23 February
A meeting of the local WI Book Group today. We seem to have got through a lot of titles over the last few weeks.We are also bang up-to-date with our "set" books because one was "The Reader" by Schlink and the other was "Faceless Killers", a Wallandar detective story as seen on TV.We had quite a long discussion on whether we liked to see a film after we had read the book or not. Personally if I have enjoyed the book, I don't like to interfere with my feelings towards it by seeing someone else's take on the book. The flyers for the very successful film of "The Reader" seemed to emphasize the concentration camp part of the novel which worried me slightly as it was crucial on the page but there was more to it than that. However I hear that the film does follow the order of presentation of the story and the acting is great. It is a good short novel and the characters are strong and believable. Discussion led us on to "The Welsh Girl" by Peter Ho Davies and "Suite Francaise" by Irena Nemerovski which covered the prisoners of war in British camps and the early years of the German Occupation of France.
The detective Wallander is not a person I would like to have any dealings with. You cannot say he is a pleasant character and if the author,Henning Mankell wants us to be on his side, he doesn't really succeed. I am told that his private life is a link between the stories but I became tired of his dietary problems, let alone his shattered marriage so I wont be watching any of the TV series. The scenery will obviously be attractive on the screen which could act in its favour.
The Book Group has been asked to prepare a display for this year's Winslow Show so we will have to think of something that will attract people into the WI tent from our readings in the past.Perhaps geographical, as this month we have touched on Germany, Sweden, France and Wales.
24 February
The Arts and Home Crafts sub-committee held a Craft Collation meeting at Cheddington today. It was well attended and very enjoyable.It managed to be quite informal although there was a large audience. The show -and -tell session was difficult because of the lack of a microphone but most people were audible. The work shown was of a high standard, varied and beautiful. Most items were decorative rather than useful. Ideas were tossed around and it was good to learn that the Federation is planning some competitive projects for the future eg some more story sacks and samplers. Competition brings out the best in the craft circles and a shared purpose binds a group together.There were a lot of crafty bargains to be bought at giveaway prices and the cakes at teatime were wonderful.
25 February
The local committee meeting was very busy and chatty .There are lots of events planned in the county over the next couple of months and we have our own Group Meeting coming up too. We were pleased to have received a supportive reply from our MP against the proposed cuts in adult education. He had already signed the Early Day Motion.The programme setters have a problem cancellation for June. We are wondering whether a do-it-yourself session might go well instead--not home improvements, but short talks from our own members either on a theme or based on a personal photo. It has been done successfully elsewhere and someone suggested it in our questionnaire.
About Me
- WIBucks member
- Profile I have been a WI member for over 40 years in various English counties. More than half this time I have spent in Buckinghamshire. I was a VCO (Voluntary County Organiser) for 10 years.I have served on several of the Bucks WI sub-committees and been a Trustee on the Board. I am interested in all crafts, reading and writing and in travel.The WI has provided me with fun and laughter and given me the opportunity to make friends. I believe that the WI has done marvellous work in the past for women's welfare and education and still has an active part to play in today's society. I hope that future generations of women will find much to admire in its history and will take up the challenge of helping women to achieve equally well in the years to come.
3 comments:
We have run successful games evenings at our main WI meeting - things like the old party games of drawing items from a list or word games. If you have some method of mixing people up so they sit with members other than their usual friends this adds to the evening. We allocated table numbers to people as they arrived, and because they arrived in groups of friends, they got successive numbers and so were automatically split up! It was an excellent way of getting to know shyer members.
We have also had a recipe exchange evening: bring the recipe and some samples or, if you are too busy like me, bring something bought together with the packet and a note on the price and where you bought it.
If you have any budding auctioneers, try having an auction of items that members don't want. 20% to funds, rest the owner keeps but don't expect to end up rich!! Most of ours go for pennies!!
by the way, do we have a way of setting the clock on this thing? Neither of us are sad enough to be posting in the early hours of the morning!!!
Thank you. This is really useful and it shows that an exchange of ideas is possible via the blog.One of the committee has come up with an idea involving a photo and another with a co-operative collage which sounds rather sticky but could be fun.
I don't know about the time thing but will look into it when I re-vamp the blog.
Post a Comment