Buckinghamshire Federation of Women's Institutes
  • Home
  • who we are
    • Federation Trustees
    • Sub-Committees
    • Sub-Committee Videos
  • What we do
    • Current Campaigns
      • Climate Change
      • End Violence against Women
      • Get On Board
      • Stop Modern Slavery
      • Make a Match
      • 5 Minutes that matter
    • Resolutions
    • The Members' Blog
  • What's On
    • Events Calendar
    • Competitions & Challenges
      • Green Canopy Competition '22
      • Elizabeth Bell Challenge 2021
      • BFWI Silver Cup
      • Lady Denman Cup
      • Pudding Fit for a Queen
      • Virtual Show
  • Running your WI
    • Finding a Speaker
    • Subscriptions
    • Library
      • Tutorials & Library
    • Learning
      • WI Training
      • Denman @ Home
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • On-line Store
  • History of Buckinghamshire WIs
  • Use of Website
  • Home
  • who we are
    • Federation Trustees
    • Sub-Committees
    • Sub-Committee Videos
  • What we do
    • Current Campaigns
      • Climate Change
      • End Violence against Women
      • Get On Board
      • Stop Modern Slavery
      • Make a Match
      • 5 Minutes that matter
    • Resolutions
    • The Members' Blog
  • What's On
    • Events Calendar
    • Competitions & Challenges
      • Green Canopy Competition '22
      • Elizabeth Bell Challenge 2021
      • BFWI Silver Cup
      • Lady Denman Cup
      • Pudding Fit for a Queen
      • Virtual Show
  • Running your WI
    • Finding a Speaker
    • Subscriptions
    • Library
      • Tutorials & Library
    • Learning
      • WI Training
      • Denman @ Home
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • On-line Store
  • History of Buckinghamshire WIs
  • Use of Website


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. 

A Bit of History

2/6/2014

0 Comments

 
28th May
Fifty four Bucks WI members and friends enjoyed a really interesting visit to the British Museum today to see the exhibition on the Vikings.The coach driver did some excellent fast thinking when we came up behind 10 miles of traffic jam on the planned route in to London: we had to be taken rather a long way round but arrived in time for our viewing slots. The exhibition was beautifully staged in the new Sainsbury Wing and although it was quite crowded we were able to see everything at our own pace.I must admit that I was surprised by the beautiful craftwork and its delicasy of workmanship on show. I had no idea how far the Vikings spread across the world i.e. from the Canadian coasts to Islamic settlements as far distant as the Caspian Sea. One of the footnotes about a highly decorated battle axe said that it was thought to enhance the warrior's reputation when seen on the batlefield but I couldn't imagine the victim having the time to appreciate its beauty as it descended on to his head.We are always told about the blood-thirsty forays of the raiders but not about their lovely gold and silver filigree work.There was a lovely quote from a bard about the gods, Hoder, the god of Thought and Mimir, the god of Memory---"Every day Hoder and Mimir fly across the empty ground; I am anxious about Hoder returning but most of all I worry for Mimir". So obviously the fear of Alzheimers is over 1000years old!
After viewing the Vikings we had time for lunch or to view another room of exhibits. A lovely day so all thanks to the Art and Craft sub-committee for making the arrangements.

27th May
The local WI Book Group has been reading a Philippa Gregory novel, "the Lady of the Rivers" which was a popular choice. Some readers criticised the use of the first person narrative and perhaps its length but it is a very gripping story and it gives a real feel of the life of the times. It is a different picture of Richard III too but what dreadful times to live in: one never knew whose side to be on as the court was riven by different factions all trying to manage with a king who was away with the fairies for long periods of time. Philippa Gregory does a lot of research and most of the time seems to be historically accurate. Actually a true account of that period is dramatic enough anyway but she makes the characters interesting and believable.The conflict between religion and witchcraft was fascinating as too the differing opinions on medicine and witchcraft.

21st May
We went off on our sponsored walk for ACWW this morning. It was very pleasant walking 3 miles along beside the river Ouse through Stony Stratford. We were joined by some members from a neighbouring WI. I know we were about 3 weeks late for the actual day for Women to Walk the World but we will have raised some funds for the cause and that is the object of the exercise.

20th May
Two of us from the local WI attended the Croquet event at Stony Stratford this evening. There were people of different abilities present, about 30 in all and we were able to have instruction or just enjoy a couple of games. The weather looked very threatening but we managed to escape the rain and thunder and even sit about enjoying the delicious refreshments prepared by the non--playing members of one of the town's WIs.A very pleasant way to use a break in the clouds.

0 Comments

Food for Thought

19/2/2013

1 Comment

 
18th February
The story of horsemeat mixed in with or even being completely substituted for beef in prepared meat products is obviously going to run and run. Thank Goodness that eating horse is not a danger to our health but only to our sensibilities. I imagine there are droves of little girls instantly becoming vegetarian.As WI members we ought to be up in arms at this commercial dishonesty.The WI passed a mandate about the need for correct labelling of food way back in 1995 and we have suffered from EU legislation for many years which demanded a full account of the ingredients in jams and cakes sold on market stalls.So this becomes an issue with Europe where the rules are disregarded but it is the British farmers who are feeling the brunt when the shoppers turn away from buying beef.This mood will not last but even a short dip in sales will affect the livelihood of the farmers who are already struggling with the crisis in dairy farming and the recent weather disasters.The WI has always supported the rural community so it needs our help at present more than ever.

13th February
The local WI held a discussion evening tonight. We meet in a member's house, settle down with a glass of wine and talk about some topic set at the previous gathering. The subject can be anything at all except party politics or religion. The topic tonight was China so it did touch on politics and beliefs a little bit. I am ashamed to admit that I realised that I knew very little about China. However there were people present who had visited and had been fascinated by the different way of life and its culture.It was a pleasant evening: we learned a lot and only wandered off the subject once or twice which is pretty good for us!

12th February
We attended the By George...that's style! day at Princes Risborough. This was a new venue to us and in spite of the snowy conditions outside it was a capacity audience.The speakers covered the costume, social life and gossip of the period. In the afternoon there was the opportunity to learn how to dance a minuet and how to promenade with grace and style in order to impress in Georgian society.There was a lot of laughter and audience participation.Some are planning to visit Handel House in London following the talk from Antonia Grant who works in the museum and it would be great to see Fran Saltmarsh from Cambridge return to describe another slice of historical costume.We had to take our own refreshments or go out into the town for these but if the BFWI wants to keep the entrance prices down this is the only way it can be done: halls and good speakers are expensive for a full day's programme.


Read More
1 Comment

    Archives

    December 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    ACWW
    Annual Meeting
    Body Image
    Book Group
    Bucks County Show
    Care Not Custody
    Centenary
    Christmas
    COOL
    Denman
    Digital Team Leader
    Discussion Group
    Existentialist Angst
    FGM
    Food Matters
    Great Food Debate
    Happy Stitchers
    History Day
    Homelessness
    Investigation And Discovery
    Jammin' With The WI
    Literary Lunch
    Loneliness
    Love Your Libraries
    Membership
    Mental Health Matters
    Modern Slavery
    Organ Donation
    Plastic Soup
    Quiz
    Resolutions
    Science
    Shop
    SOS For High Streets
    Stuart Lodge
    Support Overdue
    Violence Against Women
    WI Campaigns
    WI Constitution
    WI Crafts
    WI Life
    Women's History
    Women's Suffrage

    RSS Feed

Buckinghamshire Federation of Women's Institutes (Affiliated to the National Federation of Women's Institutes)   ​Charity No: 228057 ​
​External links disclaimer
Throughout our site you will find links to external websites. Although we make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, BFWI cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.  If you come across any external links that don't work, we would be grateful if you could report them to us.
Photo used under Creative Commons from rverc
  • Home
  • who we are
    • Federation Trustees
    • Sub-Committees
    • Sub-Committee Videos
  • What we do
    • Current Campaigns
      • Climate Change
      • End Violence against Women
      • Get On Board
      • Stop Modern Slavery
      • Make a Match
      • 5 Minutes that matter
    • Resolutions
    • The Members' Blog
  • What's On
    • Events Calendar
    • Competitions & Challenges
      • Green Canopy Competition '22
      • Elizabeth Bell Challenge 2021
      • BFWI Silver Cup
      • Lady Denman Cup
      • Pudding Fit for a Queen
      • Virtual Show
  • Running your WI
    • Finding a Speaker
    • Subscriptions
    • Library
      • Tutorials & Library
    • Learning
      • WI Training
      • Denman @ Home
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • On-line Store
  • History of Buckinghamshire WIs
  • Use of Website