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The Members' Blog

Authorship
Until January 2020, this Blog was the voice of an individual WI member. Over her 40 years of membership, our Blogger had made a very fine contribution to this and other Federations in England. With interests in crafts, reading and writing and in travel, she also took an active part in campaigning for women's welfare and education and on environmental issues. While she has now handed over the Blog to the wider Bucks membership, her archived blog posts are a testament to someone who always made the utmost of her membership, and a rich source of information about the part the WI can play in today's society.

18/7/2015 0 Comments

On the beat

15th July

St Swithins Day and it did rain a tiny bit but not enough to stop the intrepid members of the local WI's "Green Gym" from their weekly walk.They don't go far and manage to replace any calories they might have lost in exercise by a midway coffee stop! It's the thought that counts. A very good promotional article appeared in today's Daily Telegraph from Lucy Worsley who spoke at this Year's AGM at the Albert Hall. Lucy has joined one of the London WIs in admiration of the WI's "subversive" history while playing its part in the establishment. Wasn't Bucks Federation lucky to have her to speak at a meeting in High Wycombe before she became such a regular presence on television programmes?

8th July

This afternoon a small group assembled to sew together some of the knitted squares for the fistula victims in Ethiopia. I think we have about 15 shawls completed now but it is hoped we will be able to present several more in September to the representative of the charity who spoke at our March WI meeting. There was a larger attendance in the evening when the Discussion Group gathered to talk about the effect of music in our lives. The topic was enlivened by the hostess possessing an authentic jukebox and loads of records from the 1960s. One could see in action the liberating sensation gained from music as the mood and arms lifted to the songs of Neil Diamond. It would have been feet as well if we had had the space! The music in the world around us is not always appreciated: the background music in shops and in documentaries on TV is not welcome: we could do without the jingles while one waits for a human voice on the telephone too.And oh to be rid of the advertisements on Classic FM! We realised the value of music in breaking through to people in comas and lifting the spirits and jogging memories in the elderly in social care.Every category of music had its champion. Some people work better with the radio on whereas others found they could not push the sound into the background.There was only one Philistine who never switched the radio on except in the car and only one who didn't like Neil Diamond.

6th July

The blood donors' van was in town again today. Some members of the WI help to serve drinks to the donors in order to release all the nurses to do more important things. We were told that there has been a recent drop in donors of around 4% because the age of the majority is getting beyond that at which blood may be taken and fewer younger people are coming forward. This is extremely worrying as there is always an urgent need for transfusions. Perhaps the WI should publicise this at the same time as it promotes discussion on organ donation following its mandate in 2014. After all to donate an organ is a once in a lifetime action whereas to donate blood can be a longtime commitment to helping others.A really noble thing to do and even "an armful" as Tony Hancock described it is replaced within hours.

5th July

The WI had a wonderful position for its centenary stall at the Farmers' Market today and the square looked resplendent with all the bunting in the shops and up the trees. We sold lots of raffle tickets and some of the items which the Craft Group have been working on during the first part of the year. The idea wasn't fund-raising so much as healthy promotion of the local WI and the WI nationally.There was a display in the adjacent cafe window which many people looked at and commented on so at the end of the day we have probably gained a couple of new members and enthused some of those who have already joined. We smiled a lot, talked a lot and stood a lot so we welcomed the assistance of the WI husbands in actually putting up and taking down the gazebo.We appreciate their help in all our activities and sometimes forget to acknowledge it as much as we should.

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18/7/2015 0 Comments

On the beat

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4/7/2015 0 Comments

Waddesdon

1st July

Once more the local WI was unable to hold its meeting in its proper venue. So on the hottest evening of the year we were crammed into a room which is too small and where an extensive drum kit made it impossible to get to all the windows to shut out the heat. In fact the members are feeling so unsettled that an instant referendum was conducted on whether a new WI should be formed in the town to meet perhaps in an afternoon. This might reduce our numbers and indirectly enable us to find a smaller and more reliable meeting place. But of course no one would volunteer to act as a temporary officer in a newly formed WI so that is a no -no.

Our speaker gave a slide presentation about her 2 month walk around New Zealand which proved how beautiful the country is and how absolutely fearless she was to undertake such an adventure. We heard the report of the National AGM in the Royal Albert Hall and the part our delegate had played in the debate on the resolution about Failure to Care which was eventually thrown out by the meeting.We listened to accounts of the garden party at Waddesdon and were amazed at the number of shawls already finished for the victims of fistula in Ethiopia. The market square has been decorated for the Farmers' Market on Sunday and an exhibition set up in the cafe, both in the window and inside. We were saddened to honour the death of one of our dearest WI members who had always contributed to the success of the WI in so many ways over the years.Freda will be sadly missed for her kindness, her sense of humour and final bravery in her fight against illness.

30th June

The local WI Book Group has been reading "We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. No one could say that she had enjoyed reading this novel but nearly everyone was glad that she had. It must be described as a challenging read dealing with a dark but topical subject: an American school massacre recalled by the mother of the schoolboy murderer. It was a study of the nurture-versus-nature debate and the danger of lethal weapons being in the possession of people moving about the community.The novel was very well constructed with a gradual build-up of dread for the reader and an horrific twist at the end. Needless to say the book generated a lot of discussion and it is one none of us will ever forget.

16th June

It was with a feeling of great relief that Bucks WI members woke to see the sun shining this morning for the Centenary Garden Party at Waddesdon Manor.We had begun to think our garden parties carried a jinx after the wash-out at Stowe and two local WI similar events which were endured under downpours of rain. People laden with chairs and picnics queued for the shuttle bus from the carpark but those unencumbered strolled up through the grounds and enjoyed the walk. There was a lovely array of stalls and displays. Some members had booked tours of the Manor and others went on guided walks around the gardens. The Joyful Divas sang several times and we listened to the Vintage Brass band and a lively ukulele band. Everyone had dressed up in honour of the occasion (lovely hats again) and it was a pleasure to stand around talking in the sunshine. The Pimms was very good too! The front lawn is an ideal venue for a garden party providing a level surface for stalls and picnic tables. I hope Waddesdon thought we behaved well and will allow us back when next we want to stage a big celebration--- 2020?

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