The Frome Hoard!

Only a week or so to go before our fabulous open meeting on Monday 9 September!
We're looking forward to hearing all about how that magnificent stash of Roman coins was discovered in a field very near here!
We are also looking forward to welcoming everyone who is interested to find out more about local history, or perhaps there are a few folks out there who have some extra time on their hands, looking for a new hobby? Come along and find out more!
Dave Crisp will certainly give a very fascinating talk, so don't miss out!

The Glorious Twelfth!

What a delightful evening! Thank you to everyone who came along, with a gorgeous selection of food and drink to share. No rain this year, and everyone looked stunning, a real Southern Belles evening, with tasty Mint Julep for authenticity!

Our visit to the Willow and Wetlands centre

What a lovely day we spent together at the Willow and Wetlands Centre in Stoke St Gregory! Sue R, Sue V, Jan P, Caroline, Val and I had a very relaxing and interesting day. Some of us wandered along one of the wetlands trails (and back again quite quickly in order to arrive in time for lunch!). The museum and furniture displays were fascinating, and it was a revelation to discover just how much willow has been used in everyday life since production increased around 1900. Both world wars saw huge increase in demand for willow items - seats for WWI aeroplanes and baskets to transport pigeons in particular.  During our guided tour we saw a huge pile of enormous hampers which are being made for Fortnum and Mason's, there were also some large chess pieces which had been made for the Olympics - alongside a chess board, they formed one of the jumps in the show jumping arena!

Is this where I find the water closet?

This caption made us chuckle! 

We began the day with a cup of coffee in the café!

Amazing Estonian Women!

We had a first hand view of five Estonian WI equivalent groups today at the ACWW event in Binegar. Valerie Stevens, a well travelled and experienced member of ACWW told us of her stay in Estonia, where she was warmly welcomed by five separate women's groups, which each looked after her for a day. They introduced her to local dignitaries, showed her around schools where she enjoyed several dance displays and took part in an English language lesson. The sense of community is very strong and the creative skills used to the full. In every WI hall there was a spinning wheel and loom alongside knitted, crocheted and felted items of all descriptions. The looms are used to weave the fabric for the traditional costumes they make for their dancing and to wear when they sell their produce at the market. There was always  someone who could speak English to help her understand and talk to everyone. In Tallin, the capital, she was particularly struck by the museum of occupation.  No! Not weavers and miners, but a history of the times their country has been occupied: by Russia, Sweden, Germany...
The day started with an excellent cookery demonstration and talk by Bini Ludlow, of Sweet Cumin and of recent fame on the Good Food Show. Her talk was very informative and appealed strongly to the senses as she showed us colourful photos of her visit to India as well as cooking a delicious smelling chicken dish - which one lucky person won in the raffle! Bini has a cooking school and is based near Ston Easton. She had prepared some very tasty samosas for us to sample.

The last speaker is a very inspiring lady, Kathy Miller,  who did some voluntary teaching 13 years ago in a school for 80 boys who had suffered polio and whose parents were unable to care for them at home. She has returned each year and has set up The Neem Tree Trust to help support and care for the boys. Now there is no polio in India ( thanks to Bill Gates and the Rotary Club), so there are boys with other disabilities who are now living in the home. Her videos gave us a real insight into life there.

Visitors had come to this event from Dorset, Devon, Hampshire and Gwent as well as Somerset! A number of those present are looking forward to attending the next ACWW conference in Chennai  in September. It will be very interesting to hear their feedback.

Thank you to Eileen Hurd for organising such an inspiring day, and to Binegar WI for looking after us so well.

August Activities

What a very sociable lunch today at the Bell Inn! Thanks to school holidays we were able to enjoy the company of some extra folk. Lovely! The next date is Friday 6 September, and the Knatchbull in Stoke St Michael was recommended.

Next Wednesday, 7 August, is the ACWW day at Binegar and the Nunney WI trip to Bristol. Several of us liked the idea of visiting Bristol Blue Glass, and I've checked their website. A tour requires 10 people minimum, each paying £5. Anyone up for this?
Next Friday, 9 August, is our visit to the Willow and Wetlands Centre at Stoke St Gregory. Leaving here at 10 am. I will email details.

And finally, for August, we have the President's evening on Monday 12 August. We are going to wear posh frocks and make it a Southern Belles event! Please let me know if you are coming so that we can have enough Mint Julep to quaff (and so I can make sure to have enough chairs!) . I wonder if it will be a dry evening this time?