Hello friends
Picnic
We will be gathering next Thursday 11th at Shoebury East Beach at 6.30pm. Anne will be marking the meeting spot with one of those tall festival flags so look out for the rainbow colours fluttering in the sunshine (hopefully!). You’ll need to bring a chair and your picnic.
Membership Numbers
Wasn’t our last meeting fabulously busy and buzzing? Our new venue really does seem to be bringing people in and we had a record number of guests, seven of whom have become members. Due to the surge in interest we’ve realised that we’re going to need to put a cap on numbers, so if you know anybody who is thinking about joining, tell them not to miss the boat! Can I also ask you to please let us know in advance if you would like to bring a guest, rather than just turning up with them? It helps so much with planning. Thanks in advance.
Alcohol
Just a quick mention that you are welcome to bring a bottle of wine or your tipple of choice to meetings, if you miss not having the bar. Can I urge you to bring a mug too. Those little cups and saucers barely hold enough for a pixie and it’s a complete pain when we’re left with a load of washing up.
September Meeting
Next month we’re going to be having an antiques expert to share his stories and anecdotes and also value our treasures, just like the Antiques Road Show (only with cake). This is your chance to dig out great aunt Edna’s stuffed poodle or your cherished Ming vase.
The rest of the year in brief
In October we will be having a thought provoking meeting with a transgender police officer. November is Christmas themed and we’ll be sampling and comparing festive food offerings from all the different supermarkets so we can stock up on our favourites, plus we’ll be making a rag wreath. We’ll also have craft stalls so if you know anybody who would like to have a stall, please let us know. Our December celebration will be a murder mystery party!
Trips
Our outing to Barnards Farm in Orsett is on September 4th, meeting at 1pm. You’ll need to book your own ticket and sort out transport but if you need a lift, let us know and we’ll see what we can do. Below is some info I’ve copied from their site. (If you’re wondering what on earth a ‘sitooterie’ is, I’ve looked it up. It’s a Scots word for a garden house ie somewhere to ‘sit oot’! And a malus is an apple tree. Even though it sounds like a snail).
The creation of this garden over the last 35 years and opening in aid of the National Garden Scheme has been a labour of love for owners Bernard and Sylvia Holmes. A visit is an exuberant, absorbing experience not to be missed. Extending over 17 hectares, the garden’s heroic size is matched by the memorable main vista between undulating yew hedges, and the fantastic collection of sculptures including works by Anthony Gormley and Elizabeth Frink and a Sitooterie by Thomas Heatherwick. The garden also holds the Plant Heritage national collection of Malus and children love the numerous discoveries to be made and the miniature railway.
See you in September
Much love
Vanessa
