Glory,glory

27th September
An Evening of Fish Cookery may not be an invitation that appeals to lots of people but over 100 Bucks WI members and friends thoroughly enjoyed watching the demonstration given at Newton Longueville Hall tonight. Carrie O'Regan from Denman College showed us how to make 7 different dishes and inspired us to try something a little more stylish and interesting when cooking fish.She started out with a spinach and smoked salmon roulade which looked easy to do, even though the thought of producing any sort of roulade has many cooks retreating to a dark corner in tears.Congratulations to the organising sub-committee Home and Garden for presenting the evening and choosing such a good venue. Carrie will be one of the course leaders when Bucks takes over Denman College in November this year so we know already how good this option will be.

22nd September
Two coachloads of Bucks members and friends set off at the crack of dawn to visit the Olympic Village site under the guidance of 2 Blue Badge guides who met us at Woolwich Arsenal. The event was heavily over-subscribed so another date has been found for those who were disappointed in the ballot. On my coach we had a troublefree run into London and even had time for a comfort stop en route. I mention this only because I know how long some people have to be in the coach before reaching the destination, especially if it involves entering London: this can make travellers hesitate from booking on outings.I think many passengers were pleasantly surprised at the included film and tour of the Firepower Museum before lunch. It was impressive to listen to the young soldiers recently returned from the Middle Eastern battlelines. After a good lunch, we nipped in to the Greenwich Heritage Gallery to see its embroidered panels depicting the history of Greenwich and Woolwich. I could have spent much longer here but then we were off to look at the site for the Olympic Games. This was very impressive indeed, mostly ahead of schedule and much, much bigger than I for one had somehow envisaged. We viewed from the viewing platform and toured round in the coach seeing where the outlying buildings were and what events they were going to house. Our tour was called Land of Hope and Glory and we couldn't have had a more enthusiastic guide. It was good to listen to someone who was so positive about the staging of the Games and of the UK too. And as for Seb Coe, she obviously worshipped him! The outing was full of interest and very busy: everyone enjoyed the day and to arrive home so quickly, was just the icing on the cake.

19th September
It doesn't get better than that! Front page of the Daily Telegraph "WI joins battle to save the Green Belt" and inside a photo of our National Chairman heading an article on the way in which the WI has always fought for our greeen and pleasant land. Along with other organisations such as the National Trust, the Countryside Alliance and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the WI is joining in the battle against the Government's controversial changes to planning rules, the Hands off Our Land Campaign. Watch the media and if you are asked to write to MPs and Councillors please make time to do so. Imagine the effect of 208,000 letters bombarding the Government offices! Could save the Post Office too, although I bet we are asked for e-mail votes.