This is probably my last entry for the year so may I wish my silent readers a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year!
5th December
The local WI gathered for its last meeting in 2012 which took the form of a party evening. We celebrated our rising membership, our continuing engagement with the town community through our bid for a grant to provide an exercise facility and the fact that so many of us had braved the dangers of ice-covered paths to actually get to the meeting.The programme for 2013 was announced and volunteers found to provide thanks to the speakers throughout the year and people to serve teas. The WI here doesn't charge for refreshments at meetings and gives everyone a county newsletter each month, nor does it have a raffle every month---all measures to offset the annual small rise in the subscription.
Arrangements for the Christmas dinner were completed and plans made for securing tickets for events in the New Year.A discussion evening was fixed to look at the future of Denman College before members completed the survey in the latest issue of WI Life.The Denman bursary is going to be spent on a cookery demonstration for all members by a Denman tutor in the summer.Our WI alternates its spending of the annual bursary between a course won by one member and a group activity of an educational nature to which every member can come. This year by inviting a Denman tutor we think we have combined the two options .
We enjoyed a very entertaining quiz set by a member, raised a glass of wine and tasted lovely festive food and then concentrated hard on the beetle drive.This is a sport that guarantees a lot of noise and laughter. It was a very fitting end to a sporty year.
27th November
In the afternoon the Book Group met to review The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw. This novel is set in Malaysia in the 1940s.Events are described by three people who took part in the same situations together but of course take a different stance on the action. One begins to see the reasons for the outcome and the effects it has on the lives of the characters. We were transported into the heat of the East and could visualise the dense vegetation and the tensions within the group as they explored a small island off the coast.The author obviously loves exotic plants and the use of them in gardens too, which is in direct contrast to the brutality and deceptions in the break up of the area prior to invasion.
In the evening about half the local WI membership met in a pub to play skittles.Some had played before but most were beginners. It is a very noisy activity anyway but add to that two teams in battle drawn and it was no wonder that the bars below cleared quite early on.The pub is under new management and under threat of losing its skittle alley so we thought we would go down and play a session to try to influence the management decision to keep it. Now having tested the facility, it seems we may go regularly because we enjoyed ourselves so much. There was good food on offer too and that always influences WI thinking!
26th November
The craft group met for the final session this year. Some members are going to a local shop for a patchwork course. We are lucky to have 2 good craft shops in the area which provide different courses in different skills.There is also a very well-stocked little shop in a neighbouring town which is having to compete with the giants such as Hobbycraft but hasn't the space to run courses. I hope we can continue to support these places.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Monday, 26 November 2012
Things to do to escape the weather
24 November
The latest issue of WI Life is very important because it contains the voting slip for members to nominate which Resolution they prefer for the AGM in Cardiff on 1st June 2013. It is between one about town centres and another about the dangers of Internet sites promoting suicide among young people.Hand your vote in to your local WI Secretary or send it direct to the Bucks Federation Office in High Wycombe but not to NFWI where it will be discounted.
Also in the December magazine there is a very important survey about what Denman College means to you. The National Board of Trustees alerted members to the problems in maintaining the college in the future and has opened up the debate through this survey. Please really think about this discussion and fill in the form.I am sure most WI Secretaries will be willing to collect them and send them up together to save postage on individual returns.
The December issue of our own newsletter is important too as it lists many events planned for the next 3 months which are not advertised on the website calendar---a missed opportunity it seems to me.Spread the word so that we can escape this ghastly weather together at some event:it saves on the heating bills too!
22 November
WI Christmas shopping days were held this week in members' own homes.Merchandise is brought out from the WI Shop at Stuart Lodge so that people who cannot face the journey there may enjoy looking and buying while consuming homemade mincepies and coffee in comfort. It is also a time to catch up on local news and check on what other WIs have been doing over the past few months.
14 November
A meeting was held in Winslow this evening to inform people about the changes being made in healthcare in North Bucks. This was one of a series set up by Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Group (AVCCG)---a new organisation run by family doctors which will take on budgetary and decision-making powers from April 2013.
More detail was given of the new non-emergency out-of-hours telephone number 111 which will direct callers to the most appropriate service in their area via a telephone triage system.More volunteers were needed to take up the role of being a member of the Patient Engagement Group (PEG). The Director of Quality for AVCCG and the Clinical Leads will all welcome feedback about health services, both positive and negative from the public.
Every GP is a member of the CCG and each practice manager is involved, so these changes are going to affect all WI members and their families wherever they live. Therefore it is a good idea to be aware of what differences are going to be made and to know what is meant by AVCCG, CCG and PEG.
12 November
A craft afternoon for the local WI when members gathered together either to learn a bit of crochet or to continue with some other project in the company of others. Is this the definition of a sewing bee? Certainly everyone was very busy and enjoyed the chat as well as finalising plans for attending other events and talking over what they had thought of those held recently.
The latest issue of WI Life is very important because it contains the voting slip for members to nominate which Resolution they prefer for the AGM in Cardiff on 1st June 2013. It is between one about town centres and another about the dangers of Internet sites promoting suicide among young people.Hand your vote in to your local WI Secretary or send it direct to the Bucks Federation Office in High Wycombe but not to NFWI where it will be discounted.
Also in the December magazine there is a very important survey about what Denman College means to you. The National Board of Trustees alerted members to the problems in maintaining the college in the future and has opened up the debate through this survey. Please really think about this discussion and fill in the form.I am sure most WI Secretaries will be willing to collect them and send them up together to save postage on individual returns.
The December issue of our own newsletter is important too as it lists many events planned for the next 3 months which are not advertised on the website calendar---a missed opportunity it seems to me.Spread the word so that we can escape this ghastly weather together at some event:it saves on the heating bills too!
22 November
WI Christmas shopping days were held this week in members' own homes.Merchandise is brought out from the WI Shop at Stuart Lodge so that people who cannot face the journey there may enjoy looking and buying while consuming homemade mincepies and coffee in comfort. It is also a time to catch up on local news and check on what other WIs have been doing over the past few months.
14 November
A meeting was held in Winslow this evening to inform people about the changes being made in healthcare in North Bucks. This was one of a series set up by Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Group (AVCCG)---a new organisation run by family doctors which will take on budgetary and decision-making powers from April 2013.
More detail was given of the new non-emergency out-of-hours telephone number 111 which will direct callers to the most appropriate service in their area via a telephone triage system.More volunteers were needed to take up the role of being a member of the Patient Engagement Group (PEG). The Director of Quality for AVCCG and the Clinical Leads will all welcome feedback about health services, both positive and negative from the public.
Every GP is a member of the CCG and each practice manager is involved, so these changes are going to affect all WI members and their families wherever they live. Therefore it is a good idea to be aware of what differences are going to be made and to know what is meant by AVCCG, CCG and PEG.
12 November
A craft afternoon for the local WI when members gathered together either to learn a bit of crochet or to continue with some other project in the company of others. Is this the definition of a sewing bee? Certainly everyone was very busy and enjoyed the chat as well as finalising plans for attending other events and talking over what they had thought of those held recently.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Connections
29 October
The local WI Craft Group has come to the end of a series of sessions doing cross-stitch. There are some impressive projects still to be completed but now there is a change of subject. Six members gathered today to learn or re-discover crochet. Abilities ranged from beginners to the very proficient. There are more people interested in joining the group but half-term rather affected the numbers attending this first session.We hope to take in reading knitting patterns as well because there are quite a few knitters who can do all the stitches but have difficulty following a pattern.These meetings have a very pleasant atmosphere because one helps another and it doesn't matter if anyone comes along just to do any craft in company with others: we share in the talk and a cup of tea.
24 October
A nasty morning weatherwise so about 40 WI members from across the County were pleased to meet in Milton Keynes to learn how to start to set up a family tree. The tutors were excellent and their presentations were easy to see and understand.They talked us through from buying soft pencils and index cards to consulting census forms and deciphering parish registers.The questions were all answered and talk over lunch was all about "lost" past family members and strange family myths which were either proved absolutely wrong or had become embellished over the years.We are now capable of finding skeletons in cupboards and broad-minded enough to acknowledge them. It worries me that the present mores of society are going to make it extremely difficult for future generations to trace their families when everyone is able to play fast and loose with registering names of children and changing partners frequently.The displays of examples of family records were good too. I for one am now determined to organise the bits of paper with dates and names on which I have been storing in old envelopes in "important drawers" about the house and consult the many websites which Betty and Brian recommended to us. You never know, I might find someone famous among my ancestors...but I don't think that is very likely.You missed an enjoyable day if you weren't there!
23 October
Confusion worse confounded today! Our WI Book Group met to discuss "Started early, Took my Dog" by Kate Atkinson.This is one of her novels featuring the detective Jackson Brodie; I think my favourite sleuth. The plot is so finely woven that quite a few of us finished reading not sure how we had missed a vital link and had to start again. The fact that we wanted to do this is a compliment to the writing. The characters are well drawn and the jokes and puns are really funny. The comment on society is spot on although rather unsettling as there are crooked police officers and social workers and businessmen...At the moment, what's new? So we pooled our ideas and we think we have cracked it! It is well worth reading. The novel is set in Yorkshire with lots of references to well-known abbeys and Betty's Tearooms so a must for the Bucks WI members just returned from holiday in Skipton.
The local WI Craft Group has come to the end of a series of sessions doing cross-stitch. There are some impressive projects still to be completed but now there is a change of subject. Six members gathered today to learn or re-discover crochet. Abilities ranged from beginners to the very proficient. There are more people interested in joining the group but half-term rather affected the numbers attending this first session.We hope to take in reading knitting patterns as well because there are quite a few knitters who can do all the stitches but have difficulty following a pattern.These meetings have a very pleasant atmosphere because one helps another and it doesn't matter if anyone comes along just to do any craft in company with others: we share in the talk and a cup of tea.
24 October
A nasty morning weatherwise so about 40 WI members from across the County were pleased to meet in Milton Keynes to learn how to start to set up a family tree. The tutors were excellent and their presentations were easy to see and understand.They talked us through from buying soft pencils and index cards to consulting census forms and deciphering parish registers.The questions were all answered and talk over lunch was all about "lost" past family members and strange family myths which were either proved absolutely wrong or had become embellished over the years.We are now capable of finding skeletons in cupboards and broad-minded enough to acknowledge them. It worries me that the present mores of society are going to make it extremely difficult for future generations to trace their families when everyone is able to play fast and loose with registering names of children and changing partners frequently.The displays of examples of family records were good too. I for one am now determined to organise the bits of paper with dates and names on which I have been storing in old envelopes in "important drawers" about the house and consult the many websites which Betty and Brian recommended to us. You never know, I might find someone famous among my ancestors...but I don't think that is very likely.You missed an enjoyable day if you weren't there!
23 October
Confusion worse confounded today! Our WI Book Group met to discuss "Started early, Took my Dog" by Kate Atkinson.This is one of her novels featuring the detective Jackson Brodie; I think my favourite sleuth. The plot is so finely woven that quite a few of us finished reading not sure how we had missed a vital link and had to start again. The fact that we wanted to do this is a compliment to the writing. The characters are well drawn and the jokes and puns are really funny. The comment on society is spot on although rather unsettling as there are crooked police officers and social workers and businessmen...At the moment, what's new? So we pooled our ideas and we think we have cracked it! It is well worth reading. The novel is set in Yorkshire with lots of references to well-known abbeys and Betty's Tearooms so a must for the Bucks WI members just returned from holiday in Skipton.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Making oneself heard
15 October
Another busy day for the local WI because the craft group met in the afternoon and then our WI was the hostess for the Group meeting. The craft people held their final cross-stitch session before changing to crochet for a few weeks. There are quite a few ambitious tapestry projects started and we have gained a lot from our own member's excellent tuition.
The speaker at the Group meeting was Malcolm Singer who has enjoyed a long career with the BBC and still presents programmes for local radio.Luckily, in today's climate, he had few associations with television. He reminded us of the good old days when the classic comedy radio shows were going out on the air in the fifties and sixties and told us about the difficulties encountered with outside broadcasts of concerts from places like the Stables at Wavendon before its conversion to a state-of-the-arts theatre.We also enjoyed a good moan about the shutting down of much local radio and the growth of these pointless phone-in programmes.The reports from the other WIs were very interesting and it was noticeable how busy everyone had been in the village communities, doing their bit for the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics.
10 October
Today the Bucks Federation arranged an Autumn event in High Wycombe Town Hall at which Lynda Bellingham was the guest speaker. It was a sell-out because Lynda is a local girl and she has appeared in the Calendar Girls productions.She is a very gifted public speaker, never refering to notes and perfectly at ease with questions which led her into interesting digressions. I wonder whether anyone thought to tell her that at least one of the teachers she mentioned from the Aylesbury High School could have been in the audience, as she used to be a very active WI member.Lynda talked about adoption and the attitude towards young girls in the theatre in her early years when verbal and physical abuse were thought of as an easy source of laughs. She probably did more for members' awareness of the WI campaign against Violence against Women than any article in WI Life. Lynda's autobiography was selling like hot cakes afterwards and I do recommend that you read it, if you or any member of your family was about Aylesbury while she was growing up in Aston Abbots.
In the evening the local WI Discussion Group met to talk about the set theme of Driving.Love it or hate it we all have to do quite a bit of driving in our everyday lives.So we heard of experiences on driving tests,road accidents, the idiosyncrases of Sat-Nav, comparisons with practices abroad: the state of the roads also came up for comment.We discussed schemes to cut down on traffic but no one could come up with a way of crossing through Aylesbury in less than 35 minutes.
3 October
I don't know how I missed writing about our local WI's meeting when we were entertained by a lovely young lady demonstrating hula-hoop dance. She was wonderfully supple and a living example of the benefits of this type of exercise.Hula-hoop dancing is a cross between gymnastics and the dance of the seven veils! It wasn't long before people were getting up and having a go with the hoops that Janine Haynes had brought to the hall.Apparently a few minutes a day of exercising with a hoop is relaxing and burns off the calories so perhaps we should take it up in earnest.Members were also encouraged to nominate others to the committee and consider standing themselves. Our entry for the Big Walk, Little Splash competition has gone up for judging in the Bucks Federation so we are waiting to hear whether it has been successful and chosen to progress into the NFWI competition.
Another busy day for the local WI because the craft group met in the afternoon and then our WI was the hostess for the Group meeting. The craft people held their final cross-stitch session before changing to crochet for a few weeks. There are quite a few ambitious tapestry projects started and we have gained a lot from our own member's excellent tuition.
The speaker at the Group meeting was Malcolm Singer who has enjoyed a long career with the BBC and still presents programmes for local radio.Luckily, in today's climate, he had few associations with television. He reminded us of the good old days when the classic comedy radio shows were going out on the air in the fifties and sixties and told us about the difficulties encountered with outside broadcasts of concerts from places like the Stables at Wavendon before its conversion to a state-of-the-arts theatre.We also enjoyed a good moan about the shutting down of much local radio and the growth of these pointless phone-in programmes.The reports from the other WIs were very interesting and it was noticeable how busy everyone had been in the village communities, doing their bit for the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics.
10 October
Today the Bucks Federation arranged an Autumn event in High Wycombe Town Hall at which Lynda Bellingham was the guest speaker. It was a sell-out because Lynda is a local girl and she has appeared in the Calendar Girls productions.She is a very gifted public speaker, never refering to notes and perfectly at ease with questions which led her into interesting digressions. I wonder whether anyone thought to tell her that at least one of the teachers she mentioned from the Aylesbury High School could have been in the audience, as she used to be a very active WI member.Lynda talked about adoption and the attitude towards young girls in the theatre in her early years when verbal and physical abuse were thought of as an easy source of laughs. She probably did more for members' awareness of the WI campaign against Violence against Women than any article in WI Life. Lynda's autobiography was selling like hot cakes afterwards and I do recommend that you read it, if you or any member of your family was about Aylesbury while she was growing up in Aston Abbots.
In the evening the local WI Discussion Group met to talk about the set theme of Driving.Love it or hate it we all have to do quite a bit of driving in our everyday lives.So we heard of experiences on driving tests,road accidents, the idiosyncrases of Sat-Nav, comparisons with practices abroad: the state of the roads also came up for comment.We discussed schemes to cut down on traffic but no one could come up with a way of crossing through Aylesbury in less than 35 minutes.
3 October
I don't know how I missed writing about our local WI's meeting when we were entertained by a lovely young lady demonstrating hula-hoop dance. She was wonderfully supple and a living example of the benefits of this type of exercise.Hula-hoop dancing is a cross between gymnastics and the dance of the seven veils! It wasn't long before people were getting up and having a go with the hoops that Janine Haynes had brought to the hall.Apparently a few minutes a day of exercising with a hoop is relaxing and burns off the calories so perhaps we should take it up in earnest.Members were also encouraged to nominate others to the committee and consider standing themselves. Our entry for the Big Walk, Little Splash competition has gone up for judging in the Bucks Federation so we are waiting to hear whether it has been successful and chosen to progress into the NFWI competition.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Pens,jars and books
8th October
Ten apprehensive WI members met together this morning at Stuart Lodge, High Wycombe for a Writers' Workshop under the tutorship of Jan Moran Neil.We had been warned to expect writing exercises, group discussion and brainstorming as well as reading our own words so it wasn't really surprising that we were feeling nervous. The theme was to be our personal memory box and how to use it for writing not only our memoirs but also for background experience if any of us was contemplating writing a novel.With Jan's sympathetic approach to all our fears, we were soon scribbling away and listening to what others had written. It wasn't a time for in-depth literary criticism, more an opportunity to draw out thoughts that had been pushed to the back of our minds but needed organising. Where do I begin? Who am I writing for? Why do I want to write this anyway? The hours passed very quickly and although it was exceedingly tiring I think we all enjoyed the course.Jan runs courses and day schools at Missenden Abbey and in Beaconsfield so some of our October scribblers are thinking of joining in one of these.So you never know perhaps the next shades of grey bestseller might come from a Bucks WI member.
We did have time to express our indignation at the latest dictum from the EU banning the re-use of jamjars for home-made preserves for sale on stalls and Farmers' Markets.Come on National! We won on the silly ban on cakes so please make sure this is laughed out of court. Where does one buy small quantities of new jam jars? Preserving jars, yes but ordinary jars come in bulk and the average WI member doesn't deal in gross. Perhaps the EU is not aware that part of the production process for jams and marmalade is scalding the jars to sterilize them.
4th October
A lot of local endeavour this week has been spent on preparing a promotional WI display board and publicity stand to support the town players' production of Calendar Girls. This was staged for 3 nights and was a sell-out on all three. It was a really good production, very slick and well done.We were pleased to be asked to come along because it is still a wonderful advertisement for the WI even though we are often asked whether stripping is part of being a WI member. We were pleased to have also another opportunity to gather signatures for our community bid with the Town Council for an Outdoor Fitness Centre in the town.We have hundreds of signatures now and hope that we will be successful.
26th September
Another interesting meeting of the Book Group after reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Some members had seen the film too but nearly everyone had enjoyed reading the novel. The subject was distressing: the intense divide between black and white in the American South which featured in our newspapers in the 1960s but the author's treatment of it was sympathetic and witty. It is one of those books where one moment the reader is laughing out loud and the next close to tears.It was very effective to have 3 characters telling the story in their own accents which one could hear across the script.The cruelty and insensitivity exhibited so recently in that society is hard to believe but as one of the characters says "It was taught and passed down from parent to child." The lines were drawn and no one dared to cross them.
Ten apprehensive WI members met together this morning at Stuart Lodge, High Wycombe for a Writers' Workshop under the tutorship of Jan Moran Neil.We had been warned to expect writing exercises, group discussion and brainstorming as well as reading our own words so it wasn't really surprising that we were feeling nervous. The theme was to be our personal memory box and how to use it for writing not only our memoirs but also for background experience if any of us was contemplating writing a novel.With Jan's sympathetic approach to all our fears, we were soon scribbling away and listening to what others had written. It wasn't a time for in-depth literary criticism, more an opportunity to draw out thoughts that had been pushed to the back of our minds but needed organising. Where do I begin? Who am I writing for? Why do I want to write this anyway? The hours passed very quickly and although it was exceedingly tiring I think we all enjoyed the course.Jan runs courses and day schools at Missenden Abbey and in Beaconsfield so some of our October scribblers are thinking of joining in one of these.So you never know perhaps the next shades of grey bestseller might come from a Bucks WI member.
We did have time to express our indignation at the latest dictum from the EU banning the re-use of jamjars for home-made preserves for sale on stalls and Farmers' Markets.Come on National! We won on the silly ban on cakes so please make sure this is laughed out of court. Where does one buy small quantities of new jam jars? Preserving jars, yes but ordinary jars come in bulk and the average WI member doesn't deal in gross. Perhaps the EU is not aware that part of the production process for jams and marmalade is scalding the jars to sterilize them.
4th October
A lot of local endeavour this week has been spent on preparing a promotional WI display board and publicity stand to support the town players' production of Calendar Girls. This was staged for 3 nights and was a sell-out on all three. It was a really good production, very slick and well done.We were pleased to be asked to come along because it is still a wonderful advertisement for the WI even though we are often asked whether stripping is part of being a WI member. We were pleased to have also another opportunity to gather signatures for our community bid with the Town Council for an Outdoor Fitness Centre in the town.We have hundreds of signatures now and hope that we will be successful.
26th September
Another interesting meeting of the Book Group after reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Some members had seen the film too but nearly everyone had enjoyed reading the novel. The subject was distressing: the intense divide between black and white in the American South which featured in our newspapers in the 1960s but the author's treatment of it was sympathetic and witty. It is one of those books where one moment the reader is laughing out loud and the next close to tears.It was very effective to have 3 characters telling the story in their own accents which one could hear across the script.The cruelty and insensitivity exhibited so recently in that society is hard to believe but as one of the characters says "It was taught and passed down from parent to child." The lines were drawn and no one dared to cross them.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Stepping up to be counted
16th September
Now that the Jubilee is over, the Olympics and the Paralympics are finished and we have mastered the new system of rubbish bin disposal whatever shall we talk about? Could I suggest that we think about the coming year when in November most Bucks WIs bring their years to an end and start to choose a new committee? There will be local elections for that and the National Board of Trustees is accepting nominations for the next two years. WIs will be asked to vote soon and we have a local nomination in the Bucks Chairman, Jean Morris this year which is exciting. Also all National Trust members are asked to vote for Appointing Bodies to that organisation and the NFWI is up for election there.So remember to use your vote whenever you have the opportunity---after all only then have you the right to grumble at future decisions.
13th September
Current Affairs sub-committee met today and set about licking its wounds from having to cancel Caring Matters. It was disappointing to have to do this when we had such a good programme of speakers lined up. Anyway Bucks members obviously don't want to think about the fact that they may become carers or already have all the information they require to make their life a little easier.Nothing daunted we are planning events for 2013 another historical day, a day on scientific discoveries and inventions and a couple of really interesting outings. If no one wants to come to those events we shall retire hurt and sneak off to a dark corner and never bother you again.
5th September
The local WI met and enjoyed an interesting talk about medical detection dogs. We are pressing ahead with the application for a grant with the Town Council to set up an outdoor fitness centre like those in Germany and Austria.Equipment for physical exercises will be sited in a closed area for the use of members of the community either on their own or as groups of friends. We have also completed our Big Walk, Little Splash journal and I believe every member has taken part. The trip to Highgrove had been much enjoyed in spite of diabolical weather and there are reports of voices raised in song to sing and dance in the rain.
3rd September
Whenever the blood donors van arrives in the town members of our WI are volunteer drink makers. We have performed this function for many years now and it is much appreciated by the nurses and the donors. Another example of the continued work of volunteers not only at big events but in everyday normal life.
Now that the Jubilee is over, the Olympics and the Paralympics are finished and we have mastered the new system of rubbish bin disposal whatever shall we talk about? Could I suggest that we think about the coming year when in November most Bucks WIs bring their years to an end and start to choose a new committee? There will be local elections for that and the National Board of Trustees is accepting nominations for the next two years. WIs will be asked to vote soon and we have a local nomination in the Bucks Chairman, Jean Morris this year which is exciting. Also all National Trust members are asked to vote for Appointing Bodies to that organisation and the NFWI is up for election there.So remember to use your vote whenever you have the opportunity---after all only then have you the right to grumble at future decisions.
13th September
Current Affairs sub-committee met today and set about licking its wounds from having to cancel Caring Matters. It was disappointing to have to do this when we had such a good programme of speakers lined up. Anyway Bucks members obviously don't want to think about the fact that they may become carers or already have all the information they require to make their life a little easier.Nothing daunted we are planning events for 2013 another historical day, a day on scientific discoveries and inventions and a couple of really interesting outings. If no one wants to come to those events we shall retire hurt and sneak off to a dark corner and never bother you again.
5th September
The local WI met and enjoyed an interesting talk about medical detection dogs. We are pressing ahead with the application for a grant with the Town Council to set up an outdoor fitness centre like those in Germany and Austria.Equipment for physical exercises will be sited in a closed area for the use of members of the community either on their own or as groups of friends. We have also completed our Big Walk, Little Splash journal and I believe every member has taken part. The trip to Highgrove had been much enjoyed in spite of diabolical weather and there are reports of voices raised in song to sing and dance in the rain.
3rd September
Whenever the blood donors van arrives in the town members of our WI are volunteer drink makers. We have performed this function for many years now and it is much appreciated by the nurses and the donors. Another example of the continued work of volunteers not only at big events but in everyday normal life.
Sunday, 2 September 2012
August
30th August
Bucks County Show today.After all the rain the actual showground was already a sea of churned up mud but luckily because of the long spell of wet weather, it hadn't been possible to cut the fields set aside for car parking so the wheels stayed on top of a cushion of long grass.It is always pleasant to wander round and meet WI members either for a cup of tea or in the Home and Garden tent where the competitions are staged.I think there were 19 entries from WIs this year because the theme was very topical "Olympic Glory". It is amazing the different interpretations there are on any subject and this year was no exception. We all thanked the Heavens we were not called upon to be the judges as the standard was very high again. Bledlow WI, Longwick WI and Brill WI all deserved their medals.A lot of work goes into setting up these displays by the WIs but we must not forget the hours spent by the organisers planning the event and of course, the judges for doing their job early in the morning in uncomfortable surroundings whatever the weather.
28th August
The WI book group met in spite of it being a holiday month and nearly everyone was present. We had read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett which was an extremely long book to tackle. Most of our readers thought it a very good story full of interesting details about medieval stone-masons building cathedrals and wicked barons riding amok among the local peasantry.The book was filled with powerful women and the hero was a celibate monk but it was a man's book---lots of gore, rape and pillage---but I suppose that is what the Middle Ages were like really. We are going for something more recent next time with a bit of humour thrown in too.
27th August
Bank Holiday Monday so it is the day for local shows and events. We never learn that it is also the day when the weather throws whatever it can down on us---if it isn't rain, it is a high wind to test the tents or blazing sun to make the animals' and small children's lives a misery.This time it was rain in fierce bursts and sudden gusts of wind.The local WI didn't have a display tent again but most members were present either in the crowd or helping on other stalls for different local organisations. I am sure quite a lot of WI business was conducted on the field in an informal manner because it is an event of importance in the life of the community
9th August
This evening the Great and the Good of BFWI met for supper in Buckland Village Hall. This supper is an annual event hosted by different WIs across Bucks and it affords the committee members who serve the federation a chance to get together socially. It is not a freeby but everyone feels it is worth the outlay just to be away from committee work and meet as people again. As you will imagine some business always creeps in and there is a lot of passing of papers and parcels but it is predominately social. It also brings some funds to the hostess WI. This year it was Buckland, Drayton Beauchamp& Aston Clinton WI who provided a wonderful meal for us.
8th August
The local discussion group met to talk about "Water". Well, we had done "Alcohol" the time before and two members had attended the Current Affairs day event on "Water,water everywhere" last month and wanted to share some of the information they had gathered there.The conversation flowed tonight and ideas were swapped for saving water and sins owned of particular ways in which we waste water.Actually it is a huge topic when you cover droughts, floods,sport and recreation. One realises how much we take for granted in this country and how lucky we are living when and where we do.The WI has always campaigned to help countries where water is scarce and recently has led a campaign to stop people buying bottled water in a land with excellent water services;by doing so,road traffic is increased and yet more plastic is produced to pollute the atmosphere.
Bucks County Show today.After all the rain the actual showground was already a sea of churned up mud but luckily because of the long spell of wet weather, it hadn't been possible to cut the fields set aside for car parking so the wheels stayed on top of a cushion of long grass.It is always pleasant to wander round and meet WI members either for a cup of tea or in the Home and Garden tent where the competitions are staged.I think there were 19 entries from WIs this year because the theme was very topical "Olympic Glory". It is amazing the different interpretations there are on any subject and this year was no exception. We all thanked the Heavens we were not called upon to be the judges as the standard was very high again. Bledlow WI, Longwick WI and Brill WI all deserved their medals.A lot of work goes into setting up these displays by the WIs but we must not forget the hours spent by the organisers planning the event and of course, the judges for doing their job early in the morning in uncomfortable surroundings whatever the weather.
28th August
The WI book group met in spite of it being a holiday month and nearly everyone was present. We had read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett which was an extremely long book to tackle. Most of our readers thought it a very good story full of interesting details about medieval stone-masons building cathedrals and wicked barons riding amok among the local peasantry.The book was filled with powerful women and the hero was a celibate monk but it was a man's book---lots of gore, rape and pillage---but I suppose that is what the Middle Ages were like really. We are going for something more recent next time with a bit of humour thrown in too.
27th August
Bank Holiday Monday so it is the day for local shows and events. We never learn that it is also the day when the weather throws whatever it can down on us---if it isn't rain, it is a high wind to test the tents or blazing sun to make the animals' and small children's lives a misery.This time it was rain in fierce bursts and sudden gusts of wind.The local WI didn't have a display tent again but most members were present either in the crowd or helping on other stalls for different local organisations. I am sure quite a lot of WI business was conducted on the field in an informal manner because it is an event of importance in the life of the community
9th August
This evening the Great and the Good of BFWI met for supper in Buckland Village Hall. This supper is an annual event hosted by different WIs across Bucks and it affords the committee members who serve the federation a chance to get together socially. It is not a freeby but everyone feels it is worth the outlay just to be away from committee work and meet as people again. As you will imagine some business always creeps in and there is a lot of passing of papers and parcels but it is predominately social. It also brings some funds to the hostess WI. This year it was Buckland, Drayton Beauchamp& Aston Clinton WI who provided a wonderful meal for us.
8th August
The local discussion group met to talk about "Water". Well, we had done "Alcohol" the time before and two members had attended the Current Affairs day event on "Water,water everywhere" last month and wanted to share some of the information they had gathered there.The conversation flowed tonight and ideas were swapped for saving water and sins owned of particular ways in which we waste water.Actually it is a huge topic when you cover droughts, floods,sport and recreation. One realises how much we take for granted in this country and how lucky we are living when and where we do.The WI has always campaigned to help countries where water is scarce and recently has led a campaign to stop people buying bottled water in a land with excellent water services;by doing so,road traffic is increased and yet more plastic is produced to pollute the atmosphere.
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