Hello Friends

So much to tell you. You might want to get a cup of tea…

We’re moving!
I’m extremely excited to announce a new chapter in the ongoing story of WoSWI! An opportunity has arisen for us to hold our monthly meetings in Pebbles Cafe in the old Havens building on Hamlet Court Road and after much thought the committee has decided this would be good for WoSWI. Our reasoning is that we are Westcliff WI and this is in the heart of Westcliff. We’ll be able to foster better connections with other community groups and be more visible to potential new members. Also, the room is brighter and more vibrant and the lighting is better for crafts. It’s also a lot cleaner. We’ll be allowed to use the kitchen area at the front and the tables and chairs are already set up, saving us a lot of work. There’s also a big empty room upstairs we can use  for activities that involve moving about. It just feels like a nice place to be. 

We do hope you agree with the move and we’re happy to answer any questions at next week’s meeting, which will be our last at the Naval Club.

Meeting on March 10th
Our meeting next Thursday will be led by a practitioner of Medau, which is a type of rhythmic movement training that incorporates music and organic movements to engage the mind and allow each person to take greater control over the body and their thoughts. With times being as worrying as they are at the moment, anything that helps us de stress has got to be good. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes that you can move in.

Next month
AGM and a talk on the treasures you can find washed up on the banks of the Thames, otherwise known as mudlarking. Jolly interesting stuff. 

Treasurer needed
I would like to extend our warmest thanks to Sarah Campbell and Lynne Wheeler who have taken on the treasurer duties for the last two years. Sadly for us they are both having to step down, so we need a new treasurer, or two people to share the role.  If we don’t have a treasurer then we have to close so it’s vitally important that we find somebody. On top of the monthly committee meeting (which is great fun) it will probably take a couple of hours a month. No experience is necessary and training will be given. If you’d like to know more, please reply to this email or grab me at the meeting next week.

Essex County Annual Meeting
The 105th County Annual Meeting is taking place at Charter Hall in Colchester on Thursday June 30th. The royal correspondent Jennie Bond will be speaking, the Big Sing choir will be performing, and it’s a great way to feel more involved in the WI as a whole. Tickets are £13 if you book before the end of the month (£15 after that) and we have one free ticket to give away in a draw. I’m going and I would love to have some company. And I’m happy to give you a lift. Again, reply to this email to go into the ticket draw.

New sub groups
A ‘Ladies that Lunch’ club and a new walking group have now been launched. The first lunch is at Sarah’s Tea Room in Old Leigh (this is fully booked now) and the first walk is this Saturday at 1.30 in Wakering. If you would like to join either of these groups, just let us know. A  lunch venue for next month will be announced soon.

Craft Competition
Our June meeting is going to be a celebration of the Queen’s jubilee. We have various activities planned but one of them is a competition. You just need to create something that fits the theme, from cake decorating, to whittling, to dressing up in red, white and blue… anything you fancy. I’m telling you this early to give you plenty of time to come up with an idea and dig out your crafting tools.

Renewals
Renewals are due in April but feel free to pay now if you want to get ahead. It’s £44 or £21.60 for dual members who pay the full fee to another WI.
Please contact woswi@hotmail.com for bank details.

Phew, I think that’s it!

See you next week

Vanessa

Good morning ladies

It’s cold and grey outside and the rain is beating against the window while I’m writing this month’s newsletter. I always try to find things for which to be grateful as I go about my daily life and today I am deeply grateful for the warmth and cheerfulness of my kitchen. I’m also grateful for you lovely lot as I know my life would be so much the poorer without the friendships and the sense of purpose that I get from WoSWI. Thanks to all of you for enriching my days.

Next week’s meeting
So, next week we have a speaker. Deb Hart is a willow artist who undertakes commissions creating living outdoor rooms, garden structures and sculptural work and she’ll be talking about the history, traditions and uses of willow. I would imagine a great many of us have marvelled at the beautiful willow structures in the Winter garden at Hyde Hall so it will be fascinating to find out how they are made. Like last month, we’ll Facebook live the meeting so you can join us from home if you’re not yet ready to come along in person. 

Many thanks to Susan for recommending her daughter Helen to lead last month’s workshop. Everybody seemed to really enjoy the mindful activity of making our inspirational tags; I know I did.

Sub Groups
Sub groups are a great way to meet up with other like minded members of WoSWI and, being a much smaller group, it’s easier to get to know people better. We are aware though that our number of sub groups had dwindled somewhat over the last few years so we are working to remedy this. Sarah has recently launched a craft group which has been most successful (the next meeting is on Feb 28th at 7pm in the naval club) and I’m also proposing a games club, where we meet at members homes to play board/card games, and a ‘going out for lunch’ club. I’ll talk more about these at the meeting next week. If anybody else has any other ideas for sub groups, please do let us know.

Resolutions
After all our votes were collected in a winner has emerged. This will be put forward for the vote at the annual national meeting and then the new resolution will be announced. Our choice is:-
Equality in Law for the Menopause 
Too many women are experiencing discrimination at work and in wider society during the menopause. The NFWI calls on the Government to strengthen equality law by including the menopause as a protected characteristic alongside pregnancy and maternity under the Equality Act 2010, in order to provide better protection for women and to help tackle the stigma around menopause.

Next month
Our March meeting will be led by a practitioner of Medau, which is a type of rhythmic movement training. It incorporates music and organic movements to engage the mind and allow each person to take greater control over the body and their thoughts. It sounds to me like a sort of Tai Chi to music, but I could be completely wrong. It’s possible that balls and ribbons may be involved but I might be wrong there too. Just come along and see! (I do love all the new and unexpected experiences I get from the WI)

See you all next week.

Much love 

Vanessa

Hello friends

After giving it a lot of thought the committee has decided that we will go ahead with meeting in the hall next Thursday, the 13th. It’s a big enough space that we can distance from each other, and we can have all the windows open for lots of ventilation. I realise, however, that some of you will feel nervous about attending, or may be shielding or isolating, so I propose I bring along my technical support team (AKA the husband) to live stream the speaker so you can join in with her workshop from home, should you prefer.

Helen Davis is a member of a local creative sketchbook collective, SEVEN, and she’ll be talking to us about creative journalling and how we can use it to explore our thoughts, feelings, ideas and memories in a more interactive and engaging way. Apparently you don’t need any artistic ability, which is a relief to me! Helen will be providing a craft pack for each of us so if you are planning on joining in from home please reply to this email and we’ll make sure you receive your pack.

Wishing you all a very happy and hopeful new year.

Much love.

Vanessa

Hello friends

I am so looking forward to our meeting on Thursday, which I think will be enormous fun, and utterly bonkers. We’re going to be dusting off and firing up the WOSWI time machine and whisking you all back to the 1970s for an evening of  game show madness and cheese and pineapple hedgehogs. Nice to see you to see you nice! (Honestly, is that the worst catchphrase of all time?)

Early start 
To allow us time to fit everything in we’re going to be starting at 7pm. **WE’RE STARTING AT 7PM**  (thought I’d better shout to get your attention, in case you only skim read my emails. Don’t want you turning up late.) 

Jam jar tombola
This is always popular so we’re doing it again this year. Just bring an empty jam jar that you’ve filled with anything you fancy – sweets, crafting supplies, condoms (yes, that  actually happened); anything that fits in a jar and you think somebody would like to win. (I’m not sure the 80 year old lady who won the condoms was all that chuffed, frankly.) Then for a mere quid you get to win a random jar and revel in/ sulk about its contents.

Covid
Please could I ask you not to forget to do a test before you come along on Thursday? Let’s all keep each other safe. Masks are optional.

Next month
To start the year we’re going to have Helen Davis talking to us about creative journalling and showing us some practical techniques that we can take away. As she says ‘Creative journalling offers a fun and relaxing way for anyone – not least of all time strapped, last-on-the-list women – to take time and reconnect with themselves”. She assures me that you don’t need to have any artistic skill, which is a good thing, as far as I’m concerned.

If you aren’t able to join us on Thursday, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very peaceful, happy and healthy Christmas and to thank you for being such a valued member of our WOSWI gang.

Much love

Vanessa

Hello friends

Looking forward to seeing you all at our Scandi Christmas themed meeting on Thursday. We will be creating super cute little gnome decorations and sampling some Nordic nosh. Definitely one to get you into the Christmas spirit. Can I suggest you bring a sharp pair of scissors, if you own such a thing, as we do have scissors but they’re not the best.

Don’t forget to bring  actual physical money for the craft stalls as I doubt they’ll be set up to take cards. I’ve been walking around with the sum total of 24p in my purse for months now, and my daughter buys everything by tapping her phone! Witchcraft! Corinne will be selling her stunning mosaics and Sally Ann has a new hobby of decorating shells and turning them into trinket dishes. She’s been extremely busy as every time she puts photos of her latest creations on the committee WhatsApp group we buy them all! There will be other stalls as well, including woodwork, cards, bags and jewellery.

Following my previous email regarding Sam’s dog Millie I’m pleased to tell you that nobody has raised an objection. This means that Sam won’t have to leave us, thank goodness. 

See you Thursday for another much needed evening of fun.

Much love

Vanessa 

Hello friends

Blimey! I’ve just realised it’s Sunday night and I haven’t yet sent out the newsletter! I do hope you’ll all be able to come on Thursday as I think it’s going to be enormous fun.

Meeting this Thursday (14th)
We’re going to be having a Bond themed meeting and we’re  turning the naval club into a glamorous Casino!  Well, I’m almost definitely exaggerating the glamour – I’m not a complete miracle worker –  but there will be blackjack and roulette. Not for actual money either – I think there might be rules against gambling away the WI funds –   but there will be a prize for the person who accumulates the most fake money by the end of the evening.
There will also be pistol shooting! Not real pistols (you can probably see a theme emerging here) but the rubber band ones are surprisingly accurate. Health and safety protocol suggests that we aim for the target, rather than lurking about in corners or hiding under tables before leaping out and shooting our friends ( fun though that sounds). I think commando rolls are OK though.
A chap with an Aston Martin is going to be making an appearance, so we can drape ourselves over the bonnet. There will also be a Bond themed quiz
You can’t do Bond without cocktails so we’ve thought about that too. Not real ones though! I’ll be bringing all the ingredients for alcohol free mixed drinks plus some interesting recipes for you to try out. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from buying a shot at the bar to add to your drink, if you’re feeling frisky. Please bring your own glass if you’re not planning on buying anything from the bar.
It would be fab if you fancied dressing up in your best Bond themed outfit, but it isn’t essential. Some of us love a bit of fancy dress while others loathe it.

Next month’s meeting November 11th
Our November meeting is going to have a Scandi Christmas theme. We’ll be crafting those cute little Christmas gnome things, which are called Tomte apparently, and we’ll be sampling traditional Nordic festive food. 

Looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday. Although you might have trouble spotting me as I’ll be in my invisible car.

Big love

Vanessa. 

Hello friends

Oh my goodness, I can hardly believe we’re back in the hall at last! I am so looking forward to some degree of normality, although can I respectfully request that you do one of those uncomfortable covid test thingies before you come, just to be on the safe side? We won’t insist that everybody wears masks, although you are, of course, welcome to don one, should you wish.

So, next Thursday the 9th at 8pm will be our AGM, where once again we vote for our new president. I’m not sure how long I’ve been president now but it must be verging on a hundred years. I’m happy to keep going until I need a bath chair and ear trumpet (might have been reading too many historical novels) but if anybody else fancies a go, do give us a wave.

Apart from the businessy stuff, the committee are going to be baking you lots of cakes, so don’t forget a mug, plate and fork. We thought it would also be fun to have a session of ‘show and tell’.  Have you taken up any new crafts over lockdown? If so, please  bring in anything you’ve made for us to admire. Or anything half made that you need help with! Any other new hobbies you’d like to tell us about? Or a new recipe you could cook and bring in? The second category is products you think are outstanding and would like to tell us about. Cosmetics, cleaning stuff, obscure cooking ingredients – if you would like to recommend it, we would like to hear. I know some of you are more than happy to stand up with the mic but others would rather walk on hot coals. If you are in the latter category, I’ll do the talking for you. And if you can’t think of a single thing to show or talk about, just come for the craic.

See you next Thursday

Big love

Vanessa

Hello friends

I am so looking forward to seeing you all again! Our grand picnic will be this Thursday at Shoebury East Beach at 6pm. Fingers crossed the weather will be kind to us but, if not, we’ll decamp to the pub instead. 

Please bring your own picnic, or portable BBQ  to cook up your supper. You’ll also need something to sit on and if you have any outdoor games you’re happy to share, that would be lovely. Sally Ann is threatening to bring a frisbee but my running around days are long gone, frankly. Happy to watch the rest of you though!

If you’re a hardy soul and you’d like a dip with Sally Ann before the picnic, meet on the beach between Thorpe Hall Avenue and Burges Terrace at 4.30pm.

See you Thursday

Vanessa

Hello friends

Such a shame we’re having to Zoom yet again. Hopefully this really will be the last time. We’ve lined up an entertaining sounding speaker to give us all a laugh though. She’s called Vanessa (top name!) and is a wedding planner with her own company, Rocks and Frocks.

Next  Zoom meeting July 8th 8pm

Picnic 
We don’t normally have an August meeting but who even knows what normal is any more? The committee have decided to tear up the rule book, rebels that we are, and we’re throwing a big WoSWI picnic at Shoebury East Beach on the evening of August 12th. We’ll be meeting earlier than normal, at 6pm, to make the most of the light. If you’re feeling hardy, bring your swimming things. If you’re less hardy, just bring plenty of cake and alcohol. And a chair, of course. Due to the ongoing Covid situation we think it’s more prudent to avoid food sharing so please bring your own picnic – (although the WoSWI police won’t be in attendance to stop you having a taste of your neighbour’s, should all be in agreement!) If you have any suitable outdoor games, do feel free to bring them along too.

Looking forward to Zooming with you.

Much love

Vanessa

Hello friends

Gushy message
Oh my goodness, I can hardly contain my excitement! Is this going to be our last online meeting? Will we really be able to smile at each other and chat away in the actual, real world? It’s been such a long time but they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and my heart is feeling jolly fond. I don’t know if you feel the same but WoSWI has taken on a new importance in my life over the last year. With my world shrinking down to the four walls of my house, it was wonderful to have a regular connection with you all and to feel I was part of something bigger. Weirdly, I think I’ve actually been able to get to know you all better on Zoom than I did in meetings…and what a lovely lot you are. I just want to thank you for joining in and entertaining me over the months, and also for keeping the faith and renewing your  membership.

Next  (last?!) Zoom meeting June 10th 8pm

This month we have a personal stylist coming to talk to us about looking gorgeous whilst being kind to our planet. She’ll be discussing the life cycle of a pair of jeans and also showing us how to shop from our own wardrobes, rather than succumbing to disposable fashion. She’s going to be talking for a bit and then there will be plenty of time for questions so she can solve all your fashion dilemmas and clothing conundrums.  Here’s her website, if you’d like to check her out

https://www.beckybarnesstyle.com/

Next month’s meeting July 8th
You name it and I’m crossing it – fingers, eyes, wires, tees – that we’ll be able to meet indoors. I’ve spoken to the hall and they’re ready and waiting for us so it’s all down to Boris and the scientists now (Boris and the Scientists. Worst band name ever). We’re planning a relaxed and informal meeting to ease us back into public life, with much cake and chat. So far it has a working title of ‘Bakes and Banter’, courtesy of Sally Ann. If there are any hiccups with the road map and we can’t meet at the club, then we’ll arrange something outside instead.

Picnic 
We don’t normally have an August meeting but who even knows what normal is any more? The committee have decided to tear up the rule book, rebels that we are, and we’re going to be organising a big WoSWI picnic on the evening of August 12th. We’ll be meeting earlier than normal to make the most of the light but that’s about as far as we’ve got with the planning. Put the date in your diary and all will be revealed in due course.

Looking forward to Zooming with you.

Much love

Vanessa