The Andes to the Galapagos - 17 February 2005

Members were treated to a fascinating insight into the lives of the women of the Andes when Margaret Rogers came to talk on from The Andes to the Galapagos on Thursday 17th February at Rushden. The women themselves are very small compared to their menfolk and the richer people of the area due to their poor diet. In spite of this they enjoy their “girls’” outings to the local markets selling hand made goods at nominal costs.Next month sees Malcolm Brewer talking about his life as a Customs Officer at Stansted Airport. This is an open meeting and everyone in welcome. If you want to find out what life is like on the other side of the barrier now’s your chance. We are told by other W.I.s to whom he has spoken that this is a talk not to be missed. It is on Thursday 17th March at 8pm at Wallington Village Hall.

Another Sinister World - 20 January 2005

Wallington and Rushden WI met on Thursday 20th January to learn about another sinister world, that is the world of the left handed. Ann Warner managed to prove that for most of us, it is not a case of being left or right handed but a little of both. She also showed that for those of us who class ourselves as left handed, life can be very difficult in a right handed world, by asking members to use implements designed for the left hand.

Our new programme is now available, with plenty of interesting talks to suit all ages and enthusiasms from Customs and Excise at Stansted to medicinal and culinary herbs.

This year the WI celebrates its 90th anniversary and we would like to celebrate by encouraging new members to join us. Forget the blue rinse brigade. Wallington and Rushden WI is drawn from all ages and all interests. Why not give us a try?

We also intend to complete the ninety miles suggested by the organisation as a way to celebrate the year and hopefully become healthier individuals as a result.

The Spring Group Meeting is on Thursday 28th April at Baldock and will feature a National Trust shepherd.

Our next meeting is at Rushden on Thursday 17th February when Margaret Rogers will speak on From the Andes to the Galapagos. 

Aston Bellringers- 16 December 2004

The WI meeting proved a resounding success with the Aston Ringers encouraging members to have a go at handbell ringing and treating us to a seasonal selection of tunes. It was wonderful to see so many young people being involved. The nibbles afterwards were delicious. 

December 2004 - Christmas Lunch

Several members of the WI met to enjoy Christmas lunch and cheer at the Rose and Crown in Ashwell. The meal was voted delicious and Ann and Diane were thanked for their hard work in organising it. We all decided that it beats doing the cooking ourselves.

I Don't Have Christmas Decorations + Spender Cup 18 November 2004

A select band of stalwarts braved the surprise snow of 18th November to go to a seasonal talk by Joyce Vincent entitled “I Don’t Have…… Christmas Decorations.” We weren’t surprised as she seems to spend so much time doing them for other people and she gave us several tips on how to make them from very little and also for the non artist. Afterwards the Spender Cup competition was judged. Everyone was amazed to see how so many different cakes could be produced from the same recipe. This was a wartime recipe for ginger cake. Fiona Potts won with her Aga produced cake, but she did admit to having had a test run! Next year we are entertainment for the Spring group meeting and hostesses for the Autumn meeting.

Rushden AGM + Table Top Auction 21 October 2004

The Wallington and Rushden AGM proved to be a successful occasion with the present committee being re-elected and Dian Tucker being returned as President. They were thanked for all their hard work during the past year.
The events of the past year were reviewed and we were surprised at how much we had done. We are now looking forward to 2005 and an interesting selection of speakers.

The table top sale proved its usual fun. Whodunnits were particularly popular and of course Joyce Hart’s delectable lemon meringue pie.
We meet at Wallington next month on Thurs 18th November to hear Joyce Vincent on I Don’t Have…Christmas decorations! The Spender Cup will also be judged on a Wartime Recipe for Ginger Cake. If you want to have a go here it is.Eggless Ginger Cake
2 oz margarine
2 oz sugar
1 good tbsp ground ginger
1 tbsp golden syrup
¼ tsp salt in teacupful of hot water
6 ozs self raising flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Method
Bring first five ingredients to boil in small saucepan. Add bicarb dissolved in tsp of hot water. Stir in flour. Turn into greased cake tine and bake in moderate oven.
Good cooking!

The Home Front 16 September 2004

For those who remember the War. Wallington and Rushden’s talk by Alan Payne on the Home Front was an evening not to be missed and for those fortunate enough to have been born later a chance to gain knowledge of what actually happened here in Britain. Alan brought along a wonderful selection of artefacts he had collected over the years and a fund of interesting stories. Did you know that Cadbury’s were the main manufacturers of gas masks or that when a spitfire crashed, as did one recently found at Thriplow, it buried itself twenty to thirty feet into the ground or that the Home Guard often had to share one uniform between twenty? Anyone wishing to know more about this period in history should make sure that they go to a talk by Alan at least once.Next month sees the Group meeting at Hinxworth on Oct 27th when Richard Westcott will talk on The Making of a Pantomime Dame and the Autumn Council meeting is at Harpenden on 28th August when Colin tarn will entertain with an evening of music and jokes.
The WI distinguished itself at the latest Scrabble Day attended by Ann Warner and Fiona Potts when Fiona took second place.
The Christmas dinner will be on Friday 10th December
Next month is the AGM when there will be a table top sale and the competition for the Spender Cup which is an original war time recipe. We hope to make these into a booklet to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end on WW11. The meeting will be at Rushden on Thursday 21st October at 8pm.