Mary Prendergast writes to thank everyone who contributed to the great success of the Macmillan Coffee Morning last week which looks like breaking all records:

‘We had lots left over from the generous donations for the bring and buy and lucky dip I took a full car load of stuff to the Roy Castle charity shop and I’m sure they will be pleased at the quality of the ‘left overs’.Thanks to everyone, men as well, who baked all those really scrummy cakes that were lovely with the coffee. So many people helped out by giving their time or by selling various things on their individual tables (books, home made cards and gifts made by the textile group). One lady gave hand and arm massages while her friend did manicures. Another lady set up a table to sell off the many collector plates and tea pots that she had inherited but had no room for. Many of our local shops in Maghull donated vouchers or goods as prizes and they were so happy to support Macmillan. I am told that all the money has not yet been counted but is in the region of £2000.  Wow! Thank you all. Our hard work was well worth it. Love and hugs to all who supported the event in any which way.’ Mary

Special thanks to all the local shops, businesses and organisations who generously supported the event:
Motor Range, Northway -blew up the balloons for us
CO-OP, Deyes Lane – gave tin of biscuits, box of choccies and 1 each of red and white wine.
Thornton’s, Maghull Square – gave a big box of ??? ….yes, chocolates.
Trimmers Hairdressers, Maghull – voucher for cut and blow with a good stylist.
Boots, Maghull – gave lots of goodies for both men and women
Hartley’s Garden Centre, – gave a beautiful flower arrangement.
Robbins Bridge Garden Centre -gave us plants.
Frank Hornby, Eastway – voucher for a meal for two
Colin Beaver Jewellers, West Way – always lends us his “big green table cloth” to make our cakes look more scrummy.
“Nails By Steph Evans” (mobile nails) -voucher for various choice of nail manicures
Morrisons, Maghull -gave lots of goodies for a hamper.
Therapy Salon, Tree View Court – voucher for a treatment.
Lydiay’s Hair and Glam, Tree View Court – £10 voucher
Maghull High School – printed 150 copies of the Foodie Group Recipe book which gave a clear profit of £300 and they went like hot cakes!!! ..(excuse the pun).
Waterfields -gave us boxes for anyone who wants to take their cake(s) away safely.
Station Pharmacy – gave us male and female toiletries.
Pure ‘K’ Beauty Salon, Liverpool Road South – gave us a voucher for a facial.
Mannion’s Bakery, Hale Road, Walton -gave us lots of cake boxes
Maghull Baptist Church for free use of their hall

Six members of the  Foodie Group attended a Caribbean Cooking class, which was enjoyed by all, please see below.  It is hoped to arrange more classes locally in the New Year if there is enough interest.  So if you are interested please let Brenda McKenzie know on 531 0207.

Please find details  of Grace’s_Caribbean_Curry click to get recipe.

Cook Book raises £300 for charity

Our cook book has proved very successful, selling out in just two weeks. We are very grateful to Maghull High School who printed the books free of charge, which means we will make in the region of £300 from the sales, which will be donated to Macmillan.

At the end of September some members of the Foodie group are attending a cookery class where they will learn how to cook authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine and other delights. Other U3A members have expressed an interest in attending a demonstration, and if there is enough interest it may be possible to organise one locally. Please let me  know if you are interested. It would probably take place sometime in October. More details to follow – keep watching the notice board at the beginning of October.

Although there is now a waiting list in operation for this the group, if there was enough interest there would be no reason why a second group could not be formed.

Brenda

Quiz and Hotpot Saturday 12th October
All tickets have been sold but see Doris in case any have been returned if you want to come. Prompt start 7.30 p.m. Remember it is a fun quiz with a few serious questions and we have to have a winner!

Christmas Lunch Tuesday 17th December at The Prince of Wales Southport

Menus are now available. Please book your place as soon as possible. This is a U3A event for all members. £15 includes the lunch, raffle and tip. See Marge Grundy who is taking bookings.

Christmas Social

13th December at Maghull British Legion

Tickets are going fast so please do not leave it too late. See Doris at the coffee mornings.

Today, 10 group members went to a Chinese Supermarket, and with Denis’s, help have purchased many items, so hopefully over the next month, we will all be producing some tasty Chinese dishes.  The focus of the group when we started was to encourage each other to try new dishes, and with this theme we certainly have done that.

We finished the day off by having a meal at the Tai Pan, which at £6.50 for a two course meal was very good value.  Our next meeting will carry on the Chinese theme and cover dim sum.  Check the website in a few weeks for some good dim sum recipes.

Denis Stevens demonstrated how to make 5 Chinese dishes, showing us how easy and cheap cooking your own Chinese dishes can be once you have the basic sauces etc.  We plan to visit a  Chinese supermarket at our next meeting to purchase some of the ingredients needed.  This will give us the chance to bulk buy and divide items around the group. We will finish the outing by having a meal at the Tai Pan Chinese restaurant. Lets hope they are up to Denis’s standard.

Some of the recipes Denis used today Stir fried Pork with Spring Onions, Sichuan Prawns in Chilli Sauce, Mushrooms in Oyster Sauce.  Beef and peppers in black been sauce, and stir fired mixed vegetables.

We looked at the produce from a local farmer who delivers fresh vegetable/fruits to your door,  we all agreed it was good value for money, if you want to have a look put the following into your search engine: www.thecabbagebox.com

Two new members joined the group today, this means we now have 14 members, and a waiting list is now in operation.

Chair of our U3A Tony Snape who has served us admirably for the past three years stood down at our AGM on Tuesday, as did our Secretary Jan Halksworth who has performed her role with great enthusiasm and commitment for just a little longer. Tony will continue as Vice Chair. Wanda Leach takes over as chair and as yet the role of Secretary is to be filled.
The meeting passed a vote of thanks to Tony and Jan and unanimously elected Wanda to her new office. Other committee members elected were Mary Prendergast and Tony Atlay. In a change to our constitution it was agreed to increase the number of co-opted committee members from 2 to 4 immediately and the number of elected committee members from 8 to 10 with effect from April 2014. Ed.

Jan Halksworth, Tony Snape and Wanda Leach at AGM 30/4

AGM Tuesday 30th April 10:00am 

Don’t miss our AGM which is next Tuesday in Maghull Baptist Church. This is an important meeting for all members and includes election of officers and committee members. In addition to normal business there  is a proposal to increase the number of co-opted committee members from 2 to 4 with immediate effect and proposal to increase the number of elected committee members from 8 to 10 with effect from april 2014.  Refreshment on this occasion are free and copies of the May Newsletter will be available. Your vote counts, please try to be there.

The meeting Agenda can be viewed here: Agenda