the WI Adderbury & District Meeting – Thursday, 5th February 2015 at 7.30 pm
Most regrettably our Guest Speaker Amy, from Handcrafted Fascinators, had to withdraw from talking to members at February’s meeting because of a bad dose of ‘flu and her presence was very much missed. We sent her commiserations and good wishes for a speedy recovery with the hope that she will be able to come to a future meeting. Thankfully for all members, Caroline was able to produce an impromptu quiz on well-known world-wide hats plus the materials for members to create their own paper hats, decorating them with ribbons, stars and flower shapes; our collection was very impressive and here are some of my photos for you to see – Here are a few of the quiz questions – Why do we say “mad as a hatter”? – (The process of making felt involved toxic mercury that drove hat makers to madness) Who was the first person to pull a rabbit out of a hat? – (A Frenchman, Louis Comte, in 1814; the Top Hat made its debut in 1797, London) What is the design significance of the chef’s hat? – (Each pleat represented a way that a master chef had to prepare eggs) Who was the first person to wear a fedora? – (Sarah Bernhardt, the 1800’s actress, portrayed a character called “Fedora” who wore the distinctive hat) What saved our state animal, the beaver, from extinction? – (The silk worm – silk replaced beaver felt in hat making) Our thanks to Caroline for a most entertaining Meeting. Margaret Halstead ...
Read MoreNotices from the NFWI | Adderbury & District WI – 2015 | Adderbury & District WI1915-2015:
Notices from the NFWI 2015 WI CENTENARY 1915 – 2015: #theWI_100years #WICENTENARY #InspiringWomen #tbt – seen on Twitter today – the NFWI presented an Ambulance to the Army in 1941. Centenary Celebrations 2015 The WI Cookbook – Monday 26th Jan. 2015 – Order Now! NFWI 2015 – 2017 – Board Elections – Wednesday 28th January 2015 The NFWI is proud to be supporting LiberTeas – Monday 19th January 2015 Back British Dairy – Thursday 15th January 2015 100 years of WI Campaigns – Monday 22nd December 2014 Resolutions – YOU choose – Wednesday 17th December 2015 Key Campaign Time to Talk About – ORGAN DONATION – Time to Talk – The NFWI is encouraging members to talk to their family and friends about organ donation Menu of the Week – see their Recipes site Thursday, 5th February 2015 RESOLUTIONS – YOU choose – Wednesday 17th December 2014: “Members have shortlisted seven new resolutions for NFWI campaigns. Here is the key information you need to help you make your selections to go forward to the 2015 Annual Meeting ” – The Next 100 Years Plant A Tree For The Future Public Access Defibrillators Failing To Care – Assessment Of Need In Long-Term Care Cutting Back On Food Waste Ending FGM To Curb The Use Of Antibiotics Tuesday, 10th February 2015: Centenary celebrations 2015 Special activities and projects will be taking place between now and 2015 to celebrate the centenary of the Women’s Institute: WI Centenary Fruit Cake competition The NFWI Education Committee gave members the opportunity to share their fruit cake recipes nationally and to win the chance to have their recipe produced and served at the WI Centenary Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015. Centenary choir competition: ‘Singing for Joy’ A competition for WI members to take part in a national singing celebrations. This competition will culminate in March 2015, and has taken place over a four year period. Tomorrow’s Heirlooms A competition for WI members to display their wonderful craft skills and create new treasures. NEW! Centenary NFWI/ Makower Challenge Celebrate the centenary and show off your craft skills by entering this prestigious competition. Make a quilt/ wall hanging, or a wearable item with a sophisticated selection of Makower fabrics that were inspired by the WI’s palette of colours. WI Federation Centenary Link Here is a map of the route of the special centenary baton that is being passed around every federation within England and Wales during 2014-15. The last stop on the route will be the Royal Albert Hall where the centenary Annual Meeting will be held. Follow the link for the full Federation Centenary Link – See more at: http://www.thewi.org.uk/what-we-do/centenary-celebrations-2015#sthash.2RTcVoRL.dpuf Ladies – do see the NFWI Link for the map of the route of the special centenary baton. ...
Read MoreThursday, 6th February, 2014 – Marie-Noelle Witty “Vive la Difference”
Marie-Noelle Witty spoke about the differences between the British and the French with regard to food, giving a fascinating review of the foods eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with no snack-eating between meals. A highly entertaining talk by an accomplished and polished speaker. As my notes were not extensive, I also repeat here the Meeting notes of Thursday, 6th February 2014, and the write-up on the brilliant presentation by Marie-Noelle Witty – ‘Vive la Difference’….. “Speaker: Marie-Noelle Witty ‘Vive la Difference’ Marie-Noelle spoke about the difference between the British and the French with regard to food. The French have a love affair with food and love to talk about it, shop for food, plan meals and have people for dinner. As a child growing up in France, when food was put on the table the children were told what it was good for. The French have the lowest rate of food related illness such as bulimia in Europe. Families eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and do not snack between meals. Young children are given a small snack when they come home from school, however this stops when children reach the age of about 12. Fruit features highly with apricots being the favourite. The vote of thanks was offered by Caroline.” Dear Ladies, My apologies for not publishing my draft Reflections on our Guest Speaker – Marie-Noelle Witty’s – brilliant presentation at last February 2014 Meeting. My notes were pitifully short which is why I think the draft remained unfinished and unpublished and, unfortunately, undiscovered until last night. So here together at long last, my Reflections on Marie-Noelle Witty’s fascinating French foodie insight plus the Meeting notes produced by Bernice, and I do hope she will forgive me republishing her notes now. Margaret...
Read MoreAdderbury Calendar Competition – 8th January 2015
Diane was pleased to show us her family calendar showcasing their pet dog, to explore the possibilities of creating our own calendar, and the finished quality of Diane’s calendar was encouraging. It was of a large-sized format giving plenty of space to write up monthly activities, with a very attractive finish. Diane is looking for a sale price of about £5-6.00 . The finished Calendar will be shown at various Village and WI events and our deadline for competition entries is 30 April 2015. We look forward to receiving photos for the year’s four seasons and a title may be assigned to the photos. Please send a covering email to provide your name – including permission to use your name – this is optional plus – Contact phone number Season for which the photograph is being entered Title of the photograph – this is optional Please send all entries to the following email address: [email protected] Diane was very excited to tell us she had received 20 entries for the competition already. So Ladies, go out with your cameras now if you wish to have winter photographs for the competition and have fun with your camera. Margaret...
Read MoreThursday, 8th January 2015 – Alan Brewer with his Humorous talk on working for BOAC (the posh bit)
For our first WI Meeting of 2015 our Guest Speaker, Alan Brewer, gave his terribly amusing and fascinating Humorous talk on Working for BOAC (the posh bit). Alan told of early home baking fun with his mother, of his four-year apprenticeship with a Master Baker and becoming a master baker himself, working with TV celebrity chefs Fanny and Johnnie Craddock all of which was followed by a wonderful opportunity to interview for BOAC. His acceptance by BOAC, the following eight-week training course and subsequent safety-first and health training were all undertaken very seriously indeed. BOAC took safety issues incredibly seriously and 90% of the eight-week training programme was about safety-first matters. . “It was the No. 1 priority, which if we failed, we lost our licence!” Training was followed by a one-year’s trial period. Happily for Allan, all of his hard work plus BOAC safety-first and etiquette training led on to a forty-year career, caring for high-flying passengers on a wide range of well-known flying machines from 707’s to VC10’s, the Tri-Star to the Douglas DC10 “whose doors kept falling off”, 777’s, Jumbo’s and Imperial Airways planes. Alan flew all over the world, at times with a programmed three-week tour and one week’s home leave, with all kinds of people to stars of stage and screen, politicians and government figures to members of our Royal Family. Alan must have enjoyed a very special connection to have been able to accompany so many royal flights around the world. Well done Alan. Our business meeting went off very well in the hall of The Methodist Church. We discussed ongoing events and happenings and Caroline asked for help from those members who might like to be involved with fund-raising for Frank Wise School in February with our proposed Swishing Evening party: an opportunity to swap accessory items for new additions to your wardrobe. Subscriptions for 2015 were collected and we all enjoyed a most enjoyable WI meeting. Our next meeting is on Thursday, 5th February at The Institute at 7.30pm when “A Lot like Amy” with her Handcrafted fascinators will be with us. Just in time for springtime weddings! Margaret...
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