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. 

APRIL

The meeting on 13 April started with our Speaker, Celia Guppy, who gave an interesting and informative talk on how to improve our Health and Wellbeing, with tips to destress and relax.  She has had a varied career as a hairdresser, fitness instructor and is now a Mindset Coach, encouraging people to think and maybe change the way we see ourselves.  She talked about the importance of hydration and eating and drinking in moderation.  

She engaged members in discussion and at the end talked us through a short relaxation session.  It worked well as a Zoom meeting but normally Celia would be talking to the group in person.  With the current Government rules on Covid, however, it is still not possible to meet inside the Hall as a group.

 

We are, though, able to shop more widely and go for that all important hair cut!  We are enjoying meeting up with a few friends or family outdoors, weather willing!!  A couple of groups of 6 have been arranged within the WI both in Leigh on Mendip and Stoke St Michael and members have really enjoyed this.  Mary has also sent out lots of local, County and National WI news, encouraging members to participate in the things of interest to them.

On 21 April we held a Zoom Social in the evening on the theme of The Queen, St George's Day and other saints!  

Thank you to Karen for hosting the night and the entertaining chat on the saints for various committee members!  It was lovely to hear our own stories about our "brush" with Royalty at various events.  Sue gave us some interesting facts about St George and their family tradition of giving a book on St George's Day.  This lead to a discussion on books that we had read and recommendations.

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 10 May, with a Zoom speaker, Marion Dale.  She is an award winning garden designer and horticultural expert.

Members are reminded that Subs are due.  Please contact Caroline if you wish to renew your membership.

 

MARCH

During March we were still unable to meet up in person as a Group but continue to hold our Committee, Monthly and Social meetings on Zoom.

On 8 March we invited members from other WI Institutes as well as our own partners and friends to listen to the Speaker, Barry Edwards, who gave a talk on "Brilliant Brunel".  Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a great hero for Barry.  He spoke about the great engineer's personal life and the time that he had spent in Bristol as well as London.  With the help of some slides he covered a wide range of projects from railways, including new ideas like the atmospheric rail, actual train stations as well as bridges and with his eye on travelling further afield great ships like the SS Great Britain and the SS Great Eastern.  He was also involved in field hospitals. 

We had a Social Evening with 11 members on Monday 22^nd March, which had an optional Indian theme.  One member shared her family recipe for curry (yummy!) and several other members talked about their holidays and family experiences in India showing some of their photos. 

 

We travelled from Kerala in the South where we saw Sue's meal served on a banana leaf (instead of a plate!) and Karen's ride in a tuk-tuk (more fun than an air conditioned Mercedes!) to Shimla in the North, calling in at the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Golden Palace in Amritsar on the way.  

Others shared items they had either bought or been given from India.  A very friendly evening and a chance to catch up.

Mary has kept us all informed and up-to-date with general WI information and opportunities to listen to various speakers or join in Denman courses on Zoom.  Our phone calls continue as well as the opportunity to meet with one other member outdoors for a social catch up and walk.

In April please note that our Monthly meeting will take place on TUESDAY 13th at 7.30pm.  Again it will be a Zoom meeting with the Speaker, Celia Guppy on "Improve your Health & Wellbeing: Tips to destress and relax".  This was a subject that many members were keen to have.  A reminder that subscriptions for the coming year are due this month.  Please send your money to Caroline.  With the help of members' views and suggestions we have put together an interesting and varied Programme for the rest of the year.  Some of these speakers will either be talking on Zoom or "in person" in the Hall, if that is a safe environment for all involved.

Meanwhile do keep in touch with each other and contact one of the Committee if you have any ideas, concerns, etc.

 

 

LEIGH ON MENDIP - LITTER PICK!

 

Leigh on Mendip WI has organised a litter pick in the village for many years, usually during March to coincide with the Keep Britain Tidy “Great British Spring Clean”.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions we cannot plan the usual event this year (the post-collection tea and cake will be missed!) but instead suggest that anyone who would like to help collects litter during the week 8-14 March.  Take a carrier bag and gloves and see what you find whilst out walking.  If you find anything that you don’t want to touch or that is too big or fly-tipped then either report it via

www.fixmystreet.com

or contact me with details of the location, for forwarding to Mendip District Council.

Please do NOT leave any litter collected outside the Village Hall, as it is not possible to arrange a collection from there this year.

Thank you to everyone who regularly collects litter.

Little known fact: Keep Britain Tidy was originally set up by a conference of 26 organisations in 1955. The conference was initiated by the national Women's Institute after a resolution was passed at its 1954 AGM to start a national anti-litter campaign.

Caroline Harris       812889

FEBRUARY!

February is a short month and one that brought changes.  

From having seen daffodils in bloom in January we then had snow and ice followed again by more Spring–like weather.

Strange Hair Ice Fungus found in Cranmore Woods

Still in Lockdown but we were able to exercise with one other person which gave members the opportunity to see a friend outside.  We were able to walk along our quiet country lanes when it proved far too wet and muddy to be going across the fields and alongside the streams on footpaths.

 

At our first Zoom meeting in February we were able to come together to discuss various topics and speakers with the hope of putting together an interesting Programme for the rest of 2021.  Initially these will have to be Zoom meetings but hopefully later in the year, depending on Government regulations, we may be able to meet in the Hall.  We ended the evening with a Fun Quiz, in our groups of 3 or 4 people in the chat rooms. 

 

This was followed at the end of the month with a Zoom Coffee morning – a chance for a group chat and catch up.  Someone mentioned the very bright full moon – apparently traditionally known as the Snow Moon in the northern hemisphere and typically symbolises the beginning of Spring.  

We watched a slide of photos from members showing the "Awakening of Nature" with beautiful Spring flowers they had taken in the hedgerows and own gardens.  Edwina gave a short talk about her pictures telling the story of Spring and new beginnings from around the world. 

 

There is light at the end of the tunnel with a gradual lifting of restrictions.  Many of our members have now had their first vaccination.  We look forward to having greater opportunities to see friends and family, especially those who do not have the technology to meet up in the "virtual" world.  We are also mindful of all those people who have been out in the workplace all through this pandemic.  We are very grateful for how they have helped us in our everyday lives.

 

Our next formal Zoom meeting is on Monday 8 March with a speaker on "Brunel".  We hope with the new Programme to run more meetings like this until it is safe and legal for us to meet again in the Hall.  We do hope as many members as possible will make the most of these opportunities.  On Monday 22 March we will have an evening social Zoom meeting on the theme of India.  Please share any photos, memories, recipes, etc.

Keeping Busy!

 Pauline and Caroline (plus 2 friends) have been busy during the various lockdowns with their knitting needles and crochet hooks.  Between them they have made 6 beautiful knee blankets and I full size blanket.  

They have also created 17 Twiddle Muffs in bright colours with an assortment of ribbons, buttons, rings, bells, etc for people to handle and play around with.  They are a good way for people with dementia and children in special schools to relieve anxiety and stress.  When this lockdown is over we will arrange to get them to Hazel for onward distribution.  

If anyone has some spare wool and would like to "have a go" contact Caroline (01373 812889) or Jan (01373 812460).