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ADVICE ON FALLING VICTIM TO SCAMS Every year an estimated three million people fall victim to scams sent by post, email, text, the phone and the Internet. The Office of Fair Trading has recently published a guide for carers and care professionals warning people of the dangers of becoming a victim of a scam. Copies of the booklet OFT972 ‘Can you stop the person you care for from being scammed?’ and the leaflet OFT973 ‘Don’t let them con you’ can be obtained by calling 0800 389 3158. Alternatively click here to download any of the leaflets available on scams. WALDORF DOLL DAY SCOOL, Monday 28th July 2008 We had a really great day and the Tutor Jill Rutland is highly recommended. Click on photo to enlarge
AN EVENING WITH BEN FOGLE, Wednesday 9th July 2008 On Wednesday 9th July a large group of excited members and a few husbands gathered at The Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare. They were all awaiting the arrival of Ben Fogle!!! Ben didn't disappoint the waiting audience who listened to every word he said. Ben spoke about his time on the 'Castaway' island with 36 strangers and said how difficult it was to fit back into normal life in London after a year on the island. His ambition is to live on an island with his wife, have some children and some more dogs. He talked about his adventure crossing the Atlantic with James Cracknell in a rowing boat and how they rowed in the nude to stop the clothes rubbing their skin raw! Ben talked about all his many Television Presenters work and how the week before he had a cameo role in a TV show to be shown later in the year. He was not only an interesting speaker but had a lovely personality and was very 'down to earth'. Click on photo to enlarge
PRESIDENTS EVENING, Monday 30th June 2008 The Presidents Evening was held at the Somerset Hall,Portishead ,when 89 members represented 47 WI's. The evening commenced with a buffet supper with a glass of wine before the Chairman Carole King introduced the nominees for the Executive committee for the period September 2008 -September 2010. An Open forum followed before the entertainment - firstly by the Vice-chairmen Daphne & Donna ,concluded by Sandie Derrick. The evening closed with the raffle draw. Click on photo to enlarge
European Parliament Visit, Thursday 23rd to 27th June 2008 A visit was arranged by the Environment and Public Affairs Committee for 24 members and 5 husbands to visit the European Parliament. We left Bristol at am on Monday 23rd June and after a smooth ferry crossing, arrived in Brussels at 6pm. The hotel was in a central location, easy walking distance to the main square. On the Tuesday we paid our visit to the Parliament building, a very impressive, large glass building. After security checks, we went to a meeting room to be met by Mr John Fordham who is in charge of all English speaking visitors. Mr. Fordham then told us how the Parliament is organised and how it all works. It was a very informative talk and made it all much clearer. We then met our sponsor, MEP Caroline Jackson. She was a charming lady and talked about how long she had been an MEP and then answered many questions. We then went for a short time into the visitors gallery in the Chamber of the Parliament Building. All too soon our visit was over and we returned to our hotel. Everyone had enjoyed the visit and were still talking about it the next day. We then had a day to wander around Brussels and some of us watched a display by the police force in the main square. We were very lucky to have warm, dry weather for the whole trip. Thursday we travelled back to Bristol, a smooth crossing, and arrived back at 6pm. The trip had produced many happy memories and lots of new friends. Click on photo to enlarge
FEDERATION LUNCH, Thursday 22nd May 2008 The Federation lunch was held at Camely Lodge on Thursday 22nd May and what a wonderful event it was. The sun shone so that members could take their coffee outside to admire the view of the lake with swans and signets gliding past. The speaker was Tony Strafford who came in his uniform of a Yeoman of the Guard at the Tower of London. He looked magnificent in his scarlet tunic and entertained us all with his witty and informative talk on 'The Ladies of the Tower'. He spoke for just over an hour, but he was so good that we could have listened for another hour, even though some stomachs were starting to rumble! The meal was a superb mix of flavour and colour. The whole event was a lovely relaxed and enjoyable experience. How will we top it next year? Click on photo to enlarge
HISTORY LECTURE OUTINGS We were so lucky with the weather, sunny and warm for both of the trips with James Bond. Castell Coch was enchanting with the sun shining through the fresh green leaves on the trees in the surrounding wood. The coach drivers had a difficult job getting through the very narrow gate and up the steep hill. Members of the group were told the history by James and then started to climb the many narrow winding steps in the three towers to see wonderfully decorated rooms and views. Most members found time for a drink and a cake in the very small cafe. It was an idyllic, peaceful place to visit. When we arrived at St Fagan's, the sun was still shining. After lunch James took some members on a walk and pointed out lots of things to see with regard to the Victorian lectures. Members had free time for a wander, cup of tea or an ice cream. It was a very enjoyable, but tiring day and of course James notes were available to remind everyone of what had been seen. HANGING BASKET DEMONSTARTION, Thursday 15th May 2008 A very successful afternoon with Jim Bailins at the Jubilee Hall, Alveston. With Jim Billings giving the ladies an inspirational demonstration and answering all our questions in his usual friendly fashion. Click on photo to enlarge
BATH SPRING FLOWER SHOW Over 500 trauma teddies were received from WI & TG members - luckily not all were for the competition but being donated for the RUH Bath. The results of the competition were; Class 1 - Trauma Teddy 1st Gillian Stevens Marshfield & Cold Ashton WI 2nd Rita Schwartz Chipping Sodbury WI 3rd Trish Holloway Wellsway TG H.C. Jan Mawhood Chipping Sodbury WI H.C. Sue Barclay Beaufort TG Class 2 - Needle Case 1st Jan Mawhood Chipping Sodbury WI 2nd Alice Frere Saltford WI 3rd Joyce Bennett Clutton WI H.C. Patricia Bevan Wick WI,br> Class 3 - Cross stitch picture 1st Joyce Bennett Clutton WI 2nd Gladys Jefferies Wellsway TG 3rd Patricia Bevan Wick WI Class 4 - Embroidered place mat 1st Patricia Bevan Wick WI - Best in Show 2nd Anne Colluborne Marshfield & Cold Ashton WI. Congratulations to you all, and many thanks for entering the competition. Click on photo to enlarge
CATHEDRAL WINDOWS PATCHWORK, Tuesday 22nd April 2008 A lovely day was held in Saltford with tutor Lorraine Shergold - hopefully all students have now finished their work and have a piece similar to this to make into a cushion or wall hanging! Click on photo to enlarge
Federation Tour of New Zealand April 11th saw 34 members, friends and husbands departing from Heathrow for their journey to Auckland, stopping off for one night in Los Angeles where many of the famous sights were visited.We were greeted in Auckland by very heavy rain, but undeterred we visited museums,the Sky tower and Mount Eden.From here we moved on to the Bay of Islands where the weather improved greatly & we visited Waitangi Treaty House before a very rough cruise to the famous Hole in the Rock.One of our members, Georgina, went swimming with the dolphins instead , while her friend took the photos-what an experience.Most of us spent a night staying with a N.Z. family in Rotorua & had a wonderful time We visited the Whakarewarewa Thermal reserve,seeing geysers, hot springs & hot mud pools before going to the Agrodome for a sheep shearing demonstration.That evening we received a traditional Maori welcome at a Hangi meal, followed by songs, and dances. We moved to Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait to Christchurch, enjoying a visit to a local winery on the way! The following morning we were up early again to board the Tranz Alpine train for our journey into the Franz Joseph Glacier region.At this point 7 of us flew over the Franz Joseph glacier in a helicopter before landing on the Fox Glacier-this was the highlight for most of us. We arrived in Queenstown, where we enjoyed our dinner in the Skyline restaurant overlooking the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu.We left Queenstown the following day, but before doing so the majority of us had were able to experience the optional 'Safari of the rings' adventure travelling into the spectacular landscape where the film was made and others boarded a jet boat for a thrilling ride on the Shotover River -something not to be forgotten for a while! From here we travelled to Milford Sound where we enjoyed a leisurely cruise of this fiord- about 14 people decided to travel back to Queenstown aboard a flight seeing plane -seating between 3 - 5 people- while the remainder of the party returned by coach. On our way to Dunedin we visited the Royal Albatross Centre and were lucky enough to see several of them flying overhead.While in Dunedin quite a few of the party climbed Baldwin Street -the steepest street in the world - and also visited the Settlers museum, the !st church of Otago and the impressive Edwardian style railway station. The weather turned at this point just as we travelled to stay at The Hermitage Hotel in the Mt.Cook National Park for the night. Moving back to Christchurch we were able to view the Cathedral, museums, art galleries or go to the International Antarctic Centre where we were able to feel the chill of winter and enjoy a ride on a Hugglund vehicle designed for transporting people and equipment along the Antarctic terrain. This was the end of our tour and we returned to Los Angeles for a night before arriving in Heathrow on May 3rd.I think I can speak for everyone when I say it was a wonderful experience (not exactly a holiday!!)with plenty of laughter and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We will not forget the friendliness of the New Zealand people who welcomed us wherever we went. Click on photo to enlarge
COUNTRY MARKETS There are 15 markets in the Avon area, they all vary. Most are weekly, opening for one and two hours, others are monthly, usually within a farmers market, or a village market. Due to their success we are being asked more and more to place markets in other venues and with other organisations. This is putting a great strain on the existing cooks. So, there is an appeal for more cooks. Marketing is good fun otherwise we would not do it! This is not ‘special cooking’, just ordinary basic home cooking. YOUR FEDERATION NEEDS YOU! To organise the events that members like to attend and enjoy so much. We need Sub Committees and those committees cannot function without members! Do you have a particular interest or skill or just like being part of things – if so the federation needs you! Please give it some serious thought – we cannot organise events without a full quota of sub committee members. Telephone WI House for more information. |
