theWI Adderbury & District WI Grow Wild Seed Garden at Katharine House Hospice – Tuesday, 4th August 2015
We are now half-way through week 13 of our GWS wild flower garden at Katharine House Hospice and “We Have Poppies”. You can see them as you drive into their grounds for the poppies are blooming brilliantly…. Our poppies were first on the scene at week 12 along with corn chamomile, our one self-heal, meadow buttercups, a few tiny myosotis blooms and one very tall yellow flowered plant which I only discovered a week later was groundsel. We cleared out all plants and threw them onto the bonfire; now I’m seeing groundsel everywhere! It’s constituent parts are mildly toxic to both man and beast but, happily, you would need to ingest a great amount of this material and over a long period for any real hurt to the body. Groundsel can be found everywhere in gardens, waste ground land crop fields. It was our flower of the week for week 13, last Thursday, when I wrote about it quite extensively on our website and that of KHH. Our dear Moley Mole has not returned to tunnel our garden and this is probably due to Mr. Sykes warning against over-watering the garden, creating a mole-easy dig and neither have we been visited by any of the rabbit family. Half-way through week 11 we noticed a great confusion of hoverflies and such like activity about our garden, as well as some bees, so the word must be out about the opportunities to be found at our new patch of wild flowers, which is very exciting…. Our sited bee boxes have not so far attracted any homeless solitary bee as yet but we’re hoping for new neighbours soon. In week 10, our tallest seedlings had reached a height of 15.1/2 and some of our id seedlings were transplanted into individual flower pots. Now in week 13 most of these seedlings have been planted into our second garden and are doing quite well. I posted a message on Twitter about out GWSeedkit garden that weekend and have had some interested response. There is much more Facebook posting activity from a wide variety of GWSeed Kit groups and it’s good to see what they are achieving. As well as hoicking out the groundsel, a few other “weeds” are being removed and we’re checking for their status against removal of the wrong weeds. Yesterday, Monday, 3rd August, I found our “cultivated” poppies had burst into bloom which, from a distance, gave our garden a blue-hue which looked rather exciting. Mr. Sykes explained these seedling seeds had probably been added to the bare area when used as a dumping ground from other parts of the garden. However, they came to be in our garden I’m glad we have them, for they do look very good. Harcourt Arboretum at Nuneham Courtney grow wild flowers which we’re hoping to visit to photo-pick their collection and view their trees. We had not anticipated any flowering of our garden until mid-August so to have poppies blooming now is very exciting. Margaret Halstgead ...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – OFWI Computer Training at Tackley – Tuesday, 7th July 2015
Here is my report of my day at Tackley last week when I attended OFWI Go Online training day with four other Oxfordshire WI members. Our day began at 10.30 with a brief personal introduction by each member to the class for our tutor, Penny Marsh, to know just what each wanted and hoped to gain from our day’s course. It seemed that safety and security were high on our collective wish-list, ease of opening techniques, easier usage for basic computer tools, shopping online ideas, how to acquire an email address and confidence in using the computer as a tool for everyday usage, communication with the wider world of family connections plus usage of Face Book, emailing with word and photo attachments. In fact, emailing was the one subject Penny barely touched on because of all the spontaneous questions which kept popping up all day, furthering our acquisition of knowledge and confidence. From my point of view, the course was basic instruction for beginners and those more advanced in basics with a smattering of gained usage from use of slightly more complicated tools and applications using Word and shopping sites. We each had a computer set-up for our use to sign into the BBC website, to send emails to Penny and to work alongside her, viewing all her hand movements and moves on a large wall screen. We had a short coffee break squeezed into a busy morning, stopped for lunch for about 25 minutes, followed by an afternoon session of approximately 2 hours’ duration. Penny’s tuition put all at their ease, allowing a flow of questions throughout a full day, made even busier as confidence grew, prompting even more questions which continued with coffee and lunch. Increased confidence was definitely felt by all course members, the member who needed an email address certainly went away with the desired article and security about what information not to provide for Face Book and how to stay secure online was received. Personally, I left confident in my basic understanding and usage of the computer and reinforced knowledge about other more complicated issues. I had wanted to know how Tackley’s courses were organised and at what level they were pitched and also to have my basic knowledge confirmed and this is what I took away with me at the end of the day. One other interesting gain I came away with was a photo taken of the 70th Anniversary Tapestry made in 1989 for OFWI 70th Anniversary celebrations for 1989 and here is my photo of a part of the tapestry… The tapestry was exquisitely stitched and obviously made by very skilled needle women. It was a delight to behold. Here is a smaller photo which looks better… Margaret...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – Larkrise to Candleford Walk – Monday 6th July 2015
To Larkrise and Candleford, the village scene creation of Flora Thompson born at Juniper Hill – Lark Rise – in 1876 writing her trilogy, Lark Rise to Candleford from her own village living . Unlike other local girls, she did not go into Service but instead was sent to be assistant to the postmistress at a nearby village Her parents were Edwin and Emma Timms. We met at The Institute at 6pm prompt for car share and Satnav details and then we were off, a good-sized party of WI ladies and their pooches, all happily anticipating a fine walk and a pub meal to follow. A short 20-minute drive brought us into the picturesque heart of Hethe and then we were off with Maureen and Hazel leading the way. Soon we were into fields bright with cereal crops and poppies, sheep were grazing happily and dogs well-behaved on leads intermittently when necessary. We negotiated several kissing gates and one stile opposite St. Mary’s Church,Cottisford, where Flora was baptised in 1877. We all entered the church to view the plaque to “Flora Thompson, 1876 – 1947, born Flora Jane Timms at Juniper Hill, she worshipped here as a child before moving to Fringford, Author of ‘Lark Rise to Candleford'”. Over the stile, with the happy dogs getting through in their own style, our walk wound past partridge pens, through a plantation of tall trees, past some attractive houses, on past the village signpost, the village allotments bright with poppies and other wild flowers then back into Hethe again. We piled into cars for the drive back to Adderbury with most turning up at The Pickled Ploughman for dinner, A table setting had been organised in a private setting off the main restaurant where we gathered to enjoy our two-course meal for £11.95 per head, with drinks from the bar. Our orders were taken and, very conscious of having to make a choice between starter and main course, or main course with pudd,ing, someone very brightly suggested that if ladies paired up in two’s, one could order the starter and main and her companion, the main course with pudding. The idea spread like wildfire and soon most were copying this brilliant idea. The restaurant staff showed no surprise as they took our orders and within a fairly short time, our food arrived. Caroline thanked Maureen and Hazel for leading us on a very attractive and easy walk around the village of Hethe, connecting us to the byegone world of Flora Thompson and her Lark Rise to Candleford world. The Pickled Ploughman visit rounded off an excellent evening’s walk and social event which everyone, dogs included, enjoyed for the lovely walk, the fine summer evening and supper when we returned to Adderbury. Here’s a few photos to recapture that lovely evening… Many thanks to Maureen and Hazel for a great evening’s event. Margaret...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI Meeting Reflections – Thursday, 2nd July 2015
We had a good turn-out for our July WI meeting, our last before the August summer break and, with a busy month of June behind us, there was much to talk about. Our Guest Speaker Mr. Brian Little found he was unable to attend which enabled more reportage from Diane and others. In Matters Arising, Diane reported on our 2016 Calendar’s progress with final 48 photos present at Party in the Park and here tonight; Margaret’s report on WI GWS garden at KHH where Team Leader Colin Sykes’ generous support continues, first seedling flowering and stage 2 of Phase 2 garden development.; Christopher Rawlins school fete Tombola stall early clearance despite continual wet weather; Party in the Park wet weather attendance and resultant poor take-up of homemade cakes and tea sales; June and Robert’s glorious farm walk with supper and quiz in their ancient barn on a beautiful hot summer evening. Diane reported on the NFWI Annual General Meeting in London’s Albert Hall recounting details of HM The Queen and Royal Party’s attendance, singing Jerusalem and The National Anthem and the morning’s business matters including discussion of this year’s Resolution on Failing to Care prompting much discussion from the floor, leading to a decision to temporally halt proceedings with this very unclear subject. After lunch, a prize-winning Choir performance, a live broadcast from Anglesey where the first WI meeting took place, followed by a great talk from Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson’s; a live broadcast from Cheshire followed by Helen Morrissey’s presentation promoting women on to top 100 FTSE companies and her own company’s involvement furthering the interests of women in sport and elsewhere. Diane attended on behalf of Bodicote WI, voting on the Resolution for them, presenting her Report at their June meeting, then sharing her Report at our meeting. Committee report: discussion of proposed social evening for WI Centenary meeting on 17th September, open to everybody with musical entertainment plus optional costume/hat from last 100 years’ – “charladies” headscarf, 30s’ dress, 40s’ “New Look” up to and including contemporary dress style of today” – so huge variety of choice for those wishing to dress for the occasion. Christmas tree decorations for this year’s festival which we need to be thinking about now, WI activities for translating into easy design production and remembering the fun we had last year, making and decorating our dough shapes; discussion of our Tea Rota which will be emailed where possible to members, with Notice board and website listing. Diane read out listing for September – Audrey Brunton, Anne Neale and Tina St. John Stevens. Please call Laura if not available for any meeting. Carrol Eaten reported on attendance at Buckingham Palace Centenary Garden Party where hats were Frisbee-like in their activity and of the amazing tea served very easily from a huge marquee. There will be a Centenary Service at Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford on 15th September which Diane will attend with places for three other members for which a ballot was held with places going to Maureen Banks, Mary Walker and Margaret Halstead. Discussions will be held regarding the provision of a new banner for this event. Confirmation of numbers for the Larkrise to Candleford walk on Monday, 6th July for Maureen Bank’s notification of those wishing to walk and enjoy a pub meal afterwards. We meet at 6pm prompt for car share and directions. Thank you to Maureen for this and for the suggested Northampton walk and an evening walk in August. Last month‘s Reading group met for The Miniaturist and July’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, will...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – Reading Group July – October 2015 – 2nd July 2015
July 8th To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee August We don’t meet in August September 9th The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt October 14th The Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson Each Readilng Group meet begins at 7.3.0 each evening. If you would like more details, please contact Bernice on Adderbury 812125 or via...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – Tea Rota – May 2015 – March 2016 – Thursday 2nd July 2015
2015 June Jan Robinson Val Adams Carda Traunero July Pat Smith Pauline Leathers Jane Curness September Audrey Brunton Anne Neal Tina St. John Stevens October Lilian Bryan Chris Busby Su Lutter November Sandra Fearne Jean Cornley Jane Fletcher 2016 January Debby Dickinson Christine Shilling Sheila Nichols February Rosemary Mullet Mary Quinlan Enid Frost March Lynn Simcox Anne Golby Val Scarff If you are unable to do the date allocated to you Please ring Laura 07583...
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