Newsletter 177 – December 2023

WELCOME!

No Santa today (14 more sleeps to go!) but plenty of food, good company, a Christmas songs quiz and musical entertainment from Ingrid and Norman Cumming.

GLAMORGAN EXPERIENCE: last chance to book for this 2 day event. 

Blancos Hotel in Port Talbot on 4th & 5th April 2024 (Closing date 5th Jan)
Choose one of six courses on offer—details on the notice board—but briefly:
Crafts (5 different crafts)
Felt-making
Gin-tasting with visits plus chance to mix your own gin
History of Margam Park and Margam Abbey with guided walks
Water colours for beginners.
Stained glass – make your own panel or decorative mirror from scratch
£50 deposit required. Fees include hotel accommodation and meals, tutors and all materials.
See Liz if you wish to apply. 

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT ARARAT 

Our table did well. The Committee thanks all those who helped. We took £200 towards our charity account, making the total amount nearly £2000.
Unfortunately, due to lack of space, we could not display all our items for sale, so we have brought them along today. Anything not sold will go to the City Hospice Charity Shop.

ACWW 

After an appeal to members at the main meeting, £66.83 was raised. The Committee agreed to make this up to £100.

GROUPS: Dates for your diaries
Book Group: Wednesday 13th Dec 2023 at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara
Family History: Thursday 14th Dec 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road
Craft Group: Monday 18th Dec 2023 at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling
Poetry and Prose: Monday 15th Jan 2024 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat
St Mary’s Gardens: Tuesday 16th Jan 2024 10.00 am. A working party. Suitable for all activity levels.
Please note: following the working party, we will adjourn to the Fox and Hounds for lunch. Other members of the Friends, (i.e. not just those present for the working parties) are invited to join us around 12 noon.
Sunday Lunch Group: Resumes in January 2024
The Bus Pass Group – Yvonne hopes to restart this in the New Year.

BLOG
All our activities are listed on our blog, along with reports and photos from previous meetings
– visit whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com 

NEXT MEETING: Monday 8th January 2024 at 2pm.
Subject: ‘Bees – it’s not just honey’ Speaker: Mavis Tierney

Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas

and all the best for the New Year!

Christmas party – parti Nadolig

Our esteemed presidents,
Linda and Glenys

The December meeting was Whitchurch WI's Christmas Fair.

Ingrid and Norman

The programmed entertainment was unable to come because of ill health. Glenys's sister and brother-in-law, Ingrid and Norman Cumming, kindly stepped in and expertly performed a series of Christmas songs. It was very enjoyable and the members were most grateful and appreciative.

Then we feasted on a wonderful spread of food and tried to answer the questions on a tricky little quiz of Christmas songs provided by Ingrid and Norman. This required a bit of lateral thinking and was a lot of fun.

Merry Christmas to all members and wishing you a peaceful New Year. 

Roedd y cyfarfod Rhagfyr o WI Eglwys Newydd parti Nadolig.

Roedd y canwr bo drefnlennu ddim yn gallu dod i'r cyfarfod achos oedd hi'n sâl. Felly roedd chwaer a brawd-yng-nghyfraith y Glenys, Ingrid a Norman Cumming, gamu i mewn, a ro'n nhw perfformio yn arbenigol sawl o ganeuon Nadolig. Roedd hi'n bleserus iawn ac roedd yr aelodau yn ddiolchgar a werthfawrogol.

Wedyn ro'n ni wledd ar ymlediad of bwyd bendigedig a thrio ateb y cwestiynau o gwis heriol bach am ganeuon Nadolig syn roi gan Ingrid a Norman. Roedd y cwis yn hawlio tipyn bach o feddwl ochrol ac yn hwyl iawn.

Nadolig Llawen i bawb aelodau ac yn dymuno i chi Pen-blwydd Newydd hedd.

(Ysgrifenni gan ddysgwyr Cymraeg - cywirwch plîs.)

 

 

Christmas Fair at Ararat

Whitchurch WI took at stall at the Ararat Christmas Fair. It was well supported by sellers, with stalls occupying three halls at the church. It was also well supported by those looking for present ideas and browsing the interesting variety of items for sale across the event, and was already busy at opening time.

The WI stall was a wealth of donated items. Many thanks to all who gave an item for selling. Thank you also to all members who helped on the day, and those that came and bought things.

My Life as a Puppeteer – Helyn Latimer

 

At the November 2023 meeting, Helyn Latimer informed the members of Whitchurch WI that becoming a puppeteer combined her three passions: drama, art and craft, and teaching.

Helyn explained that puppets are found in all cultures across the world.

She invited members to remember experiences of puppets in their lives, and this led to a lively discussion of childhood memories of puppets, and of their use in theatre and television.

A wide range of different types of puppet were shown. These included:

- simple puppets made during workshops with children, built on a stick with two more sticks to manipulate their arms

- puppets with strings

- glove puppets

- flat shapes, like shadow puppets

- and also detailed and complicated examples used in professional productions.

 

The puppets, ranging from an exquisite tiny mouse to a little horse nearly the size of a Shetland pony, all came to life in Helyn's expert hands. Her skills as actor, artist and teacher were indeed demonstrated as she spoke through the personality of the puppets. She was perfectly correct when she said that the puppeteer disappeared as the audience interacted directly with the puppet as a character in its own right. It was a most enjoyable and informative talk.

 

 

 

Newsletter 176 – November 2023

WELCOME!    

GLAMORGAN FEDERATION QUIZ – October 2023

Gill Irwin, Marilyn Roberts, Gay Thomas and Liz Jervis thoroughly enjoyed representing Whitchurch WI at this quiz, despite the dreadful weather on the journey there! The event was well supported by various WI's throughout Glamorgan. Coity were the winners, scoring 101. Our team had a respectable score of 87 – and a safe journey home.      

CHRISTMAS FAIR at ARARAT: Saturday 25th November 12.00 – 4.00pm             

We are hiring a table for this Christmas Fair.  If you are bringing home-prepared produce for sale, this will need to be labelled with ingredients, and postcode. A period of help during the fair, 12.00 - 4.00pm, is most welcome.  Please let a committee member know.       

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

A wreath was laid at the remembrance service at the library on behalf of Whitchurch WI.

ACWW       

Have you noticed a jar containing some coins in a jar marked ACWW? The letters stand for the Associated Country Women of the World which advocates for women in rural and remote communities to be recognised for their global importance all year round.  W.I.’s  have long supported this and you are invited to add some money today before we submit this year’s contribution from Whitchurch W.I.      

GROUPS: Dates for your diaries   
        
St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 14th Nov  2023 10.00 am. 
    A working party, suitable for all activity levels.
Book Group:  Wednesday 15th Nov 2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara
Craft Group: Monday 20th Nov 2023  at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling
Poetry and Prose:  Monday 20th Nov 2023 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat
Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 26th Nov  2023 at 1.00pm at The Pantmawr Inn
Family History: Thursday 14th Dec 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

BLOG

All activities are listed on our blog, along with reports and photos from previous meetings – visit whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com

NEXT MEETING:

Monday 11th December 2023 at 2pm - the Christmas party with musical entertainment.

As usual, we will have a sharing buffet.
Last but not least, we invite members to wear something Christmassy !

Glamorgan Newsletter snippets — Oct/Nov 2023

Glamorgan Federation of Women’s Institutes

Newsleter Volume 14 issue 9     October/November 2023

 

Not in my Name Competition

The 2023 competition is to ‘Design and Make a Tote Bag’ depicting the Not in my Name campaign to end violence against women.
Any Craft medium and technique accepted.

The closing date for entries to reach NFWI-Wales is Friday 3 November 2023

The competition guidelines can also be accessed at https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/wales/nfwi-wales-campaigns-and-projects/not-in-my-name

Candlelight vigil 

to mark 

International White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

20 November 2023 

NFWI-Wales, in partnership with Joyce Watson MS, is organising a candlelight vigil at the Senedd on Monday 20 November 2023.
The event will begin at 6pm and end by 7.30pm.
Confirmed speakers include Jane Hutt MAS, Minister for Social Justice and
Derek Walker, White Ribbon Ambassador and Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. We will also hear from a survivor and a representative from each of the political parties.
WI members are encouraged to join us to show solidarity with survivors of violence
against women across the world and to spread the message that violence against
women is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Diary dates—2023

Federation Quiz—£10—Hi Tide, Porthcawl—Tuesday 24 October 2023
Closing date 29 September 2023

Seasonal Dabble Day—£20 Murton Methodist Hall—Saturday 4 November 2023 Closing date 2 October 2023

Tai Chi Taster Day—£5—Pencoed Welfare Hall—Saturday 11 November 2023 Closing date 31 October 2023

Learn to play whist—£5—Ystradowen Village Hall—Saturday 18 November 2023 Closing date 1 November 2023

Christmas Miscellany—Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl—Thursday 23 November 2023

Christmas Tree Festival—All Hallows Church, Miskin—Saturday 16 Dec 2023 Closing date 3 November 2023

Amy Dillwyn presented by Debra John

Debra John as Amy Dilwen, the Victorian philanthropist

At the October meeting, Debra Dillwyn, dressed in the style adopted by Amy, spoke as if looking back from the age of about 50, musing on the main events and influences on her life. 

Key events, such as the birth of a sister when she was seven, the marriage of her older sister, and the loss of her fiancé, all caused her to question her role within the family and in wider society. 

She remained single and struggled to find a role that was permitted for a female. She wrote feminist novels and joined the suffragist movement. Amy was close to her father and on his death she inherited his factory, and his debts, and became a successful industrialist and philanthropist.

 

This complex person was brilliantly and sympathetically brought to life through Debra's presentation. 

Also at this meeting, Lynette Chappin gave a short talk about The Family History coffee morning and showed the members one of the knee shawls that she finishes off. She crochets together squares knitted by the members, which then go to the residents of Nazareth House care home. 

Ararat Christmas Fayre - Saturday 25 November

 

message to all members

Our WI will be taking a table at the Ararat Christmas Fayre on Saturday 25 November to raise funds for our three charities. We envisage selling a range of items with a Christmas theme - for example, gifts, decorations and food. 

This will not be a bric-a-brac stall. 

Please bring non-perishable items to the next WI meeting.
Food items would be very welcome on the day.

If you are bringing chutneys, jams or baked goods please say on the label if it contains nuts, dairy or gluten, and include your postcode and date of product.

This will be our last chance to raise money for this year's charities which are: Alzheimer's Cymru, The Wallich Centre and the City Hospice, so:

• reach for those jars of home-made produce sitting on the top shelf of the cupboard
  
• fetch out those items you have acquired that would make good presents for someone else
  
• you crafty people get creative: tree decorations, cards, etc, etc

thank you - we look forward to all your contributions,

Glenys & Chris

Newsletter 175 - October 2023

For the October meeting: a treat

Debra John gives us another dramatic presentation, this time about Amy Dillwen,  the Edwardian Philanthropist.

Smarties Tubes - fundraising for our charities

We are delighted to announce that this fundraising effort was very successful, with a magnificent £387.92 collected at the main meeting on 11th September 2023.  Thanks to all who participated.  

By the way, it’s not too late to hand in your contribution!

Members - important - please note

If your home/email address, mobile or landline number changes, please let one of the Committee know.

 

In case you are not aware of it, Committee members wear an orange badge at the meeting.  Also, for the first time today, you may see some people with a yellow badge. This means they are visitors to our meeting, so please make them feel welcome.  

                           
Whitchurch W.I. ‘Blog’ 

Apologies that the demonstration of the Blog to members at the last meeting failed for technical reasons - (nothing to do with the blog!).  We encourage you to look at it - and leave a comment perhaps?  
   
Details of how to access it:    
Use whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com  which either links you automatically or you may also just need to click on Whitchurch/Glamorgan.  Among other things, you will find information on previous meetings (including photos), details of future meetings, our various interest groups, and the names of your committee. In fact, this newsletter will be available there as well.              

St Mary’s Gardens    

Some of you may know that it was members of the W.I. (Zoe in particular) who took the initiative to do something about the neglected state of St Mary’s Gardens in Old Church Road.  

There is now a ‘Friends’ group. Anyone interested in St Mary’s Gardens is warmly invited to their AGM, which includes an illustrated talk by Rhodri Hughes, Community Park Ranger, on the future of the gardens and a photography display.  Do come along. Awen are hosting the event .  Tea and coffee available.

The AGM is on Wednesday November 1st - 7pm - at Whitchurch Library Hub.

Groups: Dates for your diaries   

Book Group:  Wednesday 11th Oct  2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara 

Craft Group: Monday 16th Oct 2023  at 10.30am at 18 Heol Stradling

St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 17th Oct  2023 10.00 am.  A working party, suitable for all activity levels.

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 22nd Oct  2023 at 1.00pm at Llanishen Golf Club

Poetry and Prose:  Monday 23rd Oct 2023 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat

Family History: Thursday 2nd Nov2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Our next meeting:  

Monday 13th November 2023 at 2pm

Subject:  My life as a Puppeteer.

Speaker: Helyn Latimer 

Basket weaving with Hatton willow

The September meeting welcomed Sarah of Hatton Willow. She gave an entertaining explanation of her basket weaving business. As well as weaving beautiful and intricate crafts, she also grows and harvests her own willow on her land in Caerphilly.

Her website says:

'In 2012 with a myriad of baskets filling her house she set up her business, Hatton Willow, which she began to grow attending local craft fairs and running courses. Sarah started selling her baskets, willow cuttings, bundles of willow both dried and fresh and living willow.

'In 2015 Sarah took the huge personal gamble to leave her career in IT to focus all her passion and energy into basketry. Since then Hatton Willow has gone from strength to strength and continues to grow.' 

 

Sarah has worked on some exciting and interesting projects, such as Country File and 'The Repair Shop.' She also teaches workshops and details can be found on the Hatton Willow website.

 

Newsletter 174 - September 2023

Welcome back! 

Did you have a good summer? Or did it go so fast you didn’t notice?

At September's meeting we are delighted to welcome Sarah, from Hatton Willow. She will be talking about willow basket making and there will be a demonstration. 

Trip to Abergavenny Food Festival. Saturday 16th September 2023. 

The coach will pick you up at 9.15am outside Ararat.
Departure from Abergavenny at 5pm 

Whitchurch W.I. ‘Blog’  

‘Blogs” are not something most of us are familiar with, but they are useful these days for letting people know we exist and what we do. You will hear about this today from Nor’dzin but also have an opportunity to look at it, and find out how to access and use it during our tea break today. 

The Glamorgan Newsletter 

A reminder of some of the activities that you might be interested in. It’s a great opportunity to try something new. Forms are at the front by the noticeboard. but all bookings for Glamorgan events should be made through the treasurer, with payment in advance.
Please note the closing dates for application to participate. 

Closing date : 2nd October (a variety of crafts for you to try)
Activity : Seasonal Dabble Day (£20)
Location : Murton Methodist Hall
Event date : Saturday 4th November 

Closing date : 31st October
Activity : Tai Chi Taster Day (£5)
Location : Pencoed Welfare Hall
Event date : Saturday 11th November

Fundraising for our charities - at the 2024 fete 

The Committee would welcome your ideas for fundraising for next year’s fete. It might seem early, but, depending on our choice, some things need quite a few months preparation. We may even need to get started before Christmas! 

It would be good for the Committee to have several ideas to discuss! 

Groups: Dates for your diaries 

St Mary’s Gardens: Tuesday 12th Sept 2023 10.00 am.
A working party, suitable for all activity levels. 

Book Group: Wednesday 13th Sept 2023 at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara 

Poetry and Prose: Monday 18th Sept 2023 11.00am at Ararat 

Craft Group: Monday 18th Sept 2023 at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling 

Family History: Thursday 21st Sept 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road 

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 24th Sept 2023 at 1.00pm at Llanishen Golf Club 

Our next meeting: 

Monday 9th October at 2pm.
Speaker: Debra John.
Subject: Amy Dilwen, Edwardian Philanthropist

July 2023 meeting

The last meeting before the summer break was most enjoyable. There was a quiz, cake, and entertainment from the twins who call themselves CL Raven.

 

 

They entertained us with their 'Pole Fitness' routine, using a suspended hoop, and a silicon pole.  As well as practising and teaching pole fitness, they are also acclaimed authors.

 

 

Their Amazon profile describes them as '... mistresses of the macabre. They're horror writers because 'bringers of nightmares' isn't a recognised job title. They write novels, short stories, comics and film scripts. Their work has been published in magazines and anthologies in the UK, USA and Australia. In their spare time, they hunt ghosts, host a horror radio show, look after their animal army, and try to look impressive with polefit. Their attempts at gymnastics should never be spoken about.'

Newsletter - July 2023

A warm welcome to our last meeting before the Summer break.  We hope you enjoy today and take the opportunity to buy cards and the good quality pre-loved and unwanted items you have brought along.

Trip to Abergavenny Food Festival.
Saturday 16th September 2023.      
This is the last chance to join this trip; only a few places left.  The total cost for the coach and the ‘stroller ticket’ is £28.  Please see Gill TODAY.

Points to notice from the Glamorgan Newsletter:

One of our members, Jane Patten, has again got one of her photographs featured in the 2024 Glamorgan Calendar.  Congratulations Jane.

Among other activities, the Glamorgan Federation is holding a quiz on Tuesday 24th October at the Hi Tide, Porthcawl.  If you would like to be one of the four members  of a team representing Whitchurch WI,  please let a member of the committee know.

** If you would like to participate in any of the activities, notices and forms are on the noticeboard at the front.**

Whitchurch Fete Saturday 1st July.

What a lovely day we had ; the sun was shining and lots of people came along to the Common.

The big news is that we raised a magnificent £400!!  It is our main fundraising event for our charities so that is a good lift towards what we will be able to donate to them.  Thank you very much to all our members who nurtured plants, helped with the arrangements and worked on the day with transportation, setting up, serving on our plant stall and clearing up afterwards.

Groups: Dates for your diaries

St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 11th July 2023 10.00 am.  A working party,  Suitable for all activity levels.    

Book Group:  Wednesday 12th July  2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara

Craft Group: Monday 17th July 2023  at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling  

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 23rd July  2023 at 1.00pm at Ffynon Wen. Llanishen,  CF14 9UA

 
Advance notice!   
Family History: Thursday 21st Sept 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

Don’t forget  …   to fill  the tube of Smarties you have received today. with 20p or £1 coins during the summer.  This is part of the fundraising for our charities.  Please bring them back to:

Our next meeting:  Monday  September 11th at 2pm.
Speaker: Sarah  of Hatton Willow, Caerphilly with a talk on willow basket making, including a demonstration.

Hope you have a lovely summer!    

Whitchurch Festival - July 1st.

 Whitchurch WI had a stall at Whitchurch Fete on the Common on July 1st.

The gardeners had worked hard to produce a wonderful selection of plants for sale.

It was a great success and raised £400 for our charities. The left-over plants went to the St Mary's Gardens project.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who raised plants and to those who helped on the day.

Show the Love exhibition

Many thanks to John Lewis in Cardiff for displaying these excellent and inspiring fabric squares.

National Gardens Scheme

 

On the 17th April Bob Priddle gave an interesting and informative talk about the National Gardens Scheme.

The piece of information that I found most useful and memorable was about coping with slugs. Bob said always water plants in the morning, before 11am. That way, they get the benefit, but the soil has dried out by the time the slimy beasts are ready to come out and feed. He also suggested, for those who feel okay about killing slugs, to put a few slug pellets in the soil underneath a new plant.

Report by Nor'dzin Pamo