The NFWI’s most recent campaign, launched after the AGM last June, is to save libraries from closure.  Here in Powys libraries are safeguarded at least until the end of the financial year, but who knows what will happen after that?  So Powys-Montgomery Federation is aiming to get enough people to Welshpool on Saturday 4th February at 11:00 a.m. to hug the library on Brook Street.  Bring as many people as possible, they don’t have to be WI members.  If you value the contribution that libraries make please make the effort.

See you there!    

November’s meeting was great fun with our mini skittles tournament following our Annual meeting.  Well done to the winning team  – I think Ursula proved to be the star on the night – and many thanks to the staff at the Kings Head for coming up with the delicious snacks to accompany the skittling.

The shops seem to be getting into the Christmas spirit now and the lights will be switched on in Welshpool on 2nd December.  We have our Christmas decoration workshop with Christine Walton on 10th Dec in the Old School, when those who have signed up will be making welcome rings and table decorations. 

Our December meeting takes place on 13th December when Nicola Knapton will be showing us how to felt.   If you haven’t already signed up with your menu choices for our festive meal on 13th January at the Kings Head the choices are as follows:

 

Chef’s homemade roasted vegetable soup

Brussels pate with sweet red onion marmalade & warm toast

Homemade smoked salmon and prawn mousse roulade

Oven baked goats cheese and cranberry tart

 -

Roasted turkey crown with homemade chestnut stuffing,bacon wrapped sausage & roasted potatoes

Roast beef with homemade Yorkshire pudding & roasted potatoes

Mushroom, brie and cranberry wellington

Salmon fillet with champagne and asparagus

 -

Traditional Christmas pudding & brandy sauce

Black Forest roulade

Raspberry & Chocolate fudge cheesecake

Fresh fruit salad

 -

Coffee & homemade mince pies

It would be very helpful if you could bring your payment (£18.95) sealed in a named envelope to the December meeting – cheques to Guilsfield WI always welcome.  If this causes problems a £5 deposit has to be paid, so our treasurer would need that please.  Also Jean has bought the tickets for the Knicker Lady so if you haven’t already paid her, she would appreciate £10.

Rita will be taking over as secretary, Jean will now wear the treasurer’s hat, while Amanda will serve one more year as President.  Maud has put together a great programme for 2012 and the walking group intend to continue from spring onwards.  Maybe we could start some other small groups – what about a book group, a craft group, a cycling group?  Would you like to go pon a day trip somewhere?  If you have any ideas please tell the committee – they would really welcome suggestions and remember – it is YOUR WI and it is what YOU make of it!    

 

Introducing WI-nny, our WI scarecrow, made for Guilsfield Show.  Note that she is wearing a red rosette, denoting that she was judged the best scarecrow at the show.

Amanda, Celia, Dot N., Jean, Maud and Rita spent a couple of evenings putting her together and had great fun doing so.  No wine was involved in the making of WI-nny, but there was a great deal of laughter!

The photo below shows them all together but they may be in the County Times next week!    

And we mustn’t forget that Dorothy Williams won the cup for the Preserves class; well done Dorothy!  Of course Margaret Watkin did very well too with her crafts and won, among other things, the best in show award for her patchwork cushion.  Congratulations, Margaret!

Dorothy was one of the team selling raffle tickets, the others were Amanda, Ann N, Dot W, Jan, Jean, Maud and Rita.  The good news is that at least £300 was raised in support of the Air Ambulance and that will be presented at our next meeting.  More on that later.    

Our next speaker will be Anne Dyer from Westhope College and her subject will be straw.  Anne has tried many different media over the years and her talk is bound to be fascinating.  Before that the National Annual General Meeting will take place in Liverpool on 8th June – how much media coverage will there be, I wonder.

There are some things to think about before the next meeting:

Could YOU enter the Mini-Eisteddfod – each entry attracts a point, so the more entries from a WI the better, although only one entry per person in each different class.  If you can come up with something before the middle of August, please let Jean know as entries need to be in by 2nd September.

Should we enter the drama/entertainment this year?  If so can YOU help in any way – coming up with an idea for an entertainment based on the theme of “Misunderstanding” would be a good start!    

Guilsfield Show – raffle ticket sellers will be needed throughout the afternoon, can YOU put your name down for a short spell, please?  Should we enter the scarecrow competition?  It sounds like fun and a good chance to get together one evening – how about it?

In the meantime, don’t forget the fortnightly walks from the Old School at 6.45 p.m.  The next one will be on 15th June, then  29th June, foll0wed by 13th July.  Hope to see you at one of our strolls round the village and environs.    

Mr Madhuresh Loomba will be demonstrating Indian Cookery at our next meeting on Tuesday 8th March, 7.30 p.m in the Old School as usual.  I’m really looking forward to it – make sure you come along to experience this demo.

There was a very good turn-out of W.I. ladies from the Powys Montgomery Federation at the consultation meeting about the reconfiguration of hospital services in Shropshire.  This was held at the Royal Oak in Welshpool on 23rd February and the room was packed with many people standing during the meeting.  Many points were made, but one thing was very clear – the situation cannot remain as it is.   Maybe everyone should write to as many people who represent us as possible to make our feelings about the proposed changes clear.  We live in a county where there is no General Hospital and may need to use Shropshire’s facilities from time to time.  the proposed changes will affect us all in some way, I’m sure.

RESOLUTIONS: The two resolutions which will go forward to the AGM in Liverpool are Mega-Farms and the closure of librairies as these are the two which received most votes.  Our Federation Resolution meeting will be in early April, venue to be confirmed – it should be another interesting meeting.

THEATRE TRIPS: Four seats are still available for the Pam Ayres show at Theatre Severn – see previous post – and there are 25 tickets for a day in Llandudno plus Calendar Girls – cost around £37 to include theatre ticket and coach travel.  Why not join us for this?