Dates in December

6th December - lunch club - Christmas dinner at the Golf Club
7th December - Carol Festival at Wells Cathedral
16th December - Christmas Party - caterers plus after dinner speaker.

Ready, Steady Christmas - some pictures

Somerset member collects her floral raffle prize!

White chocolate home made custard with raspberry and brandy or sherry trifles!

Sue Bridger cooking treats before Lunch at the 'Ready, Steady Christmas' event at Street on 23.11.11. Lovely roast turkey lunch.

Ready, Steady Christmas - 23.11.11

Well if you didn't get to this day - you missed a treat. Sue Bridger did an excellent cookery demonstration and Carole Moulding did lovely flower arrangements. Also good lunch was a definite bonus. A lady wanted to have my seat on Table 14 so I got to move to Table 8 with a much better view AND I won the flower display on my table. Lots of jolly ladies from 'The Polden Hills Group' plus Marston Magna and Yeovil Wraxhill WIs on my table. We were regaled with stories of some funny tricks the ladies from Ashcott had played on each other - very entertaining!!

Village Hall Xmas Fayre - 19th November

Helen, Iris and Anne were busy with the stall in the hall. I hope the day went well - I've never seen so many stalls - bought some lovely cards from Ruth, a scarf from the Vicar and pasties {not the WI stall} - (which smelt lovely BUT were agreed to be OK but a bit bland when we had them for dinner - so that was a bit disappointing! Shame - they did look nice - perhaps a bit of pepper would have helped!!). Took down a chocolate loaf cake (should have been OK as I made 2 and the other one tasted good - Angela bought it) and then bought a necklace, and some marmalade from the WI. Saw lots of people - glad it was well supported. I had to run away before I spent too much!! I guess after paying the £5 for the table we got to keep any sales money - wonder how the stall did - still at least we were there!!

Village Hall Xmas Fayre

WI have a table at this - profits from the event to the Hall / Air Ambulance. I think it's £5 a table. Got to bake a cake ..............................

WI Little Black dress competition

Angela has entered this competition and brought her re-designed dress to show us at the AGM - and after some persuasion even modelled it for us. She needs it to go to London for early December - I don't think she got any volunteers to take it - so she will post it. We all thought she'd done an excellent job. Cheers Angela and good luck.

Sorry no picture BUT the design includes an 'addition of multi-colour material for the very top and sleeves and an extra portion at the hem - it looks good - just shows what can be done by a clever needlewoman!!

(Went to Cheddar WI where member Trish Williams had made a dress of cut up plastic 'black' meat trays - in small pieces - fantastic!! It was like a Charleston dress she wore high heels and a pearly necklace with a feather in her hair - looked very stylish - she is going to model it in London on 1st December. Trish says it's not very comfortable but it looks brilliant. Angela's dress will be there as well).

AGM Chocolate break!!

Ruth brought the fountain and tempted us with a lovely variety of fruit - quite a queue formed and many of us were tempted back for 2nds. Thanks Ruth - glad you brought it along!!
NB: Wendy E came to ask about the WI umbrellas from the carnival - she'd like to buy one - must mention (again) to county that it could be a good seller - why don't we take orders!! Umbrellas all around the county would be an excellent WI advert!!

That chocolate kept up until 1.30am - obviously a hyper effect!!

November AGM - text version!!

Interesting reports - good to hear just how much has been accomplished this year AND finances OK - hurrah!! 10 on committee for next year!! Another excellent poem by Ruth about the Somerset Annual Meeting AND she managed to visit the bar (said she had a bad cough - she did, but a drink soon soothed it!!). (Shame she missed the talk by the 69 year old from Kilmersdon who went to Denman on a 'fitcamp' - goodness that was amazing - but she did hear about Helen, hat designer from Litton). Next we had a play - an alternative version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Seven Dwarves played by Chris) - well received!! (Drama Team: Wendy E, Wendy B, Cynthia, Ann, Chris, Angela & Eileen) Glad members enjoyed it - we certainly enjoyed the rehearsals!! Well done to Ann our drama organiser.

Then it was time for a chocolate fountain break with strawberries, pineapple, marshmallows - hmmm ....... yummy!! Ruth borrowed the fountain from her daughter - good one Ruth!! Certainly very popular. Evening ended with another skit - The Carol Singers - with a final carol chorus which everyone joined in!!. Lots of chatter and a very relaxed finish to a great evening. Congrats to Helen and the committee - Helen returned for her third year as President.

AGM tomorrow

Gosh better read the play - I'm sure I can't remember what we've decided to do - we had the rehearsal 10 days ago ................... mind a blank ............ what's new!!

Wells Carnival 11.11.11

Well, at the last minute I decided to go to Wells and join the walk!! Thank goodness for our umbrellas talk about 'cats and dogs' the rain was torrential. One of the group was a teacher and so many children recognised her as we walked around. We were just in front of a cart 'The Wild West' - so couldn't hear our music when they got too close. Picked up lots of money for the charity collection.
Walked up Strawberry Way afterwards with members from Rodney Stoke & Draycott WI and we were able to see some of the carts. (they're called 'carts' because originally they were 'farm carts' pulled by tractors). Gave up about 10.00pm with carts still coming - well worth coming to take part - but those umbrellas were certainly 'star of the day'. Would love to order one for our WI events - have to work on that idea! Different group of people this evening from: Coxley, Croscombe, Rodney Stoke & Draycott, Westonzoyland, Binegar and W. Buckland WIs. Carole, our Chair arrived late so missed our driver 'Phil' who took this photo. Not much twirling of brollies tonight hands just too wet!! Still kept warm thanks to waterproof gear BUT wet shoes after walk to the car!!

Wells Carnival tonight

Different route - wonder how many will walk tonight - we'll know when we get to Lidl's car park.

11.00am on 11.11.11

Time to remember and be grateful.

Thanks for these wigs!!

Angela borrowed the green wigs - which certainly kept us warm and dry!! Thanks Angela - much appreciated. Notice our slappits they were very effective - Somerset sold them as part of a Keep Safe on the Roads Campaign and they are certainly very fluorescent!!

NB: There are still some slappits for sale at Wilton Lodge - ring to ask about them. They're 70p each.

Group fun at Shepton Mallet

Well - despite original reservations - this was an absolutely FUN evening. Three of us drove in and parked at Helen's home. Sat in comfort and enjoyed a nice warm cuppa and then walked down to join everyone else. Left my heavy coat in the car - whoops - no mobile phone, camera, money - howzat for being organised. Thanks to Anne for the photo and Helen for her hospitality and the cuppa - just set us up for the evening (oh and I forgot the stamina from the fruit cake).

Wednesday, 9th November - Carnival night

hmmm......just looked out of the window - yuck its raining cats and dogs - ah!! Out with the wellies and waterproofs - carnival tonight!!

Some rain at the start BUT we had our huge WI umbrellas to keep us dry - also the fab green wigs Angela borrowed - certainly a different look!! We got the following: smiles, claps, waves and 'what the hell are you doing here' BUT we did it and it was fun and there were nine of us. 3 from Binegar, 4 from Leigh on Mendip and 2 from Milborne Port. Thanks to all who joined in and made it a fun evening.

Ears still ringing the music was so loud - but we sang along - danced a bit - twirled our brollies - shook our colour sticks and it was fun!! The evening was full of some fantastic outfits and magnificent carts - well done to the 'real competitors' - we were just visiting - maybe if we do it again we'll get more ambitious - novice entry this year!!

Tuesday, 8th November

Lunch Club were out today - no comments yet! Heard that the Priddy visit was not a great success - ah well - you can't win them all - only as good as the chef on the day!!

Farm Visit

4 members (Ruth, Ann, Kath & Eileen) went on a visit to a 'large' farm. A tour with wellies was extensive and we visited practically every area of the farm. Drinks/cakes and question/answer was followed by a visit to the 80 rotary milking parlour. All members found it very interesting, however, some are still not necessarily happy about these large farms - but they have at least been to see them and can make up their own minds.

Interestingly, it was our 2nd farm visit and they tend to practice snatch calving at this farm - which, of course, some members didn't like. However, our President who lived near a farm with young calves for years says it's probably kinder - they used to have cows bellowing for days when the calves were taken away after 3/4 days and that was really upsetting. As usual there are several sides to any problem - who can say what is RIGHT!!