Leigh-on-Mendip WI: February 2022

There is an energy as we move out of February into March that is unlike the start of any other month. For us, the move into longer days, brightening skies and warmer temperatures, gives the impetus to put all of our dormant resolves into action!

On a similar theme, our speaker in February was Bex Band. A self-styled adventurer, author, organizer and business woman. She was a joyous, uplifting and invigorating presence on a particularly cold, wet February evening. She runs an extraordinary women’s adventure business, ‘Love Her Wild’, which she founded 5 years ago and developed, based purely on her own searching for a way to feel fulfilled and truly happy.

It all started, in 2016, (from a small flat in South West London, unhappy and stuck in jobs she hated), with an idea to trek the Israeli National Trail, a 1000 km route from the North to the South, taking in forest, mountains, coast and desert. An arduous task for anyone fit and used to ‘roughing it’. She was neither but she, along with her Israeli husband, did it anyway!

Her book, ‘Three Stripes South’ (a reference to the markings used to mark the trail), which recounts the journey, was published in 2021. Her business now employs 50 staff/volunteers and has 30,000 members. Amazing achievements all round! She is now a mum to baby Rivi and along with husband Gil, continues to seek out new adventures they can all enjoy together. It was so inspiring to hear of both the physical and mental changes she went through. From everything she talked about, these were what we all took away.

Our meeting was on Valentine's Day so we had some suitable refreshments!

Next month we are organizing the Village Clean Up/Litter Pick. It will be on Saturday 19 March, 2–4pm. Assemble at the Village Hall to collect fluorescent jackets, bags and litter pickers (supplied by MDC). There will be tea and cakes in the Hall, afterwards. An opportunity to appreciate the Village and to meet others. Everyone welcome!

We will be taking part in the Village Picnic Day on Sunday 5 June, for the Jubilee Celebrations, offering a couple of free games for both children and adults. With everything that’s in the planning, it should be a great day for the Village all round!

We will also be running the Tombola stand at the Village Fete on Saturday 16 July. We’ll start to collect suitable prizes very soon so any offers will be gratefully received!

At County Level we will be part of creating WI Bunting for the Jubilee. One of our very talented ladies, a wiz with crafts and sewing has volunteered to make a length. It will be amazing to see the whole finished piece.

The WI is also taking part in the Bath & West show, from Thursday 2 – Saturday 4 June. We will be running the tea tent and are looking for offers of homemade cakes and any volunteers who’d like to help out on the day. So far, Caroline, our president is keen to go.

Leigh on Mendip WI are planning to meet up on Saturday 11 June, from 10.30 – 4.30, in the Village Hall, to watch our NFWI AGM, live from Liverpool via Zoom. It’s a chance for all members to understand better how we operate, hear the views of the national committee and importantly the debate around this year's resolution. It's also a great opportunity for us to drop in and make a more social day of it.

Our speaker next month, Monday 14 March, will be Richard Bruce, a retired fashion designer who comes with a wealth of experience and many tales! He has worked at top designer level throughout Europe, with both Valentino and Dior as just 2 of the illustrious companies he’s worked for. He spent the latter years working back in the UK for Marks & Spencer. Broad and vastly different experiences which he will no doubt highlight. We may also learn some little known inside secrets! It should be an entertaining evening.

Denman courses are still available on-line and are now offering pre-recorded sessions for those who can’t attend at the time. They are open to all at just £5 per session and offer a huge variety of creative and educational subjects. Well worth taking a look.

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 monthly meetings. No commitment! Contact Caroline on 812889.