Open garden - Sunday 17th June

Member Angela has her garden open today - I think some WI members are going to help with teas.  Arranged to meet Carole there around 4.00pm re:  Zippy Nomad book!! and general chat!  Fingers crossed for the weather - it was sunny early on but looking more rainy at present.

Dashed up as had Shel and boys over so arrived too late - she'd been and gone.  Dismal weather but still a good turn out for Angela and Alban and their good cause.

Just a day at home (WI relevant!)

Good day so far.   Visit from Sparks of Leigh on Mendip WI who brought over my bag which went home with a sales box by mistake - enjoyed a good chat over coffee : WI/ACWW etc.
Then the postman came -  what has he brought today:  ACWW/WI items:

1.  a parcel from Iceland from my ACWW penfriend with birthday wishes-  a necklace made by her husband of 'Boggalidur' from under the sea volcanic material!!  Bet you didn't know that!!  and.... a little troll plus a letter and postcard map showing Mjoll's home.   Must take to WI next week!!

2.  A book called 'Wizzing round Britain' by Zippy Nomad - saw it advertised in the ACWW magazine - all profits to ACWW - a book about visits to over 100 WIs - she quotes Carole, our County Chair!  So be careful what you write in County News  it could travel far.   Also she talks about her visit to Burnham on Sea WI and a talk by Veronica, WIA.    Ah ......  we need Zippy Nomad to visit more WIs in Somerset!!
More about the book - a quote:  'Wherever I go in the world, if I meet another WI member I know I have met a friend'  from Pat,  of North Cave WI (not sure where that is BUT I'll find out when I read the book).   It tells you lots about WIs and ACWW so is going to be very interesting.  Something else to take to WI.

What will happen during the rest of the day .......................................................

New committee for National 2012-2013

Ruth Bond - chair for her 4th year - she's certainly done a good job.
Honorary Treasurer - Stephanie Fort
Vice-Chairs -  Anne Harrison / Janice Langley

Denman College - Anne Harrison  + Marilyn Haines Evans/Julia Roberts/
Education -   Joy Thomson             + Diana Birch/Pat Tulip  
Federation Support  - Pat Tulip       + Marilyn Haines Evans/ Maggie Simons
Finance - Stephanie Fort                 +The officers /Julia Roberts
Membership - Janice Langley        + Julia Roberts, Joy Thomson, Lynne Stubbings
Public Affairs - Marylyn Haines Evans  + Aleathia Mann, Maggie Simons, Lynne Stubbings
Training Lynne Stubbings              +Margaret Lloyd Jones, Aleathia Mann, Janice Langley

Congratulations to them all.    NB:  just heard new ACWW Rep - Maggie Simons

Committee

Successful meeting at Moira's.   Lots of decisions made.
19 booked for the next lunch outing.   Iris and Anne will help with Poachers Pocket County Quiz evening.

Suggested outing Sherborne Castle - maybe calling in at Trent for tea - sounds good and quite local really which makes a nice change - I've not been there anyway - so that makes it even more interesting!

Mahjong next Monday eve at Sue's.  More news - we will have AGM report at next meeting

Programme meeting 9th July 2.30pm at Helen's.

Flower Festival

Leigh on Mendip had done a wonderful display for their Jubilee Flower Festival.  I'm sure their WI had a big hand in the whole event.  The flowers were themed on various events during the Queen's 60 year reign - very good!!   Of course, white, red, blue theme was the name of the game and major events during this period like the moon visit, miners strike, Silver Jubilee etc. 

Downhead Church also had a display which was just right with the simplistic style of the church again on the red, white, blue theme - just loved the atmosphere and the lovely scent.

4th June - Binegar Little Lunch

Arrived for my 'tea shift'.   Unable to attend lunch - Jon / Gina had to catch plane.   Congrats to  organisers - the shared food worked and there was so much bought by organisers that with food and cakes brought by those who attended there was plenty left at the end.   Impressive number of children in the play park - weather OK as well -  sun plus occasional cool cloudy spells - so well done to Heather and friends they gave everyone a day to remember.  Due to the good weather loads of people turned up - not sure they all came from Binegar but they will have enjoyed their day.   Ruth's grandson Scott played in the band which made a good sound (if a little loud for some ears)  BUT Ruth certainly rocked with pride!!

I got bored with washing up and making tea - on my birthday  - but you can't have it all - swan walk in the morning with the family was a big compensation!!

Lots of members were there enjoying themselves.  Estimated approx 200 people there - the good weather was a real bonus.

3rd June - Oakhill 'Big Lunch'

Oakhill Big Lunch - several Binegar members there - it would have been great.   They had lots of good things planned - lovely band.   All marred by heavy showers - lots of rain - what a shame.  Congratulations to the organisers - they couldn't order the weather but they sure got everything else just right.   My grandchildren loved having their faces painted (the girls), running in the races (boys)!!  Well done to Oakhill.

Amy Wilkinson (gold medal, bobsleigh) opened the event bringing lots of t-shirts with her - prizes for the races.  Evidently grandsons 'held' her gold medal .... wow!!    Lots of freebies - the organisers  had worked very hard - and boy was the quiz hard - don't know who won but we were stumped by some of the questions!!

AGM - London - 30th May

Well started our journey on the 29th  May opposite the Police Station - numbers affected from the start - ten minute wait for lady at Cartgate who didn't show.   More missing at Shepton Mallet.  Eventually we had info about some but just discovered today that one person went by train and I hadn't heard.  Have to say I was glad she'd attended as she is a very enthusiastic member.  I'm sure she sent a message it just didn't get to me - so we had 21 on our coach - plenty of space!!
1st stop - Avebury - haven't really been before - it was a delight.  Sheena and I walked the whole way around the circles - could 'feel' the atmosphere it was amazing.  Then after a quick lunch we went around the house - another first - we could touch everything - sit on the chairs, get into bed, sniff the drinks - certainly a first for our experiences in the National Trust.  Did we like it?   We loved it can't wait to go again.  Then coach to London - hotel good - sharing with 2 others.   We had a walk around bought a sarnie for tomorrow at the local Waitrose.  Later 5 of us went to Ask for a meal - had a lovely evening good food, fun atmosphere, nice wine -  Sheena, Margaret K, Joan K, Emily and I had a  excellent relaxing time.    Eventually our room mate returned from her trip to see 'Chicago' seats cost £55 - gosh were we glad we went to Ask.

30th May - Up and at Breakfast by 7.00am - continental - well it was OK - not exciting!!   Slightly muddling giving out tickets MB style!!   Off to Albert Hall on the coach with some / others walked.   Some spent the night somewhere else.  (in retrospect this was why we lost some people at the end of  the day - BUT - of course, they could  have asked the people they sat with in the hall!!).  Great speech by Ruth - she's been a fantastic chair - I love her knowledge and involvement with projects and campaigns.  Morning speaker - Julian Fellowes (the Lord Fellowes) great subject, 'Strong Women' and their effect on his life - great subject!!   Resolution good speakers however the 'against' was not well received - he made some very relevant points but because of his condescending attitutude was slow handclapped (interestingly Wells members found this very humiliating {rude}).   I agree with this viewpoint - it let us down - we should respect our speakers.   Finance/ Denman/ Public Affairs updates during the morning.
Afternoon gathered wool, needles and joined the 'Guiness Challenge'.   Actually it was fun and missed it when we'd finished!!   Those who didn't  join in really missed out!!    Our speaker was a very well qualified female astronomer - very keen on her subject and keen for us to advise our daughters/grandaughters to take Physics. Finally we had Ruth's closing speech followed by 'Artem, Kara, Robin and Kristina' with a few demonstrationa dances - very well received.  Then, we had the wait to fill our coach with 21  - gosh for 3/4hr we only had 17.   Just before the coach driver left without them - we found two and then the other two ran round the corner red faced and breathless - gosh they just missed a ride  home by train by turning up with two minutes to spare.  Then we took 5 hours to get home!!

Certainly worth  the outing - Jerusalem in the Albert Hall is amazing and Avebury was delightful.