DECEMBER

 

We started our Christmas celebrations early with a lovely evening meal at our local pub The Bell.  Good food and good company and everyone enjoyed being together, especially having missed out on this occasion last year.

Usually we give a small gift to the member who has had the best attendance during the year.  Obviously, this wasn't a possible scenario with a large number of meetings having been held on Zoom.  Instead we felt it would be a lovely idea to recognise those ladies with a 'Long Service' - here in Leigh on Mendip and other Institutes.

We couldn't be sure of the exact number of years but Certificates were handed out to:

Gwen             60+ years             Hazel              60+ years

Barbara          56 years               Pauline          48 years

And at our meeting the following week:

Shelagh         38 years

What a wonderful record and a Big Thank You to them all for their contribution, support and friendship over that time.

Our meeting in December was able to go ahead but members were reminded to wear masks where possible to keep us all safe.  Karen demonstrated and then we all made some wonderful table decorations to take home.  

We had great fun at our tables, seated in 2s & 3s.  Thank you to all those involved for their hardwork in finding & picking greenery and providing other small decorations.

Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year.  Looking forward to our new Programme of Speakers and Events.

NOVEMBER

 

We have arrived nearly at the end of 2021 and Leigh on Mendip WI after a year of uncertainty and a feeling of waiting for life to return to normal have somehow got through it all! With Christmas just around the corner there is the happy prospect of spending time with friends and family. This year especially, our WI group is very much looking forward to being together for our annual Christmas meal on Monday 6 December at The Bell Inn. Time to enjoy each other's company.

We in the WI, no doubt like everyone else, have found this year challenging but have also realized how much we’ve appreciated each other’s friendship, help and support. Some of our key principles stem from care and responsibility for our community; kindness, sharing and friendship. 

This year we have supported, the YMCA Christmas shoebox appeal and the Frome, family Christmas food bank. Everyone gave very generously and we managed to deliver 12 packed shoeboxes and a table full of Christmas treats!

As a wider organization, we were present at Cop26 and feel strongly that we have a voice. The preservation and appreciation of our beautiful surroundings is important to us Nationwide and at a local level too.

Our speaker in November was Neil Clarke, a local Somerset man who turned his photography hobby into a real interest in digital film and combined this with his passion for uncovering more about his surroundings. He echoed some of these ideas with his captivating film, ‘The Bristol Channel Islands’. 

Focusing on their wild beauty and mystery, their indigenous wildlife, and the roles the islands have played throughout history. The presentation took us around the 3, hidden and little known islands, off the coasts of Somerset, (Steep Holme) Wales, (Flat Holme) and North Devon, (Lundy).He spoke of evidence of Roman, Norman and Viking invasions through to being used as military bases during Victorian times and strategic defence sites throughout the first and second world wars.

For our meeting in December, we have decided to entertain ourselves in making a Christmas table decoration. Much preparation and the gathering of suitable materials going on at the moment! It should be fun and we’ll make sure to have plenty of mince pies on hand!

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

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!