24th May
On perhaps the hottest day of the year so far the Home and Garden sub-committee had organised an outing to Woburn Abbey gardens. Even the deer in the park were standing in the lake or basking on the moist mud around its edges.The rhododendrons were in full flower and looked marvellous against a blue sky.Some people had visited the Abbey in the morning before joining the rest of the party to view the gardens.Members and friends enjoyed a brief introduction to the history of the estate and then a guided tour of the historic gardens.The staff were very accomplished speakers quite able to cope with a large group even in the open air. We could all hear and ask questions as we strolled among the ancient trees and beautiful flowers. Gradually the Duke and Duchess of Bedford are planning a return to the original lay-out of the gardens as designed by Humphrey Repton. We admired the re-vamped Chinese style dairy which was blissfully cool and then the camelia house. We discussed the modern sculptures showcased around the lawns.Everything looked wonderful in the sunshine and I think we all took advantage of a short rest in the shaded restaurant area with an iced drink or ice-cream to hand.It was a very enjoyable and informative day and we are now looking forward to another outing to the beautiful gardens at Upton House in October when the asters will be in full bloom.
22nd May
The local WI book group gathered together to discuss a selection of novels by Charles Dickens and some by a modern author Lesley Pearce. The reason why we were all reading something different was because there had been a slight hic-cup in the supply chain from the library.In some ways this was a good thing because it meant everyone had to introduce her own book.Dickens came off well as some members had been slightly put off reading other titles after studying a novel for examinations but now thought it worth having a go at another and one reader had downloaded many on to her kindle for holiday reading! Amongst the random selection was a biography of Phiz the illustrator for a lot of Dickens novels whose life story was a rags to riches and back again Victorian tale of its own.The novels by Lesley Pearce were enjoyed by those who read them although as they talked there was a recognisable theme, and plot sometimes, running through the stories.An interesting session but we are all back to the same title next month.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Different menus
2nd May
A busy local WI day today. The rain held off for our morning sponsored walk on behalf of ACWW. Thirty members walked just under 4 miles around Winslow enjoying some historical details from our guide. Our numbers were swelled by 12 ladies from neighbouring WIs who joined us. We do not know yet how much money we have raised but it should be several hundred pounds to help this worthy group improve the lives of women all over the world.
In the evening Winslow WI celebrated 90 years of continuous existence with a special cake and wine. Of course we also discussed the resolution chosen to go up to the Albert Hall at the end of the month and we were pleased to welcome our delegate to the meeting.It was a close vote on whether we wanted to urge H.M. Government to increase the spending on training midwives because of the current and predicted rise in births in UK. It was thought that as cuts in the health service were unavoidable it was perhaps better to educate mothers away from the proposed scheme of 1:1 attention by midwives throughout labour which is beyond the reach of the midwives available---especially when nowadays they expect to have a family companion present at the birth who can call for help if needed.Aftercare was more important now when the stay in hospital was so short and this type of help need not be done by a trained midwife but by someone who could call on the hospital staff if difficulties arose.Nor was it thought necessary for midwives to be university graduates.
We spent quite a bit of time coming to grips with our new booking system for events and listened to a favourable report of the Annual Council Meeting. Plans for the dinner at the Players production on the Jubilee weekend are well advanced.The WI reputation for catering is at stake so we need to pull out all the stops for the occasion.
27th April
The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee hosted a Tapas Evening at Winslow which was very well attended.The Spanish food was provided by the local delicatessen and there were 4 sherries to taste in the course of the meal.In the background there was live guitar music and several members had made the effort to look suitably Spanish in their dress. I liked the printed explanations of what we were eating and information on the sherries.It was also appreciated that the event had come "up North" for a change---after all we have a good hall with a reasonable kitchen.
24th April
The Book Group met today We have been reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson which was very amusing and a witty novel.
It was a love story where the main characters were above the usual age for a romantic novel and cross cultures too. Everyone enjoyed the book and admitted that they would never have chosen it for themselves if it hadn't been presented at the group. We often find this and I think it is an important reason for setting up a book group.Some of the ironic throwaway comments about modern life made us laugh out loud and the characters were all completely believable. I hope we can find another title by the same author.
A busy local WI day today. The rain held off for our morning sponsored walk on behalf of ACWW. Thirty members walked just under 4 miles around Winslow enjoying some historical details from our guide. Our numbers were swelled by 12 ladies from neighbouring WIs who joined us. We do not know yet how much money we have raised but it should be several hundred pounds to help this worthy group improve the lives of women all over the world.
In the evening Winslow WI celebrated 90 years of continuous existence with a special cake and wine. Of course we also discussed the resolution chosen to go up to the Albert Hall at the end of the month and we were pleased to welcome our delegate to the meeting.It was a close vote on whether we wanted to urge H.M. Government to increase the spending on training midwives because of the current and predicted rise in births in UK. It was thought that as cuts in the health service were unavoidable it was perhaps better to educate mothers away from the proposed scheme of 1:1 attention by midwives throughout labour which is beyond the reach of the midwives available---especially when nowadays they expect to have a family companion present at the birth who can call for help if needed.Aftercare was more important now when the stay in hospital was so short and this type of help need not be done by a trained midwife but by someone who could call on the hospital staff if difficulties arose.Nor was it thought necessary for midwives to be university graduates.
We spent quite a bit of time coming to grips with our new booking system for events and listened to a favourable report of the Annual Council Meeting. Plans for the dinner at the Players production on the Jubilee weekend are well advanced.The WI reputation for catering is at stake so we need to pull out all the stops for the occasion.
27th April
The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee hosted a Tapas Evening at Winslow which was very well attended.The Spanish food was provided by the local delicatessen and there were 4 sherries to taste in the course of the meal.In the background there was live guitar music and several members had made the effort to look suitably Spanish in their dress. I liked the printed explanations of what we were eating and information on the sherries.It was also appreciated that the event had come "up North" for a change---after all we have a good hall with a reasonable kitchen.
24th April
The Book Group met today We have been reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson which was very amusing and a witty novel.
It was a love story where the main characters were above the usual age for a romantic novel and cross cultures too. Everyone enjoyed the book and admitted that they would never have chosen it for themselves if it hadn't been presented at the group. We often find this and I think it is an important reason for setting up a book group.Some of the ironic throwaway comments about modern life made us laugh out loud and the characters were all completely believable. I hope we can find another title by the same author.
Friday, 20 April 2012
The WI out in force
18th April
It was announced in the media today that the WI with other women's groups had won a victory in the campaign against legal aid curbs for abused women. Kenneth Clarke said that now any woman whose partner or former partner had a caution for violence against her would be entitled to aid. The Government would also adopt the Police definition of domestic violence which includes emotional and psychological harm as well as physical abuse. A note from a doctor confirming abuse would entitle women to free legal support while those admitted to a women's refuge or receiving social services support would be entitled to claim legal aid too.
As we heard at the Annual Council Meeting BFWI had joined the NFWI campaign against the legal aid cuts and had written to all the Buckinghamshire MPs. Replies had been received from them all and one MP had included a reply from Kenneth Clarke in response to his letter forwarding our concerns.So remember, that if we can be bothered to write and express reasonable arguments, we can make a difference to the law of the land.
13th April
The Annual Council Meeting at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury was very well attended and much enjoyed by the Bucks WI members and guests.We heard that BFWI was financially healthy and learned the names of the Board of Trustees for 2012-2014. Peter Lien Head of the Cookery School at Denman College spoke engagingly about the changes in cooking over the last few years and Johnnie Walkers encouraged everyone to order their flowering bulbs through the WI Bulb scheme. Did you know that the UK grows more daffodils than anywhere else in the world? Roderick Watson described the development of the Dorney Lake until it became a suitable venue for the Olympics.
In the afternoon we received a progress report on the mandate passed in 2011 on care for stroke patients and went on to re-affirm two mandates agreed in 1982: the banning of the sale of snares and the discouragement of allowing children under secondary school age to take part in public demonstrations.Cups and Certificates were presented and then it was the turn of the main speaker to entertain us all. Adam Henson, the TV farmer and presenter was one of the fastest speakers I have ever heard but yet he spoke in sentences and was as clear as a bell.Perhaps this was because of his family's experience on the stage and the training on Countryfile and on the Coast programmes. He is certainly very ambitious for the success of his Cotswold Farm Park and supportive of British agriculture as a whole. Adam answered the many questions well. Altogether a very popular and entertaining speaker.
It was a good meeting with a full programme managed well by our own Chairman, Trustee Members and committee members.We look forward to the next ACM in April 2013. If you are asked to be a delegate or think you might like to attend as an observer, watch the Buckinghamshire Newsletter for notice of the speakers booked because they are always worth hearing and, as was explained at the meeting, this event is part of what you receive for your contribution to BFWI in your annual subscription.
It was announced in the media today that the WI with other women's groups had won a victory in the campaign against legal aid curbs for abused women. Kenneth Clarke said that now any woman whose partner or former partner had a caution for violence against her would be entitled to aid. The Government would also adopt the Police definition of domestic violence which includes emotional and psychological harm as well as physical abuse. A note from a doctor confirming abuse would entitle women to free legal support while those admitted to a women's refuge or receiving social services support would be entitled to claim legal aid too.
As we heard at the Annual Council Meeting BFWI had joined the NFWI campaign against the legal aid cuts and had written to all the Buckinghamshire MPs. Replies had been received from them all and one MP had included a reply from Kenneth Clarke in response to his letter forwarding our concerns.So remember, that if we can be bothered to write and express reasonable arguments, we can make a difference to the law of the land.
13th April
The Annual Council Meeting at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury was very well attended and much enjoyed by the Bucks WI members and guests.We heard that BFWI was financially healthy and learned the names of the Board of Trustees for 2012-2014. Peter Lien Head of the Cookery School at Denman College spoke engagingly about the changes in cooking over the last few years and Johnnie Walkers encouraged everyone to order their flowering bulbs through the WI Bulb scheme. Did you know that the UK grows more daffodils than anywhere else in the world? Roderick Watson described the development of the Dorney Lake until it became a suitable venue for the Olympics.
In the afternoon we received a progress report on the mandate passed in 2011 on care for stroke patients and went on to re-affirm two mandates agreed in 1982: the banning of the sale of snares and the discouragement of allowing children under secondary school age to take part in public demonstrations.Cups and Certificates were presented and then it was the turn of the main speaker to entertain us all. Adam Henson, the TV farmer and presenter was one of the fastest speakers I have ever heard but yet he spoke in sentences and was as clear as a bell.Perhaps this was because of his family's experience on the stage and the training on Countryfile and on the Coast programmes. He is certainly very ambitious for the success of his Cotswold Farm Park and supportive of British agriculture as a whole. Adam answered the many questions well. Altogether a very popular and entertaining speaker.
It was a good meeting with a full programme managed well by our own Chairman, Trustee Members and committee members.We look forward to the next ACM in April 2013. If you are asked to be a delegate or think you might like to attend as an observer, watch the Buckinghamshire Newsletter for notice of the speakers booked because they are always worth hearing and, as was explained at the meeting, this event is part of what you receive for your contribution to BFWI in your annual subscription.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Small isn't always beautiful
11th April
A very small group of local WI members met this evening for the monthly discussion. This time the subject was "gadgets": what constitutes something termed a gadget? Do gadgets become items of universal usage and therefore just tools or equipment? Women's gadgets seem to be in the kitchen whereas those that appeal to males revolve around the car or they are electronic devices or executive toys.A lot of fun was had describing gadgets which actually caused more hassle than the simple method used for years.There is something derogatory in the word gadget. Of course we digressed into the causes of domestic friction when the males presumed control of the remote for the TV--inborn technical superiority---and in the car when perhaps the coming of satnav systems will reinforce the refusal to wind down the window and ask directions.
6th-9th April
The WI had been invited to have a stall at the Love Food, Hate Waste Chiltern Food Fair at Great Missenden. It was a pity we were not to enjoy the earlier good weather: it was wet and cold even under canvas but still people turned out to graze their way around the stalls. The WI was promoting the new range of WI foods and the latest recipe books published in 2012.The public still think of the WI as jam and cake makers.We were out to attract new members too.It is always pleasant to talk to others but is quite difficult to smile and appear enthusiastic when one's lost contact with one's feet and is beginning to hallucinate about cups of tea from a proper cup or a hot rum toddy.There will have to be better publicity about WI foods because no one knew anything about it and no one had seen it on sale in the few Waitrose stores which actually stock it.Such a pity! The jams are gorgeous but the labelling is so embracing that the colour cannot be seen; the flours are good but are unable to compete for price with in-store brands.If we are trading on the WI's reputation for good food, we need to hype up the product, be more aggressive in the market or we will be ignored.WI members need to buy the stuff themselves and demand it from the stores which do not offer it on their shelves.It is good stuff but we as members must buy it and promote it to create a platform for its sale outside the WI, otherwise it will fail. It's war out there on the shop floor.
22nd March
One member of the local WI Book Group pointed out this afternoon that we had never before spent so long discussing a book as we did today. The novel under scrutiny was "Room" by Sue Donaghue which is not a factual account of a real event but is vaguely based on those horrifying stories of women abducted and kept prisoner for years in the power of some perverted individual. However, this story was told through the eyes of a five year old child born under these circumstances into a world which was just one small room.One approached this novel with some apprehension thinking it was going to be too distressing but although one couldn't say one enjoyed it, it was an unforgettable book to read---so well written, so original and so thought-provoking. We requested the set through the County Library with little hope of getting it because it was so recently published but it arrived very quickly.All credit to the library for spotting a title which would be in demand. If you are part of a reading group, we all recommend it to you.
A very small group of local WI members met this evening for the monthly discussion. This time the subject was "gadgets": what constitutes something termed a gadget? Do gadgets become items of universal usage and therefore just tools or equipment? Women's gadgets seem to be in the kitchen whereas those that appeal to males revolve around the car or they are electronic devices or executive toys.A lot of fun was had describing gadgets which actually caused more hassle than the simple method used for years.There is something derogatory in the word gadget. Of course we digressed into the causes of domestic friction when the males presumed control of the remote for the TV--inborn technical superiority---and in the car when perhaps the coming of satnav systems will reinforce the refusal to wind down the window and ask directions.
6th-9th April
The WI had been invited to have a stall at the Love Food, Hate Waste Chiltern Food Fair at Great Missenden. It was a pity we were not to enjoy the earlier good weather: it was wet and cold even under canvas but still people turned out to graze their way around the stalls. The WI was promoting the new range of WI foods and the latest recipe books published in 2012.The public still think of the WI as jam and cake makers.We were out to attract new members too.It is always pleasant to talk to others but is quite difficult to smile and appear enthusiastic when one's lost contact with one's feet and is beginning to hallucinate about cups of tea from a proper cup or a hot rum toddy.There will have to be better publicity about WI foods because no one knew anything about it and no one had seen it on sale in the few Waitrose stores which actually stock it.Such a pity! The jams are gorgeous but the labelling is so embracing that the colour cannot be seen; the flours are good but are unable to compete for price with in-store brands.If we are trading on the WI's reputation for good food, we need to hype up the product, be more aggressive in the market or we will be ignored.WI members need to buy the stuff themselves and demand it from the stores which do not offer it on their shelves.It is good stuff but we as members must buy it and promote it to create a platform for its sale outside the WI, otherwise it will fail. It's war out there on the shop floor.
22nd March
One member of the local WI Book Group pointed out this afternoon that we had never before spent so long discussing a book as we did today. The novel under scrutiny was "Room" by Sue Donaghue which is not a factual account of a real event but is vaguely based on those horrifying stories of women abducted and kept prisoner for years in the power of some perverted individual. However, this story was told through the eyes of a five year old child born under these circumstances into a world which was just one small room.One approached this novel with some apprehension thinking it was going to be too distressing but although one couldn't say one enjoyed it, it was an unforgettable book to read---so well written, so original and so thought-provoking. We requested the set through the County Library with little hope of getting it because it was so recently published but it arrived very quickly.All credit to the library for spotting a title which would be in demand. If you are part of a reading group, we all recommend it to you.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Celebrating the new and old
14th March
This evening the local WI discussion Group tackled the topic of agriculture which influences all our lives to a larger or smaller extent. One doesn't have to go back many generations before we can all recall a family member engaged on the land.The WI itself started off with a strong rural base with tie -ins with agricultural colleges.Of course the threat of drought, not just in the UK this summer, but as a worldwide problem came up and the availability of food out of season throughout the year. We also aired the attitude of the public towards farming on land use when some local issues were discussed: would we prefer pigs to new housing across the road?
Have you read about this graffiti knitter who is posting knitted landscapes in public places in Saltburn?Now they are appearing over telephone boxes in London. I do hope that it turns out to be the work of WI members but I don't think a WI member would have the time to spare to produce these works of art.
13th March
The local WI President held a new members' evening in her home tonight. Because our WI continues to grow at a healthy rate, it was felt that anyone new to WI was rather thrown in at the deep end.There is always so much going on at meetings that a first-time joiner doesn't know what she has joined nor about the place of the WI in the community and in the general fabric of society.Most of the information one needs as a member is in the WI diary but one never orders one of those until the second year of attendance. Anyway it was a very pleasant evening when we touched on the history, the resolution process and the jungle of shortcut capital letters such as ACWW, WI Adviser, Green letter, ACM etc. We also heard of new WIs being formed in the county of which we had all been unaware because there has been no notice in the newsletter or on the website.We would have liked to share in the success and perhaps invite members from a new WI to visit ours which is celebrating its 90th year.
8th March
Today was the meeting of the Education and Current Affairs sub-committee. We only just made the quorum which was a pity as there was so much to arrange.Over the Easter break the WI is being given a stall at the Chiltern Food and Drink Festival at Great Missenden. We hope to display and promote the new range of WI foods and recipe books.However it is proving very difficult to obtain samples.An exercise in hard sell, it certainly isn't.
7th March
The local WI was full to bursting today to hear a speaker on the house and gardens at Stowe.Although many of us visit Stowe quite regularly we didn't know a lot about its history and the speaker's amusing and almost diffident presentation was most enjoyable.The business side of the meeting consisted of a string of dates for the summer because of the Jubilee , the Olympic Torch and our own 90th Anniversary and the county programme of events. Some members had visited Denman College and had been very impressed.The WI Treasurer presented a budget for the year which prophesied a deficit because there wouldn't be time to organise a big fund-raiser this year. However we should be able to live on our fat for one year and accept the need for something special in 2013.
This evening the local WI discussion Group tackled the topic of agriculture which influences all our lives to a larger or smaller extent. One doesn't have to go back many generations before we can all recall a family member engaged on the land.The WI itself started off with a strong rural base with tie -ins with agricultural colleges.Of course the threat of drought, not just in the UK this summer, but as a worldwide problem came up and the availability of food out of season throughout the year. We also aired the attitude of the public towards farming on land use when some local issues were discussed: would we prefer pigs to new housing across the road?
Have you read about this graffiti knitter who is posting knitted landscapes in public places in Saltburn?Now they are appearing over telephone boxes in London. I do hope that it turns out to be the work of WI members but I don't think a WI member would have the time to spare to produce these works of art.
13th March
The local WI President held a new members' evening in her home tonight. Because our WI continues to grow at a healthy rate, it was felt that anyone new to WI was rather thrown in at the deep end.There is always so much going on at meetings that a first-time joiner doesn't know what she has joined nor about the place of the WI in the community and in the general fabric of society.Most of the information one needs as a member is in the WI diary but one never orders one of those until the second year of attendance. Anyway it was a very pleasant evening when we touched on the history, the resolution process and the jungle of shortcut capital letters such as ACWW, WI Adviser, Green letter, ACM etc. We also heard of new WIs being formed in the county of which we had all been unaware because there has been no notice in the newsletter or on the website.We would have liked to share in the success and perhaps invite members from a new WI to visit ours which is celebrating its 90th year.
8th March
Today was the meeting of the Education and Current Affairs sub-committee. We only just made the quorum which was a pity as there was so much to arrange.Over the Easter break the WI is being given a stall at the Chiltern Food and Drink Festival at Great Missenden. We hope to display and promote the new range of WI foods and recipe books.However it is proving very difficult to obtain samples.An exercise in hard sell, it certainly isn't.
7th March
The local WI was full to bursting today to hear a speaker on the house and gardens at Stowe.Although many of us visit Stowe quite regularly we didn't know a lot about its history and the speaker's amusing and almost diffident presentation was most enjoyable.The business side of the meeting consisted of a string of dates for the summer because of the Jubilee , the Olympic Torch and our own 90th Anniversary and the county programme of events. Some members had visited Denman College and had been very impressed.The WI Treasurer presented a budget for the year which prophesied a deficit because there wouldn't be time to organise a big fund-raiser this year. However we should be able to live on our fat for one year and accept the need for something special in 2013.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Different webs
28th February
I have been reading the latest issue of the WI Life magazine and was most interested in the article about blogging. I hope it will encourage the WI members in Bucks to blog. The examples described in the magazine were very professionally produced; several of them seemed to be promoting businesses as well as hobby interests. They also included photos and pictures which of course this one never has done. The article stresses how easy it is to blog which is what I have been saying for years but it is obvious why I don't receive comments. I have never gone into other people's blogs. It all depends on what you are aiming to achieve by your blog. If it's an advertising tool or a form of chat show, fine. This one isn't: I set it up with the blessing of BFWI to illustrate the various activities a WI member in Bucks could enjoy, a form of advertising I suppose or a promotional item.Who else in Bucks WIs has a blog? Why not make contact with this blog and advise me on whether I should change the style and direction? I don't want Facebook or to Tweet but think I could liven this up a bit if it is thought old fashioned.
27th February
Today two coach loads of Bucks WI members travelled down to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. We enjoyed a marvellously traffic-free run there and back and spent about five hours roaming around the museum. The draw was the exhibition of photographs of Queen Elizabeth taken by Cecil Beaton. There were nearly 100 of them as well as film clips and Beaton's personal scrapbooks which were fascinating to read. The day also afforded time to view the collection of artefacts from all over the world and I came home suffering from an overload of colour, design and pattern in every sort of material there is.What was particularly breath-taking was a cloak made over 4 years from material spun and woven from the Golden Orb Weaving Spider---well, about a million of them were used to create the whole thing.Some drawings and paintings by Beatrix Potter were on display and the jewellery was absolutely beautiful.
21st February
The local WI Book Group met this afternoon and we talked about Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd.In spite of the violence contained in the novel, most members really enjoyed reading this thriller. It was very well written with a complicated plot and set along the banks of the river Thames from Chelsea down to Canvey Island. In fact, it was quite Dickensian when describing conditions in East London which in some ways haven't improved in the last 200 years. The story raised issues of the plight of the homeless, the corruption of the welfare state and the big business manipulation of medicinal drugs: also, rather worryingly, the amount of trained fighters released into society who may be useful to perform tasks for illegal concerns or security firms.
13th February
A fantastically busy gathering of members for the Craft Group today. Somerset patchwork has proved very popular and when the members had seen at the last monthly meeting what a beginner could achieve, we had some new people come along inspired to start.Several members are making a cosy for tea and coffee pots for the April Council Meeting competition and work has started on the exhibit for the County Show.A neighbouring WI has invited us along to a craft workshop next month and some of our members are involved with courses at local shops.The meetings of our craft group are great for swapping ideas and getting another answer to a problem that has arisen in some craft project---or come to think of it, in life in general!
I have been reading the latest issue of the WI Life magazine and was most interested in the article about blogging. I hope it will encourage the WI members in Bucks to blog. The examples described in the magazine were very professionally produced; several of them seemed to be promoting businesses as well as hobby interests. They also included photos and pictures which of course this one never has done. The article stresses how easy it is to blog which is what I have been saying for years but it is obvious why I don't receive comments. I have never gone into other people's blogs. It all depends on what you are aiming to achieve by your blog. If it's an advertising tool or a form of chat show, fine. This one isn't: I set it up with the blessing of BFWI to illustrate the various activities a WI member in Bucks could enjoy, a form of advertising I suppose or a promotional item.Who else in Bucks WIs has a blog? Why not make contact with this blog and advise me on whether I should change the style and direction? I don't want Facebook or to Tweet but think I could liven this up a bit if it is thought old fashioned.
27th February
Today two coach loads of Bucks WI members travelled down to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. We enjoyed a marvellously traffic-free run there and back and spent about five hours roaming around the museum. The draw was the exhibition of photographs of Queen Elizabeth taken by Cecil Beaton. There were nearly 100 of them as well as film clips and Beaton's personal scrapbooks which were fascinating to read. The day also afforded time to view the collection of artefacts from all over the world and I came home suffering from an overload of colour, design and pattern in every sort of material there is.What was particularly breath-taking was a cloak made over 4 years from material spun and woven from the Golden Orb Weaving Spider---well, about a million of them were used to create the whole thing.Some drawings and paintings by Beatrix Potter were on display and the jewellery was absolutely beautiful.
21st February
The local WI Book Group met this afternoon and we talked about Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd.In spite of the violence contained in the novel, most members really enjoyed reading this thriller. It was very well written with a complicated plot and set along the banks of the river Thames from Chelsea down to Canvey Island. In fact, it was quite Dickensian when describing conditions in East London which in some ways haven't improved in the last 200 years. The story raised issues of the plight of the homeless, the corruption of the welfare state and the big business manipulation of medicinal drugs: also, rather worryingly, the amount of trained fighters released into society who may be useful to perform tasks for illegal concerns or security firms.
13th February
A fantastically busy gathering of members for the Craft Group today. Somerset patchwork has proved very popular and when the members had seen at the last monthly meeting what a beginner could achieve, we had some new people come along inspired to start.Several members are making a cosy for tea and coffee pots for the April Council Meeting competition and work has started on the exhibit for the County Show.A neighbouring WI has invited us along to a craft workshop next month and some of our members are involved with courses at local shops.The meetings of our craft group are great for swapping ideas and getting another answer to a problem that has arisen in some craft project---or come to think of it, in life in general!
Monday, 13 February 2012
Talk amongst ourselves
8th February
The local WI Discussion Group met this evening for the first time since December and we all enjoyed getting beyond our own four walls while the snow still lay around.We set out to discuss the short list of resolutions even though our votes had been already cast at the January WI meeting. Then, the two delegates had reported back from the Selection Meeting in Aylesbury but discussion amongst 45 people is not really easy and there was pressure for time.We were fairly evenly torn between the wish for more midwives and against the closure of environmental centres.Discussing all the topics led to talk about the system of choosing resolutions and the importance of WIs following up on those passed at the Annual General Meetings.After the "set" topics we ranged back over some of the resolutions from the past and once more thanked our lucky stars for living in the age in which we are and for having seen so much progress in science and technology, knowledge in general.
3rd February
As 2012 is a big anniversary for our local WI, not just the Jubilee and Charles Dickens, we spent this morning looking through our archives and thinking about what to display when we hold our birthday event in July. Material has been squirrelled away in variuous houses across the years so we now have a list of where everything is.We need a new scrapbook for the last couple of years of photos and press cuttings. There is a danger, now that events are recorded electronically, that things might disappear from the obvious tangible records that are needed for exhibitions.What struck me was how old fashioned material looked which had been produced in our own lifetimes.Tempus fugit.
1st February
What a good meeting we enjoyed tonight. There had had to be a straight swap between speakers booked for the annual programme. About 45 members watched a butcher prepare a lamb carcass for the shop. Not one member keeled over because it was all so clinically cold. We learned about the problems besetting butchers today, a trade where there are few apprentices and many high street shops are disappearing. We touched on the butchery methods of people working in supermarkets and the damaging effect of animals travelling long distances to slaughterhouses---a subject which the WI tried to bring to more general notice through a resolution some years ago. Then the butcher handed out a quiz for members to do. I wonder how many unsuspecting males on the verge of sleep were suddenly asked "So what is the gestation period of a pig?" It is surprising the interests one develops via the WI.
Did you see the lady on Mastermind who had chosen the WI as her specialist subject? Poor woman, in the stress of the moment she forgot the name of our National Chair: she'll probably be excommunicated! Actually she did very well but didn't win the round. I wonder whether a Mastermind might go down well in Bucks. Members enjoy the quiz evenings but those are team events and not such a challenge as an individual trial.
The local WI Discussion Group met this evening for the first time since December and we all enjoyed getting beyond our own four walls while the snow still lay around.We set out to discuss the short list of resolutions even though our votes had been already cast at the January WI meeting. Then, the two delegates had reported back from the Selection Meeting in Aylesbury but discussion amongst 45 people is not really easy and there was pressure for time.We were fairly evenly torn between the wish for more midwives and against the closure of environmental centres.Discussing all the topics led to talk about the system of choosing resolutions and the importance of WIs following up on those passed at the Annual General Meetings.After the "set" topics we ranged back over some of the resolutions from the past and once more thanked our lucky stars for living in the age in which we are and for having seen so much progress in science and technology, knowledge in general.
3rd February
As 2012 is a big anniversary for our local WI, not just the Jubilee and Charles Dickens, we spent this morning looking through our archives and thinking about what to display when we hold our birthday event in July. Material has been squirrelled away in variuous houses across the years so we now have a list of where everything is.We need a new scrapbook for the last couple of years of photos and press cuttings. There is a danger, now that events are recorded electronically, that things might disappear from the obvious tangible records that are needed for exhibitions.What struck me was how old fashioned material looked which had been produced in our own lifetimes.Tempus fugit.
1st February
What a good meeting we enjoyed tonight. There had had to be a straight swap between speakers booked for the annual programme. About 45 members watched a butcher prepare a lamb carcass for the shop. Not one member keeled over because it was all so clinically cold. We learned about the problems besetting butchers today, a trade where there are few apprentices and many high street shops are disappearing. We touched on the butchery methods of people working in supermarkets and the damaging effect of animals travelling long distances to slaughterhouses---a subject which the WI tried to bring to more general notice through a resolution some years ago. Then the butcher handed out a quiz for members to do. I wonder how many unsuspecting males on the verge of sleep were suddenly asked "So what is the gestation period of a pig?" It is surprising the interests one develops via the WI.
Did you see the lady on Mastermind who had chosen the WI as her specialist subject? Poor woman, in the stress of the moment she forgot the name of our National Chair: she'll probably be excommunicated! Actually she did very well but didn't win the round. I wonder whether a Mastermind might go down well in Bucks. Members enjoy the quiz evenings but those are team events and not such a challenge as an individual trial.
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