Continuing the poetic turn with which I started the year, do any of you remember that poem which describes a classroom of children distracted by the snow falling outside, the wonder and beauty of it, which finishes with the teacher calling them to order with the words "It's only snow"? How chilling in every sense of the word.
I am always distracted by snow and spend happy minutes just watching it. I know it is inconvenient and I have come to an age when the last thing I want to do is suffer a fall on ice but all the same... Anyway, this snowy interval does provide a space in which to update the blog.
28th January
The local WI committee meeting was held in someone's cosy and warm house as usual and although we had members with seasonal colds and some away enjoying winter breaks in the sunshine, we got quite a lot done. We have received a certificate in thanks from ENCAMS for our efforts in the Big Tidy Up last September which is rather nice. We all agreed that the town needed doing again. Sadly we heard that there were no longer any funds to continue our work on the Let's Sew project in Bletchley. This tied in with a letter received from NFWI asking members and WIs to write to their MPs about the cuts in funding for adult education.The WI is an educational charity and we have our own residential college at Abingdon and the WI is a centre for the Lifelong Learning Project.Apparently CALL (the Campaign for Adult Lifelong Learning) is going to put up an Early Day Motion at the end of February and needs support. We will put the idea of a letter to our members next week.
The change of format last month was voted a success so we will try again to have the speaker's slot first, then break for refreshments and then the business. If we keep the drawing of the raffle right to the end, no one will sneak off before the business! I think we will have to think of a way to circulate the events book from the very beginning of the meeting and hope that the members will read their Monthly Letter as soon as they pick it up because any promotion of events which the President does in the business section will be ignored as everyone prepares to leave at the end of the meeting. There must be a way round this. What do you do in your WIs?
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Year3: 2009
2009
Already we are nearly one twelfth of the way through the year and I haven't added a thing to my blog. Actually I am a bit despondent about it as I ended 2008 with a plea for information on how many people actually valued it or even read it. I would have ended it with the quote
"I have no precious time at all to spend
Nor services to do till you require"
but I didn't think of it at the time. Now with a complete lack of response "I wander lonely as a cloud .." might be more appropriate.However I am reliably informed that the blog chalks up hits (in internet jargon) so I will soldier on for a while.
January 7th
The first event of every WI year seems to be the series of Resolution Selection meetings. This year I attended the first of the four organised across Bucks.Members vote how they think personally on whether the resolution should be discussed at the National AGM in June at the Royal Albert Hall. They are not representing their own WI although they should report back on the result of the voting at the particular meeting attended.WI Advisers presented each of the 5 resolutions and there was another source of interest this year because two of the presenters were trainee WI Advisers. The NFWI trains members who have been suggested by the Federations as likely lassies: they learn all the information on the history and structure and rules of the constitution of the WI so that they can form new WIs and help with problems in their own counties.
The resolutions to choose from this year were on the health of honey bees, action on flooding, hospital cleaning services, residential care fees for the elderly and GP led health centres. All wanted to urge action by the Government and if any of these become mandates in June, the WI will be able to lobby the Government. The NFWI has a very powerful and effective public affairs department. The members at the meeting in Aylesbury wanted the resolution on the health of bees to be first on the agenda and the question of fees for residential care to be second.I think the elderly care would have received more votes if we hadn't become side-tracked by the postal code lottery rather than the different rates demanded for the same services in the same residential home fixed by income.Perhaps that issue will come out more at the other meetings.
In the evening we attended our first committee meeting of the local WI. It was mostly to do with sorting out jobs for the new year as there has been a slight change in the make-up of the committee. Unfortunately we have lost some WI members through ill-health but we have also gained a handful of new ones to replace them so our membership will probably remain about the same.
January 8th
Thank Goodness the snow was on the way out as the last few days have rendered the smaller roads very hazardous for walking or driving---the main roads were well salted.The Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met at High Wycombe. We were a rather select group because of illness as well as the weather.
We have loads of plans to complete for events in the Spring and Summer and have some really good things on the agenda.One of our recurring problems is that a lot of speakers these days require powerpoint presentations and the Federation is going to have to invest in a projector.We will have to consult others for advice.
January 12th
The advantage of bad weather and a break for Christmas is that one has time to read. Our local WI Book Group has knocked off a lot of titles over the holiday. The novel we were supposed to be sharing "Housewife Down" by Alison Harper was not popular and was returned to the library collection very quickly! However we had enjoyed reading several of the Kate Adie books which we had purchased at the Council Meeting. She writes so well and, for all she denies it, is a very brave lady.Three of us read The City of Djinns which is non-fiction, an account by William Dalrymple of a year in Delhi but gives a very good backwards history of India. Although it is amusing, it really opens one's eyes to the horrors of partition in 1947. When will the Powers-that-Be realise that partition never works, be it Ireland, Cyprus or Korea? I also enjoyed The Tenderness of wolves by Stef Penney, and then there were the Christmas presents as well. There are books going in all directions across the town! Again we have lost one member of our reading group because of deteriorating sight but we have gained a new member so it is as we were here too.
January 13th
The National press office at New Kings Road has been successful again in obtaining very good coverage of another young WI newly formed. A lovely picture of girls lined up on a bridge in Colchester with the article stressing how they were going to do new things at their meetings to shake off the elderly image of the WI. Several WI husbands were reported as saying "What's new there? We have listened to accounts of activities of this sort for years in the local WIs". Never mind, it is good publicity and will off-set the rather negative coverage with Trinny and What's her name on the TV dress programme.
January 14th
A really good local meeting tonight about evacuation in World War II. OK, so a lot of our members were old enough to have been evacuees or to have harboured them but the younger members enjoyed the two-way exchange of memories and tales of the wartime plane crash in Winslow. Actually it was a very lively meeting. We changed the order of proceedings and managed to alter the seating to break up the set groups and forced everyone to wait until the real end of the meeting instead of drifting off without really saying goodnight, which is one of my pet hates.
January 16th
I had a meeting with a caterer today to try and work something out for the Literary Lunch in May. Now that we have employed outside caterers we will probably have to stick with that until the Catering Committee gets in some younger blood. It is a pity really, as our WI catering is always excellent and of course cheaper but needs must if we haven't the physical manpower.
January 19th
The local WI Craft Group treated itself to a lunch out today. We justified this by visiting Hobbycraft for supplies for some of our meetings to come. I must admit to getting side-tracked in the shop and had to be very strong-willed not to equip myself for another project before finishing the one I have draped over several surfaces at home.We are looking forward to making our sampler for the Federation display book and there are members interested in drawing line prints for the teacloths, also requested by County.
Already we are nearly one twelfth of the way through the year and I haven't added a thing to my blog. Actually I am a bit despondent about it as I ended 2008 with a plea for information on how many people actually valued it or even read it. I would have ended it with the quote
"I have no precious time at all to spend
Nor services to do till you require"
but I didn't think of it at the time. Now with a complete lack of response "I wander lonely as a cloud .." might be more appropriate.However I am reliably informed that the blog chalks up hits (in internet jargon) so I will soldier on for a while.
January 7th
The first event of every WI year seems to be the series of Resolution Selection meetings. This year I attended the first of the four organised across Bucks.Members vote how they think personally on whether the resolution should be discussed at the National AGM in June at the Royal Albert Hall. They are not representing their own WI although they should report back on the result of the voting at the particular meeting attended.WI Advisers presented each of the 5 resolutions and there was another source of interest this year because two of the presenters were trainee WI Advisers. The NFWI trains members who have been suggested by the Federations as likely lassies: they learn all the information on the history and structure and rules of the constitution of the WI so that they can form new WIs and help with problems in their own counties.
The resolutions to choose from this year were on the health of honey bees, action on flooding, hospital cleaning services, residential care fees for the elderly and GP led health centres. All wanted to urge action by the Government and if any of these become mandates in June, the WI will be able to lobby the Government. The NFWI has a very powerful and effective public affairs department. The members at the meeting in Aylesbury wanted the resolution on the health of bees to be first on the agenda and the question of fees for residential care to be second.I think the elderly care would have received more votes if we hadn't become side-tracked by the postal code lottery rather than the different rates demanded for the same services in the same residential home fixed by income.Perhaps that issue will come out more at the other meetings.
In the evening we attended our first committee meeting of the local WI. It was mostly to do with sorting out jobs for the new year as there has been a slight change in the make-up of the committee. Unfortunately we have lost some WI members through ill-health but we have also gained a handful of new ones to replace them so our membership will probably remain about the same.
January 8th
Thank Goodness the snow was on the way out as the last few days have rendered the smaller roads very hazardous for walking or driving---the main roads were well salted.The Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met at High Wycombe. We were a rather select group because of illness as well as the weather.
We have loads of plans to complete for events in the Spring and Summer and have some really good things on the agenda.One of our recurring problems is that a lot of speakers these days require powerpoint presentations and the Federation is going to have to invest in a projector.We will have to consult others for advice.
January 12th
The advantage of bad weather and a break for Christmas is that one has time to read. Our local WI Book Group has knocked off a lot of titles over the holiday. The novel we were supposed to be sharing "Housewife Down" by Alison Harper was not popular and was returned to the library collection very quickly! However we had enjoyed reading several of the Kate Adie books which we had purchased at the Council Meeting. She writes so well and, for all she denies it, is a very brave lady.Three of us read The City of Djinns which is non-fiction, an account by William Dalrymple of a year in Delhi but gives a very good backwards history of India. Although it is amusing, it really opens one's eyes to the horrors of partition in 1947. When will the Powers-that-Be realise that partition never works, be it Ireland, Cyprus or Korea? I also enjoyed The Tenderness of wolves by Stef Penney, and then there were the Christmas presents as well. There are books going in all directions across the town! Again we have lost one member of our reading group because of deteriorating sight but we have gained a new member so it is as we were here too.
January 13th
The National press office at New Kings Road has been successful again in obtaining very good coverage of another young WI newly formed. A lovely picture of girls lined up on a bridge in Colchester with the article stressing how they were going to do new things at their meetings to shake off the elderly image of the WI. Several WI husbands were reported as saying "What's new there? We have listened to accounts of activities of this sort for years in the local WIs". Never mind, it is good publicity and will off-set the rather negative coverage with Trinny and What's her name on the TV dress programme.
January 14th
A really good local meeting tonight about evacuation in World War II. OK, so a lot of our members were old enough to have been evacuees or to have harboured them but the younger members enjoyed the two-way exchange of memories and tales of the wartime plane crash in Winslow. Actually it was a very lively meeting. We changed the order of proceedings and managed to alter the seating to break up the set groups and forced everyone to wait until the real end of the meeting instead of drifting off without really saying goodnight, which is one of my pet hates.
January 16th
I had a meeting with a caterer today to try and work something out for the Literary Lunch in May. Now that we have employed outside caterers we will probably have to stick with that until the Catering Committee gets in some younger blood. It is a pity really, as our WI catering is always excellent and of course cheaper but needs must if we haven't the physical manpower.
January 19th
The local WI Craft Group treated itself to a lunch out today. We justified this by visiting Hobbycraft for supplies for some of our meetings to come. I must admit to getting side-tracked in the shop and had to be very strong-willed not to equip myself for another project before finishing the one I have draped over several surfaces at home.We are looking forward to making our sampler for the Federation display book and there are members interested in drawing line prints for the teacloths, also requested by County.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Comments please
Message to would-be comment-makers
Various readers of my blog have asked me to explain how they would be able to comment.
First point is that it doesn't cost you anything but a few moments' time.Secondly your e-mail address will not be revealed. Thirdly you can write under an assumed name. Of course I have never had to approach the blog from this angle but I am assured it works by those who have been successful.
At the bottom of each entry on the blog, there is a footnote which says COMMENTS. Click on this.
You will now find a box in which you may write your comment but first look at the bottom of this box where it tells you that no anonymous comments are allowed. (This is to protect me from ghastly messages.)
If you already have a Google account, type in your e-mail and password. Write your comment and at the bottom click on POST it and it should work.
If you haven't already got a Google account, click on Obtain... Put in your e-mail address and invent a password of 8 characters for yourself which you will remember and use for this activity only. You may write under an assumed name
eg High flyer/crustacean,disgruntledof/optimist, donethat/the joker (this could be a new party game? I know our quiz contenders found naming their team the most taxing part of the evening!). It is all there with boxes to fill in. Once done you may write your comment and POST/PUBLISH it by clicking on the orange tab below the box.
I may live to regret this posting of information but it is worth the risk to find out how many people actually look at the blog and whether I should carry on.It could be a waste of cyberspace. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Various readers of my blog have asked me to explain how they would be able to comment.
First point is that it doesn't cost you anything but a few moments' time.Secondly your e-mail address will not be revealed. Thirdly you can write under an assumed name. Of course I have never had to approach the blog from this angle but I am assured it works by those who have been successful.
At the bottom of each entry on the blog, there is a footnote which says COMMENTS. Click on this.
You will now find a box in which you may write your comment but first look at the bottom of this box where it tells you that no anonymous comments are allowed. (This is to protect me from ghastly messages.)
If you already have a Google account, type in your e-mail and password. Write your comment and at the bottom click on POST it and it should work.
If you haven't already got a Google account, click on Obtain... Put in your e-mail address and invent a password of 8 characters for yourself which you will remember and use for this activity only. You may write under an assumed name
eg High flyer/crustacean,disgruntledof/optimist, donethat/the joker (this could be a new party game? I know our quiz contenders found naming their team the most taxing part of the evening!). It is all there with boxes to fill in. Once done you may write your comment and POST/PUBLISH it by clicking on the orange tab below the box.
I may live to regret this posting of information but it is worth the risk to find out how many people actually look at the blog and whether I should carry on.It could be a waste of cyberspace. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
It's all education
24 November
It was up with the lark this morning to join the Bucks WI winter break at Norwich. We ran exactly to time, picking up first in High Wycombe and finishing in Bletchley.We then stopped for a late coffee or an early lunch at a little garden centre just off the A1 and then enjoyed a longer stop in the afternoon at Bury St Edmunds. What a lovely little place this is! The cathedral is well worth a visit and the town centre is most attractive. The hotel in Norwich was fine and the staff kept telling us they had had 4 inches of snow the weekend before we arrived so we felt lucky to see a marvellous red sunset.
25 November
We spent the morning in Norwich. It was cold but dry. Some travellers explored the cathedral in whose close there was the remains of a snowman sinking sadly into the ground. The castle was exposed to an icy wind but afforded a great view of the city.Others enjoyed some excellent retail therapy amongst the major High Street stores and the lovely little old-fashioned shops. The covered market which has been there for 700 years was quite as good as these continental Christmas markets. After a restful afternoon we attended the Christmas Spectacular at Thursford. It was spectacular too.The theatre which is a converted hangar seats 1500 people and there wasn't an empty seat to be seen.There is a Disneyland type exhibition next door and a small Dickensian village of shops attached.I will not say any more about the event because you ought to go and see it for yourself but you need to book a year in advance to stand any chance of reserving a seat.
26 November
Undeterred by a wet start to the morning, we drove to Sheringham and went down to the beach.Again the weather cleared for us but the wind discouraged even the keenest paddler from actually getting her feet wet! Then it was off to the Pensthorpe Wild Fowl Centre near Fakenham. We had booked for a 40 minute guided stroll among the wintering birds. Two hours later we were still enjoying the company of our guide and dashing in and out of hides and ended up watching the feedtime in the gathering dusk. We really appreciated the guide's quirky presentation and gained a lot of information on the difficulties encountered by the pinioned birds in their sex lives and as for identification of ducks and cranes the Bucks WI members must be past masters! Another place you ought to visit.
27 November
Home today via a lunchtime long stop at Newmarket where some of us visited the National Horse Racing Museum which is very interesting and has been recently extended thanks to a Lottery Grant.
While we were away in Norfolk the national papers were full of the speech by Harriet Harman in which she called on the WI members to report on advertisements for sexshops in their local papers so there was quite a lot of discussion about that. Actually what the Minister was asking was not exactly in line with what the Hampshire Federation had been proposing when its members carried out its investigation into prostitution. They came to the conclusion that these advertised places should be licensed as they were safer for the women than the operations in the street directed by pimps.Harriet Harman was concentrating on the unlawful trafficking of women which is part of the campaign against violence against women but I suppose it was publicity for the WI's campaign. I cannot see how from the adverts we can know what nationality the girls are nor whether they are being exploited against their will.I shall have to take to reading these columns. I do know of one 90 year old gentleman who having been advised to try massage by his doctor was very surprised over the phone to be offerred some services but when the mistake was realised was given kind and helpful advice on where to contact a more suitable treatment! She hadn't a foreign accent either!
1 December
We had a most interesting time at the local book group today. It wasn't all to do with the books we had been reading but a lot to do with events in India recently. Two members had avoided the terrorism but returned full of memories of their holiday and we are lucky to have a member who was brought up in India and Pakistan.We have been reading novels set in Asian and Islamic countries and to have someone who can help us to understand these different cultures is a real bonus. We had read the Road Home by Rose Tremain and The Wife in the North, which started out as a blog. These were both about people being uprooted and moved to some place which was new to them, albeit in one case just out of London and up to Northumberland. They were similar in a way but Thank Goodness the British came out of the Road Home in a better light than in the Two Caravans which we have also read this year. I never got round to reading the Ian Rankin---not my kind of book, but several of the others enjoyed it.
3 December
A very social WI meeting always, the last of the year when we entertain ourselves. We bring a plate of something to eat to share, then enjoy a few readings on a Christmassy theme and then this year the committee had worked out a session of The Weakest Link which went down very well. We certainly had a very good substitute for Ann Robinson as questionmaster!
8 December
Tonight the local WI held their Christmas dinner at a nearby restaurant. This is of course an extra event which is outside the WI finances. It always amazes me that some of the members who complain about the rise in the subscription are quite happy to pay out more than the annual subscription on a meal out.It strikes me as double-think but there it is. We were presented with an excellent meal and the level of noise was as usual extremely high and everyone had a really good time. A lovely way to end the year among friends.
It was up with the lark this morning to join the Bucks WI winter break at Norwich. We ran exactly to time, picking up first in High Wycombe and finishing in Bletchley.We then stopped for a late coffee or an early lunch at a little garden centre just off the A1 and then enjoyed a longer stop in the afternoon at Bury St Edmunds. What a lovely little place this is! The cathedral is well worth a visit and the town centre is most attractive. The hotel in Norwich was fine and the staff kept telling us they had had 4 inches of snow the weekend before we arrived so we felt lucky to see a marvellous red sunset.
25 November
We spent the morning in Norwich. It was cold but dry. Some travellers explored the cathedral in whose close there was the remains of a snowman sinking sadly into the ground. The castle was exposed to an icy wind but afforded a great view of the city.Others enjoyed some excellent retail therapy amongst the major High Street stores and the lovely little old-fashioned shops. The covered market which has been there for 700 years was quite as good as these continental Christmas markets. After a restful afternoon we attended the Christmas Spectacular at Thursford. It was spectacular too.The theatre which is a converted hangar seats 1500 people and there wasn't an empty seat to be seen.There is a Disneyland type exhibition next door and a small Dickensian village of shops attached.I will not say any more about the event because you ought to go and see it for yourself but you need to book a year in advance to stand any chance of reserving a seat.
26 November
Undeterred by a wet start to the morning, we drove to Sheringham and went down to the beach.Again the weather cleared for us but the wind discouraged even the keenest paddler from actually getting her feet wet! Then it was off to the Pensthorpe Wild Fowl Centre near Fakenham. We had booked for a 40 minute guided stroll among the wintering birds. Two hours later we were still enjoying the company of our guide and dashing in and out of hides and ended up watching the feedtime in the gathering dusk. We really appreciated the guide's quirky presentation and gained a lot of information on the difficulties encountered by the pinioned birds in their sex lives and as for identification of ducks and cranes the Bucks WI members must be past masters! Another place you ought to visit.
27 November
Home today via a lunchtime long stop at Newmarket where some of us visited the National Horse Racing Museum which is very interesting and has been recently extended thanks to a Lottery Grant.
While we were away in Norfolk the national papers were full of the speech by Harriet Harman in which she called on the WI members to report on advertisements for sexshops in their local papers so there was quite a lot of discussion about that. Actually what the Minister was asking was not exactly in line with what the Hampshire Federation had been proposing when its members carried out its investigation into prostitution. They came to the conclusion that these advertised places should be licensed as they were safer for the women than the operations in the street directed by pimps.Harriet Harman was concentrating on the unlawful trafficking of women which is part of the campaign against violence against women but I suppose it was publicity for the WI's campaign. I cannot see how from the adverts we can know what nationality the girls are nor whether they are being exploited against their will.I shall have to take to reading these columns. I do know of one 90 year old gentleman who having been advised to try massage by his doctor was very surprised over the phone to be offerred some services but when the mistake was realised was given kind and helpful advice on where to contact a more suitable treatment! She hadn't a foreign accent either!
1 December
We had a most interesting time at the local book group today. It wasn't all to do with the books we had been reading but a lot to do with events in India recently. Two members had avoided the terrorism but returned full of memories of their holiday and we are lucky to have a member who was brought up in India and Pakistan.We have been reading novels set in Asian and Islamic countries and to have someone who can help us to understand these different cultures is a real bonus. We had read the Road Home by Rose Tremain and The Wife in the North, which started out as a blog. These were both about people being uprooted and moved to some place which was new to them, albeit in one case just out of London and up to Northumberland. They were similar in a way but Thank Goodness the British came out of the Road Home in a better light than in the Two Caravans which we have also read this year. I never got round to reading the Ian Rankin---not my kind of book, but several of the others enjoyed it.
3 December
A very social WI meeting always, the last of the year when we entertain ourselves. We bring a plate of something to eat to share, then enjoy a few readings on a Christmassy theme and then this year the committee had worked out a session of The Weakest Link which went down very well. We certainly had a very good substitute for Ann Robinson as questionmaster!
8 December
Tonight the local WI held their Christmas dinner at a nearby restaurant. This is of course an extra event which is outside the WI finances. It always amazes me that some of the members who complain about the rise in the subscription are quite happy to pay out more than the annual subscription on a meal out.It strikes me as double-think but there it is. We were presented with an excellent meal and the level of noise was as usual extremely high and everyone had a really good time. A lovely way to end the year among friends.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Challenging times
10th November
Our local WI craft group held a meeting this afternoon at which we set about planning the activities for the next few months.We are toying with the idea of doing some quilling and a bit of decoupage and also visiting some craft venues too.The main topic was what to do for this sampler for 2010 for which the Bucks Federation has asked every Bucks WI to contribute a page, rather like the County page in the Millennium book or the Book of Banners.The latter may be viewed at Stuart Lodge in High Wycombe or WIs can request it for display at one of the WI meetings. There is always the craft basket down there as well which is of interest to members and may be loaned.Anyway, we want to identify the main features of our town on our sampler but it is going to be difficult to fit everything on to one page especially with the inclusion of the name. Members are already sizing up little sketches and imagining the use of different crafts.
12th November
I attended the Annual Meeting of a troubled WI today. It is so sad when personal feuds infiltrate a WI. Private disagreements should not become public property and disrupt the activities of any WI but it does occasionally happen.Nowhere in the WI constitution does it say that anyone is voted on to a committee for more than one year: it is not a life sentence! It is for this reason that it is always best to go through the nomination procedure even if the outcome is probably a foregone conclusion. A president usually welcomes an election because it re-affirms that the members want her back; if she has had her doubts, she sees that she has been chosen, not just landed with the job.Every member has the right to serve on the committee and, once a committee member, has the right to stand as president.
13th November
The meeting of the Education and Current Affairs subcommittee was held today. We spent a long time conducting a review of the Eat, think and be Healthy evening which was quite hectic but seems to have been popular. Certainly it was good to be able to keep the entrance fee down, thanks to obtaining a small grant to help with the costs of hiring the hall and speakers.The visit to Dorney Lake had been successful too. Other events planned in the future sound promising but I am not sure whether modern technology has speeded up communication as heralded. We still spend ages waiting for replies from speakers or organisations which complicates the long run in to events which publicity in the Federation Monthly Letter demands. Either the notices appear too far in advance or we are accused of leaving it too late.
18th November
Every year the WI Shop takes to the road and is set up in some member's house, one South one North. These are pleasant events as members share a cup of coffee or tea and a mincepie and chat while choosing Christmas cards and gifts. There were fewer people attending in the North this time which was rather disappointing but quite a lot of sales were made.This is a chance for members who never visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge to see what is available in greater comfort than down there.It is a case of use it or lose it, I'm afraid.
19th November
Cheddington village hall today for a talk called "In the steps of Darwin", except it wasn't! A Chairman's worst nightmare is when a speaker doesn't turn up or in this case double books. Anyway the meeting went ahead with a photographer showing wonderful pictures of wildlife in Africa.Everyone could see the vibrant colours of the birds and the close-ups of cheetahs and zebras as the photos were beautiful.I think the committee did very well to find such an excellent substitute at such short notice.I hope we will not receive too many grumbles because of the change of subject. It is impossible to phone round every WI to warn them when there is only 24 hours notice.
21st November
This evening it was the turn of the local WI to organise an evening of fundraising in the form of a quiz. We had 14 teams booked in from WIs, The Lions and golf clubs and a very professional quizmaster was in charge. I think he over-estimated our depth of general knowledge as lots of the questions were challenging. However, these quizzes are very popular round here so we didn't want easy repeat questions, did we?Well done to the winners who won by half a point--which was a surprise as I didn't think there were any half points! The members produced delicious desserts as advertised, the bar did well and there was a happy atmosphere--no fights but a lot of good natured banter between the teams.Next year we will do something different and try to entice the townspeople to come along and support us again as they usually do.We are grateful for the help given by husbands moving tables and generally carting boxes and dishes about.We billed it as a fun evening and I think it was.
Our local WI craft group held a meeting this afternoon at which we set about planning the activities for the next few months.We are toying with the idea of doing some quilling and a bit of decoupage and also visiting some craft venues too.The main topic was what to do for this sampler for 2010 for which the Bucks Federation has asked every Bucks WI to contribute a page, rather like the County page in the Millennium book or the Book of Banners.The latter may be viewed at Stuart Lodge in High Wycombe or WIs can request it for display at one of the WI meetings. There is always the craft basket down there as well which is of interest to members and may be loaned.Anyway, we want to identify the main features of our town on our sampler but it is going to be difficult to fit everything on to one page especially with the inclusion of the name. Members are already sizing up little sketches and imagining the use of different crafts.
12th November
I attended the Annual Meeting of a troubled WI today. It is so sad when personal feuds infiltrate a WI. Private disagreements should not become public property and disrupt the activities of any WI but it does occasionally happen.Nowhere in the WI constitution does it say that anyone is voted on to a committee for more than one year: it is not a life sentence! It is for this reason that it is always best to go through the nomination procedure even if the outcome is probably a foregone conclusion. A president usually welcomes an election because it re-affirms that the members want her back; if she has had her doubts, she sees that she has been chosen, not just landed with the job.Every member has the right to serve on the committee and, once a committee member, has the right to stand as president.
13th November
The meeting of the Education and Current Affairs subcommittee was held today. We spent a long time conducting a review of the Eat, think and be Healthy evening which was quite hectic but seems to have been popular. Certainly it was good to be able to keep the entrance fee down, thanks to obtaining a small grant to help with the costs of hiring the hall and speakers.The visit to Dorney Lake had been successful too. Other events planned in the future sound promising but I am not sure whether modern technology has speeded up communication as heralded. We still spend ages waiting for replies from speakers or organisations which complicates the long run in to events which publicity in the Federation Monthly Letter demands. Either the notices appear too far in advance or we are accused of leaving it too late.
18th November
Every year the WI Shop takes to the road and is set up in some member's house, one South one North. These are pleasant events as members share a cup of coffee or tea and a mincepie and chat while choosing Christmas cards and gifts. There were fewer people attending in the North this time which was rather disappointing but quite a lot of sales were made.This is a chance for members who never visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge to see what is available in greater comfort than down there.It is a case of use it or lose it, I'm afraid.
19th November
Cheddington village hall today for a talk called "In the steps of Darwin", except it wasn't! A Chairman's worst nightmare is when a speaker doesn't turn up or in this case double books. Anyway the meeting went ahead with a photographer showing wonderful pictures of wildlife in Africa.Everyone could see the vibrant colours of the birds and the close-ups of cheetahs and zebras as the photos were beautiful.I think the committee did very well to find such an excellent substitute at such short notice.I hope we will not receive too many grumbles because of the change of subject. It is impossible to phone round every WI to warn them when there is only 24 hours notice.
21st November
This evening it was the turn of the local WI to organise an evening of fundraising in the form of a quiz. We had 14 teams booked in from WIs, The Lions and golf clubs and a very professional quizmaster was in charge. I think he over-estimated our depth of general knowledge as lots of the questions were challenging. However, these quizzes are very popular round here so we didn't want easy repeat questions, did we?Well done to the winners who won by half a point--which was a surprise as I didn't think there were any half points! The members produced delicious desserts as advertised, the bar did well and there was a happy atmosphere--no fights but a lot of good natured banter between the teams.Next year we will do something different and try to entice the townspeople to come along and support us again as they usually do.We are grateful for the help given by husbands moving tables and generally carting boxes and dishes about.We billed it as a fun evening and I think it was.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
New life
29th October
It was the last committee meeting before the Annual Meeting tonight so there was a lot of planning to do. Sometimes we have a glass of wine or snacks at the Annual Meeting to try to sugar the pill of so much business but I think we have left it too late this year. The programme for next year is organised and looks interesting and varied. We now need to thread in some competitions which are vaguely relevant to the subjects. There has been a marked improvement in the number of entries recently so we will continue to hold them.Looking back, the worst problem we have experienced is the way in which members happily sign up for tickets to County events and then receive "better offers" and think they can just cancel.One doesn't like to say that they must still pay if they cannot find a substitute, but there is no way the WI should lose money in this fashion.
31st October
There is a good write-up of our local Big Tidy Up in the weekly paper. Not everything is accurate but the photo is good and we all look very cheerful--which we were. Several people in the town have asked how we got on and admired our efforts so it was a good community exercise.The trouble is it needs doing again. I never noticed much litter until the Big Tidy Up and now I see it everywhere!
There was a good article in the Daily Telegraph about the WI's national Love Food campaign. This is a diet plan with a difference because it gives ways of food planning in order to reduce waste and waist and save money. As an antidote to the credit crunch, the WI is encouraging the rebirth of cooking skills with fresher food that has more nutrients and less fat and salt.
3rd November
I went along to the Public Hall this afternoon to help serve teas and drinks to the people who have given blood. Our WI has been doing this for several years but one of the regulars had to pull out at the last moment so I went for the first time.It is an admirable thing to do---to donate blood,not to serve teas--- and must be one of the most personal impersonal things one can do. I believe the law has changed the set-up for the other donations because of the perceived necessity for traceability nowadays. With blood, no one knows who gets whose. I fell to wondering whose blood I would like to have had and whose I wouldn't if I had seen them in the hall. My donor must be past his/her drip-by date after about 40 years. These people give blood which is such a personal transaction, yet some put up a wall and hesitate to talk to those offering them tea afterwards.It is true altruism and great to see.
Just heard from the Chaplain in BFPO that we can continue to send parcels to the forces as we are on our detachment's "Friends and Family" list. That's nice, isn't it? We didn't want to clog up the postal service for relatives so had enquired.
5th November
There were explosions outside the hall tonight but thankfully not within for our local WI Annual Meeting.I quite enjoy these meetings when we review the year but many members don't. They are either frightened to get landed with a job or just find it boring. We try to make ours lively but really if it proves difficult to get someone to volunteer to ask someone to give the thanks at a meeting, not to do it themselves, what hope is there? There is one change on our committee which is still too big in my eyes. I'll have to come off next year and put my money where my mouth is.
We have a born- again new President. Fifty four members, about 8 nominations for President and still we had to twist an arm to get a yes! Everyone is so busy these days. We were busy too--we had families and jobs and husbands that needed to be fed but I am told it's different today.
Good article in Woman's Weekly about the new-look WI this week. I haven't seen this magazine for ages and I couldn't help comparing it to WI Life and finding ours so much better. WI Life is not so desperately feminine as this, more ideas about the world beyond a "dream kitchen". Who dreams of kitchens anyway?
7th November
Local WI in the local newspaper again this week but no photos this time. It is just reporting the safe delivery of the knitted house to the playgroup. Also in the paper, another WI is praised for its continued support of the Carers Association providing cakes for every meeting and generally being around when needed. Another example of how WI members are vital to the community, but we do hide our lights under bushels.
It was the last committee meeting before the Annual Meeting tonight so there was a lot of planning to do. Sometimes we have a glass of wine or snacks at the Annual Meeting to try to sugar the pill of so much business but I think we have left it too late this year. The programme for next year is organised and looks interesting and varied. We now need to thread in some competitions which are vaguely relevant to the subjects. There has been a marked improvement in the number of entries recently so we will continue to hold them.Looking back, the worst problem we have experienced is the way in which members happily sign up for tickets to County events and then receive "better offers" and think they can just cancel.One doesn't like to say that they must still pay if they cannot find a substitute, but there is no way the WI should lose money in this fashion.
31st October
There is a good write-up of our local Big Tidy Up in the weekly paper. Not everything is accurate but the photo is good and we all look very cheerful--which we were. Several people in the town have asked how we got on and admired our efforts so it was a good community exercise.The trouble is it needs doing again. I never noticed much litter until the Big Tidy Up and now I see it everywhere!
There was a good article in the Daily Telegraph about the WI's national Love Food campaign. This is a diet plan with a difference because it gives ways of food planning in order to reduce waste and waist and save money. As an antidote to the credit crunch, the WI is encouraging the rebirth of cooking skills with fresher food that has more nutrients and less fat and salt.
3rd November
I went along to the Public Hall this afternoon to help serve teas and drinks to the people who have given blood. Our WI has been doing this for several years but one of the regulars had to pull out at the last moment so I went for the first time.It is an admirable thing to do---to donate blood,not to serve teas--- and must be one of the most personal impersonal things one can do. I believe the law has changed the set-up for the other donations because of the perceived necessity for traceability nowadays. With blood, no one knows who gets whose. I fell to wondering whose blood I would like to have had and whose I wouldn't if I had seen them in the hall. My donor must be past his/her drip-by date after about 40 years. These people give blood which is such a personal transaction, yet some put up a wall and hesitate to talk to those offering them tea afterwards.It is true altruism and great to see.
Just heard from the Chaplain in BFPO that we can continue to send parcels to the forces as we are on our detachment's "Friends and Family" list. That's nice, isn't it? We didn't want to clog up the postal service for relatives so had enquired.
5th November
There were explosions outside the hall tonight but thankfully not within for our local WI Annual Meeting.I quite enjoy these meetings when we review the year but many members don't. They are either frightened to get landed with a job or just find it boring. We try to make ours lively but really if it proves difficult to get someone to volunteer to ask someone to give the thanks at a meeting, not to do it themselves, what hope is there? There is one change on our committee which is still too big in my eyes. I'll have to come off next year and put my money where my mouth is.
We have a born- again new President. Fifty four members, about 8 nominations for President and still we had to twist an arm to get a yes! Everyone is so busy these days. We were busy too--we had families and jobs and husbands that needed to be fed but I am told it's different today.
Good article in Woman's Weekly about the new-look WI this week. I haven't seen this magazine for ages and I couldn't help comparing it to WI Life and finding ours so much better. WI Life is not so desperately feminine as this, more ideas about the world beyond a "dream kitchen". Who dreams of kitchens anyway?
7th November
Local WI in the local newspaper again this week but no photos this time. It is just reporting the safe delivery of the knitted house to the playgroup. Also in the paper, another WI is praised for its continued support of the Carers Association providing cakes for every meeting and generally being around when needed. Another example of how WI members are vital to the community, but we do hide our lights under bushels.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Different lives
20th October
Mutiny in the ranks at the local WI Book Group when at least 2 members refused to continue reading the Amy Tan book "the Kitchen God's Wife".Yet several other readers loved the novel because it reveals insights into the Chinese way of life and the traditions of this fascinating culture.The strength of the women up against mental and physical hardship was amazing and helped one to understand the history of matriarchal power in that country. We are now embarked on an Ian Rankin thriller so perhaps I shall be the next rebel.
23rd October
Thank Goodness I now have something better to read! I bought a couple of the books written by Kate Adie who was the main speaker at today's Half Yearly Council at Aylesbury. Kate Adie is an excellent speaker with wonderful clear diction and she gave a well constructed talk. The themes were risk and danger and although she underplayed her own bravery, she has obviously witnessed very dangerous situations during her working life on battle fronts around the world and had some scary moments.
The Bucks Federation is well organised for its 90th anniversary in 2010. There are lots of events and competitions already planned. Joy Greasley, the NFWI vice-chairman is always a delight to listen to. She gave an amusing account of her experiences since joining the WI. The general standard of presentation from the stage was good with a variety of people advertising forthcoming events. I enjoyed especially the reading of the Bucks winning entry for the Lady Denman Cup written by a member from one of our newer WIs.
25th October
Armed with litter pickers and sacks borrowed from the AVDC and from Encams, 14 local WI members went litter picking this morning as part of the NFWI Big Tidy Up campaign launched by Bill Bryson on radio and TV last month.We were joined by members from other town organisations and actually it was an enjoyable exercisein cold but dry weather. We covered 5 areas of the town and were amazed to find in an hour and a half, we had collected 26 sacks of rubbish. We thought we were a pretty clean town! We are lucky to have a friendly and efficient regular road sweeper so we invited him along for the photoshoot. Several car drivers tooted at our florescent green safety tabards. I think/hope it was in support, as if we were on duty on an industrial strike picket line--some thought it was more likely to be in derision.However, it was suggested that the WI repeated the sweep but we will have to see about that.
27th October
The Education & Current Affairs Sub-committee organised the Eat,Think and Be Healthy evening in Winslow Public Hall today.This was over-subscribed so there were about 100 members present which was heartening after the last health day had to be cancelled from lack of support. The Nintendo people with 2 WiiFit machines wanted to take over the meeting but had been booked only as a sideshow (WIs may book Nintendo for their own meetings).Consequently there had to be a lot of jigging of the programme to fit as many people as wanted through the trials. For once WI members were encouraged to be in the hall an hour before the advertised time. It may never happen again! The main speakers from Nestles and the Blood Pressure Association were interesting and the side stalls did a brisk trade. Luis Mendelez, our meditation expert, is the only person I know who has been able to keep 100 WI members absolutely silent for 3 minutes at a time! Hopefully we all picked up some useful tips about what and what not to eat but on the whole the audience was fairly knowledgeable so we may have been preaching to the converted. Perhaps the real gain will be if some have been strengthened in their resolve to improve their ways. Good news about the wine and the chocolate though!
Mutiny in the ranks at the local WI Book Group when at least 2 members refused to continue reading the Amy Tan book "the Kitchen God's Wife".Yet several other readers loved the novel because it reveals insights into the Chinese way of life and the traditions of this fascinating culture.The strength of the women up against mental and physical hardship was amazing and helped one to understand the history of matriarchal power in that country. We are now embarked on an Ian Rankin thriller so perhaps I shall be the next rebel.
23rd October
Thank Goodness I now have something better to read! I bought a couple of the books written by Kate Adie who was the main speaker at today's Half Yearly Council at Aylesbury. Kate Adie is an excellent speaker with wonderful clear diction and she gave a well constructed talk. The themes were risk and danger and although she underplayed her own bravery, she has obviously witnessed very dangerous situations during her working life on battle fronts around the world and had some scary moments.
The Bucks Federation is well organised for its 90th anniversary in 2010. There are lots of events and competitions already planned. Joy Greasley, the NFWI vice-chairman is always a delight to listen to. She gave an amusing account of her experiences since joining the WI. The general standard of presentation from the stage was good with a variety of people advertising forthcoming events. I enjoyed especially the reading of the Bucks winning entry for the Lady Denman Cup written by a member from one of our newer WIs.
25th October
Armed with litter pickers and sacks borrowed from the AVDC and from Encams, 14 local WI members went litter picking this morning as part of the NFWI Big Tidy Up campaign launched by Bill Bryson on radio and TV last month.We were joined by members from other town organisations and actually it was an enjoyable exercisein cold but dry weather. We covered 5 areas of the town and were amazed to find in an hour and a half, we had collected 26 sacks of rubbish. We thought we were a pretty clean town! We are lucky to have a friendly and efficient regular road sweeper so we invited him along for the photoshoot. Several car drivers tooted at our florescent green safety tabards. I think/hope it was in support, as if we were on duty on an industrial strike picket line--some thought it was more likely to be in derision.However, it was suggested that the WI repeated the sweep but we will have to see about that.
27th October
The Education & Current Affairs Sub-committee organised the Eat,Think and Be Healthy evening in Winslow Public Hall today.This was over-subscribed so there were about 100 members present which was heartening after the last health day had to be cancelled from lack of support. The Nintendo people with 2 WiiFit machines wanted to take over the meeting but had been booked only as a sideshow (WIs may book Nintendo for their own meetings).Consequently there had to be a lot of jigging of the programme to fit as many people as wanted through the trials. For once WI members were encouraged to be in the hall an hour before the advertised time. It may never happen again! The main speakers from Nestles and the Blood Pressure Association were interesting and the side stalls did a brisk trade. Luis Mendelez, our meditation expert, is the only person I know who has been able to keep 100 WI members absolutely silent for 3 minutes at a time! Hopefully we all picked up some useful tips about what and what not to eat but on the whole the audience was fairly knowledgeable so we may have been preaching to the converted. Perhaps the real gain will be if some have been strengthened in their resolve to improve their ways. Good news about the wine and the chocolate though!
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