March 12th
The local WI craft group met to compare progress on the making of handbags. Some patterns had been taken from the last issue of WI Life or were adaptations of them. I am not into this felting business because I seem to have spent years trying not to felt my woollens in the wash and to actually aim to produce a thick mat goes against the grain.
I consulted the magazine for an address for some American friends who are coming to UK in May. They need a bed and breakfast near Gatwick and there are several regularly advertised in the back pages. The advantage is that they are tried and tested by WI members and they provide transport to the airport. Some will even garage your car while you are on holiday.
It is Fairtrade Fortnight and this organisation is always dear to the hearts of WI members.It is amazing how many places now stock fairtrade products. It is good to see even the supermarkets have got the message which is to a great extent from the consumers bringing them up short and asking for products to appear on the shelves. WI members do have a voice which supermarkets listen to. Just notice how they are adopting the idea of re-cycled plastic bags after our demonstrations against excess packaging last June.As they say, we can make a difference.
March 15th
Discussion today at the Education & Current Affairs sub-committee about the Let's Cook campaign which is being run through the county federations by the National WI. The idea is to encourage people from disadvantaged groups and youngsters to learn to cook healthy meals and to use their money more wisely. It has had quite a bit of media coverage and we have now two members in Bucks who are trained and ready to go.The courses for obtaining hygiene certificates or renewing them are running this month.We would like to hold some further north in the county as it is a long haul down to High Wycombe.
It is a long time since we held a Health Day so that was suggested but it is always a problem getting subjects to match the time of day so that those who might benefit can attend. Age related problems are less successful in the evening and IVF is no good in the afternoons (I could have phrased that better). Yet one needs to cover a variety of topics to obtain an audience large enough to cover the expenses of speakers and hall.
March 19th
Isn't it difficult these days to find really good craft shops? There used to be a marvellous fabric shop in the town where I live but it has been closed for years now. There is a renewed interest in knitting and crochet which is catered for by the department stores I suppose but the sort of place where you can toddle in with a pattern or a problem zip have disappeared locally. But not in Penzance.....I found a marvellous place up a side street which was selling local organic wools and kits made up by local people to make these popular scarves and handbags.I could have spent a fortune on wools and yarns.
Community life is changing or breaking down completely. We posted a letter to number 68 in a street in a big city some weeks ago. It should have gone to number 64.Because the contents were obviously important the 68 resident returned it via the bank and then to us.This was very kind of her but 68 and 64 had lived either side of 66 for over 6 years and didn't know each other's names. It is this sort of lack of cohesion that I think the WI can and should address. They may not suffer from loneliness but surely it is more comfortable to know a little about one's neighbours, to have some feeling of belonging.
March 20th
The WI Three Counties Quiz night started tonight.This competition has taken place for many years. Bucks, Herts and Beds federations hold meetings in their own counties to find the top 6 teams of 3 to compete against each other in June every year.The first of two meetings in Bucks was held tonight in Buckingham where 31 teams took part from WIs in the northern half of the county. On Thursday those from the south face the same questions.Some years the questions seem very hard but they were OK this year--a nice variety under ten categories. Everyone enjoys these events and shares a laugh at some of the answers.The final used to be broadcast on local 3 Counties radio but isn't anymore.We have some very knowledgeable members and the Suffolk Federation of WIs once appeared on University Challenge and went through to the second round which was quite an achievement.
Monday 26 March 2007
Trouble I've seen
Second weekend in March
What a nightmare! I decided that I would customise my blog, add a rural Bucks photo and a brief profile and then transpose the next instalment.The idea of headings seemed a good one too.
My machine threw an absolute wobbly at all of these ideas.My blog refused to receive another word and when I said it was being unreasonable it told me to cleanse my browser. I was absolutely sure my machine was as pure as the driven snow and anyway what is my browser? I thought you, the reader was probably my browser and I feel pretty sure that your cleanliness is beyond question.These computer helplines are all very well as a title but the description is not accurate. The problem is that you need more than one screen, mouse and telephone wire.Why don't they invent their own words instead of using terms that mean something completely normal in the real world for the lay user?
Mouse? Browser? And once into helpline, the jargon is unintelligible!
Anyway...
To cleanse one's browser, take a good hour after deciding that they probably meant that I had to clear a bit of space for my next instalment.So I wiped out the first two which was a shame as they contained the explanation of why I was messing about with a blog at all.The blog would still not accept the latest input.I consulted technical whizz kids in the family, gave away my precious password and Lo and Behold from a distance of several miles THEY could add on to my blog site but I still couldn't. Back to helpline, to discover a little notice saying that my blog provider had been having trouble accepting entries from my net company and it was working on the problem.
Heart rate slowed and the next day I found that I could post some text and I can now begin to use headings.When I am fully out of shock I shall re-instate my earlier entries because they did explain what I was trying to do.
What a nightmare! I decided that I would customise my blog, add a rural Bucks photo and a brief profile and then transpose the next instalment.The idea of headings seemed a good one too.
My machine threw an absolute wobbly at all of these ideas.My blog refused to receive another word and when I said it was being unreasonable it told me to cleanse my browser. I was absolutely sure my machine was as pure as the driven snow and anyway what is my browser? I thought you, the reader was probably my browser and I feel pretty sure that your cleanliness is beyond question.These computer helplines are all very well as a title but the description is not accurate. The problem is that you need more than one screen, mouse and telephone wire.Why don't they invent their own words instead of using terms that mean something completely normal in the real world for the lay user?
Mouse? Browser? And once into helpline, the jargon is unintelligible!
Anyway...
To cleanse one's browser, take a good hour after deciding that they probably meant that I had to clear a bit of space for my next instalment.So I wiped out the first two which was a shame as they contained the explanation of why I was messing about with a blog at all.The blog would still not accept the latest input.I consulted technical whizz kids in the family, gave away my precious password and Lo and Behold from a distance of several miles THEY could add on to my blog site but I still couldn't. Back to helpline, to discover a little notice saying that my blog provider had been having trouble accepting entries from my net company and it was working on the problem.
Heart rate slowed and the next day I found that I could post some text and I can now begin to use headings.When I am fully out of shock I shall re-instate my earlier entries because they did explain what I was trying to do.
Saturday 24 March 2007
Thursday 15 March 2007
the loneliness of the short haul blogger
4th March
This blog business seems very one-sided at the moment. I don't seem to be getting any replies or comments. Perhaps I am not looking in the right place. I know people are reading it but they leave no trace--wierd!
5th March
Yesterday the weather was diabolical and I was dreading the fact that seven of us had arranged to go to Denman College and walk the nature trail. We planned then to explore part of one of the Marcham Jubilee trails. However the day dawned bright and we drove over to the college.The NFWI sold off about 60 acres of land from the original bought when the WI purchased the residential college.In 1947 it cost £16000 for a Georgian mansion set in 100 acres! Some of this land was bought back by one of the previous owners but he allows the WI members to walk through the area behind the lake. This is where the nature trail has been established. It is not a great distance and there is a set of notes to guide one around.
We set off well-booted and it was exceedingly wet and muddy. The water was flowing over the top of one of the little bridges and we had to make a detour but managed to cover most of the trail.It was sad to see that one of the lovely walnut trees had been toppled in the recent gales. On the other hand lots of work has been done on the lake edges so perhaps after the clearance of a decent flight path in and out our swans will return.
After cleaning ourselves up we went inside to join about 50 Bucks WI members who were taking part in a day visit to look around the college.We had an excellent lunch and then enjoyed a guided tour of the main house and teaching block.
The college runs about 500 courses a year and entertains over 6000 students.The new programme is due out in the April issue of WI Life.There are great plans for building a new Catering School and many of the public rooms have been re-furbished this year. We all felt very proud of OUR COLLEGE.
7th March
The local WI heard a talk about diamonds tonight which was very interesting with some excellent slides on the mining of diamonds and the treatment of them to produce the rings and crown jewels which we admire so much.Did you know that you can have your loved one's ashes made into a diamond? It costs about £10000 and will be slightly yellow but it might appeal to some people I suppose.
Our WI members always help provide tea for the blood-doning service when it visits the town so that had to be arranged. Also plans made for our 85th WI birthday celebration.
8th March
I joined 3 other WI members to plan a Literary Lunch in July. In spite of the fact we met in a pub we managed to agree speaker, hall and menu and quite a lot of the detail for the day too. We left feeling very confident that we would be able to repeat the success of the last two years.
9th March
My husband found an article in Country Living in the dentist's waiting room about the crisis in British agriculture which mentioned the work being done by the WI nationally. I must try to obtain a copy. The Public Affairs Committee at NFWI is doing a splendid job on this topic and it is just the sort of publicity we need.
This blog business seems very one-sided at the moment. I don't seem to be getting any replies or comments. Perhaps I am not looking in the right place. I know people are reading it but they leave no trace--wierd!
5th March
Yesterday the weather was diabolical and I was dreading the fact that seven of us had arranged to go to Denman College and walk the nature trail. We planned then to explore part of one of the Marcham Jubilee trails. However the day dawned bright and we drove over to the college.The NFWI sold off about 60 acres of land from the original bought when the WI purchased the residential college.In 1947 it cost £16000 for a Georgian mansion set in 100 acres! Some of this land was bought back by one of the previous owners but he allows the WI members to walk through the area behind the lake. This is where the nature trail has been established. It is not a great distance and there is a set of notes to guide one around.
We set off well-booted and it was exceedingly wet and muddy. The water was flowing over the top of one of the little bridges and we had to make a detour but managed to cover most of the trail.It was sad to see that one of the lovely walnut trees had been toppled in the recent gales. On the other hand lots of work has been done on the lake edges so perhaps after the clearance of a decent flight path in and out our swans will return.
After cleaning ourselves up we went inside to join about 50 Bucks WI members who were taking part in a day visit to look around the college.We had an excellent lunch and then enjoyed a guided tour of the main house and teaching block.
The college runs about 500 courses a year and entertains over 6000 students.The new programme is due out in the April issue of WI Life.There are great plans for building a new Catering School and many of the public rooms have been re-furbished this year. We all felt very proud of OUR COLLEGE.
7th March
The local WI heard a talk about diamonds tonight which was very interesting with some excellent slides on the mining of diamonds and the treatment of them to produce the rings and crown jewels which we admire so much.Did you know that you can have your loved one's ashes made into a diamond? It costs about £10000 and will be slightly yellow but it might appeal to some people I suppose.
Our WI members always help provide tea for the blood-doning service when it visits the town so that had to be arranged. Also plans made for our 85th WI birthday celebration.
8th March
I joined 3 other WI members to plan a Literary Lunch in July. In spite of the fact we met in a pub we managed to agree speaker, hall and menu and quite a lot of the detail for the day too. We left feeling very confident that we would be able to repeat the success of the last two years.
9th March
My husband found an article in Country Living in the dentist's waiting room about the crisis in British agriculture which mentioned the work being done by the WI nationally. I must try to obtain a copy. The Public Affairs Committee at NFWI is doing a splendid job on this topic and it is just the sort of publicity we need.
Tuesday 13 March 2007
march2
2nd March Tonight the Bucks WIs celebrated St David's Day courtesy of the federation Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee. This was the fourth in a series of patriotic days and it was every bit as enjoyable as the others.We listened to a harpist and a group of 6 WI singers calling themselves the Celtic Connection and danced pretty energetically to the Old Police-yard Band. Then of course we ate a Welsh supper produced by the committee and their catering friends. It was a most enjoyable evening and well worth the time and efforts of the members of this wonderful sub-committee.There were about 95 people there and no one had to queue for ages either at suppertime or at the bar.Takes some organising that!
Sunday 11 March 2007
Sunday 4 March 2007
24-25 February
This weekend I have found myself thinking a great deal about the train crash in Cumbria. Probably this is because I know the area so well. The prettiest road in England leads from Tebay to Kendal: I forget its number. There's a controversial statement for you! I bet you all have your favourite. I admit the road surface is not the best but the views...even with a wind farm over the hill!
Thank Goodness it seems the construction of the carriages appears to have helped to reduce the number of injuries to the passengers or this could have been a major disaster like Hatfield.It is for these sort of events that the county Emergency Planning scheme has been created. The WIs are circulated annually with a request for members to make themselves available in the event of disaster to help in any way they can, be it manning information points or serving refreshments to casualties and service staff. This is also why the WI conducted a survey of village halls and meeting places so that the relief organisations know what is available and who can administer TLC. There was a group of WI ladies serving drinks and light refreshments under a hawthorn tree beside the railway line at Hatfield.
26th February
Local book group today. We read" Stuart: a life backwards" by Alexander Masters which had been recommended in WI Life. We certainly learned a lot about the ills in today's society and about the vicious circle of homelessness. This was the subject of one of the resolutions discarded from the list this January.I made a private vow to buy a copy of the Big Issue next time instead of looking at my feet and hurrying by.
If you want a really poetic novel about modern inner city life, try Jon Macgregor "If No one speaks of remarkable things".
27th February
Great Milk Debate local planning committee met tonight. We have our speakers signed up and publicity from NFWI to help in the campaign. The staff in London are pulling out all the stops on this.This is part of the follow-up to the passing of a mandate at the WI Annual General Meeting and shows how some of the money which the WIs contribute to NFWI as a part of the annual subscription is spent.
It is a shame that the major retailers are very loth to send out speakers to these debates as they should be prepared to defend their position on this issue. Otherwise it looks as though they are not sure of their conduct towards the dairy industry. It will be bad publicity for them not to appear or make some statement.
What a marvellous tool the Web is for finding out about organisations and contacts for speakers and details for outings! A press on a few keys and you can find out the opening hours of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
28th February
Local WI committee met to arrange the next monthly meeting and plan the main fundraising event of the year. No WI can function without raising some funds above the annual subscription.The subscription is supposed to cover 11 meetings per year but the cost of hiring halls and of hosting speakers is more than this. Last year we had a very successful Christmas Tree Festival which engaged the whole of the local community and we wish to repeat this triumph. Coffee mornings help but are not enough so it is a case of everyone putting on their thinking caps.
This weekend I have found myself thinking a great deal about the train crash in Cumbria. Probably this is because I know the area so well. The prettiest road in England leads from Tebay to Kendal: I forget its number. There's a controversial statement for you! I bet you all have your favourite. I admit the road surface is not the best but the views...even with a wind farm over the hill!
Thank Goodness it seems the construction of the carriages appears to have helped to reduce the number of injuries to the passengers or this could have been a major disaster like Hatfield.It is for these sort of events that the county Emergency Planning scheme has been created. The WIs are circulated annually with a request for members to make themselves available in the event of disaster to help in any way they can, be it manning information points or serving refreshments to casualties and service staff. This is also why the WI conducted a survey of village halls and meeting places so that the relief organisations know what is available and who can administer TLC. There was a group of WI ladies serving drinks and light refreshments under a hawthorn tree beside the railway line at Hatfield.
26th February
Local book group today. We read" Stuart: a life backwards" by Alexander Masters which had been recommended in WI Life. We certainly learned a lot about the ills in today's society and about the vicious circle of homelessness. This was the subject of one of the resolutions discarded from the list this January.I made a private vow to buy a copy of the Big Issue next time instead of looking at my feet and hurrying by.
If you want a really poetic novel about modern inner city life, try Jon Macgregor "If No one speaks of remarkable things".
27th February
Great Milk Debate local planning committee met tonight. We have our speakers signed up and publicity from NFWI to help in the campaign. The staff in London are pulling out all the stops on this.This is part of the follow-up to the passing of a mandate at the WI Annual General Meeting and shows how some of the money which the WIs contribute to NFWI as a part of the annual subscription is spent.
It is a shame that the major retailers are very loth to send out speakers to these debates as they should be prepared to defend their position on this issue. Otherwise it looks as though they are not sure of their conduct towards the dairy industry. It will be bad publicity for them not to appear or make some statement.
What a marvellous tool the Web is for finding out about organisations and contacts for speakers and details for outings! A press on a few keys and you can find out the opening hours of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
28th February
Local WI committee met to arrange the next monthly meeting and plan the main fundraising event of the year. No WI can function without raising some funds above the annual subscription.The subscription is supposed to cover 11 meetings per year but the cost of hiring halls and of hosting speakers is more than this. Last year we had a very successful Christmas Tree Festival which engaged the whole of the local community and we wish to repeat this triumph. Coffee mornings help but are not enough so it is a case of everyone putting on their thinking caps.
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