Get Out! Get Active! Get Involved!

LOOKING FOR GREAT STORIES FOR WI LIFE MAGAZINE

WI Life magazine are on the lookout for some great ideas for features, so they would love to hear from any WIs that are doing something interesting in the coming year. Have you got any interesting events or activities planned, or are you visiting any interesting places? Perhaps you’ve got a special anniversary or celebration coming up? Some events we’ve covered in the past include a WI who made sculptures out of sand and a WI who held an ancient Rush bearing festival. We’re also interested in individual members who are remarkable in some way, whether they have a particularly interesting day job or have an amazing talent they’ve been hiding under a bushel.
 
Here are some more ideas:

Crafts
We’re looking for great crafters amongst you who would be interested in sharing their patterns/handiwork with other WI members.

Cover girls
We’re always looking for interesting members to feature in our member profile. Perhaps you know of a member who has a particularly interesting job or hobby or is remarkable in some way. We’d love to hear about them.

Gardens
We’re looking for members with interesting gardens for us to come and visit and write about.

Events
We’re looking for WIs with interesting events/trips or celebrations planned for the coming year. The more unusual/quirky the better! Or does your WI take part in any interesting local customs or traditions? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Liz Frost if you have something that might be of interest.
Tel: 020 7371 9300 x220
Email: l.frost@nfwi.org.uk
www.nfwi.org.uk

WI HOLIDAYS - NOT JUST FOR MEMBERS!

Eleven members and friends recently enjoyed an action packed 8 day holiday based around Italy’s picturesque Amalfi coast. We were fortunate to have exceptionally knowledgeable guides and a superb coach driver who negotiated the hairpin bends along the narrow hilly coastal road with amazing skill. Visits included the gardens of Ravello with a modern amphitheatre positioned so that the audience has the sea in the background whilst music is played beneath the starlit sky. We were wowed by the sheer scale and history of Pompeii, volcanology on Mount Vesuvius, boat trips to and around the beautifully indulgent isle of Capri, shopping in Positano, grand architecture of Naples and much much more. Our hotel was close to the sea with a private beach, and our Tai Chi moments around the pool and roof garden managed to cause amusement!

DENMAN COLLEGE: FEDERATION WEEKEND “NEWS EXTRA” from Pauline Bamber

Once again WFWI have pulled it off! What? Do I hear you ask? The Worcestershire Federation Denman Weekend of course. You missed it? You don’t know what you have missed – three wonderful days of meeting friends old and new from across the county. I love to hear the words “where did we meet?” followed by a conversation of remembering delights and events shared.

WFWI 2011 weekend will long be remembered for friendship, fun, learning new crafts and seeing new places.
Seven members from the Lenches WI took part in the Ramble & Thames Cruise tutored by John Harris and the Silver Clay Workshop tutored by Melanie Blaikie, which was a relatively new silver process. Rather like playing with ‘Play Dough’ and resulting in wonderful delicate silver jewellery. Melanie was articulate, well versed in her craft, explaining the science of silver clay all in a jovial and fun way (no notes required) she explained all the stages thoroughly, patiently allowing participants to each make some beautiful pieces of jewellery.

John Harris assisted by Christine Booth arranged a ramble, approximately 3 miles in length, along the Thames footpath into Oxford followed by a 2 hour gentle cruise on a steamer to Abingdon. John was very generous with his knowledge of birds, flowers, architecture, history and floating craft, many of these being new to us. We saw parts of Oxford the usual tourist would have difficulty in finding, like the ‘Boat People’ made up of writers, poets and artists who live on the boats permanently. Much humour and lots of fun, like enjoying our picnic lunch sitting on the river edge with our feet on a floating pontoon and our return to Denman in a fleet of taxis after a coach breakdown, what wonderful memories.

Denman operates like a 4 star hotel, quiet and peaceful with beautiful grounds to wander in if you wish some solitude, or comfortable lounges to find friends or read. En-suite rooms all with beverage making facility to enjoy at any time.

The County Chairman Chris Hickman-Smith and Denman Representative Julia Roberts organised a wonderful weekend and looked after everyone’s needs. On behalf of us all I should like to say ‘Thank you’ to them and all the staff at Denman. Please if you have never been DO come next year.

Click here to see all the pictures of WFWI members enjoying the day at Croome Court. The winning entries in the photograph competition are displayed too along with the names of quiz and raffle winners.