21st January
This morning I popped along to a neighbouring WI which was holding a coffee morning and a swap bring and buy to raise funds for the Denman College Appeal. The idea was that if every WI member made and sold a cup of tea @£1 there would be sufficient money given to finish the re-furbishment of the residential cottages at the college. Our WI gathered together before Christmas at a member's house and was then able to send up around £80 more than was expected of us on our membership. These almost impromptu events are enjoyable and effective.
18th January
There are consultation meetings being held all over the Vale of Aylesbury to try to reach some sort of agreement on what housing is needed and where to put it. One cannot say these meetings are well attended but WI members have been urged to make their views known. Unfortunately the public is becoming a bit jaundiced about these consultations when it becomes obvious that work has already started on the original plan under consideration viz. the HS2 where firms in London had been served compulsory purchase orders the day after its approval by the Government. Did someone stay up all night working on those letters?
We had a little local meeting of WI members to plan events for 2012 and what commitments the WI could make to the Town's plans.Everyone always expects the WI to cater,so of course we will be doing that at the Jubilee celebrations. Then there is our WI's 90th birthday and the Olympic Torch coming through the town and competitions to enter for the County Show, Walk the World for ACWW, etc. etc. Emigration suddenly seems the easiest option!
17th January
A small working party met this morning to plan a literary event in a hotel in June. It was evident that we hadn't blotted our copybook with the management last year because it was keen to hold the event for a second time. We know the members approved so it was quite exciting to think about summer weather and lightweight clothes on a dark and miserable January day. It seemed to be a quick task to prepare a budget and sort out menus and seating arrangements because we were confident of providing something that members would want to attend.Gosh, supposing they don't!
16th January
The first gathering of the local WI Craft Group this afternoon and we are learning to do Somerset Patchwork under the direction of one of our members. There were tiny bits of material floating about, scissors and rotary cutters flying and irons heating and a small dog in need of constant re-assurance that we would eventually leave his mistress in peace, so it was a good job Health&Safety wasn't invited. I'm not sure what our finished items will turn out to be but they have been started with great enthusiasm.
12th January
The Education and Current Affairs Sub-Committee met today and its members are looking forward to lots of activities in 2012. These all need meticulous planning and take time to finalise. E-mails are supposed to aid fast communication but it is not necessarily so. I like to have everything written down in an official manner and copies of e-mails never seem to look anything like reliable. One of the jobs of this committee is to review the mandates passed at earlier council meetings before they sink into oblivion because of the 30 year rule. This year there was one about snares and another about the risk to children caught up in demonstrations. It is interesting to see how some of the concerns raised are still relevant. Members might find it interesting to look at these mandates from the past in the same way as the NFWI's "Speaking Out" is fascinating reading (Every WI is supposed to have a copy in the Secretary's case so ask to borrow it sometime).
11th January
The local WI had to change its speaker at short notice this month but was able to enjoy a demonstration on potting bulbs in exchange for a cookery talk. We had thrown the meeting open to guests so we had one gentleman who decided to sit it out even though he was given the chance to escape.We had 5 new members as well as the guests so the room was full. There were so many dates and events mentioned for the coming year that we were all quite exhausted by the close.
10th January
The Reading Group met this afternoon and we were all glad to see each other after the Christmas break.It was good to find that Julian Fellowes novel "Past Imperfect" had raised such different opinions amongst the group. Some thought it entertaining and amusing; others just got cross with the way he had made the book far too long and had approached it as a vehicle for his views on every aspect of the social scene between the 1960s and the year 2008. OK, it was an era in which most of us were involved but not on the level of society he was describing and all those tiring details of interior decoration and clothes were accurate but overdone.He may be good at adaptations for TV but original story lines are not his forte.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
A new year so a new heading for the blog. Of course it is another gateway or door to continue my message that WI membership offers an entrance into lots of new activities and an opportunity to explore beyond the immediate horizon. Various members criticized last year's choice of photo saying it wasn't in the UK but it was: the willow archway is to be found in Northern Ireland. This one is back in England so I should be in the clear.
Nothing much happened over the holiday in WI terms. There was some good publicity about the new food range bearing the WI logo for sale in supermarkets so look out for the items when next you do a food shop. Also some of you like me will have taken an interest in the horse called Denman because of his name link to the WI residential college near Abingdon. Before Christmas he has been retired so no more pin-money from his jumping prowess!
Remember to register your vote for the resolution which you would like to go up for discussion at the WI Annual General Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall in May. The form is in the latest issue of WI Life magazine along with some background notes on the topics raised. All members now have a vote so please make use of it.
Nothing much happened over the holiday in WI terms. There was some good publicity about the new food range bearing the WI logo for sale in supermarkets so look out for the items when next you do a food shop. Also some of you like me will have taken an interest in the horse called Denman because of his name link to the WI residential college near Abingdon. Before Christmas he has been retired so no more pin-money from his jumping prowess!
Remember to register your vote for the resolution which you would like to go up for discussion at the WI Annual General Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall in May. The form is in the latest issue of WI Life magazine along with some background notes on the topics raised. All members now have a vote so please make use of it.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
End of year countdown
13th December
This will be my last entry for 2011 unless the WI does something newsworthy in the run up to Christmas. I would like to wish all the blog readers a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Perhaps some of you could make a new year's resolution to look at the new BFWI website every now and again and even better, contribute a little something towards it.We often feel like voices crying in the wilderness.Our local WI has at last been accepted on to the Town Council website so by publishing our programme and writing up events we may attract new members.Mind that hasn't been a problem this year when every meeting seems to welcome someone new.
This afternoon was the meeting of the Book Group. The novel was The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer. It hadn't been on our list but we are grateful that our branch librarian had provided it for us because more than half of the readers really enjoyed it: others found it a bit long-drawn out and with too little action.It was a beautifully written story set in the USA of the 1950s when young men were trying to dodge the draft or suffering the after-effects of war, when racism was rampant and the public was coming to terms with accepting homosexuality.In the middle of all this, the story tells of the struggle of a young wife to hang on to her husband against the blandishments of a former army friend.
12th December
Some 40 local WI members and friends went out for a Christmas dinner this evening. It was a very noisy affair but great fun. The food was good and we hired the community bus so that no one need worry about the odd glass of wine---or two.This is a chance for members to say thank you to their partners for all the many strange jobs we ask them to do in the course of the year.
7th December
The final meeting of the WI had a party feel to it because we had a brief session of traditional musichall singing and nearly everyone came in a big hat. Unfortunately the heating in the hall packed up on us so we were forced to wear our coats for most of the evening which made light-hearted bonhomie quite difficult to achieve.The January meeting promises to be really special as we are being given a cookery demonstration by the nationally recognised local chef from the town's cookery school.At one fell swoop the raised WI subscription will prove its worth. A vote was taken on whether to cut down on speakers in the 2013 programme because of the expense. This is a controversial idea so although it was carried on the night I am hoping that we will be given a second chance to argue the point. A WI stands or falls by its speakers---anyone can do social.
3rd December
The local church tree festival was a huge success. The church looked lovely and the stalls were well patronised. The WI tree looked pretty good with its homemade sheep, shepherds and stars, depicting "When Shepherds watched". There was a line of mini socks hung out to dry which was a touch I hope people appreciated.I hope the tree survives:it is very near to a radiator but as half the WI members have volunteered to water it it will probably suffer death by drowning.
This will be my last entry for 2011 unless the WI does something newsworthy in the run up to Christmas. I would like to wish all the blog readers a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Perhaps some of you could make a new year's resolution to look at the new BFWI website every now and again and even better, contribute a little something towards it.We often feel like voices crying in the wilderness.Our local WI has at last been accepted on to the Town Council website so by publishing our programme and writing up events we may attract new members.Mind that hasn't been a problem this year when every meeting seems to welcome someone new.
This afternoon was the meeting of the Book Group. The novel was The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer. It hadn't been on our list but we are grateful that our branch librarian had provided it for us because more than half of the readers really enjoyed it: others found it a bit long-drawn out and with too little action.It was a beautifully written story set in the USA of the 1950s when young men were trying to dodge the draft or suffering the after-effects of war, when racism was rampant and the public was coming to terms with accepting homosexuality.In the middle of all this, the story tells of the struggle of a young wife to hang on to her husband against the blandishments of a former army friend.
12th December
Some 40 local WI members and friends went out for a Christmas dinner this evening. It was a very noisy affair but great fun. The food was good and we hired the community bus so that no one need worry about the odd glass of wine---or two.This is a chance for members to say thank you to their partners for all the many strange jobs we ask them to do in the course of the year.
7th December
The final meeting of the WI had a party feel to it because we had a brief session of traditional musichall singing and nearly everyone came in a big hat. Unfortunately the heating in the hall packed up on us so we were forced to wear our coats for most of the evening which made light-hearted bonhomie quite difficult to achieve.The January meeting promises to be really special as we are being given a cookery demonstration by the nationally recognised local chef from the town's cookery school.At one fell swoop the raised WI subscription will prove its worth. A vote was taken on whether to cut down on speakers in the 2013 programme because of the expense. This is a controversial idea so although it was carried on the night I am hoping that we will be given a second chance to argue the point. A WI stands or falls by its speakers---anyone can do social.
3rd December
The local church tree festival was a huge success. The church looked lovely and the stalls were well patronised. The WI tree looked pretty good with its homemade sheep, shepherds and stars, depicting "When Shepherds watched". There was a line of mini socks hung out to dry which was a touch I hope people appreciated.I hope the tree survives:it is very near to a radiator but as half the WI members have volunteered to water it it will probably suffer death by drowning.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Food in plenty
26 November
The members of our own WI plus some from neighbouring WIs enjoyed a lovely tea party this afternoon in a private house. Not only were the cakes definitely up to WI standard but there was also an interesting selection of books on offer as part of a book swap. The activity was in response to the plea from Denman College to finance some building improvements to the college by asking members to provide cups of tea @ £1 each to their friends and neighbours. This way the NFWI calculates that if every member of the 210,000 or so membership just sold one cup, sufficient money would be raised with little effort.A good idea and a very pleasant way to achieve the required funds.
25 November
What a lovely afternoon about 100 WI members from across the county enjoyed today! Such a simple idea too! Fill a room with people interested in craft of all kinds and get them to "Show and Tell" in true kindergarten manner, have a bargain sales table of materials and thread and serve teas.It was marvellous to see what others had created and the bulk of it was the result of putting their skill into making something of their own design, not just following a printed pattern. Some of the work was inspired by foreign travel where a traditional craft had been studied and then adapted into use in the home country.I lost count of the different crafts on display and some of the items produced were to die for. If you missed this meeting watch out for the next wherever it is held.Bucks doesn't need Kirstie Allsopp!
24 November
A few of us drove over to the WI shop which was temporarily set up in a private house in Stony Stratford. There was another at Little Missenden on the same day.This scheme enables those of us at a distance from Stuart Lodge in High Wycombe to see what is on offer.The northern shop seemed very busy when we were there and there was a good selection of items from which to choose.Then of course there was the opportunity to chat over a mince pie and coffee.
23 November
This wasn't an official WI event but as it was held by one of our local WI members, lots of the WI attended. We heard a presentation by a representative of the Food Bank which has its headquarters in Milton Keynes. I think people who just go to the centre for shopping have no idea of some of the poverty in the various communities within the city grid. As we were told, it only needs a combination of misfortunes to reduce a family to needing a basic box of food: most boxes are given out over a short period of time and all who receive are referred by a social welfare body or a church or a job centre to avoid the system being abused.I think the work of this organisation, completely staffed by volunteers, ties in well with the NFWI work with the campaign to make people aware of the domestic violence against women. Quite a few reduced to desperate straits are escaping a home where violence has become too much to bear.A tin of baked beans can sometimes be a feast. The Food Bank can only deal with food that does not require refridgeration as neither it nor the recipients have the means to keep things frozen.The WI has always kept the needs of the family as part of its aims and objects so the afternoon was relevant to what the WI is about.
The members of our own WI plus some from neighbouring WIs enjoyed a lovely tea party this afternoon in a private house. Not only were the cakes definitely up to WI standard but there was also an interesting selection of books on offer as part of a book swap. The activity was in response to the plea from Denman College to finance some building improvements to the college by asking members to provide cups of tea @ £1 each to their friends and neighbours. This way the NFWI calculates that if every member of the 210,000 or so membership just sold one cup, sufficient money would be raised with little effort.A good idea and a very pleasant way to achieve the required funds.
25 November
What a lovely afternoon about 100 WI members from across the county enjoyed today! Such a simple idea too! Fill a room with people interested in craft of all kinds and get them to "Show and Tell" in true kindergarten manner, have a bargain sales table of materials and thread and serve teas.It was marvellous to see what others had created and the bulk of it was the result of putting their skill into making something of their own design, not just following a printed pattern. Some of the work was inspired by foreign travel where a traditional craft had been studied and then adapted into use in the home country.I lost count of the different crafts on display and some of the items produced were to die for. If you missed this meeting watch out for the next wherever it is held.Bucks doesn't need Kirstie Allsopp!
24 November
A few of us drove over to the WI shop which was temporarily set up in a private house in Stony Stratford. There was another at Little Missenden on the same day.This scheme enables those of us at a distance from Stuart Lodge in High Wycombe to see what is on offer.The northern shop seemed very busy when we were there and there was a good selection of items from which to choose.Then of course there was the opportunity to chat over a mince pie and coffee.
23 November
This wasn't an official WI event but as it was held by one of our local WI members, lots of the WI attended. We heard a presentation by a representative of the Food Bank which has its headquarters in Milton Keynes. I think people who just go to the centre for shopping have no idea of some of the poverty in the various communities within the city grid. As we were told, it only needs a combination of misfortunes to reduce a family to needing a basic box of food: most boxes are given out over a short period of time and all who receive are referred by a social welfare body or a church or a job centre to avoid the system being abused.I think the work of this organisation, completely staffed by volunteers, ties in well with the NFWI work with the campaign to make people aware of the domestic violence against women. Quite a few reduced to desperate straits are escaping a home where violence has become too much to bear.A tin of baked beans can sometimes be a feast. The Food Bank can only deal with food that does not require refridgeration as neither it nor the recipients have the means to keep things frozen.The WI has always kept the needs of the family as part of its aims and objects so the afternoon was relevant to what the WI is about.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Competitions and campaigns
14 November
The local WI craft group has been invited to take part in the town's Christmas Tree Festival so its members are putting their minds and hands to work on our entry. Although it isn't a competition we want to do our best and basically if truth was told we want to be the best. Did you watch Kirstie Allsopp on ITV this week pitting her skills against other WIs at the Hampshire and New Forest Show? She became very competitive and is in awe of WI judges.I must admit that I don't think the average WI member would go so far as to take an expensive course in some new craft in order to enter a class but it makes more interesting television and is good publicity. All the exhibits looked good and professional and the members were a suitably mixed bunch of normal people enjoying themselves, although competing.How lucky Hampshire Federation is to still have a designated marquee at their county show!
10 November
A very busy meeting of the Education & Current Affairs sub-committee today.It is part of this committee's job to keep up-to-date with the national and county campaigns.At present there is a lot of activity about the planning system reform, the scaling back of the legal aid system and the threatened closure of libraries.The WI has mandates on all these topics so every WI member may do her bit by keeping the government aware of the likely impact on women in the UK from changes in legislation. Locally, of course we are working on the care of stroke victims and their carers and BFWI has also been asked to be part of the consultation process on the trial of street lighting cuts in Buckinghamshire. At the same time we try to host interesting events and outings to broaden the members' minds, such as writers' workshops and historical or environmental days.It all sounds rather blue-stockingish but we also have a lot of fun. I wonder if anyone would like to come and join us or just arrange to sit in on a meeting? You would be welcome so get in touch with the office at Stuart Lodge.
8 November
The local book group has been reading Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. This is a prize-winning teenage novel. Several readers thought it too tough meat for teenagers but when you see what they watch on screen I don't agree.The majority considered the novel well worth reading. It is a Romeo and Juliet story set in an indeterminate time and place where the white population is subservient to the coloured---the reverse of the school segregation battles in the American South. The author doesn't give us a happy ending and the characters are so well drawn albeit in simple language that we did care about their decisions as they grow up and struggle against the society operating in the world around them.
The local WI craft group has been invited to take part in the town's Christmas Tree Festival so its members are putting their minds and hands to work on our entry. Although it isn't a competition we want to do our best and basically if truth was told we want to be the best. Did you watch Kirstie Allsopp on ITV this week pitting her skills against other WIs at the Hampshire and New Forest Show? She became very competitive and is in awe of WI judges.I must admit that I don't think the average WI member would go so far as to take an expensive course in some new craft in order to enter a class but it makes more interesting television and is good publicity. All the exhibits looked good and professional and the members were a suitably mixed bunch of normal people enjoying themselves, although competing.How lucky Hampshire Federation is to still have a designated marquee at their county show!
10 November
A very busy meeting of the Education & Current Affairs sub-committee today.It is part of this committee's job to keep up-to-date with the national and county campaigns.At present there is a lot of activity about the planning system reform, the scaling back of the legal aid system and the threatened closure of libraries.The WI has mandates on all these topics so every WI member may do her bit by keeping the government aware of the likely impact on women in the UK from changes in legislation. Locally, of course we are working on the care of stroke victims and their carers and BFWI has also been asked to be part of the consultation process on the trial of street lighting cuts in Buckinghamshire. At the same time we try to host interesting events and outings to broaden the members' minds, such as writers' workshops and historical or environmental days.It all sounds rather blue-stockingish but we also have a lot of fun. I wonder if anyone would like to come and join us or just arrange to sit in on a meeting? You would be welcome so get in touch with the office at Stuart Lodge.
8 November
The local book group has been reading Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. This is a prize-winning teenage novel. Several readers thought it too tough meat for teenagers but when you see what they watch on screen I don't agree.The majority considered the novel well worth reading. It is a Romeo and Juliet story set in an indeterminate time and place where the white population is subservient to the coloured---the reverse of the school segregation battles in the American South. The author doesn't give us a happy ending and the characters are so well drawn albeit in simple language that we did care about their decisions as they grow up and struggle against the society operating in the world around them.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Annual Meeting
2nd November
Tonight was the time for the local WI to hold its annual meeting and there was a good attendance. Some members do not enjoy this meeting so think of other things to do. If they intend to try to escape being assigned duties in helping to run the WI, they have another think coming! We always catch up with them and this year with a slightly smaller committee there will be no hiding place. The review of the year is always interesting and never ceases to amaze me at what we manage to achieve within the 12 months. We have increased our membership, attended lots of out of town events and done well in competitions.Some reservations were expressed on parts of the recent fundraiser but so what: in 8 years there is room for a slight blip and anyway the majority enjoyed themselves.The various sections continue to flourish so there are plenty of opportunities to share different interests, whether it be craft or badminton, reading or walking, discussion or becoming a lady who lunches.A few of us are getting together to take part in the local church Christmas Tree Festival which at the moment seems to involve a lot of cut and paste and collecting toilet roll cardboard centres but I am sure will look quite professional in the end.
What did you think of the last issue of WI Life? It was the one that focussed on the history of the WI. I read it from cover to cover and thought it was really interesting. It would be worth making a visit to the Women's Library to examine some of the exhibits. It was pleasing to see our BFWI archivist mentioned and of course you may read about our history in Bucks if you go on to the BFWI website. This website is in the process of being revitalised so keep your eyes open for when it launches in its new format.
Tonight was the time for the local WI to hold its annual meeting and there was a good attendance. Some members do not enjoy this meeting so think of other things to do. If they intend to try to escape being assigned duties in helping to run the WI, they have another think coming! We always catch up with them and this year with a slightly smaller committee there will be no hiding place. The review of the year is always interesting and never ceases to amaze me at what we manage to achieve within the 12 months. We have increased our membership, attended lots of out of town events and done well in competitions.Some reservations were expressed on parts of the recent fundraiser but so what: in 8 years there is room for a slight blip and anyway the majority enjoyed themselves.The various sections continue to flourish so there are plenty of opportunities to share different interests, whether it be craft or badminton, reading or walking, discussion or becoming a lady who lunches.A few of us are getting together to take part in the local church Christmas Tree Festival which at the moment seems to involve a lot of cut and paste and collecting toilet roll cardboard centres but I am sure will look quite professional in the end.
What did you think of the last issue of WI Life? It was the one that focussed on the history of the WI. I read it from cover to cover and thought it was really interesting. It would be worth making a visit to the Women's Library to examine some of the exhibits. It was pleasing to see our BFWI archivist mentioned and of course you may read about our history in Bucks if you go on to the BFWI website. This website is in the process of being revitalised so keep your eyes open for when it launches in its new format.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Poetry and dance
22nd October
After about a year's planning the local WI held its annual fund-raiser, an international evening concentrating on dance.We were delighted to welcome 92 people from different organisations in the town as well as members from neighbouring WIs.We bought in fish and chip suppers but provided home-made desserts. The Indian dancing performed by Geet Kala's little troupe was very good but it was the Morris Dancers who stole the show.I think we could all appreciate the steps and timing with their sticks far better when seen up on a stage rather than on the village green.The reggae singing was interesting but we would have liked more story-telling from the Caribbean compere.The hall looked good and there was an attractive display of Indian materials and jewellery for the audience to look at during the interval.The guests seemed to have enjoyed themselves so when the dust has settled we will start to plan another different event for next year.
The morning's Daily Telegraph featured the WI on the front page where our National Chairman was complaining that there are not enough women in the Cabinet to stand up for women's concerns.This is especially disappointing to the WI because our campaigns, such as combatting violence in the home, need Government support.I think we agree that we want the best and most honest people to be Cabinet Ministers whatever their politics or sex. However, to expect half its members to be women is unrealistic: the pool of women MPs from which these must come, is so much smaller than the male so the standard would have to be skewed to do this.What we should be going for is more women becoming MPs and that cannot happen until childcare facilities and care of the elderly are both improved to free women to think of entering politics.For many years this has been the aim of NFWI for more women to become parish councillors, town councillors and magistrates and so work their way into Parliament.The ability is there: it is the time that is lacking.
11th October
Our WI Book Group met this afternoon and because of a slight hiccup in planning we had all taken home different books to read---not the usual "set" book. Several different novels by Jodi Piccoult and some poetry selections from Carol Ann Duffy, Andrew Motion, Seamus Heaney and Roger McGough were the objects for discussion.Some readers found Jodi Piccoult's books rather upsetting to read.Even when they knew that the author always dealt with a controversial social issue, they didn't want to get so involved with the problem but felt compelled to carry on reading which is a mark of her success as a writer, I suppose. We wondered how the poetry would work out in the Group but it was a great success. We picked out favourite poems and read some of them aloud. We even considered how different the writing of verse had become since we were schoolchildren. How much easier it was to learn poetry in our youth and how it sticks in one's memory down the years.The real mark of success was that some of the readers intend to borrow the poetry from the library and to buy some for Christmas presents. Perhaps we ought to do it again.
After about a year's planning the local WI held its annual fund-raiser, an international evening concentrating on dance.We were delighted to welcome 92 people from different organisations in the town as well as members from neighbouring WIs.We bought in fish and chip suppers but provided home-made desserts. The Indian dancing performed by Geet Kala's little troupe was very good but it was the Morris Dancers who stole the show.I think we could all appreciate the steps and timing with their sticks far better when seen up on a stage rather than on the village green.The reggae singing was interesting but we would have liked more story-telling from the Caribbean compere.The hall looked good and there was an attractive display of Indian materials and jewellery for the audience to look at during the interval.The guests seemed to have enjoyed themselves so when the dust has settled we will start to plan another different event for next year.
The morning's Daily Telegraph featured the WI on the front page where our National Chairman was complaining that there are not enough women in the Cabinet to stand up for women's concerns.This is especially disappointing to the WI because our campaigns, such as combatting violence in the home, need Government support.I think we agree that we want the best and most honest people to be Cabinet Ministers whatever their politics or sex. However, to expect half its members to be women is unrealistic: the pool of women MPs from which these must come, is so much smaller than the male so the standard would have to be skewed to do this.What we should be going for is more women becoming MPs and that cannot happen until childcare facilities and care of the elderly are both improved to free women to think of entering politics.For many years this has been the aim of NFWI for more women to become parish councillors, town councillors and magistrates and so work their way into Parliament.The ability is there: it is the time that is lacking.
11th October
Our WI Book Group met this afternoon and because of a slight hiccup in planning we had all taken home different books to read---not the usual "set" book. Several different novels by Jodi Piccoult and some poetry selections from Carol Ann Duffy, Andrew Motion, Seamus Heaney and Roger McGough were the objects for discussion.Some readers found Jodi Piccoult's books rather upsetting to read.Even when they knew that the author always dealt with a controversial social issue, they didn't want to get so involved with the problem but felt compelled to carry on reading which is a mark of her success as a writer, I suppose. We wondered how the poetry would work out in the Group but it was a great success. We picked out favourite poems and read some of them aloud. We even considered how different the writing of verse had become since we were schoolchildren. How much easier it was to learn poetry in our youth and how it sticks in one's memory down the years.The real mark of success was that some of the readers intend to borrow the poetry from the library and to buy some for Christmas presents. Perhaps we ought to do it again.
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