Final update

October / November / December

All meetings successful - the photo was not suitable for ACWW as not clear enough - several further attempts BUT the one inserted in the latest magazine was of Helen, Doreen and Angela planting our tree as this was clearer - this was very valid as all helped on the 1st August.  A crab apple tree was planted on The Batch as a Jubilee celebration with crocus and cyclamen in memory of Beryl Manders. - Thanks to Moira for the lovely photo which was also place in the Journal by Angela.

Colette Jeff WIA presided at the election in November - it was very exciting and finally the new president was elected - Chris Hartley - members were thrilled and Chris is still 'in shock' or so she said at the December party.

The December party was very good - good food, company and a very entertaining speaker.

Merry Christmas to all members.

Update Sept/Oct

Lunch Club very successful at 'The Poachers' I think that's what I heard - lovely meal anyway.

Committee held at Eileen's - good to see everyone again - but guess we talk too much at times!!   There was a lot to plan!   Another name for 2013 committee - so replacing 3 with 3 BUT will they be 'officers'?  Lovely bunch of flowers from Chris - gratefully received by Eileen.   Photo taken of 'tea-makers' in the kitchen -  to send to ACWW - to add to the report of 1st August.

September Meeting

Speaker - the Samaritans should be interesting.   Wasn't really looking forward to this talk - but it was very well done, thought provoking - not a job for many of us - but amazingly worthwhile.   The main credo being confidentiality - not an easy job - just 'listen, listen, listen' - how many of us could resist jumping in with a response!!

More names requested for committee - 3 going - 2 new names - amazing - on the way and a volunteer for President from our list of names - hurrah just got to find a secretary and treasurer - wow - fingers crossed.

Evening ended with a poem about Highclere - congrats to Ruth yet again - it was a marvellous day out.

Guiness Book WI record

Heh - what good news and it was fun - loved it!!

WI members knit their way into the record books

3,083 WI members knitted their way into the Guinness Book of World Records in May during the NFWI AGM at the Royal Albert Hall, London, by breaking the record for the most people knitting simultaneously for fifteen minutes to celebrate traditional craft skills.
The record attempt was undertaken with support from the Crafts Council and the UK Hand Knitting Association to commemorate the Crafts Club initiative, and saw members attending the AGM taking part in 15 minutes of dedicated knitting following a pattern promoted through the WI membership magazine WI Life. Members knitted individual loops that were joined together to form one long chain; representing the links formed by individual WI members throughout the UK. Click here to read Ruth Bond's comment about this tremendous feat.

This is what they did with some of the knitting - formed an anchor for this display.

What I want to know is - then what was it used for or did they just store the anchor for another event!!

September so far

Well September has been very varied - here are a few activities:   a few apologies for committee so meeting shorter than usual - heard that President/Secretary/Treasurer are giving up - whoops - WIA coming to oversee November meeting!!   Binegar need volunteers!!

Some members visited Oakhill Produce Show - saw A&O WI - spent lots on their stalls and won quite a few prizes!!  Weather OK as well - annual egg-throwing excellent success as usual.  Few entries but great - noticed Cranmore member Nicola made a fantastic felt handbag and a crown tea cosy for her Mum won a prize.

Other members helped make teas at the Binegar Playing Fields 'Teddy Bears Picnic' - marvellous photo in the Journal - Day went really well - congrats to the organisers.

Several members have tried out the film club in Wells  (so have Leigh on Mendip)  Angela and Eileen went to 'Anna Karenina' - - set in a theatre (?) fantastic - slightly weird but exotic presentation - very impressive - did Cynthia go to?  Really enjoyed it - well worth going.

Lunch Club were out too - very popular with many of our not so active members as well - this will thrive as long as there are enough drivers to get them there.

Big Walk, Little Splash - well some members have filled in their forms - BUT has everyone - Anne says it's not worth entering if we don't get 100% entry - this is probably highly unlikely but nevertheless walkers/swimmers have been busy - come on everyone!!

Eileen went to a 'Science meeting' in London at NFWI (hence apologies for committee as not home until after 9.00pm) - fascinating if not entirely what was expected - managed to call in for coffee and cup cake at 'The Hummingbird Cafe', South Kensington, - that was certainly fun - cake choice - red velvet - evidently their most popular!!  Coffee excellent - that and cupcake soon put paid to a fiver!!! - very enjoyable tho'.  Very trendy they have an catering van they take to shows and were recently at the Bristol Balloon Show and Bath Races!!  Brought hubby home some samples - but he thought the frosting was too thick!!  Personally I thought the ones I bought from Chewton Mendip once were better decorated - I still remember them fondly - a beautiful rose with scented shimmery petals - that was special!!   The bakery said it was made by a 'lady across the road' - very impressive!!

Binegar Committee

Meeting at 7.30pm at Anne's.   Usual productive meeting.

Lunch Club

A Chinese meal is the order of the day for the next Binegar Lunch outing - Jo is thrilled - what a lovely change (if you like Chinese food!!).  It seems many do by the list attending!!

Film Club on Friday 10th August

A Royal Affair  -   The Scandalous Royal Romance of Caroline Matilda and Johann Struensee  - 

"I would marry him I loved, and give up my throne and my country," Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark (1751-1775)

 Well Cynthia and Eileen went down on the bus (bus passes to the fore!) and arrived in plenty of time - this time we were joined by two ladies from Wookey Hole.
Some found the film very interesting and have since looked up Caroline Matilda on the web ........  BUT .... we found it too long - and judging by the look of the others who went - it was 'exhausting'!!      The length, sub-titles   .............  all agreed (even one of the organisers) it could have done with at least 20 mins cut out - BUT had a lot to recommend (well I enjoyed most of it!!).   Cynthia gave it a definite NO NO!!

Enjoyed lunch in the Good Earth while  we regained our 'sanity'!!   A wander around Wells small shops and then the bus home - an epic outing!!

NB:   In September - club will be available weekly - gives plenty of choice of films - wonder how this will effect further membership - have written news to all who originally enquired but have 'as yet' fallen by the wayside during the summer holidays!!

Highclere Castle Outing

Highclere in its park.

A frieze in the Egyption exhibition which was in the cellar - spooky - but fascinating - glad we toured this before lunch!

1.  Cynthia and Chris near the Monk's Garden.

2.  Highclere Castle above right.

3..  The Secret Garden - no rain at all - dull but delighted to do our walk in the dry.

4. On the way back to the coach - Pauline the organiser in the centre in white chatting to Ruth and Mary of Oakhill.   Pauline is President of Ashwick & Oakhill WI and a dual member of Binegar WI - good on you Pauline great day - great timings - fab tea!!              Great  outing to HIghclere Castle - did the castle / the Egyptian exhibition (Tutankhamen tomb discovered by Earl Carnarvon and Howard Carter in 1922-1923 - WOW!) and sauntered around the gardens.  We loved 'The Secret Garden'.  Good company with Chris, Cynthia, Ruth and Mary.  All followed by a fab tea at Marden WI - congrats to Pauline for arranging and inviting Binegar to join in.

!st August - ACWW / Iceland event

Well approx 80 people booked tickets but I think 75 came in the end because we had a few who were poorly.   We had ACWW Reps from Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Worcester, W. Midlands and Surrey and a lot of WI members from Somerset.   The speakers, Valerie Stevens, Kay Trippick spoke about Belarus,  Mary Andrews told us about the 2013 Triennial in  Chennai  India and Jackie about the 2016 Triennial in England sponsors W. Midlands Federation.   Our afternoon speaker was Bob Chaplow from Wantage an eminent geologist talking about his holiday in Iceland - luckily his wife was able to attend as well.     Day went well according to most attendees.  Money not counted yet but the result seems fairly positive.

Many thanks to our great team of helpers,  Ruth and Chris did sterling work all day in the kitchen,  Doreen took the money in the morning and worked in the kitchen in the afternoon,  Sue came down in the morning to help set up and helped in the kitchen in the afternoon.  Moira ran the stall all day, Hazel from Chewton helped in the kitchen and then did the raffle in the afternoon.  Kath kept busy where she could.  Molly did some washing up as well.  Helen arrived late but did her bit.   I hope I've mentioned everyone.  Anne will be busy sorting out our accounts.   So many stars who made the whole day possible.  There were some excellent helping husbands too;  Paul, Gethryn, Dave, Andrew - well done lads - you were marvellous those tables disappeared by magic (thanks to Paul and Gethryn for getting them out in the morning as well).   Thank goodness for the microphones what a bonus now some of our members are hard of hearing!

 Belarus Market plus map of Belarus  - note the position of Chernobyl - hence the majority of suffering from this meltdown were Belarussians.

Our afternoon speaker's subject was Iceland - map and costumes as above.