Marching on

10th March
A sub-committee meeting in Stuart lodge today at which we made last minute plans for our Trees for Life day next week.Most unusually I looked at my e-mails before leaving home and was shaken to find that one of our main speakers booked was changing his job so not only could he not fulfil his commitment to speak but he wouldn't even be in the country. It is moments like these that turn WI committee members grey overnight! Besides this temporary setback, I am pleased to say that everything else promises to be really interesting. We are also busy planning the summer activities with a nature walk and an outing to Blenheim Palace. Before that, we are giving a presentation for Women's International Day in Aylesbury and coming to give our news at the Spring Council Meeting where the ACWW representative will be able to announce that BFWI has reached its target for the Kenyan project.

8th March
There were several Bucks WI members among the invited audience at the Women's Aid 25th anniversary celebration in Aylesbury this afternoon.The work that this organisation does is marvellous and fulfils a vital need for women and children who have been subjected to physical and mental abuse in their homes.One had to admire the women who were able to stand up and tell everyone of their experiences and how Women's Aid had helped them. The WI has an on-going campaign against Violence against Women and works hard to support the needs of the abused here and abroad.Our WI always tries to save worthwhile items for the local centres and BFWI has a supply of leaflets if anyone wishes to learn more about them. Of course secrecy about the whereabouts of safe houses has to be maintained which must make fund-raising that much more difficult.I must say the refreshments were well up to WI standards but then some of them were made by WI members!

7th March
Some members of the local WI met this afternoon to learn how to crochet. This was quite amusing as there were a couple of absolute beginners who seemed determined to produce corkscrews but after a little while little pieces of flat crochet were appearing.We really need to meet several times to develop our skills but it is so difficult to find a regular slot which doesn't cross with other WI activities. We are all so busy and so involved with the town's activities.It is a shame if craft skills are lost and the new young members of the WI nationally want to learn them. It is also a very pleasant way to spend time with each other where there is a lot of talk and laughter and the opportunity to exchange ideas about life in general, not just the WI.

2nd March
One of the editorial team from the local newspaper came to talk at our regular monthly meeting tonight. We found what she had to say very interesting and she answered a lot of questions about the way in which the team selects items for the issues. Of course we complained that WI reports were often edited down and that sometimes our invitations to the press to attend events were disregarded.Our speaker was able to tell us why and we made her promise to cover our WI in a very positive fashion when we celebrate our 90th anniversary next year. We are planning an outing with our group WIs to the Bank of England and to repeat our Sports Day type of meeting as an extra in August. Then there are county competitions in which to participate for the Chiltern Show and the Bucks County Show and, wait for it...it will be soon time for the big fund-raising event we always hold in October or November.The initial plans sound different and exciting.Did I tell you we had 6 new members this year and our meetings are will become even more lively as none of them are exactly shrinking violets.