News

More Centenary Baton photos from around Cornwall

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Our exciting week of hosting the Centenary Baton seems ages ago now, doesn’t it?

We thought we’d share some more photos of the baton’s journey around Cornwall with you.

To start the week, the baton was carried into Truro by Federation Chairman, Barbara Corbett, accompanied by the mayor and mayoress of Truro, the Federation officers and representatives of Truro WI. They travelled in a Victorian horse-drawn coach.

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Next up was a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

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A coffee morning in Helston included a special centenary display.

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As well as some very smartly dressed WI members and their partners!

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At Trerice Manor, near Newquay, it was all about dressing up.

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What better way to cycle than wearing Edwardian plus fours?

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It was a truly wonderful week! Now we only have to wait for another 100 years before we can do it all over again.

Click here to see more photos from all over Cornwall.

 

Messing about with clay

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A group of us (plus two friends from Hayle WI) spent today at the Murley Hall having a wonderfully messy time with lumps of clay!

Samme Charlesworth displays some of her techniques
Samme Charlesworth displays some of her techniques

Local ceramicist Samme Charlesworth instructed us, beginning with some fun exercises. One of those involved us forming 20 very quick little clay objects in 20 minutes – one minute per piece. We wound up with everything from peas to cats to flipflops!

20 tiny pieces in 20 minutes!
20 tiny pieces in 20 minutes!

Before taking our lunch break, we rolled out slabs of lovely soft clay and let it dry a little. Then after lunch, we decorated it using paint and all sorts of bits and pieces to add texture and interest. And then came the fun part! Making our pieces!

Sue working on her vase
Sue working on her vase

Some of us wrapped our clay around bottles, using the bottles as forms to shape a vase. And some of us made small dishes and even coasters.

Sue, Liz, Margie, Alison and Lis wield their rolling pins
Sue, Liz, Margie, Alison and Lis wield their rolling pins

Of course, all this was done with the usual scrummy cake, thanks to Lis Davies and Val Puddiphatt.

And cake. There is always cake.
And cake. There is always cake.

The hard part now is waiting a couple of weeks for our pieces to dry and to be fired twice. Stay tuned for more photos once we get our work back! In the meantime, have a look at the rest of today’s photos here.

New Denman brochure!

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If you didn’t have a chance to leaf through the shiny new Denman College course brochure at our last meeting, it’s now available online.

Click here to have a look.

This brochure covers the period from March 2015 through December 2015 and offers all sorts of exciting courses from millinery to cooking Indian street food to life drawing to public speaking. There are also history and heritage courses which get you out and about touring such sites as Blenheim Palace, Bath and Hampton Court.

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If you’ve never been to Denman, do give it a go! You’ll have a fantastic time! And don’t forget – non WI-members are welcome to book as well, so you can bring a friend (non-member rates are slightly higher).

If you’d like a paper copy of the current brochure sent to you, ring Denman on (01865) 391991.

Prints of Centenary Baton day photos

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By now you’ll all have seen the fantastic photos Peter Puddiphatt (Val’s husband) took at our Centenary Baton events at Land’s End and Marazion last Wednesday.

If you haven’t seen them, take a look!

Peter has agreed to produce prints at a cost of £1 each for anyone who would like them. If you’re interested, please contact me with the number of the print(s) you’d like (they’re all numbered in the above linked album). You’ll also need to get your money to me. Once I’ve heard from everyone, I’ll deliver the order to Peter.

How about a deadline of Monday 16 March (our March meeting)?

Thanks, everyone!

Happy Chinese New Year

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year_of_the_goat_silhouette_with_flower_pattern_2015_312413Today marks the start of the Chinese Year of the Goat!

Those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 are goats, who can count their lucky colours as brown, red and purple. Their characters are supposedly kind and peaceable, while their best months are August and November and their lucky flowers are primroses and carnations. Are you a goat?

As well as being celebrated in China itself, celebrations occur in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and all countries where there are significant Chinese populations. Roughly one-sixth of the world will be celebrating!

BBC Food Website - Chinese New Year (9th January 2012)If you’d like to do something to mark the occasion, how about cooking a lovely Chinese dish tonight?

How about stir fried chicken with black bean sauce? Or what about some Sichuan pepper beef? Or if you’re feeling fishy, perhaps Sichuan-style sea bass with vegetables?

 

Centenary Baton Day!

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Nearly 20 members of Crowlas & Ludgvan WI joined in the Centenary celebrations today, either at Land’s End or Marazion … or both … along with WI members from all over West Cornwall!

Helping to mark 100 years of the W.I. was a special opportunity for all of us, and not one we’ll forget! We all watched CFWI Chairman Barbara Corbett arrive in style, first in a shiny red Jaguar at Land’s End and then in a lovely old Astin Martin in Marazion.

CFWI Federation Chairman Barbara Corbett arrives at Land's End with the Centenary Baton (005) Photo by Peter Puddiphatt
CFWI Federation Chairman Barbara Corbett arrives at Land’s End with the Centenary Baton (005)
Photo by Peter Puddiphatt

We heard the Marazion Apollo Male Choir and the Heyl St Piran Singers. We enjoyed cake and more cake. We all had a chance to hold the baton. We heard talks by the Lord Lieutenant Edward Bolitho, by Mary St Levan of St Michael’s Mount and by our own current and former Federation Chairman.

Crowlas & Ludgvan WI members at Land's End Photo by Pam Smith
Crowlas & Ludgvan WI members at Land’s End
Photo by Pam Smith

And some of us even donned wetsuits and posed with the baton on the beach!

WI members Niamh Noone, Jane Twose and Pat Gloyn pose with surfboards in Marazion (057) Photo by Peter Puddiphatt
WI members Niamh Noone, Jane Twose and Pat Gloyn pose with surfboards in Marazion (057)
Photo by Peter Puddiphatt

What a day it was!

You can see more photos here.

Our walking group hits the St Ives coast path

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The weather though cloudy was surprisingly mild for our walk from Lelant to St Ives. Our route took us along the coastal path with all the wonderful views of St Ives Bay up to Godrevy.

We had two pitstops – sitting outside for coffee with our doggy friends Ruby and Norman at Carbis Bay Hotel, and then lunch in St Ives. After a hearty bowl of soup we walked back to Lelant for a second helping of the views.

Julie, Mary, Jane, Shirley, Val, Pat, Liz and Hazel, along with doggie guests Ruby and Norman
Julie, Mary, Jane, Shirley, Val, Pat, Liz and Hazel,
along with doggie guests Ruby and Norman

Thanks to Pat Gloyn for the photo!

(submitted by Shirley)

Winter bird feeding tips from the RSPB

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fieldfare_sr_tcm9-238713To get you all geared up for Monday’s speaker, Roger Hooper of the RSPB, here are some tips for you to help our feathered friends get through the winter:

Know your birds
Different species eat different things. Sparrows and finches like seeds; tits like fat; and thrushes and robins like fruit and worms. And starlings will eat just about anything. Make sure you’re providing the right menu for your diners – find out what to feed birds. (Not sure which birds are visiting you? Try the RSPB bird identifier)

Look out for leftovers…
Some of our own food can be good for birds – for example, fruit cake or mince pies, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, or apples and pears past their best. Try sprinkling grated mild cheese under trees and bushes for more timid birds like wrens and dunnocks. Here’s a fun family recipe for making special cake for birds.

Choose the right stuff…
Birds probably won’t eat your unwanted Christmas Day sprouts. And putting out turkey fat is a big no-no – it’s so soft it’ll stick to birds’ feathers and stop them from keeping waterproof and warm. Avoid anything mouldy or salty (too much salt is poisonous to small birds).

Don’t poison your pets!
Birds love dried fruit. But if you have a dog, don’t put grapes, currants, raisins or sultanas within their reach. Vine fruits can be toxic to dogs (check the RSPCA’s advice).

1040799_tcm9-282110Keep water in bird baths and ponds unfrozen
Birds need to drink and bathe every day – even when it’s really cold outside. A pond or bird bath is great, but even an upturned bin lid or plant saucer can give birds the water they need. We’ve got lots of useful tips on how to keep water from freezing.

Put out the right amount of food
Only put out what will get eaten during the day. This is important if you want to avoid unwanted visitors like rats. It’ll also mean that there aren’t big piles of mouldy food on your bird table.

Keep it clean!
Dirty bird feeders and bird tables can help spread diseases. Make sure you clean them regularly to keep your visitors healthy and happy. And always wash your hands after feeding the birds!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/387868-top-10-bird-feeding-tips-this-winter