For Mums everywhere

I think we can all sympathise with this?

One word...

"Terrific"!

That's what the first person to see the finished book said when I showed it to her this morning. I had an email to say that the books had arrived from the printers and hot-footed it down to the distributor to pick up some inspection copies, hot off the press.

You will not be disappointed, I am certain.

Our book will be delivered to WI House on Monday and those who have pre-ordered copies will be able to collect them from there from Tuesday. If you haven't placed your order yet, then hurry hurry hurry.....

Small world

Last week, I was with the Textile Treasures in Harrogate and not only met someone who was at college with me but also another WI member who'd attended the same grammar school in Hull. Still bemused by these encounters, another "small world" moment arose last night at Avening WI's 77th birthday meeting.

We spent a super evening in the company of Mike and Pat Ledbury, from Inkberrow in Worcestershire, also known as "Morning Dew". After enjoying Mike's folk music and some interesting folk tales, accompanied by Pat on drum, we celebrated the 77th birthday of Avening WI with something a little stronger than tea this month. Chatting to Pat, I happened to mention I'd been at Castle Tump WI the previous night, and what a terrific bunch of women they were. Just as well I'd found them so - Pat's sister Gill ("Our Gillian") is their secretary!

Just illustrates that we need to be careful what we say - we never know who we are speaking to!

To be published shortly

Look what I found at Amazon.co.uk today! In my excitement I emailed Sue, who had a further look around and emailed me back with this and this and this and this

Actually, the advance information sent out a while back, which appears on these sites is incorrect. Our book will have 120 pages (because you responded so well to the challenge!), recommended cost £9.99 in the shops (10% royalties to the Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund) but can be obtained from WI House for £8.50, all profits (£3.50 per copy) to the GFRF.

Enquiries re advance orders can be emailed to liz@gfwi.org.uk

We hope to have delivery of the first edition (!) later this month, with the grand launch at Abbey House Tewkesbury on 7th November.

They made it!

Some time ago, a group of ladies wrote about their walking the Cotswold Way and said how much they were enjoying the challenge. Yesterday I had another email from them.

Yvonne Cole, Bishop's Cleeve W.I. & Secretary for Cleeve Hill Group writes:

Five ladies from the Bishop's Cleeve W.I. have now finished the Cotswold Way Walk. We started last October 18th and did walking till Jan 07, then we stopped as two ladies were away for a couple of months, started up again in May. We have done 12 walks in all and the final miles being 104, ending up in Bath on Thursday 4th Oct. outside the tourist information office, which is the official place to finish. We then went to Sally Lunn's Tea Shop and had a proper Sally Lunn's Bath Bun and a cup of tea, which was wonderful. The last walk was really beautiful, a lovely day and not to much climbing up so we thought, but once arriving at the Royal Victoria Park we had to climb up before then going down into the centre of Bath. We certainly needed that cup of tea. One of the lovely features we went through was the Lansdown Civil War Battle which happened on 5th July 1643.



Here's a photo of the 'walking five' outside the tourist office. I have taken about 280 photo's which I have put into a folder and also on a CD. If anyone's interested to doing the walk themselves, they can always look at my photographs."

Congratulations to you all - it's quite an achievement!!

If you are interested in seeing more of Yvonne's photographs, email me and I'll put you in touch with her.

Superb speaker!

The last of the 2007 Autumn meetings went as well as the previous three and we were thrilled to hear Marion Canning, professional Toastmaster, whose immaculate presentation and excellent delivery delighted her audience. Not only did Marion mix and mingle with the members present, she made the most professional raffle draw imaginable! We have a lot to learn...

I am thrilled to hear that so many members have enjoyed these meetings and how well all four speakers have been received by their audiences. Thank you for supporting them all. If you would like details for consideration for your group meetings, Liz would be pleased to share them with you. Ring the office or drop her an email.