Miscellaneous Forum

Firstly, many congratulations, that is quite a milestone. What exactly is U3a? Am I being particularly thick here? I am not raising a glass (I drink out of the bottle here) but I am literally raising a beer to you now. Slainte Mhath.

I celebrated my tenth anniversary on Dec 28, 2011...or, rather, I didn't celebrate it as I didn't even notice it...oh well...oh, and say, "math agat" to plantxy and see if he's impressed ;-)... Glug glug glug... Bill

Thank you so much for popping in and opening a bottle....that is too kind. When I first joined I was a novice at everything and didn't have a clue as to how to write anything or indeed how to put up a photo. But I did finally figure most of it out and here we are....ten years down the track. U3a is a world wide organisation that I think started in France but I could be wrong. It stands for University of the third age and it encourages people who have gained age yet still want to learn for learning's sake. Each branch is self contained in that it draws upon its own members to be tutors and students. The idea is to offer to run a course if you have knowledge or expertise in an area and you would like to share. Works really well. Carole.

Thank you too Bill and congratulations for your achievment. Do you go by the bottle too? Carole.

Well, well, every day is a learning experience on VT. Firstly, Bill, congratulations on a long time here. Carole, that is of huge interest to me. I never went to University (too stupid, didn't apply myself etc.) and for many years as I got older toyed with the idea of learning for learnings sake. I am retired now and thankfully with enough financial resources to live without starving if not lavishly. I really did fancy, after retirement, going to Uni in the UK where I am resident (most of the time) but successive Governments, and I will not get political here, have now removed that dream well beyond my grasp. I would not have been doing it as a means to a job and therefore paying back the State but I always had this mad dream of debating things in tutorials with people young enough to be my children, I thought that would have been a really interesting thing to do with what little life experience I have ammassed. Unfortunately, as I say, Bliar, Brown and Cameron have conspired to make this impossible for me. I just don't have the money (£27000 or thereabouts). I have even enquired in the Philippines, where degree courses are taught in English due to language differences but I am told I canot get the correct visas. I know there is the Open University (in UK) which is very good and the qualifications, I believe, well-respected but it is not the same. It was never about the piece of paper at the end, nice as that would have been had I achieved it. It was the idea of immersing myself in Uni life that appealed most. Whilst I seem to be arguing against myself here, I am hugely interested in the idea you have suggested as a secondary option. Thanks so much for that, I will certainly look into it. Thanks again.

Sounds as if you will find some branches in the UK. I simply love it and over the ten years (or so now) I have learned a lot about a host of different subjects and I haven't had to sit one exam. Happy learning and socializing. Carole.

Like Bill, I forgot all about my 10th! And 11th for that matter... Happy VT-day Carole!

11?? My goodness. Thank you David you are kind too. Carole.

Congratulations on 10 years! Hey, I just noticed... TODAY is my 7 year anniversary on VT! :-)

Congratulations. I had my 10th anniversary myself back in march.

Congratulations! That's great going :-) Urm, only special in that it was my Birthday exactly 2 months ago and it's my boyfriend's in exactly 5 months. All those people that spent the solstice at Stonehenge would have got very wet indeed last night!

Congrats Carole on the anniversary :) I can believe coz I had mine two years ago too. It is fairly amazing with the internet being such a flighty thing.

Thank you Keti. What kinds of celebration takes place? Carole.

Congratulations Jess....that is quite a milestone too. Carole.

Thank you Claus. I seem to remember congratulating you too way back in March. Feels good doesn't it? Carole

Thank you Emma and good luck with the birthdays. Carole.

Thank you Ingrid. Do you mean that you are now at 12 years? Carole.

Congratulation Carole! no special day for me, a part for the fact that I was able to get a day off tomorrow and we will head to Trieste for a long weekend! I think that count as something to celebrate :-))) btw... Next Tuesday it will be 6 years for me on VT!

Thank you Orietta and congratulations for your anniversary too. Carole.

It seems there are a lot of annversaries going on here and congratulations to everybody. I know VT is only about 11 or 12 years old (is that right?) and I am wondering what the membership will be like in maybe another 10 years. Will some of the originals still be here? I would seriously like to know who the first couple of hundred members were and how many are still here. Not that it matters but it just interests me.

Yes, I am interested in the beginnings too. I wonder when it started and how many people were around the first year. How can we find out? Carole.

Yep, Carole, glug glug glug straight from the long neck (hmmmn, that is a particular style of beer bottle in the US...I wonder if others have the same thing?)... Bill

Congratulations Carole Hope you stay on for as long as our VT world takes and That we'd share so much more ahead

Congrats! I don't think I have been on here for 10 years, maybe 5? Not sure

Hey, Sophie, you joined March 22, 2006, so just over 6 years of VT bliss ;-) Bill

Congratulations on your 10 years! Been at it for 7 years as of last Thursday. Seems longer somehow. This is quite an enjoyable way to share where we've been and learn about where to next. Thank you all for your efforts.

Yes Bill, Australia has a long necked beer bottle too, so you are not alone in this. Mind you it is a little early in the morning for me to be drinking and I don't like beer......never mind keep on glugging. Carole.

Thank you Gabriel and to you too. I wish you many happy years of travelling with vt. Carole.

No not ten but six is a pretty good score Sophia. Keep on keeping on. Carole

Thank you Rick. Seven years is no mean feat too. Keep on keeping on. Carole.