U3A Vall del Pop

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

JazzWaspe — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:10:27 +0000

Another "U3A fifth anniversary competition" has been launched !

You have all summer to take some stunning photos and send them in to the Editor, ' perhaps to win a valuable PRIZE! See the full set of rules, by clicking on the link, HERE !

Don´t leave it too late!!

Bridge players wanted!

MikeHeidi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:20:12 +0000

The Bridge group would like some more players, especially over the summer! It doesn't matter what your level of bridge is, or how long ago you last played, the aim of our group is to have a relaxed and sociable afternoon playing cards.

We meet on Wednesday afternoons at 3.30pm – 6pm, at a different member's house each week, mostly in the Jalon/Alcalali area, and you don't have to host it if you don't want to.

Please contact the group leader Sue for more information on 96 597 3286, or email Sue at s.mueller@polinet.ch

FILM – ‘Made in Dagenham’ Monday 4th June 2012

MikeHeidi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:54:58 +0000

FILM – 'Made in Dagenham'

Monday 4th June, film starts 7pm, doors open 6.40pm

at La Musical, next to the Town Hall in the centre of Parcent village

This recent British film is about the remarkable women's strike at the Ford car factory in 1968. Their demand was for equal pay with the men, and the strike had far-reaching impact. Sally Hawkins leads an excellent cast, including Bob Hoskins, Geraldine James, Rosamund Pike and Rupert Graves. John Sessions plays Harold Wilson, and Miranda Richardson plays a feisty Barbara Castle!

Certificate 15, 108 minutes, in English.

Go to the Cinema Group page for more information about the Cinema, and how to get there Click here

FILM – ‘Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall’ Monday 18th June 2012

MikeHeidi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:23:36 +0000

Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' ,

filmed at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

Monday 18th June, film starts 7.15pm*, doors open 6.40pm

at La Musical, next to the Town Hall in the centre of Parcent village

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera", Cameron Mackintosh produced a unique, spectacular staging of the musical on a scale which had never been seen before. Inspired by the original staging by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne, this lavish, fully-staged production set in the sumptuous Victorian splendour of London's legendary Royal Albert Hall features a cast and orchestra of over 200, plus some very special guest appearances, including Sarah Brightman. Starring Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Radley Fraser.

Wonderfully filmed, this makes a spectacular finale to our very successful season, and we're sure you will enjoy seeing it in the lovely auditorium in Parcent. We'll be back in October with some more great films for you in your very own cinema!

Go to the Cinema Group page for a map of Parcent Click here

* Start time is slightly later than usual at 7.15pm. The film is 160 minutes long, and there will be a short interval.

We will be asking for the usual €2 per person for this performance, but the money collected will go to support the new day centre in Alcalali, Casa de Animo, which means something like "the house of good spirit". This centre houses a number of local groups which provide information and support to anyone living in the local area who needs it.

Day trip to Cocentaina

SandraWelham — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:26:07 +0000

Day Trip to Cocentaina

A fantastic day at the medieval market of Cocentaina.

If you have not been to this event. YOU MUST GO.

This market is one of the largest in Spain.

It really brings together the culture and food of the area.
We will be leaving the Rastro Carpark at 8.30 and returning at about 7.00

Cost : 10 euros.

Limited spaces.

So please reserve your place by telephone Sandra 965581353 or email bob.welham@gmail.com

THIS TRIP WILL BE ON SALE AT THE SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING.

5th Anniversary Dinner Dance. 12th October 2012

SandraWelham — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:48:57 +0000

5th Anniversay Dinner Dance.

Celebration event of the year.

To be held at

Solymar Hotel, Calpe.

Friday 12th October 2012

7.00 for 7.30pm

We start with a Cava Reception, overlooking the beautiful beach of Calpe.

From the meet and greet hall, we move into the Dinning Hall where our special meal will be presented.

This will be followed by music, from Barry Peters, giving us a chance to dance the night away.

Free parking at the hotel,is included and we have organised, at greatly reduced prices, the opportunity of you booking for yourself a double room for the night.

( 60 euros- Breakfast included )

Anniversary Dinner Dance : 25 euros for Members

(Membership Paid by 30th April 2012)

32 euros Non Members.

Reserve your place by telephoning Sandra 965581353 or email bob.welham@gmail.com

A deposit of 15 euros is payable before the summer break and 10 euros in September.

Dress: Smart . DJ Optional.

MABS – Help for cancer patients

MikeHeidi — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:15:56 +0000

None of us knows when we might be affected by cancer. It can strike anyone. Maybe you or someone close to you is already affected? Elaine Horton came to talk to U3A members at the General Meeting on April 12th, to tell us about the work that MABS carries out in helping cancer patients, and you can read Carol Lockhart's interesting and informative article on Elaine's talk by clicking here.

MABS Cancer Support Group – talk by Elaine Horton

MikeHeidi — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:11:44 +0000

MABS Cancer Support Group

by Carol Lockhart

Talk by Elaine Horton at U3A Vall del Pop meeting, 12^th April 2012

Elaine spoke very eloquently about Cancer and the need to support those diagnosed with the disease. 'Being told you have cancer,' she said, 'is frightening and can be a life changing experience for you, your family and friends.'

As local Director of MABS Elaine has responsibility for a wide area which covers just north of Benidorm up to Valencia and, together with many other volunteers, is kept extremely busy.

MABS provides advice and assistance for people suffering from all types of cancer and, from its early beginnings in 1999, now has branches from Valencia to Gibraltar and there is constant pressure to expand this even further.

Elaine explained what MABS can do to help cancer sufferers and their families. They have available:-

· ‘Buddies’ to provide social contact, these are folk who are happy to drop in and chat, to take the dog for a walk or do some shopping.

· ‘Supporters’ who are volunteers with personal experience of cancer and therefore have a greater empathy with those going through treatment and are able to provide a deeper emotional level of support. Additionally for those who need it we also have trained counsellors available.

· We have volunteer drivers who are available to take people to hospital appointments in Valencia, Benidorm, Alicante, or wherever the person needs to go for their treatment, sometimes on a daily basis.

· We also have translators for all nationalities; this is an important service as you need to be able to communicate your symptoms clearly and to understand what your doctor is telling you about your treatment.

· Information leaflets can be obtained free of charge via our website or by contacting Elaine on 699152167. These leaflets are non-alarmist, in simple language and therefore easily understood. The leaflets are far better than searching the internet which can confuse, alarm, and is often incorrect.

· MABS also has a support centre at Los Liones, in Moraira where there is a treatment room for such things as Lymphatic drainage and other alternative therapies. A coffee morning is held there on the last Tuesday each month and all those who are affected by cancer are welcome to attend, additionally it is planned to hold local support groups in the JalonValley later in the year.

· MABS can also help with palliative care and, if finances are tight, will consider assisting financially if there is an identifiable need.

MABS works hard to raise funds as the Charity receives no state funding and the services provided are expensive to provide. Funds raised are spent on a variety of things, such as:

· Drivers’ petrol expenses.

· Translators’ fees.

· Palliative care.

· Medical equipment etc.

Elaine also reminded those present to ensure that they have obtained their SIP card, which entitles those resident here in Spain to the ‘state’ medical service, which is very good. Frequently Private Health Care Schemes do not cover such things as chemo or radio therapy which can be very expensive.

MABS enjoys good working relationships with other local charities such as Jalon Valley HELP who are doing all they can to assist locally. Elaine appealed to people to support the various fundraising initiatives available and in so doing raise the necessary funds to ensure that this essential support continues. She also asked for those with a few hours to spare to come forward in order to ease the load on already overloaded volunteers. ‘Every little helps,’ she said, ‘and what’s more volunteering can be fun. Whatever you can do will be gratefully received.'

Elaine thanked all the U3A members for their time and for listening. She was later approached by several people who either needed help or had been cancer sufferers in the past. Her message certainly hit home as there are few of us these days that haven’t been affected in some way by this insidious disease.

Thank you Elaine and we wish you all the best with the work you are doing and hope that your appeal results in many more volunteers coming forward.

Chess match against Denia – photos

MikeHeidi — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 09:41:24 +0000

The Chess Group played a return match against Denia on Tuesday 20th March. This time we played on home territory at the Aleluya bar in Jalon, where the battle was fought over nine boards. Denia won again, but we are undaunted! We all enjoyed playing, especially Christine Acton who won her game, and both teams had a nice meal together afterwards in the restaurant.

Pictures of this event are in the website Gallery. Click here to go to the Gallery.

Ballroom Dancing photos now in the Gallery

MikeHeidi — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:07:08 +0000

You can now see pictures taken at a couple of the ballroom dancing group sessions in the Gallery. Believe it or not, a lot of us had never danced before we went to this group, and some of us swore we had two left feet.

New members are always welcome, and our teachers are very patient, but if you're an expert dancer there's plenty of room in the lovely hall at Alcalali to strut your stuff! Ballroom dancing is on Tuesday mornings at 10:15, in the Multiuso hall in Alcalali (near La Solana restaurant).

Click here to go to the Gallery to see the pictures.

Click here to go to the Ballroom Dancing group's page for more information.