Love the knarled branches!!

















All seasons arrangement

Japan Day in Hampshire

Left at 6.50pm for drive to Hampshire. Found the hall fairly easily - it was quite a miracle - had to use a magnifying glass to read some of the road no's on the map - must be my age!! Learnt a lot about the most interesting speakers and content which entertains as well as being educational. The lady interpreter was absolutely excellent, the flower arranging great, the pictures of Japanese gardens fascinating and the history was interesting but the after-lunch spot is always difficult as sometimes people snooze!! Won some flowers - we had half each and I had the blossom!! A few of the arrangements above. My roses still lovely and actually 'arranged' them today - probably not up to Ikebana standard but they look good (to me!).

Mother Goose on AGM night

Kath, Betty, Ann, Wendy, Angela and Jo

WI Meeting - AGM, Plays and Readings

Good news - Helen is the new President for 2010 - WELCOME Helen. Welcome to Doreen who will be our new secretary, Anne will continue as treasurer, Iris and Kath will be Vice Presidents.
Other jobs will be decided at the January committee meeting. Although Ruth and Moira are already planning to do refreshments between them over the winter months!!

The picture of the Mother Goose pantomime above shows our drama group - we were able to borrow costumes which made it more fun - the Goose costume was great, as was the Golden Egg!! This was followed by a sketch of shepherds in the fields, also a reading 'Dead Parrot' - all this happened after the AGM reports and election and some very amusing poems by Ruth. There were two raffles a WI one and then an ACWW one (started at the coffee morning) which realised £20 which will be sent to ACWW HQ for the Somerset Cameroon Project.

New WI Logo

I like it - I wonder what members will think!! Should find out on Tuesday at our AGM!! It came in WI Life on Saturday! Well, as expected many people don't like change BUT - it is basically for stationery and the tree can be used as long as you like - actually I like the tree brooches - they are very attractive. At the AGM - County said they will continue to use their pull-up display boards - these things filter in fairly slowly as we all get accustomed to them.

New WI Logo - will their be a badge!!

Love the new logo - it should be on MOODLE by Monday!! (Personal opinion only)

Coffee morning at Binegar

Community Link between Oakhill and Binegar schools. Well, I wouldn't say it was a failure but then again it wasn't a success. Quite a few of our members turned up to help and support and three of Oakhill WI BUT we only had 2 mums from Binegar school and one from Oakhill school.

The problems for many young mums these days is a. they work, b. they don't always have transport c. the children could be sick and probably the most likely - d. they didn't really want to come anyway. Having sorted out all those options - I think all we can say is we did try!! Whether we will want to pursue this any further is anybody's guess at this stage!!

Trying to get them to join the WI - this put them under pressure and I did suggest this was not tried BUT one or two members couldn't resist. Yes, we may all have gained a lot from WI - but - these young things consider us 'oldies' as way past our sell-by-date and when they get a free evening want to spend it with their young friends (understandably) So this was a lost cause - unless they started a fresh group of their own age group and contempories. Well, we will have to see - but I don't hold out any hopes in that direction as I said in my original letter to the Headmistress!!

Pictures from Westlands

Sandra Howard during her talk (Thelma on the left)

(new WI logo at bottom of lecturn)

Colette presenting one of the gifts from Board of Trustee members to Thelma who is retiring as Chair of Somerset, Sue Harding {retiring County News Editor} taking a picture on the left.

75th Anniversary

Cake made my Iris - lovely icing (pinks are icing too - to match the Somerset Rondel on the side) - a lovely item - many thanks to Iris

Sue, Kath and Anne pouring out the 'toast' for everyone!!

75th Birthday Party - 6th November 2009

Well - a lot of work for many people - but a successful evening overall. Only snag the photographer came too early then got a bit peeved because we kept him waiting!! Just hope the photo turns out OK!! Mike Scott sang because Cathy was recovering from laryngitis - but he was very entertaining and although one particular song caused a few raised eyebrows!! much enjoyed. Food yummy and puddings delicious - thanks to committee. Sue had bought lovely roses for the tables - hall looked great - Colette joined us plus 4 from Chewton Mendip, 4 from Ashwick and Oakhill and 3 from Litton & Hinton Blewitt. Crafts and memorabilia looked good on display - three cheers for Binegar WI!!

AGM at Westlands, Yeovil

Sue, Kath, Ruth (our delegate) and Eileen went to this event. Thoroughly enjoyed the day - Sandra Howard was lovely and although she has had so many experiences as a model, journalist, politician's wife really naive and totally genuine when talking and answering the final questions. Ruth Bond was good - lovely short speech, the MP waffled, Hinkley Point was concise but I couldn't see the slides. Stalls were good - personally, didn't have time to see them - had problems with car but Jenny sorted it for me. Kath was a gem and looked after my table all the time - which I felt very guilty about - but got trapped with visitors and guests only just got to the loo before the afternoon started!! Collection on ACWW table £1.01 - hmm --- that needs some thought!!