Hello friends
Happy new year to you all!
Next meeting January 8th
This month a trained first aider is coming along to equip us with the knowledge we need to save a life, should we have the misfortune to be called upon in an emergency. He’ll be covering things like choking and heart attacks and will be showing us how to use a defibrillator. He also has baby, child and adult mannequins for us to practice our CPR. Hopefully we’ll never need to use any of these skills but it’s definitely best to be prepared.
Coming Up in 2026
February A very entertaining actor is coming to amuse and educate us, in the guise of Maggie Thatcher
March The ceramacist Victoria Carlin will be talking about her exhibition featuring casts made of women’s bodies.
April Singing workshop and AGM
May Meditation workshop with Gavin (who did the Tai Chi session with us)
June. We have a speaker from STARS – the Southend Treatment and Recovery Service – that provides support for people who are experiencing challenges either with their own use of drugs and/or alcohol, or with that of a significant other.
Sub group news
The next meeting of the Keen Cook’s Club is on January 15th at 7pm. We’re going to be making choux pastry.
The theatre group’s off to see the classic noir thriller ‘Double Indemnity’ at the Palace theatre on March 31st.
The walking group is doing a woods walk on Wednesday, followed by a cream tea, and will be meeting again on January 24th at 11am.
The book group will be getting together on January 12th to discuss ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles (my favourite book of 2025).
All our sub groups are run by WhatsApp so if you would like to be added to any of them, reply to this email or speak to a committee member on Thursday.
Unwanted gift auction
Got given something that doesn’t hit the mark? Gobsmacked at the peculiar things your nearest and dearest think you might need in your life? One woman’s tatt is another woman’s treasure so bring in your unwanted gifts and I’ll auction them off for our charity. And don’t forget the swapsie table for used things like books and jigsaws. And donations for the food bank.
Looking forward to your lovely company
Vanessa
