stories and poems and celebrating through social engagements. Our stories are published in our collection of Tales of All Kinds.

Dip into our most recent edition, Tales of All KInds VI, available in hard copy. You can also read some of our stories from the previous and current editions under the tab ‘Activities – Writing Group’ on this website.

This volume includes the prompts which provide the springboard for each story. Sometimes several writers have responded to the same prompt, their stories revealing the diversity, and wide landscape of interests and insights. Each evocation is an expression of individual voices that evinces imagination and authenticity, transporting our readers to places they may never visit or experience adventures they may never have had. Our stories will engage your heart and mind, making you want to laugh, shed a tear, or hold your breath in anticipation of what is going to happen next. Sometimes we will leave you with a mystery you may want to solve or a question you may want to answer. There’s a fly on the wall and a murder suspect in the room, and where did all the cookies go?

From magic portals, murder mysteries and mothers-in-law to finding treasure, facing adversity and food challenges, our readers will encounter interesting birds, family surprises, kitchen disasters and heart-warming acts of kindness. Our stories open a window into a kaleidoscope of other worlds, dreams and imaginations, and we hope they will entertain and inspire readers and writers, both young and old.

Sobhna Poona (Group Leader)

Email - u3aeastlondon@gmail.com