Somerset Federation 90th Celebration Lunch - Sue and Eileen travelled on the mini-bus with representatives from N & S Mendip Groups .

1.

Thelma with NFWI Chairman, Fay Mansell and the speaker from the National Needlework Archives.

2. Sue's fascinator hat.

3. Margaret Bigg discusses last minute plans with Thelma (how about that hat - she has connections with satellites!!. Fay Mansell (blue hat) looks on.

4. Eileen's hat - thought it might amuse you. Last worn to son's wedding!!!

5. Chris Briscoe from A&O finds her table just before lunch (No. 8).

6. Sue Stone chats to members representing WIs from all over Somerset.

7. Eileen's table (No 5) with the friendly ladies who enjoyed the tasty lunch together.

Village History Slide Evening

What a relief - all went relatively well. Definitely need to use microphones in future - very difficult to hear at the back. Over-estimated cider, apple juice and rolls but sold some on - will be adjusted early next week. (got my trays to take back!!). 98 tickets sold - not all came but then some paid on the door. Generally, good thing to do - I don't know how interesting it is for strangers? Helen's American visitors looked bored to me - it is difficult for newcomers too - who do not know the village layout!! Good to see the old fashioned slides and costumes etc. and the village long ago!!! Definitely, more interesting for villagers, born and bred!!! 10% goes to the Wilton Lodge fund. (NB: Cider and apple juice and squash for some of the kids was fine - although we were prepared to do tea / coffee if requested - thank goodness it wasn't!!). Members and husbands put the chairs away afterwards which was a big help. Sold a few more WI 'Village History Books'.

Preparation for History Slide Evening

Everyone preparing for event - Sue sorting out most things - cheese, cider ordered. don't forget: squash, chutneys, toms. little onions and apple juice on the night. Ann J doing the raffle - jobs allocated left, right and centre!!! All arrive 6.30pm. Fingers crossed it goes well. My allocation - 26.09 - get rolls - what a Kafuffle collecting them, had to bring the car around to fetch the trays - wasn't expecting that .... and then - I'll have to take the trays back!!!! At least rolls won't be squashed!! Lovely sunny day at present.

Craft Exhibition at Wilton Lodge, Taunton

Moira and Eileen went to this on Tuesday 23 September. Just at the entrance to the committee room - No. 1 the baby - how lovely!

Moira joins

members at Wilton Lodge enjoying the exhibition. The wall hanging still able to fascinate visitors. Looking for Binegar effort perhaps!

Exhibits at the Craft Show at Wilton Lodge this week 22-26th September. The variety is amazing. Ranging from various forms of needlecraft, paintings, sculptures and sugarcraft (see pictures).

Very unusual

'sculptures'. I liked 'Womens work is never done' and the white figures were great.

Delicate sugar icing!! Flowers so real you expect them to be scented.










Comment: nothing entered by anyone north of the county - TAUNTON is still a big barrier - nothing north of Street was entered. I know there are very 'crafty' ladies in the north BUT the thought of bringing items to Taunton and then fetching them has proved too much!!! Interestingly - did you know that Street is approximately the centre of the county - would the ladies of the south travel as far as Street - that would probably seem too far to them (therein lies the whole problem of the size and shape of the county!!!)

WI Night in September

What an eventful evening - 24 members, 11 visitors and the 10+ scouts. Another great poem from Ruth about the A&O trip to Oxford. Then Sue introduced the Pill Whalers who were a great success - lots of join-in singing of sea shanties!!! Also what a bonus - lots of goodies too - lemon tea-bags from NFWI plus craft discs. BUT, best of all because we won the NFWI National prize for the WI who had the most entries for the Carbon Challenge - all our members received an organic cotton shopping bag from M&S plus a bar of chocolate. That was very well received - in fact - one of our visitors wanted to buy one and we had to explain it was our way of sharing the prize in an eco-friendly way (apart from the chocolate!!) amongst our members.
Plans were made for our History Slide evening and tickets sold, lists filled in - the usual WI evening (I won a raffle prize too!!!). Secretary and Treasurer were presented with their new badges - all in all, a very busy evening.

Should be a good meeting on the 16th September

There will be plenty to celebrate at our meeting tomorrow. Members will all be presented with a gift from our winning vouchers from the NFWI Carbon Challenge!! It's a surprise!!! Then there are our free tea-bags to try and Craft Club discs for our Crafters and our Diaries and Calendars (previously ordered) came home from Wilton Lodge today. Plus an open evening with visitors!!
It is Promotion Month and our event: Village History Slide evening on Friday 26th September - with Somerset supper is doing well - tickets are being snapped up!!! If you live locally why not join us!!!

A new member of the Somerset Federation

This is WILMA - she has come to help the BOT with their planning for events. As a new girl, she was pleased to see that the garden was nice and tidy.

WILMA is hosting an Art and Craft Exhibition
22-26 September - might see you there. (2 going from Binegar) She is also looking after Calendars and Diaries (previously ordered). WILMA's friends Thelma and Vicky are being kept busy in the office printing tickets for lots of fun events.

Baton Exchange - 2nd September

Several WIs met to exchange the baton - Binegar supplied a cream tea in Angela's garden. 4 WIs present. Apologies from Litton and Hinton Blewitt. A good social event. Our WIA Colette took the Baton on for the final meeting on 7th September. Evidently due to water-logged gardens (Vivary Park) an afternoon tea took place at Wilton Lodge. This was much enjoyed by those who were able to attend. I hear that the Mayor thought the whole event was cancelled (because of the water-logged gardens) so didn't arrive but the MP was there and was evidently a very nice 'young' man. Carol, Thelma and Vicky made the whole afternoon very jolly (I heard this from someone in the south of the county who was there!!!!) I believe no one from N Mendip went!!! It is a 78 mile round trip and we all had other commitments.

After the ACWW Conference in Southampton

Support Group ACWW South West with members from Avon, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Just to prove we were there!!!

Excellent time was had by all - thoroughly enjoyed it. Met lots of friends from UK and Europe. . Well entertained - 2 excellent speakers - Civic Reception in Southampton Art Gallery (saw a Monet, 2 Lowries and 8 Mayors!!!!). Very well fed. Morris Men entertained with dancing one evening and a Mummers Play and then members were able to join in poems and singing and with Folk Dancing. Not my most favourite entertainment but they were probably the best group I've ever seen and the music and members entertainment was very good. Excellent Gala Dinner after a good day out to Stonehenge and 'The Wallops' plus a walk around a water garden owned by John Lewis Partnership. (There were 4 coaches in all travelling to different parts of Hampshire - all trips were enjoyed). Time to go home arrived far too quickly. Student accommodation excellent with en-suite facilities. Somerset event at Wincanton was advertised by the World Vice President! Pat on the back for Somerset.

Ston Easton Leaflet.

There are some good events coming up - perhaps the lunch club could consider!!

Coach organised for Celebratory Lunch

Celia, S Mendip Group Secretary has booked the coach - £6.56 each - picking up in Shepton Mallet usual car park 10.30am. Cheque made payable to S Mendip Group to Celia ASAP. Her address is in the Year Book.

2nd September - Baton Exchange

There will be a large meeting (and cream tea) to celebrate the final (hopefully) Baton Exchange in this quarter of Somerset.

Kilmersdon, Ashwick and Oakhill, Binegar, Litton and Hinton Blewitt and Rodney Stoke & Draycott plan to meet at Angela's home (hence the cream tea) Binegar will have scones at the ready!!! Lets hope the weather holds.

Have a good afternoon everyone.