What to do with those unwanted birthday and Christmas gifts? Bring them along to the next WI monthly meeting and we will be delighted to recycle them, using them for raffle prizes.
Haunted Leicester – social event 27 October
Just a reminder that there is a social on Wednesday 29th October at 7pm meeting, at the Leicester Guild Hall for a 2 hour tour of haunted places in the centre of Leicester.
Cost is £5.00 to £10.00 depending on numbers, so If you know anyone who would like to go who’s not a member they are most welcome to join us.
For those that had put their names down on the list, could you please confirm with Evanda that you will be attending as well?
Latest to confirm is Tuesday 14th October. Once numbers are confirmed we can then organise transport within the group.
Evanda’s email address is – evandacg@gmail.com
Additional announcements for 15 October monthly meeting
A chance to begin your Christmas shopping early! We are delighted to announce that Lyn from Two Birds (delicious local spirits) has confirmed that she can attend our next monthly meeting to do tastings and take orders. Due to her busy schedule she will only be able to stay for an hour so will be there from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. She will leave order forms with the committee so that they can be filled in through the evening. Bring cash or credit card details with you.
Just to remind you, members will be working with Sharon Moore from Loughborough company, Rainbow Beads, and will make and take away a beautiful memory coil bracelet. This could make an unique Christmas present, too. Sharon will also have a stall with items for sale. The MHWI will bear the cost of the beads but if members wish to make a second bracelet, the charge will be £4 for the materials. There will be no charge to visitors for the evening.
WI Centenary baton comes to Foxton Locks
The WI Centenary Baton is being passed along a massive line throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and even the Isle of Man, finishing at the Royal Albert Hall in London. See its route.
On Tuesday 7 October, MHWI members went to Foxton Locks to take part in passing on this baton. A once in a lifetime experience! Enjoy the pictures below:
Online Campaign Dispels Stereotypes of the WI
A Cambridge branch of the WI set out to use social media to dispel some myths and stereotypes about the WI. “We know we aren’t pearl clutching over opinionated interfering old battle-axes, but it’s time we told the rest of the world that!”
Members were asked to post a picture of themselves on Facebook on 1st October holding a sign saying “I am WI” and use the hash tag #iamwi.
The results are wonderful and inspiring and show that WI members come from all walks of life and have a wide range of interests.
Have a look here for the real face of the WI:
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iamwi?fref=ts
We are an amazing bunch of ladies!”
Make a memory coil bracelet – October meeting
Join other MHWI members and local company Rainbow Beads for an enjoyable and relaxing evening of jewellery making. You will make and take away a beautiful memory coil bracelet. For those of you who are unsure what this is (and I was not sure), it’s a bracelet made of up of several coiling layers that wrap around your wrist.
Tea and tents, July 2015
Clare Farquhar, newly appointed Joint President, enthusiastically referred to her first camping experience with the WI earlier this year when she spoke at September’s AGM.
Prompted to go by good friend and fellow Committee Member, Fiona Thompson, both thoroughly enjoyed their WI camping weekend. Indeed, Clare said it was ‘Inspiring’ just like the WI national logo. People shared skills, tried new ones including spinning and drawing, as well as surviving the almost inevitable British rain. To find out more and get the latest news on what’s being planned for 2015 (you can sign up for Twitter or Facebook), go to Tea and tents website. 17-19 July 2015 Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Sloe and apple jelly – tasty, original WI recipe for you to try
Gemma Underwood says, ‘Earlier this year i collected some sloes but instead of making the obvious Sloe Gin i had a look through a preserves book that i had to see if i could make anything else and i found a recipe for Sloe and Apple Jelly and i was surprised how easy it was to make, i did double the mixture and i ended up with 6 jars of jelly.Looking at the book again yesterday
i realised it was actually an old women’s institute book, what were the chances of that!’
i realised it was actually an old women’s institute book, what were the chances of that!’‘I have taken a photo of the recipe if anyone would like to give it a try.’
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Let us have your MHWI success story or news
If you would like to share your story about what you have enjoyed about joining Market Harborough WI or have particularly enjoyed a monthly meeting or social event, then click to download a form, add your news and submit it to the blog: My success story
Photos very welcome, too. Get blogging now!
“The Origin of Sayings – I didn’t know that!”.
Earlier this summer, Jill Collinge gave a fascinating talk entitled “The Origin of Sayings – I didn’t know that!”. Fiona Thompson, MHWI committee member attended, and has the following to say:
Jill gave a very interesting and fact-filled talk all about the origin of sayings. Here are a few of the highlights:
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
This old saying probably comes from a Medieval law which stated that peasants could use branches of trees for fire wood if they could reach them with their shepherds crook or their billhook.
HUMBLE PIE
The expression to eat humble pie was once to eat umble pie. The umbles were the intestines or less appetizing parts of an animal and servants and other lower class people ate them. So if a deer was killed the rich ate venison and those of low status ate umble pie. In time it became corrupted to eat humble pie and came to mean to debase yourself or act with humility.
MAD AS A HATTER
This phrase comes from the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries hat makers treated hats with mercury. Inhaling mercury vapor could cause mental illness.
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
In the Middle Ages knights who fought at tournaments wore a token of their lady on their sleeves. Today if you make your feelings obvious to everybody you wear your heart on your sleeve.
COCK AND BULL STORY
Originates from the village of Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire. In the village were two inns, The Cock and The Bull, which were staging posts on the London to Birmingham stagecoach route. It is said that news and anecdotes were exchanged both by passengers and coachmen seeking to impress travellers with their knowledge of current affairs. Inevitably, stories became embellished in the telling and retelling and the two establishments vied to furnish the most outlandish tales. These became known as Cock and Bull stories.
