OCTOBER

 

We've been lucky to have some good weather during October and it's been really lovely to get outdoors. 

Bulbs ordered back at the beginning of the year have arrived and some members will be busy planting them, hoping for a good show in the Spring! 

However, as nights draw in we can turn to all the crafts and hobbies we put aside in April!

Along a similar theme of moving from outdoors to indoors, our Speaker this month was John Dando.  A local social historian and broadcaster on radio Somerset. 

His subject for us, entitled, “A Walk Down the Garden Path” was an amusing history of The Privy, moving through time, from the use of the outdoor bush to the invention of the water closet!  

He covered the ‘basic needs’ of hunter-gatherers, to early settlement dwelling facilities, through to the arrival of the Romans with their well thought out, life changing sewage/irrigation systems.  He spoke about Gongfermours (or Gong Farmers), men employed to empty human excrement pits, paid handsomely and able to sell the waste on to Farmers as a perfect soil enricher! Then onto the arrival of the Chamber Pot and eventually, the invention, history and development of the indoor WC. 

He also spoke about the growing trend, in certain communities, for the compostable toilet, the benefits and maintenance of, and explained that this was initially invented, as a precaution against Cholera, by a West Country gentleman back in 1860.  They are now becoming more popular as people think of different ways to lead a more "Green" life!

Altogether entertaining and educational!

No apologies for showing pictures of Christmas boxes in October!  

Members have kindly donated many items for young people who will find themselves away from family and friends. These gifts ranging from the practical to some special treats are packed into wrapped boxes and will be distributed by the WI to local YMCAs.  The boxes will be taken in November to our County AGM being held in Yeovil.

And whilst on the theme of Christmas we have arranged our own WI Christmas meal early in December at The Bell.  Members are very much looking forward to this event which, of course, we were unable to do last year.  In recent times we have agreed rather than having a Secret Santa amongst ourselves that we will donate Christmas food items to the Food Bank in Frome.

Our speaker next month will be Neil Clark, another local West Country historian. He’ll be telling us about The ‘Bristol Channel Islands’. Looking at the coastline and uncovering its nature and mystery.

If there are any ladies in the Village who would like to join in, get to know others and meet us, you are very welcome to come along to our Meetings. Second Monday of each month in the Memorial Hall from 7.30pm.  No commitment!  Contact Caroline on 812889

SEPTEMBER

 

This was our second meeting back in the Village Hall.  It was our AGM.  We started with covering normal business, followed by Reports from both the current Secretary and President.  Members then voted for a new President.  Mary Mears has done an amazing job over the last three years, especially through this unprecedented pandemic. Caroline Harris was duly elected.  Thank you to Caroline for taking on this role and taking our WI forward into 2022. 

Members were seated in 3's around tables and we all took part in a Fun Quiz putting to the test our cultural, social and local knowledge!!  Congratulations to the winning team.

This was followed by a short Committee meeting, when the different roles were shared out.  Thank you to all those who have worked hard over the last year in somewhat difficult times and I'm sure they will continue to provide support to the successful running of our WI in the months to come.

Our next meeting will be on 11 October and the speaker is John Dando on "A Walk up the Garden Path" (Privies – a light-hearted history of the toilet!).  There has been some discussion on a potential name change – so please come to this meeting with any ideas.  On 18 October we will be holding on Zoom a planning meeting for the 2022 Programme.  Open to all members and we welcome any suggestions for a speaker or event - we are looking for a breadth of interesting and enjoyable topics.

We will be supporting the YMCA Shoebox Appeal again.  Any further donations please bring to the October meeting.  The boxes will be wrapped and filled and we will arrange to have them delivered to Yeovil for 6 November.  This is the date for the SCFWI Annual Meeting at Westlands Entertainment Venue.

Denman courses are still available through 'Denman at Home', open to all at just £5 per session, offering a wide range of interesting and creative sessions.

https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/

One of our members has started a small craft group – meeting twice a month (1^st and 3^rd Monday) and hope to 'encourage' each other with whatever ongoing project they are working on.  Pub lunches, coffee mornings and afternoon tea gatherings will continue, with perhaps smaller groups when indoors.  Whilst the weather stays reasonably fine some members are meeting up to go for local walks.  Do make contact with each other if you would like to join in any of these activities.  A few of our ladies have not been too well recently and we wish them all a speedy and full recovery.

Meanwhile some of our members have been taking advantage of the September sun for short breaks and longer holidays in this country.  

One of our ladies has used the WI Life magazine for the second year running to find a holiday cottage and would recommend other members to take a look.

If there are any ladies who would like to join in you are very welcome.  No commitment!  Contact Caroline on 812889.