Mary Pickstone and David Robertson attended a Committee meeting of the U3A in Scotland on the 21st November.

A comprehensive guide was given to the financial procedures which should be followed by individual u3A groups. It was reassuring to see that we are in line with the requirements. A Model Constitution for U3A's in Scotland was discussed. This may make redundant the efforts which we made to regularise our Constitution. We have a copy and it still to be checked out against our version!

The Chairman has since done this and no substantive alterations are required. Some simplification/clarification of the requirements attaching to Item. 11 Accounts and Item. 12 Annual Report would be the only amends required: this has been done provisionally for you to consider. Please have a read of the Constitution ( recommended if you have difficulty sleeping) and send any comments to Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer as approriate.

 

Also issued at the meeting was the preliminary Notice of the Conference and AGM of the U3A in Scotland. This will be held on Thurs. 28th June in Peebles; more on this later.

U3As are going from strength to strength in Scotland with the 40th one, Moray Coast U3A, starting on the 2nd November.

 

Balgavies Loch treated us to a bright sunny welcome on a cold crisp bright January day. Well happed up, as there was snow on the hills, the happy band of 8 were soon stepping out. There was just a thin sliver of ice on the loch, with some open water by the shore where the wildfowl were feeding. We kept our eyes open for otters where the River Lunan leaves the east end of the loch, and reminisced over busier days at Aldbar Station, while walking along the platform, viewing the waiting room and signal box. Not so long ago live eels were loaded here for their journey to London.
We enjoyed views of Turin and Dunnichen hills while striking west along the old trackbed of the railway line. Stopping off in the bird hide overlooking the loch, we saw lots of birds feeding and were also very fortunate to see a red squirrel. Continuing on the excellent circular path we were soon back to the starting point.
Over a fine lunch at Murton Farm tearoom we planned our next two walks - in February we will go to St Cyrus, and in March we will be walking at Kinnoull Hill by Perth.


A wee shower of rain just freshened up the area for our February walkat St Cyrus Nature Reserve. The tide was far out allowing the 5 walkers a fine walk along the beach. The area had been quite volcanic in days of old, and some agates were seen on the cliffs at the far end of the beach. We ventured into a sea cave there. Lunch was taken sitting in the sunshine, enjoying the sweeping views over Montrose Bay.
Scurdieness Lighthouse could be seen, and also the mouth of the South Esk and North Esk rivers, the South Esk having risen many miles inland in the upper reaches of Glen Clova. The North Esk also travelled many miles from high in the hills at the top of Glen Esk, where we will be walking in May this year. Many seabirds could be seen feeding and flying overhead.
The return path was in the lee of the crags, keeping a watchful eye for the peregrine falcon, but no luck today. A few former salmon bothies nestled in the sand dunes. We stopped off to explore an old graveyard and, a bit further on, a former ice-house which had been adapted to a private dwelling. Steptoe's yard was interesting - anything from a needle to an anchor!
Coffees were enjoyed in St Cyrus, where we discussed and decided to have a Strollers' walk on 29th Feb. 2012.