RE: Parking Fine at Taunton

Good news - case cancelled - lucky me!!! Evidently this was because I had contested the claim (and they'd made a mistake anyway which was spoken about on TV). However, I heard that one lady paid the fine and they did not give her a rebate even though she wrote in later BECAUSE (be warned about this) she had admitted guilt by paying. Hmm - complain, complain won the day - this gives food for thought doesn't it!

Visitors to the N Mendip event.

Colette, our WIA and her husband in sunshine in the gardens - at the N Mendip event. I had to prove there was a window in the rainy day. Update: Colette says the baton for our quarter of the county is at Pilton - progress still slow - there will have to be a race to reach the finish!!!!

September events.

Tuesday 2nd Lunch to be arranged.
Tuesday 9th Committee meeting
Tuesday 16th WI meeting - the Pill Whalers - open meeting
Friday 26th Village History Slide evening with Cheddar Ploughmans, Cider/Apple Juice £5
Tuesday 30th Celebration Lunch at Oake Manor
I'm sure there is more but can't think at present!!!!

Sherborne Gardens - N Mendip Garden Party

A North Mendip Event
Sue and Kath meet on the ornamental bridge at the gardens. Yes, despite a rainy morning there was a window of dry weather. 40 lunches and 40 teas were served and over £150 from the raffle and Bring and Buy will go to the Childrens Hospice nr Bristol. All the group WIs worked together: Ashwick and Oakhill were in charge of the Bring and Buy, Chewton Mendip looked after the raffle, Litton and Hinton Blewitt did ploughmans lunches and Binegar provided the cream teas. Great teamwork - thanks to all.
Thanks to all members who attended from each WI and it was good to see Colette (our WIA) and Gordon her husband. A big thank you to Pamela and her husband our hosts for the day.

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M&S Open Evening at Taunton

8 members went. 600 Somerset members in total!!!! Terribly crowded around the drinks and nibbles stall!!! Got our reserved items (changed out minds over the colour!!! - but they didn't mind). Got my free packet of Parma Ham!! Bought a few new items. Very successful evening for Somerset Federation - great support and it didn't rain!!!

Fun galore - when we got out found I'd been given a PCN along with other people who had parked in what was a virtually unmarked loading bay!!! £70 fee (£35) reduction if payed within 14 days and day one is the day issued (great found it after 8.00pm). No yellow lines, no notices about restrictions or times and weren't actually in the bay itself, no notice on the gates which we left clear to allow for access. Challenge will be issued - update later!!! Well have contacted the authorities by email and phone and await their comments.

Kilver Court - a Shepton Mallet secret garden

Originally started in 1800s by Ernest Jardine - these gardens are definitely
'secret'. You would never guess as you drive down the main road that they are hidden behind the buildings. The viaduct was built in 1874 for the Somerset and Dorset railway. First we visited the shop and were tempted with a few items from their organic range. Whilst we were there - we thought we would visit the gardens too - despite the weather. That, of course, was our original plan!

So the next stage was a tour of the gardens. The colours were vibrant (probably the bonus of a rainy morning!!! Explored most corners - the grass was lovely to walk on and the waterfalls and planting very attractive. In fact, we must be very up-to-date they showed it on TV tonight BUT they missed us - can't think why - well it was raining and had obviously been filmed when on a different day when it was dry and sunny!

Finally we visited the restaurant - Sue noted the mixture of patterns of the teacups and saucers (each cup and saucer matched - BUT everyone had them from a different set!!) - I had a Coronation Mug! I believe a mixture is very fashionable now!!!! (Probably because of car boot sales!!!!) A very enjoyable afternoon. Never mind the weather - carry on is obviously the best policy!! Members visiting: Sue, Angela, Margaret, Kath and Eileen.

Calendar Girls

9 members have booked to go to this in November at Theatre Royal, Bath. Some well known actresses taking part including: Lynda Bellingham, (60) Sian Phillips, Patricia Hodge. Again all blushes will be spared by cleverly placed cakes, knitting and flowers. Tickets booked + Coach arranged - thanks to Chris A&O. (2 more on waiting list!!) Two more tickets acquired for 'higher' up in the theatre. Good news - thanks to Chris. There's an advert in the latest County News - N Mendip are way ahead - all booked plus coach!!!!

Progress of Baton

Chris of A&O has organised a 3-some change-over at Angela's. (Binegar have promised to help with scones and we, at least, can walk up). I've tried to extend it to a 5-some exchange - just to get it going along to Vivary Park but Rodney Stoke might want to do their own thing!!!! So far so good but Chris discovered it is stuck at Croscombe who have said they can't walk until 10th August because someone is on holiday!!!! Have rung Colette (scanned her a copy of the list) and hope she can dynamite them to move it along. There are 16 WIs after them!!!! Almost impossible to achieve the original aim of the Baton Walk!!!! The leaflet explaining the idea was with the list - so people should have known!!! Perhaps it was a tad ambitious to complete all the walks in time for 7th August - but the original concept was really good. With the August holidays suddenly becoming a major stumbling block - a return to the Autumn General Meeting might have been easier to achieve. However, am looking forward to the party in the park and seeing the Somerset flower emblem in Vivary Park and just keeping my fingers crossed for the batons!!!

Denman College celebrates its Diamond Anniversary this year. There will be a special lunch (available Tuesday 23rd Sept to Sunday 28th Sept) and various stalls and events in the house and garden. Fairly expensive but a very special occasion. Somerset Federation took a trip to Denman in June. Courses included: Cookery, Walking, History of Somerset Women, improve your digital photography, and singing - everyone enjoyed the visit and the birthday cake celebrating Somerset@90. Many Somerset members travelled up by coach to save our carbon footprint!!! The next trip is planned for late November 2009 (I think!). Will need to check that date!!

Meanwhile Somerset Fed. have a Craft Exhibition from 22-26 Sept by Somerset craftfolk at Wilton Lodge - should be worth going to both (take out a bank loan!!) for a rewarding week in September (it is Promotion month) - more later.