JUNE

Hooray.  A good start to June.  The weather improved and the sun came out!  AND we were able to have our long awaited picnic.  22 ladies came and what a great lunchtime.  We all brought our own picnics – with cold drinks and cakes provided.  Lots of chat and a good time had by all.  We even had a Raffle!  Final clearing up all done by 4pm.  Thank you to everyone who helped.

On 8 June Mary joined in with the first ever virtual virtual NFWI Annual Meeting! The event was live streamed from the beautiful RSA House in London while the audience tuned in from home. There were three outstanding guest speakers; HRH The Countess of Wessex, Baroness Hale and Dame Cressida Dick. All three delivered inspiring speeches covering strong women and empowerment, the need for more diversity in all areas of public life and the issue of domestic violence.   There were also speakers for the proposed resolution, which this year is 'a call to increase awareness of the subtle signs of ovarian cancer'. Delegates will now have until the start of July to vote on whether to pass this resolution and make it a WI Campaign.  In Leigh on Mendip we held a Zoom meeting on 28 June to enable members to discuss this resolution.  We'd had the opportunity to listen to the speakers via a link that had been sent to members.  9 ladies attended the Zoom meeting and we had an interesting discussion.  We felt we now know more about what to look for ourselves and felt that individually we should talk about it to family and friends.  We all voted in favour of the Resolution.  Mary will be contacting all members to ask for their vote.

Our speaker at our Zoom meeting on 14 June was John Burgess who gave a talk and delighted us with pictures of "Beautiful Somerset".  

He grew up in Bicknoller and has had a life-long love of the local countryside.  He has also written 3 guide books covering Somerset, Devon & Cornwall.  

We travelled in the photos from the open spaces of the Quantock Hills and Exmoor to the more built-up areas of Bath and Wells and also to the ancient Abbey at Glastonbury.  

We saw ponies, herds of deer, a murmuration of starlings and steam trains plus samples of local cheese and cider.  

This was followed by a brief business session and a chance for members to have a chat and catch up.

Tai Chi has resumed for those members who started this class last summer.

On Monday 5 July there is an informal gathering at the Rec at 4pm for members to meet and celebrate "NHS Frontline Day".

Our speaker on 12 July will be a Zoom session with Wafaa Powell on "Food Facts and Fibs".  We await further Government announcements in July to see if our meeting on 9 August with Emma Britton on "From Radio Shows to Funerals & Weddings" will be able to take place in the Hall.

MAY

So much for taking advantage of lockdown easing! With the unseasonal wet, cool and windy weather, we’ve all been driven back indoors! However, we’ve made the best of the few brighter days and managed some outdoor meet-ups, in gardens and on the Rec.  Thank you to the members who have arranged and hosted these.  There have also been plenty of walks together, between the rain showers! We’ve continued to support each other with regular phone calls and our WhatsApp group chat. Lots of thoughts, shared moments, empathy and laughs!

Our May meeting was again on Zoom and the speaker was Marion Dale, a horticulture expert and garden designer. She has a vast knowledge of plant origins, their contextual history and place within societies. She gave a fascinating talk on “Plants which Changed the World – or Tried to!” 

She showed pictures and gave details of plants from all around the World and demonstrated how, over the years, we have adopted and used them. From the humble, domestic potato to more exotic and broader use plants which have formed the basis for some brilliant, life changing inventions and industries. Rubber, Hemp, Ferns/Coal, Silk, Perfume, Quinine, Agave – to name but a few! 

At the end of May we had a Zoom coffee morning with a theme of May celebrations.  Seven ladies joined us for a lively chat with some interesting topics coming forth.  One lady told of her childhood memories of May Day at Turville in Buckinghamshire – better known as the location for the windmill in the Chitty film and many Midsomer Murders scenes. 

We also heard of a lovely day out at The Newt in Bruton. One had many friends and family all celebrating birthdays in May – so a busy time with cards and gifts. Somehow we moved onto Studland beaches and Naturism and much other general news and fun shared.  Although more ladies are now out and about, it’s still nice to have a catch up with a small group whilst sat at home with a cuppa.

Tai Chi is starting again in the Hall. Numbers are obviously restricted indoors so booking in advance is key. From County News, there is an upcoming visit to Hauser and Wirth in Bruton and Food/Craft show in Taunton.

Our next speaker’s theme on Monday 14 June will be on “Beautiful Somerset”. A chance to uncover some of the hidden delights of our glorious County!  This will also be a Zoom meeting. 

However, before then we are planning a picnic lunch at the Recreation Field (weather permitting!) on Monday 7 June. This will be the first time since March 2020 that we will have had the chance to meet up as a whole group together!

If there are any ladies in the village who’d like to join in and get to know others, you are very welcome to our zoom talks. No commitment! Contact Mary on 01373 812415.