Last updated at 11:35, Thursday, 24 May 2012

WE decided a few years ago that we wanted to make our meetings as interesting as possible and one way of doing this would be to cut down on many of the usual meeting formalities.

This gives us the opportunity to really concentrate on our speakers, and as we mingle while enjoying our refreshments at the end of the meetings, we can chat with everyone – not just whoever we’re sitting next to!

What have we done? We’ve had a talk about beer – and, of course, drank it. We’ve had a ‘Puddings, Pimms and Poems’ evening – the more Pimms, the funnier the poems. We’ve had demonstrations of how to plant spectacular hanging baskets, to arrange flowers and to create the most amazing decorations for cakes. But not all of us have green fingers, are particularly artistic or, contrary to common belief, spend all our time baking or making jam!

We’ve had slide shows of trips to India, learnt about the history and uses of bees and honey.

We now know more about how Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team operates, some inside information from Patrick Duff-Pennington about Muncaster and his life in Scotland, and the latest plans for Haig Pit.

Later this year, we’re looking forward to hearing about how to research family trees, from the North West Wildlife Trust, about the Lowes Court Gallery and the Irton Road Bunker.

In November, always very popular, we have our meeting open to everybody, with Maurice Steele showing more of his superb photos.

In addition, we’ve had trips to the theatre and to the Watchtree Nature Reserve at Great Orton, followed by a meal at a local hotel.

We’ve attended many celebrations of local WIs and been treated to their mouth-watering catering. We’ve had our own celebratory meals.

Our ‘Craft and Craic’ group continues to meet regularly and has recently hosted the county ‘stuffing cushions’ event! Part of the celebrations for the 2012 Olympics will be to present all 20,000 athletes with a cushion made of and stuffed with British wool.

We are a very friendly and informal group and would warmly welcome any ladies – particularly younger ones – to our meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm in Eskdale Village Hall.

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk