U3A

Monday 30th March 2015
Darwin’s Dangerous Idea – Documentary by Andrew Marr
This is the story of the amazing legacy of Charles Darwin ; The Theory of Evolution
Sent shockwaves through the 19th Century & impacted on society, religion, and politics
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Henri Timme 044-535-9041

Monday 30th March 2015
Downton Abbey A Moorland Holiday
The Crawleys are invited to Brancaster Castle in Nothumberland by Lord Sinderby
The Autumn 1924 changes Winter to another Christmas to be enjoyed at the Abbey
Special Christmass movie for the U3A Film Club
18H15 at Formosa Garden Village Longe
Co-ordinator: Brian Hardy 044-533-5489

Tuesday 31st March 2015
Italian Conversation
09H45 at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator: Brenda Hardy 044-533-5489

Wednesday 25th March 2015
The Last Explores – Part 1 of 4
David Livingstone ( part 1 of 4 ) Neil Oliver follows the footsteps of four
Scottish Explores who planted ideas rather than flags
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Michael Lond 044-533-0018

Friday 3rd April 2015
French Conversation
10H00 at 7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator: Merle Decot 044-533-5879

Friday 3rd April 2015
Mah Jong : Ancient Fascinating Game
13H30 at Formosa Garden Village Small Dining Room
Co-ordinator: Ameila White 044-533-0113

Get In and Get Out: Maximize Gym Time by Avoiding These Bad Habits

You hit the gym almost every day and log many hours a week there, so if you’re still not seeing results, then what gives? Make sure you’re not sabotaging your workout with these bad gym habits.
Repeating the same workout: You know you have to branch out, but trying something new instead of resorting to your old gym standbys can take time and be intimidating. But the same thing over and over not only leads to boredom, but also stops results. Keep your muscles guessing by incorporating different aspects into your workout — like yoga one day, followed by a circuit class another — to ensure your body doesn’t plateau.
Not taking classes: You’ve been a gym regular for so many years that people think you work there. So what do you think you can learn in a gym class? Actually, a lot, if you choose wisely. Even if you’d rather work out alone, attending a class every once in a while can give you new circuit ideas or offer you a form check when you watch your instructor demonstrate. Keep tabs on the new class schedules when they are released to see if anything new catches your eye.
Not focusing on your workout: The treadmill may be the only time you feel like you’re free to respond to emails on your phone or read that article you’ve bookmarked, but if you’re multitasking while you’re working out, then you’re probably not doing either task very well. Save the reading material or the email replies for later, and focus on adding intensity to your workouts.
Using ineffective machines: You spend hours at the gym and wonder why you’re not seeing the pounds melt away. It could be because you’re wasting your time on certain machines. Instead of wasting time at a machine that isolates just one set of muscles, like the crunch machine or the abductor thigh machine, incorporate full-body or multiple-muscle group moves to your routine.
Not warming up or cooling down: If you’re skipping out on these, then your workout is suffering. A proper warmup primes muscles to perform at their best, while your cooldown —Use active warmup before your next workout to make your workout is the best it can be.
Researched By : Kátia C. Rowlands – Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer – 082 513 4256

Cat Urine Odor

Like some homeowners have to deal with pet odors, Cat Urine Odor one of these. In fact, some believe that cat urine odor is one of the strongest odors of all pets. However, this does not mean that this odor cannot be removed, as there are known methods and products that are capable of getting rid of cat urine odor for you. The enzyme/bacteria method is believed to be the most effective method of removing cat urine odor, as it gets down to the root of the problem. This is because of the fact that the enzyme/bacteria process is capable of getting to deep areas where cat urine may be deposited.

Cause of Unusual Cat Urine Odor:

Among several factors that could affect the cat urine odor intensity, it is the diet and sex of cats that can be pinpointed. It is said that male cats have strong urine odor than female cats. This is because of the diet being high in protein, coupled by the male hormone in their bodies. Next in odor intensity would be female cats, and then dogs.
Another important factor that causes stronger cat urine odors is the age of the animal. This is because of the fact that the older an animal is the greater the chances are of its kidneys not functioning properly.
Locating Cat Urine:

The most common method employed includes black light that usually reveals a glow where cat urine is detected. Usually, one will find male cat urine deposits on furniture and areas that they find convenient for marking their territory. However, their urine may also fall on carpeted areas and ones from where it is difficult to remove it. Females prefer to use open areas in contrast to the males that prefer depositing their urine in smaller amounts to mark their territory.

Cat Urine Odor Removal:

The process of removing cat urine odor includes employing the enzyme/bacteria method. This includes introduction of an enzyme/bacteria agent that set to work on the urine content immediately.

The enzymes in the agent favor bacterial action, and cause bacteria to multiply rapidly, thereby, increasing the breakdown of the urine contents. Once all the urine contents are broken down, the source of odor diminishes, and the cat odor removal process terminates.

Safety of the Enzyme/Bacteria process:

Often, the process by which the enzyme/bacteria process operates is questioned with regard to safety. Yes, this process is believed to be safe to use at home even if there are children in the house. This is because of the fact that agent used in the process of removing cat odors breaks down once the process is over. It breaks down into Carbon Dioxide and Water. These are harmless substances that pose no threat to anyone. However, as a precautionary measure, it is best to keep children away from the agent while it is still working. This would mean keeping children away from the area of treatment until the prescribed period for cat urine’s odor removal has expired.

U3A

Monday 23rd March 2015
Downton Abbey Series Five – Episode 8 of 8
The family decamps to London for Rose’s Wedding,
which provides problems for bride and groom
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Tuesday 24th March 2015
Italian Conversation
09H45 at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator: Brenda Hardy 044-533-5489

Wednesday 25th March 2015
The Birds’ Eye View
Mike Bridgeford, an expert bird photographer, will take
us on a journey to the Okavango Delta, Chobe & Botswana
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Michael Lond 044-533-0018

Friday 27th March 2015
French Conversation
10H00 at 7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator: Merle Decot 044-533-5879

Friday 27th March 2015
Mah Jong : Ancient Fascinating Game
13H30 at Formosa Garden Village Small Dining Room
Co-ordinator: Ameila White 044-533-0113

Dog Training – The Heel Command

The heel command is another very important and popular command for your dog, taking the time to teach your dog this command will save you hours of getting annoyed when your dog doesn’t behave on long or short walks around your local area.

The reason dogs are so ‘badly behaved’ when it comes to going for walks can be for many different reasons but the most common in many homes is the excitement of wondering the streets with all the new smells, tastes, and other local dogs to discover.

The best times to train your dog and get them to do exactly what you want without too much fuss is before feeding times, if your dog wants something they will give you a lot more attention than normal. Also puppy’s and younger dogs are better to train, even with them getting over excited over everything, puppies and young dogs will be much better behaved and easier to train when they get older.

The heel command, when performed well and properly is used to stop your dog or puppy in their tracks, drop everything and return to your left hand side. Any distractions should be left alone and your dog should carry on walking closely by your side.

To begin with you will need to go in a fairly open space with enough room to move around and walk around properly, and you will need to use a lead to gently correct your dog in this exercise.

Begin by tapping your thigh saying ‘heel’ to get your dogs attention and them to come towards you, when they are by your side wait a couple of seconds then start to stride forwards, at this point your unknowing dog or puppy will try to run off ahead. If this happens you should turn in the opposite direction letting the lead go slack for 5-10 feet, start to walk in the opposite direction and as soon as the slack goes in the lead your dog will realise you have gone in the opposite direction and run towards you again.

At this point repeat the first step of commanding heel to get your dog by your side. Continue doing this exercise for 10 – 15 minutes and about 2-3 times a day. Before long your dog will become used to coming to your side and obeying you whenever you command heel.

When your dog gets used to doing this command try going in circles, in figure of eight, and changing directions suddenly, if the command is still working then try your dog on short walks and then build your way up to longer walks as you progress.

Never use the lead to discipline and roughly tug on, if you feel yourself getting annoyed then you should stop and continue at a later date when you are calmer. Keep repeating the process and your dog will eventually come to respect you. Some dogs take longer than others to train so be prepared for this behavior.

PLAYING BRIDGE HAS MANY HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD

When many think of the game of bridge, they think of smoky living rooms filled with card tables and friends of their parents and grandparents. Today, bridge has a following of more than 25 million people in the United States according to the American Contract Bridge League and is played in homes, bridge clubs and country clubs across the country. Even more, approximately 50 million, are at least familiar with the game or have played before.
Not all of these players are in their twilight years either. Facebook fan clubs promoting the game of bridge are filled with younger players and Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have invested $1 million in rejuvenating the game through a program in public schools.
A 2006 study performed by Dr. Christopher Shaw, a researcher from Carlinville, ILL, found that children who play bridge perform significantly better on standardized tests than their non bridge playing counterparts — increasing scores across all five core subjects areas with an astounding 39.11% increase in science.
Bridge can improve your physical health for older adults as well. Research has shown that a game of bridge can even boost your immune system. By stimulating the brain cortex, bridge-playing activity produces higher numbers of the white blood cells that fight disease. Other studies have found that people who play bridge regularly are 2½ times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.If you’re neither young, nor at risk of Dementia, there are still benefits.
Hmmm? Who knew?

Why play bridge?
Bridge exercises both sides of your brain. Bridge is one of the few games that stimulates both the left and right sides of your brain. Every time you play, you use — and improve — your skills in communication, logic, math, memory, visualization and psychology. It’s a unique type of mental workout that is both relaxing and invigorating, and that can’t be duplicated by other leisure or work-related activities.
Bridge stimulates the brain. Bridge is one of the best ways to practice the “use it or lose it” advice for maintaining mental sharpness in older age. Research has shown that regular bridge playing improves reasoning skills and long- and short-term memory. You’ll feel the neurons firing not only while you play, but long after. Many players say that hours after a bridge game, they still feel mentally alert and energized, similar to the “high” that long-distance runners experience after a race.
MORE BENEFITS?????
Bridge can be a lifelong pursuit. Learning to play well takes time and effort, and the game is impossible to master. No matter how many years you play, you’ll always find new challenges, and the learning process will never end. Bridge also caters to all physical conditions and disabilities, so players can actively pursue their pastime throughout their entire lives.
Bridge will never bore you. There are more than 750 trillion possible hands, so you’ll see something new every time you play ,each hand takes just five to ten minutes to play before you move on to the next deal .
Bridge is social. A game of bridge involves communication and cooperation with your partner and interaction with your opponents. There’s a special camaraderie among bridge players that develops from the social setting and the game’s emphasis on teamwork, ethics and sportsmanship.
Bridge is a bargain. All you need for a bridge game is a deck of cards and three other people. If you have a computer, you don’t even need the cards or the people.
Bridge is fun. Of all the reasons to learn the game, the most important is that it’s just fun to play. It offers the suspense of poker, the cerebral qualities of chess and the excitement of athletic sports, all in a sociable setting where you’re a participant, not just a spectator. Every session allows you to test yourself and experience the feeling of accomplishment when you find a successful bid or play.
That’s what keeps people coming back to the bridge table, and it’s why bridge will always be the world’s most popular card game.

Researched by KATIA C. ROWLANDS – PILATES INSTRUCTOR & PERSONAL TRAINER – 0825134256

 

U3A

Monday 16th March 2015
Downton Abbey Series Five – Episode 7 of 8
All the complicated threads are beginning to unravel,
be it Lady Edith, Lady Mary, and Tom
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Tuesday 17th March 2015
Italian Conversation
09H45 at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator: Brenda Hardy 044-533-5489

Wednesday 18th March 2015
The Dark Ages – An Age of Light – Episode 4 of 4
In this final episode Waldemar examines Northern European Art
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Friday 20th March 2015
French Conversation
10H00 at 7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator: Merle Decot 044-533-5879

Friday 20th March 2015
Mah Jong : Ancient Fascinating Game
13H30 at Formosa Garden Village Small Dining Room
Co-ordinator: Ameila White 044-533-0113

Tips For Running on a Treadmill

Now that winter is coming, many of us will be running on a treadmill instead of being outdoors. This means that there will be a difference and we will have to make the necessary changes in order for the workouts to be as effective as running outdoors.
Here are some tips for running on a treadmill that will help you immensely when you move your training indoors.
• Make sure that when you are using the treadmill, your posture is upright. You may find this posture difficult to maintain in the beginning. When you are running outdoors, you automatically have a forward lean but you do not need this lean when using a treadmill. If you lean forward while running on a treadmill, you will increase the stress on your knees.
• Make sure that the treadmill has a slight incline as this will simulate outdoor running. When the treadmill is kept at zero degree incline, it will be flat and you will just be running to keep up with the treadmill and it will have less effect on your legs. By keeping a slight incline, you will be simulating the forward thrust that you need for outdoor running.
• When running on a treadmill, make a conscious effort to run on the center line of the belt. Most runners find treadmill training boring so they tend to watch television or listen to music. This can easily distract them and they drift off from the center of the treadmill causing serious injuries to themselves. This is something you do not have to worry when running outdoors but you do have to pay attention to when you are on a treadmill.
• When training on a treadmill, it is quite easy to get dehydrated quickly. This is primarily due to the indoor heating and lack of wind factor. Winter heating makes the air dry and this can cause you to lose fluids very quickly. In addition, there is not wind generated when you are running on a treadmill and this means that there is no cooling effect. This leads to more perspiration and faster dehydration.
Researched by KATIA C. ROWLANDS – PILATES INSTRUCTOR & PERSONAL TRAINER – 0825134256

Is Your Dog, Older Than Dad

 

Like people, dogs will go through stages of growth, maturity, and aging. Time passes for them as well as for ourselves and this can often be over-looked, owners must be vigilant and recognize the signs of aging in the dog as well as dad. An observant family will know that their dog has slowed down in the past year and that he/she is stiff in the mornings. Maybe they don’t jump up as fast as they use to or want to walk or play quite as much.. They see that pet is no longer an eager eater and that she sleeps more deeply and longer than usual. There maybe fatty tumors develop under the skin, or you may notice that he/she is more startled by loud noises. Aging in pets, as in ourselves, is a gradual process. Organs begin to deteriorate, senses begin to decline, and energy begins to flag. They can however, if love and cared for be kept happy and comfortable in their senior years.

Old age comes at different times for different breeds of dogs and different individual dogs. Giant breeds tend to age early, for their life expectancy is generally less than 10 years. Large and medium-sized breeds have a life expectancy of 12-15 years, while smaller breeds can often live quite a bit longer ie; 15 years or more. I have a Yorkshire Terrier that was 18years old on the 7th of April 2006 and she is still doing fine. Obviously she needs to go to the vets more often and she had problems with her hips and back legs but she still has a good quality of life and that is the important factor.

A strong, healthy dog will probably age later than a dog that is stressed by disease or a bad environment early in his/her life. That does not mean, if you have obtain a dog from a sanctuary or pet shelter that has had an awful life, that you cannot make its last years good. Once the ill-treatment stops, hopefully so will some of the deterioration. Good care and a good home will go a long way to help your pet live a better and more comfortable life. Good nutrition is vital to a pets health at any age and if this can be your priority from a puppy that is great. If however like me, your pets came to you when they were older and they were not in prime condition, good nutrition is of ultimate importance. Go speak to your vet immediately and get your pet on the right and proper road to good health and nutrition. Remember good quality food now may save you a fortune on vet bills later.

Exercise is also important in keeping your dog in good shape. You may think your fat pooch looks cute and you feel it is not fair to put them on a diet. Well! All those treats you think your dog can’t live without may be killing him/her. Your pet might be happy being pampered to death and you might be happy doing it, but so will the vet when he sends the bills. If you shrug your shoulders and say “I don’t care about the money”. Just think, you may have your little companion another 4-5 years he/she slims down and takes a walk around the block and so may you!

Don’t scold, discipline, or punish your pet for lapses in housetraining or for nipping a toddler who wakes him/her from a deep sleep. Avoid the situations when possible and deal with them when they happen, but do so without anger, remember how bad tempered dad gets when he is woken shapely. Like people your pet will have special requirement, special consideration and love and understanding. They may need to be awakened from time to time during the day to go outside. Try to tempt their appetite if it seems to be waning, maybe offer them a little treat or tip-bit, not too much now! Remember your pet is another member of your family, they deserve as much as you can afford, love them well and they will return it with bonuses. As with elderly people forgive your pet if he/she forgets her manners or housetraining.

With a little care, understanding and observation your aging pet will become and old dog several years later than for some. They will age in good health slower and continue to bring joy to the family for years to come. I lost my 18year old collie 3 months ago and one month before a 11 year old rabbit. Now I have a yorkie that is 18 and a tabby cat that will be 18 20th of September 2006. It is possible to keep them healthy even in old age.

U3A

Monday 9th March 2015
Downton Abbey Series Five – Episode 6 of 8
Lady Edith Crawley takes her daughter from the Drewes and leaves Downton
The murder charges involving Bates and Anna gets more complicated
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Tuesday 10th March 2015
Italian Conversation
09H45 at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator: Brenda Hardy 044-533-5489

Wednesday 11th March 2015
Buried in History – by Achim Ecker
He is one of a group of volunteers caring for burial sites in Namibia
He gives fascinating insight into the Military History 1914 to 1915
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Henry Timme 044-535-9041

Friday 13th March 2015
French Conversation
10H00 at 7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator: Merle Decot 044-533-5879

Friday 13th March 2015
Mah Jong : Ancient Fascinating Game
13H30 at Formosa Garden Village Small Dining Room
Co-ordinator: Ameila White 044-533-0113