u3a radio podcast

u3a radio podcast August 2022

Episode Summary

In this episode, Peter plays a game of croquet with Witney u3a, Sarah learns about a UK-wide bridge competition to celebrate u3a week and Sam Mauger updates us on the 40th Anniversary celebrations. Do you have a story to share with u3a radio? Get in touch with us at communications@u3a.org.uk

Episode Transcription

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(upbeat music)

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(music fades)

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- [Nick] Hello, and welcome to episode 21

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of the u3a radio podcast,

where we look ahead

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to September's 40th

anniversary celebrations

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with the u3a chief executive Sam Mauger,

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but also in the next half an

hour with me, Nick Bailey,

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we explore the game of croquet.

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(ball being hit)

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- [Peter] And there, I have done that.

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And there goes my ball right out

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into the countryside, exactly.

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- [Nick] Change the "q" for

a "c" and you get crochet,

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but what does it have to do

with a Cuban revolutionary?

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- [Chris] A friend of mine

had redecorated his office

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and he's all- he's admired Che Guevara.

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And if I say the well

known, post-war Che Guevara.

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- [Jo] Absolutely. With his

beret and yeah, yeah, yeah.

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- [Chris] Red and black. And he said,

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"Could you crochet me a Che Guevara?"

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And I said, "Well, probably."

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- [Nick] And we'll hear about

a national bridge competition

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to celebrate u3a week in September.

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- [Steve] So no matter

where you are, yeah,

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you'll get the same hands and you'll be

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competing against somebody in Cornwall,

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or somebody up in the Shetland Isles,

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or in London, yeah, the

exact, the exact same hands.

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The advantage of that

is that you can then see

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at the end of the day, yeah,

how well you did against

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all your fellow bridge players.

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- [Nick] But first to those

40th anniversary celebrations

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Ela Watts spoke to the u3a's

chief executive, Sam Mauger

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and suggested that it had

already been quite a year.

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- [Sam] It certainly has.

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And it's enabled us to really

push some of the messages

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that we wanted to get out

to the wider population

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in the United Kingdom.

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So that sort of whole message

about positive later life,

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about the contribution that

everybody brings together

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in their u3as; their sharing

of skills and experience,

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and also the very innovative ideas

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that u3a members have got.

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So encouraging people to come and join us,

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being part of that u3a membership,

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because it's all there to

do in their retirement.

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There's lots to do, lots to

find out, lots to contribute to.

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And we wanted to share that message.

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- [Ela] And have you got

involved in any of the

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innovative things that

have cropped up so far?

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- [Sam] So I'm going to be going shortly

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to an anniversary quilt event in Witney,

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which I'm really looking forward to.

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I haven't seen the quilt yet in person,

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because that was a closely guarded secret,

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but I've now seen a picture of it.

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And it is absolutely fantastic.

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I mean, enormous, but really

shows the skills and talents

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of u3a members in those squares.

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We took place in some of the

picnic in the park events,

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so that was really lovely.

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I really enjoying that

kind of relaxed time

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of people coming together,

showing their cookery skills,

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and just actually being able

to have that social time,

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which u3a's are also so good

at doing and engendering.

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We're looking forward to having the film

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of the armchair discussion.

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The first one being between

Liz Thackray and Eric Midwinter

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which we're looking forward

to hearing the perspective of

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Eric, founder, and Liz, the current chair.

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So that's great too.

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And of course we have many

more events coming up.

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We've got the online science

network event and the

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research and shared learning conference.

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So yeah, lots of, lots

of good things happening.

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And of course, u3a week,

which will be celebrating,

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being part of the u3a wherever they are.

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- [Ela] Wonderful Sam.

So lots more to come.

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So could we have just a little update

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on the direction of the u3a?

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- [Sam] Yes. So the u3a

worked magnificently, I think,

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to get through the pandemic.

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So with all of those challenges and

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coming out of the pandemic.

We all hope, you know,

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it's all now under control,

but coming out of the pandemic,

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the movement is going through

a sort of reemergence or

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Renaissance, whatever you

would like to call it.

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And so there's a big focus

on opening our doors again,

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encouraging membership to come along.

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And there's been lots

of tools put together to

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encourage u3as and support u3as to do that

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and support u3as to

help each other do that.

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We're looking at developing

and supporting work around

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learning resources, including

online learning as well.

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So there's a piece of work

developing easy to find resources

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that have been put together

both by u3a members

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and other external resources

that u3a members use.

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Trying to really make that

online learning experience,

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where it is online, work very well.

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Also remembering the

support needed for people to

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meet face to face, whether

it's in terms of documentation,

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in terms of workshops but

that face to face experience,

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which u3a is really all about.

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We're looking at things

like the digital experience.

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And we are realising that

some people are really okay

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with digital and some

people are not at all.

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And remembering that we have

people in the movement that,

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that have less confidence with digital,

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and it's really important

always to keep that

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as a focus, looking at the

next generation of membership.

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So we have such a fantastic

membership currently,

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and we want to encourage

more and more people to come

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through to share their

skills and experience,

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and also to take some of the

pressure off those hardworking

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committee members that already exist.

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And also looking at where we can do things

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in partnership with other organisations,

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other charities that might be looking

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at the same things as we

are, and are there anything

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that they can learn from us

or we can learn from them?

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So a lot of, a lot of planning,

a lot of looking ahead,

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a lot of discussing with the

membership about what we should

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be focusing on and where

we should be going,

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but really building up on

that kind of reemergence that

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here's the u3a ready to go.

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- [Ela] What about what

we've achieved this year?

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In particular, this is a very

special year for the u3a.

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- [Sam] First of all, I think

a huge achievement was for

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u3as to come back out,

start working together, and

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start being out in

their communities again,

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sort of regrouping really

after the pandemic.

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And that was a big thing for

some u3as because some of

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them hadn't felt able to do

a lot during the pandemic.

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Some had done an awful lot,

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but it hit u3as in different ways.

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Around the country, around

all of the countries,

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the four nations, the u3as are back out,

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they're back as a presence.

And I think that has been

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a huge testament to that

feeling of community in u3as

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and that feeling of, you know,

what are we going to do next?

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How are we going to continue doing

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good and new things in the future?

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I think the 40th anniversary

has been a great opportunity to

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coalesce everybody around

that reemergence and starting

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again and us all doing

something to recognise that

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40 year experience that we've had.

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There's been also the

participation of u3a members

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in sharing their learning skills.

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So through learning networks,

through subject advisers,

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running online learning groups,

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we've had now over 500

u3as on the beacon system,

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which is fantastic, really well supported.

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And that is supported by a

group of dedicated volunteers,

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which has been excellent.

So, so that is good.

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I think that's fantastic.

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We've had u3as that have

become involved in looking at

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how they can raise

their voice about issues

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that's important to them, and

some have taken part in our

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workshops around voice and

how to do that properly

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within the confines of

being a u3a charity.

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So that has been really exciting.

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And there's the development

of the u3a strategy,

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which again, different

groupings of members of u3as

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are helping to develop as we

look forward into the future.

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So a lot has happened this

year and I've really given

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you only the sort of headlines

of it, but underneath that,

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there's an awful lot of

activity by so many u3a members

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continuing to make the u3a

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a fantastic movement to be part of.

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- [Ela] Thank you very much, Sam.

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The enthusiasm is contagious.

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- [Sam] Yeah (laughing)

It is. And you know,

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it's fantastic that we have such an

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enthusiastic movement and

a movement that really

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puts a hand up and takes

part and gets counted.

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Lots of, you hear a lot of discussion in,

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you know, outside of the

u3a, generally in the world,

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generally about how it's

difficult to get people to do

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this or that or the other.

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Well, the u3a movement is the opposite.

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So people come to the u3a

movement to take part.

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And I think that's a

real celebration where

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a movement of doers, of

people that get things done.

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The u3a movement this year

has shown that I think.

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We're back out there, we're

celebrating our 40 years.

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And we're looking to the future.

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- [Nick] The u3a's chief

executive, Sam Mauger.

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Sam mentioned the enormous

quilt at Witney u3a,

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which must have taken a lot of dedication.

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But when it comes to handy craft skills,

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there's no stopping u3a members.

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For instance, have you ever

heard of extreme crochet?

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Chris Winner, the Chair of Prestatyn, Rhyl

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and District u3a, has

developed her own style

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of extreme crocheting, as she

explained to Joanne Watson.

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- [Chris] Extreme crochet to me is

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using a crochet hook and yarn

to do something different.

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Be creative with it.

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If you like, make soft

sculptures and things like that.

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Working beyond using a pattern

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to develop your own personal ideas.

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- [Joanne] Now I'm a knitter

so I know how to knit,

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but I've never crocheted in my life.

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So explain to me how

difficult or easy it is

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to take up crocheting.

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- [Chris] Right. Well,

most people would say,

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"Well, you know, my mother taught me," or,

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"My grandmother taught me."

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But that's not the case with me.

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When I first started

working, I saw someone,

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one of my colleagues, working

with one hook and yarn

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and things seemed to be

growing really quickly.

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And I said, "Oh, isn't this...?"

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I'd heard about crochet obviously.

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And they said, "Stand

behind me and watch."

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And then I picked it up.

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So I was probably about 21

when I first started crochet.

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And the difference is

you have one hook, and

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generally speaking, one stitch.

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And also even with the

smallest crochet stitch,

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it grows quite quickly. And

I have no problem, you know,

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pulling something out or get

halfway through and think,

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"Oh that's not right,"

pull it out and do it again

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because I can do it quickly.

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- [Joanne] So for those

people who haven't got

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a lot of patience for knitting,

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crochet seems like a

really good alternative.

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- [Chris] Crocheting is

something that you can

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pick up and put down. I

know my mother would say,

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"Yes, you can pick up

knitting and put it down,"

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but you have to be a

little bit more careful.

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Crochet, one hook, a ball

of yarn, and a way you go.

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My mom used to do what

I call "Jedi knitting."

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So she could be watching

the TV and knitting,

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but didn't seem to do anything.

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And I thought, "Well, I

wonder if I can Jedi crochet?"

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And I did sort of for 30 seconds probably.

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I was crocheting with my eyes closed,

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and I could do it. But after a

while you do, with crocheting

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if you lose that stitch, you know,

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and you've got your eyes closed,

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you'd need to pick it up.

So you can't Jedi crochet

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in the same way that you can Jedi knit.

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- [Joanne] I've never heard

the expression "Jedi knitting."

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- [Chris] May the force be with you.

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Cause I am a sci-fi fan,

I refer to it as Jedi,

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00:11:48,730 --> 00:11:50,700

you know, Jedi knitting,

248

00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:52,530

where you didn't have

to look at something.

249

00:11:52,530 --> 00:11:55,110

- [Joanne] How popular

is crocheting these days?

250

00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:56,530

Cause I associate it with my

251

00:11:56,530 --> 00:11:59,670

grandmother's generation

to be quite honest.

252

00:11:59,670 --> 00:12:01,320

- [Chris] During the seventies,

253

00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,350

it kind of had a revival

and it was kind of a,

254

00:12:04,350 --> 00:12:06,720

I'm gonna say hippie thing to do.

255

00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:08,700

Then it sort of faded away.

256

00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:11,820

I actually stopped crocheting

because I was too busy.

257

00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:14,166

I probably stopped crocheting

for about 20 years.

258

00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:17,996

But I do think there is a

huge resurgence of crochet.

259

00:12:17,996 --> 00:12:21,390

If you look at the number of

videos about crocheting on

260

00:12:21,390 --> 00:12:24,390

YouTube, and it could

be social media creating

261

00:12:24,390 --> 00:12:26,572

this sort of interest in crochet again,

262

00:12:26,572 --> 00:12:30,720

and other forms of craft.

And I would say it's

263

00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,010

more popular now than

it was in the nineties.

264

00:12:35,010 --> 00:12:36,570

- [Joanne] Do men crochet

in any great number?

265

00:12:36,570 --> 00:12:38,880

- [Chris] Oh yes. If you look on YouTube,

266

00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,860

there are a lot of men who crochet and,

267

00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:43,947

and because it's a craft, you know,

268

00:12:43,947 --> 00:12:45,870

and you get lots of women who do

269

00:12:45,870 --> 00:12:48,570

carpentry, and get the men who do crochet.

270

00:12:48,570 --> 00:12:50,850

- [Joanne] What's the

most extreme piece of

271

00:12:50,850 --> 00:12:52,860

crochet that you've done, Chris?

272

00:12:52,860 --> 00:12:53,999

- [Chris] Che Guevara.

273

00:12:53,999 --> 00:12:57,150

- [Joanne] (laughing) Che

Guevara, the Cuban revolutionary?

274

00:12:57,150 --> 00:13:00,140

- [Chris] Yes. A friend of

mine had redecorated his office

275

00:13:00,140 --> 00:13:03,330

and he admired Che Guevara.

276

00:13:03,330 --> 00:13:06,930

And if I say the well

known, post-war Che Guevara

277

00:13:06,930 --> 00:13:09,150

- [Joanne] Absolutely. With

his beret and yeah, yeah, yeah.

278

00:13:09,150 --> 00:13:10,987

- [Chris] Red and black. And he said,

279

00:13:10,987 --> 00:13:12,720

"Could you crochet me a Che Guevara?"

280

00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,143

And I said, "Well, probably."

281

00:13:14,143 --> 00:13:15,150

(laughs)

282

00:13:15,150 --> 00:13:17,578

So I looked at it and I thought

283

00:13:17,578 --> 00:13:19,820

"I'm gonna have to have

a pattern for that."

284

00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:23,031

You could make your own pattern by taking

285

00:13:23,031 --> 00:13:27,090

the poster and then gridding

it and then, and such like.

286

00:13:27,090 --> 00:13:28,440

But I thought, "I'll have

a look cause its bound to

287

00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,597

that somebody else has

bound to have done it."

288

00:13:30,597 --> 00:13:32,473

And I did find a pattern and I thought,

289

00:13:32,473 --> 00:13:34,230

"Well, not really keen on that."

290

00:13:34,230 --> 00:13:37,641

Wasn't really good. But I did

find a cross stitch pattern

291

00:13:37,641 --> 00:13:40,957

which was really, really

good. And I thought,

292

00:13:40,957 --> 00:13:45,420

"Yeah, I can modify that to

make it into a crochet pattern."

293

00:13:45,420 --> 00:13:48,390

Anyway, I transferred it

across onto a spreadsheet.

294

00:13:48,390 --> 00:13:51,360

And then I counted how

many reds, how many blacks

295

00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,730

for each row that I needed.

296

00:13:53,730 --> 00:13:56,286

And I was going along and I thought, "Mm."

297

00:13:56,286 --> 00:13:59,040

You couldn't tell. And

it was one of these,

298

00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,230

I called it, trust the process.

299

00:14:01,230 --> 00:14:03,186

Finished it. I had got to my last one and

300

00:14:03,186 --> 00:14:04,620

it didn't look anything like Che Guevara.

301

00:14:04,620 --> 00:14:07,560

It was all squashed up.

But of course, with yarn,

302

00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:10,260

and same in knitting really, your tension.

303

00:14:10,260 --> 00:14:11,497

And as I stretched it, I thought,

304

00:14:11,497 --> 00:14:13,050

"Oh! There's Che Guevara."

305

00:14:13,050 --> 00:14:15,750

So I pinned it around

a piece of foam board.

306

00:14:15,750 --> 00:14:18,240

And I think it's actually on the website.

307

00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,950

I think Che is up there somewhere.

308

00:14:19,950 --> 00:14:21,900

- [Joanne] How big was Che Guevara?

309

00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:25,591

- [Chris] It was probably A2

size, if that means anything,

310

00:14:25,591 --> 00:14:28,080

roughly the size of a poster.

311

00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,430

- [Joanne] I know in knitting you get

312

00:14:29,430 --> 00:14:32,040

different size needles, and if

you've got really big needles

313

00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,750

and chunky yarn, you can create something

314

00:14:33,750 --> 00:14:35,447

in almost in minutes.

315

00:14:35,447 --> 00:14:38,151

Does the same apply with crochet hooks?

316

00:14:38,151 --> 00:14:41,250

- [Chris] Yes, different

size crochet hooks

317

00:14:41,250 --> 00:14:43,502

made of different materials as well.

318

00:14:43,502 --> 00:14:48,360

I like metal hooks, but some

people like acrylic or plastic,

319

00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,430

but you can also get Rosewood hooks.

320

00:14:50,430 --> 00:14:52,710

You can get hooks made in bamboo.

321

00:14:52,710 --> 00:14:55,950

I've got my hook set that

I use most frequently.

322

00:14:55,950 --> 00:14:57,990

It's got a metal hook part.

323

00:14:57,990 --> 00:15:00,897

You can take the handle off

and add another hook into it.

324

00:15:00,897 --> 00:15:04,290

But the beauty of it is the

handle's got LED lights in it.

325

00:15:04,290 --> 00:15:07,440

So I can illuminate my

work as I'm working.

326

00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,660

- [Nick] No wonder sci-fi

fan, Chris, likes her

327

00:15:09,660 --> 00:15:12,870

illuminated hook handle.

It sounds exactly like a

328

00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:15,900

lightsaber straight out of Star Wars.

329

00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:20,250

And from extreme crochet

to genteel croquet,

330

00:15:20,250 --> 00:15:23,130

we sent Peter Clift

along to test his skills

331

00:15:23,130 --> 00:15:25,530

at the Witney u3a croquet group,

332

00:15:25,530 --> 00:15:28,050

where he first spoke to Valerie Palmer.

333

00:15:28,050 --> 00:15:30,633

- [Peter] Now Valerie is

croquet very, very popular?

334

00:15:30,633 --> 00:15:33,511

- [Valerie] Yes it is,

and becoming more so

335

00:15:33,511 --> 00:15:37,440

perhaps because of COVID, but also because

336

00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:42,030

people are realising that it's

actually a fun game to play.

337

00:15:42,030 --> 00:15:47,030

And u3a members can learn

it from scratch quickly.

338

00:15:47,340 --> 00:15:49,560

- [Peter] Is it a very

difficult game to play?

339

00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,609

- [Valerie] Golf croquet

is not so difficult

340

00:15:53,609 --> 00:15:57,150

because each of you takes a turn.

341

00:15:57,150 --> 00:16:00,480

The way it's played, we

help one another along.

342

00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,535

Association is croquet

which is more like snooker,

343

00:16:04,535 --> 00:16:06,990

and is much more technical.

344

00:16:06,990 --> 00:16:11,990

Golf croquet is much more

sociable and easy to pick up,

345

00:16:12,750 --> 00:16:15,270

to play to a standard, to enjoy.

346

00:16:15,270 --> 00:16:17,970

- [Peter] Do you have to be

very, very fit to play croquet?

347

00:16:17,970 --> 00:16:21,351

- [Valerie] No, and I'm a

prime example of not being fit.

348

00:16:21,351 --> 00:16:22,410

(laughing)

349

00:16:22,410 --> 00:16:24,510

I have back problems

and a shoulder problem,

350

00:16:24,510 --> 00:16:29,510

but I can still play croquet.

Our oldest member is over 90.

351

00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:33,870

Our youngest is probably in their 50's.

352

00:16:33,870 --> 00:16:36,150

- [Peter] Suppose like

all games and sports,

353

00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:38,940

is the social aspect important as well?

354

00:16:38,940 --> 00:16:40,530

- [Valerie] I think it is, yes.

355

00:16:40,530 --> 00:16:43,140

And I think particularly during COVID,

356

00:16:43,140 --> 00:16:46,500

people found it really helpful because

357

00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:49,359

apart from the very early

lockdown, which was,

358

00:16:49,359 --> 00:16:52,680

should we say "extreme" when

everything was shut down,

359

00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,070

croquet, like golf, was

one of the first sports

360

00:16:56,070 --> 00:17:00,660

that you could play again,

because you are outside.

361

00:17:00,660 --> 00:17:03,930

It's not a contact sport and

362

00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:07,230

it can be played at a distance.

We could keep our distance

363

00:17:07,230 --> 00:17:09,300

on the court, and they found it useful

364

00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:11,700

to be able to get out and see people.

365

00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:13,920

- [Peter] So would you

recommend croquet as a

366

00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:15,630

pastime for people to take up?

367

00:17:15,630 --> 00:17:16,737

- [Valerie] Absolutely.

368

00:17:16,737 --> 00:17:18,956

(laughing) I don't need

more endorsement than that.

369

00:17:18,956 --> 00:17:21,030

- [Peter] Well, I'm

joined now by Roger Booth

370

00:17:21,030 --> 00:17:22,830

and we're actually out

on the croquet court.

371

00:17:22,830 --> 00:17:26,760

So Roger, roughly how

big is a croquet court?

372

00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,281

- [Roger] The court is

measured at 35 metres,

373

00:17:29,281 --> 00:17:33,300

35 yards long by 28 yards wide.

374

00:17:33,300 --> 00:17:37,710

You can fit two tennis

courts onto a croquet court.

375

00:17:37,710 --> 00:17:39,630

- [Peter] Okay. So it's about

the size of two tennis courts

376

00:17:39,630 --> 00:17:42,300

and you've got a hoop

in roughly each corner.

377

00:17:42,300 --> 00:17:44,130

- [Roger] There are six hoops in all,

378

00:17:44,130 --> 00:17:47,760

four in each corner and

then two down the centre.

379

00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,490

And then there's a peg, a coloured peg

380

00:17:50,490 --> 00:17:53,820

right in the centre of

the pit of the court.

381

00:17:53,820 --> 00:17:55,440

- [Peter] And the rough idea then is that

382

00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,120

you start and you hit the ball,

383

00:17:57,120 --> 00:17:58,380

and you gotta get the

ball through the hoop.

384

00:17:58,380 --> 00:18:00,600

- [Roger] Ideally, in

as few hits as possible.

385

00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:01,452

- [Peter] In as few hits as possible.

386

00:18:01,452 --> 00:18:02,285

- [Roger] That's it.

387

00:18:02,285 --> 00:18:03,900

- [Peter] Right. Okay. And

I guess the one who does it

388

00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:05,610

in the least number of hits is the winner?

389

00:18:05,610 --> 00:18:06,610

- [Roger] Well, yes. In a nutshell.

390

00:18:06,610 --> 00:18:08,372

- [Peter] In a nutshell, yeah.

391

00:18:08,372 --> 00:18:11,760

- [Roger] As soon as you put

one ball through the hoop,

392

00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,280

everyone does not have to

go through that same hoop,

393

00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,280

everyone then charges on to the next hoop.

394

00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,200

- [Peter] Well, that

looks, given that you can

395

00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,337

get the ball through the

hoop, pretty easy really.

396

00:18:21,337 --> 00:18:22,590

Is that all you do? You just

hit the ball through those?

397

00:18:22,590 --> 00:18:24,210

- [Roger] Straightforward,

as easy as that.

398

00:18:24,210 --> 00:18:25,170

- [Peter] And nothing else happens?

399

00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:26,735

- [Roger] It takes years of practise

400

00:18:26,735 --> 00:18:28,350

(laughing)

401

00:18:28,350 --> 00:18:30,630

and I'm still not getting it right.

402

00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:32,520

- [Peter] And there,

there must be some kind

403

00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,034

of strategy to the game.

404

00:18:34,034 --> 00:18:36,511

- [Roger] Today, we are

playing golf croquet

405

00:18:36,511 --> 00:18:39,600

in a foursome, two against two.

406

00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,600

And it is often described

as chess on a larger scale

407

00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,185

because you're thinking about not only the

408

00:18:48,185 --> 00:18:50,820

shot that you're about to play,

409

00:18:50,820 --> 00:18:52,950

you're thinking about the next shot,

410

00:18:52,950 --> 00:18:56,460

and you're thinking about

the second ahead shot

411

00:18:56,460 --> 00:18:57,820

of what you're about to play.

412

00:18:57,820 --> 00:18:58,653

- [Peter] Right.

413

00:18:58,653 --> 00:19:00,780

- [Roger] So you're

working out the strategy.

414

00:19:00,780 --> 00:19:01,950

Who's going to play what?

415

00:19:01,950 --> 00:19:04,470

How is your opponent going to play?

416

00:19:04,470 --> 00:19:05,610

Is he going to miss?

417

00:19:05,610 --> 00:19:07,933

What happens if he does miss?

418

00:19:07,933 --> 00:19:12,695

It's all about tactics and

sinking one, two strokes ahead.

419

00:19:12,695 --> 00:19:14,820

- [Peter] I've heard it can be a

420

00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:17,133

pretty savage game in a sense.

421

00:19:17,133 --> 00:19:18,183

- [Roger] Well,

422

00:19:18,183 --> 00:19:19,800

(laughing)

423

00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:20,734

Yes.

424

00:19:20,734 --> 00:19:22,080

(laughing)

425

00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,360

Yes. If you want to,

426

00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:28,200

it is not only about knocking

your ball through the hoop.

427

00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,620

It is also about taking

your opponent's ball out.

428

00:19:31,620 --> 00:19:34,470

If the opponent's ball

is about to run the hoop

429

00:19:34,470 --> 00:19:36,600

and it's your turn next,

430

00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,260

then you want to take

out the opponent's ball

431

00:19:40,260 --> 00:19:42,870

to make sure he doesn't run the hoop.

432

00:19:42,870 --> 00:19:44,430

And to do that,

433

00:19:44,430 --> 00:19:47,570

you can send them as

hard as you possibly can

434

00:19:47,570 --> 00:19:49,620

to the far end of the court.

435

00:19:49,620 --> 00:19:51,367

So he's really outta the game.

436

00:19:51,367 --> 00:19:52,215

- [Peter] Ah.

437

00:19:52,215 --> 00:19:53,962

- [Roger] That's the tactic there.

438

00:19:53,962 --> 00:19:54,795

- [Peter] Right.

439

00:19:54,795 --> 00:19:56,730

- [Roger] And it gives great satisfaction

440

00:19:56,730 --> 00:20:00,690

when you whack that ball,

and he goes further.

441

00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:02,340

On the other hand, if you miss,

442

00:20:02,340 --> 00:20:05,424

it's a bit embarrassing.

You end up off the court,

443

00:20:05,424 --> 00:20:08,283

leaving your opponent

right in front of the hoop.

444

00:20:09,870 --> 00:20:12,630

- [Peter] Well, we're here on

a very nice, warm, sunny day.

445

00:20:12,630 --> 00:20:15,240

So given the English weather,

I guess croquet is a game

446

00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,610

you can only play two or

three weeks of the year.

447

00:20:17,610 --> 00:20:18,556

Is that true?

448

00:20:18,556 --> 00:20:21,330

- [Roger] Hmm. We are a tough old breed,

449

00:20:21,330 --> 00:20:22,380

these croquet players.

450

00:20:22,380 --> 00:20:23,213

- [Peter] Ah.

451

00:20:23,213 --> 00:20:26,250

- [Roger] Now we play all

round. We have a winter court,

452

00:20:26,250 --> 00:20:29,310

the two summer courts. We rest up,

453

00:20:29,310 --> 00:20:31,470

and we play throughout the winter.

454

00:20:31,470 --> 00:20:34,500

This is not like cricket,

where rain stops plays.

455

00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:37,080

We play through the

rain when it's raining,

456

00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,380

and we even play when it's snowing.

457

00:20:40,380 --> 00:20:42,180

- [Peter] So you can

play croquet in the snow?

458

00:20:42,180 --> 00:20:43,590

- [Roger] You can.

459

00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:44,423

- [Peter] Okay.

460

00:20:44,423 --> 00:20:45,256

- [Roger] So you've gotta watch

461

00:20:45,256 --> 00:20:46,860

the colour of the ball, but yes.

462

00:20:46,860 --> 00:20:48,780

- [Peter] So an all

year round game, right?

463

00:20:48,780 --> 00:20:49,613

- [Roger] It is, yes.

464

00:20:49,613 --> 00:20:50,520

- [Peter] Right. Let's let's have a go at

465

00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,560

playing some croquet then. Alright.

466

00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,200

So all I have to do

then is to knock my ball

467

00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,480

and hit it through the hoop?

468

00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,342

Okay. So I'll have a go. Here we go.

469

00:21:00,342 --> 00:21:01,792

(ball being hit)

470

00:21:01,792 --> 00:21:05,400

Well, that's gone fairly

close to the hoop.

471

00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,320

So then it'd be your turn.

472

00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:08,153

- [Roger] Yeah.

473

00:21:08,153 --> 00:21:09,180

- [Peter] To hit the ball.

474

00:21:09,180 --> 00:21:11,070

- [Roger] And now he's

fairly close to the hoop.

475

00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:12,600

My opponent is fairly close to the hoop,

476

00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,822

so I will knock him clean

out of the way, hopefully.

477

00:21:15,822 --> 00:21:17,610

(ball being hit)

478

00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:19,320

- [Peter] And there, I have done that and

479

00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:23,370

there goes my ball right out

into the countryside, exactly.

480

00:21:23,370 --> 00:21:24,570

Well, thank you for that, Roger.

481

00:21:24,570 --> 00:21:25,562

- [Roger] Quite alright.

482

00:21:25,562 --> 00:21:26,395

(laughing)

483

00:21:26,395 --> 00:21:27,510

- [Peter] As I go off into the

country to retrieve my ball,

484

00:21:27,510 --> 00:21:30,900

I'll hand you back to the

studio and Nick Bailey.

485

00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:33,300

- [Nick] And I thought

croquet was genteel.

486

00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:35,940

So what about a nice game of cards?

487

00:21:35,940 --> 00:21:37,380

During the first part of the lockdown,

488

00:21:37,380 --> 00:21:40,044

Steve Carter from East Norfolk Bridge Club

489

00:21:40,044 --> 00:21:44,310

started up an online forum

for u3a members nationally

490

00:21:44,310 --> 00:21:46,950

to play bridge one evening a week.

491

00:21:46,950 --> 00:21:49,320

The great response to this encouraged him

492

00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,090

to set up a national bridge competition

493

00:21:51,090 --> 00:21:55,230

in September to celebrate

the u3a's 40th anniversary.

494

00:21:55,230 --> 00:21:58,500

Sarah Goodall asked him to explain more.

495

00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:01,290

- [Steve] The idea is that we are offering

496

00:22:01,290 --> 00:22:02,880

something for everybody,

497

00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,410

in the bridge playing field that is.

498

00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:08,550

And, so whether you are

playing online or whether

499

00:22:08,550 --> 00:22:11,070

you're playing once a week in your garden

500

00:22:11,070 --> 00:22:14,610

with a few friends over a

glass of wine or a cup of tea

501

00:22:14,610 --> 00:22:16,800

or whatever, there'll be

something for everybody.

502

00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,410

What we're doing over the whole five days,

503

00:22:19,410 --> 00:22:22,260

as you obviously know,

the anniversary week is

504

00:22:22,260 --> 00:22:23,550

from the Sunday to the Saturday,

505

00:22:23,550 --> 00:22:26,464

our actual anniversary

is on the 21st, yeah,

506

00:22:26,464 --> 00:22:30,060

but we are actually running a daily

507

00:22:30,060 --> 00:22:31,080

bridge competition on the

508

00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,732

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday, and Friday.

509

00:22:33,732 --> 00:22:36,988

And we'll be playing the same hands, yeah,

510

00:22:36,988 --> 00:22:39,390

all over the country.

511

00:22:39,390 --> 00:22:41,070

So no matter where you are, yeah,

512

00:22:41,070 --> 00:22:42,630

you'll get the same hands

513

00:22:42,630 --> 00:22:45,510

and you'll be competing

against somebody in Cornwall,

514

00:22:45,510 --> 00:22:47,580

or somebody up in the Shetland Isles,

515

00:22:47,580 --> 00:22:50,610

or in London, yeah, the exact same hands.

516

00:22:50,610 --> 00:22:54,180

The advantage that is that

you can then see at the end of

517

00:22:54,180 --> 00:22:56,190

the day, yeah, how well you did

518

00:22:56,190 --> 00:22:58,773

against all your fellow bridge players.

519

00:22:58,773 --> 00:23:03,420

We're also having some

experts who will actually be

520

00:23:03,420 --> 00:23:07,410

analysing those hands and

will then be sending out a

521

00:23:07,410 --> 00:23:10,710

commentary on the

following day, obviously.

522

00:23:10,710 --> 00:23:13,050

And that says, "This is how

the expert would've played

523

00:23:13,050 --> 00:23:15,520

the hand, and this is the

score you should have got,

524

00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:16,908

and this is the bidding

you should have made."

525

00:23:16,908 --> 00:23:19,920

Okay. So it's all good, exciting stuff.

526

00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:21,121

If you're a bridge player,

527

00:23:21,121 --> 00:23:21,954

(laughing)

528

00:23:21,954 --> 00:23:24,570

that's the interesting thing, yes okay.

529

00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:25,920

- [Sarah] I am not a bridge player.

530

00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,680

So what I'm wondering is, if

I get to the end of Monday,

531

00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:29,640

and I've done badly,

532

00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,190

does that mean I don't

get to play on Tuesday?

533

00:23:32,190 --> 00:23:35,070

- [Steve] Yeah. You can

play five times, yeah,

534

00:23:35,070 --> 00:23:36,360

during that week, yeah.

535

00:23:36,360 --> 00:23:37,320

What you can't do, of course,

536

00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,631

you can't play the same

hands again on the same day.

537

00:23:39,631 --> 00:23:43,182

That would be cheating,

and we don't endorse that.

538

00:23:43,182 --> 00:23:44,460

- [Sarah] And most

people will know how to?

539

00:23:44,460 --> 00:23:46,740

- [Steve] Yes. Yeah, absolutely.

540

00:23:46,740 --> 00:23:49,320

- [Sarah] How many groups have signed up?

541

00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,983

- [Steve] So far, we've had a sort of

542

00:23:51,983 --> 00:23:55,560

semi-commitment from 880 people.

543

00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:56,393

- [Sarah] Wow.

544

00:23:56,393 --> 00:23:59,370

- [Steve] So, so over

the, now knowing our luck

545

00:23:59,370 --> 00:24:01,080

of course, they'll all

want to play on the Monday,

546

00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:02,250

and nobody want to play on the

547

00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:03,600

Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

548

00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,370

- [Sarah] It's quite a

useful exercise anyway,

549

00:24:05,370 --> 00:24:07,470

trying to locate all these groups because

550

00:24:07,470 --> 00:24:09,300

obviously, even though

I don't play bridge,

551

00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:11,370

I know it's one of the