19th October
This evening the autumn group meeting was held for the five WIs in the local area.These are important dates in the WI year when it is a chance to get together and discuss relevant topics. Some groups have fallen by the wayside and others have changed the nature of their meetings into fundraisering events open to all.We are very fortunate to have an active group convener who is prepared to go beyond the usual job description: she organises outings for the local WIs as well, so we get to see each other more frequently and support each other for events.Last summer it was a trip to London and now she is planning a pre-Christmas outing to Birmingham which will combine Christmas market shopping with an art gallery and a guided tour of the new developments in the city.
The speaker entertained the members with monologues written and immortalised by Joyce Grenfell. She is a tutor from our own Denman College and everyone enjoyed her presentation.We had the usual reports on what some of the WIs had been doing over the last year and noted possible speakers for ourselves. One WI included the usual complaint about the rising cost of the subscription, warning of possible loss of members because of fixed incomes. However she rather undermined her argument by reporting that her small WI had entertained a speaker from the Air Ambulance people who had been delighted to sell over £100 worth of goods at the meeting. It's all a question of perceived values, I suppose.
20th October
Local WI Book group this afternoon and I'm pleased to relate that we are a growing band, although any more and I for one will have difficulty in finding comfortable chairs for everyone.We had requested a Hilary Mantel novel following her Booker Prize win last month so the Bucks Library came up with "Beyond Black".Those who had managed to read it in time were praising the writing and the wit but it caused a few doubts because it was such black humour and a weird subject matter.The writer is so observant of our society (and it is our society because the story is centred around the outskirts of the M25), our ways in supermarkets, our behaviour on roads, the modern training jargon for work improvement, the philosophy behind new build projects---it's all there and so funny! But if you cannot stomach the idea of companion spirits like Harry Potter's and those in Northern Lights but seedier by far, don't read it. It is very original and we now want to read some more of Hilary Mantel but in the meantime we are going back to a classic or two.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Sunday, 18 October 2009
All over the place
30th September
The local WI committee meeting tonight was taken up with discussing how to approach the problem of the future venue for WI meetings. There are pros and cons for wherever we choose but we must decide quickly as the programme for next year's speakers is completed and we need to have it printed ready for the new year. We finally agreed that we would have to give the members the opportunity to vote but to make it a written and signed vote so that there could be no claims that the choice had been other than what it was.Tickets are ready for sale for the Barn Dance and posters were distributed. Also nomination sheets for next year's committee will be available at the meeting.
7th October
We knew it was going to be a busy meeting and so it proved. All the members have taken away a voting card for their choice of venue but the issue was even more clouded tonight as the Winslow Centre administration had suddenly come up with another alternative price for hire of the premises.Are they running scared, I wonder. However this offer was still subject to change in April 2010 with no detail on what the change may be.Some members suggested charging for coffees at the meeting, which we used to do years ago, but I think one of the pluses to our WI is that drinks are free as well as the Green Letter. Anyway, we'll see what the vote is.Then we had forgotten about arranging the Christmas dinner and then there was some discussion on the pricing for the Barn Dance and ...so on.The speaker turned out to be not quite what we expected in that it was really a fairly blatant call to support his charity which was rather naughty as he has spoken to other WIs and should be aware of our rules and regulations.
8th October
Six of us were up early this morning to catch a coach to the Alexandra Palace for the Knitting and Stitching Show.The journey was quite eventful as the driver missed out a pick-up stop and we encountered two accidents so arrived later than expected. The view across London was lovely but inside we went, to do about 6 hours looking and walking around the stands. The exhibitions of embroidery and quilts were breath-taking ; the accent this year was definitely on knitting. Last year it was beads, the year before handmade cards. I can remember one year when there was only one stall where the wools were heaped on the floor in a mountain and that was it for wool! This year everywhere, of all sorts from about 20 ply to gossamer thin.It is always interesting to see what is being worn too---real works of art in crochet and knitting.The show was very crowded in the morning and there were lots of members from Bucks there who had arrived by different means.One rather strange thing occured when I picked up a leaflet on a stall about knitting for the children in Afghanistan and I turned to the steward and said that that might be an idea for us as we had been turned away from providing for the Army. The steward, a titled lady according to her name badge, said "A much better cause than knitting for those bloody soldiers"! As we walked away, I asked my companion whether she had really said what I thought she had said, and she said Yes. Whoever let that woman loose as a steward? The following day when visiting Basildon Park (as a free agent) I overheard a NT steward saying in her room commentary some really unpleasant things about one living member of our royalty and another now departed from natural causes.What has happened to respect for others these days? Or tact? Or indeed Christian charity?
12th October
Tonight the Bucks Federation put on the meeting called Quavers and Quilts. Those who didn't go missed a treat. Jennie Rayment is a wonderful speaker who just happens to be talking about patchwork and showing off marvellous examples of her work but is also entertaining everyone to snippets of her experiences travelling the world teaching her art.This was followed by songs from Lori Tingay Weber accompanied by David Perkins which were absolutely lovely to hear. The whole event was great and we want more like this in the future. The new teacloth with Bucks views on was on sale and some of the WI samplers were on display too.
14th October
And now for something completely different! The International Day on Holland managed not to mention canals nor windmills all day. Instead we had a very interesting talk about bulbs by Janet Cropley, followed by a presentation on Dutch floral art. We now know what to look for in still lifes and can read the symbolism of the picture content. This was given by Anna Steven who teaches at Denman College. After listening to Anna, I think I might book in for one of her art appreciation courses.We enjoyed a Dutch light lunch and then listened to the tales of Jean Johnson's travels while filming her exploration of the world of brothels in Holland and around the world.She continues to fight for the legalisation of brothels in order to afford some protection to the women from violence and exploitation by pimps.All in all it was a very different event for the WI to stage and we will await comments from the members.
15th October
Several former VCOs gathered in a kind of reunion this morning and (even if I shouldn't say this) we have worn rather well! I think it is the sense of humour that is still rampant and the sense of common purpose as well as the belief in the spirit of the WI that lasts the test of time. Beware of phoenixes!
The local WI committee meeting tonight was taken up with discussing how to approach the problem of the future venue for WI meetings. There are pros and cons for wherever we choose but we must decide quickly as the programme for next year's speakers is completed and we need to have it printed ready for the new year. We finally agreed that we would have to give the members the opportunity to vote but to make it a written and signed vote so that there could be no claims that the choice had been other than what it was.Tickets are ready for sale for the Barn Dance and posters were distributed. Also nomination sheets for next year's committee will be available at the meeting.
7th October
We knew it was going to be a busy meeting and so it proved. All the members have taken away a voting card for their choice of venue but the issue was even more clouded tonight as the Winslow Centre administration had suddenly come up with another alternative price for hire of the premises.Are they running scared, I wonder. However this offer was still subject to change in April 2010 with no detail on what the change may be.Some members suggested charging for coffees at the meeting, which we used to do years ago, but I think one of the pluses to our WI is that drinks are free as well as the Green Letter. Anyway, we'll see what the vote is.Then we had forgotten about arranging the Christmas dinner and then there was some discussion on the pricing for the Barn Dance and ...so on.The speaker turned out to be not quite what we expected in that it was really a fairly blatant call to support his charity which was rather naughty as he has spoken to other WIs and should be aware of our rules and regulations.
8th October
Six of us were up early this morning to catch a coach to the Alexandra Palace for the Knitting and Stitching Show.The journey was quite eventful as the driver missed out a pick-up stop and we encountered two accidents so arrived later than expected. The view across London was lovely but inside we went, to do about 6 hours looking and walking around the stands. The exhibitions of embroidery and quilts were breath-taking ; the accent this year was definitely on knitting. Last year it was beads, the year before handmade cards. I can remember one year when there was only one stall where the wools were heaped on the floor in a mountain and that was it for wool! This year everywhere, of all sorts from about 20 ply to gossamer thin.It is always interesting to see what is being worn too---real works of art in crochet and knitting.The show was very crowded in the morning and there were lots of members from Bucks there who had arrived by different means.One rather strange thing occured when I picked up a leaflet on a stall about knitting for the children in Afghanistan and I turned to the steward and said that that might be an idea for us as we had been turned away from providing for the Army. The steward, a titled lady according to her name badge, said "A much better cause than knitting for those bloody soldiers"! As we walked away, I asked my companion whether she had really said what I thought she had said, and she said Yes. Whoever let that woman loose as a steward? The following day when visiting Basildon Park (as a free agent) I overheard a NT steward saying in her room commentary some really unpleasant things about one living member of our royalty and another now departed from natural causes.What has happened to respect for others these days? Or tact? Or indeed Christian charity?
12th October
Tonight the Bucks Federation put on the meeting called Quavers and Quilts. Those who didn't go missed a treat. Jennie Rayment is a wonderful speaker who just happens to be talking about patchwork and showing off marvellous examples of her work but is also entertaining everyone to snippets of her experiences travelling the world teaching her art.This was followed by songs from Lori Tingay Weber accompanied by David Perkins which were absolutely lovely to hear. The whole event was great and we want more like this in the future. The new teacloth with Bucks views on was on sale and some of the WI samplers were on display too.
14th October
And now for something completely different! The International Day on Holland managed not to mention canals nor windmills all day. Instead we had a very interesting talk about bulbs by Janet Cropley, followed by a presentation on Dutch floral art. We now know what to look for in still lifes and can read the symbolism of the picture content. This was given by Anna Steven who teaches at Denman College. After listening to Anna, I think I might book in for one of her art appreciation courses.We enjoyed a Dutch light lunch and then listened to the tales of Jean Johnson's travels while filming her exploration of the world of brothels in Holland and around the world.She continues to fight for the legalisation of brothels in order to afford some protection to the women from violence and exploitation by pimps.All in all it was a very different event for the WI to stage and we will await comments from the members.
15th October
Several former VCOs gathered in a kind of reunion this morning and (even if I shouldn't say this) we have worn rather well! I think it is the sense of humour that is still rampant and the sense of common purpose as well as the belief in the spirit of the WI that lasts the test of time. Beware of phoenixes!
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Under and over
7th September
The local WI Craft group has now finished its contribution to the Federation book of samplers so that is ready to join the others from WIs in the county. I am looking forward to seeing them all together. We were a bit disappointed that the drawings submitted from our WI for the tea towels were not considered worthy of a prize but it was heartening that there had been such a large response. We are now making some Christmas tree decorations which involve lots of cutting up of scraps of material and tiny pins so that will keep us quiet for a while. Also we are off to the Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show in October with a local coach company. I hope someone will stop me buying more wool and materials for new projects before I finish what I have already stacked about the house.
6th September
The Book Group met this afternoon. We had been reading "The Return" by Victoria Hislop which was thoroughly enjoyed by most people.We had liked "The Island" by the same writer and I must admit that I thought beforehand that she was returning to Crete but it was to Spain many years after the civil war.The theme was quite topical as there has been a lot in the press about the lifting of the silence over that event; it is only recently that this silence has been broken.Some of our members had actually visited the enormous tomb which the political prisoners were forced to build. I did think that the story sometimes became a cover for the historical account but on the whole it worked. It certainly prompted a lot of discussion of the disaster that is civil war, the role of religious belief and the general ignorance of what actually happened so recently.We also talked about the Laurie Lee books about the Spanish civil war which many of us had read in the past. Good news for us is that we have gained two new members to our group and that our next book appears in talking book form as well for our member that is struggling with sight problems.
9th September
The local WI held an extra meeting this evening when Clarins Beauty firm was invited to give a make-up demonstration to members and friends.It was a pleasant evening but it did make me wonder how anyone has the time to actually go out, if they have to go to such lengths in preparation.The cost is astronomical too and so many of the products smelled to me of good old fashioned Ponds Cream which our grandmothers used to use!
10th September
The subcommittee for Education and Current Affairs met today. We spent time making final preparations for next week's repeat crossword session which is really a re-run of the successful event in the north of the county.Nearly all the people who had been disappointed in the ballot previously had applied for this one which was good plus some new people.The next event is the International Day on Holland which is taking shape and after that next year we are planning a Tudor Day. We wish our lives away, but every event has to be organised so far in advance because of demand for halls and speakers.
11th September
Ten of us travelled to Norway today on the WI holiday.We were collected from our doorstep and whisked down to Heathrow in fine style.We had been issued with electronic tickets which was a first for many of us. I wish I had had a camera to hand to photograph our group coming to terms with the machines which issued our boarding cards. We managed it with great aplomb and agreed that this was the first part of our educational process on the holiday.Since returning the media is telling us that to cut costs several airlines will only issue electronic tickets in future so if you need any advice ask us! I am not going to regale you with all our adventures, suffice it to say we had a marvellous time: we saw a lot of beautiful places, the hotels were first class, the food was great and the weather was unusually good for the time of year ie we had one misty morning.We visited museums where we learned about Vikings and the Kontiki expeditition,we shut our eyes travelling up and down amazing road passes, we marvelled at the engineering expertise of the tunnels, and we never saw a moose.We educated the Americans with whom we were travelling into the history of World War II especially the Shetland Bus, the WI beyond the Calendar Girls whom they knew about, England beyond the Cotswolds and the Health Service.No American we talked to had read the Barak Obama books, yet they had been in the UK's bestsellers lists for months.What a wonderful country Norway is and how pleasant and welcoming the people are! The cost of living makes one's eyes water and I shall never forget the face of one of our members when she was asked the equivalent of £1.90 for a small mug of boiling water and a separate teabag! But if we were asked for a knitting pattern for a traditional Aran sweater, could we produce the instructions in Norwegian or any other European language for that matter!
23rd September
I hope you all read the latest issue of WI Life because there are several mentions of Bucks in it. Congratulations to Maids Moreton for its full page spread, to the lady who won a prize for her crochet from Flackwell Heath and again in the archive column about District Nurses we have a reference. But if you are feeling depressed, please read the letter from the lady who bought the magnetic appliance to help with her menopausal symptons.I haven't laughed so much for ages.The other more serious article about the interview with the BBC was picked up by the national press in the discussions about ageism, not just in the media but also in nursing care.So you see there are people out there wanting to know what we think on very different topics.
Also some time this week the national press mentioned a Town Council that had had to move its meeting place to avoid the WI's raucous singing of Jerusalem. There must be more verses than I know. I bet the council didn't want the WI to hear the waffle from it! Actually one evening class that holds its session nextdoor to our local WI asked us to leave the door open so that they could listen and join in too!
The local WI Craft group has now finished its contribution to the Federation book of samplers so that is ready to join the others from WIs in the county. I am looking forward to seeing them all together. We were a bit disappointed that the drawings submitted from our WI for the tea towels were not considered worthy of a prize but it was heartening that there had been such a large response. We are now making some Christmas tree decorations which involve lots of cutting up of scraps of material and tiny pins so that will keep us quiet for a while. Also we are off to the Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show in October with a local coach company. I hope someone will stop me buying more wool and materials for new projects before I finish what I have already stacked about the house.
6th September
The Book Group met this afternoon. We had been reading "The Return" by Victoria Hislop which was thoroughly enjoyed by most people.We had liked "The Island" by the same writer and I must admit that I thought beforehand that she was returning to Crete but it was to Spain many years after the civil war.The theme was quite topical as there has been a lot in the press about the lifting of the silence over that event; it is only recently that this silence has been broken.Some of our members had actually visited the enormous tomb which the political prisoners were forced to build. I did think that the story sometimes became a cover for the historical account but on the whole it worked. It certainly prompted a lot of discussion of the disaster that is civil war, the role of religious belief and the general ignorance of what actually happened so recently.We also talked about the Laurie Lee books about the Spanish civil war which many of us had read in the past. Good news for us is that we have gained two new members to our group and that our next book appears in talking book form as well for our member that is struggling with sight problems.
9th September
The local WI held an extra meeting this evening when Clarins Beauty firm was invited to give a make-up demonstration to members and friends.It was a pleasant evening but it did make me wonder how anyone has the time to actually go out, if they have to go to such lengths in preparation.The cost is astronomical too and so many of the products smelled to me of good old fashioned Ponds Cream which our grandmothers used to use!
10th September
The subcommittee for Education and Current Affairs met today. We spent time making final preparations for next week's repeat crossword session which is really a re-run of the successful event in the north of the county.Nearly all the people who had been disappointed in the ballot previously had applied for this one which was good plus some new people.The next event is the International Day on Holland which is taking shape and after that next year we are planning a Tudor Day. We wish our lives away, but every event has to be organised so far in advance because of demand for halls and speakers.
11th September
Ten of us travelled to Norway today on the WI holiday.We were collected from our doorstep and whisked down to Heathrow in fine style.We had been issued with electronic tickets which was a first for many of us. I wish I had had a camera to hand to photograph our group coming to terms with the machines which issued our boarding cards. We managed it with great aplomb and agreed that this was the first part of our educational process on the holiday.Since returning the media is telling us that to cut costs several airlines will only issue electronic tickets in future so if you need any advice ask us! I am not going to regale you with all our adventures, suffice it to say we had a marvellous time: we saw a lot of beautiful places, the hotels were first class, the food was great and the weather was unusually good for the time of year ie we had one misty morning.We visited museums where we learned about Vikings and the Kontiki expeditition,we shut our eyes travelling up and down amazing road passes, we marvelled at the engineering expertise of the tunnels, and we never saw a moose.We educated the Americans with whom we were travelling into the history of World War II especially the Shetland Bus, the WI beyond the Calendar Girls whom they knew about, England beyond the Cotswolds and the Health Service.No American we talked to had read the Barak Obama books, yet they had been in the UK's bestsellers lists for months.What a wonderful country Norway is and how pleasant and welcoming the people are! The cost of living makes one's eyes water and I shall never forget the face of one of our members when she was asked the equivalent of £1.90 for a small mug of boiling water and a separate teabag! But if we were asked for a knitting pattern for a traditional Aran sweater, could we produce the instructions in Norwegian or any other European language for that matter!
23rd September
I hope you all read the latest issue of WI Life because there are several mentions of Bucks in it. Congratulations to Maids Moreton for its full page spread, to the lady who won a prize for her crochet from Flackwell Heath and again in the archive column about District Nurses we have a reference. But if you are feeling depressed, please read the letter from the lady who bought the magnetic appliance to help with her menopausal symptons.I haven't laughed so much for ages.The other more serious article about the interview with the BBC was picked up by the national press in the discussions about ageism, not just in the media but also in nursing care.So you see there are people out there wanting to know what we think on very different topics.
Also some time this week the national press mentioned a Town Council that had had to move its meeting place to avoid the WI's raucous singing of Jerusalem. There must be more verses than I know. I bet the council didn't want the WI to hear the waffle from it! Actually one evening class that holds its session nextdoor to our local WI asked us to leave the door open so that they could listen and join in too!
Friday, 4 September 2009
Get me out of here
26th August
I drove over to the chairman of our sub-committee's house to work on the long agenda for the September meeting. It is always pleasant to visit informally even though one comes away with a feeling of foreboding over the possible length of the coming meeting. I thought WI members were to expect a holiday in August but the paperwork keeps piling up! I took the opportunity to explore this part of Bucks in some detail as three of us have been walking the Bernwood Jubilee Trail and we have reached Brill. We are now into an area we know very little about. We have been using public transport as much as possible but the western fringes of the county suffer from a dearth of buses at sensible times for walkers, so the logistics are going to be a problem until we reach the Buckingham catchment zone.I can recommend the trail and the countryside is lovely, very empty; we have disturbed deer and foxes on our way. The brambles are good too.
In the evening it was the local committee meeting at which we heard all about our treasurer's battles with the Bucks County Council over the draconian rise in rent for our meeting place. Although we have found other premises willing to take us if we must move, it will make changes necessary perhaps to our night of meeting or our timing, so we hope to be able to stay put but win our case. We have strong allies in the fight and I always remember the Member of Parliament who said that if the WI protested, the Government tended to throw in the towel! I don't fancy the local force's chances of success after that.The good news is that our WI came up in the Friends Club draw so we have some more pounds in the bank account. We will keep quiet about that to the local government people.Our WI buys two tickets every year in this lottery and we have had individual members win as well as the WI official ticket. Also to raise a few more funds of a more reliable kind, we are exploring Gift Aid on our subscriptions.There is a booklet of advice on this procedure available from NFWI.
27th August
Bucks County Show and a lovely day for it too.I went down just to collect some display material for the local town show and was caught up in a long tailback of traffic. It took me 45 minutes to cover the ground I usually do in four! Then once inside the ground I couldn't find the WI, all the guides and maps had been sold and no one official seemed to know where anything was either.I was very relieved to track down some friendly faces on our pitch who managed to calm me down.It really was not a very good site but gone are the days when the WI can afford a tent of its own. Had we all known of the frustrations ahead when trying to leave the showground, I think we would have walked to the nearest pub and fed and watered while the chaos dissolved. The organisers will have to get the entrances and exits sorted out or peolpe will give up coming. I know the attendance was greater than ever before but to have 5 lanes of cars in each of two fields converging on an exit each onto a shared track leading into a major road which carries masses of traffic on a normal day is just barmy. There were drivers, children and dogs all overheated by the sunshine and the frustration.I tell you...something has got to be done for next year.
31st August
Winslow Town Show--now this is how to arrange traffic! One entrance and one exit for vehicles but only two lanes on which to approach and then alternate and filter under the control of marshals.Simple when you know how.The WI had the same site as last year which is one we like because it overlooks the horse jumping area and is next to the pig roast and the beer tent! Everyone must come by our tent. The day was very cold and blowy first thing in the morning but the sun was out by the afternoon. We had lots of visiting members from WIs in Bucks as well as farther afield.Our major display this year was on the SOS for Honeybees campaign, general promotion of the WI, the craft group and the sampler which is to form part of the Federation book and the books read by the Book Group.We think we have attracted some new members but will wait to see if they actually turn up at a meeting.
2nd September
The local WI meeting was very well attended to hear a talk on scrapbooking which was not quite what I had thought scrapbooking was.Surely it isn't just sticking photos in an album? There were lots of reports on events during the recess and masses of talk on personal adventures and holidays so it was a very friendly meeting. We hope to start a discussion group in order to highlight some of the WI campaigns as well as airing topics that are of interest in everyday situations. One never knows, a resolution may spring from one of these meetings.
I drove over to the chairman of our sub-committee's house to work on the long agenda for the September meeting. It is always pleasant to visit informally even though one comes away with a feeling of foreboding over the possible length of the coming meeting. I thought WI members were to expect a holiday in August but the paperwork keeps piling up! I took the opportunity to explore this part of Bucks in some detail as three of us have been walking the Bernwood Jubilee Trail and we have reached Brill. We are now into an area we know very little about. We have been using public transport as much as possible but the western fringes of the county suffer from a dearth of buses at sensible times for walkers, so the logistics are going to be a problem until we reach the Buckingham catchment zone.I can recommend the trail and the countryside is lovely, very empty; we have disturbed deer and foxes on our way. The brambles are good too.
In the evening it was the local committee meeting at which we heard all about our treasurer's battles with the Bucks County Council over the draconian rise in rent for our meeting place. Although we have found other premises willing to take us if we must move, it will make changes necessary perhaps to our night of meeting or our timing, so we hope to be able to stay put but win our case. We have strong allies in the fight and I always remember the Member of Parliament who said that if the WI protested, the Government tended to throw in the towel! I don't fancy the local force's chances of success after that.The good news is that our WI came up in the Friends Club draw so we have some more pounds in the bank account. We will keep quiet about that to the local government people.Our WI buys two tickets every year in this lottery and we have had individual members win as well as the WI official ticket. Also to raise a few more funds of a more reliable kind, we are exploring Gift Aid on our subscriptions.There is a booklet of advice on this procedure available from NFWI.
27th August
Bucks County Show and a lovely day for it too.I went down just to collect some display material for the local town show and was caught up in a long tailback of traffic. It took me 45 minutes to cover the ground I usually do in four! Then once inside the ground I couldn't find the WI, all the guides and maps had been sold and no one official seemed to know where anything was either.I was very relieved to track down some friendly faces on our pitch who managed to calm me down.It really was not a very good site but gone are the days when the WI can afford a tent of its own. Had we all known of the frustrations ahead when trying to leave the showground, I think we would have walked to the nearest pub and fed and watered while the chaos dissolved. The organisers will have to get the entrances and exits sorted out or peolpe will give up coming. I know the attendance was greater than ever before but to have 5 lanes of cars in each of two fields converging on an exit each onto a shared track leading into a major road which carries masses of traffic on a normal day is just barmy. There were drivers, children and dogs all overheated by the sunshine and the frustration.I tell you...something has got to be done for next year.
31st August
Winslow Town Show--now this is how to arrange traffic! One entrance and one exit for vehicles but only two lanes on which to approach and then alternate and filter under the control of marshals.Simple when you know how.The WI had the same site as last year which is one we like because it overlooks the horse jumping area and is next to the pig roast and the beer tent! Everyone must come by our tent. The day was very cold and blowy first thing in the morning but the sun was out by the afternoon. We had lots of visiting members from WIs in Bucks as well as farther afield.Our major display this year was on the SOS for Honeybees campaign, general promotion of the WI, the craft group and the sampler which is to form part of the Federation book and the books read by the Book Group.We think we have attracted some new members but will wait to see if they actually turn up at a meeting.
2nd September
The local WI meeting was very well attended to hear a talk on scrapbooking which was not quite what I had thought scrapbooking was.Surely it isn't just sticking photos in an album? There were lots of reports on events during the recess and masses of talk on personal adventures and holidays so it was a very friendly meeting. We hope to start a discussion group in order to highlight some of the WI campaigns as well as airing topics that are of interest in everyday situations. One never knows, a resolution may spring from one of these meetings.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Summer frolics
5th August
This evening the local WI decided to use our usual monthly meeting date for an extra rather frivolous get-together. We hired the community bus and filled some overflow cars and sallied forth to another Bucks village. There were probably about 25 of us who descended on a private house to try on hats. Yes, I must admit I went thinking whatever is going to hold my interest until 10 o'clock this evening trying on hats.Of course I reckoned without the supper and the wine thrown in too! It was great fun. The rain held off we were sitting outside eating and drinking until 9.30pm and everyone had a great time amongst 400 hats and fascinators. Some were downright silly hats, others very glamourous and some were fashion statements in every sense of the word.What a pity that the WI members don't still wear hats for the AGM! I saw about 10 this year---mind, some of those we tried on this evening would have well and truly blanked out the stage for those sitting behind! Much of the success of this event lay in the fact that we all had time to talk to each other and not feel rushed to meet the demands of a formal WI meeting.
I am slightly concerned about whether the photos taken will be brought out for our next WI meeting on scrapbooking.Some will need censoring, I think.
12th August
Oh dear! Another social event to report on. The local WI held its second Barbecue of the summer in a member's garden as requested on the questionnaire conducted in the winter.Once more the rain held off and once more we all enjoyed ourselves sitting around eating, drinking and talking. Perhaps in order to mollify the Charity Commissioners our hostess had devised an educational gardening quiz. The answers were very entertaining and revealed a knowledge of horticulture which probably warrants a few gardening subjects to be included for next year's WI programme. It was a pity some of those who requested a barbecue once more failed to attend but that was their loss. These social "dos" were not planned to raise funds but just to cover costs and both events were important for the friendship side of the WI.
This evening the local WI decided to use our usual monthly meeting date for an extra rather frivolous get-together. We hired the community bus and filled some overflow cars and sallied forth to another Bucks village. There were probably about 25 of us who descended on a private house to try on hats. Yes, I must admit I went thinking whatever is going to hold my interest until 10 o'clock this evening trying on hats.Of course I reckoned without the supper and the wine thrown in too! It was great fun. The rain held off we were sitting outside eating and drinking until 9.30pm and everyone had a great time amongst 400 hats and fascinators. Some were downright silly hats, others very glamourous and some were fashion statements in every sense of the word.What a pity that the WI members don't still wear hats for the AGM! I saw about 10 this year---mind, some of those we tried on this evening would have well and truly blanked out the stage for those sitting behind! Much of the success of this event lay in the fact that we all had time to talk to each other and not feel rushed to meet the demands of a formal WI meeting.
I am slightly concerned about whether the photos taken will be brought out for our next WI meeting on scrapbooking.Some will need censoring, I think.
12th August
Oh dear! Another social event to report on. The local WI held its second Barbecue of the summer in a member's garden as requested on the questionnaire conducted in the winter.Once more the rain held off and once more we all enjoyed ourselves sitting around eating, drinking and talking. Perhaps in order to mollify the Charity Commissioners our hostess had devised an educational gardening quiz. The answers were very entertaining and revealed a knowledge of horticulture which probably warrants a few gardening subjects to be included for next year's WI programme. It was a pity some of those who requested a barbecue once more failed to attend but that was their loss. These social "dos" were not planned to raise funds but just to cover costs and both events were important for the friendship side of the WI.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Summer recess
7th July
I am afraid that the WI has had to take a back seat this month as I have been rather involved with family events. This has meant that several WI fixtures have not featured on my calendar so lots of you will have a better idea of what's gone on than I have. However I know that our local WI Reading Group met today and we discussed Cranford which some of us had never read but had enjoyed the costume adaptation on TV.It is a very forward-thinking book, quite feminist for its time and very amusing in its social comments.What fun Mrs Gaskell had at the expense of Lady Ludlow with her views on education for the lower orders!
In direct contrast to that work, we also had read Sea of Poppies by Ghosh who is one of the group's favourite authors.This is an action-packed account of India at the time just before the Opium Wars in China. The book is the first part of a trilogy so it was a question of getting all the characters on to a sailing boat heading off into the Indian Ocean. Once past the use of Pidjin English and the nautical terms, it was a wonderful adventure story with memorable characters and lots of information on the history of the time. Once again the British Empire is exposed in a far from glorious light. I for one am looking forward to the next instalment as I cannot see how the passengers and crew can ever get themselves out of the situation they are in at the end of Part One.
9th July
Today the Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met. We seemed to spend most of our time planning coming events because we have a really good programme ahead stretching into 2011.Speakers have to be secured well in advance and halls too.We are looking forward to our repeat Brain Games session on cryptic crosswords and hope that everyone will apply within the time allocated in spite of several WIs not meeting in August. There is also the problem of the grandparents heaving a sigh of relief at the end of the school holidays and taking off on their own for a well earned rest from childcare.In planning our International Day on Holland, we are hoping for the WI members to be broadminded and attend the event which should be very interesting and educational as well.
23rd July
A young student came round to see me today. She is studying at a college for film-making and wanted to do her vacational project on activities in the local town.It is unfortunate that she needs this in the very month that the WI doesn't meet, in common with various other societies. However she could come to our next barbeque or to our extra meeting when we are off in posh frocks for an orgy of hat choosing.Neither of these events is at all traditional WI which is a pity.Perhaps we will not become filmstars this time but she promised to look in on one of the new WIs which has formed in Shoreditch in London near where she lives as a student.We read about the new young WI together in the WI Life. It would be lovely to think we might gain a new WI member who is young and interested in the aims of the WI even if it was not ours who benefitted.
I am afraid that the WI has had to take a back seat this month as I have been rather involved with family events. This has meant that several WI fixtures have not featured on my calendar so lots of you will have a better idea of what's gone on than I have. However I know that our local WI Reading Group met today and we discussed Cranford which some of us had never read but had enjoyed the costume adaptation on TV.It is a very forward-thinking book, quite feminist for its time and very amusing in its social comments.What fun Mrs Gaskell had at the expense of Lady Ludlow with her views on education for the lower orders!
In direct contrast to that work, we also had read Sea of Poppies by Ghosh who is one of the group's favourite authors.This is an action-packed account of India at the time just before the Opium Wars in China. The book is the first part of a trilogy so it was a question of getting all the characters on to a sailing boat heading off into the Indian Ocean. Once past the use of Pidjin English and the nautical terms, it was a wonderful adventure story with memorable characters and lots of information on the history of the time. Once again the British Empire is exposed in a far from glorious light. I for one am looking forward to the next instalment as I cannot see how the passengers and crew can ever get themselves out of the situation they are in at the end of Part One.
9th July
Today the Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met. We seemed to spend most of our time planning coming events because we have a really good programme ahead stretching into 2011.Speakers have to be secured well in advance and halls too.We are looking forward to our repeat Brain Games session on cryptic crosswords and hope that everyone will apply within the time allocated in spite of several WIs not meeting in August. There is also the problem of the grandparents heaving a sigh of relief at the end of the school holidays and taking off on their own for a well earned rest from childcare.In planning our International Day on Holland, we are hoping for the WI members to be broadminded and attend the event which should be very interesting and educational as well.
23rd July
A young student came round to see me today. She is studying at a college for film-making and wanted to do her vacational project on activities in the local town.It is unfortunate that she needs this in the very month that the WI doesn't meet, in common with various other societies. However she could come to our next barbeque or to our extra meeting when we are off in posh frocks for an orgy of hat choosing.Neither of these events is at all traditional WI which is a pity.Perhaps we will not become filmstars this time but she promised to look in on one of the new WIs which has formed in Shoreditch in London near where she lives as a student.We read about the new young WI together in the WI Life. It would be lovely to think we might gain a new WI member who is young and interested in the aims of the WI even if it was not ours who benefitted.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Feeling heated
29 June
Today several members of one of the county sub-committees gathered to conduct a ballot for an over-subscribed event. It breaks our hearts to have to turn members away when this happens. Partly we are pleased that whatever is planned has appealed to the members but also sad that there isn't room for everyone either in the hall or on the coach. We cannot always add on another coach or repeat the event almost immediately.A ballot is not the correct term for what we do: it suggests names are drawn out of a hat. It is more an allocation really, worked out by practicalities such as carloads, distance and then as a last resort we consult the account of previous ballots to see how a WI fared last time a similar decision had to be made. We do our best to be fair but it is a bit of a nightmare to be honest!
This afternoon the blood donors' van was in town so members of the local WI were on hand serving teas and juices to those recuperating not only from giving blood but also from the heat outside.
30 June
Down to the federation HQ today to make the final financial arrangements for the coming holiday to Norway.It was so hot in the car that I began to really dream of getting away to somewhere a little less tropical. There are ten people travelling to Norway in September under a different organisational plan as far as the BFWI is concerned and a lot depends on how successful this is as to whether these foreign holidays can continue to be on offer.Personally I think it would be a shame to see them finish but the Federation needs someone to head them up. If there is anyone out there who is willing to give it a go, please let the Federation Secretary know.
1 July
Local WI meeting tonight . The room was like an inferno when we walked in so we flung all the windows and doors open. We had to spend quite a long time discussing the rise in hall hire charges for our meetings. These are going to treble over the next couple of years which is going to drastically affect our budget. Although we will obviously object and try to get the terms reduced, we are also calling on all the members to actively enquire about alternative venues.It is rich really when the town was promised that on the closure of the secondary school, the building would be used for the benefit of local educational adult needs and to forge closer links in the community. Now the WI which is all about these aims is being driven out.The smaller rooms have long since been swallowed up into offices for the council instead of being available for small classes. Letters will need to be written!
We listened to a speaker telling us about her experiences on going up to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE.
We finalised plans for our "posh hats" outing which seemed to fit in with the talk and made plans for the town show at the end of August where we will be promoting the WI in general as well as our local branch.
4 July
Doesn't it make you spit? You sit down to read the Saturday paper, turn to the page where someone is sent out to review a restaurant and what do you read? Jasper Gerard gets to the course which presents guinea fowl on the menu and completely out of the blue, with no connection to anything before or after, he writes "Guinea fowl can often be drier than a WI convention"! A WI convention? When did we last have a convention? Does he mean the Annual General Meeting? If so, can the uproar of the Tony Blair meeting be classed as dry? Or the appearances of Bill Bryson, or Sandi Tostig or indeed Maureen Lipman be classed as dry? He doesn't know what he is talking about, does he? Why make such an inane comparison--quite unnecessary. I think I shall have to reach for a particularly scratchy pen nib and the vitriolic ink to write another letter! Perhaps I am over-sensitive and all publicity is good publicity but I think it is another example of the WI name being taken in vain.
Today several members of one of the county sub-committees gathered to conduct a ballot for an over-subscribed event. It breaks our hearts to have to turn members away when this happens. Partly we are pleased that whatever is planned has appealed to the members but also sad that there isn't room for everyone either in the hall or on the coach. We cannot always add on another coach or repeat the event almost immediately.A ballot is not the correct term for what we do: it suggests names are drawn out of a hat. It is more an allocation really, worked out by practicalities such as carloads, distance and then as a last resort we consult the account of previous ballots to see how a WI fared last time a similar decision had to be made. We do our best to be fair but it is a bit of a nightmare to be honest!
This afternoon the blood donors' van was in town so members of the local WI were on hand serving teas and juices to those recuperating not only from giving blood but also from the heat outside.
30 June
Down to the federation HQ today to make the final financial arrangements for the coming holiday to Norway.It was so hot in the car that I began to really dream of getting away to somewhere a little less tropical. There are ten people travelling to Norway in September under a different organisational plan as far as the BFWI is concerned and a lot depends on how successful this is as to whether these foreign holidays can continue to be on offer.Personally I think it would be a shame to see them finish but the Federation needs someone to head them up. If there is anyone out there who is willing to give it a go, please let the Federation Secretary know.
1 July
Local WI meeting tonight . The room was like an inferno when we walked in so we flung all the windows and doors open. We had to spend quite a long time discussing the rise in hall hire charges for our meetings. These are going to treble over the next couple of years which is going to drastically affect our budget. Although we will obviously object and try to get the terms reduced, we are also calling on all the members to actively enquire about alternative venues.It is rich really when the town was promised that on the closure of the secondary school, the building would be used for the benefit of local educational adult needs and to forge closer links in the community. Now the WI which is all about these aims is being driven out.The smaller rooms have long since been swallowed up into offices for the council instead of being available for small classes. Letters will need to be written!
We listened to a speaker telling us about her experiences on going up to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE.
We finalised plans for our "posh hats" outing which seemed to fit in with the talk and made plans for the town show at the end of August where we will be promoting the WI in general as well as our local branch.
4 July
Doesn't it make you spit? You sit down to read the Saturday paper, turn to the page where someone is sent out to review a restaurant and what do you read? Jasper Gerard gets to the course which presents guinea fowl on the menu and completely out of the blue, with no connection to anything before or after, he writes "Guinea fowl can often be drier than a WI convention"! A WI convention? When did we last have a convention? Does he mean the Annual General Meeting? If so, can the uproar of the Tony Blair meeting be classed as dry? Or the appearances of Bill Bryson, or Sandi Tostig or indeed Maureen Lipman be classed as dry? He doesn't know what he is talking about, does he? Why make such an inane comparison--quite unnecessary. I think I shall have to reach for a particularly scratchy pen nib and the vitriolic ink to write another letter! Perhaps I am over-sensitive and all publicity is good publicity but I think it is another example of the WI name being taken in vain.
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