At this time of the month we usually post a reminder for the Book Angels Meeting.  Due to the continuing lock down this can obviously not now happen in person, so the Book Angels have decided to take the technology route instead and hold their next meeting on Zoom via the internet. The meeting is scheduled for

Monday, 20th April, 7.30 pm

Book: The Secret Garden

Book Angel Members will have received an email with instructions on how to join, but if any other MHWI members would like to take part, please email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com for details.

If you don’t want to join the Book Angels just now, but are looking for reading inspiration to while away those hours at home, then here are a few ideas that may help:

Free Lending Library

https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries

The Leicestershire Library network offers a free on-line lending facility for e-books, audio books and newspapers as well as magazines on a whole range of hobbies and special interests. Use the link above to find the site, then click on ‘Digital Library Services’ and log in with your library card. If you do not have a card you can register on-line for free. The files can be downloaded to most digital devices. Books can usually be borrowed for 3 weeks, any magazine of newspaper publication will remain on your device until you delete it.

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/

The Gutenberg Project has been digitising books that are out of copyright (currently up to about the mid-1920s) and the library now includes over 60.000 books. These can be downloaded free of charge for a variety of different e-readers or in PDF form.  They also offer books in a range of languages

Free Kindle Books on Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk

Yes – there are! Select the Kindle department from the drop down menu on the left of the search box, enter 0.00 and sort the list by ‘price low-high’. You can download these just like any other Kindle book. Alternatively, download the Kindle App onto your computer or tablet and you can read the books through there. Who knows – this may just lead you to discover a new favourite author!

Online Courses

http://freeonlinecourse.org.uk/

https://www.futurelearn.com/

There are a myriad of online courses available at the moment – and many of them are free. Check out these sites for offers and links to other providers.

And as always – if you have any other tips, tricks or good ideas we should post here, please email us at marketharboroughwi@gmail.com

Enjoy and stay safe!

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The first week of the month usually is Craft Club week for our members and so before you all get withdrawal symptoms here is this month’s Virtual Craft Club edition. Everyone can have a go – and we can post pictures of your efforts as we go along.

Craft Club has always been about learning new things, so this month we have compiled a list all around the theme of Knitting – the history of it, exhibits of it and links to videos teaching aspects of it:

The History of Knitting

This Golden Fleece by Esther Rutter (available from Amazon in print or kindle edition)

Esther Rutter has travelled the length and breadth of Britain to trace this country’s relationship with wool – from the manufacture of it to the crafts used in processing it. To illustrate some of the story, her book also includes information about a range of knitting techniques that have fallen out of general use – fascinating for those crafters that like to try out unusual things.

The History of the Knitting Industry in the East Midlands http://www.knittingtogether.org.uk

This website  brings together the different facets of the history of knitting in our area – from hand-knitted caps and stockings to the industrial production of knitwear all the way to ‘the Marks and Spencer’ effect (you didn’t know they would come into it, did you?). The site also includes a virtual museum showing some of the collections that are not usually on view.

Learn new Techniques (or old ones as the case may be)

Some of the techniques discussed in the book and on the website are still being practiced today and enterprising knitters have put together YouTube videos showing how it’s done. Why not follow one of them and try out a new technique? Give it a shot and let us know how you get on – we’d love to post photos on our social media sites. And of course bring your projects to the first real craft club meeting once we are back up and running again.

Dentdale Knitting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c-M37brGx8

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fav78nWjyg4

Nalebinding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJywXIluhk

Fair Isle Knitting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtnTcE7Qjs

Historical Knitting (this is a whole series)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkPSN85kISg

Or if you rather learn some new modern knitting stitches why not have a look at the ‘100 days of knit stitches’ series on YouTube? There has to be something in there you could try to pass the time.

Enjoy and stay safe!

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If you have to stay in all day and are running out of things to do, why not spend an hour or so at a museum?

Not as mad as it sounds: Most of the larger institutions offer audio guides and virtual tours on their websites. So do a bit of virtual travelling and have a look!

Here are a few links to get you started:

National Gallery London

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours/google-virtual-tour

J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-j-paul-getty-museum?hl=en

Vatican Museum Rome

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.1.html

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/rijksmuseum

British Museum London

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-british-museum

On some of the links you have to scroll to the bottom of the page to get to the virtual tours. It is also worth looking at the various lists of content as some also offer audio guides and commentaries on their sites. There are many more available – why not enter ‘virtual museum tours’ into your browser and see where it takes you?

Have you got any tips or ideas to share with the rest of the group? Please email us at marketharboroughwi@gmail.com!

Stay safe wherever you are!

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The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra had to close their concert hall due to the corona virus epidemic. So instead of playing to a live audience they have now opened up their digital concert hall for 30 days free of charge.

If you would like to enjoy some of the concerts on offer, please go to:

https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/tickets

In order to get access for 30 days register for a free account (no obligation) and then activate the voucher code BERLINPHIL before the 31st March.

There are both pre-recorded and live concerts to choose from.

Enjoy and stay safe!

PS – don’t forget we also now have a WhatsApp group where many of you are already sharing ideas, tips and tricks to avoid getting bored at home. Why not join them? Email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com to get access.

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Following this announcement yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eauc67Ba-8k

about the acceleration of the preventative measures the government is putting in place to slow down the spread of the Corona Virus. With this in mind the committee have discussed the options for our published program of monthly meetings and social events. We all agree that the health and well-being of our members is paramount and therefore have decided on a number of measures:

• The monthly meetings planned for 25th March and 22nd April will be cancelled. We may be able to re-schedule at least one of these during the summer break, but we will look at this once we have a better idea how long the restrictions will remain in place.

• The same applies to our social events: The Amazon Trip had already been cancelled, but we will also now have to cancel the Film Night on the 20th March.

• The various Club activities (Craft, Book, Walking, Allotment) will be cancelled until the end of April. Club leaders will keep their members informed as we move through the next couple of months.

• We are keeping the Bistro Night at Wistow on for the moment and will update you on this in due course.

As this is a somewhat fluent situation we will try and update you all via this website www.marketharboroughwi.org.uk on a regular basis.

Most importantly though we are asking all of you to ensure that you follow the various guidelines and stay safe. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you need assistance because you are having to stay at home. We will try our level best to help everyone get through this – in the end that is exactly what the WI is all about.

Stay safe and see you again just as soon as this is over

Your Committee

Bridget, Caroline, Carolyn, Denise, Fiona, Jane, Janet, Tricia, Valerie and Kirsten

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Due to the recent restrictions on social interactions and non-essential travel put in place by the government yesterday we will unfortunately have to cancel the Film Night planned for 20th March. We will advise all subscribers in due course about any applicable refunds.

Enjoy an evening out at the Harborough Theater for our Film Night

The bar will be open to purchase drinks so you can watch Downton Abbey in style!

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In view of the current situation, Louise Jenson has decided to postpone her visit as advertised below and so we have decided to cancel Monday’s meeting. We will rearrange it at a later date and of course keep you posted!

At the next book club meeting on 16th March the bestselling author Louise Jensen will be joining us to talk about her book ‘The Family’ and discuss members’ comments and views

Even if you don’t usually attend the book club you are very welcome to join in at the Angel Hotel at 7.30pm. If possible let us know by email to marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you are planning to attend so we can get an idea of number to expect (and chairs to put out…).

Hope to see  you there!

It’s going to be a busy March!

Here are some dates for the diary for this month – please get in touch via marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you would like any additional information on how to join any of the events.

2nd March

Allotment Group Meeting at Farndon Fields Coffee Shop at 2 pm

5th March

Craft Club Meeting at the Congregational Hall at 7 pm

World Book Day

8th March

International Women’s Day

9th March

Committee Meeting at the Angel Hotel at 7.30 pm

16th March

Book Angels Meeting (Meet the Author) at the Angel Hotel at 7.30 pm

20th March

Film Night (Downton Abbey) at Harborough Theater at 7.30 pm

22nd March

25th March

Monthly Meeting at the Congregational Hall at 7.30 pm

29th March

Start of British Summer Time

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At last nights meeting the members of the Market Harborough WI got themselves voluntarily into a myriad of knots during a craft evening making a macrame wall hanging.

Great fun and actually not that difficult once the fingers, the cords and the instructions are all lined up. Thank you to Carrie Ann Gardner from the Leicestershire Craft Centre for her expertise and patience!

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