IGO News Extra April 2026
Hello IGO members I hope you have enjoyed the Easter holiday period and are looking forward to some warm and dry weather as May approaches …. Please contact me if you have a question or an idea for a news item -
New Group – Learn sign language
An online course by british-sign.co.uk is used as the basis for this group. Members of the group sign up for the course.
A set of signs from the course is assigned to each meeting. Members learn these, and everyone makes the signs individually to the rest of the group who identify them.
2nd and 4th Mondays from 11.30am to 1pm.
Join via Beacon
New Group - Improv: long scene form
This group is suitable for those who have already attended my other Improv group here at Interest Groups Online for a while and who would like to progress further with with Long Form Improv. This will involve more scene work. This group will also be suitable for those with prior experience.
My other group (Improv) has now been running for a year and has become steadily more and more popular. So we now hold meetings there every single week. I recommend that you remain an active member of my other group also.
Meeting on 4th Sunday at 5.30pm
Rob, group leader
Join via Beacon
New Group - English - Chinese Exchange
The group will meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 9.30-10.30am
The aim of the group is to enable members to exchange their knowledge of English and Mandarin, and also to exchange their cultures. Helen, the group leader, will act as a "Cultural Bridge."
“I can provide a pure Mandarin environment for members and share the beauty of Chinese customs, local traditions, and our way of life. Whether we discuss festivals, traditional food, your own stories and daily life in the UK, or simply the small joys of our surroundings, I will listen with patience and respond with heart. I am just as eager to learn about your culture as I am to share mine!”
Join via Beacon
Quiz time
- Who became Britains first Prime Minister in April 1721?
- Where did Argentina invade in April 1982?
- Who became the first person in space on 12th April 1961?
- NATO was created in April 1949 - what do the letters stand for?
- First published on the 13th April, 1953 what book was the first to feature James Bond aka 007
Answers at the end
u3a Missing Pieces
Missing Pieces is a collaborative learning activity where u3a members help uncover the stories behind historic buildings in their communities.
Inspired by Historic England’s national Missing Pieces project, this activity invites members to look beyond official records and explore the lived experiences, memories, and personal connections that bring listed buildings to life. Whether it’s a place you’ve passed every day, a building with a family connection, or one that’s quietly overlooked, your contribution can help build a richer, more human picture of our shared heritage.
To find out more visit the Missing Pieces webpage or come along to our opening online event on Thursday 23 April at 2pm, The Missing Pieces project: connecting people and place. Click here to book your place.
Ingredients
- 1 14-ounce block of extra-firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- ½ of a small green or red cabbage or ⅓ of a large cabbage (about 3 cups shredded, 180g)
- 2 to 3 medium carrots about 1 1/2 cups shredded, 120g
- ½ cup 6g cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water more as needed
Method
Pat dry the excess water from the block of tofu. Slice the tofu widthwise into ⅓ to ½-inch thick slices (about 10 slabs on a 14-ounce block). Dab with paper towels to get rid of some excess water.
Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu slices. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, gently moving them around the pan as needed to coat evenly in the oil, or until the bottom is golden browned. Stand back to avoid oil sputter. Using a spatula, flip the tofu and cook for 4 to 6 minutes on the other side.
Note: I find it helpful to use a large spatula and a smaller offset spatula or butter knife to flip the tofu.
Meanwhile, make the slaw. Shred the cabbage and carrots (using a mandoline, box grater, or food processor shredding disc). Transfer the cabbage and carrots to a large bowl, and add the cilantro. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sesame oil, lime juice, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and black pepper to taste. Pour the vinaigrette on top of the slaw and toss well to coat. Add a final squeeze of lime juice or a sprinkle of salt and pepper, if needed.
Pair this with a Bordeaux white - Calvet Prestige Sauvignon Blanc - Rosie’s suggestion from the Wine Appreciation Group