A mixed bag

17th November
Good news today that the Post Office at Twyford is going to be re-instated albeit just twice a week. There is to be a mini grand opening tomorrow. The WI over the last three years has done a lot of campaigning to keep post offices open but it has been an uphill battle so even two days a week is a success. Let's hope that the local people prove it valuable to them.
16th November
There was a large audience at Longueville Hall, Newton Longueville today for the Gourmet Christmas demonstration organised by the new Home and Gardens Sub-committee. The morning passed well as we watched the team produce preserves for Christmas and the lunch of soup and rolls was lovely. It was also quite an achievement logistically as there were about 140 people to serve.However the afternoon was disappointing because the demonstrators had not included enough on their programme to keep us occupied.It was the first time that they had demonstrated to a WI audience but were experienced in running courses at their own base for students and corporate events.They were such pleasant people that the audience was half way to forgiving them and certainly the WI subcommittee was in no way responsible for the shortened afternoon session.It was a very social meeting which was enjoyable in itself.
14th November
Five members of the local WI Book Group drove down to Chesham for a Writers' Day organised by the Bucks County Library.It was held in the Town Hall which we could see but not actually reach by car before two abortive attempts! There must have been almost 100 people there. During the day there were 2 sessions when we were all together and then we had the choice of two sessions from six.Three female crime writers held a conversation about writing crime novels, there was a travel author and another discussing his progress from poetry appreciation to scientific writing and finally a biography of Charles Darwin.Our members kept meeting up as we went our different ways but we also met other WI members who were attending and even former school friends. The Bucks County Library hold these events every year and publish a newsletter for book groups which is useful when picking new titles to read. We tend to go our own way but every now and then follow up a suggestion. It was a very good day and well worth a visit.
12th November
Today was the Education and Current Affairs subcommittee meeting and lots of other things happening down at Stuart Lodge. We had a long agenda but managed to get through it before lunch. A lot of time was taken up with reviewing the events held in September and October, the second Brain Games and the International Day on Holland. Fortunately both had been successful and we had received favourable comments. I just wish we had taken some photos to put in either the newsletter or on the website.The correspondence included a letter from an organisation wanting WIs to discuss these new electronic patient records. I don't think we can avoid them, however much we doubt their security, but I wonder how many members would attend a small discussion party on this subject. We held one on stem cell biology and another on climate change so perhaps...The other topic was the NFWI's campaign to approach tea firms to ask them to use only Fairtrade produce. Taylors of Harrogate use some Fairtrade tea but have other sources too. The firm will obviously resent the WI interference on this as they have been environmentally active for years and are members of the Rain Forest Alliance. They have also been extremely generous towards WIs so it will be interesting to see what the individual WIs do about this campaign.
11th November
An exceedingly small group from the BFWI met to review progress on our website. And there is progress! For Heaven's sake all of you take the time to have a look. Our website manager is working wonders and what we need now is for the WI members and the WI committees to submit material whether it be written accounts or photos so that there is always a change of items on the screen. If members and the outside world can see what we are doing and what fun we have, we will never have to cancel events and will attract new members.We must come out from under our collective bushel.
4th November
Local WI Annual meeting tonight and a very good turn out.Actually it was a very lively meeting and we were able to catch up on quite a few things that have been hanging over us for a while.We heard from our members who took part in the Emergency Planning day, about all the BFWI events that had been attended and we learned the result of the vote on where we are to meet next year. We are on the move, girls! The finances are OK although we lost a little money last year. We have a new President, a new Treasurer and the same Secretary. The Barn Dance will go ahead, although the sale of tickets has been a trifle slow so far. This is our major fundraiser this year so we wouldn't like to cancel it.I am sure it will be very enjoyable and the food volunteered will be first class as usual.