When and where we meet:

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Every 2nd Monday of the month at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall,

Leigh on Mendip

Visitors welcome!

For more details contact Caroline Dove
01373 812889

Wednesday 30 March 2011

group meeting at Nunney

We had a fabulous evening at Nunney - with the most gorgeous savouries and cakes served during the break (you can see where my priorities lie, mentioning the food first!). The entertainment which rounded off the evening was very funny and extremely well presented! Two of the members from Nunney read comic poems - to great effect and much laughter. Finally we watched a short sketch which was extremely well written and very well acted.
The main talk was very interesting; it was given by an auctioneer from Devizes who specialises in memorabilia from the Titanic. He shared a wealth of stories about the artefacts he has sold (for enormous sums) and told a lot of imaginative tales to paint the reality behind many of the photos and documents we saw on the screen.
Two of our members were lucky in the raffle (which seems to be a bit of a tradition from what I can gather!) and the competition prize was won by a marvellous, huge creation in sugar craft of a boat at the bottom of the sea.

Tuesday 29 March 2011

group meeting tonight!

Don't forget it's the group meeting at Nunney village hall tonight, where the speaker will tell us about memorabilia of the Titanic.

....and are you looking around for your photograph of water to bring to our next meeting on 11th April?
Please keep on collecting for our recycling, too - Danone yoghurt pots (cleaned!) and kenco 'eco refill' coffee packets.
Sparks

Success of WI campaigns!

This just goes to show it's really worth taking time over the resolutions for the W.I. national conference - we can make things happen!
Click on these links and read more:-
The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes)
The bee's are back in town. Read Martha Kearney's latest bee blog on the NFWI website at http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=18528.
 The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes)
News in today’s Guardian on the WI’s Care not Custody campaign reception - http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/28/divert-mentally-ill-offenders-prison.
For more information on the campaign go to
www.thewi.org.uk/carenotcustody.
The official press release can be found here
http://www.thewi.org.uk/viewNews.aspx?id=23155.

www.guardian.co.uk
Andrew Lansley and Ken Clarke launch first stage of plan to create national liaison and diversion service by 2014

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Hats!

Click on the 'previous meetings' link (blue writing at the right side of this page) to see my photos from last night's lovely meeting! More photos and a report to follow soon! We had a great time!
In addition, we raised £6.82 because we were 'wearing something funny' for Red Nose Day.

Monday 14 March 2011

News from National W.I.

Strengthening Women's Voices in Government - The GEO has launched a consultation which seeks views on proposals for a new approach to engaging with and listening to women, and asks what the key challenges and priorities are for women in the UK today. The consultation will be open until 10 June. You can access the consultation paper here: http://bit.ly/hkheDM, and access the questions online here: http://svy.mk/fahHjX

Sunday 13 March 2011

The Best Photo of the Village Clean Up

Village Clean Up - more photos

before
hard at work
Parish council workers: a job well done

Village Pride! Thank you!

What a successful Village Clean Up day we had!
The weather was dry and sunny, which makes the whole thing a lot easier.
50 people turned out to help - possibly there were more - ages ranging from Helen, age 11 months ('though I think she really just came along for the ride and to give moral support and her lovely winning smiles) to Roy who celebrated his 80th birthday recently (I did tell him he doesn't look a day over 40, and they do say that 80 is the new 60!) If anyone present is more chronologically experienced, all I can say is that you, like Roy,  simply don't look your age! 
Thank you very much indeed for all of your efforts; we were able to clear every street, lane, footpath and even the top road. There is a large pile of rubbish waiting for Mendip to collect on Monday. (plastic drinks bottles, cider cans, vodka bottles, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, cigarette packets, plenty of plastic, a car wheel, a bra and various other metal items, a chamber pot and some fast food wrappers.....)


Thank you all - I'm sure that as you went home after a spot of rest and a lovely cake in the Memorial Hall you all looked around you with pride - I certainly did!
How wonderful all of those snowdrops look, too, they stand out even more now.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

International Women's Day event in Draycott

Barbara & I spent a very enjoyable and informative day yesterday at the International Women's Day event at Draycott village hall. In the morning we heard three very different speakers, telling us how their charity supports women in Africa and South America. We had a 'Mary's Meals' type lunch (Mary's Meals gives a meal to african children who each bring along a mug to hold the porridge) of delicious home made soup in our mugs, followed by a short walk in the lovely sunshine. The views over the Mendips were quite stunning. In the afternoon an Indian lady (all the way from Amesbury!) told us about her life and demonstrated how to put on a sari. She had a fabulous range of clothing to show us. Next she showed how to make potato curry and onion bhajees. She was very entertaining and told us great deal not only about Indian cookery but also about the way of life. Fascinating!
Potato curry on the menu here tonight!

Details of the charities at our International Women's Day event

The three charities represented were: African Initiatives, Tree Aid and Create, the fairtrade collection for sale through Tearfund.
Oxfam also had a presence there & between us we donated £40 to sponsor two African women.
Here are the websites for you to find out more:
http://www.african-initiatives.org.uk/

http://www.treeaid.org.uk/

http://www.createdgifts.org/

Friday 4 March 2011

Events in Somerset

have a look in your copy of County News for more details of the following...
  • There are 3 Road Shows to choose from across the county - our closest is at Shipham on 14th April
  • The Spring Ramble at Milborne Port will be great fun! (I know because I took part in the last one at Leigh!) To take place on 18th April
Village Spring Clean!
We need your help!
All volunteers welcome!
Saturday March 12th

Starting from Leigh on Mendip Memorial Hall
2 pm for cleaning up
‘High Viz’ tabards, bags and ‘litter pickers’ available
Bring your own protective gloves 
Come back at 3pm for lovely refreshments, 
supporting Fairtrade fortnight.